The Times-Picayune 06-07-2026

Public schoolsshrink whilestaffing grows

With statefunding uncertain, toughchoices areahead

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Joey Richard likes to say that he conductsresearch from behind his barber chair.

It’swhere Richard, theowner of Holliwood Cutz barber shop in Opelousas, deducedthat thelocal school system is shrinking.

“Every year I’ve been in business,”hesaid, “I’m cutting less and less kids.”

EMPTY DESKS

THECRISIS OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT IN LA.’S TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Second in an occasional series

Like nearly everyother school district in Louisiana, St. Landry Parish has seen enrollmentfall as families have fewer kids, move away or opt forcharters or homeschool. Yetevenasthe school system lost roughly a quarter of its studentsover the past decade,its workforce grew by nearly20%.

School officialssay the positionsare necessary to serve the area’smanystudentswithcomplex needs —but it’s not clear thedistrict can afford them. Richard, who has two schoolaged children andwhose wife is aclassroom aide, watched with dismaylastmonth as local voters rejected atax hike that would haveboostedschool employees’ lowpay,leading frustrated busdrivers —who earn less than $25,000annually— to stageasick-out. When Richard attended the School Board meeting afew days after the May vote,anofficial in the financedepartment said he would cut some positions and reduce hisown salary to chip away at the district’snearly $8 million deficit.

ä See SCHOOLS, page 3A

School enrollmentdown, employment up

Nearly 40%ofLouisiana school districtsloststudentsfrom 2014 to 2024 even as they addedemployees

School district

Oldchurch, newbeginning

Mandeville couple plans to restore1886building

BY BOBWARREN Staff writer

TwoPresbyterians buy an old Methodist church.

“I know,right?” Amy Crane said one recent afternoon, and shrugged, realizing itsounds like the openingofajoke.“Yeah,we bought achurch.” The Methodist Episcopal Church in New

Orleansestablisheda missioninMandeville in 1865 that would go on to become one of the northshore’s longest-standing Blackcongregations. Theoriginal church was replaced in 1886,witha wood buildingbecomingits home on Lamarque Street, just acouple blocks off Lake Pontchartrain.

For decades, NewellUnited Methodist Church thrived. Butinrecent years the churchsaw adwindlingnumber of worshippers. It closedin2023.

“COVID was the deathofthe church,”said

ä See CHURCH, page 6A

N.O. courts became flashpoint in legislative session

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Landry worked behind thescenesonbills aimed at city,insiderssay ä Legislature passes more than 900 bills. PAGE 10A

Gov.Jeff Landry’sopening address to the state Legislaturethree months agotookanemotional turn whenhelooked up at thevisitors gallery in theHouse chamber andaskedthe family of Jacob Carter to stand up. Jacob would be alive today, Landry told the hushed crowd, if adelinquent teenager hadbeen at home, unable to leave without an anklemonitor betrayinghis departure. Instead, Landry said, “incompetent” juvenile court judges in NewOrleans had stopped tracking the teenager, andhe killed Jacob, avisiting bagel shop owner,outside the French Quarter one evening.

In his remarks, the governor then moved beyond juvenile court judges to indict the entire judicial system in NewOrleans.

“I strongly urge this Legislature to implement rigorous judicial reform, as justice delayed,

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

As Louisiana officials negotiated with Hyundai to build amassive steel mill in the state, they used confidential agreements to provide much more generousincentives than have been publicly known.

Records obtained by The Times-Picayune show that Louisiana —through the state and local governments and Entergy —collectively offered incentives worth $2.6 billion to Hyundai, apackage that amounts to roughly half the overall cost of the $5.8 billion steel plant that the company plans to

ä See TALKS, page 12A ä See SESSION, page 8A

John and Amy Crane stand outside Newell Christian Chapel in Mandeville on May27. The Cranes bought the churchto preserve itshistory and cultural significancein the community

STAFFPHOTO

By BRETT DUKE

STAFF PHOTOSByLESLIEWESTBROOK

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Ukraine targets

St. Petersburg again

Residents of St. Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city Saturday morning, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.

The attack came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart.

St. Petersburg Gov Alexander Beglov said three people sustained minor injuries in the attack. He advised residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service, while regional Gov Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region in what he called an “unprecedented attack.” Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.

“Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region — to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that drones also hit an oil depot in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region.

The renewed attack on St. Petersburg is the latest embarrassing blow to Putin’s efforts to cast the conflict as a distant event that doesn’t affect Russian daily life.

Trump pardons former GOP congressman

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has issued a pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman from Indiana who served nearly two years in prison for making illegal stock trades based on inside information after he left office.

Buyer was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023 for trades made while working as a consultant and lobbyist. He was ordered to forfeit more than $350,000, representing the amount of the illegal gains, and pay a $10,000 fine. He was released in 2025.

The Supreme Court in May rejected Buyer’s appeal without comment or noted dissent.

In granting “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” Trump cited Buyer’s career as a judge advocate general in the Army and in the House that was “distinguished and highly productive.” The pardon was dated Thursday and released by the White House late Friday Buyer said the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and that it was “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit.” He maintains that he is innocent.

India’s ‘cockroaches’ hold first street protest

NEW DELHI Hundreds of supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party, an online joke that has drawn millions of followers across India, gathered for the first time in the capital on Saturday for its biggest real-world test yet.

The protest near Parliament in New Delhi marked the movement’s first step into street politics after weeks of dominating social media feeds and news headlines, attracting widespread support among young Indians.

The immediate trigger for Saturday’s protest was the reported irregularity in a recent exam that quickly became a broader outlet for frustration over India’s education system and limited job opportunities.

“Time to turn this tiny joke into a revolution,” the official CJP account on X posted Friday. Young people in India make up more than a quarter of the population.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online movement, joined the protest after arriving from the U.S. Police had laid steel barricades at the arrivals section of New Delhi’s international airport. Dipke said in a social media post shortly after arriving that police granted permission to the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, to hold the protest, adding: “Cockroaches gather at Jantar Mantar.”

U.S. exchanges fire with Iran

Strikes test fragile ceasefire

BY SAMY MAGDY and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press

CAIRO Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait that were intercepted early Saturday, Bahrain’s government said, and called on Tehran to halt attacks on Gulf neighbors that test a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.

Iran said that it targeted American military assets in both countries, after the U.S. attacked surveillance facilities on Qeshm Island and near Sirik that Iran said were used to protect borders and “ensure the security of navigation in international waters.” Tehran called the attack a ceasefire violation.

sites in response. “The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command said. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which hosts U.S. forces in Kuwait, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to the state-run IRNA news agency

The U.S. military said there were no reports of harm to U.S. personnel. Earlier in the week, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport, killing one person and wounding dozens.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is seeking to ratchet up economic pressure on Iran.

The U.S Treasury Department is considering using Iranian assets to help Gulf

The latest exchange of fire came as the Trump administration presses Iran to make a deal to end the war, which has strained the global economy and threatened a hunger crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

Palestinian officials: Israeli troops kill baby in West Bank

BY MAHMOUD ILLEAN, SAMY MAGDY and SAM MEDNICK Associated Press

HEBRON,West Bank Israeli troops shot at a car in the occupied West Bank, killing a 7-month-old Palestinian baby and wounding his parents, the Palestinian health ministry said, with the bullet striking the boy in the face

The Israeli military said that soldiers shot at a vehicle perceived to be accelerating toward them near Hebron. It said an initial inquiry found that the three Palestinians wounded were uninvolved civilians.

Israeli military activity, and settler violence against Palestinians, have surged in the territory since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.

The baby’s father, Bethlehem University lecturer Fahd Abu Haikal, told The Associated Press that a bullet struck the windshield before piercing his right hand and striking his son and wife in the back seat Friday evening. Another bullet struck the hood, according to AP journalists who saw the car

The bullet passed through Sam Fahd Abu Haikal’s face.

“He was the entire world,” Haikal said of the boy, who turned seven months on Friday

The mother was in critical condition, with shrapnel close to her heart.

The baby’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag. His father carried him. The men placed the small bundle at their feet and bowed in prayer

The father demanded justice. “At the end they tell you it was a mistake,” he said. “Nothing is called a mistake.”

The baby’s grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, was also in the car She said that they were driving near a checkpoint and stopped when they saw Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance. She said she initially thought the gunfire was warning shots.

Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are seldom penalized, and were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases based on 2,427 complaints alleging wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din.

allies pay for damages they sustained in the war, according to a person familiar with Secretary Scott Bessent’s thinking who spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity to share internal deliberations.

The U.S. military said it shot down several Iranian missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab allies, and struck some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar

Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, arrived in Iran on Saturday as part of mediation efforts.

The U.S. military kept up its blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s grip on the strait, a crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments. Energy prices have spiked, posing political problems for President Donald Trump’s Republican Party before the midterm congressional election.

Israeli airstrikes kill 9 people in Lebanon after ceasefire deal

BY BASSEM MROUE Associated Press

BEIRUT Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed nine people including three members of the Lebanese military, the Lebanese army and state media said, days after the two sides reached a new ceasefire deal.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun called the strike against its military a “flagrant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and international law during an “ongoing escalation that threatens stability and security in the south.”

An airstrike on a vehicle on a road linking Nabatiyeh city with Marjayoun town killed a brigadier general, a captain and another soldier, the army said, without releasing their names. Another airstrike on Saksakiyah village killed six people and wounded four, the staterun National News Agency said.

Lebanon’s army said the “continued, deliberate, and repeated Israeli aggression” aims to thwart efforts toward a solution “that would restore stability, establish a comprehensive ceasefire and lead to the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Leba-

Authorities: Multiple people shot near festival in Ohio

BY JAIMIE DING and THOMAS PEIPERT Associated Press

Multiple people were shot Saturday near a community festival in Toledo, Ohio, and police said a search for the suspects was ongoing following an outbreak of gunfire that sent people scrambling for cover

The Toledo Police Department said the shooting happened near the Old West End Festival, an annual gathering of live music and home tours in a historic district of the city Officers on the scene found multiple people shot and “many victims” were taken to hospitals, the department said in a statement.

Authorities did not immediately detail the extent of the injuries. The department said an active search was underway for those responsible.

City council member Theresa Morris said there were at least eight victims from the shooting

“This tragedy is really weighing heavily on both the residents and those who visit and enjoy this festival year after year,” she said.

Ohio Gov Mike DeWine said in a statement: “I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence.”

Multiple videos posted to social media showed people running over the sound of gunshots and emergency officials tending to others who appeared wounded.

Kevin Berry said he was sitting in the neighborhood arboretum listening to live music with his friends when he heard a handful of gunshots ring out.

“Everybody hit the deck,” he said. When he looked back up, he saw a gun being tossed to the ground less than 50 feet away from him. Police officers who were already on-site for the festival immediately responded to the scene. He said he saw at least five people with gunshot wounds.

nese territories.”

The Israeli military confirmed hitting a vehicle and said it was “moving suspiciously” toward soldiers near Kfar Tibnit village, after the military received “concrete indications” that the Iranianbacked Hezbollah militant group would direct fire toward Israeli soldiers from the same area.

The military said it operates against Hezbollah and not against the Lebanese army Meanwhile, Israel’s military announced the deaths of two soldiers in southern Lebanon, without the dates they died.

The latest ceasefire, an-

nounced in Washington, came through U.S.-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon’s government, which accuses Hezbollah of dragging the country into war and made efforts to disarm it before the latest hostilities. Hezbollah has refused the truce. Israeli troops have seized around a fifth of Lebanon, pushing farther into the country’s south than at any time since the end of Israel’s 1982-2000 occupation. More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, two days after Israel and the U.S. began attacking Iran.

Lebanese Red Cross personnel and rescue workers stand next to a destroyed vehicle on Saturday after an Israeli strike in Kfar Tebnit, Lebanon.

PROVIDED PHOTO By THE LEBANESE ARMy

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI

People walk Sunday past anti-U.S graffiti painted on the wall of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran.

PHOTO PROVIDED By WTVG Police officers work Saturday at the scene of a shooting near a festival in Toledo, Ohio.

To Richard, the right answer is both obvious and agonizing: The district needs fewer schools and workers.

“I’m not the superintendent,” he said, “but I’m sure that he’s going to have to cut the fat off the chicken.” Nationwide, schools have been staffing up for years, even as they enroll fewer students. The pandemic turbocharged the trend as schools used federal relief funds to hire counselors, tutors and other staffers to help students overcome COVID-related learning setbacks, even as many families pulled their kids out of public school.

In Louisiana, the school workforce grew by 6% over the past decade while enrollment fell by 7%, according to federal data from 2014 to 2024. Post-pandemic, the state’s public schools lost nearly 44,000 students, yet added more than 11,000 staffers mainly teachers, but also classroom aides and administrators, according to 2019 to 2024 figures

Part of the statewide staffing increase is due to public charter schools, which expanded rapidly over the past decade to meet surging demand. But about 40% of traditional public school districts had larger workforces in 2024 than a decade earlier, even though their student counts were smaller, according to federal data.

District leaders say they used extra staff to respond to students’ soaring academic and mental health needs, especially after COVID, as well as state priorities like the push to expand career education. The additional educators have led to lower class sizes, a priority for many teachers and parents, and likely contributed to Louisiana students’ remarkable rebound from pandemic learning loss and recent reading gains.

State leaders could embrace the enrollment declines as an opportunity to boost Louisiana’s perstudent spending, which is higher than most Southern states yet below the national average But when the state education board sought to give school districts some of the $42 million the state saved this year in education funding, which is tied to enrollment, lawmakers rejected the idea. Instead, Gov Jeff Landry last

week proposed slashing nearly $170 million in state funding for schools, saying the money should instead pay for teacher stipends that the Legislature left out of the state budget. Despite the rising cost of insurance and utilities, Landry argued that school districts can afford the cut by reducing “the waste and the bureaucracy.”

The number of people “that school boards are employing, noninstructional, has risen at the detriment of our teachers,” he said, calling for greater “fiscal discipline.”

Now, with federal COVID money long gone and state funding uncertain, shrinking districts that have tried to stave off school closures and layoffs might soon have no other option

“We just have to continue to get our staff to align with our student numbers,” said St. Landry Parish Schools Superintendent Milton Batiste III. “As long as we can do that, we can survive.”

Why staffing surged

tween enrollment and spending.

“I’m going to keep hammering this until people understand,” Landry said Tuesday, standing before a giant chart with two intersecting lines “The amount of students in the system keeps going down, and the amount of money we spend keeps going up.”

How is that possible? The explanation centers on staffing because employee salaries and benefits are by far the largest school expense.

One cost driver is the changing student population. While total enrollment has declined, groups with greater needs have grown — and those students often require additional support from staff.

Louisiana’s population of students still learning English, many of them recent immigrants, soared over 150% from 2010 to 2021, more than any other state, according to an analysis by New America, a national think tank. The share of students with disabilities grew 3 percentage points over the past decade, according to state data.

pandemic. Many used the money to hire staffers who helped reopen classrooms and catch up students who fell behind.

Schools also added employees to meet new state demands, which in recent years have called for enhanced tutoring, career training, revamped reading instruction and mandatory courses in computer science and financial literacy

On the flip side, school systems can’t automatically cut positions as enrollment slips because declines typically are spread across campuses. Classrooms and schools need some personnel, like principals and custodians, no matter how few students they have.

“The challenge for school districts is that their costs don’t decline at the same rate as they lose students,” said Carrie Hahnel, senior associate partner at Bellwether, a national education consultancy, who has studied the impact of student loss on school budgets. How can shrinking schools afford to add employees when state funding is based on enrollment?

K-12 education spending over $5 billion — comes from local revenue.

For example, St. Tammany Parish received about $43 million more in local revenue in 2025 than it did a decade earlier, adjusted for inflation, even though it lost about 2,800 students, according to state data.

When the governor unveiled his plan to cut school budgets, he pointed to the growing gap be-

Another factor is the $4 billion in federal COVID funds that Louisiana schools received during the

The main reason is that school districts get some federal aid and their local tax revenue regardless of how many students they serve. And in Louisiana, nearly half of

“A school district doesn’t call for a referendum when they have declining enrollment to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to reduce our property taxes,’” said Matthew H. Lee, an economics professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Because some funding doesn’t fall in proportion to enrollment, shrinking school districts have increased per-student spending and staffing more than growing districts, Lee and his colleague, Benjamin Scafidi, found in a study of national data from 1999 to 2019. The additional staffing might benefit some students, but it typically comes at the expense of higher salaries — including for teachers, who earn less in Louisiana than almost anywhere else.

“Adjusted for inflation, teacher salaries have been flat over a few

ä See SCHOOLS, page 4A

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Helix AI and Medical Academy is seen in Opelousas on Monday.

Batiste

decades,” Scafidi said, “because the money went to the staffing surge.”

Schools have been adding employees for decades, so the trend could continue, he added. But other experts see aperfect storm— sharply falling enrollment, rising operational costs and tightening budgets —that will force districts to downsize.

“I anticipate that we’re just at the front end of this,” Hahnel said. “We’re going to see much more shrinking of our school systems in the future.”

District downsizing

Caddo Parish mightoffer a glimpse of this future.

The school system, which includes Shreveport, shed nearly 8,500students over the past decade. In response, officials say,they’ve taken aggressive steps to rightsize the district.

More than20schoolshave been shuttered since 2000, and the district had about 1,050 feweremployees in 2024 than adecade earlier Superintendent Keith Burton said he tried to make the district less top-heavy, moving central office staffersinto schoolsand putting principals in charge of teacher training rather than district officials.

“If astaff member can’t draw astraight line between their daily work and the impact on ateacher or a student,” he said,“then we question the need for that position.”

During the pandemic, enrollment cratered at schools like University Elementary in Shreveport, which went from about 1,100 students to just over 600. Principal Ashley Atkinshad to let go of teachers and clerks —for awhile, she was answering the school’smain phone line —and repurposedempty classrooms as office and storage space.

While enrollment has climbedbacktoabout 860 students, and theschool improved its state rating, Atkins hashad to do more with less —including fewer staffers.

“That has been the hardest thing,” she said. “When you don’thave the children, you don’thave the jobs.”

Reckoningwithenrollment

While some Louisiana schooldistricts have started to rightsize, othershave put off the reckoning.

Nearly all of Louisiana’s roughly 70 traditional school districts lost students over the past decade. Meanwhile, their employmentlevels often seesawed, going up one year and down the next. Most added workers during the pandemic as student needs spiked and federal aid flooded in.

But by 2024, 30 districts with declining enrollment had fewer employeesthan they did adecade earlier, according to an analysisof federal data. By contrast, 26 districts had fewer students, but more staffers than in 2014. Some of the difference

could stem from funding,as school systemsinwealthier communities get more local taxdollars, while those servingneedierstudents getmorestateand federal money.Yet staffingcan differ greatly even between districts with similar funding levels, saidMaggie Cicco, aresearchfellowat Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab, which has highlighted thedivergence of school enrollment and employment.

“How much money gets to adistrict is just the beginning ofthe conversation,” shesaid. “They reallymade very differentdecisions in their staffing.”

St.Landry Parishinsouthcentral Louisiana isrichin Cajun-Creoletraditions

“It’s gumbo for your soul, thetourism tagline goes

soundly rejected atax hike in 2022, the School Board consideredconsolidating schools but took no immediate action.

“There’s been study after study after study saying thatSt. Landry Parish is operating too many schools,” saidRod Sias, aformer Opelousas city official and local NAACP chapter president,ata districtmeeting in

2024. “Now,we’re in asituation where if we do not do something extreme within three years, it’s goingtobe unsustainable.”

Under Batiste’sleadership, the district moved to close three schoolsin2025. In March, the boardvoted to merge an underenrolled middle school withahigh school after state Superintendent Cade Brumley threatened to takeoverthe F-ratedjuniorhigh.

In an interview,Brumley praised Batiste’s“courageous decision” to downsize, saying districts can usethe savings to pay teachersmore.

“I just believe that school closure works,” he said. “It makesyoursystemmore efficient.”

The St. Landry Parish school system still faces abudgetshortfall, andin May votersagain refused to raise taxestofund school employee raises and campus upgrades.

Sias, who tried to rally support for the ballot measure,now is helping launch afoundation to raise private money for the school system. He argues that, while the districtmust do its part to cutcosts by consolidating moreschools, thestate and taxpayers must adequately fund the system—otherwise more familieswill chooseotheroptions.

“How do you reverse that?” he said. “You have to invest in your schools.”

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recentlyadded positions, suchasassistant principals, are standardinmost school systems.

“I’veseen districts where youhaveanabundanceof resources, an abundance of people,” he said, “and this is not one of them.”

Butthe district also did notclose schoolsasenrollment plummeted, which drove up per-student spending. After parish voters

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but limited in resources. The school district gets about $53 million in local revenue, compared with $330 million in St.Tammany, according to stateestimates.

The St. Landry school systemlostabout 3,500 students during the decade that ended in 2024. The district’s workforce fluctuated over that period,but in 2024 it employedabout 270 more people thanadecade earlier, according to federal data. Batiste, whostarted as superintendent in 2023, explained that many of the positions are federally funded; others,including literacy coaches, were required by statelaw.Henoted that the sprawling 900-square-mile district complicates school consolidation and requires abig transportation team. Andhearguedthat some

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STAFFPHOTOSByLESLIE WESTBROOK

The St.Landryschool system lost about 3,500 students from 2014 to 2024.

RodSias is helping launch afoundation to raise money for the St.Landry school system.

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Adrian Calvin, aMandeville resident and longtime Newell member. “Wejust never could rebound.”

If not for Amy Crane and herhusband,John, Newell might have eventually been demolishedand become the site of another house or two in ahigh-demand residential area, now known as Old Mandeville. The Cranes, who live ablock or so from the church, thought the buildingdeserved abetter fate.

Communities need history, John Crane said. And communities need churches.

“We’reChristians and we feel strongly about churches,” he said. “Churches have always been the glue of a community.”

So in 2024, the Cranes plunked down $340,000to buy the old Newell church, along with the neighboring parsonage, from theUnited Methodist Church. They started calling it Newell Christian Chapel.

(The Methodist Church, meanwhile, donated the profits from the sale to Dillard University in New Orleans, which used it to make repairs to Dillard’sLawless MemorialChapel.)

Keepingitachurch

The Cranes’ short-range goal is to raise and restore the parsonage,then do the same for the church building.

The long-range goal? Well, by and large, the details are still sorting themselves,the couple says.

“Wedon’treally know what the Lord wants for this thing,” said John. He is in the shipping business and Amy is aformer CPAwho has also worked as alibrarian. They do know one thing for certain: The old Newell churchwillremain just that, achurch

“The faith part is really important to us,” John said. The couple are members of First PresbyterianChurch in Covington. The Cranes ntly t Soon after buying the church, theC d

isters,founded numerous Black churches in the years following theCivil War. One of the earliest accounts that Brown could dig up is aMarch 1867 article from the New Orleans Advocate, which at the timewas a Methodistnewspaper,which describes aBlack preacher’s trip acrossLake PontchartrainfromNew Orleans to Mandeville.

couraged, andthinks the M.E. Ship is fairly launched, upon the Mandeville waters,” the story reported.

ADecember 1886 story in the Southwestern Christian Advocate, another Methodist newspaper, reportedthat the Rev.Moses T. Fairfax,along with some others, tore down the“old hulk that was called the Methodist church” and

that it was replaced.

“The newchurch is an ornament to thetown:no member of ourchurchneed be ashamed of it,” the story reported.

That roughly 2,400-squarefoot church from 1886 underwent aremodeling in 1917 before it was renovated in 1971 and the exterior covered with bricks, the Cranes’ research shows.

The Cranes have notyet been able to find howthe churchcame to bear the name “Newell.”Brown, the archivist, said he also was unable to find any record of it.

John said Lamarque Street wasa working-class neighborhood at the timethe church was established, with both Black and White residents. Twoother Lamarque Street churches, both Baptist, also have Black congregations.

Andin1885, ayear before currentNewellchurchwas built, agroup of civic-minded African American residents formed the Dew Drop Social andBenevolentAssociation to help the community with things such as food, housing and funeral services.

Adecade later,that group erected asimple wooden building on Lamarque Street which became the Dew Drop Jazz &Social Hall, which hosteda who’swho of jazz and blues greats and still runs asold-out slate of fall and springtime shows each year

The churches and Dew

Drop contributed to avibrant African American communityalong Lamarque Street, saidJamie Roche, aboard memberofthe nonprofit that preservesand runs the Dew Drop.

“All those things played a role,” she said.

Calvin, 61, said his family roots go deep in Newell’shistory.His great-grandmother andgrandmother were both very active members, and he became one as well. The unique aspect of the church, he said, was that it was ahistorically Black congregation in the middle of aneighborhood that in modern times became affluent and White.

“Some people wouldcome outtothe porchesand listen (to the church services) on Sunday mornings, drinking theircoffee,” he said. “The singing, theservice, they could hear everything.” Calvin saidhe’sstruggled to find anew “homechurch” since Newell closed, though he regularly attends other churches.

“Having to watchand be a part of thedoors closing, it just affected me,” he said. John Crane acknowledges that Newell is probably “not important architecturally.” But givenits birth during Reconstruction, he said, “it’sa unique history. Ithink there’s alot of storiestobe found.”

Email BobWarren at bwarren@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTOSByBRETT DUKE

AmyCrane,left,talks with the Rev. AndrewHollingsworth of Church of the Holy Trinity:An Anglican Mission at Newell Christian Chapel in Mandeville on May27. The Holy Trinity congregation holds services at the chapel.

John Crane looks at an illuminated cross inside Newell Christian Chapel in Mandeville.

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denied, or neglected is no justice at all,” he told legislators, the Carter family and others in the House chamber

By the time the regular legislative session ended Monday night, Landry had gone farther than anyone anticipated against New Orleans. Thanks to his push, the Republican-controlled Legislature eliminated nine judgeships in New Orleans, eliminated funding for 10 assistant district attorneys and prevented Calvin Duncan from becoming the Orleans Parish clerk of criminal district court by erasing his job four days before he took office.

dropped sharply in the city in recent years.

Landry moved forward anyway

Why Landry picked Morris

Four bills targeted New Orleans.

Two bills eliminating nine judgeships and a third bill abolishing Duncan’s job were sponsored by Sen. Jay Morris, R-Monroe.

The fourth bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter Egan, R-Covington, took away 10 assistant district attorney positions from the office of Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, as part of a last-minute deal to give more of those positions to East Baton Rouge and St Tammany and Washington parishes.

“The tide has turned against New Orleans politically It’s pretty drastic,” said Bernie Pinsonat, a veteran political consultant and pollster in Baton Rouge.

“In the past, there’s always been a segment of the Legislature that felt the further you get away from New Orleans, the less you care about it. What’s changed is that there are so many Republicans — they have twothirds control of the House and Senate and there aren’t many White Democrats to protect the city.”

Landry’s moves represented a remarkable shift for a governor who has been saying since he took office 30 months ago that he is trying to lift up the city Landry bulked up policing in New Orleans by making Troop NOLA a permanent presence and authorized infrastructure improvements to the city in advance of the 2025 Super Bowl.

“No governor has spent more time in the city of New Orleans than myself,” Landry told WBOK-AM listeners in November “I’m working to try to make the city of New Orleans a better, more hospitable place so we can attract people and businesses and folks can feel safe in that city.”

Some political analysts believe that Landry is attacking New Orleans, a Democratic stronghold, to play to his Republican base in advance of his 2027 reelection campaign. Polls indicate that Landry has lost enough popularity to be vulnerable.

Several Republicans said Landry has simply grown frustrated with a legal system that he believes favors criminals at the expense of crime victims.

“His pushing these bills sends a shock wave through the judiciary system in New Orleans — and elsewhere,” said Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie. “He expects a greater sense of urgency.”

Landry did not respond to a request for an interview

“Everyone knows the inefficiencies of these offices when compared to the rest of the state,” the governor said in a statement.

After his very public opening speech to legislators, Landry worked behind the scenes to pressure and cajole Republican legislators to pass the legislation aimed at New Orleans.

On March 18, he met at the Governor’s Mansion with three Democratic New Orleans senators — Jimmy Harris, Royce Duplessis and Gary Carter to lay out his plans. They objected, saying that the governor was singling out New Orleans and that crime had

This account is based on interviews with 21 state legislators and others involved in the four pieces of legislation.

Morris, 68, has been something of a renegade Republican during his 15 years in the Legislature. In 2019, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Chemical Association tried to defeat Morris, then a House member, when he ran for the state Senate. Morris had sponsored legislation to take away corporate tax breaks when legislators were trying to plug a budget gap.

Morris has not been on Landry’s legislative team, but the governor turned to him to sponsor the three New Orleans bills because Morris represents an area distant from New Orleans, chairs one of the Senate judiciary committees and is willing to take political heat.

Morris demonstrated that during the 2026 regular session by sponsoring redistricting legislation that is turning the district of U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, a Black Democrat from Baton Rouge, into one that favors a Republican. Hundreds of people went to the Capitol to object to Morris’ bill.

Morris was receptive to sponsoring Landry’s New Orleans-related bills because he had concluded, while performing his oversight role in chairing his committee, that Jason Williams had not been tough enough on criminals. Morris had already sponsored a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2024 that made it easier to investigate complaints against judges.

Like other Republicans, Morris thought New Orleans’ judiciary was ripe for downsizing to match the city’s population loss.

Morris told colleagues he also had a personal reason for wanting to crack down on New Orleans. His daughter had been mugged years earlier in the city one afternoon while walking her dog.

Morris’ Senate Bill 256 would abolish the job to which Duncan had been overwhelmingly elected in November by giving its responsibilities to the Civil District Court clerk.

During his campaign, Duncan had become a cause célèbre of liberals nationwide because he studied law while serving a life sentence at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola before winning his release and having his conviction vacated.

After Hurricane Katrina, state lawmakers required New Orleans to merge its seven assessor offices into one and to merge its civil and criminal sheriff offices

ed to add new positions to the 19th Judicial District Court (East Baton Rouge) and the 22nd Judicial District Court (St. Tammany and Washington parishes).

Both areas had gained population in recent years.

But district attorneys in both judicial districts had failed to win the approval of local voters to agree to tax increases that would fund additional prosecutors. Now they had turned to the state.

After the House agreed to the 60 new warrants, the Senate Finance Committee approved an amendment that redistributed the warrants among district attorney’s offices throughout the state, at the expense of the 19th and 22nd judicial districts.

ment the next day, on May 28 just three days before the session ended — to carry out the change. The Senate approved the plan without discussion Egan accepted the hijacking of his bill because it added more warrants for the 19th and 22nd judicial districts.

District Attorney Hillar Moore will go from 55 warrants to 71 for the 19th Judicial District, while District Attorney Collin Sims will go from 30 to 44 for the 22nd. Williams never had a public forum to challenge the loss of 10 warrants, equal to $500,000 from his budget. Events moved so quickly that New Orleans legislators didn’t know that a report by the district attorneys association called for Williams to lose only three warrants.

but only after allowing the current officeholders to serve out their terms.

In Duncan’s case, lawmakers moved swiftly enough for Landry to sign the legislation on April 30 — Duncan was scheduled to take office on May 4.

On April 30, Landry told WBOK-AM that he wasn’t trying to keep Duncan from elective office.

Going after judges

In the meantime, Morris and Landry were pushing Senate Bill 197 In its original form, it would have eliminated four of New Orleans’ 4th Circuit Court of Appeal judgeships.

Facing pushback from judges and New Orleans legislators, Morris and Landry agreed to cut only two of the judgeships.

The legislation needed a two-thirds vote. It received the bare minimum of 26 votes in the Senate and then moved to the House for consideration.

Over a two-week period, the House was scheduled to take up SB197 four different times, but Landry and his legislative aides pulled the bill back each time because they lacked the 70 votes needed.

SB197 finally passed on May 27 with exactly 70 votes.

Two legislators involved with passage of the legislation said Landry had to agree to spending projects in the districts of several House members to secure their votes, a longtime practice of governors to pass legislation.

Morris and Landry were also pushing Senate Bill 217. In its initial form, it would have eliminated two of Orleans Parish’s 14 civil district court judgeships, one of the seven Municipal and Traffic Court judgeships and one of the four Juvenile Court judgeships.

Jimmy Harris, who has a close relationship with Senate President Henry told Henry that getting rid of civil district court judges made no sense, given the governor’s focus on crime, because those judges don’t handle criminal cases. Henry agreed and got Landry to save those positions on April 13 when the governor met in his office at the Capitol with the Senate Democratic Caucus.

But by then, SB217 also called for eliminating three criminal district court judges. By the time it won final passage on June 1, the session’s final day it erased those three positions, two Municipal and Traffic Court judges, and two Juvenile Court judges.

DAs also targeted

The fourth piece of legislation, House Bill 719 by Egan, began as an effort to

provide 60 new “warrants,” which are worth $50,000 apiece and can be used to hire new assistant district attorneys or supplement the pay of the existing government lawyers. Egan, 76, still speaks with an accent reflecting his upbringing in Ireland. He moved to Louisiana in 1971 to become a Catholic priest in Jefferson Parish, serving at two churches for eight years before leaving the priesthood, getting married, having four children and getting into the home health and hospice industry

Egan sponsored HB719 because he especially want-

Furious, Egan threatened to the district attorneys association that he would kill the bill as a result

Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, and Collin Sims, the district attorney for the 22nd district, spoke to Landry to ask for more warrants for their area

The governor proposed taking away 29 warrants from Jason Williams’ office. Sen Harris was livid when he learned this from Henry whose Metairie-based district also includes Uptown New Orleans. They negotiated the loss of warrants for Williams down to 10.

Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, presented an amend-

Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, saw the reduction as yet another attack on New Orleans and sharply questioned Egan when he presented the bill for final passage on May 31, the penultimate day of the session.

Rep. Mandie Landry, DNew Orleans, railed against the bill.

“Literally, the only people you’re hurting in Orleans are crime victims by this,” she said and then broadened her comments to the Morris bills as well. “There’s this irrational desire by some people in this building to stick it to New Orleans.”

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

State Rep. Gerald Beaullieu IV, R-New Iberia, reads a bill up for final consideration during the last day of the 2026 legislative session at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Monday.

Landry

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Legislature passes more than 900 bills

La.’s 2027 budget includes economic incentives, raises for state workers

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

When the U.S. Supreme Court issued its April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, it sent the state Legislature into overdrive.

Landry

The high court’s ruling — which found the state’s congressional voting map unconstitutional because the legislature relied too heavily on race in drawing it caused Gov Jeff Landry to cancel elections for the U.S. House just days before early voting, and sent the House and Senate scrambling to assemble a new map in the final month of the session.

Landry and the Legislature’s GOP supermajority eliminated one of the state’s two majority-Black, Democratic-leaning districts.

That left one such district that ties together New Orleans and Baton Rouge and five solidly Republican districts.

The push to eliminate the majority-Black district drew intense opposition.

Several hearings on the new map lasted for hours as speakers accused Republican leaders of disenfranchising Black voters, undermining decades of hard-won civil rights progress.

But, while redistricting dominated the final month of the session, it was far from the only thing of consequence that legislators did.

They passed a $47 billion budget for next year that includes more money for early childhood education and tutoring programs, economic development incentives for business that create high-paying jobs and road and infrastructure improvements. The budget includes raises for a number of state employees like judges, firefighters and prison guards.

Notably the budget does not include a $2,000 stipend teachers have received for the past few years But Landry and legislative leaders have said they will find money for those raises by cutting other spending in the state K-12 education budget.

All told the Legislature passed more than 900 bills and hundreds more resolutions and other legislation over the course of 85 days.

Here are some of the most important and controversial things they addressed.

Expanding death penalty

Louisiana broadened its definition of first-degree murder through a last-minute Senate amendment to House Bill 102 by state Rep Jeff Wiley, R-Maurepas

The change means more people could be subject to the death penalty, a punishment that can only be given for first-degree murder

The law adds killings carried out in public places when the defendant puts at least three people at risk of great harm. It also adds killings committed by people with illegal firearms and by people out on bail, probation or parole.

Lawmakers cited the Mall of Louisiana shooting to justify the change, but critics argued it was far too broad and questioned its relevance to the shooting.

House Bill 102 became Act 120 after the governor signed it into law

New homelessness laws

A proposal that drew some of the most public opposition made “unauthorized camping on public property” a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison. It also allows courts to set up homelessness programs that could help homeless people charged with that crime or others to avoid jail time and get connected with rehabilitative programs.

Proponents said it would help the state improve homeless people’s lives, but critics said it would do the opposite, making it more difficult for people to get housing and work by giving them arrest records.

House Bill 211 was sponsored by state Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, and backed by Landry As of Thursday, it had not yet been signed into law

No more inspection stickers

Drivers across most parishes in Louisiana will no longer need a vehicle inspection sticker thanks to House Bill 1085, by Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall. Instead, they will get a new Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program sticker that has a QR code listing the vehicle identification number when scanned.

Starting Jan. 1, there will be an annual $6 fee for the QR code sticker that will be assessed when registering a vehicle and renewing the registration.

However, the cities of New Orleans, Kenner and Westwego have local vehicle inspection programs that remain in effect. And drivers who live in Baton Rouge metro area are still subject to federal emissions testing requirements.

Marijuana near campuses

Anyone caught using marijuana within 2,000 feet of any school, college or university could be charged with a felony under House Bill 568. A conviction could result in up to a year in prison and up to a $1,000 fine.

Outside of a school zone, first-time possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor

Possession of 14 grams or less comes with a maximum

fine of $100. Rep Gabe Firment, RPollock, said he was inspired to bring the bill to address marijuana use at LSU football games. Landry celebrated the new law writing in a social media post: “We are bringing back the greatness of these familyfriendly environments — especially on game days!”

Critics argued the penalty was too harsh at a time when most of the country is scaling back punishments for marijuana

Removing elected officials

Several bills by state Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, sought to give the Legislature more power to remove elected officials from office for bad behavior They were controversial, with opponents saying they could easily be abused to target political enemies.

The Legislature did not pass Senate Bill 123, which arose amid calls for greater oversight of judges from Morris and Landry Though it went through several iterations, the final version of SB123 would have let voters decide whether judges ought to be subject to impeachment. It’s not currently clear whether they are.

However, Morris successfully pushed through Senate Bill 479, which began as a companion bill to SB123 but evolved into a bill that lays out an impeachment process for judges and other elected officials. Hypothetically, that could be used to test whether the constitution allows judges to be impeached.

Another measure by Morris, Senate Bill 425, also passed. Now Act 510, it allows the Legislature to vote to file civil lawsuits against elected officials they believe are guilty of “malfeasance” or “gross misconduct.” A judge would then oversee proceedings to decide whether the official should be removed.

The law does not apply to the governor, the lieutenant governor or judges, who are exempt from “removal by suit” under the constitution.

New Orleans court system

Republicans also passed bills specifically targeting New Orleans’ court system, which Landry and others have argued is over-funded and inefficient.

Perhaps most controversially Senate Bill 256 consolidated the civil and criminal clerk of courts offices.

Proponents argued New Orleans’ dual clerk role was unusual and inefficient, but supporters argued the bill was a thinly-veiled move to oust incoming criminal clerk Calvin Duncan, overturning the will of the voters.

Lawmakers also reduced the number of judges in the New Orleans area courts and cut funding for the city’s district attorney, as a last-minute amendment to a bill that increased funding for prosecutors in other jurisdictions.

Child abuse oversight

The Department of Children and Family Services will be subject to stricter oversight if Landry signs Senate Bill 237, by Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge.

Some state lawmakers, furious over a spate of child abuse or neglect deaths, at first called to completely dismantle the agency But they settled for new rules: DCFS would be required to report more detailed information about child abuse deaths, including prior agency involvement with the child or perpetrator, to the office of the Louisiana Child Ombudsman, a government watchdog for agencies that deal with children.

A new “critical incident review team” led by the attorney general’s office would meet quarterly to review child deaths caused by severe abuse and make recommendations on preventing future incidents. And trained professional interviewers from child advocacy centers will now handle interviews of children when DCFS or a law enforcement agency gets a report of child abuse.

Carbon capture

After intense debate, the legislature rejected some attempts to rein in carbon capture and storage, the practice of storing carbon from industrial emissions deep underground to avoid contributing to climate change.

Residents of some areas where carbon capture projects are planned pushed for bills that would give local governments the ability to ban the practice in their area. Others pushed for tougher laws on when companies can use eminent domain to place pipelines to transport the carbon.

But those bills failed amid opposition from industry groups that said carbon capture is important to the future of petrochemical

industry, and restricting it would put the state at a competitive disadvantage.

The aerospace industry

A package of bills aims to attract the aerospace industry to Louisiana — including a rumored SpaceX project along the cost in rural Vermilion Parish.

So far, state officials have not shared any details about project plans, and many say they signed nondisclosure agreements.

Some companies could get huge tax breaks, Including a big property tax exemption and state and local sales tax breaks for aerospace equipment. Aerospace companies would have stronger protections against lawsuits people file related to noise and other disturbances from flight activities, and they can more easily ask a judges to toss out any kind of lawsuit against them. Some aerospace activity and facility records will be exempt from public disclosure laws.

Prescription drugs costs

Lawmakers approved a package of four bills aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and setting tougher regulations for pharmacy benefit managers. PBMs are businesses that administer prescription drug benefits on behalf of health plans.

PBMs will no longer be able to tie the service fees they charge health plans to the amount of savings on drug prices they negotiate with drug manufacturers. And any savings they achieve through negotiations have to be passed onto health plans, rather than retained as profit. Starting in 2028, PBMs will only be able to charge health plans through a flat fee-for-service model.

The package also sets a higher dollar amount that PBMs must reimburse local pharmacies for dispensing drugs to patients. Health plans are now required to

make less-expensive generic drugs or other “biosimilar” versions that have the same effect. And a new “Prescription Drug Accountability Board” will collect drug pricing information from manufacturers to study how drugmakers determine prices.

Stricter photo ID to vote

Voters who can’t show a photo ID at their polling place will no longer be able to just sign an affidavit. Under Senate Bill 319, by Sen. Thomas Pressley R-Shreveport, they would need to instead provide a “primary” document like a birth certificate or Social Security card and a “secondary” document like a recent pay stub, bank statement or utility bill. Without either a photo ID or other identifying documents, voters could cast a conditional ballot, but would have to return to the registrar of voters within two days with the documentation.

Under a separate measure, House Bill 691, by Rep. Beau Beaullieu R-New Iberia, the secretary of state every year will now check the citizenship status of all registered voters in a federal database administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Noncitizen voters could be prosecuted. Supporters argued the bills will protect against voter fraud. Critics argued they could make it harder for people to vote.

Money for fortified roofs Louisiana expanded its fortified roof program, which gives $10,000 grants to homeowners in some areas of the state toward a fortified roof designed to better withstand hurricane-force winds.

The sought-after program got an injection of $50 million, enough for 5,000 more roofs. That’s a big addition to the $30 million already slated for 3,000 roofs.

The company is expected to receive a significant break on sales and property taxes, direct cash payments from the state, free land and infrastructure, and a $300 million electric bill discount from Entergy Louisiana, according to emails and an internal breakdown of incentives reviewed by The Times-Picayune.

At the same time that they negotiated the tax breaks, state officials sought to assure the company that their emails around the negotiations would not become public through freedom of information requests, thanks to the NDAs signed by Louisiana Economic Development, Gov Jeff Landry’s lead agency on business deals.

“The NDA protects the confidentiality of the project until the project is officially made public,” wrote LED Director of Business Development Jacob Ellis in an email to Hyundai executive Hyo Joon Park. “Because the NDA is in place, all project information is redacted if it ever was caught up in a public records request.”

Two weeks before Landry announced the project last March alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Park, of Hyundai, memorialized their agreement in an email to Ellis and provided a breakdown of the $2.6 billion in incentives.

The new manufacturing plant, set to create 1,300 jobs, represents an important economic development and political win in Landry’s tenure.

The deal also illustrates how Landry’s administration is aggressively using nondisclosure agreements to negotiate with companies in secret, leading to announcements where the state has already committed billions in tax breaks and other benefits before some legislators or the public can see what has been offered. In the case of Hyundai, the company is getting $2 million in benefits for every permanent job it says it will create, the documents show.

She said it’s “apples and oranges” to look at $2.6 billion in incentives for a nearly $6 billion plant, because Hyundai’s operations will create billions more in value to Louisiana workers over the long run.

“There’s a multi-multi-billion dollar value to the state and the parish,” she said. “It’s not a onetime, $6 billion investment. It’s payroll, it’s a multiplying effect of manufacturing jobs.”

Critics of the secrecy say that the use of NDAs for generous tax incentives unfairly leave the public in the dark.

“When you cover these situations with NDAs, even local elected officials can’t talk to their constituents about it,” said Pamela Spees, a staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights who is representing plaintiffs in several lawsuits about Hyundai, including about NDAs in Ascension Parish and LED’s incentive deal.

Across the country, NDAs have garnered pushback from public transparency advocates, especially in communities where data centers are popping up.

“These NDAs continue to spread throughout the country as data centers and others hope to evade public scrutiny,” said David Cuillier, director of the University of Florida Brechner Freedom of Information Project. “Even when they say they comply with state public records laws, they chill the flow of information and open the door to corruption and public mistrust.”

Bourgeois defended the use of NDAs, saying it’s common practice for companies to request them as they evaluate several potential sites.

“From a business side it makes total sense,” she said. “Why would you telegraph to your competitors. Or why would we telegraph to other states what we’re offering?”

Hyundai Steel spokesperson Youngshik Shin said that “NDAs are common practice in competitive site selection to protect proprietary information shared by both companies and the state.”

cilitated more than 150 NDAs, according to a Times-Picayune analysis of the agreements. That’s two nondisclosure agreements per week, on average.

Previous governors also have used nondisclosure agreements in some cases for economic development. LED officials said that the agency under former Gov John Bel Edwards’ administration initially signed an NDA with Deloitte, the firm who worked as Hyundai’s site selection consultant. Under Edwards’ administration, LED also signed NDAs with ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge.

The Landry administration has greatly expanded the use of such agreements, signing them with companies big and small and taking the unusual step of using NDAs between government agencies and having elected officials sign them, including state legislators, city council members and mayors.

The practice is drawing scrutiny and lawsuits from local advocacy groups, who argue the agreements are shielding the public from what officials are doing with their tax dollars.

Spees, the attorney representing Rural Roots, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and others in suits against Ascension Parish, LED and the Port of South Louisiana, said the NDAs are “hugely problematic.”

“It’s turning the way our government is supposed to work on its head,” she said.

“There’s supposed to be transparency for a reason.”

‘Very awkward position’

State Sen. Eddie Lambert said the Hyundai deal was still “super secret” when LED officials approached him in the fall of 2024 with an NDA to sign. Lambert, RGonzales, joined several Ascension Parish elected officials and Landry for a trip to South Korea to visit with Hyundai.

“It puts you in a very awkward position,” Lambert said. “Because if you don’t sign it, they’re not going to tell you anything. And if you sign it, you can’t tell anybody anything.”

various sellers against each other Hyundai did the same thing with incentive packages as they considered several sites.

“They’re just going to keep playing you until they see who gives you the best deal,” he said. “That’s what I would do.”

During the legislative session that ended this week, Landry’s administration asked state Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Many, to amend a bill he sponsored to allow aerospace companies to expropriate land as long as the site was 20,000 contiguous acres with no residences

The bill became part of a push by Landry’s administration to roll out the red carpet for companies like SpaceX, offering secrecy and tax breaks. Sources have confirmed to The Times-Picayune that an aerospace company is eyeing a large tract of land in Vermilion Parish, where ExxonMobil owns 136,000 acres

But Seabaugh said he doesn’t know who the expropriation law is aimed at, because he refused to sign an NDA.

“I don’t believe as a legislator I can sign an NDA,” Seabaugh said.

“If somebody is going to give me information because I’m a senator, I certainly don’t feel good, and I’m not sure it’s legal to keep that information from my constituents, so I’d rather just not have anything to do with it.”

‘What companies expect’

More than 20 Louisiana officials signed NDAs for the Hyundai deal, records show But Hyundai is only one of dozens of companies that have negotiated with Louisiana in secret. Landry’s administration began signing NDAs as soon as he took office, records show

messaging strategy on economic development deals and to carry out a marketing campaign to attract businesses and retain workers. And LED has facilitated nondisclosure agreements with state legislators, mayors, sheriffs and other local elected officials. LED has signed NDAs with state agencies including the Department of Transportation and Development and the Division of Administration.

LED said the interagency NDAs are associated with Landry’s “lightning speed” executive order, aimed at “breaking down silos” between agencies for economic development.

LED appeared to draft NDAs in the fall of 2024 for state Treasurer John Fleming, but they went unsigned. Fleming spokesperson Jeff Crouere said no one sent him the NDA, and that he wouldn’t have signed it anyway

Bourgeois said the Landry administration is using NDAs more because it has more deals in the pipeline than past administrations. She also said that while companies often demand the state sign them, the state also benefits by not allowing other states to see what tax breaks LED is offering.

Bourgeois said the NDAs cover “all details of the project.” Because Louisiana was competing with other sites until the last minute for Hyundai, it would put the state at a “competitive disadvantage” if another state found out the details of its offer, she argued.

“It’s what the companies expect and it’s how you remain competitive to land these projects,” she said.

Multibillion-dollar deal

Susan Bourgeois, the secretary of LED, said in an interview that the incentives are only one side of the ledger On the other side is a host of benefits for the state, she said.

Secrecy agreements

From Landry’s inauguration in January 2024 to the summer of 2025, his office had signed or fa-

The company showed off its steel plant and hydrogen-powered 18-wheelers on the trip. At the time, Hyundai was still scouting several other sites across the south.

Lambert said he understands why the company wants confidentiality, likening it to a real estate deal where the buyer is pitting

Most of the NDAs involve companies who are negotiating with officials at Louisiana Economic Development. They include Hyundai, Meta, Google, LIV Golf, an entertainment company tied to the rapper 50 Cent — who has bought up land in Shreveport — and a littleknown company associated with state Sen. Mike Fesi’s son, records show. Several of the state’s NDAs are with site selection consultants who worked on behalf of anonymous clients.

LED has also signed an NDA with People Who Think, a Mandeville-based GOP consulting firm that worked for President Donald Trump’s campaign. The firm has two contracts with LED worth a collective $5.75 million to provide

By the time the secret negotiations were over with Hyundai, the company had amassed a package of incentives that is among the largest in Louisiana history

The state would provide $100 million for land, another $100 million in cash grants and nearly $100 million in Quality Jobs incentives, among other carrots, according to an internal Hyundai document breaking down the value of the incentives over 30 years. The state has bought several huge tracts of land in Donaldsonville with plans to lease them to Hyundai for $1 a year for 99 years, then allow the company to buy it for less than $100.

ä See TALKS, page 13A

Thedeal between the state andHyundai also bakes in several large local tax breaks that have not yet been finalizedbyAscension Parishofficials. Those include aPILOT,orpayment in lieu of taxes, that will allow the company to pay $609 million over 32 years, saving Hyundai astaggering $1.6 billion, according to the company document. The plant would be deemed a“public asset,” the document said, meaning it’s exempt from sales taxes, and Hyundai wrote thatLED “found away” to let it take a separate facility rebate immediately,maximizing its value.

Entergy Louisiana is also providingHyundaiwith more than $300 millionin benefits, largely by giving the companyaspecial “economic development” rate thatgives it cheaper electricity for adecade.

Entergy declined to answer questions about the incentive. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli said such incentives area “valuable tool” in attracting companies to the state, and promisedthatother customers won’tsee rate hikes because of the discount.He added that such incentives are overseen by thePublic Service Commission, astate regulator In all, the documentshows the scope of the incentives reached $2.6 billion. The size of the package has raised questions about whether Louisiana’sstate and local governments will ever recoup all the revenue. LED commissioned an economic impact report by Greg Upton and Greg Albrecht, two LSU economists, which foundthat the project will support nearly 7,000 jobs and generate hundreds of millions in wages for Louisiana workers. But that report was done before the final incentive package was finalized, meaning it didn’tassume the state and locals were giving Hyundai nearly the level of incentives that the company is ultimately getting.

Upton noted that the economic impact report is not a cost-benefit analysis, which determineswhether aproject is anet benefit to society Hyundai is still waitingon Ascension Parish officials to ratify its side of the deal, which includessome of the biggest incentives. Rural Roots and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade are fighting in court to unseal documents related to the case.

“Budgets are about choices and priorities,” said Jan Moller,head of Invest in Louisiana, anonprofit advocating for low-income residents. “When the state can afford a$2.6 billion incentivepackagefor asingle global corporation but can’t fundateacher pay raise and other basic needs,something is seriously out of balance.” Staff writer David Mitchell contributed to this story

Hegseth intervenes in navalpromotions, exclusion of women

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut nine Navy officers, including all the women, from apromotion list, several femaleofficerssay they see the unusualintervention as asign that their careers nowhave aceiling and worry forthe futuregeneration of femalemilitary leaders.

The Navy had selected 31 sailors to promote from the rank ofcaptaintoone-star admiral,but Hegsethrecently intervened to strike nine people from the list, including threewomen and two Black men,according to adefense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information not permitted to be released publicly

As aresult, the Navy is not promoting asingle woman to the one-star admiral rank this year even though women make up about one-quarter of all Navy officers and nearlyone-third of the sea service’smidgrade ranks,

according to military data from 2024.

The Associated Press spoke witheight female Navy officersofvarying ranks andtime in serviceafter Hegseth’scuts, which were reported earlier by The New York Times, became public.Theyspoke on condition of anonymityout of fear of retribution from their superiors.

arequest seeking further comment.

tingency planning for IndoPacific warplans.”

The morejunior officers said they sawthe development as asign that their careers would become politicized if they rose too far in the ranks, and some said theyfelt theynow had alimit on how far they could be promoted. Some said it made themfeel less valued within the military andwonderedwhether that wasn’t part of theintent

The Pentagon has not offered any rationale on why the women, or any of the other sixpeople, were removed from the promotion list.

Sean Parnell, thePentagon’stop spokesman, said on social media this week that“military promotions aregiven to thosewho have earned them” andthat the Pentagon “will never consider the color of aservice member’sskinortheir genderasafactor in promotions.” The Pentagon did notimmediatelyrespondto

TheNavy’sprocess for choosing whichofficersto promote to theone-star rank hasbeenrelatively constant andtransparent over the years. The service convenes agroup of officers, called apromotion board, that examines therecords of eligible officers and chooses themost qualified

The board thatselected the initial slate of 31 officers for promotion was directed by then-Navy Secretary John Phelan,anappointee of PresidentDonald Trump, to “recommendfor promotion the best qualified officerswithin their respective competitive category.”

The order from Phelan, wholater abruptly departed his postinApril, saidthe board shouldconsider an officer’sperformance, competence and character,among other traits, as partofthose qualifications.

It also said that given China’sprominence in the Trumpadministration’s National Defense Strategy “special consideration shall be given to officerswho have excelled in their knowledge of the political military affairs and U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and operational con-

Hegseth has long argued, without offering evidence, that womeninthe military benefit from preferential treatment andare notsuited forcombat roles.

“For too long, we’ve promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons based on their race, basedongenderquotas, based on historic so-called firsts,”Hegseth toldhundreds of militaryleadersin September

The approach,heasserted, made thePentagon “less capable andlesslethal.”

