The Times-Picayune 03-22-2026

NCAA TOURNAMENT: LSU vs. TEXAS TECH

MASSIVE MAKEOVER

Pelicans unveil majorrenovationplanfor Smoothie King Center

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

Imagine going to afuture

New Orleans Pelicans game and beforehand, taking in an outdoor concertata treelined, open-air plaza outside the Smoothie King Center, then crossing the street to grab apregame drinkinthe arena’sclub lounge with a view of downtown New Orleans on an open-air Garden District-style rooftop veranda.

That’sthe vision Pelicans officialshave pitched to key decision-makers across the city and state as they try to garner support fora major makeover of their home arena and its surrounding campus.

Victimsof watermain breaks seek answers

relief in wake of

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

Jenniferand JohnRansone andtheir twotoddlers went aweek without hot waterinJanuary, aftera watermain break flooded partof their Uptownproperty and totaled their water heater

The couple spent thousands to replace the heater as ahard freezedescendedonthe New Orleans region. Afew weeks later,another pipe burst near their Panola Street home, resulting in floods that again totaled the new heater and swamped their Honda sedan.

“Before we can finish one task, something else happens,” Jennifer Ransone said.

The Ransones are one of manyfamilies who have found themselves at the mercy of New Orleans’ century-old water system, which is poorly maintained and prone to failure through leaks and ruptured pipes.

They’ve combed through insurance policies, considered theirlegal optionsand availed themselves of asmallclaimsprocess the Sewerage &Water Board manages. It’s afrustrating process, theysaid, andtheir path to becoming whole after the floods seems full of obstacles.

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

The project wouldbethe mostextensive renovation of the Smoothie King Center since it opened in 1999, something officials sayis needed to bring the building up to modern NBA standards. It would featurethe addition of 2,155 lower-level seats, upgraded concourses new social spaces and aredesign of the surrounding campus that includes two parking lots adjacentto thearena along Le Rouge Street, Champions Square, the old New OrleansCentre and Macy’s parking garage. The master plan was commissioned by theLouisiana

Stadium and Exposition District, which oversees thearena’soperations for thestate, andwas completed in July by the architecturalfirms Gensler and EskewDumezRipple. The Times-Picayune obtained acopy of the master plan through apublic records request

Officials stressed that thearchitectural renderings presentedinthe plan are conceptual studiesthat

have not been approved by the state, LSED or Pelicans and“arepreliminaryat best,” said Larry Roedel, the longtime legalcounsel for theLSED. “The Master Plan is aconceptual look at different options forimprovements to the Smoothie King Center, with arenovation being contingent on alease extension with the Pelicans,” said Rob

State Sen. Regina Barrow was visibly emotional, at times holding back tearsasshe talked about Louisiana children facing abuse and neglect.

“They need our help, and we cannot fail them,” she said, “’cause when we do fail them it mayactually mean the death sentence of the child.”

Her comment came Tuesday while presenting legislation to dismantle the Department of Children and Family Services, which she says is structurally broken —and continuestolet

The Smoothie King Center in NewOrleans is seen on Wednesday

STAFF PHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD

The NewOrleans Pelicans’ Smoothie King Center is the subject of aplan that would bringsignificant upgrades to seating andthe area surrounding the NBAarena

Cuba’spower grid collapses again

HAVANA Cuba’spower grid collapsed Saturday leaving the country without electricity for a third time in March as the communist government battles with adecaying infrastructureand a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.

The state-owned Cuban Electric Union reported atotal blackout across the islandwithout giving acause forthe outage Authorities said they were working to restore power.

Power outages, whether nationwideorregional,havebecomerelatively common in the last twoyears due to breakdowns in the aging infrastructure. The breakdowns are compounded by daily blackouts of up to 12 hours causedbyfuel shortages, which alsodestabilize the system

The last nationwide blackout occurred on Monday.Saturday’s outage was the second in the past week and the third in March.

The blackouts have asignificant impact on the population, whose lives are disruptedby reduced work hours, lack of electricity for cooking, andfood spoilage when refrigerators stop working, among many other consequences.

PresidentMiguel Díaz-Canel hassaidthe islandhas notreceived oil from foreignsuppliers for three months. Cuba produces barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy Cuba’saging grid has drastically eroded in recentyears. But the government also has blamed the outages on aU.S. energy blockade after President Donald Trump in January warnedoftariffsonany country thatsells or provides oil to Cuba.

Officials: 14 killed in fire at S. Korean factory

SEOUL, South Korea South Korean rescue workers on Saturday recovered theremains of 14 people from the charredwreckage of an auto parts factory in the central city of Daejeon, where an explosion and fireinjured at least 59 others

Fire officials said 25 people were seriously injured but it wasn’timmediately clear whether any were in life-threatening condition. More than 500 firefighters, police andemergency personnel weredeployed to contain the fire and conduct rescue operations after it broke out Friday afternoon.

Videos and photos from the scene showed thick gray smoke billowing from the complex and some workers jumping from a building belongingtoAnjun Industrial.

Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of the city’sDaedeok district, said the blaze destroyedafactory building that firefighters initially could not enter over fears it might collapse.Searches for the missing workers began late Friday afterofficials deployed unmanned firefighting robotsto cool the structure and conducted asafetyinspection.

Nine of the 14 dead were discovered in what is believed to have been agym on the third floor,while three were found nearawater tank on the second floor.All the missing have now been accountedfor

2charged after trying to enter U.K.’s sub base

LONDON An Iranian man and aRomanian woman havebeen charged after trying to enter the naval base in Scotland that is home to Britain’snucleararmed submarines,police said Saturday Police Scotlandsaidthe 34-year-oldman and 31-year-old womanwill appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday As is customary in Scotland, police did not release the suspects’ names or the charges they face before their court hearing

The pair were detained on Thursday after attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde, about 40 miles northwestof Glasgow

The base, also known as Faslane, is hometothe coreof the U.K.’ssubmarine fleet, including thevesselsthat carry nuclearweapons.

Britain has been anuclear power since the 1950s.Since the 1990s, its nuclear deterrent has consisted of four RoyalNavy submarines armed with Trident missiles.

Trumpthreatens attacksonIran’s powerplants

strikes near Israelinuclear research center

BY SAMY MAGDY, MELANIE LIDMAN and JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

CAIRO— Iranian missilesstruck two communitiesinsouthern IsraellateSaturday,leaving buildings shattered and dozens injured in dualattacks notfar from Israel’s main nuclearresearchcenter,while President Donald Trump warned the U.S. will “obliterate”Iranianpower plants if it doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Thedevelopments signaled the war was moving in adangerous newdirection at the start of its fourth week.

Trump —who is facing increasingpressure at home to secure the strait asoil prices soar —issuedthe ultimatum in asocialmedia post whilehespent theweekendathis Floridahome.

Trump said he’sgiving Iran 48 hourstoopenthe vital waterway or face anew round of attacks. He saidthe U.S. would destroy“variousPOWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

The Strait of Hormuz,which connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the globe’soceans, is a critical pathway for the world’s flow of oil. Attacks on commercial shipsand threats of further strikes

have stoppednearlyall tankers from carrying oil, gas and other goods through thepassage. That’s alsoled to cuts in output from some of theworld’s largest producers, because their crude has nowhere to go. The Iranian strikes in Israel came after Tehran’smainnuclear enrichment site at Natanzwas hit earlier in the day

Israel’smilitary saiditwas not able to intercept missilesthat hit thesoutherncities of Dimona and Arad, the largest near thecenter in Israel’s sparsely populatedNegev desert. It was the first time Iranian missiles penetrated Israel’s air defense systems in the area around the nuclear site.

“If theIsraeli regimeisunable to interceptmissiles in theheavily protected Dimona area, it is,operationally,a sign of entering anew phaseofthe battle,” Iran’sParliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Xbefore word of the Aradstrike spread.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said moreemergency crews werebeing sent to thescene.

Rescueworkers said thedirecthit in Arad caused widespread damage across at least 10 apartment buildings, threeofthem badly damaged andindangerofcollapsing. At least 64 people weretaken to hospitals Dimonaisabout 12 mileswest of the nuclear research center and Aradaround 22 miles north.

Israel is believedtobethe only Middle East nation withnuclear weapons,though itsleadersrefuse to confirm or denytheir existence.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Xithad not received reports of damage to the Israeli center or ab-

normal radiation levels.

Dangerousnew direction

“The war is notclose to ending,” Israel’s armychief,Gen. Eyal Zamir,said earlier in the day Iran also targetedthe joint U.K.U.S.Diego Garciamilitary base in the Indian Ocean about 2,500 miles away,suggesting that Tehran has missiles that can go fartherthan previously acknowledged —orthat it hadusedits space programfor an improvised launch.

TheU.S. andIsraelhaveoffered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising thattopples Iran’sleadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs and itssupport forarmed proxies. Therehavebeen no signs of an uprising, while internet restrictions limit information from Iran.

Thewar’seffectsare felt farbeyond the Middle East, raising food and fuel prices. It is not clear how much damage Iran has sustained in the U.S. and Israeli strikes that beganFeb.28 —orevenwho is truly in charge

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei hasnot been seen in public since being named to the role.

Israel denies attack on Natanz Israel earlier Saturday denied

responsibility for the strike on theNatanz nuclearfacility, nearly 135 milessoutheast of Tehran. The Iranian judiciary’sofficial news agency,Mizan, said there wasno leakage.

TheInternational Atomic Energy Agency has saidthe bulkofIran’s estimated 970 pounds of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneaththe rubble at its Isfahan facility.Itsaid on Xitwas looking into the strike.

The Pentagondeclinedtocommentonthe strike on Natanz, which was also hit in the first week of the war andinthe 12-daywar last June Iran retaliated hours later Strike on DiegoGarciabase U.K. officialsdid notgive details of the strike that targeted the Diego Garcia base Friday,which was unsuccessful. Britain’sMinistry of Defense described Iran as “lashing out across the region.”

It’sunclear how close the missiles cametothe island. Iran previously asserted that it haslimitedits missile range to over 1,200 miles.

But military experts said Iran mayhave used its space launch vehiclefor an improvisedfiring. “If you’ve got aspace program, you’ve got aballistic missile program,” said StevePrest,aretiredRoyal Navy commodore.

TrumppreparedtosendICE to aidairport security

Presidentsayshe’ll give order unless Democratsend shutdown

BY COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.

President DonaldTrump said Saturday he will order federal immigration officers to take arole in airport security starting Mondayunless Democrats agree on abill to fund the Department ofHomeland Security

In apair of social media posts, Trumpfirstthreatened and thensaid he had made plans to put officers from U.S. Immigrationand Customs Enforcement in airports if the congressional standoff continues. He made theannouncement as apartial shutdown contributestolonglines to pass throughscreening at some of thenation’slargest airports.

TheRepublican president suggested ICE agents wouldbring the administration’s immigration crackdown into the nation’s airports, promising to arrest “allIllegal Immigrants.”

“I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday,and havealready toldthem to, “GET READY.” NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” Trump wrote while spending the weekend in Florida. The moveappearsto be apointed effort to expand the type of immigration enforcement that hasbecome astickingpoint in Congress. Democratspledged to oppose funding for DHS unless changes were made in thewake of acrackdown in Minnesota thatled to the fatalshootings of two protesters. Democrats are asking forbetter identification forfederallaw enforcementofficers, anew codeofconductfor those agencies andmoreuse of judicial warrants, among other measures.

TheMinnesota operation was tied in parttoallegations of fraud involving Somali residents. On Saturday,Trumpsaid ICE officerssent to airports

would focusonarresting immigrants from Somalia who areinthe United States illegally.Repeating his criticismonSomalis, he said they “totallydestroyed” Minnesota.

“If the Democrats do not allowfor Just andProper Security at our Airports, andelsewhere throughout our Country,ICE will do the jobfar better than ever done before,” Trump said.

Trump’sposts did not offer additional detail on how ICE would take arole in airportsecurityand what it meant for the Transportation Security Administration, which screens passengers andluggage for hazardous items.

Thevastmajority of TSA employees are considered essential andcontinue to workduring thefunding lapse, but theyare doing so withoutpay.Call-out rates have started toincreaseat some airports, and DHS said at least 376 have quit since thepartial shutdown began Feb. 14.

On Saturday, in arare weekend session, theSenaterejected amotion by Democrats to take up legislation to reopen TSA and pay workers who are now going without paychecks. Republicans argue that

Russia andUkraine trade attacks

4 killed ahead of U.S. talks

By The Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Russiaand Ukraine traded attacks that killed at least four people Saturday,officials said, ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talksonways to end Russia’sinvasion of its neighbor. Aman and awoman were killedand sixpeople wounded, including two children, when aRussian drone hit ahouse in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, regionalhead Ivan

Fedorovsaid. Russian strikes also knocked out power across much of the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv,according to local officials.

In Russia, two women were killed and another woundedbyUkrainian shelling of theBelgorod borderregion, Gov.Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

The attackscameahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks in Miami that U.S. Special Envoy SteveWitkoff said on Xwere “constructive.” He said the meetings, which included President Donald Trump’sson-in-law JaredKushner,were“part

of ongoing mediation efforts, with discussions focused on narrowing and resolving remainingitems to movecloser to acomprehensive peace agreement.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Thursday he hadsent adelegation to theU.S. in abid to moveforward suspended U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russia’s invasion. Trilateral talksinvolving Russia, which have yet to produce anybreakthrough on keyissues, have been on ice while the Iran war has dominated international attention.

they need to fund all parts of the DHS, notjust certainones. Abill to fund the Cabinetdepartmentfailed to advance in the Senate on Friday

There were signs of progress, though,withthe restarting in recent days of stalledtalks between Democrats and the White House.

On Saturday,Republican and Democratic senators were settomeet for athird

consecutive day with White House officials behind closed doors as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York spoke of “productive conversations.” Senate Majority Leader JohnThune,R-S.D., urged thebipartisangroup to act quickly.Hehas said repeatedly that Democrats and the White House need to find compromise as lines at airports have grown.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByVAHID SALEMI Iranian worshippers performEid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as one of them wears an Iranian flag at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque on Saturday in Tehran, Iran.

MAKEOVER

Vosbein, the chairman of the LSED, in astatement. “The LSED is currently working with the Pelicans on adesign and plan for renovating the Smoothie King Center However,nodesign concepts or funding mechanisms for the renovation outlined in the MasterPlan have been finalized or approved by the LSED.”

Still, the proposal is the clearestsign yet that officials are pushing to get the project off the ground and are working toward the key funding negotiations and approvals to make it happen

Acontingentofteam and state officials, led by Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and Gov.Jeff Landry,presented the plan to NBA commissioner Adam Silver during ameeting in New York in January.Team officials also showed it to Mayor Helena Morenolast month.

Costestimates were notincluded in the report. The state and Pelicans are expected to pay for the project through apublic-private partnership similartothe oneusedto fund the recent $560 million renovation of the Superdome. The project would be the linchpin for along-term lease extension between the team and state at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans’ lease at Smoothie King Center expires in June 2029. The franchise is in the midst of its 24th season in the arena.

The lease agreement and use of public funds would require legislativeapproval State and team officialshave begun initial discussions on a long-term lease agreement, led by Landry,Vosbein, Benson and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha. The NBA is expected to award New Orleans afuture NBA All-Star Game when the sides reach an agreement on anew longterm lease.

“As Mrs. Benson said when she signed the lease extension for the Saints with Gov Landry,that it would now be time to turn our focusto alease extension with the Pelicans and the start to developing aplan at upgrading the Smoothie King Center,” said Greg Bensel, the Pelicans senior vice president of communications/broadcasting/community and government relations. “This is just the first step. Our organization has already had very positive communications with state officials.”

The plan presented two different “schemes” for the arena renovation butdid notprovide atimeline for the start or completion of either project, which, if approved, wouldbe conducted in two separate offseason phases, allowing the Pelicans to continue to playgames in the arena.

One of the biggest issues with Smoothie King Center is itslack of lower bowl seating, aprime revenue source for the Pelicans. The buildinghas the fewest lower bowl seatsofany NBA arena, Doug Thornton, the former vice president of stadiums

PROPOSED SMOOTHIE KING CENTER

Asummary glance at proposed improvementprojectsatthe arena

forASM Global,previously told The Times-Picayune.

Themakeoverwould upgrade and expand the seatinginthe lower bowlby 2,155 seats, while reducing the number of seats in the upper bowl, which are traditionally harder to sell.The overall seatingcapacity for basketball would increase from18,310to19,963.

The project would also include premium hospitality features like VIP club lounges, luxury suites, a partydeck and grab-and-go concessionmarkets atvariouslevels of the arena.

Among the proposed upgrades:

n Aredesigned lobby and entrance to the arena on the north side of the arena, at the corner of Dave Dixon Drive andLe Rouge Street. This makeover represents the biggest differenceinthe two schemes, with Scheme 2of themaster plan, featuring a grand atrium entrance and abuilt-out Garden Districtthemed rooftop terrace on the upperconcourse level alongthe northeastside of the building.

n Areimaginedcampus outsidethe arena, featuring aVIP parking lot, stair tower forthe old Macy’s parking garage andItalian piazzastyle community space for pre- and postgameevents andconcerts

n Multiple new premiumseat experiencesincluding sideline clubs,loge and bunkersuites, an upper-level party deck, grab-and-go concessionmarketsand themed VIP lounges. Among the proposed new club lounges would be the ColonyClub in the upperconcourse level witha viewofdowntown New Orleans.

n A“refresh”ofthe existing luxury suites with highendfurnishings like island bars, crushed velour furniture, brass light fixtures and wood floors

“The upgrades notedasoptions in this July 2025 study wouldrequire asubstantial investment by thePelicans and an extension of their currentlease,whichare subjectsyet tobenegotiated,” Roedel said A2024 feasibility study of thearena saidthe building’s sound and publicaddress system —installed in 1999 needs to be replaced; it said the video boardhung above center courtin2016 shouldbe upgraded within the next two years; and the three walk-in freezers, which were partof the building’soriginalconstruction, have reachedthe end of theirusable life.

The arena, which was originally built for $199 million, underwent astatefunded$54 million renovationin2014, which featured new VIP clubs,loge suites, team store and ticket office, alongwith the installation of anew LEDlightingsystem andglass-enclosedfront entrance lobby. In thedecade since, destination areas such as the Courtside Club, player locker roomsand exterior LED boards have been upgraded. Butmuchofthe building’soriginal infrastructure has not been improved and is in need of work, the

NEWCAMPUSADDITION:

Areimaginedcampusoutside thearena, featuringa VIPparking lot, stairtower forthe oldMacy’sparking garage and Italian piazza-style communityspace for

report found.

Officials have estimated that anew arena to house the Pelicans could cost anywhere between $800 million and $1 billion. Amajor renovation of the Smoothie King Center would likely costafraction

of that.

TheOregonlegislature recently approved $365 million to modernize the30-year-old Moda Center for theTrail Blazers in Portland. The Charlotte Hornets completed atwo-phase, $275

millionrenovationofthe Spectrum Center in Charlotte last year that added1,400 lower-bowl seats, upgraded concoursesand newsocial spaces. Footprint Center, the home of the Phoenix Suns, complet-

ed a$240 million renovation in 2021. “Every NBA team,regardless of location andmarket size, needs amodel, state-ofthe-art arena to compete in the league,” Silver told The Times-Picayune in 2023.

Staffgraphic by DANSWENSON

ride an

ANSWERS

Thewater doesn’t stem from anatural disaster,which means their damage isn’tcovered by most flood insurance policies. Homeowners insurance can cover some damage, but high deductibles can mean thousandsout of pocket,and canbea deterrentto filing claims.

There’salsonoguarantee that going through small claims—oreven suingthe city or the water board —will yield asignificant payout any time soon.

The S&WB owes more than $23 million in outstanding court judgments dating back almost 30 years, accordingto a2024 Louisiana legislative auditor’sreport.

“You can be on the city’s settlement list for avery long time. New Orleans, historically,isnot aparish where if you get asettlement, it’simmediately paid off,” said lawyer Bill Aaron, who was city attorney during former Mayor Sidney Barthelemy’s administration.

Water board officials say the department needs millions in long-term funding to repair or replace the oldest parts of the system to prevent additional breaks.

Acostof$700million

At issue are five large water pipes that have ruptured Uptown in aspan of six weeks, flooding neighborhoods, closing schools and businessesand causing drops in waterpressure that have triggered repeated boil-water advisoriesacross much of the city

The latest episode, a30inch water main, broke on March 12 at Audubon and Willow Streets, flooding several streets just before the city’shigh-profile book festival held at Tulane University

Mayor Helena Moreno, who chairs the S&WB board and whose administration has prioritized rectifying the city’sbudget challenges,has since shifted gears, pressuring S&WB officials to come up with aconcrete plan and to

collaborateonideas toward funding hundreds of millions of dollars worthoffixes.

Aplanthe agency released Monday puts the price tag forfixing the system’smost urgent leaks and replacing 34 miles of large water mains that are more than acentury oldatover $700million.Even that work representsjust 2% of the water system.

Moreno, whose administrationofferedgift cards worth $100 for residents impacted by the flooding, said she is workingwith state legislators on abill that wouldgive the City Councilmore oversight of theembattled agency.She has also proposed aparcel fee and abondsale that could helppay for at least some neededsystem repairs.

“Thepeopleofthis city demand urgency in their city service and they demand urgency when it comes to theS&WB,” Moreno told the water board’sexecutive director, Randy Hayman, in an email aftera March 9main break.

Seekingrelief

For theRansones and others, financial reliefafterthe floods has been hard to come by Flood insurance policies are typically limitedtonatural weather events, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And while homeowners insurance may cover the cost of replacing some items,those items are limited, and high deductibles can be adeterrent from filing aclaim.

TheRansones’ insurance deductible to replace their waterheater,for example, is $5,000 —a total of $10,000, if they were to claim the cost of both ruined units

The S&WB’sobscure small claims process allows property owners who can prove they have been negatively impactedbyagency failures to receive some compensation Butitset aside just $5,000 forwater system claims for this fiscal year,according to its budget.

TheRansones filed forreimbursement throughthat process for the first water heater they had to replace,

Recent subsurface line breaks

Jan. 31: PanolaStreet, near Carrollton Avenue

Feb. 15: N. Galvez at St.Louis Street

By DAVID GRUNFELD

March9: PanolaStreet, near Carrollton Ave. (second breakinarea)

March4: JacksonAve.at Magnolia St

Feb. 23: Claiborneat Toledano/ Louisiana

and S&WB officials said their second replacement could be added to the first without filing aseparate claim.

They had to pay for three different assessments of the ruined heater to meet S&WB’sclaims requirements. Claimscan take up to 90 days to be paid out, officials said.Agencyofficials told them that an investigation is ongoing.

Their sedan was fully covered underanauto insurance policy.

Devonte and Markita Williford are also seeking relief through theS&WB’sprocess.

The Willifords’home, near the intersection of Short Street and Neron Place, was flooded after the March 9 mainbreak, andthe couple had to stay in ahotel for a few days.

Someoftheir flooring needs replacing. So might portions of their drywall. Williford, a photographer,also lost some of his camera equipment.

“It really sucks getting the runaround andback and forth,whether you’re arenter or owner,when neither of those things negates the city’s negligenceinsustaining its infrastructure,” Williford said.

Dreama Goldsmith, who lives across thestreetfrom theRansones, woke up the

morning of March 9tothe sounds of gushing water.She drove hersister’scar to safety,and when she returned, she found herHonda Crosstourinundated.

“They’ll probably total it out,” she saidofthe vehicle which is in the shop for an insurance assessment. “I love this car.They don’tmake it anymore. Iwas going to give it to my daughter when she startsdriving next year.

‘The city’s negligence’ Residents seeking to mount alegal case might be facing an uphill battle, giventhe board’ssnail-like payout of court judgments. Aaron, the former city attorney,pointed to acasethat highlighted how hard it can be to buck that trend.

After agroup of neighbors and achurch argued that

theirproperties were either damaged or unable to be accessed during the Southeast LouisianaUrban FloodControl Project, whichconstructed newpumping stations and drainage canals to reduce flooding in thecity, an Orleans Parish judge awarded themnearly $1 million.

When the S&WB didn’t pay up, the residents filed afederal suit to force payment.Theywon on appeal, andthe state Supreme Court in 2024 upheld theappellate court’sruling ordering the S&WB to devise apayment

planwithin a“reasonable periodoftime,” as statedinthe court documents. While someresidentsare considering their options, most arespending their time trying to return to asense of normalcy.Overwhelmed by their experience, they are also hoping another break isn’timminent. “Wedon’tflood here,” Ransone said, noting that her neighborhood is notrequired to buy flood insurance. “This isn’tfrom rain coming down or rising water.This is the city’snegligence.”

TheNationalWWIIMuseumishome to sevenbuildings filledwithimmersive exhibits,multimediaattractions,and an expansivecollectionofartifacts and personal accounts that make it amust-see forhistory lovers of allages. Many visitors dedicate an entire daytoexperiencingall theMuseumhas to offer.But with alittle guidance,those with limitedtimecan also have ameaningful Museum experience

Whetheryou have twohours or an entire day, theMuseumhas thetools to help you makeeverymomentcount.Withstructured guided toursfor efficientexploration and thoughtfully crafteditinerariesfor independentdiscovery,you canshape your visit around your schedule andinterests Guided Tours

Forvisitorslooking to explorespecific aspectsofthe waringreater depth, the Museumalsoofferstwotopic-specifictours: theHomeFront Tour andthe Europe & Pacific Tour

Visitors canimmerse themselves in historyevenfurther throughthe two-day Ultimate Museum Experience,apersonalized packagethatincludesMuseumadmission, Beyond AllBoundaries,the Freedom Theaterexperience, andall threeguided tours, with theoptiontoadd premium experiences like Into theVault,Beyondthe Galleries, andthe PT-305 BelowDeckTour. Self-guidedItineraries

Visitors canexperience thebestofwhat theMuseumhas to offer on oneofits three small-groupguidedtours.Eachtwo-hour tour is ledbyanofficial Museum guide, bringing to life thedrama,sacrifices personal stories, andstrategiesofAmerica’s wartimeefforts in Europe,the Pacific, andonthe Home Front. Offered dailyfor an additional $30per person,these tours areagreat waytodiscoverthe Museum’s world-classexhibitsand immersivegalleriesefficiently—especially during thebusy spring breakseason.

Foramoreflexible visit, theMuseum also offersanarray of free self-guided itinerariesavailable on itswebsite that canbetailoredtoyourinterests and time frame. Focusedtwo-orthreehour visits provideameaningfuloverview of keyexhibitswhile allowing forpersonalexploration,whilelongeritineraries,includingfull-ormulti-dayvisits,offera more relaxedpaceand theopportunity for deeper reflection.

TheHighlightsTouristhe perfectintroductiontothe Museum, offeringacompellingoverviewoftheAmericanexperiencein World WarIIand theevents, decisions, and sacrificesthatshapedtheconflictthroughits mostimpactfulandpopulargalleries.Journeying throughthe immersive Arsenalof Democracy,RoadtoTokyo,andRoadtoBerlin exhibits,visitorsfollowthe storyofthe war fromthenation’smobilizationontheHome Fronttothe climacticbattles fought across Europe andthe Pacific.The tour continues in Liberation Pavilion, wherethe human cost of victoryand thewar’s aftermathare examined.TheexperienceendsinUSFreedomPavilion:TheBoeingCenter,wheresix fullyrestoredwarbirdssoaroverhead.

TheMuseum’snew family itineraryis designed to create an unforgettableexperiencefor visitors of allages. This approximately two-hour plan highlights immersive galleriesand interactiveexperiences that illustrate what life waslikeduringWorld WarIIand howthisglobalconflict shaped theworld we live in today. Plus,adownloadableplane-spottingactivitysheethelpskeep youngvisitorsengaged,encouraging them to look closely, askquestions,and connect with thestories they encounter.

Whetheryou choose expert guidance or to chart your owncourse, you’ll leaveThe National WWII Museum with adeeper understandingofthesacrificesandachievementsthatdefineda generation—and a spring breakexperiencethatisasmeaningful as it is unforgettable. Visithttps:// www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/planyour-visit to learnmore.

Workers repair the water main break on Willow Street near the Tulane campus in NewOrleans on Tuesday. STAFFPHOTO

Hawaii’s worst flooding in 20 years threatens dam

Evacuations

prompted as more rain looms

BY JENNIFER SINCO

KELLEHER

and AUDREY MCAVOY Associated Press

HONOLULU As Hawaii en-

dures its worst flooding in more than 20 years officials are urging people in hardhit areas to “LEAVE NOW.”

The warning early Saturday came after heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago Still more rain was expected during the weekend, officials said Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oahu’s North Shore, a community world-renowned for its bigwave surfing Raging waters lifted homes and cars and prompted evacuation or-

ders for 5,500 people north of Honolulu. Authorities cautioned that a 120-year-old dam could fail. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning early Saturday with light to moderate showers expected to turn heavy in some places. Gov Josh Green said the

cost of the storm could top $1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, people’s homes and a Maui hospital in Kula.

“This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Green said at a news conference.

Most of the state was un-

Extreme heat strikes from U.S. Southwest to Nebraska

By The Associated Press

Parts of California and Arizona were under extreme heat warnings again Saturday while sweltering summerlike weather even stretched as far north as Nebraska just a day into spring. Temperatures at or above 100 degrees were forecast in the Southwest, closing a remarkable week of recordbreaking heat. Experts say April, May and June are likely to be hotter than normal almost everywhere in the U.S. Win Marsh said the heat was a reason to return home early to Utah after she and her husband, Stephen, hiked 170 miles over two weeks in Arizona, starting at the Mexico border Their goal was to complete more than 800 miles on the Arizona Trail.

“We know our limits,” Marsh, 63, said Saturday “We can’t hike when our bodies can’t cool down. There’s no shade out there and water sources are drying up. We promised our kids we wouldn’t do sketchy stuff. We’re not out there for a search-and-rescue event.”

The National Weather Service predicted 100 degrees in Tucson, Arizona. The Yuma Desert, a desert community in southwestern Arizona, was headed toward 105 degrees, a day after reaching 112 — a record for the highest March temperature in the United States.

Two places in Southern California also hit that temperature Friday Experts say triple-digit days typically arrive by May, not March. In the Midwest, tempera-

tures exceeding 90 were predicted across Nebraska, followed by a big drop to the 50s and 60s Sunday A red flag warning was posted, which means a higher risk for wildfires. Parts of Texas were also at 90 or higher Saturday “This heat is likely to break many long-standing records from over a century ago across the area,” the National Weather Service in Omaha, Nebraska, said. All evacuation orders were lifted in areas affected by Nebraska’s Cottonwood and Morrill fires, which have burned more than 1,200 square miles for days but are largely contained, the state Emergency Management Agency said. The areas are dominated by range and grassland.

der a flood watch, with Haleiwa and Waialua in northern Oahu under a flash flood warning, according to the National Weather Service.

“Residents in the Waialua area are strongly urged to LEAVE NOW,” an emergency alert said early Saturday “The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues.”

Green said his chief of staff spoke to the White House and received assurances the islands would have federal support.

No deaths were reported and no one was unaccounted for More than 200 people have been rescued, officials said. About 10 people were taken to a hospital with hypothermia, he said.

Crews searched by air and by water for people who had been stranded — efforts that were hampered by people flying personal drones to get

images of the flooding, said Ian Scheuring, a spokesperson for Honolulu.

The National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department airlifted 72 children and adults who had been attending a spring break youth camp at a retreat on Oahu’s west coast called Our Lady of Kea’au, according to city and camp officials. The camp is on high ground but authorities didn’t want to leave them there, the mayor said.

Green said the flooding was the state’s most serious since 2004 floods in Manoa inundated homes and a University of Hawaii library

Dozens — if not hundreds — of homes were damaged Friday but officials haven’t been able to fully assess the destruction, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said.

Some 5,500 people were under evacuation orders.

“There’s no question that the damage done thus far

has been catastrophic,” he said. Officials blamed some of the devastation on the sheer amount of rain that fell in a short amount of time on saturated land. Parts of Oahu received 8 to 12 inches of rain overnight Kaala, the island’s highest peak, got nearly 16 inches in the past day, the National Weather Service said. More rain was expected: Blangiardi said 6 to 8 inches of rain was forecast to fall on Oahu in the next two to three days.

Winter storm systems known as “Kona lows,” which feature southerly or southwesterly winds that bring in moisture-laden air, were responsible for the deluges in the past two weeks. The intensity and frequency of heavy rains in Hawaii have increased amid human-caused global warming, experts say

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MENGSHIN LIN

Floodwater covers a neighborhood on Friday in Waialua, Hawaii.

Senate blocks amendment on transgender athletes

Lawmakers hold weekend session on voting bill

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Sen-

ate on Saturday blocked an amendment that would ban transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports, rejecting one of President Donald Trump’s priorities as he pressures Congress to act on a broad voting bill.

Senators were holding a rare weekend session to debate the voting legislation, which would put in place strict new requirements for voter registration and require photo IDs at the polls in an effort to prevent people in the country illegally from casting ballots.

The House passed the bill earlier this year, but the Republican president has since said he wants additional priorities added to the legislation, including the sports ban for transgender athletes and a ban on all mail-in voting.

Democrats are expected to eventually block the broader

the record “one way or the other.”

The amendment that was blocked by a 49-41 vote would penalize educational institutions that receive federal funding if they permitted individuals assigned male at birth to participate “in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”

Trump also wants Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors as part of the debate on the voting bill. It is unclear whether the Senate will hold a vote on that

face strong pushback from lawmakers.

Thune said the Senate will soon vote on an amendment that would force all states to require photo identification at the polls. Democrats blocked a similar bill on the floor last week, but Republicans say they want to put them on the record on that issue with a roll call vote.

“There are no good excuses” not to require photo identification, said Republican Sen. John Husted, a former Secretary of State in Ohio.

National

legislation, arguing that it would make voting more difficult for large groups of people. Despite Trump’s pressure, Republican senators have said repeatedly that they do not have enough support to jettison the legislative filibuster, which triggers a 60-vote threshold in the 100-member Senate, or find another workaround to pass the bill Republicans hold 53 seats

Still, Republicans put the legislation the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility

Act, also known as the SAVE America Act or the SAVE Act on the Senate floor this week for a lengthy debate as Trump has said he will not sign other bills until they pass the voting measure.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D, said Saturday morning that Republicans “haven’t made any final decisions about how to conclude this.”

“What we are trying to do is ensure that we are having a fulsome debate,” Thune said, and put everyone on

High court revives suit from evangelical Christian on restrictions on demonstrations

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday revived a lawsuit from an evangelical Christian barred from demonstrating in Mississippi after authorities say he shouted insults at people over a loudspeaker

The high court unanimously ruled in the case of Gabriel Olivier, who says his religious and free speech rights were violated when he was arrested for refusing to move his preaching away from a suburban amphitheater The city said

he had shouted insults like “whores,” “Jezebel” and “nasty” at people, sometimes holding signs showing aborted fetuses Olivier wanted to challenge the law as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, but lower courts stopped him from suing because he’d been convicted of breaking it. A Supreme Court case from the 1990s found people can’t use civil lawsuits to undermine criminal convictions.

But the justices found that doesn’t stop Olivier from suing because he only wants to

block future enforcement

“Given that Olivier asked for only a forward-looking remedy an injunction stopping officials from enforcing the city ordinance in the future — his suit can proceed, notwithstanding his prior conviction,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court Olivier’s lawyers said he was demonstrating peacefully when he was arrested for refusing to move to a designated “protest zone.” The legal principle, they argued, affects free-speech cases across the political spectrum

In addition, Trump has said he wants the House-passed bill to include a ban on most mail-in balloting. Trump has criticized mail in ballots for years and used it as a centerpiece of his efforts to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. A ban on mail ballots would likely

“This works It’s being implemented all over the country.” Illegal voting by noncitizens is rare. Still, a poll by the Pew Research Center in August 2025 found that about 8 in 10 US adults said they favor requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

Thirty-six states require some form of identification at the polls, according to the

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TOM BRENNER

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, speaks to Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on Saturday before a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.

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BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

After four floods in six weeks caused by bursting water mains, New Orleans Mayor HelenaMoreno and furiousCity Council members demanded adetailed plan to fix the problem. The criticism only grew louder when the Sewerage& Water Board responded with an outline and vague cost estimates.

In fact, the S&WB already has exactly the sort of plan elected officials want to see. The problem is that it’stwo decades old

Planning aftera century

The2003 MWH plan cameas partsofthe tap water system reached 100 years old,which is generallyconsidered the life expectancy. At the time, funding was limited, and privatizing utilityoperations wasfloated. According to former Mayor Marc Morial, the S&WB wasalso focused on paying fora federallymandated $600 million seweroverhaul,and drainage wasalso top of mind —asitalways is in New Orleans.

In 2003, aconsulting firm delivered a565-page document with asoup-to-nuts assessment of the water system’s condition, along with aprioritized list of projects, timelines and cost estimates.The price tag: $2.8billion over 20 years.

While the2003 planfrom consulting firm MWHisnow well out of date,itoffers asense of how arduous, and costly, the challenge ahead is for the S&WB. Even then, large chunks of the system were at the end of their useful life andhundreds of miles of pipes needed to be replaced across the city’sneighborhoods. More than twentyyears later,the S&WB is further behind.

Steve Nelson, aformer S&WB generalsuperintendent whoisnow Moreno’s public worksdirector, said the utility’splanning for the water system in recent years has focusedonother pressing issues, such as retrofitting treatment plants and installing two new water towers.

One reason that the S&WB has been slow to update plans for its pipes is that it lacks funding for the type of large-scale pipe replacement project that’s needed, he said.

“Even if you do have aplan, the ageofthe pipesand theconditions in which they lie, that’sbeen known,” Nelson said. “The root challenge remains: Howdoyou get $2 billion in fundingfor this work?”

“In those days, Idothink that the freshwater system took abit of aback seat to the drainage andsewer system,”saidMorial, who served from 1994 to 2002. “The sewer system was under afederal consent decree, and drainagewas always considered to be such an acute risk because of flooding and hurricanes.”

MWH spent more than ayear analyzing the city’swater distribution network, which is one of the threesystems,along with drainageand sewerage, that theS&WB operates. The consulting firm built ageographic information system andhydraulic modelwithexisting maps and databases, and studied thesize,materials and structural conditionofthe mains and pipes.

The firm concluded that amajority of the water mains were near the end of their useful life.

The capitalimprovement plan identified 31 projects to replace 929 miles of mains and pipes, or about 60%of the system, along withleakage management andother upgrades. The projects were sorted intoprioritiesaccordingtoage of thewater mains, breakrates and impacts on residents.

The CentralBusiness District and French Quarter would have seen the most extensive work under the plan, with 85 miles of pipe replacementsstarting in 2005. The large Uptown and SouthClaiborne Avenue mainsthatrecentlyburst would have beenreplacedin2007 and2011

Replacementsaround the lakeside end of City Park andinNew OrleansEast wouldhave rounded out the worklastyear Hurricane Katrina struck two

years after the MWH plan, causinguntold damage to S&WB infrastructure that likely would have necessitated anew assessment before moving forward. And in theyears that followed, other infrastructure issues garnered more attention.

Therehas been some work on watermains sinceKatrina,mostly through the $1.7 billion settlement with theFederal EmergencyManagement Agencythat funded citywide road repairs and utility work.

But the FEMA roads money only paid forrepairs to 7% of thetap water distribution network. Cedric Grant, whoran theS&WBunder former Mayor MitchLandrieu, said the FEMA program was never intended to be acomprehensive utilityoverhaul, but instead served as atemplatefor fixing roads while making simultaneousrepairstowater, sewer and drainage lines.

“Thatwas to give you thefoundationfor ongoing work,” Grant said. “You could getahead of thething witha couple billion dollarsgetting started in doing comprehensive work, but you have to follow that in subsequent yearswithmore, because everything needs to be done.”

Catastrophic flooding in 2017 from aseries of Auguststorms exposed major failures and historical neglect of the S&WB’sancient pumps andturbines that arepart of itsdrainagesystem. That eventually prompted the S&WB to construct a$350millionpower complex meanttomodernizeelectricity for those pumps,aproject now in its final stages.

Meanwhile, planning forthe watersystem haslargely excluded water mains, apartfrom the handful of replacements covered by FEMA.Two new water towersbuilt in 2019 have cut down on boil water advisories, anda forthcoming water quality master planwillfocus on thewatertreatment plantson eachsideofthe Mississippi River, which haven’tbeen upgraded in decades.

Everything hastobedone In interviews, S&WB officials said theyrecognized the need for an updated water distribution assessment last year,and began looking for waystofund it.But the effortdidn’tmaterializebefore the rapid succession of water main breaksstarting on Jan.31.

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“It was clear,aswestarted to have twoorthreebreaks, that we did need that typeofassessment,” said S&WB Executive Director Randy Haymaninaninterview “Going forward, Ithink we have to makesure we budget for assessmentstobedoneata regular pace.”

Otherolder cities arealsostrugglingwith dilapidated water systems, but New Orleansisanoutlier.

The S&WB says 80% of its water mains aremorethan 50 yearsold, while just one third have reached that age across the U.S. and Canada,according to aUtah State University survey Kaitlin Tymrak,the S&WBinterim general superintendent, said industry standards call for replacing onetotwo percent of the distributionnetwork each year

“There’salot of things that have happenedinthe last 23 years,” Tymrak said. “Our team hasn’t been ignoring anything. Our team hasbeen responding, doing what we can with the limited dollars we have.”

Decadesofdisinvestment

Fending off accusations of inaction, S&WB officials on March 16 released aphased outline for overhauling the water distribution network. It calls formore than $700 million in urgent repairs over two years, along with anew system assessmentand 30-year capital improvement planwith an unknown cost. It cites the MWH planasthe mostrecent overall cost estimate.

The S&WB’srecent outline didn’t appeaseCityCouncil critics,who sharpened theirattackslastweek Council member Jason Hughes, whochairs the Public Works Committee, derided it as “concepts on paper.”

“A plan of action is just that. Here are theneeds, here is the plan to execute. So Istill have notseena plan,” Hughes said.

As an example of what he expected,HughespointedtoJefferson Parish President CynthiaLeeSheng’s $2.3billion water distributioncapital plan, which the Parish Council adopted in 2021 along with gradually increasing water rates over 20 years to secure bonds to pay for it.

Unlike Jefferson Parish, the S&WB cannot issue new bonds because itsexclusivewater revenue source —customer charges on water bills —isbarely enough to cover day-to-day operations and maintenance. Afterfactoringindepreciation, the S&WB is expecting the water system to operate with a $4.5 milliondeficit this year “I wish we could (issue bonds). When Iwas in other cities, we could do that,” said Hayman, who joined the S&WB in July after leading the Philadelphia water system for six years. “Todosowe’d have to have ahigher revenue stream.” Water rates, whichgenerate about $120 millionannually,have not changed since 2020, following eight years of 10% increases

The water board in 2022 planned to ask the City Council for 3% to 6% increasesoverfive years, but the council, with Morenoserving as president at the time, said it wouldn’tconsider aproposal.

Public outrage over wildly inaccurate bills wasatafever pitch, and council members said they couldn’task residents to paymore when thecharges weren’tcorrect. TheS&WBhas since installedautomatic smart meters, and the council appointed athird-party administrator to adjudicate billing disputes. Sincethen, billingdisputes have plummeted.

RebeccaMowbray,executive director of the Bureau of Governmental Research, the nonpartisan good government group, said it’s time for the council to reconsider its stance on water rate increases.

“Wehave to accept the fact that the rates are not sufficient to support thesystem as we need it to be functioning,” Mowbraysaid. “We’re dealing with decades of disinvestmentinall aspects of thesystem,and allofuswho live here now are stuck with the dysfunction.”

At thesame time, Mowbray said the S&WB must justify its requests withdetailedplans, like the one completed in 2003.

“Publictrust is very,verylow, and so they need to be able to prove this is the plan, this is the need, this is what you’ll get,” she said.

“She’s identified thetotal cost, and she’sidentified how to pay for it,” Hughes said. “The Sewerage & Water Board has yet to even do that analysis. It will behoove them to do that analysis very quickly and stop telling us ‘to be determined.’”

QUESTIONS

abusedand neglectedchildren die —eventhough lawmakers foryears have been imploring theagency to get its act together

The agency can’twait until next year or even next month to make changes that will protect children,she said. Both Democrats and Republicans have echoed Barrow’sdisillusionment. While they say they’re unlikely to actually abolish the department outright, theyare demanding changes at the child welfare agency and a clear plan from top officials on what they’ll do in the days and months ahead.

“You know what this 213page bill represents? Frustration,” Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, told DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris at the hearing.

“I need somebody to tell me what the problems areso Ican help fix that problem,”Luneau toldHarris. “Tellme, what can Idotohelp you?”

team is theanswer,” he said. Harris in an email Fridaysaidshe hassince met with Barrow to present “a comprehensivechildwelfare reform package that outlines afullstrategyto strengthen outcomes across thesystem.” Thetwo are nowworkingto“align”their perspectives, shesaid.

Among the itemsinthat package: strengthening child safety response and timeliness,stabilizing the workforce, expanding supportsfor families, improvingfoster care outcomes, improving technology and coordinatingbetter with law enforcement,courts, health careproviders and other community partners.

Askedabout lawmakers’ criticism, Gov.Jeff Landry in astatement Friday said the agency “handlessome of the toughest, most sensitive work in state government.”

“Secretary Harris and her team have beenworking hard to strengthen the department, improve outcomes, and address long-standing challenges,” he said.

“These are not easy issues, and they cannot be solved overnight.”

Landry said heshares Barrow’sconcerns for the state’smost vulnerable children but said her proposal to abolish the agency “destabilizes the workforce, creates internal turmoil, and is counterproductive to taking care of children.”

“Moving forward with constructivereforms with Secretary Harris and her

Deaths behind theoutrage In January,5-year-old MarleyPerrilloux died weighing just 19 pounds,allegedly of starvation at the hands of his parents. DCFS last month acknowledged the department had receivedthree prior complaintsregarding the child’s older siblings. The agency said those complaints weren’t about explicit signs of abuse or neglect, and they didn’t rise to alevel where awelfare check was warranted Last summer,the corpse of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez was found inalagoon in New Orleans. A 2021 DCFS report said the boy suffered atraumatic brain injury at the hands of his mother asababy and was subject to “ongoing” physical abuse. His mother was arrested after his death on countsofsecond-degree cruelty to juveniles andnegligent homicide. Those are just two recent examples of childdeaths that occurred after DCFS had been alerted topotential abuse.

Theagency for years now has beenunderfire for its failure to prevent kids from dying at thehands of caregivers.

Another fatality Barrow mentioned Tuesday was the 2022 case of Mitchell RobinsonIII. The2-year-old died from afentanyl overdose even though hospital staff and adoctor who had twice saved Mitchell from an opioid overdosehad previously filedthreereports with the agency

DCFS has been plagued by staff turnover and leadership changes for years. Rick Wheat, wholeads advocacy work forMethodistChildren’s Home,which runs foster care programs and treatment facilities for children, places theblame partially on major budget and staffing cutsduring the administration of former Gov.Bobby Jindal.

“Muchofthe present is a consequence of the fact that we’re still paying for some of those poor decisions in thepast,” he said.

But Wheat, who has regularly interfaced with DCFS over adecadeslongcareer at theorganization,alsonoted that harmful community environmentsplay arole.

“It’s important that Louisianaconsider the impact of theenvironments where ourfamiliesare living,” he said. “The morewecan do to improve Louisiana for families, the better we’ll be at caringfor ourchildren,” he said.

Alegislative grilling

Luneau, thestate senator,onTuesday said he’s heard for more than adecade about up-and-down problems at DCFS. He said he didn’twant “slick brochures” aboutwhatthe agency has done to improve, but aclear idea of how the Legislature can help.

Sen. Heather Cloud, RTurkey Creek, asked Harris to shareher visionfor the agency.Harrisresponded by outlining changes made over the last few months, includingadding more frontline workersand improving its call center Historically,the departmenthas focused too much on protecting children when abuse or neglect has already occurred and “it’stoo late in

thegame,” Harris said.

“Wehave to spend more time focusingonprevention,” she added. “Weunderstand what therisk factors arethatbring families into contact with us. It’spoverty, it’s addiction, it’smental health. We have got to have community-based resources.”

That response appeared to leaveSen.ThomasPressly, R-Shreveport, frustrated over its lack of detail. He told Harris the next time she appears before the committee, he hopes she’ll have “concreteideas.”

“Wegotta have that answer,” he said.

Sen. Patrick McMath, RCovington, the committee chair,urged Harris to work with Barrow to craft legislation before adeadline at the endofMarch to file bills during the ongoing legislative session.

“I hatetosay that we have to force youguys to do anything,” he said. “We’re at that point.”

Harrisagreed toworkon aplan with Barrow, who for thetimebeing setaside her bill to dismantle the agency

On Friday,Harris said legislation could help with stabilizing the workforce, allocating morestaff for prevention andfamily support efforts, and better coordinationwithcourtsand law enforcement.

But she also noted not all improvements hingeon changing the law.What’s most needed is ensuring that department policy and dayto-day practice align with Louisiana’sexisting legal framework, she said.

Making changes

Landry appointed Harris to lead the child welfare agency last summer,and she took over in August

Landry during that period had been toutingLADOGE, agovernment efficiency initiativeaimed at saving money and improving the delivery of government services. DCFSwas one of the agencies thegovernorand his “fiscal responsibility czar,” Steve Orlando, afriend and volunteer appointed tolead

the initiative,wanted to focus their efforts on. At aJanuary newsconference unveiling the results of the DOGE program, Harris said the initiative helped the agency to hire 50 secondshift child protective services investigators to work nights, weekends andholidays, reduce wait times on its child abuse hotline more than 80%, and reduce worker caseloads.

“When we started, there wasalittle skepticism from others aboutwhether or not you could talk about child welfare and government efficiency in the same conversation,” Harrissaidat the time. “You absolutely can. And when youdowith intention, the result is not fewer services,but it’sbetter services forthe children and families that we serve.”

TheLandry administration this year is also asking lawmakers to budgetanextra $18 million forthe agency to upgrade the IT systems child welfare workers use to document cases,track services and monitor safety plans.

Still, at thehearing Tuesday, lawmakers were skeptical.

“DOGE-ing your waytoa solution is not the solution at all,” McMath said.

He contended the remit of the child welfare agency is unique and, forexample, unlikethe transportationor economic developmentdepartments.

On Friday,Landry defended Harris. “My administration fully supportsSecretary Harris and the work that DCFS does,” he said.

Concernedfor months

Some state senators have been demanding improvementsfromHarrisand theagencyataseries of meetings over the last few months.

Barrow,a member of the Select CommitteeonWomen andChildren, earlierin March said it seemslike the agency is “on abad trajectory” when it comes to child deaths this year So far in 2026, there have been 4confirmedchild deaths resulting from abuse and neglect, and 7deaths are still pending investigation, according to data provided by DCFS. There were 31 child deaths owed to abuse and neglect in 2025. In 2020, the number was 23 and in 2015, it was 41, the data shows. It’s notclear in howmany of those casesDCFShas been alerted to problems.

“Wekeep having children whohave had contact with DCFS thatend up injured or dead,” state Sen. Katrina Jackson Andrews,D-Monroe, told Harris earlier this month. That criticism surfaced again Tuesday “Wegot kids dying— now,”Luneau said. “This is enough.”

Landry

Harris

EDUCATION

In ruralAmerica,ateacher pipeline driesup

Currentvisa changes are jeopardizing international educators

BY MICHAEL MELIA Associated Press

Like many school systems facing teacher shortages, South Carolina’sAllendale County has looked overseas forhelp. Aquarter of the teachers in the rural, highpoverty district come from other countries.

The superintendent praises the international educators —mostly from Jamaica and the Philippines —for their skill and dedication, but she is preparing to lose some of them as the Trump administration reshapes visa programs.

Facing higher visa sponsorship costsand uncertain immigration policies, Superintendent Vallerie Cave said it feels too risky to extend some international teachers whose contractsare up or bring on others.

“Some of my very best teachers are having to return to theircountries,” Cave said.

