The Acadiana Advocate 08-10-2025

‘Built on Zydeco’ highlights La. artists

Documentary shows intimate look at the lives of three performers

BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer

If life in southwest Louisiana

was a highlight reel, zydeco would be the soundtrack.

From backyard boils to graduation parties, no Louisiana celebration is complete without the music

of local legends like Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, or Buckwheat Zydeco Jr and his legendary Ils Sont Partis players. When the good times are rolling, there’s probably a zydeco musician somewhere in the scene keeping the energy dialed up but the

thing about a highlight reel is that it rarely shows the effort it took to get the party going in the first place. In “Built on Zydeco,” a new documentary from Lafayette filmmakers Milton Arceneaux and Dustin Cravins, three zydeco stars pull

THE RIVER’S RECKONING

back the curtain on their lives.

Terrence Simien, Reggie Dural Jr and Keith Frank are larger-thanlife on stage, but in this film, they are working musicians balancing family business and the grind of life on the road.

“It’s a glimpse into the lives of these zydeco artists that are world-renowned, and happen to be friends of mine,” said Cravins. His father, Don Cravins, founded the Zydeco Extravaganza music festival in the 1980s to highlight the vibrancy of the region’s Creole culture and music.

HOLDINGBACK THERIVER

Keeping the Mississippi from changing course is vital for Louisiana and the nation, but new challenges are emerging

Second in a series

BY MIKE SMITH | Staff writer

LETTSWORTH The giant steel doors below Russell Beauvais’ feet are holding back water that can determine the future of south Louisiana — and far beyond.

On one side of the elaborate complex in this remote corner of the state lined with sugar cane fields is the Mississippi River The other side leads to the Atchafalaya River

Allowing the two to merge — as nature would prefer — would be nothing short of epochal.

“Without this, the nation and the state of Louisiana wouldn’t exist like it is today,” the 61-year-old Cajun from the nearby town of Morganza says of the Old River Control Structures, where he serves as operations manager

Of all the levees, gates and walls keeping the Mississippi River in place across the length of America’s spine, Old River Control may be the most consequential. Without it, river shipping, industry along the lower Mississippi, the region’s drinking water and communities along its banks — including New Orleans — would be forever changed.

But the structure’s operations were

for

Russell

designed in another era, and a new set of pressing problems across the lower river have emerged. They range from saltwater intrusion moving upriver from the Gulf to how flood control systems along the Mississippi are operated

Changing conditions related to the riverbed and intensifying rainfall are also stoking some concern about the possibility of the structure being over-

powered one day, and whether the nation is underestimating that catastrophic risk.

Those questions and more are demanding the country investigate how Old River can be adapted to deal with them Despite the structure’s vital importance, that task is proving to be problematic, beset by competing

ä For more from this series, go to theadvocate.COM ä See RIVER, page 8A

“A year ago, we were promoting

Louisiana stays out of redistricting melee

State awaiting Supreme Court’s decision on its congressional map

BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has urged Republican legislatures to take the rare step of redrawing congressional election maps halfway through the traditional 10-year cycle, launching a gerrymandering arms race that has spread to state capitols across America. The fight started in Texas, but now Republican-run states of Florida, Indiana, Ohio and maybe Missouri also are gearing up to redraw election maps and send more GOP members to the House. In response, Democrats launched their own mid-cycle redistricting efforts in states like California, New York, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Colorado. But Louisiana will sit out the scrum for the time being while the state litigates its redistricting case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

“To the best of my knowledge, there are no plans to call a special session before our brief is due in a few weeks we would continue to be stuck between the same rock and a hard place,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. “I have said all along, the Supreme Court needs to give clarity to Legislatures. That’s who has the constitutional duty to draw maps, not federal judges.” As chair of the Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee, state Rep. Gerald “Beau” Beaullieu IV, R-New Iberia, would be in charge of any effort to draw new election maps in Louisiana.

“We are leaning on the attorney general to lead us in these discussions, since there is an ongoing lawsuit,” he said Thursday While the Louisiana Constitution and related laws include redistricting instructions for lower-level offices, it remains ambiguous on the rules for drawing the maps to elect members of Congress every two years. But the biggest holdup is the Louisiana v. Callais lawsuit, in which the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next year The case challenges the congressional maps drafted by the Louisiana Legislature’s Republican supermajority in 2024, which created a second majority-Black district.

“They would be ethically stupid to try and do something in Louisiana, given that the second Black district was created by court order and is the subject of a Supreme Court case,” said Michael Li, a redistricting expert with the Brennan Center for Justice in New York. “Until the current

ä See REDISTRICTING, page 11A

Congo says rebels killed 80 in recent weeks

KINSHASA, Congo Rwandabacked rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo in recent weeks, Congolese authorities said, despite the ongoing Qatar-led peace process aiming to end the conflict.

A decadeslong conflict ravaging eastern Democratic Republic of Congo escalated earlier this year when the M23 rebel group seized two key cities with the help of neighboring Rwandan forces. Congo has long been wracked by deadly conflict in its mineral-rich east, with more than 100 armed groups active.

The continuing violence could threaten the efforts to get Congo and the rebels to sign a permanent peace deal by Aug. 18 as hoped for One of the deal’s conditions is the protection of civilians and the safe return of millions of displaced people

The Congolese army said in a statement late Friday that it is “fiercely condemning” what it described as a series of mass murders of civilians in South Kivu. It said that 80 people were killed on Aug 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, and that six civilians, including two minors, were murdered on July 24 in the village of Lumbishi.

It blamed the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which includes the rebel groups M23 and AFC backed

4 killed in attack on boat off Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador Dozens of gunmen have attacked a boat off Ecuador’s southwest coast, killing several people after opening fire on its occupants and launching explosives at the vessel, according to local news reports.

The attack occurred Friday evening in the troubled region of El Oro. Extra, a local newspaper, quoted witnesses as saying that about 60 armed men approached the boat, killing at least four people with more than a dozen believed to be missing.

At least two victims have been identified, according to the newspaper

An official with Ecuador’s navy told The Associated Press that the suspects tried to leave the scene aboard three boats, but were blocked by the coast guard. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity, because he wasn’t authorized to talk about the case.

One boat was able to flee, while the occupants of the two other boats jumped into the water and disappeared into the mangroves. No suspects were arrested, the official said, adding that munition was found aboard the two abandoned boats.

South Korea: North removing speakers

SEOUL,South Korea South Korea’s military said Saturday it detected North Korea removing some of its loudspeakers from the interKorean border, days after the South dismantled its own frontline speakers used for anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts, in a bid to ease tensions.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t disclose the sites where the North Koreans were removing speakers and said it wasn’t immediately clear whether the North would take all of them down. In recent months, South Korean border residents have complained that North Korean speakers blasted irritating sounds, including howling animals and pounding gongs, in a tit-for-tat response to South Korean propaganda broadcasts.

The South Korean military said the North stopped its broadcasts in June after Seoul’s new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, halted the South’s broadcasts in his government’s first concrete step toward easing tensions between the war-divided rivals. South Korea’s military began removing its speakers from border areas on Monday but didn’t specify how they would be stored or whether they could be quickly redeployed if tensions flared again. North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, didn’t immediately confirm it was taking down its speakers.

Zelenskyy rejects ceding territory

Ukrainian leader: Kyiv should be part of any talks with Russia

BY SAMYA KULLAB and ELISE MORTON Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday rejected the idea that his country would give up land to end the war with Russia after President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal could include “some swapping of territories.”

Zelenskyy said Ukraine “will not give Russia any awards for what it has done” and that “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.”

Later Saturday, European and Ukrainian officials met with Vice President JD Vance in England to discuss how to end the more than three-year war The talks came after Trump said he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy

Representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany Italy Finland and Poland attended the meeting in Kent, Zelenskyy said in a post on X, calling the talks constructive.

“I have not heard any partners express doubts about America’s ability to ensure that the war ends,” Zelenskyy said. “The President of the United States

has the levers and the determination.”

Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy dismissed the planned Trump-Putin summit, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, warning that any negotiations to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II must include Kyiv

“Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work,” he said.

Ukrainian officials previously told The Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraine’s inability to regain lost territories militarily

The Trump-Putin summit

The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in

a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there’s no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

“It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,” Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov said Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin’s news channel.

In his comments at the White House Friday, Trump gave no details on the “swapping of territories.” Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Rus-

sia could offer to give up territory it controls outside of the four regions it claims to have annexed.

Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelenskyy His announcement that he planned to host one of America’s adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they’d meet in a third country Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the AP that the “symbology” of holding the summit in Alaska was clear and that the location “naturally favors Russia.”

“It’s easy to imagine Putin making the point. We once had this territory and we gave it to you, therefore Ukraine had this ter-

ritory and now should give it to us,” he said, referring to the 1867 transaction known as the Alaska Purchase when Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million.

Reactions in Kyiv

On the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from skepticism to quiet resignation.

“It may not be capitulation, but it would be a loss,” said Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who said he would consider ceding territory “on condition for compensation and, possibly, some reparations.”

Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, said she was torn: “Honestly, I have two answers to that question. The first is as a person who loves her country I don’t want to compromise within myself,” she told the AP “But seeing all these deaths and knowing that my mother is now living in Nikopol under shelling and my father is fighting, I want all this to end as soon as possible.”

Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died fighting, rejected outright concessions but supported halting combat to save lives.

“We don’t have the opportunity to launch an offensive to recapture our territories,” the 57-year-old pensioner said, “But to prevent people from dying, we can simply stop military operations, sign some kind of agreement, but not give up our territories.”

Authorities ID shooter in CDC HQ shooting

Attack left gunman, police officer dead

BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

ATLANTA Investigators identified a 30-year-old man from suburban Atlanta on Saturday as the person who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing a police officer and spreading panic through the health agency and nearby Emory University The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the shooter was Patrick Joseph White, of Kennesaw, Georgia. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded Friday while responding. No one else was hit, although police said four people reported to emergency rooms with symptoms of anxiety Many CDC employees sought cover in their offices as bullets strafed the agency’s headquarters.

CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr said Saturday “We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others,” his statement said.

Some laid-off employees rejected the expressions of solidarity Kennedy made in a “Dear colleagues” email, and called for his resignation.

“Kennedy is directly re-

sponsible for the villainization of CDC’s workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust,” Fired but Fighting said. The group also called for the resignation of Russell Vought, pointing to a video recorded before Trump appointed him Office of Management and Budget director with orders to dismantle much of the federal government.

Police say White opened fire at the campus from across the street, leaving gaping bullet holes in windows and littering the sidewalk outside a CVS pharmacy with bullet casings. The attack prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nation’s most prominent public health institutions.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the shooter had been turned away by guards when he tried to gain access to the campus, and then drove to a spot near the pharmacy and started firing He was armed with a long gun and authorities recovered at least three other firearms at the scene, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The suspect’s father

reached out to authorities and identified his son as the possible shooter the law enforcement official said. The father told authorities that his son had been upset over the death of his dog and seemed depressed because of the COVID-19 vaccine.

At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said in a post on X, and dozens of impacts were visible from outside the campus. Images shared by employees showed bullet-pocked windows in offices where thousands of scientists and staff work on critical disease research.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at

Astronauts return to Earth after 5 months aboard space station

BY MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

Four astronauts returned to Earth on Saturday after hustling to the International Space Station five months ago to relieve the stuck test pilots of Boeing’s Starliner Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Pacific off the Southern California coast a day after departing the orbiting lab.

“Welcome home ,” SpaceX Mission Control radioed.

Splashing down were NASA’s Anne McClain

and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov. They launched in March as replacements for the two NASA astronauts assigned to Starliner’s botched demo. Starliner malfunctions kept Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams at the space station for more than nine months instead of a week.

NASA ordered Boeing’s new crew capsule to return empty and switched the pair to SpaceX. They left soon after McClain and her crew arrived to take their places. Wilm-

ore has since retired from NASA. Before leaving the space station on Friday, McClain made note of “some tumultuous times on Earth” with people struggling.

“We want this mission, our mission, to be a reminder of what people can do when we work together, when we explore together,” she said. McClain looked forward to “doing nothing for a couple of days” once back home in Houston. High on her crewmates’ wish list: hot showers and juicy burgers.

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Israel faces growing condemnation over Gaza plan

Israeli forces to take over Gaza City

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip International condemnation grew Saturday over Israel’s decision for a military takeover of Gaza City, while tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in what local media called one of the largest anti-government protests in recent months following 22 months of war Ceasefire efforts appeared to be reviving with Israel’s announcement. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to meet with Qatar’s prime minister in Spain on Saturday to discuss a new proposal to end the war, according to two officials familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak with the media.

Mediators Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new ceasefire framework that would include the release of all hostages dead and alive in one go in return for the war’s end and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, two Arab officials have told The Associated Press.

Health officials said that 20 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead Saturday and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, as the

criticism of Israel came with pleas to allow far more food to reach people in the besieged enclave

‘Shut the country down’ Hostages’ families pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government amid new fears for the 50 remaining hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive and struggling Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaza, called on Israelis including the powerful Histadrut labor union to “help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel” and appeared to call for a general strike: “Shut the country down.”

A joint statement by nine countries including Germany, Britain, France and Canada said that they “strongly reject” Israel’s decision for the large-scale military operation, saying it will worsen the “catastrophic humanitarian situation,” endanger hostages and further risk mass displacement. They said any attempts at annexation or settlement in Gaza violate international law

A separate statement by more than 20 countries including ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates called Israel’s decision a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation.” Meanwhile, Russia said Israel’s plan will aggravate the “already extremely dramatic situation” in Gaza.

The U.N. Security Council planned an emergency

meeting Sunday

Killed while seeking aid

Officials at Nasser and Awda hospitals said that Israeli forces killed at least 11 people seeking aid in southern and central Gaza. Some had been waiting for aid trucks, while others had approached aid distribution points.

Israel’s military denied opening fire and said that it was unaware of the incidents. The military secures routes leading to distribution sites run by the Israelibacked and U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment

Two witnesses told the AP that Israeli troops fired

London police arrest 365 people as pro-Palestinian protesters defy law

BY DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

LONDON British police said they arrested 365 people in central London on Saturday as supporters of a recently banned pro-Palestinian group intentionally flouted the law as part of their effort to force the government to reconsider the ban.

Parliament in early July passed a law banning Palestine Action and making it a crime to publicly support the organization. That came after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two tanker planes to protest against Britain’s support for Israel’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Backers of the group, who have held a series of protests around the U.K. over the past month, argue that the law illegally restricts freedom of expression.

A woman is led away by police officers Saturday in London as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square.

toward crowds approaching a GHF distribution site on foot in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone that bisects Gaza. One witness, Ramadan Gaber said that snipers and tanks fired on aid-seekers, forcing them to retreat.

In the north, Israeli fire killed at least nine and wounded over 200 as people sought aid entering Gaza through the Zikim crossing, said Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service in the area. There was no immediate Israeli comment

In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, some aid-seekers cheered the latest airdrops of aid. Hundreds of people rushed to grab what they could. Aid organizations

have called airdrops expensive, insufficient and potentially dangerous for people on the ground.

Israel’s military said that at least 106 packages of aid were airdropped Saturday as Italy and Greece joined the effort for the first time.