Phelan’sorder said the Navy cannot discriminate based on criteria such as race andsex,and it specifically noted that “this guidance shall notbeinterpreted as requiring or permitting preferentialtreatment of any officer or group of officers on the grounds of race, religion, color,sex.”

The full list of 31 people to be promoted was approved by Phelan, other Navy leadersand the chairmanofthe Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, before it reached Hegseth, who chosetomake thechanges,the defenseofficialsaid.

While Hegseth is within his rights to intervene in the list, “it’sjust not the norm”and its“abreak from tradition” said Katherine Kuzminski,

aresearcher specializing in military recruiting and retention at theCenterfor New American Security think tank. She said thatpromotions historically have been seen “the services’ business.

Kuzminski notedthat“this is adecision that’snot being made by the U.S. Navy —it’s being made by the secretary of defense” andsaidHegseth’sgrowing interference in operational aspects of the military services such as promotions is creating “tension” about what “normal” will look like going forward.

Someofthe moresenior Navy officers who spoke withthe AP expressed concerns about the message it sends to the next generation of young sailors.

In addition to pulling the recentpromotions of three women to admiral, Hegseth shortly after he took office fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the service’stop officer and the first woman to hold the job.Henever explainedhis rationale

Sincethen, he also has firedtwo otherfemalethreestar admirals without explanation. Someofthe officers who spoke to theAPsaidthat while they wereencouraging female sailors to stick with the Navy,they acknowledged that message is coming at adifficult time

EDUCATION

Trumpofficials rewritingrules forall of academia

BY COLLIN BINKLEY AP education writer

WASHINGTON Ayear ago, the White House was unleashing a blitz on higher education. At one campus afteranother,Trump officials opened investigations and cut federalfunding unless schools fell in line with the Republican president’spolitical agenda.

Now, aftera campaign that put dozens of universities underinvestigation, President Donald Trump’s administration is takingawiderapproach, moving to rewrite the federal rules that govern all of higher education. Demands that were being pressed on individual schools are being written into the fine print for thousands of U.S. universities.

“We’recomingover the higher education system and course correcting,” Nicholas Kent, undersecretary for the EducationDepartment, said in an AssociatedPress interview.Unlike investigations that target individual campuses, he said the new tactic has power “to affect 6,000 institutions.”

The shift comes afterfederal judges blocked Trump’sadministration from making crippling cuts at Harvard and the University of California, Los Angeles. It also follows a mass exodus in civil rights lawyers who traditionally guide investigations against universities. Still, Trump hasn’tbacked down from hiscampaign to end what he calls “wokeness” run amok in academia. Through regulation, the administration is going after many of the targets it hammeredwithinvestigations —diversity,equity and inclusion policies, transgender athletes, antisemitism and avariety of practices perceived as anti-White discrimination.

Agencies proposenew rules

One new rule being proposed by theEducation Departmentwould overhaul the system thatdecides which colleges can receive federal money,knownasthe accreditation process. Among other changes, the proposal would require accreditors to make sure colleges have “intellectualdiversity,” aveiledcall for

more conservative voices

Many people in higher education are alarmed by aproposal from the Office of Management and Budget that would order agenciestoensure federal grants“advance the President’s policypriorities.”Trump officials would verify that grants aren’t usedtopromote DEI, “anti-American values”oranything denying “thesex binary in humans,” according to the proposal issued last week. An OMB spokesperson said therule aims to promote transparency. Anotherproposalfromthe General Services Administration would require federal grant recipients,including universities andtheir contractors, to certify theydon’thave DEI policies deemed unlawful by the administration.

At least 11 new rules have been proposed atthe Education Department, including one aimed at “streamlining theprocess” to cut money for schools thatviolate the Trump administration’sinterpretation of civilrights law

Making federal rules can take months of debate in humdrum bureaucratic processes. But unlike earlierstrategies that testedthe limits of White House power,the rulemakingprocessisawidelyaccepted route to establishfederal policy into law —without needing to go through Congress. Some in higher education wel-

comethe change. Unlike last year’s attacks, the new approach opens the door for aconversation, said TedMitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents college and university presidents.

“We’replaying agamethat has rules andreferees, and that’s good,” said Mitchell, aformer EducationDepartmentofficial under President Barack Obama, aDemocrat. “It gives us an opportunity to talk about where we might agree with the administration. That was impossible to do when these were just straight-on attacks.”

Fewernew investigations

Meantime, theEducation and Justice departments have announced fewer higher-education investigations, issuing news releases on roughly adozen at U.S. universities so far this year.Inthe same span last year,theyannounced more than 70, according to an AP analysis.The exact numberofnew investigations is unclear —apublic databasehas notbeen updated sinceJanuary2025.

Kent said the EducationDepartment will continuetoopen investigations as needed,describing it as using a“scalpel to cut out the bad.” But he said colleges have started to cometoheel on the administration’spriorities.

“Folks realize that it’s anew day and that we’re paying attention,” Kent said. The vast majority of the investigations opened last year are still open. The White House struck dealswith Columbia, Brown and ahandful of othercampuses, but most cases are unresolved with no public update in months.

Catherine Lhamon, who led the Education Department’sOffice for Civil Rights under President Joe Biden, aDemocrat, said the barrage of investigations amounted to “performance art” that grabbed attention but hadlittle impact.After pushback from schools, she said, theTrump administration is backing off.

“Itstopped putting itself in aposition to lose,”saidLhamon, whonow leads the Edley Center on Law and Democracy at the University of California, Berkeley Still, some fights have intensified.

TheWhiteHouse has doubled down on battles with Harvard and UCLA after federal judgesblocked the administration from cutting off research fundingfromthe campuses.

The Justice Department has sued Harvard andUCLAfourtimes since February,alleging that both campuses tolerated antisemitism and that Harvard refused to release admissions data sought by theadministration. Leaders of both universities say they have worked to fight antisemitism.

Admissions casesa toppriority

AWhite House official said the investigative slowdown is also theresult of amounting focus on college admissions. The administration has been building cases against colleges accusedofconsidering race in admissions decisions even after theSupreme Court struck down affirmative action. Those investigationscan take more time because theyrequire large data collections, said the official, speaking on the conditionofanonymity to discuss internalstrategy

Some of those cases arenow coming to bear

The Justice Department recently concludedthat medical schools

at Yale andUCLAdiscriminated against White andAsianAmerican students by allegedly favoring Black and Latino applicants. The universities have defended their admissionsprocesses,saying they were rigorous and based on merit.

On Thursday,the Justice Department said it was opening 15 similar investigations at other medical schools, alleging “potentialrace discrimination”intheir admissions processes.

Trump officialsare taking ahardline approach against any use of race in admissions, clashing with colleges that invite students to discuss their race in applicationessays. In its 2023decision, the Supreme Court said nothing stopsschools from considering how applicants’ race speaks to broader qualities.

“Weare making sure,” Kent said, “that we are elevating our best and ourbrightest andthatwe’re not putting the thumb on the scale because of somebody’sskin color.” Colleges alreadychanged Facing last year’sblitz, many campuses quietly made changes to avoid scrutiny.Someclosed DEI offices. The NCAA moved to limit transgenderathletes. Universities from UCLA to Columbia tightened campus protest rules after pro-Palestiniandemonstrationswerethe subject of federal investigations. Research hasbeen scaled back as top schools face continued funding cuts.

In theclassroom,there’s been a chilling effect as professors fear that whatthey say or teach could attract federal attention, said Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of UniversityProfessors. Still, he’soptimistic thebalance of power is shifting in universities’ favor.Students and faculty members on severalcampusesbuilt pressure to reject aWhite House invitation last fall to sign on to aspectsof Trump’s agenda in exchange for favorable accesstoresearch funding, he said.The AAUP hasbrought several lawsuits against the administration, including one that stopped funding cuts at UCLA.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Landry toutsprojectsCassidy made possible

WASHINGTON —Freed from having to toe the party line after losing a Republican primary,U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy last week expandedhis list of GOP politicos he’scriticizing to include Gov.Jeff Landry —one of the chief architects ofhis political downfall —for undermining acornerstone of hiscampaign strategy

“I’m alittle bit amused by my contributions not being acknowledged by Gov.Landry,” Cassidy, RBaton Rouge, told local reporters in ateleconference newsbriefing.

Mark Ballard

Attacked by many Louisiana Republicans for his 2021 vote to convictPresidentDonald Trump of impeachment charges, Cassidy focused his 2026 campaign message on how effectively he has added federal bacontolocal plates —even when it meant compromising with Democrats.

But, after ballots were counted May 16, Cassidy was votedout.

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow,the Baton Rouge Republican whoLandry and President Donald Trump endorsed, and State TreasurerJohn Fleming, the Minden Republican and former Trump staffer,will meet in the June 27 runofftodecidewho will representRepublicans in the Nov.4generalelection.

The loss untethered ausually cautious Cassidy,who now is criticizing Trump and some of his top allies.

“Mr.President, I’m speaking to youjust for asecond, I’m speaking to President Trump, Mr.President, Mr.President Trump, getengaged,” Cassidy said Wednesday during afloor speech about healthcare affordability,slamming the podium for emphasis.

Landry refused to comment on Cassidy’sobservations.

Whodelivered themoney?

Cassidy’s“effectiveness” messaging never gained traction

Keyhearing on voting maps delayed

It appears likely that November’scongressional elections will use the new voting map Gov.Jeff Landry signed last month, after a federal court postponed akey hearing on apotential legal challenge to the new map.

Buzz STAFF REPORTS

The Legislature redrew Louisiana’s congressional map to eliminate one of the state’stwo majority-Black districts after the Supreme Court ruled in Louisianav Callais that the previous map was unconstitutional. The plaintiffs in that case have asked afederal courttodetermine whether the new map —which still hasone majority-Black district —isalso an illegal racial gerrymander

The three-judge panel of the U.S District Court for the Western District of Louisiana that is handling the case quickly set ahearing for June 17 to address that question. But the court reversed itself Thursday and, for the time being, canceled the hearingafter state

partially because he was the only Louisiana Republican reminding voters ofhis work during thepast 11 years as senator Now Landry is trotting out some of theprograms Cassidy helped secure, the senator says. The governor has couched them as major victories for hisadministration withoutmentioning Cassidy’s role.

Forinstance,Cassidy points to Landry’sApril29ribbon-cutting ceremonyfor anew Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. The$2.3 billion project will feature six to eight lanes, full shoulders, center barriers, lower approach inclines, and increased overhead clearance to replace the

officials argued that Louisiana’s newmap must be used for the 2026 midtermelections.

74-year-old bridge built by Gov Earl K. Long, which now carries upward of 90,000 vehicles per day House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton,and U.S. Rep.Clay Higgins,R-Lafayette, delivered videotaped messages at the ceremony extolling the official start of along-sought project.

Landry then name checked a long list of contributors, demanding standing ovations for some. “A deal like this doesn’thappen by accident.Ithappens because we demand people thinkoutside thebox and awillingness to do thingsdifferently,” Landrysaid. Cassidy’sname went unmentioned. Buthewas the only

Kennedy pushes for better accesstocourtrecords

Republican in Louisiana’scongressional delegation to vote for Democratic President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investmentand JobsAct, which was widely criticized by Trumpand Republicans.

It was that bill that brought $150 million forthe Calcasieu Bridge.

Trumppromised anew bridge during avisit in 2019, which was mentioned alot in the ribboncutting ceremony Biden used the bridge as avisual backdrop in 2021 to demonstratethe need forupdating infrastructure. When he was governor, Democrat John Bel Edwards came up with a$2.1 billion plan

es ought to serve the American people —not makethem want to put their head through awall.”

that stalled because of Republican opposition.

Upon becoming governor in 2024, Landry jump-started the bridge project, which also includes money forthe state general fund, bond proceeds, redirected road taxes, and apublicprivate partnership that hinges on tolls.

It’s not just the Lake Charles bridge the Landry administration touts as major victories forthe governor,Cassidy said.

Initiatives to expand broadband across rural areas of Louisiana, which the Landry has rolled out at aseries of ribbon-cuttings, includes alarge pool of federal money from Biden’sInfrastructure Act.

And last month, Landry announced the launch of the state’s Rural Tech Catalyst Fund to support companies seeking to improve healthcare access in Louisiana.

Cassidy said that money comes from wording in last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill he secured through his workonthe Senate Finance Committee and as chair of the Senate Health Education Labor &Pensions committee. The bill included a$50 billion appropriation forrural hospitals to expand access to health technologies in rural areas.

“I was deeply involved in all parts of it, but particularly the healthcare portion, working closely with Dr.Oztomake sure that Louisiana rural families and rural communities got their fair share,” Cassidy said, referring to Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers forMedicare &Medicaid Services.

“Again, you wouldn’tknow that from Gov. Landry speaking about whotoacknowledge. But Iam glad that he acknowledges the worthiness of those programs,” Cassidy said.

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.

to $200, and commissioners-incharge can makeupto$350.

To make that point,Attorney General Liz Murrill’soffice cited another Supreme Court opinion that came down last week in aseparate Alabamaredistricting case, Allen v. Milligan. “While federal courts should not impose changes close to an election,States are free to decide for themselves whether last-minute changes to an election are in their best interests,” thejustices wroteinthat opinion

Murrill’soffice argued that, in light of the new guidance this week from the justices, any “judicial modifications” to themap Louisiana passed lastweek would likely be blocked by theSupreme Court

The plaintiffs didn’ttake issue with thestate’sargument about the 2026 election, but theydid suggest that they are preparedto litigate whether the new mapis constitutionalahead of the 2028 elections

Sen. John Kennedy,R-Madisonville, has sponsored abill to removethe paywall on the online systemsused to access federal court records and further modernize them.

The Louisiana Republican’sOpen Courts Act would require thefederal court system to develop anew, moremodern replacement for thePublic Access to Court Electronic Records system, known as PACER. The new system would be merged with theCase Management/Electronic Case Files system

“Americans should not have to sell plasmaorwrestle with clunky government websites just to read public court records. PACER is old, very expensive and extremely burdensome to use,” Kennedy said in anews release.

“The Open Courts Act would drag this outdated system into the21st century,protect court records from hackers and give taxpayers abetter deal. Government servic-

PACER is used to access everythingfrom criminal proceedings to immigration cases to bankruptcies. The files it contains are public records, but critics have long argued that the system’s paywall blocks much of the public from viewing them

“For far too long, unnecessary paywalls have kept the American people from freely accessing public court records,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., whoisco-sponsoring the bill with Kennedy State seeks more election workers

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry is looking formore people to work as poll commissioners for electionslater this year

Workers are needed forboth the June 27 runoff election from last month’s closed party primaries and for the Nov. 3election, which will have the U.S. Senate general election andopen primaries for theU.S. House, among other ballot items.

Commissioners can makeup

To qualify, you must be registered Louisiana voter whoisat least 17 years old and ahigh school senior or older Youwill have to attend aone- to two-hour training course.

Commissioners workthe entire election day,from 6a.m. to 8p.m., arriving at least 30 minutes before polls open and staying until ballots are finalized.

Applications can be submitted at aparish clerk of court’soffice. More information is available on the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website.

“Poll commissioners are the backbone of Louisiana’selection process,” Landry said in anews release. “Their commitment helps ensure voters have asmooth experience at the polls and that elections are conducted with integrity.Weare looking forindividuals whowant to serve their communities, support the democratic process, and earn extra income while playing an important role on Election Day.”

STAFF FILEPHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Gov. Jeff Landryspeaks during aribbon-cuttingceremony for the newInterstate 10 CalcasieuRiver Bridge on April 29 at the Lakefront PromenadeinLakeCharles.

Capitol

Murrill

Kennedy

NancyLandry

THE GULF COAST

Famedrestaurantdraws diners to Alabamatown

Lambert’sCafe knownfor throwing dinner rolls

BY POET WOLFE

Staff writer

At Lambert’sCafe, diners crane from their seats to catch softballsized rolls spinning through the air Waiters carryingsteaming pots weave through the room,stopping at booths to pile fried okraonto paper napkins and dollop applebutter onto the yeasty bread. Every so often, an announcementcrackles through themegaphoneabout grandpa’s75th birthday or Alan’s first visit, briefly cutting through the din until diners break into applause. The walls are just as busyasthe dining rooms. Plastered with country kitsch decor,each andevery corner tells stories from different eras and places. License plates from as far north as Illinois hang beside biblical phrases painted on wooden planks and rooster paintings that would look right at home in aTexas grandmother’s kitchen. Watching over it all is aportrait of asquinting,cigarillo-smoking, poncho-wearing Clint Eastwood.

The roadsidespectacleinFoley, Alabama, has drawnfamilies and road-trippers since 1996, when the small town “didn’t really have much from here down to the bridge of Gulf Shores,” manager Greg Felix recalled during arecent dinnerrush. Today,Foley is among the fastest growing cities in the country,and the three packed dining rooms at Lambert’sona weeknightserved as evidence.

The restaurant celebrates Southern customs through potpies, painted prayers and friendly servers whose bluejeans areyanked up by suspenders and finished with a bowtie.But itsorigins traceback

PROVIDED PHOTO By LAMBERT’S CAFE

to throwa dinner roll to acustomer at his restaurant, Lambert’sCafe. The Foley, Ala., location is nowrun by the family’s fifth generation.

to the Midwest.

Theoriginalrestaurant, opened by Norman Lambert in 1942, was located in Sikeston, Missouri,and it was far different fromthe Lambert’s in Foley,where 3,000 plates areservedand more than 6,000 rollsare tossed by waiters each day.

Theoriginal eatery opened during World WarII—when many restaurants were forced to ration and some shuttered altogether and it hadenough seats for only 41 people. But through hard work, and amenu shaped by family recipes, Lambert’spersevered.

Therestaurant’ssignature touch came decades later,in1976, when Lambert was working his way through abusy lunch rush, passing rolls fromtable to table, until acustomer yelled,“Just throwthe damn thing!”Itwas then that it became “homeofthe throwed rolls.”

With its popularity surging, Lambert’s moved into alarger location and opened asecond restaurant in Ozark in 1994. Twoyears later, Lambert decided tobring his busi-

ness near Gulf Shores, where he frequently vacationed, and opened theFoley location, now run by the family’sfifthgeneration, Felix said.

Minuteslater,a bowl piledhigh with golden fried catfish, shrimp andsmoked hogjowl—think thick-cut slices of bacon —arrived at the table. Plates only kept coming: rib-eye, sweet carrots, chicken tenders, chicken potpie, rolls and morerolls

Between bites of steak, servers would approach thetable,carrying pots filled with free additional sides:black-eyedpeas, friedpotatoes and onions, macaroni and tomatoes. The portionswere, to say the least, generous. Even thewater arrivedinbulky tumblers. The dinner rush grew as theevening woreon. Walking toward the exit,Felix pointed to faded framed photographs on the walls that showed the street back then —once bare and now lined withbusinesses —and said, “Norman saw the future.Heknew thepotential, and he was right.”

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

The waves of summer visitors arriving at some Gulf Coast beachesthis month areencountering aproblem: Seaweed is everywhere.

So much of it haswashedupin recent days in Dauphin Island, Alabama, that some visitors have reported not being able to swim there. It has also appeared near Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, andinthe Florida cities of Pensacola and Miramar Beach.

The seaweed, calledsargassum,isanatural occurrence that is harmless in the ocean or in small quantitiesnear shore. But it becomes anuisance on beaches when large pilesofitaccumulate on the sand.

Researchers at the University of South Florida said the amount of sargassum floating through the Atlantic Ocean,the Caribbean and the Gulf could break records this summerand is already nearing extraordinary levels on the Gulf Coast.

“It’snot the overall biggest bloom ever,” said Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor who tracks the seaweed at the University of South Florida. “But in the larger Gulf of Mexico, for this time of year,this is the most we’ve seen.”

Forecasting where the seaweed will go, and when it will reach land, is difficult because it moves in patches and can die quickly

But researchers at South Florida are tracking patches of seaweed on satellite imagery andexpect the amount washing up on beaches to increase throughout June.

The biggest seaweed piles usually hitthe Caribbean islands, and thattrend is continuing this year.But the amount of seaweed

floating in the Gulf is higherthis year because its seed population grewfarther west, andbecause the loop current, which funnels water fromthe Caribbean to the Gulf, is extending farther north.

The seaweed floats across the ocean in large mats and protects sea creatures including turtles, crabs and sea horses. The patches of seaweed can be hundreds of feet wide.

But once the seaweed reaches beaches and begins decaying, it can attract flies, disrupt turtle nesting and produce gas that smells like rotten eggs, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Largepatches of it can also lower oxygen levels in the water,which can kill fish near shore.

The seaweed shows up in the Gulf most years, in varying quantities. But the risk of accumulationsare high this week on most beaches from Biloxi, Mississippi, through Panama City,Florida, according to aNOAA map.

The University of South Florida bulletin also said some seaweed mayreach theLouisianaand Texas coasts in June.

PROVIDED PHOTOByGULF STATEPARK

Atype of seaweed called sargassum is washing ashore across the GulfCoast, including at GulfState Park in Baldwin County,Ala

Avintagephoto shows Norman Lambertashewinds up

LeoXIV makespapal visittoSpain

Pope urges Spaniards to stop fanning flames of polarization

BY NICOLE WINFIELD and SUMAN NAISHADHAM Associated Press

MADRID PopeLeo XIV

urged Spaniards on Saturday to stop “fanning the flames of polarization” as he arrived in Spain at amoment of political turmoil for the Socialistled government and acredibility crisis for the Catholic Church.

The American pontiff traveled to Spain dozensoftimes as apriest, butthisisthe first visit here by apope in 15 years. And Spaniards turned out in droves to welcome Leo with an estimated 500,000 people —many of them young —cheering “This is the youth of the pope” at a raucous evening prayer vigil in Plaza de Lima in Madrid, where Leo was treated to a rock star’swelcome.

Leo’svisit signals areturn of papal attention to Europe’s Christian roots afterPope Francis largely stayed away from the traditional centers of Christianity in favor of smaller Catholic communities farther away Leo is seemingly keen to bring his message of peace, unity and human dignity to acontinent sorely polarized over migration, the Russia-

dayofhis seven-dayapostolic journeyto mainland Spainand the CanaryIslands.

Ukraine war and anxiety over artificial intelligence.

The pope, known as León XIV in Spanish, openedhis weeklong trip in Madrid, greeted at theairport by the country’sCatholic monarchs, KingFelipeVIand Queen Letizia,and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. He told reporters, while traveling, that he wasparticularlyheartened by reports of aspiritual awakening among young peopleinthe once-staunchly Catholic but nowsecularized country

Duringhis welcome address, Leoappealedto Spaniards,especially political leaders, to put polemics aside and invest in educating young peopletoappreciate diversity andcomplexity

ratherthan shunning them.

“Today,the temptation to gain popularity by fanning theflames of polarization seems to have grown rather than diminished,and human dignity continues tobeviolated,” Leo said.

He appealed to Spain’s placeatthe heartofChristian Europetoserveasa model for the rest of the continent, while also recalling the country’s800-year Moorishpast,whencities like Toledo and Córdoba became, he said, “centers of dialogue between languages, religions and knowledge.”

“For the love of truth, I invite everyonetoset aside the divisive and polarizing narratives of your societal realityand history,”hesaid.

Doing so will help Europe

“overcome sterile simplificationsthrough the fruitful appreciation of complexity.”

Spaniards find themselves increasingly divided over issuesincluding immigration, feminismand political corruption,while historically Spain was riven by territorialand independence movements.

The highlight of Leo’svisit to Madrid will be his speech on Monday to ajoint parliamentarysessionofthe Congress of Deputiesand the Senate—the first by apope. Such speeches are rare and often become oneofthe most important of apontificate.

But Leo will find ahighly polarizedlegislature, with the government Socialist party hammered by aseries of corruptionscandals. Conservative parties, including thePopular Party and Vox, have called for Sánchez to step down before ageneral election due by next year, andhaveroundly criticized hisgovernment’smigration policies.

Spain’sSocialist-ledgovernmenthas buckeda general trend in Europe and the UnitedStatesbyannouncing it will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the country without authorization. Sánchez has highlighted the benefits of legalmigration to the Spanish economy with an aging workforce and low birthrate.

ActorAnthonyHead, knownfor ‘Buffy the VampireSlayer,’dies

BY JILL LAWLESS and BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press

LONDON Anthony Head, the suave, smooth-voiced British actor known for roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Ted Lasso,” has died, his family said Friday.Hewas 72.

Head’sdaughters, actors Emily and Daisy Head, told the Press Association newsagency that theactor passed away due to complications from pneumonia.

The stage and TV performer became well known to British audiences in the 1980s as one half of a will-they, won’t-theyromantic couple in aseries of ads for NescafeGoldBlend instant coffee. The ads were later re-shot for aU.S. audience for Taster’sChoice.

Headachievedwiderfame as librarianRupert Giles, mentor to the titlecharacter in the cult-favorite supernatural series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,”whichran from 1997 to 2003.

He most recentlyplayed Rupert Mannion, the villainous ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s character Rebecca, in “Ted Lasso.”

“Ourgrief is fargreater

than the hole he has left behind, but we knowhis legacy will live on, in the shows he was apart of,and in the audiences that lovethem,” his daughters said. “How lucky we aretoknowwe are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.” Head was born in London on Feb.20, 1954, to Seafield Head, a documentary filmmaker,and Helen Shingler, an actor His older brother, Murray, is also an actor Other notable roles included playing Geoffrey Howe, the deputy to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher,played by Meryl Streep,inthe Oscar-winning “The Iron Lady.” Head portrayed aprime minister himself in the sketch comedy show “Little Britain,” as well as King UtherPendragon,the father of Prince Arthur,inthe “Merlin” TV series. He also appeared in “Motherland,” Manchild,” and “Silent Witness,” alongwithactingin many plays,musicals, and recording musicasa singer He was predeceased by hislongtimepartner,animal welfareactivistSarah Fisher,61, in 2025.

Hegsethinvokes immigration, ‘invasion’ in D-DayspeechinFrance

By The Associated Press

PARIS U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary speech on Saturday to appear to link immigration by seatothe wartime liberation of Europe warning that the freedomwon by Allied troops could prove temporary if leaders failedto defend it.

Hegseth,speaking at the Normandy AmericanCemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer in northwestern France during commemorations forthe 82nd anniversaryofthe June 6, 1944, landings,said that today,“different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies.”

“Beaches in Spain and Italy andGreece andBulgaria Boats and men arrive,” he said.

“Whenwill Europeancapitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?”he added. “I pray not,and Ibelieve not.”

Hegsethdid not use the word immigration, but his remarks echoedbroader Trump admin-

istration criticism of Europe over migration, borders and what U.S. officials have described as censorship of nationalist and far-right voices.

On Saturday,British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’soffice condemned U.S. Vice President JD Vance for blaming immigration for thekilling of Henry Nowak,an18-year-old British student stabbed to death in Southampton, even though both Nowakand his killer were British.

In December,the Trumpadministration’s national security strategywarned that Europe faced the“prospect of civilizational erasure” and could become “unrecognizable”within 20 years.

InspiringThroughEducation

CornerstonehasbeenacommunitypartnerinWaggamanand JeffersonParishforover70years.AtCornerstoneEnergyPark, weinvestincollaborativecommunityprogramstochampion educationandempowerthelocalscience,technology,engineering, andmathematics(STEM)workforceofthefuture.

We’recommittedtoourcommunity.Togetherwithourcommunity partners,wearehelpingbridgethegapbetweeneducationand opportunitytoinspirelearning,locally.

Head

Hegseth

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALESSANDRATARANTINO

Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Spain’sKing Felipe VI and Queen Letizia as he arrives Saturdayatthe RoyalPalace in Madrid on the first

Docket sees intensive intervention

Backlog unclogged following judge’s resignation

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Last year, the docket of one section of criminal court in New Orleans grew so backlogged and bloated that a local judge compared it to a failed organ in critical need of triage.

A year later, much has changed: Derbigny is gone. A new judge, John Fuller, just took the bench in Section J And while Fuller may not be there long — a bill to

At least 550 open cases were unresolved in Section J under longserving judge Darryl Derbigny, more than twice the average for the other 11 court sections, the Metropolitan Crime Commission reported. A Times-Picayune analysis found homicide cases in Section J took twice as long to resolve as in the court’s fastest moving section.

ax his seat and two others awaits Gov Jeff Landry’s signature — the docket he inherited is among the leanest at the courthouse after a deep cleanse ordered up by the Louisiana Supreme Court. When Derbigny tendered his resignation July 30, about 430 open felony cases filled the Section J docket, according to data compiled by the Metropolitan Crime Commission. By December, the

caseload in Section J was down to 165, MCC data shows. The number involving violent crimes declined from 245 to about 100 over that time. The slide continued into 2026, to about 150 cases by April.

The drops occurred after the Supreme Court assigned two former judges to the task of dispensing cases, in what those involved describe as an intensive intervention as Derbigny took a leave from the bench under pressure, never to return.

If it appeared easy, several play-

ers involved say wrangling the massive Section J docket demanded a rare level of collaboration, along with a strong mandate from the Supreme Court. Buy-in came not only from the district attorney and Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office, the public defender, lawmakers and judicial leaders, they said.

Caseload data shows the docket in Section J began its descent not long after Derbigny’s departure,

Parish reacts to sheriff’s arrest

Locals express surprise, dismay

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Sitting with friends under the veranda of the Haven coffee shop in Covington on Friday, Nettie Burguieres replayed her initial reaction when she learned St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith had been arrested on Thursday in connection with a fight at a Madisonville steakhouse the week before.

“The first thing I said was, ‘Did he arrest himself?’” recalled Burguieres before taking a bite of her chicken salad sandwich. Debbie Lapeyrouse, sitting beside her, shook her head.

“A public display from a public official — a sheriff. They should be held to a high standard,” said Lapeyrouse. Around St. Tammany, residents expressed surprise, voiced dismay, made jokes and hinted at a quiet exasperation that another northshore elected official had been accused of behaving badly And while disappointment was the common theme in interviews and online commentary following the Thursday arrest, some took Smith’s side, arguing he’d been pushed too far by a critic known for lobbing relentless personal attacks.

“It’s unfortunate that the community is having to deal with it and experience it,” said Covington City Council member Jimmy Inman. “Now we gotta see how this plays out.”

After turning himself in Thursday at the Tangipahoa Parish jail, Smith’s case will now play out in the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse. He is set to appear for an arraignment on Aug. 20 and has said he plans to remain in office. An arrest warrant filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office listed three criminal counts, one for felony battery and two for disturbing the peace, both misdemeanors.

Smith is accused of physically attacking one his harshest critics, parish resident and social media personality Bobby Couvillion, at Keith Young’s Steakhouse near Madisonville during happy hour on Friday May 29. Couvillion was transported to a hospital, and suffered a concussion and had his two front teeth moved from their normal position as a result of the attack, according to Murill’s investigators.

The investigators found that Smith approached Couvillion from behind as Couvillion was sitting at the restaurant’s bar, grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground, causing Couvillion to hit his head on the floor Smith then struck him while he lay on the ground, before a group of bystanders managed to pull him off.

The receipt from Smith’s visit

ä See ARREST, page 2B

PAINT THE TOWN RED

Student rallies peers on education issues

Rising senior founds advocacy group

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Wearing a gray suit and blue button-down, 16-year-old Victor Romero stepped up to the podium and faced the eight Jefferson Parish School Board members whose decisions shape his education. The rising senior at Patrick F. Taylor Academy had come to advocate for higher teacher pay, to urge the board to stop shuttering schools where the majority of students are Black or Hispanic and to remind members that their policies impact thousands of teachers

and students.

“I’ve never attended a School Board meeting before,” he said at the June 3 meeting. “But I’ve come here this time because I believe that people like myself should show up and be acknowledged by the people who affect our everyday lives.”

Aside from a few of his friends, there were no other students at the meeting to hear Romero’s remarks. But he’s hoping to change that with his group, the Student Action Movement, which aims to get Jefferson Parish students involved in local politics.

While its membership today hovers around 15 students, he wants to steadily grow the group’s numbers and eventually have a presence at

every School Board meeting. Even if students think they have little power to influence anyone, Romero said he wants them to know that change only happens when people get involved.

“People in high positions tell us again and again that the youth are the future,” he said in an interview “We can only be that future if we take that power.” Romero founded Student Action Movement earlier this year when students across the country were organizing walkouts to protest the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The son of a mother who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras, Romero was angered by the fear the immigration enforcement

caused his community, and he wanted to do something to support his peers. Children of immigrants make up a large percentage of the students who attend the district’s public schools, and many stayed home during the raids.

In March, Romero’s group successfully organized its first student-led demonstration, when an estimated 150 students across four high schools staged protests during their lunch periods to voice their opposition to the crackdown. Today the group’s members hail from schools across the district, including Patrick Taylor, Haynes, Riverdale and Higgins high schools. They meet once a

See STUDENT, page 2B

LEFT: Karla ‘Karlita’ Marie dances to We Are One Brass Band. RIGHT: People come and go from the French Market, decorated for the festival.

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

David Powers takes part in the handless tomato eating contest during the 40th annual Creole Tomato Festival at the French Market in New Orleans on Saturday

ST. TAMMANY

COOL CARS

STUDENT

Continued from page 1B

month, often at someone’s house or a nearby park, to talk about district issues.

Their goals include giving communities more control over their schools, shifting resources from school police to student mental health services and putting more money into arts education.

The group tackles issues “from the bottom up,” Romero explained, drawing inspiration from grassroots organizing tactics of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, when activists mobilized community members by hosting meetings and encouraging those supportive of the cause to show up at local town halls. What’s on their agenda

While national politics around immigration catalyzed the group, lately they’ve turned their focus closer to home They believe they can make a bigger impact locally, where they see a lot of need for change.

Romero said they were galvanized by Jefferson Parish School

DOCKET

Continued from page 1B

first when retired criminal court judge Calvin Johnson took the seat. The shedding accelerated when the high court appointed the second judge, Franz Zibilich, to the pursuit in August.

Zibilich is a former criminal court judge with a history of taming a docket by applying heavy pressure for plea deals He was voted out of office in 2020 amid a progressive political wave in New Orleans.

“The first four months that I was here, it was triage. I mean, it was absolute triage,” Zibilich said “We’re now under control. It’s now elective surgery instead of emergency surgery We’re not in that emergency scenario anymore.”

Landry and other supporters of a shrunken court system in New Orleans have pointed to the metamorphosis in Section J as evidence the city can do more with fewer judges

“It just shows you what’s possible when you actually move your docket,” Attorney General Liz Murrill said.

Landry’s signature on Senate Bill 217 will remove Fuller along with Judges Simone Levine of Section A and Rhonda Goode-Douglas of Section E. The nine surviving sections of court would divvy up those dockets

“It’s time for them to go to work,” Landry said in an April 29 appearance on WBOK “Look, you talk about Derbigny’s case, we cleared that docket in six months.”

Changing the culture

The backlog forced prosecutors and defense attorneys to stop haggling over dog-eared cases, Johnson said. Some defendants accepted plea deals while other

ARREST

Continued from page 1B

to the steakhouse, investigators found, included vodka martinis, wine and gin. It’s not clear who Smith was with.

Smith has not appeared in public to address the incident, but he issued a statement around the same time as he was turning himself into authorities. He apologized to parish residents, his employees and his family, while also offering something of an explanation for his alleged actions.

Smith said he has had “hundreds of personal attacks directed at me by an individual who hides behind a computer screen,” likely a reference to Couvillion.

He said he had an especially hard time ignoring “worsening public harassment” of his wife.

Smith didn’t specify the harassment against his wife, but a few days before the incident Couvillion shared a Facebook post by someone else that personally attacked Smith over his love life. Couvillion tagged Smith’s wife in his repost. To many residents, Smith’s arrest was a shocking outcome for someone who has served as a law enforcement officer for decades in St. Tammany, including six years as police chief in Slidell and nearly a decade in his current role as the most powerful law enforcement official in the parish.

But others, even if they saw Smith’s behavior as unacceptable, said it was not all that surprising, given the long history between Smith and Couvillion. In 2019, Smith’s office arrested Couvillion on a charge of cyberstalking. At the time, Couvillion said it was because of his public criticism of Smith, something Smith denied.

Board member Steven Guitterrez’s sudden resignation last month, when he criticized his colleagues for prioritizing “selfinterest(ed) political positioning” over students. The message convinced Romero that the board’s members need to hear from students about the issues that really

cases were dismissed. The state took some to trial.

“Posturing and trying to finagle to get to another result is what lawyers do on both sides,” Johnson said. “But we had to come to the table and say, ‘Look, y’all. Let’s really put our real cards on the table.’”

A handful of cases in Section J lingered for more than a decade.

“You had cases that were ancient,” Johnson recalled. “In order to do this, you had to have complete focus on that section of court by someone from the DA’s Office who could make decisions on the docket. That could look at the entirety of a case and all of the cases and pick out those cases that could be fast-tracked.”

Zibilich said the target was a docket reduced to 150 cases. He said he focused first on prosecutions that were reopened based on convictions by nonunanimous juries.

Next were cases in which defendants languished in jail, he said, and those with multiple defendants or more than one case against the same person.

His pitch to defense attorneys: “The more files you close and the faster you close files, the more time you can spend on the cases that you can’t close that have to get tried,” Zibilich said.

His message for prosecutors: “If the case ain’t no good because it’s a million years old and you can’t find witnesses, let’s do something with it today It’s not getting any better.”

Zibilich said he beefed up the daily docket and gave attorneys strict deadlines for pretrial motions, disregarding briefs that came in late.

“I’m proud of the fact that I was able to do what the Supreme Court sent me there to do,” Zibilich said last week “I could not have done it without the cooperation of the indigent defenders, the District Attorney’s office, the attorney general

matter to them. One of the main issues the group is focused on is improving district employees’ pay, which Romero said affects students as well as staff, noting that one of his favorite teachers quit last year because he couldn’t get by on his low salary A lack of qualified teachers

and my staff.” In court, Zibilich fires rapid-fire questions at lawyers as they cycle through case files. The attorneys appeared attuned to the pace, rattling off answers in rhythm.

“We are probably going to resolve this case soon,” one attorney assured him at a hearing in March.

“Wonderful, hope so,” Zibilich shot back. “I like to hear that.”

While the swollen docket in Section J dwindled, caseloads declined at a slower pace in other sections of the criminal courthouse over the same period, from an average of 246 felony cases per section in May 2025, to 168 in November

The result across the courthouse was an inventory of open felony cases that fell by more than a third in half a year from 3,200 in May 2025 to a little over 2,000 in November, the MCC data shows.

“The law says the DA sets the docket The reality is that the judge sets the culture in a section of court,” said Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche. “The judges that have the lowest inventory, it’s not by accident. They’re showing up and creating expectations of finality.”

Bob White, a prosecutor and top aide to District Attorney Jason Williams, played a key role in the Section J docket purge, Johnson said.

Veteran prosecutor Andre Gaudin helped clear the first 150 to 200 cases, he said, before turning to campaign for the Section J judgeship against Fuller Gaudin said the challenge of reducing the caseload fell under a larger effort known within the District Attorney’s Office as the “trial Olympics,” a competition of sorts to pick up the pace.

“The ones that are left may be a harder nut to crack than, let’s say, another section with 155 (cases) that hasn’t had to reduce it down from 500,” Gaudin said.

has also led to large class sizes at his school, Romero added.

“When teachers aren’t paid enough,” he said, “it impacts the kind of education students receive.”

Romero raised the issue during his comments at the School Board meeting, imploring members to “commit to paying all professionals in the school system a livable wage.”

Board members applauded Romero for speaking up. Some also said the board is doing its best amid mounting financial pressures, and others noted that the district gave employees a 2% raise last school year and a 5% raise the year before.

Afterwards, Romero said he was glad he voiced his opinion to the board, but he also wished that more community members and students had done the same: “More people should have been in that room,” he said.

Still, he’s hopeful that future meetings will draw more and more students.

“We live in a democracy,” Romero said, “and everyone should be able to participate and feel safe in their own community.”

Triaging a docket in crisis

Murrill pointed to “significant consequences” from lingering cases, citing a mass escape from the Orleans Justice Center last year Its leaders “were very familiar with all the vulnerabilities of that facility because they’d been there a long time,” she said.

Prosecutors from Murrill’s office have become a major presence at the courthouse under an agreement to handle cases from arrests by Troop Nola, the dedicated Louisiana State Police unit that Landry launched two years ago. As of last week, the Attorney General’s Office was handling 540 active cases there, a spokesperson said.

For a Public Defender’s Office that represents 85% of criminal defendants in New Orleans, clearing the Section J backlog was an all-hands-on-deck situation, said Chief Public Defender Danny Engelberg.

“I knew that our clients were being impacted and some of them were ready and eager to see it get to the end of the line,” Engelberg said. “So we definitely went into the effort jumping in.”

Court Watch NOLA, a watchdog group that monitors proceedings in criminal court, noticed a much quicker pace in Section J under the two appointed judges, said executive director Jesse Manley He said his team of volunteers saw no red flags in the process.

“We don’t want the fastest justice system. We want to have the most fair justice system,” Manley said.

In this particular situation, a lot of these cases had been dragging on. So finding a quick resolution to them that doesn’t violate anyone’s constitutional rights, I think is a win.”

Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

“We’re all human at the end of the day But when you put alcohol together with anger, et cetera, what do you think you’re going to get?” said Stephie King, 34, while she was having coffee at Haven in Covington.

King said it was unfortunate Smith reacted the way he did, but she respected Smith for turning himself over to the authorities.

“He turned himself in. He took accountability like a man.”

Some others have defended Smith’s actions, citing their own run-ins with Couvillion.

St. Tammany Parish resident Terri Lewis Stevens, a regular and vocal critic of local officials, said in a Facebook post that Couvillion has harassed her online for years and said she supported Smith’s attack.

“As a long time victim of Couvillion, I’ll gladly contribute to the Sheriff’s GoFundMe!” she wrote, referring to the online fundraising website.

Smith has proved popular through his tenure, winning reelection twice as he has touted a low crime rate, though he’s also faced criticism over high-profile cases, like for his office’s arrest of federal agent Jerry Rodgers, which a federal court ruled in 2022 was illegal.

St. Tammany politicians have largely avoided speaking publicly about the allegations against Smith. Parish President Mike Cooper and council Chair Cheryl Tanner both declined to comment at a government meeting Thursday evening.

Many residents have pointed out the poor timing of the incident for the Sheriff’s Office, which is asking voters at the end of the month to approve a property tax.

On Friday, Daniel Seuzeneau, the interim police chief for the Slidell Police Department, encouraged St. Tammany voters to support the Sheriff’s Office tax, regardless of how they feel about Smith.

“Please understand the powers that be will not always be there, but the men and women who wear the uniform will,” he said on his personal Facebook.

Seuzeneau said in an interview he is strongly considering running for sheriff, though he has not made a final decision.

According to northshore District Attorney Collin Sims, Murrill’s investigation is ongoing. Once the investigation complete, Sims said he will have to determine whether he needs to recuse himself from prosecuting Smith. Formal charges, whether in the form of an indictment by a grand jury or a bill of information, have not yet been filed.

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Victor Romero, a rising senior at Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, poses for a portrait in front of the Jefferson Parish public school system administrative building in Harvey on Friday

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

The Gumball 3000’s 27th annual rally lines up on Canal Street in New Orleans on Saturday.

Deaths

Antoine, Shirley

Aucoin,Gerard

BilbeJr.,Edward Booty, Kendyl Bossier,Leonard

Cahill Jr., Harry

Cass, Karen

Chiasson, Carroll

Dugas, Renee

Halley,Marie Jordan,Priscilla

LegerJr.,Mitchel

Marchese,Cathryn

Marsalis,Yvette MoffattJr.,James Perkins, Mildred

Peytavin,Betty Ramsey,Andrea

Roussel, Meryl

Scheurer III, Philip Schwehm, Caleb Skorge,Suzanne Susman,Carol EJefferson

Joseph "Sam "Antoine Jr Beloved mother of Gerald Antoine Sr.(Shirley),Cyn‐thiaRaby(late Dwight), MiltonJeromeAntoine Sr RonnieClayAntoine (Catherine),Cathy Gray (Randy), Sherita Bartholomew (DarrylSr.) and thelateJaneRapp. SisterofPreston Parker III (late Joyce),RenardParker (Blanche),LenaMae Ragas,and thelateLouise Hansell.Devoted friend of MargieSmith,Germaine Reagan, andBridgette Barthelemy. Godmotherof Augusta Wilson,Everette Ducro Christopher Williams Sr., Robert Burrle Sr.,and thelateMarilyn Ragas.Sisterinlaw of Linda Antoine. Mrs. An‐toine is also survived by 18 grandchildren,37great grandchildren,6 great great grandchildren, as wellasseveral nieces nephews,cousins,other relatives andfriends.She was predeceasedby2 grandchildren Karl Rapp and Sage Antoine. Rela‐tives and friendsofthe familyare invitedtoattend the funeralservice on Tuesday,June 9, 2026 at St Patrick Catholic Church 28698 LA-23, Port Sulphur LA. Thevisitationwill begin at 9AMfollowedby an11AMmass. Entomb‐mentwillfollowinthe church's cemetery.Funeral planningentrusted to RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Robinsonfamilyfu‐neralhome.com

Garden of Memories Aucoin,Gerard Robert 'Jerry'

MoffattJr.,James

Leitz-Eagan

BilbeJr.,Edward

LegerJr.,Mitchel

Ramsey,Andrea

Scheurer III, Philip NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Cass, Karen

DW Rhodes

Marsalis,Yvette

Lake Lawn Metairie

Bossier,Leonard

Chiasson, Carroll

Dugas, Renee

Halley,Marie

Jordan,Priscilla

Marchese,Cathryn

Skorge,Suzanne

Susman,Carol

Majestic Mortuary

Perkins, Mildred

River Parish

RoselynnFuneral

Peytavin,Betty

St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Booty, Kendyl West Bank Robinson FH

Antoine, Shirley Schwehm, Caleb West Leitz-Eagan

Gerard "Jerry"Aucoin, born on May14, 1957, passed awaypeacefully at his home in Hammond, Louisiana, on June 2, 2026, with hislovingwifeof45 years by his side. Jerry was aman of deep faith and adevoted member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church. He graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1979 and retired from Eastern MetalSupply in 2025.Jerry enjoyed woodworking, metal craftsmanship, cooking, gardening,and cheering on his beloved Saints!

Jerrywas the beloved husband of TerryLynn GorenfloAucoin. He was the devotedson of the late Lloyd P. Aucoinand Louise Heintz Aucoin. Jerryissurvived by his brothers, David(Bonnie) Aucoinand Adrian (Katherine) Aucoin, as well as numerous nieces, nephews,greatnieces, and great-nephews who willcherishhis memory.Inaddition to hisparents,Jerry was preceded by his four-legged companions, Rocky and Woody.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitudetoall who offered prayers, support, and kindness during this difficult time

Family and friends will be received at Holy Ghost CatholicChurch, 600 North OakStreet, Hammond, Louisiana 70401, on Wednesday,June 10, 2026, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am.

AMassofChristian Burial willbeheld at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 600 NorthOak Street, Hammond, Louisiana 70401, on Wednesdayat 11:00am.

Interment willfollow at Saint Joseph Abbey Cemetery, 75376RiverRd, Saint Benedict, Louisiana, at 12:45pm.

Cahill Jr., Harry Bilbe Jr.,Edward Charles'Charlie'

brother, Dennis Bilbe

Charlie is survived by his devoted sons: Michael Charles Bilbe (Sharon), David Bilbe (Charlene), and Mitchell Bilbe (Denise). He was theproud and loving "Poppy"toSarah Bilbe Cutrera (Brandon), Caroline Bilbe (Adeem), James Bilbe (Sam), Jane Ellen Bilbe,AnnieBilbe, PeterBilbe,and Teddy Bilbe,all of whombrought him immeasurable joy. He was also agreat-grandfather to Miles Bilbe and AndrewCutrera. He is survivedbyhis siblingsLynn DeBlois, CeciliaFugetta(Terry), Francine Foglesong (Dan), and Kenneth Raymond (Donna). He was abeloved brother-in-law to Janet Weber (John) and Marcel Poursine (Sharon) and was preceded in death by his sisterinlaws, Denise Boudreaux and Alice Sutherland (Gary). Charlie was also "Uncle Charlie" to countless nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom he loveddearly.

Charlie took tremendous pride in his long career as an elevator constructor, aprofessionthat reflected his intelligence, toughness, and unmatched workethic.Hebelievedin doing thingsthe right way, showing up every day, and providing forhis family throughhonest hard work. Evenafter retirement, he never sloweddown, carrying thatsame dedication and determination into a second careerasa real estate agent.Heenjoyed meeting people,staying busy, and continuingto workalongsideand for others long after many wouldhavesteppedaway.

Family and friendswill remember Charlie most for his devotiontothose he loved. He never missed an opportunitytosupport his children and grandchildren,whether celebrating their athletic achievements, academicaccomplishments, or simply being present forthe momentsthatmattered most. Beneath histoughexterior was an enormous heart,a deep generosity, and a steadfast loyaltytofamily and friends.

Charlie was an imposing figure;hehad away of making people feelcared forand protected.Hewas dependable in every sense of theword— theperson others couldalways count on whentheyneeded help, advice, or simply someone to stand beside them.

Edward Charles Bilbe,Jr. willbedeeplymissedand lovinglyremembered by all who had theprivilege of knowing him. His family willforevercarry with them memories of his character, his strength, and theexample he set througha life welllived Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend the visitationatLeitz-Eagan Funeral Home,4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie,LAonMonday, June 8, 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM with aMemorial Mass to follow at 11:00 AM in Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home's chapel. Interment willbeinSt. Louis Cemetery No.3 Fond memories and wordsofcondolences may be shared at www.leitzeag anfuneralhome.com

11:00 AM at E. J. Fielding

Funeral Home,2260 West 21st Avenue,Covington, Louisiana, withvisitation beginning at 10:00 AM. E. J. FieldingFuneral Home of Covington, Louisiana, is honoredtobe entrusted with Mr. Booty's funeral arrangements.His family invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signing an online guestbookat www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Bossier, Leonard Joseph

Leonard J. Bossier,Jr., passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026, at theage of 95. He was bornonMarch 27, 1931, and was aresident of NewOrleans, La. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard J. Bossier,Sr. and Ann Lombardo Bossier Jeansonne; stepfather, Milbon Jeansonne; and sister, Gloria Cross. He was thebeloved husband of 52 years of thelateLois LabourdetteBossier and thebeloved husband of the late AntoinetteUddo Bossier for5 years. He is survivedbyhis daughter, Nancy Bossier McKinnie; son, Michael Andre Bossier (Michelle); grandchildren, James"Jay" Stephen McKinnie,Dr. ChristopherMcKinnie (Olivia), Michael Bossier Jr., and EmilyGrace Bossier;and great-grandchildren, LukeMcKinnie, Matthew McKinnie, Peter McKinnie, and Claire McKinnie.

Leonardgraduated from SamuelJ.Peters High School and was the founderofAssociated Reporters, Inc.,which served theNew Orleans, Baton Rouge,and Lafayette,La. areas. He also worked as acourtreporter in theCivil District Court in NewOrleans, La. He was a3rd degree memberofKnightsofColumbus councilnumber 3729 in NewOrleans. He was also areservist in the Louisiana NationalGuard withthe rank of Privateduring the Korean War Leonardloved playing golf, gardening,and cooking forfamily and friends. Hisgreatest joyinlife was spending timewithhis children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He willberemembered for hiskindness, generosity, and willingnesstohelp thoseinneed. He was determined and firmly believed that he could succeedinanything he set his mind to.Hewas aparishionerofSt. Clement of Rome Parish, and his strong faith played amajor role in his life.His favorite phrasewas, "Don't Worry, Pray."

Afuneralservicewillbe held on Monday, June 8, 2026, at St. Clement of Rome Church in Metairie, La. Visitation willbeheld from10:00 am -11:00 am with aMass to beginat 11:00 am. Interment will follow at St.Roch Cemetery #2. In lieu of flowers, Massesare preferred.

Kendyl L. Booty,age 84, of Mandeville, Louisiana, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026. He was born on December 14, 1941, in Pineville,Louisiana He is survivedbyhis sister, SharonDear; nephews, Scott,Gary, and Steven Dearand Shawn Fletcher; niece, Lisa Whitton; great niece, DawniellePrzylucki; greatnephew, Brenton Dear. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Carmel Booty; sister, RaonaZumwalt;and great nephew, Alec Whitton

Mr. Booty was a1959 graduateofPineville High School and a1963 graduateofNorthwestern University. He proudly served in theUnitedStates Navy from 1963 until 1969 and workedfor many years withTravelers Insurance before his retirement as SeniorAuditor in 1993. Kendyl lovedgolf, tennis,fishing,LSU football and baseball,crawfish boils, diningout with friends, and spending time with his family Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend the funeral serviceson Saturday, June 13, 2026, at

Cahill, Harry Lloyd

Harry Lloyd Cahill Jr passedawayonJune2 2026, with familyathis side. Born April 24, 1933, in Baracoa, Cuba, to Harry Lloyd Cahilland Lavinia BartonSims, he lost both parents at averyearly age. After thedeathofhis mother, Harry moved to CutlerRidge, Florida, with hisstepfather, Dr.Euclid Borland Gill. As astar on theFortLauderdale High School "Flying Ls" football team, he expectedtoplay footballfor the University of Miami buta serious knee injury derailedhis footballcareer. Instead of collegeonanathletic scholarship,hejoinedthe United States Marine CorpsinJuneof1953 and went on to serve in the United States Army. He served in theKorean War andthenwas partofthe SeventhArmyOccupation Force, drivinga tank throughout Germany. In 1958 Harry met and marriedthe love of his life, Elizabeth ArdenCox, and they moved to Tallahassee whereHarry furtheredhis education at Florida State andArden taughtspeech. Ayear later,upon thearrival of the first of their fivechildren, they returned to theNew Orleans Westbanktoraise their family. Harry had along career with the Prudential Insurance Companywhere he excelledasboth agent andmanager. With his small Westbankstaff Harry's office outperformed everyPrudential branchinthe country. Harry also wasa licensed contractorand Cahill Builders Inc. built many commercial buildings, familyhomes, andapartments on theWestbank. In 1968 he andhis wife founded ArdenCahillAcademy whichnow educates children from preschool through high school. Harry was aproud member of theWestbank Rotary Club, whichhonored himasa PaulHarris Fellow. He was also alongtime active member of the JestersClub, thefounding social and Carnival organizationbehindthe Knights of Babylon.A diehard footballfan,Harry and hisfamilyare NewOrleans Saints legacyseason ticket holders(season ticketsevery year since theSaints1967 inaugural season). Harry wasalso also adevoted parishionerofHoly Spirit Catholic Church He is preceded in death by hiswife,Elizabeth ArdenCox Cahill,his parents andstepfather, and hissiblings Clarissa Cahill Goolsby (Walter), Lavinia Cahill Powell (Ralph), and Donald Barton Cahill (Lana).

