The Times-Picayune 04-09-2026

THEMASTERS: SCOTT RABALAIS SAYS TOURNAMENT IS

Jeffersonpushesback on firefighterpay

Parish,union leaderslockedinbattleoverwages

“I would hope that the union would realize that the state lawisvery burdensome to us. It’s unaffordable for us. It is not sustainable in the long term.

We’ve asked them to go with us to the state Legislature to fixit…and they won’taccept that.”

CYNTHIA

LEE SHENG, Jefferson Parish president

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

After months of public argumentsand aseriesoflegal squabbles, the fight between Jefferson Parish leaders and east bank firefighters escalated again Wednesdayasthe parish launcheda $50,000 public relationscampaign aimedatpushing back on claims aboutfirefighters’ wages.

Officials launched anew page on the parish’s website witha FAQ and flyer after the Jefferson ParishCouncil meeting in response to calls from east bankfirefighterstoincrease their startingpay from $10.53 per hour to $18. The campaign, which seeks to inform thepublic on thepay dispute, is set to run for up to ayear andwas quickly panned by firefighters, who responded Wednesday with apoll they commissioned that arguedvoters would supporta tax increase to payfor higherwages.

Negotiations between the union andthe parish over wageincreases hitanimpasse lastfall, and since then, Cynthia Lee Sheng’s administration and some members of theparish council have

HondoRodeo Fest

Cowboys, broncos, musicand more to highlight 3-dayevent

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

Last week, workers spread 115 truckloads of dirt on the floor of theCaesars Superdome.The soft carpetofearth is meanttobreak the falls of champion cowboyswho willbeflung off furious bulls and bucking broncos during the Hondo Rodeo. The event, which runs Friday

beenlocked in an increasingly contentiousargumentthat’sresulted in lawsuits, alleged threats and arestraining order “Nothing we’regoing to say they’re goingtoagreeto,”said Jefferson Parish Council member Deano Bonano in an interview Tuesday before thecampaign launch. “I’m not being ugly or anything like that. Forme, this is about getting thetruthout there.”

Jefferson FirefightersAssociation Local 1374 President Robert Burkett argued thatthe parish’s public relationscampaignistrying to turn the public against them andthatthe unionwasn’t given theopportunitytoreview the materials before publication. He suggested that additional legal action could be ahead, after the union already sued the parishlastfall over the PR campaign.

“I thinkthey have far exceeded what the law really allows for them to do,” Burkettsaid. “I’m not astranger to going to court, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.”

The parish’sPRcampaign

ä See PAY, page 4A

“IfCynthia got her way…what wouldhappen is you would give the firefighters comingona raise, and then at somepoint there would be firefighters on the job for four years, five years who makeless than the new ones.”

ROBERT BURKETT Jefferson Firefighters Association Local 1374 president

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

2026 LEGISLATURE

through Sunday,may or maynot be the half-century-old Superdome’sfirst rodeo, but it’ssurely themost deluxe. With $1 million in prize money each weekend, the touring rodeo fest attracts the best buckaroo athletes.And each dayof thefest concludes with top-flight country music concerts. TheHondo Rodeo Festisthe brainchild of James Trawick and business partner Blake “Wild Bill” Cody. Trawick said that earlier in life he’d competed as arodeo cowboy,and Codyhad been arock ‘n’ roll musician. They both came close to stardom, he said, but “not close enough ”

While “licking their wounds,” Trawick said, thetwo men decided to try to curatethe best traveling rodeo show anyone had ever seen. The Hondo Rodeo Fest debuted in Phoenix in 2024. Thename, Hondo,was anod to the 1953 John Wayne movie and the small Texastown,Trawick said. But it was mostlyinspired by the all-important eyelet in a cowboy’s rope thatlets him lasso cattle, which is called ahondo. It’s an insider’s term,veryresonant with the rodeo community,Trawick said.

ä See HONDO,

ä Louisiana schools must justify their placement of students with special needs under newbill. Page 3A

ä Republicans shut down bill to create Louisiana Voting RightsAct. Page 7A

The Sewerage &Water Board has comeout against alegislative bill that would give the New Orleans City Council more controlofit, despiteMayor Helena Moreno’s support forthe measure. House Bill 573, by state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-Metairie, gives the council broad authority to reorganize theutility’sboard, set water and sewer rates and resolve other matters. The bill is aimed at fixing a“misalignment” of S&WB funding andaccountability stemming from its messy governing structure, as the Bureau of Governmental Research putitina 2023 report.

ä See MORENO, page 5A

$1.5Bcoastal plan hits delay in Senate Advocatespushfor answersovercancellations

BY MIKESMITH Staff writer

Louisiana’s$1.5 billion annual planfor coastal protection and restoration ran into adelay at the state Legislature on Wednesday after advocates raised concerns over amajor change in strategy by Gov.Jeff Landry’sadministration.

The advocacy group Women of the Storm, formed in the wakeofHurricane Katrina, has posed aseries of questions to the state’s coastal authority relatedtothe cancellationofexpansive river diversion projects. Senate President

ä See COASTAL, page 5A

Superdome

Championship ropers and riders will compete for a million-dollar purse during the

Hondo Rodeo Festin NewOrleans.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HONDO RODEOFEST

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIAGERMER

The Jefferson Parish Fire Department puts out a fire in Metairie in 2025. Union leaders and Jefferson Parish officials arelocked in a fight overpay

BRIEFS

Miner rescued after nearly 14 days in mine

MEXICO CITY A miner was rescued Wednesday after being trapped for nearly 14 days following a collapse in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, authorities said in a statement.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that another miner has been found dead and one more is still missing.

A dam breach caused by a structural failure flooded El Rosario mine on March 25, trapping Francisco Zapata Nájera and three co-workers Of the 25 miners present during the accident, 21 escaped immediately Five days later, rescuers pulled one survivor from a depth of 985 feet.

Zapata Nájera was located on Tuesday by divers, but the rescue teams were unable to reach him through heavily flooded areas until 21 hours later

The survivor was brought to the surface Wednesday morning His condition was stabilized and he was sent in a Mexican Air Force helicopter to a hospital in Mazatlán, where he will be treated by specialists.

Some hours before, Sheinbaum had said that the rescue teams were waiting for the water to be pumped out to complete the extraction.

Mexico’s deadliest mining accident took place in February 2006 at the Pasta de Conchos mine in Coahuila, where an explosion killed 65 workers.

Residents: Attacks in Nigeria leave 20 dead

ABUJA, Nigeria Gunmen attacked two villages in the northcentral region of Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, residents said Wednesday

The attacks occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Bagna and Erena, located in the Shiroro area of Niger state. Shiroro is about 155 miles or a four-hour drive from the capital, Abuja.

“They came on motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was in the early hours of the morning,” said Jibrin Isah, who lives in Erena.

Residents said that at least 20 people were killed, with more missing. However, local police said that only three people were killed.

“Unfortunately, two vigilante members and a driver from the joint security team lost their lives during the attack, while some others were injured,” Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement. Residents said the attackers operated for hours, raiding homes and sending residents to flee to safety in neighboring communities.

“Those killed in the attacks were above 20,” Muhammad Tukur a resident of Erena, told The Associated Press. Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups who kidnap for ransom.

Man who hit wolf with snowmobile sentenced PINEDALE, Wyo. A judge in Wyoming sentenced a man to 18 months of probation for hitting a wolf with a snowmobile before taping the wounded animal’s mouth shut, bringing the creature into a rural bar, then killing it.

District Judge Richard Lavery in Pinedale sentenced Cody Roberts, 44, to probation on Wednesday, in accordance with a plea deal Roberts reached with prosecutors in February Lavery also fined Roberts $1,000 and ordered him not drink alcohol, enter a bar or liquor store, nor hunt or fish while on probation.

Roberts told Lavery at his change-of-plea hearing in March that he regretted what he did and apologized to his family and community Roberts avoided as much as two years in prison and a $5,000 fine by pleading guilty He initially pleaded not guilty and a trial was set for March.

The incident happened in February 2024 in Daniel, a town of about 150 people, some 50 miles south of Jackson.

Artemis II astronauts follow Apollo tradition

Crew names lunar features after loved ones

BY MARCIA DUNN AP aerospace writer

HOUSTON Lunar love knows no bounds.

Now hurtling home from the moon, the Artemis II astronauts took a poignant page from Apollo 8 earlier this week, proposing deeply personal names for a pair of lunar craters.

Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew asked permission to name one small, fresh crater after their capsule called Integrity and another after his late wife, Carroll. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen made the request right before Monday’s lunar fly-around. Wiseman was too emotional to talk.

Carroll Wiseman, a neonatal nurse, died of cancer in 2020.

During Apollo 8 in 1968, astronaut Jim Lovell bestowed his wife’s name upon a prominent lunar peak: Mount Marilyn. It was humanity’s first trip

to the moon and she anxiously awaited his return back home in Houston.

The three Americans and one Canadian of Artemis II are the first lunar visitors since Apollo 17 closed out that grand epoch in 1972, and their crater-naming request temporarily left ground controllers speechless.

“It was definitely a very emotional moment. I don’t think most of us knew it was coming,” NASA lunar scientist Ryan Watkins told The Associated Press on Wednesday from Johnson Space Center in Houston “There was not a single dry eye.”

Mission Control’s lead scientist Kelsey Young worked with the Artemis II crew before launch, quietly helping them choose the two bright, relatively young craters which they quickly spied once they were close enough to the moon through zoom lenses as

well as their naked eyes.

Proposed Carroll Crater is at the moon’s left limb on the boundary of the moon’s near and far sides, and occasionally visible from Earth. It’s rather shallow and approximately 3 miles across, according to Watkins The slightly bigger Integrity crater is completely on the lunar far side.

Their request came shortly after they broke Apollo 13’s distance record for deep-space travelers. All four astronauts wept as they embraced in a group hug.

“We lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie,” Hansen radioed his voice breaking. “It’s a bright spot on the moon and we would like to call it Carroll.”

Mission Control fell silent for nearly a minute before replying: “Integrity and Carroll crater,

Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to murder charges

Long Island architect admits to killing eight

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

RIVERHEAD, N.Y A Long Island architect who led a secret life as a serial killer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to murdering seven women and admitted he killed an eighth in a string of long-unsolved crimes known as the Gilgo Beach killings.

Rex Heuermann, 62, entered the pleas in a courtroom packed with reporters, police and victims’ relatives, some of whom wept as he detailed his crimes. He will be sentenced in June to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Heuermann’s guilty pleas — to three counts of first-degree murder and four of intentional murder — bring finality to a case that bedeviled investigators, tormented victims’ relatives and tantalized a true-crime obsessed public for years. Although he wasn’t charged in her death, he also admitted that he killed Karen Vergata in 1996.

Under questioning by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Heuermann admitted that he strangled all eight victims and dismembered some of them, that he used burner phones to contact them, and that he wrapped their bodies in burlap before dumping them.

Wearing a black suit coat and white button-down shirt, Heuermann appeared matter-of-fact and unemotional as he answered questions from Tierney and the judge. He never looked back at the packed courtroom gallery

The women, many of them sex workers, were killed over a 17-year span and bur-

ied in remote locations, including along an isolated beach highway across the bay from where he lived, authorities said.

“This defendant walked among us playacting as a normal suburban dad when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death,” Tierney said at a news conference hours after the hearing.

He thanked relatives of the victims, including some standing alongside him, for helping bring their loved ones’ stories to life. And he praised members of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which cracked the case with the help of clues that included DNA lifted from a discarded pizza crust.

“He thought that by killing them, he could silence them forever and get away with murder,” Tierney said. “But he was wrong.”

Gloria Allred, an attorney for some of the victims’ families, described several of the women as young mothers who were just trying to earn extra money to support their children because they didn’t have the means to go to college or get a decent job.

“Little did they know that the defendant, Rex Hermann, did not care about their hopes and dreams, or that they had families and friends who loved them,” Allred said before calling up family members to speak directly about the case and the plea deal.

Elizabeth Baczkiel, whose daughter Jessica Taylor was murdered by Heuermann, said: “I am glad that this is over as far as him pleading guilty. It took a big chunk of stress off of me and my family.”

Fighting back tears, Missy Cann, whose sister Maureen Brainard-Barnes was murdered, said his guilty plea “brings solace” after living 19 years “in the space between heartbreak and hope.”

March smashes heat record

BY SETH BORENSTEIN AP science writer

WASHINGTON March’s persistent unseasonable heat was so intense that the continental United States registered its most abnormally hot month in 132 years of records, according to federal weather data. And the next year or so looks to turn the dial up on global warmth even more, as some forecasts predict a brewing El Niño will reach superstrength.

loud and clear.”

The emotion-drenched scene was vastly different from the 1960s and 1970s Apollo moonshots in more ways than one. NASA’s Apollo all-male test pilots were for the most part all business and tear-free.

“This is no fault of Apollo,” Watkins said. “I think we’re seeing just a more human aspect.”

Once back on Earth later this week, the crew will submit the two proposed names to the International Astronomical Union.

Nearly a half century passed between Apollo 8 and the union’s sign-off of Mount Marilyn in 2017.

The IAU’s Ramasamy Venugopal promised a decision on Carroll and Integrity in about a month, the norm “for straightforward requests.”

There already are 81 astronaut-named lunar features on the group’s approved list, including Apollo 16’s Baby Ray and Gator

Not only was it the hottest March on record for the U.S., but the amount it was above normal beat any other month in history for the Lower 48 states. March’s average temperature of 50.85 degrees Fahrenheit was 9.35 F above the 20thcentury normal for March. That easily passed the old record of 8.9 F set in March 2012 as the most abnormally hot month on record — regardless of the month of the year — according to records released Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The average maximum temperature for March was especially high at 11.4 F above the 20th-century average and was almost a degree warmer than the average daytime high for April, NOAA said. Six of the nation’s top 10 most abnormally hot months have been in the last 10 years. This February, which was 6.57 F above 20th-century normal, was the 10th highest above normal.

“What we experienced in March across the United States was unprecedented,” said Shel Winkley, a meteorologist with Climate Central, a nonprofit science research group. “One reason that’s so concerning is just the sheer volume of records, all-time records that were set and broken during that time period,” Winkley said. “But also this is coming on the heels of what was the worst snow year And the hottest winter of record.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NASA

The Artemis II crew clockwise from left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, take time out for a group hug inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home on Wednesday. The crew proposed naming a crater after Wiseman’s late wife.

Bill could change La. special education hearings

Systems would have to justify decisions

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Louisiana school systems would have to justify their accommodation decisions for students with disabilities under a bill that seeks to shift the burden of proving whether a child’s special education plan is appropriate from parents to districts.

Federal law already mandates that districts give families the right to challenge decisions about their children’s education through hearings. House Bill 342 by Rep. Alonzo Knox, D-New Orleans, adds additional provisions requiring that a school system must be the one to make the case during those hearings as to why its decision is the right one and provide enough evidence to

convince the hearing officer

The House Education committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the proposal. It next heads to the House floor

“These school districts hold all the power and information,” Knox said during Wednesday’s meeting. He added that the bill’s intent “is really to level the playing field” for families.

Advocates say transferring the burden of proof to school districts gives families a needed leg up when navigating the due process system. They say school districts, not parents, are typically the ones with direct access to important student documents and robust legal representation.

But opponents have warned the move could result in more lawsuits and higher costs for districts.

While considering a similar law in 2023, a fiscal and policy note from Maryland’s General Assembly

state Education Department.

“Parents without legal training, without resources and already caring for children with significant needs must prove that the government agency failed,” said parent advocate Kathryne Hart, who noted her family received a favorable ruling.

“Meanwhile, school districts control the records, the evaluations, the experts and have the benefit of in-house legal counsel.”

pointed out that, after New Jersey shifted the burden of proof to schools in 2008, the state saw a surge in due process hearings within the first year (Data from subsequent years showed numbers eventually fell to where they were before the law was passed).

Still, parents say the current process works against them.

In Louisiana just one out of 43 due process complaints filed during the 202425 school year resulted in a family successfully challenging a school system, according to data from the

In most states, the party who files the due process complaint — typically parents — must prove the school is in the wrong. But if HB342 is signed into law, Louisiana would join a growing handful that place the onus on districts, including Connecticut, Delaware Florida Georgia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Nevada.

Hart and several others said the move would promote accountability, better

documentation and better decision-making from the outset among the state’s school systems. “This change is not radical,” Hart said. “It provides transparency to government decision-making, and most importantly, it helps ensure that children receive the education they’re entitled to.” The proposal is the state’s latest effort to improve the educational experience for children with disabilities after a 2024 audit found that Louisiana had failed to protect their rights by making sure schools were following federal law

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation that placed new restrictions on when and how schools can restrain and seclude students with exceptionalities and mandated districts install cameras in all special education classrooms. The cameras were required to be up and operating in schools across the state as of February

Judge pauses abortion pill case while FDA conducts review

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

A federal judge in Lafayette declined to block, for now, the practice of accessing abortion pills in Louisiana through the mail following telehealth appointments, but left open the possibility of future restrictions that could change how many of the state’s residents access abortion.

In a 37-page ruling, U.S. District Judge David Joseph on Tuesday denied the state’s request to immediately reinstate in-person requirements for the abortion drug mifepristone and instead put the case on hold while the Food and Drug Administration conducts a safety review

The drug is regulated under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, a program the FDA uses to manage safety risks for some medications while keeping patient access.

The agency is currently conducting a safety review to evaluate those rules. The judge said the case should be put on hold while the FDA conducts a safety review of its abortion pill rules, finding that the agency, not the court, should evaluate the evidence first.

The case was brought against the FDA in October by Attorney General Liz Murrill and a Louisiana woman who alleged she felt coerced into taking pills that her boyfriend ordered. It argued that the FDA violated the Comstock Act, a 19thcentury law that restricts the mailing of items intended for abortion, when it stopped requiring that the pills be distributed in person.

The FDA has said it is

conducting a safety review of mifepristone and asked the court to pause the case while that process is underway, but has not indicated whether it plans to change its current rules.

The pause ordered by Joseph, who was appointed in 2020 by President Donald Trump, is temporary. It allows the state to pursue restrictions after the FDA’s safety review is complete. Joseph also left the door open to rule in Louisiana’s favor later saying the state is “likely to succeed on the merits” of their challenge to the FDA.

Murrill said the state would continue with the case, pointing out that the judge also said Louisiana is unable to enforce its laws, causing “irreparable harm.”

“Accordingly, under binding Fifth Circuit precedent, the only thing left to do is vacate the 2023 REMS pending the outcome of this litigation,” Murrill said in a statement. “We will ask the Fifth Circuit to do so.”

La. abortions rising

Louisiana’s near-total abortion ban enacted in 2022 af-

ter Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, makes it illegal to perform most abortions in the state with limited exceptions for fetal anomalies or to save the life of the mother

The law is directed at providers within Louisiana but does not include the people who take the pills themselves or directly reach outof-state doctors prescribing abortion pills via telehealth, a gap at the center of this legal challenge.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights, abortions tied to Louisiana residents rose from about 7,410 in 2024 to 9,350 in 2025 In 2021, before Louisiana’s ban was in place, 7,444 people received abortions in Louisiana.

All of the 9,350 recorded by the Guttmacher Institute were telehealth abortions — meaning pills sent by doctors in states with shield laws that protect prescribing abortion medication across state lines — and do not include people who traveled from Louisiana to other states for abortions.

The 9,350 figure is the

number of prescriptions sent to Louisiana and does not track whether they were used. That number also does not include abortion pills sent from international organizations or received through informal networks. Despite Louisiana and many other states banning abortion after the Dobbs decision, abortion numbers have remained relatively stable. But how people access care is shifting, especially in states where abortion is largely banned, said Kimya Forouzan, a principal state policy adviser at Guttmacher and author of the report “People in this broad swath of states are fairly far from a state where they can access care,” Forouzan said. “So we have seen people increasingly access care via telehealth.”

Safety review

Mifepristone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 and rules over its use have changed over time under the REMS program. Before 2021, mifepristone had to be taken in-person in Louisiana. That rule was suspended during the pandemic and made permanent in 2023. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found the FDA relied on data and its standard review process when evaluating the drug’s safety

The drug has been a lightning rod for groups that oppose abortion. In 2024, Louisiana classified it as a controlled dangerous substance alongside drugs like Xanax and fentanyl, placing

restrictions on how it can be prescribed and dispensed. In his ruling, Joseph said the FDA’s REMS safety review must be completed by early October Any changes stemming from the review could determine whether telehealth access remains available or is restricted. Murrill is pursuing criminal cases against two doctors in California and New York accused of sending pills to patients in Louisiana. Those states have not been willing to have the doctors extradited to face the charges. Without telehealth, advocates said some may turn to less safe options or face more health risks.

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

House Bill 342 by Rep. Alonzo Knox, D-New Orleans, is heading to the House floor. The bill would put the burden of proving a child’s special education accommodation plan on the school, not parents.

What conventional rodeos lack, Trawick said, is predictability Cowboys of various skill levels sign up to ride in regular rodeos, so fans can never be sure of the quality of the competition The Hondo rodeo, on the other hand, is limited to 76 of the nation’s best cowboy athletes, according to Trawick, who are invited to participate He describes it as the Super Bowl or World Series of rodeos.

Winning cowboys will take home $100,000 in prize money, Trawick said. Star Louisiana cowpokes Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, Tyler Waguespack of Gonzales and Kade Sonnier of Carencro will be competing on home turf.

Inmates and rock stars

In addition, eight inmate riders from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola prison rodeo will perform in matches under state supervision. Winnings from those competitions will be split between the Louisiana Victims Impact Fund and families of the convicts. And after the last bull has been ridden and the last cow lassoed each day, comes music. Jason Aldean and southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd take the stage Friday Cody Johnson and Old Dominion appear on Saturday, and Florida grunge rockers Creed and Bailey Zimmerman close out the fest on Sunday To accommodate both rodeo rides and concerts, the rectangular Dome layout will be divided into thirds. The fenced rodeo section will stretch from the back of the end zone to the 30-yard line on one end. The raised concert stage will occupy the same area on the opposite side. In the middle is the prime floor viewing for both events. Seating on the Dome’s lower decks will horseshoe both the rodeo and concert areas. Trawick said that maximum attendance is 28,000.

Could become an annual event

The state has committed $2 million from Louisiana’s Major Events Fund to support the inaugural Hondo rodeo in 2026. It was announced after the loss of the annual WrestleMania extravaganza, which decamped for Las Vegas this year Trawick hopes the rodeo will become an annual event Gov Jeff Landry appears on The

Hondo Rodeo Facebook page touting the upcoming event.

“The cowboy represents to me the icon of freedom and liberty and responsibility everything American stands for,” Landry says.

Sure, a championship rodeo and country music concert series may seem like an unlikely match for a city where bounce music rules and most people see horses only in

Mardi Gras parades.

But, as Trawick pointed out, “all the surrounding areas that span the entire Gulf Coast are heavily agrarian communities, whether that be beef cattle or sugar cane. We are laser-focused on building an environment where those who have never experienced Western culture up close can do just that.”

He added that maybe the people who live that rural lifestyle every day “can enjoy it with some new friends and neighbors.”

Trawick said the Hondo Fest folks “feel really strongly about how rodeo as a sport and music as a form of entertainment can break through and bring a community together.”

An all-day affair

The marathon fest begins at noon Friday and Saturday with a cowboy-oriented marketplace in Champions Square, which will include leather goods and other C&W crafts, plus food and beverage vendors and a “mutton bustin’” mini rodeo for kids, featuring sheep instead of horses and bulls. On Sunday, the fest begins with an outdoor church service led by Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson at 11:30 a.m. At 4 p.m. each day the Superdome doors open, with the Angola Rodeo competition from 5 p.m to 5:30 p.m., followed by the twohour main-event rodeo After the dust has settled, a DJ will provide music, leading up to the live twohour-plus concerts, which will end at 11:30 p.m. Admission ranges from $35 to $250, with VIP tickets as high as $1,000. Visit the

comes as firefighters have begun picketing at popular intersections, refusing extra overtime work and have hired political consultants. While disputes between the administration and the firefighters union date back decades, the current battle ramped up in 2024 when a firefighter pay study analyzing compensation from 2020-22 found that the starting salary was below market rate. The council approved 5% raises for firefighters in 2023 and commissioned another pay study, which again found that starting firefighters are paid below market rate while the highest-paid employees make at or above market rate. Union members, however, argue that the study used skewed methodologies. In November after a series of public squabbles at Parish Council meetings, Gambel Communications was hired by the council to run the PR campaign. Firefighters opposed the measure, as did the two at-large Parish Council members, Jennifer Van Vrancken and Scott Walker, who said that the same work could have been done by the parish’s public information office for free.

Van Vrancken and Walker said Wednesday they were not aware the campaign would launch after the meeting.

A fight over funding and pay

The east bank fire department has 280 employees and covers Old Jefferson and parts of Metairie. It is currently funded through a property tax generating roughly $50 million per year at 23.76 mills, the highest in the parish The handouts released Wednes-

day state that the union wants to increase the fire department budget by $24 million for pay increases, funded through a ballot measure that would either raise property taxes or reallocate other property taxes currently dedicated for other uses.

According to the flyer, the parish estimates it would cost a homeowner with a home valued at $400,000 in the taxing district an extra $500 on their property tax bill to support the requested pay increases.

Burkett, however, said he still believes the parish could find funds or offload unnecessary assets to accommodate their requested pay increase. As an example, he pointed to a number of vehicles that the parish voted to donate at Wednesday’s meeting instead of putting up for auction.

If the parish can’t find additional funds, Burkett said the union could seek a ballot measure to rededicate existing funds, but would not ask for a millage increase He added that the union plans to canvass

door to door soon to ask for support in their wage increase effort.

“They are so used to mismanaging our funds, it’s a huge task to get them to stop,” Burkett said.

The union commissioned a poll from political consultant Greg Buisson’s firm, conducted by Gravis Marketing, which found that 80% of its 378 respondents would support increasing the dedicated millage for firefighter pay The poll, conducted using web and text responses from voters registered across Jefferson Parish from March 19 to 30 with a 5% margin of error, was announced in a news release Wednesday shortly after the launch of the Jefferson Parish site.

Any ballot measure would require the approval of the Jefferson Parish Council, which is unlikely to get the four votes needed for approval The only impacted residents would be east bank residents outside of Kenner Parish officials that they want to ask the state Legislature to exempt the fire department from a state

law that requires any pay raises at the bottom to be matched all the way to the top. Parish officials say that law makes it financially infeasible to increase the starting salary

“I would hope that the union would realize that the state law is very burdensome to us,” Lee Sheng said. “It’s unaffordable for us. It is not sustainable in the long term. We’ve asked them to go with us to the state Legislature to fix it and they won’t accept that.”

Firefighters contend that raising only starting pay would create a disparity for those who’ve worked there for years

“If Cynthia got her way what would happen is you would give the firefighters coming on a raise, and then at some point there would be firefighters on the job for four years, five years who make less than the new ones,” Burkett said.

The PR push

Jefferson Parish Council member Arita Bohannan said the campaign materials were reviewed by the parish administration and the Parish Attorney’s Office for accuracy and objectivity The documents will be distributed by council members at public events like civic association meetings, on social media and on the parish’s website.

“This is not a slanderous piece, this is not a piece lobbying for something,” Bohannan said. “This is a piece that is just showing the public a picture of where we are.”

The campaign also breaks down the salaries and benefits for firefighters, including a spreadsheet of every individual employee’s salary for 2025. According to the flyer, 47% of the department’s 242 firefighters make over $100,000 annually Burkett called the statistic “insulting” and “a public relation firm’s spin,” as he said many

firefighters surpassed $100,000 by working additional overtime hours.

The flyer states that firefighters receive $7,200 in state supplemental pay and an annual raise of 5% for the first 14 years of service, followed by a 2% raise for 23 years.

Lee Sheng has previously said that state supplemental pay and guaranteed overtime increase the actual take-home starting pay closer to $17 per hour

On top of the ongoing pay dispute, the parish is also facing a projected $13.5 million budget deficit prior to the end of the fire department’s millage in 2032 due to rising personnel costs, according to an internal review by consultant EisnerAmper

A long-running feud

Firefighters spent months crowding Parish Council meetings to protest their pay during negotiations with the administration, and both sides accused each other of online harassment and intimidation. In September, firefighters refused to get recertified to provide medical care at scenes until the administration threatened them with termination.

Lee Sheng also filed a restraining order in November against one of the firefighters for comments he made during the council hearing on the Gambel contract. A judge extended that order through the end of 2027, when her term ends.

The union sued the parish over the Gambel contract, alleging the parish is using public funds to sway voters in a future election, although a request for injunction against the parish was denied. The union has filed two other lawsuits against the parish since December, including one that accuses the parish of misspending property tax revenue.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY PATRICK TEWEY

The twin rodeo rink and concert stage arrangement of the 2025 Hondo Rodeo Fest in Phoenix is similar to that planned for the Superdome.

But disagreement over the bill this week illustrated how the current setup, which forces the mayor into an awkward dual role as board president, can lead to conflicting political interests. The bill would transfer more authority to City Hall, but it’s not clear what that might entail.

Utility officials in a 11-page letter to state lawmakers this week said the bill will subject the agency to unpredictable political whims and further weaken the S&WB’s already deteriorating financial standing.

“A model that is too easily altered by shifting political priorities may become unstable,” wrote S&WB Governance Committee Chair Courtney Scrubbs, before adding that the bill “moves too far toward fluidity in governance structure without adequate safeguards.”

Moreno assailed Scrubbs’ letter in a written statement on Wednesday, saying it “defends the status quo.”

“This is another example of continuing to do things the same way and expecting different results,” Moreno said, accusing Scrubbs of failing to “recognize that the Sewerage and Water Board currently is the top example of a governance disaster.”

Underscoring divides between the new mayor and the utility, S&WB Executive Director Randy Hayman said at an S&WB governance committee meeting on Wednesday that the city and the board should have separate representation at the State Capitol.

“It is a unique situation to have a lobbyist that represents two parties. When we’re completely separate, it makes sense. When we have issues that are more concentric, it

COASTAL

Continued from page 1A

Cameron Henry has signaled his intent to have those questions answered before the plan can move forward, officials were told at a Senate committee hearing.

The delay is the latest turn in a long-running controversy surrounding the Landry administration’s move to cancel the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversions. Mid-Barataria broke ground in 2023, while construction had not begun on Mid-Breton.

Those unprecedented projects had long been seen as linchpins in the state’s coastal master plan, and around $700 million had already been disbursed for them. But Landry opposed the plans based on cost and the damage they would do to commercial fisheries in those areas.

The projects were being largely paid for with fines and settlement money related to the 2010 BP oil spill.

The state’s coastal authority now plans to focus instead on building large-scale “land bridges” and restoring barrier islands.

Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, informed the coastal authority leadership of Henry’s wishes at the start of Wednesday’s

makes for questions sometimes,”

Hayman said

Asked afterward to clarify what he meant, Hayman said “it would be advantageous to have our own lobbyist” when the S&WB and City Hall disagree on legislative actions He declined to discuss specific bills.

The lobbyist, Paul Rainwater, declined comment.

Moreno, S&WB disagree

Scrubbs and seven other S&WB members serve staggered, fouryear terms, and most were appointed by former Mayor LaToya Cantrell. The board also welcomed Hayman during Cantrell’s tenure.

Moreno, who took office in January has lamented that she does not have enough oversight over the embattled S&WB, a statecreated agency that drew scrutiny this year after a series of bursting water mains caused four floods. Though Moreno serves as

hearing before the Senate’s Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee.

“I think these are serious questions that need to be answered in a transparent way,” Connick, who chairs the committee, said later in the hearing.

Poll results

The hearing will continue next week after written questions can be answered and a meeting can be held to hash out concerns, Connick said. Approval from the committee is one of several steps the annual plan must take at the Legislature.