For rural schools especially,PresidentDonald Trump’simmigration crackdown is pinching apipeline used widely to fill staffing shortages that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural districts can struggle to attract American teachers to remote areas that lack plentiful housing, shopping and services such as health care, especially for lower salaries than some bigger districts offer Cave is hoping to hire local teachers to fill the gaps

left by several teachers’ impending departures. If she can’t, shemay expand the district’suse of online teachers. Elsewhere, districtsare considering hiringuncertified instructors, combining classesordroppingcourse offerings.

In September,the White House announced aone-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, which allow highly skilled foreignworkers to be employedinthe U.S. The Trump administration arguedAmerican employees were beingreplaced,particularlyinhighly paid roles at tech companies. Critics have argued thefee willworsen labor shortages outside of tech.

More than 2,300 people with H-1B visas work as educators across 500 school districts, according to an analysisbythe National Education Association teachers union. In aDecember lawsuit challenging the fee, acoalitionof20states

argued thatthe fees would effectively prevent school districts from hiring international teachers

The Trump administration has provided aform to request exemptions on the fee, and educators and advocacy groups have argued it’sinthe public’sinterest for teacherstobeexempted. Teachers also can come to theU.S. on the morecommon J-1 visa, which allows short-term stays for cultural exchange programs and is not subject tothe new fee.

In rural Oregon, the Umatilla School District recruitedtwo teachers from Spain for mathand science instruction. The teachers were “phenomenal,” SuperintendentHeidiSipe said, but they returned home in thesummer “Unfortunately, due to some thingsathomeand thenthe stress of the unknown, they did choose to go back,”Sipe said. The district did not look

for international candidates to replace them because of thecost and uncertainty,but it was able to advertise early and found local candidates for the openings, Sipe said. Other school leaders are not optimistic they will have the samesuccess.

In Allendale County,the international teachers —on amix of H-1B and J-1 visas —have taught subjects including math, science and language arts,plus special education. Even before the hike in fees, it would cost between $15,000 to $20,000 to sponsor asingle teacher every year,Cave said.

School leadersagree hiring in-person, certified staff is the best option —teachers whocan sitwithstudents to explaina conceptand build closer relationships throughout the school day. When thatoption fails, they weigh tradeoffs.

Cave said shewilllook to introduce morevirtual teachers throughFullmind,

acompanythe districtalready is using to provide three state-certifiedinstructors. Students meet in aclassroom, and their teacher joins them via video chat. Fullmind announced last week it had acquired Elevate K-12 andnow provides the remote instruction formorethan225 school systems.

South Carolina lets districts hire noncertified teachers to meet staffing needs, butCave saidshe would bring in more online teachersbeforepursuing that option.

Her challenges with teacher shortages,she said, have notlet up sincethe pandemic, when many school districts used federal relief money to post newpositions, then had difficultyfinding enough teachers.

“I can’treally do competi-

tive pay,” she said. “For rural America, impoverished America, it is still aproblem recruiting teachers.” At Halifax County Schools in ruralNorth Carolina,103 of the 159 teachers are from other countries. For the longer term,the district is pursuing ways to recruit future educators as early as their junior and senior years in high school.

More immediately, the district is hoping to hire international teachers coming from other districts who want to have theirJ-1 visas changed to H-1B visas, which could allowthe school system to avoid the $100,000 fee, said Carolyn Mitchell, the district’sexecutive director of human resources.

“You have to try to figure out every alternative way whenyou know that you may need people,” Mitchell said.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Article7, Section23(C)ofthe Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) that apublic hearing of theLafitte Area Independent Levee District in JeffersonParish will be heldatits regular meeting place at 7001 River Road, Marrero,Louisiana, 70072 on Tuesday, April28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to consider levying additional or increased millagerates without further voterapproval or adopting the adjusted millage ratesafter reassessmentand rolling forward to ratesnot to exceed theprior year’s maximum. The estimated amountof tax revenues to be collected in thenextyear fromthe increased millage is $239,303.00 and the amount of increaseintaxes attributable to the millage increase is $66,955.00.

n CRAFTING BEAUTIFULSENTENCES—DONNA MINKOWITZ

n MAKING HISTORYINTOFICTION—THOMASMALLON

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

DAscould getmoretimetoprosecute corruption

Billwould allow chargesupto10 yearsafter officials leaveoffice

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

ASenate committee did not approve aproposal to remove the statutes of limitations for

Landrybuilds supportfor teacher pay amendment

Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS

Gov.Jeff Landry is campaigning for voters to approve aconstitutionalamendment on May 16 that would give teachers apay raise. Louisiana has given teachers aone-time stipend over the past few years. Amendment 3would make the pay increase permanent, worth at least $2,250 per year It would do so by liquidating three education-related trust funds and using the money to pay off retirement debt; the money the state saves on interest would fund the pay raises. That proposal was included with several other proposed changes to the state government’staxingand spending in a constitutional amendment that voters rejected last year.Supporters of the bill hope that, by tryingagain with the teacher raises as astandalone amendment, more people will support it.

Landry this week posted on X photos of ameeting he had with teachers to talk about passing the amendment. Aweek earlier, he prominently mentioned the

corruption charges against public officials —but it did agree that prosecutors should have more timetopursue those cases. The Judiciary CCommittee on Tuesday amended Senate Bill 207 to allow certain charges tobebrought against public officials and public employees for up to 10 years after the officialleaves office or the employment ends. Currently,the statutes of limitations for the

crimes vary,but theycannot be longer than six years.

Thecharges coveredinclude abuse of office, bribery of acandidate, bribery of voters, corruptinfluencing,malfeasance in office and public bribery Sen. BlakeMiguez, R-New Iberia, who is sponsoring SB207, originally proposed completely eliminating the statute of limitations for those crimes.But he agreed to change the bill after Sen. Jay

amendment in his “State of the State” speech toopen the Louisiana Legislative session.

“This amendment is not a temporary stipend. It is not a promise for another day.Itisa permanent raise; earned, reliable and responsibly funded,” Landry said in the speech.

“Our teachers have stood by Louisiana through hurricanes, pandemics and years of uncertainty.They stayed in theclassroom when it would have been easier to leave. Passing Amendment 3letsour teachersknow

Morris, R-West Monroe, worried about possible “political prosecutions,”and said legislators hadconcernsthat having no time limit would be unfair to defendants. Morris said that he understoodMiguez’sconcerns but that“the reasonstatutes of limitations are in effect at all is because over aperiod of time people forget,witnessesdie off.” SB207 “would allow time for

(district attorneys) to prosecute those crimes after the fact, with the idea that public officials while they’re in office could use their influence to push offany type of prosecutionorinvestigationinto their action,” Miguez said. The proposal won the Judiciary CCommittee’sapproval without objection after Miguez agreed to amendit, and it now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Louisiana stands by them.” Cassidy,Kennedy both supportSAVEAct

Both of Louisiana’sU.S. senators, Bill Cassidy,R-Baton Rouge, and John Kennedy,RMadisonville, say they support theSAVEAct, thecontroversial voting security bill that is currentlydominating debateinthe Senate. President Donald Trump is pushing for Senate Republicans to passthe bill, which would requireproof of citizenship —like abirth certificate or passport —to register to vote, and photo ID to cast aballot. Republicans say those safeguards will prevent voter fraud. ButDemocrats say it will put obstacles in the way of voting in an effort to prevent aproblem that is exceedingly rare.

In aspeech on theSenate floor, Kennedy argued that Americans are wary after an influx of immigrantsduring former President Joe Biden’sadministration “It’smeant to say to theAmeri-

can people, ‘Look,weinCongress hear you. We want youtotrust our elections,’”Kennedy said. In his own floor speech, Cassidy pointedout thatbuying alcohol and boarding planes requires aphotoID.

“Butwhenitcomestochoosing theleaderswho will steer thefutureofthe UnitedStates of America —suddenly showing an ID is too muchtoask?” Cassidy said. “There’s something really backwards aboutthat.”

Trump hasurgedSenate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster,aproceduralrule that allows theminority party to block most legislationunless abill gets 60 of 100 votes. Some Republicans have called for a“talking filibuster,” which would require Democrats to actually continue speaking to block the bill.

SenateMajority Leader John Thune, R-SouthDakota, has said he does nothavethe votestocircumvent the filibuster Kennedy said he supports using thebudgetreconciliation process, which is not subject to the filibuster,topassthe SAVE Act. Cassidy said he has supported thetalking filibuster since he joined theSenate.

State agencies warn of phishing scams

Several Louisiana state agencies have warned thatscammers

areimpersonating their staff in “phishing” attempts.

The OfficeofMotor Vehicles warned of ascam text message thatpurports to be a“final notice” of outstanding traffic citations. The fraudulent text warns that, if voters don’tpay up, their vehicle registrationand driver’s license could be suspended and theycould face legalaction, credit downgrades and additionalfees

“Louisiana OMV will not contact youvia text to demand personal informationor payments through external links,” the officewrote in astatement. Officials urgedpeople who get the scam texts to delete andreport them.

SecretaryofState Nancy Landry’soffice warned of asimilarscam by people pretending to work for her office, which oversees voting andbusiness filings.

“The SecretaryofState’sOffice does notsendunsolicited text messages or emails threatening prosecutionorasking for payment,” heroffice wrote in anews release.

“Residents areencouraged to check the Secretary of State’s website (sos.la.gov)and social media for accurate and up-todate information.”

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

Gov. Jeff Landrywants voters to pass aconstitutional amendment thatwould giveteachers apay raise.

Miguez

Cassidy

Kennedy

NancyLandry

THE GULF COAST

Kaiya Beach Resort plans to expand with restaurant, spa

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

A new beach resort from a New Orleans

developer is helping to redefine the busy and often strident reputation of Florida beaches along the Gulf Coast On Scenic Highway 30A, Kaiya Beach Resort offers 173 residences — including beachfront homes, villas and vacation rentals — as well as a fine art gallery, all spread across 32 acres of land that was once a peach farm. Sitting on 250 feet of private beach is another amenity known as the Beach House, a private members’ club that includes an infinity pool and lounge.

This year, the resort is expanding with Oyom Hotel & Spa, which will feature 40 suites, a 4,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and a fine-dining restaurant.

The developer behind Kaiya, Jason Romair, is a New Orleans native whose path into real estate began with building and opening a Creole-Italian restaurant in the city Romair bought the property a decade ago with hopes of creating a refuge from the crowds and noise that dominate many Florida beaches. Construction began about five years ago, and the resort opened in 2024.

“The community had a need for this particular development something low-density and not crowded,” Romair said. “Something with a wellness component woven throughout it, and something harmonious with stillness, beauty and art that was lacking in the area.”

The resort arrives as tourism along Florida’s Gulf Coast continues to evolve. Long a juggernaut for regional travelers, the area has drawn increasing numbers of visitors from across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic. As crowds grow, some residents and local officials have pushed back against new commercial developments, citing rising traffic disrupting local life. Meanwhile, some parks are under construction to expand beach access while preserving the character of the area.

Kaiya is another sign that the region’s identity may be shifting beyond its crowded beach reputation toward something more curated and culturally driven.

PROVIDED By KAIyA BEACH RESORT

Kaiya Beach Resort along Florida’s Gulf Coast is expanding this year

Romair’s upbringing in New Orleans’ Garden District — surrounded by ornate metalwork and walkable streets influenced the spirit of Kaiya, which he describes as “rooted in creativity and art and beauty.”

Its exhibition, Omaire Gallery, showcases contemporary classicism artwork, from paintings to marble sculptures. Terry Slaughter, the resort’s creative director, described Omaire as “a little bit more like a museum,” adding, “it’s large, it’s very minimalist.”

“Our goal was to always create something that is more on an international standard,” Slaughter said, “And it’s not always about selling the art. It’s more about giving people an experience that uplifts them.”

The gallery neighbors the resort’s upcoming restaurant Lamuse D’Or a collaboration between Kaiya and its partners Boka Restaurant Group and Donnie Madia of One Off Hospitality, both with Michelin credentials.

Romair, who preferred not to label the type of cuisine, said the menu would be inspired by the Gulf with plates that could be found in other culinary powerhouses like New York and Paris. He said the interior will feature white terrazzo floors, Calacatta Viola marble and artwork throughout the space.

“It’s going to be approachable, but done in a very sophisticated way,” Romair said.

The same philosophy extends throughout the rest of Kaiya. All of it, Romair said, is intended to slow the pace and offer a sense of stillness for both travelers and residents.

“That’s really what this is about at its core,” Romair said, “A place where people know that when they come here, they will find the peace that they’re seeking.”

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Austin Sumrall was a young chef working in New Orleans when he stepped into Dooky Chase’s Restaurant one Sunday morning, still bleary after a long night out.

Sumrall, then 22, started to turn around once he noticed the white tablecloths, black ties on servers and crowds dressed in sophisticated attire — until he was stopped by Leah Chase, the restaurant’s matriarch. She insisted he stay

“She told me it didn’t matter what I looked like,” Sumrall said. “We were all beautiful.”

The interaction happened nearly two decades ago, yet Sumrall recalled it clearly on a recent Wednesday afternoon at his Biloxi restaurant, White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge, seated at a dining table near a window overlooking the Gulf.

In front of him sat a bowl of gumbo z’herbes he had prepared in the kitchen minutes earlier, surrounded by five other cooks who moved quietly with practiced hands — slicing fish, peeling garlic, cutting shallots.

The dish, deep green and rooted in the Catholic faith, spiritual renewal and community was popularized by Chase, whose restaurant serves it every Holy Thursday in observance of the abstinence from meat on Good Friday

Sumrall, who has familial roots in Louisiana, began making his own gumbo z’herbes 15 years ago, sometime after his encounter with Chase. Since White Pillars opened in 2017, he has served it every Lent — a reflection of New Orleans traditions no longer bound to the city alone, but extending well beyond it, crossing the Gulf and into restaurants like his own.

He views the dish, with its West African, French and Germanic roots, as a symbol of Louisiana.

“You’ve got three different cultural influences coming in, which is what gumbo is,” Sumrall said. “It’s also like what Louisiana culture is, too.”

Like the cultures that shape it, gumbo z’herbes blends several varieties of greens,

traditionally an odd number for good luck. Legend holds that for every green cooked in the pot, you’ll make a new friend in the coming year

You can expect to make seven new friends after eating his gumbo z’herbes.

While preparing the dish, Sumrall slipped on his chef’s coat and dropped collard greens, kale and other herbs into a blender, adding parsley in last The hardiest greens go in first, he said, followed by the more delicate ones. The mixture is then braised and layered into a gumbo base made with shrimp stock.

Sumrall poured the gumbo into a bowl filled with a spoonful of potato salad, an addition that he knows is controversial in some households. Seared housemade andouille sausage, four pickled shrimp and a sprinkle of chives were the finishing touches. It tastes how it looks: earthy and light, complementing the fresh shrimp, with a leafy texture softened by the potato salad. With every Lent comes a new way of making gumbo z’herbes. One year, White Pillars served

Former FBIDirectorRobertMueller dies at 81

Ex-official investigated Russia-Trump campaignties

BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON Robert S. Mueller III, the FBI director who transformed the nation’s premier law enforcement agency into aterrorismfighting force after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and wholater became special counsel in charge of investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump’spresidential campaign, has died. He was81.

“Withdeepsadness,we are sharing the news that Bob passed away” on Friday night, his family said in astatement Saturday.“His family asks that their privacy be respected.”

At the FBI, Mueller set about almost immediately overhauling the bureau’s mission to meetthe law enforcement needs of the 21st century,beginning his 12year tenure just one week before theSept. 11 attacksand serving acrosspresidents of both political parties. He was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush.

The cataclysmic eventinstantaneously switched the bureau’stop priority from solving domestic crimeto preventing terrorism, ashift that imposed an almost impossibly difficult standard on Mueller and the rest of the federal government: preventing 99 outof100 terrorist plots wasn’tgood enough. Later,he was special counsel in the JusticeDepartment’sinvestigation into whether the Trump campaign illegallycoordinated with Russia to sway the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. Mueller was apatrician Princeton graduate and Vietnam veteran who walked away from alucrative midcareer job to stay in public service, and his old-school, button-down stylemadehim an anachronism during asocial media-saturated era Trump posted on social media after the announcement of Mueller’sdeath:“Robert

Mueller justdied.Good, I’m glad he’sdead.” The Republican president added,“He cannolonger hurt innocent people!”

In astatement, former Democratic President Barack Obama called Mueller“one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI” who saved “countless lives” after transformingthe bureau. “But it was his relentless commitmenttothe rule of law and his unwavering belief in our bedrock values that made him one of the most respected public servantsof our time,” Obama added.

TheFBI did not immediately respond to arequest seeking comment.The FBI Agents Associationcited Mueller’s “commitment to public service andtothe FBI’smission.“

InvestigatingTrump

Thesecond-longest-servingdirector in FBI history,behindonlyJ.Edgar Hoover,Muellerheld the job until 2013 after agreeing to Obama’srequest to stay on even after his 10-year term wasup.

Afterseveral years in privatepractice, Mueller was asked by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to return to public serviceas special counsel in the TrumpRussia inquiry.

Mueller’sstern visageand taciturn demeanor matched the seriousnessofthe mission,ashis team spent nearly two years quietly conducting one of the most consequential, yetdivisive, investigations in Justice Department history.Heheld no news conferences andmade no public appearancesduring the investigation, remaining quietdespite attacks from Trump and his supporters and creating an aura of mystery around his work.

All told,Mueller brought criminal charges against six of thepresident’sassociates, including his campaign chair andfirst national security adviser.

His 448-page report released inApril 2019 identified substantial contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia but did notallege acriminal conspiracy.Muellerlaidout damaging details

Special counsel RobertS.Mueller III testifies on July 24,

Washington before the House JudiciaryCommittee.

Fridayatage 81.

about Trump’sefforts to seize control of theinvestigation, andevenshut it down, though he declined to decide whether Trump had broken the law,in part because of department policy barring the indictment of asitting president.

But, in perhaps themost memorable language of the report,Mueller pointedly noted: “If we had confidence after athorough investigation of thefacts that thepresident clearly did not commit obstructionofjustice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unableto reach thatjudgment.”

The nebulous conclusion did notdeliverthe knockout punch to the administration that some Trump opponents hadhoped for,nor did it triggerasustained push by House Democrats to impeach the president though he was later triedand acquitted on separate allegations related toUkraine.

The outcome also left room for AttorneyGeneral William Barr to insert his own views. He and his team made their own determination that Trump didnot obstruct justice, and he andMueller privately tangled over afourpage summary letterfrom Barr that Muellerfelt did not adequately capture his report’s damaging conclusion.

Mueller deflated Democrats during ahighly antici-

pated congressional hearing on his reportwhen he offered terse,one-word answers and appeared uncertain in his testimony. Frequently,he seemed to waver on details of his investigation. It was hardly thecommanding performance many had expected from Mueller,who had atowering reputation in Washington.

Over thenext months, Barr made clear his owndisagreements with the foundations of the Russia investigation, moving to dismissa falsestatements prosecution that Mueller had brought against former national security adviserMichael Flynn, even though that investigation ended in aguiltyplea.

Mueller’stenureasspecial counsel was the capstone of a career spent in government

Transforming theFBI

His timeasFBI director was defined by the Sept.11 attacks and its aftermath, as an FBIgrantedbroad new surveillance and national securitypowers scrambled to confront an ascendant alQaida andinterrupt plots and take terrorists offthe street before theycould act.

BY SCOTT BAUER Associated Press

Nicholas Brendon, an actor bestknown for his role as a loveable underdog sidekick on the hit television series

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” has died. He was 54. Brendon’sfamily announced the death in astatement posted on his social media accounts Friday.They said he died in his sleep of natural causes, but did not say where or when it happened.

It wasa newmodel of policing foranFBI that had long been accustomed to investigating crimes that had already occurred.

WhenhebecameFBI director,“Ihad expected to focus on areas familiartome as aprosecutor: drug cases, white-collar criminal cases andviolent crime,” Mueller told agroup of lawyers in October 2012. Instead,“we had to focus on long-term, strategic change. We had to enhance our intelligence capabilities and upgrade our technology We had to build upon strong partnerships andforge new friendships, both here at home and abroad.”

In response, the FBI shifted 2,000 of thetotal 5,000 agents in the bureau’scriminal programstonational security In hindsight,the transformation was asuccess. At the time, there were problems, and Mueller saidasmuch. In aspeech near theend of his tenure, Mueller recalled “those days when we were under attack by the media and being clobbered by Congress; when the attorney general was not at all happy

with me.” Among the issues: The Justice Department’sinspector general found that the FBI circumvented the lawtoobtainthousands of phone call records for terrorism investigations.

Mueller decided thatthe FBIwould nottakepartin abusive interrogation techniquesofsuspected terrorists, but the policy wasnot effectively communicated down the line fornearly two years. In an effort to move the FBI into apaperless environment, thebureau spent over $600 million on two computer systems—one that was 21/2 years overdue and apredecessor that was only partially completed and had to be scrapped after consultants declared it obsolete and riddled with problems. Forthe nation’s top law enforcement agency,itwas arockytrip through rough terrain. But there weremany successes as well, including thwarted terror plots and headline-making criminal caseslikethe one against fraudster Bernie Madoff. The Republican also cultivatedanapolitical reputation on the job, nearly quitting in aclash with the Bush administration over asurveillance program that he and his successor,James Comey, considered unlawful. He famously stoodalongside Comey,then deputy attorney general, during adramatic2004 hospital standoff over federal wiretapping rules. The two men planted themselves at the bedside of the ailing Attorney General John Ashcroft to block Bush administration officials from making an endrun to getAshcroft’s permission to reauthorize a secret no-warrant wiretapping program. In an extraordinary vote of confidence, Congress, at the Obamaadministration’srequest, approved atwo-year extension forMueller to remain at his post.

on Saturday “I saw you Nicky,”she wrote. “I know you areat peace, in thatbig rocking chair in the sky.”

Brendonalsoappeared on the TV show “Criminal Minds”between 2007 and 2014 andalongside Bradley Cooper in the Fox sitcom

“Buffy theVampire Slayer,” based on themovieofthe same name, never received many awards, but it has been cited by many critics as beingone of themost influentialshowsinTVhistory

SarahMichelle Gellar,who played Buffyonthe show, posted aphoto of herself with Brendon on Instagram

Brandon played Xander Harris, aclose friend of lead character Buffy,on“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” that ran from 1997 to 2003. The supernatural series,which started on the WB networkand then movedtoUPN,was about vampire slayers, led by the teenager Buffy,who battled awide range of demons, werewolves and other dark forces while also navigating life in high school.

“Kitchen Confidential,” an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain’smemoir,that aired for just one season in 2005.

Brendon was in the films “Redwood” in 2017, “The Nanny” in 2018 and “Christmas Slasher” in 2024.

Brendon also wrote several issues of the Buffy comic book series.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By SUSAN WALSH

2019, on Capitol Hill in

Mueller,a former FBI director,died on

Lawyers: Detained children stillface concerning conditions

BY GARANCE BURKE Associated Press

Nearly 600 immigrant children were held in aTexas family detention center in recent months without enough food, medicalcare or mental health services, with dozens languishing inside far beyond courtmandated limits, according to court documents filed Friday Children and families heldinthe Dilley detention facility where 5-year-old LiamConejo Ramos and his father were sent earlierthis year faced virus outbreaks and lasting lockdowns in December and January, even as the total number of children held at Dilley has fallen in recent weeks, according to the attorney’s reports and site visits.

The case of Ramos, apreschooler who was wearing a blue bunny hat when he was picked up in Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stirred protest over the Trump administration’simmigration crackdown, including among detainees who gathered and held up signs in the yard inside Dilley’s chain-link fences.

Last week, about 85 children remaineddetained at Dilley,but concerning conditions continued, said Mishan Wroe, directing attorney at the National Center for Youth Law,who visited in mid-March. In early February,alegal advocate for the children observed about 280 children.

The filings cited numerous poignantcases, including that of a13-year-old girl held at Dilley whotried to take her own life after staff withheldprescribedantidepressants and denied her

requesttojoin her mother, as reported by The Associated Press. The government reported therehad been “noplacements on suicide watch,” according to the filing. TheAPobtained the girl’s Dilley discharge documents that described a“suicide attempt by cutting of wrist” and“self-harm.”

The filings were submitted in alawsuit launched in 1985 that ledtothe creation in 1997 of court-ordered supervision ofstandards and eventuallyestablished a20-day limit in custody TheTrump administration seeks to end the Flores settlement.

“For years, the Floresconsent decree has been atool of the left that is antithetical to the lawand wastes valuable U.S. taxpayer funded resources,”the Department of HomelandSecurity said in astatement.“Beingindetention is achoice.”

Attorneys for detainees highlighted the government’sdatashowing longer custody times for immigrant children, and also cited worms in food, andpoor access to medical care or sufficient legal counsel as reported by families and monitors at federal facilities.

“Dilley remains ahellhole,” saidLeecia Welch, the chief legal director at Children’sRights,who visitsDilleyregularlyto ensure compliance. “Although thenumberofchildren has decreased, the suffering remains the same.”

Dilley is retrofitted for families, who receive basic necessities including adequate foodand water while in detention, and the Trump administration is working to quickly deport detainees, the DHS spokesperson added.

Cemetery, with services to be held April 6, 2026 at 10am. In lieu of flowers,the family asks that youhonor Julie's spirit by considering adonation to your local no -killanimal shelter or the Northshore Humane Society—a tribute she wouldhavedeeplyappreciated.

Julie's presence willbe missed every day, yet the love she pouredinto her family and friendscontinuestoshine throughthe people she shaped.Her memory endures in the stories, smiles,and momentsshe leaves behind.A servicewillbeheldfrom 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 2026-04-06 at Southeast LouisianaVeterans Cemetery,34888 Grantham CollegeDrive.

Skolfield, JohnLandry

John Skolfield,age 95, of Mandeville,LApassed away peacefully in his sleep whileholding the hand of his belovedcaregiver, Rhiannon. He was proceeded in death just last Octoberbyhis beloved wife of 70 years, Helen Joyce Thibodaux Skolfield John was also proceeded in death by his parents, WilliamAllen Skolfield,Jr. and Hazel Leah Walters Skolfield,his twoolder brothers, infant William AllenSkolfield,III and Louis DavidSkolfield.Heis survivedbyhis threechildren,Leah Kay Skolfield, twins Julie Ann Bleichner (Barry), Stacy Ann Lee (Ron), and his twograndchildren, John Lee (Ariana) and Samantha Lee(fiancée Jacob). He is also survived by many cousins and friends.

John was born in Norco, LA where he spent his entire youthgrowing up in Shell OilRefinery's Shell Village,where his father was employed.Although he grew up during thedepression and WorldWar II, theVillage was ahappy, self-contained haven and it and thenearbyMississippi

DEATHS continued from Riverleveeand Bonnet Carre' spillway were ripe forhis explorationand entertainment. Among other things, theVillage contained80employeecottages,a swimming pool (where he life-guarded),a gymnasium, bowling alley, theater,baseballfield and 6holegolfcourse. Although comfortable,the cottageswere not extravagant,and John's preferred sleepingarrangement was abed on the front porch John, hisparentsand brother David attended Mass at St. Charles Borromeo, where Father Bastywas afrequent dinner guest of thefamily. John was alwaysenergetic and industrious and he was always looking for ways to earn afew preciouscents. Among other things, John earned5 cents aday to wake up first, bring in the paper,make coffee and bring it to his parents in bed. He ran errands forneighbors, helpedmany with their Victory Gardens, picking vegetables,figsand cracking pecans and tendedto chickens. He recalled that thebestjob was tomato pickingbecause he could bring asaltshaker and eat thebestone of theday right on the spot!He seized every opportunity he couldtohelphis neighbors and hisown wallet. Also, as achildduring WorldWar II he volunteered fora programin which he helped man a tower on theriver levee and reportbytelephone on theground,every flying airplane spotted.Healso workedasa soda jerk at thenearbypharmacyfor just aday buthedidn't mind the lowpay because theperkswere so great! After finishinggrammar schoolatSt. Charles Borromeo, John was enrolled in Jesuit High School in NewOrleans. Shell provideda driverwho daily took thechildrenwho were enrolledatCountry Day and Jesuittoand from the city, avery long driveback then. Betweenthe commuteand his studies, there was little time for extra curricular activities. John completedhis education andgraduated fromJesuit. He realized that, at that time, thehighest paid college graduates were engineers and that was thebasis for his careerchoice John enrolledinLSU to study Petroleum Engineering and Military Science and was in ROTC as ameanstopay forhis ll d i

collegeeducation.Even though hisolderbrother David had fought in World War II andthe warwas recently finished,Johnhad no qualms aboutthe requirementtojointhe Army once he graduated from LSU. He continuedworking at various jobs all through collegetohelp pay hisway butalso foundtimetoenjoyfraternity life, becominga memberofAlpha Tau Omega. ATO hosted aparty for the AOPi ladiesat thefraternity house. As he states in hisautobiography, it was therethat he "became entranced with a female freshman wearing abrightred party dress andmade aplayfor her. Good move! It was Helen, of course." Theydated, became engaged, andenjoyed a70year long marriage together. John graduated before Helenand immediatelyreportedfor duty as acommissioned officerwiththe U.S. Army CorpsofEngineers.Helen graduatedfromLSU in December,1954 and they were marriedthe following monthatOur Lady of the Rosary church in New Orleans. They enjoyeda 3 day honeymoon in Bay St Louis, MS before John had to return for duty. John served his country for two years, during whichhewas promoted and was then honorablydischarged as a First Lieutenant.Johnand Helenspent hisArmytime at Fort Hood, TX andCamp Polk, LA. Toward theend of hi i h b

hisservice, John began submittingresumes to oil companies. He interviewed with 4, got offersfromall 4, but accepted theoffer from Superior Oil Company because thepay wasper month more than the next highest.AlthoughSuperior waseventuallyacquired by Mobilandlatermerged with Exxon,heremained with the same entity for hisentire very successful 34 year career.After joiningSuperior, John was transferred several times. He andHelen lived in Mt Vernon,IL, Salem,IL, Evansville, IN,Carmi, IL, Casper,WY, Carmi, IL, Crossville,IL, Lafayette, LA andMandeville,LA. John spent countless hours making various home improvements everywhere he lived.Hespent much time after work, weekends andsummervacations with his3 daughters, makingsurethattheycould participateinvarious clubs, and take all sortsof lessons. He helped with homeworkand thefamily exploredeverycampground, picnic or scenic area, everywalkingtrail, parkorlake andimportant historical sitewithin drivingdistance. John cherished andloved his highly successfulchildren and grandchildren. John and Helenhad workedvery hardduringtheir careers andmade manysacrifices so that theycould enjoy a fulfillingretirement together andtheyaccomplished th t T d th d f hi

that Toward theend of his career, they builta home in Mandeville next door to his stillliving mother, Hazel so that they could look after her. John spent considerabletime doing yard upkeep for both homes. Helen and John spent their time traveling throughout the country and Europe. Toward the end of his career, John was introduced to his first computer. Rather than shy away from this new contraption, he embraced it and the wonders of the internet. After retirement, he quickly bought apersonal computer, set it up in his office and started documenting everything in his life. This included things like lifelong vacation write ups, medical documentation, financialdocumentation, lists of Christmas gifts given and received, important historical events like presidential elections, alist of "bloomers" -everything thatbloomed in the yard recorded by month, etc. etc. etc. Much of this came together as first, alist of "Events In My Life" which then turned into afull length autobiography in which he detailedall of the interesting stories and people that shaped his life, from childhood through retirement. Most importantly, John became extremelyinterested in genealogy. With his new computer, he commenced documenting and writing booklets aboutnot just his family line, but Helen's as well. Altogether, he had information on close to 10,000 names going back many centuries. It is easy to see that John never wasted aminute. He had no understanding of the word "boredom" because he never experienced it.He was constantly striving, doing and accomplishing. Not just that, but during his life he saved two different people from drowning in swimming pools and also on July 4, around 1972 on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, he rescued several people from sailboats that were being crashed into the concrete seawall by asudden storm.This event was written up in the Times Picayune the following day. John was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. Happy to help in any way possibleand happy to pick up the tab for meals, family vacations, college educations and people in line at the grocery store who found themselves i h h

without enough moneyat the cash register. Hismanners were impeccable and he loved listening to the symphony and attending the opera. John never rested, buttook time to enjoy life, especially in retirement enjoying hisdaily Martiniwith Helen. He ate right and enjoyed swimming, tennis and bicycle riding. He always remained physically and mentally active. He was kind to all animals,domestic or wild, and couldnot have beena better husband and father, sacrificing much to insure everyone's comfortand happiness.

Afuneral Mass was held forJohn on March 20, 2026 at St. Charles Borromeo church in Destrehan, LA wherehewas laid to rest nexttoHelen and near his parentsinthe cemetery there.The church was open for viewing at 12 Noon, followedbythe Mass at 1:00 P.M. and the Rite of Committal at the crypt.A military detailwas included. The familywould like to acknowledge the gentle care John received at home from Rhiannon, Judena, Caryl, Melissa, Tiffanyand Wonda. E. J. Fielding Funeral Home in Covington, LA has been entrusted with final arrangements.Please sign the guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

VanNorman, Carolyn Hardy

Carolyn Hardy Van Norman, born April 12, 1944 and raisedinMt. Pleasant TX, died on March3,2026 at home in Shreveport, LA Heaven gained someone remarkable. Carolyn was a beautiful,smart, kind, generous,and selfless person who prioritizedothers. She was fair,never had an ill word to say about anyone, and always gave others the benefitofthe doubt. And if you knew Carolyn, you understood her ability tomake others feelgood when around her.She was also witty, stylish,and had an eyefor beauty.She took great prideinher surroundingsand home. Carolyn excelled at everything she did.She was an excellent painter,cook, and hostess who served goodfood, plenty of it,and

insisted on sending you home with theleftovers. She wasalso an avid reader who lovedher book club,a prayerful Catholic and member of asweet Bible study group,and a fervent LSUsports fan. Carolynwas steady, only to be exasperated by the cable providerand when she couldn't find LSUon TV. Carolynmet theloveof her life while studying for her bachelors in science in Pre-Medicine and being a member of theChi Omega Fraternity, serving as vice president,atMcNeese University in Lake Charles, LA.She always talked abouthow she couldnot believethe "most handsome" RustyVan Norman asked her out. Following their marriagein1965, Carolyn graduated and started her lifelong career in education. She taught highschoolfor six years in Lake Charles before moving to NewOrleans for Rusty's careerin1972. New Orleans would be where they raised their twochildren,Russand Jen, and created agreat childhood forthem. They were married for59years.

While in NewOrleans, Carolyntaughthighschool physics, chemistry and biologyfor 16 years at L.W. Higgins. She received numerous teaching awards during this time, such as Outstanding Teacher, Excellence in Teaching, Regional Teacher of the Year,DistinguishedHigh School Teacher, and was a Teacher-in Residence recipient. However, she felt most rewarded whenever aformerstudent toldher that she inspiredthem to pursue acareer in the medical sciences. After over 20 years in theclassroom, Carolyn worked as a Science Resource Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and Assistant Superintendent. She mentored many youngeducation professionals during her timeasPrincipal and Assistant Superintendent. Carolyn's draw to the classroom was strongand for twoyears during her time as aResource Teacher, she taught evening classes to education majors at Loyola University.

After Carolyn and Rusty retired, they movedto Shreveport in 2020 to be closer to theirkidsand grandkids. "Honey", as she was affectionally called, was athoughtful grandmother. She was famous

for her "Chocolate

Chippers" baked from a recipe straight off themorsal packageand "Texas Trash" Chexmix,always angsting if she made enoughfor bothkids' families.Honey also had a knack for pickingout the most perfect Hallmark Signature card for every birthday. She would get so excited and proud when she found "the one" Carolynwas also adevoted wife and caretaker to Rustywhen he developed Dementialater in life. Rustyhad aparticular affectionfor Strawns Eat Shop(who couldblame him) and Carolyn would happily take him thereto eat sometimes threetimes aday if that's what he wanted. Life was great because we had Honey and we were truly blessed to haveher as long as we did. Carolynwas preceded in death by her parents, Olin and IsabellHardyand her husband,Russell Howard Van Norman, Jr.Left to cherish her memory are her sonDr. Russell Howard Van Norman IIIand his wife Susanna Cage Van Norman and her daughter Mrs. JenniferVan Norman Veluvolu and her husband, Dr. AnilVeluvolu; grand-

children, Connor William Couvillon,Russell "Van" Howard VanNorman, IV., Weldon "Cage"Van Norman, Ayan Hardy Veluvolu,TheilerFrances Van Norman, Ana Elizabeth Veluvolu,and AriLizette Veluvolu;sister,Frances "Francie"Ryder(Robert); sister-in-law Anna Marie "Bitsy" VanNorman and brother-in-law Ted Van Norman (Zee); nephews, William "Wick" Cooper, KevinRyder (Gretchen); nieces Katherine "Kitty" Manuel (Buddy), Christina Cooper Dowd (Tim), Dr KellyRyder(Tim), Erin Winther(Christian), Leigh AnnWard (Lionel), and Laura Burke(William). AMemorialService followed by avisitation and reception will be held on Saturday March21, 2026, at OsbornFuneral Home, 3631 Southern Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. The Service will begin at 11 a.m. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Russ VanNorman,III,Anil Veluvolu,Connor Couvillon,Van Van Norman, Cage Van Norman, Ayan Veluvolu, Robert Ryder,Ted Van Norman, Wick Cooper, III, andKevin Ryder.Carolyn andRusty made south

METRO

Majorexpansion sought forRiver Birchlandfill

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

Staff writer

One of Louisiana’s largest waste management companies is planning amajor expansion of its landfillin Waggaman, aprojectthat would see it incorporate a former dump next door if approved by state regulators.

The plan would make the River Birch landfill the state’sbiggest by far while granting it apermit to accept trash from anywhere nationwide —but company officials stress that will only be employed for specialized refuse required forits growing renewable energy efforts. Accepting common municipal trash fromoutside Louisiana “isnot even aconsideration” and “just completely off the table,” said companyspokesperson William Kearney

The expansive site is currentlya municipal and industrial landfill serving 13 parishes in metro New Orleans and the Bayou Parishes. It sits alongside two other separate landfills, not including the now-closed one where River Birch is hoping to expand.

The project, if approved by the state Department of EnvironmentalQuality,

Aheadof merger, Douglass students feel hopeful

BY MARIEFAZIO Staff writer

The news spread quickly Monday afternoon that Frederick Douglass High School wasmerging withJohnF.Kennedy High School,sparking panic among families and filling students with questions about the future.

“I had alot of kids in tears,” said Douglass PrincipalTowanaPierre-Floyd. “I’monthe phone with parents; they’re telling me, like, ‘My kid is really upset because they think their school is closing.’”

would add 351 acres, bringingthe landdedicatedto trash to 710acres —the size of nearly 540 football fields. At full capacity byaround 2090, its volume would be roughlydouble its currently allowed size, andthe pile would approach195 feet high, enough trash to fill the Superdome nearly 27 times.

Company officials say expanding into an alreadyexistingdump is afar better optionthanseeking a new site elsewhere. They also note advanced odor control systems already in operationand thepromise of the company’s renewable energyinitiatives.

“Because eventuallyyou are going to need the new landfill, so by doing this we’re taking an old landfill and putting it back into commerce as opposed to

somebody having to build somewhereelse,” said Billy Gibbens, generalcounsel for River Birch ADEQ permit hearing is scheduledfor 6p.m. April 21 at James C. Simmons Community Center in Avondale,and the company is already facingopposition More than 80 petitions, emails and online messages have been filed with DEQ urging rejection.

JosephMendez, 45, a truckdriverand father of twowho grew up in Waggaman, remembersthe foul smells from thenowclosed landfill River Birch will use for the expansion. As akid,hewould ride his bike on trails in thewoods between his house andthe area’s landfills.The woods have now been replaced by homes.

Mendez said his LiveOak Manor houseisasfar from thelandfills as he can be in Waggaman, but he still getsgood whiffs of the foul smells at least once a month. He told DEQ that “we’re not trash, and this has been enough,”before finishing withanexpletive.

He said in an interview that thelandfill owners “keep wanting to expand it,” while residents also have to deal withsmells from nearby chemical plants.

“It’salosingbattle either way,” he said.

RiverBirch, owned by influential businessmen FredHeebe and Jim Ward, contends that its renewable energy plans along with the region’sneed for more landfillspace makethe project themost viable option.

“It’s asystem that is wellthought-out.Wetry to stay wayahead of theregulations,” Heebe said of the landfill’sgrowing methane collectionand transformation of thegas into usable energy

RiverBirch is seeking to expand over the once-troubledGreater New Orleans Landfill, which closed in 1999. Formerly owned by adifferent company,the GNOLsite straddles St. Charles and Jefferson Parishes.

The proposed permit would make RiverBirch’s operation threetimes

er than Louisiana’snext largest landfills in Walker

St.Tammany bridge projectgets$10

U.S. 11 overpass wouldbewidened

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Ahost of St. Tammany officials have called for the replacement of the narrow U.S.11overpass in Slidell that hasbeen the site of multiple fatalcrashes in recent years. Those efforts recently got a boost. St. Tammany Parish officials announced that the federal government had appropriated $10 million for the project,moneythe state

says will allowthe start of the design phase for the new bridge, which would cost an estimated $80 million. The highway department hassaid anew bridge could be part of alarger projectthatincludes widening U.S.11through the area. The 1930s-era bridge is south of Interstate12and crossesthe Norfolk Southern Railroadtracks between I-12 and Gause Boulevard. (It is sometimes mistaken in conversation for theU.S. 11 bridge that crosses LakePontchartrain.)

“I’m ecstatic aboutit,” Slidell Mayor Randy Fandalsaid. “I’ve beensaying for years that somethingneeded to bedone with that.” In 2024, afather and son were

on their way to work beforedawn when they got into ahead-on collision on the bridge, leaving theson seriously injured andthe father dead. Afterthat crash, family members and others, including Fandal, who at the timewas Slidell police chief, called for the bridge to be replaced. Fandal said therehad been six fatalities and 120 crashes on the bridge since the1990s. St. Tammany Parish Council member Jimmy Strickland,who knewthe family of thefather and son in thecrash, said it’s somethinghe’s“beenwantingtosee for many,many years.”Hesaid blinking lights have been added

The next morning, Pierre-Floyd gathered the juniors in the school auditorium and answered their questions large andsmall: Whatuniforms would theywearatthe new combined school? Would there be enough room for1,200 students when Douglass is relocated fromits 9th Ward building to Kennedy’sGentilly campus? Would their teachers lose their jobs? Will Douglass keep its A-rating when it is folded into C-rated Kennedy? Pierre-Floyd and officials at KIPP New Orleans, the large charter school operator that runs both schools, have castthe consolidationasa positive change that will boost resources forstudents at both schools. It will also movestudents out of the Douglass building, which is in dire need of renovations.

Still, it has stirred an outcry among graduates of Douglass, wholament the loss of theschool’s nameand legacy.(The combined school will only keep Kennedy’sname.)Somecommunitymembers also raised concerns that Douglass’ historic building will be sold anddeveloped into condos fueling gentrification in the neighborhood. Among Douglass students, as the shock of the mergernews wears off, somesay theyare feeling less apprehensive and even optimistic. Some said they would welcomeanewer building, bigger band and potentially more competitive sports teams. Several said they felt reassured that longtimeprincipal Pierre-Floyd said she will lead the combined school, mostteachers will stay on board and programs that drew them to Douglass, such as Bard Early College and AP classes, will continue at Kennedy Madison Stewart, asophomore, said she was initially distressed by the news but was reassured by Pierre-Floyd’sexplanation. Like several of her peers, she said she now feels morehopeful about the merger than sad about losing the current version of Douglass.

“We’ll have the opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences,” she said. “At the end of theday,we’re still Bobcats andwe’restill Frederick A. Douglass, and everything will be OK.” Most Douglass students first learned about the planned merger when it spread across social media Monday and wasreported by the newsmedia. Whenstudents arrived Tuesdaymorning, Danneka Mitchell, the school’sdirector of operations, boardedbusestoapologize forthe leak.PierreFloyd emailed families and gathered the junior class in the auditorium to answer questions, then hung out in the cafeteria during lunch to respond to students’ concerns.

Jaidon Laroche, afreshman,saidhis mom woke him up Monday night to tell him the news. He

on the bridge to encourage people to slowdown,but thinks it remains dangerous. But even withthe $10 million, thereplacement projectisalong way offfrom being started. Construction is not scheduled to begin until 2031, said parish government spokesperson MichaelVinsanau, andwouldrequire significantly morefunding.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, who secured the $10 million as part of CommunityProject Funding in a federal spending package earlier this year,saidina statementhe was glad the moneywould “help start construction to improve

safety alongthis critical evacuation route.”

St.TammanyParish President Mike Cooper said in astatement, “This project will exponentially reduce concern amongstdrivers and improve our quality of life.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation andDevelopment is currently conducting preliminary survey work in the area, said department spokespersonDaniel Gitlin.

Gitlin said the$10 million will allow DOTD to start the design phase of the bridge replacement project.

PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

ABOVE: Margeaux Fanning participates in the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival’s Stella Shouting Contest at the Jazz Museum in New Orleans on Saturday. LEFT: Todd d’Amour dresses as Stanley Kowalski and Beth Bartley d’Amour as Blanche DuBois from ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.

LOUD & PROUD

DOUGLASS

Continued from page 1B

worried he would lose his position on the student council or friends would switch schools because they worry Kennedy isn’t as academically strong as Douglass. But now that he’s had time to process, he said, he’s feeling excited.

“I hope this makes Douglass stay a good school,” he said, “and help it become better.”

Mikiyah Denise, a junior said finding out about the change on Instagram was jarring, but once administrators clarified that Douglass was merging with Kennedy rather than closing, she became excited. Combining Douglass’ academics with Kennedy’s sports and extracurricular prowess “is going to be fire,” Denise said.

“It’s really not a bad thing,” Denise said. “JFK has a better school building, and I feel like we do deserve that.”

Trindon Moffett, a sophomore, said many Douglass students already know Kennedy students from shared KIPP programs. JFK isn’t just some “random school in New Orleans,” he added

“They’re in our KIPP family,” he said. “They’re like our cousins.”

Now “we’ll be like siblings,” Denise added Community pushback

Not everyone is sold on the benefits of a merger, especially since it could spell the end of the Frederick Douglass school name and campus.

Reggie Ford, who graduated from Douglass in 1997, recalled the building’s frequent leaks but said it “felt like a family.” Ford has lived across the street from

the school on St. Claude Avenue for 15 years and said he often chats with football players after practice.

Losing the name would be sad, he said, but he’s more concerned that the merger will disrupt students’ educational experience. He’s also concerned that, if the Orleans Parish School Board sells the building, it will become condominiums.

“Douglass is a powerful name with a powerful story,” he said, adding that the consolidation will “destabilize the Black kids.”

“It’s been done before,” he said.

New Orleans City Council member Freddie King III said constituents have reached out to him expressing concern about “losing another historical Black school in the city.”

He added that many longtime residents see a connection between the campus closure and the arrival of

LANDFILL

Continued from page 1B

and near Shreveport, according to federal and state data. Taken with the two other nextdoor landfills that River Birch runs for Jefferson Parish or owns outright, the combined total capacity would be the seventhlargest trash site in the nation, according to a federal database Accepting out-of-state trash is not without precedent in Louisiana and elsewhere Nine out of the state’s top 15 largest landfills have already been authorized to do so, and most say their share of out-of-state trash is 5% or less annually River Birch anticipates up to 9% coming from outside Louisiana. Among the state’s largest landfills, only the public landfills in Tangipahoa and DeSoto parishes, both near state boundaries, match or approach 9%, according to state permit data

Company officials say the out-of-state trash would serve as feedstock for River Birch’s growing renewable energy efforts. Tires and plastics could be part of the mix, they said.

It has previously detailed plans for projects including creating beverage-grade carbon dioxide, converting sewage waste and other organic matter into natural gas and CO2, and manufacturing natural gas and CO2 from old tires and plastics.

Some landfills in other states accept out-of-state municipal trash, but Heebe stressed it would not be economically feasible for River Birch due to high transportation costs. River Birch officials also rejected the possibility that future market conditions could make accepting such out-of-state trash more feasible.

The national designation would, however, be included in the permit if it is approved That has drawn a mixed response from parish officials.

“We didn’t sign up to be the dumping ground for the United States,” St. Charles Parish Council member Michelle O’Daniels said, noting the council was not told about the national designation when voting in favor of a rezoning for the plan in 2024. Jefferson Parish Council member at large Scott Walker also said he didn’t know about the national designation, but didn’t see a problem with it.

“I don’t think they told us, but I don’t think it had to be told to us at that time,” he said.

Company officials say plans were still developing then. DEQ records show the company began meeting with the agency in February 2025, and the first draft of the permit application came the following October.

The landfill’s broadened service area has implications for the

newcomers, many of them White, to the area.

“This neighborhood is changing,” King said. Schools can sometimes stumble after they are restructured or consolidated.

A decade ago, two Algiers high schools — B-rated L.B. Landry and F-rated O. Perry Walker were combined in Landry’s newer building. State officials attributed the merger to demographic shifts on the West Bank and Walker’s crumbling campus. The combined school, now known simply as Landry

next-door Jefferson Parish Sanitary Landfill, which River Birch has managed since 2019.

The two landfills alternate periods when they accept waste for efficiency reasons. That means the public landfill is, at times, receiving waste from River Birch’s private customers, and vice versa.

The permit would also include an open-ended authority to receive demolition and vegetative waste. Company officials say that waste would only be redirected temporarily from their next-door U.S. 90 C&D landfill to improve GNOL’s protective cap. Its underground injection wells for nonhazardous liquid waste, already approved for nationwide status, would also have increased flexibility The change would allow solid waste in some of those liquids to be removed and sent to the landfill so the liquids can be injected deep underground. Turning methane into energy Company officials say they have installed or improved a network of leachate and gas collection wells to draw up tainted water naturally percolating through trash and the gases that emit as trash breaks down.

The up-to-$60 million operation has a gas separation plant that River Birch says has 99.5% efficiency With a computerized control room, pollution scrubbers and emergency flares, it produces an average of 6 million cubic feet per day of methane for sale by pipeline, company officials said. It’s enough gas to serve all the homes in Kenner or Bossier City Hydrogen sulfide, a key odor maker, is stripped out of methane and disposed of in the landfill as elemental sulfur or destroyed in a thermal oxidizer

Larry Centola, an attorney involved in a class-action suit over smells from the Jefferson Parish landfill between 2017 and 2019, when another company managed it, said River Birch has improved the situation. Operations haven’t always been perfect, however regulatory records show DEQ still receives regular odor complaints from residents, as recently as January In December 2025, River Birch paid a $7,400 fine to settle DEQ allegations that it had breakdowns in 2022 and 2023 in treating leachate and other waters that leave the private landfill.

In recent years, the company has also reported elevated methane levels from the landfill surface, though the high measurements were not repeated enough times to count as air violations. Company officials say they work constantly to improve the wells’ gas collection. Heebe estimated the landfill could be producing renewable methane for another century

High School, earned a D rating from the state last year

The Orleans Parish School Board is expected to approve the DouglassKennedy consolidation at its meeting next week. In a statement, a NOLA Public Schools spokesperson said the district, which is looking to downsize in response to declining enrollment, supports the merger

“These operator-led decisions are essential to optimizing our school district,” the statement said, adding that mergers like this help ensure “schools are

equipped with the supports, programming, and resources they need to thrive.”

LOTTERY FRIDAY,

BRIDGE

Continued from page 1B

He said the new bridge will have wider lanes and shoulders, but additional details will depend on the design that is selected. He also said that, depending on funding, the bridge replacement project could be wrapped into a larger project to widen other parts of U.S. 11.

The bridge goes over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks and dates to the 1930s, Vinsanau said.

Chad Elliot participates in the Stella Shouting Contest with Priscilla the puppet.

