The Advocate 11-16-2025

EL EC TI ON 20 25

EBRVOTERSREJECT THRIVE TAXPACKAGE

Defeat of allthree propositions amajor setbackfor Edwardsadministration

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER and QUINN COFFMAN Staffwriters

East Baton Rouge Parish voters rejected allthree parts of MayorPresident Sid Edwards’ Thrive tax package on Saturday,deliveringa major setbacktoanadministration that hoped the measure would ease the city-parish’s budget woes. On Proposition 1—the measure that would have rededicated some of

Cousins Ann Carrera, Kat Beaulieu, Ellen Dionne Alverez, CamilleBasak and CindyOliver have dinner together at Antoine’sRestaurant and discuss their relationship to Pope Leo XIV in NewOrleans on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO By

SOPHIA GERMER

the library’sfunding and used its savings to pay down city-parish debt 53% of voters said no withall 331 precinctsreporting. Thelibrary’srededication wouldhaveadded$16.4 million to thecity-parish general fund each year and paid off more than $52.4 million in debt.

As for Proposition2 —the partial rededication of mosquito abatement’s dedicated tax —52% voted no.And 51%voted no to thepartial rededicationofthe Council on Aging’sdedi-

No word on possible Guard deployment in Louisiana

Movement expected butshutdownmay have slowed things, sourcessay

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Amonth and ahalfafter Gov. Jeff Landry asked thefederalgovernment to send 1,000NationalGuard troops to Louisiana, there has been no word from the state or President Donald Trump’s administration aboutwhen or whether that request will be approved.

People familiar with negotiations around the deploymentsay it is still likely to occur,but it mayhave stalled due to the federal governmentshutdown.

Landry

Kirkpatrick

Last month, Landry said he hoped troops would arrive in New Orleans ahead of Thanksgiving New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said she expected the guard to arrive for the BayouClassicfootballgameand remain in the city through MardiGras. But on Friday, aPentagon spokesperson saidthere werenoupdates on the possible deployment, referring questions to the LouisianaNational Guard.

cated taxinProposition3.Unofficial voter turnout was about 19%. All results areunofficial until they are certifiedbythe Louisiana secretaryofstate. Speaking before city-parish officials, staff and others, Edwards said

ä Election results forthe Baton Rougearea. PAGE 11A ä See ELECTION, page 4A

“Wehave not received wordthat anything’sbeen approved yet,” said Lt. Col. Noel Collins, aspokesperson for the agency Landry could activate the Guard himself, but he needs the Trumpadministration’s approval to secure federal funding for the deployment.

ä See GUARD, page 4A

POPE’S ROOTSREUNITE AFAMILY

From branches separateda centuryago,cousins finallymeetinN.O

BY DESIREE STENNETT Staff writer

Ellen Dionne Alverez sat quietly at acircular table in the 1840 Room at Antoine’sRestaurant andwaited,preparingtomeet a long-lostpart of herfamily for thefirst time. Alone and facing the private

dining room’sopen door,the nativeNew Orleanian, raised in the7th Ward, was still with quiet anticipation. What wouldthese Chicagocousinsbelike, these friendlyladies who hadcontacted her —seemingly out of the blue —after she herself learnedofher own surprising genealogy? Alverez, through her father’s side, wasacousin to Pope Leo XIV They were, too. And then, minutes later,the four women walked in. Drowning outanintroduction by Antoine’swaitstaff,they rushedovertoAlverezwitha

ä See FAMILY, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

East BatonRouge Parish Mayor-PresidentSid Edwards speaks after the election results were finalized, withCityCouncil members Laurie Adams, from left, Carolyn Coleman, JenRacca,Aaron Moak and Central MayorWadeEvans behind him duringthe election partyfor the Thriveproposals at Lamar Advertising on Saturday.

4 law enforcement officers shot in Kansas CARBONDALE, Kan. Four law enforcement officers were shot Saturday morning while responding to a residence in a rural area south of Topeka, Kansas.

The shooting was about 10:30 a.m. Three Osage County sheriff’s deputies and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper were shot, Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Melissa Underwood said. Their conditions are “still very fluid,” Underwood said.

A male suspect died from gunshot wounds, leaders from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and state Highway Patrol said. One other male was injured and taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, officials said Deputies and troopers were responding to a domestic violence incident north of Carbondale. They were on scene for several minutes when gunfire erupted, authorities said Multiple law enforcement agencies responded immediately to the call of the shooting, officials said.

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 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 Amid the stormy weather Friday, the California Highway Patrol said a 71-year-old man died Friday after his vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge in Northern California and a 5-yearold was swept into the ocean by 15-foot waves at a state park on the central coast, triggering a search that continued Saturday.

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 has 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 Mayor Vi Lyles, criticized such actions, saying in a statement that 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,” the statement said It was also signed by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and CharlotteMecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed.

Crime is down in the city this year through August, compared with the same months in 2024. Homicides, rapes, robberies and motor vehicle thefts fell by more than 20%, according to AH Datalytics.

But President Donald Trump’s administration has seized upon the

fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutskaha on a Charlotte light-rail train to argue that Democratic-led cities fail to protect residents. A man with a lengthy criminal record has been charged with the woman’s murder

The federal government had not previously announced the push.

But County Sheriff Garry McFadden said this week that two federal officials told him 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.

Willy Aceituno, a 46-year-old Honduran-born U.S. citizen, was on his way to work Saturday when he saw “a lot of Latinos running,” chased by “a lot of Border Patrol agents.”

Aceituno said he himself was stopped — twice — by Border Patrol agents. During the second encounter they forced him from his vehicle after breaking the 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 released after showing documents proving his citizenship. He had to walk some distance back to his car and later filed a police report over the broken glass.

Spokesperson Paola Garcia of Camino, a bilingual nonprofit serving families in Charlotte, said she and her colleagues have observed

an increase in stops by U.S Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents since Friday

“Basically what we’re seeing is that there have been lots of people being pulled over,” Garcia said.

Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said via email that the “significant border patrol activity” was seen Saturday

“Most have been extremely quick, targeted arrests; others have been them ‘fishing,’” Asciutto said. In east Charlotte, two workers were hanging Christmas lights in Rheba Hamilton’s front yard in the morning when two Customs and Border Patrol agents walked up. One tried to speak to the workers in Spanish, she said. They did not respond, and the agents left 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,” said Hamilton, who recorded the encounter on her cellphone.

“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 of the 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.”

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 Naggar bought a new tent on the black mar-

ket 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.”

Barefoot 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, 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 allowing 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. The U.N. Security Council on Monday is expected to vote on a U.S. proposal for a U.N. mandate for a stabilization force in Gaza despite opposition from Russia, China and some Arab countries. The war broke out on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 hostages. They still hold the remains of three hostages, which Israel is demanding before progressing to the second stage of the current ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10. Hamas has said the territory’s devastation is complicating efforts to find the remains, but Israel has accused the militant group of dragging its feet.

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM VIDEO By RHEBA HAMILTON

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

he was disappointed in the result, but glad that East Baton Rouge Parish residents made their own decision with their taxes.

“I am looking forward to what we’re going to do to get Baton Rouge on the track that it needs to be on,” Edwards said. “It’s a challenge, but I’m up for it, I’m built for it and I’m excited about it.” As might be expected from a mayor-president whose most-used title is “Coach,” Edwards said his approach to this loss will be similar to taking a loss on the football field: to dust himself off and get back to work.

Unlike a Friday night game, however, Edwards said he doesn’t plan to wait until Monday to get to work on a new solution to parish budget woes. He will be starting Sunday

Thrive

n

If all three had passed, Edwards’ Thrive plan would have generated more than $20 million in recurring revenue for the city-parish general fund, which is set to be cut by more than $15 million in 2026 after Thrive’s failure. While saying that he and his team never planned to fear monger about the possible loss of parish jobs, Edwards admitted Saturday’s vote will have consequences, including possible reductions in services.

GUARD

Continued from page 1A

In the past, the guard has been used in Louisiana to respond to emergencies like 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 a controversial push to deploy the guard and other federal agents to cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C., to crack down on crime and immigration.

It is unclear what exactly the National Guard’s role would be if Landry’s request were approved.

The governor submitted his request for troops in a Sept. 29 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing crime in the Louisiana cities of Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans as justification.

On Friday, a spokesperson for Landry said she had no comment on deployment plans and was unaware of any updates Spokespeople for Baton Rouge and Shreveport had no updates on the situation. East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards has said he does not oppose having guard members in Louisiana’s capital city but does not want them engaging in aggressive policing tactics. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux previously said he does not think bringing in the National Guard is the best way to address crime, but that he would welcome their help in tearing down blighted properties.

A spokesperson for New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said Wednesday that Moreno declined to comment. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office and the New Orleans Police Department did not return press inquiries Guard deployments elsewhere in the country have drawn sharp criticism from some locals and from Democratic politicians, who say they are not warranted, are overly militaristic and can escalate tensions in their communities.

In August, Landry sent 135 Louisiana guard members to aid Trump’s crackdown in D.C. Part of a contingent of more than 2,000

Edwards first announced his plan to try and rededicate library funds in February At the time, it was the only rededication announced and the mayor said he was going to use it to pay for “historic” raises for the Baton Rouge Police Department. That plan was met with significant backlash among library supporters, who criticized the mayor at public meetings throughout the parish for going after the library system’s money After a month of negotiations between the Metro

other troops, they remain stationed there but are tentatively scheduled to leave at the end of February according to Collins, the Louisiana National Guard spokesperson. Meanwhile, Chicago has taken center stage in Trump’s campaign to deport immigrants at record levels after the federal government sent Border Patrol agents there in September for “Operation Midway Blitz.” They have been criticized for their aggressive tactics, including the use of chemical agents and a helicopter raid on an apartment building

Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino has described those tactics as a necessary

Council, mayor and library officials, the three found a compromise in May which included partial dedications from mosquito abatement and the Council on Aging, too.

Though it had endorsements from the local Democratic and Republican parties, criticism of the plan grew louder in the weeks before the election from both sides of the spectrum. Some progressives called the rededication “political extortion” and were put off by the mayor’s text messages that recently surfaced,

response to threats he says his agents have faced since arriving in the city

Some 3,200 people in the Chicago area have been arrested for alleged immigration violations as part of Operation Midway Blitz.

On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration planned to bring the Border Patrol to New Orleans. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Border Patrol, has not publicly confirmed such a plan. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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

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which appeared to show him strategizing to delay efforts to bring Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to Baton Rouge until after the Thrive election. Edwards later clarified that he does not want ICE in Baton Rouge.

Other opponents argued that the library system is already flush with cash and would remain overfunded even under the partial rededication. While Thrive

would not have imposed

new taxes, it would have allowed the agencies to collect a larger amount for which they are already authorized, which critics say has the same effect.

Looking ahead

Multiple voices at the watch party saw Saturday’s Thrive vote as a referendum on the Edwards’ administration, especially with no other ballot mea-

sures to draw voters for most of the parish. The voting on all three proposals was close early As of 9 p.m., with 155 of 331 precincts reporting, two of the three proposals were on the right side of “yes” votes. But that changed within minutes. When a batch of about 120 precincts hit shortly before 9:30 p.m., all three proposals had dropped to under 50% support. No major movement came as the final results were reported.

Speaking to Mary Stein, the assistant director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, and other library officials after the results were clear Metro Council member Aaron Moak said the council will work to get these three proposals back in front of voters. Edwards agreed, saying he will continue to do whatever possible to support the library system, the Council on Aging and Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control.

But he also said he isn’t going to return the proposals to voters in the exact same form.

“We’re in a climate of ‘no,’ ” Edwards said. “People are mistrusting. People are tired of being taxed. They’re fatigued with it, you know? And I think if these three entities circle back around and, you know, right now, my plan isn’t to jump back on with it. I’m gonna go in another plan You know, that’s where I’m at tonight.”

Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.

Thrive Academy’s residentialmodel gives students aplace to learn, live andgrowtogether

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At Thrive Academy in BatonRouge,education isn’t just taking placeinthe classroom. Thestate-sponsoredpublicboardingschool’son-campus residential housingprogram meansthatthe vast majority of students arealsolearningsocialskillsand life lessons that willbejustaskey to theirlong-term success. More than 97 percentofThrivestudentslivein campus dorms, participatingina six-day-a-week programinwhich they remain on campus through theweek, go home on Friday afternoons andreturn on Sundays. Most also go home forholidaysand school breaks.TheronMcGhee, assistantdirector of residential life,saidthe modelblendsstructure, supportand enrichment

is $68.48 per 4-week period, plus tax. Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $29.95 per 4-week period, plus tax starting1/1/25. Special editions included in homedeliverysubscriptions are 1/10/24,2/2/24, 4/10/24, 5/15/24, 7/17/24, 9/25/24, 10/30/24, 1/8/25, 2/14/25, 4/2/25, 5/14/25, 7/16/25, 8/20/25, 10/1/25, 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26 and 9/30/26 and are billed at $5.99 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $5.99. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editionsyou will not receive that day’snewspaper.Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Pricesshown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply.Wenolonger provide credit for temporarydeliverystops of

On weekdays,Thrivestudents areinclass from about7:30a.m.to3:30p.m.Inthe afternoons,they have time to relax anddecompressbeforetaking part in extracurricularactivitiessuchasclubs and sports.There arealsooff-campusoutings for yoga, lasertag,bowling andgames

“Wetry to keep them busy whilealsogivingthem time to relaxand reflect,”McGheesaid. “Wedo encouragethemtobeinvolvedinactivitiesand take advantageofall of theresources theschoolprovides for them to become aholisticallyculturedperson.”

Thrive AcademySuperintendentPaulSampson said theschool’sfoundersdeveloped theresidential modelafter seeing howsomestudents’ families struggledwithbasic needs, such as food,housing and utilities. On-campuslivingmeans Thrive takescare of allofthat, giving students thefreedom to develop theirskillsand talentsinasupportiveenvironment

“The biggestimpactI seeisthatstudentsdon’t have to worry. They canjustbeakid andfocus on theiractivitiesand theirstudies,” said Residential Director Tierra Harrison.“They don’thavetoworry aboutactingasthe head of thehousehold or where theirnextmealiscomingfrom.

This year,Thrivealsoadded an on-campusmedical clinic to treatbothstudentsand staff.Harrisonsaid this meanstheycan receivehealthcarefor minor ailments withoutparents needingtoschedulean appointmentorbecoming concernedabout thecost. “It’sanother thingthe families don’thavetoworry about,”she said.“It’s anotherway that we arecatering to thewhole child.

Thrive students live in adormdivided into 12 pods, with sevenrooms perpod.Because theschool acceptsstudentsfromacrossLouisiana,thatmeans kids from variousbackgrounds arelivingtogether –sharing everything from clothingand snacks to storiesabout theirfamiliestotipsfor howtoovercome academic challenges

“Thesekidsarelearningabouteachother,becoming friends andlearninghow to coexistwithpeoplefrom allwalks of life,” McGhee said.“They arebuilding networks of friends. Many of them arestill in touch andhelping each otherafter they graduate.Itreally enhances theirsocialskills.

Sampsonsaidhebelievesthe residentialmodel at Thrive hasbeena majorreasonfor itsacademic success. Over thepastthree years, Thrive students have regularlyscoredabove theLouisiana state average on LEAP testsinmultiplesubjects, includingEnglish Language Arts,science,socialstudies history, geometry,biology andalgebra.In2022, the statenamed Thrive as oneof31ComebackSchools for itspost-Covidacademic achievement, anditranked fifth in thestate forLEAPtestgrowth. Last year,the statedesignatedThriveasa TopGains school forits continuededucational success. “The founding missionofthe school is to provide under-resourcedstudentswiththe same opportunities that students from well-resourced communities have,” Sampsonsaid. “Wehaveproof that when theseresources areprovided, students canflourish educationally. Visitthrivebr.orgtolearn more aboutThrive Academy.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL DUNLAP

Greg Gauthier, center, prepares to sign the voters roster as his wife Julie, right, exits a polling station at the Westdale Heights Academic Magnet polling station on Saturday.

chorus of greetings. They exchanged hugs, laughter, wide smiles, names.

Once they finally sat, Ann Carrera turned to her cousin Kat Beaulieu after they searched Alverez’s face.

“She looks like the Martinez side!” Carrera said of Alverez, seeing in her a resemblance to her own distant cousin, Max Martinez, and all of his siblings.

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

Family ties

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

The seeds of the reunion were planted on May 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 a complicated but quintessentially American story about race and family history unfolded.

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

ther Michel Martinez was Joseph’s brother Carrera’s great-great-grandmother

Adele Martinez was their sister

Pope Leo’s grandfather was Joseph Martinez, who was born in the 7th Ward. Alverez’s great-grandfa-

More than a century ago, Joseph, Adele and another brother left their 7th Ward home and moved to Chicago. The siblings were fairskinned enough to pass for White when they got there. Michel Martinez stayed in New Orleans, and his branch of the family continued to live as Black. It’s unclear if they ever communicated after most of the family left the South. Under the statesanctioned segregation of Jim Crow, people who decided to pass for White known by the French phrase “passé blanc” — were often forced to cut ties with family and friends so their roots were not discovered. Those who could pass successfully often found better treatment and more freedom.

Michel Martinez died before his 30th birthday, 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 But he was. And at Antoine’s, it seemed that a lasting bond was being formed.

Catching up

The cousins were consumed in conversation for the three hours they spent at Antoine’s. They shared photos. They talked about resemblances. They told stories of the ancestors they shared.

Waitstaff had to return three times before the women had a chance to look

at the menu and order the three kinds of oysters they selected as appetizers. By chance, they all ordered the popular Pompano Pontchartrain similar tastes were one of the many things they attributed to the family connection.

Seated next to Alverez, Beaulieu pulled out a small plastic sleeve packed with photos of Adele Martinez and other relatives from generations ago.

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

Carrera said that she studied French in high school to connect with her family’s French ancestry, and that her Grammy Marion Mistretta had passed down a gumbo recipe. Mistretta, she said, would make pralines during the holidays, keeping their Creole New Orleans roots alive even as Chicago became home Alverez brought along programs from her husband’s recent funeral. It included a poem, and Basak read it aloud for the group.

She shared photos of her, her husband, her son and her father

She told the Chicago cousins about her extended family in Texas, who are also related to them and the pope they hope to meet them too, eventually Alverez shared the story of how her husband built her a pink

house in New Orleans East as a wedding gift and how Hurricane Katrina dumped 4 feet of floodwater inside it. But they rebuilt. By the end of the meal, Antoine’s was nearly empty Dinner quickly ballooned into more plans. The group gathered again on Saturday for an event honoring Henriette DeLille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family and another more distant relative of Carrera’s on the other side of the family On Sunday, the women will don anything blue they packed to attend a service at Alverez’s Baptist church. If time permits, maybe they will squeeze in a brief brunch or dinner, too

“They were all so nice,” Alverez said, adding that her son Harlon Martinez, a second cousin twice removed to the pope, was planning to stay in touch.

“He kept saying, ‘I want to spend time with my cousins.’”

The Chicago cousins have already invited Alverez to attend a revived family reunion next year During dinner, Beaulieu mentioned the possibility of a trip to Rome. They must go together to visit their other cousin at the Vatican.

“To cousins,” Beaulieu toasted over decaf coffee and plates filled with a mountain of baked Alaska “To cousins,” they echoed back.

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER Kat Beaulieu, of Chicago, goes through family photos at Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans on Wednesday.

Cindy Oliver, of Chicago, zooms in on a photo of Pope Leo XIV’s mother, Mildred Agnes, in a family reunion photo on Wednesday.

Cousins Ann Carrera, Kat Beaulieu, Ellen Dionne Alverez, Camille Basak and Cindy Oliver have dinner together at Antoine’s Restaurant and discuss how they are related to Pope Leo XIV in New Orleans on Wednesday.

Pope Leo XIV

Trump issues 2 pardons related to Jan. 6 riot

Man jailed

on gun offense; woman convicted of threatening to shoot agents

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

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

In a separate case, Trump issued a second pardon for a Jan. 6 defendant who had remained behind bars despite the sweeping grant of clemency for Capitol rioters because of a separate conviction for illegally possessing firearms

It’s the latest example of Trump’s willingness to use his constitutional authority to help supporters who were scrutinized as part of the Biden administration’s massive Jan. 6 investigation that led to charges against more than 1,500 defendants.

Suzanne Ellen Kaye was released last year after serv-

ing an 18-month sentence in her threats case. After FBI contacted her in 2021 about a tip indicating she may have been at the Capitol on Jan. 6, she posted a video on social media citing her Second Amendment right to carry a gun and she threatened to shoot agents if they came to her house. In court papers, prosecutors said her words “were part of the ubiquity of violent political rhetoric that causes serious harm to our communities.”

An email seeking comment was sent to a lawyer for Kaye on Saturday Kaye testified at trial that she didn’t own any guns and didn’t intend to threaten the FBI, according to court papers. She told authorities she was not at the Capitol on Jan 6 and wasn’t charged with any Capitol riot-related crimes.

A White House official said Kaye suffers from “stressinduced seizures,” and experienced one when the jury read its verdict. The White House said this is “clearly a case of disfavored First

Amendment political speech being prosecuted and an excessive sentence.” The official requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the case. In a separate case, Trump pardoned Daniel Edwin Wilson of Louisville, Kentucky, who was under investigation for his role in the riot when authorities found six guns and roughly 4,800 rounds of ammunition in his home. Because of prior felony convictions, it was illegal for him to

possess firearms. Wilson’s case became part of a legal debate over whether Trump’s sweeping pardons for Jan 6 rioters in January applied to other crimes discovered during the sprawling federal dragnet that began after the attack on the Capitol. The Trump-appointed federal judge who oversaw Wilson’s case criticized the Justice Department earlier this year for arguing that the president’s Jan. 6 pardons applied to Wilson’s gun offense.

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-a-Lago 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.”

Wilson, who had been scheduled to remain in prison until 2028, was released Friday evening following the pardon, his lawyer said on Saturday

“We are grateful that President Trump has recognized the injustice in my client’s case and granted him this pardon,” attorney George Pallas said in an email. “Mr Wilson can now reunite with his family and begin rebuilding his life.”

The White House official Saturday that “because the search of Mr Wilson’s home 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 conspiring to impede or injure police officers and illegally possessing firearms at his home.

Prosecutors had accused him of planning for the Jan. 6 riot for weeks and coming to Washington with the goal of stopping the peaceful transfer of power. Authorities said he communicated with members of the farright Oath Keepers extremist group and adherents of the antigovernment Three Percenters movement as he marched to the Capitol.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Climateprotestersdemandtobeheard at COP30march

BY MELINA WALLING and TERESA DE MIGUEL Associated Press

BELEM, Brazil Somewore black dresses to signify afuneral for fossil fuels.

Hundreds wore red shirts, symbolizing the bloodof colleagues fighting to protect the environment. And others chanted, waved huge flags or held up signs Saturday in what’straditionally 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 awide range of environmental and social movements. Marisol Garcia, aKichwa woman from Peru marchingatthe head of one group, saidprotesters are there to put pressure on world leaders to make “more humanized decisions.”

The demonstrators walked

By The Associated Press

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 consign-

agency carried astatementbythe Revolutionary Guard that said the

was taken to

waters. It did not elaborate on the “illegal consignment,” thecrewor say where the ship was now heading It said the seizure came following acourt order and the operation was aimedat “protecting Iran’snational interests and resources.” It identifiedthe oiltankeras the Talara and saiditwas carrying30,000 tons of petrochemical products.

year in annual climatefinancial aid thatrich countries agreed last year to give to poor nations to help wean themselves off fossil fuels, adapt to anastier, warmer world and compensate for extreme weather damage.

Many of theprotesters reveled in the freedom to demonstrate more openly than at recent climate talks held in more authoritariancountries, including Azerbaijan, the United ArabEmirates and Egypt.Thousands joined in aprocession that sprawled across most of themarch’s route

thepeople,”her group’ssigns read.

Pablo Neri, coordinator in the Brazilian state of Para forthe Movimentodos Trabajadores Rurais Sem Terra, an organizationfor rural workers, saidorganizers of the talks should involve more people to reflect aclimate movement that is shifting toward popularparticipation.

TheUnitedStates, where President Donald Trump has ridiculedclimate changeas ascam andwithdrawn from

the landmark 2015 Paris Agreementthatsoughtto limit Earth’swarming, is skipping the talks.