The annual plan for fiscal year 2027, which begins in July, includes a total of 143 active projects across the state’s coast, ranging from levee building to marsh construction and ecosystem restoration.

Coastal authority leadership said at the hearing that they were willing to meet and answer the questions. Women of the Storm founder Anne Milling said the group was “delighted that Sen. Connick was able to raise these issues.”

The advocacy group was instrumental in pressuring Congress to commit funding toward rebuilding after the twin devastations of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. It has long pushed for construction of the diver-

the board’s president under the current setup, existing state laws make it tougher for her to dismiss board members at will.

In 2023, the Bureau of Governmental Research, a good government watchdog, said the agency’s current setup gives lawmakers with little or no connection to New Orleans control over local water issues, and that the board should either be given far greater autonomy or be folded completely into city government.

HB573 would see the board get far less autonomy, with the bill in its current form giving the council wide latitude over any number of board policies, including rate setting, board makeup and billing. But Scrubbs cited a litany of concerns about the bill in her letter, saying it creates long-term uncertainty, which could sow doubt among utility bond investors and threaten capital financing.

“While intended to increase flex-

sions as a nature-based approach to Louisiana’s land loss crisis.

They note that land building through dredging alone eventually erodes like the rest of the coast, while river diversions would mimic the way south Louisiana was formed in the first place and nourish those other marsh rebuilding efforts. They point to a recent poll on behalf of the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition showing 76% of residents oppose the cancellation of the two diversions.

Women of the Storm’s questions relate to what specific projects will replace the diversions, money already spent on them, and how replacement projects will be evaluated and chosen, among others.

‘Cannot afford to build’

Landry and Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority leadership point to the ballooning cost of the diversions Mid-Barataria had grown to around $3 billion alone — as well as the influx of fresh water and nutrients they would bring to commercial fishing areas. Oyster growers and shrimpers in those areas would have been forced to move or find a new line of work.

CPRA Chair Gordon Dove said large-scale land bridges built with dredged sediment

ibility, this approach may have the unintended effect of reducing predictability in governance and oversight areas that are central to credit evaluation,” Scrubbs said.

She cited recent rating agency actions, apparently referring to a pair of S&P Global Ratings downgrades — one for the drinking water system, the other for sewers — to BBB+, indicating moderate investor risk and likelihood of future downgrades.

The sewer system report on April 7 said S&WB revenue streams are “inherently unpredictable and subject to external decision-making, including possible interference at the city level.”

But if things remain as they are, Moreno wouldn’t actually appoint a majority of the board until her fourth year in office, she told WWL-AM radio host Newell Normand on Tuesday

“All of the problems of the Sewerage & Water Board ultimately become the city’s problem to solve, yet I don’t have that much control,” Moreno said.

The board currently has three vacancies, including a seat reserved for a City Council member, according to its website. Moreno also told Normand that Cantrell should have appointed an interim executive director when the job became vacant last year, since Cantrell was term-limited. Cantrell instead ordered a national search for a full-time executive, and Hayman came aboard in July Moreno, along with council members, haven’t shied away from criticizing Hayman, who has mostly sidestepped the barbs while insisting he and his agency are urgently seeking solutions to distressed infrastructure and funding challenges.

City Council President JP Morrell, a frequent S&WB critic, said in a social media video last month that S&WB is “an entrenched bureaucracy that promotes medioc-

would produce results faster and for less money Those ideas are still in the planning stages and details remain to be worked out.

“You cannot afford to build this diversion, besides killing the shrimp, the oysters,” Dove said.

rity.” He said Hilferty’s bill would “push the envelope.”

“If the City Council and the mayor are going to be held directly responsible for the performance of the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board then we need to have control over it to inject the urgency into it,” Morrell said.

Details needed

The bill is expected to narrow in on more specific oversight changes as it moves through the legislative process, but those haven’t been disclosed yet. Hilferty did not respond to messages.

S&WB governance reform routinely comes up in annual state legislative sessions. Lawmakers over the years have tinkered with the board composition, but have yet to come up with a comprehensive solution to a problematic setup: The S&WB is a state agency with state regulations, while the City Council controls much of its funding. Agency operations, meanwhile, are overseen by a citizen board primarily appointed by the mayor, who serves as board president. And the mayor is sometimes forced to choose between the priorities of City Hall and the S&WB, especially when it comes to sorting out the complex financial relationship between the city and utility

The BGR executive director, Rebecca Mowbray, said more local control could potentially align funding and operational responsibility, as BGR called for in its 2023 report She said it’s difficult to evaluate Hilferty’s bill without more details as to what the final version will look like.

“It’s maybe premature to be worried about the sky falling until there are actually hearings and amendments, and we find out more about what Rep. Hilferty is trying to accomplish,” Mowbray said.

Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ theadvocate.com.

He disputed that the $700 million disbursed would all be lost. He said that between insurance payments, interest on remaining funds and other methods, the losses will amount to between $250 million and $275 million.

“Even if it’s 275, that’s $275 million,” said Carter, who represents parts of Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes.

“That’s a lot.”

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com.

Sen. Gary Carter D-New Orleans, pressed Dove on his contention that land bridges were a better strategy while expressing concerns over the losses.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Southwest Airlines joins others in bag fee hike

Southwest Airlines is raising checked baggage fees by $10, less than a year after ending its “bags fly free” perk that long set it apart, as jet fuel costs have jumped since the start of the Iran war Customers checking one bag will pay $45 starting on Thursday, while a second will now cost $55, according to Southwest. Some travelers will still receive a free first checked bag, including certain loyalty-tier members, eligible co-branded credit card holders and activeduty military members

The move was made “as part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop,” the Texas-based carrier said in a statement.

Southwest ended its generous, decades-old policy of allowing passengers to check two bags for free in May 2025, a move that marked a major shift for the carrier after years of marketing the perk as a key differentiator

The airline now joins a growing list of U.S. carriers that have increased fees since the war in the Middle East began Feb. 28, sending oil prices swinging as fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global supplies.

Oil plunges below $95 as the Dow surges

Oil prices plunged below $95 per barrel, and stock markets surged worldwide after President Donald Trump pulled back from his threat of devastating attacks against Iran.

The S&P 500 leaped 2.5% Wednesday after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,325 points, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 2.8%. To be sure, stock prices are still below where they were before the war And oil prices are still higher because the threat remains that the war could continue.

On Wall Street, companies with big fuel bills roared back to trim some of the sharp losses taken on worries about oil prices staying high.

United Airlines soared 7.9% and cut into its loss for the year, which came into the day at 20.1%. Cruise ship operator Carnival climbed 9.6%. Delta Air Lines rallied 4.2% after it reported stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Ed Bastian said demand for flights remains strong, and it’s making moves to make up for higher fuel bills. Delta on Tuesday became the latest airline to raise its fees for checking bags. In the bond market, Treasury yields dropped as hopes built that easing oil prices could let the Federal Reserve resume its cuts to interest rates later this year.

GM recalls 270K Chevrolet Malibus

General Motors is recalling more than 270,000 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles in the U.S. because the rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter that a rearview image that doesn’t display properly reduces the driver’s view behind the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash.

A safety recall report from the agency said that GM’s supplier identified an issue with the bonding process used to assemble the camera housing that could weaken the adhesive bond on some assemblies.

The automaker’s investigation found that the mounting configuration of the Sharp Electronics camera on the Chevrolet Malibu could expose it to moisture that may breach an insufficient housing bond

The recall includes Chevrolet Malibu vehicles with model years 2023 through 2025.

GM said that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the recall issue.

More Fed officials see possible rate hikes

Policymakers willing to consider, meeting minutes show

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The number of Federal Reserve policymakers willing to consider an interest rate hike this year rose between the January and March meetings, as higher gas prices stemming from the Iran war threatened to worsen inflation in the coming months.

Minutes of the Fed’s March 1718 meeting, released Wednesday, showed that “some” of the central bank’s 19 policymakers on its rate-setting committee supported changing their post-meeting statement to reflect the potential for a future rate hike. That is an in-

crease from “several” in January

The Fed doesn’t disclose precise numbers of how many officials supported each position, but in Fed jargon, “some” is considered more than “several.”

And “many” of the officials pointed to the risk that higher oil and gas prices could keep inflation elevated for “longer than expected, which could call for rate increases” to push inflation back down. For about 18 months, the Fed has leaned toward cutting rates, and in its meetings has alternated between cuts and no change to rates. The slow shift toward considering potential hikes marks a major change from that trend. At the beginning of this year financial markets expected several rate reductions. Now investors don’t expect a cut until late 2027, future prices show Ultimately the Fed kept its key

rate unchanged at its March meeting at about 3.6%. It has stood pat in its first two meetings this year after cutting its rate three times at the end of 2025 Chair Jerome Powell, at a news conference after the meeting, downplayed projections by officials that the Fed could reduce its rate once this year

spending to offset higher gas prices, according to the minutes, which would slow growth and raise unemployment.

Another reduction depended on underlying inflation cooling steadily this year Powell said. “If we don’t see that progress, then you won’t see the rate cut,” he said then.

The minutes, released three weeks after the meeting, underscore the Fed’s dilemma as it seeks to fill its congressional mandates of low inflation and maximum employment. Fed officials acknowledged that the Iran conflict could also force households to cut back

The central bank typically raises rates to cool the economy and combat inflation, while it would cut them to bolster growth and hiring.

Navigating this “twosided” risk of higher unemployment and higher inflation poses a difficult challenge for the Fed.

On Friday, the first signs of the impact the gas price spike is having on inflation will emerge, as the government is scheduled to release the March inflation report. Economists forecast it will show a huge 0.9% increase in March from February, with prices rising 3.4% compared to a year earlier In February inflation was just 2.4%.

Cyberattacks from Iran-linked hackers will continue, experts say

Warning should be taken seriously by potential targets despite ceasefire

BY DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON Hackers backing Tehran say an uncertain ceasefire between Iran and the United States and Israel won’t end their retaliatory cyberattacks, a warning that American cybersecurity experts say potential targets in the U.S. and Israel should take seriously

One leading hacking group known as Handala said after the ceasefire announcement that it was temporarily postponing attacks on the U.S. but would continue to target Israel. It vowed to revive its efforts against America when the time was right — demonstrating again how digital warfare has become ingrained in military conflict Already, the two-week ceasefire appears at risk of fraying over significant disagreements between the parties, which each are claiming victory in the war

A pro-Palestinian, pro-Iranian network that operates independently of Tehran, Handala has claimed credit for disrupting the operations of the U.S. medical manufacturer Stryker and hacking into FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email account, among other cyberattacks. The group is just one of several proxy hacking networks allied with Iran

“We did not begin this war, but we will be the ones to finish it,” Handala wrote on its X account. “And let it be clear: The cyber war did not begin with the military conflict, and it will not end with any military ceasefire.”

U.S. authorities warned on Tuesday that hackers supporting Iran had burrowed into internet-connected computers used to automate and control technology in a variety of important industrial sectors.

The computers, known as programmable logic controllers, are used in ports, power plants and water plants key targets for foreign hackers looking to disrupt everyday life in the U.S

In a joint advisory from the FBI, National Security Agency and Cybersecurity and

Infrastructure Security Agency, officials urged organizations that use the technology to ensure their security precautions were upto-date. CISA did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about the impact that the ceasefire would have on cybersecurity Cybersecurity experts say the warning should be taken seriously by potential targets regardless of the sides announcing a temporary truce.

Markus Mueller, a cybersecurity executive at Nozomi Networks, said he anticipates an increase in cyberattacks on American organizations following the ceasefire, not a decrease.

That’s because any lull in hostilities would allow hackers to shift from regional targets directly involved in the conflict to efforts to infiltrate U.S. organizations that participated

EPA head tells climate

Critics say he promotes disinformation

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON The head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday defended his decision to repeal the legal determination that serves as the basis for federal rules to slow climate change, telling a gathering of climate change skeptics they should “celebrate vindication.”

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin made the remarks in the keynote address at a conference hosted by the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank that rejects mainstream climate science and what it calls “climate alarmism.” Zeldin told the gathering that repeal of the 2009 “endangerment finding”

in the war effort in some way, a list that includes data centers, tech companies and defense contractors.

He also predicted that some groups based in Iran or Russia may seek to circumvent the truce by launching a significant cyberattack on a U.S. target that is designed to attract the attention of the American public.

“With a ceasefire, we will likely see an expansion of cyber activity both in scale and scope,” Mueller said. “These groups will likely try to execute a high-profile attack such as what we saw with Stryker.”

So far, the attacks attributed to pro-Iranian hackers have been high in volume but low in impact, designed to boost morale among Iran’s supporters while reminding its opponents of continued vulnerabilities despite their military advantages.

skeptics to ‘celebrate vindication’

reversed decades of unthinking adherence to liberal politicians and environmental groups about the dangers of climate change.

“Today is a moment to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate vindication,” said Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York who is widely believed to be under consideration for a possible promotion to attorney general, following Pam Bondi’s forced departure last week.

Obama and Biden administrations twisted science to determine that greenhouse gases are a public health risk.

The EPA earlier this year revoked the endangerment finding, a scientific conclusion that for 16 years was the central basis for regulating planet-warming emissions from power plants, vehicles and other sources.

The Trump administration argued the finding hurts industry and the economy and claimed the

Zeldin’s prominent appearance at a conference hosted by a group deeply skeptical of the established science around climate change reflected the vast reversal that President Donald Trump’s administration has carried out of traditional policies meant to protect the environment. The EPA has rolled back dozens of air and water protections and has said it does not have legal authority to regulate climate change.

“You were right there on the front lines against there being an endangerment finding in 2009,” Zeldin told the Heartland conference.

Environmentalists denounced Zeldin’s appearance before the conservative group, accusing him of “rallying climate deniers” at a time when climate change is creating greater risks of extreme weather, including stronger hurricanes, more dangerous floods and more intense wildfires.

Zeldin’s speech “promotes disinformation” and amounts to doing the bidding of Heartland’s secretive donors, said Joe Bonfiglio, U.S. director of the Environmental Defense Fund.

“The Heartland Institute is not a serious scientific organization. It’s a disinformation factory,” Bonfiglio said. “Having the EPA administrator serve as their opening act isn’t just embarrassing — it’s a signal of how completely the Trump administration has abandoned its obligation to protect the public from pollution.”

Zeldin

Powell

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

From left, Acting Commander of the U.S Cyber Command William Hartman, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe listen during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine worldwide threats last month on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Senate Democratspushstate Voting Rights Act

Republicansshut down theplan

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Abill to create aLouisiana version of the federal Voting Rights Act in the face of alooming U.S. Supreme Court decision failed in the Louisiana Legislature on Wednesday,the latest in arunning debate over whether and howrace should play afactor in drawing election maps in the state.

Sen. Royce Duplessis, aBlack Democrat from NewOrleans, argued Wednesday that Louisiana needs its own Voting Rights Act because the Supreme Court could “at any moment” issue aruling that weakens federal voting protections.

His legislation, Senate Bill 365, would have prohibited election practices that disadvantage minority voters and voting maps that unfairly dilute minority voting power

“Every Louisiana voter deserves afair shot at the ballot box andan equal voice in theirgovernment,” he said.

Butthe Senate andGovernmental Affairs Committee rejected thebill along party lines, withfour Republicans voting no and three Democrats voting yes.

Members of the GOP majority didn’tcomment on thebill during the hearing. Afterward, committee Chair Caleb Kleinpeter,R-Port Allen, declined to commenton hisopposition,excepttosay that Louisiana is involved in the voting case that’spendingbefore theU.S. SupremeCourt

White plaintiffs in that case, which originated in Louisiana, have argued it’sunconstitutional to factor race into howvoting maps are drawn duringthe redistricting process.

Duplessisacknowledged that hisplan to createastate Voting Rights Act faced long odds in the Republican-controlled Legislature from the outset. But he pointed to the crowd of supporterswho flocked to the Capitol to urge support for the bill. Over130 people formally registered theirsupport for the measure, andmore than 70 people sentalsoemails in support, Kleinpeter noted during the hearing.

“While we wererealistic about

what the outcome may have been, this is still acasethathas to be madeand was exhibited by the fact that hundreds of people showed up in support,” he said.

Apotentially seminalcourt case

The lawsuit that spurred thebill is Louisianav.Callais, aredistricting and voting-rightscase that hasbeen arguedbefore theU.S. SupremeCourt, which is expected to issuea ruling before theend of July

Thecasecenters on Section2of thefederal Voting Rights Act of 1965, alandmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in voting and in redistricting.

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office is arguing the lawcompels states to draw majority-Black districts, which she says is unconstitutional because it violates the Equal Protection Clause and force states tofavor one population over another

Defenders of theVoting Rights Act argue it is necessary to prevent thereturn of Jim Crow-era voting mapsthat split up Black communitiesintoseparatedistricts,diluting their voting power

Somelegal experts believe the

Supreme Court may strike down that keyprovision of the law and pave the way for redistricting plans with fewermajority-Black districts.

In Louisiana, theruling could impact voting maps forCongress,the Legislature andevensome judicial districts— all of which have been challenged in court for discriminating against Black voters.

ASupreme Courtdecisionto overturn Section2 of the Voting Rights Act couldaffect thepolitical power of Black andminority voters, saidAshley Shelton, president and CEO of the Power Coalition, avoting-rights advocacy groups backing Duplessis’ bill.

“Their ability to elect acandidate of choice is what’satstake right now,” she said.

Shelton said SB365 would have put voting rights into state law and represented acommitment to fair and equitable elections.

What would thebillhavedone?

SB365 would have established theLouisiana Voting Rights Act, anew section of lawexpressly prohibitingstate and local governments from infringing citizens’ right to vote.

Votersuppression andvoter dilutionwould have been outlawed under the measure. In the bill, suppression refers to limiting minorityaccess to voting or to the political process, and dilution refers to electionmapsthatlessened the voting strength of minority groups.

AVoting Rights Commission also would have been set up to monitor government election practices and ensure they are not discriminatory

About20people testifiedinsupport of the bill at the Capitol.

“I carry with me the voices of my ancestors,” said Yolanda BurnetteLankford. “Thosewho were denied theright to vote, yetnever stopped believing in this democracy.”

Somesaid they learned from their African American grandparents, born in the early 1900s, about their experiences facing discrimination at the ballot box.

“I neverthought thatwewould be back at this place where we are still having to fight to ensure that we have fairness as it relates to voting rights,” said state Sen. Regina Barrow,D-Baton Rouge.

“Voting is the only equalizer,” Barrow said.

threatenedasIsraelstrikes Lebanon

BY BASSEMMROUE, SAMY MAGDY, JON GAMBRELL andSAM METZ Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran Aceasefiredealto pause the war in Iran appearedto hang by athread Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The WhiteHouse demandedthatthe channel be reopened and sought to keep peace talks on track.

The U.S. and Iran bothclaimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirutwithout warning. At least 182 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war

The fresh violencethreatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a“fragile” deal. The Iranian parliament speaker said planned talks with the U.S. to seek apermanent halt to hostilities were “unreasonable” because Washingtonbroke three of Tehran’s10conditionsfor an end to the fighting. In asocial media post, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf objected to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspaceafter the ceasefire went into effectand the U.S. assertion that it will notaccept anyIranian enrichment capabilities in afinal agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal with the U.S.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. PresidentDonald Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon.

“The world sees the massacres in Lebanon,” Araghchi said inapost on X. “The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether

it will act on its commitments.”

Lebanon’shealth ministry said Israeli strikes killed 182 people on Wednesday,the highest singledaydeathtoll in theIsrael-Hezbollah war

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closing of the strait reported in Iranian state media was “completely unacceptable.”She repeated Trump’s “expectation and demand” thatthe channel bereopened.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a“capital Vmilitary victory” andthatthe Iranian military no longer posed asignificant threat to U.S. forces or theregion.The Iranianmilitary said the countryforced Israel and the U.S. to accept its “proposed conditionsand surrender.”

Much about the agreement was unclear as thesides presentedvastly different visions of theterms.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of chargingships passing through thestrait, acrucial transit lane foroil. Butthe details were not clear,nor was itknown whether vesselswould feel safeusing the channel or whether ship traffic

had resumed. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition. The White House said Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage through thestrait.

Only11vessels moved through the strait Wednesday, roughly the same as in prior days, according to Windward,amaritime intelligence firm. Iran wasrequiring shippers to pay tolls of up to $1 abarrel for outbound oil, it said. The largest supertankers carry up to 3million barrels of crude.

Thefate of Iran’smissile and nuclear programs —the elimination of which were major objectivesfor the U.S. and Israel in going to war —also remained unclear.Trumpsaid the U.S. would workwith Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that Peacetalks

Trump initially said Iranproposeda “workable” 10-pointplan that could help end the war the U.S. andIsrael launched on Feb.28. But when aversion in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium —which is key to building a nuclear weapon —Trumpcalled it

fraudulent without elaborating.

Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

Leavittsaid Iran’s original, 10-point plan was “fundamentally unserious, unacceptable andcompletelydiscarded.”But a new,15-point plan Iran presented Tuesday could now “align with our own” proposal forpeace, she said.

The White House also said Vance would leadthe American negotiating team in talks in Pakistan aimed at finding apermanent end to the war.Pakistan said the talks could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Iran’sdemands forending the war include awithdrawal of U.S. combat forces from theregion, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres’ personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on “the way forward.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to “utilize every operational opportunity” to strike Hezbollah.The Israeli military saiditstruck morethan 100 targetswithin 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, thelargestwave of strikes since March 1.

Lebanese PresidentJoseph Aoun condemned theIsraeliattacksas “barbaric.” Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of “persistently seeking to sabotage” theIran ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though thegroup has saiditwas open to giving mediators achance to secure an agreement. An official,speakingonconditionof anonymity because he wasnot authorized to comment publicly,said the group would not stop firing at Israel unless Israel agreed to do thesame.

Threatssurvive

U.S.-Israeli strikes havebattered Iran and its leadership, but they have notentirelyeliminatedthe threats posed by Tehran’snuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, such as Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel

said addressing those threats was akey justification forgoing to war.

Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to “dig up and remove” enriched uraniumthatwas buried underjoint U.S-IsraelistrikesinJune. He added that none of the material had been touched since. There was no confirmation from Iran. Hegseth told aPentagon briefing Wednesdaythat the U.S. would do “something like” last June’sjoint strikeswith Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily Netanyahu warnedina televised address that his country was “ready to return to fighting at any time. Our finger is on the trigger.” Tehran insisted foryears that its nuclear program waspeaceful, although it enricheduranium up to 60% purity,ashort, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Airstrikesreported

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia andthe United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. Thatfire stoppedfor atime, then hostilities appeared to restart. An oil refinery on Iran’sLavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. Ashort time later,the UAE’s airdefensesfiredatanincoming Iranianmissile barrage. Kuwait said threepower andwater desalination plants were badly damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched at the country.Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones. More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the war’s toll fordays.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, morethan 1,700 people have been killed, and 1million people have been displaced. Twelve Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and theoccupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

RINGGOLD,Ga. Republican

Clay Fuller on Tuesdaywon

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s former U.S. House seat in Georgia, turningbacka Democratic challenge with the help of President Donald Trump’sendorsement despite uneasiness over the war in Iran.

In adeepred district that Greene won by 29 points and Trump carriedbyalmost 37 points two years ago,Fuller wasontrack to prevailby about 12 points with almost all votes counted. The result added to astring of special elections where Democrats performed better than expected, atrack record the party hopes willcreate momentum toward November’s midterm elections when control of Congress hangs in the balance.

In another election held Tuesday,aDemocraticbacked candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court won bydouble-digitmar-

gins,growing theliberal majority there. Fullerinsistedthathis victory over Democratic candidate Shawn Harris in

Georgia was atestimony to Trump’sstayingpower “They couldn’tbeat Donald Trumpand theynever will,”hetold supporters in

Ringgold,nearthe border with Tennessee. “And Iwill be on Capitol Hill as awarrior to have his back each and every day.”

However, Trump’sescalating rhetoric hadsome Republicansconcerned, even in this deepred district. Thepresident had set adeadline forTuesday at 8p.m. —one hour afterpolls closed in Georgia —for Irantoreach a deal with the United States, saying that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”However,helater announced atwo-week ceasefire to allow negotiations to continue.

Acworth resident Jason McGinty said he was worried Trumpwas “about to go too far” and “may be committing awar crime” if he followed through on threats to bombpower plants and

other infrastructure in Iran. He votedfor Fullerto“make sure the AmericaFirst party is still in place.”

RetireeJudy McDonald agreed with the president’s decision to go to war but was “very anxiety-ridden” over the conflict.

“Eventually we willhave peace andthe Iranians will kind of come to aconclusion that they won’thave acountry if they don’tstop the terrorism,” she said. Fuller will serve out the remaining months of Greene’s term,bolsteringthe party’s slim majority in the House, where Republicans control 217 seats to Democrats’ 214, with one independent. He’llhavetoface another Republican primary on May 19 to win afull two-year term,and could face aJune 16 party runoff. Harris is already the Democratic nominee forNovember

Senate passes bill to merge clerks

Court measure heads to House over growing local opposition

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

The Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court would go away under a bill that cleared the state Senate on Wednesday Senate Bill 256 aims to merge civil and criminal clerks offices in New Orleans, placing those powers in the hands of the current Civil District clerk of court, Chelsea Richard Napoleon. It comes as Calvin Duncan, a former life prisoner, is set to take office next month as criminal clerk following his election win over incumbent Darren Lombard

Panel opposes plan to demolish diner

Permit sought to tear down Ted’s Frostop

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

A plan to demolish the iconic Ted’s Frostop diner and replace it with apartments for Tulane University students hit a potentially major snag Wednesday, when the Historic District Landmark Commission unanimously recommended denying the developers’ request for a demolition permit.

The vote came after nearly two hours of public comment, nearly all of it in opposition to the development, from nearby residents who voiced concerns over a lack of parking, the loss of unique architecture and the expansion of Tulane’s campus across South Claiborne Avenue.

“Ted’s Frostop is not just a building. It’s a piece of New Orleans memory,” said Annie-Marie Karp, a resident of nearby Versailles Boulevard. “It’s a part of the visual, cultural and emotional fabric of this neighborhood.”

Tulane took neighbors by surprise last month when they announced plans for the project — a threestory apartment complex that would house roughly 160 graduate and undergraduate students in 39 apartments. Though the university would be the master tenant of the building and would operate the complex, the Robert family, which owns the local supermarket chain, is developing the project and would lease it back to Tulane.

The Roberts have said they would reopen Frostop in a ground floor space in the building and would preserve its classic neon sign — which has protected status as a “classic sign” — and oversized root beer mug on the new building’s façade. Without the new building, however, the diner “does not have longterm viability,” Matthieu Robert told the commission Wednesday, noting that the new building would provide Frostop with more seats and a new kitchen.

Ahead of the vote, commission member Annie Irvin said if the Roberts had engaged neighbors earlier in the process before unveiling plans to demolish Frostop and two other buildings next to it, they would have realized how much the community treasures the building.

“It is an incredible and increasingly rare example of mid-century modern commercial buildings,” Irvin said. “For that reason, I’m going to recommend denial.”

The commission’s 8-0 vote means that building will now require a City Council vote to overrule the commission.

Tulane, which did not send a representative to speak at Wednesday’s meeting, declined to comment on the commission decision

See TED’S, page 2B

The bill now heads to a House committee, despite growing opposition from New Orleans leadership. It followed approval of another bill the Senate passed late Tuesday to reduce the number of

2026

LEGISLATURE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

appeals court judges that serve New Orleans from 12 to 10. Still to come up for a Senate vote is a bigger shake-up from Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, on the busy New Orleans court system. Senate Bill 217 would shrink the Orleans Parish courts by eliminating a total of seven judges on the civil, criminal and juvenile court benches.

“New Orleans courts and clerk offices serve New Orleans residents,” Moreno said. “Changes of this consequence require local leadership, real data, and genuine collaboration with stakeholders Without that, I will continue to voice my strong opposition.

Mayor Helena Moreno issued a statement Wednesday challenging the potential removal of Duncan’s elected seat.

“Speaking specifically to SB 256, voters of New Orleans elected a new clerk of criminal court, and our legislators should honor the will of the people.”

ä See COURT, page 2B

An artist’s rendering of the new Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission’s

sits on display Wednesday during an announcement in Westwego.

‘INCUBATOR’ PROJECT HEATING UP

Jefferson Parish officials celebrate funding milestone

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Officials with the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission have secured the nearly $9 million needed to move forward with plans for the New Orleans Food and Beverage Incubator, a project that will help local food entrepreneurs across the region grow their businesses. At a news conference Wednesday at JEDCO’s campus in Westwego, where the incubator will be located, elected officials — including Baton Rouge Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, several Parish Council members and longtime retired legislator John Alario joined economic development officials and local entrepreneurs to celebrate the funding milestone for the project and showcase renderings for it.

ä See INCUBATOR, page 2B

Popular Mandeville pizzeria to reopen

partment official at the time estimated, leading the pizzeria to announce on social media that it was “indefinitely closed.”

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

After a fire forced it to close in October, a well-known and beloved Old Mandeville pizza restaurant plans to reopen at a new location this summer McClain’s Pizzeria is aiming to reopen at 5404 La. 22 near Bigener Road in Mandeville by June, owners say In October, an electrical fire damaged 40% of the restaurant’s kitchen, a Mandeville Fire De-

The loss was widely noted in the community, with an outpouring of support on social media and a GoFundMe online fundraiser receiving $33,970 from 275 different donations. And the loss was also acutely felt by the extended family that operates the restaurant, said Maggie Balmer, who

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS GRANGER

New Orleans Food and Beverage Incubator

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, left, talks with JEDCO President/CEO Jerry Bologna, and attorney, businessman and venture capitalist Mickal Adler during the announcement for the New Orleans Food and Beverage Incubator in Westwego.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY CURT MCCLAIN Michael Garcia, a 41-year-old

U.S Marine, was killed in a St. Claude shooting Tuesday.

ä See VICTIM,

Public’s help sought with missing dog

Bourbon likely thrown from car during Slidell crash

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

Authorities in St. Tammany Parish are asking the public for help in finding a dog that was likely thrown from a vehicle after it was involved in a serious crash on Interstate 12 in Slidell on Easter night.

The dog, an 8-year-old mix named Bourbon, was inside the vehicle during a single-vehicle crash on eastbound I-12, authorities said.

When firefighters and rescue personnel arrived at the crash scene late Sunday night, Bourbon wasn’t in the vehicle. They didn’t even know to look for her said Brian Macaluso, the spokesperson for Slidell-based St Tammany Fire District No. 1.

“We worked it as a rollover with a patient inside,” Macaluso said Wednesday “We didn’t even know a dog was in the vehicle.”

The driver of the vehicle, the only person inside, was taken to a hospital in New Orleans with serious injuries, Macaluso said.

A Facebook post from the fire department said emergency personnel extricated the driver and provided “on-scene care” before Acadian Ambulance brought the patient to a hospital.

Macaluso said there’s a chance the dog was ejected by the force of the crash, since emergency crews did not see her inside the car.

Colinda Rossom, who said it was her father who was driving the vehicle, posted on Facebook that Bourbon, who is her dog but often stays with her dad, was missing from the scene of the wreck.

“She had to be in the car,” Rossom said.

“I know that dog was with him. She went everywhere.”

She said her dad, Robert Rossom, of Slidell, was in stable condition at a New Orleans hospital recovering from his injuries.

Lt. Suzanne Carboni, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said Sheriff Randy Smith saw a social

media post about a missing dog and asked Carboni’s counterpart in the communications office, Lt. Carli Messina, to get it onto the agency’s Facebook page

“He’s very much a dog lover,” Carboni said of Smith.

On Tuesday, the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office posted a Facebook message to its 278,000 followers that Bourbon was missing.