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

that

Schaefer,Marguerite

Augillard III, Louis Canale,Carol Barjon, Lorraine

Augillard III, Louis

Krimerman,Eleanor Benedic, Kathryn

Lubritz,Abe

Bernadas III, Clifford Majestic Mortuary Boesch Jr., Edward

Boudreaux, Deborah Buckley, Donis Buckley, Donis St Bernard Calogero,Iris St Bernard Canale,Carol JirovecJr.,Alfred DeLargeJr.,Alton St Tammany Donahue II, Raymond Audubon Edmunds Jr., J. GaspardWatts,Patricia Boesch Jr., Edward Impastato, Mary Calogero,Iris JirovecJr.,Alfred EJ Fielding Krimerman,Eleanor Skolfield, John Lubritz,Abe West Bank Martinez,Frances Mothe Powell Jr., Ernest Donahue II, Raymond Reuter,Audrey Obituaries Schaefer,Marguerite Sheppard,Julie AdamsJr. DDS, Thomas O.

Skolfield, John VanNorman, Carolyn EJefferson NeptuneSociety

Benedic, Kathryn

NewOrleans

Boyd Family Powell Jr., Ernest Charbonnet DeLargeJr.,Alton Greenwood

Impastato, Mary JacobSchoen Reuter,Audrey

Thomas O.Adams Jr., DDS,passed awaypeacefully at his home on March 14, 2026, at the ageof82, surrounded by hisfamily Tomwas bornon November 30, 1943,in Tampa, Florida.Helater moved with hisfamily to Metairie, Louisiana,where he attendedEastJefferson High School.Hewas a proud graduate of Tulane University, where he earnedhis undergraduate degreeinChemistrywhile pitchingfor the universi-

ty'sbaseballteam, an experience he recalled with greatpride. He continued his educationatLoyola University School of Dentistry and completed hisresidency at Charity HospitalinNew Orleans. Tomwent on to servein theUnited States Army as asurgeonatEisenhower Medical Center, located near AugustaNational Golf Club, acourse he often spokeoffondly and hoped to play one day. Following his military service,Tom builta distinguished career as an oral and maxillofacial surgeonatEast JeffersonGeneralHospital. He was widely respected for his precision, professionalism, and compassionate care forhis patients. Known as "the singing oral surgeon," he often sang Elvissongsto puthis patients at ease. Outside of his professional life,Tom was aman of many talents and interests. He approachedeach hobbywith dedication and adesiretomaster it. His hobbies included archery, duck carving, woodworking,and classical guitar. He was also an avid golfer who found greatjoy on the course.A man of deep faith, Thomas attended dailyMass and faithfully participatedinthe Manresa Men'sRetreat for more than 20 years. He livedhis life with passion, intention, and conviction. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas O. Adams Sr. and Marthany Scott Adams; his daughter, Christine Adams; and his sister, Marilyn Adams Fox. He is survivedbyhis devoted wife, Alycia Amadeo Adams; his children, Robin Adams and Todd Adams (Julie); the motherofhis children, Deardra Adams; his grandchildren, Sabelle Adams and Noah Adams; as well as his stepchildren, AmelieReeves(Brian) and GarrettWax (Shelby); and his step-grandchildren, CallenWarren, Cohen Wax, Paul Reeves, and Ainsley Reeves. Family and friends are invited to attend avisitation on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,followedbya Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St Francis XavierChurch, 444 Metairie Road,Metairie, Louisiana 70005. Interment willfollow at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries. Donations can be madetothe

Massesorindonations to theAmerican Heart Association in Mrs. Barjon's name

Augillard, Louis

Louis Augillard III, belovedhusband,devoted father, and cherished grandfather, entered into eternal rest on March 13, 2026, after acourageous battle withcancer at the ageof79. Louis was born on December 22, 1946, of theunionofLouis Augillard,Jr.,and Berniece Jackson, and was alifelong resident of NewOrleans, Louisiana.

Aproud graduateofSt. Augustine HighSchool, Class of 1964, Louis was a dedicatedmember of the Marching 100. He honorably served in both theU.S Navy and theAir National Guard.Hewas also aformermember of The Wild Bunch Club,the Zulu Social Aidand Pleasure Club, and theAmerican Legion Crescent City Post #125. Louis leaves to cherish hismemory: his brother, John Wayne (Joyce) Augillard;two daughters, MichelleAugillardand Erin (Dondrick)Earl; astepson, Patrick Gill Sr.; grandchildren PatrickGill, Jr, Andrew, and Ethan Kelly, Nola Earl,and Madison Cohns; one god-sister, Mary Louise Berry; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished friends.

Afuneralservicewillbe held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11am at St. MartindePorres Catholic Church, 5621 Elysian Fields Ave, NewOrleans, Louisiana. Visitation will beginat10am until the Mass. In lieu of flowers,the family asks that youconsider making adonationto CancerResearch, acause

Lake Lawn Metairie AdamsJr.,Thomas AdamsJr.,Thomas Benedic, Kathryn Serbanic

Barjon, Lorraine Hunt

Lorraine Hunt Barjon enteredintoeternal rest on Saturday, January10, 2026, at the age of 96 in Tomball, TX. Lorraine wasbornin NewOrleans,Louisianaon April 16, 1929, to thelate Marguerite BertrandHunt Materre andJules Lincoln Hunt;step-daughterofthe lateLouis Materre.Beloved wife of thelateHenryJ Barjon.She wasa loving mothertoSimoneB Rouege, RenaldoBarjon, Stacy B. Ennisand thelate Darnella Barjon;and mother-in-law to William E. Rouegeand Dr.Briant Ennis. Lorraine wasprecededindeathbytwo brothers, JulesHunt, Sr andAlvin Hunt,Sr. and threesisters, Janet Heisser, Elaine Chevalier andGeraldineHunt.She is survived by fivegrandchildren,ten great-grandchildren and ahostofnieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Shewas anative of NewOrleans,LA, and a residentofTomball,TX since August, 2021. Sheenjoyed creatingceramic pieces,and reading.She especially enjoyedsolving cross word puzzles and assembling intricatecard tablepuzzles.She worked passionately with herpuzzles andbecame quiteproficient in herlater years. Lorraine always welcomed afamilygathering where she could be withher children andgrandchildren During more active periods of herlife, she treasured entertaining familyand friends on Sundays by hosting friendlyPokeno andcardgames followed by awonderful evening supper. Aprivateintermentwill be held at alater dateinNew Orleans, LA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made through

Kathryn Serbanic Benedic of Pearl River, LA passedawayonFriday, March13th, 2026 at theage of 75. Shewas born on July 1st, 1950 in Greenville, TX. Shewas preceded in death by herbeloved daughter, Jennifer Shea McGee,and herparents, PeterSerbanicand Patty McGehee Serbanic Sheissurvivedbyher husband of 36 years, Peter Benedic,her brothers, Mark Serbanic (Mary), Paul Serbanic(Donna), and Pete Serbanic, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Kathryn's greatest joyin life washer cherished daughter, whoshe loved with all herheart.She had an incrediblelove for her petShihTzu dogs, at one pointhaving5 at once Kathryn also enjoyedridingmotorcycleswith her husband in heryounger years. Sheworkedfor AT&Tfor over 35 years before retiringasamanager. Serviceswill be private. In lieu of flowers, please considermakinga donation in Kathryn's honor to theWounded Warrior Project(https://www.wou ndedwarriorproject.org/).

Bernadas, Clifford Walter 'Kippy'

Clifford WalterBernadas III,known to hisloved ones as "Kippy" and, later in life, "Kip," passedawayon January26, 2026 in

4B

Wamego, KS. He was born on August 10, 1955 in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his father, Clifford Walter Bernadas, Jr., and his beloved grandmother, Helen MarshallBernadas. He is survived by his devoted mother, Lurline Crews Bernadas, his siblings Marla Bernadas Garrity and Thomas Bernadas, and his children, Kayla Bernadas and Austin Williamson. Asensitive soul, Kippy cherished the good times and never missed an opportunity to crack ajoke or whip up an exceptional meal. Above all, Kippy was an artistat heart, whose passion for expressing himself through his art will remain an inspiration to those who knew him.

Boesch Jr., Edward LouisChristopher

Edward LouisChristo‐pherBoeschJr.,ofSlidell Louisiana,passedawayon March 13, 2026, at theage of85. Born on November 6, 1940, in NewOrleans, Louisiana,tothe late Leon‐tineKoebelBoeschand Ed‐wardLouis Boesch,Ed‐ward'slifewas oneof faith,service,and love.Ed‐wardisthe belovedhus‐bandofDiana Boesch,with whomhespent 65 memory filled years. Together,they dancedthrough life,liter‐allyand figuratively.Heis the adored father of Debo‐rah Coleman(thelate David), Edward Boesch III (Dawn), andSandraPoff (Richard);proud grandfa‐therofJenniferBoesch, JesicaDragon,Patrick Coleman,KatelynnCole‐man,Brendan Coleman, and Olivia Warren;greatgrandfather of Blake Fricke, KyleeDragon, Bradley Boesch,Beau Dragon,and soon to arrive MathewDavid Coleman. He alsoleavesbehinda host ofextendedfamilymem‐bersand friends, allof whomheloved greatly. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Savoy andAliceArostegui A graduate of Holy Cross HighSchool with theClass of1958, Edward's dedica‐tiontoeducation ledhim tofurther hisstudies at Louisiana StateUniversity. Edward'sprofessionalca‐reer included beingthe owner of ABCLighting Showroom from 1988- 2002 and over 27 dedicated years at TennecoOil Refin‐ery/Exxon Mobil. Edward's secondhomewas on the water.A chartermember ofthe Poor Man’sYacht Cluband aformermember ofthe Tammany Yacht Club, hislovefor boating spanned over 50 years. Ed‐ward’sfun-loving side was evident in hispassion for karaoke andhis member‐shipwiththe Kreweof Bilge for40years,where hereigned as King in 2000

Aswebid farewelltoa man who wasthe embodi‐mentofkindnessand in‐tegrity,wecelebrate the legacyheleavesbehind. Whilehis presence will be greatly missed,the memo‐riessharedwithfamilyand friends will continue to be cherished.Relatives and friends areinvited to at‐tenda visitation on Satur‐day,March 28, 2026, from 9:00a.m.to11:00 a.m. at Audubon FuneralHomein Slidell. AFuneralMasswill begininthe chapel at 11:00

a.m. Edward will be laid to restinAudubon Memorial Gardens Cemetery follow‐ing Mass. Memories and condolences maybeex‐pressedatwww.Audubon FuneralHome.com.

Boudreaux, Deborah Miller

Deborah, age 67, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passedawaypeacefully at home on March 16th, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in San Diego, California, Deborah later made her home in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, whereshe builta life definedbylove, warmth, and adeepappreciation forthe natural world. For 45 wonderful years, she shareda devotedand enduring marriage with herhusband, Gary. Together, they created ahome filledwith laughter,adventure,and unwavering love. Deborah wasa proudand devoted mother to four daughters and acherished grandmothertoninegrandchildren, who lovingly knew heras"Nonnie "Her family was the center of her world, and she poured her heartinto everymoment spent with them. She especially treasuredtime spent rockhounding with her grandchildrenand family, always turning simple moments into lasting memories.She had aspecial gift fornurturing life in allits forms.She adored animals and plants of every kind tendedtogardensthat bloomedasbrightly asher spirit, and never met a strayshe wouldn't take in and loveasher own. Her passion for nature extended to thewilderness, where she found peace campingbeneaththe stars and exploring new places on family trips. Sheoften sharedthat she wouldlike to be remembered in the gentle presence of butterfliesand dragonflies, areflectionofthe beauty and peace she found in the natural world. Deborah had a rare and beautiful way of connecting with others; she befriended everyone she met and trulynever met astranger. Knownfor her boundlessenergy and love of life, she was the heartofevery gathering. Shetook great pride in creatingher beautiful indoor and outdoorChristmasdisplays andjoyfully hosted herbeloved annual Hot Cocoa and Santa Party. Shealsomade it atradition to host NewYear'sEve celebrations, joyfully ringing in the new year surroundedbyher adoring husband, daughters, and grandchildren, while welcoming friends and their childrenfor awarm, family -friendly celebration. Whetherplanning aholiday feast, hosting abackyard gathering, or organizing aspontaneous adventure,she brought people together with her kindness, creativity,and infectiouslaughter.She had a remarkable way of making everyonefeel welcome loved, and at home. Deborah willbedeeply i d d f

missed and forever remembered forher generosity,compassion, and thejoy she brought into thelives of allwho knew her. Deborah is survivedby her loving husband of 45 years, Gary Boudreaux; daughters, Breanna Bergeron(Daniel), Amandalyn Hoover (Michael), Cassandra Veillon, and Darralann Phenis (Josh); grandchildren,Kaeden, Landen, Cohen, Kroy, Alyssa, Berkley, Gavin,Charlotte, and Julietta; brothers, Butch Millerand Robert Miller; alongwithstepmother, JudyMiller, and numerous otherfamily members. Deborah is preceded in death by her parents; mother, Shirley Formway (Jim), and father, Hutton Miller, Sr. AcelebrationofDeborah's life will be held on March 27th at Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home.Inlieuof flowers,the family kindly suggests donations to Geaux Wild Rehab, Purrsof Hope Rescue, or Tangi Humane Society in honor of herlifelong love forall living things. Relativesand friends of thefamily are invitedtoattend the Visitationfromthe Chapel of Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home,1190 Hwy 51 North, Ponchatoula, LA,on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Fr. Charles Johnsonand PastorBrad Robertswill officiatewithinterment to follow in Rosaryville Memorial Gardens. The location for Deborah's Funeral Service has yet to be arranged. Thisnotice willbeupdated when location is confirmed.

DonisInezBuckley was bornNovember1,1931 to the late MosesBuckley and Idelle MageeBuckley in Osyka,Mississippi.She was second to theeldest daughter, 1of4 daughters and 1often children.Donis transitionedthislifeSatur‐day,March 14, 2026 to be withthe Lord JesusChrist. Donis wasbaptizedat TangipahoaBaptist Church atanearly age. Shewas a personwitha soft voice and ahugeheart.She en‐joyed cookingand taking careofher siblings.Donis was educated at Rosehill and received a12thgrade education.Whenthe time was right, shefollowedher younger brothers,Leo and Jerry BuckleytoNew Or‐leans.Theytook care of her (bodyguards).She found ajob at theinfa‐mousRoosevelt Hoteland loved it.Donis wasa mothertothree children; one sonand twodaugh‐ters. Doniswas preceded indeath by herparents Moses andIdelle Buckley; (1) sonJohnBuckley;(5) brothers: Otis,Leo,Jerry, Benny Charles, andHous‐ton Buckleyand (1)sister: Inas MaeVarnado.Her lov‐ing memories will always becherished by children: (2) daughters, Sheila Marie Buckley Simmons(Vin‐cent) of NewOrleans,La. and MarieBuckley of New Orleans,La.,(4) grandchil‐dren: Henryand Lamar Buckley,ToriCassidi Sim‐mons, andImari Jonquil Buckley Aaron(Stephen) of New Orleans, (4)great grandchildren:Charm,Ava, and StephenofNew Or‐leans.One brother, De Lois BuckleyofSt. Louis, MO

and(2) sisters, Dorothy Buckley Dillion of Magno‐lia,Mississippi andDeloris (Patty namedbyDonis) Buckley Taylor of NewOr‐leans;aunts, AliceBuckley Coleman andBobbieRuth McClendon,and ahostof nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend theFuneral Service on Saturday,March 28, 2026 at 1:00 pm at Pil‐grimRest#2B.C 2200 Louisiana Ave.,New Or‐leans,LA70115. Chaplain Zeal, Officiating. Visitation willbegin at 12:00 noon Burialwillbeprivate.Pro‐fessional arrangements entrusted to Majestic Mor‐tuary Service, Inc. (504) 523-5872.

Iris Lucy DeRouen Calogero,ofSlidell, Louisiana, passedaway peacefully on March17, 2026, at theage of 91. She wasbornonDecember21, 1934, in NewOrleans, Louisiana. Shewas daugh‐terofthe late PearlCyrus DeRouenand CharlesDeR‐ouen,and wasprede‐ceased by herbeloved hus‐band of 36 years, Robert G. Calogero Sr.Iris'smemory will be lovingly remem‐beredbyher threechil‐dren,Charles Calogero (JoAnn),Susan Guarisco (Michael), andRobert Calogero Jr.(Sherrie).She wasa proudgrandmother to Courtney Davis(Justin), Robert Calogero III (Stacy), KirstenNguyen(Dong), Mark Hammonds (Sarah), ChristopherCalogero (Cristie), CohenCalogero Joseph Guarisco (Katelyn), Matthew Guarisco,Amber Silver,and MicahSilver (Taylor) anda doting great-grandmotherof16 great-grandchildren. She wasthe adored sister of herdeceasedsiblings, Lurry DeRouen(Joyce) Edna MaeClement (Christy), GordyDeRouen (Joyce), Yola Navarre(Ted), andher living sister,Patri‐ciaLigon (James). Shealso leaves behind ahostofex‐tended family members andfriends,all of whom sheloved dearly.Iris'spro‐fessionallifewas marked by herroleasa Judicial Secretarywiththe LouisianaSupreme Court. Hercolleagueswillremem‐berher as apillarofpro‐fessionalism anda mentor to many until herretire‐ment in 2009. Awoman of deep faith, Iris wasa longtime parishionerofOur Lady of LourdesChurch, whereshe contributedher time andtalents to theSt. Joseph AltarCommittee. Shewas theproud founder of thePatriotic Altarin 2005, andwas recently honoredfor herdedication. Hercommitmenttoher church andcommunity wasrecognizedin2019, when shewas honored with TheOrder of St.Louis Awardbythe Dioceseof NewOrleans.Asa member of theLadiesofLiberty,Iris found joyinfellowshipand service. Shefound great peaceinpraying the Rosary with agroup she andher “Nine Lucky Ladies”founded more than 40 yearsago andlater ex‐tended to prayingthe Pa‐trioticRosaryfor more

than 20 yearsatSts.Peter andPaulChurch in Pearl River, LA.She lovedorga‐nizing andattendingsocial events,Saintsfootball par‐ties,visitstothe casino, andBingo at Summerfield Assisted Living.The family extendstheir heartfelt gratitudetothe many physicians andmedical staffwho caredfor Iris; SummerfieldAssisted Liv‐ingstaff; Passages Hos‐picestaff, Kendra and Scott; andher dedicated caregivers,Tina, Joyce, Monique, andShawanda. Relativesand friendsare invitedtoattend avisita‐tion on Sunday,March 22, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at AudubonFuneral Home in Slidell. TheLegion of Mary andclose friends will pray theRosaryat7:00 p.m. Asecondvisitation will be held on Monday, March23, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Our LadyofLourdes Church with aFuneralMassto beginat11:00 a.m. Iris will be laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery following Mass. In lieu of flowers, do‐nationsmay be made to theSt. Joseph AltaratOur Lady of LourdesChurch lo‐catedat400 Westchester Place, Slidell, LA 70458. Memories andcondo‐lences maybeexpressed at www.AudubonFuneralH ome.com.

Carol Murphy Canale, a native of NewOrleans and most recentlya residentof Woodstock, GA, passed away on March 14, 2026, at the age of 96. Belovedwife of thelateAnthonyJ Canale. Lovingdaughterof thelateHarringtonJohn Murphy and thelate Margaret Stenberg Murphy. Also preceded in death by herbrother, Harrington J. Murphy, Jr andsister,Myra M. Rousseau. Survivedbyher children, AndreaFilippi, David Canale (Marie), Paula Canale,and Brenda Leslie;grandchildren, Kaitlyn Fulmer(Reid), Alexandra Leslie,Isabella Canale, Graham Leslie,and Joseph Canale;greatgranddaughter, Addison Fulmer; sister,EileenM Thomas,brother,William H. Murphy,sister-in-law Ursula P. Murphy;and many nieces andnephews. Carol was born on June 3, 1929, and wasa life-long Catholic. Shewas aproud alumna of TheIncarnate Word School, St.Mary's Dominican High School (Classof1946), and St Mary'sDominican College (Classof1950). Shewas a former employee of Southern PacificRailroad anda retiredlegal secretaryfor the Texaco Legal Department in theNew Orleansoffice. Thefamilywishes to expressits gratitude to Nancy Parsons, Carol's companion, caregiver, and friendfor thelast ten years. Herassistance and dedication to ourMother enriched herfinal years. Additionally, the familyis thankfulfor thestaff at MerrillGardens of WoodstockAssisted Living for thecareand comfort

theyprovidedfor thepast twoyears. Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe Funeral Mass in thechapel of Lake LawnMetairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.inNew Orleans, on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 12:00PM. Avisitationwillbeheldatthe funeral home beginning at 10:00AM.Interment will follow theMass at Metairie Cemetery To read thefullobituary andsignthe online guest book, please visit LakeLawnMetairie.com

DeLargeJr.,Alton Anthony

AltonAnthony DeLarge, Jr.,age 77, aformerDirec‐tor of theSewerageand Water Board’sEconomi‐cally DisadvantagedBusi‐nessProgram andYouth AthleticCoach,passed peacefully from this life surrounded by hisloving familyonSaturday, March 14, 2026. Mr.DeLarge was bornonDecember23, 1948 tothe late Alton, Sr.and LolitaCourseaultDeLarge Heissurvivedbyhis loving wifeof44years,DesiDo‐bardDeLarge;three chil‐dren, Alton, III (Alyssa), Dane(Quinysha)and Blake Walters (Brenton); beloved grandchildren,Cayden, Aubrey, Autumn,Parker, Eva andSpencer;siblings, Wayne (Marie*) andKim (Bettye); father and mother-in-law,Frederick, Sr. andHazel St.Charles Dobard*;brothersand sis‐ters-in-law Frederick, Jr (Henrietta), Michael (Susan),Kevin (Wynette), Leanne Alvarez(Michael) Linda Frederick(Rivers III) and Patrick(Nevonda) Alsosurvivedbya host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, greatnephews, cousins,other relatives and friends. Altonwas a graduateofSt. Augustine HighSchool,Dillard Univer‐sityand received hisMas‐tersinPublicAdministra‐tionfromThe University of New Orleans. He wasa proud member of PhiBeta Sigma Fraternity,Inc.and The BunchClub. AMassof Christian burial honoring the life andlegacyofthe lateAlton AnthonyDe‐Large,Jr.,willbeheldatSt. Raymond/St. Leothe Great Catholic Church,2916 Paris Ave NewOrleans,LAon Tuesday,March 24, 2026 at 11am. IntermentMount OlivetCemetery, 2050 Caton St., NewOrleans,LA. Visitation10aminthe church.All who knew and loved Altonare invitedto attend.Inlieuof flowers, the familyrequestsdona‐tions to St.Augustine High School at staugnola.org. Be suretoinclude Alton’s nameinthe “Special In‐structions” box. Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581-4411

Calogero,Iris Lucy DeRouen

Canale, Carol Murphy

Buckley, DonisInez

RaymondPatrick Don‐ahueII, aproud NewOr‐leans native with an infec‐tious laughand aheart as big as hisbeloved city,was bornonJuly2,1946. He peacefullypassedinto eternal rest on Wednesday, March 18,2026, at theage of79, leavingbehinda legacyoflove, service, and unforgettable stories. Mr Donahue livedinGretna, LA. He wasthe cherished son of thelateRaymond Patrick Donahue Sr and Margy Moll Donahue.For 55devoted years, he was the loving husbandand steadfast partnerofAnn RosamanoDonahue.Ray‐mondwas adevoted father toHeather Ledoux,the late Raymond Donahue III, and Randy Donahue—a role he carried with deep pride and boundless affection. Hedelighted in thelaugh‐ter andadventuresofhis grandchildren:Santana Holland,Daryl AnnLedoux, Skylan Ledoux,RileyDon‐ahue,and ReaghanDon‐ahue,eachofwhomhelda special placeinhis heart. Raymond wasalsoa sup‐portive brothertoRay Ester Reismanand June Donahue Blackburn, andhe leavesbehinda circle of cousins,nieces, and nephews whoselives he touched with warmth and wisdom. Aman of deep faith andvibrant commu‐nityspirit, Raymondwas a memberofHolyNameof MaryChurch andproudly celebratedhis Irishher‐itage with theAlgiers Irish Association. Hisdedication toservice extended to his country;heservedhonor‐ablyinthe Navy as amem‐ber of Attack Squadron Eighty-One, earningthe NationalDefense Service Medal.After hismilitary service,Raymond found his callingonthe river, guiding vesselsasa Tug‐boatCaptain andEngineer atCrescentTowingfor 47 years,alwaysembracing the camaraderieand ex‐citementoflifeonthe water.Hefound joyin helping others—whether lending ahandtoa friend orvolunteeringinhis com‐munity—butnothing brought himmorehappi‐nessthangathering with his family, especially his beloved grandchildren, and sharing storiesthatin‐spiredlaughterand love.A celebration of Raymond’s remarkablelifewillbeheld onWednesday,March 25 2026, at Holy Name of Mary Church, 400 Vallette Street Algiers,LA. Lovedonesand friends areinvited to the visitationfrom9:30amto 11:00 am,followedbya fu‐neral Mass at 11:00 am.In‐terment will immediately followatWestlawnMemo‐rialPark, 1255Whitney Ave, Gretna, LA.Inlieuof flow‐ers,pleaseconsidera do‐nationtoKrewe de Pink (krewedepink.org),a char‐ity that raises awareness and fundsfor breast can‐cer research,a cause that was closetohomeand thathesupported with great enthusiasm.Mothe FuneralHomehas been en‐trusted with thearrange‐ments.The familyinvites you to shareyourfavorite stories,fondest memories, and heartfeltcondolences onlineatwww.MotheFu nerals.com.

JohnOllie Edmunds, Jr MD, 85, died peacefully at home in New Orleans on March 13, 2026. Dr. Edmunds was internationally known as ateacher lecturer, author, and pioneer of surgical procedures and medical software. He practiced medicine for forty-four years before retiring in 2015 as Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery at Tulane University Schoolof Medicine. Known to most as "Ollie," Dr. Edmunds was born to Emily Caroline Bryant Edmunds and J. Ollie Edmunds, Sr. in Jacksonville, Florida on September 18, 1940. He spent his early years in

Deland, Floridawherehis father was presidentof Stetson University. After graduating from WoodberryForest High School in Virginia, Dr. Edmunds attended Washington and Lee University for two years, wherehewas amemberof Beta Theta Pi before transferringtoStanford University, whereheobtaineda bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. He then spent ayearat Regent's Park Collegeat the University of Oxford. He was an avid wrestler during highschool and college.In1967,hegraduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine and started his internship at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans,wherehe met his future wife, Karen Ann Oser. They later married in New Orleanson April 11, 1970 In 1968,Dr. Edmunds went to Naval AirStation Pensacola for training as a flight surgeon.Hewas thenstationedatNaval Air Station NewYork. He also workedatSt. Albans Naval Hospitaltaking careofsoldiersreturning from Vietnam. After the Navy, he set course forDuke University, wherehecompleted residenciesingeneral surgeryand orthopaedic surgery, in addition to afellowship in hand and microvascular surgery In 1976,Dr. Edmunds movedhis familyback to Karen'shometown of New Orleans, where he joined the faculty at Tulane Universityinthe Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.Dr. Edmunds served as the ChiefofHand and Upper Extremity Surgeryat Tulane University Medical Center, Charity Hospitalof NewOrleans, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center of NewOrleans. After HurricaneKatrina, Dr. Edmunds workedfor several years at the Veterans Affairs MedicalCenterof Nashville and served as a Visiting Professor of Orthopaedic Surgeryat Vanderbilt University Medical School Dr. Edmunds was a Fellowofthe American Orthopaedic Association and the American College of Surgeons. He was apast president of the Southern Orthopaedic Association and the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association. He was also amemberof theeditorial boardofthe Journal of the Southern Orthopaedic Association and laterthe Journal of SurgicalOrthopaedic Advances. He was especially known for surgical procedures of the thumb basaljointand hemophiliac joint replacement. Countless patientsappreciated his kindness and compassion. Dr. Edmunds also designedmedical softwareasChairman of Aesculapius Technologies. After his father's death, Dr.Edmunds became ChairmanofGualala Redwoods, Inc., managing timbernorth of San Francisco,inSonoma and Mendocino counties. He was also amemberof AbitaSpringsTimber Company, L.L.C.inSt. TammanyParish Dr.Edmunds and his sister,Jane Edmunds Novak, co-foundedthe J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholarship Program at Stetson University,inhonor of their father.Since 1997,the full-scholarship program has funded dozens of "Edmunds Scholars" to attend Stetson. In 2022, Stetson UniversityawardedDr. Edmundsanhonorarydoctorate. He lovedthe New Orleans Saintsand popcorn. On his way home from work,hewouldoften stop at the Prytania Theatre—just to buy the popcorn. He also lovedto sing. With his deepvocal range, he sangbassinthe choir at the Tulane CatholicCenterduring Sunday mass. Whilein Nashville afterKatrina, he sang in the choir at Cathedral of the Incarnation. Personally, he was most proud of his talented and beautiful family. Hisloving wifeof55years, Karen Oser Edmunds, is an artist. "Happiness is beingmarried to your best friend," he used to say. Professionally,Dr. Edmundswas most proud of the generations of medical students he taught, including the approximately 250 Tulane orthopaedic residentshetrained over four decades. He was awarded the Outstanding Orthopaedic Faculty Teacher AwardatTulane in 1981 and 1996,and the Spartacus Maximus Award in 2011.

Dr.Edmunds is survived by his wife,Karen; his childrenAnne (Ernie) Aguirre of Nashville;John (Rachel) Edmunds and their children, Julian& Rosieof

Rutherford,NJ; Caroline (Ryan) Purdyof Maplewood, NJ;and Chris (Cristina) Edmunds and their children, Oscar & Arabella of NewOrleans; and his sister, Jane (Wayne)EdmundsNovak of Atlantic Beach, FL. Dr. Edmunds' family is beyond grateful forDr. Mark Berenson, Hospice SpecialistsofLouisiana, and thewonderfulcaretakers who served himselflessly during the final years of his life,especially Renaldo, Nicole,Sherlita, and Taylor

Visitation willbeheldon Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 10 a.m. -12p.m.at Holy Name of Jesus Church in NewOrleans, directly followedbya funeral mass at Noon. The mass will be live-streamedat https://hnjchurch.org.

Interment services willbe private. In lieu of flowers, thefamily requests donations to theOllie Edmunds Research and Education Fund at Tulane University Orthopaedics at https://tin yurl.com/mwuscn4 or the charity of your choice.

GaspardWatts, Patricia Ann

PatriciaAnn Gaspard Watts, January 29, 1942 February 28, 2026. Patricia Ann Gaspard Watts, alifelong resident of 7thWard NewOrleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, at theage of 84. BornonJanuary 29, 1942, in NewOrleans, Pat was thebeloved daughter of Leda (Goins) Gaspard and George"Pops" Gaspard. She wasraisedin aclose-knit family and carried those strong valuesof faith, service, and dedication throughout her life

Patreceivedher early education at Xavier Preparatory High School and went on to attend XavierUniversity of Louisiana, where she graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Hereducationlaid thefoundation fora lifetime of meaningful work and servicetoothers.

Her careerwas defined by her commitment to public service. Patbegan her professional journeyin Washington, D.C., working with theDepartment of Labor and theDefense Intelligence Agency.Upon returning to NewOrleans, she continuedher work in servicetoher community throughvarious roleswith theCity of NewOrleans, NewOrleans Public Schools, theUrban League of NewOrleans, and the Small Business Administration. She later dedicatedseveral decades to theUnitedStates Postal Service,from which she retired in 2005. Her colleagues and communityremember her as diligent dependable, and deeply committed to helping others.

Beyond her professional life,Pat found joyincooking traditional New Orleans cuisine,bringing family and friends together around thetable withher flavorful dishes. She was also an activemember of theLouisiana Créole Research Association, affectionately known as "La Créole,"where she embracedand celebrated her cultural heritage.

Patriciawas preceded in death by her parents Georgeand LedaGaspard and her sisterinlaw Rena HGaspard.She leavesthe following surviving family members to cherish her memory: Her beloved brotherWilfred Gaspard and his daughter Casandra Gaspard, her sons, Ruben (Angie), Marcus (Diantha), and AlvinIII;and her cherishedgrandchildren, Joshua, Marcus II,John Geronimo, Myles, Zachary, Abigail, Nathan, and Maia. She willbedeeplymissed by allwho knew and loved her.

Pat's life was atestament to service, family, and culturalpride. Her legacy willliveoninthe livesshe touched and the love she shared.A memorial servicewillbeheldfrom 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on 2026-03-24 at Charbonnet Labat Glapion, 1615 St Philip St.

Impastato, Mary LeeLasano

Mary LeeLasanoImpas‐tatowas called home to the Lord on Monday,March 16, 2026, at theage of 93 Beloved wife of deceased husband,Frank A. Impas‐tato, Jr daughter of the latePauline Lasano,sister ofthe late Felix Nasoli. Lov‐ing mother of four children, MarcImpastato (Bonnie), the late Gary Impastato (Julie, deceased), Neil Im‐pastato,and FrankA.Im‐pastato,III (Christine). Grandmother of four,Gary Impastato, Jr., Rebecca Im‐pastato,Katie LeeImpas‐tato, andFrank A. Impas‐tato, IV.She wasa loving mother, devotedtoher family, friendsand neigh‐borsand waspassionate about herfaith.She also had astrongaffection for animals.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tenda FuneralMassat Greenwood FuneralHome, 5200 CanalBlvd.,New Or‐leans,LA70124 on Thurs‐day,March 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. In‐terment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.To viewand sign thefamily Guest Book,visit www greenwoodfh.com.Inlieu ofsending flowers, please considerdonatingtothe Louisiana SPCA

Alfred Paul JirovecJr. of St.BernardParish passed away on March 17, 2026 at theage of 83. He was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Kathleen Hilbert Jirovec; parentsAlfredP Jirovec, Sr.and Margaret GioeJirovec; sisterMary Badinger(Jack, Sr.); belovedin-lawsCharlie and Louise Wilbert; and longtime companionJoan Meyer He is survivedbyhis only son, Alfred P. JirovecIII; brother FredJirovec (Cindy); and many nieces and nephews. Al was born and raised in Chalmette,Louisiana and graduated from Chalmette HighSchool Class of 1961. He went on to servehis country proudly in theUnited States Air Force from 1961 to 1965. After his service, Al became one of the familiar faces of thecommunity as theowner of Al's Pizza. He took pride in serving others and was an active member of Our Ladyof Prompt SuccorCatholic Church, whereheserved faithfullyasanusherfor many years. Hisfaith extendedfurther throughhis long membershipinthe Knights of Columbus, RummelCouncil5747.

Outside of workand church, he enjoyed flying seaplanes, had adeeplove forantique cars and gave out gold dollars. He willbegreatly missed.

Avisitationwillbeheld forAlonTuesday, March 24, 2026, from10:00 AM12:00 PM,atOur Lady of Prompt SuccorCatholic Church in Chalmette,followed by afuneralmass at noon.Hewillbelaid to eternal rest at St.Bernard Memorial Gardensimmediatelyafter Mass. AcelebrationofAl'slifewillbe held at theKnightsof Columbus Hall,2107 Paris Road,Chalmette.Inlieuof flowers,pleaseconsider havingMassessaidinAl's memory. To view and signthe Family Guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemo rial.com

Krimerman M.D., Eleanor

Eleanor 'Ellie Krimerman,M.D. 85, of NewOrleans,diedon December 13, 2025, in TouroInfirmaryNew Orleansfollowinga long illness.

Shewas born on September 15, 1940 to Sylvia and Gerald Jones in Ithaca, NewYork.

Krimerman wasa psychiatrist,and held degrees in English Literaturefrom Columbia University, and in Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1969. Shecompletedher internship and residency at LSUMedical Center andCharity Hospital in 1973.

Shehad aprivatepsychiatric practice in Uptown NewOrleans for more than 40 years, andservedonthe facultiesofseveral local hospitals.

ShemarriedLeonard Krimerman,and they were divorcedin1969.

Krimerman waspreceded in death by herparents, many friends andrelatives, and by herbeloveddog Murphy.

Cremation hastaken place, andKrimerman will be interned in Memorial GardensinNew Port Richy, Florida, whereher parents lieinrest.A benchwithher name will be installed for visitors.

Shewas adevoted animal loverall herlife. She bequeathed herestate primarily to horsesand other animals.

Donationsinher memory canbesenttothe Louisiana SPCA.

Kleinfeldt Lubritz and Aaron Lubritz andsisters, Ennis Kops andMildred Covert. Abeisalso survived by hissons, DannyLubritz andGregg Lubritz;and grandchildren, Asher Sophi, Taylor,and Brad Lubritz.Abe is also survived by hissister,Celia Lubritz Katz; niece, Diane Africk; nephews, Stephen Katz, John Kops, and MartinCovert; andtheir families. Relativesand friends are invited to attenda memorial service at 1:00 p.m.,Monday, March 23, 2026 at Temple Sinai, 6227 St Charles Ave, New Orleans. Visitation willbegin at 12:30 p.m. prior to theservice To view andsignthe familyonline guestbook andshare yourmemories of Abe, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com In lieu of flowers, memorialsmay be made to St.Jude Children's ResearchHospital or a charity of yourchoice

Frances VellaMartinez, acherished mother,grandmother, and pillar of the Prescott, Arizona, community, passedawaypeacefully on March 7, 2026, surroundedbyher daughters Shewas 99. Born in NewOrleans Frances wasdeeply influencedbythe city's musical soul. By sixteen, she was performingwith theNew OrleansOpera, sparkinga lifelongpassion for the performing arts. After graduating from Loyola University with a degree in Medical Technology, Francesbegan working at Louisiana State University School of Medicine.Itwas thereshe met thelove of herlife, Evaristo "Bub" Martinez. They marriedin1954 and welcomedtwo daughters, Jaime Leeand Vella, before health reasons prompted a move to Prescottin1961. Though Frances famously gave away her"fancy clothes" expectinga quiet desert life, sheinstead thrived,welcoming athird daughter, Marianna,and becoming acornerstone of Prescott'sculturalscene Adevoted member of SacredHeart Catholic Church,Francesbalanced herdeep faithwitha vibrant publiclife. Shewas a foundingmember of the PrescottArt Docents, afrequentperformer in local melodramasand musicals, and aco-founder of the PrescottFriends of Arizona Opera. Herartisticspirit extendedtogardening, doll making, and fine china painting.Yet,her foundation remained herlove of God.

AbeDaniel Lubritzof Covington,LAwas a beloved father andgrandfather.Hewas born on September 29, 1934, in New OrleanstoSadie Kleinfeldt Lubritz andAaron Lubritz. AbeattendedNewman School andgraduatedfrom Bell BuckleMilitary Academy in Tennessee whereheplayedmultiple sports. After high school, Abegraduatedfromthe University of Alabama with abusiness degree,before returningtoNew Orleans to work in the familybusiness. Abewas special to all whoknewhim. He is rememberedfor hislove of bridge andbooks. He loved sportsand watchinghis belovedAlabama, Tulane, LSU, andSaints. He looked forward to TheNCAA BasketballTournamenteveryyear.Hewas an active member of TheNorthshore Jewish Congregation Abewas preceded in death by hisparents, Sadie See more

Frances wasknown for herunmistakable styleand grace—ablend of New Orleanseleganceand her love of all things beautiful. Shewas preceded in death by herhusbandof46 years, Evaristo;her parents Frank and Paola Vella; hersiblings Joseph Vella, Rosalie Pinke, Antoinette

'Ellie'

Martinez, Frances Vella

Jirovec, AlfredPaul

Lubritz, Abe Daniel

DEATHS, page

Edmunds Jr., J. Ollie

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Make sure benefits of theMeta data center last

It’sgood to see the recentsurge ineconomic activity in northeast Louisiana, spurredmainly by the ongoing construction of Meta’s new $30 billion data center in Richland Parish.

The staggering scale and ambition ofthe projectisalready paying dividendsfor thesurrounding communities, including the citiesof Monroe and West Monroe, located aboutahalfhour drive to thewest.

The region, which has at different timesbeen the home of Delta Air Lines, CenturyLink telecommunicationscompany andone of the first Coca-Cola bottling plants in thecountry,has in recent decadesendured steadydeclineasmanufacturing and agricultural jobs ebbedaway. Now,however,asthis newspaper’sStephanie Riegel discovered on arecent reporting trip,the data center has lifted thecountenance of many in the community

“It is the best thing thathas ever happenedto this area,” local developer Larry Culp told Riegel, “It is going to transform the area.”

Culp is seeing it firsthand. Newarrivals are leasing townhomes as fast as hecan buildthem in asuburb about 10 miles northofMonroe. Of the 64 already built, all are leased. About50of those are for contractors working forMeta, he told Riegel. The rents Culp is charging —from $1,900 to $2,100 —would not beout of place in much larger cities.

The hospitality sector is seeing thebenefits, too. Hotels are booked solid;restaurants are slammed every night. One restaurateur caters 250 meals out to the job siteevery day. But not every part of the cityisgettinginon the action. State Rep. Pat Moore, D-Monroe, who represents apoorer part of thecity,said little has been seen there.

“The ones that need it most aren’tfeeling it,” shetoldRiegel.

Meta’smassive project wasalways pitchedas transformational, and that mayhave been undersellingit. But with that vast potential comes vast responsibilityfor stateand localleadersto ensure that the current boon is spreadevenly.

That’s where hard worklies ahead. Right now, the region is drinking from theoverflowingcup of amassive constructionproject with workers, contractors and subcontractors in droves.When that work is done, the datacenter will employ far fewer than it took to build it

But the economic growthithas spurredmust continue well past this phase. The people leasing Culp’s townhomes say they’ll bearound for seven, perhaps eight years. Others aresaying companiesare making 20-year commitments to the city.That’sgood to hear Louisiana has gone all in ondata centers: Already there are similar,thoughsmaller,such facilities planned for the Shreveport regionand West Feliciana Parish.

As the Meta center shows, therewards, even in the short term, can be great. Butifstate and local leadersdon’thandle it well, thisboom too could go bust.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Pray forpeace in theMiddleEast

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

The Scriptural mandateseems appropriategiven recent events in Iran: theU.S.-Israelistrikes and especially the demise of the supremeleader of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. When violence explodes in one area of the Middle East, the whole region can become apowder keg. Andthere are innocent casualties. This is the exhausting, terrifying, maddening reality for the long-suffering persecuted Christians (andother religious minorities) in Iraq. It didn’ttake long for presumably Iranian proxies to launch adrone-strike attack on aCatholic Church residence in Erbil.

contributed to the National Review Online when Iwas editor of the website. He dedicated his professional life to encouraging Iranian dissidentsand freedom lovers —his typicalsign-offtoapiece or blog post on Iran were the words “Faster,please,” encouraging the U.S. to do something to help liberate the country

“The Iranian people have been standingfor their own liberty for many years, as demonstrated by the terrible record of carnage they have suffered at the hands of the regime,” Ledeen wrote in apiece with that plea in the headline in 2005.

The residence was mostly empty it had been evacuated in the wake of theinitial strikes on Iran as aprecautionary measure, as it is located very near theErbil International Airport Butaconvent was also damaged. Now,please don’tget me wrong —I am moved by thepowerful images of Iranians around the world, and maybe especially in Tehran —celebrating the possibilitythat they will not always live under the tyranny they have suffered.

Andyet Icannot stop thinking of my friend Michael Ledeen, who died last year.Heworked in theReagan administration and was alongtime fellow at theAmerican Enterprise Institute. He

Even with increasing tensions and uncertaintyaround theworld, many readersstill want to discuss matterscloser to home. And despite thefocus on national politicians,the truth is thatmayors, citycouncils and school boards affect most people’slives moredirectly When trash isn’tpicked up, water service is interrupted, aschool closes or roads aren’t fixed, it creates real issues for everyday citizens.

“Hundreds of democracy advocates are being tortured in Iran’s prisons. Tens of thousands have been killed in thepast six years, beginning with the massmurders of protesters in 1989. Public executions are commonplace, and women are routinely executed by stoning.

“Iranians believe that nothing of consequence can happen in the world without American support,” Michael told me in 2007. “Millions of Iranians have protested against theregimeand called for its downfall, but no country outside Iran has supported them.If Bushwere to stand up and say: ‘We want regimechange in Iran,’ Ithink there would be afundamental change in the world, including inside Iran.”

Nowmay be the time. But the U.S. and the Western media must be cautious. The outcome isn’tclear,and the road to anew way will not be as easy as someeuphoric social media videos suggest. Think of the Arab Spring in Egypt and the freedom revolution that wasn’t. Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil emphasizes that the region “does not need another war. Our children deserve stability.Our families deserve peace. Ordinary people have paid too high aprice forconflicts they never chose.” Asking forpeace, he also says: “Whenever state weakens, minorities sufferasnon-state actors (militias, sectarian groups, extremist movements) fill the vacuum History has shownthis repeatedly, from ancient times to now.The true protection forminorities is astrong state governed by the rule of law.” Noneofusknow how this is going to end. Iremember one of the best pieces of advice Michael ever gave me: “Lopez, they do not give awards for getting things wrong first.” It’s better to pray than pontificate as armchair generals. Pray forpeace, pray forstability,and forbasic human rights and dignity to be respected. And remember the Christians who, if history is any indicator,will suffermore.

Email Kathryn JeanLopez at klopez@nationalreview.com.

So, in addition tothe letters we get on national politics, Iappreciatethose readers who writeinresponse to local issues. It may be easier toget theattention of local officials by writing to thelocal paper as well. We know many elected politiciansonthe local level keep aclose eye on the paper to see what informed residents are talking about.

While there aremany outlets for communityconversation thesedays,welike

to think thatour forum attracts those who aremostactively engaged in and knowledgeable about what’sgoing on in their community We also like to get guest columns from local officials in the paper.Weknow they have their ears to the ground on issues that people in the community care about. Many wanttokeep thelines of communication open with their constituents or let the public know that they are working on addressing aproblem Sometimes after adifficult decision or apublic outcry,localofficials want to explain their reasoning to the public. Somelong-running issues that are particular pain points forresidents can’tbeaddressed overnight. But we hope that if you feel frustrated by what’sgoing on in yourcommunity and want to draw attention to that, you will write to us. The issue may not get immediate

action, but if enough people write, it might get on the agenda. They say you can’tfight city hall. But maybe, if you send aletter,you can get city hall to listen.

Turning to our letters inbox forthe week of March 12, we had awide variety of topics this week, but it was a local issue that drew the mostconcern. The discussion surrounding raising trash fees in NewOrleans prompted four letters. Aside from that, there werethree letters on the Iran crisis and three from readers whopointed out an error in the print edition where an article was duplicated. And several topics were the subject of two letters, including the shortage of workers forcrawfish processing plants, the partial government shutdownand the SAVE Act.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor.Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com

Arnessa Garrett

Kathryn Jean Lopez

COMMENTARY

Kennedyand CassidymustrejectMullin

As of March 18, there is now an acid test for whether Louisiana Republicans Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy areserioussenators.

The test is this: If they vote to confirm their fellow Republican senator Markwayne Mullinof Oklahoma, to be the new Secretary of Homeland Security,then they aren’t serious.Period and end of story.They should find another line of work.

zones that he can’t discuss, Mullin has quite ahistory of reveling in the idea of violence. In one infamousincident,heeven rose from hisdeskata Senatehearing and challengeda union official to apublic fight right then and there.

violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force.”

When one of the many good reasons the job is open in thefirst place is thatthe prior occupant of that office, Kristi Noem, encouraged and excused outlandish violence and thuggishness from poorly trained immigration officers, the last thing the nation needs as her replacement isa thuggish hothead who encourages and excuses excessive violence. But that’swhat and who Mullin is. Aformer mixed-martialartsfighter who repeatedly has claimed that, whileinCongress, he did secret missions in war

In Mullin’sMarch 18 confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Oklahoman immediately cameunder attack from fellow Republican Committee Chairman RandPaul of Kentucky.Paul described in horrifying detail the incidentwhere aneighbor attacked himfrom the blindside, cracked six of his ribs andpunctured hislung, leading to two boutsof pneumonia,longhospital stays and excruciating pain.

In thewake of that incident, Paul recounted, “You told themediathatIwas a‘freaking snake’ andthat you completely understood why Ihad been assaulted.”

“I just wonder,” Paul continued, “ifsomeonewho applauds

Mullin, astonishingly,refused to offer even ahint of regret: “I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character.” Bizarrely,Mullin later asserted that “dueling, with two consenting adults, is still there” as alegitimate way to resolve differences.

To which, Paul correctly noted that dueling “has been illegal for 170 years.”

Alsorecalling another time Mullin said, “people just need to be punched in theface,” Paul scorched the nominee for having obvious “anger issues.”

Those are just afew examples of Mullin’sdiscreditable behavior

Andall of this is for anominee who, aside from his tough-guy histrionics and claimsabout secret quasi-military missions, has done almost nothing to distinguish himself in 13 years of public office.

There is no way,not even re-

motely,that Mullin is the right choice to steady the course of theDepartment of Homeland Security. The entire reason the Senateisasked to vote yea or nay on Cabinet nominations is, in the words of Alexander Hamilton, “to prevent the appointment of unfit characters.” Senators have aduty to do just that. In thepast, neither Louisiana senator has distinguished himself by judicious use of this crucial duty. Neither Kennedy nor Cassidy opposed araft of horrible Trumpnominees last year.Neither one, forexample, opposed thenow-departed Joe Kent as director of theNational Counterterrorism Center even though the extremely pro-Russian Kent also long has been widely condemned for what reasonably can be described as anti-Semitic blatherings. Neither Cassidy nor Kennedy opposed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., notorious forsniffing cocaine off of toilet seats and foradetermination to topple the nation’s vaccine regimens, as secretary of Health and Human Services.

Neither opposed the oft-inebriated, flagrant womanizer Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense. Neither opposed the pro-Russian, pro-Syrian demagogue Tulsi Gabbard as director of National Intelligence, or the ethically challenged Pam Bondi as attorney general, or the wildly unqualified Kash Patel as director of the FBI.

In sum,intheir role of deciding on “advice and consent” for presidential appointments, both Kennedy and Cassidy have surrendered their “consent” like subservient serfsafraid of angering their feudal lord.

Now is the timefor both of them to abandon their self-imposed serfdom and announce themselves not just as freemen, but as one of only 100 people in the country with the authority and duty to stop giving key government jobs to people of unfit character It is their job to oppose nominees of Markwayne Mullin’silk. Senators, do your jobs.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Whyare Senate candidates debating whethertodebate?

Deep into his weeklytelephone Q&A with reporters lastweek,

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy saidsomething that was probably more revealing than he’d intended.

The subject was Cassidy’scall for his opponents in the May16 Republican primary—specifically

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow —toparticipate in televised debates, and my colleague Tyler Bridges was asking him about his own refusalto debate his opponents when he last ran for reelection in 2020.

“I was going to win that race,” he said. “Frankly, that’sa [race] where a debate would not have made adifference.”

sidywas once on the cutting edge of thesort of political change that could nowsweep him right out of office.

Considerhow,12yearsago, he swept in by taking out an accomplishedincumbent.

thatlinking Landrieu to thenPresident Barack Obama at every opportunity would workthat he didn’tdomany debates.And again, he was right

practices that older brand of politicsinBaton Rouge and who backs Cassidy’sreelection, recently put it:

lives.

Ican’tendorse the sentiment but I’ll give Cassidy this: He wasright not to worry.Just six short years ago, his party ID, incumbency and rising seniority were more than enough to get him reelected without breaking asweat.

How quaint that confidence looks from the perspective of 2026.

And how ironic, given that Cas-

Backthen, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu represented adying breed in the Senate: She was aDemocrat who still wonelections —albeit narrowly— after her state had shiftedwell intoRepublicanterritory in national politics. She did it by rising in the ranks while focusing relentlessly on stateneeds, including appropriations, and sidingwith Democratsonmany nationalissuesbut leveraging her vote on closecalls.

Cassidy’schallenge to her amounted to areality check. By 2014 Senate elections around the country werehinging much more on nationalparty alignment than on localconcerns, and voters were growing less willingtosplit their votesbetween parties.