Footage from Italy’s defense ministry showed packages parachuted over Gaza’s dry and devastated landscape.

Barefoot children collected rice, pasta and lentils that spilled from packages onto the ground.

“This way is not for humans, it is for animals,” said one man, Mahmoud Hawila, who said he was stabbed while trying to secure an airdropped package.

Israel alleges, without giving evidence, that Hamas

systematically diverts aid from the existing U.N.-led system, which denies it. That system has called for more of the trucks waiting outside Gaza to be allowed not just into the territory, but safely to destinations inside it for distribution.

With temperatures reaching above 90 degrees in Gaza, families fanned themselves with pieces of cardboard or metal trays and slept on the ground outside their tents, while some women collected water well before dawn.

“My children cry day and night. My son scratches his body because of the heat,” said Nida Abu Hamad, whose displaced family shelters in Gaza City

More deaths from hunger

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the new adult deaths from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours brought the total to 114 since it began counting such deaths in June. It said that 98 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.

Israel is “forcing Palestinians into a state of nearstarvation to the point that they abandon their land voluntarily,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference in Egypt.

“The police have only been able to arrest a fraction of those supposedly committing ‘terrorism’ offenses, and most of those have been given street bail and allowed to go home,” Defend Our Juries, which organized the protest, said in a statement.

“This is a major embarrassment to (the government), further undermining the credibility of this widely ridiculed law, brought in to punish those exposing the government’s own crimes.”

London’s Metropolitan Police Service quickly hit back,

More than 500 protesters filled the square outside the Houses of Parliament on Saturday, many daring police to arrest them by displaying signs reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” That was enough for police to step in. But as the demonstration began to wind down, police and protest organizers sparred over the number of arrests as the organizers sought to show that the law was unworkable.

saying this wasn’t true and that many of those who gathered in the square were onlookers, media or people who didn’t hold placards supporting the group.

“We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested,” the police force said in a statement

On Friday, police said the demonstration was unusual in that the protesters wanted to be arrested in large numbers so as to place a strain on police and the broader criminal justice system.

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Armenia, Azerbaijan greet peace deal with hope, caution

BY LILIT MKHITARYAN Associated Press

YEREVAN,Armenia Residents and politicians in Armenia and Azerbaijan responded Saturday with cautious hope — and skepticism in some cases — after their leaders signed a U.S.-brokered agreement at the White House aimed at ending decades of hostilities

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the agreement on Friday in the presence of President Donald Trump, who stood between the leaders as they shook hands — a gesture Trump reinforced by clasping their hands together

While the agreement does not constitute a formal peace treaty, it represents a significant diplomatic step toward normalization of relations. The two countries remain technically at war, and the deal does not resolve the long-standing dispute over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

It does, however, reflect the shifting power dynamics following Azerbaijan’s

tory in a swift offensive.

Ali Karimli, head of the opposition People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party, wrote on Facebook that the signing of the agreement “has undoubtedly brought Azerbaijan and Armenia significantly closer to peace,” and noted that it delivered “another blow to Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus,” while deepening ties with the U.S.

Arif Hajili, chairman of Azerbaijani opposition party Musavat, said he believed that “the most positive aspect of the initialing in Washington was the absence of Russia from the process.”

agreement to be signed,” a resident of Baku Gunduz Aliyev, told The Associated Press. “We did not trust our neighbor, Armenia. That’s why a strong state was needed to act as a guarantor Russia couldn’t do it, but the United States succeeded.”

“The U.S. is taking full responsibility for security This will bring peace and stability,” said another, Ali Mammadov “Borders will open soon, and normal relations with Armenia will be established.”

Abulfat Jafarov, also in Baku, expressed gratitude to all three leaders involved.

prime minister of Armenia made some statements from the U.S., more details are needed,” Edvard Avoyan said. But entrepreneur Hrach Ghasumyan could see economic benefits.

2023 military victory, which forced the withdrawal of Armenian forces and ethnic Armenians from the region.

Among the agreement’s provisions is the creation of a new transit corridor, dubbed the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” highlighting a changing geopolitical landscape amid declining Russian influence in the South Caucasus.

Nagorno-Karabakh has

been at the heart of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict since the Soviet Union’s collapse. Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the mountainous region was controlled for decades by ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Two wars in the early 1990s and again in 2020 — left tens of thousands dead and displaced. In 2023, Azerbaijan regained control of most of the terri-

He said lasting stability in the region hinges on the continual dwindling of Russian power, which “depends on the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”

Hajili also warned of lingering challenges, including Armenia’s economic dependence on Russia and some 2 million Azerbaijanis living in Russia.

“Russia will continue to use these factors as levers of pressure,” he said.

“We have been waiting for a long time for this

Thousands march against Italian bridge

Project would connect Sicily to mainland

BY GIADA ZAMPANO Associated Press

ROME Thousands of peo-

ple marched in the Sicilian city of Messina on Saturday to protest a government plan to build a bridge that would connect the Italian mainland with Sicily in a massive $15.5 billion infrastructure project. Protesters staunchly oppose the Strait of Messina Bridge project over its scale, earthquake threats, environ-

mental impact and the specter of mafia interference.

The idea to build a bridge to connect Sicily to the rest of Italy has been debated off and on for decades but always delayed due to these concerns. The project, however, took a major step forward when a government committee overseeing strategic public investments approved the plan this week.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, the project’s main political backer, called it “the biggest infrastructure project in the West.”

Salvini cited studies estimating the project would create up to 120,000 jobs annually and help stimulate

economic growth in economically lagging southern Italy, as billions more are invested in surrounding road and infrastructure improvements.

Opponents are not convinced by these arguments. They are also angry that about 500 families would have to be expropriated in order for the bridge to be built.

“The Strait of Messina can’t be touched,” protesters shouted as they marched in Messina. Many carried banners that said “No Ponte” (No Bridge). Organizers estimated crowd size at 10,000 people.

The proposed bridge would span nearly 2.2 miles with a

suspended section of more than 2 miles. It would surpass Turkey’s Canakkale Bridge by 4,189 feet to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Preliminary work could begin as early as late September or early October, pending approval from Italy’s Court of Audit. Full construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion targeted between 2032 and 2033.

Plans for a bridge have been approved and canceled multiple times since the Italian government first solicited proposals for one in 1969. Premier Giorgia Meloni’s administration revived the project in 2023.

“Peace is always a good thing,” he said. “We welcome every step taken towards progress.”

Some people in Yerevan were unsure of the meaning of the agreement.

“I feel uncertain because much still needs clarification. There are unclear aspects, and although the

“If gas and oil pipelines pass through Armenia and railway routes are opened, it would be beneficial for the country,” he said. “Until now, all major routes have passed through Georgia, leaving Armenia sidelined and economically limited.” Others were skeptical that peace could be achieved, and expressed discontent with the terms of the agreement.

“That declaration is unlikely to bring real peace to the region, and we are well aware of Azerbaijan’s stance,” Ruzanna Ghazaryan said. “This initial agreement offers us nothing; the concessions are entirely one-sided.”

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D.C. awaitsTrump’s next move as takeover threat looms

BY ASHRAF KHALIL and LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON About 2a.m.,

noisy revelers emerging from clubsand bars packed the sidewalks of UStreet in Washington, many of them seeking alate-night slice or falafel.Arobust but not unusual contingentofcity police cruisers lingered around the edges of the crowds.At other late-nighthot spots, nearly identical scenes unfolded.

What wasn’tapparent in Friday’searliest hours:any sort of security lockdownby amultiagency flood of uniformed federal law enforcement officers. That’swhat President Donald Trump had promised Thursday,starting at midnight, in the administration’slatest movetoimpose its will on the nation’s capital.

In short, that law enforcement surge to take control of the District of Columbia’s streets did not appear to unfold on schedule. Atwo-hour city tour,starting around 1a.m. Friday,revealed no overt or visible law enforcement presenceother than members of the Metropolitan Police Department, the city’spolice force.

That still might change in thecoming evenings as Trump puts into action his long-standing plans to “take over” acapital city he has repeatedly slammed as unsafe, filthy and badly run. According to his Thursday declaration, the security lockdown will run for seven days, “with the option to extend as needed.” In an

online postSaturday,the Republicanpresident said the Democratic-led city would soon be one of the country’s safest and he announceda White House news conference for Monday, though he offerednodetails.

On Friday night,a White Houseofficial saidThursday night’soperationsincluded arrests for possession of two stolen firearms, suspected fentanyl and marijuana. The officialwas not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on conditionofanonymity.The officialsaidmore than 120 members of various federal agencies —the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service —wereto be on duty Friday night, upping the complement of federal officersinvolved.

“This is the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streetsofWashington, D.C.,” WhiteHouse press secretaryKaroline Leavitt said in astatement.

Mayor Muriel Bowser,who publicly faced off against Trump in 2020 when he called in amassive federal law enforcement response to disperse crowds of protesters, hasnot said apublic word since Trump’s declaration.The police department hasgone similarly silent.

The catalyst for this latest roundoftakeover drama was theassaultlastweekend on ahigh-profile member of the bureaucracy-slashing Department of Government Efficiency by agroup of teenagers in an attempted carjacking.

Policearrested two 15-year-olds and wereseek-

MayorMuriel Bowser,ofthe District of Columbia,

as U.S.

Pirro, left, listens May22duringa news conference in Washington.

Donald Trump on Thursday ordered increased federallaw enforcement presence in the nation’scapital.

ing others. Trump quickly renewed his calls for the federal government to seize control.

“If D.C. doesn’tget its act together,and quickly,we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City,and run this Cityhow it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore,” Trump wrote in apost on Truth Social. He later told reporters he was considering everything from repealing Washington’slimited “home rule” autonomy to “bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly.”

The threats come at atime when Bowser’sgovernment can legitimately claim to have reduced thenumber of homicidesand carjackings, both of which spiked

in 2023. Thenumberofcarjackings overall dropped significantlythe following year in 2024, from 957 tojust under500, andisontrackto decline again this year,with less than200 recorded sofar morethan halfway through the year

Theportion of juveniles arrested for carjacking, though,has remained above 50%, and Bowser’sgovernment hastaken steps to reign in anew phenomenon of rowdyteenagers causing disarray and disturbances in public spaces. Emergency legislation passedbythe D.C. Council this summer imposed tighteryouthcurfew restrictionsand empowered Police Chief Pamela Smithtodeclare temporary juvenile curfew zones for four days at atime. In those

areas,a gathering of nine or more underthe ageof18is unlawful after 8p.m

Trump is within his powers in deploying federal law enforcementassets on D.C. streets. He could deploy the National Guard, although that is not one of thedozen participating agencies listed in his declaration. The first Trump administration called in the National Guard during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and again on Jan. 6, 2021, when hissupporters overran the Capitol.

So far, Trump’scriticisms of Washington can be felt most directly in the actions of the National Park Service, whichcontrols large pieces of landthroughout thecapital.InTrump’ssecondadministration, the agency hassteppedupits clearing of homeless encampments on ParkServicelandand recently carried out aseries of arrests of people smoking marijuana in public parks.

Furthersteps, including takingover the police department, would require a declaration of emergency Legal experts believe that would most likely be challenged in court. Such an approach would fit the general pattern of Trump’ssecond term in office, when he has declaredstatesofemergency on issues ranging from border protection to economic tariffs.Inmanycases, he moved forward while the courts sorted it out. Imposing afull federal takeover of Washington would require acongressional repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973. It’sastep that Trumpsaidlawyers are examining. That law was specific to Washington, not other communitiesinthe United States that have their own home rule powers but generally retain representation in their state legislatures, said Monica Hopkins, executive director forthe American Civil Liberties Unionofthe DistrictofColumbia. Signedinto lawbyPresident Richard Nixon, the measureallowed D.C. residents to elect their own mayor,council and local commissioners. Thedistrict hadbeenpreviously runby federally appointed commissioners and members of Congress, someofwhom balked at having to deal with potholes and other details of running acity of 700,000 residents.

Trumporder givespoliticians controloverall federalgrants

BY ADITHIRAMAKRISHNAN

AP science writer

NEW YORK An executive order signed by President Donald Trump late Thursday aims to give political appointees power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies. Scientists say it threatens to undermine the process thathas helped make the U.S. the world leader in researchand development

The order requires all federal agencies,including

FEMA, theNational Science Foundation andthe National Institutes of Health, to appoint officialsresponsible for reviewing federalfunding opportunities and grants, so that they “are consistent with agency priorities and the national interest.”

It also requiresagenciesto make it so that current and future federal grantscan be terminated at any time including during the grant perioditself. Agencies cannotannounce new funding opportunities

until the new protocols are in place, according to the order

TheTrump administration said thesechanges are part of an effortto“strengthen oversight” and“streamline agency grantmaking.”Scientists saythe order will cripple America’sscientific enginebyplacingcontrol over federal research funds in the hands of people who areinfluenced by politics and lack relevant expertise.

“Thisistaking political control of aonce politically

neutral mechanism for funding science in theU.S.,” saidJoseph Bak-Coleman, ascientiststudying group decision-making at the Uni-

versity of Washington.

The changes will delay grant review and approval, slowing “progress forcures and treatments that patients

and families across the country urgently need,” said the Association of American Medical Colleges in astatement.

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Atop official at the Federal Reserve said Saturday that this month’s stunning, weaker-than-expected report on the U.S. job market is strengthening her belief that interest rates should be lower Michelle Bowman was one of two Fed officials who voted aweek and ahalf ago in favor of cutting interest rates.Suchamovecould

help boost the economy by making it cheaper for people to borrow money to buy ahouse or acar,but it could also threaten to push inflationhigher.

Bowman and afellow dissenter lost out after nine other Fed officials voted to keep interestrates steady, as the Fed has been doing all year.The Fed’schair,Jerome Powell, has been adamant that he wants to wait for more dataabout how

President DonaldTrump’s tariffs are affecting inflation before theFed makes itsnext move.

At aspeechduring a bankers’ conference in Colorado on Saturday,Bowman said that “the latest labor market data reinforce my view” that theFed should cut interest rates three times this year.The Fed hasonly three meetings left on theschedulein 2025.

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Nagasaki marks80thanniversary of nuclearbombing

BY MAYUKOONO and MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press

NAGASAKI, Japan— The southern Japanese city of NagasakionSaturday marked 80 years since the U.S. atomic attack that killed tens of thousands and left survivors who hope their harrowing memories can help make their hometown the last place on Earth to be hit by a nuclearbomb.

The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on Aug. 9, 1945,killing 70,000 by the end of that year,three days after the bombingofHiroshima that killed 140,000. Japan surrendered on Aug.15, 1945, ending World WarII and the nearlyhalf-century of aggression by the country across Asia.

About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended amemorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests. At 11:02 a.m., the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as abell rang.

“Even after the war ended, theatomic bomb brought invisible terror,” 93-year-old survivor Hiroshi Nishioka said in his speech at the memorial, noting that many who had survived without severe wounds started bleeding from gums and losing hair and died.

“Never use nuclear weapons again, or we’re finished,” he said.

Dovesreleased

Dozens of doves, asymbol of peace, were released after aspeech by Suzuki, whose

in peace.”

In the hope of passing down the lessons of history to current andfuture generations, Takeshita visits schoolsto share herexperience with children.