The post said Bourbon was “wearing a hot pink collar with her name on it” and is believed to be near the I-12, U.S. 11 exit, where the crash occurred.

“If you see her, do not chase,” the post states. “Call our nonemergency line immediately at (985) 898-2340.”

“Let’s get Bourbon home,” the Sheriff’s Office post added.

Continued from page 1B

Unlike other parishes, civil, criminal and juvenile courts operate as independent entities in Orleans Parish. The parish also has clerk’s offices for the civil and criminal courts that function under separate jurisdictions.

Morris’ bill seeks to do away with that structure and create one parishwide clerk. The bill would also create a “consolidated judicial expense fund” overseen by the clerk that covers operational costs for the office.

Morris said it was not a personal attack on Duncan but an effort to streamline New Orleans’ courts to save money “There’s never going to be a good time when everyone is

TED’S

Continued from page 1B

Emotions on display

The decision follows a heated meeting Monday night at the diner convened by district council member Aimee McCarron and attended by dozens of residents and the Roberts. Tulane officials did not speak up then either, when residents raised a variety of concerns about the impact of the project on their quality of life, fears over what happens if Tulane does not lease the entire building, and the loss of a classic mid-century diner that has been a part of the neighborhood landscape since 1955. The controversy is the latest chapter of an ongoing tension between Tulane and its near neighbors, who have frequently clashed over the noise, parking and trash that Tulane students often bring to the houses they rent off campus. In an effort to get a handle on the problem and enhance its overall campus experience, Tulane began requiring freshman, sophomores and juniors to live on campus this year, and recently added hundreds of new upscale dorm rooms to campus.

But the university’s footprint is limited, and the Robert project — the first time a third-party developer is proposing to build a student housing development — signaled a new model.

It also marked the first student housing complex across South Claiborne Avenue.

The project is proposed for a commercial site bounded by South Claiborne and Calhoun and South Miro streets. Over the past three years, the Roberts have acquired the three properties it is now proposing to tear down and redevelop including the Frostop building and the restaurant business.

Part of the frustration neighbors aired at Wednesday’s meeting was the perceived lack of transparency about what the Roberts and Tulane have been planning for the site.

PIZZERIA

Continued from page 1B

“The six of us all work together and all live together,” Balmer said. After the restaurant closed, some members of the family were able to work at nearby restaurants, and her dad retired early

“Community support was instrumental in giving us that opportunity to move forward,” she said. With the help of the GoFundMe money Balmer said they were able to sign a lease at the new location at the end of December

“We’d kind of grown out of that place,” she said of their former location in Old Mandeville, which they had been renting for 13

going to really like this bill,” Morris said, “whether it takes effect in a few years and somebody’s an incumbent when you want to take away their job, or somebody that’s never started the job yet.”

Duncan was released from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola after serving 28 years of a life sentence. His conviction was later vacated. Last November he won the criminal court clerk’s job in decisive fashion and is set to take office May 4. Morris said he’s crafted the legislation to rightsize the court structure in Orleans Parish. He amended his bill Tuesday, to put it into effect as soon as Gov Jeff Landry were to sign it into law

That change was meant to eliminate Duncan’s position before he assumes office, Morris said Wednesday

Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, introduced a pair of amendments on Duncan and Napoleon’s behalf. One would’ve delayed the bill from taking effect until May 2030, to allow Duncan to serve at least one term in office. The other would have locked in more funding for Napoleon.

The Senate rejected both of his proposed amendments and approved Morris’ bill by a 25-11 vote along party lines.

“This is wrong,” Duplessis said. “I have never seen something so barbaric. This will not improve efficiency This will not improve outcomes It will stall the work of the clerk’s office.”

The House has yet to weigh in on any of Morris’ bills.

Email Matt Bruce at matt bruce@theadvocate.com.

“I don’t trust Tulane as far as I can throw them,” said Billy Marchal, an Audubon Boulevard resident

Robert said he and has his partners have carefully researched and followed existing regulations, confirming, for instance, that the building’s signs are protected landmarks but that the building itself is not.

“By going against what we understand has been set forth as guidelines for developers and for investors in the city, it creates a great deal of uncertainty, for not only us, but for other investors as well, trying to invest in the district and in the city,” Robert said.

“Not only uncertainty, but it prohibits further investment, further development.”

Zach Smith, the developer’s consultant on the project, chided the staff of the landmark commission for finding the building worthy of preservation even though it has not been landmarked and falls outside of the Carrolton Historic District’s period of significance.

“We hear the preaching all the time about following rules and making sure to know and do the due diligence before,” Smith said.

“This project did its research, did its due diligence, and now is essentially having the rules changed

years. The restaurant itself dates to the 1970s in Washington state, where McClain Balmer’s family owned a deli.

“We’re running and gunning right now to try to stick to that June 1 goal,” Maggie Balmer said.

Old location

Meanwhile, well-known restaurant owner and caterer Cayman

Sinclair has now purchased the old property that McClain’s used to rent with plans to build a new restaurant there.

The previous owner had the property for 19 years, Sinclair said.

on it after the fact. We think that’s fundamentally unfair.”

Uncertain future

The controversy if the first land use battle for McCarron, who succeeded District A council member Joe Giarrusso in January She has not said what her position is on the proposed demolition. It will be key to the council’s vote on the matter, as council members typically defer to the district council person in neighborhood disputes.

At Monday’s meeting, McCarron said only that she wanted to gather neighborhood feedback.

That feedback was on display Wednesday Among those whose spoke, was Susan Sternberg, the widow of Ted Sternberg, the longtime local franchisee and owner of the diner

“I know that if he were alive — and I wish he were alive that he would be just thrilled to hear the support for a building and a business that he loved, and a neighborhood that he loved,” Sternberg said. It is not clear whether Smith and Robert plan to appeal the decision or when it would go before the City Council.

Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. meadows@theadvocate.com.

INCUBATOR

Continued from page 1B

“Louisiana got rich for a long time by selling off its resources and not thinking about it, and in no sector is that more true than our food, music and culture,” said GNO Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht. “This facility demonstrates that we are thinking about it now.” The 12,000-square-foot facility will be the first of its kind in Jefferson Parish and the only major wholesale food production incubator in the Greater New Orleans region. Designed by New Orleans architecture firm EskewDumezRipple, the incubator will feature three commercial kitchens and a demonstration and teaching kitchen; FDA-licensed production space; equipment for bottling, baking, blending and general production; and dry, cold and freezer storage. It also will have a loading dock and access road for distribution and an outdoor plaza and culinary garden.

The facility will be open to food and beverage entrepreneurs across southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast and will help meet a critical need in the area, officials said.

“We are accelerating our ability to deliver a world-class resource that empowers entrepreneurs to launch, grow and scale food and beverage businesses right here in Jefferson Parish,” said JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna.

A ‘catalytic’ project

Hermalina Lezama is among the entrepreneurs the facility

Continued from page 1B

“He was so beautiful. He served many tours in Iraq, and he hated violence, and he was a sweetheart,” said Dr. Stephanie Baran, Garcia’s best friend. Garcia was caught in the crossfire after Terrence Leavell, 48, allegedly opened fire on a group to protect his nephew, court records show Leavell was detained on the scene and booked on manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a felon and illegal use of weapons. A native of Dallas, Texas, Garcia was father to a 19-year-old UNO student, Baran said. The owners of Care Forgot Beercraft, where Garcia bartended, closed for the day in his memory

“This man had the biggest golden heart that I have ever known, and we will never know another like it,” a social media post by the brewery read “He CREATED communities around him wherever he went, and he boiled the f*** out of some crawfish.”

Baran said Garcia was known for adding unconventional elements to his boils — including anise and pineapple and encouraged people to bring their own contributions Recently, tortellini and ravioli took a star turn.

is designed to support. For four years, she operated her Caribbean-inspired coffee brand, Coffee Island, out of a small commissary in New Orleans, where she makes small-batch roasted coffees, Kcups and pastries.

For now, most of her business comes from catering sales. But she wants to scale up and package to sell in grocery stores and beyond. She is looking forward to working in the new incubator when it opens in 2027 or early 2028.

“This will help me at least triple production and take it to the next level,” she said.

Originally estimated to cost $4.2 million, the incubator’s price tag has more than doubled to $8.7 million due to delays and rising construction costs. Funding for the project came from the U.S Economic Development Administration, Louisiana Economic Development, the Jefferson Parish Council and JEDCO.

A recent $3.65 million federal earmark secured by Cassidy through the U.S. Small Business Administration helped close the deal.

“If we want our economy to grow, we have to grow our small businesses,” said Cassidy “This will be catalytic.”

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall.

JEDCO is now turning its attention to raising money to help operate the facility Bologna said the goal is to raise $6 million to help subsidize operations, support small-business tenants and “allow us to operate this in perpetuity.”

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

in the most heartwarming way,” friend Madelyn Carter said of her time with Garcia at Engulf.

“It was a feeling of being in the right place at the right time, a feeling of being welcomed to the extreme degree.” Baran said Garcia had been working through his PTSD in therapy

“He was showing such beautiful growth. He had so many aspirations and desires to see beautiful things in the world,” Baran said “He was just a delight and he held me accountable, and he challenged me to be a better person.”

Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman set Leavell’s bond at $700,000 on Wednesday afternoon at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. During the hearing, Leavell grew emotional, shouting profanities at the dais and claiming he had been falsely arrested because he was on parole at the time.

The new restaurant, which he said will be called Apertif Terrace, will open sometime in the fall. It’s a spinoff of Sinclair’s finedining restaurant, Aperitif, a French-Creole restaurant with a craft cocktail bar just around the corner on Lakeshore Drive.

Sinclair said they hope to start renovations at the new place in the next two to three weeks.

Once they begin, he said the renovations will take two to three months, since the fire damage was not too extensive

Sinclair’s new restaurant on Girod Street will have a rooftop cocktail bar featuring small plates and a large balcony overlooking Lake Pontchartrain, Sinclair said. There will be lounge seating downstairs.

Email Willie Swett at willie swett@theadvocate.com

Though Garcia was the life of the party as a boil master and bartender, he never lost the ability to go into “Marine mode” to keep people safe, Baran said. As the lead of site operations for Engulf, a regional Burning Man event, he made sure the forested acreage was safe for attendees.

“He’d ensure safety for people, which is what his job was when he was in the Marines,” Baran said.

“He endured an IED attack in Iraq and died here. That’s not lost on me.”

Sometimes his method of ensuring safety meant showing up on an emotional level, friends said.

“He was so welcoming that whatever shyness I had in the moment dissipated in his presence,

“I wasn’t even around here,” Leavell said. “Get the f*** out of here, man.” No firearm was recovered, according to public defender Bernadette Fox, and no gunshot residue was detected on Leavell’s hands. If found guilty of manslaughter, he faces up to 40 years at hard labor Anyone with information can contact NOPD detectives at (504) 658-5300, or they can anonymously call Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at (504) 822-1111 or toll-free at (877) 903-STOP Tips can also be submitted online at www.crimestoppersgno.org.

VICTIM

PROVIDED PHOTO Authorities in St. Tammany Parish have asked the public to be the lookout for Bourbon, who went missing after a crash.

STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

The Historic District Landmark Commission on Wednesday unanimously recommended denying a demolition permit for the iconic Ted’s Frostop diner

Aiges, whodefined role of musiccriticat Times-Picayune,dies

BY KEITHSPERA Staff writer

Scott Aiges, who was The Times-Picayune’sfirst fulltime pop music criticbefore moving on to produce festivals, manage bands and teach high school, died Tuesday of glioblastoma in White Plains, New York. He was 63. At first glance, Aiges was an unlikely candidate to be amusic critic and tireless New Orleans music advocate.

He grew up in New Jersey After earning apolitical science degree from Columbia University —where he met his future wife, Lisanne Brown —hetraveled to Nicaragua in 1986 as afreelance journalist to cover the Sandinista turmoil.

In 1987, he joined States News Service, which distributed Washington, D.C., coverage to local and regional newspapers. Wanting to write more crime-andcorruption stories, he took a job in The Times-Picayune’s River Parishes bureau in 1988. He was based in LaPlace while Brownlived in New Orleans pursuing a master’sdegree at Tulane University When the Picayune created anew position for a nonclassical music critic, Scott—amusic fan and guitarist whowas also eagerto be with Lisanne in New Orleans —lobbiedhard for it, even as some editorstried to convince him he’d be better off sticking with hard news.

As the Picayune’smusic critic, he wrote music business andnews stories as well as cultural criticism He championed unknown bands, including aband of Tulane University students fronted by Alex McMurray, andinterviewed and reviewed major stars.

Moving on from thepaper By 1995, he was ready for achange. As Lisannerecalled last year,hewanted “to be with the band, not just criticizing the band. At heart, he wasalways amusician, but he was never going to be asuccessful musician. The closesthecould get was being amanager.” His first management client was the Continental Drifters, the all-star Americana band that was akin to aNew Orleans Fleetwood Mac —with similar levels of talent and drama.

When McMurray recorded acassettewithanew band called Royal Fingerbowl, Aiges passed it along to music industry contacts. Royal Fingerbowl signed with TVT Records and, with Scott as manager, releasedanalbum called “Happy Birthday,Sabo!” nationally in 1997. Aiges also worked with Astral Project, the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars and other bands. Frustrated that managing

bandsyielded more stress than income, he shifted gears to work on Ray Nagin’sfirst mayoral campaign. Thatled to ajob in the Nagin administration’seconomic development department supportingthe local music industry He was laid off following Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, theNew Orleans Jazz &HeritageFoundation,the nonprofit that owns Jazz Fest, hired him. As thefoundation’sdirector of programs, marketing and communications, he produced the Crescent City Blues &BBQ Festivaland other events, launched the Sync Up music business conference and oversaw construction of the multimillion-dollar George &Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Center in aformerfuneralhome on North Rampart Street. Late one night after his wife and kids were asleep, he started strumming Tom Petty’s “Refugee” on guitar but with areggae lilt. Thatwas the genesis of the Jamaican Me Breakfast Club, which reimagined ’80s New Wave hits as reggaesongs. Theband’sselftitled2017 CD contained reggae versions of AFlock of Seagulls’ “I Ran,” a-ha’s “Take On Me”and Devo’s “Whip It.”

Adevastating diagnosis In 2019, Scottand his family movedtoDenver,Colorado. He earned amaster’s degreeineducation and taught civics and financial literacy at ahigh school in nearby Aurora.

In November 2024, he and LisannetraveledtoMexico for awedding.Soon afterward, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma,orGBM, an incurable and aggressive form of braincancer.He endured multiple surgeries and suffered alitany of side effects. He was unable to work.

Lisanne also stepped away fromher job to be Scott’s full-time caregiver. On May25, 2025, Tipitina’s hosted abenefitconcert called “Rock For Aiges: ANight of Love for Scott Aiges.” Given that Aiges was abig TomPetty fan, it featured an all-star cast of local musicians performing Petty songs, includingSamantha Fish, the Continental Drifters’ SusanCowsill, VickiPeterson andRobert Mache’, Paul Sanchez,CC Adcock,John“Papa”Gros, Jim McCormick and John Cowsill.

Lisanne attended the show alongwithher and Scott’sadultchildren,Ella Aiges and Ben Aiges. Scott was too weak to travel from Colorado. In June, he and Lisanne movedinwith Ella in White Plains, New York, so she could help care forher father and they couldbecloser to other relatives.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Email KeithSpera at kspera@theadvocate com.

5public officials accused of malfeasance

Staff report

TheMamoupolice chief, the Ville Platte mayor and three other policeofficers were arrested Tuesday by the Louisiana State Police on malfeasance counts. The five public officials areaccused of accessing state or government databases and sharing protected information.

Mamou Police Chief Charles “Pat” Hall faces one count of malfeasance in office and trespassing against state computers, according to Louisiana State Police. Ville Platte Mayor Ryan Leday Williams facesone count of malfeasance in office. Additionally,Ville Platte Police Sgt. Darrian Guillory, 911 dispatch officer Chasessica Basco and Opelousas police Officer YolandaLewis are eachaccused of one

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Barriere, Irene

Barthelemy,Jean

Black,Marion

Buckley,Alean

Burl Sr., Reginald Chantz,Gloria

Cohen, Rubin

DeGrange III, George Fawer, Michael Gibson-Brown, Michelle

Gould, Bernard Grinstead,Elizabeth

Harvey Sr., Christopher HenrySr.,Kerry

Johnson,Aaron

Johnson, Clayton

Johnson Jr., Glenn

Kenard Jr., Monroe

Kieffer, Carolyn Laderer, Camille

Lee, Elnora

Maison, Doris

MasseyJr.,Warren

Ourso, Barbara

Pankey, George Pfister, LeRoy

Reed Sr., Reginald Williams,Kendall

EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Laderer, Camille

Leitz-Eagan

Kieffer, Carolyn

Richardson FH

Buckley,Alean

NewOrleans

Boyd Family Johnson,Aaron

Reed Sr., Reginald Charbonnet

Chantz,Gloria

DeGrange III, George

Harvey Sr., Christopher Johnson, Clayton Johnson Jr., Glenn Kenard Jr., Monroe

Gertrude Geddes

Maison, Doris

Lake Lawn Metairie

Cohen, Rubin

Fawer, Michael

Pankey, George

Barriere, Irene

Obituaries

IreneMaysBarriere, July 30, 1955 –March 22, 2026 IreneMaysBarrierewas calledhometoeternal rest onSunday, March22, 2026, ather home in Houston, Texas after alengthy ill‐ness. Shewas surrounded and comfortedbyher daughterQuianaand grandchildren.Irene,affec‐tionately called “Rene” was born on July 30, 1955, inNew Orleans, Louisiana toDorothy andCharles Mays. Thesecondofthree children, Irenewas bap‐tized at an earlyage and throughouther life be‐lievedinour Lord andSav‐ior JesusChrist. Shewas educatedinthe NewOr‐leans Public School System and wasa proudgraduate ofGeorgeWashington CarverSeniorHighSchool Irenemet andmarried Ker‐mit Hayesand remained in New Orleansuntil her dreamstook hertoLos An‐geles,Californiawhere she resided fora while.Follow‐ing herresidence in Los Angeles shemoved to Port Arthur,Texas.Infurther pursuit of school aspira‐tions,she enrolled in the nursing program at Lamar University, in Port Arthur Texas.Thisisalsowhen she mether second hus‐bandtobeand wasjoined inholymatrimony to Clif‐fordBarriere. Shesuccess‐fully completedher stud‐ies,earning aBachelorof Science Degree in Nursing (BSN).After graduating she becamea distinguished memberofthe Nursing Staff at theUniversityof Texas MedicalBranchHos‐pital (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas andremainedthere for most of hernursing ca‐reer.Later shemoved to Houston,Texas where she resided until herdeath She leaves to cherishher memory, herparents Dorothy andCharles Mays Sr.,daughterand son-inlaw Quiana andBrian Spears, twograndchildren, Andrew, andAlaire. Her brothers(andspouses) Charles Mays,II, (Etta)and Keith Mays,Sr. Hernieces and nephews(and spouses)Charles Mays III, Charles Mays IV (Harleigh), Charles Mays V, KaiMays, HarleyMays, Dana Mays Kimble(thelateAaron), Domonique Harris,Deverell Mays, Daicha Kimble,Cas‐sandra, Michael, Malik, Brionne,and Montrell Carr; Shynice Mays,JeremyBut‐ler,Shyla Jones, Layla Smith;Keith Mays Jr (Lakeisha) Stephanie Mays, Kaiden Mays,and ShanteMays, as well as a hostofother familyand friends.Irene is preceded indeath by herpaternal and maternal grandpar‐ents, Henryand Sarah Maysand Joeand Albertha Lewis,former-husband KermitHayes,and nephew BlaineIrvin.The Homego‐ing Celebrationwillbeheld onSaturday, April11, 2026, atPilgrimsRestBaptist Church #2 at 2200 Louisiana Avenue,New Or‐leans,LA, 70115, Pastor Michael C. Barlow Sr.offici‐ating.Visitationwillstart at9:00amfollowedbythe service at 10:00 am.Burial willbeprivate.Profes‐sionalarrangementsen‐trusted to Majestic Mortu‐ary Service, Inc. (504) 5235872.

countofmalfeasance in officeand trespassing against state computers, according to State Police. The fivewerearrested Tuesday by the StatePolice followinga March request by the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Officetoinvestigate allegations of malfeasance in officeofseveral public officials relatedto the access and dissemination of protectedinformation to unauthorized individuals.

Duringthe investigation, detectives said the five accessed state andgovernment computerdatabases and shared sensitive information from the systems with anarrested defendant regarding an ongoing criminalcase The disclosedinformationincludeddetails about victims in active investigations.

Williams,Kendall River Parish

HC Alexander Pfister, LeRoy

PatrickH Sanders

HenrySr.,Kerry West Bank

Robinson FH

Barthelemy,Jean Black,Marion

Burl Sr., Reginald

Grinstead,Elizabeth Lee, Elnora

MasseyJr.,Warren

in deathbyher parents, the late George &Cecile Barthelemy, andher sib‐lings,the late Denise Bor‐den,the late France and VictoriaBarthelemyand her brother-in-law,Benny Borden. Shewas along-life Parishioner of St.Jude Catholic Church.A private memorialservice will be heldonSaturday, April11, 2026. Interment: BarthelemyCemetery, Dia‐mond, LA.Arrangements byRobinsonFamilyFuneral Home, 9611 Highway23, Belle Chasse,LA. The Barthelemyfamilywould liketothank thestaff of Riverbend NursingHome and HeartofHospice for the excellentcareand compassionshown to our aunt andfamily.

Black, Marion Mayfield

Marion MayfieldBlack peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home on Tuesday,March 31, 2026 She born to theunion of Charles MayfieldSr. and Burtina GarrrisonMayfield inOakville, Louisiana. She leavestomourn herchil‐dren, Andrey Pauline JosephBurrle, Arthur Phillip BlackJr.,Haskel Black (Debra), Cathy (Louis) Davidand Pamela Marie Black; grandchil‐dren, MichaelJoseph, Trek‐ina (Angel)Chavez, Court‐ney Greay, Hashana (Dwight)Harris, Tysheena B.Merrick,HaskelJr., Lashanona andEmmitt BurrleIII, andTerez David, 34great grandchildren, 10 great great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Dora AnnWallace and Elaine Mayfield; 1 brother-in-law, Sidney Black;2 sisters-in-law MaryBlack andGloria Mayfield, anda host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher hus‐bandArthurP.Black Sr her parents, Charlesand Burtina Garrison Mayfield, parents-in-lawZachariah and Irma SandersBlack, siblingsLawrence(Anne), Charles,Delton, Glenn, Perry,Ada Belle, Thais, Lydia,Paulette,and Valerie Mayfield, IdaTaplett and Jeanette (Hayward) Williams,grandchildren JeaneeneWilliams, Louis David III, greatgrandchild JazariahHarris, sister-inlaw Rebecca Wilson and brother-in-lawNolan Wil‐son.Relatives andfriends ofthe familyare invitedto attend thefuneral service onSaturday, April11, 2026 atOLPHCatholicChurch, 8968 LA-23, Belle Chasse LA70037. Thevisitationwill begin at 9a.m.followedby an11a.m.massofficiated byFatherKyleDave. En‐tombmentwillfollowin Bayhi Cemetery.Funeral planningentrusted to RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Online condolences atwww.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

Buckley, Alean White

Jean EvaBarthelemy passedway at Riverbend Nursing Home on Saturday, March 7. Shewas 84 years old.She wasborninMag‐nolia,La. andwas alife‐longresidentofDiamond, La. Shewas born on June 8, 1941, to thelateGeorge and Cecile Barthelemy Jeanleavesbehindher beloved daughter Berna‐dine(Ernest); andgrand‐daughterMandy (Oliver) Her devotednieces: Laura (Jimmy),Sheila(late Stan‐ley), &Hollie(Wayne).Her devoted nephewsBenny (Ingrid)& Jamie(Sherry); a hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,and otherdevoted friends. Shewas preceded

Burl Sr., TheRev.Dr. Reginald Howard

ACelebration of Life The Rev. Dr.Reginald HowardBurl, Sr 67, de‐partedthislifeonFriday, March 20, 2026, in River Ridge,Louisiana.BornDe‐cember29, 1958, to thelate HowardBurl, Sr.and MargieMoore,heaccepted Christatanearly ageand was baptized at SaintJohn MissionaryBaptist Church Hegraduated from Leon GodchauxHighSchool and earneda Bachelor of Sci‐enceinElectricalEngineer‐ing from Southern Univer‐sity, where he wasa mem‐ber of KappaAlpha PsiFra‐ternity,Inc.Rev.Burlre‐tired from Schlumberger after 33 yearsofservice Hewas adevoted husband and father, firstmarried to the late Michelle Brue,with whomhesharedthree chil‐dren. He latermarried Wanda Perrilloux in 2025. A faithfulservant,hean‐sweredhis call to ministry in2003 andwas ordained in2008, servingasPastor ofFirst Mt.ZionBaptist Church in Empire Louisiana.Healsoserved invarious teaching and leadershiproles and earnedadvancedtheologi‐cal degrees,including a DoctorofTheology. He was precededindeath by his father, firstwife, daughter KrischelBurl, andother loved ones.Heleavesto cherish hismemoryhis wife, WandaBurl; children, ReginaldH.Burl, Jr.(Time‐dra)and ChelseyM.Burl; granddaughter,Khloe K. Burl; hismother, siblings, and ahostofrelatives friends,and church family. His legacy of faith,love, and servicewillforever be remembered. Relativesand friends of thefamily, also officers andmembers of First Mount Zion Baptist Church,LittleZionB.C.of Gonzales, LA,Mt. Zion B.C. ofJefferson,LA, NewZion B.C of Marrero, Christian Ministers MissionaryBap‐tistAssociation, Corner‐stone Missionary Baptist Association andall other neighboring churches and associations areinvited to attend theCelebration of Lifeservice which will be heldonSaturday, April11, 2026, at Fellowship Mis‐sionary BaptistChurch,lo‐cated at 2805 GeneralTay‐lor St., NewOrleans,LA 70115. Visitation will begin at9 a.m.,and theservice willbegin at 11 a.m. Pastor Moses S. Gordon III offici‐ating andentombmentwill followatLakelawnCeme‐teryinMetaire,LA. Pastor Burlwilllie in stateonFri‐day,April 10, 2026, at First Mount Zion BaptistChurch, 32471 LA-23, Empire,LA 70050, from 3p.m.until 8 p.m.Funeralplanningen‐trusted to Robinson Family FuneralHome, 9611 LA-23, Belle Chasse,LA70037 (504) 208-2119. Foronline condolences,pleasevisit www.robinsonfamilyfuner alhome.com

AleanWhiteBuckley, age 75, anative of Kenner enteredintoeternal rest on Sunday, March29, 2026. Shewas thedaughterof thelateCalvin Whiteand Pauphine W. Nelson

Sheleaves to cherish hermemories four children:James A. Robinson, Jr., Yvonne Robinson Atkins, Yvette Robinson Tyler, and Annetria Buckley Cook, alongwith a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren,other relatives, and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare invited to attend thefuneral service at Richardson Funeral Home 11112 JeffersonHwy., River Ridge,Louisiana, on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will be held from 8:00 a.m. untilthe hour of service.Interment will followatProvidence Memorial ParkCemetery in Metairie, Louisiana. Arrangements are en-

Chantz,GloriaKennedy

Gloria Kennedy Chantz departedthislifeSaturday, March 28, 2026 at theage of83. Wife of Sylvester Chantz. Daughter of the lateAmbrose andDoretha PackJohnson.Beloved motherofKathy (Dennis) Henry,SharonKennedy Sheila(Jeffery) Nedand StaceyKennedy.Grand‐motherofeight andgreat grandmother of thirteen Employees of Hotel Dieu/UMC areinvited to at‐tendthe funeral. Ahome‐going celebrationhonoring the life andlegacyofthe lateGloriaKennedy Chantz willbeheldatMt. Ararat MissionaryBaptist Church, 2525 FirstStreet,New Or‐leans, LA on Saturday,April

Aiges

Barriere, IreneMays

Majestic Mortuary Barthelemy,JeanEva

4B ✦ Thursday,April 9, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune 11, 2026at10am, Pastor Jerry Darby, Sr., Officiating. IntermentProvidence MemorialPark. Visitation 9 aminthe church.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581-4411

Cohen, Rubin

Rubin Cohen passed away on April 8, 2026 at 92 years of age. He was born on July 3, 1933 in New Orleans, LA. He graduated from Fortier High School and then served in the United States Army. He was the owner of Cohen's Formal Wear, founded in 1928, in the Tremé area. His passion was horse racing and always looked forward to the weeklyraces. Another passion of his was sports, particularly the New Orleans Saints. He was the husband of 59 years to the late Janet Gensburger Cohen, son of the late Simon and Bertha Cohen, father of Stephen Cohen and Brian Cohen (Simone), and grandfather of Olivia Lane Cohen and Blake Jacob Cohen. The familywould like to give special thanks to Audubon Care Home and Interim Hospice.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service for Rubin on Friday, April 10, 2026at 10:00 a.m. at Hebrew Rest #3, 2101PelopidasSt, New Orleans, LA 70122. The service will be officiated by Rabbi David Gerber. In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation to Alzheimer's Association

It is with deep sadness thatweannouncethe passing of ourbeloved GeorgeLeonDeGrange, III, age 77, born on June 14, 1948, andentered eternal restonFriday, February 13, 2026. George wasa gradu‐ate of Xavier Preparatory HighSchool in NewOr‐leans,class of 1966, Xavier UniversityofLouisiana (Bachelor of Fine Arts) class of 1972 andthe Uni‐versity of NotreDame (Master of Fine Arts)in 1974. George wasone of the earliest students to study under acclaimed sculptor/painter, John T. Scott, at Xavier University where he begandevelop‐ing hisartisticpalette and style.George’sstrengthin the medium lead himto focus hisartisticendeav‐ors on oilpaintings.His early work employed bold colorsand geometricand organic shapes to depict subjectssuchasanimals, portraits,and group-por‐traits. An exampleofhis early work wasrecentlyon display at theOgden Mu‐seumofSouthernArt as a tribute to theXavierUni‐versity artmovement. MoreofGeorge’searly workcan be foundgracing the halls andspacesof Xavier. Over theyears his color palettewould evolve intoearthytones featuring greys,blues,and browns while hissubjectscould be consideredpost-apocalyp‐tic featuringthe stylized human form juxtaposed against geometrical shapes. In hiswords,it was hisattempt “tobring bothbirth anddeath to‐getheratthe same time.” Tohis many siblings, Georgewas what abig brother oughttobe. Some‐times aprotector,due to his 6-foot 5frame and strongphysicalpresence, and oftena mentor,teach‐ing chess, art, history, and literature, allofwhich he had deep knowledge. When notworking on his art,Georgeworkedasa painter of home interiors and exteriorsand enjoyed serving as theartistinres‐idenceatMcMainHigh School. He wasa skilled andself-taught athlete

who couldthrow afootball likeanNFL quarterback and delivera 100 mph serve like atennispro.He frequentedthe tennis courtsatCityParkand took on allcomersbut sel‐dom lost.Georgewas an avidSaints andNotre Damefootballfan.Hewas alsoknownasa fine cook ofCreoleCuisine as he took up preserving andre‐fining familyrecipes of our mom who wasalsoknown asquite thecook in her day.Georgewas the beloved sonofthe late GeorgeLeonDeGrangeJr., and thelateMathildaDel‐lande DeGrange.Heissur‐vived by his11siblings (spouses) – KarenDe‐GrangeWatkins,Drake De‐Grange, MD (Lucinda), Jane DeGrangeGreen,Floyd De‐Grange, NinaDeGrange Robertson,DiannaDe‐GrangeLeBan (Levon), Marianne DeGrange, Suzette DeGrange,Wayne DeGrange(Aletra), Wendell DeGrange (Erique) and ChristieDeGrangeDetiege, MD(Jacques),and brotherin-lawofKathleenKeyes DeGrange, who will forever treasurethe memories.He issurvivedbya host of niecesand nephews, rela‐tives,and otherclose friends.Georgewas pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐entsGeorge Jr and Mathilda, hisbrothersKurt Patrick DeGrange,Gary Michael DeGrange, brother-in-law Julius Green,his grandparents Al‐bertand Arthemese Deruise Dellande and GeorgeSr. andNorma War‐nickDeGrange. Detailsfor a celebrationoflifeservice tobeheldfor George on April 9willbeprovidedto family, relatives, and friends in aseparatean‐nouncement. George will bedearlymissed, buthis legacywilllive on through the many liveshe’s touched.May he rest in peace.Pleasesignonline guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504) 581-4411

Mike Fawer,a legendary New Orleanscriminal defenseattorneydied April 8, 2026,atthe ageof90. He is survived by his four beloved children, Jonathan (Leslie), Melanie (Christian), Alexandra (Thomas), and Jessica (Justin), 7grandchildren, Seth, Tanner, Gabriel, Natalie, Harper,Vivienne, and Marshall, hislove and companion of over 16 years, Merry McSwain, and his fox redlab andsleep mate, Breeze.Mikeviewed himself as truly fortunate to have allhis childrenand grandchildrenliving within ashort distance of his home in West Lakeview, New Orleans Mike grew upinthe Bronx and graduated from Cornell University and Columbia Law School. Upongraduationfromlaw school,hemoved to WashingtonD.C.where he workedasa trial attorney in the Department of Justice's OrganizedCrime and Racketeering Section. In 1963 he became an Assistant United States Attorney under Bob Morgenthau in the Southern DistrictofNew Yorkwhereheserved as Chief of Special Prosecutions from19651968.After spending two yearsinprivate practice Mike moved to New Orleansin1971, where he joinedthe firm of Kullman, Lang, Inman and Bee. In 1974 he opened his own office specializing in criminal defense.Ina careerspanningalmost 60 yearsMike triedover 125 casesinfederal and state courts in New York,Louisiana, Mississippi,Texas, Alabamaand Nevada,and argued numerous appeals including one beforethe U.S. Supreme Court. During his career Mike served as trialcounsel in a number of highly publicizedcases, including the trialsofGovernor Edwin W. Edwards, Charles Roemer, AaronMintz, Mose Jeffersonand Rene Gil Pratt in Louisiana,Charles Evers and Federal Judge Walter Nixon in Mississippi,and Danny Faulkner in Texas. After the UnitedStatesSupreme Courtreversedthe capital conviction in Kylesv Whitely,heretried the case.Afterthree successive hung juries, the State dismissed the charges

against Curtis Kyles.For his workinthe Kyles case Mike was awarded the SamDaltonCapital Advocacy Award by the LouisianaAssociationof Criminal Defense Lawyers. Mike's greatest courtroom skillwas as across examiner. In thewords of onejournalist, JamesGill, "watching Mike Fawerin courtwas ajournalist's dream. Brilliant,brash and witty, he thrilledtohis task, maneuvering like a fencerwith afoil."Asanother putitmorepungently "had Portia been bred with apit bull,Mike Fawer couldhavebeentheir whelp." Despite openly clashingwitha number of judges in the courtroom, he was admired by any number of superb judges before whomheappeared.