Harry is survived by his childrenHarry Lloyd "Chip"Cahill III (Judith Windhorst Cahill), Jack GerardCahill (Tina Mosley Cahill), Mary KevinCahill (Joey Collen Wideman), KellyAnn Cahill,and Dr ChristopherNolan Cahill (AngelleChedotalCahill); hisgrandchildrenDr. Harry Lloyd Cahill IV (Dr. Maggie Joyner Cahill), Anna Marie Charles (Jeremy Charles), Luke John Cahill, Lieutenant Colonel WhitneyMithun O'Connell (JamesScottO'Connell),

Richard JamesMithunJr. (Jeni McDougald Mithun), Nicholas Cahill Mithun, KelseyCorrinCahill Wideman,Letha Michelle Wideman,Alona Joy Wideman,Mercy Ann Lindell,Nolan Ambrose Cahill (Abby Melling Cahill), SamsonElliot Cahill,Kaycie AnnCahill, andJack Michael Cahill; hisgreat-grandchildren Harry Lloyd "Quinn"Cahill V, RexPatrick Cahill, AmeliaRoseCharles, Lincoln JamesO'Connell Scotti Juliet Eilis O'Connell KellyCrews O'Connell,Mia ArdenMithun,Forest Drake Mithun, Liam Reco Tingle, MaverickBear McGuire, and Joey Fabian Acosta; his cousin Katherine MartinezTastet; andmanylovingfamily andfriends. Thefamilyexpresses deepest gratitude to Aurora Sierra, Cheryl Emery, and Wanda Cotton for theirendless loving care Serviceswill be held on Saturday, July 6, 2026 at Holy Name of Mary Church at 500 Eliza Street in New Orleanswith visitation beginningat9:00 a.m. andan 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass to follow.Interment will followatWestlawn Memorial Parkat1225 Whitney AvenueinGretna. In lieu of flowers, the familywelcomesmemorial donationstoSt. Michael Special School at https://w ww.stmichaelspecialscho ol.com/support-smss/ in thename of Harry LCahill Jr

KarenLucretiaDay Cass entered eternalreston May 31, 2026. Shewas born toNormanJ.Day,Sr. and Alfreda DayGilbertonJuly 17, 1952, andwas anative ofNew Orleans, LA.Pre‐ceded in deathbyher hus‐band, Thomas Cass, Sr., fa‐ther, Norman J. Day, Sr mother, AlfredaDay Gilbert:and brother, Nor‐man J. Day, Jr.She leaves tocherish hermemory: sister, Pamela JoyceDay; aunt,Nicolette Williams Perrault; nephew,Jason Boyer Walker;bonus nephew, Adrien Adonte Camille;great nephew, AustinOwens;godchild, Jazmine Elaine Colin; step‐son,ThomasCass, Jr.; and stepdaughter, Kelley Broussard.She is also sur‐vived by ahostoffamily members,relatives, cousins,and friends. Rela‐tives,friends,and employ‐ees of theU.S.PostalSer‐vice, Bell SouthTelecom‐munications, Benjamin FranklinElementary School,Bethune Charter School,MLK Charter School,Caesars Super‐dome, Smoothie King Cen‐ter,RTA,TulaneMemorial Baptist Church and FranklinAvenue Baptist Church areinvited to at‐tendthe CelebrationofLife Service on Monday,June 8, 2026, for10:00 a.m. at The BoydFamilyFuneral Home 5001 Chef MenteurHwy., New Orleans, LA.Visitation willbegin at 9:00 a.m. Offi‐ciating Minister Louis Colin,Sr. Intermentwillfol‐low at Mount Olivet Ceme‐tery andMausoleum,4000

Cass, KarenLucretiaDay

Booty, Kendyl L.

Chiasson, Carroll Michael

Carroll Michael "Mike Chiasson, born October 16, 1938, in New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2026, at the age of 87.

Aproud graduate of the Louisiana State University, Mike dedicated his life to public service. He was a retired Special Agent of the U.S. Treasury Department and later served as aUnited States Bankruptcy Trustee. His commitment to community was extended far beyond his career -heserved faithfully with the Terrytown Fire Department and was aVessel Safety Check Examinerwith the United States Power Squardrons. He was alsoa longtime member and former President of the Lions Club, and adevoted member of the Krewes of Carrollton and Endymion, roles that reflected his deep love for New Orleans traditions and service.

Mike approached life with unmistakable joy and curiosity. He loved spending time with his family, attending theater, and traveling the world. He embraced every new experience with enthusiasm, always eager to learn, explore, and share what he discovered. Apassionate photographer, he spent countless hours capturing thebeauty around him including churches and cathedrals, many of which he transformed into collages and generously donated to the Archdiocese. An avid boater, he cherished his years on the water aboard his beloved vessel, Figment, which truly became his second home. He was preceded in death by his spouse Magnolia "Nolia" Chiasson; his parents, Acy A. Chiasson and Leontine V. Chiasson; his siblings, Midred Strate, Margie Bohne, Dorothy Varuso Acy A. Chiasson Jr., and Ernest Chiasson; and his beloved granddaughter, Emily NicoleCarpenter.

Mike is survived by his spouse, Linda Louise Chiasson; his children, Michael Gregory Chiasson (Donna), Valerie Ann Carpenter (Adam), and Katie Michelle Chiasson (Martin); and his stepdaughter, Dawne Hunter. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ross, Alex and Shelby Chiasson, Nicholas Chiasson, Ashley Chugden(Sean),Michael Chiasson (Danielle), Amanda Couvillion, and Suzannaand Alexandra Walston, step-granddaughter, Rachel Cooley and great-grandchildren, Braiden and Landon Chugden, Madden, Carter, and Anniston Chiasson, Olivia Byers, Elijah Williams, and Molly Pechon; all of whom brought him immense pride and joy

Family and friends are invitedtoattend amemorial service on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124. Avisitation will be held from 11:00 am1:00 pm, with amemorial service beginning at 1:00 pm. Inurnment willfollow at Metairie Cemetery.

of Robert J. Fryer and Katherine A. Fryer. She proudly calledMetairie, Louisiana home throughout her life

Renee sharedher life with her enduring husband of 55 years, John"JAY" Dugas, and her cherished son,John Dugas, Jr.She was adevoted wife,mother,daughter,sister,aunt, and friend whose vibrant spirit left an indelible mark on allwho knew her Reneewas aproud graduate of NichollsHigh School and alwayslooked forward to catching up with lifelong friends at their school reunions.

Reneeloved decorating her home, especially for Mardi Gras and Christmas. Many of her family'smost cherished memorieswere made at her lake house in Eden Isles,whereshe lovedhosting Thanksgiving and Christmasdinners. Renee took immense joyinfamily, especially when the lake housewas filled with the laughter of her nieces and nephews, and she loved nothing more than watching their littlechildrenrun around and play.

Reneespent decades sponsoring countless people in AA, whereshe was deeply loved and admired forher strength, resilience and leadership.

Renee, alongside her husband, Jay, owned and operated many successful businessesover the years.

Shetook the most pride in their Midas auto repair shop, whereher impeccablerecord-keeping, flawlessbook work,and sharp attention to detailpropelled the businessto numberone in the region for many years. Her legacy of hardwork also helped grow their Metairiebusiness, Supreme,that is proudly run by her son, John, today. Aside from her business and communitywork, Reneehad adeeplove for shopping, especially tuning into QVC. Shealsohad many pets over theyears, and she loved themvery much

Reneewas aloving sister to hersurviving brother,RobertJ.Fryer.She was preceded in deathbyher beloved siblings:John HenryFryer, Monroe A. Fryer, Sr., WilliamO.Fryer, Elizabeth Boyd, and Linda Peterson.

Whenshe wasn't managing businesses, helping others, or hosting family, Renee was an avid world traveler. Sheachievedelite Platinum Status on her favorite cruise lines and journeyedall over the globe, exploring Europe, Spain, and Italy. Of allher travels,her absolute favoritewas headingdown under to Australia to visit dear friends. Renee's suddenpassing from amassivestroketook usall by surprise. We will beforevergrateful to the doctors and nursesof LCMCEast Jefferson Hospital fortheirefforts and compassion.

Renee'swarmth, sharp mind, and vibrant spirit willbedeeply missed by her family, friends, andthe communityshe servedso well.

Services willbeheldon Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Lake LawnMetairie Funeral Home, 5100 PontchartrainBoulevard, NewOrleans, Louisiana 70124. The visitation will begin at 11:00 am until the funeral massat2:00 pm. The intermentwillfollow withinMetairie cemetery Arepassfor familyand friends to celebrate Renee's life will follow from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at QuarterView Restaurant, located at 613 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, Louisiana 70001.

Marie Blanche Wiltz Halley passed awaypeacefully at East Jefferson GeneralHospitalonFriday, May 15, 2026 with family at herside at 90 yearsofage. Born October 31, 1935to George Francis Wiltz, Sr and BlancheMarie BrisolaraWiltz, she graduatedfromStJoseph Academy and attended the Churchofthe King. She was truly asocial butterfly who never met a stranger.Her homewas alwaysfilled with laughter,

music, family,and friends, as she lovedhosting gatheringsand opening her doorstoeveryone she cared about. Sheespecially cherished hosting family holiday celebrationswith her twodaughters,their husbands, her beloved grandchildren, and her siblings and their families, creating traditions and memories that her loved oneswillforeverhold close to theirhearts.

Whether she was dancing,playing bingo,enjoying time at thecasino, or simply surrounded by the people she loved, she brought warmth, joy, and energywherever she went Her generous spirit, quick wit, and abilitytomake everyone feelwelcome will be deeply missed.

Aboveall,she deeply lovedher family and treasured every moment spent with them. Her pride and joywere her threegrandchildren. Her family meant everything to her, and the love she shared with them willforever remain in their hearts.

She was preceded in death by her husband, ClaudeHomer Halley, Jr her parents Georgeand Blanche Wiltz,her sisters, JuanitaMarieWiltz Larmann, DorothyAnn Wiltz Peltierand her brothers, GeorgeF Wiltz, Rev GeorgeFrancis Wiltz, Jr,SJ, and JosephGeraldWiltz She is survivedby daughters, Kathleen Halley Stockton (James) and Karen Marie Halley Frey (Alan), brother, Roland JosephWiltz (Arlene), and grandchildren, Halley Alexandra Frey,Garrett MartinFrey, and Hayden Alan Frey.

Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend a memorial service on Monday, June 15, 2026 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home,5100 PontchartrainBlvd, New Orleans, at 11:00 AM,visitation from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers,donations may be madeinher memory to theGastroIntestinalResearch Foundation, The Brett Boyer Foundation(for Heart Defects) or the Manning FamilyChildren's Hospital

Our Priscilla has died and we greatlymiss her love,wisdom, wit, and powerful presence. We also rejoicethatshe is with her saviorJesus Christ. Her eightythree years were filled with family, friends, flowers, and faith. She wasdedicated to finding and creating beauty in people,placesand things.

Alicensed Interior Designer, and avid Master Horticulturist;Priscilla splashed color, beauty and vivacityinto her relationships and projects.

She was afabulous cook,extraordinary hostess and world-record fisherwoman. Priscillatravelledoftenand with purpose. She was part of many clubs, groupsand organizations in which she took holdofevery opportunitytocontribute,lead,or teach.

Her presence couldnot be ignored.Anencounter with Priscilla was always interesting, meaningful memorable, or allthree She left you feeling understood, challenged, and cared for, whether you agreed withher or not

Priscilla grew up elegantly on Third Streetin thegarden district of New Orleans and spent summersofgritand horseback at theIngersollGreat Hills farm in Bedford, NewYork

She attended Miss Aiken, McGehee, and All Saints schools. She studied at Louisiana State University, Harvard Business School and the NewYork School of Interior Design.

Priscilla worked for McMillen& Companyin NewYork City forseveral years and returned to New Orleans to establish her own designpractice. She married Maumus "TiMau" Claverie, Jr.with whom she parentedhis son Maumus III. Later in life,she divorced and moved to Aiken, SouthCarolina where she expanded her

circle and remained connected to TiMau, Maumus III, and her diasporaofextendedfamily and friends. Astroke in 2021 confined her to awheelchair butshe carried on with faith and courage. Friends and family ralliedtoher aidfor half adecade. None with more diligence and love than Pamela Pipes and Dian Winingder. To allher dear ones, we family members express our deepest gratitudeand offer her favoriteprayer: "The LORD blessyou and keep you; theLORDmake hisface to shine upon youand be gracious to you; theLORDlift up his countenance upon youand give youpeace." Priscilla was predeceasedbyher parents, CorneliaHoward Ingersoll Jordan and Thomas Leslie Jordan; her siblings Thomas Leslie JordanJr., CorneliaHoward"Dolly" Jordan, Ingersoll Jordan, Gay Jordan, TiMau, and her nephew Winchester Fitch Jordan. She is survivedby Maumus Francois Claverie III, his wife and her niece Townsend DerbyJordan Claverie, their children Maumus Francois Claverie IV, Banner Ingersoll Claverie, DerbyJordan Claverie, Dorothea Collings Claverie, Elias Hasket Claverie, and Abigail EstherClaverie; her niece Whitney Crowninshield Jordan; her sister-in-law EstherLorraine Hagstette Jordan: nieces and nephews Alta Lorraine Jordan, PriscillaKatherine Jordan Cargo, Thomas Edward SamuelJordan, Dolly Gay Susan Jordan, William Edmund Leslie Jordan, and her great nieces and nephews.

Thursday, June 18th, at Trinity Episcopal Church in NewOrleans, her life will be celebrated with atraditional service at 2:00pm. Visitation willbeginat 12:30. The service willbe live-streamedand reception willfollow in the Parish Houseonsite Consider wearing a splash or moreofcolor. Please plant something beautiful in agarden on Priscilla's behalf.

MitchelLouis Leger, Jr., age87, passedaway peacefully surrounded by his loving family after a prolongedbattlewith Parkinson'sdisease Mitchelwas born on February 17, 1939, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to MitchelLouis Leger, Sr. and Rodell Picou Leger.He is survivedbyhis devoted wife of 63 years, Theresa Leger,and their children: daughter Lisa Leger Lundberg,wife of ChristopherLundberg;son MitchelLouis LegerIII, husband of AndreaAab Leger; and daughter Cindy LegerCastille,wife of Joey LeeCastille

He is also survivedby his eight grandchildren: JenniferOlivier, Mitchel LegerIV, Ryan Rhoto, StephaniePina, Christian Leger, Hannah Johnson, Sarah Dehler, and Luke Leger; as wellasthirteen great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Amelia, Jude, Benjamin, and Ellis Olivier; Maliha Muller; Evangeline, Roman, and Isaac Rhoto; Becket and Blaise Dehler; MitchelLegerV;and Oliver Pina. Mitchelgraduated from Warren Easton HighSchool and laterfromLoyola University. He built arespected careerasa residential contractor,known for his dedication, work ethic, and care forthe familiesheserved through his craft

Aman of deep Catholic faith, Mitchellived hislife with asincere love forthe Lord.His faith was not merely somethinghepracticed,but something he shared generouslywith others. He ministered in prisons, bringing theWord of God to those in needof hope, mercy, and encouragement.For many years, he faithfully walked in the Neocatechumenal Way, allowing his relationship with Christ to guide his life,his family,and his service to others. Throughhis witness, humility, and profound love of theLord, Mitchelhelpedmany come to knowJesus.

Thefamilywould also like to express theirheartfelt gratitude to Wendy Giardina for hermany years of devotedservice, compassion,and care for Mitchel. Herkindness, patience,and faithful presence were atrueblessing to Mitcheland to theentire familythroughouthis journey.

Aboveall,Mitchel's greatest joywas his family. Hislove for hiswife, children, grandchildren, andgreat-grandchildren remained thecenterofhis life. He leaves behind a legacyoffaith, devotion, perseverance,and love that will continue to live on through all whoknewand lovedhim.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mitchel's honor to St.Jerome Catholic Church or to a charity of yourchoice

Relativesand friends of thefamilyare invited to attend theMemorialMass of Christian Burial at St JeromeCatholic Church 2402 33rd St,Kenner,LAon Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM.Visitationwill be held at thechurch from 9:00 AM until11:00 AM Intermentwill follow mass at Lake LawnPark Mausoleum, NewOrleans LA.

Cathryn Scholl Marchese passed away on May25, 2026. Belovedwife of William Marchese Devotedmother of Keegan Clare Marchese.She is also survived by hersister and brother-in-law, Carol and John Standige;nieces, Leslie Delaune(Kirk) and Susan Goudeau (Jarrod). Shewas the grand aunt of Kayla (Zack) and Charles BeshenichIII (Holly), Kyle (Mariah), Jordan and Cameron Delaune.

Shewas predeceased by herparents,Clara Keegan Scholl and Henry AmoundesScholl;aswell as herniece, Sheila Standige;and brother-inlaw,Stephen Marchese Mrs. Marchese was a graduate of Riverdale High School andthe University of NewOrleans whereshe wasa memberofAlpha Theta EpsilonHonor Society. Shewas aformer member of theHoly Rosary Parents ClubBoard, the Louisiana SPCA, andthe NewOrleans SpringFiesta Association

Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe funeral servicesatSt. Francis Xavier Catholic Church,444 MetairieRoad in Metairie, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM witha Memorial Mass following at 11 AM.Cathryn will be laidtorest privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the familyrequestsdonations to theLA-SPCA ,1700 Mardi Gras Blvd NewOrleans,LA 70114. To view andsignthe familyguestbook, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

Marsalis,Yvette Robertson

Yvette Robertson Marsalispeacefully departedlifeonMay 26, 2026. Yvette wasbornonJuly19, 1936 to Ellis Louis Marsalis Sr.ofSummit,Mississippi and Florence Robertson MarsalisofNew Roads, Louisiana. Shewas pre-deceased by herparents Ellis Sr.and Florence Marsalisand her brotherEllis MarsalisJr. Yvette leavestocherish hermemory oneson, Charles MarsalisHarris, 3 grandchildren; Matthew Cynthiaand Melissa Harris, and 6great-grandchildren. Sheisalso survivedby6 nephews, Brandford,Wynton,Ellis III Delfeayo, Mboya, and Jason Marsalis, and ahost of otherfamilyand friends. Yvette wasa 1953 graduate of Gaudet Episcopal

High School andgraduated from Dillard University as a music major. Yvette was an initiate of theBeta Gamma Chapter of Delta SigmaTheta Sorority, Inc. Yvette enjoyed spending time wither grandand great-grandchildren and herfamilyand friends. She also enjoyedteaching pianolessons. Shewill be remembered by many for herservice to others.One of hermany pleasures wasthe volunteer servicesfor Mealson Wheels andher services with theJeffersonParish CouncilonAgingAgency. Shespent many years helpingher father operate hismotel in Shrewsbury working as an assistant first andthenthe manager. Later in herlifeshe decidedtomove to New Roadswhere she rememberedsomanyhappy times with family. The memoryofYvette Robertson Marsaliswill neverbelost by all shehas touched. Aprivateservice washeld for Yvette Arrangements entrusted to D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign online guest book.

It is with greatsadness thatweannouncethe passing of ourbeloved James EdwinMoffatt, Jr who left us on May6,2026 atthe ageof88. Born on November29, 1937, in New Orleans,Jim wascherished byfamilyand friendsfor his warmth,kindness, and unwavering support. Throughouttheir life,Jim touched theheartsof manywitha generous spiritand agentlesoul. Jim Moffattissurvivedbyhis wifeJanina“Jasia” Moffatt; his threesons: JamesR Moffatt, Sr.(Marguerite)of Walker, Jeff A. Moffatt (Tracey)ofBristol,VA, and RossS.MoffattofRiver Ridge;his threegrandchil‐dren: JamesR.Moffatt, Jr (Colton)ofBaton Rouge, Jamilynn T. Stevens(Dale) ofFranklinton,and DavidA Moffatt(Andi)ofCentral; fourgreat-grandchildren: Haley M. Fonda(Luke)of Franklinton,LoganStevens, Stevi G. Moffatt, andMar‐guerite R. Moffatt; and2 great-great-grandchildren, Luke BowenFonda and HarvieLynnFonda.Hewas precededindeath by his parents,James EdwinMof‐fatt, Sr.and Isabel Schnei‐der Moffatt. Together with his father anduncles, Jim ran MoffattBrothersHard‐wareonVeteransBlvd. until thestore closed and heretired in 1999 after 42 years in business. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thefuneral servicesatGardenof MemoriesFuneralHome& Cemetery, 4900 Airline Drive,Metairie, LA 70001 on Saturday, June 13, 2026 Visitationwillbegin at 12:00 pm with aMemorial Service starting for1:00pm followedbyinurnment.On‐linecondolences maybe offeredatwww.gardeno fmemoriesmetairie.com

On August 14, 1939. God blessedthe worldwiththe birth of MildredGillis Perkins,affectionately known as "LadyP"and Ms.P." Shewas born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Lucy JamesGillis and JamesGillis, Sr.Mil‐dredwas unitedinmar‐riage to thelateLuciusT Perkins.Fromthisunion cametwo belovedchil‐dren: thelateVictoriaAn‐toinette PerkinsRivers (WoodrowRivers) andthe lateLuciusThomasPerkins (thelateJoyce Marie Perkins). Lady Pwas blessedwith6 sisters. She leavestocherish herpre‐cious memories with one devoted sister,Josephine G.Lucas (Cornelius). She was preceded in deathby her sistersVictoriaGillis (Johnson),Joran G. Gray (Ernest LeeGray),Dorothy GillisofLos AngelesCali‐fornia,MargieJackson

MoffattJr.,James Edwin

Marchese,CathrynScholl

Leger Jr., MitchelLouis

Jordan, Priscilla

Perkins, MildredGillis 'LadyP Ms.P

Halley,Marie Blanche Wiltz

Dugas, Renee F.

Renee F. Dugas passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026, at the age of 74. Born on August 4, 1951,Renee was the beloved daughter

(Rev.EugeneJackson), and MarthaS.Jackson (Au‐gusta Jackson) of Chicago, Illinois.LadyP wasthe proud grandmotherof four: Troynell Rivers,Sr. (Kendra), Warren Rivers Sr. (Kenyatta),Charnell Rivers-Williams (Frank Sr.) and LadairaMonique Perkins.She was also blessedwithten greatgrandchildren whomshe loved dearly.She leaves cherished memories with her nieces andnephews, including DorsandraE Heard andAnita Pernellof Los Angeles, California; Wayne Jackson(Adrienne Pace) of Chicago, Illinois; and Ernest Gray (Latoya) She wasaffectionately known as "Madea"to WilliamFrancis (Della). LadyP also leaves behind her devoted"Ride or Die" friend, PaulaT.Grier;life‐longfriends Mary Y. Boyd and Alfred Nicholson; Brother in Christ Henry Johnson;Spiritual Friend EvangelistRamonaH Williams;CaringFriend DanaFox;and ahostof lovingrelatives,church family, andfriends.A proud graduate of Booker T.WashingtonSeniorHigh School, Classof1957, Mil‐dredfurthered hereduca‐tionatDelgado Community College andNichollsState University. Shededicated over30years of serviceto the OrleansParishSchool Board,where sheworked inthe Child NutritionDe‐partmentand served as Manager at John Dibert El‐ementarySchool.Through her leadership,dedication, and nurturing spirit,she positivelyimpactedthe lives of countlessstudents and colleagues.Her faith journey beganearly in life Mildred wasbaptized at Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church on March26, 1940, duringthe administration ofthe late Reverend Jerry M.Brown. Herrelationship withChristwas thefoun‐dationofher life.Asa child,she participated in TeenJunction AllenChrist‐ian Endeavor League (ACE), SundaySchool,and Junior Church.Asanadult,she accepted Christ as herper‐sonal Savior,continued growing in faith,and faith‐fully laboredinGod's vine‐yard. Throughout the years,she served as Super‐intendent of Sunday Schoolunder Rev. Thomas B.Brown, Jr., AdultBible Class Teacher, Class Leader#58, member of the Union Bethel Benevolent Society,EvelynLaneMis‐sionary Society, Commu‐nionStewardess, andGate PrisonMinistry. Shewas alsoa faithfulparticipant onthe UnionBethelMon‐day Morning6:00a.m PrayerLine, amemberof the Sisterhood of Liberty Baptist Church,and the FeedMySheep Ministry in Chicago, Illinois.LadyP was aLifeMemberofthe Order of theEastern Star (O.E.S.), amemberofthe NAACP,and theAmerican CancerSociety.She en‐joyed traveling, shopping cooking, andbaking. Known forher impeccable fashion senseand ele‐gance,she trulyrepre‐sentedthe epitomeofstyle and grace. More impor‐tantly, Lady Pgavemore thanshe received.She found joyinlife'ssimple pleasures andmadea last‐ing difference in thelives ofeveryoneshe encoun‐tered.Her loving spirit generosity, wisdom,and unwavering faithtouched countless hearts.Her fa‐voritehymnwas "Let Jesus Fix It forYou," andher fa‐voritescripture wasPsalm 37:25:"Ihavebeenyoung and nowamold;yet have I not seen therighteous for‐saken,nor hisseedbeg‐gingbread." Above all, LadyP lovedGod,loved her family, andloved her churchfamily--especially those whogatheredwith her after Sunday worship toshare meals, fellowship, and laughter.The family extends heartfeltapprecia‐tionand specialrecogni‐tiontoher caregivers Carla Hilsonand Lataysha Mickel; Dr.Rodrigue; Dr Bowers; West Jefferson Hospital; andthe entire medical team whose com‐passionatecareand dedi‐cationblessed her throughouther journey. Welldone, goodand faith‐ful servant. Relativesand Friends of thefamilyare all invited to attend theFu‐neral ServiceonSaturday, June20, 2026atUnion BethelA.M.E Church,2321 Thalia St,New Orleans, LA 70113. Visitation:9am10amand FuneralService willbegin at 10am. Inter‐ment: Restlawn Park Cemeteryand Mausoleum, 3240 US-90Avondale, LA 70094. Professional ArrangementsEntrusted to: Majestic Mortuary Ser‐vice, Inc. (504)523-5872.

Betty Najolia(Honey) Peytavin passedawayat her home in Lutcher, Louisiana,onJune 4, 2026, at the ageof93, after a longillness. Shewas born on December 21, 1932,in Chalmette,Louisiana,and attended The Academy of Holy Angels in New Orleans.She later received aBachelor's Degree in Education at Loyola University, and wasan Educator from 1956until her retirementin1998. Duringthat time,she primarily taughtchildrenin St. James Parish. In 1956,she married John L. Peytavin, and together they raised afamily of seven childrenand lived in Lutcher until his death in 2015 Her retirement from teaching did not end her public service. Shebecame aHomebound Minister and aMarist Laitymember who cooked forthe St. Vincent DePaul Kitchen in Baton Rouge.She also was an HonoraryMemberof the CatholicDaughters, St. AnnAltarSociety, and the St. James RetiredTeachers Association.

Honeyalsoenjoyed traveling, spending time with her children and grandchildren, playing pokeno, and attending the St James Parish Senior Citizen's Center

Sheissurvived by her seven children andtheir spousesand significant others; Stephen(Jeanne), Michael (Jenny), Malcolm (Celeste), Gerard (Jenny McClung), Mark (Tanya), Anna Laurie,and Lance (Anne); eighteen grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren. Shewas precededin death by her belovedhusband of 59 years, Judge John L. Peytavin; her parents, Dominic D. andAnna C. Najolia;her brother, Anthony D. Najolia; her sister,LoisNajolia Pujol; and hergrandson, Jonathan M. Dencausse

The Peytavin family sincerely thanks Modern Hospice, Honey's caregivers, Ms. Donna Rogers and Raffieal Jackson, and her Homebound Ministry angels and friends forthe care and compassion they provided to Honey during her final years.

Relativesand Friends areinvited to attend a Visitationand Funeral Mass on Tuesday, June 9, 2026,atSt. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 2130 RectorySt. Paulina Louisiana 70763. Visitation willbeheldfrom9:00 a.m. until 11:00a.m. The Funeral Mass willbegin at 11:00 a.m., and interment will followatSt. Joseph CatholicCemeteryin Paulina.

Ramsey, Andrea C.

AndreaC.Ramsey passed awayather home on Thursday, May28, 2026, at the ageof52. Andrea was born in St LouisMissouri, andisa lifelong St. LouisBaseball Cardinals fan. ShegraduatedfromRosati-Kain high school,then attended Truman State University whereshe obtaineda BA in Journalism, became a memberofthe Sigma Kappa Sorority. Andrea then obtaineda MA in English from Eastern IllinoisUniversity. Andreathen beganher career inevent marketing, andachieved great success on manyprograms that she worked on and was very proud of her work on several Super Bowls, NBA and MLB All StarGames and National Political Conventions. She started her own company and was able to consulton major events that happen not only in Americabut worldwide. Andrea was anunbelievable friend and mentor to hercolleagues andwas mostproud whenshe could connect people together through her vast work network. She had an uncanny ability to find the rightconnectionsfor people and loved beingthe person to uplift someone

else.

Andreawas an amazing friend and truly never met astranger.She was afacilitator, aplanner, an advisorfor anyone she knew, and always madeherself available to them. She was avoracious reader and wouldalways havea recommendationofa book she just read and asupporter of the locallibrary system.

Her indelible spirit,intelligence and sense of humor willleave alasting impressiononeveryone who knew her. Few people were aware that she was a philanthropist and at one time was selected to serve on theInternational Space Station, butwas passed over dueto"Politics". She willhavethe last laugh though, as she was the NorthStar forsomany people guiding them throughlife.

Andreaissurvivedby her loving partner, DenisJ Janis; her mother,Carol Ramsey and her siblings, EricRamsey and Kris Ramsey (Jana). Andrea was alovingaunt to her nephews: Walt,Abe, Ike, and Theo Ramsey.

Acelebrationofher life will be held at The Gatsby located at 2017 Chouteau Ave.,StLouis Mo, 63103 on theevening of June 13th, 2026. In lieu of flowers,please considera donationin honorofAndrea to the highschoolshe attended:

Rosati-KainAcademy: https://crm.bloomerang.c o/HostedDonation?ApiKey =pub_8f2c1876-0c53-11eeb7ed0acdc21d6db1&WidgetId=5 8368 If you'dprefertodonate by check, please submitto: Rosati-KainAcademy, 4389 Lindell,SaintLouis, MO 63108.

Meryl Rockel Roussel went on to meetthe Lord on June 2, 2026, from her home in LaPlace, Louisiana. She was aloving and devoted wife, mother, and "Gran" to her grandchildrenand great grandchildren. She puther heart and soul into serving her family,friends, Church, and her kindergarten students at St.Joan of Arc School, where she taught for 19 years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mae Boudreaux Rockel and Daniel John Rockel, her sisterElaineRockelScariano, and her grandsonSean Singh Aranipour. She is blessed to be survived by her husband of 61 years, CarrollPeter Roussel,their threesons and spouses, Michael (Robin), Paul (Julie), Jeffrey (Candis), and her daughter-in-law AnnetteTrosclairRoussel. As well as her grandchildren Madeline (Zachary), Adam, Thomas, Daniel (Colleen), Zachary (Courtney), Emory, and Tanner, and greatgrandchildrenDaniel,Jackson, Abel, and Autumn. The family wouldliketo thank Notre Dame Hospice and Best Care Home Services, withspecial thankstoSonya, Karen, Karsandra, Tiffany and Mary.

Relatives and friends are invitedtocelebrate her life on June 10 at St Joan of ArcCatholicChurch, 529 W 5thStreet,LaPlace. Visitation 10:00am -Noon, Funeral Mass at Noon. Interment,Lake Lawn Park Cemetery, Metairie, LA.In lieu of flowers,please make adonation to acharityofyourchoice.

ter, SylviaS.Smith,who surely welcomed him home with open arms. He is survivedbyhis belovedwife,Kathy, who was the love of his life and thecenter of his world; his cherished grandchildren, Samantha,Tyler, and Bryce Wetwiski; Robert and Nicole Wetwiski and Sean and NicoleWetwiski, whomheloved as hisown; his brothers-in-law, George Rizk,Sr. (Marlene) and Michael Rizk (Marilyn); his sisters,Karen S. Couvillon (Milton), JudithE Scheurer, Rosanne S. Fogg (Doug), Elaine S. Strahan, and Shaleen W. Hughes (John); along with numerous nieces, nephews, extendedfamily members, and dear friends who will forever treasurethe memories, laughter, photographs, and love he brought into their lives. While his passing leaves atremendous void in the heartsofthose who knew him, Phil leaves behind a legacy of faith, family,service, and unwavering love Phil was ahardworking and dedicatedman who believed in responsibility, loyalty, and doing ajob well. He proudly served his country as amember of theUnited States Marine Corps, carrying thevalues of discipline, patriotism and commitment throughout his life.Following his military service, he spent more than 25 years with LockheedMartin. Even afterretirement,Philenjoyed staying active throughpart-time work at Academy Sports + Outdoors and alocal hardware store. Phil was aman of strong opinions, astrongwill, and an even stronger heart.He never hesitated to tell you exactly what he thought, and those who lovedhim wouldn't havewanted him any otherway. He loved America, lovedtalking politics, and found great joy in handingunsuspecting waitresseshis famous one -million-dollar bills.

For morethan20years, Phil shared abeautiful life with Kathy. Theirlove was evident to everyone who knew them and Phil's devotion to her could be seen in everything he did. She was his greatest love,his closestcompanion, and theperson he cherished most. That same love extended to theentirefamily.Phil embraced Kathy's children and grandchildrenashis own and became aconstant presence in their lives. He showed up for birthdays, schoolevents, holidays, and alloflife's ordinary momentsthat ultimately become ourmost treasured memories Phil lovedhis family,his friends, and themany peoplewhose livescrossed his path. He had agift for making people laugh, making them feelwelcome, and leaving an impression they wouldnever forget The family invitesall who knew and lovedPhil to join them in celebrating alifewell lived—a man who lovedfiercely, laughedoften, showed up faithfully,and will be deeply missed butnever forgotten.

Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend the visitationatLeitz-Eagan Funeral Home,4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie,LAon Wednesday, June 10, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM with aFuneralMass to follow at 11:00 AM in Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home's chapel. Interment willfollow at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Slidell, LA at 1:30 PM Fond memories and expressions of condolences

may beshared at www.leit

zeaganfuneralhome.com.

Schwehm, Caleb

Ourbeloved sonCaleb Schwehm, 26, of Gretna,La. passedawaypeacefully at home on May31, 2026. Calebwas awelderatMor‐risonContractors.Son of Roland Davis& Penny Schwehm. Brotherof Ravenand TiaSchwehm andWayne Davisand uncle to Amir Simmons. Loving andcaringboyfriend to CoraeHill. Belovedgrand‐sontothe late Peterand CindySchwehm,Barbara Davisand Roland Williams Also survived byanabun‐danceofcousins,friends andcoworkers at Morrison Contractors. Servicewillbe held on Sunday,June 7, 2026 at Robinson Family FuneralHome. Visitation starts at 2:30 followed by a celebrationoflifeat3:30 p.m. Funeralplanningen‐trustedtoRobinsonFamily FuneralHome, 9611 La.23, Belle Chasse,La. 70037. For online condolence,please visitwww.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com

Skorge, 71, of Mandeville, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on May10, 2026, in NewOrleans,Louisiana, after abrief illness, surroundedbyfamily, love, singing,and joyful storytelling. Born on February 21, 1955, in Florence,New Jersey,a wonderful little town on theDelaware River, Suzy was the beloveddaughter of Bill andTeddy Homberg. She wasraised in abig boisterousfamily, surrounded by hersiblings, cousins and many, many friends. Though she grew up in a small town,she carried within hera huge spirit of adventurethatshapedthe course of herremarkable life. As alittle girl, she regularlyslidontrays from theriverbankdown the longsteep incline to the water's edge.Her mother insisted she wear bright winter jacketsasher love forplayinginthe snow regularly causedher to fall deep into thesnowbanks huggingthe roadside.At age 16 shetalkedher mom into letting hergotoPeru alongwithher exchange sister,MarthaSeijas to have the great adventure of climbing themountain to MachuPicchuand takinga train through the Andesintothe Amazon jungle.Atjust 19, Suzanne moved to NewOrleans and began an adventurous career at sea, first working on rivercruise linesand later on ocean cruisesthat carried heraroundthe world. It wasduringher years at sea that shemet thelove of herlife, Finn Skorge. They marriedand shared thirty-five wonderfulyearstogether before Finn'spassing in 2021. As Suzy andFinnbegan planning for theirfamily, Suzy came ashore anddiscovered hertruecalling:caringfor children.She first workedata daycare centerbeforeopening herown in-home childcare business, wherefor nearly 40 years shelovingly cared for generationsofyoung children. Suzanne adored babiesand pouredher heartintohelpingthem grow, nurturing them with patience, kindness, and endlessenergy. Families trustedher completely, andmanyofthe children she helped raise remained partofher life well into adulthood. Suz was the proudand devotedmother of ChristopherJulius Skorge, Alexander Vidar

Peytavin, Betty Najolia

Skorge, Suzanne Homberg

Suzanne Homberg

Roussel,Meryl Rockel

See more DEATHS

Legislature recognizes limitsofits power

If the close of the 2026 Legislative sessionoffered one lesson, it’sthis: Even with aRepublican supermajority in aruby red state,legislative andexecutive power has itslimits. Watching Gov.Jeff Landry and lawmakers tangleatthe statehouse this year felt very different from those early,heady days of his administration when they pushed through sweepingchangesto elections, criminal justice andtaxation

This session, lawmakersappearedprimed to tackle the nuts and bolts of governancewith little flash and perhaps moresubstance.(Of course, the Legislature’s swift passage of newcongressional maps afterthe Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais was ahead-turner,but one that deserves lengthier considerationata laterdate.)

There were some ambitiousideas floatedat the start —abolishing the Board of Regents and abolishing the DepartmentofChildrenand Family Services —but those seemed towitheronthe vine as lawmakers grappled withthe realities of the Louisiana budget. They also sawtheir plan to fund teacher raises through constitutional amendment roundly rejected byvoters fora second time. Still, there were accomplishmentstobeproud of.The budget gave priority topaying down debt and puts dollars toward much needed upgrades to our juvenile prison system. Lawmakers also gave more money to foster care and home care for developmentally disabled people.Wewere also pleased to see they bolstered the successful fortified roof program that promises to help lower insurance rates. But lawmakers declined to get behind more funding for Landry’s signature LA GATORprogram that gives taxpayer money to parents who optout of publicschools. And they did notinclude money for teacher stipends, though the governor now is promoting aplan to payfor them, which some school leaders say would make their budgetsevenmore precarious. Onething is certain: It’s past time to make teachers’ raises permanent, instead of aconstant political football. We also can’thelp being alarmed by agrowing trend toward less transparency ingovernment. Watchdog groups like PARpoint to the $180millioninearmarks for local pet projects decided behind closed doors. These actionserode trust in government. So do votes toshield thedetails howpublicuniversitiesspend public money on athleticsand to shield the records of applicants for certain top universityjobs. That’s to say nothingofthe meddling inNew Orleanscourts with no say from its citizens that went so far as to undo an election. And that brings us back to where we started. Perhaps we see politiciansreachingthe limits of their power becausethey are notseeking the people’sinput.Wesee no shared visionfor the future of our state and little grassroots campaigning for specific policy priorities. Perhaps if lawmakers want to buildsupport forsweeping change next session,they need to startplanting the seeds now.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE

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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.

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OPINION

Pope LeoXIV delivers moralclarity

“The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion.”

Mother Teresa famously said this while standing on adais with President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton in aNational Prayer Breakfast Speech in Washington, D.C., in February1994. It was big news at the time.

Ayear into the reign of PopeLeo XIV,the first pope born in theUnited States —South Side Chicago, to be exact —it isn’tnews that Leo cited Mother Teresa’squote.

yards from her while Iwas astudent at theCatholic University of America, at aMass at theBasilica of the Shrine of theImmaculate Conception, adjacent to thecampus, where new Missionaries of Charity,the religious community she founded were making their vows.

Speaking to young people participating in a“Political Innovation Hackathon,” Leo said: “No policy can genuinely serve the people if it denies the unborn thegift of life, or if it neglects to support those in need, whether in their material circumstances or in their spiritual distress.”

“Her words remain prophetic,”Leo said about the fearless, mighty, tiny nun who captured the attention of theworld. Her merepresence would challenge us —Iremember being just

“The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is awar against thechild, adirect killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself,”Mother Tsaid bluntly in her Nobel acceptance speech. Ihave an unspoken rule that if you’re going to talk to me about something evil like pornography,Idonot want graphic details. Don’tput an image in my head that might not have entered in another way.Idonot have thesame rule when it comes to abortion. Mother Teresa’s words need to be heard by citizen and politician alike, so that public figures will realize that awell-informed conscience is abeautiful thing to have and aterrible thingtowaste.

Athrowback to clarity on moral issues is not aradical departure from PopeLeo’spredecessor,Pope Francis.

“Leo does follow Francis when it comes

to speaking out on immigration, the environment, poverty and capital punishment,” according to one CNNanalysis. The media longs forafight between Trump andthe pope. They did it with Pope Francis —putting him on the cover of Rolling Stone only to warn him to notdisappoint their desires for him. But if youthought Francis was changing the Church to endorse the whims of conventional society and Western liberalideologies —especially sexualrevolutionary ones —you were mistaken. He likened abortion to hiring ahit mantokill your unborn baby andtalkedabout gender ideology as the equivalent of anuclear bomb destroying the nuclear family.HecanonizedJohnPaulII, calling him “the pope of the family.” Pope Leo has ajoy and steadiness about his Catholicism.Itseems to come naturally to him.For all the headlines, he really wants you to take away one thing: the love and mercy of GodinJesus Christ.

Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez @nationalreview.com.

Journalism has been famously called “the first rough draft of history,” and working in theOpinion section, that takes on new meaning for me.

Iamvery aware that theworries and concerns of readers today will look very different 100 years hence. It’s hard not to wonder what future generations will make of our fears of artificial intelligence or our debates over climate change. It’s likely they will face new problemsthat we can’teven imagine. That’swhy newspaper archives offer afascinating trove of information for readers curious about the past. You can find our archives at theadvocate. newsbank.com and nola.newsbank.com It does require asubscription to search thearchives, but somelibraries offer access to their patrons. Thanks to our long history in Louisi-

ana, the newspapers’ archives go back decades. Recently,asthe Supreme Court was deliberating Louisiana v. Callais, Iwas able to look at what was written about the Voting Rights Act when it passed in 1965. Needless to say, thesignificance of the law’s provisions becamemore apparent over time. Sometimes readers write in to seeif we can locate an article abouta family member from longago. Newspapers used to have librarians who were whizzes at locatingold clippings in what used to be called a“morgue,” usually somewhere in the basement with stacksoffile cabinets containing yellowed papers. Butnow,ofcourse, everything is online, so Isendthemto our archives. Searching thearchives is relatively easy,but it can take afew tricks to find theright keywords to get to what you want.And you can download pages from thesite for afee. Or you can browse to your heart’sdelight.

The archives are especially useful to researchers and historians, but they are just afun read foranyone whois interested in the past. If you haven’t checked out our archives, Iencourage you to do so. As July 4approaches and we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country,wehave asked you to reflect on aquestion: What are the quintessential texts of American history? We know the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are on there. But what other documents would you recommendfor an understanding of what this country is?

Send your ideas to letters@ theadvocate.com.Wewill publish aselection of the best letters from readers later in the year Idon’thave acount of the letters we received foryou this week, but we will catch up next weekand let you know what your fellow readers are mostconcerned about —atleast fornow

Kathryn Jean

Arnessa Garrett

La.AGbrought home wins at legislativesession

When state Attorney General Liz Murrill leaves aside her hardballpolitical power plays, she can notch common-sense wins that benefiteverybody

Granted, Murrill does seem to revel in extravagant assertions of authority.Witness her threat to remove fromoffice (oreven imprison)New Orleansofficialsmerely for acting on adifferent interpretationof aconfusing new law regarding court clerks. Witness how she risked disruption of health care for 330,000 Medicaid recipients while pressing alargely unrelated caseagainst ahealth care provider

Still, this column comes not to bury Murrill but to praise her

When the Louisiana legislative session ended on June 1, Murrill issued anews release boasting about the finalpassage of 24 billsshe hadhelped originate. And, with one exception(not worth deep discussionhere), it looks at first glance to be an impressive, well-considered list indeed. Almost all the bills focused on key nuts and bolts of criminal justice, not on partisanorhighly ideological crusades.

The first one listed in the release,for example, Act 285 by Rep. Debbie Villio, prohibits post-conviction bail foroffenders convicted of an aggravatedoffense, such as rape or kidnapping, against aminorvictim. It boggles the mind that acourt wouldeven considerbail in such asituation, so the Legislature is right to take that optionaway

Another good one, Act 120 by Rep. Jeff Wiley,passed as aresponsetothe April 23 Mall of Louisiana shooting, “expands the definition of first-degree murdertoinclude shootings and gang violence in public venues.” Not directly relatedbut also important, the new law “createsthe crime of second-degree cruelty to the elderly and persons with infirmities,” akin to the protections alreadyafforded children. It recognizes that just like children, people with

“intellectual disabilities, in mental health facilities, and nursing homes” can be less able to defend themselvesthan most adults. Othersuccessful bills providing more protectionfor children include Act211 by Sen. Heather Cloud and SenateBill 42 by Sen. RickEdmonds, bothofwhich penalize theuse of new technology to portray child sexualabuse. For the cause of supporting youngsters, House Bill 1224 helps ensure thatthe Louisiana Department of Children andFamily Services can readily support pregnantminors, including child victims of first-degreerape.

In awonderful example of crossing the ideological divide, theconservative Murrill supportedprogressive stateRep. Mandie Landry’sAct 538 to “givecrime victims the opportunitytobeheardbefore vacating a final conviction or reducing an offender’s sentence through resentencing.” Surely everyone has heardofinstancesinwhich victims or their families were noteven told, much less consulted, about the release of the criminals,even violent ones, who preyed on them. Well, no longer.Good!

Amoretechnical one supporting victims’interestsisAct 104 by Speaker Pro

TemMike Johnson, putting atime limit on “habeas corpus” petitioners (contesting imprisonment) so they can’tfile endless post-conviction motions. Of course such petitions should be allowed, but not repeatedly and not forever.AsMurrill’sstatement explains, the new requirement protects “victims’ interest in finality of criminalconvictions.”

Some of the bills depart from traditional criminal-justice issues, on subjects ranging from collegiate name-image-likeness regulations to workers’ compensation to protection for at-risk home renters to interest-rate limits in personal-injury cases.

Goodfor Murrill. It is not the main part of an attorney general’sjob, but still an important one, to work with the Legislature to improve the laws she will be expected to enforce. And while of course governing philosophy plays arole here, most of these bills seemed more in the old-style mode of careful, consensus-driven policy changes. There was atime when those sorts of things, along with the main job of job of overseeing investigations and prosecutions —not heavily ideological agendas or assertions of political might —were all thatwas expected from an attorney general. Even those of us on the same (conservative) side of the political spectrum as Murrill should recognize that aneutral, evenhandedapproach is crucial for public confidence in law enforcement. For those old enough to remember,agreat model of that approach was the moderate Democrat William “Billy” Guste, who was elected arecord five times (1972-92) as a low-key but honest, dutiful and generally effective chief legal officer of the state. Surely there should be ahappy medium between Guste’sstyle and the headline-grabbing methods oft employed by Murrill. Either way,Murrill’ssuccessful legislative package this year is well worthy of a favorable verdict.

EmailQuin Hillyer at quin.hillyer @theadvocate.com

Landry couldhavedoneright by OrleansParishjudges

After blasting Orleans Parish judges for not being good, for not doing enough work and becausethere are too manyjudges in New Orleans, Gov.Jeff Landry had a choice: Sign abill that would do whathe promised he would do, or do theright thing by vetoing the bill. The guv said clearlyand directly in Marchthat he would push for the “rightsizing” of the courtsinNew Orleans when he spoke during the Louisiana Legislature’sopening session in March. He rallied Republicans legislators to the cause, identifying state Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, as the one who would carry the legislation to make it happen.

As originally proposed,Senate Bill 217 would’ve cut the number of civil court judges, cut the number of criminal court judges, cut the number of municipal and traffic courtjudgesand cut thenumberof juvenile court judges. New Orleans legislatorsweren’tconsulted in advance, and they were angry

As the bill moved throughthe legislative process, changes weremade, as recently as Monday.The bill that passed thestate House and the state Senate would cutno

Randy Smith doesn’tget it

civil court judges; cut the number of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judges from 12 to nine; cut the number of municipaland traffic court judges from seven to five; and cut thenumber of juvenile court judges from four to two. The number of juvenile court judges would be reduced over time as one judge then another leaves thebench through attrition. The municipal andtraffic court judges would be go away as two judgeship terms expire at theend of the year

Thecriminal court judge cut would happen asofDec. 31, meaningthree court sections would be eliminated. Just afew days ago, the three eliminated judges were to be newly-elected Judge John Fuller and judgesLeon Roché and Simone Levine. Butsomething happened Monday.Fuller andLevine would be cut. Butinstead of Rochébeing cut, Judge Rhonda GoodeDouglas would be cut.Morris said the switch-a-roo happened after conversations with thegovernor’soffice and theNew Orleans delegation. That didn’tsit well with Landry. “Nobody called and asked me. If they would have, Iwould’ve told them that’sridiculous,” Landry said Monday “They’re taking the best judge off the bench.”

Goode-Douglas was stunned.

through hisoffice’spublic information department.

On WBOK Wednesday morning, she told me that she doesn’tintend toretire or step aside, and she still will run fora new term as criminal court judge, her seat if the bill doesn’tbecome law and someone else’s seat if it does. Who told her whythis has happened? “No one can tell me,” she said. “Tohave to now pit myself against somebody I’ve worked withthe last six years is really not anything Ilook forward to having to do.”

Goode-Douglas was aprosecutor in New Orleansfor 12 years, including timeunder former OrleansParishDistrict Attorneys Eddie Jordan and Leon Cannizzaro, before her time as adefense attorney,then her elevation to judge. She has more seniority than nearly all of the judges. Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill haven’tbeen friendly to OrleansDistrict Attorney Jason Williams lately.The governorwent after OrleansParishCriminal Clerk-elect Calvin Duncan, denying him aposition he wonby election, and voters statewide rejected all five constitutional amendments on the May ballot.Could it be theCannizzaro-LandryMurrill connection?

It seems this has been about GoodeDouglas and Roché, one or the other. But it’s really about whether it wasright to go after any New Orleans judges without a

thorough reviewand consideration of the financialimpact. Cut threejudges, by any name,and watchthe intake at the Orleans Parish jail quickly rise, costing more money.Cut threecriminal court judges, by anyname, andwatch docket numbers increaseand justiceslow.Cut threecriminalcourt judges, by anyname, and watch defense attorneys sue to pursue speedy trials andcomplaints fromBaton Rouge thatthe remaining judges aren’tdoing their job.

Once Landry receives the bill, he has up to 20 days to veto the bill, sign the bill or let it becomelaw without his signature.

Early Wednesday afternoon, the guv said on social media that he will sign the bill. “Of course I’mgoing to sign Senate Bill 217 into law!” he wrote. He blamed the situation on “Democrat gamesmanship.” Morris might’ve been disappointed, hurt or even embarrassed if the governor didn’t sign the bill. But Landry had achance to veto it, let the courts stand as they are and pick this matter up later —ifhewere truly focused on having the right number versus the wrong person.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com. Findhim on Instagram at @editorwillsutton.

your elected Sheriff.”

ForSmith, who is endowed by thegovernment with enormous power as alaw enforcement officer,any “examination, question and criticism” is “an unfortunate aspect.”

sort of social media ugliness. It’s asad feature of our online-obsessed world and the level of our current political discourse.

The sheriff of St. Tammany Parish, who was booked Thursday on battery and disturbing the peace countsafter an altercation last week at aMadisonville restaurant, wants us to believe that hewas thevictim and somehow justified in what heisaccused of doing. At least, that’sthe subtext of the statement he issued after he was booked. Smith begins the statement with an apology to the deputies who work for him, thepeople whom he serves and the owners and staff at therestaurant. He did not offer one to the victim, but we will come to that later

Then, Smith reminds us howhard it is to be both alaw enforcementofficer andan elected official.

“I understand and respect that theactions Itake as Sheriff are open to examination,question and criticism. Iacceptedthat fact when Iput on the badge, andI knowit is one of the unfortunate aspects of public service,” he said in astatementissued

The statement doesn’tget better.Smith then implies that his actions in that restaurant —heisaccused of yanking aman off abar stool, slamming him to theground and then pummelinghim, leaving the man with abusted lip at least —were theresult of provocation.

“For the past ten years Ihave ignored hundredsofpersonal attacks directed at me by an individual who hides behind a computer screen,” he says. That person’s broadsides included bodyshaming his wife, Smith said, and caused so much “frustration and pain” that it was “hard to ignore.”

Thealleged victim in this case, aSt. Tammany mannamed Bobby Couvillion, is a frequent critic of Smith. Posting frequently on social media, Couvillion has often lobbed rhetorical grenades that were crass andeven loathsome.

Many public officials are subject to this

Butyou know what those officials don’t do? Pummel their critics in local bars. At least not often. Certainly,the chief law enforcementofficer in St.Tammany Parish should know better than to launch an unprovoked assault,ashe’saccused of doing. No matter how much Facebook vitriol Couvillion had spewed.

Smith’sstatementwas his first extensive public comment since theincident nearly aweek prior.Even withall that time to reflect,Smith still leans on the tired tropes of social media provocations and how hard it is to be apublic servant.Ifit’ssohard, why’d he run for sheriff three times? And he was the elected police chief in Slidell before that.

Smithconcludes his statement in atypically defiant tone.

“I want tomake afew things very clear Actionshave consequences. Iwill fully address my actions through the legal process. While doing so, Iremain committed to serving thecitizens of St. Tammany as

If this had been one of his deputies, who serve as at-will employees, they probably would have already been gone. Smith would likely have at least suspended them, or put them on administrative duty.That is fairly common when law enforcement officers are the subject of criminal investigations. Smith could have done the sametohimself.Hecould have chosen to step downor at least step away while the case plays out. But he didn’t. Judging by the statement, Smith doesn’tsee the criminal allegations as disqualifying in any way. Iguess that’s the good thing about being the sheriff— there’snoone over him whocould take action. So he will remain atop amassive northshore law enforcement apparatus. He will still get his salary,any perks and the benefits of elected office. He should and probably will get lots of criticism and also plenty of support. But he still won’tget it.

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

Faimon Roberts

Quin Hillyer

Will Sutton

STAFF FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Attorney General Liz Murrill speaks during aMay 18 news conference at the Louisiana DepartmentofJustice in Baton Rouge.

with meteorologist DamonSingleton

Again

to

Skorge, and daughter-inlaw Alayna Skorge, as well as her Norwegianstepchildren, Finn Morgan and Ann Karin Skorge. Nothing brought her greater joy than her children, their lives, their education, and their successes. She loved telling tales of their latest exploits, with immense pride. Her boys loved their Mama dearly, and share wonderful tales of their many adventures. She is also survived by her loving siblings, Fredericka Wicker (Carey Wicker), Martha Seijas Hayden (Paul Hayden,deceased), and Rich Homberg (Tracey Homberg), along with her cousins, nieces/nephews and countless lifelong friends whose lives were enriched by Suzy's loyalty humor, generosity, and fierce devotion. Those who knew Suzy knew awoman who never met astranger and never stopped caring for others. She was tireless, relentless in helping those around her, and always worried more about everyone else than herself She was funny, energetic, caring, helpful, and instantly made friends wherever she went. Suzanne was awarrior in every sense of the word —resilientthrough hardship, steadfast in love, and endlessly devoted to family and friends. She was a hustler through and through, could fix almost anything, solve nearly any problem, and make people feel welcome and cared for the moment they met her Even through loss and difficult times, Suzy remained deeply connected to the people she loved. She treasured lifelong friendships, delighted in joyful storytelling, and filled every gathering with warmth, laughter, and song. Her family and friends willremember herasa woman of extraordinary heart —loyal, generous, adventurous, and full of life —whose love and care shaped generations of children and touched countless lives. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Suzy's Familyand friends will be coming togetherto celebrate her life on Saturday,June 13th. Folks will be gathering from il

DEATHS continued from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Wicker home, located at 2600LabarreLanein Metairie, to sharememories,laughterand loving reflection of Suzy's vibrant and caring life and enduring spirit. Please join them. Dearest Suzy, we love you and willalwaysmiss you.