“Whenyou grow up and remember what you learned today,please think what each of you can do to prevent war,” Takeshitatold students during aschool visit earlier this week.

Teruko Yokoyama,an 83-year-old memberofaNagasaki organization supportingsurvivors,saidthatshe thinks of the growing absence of those she had worked with, and that fuelsher desireto document the livesofothers who are still alive.

by agrowing nuclear threat andsupport amonginternational leaders fordeveloping or possessing nuclear weaponsfor deterrence. Theycriticize the Japanese government’srefusal to sign or even participatein the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weaponsas an observer because Japan, as an American ally, says it needs U.S. nuclear possessionasdeterrence.

parentsare survivors of the attack. He said that the city’s memories of thebombing are “a common heritage and shouldbepassed down for generations” in andoutside Japan

“The existential crisis of humanity has become imminenttoeach and every one of us living on Earth,” Suzuki said. “In order to make Nagasakithe lastatomic bombing site nowand forever,wewill go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devoteour utmost effortstoward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlastingworld peace.”

‘A world withoutwar’

Survivors and their families gatheredSaturdayin rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocenter Park,located below the bomb’sexact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony

“I simply seek aworld without war,” said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers atthe hypocenter monument decorated with colorful origami paper cranes and other offerings.

Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home

to Catholic converts who wentdeep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japan’sfeudal era.

The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in thebombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following theattack was restored by volunteers.

Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to ashared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. But theyworry about the world moving in theoppositedirection.

Passingdownlessons

Aging survivors andtheir supporters in Nagasaki now put their hopes of achieving nuclear weapons abolition in the hands of younger people, telling them the attack isn’t distant history,but an issue that remainsrelevanttotheir future.

“There areonly two things Ilong for: theabolition of nuclear weapons and prohibitionofwar,” saidFumi Takeshita, an 83-year-old survivor. “I seek aworld where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live

The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about aquarter of theoriginal number,withtheir average age exceeding 86. Survivors worry about fading memories, as theyoungest of the survivors were too young to clearly recall the attack.

“Wemust keep records of theatomicbombing damages of the survivors and thier lifetime story,” said Yokoyama,whose twosisters died after suffering illnesses linked to radiation.

Herorganizationhas startedtodigitizethe narratives of survivorsfor viewingonYouTube and other social media platformswith the help of anew generation

“Thereare youngerpeople who are beginning to take action,”Yokoyamatold The Associated Press on Friday. “So Ithink we don’thave to get depressed yet.”

Nagasaki hosted a“peace forum”onFriday where survivors shared their storieswith more than 300 young people from around the country.SeiichiroMise, a90-year-old survivor, said that he’shanding seeds of “flowers of peace” to the youngergenerationinhopes of seeing them bloom.

Japan’ssecuritydilemma

Survivorsare frustrated

In Ishiba’sspeech, the prime ministerreiterated Japan’spursuit of anuclear-freeworld,pledgingto promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and non-nuclear statesat theNon-Proliferationof Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York. Ishiba didn’tmention the nuclear weapons ban treaty “Countries must move

fromwords to action by strengthening theglobal disarmament regime,” with the Treaty on the NonProliferationofNuclear Weapons, or NPT, at the center,complemented by the momentum created by the nuclear weapons ban treaty,said U.N. SecretaryGeneral AntónioGuterres, in his message read by Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu in Nagasaki. Nagasakiinvited representativesfromall countries to attend the ceremony on Saturday.The government in China notably notifiedthe city thatitwouldn’t be present without providing areason The ceremony last year stirred controversy because of the absence of the U.S. ambassadorand other Western envoys in response to the Japanese city’srefusal to invite officials from Israel.

Thesystem uses three structures to distribute a70%-30% water flow betweenthe Mississippi andAtchafalaya riversrespectively.But changes to theMississippi River andconditions related to it haveled the Army Corps of Engineerstoconsider altering the structure’soperations— acontroversial topic because of how muchthe region depends on the two waterways.

RIVER

Continued from page1A

interests and the Trump administration’sdecision to halt funding forawide-ranging study on the lower river’sfuture.

The difficulty has only underscored how much the region depends on the Mississippi —and howthe needs of the nation and the world intertwine with it. It connects nearly allaspects of south Louisiana’sexistence, and any change in the nation’svast plumbing system can havecascading effects ranging from the tiniest communities nexttoittothe oceangoing vessels carrying grain acrossthe globe.

The seemingly simple idea of altering the amount of water flowing through Old River —a keychange being considered by the U.S. Army CorpsofEngineers—has ignited awide-ranging debate involving port officials,cityleaders andeven crawfishermen setting traps from their small skiffs, among others.

The structure is so integral to river management that the amount of water allowed to flow throughit is mandated by federal law. And there should be no illusion that it is invincible: Areminder of the damage that canbeinflicted by the river’spower occurred five decadesago, in 1973, when historically high waters caused oneofits walls to collapse.

“Without the structure, it’sgoingtobevery difficult for us in south Louisiana,” said Yi-JunXu, an LSU hydrologyprofessor who has closely studied conditions surrounding Old River.“So this structure, yes, is the most important structure in the lower Mississippi River.” Wilderpast, complicatedfuture

The pieces that make up the Old River Control complex are situated in acorner of Louisiana that tells tales of awilder past. It was not so long ago, in the early 1950s, thatthe Mississippi threatenedtoshift course through

adistributary known as Old River due to aseries of natural and human-caused phenomena. That would have convertedthe Atchafalaya into the main stem of the Mississippi —shorteningits route to the Gulfbymore than half.

Larger-scaleshiftsinthe Mississippi’spath have playedout repeatedly throughout history literally creating south Louisiana through the river’sgradual buildup of sediment.

Butinthe modern era, allowing it to change course would be disastrous.

TheOld RiverControl complex comprisessix main pieces, including adam, gates, alock and a hydroelectric plant, that work together to keep that from happening. They ensure that only 30% of thecombined flowofthe Mississippi and Red rivers makes its way downthe Atchafalaya.The remaining 70% flows down the Mississippi.

Those were the flowrates in 1950, before the structures were built, and the intent at the time was to keep them steady at those amounts.

Federal law allowsfor slight fluctuations throughout the year as long as the averageamounthits the 70/30 target

But while the lower river is now confined toits path by levees and floodwalls, thatdoesn’t meanthe Mississippi remains static and predictable.

Beneaththe surface,itchurns with change as it carries outits immense task of draining more than40% of the continental United States and two Canadian provinces, running from Minnesota to theGulf, collecting theMissouri and Ohio Rivers alongthe way Alist of concerns has emerged since the structures were built, and the changing climate is likely to cause further fluctuations as future years unfold. For one, rainfall is projected to intensify and may lead tosignificantly increased flows downthe Mississippi.

Another developing issue involves how the bottom of theMis-

sissippi is accumulating sediment belowOld River —raising the height of its bedand effectively causing the river’s surface to rise with the same volume of water

According to Xu,the LSU professor,accumulation has occurred along a20-mile stretch downstream of OldRiver —and the highest point hasincreased by about 40 feet over the past three decades, essentially acting as an underwater dam to trap further mud. Asection of the river in that area has also sharply narrowed. The problemsthat can create are multi-fold.

For one, it can increasethe height of the wall of water pressing againstone of OldRiver’s key pieces, theLow Sill Structure. Restrictionsrelated to that were alreadytightened duetosafety concernsafter the1973floodand related wall collapse.

Butfor Xu, theoverridingquestion involves sediment accumulationboth below and above Old River.Inadditiontothe increase below it,heestimates hundreds of millionsoftonsofcoarse sand hasalso collected abovethe structures up to Vicksburg.

In the case of acatastrophic flood, sand above thestructure could be pushed down and combine with the sediment below it, causing water to back up, he says, potentially leadingtothe structure being overpowered. That raises thethreat of the Mississippichangingcourseto theAtchafalayaatsome point in theyears ahead, saysXu.

He is concerned that thesituation is being “underestimated” by theCorps and the country at large. He argues that in thecaseofa completeavulsion—the technical word for the river changing course —New Orleans could be without drinking water in amatter of abouttwo weeks. The problem would only worsen as time passes.

On theAtchafalayaside, communities would face severe flooding risks, including Morgan City The Port of Morgan City, which

handles billions in business, wouldnot be prepared forthe influx of water andsediment.

“Itisveryurgent, actually,at aminimumtodoa risk assessment,” said Xu. “How can we evacuate people? And to where?”

The Corps readily acknowledges the problemofthe build-up, conducts analysis of it and says it constantlymonitors the issue, including sampling sediment.

It notes that the control structures allowfor flexibility in managinghighwater,especially with the constructionofanadditional, auxiliary set of gatescompleted in 1986. The nearby Morganza Spillway canalsoserve as asupplementary option.

That permits the Corps to “shift theflow from onestructure to the next daily if needed,” it said in a statement

“This combination of the system’soverall resiliency and redundancy in featuresand operational adaptabilitygivesusconfidence that we cansafely manage future high-water events,” the Corps says.

It added that “in any case, the levelofactivitythattakes place by (Corps) personnel on adaily basis would warn us of any potential problems, allow us to take proactive measures andrespond to emergencyevents shouldany occur.”

In 1973, theCorps usedpilesof rockstofill the hole being scoured at the structure as ashort-term fix

IoannisGeorgiou, director of coastal and deltaicsystems at The Water Institute, aBaton Rougebased research nonprofit, says he trusts that theCorps hasadequate monitoring systemsinplace, but points outthatnew challengesare emerging.

“A future where unseen precipitationinthe MississippiRiver valley will pose new and unknown challenges to the receiving rivers thatlead to our homeofNew Orleansisafuture that we need to preparefor andplan for,”hesaid in an email exchange.

“Shiftsinthe climate because

STAFFPHOTOSBYDAVID GRUNFELD

The Overbank Structure works with other pieces of the OldRiver Control complex to regulate flowsbetween the Mississippi and AtchafalayaRivers when waters are high.

of greenhouse gas emissions have been shown to produce unstable weather,with unforeseen andunexpected consequences.”

‘Navigatethose changes’

Otherrelated issuesinclude demands, particularly fromMississippi state officials, that the Corps limit theuse of theBonnetCarre Spillway near New Orleans during high-water years. The spillway is needed to relieve pressure on thelevees andprevent catastrophic flooding.

Concerns fromMississippi officials and others involve the damagetofisheries andwaterfront tourism that theinflux of fresh water and nutrient pollution through the spillway causes. The Corps hasbeen sued over it.

Diverting more waterdown the Atchafalaya, either through Old River or the Morganza Spillway, could help with that problem but lead to deep concerns down theAtchafalaya, particularlyin the MorganCity area.

Separately,increasing the amount of water flowing down the Mississippi when levels are lowcould help deal with the problemofsaltwaterintrusion upriverfrom theGulf—which can threaten drinking water supplies and infrastructure, including in the New Orleansarea.

Butdoing so reduces theamount of water flowing down the Atchafalaya, potentially causing ecological andfisheries issues.

Loomingoverall of it arethe flashing warning signs of recent years. While the Bonnet Carre Spillwayhad to be opened only eight times from its construction in the 1930s to the endofthe century,ithas already been needed seventimessince2000, including twicein2019.

On theother end of thespectrum, low-water years requiring the Corps to build asill in the Mississippi to block saltwaterintrusion formerly occurred about once adecade. It happenedthree yearsina rowfrom2022 to 2024. It is unclear if these areshortterm trends or longer-term

changes as a result of more extreme drought and rainfall. It may well turn out to be a collision of both as the warming climate throws a wrench into natural weather variations.

If the issues seem complicated, that’s because they are — so complicated, in fact, that the Corps was until recently engaged in a five-year “mega-study” on the future of the lower Mississippi, including operations of Old River.

That study has however been paused since early June, with the Trump administration declining to continue funding it.

Before that, the Corps was investigating whether a more dynamic management of flow through Old River could be beneficial — the idea that its knobs could be adjusted seasonally when river levels are either high, low or in between In other words, instead of a fixed 70%-30% flow rate could those numbers change depending upon conditions?

No final decisions had been made before the study was paused, but Corps officials were considering variable flows ranging anywhere from 80% down the Mississippi and 20% down the Atchafalaya to 60% and 40%, said Katelyn Costanza, the study’s lead engineer Those kinds of changes may require Congressional approval.

“We’ve learned from past flood events, and we also know that the system has changed over the past 100 years,” said Constanza, referring to when the lower river’s modern shape took form with the construction of the vast flood protections now in place.

“We have a pretty good idea of what those trends will look like in the future. So having more flexible operations of Old River Control will help us kind of navigate those changes that we’ll see in the future.” Regarding the “mega-study,” Constanza expressed hope that it could be restarted soon.

‘Severely impacted’

A drive across the Old River structures, strung along La. 15 at the spot in the Louisiana “boot” where the ankle meets the top of the foot, gives little indication of the important role they play, appearing not unlike the rest of the state’s flood defenses or navigation locks. The initial pieces were completed in 1963, followed by later additions.

The list of reasons for why they are needed is long and frightening.

The Mississippi has become a vital artery for global shipping, and New Orleans owes its history to it. But that’s not all.

Over time, the river would essentially become a saltwater estuary, the Corps notes, and more than a million people in the New Orleans area would have to find a new source of drinking water Baton Rouge, too, would eventually see saltwater seep into the underground aquifer system where it pulls its drinking water, says Xu. Electricity and industrial plants that draw from the river would have to shut or somehow adapt. Ports along the lower Mississippi would have little reason to exist as they do now That includes the Port of New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana, which handles more than half of the nation’s grain exports. At the same time, the Atchafalaya and communities downriver would be overwhelmed with water and sediment.

Beauvais, standing atop Old River’s Low Sill Structure, a series of 11 gates that can be adjusted to control the flow between the two waterways, spoke of the dangers that would play out over the course of several decades.

“If for some reason these structures fail, or if the river would have changed course to that of the Atchafalaya River at any time, the economics of not only south Louisiana — of the nation would be severely impacted,”

Beauvais says.

The structures’ necessity generates no serious argument. Adapting them to shifting environmental circumstances certainly does.

‘Could lose billions’

Raymond “Mac” Wade once planned to spend his life as a high school football coach. He ended up here, near the end of the Atchafalaya River in Morgan City, overseeing its port.

The 73-year-old retains the bearing of a coach from another era, eager to reel off the circumstances of his port’s dilemma related to Old River and the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs he says could be at stake.

He keeps a cigar perched between his fingers that he occasionally chews on, but never lights.

Smoking’s bad for you, he says.

“What happens on the Mississippi, it affects the Atchafalaya,” Wade said recently at his Morgan City office, occasionally using a map and an infrared pointer to illustrate his points. “If you flood us out, we could lose billions for the economy.”

Later, during a boat tour of the port’s sprawling facilities, about 130 miles by road from Old River Control, Wade points out the drydocks, fabrication yards and vessels of various types under construction or repair Yellow cranes rise above the site where seven-story structures will be built for the mammoth Venture Global LNG plant in Plaquemines Parish. Suction piles

Wade’s port. During the spring and summer, they pull up to processing facilities in pickup trucks, their boats on trailers behind them laden with sacks of wild mudbugs.

But even farther up the Atchafalaya, there isn’t enough sediment, with the northern end of the river having deepened.