In fact, Cassidywas so confident

One morething about 2014: I remember asking Cassidy why Louisiana would want to give up thatfocus on state concerns.He told me that it wouldn’t, thathe would do the same thing,but as a Republican. And at times he did, including withthe massive 2021 infrastructure bill, when he worked with congressionalDemocrats and President Joe Biden to bring home investmentsoneverything from broadband to flood mitigation, even as all his Louisiana Republican colleagues —Letlow included —voted no. Under the rulesof2014 or even 2020, accomplishments like that, on topofhis seniorityand committeeassignments and even amajor chairmanship, would be enough to protect any Republican in this redstate.Inthe eyes of some,they still are.

Here’show state Senate President Cameron Henry,who still

“He’s on Finance, he’sthe chair of Health. Imean, those are monumental things for Louisiana. That is very difficult to replace. And he’sinthe group that can negotiate. The group in the middle is the one that’snegotiated the best stuff in Louisiana,” Henry said.

And yet, like Landrieu, Cassidy tooisatriskofbeing consigned to history —ifnone of that matters anymore, if all that does matter is how loyal aRepublican is to the current Republican president.

Certainly Cassidy understands thatthe new rules put him at adisadvantage.

Afterhefollowed his conscience and voted to convict then exPresident Donald Trump in his second impeachment in 2021, Cassidy came crawling back into the Trump tent in humiliating fashion, even when it meant providing the key vote for aHealth and Human Services secretary who is out to undermine the vaccines that Cassidy,asa physician, knows save

Treasurer John Fleming understands the new rules, too. AformerTrump aide who failed to win the president’snod, Fleming has abillboard in Baton Rouge showing the two of them side-by-side anyway It’sLetlow who’sfollowing the front-runner strategy this time. She’sthe one who hasthe president’sendorsement. She’sthe one who is ducking television debates, proposing instead to appear only on afriendly radio show hosted by Cassidy critic Moon Griffon. She’s the one who is acting as confident in her theory of the election —that Trump’sendorsement trumps all —asCassidy wasin2014 and 2020 of his. Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’sgot more to tell the voters about her own views and priorities and philosophy of the job than simply “He’swith me.” Youknow what would be agood wayfor her to start? Agree to debate.

EmailStephanieGrace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

In trademarkcase, abig winfor TheG,GramFam

Martin Lemelle was walking the Grambling State University campus, not as acollege student but as astudent enrolled at GSU’s lab school, when GramblingState first sought federal trademark recognition for the famous“G” symbol associated with one of the nation’smost legendary HBCUs.He was 14. Steve Favors was president. Today,Martin Lemelleis president. That was the late 1990s. Ablack-and-white example of The Gwas submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The design wasn’tincolor,and it too closely resembled theGused by the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. The University of Georgia’sGlooked awfully similar, too. The federal office rejected the request.“The black and gold That’sGrambling,” Penya Moses, university vice president of administration and business affairs, told me. Moses graduated from GSU. She knew legendary football Eddie “Coach Rob” Robinson. She played for PatriciaCage-Bibbs, atwo-timehead women’sbasketball coach at GSU and aseventime SWAC coachofthe year.As an attorney withtax and whitecollar experience and astint as New Orleans city attorney,she’s seen alot. But nothing likethis This was professional and per-

sonal.

Grambling State has fought to rein in fake Grambling StateUniversity merchandise, fakeGSU eventbrandingand other fake G uses.

There are lots of estimates and guesstimates about the value. Somesay it could mean GSU gettingasmuch as $5 million. That number alone would make it abig deal.

Grambling State’sGramFam, a registered trademark, has long said the universityis aplace “Where everybody is somebody.” Everybody maybesomebody,but not anyold or young somebody should capitalize on the institution’sbrand. IwenttoHampton. I’m a proud HU pirate. Ilove my “home by the sea.” ButI’ve never gotten thesame reaction traveling through airports with Hampton gearasIget when Iwear The G, apparel Ipicked up during my tenure atthe northern Louisiana school afew years ago. Lots of peopleknow that G. Honestly, sometimes people look at the G letter and its contours and don’t seecolor

They ask whether Iwent to Georgia, and sometimes ask whether I’m aPackers fan. Neither is true. Who Dat!

Grambling State won federal trademark recognition earlier this month by negotiating with thePackers and the NFL and Georgia. Idon’tknow thespecifics of the“amicable” shared agreement Moses said was reached.I knowI agreed with Moses when she said, “This is a bigdeal.”

There are other HBCUs with big brands. Hampton University’s brand includes reflex blue, or Hampton blue, and white. Howard University’sbrand includes indigo or Bison blue, red and white. Hampton has Petey the Priate as itsmascot.. Howard is represented by abison, honoring theBlack Buffalo soldiers.They are “The Mecca.”

Both use “HU.”Both have students, faculty, staff, fans and supporters calling their institution “The Real HU.” Iwent to Hampton Institute, before it changed to Hampton Universityin1984, reflecting higher academic excellence and stronger research as ahigher education institution. My alma mater will never be “The Real HU” in my eyes. Maybe it’s“The Better HU.” The Real HU? That’s acultural distinction debated across affinity lines. Only afederal registration decision can settle that one. Grambling State is one of the biggest HBCU brands. Others include FloridaA&M StateUniversity, North Carolina A&T State University,Jackson State University(especially since Deion Sanders was there), Morehouse College and Spelman College. Southern Universityisinthe mix,

as are Jackson State University and Prairie View A&M University, especially in this region. In our HBCU world, brand is morethan institutional. It’s cultural. It certainly makes forsome showin’ out at HBCU homecomings, on campus and off. Favorssaw branding issues during his vice presidencies at Howard University and the UniversityofNew Orleans. He was GSU’spresident from 1998-2001. It’sbeen 25 years since he was president. Today,Favors is an honors college professor at Grambling State, and The Gissue has been

resolved. After decades of pushing to makethis happen, it’sgood to see Grambling State reach an amicable resolution with others wholay claim to aG.Based on what Iknow,this is an example of how key institutions can reach consensus to get to apoint where everybody can be somebody,benefiting financially while featuring, promoting and swagging with The G. This is abig deal, forGrambling State, HBCUsand Louisiana. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com

Quin Hillyer

Stephanie Grace

Will Sutton

remain well-above average,rising into the low80s.Dew point temperatures remainlow,sohumidity will hardly be noticeable. Most of the south shoreisunder either an extreme or severe drought and, with rain chances remainingatzero, those conditions will likely expand. ForTulane baseball fans,the weather will be great with sunshine andwarmth.

Savarese, and Rosemary Perrone. She is survived by her daughters, Jaime Gipe, VellaAustin, and Mara Loftus; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Her legacy of art, faith, and family continues to enrich the lives of all who knew her AFuneral Masswas heldonMarch 19, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with interment following at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.

Reuter,AudreyWelty

Ernest Powell, Jr (Poochie, Cool Breeze) transitionedonThursday, March 12, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia at theage of 79 Husband of thelate LeeNoraHudsonPowell. Son of thelateErnestPow‐ell,Sr. andMelvina Good‐man Powell. Father of Glenn Powell,Sr(Dwanda), KemberlyPowellJohnson (Darrell, Sr), andAshley PowellFrancisco (Ricky). Brother of WandaP.Get‐tridge(Ronald), LindaPow‐ell andthe late William Powelland WendellPowell. Alsosurvivedby9 grand‐kids, 2great grandkidsand a host of nieces,nephews, cousins,and otherrela‐tives andfriends.Family and friendsare invitedto attendthe Celebrationof LifeService on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, for10:00 a.m.atThe Boyd Family Fu‐neral Home,5001Chef Menteur Hwy, NewOr‐leans,LA70126. Visitation willbegin at 9:00 a.m. NO FINAL VIEWING. ElderIndia Dyer, officiating. Interment willfollowatRestlawn Cemetery, 3540 US-90, Avondale, LA.Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditi onbegins.com(504)2820600. Linear BrooksBoyd

Audrey WeltyReuter passedawaypeacefully on March13, 2026, at age98. Shewas thedaughterof Paul M. Weltyand Una GaricWelty,who prede‐ceased her. Shewas also predeceasedbyher belovedhusband,James V. Reuter,Jr.,and hersister, BeverlyWelty Sarrat.She is survived by hersons, James. V. Reuter,III (Jewel), Paul (Michelle), andBryan (Donna), her grandchildren, EliseMc‐Mullen(Kyle), Claire Özoral (Cemal), Paul Reuter,Jr. (Alexandria) James Reuter,IV, Christopher Reuter (Eileen), Caroline Barry (Gregory),and StephanieBrake (Simon), and hergreat grandchil‐dren,Audrey, Clark, Lillian, andJuliette McMullen, Olivia Özoral,Liam, Parker, andRhett Reuter,Wilfred Nicholas,Patrick,Ruth, and Adelaide Reuter,Genevieve and AnthonyBarry,and Isaac Brake. She graduated from St.Joseph’sAcademy in New Orleans, Classof 1945, and organizedthe yearly classreunions. Au‐drey wasa parishionerof St.Dominic Parish for many yearsand wasa Eu‐charisticminister, amem‐berofthe Rosary AltarSo‐ciety, anda member of the St.Dominic Dames. She wasa foundingmember andactivelyinvolvedin NAIM.She laterbecamea parishionerofSt. Angela MericiParishwhere sheat‐tended dailyMass. Forsev‐eral years, shewas on the Boardofthe OneMetairie PlaceCondominium Asso‐ciation. Shewas always humble, building up others withoutseekingpersonal attentionorrecognition Sheenjoyed spending time with herfamilyand with hercondo friendsatOne Metairie Place. Shepartic‐ularly looked forwardto herannualvacation to the GrandHotel in PointClear with herextendedfamily. In lieu of flowers, thefam‐ilyrequestsa donation to

St.AngelaMericiChurch or St.Dominic Church.Rela‐tivesand friendsare in‐vitedtoattenda Funeral Mass at JacobSchoen& SonFuneral Home,3827 CanalStreet,New Orleans, LA 70119, on Monday, March23, 2026 at 12:30 pm with public visitation be‐ginningat10:00 am.Inter‐mentwillfollowthe Mass andtakeplace at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, 5454 PontchartrainBlvd.,New Orleans, LA

Schaefer,Marguerite DorothyMetzler 'MawMaw'

On Tuesday, March17, 2026, at theage of 93, our beautiful mother and grandmother,Marguerite Dorothy MetzlerSchaefer, known as DorothyMae Schaeferand better known asMawMaw, finished her raceand crossedfromthis lifeintothe next,intoher eternal home with herLord and Savior JesusChrist. MawMawwas thedaugh‐ter of thelateMarguerite Thomasand WilfredMet‐zler, andthe loving wife of 62years to thelateGeorge Arthur Schaefer,Sr. She was thebeloved mother of Cathy Cilluffo (Randy), GeorgeJr.,Donna Blancher (Ronnie),Glenn (Julie), and Freddy (Pam). MawMaw madeita pointtotelleach ofusthatwewere“the best” —her favorite.It took us awhile to realize she wastellingall of us the samething!She was Grandmother to Barak (Heather),Jordan(Corey), Ashley(Derrick),Blade GeorgeIII, Kodi,Ian, Joshua,Justin(Ashley), Aimee (Cody),Nathan, Seth(Sarah),Sarah (Michael),Jack(Katie) Ethan,Kayla (Ryan),Victo‐ria,and Carleigh.She was alsoGreat-Grandmother to Levi, Luke,Colt, Cruz,Myla, Gabriel,Taylor, Hailey, Grayson,Remington Olivia,Jacelyn,Harley,

Camden,Caylum, Anthony, Maverick, Anthony, Ava, Ethan,Emmett, Sloane, Amelia,Charlotte,Charles Beaux,Brady,and Eden, and Great-Great-Grand‐mothertoRoman.Maw‐Maw carriedher tradition onwithher grandchildren, telling each of them that they, too, were “the best,” her favorite.MawMawalso leavesbehindmany beloved nieces,nephews, and dear friends. Shewas a true womanofGod kind, loving,and forgiving, almosttoa fault.When hearing aboutthe mischie‐vousthingswehad done growing up,she would often respond, “You didn’t dothat?”She wastruly in denial! MawMaw freely forgave,justasJesus had forgivenher.She lovedthe LordJesus Christ with all her heart, soul,mind, and strength. Throughher prayers forher family, she eventuallysaw allher chil‐drencometosavingfaith inJesus Christ andleftthis world continuing to pray and believefor thesalva‐tionofall hergrandchil‐dren. When sheonceasked the Lord howlongshe shouldprayfor afamily member, Hisanswerwas, “As long as it takes,”so she faithfully continuedto pray. MawMaw wasself‐less, always thinking of othersbeforeherself and never wantingtobeanim‐positioninany way. She was theyoungestoffour. She survived hersiblings, Wilfred, Jr John, and Joycelynn, alongwiththeir spouses,all of whomre‐ceivedthe Lord Jesusand passedintoheavenbefore her departure. MawMaw was raised by hermother and oldersiblingsafter her fatherpassedawaywhen she wasa child. Onenight MawMawand aclose friendhad a flat tire,and our Dad— atrueprinceof a man— stoppedtohelp the twogirls.Later that evening,hewrote our Mother’sphone numberin the dust on thedashboard ofhis car, knowingitmight begoneatany moment But it wasmeant to be God hadcreated them for one anotherand hada planfor theirlives —and ours. OurDad came from a familyofgreat faith and was just whatour Mother needed.God knew exactly whatHewas doing. Our Mothersoon embraced our Dad’s faith.Growing up,we never went to bedwithout sayingweloved onean‐other andkissing each other goodnight. We may havefoughtall dayaschil‐dren,but by nighttime,

things were made right. We misbehavedterribly— at least most of us did! Every day whenwecamehome fromschool, MawMaw had a hotpot of food waiting onthe stove. Sheloved being ahomemaker,nur‐turingand caring forher family. Shealwayswel‐comed,loved,and fedall the friendswebrought homeaswell. Ourdoors werealwaysunlockedand opentoeveryone. Maw‐Maw wasa people person, and everyone waswel‐come— themore, themer‐rier. Sheloved afullhouse MawMawloved to play cards andbuncos. Shehad friends fordecades who faithfullyplayedweekly She cherishedthose friendships deeply.We wanttothank allofher cardand buncofriends for bringingsuchjoy andcom‐panionshipintoher life UnlessMawMawwas in church,playing cards, or at bunco, shecould almost alwaysbefound at home She lovedher familyand was always therefor us.As weall grew up andhad families of ourown, Maw‐Maw became awonderful, loving, andcaringgrand‐mother. MawMaw’s Christlikevalues, unconditional love, andwisdomtouched somanylives.Her legacy willliveonthrough the loveshe so unselfishly gave. We will miss her voice,her laughter,her presence, andher phone calls.She wassucha joy and so much funtobe around.She will be greatly missedbyall. We believe thatifMawMawcould speak to us now, she would saynot to miss heaven— that it is Glorious and beyond allcomprehen‐sion. Shewould want each ofustoknowJesus for ourselves.Friends and familyare invitedtoattend the visitation on Friday, March 27, at Believer’s Life FamilyChurch,501 Lapalco Blvd.,Gretna, LA 70056 from9:45a.m.to11:00 a.m. Her CelebrationofLifeSer‐vicewillbegin at 11:00 a.m. IntermentwillfollowatSt. Louis #3,3421 Esplanade Ave., NewOrleans,LA 70119. Family andfriends are then invitedbackto Believer’sLifeFamily Church fora repast ArrangementsbyJacob Schoen& SonFuneral Home, 3827 CanalStreet, New Orleans, LA 70119 Condolences maybeleftat www.schoenfh.com.

JulieB.Sheppard, born November 30, 1959, passed away December 5, 2025 after aperiodofdeclining health anda heart forever changedbythe loss of her husband. She leavesbehind alegacy shapedby love,humor, resilience, anda deep devotion to the people shecherished most. To those whoknew herbest,she waslovingly called"Moozie," anickname that capturedher warmth and spirit Juliespent 48 beautiful years marriedtothe love of herlife, Charles L. Sheppard Jr.("Chuck"). Herworld wasneverquite thesame after hispassing, anditbringspeace to imagine themreunited—hand in hand, whole again in Christ's embrace. She wasalso preceded in death by hersister,Kathy Balfanz; hermother,Jane Adams; herfather,John Balfanz; andher muchlovedstepfather, R.E. Adams. Julie'sgreatest joywas herfamily. Sheleaves behind herthree children—Charles L. Sheppard III (Leonore), Jessica Polk (JoePolk), Jennifer Bell (Mark Bell), "adopted daughter"Victoria Charbonnet(Jody), and her grandchildrenJesse E. Fields, Jr.and Katlyn Sheppard—eachofwhom carry forward thelessons she lived everyday: kindness, strength, humor, and love withoutconditions. Later in life, Julieembracedbeing adevoted cat mom to hercats, each one aloyal companionand guardian full of love and mischief. Juliewas agiftedgardener with atruegreen thumb.Her gardenwas her refuge—a place whereshe foundpeace andconnection As she wished, Juliewill be interred with herhusbandatthe Southeast Louisiana Veterans

DEATHS continued from andDonavin D. Boyd Own‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Sheppard, Julie

Powell Jr., Ernest 'Poochie' 'Cool Breeze'

Emerging Market stamps himselfasKentuckyDerby contenderwithimpressiveLouisiana Derbywin

LSUstars Johnson, Williams savoring last runtogether SPORTS

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

The game was over.Flau’jae Johnson, though, just wanted to try one more thing. So she grabbed awhiteboard and amarker, then took charge of LSU’shuddle. The Tigers led Jacksonville 106-58 with four minutes left in the fourth. Mikaylah Williamshad nine assists, and she wanted a 10th, so Johnson drew up aplay that wouldmake sure she’d getit. Grace Knox just had to cut baseline, sneaking behind her defender,catch aquick pass from Williamsand turn it into alayup.

“I was hoping Grace didn’ttake too many dribbles,” Williams said,laughing. “I got scared,but shecaughtit, andshe made it in.” Then Williamsleapt in the air,while Johnson pointed at herfrom thebench.Itwas amemorable moment for the pair of star guards —two LSU greats whoare trying to make the most of their third and final season as teammates.

‘He’s livedup to the promise’

Flavien Prat is widely considered the best jockey in thesport of thoroughbred racing.His talent is such that he’sbeen namedthe Jockey of the Year at the Eclipse Awardseach of the past two seasons.

But the 33-year-old Frenchman nevercrossed thefinish line first in the Kentucky Derby.His lonewin on thefirst Saturday in May came aboard Country House as theresult of a disqualification of Maximum Security

That could changethis year.

Prat might have his best chance yet as the rider of choice on EmergingMarket, whowill enter theKentucky Derby as oneofthe favorites afterhis impressive win in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday

TheChadBrown trainee overcame alot to winthe 113th running of theGrade II $1 million stakesrace for 3-year-old colts. He hadtoovercome thefar outside No.9 post. Becauseofthat, he had to expend energy from the gate to gain position in the first turn. And he had to re-gather himself in the stretchafterthe long-

time frontrunning leader,Pavlovian, bumped him soundly in thestretch drive to thewire.

“The trip was good from the(No. 9post),” Prat said. “It’seasy to get a bad trip,but the trip was good and he just had enough talent. He has very little experience, and still, just his talent overcame all that.”

With thewin, Emerging Market earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.Owned by Klavarich Stables, his connections have believed he had Derby potential from the outset, especially after his impressive debut win at TampaBay Downs last month His winning timeof1minute, 55.18 seconds was the thirdfastest since therace went to the 13/16-mile distance six years ago. The only two thatran faster were Epicenter and Hot Rod Charlie, who finished second and third in the2022 and 2021 Derbies,respectively “It’s impressive, Prat said. “He’slived up to the

Borregohas done enough to earn Pelicans’coachingjob

James Borrego willalmost certainly be a head coach somewhere in theNBA again. Chances are,it’ll be as soon as nextseason But will that job be in New Orleans? The answer to that, whichisupto Pelicans executive vice-president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, remains to be seen

What we do know,though, is that Borrego has made astrong case for himself since taking over after Willie Green was fired 12 games into the season. Borrego’s23-36record in hisinterimrole probably won’twow you. But what he’sdone lately with ahealthy roster should. The Pelicans are 10-5 since theAll-Star breakand have won seven straight home gamesheading intoSaturday’sgamein the Smoothie King Center against theCleveland Cavaliers. The numbers are even better when you throw in games that defensive stalwart Herb Joneshas played. Since Jones returned from aright anklesprain in

late January,the Pels are18-10 with him in the lineup. That’sa 64% winning percentage. Winning at that rateover an entire season would’ve got thePels to 52 wins, which would be thesecond most in franchise history

Rod Walker

The Pels’current offensive rating (115.5) ranks ninth in theleague and their defensive rating (112.4) ranks 13th. The 3.1 net rating also ranks ninth,making the Pels atop 10 team in the league since Borrego took over and with Jones in the lineup. Jones credits Borrego for that success.

“With the coaching change, he just came in andtried to turn it around,” Jones said. “Wewere in abad spot. He just changed it with hisenergy and encouraged guys to show up every day with energy and be themselves and continue to cheer the guy next to you and not worry about selfaccomplishments.”

Outsideofall the metrics, it’sbeen the buy-in fromthe playersthat has stood out

Jeff Duncan

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Jockey Flavien Prat ridesEmergina Markettowin the Louisiana Derby on Saturday at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD Pelicans interim coach James Borrego shouts out aplayduring agame against the Toronto Raptors on March 11 at the Smoothie King Center

vs. UConn TNT

8 p.m. NIT: St. Joseph’s at California ESPNU

8:45 p.m. NCAA: Texas Tech vs.Alabama TBS

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

11 a.m. NCAA: Maryland at N.

1

2

7 p.m.

Michigan St at Oklahoma ESPN

9 p.m NCAA: Washington at TCU ESPN

MEN’S COLLEGE GYMNASTICS

2 p.m. Ohio St. at Penn St. BTN

MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY

2 p.m. NCAA Selection Special ESPNU

3 p.m.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY

NCAA: Wisconsin vs. Ohio St. ESPNU

WOMEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE

11 a.m. Ohio St. at Johns Hopkins ESPNU COLLEGE SOFTBALL

11 a.m. Washington at Michigan BTN

11 a.m. Tennessee at Florida ESPN2

3 p.m. Duke at Georgia Tech ACCN

4 p.m. UCLA at Rutgers BTN

5 p.m. Stanford at North Carolina ACCN

6 p.m. Oklahoma at Ole Miss SECN GOLF

Noon PGA: Valspar Championship Golf 2

p.m.

Cologuard

RACING

Duplantis wins 4th straight world indoor pole vault title

TORUN, Poland Mondo Duplantis won another pole vault world title after he was pushed all the way by Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis on Saturday

The Lafayette native won his fourth consecutive world indoor championships with a tournament record vault of 6.25 meters (20 feet, 6.06 inches), a 10-centimeter (3.94inch) improvement on his winning height a year ago in Nanjing. The pair left behind the field at 6.05. Duplantis cleared his first attempts at 6.10, 6.15 and then 6.25, when he wobbled the bar Karalis passed at 6.10 and 6.15, and missed his attempts at 6.25. Duplantis put away his pole, foregoing attempts at 6.32 to break his world record of 6.31 that he set last week at the Swedish meet named after him, the Mondo Classic. “I am proud to have come through for the win. Today, it was about the battle. It was a tough competition, and that is why I didn’t go for a world record,” Duplantis said.

Davidson, USC outlast Clemson

BY PETE IACOBELLI Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Freshman Jazzy Davidson scored 31 points in her women’s NCAA Tournament debut, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:03 left in overtime to lift ninth-seeded Southern California to a 71-67 victory over No. 8 seed Clemson on Saturday Davidson, a 6-foot-1 freshman, stroked a perfect shot from the right side to send the Trojans (1813) into a second-round matchup with top seed South Carolina on Monday It looked like Clemson had won when Mia Moore flipped in a running basket at the regulation buzzer and the Tigers ran onto the court in celebration. But officials reviewed the play and found the shot clock had not properly started with 4.4 seconds to play when Clemson inbounded the ball, and they waved off the basket USC players watched in disappointment until officials moved them toward their bench for a review When the referees announced their decision, the Trojans prepared themselves to play another five minutes.

“I mean, those are the things that happen in March,” Davidson

said of Moore’s apparent buzzerbeater. “None of us want our season to be over, so it was a little crushing to see that, but when we found out we were going into overtime, just mental reset. We all came back together.”

Kara Dunn, who finished with 22 points, urged her teammates to lock in for as long as they had left.

“We said, ‘You don’t get second chances in life,’ so we took advantage,” she said. Clemson led 64-61 with 2:34 to play in OT when Davidson got going. She hit a tying 3-pointer and then put USC ahead to stay on the next possession after Malia Samuels gathered Davidson’s missed shot and got it back to Davidson

for the go-ahead basket.

The dynamic freshman, who came in leading the team in scoring at 17.6 points, played all 45 minutes and finished a point shy of her career high.

USC had reached the Elite Eight the past two years but played the entire season without star JuJu Watkins, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Clemson got within 70-67 on Morgan Lee’s 3-pointer with 9 seconds left, but Samuels made a free throw to seal it.

Taylor Johnson-Matthews scored 16 points for Clemson, and Raven Thompson added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Tigers and second-year coach Shawn Poppie were back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, which was also the last time the team advanced into the second round.

Poppie, who looked dazed and disappointed with the result, was proud of his team’s resolve.

“Unfortunately, today, I thought Southern Cal was one possession, or point-1 second better than us,” Poppie said.

Next, USC faces the Gamecocks.

The teams played in November, a 69-52 South Carolina victory

10th-seeded Virginia beats Georgia in OT

By The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa Kymora Johnson scored 28 points and Sa’Myah Smith added a career-high 23 to go with 11 rebounds as 10th seed Virginia beat seventh seed Georgia 82-73 in an NCAA Tournament first-round game in the Sacramento Regional on Saturday

The Cavaliers (21-11) became the first lower seed to win in March Madness this season. Virginia will play either second seed Iowa or 15th seed Fairleigh Dickinson in Monday’s second round Virginia, which became the second team ever that played in the first four to win a game, outscored Georgia (22-10) 11-2 in overtime.

SACRAMENTO REGIONAL

NO 2 IOWA 58, NO. 15 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 48: In Iowa City, Iowa, Ava Heiden scored a career-high 29 points, including 12 straight for Iowa in the fourth quarter, and the No. 2-seeded Hawkeyes survived an upset bid from 15th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson. Hannah Stuelke added 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (27-6), who advanced to Monday’s second-round game against 10th-seeded Virginia.

NO 8 OKLAHOMA STATE 82, NO. 9 PRINCETON 68: In Los Angeles, Oklahoma State survived blowing most of its leads of 18 and 14 points to beat Princeton, giving Jacie Hoyt her first March Madness win in her fourth season as coach.

The eighth-seeded Cowgirls (249) were led by Achol Akot with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Jaydyn Wooten had 18 points and 10 assists, and Micah Gray added 16 points.

FORT WORTH REGIONAL

NO 2 VANDERBILT 102, NO. 15 HIGH POINT 61: In Nashville, Tennessee, All-American Mikayla Blakes scored 23 of her 30 points by

end of a first-round

Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa.

halftime as the second-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores routed No. 15 seed High Point. Vanderbilt (28-4) came in with the most victories in program history and remains undefeated at home this season. Now it plays seventh-seeded Illinois or No. 10 seed Colorado (22-11) on Monday night for a spot in the Sweet 16 of the Fort Worth 1 Regional. Sacha Washington had 10 points and 17 rebounds, and Aubrey Galvan added 17 points. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda added 10 as 11 Commodores scored.

NO 3 OHIO STATE 75, NO. 14 HOWARD

54: In Columbus, Ohio, Jaloni Cambridge scored 21 points and Ohio State rolled to a win over Howard. Kennedy Cambridge, Chance Gray and Ava Watson had 11 points apiece for the Buckeyes (27-7), who will face sixth-seeded Notre Dame on Monday for a chance to get to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2023.

NO 4 WEST VIRGINIA 82, NO. 13 MIAMI (OHIO) 54: In Morgantown, West Virginia, Sydney Shaw had 19 points and nine rebounds, Gia

Cooke scored 18 and West Virginia used an early defensive lockdown to take control in a victory over Miami (Ohio).

West Virginia (28-6) will meet No. 5 seed Kentucky in the second round on Monday Jordan Harrison had 15 points and eight assists, while Kierra Wheeler added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Mountaineers. NO 6 NOTRE DAME 79, NO. 11 FAIRFIELD

60: In Columbus, Ohio, Hannah Hidalgo had a dominant performance with 23 points, nine rebounds, eight steals and six assists as Notre Dame led the entire game.

The Fighting Irish, who have advanced to the Sweet 16 in their last 14 March Madness trips, will face third-seeded Ohio State on Monday Iyana Moore scored 18 points and Cassandre Prosper had 17 points and eight rebounds as the Fighting Irish won for the 10th time in their last 12 games.

NO 1 UCONN 90, NO. 16 UTSA 52: Sarah Strong had 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals in three quarters of play as

the Huskies, the top seed in the Fort Worth 1 region, rolled over No. 16 UTSA for its 51st consecutive victory Blanca Quinonez had 10 points in an 18-1 run for the top-ranked Huskies, who will face Syracuse in Monday’s second round. NO 3 LOUISVILLE 72, NO 14 VERMONT

52: In Louisville, Kentucky, Mackenly Randolph scored 20 points to help Louisville pull away for a win over Vermont. It marked the second straight game the 6-foot sophomore posted a career high in points and a career-high 11 rebounds. She scored nine in the third quarter, including four during an 11-2 run that gave the third-seeded Cardinals (28-7) their first double-digit lead of the game.

NO 5 KENTUCKY 71,NO.12 JAMES MADISON 56: In Morgantown, West Virginia, Tonie Morgan had 18 points and Amelia Hassett scored 11 of her 14 during a dominant first half to help Kentucky cruise to a victory over James Madison. Clara Strack had her 15th double-double of the season for the Wildcats (24-10), who advanced to play No. 4 seed West Virginia on Monday

NO 6 ALABAMA 68, NO. 11 RHODE ISLAND 55: In Louisville, Kentucky, Jessica Timmons scored 21 points and Essence Cody added 19 as Alabama beat Rhode Island. The Crimson Tide (24-10) won a first-round tournament game for the third straight year by shooting 53.2% (25 of 47) and dominating inside, outscoring the Rams (28-5) 42-12 in the paint.

NO 9 SYRACUSE 72,NO.8 IOWA STATE 63: In Storrs, Connecticut, Syracuse freshman Uche Izoje matched All-American Audi Crooks basket for basket in the first half and reserve guard Olivia Schmitt delivered four 3-pointers during the decisive run as the Orange topped Iowa State.

Four ejected after fight at Thunder-Wizards game

WASHINGTON Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams and Washington’s Justin Champagnie were ejected following an altercation late in the first half of the matchup between the Thunder and Wizards on Saturday night.

Following a basket by Washington’s Anthony Gill, Williams and Champagnie began shoving each other under the basket. Gill and Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell became involved and the altercation quickly escalated and spilled into the seating area behind the basket before order was restored.

After a lengthy review by the officials, Champagnie and Williams each received two technical fouls and were ejected. Mitchell and Cason Wallace of the Thunder each received one technical foul and were also ejected.

Curry to resume practices as he recovers from injury

ATLANTA Stephen Curry will begin participating in full team practices in the coming days as he works back from a right knee injury that forced the Golden State Warriors star to miss his 21st straight game Saturday Curry, 38, was re-evaluated earlier in the day for his patellafemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in the knee, and the team said before its game against Atlanta that he is progressing in his rehab. He has done more individual on-court training of late and will be re-evaluated again this coming week when the Warriors return home from their road trip.

Olympic boxer says time to ‘walk away’ after loss

BELFAST, Northern Ireland Irish boxer Michael Conlan, who famously gestured at 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games judges with his middle fingers, said he plans to retire without achieving his dream of becoming a world champion.

The 34-year-old Belfast featherweight lost a 10-round split decision to undefeated Kevin Walsh at the SSE Arena on Friday night. Conlan, the favorite, hoped a victory would get him a shot at WBC featherweight champion Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington.

“I want to walk away now my health intact, my family good. I’ve done really well in boxing,” Conlan said. “I’ve achieved an awful lot. Did I reach my goal of being a world champion? No. That’s the hardest part about it all.”

Veteran OF makes Yanks’ opening-day roster

TAMPA, Fla. Veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk has made the New York Yankees’ opening day roster Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday that Grichuk made the team. The Yankees also announced they reassigned infielder Paul DeJong and utilityman Seth Brown to minor league camp and optioned utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera and infielder Max Schuemann to Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre. Grichuk, 34, is coming off a 2025 season in which he batted .228 with a .273 on-base percentage, nine homers and 27 RBIs in 113 combined games for the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE NEIBERGALL

Virginia guards Paris Clark, left, and Kymora Johnson celebrate at the

game against Georgia in the NCAA Tournament on

WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NELL REDMOND

Southern California guard Jazzy Davidson drives against Clemson guard Rachael Rose during their first-round game of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Columbia, S.C

NCAA WOMEN’STOURNAMENT

RABALAIS

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some sort of penance until they canhit the throttle again.

“We’regoing to givey’all ashow,” Richard said. “Whether that’sbehind-the-back passes, celebrations. We just play with alot of passion. Ithink from the topofour roster to the bottom, we just love basketball.

“I feel like there’s alot of people who play basketball, but they don’tlikeit. Ifeel like we all love the game. We love coming to practice every day,pushing each other We love the grind. Ithink that’s what LSU basketball is. We have that grit,thatpassion, so that’swhy we’re ‘the show.’”

“Theshow must go on,” as the saying goes, and for LSU, it likely will. The Tigers (28-5), the No. 2-seeded team in the NCAA Sacramento 2regional, are justshy of a 25-point favoritegoing into Sunday’s second-round gameagainst No.7Texas Tech (2 p.m., ABC).

But win or lose, this will beLSU’s final game this seasonatthe PeteMaravichAssembly Center.Ifthe showgoes on, it will be aroad show,out in California, inthe Sweet 16.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey said senior Flau’jae Johnson, playing her last game in thePMACasaTiger,deserves to have a sellout crowd Sunday

That goes for the entire team.For the entire cast of “The Show.” If the Savannah Bananas could sell out theCaesars Superdome last weekend for whateveritis they do —twice —then LSU fanscan turn out in droves to watch this team play on its home court one more time. Yes, NCAA rules guaranteeing the visitingteams and bands seats in the lower bowl (plus losing seats to courtside pressrows, Imustadmit) have scrambled the PMAC’sseating arrangement for LSU’sloyal legions. Hopefully,for the Tigers’ sake,and for Texas Tech, which is strivingtorecapture its program’sformer glory,theywill come nonetheless.

“If you build it,they will come.” That was the famous line from themovie “Field

LSU

Continued from page1C

Johnson, aGeorgia native, is the outsider who foundahome in BatonRouge.Williams is the local kid —the Bossier City product who stayed near her hometown andput herself on aSeimone Augustus-esque trajectory.Together they’veformed one of the most dynamic pairings of star playersin the country,and they’ve helped coach Kim Mulkey’sprogram sustain its current, reinvigorated form.

LSU has won more than84% of the games it’splayed since Johnsonand Williams became teammates. Angel Reese wasthere for one of those years, and Aneesah Morrow was there for two of them.

But then those two star forwards moved on, leaving Johnson and Williams as the two pillars of ateam with Final Fouraspirations. LSU can get there. Thisseason,the Tigers landed theirhighest NCAA Tournament seed since 2008, and if they beat No.7seed Texas Tech at 2p.m. Sunday in the Round of 32 (ABC), then they’ll playinthe Sweet16 for afourth consecutive year NeitherJohnson norWilliamshas ever lost in that round of the tournament.

“Mikaylah, Flau’jae, Isay this every chance Iget,” Mulkey said, “youmay never see the likes of them staying at an institution. This one’sfour (years). Unless something crazy happens, Iwould think Mikaylah is going to be here four years. And (Johnson’s) right.She had to help recruit Mikaylah. But that’swhat you should do. Great players want to play with great players.”

On Friday,Johnson and Williams orchestrated arecord-setting first-round win over Jacksonville. They each grabbedfive rebounds and forced three turnovers. Johnson scored 20 points,while Mikaylah added 18 to pairwith her 10 assists —a career high. It was only the second game in which neither of them recorded asingle turnover Williams was nailing her outside shots and conducting LSU’shalf-court offense. Johnson was finding ways to display her dazzling array of transition finishes.

Why’d they give the No. 15-seeded Dolphins so many problems?

“Well, they’re pros, number one,” Texas Tech coachKristaGerlich said. “I think they’re going to obviously go reallyhigh in the WNBA draft.

“They pose an issuefor defenses.You kind of have to pick your poison at times.” Johnson and Williams have been teammates for three years now, but thisseason is the first in whichthey’ve been LSU’stwo leaders. Through most of SECplay,they took turns leading the Tigers’offense.

Johnson shot just 4of14from thefieldin LSU’swin over Texas on Jan. 11. Williams, though, hit the game-sealing 3-pointerand finished with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting

When the Tigers beatOle Miss on Feb 19, Williams was missing too many shots andcommitting too many turnovers. So Mulkey left her on the bench for thewhole second half. Johnson then teamed up with MiLaysia Fulwiley to give LSU acome-from-behind win. The senior hit six of her 11 shot attempts and two of her three 3-point tries to put up 18 points —all of which theTigers needed to avoid suffering alossthat

of Dreams.” Mulkey has done that at LSU Building not only awinning program but onethat produces “Did you see that?” momentsgame after game.

That wasn’ther objective when she left Baylor for LSUfive years ago. It was, of course, to win and win big. Butthe entertaining part has been acompelling by-productofthe talentand the coaching LSU has had, acombination that has the Tigers aiming for the program’s 17th Sweet 16 appearance and fourth straight under Mulkey

“I don’tsit down and say this is what we have to dotobeentertaining or sit down andsay this is what we do because we’re ‘the show,’ ”Mulkey said. “I just allow players to have alittle freedom offensively.That’swhat Iliked when Iplayed. Let’s get up and down thefloor

“I’ve got alot of athletes, man. Let’s go. Whowants to walk it up thefloor and wait for apost player to come down there and post up?”

LSU-Texas Tech is about as big acontrast in styles as you could findinthe NCAA’s round of 32. The Tigers are on pace to breakthe Southeastern Conference scoringrecord, now averaging 95.1 points per game.Theyplay defense, yes, thedisruptivekind, but defense isn’tthis team’s identity

It is for Texas Tech. The Raiders average 71.5 points per game but allow just 57.9, trying to full-court press their opponents into submission. They wore down Villanova in the first round, 57-52, fewer points combined than LSU scored on its own Friday

That approach has worked to get Texas Tech this far and win 26 games. ButTech coach Krista Gerlich, who played on the Lady Raiders’ 1993 national championship team,knows this is atough assignment

“We’re going to continue to do what we do andtry to disrupt as much as possible,” Gerlich said. “But obviously,they’re areally good basketball team for areason. It will be difficultfor us to disrupt them that much.”

In other words, theLady Raiders will try to be show stoppers.

Everyone’sa critic, but that’sgoing to be atoughassignment.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guards Flau’Jae Johnson, left, and Mikaylah Williamscelebrate after LSU forward Meghan yarnevich scored in the fourth quarter ofa game againstUT-Arlington on Dec.21atthe PMAC.

would’ve jeopardized their double bye in the SEC Tournament.

Then Johnson cooled off again. Sheshot only32% from the field across LSU’s last three regular-season games —astretch in which Williams played some of thebest basketball of hercareer

The star junior averaged 19.3 points and 11.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting50% from the field. in games against Missouri, Tennesseeand MississippiState. She playedall 40 minutesofthe win over theBulldogs on March 1, when Johnson scored onlyfourpoints on 1-of-6shooting.

“She’s gonnacome to therescuewhen I’m not having agood game,” Johnson said. “I can focusonother things and know we’re still gonna be OK.She’s just amazing.” LSU, of course, is at itsbest when both Johnson and Williams areworkingtogether.Since thecalendar flipped to 2026, the two stars have scored more than 15 points in the same game only threetimes —on Jan.1in aloss to Kentucky,onJan. 29 in awin over Arkansas and on Fridayinan NCAA Tournamentwin over Jacksonville

Williams was shooting so well that the Dolphins started shifting extra defenders toward her,leaving Johnson open on the weak side. On onepossessioninthe second quarter,Williams floated away from a double team andlasered apass to Johnson, who had drifted alongthe baseline into an easy look at therim LSUwillsoonencountertaller, longer teams in theNCAA Tournament, starting Sunday against TexasTech (26-7).

Johnson and Williams want to keep setting each other up for success. The Tigers need bothofthemtoplay well, or else they could miss their last chance to seewhat thetwo stars can accomplish togetherin theFinal Four. “Weknow each other in and out,” Williams said. “The thing that I’mgonna miss the most is her joy.She’ssojoyful. Her leadership. She says shedoesn’t wanttobealeader,(that) she’snot aleader,but she’sbeen thatsinceI steppedoncampus.She took me under her wing.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed.darcey@theadvocate.com

SouthCarolinatoo much forSouthern

Gamecocksoverwhelm Jaguars, endtheir tournament run

BY CHARLESSALZER

Contributingwriter

The Southernwomen’sbasketball team gotoff to aslow start in Saturday’sfirstround NCAATournament gameand never recovered.

While Southernstruggledtofind points from anywhereonthe court, South Carolina showed why it is the No.1seed in the Sacramento4Regional. The Gamecocks outscored No. 16 Southern 32-2 in the third quarter and rolled to a103-34 win at ColonialLifeArena in Columbia, SouthCarolina.

For Southern (20-14), the loss ends aseasoninwhich theJaguarswere expected to contend for the Southwestern Athletic Conference title. The Jaguars wereseeded fourth in the league’spostseason tournamentbefore winning threegames to reach theNCAA Tournament.

SouthCarolina (32-3) presented problems for Southern with sizeand quickness at every position, but itssize inside was a particular concern.

“I knewtheir transition gamewould be an issue, but theother thing is they negate just about all of your easy buckets around thebasket,” Southern coach Carlos Funchesssaid. “Werusheda little bitand had somemissed opportunities, but South Carolina was as good as advertised, forsure They mostdefinitely will be in the mixfor thenational championship.”

Gamecocks’ All-America forward Joyce Edwards scored 19 of her 27 points in the first half,and helped South Carolina take a44-19 halftime lead. Carolina’s6-foot3sophomore also pulleddowneight rebounds, and the Gamecocks outrebounded Southern 57-33.

In all, five Gamecocks scored in double figures foraCarolina team that shot 55% (41for 75) from thefield. Tessa Johnson made four 3-pointers and finishedwith 14 points and10rebounds. There was more support from Ta’NiyaLatson (17 points), Madina Okot (15) and Agot Makeer (15). “Theygo6-6 starting at thecenter (Okot) andthencome in with a6-7 (Alicia Tournebize).Onthe wings they’re 6-4, and long

Southernguard Demonnie Lagway, right, drivesinto South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson during the second halfon Saturday in Columbia,S.C.

and athletic, so it’stough,” Funchess said. “I was hoping someone would get hot and score 15 to 20 (points) forus, butitjust didn’thappen.”

Southern endured scoreless stretches of morethan five minutes each to start the first and third quarters. The Jaguars made 12 of 65 shots (18%) and just 4of21from 3-point range.

Jocelyn Tate wasSouthern’slone scorer in doublefigures with10. She also ledthe Jaguars with eight rebounds. D’Shantae Edwards andJaylia Reed, who made two 3-pointers, each scored six points. Any third-quarter hopes Southern had of getting back into the game faded quickly The Jaguars missed alleight of their field goal attempts andpickeduptheir only points on twofree throws. South Carolina scored the quarter’sfirst 20 points. South Carolina scored the game’sfirst 15 points, its largest run to open agamethis season. Southern hadfive turnovers and missed its first seven shots before Jocelyn Tate scored on adrive with 4:25 leftinthe first quarter

Jestiny Dixon and Zaria Hurston added baskets, but Southern trailed 19-6 going to the second quarter

ALL-METROWRESTLING

BOYS WRESTLER OF THEYEAR

St. Paul’sCaleb Shartle, left,wrestles Chalmette’sLeo Gonzalez during the LHSAA championshiponFeb.2,2024, in Bossier City.Shartle capped abrilliant career by finishing his senior season with a34-0 record andDivision Ititle at 190 pounds.

CALEBSHARTLE

ST.PAUL’S, SENIOR •

190POUNDS

Caleb Shartle landed hard on his right hip during achampionship bout at the Louisiana Classic in January, leaving the St.Paul’ssenior in need of an injurytimeout. It also put him at risk for losing in the final for thesecond year in arow He avoided that by wrestling more aggressively than at the start —something that let him keep his undefeated record intact Shartleended theseasonwith a34-0 record by winning the Classic in Januaryand followed that with an LHSAA Division Istate title at 190 pounds in February, making him The Times-Picayune’schoice for outstanding boys wrestlerhonors.

Awrestler for as long as he can remember,

Shartle completed his final high school seasonwith resolve.

“It’staught me alot about myself, just pushingmyselfwhen I’mtired and working through injuries and stuff likethat,”Shartle said.“It’s taught me to have mental toughness likenoother sportcould.

After the injurytimeout, Shartle followedthe advice of his coachand won.

“He told me to push the pace, so Ican’tlet that be the thing that kept me from winning that match,” Shartlesaid.

By season’send, Shartlewon more than just thatsingle match. He becamethe New Orleans area’s best.

Christopher Dabe

GIRLS WRESTLER OF THEYEAR

STAFF FILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS Riverdale’sLayla Higgins, left, grabs ahold of Central of BatonRouge’sCarsyn Booty during theLouisiana Classic onJan. 17, 2025, in Gonzales. Higgins, wholost to Booty earlier in her career,beather twice in her senior year —including the Division I championshipmeet.

LAYLAHIGGINS RIVERDALE, SR 107POUNDS

BOYS COACHOFTHE YEAR GRANTHUGHES HOLYCROSS

The first-year head coach guided the Tigers to the state-record 29th team state championship in program history.

A2018 St. Paul’sgraduate,Hughesended the season with four weight-class champions

BOYS ALL-METRO TEAM

WILLIAM

FONTENOT

Brother Martin, Sr 106 pounds, 33-3 record, Division Ichampion

CONNOR

AYALA

St. Paul’s, Jr 113 pounds, 44-1 record, Division Ichampion

MICHAEL BARNETT

Jesuit, Sr 120 pounds, 35-3 record, Division Ichampion

DUSTIN

SMITH Fontainebleau, Sr 126 pounds, 55-11 record,DivisionI runner-up

ANTHONY OUBRE

Holy Cross, Sr

132 pounds, 34-4record, Division Ichampion

MICHAEL KLEIN

in DivisionI

The seasonincluded adual-meet victory againstJesuit alongwith an area-best thirdplace finish at the Louisiana Classic. Christopher Dabe

Holy Cross, So 138 pounds, 42-10 record,DivisionI runner-up

MATTHEW KRAIL

Holy Cross, Sr 144 pounds,27-5record, Division Ichampion

ROBERT MORSE

Holy Cross, Sr 150 pounds,34-3record, Division Ichampion

DOMINICK DURHAM Rummel, Jr 157 pounds,52-5record, Division II runner-up

ISAAC ORILLION Jesuit, Jr 165 pounds,15-3record, Division Irunner-up

BOYS SECOND TEAM

RYLEE REEVES

Holy Cross, Sr 175 pounds, 44-7 record, Division Ichampion

CALEB SHARTLE

St. Paul’s, Sr 190 pounds, 34-0 record, Division Ichampion

JOHN MARTINEZ

St. Paul’s, Sr 215 pounds, 42-3 record, Division Ichampion

WILL BERRY Jesuit, Sr 285 pounds, 20-3 record, Division Ichampion

EDITOR’S NOTE Teams chosen by Christopher Dabe.

106 pounds: Lee Gervais, Holy Cross, 8th 113: John Thiele, Rummel, Jr 120: Landen Modica, Rummel, Sr 126: Max Belsome, Jesuit, Sr 132: ScottCascio, Brother Martin, Jr 138: Jacob Britt, Destrehan, Sr 144: Quinn McDermott,BrotherMartin, Sr 150: Joshua Lara, Brother Martin, Sr 157: AnthonyCinquemano,Brother Martin, Sr 165: Debraun Norris, Patrick Taylor,Jr. 175: Noah yonker,Hannan,Sr. 190: QuinnAnderson, Jesuit, Sr 215: Conner Vargas, Jesuit, Sr 285: GageBrown, St. Paul’s,Sr.

Layla Higgins didn’t think hermost recent loss was because of anything her opponent did. Shethought she gave it away Givenanotherchance, she showeditonthe mat, winning by technical fall over Carsyn Booty of Central-BatonRouge during the 107-pound final at the Louisiana Classic in Januaryand thenpinning her at the LHSAA girlswrestling state championship in February. Her two-yearascension from wrestling newcomer to state champion turned Higgins into The Times-Picayune’s selection as thegirls outstanding wrestler for2026. “Shooting my double legs and shotsin general are my bread and butter,” Higgins said.

“I usually love taking shots. But if not, I’ll go for throws as much as possible.

In the second year that theLHSAA sanctionedgirls wrestling,Higgins became the first girls champion from Riverdale Her rise startedwhenshe joinedthe team aftera friend at school told hershe should try it.

“Ever since Ijoined, I’m more thankful that he wouldn’t stop bothering me about it,”Higgins said.

“She doesn’t quit,”Riverdale coach Branagh Cohensaid.“No matterwhat the score looks like, whateverthe match is, she’s going to keep going.”

Christopher Dabe

GIRLS COACHOFTHE YEAR

MICHAELLACHNEY MANDEVILLE

The Riverdale graduate movedfrom Lakeshore to Mandeville after last season and took over agirls program that had an area-best third-place finish at the LHSAA state

tournament.The Skippers had six podium finishers among the 12 weight classifications, including one finalist.

Christopher Dabe

GIRLS ALL-METROTEAM

SOPHIA GAGLIANO Lakeshore, Jr 100 pounds,37-10 record,third at state

LAYLA HIGGINS Riverside, Sr 107 pounds,37-3 record, statechampion

GIADA RUFFINO Mandeville, Sr 114 pounds,40-11 record,third at state

MARIA PASCUA-MENDOZA

Mandeville, So. 120 pounds,38-12 record, fourth at state

CHLOE LEBLANC Riverdale, Jr 126 pounds, 24-12 record fifthatstate

ALYSSA HYDE Riverdale, Sr 134 pounds, 32-8 record, staterunner-up

AURORA AVERY Mandeville, Fr 138 pounds, 31-11 record, fifthatstate

REINA GARAYCRUZ

Chalmette, Jr.

145 pounds, 30-13 record, fourth at state

GABRIELA MALDONADO

Mandeville, So 152 pounds, 35-7 record, staterunner-up

ALLISON ANDRADE John Curtis, Jr 165 pounds, 17-6 record, sixthatstate

JENELLE ROTUNDA Chalmette, Sr 185 pounds, 37-5 record, staterunner-up

VALENTINA LOPO Mandeville, Sr.

235 pounds, 37-11 record, fourth at state

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JILLPICKETT

Newman routs St. Charles with seven-run fifth inning

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

Newman senior starting pitcher

Christian Sauska had a scoreless no-hitter through five innings against St. Charles.

Sauska didn’t have to pitch past the fifth frame after Newman scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning. The Greenies’ offensive explosion was capped off with a two-out RBI double to center by sophomore Tanner Robert, resulting in a 10-0 run-rule win over St. Charles on Friday at Avenger Field.

Robert singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth with Newman leading by three runs. The Greenies batted around, with Robert delivering his second hit of the night to end the game.

“We’ve had a couple of times where we put some innings like that together,” Newman coach Patrick Adams said. “It was just good that it was tonight against a really good opponent. It was good to get the bats going. When guys start hitting, it’s contagious.”

The right-hander Sauska threw 93 pitches in his five no-hit innings, allowing five St. Charles baserunners after four walks and a hit batter The Penn signee finished with six strikeouts.