On theverge of retirement in 2018 Mike wrote abouthis career inside and outsidethe courtroom. He had aloveoftennis, duck hunting, horseracing, poker, philatelyand thetheater. Fora five-year period, he promotedBroadway musical theater in New Orleans. While living in Covington, Louisiana he became convinced that St. Tammany Parish needed a bagel shop. The Bagel Place openedinearly1996 and closedwithin 18 months. Mike insisted that his crazy Irish bakermade thebestbagelssouth of NewYork City.

Mike wasfiercely Jewish; he was afounding member of the onlysynagogue in St. Tammany,the Northshore Jewish Congregation,was one of itsearlypresidents as well as alongtime member of itsBoardofTrustees.

Upon semi-retiringin 2019 Mike began taking a varietyofcoursesat Loyolaand Tulane. This was in addition to learning Yiddishonline.InMike's view learning and reading are apretty greatway to spend your days whileyou are stillbreathing Afuneral service willbe held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie FuneralHome, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd NewOrleans, LA withhis dear friend Rabbi Mendel Ceitlin. Visitation willbe held from 10:30 AM -12PM with aservicetobeginat 12 PM.A private burial alongside his parents, Abe and Sophie,willfollowat Ahavas Sholom Cemetery. Kindly omitflowers, memorialsmay be madeto theNorthshore Jewish Congregation.

MichelleGibson-Brown, 61, passed away on March 27, 2026. She leavesto cherish her memory her husband, Calvin Brown; eight children, Latoshia Lockett, Lichelle Ruffin, Johnell Gibson, Jonquil Gibson, EmeldaMatthews, CalvinBrown, Jr., Durell Green, Sr., and KishaBell, devoted mother, Mercedes Gibson and aunt,Mable Williams. She is also lovingly remembered by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who willcontinue to honor herlife andlegacy.She was preceded in death by her father, JamesBellard, Sr.; son, Lee Gibson, Sr.; siblings; and otheradored family members. A CelebrationofLife willbe held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Special Providence Baptist Church in Baldwin, Louisiana. Visitation will beginat9:00 a.m.,followed by thefuneralserviceat 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Special Providence Baptist Church Cemetery.

Bernard (Bernie)L Gould, Jr., age75, entered intoeternal rest on Thursday,March 26, 2026. Bernieissurvived by his wife of 43 years, CarolynK

Gould. Bernie was preceded in death by his son Bernard (Bennie) B. Gould. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Bernard L. Gould, Sr.and Juanita Demont Gould. He is survivedbyhis motherin-law Rosemary Kassing, brother-in-law Ed Kassing, sister-in-lawCheryl Kassing and nephew Eddie Kassing Bernie wasbornon August 13, 1950 in the neighborhood of Algiers in NewOrleans, Louisiana, where he grew up.Heattended Martin Behrman High School. Bernie enlisted in theUnitedStates Marine Corpsin1967 at the ageof17, and served 4 years honorably.Bernie then began asuccessful30 year careerinthe oiland gas industry. During that time he worked for CameronIronWorks, E.R.C., LouisianaValve, LouisianaSafetySystems and Stone Energy. At one point, he actually owneda bar, The Fat Cat Club. Bernie was involvedin many civic organizations, includingSts.John Lodge #153 in Gretna, LA,where he was aPastMaster. He was aShriner with the Jerusalem Shrine. Bernie was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Most of all, he was adevotedhusband and father. AMemorial Mass willbe held on Friday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m.,atInfant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church, 700 Maple Street,Harvey, LA 70058. Aprivate interment will follow. In lieu of flowers,pleasesend donations to Infant Jesus of Prague CatholicChurch in Harvey, LA or A.R.N.OAnimalRescue of New Orleans.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth(Ann) Young Grinstead,86, of West‐wego, passedawaypeace‐fully on Tuesday, March31, 2026. Shewas born Decem‐ber 13, 1939 to Harry Golitha andVeola Young of Sun, Louisiana. Shewas a beloved mother,grand‐mother, greatgrand‐mother, familymember and friend.She retiredasa nurse,withoverthirty years of servicehaving workedatOchsner,West Jefferson,and TouroHospi‐tals. Annissurvivedbyher children, Anthony(Tony) Young (Lavinda), Phyllis O’Neal(Dwaine), Carl Rick‐son (deceased),Paula Rodgers (Mike),Dwayne Rickson andPamela George, eleven grandchil‐dren, twenty-one great grandchildren,seven great, great grandchildren, six siblingsaswellasa host of familymembers and friends.Serviceswillbe heldatBelievers Life Fam‐ily Church,501 Lapalco Blvd.,Gretna, LA.from9:30 A.M -11:30 A.M. on Thurs‐day,April 9, 2026. Inter‐mentwillfollowinWood‐lawnParkCemeteryin Westwego. Funeralplan‐ningentrusted to Robinson FamilyFuneralHome. For onlinecondolences please visit www.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com

70116 on Friday,April 10, 2026 at 10 am.Interment Private.Visitation9 am in the chapel.Pleasesignthe onlineguestbook at www charbonnetfuneralhome. com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581-4411

Kerry HenrySr.,age 78, ofAlgiers,Louisiana passedawaypeacefully on March 30, 2026. Kerrywas a devoted husband,loving father, proudgrandfather and greatgrandfather,and cherished familymember whose life wasmarkedby love, strength,and dedica‐tiontohis family. Hispres‐encebrought comfort, and his memory will remain in the hearts of allwho knew and lovedhim.Heissur‐vived by hisbeloved wife, Earline Cooper Henry; his lovingchildren, Doris (Spencer) Dawson,Kerry (Mieka) HenryJr.,Torento Henry,Kevin (Lencquince) Henry,and Sharell(Gre‐gory) Boyd;his cherished grandchildren,Kerrion, Khaliq,Spennita, Coleah, Spenquan, Sy’Rae,Kaci, Shakira,Khalia,McKenzie, and Kace;his beloved great grandchildren, Shamarand Jrue;his sis‐ter,JeanneHenry;his brother,Gilbert (Marlene) Henry;his sistersinlaw, MargaretWright, Beatrice (Wilbert) Wiggins,and TamikoCooper; also sur‐vived by ahostofnieces, nephews,cousins,other relatives andfriends.Kerry was preceded in deathby his parents, Odile Pierre Henry andVictorHenry Sr.; his parentsinlaw,Pearl Jackson Cooper and Torento Cooper; hissisters Verlin(Lloyd) Ancar, Alice (Alvin) Porter,Iona(Albert) Brown, andEssie(Dave) Charles;his brothers,War‐ren Henry, Victor (Sarah) Henry Jr., Theodore Henry, and CharlesHenry;his sis‐ter in law, Eloise (Roscoe) Holmes; andthe sonhe raised, Bobby(Patrice) Jef‐ferson. Relativesand friends of thefamilyalso Pastors,Officers andMem‐bersofSt. StephenMis‐sionary BaptistChurch, ProvidenceMissionary Baptist Church andall neighboring churches,Em‐ployeeofOchsner Medical Center, OchsnerTransplant Institute, PassageHospice, InspirationHouse,Faculty and Staff of Edna Karr High School,FormerFaculty and Staff of L. B. Landry High School,and O. Perry WalkerHighSchoolsare in‐vited to attend ACelebra‐tionofLifeat10:00am on SaturdayApril 11, 2026, at St. StephenMissionary Baptist Church,1738 L.B. LandryAvenue,Algiers,LA. Rev.Dr. Lawrence St.Cyre, Sr.,officiating. Visitation willbegin at 8:00am until the time of service. Inter‐mentinMcDonoghville Cemetery, Gretna,LA. Final Arrangementsentrusted to Patrick H. SandersFuneral Home& FuneralDirectors LLC.605 Main Street, Laplace,LA70068. 985-3591919.

AaronJohnson passed awayonMarch 31, 2026

Aaron is survived by his wifeDebra Johnson, his childrenRyanPowell, ShryanRobey (Larry), and Kamau Johnson. Hisgrand‐childrenRyanJr.,Darnell, Jared,Destini,Saisha, and Samajh; hisnephewTiv Johnson (Denise), first cousinDelores (Larry)Con‐rad.Alsosurvivedbya hostofother familyand friends.Hewas preceded indeath by hisparents Lil‐lianand HenryJohnson Sr., brothersHenry Jr George and Emmitt Johnson. Fam‐ily andfriends areinvited toattendthe Celebration ofLifeService on Saturday April 11, 2026, at Gaza Mis‐sionary BaptistChurch, 7258 Ransom St NewOr‐leans,LA70126. Viewing from9:00a.m.until 9:30 a.m.Service will beginat 9:30a.m.PastorAlfredJor‐dan Sr., officiating. Inter‐mentwillfollowatLake LawnCemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd New Orleans,LA70124. Guest‐book Online:www.anewtra ditionbegins.com(504)2820600. Linear Brooks Boyd and DonavinD.BoydOwn‐ers/Funeral Directors.

“Welldonethougood and faithfulservant!Enter thouintothe joyofthy lord."OnSaturday, March 28, 2026, Pastor ClaytonG Johnson transitioned from thisearthly domain to God’s prepared place. He servedoverthirty-sixyears atPentecost Baptist Church,teachingSunday School,serving as adea‐con,mission team,li‐censedand ordained min‐ister andpastor. Survivors include hiswife, Sheryl GrayJohnson;children, Brandon,Jamal andBrandi Davis;sisters,EllaHolland Deborah Davenport, Alice Bourgeois andCharlene Jackson;grandchildren, grandchildand ahost other relative andfriends PastorJohnson is pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, Charlesand Marion C.Johnson;son,Clayton and siblings,William and LoftonJohnson,Sr. and FerralWalker. TheJohnson and PentecostBaptist Church familywillcele‐brate andhonor thelife and legacy of thelatePas‐tor ClaytonG.Johnson at Pentecost BaptistChurch 1510 Harrison Ave.,New Orleans,LA70122 on Satur‐day,April 11, 2026 at 10 am IntermentRestlawnPark Cemeteryand Mausoleum, Avondale, LA.Visitation 8:30aminthe church Pleasesignonlineguest‐book at www.charbonnetf uneralhome.com. Charbon‐net LabatGlapion,Direc‐tors(504) 581-4411

ChristopherD.Harvey, Sr.,age 66, passed away on Sunday, March29, 2026 at Irving Nursingand Rehabil‐itation in Irving,TX. He was bornonJanuary 14, 1960 to the late Hugh andCharlene McGownHarvey. Husband ofthe late Deldra Lewis Harvey. Father of Ashelie, Kiriand thelateChristo‐pherD.Harvey, Jr.Grandfa‐therofAutumnand Christopher Harvey,Juan Armstead, Jr.Brother of Marlonand Hugh (Kendrick)Harvey, Angela Holiday andthe late Brenetta (Brenda) Harvey A Celebrationservice hon‐oring thelifeand legacy of the late ChristopherD.Har‐vey,Sr.,willbeheldinthe ChapelofCharbonnet Labat GlapionFuneral Home, 1615 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA Woodlawn Park Memorial Cemetery andMausoleum (504)362-3091

HenrySr.,Kerry

Grinstead,

AnnYoung

Johnson,PastorClayton G.

Fawer, Michael Seth

DeGrange III,GeorgeLeon

Gibson-Brown,Michelle

Harvey Sr., ChristopherD

Jr., Glenn Michael

GlennMichael Johnson, Jr.,a native NewOrleanian, was born on March8,1979 toGlenn MichaelJohnson, Sr. andJoann Juluke.He departedthislifeon Wednesday,March 25 2026, in Dallas,TX. In addi‐tiontohis belovedparents Glenn also leaves to cher‐ish precious memories,his stepmother, Dawn Bentley Johnson;devoted sister, JacquekeiaM.J.McGee (David);children, Glenn, Tye andLasandMansion; cherished grandchildren, Tylan andSanai Mansion; lovingnieces, Jaylah Page, Darianna andDaniaya Mansion.Preceding him in death arehis grandpar‐ents, Stella andWarrenJu‐luke, Sr., Evaand Fred Johnson,Sr.;aunts, Gwen‐dolyn Johnson, Cleo McKin‐ney andThelmaHeberd. A Celebration servicehonor‐ing thelifeand legacy of the late GlennM.Johnson, Jr.,willbeheldatRockof AgesBaptist Church,2515 FranklinAve., NewOrleans, LA70117onSaturday, April 11, 2026 at 10 am.Inter‐mentPrivate.Visitation9 aminthe church.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581-4411

Kenard Jr., Monroe

Monroe “Bubby/Money KenardJr.,entered eternal restonThursday, March 26, 2026, at theage of 78. A nativeand lifelong resident ofNew Orleans, LA.Hewas a devotedhusband,father, mastercarpenter by trade, and aman whosehands built,shaped, and strengthenedthe lives around him. Monroe is sur‐vived by hislovingwife, Willie AnnKenard; hischil‐dren, AdrieneKenardof New Orleans, LA,Monroe (Melissa)Kenard, III of El‐lenwood,GA, Courtney Ke‐nardofAtlanta,GA, Dr.Pa‐tricia(Rick)CruzofChar‐lotte,NC, andKathryn Ke‐nardofColumbia, SC;six grandchildren;seven great-grandchildren;two great-great-grandchildren; anda host of relativesand lifelongfriends.Monroe was preceded in deathby his brothers,Elliott and MelvinKenard; sisters, Geraldine Kenard andHat‐tie MaeStrawderJones; and grandson,Christopher RossKenard. Family and friends areinvited to gatherinremembrance celebration,and gratitude for alifewelllived at St JosephCatholicChurch, 1802 Tulane Ave, NewOr‐leans,LA70112, on Satur‐day,April 11,2026 at 10:00 a.m.Visitationat9:00a.m IntermentatProvidence MemorialCemetery, 8200 Airline Dr., Metairie,LA. Pleasesignthe online guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet-Labat-Glapion Directors(504) 581-4411.

Carolyn Anne Kieffer passedawaypeacefullyat

5,

ing family, includingher siblings:LouisD.Kieffer (Jody), Patricia Nicholson, andMaryBrown (David). She was aproud andcherished aunt to Julia Nicholson, Christopher Kieffer (Deanna), Patrick Kieffer (Sarah), Rebecca Kieffer, RachelBrown Bartlett(Jack), Matthew Brown, and Michael Brown. And agreat-auntto: Daniel,Joseph, Stephen, Micah, Eli, Rowan, and Lainey Kieffer. Carolyn was also an honoraryaunt to many others,a roleshe embraced with joyand affection.

Carolyn dedicated many yearsofservice asthe Director of the New Orleans PassportCenter, retiring the very moment she becameeligible at the age of 55—a decisionthat perfectly reflectedher spirited embrace of life Shebelieved in living fully, and she did so with enthusiasm, humor, and unmistakableNew Orleans flair. Apassionate sports fan, Carolynproudlycheered on the Saints, Pelicans, and LSU. Yet, hergreatest lovewas Mardi Gras.She was deeply involvedinthe traditions and celebrations she held dear, having previously beena member of the Krewe of Mardi Gras and Krewe of Aquila.Inrecent years,she joyfully rode in the Krewe of Okeanosand the St. Patrick'sMetairie Road Parade,whereher vibrant spirit could alwaysbe found among the festivities. Carolyn found happiness in simplepleasures as well—spending time fishing,enjoyinga roundof golf, and connecting with those around her.She was abeloved friend,neighbor and communitypresence, affectionately knownas the "Mayor of Metairie Court,"a testament to her warmth, generosity,and ever-present smile.

Carolynwillbedeeply missedand forever rememberedfor herjoyful spirit, herlove of family and tradition,and the countless livesshe touched.

AFuneral Servicewillbe held at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 10th at St. Angela MericiCatholic Church, 901 Beverly Garden Drive, Metairie, LA 70002. Visitation willbefrom 11:30 am until funeraltime. Interment willfollow at St. Roch Cemetery#1. In lieu of flowers make a donationtoyour favorite charity or St. Michael SpecialSchool, 1522 Chippewa Street, New Orleans,LA70130.

CamilleTastetLaderer entered into eternalrest withher Lord andSavior onMonday, April6,2026 at the ageof94. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher lov‐ing anddevoted husband of64years,William E. Laderer,Jr.;her parents, Minel Tastet,Sr. andInez GrafTastet; hersister, Judy Stiebing(Donald); andher grandson, WilliamE Laderer,IV. Sheissurvived byher children:William E. Laderer,III (Rhonda) Melissa LadererO’Malley (John),and Janelle Laderer;her grandchildren: Noelle Laderer, Jolie Laderer Foucheaux, Sarah O’Malley, Matthew O’Mal‐ley,Quinton O’Malley,Jor‐dan Wursteisen, and ParkerWursteisen; hersib‐lings,Minel Tastet,Jr. (Cindy) andJeanne Mosely (Kenny);aswellas7 greatgrandchildren who brought her greatjoy.A longtime residentofHarahan Louisiana,Camillewas a faithfulparishioner of St Ritaand livedher life grounded in deep faithand service to others.She earnedher Bachelor of Sci‐enceinNursing from the Charity School of Nursing and devotedher career to caringfor others as Super‐visor of Employee Health atEastJefferson General Hospital. She retiredatthe age of 70 after many years ofdedicated service. In recognition of hercompas‐sionand commitmentto nursing,she washonored asa Great100 Nurse. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend theFuneral ServicesatSt. Rita Catholic Church,7100 Jefferson Hwy Harahan, LA 70123 on Thursday,April 9, 2026. Vis‐itation will beginat9:30 am with aMassstartingat

11:00 am.Interment will followatGardenofMemo‐riesCemetery, 4900 Airline Dr.,Metairie, LA 70001. On‐linecondolences maybe offeredatwww.gardeno fmemoriesmetairie.com

Elnora “Nora”RossLee bornonFebruary28, 1947, inNew Orleans, Louisiana, entered into eternalrest onFriday, March27, 2026, inSchertz,Texas.She was a faithfulmemberofSec‐ond BaptistChurch of New Orleans,Louisiana,where she worshipeddevotedly until herhealthdeclined She wasthe belovedwife ofthe late AltusLee Jr.and the cherishedmotherof her devoteddaughters: GiseleM.(David) Lawrence, MicheleS.(Ger‐ald)Roberson, and Trichelle M. Lee. Shetook immense prideinher role asgrandmother to An‐thony J. andGilisaM Lawrence. Elnora is sur‐vived by herlovingsisters: Shirley Johnson, Elvina “Jenny” Johnson, and Elaine(Darryl)Thomas; and by hersister-in-law, MarcellaA.Ross. Shealso leavestocherish hermem‐ory ahostofnieces, nephews,cousins,ex‐tendedrelatives,and dear friends.She wasa trea‐sured mother,grand‐mother, sister,aunt,cousin and friend whose gentle spiritand unwavering love touched allwho knew her. She wasprecededindeath byher parents, Gladys Johnson andElieRoss, and byher brothers Preston Johnson Sr., Ronald John‐son,and Cleophus Martin Jr. Elnora will be remem‐bered forher kind heart, her steadfastdevotionto her family, andthe warmth and compassion she sharedsofreely. Her legacyoflovewillcontinue toliveoninthe hearts of all who were blessedto knowher.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend thefuneral service at Second Baptist Church,2836 SullenPlace, New Orleans, LA 70131, on Saturday, April11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.,withMinister David RichardSr. officiat‐ing.Visitationwillbeheld from8:00a.m.to9:50a.m Intermentwillfollowat WestlawnCemetery, 1225 WhitneyAvenue,Terry‐town, LA 70056. Funeral planningentrusted to RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Foronlinecondo‐lences, please visitwww robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

DorisAnn Maison, age 85 was born on September 3, 1940 and departed this life on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Dorisaccepted Christ at an earlyage and was baptized. and was educated in theNew Orleans Public School System. Dedicating years of service working at Holy Name of Jesus, laterretiring from LoyolaUniversity after years of faithful employment. Affectionately known as "Grammy," Doris was theheart of herfamily

-known as the"Crochet Queen,"creating beautiful handmade pieces that will be cherished by generations to come. Doris was a caring and proud grandmother to Troyneisha Maison Lewis(Kristopher), Trameika Maison, and ZakiaHankton, passionate aunt to Chandra and Javetta (Leroy), and the loving great-grandmother to Joh'nae,Ja'niya, La'Maj, Keilan,and Rylo.Doris was preceded in death by her parents LouisMaisonand Beatrice Maison Jarrow; her devoted daughter PatriciaAnn Maison Hankton (Frank); her beloved sisterAnita Maison Hillard;her niece Teresita; and her greatgrandchild Khi'jah. Relatives and friendsof thefamily are invited to attend theCelebrationofLife Service on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home,2120 Jackson Avenue,New Orleans, LA 70113 at 10:00 a.m. Visitation from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Interment Providence Memorial Park & Mausoleum, 8200 Airline Drive, Metairie,Louisiana 70003. Youmat sign the guest book on www.gertru degeddeswillis.com. Gertrude GeddesWillis Funeral Home,Inc., in charge(504) 522-2525.

Warren MasseyJr.,de‐partedthislifeonSunday, March 15, 2026 in Madison Florida,hewas 66 years old anda native of NewOr‐leans LA.Beloved sonof the late Warren MasseySr. and thelateAudreyJohn‐son.FatherofSecora MasseyofJacksonville Florida.Brother of Dionne and DashawnBrown, Yolanda Adamsand the lateRommelTonyMassey. Warrenisalsosurvivedby his devotedcousins Richard "Ricky" Farlow and SheliaStevenson,his aunt Matilda,and several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relativesand friends. Relatives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the funeralservice on Sat‐urday,April 11, 2026 at Zion Travelers 2ndMissionary Baptist Church locatedat 3719 Laurel St., NewOr‐leans LA.70115. Thevisita‐tionwillbegin at 9AMfol‐lowed by a10AMservice Rev.RaineyDaniels will of‐ficiateand intermentwill followinProvidence MemorialPark. Funeral planningentrusted to RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Foronlinecondo‐lencespleasevisit www robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Barbara Smith Ourso, a cherished matriarch and devoted family pillar, passed away peacefully on April4th,2026, at theage of 95. Born in Donaldsonville,LAtoLeonaBlakeman Smith and Harry SamuelSmith,Barbara liveda life defined by grace, resilience,and unwavering dedication to her family and her community. Barbara graduated from DonaldsonvilleHighSchool in 1947 and beganworking for Shell OilCompany. She

marriedFalcon Patrick Oursoin1954 and together they raisedthree children whilehelping to continue thefamilyfuneral home and startingbusinesses in theinsuranceand nursing home industries.Together she and Falcon builtD'ville HouseNursing Home,currently known as Château D'ville.After Falcon's untimely passing,Barbara, widowedatthe age of 46, wasleft to continuethe businessendeavorswhile raising herchildren. She wasanactivemember of First United Methodist ChurchofDonaldsonville andrecentlyhonored by herfaithcommunityasthe matriarch of theirchurch. Barbara's lifelongcommitmenttocommunity service and improvement of Donaldsonville wasevident in hermany committees andleadership roles. Sheservedasa Board of Director of theDonaldsonvilleAreaChamber of Commerce, memberofthe Louisiana NursingHome Association,Ascension Heritage Foundation,Donaldsonville Marketing Team, Seniorsand Lawman Together andmany more. Shewas afounding member of theDonaldsonvilleAARPChapter, Donaldsonville Women's Business Professionals, and Donaldsonville EconomicDevelopment.In 1997 she wasnamedDonaldsonville Citizenofthe Year.Knownfor herlove of cooking, fabulous dinner parties, andentertaining, she created awelcoming home for familyand friends. She wasanavid sportsenthusiast and lovedwatchingbasketball andfootball. Barbara was thedefinition of a"Die Hard" Saintsfan,never missing agame since the inaugural 1967 season. She waspreceded in death by herbeloved husband, FalconPatrick Ourso, whoshe is nowreunited with after 49 years, herparents Harry andLeona Smith, andher siblings andtheir spouses: Harold Smith (Raine "Betty"), GloriaLong, Norma Vice (Ray), and son-n-law, theHonorablePegram J. Mire.Barbara is survived by herthree children : Clifton NoelOurso(Melanie), Smith PaulOurso(Elda), and Karen Ourso Mire(Butch); herloving grandchildren: Dr.Jennifer OursoStraney(Dr. Michael), Clifton NoelOurso Jr.(Christine), Falcon John Mire(Miranda), John Lucien Mire,Samuel Ourso Mire,Jack Henry Ourso, JuliaLeona Ourso, stepgrandson Christopher Charles Becnel and step granddaughter Vanessa Mire;and great-grandchildren:EleanorOurso AmeliaNoel, andJoseph FitzpatrickStraney and Gabriella Rose, Clifton Noel III,PorterVincentand Cecily Claire Ourso, whowere thejoy of herlater years. Herlegacy of love,faith, strength,and community will forever guideher family. Visitation will be held on April 8th at OursoFuneralHome in Donaldsonvillefrom5-9pm and April 9th from 9-11am at First United Methodist Church(400 Railroad Avenue in Donaldsonville) with afuneral service conductedbyDr. John Fletcher.Interment willimmediately follow at Ascension of OurLordCatholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be CliftonOurso,Smith Ourso Clifton Ourso Jr., Falcon Mire,JohnMire,Samuel Mire,Jack Ourso, and ChristopherBecnel. The familywould like to expresssincere gratitude to hermanycaregiversat home andatChateau D'ville.Donationscan be made to First United Methodist Churchlocated at 400 Railroad Ave Donaldsonville,LA70346.

George Atkinson Pankey, MD,affectionately known as "Kin," passed away at St.Anna's at Lambeth House in New Orleans, LA, on Tuesday, March31, 2026, at theage of 92. Alovingand devoted husband, father, grandfather,mentor,and friend, Kinleaves behind aprofoundlegacyofmedical excellence andfamilial devotion.A native of Ruston, LA, anda longtime residentofNew Orleans, he waspreceded in death by hisparents, Annabel AtkinsonPankeyand George Edward Pankey; his first wife, Anne Schillin Pankey; andhis second wife, Patricia Carreras Pankey. He is survivedby hisdaughters, Susan PankeyIves(Charles)of NewOrleans andLaura PankeyNel (Charles) of London,UK; hissons, Stephen Charles Pankeyof Frankfort, KY,and Dr Edward AtkinsonPankey (Aisha) of Massillon,OH; andhis belovedgrandchildren,Conrad SquireNel, Jennifer AnneNel,and Naina Rahman. After graduatingfromRustonHigh School, Kinattended Louisiana TechUniversity before transferringto TulaneUniversity, where he earned aBachelorof Sciencein1954 and his Doctor of Medicine in 1957. He completed hisinternship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in 1960, followed by aMaster of Sciencein Internal Medicine Microbiology, and Immunology in 1961. Kin began hiscareerinNew Orleansin1961 as afulltime instructor in Internal Medicine andInfectious Disease at Tulane University School of Medicine.In1963, he began hiscareeratOchsner Clinicasa consultant in infectiousdisease, wherehe wouldremainfor the duration of hismedical career andlife. Kinwas known as an expertdiagnostician, reveredfor hisrelentless dedication to solving difficult medical dilemmas and treating his patientswith unwaveringcompassion. A true pioneer, he wasone of thefirst physiciansinthe countrytobecome boardcertifiedinInfectious Diseasesin1972. At Ochsner, he founded the SectionofInfectious Diseasesand later established the official departmentand itsFellowship Training Program, serving as Department Chair and ProgramDirector from 1972 to 1994. Kin'scontributionsextended well beyondthe OchsnerClinic andHospital.Hewas cofounder of the New OrleansCitywide Infectious Disease Conference,a well-attended eventwhichservesto foster collaboration and education among theinfectiousdisease departments of hospitalsinthe greater NewOrleans area. Throughouthis career,Kin contributed to various local, national, andinternational committees and boards, actively shaping policy to advancethe development andimplementation of strategiesfor the prevention, diagnosis, and treatmentofinfectious diseases. He wasfrequently invited to serve as a speaker, presenter, exhibitor,and panelist at local, national, andinternational conferences. He was actively involvedinnumerousclinicaltrials that producedmany of thetherapeutic treatments used today. Kinalso maintained an active commitment to benchlaboratory research. He established andselffundedThe Infectious

Pankey, George Atkinson

Lee, Elnora Ross 'Nora'

MasseyJr.,Warren

'Bubby''Money'

Laderer, CamilleTastet

Ourso, Barbara Smith

Maison, DorisAnn

Kieffer, CarolynAnne

See more DEATHS page

OUR VIEWS

Time forLa. voters to picktheir primary

Louisiana will soon debutpartyprimariesfor certain major elections, instead of the familiar openprimaries thatallowany voter to choose any candidate. So for those still figuringout not just which candidates to support butalso how to make sure theycan votefor them, it’scrunch time. Put as simply as possible, registeredRepublicanscan vote in the May 16 Republican primary (with early voting beginning May 2) andthe June 27 primary runoff in the high-stakes U.S. Senate race, U.S.House races and scattered contests for the stateSupreme Court, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education andthe Public Service Commission.Same goesfor registered Democratsinthe Democratic primary and runoff.