Corps officials say they will take all of that and more into account before any change is made, with the aim of anticipating and preparing for any residual consequences.

They are even going beyond the lower Mississippi to potentially study changes along the lock and dam system on the Ohio, for example, viewing the system for what it truly is: a connected whole.

that serve as anchors for offshore oil rigs lie on their sides like disassembled rockets. Barges and dredge ships sit idle as workers ready them for a return to the water Defense contractors work on U.S. Navy living quarters.

It has been quite a transformation for this part of central Louisiana’s coast, once known for its shrimping industry, then as the site of the first offshore oil well out of sight of land, drilled in 1947. The change can be seen in Morgan City’s signature annual party: Formerly the Shrimp Festival, it later became the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival.

The Port of Morgan City has taken advantage of its strategic location to attract industry It sits at the intersection of the Atchafalaya and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and it offers deep enough water to allow larger vessels to make their way to its docks.

Dredging allows the port to maintain a 20-foot deep channel at a cost of around $40 million per year When faced with the contin-

ual problem of lighter sediment piling up where the Atchafalaya meets the Gulf, Wade sought an innovative solution and said he convinced the Corps to agree.

The so-called “agitation dredge,” operating 24 hours a day, stirs up that lighter sediment and allows it to resume its journey out to the Gulf instead of clogging up the passage — at a fraction of the cost of a traditional dredge, Wade says.

But he’s worried that his efforts may be in vain. If the Corps changes operations of Old River to significantly increase the amount of water flowing down the Atchafalaya, more sediment will arrive with it, threatening to silt up his port. More extensive dredging — and more money to pay for it would be needed, says Wade.

“It’s like a balance sheet. If you put something here, well, this has got to change over here,” he says during the boat tour “This creates lots of jobs. These are goodpaying jobs.”

In addition to extra sediment, Wade is also worried the extra water will cause more closures of the recently built Bayou Chene floodgate — billed as the largest of its type in the world which prevents backwater flooding in a range of nearby communities. But its closure also blocks larger vessels from traveling in and out of the port’s facilities.

In Morgan City itself, flood protections are much stronger than during the 1973 flood, including a 21-foot wall.

But city officials wonder how well they’ll hold up if lots more water flows down. Offshorelinked businesses outside the walls could also be flooded.

“The water table is going to go higher, so we’re going to be fighting higher water probably more often and longer than ever before,” said Charlie Solar, the city’s chief administrative officer Farther north, around Cajun communities like Belle River, the problem has at times been low water and too much sediment. Atchafalaya Basin crawfishermen have occasionally pushed for the Corps to allow for more water down through Old River to help their businesses — often without success.

Their small skiffs are a far cry from the vessels traversing

“When you move water one place, you’re moving it somewhere else,” said the Corps’ Costanza. “So we are looking at both systems (Mississippi and Atchafalaya), whether that be benefits and impacts.”

‘A major impact’ Back at Old River, Russell Beauvais describes his short commute to work.

He grew up in nearby Morganza and still lives there today and he notes that his drive to his office takes him through only three caution lights and a stop sign.

He lived in Baton Rouge while studying civil engineering at LSU, then worked for a time in the Lafayette area before quickly realizing he preferred the country life back home.

“I can leave my house right now at any time, go fish, hunt, and it don’t cost me $1,” Beauvais said at Old River’s Auxiliary Structure, where fish splashed in the whirlpool of water in front of the steel gates below “So I’d rather be out in the country.”

He’s a local guy, but knows well the wider importance of the structures he manages.

At the nearby Low Sill Structure, he describes the complex work to repair the wall that collapsed in the ’73 flood.

He tells of the changes that led to reductions in how much water can be allowed to push against it. He also explains the build-up of sediment near the complex, causing the river’s surface to rise.

Perhaps most importantly, he details all the calamities that could befall the region if the Mississippi changed course. It would not be an overnight shift — more likely playing out over several decades — but the effects would be historyaltering.

There would be emergency options — utilizing the other structures and rapidly constructing a rock dam while repairs take place, for example — but Corps officials, and many others, hope to never arrive at that moment.

“The Old River Control Structure is either the most or one of the most important control structures within the Corps of Engineers or to the nation,” he says. With the white noise of river water churning below Beauvais adds: “It would be a major impact if something would happen here.”

Email Mike Smith at msmith@ theadvocate.com.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Dividedcourt weighs congressionaldistrictcase

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Supreme Court wants to know if, by creatinga second Black majority congressional district, Louisiana violated the U.S. Constitution. The nine justices focused on mechanics when they first heard the case —called Louisiana v. Callais —inMarch.They’re now asking an ideological question some critics saymight lead tofurther weakening of the Voter Rights Act of 1965, oneof the legislativecornerstones of the Civil Rights era.

Mark Ballard

“Obviously,the courtis divided,” said U.S. Rep.Cleo Fields, the Baton Rouge Democrat whowon the newly created seat inthe U.S. House. “I don’tthink eithersidehas five votes. Ithink they’re trying to seehow they get there.”

Thehighcourt announced in Junethat it would hear more arguments. On Aug. 1, it asked lawyers to argue whether Louisiana’ssecond minority-majoritydistrict violates either the 14th Amendment,which forbids districts based on race, or the15th Amendment, whichforbids abridging the right to vote because of race.

The Voting Rights Act’s Section2 requires minority-majoritydistrictsifthe population lives close enough together, shares similar political goals, andisina state, like Louisiana, where Whitemajority districts have never elected aBlack candidate.

State Attorney GeneralLiz Murrill had asked the justices to sort outhow astate could draw district mapswithout running afoul of the often-conflicting laws. She said Wednesday she won’t comment until the state files its new brief before the high court.

John Bisognano, president of the National Redistricting Foundation, aWashingtonbased nonprofit affiliated with the Democratic Party,noted the high courthad never found aconflict between the EqualProtection Clause andthe VotingRights Act.

“If the Court decides to nowundo that precedent, it wouldbeahead-spinning reversal of itself,” Bisognanosaid in astatement.

Though Black residents make upa third of the state’spopulation, the Republicanmajority Louisiana Legislature in 2022 approved congressional mapsafter thelast U.S. Census count that assured theelections of five White Republicans and one Black Democrat.

Acadre of Black voters sued,and afed-

Kennedypresses NATO on defense spending

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, RMadisonville,ispressing for NATO, the allianceofEuropean andNorth American countries, to keep acommitment to increase defense spending, sayingsome nations appear to be trying to “weasel their way out” of the promise.

PresidentDonald Trump has long complained that the U.S. has shouldered too much of the financial burden of protecting the 32 member states in NATO. At a summit in June, NATO members committed to spending at least 5% of their gross domestic product on defense spending by 2035.

eral district court in Baton Rouge ruled asecondminority-majority district was neededtocomply with theVoting Rights Act.

The newly elected Republican-supermajority Legislature in January 2024 created two districts in which aBlack candidate hadachance of winning.

Initially,Black voters recommended the second minority-majority district center in depopulatingnorth Louisiana. Butlawmakers didn’t want to undermine HouseSpeaker MikeJohnson, R-Benton,orRep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, and chose instead to remap the 6th Congressional District. The result links predominantly Black precinctsfrom Baton Rouge to Lafayette to Shreveport. Though stretched thinly across thestate, the district is smaller than Letlow’sand takes less time to traverse than Johnson’s. Louisiana argued that politics played an

important role in how the district came out.

The Callais group of self-described “nonAfrican Americans” filed alegal challenge in Monroe, arguing legislators improperly decided first to draw aBlack-majority district and then chose which White Republican to sacrifice.

Twoofthe three judges agreed with the Callais side, but theSupreme Court ruled it was too late to sort out the competing lower court decisions and the 2024 electionsproceeded using thelegislative map with two districts that favored Black candidates.

“The issue thehigh court seems to want to tackle further is whether applying Section 2continues to be Constitutional, at least as applied to Louisiana,” said Michael Li, aredistricting expert with the Brennan Center for Justice in New York.

The VotingRightsAct automatically

But Kennedy, amember of the Senate Appropriations Committee, argues some countries are already showing signs of reneging on that deal. He points to astatement from Spanish PrimeMinister Pedro Sánchez saying hiscountry would only spend2.1% of GDP on defense because “It is thelegitimate right of every government to decidewhether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices.”

“Toclarify: Sánchez expects the American people to makesacrifices to contributetoour shared defense,but he doesn’twant anyoneinSpain to missa single siesta for thecause,” Kennedy wrote in aNewsweek op-ed. “Does that sound like someone who would ride with you into battle?” Kennedy has introduced a resolution urging NATO member countries to keep to the5%commitment.

“The world needs to know we have each other’sbacks, and that startsbyputtingyour money where your mouth is,” Kennedy wrote in the op-ed.

Reps. Higgins,Fields sponsor crawfish bill

When adrought shriveled up Louisiana’s2023 crawfish season, farmers were able to get federal help through theU.S. Department of Agriculture and theSmall Business Administration.But those who caught wild crawfish had fewer options.

Now,U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, and U.S. Rep.Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, are sponsoring abill that would specifi-

sunsets when astate no longer engages in discriminatory election practices. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in acase about college enrollments: “The Court has long said that race-based remedial action must have alogical end point.”

Louisiana no longer requires Black voters to pass onerous tests in order to register and Black voters are no longer violently intimidated not to vote. But legislators initially drew amap that diluted minority voter strength. How does that count?

“It’snot 1965 anymore, but the idea that Louisiana has moved beyond racism in its election laws, in its election maps…seems to defyeven acursory understanding,” Li said. “IfSection 2doesn’tapply in Louisiana, it’shard to think of manyplaces in the country where it might.”

Email Mark Ballardatmballard @theadvocate.com.

cally add wild-caught crawfish to thelist of fisheries that are eligible for disaster relief from the Department of Commerce.

“This is an important step to bring parity across the entire industry,” Higgins said in anews release.

The Secretary of Commerce could declare adisaster forfisheries of the red swamp crawfish and white river crawfish. That could be because of anatural disaster,failure of water management infrastructure or other major decreases in stock and revenue.

“Louisiana’scrawfish harvesters are avital part of our state’s economy and heritage,” Fields said in therelease. “This legislation not onlyrecognizes that legacy,but it also ensures that when future disasters hit, they won’t be left behind.”

Louisiana ports team up for marketing strategy

Louisiana’sfive deep-water

ports on the Mississippi River have collectively agreed to launcha marketing strategy to bring newbusiness and foreign investment. About half abilliontonsofcargo pass through the ports each year roughly 20% of the volume in the United States. The ports will engage Polaris Analyticsand Consulting to developa marketing strategy that pitchesall five together,potentially opening up more and biggerbusiness.

“By speaking with one voice and leveraging shared strengths, these ports are not only enhancing Louisiana’s global trade presence —they’re creating high-wage jobs, driving investment and positioning Louisiana to win on the world stage,” said Susan Bourgeois, secretary of the Louisiana Economic Development.

Zydeco Extravaganza with a‘get to know you’ serieson socialmedia, showcasing musicians with documentarystyleinterviews,” said Dustin Cravins. “It was alevel of access that fans weren’tused to getting andwentover really big in the zydeco and Creole community.Tome, that said there was aneed for adocumentary that would be more than somebody from the outside coming in to film aweekend they came to town.”

Last month, “Built on Zydeco” received a$25,000 Frenchculturefilmgrant from#CreateLouisiana andTV5MONDE, aglobal French-language entertainment network. The grant is awarded once ayear to a Louisiana filmproject that highlights stories of Francophone culture in the state. In addition to highlighting zydeco artists at the zenith

of their careers, the film will also showcase interviewswith rising artists and other well-known players in

the genre.According to codirector Milton Arceneaux, viewers shouldexpect to see amore intimateside of their

favorite musicians —who they are as people, as wellas performers.

“Keith Frankisa big, 6-foot-

something guy,and he’sso goofy. We show that side of him,” said Arceneaux. “We knowReggie (Reginald Dural Jr or Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.) as someone who inherited thistorch from his dad, and we show how he’sfinding his own way.Terrence (Simien) had to fight to build his own name;hewasn’tborn into alegacy.”

“Wejoke, laugh andthe wall comes down. It’sasense of connection that exposes who these people really are.”

“Built on Zydeco”isalso about the impact these artists have through their work.

Zydeco is big business,part of amusic and entertainment ecosystem that significantly impacts the state’stourism economy.Zydecostars like Simien, Dural and others are more than touring musicians —theyare essentially ambassadors, exporting asound and wayoflife that makes people want to experience Louisiana for themselves.

“These guys are oftentimes the soundtrack to our lives,

and we take forgranted the sacrifices they maketoprovide us with that qualityof life,” said Cravins. “People maynot know their favorite musician has apart-timejob to get by.They have to function, raise families, deal with illness.

“The weight andthe burden of what they do makes this project alittledifferent from most of what we’ve seen.It’ssucha rich story about the reach that they’ve created for this music and this state. The film should leave those within the community feeling agreat sense of pride in the culture they comefrom, and the torch bearers standing in the gap for it.”

“Built on Zydeco” is currently in production and will premieretoaudiences early next year at the 2026 New Orleans French Film Festival.

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

REDISTRICTING

Continued from page1A

litigation is resolved, (midcycleredistricting) would be like the mother of all fights.”

Ahigh-stakes clash

If states do change their maps mid-cycle,itcould change the balance of power in Congress.

With 219 Republicans, 212 Democrats and four vacant seats, the GOP has held a narrow majority since the 2022 midtermelections. That majority has put two LSUalumniintwo of thena-

tion’smostpowerful positions: Speaker of the HouseMike Johnson, aRepublicanfrom the Shreveport suburb of Benton,and HouseMajority LeaderSteveScalise, aRepublican from the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson. Historically,voters tend to elect anew majority in Congress midway through apresident’s four-year term if both branches are dominated by the same party.

Larry Sabato’s Center forPolitics at the Universityof Virginia surmised in areport this week that the redistricting seems to focus on seats won by moremoderate candidates in districts won by theother party’s presidential candidate. Adding more partisan voterstothose districts couldmeanmore ideological candidates on the ballot “It’spossible that the median House seat could move further right of the nation if Republicans

come out of this looming redistricting fight ahead,” the report stated Drawing election maps was once donebyhandand made morebrutal by the raw politics of electoral survival. The hardball politics remain, but progressin technology anddatabasing allows map makers to more quickly identify how voters probably will cast their ballots,thenorganizeprecincts to create asafe seat for one party or theother TheU.S.Constitution mandates that every person is counted every10years to determine how many members of theHouse each state will send to Washington.

Thenextnational census is notscheduleduntil 2030.

Apolitical brawl

Trump began the bareknuckled politicalmelee by pressing Texastotinkerwithits congressional districts to add enough GOPvoters to ensure five moreRepublicanswill go to Washington in 2017.

About 50 Texas Democrats fled the state to keep the Legislature fromhaving atwo-thirds quorumnecessary to conductbusiness. But theyare subject to a $500 aday fine AttorneyGeneral Ken Paxton on Thursday asked an Illinois court to send the

Texans back to Austin. And in an interviewFriday with NBC, Texas Gov Greg Abbottsaidhewould keep calling special sessions until the congressional redistricting was completed. The current special session is set to adjourn Aug. 19. But qualifying forthe midterms is in December andthe primaryelection in Texasis March 3.