New Orleans,LA- Carol Ann Susman, aloving mother, grandmother, eclecticcollector of art and antiques, and atrue independent spirit, passed awaypeacefully on May 28, 2026.She was 82. Her unique eyecould combineAmerican Art Pottery,a LouisXVsecretary,Central American textiles and Chinese Scrolls into something fresh and visually harmonious.

Carol's desiretoshare this gift,combinedwitha knack for numbers and a business degree from LSU, ledher to The Quarterstitch needlepoint shop on Jackson Square in the1970s and then to opening C. Susman Antiquesand Collectibles on Magazine Street.She lovedtalking to her customers, who came from all over thecountry to find something beautiful and unique from her collection that they could bring back to theirhomes.

Carol was afixture in her neighborhood, always seenriding her bike everywhere, and sitting on her porch withher beloved pets who found ahome withher. Connectingwith thepeople in her community brought herjoy. She is survivedbyher daughter ErinF.Borovoy, herson-in-law Rick Borovoy and her grandchildren,Eli Borovoy and Maddie Borovoy.

Susman, Carol Ann

SPORTS

We need to listen to Saban, not mock him

We need to listen to Nick Saban.

More importantly,weneed to figure out away to adopt the Protect College Sports Act, which Sabanendorsed duringhis testimony at acongressional hearingwhere the legislation was introduced Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Yes, the bill hasflaws that need to beaddressed, tweaked and adjusted. But it’sacomprehensiveplan and goes along way toward fixing the mess that modern college sports has become. Wednesday’sthree-hour session featured several distinguished panelists, includingNotre Dame athletic director PeteBevacqua, former Ohio State presidentGordonGee, Pac-12commissionerTeresa Gould and Utah defensive end Lance Holtzclaw,but Saban was clearly the star witness. And, predictably,his testimonywas whatmost critics have seized upon in thewakeofthe session. Speaking as aneutral observer rather than arepresentative of Alabama, the SEC or ESPN, Saban delivered several bluntassessmentsofwhere the sport stands. His comments were vintage Saban:calculating, analytical and full of the same sharp analogies he used to dominatenews conferences during his time as head coach at LSU and Alabama. Saban is one of the most astute minds andaccomplished coaches in college football history.His opinionisinformed by decades of work at the highestlevelsof college athletics.

ä See DUNCAN, page 4C

bill in the Senate aims to changethe landscape of collegesports.

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

uringthe final7-on-7periodoftheir OTA practice Wednesday afternoon, New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough dropped back, surveyed thefieldand ripped athrow toward theright hash to an open receiver It was notChris Olave, whowas notpresent. Norwas it first-round pick Jordyn Tyson, who was there butnot participating as the team eases him intoregular on-field work after he injured his hamstring during his final college season.

Instead it was theman who hadn’tplayed ball in ayear hauling it in. Ja’Lynn Polk, wearing No. 13, had beaten thecoverage easily and made the play for abig gain.

“Itwas just friendly,”said Polk,describingthe throw from thereceiver’s perspective.“Seeing the ball in the air, that was awesome.”

It had been along time coming, too.

Polk represents an interesting project for ateam that hasrevamped its cast of offensive playmakers in the past nine months. Once ahighly touted prospect coming outofthe University of Washington,Polkstruggled in his2024 rookie season with the New England Patriots, then missed all of last season with ashoulder injury that required surgery New England effectively gave up on Polk, sending him andthe final three years of his inexpensive rookie contract plus afutureseventh-round pick to theSaintsin exchange forasixth-rounder

He was one of three young receivers the Saints acquired last season, with the others being Devaughn Vele (bytrade) andTrey Palmer (viawaivers).Since, New Orleanshas continued to fortify its offense. It drafted receivers Tyson and Bryce Lance along with tight end Oscar Delp, anditsignedhigh-profile free agents suchas running back Travis Etienne and guard David Edwards.

Robinson,New York benchnohacks vs.Spurs

BY RAUL DOMINGUEZ AssociatedPress

SAN ANTONIO New York Knicks center and Chalmette graduate Mitchell Robinson was neither offended nor frustrated when the San Antonio Spurs began intentionally fouling him in the first quarter of Game 2ofthe NBA Finals on Friday night. While he did go 3of6 on free throws in the opening quarter,the Hack-a-Mitch strategy inspired Robinsonand the rest of the Knicks.

“It means alot when I ruin their strategy,but I mean, it seems like they just want me off the court,” Robinson said. “So, in my eyes, Ifeel like I’m athreat.” Washeever Robinson, Landry Shamet and the other New York role players cameuphugeas the Knicks held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 for their 13th straight postseasonvictoryand a2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points, but he saidina postgame

BY TIM REYNOLDS

Jeff Duncan

AP PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

Former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban testifies beforeaSenate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday at Capitol Hill in Washington. Abipartisan

AP PHOTO By GREGORy SHAMUS

Newyork Knicks center Mitchell Robinson tries to block ashot against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of Game 2ofthe NBAFinals on Friday in San Antonio

Storms halt Memorial;

Poston, Gerard still lead

DUBLIN,Ohio J.T Poston and Ryan Gerard were tied for the lead Saturday at the Memorial when a second round of storms arrived and wiped out the rest of the third round before it had time to take shape. It might have come at a good time for Scottie Scheffler, who was making quite a charge until two bogeys in three holes, the last one from an iron off the tee into a creek. And it probably won’t help the players like Poston who face a long Sunday to make up for the lost time and then have 36 holes of U.S. Open qualifying Monday Poston and Gerard were tied at 9 under through five holes, one shot ahead of Sam Burns, who was through six holes.

Russian teen wins French Open

Andreeva defeats

Chwalinska for first Grand Slam victory

BY ANDREW DAMPF Associated Press

PARIS Bent over with her hands covering her face, her knees getting dirtied on the red clay court, Mirra Andreeva was celebrating processing might be the more appropriate word — how she had finally overcome “so many demons inside” that came with being a teenage tennis phenom.

After bursting onto the scene at 15, Andreeva became a Grand Slam champion at 19 when the Russian ended the run of 114thranked Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the French Open final on Saturday

“I’ve done a lot of visualizations before. Not just this tournament, but I’ve had dreams, I’ve had a lot of thoughts on how it’s going to happen, if it’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen, where,” Andreeva said, still hardly breathing as she talked quickly in true teenage style. “The feeling in real life is so much better than in your dreams

“I can call myself a Grand Slam champion,” Andreeva said.

The biggest challenges for Andreeva have not been on the court, as she already has one of the best attacking baseline games in the sport. It’s been the mental side. And her stubbornness

“Her attitude is difficult,” said Conchita Martinez, Andreeva’s coach and a former Wimbledon champion. “You tell her something, and maybe she’s not open to listening. When she works hard and when she listens and she does everything, she has no limits.”

Andreeva acknowledged as much during the trophy ceremony

“I know I can be a tough cookie sometimes, and it’s pretty hard to put up with me,” Andreeva said The victory took Andreeva one step further than Martinez, who lost the 2000 French Open final to Mary Pierce. Pierce presented the winner’s trophy to Andreeva, who became the youngest woman to win the clay-court Grand Slam since Monica Seles was 18 when she claimed her third straight French

Open in 1992.

“You’re so young and talented. It’s so annoying,” the 24-year-old

Chwalinska told Andreeva.

Andreeva took the unusual step of thanking herself “for believing in myself, always giving my 100%, even when it’s tough, trying every day to be better as a person and as a player, believing that I can do this, fighting so many demons inside of me.

“Only I know how tough it was for me,” Andreeva added. “How nervous I was throughout these two weeks.”

Andreeva also thanked her psychologist, who she said was watching from Florida: “Everything that you’ve told me I’ve been trying to use these two weeks.”

Chwalinska’s depression

Chwalinska was attempting to become the first qualifier to capture the Roland Garros title. She was a promising junior alongside four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek before she began struggling with depression in 2019.

“Tennis is such a tough sport.

It’s so individual. We start so early We are basically kids when we start,” Chwalinska said. “People

are expecting that we are going to behave like adults already and we are just kids really So the pressure is huge.”

Andreeva was born in Siberia and moved to Sochi and eventually France to develop her tennis career

She drew loud applause from the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier when she spoke a few words of French during the trophy presentation.

“Thanks for your support today and over these past two marvelous weeks here in Paris,” Andreeva said in French. “It was very important for me.”

Breakthrough at 15

Andreeva has been considered a Grand Slam contender since she burst onto the scene as a 15-yearold at the 2023 Madrid Open, where she became the thirdyoungest player to win a maindraw match at a WTA 1000 tournament and made the quarterfinals.

Lately, Andreeva has had to contend with playing under neutral status and without her country’s flag because of the war with Ukraine.

When she beat Marta Kostyuk in the semifinals, Kostyuk refused

to shake her hand, as has been the custom for Ukrainian players facing Russians ever since the war started in 2022.

“Every person doesn’t want to have a war in the world,” Andreeva said. “I never think about those things when I play.”

Mastering the wind

The final was played under a mostly sunny sky, though wind was a factor in the first Grand Slam final for both players.

Chwalinska double-faulted on the opening point of the match, but she was the first player to hold serve in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead.

But then Andreeva won nine straight games to take control as she found a way to hit through the wind and answer Chwalinska’s array of spins and drop shots. Whereas Chwalinska would retreat to handle high balls in the wind, Andreeva often would move forward and take balls on the rise.

“She definitely handled wind much better than me,” Chwalinska said. “She was not running away from the ball.”

Andreeva produced 25 winners to Chwalinska’s 10 and also had fewer unforced errors: 26 to 29.

Stars fell in tournament full of surprises

BY ANDREW DAMPF Associated Press

PARIS Jannik Sinner and his 30-match winning streak melted away during the opening week’s heat wave. Fellow No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had just as astonishing a mental meltdown during a quarterfinal defeat in which she described finding herself in a “very deep, deep, dark hole.” No former major champions reached the men’s and women’s semifinals for the first time at a Grand Slam in 49 years

The French Open that concludes this weekend has been unlike any other major tournament in recent memory

“It’s always exciting when crazy things happen,” said Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion who reached the fourth round. “As a tennis fan, it’s been fun to watch.”

Here’s a look at some of the more surprising developments that have characterized Roland Garros this year: Heat wave

With the temperature rising to at least 90 degrees every day of

the first week, players struggled to keep cool.

After Jakub Mensik edged Mariano Navone in a fifth-set tiebreaker in the second round, he cramped up and fell to the clay following match point and required medical attention on the court. He was eventually removed in a wheelchair Mensik bounced back to reach the semifinals, where he lost to Alexander Zverev, who will meet Flavio Cobolli in Sunday’s final.

Two-time runner-up Casper

Ruud was on the verge of fainting during a five-set win over Roman Safiullin in the first round, saying he felt “like a zombie almost ” Ruud conceded the fourth set 6-0 “to get my pulse and body temperature down” to see if he could recover in the fifth: “Luckily that ended up working.”

Groundskeepers at Roland Garros had to drench the clay courts with water at night to keep them from drying out during the day

Still, the heat made for unusual conditions: The pace of play was faster and balls bounced higher Sinner, Djokovic waste leads

Already without two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz, who

missed the tournament with an injured right wrist, it was a shock when Sinner wasted a two-set and 5-1 lead in the third against 56thranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round.

The top-ranked Sinner came to Paris on a 29-match winning streak and was an overwhelming favorite for the title. But the Italian said he started feeling dizzy and “very low on energy” when he needed to win just one more game against Cerundolo.

It was a match for the ages when 39-year-old Novak Djokovic also surrendered a two-set lead and lost to 19-year-old João Fonseca. The 24-time Grand Slam champion also had physical issues.

“I was barely standing on my legs toward the end of the match,” he said.

Sabalenka wanted to quit

Sabalenka was leading 4-1 in the second set of her quarterfinal with Diana Shnaider and was within two points of victory when she proceeded to lose 12 of 13 games.

Sabalenka said later that she wanted “to quit tennis right now

“You know those rooms where you just go in and you smash everything,” she added. “Probably I

will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it will help. Maybe not.”

Shnaider then went on to lose in the semifinals to Maja Chwalinska, who became the first qualifier in French Open history to reach the championship match.

A new champion

The 14th-ranked Flavio Cobolli reached his first Grand Slam final with the help of a retirement and withdrawal by two fellow Italians.

Matteo Berrettini retired because of a left hip injury with Cobolli leading 7-5, 5-2 in their quarterfinal and then Matteo Arnaldi withdrew before their semifinal because of a virus.

Zverev will be playing in his fourth major final on Sunday as he seeks an elusive Grand Slam title. Whoever raises the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy will become the first man other than Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic or Rafael Nadal to win a Grand Slam since Daniil Medvedev at the 2021 U.S. Open.

“We’ve had so many long eras of these four people are the only people that we think are going to win,” Keys said. “Makes the sport interesting, at least.”

The third round was to resume at 7 a.m., followed by a final round off both tees in threesomes.

Rays moving LHP Matz to bullpen after rough starts

MIAMI Steven Matz is moving from the starting rotation to the bullpen after a pair of poor starts by the Tampa Bay Rays left-hander, manager Kevin Cash said Saturday Matz, who signed a two-year, $15 million deal with Tampa Bay in December, allowed five runs on six hits, including two home runs, in an 8-0 loss to Detroit on Tuesday It was his second straight loss and raised his ERA to 5.48.

The 35-year-old had gone on the injured list on May 4 because of left elbow inflammation and returned on May 20. In his past two starts, he has allowed 11 runs, 13 hits and three home runs. Cash said right-hander Mason Englert, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, could work bulk innings in his place.

Rangers place Jansen on 10-day IL with arm strain

ARLINGTON,Texas The Texas Rangers placed catcher Danny Jansen on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Wednesday before Saturday night’s game against Cleveland with right forearm strain. The Rangers signed catcher Elias Díaz to a major league contract.

Jansen has hit .171 in 41 games with three home runs and 12 RBIs. The ninth-year major leaguer signed with Texas as a free agent last December after splitting 2025 with Tampa Bay and Milwaukee. Díaz was granted free agency by Kansas City on Wednesday after playing 10 games with the Royals this season, hitting .227 with two homers and five RBIs He signed with Kansas City as a free agent in late February

Yankees catcher Wells on IL with cervical headaches

NEW YORK Austin Wells, in the midst of a season-long slump, joined Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day injured list Saturday when the New York Yankees said the catcher was sidelined by cervical headaches. Catcher J.C. Escarra was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes Barre after being optioned to Triple-A after Friday night’s 5-3 loss to Boston. New York selected the contract of Ali Sánchez from the RailRiders, giving the Yankees a right-handed-hitting catcher for the first time since 2024. Wells is hitting .166 with four homers and seven RBIs in 47 games in his third full season as New York’s starting catcher He is hitless in his last 13 at-bats and 1 for his last 18.

Lightning’s Vasilevskiy wins best goaltender trophy

NEW YORK Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender the league announced Saturday

It is the second Vezina honor of Vasilevskiy’s career after he also won in the 2018-19 season. The 31-year-old Russian was a runaway winner in voting by the league’s general managers. Vasilevskiy received 17 first-place votes among the 31 ballots cast. Vasilevskiy led all goalies with 39 wins, going 39-15-14 to backstop Tampa Bay to a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance. With a 2.31 goals-against average and .912 save percentage, he

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By THIBAULT CAMUS

Mirra Andreeva is overcome with emotion after winning the women’s final match against Maja Chwalinska on Saturday at the French Open in Paris.

Golden Tempotakes the second legof Triple Crown

Golden

SARATOGA

Tempowon the 158th running of theBelmont Stakes on Saturday, capturing the third leg of the Triple Crown five weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby and making more history for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

With jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, Golden Tempo charged down the stretch at Saratoga RaceCourse to win the Belmont, holding off Commandment before the finish line at the historic track to win at odds of 6-1. Commandment was second and favorite Renegade third.

“Golden Tempo is amazing Jose is amazing,”said DeVaux who was born in Saratoga Springs and began her trainingcareer there. “I thinkheneeded to do this to kind of show that he was meanttowin theDerby and that he is ahorse that belongs in that conversation of beingone of the top 3-year-olds.”

DeVaux, after becoming the first woman to train aKentucky Derby winner,isthe second in four years to do so at the Belmont. Jena Antonucci won it with Arcangelo in 2023. DeVaux is the firstwoman to win multiple Triple Crownraces.

“It’soverwhelming,” DeVaux said. “All the credit goes to Golden Tempo, who won therace and Jose did awonderful job of making it happen. But I’m just so fortunate to be in this position. It’shistory-making, and I’ve kind of shiedawayfromit, but I’mreally gracious that Iamthat person.”

ROBINSON

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interview with ESPN that those players,along with thelikes of Miles McBride and former Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, were the MVPs of the game.

“Our team play had got us here,” Towns said.

After Towns went to thebench with foul trouble and fellow AllStar Jalen Brunson was resting, Knicks coach MikeBrown went to his reserves and they rewarded him with abig burst.

“Somebodyisalways there,” Brown said. “Again, alot of contributions from alot of guys, and that’swhy you like having ateam, because it could be anybody’snight on any given night. Our guys don’tcare.They sacrifice for one another and we found away to get awin.”

The NewYork bench accounted for27points and10rebounds, and Robinson defended Victor Wembanyamawhen the San Antonio star missed a jumper that would have won the game.

“Our effort,it’sbeencrazy,” Robinson said. “Wejust came out there just fighting, you know, talking to each other.Communication, that’sbeen key for us.” Clinging to afour-pointlead late

traditional home on the borderof Queensand Long Island is getting demolished and rebuilt. Therace is settoreturn to Belmont Park next year

“It’ssomeaningful,”DeVaux said. “A lotoffamily here. Saratoga,it’sbeen wonderful to have such ahistoric race here.It’sso meaningful because the town gets to have this andcelebrate it along with us.”

Golden Tempopaid $14 to win, $7.32 to place and $3.88 to show Commandment paid $7.02 to show and$4.08 to place, whileRenegade —the Derby runner-up —paid $2.52 to place.

The pace was not nearly as fast as it was at Churchill Downs,yet Golden Tempostill wasable to closein time to winthe 11/4-milerace in 2:03.49. It didn’tmatter,ashewas the best in the field of nine horses

“Hewasn’tgoing to getthatsetup ashedid in the Derby,” Ortiz said. “Weall knewthat, andI was alittle worried about it. He needed somekind of setup.But today, there wasn’t one and he showed up today and won.”

Golden Tempo won two-thirds of the Triple Crown after DeVaux and owners decided to bypass the Preakness. He is the second horse in as many years to win the KentuckyDerby and the Belmontafter notrunning in the middle jewel.

“Wemade our decision, and we won todayand we’re going to be happy about that,” DeVaux said.

This was thethird and final time for the Belmont at Saratoga in upstate New York while its

in the third quarter,the Knicks bridgedthe thirdand fourth quartersonan11-3run fueled by Robinson,Alvarado, McBride, Shametand startingguard Mikal Bridges.

Shamet finishedwith13points while Robinson had seven, McBride added five and Alvarado had two. Shamet’s3-pointerput New York ahead 87-75 aminute into the fourth quarter

Bridges had four points, one assist and one rebound during the run and helped theKnicks hold theSpurs to 1-of-5 shooting.

“I think started just defensively getting stops,” Bridges said. “I think that’sthe biggest thing, us getting stops and getting out. Just him giving me confidence to try to makethe right play.” Robinson did thesame.

After thwarting the Hack-aMitchstrategy in the first quarter, Robinsonsealedthe victory in the final minutewith two defensive stands againstWembanyama.

With thegametied at 104, Wembanyama misseda17-footer with 30 seconds remaining with Robinson defending. Wembanyama then missed a20-footer with two seconds remaining andthe Spurs trailingbyone point

“In my mind, Iwas justlike, defend without fouling,” Robinson said.“So,thatwas kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kindofhow it went.”

BY NATE RYAN Associated Press

Carson Hocevar has fond childhood memories of MichiganInternationalSpeedway,with one exception.

Despite manyNASCAR family outings at the 2-mile oval,Hocevar somehow missedthe Michigan wins in 2008 and 2012 for favorite driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.—his only two Cup Seriesvictories during aseven-season stretch from 2007-13.

“I enjoyed going there every year as akid,but Ialways kicked myself,”Hocevar said. “Every time that Ididn’tgo, Junior won, and every time Idid go, he wrecked or didn’trun good.”

TheSpire Motorsports driver can make new memoriesSundaybyplaying thehome-state herotoa new generationof fans.

Hocevar,who grew up about 85 miles westofthe Brooklyn track in Portage, will have an enormous cheering section as he seeks his second victory of the season. He’s unsure howmany supporters will be on hand, because many of those who watched him rise through the ranks at Michigan short trackssuch as Berlin Raceway or Kalamazoo Speedway aren’t bothering him for tickets.

“A lot of them camp at the track anyway, so they’re alreadygoing to be there,”he said. “I don’thave to get them passes and burn through those. It’llbea lotofpeople thatI grew up racing with, so it’salways fun just to see who’sthere. Familywise,there’ll probably be alot of people.”

Expectations will be high beyond just the rooting interests. Beforeaflat tire spoiled ashot at the win, Hocevar led 32 laps last year at Michigan, which is among his best tracks.

Ortiz said he followed Renegade, riddenbyolder brother Irad, just as he didinthe Derby.Itworked outjustthe same in thefirst Saturday in June as the first Saturday in May

“He was abouncing abit today, which made me veryhappy becauseI wanted himtobea little bit sharper today,” Jose Ortizsaid. “You can see him, he’svery relaxed. He does what Iask him to do. That’s themain thing.”

Co-owner VinnieViola dedicated the race to late friend Dominic DiPrisco, who died Wednesday at age 70.

“I know you’re in heaven, and I love you and this race is for you,” Viola said. “It means more than I can express in words right now.” Ortiz won the Belmont Stakes for the second time, nine yearsafter his first aboard Tapwrit in 2017.

“Wejust wanted him to getbetter and keep winning these kinds of races,” Ortizsaid. “We’re very happy with him. It’sall about him.”

NBA

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win, win, win, win, win, winand winagain. One game at atime, one win at atime and, quite possibly onechampionshipatatime.

The Knicks areback in New York with a2-0 lead over San Antonio in theNBA Finals,still riding thestrengthofa13-game winning streak

Astreak like that has happened once beforeinNBA postseason history,whencounting just singleseason winning runs.Golden State won 15 in arow on its way to the 2017 title.

Thecommon thread between those Warriors andthese Knicks? That wouldbeBrown.Hewas an assistant on that Golden State staff andwent12-0asactinghead coach during the playoffs while Steve Kerr was sidelined by back issues.

“You’ve got to have good players,” Brown said. “I’m not that smart. You’ve gottohave good players that carry you.”

Brown’splayoff record,officially, is astellar 64-42 as ahead coach.

Throw those 12 games with the Warriors on his record —which, by NBA rule andprecedent, doesn’t happen becauseKerrwas still head coach, just not present on the sideline for those games —and Brown’s playoff winning percentagewould

“Ultimately,it’sagood place for me to go home because we run good there,” he said. “So there’salot less pressure when everybody’salready really excited for you. Ialready feel really confident walking into Michigan. But it being my home track, it just lets me walk alittle bitlighter.”

The24-year-old Hocevar is also managing the pressure to meet expectations as achampionship contender since his first career win at Talladega Superspeedway six weeks ago. He is ranked ninth in the standings with12races remaining until the Chase points reset. The top16 drivers then will race for the championship over thefinal10 races.

“Welook at (the standings) all the time,” Hocevar said. “I think we’ve been faster than where we have been finishing. But Ithank the heavens that everybody around us in points hashad worse days. So I’m still gainingspots.”

AP PHOTO By ERIC GAy

Newyork Knicks coachMikeBrown calls out to hisplayers during Game 1ofthe NBAFinals on WednesdayinSan Antonio.

rise to .644. That would be third best in NBAhistoryamong coaches with at least100 playoff games, behind only Phil Jackson and Kerr Eitherway,Brown now has to be considered the coaching king of the playoff winning streak. Alook inside this run by New York:

Dominant margins

n The Knicks have outscored Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland andSan Antonio in these 13 games by 273 points, the biggest 13-game margin in NBA playoff history Beforethis stretch, the biggest 13-gameplayoff point-differential marginwas 225, by those Warriors —the team that Brownled on an interim basis —in2017.

n All but two of the Knicks’ wins in this streak were by double figures. The exceptions: Game 2of

(47) Ricky StenhouseJr, Chevrolet, 192.812. 24. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet,192.472. 25. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet 192.220. 26. (6)BradKeselowski, Toyota, 192.123. 27. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford,191.739. 28. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet,191.729. 29. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 191.688. 30. (97) Shane VanGisbergen, Chevrolet, 191.683. 31. (2)AustinCindric, Ford,191.149. 32. (1)RossChastain, Chevrolet, 191.032. 33. (51) Cody Ware,Chevrolet,190.905. 34. (88) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 190.880. 35. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford,190.830. 36. (44) JJ Yeley,Chevrolet,186.674. 37. (21) Josh Berry,Ford, .000.

Awin in Sunday’s400-mile race wouldshore up his title bidand make history.NoMichigan-born driverhas won aCup race at the track in the Irish Hills region Brad Keselowski, whohails from theDetroit suburb of Rochester Hills, has three runner-up finishes at Michigan. Hocevar enjoys rewatching video of when he led at Michigan anddrew apassionate response on par with the wins for Earnhardt, a15-timeMost Popular Driver in NASCAR. “Seeing the crowd jump up and get excited and how loud they got,”Hocevar said. “I’m excited to walk out to driver intros.Whether it’s cheersor boos, I’mjust hoping it’llbe loud.

Toyota drivers have led the most laps in 10 of the first 14 races,getting offtoastronger start than Christopher Bell had expected against anew Chevrolet body that’ssleeker

the Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia (a six-point win) and Game 2ofthe NBA Finals againstSan Antonio(aone-point win). Six additionalwins have come with afinalmargin between 10-16 points, andthe otherfive were total blowouts —the Knicks winning those by 29, 30, 37, 39 and 51 points.

n TheKnicks have ledby40or moreinfour differentgames during the streak, including a61-point lead at Atlanta in the clinching game of that East first-round series. Rarely in trouble

n The Knicks have faced doubledigit deficitsinjust four of the games, with two of those the first twoofthese NBAFinals against the Spurs. They trailed by 14 in Game 1and by as many as 12 in Game 2.

n They also trailed Philadelphia by 12 in Game 3ofthe East semifinals and Cleveland by 22 in Game 1ofthe East final.

Road warriors

n New York is 8-0onthe road during this winning streak,the final margin in those games —even with aone-point game from Friday in there— averagingastaggering 21.5 points.

n The only team in Knicks history with alongerroad winning streak, either in theregularseason or playoffs, was the 1969-70 team that once won12inarow away from home

The Associated Press

SPRINGS,N.Y.—

ASSCOAITEDPRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA

Jockey Jose Ortiz celebrates as he crossesthe finishlineaboard Golden Tempotowin

AP PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA Trainer Cherie DeVaux, center,with Jockey Jose Ortiz, left, holds the trophyafter Golden Tempo won the158th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

an international friendly matchonSaturdayinChicago. Germany won2-1.

U.S. soccerdrops ninth straight vs.Europeanfoes

BY JAYCOHEN AP sportswriter

CHICAGO Leroy Sané scored a tiebreaking goal in the 57thminute, giving Germany a2-1 winover the United States in afriendly on Saturday and anine-game winning streak headinginto the World Cup.

Kai Havertz put the four-time champions in front with aheader from afree kick in the second minute but Antonee Robinson tied the score in the 37th with aleft-foot volley from the top of thearc after Christian Pulisic’scornerkick.

Sané scored off ashort pass from Havertz, adiagonal shot between the legs of Miles Robinson that appeared to take aslight deflection off the defender and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post.

The 16th-ranked UnitedStates has lost ninestraight games to European opponents dating to 2022. Hosting the WorldCup for the first time since 1994, the Americansopen againstParaguay on Friday, then play Australia and Turkey.The U.S. hadn’tlost its last match heading into aWorld Cup since 2002.

No. 10 Germany starts against Curaçao on June 14inagroup that includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador

The match drew asellout crowd of 63,636 to Soldier Field,site of the 1994 WorldCup opener.Chicago refused to bidtohost 2026 World Cup matches, citing what it said was alack of financialassurances byFIFA.

TheU.S. played without top defender ChrisRichards, sidelined since tearing apair of left ankle

ligaments on May 17.

Germany was missing 18-yearold midfielder Lennart Karl, ruled outfor theWorld Cupafter injuring athigh in training. Oliver Baumann startedingoal as Manuel Neuer rested while recovering from acalf muscle issue.

Freese started in goal for the 15th time in 18 matches.

DieMannschaft wentahead after TylerAdams’ foul just outside the penalty area. Joshua Kimmich’s free kickwas headed in by Havertz at thetop of the 6-yard box for his 22nd international goal

Robinsonscored his fifthinternational goal after Jonathan Tah’s headedclearance attempt on Pulisic’scorner kick went just outside the area. Robinson celebrated with acartwheel and abackflip.

Iran leaves forWorld Cup withoutsomevisas forstaff

BY KHALIL HAMRA Associated Press

ANTALYA,Turkey The IranWorld Cup soccerteamset offfrom Turkey for their training base in Mexico on Saturday,with some members of their entourage reportedlystill withoutU.S.visas, before three group matches in the United States later this month.

The Iranian FootballFederation’ssecretary-general,Hedayat Mombeini, and its vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were among 14 backroom staffand officials without U.S. visas before games in Los Angeles and Seattle, according to Iranian state television.

It was unclear whether the federation’spresident, Mehdi Taj, had been issued avisa.

The team’s participationinthe World Cup has been complicated by the Iran war.Problems with processing visas had earlier led Iran to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, which is on the border with California.

The federation accusedthe U.S. of “vindictive behavior” in refusing visas for “key managerial and administrative members”ofthe team.

The decision had “effectively denied the Iranian nationalteam the opportunity for alevel playing field and acompetition free from discrimination,” according to a statement on the federation’s website. It added that the federation wouldpursue thematterthrough world soccer authority FIFA

The Iranian EmbassyinAnkara, meanwhile,responded to an earlier social media post from U.S.ambassador TomBarrack, in which he congratulated hisembassy staff for processing theIran team’svisas. “You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFAregulations and breaches the UnitedStates host obligations merely by praising yourselves,” the Iranian post read. “This represents the worst possible form of politically biased interference in sport.”

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

Though he’s been with the team since September while rehabbing his injury,Polkispartof that equation. It had been along time since he had been able to makea play like he did in practice Wednesday, buthesaidthe “hunger never left” him while he endured the disappointments of his firsttwo seasons. And while there is suddenlya lot of competition forthe football in New Orleans —asthings currentlystand, Polk is at best fourth or fifth in the offensive pecking order —hesees this as apositive.

“(The hungeris) never gone It’salways there, it’salways going to be there,” Polk said. “And alot of these guys, pretty much everybody in here, is hungry as well.

“We’ve got abig old plate, and everybody is going to have the opportunity to go out there and eat.”

The shoulder injury that erased Polk’s 2025campaign is, hopeful-

ly,athing of the past. He praised the training stafffor making him feel like himself again throughoutthe rehabilitationprocess and said “everything is great” now in respect to his body He welcomed the opportunity to cometoNew Orleans, which brought him closer to his hometownofLufkin, Texas. Buthe mostly stayed in New Orleans this offseason to work on his recovery,which also afforded him the opportunity to get aheadstart on refining his connectionwith Shough. That may be paying dividends now forboth the Saints and Polk, who is grateful for afresh slate to show what he can be as aprofessional.

“I feel like I’msupposed to be here,” Polk said. “For them bringing me in here and having that trust of seeing the player I’m capable of being, it speaks alot. Ijustwanttogoout there each and every day and show them they made the right decision of bringing me in here.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

DUNCAN

Continued from page1C

Shooting slings and arrows at thepeople trying to save college sportswon’tsolve the crisis at hand.

Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell, apassionate advocate for theProtect College Sports Act, had an astute observation of its opponents.

Iran’splayers arriveatAntalyaairportbefore departing to Tijuana, Mexico, forthe WorldCup on SaturdayinsouthernTurkey

OneU.S. official earlier told The Associated Press that allplayers on theIranian team were approved for visas, while asecond official said visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff. Athird official suggested thatsome applicants affiliated with the teamhad been rejected for requesting visas “under false pretenses.”

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity becausethey weren’t authorized to discussthe visas publicly

The squadhas been preparing for the WorldCup at atraining camp in Antalya.The team said that it hasalready received visas from theMexican Embassy in Ankara

The players, dressed in blue blazers over white T-shirts,left the luxury Mardan Palace hotel in Antalya on Saturday afternoon

They boarded aprivate jet at the Mediterranean city’sairport and were due to fly directly to Mexico. Iran plays its first two games in Inglewood, California, against New ZealandonJune15, andBelgium six days later, then heads to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.

Iran and theU.S. could meet in the round of 32 on July 3inArlington, Texas, if both teams come second in their groups. In March, U.S. President Donald Trumphad discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, saying he didn’tthink it was “appropriate” and raising concerns over players’ “life and safety.”

Aday later,Iran’snational team pushed back, saying “no one can exclude” it from playing.

Iran finalized its team on Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs haven’tplayed since February because of the war.Star forward Sardar Azmoun was dropped in March, reportedly because of asocial media post that angeredIranian authorities during thewar Iran’ssportsminister said in March that it would “not be possible” for the team to participate in theWorldCup,but therepublic’s soccer federation said in May that it was moving ahead with ateam. The federationhad insisted that all players and staff be granted visas, including those who had military service in the IslamicRevolutionary Guard Corps.

“What they talkabout is that any plan that isn’texactlywhat theywanttodohas allthese problems withimplementation,” Campbellsaidonthe Powers podcast. “Theydon’t have good reasons, but theissueiscomplex enough andit’spoorlyunderstood enough that they can throw those things outthere as kind of red herrings and confusepeople enough to where people taketheir eye off theballand they just revert back to themost simple form of legislation possible,whichdoes not solve theproblem.”

Longtime sports media executive Gordon Whitener hada great analogy of thesituation:“The house is on fire, and everyone’sarguing overwho ownsthe hose.”

Alook at someofthe most importantthings Sabansaidand why we should takethemtoheart:

n “If youhad thebiggest, baddest Ferrari that youcould ever have, and it wasgoing 150 miles an hour toward theGrandCanyon, somebodyneeds to tap the brakes.”

Critics accused Saban of being one of the reckless drivers who mashed the accelerator and careened the Ferrari into danger in the first place. But this classic “shoot-the-messenger” argumentignores the larger point: College sports are out of control and facing an existential crisis without guardrails. They need governance, which the NCAA can no longer provide after being dismantled by widespread legislation and litigation.

n “Congress does not need to micromanage college athletics Congress does need to fix the messinthe courts and create anational framework so the people inside college sports can enforce fair rules.”

Saban understands that congressional intervention is needed to provide the governance structure necessary to run the sport,implement rules and enforce regulation. He’sadvocating aregulated framework, not

full federal control —essentially guardrails rather than takeover n “Student-athletes should profit…aslong as those things are authentic endorsements [but] name, image and likeness has turned into pay-for-play

This bill recognizes the difference between real NIL and disguised pay-for-play.” Saban isn’tagainst athletes getting paid. But, as he predicted years ago, schools have gamed the system and are simply using NIL to pay players for performance, which was not the original intent of the legislation. The College Sports Commission wascreated to oversee NIL transactions, but schools are already fighting its enforcement.

n “We’re going to lose Olympic sports …nonrevenue sports scholarships …you’re going to have football and basketball succeed and …club sports for everything else.”

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) noted that morethan 100 varsity sports teamsand more than 1,000 NCAA scholarships have been lost since the 202425 NCAA antitrust settlement. More will fall by the wayside if we continue downthis path. No one wants to see college sports reduced to just football and men’s basketball.

n “Athletes should have real freedom. Ayoung person should not be trapped in abad situation. But unlimited transfer freedom, combined with pay-for-play incentives, has created something very close to unlimited free agency without contracts, without rules and without stability.”

Saban’spoint here is primarily aboutthe transfer portal,which hasled to adeclineingraduation rates while also jeopardizing health care forathletes. The Protect College Sports Act would implement morestabletransfer policy, while balancing player freedom withprogram continuity.

n “I’m not here to represent aconference or ateam, but to preserve college athletics as a whole. Ireally want everybody to know …I’m just aformer college coach whocares about college sports.”

Major college football —particularly the SEC and Big Ten— is suffering from the Disease of Me. An exclusive Super League of 30 to 40 schools, which would regulate the rest of the Power Four programstoJVstatus, is not the answer.Even Saban, an SEC devotee, understands this.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJOSE LUIS MAGANA Former University of Alabama football coachNick Saban testifies before aSenate Commerce Committee hearing WednesdayatCapitol Hill in Washington.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

U.S. forward Christian Pulisic, right,reactsafter amissed shot as Germany forward LeroySanécelebrates during the first half of

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KHALIL HAMRA

SCOREBOARD

Percentages: FG .474, FT .704 3-Point Goals: 11-29, .379 (Vassell 3-7, Fox 2-2, Castle 2-4, Champagnie2-5, Wembanyama 2-6, Johnson 0-2, Harper 0-3). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 7(Wembanyama 4, Champagnie, Fox, Vassell). Turnovers: 16 (Castle 4, Fox4,Wembanyama 4, Harper 2, Bryant, Johnson) Steals: 7(Wembanyama 2, Castle, Fox, Harper, Johnson, Kornet). Technical Fouls:None. NewYork25312821—105 SanAntonio34182329—1

A_19,014 (18,581). T_2:41. WNBA EASTERN CONFERENCE

y:

dBallpark, Lawrence,Kan.

1, Kansas

vs.SouthernCal,

day: Oklahoma 8, Kansas 1 Sunday: Kansas vs.Oklahoma, 5p.m. x-Monday: Kansas vs.Oklahoma, TBD At Kendrick Family Ballpark, Morgantown, W.V. West Virginia 2, CalPoly 0 Friday: West Virginia 12,

Garros(seedings in parentheses): Women’s Singles Championship MirraAndreeva(8),Russia, def. Maja Chwalinska,Poland, 6-3,6-2 Men’s Doubles Championship Marcel Granollers,Spain,and Horacio Zeballos (1), Argentina, def. Harri Heliovaara, Finland, and HenryPatten (2),Britain, 6-4,6-2. Golf

The Memorial Tournament Saturday At MuirfieldVillage GolfClub Dublin, Ohio Purse: $20 million Yardage: 7,569; Par: 72 Partial ThirdRound Suspended due to course conditions following inclementweather Harris English 71-76-69—216

Si WooKim 72-76-69—217

Bud Cauley 73-74-71—218

-26

G.Chalmers/C.Percy 61-58—119 -23

A.Cejka/T.O’Neal 63-57—120 -22

B.Gay/R.Sabbatini60-60—120 -22

J.Caron/B.Quigley 62-58—120 -22

D.Barron/D.Pride 63-58—121 -21

F.Jacobson/S.Kjeldsen 59-62—121 -21

S.Parel/P.Stankowski 62-59—121 -21

T.Gainey/T.Ridings 63-58—121 -21

G.McNeill/K.Perry 64-58—122 -20

H.Slocum/B.Weekley 66-56—122 -20

R.Green/M.Hensby60-62—122 -20

S.Alker/B.Langer 61-61—122 -20

H.Frazar/T.Petrovic 62-61—123 -19

M.Allen/J.Daly63-60—123 -19

S.Bertsch/E.Els 63-60—123 -19

S.Cink/Z.Johnson65-58—123 -19

J.Durant/K.Sutherland 65-59—124 -18

R.Goosen/B.VanPelt 64-60—124 -18

S.Allan/D.Bransdon 65-59—124 -18

S.Appleby/M.Wright 62-62—124 -18

W.Austin/V.Taylor64-60—124 -18

B.Andrade/J.Maggert 62-63—125 -17

K.Tanigawa/M.Weir 65-60—125 -17

A.Cabrera/R.Gonzalez 64-62—126 -16

D.Duval/M.Gogel 65-61—126 -16

S.Flesch/P.Goydos 64-62—126 -16

S.Stricker/M.Tiziani65-61—126 -16

J.Kelly/J.Leonard67-60—127 -15

T.Pernice/V.Singh 66-61—127 -15

M.Jimenez/J.Olazabal 64-64—128 -14

C.Wi/Y.Yang 65-64—129 -13

B.Jobe/S.McCarron 68-63—131 -11

F.Funk/G.Sauers 64-67—131 -11

C.Campbell/R.Pampling 66-66—132 -10

K.Duke/T.Lehman69-63—132 -10

D.Love III/S.Verplank 68-65—133 -9

L.Janzen/R.Mediate 69-67—136 -6 KLM Open Saturday At The International Amsterdam Purse: $2.8million Yardage: 6,914; Par: 71 ThirdRound

E. Lopez-Chacarra, Spain 69-69-65—203 -10

S. Soderberg, Sweden 67-66-70—203 -10

M. Armitage, England71-66-67—204 -9

Y. Katsuragawa,Japan 69-66-70—205 -8 Oliver Lindell,Finland69-67-69—205 -8

M. Steinlechner, Austria 67-69-69—205 -8

A. AyoraFanegas, Spain 73-65-68—206 -7

J. Guerrier, France 65-69-72—206 -7

J. Gumbrg, United States 68-68-70—206 -7

Joe Dean, England 66-70-71—207 -6 Calum Hill, Scotland68-70-69—207 -6

B. Rbnsn-Tmpsn, Englnd 69-69-69—207 -6

D. Hillier, New Zealand70-65-73—208 -5

K. Kobori, New Zealand71-68-69—208 -5

F. Molinari, Italy 69-69-70—208 -5

N.NorgaardMllr, Denmrk 71-67-70—208 -5

D. Willett, England 71-67-70—208 -5 Yanhan Zhou, China 71-70-67—208 -5 Ewen Ferguson, Scotland 70-68-71—209 -4

H. Logan, UnitedStates71-65-73—209 -4 Guido Migliozzi, Italy 70-68-71—209 -4

L. VanDrVight,Nethrlnds 68-73-68—209 -4

R. Williams, South Africa72-68-69—209 -4 Jens Dantorp, Sweden 72-70-68—210 -3 Nacho Elvira,

Veteran coastal fisherman Bootsie Toups shows off two 5-pound-plus speckled trout he caught to win a past Swollfest rodeo title. The annual benefit event held on Grand Isle raises money for charities like Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and many others. Toups, of Marrero, added three more specks to these two for a record 24.35-pound total to win the five-trout stringer category. This increasingly popular rodeo begins Wednesday with final weigh-in set late Saturday afternoon at Grand Isle Marina.

OUTDOORS

Anglers hoping weather better for Swollfest rodeo

BY JOE MACALUSO

Contributing writer

With what’s going on along the Louisiana coast this weekend, it’s a sure bet Nick Rauber and his Swollfest crew are uttering the “rain, rain, go away” prayer in hopes for calmer conditions for this week’s annual Swollfest Fishing Rodeo on Grand Isle.

Swollfest is more than a successful string of fishing days. It’s become a celebration of all our state’s coast has to offer for summertime adventure.

Fish of all sizes are caught and gushed over at the Grand Isle Marina weigh station, but, in the end, funds go to charities like Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and college scholarship recipients.

The crew’s prayers are needed after a tropical system invaded Louisiana’s offshore waters Friday Earlier last week, the forecast of up to 30 mph winds and heavy seas forced Catholic High’s Alumni Fishing Rodeo organizers to postpone this weekend’s annual event until July 10-12 at Fourchon.

Swollfest’s entry info and rules can be found on its website: swollfest.com New CWD rules

Reacting to what some are calling ill-advised meddling by the state Legislature, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved amended regulations for the expanding Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones at its meeting last week.

This declaration of emergency comes after the Loui-

MONDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS

PROGRAM: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts: roberts. brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org

WEDNESDAY

LA. YOUTH ATV/UTV SAFETY

TASK FORCE BRIEFING: 9:15 a.m., state Wildlife & Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Dr. Baton Rouge Preregistration requested via email to Taylor Brazan: tbrazan@wlf.la.gov

BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois St., New Orleans. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail.com Website: neworleansflyfishers.com JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEETING: 7 p m. Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs Boys & girls age-group bass tournaments for ages 7-10 11-14 & 15-18 anglers. Special event: June 20-21, Lake Concordia. Call Jim Breaux (225) 772-3026.

NOTEBOOK

siana Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 during its regular session.

This SCR 24 does away with a total ban on baiting and feeding — a practice that tends to congregate deer and risks spreading this always-fatal disease — and allows baiting and feeding from Sept.1 through March 31 within all current CWD Management Zones.

This further explanation came from Wildlife and Fisheries: The baiting and feeding allowance from Sept. 1-March 31 is based on achieving CWD sampling goals, not to exceed 300 samples, the previous surveillance season. “CWD prevalence rates (of) 2.5-20% will result in the prohibition of baiting the following surveillance season. Surveillance seasons are July 1-June 30 Results from a surveillance season will determine baiting allowances in subsequent seasons.”

CWD zones are set when a CWD-infested deer has been found in an area. Zones are established by using roads, waterways and other easily identifiable land features and are comprised of a 5-mile and a 15-mile zone. Additional CWD detections beyond the 5-mile zone will result in changes to the 15mile zone boundary the following surveillance season.”

The new regulation stated that any new detections outside of an existing zone will result in an emergency declaration to establish a new zone, but that baiting and

feeding restrictions would not be implemented at that time.

Furthermore, zones and restrictions will be removed when sampling goals are met for three consecutive surveillance seasons without a CWD detection, and “the use of bait not normally ingested by deer may be used for feral hog trapping.”

Just four years after the first CWD-infested deer was found along the Mississippi River in east-central Louisiana, there have been 55 CWD-positive deer detected with all but three coming from Tensas Parish. The other three came from Ouachita, Catahoula and Concordia parishes.

A win for sportsmen

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation heaped praise on the recent passage of House Bill 1177 offered by state Rep. Jerome Zeringue a move that protects those Louisiana-licensed hunters and fishermen who are drawn to participate in state-run lottery hunts.

Zeringue’s bill, passed without opposition, came after concerns that hunters drawn in lotteries were being harassed after certain groups and individuals discovered the names of the hunters.

The foundation, based in Washington, explained Louisiana’s stand on this increasing problem “highlights a broader national conversation around protecting hunters and anglers while maintaining transparency in government and wildlife management. It also underscores the bipartisan

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY

SWOLLFEST FISHING RODEO: Grand Isle Marina, Grand Isle. Offshore & Inshore categories. Weigh-in Thursday-Saturday, 4-6 p.m. Fishing begins Wednesday. Benefits Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital & others. Email: swollfest@cox.net. Registration website: swollfest.com.

SATURDAY NSCA REGISTERED SPORTING CLAYS: Bridge View Gun Club, Port Allen.

ONGOING STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Through Sept. 7, Coastal Conservation Association’s summerlong fishing event Tagged redfish, coastal/offshore species categories & youth division. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com/star AROUND THE CORNER

JUNE 16 — LAFAYETTE KAYAK

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

JUNE 17 — FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7-9 p.m, Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge. Casual fly-tying. Open to public. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@ gmail.com

JUNE 18 — ACADIANA FLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Email Darin Lee: at cbrsandcdc@ gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org

JUNE 19-20 — GARAND/ SPRINGFIELD MODERN MILITARY MATCH: Palo Alto Rifle & Pistol Club, 1393 L1. 943, Donaldsonville. 2-man team, 30-shot president’s course & EIC matches. LSA event. Call Michael Burke (337) 380-8120.

JUNE 19-20 — NSCA SPORTING CLAYS EVENTS: Wilderness Club, Lafayette.

JUNE 19-20 — BROTHER DARDIS FISHING RODEO: Begins sunrise June 19, weigh-in June 20, 2-4 p.m., Jesuit High School, Banks Street at Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans. Freshwater, Inshore & Offshore categories in Adult & Student divisions. Website: jesuitnola.org

JUNE 19-20 — BROTHER MARTIN FISHING RODEO & SUMMER FEST: Fishing begins sunrise June 19, weigh-in

Next big catch is on the water

Moss is cancer-free and angling in pursuit of bass fishing passion

BY DAVE CAMPBELL AP pro football writer

Randy Moss is still making big catches, long after he finished playing football.

The Hall of Fame wide receiver with the secondmost touchdown receptions in NFL history has found his off-the-field calling on the boat, fishing for freshwater bass.

“That’s my passion right now That’s my hobby That’s my getaway That’s my therapy,” Moss said.

support that conservation and outdoor recreation issues continue to receive in Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Gulf Council discussions

Three recreational fishing items were discussed during last week’s Gulf Council meeting in Tampa, Florida.

After years of turning red snapper management over to the five Gulf states the council is considering doing the same for greater amberjack The debate now centers on whether to allow each state to manage this species or set up regions in the Gulf. If it’s regions, then there will be allocations and management measures.

Plans are to continue discussion at the October meeting. Up for consideration is a move to a mandatory recreational reporting program for deep-water grouper species. The council delayed any action until recreational fishermen can respond and “after further research is conducted on the feasibility of a reporting program.”

The council also reviewed what is known as “postseason accountability measures for private recreational red snapper,” which, under current rule, penalizes a state for exceeding its annual catch limit by subtracting the overage from the state’s next year allowable catch. The move, as explained, is to allow more flexibility to each of the five states “without compromising the effectiveness of state management.”

The council’s next meeting is set to open Aug. 24 at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi.

4-5:30 p.m. June 20, Brother Martin High campus, 4401 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans. All Louisiana waters & launch sites. Call Advancement Office (504) 284-6700. Website: brothermartin.com/alumni/ fishing-rodeo FISHING/SHRIMPING

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

CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATES

REOPENED: Pearl River Wildlife Management Area & shooting range.

CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/ boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction) EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

Mostly confined to his home for about nine months while he underwent chemotherapy and radiation to beat cancer, Moss developed a deeper appreciation for being in nature. Since his treatment was completed last fall and his rare form of the disease — in the bile duct between the pancreas and the liver — was deemed to be in remission, Moss has often had a rod and reel in his hands.

This lifelong hobby for Moss has become a third career of sorts, following his work as an NFL analyst for ESPN that he resumed with the 2025 season.

“I’m just excited to be able to showcase my talent and go out there and show people that I have something else other than football that I love,” Moss said.

Moss was hired by World Bass Enterprises to serve as an ambassador for The Champions tournament this fall in Hendersonville, Tennessee, an inaugural five-day event just across the river from Nashville designed to determine a true title in a sport divided by two competing tours. WBE was founded earlier this year by Brian Bird, a Texas businessman and amateur angler who has become a fishing buddy to Moss.

In the meantime, Moss and his business partner, Andrew Grein, have been busy filming a documentary series, Chasing 10, that features Moss fishing with celebrity guests in pursuit of the elusive 10-pound largemouth bass while offering tips and trading stories. He’s auctioning off a custom-made boat for each season to benefit the Children’s Cancer Research Fund in Minnesota.

“I had to take a year off to be able to get myself back right, but my health is great,” Moss said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “I still have my quarterly checkups every four months, my scans, but I just think that now that I’m back outside, this is one of the things that I couldn’t wait to see. I have the bass waiting on me, so I’m just a kid in the candy store having fun, man.”

The Champions event, which is carrying a total prize purse of $3.25 mil-

lion for the largest in the history of the sport, will pay $1.25 million to the winner from a field of 50 anglers the top 25 from each of the two biggest organizations in competitive bass fishing.

The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society — known as B.A.S.S. — runs the Bassmaster Elite Series. Major League Fishing has the newer Bass Pro Tour For the past seven years, a bit like the PGA and LIV factions in golf, the best anglers in the world have been split between two groups. Moss is on board with Bird to try to help unite the sport and take it further into the mainstream.

“We both are trying to bring something that’s really positive to the sport of bass fishing,” said Bird, who sold his electrical construction services company three years ago and has invested his own money into the launch of the tournament. “It’s a good way for a family to spend time out in nature.”

The first batch of Chasing 10 episodes posted to YouTube this week included a spirited outing with the Kelce brothers and a reunion of fellow receivers from the Minnesota Vikings with Cris Carter and Jake Reed. While he was out on another show with Bird on a Texas lake, Moss giddily reeled in the hallowed 10-pounder, comparing the anxiety he felt during the process to the moments before a football play when he knew the pass was coming his way Moss first learned how to cast a line while growing up in West Virginia with his older half-brother, Eric Moss, who died in 2019. Soon after Moss started his NFL career in Minnesota in 1998, he was introduced to a professional angler the late John Laub, who taught him the sport on the St. Croix River along the Wisconsin border

“My first actual bass experience, I caught 20!” Moss said. “John, he was glowing.

“That’s the man who showed me bass fishing, and I haven’t looked back since.”

PHOTO By ANDREW GREIN

In this undated image, Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss holds up a bass during an episode of ‘Chasing 10 with Randy Moss’ about Moss’ pursuit of the elusive 10-pound largemouth bass.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Former NFL great Randy Moss, currently a TV analyst, walks on the field before a wild-card playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals on Jan. 17, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.

Area football players show breakout potential

BY SPENCER URQUHART

Staff writer

Spring gives high school football players an opportunity to take a major step forward heading into the fall, and there were several New Orleans-area players who did just that.

From quarterbacks competing for the starting job to skill players looking to get more touches, plenty of rising stars made the most of their time on the field this spring.

Listed below are eight New Orleans prep football players who appear poised for a breakout season in 2026 after strong spring showings.

Garrett Chittenden

Holy Cross (So.)

Holy Cross is searching for a new quarterback and turned to Chittenden to lead the offense this spring with U-High transfer Cooper Odle yet to join the team.

Chittenden impressed in his time under center, showcasing dual-threat ability during the Tigers’ spring scrimmage in which he led multiple scoring drives.

“We always knew (Chittenden) could throw,” Holy Cross coach Scott Wattigny said. “I thought he did really well (in the spring).”

While Odle is likely to start at quarterback as a senior, Chittenden showed he’s worthy of a role on offense.

Darren Coates

St. Augustine (Jr.)

Coates appears to be next in line to anchor St. Aug’s

defensive front after an impressive sophomore year

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Coates totaled 111/2 sacks last season St. Aug coach

Robert Valdez complimented Coates after the Purple Knights faced a tough test in their spring scrimmage against Alexandria.

“Darren Coates has done a great job for us,” Valdez said.

Coates holds Division I offers from Syracuse, Oregon State and Troy He also plays baseball at St. Aug

Jayce Irving

Newman (So.)