St. Charles had two runners on base in the top of the third with Landree LeBlanc up to bat, and Newman senior catcher Charles Wilson called for a mound meeting. Sauska went on to strike LeBlanc out for the final out.

“I was really proud of the way I was able to battle back,” Sauska said. “It was awesome to see the

Brother Martin’s Toten leads win vs. Rummel

BY DARRELL WILLIAMS Contributing writer

First, Brother Martin junior Dominic Toten hurt Rummel with his speed. Then, he beat the Raiders with his bat. Toten scored the tying run in the sixth inning, then the first baseman stroked a two-run single in the seventh that gave the Crusaders the lead for good in a 9-5 victory Saturday at UNO’s Maestri Field.

“The hit, it was a big moment for us as a team, punching in the RBI(s),” Toten said. “I just wanted to make contact, put the ball in play and get that lead. I was extremely happy, proud of myself.”

opened the door to the Crusaders scoring two runs in the second for a 3-0 lead.

“Don’t get me wrong, (Brother Martin) is a very good team,” Cazeaux said. “But we had a lot of self-inflicted stuff that hurt us — errors, walks, hit (batters) It’s difficult to win like that when you’re playing good teams.

“But we’re still in the hunt (for the 9-5A title and a playoff berth). There’s a lot of ball left to play, and we can beat anybody when we cut out our mistakes.”

Rummel came back immediately from its three-run deficit, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second with two outs and help from the Crusaders.

lineup turn it around and really crush the ball. They made my job so much easier.”

Newman’s first two runs in the bottom of the first came after junior Atticus LaFleur hit a high fly ball to right field that ended up a two-RBI double after it dropped between the St. Charles second baseman and right fielder

LaFleur then came to the plate with two runners on in the bottom of the fifth and hit a three-run home run to left to put Newman up 8-0. The junior is back in the lineup after missing the early part of the season playing soccer

“I feel like one through nine, we’re capable,” Adams said. “Tanner (Robert) and Atticus (LaFleur) have come up big a couple of times together and have really done a good job building upon the top of our lineup.”

LaFleur Robert and Wilson had two hits each for Newman, with LaFleur totaling a team-high five RBIs.

Newman’s defense was strong behind Sauska with zero errors. St. Charles finished with three errors, all of which occurred in the fifth inning.

“The infield is just so solid,” Adams said. “It’s great for our pitchers because they know they don’t have to strike everybody out. We’ve got some guys that can go get it.”

Newman improved to 13-6 with an 11-0 win over Bonnabel on Saturday in its fourth straight victory. Up next is Shaw on Tuesday

St. Charles (16-6) defeated John Ehret 13-0 on Saturday before a two-game district series beginning on Monday against Belle Chasse.

MEN’S NCAA TOURNAMNET ROUNDUP

Texas goes from First Four to Sweet 16, beating Gonzaga

BY ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis each scored 17 points, Camden Heide hit a gamesealing 3-pointer and Texas became the first team in five years to go from the NCAA Tournament’s First Four to the Sweet 16, beating Gonzaga 74-68 on Saturday First-year coach Sean Miller’s 11th-seeded Longhorns (21-14), who lost five of six entering the tournament and looked underwhelming in their First Four win over N.C. State, will face either No. 2 seed Purdue or No. 7 seed Miami on Thursday in the West Region semifinals in San Jose, California. The last First Four team to reach the Sweet 16 was UCLA, which made it all the way to the Final Four in 2021.

“Our ride has never been easy, but we fought the good fight the whole way and we did it again,” Miller said.

Graham Ike led third-seeded Gonzaga (31-4) with 25 points, but the Bulldogs struggled to generate much secondary scoring Coach Mark Few’s Zags bowed out in the second round for the second straight year after reaching the Sweet 16 in nine consecutive tournaments, a run that included two losses in the national title game. After Ike’s dunk got the Zags within 69-68 with 40 seconds left, Miller called timeout and drew up a play that got Heide free in the corner The 6-foot-7 junior who played just 13 minutes, confidently knocked down his only basket of the game, giving Texas a four-point lead with 14.7 seconds left

“He’s our best 3-point shooter. To not have him in there, I just didn’t think it made any sense, because what happens is exactly what happened,” Miller said. “The play gets broken, a guy makes a drive, pivots, Next thing you know, you find someone.”

Vokietaitis capped the scoring with a breakaway layup. Gonzaga, a 6 1/2-point favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, led by eight points in the first half, but Texas rallied and led 35-33 at halftime.

Dailyn Swain dunked to give the Longhorns a 57-54 lead with 7:33 left.

Pope’s 3-pointer with 5:28 remaining put Texas up 62-56. Ike’s

layup closed Gonzaga within 66-64, but Pope answered with a 3 to put Texas ahead 69-64.

“We were both kind of trading punches,” Few said. “Both teams were having a hard time getting stops down the stretch, and we just couldn’t get one on that last possession. I would have liked to see if we could capitalize in our coverage, but Heide had that big 3, and that was about really what it came down to.”

It’s the 15th Sweet 16 appearance and first since 2022-23 for Texas, and the ninth for Miller, who got to five regional semifinals with Arizona and three with Xavier

The Bulldogs were making their 27th appearance in the tournament, and they played in front of a friendly crowd that chanted “Let’s Go Zags!” after David Fogle’s jumper made it 28-20 in the first half.

Gonzaga beat No. 14 seed Kennesaw State on Thursday, but this result could lead to some angst in Spokane, Washington, before the Zags join the reconstituted Pac-12 ahead of next season.

Texas, meanwhile, rode the momentum after knocking off likely NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU in the first round. The Longhorns became the first-double digit seed in this largely chalky tournament to get through the first two rounds.

“We just needed a chance,” said Swain, who finished with 11 points.

“We didn’t end the regular season in the way we wanted to, but we never gave up on each other and that drew us closer We all took a different approach, we all kind of stepped up our play, and as you can see, had a more balanced attack in this postseason.”

NO 1 DUKE 81,TCU 58: In Greenville, South Carolina, Duke got two tests to open its run as the No. 1 overall seed in March Madness. The Blue Devils responded both times, the latter coming when they got their defense and star freshman Cameron Boozer rolling after halftime.

Boozer shook off a quiet first half to finish with 19 points and Duke shot 61.5% after halftime Saturday to pull away from TCU for an 8158 win in a physical second-round game at the NCAA Tournament.

The forward voted a unanimous first-team Associated Press AllAmerican earlier this week had just two points and missed his only shot in the first half. But he

scored three times during the 11-0 second-half burst twice on highlow feeds from fellow big Patrick Ngongba II in his return to the lineup as Duke (34-2) finally shook free of the ninth-seeded Horned Frogs (23-12).

“They did a great job swarming the point, protecting the rim,” Boozer said. “So I just didn’t have a lot of looks really Second half we figured out some things that got me going downhill, got some high-lows.”

NO 2 HOUSTON 88, TEXAS A&M: 57 In Oklahoma City, Emanuel Sharp scored 18 points, Chris Cenac Jr had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Houston rolled past Texas A&M 88-57 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday to reach the Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive year

Milos Uzan added 15 points for the Cougars (30-6), the No. 2 seed in the South Region. Houston will play 2 miles away from its campus against either No 3 seed Illinois or No. 11 seed VCU on Thursday, and coach Kelvin Sampson’s squad — which lost in the national title game to Florida last year again looks like an opponent nobody wants to play

MICHIGAN 77,LOUISVILLE 69: In Buffalo, New York, Coen Carr recorded his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeremy Fears Jr had 16 assists as Michigan State advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under coach Tom Izzo, beating Louisville 77-69 on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Back to the Sweet 16, where this program belongs,” Izzo said.

Fears added 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting but did the most damage for Michigan State with his precision passing. The country’s assists leader, who came in averaging 9.2 per game, became the first Big Ten player with 10 or more assists in each of the first two games of an NCAA tourney He had 11 in the Spartans’ first-round win over North Dakota State.

Magic Johnson had double-digit assists in four NCAA Tournament games during the Spartans’ run to the 1979 national title, before assists became an official stat.

“Well, if he’s shy of just Magic Johnson, he’s in pretty good company,” Izzo said. “That’s a pretty good place to be. So Earvin, if you’re watching, he’s coming after you.”

The victory put Brother Martin (23-2), No. 1 in the LHSAA Division I rankings, at 6-0 in District 9-5A. The Crusaders, who reached the state championship game last season, have won 11 consecutive games. Rummel (14-3, 2-2) had lost 1211 to Brother Martin on Thursday The Raiders led 5-4 in the top of the sixth when Toten led off with a walk With center fielder Brady McClusky batting, Toten stole second base, then third before coming home on McClusky’s grounder to first base, tying the score. In the top of the seventh, designated hitter Dominick Jabbia led off with a walk and the next hitter, second baseman Kamber Keller, was hit in the face with a pitch while squaring to bunt. Left fielder Luke Gab followed with a bunt advancing both runners Toten then lined a hit to left field, scoring Jabbia and courtesy runner Kai Uhlman for a 7-5 lead. After a force-out at home, right fielder Colton Elliott hit a big twoout single to right field, scoring McClusky, who had singled after Toten’s hit, and courtesy runner Grant Guilbeau.

That game-sealing hit seemed apropos. The Crusaders scored five of their nine runs on hits with two outs. Rummel scored all five of its runs with two-out hits. Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux, whose team had a 10-game winning streak of late, said he was proud of the fight manifested in the two-out hits. However, he felt the loss was due in part to mistakes made by the Raiders, including a dropped line drive that

First baseman Tyler Fourmeaux grounded to second, but the ball was booted for an error The next hitter, second baseman Ben Heard, also reached on an infield error Center fielder Jack Hurd was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Left fielder Beau Stevens walked, bringing in Formeaux, then Smith singled up the middle, plating two runs and tying the score.

A walk to designated hitter Owen Nugent loaded the bases again before right fielder Bryce Hingle singled in Stevens for the go-ahead run.

Brother Martin tied the score in the third on Keller’s one-out fly to left that brought in shortstop Brody Shannon from third. Shannon led off the inning with a double to left.

Brother Martin coach Jeff Lupo said a big factor in the win was the pitching of starter Drake Amedee, who went six innings. It came after the Crusaders used four pitchers Thursday and Rummel five.

“Drake was really good on the mound,” said Lupo, whose team will play Jesuit on Tuesday and Thursday “He gave up a big crooked number in the second inning, but we just didn’t make the plays defensively But (Amedee) settled in after that and got us through six. He was really competitive.

“We had guys that showed a lot of plate discipline, getting on base. We were able to run the bases the way we like to run them. “Toten showed up big. He’s got a lot of talent, and he’s really starting to blossom.”

BY ROB MAADDI AP sportswriter

TAMPA, Fla. The Florida Gators love hearing “We want Ollie!” chants.

Fans started calling for 7-foot9 center Olivier Rioux to enter the game just past the midway point of the second half during Florida’s 59-point victory over Prairie View A&M on Friday night. Rueben Chinyelu, who broke a school record with his 19th double-double of the season, waved his arms, pumping up the crowd to scream louder for Rioux.

The defending national champions started their repeat bid with the second-largest victory margin in NCAA Tournament history The No. 1 seed Gators (27-7) will face ninth-seeded Iowa (22-12) on Sunday night.

The loudest cheers in Florida’s opening-round rout came when Rioux checked in and then scored on a putback dunk long after the outcome was decided.

“It’s a great moment — I got the rebound and then I dunked it but it’s also a great moment because I hustled, I did my job, and everything else toward the defense was good, too,” Rioux said. “I came to play.”

Rioux’s teammates enjoyed the moment even more than the raucous crowd celebrating in the student section and throughout the arena. Chinyelu started jumping up and down and the entire bench went wild.

Rioux, a redshirt freshman from Canada who became the world’s tallest teenager before turning 20, is believed to be the tallest player in NCAA history

“It’s just a great time just being with this guy, be it from summertime, grinding with this guy, playing together, trying to get each other better,” Chinyelu said. “Just trying to do whatever to get him to play the game because we

all worked so hard for that, so whatever time, seconds he gets, cherish that. I just want to see everybody win, see everybody enjoy it, do whatever we can to just make sure everybody gets to feel that moment being on the court playing with each other.”

Getting Rioux in the game means the Gators are well on their way to another victory He played sparingly in the regular season, making two of his three shots in 13 minutes of action across 10 games. Rioux missed his first two shots before his thunderous dunk against Prairie View A&M. The Gators now are 11-0 in games he’s played.

“Just me seeing him being able to step up there, go in there, dunk the ball, make points, you could see everybody enjoyed it,” Chinyelu said. “Any time we’re playing and we can set up an opportunity to get our guys in, we really do that because that’s what we do because they grind. You guys don’t see behind the scenes. They get ready, they’re getting us ready, they’re playing with us, trying to make sure we have what we need to deliver.” Rioux is determined to improve as a player, be more than a sideshow and display his skills.

“It’s important and I think I did that,” he said.

Facing Iowa

Next up for the Gators is a matchup against an opponent that’s been one of the best shooting teams in the nation, with a spot in the Sweet 16 in the South Region at stake.

Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz had a rare off night but still finished with 16 points on 4-for-17 shooting to lead the Hawkeyes to a 67-61 victory over Clemson on Friday night.

Stirtz, Kael Combs, Tavion Banks and Cam Manyawu reached the second round last season with Drake and transferred to Iowa with coach Ben McCollum.

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Newman players celebrate after their 10-0 over St. Charles on Friday at Avenger Field.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobleydunks over Pelicans forward

Trey Murphy on SaturdayinSmoothieKing Center

Pelicans’home winstreakends in loss to Cavs

BY LES EAST Contributing writer

The New Orleans Pelicans looked like they were on their way to an eighth consecutive home victory Saturday night Then came the fourth quarter

The Pelicans went cold andthe Cleveland Cavaliers heated up, outscoring the Pelicans 35-18 in the final period to takea111106 victory in the Smoothie King Center

The Cavaliers made 13-of-25 field-goal attempts, including 4-of-10 3-pointers, in thefourth quarter while New Orleans made 5-of-16 and missed all five of its 3-pointers. Cleveland hada 19-5 rebounding edge in the final period to finish with a55-40 advantage.

“Wehad good looks,” Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego said. “Wehad shots that could have and should have gone down. We missed layups, we missed free throws, we missed open3s. Themost frustrating thing to watch (on film) is going to be the rebounding. We’ve got to close that game out.”

Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, James Harden, who finishedwith10assists,scoredall 20 of his points in the second half, Evan Mobley scored 18, Sam Merrill had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Thomas Bryant scored 11 to lead the Cavaliers (44-27), who completed asweep of their three-game road trip.

Zion Williamson scored 25 points (22 in the second half), Saddiq Bey had 19, Dejounte Murray had 12 points and 10 assists, Herb Jones scored 12 and Trey Murphy III added 10 for NewOrleans (25-47),which begins athree-game road trip when it visits the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

“This one will sting tonight,” Borrego said. “We’ll get back to work tomorrow and go back on theroad and do some damageon the road.”

Cleveland playedwithout centerJarrett Allen(rightknee tendonitis), who’stheir secondleading rebounder (8.5) and thirdleading scorer (15.3), andguard Jaylon Tyson (toe),who averages 13.1 points and5.1 rebounds. Williamson scored nine points, assisted on Bey’s3-pointer and added alayup as New Orleans expanded its three-point halftime lead to 75-62 midwaythrough the thirdquarter.Cleveland closed within eight points twice before Derik Queen scored fourpoints and Jeremiah Fears two as the Pelicans held an 88-76 lead at the end of theperiod.

Williamson scored New Orleans’ first five points of the fourth quarter,and the lead grew to 95-84before Harden scored the last five points of a10-0run that pulled the Cavalierswithin 95-94.

Bey made two free throws and Murray scored on adrive as New Orleans maintained athree-point lead. But Murray’s basket was thePelicans’ only one in more than sixminutes and Cleveland had another 10-0 run to open a 106-99 lead with 1:57 remaining.

New Orleans got within four points twice,but couldn’tget a defensive stop either time, just two nightsafter outscoring the LosAngeles Clippers 18-15 in the fourth quarter of a105-99 win.

Seven Cavaliers scored as they raced to a31-18 lead. Yves Missi, who finished with 10 rebounds, scored on aput-backtostart a 10-0 run for the Pelicans before Mitchell’s3-pointer left Cleveland with a34-28 lead at the end of thefirst quarter

The Cavaliers pushed the lead to as many as 10 points twice in the second quarter before New Orleans finishedstrong. Murphy made a3-pointer to tie the score and Bey broke the tiewith a3-pointer as the Pelicanstook a 56-53 halftime lead after holding Cleveland scorelessfor the final 21/2 minutes.

ished 43-39 in hisfourth andfinal season. Charlotte averaged just 22 wins per year in the three seasons immediately following his departure.

Former LSUstarWilliams fleed

twowar zonesinthree years

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

It was about 4a.m. one recent Monday when the rumblings shook LaDazhiaWilliams awake. Something feltweird. She just wasn’t sure exactly what was happening.

Then Williams looked at the news.

“Wow,this is crazy,” she thought. “Not again.”

Williams,aformer LSU women’sbasketball star,had been here before.In2023, shewas playing professionalhoopsinIsraelwhen war forced her to flee thecountry After that ordeal, she had bounced around for twoyearsand landed on ateam in Lebanon —onlyfor moreviolence to flareupand chase her back across theAtlantic.

This time, the fighting started when the U.S. struck Iran on Feb 28. It took only about24hours for that war to ripple outtoward Williams,who’s nowbackhomeafter successfully fleeing notone,but twowar zones in the threeyears since she left LSU.

“Minus that,”WilliamstoldThe Advocate on Wednesday, “I don’t think it was abad experience at either place. Unfortunate events just happen.”

TheTigers wouldn’thavewon theirnationalchampionship in 2023 without Williams —the 6-foot-4 transfer who started at center next to Angel Reeseall season. That year,she scored at least 15 points in three of thelastfour NCAATournament matchups LSU played. She tallied agame-high 24 in the Sweet 16, then added16in thenationalsemifinals and20in thetitle game.

TheIndiana Fever selected Williams with the17th overall pick of the2023 WNBA draft but waived her only amonth later

So Williams,27, did what most U.S born players do when the league says it doesn’thave enough room for them. She went overseas.

Her first stop was Israel, but she was there only afew weeks before thewar in Gaza broke out. Williams neverheard the explosions. The missiles, though, landed close enough to trigger sirensthat told her to shelter inside theconcrete safe room built intothe apartment she was renting. Her escape route led her across threecontinentsin threedays —first from TelAviv to Ethiopia, thenfrom Ethiopia to Togo andfrom Togo to New Jersey

Across the next two years, Williams madestopsinFrance, Greece, Mexico and Romania. She debuted inthe Women’s Lebanese Basketball League (WLBL) on Jan. 8and startedtosettle into arole that was similar to the oneshe played at LSU. Her team won 11 of its first 12 games, and shewas its second-leading scorer

Then theU.S. and Israel decided to strike Iran,ignitinga warthat has since spilled over intoLebanon. Hezbollah, theIran-backed militantgroup withapresence in Lebanon, sent missiles intoIsrael, and Israelretaliatedbyattackingparts of Lebanon. The airstrikes started March2,and oneofthemhit the southern edge of the capital, Beirut— only abouta dozenmiles from where Williams was living.

This time, sheheardthe explosions. Andfelt them, too.

“Tothem,” Williams said, “everything was normal. People werestill

out and about, not really changing theireveryday lives. The difference was just the proximity.”

Williams said that the WLBL initially hoped to continue its season.

But thenthe strikes kept coming, andthe war kept escalating, forcing the Lebanese Athletics Federation to postpone all sporting events in thecountry.Ittook about two days to reach that decision.

“That’sreally when the sense of urgency to get us outstarted,” Williams said.

The problem, of course —for Williams and anyone else trying to flee theviolence —was that travel accommodations were tough to come by.Roads around the Beirut airport suffered damage. Traffic slowed to acrawl. Commercial airlines suspended operations in thearea.

Williams said she contacted the U.S.embassy in Lebanon to letit know that she was trying to evacuate the area but that American authorities “weren’treally helping” thepeople who were stuck there She andone of herteammates— former Wright State and Ole Miss guard AngelBaker —started booking flights, and the airlines endedupcanceling most of them beforethey were scheduled to take off.

It tookabout fourdaysfor Williams andBaker to hop on their first flight. They found aflight fromBeirut to Jordan and then another fromJordan to Egypt. From there, they flew to New York and landed safely by March 8— six days after the first missiles hit Lebanon. TheirWLBLteam covered the costs of their travel, per clauses in their contracts.

According to The Associated Press, Lebanon’shealth ministry said that Israeli strikes in the countryhad killed968 people, including 77 women and 116 children, as of Wednesday

“My teammates were like, ‘Are youscared?’”Williams said. “‘It’s OK.It’snothing to be scared of.’

“The Lebanese people, they were allchill aboutitbecause they’re used to that stuff. Even not being used to it, Iwasn’treally scared, but Iwas just ready to go.”

Nine days after Williamslanded safelyinNew York, theWNBAand itsplayers’ associationreached a newcollective bargainingagreement. Hammering out the landmarkdeal, at times acontentious process,allowed theleagueto avoid awork stoppage and resume theexpansionithas plannedfor the next four years. The WNBAhad 12 teamsin2023, the year Williams was drafted. By 2030, the league will have 18 teams —after it adds expansion squads in San Francisco, Portland, Toronto,Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.

Those extra roster spots will loosen the squeeze that has forced players such as Williams to take their talents outside the U.S. and, sometimes, into war zones. It happenedtoWilliams notonce, but twice.

But the former LSU star doesn’t want to let her negativeexperiencesoverrideher positive ones Because basketball hastaken her to three different continents, she’s seen new parts of the world, exposedherself to newculturesand met all kinds of new people. It’s allgivenWilliams the perspective of aseasoned world traveler.She may fly back overseas one day,but for now,she plans to pause her playing career and spend some timewith her family Basketball should comecalling again, and when it does, she knows at least where she won’tlet it take her

“Inthe future,” Williams said, “I’m definitely staying out of the Middle East.”

the most. Borrego made several bold decisions that could have caused friction in the locker room. None of the moves did. As soon as Borrego took over, he inserted rookie Derik Queen into the starting lineup. Another change he implemented for seven games was bringing Zion Williamson off the bench. Convincing the face of the franchise to come off the bench doesn’t always go over well, but Borrego made it work and Williamson embracedit. Borrego also benched Jordan Poole, the second-highestpaid player on the roster and has limited his role. Queen and fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears also now come off the bench, yet he has given them enough quality minutes to help them continue to develop. He’shad success managing rookiesbefore. When he was the head coach of the CharlotteHornets, LaMelo Ball wonRookie of the Year.Excluding the COVIDshortened season, the Hornets increased their win total each season under Borrego and fin-

This season as an interim coach, he’s had toteach his principles anddevelop team chemistry withouthavinga training camp. His players understandhow daunting that task can be

“It’stough, especially picking up the job early on in theseason when you don’treally have asummer to prepare what you really want to do,” saidforward Trey Murphy.“So you’re just going on the fly to an extent. Just trying to motivate guys and trying to getguys to play the way youwant them toplay is tough. I definitely want to commend him for that.”

The Pelicans are 10-5 over the past 15 games, with eightofthose 10 winsbydouble digits. Since the tradedeadlineinearly February, thePelicanshaveboasted victories over postseason-bound teams like the MinnesotaTimberwolves, Philadelphia76ers, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors and theLos Angeles Clippers twice. Dumars hasn’tspoken to the mediasince November,when he made the coachingchange. So

we don’tknow where he is in the process of finding theteam’snext head coach. In an interview with The Times-Picayune last May shortly after replacing David Griffinasthe team’schief decision maker,Dumars had this to say about his expectations for the franchise.

“The style of play —resilience, toughness, playing hard, never quit —that’s what we want people to see right away,” Dumarssaid.

The Pelicansunder Borrego have checked all those boxes. While manyteams at the bottom of the standings are tanking for draft picks, thePelicans don’t have any draft picks to tankfor So they are still competing, which is why they have climbed to 11th in the Western Conference standings heading into Saturday’s game. The Pelicans rallied from an 18-point deficit in Wednesday’s win over the Clippers and ended up winning by 13.

“We’re sprinting to thefinish line,” Borrego said. “The goal here is to build momentum. I’m really proud of the group that they have bought into that.They are not giving in to theseason. They are not giving in within the game. To me, that’sresiliency.”

The Pelicans(25-46) have

eclipsed their wintotal from last season, when they won just 21 games. Injuries plagued Green’s team lastseason and have played apart in this season’sdisappointment. Especially the absence of Dejounte Murray,who missed the first 58 games recovering from theAchilles injury suffered last January.The Pels are 5-4 since Murray’sreturn. Murray’ssteady play and leadership would have likely navigated the Pels through their lulls this season. But Borrego doesn’t get caught up in the hypotheticalsofwhat this season could have been if the team were healthy

“I can’tgothere,” Borrego said. “What Ican look forward to is what’sahead. Stay in the moment. Itry not to look back at ‘what if?’ We can’tdoanything about thepast. All we control is what’s in front of us now.I see agroup playing together and playing for one another.I’m just enjoying this timewith them.I see the future here. Isee ahead to what this group can be with this vision coming to light.”

He’dlike nothing morethan to be apart of the Pelicans future.

Names like Darvin Ham (who coached theLos Angeles Lakers two seasonsfrom 2022-2024) and

former UCONNcoach Kevin Ollie have floated around as possibilities Dumarsand Troy Weaver could be considering for the job. There are other options, like Michael Malone. But are the Pels willing to shell out the type of money that an NBAchampionship coach like Malone would demand?

Here’shoping Dumars does a thorough coaching search. That search should include Borrego. If the Pelicans don’thire him, someone else likely will in this coaching cycle. Borrego wasone of the final candidates forjobs with the Cavs, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers the past twoyears. His results this season with ahealthy roster will have moreteams calling. His players know it.

“I’m excited to go play hard for him because everybody is being evaluated,” Murray said when he returned from his injury.“He’s being evaluated forthis, so we want to go through abrick wall forhim to put him in agreat position here or elsewhere. Hopefully it’shere.”

He’smade astrong case.

Email RodWalker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU forward LaDazhiaWilliams takes ashot over Houston Christian forward Jo OlyonNov.16, 2022, at the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter

JOHNSON

Crucial error costs LSU series vs. Oklahoma

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Sometimes one play can change the course of a game, or even the outlook of a season. For LSU baseball on Saturday against Oklahoma, the rubber match of a crucial three-game series at Alex Box Stadium, the former was certainly true, and the latter was probably accurate as well.

With the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning, and LSU leading 3-2, redshirt sophomore right-hander Deven Sheerin forced the perfect double play ground ball to second base. But instead of starting the inningending play, freshman Jack Ruckert who was in the game for his defense at second bobbled the ball and made an error, resulting in everyone being safe.

Not only did the mistake cost the Tigers a run, but it also turned into two runs and the game Sheerin allowed a sacrifice fly after Ruckert’s error that handed the Sooners a 4-3 advantage, and Oklahoma ended up winning by that final score to take the three-game series.

“That play is going to be the type of play that’s going to tip the scale in a game like this,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “Which, that’s not a surprise.”

The loss resulted in LSU dropping its third consecutive series, including its first two series in Southeastern Conference play Since returning from the Jax College Baseball Classic, LSU has an 8-9 record and has failed to score more than five runs nine times.

LSU got the pitching it needed on Saturday, despite sophomore right-handed starter William Schmidt only lasting four innings. Schmidt only allowed a solo home run, and redshirt junior right-hander Gavin Guidry worked around trouble for three innings in relief of Schmidt before running into a jam that Sheerin

RHP MOORE OUT FOR 3 WEEKS

LSU junior right-hander Cooper Moore is expected to be out for the next three weeks with triceps soreness in his right arm, coach Jay Johnson said on Saturday.

Johnson also revealed that Moore has no structural damage in his arm after exiting his start on Friday against Oklahoma just one pitch into the fifth inning

“There is some swelling we need to get down, basically,”

Johnson said “The only way to do that is to give him some time, which is probably about a week to 10 days.And then to be responsible with his return to throwing (he’ll need) a minimum of a week to 10 days.

““So I kind of just added those two up, and it gets you probably to like three weeks from now is probably the bestcase scenario.” In six starts, Moore holds a 3.38 ERA in 32 innings. He’s struck out 39 batters and has only committed seven walks. LSU faces Kentucky at home before hitting the road to face Tennessee and Ole Miss over its next two weekends in Southeastern Conference play.

Koki Riley

nearly escaped for him in the eighth.

Schmidt, Sheerin and Guidry combined to walk eight batters, but Oklahoma also stranded 14 runners on base against the trio. The Sooners left at least one runner in scoring position in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings before finally breaking through in the eighth

What cost LSU the game and the series was not its pitching. Instead, it was the position player group. The Tigers struggled at the plate, recording just four hits despite leading for most of the afternoon They also committed two errors.

The mistakes made in the field on Saturday placed their fielding percentage at .964 on the year, a far cry from the .981 fielding percentage they held last season.

“That’s a good question,” senior Chris Stanfield said after he was asked what’s prevented the Tigers from winning close games lately.

“I don’t know I think just fundamentals (are impor-

tant). We’ve got to make the routine plays and keep adding on offense.”

Two of LSU’s hits on Saturday resulted in a home run. First, freshman Omar Serna blasted his third homer of the year in the first inning. His two-run shot gave LSU a 2-1 lead before Stanfield blasted a solo homer in the fifth that stretched the Tigers’ lead to two. But overall, LSU went 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and the bottom seven hitters in the order combined to record two hits and drive in just one run.

“When you face elite pitching, and they fill up the strike zone, you better hit the one that you get,” Johnson said.

“And we hit a couple of them today But if we’re not doing that, there’s not a whole lot else that we’re able to do.”

LSU will host Louisiana Tech on Tuesday before resuming SEC play next weekend. First pitch from Alex Box Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be available to stream on SEC Network+.

South Carolina baseball, coach Mainieri part ways

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

After a less than a season and a half in Columbia, South Carolina, former LSU baseball coach and South Carolina coach Paul Mainieri has parted ways with the Gamecocks, Mainieri and athletic director Jeremiah Donati announced in a joint statement on Saturday. Mainieri posted a 40-40 record during his time at South Carolina, most recently losing 22-6 to Arkansas on Friday

“Jeremiah Donati and I have agreed that the baseball program will be better served with new leadership,” Mainieri said in the statement. “I take full responsibility for the win/loss record of the baseball program over the 80 games I have served as head coach.”

The Gamecocks failed to make the NCAA Tournament in Mainieri’s first season, posting a 28-29 record before starting this year with a 12-11 recordanda0-4markinSoutheastern Conference play

“After a conversation this morning with coach Mainieri, we agreed that it would be in the best interest of the program that we part ways at this time,” Donati said in his statement.

“I appreciate everything Paul has poured into our student-athletes and our program, not just at South Carolina, but throughout his career He is a Hall of Fame coach and a worldclass individual, and we wish him and his family all the best.”

Mainieri was the winningest active coach in Division I before South Carolina decided to part ways with him. In his statement on Saturday, he also announced his permanent retirement from coaching. Mainieri had

retired from coaching for three years before taking the job at South Carolina.

“When Ray Tanner invited me to come out of three years of retirement to coach again, my goal was to work with young people again and restore the South Carolina program to greatness with a return to Omaha,” Mainieri said. “My staff and I have worked diligently in an attempt to accomplish that goal.

“Unfortunately, that goal has not materialized as quickly as I would have liked and will take more time than I had anticipated and that is time that I just don’t have at my age.”

Before taking the job in Columbia, Mainieri was at LSU from 2007-21. Mainieri accumulated a 641285-3 record with the Tigers and led the program to a national championship in 2009 before stepping aside, in part, due to health

reasons. He also guided LSU to five College World Series appearances, an appearance in the College World Series final in 2017 and six SEC Tournament championships Before arriving at LSU, he also led Notre Dame to the College World Series in 2001 and spent six seasons as the head coach at Air Force and St. Thomas.

“As I go into retirement again (and for the final time), I reflect on how fortunate I have been to do what I Iove most — coaching college baseball and trying to impact young lives — for more than 40 years at five wonderful institutions,” Mainieri said “St. Thomas University, the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Notre Dame, LSU, and the University of South Carolina will always hold a special place in my heart.”

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL

LSU third baseman John Pearson tries to avoid the tag by Oklahoma catcher Brendan Brock after a dropped third strike in the fourth inning on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By SEAN RAyFORD

South Carolina coach Paul Mainieri watches players during a game against Charleston March 18 in Columbia, S.C.

By HODGES PHOTOGRAPHy

HORSE RACING

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

Jake Delhomme has said all along that his Louisiana-bred sensation, Touchuponastar,isspecial, and he certainly was that on SaturdayatFair Grounds Race Course. With amassive crowd cheering him on from the stands,the speedy sonofStarGuitarcelebratedhis seventh birthday by winningthe Grade II $500,000 New Orleans Classic in spectacular fashion, shattering the track record in a time of 1minute, 46.84 secondsfor the 11/8-mile trip.

“He’sjust different,” said Delhomme, the former NFLand UL quarterback,between congratulatory handshakes and backslaps in the crowded winner’scircle. “He’s been ajoy to have.”

In taking homethe $300,000 first-place purse, Touchuponastar pushed his careerearnings more than $2 million, making himthe second-highest earning Louisianabred horse in history

Just as he did in winning last year’sClassic, Touchuponastar took the initiative out of thegate andseized the early lead and rail position, this time under jockey MarcelinoPedroza Jr., whowas riding him for the first time because of an injury to regular rider TimThornton. Touchuponastar

maintained thelead under legitimate fractions —22.77, 46.40, 1:09.56 and 134.14 —and held off a fast-closing Corporate Power by a half-length at the wire.

“Every time we were getting close to the winner,heran on again,” said Luis Saez, the jockey on Corporate Power.“He’s atough horse to beat”

Touchuponastarreturned $4.40, $2.80and $2.10, whileimproving hiscareer record to 28-21-4-2 with earnings of $2,060,000.

“It was apleasure for me to ride this horse,” Pedroza said. “There wasalittle pressure, but after the gates opened, Ilet him go to the frontand he didthe rest for me.”

Alargecrowd of friends and family joined Delhomme andhis brother, Jeff, the official trainer forTouchuponastar,and father Jerry,inthe winner’scircle.

“Touchuponastarhas abig following,” Delhomme said. “They appreciatehim.Honestly,it’sa big responsibility on our part,because we want to make sure he’sready to runevery time he comes. But he makesour job pretty easy.”

Fair GroundsOaks

Life of Joy overtook favorite Bella Ballerina in the stretch and

pulled away to an impressive 33/4-length victory in theGrade II $400,000 FairGrounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

With afinaltime of 1:42.23, Life of Joy earned 100 qualifying points for theKentuckyOaks at Churchill DownsonMay 3. Thedaughterof Gun Runner now has three wins in five lifetimestarts and has earned morethan $440,000.

It was the third consecutivewin andthe fifth in the past seveneditions of the Fair Grounds Oaks for trainer Brad Cox in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

“Wewantedtofreshen her up a little bit,”Cox said. “Weran into a really good filly in Tampalast time (Zany). She got agood set up today, and Flavien did agreat job today.I thinkshe is afillythatcan handle amile and an eighth.”

Bella Ballerina was adistant second afterleading formostofthe way.She suffered her first defeat in four starts,fadingdownthe stretch. Sheincreased herKentucky Oaks point totalto110, putting hercomfortably in the field. LuvYour Neighbor was third.

“Honestly,she’sjust gettinga little forward on us,”said Tyler Gaffalione, who rodeBella Ballerina. “Obviously,wealways want to winthese races,but Ithink we gotenough outofthisrace. It’sa stepping stone,and we’re just go-

ing to keep moving forward with her.”

Mervin MunizMemorial

Lagynos showed his trademark strongclosing kick in the stretch to outdistancethe field anddecisively winthe GradeII$300,000 Mervin Muniz Memorial

TrainedbySteve Asmussen and ridden by José Ortiz, Lagynos tracked the pace along the rail before angling out in thestretchto take commandand winbyalength over Tom’sMagic.Program Trading finished third. Lagynos covered 11/8 milesonthe turf in 1:48.17, giving Ortiz his fifth win of the day

“This is anice horse,” Ortiz said. “Hedoes everything right, and he always shows up, even when he getsbeat.” Lagynos paid $5.20, $2.80 and $2.10 andimproved his record to 25-7-5-7 with earnings of $2,010,166.

“I’m extremely proud of Lagynos,” Asmussen said. “He’sacolt that, as a3-year-old, ran in alot of races andhad alot of tough-luck trips.

“He nevergaveup, but Idobelieve,you know, withthis last two wins, he’s found anew level of confidence. Youcould see that he handled so nice forJose, and when he askedhim to run, ranthrough thewire.”

from page1C

promise.”

Making the wineven more impressive: It wasonly Emerging Market’ssecond lifetime start. The speedy son of Candy Ride has shownaninstinctive competitiveness in both of his wins and should only improve with experience.

“Inhis first race, he showed alot of professionalism,” Prat said. “I wasalittle worried about the (No. 9post), but we worked out agood trip. He fought hard. It wasagood run, very professional. Honestly,when Iturned forhome, I thought Iwould wineasily,but Pavlovian gave us agood run downonthe inside.”

Emerging Market wasn’tthe only horse to impress.

Horse players should also keep an eye on Golden Tempo, whoran asneaky-good third while adding blinkers forthe first time. The son of Curlin wassqueezed at the start and found himself near the back of the field in eighth before steadily advancing along the backstretch and finishing with a strong closing kick to finish just alength back in third.

Golden Tempoearned 25 qualifying points forthe thirdplace finish. With 60 points overall, he will have enough to be in the field forthe Run for the Roses, giving trainer Cherie DeVaux the first Derby horse of her career “I was very happy with him,” jockey Jose Ortiz said. “I think the blinkers helped him alittle bit. I’drather ride him with them than without.” It’s been three decades since the Louisiana Derby winner went on to winthe Kentucky Derby.It’sonly happened twice in history: Grindstone (1996) and Black Gold(1924). Emerging Market just might be talented enough to end the drought this year

“It’sonly twostarts,” Prat said. “It’shard to go into the (Kentucky) Derby with only twostarts, but Imean, as of right now,hehas overcome his little experience. So, we’ll see.”

RACE —PURSE $75,000, MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT,3YO, SIX FURLONGS 9. Not to Worry (J Ortiz) 6.40 3.80 3.20 10. Mo the Merrier (Hernandez)6.404.80 2. Impractical (A Concepcion) 6.00 Off Time: 3p.m Daily Double (3-9) $10.10; Exacta (9-10) $22.50; Superfecta (9-10-2-8) $90.47; Trifecta (9-10-2) $89.30; Pic 3(4-3-9) $22.80; Pic 4(104-3/5-5/9) $119.15 Late Scratches:Range Goat EIGHTH RACE —PURSE $100,000,STAKES,3 YO’S &UP, 5.5FURLONGS 1. Nine Part (J Ortiz) 3.40 2.60 2.10 10. Smash It (T Gaffalione) 8.60 5.00 5. MonsieurCandy (J Loveberry) 2.60 Off Time: 3:32 p.m. Daily Double (9-1) $7.60; Exacta (1-10) $13.60; Superfecta (1-10-5-2) $19.96; Trifecta (1-10-5) $19.45; Pic 3(3-9-1) $9.30 Late Scratches:Buy the Rights NINTH RACE —PURSE$500,000, STAKES,4

$3,177.40 13TH RACE —PURSE $75,000, MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT,3 YO,ONE MILE 5. Good Family (E Zayas) 12.80 6.20 3.60 9. Heavenly Melody (Concepcn) 5.40 3.40 3. Prima Donna (F Geroux) 3.80 Off Time: 6:18 p.m. Daily Double(9-5)$25.00; Exacta (5-9)$27.90; Superfecta (5-9-3-4)$72.82; Trifecta (5-9-3) $52.05; Pic3(6-9-5)$69.95 Late Scratches: Raging Bloom, More Sweeter, Twirling Daisy 14TH RACE —PURSE $75,000, MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT,3 YO,SIX FURLONGS 1. DirtyStraight Up (Concpc.)2.802.10. $2.10 9. Slewssongofthenile

Concepcion) 3-1 5. April’s Gem (M Murrill) 20-1

6. Roar of Silence (J Loveberry)5-1 7. Start Singing (E Nieves) 20-1 8. Cheyenne Moon (H Rea) 20-1

9. MadisonRae (H Hernandez) 4-1

10. Foreign Tourist (M Meeks) 20-1 FIFTH RACE —$14,000, CLAIMING $5,000, 3 YO’S &UP, F& M(FILLIES AND MARES) SIX FURLONGS

1. Star of Astrology (J Rodriguez)20-1

2. La Palabra(JRamirez, Jr.) 6-1

3. Our Indian Girl (C McMahon) 20-1

4. Micheline Gail (C Hernandez)30-1

5. WickeyBibby(HRea109 10-1

6. That’s the Deal (J Dominguez) 7-2

7. Vanna G(JMudd) 3-1

8. Sweet Thirteen (J Vargas)4-1

9. Rose Hill Rocket (O Chavez) 6-1

10. Insipid (M Meeks) 30-1

11. Mom’s Hands (J Riquelme) 10-1 SIXTH RACE —$30,000, MAIDEN OPTIONAL CLAIMING $50,000, 3YO’S& UP 5.5 FURLONGS 1. Razorcat (J Graham) 4-1

2. Got Stripes (I Castillo)8-1

3. Blue ChairBay (E Nieves) 8-1

4. Joe’s Candy (M Pedroza, Jr.) 9-2

5. IcebergSlim (J Loveberry)9-2

6. TurboLaunch (J Ortiz) 7-2

7. Gazar (M Meeks) 15-1

8. Bad Joke (H Hernandez) 20-1

9. Ain’t

STAFFPHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK Trainer Chad Brown leads the horse Emerging Market out onto the race track with jockeyFlavien Pratt on Saturday at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

PHOTO

Im takes lead into Innisbrook finale

By The Associated Press

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Sungjae Im was in position for a wire-to-wire victory in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook after a slow start in his return from a wrist injury

Brandt Snedeker was right beside him in the final pairing with a hot new putter in the bag. Im holed a sweeping 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole Saturday for a 2-under 69 and a two-stroke lead over Snedeker, the 45-year-old U.S. Presidents Cup captain playing on a sponsor exemption, and David Lipsky.

Snedeker birdied three of the first four holes in a 67, and Lipsky had a 70 on the sunny afternoon with a high in the low-70s and wind gusting to 15 mph.

After missing two straight cuts in his return, Im led by a stroke after each of the first two rounds in firm and fast conditions on the Copperhead course, shooting 6469.

“I wasn’t able to practice for two months,” Im said. “So I think a lot of my shots that I didn’t like from last year I was able to, once I started practicing, I was able to correct and it’s just been consistently getting better.”

On Saturday, Im played the front nine in 3 under, with birdies on Nos. 1, 7 and 8. He bogeyed the par-4 12th and par-3 13th, and got the left-to-right putt to fall on 18 to get to 11-under 202.

“I was really happy that my play was good on the finishing stretch, 16 through 18,” Im said. “And I’m really thrilled about the birdie on the final hole, and to have a twoshot lead going into tomorrow.”

The 27-year-old South Korean player has two PGA Tour victories, the 2020 Honda Classic and 2021 Shriners Children’s Open.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been in the lead like this,” Im said. “I’m sure I will be nervous, but the best I can do is just to play my own game.”

Snedeker won the last of his nine

SCOREBOARD

57 Sunday’s games At Benchmark International Arena Tampa, Fla. Florida vs. Iowa, 6:10 p.m. MIDWEST REGIONAL First Round Thursday’s games At KeyBank Center Buffalo, N.Y. Michigan 101, Howard 80 Georgia (22-10) vs. Saint Louis (28-5), n Friday’s games At Benchmark International Arena Tampa, Fla. Texas Tech 91, vs. Akron 71 Alabama 90, Hofstra 70 At Xfinity Mobile Arena Philadelphia Tennessee78, Miami 56 Virginia 82, Wright St. 73 At Enterprise Center St. Louis Kentucky 89, Santa Clara 84 Iowa St. 108, Tennessee St. 74 Second Round Saturday’s games At KeyBank Center Buffalo, N.Y. Michigan 95, Saint Louis 72 Sunday’s games At Benchmark International Arena Tampa, Fla. Alabama vs. Texas Tech, 8:45

Baton Rouge, La. LSU vs. Texas Tech, 2 p.m.

SACRAMENTO 4 First Round Friday’s games At Lloyd Noble Center Norman, Okla. Michigan St. 65, Colorado St. 62 Oklahoma 89, Idaho 59 At Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena Fort Worth, Texas Washington 72, vs. S. Dakota St. 58 TCU 86, UC San Diego Tritons 40 Saturday’s games At Colonial Life Arena Columbia, S.C South Carolina 103, Southern 34 USC 71, Clemson 67 At Carver-Hawkeye Arena Iowa City, Iowa Virginia 82, Georgia 73, OT Iowa 58, Fairleigh Dickinson 48 Second Round Sunday’s games At Lloyd Noble Center Norman, Okla. Oklahoma vs. Michigan St., 7 p.m.

At Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena Fort Worth, Texas TCU vs. Washington, 9 p.m. Monday’s games At Colonial Life Arena Columbia, S.C South Carolina vs. Southern Cal, TBA At Carver-Hawkeye Arena Iowa City, Iowa Iowa vs. Virginia, TBA FORT WORTH 1 First Round Friday’s games At Carmichael Arena Chapel Hill, N.C. Maryland 99, Murray St. 67 North Carolina 82, W. Illinois 51 Saturday’s games At Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs, Conn. UConn 90, UTSA 52 Syracuse 72, Iowa St. 63 At Value City Arena Columbus, Ohio Notre Dame 79, Fairfield

PGA Tour titles in 2018 and had only two top 10s in the last year He switched to a mallet putter a few weeks ago, and has been on a tear on and around the greens this week.

“I finished strong, made some good swings coming down the stretch,” Snedeker said. “Rolling the ball so good, chipping the ball so good, if I can kind of get my long game under control a little bit we’re going to have a good chance tomorrow.”

Lipsky had five birdies and four bogeys. He’s winless on the PGA Tour

“It was up-and-down,” Lipsky said. “I didn’t hit it as many fairways as I wanted to, nor greens. But overall the short game and the putter really saved me and kept me in it.”

Matt Fitzpatrick, second last week in The Players Championship, was 8 under along with Marco Penge. They each shot 68. Brooks Koepka was tied for 16th at 3 under after a 71.

PHOTO By CHRIS URSO —

Sungjae Im pumps his

putt on the 18th hole during the

round of the Valspar Championship on

OUTDOORS

City Park rodeogoing strong

77th annual N.O. bass tourneyhas survived to become Louisianajewel

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

It beganshortly after veteransreturning from World WarIIwanted life to “get back to normal.”

It has survivedhurricanes, floods,ahail storm and apandemic thankfully notsleet norsnow (this isn’tthe U.S. Post Office) —and survives today,well, Saturday The it?

The City Park Big Bass Rodeo in NewOrleans. Paul Kalman was among ahandful of men who dreamed up, then began, this annual event, which, come Saturday,will celebrateits 77th morning of finding,then hopefully catching, largemouth bass from the lagoons winding through City Park’sexpanse.

Kalman was an extraordinaryman, awriter for national outdoors publications, afounder of the Louisiana’stop 10 fishrecordsasa member of the fledgling Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association, and, as you can guess, an avid outdoorsman.

Shortly after his deathin1986, this event went throughachangingofthe guard, amovethat eventuallybrought folks like Danica Williams into the picture. Williams’job withthe Department of Wildlife and Fisheriesisthe Get Out and Fish! Program, and weavingthis rodeo into our state’sbig fishing picture was anextbig step Today,LDWF and the City Park Conservancy organize the event, whichhas taken conservation and informational components,something named“TheFishtival,”acarnival surrounding the rodeo’sinitial focus on catchingbass.

The Fishtivalisafree-to-all gathering complete with music, food, educational exhibitsand door prizes.

Yet, fishing remains the main attraction.

The BigBass is just oneangling contest. The bass category (bankfishing only)has adultand youth divisions.

The “more” includes:

n Battle for the Bass: acompetition for school teams in grades 6-12 competing forthe two heaviest bass;

n Boats on the Bayou: held for nonmotorized vessels (kayaks, etc.) on BayouSt. John for the heaviest bass and other species;

n TheCichlid/Bream Trim:teams of up to five anglers weighing in the heaviest 15-fish stringer of bream, cichlids and perch. Some folkscall cichlids “Rio Grande Perch,” aspecies that invaded the lagoonsinthe wake of the HurricaneKatrinaflood.

Anote to pass along is thatanglers 18 and older must have avalid state basic fishinglicense to be eligible.

Youcan show up at the Casino building inCity Park before fishingbegins at 6:30 a.m. —the weigh-in deadline is 11 a.m. —tosign up and pay the smallregistration fee. Or,you can go on the City Park website to preregister For more details or to volunteer,you can email Williams at dwilliams@wlf.la.gov

To add to Louisiana’svalid claim of being the Sportsman’sParadise, thisrodeo and the annual Grand IsleTarpon Rodeoare the oldest continuing freshwater and saltwaterfishing events in our country Turkey season

Just five days after the months-longfall/win-

LukeShaw, above,teamed with fellowBrother Martin High student Matt Graffagnini to takethe title in theBattle of the Bass Divisioninthe CityPark Big Bass Rodeo andFishtival twoyears ago. Shaw’sgiant 6.87-pound largemouth bass, taken from the park’slagoons, was the star of the day among the gradeschool and highschool teams butdidn’t beat out Frank Woolley’s7.76-pounder thatwon the adult division. The 77th Big Bass Rodeocomes up SaturdayinNew Orleans.

terhunting seasons, the spring turkeyseason begins Saturday withthe weekend-only,youthandphysically challenged-only special season.

The regular season opens in the state’sthree turkey zones thefollowing Saturday,April 3.

From reports, and with warmer conditions ahead thisweek,hunters will need insect repellent and keep one eye out for snakes.

Scoutingtrips in mostall corners of our state tell that gobbling has commenced especially in the Feliciana parishes and areas along the Mississippi River

TheMississippi

It’stime to takenotice of the recent and dramatic rise in theMississippi River

It’s already pushingtomorethana25-foot reading on the Baton Rouge gauge,which means water is pushing in hardatOld River.

It also means water is rising in theAtchafalaya Spillway,which meansbass,sac-a-lait and breamcatches reportedfromthis vast overflowswamp twoweeks ago will start on adecline until the spring floodwater begins to recede.

With theriseinthe BigMuddy comes the memory of days long agowhenadventuresome Old River fishermen like J.B. Salter couldn’twait

to get back in theBall Park area of that grand oxbow lake.

The Mississippi rises so hard that it pushes waterbacktothe levee, andthe area between AlligatorPoint (south of Old River Landing) and the levee is atangle of cypress, tupelo gum and willow trees afisherman must navigate to get to an open area along the levee.

This is where bluegill and other sunfishes would move to feed on worms and other forage trying to survive the flood.

It was aparadise for panfishermen, but they had to wait for afew days for spring’swarming sun for these fish to moveinto the area and become active enough to chase live and artificial bait.

The advice, always, was to takealong flagging tape and mark yourway into the Ball Park so you could find your wayback to Alligator Pointfor the short trip back to the landing.

Outsideshrimp

Wildlife and Fisheries announced Friday that stateoutside waters between Caillou Boca and Freshwater Bayou Canalwill reopen to shrimping at 6a.m. Tuesday.It’sbecause biological sampling showed the overwintering white shrimphave reached marketable sizes.

SUNDAY LOUISIANASPORTSMAN SHOW: St. John theBaptist Community Center &Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park, U.S. 51, LaPlace. 45TH KIWANIS OF POINTE COUPEE OPEN BASS TOURNAMENT: 3p.m. weigh-in, MorrisonParkway public launch, NewRoads

MONDAY RED STICKFLY FISHERS FLY-TYING

SESSION: 7p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library,9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge.Open to the public. Materialsand tools available for beginners.Website: www rsff.org.