Demonstrator FlavioPinto, of Para state, took aim at the U.S. Wearing abrown suit and an oversized American flag top hat, he shifted his weight back andforth on stilts and fannedhimself withfake hundred-dollar bills with Trump’sface on them. “Imperialism produces wars and environmental crises,” his sign read.

about 2.5 miles on aroute that took them nearthe main venue for the talks,known as COP30. Protesters earlier this week twicedisrupted thetalks by surrounding the venue,including anincident

Tuesday where two security guardssuffered minor injuries.

Afull day of sessions was planned at the venue, including talksonhow to move forwardwith$300 billion a

Youth leader Ana Heloisa Alves, 27, said it was the biggest climate march she has been part of. “This is incredible,” shesaid. “You can’tignore all thesepeople.”

Alves was at the march to fight forthe Tapajos River which the Brazilian government wants to develop commercially.“The riverisfor

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By ANDRE PENNER

Climateactivists protest with coffins that read coal, oil and gasonSaturdayduring the COP30U.N.Climate

Pope celebrates cinema with Hollywoodstars

LeoXIV urges inclusionof marginalvoices

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY Pope Leo XIV

welcomed Spike Lee,Cate Blanchett,Greta Gerwig and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to aspecial Vatican audience Saturday celebrating cinema and its ability to inspire and unite.

Leo encouraged the filmmakers and celebrities gathered in afrescoedVatican audience hall to use theirart 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 merelyconsole, but challenges,” he told the stars. “It articulatesthe questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we didn’t know we needed to shed.”

The encounter, organized by theVatican’sculture ministry,followed similar

audiences Pope Francis had in recent years with famous artistsand comedians. It’s part ofthe Vatican’sefforts to reach out beyond the Catholic Church to engage with thesecularworld

But the gathering also seemed to have particular meaning for history’sfirst American pope, who grew up in theheyday of Hollywood. The 70-year-old, Chicago-bornLeo just this week identified his four favorite films: “It’sa WonderfulLife,” The Sound of Music,” “OrdinaryPeople,” and “Life Is Beautiful.”

In asign of how seemingly star-struck he was, Leo spent nearly an hour after the audience greetingand chatting amiablywitheach 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 theatersthat had once been important social and cultural meeting points disappearing from

PHOTO PROVIDED By VATICANMEDIA

Pope Leo XIV meets with SpikeLee on Saturdayduring an audience withstars and directors from the cinemaatthe Vatican.

neighborhoods.

“I urge institutions notto give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and culturalvalue” of movie theaters, he said.

Many celebrities said they found Leo’swords inspiring, andexpressed awe as they walked through the halls of theVatican Apostolic Palace, wherealight luncheon reception awaited them afterthe audience.

“It was asurprise to me that Ievengot invited, Spike Lee told reporters along the red carpet gauntlet in the palace.

During the audience, Lee had presented Leowith a jersey from his beloved Knicks basketball team, featuringthe number 14 and Leo’sname on the back. Leo is aknown Chicago Bulls fan,but Lee saidhetold the

pope that the Knicks now boast threeplayers from the pope’s alma mater,Villanova University.

Blanchett, for herpart, said the pope’scomments wereinspiring because he understood the crucial role cinema can play in transcending borders and exploring sometimes difficult subjects in ways thataren’t divisive.

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

She said Leo, in his comments about theexperience of watching afilm in adark theater,clearlyunderstood the culturally important role cinemas can play

Singer-songwriter

By The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Todd Snider,asinger whose thoughtfully freewheeling tunes and cosmic-stoner songwriting made him abeloved figure in American roots music,has died. He was59.

Hisrecord label saidSaturday in astatement posted to his social media accountsthat Snider died Friday

“Where do we find the words for the onewho always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essencewith 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 oldfriendorafavorite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humorinthis crazyride on Planet Earth.”

Snider’sfamily and friends had said in aFriday statement that he hadbeendiagnosedwith pneumonia at a hospitalinHendersonville, Tennessee, andthathis situation had since grownmore complicated and he was transferredelsewhere. The diagnosis cameonthe heels

of the cancellation of atour after Snider had been the victim of aviolent assault in the SaltLake City area, according to aNov.3statement from his management team. But Salt LakeCity police later arrested Snider himself when he at first refused to leave ahospitaland later returned andthreatened staffers, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The scrapped tour wasinsupport of his most recent album “High, Lonesome and Then Some,” which released in October.Snider combined elements of folk, rock and country in athree-decade career.Inreviews of his recent albums, The Associated Press calledhim a“singersongwriterwith the persona of afried folkie” and a“stoner troubadour andcosmic comic.” He modeled himself on andattimes metand was mentored by —artists like Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark andJohnPrine.His songs were recorded by artists including Jerry Jeff Walker,Billy Joe Shaver and TomJones.And he co-wrote asongwithLoretta Lynn that appeared on her 2016 album, “Full Circle.”

Snider

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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’re in this very tough position where they’ve developed areputation for not caring enough about costs, where the tools theyhave available to them are unlikely to be able to help people in theshort term,” Ramamurti said. Ramamurti said the Biden administration learned the hard way that voters are not appeased by apresident saying hispolicies would ultimately cause their incomes to rise.

SCHIEFELBEIN

President DonaldTrump holds achartonAug.7

discusses

“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 thatthe economy was strong. “Bidenomicsis working,” Biden said in a 2023 speech. “Today,the U.S. has had the highest economic growthrate, leading the world economies since the pandemic.”

Hisargumentsdid littleto sway voters as only 36% of U.S. adultsinAugust2023 approvedofhis handling of the economy,accordingtoa poll atthe time by The AssociatedPress-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Republicans made thecase thatBiden’spolicies made inflation worse. Democrats are usingthatsame framing againstTrump today.

Here istheir argument: Trump’stariffs aregetting passed alongto consumers in theform of higher prices; his cancellation of clean energy

projects meanstherewill 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’s performance, 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 respondedtothe dilemma in “weirdly,eerily similar ways”byplaying down inflation as aproblem, pointing to other economic indicators andlooking to address concernsbyissuing government checks Trump officials have made thecasethattheir mixof income tax cuts, foreigninvestmentframeworks tied to tariffs and changes in enforcingregulations will lead to more factories and jobs. Allofthat, they say, could increase thesupply 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 EconomicClub of Washington on Wednesday The Fedhas cut itsbench-

mark 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 economist 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. For now, Trump hasdecided to continue to rely on attacking Biden for anything that hasgonewrong in theeconomy,ashedid on Monday in an interview with Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

“The problem wasthat Biden did this,” Trump said.

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Disney and YouTubeTVreached anew deal to bringchannels like ABC andESPN backto the Google-owned livestreaming platform Friday,ending ablackout for customers that dragged on for over two weeks.

“As part of the new deal, Disney’sfull suite of networks and stations —includ-

ingESPNand ABC —have alreadybegun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers,” The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement. YouTubeTValso confirmed thereturn of Disney contentonits platform, noting that subscribers should see channelsback “overthe course of the day.” It apologizedfor thedisruption and thanked customers fortheir “patience as we negotiated on their behalf.” Disney content went dark on YouTubeTVthe night of Oct. 30 after thetwo sides failedtoreach anew licensingdeal. In thedaysthatfollowed, YouTube TV subscribers were left without Disney channels on the platform— notably disrupting coverage of top college footballmatchups and professional sports games, as well as news and entertainment programming.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARK

as he

the economy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

EDUCATION

States pushing for scrutiny of antisemitism in schools

Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war roll into classrooms

BY CAROLYN THOMPSON and MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas two years ago, high school teacher Josh Hirsch posted 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, a former student called for his firing. A note taped outside the door of his Adams County, Colorado, classroom contained his wife’s name and their home address And a sticker that appeared on his chair read: “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.”

The reaction startled Hirsch, the only Jewish teacher in his school building. For the first time in his 14year career he considered quitting He stayed and joined an educators’ advocacy network created by the Anti-Defamation League, a way he saw to make schools more inclusive of diverse viewpoints.

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

Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war have spilled into schools around the U.S., with advocates reporting a rise in antisemitic harassment since the 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 pressure to respond more aggressively Several states have pressed for new vigilance including legislation that critics say would stifle free speech

Lawmakers in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee have passed measures to increase school accountability for complaints of antisemitism, and a law signed by California Gov Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, will provide training to identify and prevent antisemitism in schools. In Arizona, the Democratic governor vetoed a bill on how to deal with reports of antisemitism in schools, calling it an attack on educators

Many of the measures, including one signed by Oklahoma’s Republican governor call for adoption of a definition of antisemitism that casts certain criticism of Israel as hate speech.

“These bills make it clear that Oklahoma stands with our Jewish communities and will not tolerate hatred disguised as political discourse,” said Kristen Thompson, a Republican state senator in Oklahoma who authored the legislation.

Dozens of states have adopted the definition promoted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which is also recognized by the U.S. State Department. It lists 11 examples of antisemitic conduct, such as applying “double standards” to Israel or comparing the country’s policies to Nazism.

While supporters of this definition

of antisemitism say it is necessary to combat evolving forms of Jewish hate, civil liberties groups warn it suppresses pro-Palestinian speech.

The Trump administration has leveraged antisemitism investigations in its efforts to reshape higher education, suspending billions of dollars in federal funding to Harvard, Columbia and other universities over allegations they tolerated hate speech, especially during protests over the Israel-Hamas war

The White House has not gotten as involved at the K-12 level. At congressional hearings, 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 Office for Civil Rights to address complaints.

In one of the cases under investigation, a complaint described students at the Berkeley Unified School District in California asking Jewish classmates what “their number is,” referring to numbers tattooed on Jews during the Holocaust. It also said teachers made antisemitic comments and led walkouts that praised Hamas.

The district did not respond to a request for comment In another California case, the

family of a 14-year-old girl filed a federal lawsuit last year alleging she had to leave University Preparatory Academy, a charter school in San Jose, in 2023 because of antisemitic bullying. After the Hamas attack, she said students called her names, including “terrorist.” The California Department of Education and the school said they could not comment on pending litigation.

Nationwide, the ADL recorded 860 antisemitic incidents in nonJewish schools last year, ranging from name-calling and swastikas etched on lockers to antisemitic materials being taught in classrooms. The number was down from over 1,100 recorded in 2023, but well above numbers in prior years, according to the ADL.

A Massachusetts state commission formed last year to combat antisemitism found it was a “pervasive and escalating problem” in schools.

At one meeting, a commission co-chair, Democratic state Rep. Simon Cataldo, said the Massachusetts Teachers Association was sharing antisemitic resources with teachers, including a kindergarten workbook that describes Zionists as “bullies” and an image of a Star of David made of dollar bills.

The union said those were singled out among hundreds of images in art and posters about Palestinians, and links to those materials were removed.

The union said it has engaged in efforts to confront increases in both antisemitism and Islamophobia and accused the commission of offensive political theater.”

“Those who manipulate antisemitism to achieve political objectives — such as undermining labor unions and public educators are following the lead of the Trump administration,” the union said in a statement. Margaret Litvin, an associate professor of Arabic and comparative literature at Boston University, said the commission was “deliberately conflating criticism of Israel with prejudice against Jews and bias against Jews.” 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 and Staff group.

The tension reached the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, which this summer weighed a proposal to drop ADL classroom materials that educators use to teach about the Holocaust and bias. Backers said the ADL had an outsize influence on school curricula and policy, with an underlying pro-Israel viewpoint. Delegates at the union’s representative assembly narrowly voted to approve the proposal, but they were overruled by the NEA board of directors. Union President Becky Pringle said the proposal “would not further NEA’s commitment to academic freedom, our membership, or our goals.”

In the aftermath, the ADL invited K-12 educators to join a new network called BEACON: Building Educator Allies for Change, Openness, and Networks, which it said is intended to help educators learn from each other how to address and combat antisemitism and other forms of hate.

Hirsch, the teacher in Colorado, was among hundreds who expressed interest.

Some of the blowback he faced stemmed from his online commentary about local activist organizations. After donating money to Black Lives Matter groups and supporting them with a sign in his yard, he expressed feelings of betrayal to see the groups expressing support for Palestinians and not Israel. He said he was surprised by the reaction to the posts in his predominantly Hispanic school community A former debate coach, he aims through his work with the ADL network to help 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 what we’re trying to do as a society,” he said.

RACHEL WOOLF

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Johnson‘wins’the shutdown,but road is stillrocky

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.

Ballard

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

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

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 the least of which is how to handle theAffordable Care Act.

House rank and file from both

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

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.

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

“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.”

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 Gold

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

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

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.

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.

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

“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.

“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.”

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

Mark

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.

Mobile’s NobleSouth blends traditionand experimentation

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Chris Rainosek stood outside of his restaurant in Mobile,Alabama, his blackapron dusted with faintwhite smudges once the lunch crowd had dispersed on acool Monday afternoon.

The Noble South had been abit 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,itwas rarely slow before the big award was handed down.

Thepowder-bluerestaurant, quietly tucked into arow of brick buildingsonDauphinStreet in the Gulf Coast city’sdowntown, opened in 2014 with afarm-to-table concept that was, and still is, rare in Alabama and across much of the South— aregion 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’smost influential arbiter of fine dining —inits first regional guide for the American South, a recognition Rainosek described as “mindblowing” for him.

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

The accolades reflect how the Gulf Coast’sculinary landscape has evolved, diversifiedand expanded in recent decades,making aname for itselfwhile fueling movements like farm-to-table dining. That movement, anow-familiar approach that uses ingredients sourced directly from local farms, took shape in the 1970sand, in

THE GULF COAST

recent years, has flourished nationwide, formingnew pipelines between chefs and farmers. ButRainosek, alongtime chef in Baldwin County,noticed early on how few restaurants in Mobile

were practicing the farm-to-table approach.AsheplannedThe Noble South, he began building relationships with both “old-school farmers” and anew generation growing “a littlebit funkier veg-

etables, alittle more hard-to-find things.”

His sources are scattered throughout theSouth,from Gulf seafood to proteins from Texas and the Carolinas, andproduce from as far as New Orleans. TheNoble South’sseasonal menu mirrorsthatblendoftradition andexperimentation, with

Southern staplesreimagined through modern techniqueand homegrown produce.

Itsfresh ingredientsand innovative flavors, at areasonable price, make it worththe 2-hour drivefromNew Orleans, aculinary powerhouse stillshort on true farm-to-table concepts.

The four deviledeggs served as an appetizer —orwhat the menu calls a“snack”—recallthe kind brought to nearly every family function in the South, its yolk filling piped into neat swirls and dustedwith paprika. But these sit on abed of spinach leaves, its fillingcrownedwithbacon bits and bright orange roe.

On the chickenpesto sandwich, the toasted wheat bread —slathered in mayonnaise and fresh pesto— barelycontainsamoist cutofchicken encasedina crispy, goldenskin andtoppedwith aCreoletomato.

The short rib sandwichlayers melted Swiss cheese, greens, truffle aioliand mushroom duxelle with clear precision.

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

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

Every dish arrivesona delicate glass plate patternedwith soft florals —the kind you might find in agrandmother’schina cabinetor tucked away in an antique store. Whitewashed exposed brick walls are adorned with sliding barn doors and plant holders carryingbloomingorchids. Daylight streamsthrough thepicture windows. By early afternoon,the restaurant hademptied, the staff pausing forthreehours of stillness before reopening for the dinner rush. Rainosek closed the doors, asmallMichelin Guide hanging near the entrance. Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.

STAFFPHOTO By IAN MCNULTy

NobleSouthrestaurant on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile has afarm-to-table approach.

Deviled eggs are served as an appetizer at The NobleSouth, afarm-totableconcept in Mobile, Alabama.

STAFF PHOTO By POETWOLFE

The chicken pesto sandwich paired withaside of Brussels sprouts.

Smallalligator is rescuedinBoston’sCharles River

BY RODRIQUE NGOWI and PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press

BOSTON It wasn’ta croc —there really was an alligator on the loose in Boston. And the story of the city’s slithering saurian appears to havea happy ending. The small alligator, spotted along the Charles River in Boston multiple times thisweek, has been rescued and delivered to safety,wildlife officials in Massachusetts said Thursday

The roughly foot-long crocodilian startled afew peopleand became an instant social mediastar after confused onlookerstook videos of it slipping out of sight

Butthe animalisnot native to Massachusetts,and couldn’tpossibly survive the harsh New England winter,sothe search for the wayward gator wason.

Alocal wildlife educator capturedthe critter on Wednesday night, and it’snow awaiting apermanent home, officials said. Harvard University graduate student Whitney Lieberman was among the residents whocaught aglimpse of the exotic visitor.She notified wildlife authorities when

BY SAFIYAH RIDDLE Associated Press

It was afoggy October afternoon on the central California coastwhenthe

Marine Mammal Center got acall on their publichotline: there were distressed cries coming from the frigid watersinMorro Bay

The center’sexperts were able to determine thatthe calls —which sounded almost like ahuman baby screeching —were coming from aroughly 2-week-old sea otter pup that had been separated from its mother That could be deadly for young sea otters, according to Shayla Zink, who worksat the center in Morro Bay

“That pup is really relying on everything it learns from themother to be ableto surviveinthe ocean,” Zink said, adding that amother sea otter cares for her pup for up to nine months, often carrying her small baby on her chest

The employees at the center, with thehelpofthe Morro BayHarbor Patrol jumped into action.

First, they put the baby otter,who they named “Caterpillar,” into acontainer where it wouldn’toverheat. Then, they recorded the pup’sfrantic cries

The plan was to boat around the area blasting the sound of the baby through a speaker to lure the mother toward the boat. They used arecording because they were worried the pup would get tired and stop screaming. It wouldn’tbeeasy,but it wasn’tthe first time thata sea otterpup hadbeenreunited with its mother that way —asimilar technique

she saw the creature while she was jogging to work.

“Yeah, Idid adouble-take. For a second, Ihad to check myself— alligators are not native to Boston waterways, right?” Lieberman said.

“I texted my co-workers becauseI hadamorning meeting:

‘Hey guys,this is agood excuse to be latefor work. There is an alligator right in front of me and I don’tknow what to do.’”

The animal was in jeopardydue to thechilly temperatures. It was 51 degreesalong theCharles on Thursday Alligators prefer temperatures

above 80 degrees. They are coldblooded and can’tregulate their own temperature,sotheyenter adormant, energy-saving state calledbrumation to survive colder temperatures. Joe Kenney,who runs awildlife education business calledJoe’s Craz-zyCritters, captured theal-

ligator,the Massachusetts DivisionofFisheries andWildlife said in astatement.Itsaidthe state has temporarily authorizedKenneyto keep it fornow while it evaluates wheretofind along-term place for it.

Kenney, of Abington, Massachusetts,saidthe alligator,being young andjust afoot long, is basically harmless to humans. He said he locateditbywalking in the area where it was last reported andwas “a littleshocked” when he found it.

He said fans of the reptile have reached outtohim andsome askedtoname it “Charles.”

Kenney said the animal was probablysomeone’simpulse purchase, but not agood idea for a pet.

“An alligator isn’tdesigned to live in afish tank. Really,ideally,it should be living outinthe swamp in the southern UnitedStates,” Kenney said.

“And they can get pretty big. So even though this guy is still little,bythe time he’s somewhere around 10, 15 years old, he’ll be an adult alligator.”

Adultalligators can grow to more than11feetlongand weigh more than500 pounds. The wildlife departmentsaid the alligator’sappearance is still underinvestigation, but addedit was mostlikely apet that escaped or was intentionally released.

hadbeen used in2019.

The center presides over marine mammals that live acrossapproximately 600 milesofCalifornia coastline, but the small crew was determined, searching for two hours and playingthe screeching cry nonstop, Zinksaid

Eventually,a femaleotterpoppedher head above water andfollowed the boat, which is behavior thatZink said wasn’tnormal since otters typically only sleep,eat and groom their thick, furry coats —uninterestedinhumans on boats. But this femaleotter was persistent, Zinksaid.

Eventually,oncetheyfelt certain that theotter was looking for her baby,the Zink lowered the pup into thewater

Videoshows the mother swimmingovertoher baby, who floats helplesslyonits back.

Eventually,the mom grabs her babyinher arms andappears to smell him, running her small hands over its

dense fur

“I definitely cried abit,” Zinksaid.

Thereunion hasbiggersignificance to the region, where sea otters play acrucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of marshy banks and preserving biodiversity.

By the1920s,sea otters were nearly wiped out by centuries of industrial-scale hunting for theirfur pelts, decimatingaglobalpopulation that once stretched from Alaska to California, as well as intoRussia and Japan.

Hunting bans and habitat restoration efforts helped southern sea otters recover some of their former range, but Zink said that there are still only roughly3,000 southernsea otterslocated in the California region.

“It’s just areally special moment to be able to reunite this threatened species with itsmother,becauseany and every individualinthis population is so,soimportant to keepingitgoing and bringing it back from that threat status,”Zink said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByRODRIQUENGOWI

JoeKenneyholds an alligator he rescued after it was discovered in Boston’sCharles RiveronThursday in Abington, Mass.

PROVIDED PHOTO By THE MARINE MAMMALCENTER Southernsea ottersswim in Morro Bay, Calif.

Editingvideo takesonnew significance afterBBC uproar

BY DAVID BAUDER AP media writer

In the space of afew months, ajournalisticskill that might seem straightforward to many viewers editing tape for broadcast has been behind a$16 million legal settlement, anetwork’s change in how it offers interviews on anews show and, now,the resignation of two top leaders at the BBC.

The other common denominator: President Donald Trump.

Britain’sBBC is reeling following the resignationsof its director-general, TimDavie, and newschief Deborah Turness amid accusations of bias in the editingoflast year’sdocumentary,“Trump:

ASecond Chance.” The BBC admitted filmmakers spliced together quotes from different sections of the speech Trump made before the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol to make it seem like he was directly urging violence.

Trump sued CBS’ parent company over a“60 Minutes” edit of Kamala Harris’ interview,resulting in this summer’ssettlement, and the complaints of his Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, about her“Face the Nation” interview in August caused apolicy change. In adifferent time, the BBC episode would likely have led to aquick admission of amistake,acorrection, apology and everyone would have moved on, said Mark Lukasiewicz, aformer NBC News executive and now dean of Hofstra University’s School of Communication “But in an erawhere everyeditingdecision taken in anewsroom is now under amicroscope and canbe weaponized for political purposes,” he said, “it’sgot to be something that is causing real caution in newsrooms all over the world now.”

Editingdecisions

Questioning edits is an-

othertoolfor thepresident to strike back at journalists who displease him.Hehas restricted accessbyThe Associated Press after its decision not tofollow his lead in renaming the Gulf of Mexico, sued outlets like The New York Times and Wall Street Journal and stripped funding for public broadcasting because he doesn’tlikeits newscoverage. Much like print reporters whosearchthrough notebooksfor theperfect quote, video editors often laborto identify footagethat will advancea story.

Sometimes theperfect imagedoesnot exist, or aquote isn’tas succinct or sharp as amediumunderconstant time constraints demands. Thatcan lead to the temptation to rearrangeoreven manipulate NBCNews got in trouble morethana decade agofor astory about George Zimmerman —who fatally shot Trayvon Martin,a young manwho wasinhis Florida gated community.Itquoted Zimmerman talking to apolice dispatcher about Martin, saying “thisguy looks like he’suptonogood. He looks Black.”

In reality,Zimmerman’s description of Martin’sactivities last longer,and his speculation about Martin’s race was adirect responseto apolice dispatcher’s question about it. Zimmerman sued NBC News for libel, acase later thrown out by ajudge. NBCapologized to itsviewers. Katie Couric apologized in 2016 when an editor for her “Underthe Gun” documentary inserted an eight-second pause after footage of Couric questioningguns right activistsabout background checks. The activists actually responded right away Quotes compressed

In the BBC edit, different parts of Trump’s2021Capitol speech are edited to appear as asinglequote: “We’re go-

ing to walk down to theCapitoland I’ll be therewithyou. And we fight.Wefight like hell.”

But thesecond two sentences of that quotewere actually said nearly an hour later than the first sentence, and partofhis speech where he said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully was omitted.

In an interview that aired Tuesday on Fox News, Trump said, “I guess Ihave to” sue the BBC.“Because Ithink theydefraudedthe public and they’ve admitted it.”

In teaching video editing to students at Syracuse University,Jamie Hoskins said she repeatedly emphasizes the need not to be misleading. She’saformer news producer who worked in New York City,Washington, D.C.and Buffalo, New York.