Voters registeredas“no party” canpick either of the major party ballots butmuststickwith that party through both the primary and runoff stages of the election cycle. Those registered under athird party —say,Green or Libertarian —cannot take part in either partyprimary, but can vote on constitutional amendments and in elections for other offices that still arechosen by open primary

Bottom line: Now is the time to check your registration to make sure it matchesyour intentions Forthe May 16 electiondate, April15 is the last day to change registration information, including party,atlocal registrar offices.Changes made by mail must be postmarked by that date

Voters who make changes onlineat geauxvote com have alittle more time, until April 25.

Because questions of how to vote are so much in the news these days, we’d like toshareafew additionalreminders about how things workin Louisiana.

State law requires that voters present aphoto ID with asignature but does not designate specifictypes of IDs. Voters canobtainafreeID by presenting their voter registrationcardat Office of MotorVehicle locations. They can also sign an affidavit at their polling placeverifying that they are eligible to vote. Officials then confirmeligibility

Roughly455,000 voters have been placed on the inactive voter list, which meansthatthey have not voted or taken action concerningtheir registration in 10 years or thata canvassing mailingrequiredbylaw was returnedasundeliverable, perhaps because the votermoved That’smore than in the past duetolegislation passedin2024, but the secretary of state’s office says inactive status does notpreventeligible voters from participating. Voters can check their statusatthe secretary of state’swebsite and fix any problems aheadof the April deadlines. Theycan also update their information —anew address, forexample —at their polling place on election day We urge everyone to check,and if necessary update their information now,sothattheydon’t face any unwelcome surprises whentheytry to exercise this most sacred constitutionalright.

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 YOUR VIEWS

West EndLakeShore Park deserves recognition

In December 2025, Brian Blakeof theHistoric District Landmarks Commission toldthe New Orleans City Council that West End LakeShore Parkhas “cultural, architectural, and social significance” warranting listing on the National Register of Historic Places The city council voted to oppose the nomination. This underscores acentral issue: Officials are pursuing commercial development of ahistoric public park and avoiding advising the public that it is a wildlife habitat.

At theFebruary 2025 public meetings, residents overwhelmingly supported preserving thepark. Concerns are both practical and philosophical. Noise from large-scale development —such as amplified sound from buildings up to 65 feet tall —would affect nearby neighborhoods from Bucktown to Lakeshore. Meanwhile, numerous alternative sites exist for commercial projects that do not require sacrificing public parkland. There is asimpler,community-supported pathforward: Reopen the park, clean existing facilities and enhance its natural assets.

Ournonprofit has proposed converting existing pilings into abird island, creating habitat for the pelicans, eagles and more than 100 bird species already using thearea. This approach would preserve over 2acres of oak trees.

Recently,wehave learned that the cost to make that area of the park “siteready” for development is over $20 million, including $5 million for removingthe pilings and $15 million for making thesite strongenough to withstand the weight of the proposed buildings, versus roughly $500,000 to create abird island.

StateRep.Stephanie Hilferty has introduced House Bill 892, which would create an Economic Development District and aspecial tax district within West End LakeShore Park. HB892 does not protect the park it enables its development. The bill would have long-term negative consequences for wildlife, historic preservation, recreation, mental health and overall quality of life.

RONDUPLESSIS,BYRON ALMQUIST AND CHARLES MARSALA directors,WestEnd LakeShore Park Civic Association

Amendmentwould stripindependenceofcivil service

Anovote on Constitutional AmendmentNo. 1onMay 16 is critical to thefuture of our state. If passed, this amendment could totally politicize our public workforce in Louisianaand potentially becomeahuge burden to our state budget by decimating the constitutional protections in our merit system It would allow agubernatorially controlled Legislature to decide by asimple majority which employees would be classified and which would be unclassified, or politically appointed. Currently,the apolitical StateCivil Service Commission makes that decision on positions not listed in the state constitution, if they find it necessary This would then allow any governor,through his politically appointed departmentheads, to hire whoever he pleases without regard to qualifications, with no requirementsonsalary. The uniform pay plan currently in existence would be abolished. This is exactly why our current

Merit Civil Service System was put into theconstitution initially in 1952, after aGov.Earl Long-controlled Legislature abolished it in 1948. It was reestablished in theconstitution at the Constitutional Convention in 1973 with minor changes after ayear-long discussion. Since then, the commission, under itsrule-makingauthority,has mademany improvements to make our current HR system one of the best in the country,ascertified by its peers. Civil Service was, and continues to be, an essential reform that works well for thetaxpayers of our state. It does not protect the incompetent but provides amechanism fortheir removal if they do not perform. It also provides equal pay for equal workfor 38,000 statecivil service classified employees, who could lose their jobs if this amendment passes. We must retain this valuable system and not return it to politics of old.

DANIEL SULLIVAN NewOrleans

Anewspaper’s jobistoexpose readers to newideas

Recent letters makeitclear that manypeople rarely step out of their single-viewpoint media sphere. For example, there’sDuke Truby,who is certain (without evidence) that most readers are conservatives just like him,probably because that’sall he encounters in the rest of his media diet.

Then there are the letter writers whorepeat partisan information, like Michael Gallagher,who wrote to imply that undocumented immigrants can be automatically registered to vote in California when they get adriver’slicense. In under aminute, Ivisited the California Secretary of State website to find that that is untrue. Voter registration information submitted at the DMVissent to the Secretary of State foreligibility to be verified (including U.S. citizenship) before registration is complete; immigrants can get adifferent kind of license, which explicitly does not confer the right to vote.

Checking those facts surely took less timethan writing aletter to this paper,yet that apparently never occurred to Gallagher; he just assumed that what he’sheard in his restricted media space is correct. His is not the only letter to do this, just the most recent.

The primary reason Istill subscribe to this newspaper is precisely because it’sasource that has not been personally curated forme. I wanttoknow about all the newsand opinions, not just what agrees with me. And the moreoutrageous aclaim is, the moremotivated Iamtodouble-check it, because Iknow media intentionally manipulate emotions. I urge everyone to step outside your bubble, check somefacts to assess the reliability of your sources, talk to people whodon’tagree with you and learn that there’salot moreto the world.

ELIZABETH DIETCH NewOrleans

Caoreemerges as educationpolicymaven

With so much else in the news, few people noticed on Jan. 6when former U.S. Rep. Joseph Cao wasappointed temporarily to avacant seat on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Notice should be taken. This new position for Cao, aRepublican from Harvey,isthe latest installment in one of the most fascinating lives in American politics.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

public policy Cao alsoserved on the boards of three public charter schools. He speaks especially passionately about theNew Orleans Military &Maritime Academy in Algiers, an openenrollment high school sitting on land formerly controlled by thefederal government.Itwas Cao who, while in Congress, arranged for the feds to transfer theland to local control specifically to create that school.

Internet responds poorly to AI use

Seventeen years ago, three weeks before Cao won arace for Congress against all odds in aheavily Democratic district, Iadmiringly described him as “a Vietnamese refugee-turned physics major-turned Jesuit-turned philosophy professor,lawyer and dual-hurricane survivor.” By then, he already had run and lost astate legislative race. He lost his congressional reelection bid in 2010. He later withdrew from arace for attorney general and ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate andanappeals court judgeship. He also served on the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Clearly,this man loves theidea of public service in arepresentative democracy As an 8-year-old escapee from communism —“essentially orphaned by the Vietnam War,”hesaid —this makes sense: He understands that rule via the consent of the governed is aprecious commodity Still, why BESE? It was an appointment for which Cao said he never asked. It came via asurprise email from Gov.Jeff Landry,torepresent St Tammany Parish and partsofOrleans, Jefferson and Tangipahoa, after previously elected incumbent Paul Hollis took ajob with the Trump administration. Caoisnow one of three candidates in the May 16 primary to complete Hollis’ term.

The earlier portfolios he served or sought required either apolicy generalist or afocus on law or coastal issues. Why,now,education?

Cao told me this week he actually

Bob Livingston, right, Louisiana’sformer 1st Congressional District representative, talkswithnewly elected 2nd District Rep. Ahn ‘Joseph’ CaoofNew Orleans at Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington in 2008.

considered “several” other races for BESE, but thedistrict would be very expensive torun for and it’svery hard to raise money for aBESE race. Inever participated because of the cost.”

When Landry’semail arrived, Cao said, “I was ecstatic. It was adream come true.”

Andintruth, education even more thanthe law has been his life’swork. When he felt called to the Catholic priesthood in the early 1990s after graduating from Baylor University with adegree in physics, he joined the SocietyofJesus (rather than other Catholic orders) because “Jesuits are famous as educators. That was my main reason for joining theSociety of Jesus: so Iwould have theabilityto educatekids andyoung adults.”

For six years in Jesuit training, that’swhat he did, in schools in the Washington, D.C., area and then for “predominantly poor children” in places “all over Texas and Louisiana,” tutoring in English and math.

Afterleaving theJesuits because he “wanted to haveafamily and participate in politics, andbeing apriest you can’tdothosethings,” he became aphilosophy instructor at Loyola UniversityinNew Orleans while in law school there. He is now at LSU Health Sciences Center as an adjunct professor/guest speaker teaching ethics and

“Education is morethan simply intellectual advancement,” Cao said, in explaining one of the fundamentals of bothNOMMA andofhis overall approach to schooling. “It must encompassamorality factor It teaches them abouthelping others, about giving back to thecommunity.”

Himselfaproduct of public schools, Cao saidheisanavid supporter of the LA GATORschool-choice accounts so that poorer children can find instruction that includes this holisticperspective.

“When Iwas in theSociety of Jesus, Iworked with mostly poor families, people struggling to makeends meet, kids not being educated adequately,” Cao said.

“The bestthing that we can do to serveour kids is to hold ahigh level of accountability in regard to our schools, in regard to teachers, in regardtofamily and parental involvement. The reason why we [in Louisiana] have climbed the national report cards revolves around two very importantissues. Oneisaccountability [andthe second] is in getting parents more and more involved.”

Finally,Cao saidthat for children “from broken homes [where parents won’tget involved], the children may need alot of emotional support. That’s why it’ssoimportant to expand school counseling programs focused on truancy and emotional development.”

Cao sounded like an idealist 17 years ago, and he soundslike an idealisttoday.Inaworld of cut-throat politics, that sound is quiterefreshing.

Email QuinHillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

Yes, we should continue to boldly go

Quin Hillyer Rich Lowry

So much for journalistic objectivity. The BBC science editor coveringthe launch of Artemis II couldn’tcontain herenthusiasm when thefirst plumes of smoke spread out from thelaunch pad. “Oh, my goodness! Oh,mygoodness!” sheexclaimed, clapping like aschoolgirl. As the rocket lifted off, she got visibly emotional: “It’snot just what you see andyou hear as the rocket lifts off. You can feel the force of it through your body.This is the most powerful rocket that NASA haseverbuilt!” Rebecca Morelle can be forgiven for falling in love with the subject of her story

Arocket launch is an awe-inspiring event —acontrolled explosion hurling agigantic projectile into theether There’sthe sheer power,the unavoidable risk, the questing spirit.Arocket feels and looks like the future, and there’ssomething very human about gazing intothe sky in wonder NASA hasn’tbeen glamorousindecades. Once upon atime, kids were putting up glossy photos of Apollo rockets and astronauts on their bedroom walls. But the Apollo program was killed long ago —civil-rights activistswere among those mobilizing against it,oddly enough —and nothing has captured the imagination the same way since. The space shuttle made space flight routine and boring, and there was nothing particularly ambitious aboutthe International Space Station.Rovers and telescopes wereworthyendeavors, but not thrilling. There is no substitute for manned space flight. The Artemis project is not exactly boldly going where noman has gone before,since it returned to the moon after we were there half acentury ago. But sending astronauts250,000 miles from Earth as part of aproject to eventually set up abase on themoon is the most enterprising NASAproject since Apollo. This is all to the good, but Artemis

has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. NASA hasn’tbeen able to replicate the urgent, mission-driven approach that characterized the Apollo program.Ittook eight years to get to themoon thefirst time, while Artemis hasbeen going for nine years and we still aren’tback. NASAprojects tend to get caught in acycle: Onepresident proposes abig newinitiative,onlyfor it to get canceled byhis successor,who proposes hisown initiative that is canceled in turn

The worst-case scenario is that a Democratic president elected in 2028 nixesArtemis because President Donald Trumpfavored it. That said,the space expert Robert Zubrinnotes that space is particularly appealingtoAmericans as apeople defined, in part, by thefrontier.JFK talked of “the New Frontier,” and the famous open of theTVshow “Star Trek”called space “the final frontier.”

Certainly,the American space program is amarked contrast with that of theEuropeans, theEuropean Space Agency.NASA’sbudget is several times larger.We’ve sent men to the moon, whereasthey haven’t. Andwe’ve

sent multiple successful landers and rovers to Mars (thefirst lander in 1976, thefirst rover in 1997), whereas the ESA has only managed two unsuccessful landers. Getting back to themoon is nice, but it is amanned mission to Mars that should be our ultimateobjective. It would truly be another giant leap for mankind, opening up avista of homo sapiens as amulti-planetary species. The technological challenge would be significant,requiring Apollo-like exertions, while there’smuch of scientific importance to be learned on the Red Planet.

Right now,the mostpopular movie in America is “Project Hail Mary,” a sci-fi thriller about adesperate mission intospace. The film plays to our inherent interest in journeys intothe unknown, and toour admiration for those who have thecourage to explore new worlds, from Francis Drake to Neil Armstrong.

Artemis II tapped into the same thing,which is why that BBC reporter —and so manyofthe rest of us —were so moved Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

On Thursday morning, Isat downwith one of my chatbots and asked it to round up the best takes on arecent social media controversy.The results wereunsatisfying —hallucinations, apologies and search results that weren’twhat I’dasked for. After several prompts and corrections, the chatbot seemed to give up. Shortly thereafter,sodid I.

Fortunately,I was intimately familiar with this controversy,since Itouched it off. In social media parlance, Iwas “the maincharacter,” so Ialready had plenty of raw material and could see how badly ChatGPT had failed.

But if you’re hoping foracolumnonwhy artificial intelligence is useless, Iregret to disappoint. Irarely read its summaries and never let it touch my copy directly,but it’sstill enormously helpful as asuper search engine, data downloader and interlocutor to steelman opposing views. It also works as asupplementary fact-checker (before it goes to the human ones) and to suggest clarifications and cuts so Ican hand my editor cleaner copy

Ironically,saying this on Xiswhat caused all the trouble: Many people think that using AI at any stage of the writing process amounts to outsourcing your thinking to amachine, and they reacted badly to ajournalist suggesting someAIuse might be all right.

Obviously,I disagree, but Irecognize those folks are grappling with important questions, such as “What is writing for?” and “Which uses of AI serve those purposes, and which undermine them?”

The people whowant AI to be off-limits are right that technology changes how you think and write. Iamold enough to have done creative writing in longhand and then on a typewriter,before Igot my first computer

Something was lost in each transition, because the slowness and forced rewriting of the old methods improved the text in certain ways. But they also raised the cost (in time and effort) of making changes, and ultimately mostwriters decided the new ways were worth it.

Most writers have already madethat same decision with machine learning.

My line is that Ioutsource tedious tasks such as “searching the web”or“finding data buried in the footnotes” or “clicking through janky websites.”

Relying on AI summaries or using AI copy short-circuits the workessential to real learning. College term papers have so little value that people must be paid to read them,yet we makestudents write them because the merit is in the struggle: developing opinions, trying to lay them out in order,discovering what’s missing or wrong, and tearing down the whole framework and rebuilding it several times.

Used properly,AIcan be away to struggle harder —with better data, morereading, firmer comprehension or sharper criticism. AI meansyou can do moreofthose things in aproject’slimited timeframe. Unfortunately what makes AI an excellent struggle machine also makes it atop-notch struggle avoider.Like mostprofessional writers, I’mappalled that British journalist Alex Preston used AI to pad out aNew York Times Book Review —even though I’dhave been fine if he’d just used it to change “petrol” to “gas.” Using it to provide the actual copy violated the trust of readers who could presumably have queried achatbot if they wanted amachine’sopinion.

No one wants journalism to end up like those “hand-highlighted” Thomas Kinkade paintings, aflat expanse of mass-produced schlock sprinkled with adusting of human glitter in the final touch-up process. That makes ahard no very appealing —ifyou aren’tusing AI at all, you can’tbetempted to use it the wrong way. But I doubt that particular line can hold. Machine learning is simply too useful, and it will tempt even hardcore AI opponents in a thousand ways —searching forhalf-remembered citations, access to untranslated archives in languages you can’tread, downloading of documents scattered across dozens of badly designed webpages. Each of those uses will shape what we know and how we think, just as search and social media algorithms have. Each successful use will invite moreuse.

There will be artisanal holdouts whoreject all those possibilities, but Idoubt they’ll be amajority.Sofor the foreseeable future, the rest of us will be figuring out where to draw the lines, knowing that somelines will be crossed by others, if not erased entirely

The best we can hope foristhat in the struggle to draw and redraw them,we’ll learn where they belong.

MeganMcArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo

Email heratMegan.McArdle@washpost.com.

ega McArdle M n

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NASA

The moon is seen from acamera Mondayoutsidethe Orion Spacecraft after the ArtemisIIastronauts surpassed the farthest distance evertraveled by humans from Earth.

Disease Research Laboratory at Ochsner in 1999tosupport his research, which remains active to this day pursuing the goal of developing and validating an in vitro method for the rapid determination of synergy between two or more antimicrobial agents against multi-drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. This research helps to combat anti-microbial resistance and evaluate rapid diagnosisof infectious disease Throughout his career Kin held appointments at Tulane University School of Medicine and Louisiana State University Schoolof Dentistry. He was Senior Visiting Physicianat Charity Hospital in New Orleans, served as Consultant Physician with the Department of Medicine, Veterans AdministrationMedical Center in Biloxi, MS, and numerous other institutions. The designation of Master of the American College of Physicians in 2002, Ochsner's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award19781981, the Clinician Award from the Infectious Disease Society of America 1996, Tulane Medical AlumniAssociation's Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2015 are some of the most prestigious accolades he received. Kin was aproud member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Empire Club, The Huguenot Society, Sons of the AmericanRevolution and a32nd degree Master Mason in Louisiana Lodge #102, Free and Accepted Masons.Attending almost every home game, Kin was adedicated Saints fan and held season tickets from the franchise's very beginning. He loved agood book, aglass of wine, and alively game of bridge. His home was always filled with music, from 50s and 60s classics to the tropical soundsofJimmy Buffett. Most of all,heloved being with his family, especially when traveling. He andhis beloved wife, Pat, shared the adventures of their lifetimes together on two world cruises. We who mourn the passing of Kin are forever grateful forhis friendship, compassion, love, and support. Our familywould like to thank the Passionate Care team and

DEATHS continued from SaintAnna's staff forthe remarkablecaregivento Kin. Their compassion and dedicationmade adifference we willnever forget Visitationwillbeheldat Lake LawnMetairie Funeral Home at 5100 PontchartrainBlvd.on Friday, April 10th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral servicesand interment will be private.Inlieuofflowers, donations can be made to the PankeyFamily Caregiver Support Fund at Ochsner by visitinghttps:/ /www.ochsner.org/pankey

The family invitesyou to share your thoughts, fond memories,and condolences online at www.lakel awnmetairie.com

Pfister, LeRoyJ

On April6,2026,LeRoyJ Pfisterwent to be with the Lord our Father,passing peacefully at the ageof95. Though he hasleftthis world, his spiritofkindness continuestoshine in the many liveshetouched LeRoy was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and livedinWhite Hall, Louisiana,during hisearly years. He latermoved to Norco and eventually settled in Destrehan, Louisiana.Hewas theson of William("Willie")Pfister and Lillian VicknairPfister, and the oldest of five boys. He waspredeceasedby threeofhis brothers: James ("Jimmy") Pfister of California, PaulGeorge of LaPlace,Louisiana,and Allen J. ("A.J.") Pfister of Texas. He is survived by his youngest brother, Roland J. Pfister (Rita)of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.In 1954,hemarried Dorothy ("Dotsey") M. Andry(predeceased); theylaterparted.Fromthis marriage, they had five children: TerryJ.Pfister (Debbie), Glenn J. Pfister(Carol), DavidJ.Pfister (Hilda), SheilaA.Duecaster (Ben), and Michael J. Pfister (Jennifer). He later married Vinna Belle (Kennison) Haines (predeceased), and

they spent 38 happy years together. Through this marriage, he gained a stepdaughter, Emma Jean Mollere. He is survived by four grandchildren: Misti M. Cutchens (John), Hollie E. Pfister,Jimmie "LeRoy" Pfister (Jessica), and Kayla P. Nosacka (Daniel); as well as threestep-grandsons: Mark A. Smith (DeDe), Gregory Mollere, and Broderick Mollere (Donna). He also hadover adozengreat-grandchildren.After working avarietyofsmall-townjobs—including Norco paperboy, mascot (the real DHS Wildcat), tender/hauler, body and fender man at Lousteau's, and filling station attendant for"T."He was drafted and servedhis country, with bootsonthe ground in Korea. Upon returning home, LeRoy built acareer of over30years with Shell OilCompanyin Norco.Hebegan as a painter's helperand worked his way up through theranks before retiring in 1985. In his later years, he enjoyed traveling, especiallyold-fashioned road tripstovisit relativesand tripstothe casino Knowing he liveda good life,hewillforeverremain in our heartsand willbe deeply missed.Relatives and friends are invitedto St.Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 13396 RiverRd. Destrehan, LA on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Visitation willbeginat 10AM withMass at 11:30AM. Interment to followatJeffersonMemorial Gardens in Saint Rose, LA

Reed Sr., Reginald Marrquette

Reginald Marrquette Reed,Sr. wasborninNew Orleans,LAonDecember 27, 1964, andpeacefullyen‐tered eternalrestonSun‐day,March 29, 2026, at the age of 61. He wasthe son ofthe late Reginald L. Reed and EvolaT.(Reed)Craw‐ford. He wasprecededin death by hisfatherRegi‐naldL.Reed,his maternal grandparents Harry andEl‐

dora Thomas;paternal grandparentsHermanand Mildred Reed,and nephew JenaudM.Reed.Heleaves tomornhis death, hisde‐voted wife Michelle D. Reed,his threechildren, ChenaeR.Lewis,Rachel and Reginald Reed Jr., a lovingmother, EvolaCraw‐ford, onebrother Renaud M.Reed,sister/cousin Renee KristineBrown, Aunt Shirley Hampton, motherin-lawWilberene Ellis. Also, ahostofother rela‐tives andfriends.Family and friendsare invitedto attendthe Celebrationof LifeService on Saturday, April 11, 2026, for10:00 a.m. atFirst Evangelist MBC, 1801 WillowStreet,New Or‐leans,LA. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Pastor ReginaldA.Landry, offici‐ating.Interment is private. Guestbook Online:www anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

KendallLovellWilliams, affectionately knownas “Da Jazzman,”ofNew Or‐leans,Louisiana,passed awayunexpectedlyon March 23, 2026. He wasa powerfulcreativeforce dri‐ven,brilliant,and deeply connected to therhythm and cultureofthe city he loved.Kendall’s presence carried both intensityand warmth, leavinga lasting imprint on allwho encoun‐tered hismusic,his mind and hisspirit. Hispassing leavesanimmeasurable voidand an enduring legacy. Born on November 5,1974, to Sylvia Isidore Williams andLovell Williams in NewOrleans Kendall devotedhis life to music andartisticexpres‐sion. AgraduateofSt. Au‐gustine High School,he continued hisstudies at Southern University at New

Orleansand Dillard Univer‐sity, earninga degree in FineArts. He wasanac‐complishedmusician, pro‐ducer,engineer, andedu‐cator who worked with WBOK 1230AMasanEngi‐neer andCo-Host,taught productionatWalker LandryHighSchool,and contributed histalents to major venues,including the NewOrleans Jazz & HeritageFestival, Tip‐itina’s,the Superdome, and the Ernest N. Morial Con‐vention Center.His work crossedgenresand bor‐ders, collaboratingwith artists locallyand interna‐tionally.Kendall is survived byhis companion, Rhaina Foxx; hisbrothers, Derek Young (Lourdes)and Troy Young (Hiromi);his nieces and nephews, DerekYoung Jr. (Christine), Justin Young,JadeYoung,Jas‐mineYoung (Mori),Kye Young,and Jayden Young; his great-nieces and nephews,Talia Ambrose, MariahSingleton,MoriSin‐gleton Jr Marley Lewis,

CraigYoung,and Jackson Young;along with ahostof cousins,friends,and ex‐tendedfamily. Kendall’s lovefor NewOrleans lived inevery note he created and everystory he told.A MassofChristian Burial willbeheldonSaturday, April 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. atSt. Raymond/St.Leo the Great Catholic Church,2916 Paris Ave.,New Orleans, LA 70119. Viewingwillbegin at 9:00a.m.Interment will fol‐low at Mt.OlivetCemetery. All arewelcome to attend Professionalarrangements entrusted to Majestic Mor‐tuary Service, Inc.,(504) 523-5872.

Williams,Kendall Lovell 'DaJazzman'

BY DAVE SKRETTA

AP sportswriter

AUGUSTA, Ga. Brooks Koepka was asked acouple of years ago whether it was possible to shoot 59 at the Masters and shatter that most hallowed scoring barrier few will ever touch. The look of incredulitythatcrossed his face was both withering and comical.

“Have you played here?” Koepka replied

“Not yet,” he was informed.

“Yeah,” Koepka said, “I could tell by the question.”

In fact, only two peoplehave managed aroundof63atthe Masters, much less59. NickPricewas thefirst to set the record four decades ago, and the most recent was Greg Norman, whose first-round 63 in 1996 came before his epic final-round collapse.

ONE

AUGUSTA, Ga. The GolfChannel’sBrandel Chamblee caused astirinFebruary in the golf world. In golf,astirisnot likethreatening to bomb aforeign nation or flying to the moon. He simplyput forward anotion Chamblee saidThe Players should not only be considered a major —like the Masters, U.S andBritish opens, andthe PGA Championship—but the best major.The best because of the quality of its course, fieldand now50-plus-year history

Obviously Chamblee, like anyone,isentitledtohis opinion. Even awrong opinion The Masters isn’tjust oneof the fourmajors, which are all golf needs. It’sthe best major And there areabout as many reasons that’strue as there are magnolia trees lining Magnolia Lane (60).

Golfhas been playedon every continent, including Antarctica, where researchers occasionally playwhatthey callthe “Winter’sEnd Classic,” basically sort of aputting tournamentonice.

Golf even hasbeen played on themoon.Not by the crew of ArtemisII(just aflyby) but in 1971 by astronautAlan Shepard during Apollo

14. He fastened a6-i sample scoop handle of whichare still somewhere on the Fra Mauro highlands.

Golfasweknow it beganinSt. Andrews, Scotland, whichwill host its 31stBritish Open championship next year.But nowhere is it venerated,cherished andraised to more of an art form than at Augusta National andthe Masters. Why is Chamblee aboutThe Players? youneed to know: N made awinning putt Sawgrass andbroke into sucha blubberi Irish stewasRory M after winning last ye ters, becoming the fi to winthe career gr Ilroy certainly didn ground after winnin amonth earlier. Breaking down Saints’ recent draft-dayswapping

BY ZACH EWING

Staff writer

Ask 100 people, “Family Feud” style, for the most notable thing about the New Orleans Saints’ haul in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Tyler Shough wouldbe the No. 1answer In fact, there might not be another answer But as uncommon as it is for the Saints to take aquarterback high in the draft, they managed to do

something else last year that’seven more rare. It was the first time in 12 years that general manager Mickey Loomis and the New Orleans front office did not swingatrade during the draft. Someofthe trades have been seismic.Trading up to No.6toselect defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan in Loomis’ first draft as generalmanager in 2003. Moving up for Mark Ingramin2011. Multiple first-round trades in 2022 to get

ä Pelicans at Celtics, 6:30 P.M. FRIDAY,GCSEN

Chris Pauldidn’tdoit. Neither did Anthony Davis nor Zion Williamson. In fact, no rookie who has ever put on aNew Orleans Pelicansor Hornetsuniform ever had done what Jeremiah Fearsdid Tuesday night in the Smoothie King Center Even Fearswas shocked when he found out that the 40 points he scored in the 156-137 victoryover theUtah Jazz were anew franchise record for arookie. “For real?” Fearsasked. “That’s crazy.” Yes, Jeremiah. For real. Andyes, that is crazy Buttruthbetold, there was plentyofcraziness on this record-setting night in thePelicans’ home finale. We’ll get to that later First thingsfirst, though. The 40 points eclipsed the previous rookie record of 37 pointsset by Marcus Thornton in the 2009-10 season. Fears was just 3yearsold when Thornton came off the bench and scored his 37 points in aroad loss to theCleveland Cavaliers. Fears’ record-setting night came in a much-needed win, snapping the Pelicans’ eight-game slide. Fearsshot 17 of 29 from the floor despite making just one of his seven 3-point attempts.

“That wasanimpressive run by him,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said. “He made just one 3-pointer.The rest, he’s at the rim all night. He had three or four finishes that wereelite finishes. At this young

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY BILL KOSTROUN

RoryMcIlroyfalls to hisknees in celebration after winning in aplayoff against JustinRose in the final round the Masters tournament on April13in Augusta, Ga.

ASSOCIATED PRESSFILE PHOTO BY MATT SLOCUM

Sergio Garcia reacts to aputt on March20.

AP PHOTO BY MIKE STOBE

STAFFPHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

4

Midweek blues continue

Tigers suffer another upset loss, this time to Bethune-Cookman

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU baseball’s margin for error on Tuesday was thinner than usual for a Jay Johnson-coached team.

How could it not be? Especially after the Tigers lost five nonconference games before their Southeastern Conference schedule began, which included defeats to 13-20 Sacramento State and 16-16 McNeese State.

If LSU wanted to maintain a solid chance of hosting a regional in June, it likely had to beat Bethune-Cookman.

But that was not the case Tuesday The Tigers lost to another mid-major opponent at Alex Box Stadium, falling 10-7 to BethuneCookman in a loss that damaged LSU’s June aspirations.

“(Johnson) tells us the pressure is on, and it is,” outfielder Derek Curiel said. “And we know that we need to probably win two more SEC games now because we lost this one tonight.”

A disastrous seventh inning sealed LSU’s fate after a backand-forth affair through six innings.

Leading by a run, the Tigers (22-12) surrendered five runs on two walks, two hit batters and an error in the seventh. Righthander Mavrick Rizy’s two walks both forced in runs. Rizy also hit a batter, as did left-hander Danny Lachenmayer Johnson turned to four pitchers in the inning before freshman right-hander Reagan Ricken got a strikeout to end the rally

LSU pitcher Zion Theophilus delivers in the third inning against Bethune-Cookman. LSU used nine pitchers, who combined to walk two batters and hit four more.

“You’re not going to outwill or outwant (anyone with) however many walks or hit by pitches we had in the seventh (Tuesday),” Johnson said.