THURSDAY

ACADIANA BUGS &BREWS: 6p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Casual fly-tying and local beersprovided. Open to thepublic. Email DarinLee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: www.packpaddle.com

SATURDAY 77TH BIG BASS RODEO&FISHTIVAL: 6:30-11 a.m. (6 a.m. registration), The Casino &Bandstand area, CityPark, NewOrleans. Agegroup divisions in bass &other freshwater species, high school teamsBattle for theBass, Boats on theBayou (nonmotorized watercraft only), Cichlid/Bream Team competitions &“Fishtival, afamily-oriented outdoors event. Fees $5-$20. Registration Website: neworleanscitypark.org/visit-citypark/big-bass-fishing-rodeo/

HUNTINGSEASONS

TURKEY: March 28-29, Youth/ Physically Challengedweekend. Regular season, Area A, April 3-May3;AreaB:April 3-26; Area C: April 3-19.

AROUND THECORNER

MARCH29— SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 8:30 a.m., Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. LandryRoad Gonzales. CMPXTC &Sniper Match.Fee $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 juniors.$25 annual club (first match free) &Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP).Call MikeBurke(337) 3808120. Email: SouthLAHighPower@ hotmail.com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshoreseason closed in Zones2&3&portions of Zone 1except Breton/Chandeleur sounds. Outside watersfrom Caillou Boca west to Freshwater BayouCanal closed. All other outside watersopen OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Gray triggerfish; flounder;lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers &wenchmen among othersnapper species; all groupersexcept closed for goliath& Nassau groupersinstate/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Redsnapper; greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath& Nassau groupersin state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack seasonclosed.

LDWF UPDATE

CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/boat launch (MaurepasSwamp WMA, leveeconstruction) EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

NASCAR temperscould be flaring at Darlington

Frustrationcould boil over on tricky track as observersmonitor Suarez-Chastainfeud

BY NATE RYAN

The Associated Press

“The Track TooTough To Tame” somehow is expectedtoget even tougher this weekend, andthat’s just fine with NASCAR drivers who have lobbied for bigger challenges

It’salso probably fine with NASCAR executives, whohaveacrowdpleasing feud brewing in the Cup Series circuit at Darlington Raceway,the egg-shaped oval in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina that has given top drivers fits for 76 years. Anger and frustration often flare at the tricky 1.366-mile track, and all eyes will be on how Ross Chastain and DanielSuarez race each other Sunday.The former teammates at Trackhouse Racing had a brief but animatedconfrontation after their cars made contact last week at Las Vegas MotorSpeedway, andthey’vecontinued taking swipes at each other this week. Suarez accused Chastain of being two-faced and later told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that “if Iwantto fight Ross, and he knows this, it’snot going to last5seconds.” Chastain said he regretted sideswipingSuarez’scar before lightly shovinghim in the pits, but added “I don’tagree with the way he handles things What made me so mad was just that there was no accountability.

With theill will festering, conditionsatDarlington will be ripe for prolonging that rivalry and possibly igniting other fresh squabbles. A12% increase in horsepower and a25% decrease in downforce (thephysics that keep cars glued to thetrack at ahigh rate of speed) are expected to cause excessive tirewear on an already abrasive surface that’s infamous for chewing up rubber

Lap times areexpected to drop by 4to5seconds overthe course of arun —a second morethantraditional falloff —asdrivers wrestle with tirespunished by heavier acceleration from 750 horsepower, heat from higherbraking loads andpowerslidesfromthe lackof traction

Aforecast in thehigh 80s also will make theasphalt slippery

“It’sgoing to be crazy,” Suarez said. “Honestly,I’m actually looking forward to it. I’m superexcited for the challenge.”

JORDAN’S TEAM EARNSTOP TWOSTARTING SPOTS

DARLINGTON, S.C. The NASCAR team co-ownedbyNBA legendMichael Jordan continued its strong 2026 startinthe Cup Series,locking up the top twostarting spots Saturdayat Darlington Raceway.

Daytona 500 winnerTyler Reddick, the first driver in NASCAR historytowin the season’s first three races, qualified first for Sunday’s400-mile race with a 169.152 mphlap on the 1.366mile oval

The 23XI Racing driver captured his13th poleposition despite smacking the wallwith hisNo. 45 Toyota as he struggled with anew packagethat makes driving harder with higherhorsepowerand lower downforce.

Indeed, many drivers relish the idea of being out of controlfor 400 laps because they believe the difficult conditions separate thefield and provide the most talented with abetter chance to shine by managing their tires.

Chase Briscoe, who has won two of the past three races at Darlington, said he was “crashing every corner of every lap” recently testing the track on Toyota’sdriving simulator.

“I tried to takeiteasy and just overdid the throttle,” Reddick said.

“I kindofknewI wasintrouble about athird of the waythrough, so Ijust had to hit the wall at that point.

“Just really proud of everyone at 23XI. It wasa hugefocal point with the adjustments to theengine and downforce to stayasstrong as we have been the last couple of years. Iknewitwould be ahuge challenge in qualifying today, and it was. Idamn near wrecked.”

Teammate Bubba Wallace qualified second at 168.434 mph in his No. 23 Toyota for23XI, marking the second front rowsweep for the team foundedbyJordan and NASCARstar DennyHamlin. TheAssociatedPress

“It’sgoingtobethe hardest track we run on allyear long,” said Briscoe, who haswon two of the past three races at Darlington. “The whole weekendisgoingtobemustsee because of how drastically different this thing drives.”

On what NASCAR is hailing as “Alumni Weekend,” several dozen former Cup driversare expected to be on handatthe historic track Sunday for arace thatfittinglywill be old school.

It’ssomuchofa throwback that concerns have been raised aboutits unknowns.

NASCAR executive vicepresident andchief racingdevelopment officer John Probst said teams have asked for extratires (beyond an allotted 10 sets) and permission to enhancebrake cooling.

Probst saidNASCAR declinedto grant their requests becauseunpredictabilityusually meansbetter racing—presuming the entire field doesn’t exhaust itstire supply or suffer systemicbrake failures.

“This isn’tjustaregular event where everything is known, and everyone’scomfortable,” Probst said. “That uncertainty is usually the recipe for avery compelling race. If you’reateam, youwant to minimize the opportunities to make awrong decision.Wefeelwhen there are opportunities to make bad decisions, it improves the entertainment of our events.

“But there is aslippery slope that if we err toomuchonthe side of not enough tiresorbrake cooling, then youkindofruinthe sportingsideof the event. So we’re trying to thread the needle between theentertainmentand sporting side.”

Probst saidNASCAR is confident the curveballswon’t be toobig to handleatDarlington.

“Wehavethe best drivers and engineers in the world, andtheywant to showtheir skills,” Probst said. “Anytime that we canput decisions that have profound effects on the outcome in the hands of ourteams, that’swhen we seeour best racing.

ILLUSTRATION By ARTHUR NEAD

Tennessee Williams’ grave controversy

Ionce spent an afternoon in Calvary Cemetery looking for Tennessee Williams’ hardto-find burial site in St. Louis, Missouri, his hometown

The annual Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival is this weekend, March 25-29, marking its 40th anniversary.Itbrings that day in St Louis to mind becauseofa fiery debate that once ricocheted at the festival Since thefestival started (full disclosure, Ihave been on the board) some of Williams’ contemporaries have participated in the popular “I RememberTennessee” panel,where afrequent comment was how much they disliked the playwright’sbrother,Dakin.

Chief among the grievances was Dakin’sdecision to bury his brother in St. Louis. Tennessee Williams had not been shy about his opinion of the town where he grew up. “Loathe” was one of the common phrases. There were many places that Williams relished. New Orleans, where he bought property in the French Quarter,was one of them. Also, Key West and New York City but not strait-laced, industrial, uncolorful St. Louis.

Yetasthe surviving sibling, it would be Dakin’sdecision. The brother was also afrequent attendee at the festival and appeared on panels.His presence gave legitimacyto the event. It also added drama. He was the ultimate antagonist, made more dramatic by his flashy gold jackets, loud pants and entourage which included asecurity guard because he believed that he was the target of aplot.

(Another member of the group was afriend of Dakin’s whose dad onceoperatedaninsurance business in Memphis His clientele included Elvis. Over dinner one night, the friend recalled wrestling,as a kid, with Presley in the business’ front yard whilehis dad filled out the necessary insurance forms.)

After severalyearsofDakinbashing, the festival dared to put together a“IRemember Tennessee” panelwhich included Dakin and some of his

ä See GRAVE, page 9D

“I am pleased to say that we were successfulinour efforts, which means agreat deal to the tradeofour city.” M. J. SANDERS,New Orleans Board of Trade president, on securing the supply depot

In Bywater, future comesintofocus forafacilitywithmanypasts

BY RICHARD CAMPANELLA

Contributing writer

For over acentury, theformer Bywater Navy base has been a prominent riverfront landmark, and after 92 years of military useand 14 years of uncertainty,its future is finally coming into focus as amixed-use housing and retailhub anchored by atech-innovation center

Aplace of many names since itscompletion in 1919, theformer Naval SupportActivity East Bank is made up of three 600-by-140foot, six-story depotsplus grounds so largeithas two addresses (officially at 4400 Dauphine St.and paralleling 600-700 Poland Ave.) andtwo waterfronts (facing the Mississippi River andflanking the Industrial Canal).

The complicated history of this sprawling facilitybegan rather unexpectedly,atthe outbreak of whatwould become WorldWar I.

In 1914, American military planners quickly learned that, after decades of divesting of inland waterways in favor of railroads,the U.S. lacked thecapacity to trans-

MR. NEWORLEANS,LYLESAXON

BYROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Louisiana author

The Jesse MorrowTrio performaspeoplegather foragroundbreaking ceremonymarking the redevelopment of the former NavalSupportActivity site in NewOrleans on Jan. 21

portmuch-needed supplies and material to coastal ports for shipment to allies across the Atlantic.

The Mississippi being thebiggest of those waterways; federal authorities scrambled to commandeer privatebarge companies and develop what would become the Federal Barge Line, which soon

rejuvenated river commerce. NewOrleans wasthe premier seaport on the Mississippi, and maritimeadvocates realized they had an opportunity to do well for the nation as well as the city.In spring 1917, when the U.S. joined

ä See FACILITY, page 7D

was born in Baton Rouge in 1891, though somehistorians dispute the location. Still, it’scertain that he grew up in the capital city, which waswhere he wasburied after his death at age 54 in 1946. His gravesite is found in the city’shistoric Magnolia Cemetery on North 19th St. Saxon attended LSU from 1907 WasLa. author ever

Lyle Saxon oncewas considered the foremost expert on thestate’s culture, traditions and history, especially when it came to New Orleans. In fact, he was nicknamed “Mr.New Orleans” and for good reason. Saxonspearheaded preservation efforts for theFrench Quarter in the early 20th century after thecity declared it aslum and considered demolishingit. He also headed the Federal Writers Project’s documentation of everything Louisiana in the WPA-funded “Louisiana: AGuide to theState.”

Still, there’sone accomplishment Saxon didn’t achieve, as pointed out by Alexandria author and historian Michael Wynne.

“He didn’tgraduate from LSU,” Wynne said. “But he camesoclose.”

Usually,Wynne is one of many sources in providing answers toCurious Louisiana questions, but this time around, he

steps intothe role of the reader asking thequestion. Whynohonorarydegree?

“I started looking into it, and I found that he wasonly three hourcredits away from graduating,” Wynne said. “So my question is: Why hasn’thebeen awarded an honorarydegree?” Though Saxon is best known for his NewOrleans affiliation, he

ä See CURIOUS, page 9D

Errol Laborde STREETCAR Saxon

HOLLYWOOD SOUTH

‘The GreatGatsby’ leapsfromsilverscreentothe stage

given night, and that meanscommitting songs, dances and where you are on stage to memoryvery quickly

Leslie Cardé

Charlotte McKinley was born nearly 29 years ago at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans. Her mother was aschoolteacher at Edwards Elementary School, afeeder school forCarver High School. McKinley is now returning to New Orleans as part of thetouring company of “The Great Gatsby,” coming Tuesday to the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.

As achild, she lived close to the Fairgrounds,until her mom moved hertoAustin,Texas, whenshe was atoddler,because her father hailed from the Lone Star State capital. But McKinley who will be having abirthday during the show’srun, somehow feels akinship with the city of New Orleans.

“I always feel the spirit and the energy of New Orleans,” said McKinley, who has lived in New York for more than adecade.

“Maybe it’sbecause Ilived in the womb here, and this cityis part of me.And now,the return of Saturn is happening on my birthday,March 28, whenI’ll be turning 29.

“In astrology,the return of Saturn happens every 29 years in the city where you were born. There are only two or three of these in most people’slifetimes Ihaven’tbeen back to New Orleanssince Iwas in middle school.ASaturn return is said to be an awakeningofsorts, where changesoccur,you get rid of old habits, and you become who you were really meant to be.” Fine arts bugcaughtearly McKinley decided early who she was meant to be. She began dancing at age 4. Later,she chose fine arts high school McCallum in Austin, known for musical theater She got into choir and realized

sheloved singingaswell. After high school, she chose theAmerican Musical andDramatic Academy,aconservatory in Manhattan. Her job history since has been

what anyone would call eclectic. McKinley’sfirst job was at Disney World in Orlando, dancing in aproduction called “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas.”From

there, she wenttowork forNorwegian Cruise Lines, performing in astageproduction at sea and visiting 26 countries in the process. By her third job, she wasworking for the NBAasadancer for theNew York Knicks.

Her musical theater credits now include “Jelly’sLast Jam,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical,” andshe performed with Ariana Grande at 2024’sMet Gala.

In “The Great Gatsby,” McKinley is aswing performer,meaning on any given night she may play a different role in the ensemble.

When performers get sick or go on vacation,understudies and swing players step in. It means instead of learning just one role, you may have to learn the roles of up to seven players.

“I’ve onlydone swing twotimes prior to this, and having to learn so manydifferent tracks really pushes you,” McKinley said.

“Sometimes Iget very little notice as to whoI’m playing on any

“There’salot to remember,so Ijust try not to stress out, to look relaxed and have funwith it all, because this production is ultimately alot of fun,” she said. Atheater versionofa classic

Since F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby” in 1925, two film versions, one in 1974 and the other in 2013, have hit the big screen.

The theatrical version first came to Broadway in 2024, and it’sbeen touring around the country since the beginning of this year The reimagining on stage is intended to resonate morewidely with today’saudiences and puts an emphasis on strong, complex women,personified in the character of Daisy Buchanan.

This newer version challenges traditional gender roles, which have changed remarkably since Fitzgerald wrote his novel in the Roaring Twenties.

It tells the story of Jay Gatsby, aself-made millionaire whopursues Daisy,awealthy socialite and married womanheloved in his youth, when he waspoor In his attempt to rekindle arelationship, the plot explores themes of materialism, social class and unfulfilled dreams.

“‘New Money’ is the nameofa wild song and dance number that I’min, and that the audience will love,” McKinley said.

“Our choreographer has done a lot of research into the culture of the times, and this musical production really reflects just what this show is all about.”

The Tony-nominated musical version is aglow with the excesses of its era, all set to rousing jazz-pop music.

So, put on your flapper dresses, get out your pinstripe suits, pop the Champagne corks and get ready to party like it’s1920. Tickets are available at broadwayinneworleans.com. “The Great Gatsby” runs from March 24-29.

Email Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail.com

Sharell Chatman,Ron Tassin

n Zulu

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial was Carnivalabuzz when the Zulu Social Aid &PleasureClub held its annual ballthere and hailed Dr Ronald Tassin and Sharell Monique Chatman as the monarchs. They succeeded the married royal brace of 2025: King Zulu Rodney P. Mason Jr and Queen Zulu Kristen Bonds Mason. Their stunning symbolic costumes for 2026 represented “Two Paths of Legacy —King and Queen,” as an uncle and niece reigned together Through mentorship, family bonds, anda shared purpose,the royal pairmerged their “journeys” to celebrate African royalty,service and generationalsupportduring the Carnival season. His majesty’schoicecolorsand their significance werepurple, forroyalty andauthority; turquoise, serenity,wisdomand balance;and orange, boldness and masculine energy.Her majesty also chose purple and turquoise, butadded herspecial significance to those colors. For femininestrength,she focused on dusty rose pink.

“Zulu’sWord of Entertainment” themed thegala annual ball that spotlighted Mr Don E.Washington as ball chairman; Chaplain Travis D.Taylor Sr. for theinvocation;Mr. Darren Mire as the master of ceremonies; and club president Oscar J. Rainey for the welcome and introductions.

As Zulu maids, 31 youngwomen stepped forward. They were Misses Angelle MonaiBarrow, LaurynMarie Batiste, Raina Cheyenne Benjamin, Shane TaylorBerry,MakaylaRose Borne, Emalee Nevaeh Denson, Laila AlexandraDunn, Camryn DeniseDupard, and Payton Rene Jordan-Duplessis.Also, Ilyssa Rae Fields, Kennedy Cecilia Gibson, Kirsten Symari Givens,Al’layahShannon Jones, Cre’Shaun Lynn Jones, Zairi Muriel King,Garri Milan Lawson, Se’RiahCharmMarquez, Ja’Layiah Manae McSwain, Kamryn ChesneyMelancon,and Camille Marie Mitchell.

And, Misses Madison Bella Nunnery,TrinityRenee Peeples, Nylah Monique Quinn, Chandler-Elizabeth Nicole Robinson, CamrynElise Smith, Kayleigh Gabrielle Smith, BrielleLynn Stephens, Madison KeiTaylor, Gabrielle Delilah Vance, MykyraDami Walker,and Matison KimberlyWilliams.

Dozens more figured in significant rolesduring the revelry as the king’schargé d’affairesand advisers, along with chief tribesmen, king’stribesmen, anddukes. As for monarchSharell, there were the queen’schargé d’affaires, assistants, attendants, imperialattendants,

n The Townsmen

As it has for years, the Townsmen participated in the Carnival season at their annual Dansant in theOmni Royal Orleans hotel. Members and guests fraternized during thefestive occasion as they savored thehotel’s tasty cuisine. Asalad bar, pasta, beef round and roasted turkeyfilled the plates.

Chandler Robinson,Zairi King

attendant modistes, royal coordinators, and advisers. Further titles were princes, princesses, and pages. Particularly meaningful was the recognition of the king’smother, Patricia Hamilton,and theparents of the queen, Tyrell Chatman Sr and Cynthia Chatman.

Amongthe thousands in the audience were Mayor Helena Moreno,U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, city council member Eugene Green,and countless others,who delighted in the ball’s music. Oneofthe top numbers was “Isn’tShe Lovely,” which Stevie Wonder madefamous and which paid tribute to all the court’sfeminine presence. Asfor his majesty,as well as his radiant queen at their Zulu Ball Coronation, the homage of approximately 20,000 guests was music to their ears.

Ahighlight is the callout, when club members and their spouses or dates are presented. Chief among them was club president AlbertEdwards II with his wife, Dantrelle.The following were vice president Ronald Stevens and Terri, secretary Howard L. Rodgers III and Belinda, treasurer Walter Wright with AngeliqueRoché, keeper of the seal and Dansant chairman Jonathan Wilson and Erica, and chaplain AnthonyDecuir and Saraphine. Notablemembers were Justin Augustine, EarlBrown andMichele, Dr Emmett Chapital and Jovita, Marc J. Delpit, Michael Dukes and Sylvia, BryanFulton and Conchetta, Richard Jackson and Andrea,Ronald Johnson and Vonyotta, Ernest Legier and Kelley,Chadrick Kennedy,Charles Kennedy and Laura, Darrell Saizan and Shaun, Charles Rice Jr.and Vonda, Ron Sholes and Valerie, and Jeffery Thomasand Zolee. The call out concluded with the traditional club waltz that was followed by asecond line with the guests joiningin. Among theguestsinattendance were Dr.and Mrs.HenryEvans, Judge Kern and Dottie Reese,Judge Omar Mason and spouse Carla Bringier-Mason, David Daniels and Gilaine Nettles, and Howard L. Rodgers IV and Dr Lovie Rodgers. Also, the Keith Dawsons, the Clarence Wilsons,the Cornelius Lewises, the David Bocages, the Marlin Gus-

MarcDelpit, ErikaMann, KirbyAlsandor,Chadrick

mans, the Joseph Shorters, the Jessie Adroins, the Wilbur Thomases, the Troy Henrys, the Roy Glapions, and the CharlesTeamers. The attendees —members and guestsalike —made this 75th anniversary ever so special. Acake celebrated the evening and music by the Clark Knighten Bandran agamut that pleased several ages. The

Seated: Mykyra Walker,Lauryn Batiste, Brielle Stephens, KayleighSmith,Emalee Denson; standing: Madison Nunnery, Madison Taylor, Cre’shaun Jones, Payton Jordan-Duplessis, Alyssa Fields

Cai Smith, Lauryn Johnson, Terrica Destiny January, London Patterson,Terri Adams, Zaire Lymuel

Matison Williams,CamryonSmith, Makayla Borne, Nylah Quinn

PHOTOSByJEFF STROUT

Garri Lawson, Shane Berry,Ja’Layiah McSwain, Ron Johnson, Laila Dunn, Kirsten Givens

Se’riah Marquez, Camille Mitchell, Gabrielle Vance, KennedyGibson,

PHOTOSByJEFF STROUT

Kennedy

Elsa and Thomas Mims

Angelique Roche, Walter Wright

DavidDaniels, Gilane Nettles, Howard Rogers III

UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball raises over $1M for La. students

Staff report

The 13th annual UNCF New Orleans Mayor’s Masked Ball delivered an unforgettable evening of elegance, entertainment and philanthropy on March 7 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. The black-tie gala raised more than $1 million to support historically Black colleges and universities and provide scholarships for Louisiana students A major boost came from Entergy, which matched proceeds from the event’s paddle-raise auction segment. The best of New Orleans culture — from music and art to community spirit was on full display throughout the night

Hosted by New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, UNCF President and CEO Dr Michael L. Lomax, UNCF Senior Vice President Therese Badon and UNCF Area Development Director Bridget Fleury, the event drew a distinguished crowd of civic leaders, educators, business executives and celebrities.

Award-winning actor and comedian Anthony Anderson and Emmy-winning journalist Kevin Frazier served as emcees, keeping the evening lively with humor and heartfelt encouragement for the cause. The celebration also honored two prominent figures with the prestigious UNCF MASKED Award: musician and composer Jon Batiste, an eight-time Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award winner and Blaine Kern Jr., president of Mardi Gras Productions. Both New Orleans natives were recognized for their leadership, artistic contributions, and dedication to education and community.

Guests were treated to dynamic performances by the Grammy-winning Hot 8 Brass Band and talented students from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Batiste’s alma mater The night concluded with a high-energy music experience led by native New Orleans DJs Stormy and Raj Smoove.

Among the notable attendees were actress Lynn Whitfield; New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson; Hyatt Regency New Orleans General Manager Scott Snipes; U.S Rep Troy Carter; newly-appointed Archbishop James F. Checchio; Dillard University President Dr Monique Guillory; Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr C. Reynold Verret; Drew Marsh, Entergy chairman and CEO; Henry and Karen Coaxum, Coaxum Enterprises; and several influential faith-based leaders, elected officials and community supporters.

The ballroom dazzled with starlit drapes, chandeliers and elaborate centerpieces designed by Mardi Gras Productions.

“The New Orleans Mayor’s Masked Ball is more than an evening of el-

egance — it’s a beacon of hope for the countless students striving to achieve their dreams,” UNCF Senior Vice President Therese Badon said in a statement. “New Orleans shows up for our students, and we’re grateful for the incredible support that makes this an unforgettable evening of celebration and impact.”

Major sponsors included Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Coaxum Enterprises, Encore, Entergy, Mardi Gras Productions, the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Ochsner Health and

WWL-TV Dr Lomax emphasized the importance of the event’s mission: “UNCF is proud to continue fueling HBCUs with vital resources to educate generations of students who will become future leaders. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are helping students go to and through college and on to successful careers.”

Proceeds from the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball will fund scholarships and provide operational support for UNCF-member institutions.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By UNCF

From left are Gayle Benson, Michael L. Lomax, Mayor Helena Moreno and Therese Badon

C. Reynold Verrett, Monique Guillory and Michael Lomax.

Blaine Kern III, Blaine Kern Jr Tammy Carnaggio Kern

Michael Batiste, Jon Batiste and Katherine Batiste

Hosts Kevin Frazier left, and Anthony Anderson

DININGSCENE

Vaucresson nowmorethanpo-boys with expansion

called Crawbabies, catering events and delivering plates from her house. Now,Vaucresson’s cafe is homebase forCrawbabies.

More on themenu

Ian McNulty WHAT’S COOKING

For many New Orleanians, any bowl of gumbo is liable to be judged against the version they grew up eating, usually the one fromhome. That’sa lot to live up to. It’salso precisely the reason why chef Bunny Young puts so much into her gumbo at Vaucresson Creole Café &Deli. Heads turn when thedishes come out of the kitchen at this 7th Ward butcher shopturned-Creole soul restaurant.It’s not because they’re outlandish or made for Instagram. It’sbecause they look like New Orleans home cooking, atype that is increasingly rare to find at restaurants.

“You ask where to find thebest gumbo, the best étouffée inNew Orleans, and people will tellyou it’sathome,” said Young before one busy Tuesday lunch shift. “Well, that’swhat Iwant to do here.I’m trying to bring atasteof home.” She has resoundingly succeeded. The dark roux is deeply layered with flavor. Ashellfish essence is steepedin. The shrimp pop. One type of sausage won’t do,sothere’ssmoky andouille and Vaucresson’sown hot sausage. Chicken gizzards give it another dimension, earthy and savory Eating here feels like going back in time, to an era when many more neighborhood Creole joints dotted the city.It’sthe kind of New Orleans cooking too often overlooked amid the flash and buzz of new trends.But it’s the bedrock flavorthat gives thiscity so much of its culinary weight to begin with.

It’shere thanks to apartnership of one heritage Creole business and amuch newer one on the rise Creole food legacy

Vaucresson is well known as the longest-running food vendor at the NewOrleans Jazz &Heritage Festival, where its Creole hot sausage po-boys have been part of the festival menu from the inaugural year, and the same goes for the French Quarter Festival. But its story goes back much further

The Vaucresson familyonce had abutcher’sstall at theformer St. Bernard Market, oneof the city’spublic food markets (which later became Circle Food Store). By 1967, the family had an independent butcher shop at the corner of St. Bernard Avenueand North Roman Street. It was laid low by the levee failures in 2005 and, while Vaucressonsausage remained inproduction in other facilities, attempts to bring back the shop stalled through the years.

But third-generation owner

VanceVaucresson never gave up on his vision,and in 2022, he and wife Julie Frederick Vaucresson opened their new business at the same address. It started as aretail butcher

counter and deli-style lunchroom for sausage po-boys and meaty snacks. Butstartingin2024, Young joined as chef and greatly expanded the menu to create a fuller picture of aCreole restau-

1800 St.Bernard Ave., (855) 727-3653

Lunch 11 a.m. to 3p.m.Tue.-Sat.

Note: The cafe will temporarily close during French QuarterFestand Jazz Fest

rant

Creating Crawbabies

Young is acharismatic spark plug of energy, usually cooking clad in her chile pepper-red chef coat and hat. She learned to cook at theapron strings of her grandmother,Viola Young, whowas knowntofeed her neighborhood with apot of something always on the stove and an open door forothers. Alongthe way, she absorbed theCreole ideal that makes a dish morethan just acollection of ingredients but aprogression of elements and techniques that builds flavor

Once an accountant, Young left the corporate world in 2022 to start her own food business,

Vaucresson still serves its poboy menuand sells sausage and head cheese from the butcher case. Now,though, the daily Crawbabies lunch menuruns from yakamein to butter beans to crawfish étouffée, thick with fat crawfish tails in adark, buttery roux.

Portions approach family-style, and manywill provide enough fortwo meals, with mostdishes under $20.

There’sagreens plate, rotating through cabbage or mustard, turnip or collard greens, and these are heavily larded with chunks of dark pork in aslurpable pot likker.The slab of sweet cornbread is on the side to soak someup, the candied yamsare equal part vegetable, dessert and Thanksgiving reminiscence.

The smothered okra plate is every bit as much about the Creole sausage, crab and shrimpasthe namesake vegetable cooked down with them.It’sfinished with fried catfish, cut as whole, fatfillets that flake into tender pieces under the pepper-shot coating.

Achanging dish dubbed “in the gravy” is gravy and rice that could be cooked with turkey necks, turkey wings or pork chops, depending on the day

The seafood potato Pontchartrain is apowerhouse of aseafood platter.The potato is split and stuffed with awhole fried catfish, tail included, and smothered in acreamysauce full of shrimp, crawfish tails and crabmeat. Flourishing flavor

Since Young joined with Vaucresson, it’sbeen aflourishing partnership. The restaurant is busier than ever.It’salso ashowroom forYoung’scatering, which is taking off.

Julie has added aline of cakes drawnfrom her recently published cookbook, “Creole Made Easy with the Creole Sausage Queen,” which line the counter in homestyle cake domes and readyto-go by the slice containers. People show up early forlunch, and the small spot stays bustling through the afternoon with tables full and takeout orders stacked forpick up. Vance is there in the middle of it, greeting familiar faces, cutting meat for the next batch of sausage, sometimes singing as he works, often professing over the counter the heart behind his soul food endeavor

“It’sall about telling the story of our Creole culture and how so much of that comes through food and families, and that’swhat you can connect here,” Vance said between tasks. “People out there are yearning forthose connections to what once was.”

Email IanMcNulty at imcnulty@ theadvocate.com

The gumbohas adarkroux and is deeply layered in flavor STAFF PHOTOSByBRETT DUKE

Vance Vaucresson cuts pork shoulder picnics while preparing sausageatVaucresson’sCreoleCafé &Deli in NewOrleans.

Chef Bunnyyoung makes her waytoa table withthe seafood potato Pontchartrain at Vaucresson’s.

Julie Vaucresson added aline of cakes to the menu, including the devil’sfood cake.The cakessliced and are availabletotakehome.

Twobooks highlightLSU’s role in military service

One of Louisiana’smost prominent war monuments is on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge, where Memorial Tower has commanded the skyline for generations. I’ve long wondered,though, how many studentsknow that the tower was dedicated in 1926 to remember 1,447 warriors from the state who died in World WarI All of this has come back to mind with the arrival of two books that underline LSU’slong connection withmilitary service.

In his new memoir,LSU alumnus David Wayne Couvillon of Port Allen recalls his time navigating Iraq’scomplicated realities after the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. Another new book, Ronald J. Drez’s “The Long Purple Line,” explores LSU’sbroader contributionsto national defense.

The title of Couvillon’sbook sums up his challenge: “From U.S Marine to Provincial Governor in Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines.” Couvillon had along career in the Marine CorpsReserves, and he also held several jobs in civilian life, eventually retiring as director of the Louisiana Office of State Group Benefits.

“Essentially,reservists have to be adaptable,” he tellsreaders “One day,they’re joking with their coworkers and goinghome to their families; the next, they’re flying to the other side of the world.”

Couvillon counted on that sense of flexibility as amilitary provincial governor of Iraq’s Wasit Province. Though trained as professional warriors,heand his comradesfound themselves

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

responsible for building civil society

“Towns didn’thave mayors or city councils,” Couvillon points out. “In fact, theonly people who stayed at their posts while everyone else fledordisappeared were the volunteer firefighters. We were charged withsecuring an essentially lawless province.”

In writingthis book with Miriam C. Davis, Couvillon says he’s notout to argue “whether thewar in Iraq was agood thing or abad thing.” But he takes pride in “the communities we pieced back to-

‘TheoofGolden’

Lineup of panelistsfrom across thestate

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

The Louisiana Inspired Book Club is inviting all readers to join in the reading and discussion of “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi at 7p.m. March 31.Mark your calendars to join the Louisiana discussion of the book, which will include aconversation among panelists from around the state.

The panelists for the “Theo of Golden” discussion include Lafayette artist Bob Borel; Shreveport/BossierCity features editor Elizabeth Deal; Baton Rouge-area musician Ben Bell; St. Francisville bookstore owner MissyCouhig and Youngsville counselor/speaker Roy Petitfils.

The panelists representsome of the characters featuredin“Theo of Golden.” They have each read the book and are looking forward to the discussion.

Borel is amultidisciplinary artist whose work embracesimperfection, memory and storytelling across awide range of media. His practice spans experimental photography,installationart, linocuts, gestural drawing, traditional crafts, documentaryfilmmaking, live storytelling and Unflattering Abstract Portraits drawn on the street. Some of Borel’smost meaningful work happens in jails and shelters, teaching art to incarcerated people and survivors of domestic violence. He’salso avideo editor and living historyinterpreter ElizabethBeardDeal is features editor for The Shreveport-Bossier Advocate covering food, arts and culture. She was previously editor for “SB Magazine” in Shreveport, communications director at The Nasdaq Stock Market and Washing-

gether and the measure of peace we achieved.”

In recognition of his service, Couvillon was inducted into LSU’s Cadets of theOld WarSkule, which has teamed up withLSU Presstopublish “The LongPurple Line.” It chronicles theuniversity’sextensive role in cultivating militaryleaders from its founding in 1860 through the present.

Henson Moore, aformer Louisiana congressman, notes in his preface to thebook that LSU was initially conceived as amilitary school.

“While no longer exclusively a militaryschool, LSU’slong mili-

taryhistory —over 160 years and counting, is still visible today,” Moore writes. Drez, former assistant director of the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans, offers acompelling survey of LSU’s militaryheroes, including Troy Middleton, Claire Lee Chennault and Robert Hilliard Barrow.The mostmoving part of the book is an appendix listing every LSU student killed in action.

In aworld still touched by war, that long list is likely to grow Email Danny Heitman at danny@ dannyheitman.com.

Inspired Book Club discussion is March31

HOWTO WATCH

n The link forthe discussion is at https://bit.ly/4bRnlis

n Sign up fornotices forthe LouisianaInspired Book Club,which selects abooktoread and discuss quarterly, here at www.nola.com/ book_club.

ton University,abusiness owner in St. Louis and agrants writer for nonprofits in Shreveport. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, camping, traveling and reading. Bell and his band, The Stardust Boys, have been active in Mid City Baton Rouge for years. Bell says that oneofthe goals of their vintage, acoustic musical styleisto turn strangers into smiling faces. They believe that playing quietly is more enjoyable thanloudness. They play acoustic country,folk and rockabilly Couhig is alifelong avid reader and the owner of The Conundrum Bookshop in St. Francisville. The Conundrum opened in late 2015 with agoal and focus of having a bookstore hand-curated with an eye to books that speak to both the local area and beautifulclassic books that people would want to keep foralifetime. Her daily exercise of bloggingabout bookscontinues through today on the bookshop’ssocial media channels @conundrumbooks. Sheisanavid gardener and cook Petitfils hasworked with young people for the last 30 years as a minister,teacher,school admin-

istrator,school counselor and now as apsychotherapist in private practice where he specializes in counseling teens and young adults. He haswritten sevenbooks,his latest being “Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety and Depression.”He consultswith schools,churches and other organizations that seek to reach and influence today’steens and young adults He hosts “Today’sTeenager,” a podcast, and has given aTEDx talk, “What Teens Want Youto Know but Won’tTell You.”

“Theo of Golden,” asmall underdog of abook, was selfpublished in 2023 and has becomeaword-of-mouthhit. In 2025, it was acquired by traditional publishers Atria, an imprint of Simon &Schuster,for wider release and distribution.

The book is Levi’sfirst novel. His publisher says he’sworking on asecond.

“Theo of Golden” is about amysterious, kind stranger named Theo who arrives in Golden, asmall Southern city where he begins acampaign of anonymous generosity. In doing so, he transforms lives through small acts of kindness, art and storytelling. The book explores themes of wonder, connection and community.

If you have aquestionfor the discussion, email Jan Risheratjan. risher@theadvocate.com

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

“Living withsadness, accepting it, is easierthan trying to pretend it isn’tthere. It is another of life’sgreat mysteries that sadnessand joycan coexistsocompatibly with one another.Infact, Iwonderif, on this side of heaven, either one can be complete without the other.”

ALLENLEVI, author of “TheoofGolden”

Borel Deal Bell Couhig Petitfils

FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Memorial Towerstands tall surrounded by stately oaks on the campus of LSUinBaton Rouge.

the conflict in Europe, the New Orleans Board of Trade sent delegates to Washington to make the case that the Army’s Quartermaster Supply Depot ought to be located at the Port of New Orleans.

A quartermaster is the military’s chief logistician, responsible for getting everything needed in the war effort from the homeland to the front with maximum efficiency. A quartermaster supply depot, then, is a strategically situated transshipment, storage and distribution center for military operations. With its strategic maritime position and network of interior rail lines, New Orleans had a winning argument to secure the federal asset.

“I am pleased to say that we were successful in our efforts,” wrote board president M. J Sanders, “which means a great deal to the trade of our city.” Brooklyn and Boston landed the other two army depots, putting New Orleans in good company. Where to site the quartermaster depot? Clearly it had to be along the Mississippi, and all the better if it also accessed the soon-tobe-dug Inner Harbor Navigation (Industrial) Canal.

Envisioned for nearly two centuries and finally approved in 1914, this riverto-lake shipping channel aimed to create a protected harbor with stable water stages and ample wharf space for freight, shipbuilding and value-added industry

It would cut through the 9th Ward, in part because this was the least-populated section of the city and in part because the Ursuline Nuns, who had operated their convent and school here since 1824, had lost half their compound to a 1912 levee realignment, and had since decamped for Uptown.

As the downriver half of the Ursuline parcel would host the mouth of the canal, the upriver half sat adjacent to the Lambou & Noel Lumberyard, spanning from Dauphine to the levee. Add in the two city blocks up to Poland Avenue, home to two dozen households and small businesses, and there would be enough space for the three massive warehouses totaling 1.5 million square feet.

Numbered 1 to 3 going upriver, the first warehouse would be built by the Port of New Orleans to store commodities, and the other two would be added by the Army for military supplies. All would be built of steelreinforced concrete and designed with a purely utilitarian, almost modernist look, with minimal adornment, flat roofs and an overall horizontal massing.

Railroad spur lines would run between the buildings and along the Poland Street Wharf, where river barges and cargo ships could dock.

Total cost: $13,548,000.

The new Quartermaster Depot on Dauphine Street represented an enlargement of the Army presence in the 9th Ward, which began in 1835 with regimes stationed at nearby Jackson Barracks. The facility also matched a naval presence across the river in Algiers, which dated to an 1849 land acquisition and grew in the 1890s with the opening of a Marine Corps barracks and dry dock at Naval Station New Orleans.

The three operations continued a century-long military legacy that led historian Codman Parkerson to describe New Orleans as “America’s most fortified city.”

Expropriations and demolitions on the Dauphine site occurred in late 1917, followed by pile-driving and foundational work early the next year In June, excavation began on the lake end of Industrial Canal and proceeded toward the river Shortly thereafter, as many as 7,000 laborers began building the three depots fronting the Mississippi. According to a 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior

report, “each warehouse was built using 31,700 piles; 480,000 cubic yards of sand; 93,000 cubic yards of gravel; 162,000 barrels of cement; 108,000 cubic yards of concrete; 7500 tons of reinforced steel; 9,000,000 feet of form lumber; 113,000 square feet of steel sash; and 252,000 square feet of roofing.”

Each edifice would have 18 elevators, most of them for freight.

Racing with wartime urgency, workers neared completion in late 1918 just as news broke that an armistice would go into effect on Nov 11, bringing an end to WWI.

It would be the first of three times in which world history would upend site plans. In the 1920s, the Dauphine Street facility continued as the U.S. Army Supply Base, but because military needs had plummeted, the Army entered into various leasing agreements with the port to use space for standard warehousing needs. For years to come, port managers leased space to private interests such as International Harvester, burlap and cotton bag manufacturers, and the Douglas storage company,

among many others.

The abundant space allowed for some innovative uses. Now that the war had reinvigorated river commerce and the postwar economy hummed, local boosters during 1926-31 organized an annual International Trade Exhibit at one of the warehouses.

Spearheaded by Germanborn cotton manufacturer Sigmund Odenheimer and modeled after the famous Leipzig Trade Fair, the exhibit featured hundreds of domestic and international wholesalers seeking to make deals with importers and exporters. The idea of intersecting city hospitality with port commerce would later help spawn the International House, the International Trade Mart and World Trade Center — and it all began at Dauphine Street. When political tensions mounted in Europe again in the late 1930s, the Dauphine facility returned to its quartermaster role, at-the-ready to supply allies. When war seemed imminent in 1941, the Army canceled the port leases and designated the facility to also serve as a Port of Embarkation for troops heading to the front, a status at the time

shared only with New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Charleston.

During the next four years, 174,651 troops were processed through the Dauphine Street Port of Embarkation, some heading for action in the Pacific, others to defensive positions in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Additionally 7,954,767 tons of cargo shipped from New Orleans to both theaters of war, much of it transshipping at the Dauphine depots via thousands of local longshoremen.

Peacetime brought another round of change. The role of quartermaster depot ended in 1945, but because the draft remained in place, military personnel continued to move through the buildings, which became officially known as the New Orleans Port of Embarkation. In 1955, the facility was renamed the New Orleans Army Terminal, and in 1965 as the New Orleans Army Base.

By then, the exigencies of the Cold War, including the expanding U.S. engagement in Vietnam, led to an augmented naval presence. In 1966, the Army transferred control of the Dauphine Street facility to the Navy,

which eventually designated it as as Naval Support Activity (NSA) East Bank, matching a facility of the same status (but without the depots) in Algiers.

NSA East Bank also became the national headquarters for the Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve, making the complex a major source of employment in the neighborhood that by now had named itself “Bywater.”

The jobs mitigated the loss of the tropical fruit industry whose cargo ships had discharged bananas and pineapples along what is now Crescent Park, until labor disputes in the 1960s triggered its departure for Gulfport, Mississippi.

In 1975, the former depot along Poland Avenue became the F. Edward Hébert Defense Complex, hosting various Navy and Marine administrative services. Combined with NSA West Bank, the dual complexes spanned 230 acres and housed as many as 50 agencies within the Department of Defense. By 2000, some 1,390 active-duty military personnel worked at NSA East Bank, along with 775 reservists and over 1,500 civilians. They collectively pumped around $155 million into the regional economy By the new century, however, global geopolitics had transformed again. The Cold War had ended; the War on Terror called for entirely new strategies; and budgetary reprioritizations in Washington demanded changes in military investments.

In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended to close the Dauphine Street facility, relocate its Marine Forces Reserve headquarters to what would become Federal City in Algiers and move most other naval operations to sites all over the nation, including Belle Chasse.

It was a terrible blow for New Orleans, particularly the Bywater The Dauphine facility finally closed on

Sept. 15, 2011. The next decade brought a litany of plans, promises, budgetary reallocations, neighborhood frustrations and interminable delays, during which time the warehouses fell into squalor The Bywater, meanwhile, ascended economically, as its population gentrified, property values rose and amenities such as Crescent Park opened. Circumstances finally aligned in the 2020s for real estate interests to make a move. Brian Gibbs Development, LLC assembled a team to piece together complicated financing and devise what Louisiana Economic Development described as “a center for innovation, housing, and neighborhood-serving spaces delivering tangible community benefits and long-term economic growth.”

Known as the NSA East Apartments, the adaptivereuse project will transform the warehouses into 294 affordable housing units and 30,000 square feet of retail space anchored by the Newlab innovation hub for climate and energy technology startups, plus public green space on the two waterfronts. A groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 21 commenced the next chapter of a space that had transformed by three wars, with at least seven names and as many uses and occupants, across eleven decades. When the NSA East Apartments opens in 2028, it will become something entirely new: home.

Richard Campanella, a geographer and associate dean for research at the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment, is the author of “Draining New Orleans;” “Crossroads, Cutoffs, and Confluences;” “Bienville’s Dilemma;” and other books from LSU Press. He may be reached at richcampanella.com, rcampane@tulane.edu, or @nolacampanella on X.

TRAVEL

Checkout thesespringbreak destinations

BY CHERÉ COEN

Contributing writer

Beaches beckon when spring breakrolls around,atimetorelease the long-sleeved shirts and sweaters and pause the brain from all that studying. But springbreak doesn’thave to meansand and sun. Rather,the time off might includeaquiet hike throughanational forest, afestival celebrating the return of the sun or experiencing athrilling sport. We’ve compiled afew alternative locations here that are within driving distance of Louisiana.

Getartsy in Texas

In 2008, one of the mostinnovative andimmersive arts centers opened in Santa Fe, collaborating with artists to bring visitors aunique audience-driven experience. Meow Wolf has sinceopened satellites around the country,most recently in Houston with Radio Tave, an immersive, surreal, radiostation-themedexperience.

The attraction features “ETNL Radio Station” and its crew who have opened aportal to adimension of art where visitors may explore at leisure to unravel its secrets.Meow Wolf is acreative space that must be experiencedtotruly understand its interactive and life-sized art. Visit meowwolf.com/visit/houston for more information.

San Antonio offers its own unique creative experience with Hopscotch, acurated 20,000-squarefoot artgallery where everything is interactive, from an adult ball pit and hall of mirrors to artthat dances with you as you move. Grab an equally creative cocktailatthe bar and lounge area, thenpick up unique art items at the gift shop

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

Irented acar from Avis at Sacramento International Airportrecently.A few hours into my drive, Inoticed it smelled strongly of marijuana. Ikept the windows open, but the odor lingered.WhenIreturned the vehicle six days later,I told thestaff about it.Theysaid it would be fine.

Take ahike

Spring bursts forth in Chattanooga, Tennessee, encompassing the 50-plushikingtrailheads within 30 minutes of downtown witha variety of wildflowers.

Visitorsmay also grab akayak andenjoy the TennesseeRiver flowing through downtown or view rushingwaterfalls due to winter’s runoff —including thecolorful Ruby Falls located deep beneath Lookout Mountain. Be sure to stop at the city’snew Reading Room, Chattanooga’sonlybar andbookstore. Look for special events such as author talks, book trivia and tarot readings.

Thinkcherries

Youdon’thave to traveltoWashington, D.C., to view dramatic

cherry blossoms in bloom, although that’scertainly worth atrip.

Thousands of cherrytrees bloom at once in Macon,Georgia,and folks celebratetheir debut with the International Cherry Blossom Festival March 20-29. In additiontoviewing those pink explosions, thefestival features around 300,000 to 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees that bloom around the city,a parade, concertsand art shows. Not to be outdone by its south Georgianeighbor,the city of Brookhaven, closer toAtlanta, offers its Brookhaven Cherry BlossomFestival March 28-29 that marriescherryblossomswithlive bands, food trucks andanartist market.

Digfor diamonds In the last few months, visitors

to Arkansas’ CraterofDiamonds StatePark have dug up somepretty largegemstones. Last summer,Micherre Fox of New York found a2.30-carat white diamond in thepark.

Then in January,Jack Pearadin of Arkansasand Michael Schumacher of Wisconsin discovered a 6.03-carat yellow diamond, about the size of agumdrop.

To date, more than 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed at the Crater of Diamonds State Park sincethe first diamonds were discovered in 1906 by JohnHuddleston, afarmer who owned the land long before it became an Arkansas State Park in 1972.

Take off!

given acar in that condition, and youshould not have been billed for cleaningitup.

Christopher Elliott

Aweeklater,I received a$250 bill from Avis for cleaning, plus the repair of a burnmark that Inever noticed. Idon’t smoke cigarettes or marijuana and wasthe sole driver. Iprotested, but Avis insists the charges are valid.What aremy rights? —GaryMullen-Schultz, Minneapolis Youshould never have been

Car rental companies regularly impose steepcleaning fees for smoke, petsand spills.I don’thave aproblemwith that when the damage actually happens during your rental. After all, rentersagree to acceptresponsibility for thevehicle whenthey arerenting it.

Butthere’saproblem:These charges are often subjective. Unless an employee documents the condition of the car before you leavethe lot, it’syour word against thecompany’swhen you dispute it. That’sexactly what happened here.

Avis sent youaseries of canned repliesinsisting it had ample docu-

mentation. But when Ireviewed your correspondence, Ididn’tsee any convincing proof that you caused the odor or damage. You, on the otherhand, have acredible explanation —and astrong record as alongtime customer Still, Iwanted to be sure this damage didn’thappen on your watch. It turns out you had asinus condition thatpreventedyou from smelling the marijuana odor when you picked up the car.Otherwise, you would have never accepted it Youalso didn’tsmoke and didn’t have any other passengers, so it was highly unlikely this happened during your rental.

Avis didn’tsend you any photos of the alleged cigarette burns, but

Want to travel to space but NASA’s not calling? Trythe U.S. Space &Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, home to oneofthe largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world.

The locationservesasthe Visitor Center forNASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.For those still in the learning mood, or just fascinated by weather,check out the current “How We Know the Weather” exhibit featuring 30 interactive displays,live feeds and sensory experiences aboutthe science of meteorology

Escape to themountains

If you’re in need of elevation, the Ozarks of Arkansas are within aday’sdrive. Secure acabin in the woodsand hike to waterfalls throughout theBuffalo National Riverareaorgraba paddle and tackle the wild river Spring is an ideal time to visit the regionwhere spring waterproduces dramatic falls and provides forthrilling paddling and tubing adventures, the latter of which really takes off in April and May Over at theSmokies,Dollywood’s IWill Always Love YouFestival runs through April 12 with the debut of two shows, “MotoMotion FreestyleShowdown” —which features choreographed performances of extreme riders, break dancers and aerial daredevils —and “Artreageous,” a3Dvisual concert of art, live music,singing, dancing, humor and audience participation. The popular“From the Heart— The Life&Music of Dolly Parton” show returns, telling Parton’s story aboutleaving herSevierCounty home to move to Nashville in pursuit of her dreams.

Children ages 6and under get in free at the park, while children ages 6-12 have a$7admission fee. The adult admission feeis$15. If crystals aremoreyourthing,several attractionsatnearbyMt. Ida let you dig forquartz crystals that are abundant in the area.

Ithink you could have disproven its claim by takinginterior shots of the vehicle —the seats, thefloors, the dashboard withthe odometer These should be astandard part of your check-in,anyway.

Also,don’tassume that casually telling arental agent about aproblem is enough. Ask the agent to document it in writing. Thatway, if acharge like this appears later, you’ll have proof. Ireally wish car rental companies would follow the lead of Turo, which strongly encourages its renters to take “before” and “after” images of its vehicles and even has afunction in its smartphone app to help renters take usable andcredible photos of

their rentals. Icontacted Avis on your behalf. Afew days later,itdropped the $250 cleaning fee. Remember,cleaning fees can be aprofit center for car rental companies, and they are often unfairly applied. If you’re charged for a pre-existing odor or stain, challenge it immediately and escalate if necessary.With persistence and sometimes with alittle advocacy —you can win.

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.

PHOTO PROVIDED By ARKANSAS STATEPARKS

In January, Jack Pearadin, left, and Michael Schumacherfound

a6.03-carat diamond at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park.Morethan 75,000 diamondshavebeen unearthed at the park.

GRAVE

Continued from page 1D

critics. As the audience took its place, the tension was building. It did not take long for the question to be raised: “Dakin, why did you bury your brother in St. Louis?” His answer was quick and to the point: “Because that’s where his family is buried.” His parents were there and so was his beloved sister, Rose “It was the appropriate place.” There was a pause, then an unscripted dramatic moment One of Dakin’s harshest critics leaned

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

to 1912, and though his photo appears with his graduating class in the 1912 Gumbo, he didn’t actually graduate.

What kept Saxon from earning those last three credits?

“His mother became seriously ill,” Wynne said. “His mother was dying, so he dropped out to take care of her He also wasn’t a rich person and ran into some financial difficulties and didn’t return to school.”

Instead, Saxon went on a job search.