“I talkabout that in every classatevery level,”she said. “You don’twant to mischaracterize what people are saying or change their meaning by piecing things together.”

Theproliferation of video —evershorter, ever snappier —onTikTok and Instagram adds to pressure placed on journalists. The ability of AI to manufacture completely falsevideo is yet another complication. Fake, racist video of Black food assistance recipients complainingabout missing benefits due to thegovernment shutdown spread online;a Fox News digital story linked to someofthe videos earlier this monthand had to be corrected.

“There is adifference between content and journalism,” Hoskins said.

Protectagainst complaints

At the root of Trump’scomplaint about “60 Minutes” was an exchange between correspondent Bill Whitakerand Kamala Harris, the president’sopponent in last year’selection. CBS aired two different reports —on “60Minutes”and “Facethe

Nation” —depictingHarris giving twodifferent answers to aWhitaker question about the war in the Mideast. CBSNews saidboth responseswerepartofHarris’ long-winded answer to the same question. But to people who saw bothbroadcasts, theeffect was jarring; other news outletssay they have a strictpolicy,when they show an interviewer posing aquestion,that theimmediate, direct response is aired.

CBS News defended it as routine editing. But it gave Trump an opening to charge that it was done to benefit Harris’ campaign.

“I don’tthink the practices and standards are worse today than they were afew years ago,” Lukasiewicz said. “I think the consequences of mistakes are moreserious than perhaps they used to be,” he said, because of the ability and willingness of politicians to seize on them

In Noem’spretaped talk with “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan this summer,the Homeland Security secretary complained CBS News had “shamefully edited the interview to whitewash the truth.” The network hadshortened the interview,removing some accusations Noem had made about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the immigrant deportedbythe Trump administration.

Nomination deadline extendedfor BatonRouge TopWorkplaces

There’sstill time to earn recognition as aBaton RougeTop Workplace.

For the firsttime, TheAdvocatewillhonor outstandingworkplace cultureinthe region with theTop Workplacesawards. Any organization with 35 or more employeesinthe region is eligible to compete. Standout companieswillbehonored in early2026.

ThenominationdeadlinehasbeenextendedtoDec.19.Anyonecan nominateanoutstandingcompanyforaTopWorkplacesaward.Nominees canbepublic,private,non-profit,aschool,orevenagovernmentagency. Tonominateanemployerorformoreinformationontheawards,justgoto theadvocate.com/nominate

Thereisnocosttoparticipate.ToqualifyasaBatonRougeTop Workplace,employeesevaluatetheirworkplaceusingashort26-question surveythattakesjustafewminutestocomplete.Companieswillbe surveyedthroughJanuary

Energage,thePennsylvania-basedresearchpartnerfortheproject, conductsTopWorkplacessurveysformediain65marketsnationwideand surveyedmorethan2millionemployeesatmorethan8,000organizations inthepastyear.

Nominate an employer. Go to theadvocate.com/nominate or scan the QR Code

THEADVOCATE.COM | Sunday, november 16, 2025 1bn

Prairieville gets marijuana dispensary

It’s the third in the region for Capitol Wellness

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

The region’s third and final medical marijuana dispensary opened this month in Prairieville.

Capitol Wellness Solutions, Baton Rouge’s medical marijuana retailer, launched its 17097 Airline Highway location last week and will celebrate its grand opening Saturday The dispensary has locations on Picardy Avenue and O’Neal Lane. Randy J Mire, founder and CEO of Capitol Wellness Solutions, said he selected Prairieville as the last outpost because of the area’s high patient volume.

Court rules for public victim testimony

Melanie Curtin previously convicted of rape in 2021

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD

Staff writer

A trial court judge was wrong in ruling that the public could not be allowed in the courtroom for parts of testimony during the new rape trial of a Livingston Parish woman linked to a former deputy’s sex crimes case, an appeals court said.

The Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled Thursday that 21st Judicial District Court Judge Brian Abels abused his discretion and did not have a “substantial reason” for saying that the public, but not the media, could be excluded during parts of an alleged adult victim’s testimony during Melanie Curtin’s new rape trial.

Curtin, 46, of Denham Springs, was originally convicted of rape in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2022. Later, in 2023, the Court of Appeal ruled that Curtin must receive a new trial, saying the court “improperly admitted evidence that unfairly prejudiced the defendant.”

The Court of Appeal’s ruling comes after Abels said last month he would partially close the courtroom when a video of an alleged incident played during the trial, according to court transcripts.

The video was credited as strong evidence by prosecutors during the original 2021 trial The public and the media were not allowed in the courtroom when the video was played at that time, according to court transcripts.

The Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case and has requested that during the new trial this month, the courtroom be closed to the public when the alleged victim in the case testifies.

“There are provisions in the law to protect vulnerable witnesses when they testify We’re asking that the same protection be applied to our victim,” Attorney General Liz Murril said in a September statement Lester Duhé, press secretary for the Attorney General’s Office, said Friday that the office does not have a comment on the Court of Appeal’s ruling at this time.

Curtin, a former real estate agent and a former employee of the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, was one of the defendants to face charges following a probe into former Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dennis Perkins. Perkins and his ex-wife, Cynthia, were convicted of varying degrees of sex crimes involving children, ranging from child pornography to inserting bodily fluids onto cupcakes served to junior high students.

Curtin’s case did not involve children, but she was accused of helping Perkins rape and film an unconscious woman in 2014.

Capitol Wellness Solutions has more than 3,500 patients from Prairieville, and overall customer growth across all stores grew 30% from 2024 to 2025. State law

allows marijuana retail permit holders to open a location in their region, along with two “satellite” locations, after reaching 3,500 patients at their first location and 7,000 at their first two locations.

Mire attributes the growth to the simplification of the process to obtain a medical marijuana card.

Prospective patients can obtain a card online by going through an

evaluation with a telemedicine provider, who will then send the patient’s recommendation to the dispensary Out-of-state visitors with a medical marijuana card can purchase from Louisiana dispensaries by presenting their card, ID and filling out a visiting patient form.

“I’ve seen how this has been life-changing for so many patients,” Mire said.

Mire said he is proud that from the time of selling the first medical marijuana product in 2019 to

the opening of the Prairieville location, the dispensaries have been able to treat conditions from insomnia to cancer The average Capitol Wellness Solutions patient is a 42-year-old female seeking to treat anxiety or aid their sleep.

The Prairieville location has 14 staff members, and Mire says he plans to hire a few more. Its inventory is largely similar to the other two locations’ offerings,

Board recommends industrial zoning

Council

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Amid plans for major industrial projects in West Ascension Parish, the zoning commission this week recommended enlarging an area zoned for industry over the objections of nearby residents and environmentalists. Located along La. 405 and comprising 238 acres, the collected properties are currently

zoned for conservation and used for agriculture, according to the rezoning application submitted by Ascension Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Kate MacArthur The land is located adjacent to property purchased by CF Industries for its planned $4 billion ammonia plant,

ABOVE: Employees from the Marsh McLennan Agency walk the Downtown Greenway along North Boulevard on Thursday.

LEFT: One employee walks in a turkey costume.

Key structure of old Shell refinery demolished

Closed Convent structures removed for expansion

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

A central piece of a closed crude oil refinery in Convent recently came crashing down as Shell Oil shifts the nearly 60-yearold complex toward making renewable fuels, company officials confirmed. The cat cracker and cat cracker reactor structure were demolished in a planned takedown this past weekend that was captured on video and posted on social me-

dia. A Shell spokesperson and the St. James Parish president confirmed the demolition this week after being informed of the video.

“This was part of Shell’s planned demolition exercise, and they have been communicating with the parish for quite some time now,” Parish President Pete Dufresne said in a statement. The video shows the familiar bulbous reactor vessel at the top of the cat cracker and another structure of entwined pipes coming down, with dust and audible cheers rising in the aftermath. The person who shot the video and posted it on social

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Delgadocollege recruiting recent high school grads

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

When Kenroy Mejia wasa senior at Bonnabel High School inMetairie last year, the honor-roll student had his choice of universities across the state.

But he settled on Delgado Community College,a two-year institution in New Orleans where he had taken afew dual enrollment courses during highschool. 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 hisbelt.

“I’m an accounting major,” he said recently.“Ikind of did the math.”

Delgado administrators hope more students like Mejia will come to asimilar conclusion.

Community colleges,whichgenerally admit any eligiblestudents whoapply,have long enrolled a population that is older and more racially diversethan the traditional university undergrad. Many community college studentstake classes part-time whilebalancing work and family obligations.

But Delgado, which has five campuses in the greater New Orleans region, has ramped up itsrecruitment of highschoolers, arguing that they can save money by beginning their college careers at Delgado before transferring toa four-year institution. The efforts appear to be paying off: Notonly is overall enrollment rebounding af-

ZONING

Continued from page1B

MacArthur gave abrief overview of the area as she spoke on behalf of the property owners at the meeting, saying the property falls within the West Bank Industrial Overlay District created by the parish council in 2015. ABaton Rouge Area Chamber article published at the time quoted aformer Ascension Economic Development Corporation CEO as saying the plan was to turn the area into a“wellplanned, ‘shared services’ business and industrial complex.”

That roughly 17,000-acre corner of the parish has attracted plans for the CF Industriesplant,a$5.8billion Hyundai steel mill and a separate $7.5 billion ammonia facility from the Texas company CleanHydrogen Works.

Such proposals have also brought pushback from localresidents, many of whom can trace their property ownership there to the Civil War. Some appeared at the meeting along with advocacy groups, suchasthe New Orleans-based Louisiana Bucket Brigade, which has opposed the plants for environmental and health reasons Louisiana BucketBrigade Director Anne Rolfes asked thecommissiontooppose the rezoning and argued that thetaxpayer money expected to pay for upgrades in the area could be put to better use. In total, taxpayers are expected to fund around $600 million for land purchases, roads, rail upgrades anda newworkertraining facility

“This is an issue that affects everybody in this state. It’snot simply an Ascension Parish issue,” she said. “Not only because of the emissions issue, but also because of the huge amount of taxpayer money that is being used to prop up this project.”

Delgado CommunityCollegestudent KenroyMejia works in class at the collegeinNew Orleans on Thursday. Meija decided to

ter apandemicslump, but the numberofstudents heading to Delgado right afterhigh school —while still small— hasbeentrending up. “What we say at Delgado is you can start here and go anywhere,” said Tamika TysonDuplessis, the college’sassociate vice chancellor for student affairs. “And we’reseeing more and more students take advantageofthose options.”

Intentionalrecruiting

More youngstudentsare choosing Delgado.

Traditionally,the college’saverage student has been around 27

yearsold,Duplessissaid. While the majority of students arestill 25 or older,anincreasingnumberofnew enrollees are 17 or 18 years old, according to statistics provided by Delgado

Thenumber of students in the 17-18 agegrouphas grown nearly 40% over the past four years, from 974 students in fall 2021 to 1,333 students thisfall. Last school year, about 21% of Delgado’sroughly 20,000students wereunder 20 yearsold Schoolleaderssay theyounger students have brought anew vibrancytocampus: Hallways and

labs are bustling, students throw footballs on thequad and parking spotsare hard to come by

“Wefeel the energy,” Duplessis said.“There’savibe at Delgado and it’s growing.

Across the state, morestudents are heading to community colleges straightfrom high school, accordingtoofficials in the Louisiana Communityand Technical College System.However,they declined to provide exact numbers or answer questions about the trend.

At least at Delgado, the trend is intentional.

Over the past fewyears, Delgado hasengaged in targeted recruitment of recent high schoolstudents, Duplessis said. It hasexpanded dual enrollment, which allows high school students to take college classes, and strengthened relationships with local high schools. Delgado staffers host on-siteapplication days at local high schools, campus “open house”events and FAFSA assistance days where they help prospective students apply forfederal financial aid.

“We’re opening thedoors, we’re becomingmoreaccessible,” Duplessis said, “so students are aware of our programs.”

In the 2023-24 school year,more than41,000 high schoolersacross the state took classesatpublic colleges and universities, anearly 60% increase in dual enrollment fromthree years earlier.About 40% of those studentstook classes at two-year community or technical colleges,accordingtothe Boardof Regents

Delgado also ramped up programs aimed at studentretention. This year,itbegan participating in “One Million Degrees,” aprogram thatprovidesextra support and mentoring to students,aswell as “micro-scholarships” that students access by meeting benchmarks like regular attendance, good grades and registering forclasses early Steppingstone

On arecent Thursday 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 readied his penand notebook fora lectureabout therise of Netflix and the fall of Blockbuster An accounting major,heexpects to earnhis general education credits at Delgado and take some accounting and businessspecific courses. After twoyears, he plans to transfer to Tulane University or another four-year institution.

Along withthe affordable tuition —Mejia says he’ll pay nothing out of pocket after his Pell Grant and scholarships —Mejia said he appreciates Delgado’ssmallerclass sizes and the accessibility of administrators and professors.

Still, some people have questioned whysuch ahigh-achieving student would choose acommunity college like Delgado as asteppingstone on his way to afour-year degree.

“They go, ‘Why?’”Mejia said. “I just say,‘It’s better.’”

DISPENSARY

Continued from page1B

but thePrairieville outpost will include some interactive displays andpromotions to educate current and prospective patients. Dozensofclearcontainers with cannabisflower insidesit on atable in the dispensary.With atwist, a patientcan unlock asmall opening in the container, allowingthemto smell the product. Mire saidthe “smell jars” allow patients to get acloser look at the product before purchas-

ing.

Sixtypercent of Capitol WellnessSolutions patients consumeflower,and 20% consume THCgummies. The remaining 20% consume THCthrough vaping devices andtinctures.

ThePrairieville dispensary is also givingpatients a“munchies map,”acard listing restaurants where patients can receive a stampafter making apurchase andredeem prizes, including apre-roll, a3.5gram bag of flower,and a20% discount on apurchase. Theparticipating restaurants are Agave Blue Tequila and Taco

Bar,DirtSouth Sandwich House, Hannah QSmokehouse,Hot Tails Seafood andGeishaSushi with a Flair —all of which are in the same plaza as the dispensary

By involving localrestaurants, Miresaid the map will help break the stigma of medical marijuana. Since opening the first CapitolWellness Solutions dispensary on Picardy Avenue, the price of abag of flower hasdropped —bags come as low as roughly $30 wherepreviously the lowest pricewas around $60. The state’stwo li-

censed growers, Good Day Farm and Ilera Holistic Healthcare, have expanded to larger facilities andwidenedtheir capacity,which contributed to the price decrease, Mire said.

His long-term goals for thedispensaries areto continue growing the patientbaseand educating consumers on marijuana as a“therapeutic alternative.” He meetswith Good DayFarm and Ilera HolisticHealthcareevery quarter to discuss industry trends and products to add to his inventory

“I just feel we’re in are-

good spot to continue to educate patients and grow the program,” he said.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

CouncilOKs 73 single-familyhomes in Folsom

Zoning change approved,despite opponent arguments

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

New developments often meet resistance from aSt. Tammany Parish Council wary of upsetting residents concerned about traffic,flooding andachangein neighborhood character.

That may have been what some Folsom residents wearing red “Make Folsom Rural Again” hats were betting on at the council’s Nov.6meeting as they asked thecouncil to stopa developer’s request to change the zoning on 20 acres between Folsom and Covington in order to build 73 single-family homes in agated subdivision with aclubhouse and sidewalks.

The suburban development would clash with the surrounding horse and cattle farms, some of the residents argued. It would displace wildlife and also increase the traffic load, they said

“This would be an island amongst rural property,” said Matt Garver,one of dozens of people at the meeting opposed to the development on the west side of La. 25. But the developer’s proposed zoning change,which wasonappeal from aprevious denial by the parish’sPlanning andZoning Commission, wasn’tlike those the council usually considers.

Thanks to theproperty’sexisting zoning —amix of multifamily and highway commercial —the developer,LakeHills Subdivision LLC, alreadyhad the abilitytobuild up to 180apartments and commercial buildings without having to seek the

Folsom residents wearing ‘MakeFolsom Rural Again’ hats exit aSt. TammanyParish Council meeting Nov. 6 afterthe council approveda developer’szoning changefor a73-homedevelopment between Folsom and Covington.

Parish Council’sapproval, said Paul Mayronne, alawyer forthe developer Thepropertyhas been zoned forapartmentssince the1980s, Mayronne said. The proposed suburban subdivision would, if

anything, have significantly less of an impact on the surrounding area thanapartments, Mayronne argued. Indeed, technically,the developer was asking thecouncil to approve whatiscalled a“down-

zoning,” said theparish’sPlanning andDevelopment Director Ross Liner That put the council in an unusual situation. If they approved the downzoning, the developer wasalmost

certain to build 73 homes,upsetting the residents at the meeting. Butifthey did not, the developer couldatany pointbuild the180 apartments, something Mayronne said thedeveloper was prepared to do.

“I’ll tell you this —they’re not going to leave it there forthe deersand the rabbits and the butterflies,” council member Rick Smith told the crowd.

Council member David Cougle said the opposition “knocked it out of the park” with its “display,” butultimatelysaidhethought a gated community would be preferable to apartments.

Council member LarryRolling put it more bluntly

“Think about theoption you have here:It’sthe lesser of two evils,” Rolling said. Someresidents were skeptical that thedeveloper would ever actually build apartments, since it has had the abilitytodososince the1980s. But council member KathySeiden said she had spoken with thedeveloper.“It is not athreat,itisimminent,” she said.

Council member MarthaCazaubon, whosedistrict the development will go in, agreed. “I know for afact that something is going to go there.”

The council unanimously voted to approve the zoning change, overturning the earlier denial by thePlanning and Zoning Commission, and giving thedeveloper the green light to go forward with the new homes In astatement, Garver said that neither the single-family homes nor the apartments were consistent with thesurrounding area and that nearby residents were “disappointed by thecouncil’s decision.”

Email Willie Swett at willie swett@theadvocate.com.

media could not be reached by Fridayfor permissionto publish it. It has since been deleted.

Acommon piece of equipment in oil refineries, acat cracker turns heavy crude oil into gasoline, which was one of the old oil refinery’s main products.

Even before the dramatic removal of the cat cracker, Shell had demolished other pieces of the oil refinery in ayearslong process to remake its operations in the parish andwas continuing

the work Friday morning with another expected “controlled demolition ” “Some residentsmay notice loud noises during this time,” St.James Parish sheriff’s deputies saidina Facebook notice.“Shellhas safety measures in place and will monitor thearea during and after the demolition.”

Shell planstolocate afuturerenewablelow-carbon fuelsplant on99acres of the former refinery where demolition has been happening. About 200 more acres next to the refinerythat has been in sugarcaneproduction will be used for arail spur and loading complex,

according to statepermit records.

Replacingfossilfuel

The refinery wasa major employer andtaxpayer in the region before Shell idled it in late 2020. Built and opened by Texaco in 1967, therefinery later became part of joint ventures before Shell owned it fully in 2017.

In 2020, the oilmajor announced theshutdown after failing to find buyers for the 240,000-barrel-per-dayoil complex. At the time,Shell saiditwas trying to reduce thenumber of itspetroleum refineries and focus on integrated chemical and

oil complexes andrenewable fuels.Shell says it is striving to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to help limit global temperature increases tied to those emissions.

Located near the Sunshine Bridge,the refashionedfacility along the Mississippi River is expected to turn up to 6,000 tonsper dayof waste animal fats and vegetable oilintorenewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, propane, butaneand naphtha.

“Produced products will provide environmental benefits by replacing fossilfuel-based products in themarketplace,” Shell of-

ficials told regulators in an August 2022 permit application.

The shift at Convent is projected to mean sharp reductions in particulate pollution, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases, but less so for toxicair pollutants, though some, like sulfuric acidand hydrogen cyanide, will be nearly or completely eliminated.

Evenwith the reductions, the complex expects to remainamajor emitter of all those pollutants. Due to the largereductions, Shellwas notrequired to modelthe cumulative impact of future air emissions, according to permit documents. Toxic emissions are expected to total up to 673 tons peryear.VOCs areexpected to total nearly 1,854 tons peryear. Shell told regulators thatbackground airquality is expected to remain within federal and state limits. Shell expects thefacility to have about 85%less greenhouse gas emissions than therefinery did about252,100 tons peryear —and producearenewable dieselthathas reduced tailpipe emissions on the road DavidJ.Mitchellcan be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

STAFFPHOTO By WILLIE SWETT

Bourgeois, Darren

Serenity Events Center at Noon.

Obituaries

Cherbonnier, Maria Siebert

Maria Siebert Cherbonnier passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the age of 78. She wasborn on November 29, 1946, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Arthur Siebert and Margaret Smith Siebert. Her family later moved to Baton Rouge, andin1964, Maria graduated from RedemptoristHigh School. She furthered her education by receiving her Master's in Education from Louisiana State University This allowed Maria to pursue her lifelong career as an educator. Her passion for teaching was evident to everyone that met her and the impact that she had on students is immeasurable. She began teaching at her alma mater, Redemptorist High School later becoming their assistant principal. Maria retired from Woodlawn High School. This was the culmination of over 40 years of teaching in the East Baton Rouge PublicSchool System. She was preceded in death by her parents. Maria is survived by daughter, Christine Cherbonnier Wesley and her husband Jeremy; and her beloved grandchildren Philip B. Wesley and Emilia A.J. Wesley. She is also survived by her brother, Arthur Siebert and his wife; as well as numerous other family and friends. Maria faith was her peace. She was aparishioner at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church for over 50 years. The epitome of a teacher, she was confident, focused and disciplined. She exuded these traits in the classroom and outside, but her family, especially her grandchildren knew the softer side. She loved cats, and loathed cooking! Maria contributed to numerous Catholic organizations and to local animal shelters. We find comfort in knowing that her legacy lives on through her family and former students. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 9150 Highland Road in Baton Rouge.A Visitation will be held at the church beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. For those so desiring, memorialsinhonorof Maria Siebert Cherbonnier may be made to the Greater Baton RougeFood Bank. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com

Robert Lee

Robert L. Cook, acherished husband, father, brother and respected member of his community passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025. He leaves behind his beloved wife; Betty Cook and three sons, Ray Cook Sr. (Barbara),Robert M. Cook (LaTrinka),and Ryan Cook (Ingrid). Visitation will be from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM. on 2025-11-18 at Oasis ChristianChurch, 45 24 E. Brookstown Drive. Afuneral service will be held afterwards at 11:00 AM

Danny Daniel, Sr ,a nativeofLakeCharles and resident of Baton Rouge, passed awaypeacefully Wednesday,November 12, 2025with his beloved wife of 44 years, Mary,and his faithful dog, Molly, by his side.

An original employeeof Moody Price when it was founded in 1955, Danleft thecompanybefore returning in 1967 to open the company's firstbranch in Lake Charles and later acquired the business in 1985. Known for hisdedication,generosity,and unwaveringleadership, Dan guided Moody Price throughdecades of challenges and growth. His commitment to his employees and community was unmatched, supporting causes such as St. Jude Children's Hospital, Folds of Honor, and his alma materCatholicHigh School.His influence continues to shape the company's culture and values.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Debbie Fralixand Donna (Lee)Duplichan; son, Danny (Carol) Daniel Jr.; seven grandchildren;Justin Herpin, Adam (Lauryn) Herpin, Jill (Matt) Karam,Alec (Georgia) Daniel, Carol Ann (Blake)Savoie, Sara Daniel, Tripp Daniel; ten greatgrandchildren;brother, Doug(Paula)Daniel;and sister, Florence(Ben) Aiken. He is preceded in death byhis father,MartinDaniel and mother, Eula Daniel. Dan's legacy lives on through his family, the company he loved, andthe countlesslives he touched

Aprivate servicewill be held Monday, November 17th followed by areception at the home of Danny and Carol Daniel from4:00 to 7:00. In lieuofflowers, please send donationstoFolds of Honor or St. Jude Children'sHospital.