Irving got valuable reps this spring as one of just 35 Newman players to take the field due to the Greenies’ state title run in baseball.

Irving is a versatile running back who can catch passes out of the backfield.

Newman coach Aaron Vice expects Irving to play a significant role as a sophomore.

“(Irving) is a rising sophomore,” Newman coach Aaron Vice said. “He’s our Swiss Army knife.”

Irving is expected to share the backfield with junior Tanner Robert, who was one of 16 players out for baseball this spring.

Semaj Lyons Kennedy (Sr.)

Kennedy has multiple starting wide receivers returning, and Lyons is looking to take another step forward after receiving first-team all-district honors as a junior

Lyons has caught the attention of Division I coaches

and received an offer from Kentucky He shined in this year’s spring scrimmage against Edna Karr

“(Lyons’) role on this team is to be a playmaker,” Kennedy coach Lynarise Elpheage said, adding that the team is going to rely on Lyons and senior quarterback Dorrien Dunham.

Dunham completed multiple long passes to the 6-1, 196-pound Lyons in this year’s spring game.

Kamal Martin

Edna Karr (Jr.)

Two-time reigning state champion Edna Karr is having to replace its top three wide receivers from last season, and Martin is lined up for a key role in the Cougars’ high-powered offense.

The 5-10, 163-pound Martin showed off his playmaking ability in Karr’s spring scrimmage against Kennedy

“We’ve got some good young wideouts,” Karr coach Brice Brown said. “Kamal made some good plays.”

Martin displayed a connection with junior Forest Johnson, who is competing to become Karr’s next starting quarterback.

Colin Snyder Country Day (Sr.)

Snyder saw playing time at wide receiver and defensive back last season and is set for an expanded role as a senior Country Day’s “air raid” offense graduated some of its key skill players, which meant more wide receiver

reps for Snyder this spring.

The secondary has multiple returning starters alongside him.

“Colin will be in the mix (at wide receiver),” Country Day coach Ben Powell said.

“We feel really good about our secondary.”

Snyder’s younger brother Preston Snyder will also contribute at wide receiver

Sully Sullivan Jesuit (Jr.)

Jesuit’s quarterback competition between Sullivan and Mani Vandenweghe was on full display this spring.

The 6-2, 220-pound Sullivan got the start in Jesuit’s spring scrimmage against Hahnville. He completed multiple downfield passes, including an opening drive touchdown to highly recruited wide receiver Ja’ir Burks.

“Sully Sullivan looked very sharp (in the spring),” Jesuit coach Ryan Manale said. “He’s learning how to be a winner and make all the throws.”

Sullivan holds Division I offers from San Jose State, North Texas and UTSA.

Caleb Williams Riverside (Fr.)

Crochet, Iota; Aubree Ducote, Bunkie; Ellie Gage, St. Louis; Azyria Garrison, Berwick; Liberty Greene, Kaplan; Gabriella Grogan, Patterson; Olivia Harmson, Buckeye; London Harvey, University; Anna Hebert,

The reigning Division IV select state champion Riverside graduated workhorse running back Jayden Obiekwe, and Williams appears to be the Rebels’ next primary ball carrier Williams saw playing time at running back as an eighth grader, including in the state championship game in place of an injured Obiekwe.

“Caleb has experience as a young kid,” Riverside coach Lee Roussel said. A multi-sport athlete with speed, Williams led Riverside’s backfield this spring. Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate. com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Jesuit quarterback Sully Sullivan, right, looks for an open receiver during a game against John Curtis on Oct. 24 at the Shrine on Airline.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Edna Karr wideout Kamal Martin celebrates a touchdown against Kennedy during a spring game on May 13 in Algiers.

ALL-METRO GOLF

GIRLS GOLFER OF THEYEAR

JADE NEVES SACRED HEART, SOPHOMORE

Jade Nevesled by sevenstrokes after the first dayofthe LHSAAstate golf championships —and still, it wasn’t enough

“It’snevergoodenough forJade,” Sacred Heartgolf coachJennyCaro said.“She was not happyafter Day1.Not happy at all.

Neveshad reason to smile the next day. Thesophomore wonthe Division II individual statetitle last month for the third time in four seasons, earning her The Times-Picayune’s All-Metro girls golfer of the year honors forthe secondstraight season.

“I playedbetter the secondday,” said Neves, whoshot a2-under71the second day, after her even-par 73 at Le Triomphe Golf Club in Broussard.

Neves, who finished 18 strokes betterthan runner-up AshleyBiehl of Ursuline,typically plays

only to the standard that she has set for herself.

“I just focus on myself, gettingthe shotsand doing what Ineed to do,”she said.

Aregular on the junior golf circuit that has her playing tournaments in various states across the South, Neveshas stamped herself among Louisiana’s best female golfers regardless of age.

Last year,she wonthe Louisiana Women’s Amateur Championship at age15while also holding the Louisiana Girls’ Junior Amateur title she wonthe previous year Neves, whowon her first LHSAA state title in seventh grade, has kept ahumble approach to her manygolfing achievements.

“She blushes when people makeafuss about stuff likethis,”saidAmy Neves, Jade’s mother.

Christopher Dabe

BOYS GOLFER OF THEYEAR

DUKE NITCHER JESUIT,JUNIOR

DukeNitcher approached No. 18 knowing that Jesuit’steam state championship hadbeen all but secured.And yet, when the golfer stood over a2-inch putt to makepar, he still felt pressure.

“Theonlytime Iwas nervous was when Iwas standingoverthat 2-inch putt,”Jesuit coach BryanBairnsfather said Nitcher told him. The putt dropped, ending thetournament and clinching Jesuit’ssix-strokevictory overSt. Thomas More.

Nitcher wasthe onlyNew Orleans-area golfer to shoot evenpar or better overbothroundsof the 36-holetournamentatThe WetlandsGolf CourseinLafayette last month. His even-par 72 in the first round and2-under 70 in the second earned himarunner-up medal and The Times-Picayune’sAll-Metro boys golfer of the year honor

Atwo-time state runner-up, Nitcher finished

twostrokesbehind thewinner as afreshman and placed third as asophomorebefore leadingJesuit to theteam title

“He always plays great at thebiggest moments,”Bairnsfather said.“Pressure doesn’t affect him. His game travels to every course that we play. People thinkhe’sall about power. He has an exceptional shortgame. Also abasketball player, Nitcher spent weeks preparingfor stateafter hiswinter season ended in March. Nowa risingsenior,hehopes to continue playing golf in college.

The championshipalso added to afriendly family rivalry.His younger sister,Alenna, helped Dominican win theDivisionI soccer title in February.

“Wealways jokedabout whowas goingtobe the firsttowin astate championship,”Nitcher said.

ChristopherDabe

BOYS COACHOFTHE YEAR BRYANBAIRNSFATHER JESUIT

The Blue Jays’ entirelineup of five golfers each scored in the70s overbothroundsofthe Division Istate tournament, earning them asixstrokewin overSt.Thomas More.

Jesuit wonstate for the firsttimesince 2017, following its districtand regional championships in thepreceding weeks.

Christopher Dabe

BOYS ALL-METROTEAM

PARKER

GIRLS COACHOFTHE YEAR

JENNYCARO SACRED HEART

The Cardinals wonthe state golf title for the second year in arow —and did it by finishing 37 strokes better than runner-up Newman. All three golfers scored lowenoughso that the team would have wonwith any combination of scorers.

GIRLS ALL-METRO TEAM

JADE NEVES

Sacred Heart, So

144atD-IIstate tourney

STEFFI

HEITZ

Mandeville,Sr.

161atD-I statetourney

ASHLEY

BIEHL

Ursuline,Jr.

162atD-IIstate tourney

ABBY

HUI

Newman,7th grader

163atD-IIstate tourney

“This is the most competitiveteamI’ve everhad at SacredHeart,”said JennyCaro, the Cardinals coach forthe past 20-plus years.“Wehave five very strong gofers. Every week islikea tournament forus.

Christopher Dabe

MADELINE RUDOLPH

Sacred Heart, Sr 166atDiv-IIstate tourney

EMERY

KANE

Sacred Heart, Fr 169atD-IIstate tourney

TAYLOR GALIANO Mandeville,Jr.

173atD-I statetourney

ABIGAIL WILSON MountCarmel, Jr

178inD-I statetourney

ANN SCHONBERG Newman,So. 179inD-IIstate tourney

BETH

BAUGH

St.Scholastica,Sr. 183atD-I statetourney

MARIAN JOUANDOT Dominican, Fr

183atD-I statetourney

Editor’snote: Selections based on results from LHSAA state tournament.

GREENE Mandeville, So. 142atD-I statetourney

DUKE NITCHER Jesuit, Jr 142atD-I statetourney

SAWYER

BERNARD Brother Martin, Jr 145atD-I statetourney

AUGUSTIN GROS Jesuit, Fr 146atD-I statetourney

BENNETT

LANASA St. Paul’s, Jr 146atD-I statetourney

BROOKS BLANCHARD Jesuit, So 147atD-I statetourney

WAYNE KABRICH Mandeville, So. 150atD-I statetourney

JUSTIN LOTZ Northshore, Jr. 150atD-I statetourney

PIERCE

WEINSTEIN CountryDay,Fr. 151atD-III statetourney

JOHN DISCON Jesuit, So 153atD-I statetourney

MATTHEW YEUNG Mandeville, Sr 153atD-I statetourney

WILLIAM BOASBERG Jesuit, Sr 153atD-I statetourney

BENJAMIN HENDRICKS Mandeville, Sr 153atD-I statetourney

BRADLEY WALL Mandeville, Jr 153atD-I statetourney

FULTON

PIGEON Holy Cross, Jr. 155atD-I statetourney

ELIJAH

DUFRENE

St. Paul’s, 8th grade 156atD-I statetourney

CULLEN LEDET CountryDay,So. 156atD-III statetourney

TIMOTHY

WOLFE

St. Paul’s, Sr 156atD-I statetourney

BRANDON FUSELIER Holy Cross, 8th grade 157atD-IIstate tourney

GAVIN McDERMOTT BrotherMartin, Jr 158 at D-I state tourney

PROVIDED PHOTO

Sacred Heartsophomore Jade Neveswon her third state golf championship in the past four seasons with adominant showing at in the Division II championship at Le Triomphe Golf Club in Broussard. Neves finished 18 strokes ahead of therunner-up.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Duke Nitcher shot even par or better over both roundsofthe LHSAA Division Istate golf championshipsinMay in helping Jesuit winthe state titlewithasix-strokevictoryoverSt. Thomas More. Nitcher finished as the individual runner-up.

ALL-METRO TENNIS

GIRLS PLAYER OF THEYEAR

on to win the state title.

BOYS PLAYER OF THEYEAR

St.Charles Catholic senior BrodyMatherne, whotook up the sportasaneighth grader, wasthe only NewOrleans area boys singles playertoreachastate final this season.

BRODYMATHERNE ST.CHARLES

CATHOLIC,SENIOR

CIARASERGI MANDEVILLE,SOPHOMORE

Ciara Sergi’spreparationwas unmatched during her sophomore season.

Ayear after reaching the Division I singles state title match and finishing as runner-up, the Mandeville HighSchool standout had redemption on her mind. She needed just twosets to getitand win astate title for the first time.

Sergi, whose season included asecond straight regionaltitle, was selectedasThe TimesPicayune’sAll-Metro girls playerofthe year “(Sergi) came back determined to do better (than last year),”Mandeville coach Sean Esker said.“She works incredibly hard all the time and is very steadyand consistent.

Sergi’s postseason runincluded winning five matchesinstraightsets.

“I do drills in my head to look toward what my next ball will be, and Ihaveaplanfor everysingle point,”she said.“There was some pressure inthe (state) final.I had areally nice feelinginmyheartafter winning.”

Esker credits Sergi’s positiveattitude for her success.

“Being apositive, upbeat person helps (Sergi) on the courtwhen facing challenges,”Esker said.

“She shows others howtocompete and is very gracious to her opponents.

GIRLS COACHOFTHE YEAR LOGANBUCHE NEWMAN

Under Buche, the Greenies wonthe Division III state title with twodoubles teams reaching the final and one singles playerreaching the semis.

GIRLS ALL-METRO TEAM

SINGLES

CIARASERGI

Mandeville,So.

Division Istate champion

MY-LINHHOLMES

Willow,Jr.

Division II statechampion

CAROLINE MELIUS

MountCarmel, Fr

Division Istate runner-up

MALLORYKYMES

BenFranklin, Sr Division II staterunner-up

ELIZABETHARAGON

Haynes,Jr. Division III staterunner-up

HANNAH LAWRENCE

Northshore, Fr Division Istate semifinalist

ANNA CLAIRE LEWIS

Fontainebleau, Fr

Division Istate semifinalist

Spencer Urquhart

The triumph continuedarun of success that includes six team titles in the past seven completedseasons —not counting the canceledCOVID-19 campaignin2020.

ADALIE GUTH Newman,8th grader Division III state semifinalist DOUBLES

FRANCESCASBARIAN,So. andMACYMONTGOMERY, So

Newman DivisionIII state champions

ELEONORE HOOPER,Fr. andLILLYAN POLLACK, Sr.

Newman Division IIIstate runner-up

EMMA HAWES,Sr. andMACKENZIE HERTZ, Sr

Dominican DivisionI state semifinalists

ELISESCAFIDEL, So andCHARLOTTE JENKINS, Jr Sacred Heart Division IIIstate semifinalists

BrodyMatherne wanted asecond sportto playwhen he wasn’t on thebasketball court. Five years later,the recent St Charles Catholic graduate ended hishigh school tenniscareer as aone-time state champion after reachingthe state final twice. Matherne wasthe onlyNew Orleans area singles tennisplayertoreach astate final this season, making himThe Times-Picayune’sAllMetro boys tennis playerofthe year

Matherne took up tennis duringhis eighthgradeyear after previously giving swimming atry.When swimmingdidn’t click, he chose between golf and tennis—settlingontennis when his father told him he had playedsome when he was younger andcouldteach him more about that sport.

He provedtobea fast learner

Matherne reached theDivisionIII state semifinalsasa sophomoreand wonthe state championshipasa junior.Hereached thestate final asecond timebut gotupended in aclose match this season.

“It’s kind of unseen, howquicklyI went from where Iwas to where Igot to go,” Matherne said.“It kind of surprised me my junior year.” Matherne gave up basketball when he was asophomoresohecouldput morefocus on tennis —leading to two-hour trainingsessions withlocal coaches.

“I feel likewith tennis, the movement in tennis is so much different than what people think, Matherne said.“Coming from basketball, Iwas very scrappy,ithelped with tennis— gettingto theballs and moving around on my feet.”

Christopher Dabe

BOYS COACHOFTHE YEAR

LEEMACALESTER BROTHER MARTIN

UnderMacAlester, theCrusaders wonthe Division Istate teamtitle with three doubles teams reaching thestate semifinals and two singlesplayers reaching thequarterfinals —giving them asizable victorymargin over

BOYS ALL-METROTEAM

SINGLES

BRODYMATHERNE

St. Charles, Sr

Division III staterunner-up

ARJUNWALVEKAR

Newman, Jr

Division III statesemifinalist

MAXLAFORGE

St. Martin’s, So.

Division IV statesemifinalist

REED MACALESTER

Brother Martin, Jr

Division Istate quarterfinalist

JAMESGRAHAM

Northshore,Jr.

Division Istate quarterfinalist

LUCASMONTERO

Mandeville, Jr

Division Istate quarterfinalist

IBRAHIMIBRAHIM

Brother Martin, Fr

Division Istate quarterfinalist

runners-upSt. Paul’sand Catholic-Baton Rouge. Brother Martin has wonthe teamtitle two times in thepast three seasons —all with MacAlester as coach.

Christopher Dabe

SCOTTBUI

Hahnville, Sr Division Iregionalchampion

DOUBLES

JEFFREYROTH, Sr.

andWILLIAM CATHER,Sr.

St. Paul’s Division Istate champion

DILLAN LAFRANCE,Sr. andSEMAJ ROUEGE,So.

BrotherMartin

Division Istate runner-up

PRATEEKADHIKARI, So andPETER SIMEONOV,Jr.

BenFrankin

Division II staterunner-up

GRANTBREWER, Jr. andANTHONY ROSSI, So.

BrotherMartin Division Istate semifinalist

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Mandeville sophomore Ciara Sergicompetesinthe Division IRegion IV singles final on April 21 at City Park. Sergi wonthe regional title and went

PROVIDED PHOTO

LIVING

In works such as ‘Dog Day,’ Gordyemployedoverlapping patterns to produce almost camouflageeffects.

In largepaintingssuchas‘To the North,’Gordyproduced apeculiar tension based on the utter stillness and meticulousness of hisstyle

Gordy’slate works had an intense emotional tone that can be seen as areactionto the AIDS epidemic that would cost the artist his life.

By

Gordy’spainting ‘Rimbaud’sDream,seen in detail,’combines adizzying collection of complicated patterns, with astrangely spare composition.

BBYDOUG MacCASH | Staff writer

ack in the 1980s, Bob Gordy wasa star of the NewOrleans art scene, right up there with Ida Kohlmeyer,John Scott, GeorgeDureau and the rest of the paint-spattered pantheon. Butatthe height of his creativepowers, he was an early victim of the AIDS epidemic and died in 1986. Since then, Gordyseems to have disappeared from the Crescent City’scollective consciousness, even in art circles.

BobGordy wasone of NewOrleans’moststylish painters of alltime. Nowmostlyforgotten,NOMAshowseeks to remedy that ä See GORDY, page 8D

‘ROBERT GORDY: OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM’ Through Oct.11 l NewOrleans Museum of Art, OneCollins Diboll Circle in City Park l The museum is openmost days from 10 a.m. to 5p.m., with laterhours on Wednesdays from noon to 7p.m. l Adult admission is $23 or $18 forLouisiana residents

But anew exhibit titled “Robert Gordy: Outsidethe Mainstream,” at the NewOrleansMuseum of Artismeanttofind thelostmastera fresh audience. It’sashow that will bathe an oldergeneration in nostalgia, andmay turn younger art lovers onto one of New Orleans’ unique painters. Practically every artist eventually fades, of course. After 40 years, it may be only natural that Gordy’s work isn’twell-known. But there’smore to it than just the passing of time. Gordy didn’texactly fit into the aesthetic flow in the 1980s, andhis work certainly doesn’tfitnow

La.walkers of Camino de Santiago sharestories of journey

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

At 29, Heidi Nowakowski had been walking for four days across Spain with her brother,Josh, 25, and her friend Rowan Knight from Scotland. As happens with siblings, the big sister fussed at herlittle brother for oversleeping. They argued. He got ready. She was not. He hit the road without her and her friend —and he wasn’t at their preplanned meeting spot that night

“The powerful thing about the Camino is you don’thaveto have apurpose when you put your first step on theCamino, because theCamino is going to tell you why youare there.”

MARTEE FRy, a76-year-old pilgrim who has been on the Camino three times

When Nowakowski andKnight arrived at the Cathedral of SantiagodeCompostela the next day at noon, herbrother was there wait-

ing for themwithwater in hand.

“Then we hadlunchand churros and hot chocolate.Itjust made the arrival all the more sweet,” she said. “My brother and Iare very close. So we fight alot, but we always make up.” Thepilgrimswere threeof 530,919 who walked the Camino de Santiago,earning aCompostela Pilgrim Certificatein2025. Twenty years ago that number was 93,923, evidence of the increase in popularityofthe journey.

Josh and Heidi Nowakowski pose with Rowan Knight, center,in front of the zero kilometer marker in Santiagoafter theyhad arrived.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

RobertGordy, seen here in 1978, produced paintingsthat didn’tseem to fithis era.

STAFF PHOTO

DOUG MacCASH

The summer slump is notoriously difficult for New Orleans restaurants. What deserves more attention, however, is thepleasure of dining out in New Orleans in the summertime.

DININGSCENE

checking out the food specials that manyrun alongside drink deals. It’s all about small plates, lighter final tabs and spreading around the support while having different experiences around town.

Like restaurants, which must have aplan to navigate the summer,ithelps for diners to makea plan and perhaps adjust routines to get the most from the season New Orleans summer is atime for the locals. The cityisours again Going around to restaurants, seeing more familiar faces in less crowded dining rooms, it can feel like being on campus during semester break

It’seasier to get tables at even the most in-demand spots. Just as reservation books are looser,often our own social calendars are too.

It’sagood time to get together with people you’ve promised to catch up with but kept missing through the holidays and festival season.

What we get from local restaurantsisdifferent in summer,too. If the business end is astruggle, many chefs still call this theirfavorite season for cookingbecause of the quality of local produce and seafood they get Deals abound, from citywide campaigns to creativespecials, extended happy hoursand other individual inducements to dine out (look for more on theseasI explore anew through the season).

Tough, gettingtougher

First though, thereisnosugarcoating just how tough the summer lull can be on restaurants. It can be fatal for restaurants that don’tmanage the downturn beforethe upswing arrives (a moving target sometime in fall, hopefully before the Saintsbye week).

Forstaff, especially tippedemployees,it’sthe lean timetoo, no matter what size companyisover their restaurant. If your favorite restaurant is part of ahospitality group, don’tassume they’re just skating through. Veterans of the business save

moneyinthe good times,knowingsummer iscoming. Butthat balancing acthas gotten harder to maintain.Costs are rising across the industry and local issues twist theknife, like the sky-high price of Louisiana’s insurance crisis

That’swhy this is thetime when restaurants need to seetheir best customers: the returning regulars, the people who form personal relationships with their favorite restaurants and bars andthe people in them (andtheir favorite coffee shops, and wine shops,and brewery taprooms;the list could go on)

Dining with intent

There are waystodine out with intent andmake abigger positive impact that don’tbegin and end with simply spending more money than usual (after all, the higher costs of livingare felt all over).

Consider clock management. The weekend 7p.m. table still remains the most popular at most restaurants. Go instead on aweeknight or an off-peak hour, andyou’re helpingrestaurants doubleortriplethe turns on those tables.

Iloveanearly dinner reservation.It’sanexcusetocut outa little sooner,noneofthe specials are sold out, and watching arestaurant come to life around the

table has its own pleasure. Conversely,alater seating, after sunset,often means outdoor dining becomes appealing again, even in summer,when courtyards and patios are at their mostlush.

Sometimes Istart with ahappy hour at onerestaurant and make it aprogressive dinner of two stops. Last summer,I spent many aproductive late afternoon happy hour hopping at restaurants,

Being there is key.Itmight be tempting to stay in and order takeout after along summer day But those ubiquitous third-party delivery services can tack on hefty fees. When you go to the restaurant, your support makes moreimpact, and you’ll save money too.

Dining in keeps morestaff working and keeps the money that flowsthrough restaurants going to the network of suppliers and vendors, from linen service to wine purveyors. It’s awhole ecosystem that feels the impact of these simple decisions. Go with theslow Slow isn’talways adirty word in summertime. Like the preseason forasports team,many restaurants use the downtimeto up their game, train staff, spruce up and stretch their range. With special events and collaborations with other chefs and brands, they shake up their own routines to lure people out.

Sometimes these are ticketed events that can give you alot for your dining dollar in adifferent way,and makeadifference for the restaurants hosting them.One example is the series of upcoming wine dinners around the New Orleans Wine &Food Experience from Wednesday through Saturday,which this year is bringing in somemajor wine producers for luxe dinners. Start looking ahead. Restaurant Week returns this week with special set-price menus forlunch, brunch and dinner at awide range of places, from the Creole grand dames to modern hot spots. It can add aburst of business to the early summer,the counterpart to the monthlong Coolinary campaign that comes in August.

Bottom line: Any NewOrleans restaurant outing now means morethan ameal.

Email IanMcNulty at imcnulty@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Sidecar Patio &Oyster Bar in downtown NewOrleans is builtaround a lush outdoor dining room

STAFFPHOTO By IAN McNULTy

Emoryand Carroll Zimmerman, Helen and Timyoung

n Wetland Wonders!

The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Garden StudyClub of New Orleans invited constituencies to the 2026 Art in Bloom. Titled“Marsh Madness,” it credited First HorizonBank as the Presenting Sponsor,and, in a subsequent category,the Championship Swamp Circle, sponsors PeggyFloyd, Katherine and Tony Gelderman, and the Eugenie and Joseph JonesFamily Foundation.Floraphiles packed the City Parklocated museum from the Wednesday evening patron and preview party through the concluding Sunday. Duringthat period, creative and thematic displays were on viewtothe public for theoohs andaahs of approbation. Additional attractions garneredattention.

Nell Nolan SOCIETY

Vernal Vibes

n Stuck on You

Patrons assembledat6p.m.for first views, whilethe general shoulder-rubbing held forth an hour later and lasted until 9p.m. The entertainmentwas by the CharlieKohlmeyer Trio. Legions made the lively scene that hailed Art in Bloom Co-chairs Carroll GeldermanZimmer and Helen Read Young,NOMA Volunteer Committee Chair JenniferRowland, GSCNO president Karen Gundlach,and Susan M.Taylor, The Montine McDaniel Freeman Director New Orleans Museum of Art. TodSmith presides over NOMA’s board. Recognized, as well, were the 37 members of theArt in Bloom Committee, whose listing started alphabetically with Susan Bright and endedwith Elizabeth Wooten Cuisineand libations came from almost twodozen sources Roomswithbloomscounted as exhibitorcategories Creative Designs, Exterior Designs, Garden Clubs, Ikebana, Movers &Shakers, Professional Florists, Tablescapes, Young Artists, and Special Thanks. Further excitementwas generatedbythe silent auction presentedbyNew Orleans Auction that featureda plethora ofchoicebiddableitems Pippin Frisbie-Calder wasthe featuredartist,and hermixed mediapainting, “Roseate and Roseau,”graced theevent and, in amuch smaller form, thecover of theparty’sprogram in which she stated her artistic purpose.“Itry to engage the viewerwith the beauty of the swamp in ordertotell visual stories of climate change, land loss and stewardship….” she wrote.

The who’swho within the party packencompassed awide range, manyofwhom were up and Art in Bloom-at ‘em the next morning forthe hour andahalf lecture in the museum’s Lapis Center for the Arts. It was presentedby T. J. McGrath,a New Jersey-based floral designer and educator,who, after transitioning from acorporate career in 2015, founded T. J. McGrathDesign LLCsix years later.His work spansintimate arrangements to large-scale installations.

Another type of designbannered “Luncheon and FashionShow” was next on the agenda that day in thenearby Pavilion of theTwo Sisters. Thepresenters were SOSUSU boutique (with effusive gratitude to owner Susu Stall,anArt in Bloom sponsor along with husband Andrew), City Park Conservancy and Ralph Brennan Catering&Events.Asfor the sartorial salute, the nameto know —with modes to note –was that of featured designer Edeline Lee, who is now based in London. She grew up in Vancouver, Canada.All Edeline Lee pieces are made by hand in England. Flowers, food, friendshipsand fashions were among the thrills of the 2026 Art in Bloom that paid tribute to plant life andwetlandwonders. Provided, as well, were delightful days of looking, learning and vernal levity

n League laurels

Each year the Junior LeagueofNew Orleans honors asignificant sustaining member at the Mint Julep Party. Thanked for 2026 was Sally Lapeyre,who openedher art-filled residencefor the socializing that included the 2025-2026 president Michelle ClarkePayne and ShelbyWynne, the presidentelect at the time. The honoree was Sally Suthon,the 2026 Sustainer of the Year,aJLNO memberfor 40-plus years and president of the board of directors from 1998-1999. Her volunteer work has included thedevelopment and implementation of JLNO’s Teen Courtprogram, and boardmembership on Covenant House. She has professed her love forNew Orleans, “potholes and all,” and claims there is no better way to help than to volunteer.

Junior League of New Orleans Sustainer of the year

Sally Suthon

Ahost of Presley songs cametomind, and sound, when St. Martin’s Episcopal School gallivanted under the marquee “Viva St. Martin’s.” Las Vegas was the thematic destination and Dr Robin Davis Beducian, Jordan BocagePayton and Amber Kailas the chairing trio. The Gayle and TomBensonCharitable Foundation wasthe Presenting Sponsor The evening kicked off with apatron party in theschool’sLittle Gym, where guests strolled theVegas Strip, said “I do” in aplayful wedding chapel, and soaked in a classic Rat Pack vibe. Then it was on to the bulk of the bash, where casino tables lured legions with games of craps, poker,roulette, blackjack, andslots. Raffles also drew Lady Luck hopefuls. All this was in adecorative atmosphere of Las Vegas glitz and glitter,which included the above wedding venue, alife-sized Little White Chapel, complete with an Elvis impersonator and showgirls. Scores flocked to thephotobooth forsouvenirs.

Auction action also vied forattention, thanks to almost 300 silent andlive items, including art by Michalopoulos Gallery,Aucoin Hart jewelry and an exclusive stay at the new Fairmont NewOrleans hotel. To cap the choices, there waseven atrip to Las Vegas. Of course, food and drink played arole with Mikimoto, AcmeOyster House, Columns, Sandro’sand more. Epoch Estate Wines generously donated several cases of red, white and rose.

Within the Elvis entourage werethe Right Rev Shannonand Jimmy Duckworth, head of school WhitneyDrennan with spouse George, G. Bruce Parkerson, JenniferAdams, Claire and James Buckley,Robbie and AllisonDeViney, and, joining the co-chairs, John Elliott with Robin, Ben Payton with Jordan, and Naveen Kailas with Amber.Also, Sarah and WesBordelon,Kate McCallClarke, Ryan and Meri Monsour,Arkalas and Paula Robinson, and Brandonand Jessica Raines. When it wastimetodance, DJ Donovan Calfee of Calfee Productionsspun the tunes.

“People loved the casino games, and all the Vegas fun,” said aparty principal after the festive fact, finishing with, “They had awonderful time.” With anod to Elvis, no one was lonesome that night.

PHOTOSKENNy MARTINEZ

Taylor Eichenwald,Pippin Frisble-Calder

GeorgeDrennan, Wesand Sarah Bordelon

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Elvis impersonator RandyBonneval, Amber Kailas, Jordan Bocage Payton and Robin Davis Beducian

ArkalasRobinson, Jamie and Bret Shapot

CharlotteMeade, Tony and Katherine Gelderman

TodSmith,Susan Taylor,TonyAdams

TRAVEL

2new speciesoffireflies turn up at LSU

Attorney thinksmore maybehiding in her Mississippiwoods

BY JANRISHER Staff writer

When Amanda ButlerSchley, aNew Orleans attorney,emailed about Magee’sCreek Retreat in Walthall County,just across the Mississippi/Louisianastatelineoff Interstate55, she mentionedthe fireflies.

She said she and her husbandhave been working on the cabin for ayear and again mentionedfireflies.

The more we communicated,the moreIcouldtellthatfireflies were not something Schley thought about on occasion —she was afirefly evangelist. Yes, she has built acabin that she rents, but it’sthe fireflies that really light her up.

Turns out, there’sasmall window to see fireflies in and around south Louisiana, and we’re closing in on the use-by date, with fireflies being in the area from mid-May to midJune.

So, Iheaded out to see the fireflies —something Ispent muchofthe summers of my childhood doing. My husband and our friend joined me, one who had never seen afirefly We were on amission.

Once at the cabin, Schley took me on atour and explained that she and her husband are workingtomake their 37 acres ahaven for fireflies. They’vealsospent much of the past year turning the site into the kind of spot that looks like it has already been photographed fora magazine. The two-bedroom cabin is thoughtfully outfitted, with an outdoor fire pit overlooking the creek and sandbars nearby for exploring. Out back, there’safire pitnear the waterwith an oldVWvan pressed into service as astorage shed, lanterns and s’mores supplies.

Schley framed the firefly hunt as achoose-your-own-adventure. Level 1, sit on the porch. Level 2, sit by the fire pit. Level 10, walk atrail deeper into the woods in the dark of night. The deeper in, the better the show Rarelyhave Imet someone so excited about something as Schley is about fireflies. She had herfacts ready.Firefliesthrive in hardwood forests with deep leaf litter. In south Louisiana and south Mississippi, they appear from Mother’s Day through mid-June. They like damp They do not like rain.

So, at 8p.m. on aWednesday the exact hour the fireflies were supposed to put on their best show —the rain began. The screened-in porch at Magee’sCreek Retreat, it should be said, was afine place to be rained on.

We sat. We watched water sheetoff the roof. We talked aboutour grandparents It was the kind of night each of us will likely remember for yearsto come —easyconversation, comfy seats and rain coming down.

By 10:30 p.m., we were ready for bed. And then, the rain stopped.

WHERE TO FIND FIREFLIES

Entomologist Christine Gambino recommends thesespots,all with documented fireflysightings. The species’activewindow in southLouisiana is roughly Mother’sDay through mid-June, between dusk and 10:30 p.m Damp evenings without active rainare ideal.

Within aday’s drive

n St.Francisville/Tunica Hills Wildlife Refuge —La. 66, St. Francisville n Bogue Chitto State Park, 17049 StatePark Blvd., Franklinton,features cypresstupelo swamps andupland and bottomland hardwood forests in WashingtonParish.

n Tammany Trace —Covington Trailhead, 419 N. NewHampshire St ,Covington n Abita SpringsTrailhead, 22049 Main St.,Abita Springs, features a31-mile rail-to-trail corridorthrough five northshore communities.

n Atelier de la Nature,1050 Andrew Gautreaux Road, Arnaudville, features a25-acre naturereserve and STEAM educationcenterinCajun country It’sfreetovisit and open daily n BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center,10503 N. OakHills Parkway, features hardwoodforest, boardwalks and documented fireflysightings on iNaturalist.

n LSUAgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden, 4560 Essen Lane,where Gambino is workingtodesignate Burden as Louisiana’s first formal firefly sanctuary n BREC’s Comite River ConservationArea, 8900 Hooper Road, features more than 100 wooded acres alongthe Comite Riverand CypressBayou.

Fartherafield Kisatchie National Forest, Kisatchie Ranger District, 229 DogwoodPark Road, Provencal, is Louisiana’sonly national forest withmorethan 604,000 acres across sevenparishes.

Iwas already standing when Isaw asingle yellowblinkinthe darkhigh in the trees past the screen.

Igasped. With that,and against my friend’s better judgment, off we wentto Level 10.

My husband went to bed.

In doing so, he missed asmall but real firefly show.A dozen or so were

blinkinginthe trees, including one newlyemerging adultworkingits way through the leaves. Christine Gambino, an entomologist at the LSU AgCenter and one of thefew people in Louisianadoing serious firefly work,shedmore light on the subject.Gambino said fireflies are an indicator species of a healthy environment.

“Leaf litter” is critical to thelife cycle of fireflies.

Leaving leaves on theground, undisturbed and for along time, is theonly way for fireflies to grow to adulthood, which takes the larvae two or three years in the leaves hunting snails and slugs, before they emerge as the briefly glowing adults we recognize.

The adultsonly live and shine their lights as amating call for four to five weeks.

Schleyisconvinced synchronous fireflies —those thatflash in unison, the ones people enter alottery to see in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee —could be in her woods, too. Gambino says Schleymay be right.

The most famous synchronous species, Photinus carolinus, lives only in the southern Appalachians. The chance to see them draws roughly 20,000 lottery applications forfewer than athousand parking passes each year

Butthereisasecondsynchronous species, Photuris frontalis, nick-

named the Snappy Sync, which is found in central Mississippi. Gambino said Lynn Faust, an independent fireflyresearcher in Knoxville and one of the country’s foremost authoritiesonthe insect, suspectsLouisiana mayhaveits own Snappy Sync —avariant potentiallydistinctfrompopulations farther north andeast.

Nobody yetknows And that’swhere youcome in. Gambino and her team are looking for firefly samples.

“There is zero baseline knowledge aboutthe types of firefliesthat we have here,” she said. Her team recently submitted aseed grant to begin DNA sequencing everyfirefly people send to the LSU Arthropod Museum.

Until that workisdone, identificationcomes down to comparing flash patterns and, when it really counts, examining thegenitalia under amicroscope.

Remarkably,LSU scientists have identified two new firefly species within the past few months, found by ataxonomist working through specimens alreadyonthe shelves. More than 2,000 firefly species are knownworldwide. In the United States, more than 150 species are known —but that number keeps climbing because no one had looked closely enough until now. Gambino says the reasons there are fewer firefliesthanthere once were turn outtobethe obvious ones, in the obvious order.Pesticides kill thelarvae and the soft-bodied things they eat. Mowing andraking strip the leaf litter wherethe babies live. Urban sprawl removes the forest edge. LED streetlights drown out the females’ answering flashes, and the males never find them So, Schley is right: apesticidefree cabin on acreek bank near the Mississippi/Louisiana line,with leaf litter left alone, is exactlywhat fireflies need. The good news is that fireflies can be found even closer to home with more spots in Louisiana thanmost peoplerealize.

Afterall Schley’swarnings about thenarrow fireflyseason,I left thinking less about what Isaw than whatwestill don’tknow.

There may be species blinking away in Louisiana woodsthatscientistshaven’t fully identified yet. And that’senough to makeaperson look morecarefully the next timeatiny light appears in thetrees.

To submit a fireflyfor ID

Gambino saidthe LSU AgCenter accepts firefly specimens for identification through its Insect Identification service.She recommends sending three to fivesamples. Submission Checklist

n Allspecimensare dead.

n Specimens are on tape or in a tightly sealed container

n Specimenshave been killedand preserved by freezing or in alcohol or vinegar.

n There are no bodily fluids or tissues.

n Photos have arule or reference item to determine size.

n The includedaddress labelis taped to thebox.

n Youincludeyour contact informationwithin thebox

n Youinclude adescription of where specimenswere collected Please adhere this mailing label to insect sample submission: Department of Entomology Attn:Small Insect Specimen ID 404 Life Sciences Building Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 For moreinformation: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/departments/entomology/id

To stay wherethisstory began Magee’sCreek Retreat is aprivate, two-bedroom cabin on 37 acres in Walthall County, Mississippi, between McComb andTylertown. For more information: mageescreekretreat.com

Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Magee’sCreek in Walthall County,Mississippi, borders woodsripe for fireflies.

Fireflies are actually beetles that light up using achemical reaction.

ART&CULTURE

What musiccamebeforeN.O.jazz?

Anew exhibit explores early Louisiana tunes

As alongtime student of African American music history,John Davis came to New Orleans in search of the sound that came before jazz. He had virtually no knowledge of south Louisiana other than of composer and pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk.

“I remember going to the Hogan Jazz Archive, and this guy Lynn Abbott —who’savery well-known guy in the world of jazz scholarship and the early history of Black American music —comes out and he said, ‘So what do you want to see?’ And Isaid, ‘Well, how about box No. 1? Let’sstart there.’” After his second choice was box No. 2, Abbott started to get the picture.

“I could see the consternation on his face because he knew Iwas going to want to see everything, probably.”

Three decades later after examining more than 30,000 pieces of music archived at the now-Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz, as well as the New Orleans Jazz Museum, The Historic New Orleans Collection and other repositories —the exhibition “The First Piano Professors and Lost Music of Early New Orleans” is now on view at the jazz museum. Pre-jazz compositions

New Orleans music of the 19th century was performed in opera houses, concert halls, churches, clubhouses of mutual aid societies and in private homes. Some of its creators were émigrés from Europe, while some were Louisianaborn Creoles. They combined European influences with pieces informed by African, Afro-Caribbean and Latin cultures.

Sheet music was the delivery medium for popular music, most often performed on pianos in private homes.Canal Street-based music publishers brought the music to market. Built of first-edition sheet music unearthedbyDavis, “The First Piano Professors” resurrectspre-jazz compositions that have been seldom heard since their creation.

“The music has been kind of out there in plain sight,” said David Kunian,jazz museum music curator and co-curator of the exhibit

“Because the other forms of music in New Orleans overwhelm everythingelse, maybe people haven’tquite looked to this yet.”

There’salongstanding prejudice against American classical music compared to European pieces, he pointed out

“I also think that thefact that some of the composers were Black probably figuredinto that in terms of the way people thinkabout it,” Kunian said. Before recorded sound Throughtwo largerooms, theexhibit walksvisitors through aworld before recorded sound andinto music drawn from cultural influences that infused New Orleansmusicinthe 20th century

Through advertisements, photos andillustrations, the first room introduces the musiciansand venues where they performed.In thesecondroom, publishers, engravers and lithographers who illustrated the covers of thesheet music are introduced

The printed music is arrayed in cases around the outsideofthe room, organizedbytopic (“Creoles of Culture,” “Women and Love,” “Mardi Gras,” “Afro-

MUSEUM CALENDAR

n The exhibition “The Trail They Blazed,” an overviewofthe localCivil Rights movement of the mid-20th century, closes todayatthe Historic NewOrleansCollection.Atraveling versionofthe exhibit will continuetoroam. More: hnoc.org

n A6 p.m.Wednesday, Gallier Gathering at 1126 RoyalSt. will feature Ned Randolph discussing his2024 book “Muddy Thinking in the Mississippi RiverDelta: ACall for Reclamation.” More: hgghh.org

n The Museum of the SouthernJewish Experience will host the presentation “Mickey Gil, the Jewish Queen of GayMardi Gras” at 6p.m.Thursday.The event will takeplace in

Caribbean and Voodoo Culture,” “The Confederacy”).

Super-sized versions of the sheet music coversare pro-

person and online. More: msje.org

n Historian Stephen Batemanwill explore the historical, cultural and technological significance of knives in Louisiana at 6:30 p.m.Thursdayatthe Jackson Barracks MilitaryMuseum. More: geauxguardmuseums. com.

n The WhitneyPlantation will host its fourth annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival,featuring musicalperformances, panel discussions and educational storytelling,from9:30 a.m. to 4p.m.Saturday.The event is free with registration. More: whitneyplantation.org.

n Friends of the Cabildo will presentthe seminar “Researching Your NewOrleans Property,” hosted by RobertJ.Cangelosi, at 10 a.m. June 20. More: friendsofthecabildo.org.

jected, which is credited to the principals of 2x4 Design, whom Davis met by chance in Rome. They worked with

the museum’scuratorial and archival teamstocomplete the exhibit’sstellar look.

Performed by Davis,

piano pieces featured on the walls playinthe gallery as a musical soundtrack, which can be comfortably enjoyed in aseating area. “I had to look through all that music to find 25 or so pieces that Ithought were really high-level stuff, or something that Ithought was thematically interesting to begin with, and maybe bore some connection to the music that camelater in New Orleans —20thcentury jazz and rhythm and blues,” Davis said. “But it also had to be good music, right?”

Dave Walkerfocuses on behindthe-scenes coverage of theregion’s many museums here and at themuseumgoer.com.

PHOTO By DAVEWALKER

Covers ofsheet music by 19th centuryNew Orleans composers are projected on the walls of the exhibit ‘The First Piano Professors and Lost MusicofEarly NewOrleans’ at the NewOrleans Jazz Museum.

Dave Walker

7summerbookrecommendationsfrom ourstaff dations fro

Staff report

Summer is for reading. Ask anyone in anewsroom and they’ll prove it. When asked for recommendations, our staff came back with alist that spanssevenvolume Danish time-loopnovels, Che Guevara’sroad memoir,ancient Mesopotamian history told with wit, aPulitzer winner and a debut from aSlidell playwright One book made acolleaguecry Another prompted arereadingof everything by the same author These are not assigned readsor trend pieces —they’re the books people actually reached forwhen given afew hours and achoice Hereare highlights of what the newspaper staff is reading this summer:

Alex Lubben says he will be reading the “On the Calculation of Volume” books, written by Solvej Balle. There are seven of them, all about asingle day,orabout the repetition of asingle day thousands of times over.The protagonist, Tara Selter,finds herself stuck in atime loop, Groundhog Day-style, living Nov.18again and again.

Lubben read the first book in one sitting He’salso reading “The Gulf: The MakingofanAmerican Sea” by Jack E. Davis. Lubben says the panoramic portrait of the ancient Gulf, overabundant with fish and birds before Europeans got here, will stick with him.

And he plans to read more Percival Everett this summer,but “Telephone” is Lubben’s favoriteof theauthor who wrote “James,” which won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Joanna Brown says she just read “They Can’tKill Us Until They Kill Us,” a2017 book of essays by culture and music writer Hanif Abdurraqib. This book is apoignant look at contemporary America throughthe lens of awriter who grew up as aBlack, Muslim, Midwestern kid in the early 2000s,

heavily immersed in the emopunk scene of that era.

“If you’re of acertain age and remember the bands that paved your way through high school (Fall Out Bo anyone?), th book might make you cr Brown says will definitel expand the wy you think about music, community, identityand being from Ohio.”

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

The New Orleans-based investigative journalist and historian

Robert W. Fiesler is quickly building adynamic and laureledcareer uncovering forgotten storiesof ordinary individuals confronted —one might say trapped —byextraordinary circumstances.

His first book, 2018’s“Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the RiseofGay Liberation,” chronicled the 1973 French Quarter arson attackthat, despite claiming the lives of 49 individuals, thenation’s deadliest attack on agay bar for four-plus decades, was largely ignoredin NewOrleans.

Fiesler’slatest book,“American Scare: Florida’sHidden Cold WaronBlack and Queer Lives,” exposes achilling episodein the Sunshine State’shistory, the closed-door inquisition of ordinary Americans by apower-mad, gerrymandered state senator.Composed like aprocedural thriller, it has also earned severalhonors, including being named aKirkus Best Book of 2025.

He completed his next project, a documentary film he co-directed titled “By George, ALife,” while pursuing aPh.D. from Tulane’s History Department. The story of the Rev.George St. Angelo,a civil rights activist from Fiesler’s hometown of Napierville,Illinois, is currently competing on the festival circuit.

This interview was edited for length and clarity

AidanMcCahill said he recommends “The Motorcycle Diaries,” Ernesto CheGuevara’stravelogue as a23-year-old medical student driving arickety motorcycle up the western side of South America,accompaniedbyhis doctor friend, Alberto Granado.

Throughout the short and easy read, Guevara describes poverty exploitation andthe treatment

of lepers in 1950s Latin America, lightening the memoir with some hilarious descriptions of his own debauchery and shamelessness.

Regardless of one’sfeeling toward Guevara or the Cuban Revolution, McCahill notes that it’san interesting window into theroots of his revolutionary fervor and showcases an impressive literary ability and eye for detail for a 23-year-old.

Faimon Roberts is reading “Between TwoRivers” by Oxford scholar

NewOrleans-based investigative journalist and historian RobertW Fiesler

How did you find the storythat became “American Scare”? It startedwith aquestion many people have probably asked themselves:“What’swith Florida? How could it be home to such atoxic formofpolitics that, it seemed to me,onceadecade bred akind of sociopolitical panic that would then sweep acrossthe country in ahysteria?

In 2019,I wenttothis exhibit at the History of Miami Museum called“Queer Miami.”One corner of theexhibit was devoted to this largely forgottenMcCarthy-era purge runbythis gerrymandered, segregationiststate senator namedCharlie Johns. It focused on an era of the ’50s and ’60s where white supremacy was the shared oppositiontoboth the na-

scent,veryhidden queer community of Florida and also thevery public Black civil rightsmovement in Florida.

Iwas like, Ineed to dive in.

I’m all about lost or forgotten stories. My mantra is this line writtenbythe former U.S. poet laureate LouiseGlück: “Whatever returns from oblivion returns to find avoice.” I’m all about those unapproved stories thathave been suppressed, censored, buried, that don’tdie but return withavengeance.

Iwant to ask about your first book,“Tinderbox.”I’m interested in what happened after its publication, its aftereffects.

The profile of theUpStairs Lounge has become so elevated thatit’snow regardedwithin queer Southern history and queer American historyasprobably the

Moudhy al-Rashid, whowrites thebook about ancient history in alight tone with easy readability

“The book takes on the massive complexity of 3,000 years of Mesopotamian history and distills it into digestible, even whimsical, sections,” Roberts said. “In that, she turns what can be amusty topic into afresh, enjoyable trip through history.”

He also recommends “Eros the Bittersweet” by Anne Carson, aclassic examination of Greek poetry

that’spart essay,part literary criticism, part philosophy andpart love song. Though Roberts doesn’tusually read classical Greek, he saysthe book madehim think about things in ways henever did before: “There are parts to ove,parts to dislike and parts thatyou won’tget unless youread classical Greek, which Idon’t. And regardless of howone feels about the book as awhole, there are some sentencesthat are almost the Platonic ideal of the form.” AndrewCanulette recommends “Travis Moon and theGhost Train” by Donald G. Redman, who is aSlidell resident. In his first book, the award-winning playwright and journalist blurs grief and wonder with reality and fantasy

Author seeksto give voicetomarginalized, forgotten

mostimportant event in the queer South. It was this emergency moment thatrevealed such nascent ugliness and bigotry,that it challenged the queer community in Southern societies, but also many Louisianans, to evolve their notions about homosexual citizens and to reveal the consequences of demonizing people and criminalizing them.

In 2022, JP Morrell invited me to help (the New Orleans City Council) draft aresolution to recognizethe atrocity of the Up Stairs Lounge, to apologize, and then to name all of the victims. From there,the knowledge of the Up Stairs Lounge has only expanded.

Youhavepublished several recent articles detailing the overlooked lives of queer men with local roots: Reggie Adams, theonly knownBlack victim of theUpStairsLounge fire, and BayouLafourche activist Peter DeLancey.What is it about theselostorforgotten stories?

Iwas acloseted gay kid in a Chicago suburb where gay people supposedly did not exist. Iwas a child and then an adolescent who was not heard. As an adult, I’ve devoted myself to ensure that marginalized people are heard in some way,especially individuals in the past who were ignored. History can offer some sort of redemption to validate the fact that their voices were of value despite what others said about those individuals within their lifetimes.

The voices of the marginal within any society oftentimes can tell us the most about whatthat societywas at agiven point, agiven place in time.Ifyou really want

to know what asociety was, you need to find individuals who were un-famous —individuals who attempted to be successful but were denied.

Your bio states that you live withyour husband on “the gayest street in New Orleans.” What makesitsogay?

I’m not going to name the street, because Iwant it to be like Brigadoon. It exists in aplace in the imagination, but Iwant you to know it’sreal. If you walk down my street, it’shard to find ahouse without arainbow flag on it. There’sabunch of people named Ryan on my street. They’re all gay and there’sone guy named Ryan who’s straight, and we call him “Straight Ryan” to sort of delineate him from the gays. There’s two head lesbians who are in charge. They’ve bought an empty lot in the middle of the street that they’ve converted into asort of queer,semi-public pool. We have queer pool parties. They cook meals for the whole block.

It’savision for intentional queer community living that is inspiring and special and very real, akind of society that can exist anywhere. The fact that it exists in Louisiana is crazy,but Iknow it exists in many places throughout the country,and it’sthis revelation of human goodness. Every day I wake up it validatesthe fact that living in NewOrleans is the correct decision formeasaqueer American.

RienFertel is theauthor of four books. He can be reached at rienfertel@gmail.com.

BY MARK KENNEDY Associated Press

NEW YORK Twenty-four shows on Broadway received Tony Award nominations this season, but not all will walk away with a trophy and the box office attention they usually bring.

Here are some key things to know as Broadway’s biggest night approaches, including how to watch, the top nominees, who is poised to make history and what shows secured performance slots.

When are the Tonys?

The Tonys will be broadcast to both coasts on Sunday from 7 p.m to 10 p.m., live from Radio City Music Hall.

How can I watch them?

On CBS and streaming for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S.

Who’s hosting?

Pink, a three-time Grammy Award winner, will make her debut as MC “I just want it to be, first and foremost, just celebratory and fun and entertaining and over-the-top and ridiculous,” she says She promises a big, honking opening number — written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Mark Sonnenblick that ends with some 170 people on stage — lots of costume changes and some wire work, which she has done in her concerts. She has tapped Amber Ruffin, a writer and performer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” for help with jokes.

A pre-show will be broadcast on Pluto TV from 5:35 p.m. to 7 p.m. Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess will host that telecast, in which some technical Tonys will be handed out. Viewers can access it on their smart TV, streaming device, mobile app or online by going to Pluto TV and clicking on the “Live Music” channel, found within the Entertainment category on the service. What performances?

The seven best new musical and best musical revivals — “The Lost Boys,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Titanique,” “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “Ragtime” and “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Who are the presenters?

The presenters include: Adrien Brody, Annette Bening, Ariana DeBose, Ben Platt, Bernadette Peters, Billy Crystal, Bowen Yang, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Carrie Coon, Cole Escola, Darren Criss, Jack O’Brien, Jeremy Pope, John Leguizamo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kara Young, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Law Roach, Lena Waithe, Lily Rabe, Maya Rudolph, Megan Thee Stallion, Neil Patrick Harris, Nicole Scherzinger, Patrick Wilson, Paul Rudd, Ruben SantiagoHudson, Sarah Paulson and Sting.

How many awards?

A total of 26 competitive categories, from lead and featured actors to scenic, costume and lighting design. Some technical award handouts may be pre-taped, and winners won’t appear on the live show, only cut down into edited bits sandwiched into the telecast.

Top nominees?

There are two top nominees: “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” each earned a leading 12 Tony Award nominations. “The Lost Boys” is an adaptation of a 1987 teen movie vampire thriller, and “Schmigadoon!” is an adaptation of an Apple TV series that gently mocks Broadway musicals. They’re followed by a revival of “Ragtime,” a big, soaring musical celebrating early 20th-century America, with 11 nominations, and “Death of a Salesman,” Arthur Miller’s masterpiece that looks at the unraveling of the American Dream, starring Nathan Lane, which nabbed nine nods.

Vying for top spors?

For new musicals, it’s

“The Lost Boys,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Titaníque” and “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).”

For new plays, it’s “The Balusters,” “Giant,” “Lib-

eration” and “Little Bear Ridge Road.”

Can history be made?

History has already been made, in a way June Squibb became the oldest Tonynominated actor in history at 96 and could become the oldest Tony winner, surpassing Lois Smith, who was 90 when she won in 2021.

Nathan Lane is hoping for his fourth Tony, which would make him tied as the mostawarded male performer in Tony history, alongside Boyd Gaines and Frank Langella.

And for the first time since 2002 the contenders for best leading actress in a musical are all firsttime nominees: Sara Chase (“Schmigadoon!”), Stephanie Hsu (“The Rocky Horror Show”), Caissie Levy (“Ragtime”), Marla Mindelle (“Titanique”) and Christiani Pitts (“Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York”). Oher performances?

Other performances include the original lead cast members of “The Book of Mormon” — Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Rory O’Malley and Nikki M. James — this year celebrating its 15th anniversary

Another show celebrating a milestone, “Chicago” now at 30, will have a performance slot featuring Queen Latifah, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alex Newell, Adrienne Warren, Julianne Hough, Whitney Leavitt, Dylan Mulvaney and Pink. Plus, “A Chorus Line,” which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary, will get a special tribute by Rachel Zegler Leslie Odom, Jr. will sing “Without You” from “Rent” during the In Memoriam section, in honor of that show’s 30th anniversary Broadway’s big season The 2025-26 Broadway season set a new box office record for the second year in a row Over the 52 weeks of the season, Broadway brought in a combined total of $1,910,903,835, a smidge higher than last season’s then-historic total of $1,892,650,959. Last season also had 53 weeks instead of the usual 52, a Broadway accountant trick. In more gloomy news, attendance was actually down — 14,577,322 versus 14,658,531 from last season. And the average paid admission was $131.09, continuing an ever upward trend.