The error LSU committed in the seventh came from senior Seth Dardar on a ground ball to second base, a mistake that came with two outs and cost the Tigers two runs. LSU’s struggling defense, which has been a constant theme throughout its up-anddown season, suffered another low by allowing three unearned runs to Bethune-Cookman (23-10) on two errors.

“I’ve seen Dardar make that play 100 times,” Curiel said, “and he just didn’t (Tuesday).”

A bad top of the seventh was compounded in the bottom of the

Dathe

(Yamin

(paid)

inning by the offense’s inability to cash in on a perfect opportunity

LSU had the top of its order up to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh.

But instead of taking a big chunk out of a 10-6 deficit, Steven Milam, Jake Brown and John Pearson all struck out.

“We lost the strike zone with

Injuries to Stanfield, Dardar

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU outfielder Chris Stanfield and second baseman Seth Dardar did not suffer any broken bones during LSU’s loss to BethuneCookman on Tuesday coach Jay Johnson said. But Johnson is unsure of either player’s status for this weekend’s series against Ole Miss. Both players suffered injuries in the Tigers’ loss to BethuneCookman.

“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, not just because we lost the game, but (because) those guys are really good guys,” John-

son said. “And they’re seniors, and you’re past the point of like the medical redshirt thing. So I was very happy that neither of them have anything structurally wrong. “It doesn’t mean they’re going to be able to play because they got beat up pretty good in the two instances.”

Stanfield reaggravated his lefthand injury after crashing into the left-field wall in the seventh inning. He was replaced by junior Daniel Harden in left field.

Stanfield’s original hand injury forced him to miss 15 games

“The hand that was hurt ran into the fence,” Johnson said,

“and it didn’t feel good.”

Dardar hurt his ankle sliding into second base in the sixth inning. He remained in the game for another inning, but fifth-year senior Tanner Reaves replaced him in the eighth. “He just slid late and jammed it up pretty good,” Johnson said. Johnson also revealed Wednesday that after missing last weekend’s series at Tennessee with a hand injury, infielder Brayden Simpson took batting practice on Tuesday. He also said LSU is searching for alternative treatment options that could accelerate his return to the field.

The senior hurt his right thumb

LSU gymnastics star Chio wins top award in region

The accolades continue to roll in for LSU sophomore standout Kailin Chio, as Tuesday she was named the Central Region Gymnast of the Year by the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA).

The nation’s No. 1-ranked gymnast in the all-around, on vault and beam, Chio previously was named the Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year She has 40 individual event titles this season, including the SEC all-around title an NCAA-best 12 perfect 10s.

The WCGA presents awards annually to gymnasts in six NCAA Division I regions as well as two each in Division II and III. Chio and LSU head to Fort Worth, Texas, next week for the NCAA championships. LSU will be in the first semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Thursday

Former LSU center Nwoko finds new home at Xavier

Former LSU starting center

Mike Nwoko found a landing sport Wednesday after entering the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-10 Nwoko is transferring to Xavier, his agent told The Advocate. He entered the transfer portal on Tuesday with a “Do Not Contact” tag.

Nwoko is the first player from LSU’s team last year to decide where he will play next season.

The junior played one year at LSU, averaging 13.4 points on 61% shooting and 5.9 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game Nwoko, who was the team’s third-leading scorer, had five 20-point games and shot 76.1% from the free-throw line, improving from 60.1% the previous season.

Prosecutors want Tiger’s prescription drug records

Prosecutors are seeking Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records from a pharmacy nearly two weeks after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

some good hitters,” Johnson said.

“It makes it hard to win when you do that against a good team, a motivated team, a rested team.

“They took advantage of us losing the strike zone there, and that was really the difference in the game.”

The Tigers constantly shot themselves in the foot in the seventh inning, but the Wildcats earned their runs before that point.

The SWAC leaders had eight hits, including a home run and two doubles, before scoring five runs in the seventh. LSU had no walks and hit just one batter before the seventh.

“This team was in the NCAA Tournament last year,” Johnson said. “I guess they’ll be in it again (this year).”

Tuesday was another big night for Curiel and Cade Arrambide at the plate. Curiel went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, and Arrambide was 3 for 5 with a double. Their productivity helped LSU score in each of the first four innings.

Brown also produced with the stick, blasting a 388-foot home run in the sixth inning and going 2 for 4 on the day But he couldn’t come up big in the seventh when his team needed him the most.

LSU is back on the road on Friday in Oxford, Mississippi, against Ole Miss. First pitch from Swayze Field is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be available on SEC Network+.

Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com.

while attempting to field a ground ball, Johnson said.

“There’s obviously another guy that’s at the end of his baseball career and wants to be able to play, too,” Johnson said.

After sitting out the last two weekends with triceps soreness, right-handed pitcher Cooper Moore has started his throwing program, Johnson said. He hopes that the junior right-hander will be available in some capacity the following weekend against Texas A&M. He will not pitch against Ole Miss.

Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com.

Prosecutors in Florida on Tuesday said they planned to issue a subpoena seeking copies of all prescription medication records for the legendary golfer on file at Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach, Florida, from the start of the year through the end of last month. Prosecutors in Martin County, Florida, want the times the prescriptions were filled, the number of pills, the dosage amounts and any instructions that accompanied the pills, such as warnings about driving while taking them, according to documents in an online court docket.

Braves pitcher Lopez, Angels OF Soler suspended Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López each received seven-game suspensions from Major League Baseball on Wednesday, a day after they were ejected after their participation in a brawl.

Michael Hill, the MLB senior vice president for on-field operations, also announced that the players received undisclosed fines. The suspensions were scheduled to begin with Wednesday’s game but were put on hold pending appeals from each player Soler homered off López in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game. In his next at-bat, Soler was hit by a 96 mph fastball from López.

Prolific Dodgers infielder, base stealer Lopes dies Davey Lopes, a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ record-setting infield of the 1970s and ’80s and one of baseball’s premier base stealers, died Wednesday He was 80. Lopes was a four-time All-Star during his 10 years with the Dodgers. He played in four World Series, winning the 1981 championship. He holds the franchise record for most games played at second base with 1,134. His 1,145 games batting leadoff are second in the organization to Maury Wills (1,279). Lopes established himself as one of the most prolific base stealers in baseball. He stole 418 bases as a Dodger, second-highest career total in franchise history

(490). Lopes

PHOTOS BY PATRICK DENNIS

LSU outfielder Jake Brown slides safely into third base during the first inning as Bethune-Cookman third baseman Andrey Martinez can’t come up with the ball on Tuesday night at Alex Box Stadium. The Wildcats came away with a 10-7 victory

LSUscoursworld to buildNo. 5tennisteam

BY JANRISHER Staff writer

On the day Anton Dubrov opened his new tennis center in Minsk,Belarus, Erik Arutiunian was 5years old.

Neither of Arutiunian’sparents were tennis players,but his father took him by the hand and walked him to the courts. Arutiunianhad no say in the matter

“My dad just took my hand,” he said with alaugh. “Go.”

That short walk changed the trajectory of Arutiunian’slife Sixteen years later,heplays on LSU’sNo. 5tennisteam withplayers from around the world —and exactly one American,Charles Hobbs from VirginiaBeach,Virginia.

As afreshman, Arutiunian is ranked No. 22 in the nation in singles and is aleaderonLSU’sheavily international roster —redefining “home team” in BatonRouge.

Coach Danny Bryan, aNew Orleans native in his fourth year leading the program, has built something in Baton Rouge that goes beyond the numbers.

Last season, the men finished ranked around 75th nationally

This season, they have been afixture in the top 10 since January and have climbedto No. 5.

Bryan, who also played tennis at LSU, is hoping the community can come out and show the team its support.

When theTigers take thecourt, they do so as afully international team —afact that still strikes Arutiunian as remarkable. (Hobbshas not played in any SEC matches.)

“Everyoneissodifferent Spanish, Romanian, German, Polish,” Arutiunian said. “Butweare together all the time. We don’t have small groups.”

The team’sturnaround rests heavily on the shoulders of players who arrived without experiencing anything like aSaturday in Tiger Stadium —orthe particular thickness of Louisiana Augustair Arutiunian arrived in late August and found both.

“After 20 minutes of practice, I

SAINTS

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Chris Olave and Trevor Penning.

Many others have been allbut forgotten, pick swaps that happen deep into the draftonSaturday afternoons

One thing is for sure: New Orleans is among the most activetrade partners in the NFL, and history tells us there will be wheeling and dealing during this year’sdraft from April23-25 in Pittsburgh.

Here’sa complete historyofthe Saints’ draft-day trades under Loomis’ leadership. (Note: Only trades made during the draft are listed here.)

2003 draft

WITH ARIZONA Saints received: No. 6pick(DT Johnathan Sullivan), No. 37 (OTJon Stinchcomb),No. 102 (G Montrae Holland) Cardinals received: No. 17 pick (WR Bryant Johnson), No. 18 pick (LB Calvin Pace), No. 54pick (WR Anquan Boldin)

Perhaps it’s fitting that Loomis’ first

GM wasanaggressive move up in

round, although the best players for

teams in this deal came later in the draft with Stinchcomb and Boldin WITH NEW ENGLAND Saints received: STebuckyJones Patriots received: No. 78 pick(flipped to Dolphins, OT Wade Smith), No.239 (LB Tully Banta-Cain) WITH SEATTLE Saints received: No. 203pick(WR

couldn’t holdthe racket,” he said.

Hisfirstsemesterwas difficult

During the semester break, he went home to Belarus for four weeks —atimehecalleda“restart.”

Within amonth of his return, he hadwon SECFreshman of the Week. He has won it twice this season.

Arutiunian haslearned hisway around campus. He has found food he likes. He has made friends who feel like family “Second semester,” Arutiunian said, “I feel like I’m home.”

Aglobalroster

Arutiunian’sdoubles partneris

senior Matias Ponce de Leon from Spain. Their pairing is ranked amongthe top 20 nationally Team captain Alessio Vasquez is ajunior from Berlin withfamily roots in Chile. He earned second-

SAINTS EXERCISE BRESEE’S FIFTH-YEAR CONTRACT OPTION

The NewOrleans Saints picked up defensivelineman Bryan Bresee’sfifth-yearoption, asource with knowledgeofthe situation confirmed.

The move ensures that Bresee, the team’s2023first-round pick, will beunder contract forthe 2027 season. By pickingupthe option, theSaintswill payBresee acontract estimated northof $13million,according to Over The Cap.New Orleans had until Maytodecide on Bresee’sstatus butofficially picked up the option Wednesday.

Bresee, 24, hadonly21/2 sacks last season, afive-sack drop from the 71/2 he racked up in 2024. But theSaintsbelieve he playedbetter than his sack numbers indicate. Despitemissing twogames because of an injury, Breseeplayed acareer-high 69% of the team’s defensivesnaps.

The Saintsdrafted Bresee 29th overall three yearsago out of Clemson.

Matthew Paras

Cowboys received: No. 182 (flipped to Raiders LB Cody Spencer),No. 206 (flipped to Buccaneers, WR Mark Jones) 2005 draft WITH HOUSTON Saints received: No. 13 pick (OTJammal Brown) Texans received: No. 16 (DTTravis Johnson), 2006 second-round pick (OTEricWinston) 2006 draft WITH CLEVELAND

WALKER

Continued from page1C

In addition to all the scoring, he alsofinished with sixassists, five rebounds and three steals. That stat line puts him in exclusive company.Over the last 10 years, the only other rookies to score 40 points with at least fiveassists and five rebounds are Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell and CooperFlagg.

Fears nodded his head in approvaland flashed abig smile as that exclusive list was read to him. “That feels really good,” he

said. “Those guys obviously each andevery nightgoout there and show everybody what they are capable of. They’vedone some great stuff around theleague. I know they are going to continue to do their thing. That’sbig time. That’shuge.” The elite company Fearsjoined didn’t stop there. The 19-yearold became theeighth teenager in NBA history with a40-point game. Theothers read like a who’swho ofbasketball: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony,Kevin Durant, Cliff Robinson, GG Jackson, Edwardsand Flagg Fears’ previouscareer-high was 28 points. It was clear by halftime Tuesday that hewas going to top that. He had 20 through the first

team All-SEC honors last season.

Freshman Olaf Pieczkowski arrivedfromPoland rankedinside the ATPtop 500, andheisnow rankedNo. 38 nationally in singles.

Sophomore Andrej Loncarevic, whocarries aFrench passport but is Serbian, is rankedNo. 120. The doubles pairing of Loncarevic and Sasa Markovic —alsoSerbian —is ranked No. 13 in the country

Associate head coach Justin Butsch recruits players through a global rankingdatabase —essentially cold-calling the world’sbest young talent.

“Finding better talent gets alittle easier when your ranking is high,” Butsch said.

The players came fromall over because someone called Theystayed because of something hardertomeasure —a sense of belonging that built slowly

Saints received: CJeff Faine, No. 43 pick (S Roman Harper) Browns received: No. 34 (LBD’Qwell Jackson) 2007 draft

WITHDETROIT

Saints received: No. 66 pick(CB Usama Young), No. 145 (CBDavid Jones) Lions received: No. 58 pick (DEIkaikaAlamaFrancis)

Note: Only four of these 38 trades were the Saints trading down in the draft. Thiswas the most recent. So it would go againsta 19-year trend if New Orleans were to move back from No. 8this month.

WITHHOUSTON Saints received: No. 107 pick (RBAntonioPittman) Texans received: No. 123 (CBFredBennett), No. 163 (OTBrandon Frye) 2008 draft

WITHNEW ENGLAND

Saints received: No. 7pick (DTSedrickEllis),No. 164 (OTCarl Nicks)

Patriots received: No. 10 (LBJerod Mayo), No. 78 (LBShawn Crable)

Note: This wasthe last time the Saints picked as high as No. 8.

WITHDETROIT

Saints received: No. 144 pick (DTDeMario Pressley)

Lions received: No. 146(FB Jerome Felton), No. 218 (S Caleb Campbell)

WITHGREENBAY

Saints received: No. 237 pick (WR Adrian Arrington)

Packers received: 2009sixth-round pick (CB Brandon Underwood) 2009 draft

WITHPHILADELPHIA

Saints received: No. 164 pick (P Thomas Morstead)

Eagles received: No. 222 (flipped to Colts,PPat McAfee),2010 fifth-round pick (flipped to Dolphins, SReshad Jones)

Note: Want to impressfriends with some trivia? Thomas Morstead andPat McAfee were traded for each other (sort of) on draft night. 2010 draft

WITHARIZONA

Saints received: No. 123 pick (DTAlWoods)

Cardinals received: No. 130 (DEO’Brien Schofield), No. 201 (CBJorrick Calvin)

WITHJACKSONVILLE

Saints received: No. 158 pick (C MattTennant)

Jaguars received: 2011 fourth-round pick (S Chris Prosinski) 2011 draft

WITHNEW ENGLAND

Saints received: No. 28 pick(RB Mark Ingram)

Patriots received: No. 56 pick(RB Shane Vereen), 2012 first-round pick (flipped to Bengals, G KevinZeitler) 2012 draft No draft-daytrades

Note: One reason this wasthe outlier year with no trades?The Saints didn’t have many picks to deal. They had already traded their

two quarters in agameBorrego sat mostofhis normal starters For thehome crowd wanting to see starssuch as Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Saddiq Bey play one final home game, it was abit of adisappointment. That disappointmentflipped to excitementonce Fearsand his teammates came outthe locker room for thesecond half. That’s when they started rewriting the record book. The Pelicansset franchise records for points in aquarter (50 in thethird),points in ahalf (95) and pointsina game(156). The team got amuch deserved standing ovation at the end. Now Fears gets to take his show on the road for thefinal two

played tennis at LSU, go to dinner with players and their visiting parents.

The connection to the community is growing organically —through camps, throughthe complexbeing open to the public, through the tight-knit group of dedicated fans who show up for all of the matches. They support the players by name. They cheer with gusto.Occasionally,one of them invitesthe whole team to TopGolf. Natalie Johnson-Ewing, alongtime Baton Rouge tenniscoach, comes to watch mostoftheir matches. She said for people who like to watch professional tennis, LSU tennis is aclose second.

“This is just such agood avenue forthem(to go pro). There areso many professionals who have come throughthe SEC—and people oftendon’t even realize it until they say it on TV,” Johnson-Ewing said. Collegeformat

For fans more familiarwithWimbledon than SEC tennis, the format takes amoment to grasp.

The college matches are played in what is called adual match.

Findingtheir footing

Arutiunian described the adjustment to the heat, humidity and Louisiana culture in two distinct phases. The first semester was all aboutbeing homesick, overwhelmed and counting the weeks until December

But in the secondsemester, something shifted. Professors started recognizing him. Fans showed up to matches.

On practice days, theTigers warm up on the tennis courts not by taking turns serving but by playing soccer —shirts versus skins. They allgrewupwatchingit. Aballand agoal need no translation.

Arutiunian credits the soccer ritualaspart of what holds the group together

To further theteam’scohesion, Bryan has the teamover to his house.Heand Butsch, who also

first-rounder in the Ingram deal in 2011, and they had to forfeit their second-round pick in the aftermath of Bountygate. 2013 draft

WITHN.Y.JETS

Saints received: No.106 pick (flipped to Dolphins —see below)

Jets received: RB Chris Ivory

WITH MIAMI

Saints received: No.82pick (DTJohn Jenkins)

Dolphins received: No.106 (TE Dion Sims), No. 109 (flipped to Packers, OT David Bakhtiari) 2014 draft

WITHARIZONA

Saints received: No.20pick (WR Brandin Cooks)

Cardinals received: No.27(SDeone Bucannon), No. 91 (WR John Brown)

2015 draft

WITHWASHINGTON Saints received: No.167 pick (CBDamian Swann)

Washington received No.187 (WR Evan Spencer), 2016 sixth-round pick (QBNate Sudfeld) 2016 draft

WITHNEW ENGLAND

Saints received: No.61pick (S Vonn Bell)

Patriots received: No.78(GJoe Thuney), No. 112 (WR MalcolmMitchell)

WITHWASHINGTON Saints received: No.120 pick (DTDavid Onyemata) Washington received No.152 (DTMatt Ioannidis), 2017 fifth-round pick (TE JeremySprinkle)

Note: The 2017 draft rightfully gets alot of attention, but the year before, the Saints took Sheldon Rankins and All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas in the firsttwo rounds, then swung these twodeals that produced multiyear starters later in the draft. 2017 draft

WITHSAN FRANCISCO

Saints received: No.67pick (RB Alvin Kamara)

49ers received: No. 229 (CBAdrian Colbert), 2018 second-round pick (flipped to Washington, RB Derrius Guice) Note: Akey component of perhaps the best draft in team history 2018 draft

WITHGREENBAY Saints received: No.14pick (DE Marcus Davenport)

Packers received: No.27(flipped to Seahawks, RB Rashaad Penny), No.147 (flipped to Rams,LBMicah Kiser), 2019 first-round pick (flipped to Giants, CB DeandreBaker) 2019 draft

WITHMIAMI Saints received: No.48pick (C Erik McCoy), No. 116 (flipped to Jets —see below)

Dolphins received: No.62(flipped to Cardinals, WR Andy Isabella), No.202 (OTIsaiah Prince), 2020 second-round pick (DTRaekwon Davis) WITH N.Y.JETS Saints received: No.105 pick (S C.J. GardnerJohnson) Jets received: No. 116 (flipped to Titans, S Amani Hooker), No.168 (flipped to Titans, LB

games of theseason. The Pels play theBoston Celtics on Friday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday Youcan best believe Fears will play in those last twogames. He has played in all 80 games thus far,which probably shouldn’t come as asurprise. Afterall, Fearshasn’tmissed agame since his freshman year of high school when he broke his thumb. He’s been going strong since.

“I’ve been learning alot throughoutthe season,” Fears said. “Just trying to get better each and every game. Ithink I’ve been doing agood job with that.”

His coachwould agree.

“I’m reallyjust proud of his growth,” Borrego said. “From

The first team to reach four pointswins. The match consists of adoubles point —three doubles games played simultaneously.The first school to win twoofthe matches claimsthe point. Afterthat, six singlesmatches are played, each worth apoint. The first team to four points wins the match.

TwoofLSU’smatches last month camedowntothe final court and final set.

This Friday’smatch against Kentucky is thelastchancetosee the team at home before the SEC Tournament. First serve is 5:30 p.m at theLSU Tennis Center, across from Alex Box Stadium. Admission is free forthe bleachers. The tennis is top-tier,played by young men whocrossed oceans to get here.

In BatonRouge,they’ve found ateam —and, slowly,aplace that feels like their own.

Email Jan Risheratjan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

D’AndreWalker) 2020 draft

WITH CLEVELAND Saints received: No.74pick (LB Zack Baun), No. 244 (flipped to Vikings, see below) Browns received: No.88(DT Jordan Elliott), 2021 third-round pick (WR AnthonySchwartz)

training camp to where he’sat today,he’staken amassive step. This franchise is in areally good place because of players like him Fantastic.”

Fears doesn’trecall scoring this manypoints in agame recently but he does remember a55-point performance in middle school. His career-high at Oklahomalast year was 31. None of that compares to what he did Tuesday

“It’salot to wrap my head around,” Fears said. “But it’s huge.” Everyone in the Smoothie King Center forthe Pels’ final home gameagrees.

Email RodWalkeratrwalker@ theadvocate.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

LSU tennis star Erik Arutiunian reacts during atennis match earlier this year

THE MASTERS

Scott Rabalais’ five golfers to watch in their bid to win the

Scottie Scheffler (USA)

Age: 29 Odds: +510

World ranking: 1

FedEx Cup ranking: 7

Previous Masters; best finish: 6; 1st, 2022, 2024

Off the tee: May be rusty after pre-Masters break for the birth of his second child, but has every chance to keep even numberedyear win streak going

Jon Rahm (Spain)

Age: 31 Odds: +900

World ranking: 30

LIV Golf standings: 1

Previous Masters; best finish: 9; 1st, 2023

Off the tee: Rahm has dominated LIV Golf this year, finishing second, second, first, fifth and second. Can that translate into repeat Masters success?

Rory McIlroy (No. Ireland) Age: 36 Odds: +1175

World ranking: 2

FedEx Cup ranking: 31

Previous Masters; best finish: 17; 1st, 2025

Off the tee: Uneven record since historic Masters win, and withdrawal from Arnold Palmer Invitational (back injury) is a red flag Odds of going back-to-back seem long

Xander Schauffele (USA) Age: 32 Odds: +1750

World ranking: 10

FedEx Cup standings: 13

Masters entered; best finish: 8; T2nd, 2019

Off the tee: No wins in 2026, but strong form (third,The Players; T4, Valspar), two major titles and five Masters top 10s say his time is now.

green jacket

Cameron Young (USA)

Age: 28 Odds: +2200

World ranking: 3

FedEx Cup standings: 2

Masters entered; best finish: 4; T7th, 2023

Off the tee: The Players win and three straight top 10s (T7 Genesis, T3 Arnold Palmer) suggest his odds should be better Has never really contended at Augusta, though.

Ridley supports distance rollback

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Masters chairman Fred Ridley, himself a participant in the tournament as an amateur 50 years ago, was taken aback by the distances one of this year’s players, U.S. Amateur runner-up Jackson Herrington, can crush a golf ball.

“He told me that (Tuesday) he hit it over the bunker on 1 and 5, which is about a 325-yard carry and one was into the wind,” Ridley said Wednesday during his annual news conference.

Augusta National Golf Club has added length to numerous holes in recent years, including No. 5 The course now stretches to 7,565 yards from the tournament tees. But even at Augusta National, there isn’t always room for much more.

“There’s not much we can do to No. 1 unless we tear down the Eisenhower Cabin,” Ridley said, “and we’re not going to do that.”

Ridley repeated his call for golf ball distances to be reined in by the sport’s two governing bodies: the USGA and the R&A. He said that the rollback has been pushed back to 2030, but that it eventually must happen.

“My feeling on this subject is failure is not an option,” Ridley said.

Ridley added that he believes a distance rollback will be “immate-

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

After winning the 2017 Masters, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia and his wife Angela Atkins (Drew Brees’ cousin, by the way) named their daughter Azalea. It happens to be spelled the same way in Spanish as English, which is handy, but it is also the name of Augusta National’s 13th hole.

Sorry Brandel, but I have yet to see any other couple naming their child “Island Green” after the 17th at Sawgrass.

And when have we seen the caddie at The Players or any other tournament, for that matter — return to the 18th green to

MASTERS

Continued from page 1C

That remains the highest singleround scoring record of any of the major championships.

“I’m surprised that it has been that long,” said Justin Rose, who has twice shot 65, including the first round last year, which he paired with a final-round 66 that put him in a playoff that he lost to Rory McIlroy Rose also has shot 81 at Augusta National, by the way

“There’s so many great players capable of putting up that number,” Rose continued, reflecting on the longstanding record ahead of this year’s tournament “I think that the course lends itself most ideally to that score on a Sunday, but also if conditions allow, Sunday is kind of when the course is getting its most sort of maxed out,

rial” to recreational golfers.

“Weekend golfers around the world will be hard-pressed to notice the effects,” he said.

Rai wins Par-3

England’s Aaron Rai won the Par-3 Contest with a 6-under 21, making him this year’s man to try to break the event’s “curse.”

Since the Par-3 Contest started in

bow to the course, as Hideki Matsuyama’s bag man Shota Hayafuji did in 2021?

That would be zero, which like Azalea is apparently spelled the same in English and Japanese.

“I don’t think there’s a more beautiful golf course on earth,” McIlroy said. “It’s like you’re playing golf in the prettiest park in the world.”

It’s not just the grounds, the surrounds and the gravitas of the tournament. It’s all the little things that make the Masters great.

There are no seat numbers at the Masters. No skyboxes looming over the 18th green. There are roars for great shots yes, and even the occasional boorish call for a ball to “Get in the hole!”

in terms of green speeds and firmness. So that kind of counteracts some of those more accessible hole locations that traditionally we see on Sunday.”

There’s reason to believe the record could be matched, or even broken. For one thing, scores keep coming down, including in the majors. Branden Grace was the first to shoot 62 when he did it at the British Open in 2017, but four have matched him in the past three years at the U.S Open and PGA Championship, where Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele both shot 62 in 2024. Then there’s the fact that technology, physiology and just about every other “ology” have improved over the years Players have been hitting the ball farther and just as accurately, and that has forced Augusta National to continually change to keep up. Those changes are one reason,

1960, no one has ever won it and the green jacket in the same year

The Par-3 Wednesday’s low-key prelude to the pressure cooker of the Masters tournament, brought out all the feels.

Jason Kelce caddied for Akshay Bhatia and created a new taste treat by combining pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches. Comedian Kevin Hart caddied for Bryson DeCham-

(spare me).

For the most part, though, gentility reigns. Here you can set down your folding chair next to a green or tee box and come back hours later to find it in the same place. Oh, someone may have borrowed your seat for a moment, but a polite request (or a stern look from one of the everpresent security guards) sends them on their way

There are no cellphones allowed at Augusta National, no cameras except for practice days, when there are more cameras here per square foot than anywhere else on the planet. You can stand by the bend in the 13th fairway looking at the rocky ribbon of Rae’s Creek stretching off toward the 12th and 13th greens

beau Then there was Tommy Fleetwood’s son, Frankie The 8-year-old went viral during last year’s Par-3, saying he was “trying my hardest” to hit a ball across Ike’s Pond to the ninth green. Frankie had two tries Wednesday but splashed both times. Dad had one of the day’s four holes-inone, though.

in the distance, and think what a lucky human you are.

Speaking of Earth, you can call anywhere on it from banks of free phones scattered across the course. Otherwise, you’re cut off from the normal clutter of our ever more hectic 21st century world.

Sounds nice? For at least this week, it certainly is.

Former LSU golfer Sam Burns missed an ace on the 140-yard sixth hole by a mere 3 inches, the closest shot of the day on that hole.

Scott and Scottie

Two-time Masters champion

Scottie Scheffler (2022, 2024) enters this Masters as the favorite and ranked No. 1 in the world for the fifth straight year That ties Tiger Woods’ record set from 2000-04 that he matched from 2006-10.

Scheffler’s caddie, Lafayette native Ted Scott, is seeking his fifth winning trip around Augusta National. If Scheffler wins, Scott will tie the record for most Masters wins by a caddie.

Scott caddied for Bubba Watson when he won the 2012 and 2014 Masters, the first when Watson hooked that legendary wedge shot out of the trees on 10 to win a playoff with Louis Oosthuizen Amazingly, a 15-year-old Scheffler was among the gallery next to the 10th green. Scott said when they first got together, Scheffler used to make fun of his old truck, a Toyota with 180,000 miles on it, though Scheffler’s car was of similar vintage. “I said, ‘You talk about my car, you’ve got duct tape on the steering wheel and the handle,’ ” Scott said. “He told me when his dad took him to the Masters in ’12, their car completely died. He bought this beat-up old GMC Yukon to get home (to Dallas) and that’s what he drove.”

Scott first caddied in the Masters in 2001 for Grant Waite, returned in 2008 with Watson and has worked every Masters since.

“It feels like the fans are a little bit more engaged in the golf,” Ludvig Aberg said. “They’re a little bit more attuned to what’s going on. It feels like good golf shots are being appreciated in a different way And it’s also quite nice to just leave your phone somewhere.” Here, sandwiches cost between $1.50 and $3. An entire meal of a sandwich, bag of chips and a beer (try the Crow’s Nest) won’t set you back more than $10. Heck, you can have one of everything on the entire menu, breakfast and lunch, for $78.75. Adjusted for inflation, the concession stand prices are actually cheaper than they were at the first Masters in 1934.

“I think that’s a big thing, a lot of mid-irons into small targets. Wedges into small targets. If you’re on and it’s your day, sure, you can make a lot of birdies. But you’re also going to make a bogey or two quite easily.”

JUSTIN ROSE

Rose said, that its current record still stands.

Subtle alterations have taken place around greens and bunkers, but the most noticeable changes are in sheer length. The course played to 6,925 yards when Norman shot the most recent 63 It will play to 7,565 when the first round begins Thursday

“I think that’s a big thing, a lot of mid-irons into small targets. Wedges into small targets,” Rose said “If you’re on and it’s your day, sure, you can make a lot of birdies. But you’re also going to make a bogey or two quite easily.” Anthony Kim set the singleround record for birdies at the

Masters with 11 in 2009, but he also dropped enough shots to finish with a round of 65. So, birdies alone probably aren’t enough to challenge Price and Norman; it would take an eagle or two as well.

That’s possible. Four players have even eagled consecutive holes in the same round, including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson. It just isn’t easy Nothing is at Augusta National.

“The scores are always a little higher than you think they’re going to be,” said 2023 British Open champion Brian Harman, who has just three rounds in the 60s all 69s — in 20 competitive rounds

Speaking of prices, a pass for all four tournament rounds costs $525. That’s $131.25 per day Face value. Of course, good luck getting one at face value, but we digress.

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt said it best: The Masters is one of one.

“You can’t go wrong with this place,” Akshay Bhatia said. “Everything is just top tier.” Amen (Corner), Akshay

at the Masters. “You know, when you come out here and you play, you feel like you can go shoot low numbers. It’s just not a lot of the low numbers out here

“It’s a lot more of a grind than people think.”

The second nine tends to play about a stroke more difficult than the first nine at Augusta National, thanks in part to water that comes into play through Amen Corner But while seven players have gone out in 30, most recently Min Woo Lee in 2022, only two have come home in 29: Mark Calcavecchia in the final round in 1991 and David Toms in the final round in 1998. In other words, it would take pairing the best first nine with the best second ever to do to break 63. “If I want to go play the member tees and maybe play like, 15 holes,” said Koepka, a five-time major winner “yeah, I could do that.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY ASHLEY LANDIS

Actor Kevin Hart left, and Bryson DeChambeau line up a putt during the Par-3 Contest ahead of the Masters on Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga

Ridley Notebook

after completing the third round

Red-hot Fitzpatrick brothers commit to Zurich Classic

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

British brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick will team up again in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this year, tournament officials announced Wednesday

The Fitzpatrick brothers join recent commitments Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Sahith Theegala, Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, among others, in the field for the April 23-26 event at TPC of Louisiana in Avondale.