Flentroy, Catherine

Catherine B. Flentroy

Enteredinto eternalrest at herdaughter's home in Baton Rouge,Louisiana,on Saturday, November8, 2025. Shewas a96-year-old native of Haynesville, Louisiana;a resident of Baker, Louisiana; and aretirededucatorfromthe East Baton Rouge School System. Catherine was a charter memberofthe Grambling State University Delta Iota Chapter andthe MindenAlumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.A visitation willbeheldat Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Friday, November 21, 2025 from68:00 pm; Knights of Peter Claver LadiesofGrace Ceremony Constance Butler Chapter9 at 7:00 pm and DeltaSigmaTheta Omega Omega Service at 7:15 pm; viewing resumes at the church on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 9:00 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00amconducted by Rev. Thomas F. Clark, SJ;interment at Southern Memorial Gardens. She leaves to cherishher memories her devoteddaughters, DaphneFlentroy,Baton Rouge; and Vonda Flentroy-Rice (Charles), New Orleans, Louisiana; grandchildren, Ryan Rice, Sr.(Seane), NewOrleans; Britt Ashley Dawson(Yancey), Baker; Jordan Rice(Ashlei), Chicago,Illinois;and CharlesRice, III, NewOrleans; sixgreatgrandchildren;sister-inlaw, PhyllisBridgeman, Austin,Texas; nieces, nephews otherrelatives and friends. Arrangements entrustedtoMiller& Daughter Mortuary.

Jr., Rev. Walter

Howard

Howard,Jr.,Rev.Walter. Also known as Mwawaza Changamari, entered intoeternal rest at hisresidence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 11, 2025 at the ageof76. He was a1967 graduateofCapitol H.S. Viiewing at ElmGrove Baptist Church on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 11:00 am until CelebrationofLife Service at noon conducted by Rev. Errol Domingue; interment at Louisiana National Cemetery. Survivors includehis devoted wife, OpheliaJ.Howard;children,JermaineGordon, Port Allen, Louisiana; KimaadaLuster(Akintunde), Atlanta, Georgia;Zuri H. Simmons (Jeremy), Zachary, Louisiana; and Reginald Jackson, Baker, Louisiana; siblings, Leola Howard,Houston, Texas; Hilda Carter, LarryHoward, Rosa Netter (Wilbert),Rose Trosclair, and Eddie Mae Rogers, allofBaton Rouge; EugeneHoward(Leona), Addis, Louisiana; and Eula Brooks, Zachary; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. Arrangementsentrusted to Miller& Daughter Mortuary.

Arnold

TheLordcalledCamille ArnoldMenziehomeon November10, 2025. She was aresidentofBaton Rouge.Camillewas born onDecember13, 1927, in Woodhaven, Louisiana. She was preceded in deathby her parents, EdwinR.and GladysT.Arnold, hersister, JeanGilliam,her firsthus‐band, CharlesMiley,and her second husband, Richard Menzie.She is sur‐vived by herstepdaughter, FlorieClaireWebb, her manyniecesand nephews, and ahostofdearfriends Camille acceptedGod’s gift ofeternal life offered through faith in Jesusthe Christ. Shewas afaithful memberofthe Campus Bible Classand supporter ofRadio BibleCourses,a nondenominational min‐istry of Christianlayper‐sons. Camilleloved our country andthe ideals and principlesonwhich it was founded.She believed in traditional values of mar‐riage,hardwork, honesty, friendship, loyalty, and perseverance. Afaithful wife, Camillewas devoted toeachofher husbands, separated only by deathin accordancewithher wed‐dingvows. Shehad agen‐tle,quiet spirit.She was kind, considerate, andgen‐uinelyconcerned aboutthe well-beingofothers. Camille conductedherself withdignity andgrace.She was an inspirationto many. During hercareer, she worked in theaccount‐ing andbanking industries She enjoyed fishing, do‐mesticand international travel,particularlyMexico,

andspendingtimewith familyand friends. She was an avid fan of LSU football. Whiledifficult to express in only afew words,the summationof the life of CamilleArnold Menzieis: Christian, pa‐triot,wife, sister,aunt friend. Sheisnow in God’s lovingarmswhich is the destiny of allwho have placedtheir faith in Jesus for theremission of their sins. “For Godsoloved the world that he gave Hisonly begottenSon,thatwho‐everbelievesinHim should not perish buthaveever‐lasting life.” John 3:16.Visi‐tationwillbegin at 8:30 AM onSaturday, November 22 2025, followed by amemor‐ial serviceat10:00 AM in the chapel at Greenoaks FuneralHome, 9595 Florida Boulevard,Baton Rouge. Memorialdonations may bemadetoRadio Bible Courses,POBox 14916, Baton Rouge, LA 70898 (www.rbcword.org). We ask that youpleasesign the online guestbook at www.dignitymemorial com.

MaryJane"Jeanie" Miley, adevoted woman of faith and family,talented designer, and passionate worldtraveler passed away peacefullysurrounded by family on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Port Allen, Louisiana, at theage of 84, following acourageousbattlewith Alzheimer'sdisease.

BornApril 14, 1941, in Opelousas, Louisiana, Jeaniewas agraduate of Port Barre HighSchool and pursuedher passion by earning adegree in Interior Design and working as an InteriorDesignerinBaton Rouge and NewOrleans for many years. In her spare time, she also enjoyed designing jewelry. Atrue global citizen,Jeanietraveled to six of theseven continentsand was a skilledlinguist.She was activeinorganizations including Friendship Force, The RedHat Society of BatonRouge,The Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Society, and The United Methodist Church. Jeanie is survivedbyher loving children: daughters, Debby Marshall Cazes and Cynthia Norville (Larry), and son, ChrisResweber (Elizabeth). She wasa beloved grandmother to Courtney Marshall Johnson (Joshua); Jefferey Marshall (Victoria);CaseyMarshall(Jessica); Corey Resweber; Meghan Resweber;Cole Norville(Christina); Austin Norville; and Cody Norville (Charissa). Her legacy continues through eleven great-grandchildren. The family extendsdeepgratitude to her daughter, Debby Cazes, forher selfless care during Jeanie's decade-long illness. The family also wishes to thank caregiver Wanda Leach and theAmedisys Hospice team fortheir ongoing support. Relatives and friends are invitedto attend theFuneral Service at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Resthaven FuneralHome,

11817 JeffersonHighwayin Baton Rouge.The visitation will be held at thefuneralhomebeginningat 1:00 p.m. Intermentwill followatResthaven Gardens of Memory. For those so desiring,memorialsinhonor of Mary Jane"Jeanie" Mileymay be made to Alzheimer'sServicesofthe Capital Area.(https://alzbr .org/donate/). Familyand friends may also view a more detailed obituaryand sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamilyat: www.resthav enbatonrouge.com

Monroe, Mary Oneida Carey

MaryOneidaCarey Monroe, wasbornonJanuary 26, 1930, in amilltown calledDobbinsville,near NewCastle, Delaware. As a teenager she joined aPentecostalchurch that changedthe courseofher life. It wasthere shemet hermentor andfriendRita SuttonKelly.WhenRita moved to Chicago,she sent for Oneida to join her. They foundemploymentat theYouth for Christ organization anddid clerical work for ayoung pastor, Billy Graham. They lived at arescuemission for women andfrequentlyconducted servicesatJolietPrison Rita and Oneida also began aSundaySchool in a poor rural village in Cook County. ThereOneidamet herfuturehusbandJim Monroe, whoalong with otherstudents at Moody Bible Institute,wereestablishinga church.Jim and Oneida marriedonNovember23, 1950. They were marriedfor almost 70 years. Jimwas ordainedas aPresbyterian minister, and Oneida wasthe homemaker, artist, photographer,sculptor, writer, and educator. After raising two children, Oneida went back to school earning adegree in education, summa cum laude,fromthe University of Central Florida in 1976. Theymoved to Baton Rouge,Louisiana in 1980. Shebecame athird-grade educator for giftedstudentsuntilher retirement. They moved to Tallahassee,Florida in 2000, and resided in Westminster Oaks. Shedevoted herself to volunteering andtutoringchildreneven afterretirement andwas recognizedasvolunteer of the year by theLeonCounty School System.Oneida continuedtoserve the Presbyterian Church as a Stephen Minister, herown childrenreferredtoher as theSaint for shealways saw life in thebest of light andtook in those who were less fortunate. She passedpeacefullyon November 5, 2025, at the age of ninety-five. Oneida is survivedbyher daughter, Marty C. Monroe,son

daughter-in-law, Barbara Monroe, and grandson, Brian Monroe. Amemorial service will be held in JanuaryatSt. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Winston -Salem, North Carolina. In lieu of flowersthe family requests that adonation be made to yourlocal SecondHarvest Food Bank in hermemory BreannaGreen of Bevis Funeral Home (850-3852193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assistingthe familywith theirarrangements.

Mumphrey, Faye

Faye Mary Achee Mumphrey of Denham Springs, Louisiana, passed away peacefullywithher familybyher sideon November 13, 2025. She wasbornSeptember 28, 1931, in Smoke Bend, Louisiana. Faye wasa loving and devoted wife, mother,and grandmother.She wasa member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs. As amilitarywife,she supported herfamilythrough many moves and challenges, later dedicating over 20 years as afoster grandparent, touching countless lives with her kindness andgenerosity. Sheissurvived by her children: Wayne(Marilyn), Craig (Marion), Lolette Knox (Perry), Colette Bals (Tony), Jeffrey (Beth), SerenaChaboude(Magnus), and RachelFussell; 19 grandchildren; 25 greatgrandchildren; 3greatgreat-grandchildren;and numerousnieces and nephews. Faye wasprecededindeathbyher belovedhusbandof56 years, SFC Joseph Mumphrey; and herdaughter, Geralyn Dean Visitation will be on Monday, November 17, 2025, at RabenhorstFuneral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd,from5pm until8pm. Visitation will resume on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 865 HatchellLn, Denham Springs, LA, from 11am untilMass of Christian Burial at 1pm. Committal will followatGreenoaks Memorial Park.

MaryAchee

Miley, Mary Jane 'Jeanie'

Menzie,Camille

Cook,

OBITUARY OF RICHARD

LUDLAM NICHOLAS

Richard Ludlam Nicholas of Baton Rouge, who was the epitome of a southern gentleman, passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 95. He was born at the family home Reeveland on the James River in Buckingham, Virginia on October 28, 1930,the son of Frances Clay Ludlam Nicholasand Henry Reeve Nicholas. Richard was adirect descendant of Dr. George Nicholas(1695 -1734) and Elizabeth Carter (Burwell) Nicholas (1688-1734) of Williamsburg, the founders of the Virginia family.

Richard ("Dick") was predeceased by his first wife Nelia Sutton Nicholas, daughter Sara Shannon Nicholas, and his second wife Linda Woods (Barnett) Nicholas of 38 years. He is survived by his loving wife Joan Bodman (Covert) Nicholas of Baton Rouge, his beloved son Robert Carter Nicholas(Erin McCormick Nicholas) and two grandchildren Richard Taylor and Sarah Katherine Nicholas, whom he adored.

Other members of his surviving family include his stepsons Ewen Pascal Barnett III of New Orleans Walter Irving TenneyIII of Thibodaux, Louisiana, nieces Suzanne Arton Marriott of Tampa, Florida and Cary Nicholas Marriott Taylor of San Antonio, Texas, and nephews George Hampden Nicholas, Jr. of Marietta, Georgia and Overton Randolph Nicholas of Woodville, Mississippi He was preceded in death by his brother George Hampden Nicholas of Woodville, Mississippi and sister Florence Grattan Nicholas Marriott of San Antonio, Texas. Dick marriedJoan Darlington Bodman (Covert) in 2020, who he had known in New Orleans in the 1970's. Their love was rekindled after 50 years and they were blessed with 5years filled

with love and the joyofbeing together again. Dickattended elementary school in Scottsville,Virginia, graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond in 1948,and from the University of Virginia in 1952 with aBachelor of Arts Degree with Distinction.While at the Universityhewas a memberofthe Raven Society andlived on the Lawn. He receiveda Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Kansas in 1954 and afterwards workedfor Shell Oil Company for37yearsin various assignmentsin Texas and Louisiana before retiring in 1991as Chief Geologist

Dickreturnedtohis belovedVirginia in 1991 and began asecondcareer in retirement as the family genealogist and apassionate Civil Warand localhistorian. He compiled numerous reports on familyhistory, authored several books on the Civil Warand localhistory including "Sheridan's James River Campaign of 1865 Through CentralVirginia." In addition,hewrote twovolumes of the Virginia Regimental History Seriesand edited "The Tale of aBlack Sheep," the latter being the memoir of StevenPrice Maury, cousinofthe famous Oceanographer MatthewFontaine Maury. He also authorednumerous articles on local history forthe Magazine of Albemarle-Charlottesville History and served on the Board of Directors of that organization and the Scottsville, Virginia Museum.

Dick was especially proud to have to have beenthe grandson of George Henry Nicholasof The HermitageinBuckingham County, aConfederate veteran, and to have identifiedthe names of the forty Confederatesoldiers buried in the historic Scottsville, Virginia ConfederateCemetery. As a3rd cousin, thrice removed of Robert E. Lee, he was honored beyond measure to have had the privilege of introducing RobertE Lee IV andhis sister Mary Walker Lee Bowman, great-grandchildrenofLee,atthe ceremony in 1999 celebrating the restoration of the Lee statue in Charlottesville. Dick was alife-long memberofthe Episcopal Church and shared his faith as aconfirmation teacher in Episcopal

churches inHouston, New Orleans, and lastly at EmmanuelEpiscopalChurch in Greenwood, Virginia where he served for twenty-fiveyears. Amemorial service and celebrationofhis life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 11:00, with areception immediatelyfollowing at the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider agift to The St.JamesFoundation, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.

Page, Sharon

SharonElainePage, 83, of BatonRouge,LA, passed away on November 13, 2025 surrounded by loved onesinAtlanta, GA. Sharon was born October 6, 1942 in BatonRouge,the daughter of Margaret McCormick and Thomas A. McCormick Sr.. As achild, Sharon was known forher beautiful smile,helpful nature and love of animals. Sharon married John Page in 1984 in BatonRouge.Their life togetherblended hard work, love,and spending time with theirgrandchildren.Sharondedicated 45 years of hercareerworking at AT&Tbeforeretiring. During her retirement, Sharonloved spending time at her fishing camp in Pierre Part,LA. She enjoyed fishing,cooking, and laughing with her friends and family on the dock.

Remaining to cherish Sharon's memory are her daughter, JamieWillis; Step-sonWesleyPage(Luci); grandchildren, Dominique(Nathan), Cameron, Madelyne (Evan), Catherine, and Victoria; 3great-grandchildren,Esme, Nina, and Arthur; and sisters Cherie Hatcher, Kathy Sulfstede and SheilaLandry. Preceding Sharonindeathare her husband,John Page;and her parents, Margaret and Thomas McCormick.

Sharon's family would like to extend aheartfelt thank youtoFrancisca

Salas forher loving support, and to Fountainview Center forAlzheimer's Diseasefor their excellent care.

Ramagos, Paula Marie

Psalm 91 1. Whoever dwellsinthe shelter of the Most High willrest in the shadow of theAlmighty. 2. Iwillsay of the Lord,"He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom Itrust"

PaulaMarieRamagos, died peacefully in her home at theage of 69 surrounded by her family on November 12, 2025 in Madisonville, Louisiana. Paula was born on January 21, 1956, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Paulaloved her family fiercelyand wholeheartedly.She was devoted to her career in thenursing profession, working in surgical specialtiesand in longterm care administration. Known forher zest forlife, Paulaenjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family.She had aspecial gift formaking others laughand brought joy to those who knew her. She willbedeeplymissed by allwho knew and loved her.

Paulaissurvivedbyher mother Sadie Ramagos, her sisters,Linda R. House and Valerie RFudge,her nieces and nephews Vickie and WadeDuty, KellyR House, Michael E. House, Jessica L. Fudge,Justin and Stacy House, her great nieces and nephews, Kaleb Marcotte,Kelsey Marcotte, Grayson House, Lillian Duty and AubreyHouse,her greataunt BettiePogue and numerous other extendedfamily members including aunts and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Lloyd J. Ramagos, her brothers in law, Jesse Fudge and Edward House, her fiancé Lennis Conrad and her fur babies, Ollie,Friday Sam and Willy.

Aprivate family service with burial to follow willbe held at Greenoaks Cemetery in Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers,the family re-

quests memorial donationsbemade to Mary Byrd PerkinsCancerCenterorSt. Tammany Parish Animal Services. Hermemory willbe cherished by familyand friends, and herkindness andwarmth willliveonin theheartsofall whoknew her. To view andsignthe online guestbook, please visit www.greenoaksfunerals.c om andbrother-in-law,Jansen Pritchard. Yvonne enjoyed spending time withher familyand playing Pokeno with hercardgroup. Special thanks to herneighbors Mark andCarol Burgess for their love and devotion that wasshown to ourmother. Please share sympathies, condolences, and memoriesonline at www.wilbertservices.com.

Sharon,Yvonne

Yvonne Sharon, aloving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,sister andfriend, passedaway on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the age of 84. Shewas aresident andnative of Plaquemine,LA. Visitationwill be at St.John theEvangelist Catholic Church,Plaquemine on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 10am until Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm, celebrated by Father Jason Palermo.A rosarywillbe recitedat11am by the Catholic Daughters. Intermentwill follow at Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine. Sheissurvivedbyher daughters, Tammy Sharon Culmone and husband Joey, andTonya Sharon Simon and husband Terry; grandchildren, Eon Simon and wife Erin, andTerryn Simon; great-grandsons, Parkerand Wesley;brother,Peter Palermo and wife Charlene; nephew,Andrew Palermo;great nieces, Demi, Dilliah andDelainey; sister-in-law,Barbara Pritchard; brother-in-law Michael Sharon andwife Sue; niece, Margaret Pritchard; aunt, Rosalee LandryLindsey; andspecial friends, Frances Haydeland Gillie Courtade. Preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Boyce Sharon,Jr.; parents, Peter andMary LandryPalermo; aunt, Rita LandryTullier;

Sibley,Donna James DonnaJames Sibley, a residentofDenham Springs, and anative of Baton Rouge,passed away on Oct15. Shewas preceded in death by herparents, Mary Ancona andDonald James. Sheissurvived by herhusband, David; son, Brad Sibley, daughter, Cherie Bell (Tim Sr); grandchildren: AndrewSibley, ElijahThomas,Tim Bell II, andGabrielBell; sister, Carla James; nephew,TJ Reiprecht(Betsy); and great-niece, Elliana.A service will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in DenhamSprings, LA, 11/17/25, at 10:30 AM

Southworth, DonisP DonisPassman Southworth, age 90, of Baton Rouge,passed away peacefully at herresidence. Thefamilywould like to extendtheir heartfelt gratitude to hercaregiver,Mrs. Loisann Jackson of Always Best Care, andher nurse,Karli Parent of St.Joseph'sHospice,for theexceptional care and love they provided. Aprivategravesideservice will be held in accordance with herwishes.

OPINION

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. TO SEND US A

ticularly 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 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 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.

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.”

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

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

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

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.

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-

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.

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

THEADVOCATE.COM | Sunday, november 16,2025 1Cn

Pels fireGreen after2-10start

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 for 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 PortlandTrailBlazers about how he is handling the scrutiny that hascome with theteam’sslow start.

ä See PELICANS, page 2C

23

22

LSU ARKANSAS

RECORD: 6-4 UP NEXT: VS.WESTERNKENTUCKy,6:45 P.M. SATURDAy,SECN

‘W’ FORWILSON

Stadium.

LSU, interimcoach pull outall stopstoearnvictory over Arkansas

BYWILSON

ALEXANDER Staff writer

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 4C

Awin forwinning’s sake anice reprieve

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

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

Scott Rabalais

Willie Green AP

PHOTO By

GERALD HERBERT

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU quarterback Michael VanBuren, right,celebrates withwide receiver Barion Brown in theend zone after atouchdownagainst Arkansas in the fourthquarter on SaturdayatTiger

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Green’sstrongstart fizzled in end

Willie Green’stime in New Orleans will be remembered a lot like so many of the games he coached.

He got off to agood start.But in the end, he couldn’thold on to that early lead.

Southeasterndefense smothersIncarnate Word

SAN ANTONIO— Carson Camp threw for199 yards anda touchdown, and Southeastern put togethera strong defensive performance to beat Incarnate Word 10-7onSaturday. Southeastern scored the opening 10 points on a22-yard field goal by Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez and Camp’s37-yard connection with Deantre Jackson on the opening drive of the secondhalf. Incarnate Word covered 99 yards in 10 plays to getonthe boardwith Timothy Carter’s1-yard run with 4:21 remaining in the fourth. After Southeastern went three-and-out, Incarnate Word went 61 yards in 11 plays to setupa 38-yard field-goal attempt that deflected off the crossbar with seven seconds left.

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

Alcaraz, Sinner to meet with ATPFinalsonline

Green was fired Saturday morning, 12 games into his fifth season as Pelicanscoach Truth be told, Joe Dumars didn’t have to bring Green back this season. Dumars, hired in April as the executive vice president of basketball operations, could have looked at Green’s21-61record last season and said “No thanks.”

Instead, Dumars looked atthe season before that when Green —with ahealthy roster and more importantly ahealthy Zion Williamson —led the Pelicanstothe second-most victories in franchise history

It was fair to give him another shot.

Judge Green on his entire body of work and not justonone injury-riddled season that would have been hard for even icons such as Phil Jackson or Red Auerbach to endure.

See what Green could do witha healthy roster and anew boss.

Could Green get back to being the promising young coach whose wintotals increased in each of hisfirst three seasons from 36 to 42 to 49? Or was last season just the beginningofthe end?

It took Dumars just 12games to find his answer

The Pelicans lost their first six games, then managed to wintwo before losing four more.

After seeing the blowoutsand lack of effort in most of those games, Dumars had seen enough. He could live with the lack of wins, but it wasthe lackofeffort from the team that did Green in.

“Weflat out have to establish who we are going to be,” Dumars said Saturday.“We just can’t go out and play and go up anddown andnot have an identity.”

The Pelicans are oneofthe worst teams in the league. They lostthree of their first six games by 30points or more.

It was time to move in anew direction. The fans are so frustrated thatmany already havequiton the season with five monthstogo.

PELICANS

Continued from page1C

“The main thing for me is control what Ican control,” he said. “Continue to putthe focus on pouring into our players, pouring into our staff. Itotally understand the frustration. We arefrustrated as well. We want to go out and step on the floor,and we want to compete every night.Wewanttocompete every night and have achance to win more games.” That chance is now over for Green. James Borrego, who hasbeen an assistant under Green since 2023, will serve as interim head coach. Borrego spent three seasons as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets staring in 2018.

“Wehave faithinJames Borrego as the interim coach,”Dumars said. “He has sat in the head coaching seat before in the NBA, so he understands the job.” Dumars said the plan is for Borrego to coachthe remaining 70 games, beginning with Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors at the SmoothieKingCenter

Even more damaging was that the players seemed to quiton their coach. Green didn’tjustall of asuddenforget how to coach after those first three seasons when he became one of just three coaches in franchise history to lead the team to two playoff appearances Byron Scott and Monty Williams were the others.

Somewhere between those first three seasons and now, Green was unable toconnect with his players. They played as if they no longerbelieved in him. His messagewas no longergetting through.

Once acoach loses the locker room, the losses on the scoreboard will follow.Tobefair

Green wasn’talways dealtthe best hand. Williamson played in only 134 of the 340 games Green coached. During the injury-filled 2024-25 season, Green had to reshuffle the decknight in andnight out, using 47 different starting lineups.

Some ofitwas on himthough, particularly howhis teams so often failed to finish games.

Greenwill land on hisfeet and find anNBA job as soon as he starts looking. Good things happento goodpeople.

But the team’slackluster play this season couldn’tbeoverlooked,and it didn’ttakelong for Dumars to see change was needed

“Wecan’t sit on ourhands,”Dumars said. “And we can’t sithere and(say) ‘it’sgoing to getbetter oneday.’ Status quo is nevergoingtobeacceptable.”

The good news is thereare 70 games remaining.

“Don’tgive up on us,” Pelicans forward Trey Murphy said. “… We obviously understand the hole we areinright now.But we also know it’sa long season and we have 70 games left. We can turn this thing around.”

Murphy has seen it done before.

During his rookie season, which was alsoGreen’sfirst season, the Pelicans started 1-12. They ended up making the playoffs and pushing the No. 1-seeded Phoenix Suns to asix-game, first-round series.

It’ll be up to James Borrego, who was elevated from assistant to interim head coach, to orchestrate thattype of turnaround this season.