If he does win for best lead actor in a play for the revival of “Death of a Salesman,” he’d have Tonys in three separate acting categories, previously winning featured actor in a play for “Angels in America” and lead actor in a musical twice for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “The Producers.”

PROVIDED PHOTO By MATTHEW MURPHy

Ken Ard appears during a March rehearsal for ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’ in New york.

TNS PHOTO By EMILIO MADRID

Laurie Metcalf and Nathan Lane appear in ‘Death of a Salesman’ on Broadway at the Winter Garden

Amomentwith adragonflyand a messagefor alifetime

BY LISA G. STAFFORD

Contributing writer

Ihave been fascinated with dragonflies for as long as Ican remember

Human Condition

Unlike some insects, dragonflies are great to have around. They eat pesky mosquitoes and they have four wings that allow themtodo amazingstunts,like flying backwardand snatchingtheir prey midflight. They alsoare beautifully arrayed in amultitude of colors. Ioften have attempted to lure the plentiful yet elusive insects onto my hand afterIsaw a friend coax adelicate dragonfly onto his extended finger

One day,Imoved closer to my goalwhen, as Iwatered plants, adragonfly rested on my outstretched arm. Amazed, Istood motionless, reluctant to scare it away. It seemed to look into my face as it tilted its tiny head and with bulging eyes,seemed to try to anticipate my next move. Its body and wings, in emerald and sapphire hues,glistened in the dazzling sunshine, contrasting beautifullywith the bright red petals of hibiscusand jatropha flowers, and blending harmoniously with my green and navy blouse. After afew seconds of studying each other,the dragonfly zipped away, and Imarveled that with so many options, it chose me for ashortrepose.

Dragonflyonjatropha

Over the years, Ihave attempted to get extra special photos in my garden, like that of two Eurasian collared doves perched atop the mandevilla-draped arbor,orablue jay sitting among its pink blossoms, or the golden confetti of falling leaves in November,orbrilliantly colored butterflies dancing on abreeze.

Some photos Icaptured; others Istill seek. But after trying for severalyears to replicate my friend’sfeat with the dragonfly,

Isnapped an event when Ileast expected it.

Duringaneveningwalk, I tried to persuadeadragonfly to rest on my hand andtomy surprise, it acceptedmyoffer.I stood completely still to prevent startling it, then Irealized Ihad no way to documentthe rare occurrence, because Ididn’thave my phone with me.

After the dragonflyflew away, Ihurried to get my phone, then stationed myself back at the scene of my good fortune. Could lightning strike twice?

Stealthyasacat, Istalked my target. With my phone recordinginmyright hand, Igently stretched my left hand to the enchantingcreature. Realizing that Iwas nothreat,itgingerly stepped onto my hand. For several secondswestood motionless, intently studying each other,communicating without words.

Theday Imet adragonfly

The magical moment ended when the dragonflyflew to anew perch to await the passing of a hapless mosquito or gnat that would become its next meal. I continued my walk, full of awe and inspiration Even thoughwewerevery different,wetook amoment to trulysee each other

AndIwondered,how many other bonds can bemade if we reach out to others —people, animals, birds, insects —that we don’tusually connect with, or even notice? Andhow much richer would ourlives be for having made theeffort?

—Stafford lives inNew Orleans.

Advocate readers may submit stories of about 500 words to The Human Condition at features@theadvocate.com or The Advocate, Features, 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge,LA 70809. There is no payment, and stories will be edited. Authorsshould include their city of residence

GORDY

Continuedfrom page1D

Painting precisely

In theReagan era, when conceptualistseverywherewere putting artistic ideas above talent, Gordy had the maddest of mad skills. Whenfieryneoexpressionist painterswere attackingtheir canvases like bulls attack redcapes,Gordy’sworks were perfectly cool and calculated. He just wasn’t sweptupinthe national trends. Hence, as NOMA’s exhibit curator Lisa Rotondo McCordput it,“Peopledidn’tknow what to do with his legacy.”

“That’s one of the reasons we did the show,” McCord said. “The hope is, it will inspireothers to look at his work again.

Gordy,who was bornnear New Iberia in Cajuncountry,invented his own world. The buzzing tension in his style didn’tarise from drama, it came from utterstillness andperfection. His works were hypnotic.Think of pianocompositionsbyErik Satie.

No matter what he painted— nudes, clouds, trees or simplified still lifes —Gordyrenderedeverything in exactingbands of color that wrapped his shapes like the rings in atreetrunk. He painted so smoothly that there are practically no brush strokes.

Mr.Hyde

By the time he was 48, Gordy was nationally known andwidely collected.NOMA gave hima retrospective in 1981. Then, artistically speaking, he abruptlychanged personalitieslike Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde.

Gordyboughtahugeprinting press that allowed him to paint directly on slabs of Formica and immediately roll outfinishedartworks. Instead of spending weeks

beneathastatelycypresstree, newlyrenovatedcamelback

&modernluxury-orighdwd flrs,stunningnewprimsuite& spa-inspiredbath+2breezy porches.Secureoff-stprkg,& fullsecurity.1blkfromOakSt.

on apainting, he couldproduce a unique print in hours.

With his newmachine,Gordy’s style and subject matter reversed course by 180 degrees. He began producingbrushy,passionateportraits and nude figure studies with alatter-day cubist vibe.

Technically,Gordy’sworkbecame absolutely exuberant. Though his subject matter could be troubling.

Aheroofqueer history

It’shard not to seethe angsty haunted faces that Gordy frequently produced as areaction to the spread of AIDS in the gay communityand Gordy’sown diagnosis —adeath sentence at the time. McCord believes the prints were surely aself-reflection.

“It had to inform how he thought about life and art and his practice,” shesaid. Afterall,“themirroris

RobertGordy’s latter-day cubist portraits, madefrom 1982 to 1986, capture the confusion and anxiety of the era.

always the mostavailable model.”

He died at age 52, and as the decades passed,hewas mostlyforgotten. The paintings from Gordy’s early career,and even his portrait prints, wereway too subtle forthe 21st century,when art is expected to have an instructive message or point of view

“He wasnot overtly political or conceptual,”McCordsaid, but he shouldn’tbeoverlooked as an important figure in NewOrleans queer history Gordy’searly paintings always seemed like the ripples that result from tossing pebblesinapond. They seemedlikemaybe they could continue in all directions forever.NOMA’s newGordy exhibit may help his ripples continue into anew generation.

Email Doug MacCashat dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Capturing adragonflyona jatropha is one thing;havingone rest on your hand is quitethe feat.

STAFF PHOTOSByDOUGMacCASH

By the late 1960s, artist

Travelingout of Louisianareminds me of thewonders of home

As my wife and Ilanded back in Louisiana after atrip to California last month, Ibegan thinking of aJane Kenyon poem that Itreasure. It’s called “Coming Homeat Twilight in Late Summer ”and it’s about all the urgencies that greet youafter you’ve been gone from home awhile. “So much to be done,” Kenyon laments, “the unpacking, themail and papers …the grass needed mowing.” Her poem reminded me what was ahead when we turned into our driveway Ahome misses you while you’re gone, whichisagood thing, Isuppose,although the longing can take complicated forms.Assoon

CAMINO

Many make thewalk without receiving the Compostela certificate, which requires proofofthe journey using aCaminoPilgrim Passport, with certain stipulations —either 100 kilometers walked or ridden on horsebackor200 kilometers cycled.

Along the way,pilgrims stop at cafes andchurches to get their passport book stamped at least twice per day from Saria to Santiago More than athousandyears

Dating back to the ninth century,pilgrims have walked various routes of the Camino de Santiago, “The WayofSaint James,” to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where the remainsof the apostle St. James the Greatare believed to be buried. Its recent popularityis not afirst. During the medieval period, it was one of the three most important Christian pilgrimages, along with Jerusalem and Rome.

Martee Fry,atthe Southeast LouisianaChapter of American Pilgrimsonthe Camino, assistedNowakowski with her planning

“She helped me so much,” Nowakowski said. “She gave me some pointerson which trips would be the best for what Iwas looking for and with my time constraints. She also told me about the right guidebooks to use and little things to look out for.”

‘The Camino will tell you’ Some walk the Camino for spiritual reasons. Some walk to honor alost loved one. Somewalkfor fitness. Some walk for travel reasons. Some walk to mark apivotal moment in their lives Fry,a76-year-old pilgrim who has been on the Camino three times, says that the Caminoreveals its purpose to each participant. She walked her first Camino at 66 years old. Fry lives in Poplarville, Mississippi, but for manyyears, she lived in New Orleans, working as an operating room nurseat Ochsner

Themovie“TheWay” with Martin Sheenmotivated her to go on the Camino about 10 years ago. After atrip to Italy with friends was canceled, she pivoted to walking the Camino in Spain —by herself.

“When you’re out in the countryside, you can see the raindropsorthe dew glistening on spider webs,” she said.“Youcan seethe beautiful flowers. Youcan actually hear the sheep lowing out in the fields. Youcan see the little old ladies out sweeping their steps.” She said the people who met along the way asked each other one major question: “Why areyou walking the Camino?”

“The powerful thing about the Camino,” Fry said, “is you don’thave to have apurpose when you put your first step on the Camino, because the Camino is going to tell you why you are there.”

Nowakowski, the child of Catholic Polish immigrants, said the Camino was aspiritual journey for her Even though her compatriots were not motivated by religion, they hustled to make sure she made it to SundayMass at one of their stopovers.

“It was so sweet that they were trying to get there for

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

as we placed our bags into thecar at theairport, ourlittle household, peevedbyour absence, began to air its grievances. Theair conditioninginour carwent out as we paid theairport parking fee, signalingabig repair bill that made me wince abit after our vacation splurge. Pulling into the driveway after

our ride home, Inoticed thatthe gas lantern on our porch had blown out in one of the rainstorms we’d missedwhile we were gone. Fire ant mounds rose like volcanoes from the corners of our lot,and our grass, of course, was as tall as corn.

Inside, akind someone had saved our newspapers, arranged as neatly as cordwood just beyond thethreshold. Alittle mountain of unopened parcels sat on the rug, and there was astack of junk mail at its summit. Slowly,webegan to empty our luggage of laundry,which quickly formed ahill near thewasher Like amidden of relics from alost civilization, it yielded small clues

about the life we’d led on the road. There were swimsuits from our evening in ahot tub, ashirt stained withcaramelfrom an afternoon at an ice cream parlor and socks still crusted with sand from alovely Pacific beach

Over several days, we reclaimed our regular life. Ipushed our mowerover the high blades of grass, and the yard shed its shaggy excess and revealed acalmer,saner self. I restocked our birdfeeders, repairing one that had been pillaged by asquirrel.The garden fountain, which had shorted out whenwe weren’taround, is fixed and working again.

me,” Nowakowskisaid. “I remember getting to that church, and it was abunchof smelly pilgrims.Wewereall sitting together,and Icried because it was so beautiful.I didn’tunderstand the Spanish very well, but Ijustfelt so like lucky to be there.”

‘Catholic or not’

For Nancy Hicks, aBaton Rougepilgrim whowent on theCaminowith herbrother andher niece, everymorningstarted with prayer.

“Whether Catholic or not, we wanted this to bea spiritual walk because you are walking thewalkthat St. James’sashes were brought to thecathedral,” Hicks said. “Weprayed that God would show us something during the day.”

Larry andJijiJonas,who went in May,wanted to achievethe challengeofdoingthe Camino Portuguese, the second most popular route thatbegins in Portugal. As master naturalists, Larry, 83, said they also wanted to experience Spain’s flora and fauna. Jiji, 81, said she was able to identify wildflowers and bird sounds along the walk

Asocialexperience

Fry said many pilgrims takethe trip with the expectation of having aquiet and meditative experience, but it’ssurprisinglysocial.

“Asyou walked, alot of people were doing your same walk andsamedistance,soafter you slept for the night and gotback on the trail, you’d run into thesame people,” Hicks said. “You build up friendships along theway,and they would tell what they had seen and talk abouttheir lives.”

Robert Hawkins and Nell Huard,two octogenarian Baton Rouge friends who walk together,have done the Camino twice. Both had memorable interactions alongthe way Huardmet ayoung man who asked her where she was from, and when shetold him Baton Rouge, he asked if sheknew Jay Johnson the LSU Tigers baseball coach. Turns out he was one of Johnson’sformer players.

ForHawkins, it was aconnection from his past that impactedhim the most. He befriended aVietnamese Canadian pilgrim who was from the same town that Hawkinswas stationed in while serving in the Vietnam War. They got along great andlearned their timelines just missed each other.

Nowakowski, who is from Gonzales, picked up abunch of free pins from Gonzalez City Hall andLSU that she

handedout to people she met. Travelers from all over the world now have Jambalaya Festivaland LSU pins as mementos from their Caminos.

Shouressoote

Just as Geoffrey Chaucer saysin“TheCanterbury Tales,” the best time for Europeanpilgrimages is the spring —particularly April and May

Nowakowski first heard about the Camino when she wasin10thgrade at St.Michael theArchangel High School in Baton Rouge. Her religion teacher,RyanHall-

ford, shared his Camino experience and told his studentssomething she carried for nearly two decades.

“He said that it wasthe first timeherealizedthatto experience beauty,you need to experience pain. He had a leg injury along the way,but he said while he was walking, it was so painful, yet he was surroundedbysuch beauty,”Nowakowski said. She went on toattend LSU and medical school.When her residency ended and she finally had abreak, she decideditwas time forthe Camino. She was readyto encounter the pain and the

It’s only now, in thereturn to routine,that I’ve hadtime to think aboutthe secondpart of Kenyon’s poem. In theconcluding stanza, after reciting thehumdrum listof chores that awaits areturning traveler,she remarksonahousehold pear tree, heavywithfruit,thathad worked up itsbountywhile sheand herhusband wereonthe road What Kenyon seemstosay is that leaving homeisagood way to savor its wonders when you return —something I’mlearning again now that our luggage is back on the shelf

Email DannyHeitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

TIPS FORTHE CAMINO

n Walking the Caminois surprisingly easy to plan withthe help of atravel agency.There are multiple agenciesthat specialize in the pilgrimage.

n Choose the route to take and estimate howmany kilometers to walk perday as well as howlong the trip will be, and the travelgroups will make reservations at small hotels along the way.

n For an extra cost, the agencieswill eventransport luggagebycar to the next accommodation.

n The most popular route is the CaminoFrances, which starts in France,and the most traveled100-kilometer trail begins in Saria, Spain and ends in Santiago.To go that route,Americans usually

beauty After walking 23 kilometers on the first day,her knees andfeet startedaching in ways shehadn’texpected.

“I had never felt my joints like that,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m not sure howI’m gonna do this every day.’ Shedid —after applications of athletic tape and Tiger Balm

flytoMadrid and thentake atrain to Saria.

n Download your trail onto your phone foreasy reference

n Book reservations six months in advance.Two options foraccommodations are hotels withprivate bathrooms or albergues, which are hostels withbunks and sharedbathrooms.

n Check withbanks before departure to make sure there is not ablock on debit cards forforeign travel.

n The best gear is ultra lite withtrail runners, not hiking boots, since most of the route is on pavementand farmland.

n Prepare by working up to the distance chosen per day before leaving forthe trip.

After the fight with her brother and the reunion at the cathedral, afterthe churros and hot chocolate, after everything her joints hadtosay aboutit, Nowakowskiunderstood what her teacher meant all those years ago. “I think we underestimate ourselves alot,” she said. Email Joy Holdenatjoy holden@theadvocate.com.

PHOTO FROM GETTy IMAGES

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,June 7, the158thday of 2026. There are 207 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On June 7, 1998, in acrimethatshocked thenation and ledtostronger state and federal hate crime laws, James ByrdJr.,a 49-year-old Black man, washooked by achain to apickup truck and dragged tohis deathinJasper, Texas. (Two White men were later sentenced to death and executed for the crime; athirdwas sentenced to life in prison.)

Also on this date:

In 1776, Richard HenryLee of Virginia offeredaresolution to theContinental Congress stating “that these united colonies are and of right oughttobefreeand independentStates.”

In 1892, Homer Plessy, aCreole of color,was arrested for refusing to leave aWhites-only car of theEastLouisiana Railroad. (In an 1896 ruling on his case, Plessy v. Ferguson, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld “separate but equal” racial segregation,aconcept itrenounced in 1954.)

In 1929, the sovereign stateofVatican City formally cameintoexistenceasthe Italian Parliamentratified the LateranTreaty in Rome.

In 1942, the Battle of Midway ended in adecisivevictory for American naval forces over ImperialJapan marking aturning point in thePacific War.

In 1965, theU.S. Supreme Court, in Griswold v. Connecticut, struck downbya7-2 votea Connecticutlaw used to prosecute aPlanned Parenthood clinic in New Haven for providing contraceptives to marriedcouples In 1976, NewYork magazine publishedanarticle by journalist Nik Cohn entitled “The TribalRitesofthe New Saturday Night,” whichinspired the 1977 film “Saturday NightFever”and sparked anationwide discocraze (Cohn admitted in 1997 that thearticle wasactually a work of fiction.)

In 1979, Texas became thefirst statetorecognizeJuneteenth as anofficial state holiday.(Juneteenth became afederal holiday in 2021; theJune19holiday marks the dayin1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galvestonat the end of the Civil Warand brought thenewsoffreedom to enslaved Black people in Texas.)

In 1982, Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphismansion, wasopened to the public as atourist destination,five years after Presley’sdeath

In 2006, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founderofal-Qaida in Iraq, was killed by aU.S. airstrikeonhis safe house In 2021, Maggie Murdaugh, 52,and her sonPaul Murdaugh, 22,from aprominent South Carolina legal family,werefound shot andkilled on theirfamily’s property.(In 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the murder convictionsofAlexMurdaugh, Maggie’shusband and Paul’sfather.)

Today’sbirthdays: Filmmaker James Ivory is 98. Singer TomJones is 86. Actor Liam Neesonis74. AuthorOrhan Pamuk is 74. Author Louise Erdrich is 72. Music producer L.A. Reid is 70. Musician Juan Luis Guerra is 69. Former Vice President Mike Penceis67. Rock musician-TV host Dave Navarro is 59. Sen. Ben RayLuján, D-N.M.,is 54. Actor Karl Urban is 54. TV personality Bear Grylls is 52. Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iversonis51. Actorcomedian BillHader is 48. Actor MichaelCerais38. Rapper Iggy Azalea is 36.Actor-model Emily Ratajkowski is 35. NFL running back ChristianMcCaffreyis30.

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Warm gesture, cold reaction

Dear Miss Manners: My fiancé and Iwere spending time with an old, close, female friend of his. He noticed she was cold and offered his jacket to her.She wore his jacket for therest of the evening.

He’sa kind, faithful man whoalways looks out for others, and I know his intentions were noble; he truly just wanted tohelp his friend when he saw her shivering.

While I’m proud to be marrying such a kind man,Icouldn’thelp but feel atad embarrassed. I’ve always felt this was an intimate gesture between romantic couples —tobe wrapped in ajacket that carries the warmth and scent of your beau. Pop culture seems to have ingrained it in my head that wearing aman’s clothing (such as aletterman jacket in high school, or his favoritehoodie after staying over at his place) is aprivilege reserved for romantic partners only Since this was my first time meetingher,italso left me with aless-

than-favorable impression that she should accept thejacket and wear it in front of me. On the other hand, Ican understand the clear practicality of wanting your friend to be comfortable. I’mnot above admitting that Imight just need to take thegesture at face value and try not to read too much into it.

So am Ibeing overly sensitive, or is this slightly crossing the line? In thefuture, shouldheoffer? Should she (or any other woman) accept?

Gentlereader: Please deal with this before you are married. And Miss Manners does not mean you should continue to criticize akind man for being kind, and to monitor and restrict his friendships.

This is your problem,not his. Surely you do not wanttoalert him that you will be evaluating his every trivial gesture forsuspicion of disloyalty.

We are supposed to be beyond theera when it was assumed that there could be only one relationship between men andwomen, and therefore any claims to friendship are a cover-up.

Do some abuse this trust? Sure. Butyou have strong evidence that

he is not in love with this person he has knownfor years. He engaged himself to you, expecting you to join the friendship —which is what you should try to do. What would have been rude of her would have been to say,“Oh, no, Ican’taccept this. Notinfront of your fiancée.”

Dear Miss Manners: When Idine at a restaurant and use aknifetocut my meat,I don’tknow what to do when Ilater wanttobutter aroll. Many places don’tprovide aseparate butter knife, and the dinner knifehas pieces of meat or sauce on it, which Idon’twant on my roll. What am I supposed to do?

Gentle reader: Ask the server for another knife. Contrary to popular belief,itisthe restaurant’sjob to provide proper utensils foreating, not the customer’sresponsibility to figure out how to do without.

Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite,www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postalmail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO64106.

Dear Heloise: I’ve had alot of trouble opening bottles of nail polish. Some bottles have topswith asmooth surface or a shape that’snot easily grasped. Anddon’t forget bottles that have partially dried shut!Myquick fix is to wrap arubber band around the bottle cap. It’ssomuch easier to grasp thebottle to open it; even the stubborndried-on topsfrequently come loose. Ijust keep rubber bands on the bottle topswhile they’re in storage so that they’re always ready to be used. —Sandy,inKalamazoo, Michigan Sandy,this is agood hint. Iusually put on one of my rubber gloves to help me get thetop off of anail polish bottle. Do any of my readers have aspecial trick they use to open nail polish bottles that get stuck?

Heloise

Why you need dentalinsurance in retirement.

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-providedbenefits. Whenthosebenefits end with retirement, paying dental billsout-of-pocket cancome as a shock,leading people to put off or even go without care. Simplyput —without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparingplans ...

 Look forcoverage that helps pay formajor services. Some plans may limitthe number of procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.

 Look forcoverage with no deductibles. Some plans mayrequire you to payhundreds out of pocketbefore benefits are paid.

 Shop forcoverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1 That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocover everything. That means if youwant protection,you needto purchase individual insurance.

Early detection canprevent small problems from becoming expensiveones.

The best way to preventlargedental bills is preventive care.The American Dental Association recommends checkupstwiceayear.

Previous dental work canwear out. Even if you’vehad qualitydentalwork in the past,you shouldn’t take your dentalhealth forgranted. In fact, your odds of havinga dental problem only go up as youage.2

Treatment is expensive— especiallythe servicespeople over 50 often need.

Consider these national averagecostsof treatment. $274for acheckup $299 for afilling $1,471 foracrown.3 Unexpected bills likethis canbeareal burden, especially if you’re on afixedincome.

“Medicare&You,” Centersfor Medicare& Medicaid Services,2025. 2 “Aging changesinteeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov,4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees.Datacurrent as of July 2025;subject to change

“Absolutely love” “I absolutelylove my dental insurance. My dentaloffice files the claims,leaving me with very littlebalancetopay.” DorothyP TN

Saving theEarth

Dear Heloise: Years ago, on the originalEarth Day in 1970, Iwas young and idealistic, and Iwanted to do some small thing to “help the Earth.” So, while my toddlerand Iwalked around the neighborhood picking up trash, Idecidedthat Iwould sew some cloth napkins and avoid adding paper napkins to the landfill for the rest of my life. Igot laughed at by family and friends, but this custom has been continual for 56 years. My kids grew up with it (not always fancy napkins, just home-sewn10-by-10-inch cotton napkins), and now they do the same thing out of habit. Iwonder if Imade any difference in the world. Ialso used cloth diapers. Yes, paper diapers are convenient, but I’ve seen pottytraining happen much quicker and at ayounger age because cloth diapers get wet and uncomfortable, unlike the paper

diapers that are muchmore comfortable. —Ruth M., an old-timer in Michigan Ruth, one of the nicest wedding gifts Ireceived wasastack of 12 homemade napkins that were sewn by adear friend. And let me add that it might have seemed to be asmall gesture, but if everyone made an effort to keep the Earth healthy,clean up after themselves, and reduce waste, this world would be in much better shape. —Heloise Latexglove hint

DearHeloise: Ialso use medical latex gloves for messy kitchen work. But then Iwash them with soap and water and save them to wearfor gardening. With regular gardening gloves, Ialways get dirt under my fingernails. But now Iwear latex gloves underneath my gardening gloves, and this keeps my nails clean! —Dolores O.,via email Send ahint to heloise@heloise.com.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

ON THESETQUIET

Hollywood productions ywood like ‘Hacks,’ Amy Poehler AmyPoehler series andmoreare using Louisianaaccompany’s solar-poweredtrailers

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

IDEAS INNOVATION &

In an AprilInstagrampost, Emmy-nominated actress Megan Staltershowedoff hernew high-tech and stylish trailer on the set of the hit HBO Max TV show “Hacks,” filmedona studio lotinLos Angeles. The vehicle comes with Starlink Wi-Fi, an Apple TV,anopen floor planand lotsofnatural light, but most important, the 100% solarpoweredmobile dressing room runs quietly and hasenough excess power to charge up electric vehiclesand otherdevices —and even sendelectricity backtoapower grid

The luxury accommodations were providedbyacompany called Hollywood Trucks, which, despite what itsname suggests, is headquartered in asmall office in the Place St.Charlesofficebuilding in NewOrleans’Central BusinessDistrict. For the venture’sfounder Andre Champagne, anative of Napoleonville, delivering Stalter’strailerand about20others just like it over the

Session’sworkforce

BY STEPHANIERIEGEL Staffwriter

While much of the 2026 legislative session was dominated by battles over congressional redistricting andhigh-profile partisan issues, for the state’sbusiness lobby,aseries of measures designed to ramp up workforce training were arare bipartisan win

Billsthat would restructure the state’sworkforce training programs —and redirect more federal money to the state, expand career programs beginning as early as middle school and create programs to connect college students to career opportunities —passed with support from both sides of the aisle.

“Some of the legislation passed

this year is goingtohaveimplications for our kids and really is goingtohavetremendous impact on ourstate for years to come,” saidWill Green, president and CEOofthe Louisiana Associationof Business and Industry Business-backed initiativesseekingtoreform thestate’s highest-in-thenation workers’ compensation program and to make it harder to tie climate change to fossilfuel activity also were successful. And apackageofgenerousincentives backedbyGov.Jeff Landry’sadministration to attract aerospace companies likeSpaceX sailed through the process Localeconomic development

PROVIDED PHOTOS

NewOrleans-based Hollywood Trucksrents specialtyvehicles like the Ecoluxesolar-powered trailer top,which has enough powertorun the factorybuilding behindit, to the film industry. The interiors, above,feature Apple TVs, Starlink WiFi and luxurious spaces

last few months has been abreakthroughthat’s been in theworks fornearly two decades. During that time, he hasbuilt,sold andthen relaunchedhis truck rental business while designing and patenting cleaner, greener technology that he hopes will find manyother uses beyond thefilm industry Hollywood Trucks recently inked amultiyear deal to rent hundreds of trailers to the globalentertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, which is already using itsEcoluxe models for “Hacks” and other projects,including anew Amy Poehler-

led comedy series called “Dig” and afeature film directed by aworldfamous director

The company also just closed a $30 millionfundraising round led by Louisiana investors to bankroll further expansion.

Champagne, 50, is enjoyinga burst of successthat’sbeen anything but overnight.

“I put 20 yearsofmylife into these vehicles and now they’re finally showing what they cando,” he said.

ä See TRAILERS, page 2E

groups also notched victories with measures that include funding for infrastructure projectsinNew Orleans anda potential pathforward to clearing blighted properties in Baton Rouge. But thesession wasn’t atotal win for the business community.Workers’ comp reform measures only went so far,and efforts to lower the state’s insurancerates by tackling tort reform stalled. “Not everysession deliversevery reform the business community needs,” Green said. “Wewill continue to work on the missed opportunities and press forward.”

See BIPARTISAN, page 2E

Champagne

6money tips newgraduates should know

sive when overused.

Michelle Singletary

THE COLOR OF MONEy

The congratulatory greeting cards are nice, but let’s face it: Whennew gradsrip one open, they really hope to find cash or acheck inside. But you should also give graduates something that endures: financial knowledge to help them build lasting wealth. Alot of personal finance advice doesn’tchange— even whenthe nationisworried about rising inflation, the highcost of buying ahome or car,and a costly war with Iran —soIlike to revisit the guidanceIoften give to high school and college graduates. Poet-philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson complainedthat we fail to teach students basic lifeskills: “Weare shut up in schools and college recitation rooms for 10 or 15 years and come out at lastwith a bellyful of words and do not know athing.” How true that statement is, especially as it relatestomoney Here are six basic yet vital tips to help young adults keep their debt low and their net worth climbing.

TRAILERS

Continued from page1E

From La.toL.A Champagne’scareer has taken him back and forth fromthe nation’stwo “LAs” for more than 25 years.

After moving from Louisiana to Los Angeles in 2002 to climb the ladder in the film and television industry,hecame back home five years later to help makeahandful of filmsfor producers taking advantage of the state’srecently created tax credits.

The movies themselves weren’t super memorable. One was ahorror film called “Autopsy” set during aMardi Gras vacation gone wrong But importantly,Champagne discovered abusiness opportunity amid the new Louisiana film gold rush.

Producers were coming to town lookingfor 25% to 35% rebatesfrom the state, but to qualify they needed to spend money with local companies providing sound stages, cameras,lighting,trucks andother necessities. The problemwas manyofthose vendors simply didn’texist yet. Transportation,inparticular, was an essential need for producers, who use avariety of trucks and vans to move people and gear around and need mobile trailers to house actors, hairand makeup stations, and offices while on set.

Working out of asmall office at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, Champagne set out to solve the problem.

He borrowed money to buy a couple of vans and started renting them to producers working in state. About six months later,the business became his full-time job. He reinvested profits in more vehicles, sometimes payingoff purchases in a couple of years because there was so much demand.

By the middleofthe last decade,HollywoodTrucks had amassed afleet of morethan 200 specialty vehicles —from cargo vans to talent trailers that served customers in multiple states. But in 2015, changes to Louisiana’stax incentive program slowed the industry’s growth in the state by capping rebates.In2019, though there was still work to be had, Champagne acceptedoffers from several competitors to sell his company’sfleet whilekeeping the business name and other intellectual property

The deal closed afew months before the start of the COVID pandemic and afew years before apair of strikes in 2023 shut down the entertainment industry formonths. Sincehe sold his fleet, there havebeen some productions in Louisiana, thoughnot enough to keep all in-state sound stagesbusy

“Looking back now,Irealize it was an ideal time,” Champagnesaid.

Keepingitclean

Afew years after launching Hollywood Trucks,Champagne became focused on making his fleet cleaner and greener

“Vehicles burn alot of fuel, and they’renoisy,soIstarted looking at ways to save money forproductions and be more

1. Don’tlistentothe collective“they.”

I’m sure you’ve heard someone say: “Well, they say you need to buy ahome to build wealth.” Or maybe: “Paying rent is awaste of money. They may say: “Don’tworry aboutpaying off your college debt right away because it’sgood debt.”

Whoare “they?”

I’ll tell you who. Most often,it’s peoplewith avested interest in howyou spend your money They are often wrong. Theywill contribute to your financial stress, making youfeel likeyou’re not succeedingfast enough. Forinstance, there’salot of pressureonyoung adults to buy a home. Until youare readyfor such an expensivefinancial move, consider renting

In certain high-cost areas, you maynever beable to afford a home.And for some, that means renting. However,you are not throwingmoney away when you pay to put aroof over your head. Youare nota financialfailure if you are arenter

2. Don’tbelieve people who saythereis good and bad debt

Referring to debt with an adjective is unhelpful.It’sjust debt, and it can be destructiveand oppres-

At aBerkshire Hathaway shareholders’ meeting, billionaire Warren Buffett was once asked by a14-year-old whichfinancial concepts he would recommendto young people whostill have time to implement them. Buffett, oneofthe most successfulinvestors in the world, didn’t talk aboutinvesting, as many might have expected His advicewas to avoiddebt. “If Ihad onepiece of adviceto give to young people …itwould be just don’tget in debt,”Buffett said.

3. Don’tget used to thegrace periodfor your loans.

If you’re graduating fromcollege with student debt, don’twait until youhavetostart repaying the loans(for federal loans, typically six months after graduation) to figure outwhatyou owe.

The grace periodisa time to practice. Use this time to see how those payments will affect your monthlybudget. For whatever time youhavebeforethe payments kickin, put that monthlyamount into asavings account. Get usedtohaving less to spend because of theloans.

4. Don’tjust focus on themonthlypayment

Always look at thetotality of

PROVIDED PHOTO

NewOrleans-based Hollywood Trucks has built about 20 Ecoluxe trailers for NBCUniversal and more are on the way. The Ecoluxe is a sortof luxuryhomeonwheels that movie stars and crewmembers use while workingonlocations and studio lots.

“Weare now amobile, clean-energypower company becausewecan pull these vehicles up and exportpower to yourbuilding.They could turn an RV park into apower plant, because hundreds of them together can produce megawatts of free, cleanenergy.”

ANDRE CHAMPAGNE, Hollywood Trucks founder

environmentally friendly,”he said.

He couldn’t do much to change trucks and vans that came from third-party manufacturers, so hedecided to focus on thetrailers, whichhe could design and then commission.

He began retrofitting hisfleet with more energy-efficient components, from solarpanels to better HVAC systems. He built dozens ofprototypes over severalyearsbefore creating atrailerthatcould runwithout an external power source. He partnered with different manufacturers throughout the process, forging agreements to protect hisintellectual property.

Afterhesoldhis fleet in 2019, Champagne had to step back from the industry,sohe spent several years consulting forclean energy companies in other sectors. When his noncompeteclausesexpired in 2025, hetransitioned into the business of making clean machines under the Hollywood Trucks banneronceagain. He chose Canada’sJexcar,which has served the movie industry forfourdecades,ashis manufacturing partner and got back to work.

The Ecoluxe is the revived company’sfirst product. Costing $150,000tomanufacture a40-foot version and $250,000 forthe 53-footer, it’sa sort of luxuryhome on wheels that movie stars and crew members use while workingonlocations and studio lots.

The company has built about 20 of the new trailers, which already been used by awho’s who of A-list actors and musicians. Another 12 vehicles are in production, and Champagne is excited to show more users what they can do.

“You justpull it up and never turn it off,”hesaid. “It hasits own internal power system, so it doesn’tmake asoundeven when everything’srunning.”

what you’reborrowing. By that, I don’tjust mean whetheryou can handle the monthly payment and the interestyou’recharged. Whatwill that loan costyou over the long run?

Consider what else youcould do with that money if youweren’t constantly servicing debt

If youborrowtoo much for a car,that’smoney youcan’t invest

If your mortgage is too high and overextends your budget,you can’t build an emergencyfund for when lifehappens.

5. Don’ttreat yourbudget likeanadversary. Everbeen in love?

Treat yourbudgetlike alove interest. Stay connected to it Change when necessary andappropriate to make things work.

If youdon’t knowthe song “And IAmTellingYou I’mNot Going, go find it on YouTube.I like Jennifer Hudson’sversionfromthe movie“Dreamgirls.”

Here’show it starts:“AndIam telling you, I’mnot going. You’re the best man I’ll ever know. There’s no way Ican ever go.No, no,nothere’snoway.No, no,no, no wayI’m living without you.”

Now replace thewords “best man” with “best budget.”

BIPARTISAN

Continuedfrom page1E

Bigwin on workforcetraining

The most significant win, business leaders say,was apackage of bills that consolidated power and millions of federal workforce training dollars under Louisiana Works, the former Louisiana WorkforceCommission, which wasrestructured during the 2025 legislative session. Those federal dollars, which totaled $115 million this year,previously flowed to 15 differentregionalcouncils charged with devising and overseeing workforce training in their respective geographic areas. Abill approved during the sessionwould effectively funnel the money and control to the state, which advocates saywould allowfor greater coordination, oversight and efficiency

Adam Knapp, president andCEO of Leaders for aBetter Louisiana, said the movewas “a longoverdue restructuring” thatwill“move the needle on workforceinwayswehave not seen in more than a decade.”

Otheruses

Hollywood Trucks’ supplier agreement with NBCUniversalisabig win for Champagne, whose long-term goals include bringing trailers back to Louisiana,where his headquarters will remain.

“I was bornand raised here, so that’swhy we’re standing here,”hesaidlastweek. “I wanttobuild aglobaljuggernaut from here.”

Champagne said he is encouraged by theway his new vehicles have performed since their rollout. He hopestoprove their usefulness to other industries, possibly serving as mobilepower plants for disaster relief or construction sites.

“Weare now amobile, cleanenergy power company because we can pull thesevehicles up andexportpower to your building,” he said. “They could turn an RV park intoa power plant, because hundreds of them together can produce megawatts of free, clean energy.”

Afew weeks before delivering thefirst Ecoluxe trailer to NBCUniversal’sstudio lotin LA earlier this spring, Champagne and his manufacturing partners in Canada conducted an experiment, connecting the vehicle’s50-amp electric output cord to the breaker panel of thefactorybuilding where it was made.

Champagne flipped aswitch andproved somethinghehad been theorizing for years: Even thesmallestversion of his new vehicles can power an entire building for aperiod of time.

“Itwas areally surreal moment,” he said. “At first, we were just afraid we’d blow something up at thefactory,but now I’m thinking about disrupting several industries by creating fleets of fully autonomous vehicles.”

EmailRich Collinsatrich. collins@theadvocate.com.

That’show youshould approach your budget. No, no,no, no wayyou should be living without it 6. Don’tkeep saying“Idon’t know.”

Me:What’syourtotal student loan debt?

Young adult:I don’tknow. Me:Whatisthe differencebetween gross payand netincome?

Young adult:I don’tknow. Me:What’sFICA?

Young adult:I don’tknow?

Financialilliteracy can keep you broke or hinderyourabilityto growyourwealth

There’s apoint in your life when ignoranceabout your personalfinances is achoice, andit’sone that won’tserve youwell.

Childrencan saytheydon’t knowbecause they typically have parentsorguardians who aresupposedtoknowfor them. Butby thetime yougraduate fromhigh school or college,you have to take responsibilityand learnasmuch as youcan aboutbudgeting, credit, saving andinvesting.

Youcan no longerafford to say “I don’tknow.”

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

needs, also died in committee.

Differingperspectives

Avictory for the business community on the energy front came in the form of abill that blocks lawsuits against oil and gas companies over the impacts of climate change.

Business lobbyists also successfully fought back bills by environmental groups and local governments that would have made it hardertomoveforward with carbon capture and sequestration projects. The measures, Green said, would have created, “more regulation and more uncertainty at atime when we’re trying to create more jobs and opportunities.”

Another measure created thefunding mechanism for anew workforce traininginitiative, establishing the Bayou Growth Opportunity Fund, which also wouldbeadministeredbyLouisiana Works. Modeled afterasuccessful program in Michigan, “BayouWorks,” as the local program is called, would award competitive grantstobusinesses that partner with qualified training providers to build skills and increase productivity Lawmaker did notfundthe program. But Green saidestablishing aframework to get more workers up to speed is an important first step.

“The funding will eventually get there,” he said. “It’s too importantnot to seethrough.” Lawmakers also expandedaccess to workforcefinancial aid, expanding theTaylor Opportunity Program for Students’ Tech scholarship to include part-timestudents, streamlining dual enrollment processes and increasing instructional capacity in community and technical colleges for high-demand fields.

Mixedresults

As in thepast, business lobbyists pushed bills seeking to lower the duration and cost of workers’ compensation claims. The state’sclaims areamong thecostliestinthe U.S. even though Louisiana has some of the nation’slowestrates of on-the-jobinjury

Onemeasurethat business groups claimed as avictory requires the Office of Workers’ Compensation to collect andanalyze detailed billing, payment utilization and access to care data in order to determine why some doctors charge so much more than others when treating workers’ compclaims.

Leah Long, state director forthe National Federation of Independent Businesses,which lobbies forsmall businesses, said the measure is an “important first step towards amore modern andaccountable workers’ comp system.”

Key tort reform measures failed, however, with lawmakers opting not to advance out of committeeabill that would have established damage caps in civil lawsuits.Green said the measure had been “a reasonable bill,modeled after other states” that LABI will bring up again in the future.

Otherbills, including one that would require expertwitnesses to face greater scrutiny in jurytrialsand another to ensure that medical awards are used for legitimate long-termcare medical

As it did whensuccessfully passing incentives two years ago used to secure the Meta artificial intelligence data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana Economic Development asked lawmakers to sign nondisclosure agreements and pass incentives to benefit aerospace companies like SpaceX. Invest in Louisiana President and CEO Jan Moeller,whose organization advocates for equitable taxand spend policiesand is often at odds with the business lobby,saidthe widespread use of NDAs forincentivesistroubling especially because it’sunclear what the state is getting in return for giving away tax dollars.

On other business issues, Moeller saidhis group applauds many of the workforce training bills.

“In asession that was so deeply polarized, this was an area where bipartisanship reigned,”hesaid. “I think people of good will on both sidesbelieveswe need to train workers for good jobs.”

He lamented,though, that lawmakersdid notaddress wages for low-incomeworkers.

“You can have allthe workforce training in the world and you still are going to need custodialworkers, inhome care workers, and without a meaningful minimumwage, they are going to continue to struggle financially,” Moeller said.

Localvictories

Local economic development groups supported many of the broader statewide initiatives around workforce training and education and say they representwinsfor localcommunities as well as for the state as awhole.

The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership celebrated the passage of ameasure establishing aframework forpaidinternships that provide high school credits connected to business partnerships.

The group also hailed the passage of aprogram that addresses the shortage of qualified instructors in high-demand industry sectors. It creates astructure in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System by creating astructure to recruit, train and retain teachers capable of providing technical educationthataligns with the needs of industry Ablight redevelopment initiative backed by the partnership also passed thissession. Thelaw sets up avote in November on aconstitutional amendment that would allow for property taxexemptions on blightedand derelict properties that havebeen rehabilitated.

In New Orleans, GNO Inc.’sMichael Hecht said one of thekey highlights wasthe creation of the Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank, which delivered anew financing tool to deliver more infrastructure projects, leverage public and private dollars, and stretch state resources further

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

Knapp

Moeller

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

La. Lottery quintupled revenue

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Rose Hudson describes her first

role at the Louisiana Lottery Corp.

as a “Swiss Army knife.”

She started her journey at the company at its inception in 1991, after the state Legislature approved a lottery to generate revenue without raising taxes, taking on tasks like cleaning toilets and writing checks. She took a brief hiatus from the company but has headed the organization for the past 20 years. As president and CEO, Hudson still sees herself in a do-it-all role, which she says comes in handy in an ever-changing gaming market.

As mandated by law, the lottery contributes $500,000 to the state

Office of Addictive Disorders and at least 25% of revenue to the Minimum Foundation Program, which funds public education

According to preliminary revenue numbers for 2026, the organization’s 35th year, the lottery will contribute about 30% of its revenue to the MFP, Hudson said. The legislative mandate is the organization’s “north star,” she said, guiding the lottery toward maximizing dollars for the state.

In recent years, the organization has posted $500 million to $600 million in earnings, which Hudson attributes to the lottery’s marketing strategy to partner with brands like the New Orleans Saints, create experiential prizes like a “Warehouse Dash” shopping spree and work one-on-one with its 2,900 retailers on product display That’s up from about $100 million to $200 million in revenue in the lottery’s early years.

Retailers earn a nickel for every $1 ticket sold and can earn additional commission for selling big jackpot tickets, totaling about

Q&A WITH ROSE HUDSON

LOUISIANA LOTTERy PRESIDENT AND CEO

$800 million retailer commission over the years.

“We take our part of that very seriously, hence all of the games that we come up with, the approaches to marketing, all of that drives back to our part in the revenue generation effort,” Hudson said.

In this week’s Talking Business,

Hudson discusses changing consumer behaviors, upcoming lottery technology and her tenure at the organization.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

Are there any changes recently in what customers are wanting?

The visual appeal of the tickets themselves is a really big deal right now Tickets that are more in line with what else they’re seeing in the marketplace, let’s say the Saints. That’s something that they’re familiar with.

Customers like to go to games or watch the games on TV so matching up what they’re accustomed to seeing in their typical consumer life with our tickets.

We did a Hasbro ticket, so we did a suite of tickets with (the game) Clue, and so that’s kind of fun.

Whether they played the game or are familiar with the game, those are some of those things that we see that are very attractive to our customer and really pop out of the display

How would you describe the organization when you first joined?

It’s night and day We are a smaller organization. We’ve been able to really kind of tighten the way we operate.

We’re lean, following some re-

ally good business principles to make sure that we again are maximizing revenue. We operate on less than 5% of gross revenue for our operations, which is unheard of.

We are innovative and creative in a way that we weren’t in the beginning.

We’ve really been able to take advantage of some very bright minds coming into the organization and being able to say, “What if we try this?” or “This would be an excellent way to market our tickets or develop our games.”

The industry has changed, consumer behavior has changed, and so I think we’ve been really good at kind of being flexible and changing for what the consumer and what the marketplace looks like.

I was reading that other state lotteries use somewhere around 10% of their revenues for operations How are you guys able to operate with 5%? What do you feel like deters other states from doing a similar thing?

The legislative mandate to give 25% really has been a driver and helped us from day one be able to kind of outline how we spend the money, how we spend that revenue, and what we can’t do, or what we can do within the parameters. If that were removed, I think we would still be, as a part of our core business principles, operating in the same way using those same guidelines.

What’s the latest technology relating to gaming that’s on your mind right now?

The big one is what we would like to do is internet lottery We would love to be able to have our customers be able to purchase

or

or develop our games.” ’

tickets via the mobile app.

It’s happening in probably 13 other states right now very successfully They’ve been able to partner with retailers to make sure that those brick-and-mortar retailers don’t lose out.

It’s kind of a rising tide lifts all boats concept. When we pull that information, we’re able to see that we would not do any harm to our 2,900 partners by expanding into the mobile arena, but that is a policy decision that the Legislature would need to agree to, hopefully, at some point.

It seems like other states have done this already Why now for the organization?

I want to emphasize that we would need legislative approval to do that, and that has not happened yet, so I don’t want to get out in front of them, but it’s a perfect time for us, in that we see what other states are doing, we’re

listening to the consumer, and so we’re trying to kind of walk carefully with the Legislature and say, here’s the information.

It does not do harm to our current retailer base, and actually we can help drive traffic to those stores, whether it be that first download incentivizing the retail for a customer to get a download to download the app there, so there are ways that we can put their minds at ease, and see that this is next. You can buy a car, and you can buy wine and shoes online.

We can do this, we can protect our consumer we can geofence to make sure only Louisiana residents are purchasing, we can agegate to make sure that our customers are 21 and over. It’s just a process. I think that change will come, but it’s a process that we work with the Legislature on.

AROUND THE REGION

DefensefirmtoexpandLSU operations,createnew jobs

Integersaysnew salaries will average $130,000

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

ASouth Carolina-baseddefense technology companysaiditwillexpand its operations on the LSU campus, amove that will create 23 goodpaying jobs.

The new jobs at Integer Technologies will have an average annualsalary of $130,000, according to Louisiana Economic Development. LED said the expansion will create 28 indirect jobs and keep the nine current employees at Integer

Company officials saidthey plan to increase the numberofemployees year-over-year by about 35% over the next four years. Integer,headquartered in Columbia, SouthCarolina, established operations at LSU in 2023. Earlier this year,the companymoved into aspace in the LSU Digital Media Center.The company works with several universities, including theUniversity of SouthCarolina,the University of SouthernMississippi, the University of Wisconsin-Madisonand Florida StateUniversity,totransform scientificresearch into software and systems that help the military and commercialcustomersmake faster, better decisions “Integer Technologies’Baton Rouge presence proves LSU’sresearch and

Integer Technologies’ Baton Rouge presenceproves LSU’sresearch and talent is a powerful engine for recruitment and innovation.”

WADE ROUSSE, LSU president

talentisa powerful engine forrecruitment and innovation,and we’re proud to workwith them on next-generation technology for thenation,” LSU President Wade Rousse said in astatement

The expansion is building off a$9.8 millionNavyresearchcontractthat Integer was awarded in 2024.

That money led to the development of aresearch team from the LSU College of Engineeringand the Collegeof Science to improve the intelligence, autonomy and decision-making abilities of maritime systems, such as underwater robots.

“Our partnership with LSU has created aunique environment where industry,academia, and government canworkshoulder-to-shoulder to bring innovations from the labtothe warfighter,” Duke Hartman, Integer

CEO andco-founder, said in astatement. “Together,we’re developing cutting-edge, predictive intelligence software to support the national security priorities of theU.S.Department of War, while building on the substantialmaritime infrastructure and know-how that already exists at LSU and in Louisiana to create meaningful, well-paying careers forLSU grads and the local workforce.” Integer was awarded acompetitive incentive package from LED to expand itsoperations, including participating in the Digital Interactive Mediaand Software program, which providestax credits forpayroll and production expenditures.

Email TimothyBoone at tboone@ theadvocate.com.

Gulf SouthAngelsmergeswithD.C.-basedinvestorgroup

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Louisiana’slargest angel investor network just got bigger

In May,the New Orleans-based Gulf South Angels announcedit was absorbing members of the Washington, D.C.-based MEDA Angels,a healthcare-focused group.

Founded as the NO/LA Angel Network in 2014 by former Weather Channel executiveMike Eckert, the nonprofit investment group changed its name two years agoasitexpanded itsfocustothe region. It has more than 170 investors across20states.

MEDA Angels, established seven years agobyElizabeth Cho-Fertikh, is anetwork of approximately 50 high-net-worth physicians and healthcare professionals basedin 18 states, Canada, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Eckert, Gulf South Angels’ board chair,said he and his fellow investors areexcited to bringinnew blood, especially those with medical expertise.

“This transition enhances our

connections within the healthcare communitynationwide and continuestobuild onthe momentum of GSA’sever growing membership base and brand name,” he said in aprepared statement.

Cho-Fertikh said the deal made sense because her group had been looking for an expanded base of investors within astrong support structure

“I’m thrilled for the additional camaraderieour members will enjoy,access to even more expansive deal flow,and the opportunity to further establish ourselves as a trusted, go-to healthcare investor group for startups seeking both strategic and financialsupport,” she said.

Gulf South Angels meets monthly and employs twopart-time staffers to organize meetingsand analyze potentialinvestments.

The group’sboard of directors, executive committee and due diligencecommittees gather at other times. Members payanannual fee andagree to aminimumannual investment amount of $10,000 to stay active. The group’smembers, who make individual investment

decisions, have participated in 151 funding rounds in 75 companies. Theindividual investmentsadd up to $34 millionsince thegroup was formed.

Approximately40% of thenonprofit’s allocations are concentrated in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devicesand healthcare IT.Nineteen of its companies have “exited,” which is investorlingo forasale, merger or public offering that leads to apayout.

MEDA Angelsisafor-profit organization witha concentration of physician, scientist,insurance and healthcare industry investormembers. The group’smembers have invested approximately $10 million in 26 early-stage healthcare startups.Three of thosestartups —Atraverse Medical, Citus Health and Allotrope Medical —have had successful exits, according to a company spokesperson.

The transition of MEDA Angels members into Gulf South Angels will begin immediately and continue throughout thesummer Email Rich Collinsatrich. collins@theadvocate.com.

MichaelHecht President &CEO GNO Inc

Places Dozens of Local StudentsinPaid

Recently,GNO,Inc.launchedthe sixth year of our InnovationInternship Program, placing 45 college students with 39 companiesacrossSoutheast Louisiana.

TheGNO,Inc.Innovation Internship Programis premisedona double-win:

•Promising local students getreal-world experience andbusinessconnections

•Regional businessesget talent

The2026 internship cohort is our largest andmostdiverse ever:

•45paidinterns,39hostcompanies across six career tracks: STEM, Startup, Engineering, Energy,Trade &Logistics/Maritime,and PrivateEquity/ VentureCapital

•$20/hour,30hoursper week foreight weeks, witha C-SuitePitch Competition andindividual capstone presentationsatthe close

•Students from12institutions,including DillardUniversity,LSU,Loyola, SUNO, Southern BatonRouge,Southeastern,Tulane, UNO and Xavier

•Hostcompanies ranging from newcompanies likeNewlab andObatala Sciences, to major operatorslikeCFIndustries,PortofNew Orleans, MSC MediterraneanShipping Company,and Vivace(Michoud) [Seefull list of host companiesinimage below]

•Since theinternship programlaunchedin2021, students have maintained a 97% retention rate with host companies 65% percent of alumni have been invited back forextended placements. When thiscohortfinishes in late July, GNO, Inc. will have served nearly150 students total.

The2026 internship programissupportedby Chevron, Boeing,the Tulane Innovation Institute, LA Works, theBrown Foundation,the Walton Family Foundation,and NOBIC.Thank you!

Youcan read the full press release here

Companiesinterestedinhosting an intern can reachDaphineBarnes at dbarnes@gnoinc.org

Student applications forthe 2027 cohort open this fall at gnoinc.org.

PROVIDED PHOTO

MikeEckert, aco-founder and former CEO of The Weather Channel, founded Gulf South Angels after moving to NewOrleans in 2013 and recognizing aneed forstartup capital in the local market.

LouisianaLegislature ChoseBalance on Menhaden: Stronger OversightWithout Sacrificing CoastalJobs

Louisiana’smenhadenfisheryisoften scrutinizedfromafar, whichmakes it easy to forget that behindthe headlinesare working families,multi-generationalfishingoperations, andblue-collarjobsincoastal communities like Plaqueminesand Vermilionparishes, and localitiesinbetween,thatdependonthisresource Thatiswhythecommercialmenhadenfishery approachedthislegislativesessionwithasimple goal:workcooperatively with lawmakerson practical, science-based measures that improve transparency,reporting,and accountability withoutinflictingunnecessaryharmonthepeople whomaketheir living on thewater That is exactlywhathappened.

Lawmakersconsideredseveralproposalsthis sessionimpacting wherethe menhaden fleet operates.The debate wassometimes heated andsomeadvocates cast thefishingindustry as avillain.But ourindustrylistened,engaged, andworkedwiththe Legislaturetoadvance reasonable measures whileopposingproposals thatwouldhaveimposedsevereeconomicharm. TheLegislaturechosetostrengthenoversight andpublicconfidence throughbetterreporting, cleareraccountability,and vessel-tracking requirements,while rejectinganapproachthat wouldhavepushedthefisheryintoanunworkable corner First, HB 872requirespurse seinevessels engagedincommercialmenhaden reduction fishing,touseAutomaticIdentificationSystems. Thelargersteamersormotherships arealready equippedwiththetechnology.AIScreatesavessellocation record that cansupport enforcement, improveaccountability, andanswerwhether boatsare respecting establishedboundaries. It willrequire industry investment in equipment, installation,maintenance,and compliance, but it is a practical andtransparentbill.