“The brothers just made history by becoming the first siblings to win on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in consecutive weeks,” said Steve Worthy, the CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, which operates the tournament for the PGA Tour “In addition, they both have extensive team experience as well.”

Now ranked sixth in the world, Matt Fitzpatrick has been one of the hottest players on the PGA

Tour He won the Valspar Championship on March 19 with a 13foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to edge out David Lipsky by a single stroke. He had started the day three strokes behind the lead.

The week before that, he missed winning The Players Championship by a single stroke after starting the final round five strokes behind.

Alex Fitzpatrick won his first DP World Tour title on March 28 at the Hero Indian Open to climb to sixth on the Road to Dubai standings. The top-10 players at the end of the season on the DP World Tour earn PGA Tour cards for the next year

Matt finished his 2025 season strong, with four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, highlighted by back-to-back T4 finishes at the Scottish Open and British Open. That record earned him a captain’s pick on the European Ryder Cup team, where he posted

a 2-1-1 record for the victorious side at Bethpage Black in New York.

He closed out his 2025 season with a win at the DP World Tour Championship, defeating Rory McIlroy on the first hole of a suddendeath playoff. It was Fitzpatrick’s third DP World Championship title.

Matt won the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he also won the 2013 U.S. Amateur Alex is enjoying his best season ever on the DP World Tour In addition to his first DP World Tour win at the Hero Indian Open, he has posted four top-20 finishes, including a tie for sixth in the Joburg Open at the beginning of March. He stands sixth in the Road to Dubai European rankings.

Last year, his best finish was a tie for third in the DP World India Championship to go with two other top-10 scores.

SCOREBOARD

at Houston, 7 p.m. L.A. Lakers at

State, 9 p.m.

Tuesday

Orleans 156, Utah 137 UTAH (137) Tshiebwe 6-10 0-0 12, Williams 8-17 3-4 19, Filipowski 3-9 2-2 9, Mbeng 12-18 1-2 26, Sensabaugh 6-17 4-4 18, Hinson 3-7 2-2 10, Chandler 11-18 7-8 31, Konchar 4-8 2-2 12. Totals 53-104 21-24 137. NEW ORLEANS (156) Peavy 9-13 0-0 20, Queen 6-9 5-6 17, Looney 2-4 2-2 7, Fears 17-29 5-5 40, Poole 12-23 3-4 34, Dickinson 0-2 2-2 2, Oduro 4-7 1-2 9, Alexander 0-3 2-2 2, Hawkins 11-16 0-0 25. Totals 61-106 20-23 156. Utah34352741137 New Orleans24375045—156

3-Point Goals—Utah 10-32 (Chandler 2-3, Konchar 2-3, Hinson 2-5, Sensabaugh 2-8, Filipowski 1-4, Mbeng 1-4, Williams 0-5) New Orleans 14-34 (Poole 7-16, Hawkins 3-5, Peavy 2-3, Looney 1-2, Fears 1-7, Dickinson 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Utah 41 (Konchar 10), New Orleans 48 (Looney Queen 12). Assists—Utah 38 (Konchar 10) New Orleans 33 (Queen 7). Total Fouls—Utah 18, New Orleans 18. College baseball

State scores, schedule

Tuesday’s games Southern Miss 3, UNO 2 Southeastern 16, LSU-Alexandria 3 Lamar 9, Tulane 5 Bethune-Cookman 10, LSU 7 Wednesday’s games Southeastern 7, UL 6 Southern at Northwestern State, n Friday’s games Southern Miss at UL, 6 p.m. Lamar at Nicholls, 6 p.m. Southern at Grambling, 6 p.m. Texas A&M-CC at Southeastern, 6 p.m. UNO at Illinois, 6 p.m. East Carolina at Tulane, 6:30 p.m. LSU at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m.

College softball

State scores, schedule Tuesday’s games

HBP—Detmers (Baldwin). Umpires—Home, Vic Carapazza; First, Nic Lentz; Second, Hunter Wendelstedt; Third, Edwin Moscoso. T—2:45. A—21,375 (45,517).

STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick celebrate

of the Zurich Classic on April 22, 2023, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale.

Rogers strikes out 34 in extra-inning victory

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Ashtyn Rogers threw a rise ball for a swinging strike three on her final pitch, and she knew when the game ended that she had a high strikeout total.

How high? That would not be answered until after Patrick Taylor coach Lance Reine opened the GameChanger app on his phone during the team’s postgame huddle Reine wanted to present his star pitcher with the game ball — and it was wellearned with an astounding 34 strikeouts over 16 shutout

innings in a 1-0 victory over Hahnville on Tuesday

“I knew it was a lot,” said Reine, who doesn’t personally track stats during the game because he’s busy calling pitches — always focused on trying to get the next batter out.

Rogers, who scored the winning run in the top of the 16th, figured it would be a high number. Her final two strikeouts came after a oneout walk put the potential tying run on base with the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters coming to bat.

“When he told me in the huddle after the game, it was a surprise,” said Rog-

ers, a Southeastern Louisiana signee who has been on varsity since she was in seventh grade.

Rogers threw 208 pitches, and many of them went exactly where she wanted.

“There was nothing we were afraid to throw in any count,” Reine said “She had total control.

“She had confidence in every pitch. She just executed on every level. When they were looking for that rise, she made them look silly when she gave them the changeup.”

Rogers, a senior, allowed only four hits and walked

Chapelle girls repeat as bowling champions

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

Staff writer

Alexandra Young rolled her final ball, knocked down the last four pins and turned to her Chapelle teammates with her arms raised. What had never been in doubt was now official: Chapelle had the state’s best bowling team for the second year in a row

The top-seeded Chipmunks won the LHSAA state girls bowling championship by defeating St. Amant 23-4 in the state final Wednesday at Premier Lanes in Gonzales

That triumph followed the 19-8 semifinal win over St. Joseph’s earlier in the day

The team’s lone senior, Young started the final match with three consecutive strikes and rolled nothing but strikes and spares through six frames into the second set, setting the pace for her younger teammates.

“It means everything to me,” said Young, selected by the LHSAA as the outstanding bowler for the match. “We all work so hard, and I think we really deserve it, especially my teammates They really help me through everything.”

each won twice. Freshman Makayla Lanier won once.

As the No. 6 bowler in the lineup, Young has the team’s highest scoring average and competes against the other team’s top bowler She won the first two rounds and helped Chapelle to a 13-3 lead with one round to go.

“She’s just very calm and subdued,” Chapelle coach Dorothy Himbert said about Young. “She’s always been like that. Doesn’t give me any trouble. Bowls her best. She stepped into the (No. 6) spot, and I love her for it.”

Haynes this season. Rogers scored the winning run when she reached on an error, raced from first to third on Alyvia Palmisano’s sacrifice bunt and crossed home on Leah Godoy’s groundball single that glanced off the diving shortstop’s glove.

Rogers believed she could get to third when she saw how Hahnville was sometimes slow to get the base covered on sacrifice bunt attempts after the teams met in a tournament earlier this season.

12 against three walks and 10 hits allowed — all singles — over 16 innings.

Teams are awarded one point for each head-to-head matchup won, plus two points to the team that wins the most games in each set and three additional points for the highest cumulative three-set team total. Chapelle junior Taylor Bourdonnay, sophomore Carolyne Hill and eighth grader Brynn Caire swept their three matchups. Young and junior Addison Belle

Young took up the sport after following her father, Warren, to his league matches on Thursdays and Fridays. A former Rummel defensive lineman, Warren has been a Chapelle assistant coach since Alexandra joined the team in eighth grade.

“I never predicted she would get that high,” Warren said about his daughter’s scoring average of 205 that ranks third in the state. “In bowling, a lot of times it just clicks, when you finally figure it out and go from there.”

In this case, it clicked at the right time — and ended with another state championship.

Curtis duo earns spots on LSWA 5A all-state teams

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

The John Curtis won boys and girls basketball state championships with Autrail Manning and Bailey Timmons as the leading players on the two title teams.

Now with Wednesday’s release of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A all-state teams, both are listed as first-team all-state players. Manning averaged 14.2 points as Curtis won a boys state championship for the first time since 2012. Timmons, a UL signee, averaged 14 points on the girls’ title-winning team. Both teams won Division I select titles.

Other Class 5A selections from the New Orleans area were St. Augustine guard Aaron Miles on the first team and Edna Karr guard Khalil Fisher on the second team. Among the girls, Mandeville’s Alanna Benoit made the first team and Slidell’s Madyson Parker earned honors on the second team.

Outstanding player selections went to Ruston’s Ahmad Hudson (boys) and Zachary’s Ava Raymond (girls). Coach of the year honors went to Zachary’s Jonathan McClinton (boys) and Slidell’s Kristen Twillie (girls).

Outstanding player: Ahmad Hudson, Ruston

Coach of the Year: Jonathan McClinton, Zachary Honorable mention: Jayden Austin, Neville; Jordan Bedford, Covington; Jerry Birdlow, Slidell; Ja’Vardes Brazile, St. Augustine; Braylon Carter, Barbe; Jude Chamberlain, Catholic; Cole Doucet, Sulphur; Kaden Downing, Hahnville; Hudson Gautreaux, Thibodaux; Da’Sean Golmond, Denham Springs; Kingston Jarrell, Woodlawn-Baton Rouge; Jace Johnson Terrebonne; LeSean Jones, Covington; Ethan Kimmie, Zachary; Zach LaGraize, Jesuit; Jordan Magee, Live Oak; Noah McDaniel, Brother Martin; KeShun Malcolm, Ruston; Thomas Molette, Bonnabel; Ronald Navarre, Rummel; Amod Randolph, Thibodaux; DJ Schonberg, St. Amant; Jayden Simmons, Scotlandville; Tyrie Spencer, Northshore; Jonnie Walker, John Curtis; Trevez Walker, Destrehan; Justin Ward, H.L Bourgeois; Kevin White, Airline; Roger Williams Northshore

five among the 58 batters faced. Two batters reached on errors. Her previous high strikeout total of 17 came in a seven-inning win against

“It was something we had in mind since the start of the game,” Rogers said.

For Hahnville, freshman London Lambert struck out

“Hahnville had a great pitcher,” Rogers said. “She was very competitive as well.” With the playoffs set to begin next week, Patrick Taylor would like to advance beyond the quarterfinals after reaching that round the past three seasons The Tigers are No. 4 in the LHSAA Division II select power ratings. “This is definitely the best season I’ve had with this team,” Rogers said. “We have a really great bond. We’re all so competitive. None of us like losing, and that’s really great. We’ll continue to take it one game at a time.”

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

Newman led St. Martin’s by two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior Charles Wilson stepped to the plate.

With runners on second and third, Wilson tripled to deep right-center field to extend Newman’s lead and spark a five-run inning.

St. Martin’s scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but left the bases loaded as Newman held on for a 13-8 win on Tuesday at Avenger Field.

“That’s what we’ve been doing at practice, just situational hitting,” said Newman coach Patrick Adams, whose team won its ninth straight game “That’s what we did tonight. (Wilson’s

triple) was big just to keep adding (runs) because you could see at the end, it’s never safe.”

Wilson drew two walks and reached on a fielder’s choice in his first three at-bats before breaking through.

“It was a long (fourth atbat), 2-2 (count), and I figured a curveball was coming,” he said. “I just a put a good swing on it, really stayed through the ball. It was really nice.”

Newman (18-6) set the tone with four runs in the bottom of the first, which began on Jack Falgoust’s leadoff single to left. He was driven home on Atticus LaFleur’s sacrifice fly Falgoust finished 3 for 5 with three runs and a stolen base. He also pitched the fi-

nal five outs, giving up three hits and four walks.

“It was a great night at the plate for a lot of us,” Falgoust said. “It was a good amount of pressure (pitching). We had a good lead, though, which really helps out.”

St. Martin’s Alex Scheuermann entered in relief of starter Bryce Helwig, who pitched just one inning. Scheuermann allowed three earned runs on one hit and four walks with six strikeouts in three innings

“When you score eight (runs), you’re supposed to win,” said St. Martin’s coach Bobby Ledoux, whose team fell to 15-6. “We give up way too many free bases and way too many give-back runs. We’ve got to keep the momentum on our side when we score.”

player: Ava Raymond, Zachary Coach of the Year: Kristen

Kearra

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS DABE Chapelle’s Alexandra Young holds the LHSAA outstanding bowler award following the state championships at Premier Lanes in Gonzales.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Patrick Taylor pitcher Ashtyn Rogers, a Southeastern Louisiana signee, threw 16 shutout innings on Tuesday.

Getting 3great meals from two chickens

Homemade or store-bought,both bring taste

BY BETH DOOLEY Tribune News Service (TNS)

More than the sum of itsjuicy meat and crispy skin, agood roast chicken is all about those luscious pan juices. Whether you choosetoroast the bird yourself or pick up agrocery store’srotisserie chicken, these juices —golden, sticky,salty— inspire sauces, soups andrice bowls, and provide an excuse to mop your plate with ahunkof sourdough bread. As we march into spring, Icherishunfussy recipes that look after themselves. As the ingredients work their magic in the oven,I can focus on the changingseasons —cleaning, organizingand eventuallypreppingthe garden. It makes sense to roasttwo birds at once. The first for dinner and lunch the next day; the secondto use for three or more entirely different meals down the road

Over the years, I’ve roasted many chickens many different ways Every cookbook offers adifferent method, each claiming to be the best: start the bird in a hotoven upside down; poach it first before roasting; use low,low heat for along, long time (3 to 4 hours). But the method Irely on now sticks to the basics.

Aroast chicken can providethe basics for dinners allweek

First, choose agood chicken (organic and free range), then salt and pepper it inside and outand set it in the refrigerator to brine overnight. This draws up moisture, adds taste, and helps ensure crisp skin. Bring the chicken to roomtemperature before roasting. Rub it all overwith lots of butter (it is about the butter).Set the chicken in the pan withseveral cloves of garlicand potatoes, the essential accompaniment —they’ll emerge wrinkled and richly seasoned. Whether or not to basteremains up for debate. With enough butter, there is truly no need, butbastingoccasionally helps keep the meat succulent, the skin crackly brown. Afew lemon slices over thebreast make anice touch. Be sure to allow the chicken to rest for about 10 minutes before carving so the juices retreat into the meat.

Let’sagree that agood rotisserie chicken is afine option when long on hunger and shortontime. Why not pick up two? The small amount of pan juices thatcollect on the bottom of the packageare dark, thick, gooey and worthsaving. Set the chicken in aroasting pan, add the pan juices, andtop it with afew lemon slices before rewarming in amoderate oven. I’veserved this at adinner party without admitting that Ihadn’t roasted the bird myself. No one complained.

That second roast chicken provides the basics for dinners the rest of the week; all you need are afew key pantry staples anda little imagination.

In New Orleans, there are certain rituals that mark thepassage from childhood to something deeper,your first Mardi Gras parade where you truly understand themusic, your first taste of your grandmother’s gumbo made just right,your first pilgrimage to the New OrleansJazz &Heritage Festival.

For13-year-old me in 1974, that rite of passage came during eighthgrade at Our Lady of Lourdes, when the entire class embarked on what seemed like an unlikely field trip for aCatholic

BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER

(TNS)

school: aday at the racetrack. The irony wasn’tlost on me andmyclassmates, Edward Valteau, Pat Dwyer, TimothyHughes, Shawn Lewis,Freddy Costello, Kathleen Turner,Angela Hayes, Denise Green, John Williamson, Toni Venable and others. As we walked through thegates of the Fair Grounds Race Course

—chaperoned by parents, Coach Williamsand the ever-watchful Sister Edmund —wecouldn’thelp but exchange knowing glances.

ACatholic school taking students to aracetrack? It seemed deliciously rebellious, even if the nuns were right there with us. But this wasn’tabout gambling or horses. This was about something farmore important to the soul of New Orleans: the preservation and celebration of aculture that runs through the city’s veins like the Mississippi River itself.The teachers explained that this festival, still in its infancy,had started just four years earlier in 1970. In the inaugural year,a mere350 people attended nearly half weremusicians.

ä See JAZZ FEST, page 2D

TNS PHOTO BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER

Pork Chops Basque StylewithSpaghetti and Peas

TNS PHOTO BY RADU DUMITRESCU

Getataste of Jazz Fest at home with po-boy,mango freeze

PHOTO BY MONICA BELTON Hot sausage po-boy with pickles and chips

Bring home ataste of Jazz Fest by making amangofreeze at home.

JAZZ FEST

Continued from page1D

It was ahumble beginning for what would become one of the world’smost important cultural celebrations.

The festival had moved from the Municipal Auditorium in what is nowArmstrong Park, but by 1972, it had found its home at the Fair Grounds Race Course, the third-oldest racetrack in America, operating since 1872. There was something poetic aboutthat, new culture taking root on historic ground.

As our class of eighth graders walked around the festival grounds, the city revealed itselfinnew ways. We heard alittle bit of jazz, the music thatgave the festival its name with its complex improvisations and soulful horns. We caught snippets of blues, raw and honest, telling stories of struggle and resilience. And we experienced gospel, which felt familiar from churchbut somehow different at Jazz Fest, more joyful, more free, more connected to the earth

Hot Sausage Po-boy

Serves 4.

beneathour feet than the heaven above

This was theNew Orleans Jazz& Heritage Festival in its truest form: not just entertainment, but education. Not just performance, but preservation

Thecity had always been filled with music, food and arts, agumbo ofcultures stirred together by French, Spanish, African, Caribbean and American influences.

Butinthe modern age, there was afear thatthis unique heritage might fade, might be forgotten,might be drownedout by thehomogenizing forces oftelevision andmass culture.

That’swhy thefestival existed,the teachers told us. It was away to share New Orleans culture with theworld,yes, butmore importantly,it was away to share it with young New Orleanians to pass thetorch to thenext generation. My classmatesand I weren’tjust attending a concert; we were being initiated into ourbirthright as children of ourextraordinary city.Walking among the crowds that day,I don’t thinkIfully graspedthe

4-6 hot sausagelinks, split in halflengthwise

2tablespoons neutral oil

4pistolettes

4small Roma tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inchthick

16 dill pickle slices

1head lettuce, shredded Mayonnaise and Creole mustard, if desired

Heatoven to 350degrees.

1. Slice each loaf of bread in half, lengthwise,then place in the oven directlyonthe

MangoFreeze recipe

Serves6

4cups frozen mangopieces

1 1/2 cups whole milk yogurt

6tablespoons powdered sugar or agavenectar

1/2 teaspoons

Dear Miss Manners: Iwork around machinerythat features rotating plastic molds. While not common, the molds occasionallycatch on aperson’sclothing and damage the zipper of one’spants. When that occurs,it is impossible to rezip the pants and the person has to replace the zipper when they get home. If Ihappen to spot one of my co-workers with an open fly,doIsubtly directtheir attention to it in case it is just unzipped? This risks embarrassing them if it is damaged and there is nothing that can be done about it.OrdoIsay nothing, which risks them getting more embarrassed later,when they realize they have been working all day with their fly down?

PHOTO BY MONICA BELTON

significance of what was happening. Icouldn’tknow that this festival would grow from that modest gathering intoanevent drawing hundreds of thousands of people annually.I couldn’tpredict that Jazz Festwould become synonymous with New Orleans itself, as essential to the city’sidentityasbeignets and streetcars.

ButIfelt something. In themusic floating across theinfield, in thesmell of food cooking, in thesight of Sister Edmund tapping her foot to ablues number, Ifelt the heartbeat of my city.And that feeling, that connection to my place and my culture and my community, that was the real rite of passage.

Kevin Belton is resident chef of WWL-TV and has taught classes in Louisiana cooking for 30 years. The most recent of his four cookbooks, “KevinBelton’sCookin’ Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of the Pelican State,” was published in 2021. EmailChef at chefkevinbelton@gmail. com.

grates. Toast until crispy and warm, about 3minutes

2. Addoil to alarge skillet over mediumhigh heat.When oil is hot,add sausages cut-sidedown and sear for 5minutes,or until goldenbrown. Flip all sausages and sear on theother side for 3minutes. Sausages should be golden brown and heated through.

3. Add2sausage halves to each bottom slice of bread, then addlettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Coat top slice with mayonnaise, andCreole mustard, if desired, then cutsandwich in half.

1. Combine all ingredients in ahighspeed blender or food processor,blending until smooth.

2. Pour into acontainer and freeze for 1-2 hours until firm. Serve: Scoop intobowls or cones.

Miss Mannerstherefore recommendsissuing thewarning,after giving consideration to such delicacies as gender,familiarity, rank andany nearby sharp objects.

evening. After all, this is about the bride and groom, not us. What are your thoughts?

CHICKEN

Continuedfrom page1D

Tostadas

For each tostada, pile 1/4 cup shredded meat onto adeep-fried tortilla, add 1/4 cup sliced red peppers and 1/4 cup shredded queso fresco or mozzarella. Drizzle on any remaining pan juices and run the tostadaunder thebroiler until the cheese is melty,about 2to4minutes. Serve garnished withplentyofchopped cilantro; add afew lime wedges on the side.

Rice bowl

In aheavy pot, heat 2to3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil over high heat, add 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1/4 cup diced yellow peppers, 1 cup cherry tomatoes,and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the toma-

Roast Chicken

Makes one roast chicken for 4to6 people. Recipeisfrom Beth Dooley.This mealwill keep on giving for the next day or two. Why not roast two chickens while you’re at it? Be sure to roast potatoes alongside for aone-pot meal. The secret? Butter,and lotsofit

1largechicken (about 3to5pounds)

Saltand freshly ground black pepper

6tablespoons unsalted butter

1pound YukonGold or red potatoes, cut into 1/2inch pieces

5to6clovesgarlic

3to4lemon slices

1. Removeand discard thebag with chicken parts. Season thechicken inside and out withlots of coarse salt and

PORKCHOPS

Continuedfrom page 1D

Pork Chops Basque Style

Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer

2teaspoons olive oil

3/4 pound boneless pork loin chops

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cup frozen chopped onion

1/2 cup slicedgreen bell pepper

1/2 cup slicedred bellpepper

1/2 cup cubed plum tomatoes

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1. Heat oil in askillet over mediumhigh heat and add the pork chops. Cook 3 minutes tobrown on one side. Turn chops over and cook another 3minutes. Remove chops to aplate.

2. Addthe garlic, onion andbell peppers to theskillet.Cook, stirring, 1minute.

3. Addthe tomatoes,chicken broth and thyme. Bringittoasimmer and return thepork chops to theskillet. Cover with a lid and simmer 4to5minutes. Do not boil. Ameat thermometer should read 145 F.

4. Place pork chops on two plates and

By The Associated Press

Today is Thursday,April 9, the 99th day of 2026. There are 266 days left in theyear

toes are blistered and shriveled and the peppers have softened, about 3to5minutes. Stir in any remaining pan juices and 1cup chicken stock or moreasneeded, 1 cup shredded chicken meat,and season with 1to2teaspoons za’atar seasoning and 1to2tablespoons lemon juice, to taste. Stir in 2cups cooked white rice. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Chickenstock

Save the bones from your chicken, put them into apot, add enough cold water to cover by 1inch, add half an onion, 1 carrot, 1stalk celery,1bay leaf and any remaining pan juices. Set the pot over high heat, bring to aboil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the stock is reduced and tasty,about 3hours.

Remove and discard the bones and vegetables. Strain and transfer to acovered container.Cool, cover and store in the refrigerator foruptoaweek or freeze.

freshly ground pepper.Set on aplate and refrigerate uncovered overnight. Bring the chicken to room temperature before roasting.

2. Preheat the oven to 450F.Set the chicken, breastside up, in aroasting pan andsurround it with the potatoes and garlic.Rub the chicken with the butter, tucking some of it up underthe breast skin.

3. Roast undisturbed forhalf an hour

Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees; lay the lemon slices on the chicken breast and continue roasting, occasionally basting with the pan juices, until the thigh juices run clear when poked and adigital thermometer registers 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. Allow the chicken to rest forabout 15 minutes before serving with the potatoes and plenty of pan juices.

spoon vegetables and sauce over the chops. Nutrition infoper serving: 289 calories (31% from fat), 10.0 gfat (2.1 gsaturated, 3.8 gmonounsaturated), 96 mg cholesterol, 42.2 gprotein, 8.5 gcarbohydrates, 2.2 gfiber,160 mg sodium

Spaghetti and Peas

Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer

3ouncesspaghetti

1cup frozenpeas

1tablespoon olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring alarge saucepan three-fourths filled with water to aboil. Add the spaghetti and boil 9minutes.

2. Add the peas to the boiling water and cook 1minute. Remove 2tablespoons of the pasta water to abowl.

3. Drain the spaghetti and peas and add to the bowl. Toss with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the pork. Nutrition infoper serving: 248 calories (28% from fat), 7.6 gfat (0.7 gsaturated, 4.4 gmonounsaturated), no cholesterol, 7.6 gprotein, 37.1 gcarbohydrates, 3.6 g fiber,5mgsodium.

TODAYINHISTORY

In 1940, during World WarII, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway

In 1942, during World WarII, some 75,000Philippine andAmerican soldiers surrenderedto Japanesetroops, ending the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines. The prisonersweresubsequently forced to march 65 miles to POW campsinwhatis nowknown as the Bataan Death March; thousands diedorwerekilled en route

Gentle Reader: Doesanyone in such cases —whether the zipper is broken or merely unruly —really decide that the best course of action is to walk around the rest of the day hoping no one will notice? Surely not. There are such things as safety pins, and bathrooms where they can be applied without risking more thanpsychological damage.

Dear Miss Manners: Oneofthe rules my daughter has for her wedding in her opinion, to prevent chaos and trouble —isthatif aperson wants to bring a plus-one,they havetohave beentogether for at least ayear.Plus, she wants to meet the guest first,preferably over lunch or dinner Her mother andIare recently divorced,but we still get along (betterthan when we were married). Her sister is single, andher brotherisbringing hishusband oftwo years. My daughter hasimplemented this rule on all guests,including close family.Mygirlfriend of several months, therefore, cannot attend,nor can my ex’s boyfriend. The bride’ssiblings (my son andother daughter) think that their mom andI should each be allowed to bring ourrespective dates. All of us are 50-plus, andwe feel we can behave for the

GentleReader: We can agree that etiquette rules are meanttoprevent trouble. Butyour daughter’srule, in addition to being arbitrary, fails to meet that basic goal. She is hoping, understandably,toguard against strangers coming as casual dates, but is she really going to exclude someone’s lawful spouse because the wedding was too recent? Or because themeet-and-greet lunch fell through? And even if we establish arule for thirdcousin Oswald, whom no one likes anyway, Miss Manners fails to see thesense in applying it to thepartners of thebride’s parentsorsiblings. Given thateveryone else is keeping theirheads,perhaps you and your ex-wife can approach your daughter together.Ask for special dispensation for thepartners of all the immediatefamily membersbecauseyou know it would mean so much to everyone to be there. Plus, you promise not to tellthe other guests you aregetting special treatment Email dearmissmanners@ gmail.com.

Todayinhistory: On April 9, 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Union Lt. Gen.Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. (Remaining Confederate units elsewhere would formally surrender by early June of 1865, closing out the bloodiest conflict on American soil without further major combat.)

Also on this date: In 1939, Marian Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington,D.C., after the Black singer was denied theuse of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of theAmerican Revolution.

In 1959, NASA introduced the “Mercury Seven,” its first seven astronauts: Scott Carpenter,Gordon Cooper,John Glenn, GusGrissom,Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald “Deke” Slayton. In 1968, funerals, private and public, were held for the Rev.Martin Luther King Jr.atthe Ebenezer Baptist Church and at Morehouse College in Atlanta, five days after

the civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2003, Baghdad fell to American troops during the Iraq Warafter six days of fighting. In 2005, Britain’sPrince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles, whotook the title Duchess of Cornwall.

Today’sBirthdays: Actor Michael Learned is 87. Drummer Steve Gaddis 81. Actor Dennis Quaid is 72. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs is 63. Model-actor Paulina Porizkova is 61. Actor Cynthia Nixon is 60. Actor Keshia Knight Pulliam is 47. Actor Jay Baruchel is 44. Actor Leighton Meester is 40. Singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan is 39. Actor Kristen Stewart is 36. Actor Elle Fanning is 28. Rapper Lil NasX is 27. Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright is 27. Singer Jackie Evancho is 25.

Getgoodportion controlwitha tin

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Portion sizes used to get out of hand in my kitchen until Iput a muffin tintouse in anew way.Instead of guessing or overfilling bowls, I now divide snacks into each cup, which creates instant portion controlwithout any measuring tools.Nuts, cut fruit, crackersand vegetables stayneatly separated, making it much easier to stay

mindful of how muchyou eat. This method has also been especially helpful for children since portions are clearly visible and snack time feels more engaging. During meal prep, ingredients stay organized and ready to grab, whichsaves time when cooking begins. —Danielle V.,inSan Diego Smartappliances

Dear Heloise: Many people praise energy-efficient appliances, but some find that the new technology doesn’t always work as expected. Modern washing machines

use sensors to set water levels and cycles. This saves energy,but some loads still comeout with detergent residue or aren’t fully clean. So, this means that you should adjust your washer’ssettings. Use a larger load or an extrarinse cycle to remove detergent and improve cleaning. Experiment to find what works. Clean clothes and energy efficiency matter! Know your machine’s features. —Sarah, via email Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

ARIES (March21-April 19) Put more pressure on what matters most, and resolve issues of concern before it's too late. Procrastinating will lead to regret; do your due diligence andforgosetbacks.

TAURUS(April20-May20) Tidy up any loose ends before starting something new. Show your appreciation and gratitude. How you present yourself,your imageand your concerns will captivate someone in aposition to help you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Check into how you can make adifference, and startthe ball rolling. It's up to you to bring about change. Stop procrastinating andstart doing. Putyourenergy into research, detail and presentation

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Expand your interests, and you'll connect with people who can enrich your life. Opportunities areapparent, but so is exaggeration. Question any offerthat's not realistic.

LEO(July 23-Aug. 22) Stretch your legs, participate in events that address your concerns and make adifference. Your discipline andoriginal ideas will help position you forleadership

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You're in the zone and ready to make achange. Refuse to let what othersdoorsay stand in your way. Avoid those offeringthe impossible andeager to take advantage of you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You can dream all you want, but when realitysetsin, realism is what counts. Monitor your cash, reactions and relationshipscarefully

Putyour emotions aside, and keep your mind on delivering what you promise.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) An open mind and awillingness to compromisewill help. If you take an offensive position, you'll meet with similar opposition Embrace meaningful relationships, and sparks will fly.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Put yourselffirst.Invest moretimeand effort in yourself, your surroundings and your future. Overspending on expensive procedures or entertainment unnecessarily will have anegativeimpact on your life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Letting emotionsdictate conversations will lead to misunderstandings. Be very concise regarding what you want andexpect in return. Payattentiontohow you look, live and love.

AQUARIUS(Jan. 20-Feb.19) Monitor how you earn or delegateyourmoney carefully. Awrong decisioncan leave you in debt.A lifestyle change will require plentyofplanning, energy and ingenuity.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Stretch your mind, your body and your soul by being true to yourself. Look for activities that encourage strength, good health and a chance to make newfriends withpeople who share your goals.