The key will be whether he can get those same guys who often played without effort for Green to play with effortfor him

Borrego went through his first

Pelicans coach Willie Green questions areferee’scall during the second half of agame against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at the Smoothie King Center.Green was fired Saturdayfollowinga2-10start to the season.

do.”

practice as head coach Saturday

He had asimple message to his team.

“Get their heads up,” Borrego said. “(Get their) spirts right. Find the confidence.Challenge them. We own this. We’ve got to be better. All of us.Including me.We’ve got to be better in our leadership, our play on the court. Our focus. We have time to improve.”

Borrego will get tested early

His first three games, all at home, are againstthe GoldenState Warriors (Sunday), the Oklahoma City Thunder (Monday) and the Denver Nuggets (Wednesday).

“Let’s go,” Borrego said. “Throw us in the fire. If you want to be in the fire, here’sthe fire.”

The only thing hotter in the Smoothie King Center this season was the seat Greenoccupied. That seat was blazing after the team’s 0-6 start. After returning home from aroad trip afterthat sixth loss, Green’smessage to the team was“turningthe page.”

Six games later,Dumars delivered asimilar message, turning thepage.

Andclosing the book on Green in New Orleans.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

He led the Pelicans to the playoffs in his first season,the playin tournament his second season andthen theplayoffsagain in the 2023-24 season. Of the 340 regular-season games Green coached,ZionWilliamson (his best player) played in only 134 of them.

TURIN, Italy Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been playing each other nearlyall year for the biggest titles in tennis. There’sone moreimportant trophy up for grabs Sunday: the ATP Finals

The top-ranked Alcaraz beat Felix Auger-Aliassime6-2, 6-4 and No. 2 Sinnerdefeated AlexdeMinaur 7-5, 6-2before his Italianhome crowd in thesemifinalsonSaturday to set up another meeting between the two players who have distanced themselvesfrom therest of the field Alcaraz already has secured the year-ending No.1ranking but will be contesting his first final at the event forthe year’stop eight players. Sinnerwill be playing in his third consecutive finaland aiming for his second consecutive trophy

Nicholls wins tight battle againstNorthwesternState

ShaneLee’s 4-yard touchdown run in themiddle of thefourth quarter —his third touchdown of the game —was the only score of the second half, lifting Nicholls State to a26-21 victoryoverNorthwestern State on Saturday night in Thibodaux. NorthwesternStatetooka 2119 halftimelead when Ty Moore caught a6-yard touchdown pass from Abram Johnston. The short drive wasset up whenJoe Natali recovered amuffedpunt at the 36yard line.

Nicholls’go-ahead score capped a12-play,66-yard drive that nearly ended when the Demons’ Ja’Marion Bonner returned an interception 79 yards to the 1-yard line. But the play was negated by offsetting penalties, and Lee scored four plays later

McIlroy shares third-round lead at DP WorldTour event

DUBAI,UnitedArabEmirates— Rory McIlroyemerged from awild afternoon at the DP WorldTour Championshipwiththree birdies over his last five holesSaturdayfor a4-under 68,giving him ashare of the lead with Rasmus NeergaardPetersen of Denmark as he closes in on afourth straight Race to Dubai title The final hour at the Jumeirah Golf Estatesfeaturedaneight-way tie forthe lead at onepoint. Nicolai Hojgaard startedthe thirdround 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-under203,one shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton and five other players.

Pacersforward Nesmith to miss at least amonth

Despitethe Pel’sstruggles last season, Dumarsdecided to bring Green back.

“I’mlookingforward to going forward and working with Willie and to push us tosuccess,” Dumars said in May.“You’ve got to set the bar. And that’swhatwe’regoing to

The Pelicans finished 21-61 last season under Green. It was the second-worst record in an 82game seasoninfranchise history The 2004-05 team finished 18-64. Green was hired as head coach in July2021 by David Griffin, the Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operationsatthe time. Griffinwas fired in April and replaced by Dumars.

Dumarswent on to saythat Pelicans fans would be proud of the product on the floor this season.

“The style of play— resilience, toughness, playing hard, never quit —that’s what we want people to see right away,” Dumarssaid. Thatwasn’t the case at allthis season. Green finishes witha150-190 record. He went23-77 in his last 100 games.

The 49-33 record in the 2023-24 season tied for the second-most wins in franchise history Last season,the Pelicans were hit hard by injuries and never could recover.Because of injuries, Green used 47 different lineups ayear ago. Greenisjustthe secondcoach in franchisehistory fired during theseason. The only otherone was Byron Scott, fired after a3-6 start to the2009-10 season. “I have tremendous admiration and respect forWillie Green,” Benson said in astatement Saturdaymorning.“AndI trulyappreciate all he has done forour organizationoverthe 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 achampionshipcaliber organization for our players, partnersand aboveall, our fans.”

Email RodWalkerat rwalker@theadvocate.com.

Indiana Pacerscoach RickCarlisle said that Aaron Nesmith will miss at leasta monthwitha left kneeinjury The forward washurt in the Pacers’ loss at Phoenix on Thursday. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was lost for the season to atorn Achillestendonsufferedin Game 7ofthe NBAFinals. Forward BennedictMathurin scored 31 points in two games before being sidelined by atoe injury Shooting guard AndrewNembhard just returned after missing sixgames with ashoulder injury Topreserve Obi Toppin wasaveraging 14 pointsinthree games before going down witha stress fracture in his right foot. Nesmith wasaveraging acareerbest 15.5 points and4.5 rebounds in 11 games.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Pelicans associatehead coach James Borrego, center,and head coach Willie Green,right, watch as the team takesonthe Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday

Rod Walker

TSU 35, SOUTHERN 30

THREE AND OUT: TOyLOy BROWN’S TOP TAKEAWAyS FROM THE JAGUARS’ LOSS

DEPTH FOUND

BLOWN LEAD

1

Southern should have beaten Texas Southern, but it relinquished a 14-point lead.The Jaguars had 437 total yards to Texas Southern’s 369.The Jaguars, however, returned to their old ways of poorly timed miscues from their quarterbacks. Starter Ashton Strother threw an interception with 15 seconds left before halftime and backup Cam’Ron McCoy lost a fumble at his team’s own 25-yard line.

2 NICE CONNECTION

Despite the two costly turnovers, Southern’s offense wasn’t the problem Strother played like a top-level Southwestern Athletic Conference quarterback in the first half. One of his favorite targets was tight end Dupree Fuller who had three catches for 77 yards.The graduate student was dangerous on play-action passes and stood out for the first time this year That should bode well in the Bayou Classic.

3

When Trey Holly was seen on the sideline with a hoodie under his jersey, it was reasonable to expect another collapse on offense. The star tailback has been the best part of the Southern offense.The collapse didn’t happen. SU’s offensive line played well and Barry Remo filled in admirably as Holly’s replacement.The sophomore battering ram gave the offense balance as Southern put up 30 points.

SWEPT AT HOME

Southern falls to Texas Southern to end season winless at Mumford Stadium

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Southern was determined to win its final home game of the season on Saturday.

The Jaguars wanted to give their 17 seniors a win in their last game at A.W Mumford Stadium, but they were unable to accomplish that after falling 35-30 to Texas Southern on Saturday. It’s the first time since 1949 Southern couldn’t manage one win at home Texas Southern took a 35-24 lead on a touchdown after a lost fumble by backup Southern quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy on a designed run play The junior had the ball dislodged by a defender’s helmet, and it was recovered by the Tigers at the Southern 25 with 10:20 left in the game. Jalen Williams’ 12-yard touchdown reception capped a 28-3 run by Texas Southern with 7:43 left to play

“It’s definitely not the outcome that you want here at home the last game here at A.W Mumford Stadium,” Southern interim coach Fred McNair said. “We thought we was going to send (the seniors) out with a great win tonight, and, you know, the biggest thing is, I thought they fought really hard. The guys played exceptionally hard.”

Southern (1-10, 0-7 SWAC) was led by tailback Barry Remo with 24 carries for 120 yards. Texas Southern improved to 5-5 and 4-3.

Southern redshirt sophomore running back Trey Holly missed his first game of the season. McNair said earlier in the week he was “banged up,” but the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s leading rusher couldn’t answer the bell.

The Jaguars had a promising opening to the game. After getting a stop, Southern scored on four plays. Starting quarterback Ashton Strother delivered a crisp throw to Cam Jefferson on a slant pattern, and the redshirt sophomore showcased his speed on the 51-yard receiving touchdown.

Texas Southern quickly tied the game when quarterback KJ Cooper hit Roriyon Richard-

son, who broke a tackle and had a 57-yard reception that ended on Southern’s 11-yard line. The touchdown came on a 9-yard throw to an open Trenton Leary in the end zone, tying the game at 7-7 with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter Two possessions later, Strother ran a play-action pass to perfection on the second play

The junior faked a handoff to Remo, turned to his right and threw the ball softly to tight end Dupree Fuller The 6-foot3 graduate student ran toward the right sideline, escaping an ankle tackle and staying in bounds for a 61-yard receiving touchdown as Southern took a 14-7 advantage at the 2:55 mark of the first quarter

Remo later had a tough 10yard run that got the offense to the goal line and ended with a touchdown on a sneak by Strother. That gave Southern a 21-7 lead with 8:24 left in the second quarter before Texas Southern took over Southern played a much cleaner football game. After averaging 11 penalties for 84 yards in its previous three games, Southern had no penalties as it built the 21-7 edge. It

finished with only four penalties for 45 yards Southern’s close to the first half wasn’t ideal. After giving up a touchdown after a 12-play drive, Strother threw an interception at his opponent’s 16yard line with 15 seconds left before halftime.

“That changed the momentum of the game,” McNair said of the turnover

The Tigers missed a 47-yard

field goal attempt and entered halftime still down 21-14.

Remo finished the first half with 76 yards rushing on 10 carries Strother closed the half completing 8 of 15 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 11 of 21 for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas Southern got the ball for the first time in the second half a little more than halfway through the third quarter

After the Jaguars managed to convert a 26-yard field goal, Texas Southern gashed Southern with a 43-yard pass to wide receiver Kerien Charlo on the left sideline at Southern’s 5-yard line. Running back Lawrence Butler handled the rest with a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 1:34 left in the third

Remo steps up in Holly’s absence

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Barry Remo played the best game of his Southern career in the team’s 35-30 loss to Texas Southern on Saturday at A.W Mumford Stadium.

Before the sophomore running back could enjoy having 24 carries for 120 yards, he had to wait.

Despite being one of two returnees in the eight-player position group, Remo had to accept playing sparingly Before his career night, he had a total of 19 rushes for 71 yards in five games. His single-game high for attempts previously was eight.

Remo’s first career start for Southern (1-10, 0-7 SWAC) was necessary by the absence of injured star tailback Trey Holly, who entered as the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s leading rusher with 808 yards.

Remo found out shortly before facing Texas Southern (5-5, 4-3) that he would be the starter

“It feel great,” said Remo, a former Catholic High star “Coach had told me prior to the game, ‘You’re going to start.’ So in my mind, I was just like, ‘It’s time.’ It’s been a long time coming.

“I just felt like it was my time to shine and just put the team and put the offense on my back. Even though we came short, I feel like we’re going to be great going into the Bayou Classic.”

Along with Holly being out, Southern’s second-best running tailback, Mike Franklin, has been out this season after foot surgery on Oct. 7.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Remo consistently bullied defenders Saturday, not going down on first contact and falling forward. He took advantage of the holes his offensive line created from the onset, bruising his way to 7.6 yards per carry in the first half.

“Barry Remo is a tough runner,” interim coach Fred McNair said. “We really like him (and) the way he runs. He runs hard. He’s just a slower version of Holly, you know, in terms of speed. But he’s very explosive coming downhill with power.”

What Remo, whose longest rush was 21 yards, lacks in speed, he makes up for in other ways.

“I really feel like my power, my vision, that’s what really makes me stand out as a player,” he said. “Just going into the game, I just knew I was going to dominate in that area.”

These traits also made him a receiving option for quarterback Ashton Strother Remo had two receptions for 13 yards.

Before the season started, running backs coach Marcus Bradley called Remo one of the team’s most diligent learners.

quarter making it a 24-21 deficit.

The Tigers tacked on another touchdown after a fortuitous kickoff. The ball hit the helmet of a Southern player near the 50-yard line, and it was recovered by Texas Southern.

Texas Southern didn’t waste the chance as it drove 53 yards and punched in another rushing touchdown from Butler to take a 28-24 lead. This was then followed by a passing touchdown after McCoy’s fumble.

McNair said he took Strother out for McCoy because he was “beat up” as early as the second quarter and had a hip pointer McCoy remained in the game as he used his quickness to get yards consistently on the ground. The Jackson State transfer finished his second drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown. After the failed two-point conversion, Southern trailed 35-30 with 3:10 left.

Texas Southern used plenty of clock, and Southern was unable to come close to scoring.

Southern will play its final game of the season against Grambling in the Bayou Classic at 1 p.m. Nov 29 at the Caesars Superdome.

“One thing that’s great about him, man, is he locks into the details and he tries not to be a repeat offender in terms of making the same mistake twice,” Bradley said.

That improvement since his freshman year when he had just 10 carries for 27 yards and a touchdown, was part of the buildup to his moment in the last home game of the season. Remo said he wanted to prove himself. The only other running back to get a carry Saturday was freshman Armariyan Asberry with one.

“I feel great about it and just feel like my coaches and my teammates believe in me for real,” Remo said. The pride Remo felt in how he played was dampened by the defeat in the loss.

“Yeah, it does hurt,” Remo said. “It does hurt going into it just knowing the seniors that they really wanted this win, despite how our season went.”

As demoralizing as the result is, Remo has reason for optimism after the Jaguars scored at least 30 points for the third time this season.

“I feel like, as a unit, our camaraderie is coming together for sure,” Remo said. “Going into the (Bayou) classic and then going into next year I feel like we’re going to be great.”

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Texas Southern linebacker Matthew Cooks, rear, and safety Josian Hardman team up to bring down Southern running back Barry Remo near the goal line on Saturday at A.W Mumford Stadium. Remo rushed for a career-high 120 yards on 24 carries.

Southern wide receiver Malachi Jackson is encouraged by Southern sports information director Willie Scott, left, after running out of bounds with a reception.

LSU23, ARKANSAS 22

BOXSCORE

Nussmeiercan’t go againstArkansas

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

GarrettNussmeier’s lingering abdominal injury forced him to miss agame for thefirst time Saturday when LSU defeated Arkansas2322 in TigerStadium

Interim coach Frank Wilson said he’s “not quite sure” howthe injury affects thefifth-year senior quarterback’savailability for the rest of theseason.OnSaturday, LSU started sophomore Michael Van Buren in his place, and he broke off alate35-yardrun thathelped seal the victoryonthe last drive of the game

“Wepracticed up untilyesterday to seeiftherewas an opportunity that was potentially if we got in an emergency situation,”Wilsonsaid, “and (Nussmeier) was not able to do so,and sowe’ll continue to monitor him day by day,week by week to see hisprogress.”

LSU

Continued from page1C

athree-game losing streak.

LSU (6-4, 3-4 SEC) became bowl eligible with games left in the regular season againstWestern Kentucky and Oklahoma. Arkansas (2-8, 0-6) lost its sixth one-score game of the year.Itwas the first time interim head coaches faced offinside Tiger Stadium,and Wilson capturedhis first win as LSU’s interim coach after taking over for Brian Kelly

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

VanBuren started for the first time at LSU after senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeierwas ruled out Saturday morning. Nussmeier aggravatedanabdominal injury at practice this week,Wilson said, and he spent the game in sweat pants while wearing aheadset.Van Buren completed 68% (21 of 31) of his throws for 221yards and one touchdown.

“He started off alittleslow,”Wilson said, “but he got going and he got comfortable.”

Even against the worst defense in the SEC, the LSU offense struggled for most of the game. It gave up four sacks and eight tackles for loss. It started 4of12onthird down. Most of its drives sputtered out, and it made mistakes that led to field goals or punts. All of that contributedtoArkansas taking a14-0 lead in the first quarter.Arkansas returned a blocked punt for atouchdown after LSU went three-and-out onits opening possession, and quarterbackTaylen Green ran for an 11yard score. But Arkansas scored only one more time. The LSU defense kept things close. When Arkansasalmost scored at the end of the first half, senior cornerback Mansoor Delane picked off apass in the end

LSU faced the Razorbacks with only oneactivescholarship quarterback. Redshirt freshman Colin Hurley is thirdonthe depth chart, but he’saway from the team for personalreasons, according to a team spokesperson. He also did notmake the trip with LSU to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the previous week.

VanBuren operated theoffense well in Nussmeier’sabsence. He completed21of31pass attempts for221 yards and atouchdown whilealsorushing 10 times for 55 yards. He wassackedfour times

Wilson has indicated that Van Buren is willing to burn his redshirt season. So far, the Mississippi Statetransfer has appeared in fourgames, whichmeansthat if he plays in either of LSU’slast tworegular-season contests, then this yearwillcount toward his four years of eligibility. Bowl games do notcount toward the redshirt limit.

VanBurenhas started nine gamesinhis career

“He started off alittle slow,”Wilsonsaid,“but he got going, and he gotcomfortable.

“I was proudofhim. Ithought he played admirably and got the game to apoint wherehewas able to affect change and dictate for our football team.”

Amilestone win Wilsonisnow the firstBlack

“From up top, the questionthat wasasked was,‘Do we want to kneel it?’ Nah, we’renot kneeling it.We’regoing for points.We’regoing to empty the chamber.”

FRANK WILSON, LSU interim coach

zone. Later,LSU made astand at its own 2-yard lineonsecondand goal. LSU stuffedthree straight runs, the last on fourth down when defensive tackle Jacobian Guilloryand linebackerWestWeeks converged for astop.

“Beingput in that position, you can’task for anythingbetter,” Guillory said. “I’vealways dreamt aboutthat.” Arkansas entered thegame with one of the best offenses in the country,especially on third down and inside the red zone. It went 2 of 11 on thirddown and 2of4in the red zoneagainst 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 quarterbacks in the SEC thisseason, but LSU limited his production. He completed 58% of his passes for 165 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for70yards andascoreon17carries, butLSU sacked him fourtimes.

After its offense sputtered early,LSU foundsomesuccesswith Berryand Durham, whocombined for 175 yards and atouchdown on 29 touches. It had to settle for field goals multiple times, but it was also sharp at the endofthe first half, when the offense went 55 yardsin30seconds to setupDamian Ramosfor his third field goal.

“From up top, thequestion that was asked was, ‘Dowewantto kneel it?’ ”Wilson said. “Nah, we’re not kneelingit. We’re going forpoints. We’re going to empty

head coach to leadLSU football to awin.

The Tigers never have had a full-time Black head coach.In 2022, current offensive linecoach Brad Davis led LSU to aTexas Bowl lossagainst Kansas State as an interim coach, becoming the first Black man to ever serve as head coach of theTigersinany capacity Wilsonbecame thesecondwhen LSU fired coach Brian Kelly on Oct. 26. “I recognize, Iacknowledge those who have knocked on the door andhoped foropportunities as African-American coaches for many years,” Wilson said. “I stand on the shouldersofthose men who aregiants. I’m very fortunate, I’m veryproud, I’m very humble to be in aposition to be able to help this team earn avictory.”

Weekssitsagain

LSUlinebacker Whit Weeks missed his fourth straight game Saturday with abone bruise in

his ankle.

Weeks, ajunior, firstsuffered the injury in the Tigers’ Sept. 27 losstoOle Miss. Wilson said Thursday that LSUwould give hima game-timedecision designation, but the Tigers instead ruledhim out of action Friday

This season, Weeks has appeared in only sixgames, and he’splayeda full share of snaps in just five. In LSU’sWeek 3win over Florida,hewas flaggedfor targeting and disqualified on the first defensive series of the contest.

Weeks recorded 125 tackles in 2024. This year,hehas only 29.

LSU also ruled out defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux, receiver Nic Anderson and left tackle TyreeAdams against the Razorbacks.

Rare game

LSU’smeeting with Arkansas kicked off at 11:45 a.m. It wasthe 638thgameever played in Tiger Stadium, but just the 17th (2.6%) to begin before noon.

Thematchup also marked the first time that Tiger Stadium had staged agamebetween two teams that were led by interim coaches. Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman wasfired Sept. 28. Arkansas then promoted offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to interim coach, giving him asecond chance to lead the program. He served as its head coach from 2008-11 —an abbreviatedtenurethatended on the heels of aCotton Bowl win and revelations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a25-year-old team staff member LSU nowhas played two games under Wilson —one win and one loss. More than three-fourths (77%) of allthe games thatTigerStadium hashosted have begunat night. LSU is 362-113-13 in those contests, and now 13-4 in home games that have kickedoff before noon. WilsonAlexandercontributed to this report.

LSU interim

thechamber.”

LSU held a16-14 halftime lead Arkansas pulled ahead in the third quarterafter converting on a fourthand 6, but LSUput together thego-ahead drive. As Arkansas threatened to score again,Delane broke up apass on third down. Then,Arkansas missed a48-yard field goal wide right

VanBuren’sscramble put LSU back in Arkansas territory afew playslater,and theclock ticked down. Needing one morefirst down, Berry slipped away from a defenderonthird and3.Knowing he shouldn’tscore, he slid through thegrass to seal the game.

“Ittestedour resolve, and it makesyou look in themirror at yourself to see if you have what it takes,” Wilson said. “Wehad what it took today.”

STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON

coach Frank Wilson waits for the next play in the first quarter against Arkansas on SaturdayatTiger Stadium.Wilson became the first Black coach to win afootball game at LSU.

LSU defensivetackle Jacobian Guilloryroars after stopping Arkansas on afourth and goal play in the third quarter of their game on Saturday.

STAFFPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU23, ARKANSAS 22

THREEAND OUT:

CHANGE AT THETOP

1

Garrett Nussmeier couldn’t go at quarterbackSaturday, opening the door for MichaelVan Burentomakehis first startfor LSU.Against adreadful Arkansas defense, LSU had to fight for pointsand again couldn’t crackthat 25-point barrier against aPower Fourteam.That said,Van Buren had astronggame, throwing for 221 yards and atouchdown andrushing for 36 net yards with a35-yard scramble that Nussmeierprobably couldn’t have made

NOTSOSPECIAL

2

The LSU special teams have regressed as the season has progressed.Theyput the Tigers in aholeearly when twoArkansas players brokethrough to block Grant Chadwick’spunt afterLSU’s first drive, resulting in atouchdown by Caleb Wooden. Kickoffspecialist Aeron Burrell also hooked twokickoffs out of bounds, setting up the Razorbacks at their 35. Still, the Tigers overcame allofthat thankstoastellar dayby Damian Ramos (three field goals, twoextra points).

3

BEND,DON’T BREAK

The LSUdefense gave up eight plays of 16 yards or more to acrafty Arkansas offense.But what counted evenmore wasthe Tigers’ abilitytohold when the game was on theline. LSUforcedthree turnovers —two interceptions of Taylen Green and afumble recovery—and also stuffedthe Razorbacks quarterback inches fromthe endzone on fourth and goal.Victimizedbyseveral dual-threat quarterbacks, it was sweet redemption fora Whit Weeks-less defense.

REDSHIRT OFFHIS BACK

QB VanBuren decidestohelpLSU over preserving an extraseason

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Michael VanBuren had adecisionto make.

He couldsit out thefinal four gamesof LSU’slost 2025 season and preservehis redshirt status or burn thatopportunity and play,using the end ofthe year as a showcase for LSU’snext coaching staff or somewhere else.

Interim coach Frank Wilson leftthe choice up to the sophomore quarterback.

“Whatever Iwanted to do, he was going to roll with it,” VanBuren said.“I was grateful to him forthat.”

VanBuren decided to play,acommitment that may be questionable to some but was roundly rewarded Saturday in LSU’s23-22 win over Arkansas inTiger Stadium.

In his first start forthe Tigers, playing in place of injured fifth-year senior Garrett Nussmeier,Van Burenwas 21-of-31 passing for 221 yards anda touchdown

“It’sahuge responsibility forthe quarterback of the LSU Fighting Tigers togo into that arena,” Wilson said. “Our fans are the best in the world. Our fans can be tough sometimes as well. And so he knew what was in front of him.”

VanBuren may have earned the starting nod even if it weren’tfor Nussmeier’sinjury.Van Buren replaced Nussmeier in the thirdquarterlast week against Alabama, completing 5of 11 throws for 52 yards in a20-9 loss.