Florida officially announced Thursday that Republicans hope to redraw three districts in their favor California Gov.Gavin Newsomhas aplan to redistrict that populous blue state, as do thegovernors of NewYork andIllinois.

Schools increasingly monitor online chats of students

Surveillance software used by districts

BY SHARON LURYE Associated Press

Lesley Mathis knows what her daughter said was wrong. But she never expected the 13-year-old girl would get arrested for it.

The teenage girl made an offensive joke while chatting online with her classmates, triggering the school’s surveillance software.

Before the morning was even over, the Tennessee eighth grader was under arrest. She was interrogated, strip-searched and spent the night in a jail cell, her mother says.

Earlier in the day her friends had teased the teen about her tanned complexion and called her “Mexican,” even though she’s not.

When a friend asked what she was planning for Thursday she wrote: “on Thursday we kill all the Mexico’s.”

Mathis said the comments were “wrong” and “stupid,” but context showed they were not a threat

“It made me feel like, is this the America we live in?” Mathis said of her daughter’s arrest. “And it was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.” Surveillance systems in American schools increasingly monitor everything students write on school accounts and devices. Thousands of school districts across the country use software like Gaggle and Lightspeed Alert to track kids’ online activities, looking for signs they might hurt themselves or others. With the help of artificial intelligence, technology can dip into online conversations and immediately notify both school officials and law enforcement.

Educators say the technology has saved lives. But critics warn it can criminalize children for careless words.

“It has routinized law enforcement access and presence in students’ lives, including in their home,” said Elizabeth Laird, a

director at the Center for Democracy and Technology

Vigilance for threats

In a country weary of school shootings, several states have taken a harder line on threats to schools. Among them is Tennessee, which passed a 2023 zerotolerance law requiring any threat of mass violence against a school to be reported immediately to law enforcement.

The 13-year-old girl arrested in August 2023 had been texting with friends on a chat function tied to her school email at Fairview Middle School, which uses Gaggle to monitor students’ accounts. (The Associated Press is withholding the girl’s name to protect her privacy The school district did not respond to a request for comment.)

Taken to jail, the teen was interrogated and strip-searched, and her parents weren’t allowed to talk to her until the next day, according to a lawsuit they filed against the school system. She didn’t know why her parents weren’t there.

“She told me afterwards, ‘I thought you hated me.’ That kind of haunts you,” said Mathis, the girl’s mother

A court ordered eight weeks of house arrest, a psychological evaluation and 20 days at an alternative school for the girl.

Gaggle’s CEO, Jeff Patterson, said in an interview that the school system did not use Gaggle the way it is intended The purpose is to find early warning signs and intervene before problems escalate to law enforcement, he said.

“I wish that was treated as a teachable moment, not a law enforcement moment,” said Patterson.

Unexpected scrutiny

Students who think they are chatting privately among friends often do not realize they are under constant surveillance, said Shahar Pasch, an education lawyer in Florida.

One teenage girl she represented made a joke about school shootings on a private Snapchat story

Snapchat’s automated detection software picked up the comment, the company alerted the FBI and the girl was arrested on school grounds within hours.

Alexa Manganiotis, 16, said she was startled by how quickly monitoring software works. West Palm Beach’s Dreyfoos School of the Arts, which she attends, last year piloted Lightspeed Alert, a surveillance program. Interviewing a teacher for her school newspaper, Alexa discovered two students once typed something threatening about that teacher on a school computer then deleted it. Lightspeed picked it up, and “they were taken away like five minutes later,” Alexa said.

Teenagers face steeper consequences than adults for what they write online, Alexa said.

“If an adult makes a super racist joke that’s threatening on their computer, they can delete it, and they wouldn’t be arrested,” she said.

Amy Bennett, chief of staff for Lightspeed Systems, said that the software helps understaffed schools “be proactive rather than punitive” by identifying early warning signs of bullying, selfharm, violence or abuse.

The technology can also involve law enforcement in responses to mental health crises. In Florida’s

Polk County Schools, a district of more than 100,000 students, the school safety program received nearly 500 Gaggle alerts over four years, officers said in public Board of Education meetings. This led to 72 involuntary hospitalization cases under the Baker Act, a state law that allows authorities to require mental health evaluations for people against their will if they pose a risk to themselves or others.

“A really high number of children who experience involuntary examination remember it as a really traumatic and damaging experience — not something that helps them with their mental health care,” said Sam Boyd, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center The Polk and West Palm Beach school districts did not provide comments.

High rate of false alarms

Information that could allow schools to assess the software’s effectiveness, such as the rate of false alerts, is closely held by technology companies and unavailable publicly unless schools track the data themselves.

Gaggle alerted more than 1,200 incidents to the Lawrence, Kansas, school district in a recent 10-month period. But almost twothirds of those alerts were deemed

by school officials to be nonissues — including over 200 false alarms from student homework, according to an Associated Press analysis of data received via a public records request.

Students in one photography class were called to the principal’s office over concerns Gaggle had detected nudity The photos had been automatically deleted from the students’ Google Drives, but students who had backups of the flagged images on their own devices showed it was a false alarm District officials said they later adjusted the software’s settings to reduce false alerts.

Natasha Torkzaban, who graduated in 2024, said she was flagged for editing a friend’s college essay because it had the words “mental health.”

“I think ideally we wouldn’t stick a new and shiny solution of AI on a deep-rooted issue of teenage mental health and the suicide rates in America, but that’s where we’re at right now,” Torkzaban said. She was among a group of student journalists and artists at Lawrence High School who filed a lawsuit against the school system last week, alleging Gaggle subjected them to unconstitutional surveillance.

School officials have said they take concerns about Gaggle seriously, but also say the technology has detected dozens of imminent threats of suicide or violence.

“Sometimes you have to look at the trade for the greater good,” said Board of Education member Anne Costello in a July 2024 board meeting.

Two years after their ordeal, Mathis said her daughter is doing better, although she’s still “terrified” of running into one of the school officers who arrested her One bright spot, she said, was the compassion of the teachers at her daughter’s alternative school. They took time every day to let the kids share their feelings and frustrations, without judgment.

“It’s like we just want kids to be these little soldiers, and they’re not,” said Mathis. “They’re just humans.”

-LeeJ

THE GULF COAST

Influencer slamscoast restaurants, locals fightbackat ‘ragebaiting’

BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer

Mississippi Coast locals are speaking out and accusing an aspiring North Mississippi food influencer of “rage baiting” after he slammedseveral restaurants in aseries of videos posted on social media in lateJuly.

“Dear Gulf Coast Mississippi, the food scene down here hasbeen ass, Kartavis Buchanan, known on social media as Big TaeEats, said in avideo introducing his series on the Mississippi Gulf Coast’sdining scene. He said he only liked ahandful of the12 restaurants he tried while visiting The reviews, mostlydoneinside of acar,often include his wife. Creating social media food reviews can be alucrative job, and influencers like Keith Lee can get 4-6 million views per video. Buchanan adds #keithlee as ahashtag to manyofhis reviews, which can reach 100,000 views or more. In aseries of videos,Buchanan complained about the quality,pricing and taste of several restaurants on the Coast.

Big Daddy’s, aBlack-owned soul food buffet in downtown Gulfport,is known for its portions andaffordable prices. The restaurant has hundreds of 4-5starreviews on Google, with many praising the meat-and-three style spot. Buchanan, however,was notimpressed.

Rosita-Maria Zaldivar’stacos and Mexican fare has had acult following for years. In 2022, she was able to expand from her food truckinto a stand-alone restaurant in St. Martin, where the lines can be long

She specializes in tacos, birria ramen and tres leches cakes. Themenu is affordable, with most items costing less than $20, and Rosita’shas a 4.8-star ranking on Google.

“The tacos were great! The street tacos were great! The people were friendly and inviting,”ChipKerr said in aGoogle Review last week “You want to go here, you really do.” Once again, though,Buchananwas nothappy

Buchanan’swife, however,enjoyed her meal and lovedthe strawberry tres leches cake. Both of them said thecustomerservice was exceptional.

Buchanan alsogavenegativereviews to restaurants including The Shed in Vancleave andTay’sBBQ in Jackson County

He gave positive critiques to Cheryl’sSteakhouse in Ocean Springs

Dem Damn Burgers in Biloxi, Trina’sSweets in Pascagoula andNana J’sSoulFood in Ocean Springs, callingmanyofthemhiddengemsand praising thehomemadepastries, well-seasoned protein and flavorful side dishes. Many locals didn’t buy Buchanan’s hottakes.

MatthewBounds, known online as Your Barefoot Neighbor,isa Gulfport-based influencer who gaineda massive online following while cookingrecipes during thepandemic. His videos, whichoften receive 2million views or more, are meanttoshow people that cooking isn’tashardas it looks.

Boundstook aim at Buchanan’sreview in aviral Facebook post, accusing him of “rage baiting” for clicks or

just being unnecessarily critical if he did not like thedish.

“There’s away to create food reviews with honest feedback,both good andbad,ina constructive, respectful way.Big Taeain’tit,” he said.

Bounds noted that small-business owners often pour theirtime, creativity and money into their work, and one bad review that goes viral can make or break their future.

“You couldn’tpay me enough to sit in my car andscream and my audience and trash their hard work, type HORRIBLE in allcapsinthe captions,evenifI didn’t care fortheir food.”

His post was shared hundreds of times,including by manyrestaurant owners in the area who were not featured in Buchanan’svideos.

Brad Elliot, who owns Lost Pizza Co. in Ocean Springs and Hattiesburg, said he appreciated Bounds’ perspective.

“As arestaurant owner myself,you have eloquently stated the truth!” Elliot said on Facebook Rosita’salsogaveBounds ashoutout, complete with ateary-eyed emoji: “This is why we LOVE you!”

BY POETWOLFE Staff writer

Ahistoric Victorian home in Bay St. Louis crumbled in the storm surge of HurricaneKatrina in 2005. Twenty yearslater,it’sresurfaced, though in away thatleft someonthe Gulf Coastdisappointed.

The house,onceperched on North Beach Boulevard, appearsonthe cover of “Hurricane Katrina: ARace Against Time,” afive-part documentary seriesrecently released by National Geographic.

The series revisits the deadly catastrophe, highlighting how it reshaped New Orleans.

The movie poster,which appearstobeillustrated, features amore animated versionofthe BaySt. Louis homesubmergedinfloodwaters as an adult and child standonthe roof, overlooking thedesolate landscape near asign that reads “HELP.”

On socialmedia, Hancock County residents have questioned why the image was used, considering the series focusesexclusively on Katrina’saftermath in New Orleans.

The acrimonious responses also point to abroader frustrationamong residents who feellike the storm’simpact on the Mississippi Coast has long been overshadowed.

“Howdisrespectful that ourstoryisn’tworth sharing, but our images of loss areperfectly fine to attach to New Orleans!” oneFacebook userwrote

“There is no excuse for the

fake photo,” another commented. “Plenty of real (New Orleans) homesthatcould have been used for the film itself!”

Though destroyed by Katrina,the houseremains listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hancock County Built in 1889 by Charles Sanger,the home was believedtobebuilt on the highest waterfront elevation on the Gulf, according to a2003 article by The Sun Herald. Sanger, aprominent builder and architect, built the estate for RaoulTelhiard, aNew Orleans resident who stayed in BaySt. Louis in the summer Telhiard referred to the vacationhome as “Ada Villa” until it was sold to theMcDonald family in 1904 and became locally known as the Old McDonald House. In 2003, The Sun Herald wrote about the new owners hosting atourofthe house to raise money for the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Visitorsweregreeted by guides clad in Victorian attire before walking through a48-foot-long center hall covered in 19th-century decor,the article said. Thehome’s weatheredappearance, the article noted, waspartofits charm.The McDonalds once described it as “ripely mellowedwith a heap of

Ore. senator says he has what it takes to resist Trump

Some Democrats seeking new leadership

BY CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press

WASCO, Ore. — Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is in his fifth decade in Congress and showing no inclination to step aside even as pressure builds on aging Democratic officeholders to give way to a new generation.

He says he plans to seek another term in 2028, when he will be 79 years old. He has traveled to all 36 Oregon counties every year he has been in the Senate and intends to keep doing so.

After a recent town hall in Wasco in conservative Sherman County Wyden said questions about age are “fair game for debate” but that he is still up to the job and the fight against Republican President Donald Trump’s policies.

“I believe you ought to be held accountable,” he told The Associated Press in an interview. “But I think that the Founding Fathers wanted a results-oriented, commonsense approach to government, and that’s what I’m trying to do. And I’ve got the energy.”

Many Democrats have lingering anguish about Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second White House term despite persistent concerns about whether he was up to the job at age 81. He dropped out in July 2024 and Trump went on to defeat then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I’ve consistently called for all elected officials over the age of 70 to make this

BY DOUGLASS K. DANIEL Associated Press

WASHINGTON William H Webster, the former FBI and CIA director whose troubleshooting skills and integrity helped restore public confidence in those federal agencies, has died, his family announced Friday He was 101. Webster led the FBI from 1978 to 1987 and the CIA from 1987 to 1991, the only person to guide the nation’s top law-enforcement agency and its primary intelligencegathering organization.

their final term to step down with dignity and make room for the next generation of leaders,” said Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something, a group that supports progressive young candidates.

Many Democrats feel Biden withdrew too late and cost the party the presidency Multiple Democratic senators have announced this year that they won’t seek reelection, including 80-year-old Dick Durbin of Illinois. Durbin’s career in Congress began in 1983, two years after Wyden joined the House. Litman said she hopes another Democrat emerges to challenge Wyden “I think competitive primaries in particular are how we as a party decide what we believe,” she said Wyden continues to travel across his state engaging with voters of all political stripes. The Wasco town hall was the 23rd he has held this year, and the 1,125th town hall of his career Some 20 people gathered at a former grade school nestled among wheat fields and wind turbines.

“Every Oregonian counts, no matter where they live,” Wyden told them. As other Democrats grapple over strategy, the senator says the old-school town hall tradition has become a key communication tool in an era of deepening division.

“I believe the town meetings are more important now than ever, because they allow for an opportunity in a community to chip away at some of the polarization and the mistrust,” he told the AP. That stands in contrast

wrong,” Webster said after he agreed to lead the spy agency

Former President George W. Bush said in a statement Friday night that Webster’s “passion for the rule of law and for the greatness of America made him a model public servant.”

By the time he came to Washington, at age 53, Webster had practiced law for nearly 20 years, had served a stint as a federal prosecutor and had spent almost nine years on the federal bench in his native St. Louis.

Those who opposed him in court or disagreed with his rulings acknowledged that his honesty was beyond question.

“Every director of the CIA or the FBI should be prepared to resign in the event that he is asked to do something that he knows is

President Jimmy Carter selected Webster, a Republican, for a 10-year term as FBI chief as the bureau sought to improve an image tarnished by revelations of domestic spying, internal corruption and other abuses of power Demanding but fair of his agents, he was generally credited with developing its ability to handle new challenges such as terrorism

President Ronald Reagan chose Webster to replace CIA chief William J. Casey, who had been criticized for being too political, ignoring Congress and playing a part in the arms-for-hostages scandal known as Iran-Contra.