Second,lawmakers strengthened accountability forcertain violations.Our fishermenrespectthelawanddesignatedfishing areas.Someproposalsincludedafirstoffensefine of$50,000.TheLegislaturetookamorebalanced approach.HB757,nowsignedintolawasAct316, includes afirstoffense fineof$2,500, roughlya tenfoldincreasefromthe prior$250 penalty. Boundariesmatter,andthelawnowreflectsthat Third,inHB886,lawmakersimprovedpublic understandingofthemenhadenfishingindustry withoutcompromisingsensitive details. We are transparentinour operations,but commercial catchrecords canrevealoperational strategies anddetailedfishing patterns.The proper balanceistogivethe public aclearer pictureat anaggregatelevelofharvestwithoutturningover specificset-by-setlocationinformationthatwould unfairlyexposeindividualcompany’soperations. Thesereforms occurred in afisherywitha strong management andconservationrecord. Louisianarecentlyconducted abycatch study, funded througha$1million legislative appropriationand administered by theGulf States Marine FisheriesCommission, using onboardobservers andelectronicmonitoring to evaluate 418purse-seine sets,3.2 percentof Louisiana’stotal 2024 menhaden fishingeffort. Theresultsdid notsupport widely circulated claims that menhaden fishing is an unchecked driver of sportfish mortality. Totalbycatch was estimatedatroughly3.6percentbyweight,below Louisiana’s5percentcap,andreddrummortality from thefisherywas asmall shareofoverall red drum removals.Thisdemonstratesthatany furtherreformsshouldbeproportional,targeted, andgroundedindataratherthananecdotes or worst-case assumptions.

ThatiswhytheLegislatureactedprudentlyin declining to advanceHB855, whichwould have

required thefleettoonlyfish in waters deeper than 22 feet.Supportersframeditasabycatch solution,but it wouldhave removedmiles and milesofavailablefishinggroundsthatsustainthe fishery.Landingsrecords show that roughly85 percentofmenhaden landings occurinthe zone thebillwould have restricted.Thisstructural disruption wouldhavethreatened jobsand the establishedfishing practices in Louisiana’s coastalcommunities Thestakesarereal.Louisiana’sGulfmenhaden industrysupportsmorethan2,000jobs,generates more than $419 millioninannualeconomic impact,purchases tens of millions of dollarsin goodsandservicesacrossdozensofparishes,and supportsdockworkers,plantemployees,welders, mechanics, truckdrivers,fuelsuppliers,vesselservicebusinesses,andcoastalsmallbusinesses. Noresponsiblepolicymakershoulddismissthose livelihoodsascollateraldamage. Policymakersalsoshouldn’tignorethebroader management context. Louisianahas already adoptedsignificant nearshoreprotections includingcoastal buffer zonesand additional protectionsinsensitive andhigh-priority areas. The questionbeforelawmakers waswhether to

pair thoseprotections with practicaloversight toolsortoimposeasweepingdepth restriction that wouldhavedisplaced most of thefishery’s historic landings Thescientificclaim behindthe depth restrictionwas also farlesssettled than some advocatessuggested.Asdiscussed during the session,pushingboatsincrementallyfartherfrom shoredidnotshowaconsistentbycatchreduction. Amajor reductionappearedonlyatthe 22-foot threshold,thesamepointatwhichthefleetwould loseaccesstomostofitstraditionallandingsarea Louisiana’sLegislature weighedthattradeoff honestly andchose balance. Themenhaden fishery is sustainable,heavily scrutinized, andeconomicallyimportant Gulf menhaden arenot overfishedand arenot experiencingoverfishing.That’swhythefishery wasrecentlyrecertifiedassustainable by the Marine StewardshipCouncil This legislativesession demonstratedwhat is possible when thepeopleclosest to thework engage legislatorsand follow thescience to advancereasonable oversightmeasuresthat retain valued jobs and livelihoods

Broughttoyou by theLouisiana Commercial Fishing Coalition, LLC

Staff report

South Louisianabusinesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the following promotions, new hires and resignations.

NewOrleans

Dr.Dewitt Bateman has been appointed chief medical officer of Lakeview Hospital.

Bateman was previously associatechief medical officer and medical director of perioperative services at Woman’sHos-

Fool’sTake: Growth and dividends from real estate

pital in Baton Rouge. Erik Gonzalez has been promoted to directoroffacility operations for the Ernest N. Morial ConventionCenter.

AU.S.Marine Corpsveteran, Gonzalez joined the Convention Center in 2006 as facility services manager and becameassistant director in 2018.

KendallMcManus-Thomas hasbeen appointed as the new CEO and principal of WarrenEaston Charter School,effective July 1.

industry historical median of 94.4%.

Aformer Warren Easton student,teacher and administrator, McManus-Thomas was most recently principal of BenjaminFranklin High Schooland was previously principalofAndrew H. Wilson Charter School.

Raymond “Andy Moreau hasbeen hired as executive chef at the DoubleTree by Hilton Ho-

tel New Orleans. ACharleston, South Carolina, native,Moreau haspreviouslyhad leadership rolesatMarmalade in San Juan and, locally,with Restaurant August and BRG Hospitality BatonRouge

Sibel Bargu Ates has been appointed thevice provost and dean of the PinkieGordonLaneGraduate School at LSU. Bargu Ates is aprofessor in the Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Department and has served as interim dean of the graduate school since last year She previously spent seven years as associatedean forAcademics in

the College of the Coast and Environment.

Jeremy Jallans has been hired as chief financial officer of Open Health Care Clinic. Jallans has previouslyworked for Ochsner Health and St. Thomas Community Health Center

Do you have personnel changes to shareorother ideas forour business coverage? Drop us a lineatbiztips@theadvocate. com.

While most dividend-paying stocks pay their shareholders quarterly,Realty Income (NYSE: O) is one of the relatively fewthat pay each month. As areal estate investment trust, to be exempt from corporate income taxes, it must return at least 90%of its income to shareholdersas dividends. Realty Income has paid adividend for 670 consecutive months and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years. Its dividend yield was recently ahefty 5.2%.

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Realty Income’s growthprospectsare encouraging —especially in Europe.That makes it likely that its juicy and growing dividends will continue to flow eachmonth,asthey have for decades. (The Motley Fool owns shares of andrecommends Realty Income.)

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infusions of cash that companies get when theytake on debt can help themgrow—oreven just survive.Too much debt is risky, though, because acompany can end up in trouble if, at any point it doesn’thave the cashtomake the payments. Even if it does, it will be spending money that it might otherwise have used in moreproductive ways Investors considering companies with debt need to evaluate whether the debt is manageable and whether themoney raisedand invested is earning morethan it costs. For example, imagine you’re worried about the debt load of Buzzy’sBroccoli Beer (ticker: BRRRP).The notes in its annual report should detail the interest rates it’s being charged. If the effective interest rate on itsdebt is 4% and Buzzy’sisputting its borrowed money to workearning, say,8%, that’snot tooproblematic. But if Buzzy’sisgenerating $500 million in cash each year while owing $800 million in annual interestpayments, that’sworrisome. Ask the Fool:Why

Walmartmoved

Iread that Walmartleft the NewYork Stock Exchangelast year and is now listed and trading on the Nasdaq stock market. Why? —T.P LaCrosse, Wisconsin There are severalpossible reasons,such as cost, image and listing requirements. The NYSE dates back to 1792, and many consider it more prestigious. Companies listed

Beyond Blueprints.

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on the NYSE include Berkshire Hathaway,ExxonMobil, Bankof America, Coca-Colaand Home Depot.The Nasdaq started in 1971 as acomputerized trading system, and it’s nowhome to gobs of fast-growingtech companies, amongmanyothers. Itslistings include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Costco Wholesale and PepsiCo. Walmart’sreasoning seems tiedtoits image, as it explained: “The move to Nasdaq underscores the strong alignment between Walmart andNasdaq’s sharedvalues: atechnologyforward approach andredefining their respectiveindustries through innovation.”

What happens to astock’sprice-toearnings ratio if the stock splits? —I.S., Port Charlotte, Florida Youmight think that theP/E ratio would drop alongwith the stock price, butitdoesn’t change. Let’sreviewthe (simple) math. AP/E ratioisa stock’sprice per share divided by the past year’searnings per share.Soa stock trading at $60 per share withanEPS of $5 will have aP/E of 12 (60 dividedby 5).Ifitsplits 2-for-1,shares will be priced at $30, andthe EPS will alsobehalved, resulting in an unchanged P/E (30 dividedby 2.5 is still 12). Remember that stock splits arenot that meaningful:While you end up withmore shares, their prices are reduced proportionately,soyour holding’stotal value remains essentially the same.

My Dumbest Investment: Badblood

Ihavemanyregrettable investment decisions. Forexample,I bought shares of NorthfieldLabs on news that it wasnear a synthetic blood substitute,which Ithought would be abig seller. Ikept buying even as the price declined, and eventually Irode it down to bankruptcy Then

Largecommercial construction projects often face disputes over delays, defectivework,cost overruns,and subcontractorfailures. ForLouisiana projectowners, resolvingtheseconflictsisalegal obligation andbusiness strategy.Early planning, contracts, andclaimscan turn setbacks into recovery opportunities, protecting investments andstrengthening delivery

Effective preparationevaluates projectriskand contract structure,sincedeliverymethods and pricingshaperesponsibility.Indemnification provisions,schedules,and liquidated damages provideleverage, whilealigned litigationstrategy andearly insurerinvolvementsupport business objectives.Documenting issues, preserving evidence,meeting bond requirements,and presenting supportedclaimsenhancecredibility resolvedisputes, andsafeguard projectsuccess.

Jones Walker is proudtohelpleadthe wayfor Louisiana’s construction industry as it navigatesa complexlegal environment.

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SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

French Quarter skate shop has built a global reputation

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

In a narrow storefront nestled between Jackson Square and the French Market sits the oldest operational skateboarding shop in Louisiana.

It’s a distinction that might go unnoticed among those unfamiliar with skateboarding, a sport with a cultlike following that emerged in the 1960s and has grown into a $3.5 billion global market with more than nine million U.S. skaters, a corporate sponsorship ecosystem and permanent status at the Olympic Games.

But for devotees, Humidity Skate Shop is something of an institution, one whose reputation has spread over three decades through the international yet tight-knit skateboarding community to draw customers from far beyond Louisiana’s borders.

Owner Phil Santosuosso began working at the shop, then under its previous ownership, shortly after Hurricane Katrina. He was 20 at the time and an avid skateboarder who wanted to be around the sport as much as he could, so he gave up his day job at a Honda dealership.

Four years later, with the help of a loan secured by a lien against his mother’s house, he bought the shop and started working ‘round the clock, seven days a week.

At the end of two years living on couches, paying himself just enough to eat and motivated by the fear of failure, Santosuosso paid off the lien.

While he remembers that time as nerve-wracking, he was fully immersed in the culture, living, breathing and bleeding skateboarding and still is.

“I’m a skateboarder, not a business owner That’s how I live,” he said. “Without this, I’d still be skating. That’s been my approach the whole time, so I don’t get burnt out.”

‘No big price jump’

There are a couple of keys to sustainability in the skate shop business, which is niche, rare and

increasingly challenging in an era of e-commerce and premium rents.

Humidity runs on a staff of two full-time and two part-time employees. Santosuosso supplements his own income through sponsorships from Australian skateboard brands Butter Goods and Cash

Only who pay him to wear and represent their products while riding. It’s an arrangement that allows him to draw a smaller salary from the shop and keep more money in the business.

Humidity has also teamed up with international brands on limited-release products, helping to drive sales and cement the shop’s reputation as a skateboarding trendsetter Collaborations have included Spitfire wheels, boards from Baker Skateboards, work with artists David Harouni and Sal Barbier, a Nike sneaker and a Vans all-weather skating shoe.

Santosuosso also credits the shop’s survival to its longtime landlord, who he said has prioritized leasing the block at reasonable rates to small independent retail-

ers over chain perfume shops and T-shirt outlets.

The shop carries the shoes, shirts and hats worn by skaters, including niche streetwear brands only available at a few stores in the U.S But the core of Humidity’s business is sales of skateboards and their components which comprise more than half its revenue of less than $1 million a year

Santosuosso said his store won’t carry any products that he and his staff wouldn’t skate on themselves. Plus, top-tier skateboarding equipment is available at a far more attainable price point than other sports.

“We sell the same exact thing the dude that won the Olympics rides, and that could be $180,” Santosuosso said. “That’s what I love about skating. If somebody really, really wants to skate, you can figure it out. There’s no big price jump.”

Déjà vu

The biggest competitive pressure on Humidity doesn’t come from other shops, Santosuosso said It

comes from the brands themselves.

And it’s more of an issue with shoes than the store’s boutique clothing selection.

“Something like Adidas, sometimes we get the shoe and they already have it on sale on their website,” he said. “That’s the hardest thing.”

An even bigger threat, of late, has been the ongoing road work in the French Quarter that has decimated sales at nearby businesses over the past year

“This is our second time dealing with this,” Santosuosso said. “We didn’t have a street for two years already once.”

And it’s not just the decline in foot traffic that’s costing Humidity

Last week, the shop’s air conditioner broke down, a failure its owner attributed to dust kicked up by the digging at the corner Doubling down on Dumaine

Still, Humidity recently doubled both its square-footage and its rent, expanding into an adjacent unit in the building. Santosuosso dubbed it “the Annex” and plans to keep it as a white box and use it for temporary events like art shows, pop-up shops, video screenings or concerts.

“There’s so many creative people in skating,” he said. “Art and music

and everything, and I want to be able to celebrate that on a better level.”

He also hopes to construct a temporary skate ramp in the new space in conjunction with the X Games, which is set to hold its first-ever league championship event at the Caesars Superdome in July

Later this month, Humidity is partnering with New Balance and a prominent skateboard photographer for a series of events around National Go Skateboarding Day, including a demo and cookout at Parisite DIY Skatepark, where Santosuosso annually builds or donates a new element — this year, a picnic table from Los Angeles school yards made famous in influential skate videos of the mid-1990s. Santosuosso, who is also planning a benefit show to fund repairs of a community-built skate ramp in the 8th Ward, said giving back to the local skate community has always been his main focus.

“I did this because I genuinely love skating,” said Santosuosso. “Even to this day, we still skate every day and have art shows. If it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t do this. I can go stress out somewhere else and make a lot more money.”

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

Santosuosso bought Humidity Skate Shop on Dumaine Street in the French Quarter shortly after Hurricane Katrina.

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Humidity Skate Shop owner Phil Santosuosso has been able to keep the small, niche operation in the French Quarter running through sponsorships and international partnerships.

IrishChannel $2,850,000 GreekRevival compound c. 1861 on an 11,000+sqftlot just off Magazine.Features a3BR/3.5BA

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Modern 3bed,2.5 bath,1,689 sqft home builtin2021ona corner lotinanX flood zone.Brightopenlayoutwithbamboo floors,quartzcountertops,customcabinetry, &multiple porches. Spacious primarysuite with balcony &spa-likebath. Gated propertywithtwo driveways, off-streetparking,updated roof, sustainablelandscaping,&abundantoutdoor living spaces AdrienneLaBauve•504-344-0877KasiChampagne•504-715-0115 LaBauveGroup /eXp Realty504-513-3109X 165

Debutante

COTERIE

2026-2027

WWW.SOSUSUBOUTIQUE.COM

@SOSUSUBOUTIQUE

3427 MAGAZINE ST NEWORLEANS,LA70115

504.309.5026

Inawhirlwindofactivity, ahostofyoungwomenjoin NewOrleans'debutantetradition

BY NellNolan

Adebutistheformalpresentationofagirloryoungwomanto society,asocialriteofpassage. Manygenerationshaveenjoyedtheexperienceandcherishthememories Once againinourCrescentCity,anewflock ofyoungladiesstepsforwardatparties andpresentations,joiningthetradition ofdebutantesofdecadespast. Theculminationofthisspecialseason occursduringtheweeksofCarnival— andwillconcludeonMardiGras2027 whichisFeb 9—whenthedebutantes appearinthespectacularballs.Several aremaidsinmultiplecourts.Aselectfew wearcrownsandanswer,albeiteverso briefly,to“YourMajesty."

Withinthepagesofthefollowing debutantesection,48profilesappear, relatingpertinentinformationabout eachone.Theireducation,volunteerism,futuregoals,interests,hobbiesand parents’namesallfigureintotheformat Almostalloftheolderdebutantes attendcollegesoruniversitiesbeyond NewOrleansandthusjuggleacademic schedulesforhighlightsoftheseason, such as parties, presentations and Carnivalballs.Whereasmostofthe youngwomengrewupinthisareaand arefamiliarwiththeroleofadebutante, thosefromawayhavestrongfamilylinks tothecityanditstraditions.

Forthoseinthecoteriewhoattend highschoolorcollegeinNewOrleansor nearby,it’seasierontheirparents The proximityoftheirdaughtersisabonus becausepreparationsarenumerous.

Thereareliststobemadeforparties; photostobetaken;clothestobechosen foralltypesofsocializing;fittingsof specialsuitsordresses,includingthe regaliaofaqueen,whenapplicable;hairdresserappointments;giftstoacknowledgecertainfavors;thank-younotes towrite;andtheconstantlogisticsof gettingtoandfromevents.Somedebs gowiththeirparents,otherswithapack ofpals.

Stillanotherelementoftheseasonis thetrainingthattheyoungerones(and someolderones)receive Theylearn etiquette,howtomakeandenjoyinterestingconversation,howtodressand, especially,howtocurtsy.Quiteafewof theolderdebutantes,thecollegeseniors, havealreadyappearedinsub-debballs orpresentations.

Now the season has started and during the next eight months, the youngladiesfeaturedinthedebutante sectionwillbeengagedinawhirlwind ofactivitysharedbytheirfamilies, friendsandrelatedorganizations.We lookforwardtotheeventsatwhich theywillbeshowcasedandwillfollow thefourdozenastheyembracethis memorable—andunique—period oftheirlives

Astheyinteractwithvariousgenerationsduringtheseason,thedebutantesadvancetheirsocialskillsand oftenmakeimportantcontacts.These connectionscanbebothasourceof friendshipandhelpinyearstocomeas careersdevelop.

6

Debs

4

Number of states thedebutantescall home, including Louisiana(from NewOrleans,Metairie, Slidell), Alabama (Fairhope),Florida (Delray Beach, Pensacola),Georgia (Atlanta), Mississippi (Bay St. Louis)and Texas(Prosper)

17

Number of crowns worn by membersofthe coterie,including Apollo,Harlequins,Les Pierrettes and Squires,withmoretocome in the 2027 Carnival season

The number of debutantespresented by Le Début desJeunesFillesdelaNouvelle Orléans,the first presentation event of theseason.Presentations will continue during thefall and holidayseason, ending during Carnival 2027

Debutante

COTERIE

2026-2027

Cecilia Anne Cangelosi

It's"Lights.Camera.Action."aheadfor CeciliaAnneCangelosi,whohopestocontinue herworkintheentertainmentindustryand workinfilmandtelevisionproductionafter college.Butfirst,shewillstudyinGreeceand worktoassistrefugeemothersandchildren.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.John AnthonyCangelosi.Hermotheristheformer JamieDodds.

AtDominican,Ceciliagraduatedmagna cumlaudeandwasaVisionaryoftheYear candidatefortheLeukemiaandLymphoma Society.Sheledafundraisingteamforblood cancerresearch

Sheismajoringinfilmstudieswithaminor inhistoryattheNewYorkuniversitywhereshe isanofficerinKappaDelta,servingasvicepresidentofinclusionanddevelopment.Sheisalsoan officerontheuniversity'sGreekCouncil

CeciliavolunteerswithHealingNYCtoraise fundsforchildabusepreventionandisaGirl Scoutmentor.Shehasworkedasaproduction anddesignassistantonprojects,including "Sinners"inNewOrleansand"LoveStory"inNew York.Shehasalsobeenacastingassistantforan off-Broadwaytheatercompany.

InadditiontoherworkinGreece,Ceciliawill alsointernthissummerwithTheGothamFilm andMediaInstituteinNewYork

•DaughterofMr.andMrs MatthewMcKayComan

•GraduatedfromAcademyof theSacredHeart

•AttendsWashingtonandLee University,Lexington,Virginia

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.John AnthonyCangelosi

•GraduatedfromSt.Mary'sDominican HighSchool

•AttendsPaceUniversity,NewYork, NewYork

Molly McKay Coman

ThereseemstobeabitofexplorerinMolly McKayComan,whoreturnsfromaspringterm inEuropeandhopestospendherfinalyearin collegeexploringtheareaaroundtheVirginia school—allgoodbackgroundforadegree inmarketing.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.Matthew McKayComan.Hermotheristheformer KristinMaryRoux.

AtSacredHeart,Mollygraduatedwithhighesthonorsandwasacheerleader,studentcouncilrepresentativeandamemberoftheNational HonorSociety.

AttheVirginiauniversity,sheisamemberof KappaAlphaThetaandservesasthePanhellenicrecruitmentcounselorandvicepresident ofrecruitmentonthePanhellenicExecutive Council.Sherecentlycompletedherspring terminParis,BrusselsandLondon.

Mollyhasworkedasaninternwithalocal publication,acommunityengagementintern attheLexington-RockbridgeChamberof Commerce,asummercampcounselorandin thefoodandbeveragesector.

DuringpreviousCarnivalseasons,she wasinthecourtsofCaliphsofCairo,HarlequinsandLesPierrettesandwaspresented atthePresident'sBalloftheLeMoynede BienvilleClub.

IsabellaMarie ZavatkayDennis

IsabellaMarieZavatkayDennis,known tofriendsandfamilyas"Izzi,"hopesto pursueacareerinlawaftercompletingher majorofEnglishwithaconcentrationin literatureatLSU.

SheisthedaughterofDr.andMrs. PatrickMichaelDennis.Hermotheristhe formerKathleenMarieZavatkayofSewall's Point,Florida.

AtMcGehee,Izziwasontheexecutive committee,astagemanagerfortheater,in choir,participatedinMockTrialandgraduatedwithdistinctioninEnglish.

SheisintheOgdenHonorsCollegein BatonRougeandinHonorsTraditionsin CriticalThoughtsandScholarshipandon thedean'slist.SheisamemberofKappa AlphaTheta.

Izzihasworkedinalawofficeandthe creativeartscampatalocalschool DuringpreviousCarnivalseasons,she wasinthecourtsofHermes,Prophets ofPersiaandCaliphsofCairoandwas presentedatthePresident'sBalloftheLe MoynedeBienvilleClub

•DaughterofDr.andMrs PatrickMichaelDennis

•GraduatedfromLouiseS. McGeheeSchool

•AttendsLouisiana StateUniversity

•DaughterofMs.Heather JermaineJonesDrakeandthe lateMr.CalvinDrakeJr

•AttendsIsidoreNewmanSchool

FelicityRosie Drake

Atalentedathleteherself,Felicity RosieDrakehopestousehersenior yeartoimproveherperformance andassumealeadershiprolewhile seekingacollegethatwillhelpher becomeasportspsychologist.

Sheisthe daughter of Ms HeatherJermaineJonesDrakeand thelateMr.CalvinDrakeJr.

AtNewman,Felicityhasbeenon thecheerteam,wasnamedthree timestotheNewmanVarsitySoftballFirstTeamAllDistrictand receivedacumlaudeawardonthe NationalLatinExam.Shewillbe amemberofthePeerLeadership Councilinthecomingterm

Shehopestofindauniversity andpursueaPh.D.inpsychology to"understandthementalside ofperformance."

Shewillworkthissummer asaninterninalocaldermatologypractice.

DuringtheCarnival2027season, FelicitywillbeinthecourtofYoung MenIllinoisClubball.

Sophie Elisabeth Ellis

SophieElisabethElliswouldlike toestablishanindependentdesign studiowithafocusonprint,packagingandinformation-drivendesign andisstudyinginAustriatoward thatfuture.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. StevenGrehanEllis.Hermotheris theformerSabineElisabethGreger ofVienna,Austria.

At BenFranklin, Sophie was co-captainofthecheerteam,an officerinthe German Culture ClubandamemberoftheNational HonorSociety.

Thissummer,shewillinternwith aViennesedesignstudioworking toexpandherunderstandingofAI withindesign

Herfutureplansincludeagraduatedegree.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Steven GrehanEllis

•GraduatedfromBenjamin FranklinHighSchool

•AttendsNewDesignUniversity, St.Pölten,Austria

•DaughterofMr.andMrs IrvingtonJosephEpplingJr

•GraduatedfromSt.Martin's EpiscopalSchool

•AttendsLouisiana StateUniversity

Grayson

Madeleine Eppling

AssheentersherfinalyearatLSU, GraysonMadeleineEpplingplanstofocus onherstudiesindigitalmarketingwith aneyetowardjoininghersisterMargueriteinChicagoandadvancinghercareer

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. IrvingtonJosephEpplingJr.Hermother istheformerVivianVictoriaTimm.

AtSt.Martin's,Graysonwaspresident oftheSpiritClub,amemberoftheart program,co-captainofthecheersquad andtwiceonthehomecomingcourt

AChiOmegainBatonRouge,sheis acampusambassadorfortheUp&Up MusicFestival.Shealsovolunteersat animalsheltersinthearea.

Inthepast,shehasworkedinthechildcaresectorasagymnasticscoachandin theserviceindustry.

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,shewas inthecourtsofSquiresandLesPierrettes.

•DaughterofDrs.LanceStuart andLeslieEstrada

•GraduatedfromIsidore NewmanSchool

•AttendsUniversityofNorth CarolinaatChapelHill

Caitlin Parker Estrada

CaitlinParkerEstradadesiresafuture insoftwareengineeringandisworkingfor Apple.cominCaliforniathissummertohelp achievethisgoal.

SheisthedaughterofDrs.LanceStuart andLeslieEstrada.Hermotheristheformer LeslieParkerNass.

AtNewman,CaitlinreceivedtheGrand AwardattheGreaterNewOrleansScience andEngineeringFair,wasonthecrosscountryteam,amemberoftheCumLaudeSociety andco-editoroftheNavigatorMagazine

AtChapelHill,sheisamemberofKappa Delta,ateachingassistantwithGirlsWho CodeandreceivedtheWomeninCybersecurityStudyAboardScholarshipinNagoya, Japanin2025.ShealsoreceivedthePhilips AmbassadorScholarshipforAsianStudies attheNationalUniversityofSingaporewhere shehasstudiedthismorerecentterm.

InadditiontoherApple.cominternship, shehasinternedinproductmanagementfor aNorthCarolinacompany.

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,shewasin thecourtofProphetsofPersia

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.WalterThomas GamardIII

•GraduatedfromIsidoreNewmanSchool

•AttendsSewanee:TheUniversityofthe South,Sewanee,Tennessee

LeilaWhitney Gamard

Ahigh-flyingfutureasaveterinarian isonthewingforLeilaWhitneyGamard, whoisalicensedstudentpilotandpartof theSewaneeFlyingTigersatheruniversityinTennessee.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. WalterThomasGamardIII.Hermother istheformerLeilaMcIlhennySutherlin. AtNewman,Whitneywasamember ofthevolleyballteamandtheCum LaudeSociety.

In addition to heraeronautical endeavors,WhitneyisamemberofPhi KappaEpsilonandtheNationalHonor SocietyforNeuroscience.Sherecently studiedabroadinNewZealand.

ShehasworkedinlocalanimalfacilitiesanddoneveterinaryworkinAustraliaandThailand.Sheisalsoacertified rescuescubadiver.

Duringhersub-debseasons,Whitney wasinthecourtsofSquires,LesPierrettes,ApolloandHarlequins.

Theodosia Caroline Grant

HealthcareistheprimaryfocusforTheodosiaCarolineGrant,whohopestobuildonher academicfoundationwhileinMadrid,Spain, and"comeawayfromtheyearwithaclearer senseofdirection—bothintermsofwhatI wanttostudyandwhereIwanttogonext."

SheisthedaughterofDr.andMrs.Arthur GordonGrantIII.Hermotheristheformer TheodosiaNolanTattersall

AtCountryDay,Carolinewasamemberof theNationalHonorSociety,aCovenantHouse ambassador,onthevarsitytennisteamand workedwithOperationDonation.

ADeltaGammaattheColoradouniversity, Carolineisalsoonthedean'slist.

Duringhersummers,shehasworkedin severalhealthcaresettings,includingshadowingphysicians,experiencesthathavedeepened herinterestinhealthcarebyshowingherthatit isbothintellectuallychallengingandgenuinely centeredonhelpingpeople.

•DaughterofDr.andMrs.Arthur GordonGrantIII

•GraduatedfromMetairiePark CountryDaySchool

•AttendsUniversityofColorado atBoulder

48

DebsByTheNumbers

Young women introduced in this special annual section who will maketheir debut this season, whichruns throughCarnival 2027

12

Number of states wherethe students attend college, including Louisiana,Alabama, California,Colorado, Georgia,Kentucky,Mississippi, NewYork, North Carolina,Tennessee,Texas and Virginia

ChylerVeronica Hampton

AcareerinnursingintheareaofneonatalintensivecareisthegoalforChyler VeronicaHampton.

Sheisthe daughter of Mr.Carlos Orel Hamptonand Ms.TamikaJan PointsHampton.

AstudentatDeLaSalle,Chylerisa memberoftheretreatteam,theSpanish Clubandacheerleader Chylerhopestousetheupcomingyear atDeLaSalletogrow,learnandsetasolid foundationforherfuture.

Brooke Elizabeth Habetz

BrookeElizabethHabetzwillparticipateinamedicalmissiontriptoMexico thissummer,continuinghereffortsto pursueacareerinhealthcare.

•DaughterofDr.andMrs.Scott JosephHabetz

•GraduatedfromAcademyofthe SacredHeart

•AttendsUniversityof MississippiatOxford

SheisthedaughterofDr.andMrs. ScottJosephHabetz.Hermotheristhe formerJulieMarieBrewer.

AtSacredHeart,shewasanofficeron theStudentCouncilExecutiveBoard,a PeerSupportleader,intheNational HonorSocietyandgraduatedwithhighesthonors.Shewasalsoontheschool's volleyballteam

AtOleMiss,Brookeisamemberof ChiOmegaandanofficerwiththeOle MissPre-PhysiciansAssistantSociety. Sheisonthechancellor'shonorrolland isamemberoftheAmericanMedical Women'sAssociation.

Lastsummer,shestudiedinBarcelona,Spain,andhasworkedasatriage assistantandmedicalassistant

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,shewas inProphetsofPersiaandLesPierrettes.

DuringtheCarnivalfor2027,Chylerwill bepresentedasadebutanteoftheseason attheballoftheYoungMenIllinoisClub

•DaughterofMr.CarlosOrelHampton andMs.TamikaJanPointsHampton

•AttendsDeLaSalleHighSchool

•DaughterofMr.Charles HardonandMs.Caneka FawnWebbHardonof Atlanta,Georgia

•AttendsRiverwoodInternationalCharterSchool,Sandy Springs,Georgia

Christia Honor Hardon

Inthecomingschoolyear,ChristiaHonor HardonwillbeduallyenrolledinToccoaFalls CollegeinGeorgiaasshecontinuesherstudies atherhighschoolinSandySprings,Georgia.

SheisthedaughterofMr.CharlesHardon andMs.CanekaFawnWebbHardonofAtlanta, Georgia.HermotherisformerlyofNewOrleans.

AtRiverwoodInternationalCharterSchool, ChristiaisamemberoftheStudentGovernmentAssociation,theBlackStudentUnionand onthehonorroll.Shehasalsoparticipatedin theSandySpringsYoungLeadershipAcademy andwasanofficerinStudentsAgainstDestructiveDecisions.

Afterseekingabusinessandmarketing degree,shehopestoexplore"theworldthrough thelensofphotographyandcreativelydirecting."

SherecentlycompletedtheRitesofPassage programwithZionHillChurchinAtlanta.

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,shewasapage intheOriginalIllinoisClubandhermotherand sisterreignedovertheballsinthepast

Charlotte Hamberlin Head

ThehecticworldofcrisisandfinancialcommunicationsiswhereCharlotte HamberlinHeadhopestoworkasshe studiesatWashingtonandLeeUniversity andinternsinNewYork.

ButshealsostudiedthroughSemester atSea,visiting10portsaroundtheglobe.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. JeremyThomasHead.Hermotheristhe formerStacySingletonofGreensburg.

AttheVirginiaboardingschool,CharlottewasontheHonorCommittee,ahall monitor,astaffwriterfortheschoolnewspaperandonthevolleyballsquad.

AKappaKappaGammaatWashington andLee,Charlotteisthechairofthenominatingcommittee.Sheisalsoamemberof theConnollyEntrepreneurshipSociety andastaffwriterforInGeneralMagazine.

InadditiontoattendingtheVirginia university,shealsostudiedattheLondon SchoolofEconomicsandhasinternedin NewYorkandNewOrleans

DuringapreviousCarnivalseason,she wasinthecourtofSquires

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Jeremy ThomasHead

•GraduatedfromEpiscopalHigh School,Alexandria,Virginia

•AttendsWashingtonandLee University,Lexington,Virginia

•DaughterofMr.JeffreyScott HiegerandMs.MicheleElyse ChauvinHieger

•GraduatedfromAcademyofthe SacredHeart

•AttendsLouisianaStateUniversity

EliseAnne Hieger

EliseAnneHiegerplans a futureinthehealthcareindustry, particularlyasaphysicianassistant withapossibleleaningtowardpediatriccare.

SheisthedaughterofMr.Jeffrey ScottHiegerandMs.MicheleElyse ChauvinHieger.

AtSacredHeart,Elisereceived theMaterMedal,thehighesthonor bestoweduponagraduatingsenior. ShealsoreceivedtheJillKiefer ScienceAwardandwasaretreat teamleader.Shewasco-captainof thesailingteam.

InBatonRouge,sheisamember ofKappaKappaGammaandison thepresident'sanddean'slist.Sheis alsoamemberoftheLSUPhysician AssistantCollegiateSociety. Thissummer,shewillintern withtheOchsnerHealthCatalyst SummerInternshipProgramin SportsMedicine

Asasub-deb,Elisewaspresented attheGrandMilitaryVictoryBallof theSocietyoftheWarof1812.

Katherine Phelps Hooper

Katherine"KK"PhelpsHoopersees herselfgalloping toward acareerin financeandrealestatebutplanstomaintainherequestriangoalsofshowjumping.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. ChristianGibbsHooper.Hermother istheformerDierdreEllenO'Boyleof WestMonroe AtNewman,shewasacompetitive equestrianwiththeUnitedStatesEquestrianFederation,ontheartscommitteeas thevisualartsrepresentativeandreceived theCongressionalArtAward InLexington,sheisthecaptainand fundraisingchairfortheUniversity ofKentuckyEquestrianTeam,amember of KappaKappa Gammaand the FinanceSociety

Shehasinternedintheaesthetics industryandinNewYork.Shehasbeena workingstudentatQuintanaShowStables inWellington,Florida Asasub-deb,KKwasinthecourtsof Squires,LesPierrettesandOsiris.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs ChristianGibbsHooper

•GraduatedfromIsidore NewmanSchool

•AttendsUniversityofKentucky atLexington

Nalla Jolie Hussain

NallaJolieHussainisworkingon acareerthatwillmergeherartistic endeavorsintoonefuture:"Mygoal istobalancebothpassions—pursuingmydreamofprofessionaldance whileestablishingmyselfinacreative careerthatofferslong-termgrowth andopportunity."Pursuingadegree ingraphicdesignispartofthatgoal, asisdancingforanNFLteam.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. AllanHussainofProsper,Texas.Her motheristheformerOrliciaThomas ofNewOrleans.

AtProsperHigh,shewascaptain oftheTalonetteDrillTeamanda memberoftheNationalArtsSociety

AttheFortWorthuniversity,Nalla is aTCU Showgirl Dancer anda memberofAlphaChiOmega.

DuringthecomingCarnivalactivities,Nallawillbeinthecourtofthe YoungMenIllinoisClubball

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Allan HussainofProsper,Texas

•GraduatedfromProsperHighSchool

•AttendingTexasChristianUniversity atFortWorth

ConstanceCampbell Johnson

ForthisLSU Tiger, afuturein thehealthcareindustryisinstore asConstanceCampbell“CC”JohnsoncontinuesherstudiesinBaton Rougewhileworkingwithseveral medicaloffices.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. BrianRobertJohnson.Hermother istheformerCatherineCampbell "Cappy"Meyer.

AtSacredHeart,CCwasanofficer ontheExecutiveBoard,amember oftheNationalHonorSociety,apeer supportleaderandvolunteeredat St.MichaelSpecialSchool.Shealso demonstratedleadershipinathletics byservingascaptainofthesoccer team,athree-timeAll-StateFirstTeam selectionandonthestatechampionshipteamherjunioryear.Shewasalso onthecrosscountryteamthatwonthe statechampionshipandwascaptain hersenioryear.

AKappaKappaGammaatLSU, sheisanofficerandamemberofthe OmegaHonorSociety.Shealsostudied abroadinItalyandSpainlastsummer. Asasub-deb,CCwasinthecourtsof Squires,LesPierrettesandHarlequins

•DaughterofMr.andMrs BrianRobertJohnson

•GraduatedfromAcademy oftheSacredHeart

•AttendsLouisiana StateUniversity

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Jason KonradJackson

•GraduatedfromIsidoreNewmanSchool

•AttendsUniversityofNorthCarolinaat ChapelHill

Debutante

COTERIE 2026-2027

LilyRene MendozaBaptiste

KylieMcKenzie Buford

CeciliaAnne Cangelosi

MollyMcKay Coman

RebeccaClaire Baxter

JaneAdele Boughton

IsabellaMarie ZavatkayDennis

GraysonMadeleine Eppling

CaitlinParker Estrada

LeilaWhitney Gamard

FelicityRosie Drake

SophieElisabeth Ellis

TheodosiaCaroline Grant

ChristiaHonor Hardon

CharlotteHamberlin Head

EliseAnne Hieger

BrookeElizabeth Habetz

ChylerVeronica Hampton

KatherinePhelps Hooper

ConstanceCampbell Johnson

HopeNelson LeBlanc

MorganLouise LeBourgeois

NallaJolie Hussain

AdelaideLouise Jackson

BethanySophia Livers

ColleenColton McLeod

YajahiraMarcela McMillian

OliviaLeigh Merington

JaneCalistoga TierneyLuetkemeier

SusanCaffery McCay

ChristinaMattingly Rareshide

ElizabethBrooks Russell

ElizabethBaldwin Talbot

LucyLeeds Vaicius

PaigeElizabeth Ready

Payton MartiniqueRogers

AlaynaElizabethMarie Mitchell

ElizabethJansen Payne

DorothyFrances Phillips

KatherineNalty Ralls

GenevievePollard Parker

KatherineDonelson EllisPatin

CoraJane Villere

KatherineFarrell Williams TrinityRenay Wilson

HilleryMcCarroll Wynn

MaliaMichel Watts

JaideKaila Williams

MorganLouise LeBourgeois

MorganLouiseLeBourgeoishopestowork inanindustrythathasapositiveimpactonthe environmentandworkedonaninternshipwitha SouthAfricancompanytoexpandherknowledge.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.Michael LivaudaisLeBourgeois.Hermotheristheformer Margaret"Marley"LouiseEastman.

AtNewman,Morganwasthecaptainofthe soccer,volleyballandtracksquads,allofwhich wonstatechampionships.Shewasalsoapeer leaderandontheschool'shomecomingcourt.

AtUVA,sheisanofficerinKappaKappa Gamma,anofficerinPhiChiThetabusiness fraternityandonthedean'slist.

InadditiontoherinternshipinCapeTown, SouthAfrica,shehasinternedattheWaterInstituteoftheGulfandworksasacounseloratCamp Merrie-WoodeinSapphire,NorthCarolina.

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,Morganreigned asqueenofLesPierrettesandwasinthecourts ofSquiresandApollo.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Michael LivaudaisLeBourgeois

•GraduatedfromLouiseS. McGeheeSchool

•AttendsUniversityofVirginia atCharlottesville

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.LouisEarl LiversJr

•AttendsNewOrleansCenterfor CreativeArts

Bethany Sophia Livers

Apublishedpoetandproducerofherown shortfilm,BethanySophiaLiversplanstopublishmorewhiledevelopingamusiccareeras asingerandsongwriter,producemorefilms andexpandherchoreographyskills SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.Louis EarlLiversJr.HermotheristheformerDeanna DechellePerkins.

AtNOCCA,sheisinthemusicaltheater departmentandmaintainsa4.0GPA.She organizedtheannualHBCUDayandisaperformerwiththeBlackCultureClub.

Inadditiontoliterarywork,sheworksas amusicaltheatervocalcoachandassistant choreographeratUptownMusicTheatre.She isalsoontheMayor'sYouthAdvisoryCouncil.

In thefuture, shehopes to expand intofiction,worktowardcollaborations withestablishedfilmmakersandrelease moremusic.

Duringthe2027Carnival,shewillbepresentedasadebutanteoftheseasonbythe YoungMenIllinoisClub

Jane Calistoga Tierney Luetkemeier

JaneCalistogaTierneyLuetkemeierwill workasaperformanceandstrategicplanning internforAlbermarleCounty,Virginia,with thedepartmentofFinanceandBudget,which isgoodexperienceforafutureinlaw SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.Hans GeorgeLuetkemeier.Hermotheristheformer ErinChristineBell.

7

Organizationsrepresented by the debutantes. They areThe Bachelors' Club,LeDébut desJeunes FillesdelaNouvelle Orléans,the Debutante Club, the Mid-WinterCotillion,the Original Illinois Club, the PickwickClub and the Young Men Illinois Club.

AtSacredHeart,CaliJanewassalutatorianofthegraduatingclassandamemberof thesoccerandcrosscountryteams.She wasalsoontheLouisianaLegislativeYouth AdvisoryCouncilandavolunteeratEden CentersforHopeandHealingforvictimsof humantrafficking.

AnEcholsScholaratUVA'sFrankBatten SchoolofLeadershipandPublicPolicy,she isonthedean'slistandamemberofthe university'sJudiciaryCommitteesinceher freshmanyear.SheisalsoamemberofKappa KappaGamma.

21

Numberofhigh schools attended or attending

CaliJaneisalsoaco-founderandboard memberofanewchapterofEdenCentersin Charlottesville ShehasworkedasaninternfortheU.S. DistrictCourtandtheLouisianaFourth CircuitCourtofAppeals.

DuringpreviousCarnivalseasons,she waspresentedatthePresident'sBalloftheLe MoynedeBienvilleClubandinthecourtsof ProphetsofPersia,CaliphsofCairoandOsiris.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs HansGeorgeLuetkemeier

•GraduatedfromAcademy oftheSacredHeart

•AttendsUniversityof VirginiaatCharlottesville

DebsByTheNumbers

SusanCaffery McCay

SusanCafferyMcCaywillworkinCharleston, SouthCarolina, for thesummerinthe retail sector,helping to increase herknowledge of retailmanagement

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.RobertPenn McCay.HermotheristheformerSusanEwingBailey. AtNewman,Susuwasonthevolleyballteam, honorrollandparticipatedinRelayforLife AmemberofKappaKappaGammaatBama, Susuisonthepresident'slistintheCulverHouseof BusinessSchool

Shehasworkedintheretailandchildcaresectors. DuringapreviousCarnivalseason,Susureigned asqueenofSquiresandwasinthecourtsofApollo andLesPierrettes.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Robert PennMcCay

•GraduatedfromIsidoreNewmanSchool

•AttendsUniversityofAlabama atTuscaloosa

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Evans MartinMcLeod

•GraduatedfromAcademyofthe SacredHeart

•AttendsUniversityofVirginia atCharlottesville

DebsByTheNumbers

Colleen Colton McLeod

ColleenColtonMcLeodhasher eyesetonacareerasanaccounting professionalandwillworkinNew York this summer completing a taxinternship.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. EvansMartinMcLeod.Hermotheris theformerColleenColtonEustis

AtSacredHeart,CocowaspresidentoftheBestBuddiesCluband BringChangetoMind,onthestudent council,heldthehighestacademic honorsforfouryearsandwasan AdvancePlacement Scholarwith Distinction.Shewasalsoamemberof MuAlphaThetaMathSociety.

AtUVA,CocoispresidentofREM Consulting,anofficerinBestBuddies, atutor for MadisonHouse and CozetElementaryandonthedean's list.SheisalsoamemberofKappa KappaGamma

Shehasworkedasacertifiedpersonaltrainerandwasacounselorat CampMerrie-WoodeinSapphire, NorthCarolina.

Asasub-deb,Cocowasinthecourts ofSquires,LesPierrettesandApollo.

13

Number of high schoolsinLouisiana attended by thecoterie

4

Number of students that attend or attended theLouiseS McGehee School

•DaughterofDr.andMrs.JohnGreel RallsJr.ofPensacola,Florida

•GraduatedfromPensacolaCatholic HighSchool

•AttendsUniversityofAlabama atTuscaloosa

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.John VillereRareshide

•GraduatedfromSt.Mary's DominicanHighSchool

•AttendsUniversityofSouthern CaliforniaatLosAngeles

Katherine Nalty Ralls

KatherineNaltyRallshashereyesetona futureinthevisualworldofgraphicdesign andisworkingwithaFloridarealestatefirm asagraphicdesignertogainexperience

SheisthedaughterofDr.andMrs.John GreelRallsJr.ofPensacola,Florida.Her motheristheformerLeahLucilleNaltyof Brewton,Alabama.

AtPensacolaCatholicHighSchool,Kat wasonthecheer,soccer,lacrosseandswim teamsandbrokeschoolrecordsinthewater Shewasteamcaptainoftheswimteam.

AtBama,KatisaKappaKappaGamma andservesonseveralcommitteesintheorganization.Sheisalsoonthepresident'sand dean'slists.

Shehaspreviouslyworkedasacounselor atCampGreystoneinZirconia,NorthCarolina,aswellasatalocalcountryclub.

Inearlierseasons,shewaspresentedby theSocietyoftheDebutanteCharityCotillion BallandwasamemberinthecourtofDeLuna LXXVIinPensacola

Christina Mattingly Rareshide

ChristinaMattinglyRareshideisfocusedon afuturethatinvolvestelevisionandfilmandis currentlywrappinghereducationinCalifornia withhands-onexperience

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.John VillereRareshide.Hermotheristheformer JenniferCelesteMattinglyofHouston,Texas.

AtDominican,Christinawasanofficerin theNationalHonorSociety,astudentcouncilrepresentativeandamemberofMuAlpha Theta.ShewasaNationalMeritFinalist

AttheL.A.university,sheisapresidential scholar,aMarshallStudentAmbassador,a memberoftheMarshallOutreachVolunteer EntrepreneursandDeltaDeltaDelta. Thissummer,shewillinternwiththeUniversalTelevisionGroupatNBCUniversal.Shehas alsointernedwithKamalaFilmsandotherfilm andtelevisionproductiongroups.

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,Christina wasinthecourtsofSquires,ProphetsofPersia andMystery

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.MiltonDavisReady

•GraduatedfromAcademyofthe SacredHeart

•AttendsUniversityofAlabama atTuscaloosa

Payton Martinique Rogers

ForPaytonMartiniqueRogers,herfuture liesinthehealthcarefield,maintainingthe familytradition.

SheisthedaughterofDr.andMrs. CornelTyroneRogers.HermotherisKeisha MoniqueKaigler-Rogers.

AtThomasJefferson,Paytonisamember of thesoccerteamand wasajunior promprincess

Shehopes to continue herathletic endeavorsinthecomingyearwithaneye towardachampionship.

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,shewasin thecourtandwillbepresentedasadebutantebytheYoungMenIllinoisClub.

•DaughterofDr.andMrs.Cornel TyroneRogers

•AttendsThomasJefferson AcademyforAdvancedStudies

PaigeElizabeth Ready

PaigeElizabethReadywilltake advantageofhersenioryearatBama tosetacourseforafutureinlaw orpsychology.

SheisthedaughterofMr.and Mrs. Milton DavisReady.Her motheristheformerAnneElizabethMedo

At Sacred Heart, Paigewas captainofthesoccerteam,onthe volleyballteam,apeersupport leaderandonthestudentcouncil.

AttheuniversityinTuscaloosa, sheisamemberofKappaKappa Gamma,onthedean'slistandhas workedwiththeJEDFoundationto providementalhealthsupportand preventsuicideinteensandyoung adults.ShehasalsostudiedinRome.

Shehasworkedinthelegalfield, asacampcounselorandinthe childcarearea.

Paigewasalsointhecourtof ProphetsofPersiainaprevious Carnivalseason

Debs

The number of debutantes thatattend universitiesin Alabama (University of Alabamaand Spring Hill College)

ByTheNumbers 6 5 15

Elizabeth Brooks Russell

GraduatinginDecemberofthisyear, ElizabethBrooksRussellwillreturnto theTuscaloosauniversityforgraduate schoolforanadvanceddegreeinbusinessanalytics.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. WilliamMcGeheeRussellofDelray Beach,Florida,formerlyofNewOrleans.HermotheristheformerAshley RossofBatonRouge.

AtBama,Brooksisamemberof KappaKappaGamma,onthepresident'slistandinthehonorscollege. Shealsoservesasateachingassistant Thissummer,shewillworkasan interninNewYork.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.William McGeheeRussellofDelrayBeach,Florida

Debutantesattending Bama

Number of organizations the young ladieshavebeen presentedatorparticipatedin, including the sub-deb krewes of Squires,Les Pierrettes, Apollo and Harlequins.Other Carnival organizationsinclude Caliphs of Cairo, Grand Ball of Osiris,Hermes, Mystery'sBall of the Roses, Original Illinois Club,Prophets of Persia and the Young Men Illinois Club Also, the President'sBall of the Le MoynedeBienville Club, the Grand MilitaryBall of the Society of the Warof1812, the Society of The Debutante Charity Cotillion Ball and the CourtofDeLunaLXXVI in Pensacola,Florida.

Withanundergraduatedegreein psychologywithminorsincriminal justiceandcomputerscience,she hopestoworkwithfinancialmarkets focusedonbehavioraldecision-makingandanalysis

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Mark DouglasTalbot

•GraduatedfromAcademyofthe SacredHeart

•AttendsSpringHillCollegein Mobile,Alabama

•GraduatedfromSt.Andrew'sEpiscopal SchoolinBocaRaton,Florida

•AttendsUniversityofAlabama atTuscaloosa

Elizabeth Baldwin Talbot

EducationisimportanttoElizabethBaldwin Talbot,assheisnotonlymajoringinelementaryeducationbuthasalreadyworkedinseveral areastowardthatgoal.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.Mark DouglasTalbot.HermotheristheformerElizabethBaldwinBarkerding

AtSacredHeart,shewasonthehonorcouncil,activeinCampusMinistryandamemberof theNationalHonorSociety.Shewasalsoonthe soccerteam.ShereceivedtheJoseLuisBanos awardforexcellenceinSpanishstudiesandstudiedinMadrid,Spain.

AttheMobileJesuitcollege,Libbyisanofficer inPhiMuandservesasthePanhellenicdelegate.SheisalsoanofficerinAlphaSigmaNu HonorSocietyandreceivedtheSpiritofSpring Hillaward.

ShehasalsoworkedwiththeInternational ServiceImmersionProgram,travelingtoCosta Ricaforserviceandculturalimmersion.Shealso studiedinBologna,Italy.

InadditiontoworkingataMobileelementaryschool,shehasworkedwithSt.Michael SpecialSchoolandtaughtEnglishtoadult languagelearners

InpreviousCarnivalseasons,Libbywasin thecourtsofSquires,LesPierrettesandApollo.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs ChristianAnthonyVaicius

•GraduatedfromAcademyof theSacredHeart

•AttendsLouisiana StateUniversity

Lucy Leeds Vaicius

Acareerinthemedicalindustryseems tobethedestinyforLucyLeedsVaicius, whoisworkingtowardthatgoalatLSU.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. ChristianAnthonyVaicius.Hermotheris theformerJulieBransfordEustis.

AtSacredHeart,Lucywaspresidentof theNationalHonorSociety,co-president oftheTriumphOverKidsCancerclub andselectedtobehergraduatingclass's ambassador.Shewasalsoonthevolleyball andbeachvolleyballteams.

AmemberofDeltaDeltaDelta,Lucy isalsopresidentoftheStudentNutrition andDieteticsAssociation,intheOgden HonorCollegeandamemberofthepickleballteam.

Shehas previously worked as a volleyballcoachandatapickleballestablishment.Shehasalsobeenaresearch menteeintheNutritionandFoodSciences surveylab.

DuringpreviousCarnivalseasons, shewasinthecourtsofLesPierrettes andApollo.

CoraJane Villere

CoraJaneVillereisspending thesummerdoingresearchwitha physicianintheUniversityofNorth CarolinaLinebergerCancerCenter, asteptowardhergoalofbecoming adoctor.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs. LamarGableVillere.Hermother istheformerMichelleBaumanof KansasCity,Kansas.

AtNewman,CorawasaNational MeritScholar,presidentoftheBook Clubandhomecomingqueen.She wasalsoonthecrosscountryand trackandfieldteams

AttheVirginiauniversity,sheis presidentoftheuniversity'sNational MarrowDonorProgram'schapter, amemberoftheOutingCluband KappaKappaGamma.

Inadditiontoherworkinthe medicalfield,shehasalsovolunteeredatSt.Joseph'shospicecenter

Asasub-deb,Corawasinthe courtsofSquires,LesPierrettes andApollo.

•DaughterofMr.andMrs.Lamar GableVillere

•GraduatedfromIsidore NewmanSchool

•AttendsWashingtonandLee UniversityinLexington,Virginia

Michel Watts

MaliaMichelWattshasset agoalforhersenioryearatthe oldestschoolforwomeninthe UnitedStates—touseherrecent election to thestudent councilexecutive board"to create meaningfulchangewithinmy schoolcommunity."

SheisthedaughterofMr.Cedric WattsandDr.JaNéWatts,the formerJaNéOubre

AtUrsuline,sheisalsoamember oftheNationalHonorSociety, anofficerintheKeyClubanda recipientoftheUrsulineAcademy TrueBow.

Sheplanstoattendcollegeand worktowardalawdegreewithan eyeonalegalcareer

DuringCarnival2027,shewill bepresentedasadebutanteofthe seasonattheballoftheYoungMen IllinoisClub

•DaughterofMr. CedricWattsand Dr.JaNéWatts

•Attends UrsulineAcademy

Malia

•DaughterofMr.andMrs. JohnPatrickWilliamsSr.

•AttendsSt.Mary'sAcademy

Jaide Kaila Williams

JaideKailaWilliamshasananimated pastandhopestohaveanequallyanimated futurewhensheembarksonstudiesinthe growingfieldaftershegraduates

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.John PatrickWilliamsSr.Hermotheristhe formerDeborahAnnWilliams.

AtSt.Mary's,sheispresidentofthe Anime/AnimationClubandonthepresident'shonorroll.Sheisalsoamemberof theNationalHonorSociety,RhoKappa NationalSocialStudentsHonorSociety, theNationalArtHonorSociety,MuAlpha ThetaandtheYoungVisionariesofHenrietteDelille.JaideisaPatrickR.Taylor ScholarAwardwinner.

Shealsoplacedinthetop10attheTheta GeminiCompetitionatthenationalMu AlphaThetaconvention.

Shehasalsoperformedduringthe2025 SuperBowlpregameshow

Shehopestostudyabroadinsomeofthe animationcentersinternationally,includingJapan,CanadaandAustralia.

ShehasbeeninthecourtoftheOriginalIllinoisClubandwillbepresentedasa debutanteoftheseasonbytheorganization duringCarnival2027.

Katherine Farrell Williams

KatherineFarrellWilliamswantstoengineerafuturethatappliesherexperienceand understandingofengineeringproblemsolvingtobusinesssituations.

SheisthedaughterofDr.andMrs.Claude SomersWilliamsIV.Hermotheristheformer LauraScottConway.