Wynne cites both author Chance Harvey’s 2003 biography, “The Life and Selected Letters of Lyle Saxon,” and Helen Gilkerson’s 1930 dissertation, both of which documented the reason behind

into the microphone and said, “You know he’s right.” Festivals come and go. Competitors enter the fray But it was a rare scene on stage at Le Petite Theatre that day, when an artist’s lingering family crisis reached an unrehearsed moment of resolution. All on the panel agreed. Dakin was vindicated. It must have been a year or so later when we visited St. Louis and were shown around by someone from the local tourist commission. Calvary is a beautiful hilly burial ground which includes monuments to many famous people, including Civil War Union General William Tecumseh Sherman who had once lived and

Saxon’s LSU departure.

“Also, when he was in school, he wasn’t majoring in journalism, because there was no such degree at the time,” Wynne said.

Didn’t stop his career

The lack of a college degree didn’t stop Saxon from pursuing a career that eventually earned him the moniker, “Mr New Orleans.” He eventually went to work for The TimesPicayune, then turned to book writing.

“Lyle Saxon’s early books are so important to the preservation of Louisiana culture and history, and his later books are still being used today as primary sources,” Wynne said.

“He basically was the savior of Louisiana history among the many great historians, because he didn’t just write about it. He was actively pursuing it. He had access to people who would’ve been long forgotten, and he was able to take these interviews with the people of Louisiana — the common folk — and write their stories in such a way to preserve them in history.”

Wynne decided to pursue an answer to his own question of why

LSU has never awarded Saxon a posthumous honorary degree.

“I sent information to a couple of presidents of LSU and received a quick email from a staff person who said only a staff member at LSU can nominate Lyle Saxon for an honorary degree,” he said.

“I’ve since been unable to find somebody on LSU’s staff who is willing to make the effort to nominate him.”

LSU outlined the procedure policy for such nominations in “Guidelines in Awarding Honorary Degrees” in April 1999. The

worked in St. Louis. Our driver took us throughout the grounds, but she could just not find the Williams family spot. Then she saw a cemetery employee. Certainly, he would know: Where is Tennessee Williams buried?” she asked. “Who?” he replied. Early the next morning she phoned. She had spoken to a friend of a friend and now knew the location. She was on the way to take us back to the cemetery Even with knowing the directions, it still took us a while to find the location. Then we had to walk partially up a hill. But there it was, a family of plain tombstones, most notably one that simply read:

“TENNESSEE WILLIAMS 1911-1983 POET PLAYWRIGHT The Violets in the Mountains Have Broken the Rocks Camino Real”

So, Tennessee Williams spends eternity with his family, not far from Gen. Sherman looking over I have often thought, with due respect to Dakin, how different in would be had the playwright been entombed in New Orleans; perhaps in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 where he would have had a Voodoo Queen as a neighbor

policy was revised in January 2017 but still specifically states that “Nominations should originate from the faculty of a college or school or a campus wide committee and be forwarded, with appropriate administrative endorsement, through normal academic channels to the President. The President will submit the nomination to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the University Committee on Awarding of Honorary Degrees and the members of the Board of Supervisors for review Recommended candidates will then be submitted to the full Board.”

The policy also specifies that nominations “should be based on the individual’s contribution to

his/her field of endeavor or to society in general.”

Wynne says Saxon deserves better He notes that an honorary degree for the author would be a “nice tip of the hat.”

“You cannot name another Louisiana author, who, 80 years after his death, has books still in print everywhere,” Wynne said. “Sen. Huey Long left high school before earning his high school diploma but was awarded an honorary high school diploma in 1993 by the Louisiana State Board of Education. So why can’t Saxon be awarded an honorary bachelor’s degree from LSU?”

Books still in print

Saxon’s books include his

Everyone would know where the Williams tomb was located, and it would perhaps be embellished by mysterious painted Xs. Some might say that would be too touristy, but the playwright’s life was a tour of the souls. He would not have been in the same city as Rose, though the New Orleans cemetery is also named after St. Louis. At least he would be away from Gen. Sherman, and Marie Laveau would always be nearby Errol Laborde is a producer and panelist on WYES Channel 12’s “Informed Sources.” Contact him at elabordenola@gmail. com.

best-seller “Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales.” That book is still in circulation through Pelican Publishing, as are his books “Fabulous New Orleans,” “Old Louisiana,” “Lafitte the Pirate” and his novel “Children of Strangers.”

His “Lafitte” book was adapted into Cecil B. DeMille’s 1938 film “The Buccaneer.” Actordirector Anthony Quinn’s remake of the adaptation was released in 1958 with stars Yul Brenner and Charleton Heston in the leading roles.

Meanwhile, Saxon’s “Children of Strangers” tells the story of the post-Civil War plight of Louisiana’s free people of color along the Cane River in Natchitoches Parish, where he spent time writing at Melrose Plantation.

Owner Cammie Henry opened up the plantation grounds as a colony for writers and artists. Saxon was probably her most frequent guest, and New Orleans painter Alberta Kinsey often rode along to create her own work there. It was Kinsey who gave the plantation cook, Clementine Hunter, some leftover tubes of paint, which jumpstarted Hunter’s art career In the end, Wynne has answered his own question.

“I keep thinking about how Lyle Saxon was so close to that degree,” he said. “I shall persevere and attempt to attain this honorary degree for him.”

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN MILLER

Louisiana author Lyle Saxon’s gravestone is located in Baton Rouge’s historic Magnolia Cemetery on North 19th Street.

Whyit’snot necessarytoposteverythingonline

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Dear Miss Manners: I’m hosting apartywith my best friend. We used a social networking siteasour form of invitations; it’s areallyinformal event.Mybest friend’s ex-girlfriendsaw it and has invited herself to the party.She said,“Isaw that you forgot to add me so I added myself.” Idon’twant her at the party.There is alot of bad history with her,simply because shecreatesdrama.Inthe past,she

hascried, fainted and even told others that she is contemplating suicide just to get attention. Ever since my best friend ended things with her,she has been showing up at events that she wasn’tinvited to, throwing herselfathim (and other men) in sad attempts to win him back. If she shows up at theparty,she will create such tension that it will be ruined. How do Ipolitely tell her that she is not welcome, and what do Idoifshe shows up anyway?

Gentle Reader: What does your best friend

have to say about all this? It is not that Miss Manners mistrustsyour intentions, but you are doing an awful lot of thinking and fretting on his behalf.

The problem with posting events on social media is that other people see them —and either assume that they are invited, feel bad that they were not, or invite themselves. Although it is still impolite forthe ex-girlfriend to have done the latter,aless public invitation would have eliminated thesituation in the first place.

Buthere we are. If you can politely tell her that you thinkthe partymight be awk-

ward forher —orbetter yet, have your best friend do it —that would be afirst step. If she showsupanyway,you (or he) can reiterate. But if all that fails, and the party is in fact ruined, at least you will have learned that there are risks to making invitations visible to all. Also, whether or not you deem it overly dramatic, if this womanisroutinely crying, fainting and threatening her own life, someone should check on her

Sendquestions to Miss Manners to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com.

lap or bed, and show someaffection. —Tom P.,via email Thejoy of loving acat

They havegiven us much joy!

Dear Heloise: This is in response to Keith, theretired pastor who would love tohave adog to cuddle withbut is unable to walk thedog andlives in an apartment.

Hints from

An adult middle-aged cat would be perfect! Most cats love to cuddle and don’tneed to be walked.Weare 86 and have always had acat or two.

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,March 22, the 81st day of 2026. There are 284 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On March 22, 1963, The Beatles’ debut album, “Please Please Me,” was released in the United Kingdom on the Parlophonerecord label.

Also on this date:

In 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise money from the American colonies, which fiercely resisted the tax. (The Stamp Act was repealed ayear later.)

In 1894, ice hockey’sfirst Stanley Cup championship gamewas played,inwhich the Montreal Hockey Club defeated the Ottawa Hockey Club, 3-1.

In 1933, during the Prohibition Era, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which

Thankyou for awonderful and informative column! —MaryC., in Racine,Wisconsin Mary,unless aperson has an allergytocats, they can make wonderful pets. You’ll find this is especially true for older cats that havemellowed and enjoy comfort rather than roaming theneighborhood. I’ve loved

TODAYINHISTORY

allowed the saleofbeer and wine with an alcohol content of 3.2%.(Prohibition wouldbefully repealed nine months later with the ratification of the21st Amendment.)

In 1941, the Grand Coulee hydroelectric dam in Washington state officiallywent intooperation; it remains the largest capacity hydropower station in the United States. In 1978, Karl Wallenda, the73-year-oldpatriarch of “The Flying Wallendas” high-wire act, fell tohis death while attemptingto walk acablestrung between two hotel towersinSan Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1993, Intel Corp. unveiled theoriginal Pentium computer chip. In 2019, former President Jimmy Carter became the longest-living chief executive in American history; at 94 years and 172 days, he exceeded the life span of thelateformer President

and enjoyed every cat I’ve ever had. It seems like afew readers below agreed withyou as well.

—Heloise Life is aboutopportunity

Dear Heloise: Iamshocked that no one suggested acat for the old pastor.They’re easy to keep, require very little food or exercise, often sleep in your

George H.W. Bush. (Carter would die at age 100inDecember2024.)

In 2021,10people were killed in amass shooting at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder,Colorado. (The shooter, Ahmad Alissa, was sentencedtolife in prison without parole in September 2024.)

Today’sBirthdays: Actor WilliamShatneris95. Former U.S. poetlaureate Billy Collins is 85. Musician George Bensonis83. Writer James Patterson is 79.Composer Andrew Lloyd Webberis 78. ActorLena Olin is 71. Singer-actor Stephanie Mills is 69.Actor MatthewModine is 67.Football Hall of Famer JimCovert is 66.ActorcomedianKeegan-Michael Keyis55. DemocraticSen. Alex Padilla of California is 53. Actor Reese Witherspoon is 50.Actor Constance Wu is 44.Actor Noah LaLonde is 28.Dancer Vitoria Bueno is 21

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-providedbenefits. Whenthosebenefits end with retirement, paying dental billsout-of-pocket cancome as a shock,leading people to put off or even go without care.

Simplyput —without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparingplans ...

 Look forcoverage that helps pay formajor services. Some plans may limitthe number of procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.

 Look forcoverage with no deductibles. Some plans mayrequire you to payhundreds out of pocketbefore benefits are paid.

 Shop forcoverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1 That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocover everything. That means if youwant protection,you needto purchase individual insurance.

Early detection canprevent small problems from becoming expensiveones.

The best way to preventlargedental bills is preventive care.The American Dental Association recommends checkupstwiceayear.

Previous dental work canwear out.

Even if you’vehad qualitydentalwork in the past,you shouldn’t take your dentalhealth forgranted. In fact, your odds of havinga dental problem only go up as youage.2

Treatment is expensive— especiallythe servicespeople over 50 often need.

Consider these national averagecostsof treatment. $274for acheckup $299 for afilling $1,471 foracrown.3 Unexpected bills likethis canbeareal burden, especially if you’re on afixedincome.

“Medicare&You,” Centersfor Medicare& Medicaid Services,2025. 2 “Aging changesinteeth

Dear Heloise: Inever thought that I’dbemoved to write to you, but Iamjust amazed that you told the pastor to get astuffed teddy bear because he wants but cannot manage adog.The answer is beyond obvious: He should get acat. I suggest amature kitty He will be rewarded with

love and cuddling. When it comes to care, the kitty should only be indoors and have alitter box with scoopable litter.Hemay even want to consider adopting apair of older cats whowere together already.Tothe pastor,gotoa shelter or aprivate cat rescue group and see whobonds with you. —Jasimi, aHeloise fan Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Heloise

town customerschecked in to buy old doors, shutters andother items from TheBank Architectural

an atypically slow fall and winter,the local salvageindustry veteranwas more than ready to hear from clientslooking to acquire

some of the 10,000 cypressdoors and other treasures he has stockpiled in ablock-longwarehouse stretching between St.Andrew and Felicity

streets.

Wilkerson and other architectural salvage prosinsouth Louisiana say demand for their products has been downthe past several years because of high interest rates,spiking insurance costs, astatewide film industry slump, ashortage of tradespeople skilled at workingwithold materials, anda nationwideshift toward contemporary styles andopen floor plans.

Several multigenerational family businesseslike The Bank —along with afew newcomers— have been leaning into otherproductsand services as they wait outthe downturn andmakeplans forwhattheyhope will be ahomebuilding andrenovation comeback thatwill boost their cornerofthe nearly $60 billion global reclaimed lumber marketplace. TheBank, forits part, has been

ä See RECLAIMED, page 2E

Proposed lawseeks to draw supportfor Violet terminal

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

dressing community needs resulting from construction on the Louisiana International Terminal,amultiyear,multibillion-dollar project that state maritime officials have said is critical if Louisiana is to remain competitive as aglobal trading center “As Violet is thefrontline communityhosting the LIT for the benefit of the entire state,itiscritical that they benefit from the jobs and developmentthat theproject will provide,” said GNO Inc. President

and CEO Michael Hecht, who was tapped by Landry last year to shepherd the project and a related toll road through the process. “The tax dollars that would go to themasa result of this bill is critical for meeting that goal,” he said.

St. Bernard Parish officials opposedtothe terminal project, including the Parish Council and parishSchool Board, have come outagainst the bill. State Rep. Mike Bayham, aRepublican who represents the area,

ä See TERMINAL, page 2E

STAFFPHOTO

Aguide to survivingtax season when youowe

You’ve probably seenthe latenight ads promising to reduce tax debt. Even though amajority of Americans can look forward to getting atax refund each year,about a third of the country will owe money to Uncle Sam.

assessed nearly $18 billioninadditional taxes on returns filedlate. Whether you’re curious about thelegitimacy of thosetax relief commercials that become ubiquitous this time of year or you’re the onefacinga tax bill, here’s what people should doiftheyowe the IRS.

Michelle Singletary

THE COLOR OF MONEy

If you or people you know are among them, the worst move you make is to do nothing. The second-worstthing would be to follow the advice of those ads.

As of Feb. 27, the average refund was $3,742, an increase of 10.6% compared with the same period last year,partly due to taxchanges under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

According to the NationalTaxpayer Advocate’smost recent annual report, about 63%of individual taxpayers received arefund last year.Yet, knowing that two-thirds of the country is getting awindfall doesn’tmake it easier when you’re the one who has to write acheck. Many people believethat if they can’tpay,they shouldn’tfile. However,the IRS code punishes silence far more harshly than it penalizes alack of cash. In 2024,the agency

TERMINAL

Continued from page1E

also is against it.

Community organizerMichaelBailey,whose Violet Action Committee favors the bill, say anti-terminal forces run so deep in some parts of the parish, anything that could help the project along faces stiff opposition.

Parish Council Chair Fred Everhardt Jr.said the billis amoney and power grab

“They are usinglegislators from St. Tammany to determine the fate of our parish because our people andour legislators don’t want it,” Everhardt said.

“Weare at war.”

Glorioso said he is not being used and that he wanted to sponsor the bill because he grew up around Violet and “understands that it is going to putaburden on that community,soweare trying to do whatever we can to lighten that burden.”

Slowprogress

It’sbeen more than five years since Port NOLA first announced the terminal project, which the portsays is the only way New Orleans can continue to compete for international container ship business. As vessels have grown ever larger in recent decades, the local port has lostmarket share to Houston; Mobile, Alabama; and Savannah, Georgia.

Backers say the facility also is needed to attract new manufacturing and distribution investment to the region.

Opponents in St. Bernard, however,argue the project willdisrupttheir wayof life anddamage the local environment. Theyhave filed lawsuits challenging the project and threatened more litigation.

Still, Port NOLA officials and their privatesectors partners, who signed on to the project in late 2022, are continuing to move forward. For months, they have been awaiting permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Should those permits comethroughthis spring, as hoped, they could begin construction later this year

‘MakeVioletwhole’

In the meantime, supporters of the project are working on HB465, which would create theVioletEconomic Development District within anarrowly defined area around the proposed terminal site.

It would also establish anine-member board to oversee the incremental tax dollars generated within the district and decide how to spend them.

Language in the billsays the money wouldbeused to support “long-term place based investments in infrastructure, housing, workforce development and community priorities within Violet …and align state, parish and commu-

Skip the debt relief middleman: Most of those late-night TV andradio ads offer “expert” tax relief that you couldactually handleyourself forfree. Worse yet, many of these commercials are fronting for predatory companies that will charge thousands of dollarsthatcould go toward paying your tax debt. Even when these companies are legitimate and not ascam, thehelp they provide is typically available by calling the IRS or visiting irs.

gov

For example, the debt settlement companywill sendyou paperwork to set up apayment planwith the IRS. But it’slikely information downloaded from the IRS website.

File on time even if you’re broke: Ican’t stress this enough. Even if you can’t sendany money,submit your return by the April 15 deadline. If youneed moretime to gather your paperwork,requestanextension.

Just remember: An extension to fileisn’t an extension to pay

The failure-to-file penalty can

nity interests.”

There’snofiscal note attachedtothe bill yet, so it is unclear what theestimated cost or benefit of the measure wouldbe. It’salsounclearhow much additional spending activity wouldbe generated by theproject in theimmediateVioletarea, which has few retail businesses.

However, anew economic impact study on the project released by GNO Inc. estimatesthatconstruction on the terminal would generate $5.4 million in sales tax revenue for St. Bernard Parish morebroadly and that, once operational, the facility would bring nearly $15million inannual sales taxrevenues to theparish —a64% increase over current levels.

Hecht said thebulk ofthe salestax revenue would come from equipment purchases, even if purchased elsewhere, for port operations suchastrucks,cranes and fuels— as long as the goods are shipped toViolet. The project is also expected to generate additional spending by the nearly 2,750 workers that wouldbe hired by theterminal once it’sfully operational.

Community groups supporting the measure say any additional dollars will help their immediate area.

“Weare trying to secure funds to provide resources to try to help make Violet whole,” said Bailey.“We should not be excluded from the economic development. Historically,wehave been.”

Everhardt is skeptical and has taken issue with the proposedmakeup of the district governing board The governorand three local legislators, who all support theproject, would each getone board appointment.

Parish PresidentLouis Pommes, who has come out against theproject,would have one appointment.The Violet Action Committee wouldget threeand GNO Inc. wouldhave one. “The board makeupis crazy,”Everhartsaid. “We only have one seat at the table. How can they do that? We don’thaveoversight over ourown parish.” Bailey countered that Violet residents have not been fairlyrepresented by parish officials, who are opposed to the terminal, and who he arguedhaven’t looked for ways to make the project work fortheir area.

“Wehad toform the Violet ActionCommittee because none of thepowers that be in St.BernardParish care about our needs or opinions,” he said. “If this port is comingtoSt. Bernard Parish,wewant to take part in the economic development opportunities.

The bill hasbeen referred to theHouse Committee on Municipal, Parochial and CulturalAffairs

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

really sting. If you owe money and fail to file, the“failure-to-file” penalty is 10 times higher than the “failure-to-pay” penalty.

If you file your return on time but don’tpay,the penaltyis0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or partofamonth the taxes remain unpaid. The IRS limitsthis penaltyto25% of your unpaid taxes.

If you file late without obtaining an extension, the failure-to-file penalty is typically 5% for each monthorpart of amonththat a return is late, up to 25% Twoyearsago, my sonlearned this the hard way.Hethought he had filed using online software, but atechnical glitch prevented the IRSfromreceiving it. By the timeherealized the error, the “failure-to-file”penalty had grown to threetimes his original bill. Due to the late filing, latepayment,and interest, he ended up paying nearly $500, morethan theactual taxheowed.

Paywhat you can: Your taxdebt isn’t an all-or-nothing situation.Ifyou owe $5,000 but only have $500, send the$500. Every dollar you pay now reduces the interest and penalties that accumulate.

Set up an installment agreement: If your totalowed in income tax,

RECLAIMED

Continuedfrom page1E

focusing on services like rebuilding shutters and stripping paint from items customers bring in while continuing to build up inventory that Wilkersonconsiders abet on the future of his business.

“All of this is going to pay off,” he said. “The market is going to hit us again like it was 2018 through 2020, and we’re going to be flowing.”

Challenges to salvage

Though thepractice dates back centuries, architectural salvageinthe United States emerged as adefinedbusiness category in the 1970s in response tothe nation’snew focusonpreservation andsustainability. Thetrend tookoff further over thefollowing decades, fueled in some cities —like New Orleans —byurban decay thatled many older homes to deteriorate and face demolition.

Businesseslike The Bank —and its chief competitor,Ricca’sArchitectural Sales —began acquiring valuable doors, floors, molding, fixtures andother elements from homes before they were demolished. Then cameHurricane Katrina, whichdestroyed or ledto thedemolition of thousands of houses in themetro area.

For awhile,thatdestructionand the rebuilding process that followed meanta seemingly endless supply and demand for salvaged items. Now, though, that post-Katrina eraisover —and salvage supply and demand are bothlower this decade than they were during thelast one, according to longtime operatorsinthe field.

Julie Hoy, third-generation co-owner of Ricca’s, said thepost-pandemicrise in home loan interest rates, combinedwith the stormrelated spike in flood and homeowners’ insurance costsinthe Gulf Southmean fewerpeopleare buying and renovating houses,which means there’s less demand for salvaged architectural elements.

“People don’twanttoinvest where they’re not sure if the market will be stable,” said Hoy,whose Mid-City showroom is filled with antique and vintage lighting, hardwareand other finds.

Kavanaugh Farr,owner of Strip-Ease, located afew blocksaway,has seen the samething.

“I talk to alot of contractors, and there aren’tthat many jobs starting or houses changing hands,”said the second-generation owner of afamilybusinessthatprovides paintstripping,millwork andsales of salvaged goods.

Hoy alsobelieves stricter short-term rental regulations in New Orleans are discouraging investors from buying and renovating properties, and she said the

penalties and interest is $50,000 or less, you can apply for along-term payment plan. Paying over time is much better than the collection tools the IRS has, such as seizing bank accounts, garnishing wages or placing alien on your property

If you’re struggling, you might qualify for an “Offer in Compromise.” This program is intended to help people who are so financially strappedthat it’sunlikely the agency could collect all that the government is owed. However the acceptancerate is low because youmust prove that paying the full amount would cause an unfair financial hardship, but it’saroute worth considering before losing hope.

In fiscal year 2024, the IRS accepted 7,199settlement offers out of morethan33,591 applications. That is asuccess rate of 21%, afar cryfromwhat the commercials suggest When you hear those tax relief commercials promising to settle taxdebt for less than you owe, theyare usually talking about an Offer in Compromise. But don’t be fooled. The IRS has flagged these “OICmills” as one of this year’stop tax scams that “often overpromise results and charge high fees to taxpayers who don’t qualify,” according to the agency

Use the “Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier” tool on the IRS website before paying atax relief company to do it for you. Avoid using your credit cardtopay the debt: If you owe the IRS and cannot pay by the April deadline, you will be hit with acombination of interest and penalties. So, it’stempting to use your credit card and deal with it later.But if the interest rate on your card is high, you’re just shifting the problem to ahighercost solution. For April 1through June of this year,the interest rate on unpaid individual taxes is 6%. The average credit card interest rate is just below 20%, according to Bankrate. Request “currently not collectible” status: If paying even asmall amount would prevent youfrom covering basic living expenses (rent, food, utilities), call the IRS and ask to be placed in “Currently NotCollectible” status. They will pause collection efforts, though interest and penalties will continue to grow If you owe this year,don’tpanic or hide. Be your own savior: file the return, pay whatyou can and contact the IRS to make aplan for the rest.

EmailMichelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

slowdown of the Louisiana film industry has been bad for business.

“Set decorators used to buy light fixtures and other things from us,” she said. “During thepandemic, the TV series‘Interviewwith the Vampire’provided up to 20% of our income one year,but it’snot like that anymore.”

Willie White, who has been deconstructing homes in the New Orleans area for four decades, said business has slowed down because homeownersare renovating more ratherthanstarting from scratch. That means there are fewer houses to work on, and what’sinthem is in worse condition.

“I used to have one lined up right behind another,” Whitesaid. “Now,it’smaybe one every six weeks.”

Elsewhereinthe state, salvage operators are experiencing similar things. Don Charlet,co-ownerofThe Corbel home decor and furniture gallery in St.Francisville, saidhe’sseendemand for salvaged itemsdip as the number of high-end residential projectsisdown.

Matthew Latiolais, owner of Cajun Salvage in Lafayette, said he still sees demandfor salvageditems in certain cases, but the material is getting harder to find.

In Baton Rouge, Garrett Kemp, who has owned Circa 1857 forthe last decade, said he’smoved away from selling salvaged goods to focus instead on imported European antiques.

Kemp said consumerswho watchrenovation shows suffer from the“HGTV effect” andhaveunrealistic expectations about what salvaged

itemsshould cost.

And, because of scarcity, Wilkersonsaidthe way he searches foritems has changed dramatically

“The easy stuff has been exhausted,” he said. “Now, we scour Facebook posts and estate sales, going farther for fewer items. I’ll go allthe wayuptothe third floor of an attic on Bourbon Street to retrieve something.”

‘Anintrinsic value’

Fashion is another reason forthe drop in demandfor salvage. Thecurrent trend in home renovations is to open up floor plans, which reduces the need forinterior architectural details like doors, trim andmantels.

This is especially true for homes that have been renovatedtouse as short-term rentals.

The trend caught the attention of the Louisiana Landmarks Society,which last fall put architectural interiors on its list of the most endangered landmarks in NewOrleans.

“It’sfairly common to see apristinely preserved home exteriorand it might feel gutted,generic andmodern inside,” said MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley,ofthe Preservation Resource Center,a 52-year-oldnonprofitfounded to preserve the historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity of New Orleans.

Overthe decades,salvage companieshavebeen criticized by preservationists and others over the ethics of stripping oldNew Orleans homes of materials— and for potentially buying stolen items. But Nolan-Wheatley said the PRC supports the companieskeeping the material in commerce.

“Salvage has an intrinsic value andshould notbe thrown away,” shesaid. “The city should be doing moreto incentivizedeconstruction

Kavanaugh Farr standsamong salvaged doors at Strip-Ease of NewOrleans Inc. After atypically slowsummer turned into an atypically slowfalland winter,the local salvageindustry is seeinga stockpile of reclaimed materials.

and salvage over pure demolition. When the materials are resold, the city gets sales tax dollars and jobs. It’seconomic development rather than trash.”

Nolan-Wheatley said her organization also advocates for reforms to the renovation permittingprocessand to rental regulations that make it easier for homeowners to improve their houses, makeextra incomeand help bring vacantand blighted propertiesback intocommerce.

In general, the PRC favors policies that will encourage moreinvestment in housing stock in acity that struggles to maintainits infrastructure with apopulation that’s approximately half of what it wasatits peak in the 1960s.

“People don’tunderstand therealityofthe situation,” she said. “Wedon’tget enough money from tourists to makeupthe difference.”

Lookingahead

Despite the pressure points, Wilkerson, Hoy and the rest are optimistic about the future of their businesses. And during the recent downtown, they’ve been joinedbysome newcompetitors.

Twoyears ago, Kristin Gisleson Palmer,executive director of the PRC, and herhusband, Bobby Palmer,openeda retail business calledBargeboardtosell material they accumulated over the last decade after renovating roughly 80 homes on the West Bank.

“When you open up aroom or change afloor plan, you always endupwith leftovers,”saidBobby Palmer, whoadded the salvage sales are asmallpercentage of the company’soverall income. Farr,the Strip-Ease owner,sees mostly good things ahead.

“Wehavea new mayor, and interest rates are starting to drop, so hopefully that will get themarket stimulated,” he said. “Although Idon’tknow how the insurance problemwill get solved. They don’ttend to lower their rates, and we’re in ahigh-risk market with hurricanes.”

Email RichCollinsatrich. collins@theadvocate.com.

Ornamental iron pieces at Ricca’sArchitectural Sales

STAFF PHOTOSBy BRETT DUKE

Stair spindles are stacked at Ricca’sArchitectural Sales.

Construction firm embraces AI data centers, private equity

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Shortly after David Gallo joined Gallo Mechanical in the mid-1980s the family business his grandfather founded in 1945 — the price of oil plummeted, sending the New Orleans economy into a tailspin and killing the commercial construction business that was the firm’s bread and butter

Q&A WITH DAVID GALLO

“We literally got kicked out of Hibernia Bank,” Gallo said. “We were a 40-year-old company at the time and had no work.” It was a baptism by fire that Gallo never forgot and one the company successfully weathered by being lean, scrappy and working hard.

Today, Gallo Mechanical, which builds, installs and services HVAC systems for commercial and industrial clients, is growing by 50% a year, with more than 700 employees and revenues projected to top $500 million this year

Last summer Gallo did what he vowed never to do — he sold the company, with his family’s unanimous consent, to a Texas-based private equity firm. The deal, he said, was the best thing that could have happened for Gallo Mechanical’s future and its employees.

In this week’s Talking Business, he discusses what was behind the decision to sell, the work the company is doing for Meta’s data center and the nonprofit organizations he is helping to run now that he is retired.

Interview has been edited for length and clarity

During your 30-plus years running the company, Gallo Mechanical saw tremendous growth. How did that happen? After Katrina, we were only in

the Greater New Orleans area, and I realized you can’t have all your eggs in one basket. So, we started diversifying geographically But the really big catalyst came in 2018-2019, when we moved into the Carolinas.

The markets in North Carolina have six times as much work as we do here — heavy commercial construction, universities, hospitals high-end manufacturing in the Research Triangle. There are so many companies building these huge mechanical facilities and they all need what we do.

Wasn’t it hard to break into a booming market where your name was not well known?

Yes, but we did know the fundamentals of our business. We were doing a type of 3D modeling called Building Information Modeling, or BIM, that was a little ahead of the game and transcended us to another level. We had done market research, so we knew there was

a need. We also had some connections, which led to us to acquire a company that was going out of business, and we ended up hiring a lot of their people.

That is really what fueled our growth over the last five years. And it is anticipated that in 2026, we will do more work in the Carolinas than in Louisiana.

That’s kind of sad, for Louisiana, I mean.

We are doing great in Louisiana. It’s just that we’re doing that much more work there. There is no end in sight for the work that we do in the southeast U.S. It’s data centers, high-end manufacturing, chip manufacturing. And with the aging of America, hospitals are constantly redoing their facilities.

Tell me about the data center work. I saw Gallo trucks at the Meta site last week.

We are working there as a sub for a sub and have about 100 people up there We are hearing that this could last as long as 10 years, which is a long time in our busi-

ness. I hate to say there is no end in sight, but there is no end in sight.

What about the health of the New Orleans market?

It is not growing. Medical and Tulane University are the big drivers and, hopefully the Convention Center hotel, but we are limited because of our location. The expansion boom in the middle of the southeast includes north Louisiana, but it’s not coming down to the Gulf Coast.

The loss of local companies to private equity is often decried as a bad thing Why did your family decide to sell?

I had no anticipation of ever selling until 2023, when a guy from another company like ours that had just sold told me about his experience, and I thought it was in my family’s best interest to explore. We did not put the company up for sale, but we hired an investment bank to help us if a deal came along. That coincided with the AI data

center boom, and in early 2025, the bank told us the market was crazy for companies like ours. In March, we got approached, unsolicited. I was board chair at the time and had already named J.P Hymel, a longtime employee, as CEO. My son August Gallo III was CFO. The three of us met with the firm, Citation Capital, in Dallas. Two weeks later they made us an offer My entire family endorsed it It was too good to refuse.

So, eight months later, how is it working out?

Our company hasn’t changed. Leadership is still in place, and though I am no longer board chair, I have a seat on the board. They have added to our team, made us bigger and better, gotten us more work, but they haven’t changed the culture of the company What happens when Citation decides to sell, though?

When we sold, part of the deal said if they sell, they agree

AROUND THE REGION

“We stayed as long as we could.”

Tough choices arrive for those on Meta site fence line

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Ronnie Powell initially felt disbelief when Meta contractors broke ground in early 2025 on a massive artificial intelligence data center in tiny Holly Ridge directly across the rural, two-lane road from his mobile home.

From his porch, Powell, 68, had a front-row view of the action. And he marveled at the speed with which the 1,400-acre field where he had picked corn as a child with his grandparents was cleared to make way for a 4 million-squarefoot facility that will house some of the fastest, smartest computers in the world.

By last summer, Powell was growing wary Oversized construction vehicles crisscrossed the road all day, every day The noise never stopped. A dry, dusty film covered everything.

By the fall, Powell and his wife, Jan, couldn’t take it anymore. Many of their neighbors had already left, selling for more than 10 times what farmland in Richland Parish had sold for before the construction began.

In late November, they joined the exodus and moved to Monroe

A storage pod developer paid the Powells $250,000, or $50,000 an acre, for their 5 acre property, which included the mobile home, an old house next door that had been his grandmother’s and rows of verdant cornfields.

From a financial perspective, the deal was more than fair Had they sold two years ago, Jan Powell estimates they would have been lucky to get $40,000. But the property had been in Ronnie Powell’s family since the early 1930s. Though farming had long since ceased providing a sustainable living, it was their home Leaving after nearly a century wasn’t easy “We stayed as long as we could,” Powell said earlier this month.

“But it got to be too much.”

Rapid changes

The Meta construction site which has an estimated price tag of some $27 billion, is rapidly transforming rural Richland Parish in the northeast corner of the state. Some 4,000 temporary workers have moved into hastily constructed “man camps” and trailer parks to build the facility, swelling the parish population by 20%.

Retail and construction activity in nearby towns like Rayville and Delhi have swelled. Sales tax revenues are up by double digits. The ripple effect is spilling over into Monroe, where data center suppliers are signing long-term leases for warehouse space and investors are planning new downtown hotels and a waterfront development. The project is also generating concern among environmental

activists, who point to data cen-

ters elsewhere in the country that have driven up electricity rates and sucked water supplies dry

For the few hundred households in the fence line community, it’s not an abstract question or a binary between economic development and the environment. For them the project has ended a way of life that was dying for decades. Like all long, slow deaths, there is sadness and also hope for something better on the other side.

“We had lost so much here over the years with CenturyLink (now Lumen) going away the paper mill in Bastrop closing, a lot of the independent businesses,” Powell said.

“This thing is not near going to make up for what was lost, but it helps for now.”

A family decision

Powell’s grandparents were

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sharecroppers, who bought the Holly Ridge property back when the Meta site was part of Franklin Farms.

Powell remembers riding around as a tiny child in “Mr George” Franklin’s Jeep Wagoneer, back when the community was so tight-knit that the richest man in town, whose grandson negotiated the 2024 deal with Meta, wasn’t too proud to look after a sharecropper kid.

He remembers being well fed because his family always had enough corn to eat.

He remembers the old Thompson store up the road — now shuttered — where kids would go for an ice cream cone or a Coke.

But life on the land wasn’t easy Powell went to high school in Monroe then stayed in the city for decades while raising his family and driving big rigs for a freight

company

When he retired, they moved back to the family homestead His great-grandchildren loved it. They stayed with the couple last summer, piling into the mobile home and entertaining themselves with crafts and the many dogs and cats that lived on the property

Powell felt conflicted about giving up the land because of the five great-grandchildren, their parents and his own kids, now middleaged. What was best for them?

“It’s not just my decision,” he said last summer “This belongs to the family.”

But in the end, life in Holly Ridge was becoming untenable — and unfamiliar One neighbor’s home was cleared to make way for a new Dollar General. Another’s is now the site of a food truck hub.

“It took 20 minutes just to get out of the driveway,” Jan Powell said. “And you couldn’t breathe.” Pros and cons

With the money from the sale of their Holly Ridge property, the Powells bought a new home in a subdivision on the outskirts of Monroe, where a three-bedroom house on a nearly 2-acre lot can still be had for $100 a square foot. His daughter also bought land. The grandchildren and greatgrandchildren are taken care of. They’re at peace with the decision.

“Everybody said we could’ve gotten more,” Ronnie Powell said. “But you can’t be greedy.” He is also pragmatic. His new home is closer to their doctors and to supermarkets, restaurants and services. His kids went back to salvage some of the siding from the old house. He hasn’t gone back.

“We miss the country,” he said. “But we’re not sad.”

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

LOOKINGBEYOND: JonesWalkeron ResponsibleAIUse inBusiness

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As emerging technology rapidly transforms business operations, our firmishelping Louisiana companiesadopt artificial intelligence (AI) usepoliciesand governancestrategiestoensure effective andresponsibleAI implementation

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With thoughtful strategy,AIcan be apowerfultool forinnovationand growth across thestate’s business landscape—and we areproud to help lead theway forward.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Ronnie Powell stands on his porch as trucks go by along the side of the future site of the Meta artificial intelligence data center in Holly Ridge.

Graham H. Ryan

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Staff report

South Louisiana businesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the following promotions, new hires and resignations.

NewOrleans

Brandon Knatzer has beenpromoted to assistant director of physical security of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Kna tzer started working at the ConventionCenter as an assistantproduction manager and lead productiontechnicianand was, most recently,its tech-

nology infrastructure manager

Bigner

Erin Bigner has beenappointed as the new executive director of the St.Bernard Chamberof Commerce. Bigner previously worked for the Louisiana Crawfish Festival and operated acustom pageant bannershopinChalmette

Nine former attorneys of the Fishman Haygood law firm have formed theirown New Orleans-based firm called Miller Thibodeaux Dysart Veith &Paschal. Itsfive partners are Kerry

Fool’sTake: Built to last —and profit

Dr.Lin Dang was elected to serveasthe chief of the medical staff at Wo man’ s Ho spi tal and amemberofits board of directorsfor aone-year term.

Dang previously served as vice chief of staff, chair of medical staff peerreview andcurrently chairs thehospital’smedical executive committee.

Aboard-certified OBGYN, Dang practices at Louisiana Women’sHealthcare,where shespecializes in both routine and highrisk obstetric care.

Kenneth “Kip” Matthews has been named the directorofthe LSU-Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Dr.Charles M. Smith Medical and Health Physics Program. Previously the program’s interim director,Matthews is the Dr.CharlesM.Smith DistinguishedProfessor of Medical Physicsinthe LSUDepartmentofPhysics& Astronomy, whichhe

joinedin2001.

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area named five new members to its board of directors. They include: Grant Barone in-house counsel forThe NewtronGroup; Stephen Chapman,avice president of Performance Contractors; Rashida Keith,the director of the legal division for the Louisiana House of Representatives; BethMcNulty,a longtime Hancock Whitney employee; and Nancy Steiner, the CEO of DAAMedia and Marketing.

Do you have personnel changes to shareorother ideasfor ourbusiness coverage? Drop us aline at biztips@theadvocate. com.

Motley Fool

The company that Warren Buffett helmed for 60 years,Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B), remains asolid investment even though he has stepped down from the CEO role. (He is staying involved with the company, though, as chair.)

Berkshire stock is as diversified as some index funds, invested in awide range of companies spanning multiple sectors. Berkshire has over 60 subsidiaries. Its insurance and energy businesses get the most attention, but it also ownsjewelers, manufacturers, arailroad,restaurant chains, retailers and more.

The company’sportfolio includes more than 40 stocks of other publicly traded companies. Berkshire recently owned 22% of American Express, 10% of Domino’sPizza, 9% of Coca-Cola, 7% of Bank of America and 1.5% of Apple (with that stake alone worth nearly $62 billion). Berkshire Hathaway is in capablehands with Greg Abel as

CEO. Thetransition introduces some uncertainty,but Abel is expected tomaintainthe same focus on value-oriented investments.

Meanwhile, Berkshire sits on more than $370 billion in cash —dry powder thatcould fuel amajor acquisition or even a first-everdividend. Berkshire’s strong culture of savvy capital allocation, patienceand discipline shouldlead to solid investments that will add to the company’salready powerfulearnings engine. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway.)

Fool’sSchool: Investment accounts for children

It’ssmart to getyour children interested ininvesting, because theyhave ahuge edge: Their money has the most time to grow

For example, imagine a 15-year-old and a35-year-old who each make asingle $1,000 investment that grows at 8% annually If theybothretire at age 65, the 35-year-oldwill see that $1,000 become more than $10,000 over 30 years —while the 15-yearold’s$1,000 will grow to almost $47,000 over 50 years.

Youmight start by discussing

money and investing with them in an age-appropriateway.Show them how you manage thehousehold’sfinances and pay bills

Explain thehousehold budget if you have one. Tell them aboutfinancial challenges you’ve faced, such as paying down debt or saving for amortgage, and what your financial goals aretoday

Discuss your investment successes and disappointments, too. Talk about companies in which you’reinvested andcompanies in which they may want to invest, and follow them and their developments in the news.

Companies that might interest children include Microsoft, home to theXbox and video games, among other things, and McDonald’sand Starbucks, where lots of young people like to eat and drink.

Many other companies may be of interest, too.

Ourbook, “The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps To Having MoreMoney Than Your ParentsEver Dreamed Of” by David and Tom Gardner with Selena Maranjian, is alsoagood introduction to investing.

They might invest through you and your brokerage account. Or, if they have earned income, they

can savefor retirement with an IRA account. (A Roth IRA is particularly good,asthey’ll owe littleornotax on the earnings they invest, andwithdrawals will be tax-free.)

With Uniform Transfers to MinorsAct andUniform Gifts to MinorsAct accounts, you can give them money to invest while you serveascustodian. AFidelityYouth Account for teens is another option. Do some online research into investment accounts for children to seewhat will serveyou best.

Ask the Fool: Irrational finance

What’sbehavioral economics? —A.M., Brooklyn, New York It’sanacademicfield combining psychology andeconomics in order to explain howpeople make financialdecisions —often not in rationalways.

For example, many people would drive adistance to save $10 on a$20 purchase but wouldn’tdosotosave$10 on a $1,000 purchase —though the amount saved would be the same. Meanwhile,you may skip buying a$100 jacket,but if you see that itsinitialprice was $160, you might reconsider,viewing the

pricedifferently

We can be similarly irrational when it comes to investing, too.

Many people put off or avoid participating in their workplace 401(k) planeventhough they knowtheyshould. Theymay stubbornly remain investedina stock in which they have lost faith, hoping to make back their loss —whenitwould be more rationaltojust sell and move the money into amore promising investment.

It’sa fascinating topic,and you can learnmuchmore about it in bookssuchas“The Armchair Economist: Economics &EverydayLife”byStevenE.Landsburg, “The Why Axis: Hidden Motivesand the Undiscovered Economics of Everyday Life” by Uri Gneezyand John A. List, “Nudge:The Final Edition” by Richard H. Thalerand Cass R. Sunstein and“The Little Book of Behavioral Investing: HowNot To Be Your Own Worst Enemy” by James Montier.The “Freakonomics” podcastand book series arealso enlightening. What’s acapital gain? —P.L., Grand Rapids,Michigan If you own an asset and sell it, the difference in value fromyour purchase priceisyourcapital gain —orcapitalloss.

Keepingthe Menhaden FleetRunning: CaseyDevillier’s Story

AlongLouisiana’s coast, themenhaden industry supports hundreds of families throughsteady, skilledmaritimejobsthat depend on amodernfleetoperating safely and reliably during theshort fishingseason. Outof Empire andAbbeville,LA, vesselsheadinto theGulf, spotterplanesguide them to schools of fish, andprocessing plants keep production moving once theboats return.Behindit allare themechanics andtechnicians whoensurethe fleet keepsrunning.Itisa tightly coordinatedsystem wheretiming, maintenance, andexperience determine whetheraseasonsucceeds or stalls ForCasey Devillier,who hasworked forWestbankFishing for23years,that responsibility is personal “Officially,I’m thevesselmanager,” he says “But really,Ihandleanythingelectricalonthe boats. Andthatendsupbeing alot.”

FromCentral Louisianatothe Coast

Devillier grew up in GrandPrairie in central Louisiana, wherehis father farmed cattle and raised livestock. He learnedearly howtowork with hishands andsolve problemsquickly

He begantrade school as asophomore in high school,studyingair conditioningrepair. By graduation,hewas already runningservice callsinLafayette.Overtime, he movedinto offshoreand industrial electrical work,which eventually broughthim to Empire

Thefirsttimehestepped onto amenhaden vessel,hewas overwhelmed.

He laughs,“Igot seasick. Thecrewhad a good time with that.”

Today, he livesjusta half mile down the

canalfromthe dock.The fleet is part of his dailylife, especially during theseason.

AJob That NeverReallyStops

Devillier oversees Westbank’s 12 menhaden fishingvessels and24smaller purseboats Each onedepends on complex systems workingtogether: engines, generators, refrigeration, hydraulics, radar, autopilot, steering controls,and onboardelectronics

“The main enginesare critical,” he says “But refrigerationisjust as important. If that goes down,you have seriousproblems.”

During theoff-season, work is planned andpreventative. Majorcomponentsare inspected, worn partsreplaced, andupgrades installedtoimprove reliability. In season,it becomesreactive, with hisphone ringingat allhours from captains andcrews offshore.

If avesselcannotreturntodock, he will load partsand head outona responder boat to fix theissue at sea. Thegoalissimple: keep crewsfishing.

“That’swhere thecrewmaketheir money,” he says.“Nottiedupatthe dock.”

Over theyears,hehas takenon responsibilities once handledbyoutside contractors. As olderspecialists retired, he shadowed them andlearned theirtrades. Nowhemoves seamlessly from diagnosing agenerator problemtorepairing asteering system to coordinating engine work

“It’sconstantproblem-solving,” he says “You switch disciplinesall daylong.”

Respectfor theCrews

Devillier is quicktopoint outthatwhile

he workslonghours,the crewsoffshoreface even tougherconditions. They operateheavy equipmentinheat, humidity,and roughseas, oftenfor days at atime.

“Whattheydophysicallyout thereishard, he says.“We rely on each other.”

When boatsstayout fishingbecause of a repair,mostpeoplenever know howclose they were to shutting down.Thatquiet successis part of thejob

He also values theculture of thecompany

Many employees aresecond-orthirdgeneration fishermen.Fathers andsonshave worked side by side fordecades,passing down knowledgethatcannotbelearned from a manual

“Thisisn’t just ajob people pass through,” he says.“It’s families.”

WhyItMatters

In lowerPlaquemines Parish,economic opportunitiesare limited. Themenhaden industry remainsone of themostconsistent employersinthe area,offeringindustrial wageswithout requiringfamiliestorelocate.

“Ifthisindustry contracted –orworse still closed –there’snothingdownheretoreplace it,” Devillier says He points to localgrocery stores,small businesses,fuelsuppliers, andmarine vendorsthatdependonsteadyemployment from thefleetand plant. Theimpactstretches beyond thedockand ripplesthrough the parish economy. Thejobssupport mortgages, tuitionpayments, church donations, and Little League teams.

ForDevillier,the industry hasmeant

stability. He nowownsa home near thecanal, wherehis children fishoff thedockand watch theboats pass.Heand hiswifeare raisingfour children,one alreadyincollege

“Thisjob meanseverythingtomyfamily, he says.“It’s howweprovide.”

Workinginthe menhaden industry has taught himresilience, adaptability,and teamwork.Ithas also allowedhim to builda life in SouthPlaquemines,close to thewater andclose to home

As long as theboats arerunning, Devillier planstobethere to keep them that way–becausewhenthe menhaden fleetruns, families work,businessesstayopen, and SouthPlaquemines keepsmovingforward

Miller

Veith

Knatzer

Thibodeaux

Paschal

Matthews Dysart

Dang

Miller, Paul Thibodeaux, Danny Dysart Rebekka Veith and Hogan Paschal Monica Bergeron, Carly McCleskey, Brennan O’Keefe and Dylan Futrell are associates with the new firm. BatonRouge

Broughttoyou by theLouisiana Commercial FishingCoalition,LLC

ONE BIG QUESTION

How have increased energy costs affected your business?

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

The war with Iran has prompted the most dramatic fuel price increases the United States has seen in years. The price of diesel fuel on the Gulf Coast rose by nearly 29% during the first week in March, the largest single-week spike since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began tracking the data in 1994.

As of Tuesday the price in Louisiana was averaging $4.83 per gallon, up from a prewar price of less than $3.49.

And experts say if Iran continues to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s fossil fuel traditionally flows, the shock to the supply chain will likely intensify Louisiana is the nation’s secondlargest petroleum refiner and one of the nation’s top 10 crude oilproducing states, two factors that keep prices lower than in many other states. Still, the nature of the global energy market means that it is not immune from disruptions to the supply chain on the other side of the world.

For this week’s One Big Question, we asked local business owners from different sectors how higher energy prices are affecting their day-to-day operations.

Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

KATIE JENSEN

CEO, Triton Stone, New Orleansbased importer and distributor Stone is heavy and it’s imported from all over the world, so we rely on a lot of transportation. When fuel and energy prices increase, it increases ocean freight and it increases our trucking costs. And that’s just to get the stone into our warehouses. On the other side, when we de-

liver the material to our customers, we’re dealing with increased transportation costs domestically The challenge is that these costs ripple through the industry faster than we can adjust. It means constantly paying attention to where freight is going. In some cases, we have to adjust pricing to keep our projects affordable for our customers, but it’s a very, very quick reaction. Diesel prices, in some of our markets, have gone up over 50%. So we have to consider charging delivery charges. Are we going to do a fuel surcharge? Is this going to be a week in time? Is it going to be a month?

Is it going to be six months?

The uncertainty is a very big challenge to manage.

TROY HENRY

Managing partner, Henry Consulting, New Orleans owner of gas stations and convenience stores

It’s unfortunate that as the cost of fuel goes up, we essentially have to pass that on to our customers. And the higher the pricing is, the more of a pain it is for our customers. At our gas stations, we don’t like to see increased prices because it alters demand, which alters the volume of fuel that we sell. In the other companies that I own, I see

a similar ripple effect. Customers have less cash to buy other items and do other things.

So, it’s inflationary, dampens demand for the goods and services that my companies provide and is challenging for our customers.

SINESIO CANSECO

Founder, Canseco’s Markets, Metairie supermarket chain with six locations

Always

the RightThing

That’s just the way that it works. I have not seen it happen yet, but I think in another week or two, you will start to see the prices go up a little bit.

ROBBY TRAHAN

Co-owner, Falcon Rice Mill, Crowley

Higher fuel costs affect everything transported to and from the mill. It’s concerning, I’ll be honest.

When you’re dealing with commodities, you have to make decisions that are so far out. You want things as steady as possible.

PAUL LELEUX

CEO, Acadian Kitchens, maker of Cajun’s Choice Premium Blend and Ragin’ Cajun products

Shipping costs haven’t increased yet, and shipping companies have not announced any surcharges yet. Hopefully, this is a short-term blip and it’ll be over before it becomes a problem. It’s still very early and I think everybody is taking a wait-and-see approach. If this protracts over a longer term, it may have some downward impact.

TODD WAGUESPACK

CEO, Level Homes, Baton Rougebased homebuilder I don’t think it’s going to directly affect our bottom line. My prediction is it will end before everybody starts passing the cost along. What drives cost increases in our business are interest rates and insurance. The media is blowing this out of proportion.

Adam Daigle contributed reporting for this story

Email Jonah Meadows at Jonah. Meadows@theadvocate.com.

We haven’t really seen the effects yet In the past, when fuel prices have gone up, the transportation companies put a fee on bringing stuff to your store. It could be $10 a delivery or $20 a delivery — it depends how high the price of gas or diesel hits. Then, when the gas goes down, they take that charge off, and probably all your groceries will go up a little bit.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALTAF QADRI

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y y Louisianatouse Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD/LouisianaOffice of Community Development will accept objections to itsrelease of fund and OdysseyHouse Louisiana’scertification fora period of fifteen days followingthe antici‐patedsubmissiondateor itsactualreceipt of the request(whicheveris later) only if they areon oneofthe following bases: (a)the certifica‐tion wasnot executed by theCertifyingOfficerof theOdysseyHouse Louisiana; (b)Odyssey HouseLouisiana has omitteda step or failed to make adecisionor findingrequiredbyHUD regulationsat24CFR part 58; (c)the grantre‐cipientorother partici‐pantsinthe development processhavecommitted funds, incurred costsor undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFRPart 58 before approval of a releaseoffunds by HUD/LouisianaOffice of CommunityDevelop‐ment;or(d) anotherFed‐eral agency acting pur‐suantto40CFR Part 1504 hassubmitted awritten findingthatthe projectis unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environ‐mental quality. Objec‐

Research eyes if GLP-1s may lessen colon cancer risk

Louisiana doctor says new data on medication looks promising

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Recent data suggests people taking GLP-1 drugs may develop colorectal cancer less often than those taking aspirin, a medication long studied for its potential protective effect.