Nussmeier was out because he reaggravated hisabdominalinjuryinpractice Thursday.Itwas the same ailment that affected Nussmeier’splaythrough the first half of this season. Wilson said after Saturday’sgame thatLSU tried to see if Nussmeier could playincaseofan emergency,but he wasn’table to suit up. “We’ll continue to monitor (Nussmei-

RABALAIS

Continued from page1C

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 wage late-season battles with immense playoff implications— it seemed as though simplyplaying for pride was somethingthe 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 Whit Weeks 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 FrankWilson, who made history as the first Black coach to lead LSU football to avictory.“It makes you look in the mir-

LSUquarterback Michael VanBuren sets up in the pocket looking for areceiver in the second quarter of agameagainst Arkansas on SaturdayatTiger Stadium.

er) day by day,week by week,” Wilson said, “to see his progress.” VanBuren missed on three of his first four pass attempts, but then he found arhythm. He completed 10 of his next 11 throws, five of whichwentfor afirst down. HisefficiencyhelpedLSU find the end zone on itsthird drive, ascore that cutLSU’sdeficit to 14-7. Hislongestcompletion went for 34 yards down the left sideline to Zavion Thomas in thethird quarter VanBurenwas at hisbest in the fourth quarter.Hehelped construct a

ror to seewhatyou’re made of.”

Virtually the entire college football world thought going into this season that LSU was made of players andcoachestobeanSEC andnational championship contender.It turned out apersistently anemic offense was the first low rumble of an avalancheof issues that by midseason costnot only head coach Brian Kelly and offensivecoordinator Joe Sloan their jobsbut also took down athletic directorScott Woodward. He was the man who signed Kelly four years ago to that contract that currently hasLSU on the hook for abuyout bigger than the annual GDP of Albania.

Distractionsand disruptions alonecould havebeenenough to sink LSU’spirogue 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 made the winning plays. Twointerceptions off of dangerous dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green and afumble recovery.Agoal-line stand in the

12-play,92-yard touchdown drive that gave LSU a23-22 lead with 7:53 remaining.Heconnected on five passes during theseries,including a21-yard throw to senior wide receiver Barion Brown on athird and10and a12-yard touchdown pass to fifth-year senior tight endBauer Sharp. On thenext drive, with LSU’slead still just apoint, VanBuren kept acritical clock-eating drivealive with a35-yard scramble on second and 16. The series resultedinLSU burning out therest of theclock to secure thewin.

northend zone just yards away from The Boot trophy,with Jacobian Guillory and West Weeks combining to stuff Green just inches away from the end zone.

It was inspired stuff. The kind of stuff, at leastfor one afternoon, that made all the lossesand disappointmentsand firings melt away

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

Then there was the plucky play of sophomorequarterback Michael VanBuren, Nussmeier’sreplacement.After arocky starthe settledin, throwing for 221 yards and atouchdown and rushing for 36 more, mostofitona35-yard keeper thathelped LSU —clutch the Mardi Gras beads —rely on its typically jaundiced ground game to run the final 5:08 off the clock after Arkansasmissed apotential go-ahead 48-yard field goal.

“Going out there and fighting adversity to get thefirst win (as an LSU starter) feels amazing,” VanBuren said. There’splenty of adversity and

“I just saw alane, and it was pretty muchman coverage,” VanBurensaid when asked about his big run. “So Ijust used my God-given ability,used my legs and got downthe field.”

UnderVan Buren, theoffense hada different look. More play action. More snaps from under center.More bootleg plays to get him on the move.

To help setupthose throws, LSU ran the ball 15 times in the first half and averaged 5.5yards perattempt whenadjusted for lost sack yardage. The Tigers’ rushing totals improved in the second half,tallying 95 yards on 22 attempts.

“Whenthey’re thatdangerous as an offense, you want to reduce their opportunity,” Wilson said of Arkansas. “Wewant to increase our opportunities. And we were able to do that because we ranthe ball well, because we beatthem in time of possession, andmorepossessions compared to what they had.”

VanBuren’srunning abilityisa calling card, but the quarterback run game wasn’tasignificant aspect of the offense until thefourth-quarter dash.Van Buren wasn’tafraid to scramble, but most of his runs werearesult of him needing to sprint away from pass rushers.

Poor pass protection, particularlyat left and right tackle, resultedinVan Buren getting sacked four timesfor 19 yards lost.

For an LSU program in transition, Saturday was VanBuren’schance to prove himself. He needed to deliver, especially after he decidedtoforgo his opportunity to redshirt. Hismindset heading intothe season aftertransferring fromMississippi State, according to Wilson,was to use2025 as an “apprenticeship” for 2026. He would learn the offense anddevelop behind an establishedstarter in Nussmeier so he could potentially be theLSU starter next year

That was before the circumstances shifted. Coach Brian Kelly got fired, Nussmeier continuedtostruggle andthe losses piled up. Due to all of that change, VanBuren’snext decision was not about preserving his future.

“I’m just acompetitor and I’m ateam player,”Van Buren said. “Ifmyteam needs me to wina game, I’malways going to step in and winthe game.”

but who will 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’sguess.

The thousands of empty seats in TigerStadium on Saturday 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.

Nextseason, there’sagood chance that the new LSU coach will be leading the Tigers against Arkansas, one of their three annual opponents, in agame that is shifted back to Thanksgiving weekend. The Tigers hope that by then they will be playing for something meaningful again in November

issues still to overcome. LSU (6-4, 3-4SEC) probablywill be about atwo-touchdown favorite next week to finishthe home slate withawin over Western Kentucky

For now,awin forwinning’s sake will have to suffice. In many waysonthis particular Saturday, after all that has happened at LSU over the past fewweeks, it did.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU linebacker Princeton Malbrue, left, and offensivelineman Hayes Fuqua carry The Boot trophywith other teammates after defeating Arkansas 23-22 on Saturday at TigerStadium.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Oklahoma’s defensive gem bests

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 fourthdown pass to Ryan Williams fell incomplete.

“OU!” chants echoed through the emptying stadium as Oklahoma fans celebrated afterward. Coach Brent Venables stayed on the field for more than half an hour to greet fans along the gates of the field.

“This is one of the best teams I’ve been around in terms of brotherhood and belief in one another,” Venables said. “I think it shows. I don’t think you find a way to win our fourth true road game in the fashion we were able to unless you have a lot of ingredients that aren’t on the stat sheet.”

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 school-recordbreaking 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. 3 TEXAS A&M 31, SOUTH CAROLINA 30: 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-Fil-A 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 average 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 76-yard 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). 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 rain-soaked Coliseum. USC mounted five consecutive scoring drives, capped by Jackson’s goahead 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 JMU 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 (91, 7-0) remained unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play No. 21 TENNESSEE 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 No. 12 UTAH 55, BAYLOR 28: In Waco, Texas, Utah true freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin had touchdown runs of 67 and 74 yards, Elijah Davis returned an interception 65 yards for a score and the Utes beat Baylor for their third consecutive win.

Wayshawn Parker added a 64-yard TD run for the Utes (8-2, 5-2 Big 12, No. 13 CFP) as the league’s top rushing offense had its three longest runs this season No. 1 OHIO STATE 48, UCLA 10: In Columbus, Ohio, James Peoples scored two touchdowns, Lorenzo Styles Jr had a 100yard kickoff return and topranked Ohio State rolled to a victory over UCLA.

The Buckeyes (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) scored on their first five possessions against a Bruins’ squad that was without quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who missed the game due to a concussion. No. 7 OLE MISS 34, FLORIDA 24: In Oxford, Mississippi, Kewan Lacy rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Ole Miss rallied past Florida.

The Rebels (10-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 7 CFP) finally put the Gators away with 1:43 left on Lacy’s 31st and final carry, a 4-yard touchdown Ole Miss took over on downs after Florida went for it on fourth-and-9 at its own 4, and Sage Ryan broke up D.J. Lagway’s desperation heave at midfield.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VASHA HUNT

Oklahoma defensive back Courtland Guillory celebrates after Alabama missed a field goal on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

OUTDOORS

Good news: Cold front sends ducks our way

Aerial survery shows increase in waterfowl numbers

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

The early reports are in, and waterfowl hunters taking to flooded fields and marshes for this weekend’s opening days of the Louisiana’s West Zone certainly had more opportunity for success than this time last year

That goes double for hunters in the southwestern parishes.

Wildlife and Fisheries’ Waterfowl Program manager Jason Olszak and his staff indicated aerial surveys of the coastal area and the Little River Basin (formerly Catahoula Lake) showed an estimate of 1,238,000 ducks in those areas, a number 143% higher than last year’s 510,000 all-time November low And 704,000 of those ducks were in the southwest.

Yes, Monday’s cold front helped push the count to 40% higher than the average of the past five years’ November survey 885,000 birds — and is the highest count since 2021. Except for bluewing teal (down 15% from 2024), Olszak noted increases in the other 10 surveyed species with the largest increases in spoonies (106,000 total), greenwing teal (83,000) and gray ducks (275,000).

Even more amazing is the number of ringneck ducks showing up in the southeastern marshes.

The statewide total for ringnecks is 382,000, of which 301,000 were counted in the southeast. That total is a whopping 19,000% jump from last year’s survey

Another 252,000 black-bellied whistling ducks were reported, but not included in the overall total. That’s up 135% from 2024’s count of 107,000.

The West Zone’s first segment runs through Dec. 7. The East Zone’s season opened this weekend for youth and honorably discharged military veterans with the first segment of its 60-day season running Nov 22-Dec. 8.

Staying legal

Waterfowl hunters 18 and older need a basic hunting license along with a no-fee Harvest Information Program (HIP) certificate.

All waterfowl hunters 16 years and older must have a federal duck stamp and some might need a Louisiana waterfowl stamp.

Upgrades

Good news for freshwater anglers heading to Caney Lake south of Ruston. The Office of

TUESDAY

LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB

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

WEDNESDAY

FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7 p.m., Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge. Fly tying. Open to public. Spare tools, materials for novices. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

COASTAL SHRUB PLANTING: Lake Boudreaux project, Terrebonne Parish. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana project needs volunteers. Water, lunch, work gloves, sunscreen, equipment provided. Online registration: connect.crcl.org/civicrm/event/list

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

HUNTING SEASONS

DUCKS/EAST ZONE: Nov. 16, youth- & veterans-only weekend.

DOVES: North Zone, through Nov. 16; South Zone, through Nov. 30.

DUCKS/EAST ZONE: Nov. 22-Dec. 8, includes coots & mergansers.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Nov. 30, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10.

The winner

South Dakota artist Tim Taylor’s painting of a Ross’ goose was judged the winner from among 10 entries for the 2026 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition earlier this month. The stamp will be available in June.

RED SNAPPER SEASON TO CLOSE

Sunday is the 200th and final day of the 2025 recreational red snapper season.

The season will be closed Monday after state fisheries managers, using the LA Creel data collection system, showed the total estimated take at 921,880 pounds through the Nov. 2 period.

That’s an initial report of reaching 103% of our state’s 2025 allotment of 894,955 pounds.

Once all data has been processed, the marine fisheries managers will release a final catch report through Nov. 16.

Joe Macaluso

State Parks has completed renovations to 73 campsites at Caney’s Jimmie Davis State Park to include water, electricity and sewer hookups.

Other recently completed statepark campground improvements were reported from Cypremort Point (22 sites), Fontainebleau (106 sites), Palmetto Island (96 sites) and Tickfaw (30 sites).

Gulf Council

Several agenda items on the council’s November agenda dealt with species found mostly in Florida’s Gulf waters, like red grouper and mutton and yellowtail snapper

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Dec. 2, State Deer Area 2, still-hunt only.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Dec. 5, State Deer Areas 1, 4 & 6.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Dec. 5, State Deer Areas 5 & 9, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Nov. 16 & Nov. 28-30.

DUCKS/WEST ZONE: Through Dec. 7, includes coots & mergansers.

GEESE: Through Dec. 7, West Waterfowl Zone. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross’ & specklebellies. Take of Canada geese prohibited in portions of Cameron & Vermilion parishes.

SNIPE: Through Dec. 7, first split, statewide.

GEESE/EAST ZONE: Through Dec. 8.

RAILS/GALLINULES: Through Jan. 7, statewide.

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10. Eithersex take allowed.

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2 & 4. Either-sex take allowed.

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Feb. 15, State Deer Areas 5, 6 & 9, either-sex take allowed.

QUAIL, RABBITS & SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only

AROUND THE CORNER

NOV. 23—SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB

MAN MATCH: 8:30 a.m., Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road, Gonzales. Call (337) 380-8120. Email Mike Burke: SouthLaHighPower@hotmail.com

The important items for Louisiana centered around federal forhire (charterboats) red snapper management and shallow-water grouper complex yellowmouth, yellowfin and and black groupers and scamp. It appears the council is considering handing over charterboats in the federal red snapper system to state management. There is a separate sector, seasons and allocations for these operations and the private recreational red snapper fishery

The council heard a report that the aforementioned grouper species cannot be managed at one group. Recent stock assessments show scamp and yellowmouth grouper should have a separate management regime, and that these species need what the report stated “a considerable decrease in allowable harvest.”

Catch limits for black and yellowfin groupers would be unchanged. Notably the recommendations for scamp and yellowmouth grouper would have a preferred alternative “for a recreational closed season from January through June and set the recreational annual catch target 14% below the annual catch limit.”

The council also voted to extend the moratorium on issuing new federal permits to commercial shrimpers in the Gulf through Oct. 26, 2036. Also approved was the requirement of all commercial and recreational fishermen have venting tools or descending devices “rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the federal waters of the Gulf of America.”

NOV. 24—RED STICK FLY FISHERS FLY

TYING: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Library 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open to public. Hands-on clinic covering basics of fly tying. Materials and tools provided. Website: rsff.org NOV. 27—THANKSGIVING DAY

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore & outside waters open statewide. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Red snapper, gray triggerfish; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Flounder (recreational/commercial take closed through Nov. 30); greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATES

CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction).

ROAD CLOSURE: Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMA closed through June 12, 2026 (replace bridge) access from U.S. 190 and I-10 open.

DUCK DAM ROAD: (Bodcau WMA) reopened.

DRAWDOWNS: Underway on Henderson Lake, Lake Bistineau, Saline, Kepler, Iatt, Black & Clear lakes, Clear-Smithport Lake & Lake Martin. EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

11-13 0-4 7 3 31 LaRavia 21:42 3-4 0-0 0-3

Hayes 12:26 1-3 0-0 3-3 1

2 Vandrbilt 11:19 1-4 0-0 1-2 1 1 3 Knecht 10:24 2-5 0-0 1-1 0 2 5 Totals 240 44-84 20-26 10-4528 17118

Percentages: FG .524, FT .769. 3-Point Goals: 10-34, .294 (Doncic 3-8, Hachimura 2-5, Reaves 2-6, Vanderbilt 1-2, Knecht 1-3, Smart 1-10). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocks: 5 (LaRavia 2, Ayton, Doncic, Reaves). Turnovers: 17 (Ayton 4, Reaves 4, Doncic 3, LaRavia 2, Smart 2, Hachimura, Vanderbilt). Steals: 13 (LaRavia 3, Ayton 2, Doncic 2, Smart 2, Vanderbilt 2, Hachimura, Reaves). Technical Fouls: Doncic, 00:03 third. FG FT REB N.O. Min. M-A M-A O-T A PFPTS Bey 36:32 3-13 2-2 4-7 7 0 11 Murphy 38:54

PROVIDED IMAGE

TOPTOPICS FORWEEK11

BroncoszeroinonMahomes

TheKansasCityChiefsdesperately need to beatthe Denver Broncos to gain ground in theAFC West race they’vewon nine years running.The Chiefs hadabye last week andthe Broncosbeat theRaiders 10-7.A keymatchup to watch is Chiefs quarterback PatrickMahomes againstthe Broncos strong pass rush.Mahomes needs 299yards passing to reach35,000. TheBroncos have wontheir last 10 home games, andtheir defenseleads theleagueinsacks.ChiefsRBIsiah Pachecowillmissthe game becauseof akneeinjury. Broncos runningbackJ.K Dobbinsalsowillmissthe game

5 2 1 3

Lions, Eagles to square off ThePhiladelphiaEagleshostthe Detroit LionsonSundaynight in amatchup of NFCdivisionleaders.Detroit puts up 31.4 points percontest andranks highin severalother offensive categories,helpedby amassing aseasonhigh546 yardsin Sunday’s44-22 winat Washington.QBJared Goff is firstinthe league in completion percentage and rankssecondinpassing touchdowns andquarterback rating.The Eagles, underdefensive coordinatorVic Fangio, have held opponentsto21.3points. Watchthe turnover margin,where the Lionsare plus-6 on theseasonwhile theEaglesare standing at plus-5

Bearstry to keep roll going

TheChicago Bearsvisit theMinnesota Vikingsina rematchofthe season opener wonbythe Vikings in quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s debut. TheBears havewon six of theirlastseven gamesbehind improvingquarterback Caleb Williams, andtheymatched their best nine-game startat6-3 sincethe 2018 team that won theNFC North. Williams hasonlyfourturnovers this season.The sixteams theBears havebeaten currentlyhaveacombinedrecordof15-41-1 TheVikings are4-5 this season and1-3 at home McCarthy hasseven turnoversinfourgames includingatleast oneinterceptionineach.

Bucs eyefirstwin in Buffalo

TheTampa BayBuccaneersare making just theirfourthtripnorth to play theBuffalo BillsonSundayand are 0-3inthe previous matchups there. The Bucs are6-3 this season andhold theseriesleadwith an 8-5edge. Both teamsare coming offlosses, with TampaBay losing at NewEngland.Meanwhile, theBills are6-3 andhavedropped threeof five.Tampa BayQBBaker Mayfield threwthree TD passes on Sunday, his 12th outing with that many or more since2023. Bills QB Josh Allenhas combined forseven giveawaysinhis past sixstarts.

Panthers hope to runoverFalcons TheAtlanta Falcons’ hopesofsnappingtheir four-gamelosingstreakmay rest on their successagainst Carolinarunning backsRicoDowdleand Chuba Hubbard. TheFalcons rank 29th againstthe runafter giving up 244yards rushingtoColts runningbackJonathanTaylorlast week.Itwas themostrushing yardsallowed to aplayerinFalcons’history Dowdle ranksthird in theleaguewith788 yardsrushing.The Falconsare looking formore accuracy from quarterbackMichaelPenix,who completedonly12of28passesinlastweek’s 31-25losstoIndianapolisinBerlin. 5 4

GAME OF THEWEEK

Kupp’s LA return subplotinRamsvs. Seahawks

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

INGLEWOOD,Calif. Cooper Kupp has made it clear he didn’t want toleave theLos Angeles Rams last winter

The standout wide receiver set records and won aSuper BowlMVP award during eightsuccessful seasons in Sean McVay’soffense, and Southern California washis family’sadopted home.

When the Rams informed him theywere moving on, Kupp took it personally “It was ameaningful place for me,” Kupp said Wednesday. “I enjoyed stepping on that field for eight years and representing the city of Los Angeles. Itried to do it to the best of my ability,and it was important to me. It was important for me for the fans andwhat we wanted to build there. The relationships were just tooimportantto feel like that was broken ” Kupp said he wasn’tgivenclar-

ityonthe reasonsfor theteam’s decisionuntil the ensuing summer, when emotions had cooled and he had signed with hishome-state Seattle Seahawks. While theRams’ decisionmight never sit completelyright with him, Kupphas more peace of mind after talking it outwiththe men who let him go. “I was abletohavesome conversationsinprivate with people in that organizationand try to get to that point,” Kupp said. “It was important enough formetoreach out and try to get that.I’m glad to be at that place. I’m looking forward to being abletosee some of thepeople there pregame and give them ahug. Butthenwhenit’stime to go, it’s time to go.”

Kupp makeshis firstreturn to SoFi StadiumonSunday when the Seahawks (7-2) facethe Rams (7-2) in atantalizing midseason showdown between two of the NFC’s three co-leaders. Los Angeles and

Seattle sit atop the NFC West with two quarterbacks having MVP-caliber seasons, elite playmakers surrounding them and twoofthe NFL’s mosteffective defenses.

Just how good are these rivals? Neither team haseventrailed sinceWeek 6.

But Rams fanswill be most thrilledtosee Kupp, who ranks third in franchise history in receptions(634) andfourth in yards receiving (7,776).His electrifying, broken-field runs after catches are among the signature images of theRams’successful McVayera. Theteam is expected to pay tributetohim at the stadiumwhere he caught the winning TD pass from Matthew Stafford in Super Bowl 56 less than four years ago.

“I mean,Ididn’tdie,” Kupp said with alaugh.“I’mhere. Iappreciate it. I’m obviously so thankful for my time there. Nothing but love for that city.”

NFLBRIEFS

FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS

for

Las

Broncos RB Dobbins likely out for season

DenverBroncos running back J.K. Dobbins is heading to injuredreserveand needssurgery on his left foot that likely will end his season, aperson familiar with the diagnosis told The Associated Press on Saturday

The person spoke to the AP on condition on anonymity because the team hasn’tprovided an update on Dobbins since he was injured last week during an unflagged hip-drop tackle by Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson. He limpedoff thefield, but concerns abouthis health dissipated after he returned and carried six times for25yards.

Patriots DT Williams to miss next 4games

TheNew EnglandPatriots will be without defensive tackle Milton Williams after placing him on injured reserve with an ankle injury Williams was hurt during thefirst quarter of Thursday’s win over the New York Jets. He triedbriefly to return,but was then ruled out for the remainder of the game. He will miss at least the next four gameswhile on IR. Williams signed as afree agent during the offseason afterfourseasonswithPhiladelphia. He has started all 11 gamesfor New England, with 17 tackles, 31/2 sacks and eight quarterbacks hits.

SeahawksHOF safety Easleydies at age 66

Former SeattleSeahawks safety Kenny Easley,who was nicknamed “The Enforcer” for his hard hitting,has died, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Saturday.Hewas 66. Easley died Friday night, his family told the hall, which did not provide acause of death. Easley is one of just four players in franchise history —alongside Steve Largent, CortezKennedy andWalter Jones —tospend his entire career with the Seahawks and be named to the Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2017 and his No. 45 was retired by the Seahawks that season.

Bills add two WRs to their active roster

The BuffaloBills arebringingreinforcements to their Josh Allen-led passing game by elevating GabeDavis from the practice squad andsigningfellowwidereceiverMecoleHardmantothe active roster Davis is in his secondstint with Buffalo and spent the first eightweeks of the season on practicesquad-IRrecovering froma season-ending knee injury he suffereda year agowith Jacksonville Hardman joins the roster after being signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.The 27-yearoldisinhis seventh NFLseason andisa three-time SuperBowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFFREy T. BARNES Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwsa passagainst the Buffalo Bills in OrchardPark, N.y.,on Nov. 2.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByDAVID ZALUBOWSKI

DenverBroncos running backJ.K. Dobbins, right, runs

a first down as

VegasRaiders defensive tackleJonah Laulu makes the stop on Nov. 6inDenver.

THE VARSITY ZONE

‘DREAM COME TRUE’

Parkview Baptist wins Division III state championship

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Parkview Baptist’s journey to a state title began at the end of last season.

The Eagles fell to Hannan 3-2 in the 2024 Division III semifinals, and in the locker room, Parkview Baptist’s team looked back on that year’s disappointment.

“This will not happen again,” Eagles coach Allison Leake said. “We’re going to come back next year, and there will be no tears, and if there are, it’ll be tears of joy.”

On Saturday, the Eagles faced St. Michael in an allBaton Rouge Division III volleyball state title match. Parkview Baptist won 3-1 to earn its second state championship and first since 2005

Parkview Baptist senior middle Jana Thymes was named the most outstanding player for Division III. She racked up 19 kills and eight blocks in the win.

The Eagles (34-9) opened the match with a 12-5 lead against St. Michael. The Warriors slowly crept back and cut the deficit to three.

“We knew going into the match, it was going to be tough,” Leake said. “I told the girls, I don’t care how many sets it takes. We just need to get this done.”

The two sides traded points, with the Eagles clinging to a 22-21 lead. Thymes managed a kill, and Marin Price blocked a spike to make it 24-21. An errant St. Michael hit gave Parkview Baptist a 25-21 win in the first set.