AtNewman,KatewasaNationalMerit Scholarshipwinner,avolunteerteamleader forHeartofPassion,avolunteerforCamp JabberwockyinMassachusettsforadults withmentalorphysicaldisabilitiesand ontheschool'sstatechampionsoccerand tennisteams.

AttheVirginiauniversity,KateiscopresidentoftheEngineeringCommunity DevelopmentClub,ateachingassistantin ElectricalCircuitsandamemberofKappa KappaGamma

ShehasworkedatagolfclubinWyoming andasaresearcherincomputerscienceatthe NationalScienceFoundation.Shewillworkas aconsultinganalystwithaHouston,Texas, hospitalitygroup.

Asasub-deb,KatewasinthecourtsofLes PierrettesandApollo.

•DaughterofDr.andMrs.Claude SomersWilliamsIV

•GraduatedfromIsidore NewmanSchool

•AttendsWashingtonandLee UniversityinLexington,Virginia

Trinity Renay Wilson

TrinityRenayWilsonisbuildingonafamily traditiontoestablish herselfasa culinary entrepreneurto"leadthedialogueonbringing peopletogetherovertheloveofgreatfood"by developingherownall-naturalInvitedTotheCookoutSeasoning

SheisthedaughterofMr.XavierReinaWilson ofClayton,NorthCarolinaandMrs.ErikaSingleton-ThomasofSlidell.

AtCountryDay,TrinityispresidentoftheBlack StudentUnion,astudentambassadorfortheschool andwasthecreatoroftheseasoningblendas"a passionprojectforcollegeapplications."

Sheisalsotheteenpresidentofthelocalchapter ofJackandJillofAmerica,Inc.

Theculinaryendeavoristheculminationofthree generationsofherfamily'scookingskills.

During theCarnivalseason, shewillbe presentedattheballoftheYoungMenIllinoisClub.

•DaughterofMr.XavierReinaWilsonof Clayton,NorthCarolinaandMrs.Erika Singleton-ThomasofSlidell

•AttendsMetairieParkCountry DaySchool

•DaughterofMr.andMrs CharlesBoseWynnJr.

•GraduatedfromIsidore NewmanSchool

•AttendsUniversityof RichmondinRichmond,Virginia

WithaDecembergraduationonthehorizon, HilleryMcCarrollWynnhopestoentergraduateschoolforacareerasaspeechpathologistin elementaryschoolbackhomeinNewOrleans.

SheisthedaughterofMr.andMrs.Charles Bose Wynn Jr.Her mother is theformer MargaretTimonyVillere.

AtNewman,HillerywasthechairofthePEP Committee,presidentoftheCookingClub, managerforthecheerleadersandamemberof thehomecomingcourt.

AttheVirginiauniversity,sheispresidentof theEnglishHonorsSociety,SigmaTauDelta,a memberofKappaDeltaPiEducationHonors Societyandpresidentoftheall-femaleacapella ensemble"TheSirens."

ShehasworkedasavolunteerwiththeRichmondAnimalLeagueandservedasacounselor atCampRivaLakeinWinchester,Tennessee. ShehasalsoworkedintheRareBooksand Archivesdepartmentoftheuniversity'slibrary InpreviousCarnivalseasons,shewas presentedatthePresident'sBalloftheLe MoynedeBienvilleClubandwasinthecourts ofLesPierrettes,ApolloandHarlequins.

Hillery McCarroll Wynn

PRESSURE POINTS

Canhyperbarictherapy live up to the

hype?Louisiana expertsweigh in.

BY IANFAUL Contributing writer

When Jessica Moroux’s4-yearold son experienced asevere concussionthat resulted in prolonged behavioralsymptoms,she tried everything to help him.

“He was really having difficulty with impulse control and irritability,” said Moroux,who works as a nurse in Lafayette. “He came to me and said, ‘Mama, Idon’twant to haveanger issues anymore.’

Her research led her to hyperbaric oxygen therapy,ageneral treatment that involves breathing highly concentrated oxygen in a pressurized chamber.Long used to treatpatients with nonhealing wounds by increasing vascular supplytositesoftissue damage, she thought perhaps it could help with the effects of her son’sinjury

Hisrecoveryafterundergoing HBOT,Moroux said, was “tremendous.”

She has since founded Acadiana Hyperbarics, one of agrowing number of clinics that provide offlabelHBOT for traumatic injury woundhealing andgeneral wellness.

HBOT can sometimes give hope to patients with chronic symptoms and few treatment options.But as clinicsproliferateand claims expand faster than thescience,

patients.

interested in hyperbaric treatments when her

injury

researchers say there is increased need to determine exactly where hyperbaric oxygen therapy truly works, and where enthusiasm may be outpacing evidence.

ä See HYPERBARIC, page 2X

An estimated 1in10 womenhaveendometriosis

cludinginfertility It is estimated that endometriosis affects 1in10U.S. womenofreproductiveage.

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staffwriter

Endometriosis is an incurable condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of theuterus, leadingtosignificant pain and complicationsin-

Kao

Dr.Elaine Kao, aNew Orleans obstetrician and gynecologist, thinks that estimate could be even larger based on undiagnosed and underreported cases —ashighas26%.

people are becominginterested in women’s pain andmenstrual issues,” Kao said. “It’s great, becauseitwas always alittlebit taboo.” Here aresix things to know about endometriosis:

It’s hard to diagnose

Stigmacan prevent manyof these symptoms from being flagged or indicationsoffurther diagnosis.

been largelyaccepted as normal by Americans, Kaosaid. But that’s actually blocking some patients from being diagnosed.

“Patients have to advocate for themselves in their appointments,” she said.

It’s progressive

“I will say that it feels like more

“Severe menstrual pain” has

On average, it takesapproximately 10 years to accurately diagnose endometriosis. Two-thirds of women are misdiagnosed initially andnearly half of those eventually

diagnosed withthe disease see five or moreproviders before aanaccurate diagnosis.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine classifiesendometriosis into four stages, according to depthofscarring andhow far the disease has traveled from the uterus: minimal (Stage 1), mild (Stage 2), moderate (Stage 3) and severe (Stage 4). Once endometriosis is severe,

Number maybe higher as condition hardtodiagnose ä See CONDITION, page 2X

PROVIDED PHOTO Jessica Moroux founded Acadiana Hyperbarics in Baton Rouge, which offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy to

She first became

young son suffered a brain

HEALTH MAKER

BR nursing director helps staff cope with daily ER dramas

Open-door policy key, she says

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Susan Green, a Slidell native,

is an emergency room nurse in Baton Rouge. She started her career after high school graduation, when she saw a newspaper item that offered certified nursing assistant courses for $100 at the Baton Rouge Technical Institute. If a student completed the course and worked for six months, they got their $100 back. She leaped at the opportunity Thirty-two years later Green is a nursing director She has an open-door policy for the members of her team to come talk to her — about anything.

“They just sit in my office sometimes,” Green said. “They have their feet propped up on the desk They will come in my office all day and talk.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity Why did you choose the $100 nursing class?

I’d always wanted to do healthcare. Growing up, I was unfortunate to see quite a few of my family members pass away who were really sick. My grandmother my dad’s mom, she died of a brain aneurysm unexpectedly I was the last person to talk to her I was always liked helping people — do all the things.

I don’t like to be (in) the spotlight of things, but if you ever saw me at work, I’m a totally different person. If I go out into the public, I’m the quiet one. I sit in the corner, and I watch people.

CONDITION

Continued from page 1X

the scarred tissue can impact the bowels, appendix, diaphragm, heart, lungs and more. The progression of endometriosis is “highly unpredictable” and sometimes does not correlate with pain, according to a 2024 study published in the National Library of Medicine.

“We often see patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage,” Kao said.

Can occur outside pelvic organs

Although endometriosis is associated with an abnormal growth outside the uterus and around organs in the pelvis, it can happen throughout the body as well.

The excess tissue causes a lot of inflammation and pain. The “main” symptoms are painful periods, pain with sex, general pelvic pain in general, urinary and digestive issues, as well as subfertility (a term for when fertility is possible, but conception is taking longer than expected) and infertility

Right now the gold standard is getting that tissue diagnosis through surgery.

Beyond the symptoms

Having a chronic condition takes a toll on the body, but it can also be detrimental to the quality of life.

“Just like any chronic pain, anybody who lives in chronic pain, there’s a significant mental health burden,” Kao said.

No known cause or risk factors

Researchers still don’t know what causes it There are theories that include retrograde menstruation, when the menstrual blood goes out through the tubes, instead of through the cervix and into the pelvis.

Other theories point to genetics.

“Bottom line is we don’t know,” Kao said.

Medical, surgical treatments

Surgery to treat endometriosis is mostly done through laparoscopy, where doctors use a camera to take photos of the entire inside of the pelvis and use specialized tools to remove the endometriosis lesions and restore the pelvic anatomy

There are treatments available other than surgery Hormonebased therapies, like contraception, can control symptoms of endometriosis, but don’t necessarily make the lesions go away, Kao said.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

I like talking to patients and being able to read the room and assess where people are: Do they look anxious? Do they look angry?

Do they look distressed? How do you approach them?

I’ve learned something new every day I always try to focus on that. Every day, when I walk out of the clinic, I reflect on what I learned Maybe sometimes I reflect too much. My role has transitioned over the years. Now, I don’t so much do patient care. I still go out and do things because I want to keep my

HYPERBARIC

Continued from page 1X

Diving medicine to brain therapy

HBOT involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, typically at pressures greater than sea-level atmospheric pressure. This allows oxygen to dissolve more efficiently into blood plasma and tissues.

Physicians have long suspected that a high-oxygen, high-pressure environment has potential clinical uses.

The first reported hyperbaric chambers date back to the 17th century HBOT became more widely accepted after World War II when it was used to treat naval divers for decompression sickness, commonly called “the bends.”

The Food and Drug Administration has since cleared HBOT for about a dozen other conditions, including severe burns, chronic nonhealing wounds carbon monoxide poisoning, air embolisms, radiation injuries and gas gangrene.

In the past few decades, some physicians and private clinics have argued for expanding the number of approved conditions for HBOT, including chronic conditions of the brain.

Among the field’s most outspoken advocates is Dr Paul Harch, a hyperbaric medicine practitioner in Metairie and former director of the hyperbaric medicine unit at University Medical Center Harch said his patients since 1989 have included some 180 children injured in near-drownings, as well as children injured during birth and children with developmental delays, cognitive problems, autism and cerebral palsy

“Just a wide range of different injury conditions to the brain,” Harch said.

In adults, he has treated strokes, traumatic brain injury migraines, cognitive decline and dementia.

Some studies have suggested HBOT’s benefits, including those affecting the nervous system, arise from increased blood-vessel growth, immunological activation and tissue regeneration.

Harch believes the same mechanisms underlying HBOT’s success in expediting the healing of external wounds also operate within the brain.

“Internal conditions are similarly wounding conditions, like a stroke, a heart attack, traumatic brain injury And the second there is any tissue damage, you have inflammation associated with it to try to repair tissue,” he said. “It turns out hyperbaric oxygen, through very basic mechanisms, is reparative for wounding or tissue injury and for inflammation.”

skills up and stay in the game. But also, I want to always be there to support our team.

I like to watch our staff grow and learn. While I don’t treat patients, I feel like I’ve gravitated to teaching the staff, helping them grow and how we can get them to the next level.

How do you unwind after a shift in the emergency room?

I have two kids. My oldest daughter lives in New Orleans (and works) as an attorney My youngest daughter is in Chattanooga finishing her pediat-

ric residency in June. She’s married and has a 5-month-old baby I’m a grandma. My husband’s also in healthcare, he actually spends a lot of time in North Carolina, back and forth. Some days I’m home alone. We live on a lake. In the afternoons, I like to get home and sit on the patio and detox for a minute, just listening to the sounds of nature. You do have to take time to step away and separate yourself from the job. When we have critical patients, it is important that our

Still, much of the basic research on the therapeutic mechanisms of hyperbaric conditions remains to be validated.

Dr Omar Aljitawi, a physicianscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Center who studies the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on transplanted stem cells, said he is optimistic about the therapy’s effectiveness, especially in conditions related to the immune system. But he urges further research to bolster some practitioners’ claims.

“We need studies to examine this really thoroughly the number of treatments, duration of the treatments, the interval of the treatments and the underlying mechanism of how it might be working,” Aljitawi said.

Hyperbarics, wellness boom

The field’s major professional medical group has stated that there is no evidence showing that hyperbaric conditions are effective in treating neurological injury, after three studies found the reported benefits of HBOT could have resulted from a placebo effect.

Harch counters that designing a true placebo control for HBOT is inherently difficult because even modest pressure changes may produce physiological effects.

He also says the debate is shaped partly by economics and medical reimbursement systems, and that less expensive ways of using lower-pressure chambers made of plastic may disrupt the current system.

One HBOT session in a lower-pressure chamber can cost around $200 to $300, about half the price of a hard-shell chamber treatment Multiweek sessions can exceed $10,000.

Moroux sees research funding as a big obstacle to making HBOT more available. “The gold standard, double-

staff takes the time to stop and talk about the situation. Some people want to go sit in their car and cry Some people want to surround themselves with others. Some people just need a few moments of silence by themselves. I just need my own thoughts and head space for a hot minute, and then I’ll be OK.

You can carry so much with you if you don’t take a beat. It’s because you do have to leave your personal life at the door when you come in here, and it’s the same sentiment when you leave. You have to leave this here when you walk out the door

Tell me about leading your nursing team through COVID-19 six years ago.What did you learn?

We learned a lot about our teamwork and how to really support each other

We had a tent outside at one point, and then we added a trailer, and then we expanded space. We commandeered some additional space in the hospital as well. It was a lot.

At one point we had a no-visitor policy They couldn’t have family and, as nurses, we were charged with being there for them while they were here. We were their people.

Now, all of our doors have small, vertical windows on them. We did that during COVID. That was our way of seeing into the rooms, to see the patients and our peers — almost like cheerleading outside the door

We were never closer than we were during that time.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

biomarker associated with aging.

While promising, the results do not yet merit the conclusion that HBOT can help you live longer As Efrati recently told The New York Times, some studies were performed in cell cultures — not humans — and those that were done with humans were carried out under strict conditions in hospital-grade chambers.

“People look at milder (hyperbaric) conditions as if they’re taking a supplement or doing a cold plunge. They don’t look at it as a treatment, per se,” Aljitawi said. “I don’t see a lot of downside to it, but I don’t know the upside.” Hope, hype, questions

blind placebo control study across the board is expensive, and a lot of these studies are funded by pharmaceutical companies,” she said.

“With hyperbarics, there really isn’t that funding because there’s not the chance of patenting a medication or making a lot of money.”

Despite skepticism from some physicians, HBOT has found enthusiastic support in another arena: the booming wellness and longevity industry

Endorsements from some celebrities have helped, including athletes LeBron James, Novak Djokovic and Michael Phelps, and tech entrepreneur “biohackers” like Bryan Johnson and Gary Brecka.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr has also voiced his support for hyperbaric medicine research.

Wellness community members often refer to several studies from a research group led by Dr Shai Efrati, of the Shamir Medical Center in Israel, who has previously found that hyperbaric oxygen can improve cognitive function, increase skin collagen and increase telomere length — a

When administered by a licensed medical professional in an FDA-approved steel chamber, HBOT may be effective in accelerating external wound healing or combating acute gas poisoning, among other conditions. When administered outside the hospital in plastic chambers and in short durations however, HBOT has not been conclusively shown to have robust benefits — nor does it seem to have significant negative side effects.

Louisiana hospitals with hyperbaric medicine units include University Medical Center, Touro Infirmary, East Jefferson General Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake, Our Lady of Lourdes, Natchitoches Regional Health Center, Northern Louisiana Health Center and multiple Ochsner Health centers across the state.

While certified nonphysicians may legally provide HBOT, their doing so may be more dangerous. Risks of incorrect monitoring include ear trauma, air embolism and seizure. HBOT is generally not advised for those with inner ear infections and some lung diseases, such as severe COPD.

But Moroux said she frames the decision to try hyperbarics this way: “If there’s not side effects and there’s a whole slew of other benefits they could get, why not?”

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Susan Green stands inside a room at Ochsner Health Center — O’Neal.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Dr Paul Karch, a hyperbaric medicine practitioner in the New Orleans area, is the former director of hyperbaric medicine at University Medical Center

Eat Fit LiveFit

Granola reimagined: better ingredients, better flavor

Granolahaslongbeenmarketedas abetter-for-youpantrystaple.It’s somethingwesprinkleoveryogurt, addtosmoothiebowlsorevengrabby thehandfulasa“healthy”snack.However, thisisaspacewhereperceptionand realitydon’talwayslineup.

Granolaisoneofthosefoodsthat soundshealthybutcanquicklydeliver aheftydoseofsugarandrefined carbohydrates(insomecases,rivaling thesugarcontentofasoftdrink).Witha bitofawarenessandsomemindfullabel reading,however,granolacanabsolutely supportanutrition-focusedlifestyle.

Mosttraditionalgranolasarecenteredon oats,coatedwithsugarysweetenerslike honey,maplesyruporbrownricesyrup, thenbakedwithoiltocreatejusttheright levelofcrunch.Adensemedleyofcarbs andaddedsugar,it’salsoacombinationof flavorsandtexturesthatcanlightupour brainreceptorstocravemoreandmore. Evenbrandslabeledasorganic,gluten-free ornaturaloftenstilllandintherangeof30 to45gramsofcarbohydratesforacouple ofhandfuls,alongwithnearlyaday’sworth ofaddedsugar.

Granolaisn’tinherentlytheissue–thedifferencecomesdowntohow it’sformulated.

Whenwemoveawayfromgrainheavybasesanddialbacktheadded sugars,thenutritionalprofilecanimprove dramatically.Nutsandseedsbring protein,fiberandhealthyfats,whichslow digestionandsupportmorestable energylevels.Insteadofthequickspike andcrashthatmanytraditionalgranolas cancreate,wegetsomethingthat actuallysustainsuslongterm.

We’restartingtoseemorebrands moveinthisdirection.Onethat consistentlystandsoutisNuTrail Theirgrain-freeblendsusealmonds, pecansandcoconutasthefoundation, sweetenedwithmonkfruitand

erythritol(natural,plant-basedzero-sugar sweeteners),resultinginagranolathat’s typicallyjusttwotothreegramsofnet carbsperserving,withnoaddedsugar. Fromanutritionalperspective,it’savery differentproductthanwhatmostofus grewupthinkingofasgranola,butitstill tasteslikethegranolaweknowandlove Twootheroptionsworthnotinginclude LakantogranolaandJulianBakery ProGranola.Lakantousesamonkfruit anderythritolblendsimilartoNuTrail.It tendstorunalittleonthesweeterside, whilestillkeepingcarbslowandavoiding addedsugars.

JulianBakery’sProGranolaincorporates eggwhiteproteinandasolublefiber blendalongwithamedleyofseedsand shreddedcoconut,deliveringaround11

gramsofprotein and9to11grams offiberper serving.It’sa morefunctional option–especiallyfor thoselookingto increaseprotein intake–while stillfittingwithin alow-carb,lowsugarframework. Sotomake surewe’re clear,it’sworth repeating:One ofthemost commonmisconceptions(ingeneral, notjustaroundgranola)istheideathat sweetenerslikehoneyormaplesyrupare inherentlyhealthier.Whiletheymaybe natural,ourbodiesprocesstheminmuch thesamewayasotheraddedsugars. Whenwe’rescanningnutritionlabels,a fewthingscanquicklyhelpguide ourdecision-makingprocess:keeping addedsugarinthesingledigits(and ideallynotmorethan5gramsofadded sugarperserving),lookingforatleast afewgramsoffiberandprotein,and avoidingingredientliststhatstack multipleformsofaddedsugars.Also, thisisonecategorywhereaDIYblend canbebothsimpletomakeandanearly effortlessnutritionalupgrade

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THENUMBERS

Grain-Free,Low-SugarGranola Makesabout10quarter-cupservings Thisversionkeepseverythingwelike aboutgranola—thecrunch,theflavor, theflexibility—whileshiftingthe ingredientstobettersupportsteady energyandsatiety

1cupchoppedalmonds

1cupchoppedpecans

1/2cupunsweetenedshreddedcoconut

1/2cuppumpkinseeds

1/4cupsunflowerseeds

2tablespoonschiaseeds

2tablespoonsgroundflaxseed 1teaspooncinnamon

1/4teaspoonsalt

1/4cupmeltedcoconutoil

3tablespoonsplant-basedsweetener ofchoice(e.g.,Swerve,Truviaor allulose-erythritolblend)

1teaspoonvanillaextract

Preheattheovento300degreesand lineabakingsheetwithparchment paper.Inalargebowl,combinethe almonds,pecans,coconut,pumpkinseeds, sunflowerseeds,chiaseeds,flaxseed, cinnamonandsalt.Inaseparatebowl, whisktogetherthemeltedcoconutoil, sweetenerandvanilla,thenpouritover themixtureandstiruntileverythingis evenlycoated.

Spreadinanevenlayerontothebaking sheetandbakefor20to25minutes,with aquickstirhalfwaythrough,untillightly golden.Letitcoolcompletelytoyielda crisptexture.

NutritionFactsper1/4cup:210calories, 16gramsfat(allplant-based),45mg sodium,8gramscarbohydrate(2grams netcarbs),4gramsoffiber,1gramof sugar(0addedsugar),5gramsprotein

DownloadthefreeEatFitmobileapp forthisrecipeandmorehealthy cookingideas

LA.CONSISTENTLyAMONG STATES WITH HIGHESTSICKLECELLRATES

In 2023, 1,430 people withsickle cell disease were hospitalized in Louisiana—25% were between 20 and 29 years old.

Sicklecelldiseaseisa chronic condition that causes intense pain throughout thebody, often leading patients to multiple hospitalizations in their lifetime.

Louisiana consistentlyranks among states with thehighestsickle cell disease prevalence per capita with about 70 babiesdiagnosed eachyear Newdata collected by the Louisiana DepartmentofHealth, the Louisiana Sickle Cell Disease Registry, aims to provide the state with an understanding about the people living in Louisiana with sickle cell disease. It is tracking the number of hospitalizations per parish for patients withsickle cell disease.

These parishes hadthe most hospitalizations in 2023 in Louisiana: n OrleansParish with 208; n East Baton RougeParish with 205; n Caddo Parish with 179; n Jefferson Parish with 116; n Lafayette Parish with 67; n Rapides Parish with 59; n Ouachita Parish with 56; n Calcasieu Parish with 47; n and Bossier and St. Landryparishes with 35

These parishes had zero reported hospitalizations due to sickle cell disease in 2023:Cameron,West Carroll and Winn.

Total people hospitalized by parish mayexceed thetotal number of people with sickle cellasanindividual maybehospitalized morethan once, and living in adifferent parish at thetime

In time, the registryhopes to have comprehensivepopulation estimates and illustrate long-termtrends in diagnosis, treatmentand healthcare access for individuals living with sickle cell disease.

Study: Taking adaily multivitamin

daily vitamins cut biological aging by about four months on average. Biological aging refers to howold the body is in terms of health and function rather than the number of years aperson has lived. Previous studies on the use of multivitamins and health have given mixed results, with one large

study in 2024 showing no benefit when it comes to preventing early death and others showing theymay have someeffect. In the latest trial, published in Nature Medicine,experts concluded that multivitamins may lead to “healthier,higher-quality” aging.

Dr.Howard Sesso, associate director of thedivisionofpreventive medicine at theMassGeneral Brigham DepartmentofMedicine in the U.S., and lead author,said: “There is alot of interesttoday in identifying ways to not just live longer, but to live better

“It was exciting to seebenefits of amultivitamin linked with markers of biological aging.

“This study opens the door to learning more aboutaccessible safeinterventionsthatcontribute to healthier,higher-qualityaging.” However,other expertscast doubt on the findings.

The study looked at biological aging based on tiny changes to DNA Specificsites in DNA that regulate gene expression (known as DNA methylation)were examined as markersofaging. As the years go by,methylation

patternsshift,forming the basis for what scientists term “epigenetic clocks.” The blood samples of 958 randomly selected healthy peoplewith an average chronological age of 70 were examined for DNA methylation.

Experts looked for changes in five epigenetic clocksatthe start of thetrial and at the end of the first and second years. They found that, compared with people taking dummy drugs, those in themultivitamin group hadslowing in all five epigenetic clocks.

The changes equated to about four months less biological aging over the course of two years. Further studies are now being carried out to see if the effects are long-lasting.

“A lot of people take amultivitamin without necessarily knowing anybenefits from taking it, so the morewecan learn about its potential health benefits, the better,” Sesso said.

The study received agrant from Mars Edge, asegment of Mars, whichincluded the donation of multivitamins forthe study

BRO UGH TT OY OU BY

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Inspiring Healthier Lives andStronger Communities

Formorethan80years,OchsnerHealthhasservedtheGreaterNewOrleansareaandbeyond,providingthe highestqualityofcareforourpatientsandcommunities.Withmorethan4,700providersspanningover400 locations,wehaveyoucoveredforallofyourroutineandcomplexcareneeds.Offeringdigitalmedicine programs,virtualvisitsandextendedhours,wearefocusedonmakinghealthcareconvenientandaccessible, sothatyoucangetbacktodoingthethingsyouenjoymost.

For14yearsinarow,OchsnerMedicalCenter-NewOrleans(OMC),includingOchsnerBaptistandOchsner MedicalCenter–WestBankCampus,hasbeennamedthenumberonehospitalinLouisianabyU.S.News& WorldReport.Inaddition,ourObstetricsandGynecologyservicesranked#13inthenation.Weareproudof thishonorandremaincommittedtoexceedingqualityandsafetystandardsinhealthcare.

Bringinga Swedish tradition to La.

Afriend recently returned from avacation to Sweden and shared photos from his trip, mentioning a word Ihadn’theard before: fika. Something about the way he used the word on his social media post pulled me in. The word sounded like something Iwould appreciate.

Loosely translated, afika is a Swedish coffee break. Idon’tdrink coffee. I’ve never been to Sweden, but Iwas right about appreciating the word and what it represents.

GET YOUR HEAD IN THEGAME

Since launching its esports initiative in 2019, Southern University in Baton Rougehas steadily expanded its competitivepresence

The university fields multiple teams that compete against other colleges and universities nationwide in the EasternCollege Athletic Conference

‘From hobbytocareerpath’:Southern trains gamers foropportunities in esports

Contributing writer

PROVIDED PHOTOS BY ERYKA W. JACKSON

At Southern University,gaming is no longer justa pastime for students interested in playingsports online.

Through aprogram called EDGE —Esports and Digital Gaming Ecosystem —the university is preparingstudents for careersingamedevelopment, production, broadcasting, content creation and emerging technologies. These fields are rapidly expanding alongside the growth of the gaming industry in the country At the same time, the program addresses apersistent representation gap. While African Americans make up approximately 12% of video game players in the United States, they account for only4%to5%ofthe gaming andtech workforce, based on industry analyses anddiversity reports from organizations like the International GameDevelopers Association.

“For too long, our community has beenthe cool factor that drives gaming culture, yet we rarely ownthe platforms or write thecode,” said Christopher Turner,directorofgaming and esports innovation at Southern. “I wantmystudents to feel theshift from being consumers to being innovators.

Turner said the program at Southern is astrategic engine for academic innovation, student recruitment and institutional growth —and it positions the

tournamentprogression.

In April, Southernbecamethe first historically Blackcollege and university to compete in and winthe Eastern College Athletic Conference’sEASports College Football Division II National Championship.

Idecided to contact my friend Erika Sunnegardh. She’saSwede, an international opera soprano whomade her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2006 —and my go-to source forall things Swedish. Imessaged her and learned she was on aboat off the coast of Portugal. Even so, she took the time to send me avoice message with her take on fika. She said it’sbeen around for several hundred years, but the worditself took hold around 1910. Cleverly,the word came about by someone rearranging the letters of the Swedish wordfor coffee, kaffi. She said that it started as something womendid, gathering over coffee to meet and talk. She used the word“lighthearted” to describe its origins. Eventually,fika becameapart of everyday Swedish life. She emphasized that fika is about much morethan coffee. Logistically,sweet treats are mandatory.They call them fika bread —cinnamon rolls, cardamom buns, pastry or the like. However,cookies are also apart of fika. She shared adetail that struck me as deeply Swedish. “Tradition has it you should treat seven different kinds of cookies,” she said. “Noless, because then you’re stingy,and no more, because then you’re showing off. Seven is the magic number.”

universityasarising force in esports (a categoryofcompetitive video gaming) and digital media. He calls academicintegration the department’s“secret sauce.” “Anecosystem requires afoundation that touches every part of student life,” he said. “That’s how youmovefromhobby to career path.”

Since launching its esports initiative in 2019,Southernhas steadily expanded its competitive presence. The university fields multiple teamsthat compete against other colleges and universities nationwide in the Eastern CollegeAthletic Conference, astructuredcollegiate esports league, similar to regular sports leagues. Each team’s performance is tracked through match results, standings and

Coby Robinson, asophomore from CrystalSprings, Mississippi, helpedsecure thatlegacy as akey member of the roster that defeated Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky Robinson, who has been gaming since he was 4years old, was a dual-enrolled high school student when he originally joined Coach Turner.Robinson says the win turned a“lifelong hobby into history.”

“It’s abig accomplishmentto be anational champion,”Robinson said. “I hope younger gamers learn to chase their dreams, stay humble,and keep grinding.Always put thework in.”

Southern’sesportsleague is supportedbyvarsity rosters, club-levelplayers and even a K-12 pipeline that begins at the Southern University Laboratory School.Atthe Lab School, students areintroduced to competitive gaming alongsidefoundational skills in digital literacy, teamwork and content creation Thegoal is to cultivateearly in-

ä See GAME, page 1Y

According to the Visit Sweden website, there are seven specific types of cookies that are the most traditional fika cookies: Brussels cookies, chocolate slices, dream cookies (a type of meringue cookie that melts in the mouth), raspberry caves, oat biscuits, nut biscuits and chessboards (twotone shortbread cookies). Sunnegardh told me that morning and afternoon fika are apart of daily lifeinSwedish workplaces. Work stops. Everybody leaves their desk. Someone may stay to cover the office phones, but fika happens, lasting 10 or 15 minutes —never morethan 20. People bring their own treats and their personal phones are down. Teaispermitted forthe noncoffee drinkers.

“Itsimply is what it is,” Erika told me from her boat. “Itcan’tbe degraded or weirded out by any digital thing. Ihave never heard of anyone skipping fika just because the world has changed.” Irecognized fika from the start. Notfrom Sweden, but from

ä See RISHER, page 1Y

Coach Christopher Turner says the EDGE program at Southern University is astrategic engine for academic innovation, student recruitment and institutional growth.

INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Environmentalist helps communities manage water

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Lafayette native Stacey Scarce

is a community infrastructure management specialist for Communities Unlimited, which connects rural Americans to solutions that sustain healthy businesses, communities and lives. She is one of four management specialists in Louisiana and helps town leaders with water systems.

Scarce began her career at Acadiana Park Nature Station in 1998 as a naturalist and later advanced to manager During her tenure, she revitalized the environmental education program and expanded offerings for participants of all ages. She also founded the Acadiana Master Naturalist Program and was recognized with the Professional Conservationist of the Year Award by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Scarce then became executive director of Our Neighbors Farm & Pantry in Arizona in 2018, where she oversaw farm operations, educational initiatives, a food pantry and a bunkhouse facility Since joining Communities Unlimited in 2022, she has worked closely with rural communities and water and wastewater systems in areas experiencing persistent poverty, providing technical assistance and community development support.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

What does working with a small town look like for you?

We’re funded in part by the United States Department of Agriculture, in part by the Environmental Protection Agency and in part by private foundations.

On a daily basis, I might get a referral from the USDA or the EPA to go work with a system that needs help with writing their water budget or turning in their budget because they have a loan or a grant with the USDA I’ll teach them how to do that, or I’ll do rate studies because their rates are too low and can’t sustain the system. A lot of what I’ve been doing is compliance reviews for the USDA. It takes a while to get the towns in compliance. We’re talking very rural Louisiana, where water systems are out in the middle of nowhere, and they serve outside of cities. The people that they hire are really intelligent people, but they don’t have the experience, so that’s where I come in. I help them with all sorts of things so they can be successful. That’s all we want.

For example, I teach them a

lot about how to work on Excel.

I wrote up a 20-page instruction manual that will make their lives just a little bit easier

I’m also a sounding board for some of the things that towns are going through and some of the frustrations that they have.

What are some other things about your job that you find fulfilling?

I think the most fulfilling thing is to see the clerks, the operators and the mayors have success, especially after a long-fought effort.

An example is in Melville, Louisiana. I worked with them for about three years to complete their compliance for a water loan from a previous administration. The new mayor and the new clerk worked so hard for three years. About a month or two ago, they were granted the money because they are now in compliance.

GAME

Continued from page 2y

interest that can transition into collegiate opportunities through EDGE.

The university’s innovation labs reinforce this effort by functioning as collaborative hubs for hands-on training, content production and interdisciplinary experimentation in gaming and digital media.

“People see a headline and think we just started, but Southern University esports has been a force since 2019,” Turner said. “We’ve been building this brick-by-brick for years.” Looking ahead

Competition wins have brought national recognition, but Turner’s goals extend to making esports essential to the university’s approach to the future of interactive tech.

“When I look at our roster I’m

not just looking for the next toptier controller player,” Turner said. “I’m looking at the future of an industry that, frankly, hasn’t always looked back at them.”

His philosophy — “exposure is the equalizer” guides both the academic and competitive sides of the department.

Turner sees opportunity for expansion in the way Southern University is structured, with five campuses across the state, including ones in New Orleans and Shreveport. It is the only HBCU system in the country, and that structure is the foundation of everything the esports department is building

“Most people look at a university as a single campus, but I saw a network,” Turner said. “If we could build the blueprint here, we could export it across the entire system, creating a massive, interconnected web of talent.”

In addition to expanding esports innovation labs across Southern’s system, Turner hopes to reach other milestones, such as plans to

Q&A WITH STACEy SCARCE

What was the problem with the water system in Melville?

Melville has a system, but there was a lot of theft on the system because before, when they had put in some new service lines, they didn’t shut off the old service lines. People were stealing water like crazy They had no meters, so everything was a flat rate. It didn’t matter how much you’re using because you’re all paying the same. That’s not fair especially for people that are low-income or on a fixed income. What they’re going to do now is they are going to add new service lines and cut off all the old ones. Every person will have to tap into a meter, so their water loss is probably going to be tremendously reduced.

Everybody will pay for the water that they use, so that is a huge boost to the town’s economy

How complex is it for these rural communities to have compliant water systems?

People take water for granted. They think that it just shows up at their house. Water needs to be cleaned to be sure that it doesn’t have any bacteria like E. coli in it or if there’s a lot of manganese, it will be treated. If you have a private well, you can have all sorts of things in that private well, and you don’t even know it unless you test it.

Water systems are testing every single day, so they are giving you the best possible water that you can get. Towns have to stay in compliance with whoever the grantor or the loan agent is and with the Department of Health. That’s why every day, they’re testing the water

Small communities often can’t afford to pay an operator, so several communities share an operator

A lot of these little communities have an agreement that if they ever need water for their community, they have a tie-in where they can use water from the next community or the next water system.

It’s hard in a small community because you don’t want to overcharge for water You want to be fair, but you have to charge enough to keep it sustainable.

How does this job with rural communities and water tie into your passion for environmentalism?

The environmental part is the water part and making sure people have clean water I explain how important it is to have clean water, and to pay the rates, whatever they may be, to have clean water to drink and not worry about it.

That’s my environmental correlation, but it’s always about community with me. So, even though it’s not about birding and plants and animals, it’s about water What have you learned in three years that you were surprised to find out? I honestly did not give water that much of a thought before this, which is why I think it’s helping me to better understand everyone else. I wasn’t thinking about how hard it was to clean water and how much went into it. I never thought about that, but now I do.

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

raspberry

shortbread cookies).

oat

launch the full EDGE curriculum by 2029, with the goal of producing “day one-ready” graduates for the gaming industry

That effort will be helped by an upcoming $70 million STEM complex, expected to open in 2027, which will support esports research, artificial intelligence studies and global gaming summits.

Competitively Turner aims for Southern to secure top-10 national rankings across its varsity titles and maintain a consistent presence in major collegiate esports conferences.

“We aren’t just playing games,” Turner said. “We’re building a system, a pathway and a future.”

This story was reported and written by a student with the support of the nonprofit Louisiana Collegiate News Collaborative, an LSU-led coalition of eight universities funded by the Henry Luce and John D. and Catherine T MacArthur foundations.

RISHER

Continued from page 2y

Mississippi. My parents’ home was fika central. Throughout the day — almost any day usually mid-morning or mid-afternoon, people knocked on the door and were welcomed in. My mother would put on coffee. Somehow, there was almost always cake. People sat down and visited, and the day went wherever it went. Now that I think about it, they usually stopped by in the mornings around 10 and in the afternoons around 2, which coincides nicely with the Swedish tradition. My parents led productive, even busy lives, but I never remember Mom not sitting to visit when guests arrived — and my dad too when he was home. They didn’t call it fika, of

course. They didn’t call it anything. It was just how things were.

Things stayed that way for my parents until my dad died and my mother moved away from our family home to be closer to my youngest brother

The tradition was not passed to the next generation. Dropping by unannounced is unheard of now We rarely sit and visit without an agenda. We schedule coffee weeks out. I do like calling it fika. Names change things. What was an interruption becomes a ritual. What felt like lost time becomes the point.

If fika is the word that gets people to put their phones down and sit with each other — really sit, with something sweet nearby and no particular reason to leave — then I am for it. My mother never needed a word for it. She just opened the door

PROVIDED PHOTO

Stacey Scarce, from left, works with Melville’s assistant town clerk Shakita Brown and Khadiejah Williams, the town clerk.

STAFF PHOTO By IAN MCNULTy Lemon and chocolate Hubig’s Pies, cut open to show their fillings, make a decadent coffee break snack, just as cookies are a part of fika. Swedish coffee breaks are customarily paired with Brussels cookies, chocolate slices, dream cookies (a type of meringue cookie that melts in the mouth),

caves,

biscuits, nut biscuits or chessboards (twotone

PROVIDED PHOTO

Southern University’s innovation labs function as collaborative hubs for hands-on training, content production and interdisciplinary experimentation in gaming and digital media

THERE’S GOOD NEWS,TOO

These are stories of global progress, compiledbythe media group Fix the News and shared in partnership with The Advocate/The Times-Picayune.

DECLINE IN LEAD EXPOSURE

Astudyfrom the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that current concentrations of leadinhairfrom individuals living along the Wasatch Front in Utah averagealmost 100 times lower than before the establishmentof the Environmental Protection Agency Researchers examined archived human hair samples from that population to evaluate changes in lead exposure over the past century. Hair samples from the Salt Lake City region population from 1916 to 1969 showedespecially high contaminations, likely caused by gasoline, industrial emissions and lead-based paint. Levels steadily declined after the EPAwas created in 1970 and regulations beganphasing out lead in fuel and consumer products. By the 2020s, average concentrations had dropped to below1ppm, compared with peaks near 100 ppm in earlier decades.

RIVERRECONNECTED

American Rivers —which advocates for local, state and federal protection for the nation’shealthiest waterways —reported in March that 2025 marked arecord-breaking year for dam removals in the United States. Over 100 outdated dams were removed across 30 states.The effort reconnected morethan 4,893miles of river,“the most upstream milesever reconnected in asingle year in the U.S. through dam removal.”

Manyofthe country’sdams are no longergenerating power, supplying water or serving apractical purpose. Instead, the organization says that the dams threaten public safety, accelerate flooding risks, block

More than 4,893 miles of river reconnected

Arock damisseen across the MRGO near the Breton Sound Marina.American Rivers —which advocatesfor local, state and federalprotection forthe nation’s healthiest waterways —reported in March that 2025 marked arecord-breaking year for dam removals in theUnited States.

fish migration and more. Removing them restores river health, allowing native fish andwildlife to return.

Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont led the nation in removals. American Rivers’hopes to see 30,000dams removedby2050.

HEARTTRANSPLANTS

ResearchersatVanderbilt University Medical Center have developed anew heartpreservationmethod called REUP —rapid recovery with extended ultraoxygenated preservation— that safely recovers heartsfor hearttransplantation.The technique wasrecentlypublished in theJournal of the AmericanMedical Association. It usesoxygenatedblood and a specializedsolution“as a flush for

more than 10 to 12 minuteswith anewly recovered donor heart.”If successful, the method maylower costs, reduce ethical concerns and broaden the pool of available organs

“ThestudyshowedREUP resulted in good outcomespreservinghearts foruptoeight hours, includingin older donors and without concern forgeographical limitations to get these hearts, broadening the pool of available organs to people waiting fora lifesaving hearttransplant,” Vanderbilt Health News reported in February.

MILKYWAY

Scientists are studying microscopic crystals to better understand how the solar system formed 4.6billion

years ago,accordingto Quanta Magazine.These crystals, called “presolar grains” are found inside meteorites.

For decades, researchers believed that anearbysupernova triggered the collapse of agiant dustcloud that became the sun andplanets. That theorywas supported by detailed astrophysicalmodels and furthermeasurements of enriched magnesium-26 in pristine meteorites

However, newmeasurements show that the solarsystem hasaniron deficiency

“Therefore, if asupernova launched the formationofthe solar system, ‘weshould see quitehigh initial [iron-60] abundances in theearlyformed objects, wrote LinruFang, acosmochemist at the Universityof

Copenhagen, in an email.

Agrowing alternative theory suggests that the winds of aWolf-Rayetstar couldhavedelivered the aluminum-26 in our solar system. Researchers are nowstudying the meteorite to see if there are grains with the right chemical composition to have come froma WolfRayetstar.Their findings could reshape scientists’ understanding of thesolar system’sorigins and the conditions that made life on Earth possible.

Fix theNewsisthe world’s leading solutions journalism newsletter.The organization finds hiddenstories of progress and shares them withreaders from 195 countries. Steven Pinker calls Fix the News “the bestsource forpositivenewson theinternet.”

STEAM

HarryHurst’s Advanced STEAMLab PreparesStudentsfor Real WorldCareers

At HarryHurst Middle School,students aregaininghands-on experience in engineering, broadcasting,journalism, and technology throughthe school’sAdvanced STEAMLab.Theydesignprojects likecircuitboards and mechanicaldeviceswhilealsoproducing news broadcasts,podcasts,videos,and theschool newspaper

Principal Sean Dwyercredits thelab’ssuccess to communitysupport, includingfunding from Shell. “Whatour students do is amazing,” Dwyersaid. “Shell askedhow it could help,encouraged us to think bigger when we answered, and that support transformed ourSTEAMclassroomintoaninnovative Advanced STEAMLab.”

Throughthese uniquelearningopportunities, studentsare discoveringnew passions and preparing forfuturesuccess.Shell’sinvestment is helping open doorsfor thenextgenerationofengineers, creators,and innovators

“I see studentsproblem solvingand accepting taskstheynever thought they could do.Theyare growingasleadersand taking riskslikespeaking in frontofthe entire school or interviewing our principal.”

LINDSAY MAXIE STEAMCoordinator HarryHurst Middle School

STAFFPHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

STEAM LAB

ADVA NCED

Pen pal programs still exist in a digital world

Reporter visits pen pal of 40 years

BY HOLLY RAMER Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. — In 1985, a 13-yearold girl in New Zealand spotted a pair of purple, lip-shaped sunglasses in “Young Miss” magazine. In March, I traveled 9,000 miles from New Hampshire to deliver them to her, finally fulfilling my pen pal’s decades-old request.

International Youth Service, the agency that matched us up 40 years ago, has long since folded, but other pen pal programs have survived — or even began during — the internet age. And even though New Zealand’s postal system has reduced home delivery days, Denmark has stopped delivering letters altogether and Canada is moving in that direction, some see signs of a letter-writing resurgence.

“The hunger is there,” said Rachel Syme, a writer for The New Yorker magazine who created a pen pal program during the COVID-19 pandemic and later published a book encouraging others to take up handwritten correspondence. More than 15,000 people signed up for Syme’s Penpalooza project in 2020, and she still gets hundreds of takers when she coordinates a new round of matchmaking every few months. She also gets requests for pen pals at book signings for “Syme’s Letter Writer – A Guide to Modern Correspondence,” and the stationery stores she frequents in New York City are always crowded with customers

“People are very interested in physical, analog things right now,” she said. “I think it really has an appeal especially to a younger generation who grew up with a phone glued to their hand, to do something that’s more tactile, slower, more intentional, more mindful, but also just disconnected from the internet in every way.”

‘Yours (hopefully)’

I was still 10 years away from connecting to the internet when I opened my first aerogramme from New Zealand, a sheet of pale blue paper that served as both writing surface and envelope adorned with a 45-cent stamp That missive ended with a formal “Yours (hopefully) Molly Nunns,” but within a year, she was signing off with “Lots and lots of love” or “Your friend forever.”

In letter after letter, Molly drew little hearts on the tails of y’s in both of our first names, asked for updates on my middle school crushes and shared stories about her classmates and family I could clearly picture her life, though it was hard in snowy New Hampshire to imagine celebrating Christmas during the summer

“I am thinking of you heaps and I wonder what you are doing because you’re a SUPER pen friend and I hope that we never stop writing to each other and that one day we will get to meet each other,” she wrote in early 1986.

Some of the hundreds of letters Ramer has received from her pen pal

Julie Delbridge, 65, fostered similar friendships after joining International Pen Friends as a teenager in 1979. Writing to pen pals in more than a dozen countries from her home in Australia was such a positive experience that she began working for the organization as an adult and took over as its president in 2001.

While she loved sharing photos, postcards and treats with her pen friends, it also was a therapeutic experience at a time when her parents were going through a bitter divorce.

“It was a pastime that I totally immersed myself into in a positive way and gained a lot of enjoyment from,” she said. “There was an abundance of non-judgmental friendship, fun and different perspectives.”

Over its 59-year history, IPF has provided pen pals to more than 2 million people ages 8 to 80+, she said. Membership peaked in the late 1990s but surged again during the pandemic, and this year, there’s been an increase in people ages 21-26 joining.

Pen pals in the classroom

In 2021, the U.S Postal Service sent cards and envelopes to 25,000 elementary school classrooms for a pen pal project, but older students also are putting pen to paper

In Texas, a group of medical students created an anonymous pen pal program to promote peer support and personal reflection.

At Villanova University professor Kamran Javadizadeh requires students to send letters to each

other as part of a literature class called “Letters, Texts, Twitter” that examines different forms of epistolary communication in literature.

“I make them put pieces of paper in envelopes and take them to the post office and send them to each other even though they could just as easily hand it to the person in class,” he said. “Something is lost when you have instantaneous communication. So I’m interested in the relationship between synchronous kinds of intimacy and asynchronous forms of intimacy.” Gordon Alley-Young, dean of communications at New York’s Kingsborough Community College, believes letters are like vinyl records they’re coming back into fashion as young people explore a tangible medium from

the past. He has both studied the history of letter writing and used it to teach students empathy In an interpersonal communication class, he noticed that students analyzing case studies about relationship problems offered matterof-fact, almost insensitive diagnoses. But when he re-wrote the case studies in the form of letters from friends and had students respond in kind, they began sharing their own feelings and offering more open-ended advice.

“We really want students to connect to what they’re looking at,” he said “And letter writing encourages that.”

Pen pals in the digital age

An app called Slowly seeks to combine modern technology with the old-fashioned anticipation inherent to the pen pal relationship. Users send messages digitally but delivery is delayed from an hour to several days to mimic snail mail.

“This delay naturally encourages longer, more thoughtful messages because you wouldn’t just say ‘hi’ if you know you have to wait days for a reply,” said co-founder JoJo Chan.

Since 2017, the app has gained 10 million users in more than 160 countries, most in their 20s and 30s. One user said he was curious about pen pals after hearing about them from his grandparents, Chan said.

“Slowly offers a convenient way and a modern way for them to try that experience,” she said.

Syme, however, is all about the tangible aspects of letter writing. Her book includes advice on paper and pens plus all kinds of goodies that can be tucked into envelopes.

“There is joy to be had once you fully embrace the medium’s outdated extravagance,” she writes. But letter writing, she said in an interview, is like a swimming pool, both shiny and deep. The frippery and embellishments don’t matter in comparison to what you actually put on the page.

“That’s where I think it can get very real, very quickly,” she said.

A special connection

Molly and I had been writing for 15 years by the time we met in person, spending a day together in New York when she toured the U.S. in May 2000. We crossed paths in London a few years later, and in 2018, she and her family visited New Hampshire.

“Who would have thought when we started writing in 1985 that one day you’d be sitting here? It’s quite amazing,” she said during my recent visit. “We’ll always have a special connection, I’m sure.”

In addition to the sunglasses, I also gave Molly a bound book of 200 pages of her letters that I scanned and printed. At age 13, I never could have imagined that someday I’d have searchable PDFs of our teenage scribblings that could be summarized in 10 seconds by artificial intelligence. But what amazes me more is the depth of the connection I felt during our tearful airport goodbye. We will for sure meet again. Until then, lots and lots of love, Holly

Cambodians honor spirits to pray for rain, good fortune

Villagers celebrate with a colorful ceremony

BY SOPHENG CHEANG Associated Press

PHUM BOEUNG, Cambodia In May, hundreds of Cambodians honored their village’s guardian spirits by holding a colorful centuries-old ceremony to pray for good fortune, rain and prosperity.

The

“He Neak Ta” ritual has been celebrated annually for several hundred years by the villagers in Phum Boeung, about 15 miles northwest of the capital, Phnom Penh. The ceremony, which has become increasingly rare in modern times, coincides with the onset of the summer monsoon as farmers prepare for planting rice, a particularly water-intensive crop.

Although most Cambodians are Buddhist, the ritual reflects a widespread faith in animism, the belief that spirits can inhabit all types of living and inanimate objects.

Chamrouen Ratha, a 26-year-old blacksmith, said he was taking the day off from work to join other villagers in honoring the same spirits celebrated by his ances-

tors.

“The significance of this ceremony is to pray for happiness and prosperity for all the villagers in this area and the participants who have joined this ceremony,” he said.

Villagers of all ages congregate about 1.2 miles from the local monastery dedicated to their guardian spirit. Young village men paint scenes inspired by local folklore on their faces and bodies, dress as spirits and don grass skirts. A few wear painted oversized heads atop their costumes.

Many young women wear traditional silk clothing, with gold-colored necklaces and flowers tucked behind their ears. Some dance elegantly to the beat of handheld drums and small gongs.

The ragtag procession, including some participants traveling on motorbikes and even on horseback, slowly makes its way to the guardian spirit’s shrine. There, villagers light incense sticks and offer various types of fruit, food, soft drinks and alcohol while praying for good fortune, adequate rain, prosperity and the prevention of disease within their community.

The half-day ceremony concludes with the spraying of holy water on the cheerful participants.

“I

“This

pray for enough rainfall with abundant rice production so that villagers would enjoy their harvest,” said one of the costumed marchers, 30-year-old driver Sim

Pov Neak Mao, 64, who brought two horses with him, said he has attended the ceremony since he was young.

celebration

he said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HENG SINITH

A man representing a ghost rides on a horse during a ceremony to invoke rain amid the rice planting season in Pring Ka-ek village, northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 21.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

This photo provided by Martin Murray shows longtime pen pals Molly Nunns, left, and Holly Ramer during a walk in Wellington, New Zealand, on March 7.

SUNDAY, JUNe 7, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE /byStephan Pastis

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

word game

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

todAY's Word — oPPortune: op-orTOON: Suitable or convenient for a particular occurrence.

Average mark 49 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 60 or more words in OPPORTUNE?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

By ricky J sirois

wuzzLes

Weekly bridge quiz answers

Today’s deal was played some years ago in the Buffet Cup. This was a competition between players from the USA against players from Europe, designed to imitate the great Ryder Cup in golf It was much ballyhooed in the beginning, but the interest didn’t last. South was French star Michel Bessis Bessis was regretting his decision to respond on such a light hand, but the sight of dummy gave him hope. He had to play it very well.

super Quiz

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and

LEVEL

What was signed on Aug. 2, 1776?

Which U.S. president was assassinated on Nov 22, 1963?

Bessis won the opening trump lead with dummy’s ace and led a diamond to his 10 and West’s queen. He won the trump continuation in hand and led the 10 of hearts. This was covered by the jack from West, the ace from dummy, and ruffed by East. East shifted to the queen of clubs to dummy’s ace. Bessis cashed the king of clubs, discarding a diamond, and ruffed a club. He ruffed a diamond in dummy, another club in his hand, and another diamond in dummy In this three-card ending, with

only hearts in the North, South, and West hands, Bessis led a low heart to his eight. West won with the nine but had to lead a heart from his queen and Bessis made his contract. Very nicely done!

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Take a moment to sort through mixed emotions and how to deal with any unexpected changes that pop up. Use your memory, experience and charm to zigzag your way through any difficulties you face.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Trust your gut feeling, not what someone else tells you or wants you to believe. Misinformation is apparent, leaving you in charge of what you do next. Learn from mistakes.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Plant your feet firmly on the ground and repeat your mantra until your brain adapts permanently You have plenty to

gain if you are adamant and innovative.Keepthemomentumflowing. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Listen,anddo what you must to get what you want. Speakingoutforthoselessfortunate will lead to interesting connections that offer strength, courage and motivationtomakeyourcommunity a better place. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Whether you lower your overhead or increase your earning potential, hard work, inspiration and originality will carry you forward and help you outperform any competition you encounter

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Whether you are trying to gain physical strength or mental agility your quest will come to pass if you compete with yourself instead of trying to outmaneuver someone else.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Spend time at home, and avoid dealing with emotionally manipulative people. A change of heart will help you sort through what’s important to you and what you can discard CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You can turn a negative into a positive with an energy push to reconstruct how you use your skills to make your life manageable. A heart-to-heart chat

Which war began on July 28, 1914? Answer________ 4. Who was the prime minister of England during World War II? Answer________ 5. What ship sank on April 15, 1912? Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. What was signed on Sept. 17, 1787? Answer________ 7. Which U.S.

will lead to a better relationship.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t labor overwhatyoucannotchange.Thinking ahead will motivate you to make a long-overdue move that changes your quality of life and turns your negativity into something new and refreshing.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) You aren’t alone, but you do have to be selective when choosing who to believe or hang out with Get out and do things that interest you. It’s time to connect with people who share your interests.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Being emotional about decisions will set you

back. Keep your personal information to yourself. Someone will take advantage of you if given the opportunity Focus on getting ahead financially

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Clean up a mess or unfinished business. Step outside your comfort zone and do what’s necessary to ease stress and togetbackoncourse.Personalsatisfaction will come from self-love.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

goren Bridge

Answers to puzzles

1. The Declaration of Independence. 2. President John F. Kennedy.3.World WarI 4. Winston Churchill. 5. RMSTitanic. 6.The U.S Constitution. 7. President James A. Garfield. 8. Korean War. 9. Franklin D. Roosevelt.10. RMS Lusitania. 11.The MagnaCarta. 12.President William McKinley.13. American Civil War. 14.Joseph Stalin.15. HMS Hood.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

They fight not for the lustofconquest.They fight to end conquest.Theyfight to liberate.— President Franklin D. Roosevelt,announcing D-Day invasion

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend

dustin /bySteve Kelley&JeffParker