Webster, again in the role of outsider with no political agenda, quickly sought to ease tensions with Congress. He reported regu-

July 25 in Wasco, Ore.

to congressional Republicans, who in recent months have largely avoided town hall meetings, where they often face protesters. The National Republican Campaign Committee recently encouraged GOP lawmakers to promote the new tax breaks and spending cuts law, but in smaller settings they can control.

Some 75% of Sherman County’s voters cast ballots for Trump last November, and Wyden hasn’t carried the county of about 2,000 people since 2004. Yet the small town hall gathering stood out for its civility, compared with the raucous crowds faced recently by other members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans.

Meeting with a small group of Democrats, Republicans and independents in Wasco, Wyden talked at

larly on the CIA’s activities to lawmakers charged with intelligence oversight and avoided the appearance of trying to shape policy Retiring from federal service in 1991, he joined a Washington law firm but still served on a variety of policy-related boards and commissions.

In 2002, the Securities and Exchange Commission selected Webster, on a partisan vote, to lead a board created by Congress to oversee the accounting profession in the wake of scandals involving Enron and other corporations.

Before the board’s first meeting, however, Webster resigned amid questions about his role as head of the audit committee of U.S. Technologies, a company itself accused of fraud. The controversy over his role in Webster’s appointment contributed to the resignation of SEC Chair Harvey Pitt.

William Hedgcock Webster was born on March 6, 1924, in St. Louis. He was raised in the suburb of Webster Groves, Missouri, his father the owner of ranch and farm land and the operator of small businesses. He served as a Navy lieutenant during World War II

length about health care, trade and democracy While some pressed Wyden, they waited to be called on and thanked him for coming.

Charlie Hogue, 71, asked a question that went to the heart of Democratic concerns that leaders aren’t pushing back hard enough against Trump.

“I thought we had checks and balances in this country, and I’m beginning to lose hope because the current administration ignores court orders,” he said. “So are the Democrats planning to just message for the next elections or do you have a plan?”

Wyden cited examples of how he had challenged Trump: a recent trip to Canada, where the senator spoke with the prime minister about trade, and discussions with Oregon wheat farmers about tariffs.

T.L. Fassbender, 76, wondered why it seems that Democrats support immigrants who entered the country illegally Wyden responded that he believed the immigration system was “broken” and noted that a bipartisan border bill collapsed in the Senate last year after thencandidate Trump came out against it.

In the ensuing exchange, Fassbender said he didn’t think Wyden had answered his question, so the senator tried again.

“If somebody has committed a crime, for example, I don’t think that should be something that is protected as part of legislation,” Wyden said “What’s been going on, unfortunately, is we have some government agencies coming and swooping up people who’ve done nothing wrong.”

When immigration came up again later, Wyden noted that his parents were fleeing Nazi Germany when they came to the United States.

“I believe that legal immigration makes our country better and stronger,” he said.

Recently, Wyden has emerged as a leading Democratic voice in pressing for more information on the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case. He isn’t new to the effort, which has become a political crisis for Trump.

The president’s supporters are angry that his administration didn’t keep promises to release records from the investigation into the wealthy financier’s exploitation of underage girls for sex. The Justice Department and FBI recently said there was no Epstein “client list,” walking back a notion that the administration had previously promoted.

As the top Democrat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Wyden had been pressing for Epstein’s financial records long before the scandal resurfaced.

“We spent three years following the money,” he told the AP after the Wasco town hall. “And we’re going to stay at it until the facts come out.”

Wyden said Democrats agonizing over low voter morale and party strategy should hold more meetings in conservative areas, where they might learn something from the people they represent.

“The old saying is, ‘most of life is just showing up,’” he said. “But it’s especially important in government because there is a sense that this is rigged.”

Cousins bring family recipes to TV ‘Family Recipe Showdown’ showcases cooking talents

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

The Food Network’s “Family Recipe Showdown” competition gave two contestants from Acadiana a chance to spotlight their Southern cooking talents this summer Cousins Kyle Arceneaux from Bellevue and Tory Landry from Lafayette premiered on the fifth

McNeese launches mentor program

Goal is to improve university’s retention rates

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

As the new academic year approaches, McNeese State University is preparing to launch a new program focused on new students to improve retention rates.

The First-Year Experience program will have its first run during the 2025-26 academic year Classes start Aug. 25. Director of the program Jacqueline Clark said it is in addition to the school’s typical two-day Cowboy Camp orientation and is meant to offer students help adjusting to college.

“Athletes have their own community, and students in fraternities and sororities have their own community,” Clark said “I feel like it’s important that freshmen feel like they have their own community.”

The First-Year Experience program will offer support to more than 1,000 new students, including traditional and nontraditional students.

A big goal with the new program is to help improve the retention rate at McNeese, according to Clark.

“Our enrollment numbers are high this year, our freshman numbers look great, but we want to keep them, obviously,” Clark said. “We want them to eventually walk away after four years, five years, six years, however long it takes them, with a degree.” Clark and her team of 16 student mentors will help students by offering tours and programs throughout the year

“We are hosting open FYE events; our first big one is the Fresh Fest,” Clark said. “It will be the second Friday of the semester and it’s just going to be a big fun carnival for all first-year students to come, interact and get to know each other We’ll have prizes and games and all kinds of stuff.”

Clark and her staff are also working to create a playbook for first-year students with a welcome from the university president

ä See MCNEESE, page 2B

episode of the show’s first season, where the two shared their family recipes.

They made a catfish and shrimp courtbouillon and a classic Cajun side dish known as corn maque choux in the first round. In the show’s second round, the duo created their version of guest judge Kandi Burrus’ favorite family dish of baked spaghetti.

“To go on a national network and

showcase our family recipes was a great experience and something that will connect us forever,” Arceneaux said. Each episode welcomes different family duos to the kitchen as they prepare their most cherished recipes in the first round and then, in the second round, prepare the guest judge’s favorite meal. At the end of the season, one team will win $10,000.

Special guests throughout the season included Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Danielle Brooks, Eric Stonestreet, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Kandi Burruss, Tim Gunn and Al Roker with his daughter Leila Roker to crown one winner

The opportunity was presented to Arceneaux, who already has a strong social media presence with more than 50,000 followers across

Instagram, TikTok and Facebook thanks to his cooking content. He is also the creator of a Creole-flavored seasoning called One and Done by WhatDawgCookin, which is the same name he uses for his social media profiles.

“I remember a talent recruiter sending me a message on Instagram. They mentioned seeing my cooking content video, particularly my shrimp and grits,” Arceneaux said.

ä See RECIPES, page 2B

RADIANT RIDES

ABOVE: Car enthusiasts look over some of the cars during Cars and Coffee presented by the League of Exceptional Motoring at Corner Bar on Saturday in Lafayette. The car show takes place every month and residents can see different types of cars and discuss all things

automotive LEFT: Car enthusiasts look over a couple of customized Volkswagen Beetles.

Hurricane forecast leaves blurry outlook for coast

Latest predictions don’t point to any specific area

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

While only four named tropical storms have formed so far during the Atlantic hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center still believes it could be an above-average season On Thursday, the National Hurricane Center released a prediction that the Atlantic hurricane

season will still see 13 to 18 total named storms by its end, which is Nov 30. Of those named storms, five to nine are predicted to be hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes. The prediction states that the likelihood of above-normal activity (11 to 30 named storms) is 50%, a 35% chance of a near-normal season (six to 18 named storms) and a 15% chance of a belownormal season (four to 14 named storms). The numbers are similar to the May prediction, which was a 60% chance of above normal, 30% near normal and 10% below normal.

National Weather Service Lake Charles meteorologist Marti Calhoun said the prediction is not for any specific area.

”There’s the same equal chance that we receive tropical system(s) here versus Jacksonville, Florida, or Wilmington, North Carolina, as examples,” Calhoun said. So far this hurricane season, none of the four named storms has had any impact on southwest Louisiana. Louisiana has a 71% greater than or equal probability of a named storm within 50 miles of its coastline, according to the Aug. 6 forecast from Colorado State Uni-

versity

The peak of the season is around the end of August through October according to the National Weather Service A majority of recent storms to impact southwest Louisiana have happened in the peak of the season.

In 2020, Hurricane Laura hit on Aug. 27 and Hurricane Delta on Oct. 9 Hurricane Nicholas also caused damage to the area on Sept. 13, 2021.

The National Hurricane Center encourages people to stay informed and prepared as the hurricane season continues.

Judge OKs voting materials in church bankruptcy case

Abuse survivors would get ballot on settlement

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

A federal bankruptcy court judge on Friday cleared the way for survivors of clergy sex abuse to vote on a proposed settlement plan with the Archdiocese of New Orleans that could bring the longrunning case to a close by the end of this year

At a key hearing held more than five years after the case began, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Meredith Grabill said she will approve a set of documents with detailed information about the proposed settlement and a ballot with voting instructions.

The settlement, which was jointly negotiated between the archdiocese and a court-appointed committee that represents the interests of the roughly 650 abuse survivors who have filed claims, would create a trust of

nearly $180 million to benefit survivors. An additional $45 million or so would be added to the trust next year following the anticipated sale of Christopher Homes the church’s low-income senior apartment complexes. Ballots will be mailed later this month to all survivors who have filed claims in the case and must be returned by Oct. 29

During Friday’s hearing, Grabill reiterated a warning she has issued several times in recent months

“If the plan is not confirmed, we are going to dismiss the case,” she said “I have made this very clear We are not going to amend the plan or go through this again.”

If the case is dismissed, survivors would be free to pursue individual lawsuits against the Roman Catholic archdiocese and its parishes in state court. But as a practical matter, that process would likely take years.

Kristi Schubert, whose firm represents about 75 abuse survivors in the case, said it “would almost certainly result in the archdiocese filing for bankruptcy

West Nile case confirmed in Orleans Parish

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus this year in Orleans Parish The patient has the neuroinvasive form of the disease, the most serious type, health officials said Statewide, 10 other residents have been diagnosed with the neuroinvasive form of West Nile this year, according to an Aug. 2 report from the Health Department. Those cases were reported in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

Mosquito activity has also been high for the virus. The department reports 642 mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile across Louisiana this year, including 199 in Orleans Parish. West Nile virus spreads between wild birds and mosquitoes, and can infect humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. In the New Orleans area, the main carrier is the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, which is most active after dark.

It thrives in polluted water found in ditches and urban stormwater systems. Aging septic systems can also create conditions for populations to grow unchecked.

The virus was first detected in Louisiana in 2002 and has since become the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, typically peaking in warmer months.

Most infections cause no symptoms, but about 20% of patients develop West Nile fever, a flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rashes.

Severe cases, which are more likely in people over 65 or with weakened immune systems, can cause neuroinvasive disease, leading to high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, paralysis, coma or death These symptoms may last for weeks and can result in permanent damage.

Last year, Louisiana recorded 617 positive mosquito pools, including four in New Orleans, and three deaths statewide from the virus.

The city of New Orleans has been spraying multiple times per week in response to the increased activity The next spraying mission is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. to midnight Friday in the Gentilly New Orleans East and Lakeview neighborhoods.

Louisiana’s climate and geography make it one of the most mosquito-prone states in the country, experts say Frequent rainfall, high humidity, warm temperatures, clay-heavy soils that hold water and a diversity of habitats all contribute to mosquito breeding In warm weather, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in as little as five days. It’s important to empty standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding, according to officials. The amount of water that fills a bottle cap is enough for a mosquito to lay eggs in.

The New Orleans Mosquito Control Board recommends repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always follow product instructions when using repellents. When possible, limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Use air conditioning or sit in the airflow of a fan when outdoors.

Residents can report mosquito issues by calling 311, filing a request at nola311.org emailing mosquitocontrol@nola.gov, or calling (504) 658-2400.

again.”

“That would put the survivors right back at square one,” she added. In a prepared statement, the archdiocese said it was “pleased with this progress and will continue to work hard to bring this to resolution.”

Friday’s hearing was a continuation of a two-day “disclosure statement” hearing that began last week and resolved several disputes over language and financial information in what’s known as a solicitation packet that will go out to survivors by mail.

The purpose of a disclosure statement is to help survivors and other creditors in the case understand what they would get from the settlement, where the money would come from and whether the church and its affiliated parishes and charities have the wherewithal to pay it.

Much of the discussion at Friday’s hearing, however, centered not on church finances but on what kind of evidence attorneys will be allowed to gather as they

RECIPES

Continued from page 1B

When he learned that a partner was required to enter the competition, he knew exactly who he wanted to call: his cousin and fraternity brother, Tory Landry

Although they come from a large family with more than 50 cousins, it wasn’t until a family reunion more than 15 years ago that Arceneaux and Landry first met They hit it off instantly and have been inseparable ever since.

“He didn’t pick me because he thought I’ll be the best sous chef for him,” said Landry “He picked me because he knows it was going to be fun, and we’d enjoy the experience together.”

The kitchen lights at home don’t match the intensity of those in the New Orleans studio set for The Family Recipe Showdown. According to the two, Landry tackled the first challenge with a more calm and relaxed demeanor, while cooking for the judges had Arceneaux feeling a bit more on edge.

“I remember my first time looking up and seeing Gabby and her husband with that beautiful piece of fried fish, and I was like, ‘Wait, they got it going on,’” said Landry Landry chose to cook a traditional corn maque choux as a heartfelt tribute to his mother, who died in 2020. During his college years, it was the dish he’d always asked her to make when coming home to visit, he said.

The first time he ever cooked it

MCNEESE

Continued from page 1B

and a comprehensive list of all events across campus for the first semester In addition to the events and playbook, the 16 Scholarship, Purpose, Unity and Resilience (SPUR) mentors, who are juniors and seniors, will each be assigned 20 mentees who they will meet with throughout the year

Clark said it is a “very difficult task” to decide which students will receive mentors

“We would love for everybody to get a mentor and we’re hoping that maybe that would be the goal,” Clark said. “But as of now, we look at a lot of different factors, first generation, ACT scores and commuter students (and) based off that is how we pick our 300 and who will be the mentors for those students.”

SPUR Mentor Sage St. Julien, a senior, said when she saw the application for the position, she thought it would be a good opportunity to help her fellow students.

“Being that I already know what it’s like to be a freshman, I wanted to be the person that many students can come to and rely on as a mentor,” St. Julien said.

Mentor Ademisola “Ademy”

Arilesere, who is a senior international student, said he wishes he was more involved on campus as a freshman and is excited to offer incoming students with information on organizations and services to join and utilize.

“We can help them tell them where they need to go in order to advance their own personal career,” Arilesere said “Or if

prepare for the confirmation hearing later this year, provided survivors vote to approve the plan.

At that hearing, which attorneys have described as a trial, Grabill will take up an effort by an influential group of attorneys who represent about 80 individual survivors who want the case dismissed.

In court documents, those attorneys have argued that Archbishop Gregory Aymond and his advisers have mismanaged the long-running case, which has cost $50 million in legal and professional fees.

During Friday’s hearing, the lead attorney for that group, Soren Gisleson, sought Grabill’s approval to question Aymond under oath on church finances and management, among other things.

“These questions are fair game,” Gisleson said.

An attorney for the archdiocese, Dirk Wegmann, opposed many of the requests, describing them as “tragically overbroad.”