St. Michael tied the match 1-1 after taking the second set 25-23. The Warriors led 23-19 before a 4-0 run capped off by two points by Thymes tied it at 23-23.

The Warriors held on after an errant Parkview Baptist hit went out and a block by Warriors senior Skylar Towner gave them the two points needed to win it. Neither team could find a

way to pull away in the third set.

“At that point, as a coach, there’s not a whole lot you can do to help the kids,” Leake said. “They’ve got to trust that what we’ve done in practice and everything that they’ve done all season long and in games is what they can produce now.”

With the third set tied 2424, Price knocked a kill out of reach from St. Michael, and Thymes slammed down a spike for the deciding kill to make it 2-1.

Leake noted her team’s mindset was crucial to sealing the third set.

“They took it, and they knew,” Leake said. “If we want to win, we’ve got to swing. If we want to win, we’ve got to play aggressive, and if we want to win, no ball can hit this floor.”

In the fourth set, the Eagles used an 8-2 run to take a sixpoint lead. The run included three blocks and two kills by Thymes.

St. Michael attempted to mount a comeback, but Parkview Baptist held on 2517 to win the state title.

Thymes called the achievement a fulfillment of everything she’s worked toward.

“This is really my all-time dream come true,” Thymes said. “This is basically what every girl has ever wanted playing this sport.”

Her senior teammate Aadyn Polk noted how special the win felt.

“I don’t think it’s really kicked in yet,” Polk said.

“Throughout this season, we did have some rough spots, but I never doubted that we would be here, and I had faith that we were going to win.”

Leake pointed to the team’s chemistry for their run to a state title.

“I’ll say that these girls are probably the closest-knit team I’ve ever had,” Leake said. “I don’t know if there’s another group of kids like this.”

Leake joins her father

Chip Didier, in winning a state title. Didier won two state titles with H.L. Bourgeois.

St. Michael coach Latashia Wise-Jackson was still proud of what her Warriors (39-3) accomplished this season.

“We’re not going to let one match define our success,” Wise-Jackson said. “Success is not measured by what has happened in the last two hours. This team is 39-3. That’s beyond successful to me.”

She said her team came in with a point to prove after being knocked out of the quarterfinals the past two seasons.

“We made a vow to each other that that wasn’t gonna happen,” Wise-Jackson said, “and it didn’t, so again, already successful.”

She gave credit to Parkview Baptist and said it was great for girls in the community to see two Baton Rouge schools in the championship. She hopes her team’s run puts the players on a platform for young women to appreciate in the area.

Senior Ava Rodrigue, who tallied two aces in the loss, said she was grateful for this season.

“This has been the best six months of my life, and I really wouldn’t want to be a part of any other team or play for any other coaches,” Rodrigue said. “I’m just really sad that it’s over, but I’m glad that we finished with a bang.”

Junior Skylar Towner is optimistic about her team’s outlook.

“That just shows how much potential we have to continue going,” Towner said. “I’m ready to just get back and just continue playing how we know.”

Wise-Jackson echoed Towner’s sentiments.

“St. Michael volleyball, we’ll be back just like they have in the past,” she said, “but we’ll be back like never before.”

Newman denies Dunham’s bid for state championship

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Dunham’s quest for a third state title will have to wait one more year after the Tigers fell on Saturday in the championship match, but coach Meagan Herrington knows the future is still bright.

The top-seeded Tigers (34-11) fell to No. 2 Newman 3-0 in the Division IV volleyball state championship on Saturday The match marked back-toback appearances in the final for Dunham. The Tigers fell to Northlake Christian 3-0 last year

“We are fighters,” Herrington said about her team’s consecutive title match appearances. “We have to prepare a little bit better for this moment.”

She noted how her team played a tough schedule and took down several good opponents. The season showed that her side is close to getting over the top.

In the first set, Dunham came back from being down 17-12 to tie it at 2424. The Tigers held a 2625 lead, but three straight points from the Greenies sealed the first set.

Dunham failed to flip momentum in the next two sets, falling 25-18 and 25-20.

Still, the Tigers will only graduate three seniors, with several starters returning next season.

“Still bright,” Herrington said about her team’s outlook. “We’re not done. We’re coming back.”

Dunham returns seven juniors, including Zadi Huggins, who led the team in kills with 15, and Kennedi Owens, who tallied 10 kills.

Junior Katherine McDonald racked up 27 assists. Dunham’s road back to the title match wasn’t easy, but McDonald said she was proud of her teammates for their work to keep each match and practice the main focus.

“We expected to get back here, but we didn’t think it would get handed to us,” McDonald said. “I think we did a good job of staying focused.”

Herrington said the team will miss its three seniors.

“It’ll look different next season (without) three incredible players on the floor,” she said.

One senior leaving the program is Isabelle Richardson. She said her team grew a lot emotionally this year and played more as

a team. She said the team dealt with bumps in the road but never wavered.

“Just being able to grow from that and make it this far still means so much,” Richardson said. “I’m still so glad I was able to play good volleyball alongside some of my best friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

Richardson said she will take a lot from her time at Dunham and the memories she made with the Tigers.

“Even like the small ones, like driving on the bus to go to away (matches),” Richardson said. “It’s just all the memories that we make there. You can’t replace that. I just think all of that is super important to me ,and I’ll hold on to that for the rest of my life.”

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Parkview Baptist players celebrate after defeating St. Michael in the Division III final of the LHSAA state volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Cajundome in Lafayette.

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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

SOMETHING FOREVERYONE

Historic BayouTeche home in Breaux Bridge to host estate sale with antiquefurniture

BY JOANNABROWN Staff writer

This storiedCreole-Acadian cottageinthe heart of downtown Breaux

Bridge has seen alot of life passthrough its halls It was built in 1811 as the home of Sylvestre andMarie Broussard, thedaughter of Breaux Bridge’s founder,Firmin Breaux. The Broussards raisedfive children on the bank of the bayou. More than100 years later, theproperty was transformed into aboarding house —with theaddition of along hall of suites, and adining room that boasts a17and ahalffootoldgrowth cypress table.

In the1980s, MaryLynn Chauffe came along. The house wasin dire need of saving. As apassionate preservationist, active civic leader and founding memberof the Friends of LakeMartin, she undertook ahistorically sensitive restoration. Her workturned it into ashowpiece of local culture andhistory, sheltering tourists, bridalcouplesand traveling musicians.

Chauffe died in 2022. Her daughter,Debora Savoy,has been working with theCheryl Cockrell Estate Sales team for weeksnow

to gather decades of glassware, antique furniture, old MardiGras costumes, cypress lamps, rope beds, black pots andthousands of other items from Chauffe’sestate of multiplehistoric properties in theBreauxBridge area.

The home itself is also being offered forlease or sale, according to Savoy. Itsrestoration wasa laboroflovefor hermother,and the bonesofthe housestill standasa testamenttothe area’s historyand development alongthe Teche.

See SALE, page 4D

Thecottage will host alarge estate salefrom Nov.20-22. Apart fromafew pieces the family is holding onto, everything is available —including that enormous cypress table,which was built inside the dining room and seats18. And they have confirmedthatit can be removed fromthe room.

WasN.O.’sFrenchQuarter ever surrounded by

BY RACHELMIPRO

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,whenSpanish authorities decidedtoincrease 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

ä See CURIOUS, page 4D

PHOTOSByROBIN MAy

The Old CityHotel, circa 1811, nowknown as the BayouTeche Bed &Breakfast, is located in downtown Breaux Bridge

An enormous antique diningtable is offered in the upcoming estate sale at the BayouTeche Bed &Breakfast.

Baton Rouge Chapter DAR

Members of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution were treated to a special presentation and tour of the LSU Rural Life Museum’s newest exhibit on Oct 19. Shown are, from left, Lillian Dunlap, Louisiana Society DAR state librarian; Rezzie Meyer; Lea Evans; Katherine Fresina; Alice Fresina; Susan Smith; Sheran Riley and Ina Navarre.

DAR tours ‘Her Story’ at Rural Life Museum

Katherine Fresina, curator of the LSU Rural Life Museum, treated her fellow members of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to a special presentation and tour of the museum’s newest exhibit reflecting its 2025 theme, “Women’s Work: History Through Her Story,” on Oct 19. The exhibit features only items which are part of the museum’s own collection of artifacts, including various clothing and textiles, some more than 175 years old, a period Acadian weaving loom, household maintenance and cooking implements, and child care devices and furniture. The theme for the year was selected as a different reflection of exactly what constitutes “woman’s work.” The inspiration for the show

came from the fall 2024 interactivity art class at the museum, and research for the study was prepared by Katherine Bankhead, an employee of the museum and graduate student at LSU.

Regent of the Baton Rouge area’s oldest DAR chapter, Alice Wynn Welch Fresina, introduced Katherine Fresina, her daughter, and hosted a reception for the attendees. Items included in the display were a timeline, beginning with Native American women in Louisiana from 9,000 BCE through the end of World War II.

Some of the topics and periods highlighted were Acadian women, child care, women in war and women in politics. The Baton Rouge Chapter of DAR is entering its second century of historic preservation, education and service to the Baton Rouge community Its 100th birthday celebration will be in January

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation

The Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation presented a $5,000 grant

presentation was made at Claiborne Elementary School Shown are, from left, Marie Mullen of

America; Adam Knapp, Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation and Teach for America board member; Warren Wilson, vice president of the foundation; Melissa Miley, board member; Jay Martin, board member; Nicole Johnson, Claiborne Elementary principal; Cheryl M Ellois-Ventress, Ignite site leader at Claiborne Elementary; Cliff Barton, fair president; and Laura Vinsant, Teach for America Greater Baton Rouge executive director

Baker City Council

the Oct. 14 Baker

and

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

to Teach for America on Oct. 9. The

Teach for

PROVIDED PHOTO

At

City Council meeting, Mayor Darnell Waites presented Sarah Holliday-James a proclamation expressing deep admiration

support for Holliday-James as a breast cancer survivor Shown are, from left, Dr Charles Vincent, Rochelle Dunn, Desiree Collins, Larry James Jr., Holliday-James, Mayor Waites, Cedric Murphy and Robert young

PROVIDED PHOTO

Friends of Hilltop Arboretum

Members of the Friends of Hilltop Arboretum hosted Chris Wiesinger author of ‘The Bulb Hunter’ and founder and owner of The Southern Bulb Company, in the Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium at Hilltop Arboretum on Oct 18. Gathered are, from left, Beryl Dupre, Allison Cook, Colette Dean, Wiesinger, Melanie Hyatt and D’Ann Blanton

PROVIDED PHOTO

GLAD Red Hat Club

Members of the GLAD Red Hat Club met at City Café for lunch, and at the home of Debbie Harris for key lime and apple pie for dessert. Shown are, from left, seated, Linda Crane and Debbie Harris; standing, Gerri Cornett, Judy Smith, Linda Henning, Gilda McDowell, Ann Barney, Beverly Grant, Liz Walker and Suzette Easley.

PROVIDED PHOTO Hallowheel

The 2025 Edward Jones Investments/Tex Morris Hallowheel charity tennis and pickleball tournament, held Oct. 3-5 at BREC’s Highland Park Tennis Center in Baton Rouge, attracted 510 players and raised $60,730 to help offset expenses of the 2026 Cajun Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament next March in Baton Rouge.

Gathered are, from left, seated, Douglas Burket, Hallowheel Title Sponsors Cindy and Tex Morris, and Martha Turner; standing, Lynn Hitchcock, Courtney Major, Dawn Tregre, Roxane Bingham, Hallowheel Co-Chair Emily Greene, Cajun Classic Tournament Director Jennifer Edmonson, Hallowheel Co-Chair Rusty Jabour Michelle Shamburger Karen Serio and Lynn Serio.

Members of ‘Remember Me’ Quilt Guild celebrated their 90th birthdays at the November meeting Shown are, from left, Jo Doherty, Eleanor Perkins and Charlene Wilson.

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

undermines trust.

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.

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

Christopher Elliott

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.

STAFF PHOTO By BRADBOWIE NativeAmericans dance during the annual Tunica-BiloxiPow Wowheld on the groundsinMarksville.

FILEPHOTO PROVIDEDByPARAGON CASINORESORT

“The whole place was condemned. There were treesgrowing through the dining room,” she said.

“The porches had fallen off,and when people sawmymother doing this, the whole town gotreally excited and started finding pictures.”

Chauffeusedsomeofthe photographs to remake the porch railings. But Chauffe went beyond using photographs to bring the home back to its glory —she also sat on the front porch and straightened every square nail she found.

“She researched every single thing. None of the beds are reproductions,” Savoy said. “She had to get mattresses made to fit them, because the bed sizes have changed over the years.” Cheryl Cockrell and her team specialize in the “mostinteresting and most difficult” estates, and this historic property certainlyapplies Its sheer scale will be attractiveto treasure hunters and lovers of Cajun country artifacts —like vintage Mardi Gras capuchons, the coneshaped hats country revelers wear for chasing chickensand getting into shenanigans on FatTuesday Cockrell has been workinginestate sales for over 20 years, since

“Ifyou’ve ever had afamily member die, and you see their house tornupand distributed, it can be difficult. Idoit becauseI love people, and working with the families to makesure everyone is happy and pleased.It’sagreat service if afamily can’tclose out ahouse themselves.”

COCKRELL

CHERyL

retiringasanEnglish teacher at Comeaux High School in Lafayette. Her team,madeupofother retired teachers,haveseen it all at this point, such as people coming in to camp at asaleinOpelousas in order to get their hands on aperfectly preserved vintage clothinghaul. Shesaid, “Teachersare good at estatesales. We know how to make you behave, whileatthe same time explaininghow you can use that.”

“A lot of people say,‘Your job looks so fun.’ It’shard,” added Patricia Foster,aformer home economicsteacher from Comeaux. “The exploration isfun, becauseyou never know what you’re gonna find. As ahome economist, Ienjoythe research and explaining all of the items, and I’ve collected antiques my whole life.”

Estate sales areone of those unique places where commerce, humanityand deep emotion intersect. For theshoppers, it’s ameaningful experience to sort through the items that made up alife, while considering how that lamp, or that oldkitchentool, can fit into yours.

For the family members selling the estate, it can be an emotional time.“If you’ve everhad afamily member die, and you see their house tornupand distributed, it can be difficult,”saidCockrell. “I do it because Ilovepeople,and working withthe families to makesure everyoneishappy andpleased.It’sa great service if afamily can’t close outahouse themselves.”

For families lookingfor estate sale services, Cockrell said they can call to have thehome assessed to see if it’s asale herteam can take on.Mostestate salecompanies,like Cockrell’s, workoncommission

This sale will take place Nov.2022 in Breaux Bridge,and theyask thatshoppers not requestpricesor early tours of the house. According to Cockrell, allitems are priced to sell—the first day,ideally “Thisisnot an antique store where we hold onto it for four years,” said Cockrell. “Wehave three days and we’re heretosell.”

Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com.

CURIOUS

AT RANDOM

Continued from page1D

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.

PHOTOSByROBIN MAy

Debora Savoy, owner of the BayouTeche Bed &Breakfast, explains the historyofthe homewhichhas been in herfamily for generations in downtown Breaux Bridge.

Twoantique accordions are on offer in the upcoming estate saleatthe BayouTeche Bed &Breakfast.

PHOTO PROVIDED By LIBRARy OF CONGRESS

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.

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

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

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.

Momchooses sarcasmovergenuine encouragement

Dear Harriette: How do Iget someone who believes in tough love to understand that that does not resonate with me? For along time, my siblings and Ihave had strained relationships with our mom because of how crass she can be. She has strong and often negative opinions, and she is not shy about sharing them. Iwas recently admitted to atwo-year college. Iam in my late 20s and didn’t prioritize college when Iwas 18 like my parents wanted. Apparently,there’sstill some resentment there, because when Iannounced which school I’d be going

to,mymom snickered and asked me if Iwas proud of thatschool. When she realized that shehad offended me, she said that she was trying to encourage me.Ican’t keep letting her impose her negativityonme. Mocking me is NOT encouragement. Idon’tknow how to get her to see that, though. —Never Good Enough Dear NeverGood Enough: Not getting the support you crave from your mother has to be heart-wrenching. While Idonot have arecommendation on how to resolve that, Ican suggest thatyou surround yourself with other people who can serve as cheerleaders. Who is close to you who is proud of your current choice? Who naturally encourages you when you are feeling lowand celebrates your small victories?

Be sure to stay in touch with those people.

Forgive your mother for her crassways. She probably doesn’t mean to hurtyourfeelings, but that doesn’tmake her snipes any lesssharp. Do your bestnot to take her comments personally.If you can, stop seeking her validation.

Dear Harriette:: I’m getting married soon, and my dad has been totally out of sorts. For context, when my fiancé asked my father for his permission to propose, my dad gave his blessing, but ever since then he has been distant. I’ve asked my dad to join us when we weretouring venues,doing cake tastings and exploring tailors for themenswear.Mydad has been making excuses, saying he has something else already on his calen-

dar.When he does agree to join, he’ll conveniently oversleep and miss the appointment

My father is known for having a100% attendance rate for everything special in my life, so Ican’twrap my head around his recent behavior

My fiancé thinks he may be sad about the big change. Is it possible that thethought of my wedding

might be making my dadso distant? —Hand in Marriage DearHand In Marriage: Go to your dadand askhim directly what’sbothering him. Point outthatyou have noticed thatheisnot engaging in your wedding planning even as you and your fiancéhavedirectly andrepeatedly invitedhim. Ask him what’swrong and push to gethim to talk.

Marriage is aunionof families. Lethim know how much youbothvalue him. It’sbesttoaddress any issuesnow before youwalk down the aisle

Sendquestions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/oAndrewsMcMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St.,Kansas City,MO 64106.

PHOTOSByOLIVIAREGARD

Mini Pecan Pies

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

Harriette

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

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.

Upholt

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 an AT

Macfarlane

By The Associated Press

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.

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).

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

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.

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.

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.”

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

them over into ours. 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.

benefits end with retirement, paying dentalbills out-of-pocketcan comeasa shock, leading people to put offorevengowithout care.

Simply put—without dentalinsurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

‘All American: The Brice Taylor Story’ screening Sadowski Sport Films, Inc. will hold aspecial screening of the inspiring documentary,“All American: The BriceTaylor Story,” at 10 a.m. Nov.17atSouthern University in Allan Hall, Room 313. The film will be shown on the very campuswhereBrice Union Taylor —USC’sfirstAll-American football playerand atrailblazing civil rights pioneer —served as head football coach and athletic director,led Southern to its first undefeated season and laid the foundation for the historic Bayou Classic rivalry Watch asneak peek of the film at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BCNV7bhYGkg

OperaLouisiane

‘My Mama Joe: Hope and Help’ doc screening

The Mama Joe Project, in partnershipwiththe Alzheimer’sAssociation Louisiana Chapter,AARP Louisiana, The John A. Hartford

ON THEARTSAND CULTURESCENE

Tickets areonsale for Opera Louisiane’s “OperaRoyal” concert, featuring sopranos Lisette Oropesa and Susan Graham, at 5p.m. Nov. 23, at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, 529 ConventionSt. General admission tickets are $76.50. Visit operalouisiane. org.

‘Rudolph’ tickets

Tickets areonsale for Playmakers of Baton Rouge’s production of “Rudolph theRedNosed Reindeer,” opening Dec. 5inthe ReillyTheatre, TowerDrive, LSU campus. Tickets are$30 for adults and $20 for students and children. Visit playmakersbr.org.

‘Homefor Christmas’

Tickets areonsale for UpStage Theatre’s productionof “Home for Christmas,”opening Dec. 6onits stage at 1713 Wooddale Blvd Baton Rouge. Tickets are$27. Visit upstagetheatre.biz.

‘Elf’atSullivan

Tickets areonsalefor Sullivan Theater’s production of “Elf,” opening Dec. 4onits stage at 8849 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge. Tickets are$28-$29. Visit sullivantheater.com.

‘Miracle on 34th’ Tickets areonsalefor Ascen-

sion CommunityTheatre’s production of “Miracle on 34th Street,” opening Dec. 11 on its stage at 823 N.Felicity St., Gonzales. Tickets are$18-$33. Visitactgonzales.org.

Renaissanceconcert

Tickets areonsale for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s “A Concert in the Cosmos”series performances of “Welcome to the Renaissance” on Nov. 19-20 in the Pennington Planetariumat theLouisiana Art &Science Museum, 100 S. RiverRoad, Baton Rouge.The concert is being performedinconjunction with the Louisiana Renaissance Festival.

Tickets are$40-$60. Visitbrso. org.

Tickets alsoare on sale for the symphony’s annual Holiday Brass concert at 7:30 p.m.Dec. 4atSt. Joseph’s Cathedral,401 MainSt.,Baton Rouge Tickets are$40. Visit brso.org.

‘Nutcracker’ tickets

Tickets areonsale for Baton Rouge BalletTheatre’s annual production of “TheNutcracker —ATale From TheBayou,” set forfourperformances on Dec. 20-21 in the Raising Cane’s RiverCenterPerforming ArtsTheater,240 St. Louis St. Tickets are$55.85-$83.30plus taxes andfees. Visitba-

Foundation and Well Ahead, will host afreecommunityscreening of the powerful documentary “My Mama Joe: Hope& Help,” afilm illustrating the journey of caregiving, dementia and generational strengthfrom 7p.m.to9 p.m.Nov 18 at Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge.

Attendees will enjoy freepopcorn and acomplimentary drink while they enjoy the film, followed by amoderated expertpanel featuring Louisiana Alzheimer’sAssociation Executive Director DeloresHurst andDr. Robert Newton,senior scientist at Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter,who will discussbrain health, early detection, healthy aging and local resources for caregivers in Southwest Louisiana. In addition to thefilm and panel, guestswill receive resource information, guidance on local supports andinsight into programs avail-

tonrougeballet.org.

Cangelosi‘Nutcracker’

Tickets areonsale for the Cangelosi Dance Project’sannual “HolidayNutcracker,”set for twoperformances on Dec. 20 at the Dunham School’s Brown-Holt Theatre, 11111 RoyEmerson Drive, Baton Rouge. Tickets are$25-$45. Email cangelosidp@gmail.com or visitcangelosidanceproject. com.

‘8 FluidOunces’

The LSU School of Art’s biennial “cup show,”“8Fluid Ounces,” will be on view,with worksfor sale, throughDec. 12, in Glassell Galleryinthe ShawCenter for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St Baton Rouge. The exhibition will feature100 ceramic cups and vessels by 20 artists invited from across the country by guest curator and visiting artist Ruth Easterbrook. The cups and vessels areavailable forsale. Scheduled coinciding programs for the showisan InteractiveThrowing Wheel Demonstration with LSU Ceramic Arts Student Association Vice President Lance Wilson from 2p.m.to4 p.m. Nov. 16. Galleryhours arenoon to 5p.m.Tuesdaythrough Sunday. Admission is free. Visit design.lsu.edu/news-andevents/events/.

able to help families impacted by memoryloss. While the event is free, registration is requestedtoensure capacityaccommodations. Register at mamajoeproject.com/batonrouge

Cranksgiving Baton Rouge rolls outonNov.23

Cranksgiving Baton Rouge begins at 10 a.m.Nov.23atElectricDepot, 1509 Government St, Baton Rouge. The annual event invites cyclists of all levels to hit thestreets of Baton Rougefor a bicycle-poweredfood drive benefiting the Greater BatonRouge Food Bank. Part bike ride,partfood drive andpart scavengerhunt, Cranksgiving transforms an ordinary day of cycling into an opportunity to give back. Riders are provided with alist of localgrocery stores wherethey’ll purchase nonper-

ishable food items, then return to Electric Depot to donate what they’ve collected. The ride combines fun, community anda sharedcommitment to helping local families in need during the holiday season.

Cranksgiving began in New York City in 1999 and has since spread to citiesacrossthe country.Each event is locally organized and open to riders of all experience levels. The BatonRougeversion started in 2016 and was organized by Bike Baton Rouge. The event is free and open to the public, and there is no registration fee. Participants simply bring theirown bicyclesand plan to spend around $30 purchasing food to donate. Participants should have some way to safely carry groceries with them on their bikes. Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

“Atany given time, we have 300 containers on ships traversing the world.That’salot of details to manage.”

KATIE JENSEN,Triton Stone CEO

Rachel Jones, Triton Stone’s chief marketing officer, left, and CEO Katie Jensen stand next to samples of natural stone at the wholesaler’s warehouse in Harahan.