While the findings don’t show causation, they are prompting important conversations about whether GLP1s’ impact on inflammation, metabolism and weight could play a role in cancer risk

Dr Jonathan Mizrahi, a gastrointestinal medical on-

Mizrahi

cologist at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in New Orleans, said while aspirin is currently considered to be effective in reducing the risk of colon cancer, the GLP1 data looks promising. Daily lowdose aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer and is considered a promising prevention method and associated with a 20% to 30% reduction in the inci-

dence of colon cancer, particularly for individuals with elevated risk factors or specific genetic profiles. Long-term use — typically five years or more — is required to see a significant reduction in risk, according to the National Institutes of Health.

While once recommended more broadly, current evidence suggests that the benefits of daily aspirin for colorectal cancer prevention often must be weighed against the risks of serious bleeding.

ä See RESEARCH, page 3X

While the findings don’t show causation, new research is prompting important conversations about whether GLP-1s’ impact on inflammation, metabolism and weight could play a role in cancer risk. The injectable drug Ozempic is one such medication.

Study links screen time to smaller vocabularies in children

BY MIRIAM FAUZIA

The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

Screen time has long been a concern for parents, child safety advocates and others, particularly in the early years when a child’s brain and language skills are developing. New research from Southern Methodist University adds another piece to that debate, examining how digital media use may be linked to the kinds of words toddlers learn — and the

family factors that shape how much screen time kids get. Here’s what the research says and what it could mean for families trying to support language development when screens are part of everyday life. By age 2, four in 10 U.S. kids have a tablet, rising to 58% by age 4, according to a 2025 survey by children’s advocacy group Common Sense Media. The survey found that children younger than 2 average 63 minutes of media use

per day, which includes about four minutes a day watching short-form videos such as YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok. This shift has prompted researchers to look more closely at what screen use means in the earliest years. At SMU, assistant professor of psychology Sarah Kucker has focused on how media use relates to language development in young kids. When she began her work more than a decade ago, most studies centered on television with

predictable, routine programming, such as Saturday morning cartoons; far less was known about learning from phones and tablets, where content is on demand anytime across countless apps and platforms. Kucher began with a basic question: How is the learning process when children are watching from a mobile device? “So if they want to learn a new word like duck, then learning it as a real object that you can touch is different than if it’s a

picture of a duck on the phone,” she said. In a study published in November, Kucker and her colleagues surveyed more than 380 caregivers of children ages 17 to 30 months about their child’s word use and how much video or TV the child watched. After accounting for the child’s age, overall vocabulary and socioeconomic status, the researchers found that toddlers

ä See SCREEN TIME, page 2X

GETTy IMAGES PHOTO By SVITLANA PIETUKHOVA

Recent data suggests people taking GLP-1 drugs may develop colorectal cancer less often than those taking aspirin, a medication long studied for its potential protective effect.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAVID J PHILLIP

Engineers developing edible ‘robot’ capsule

Device could diagnose, treat diseases

BY KARL HILLE

The Baltimore Sun (TNS)

BALTIMORE What if you could swallow a tiny robot that could diagnose, monitor and treat health issues in your gut without scheduling an uncomfortable or timeconsuming outpatient procedure?

Researchers at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering are developing a smart capsule to revolutionize how doctors practice medicine in the intestinal tract.

“These capsules have the potential to change lives for the better — even save lives. Our team’s work to develop smart pills that can sense, communicate in, and interact with complex biological environments will redefine the way we diagnose and treat ailments,” Reza Ghodssi, professor and MATRIX Lab executive director of research and Innovation, wrote on the university’s website.

The technology is still in

development, but Ghodssi imagines a day when the smart pill, about the size of a multivitamin, can check tissue health, identify potential cancers and send data to a doctor It could even inject

medicines into the intestinal wall, or take a tiny biopsy sample before passing harmlessly out of your body

Godssi wrote in the article

“Tomorrow’s Smart Pills will Deliver Drugs and take

Biopsies” in the publication IEEE Spectrum. To day, smart pills equipped with a video camera, lights and a transmitter are a routine tool in intestinal health, he wrote. They

can also measure acidity, temperature and gas concentrations. The version under development can track biomarkers, including hydrogen sulfide gas, neurotransmit-

ters like serotonin and dopamine, and other signals that shed light on gut health and disease progression. Delivering medicines exactly where they are needed could improve effectiveness and minimize side effects, Ghodssi wrote. The technology would go beyond passive monitoring, as the autonomous capsules would sense conditions, make decisions and trigger appropriate actions.

Research teams around the country are working on similar technologies, he wrote, especially to solve the problem of providing a safe and compact power supply

A Binghamton University team in New York is exploring microbial fuel cells to generate electricity from probiotic bacteria in the gut. At MIT, researchers have used pig stomach fluid to power a battery And at UMD, they are exploring methods to harvest energy throughout the capsule’s digestive system journey Further testing will seek to prove that Ghodssi’s capsules are safe, reliable and offer benefits beyond existing technology

Experts discuss how to know if a home needs a water filter

BY KIKI SIDERIS Associated Press

U.S. tap water is gener-

ally safe and high quality

But that doesn’t mean every glass tastes the same, or that every building’s plumbing delivers identical water to the faucet.

Water quality

That uncertainty has fueled a booming market for water filters, from simple pitcher models to multithousand-dollar reverse osmosis systems Yet experts say most American households don’t need extensive treatment. The challenge is knowing how to decide whether you need a filter.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency sets health standards for more than 90 contaminants in public water systems, including chemicals and microbes.

Utilities treat water with disinfectants like chlorine to kill harmful germs before it reaches homes. Most public utilities meet those standards and most Americans can safely drink from the tap.

“Unless you’re experiencing health impacts, you’ve got a notice from your water system or there’s a credible media story saying your water is unsafe, you shouldn’t feel the need to get a filter,” said Gregory Pierce, director of the University of California Los Angeles’ Human Right to Water Solutions Lab. “You’re still welcome to because it might make your water taste a little bit better, but it shouldn’t be considered necessary to have a water filter in 90-plus percent of the United States.”

SCREEN TIME

Continued from page 1X

who watched more video tended to say fewer bodypart words, such as nose or arm, and more words for furniture and people, such as mom, friend or girl.

“A lot of times, those first words are going to be nouns and objects that they touch and they feel,” Kucker said, adding those words can help set the stage for building sentences and learning more complex language.

But the finding of children learning more people and furniture words was unexpected because previous research suggested that more digital media time is associated with fewer face-to-face interactions and therefore fewer opportunities to learn these kinds of words. In another study published

Start with your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report, which details detected contaminants and whether the system meets federal standards. These reports are typically available on a city or utility website. You can also contact your provider directly with questions. Water systems are generally only responsible for the water until it reaches private property meaning water quality can vary by building

For many, those reports may be enough reassurance. Still, some consumers want more certainty, especially in older buildings.

“You should probably test your water to identify if you have a risk that you need to treat,” said Jess Goddard, chief science officer at the environmental testing company SimpleLab.

Private wells have different maintenance and safety needs because they are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and monitoring them is the responsibility of the homeowners. The EPA is among the agencies offering resources for people with private wells.

Testing kits can cost a couple hundred dollars or more, depending on what contaminants they screen

Here’s how testing typically works: You order a kit, collect a water sample following the instructions and mail it to a certified lab.

Here’s how to check your local water quality, when water testing makes sense and how to choose a filter that addresses your concerns without wasting money

The lab analyzes it for specific contaminants, including a group of chemicals known as PFAS, microplastics, metals and disinfection byproducts, and provides a report.

If testing reveals a serious issue, Pierce recommends contacting your water utility or state environmental agency for guidance. If testing reveals high levels of contaminants, the solution may go beyond installing a household filter Officials may recommend temporary alternative water sources, like bottled water, or infrastructure upgrades, like pipe replacement.

If there’s not a problem serious enough to require those measures, a filter may help.

Choosing a filter

People should consider what their filtration goals are and what different filters can do. The EPA advises that many household activities like flushing toilets and washing clothes don’t require treatment, so cooking and drinking are typical uses to consider Most filters carry ratings by the nonprofit organizations NSF and American National Standards Institute. Common NSF/ANSI ratings include 42 for taste or smell concerns, 53 for health effects and 401 for emerging compounds. An NSF database allows people to search by product name or what compound they want to reduce.

“Not every filter is good for everything,” said Sydney Evans, a science analyst who led a water filter testing project at the Environmen-

tal Working Group. “And even if there’s a filter out there that does absolutely everything, maybe you don’t need it.”

Many households use filters not because of safety concerns, but because of taste or odor, “which really do impact people’s enjoyment or sense of confidence in their drinking water,” Goddard said.

In those cases, a basic carbon filter, like many common pitcher models, can be effective. Activated carbon reduces chlorine and byproducts that form when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in the water Those byproducts are expected in treated water, said Samantha Bear, a senior research analyst at SimpleLab. Even when levels are below federal limits, she said she and her colleagues filter their tap water — not because the water is unsafe, but to reduce long-term exposure.

Even people who live outside of areas with high levels of PFAS contamination may be concerned about their presence. PFAS is an

traits referring to a person’s tendency to be organized, self-disciplined and goal-oriented reported that their children spent less time with digital media. This, in turn, was linked to higher vocabulary scores.

“We also found that children who are very fussy, what we call high negative affect, tend to have higher rates of screen time,” Kucker said. “This could be that they ask for it, or the parents use it to calm them down. But when you have higher rates of screen time, you have lower language.”

abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The Environmental Protection Agency says that filters can reduce PFAS levels, but urges people to contact their local water service provider as an initial step if they have concerns.

Lead is another contaminant that can often be beyond the capabilities of filtration systems. But the EPA notes that no level of lead is safe, so people may want to use filters even where alternative water sources or pipe replacements aren’t recommended.

Treatment systems

Pitchers, refrigerator filters and faucet-mounted systems treat water at the point of use — where you drink or cook with it. Undersink systems and reverse osmosis units also treat water at the tap but may require professional installation.

in October 2025, Kucker and her colleagues found the caregivers’ temperaments, and that of their child’s, influences digital media use and thereby language learning. The researchers surveyed

more than 460 caregivers of children ages 17 to 30 months and followed a smaller group of families a year later They found caregivers who scored higher on conscientiousness one of the “Big Five” personality

Some studies suggest that when adults watch a program with a child, a practice known as co-viewing, it can support engagement with the content, rather than children watching passively But what Kucker and her colleagues found was that even when children watched with an adult or watched educational media,

Whole-home systems treat water at the point of entry, meaning water is filtered before it’s distributed throughout the house. These systems are typically more expensive and often require professional installation. They’re generally used for issues that affect all household water — like hardness, high iron levels or certain volatile compounds — rather than contaminants that originate in plumbing. Beyond filtration systems, some homes use water softeners to reduce the presence of minerals that can build up and damage plumbing, though these systems don’t remove most other contaminants. Less common in homes are distillation systems, which boil water and condense the steam to remove minerals and some contaminants. Most households don’t need whole-home or distillation systems unless they’re dealing with a specific, documented issue, experts said. Maintaining and changing your water filter matters, too, because the cartridges can lose effectiveness or allow bacteria to build up if they aren’t changed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

the relationship between screen use and vocabulary did not change. In the October 2025 study that followed families over time, children who spent more time with digital media at age 2 tended to have smaller vocabularies at age 3, regardless of the child’s temperament or the caregiver’s personality traits.

So how should parents think about screen time in everyday life? Kucker suggested a few approaches.

First, use age as a guide, Kucker said. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages digital media for children younger than 18 months, except for video chatting. For children 18 to 24 months, the association recommends choosing highquality educational content and using it together with a caregiver

For children ages 2 to 5, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises limiting

“Otherwise they may do more harm than good,” said Pierce, the UCLA scholar

screen time to about one hour a day of high-quality educational programs. Kucker recommends coviewing with your child and discussing the content with them, even if they are too young to respond. Offline, take the opportunity to use real-life events or outings to engage language skills.

“If you’re watching a video, connect what’s in the video to real life,” she said. “When you’re grocery shopping, narrate as you’re going, saying, ‘Oh, here’s the banana, do you see it? It’s yellow Here’s the milk.’ That’s the kid’s class, that’s when they are learning the words. They are getting it because you are talking to them.”

Miriam Fauzia is a science reporting fellow at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. The News makes all editorial decisions.

UMCP/TNS IMAGE By CHAD SMITH

An illustration shows Professor Reza Ghodssi’s non-invasive, ingestible capsule that uses wireless technology to provide information to diagnosticians in real time.

DREAMSTIME/TNS PHOTO

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSHUA A. BICKEL

An under sink water filter operates March 9 in Cincinnati Experts say most American households don’t need extensive treatment, but the challenge is knowing how to decide whether you need a filter

Eat Fit LiveFit

BRO UGH TT OY OU BY

UThriving through change: howresilienceshaped one woman’shealthier life

sually,thiscolumnisaboutfood, healthandhabits.Butweknowthat being“fit”ismorethanthat.Itis howpeopleactuallylive,adaptandbuild wellbeingintotheirdailylives,evenwhen therearesignificantchallenges.So,weare excitedtoshareadifferentkindofwellness throughourInspiringStoriesseries.Here, wewillspotlightpeopleinourcommunity whosejourneysreflectmanysidesof whatitmeanstolivewell.Andifthere’s someoneinyourlifewhosestoryshouldbe shared,pleasesendthemmyway.

Fromtheoutside,thechangeinErin Arceneauxoverthepasttwoyearshas beeneasytosee.Herenergyisdifferent. Herfocusissteadier.She’sdownabout 50pounds.Inflammationmarkersthat onceranhigharenowwithinrange.Even herskinlooksdifferent.There’savibrance toherthat’shardtomiss.Butthemore meaningfulshift,shesays,islessvisible.

“Ifinallystartedtofeellikemyselfagain,” Arceneauxsaid.“Notperfect.Justclearer morepresent.”

Arceneaux,alongtimeOchsner employeeandamemberoftheEatFit team,hasspentmuchofhercareerin community-facingwork,helpingother peoplenavigatewellnessandchange. Whatmanydon’tseeishowmuchof thatworkhasbeenshapedbyherown lifeandbyyearsoflearninghowtokeep movingforwardwhenlifekeepstaking thingsaway

Elevenyearsago,Erin’sfiancédiedby suicide.Atthetime,theirtwinswere justsevenmonthsold.“Icouldn’tgive up,becauseIhadtwokidswhoneeded me,”shesaid.“EvenonthedaysIdidn’t feelstrong,Ihadtochoosetokeep goingforthem.”

Nearlyadecadelater,aftershehad beguntorebuildandfoundanew long-termrelationship—another seriesoflosseslandedclosetogether.

Thatpartnerpassedaway unexpectedly.Notlongafter that,shelosttwoofthepeople shewasclosestto:heraunt andhergrandmother.Her aunt’sdeath,alsobysuicide, wasespeciallydevastating.“It feltlikerelivingeverythingwith mylatefiancéalloveragain,” shesaid.

Bythen,herchildren wereolderandhadmore understanding.Thatchanged howsheviewedtheloss.“It wasn’tjustmygriefanymore,” shesaid.“Theyweregoing throughit,too.Ihadtobe steadierforthem.”

Whathelpedherclimbout ofthedarkeststretchesduring thoseyearswasn’tasingle breakthroughmoment;Itwas structure.“Gettingbackintoa routinesavedme,”shesaid.“If Istayedinbed,mymindwould gotobadplaces.Havingpurposein mydays,havingstructure—thatkept memoving.”

Shefillshertimewithprojectsthat requirefocusandpatience.Athome, thatmeansteachingherselfhowtodo thingsmanypeoplewouldhireout,like hangingsheetrockandinstallingcabinets. “Workingwithmyhandshelpsquietmy head,”shesaid.“Youcanseeprogress Youcanfinishsomething.”

Runninggaveherspacetoclearhermind andreleaseanxiousenergy.Thesedays,a lotofthatmovementhappenswithher kids.HerdaughterparticipatesinGirlson theRun,andArceneauxjoinsherforevery race.“It’saboutbeingtherewiththemand doingittogether.

Mentalhealthcarehasbeenaconstant support,notalastresort.Arceneauxhas workedwithapsychiatristsinceshewas ateenagerandherchildrenseeamental

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY

THENUMBERS

healthprovideraswell.“Iwantthem togrowupknowingthatgetting helpisnormal,”shesaid.“It’sjust partoftakingcareofyourself.”

Twoyearsago,anotherdecision becameanunexpectedturningpoint. Afteryearsofdealingwithhealth issuesshecouldn’tfullyexplainlike fatigue,brainfog,moodchangesand inflammation,Arceneauxdecidedto haveherbreastimplantsremoved. “Therewasn’tanythingwrong withtheimplantsspecifically,”she said.“Mybodyjustseemedtobe rejectingthem.

Whilethelinksbetweenimplants andthesesymptomsremainanopen questioninthemedicalcommunity, Arceneauxsaysherownexperience wasclear.“Myenergy,mymood, thebrainfog,theinflammation—so manythingsshifted,”shesaid.“That wasoneofthebestdecisionsI’ve evermadeformyhealth.”

Feeling better mentally and physically made it easiertocarefor herselfinmore basic ways, too. Stress, she realized, had been quietlyrunning theshowfor years. At home, that shows up in thekitchen as much as anywhere. She cookswithher kids and usesthe time to teach them about food and health. They make sourdough bread, butter and kombuchafrom scratch.She emphasizesfresh, wholefoods andlimits processedfoods.“It’s notaboutbeing rigid,” she said.“It’s about giving our bodies what we actually need.” Today, Arceneaux’s life looks steadier as she’sbuilt systems that support her through routines, meaningful work, time withher kids and consistent mental health care. “I’mnot 100percentthere. But I’mina much better place than Iwas. And I’mproud of that.”

ONLy 4PARISHESFALLBELOW THEU.S.AVERAGE FORADULTSWITHCOPD

Chronic obstructivepulmonary disease, or COPD,isthe fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. It is the cause of morethan 150,000 deaths each year,accordingtothe U.S. Centers for Disease Controland Prevention.

COPD slowly damages air sacs in the lungs, decreasing airflow and making it difficult to breathe.

Louisiana had the 12th-highest percent of adults whoreported COPD in the countryin2024, averaging 8% of adults reported to have COPD.Only four Louisiana parishes fell belowthe national averageof6.5%

These parishes had the highest percent of adults with chronic pulmonarydisease, in descending order:

n East Carroll Parish with 12.7%

n Madison Parish with 11.8%

n Claiborne Parish with 11.6%

n Bienville Parish with 10.8%

n Tensas Parish with 10.7%

RESEARCH

Continued from page1X

The use of GLP-1 receptor antagonist therapy has ledtoagreater reduction in colorectal cancer incidence than has been observed with aspirin, accordingto researchpresented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal CancersSymposium 2026.

The study was based on data obtained from the TriNetX database,which includes records for approximately 150 million patients throughout 106 health systems. Patients includedin the analysis were aged 18 to 90 years betweenJan. 1, 2000 and Jan. 1, 2024.

n Concordia Parish with 10.5%

n Avoyelles and Franklin parishes with 10.4%

n Morehouse and Webster parishes with 10.3%.

These parishes had the lowest percentofadults with chronic pulmonarydisease, in ascending order:

n Ascension,West Feliciana and St. Tammanyparishes with 6.1%, n St. Charles Parishwith 6.2%, n Jefferson Parish with 6.5%, n East Baton Rouge,Orleans and West Baton Rouge parishes with 6.6%,

n Lafayette Parish with 6.7%, n St. James and St.John the Baptist parishes with 6.8%

n Bossierand Plaquemines parishes with6.9%.

COPD symptomsinclude difficulty catching breath, wheezing,chest tightness and having achronic cough.

The researchers used propensityscore matching to matchpatients using GLP-1 therapy to those using aspirin.

Among eligible patients, roughly150,000 were receivingGLP-1s and 3million were receivingaspirin

Overall, the incidenceof colon cancers amongusers of GLP-1s was approximately 36% lower thanamong aspirin users, thestudy found.

“Thatis likely duetothe GLP-1suse to reduceinflammation,”Mizrahi said. “Excessinflammationisknown to speed up the development of cancer cells, particularly coloncancercells.”

The going theoryis: GLP1s reduce inflammation, therefore reduce the risk of

certain cancers.

But, more research is necessary to prove this ongoing theory.Asofnow,professionals seethe cancer-GLP-1 connection as a“correlation, nota causation,”according to Mizrahi.

“Ideally,there would be a large study comparingpeople using GLP-1’stothose who use aspirin and watchingfor thedevelopmentof colon cancer,” Mizrahi said. “I’mnot sure of the likelihood of aspecific study on this taking place.”

There is also an element of timeand resources that aren’tavailable.

“Studiestake years to become applicable in the clinic,” Mizrahi said. “If we want results in 10 or 15 years,we

needed to have startedyesterday.”

Mizrahi,aGLP-1 user himself, saidthe recentstudies anddata analysis have made him more confident to recommend the weight lossdrugs to

his patients —many of whom worry over long-lasting effectsoftaking the drug.

“For the right patient, GLP-1s aresafe to use to reduce both inflammation and weight,” Mizrahi said. “And,

so far,the morewelearn about GLP-1s, the morebenefits we find.”

EmailMargaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

TheLouisiana Health section is focused on providing

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Your fast track to recovery

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LOUISIANA

AyEAR’S IMPACT

Presbyterian volunteerprogram in N.O. helps young adults servebeyondcomfort zones

BY JOYHOLDEN Staffwriter

LukeKellett didn’tplan on stay-

ing in Louisiana. He was only supposedtovisit for one yearonassignment with the Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer program.

Nearly two years later,New Orleans is his home.

Originallyfrom Cincinnati, Kellett spendshis days tendingtoa garden, cooking food for community meals, volunteeringata food pantry,working at aclothing bank, helping to direct amemory care program for people withdementia and more.

His experience is not the New Orleans most visitors see, but it’s reflective of ayear with the Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer program.

“These young people arehelpingmeetother people’s needs, said LivThomas, theinterimdirector of the program. “In reality, as is often the case with mission work, it is the people whoare doing mission work whoare most often served —and theirhearts and mindsare changed.”

Making NewOrleans home

The PresbyterianYoungAdult Volunteers have had apresence in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrinain2005. Theprogram and housing is usually built around eightvolunteers,but this year, fivevolunteers were assigned to the CrescentCity,and fourremain. The volunteers live together in avolunteerhouseand work throughout thecity.

One of their main responsibilities is the community garden, Okra Abbey,located in the Pigeon Town neighborhood Director of Okra Abbey, Benji

Brubaker,also brings volunteer andnonprofitexperience to the community.A graduateofTulane, Brubakerserved ayear in the AmeriCorps VISTAprogram and worked in St.Bernard, near New Orleans, for ayear.Then, Brubaker then spent time as aVISTAco-

ordinator and partofthe Tulane Center for Public Service.

“The common thread through all of this is believing that all people are worthy of dignity and having their basic needsmet,” Brubaker said.

Brubaker noted that the Young AdultVolunteersare the backbone of the operation.

“They help prepare allthe foods. They help harvest from our garden. They help cook for ourGrace andGreenscommunity meals on Wednesdays,” Brubaker said.

“What I’veseen consistently is that they just fuse into theculture of Okra Abbey.”

For Kellett, thatphilosophy plays out in practical ways.

He works at the site on Mondays andWednesdays, alongwith two other volunteers, Claire Turney andDre Collins. Now,Collins is transitioning to full-time staff at theAbbey as histerm winds down. Thelifeofavolunteer

As membersofthe Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) service corps, Young Adult Volunteers partner with the PresbyteryofSouth Louisiana and follow several guiding principles and requirements during their11-month term.

The coretenets of the program are intentional Christian community, simple living, cross-cultural mission, leadership development through faith in action and vocational discernment.

Thevolunteers work at their placements35to40hours aweek. They meet with their community twice aweek for meals and spiritualpractice. One Saturday a month, the volunteersconductan activity together that is aservice,

Lessons learnedfrom bigsurprise in thedark

Iknew if Ihad any shot at feeling well throughout the week, Ineeded the medicine. My husband offered to go. He’sthe kind of guy who volunteers for practical things, but this was, in theory,his birthday trip —and he was already in bed. Last Sunday had gone slightly sideways from the start. Iwoke feeling crummy.Myhusband and I picked up medicine on our way out of town, headed toward ayurt in the Texas Hill Country By 11:30 that night, we were both in bed inside the yurt when I remembered that the bag with the medicine my doctor had ordered was in the car.Iput on my shoes to go get the meds. It was ashort 40yard walk through the dark. Ididn’tthink athing about it. Most of us don’t—until we do. The yurt where we were staying was in aremote area near the Blanco River outside Wimberley, Texas. It’sthe kind of place people go to unplug, read books and rememberwhat real darkness looks like. Ilove real darkness, and the night sky was abig part of the appeal of the experience for me.

Igrabbed my phone as aflashlight and headed to the car.The path was short and obvious. I stepped into the dark with the confidence of someone who believes she understands her surroundings. Let me emphasize the rural Hill Country’sdark. It is not neighborhood dark. On clear nights, this is adarkness that makes all the stars shine bright overhead, but my phone’slittle flashlight did the trick as alight source. Ireached the car without incident, found the medicine bag and turned around to head back, phone flashlight on and still in my hand.

That’swhen Isaw it.

For that split second, my brain and my eyes didn’tseem to be working together,but very calmly, Isaid to myself, “That’samountain lion walking by.”

It crossed my path about 12 feet in front of me

It was moving the whole time. Not toward me.Not away from me.Itwas simply crossing the path Iwas about to take, heading east. It walked like agiant house cat with aplace to go. It just walked on by like it knew exactly where it was going, paying me no mind.

As it stepped, Isaw its muscle ripple in its left hind leg. Isaw its tawny-colored fur.Itwas absolutely silent. Even though Icould see it stepping, Icouldn’thear athing. It camefrom the dark and went into the dark as Istood there frozen. After it passed, Ithought, “I think I’ll go inside.”

Ibegan making noise and waving my armstomake myself look as big as possible —and walking back to the yurt. When Iwalked back in, my husband said, “What on earth was all of that about?”

As Itold him what had happened, my heart rate finally caught up with the moment. We spent the rest of the glorious week there in the yurt. He drank coffee in the morning. Iate yogurt. We read books in the afternoons. He drew some. We cooked incredible meals and spent alot of time in the hot tub looking at the stars talking about all the things. We went for walks —inthe daylight and we listened to awhite-winged dove from dawn to dusk.

When Itold the people who run the yurts about the mountain lion, they said that no one staying there had ever reported seeing one before. Research is the way Iprocess things —soIspent alot of

PROVIDED PHOTOS

LukeKellett, aPresbyterian young Adult Volunteer,volunteers at Okra Abbey. He called NewOrleans homeafter aone-year visit.

LukeKellett and DreCollins serve roasted cauliflower from Okra Abbey at its weekly Wednesdaycommunal meal, Grace and Greens.

INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS

ASK THE EXPERTS

The importance in supporting music teachers

Lafayette organization works hard to ease educators’ burdens

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE

Staff writer

Hannah Mayo is the immediate past president of the Lafayette Area Music Teachers Association. The organization provides professional development, performance opportunities and community support for area music teachers. She holds two music degrees in piano from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has taught piano independently since 2006.

Each year, the Lafayette Area Music Teachers Association hosts a holiday playathon fundraiser to support the organization’s Save Our Students Fund — a disaster relief program that supports students and teachers affected by natural disasters across Louisiana and beyond. The association also runs the Lafayette Area Piano Teachers Memorial Fund in cooperation with UL that funds a scholarship for a piano student at the university What role does the association play in

VOLUNTEER

Continued from page 2y

cultural or educational experience. They live on restricted budgets that emphasize shared resources and necessities.

Thomas, a Baton Rouge native, now leads the program. Former director Dan Lang recently moved to Lafayette. Thomas said she has learned a lot during her time leading the Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer program.

Thomas said the year can be tough emotionally, physically and spiritually — but still, she considers it to be worthwhile She spent a year volunteering with a similar program in Baltimore.

“I found it to be very challenging, yet very instructive and formative in positive ways, too,” she said. She considers her work as interim director as a higher calling.

“I am certainly older than them and in a different stage of life, but not so much that I can’t access deep empathy for the stage of growth and development that they’re in,” Thomas said.

She said that she believes the most important aspect of the work is being emotionally available to the volunteers to listen, check in and support them.

Serving neighbors

The Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer program started in the early 1990s as an ecumenical, faith-based year of service for young people (ages 19–30) in sites across the United States and around the world. Volunteers work with local agencies to address root causes of poverty and promote reconciliation.

supporting music teachers and students in the region?

We are a local affiliate of both the Louisiana Music Teachers Association and the national Music Teachers National Association.

The organization consists of independent music teachers from Lafayette but also the surrounding areas including Opelousas, Broussard, Youngsville and St. Martinville. We host recitals for the community and also playing events for the music students of these independent teachers to promote performance excellence and give students constructive feedback on performances.

We provide professional development opportunities, many times for free. We try to host an annual workshop for teachers. The last two years, we started a recital featuring the music of underrepresented Black composers, which is also free and open to the public.

What are some of the benefits of a teacher joining?

First, a financial benefit. There are grants that are available to members. They also have access to our state and national organizations that offer free educational webinars, as well as a publication

Richard Williams, a Presbyterian minister who lives in Baton Rouge, volunteered in 1999 with the program in the Philippines, working with a health care group that helped Indigenous residents in the mountains organize themselves for their own health care and recognize traditional strengths of their own health practices.

He served another year in Nashville, Tennessee, doing more social justice work around public education equality

“I got to see what life looks like when you don’t have all the privilege and education that I had in the United States,” Williams said “and obviously I’ve been trying to catch up to what God’s doing ever since then.”

He went on to seminary, and then in 2012, he became the director of the Young Adult Volunteer program, based in Louisville, Kentucky He directed the program until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic paused everything

During his tenure, the program averaged 70 to 90 volunteers a year that served in 15 to 25 different sites, either around the U.S. or globally

Williams credits the volunteer program with instilling a deep compassion for others within him and other volunteers. The Presbyterian Young Adult Volunteer motto is “a year of service for a lifetime of change.”

Williams says the motto is more than an adage.

“The year of service looks like serving neighbors who a lot of people have never had the chance to know or be close with — and seeing how that changes you,” Williams said

Q&A WITH HANNAH MAyO LAFAyETTE AREA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MEMBER

that has continuing education tools.

It’s a very dedicated community, so you can find people that get you excited about your job and help you to keep going as a music teacher, which can be very challenging sometimes.

What advice would you give parents who are considering starting their child in music lessons?

If you’re going to pay for private music lessons, think about what you imagine for your kids musically and try to find a teacher that best aligns with that.

If your goal is for your child to become a competition-winning piano player, find a teacher who does that. If your vision is to make sure your child is happy and playing an instrument for the rest of their life, find the teacher who aligns with that.

What are the benefits of a child playing music?

There are so many With ageappropriate education models, music should start at birth. From birth to age 5 is when the brain’s

He said the experience changes the lives of many volunteers who become interested in living lives of service and develop a deeper faithfulness because they’ve taken that time and energy to get out of their comfort zone.

Safe space

The New Orleans Young Adult Volunteers also serve at Jefferson Food Bank, Berean Presbyterian Church, Lakeview Presbyterian Church, St. Charles Presbyterian Church, Chinese Presbyterian Church in Kenner and the Labyrinth, a donation-based cafe supported by NOLA Wesley — Tulane and Loyola’s Progressive Christian campus ministry For Kellett, the experience has also been deeply personal.

Through his volunteering, he has discovered a connection to his heritage through the Chinese Presbyterian Church.

Adopted from China and raised by a White family in Cincinnati, Kellett had limited exposure to Mandarin and Chinese culture. His time with Chinese Presbyterian has been refreshing and life-changing. His work at St Charles’s Aden Program, which offers fellowship and activities for memory care patients as well as respite for the caregiver, has revealed one of his passions and callings. Brubaker says that Kellett understands what a pastoral presence looks like.

Kellett plans to stay in New Orleans and continue working with memory care adults.

“This has allowed me to have a safe space, to be able to explore what I want to do next,” Kellett said. “To be in the community is to integrate yourself. You’re there to listen and hear when there’s a crisis and understand what’s going on. You’re not there to change e verything.”

neural pathways are really forming and making lifelong connections.

The brain is constantly pruning, and if you don’t activate the wiring for music making and give little children that opportunity, you’re going to miss an important window

That’s not to say that music is not for everyone your whole life, but that is an opportunity to really let a child claim their musical birthright.

What can parents do from birth to age 5 to engage those neural pathways for music?

They should play lots of music at home. They should sing to their kids. If you can’t sing to your kids, speak rhythmically and expressively Face-to-face musical interaction with your own child is the best thing a parent can do

What qualities do you think make an effective music teacher today?

The best quality in a music teacher is someone who can meet their students where they are and then take them as far as they can. You meet a 4 year old differently than a 10 year old, and you meet a 10 year old differently from a 25 year old. You meet

You

RISHER

Continued from page 2y

time reading about mountain lions in Texas. I had a lot to learn. Until last week, I didn’t know mountain lions, cougars and pumas were the same animal. This feels like something I should have learned earlier

Now I know that it’s not surprising that no one else has seen one there mountain lions generally make it their mission not to be seen. However, they have been documented in that part of Texas for more than a century, particularly along the nearby Blanco River Like so much in our lives, they are present, but rarely visible. Their survival depends on not being noticed. The more I learned, the more I found myself wondering about the mechanics of the moment. I kept asking myself, “Did that really happen?”

I’m sure that the mountain lion had already registered me — my footsteps, my flashlight, my predictable humanness before I turned

around. It had simply decided to continue on its way The entire thing lasted seconds, but it felt much longer

When I turned around, my light and I may have been the surprise. We like to believe that short distances are insignificant, that being alone means being in control. Forty yards can feel like nothing — until it doesn’t.

Occasionally something silent crosses directly in front of us and rearranges that thinking.

I am not inclined to assign grand meaning to the experience. A mountain lion was moving through its territory I happened to be moving through it at the same time. We noticed each other Then we went our separate ways. Still, the days since have felt different, and I find myself thinking about how much of life is lived in that space between the expected and the unknowable.

We check the boxes. We complete the errands. We assume we understand the terrain.

And then, without warning, something reminds us that the world is far less predictable than we pretend.

PROVIDED

Hannah Mayo

STAFF

PHOTO By JAN RISHER

This portion of the Blanco River near Wimberley, Texas, has clear water and plenty of limestone to get from one side to the other

‘Accidental piano man’ helps preserve Shreveport’s music history

BY ELIZABETH DEAL Staff writer

Beloved Shreveport professional piano entertainer Winston Hall grew up on a middle-of-nowhere farm in central Texas, playing mediocre piano — not knowing it could ever become a career Hall has called Shreveport his community and his home for almost 20 years. The story of his circuitous path from his first piano gig while attending Angelo State University in Texas to landing a production office assistant job in the burgeoning movie industry in Shreveport in 2007 is documented in his 2022 e-book

Wrong Note Right: The Accidental Piano Man.” The story also features celebrity encounters, meeting his wife and stepping into the role of professional piano entertainer

Hall recognized the music history in Shreveport after touring the Municipal Auditorium.

“I remember being gobsmacked by the music history in that building,” Hall said. “I remember thinking, ‘Man there is so music history in this city’ that I just feel like wasn’t out there. At that time, especially, you had to really, really dig for it.”

The Municipal Auditorium, designed by architect Samuel Wiener and built in the 1920s, is a landmark Art Deco design

“I remember taking a picture with the Elvis statue, and I thought, ‘My gosh, Elvis. Elvis sang on this stage before he was really famous.’”

The “Louisiana Hayride” radio broadcast began there in 1948. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton and Elvis were a few performers who went on to stardom. Locals James Burton and Jerry Kennedy also started there. There are many other famous musicians from Shreveport including Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, Van Cliburn, Kix Brooks and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Hall recalls looking at a music history map with New Orleans, Tupelo and Memphis. Shreveport was cut in half.

“I remember saying at the time, ‘Wow, they’re figuratively not on the map, but they’re also literally

not on the map.’ And ‘Why do we not have a music museum? That’s a no-brainer of all no-brainers,’” he said. Hall started asking questions, setting up meetings and finding the movers and shakers in town.

One of the first personal actions he took was to begin giving tours of the Municipal Auditorium and talks about Shreveport’s music history

“And I want to make a very important point: There were many people who had done things before I came along to honor the music,” Hall said. “There were different entities and groups all doing things, but I felt like they never really quite meshed together It became this conversation about structurally reorganizing the city The biggest battle was convincing people that it was a fight worth fighting. In 2024, along with Dan Gar-

ner and Bonne Summers, Hall started Louisiana Haywire to preserve the music, highlighting interviews, footage, photographs and music via a podcast, Red River Radio, and social media.

In 2025, Hall’s efforts were recognized with an invitation by Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser to represent north Louisiana on the Louisiana Music Commission a 15-member board with a mission to preserve, promote and elevate Louisiana’s rich musical heritage.

“The reason I advocate for Shreveport’s music history it’s not something that anybody anywhere else in Louisiana can claim, right? Elvis didn’t get his start on the Louisiana Hayride in New Orleans,” Hall said. “Hank Williams didn’t live in Lafayette He lived in Shreveport for a year and called it the best year of his life.” Hall is grateful that Shreveport

gave him a second chance on a music career and he wants give back.

The solution to centralizing music history preservation may have been solved with the creation of the John Gale Horton Foundation in Shreveport, founded in 2025 by Jacob Donaldson. Hall and Donaldson met during one of Hall’s Municipal Auditorium tours.

“Honoring Johnny Horton here in Shreveport really matters because this is where his career exploded and where his sound was shaped and where he put down roots,” Hall said. “Without question, his music influenced generations of artists.”

Hall serves on the board of the organization for the foundation which plans to create a music museum and musical heritage center and archives,

which he said will honor all of Shreveport’s musical story and legacy

“If you travel to any cities, they have showpieces. And you’ve seen them all, the Empire State Building in New York and the Arch in St. Louis Shreveport is very lacking in that association,” Hall said.

He thinks it’s important to have the Municipal Auditorium as a focal point.

“At the intersection of Common and I-20, there’s a big grassy area. What I want to put there is the world’s tallest guitar,” Halls said. You can see that spot from every direction on the interstate, a spot where it would drive conversation. And you could even put a little visitor center at the bottom where people zipping by can pull off and read a teaser about our music history.”

STAFF

PHOTO By JILL PICKETT

Winston Hall, right, and Chris Allen perform recently at 2 Johns Steak and Seafood in Bossier City

FAITH & VALUES

Celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors

Tradition focuses on love, renewal and rejuvenation

BY DEEPA BHARATH Associated Press

Holi, widely known as the Hindu festival of colors, is a joyful annual celebration at the advent of spring with cultural and religious significance.

Typically observed in March in India, Nepal, other South Asian countries and across the diaspora, the festival celebrates love and signifies a time of rebirth and rejuvenation a time to embrace the positive and let go of negative energy For one of Holi’s most well-known traditions, celebrants clad in all white, come out to the street and throw colored powders at each other, leaving behind a kaleidoscope of pigments and joy Festivities with music, dancing and food ensue. Holi is celebrated at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month of Falgun. The date of the festival varies depending on the lunar cycle. Typically, it falls in March, and this year’s celebrations officially kicked off March 4 — but festivities can last throughout the month.

In Baton Rouge, Colors of the World is hosting its Holi Festival 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 at Repentance

Park, 275 S. River Road. In Lafayette, Acadiana Indian Association is hosting the Lafayette Holi Festival 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 at Girard Park, 500 Girard Park Drive.

Hindu mythology and lore

In many parts of India, people light large bonfires the night before the festival to signify the destruction of evil and victory of good. Different mythological tales point to the reason behind this observance.

In one story, the king, Hiranyakashipu, ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him and was irked when his own son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, disobeyed his command So he ordered his sister Holika who was immune from fire to take the child, Prahlad, into a bonfire while holding him in her lap. However when the pyre was lit, the boy’s devotion to Lord Vishnu protected him and left him unscathed while Holika, despite her immunity, burned to death.

In another southern India tradition, the event is known as Kama Dahanam to commemorate Lord Shiva burning Kamadeva, the god of love, with his third eye. It symbolizes the destruction of lust and other earthly attachments for a higher spiritual purpose, preceding the joy of colors.

Some also consider Holi a reference to Lord Krishna and his love for his beloved, Radha and his cosmic play with his consorts and devo-

tees called “gopikas,” who are also revered for their unconditional love and devotion to Krishna.

Festival of colors

On the day of Holi, entire streets and towns are filled with people who throw colored powder in the air Some fling balloons filled with colored water from rooftops and others use squirt guns. For one day it’s all fair game. Cries of “Holi hai!”

which means “It’s Holi!” can be heard on the streets. Holi has also been romanticized and popularized over the decades in Bollywood films.

The colors seen during Holi symbolize different things. Blue represents the color of Lord Krishna’s skin while green symbolizes spring and rebirth. Red symbolizes marriage or fertility while both red and yellow — commonly used in

ritual and ceremony symbolize auspiciousness.

An array of special foods are part of the celebration, with the most popular food during Holi being “gujia,” a flaky, deep-fried sweet pastry stuffed with milk curd, nuts and dried fruits. Holi parties also feature “thandai,” a cold drink prepared with a mix of almonds, fennel seeds, rose petals, poppy seeds, saffron, milk and sugar

In North America and in any country with a Hindu population, people of Indian descent celebrate Holi with Bollywood parties and parades, as well as a host of public and private gatherings. It is also common for Hindu temples and community centers in the U.S to organize cultural programs, friendly cricket matches and other festivities around the holiday

Community School model seeks to lift students, families

BEN HANSTEIN

Contributing writer

Editor’s note: This story, created by Ben Hanstein for The Maine Monitor, is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world

On-site child care before and after school. Pantries stocked with snacks, toiletries, clothing, backpacks and footwear Dentists checking students’ teeth in the band room. These are among the growing services local schools now provide to meet students’ basic needs.

“If you want children to thrive, you have to meet their basic needs,” First 10 Community School Outreach Coordinator Anita Stevens said. “We’re solution oriented.” Cape Cod Hill School, or CCHS, serves prekindergartners through fifth graders from five rural western Maine communities: Chesterville, Industry, New Sharon, Starks and Vienna. More than half of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Within Regional School Unit 9, Cape Cod Hill is the district’s most remote school, serving a sparsely populated area where distance makes delivering services especially challenging.

In 2022, CCHS secured a $25,000 grant from the Maine Department of Education to begin meeting needs that no other local provider could. What started with a food pantry and a few free after-school child care slots expanded in 2023 with the help of a $125,000 state Department of Education Community School grant.

“I think they saw how popular it was,” CCHS Principal Carol Kiesman said.

Cape Cod Hill School is one of a half-dozen Community Schools in Maine and the only one in western Maine.

Kiesman described the model as more of a strategy than a single program. It was originally built around four major tenets — or “pillars” — that reinforce one another: integrating student supports; expanding time and opportunities for learning; actively engaging families and the commu-

nity; and sharing responsibility for student outcomes among staff, parents and community members.

National advocates have since added two more pillars: community-oriented classroom instruction and maintaining a culture of safety and belonging.

The school has steadily expanded what it can offer families.

CCHS now hosts up to 40 students from 7 a.m. until 8:45 a.m., when the school day begins.

The after-school program is capped at 25 slots, giving those students a place to stay until 4:30 p.m while their parents finish work.

The extra time before and after the school bell rings is critical, Stevens and Kiesman said. The nearest child care options are 20 miles away

In addition to helping keep students in classrooms attendance is a “huge goal” across the district, Kiesman said — the child care program helps keep families from leaving the area.

CCHS offers a range of after-school enrichment programs, from a craft club to a seed squad to an outdoor play group.

Despite the expansion, demand has outpaced resources, leaving a constant waiting list for beforeand after-school care Kiesman said she follows up with families when students stop attending to confirm whether they still need the slot.

Transportation is another challenge Although the Community School funding from the state

Department of Education included money for busing, RSU 9 has not been able to provide drivers a common issue across Maine. Stevens said she organizes rideshares and other workarounds when possible.

Child care is just one cog in what Stevens describes as a big clock: Remove any piece and the whole thing stops ticking. The school’s food pantry has expanded to include weekend food supplies distributed through the RSU 9 pantry in Farmington, along with everything from daily snacks to Thanksgiving food baskets for families.

In winter, a Giving Tree offers clothing and other essentials and has become one of the school’s most popular supports. There is also a clothing pantry, supplied by donations and a partnership with Apparel Impact, stocked with everything from galoshes to T-shirts to backpacks. During last November’s parent-teacher conferences, paper bags of clothing were set out each labeled “size 8,” and so on — for families to take home.

If a family has a specific need, Stevens said she taps local organizations and businesses. When three students needed sneakers, the local Masonic Lodge stepped in to provide them and did the same when others needed sweatpants. She has also had success securing gift cards from Walmart, Hannaford and other businesses.

The district contracts with behavioral health providers who

come directly into the school to meet with students with a wide range of needs. Without in-school visits, Kiesman said, most families seeking services would not receive them.

“Most families get put on a waiting list and then wait forever,” she said.

“They wouldn’t receive services,” Stevens agreed.

Another service the school offers is a pop-up dental clinic that comes a couple of times a year Hygienists arrive in the parking lot and roll their equipment into the band room, where students with permission slips meet them for cleanings and checkups. At the most recent visit, the clinic saw 20 students — enough that it expanded from the band room into the music room That access is particularly important, said Maria Watson, the school nurse, because it can take months to secure primary dental appointments — even for families who have the means to get their child there.

“I’d love to get some eye support in here,” Watson said.

Eyeglasses are one thing, but getting students in front of an optometrist is far more difficult.

For Watson, tending to student health can now mean arranging the delivery of heating oil, getting a family’s car repaired, running a monthlong challenge that encourages healthy habits (eat your vegetables and win a basketball hoop) or sending water bottles home to promote better hydration.

“‘We don’t do that’ really isn’t an option,” Watson said. In many cases, Watson’s support does not draw directly on Community School resources, but the model still gives her a framework for delivering services effectively across a wide geographic area.

While much of the Community School model is geared toward students attending classes at CCHS, organizers have also worked to support families that homeschool. When parents drop off their child for an in-school offering such as gym class, they can now wait in a former staff room that’s been converted into a lounge equipped with computers, a printer and books — rather than sitting in their car Stevens’ office is in the family den, which gives her a good opportunity to check in.

Kiesman said she is convinced the model is producing positive results at CCHS, but sustaining it is the biggest challenge

The First 10 funding that brought Stevens into the district in 2024 is set to phase out in March. The larger state Department of Education Community School funding stream is also designed to taper from $125,000 in 2023 to $75,000 in 2024 and $50,000 last year

“Funding is fading out, but the need is not,” Stevens said. “The need is growing.”

Kiesman and Stevens appeared before the RSU 9 board of directors in early February, winning approval to apply for a $23,750 grant from the Fisher Charitable Foundation to support staff hours later in the school year

The board also approved having CCHS apply for $50,000 in state Department of Education Community School funding for the 2026-27 school year.

Stevens’ thinking now extends beyond meeting student needs to shoring up future funding for the program. In addition to pursuing grants, she is exploring possible collaborations with the Children’s Task Force’s 21st Century program, which supports other district schools but not CCHS.

She is also considering a sliding-scale model in which participating families would contribute financial support.

“We’re leveraging any and all possibilities to make the whole system work,” Kiesman said, adding that she wants the program to continue. “We need to be sustainable to keep this thing going.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAJESH KUMAR SINGH

A child with cerebral palsy attends Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, at an event organized by the Trishla Foundation in Prayagraj, India, on March 1.

PHOTO PROVIDED By BEN HANSTEIN

Community School coordinator Anita Stevens, left, and Principal Carol Kiesman stand in a ‘family den’ at Cape Cod Hill School. The space is designed for use by families and includes computers, books and a printer

SUNDAY, MArch 22, 2026

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 — LitiGAnts: LIH-tihgents: Those involved in a lawsuit Average mark 46 words Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 68 or more words in LITIGANTS?

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

wuzzLes

Important extra chance

North’s three-spade bid showed a potentially useful hand. He would have bid four spades with a very bad hand and a spade fit South cue bid once in case North had extra values and settled for a small slam when North signed off in four spades He won the opening diamond lead with his ace and saw that there were 11 top tricks The obvious chance for a 12th trick was to take the heart finesse. South saw a significant extra chance and he took advantage of it.

He cashed the ace of spades at trick two and then led the six of spades to dummy’s king, preserving the three of spades as a later entry to dummy’s five. He led a low club and inserted his 10 when East played low! That won the trick, so South crossed to dummy in trumps and took the losing heart finesse. Making six!

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

super Quiz

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

SUBJECT: FAMOUS HISTORICAL PEOPLE

(Example: Commonly known as the “Father of His Country.” Answer: George Washington.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.

Answer________

2. His formula E = mc2 has been called “the world’s most famous equation.”

Answer________

3. One of his famous quotations is “Veni, vidi, vici.”

Answer________ 4. He led the United States through the American Civil War.

Answer________ 5. One of his nicknames was “The Little Corporal.”

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL

He was

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. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

It would not have helped East to play the queen of clubs on the first round of the suit. South would have taken his ace and led the 10 of clubs, setting up dummy’s jack for a heart discard. Had the 10 of clubs lost to West, South would have ruffed the likely diamond continuation and cashed the ace of clubs, on the slight chance that East had started with a doubleton honor If nothing good happened in the club suit, South could still have crossed to dummy in trumps and taken the heart finesse. Very well played!

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Believe in yourself, your ability and your desire for peace of mind Direct your strength, wisdom and experience to self-improvement and building a solid base to house your heart and hopes.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Seek help from those with more knowledge and experience, and you’ll make a lasting connection. Too much talk and not enough action, giving in to temptation or neglecting to share will cost you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Take the path that leads to knowledge, experience and the wisdom to make the best choice. Put your energy to work for you and take are of unfinished business.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Change requires willpower time, effort and action. Look around you and draw strength from what you observe. Say no to extravagance and yes to a waste-free lifestyle. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use your head. Come up with a plan and do your best to see it through to completion. Take care of your responsibilities to avoid criticism. Choose to make a proactive, peaceful push forward.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept. 22) Be receptive to suggestions and ready to align what you receive with what you can achieve. Embrace partnerships with equality in mind, and happiness will find its way into your heart. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Choices, temptation, uncertainty and consequences are apparent. Discipline will be necessary to avoid letting someone suck you into their dreams. Do what’s best for you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Stay away from those who try to rule your life. Protect your home, your health and your financial wellbeing. Choose love over discord, and you can thrive.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Avoid crowds, travel and situations that create uncertainty Use your intelligence, clout and connections to harness your desires and get the most out of whatever you pursue.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep the momentum and money flowing in a

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Emotions will cloud your memory Don’t lose sight of the past. The best route forward is one that takes past mistakes into account. Let your experience guide you into a free and prosperous future.

direction that offers greater security and safety Avoid emotional decisions and spending that promise the impossible and fall short. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) How you earn and manage your money will lead to unexpected opportunities. Deal with authority figures to ensure you have complied with rules and regulations and achieved the best results.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

goren Bridge

Answers to puzzles

1. William Shakespeare. 2. Albert Einstein. 3. Julius Caesar. 4. Abraham Lincoln. 5. Napoleon Bonaparte. 6. Muhammad.7.QueenVictoria. 8. Charles Darwin. 9. Thomas Jefferson. 10. Alexander theGreat.11. Charlemagne 12. Aristotle. 13. Henry VIII. 14.The Buddha (SiddharthaGautama). 15.Karl Marx

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: Family has alwaysbeen the number oneprioritynomatter what happens anywhere else. —Gloria Estefan

Crossword Answers sCrAbble

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend

/bySteve Kelley&JeffParker