Grabill approved some of them, though she limited the scope.

Gisleson is also seeking copies of emails and communications between Aymond and Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson about the fundraising effort she is leading to restore the St. Louis Cathedral, which is 175 years old and needs between $50 million and $100 million in repairs.

The $75 million Our City Our Cathedral campaign has been underway for more than two years and restoration is currently taking place, “but we don’t know how much has been raised and what their fundraising levels are,” said Gisleson.

He said he is seeking the information because it speaks to the broader issue of the value of church assets.

Grabill said she would allow the request, though limit it to the past 18 months.

The archdiocese did not respond to a request for comment on the matter A spokesperson for Benson declined to comment. Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

himself was alongside his mom, using a recipe from his aunt.

“Ya’ll are going to see me cry on the show because of the memories it brings back and associating that sense of smell to my mom,” Landry said.

Arceneaux, on the other hand, cooked a cherished family recipe — catfish and shrimp courtbouillon, which had been handed down through generations.

In a time where family recipes could fade into the back-

ground because of DoorDash, Uber Eats and the convenience of quick meals, Landry said he felt it was important to spotlight the meaningful connections and stories that come from cooking together in the kitchen It’s why he wanted to participate in the show in the first place.

“Also, we really live busy lives, so to be able to take a few days off and go out there, showcase a piece of where we’re from

was rewarding and something we will always treasure,” Arceneaux said.

The series premiered on July 17 with episodes running on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Food Network. The series also streams the next day on HBO Max, and the Acadiana cousins’ episode is available now

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@theadvocate. com.

it’s just something personal and you know that they need someone to talk to in all those areas academically professionally and personally, that’s what we’re here to do, and to give them that full McNeese experience.”

Clark said the SPUR mentors will be receiving the highest student pay of $15 an hour since they will have a lot on their plates.

The program is grant-funded with a $2.2 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Pro-

gram grant McNeese received in November from the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant will fund the program for five years.

“We’re hoping that it is very successful, and continues to be so successful that enrollment numbers will go up and up and help fund it after that,” Clark said.

Email Courtney Pedersen at courtney.pedersen@ theadvocate.com.

Records: City of Harahanusedunlicensedcontractor

Projects lacked anyformalbids, binding agreements

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

The city of Harahan paid an unlicensed contractor about $882,000 last year for various jobs —including more than half amillion dollars for one project —without anyformalbids or binding agreements, according to documents obtainedbyThe TimesPicayune.

Under Harahan Mayor TimBaudier,the city paid about $563,000 to Galaforo Companies LLC, owned by Paul Galaforo,for the constructionofaPark of Heroes, aveterans’ memorial featuring aconcrete walking trail, Japanese zen garden and water wall fountainnext to the Harahan Playground.

Another $125,000 wentto Galaforofor renovationsto Harahan’semergency operations center,according to the city’scheck register, and $84,000 for wooden awnings, renovations and roof repairs at the Harahan Senior Center City Council members saidthey hadnot known aboutthe money spent with the unlicensed contractor until after the work was completed, andsaidthe expenditures raised questions aboutthe mayor’s spending practices.

Meanwhile, the awnings that the contractorbuilt have fallen apart and put seniors at risk, according to council member Paul Johnston, and the council has already discussed replacing the pump on the park’swater feature dueto frequent algae blooms.

“I’ve been in government for 30 years …I’ve never seenanything like the situation the city is in and the way the city is run now,” said Johnston, aformer Harahan mayor Baudier on Friday posted astatement on Facebook, saying the veterans memorial park plan evolved over four years into therehabilitation of Harahan Playground while honoring 16 veterans who died during their service, with plans to addanother memorial later this year for 17-year-old Salvador Rando, who died in anoncombat accidentin 1956.

He said the entireplan was split into several smaller projects, like the walking trail, the displays and the drainage system, and that the memorial had garnered international support anddonations from private and public sources.

He added that the memorial park’sdevelopment was “pretty open and transparent,” and that the city has “used and continue(s) to use multiple contractors and vendors doing anumber of completely separate projects.”

“Tochallenge any of these outcomes, to challenge the integrity of our donors/contributors/supporters,and to feature our Park of Heroes in anegative light is asad wayto present what are honorable stories of courage andsacrifice,” he wrote. Galaforo did not respond to phone calls or textmessages seeking comment.

What therecords show

The city paid Galaforo for each projectoverthe course of several phases, eachcosting $50,000 or less For the Park of Heroes,

the city paid Galaforo in 13 phasesbetween June andAugust of last year before switching to Thoth Construction,which is licensed,for theremainingseven project phases, according to invoices obtainedthrough apublic recordsrequest Funding for the memorial, which opened earlier thisyear,includes $405,000 in state funds and $200,000 in private donations, Baudier wrote,along with at least $50,000 in cityfunds The Times-Picayune also requestedall planning documents for the Park of Heroes, including requests for proposals, and city contracts with Galaforo. The city said thereare noneexceptfor quotes State lawrequiresthat projectscosting $50,000or more have alicensedcontractor,and publicworks projects worth $250,000 or moreundergo aformal bid processwith advertisements. It also explicitly prohibits the splitting of projects into multiplephases for the sake of avoiding contract bids.

Baudier did obtain quotes from two other companies, All American Construction Management LLC and AMR Enterprise LLC,for each phase of the park. Most of the quotes are dated within afew days of Galaforo’s invoices forcompleted work.

AMR Enterprise LLC is notlicensed by the Louisiana Licensing Board for Contractors, and arecent unrelated lawsuit filed againstGalaforoalleges that AMR’s owner,Allison Romaguera, hasachild with Galaforo and lived with him from 2021 to June 2024.

“That’saboutasweirdas it can possibly be,” council member Michael Ricks said. “I can see easily why that’saproblem, and I think anypersoncould see that.”

Romagueradid notrespondtoarequest forcomment.

Contractor’s history

Galaforo had his contractor’slicense for 10years until it wassuspended in 2019 after allegedly failingtopay ajudgment against him, accordingto his Louisiana StateLicensing Board for Contractors record

In 2021, Galaforo was ordered to pay more than $3 million to an indemnity companyafter both the city of Westwego and PlaqueminesParish terminatedcontracts with him forfailingtocomplete work in atimely manner andfor failingtopay subcontractorsand suppliers.

He is alsocurrently in litigation against the owner of aproperty in Gretna, who he says owes him about$120,000for work performed in 2023

The defendant, 272 PropertiesLLC, denied contracting withGalaforo Companies and filed a counter lawsuit last month, saying Galaforolived there withRomaguera and their child andfabricated an invoice for“shockingly close” to theamount of rent he paid while livingthere.

‘How didwenot know HarahanCityCouncil members saidthey were largely kept in the darkon theprojectsand Galaforo’s involvement. The council has clashed withthe mayor in recentmeetings over histransparency on city finances.

Ricks said that Baudier told him Galaforolied to himabout hiscontractor status.

“I waslike, ‘How didwe not know he was lying when we werepaying that kind of money?’” Rickssaid.

Council memberPaul JohnstonsaidBaudier has “been there longenough” to know “what rules he’s gottofollow.” Baudier, 56,isserving

his secondand final term as mayor,havingunseated incumbent Tina Miceli in 2018 and winning reelection in 2022 against Pete Schneckenburger IV Before hismayoraltenure,heserved on the City Council for eight years. In 2015, Baudier voted in fa-

vor of posting city finances and contracts online in an efforttopromote transparency

Council member Jason Asbill said the “council doesn’tdeal in contracts” and that theveterans’ memorial “cameout to be awonderful project.”

He declined to comment further

Council members Tommy Budde and EricChatelain did not respond to requests for comment.

Email Lara Nicholsonat lnicholson@theadvocate. com.

careers/louisiana/jobs/5020987/mobileequipment-operator-2-heavy-lafayette fordetailedinformation or to apply. ContactKelly Stanford at 337-735-8720 or KStanford@wlf.la.gov formoreinfor‐mation

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐callyatwww.centralbidd ing.comorinthe office of thePurchasingDivi‐sion at theLafayette Consolidated Govern‐ment Building,located at 705 West University Av‐enue,Lafayette Louisiana, until 4:00 p.m. CentralTimeonthe 29th dayofAugust, 2025 for thefollowing: 167118.5.8290 ABATEMENT& DEMOLITION

andwill, shortlythere‐after, be opened and read aloudinthe Council Briefing Room locatedat 705 West University Av‐enue,Lafayette,LA. Bids received afterthe above specified time foropen‐ingshall notbeconsid‐ered andshall be re‐turned unopened to the sender.Bidders areen‐couraged to call into the bidopeningsatthe fol‐lowing phonenumber 337-291-5100.

ScopeofWork: The scopeofWorkshall con‐sist of allenvironmental Wasteremoval,decom‐missioning,demolitionof designated structures andconcreteand soil re‐mediationlocated at the ProjectSiteand shallin‐cludeall labor, equip‐ment,materials,han‐dling, permitting,and testinginaccordance with theContractDraw‐ings andSpecifications. AllWorkshall be com‐pleted within four hun‐dred twenty-six (426) cal‐endardays from is‐suance of Notice to Pro‐ceed.Refer to Article5 Schedule,Completion andStipulatedDamages of theGeneral Conditions forfurther details. In accordance with LouisianaRS38:2212 electronic Bids maybe submittedatCentral Bid‐ding (www.centralbidd ing.com).Official Bid Documentsare available at CentralBidding (www centralbidding.com). For questionsrelated to the electronic bidding process, please call Cen‐tral Biddingat225-8104814. Biddersmay re‐questthe electronic bid packagefromChristian Janesatcjanes@ LafayetteLA.gov Bidderssubmittingbids electronically arere‐quired to providethe same documentsasbid‐ders submitting through themailwithinfortyeight(48) hoursfrombid opening. Only abid bond,certified checkor cashier’s checkshall be submittedasthe bidse‐curity.Electroniccopies of both thefront and back of thecheck or bid bond shallbeincluded with theelectronicbid

Lafayette Consolidated Government is subjectto theLouisiana Public RecordsLaw,which may requiresubmissions of Bidderstobea public record.PursuanttoLa. R.S. 44:3.2(D),Bidders who submit documents or informationtheybe‐lievetobeproprietary,or

sions; Closed toeshoes hard hat, shirtwithlong sleeves,longpants (no shorts). Attendees will be required to sign in andsignout at there‐ceptiondesk. Failureto sign in/out will be a causefor rejectionof theirbid Two(2) days of addi‐tional non-mandatory site visits areavailable on thefollowing dates: Thursday,August14, 2025 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM,and Friday,August15, 2025 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Biddersmustsigninat thereception desk when arriving to thesitetobe escorted around thesite forthe additional visita‐tion.Theywillalsobere‐quired to sign outupon leavingthe site.PPE for theadditional site visits will be thesameasiden‐tified forthe mandatory

Each bidshall be submit‐tedonlyonthe bidform provided with thespeci‐fications. Thesuccessful bidder will be required to executeperformance andlabor andmaterial paymentbonds in thefull amount of thecontract as more fullydefinedin thebiddocuments.Inac‐cordance with Public Bid Law, bids arevalid for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days from the time of theopening of bids Bids will be evaluatedby theOwnerbased on the lowest responsibleand responsive bidsubmitted which is also in compli‐ance with thebid docu‐ments. TheLafayette Consolidated Govern‐ment reserves theright to reject anyand allbids for just causeinaccor‐dancewithLAR.S 38§2214.B TheLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernment strongly encourages the participationofDBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in allcon‐tracts or procurements letbythe Lafayette Con‐solidatedGovernment forgoodsand services andlabor andmaterial. To that end, allbidders andsuppliers areen‐couraged to utilizeDBEs business enterprisesin thepurchaseorsub-con‐tracting of materials, supplies, services and laborand material in which disadvantaged businessesare available. Assistance in identifying said businessesmay be obtained by calling337291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISHDATES:07-28-25; 08-03-25; 08-10-25 DPR997203 151449-jul28-aug3-10-3t $287.16

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Hard to imagine NewOrleans withoutthe Superdome

The SuperDoom. The StuporDome.

Those were among the monikers that critics used for the Louisiana Superdome early on. Amid all the well-deservedplaudits forthe Dome as it celebrates the 50th anniversaryofits Aug. 9, 1975,opening, it is worthremembering just how controversial the arena oncewas For plowing forward amid all the blowback, the visionaries who proposed and built it deserve even more credit. The Dome expandedand anchored what had threatenedtobecome amoribund downtown, even as it permanently put New Orleans on the map,very much for the better,as a“big event” city

Yetinthe early years, thedetractors were many.Some who loved fall afternoons in grand old Tulane Stadium resented being forcedindoors. Many complained that the costshould be borne by private interests, nottaxpayers, and further complained when the outlays rose from aprojected $35 millionto$165 million. The first management company forthe stadium was subjected to repeated allegations ofmismanagement, as the Superdome was amoneyloser in its early years

And some folksdidn’tlike the aesthetic. Famed Louisiana writer Walker Percydescribeditinan essay as looking like the top of a“giant BanRollOn” deodorant.

In the big picture, though, idea-man Dave Dixon, Gov.John McKeithen, mayors Victor Schiro andMoon Landrieu and other Superdome supporters were overwhelmingly right. The Dome remains an architectural marvel andanunparalleled event space. And few buildings in thehistory of the United States have proved asvital and valuable, both economically and psychologically as the Superdome has been for New Orleans and thewhole state.

Credit also goes to those,including Gov.Kathleen Blanco and the Superdome Management Group’sDoug Thornton, who insistedonand spearheaded the Dome’samazingly rapid rehabilitation after HurricaneKatrina, not just as an economic necessity butasamassivesymbol of hope to aregion still reeling from the storm’s aftermath.

Elsewhere, this newspaperhas commemorated theastonishing array of big events the Dome has hosted: 13 NCAA football championships, eight Super Bowls, six Final Fours, world boxing title matches, mega-concerts, anationalpartypresidential nominating conventionand more.

The economic impact of theseevents hasbeen well beyond enormous. For just the mostrecent example, LSU economists say this year’sSuper Bowlgenerated$1.25 billioninstatewideeconomic activity

And it’s not just big events: The Superdome’s presence has made the PoydrasStreet corridor a thriving hub year-round,while ensuring our beloved Saints remain in New Orleansfor decades to come. While so many other domedstadiums —in Houston, Minneapolis, Seattle,Detroit, Atlanta and Indianapolis —were demolishedyearsago, the Superdome continuestoflourish, betterthan ever.

Walker Percy at least had the second part of his phraseright:The Superdome’s legacy rolls on, a blessing to the state whose citizens dreamed and built it.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Adear millennial friend and Ionce had afraught conversation. It came back to me upon reading that the demographic mostreceptive to socialist candidates and their far-left agenda was the urban “downwardly mobile elite.”

My friend, theson of hardworking immigrants, possessed an Ivy League degree. He was miffed that acouple he knew struggled to pay for child care.

professionals would put their children in atruly diverse day care with kids of impoverished single mothers. After all, their resentment centers on not feeling upwardly mobile.

