SAVE $ 00 2
largest selection & lowest prices on wine, spirits & beer SAVE up $ 00 to 4
Limitesde Relea
LB
— ONLY —
16
$ 12 PACK 12 OZ
CELEBRATING OUR FIRST 65 YEARS
— ONLY —
99
LB
Corona Extra or Modelo
13
$ 750 ML SELECTED
99
La Crema Monterey Wine or LaMarca Prosecco
visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!
THC
— ONLY —
15
$ Louisiana Local 4 PACK 16 OZ
— ONLY —
99
19
$ 750 ML
— ONLY —
99
LIMIT 3
Parish Sazerac Actias Luna Triple IPA Rye
18
$ 750 ML
— ONLY —
99 4 PACK 12 OZ
Myers’s Dark Rum
17 99
$ High Rise THC Seltzer
Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores August 6th - 13th, 2025.
TREVOR PENNING’S SIMPLE GOAL IN NEW ROLE WITH SAINTS: ‘MAULING PEOPLE’ 1C
N O L A.C O M
|
F r i d ay, au g u s t 8, 2025
$2.00X
New La. SNAP rules ban candy, soda
HEAVENLY DEAL
Goal is to improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid costs, officials say
BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MAX BECHERER
Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson shows some of the company’s Easter candy offerings in 2019, including the Heavenly Hash Eggs. Hoffman Family of Companies, based in Florida, has purchased the candymaker.
Florida investment company buys Elmer Chocolate, maker of Gold Brick and Heavenly Hash eggs BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
Elmer Chocolate, the Louisiana candymaker best known for its seasonal boxed chocolates and Gold Brick and Heavenly Hash eggs, has been sold to a family-owned conglomerate based in Florida, ending local ownership of the Ponchatoula manufacturer after nearly two centuries. Hoffman Family of Companies, which describes itself
as a “family equity” firm that operates 120 different companies and brands, including hotels, wineries, airlines and newspapers, declined to disclose what it paid for Elmer, which has estimated annual revenues of around $100 million. But Hoffman co-CEO Geoff Hoffman said his firm’s investment philosophy is to buy strong local brands and help
Making Heavenly Hash Eggs is a two-day process at Elmer Chocolate. PROVIDED PHOTO
ä See CHOCOLATE, page 8A
Arthur Hunter ends N.O. mayoral campaign Ex-judge endorses Royce Duplessis
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
Arthur Hunter, a retired New Orleans judge who mounted a longshot run for mayor, on Thursday ended that bid to stump for opponent Royce Duplessis, another shake-up in the city’s marquee competition this election cycle. Since joining the race in February, Hunter struggled to carve a path to victory. He raised over $250,000 since launching his campaign with no cash, but faced dif-
WEATHER HIGH 91 LOW 78 PAGE 8B
ELECTION 2025 ficulties raising more, and saw his polling numbers erode after Duplessis, a state senator, announced his bid in June. A recent poll by New Orleans-based Faucheux Strategies ranked Hunter last among four major candidates. Rather than limp along in the contest, Hunter opted to throw his support behind Duplessis on Thursday at a news conference attended by residents and politicos who support both men. Former
Louisiana’s new SNAP rules will ban soda, candy and energy drinks starting in 2026, and there are specific definitions of what that means for shoppers. Candy bars are off-limits, but families can still buy chocolate chips. Energy drinks are not allowed, but Gatorade is, as long as it’s full sugar and not the artificially sweetened version. The rules apply to all of the roughly 850,000 SNAP recipients in the state. The goal, according to Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration, is to improve health outcomes and reduce the state’s Medicaid costs by limiting access to foods linked to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.
ä See SNAP, page 10A
Loud aircraft rattle residents
National Guard performing night exercises, officials say BY JENNA ROSS and MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writers
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Arthur Hunter, left, raises hands with state Sen. Royce Duplessis on Thursday after announcing he is ending his campaign in the ä See CAMPAIGN, page 8A New Orleans mayor’s race and endorsing Duplessis.
Business ...................12A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
The roar from the sky shook windows and wineglasses across parts of New Orleans Wednesday night. It rattled residents, too. About 10 p.m., two loud, low-flying jets circled the city — louder and lower than is typical, residents said. Dogs howled, cats cowered, and Uptown and Mid-City residents posted on social media, questioning the source and timing of the sound.
ä See AIRCRAFT, page 10A
12TH yEAR, NO. 361