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Backin2006, KatieJensenjust wanted to come home.

After growing up in Kenner, she’dleft town forcollege and was working forashipping company in New Jersey.But she missedher parentsand sixsiblings, whowere back in the New Orleans area dealing withthe aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

As it happened,her father New Orleans trucking industry veteranJack Jensen —was in theprocess of buying afranchise to sell natural stone products to post-stormhomerenovators, andheneeded someone to run it. They quickly hatched aplan, and the youngerJensen came back

to town to be thefirst to officially slide open theroll-up door at the TritonStone warehouse on River Road, amile upriver from the Huey P. LongBridge

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 froma New Orleansnewcomertoone of thetop 20 distributors of its kind in the United States competing in a$2.2billionand-growing sector

Today, thecompany, which the family has since purchased from its original owners—isthe New Orleans area’sbiggest wholesaler of quartz, marble, graniteand ä See STONE, page 2E

Proponents,Entergy debate best useof settlement funds

BYANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

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 City mulls$30Mmicrogrid

vocacygroups Together New Orleans and the Alliance for Affordable En-

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

If moneyistight,isitOKtochargeguestsfor Thanksgiving dinner?

Michelle Singletary THE COLOR OF MONEy

Nothing says happy holidays like acover charge. With Thanksgiving here soon, you may have noticed online postings by would-be hosts askingwhetheritisOK to charge guests for their roast turkey and cranberry sauce. But it is part of alarger trend of people billing guests forfood and drink that, depending on your point of view,iseither a majorbreach of etiquette or simply pragmatic.

Recently,acaller to the “Maney and LauRen Morning Show” recounted how her aunt charges $10 per person attending Thanksgiving dinner.(She also puts out atip jar.And, no, she’snot collecting for charity.)

The radio hosts were aghast. So was I. Similarly,adebate erupted on Redditlast year when agraduate student hosting a“Friendsgiving” potluck dinner solicited $12 aperson to cover the cost of the turkey

STONE

Continued frompage1E

other materials used for kitchen counters, bathroom features and other high-end design elements. Its Harahan gallery is filled with millions of dollars’ worthofstone sourced from all around the world including pristine Carrara marble from Italy and “creamy” TajMahal quartzite from Brazil. From 31 locationsinthe Midwest, theGulfSouth andthe Mid-Atlantic the company generatesmore 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 amountofsinks each month, along with high-end tiles and tools for the stone fabricators thatcut and installcountertops

The Jensens attributeTriton’s growth in large part to their family’sdecades of experienceinthe transportation industry,wherethe goal is to move things as quickly and cheaply as possible.Inaddition to TCI Trucking, the companyJack Jensen founded, thefamilynow runs ahalf-dozenrelated businesses, includingaliquid storage and transportation company,a plastics packaging subsidiary anda birdseed sterilization facility

“The job is always evolving and changing,” KatieJensen said.“But at the end of the day,it’sall about logistics. Our job is to get the material to our customers at the lowest possible price.”

Twodecades of growth

In asense, Triton’sNew Orleans roots date back to the early 1980s, when Jack Jensen quit workingfor alocal 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.

MICROGRID

Continued from page1E

programs, such as Entergy Smart, which offers incentives tocustomers to make efficiency upgrades. EntergyspokespersonBeau Tidwell said that theconsumer activists’ plan, which initially targets about 1,500 homes and200 businesses and civic institutions, diverts the money to a“private developer” program. Entergy has also indicated that it mighttake legal action to challenge the microgrid proposal if the City Council adopts it

“There is avery clearchoice to be made,” said Broderick Bagert, leadorganizer for TogetherNew Orleans, one of the sponsors of the microgrid proposal.

“It is between having abig program thatispaid for by the settlement mone y, which is what we’ve proposed, and having asmallerone paid for by ratepayers,” he said, referring to Entergy’sseparate incentive program for customerstobuy batteries. The outcome of the council’supcoming vote is poised to shape how NewOrleans addresses energyresilience in the face of aging infrastructure, climate-driven storms, and theevolving solar andbattery landscape.

When one member of the group refusedtopay,the host wondered if she was wrong. Her subreddit communitywas deeply divided.

“It’s the inflatedprice that gets me,” wrote one person opposed to the fee. “That’s way more than afaircontribution to aturkey alone …it’sfairfor thefriends to contribute, but theway this is presented just looks like friends being asked to payfor adinner party they were invitedto.”

Others had no problemwith it, with one posterwriting: “Hosting adinner can be expensive,(so) it’s not uncommon to ask people to chipin.”

These are typical rationales for an RSVP thatfeelsmore like an invoice:

n “It’snot fair.” The view hereis that people shouldn’tbepunished fornot having enoughmoney to celebrate (fill in the blank).

n “OKboomer,norms have changed. The reasoning is thatcertainetiquette rules are no longerapplicable, making it acceptable to expect attendees to help cover the cost of a gathering.

n “You can’tput aprice on arelationship. This oneessentiallydraws aline between thecost, andhow much you value spending time together I’m notconvinced.There is no financial justification for acover chargefor Thanksgiving dinner or anyother celebration. This trend of transferring financial responsibility from the host, whois traditionally expected to pay, to the guest is monetizing fellowship.

Iunderstand that for many people, hosting the type of celebrations they wantisbeyondtheir budget. People are increasingly concerned aboutthe affordability of food,housing andhealth care. Add in thesevere cuts in the federal government workforce and recession-level layoffs in the private sector,and money is tight for many households.

However, instead of collecting cash from friendsand family,here are sixother ways to help reduce the cost of hosting Thanksgiving. Potlucks are OK. If you’re tired of being theannual hostbecause of the cost andlabor,change the dynamics of yourfunctionbyhosting apotluck.This is often the big cost-

lit up from behindinside the warehouse atTritonStone in Harahan.

After two decades running the business, he had built alonglist of customers, includingMemphis, Tennessee-based Triton Stone, a new venturewith two locationsthat waslookingfor franchisees to grow its footprint.

Jensen andhis son Christian, who hadjoined thefamily business by then,wanted in. They saw thepotential of combiningtheir logistics experience with the Triton founders’ overseas connections and industryknowledge.

“My brother is abig-picture thinker,and he andmyfathersaw this as an opportunity to getinvolvedwith the rebuilding after Katrina,” Katie Jensen said

To get started, the Jensens obtained aline of credit,orderedsome containers of stone, found the location in Harahan andbegan building asales team

“Westarted asking family and friends to come work forus,”Jones said. “Wetalked to my brother’s friend who played baseball, people we wenttoChappelle or Jesuit with, asking them if they wanted to sell stone.”

Gradually,they builtinventory, buying several containers’ worth of stone each month, taking advice from suppliers about what was sell-

ing well in other parts of thecountry andpaying attention to customer requests.

Within ayear,business was booming and the Jensens were in aposition to expand. Thepost-Katrina demand for materials, locally,kept thework coming despite anational slowdown in construction andrenovation brought on by the 2008 housing crisis.

Over the next decade, they opened nine morelocations,starting in BatonRouge; San Antonio; andMobile, Alabama, andeventually planting their flaginVirginia and other East Coast states. In 2017, the Jensensmadetheir biggestmoveto date, buying outthe originalTriton owners.

“Wehad grown the business to such an extent that it didn’tmake sense anymore,” Jones said. “They hadfive locations and we had nine. We haddirect relationships at that point with allthe suppliers in Brazil andaround the world, andwewere just really good operators.”

Over the next five years, the Jensensopenedoracquired17more locations to morethandoubleTriton’s national footprint.

‘Fromthe quarry to thekitchen’

TheJensen family’sexperience

Advocatesmakeacase

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 ofprograms. In San Diego, for example,a projectofeight microgrids is being rolled out by GridscapeSolutions forfire stations, police stations and recreation centers, incorporating solar power and battery storage. The city expects that these microgridswill not only support resilience during outages but also helpavoid more than $420,000 in annual energy costs.

TheNew Orleansmicrogrid proposal was backed by about two dozen “intervenors,” ranging from church groups, suchasthe GNO Interfaith Climate Coalition, two electrical workers unions, as well as several solar and battery technology businesses. They have provided testimonyand documentation to the council demonstrating the potential impact of acity-led batteryprogram JeffCantin, presidentofSolar Alternatives,aNew Orleanssolar engineering firm,pointed to the St.PetersApartments, a50-unit affordable housing complex in Treme, which incorporated solar panels and abattery systemwhen it was built in 2019. That project,

saver. Don’tjust say: “Bring something.” Be specific.Several years ago, my family decidedtorotate whohosts andhow to coordinate whobrings whatfor the meal. My niece andher husband usually do the turkey.Mysister’sside dishes andmynephew’scrabmacaroni andcheese have become fanfavorites.Imake the stuffing. We carefully go through the menu, assigningdishesthatwill feed however many are coming. It’sworkedout great. We even designate oneor two people to be responsible for the family gamesafterdinner. Simplify the side dishes. Does your Thanksgiving dinnersufferfrom menu bloat? If youusually prepare five or sixdifferent side dishes, choose thetop threethateveryoneloves andskip the rest. Less variety meanslower costand less work Cut out the charcuterieboard.Martha Stewart can afford agourmetpredinner spread.You,not so much. Or you might have gotteninto the habitofpreparing snacksand elaborate appetizers to feed the crowd waiting forthe latecomers. Youcan skip that. Be astickler

aboutstarting on time.Additionally,appetizers can fill people up before the main meal, leading to food waste,whichiswhy Ioffer the next tip.

Don’tcook enough for leftovers. Managepeople’s expectations by announcing thatyou won’tovercook Hosts aresoaccustomed to people taking leftovers home thatthey have takeaway containers andaluminum foil readily available.You might also graciously discourage invitees frommaking to-go plates even before dinnerstarts. Downsize the guest list. If affordability is an issue,considerlimiting the numberofguests. If youhavea skinny budget, don’ttry to accommodate abloated celebration. Skip hosting Just because youhave always been the host doesn’tmean youhavetoacceptthe duty when youknowyourfinances can’t handle it. As Ialways say: Live your financialtruth. If the truth is that your money is tight, don’tshift the costtoyourguests.

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost com.

moving, storing and tracking all sorts of materials has been akey factor in Triton’s growth. The same skills necessary forthose ventures help Triton save on theconsiderable cost of moving heavy stone from itssources in Italy, Brazil andother faraway locations to U.S. portsand thentoa network of warehouses andgalleries.

From day one, they had set up an unloading anddistributioncenter near the Port of NewOrleans, which allowed themtofill containers to themaximum weight allowed on ships and thenredistribute material for domestic transportation over the roads, which has alower weight limit. The practice, which wasn’tindustry standard,has become more commonplace.

Triton’sin-house customs broker is akey contributor, and the company oversees afleet of nearly 100 truckstomovethe stone once it’s on land.

“There are many steps to get stone from thequarry to someone’s kitchen, so knowing all the steps in theprocess is helpful,”Jensen said. “At anygiventime, we have 300 containersonships traversing the world. That’sa lotofdetails to manage.”

Changing trends

Thesisters rememberthe first stone slab they sold. It wasa “blotchy” green granite that’sno longerthe height of fashion.

In the years since, Triton has adapted to trends as customers have moved towardmoreneutral palettes and patterns, although

which included $1 milliongrant funding from Entergy,was the first of itskindinthe city and wasdesignedtocover nearly all the building’senergyneeds andprovide backup power when the gridfailed.

“During HurricaneIda,the system kept the facility running for two or three weeksafter the storm,” Cantin recounted in an interview.“Residentswho previously faced high bills saw them drastically reduced, and the systemserved as abright spot in the neighborhood.”

That success inspired Together NewOrleans’ Community Lighthouse program, which installed solar-plus-battery systems in churches, nonprofit centersand other public-serving buildings Thereare 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 IndustriesAssociation,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 theoutage 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 andeverybody’s rooftop energy generation could have

New Orleanscustomersstill prefer moredashes of pink, green andblue in theircountersthantheir counterpartsinneighboring Texas.

The Jensens will continue to keep withtrends just as they manage industry challengeslike inflation,the slowhousing market andtariffs, which in some cases have forced them to look for alternate sources of material.

Another issue facing theindustry is the health danger of the crystalline silicadust created when workers cutorgrind the materials used to make engineered stone counters. Thefederal government andCalifornia have both created rules to protect workers from exposure, including usingwater sprays and ventilation to reducethe dust in the air. Other countriesare doingthe same.

In response,Triton and its competitorsnow stock some silica-free engineered products andare exploring more options.

Despite the difficulties, Triton has growntocontribute about 30% of therevenue of allthe Jensen family businesses.

Jones attributes that success to her team’s knack for solving problems.

“Wewanttosellfabricators the toolsthey need while they’re buying slabs,” she said. “For the interiordesigner, we want to provide allthe tile.Onceyou become their easybutton,they’re notgoing to go anywhere else.”

EmailRich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

been deployed back to the grid in real time,” she said. “Having this kind of program can bring down the cost foreveryone and improve reliability foreveryone.”

Some supportersofthe microgrid plan said Entergy’sopposition is emblematic of its “slowwalk” approach to solar and other systemsthat give customers some degree of independence from the grid.

“Entergy,when left to its owndevices without clear direction from regulators, will only makechoices that are best for the bottom line,” said Logan Atkinson-Burke,executive director of theAlliancefor Affordable Energy Tidwell, theEntergy New Orleans spokesperson, countered:

“The idea that Entergy New Orleans is ‘slow-walking’ solar is not accurate,” he said.“Over thepast fewyears, we’ve added nearly 100 megawatts of solar power —both utility-scale and local distributed projects —intoour portfolio, and we continuetomeet theCityCouncil’sRenewable andClean Portfolio Standard.”

The utility also points to apipeline of 8,600 megawatts of renewable energy projects, alarge portion of which is solar power,which is expected to be online by 2028.

The City Council is expected to vote on the microgridproposal before its term expires on Jan. 12, fulfillingapromisebyMayor-elect Helena Moreno.

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

St. Peter Residential, a$7.4 millionaffordable housing complex in MidCity that was completed in 2020, features alargeon-site batterytostore from rooftop solar panels.

Bagert

STAFF PHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER

Dave Volpi cleans astonesample

Jason Ledet sorts through samples of natural stone 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 H. Hines

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.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

SidLewis

NATION & WORLD

Shutdown pauses access to federal economic data

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.

Staff report

The following awards and honors were recently announced by south Louisianabusinessesand nonprofit organizations.

BatonRouge

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana‘s legal team was recognized last month with aTop 10 Corporate Counsel award in the 2025 OnCon Icon Awards.

Sheah Stephens,afilm educator at BatonRouge Community College, was awarded an Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowship from the Television Academy Foundation. Stephens, an artist and filmmaker, was one of 18professors selected for this year’sprogram, which included attendance at athree-day Media Educators Conference last month in North Hollywood, California.

The Louisiana Blue Foundation honored 10 Louisianans fordoing good for the childrenofthe state at the 2025 Angel Award gala on Oct. 20 in BatonRouge.Theyinclude:

Bonita Armour,ofDry Prong, is the founder and president of B22 Sports Complex, which offers mentorship and life skills to cen-

Fool’sTake:

Brewing profits

Constellation Brands (NYSE:

tral Louisiana youth.

Divine Bailey-Nicholas,ofOpelousas, is the founderand executivedirector of Community BirthCompanion, offering maternal health support in rural Louisiana.

BarryJackson,ofBaton Rouge,is alongtimeteacher andcoach at Tara High School.

RheneishaRobertson,ofNew Orleans, is the CEO of Covenant House New Orleans, which offers shelter and support to homeless young people.

Dawn Stanfield,ofMonroe, is programdirector of Academy for Collaborative Education, which is north Louisiana’sonly school for autistic children.

DeWanna Tarver,ofLakeCharles, founded DeWanna’sCloset, giving CalcasieuParish students and teachers access to school essentials

Kelli Todd,ofShreveport, is the executive director of Volunteers for Youth Justice, helping to keep children outofthe criminal law system.

Cherry Wilmore and Sherry Wilmore,of Houma, who together co-founded of CHeriSHTimes Twotohelp foster youth.

Matthew Vicknair,ofBaton Rouge, is an analystinLouisiana Blue’s ValueBased Operations division.Vicknair,who received the Blue Angel honor,volunteers and serves on the board of Front Yard Bikes, which helps young peoplebuild connections andskills through bicycles

its totaling $1.45 billion.

NewOrleans

Detroit Brooks was awarded the 2025 Danny BarkerAward from the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Brooks, thefounder of the Danny Barker Banjo &Guitar Festival, is adedicated mentor,educator andrenowned local musician. The awardwill be announced andpresented during the museum’sannualimprovisations gala on Dec. 6.

Jim Cook,president and CEO of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was recently selected as aYoung Leadership Council role model. Cook was also named to the New Orleans CityBusiness Power 50. Cook receivedthe honor at an Oct. 24 reception.

Heather Hodges, director of institutional advancement at The Historic New Orleans Collection, receivedthe Museum Leadership Award from the Southeastern Museums Conference. Hodges was honoredon

Oct. 22 in Montgomery,Alabama, where theHNOC also received six technology awards and twoexhibition awards.

Michael Ginart and Katherin Karcher Lemoine,former teachers and current members of the St. Bernard ParishSchoolBoard, were honored as the2025 man and woman of theyear by the St. BernardBusiness and Professional Women’sClub at an Oct. 22 gala.

Calvin Mackie , founderand CEO of STEM NOLA andSTEM Global Action, its national affiliate, was awarded the2025 Ralph Coats Roe Medal from the American SocietyofMechanical Engineers. He will receive the medal andgive akeynote address to ASME’sconvention in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday,Nov.18.

Cedric Richmond, who represented Louisiana in Congress for more than adecade, was named the the 2025 Alumnus of the Year by BenjaminFranklin High

School.Richmondreceivedthe award ahead of the school’sfirst Bennaroo benefit concert Nov.9 at The Broadside.

Ar vinder Vilkhu, president andexecutive chef of SaffronNola, received a$10,000 prize from Greater New Orleans Foundation for winning the 2025 Cohn | GNOF |Nola| Arts award. Vilkhu, atwo-time James Beard award nominee, was honored at aspecial reception Oct. 14.

Acadiana

Joshua Harry and Evan Thibodeaux,employees of Global DataSystems, have been named to the 2025 CRN Next-Gen Solution ProviderLeaders. CRN, abrand of TheChannel Co., composes the annual list to spotlight outstanding executives, managers anddirectorsunder the age of 41.

Do you have personnel changes or awards to shareorother ideas for our business coverage? Drop us a line at biztips@theadvocate.com.

STZ) has seen its stock drop more than 40% over the past year —pushing its dividendyield up to 3.1%. For longterm investors, this is an opportunity to invest in atop beer stock at abig discount.

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 sales totaled $8.54 billion, with sales of wine and spir-

The stock is down as consumers have pulled back on discretionary spending, and that 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 fullfiscal year to be down between 4% and 6%.

While the company’ssales are dependent on consumer spending trends,people are not likely to stop drinking beer and wine over thelongterm, and Constellation’s brands rank toward the topoftheir categories in market share.

EvenWarren Buffett and his investing team at Berkshire Hathaway see value here, as they have accumulated 7.5% of the company Shares look attractively priced

for long-term believers at arecent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12. (The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands.)

Fool’s School: Will the market crash soon?

The United States stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 index of 500 of America’sbiggest companies, has had somegreat years lately.Itgained 31.5% in 2019, 18.4% in 2020 and 28.7% in 2021, before dropping by 18.1% in 2022. Then it jumped26.3% in 2023 and 25% in 2024 —and it was recently up 15.5% year to date.

Considering thatthe stock market’slong-term average annual gain is close to 10%, not 18% or more,it’sfair to wonder whether

the market will pull back soon. Also troubling are ongoing tariff wars, inflation risks and general geopolitical uncertainty. Given allthat, acorrection or crash maybearound thecorner.(A stock market correction is adrop of between 10% and20%,while acrash is arapid drop of 20% or more.) But that pullback might not happen this year or next.Noone ever knows exactlywhatthe stock market(or anyparticularstock) will do from oneday to another,or even one month to another So, since themarket may or maynot crash soon,whatshould stock investors do?Here are some thoughts: n Expect correctionsand crashes. They are afact of life in the stock market and, on average, happen every fewyears.

n Don’tkeep anymoney that you expect to need within five,ifnot 10, years in thestock market. You don’twanttohave to sellwhenthe marketisway down.

n Know that despiteplentyof correctionsand crashes in thepast, theU.S.stock markethas always eventually recovered,going on to set newhighs n Assume that many high-flying growth stockswill fall harder than slower-growing ones. If youwant to reducerisk, youmight fully or partlysellout of anystocksthat seem significantlyovervalued. Dividendstocksshould appeal, because they often (though not always) keep paying even during marketdownturns. Finally,remember that market pullbackscan presentsome great buying opportunities.

Stephens

Vilkhu

Harry

Thibodeaux

Brooks

Cook

Hodges

Lemoine

Mackie

Richmond

Motley Fool

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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andassessment •Developing detailedreports that cap‐ture theoutcomesand strategic rec‐ommendations from ProcessHazard Analyses •Conductingauditsofexistingprocess safety management programstoeval‐uate compliance andeffectiveness •Providing actionable recommenda‐tionsonimprovementsthatcomply with corporateand regulatory safety standards.

•Engaginginannualstrategic reviews with client management to assess and refinesafety management strategies •Overseeingthe qualityassurance processesproducedbyjunior consul‐tants. •Mentoring anddevelopingjunior con‐sultants,fostering theirprofessional growth andexpertise in processsafety management Work demandsinclude: •Flexibility to work weekendsand ni ded

PASTOR Star Hill Baptist Church,located at 1400 NorthFosterDrive BatonRouge Louisiana70806 is prayerfullyseeking a full-timepastorwho is calledbyGod andequippedtoeffectivelypreachand teachthe word of God. This person must possessexcellent leadership abilities, strong organizational,critical andanalyticalthinkingskills, emo‐tional intelligence andthe abilityto fos‐terrelationships with membersofthe church as well as thecommunity Position Description:The pastor is re‐sponsibletothe church forproviding spiritual, educational, administrative leadership andoutreach. Thepastor will usehis/her skills in proclamation motivation andpastoralcaretomeet theneeds of thepeopleinthe church andthe community forwhich the church is responsible.

PreferredQualifications: .A licensedordainedministerwith a minimumof5 plus yearsofpastoralex‐perience andbeabletoprovide docu‐mentationoflicensure andordination. .DegreefromanaccreditedSeminary School of Divinity,Bible CollegeorUni‐versity

Duties/Responsibilities

.Planand lead worshipthatinspires andchallenges attendeestoapplybib‐licalteachingtotheir dailylives

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cially self-sustaining, andbetterserve the needsofcitizensand of visitors to Louisiana throughcollaboration utilizingPublicPrivate Partnerships.The RFI packet,which includes a timeline,instructionsfor proposal submission andselection criteria,is available at http://www opportunitiesinlouisiana. com. It mayalsobe picked up between9 a.m. and4 p.m. weekdays at theOffice of StatePark, CapitolAnnex, Third Floor,1051 NorthThird Street,Baton Rouge, LA 70802. WrittenProposals must be received by StateParks at this ad‐dressnolater than 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday,Janu‐ary30, 2026. StateParks will continue itscommit‐ment to ensure allpro‐jectspromote ourmis‐sion statement, have community support, and supportoflocal and stateelected officials. StateParks also commits to notproceed with any projects that will be detrimentaltothe local communityorany local business.All inquiries concerning theRFI should be submittedin writingtothe IssuingOf‐

LOUISIANA

how

‘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.

See EPILEPSY, page 2X

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

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.

Manuel

“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

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 centersrecertified Seven

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.

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.

Managediabetes, cholesteroland bloodpressure. Thisisvitalforhearthealth.

What

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.

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.

“Some people 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,the couple did meet as children at school in Ellisville, Mississippi. She was agrade ahead of him. They grewup, remaining friends through the

ä See FOLK, page 1Y

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 incredible love of espresso, and from their balcony could watch Mount Vesuvius erupt on one

and

STAFF PHOTOSByJAN RISHER

Wyatt Collins describes apainting of the RobertE.Lee riverboat in his NewIberia home.

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 2y

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 THE yOUTH SERVICE BUREAU

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.

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.

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PROVIDED PHOTO

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,

The

GREEN SEA 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

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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