Thehoroscope, an entertainmentfeature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by nEa, inc.,dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Celebrity Cipher cryptogramsare created from quotationsbyfamous people, pastand present. Each letter in the cipherstands for another. TODAy'SCLUE:U EQUALS A

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

SALLYForth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe AndGrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place thenumbers1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box containsthe same number only once. The difficulty level of thesudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’sPuzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Ernie Harwell, who calledthe play-byplay for the Detroit Tigers for42years, said, “Everybody in theminor leagues —ifyou’re aplayer, an announcer,whatever —wants to be in the big leagues.”

At the bridge table, when we see along minor suit,weprobably wish it were a major suit. The game revolves around majorsand no-trump, not minors. However, when we havealong minor, we must make the best pitch we can.

In yesterday’sdeal, opener started with one no-trump andresponder hada weak hand with along major. He bailed out of no-trump into hislong suit viaa transfer bid. Today, the responder has along minor. What shouldhedo?

Ibelieve everyone should usetransfers into the majors, but only takeup transfers into the minors with regular partners.(If you would like to learn about these transfers, go to my web site: phillipalderbridge.com.)

If you do not use minor-suit transfers, the best way to signoff in aminor is by immediately jumping to three of your long suit,which must contain at least six cards —asintoday’s deal.

If you use minor-suit transfers, follow your partnership methods. And note that one no-trumpought to fail.

How should South plan the play in three diamonds after West leadsthe heart jack? Declarer starts with two losers in the majors and at least one trump loser. His basic plan should be to lead trumps toward hishand, up to hishonors, and to takeclub finesses when in his

Previous answers:

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four

Average

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

Amen! Thank youLord. G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from the lettersineach 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. For moreinformation on tournamentsand clubs, email naspa –north

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

sCraBBlE playersassociation:info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visitour website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzleinquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro andits logo sCraBBlE associated

WiShinG Well

HErE is aplEasanTliTTlE

Scrabble GramS

roSe

April 9, 2026

New burger spot gaining an edge in Mid-City food scene page 3

MOVIES

Stephen Wilson Jr. set to make up for missing last year’s Hogs for the Cause page 10

don’tmiss don’tmiss don’t miss

irish, italian, isleñosparade

Parade season keepsrolling in Chalmette as the three I’s—Irish, Italian and Isleños hitthe streets at noon Saturday with more than 50 floats, marchinggroupsand tonsof produce.The traditional Chalmette route, on West Judge Perez Drive, is agreat loop throughthe St. Bernard Parish community. stpatricksdayneworleans.com.

IRISH ITALIAN ISLEÑOSPARADE

11 a.m., Saturday, April 11

berryfestival

nd ready —that’sthe three-day celebration mers and south Louisiana culture, with rides,food, music and, of course, strawberries, chatoula Memorial Park, 301 N. SixthSt.,in Ponchatoula. Ahighlight is the 9:30 a.m. Saturday parade featuring festival royalty rolling through the Tangipahoa Parish city.Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8p.m. Friday,9a.m. to 8a.m. Saturday and 9a.m. to 6p.m. Sunday.Admission is free. lawstrawberryfestival.com.

frühlingsfest

genfest

“All in the Family” is thetheme forSaturday’s annualgenealogyconference put on by the NewOrleans Library andthe City Archives andSpecialCollections. Veteran and novice researchers are invitedtotakepart in the programsand exhibits andhear fromspeakers on thefoundationsofresearch,history and preservationfrom10:30 a.m. to3:30p.m.atthe MilneRecreation Center,5420 Franklin Ave. nolalibrary.co/genfest2.

The traditional German celebration of spring, wit bigdose of New Orleans flavor,features German food, music andactivities, like amaypole, dachshund races, stein-making classes, arts and crafts, and farmers market vendors, from 4p.m. to 8p.m. Friday,1 p.m. 8p.m. Saturday and 1p.m. to 5p.m. Sunday at Deutsches Haus,1700 Moss St., on the banks of Bayou St.John. Parkingatthe haus,ifavailable, is $5. deutscheshaus.org.

who fabfest

Attendees of the inaugural LGBTQ+ music and cultural exposition at 1p.m. Sunday at The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St., are asked to “donate-what-you-can” to support community programs from the New OrleansPride Center,including weekly youth groups and free mental health counseling. Headliners include Mia Borders, Ever More Nest and Laveau Contraire. tinyurl.com/whofab.

ragtime daynola

OperaCréole kicks off the program of music and dance at 1p.m. Sunday at Longue VueHouse and Gardens, 7Bamboo Road. Tickets start at $55. longuevue.com.

Mississippi River

food food food

smash AMid-City

New burger joint a big hit among neighborhood’s evolving culinary scene

BY POET WOLFE

Staff writer

The smash burger isn’t the towering, beefy, no-nonsense burger that’s come to define the American archetype. Unlike the drive-in burgers that came before it, the smash burger patty embraces flatness over heft, jaggedness over uniformity and crispiness over succulence.

That culinary approach is evident at 2 Potnas, which began as a food stand in Gentilly last year and expanded into a brickand-mortar earlier this month in Mid-City Inside a bright-yellow building on Banks Street, the restaurant serves five variations of the smash burger, a relatively new style popularized in the early 2000s by fastfood chains.

“I said, ‘what would be something that I can make a good signature of and give people a taste of what elements that I can bring to food culture?’” Thomas said recently while seated inside the restaurant.

2 Potnas joins a growing list of eclectic restaurants in Mid-City, where dive bars, fine dining, pizza joints and longtime po-boy shops coexist within a compact but evolving New Orleans neighborhood. In recent years, Smoke & Honey introduced Greek and Jewish dishes in a casual setting while Hot & Soul debuted a globally inspired menu inside a tiny shotgun house. This year, Chada brought Thai cooking to an elegant space, and Charmant opened as a neighborhood bistro serving modern European fare.

2 POTNAS

3200 Banks St., New Orleans

Noon to 10 p.m.

Wednesday through Monday; closed Tuesday

vegetables, dairy and fruits — if, that is, you consider tomatoes a fruit.

The restaurant’s burgers follow that food pyramid, from its meat to its veggie options. Its most popular item, the Potna Burger, features ground beef flattened into a lace-edged patty enveloped by four bread and butter pickles, mayonnaise and a blanket of American cheese, tucked into a plush bun. Another favorite among customers is the BBQ Deluxe Burger, featuring the same elements but with bacon and barbecue sauce.

The Lava Burger puts a New Orleans spin on the signature dish: a hot sau-

sage patty layered with egg in a golden, flipped bun. There’s also school lunchstyle sandwiches on the menu, including a grilled cheese and a peanut butter and jelly, grilled and dolloped with powdered sugar

On Saturdays, the restaurant serves crawfish. It plans to open a bar and use the backyard as a space to serve ice cream and sno-balls.

Describing 2 Potnas as a “family-oriented business,” Thomas said his older brother, who boils the crawfish, would lead the dessert side. For now, the restaurant is serving what it knows best, flat and crisp-edged on a toasted bun.

return to white

Owner Jared Thomas created the recipes with a former business partner — a friend who is no longer part of the operation but whose role is still reflected in the restaurant’s name. Thomas had long been interested in opening a restaurant but did not want to complicate the menu.

Instead, he chose a breezy lineup of french fries, onion rings and Zapp’s potato chips, built around a single specialty — the smash burger.

ABOUT LAGNIAPPE

The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor.

LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren. walck@theadvocate.com

COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Leslie Cardé, Marco Cartolano, Keith Spera, Poet Wolfe

But 2 Potnas leans into a more playful atmosphere centered around the animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers.” Thomas said the show’s main character, Bob Belcher, “reminds me of myself sometimes.”

Little vinyl figures of the characters greet customers at the register, while cookbooks inspired by the show line the shelves. Near the front door, a poster displays a “Bob’s Burgers Food Pyramid,” built on proteins, grains,

GET LISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THE COVER

“Hokum,” starring Adam Scott as a man experiencing disturbing visions, is among the horror flicks slated for the Outlook Film Festival. Photo by Outlook Film Festival. Leslie Cardé shares a glimpse inside the four-day event on Page 6.

Burger joint 2 Potnas opened earlier this month.

STAFF PHOTO BY POET WOLFE

Thomas

food food food

Uptown college bar open for nearly a century is for sale

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Bruno’s Tavern, an Uptown New Orleans bar that’s drawn generations of college students for nearly a century, has been put on the market for $2.4 million, according to a real estate listing.

Owner Tim Spratt confirmed the sale with the Maroon, Loyola University’s student-run newspaper, adding that he is “moving on to focus on other businesses and investments.” Spratt and James Brown III purchased the property in 2019 from David Melius, who had been running the bar at the corner of Maple and Hillary streets since 1982. Spratt could not be reached for comment Wednesday

Spratt is also president of Kirkendoll Management, which operates Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar and the Penthouse Club in New Orleans. The company was not involved in the purchase of Bruno’s, he said in a 2020 interview

institutions closing and new businesses opening.

located again in 1954, where Redd’s Uptilly Tavern now stands.

The sale comes as Maple Street, a corridor popular with students at Tulane and Loyola universities, has shifted in recent years, with longtime

In 2017, Maple Street Book Shop closed after more than five decades. Last year, PJ’s Coffee shuttered its flagship location, which opened in 1978, and the sushi restaurant Origami is slated to open in its place after relocating from Freret Street.

Leo Bruno opened the bar in 1934, shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, as Leo Bruno’s College Inn — a name later changed to avoid confusion with the nearby Ye Olde College Inn. The bar quickly became part of the fabric of local college culture, adopting the slogan “Where the college set meets” in local advertisements It also spawned traditions, including the annual BBB — the Babbling Bastards of Bruno’s, a Carnival organization that paraded on Maple Street and ended with a ball at the bar Bruno’s changed locations several times over the decades but remained on Maple Street. A year after opening, the bar moved across the street, where Burger Nerds now operates, then re-

Among its draws was its longtime bartender, George Rankin, a former boxer and semi-professional baseball player whom Bruno recruited off the field. Rankin was beloved by customers for not only his cocktails but his role in contributing to the late-night philosophical conversations that unfolded as the night — and drinks — wore on. His passion for the job was evident to anyone who stepped inside.

“To be a good bartender,” he told The Times-Picayune in the 1970s, “you got to like people because they can get really damn annoying — even your good customers.”

Under Melius, the bar returned to its original corner in a new building after Hurricane Katrina. When Spratt purchased Bruno’s, he said he planned to leave it largely unchanged. Much of that remains, including framed portraits of patrons and college flags lining the walls.

Staff writer Ian McNulty contributed to this report.

Chuck Norris’ N.O. connection involves boats, Popeyes, Al Copeland

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion who integrated his combat prowess into starring roles in vigilante and gritty action films, died March 19 at 86.

Prior to becoming an actor, Norris won several martial arts championships before founding his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. He became widely known in the 1980s for his heroic roles in crowd-pleasing films like “The Delta Force” and “Missing in Action” alongside action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as the long-running television series “Walker, Texas Ranger.”

through Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans.

In a 1988 interview, Norris spoke about his passion for speed in a way that captured his broader love for adventure: “Anything that deals with speed, I love.”

Norris piloted the boat “Popeyes/Diet Coke,” owned by the flamboyant New Orleans entrepreneur Al Copeland, founder of the Popeyes fried chicken chain.

Norris became the star performer on the boat in 1989 as Copeland expanded his fried chicken empire in a $425 million acquisition of Church’s Fried Chicken. The New Orleans businessman agreed to step back from racing as part of the buyout.

less than 30 minutes after the start.

“One motor broke right out the gate, and then they lost another,” said Copeland, who watched the race from his helicopter “We weren’t prepared like we wanted to be this year.”

Norris later competed against Johnson in the Bud Dry Marathon Offshore Challenge in the Florida Keys, averaging more than 81 mph aboard Copeland’s boat. Both racers dominated the waters, but Norris was ultimately named national champion in the Superboat class.

But Norris was more than roundhouse kicks and a tough-guy image. He was also a competitive offshore powerhouse racer and spent time speeding

In 1990, Norris drove the boat to victory in an offshore race in Long Beach against actors Kurt Russell and Don Johnson. A year later, he competed

in the Popeyes Offshore RaceFest on Lake Pontchartrain against Johnson and veteran racer Reggie Fountain. Fountain won the 154.5-mile race, while Johnson finished third.

Norris, however, was forced out early after a mechanical failure in Copeland’s 50-foot boat, which broke down

He also maintained ties to the city beyond racing and even served as a grand marshal for the Krewe of Endymion. Norris served as co-grand marshal in the 1995 Endymion parade alongside Richard Karn, of “Home Improvement.” Leading a procession of more than 120 floats, 42 marching bands and 5,000 participants, the parade was themed “Endymion’s Creatures Features.”

FILE PHOTO

Longtime bartender Big George Rankin pours a cocktail at Bruno’s Tavern in 1973.

Norris

ARCHIVE IMAGE

Al Copeland on his Popeyes boat

Bywater vintageshopdressed Charli XCXfor newmovie

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

New Orleans has become a well-known player over the past decade in the world of Hollywood films, contributing picturesque scenery,iconic shoot sites and, now,stellar vintage costumes for stars.

Charli XCX, whose “Brat”albumtook the world bystorm in summer 2024, was recentlyseen in apromo photo for upcoming horror movie “Faces of Death” dressed head-to-toe in clothing sourced from aBywater shop.

Low Timers, 3207 Burgundy St., shared an Instagram story from

costume designer Lauren Bott showing the singer and actress, whose real name is Charlotte

Aitchison, sitting outside and chattingasshe holds acigarette.

Bott said Aitchison’soutfit —an oversized light-brown jacket with awhite top,jeans and black boots —came from the store, calling it herfavoritevintage shop.

“Charli dressed in full Low Timers,” the store’sInstagram story read.

“Faces of Death” is areimaginingofthe cult ’70s horror film of thesame name, amovie infamousfor its documentary-style depiction of gruesome murders. “Euphoria” actress Barbie Fer-

reira stars as an online content moderator whocomes across thesnuff films. Aitchison can be briefly seen in themovie’strailer watching one of the violent videos on her phone.

Aitchison, amovie lover with an active Letterboxd account, also starred as aversion of herself in theconcert mockumentary“The Moment” this year Alongwith “The Moment,” two other films featuring the pop star screened at the Sundance Film Festival, theraunchy comedy “I Want Your Sex” and the thriller “The Gallerist.”

“Faces of Death” premieres in theaters April 10.

Singer-actress

Charli XCX poses in an outfitsourced by costumedesigner Lauren Bott from Bywater clothing shop LowTimers.

PROVIDED PHOTOBY INSTAGRAM

4DAYS, 62 ENTRIESOFTITILLATING TERROR WATCHIN HORROR

OVERLOOK FESTIVAL PROMISES

ABOVE: ‘The Restoration of Grayson Manor’ follows thefallout after aman loses his hand.

PROVIDED BY OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL

RIGHT: The StanleyHotel is the inspiration behind the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s‘The Shining’ and the namesake of NewOrleans’ Outlook Film Festival.

With thousands of filmfestivals in the U.S.every year,onlya handful are de voted to the horrorgenre. Theyhaveominous names like Screamfest, Buried Alive, Nightmares and the Popcorn Frights Festival.

Leslie Cardé

Beginning Friday,the New Orleans-based Overlook Film Festival, sitting top-tier in frightening fare, celebrates its10th anniversary,its name reflecting that house-of-horrors hotel from the preeminent StephenKinghorror film “The Shining.”

Running Thursdaythrough Sunday, this year’s bevy of horrortotals 62 films —36features and26short filmsfrom 10 differentcountries whittleddown from 700 submissions.

The festival came to New Orleans nine yearsago when co-founders Michael Lerman andLandonZakheim decidedthe city deservedits own scary film festival. The two both liveinLos Angeles, andcallthisfestival alabor of love,astheyboth have film-related day jobs.

“Before theOverlook Film Festival began10years ago, Landonand Iwere working for asimilar type of festival

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY FILE PHOTO BY DENVER POST ä See OUTLOOK, pag

PROVIDED PHOTO BY FOCUS

LEFT: Alison Schruder attends the 2019 Overlook Film Festival decked out in ahorror movie-themed dress. STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

BELOW: Inde Navarrettestars as Nikkiin‘Obsession.’

FEATURES

OUTLOOK

Continued from page 6

Colorado, and then decided to go do our own thing,” explained Lerman. “Our first year, we held the festival in Oregon, at the actual hotel where they shot the film ‘The Shining.’

“But that hotel is on a hill, and in the beginning of April getting up to it requires snow chains. It’s a small family-run hotel, and there wasn’t a lot of room for attendees, so we made the decision to move the festival to another venue, and what better place than the most haunted city in America, New Orleans.”

The film selections are eclectic. The opening night film, “Obsession,” explores a lovelorn 20-something’s unrequited crush on one of his closest friends. When he makes a wish on a mysterious novelty toy, he finds that his dreams are far worse than any nightmare he could imagine, in this bone-chilling relationship horror flick.

In a first for the Overlook, a brand-new film section called Side Shows will feature upcoming genre films that may fall outside of traditional horror, but still feel tailor-made for the festival.

“As we’ve grown, we’ve been looking at other ways to incorporate other genres,” Lerman said “Obviously, the heartbeat of the festival is horror, but we wanted to showcase some films that may fall outside that description but include the same kinds of thrills and chills.”

Those include “Over Your Dead Body,” an action-comedy from Jorma Taccone starring Jason Segel and Samara Weaving, who use a romantic getaway as an excuse to plot each other’s murder. Magnolia’s “Normal,” an action-thriller from director Ben Wheatley, is about a small-town sheriff (Bob Odenkirk), who, following a local bank robbery, uncovers a web of dark dealings.

Then there’s Lionsgate’s “The Furious,” from director Kenji Tanigaki, in which a desperate father teams up with a street-smart

journalist as they fight their way through an international criminal network, in a desperate attempt to save his daughter.

The jam-packed horror film lineup includes “Affection,” in which a woman’s memory resets after a brutal accident; “American Dollhouse,” which features a woman who becomes the object of her psychotic neighbor’s obsession; and the darkly hilarious “Buddy,” detailing the machinations of a girl and her friends as they navigate an escape from a murderous TV show mascot.

In Simon Glassman’s creepshow “Buffet Infinity,” rival restaurants compete for business in a tale told entirely through fake commercials. If investigations into the supernatural are your thing, “Capturing Bigfoot” analyzes one of the most debated 59 seconds in film history.

From previous Jury Awardwinner Brooke H. Cellars comes the campy “Cramps! A Period Piece,” this year’s Local Spotlight film. It depicts a young woman

whose quest to defy her family is upended when her menstrual cramps manifest themselves as actual monsters.

If you’re into gross horror, there’s “Flush” about a drug addict who finds his head stuck in a toilet. “Grind” is a terrifying anthology examining modern work culture, and “Marama” is a bonechilling Gothic horror flick from New Zealand in which a Maori teacher travels to the manor of a wealthy whaler in search of buried truths about her family

In a particular macabre tale, “The Restoration at Grayson Manor” brings us a proprietor who finds himself handless after a freak accident, only to be given a set of prosthetics, oddly controlled by his self-conscious. And, from Taiwan, “Suffocation” follows a group of elite high school swimmers who are unwittingly cursed by a mysterious evil.

The festival begins at 5 p.m. April 9 with a second-line in the French Quarter and ends on Sunday with a closing-night party:

OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday; Lagniappe for locals April 13-16

WHERE: Prytania Theatres at Canal Place and Uptown TICKETS: $18 for individual showings (weekend passes are sold out)

INFO: overlookfilmfest.com

Overlook

Lagniappe

n “Affection”: 7 p.m.Tuesday at Canal Place n “American Dollhouse”: 8:30 p.m.Tuesday at Canal Place

Théatre des Vampires.

“It’s an honor to hold our annual carnival of horrors during the exact date ... that Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ turns 50,” co-founder Landon Zakheim said. “It all feels like it was meant to be. New Orleans is a magical place, and we’re lucky that all of the wild events that make up our circus get to be part of the magic.”

The list of horror, suspense and thriller films is staggering. And, there are panels, live events, parties and immersive performances by the American Immersion Theater that are all a part of it.

Bonus screenings for locals will happen the following Monday through Thursday with showings of films from the festival and classics like the 25th anniversary of “Donnie Darko” and 70th anniversary of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”

Contact Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail. com.

n “Donnie Darko”: 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.Thursday, Uptown

n “Excorcist III: The Heretic”: 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Uptown n “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”: 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Uptown n “Never After Dark”: 7 p.m. Monday at Canal Place

n “Parasomnia”: 9 p.m. Monday, Uptown n “Sinners”: noon and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Uptown

PROVIDED PHOTO BY OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL

‘The Furious’ from Hong Kong involves abduction, corruption and violence.

stages stages stages

ä Forshows in production, visit nola.com.

STRIKING A CHORD

Twomusical productions get ready to bring new shows, anew concept rich with New Orleans connections and athoughtprovoking bit of theater to the greater metropolitan area.

From Jefferson Performing Arts’rockdriven “Jagged Little Pill” to the French Quarter’s“LastNight on Rue Bayou” immersive musical experience, there are sights and sounds to savor,as well as maybe abit gumbo and some mystique, too.

‘LastNight On RueBayou’

Blending some of the hallmarks of Crescent City culture like music, food and the struggle for justice, “Last Night on Rue Bayou,” running April16 to May 3, will be ashow that tells the story of aNew Orleans woman fighting to save the club she built to honor her latehusband

ConceivedbyMichael Meth with an original score by Martee LeBow anddirected by Tracey Conyer Lee, theshow of local musicians and performers highlights afinal evening at the club before acorrupt parish commissioner attempts to seize the legendary “juke jointatthe crossroads between the living world and the spirits of the bayou.”

Working to save her club is Miss Ilean Durand, widow of King B., playedbyKadejahOne Higdon, a9th Ward native with several national toursonher résumé, including “Dreamgirls” and “The Color Purple.” Higdonsaidshe identifies with Durand on several levels.

“Miss Ilean began her journey as an R&B singer,but she stepped away from the industry to carryforwardher husband’sdream —creating aplace where people could gather in music,

food and love,” said the Louisiana transplant who livedinFlorida for high school.“Now she finds herself fighting to protect that legacy,standing up to large corporations to secure ownership of her own property.Her story reflects the very real challenges artists face today.”

Playing strong women is nothing new forHigdon. Having filledthe shoes of powerhouse characters in hertour shows, she sees aconnection with “Dreamgirls’”Effieand “Purple’s” Celie.

“LikeCelie andEffieWhite, Miss Ilean isa powerful,resilient Black woman who refuses to be diminished by gender norms, stereotypesorpatriarchy,”Higdon said.“She stands firm in her truth, pushes through adversity,and fights to reclaim what belongs to her.”

Agraduate of Bowie State University in Maryland, Higdonplans to spend some time with family,enjoying Audubon Parkand enjoy the upcoming festivalseason.And some crawfish.

The showisatanew venue called Storyville Music Hall (formerly B.B. King’sBlues Club in the French Market), 1104 DecaturSt., owned by Oscar-winning actors Helen Mirrenand Taylor Hackford.

Doors open an hour beforeshowtime, with food and beverages available, as wellas seating options.

roots with international tours of “Rent” and“Ain’tToo Proud”; andCaldrick Williams,billedas“an authenticNew Orleans presence as part of thehomegrown ensemble.” Also in the show are Andrew Michael Antoine, Reggie McNeil, Keith Claverie, TimDavis, Queen Shereen,Madison Margaret Clark, Rayshaughn Armant andMelanaLloyd.

Theshowisat7:30 p.m. Thursdays andFridays, 3p.m. and 8p.m. Saturdays, and2 p.m. and 7p.m. Sundays Tickets start at $64 andinclude two drinks anda “locally sourced tasteof New Orleans.” Visit ruebayoumusical com.

‘JaggedLittlePill’

There’salot to swallow in this jukeboxmusical basedonAlanis Morissette’s1995 album “Jagged Little Pill.”

TheTony-winning show combiningthe music of Morissette and Glen Ballard with astory by Diablo Codyisrunning April 17-26 at Jefferson Performing Arts.

Theproduction, and the music, touches on some weighty subject matter that might seem pervasive in contemporary home lifetoday —pain,recovery and empowerment.

Theshowwon two Tony Awardsand a Grammy for thecast album, andit includessome of Morissette’sgreatest hits like “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” “You Learn” and “Ironic.”

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com. 2shows

Joining Higdoninthe show willbeDonald Jones Jr., aNew Orleans native and Broadway veteran of “Frozen” and “Chicago”;Deri’Andra Y’vette Tucker, whopairs her New Orleans musical

Thestory,whichcenters on aWhite family in Connecticutwith an adopted Black daughterand alot of under-thesurface issues, paints the picture of suburbanlifeusing apalette of some harsh realities, including post-trauma addiction,sexuality, sexual violence andpressures from within andout.

But the showalso dealswith the Healyfamily making progress in one’slife andrelationships andhow baddecisions can bring aboutgrowth. And pairedwith Morissette’s music, it makes for aunique stage experience. Jack Lampertdirectsthe productionwith Katie HarrisonasMaryJane Healy, Michael Smith is Steve Healy, AmberLemelle as Frankie Healy, Colin Richard as Nick Healy, Adrienne Simmons as Jo Taylor, Ty Robbins as Phoenix, CadenceHebertasBella Fox, NathanParrish as Andrew. Othercast areAriyana Reed,Cynthia Jickling, Alyssa Daigle,Noah Smith, AlleePeck, Christina Ingrassia,Jenevieve Fortes, NathanLong, Rachel Gagnard, Donnie Lawson, Alyssa Bennefield andRyan Kelly Moore. Music directionisby BrandonBanks, and MonicaOrdonezchoreographs the show. Producersnotethe musical is recommended formature audiences ages 16 andup. The showisat 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and2 p.m. Sundays at 6400 Airline Drive in Metairie.Ticketsstart at $39. Visit jpas.org.

‘Curse’delayed

“The Irish Curse,” the next scheduledproductionfor Cutting Edge Centerofthe Arts in Slidell, is expected to open next month after adelay from the originaldates in April. Organizers at the theater said the adult comedyabout asupport group of Irish-American men will be running Fridays andSaturdays, May8-16. For information, visit cuttingedgetheater.com.

Higdon

Harrison

Williams

Lemelle

Jones

Smith

Tucker

Richard

Victor Andrews

music music music

Hogs forthe Causeis2 festivalsrolledinto1

Keith Spera SOUND CHECK

Spring festivals are in full bloom, and big events dominate the entertainment calendar this weekend across the New Orleans area.

Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate.com

BELOW: The grill is fired up at the 2024 Hogs for the Cause.

STAFFFILE PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

HOGS FORTHE CAUSE

FRIDAY-SATURDAY,UNO LAKEFRONT

ARENA GROUNDS

Hogs for the Cause is abarbecuefestival with lots of music and amusicfestival with lots of barbecue.The annual charitable event raises funds for families dealing with pediatric cancer.As teams compete for thehonor of best barbecueinmultiple categories, attendees roam the grounds, eatingand taking in the music at two outdoor stages and another inside atent, all on the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena grounds

The music rosters assembled by Hogs founder and CEO Becker Hall and HepCat Entertainment’s Adam Shipley over theyears tend to favor Americana music and country.This year’sFriday headliner is amake-up appearance by singer,songwriter and guitarist Stephen Wilson Jr., whohad to drop outofthe 2025 Hogs fest at the last minute after his mother was critically injured in an ATV accident.

Joining him on Friday are Buffalo Traffic Jam, Lance Roark, Robert Jon &the Wreck, Lamont Landers,the BandLoula, The BandFeel, Louisiana Surf Departmentand KG &the Bad Habits.

Topping Saturday’sbill on the main stage is Charles Wesley Godwin. He’sjoined by theCastellows,Jason Scott &the High Heat,Marfa, Rootbeer Richie & theReveille, East Nash Grass, Jeremie Albino, D.K. Harrel, Fust,HollyRock, the Bones of J.R. Jones and Southern Avenue. Tickets, if still available, are $60 for Friday,$80 for Saturday or $110 for atwo-day pass. Go to hogsfest.orgtosee the complete schedule and for tickets.

OTHERNOTEWORTHYSHOWS

THURSDAY

Idiosyncratic country/blues/soul singer-songwriter-guitarist Charley Crockett is from Dallas but spent summersinNew Orleans in his youth. He later busked in the French Quarter and logged several years living an itinerant existence in NewYork City and Paris before eventually returning to Texas and getting serious about music. These days, he records and tours at asteady pace. At 4p.m. Thursday,he’ll perform and sign copies of his new album, “Age of the Ram,” at Euclid Records, 3301 Chartres St., in the Bywater neighborhood. He’ll then headline ashow April 24 at the Saenger Theatre.

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street presents Josh, Josh &Friends, featuring NewOrleans-based guitarist Joshua “HaveaGreat Day” Starkman and musician/social media influencer Josh Harmon,best knownfor his “Rhythms of Comedy” videos. They’ll perform at 7:30 p.m.and 9:30 p.m., backed by aband of local musicians. Tickets are $30.

FRIDAY

After along recording hiatus, New Orleans singer-songwriter Kristin Diable is back with anew album, “Impossible Things.” The album couches her sumptuous voice in smart, understated arrangements that straddle the line between Americana music and contemporary pop. She celebrates the release of “Impossible Things” with a9 p.m. show Friday at Chickie WahWah. Tickets start at $30.

Stephen Wilson Jr.

KristinDiable

music music music

HONDO RODEO FEST

FRIDAY-SUNDAY,

CAESARS SUPERDOME

The Hondo Rodeo Fest is a combination championship rodeo and classic rock/country concert Friday through Sunday in the Caesars Superdome.

Each day kicks off with the Hondo Street Fest, a Western-style street fair at Champions Square from noon to 6 p.m. With “mutton bustin’” contests, vendor booths and performances by the likes of Neal McCoy (Friday), Montgomery Gentry (Saturday) and Randall King (Sunday), the Street Fest is free and open to the public.

The Superdome opens at 4:15 p.m. daily for the ticketed events inside. Rodeo events run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. daily, the concerts crank up at the front of the Dome floor

The current incarnation of Lynyrd Skynyrd is up first on Friday, followed by country rocker Jason Aldean at 10 p.m. Saturday’s double shot of

country opens with Old Dominion and concludes with Cody Johnson. Raspyvoiced country-rock singer-songwriter Bailey Zimmerman opens Sunday’s concert followed by a closing set from rock band Creed.

Single-night tickets start at $63. A three-night ticket package starts at $190.

Additionally, singer Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Rickey Medlocke, of Lynyrd Skynyrd, are scheduled to sign

bottles of the band’s signature Hell House Whiskey at the Rouses store at 4500 Tchoupitoulas St. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. They’ll only be signing bottles purchased at the store; no outside items are permitted.

FRIDAY (continued)

New Orleans smooth jazz saxophonist Clarence Johnson III performs a birthday concert with Cornerstone at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in Central City Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $34.

New Orleans drum master Herlin Riley powers his quartet at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.

SATURDAY

Afro-Cuban jazz band Otra reunites at 10 p.m. at the Maple Leaf Bar for a tribute to its late percussionist, Michael Skinkus, who died in January after performing and teaching in New Orleans for nearly 40 years. Tickets are $17.

Havana-born, New Orleans-based multi-instrumentalist and singer Yusa fronts her World of Rhythms project at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

Indie-pop singer, songwriter and guitarist Mei Semones is at Tipitina’s with John Roseboro. Tickets start at $20.

SUNDAY

Zebra singer and guitarist Randy Jackson will play a solo acoustic set at Rock ’N’ Bowl starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.

The New Orleans Jazz Vipers swing out on traditional, and danceable, New Orleans jazz at 7 p.m. at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets are $10.

Cajun accordionist Bruce Daigrepont hosts his monthly early-evening fais do-do at Tipitina’s starting at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are $15.

MONDAY

Rapper HaSizzle and the To Be Continued Brass Band team up at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets start at $15.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Clarence Johnson III

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