At acertain point in this story of injustice, Itried to ascertain theextent of his friends’ need for government-sponsored child care. Iasked my friend about the couple’scombined income. He responded with silence. Iasked again. Again, silence. He knew that the answer would not help his case. The father and mother were both employed in tech, as was my friend. Their combined income was probably well northof$200,000.

The concern among manyDemocrats is that this scary-sounding ideology turns off the American mainstream. The radical agendas get alot of attention and hurt theDemocratic brand. That they almost never come to fruition is no skin off the back of their supporters.

The people paying aprice are theless affluent. Politics thatoffend working-class values help elect politicians who take away health benefitsfor those who need them.Go ahead, you downwardly mobile elitists, and say that these modest folk are voting against their own interests. That might be true, but by nominating candidates that majorities find toxic, you are also voting against their interests.

Listen,I’m not averse to government-sponsored child care extending up theeconomic ladder.Itwould be socially useful for children of collegeeducated parents to sit in the same classes as poor kids. ButIdoubt these

Onerecalls arally Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders held in Queens during the 2020 presidential campaign. It wassurely no accident that they chose aworkingclass neighborhood overwhelmingly populated by “peopleofcolor.”

The crowds wereenthusiastic and big.Over 20,000 people attended, according to Bernie. The participants represented every shade of White people. There is widespread angst over the cost of housing, and it is understandable that the downwardly mobile elite would share it. But this group does manage to put aroof over their heads. It maynot match the grandeur featured in their social media feeds, but honesty demands acknowledging that in the quest for“affordable housing,” they are pricing the non-elite out of theirs. The government services that some of these elites wantand imagine the leftcan provide do cost money.The potentially bad newsfor them is that they have, to the outside world, rather impressive earnings. The taxing authorities don’treally care whether you feel downwardly mobile or not. And so eyes are mostly dry over the struggling professionals’ lot. Alook in the mirror should tell them that whether upwardly mobile or downwardly mobile, an elite is still an elite.

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com

We review our letters for accuracy and clarity,ofcourse, but on the horizon is an additional check that may need to be made.

We trust allwriters are expressing their own opinions and writing in theirown voice.

Butincreasing useofchatbotsand AI could undermine that assumption Today,it’scommon to hear of studentsusing AI to write papersand job applicants using it to write emails to potential employers. So it can’tbelong before we see AI used to write letters to the newspaper

papersunder theirown name. Often, these efforts are apparent, and when we get more than one letter worded theexact same way,it’seasytoweed them out.

where else

Turning to ourletters inbox, for the week of July 17-24, we received78 letters.

We trust ourreaders to represent theiropinions using theirown words, but there have always been effortsto manufacture letters to the editor that arenot authentic. Activistgroups sometimes circulateform letters to their supporters, urging them to submit these to news-

AI presentsamorecomplex challenge though, since it can respond to unique prompts from auser to create unique content. Thereissoftware that can detect AI-generated text, but it is not always accurate.

For now,wetrust that the readers who take the trouble to sendinaletter are readers who are engaged in the issues and want their opinions known. Ourreaders often have keen insightsand expressthem in ways that are by turnsfunny, caustic,thoughtful and sincere. Iwould hate to lose that. Newspapers around the country are continuing to discuss the impact of AI on the work we do. We know our readers value us because we produce original content they can’t find any-

Readerswerefocused on the cuts to public broadcasting. We receivedeight letters on the topic,with most readers opposing Congress’ decision to claw back funding forpublic radio and television. The warinGazawas the subject of four letters, with readers focused on storiesabout Palestinians getting killedastheysought food aid. Issues surrounding the planned LSU arena also drewreaders’ attention, with four letters on thattopic So there is awide range of local and nationalstoriesour readers are following. And Ibelieve that it creates aweekly mix thatnoAIwill ever top.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | OpinionPageEditor.Emailher at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

COMMENTARY

TheDeclaration gets boostedbyN.O’s Lapeyre

Are you gearing up for next summer’ssemiquincentennial the 250th anniversary —ofour nation’sbirth?

Youshould be. So, too, especially, should teachers andstudents during the new school year that’s about to begin.

Louisianan Jay Lapeyre is adriving force behind an effort to make it easier and more fulfilling to do so. Lapeyre, CEO of New Orleans-based Laitram Industries and chairman of the national Cato Institute, will be explainingthe projectatlength when theState Policy Network, anational associationofconservative thinktanks, holds its annual meeting Aug. 2528 in New Orleans.

tennial and beyond

Lapeyre is one of three cofounders —along with David Kelley,founder of the AtlasSociety, and John Aglialoro, atrustee of both Atlas and of Philadelphia’s Museum of the AmericanRevolution—ofFree Society Coalition, which is dedicated to deeper appreciationfor theidealsofthe Declaration of Independence in the lead-up to the semiquincen-

The effort began at aconference in July 2024 when they and several others adopted what they call “ThePhiladelphia Declaration for Freedom andResponsibility.” The new declaration asserts that “the morality of political freedom [is] thetrue habitat for humanity.” And it insists that Americans of somewhat different worldviews still “share values that allow us to cooperate for mutualbenefit. These values have madeAmerica greatand have inspired millions worldwide.”

Thenew declaration is well worth reading as awhole (it’son the website of Free Society Coalition), but it is just astartingpoint

The coalition also is promulgating abrochure that serves essentially as an initial study guide both for classroomsand for all interested individuals to ponder American values as outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

“Remember that this Declaration was thefirst in human history to establish agovernment with themoral premise of respect for

thedignity and rights of individuals,” it says. And, it avers that by its very nature, “a free society is themost productive, progressive, and inclusive form of society in human history.”

Yetwith that freedom comes responsibility to act as citizens with character,which “depends on theexercise of rationality, honesty, responsibility, gratitude, courage, and benevolence —and those are the traits that enable our pursuit of happiness as individuals.”

When Iwas growing up, almost all of this was both taught and learned with pride as the U.S. spent morethan ayear revving up, withmuch more focus and excitement than today,for 1976’s bicentennial celebration. Lapeyre and his cohorts are absolutely right that all schools across the country,and all good citizens who need arefresher,should be doing similar things this year

For Lapeyre, thecharacter aspectsofit, theethics —“which are upstream from politics,”he told me —are “the essential part

of all this. Part of the central character and ethics of afree society, he said repeatedly in ahalf-hour conversation, is an insistence on “civil discourse.” Respectful dialogue in aworking republic, he said, is aimed at “seeking truth, rather than mereloyalty to a tribe.”

Lapeyre cited an upcoming book from afellow New Orleanian, the distinguished historian Walter Isaacson, whose title refers to the most famous formulation from theDeclaration of Independence as “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.”

And all of this is worth the commitment of “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

The State Policy Network’s meeting at which Lapeyre will speak is still twoweeks out, but the dissemination of Free Society Coalition’sbrochure —its combined manifesto and study guide —cannot come soon enough. It’s not too late forteachers, especially of junior high and high school students, to incorporate all this into their lesson plans.

Lapeyre said he particularly hopes people think about “what would this kind of thing look like in Louisiana.”

The last words here go to Free Society Coalition’sbrochure itself:“The Founders expected citizens to ponder,toquestion and challenge, to consider how the principles they wrote about might apply to future events and issues.”

“Can we lean into the values that united the founders,” Lapeyre asked, “and go from there?” Lapeyre is right. Indeed, it will be an absolute tragedy if the upcoming semiquincentennial doesn’trenew in us, nationwide, afierce commitmenttothose values. Yes, as theDeclaration of Independence said, we do have “unalienable rights.” Thegovernment’sentire reason for being is to “secure these rights.” Government can be valid only if it relies on “the consent of the governed.”

At that task, let’sget started. Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Like BrianKelly,Sid Edwards’ year hinges on November

Rightnow,Baton Rouge is a two-coach town.

Plenty of attention is focused on the one runningthings just off Skip Bertman Drive,where Brian Kelly is under enormous pressure to win as he heads into hisfourth season at the helm of LSU’sfootball program.

But I’d like to look a couple of miles north to St. Louis Street, where Sid Edwards is just over 200 days into his tenure as the mayor-president of Louisiana’smost populous parish. Halfway through the first year of what is essentially afouryearcontract from voters, it’s fairtotake stock of how the former high school coach is doing. In his first months, Edwards has earned the respect of many for his humble approach and willingness to work with anyone. But that only goes so far. Some of Edwards’ senior staffers have burned bridges in City Hall, sources say,and his agenda has been hampered by perceived divisions within the administration. The latter issues couldbe forgotten if, like Kelly hopes to do, Edwards snags that crucial November victory.Afterall, winning cures alot of ills.

That’swhen East Baton Rouge voters will go to the polls to vote on several measures that together form his Thrive EBR plan.

Like Kelly,Edwards desperately needs that November win, both to cement his position atop cityparish government and to prevent widespread angst over the future.

Worse for Edwards, there won’tbeanother vote the next week to help him redeem himselfand his team. If votersbat aside the plan —and it’s an all-or-nothing proposal —EastBaton Rouge Parish,at least interms of city-parish government,isgoing to go from seriouscondition tothe ICU quickly Thereasons for urgency are pretty straightforward. The incorporationofthe cityofSt. George, and St. George’sleaders’ subsequent —and wholly justifiable —decision to begin receiving their share of the city’s sales taxrevenue, have blown a yawning hole in thecity-parish budget.IfEdwards doesn’tfind more money for the general fund, there will be cuts. And they will be ugly

staff. Importantly,under the plan, the library system will keep adedicated millage, something East BatonRouge voters have repeatedly endorsed. The newplan will only take about$50 million in library reserves, and rededicatesome taxespreviously used for mosquito abatement and the Council on Aging.

Edwards hassaidthe city will use the money to paydown debt, which will free up more money to fund services andinfrastructure Fair or not, Edwards’ first year will be judgedbywhathappens with this election. And howhis term goes from here could very well be defined by it.

Getting awin would set him up as an executive to be reckoned with, onewho doesn’tshrink from big challengesand who will work with others to find a fix. Taking the Lwould set up afractious anddifficult 2026. He may have to fire some staff, something football coaches are familiar with.

The LSU coach gets his chance on Nov.8,when LSU takes on Alabama. For Edwards, it’ll be a week later

Some may note that Edwards, like Kelly in 2021, inherited a mess, andthey’re right. But the office is one he sought, and so now he owns it. It might not be his fault,but it’sstill his messto clean up.

Edwards’ politicalskills were

put to thetest when, earlier this year,the first version of his plan drew widespread fury when it was announced. That version would have moved the muchbeloved librarysystem intothe city-parish’sgeneral fund and reappropriated its dedicated millage for police raises and other expenses. In addition, the plan would have moved the library’s

$100 million reserve fund, created through years of frugal spending, completely under parishcontrol. The public sacked that idea. So Edwards adjustedhis game plan and came back with anew one. This new versionwas announced at achummy news conferencethatincluded Metro Council members andlibrary

Edwards hasa long history of successincoaching, with more than200 high school wins. But these areSEC football-level political problems he’sfacing now. The stakesare much larger Or,asBrianKelly might say,it just means more.

Faimon A. Roberts III can be reached at froberts@ theadvocate.com.

Gerrymandering forme, notfor thee

Let’stake atour of the 13th congressional district in Illinois. It starts in East St. Louis and then moves steadily north. By the time it gets to Springfield, home of Abraham Lincoln, about 90 miles away,ittakes asharp turn to the east, reaching Decatur and finally Champaign, itself about 80 miles away from Springfield.

It’sajagged, narrow strip of territory with no obviousrhyme or reason as it traverses six counties. It’s less acongressional district than aroad trip, and bears a resemblancetothe original gerrymander, along, salamander-like state senate district in Massachusetts in 1812.

The only point of the new 13th district lines, fashioned with the redistricting after the 2020 census, was to gather together far-flung Democrats to createanother Democratic congressional

district. Mission accomplished The13th district went from being acompetitivedistrict long held by aRepublican to flipping to the Democrats in 2022. Overall, Illinois lost one district afterthe 2020 censusand managed to draw lines that changed the congressional ratio from a13-5 Democratic advantage to a14-3 Democratic advantage. The political analysis website 538 called the newmap “the worstgerrymander in the country drawn by Democrats.”

This makes it especially inapt that acontingentofTexas Democrats fleeingthe Lone Star State to try to stop what they consider unfairnew congressional boundaries founda safe harbor in Illinois.Next time, their travel agent should do ahypocrisycheck before bookinga destination. Illinois Gov.JBPritzker welcomed theself-exiling Democrats

and hailed their courage. He told them that he and other top Democrats in the state were pleased “to stand in solidarity with you and send aclear message to all Americans.” His conscience showed no sign of being pricked by thefact that he signed off on the redistrictingthat saw Republicans in 2022 win nearly 44% of the popular vote in Illinois congressional races and only about 17% of the congressional seats.

Aspecial session of the Texas Legislature is considering new lines that could net Republicans another five seats. Texas Gov Greg Abbotthas cited aDepartmentofJustice letter saying that someofthe current districts need to be redrawn because they represent unconstitutional racial gerrymandering (the Biden Justice Department had been fighting Texas because, in itsview,the current lines didn’treflect enough racial gerrymandering) The Supreme Court is taking

upaLouisiana case that should clarify the extent to which states can consider race in drawing so-called majority-minority districts. In the meantime, the partisan effect of thenew Texas lines before the 2026 midterms is unmistakable. If Republicans were likely to lose five seats from theredistricting, there’snodoubt that the state’sRepublican governor and Republican legislature wouldn’tbeundertaking it. Drawing district lines is an inherently political enterprise, and parties tend to give themselves thebest of it. When Democrats controlled the Texas legislature, they maintained congressional lines in their favor.Itwasn’tuntil Republicanswon the state house for thefirst timesince Reconstruction in 2002 that the GOP could redraw the congressional map andRepublicans subsequently won amajority of Texas congressional seats in 2004, also for thefirst timesince Reconstruction.

Since Democrats gerrymander too, they have limited options for retaliating against Texas. Pritzker says he may redraw his state’s lines, but this would require gerrymandering on top of his current gerrymander.California Gov Gavin Newsom is making similar noises, but the California map is already tilted toward Democrats. Republicans wonnearly 40% of the congressional vote in the Golden State in 2024, but only about 17% of the seats. If the Texas plan goes through and all else remains equal, the Lone Star State will have about the samepartisan skew as California.

Less gerrymandering would be better rather than more, but Democrats like Gov. Pritzker, whoblessed his state’smeandering 13th district, have no standing to makethe case.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

SPORTS

NewOrleans

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

IRVINE, Calif. After just about every day of New OrleansSaints trainingcamp so far,a new player stands up to face the cameras and addstowhat is becoming acommon refrain for this team.

“This is the best I’ve felt through three days ofcamp in along time,”said tight end Juwan Johnson.

They’resaying this stuff often enough to not just brush it off.

“This is probably thebestmybody has felt

Day 4into (training) camp since high school, maybe?”said center Erik McCoy

And it’sall coming to themnaturally when asked about the schedule implementedby first-year head coach Kellen Moore, one strongly influenced by the team’snew director of sports science, TedRath.

“This is thebest training camp I’ve been a part of,”said defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, now in his ninth NFL training camp. “CoachKellen, howhe’sapproached it, the trainingstaff,the staffingeneral taking care of the guys. This is the best training camp I’ve been apart of.”

That’sonly part of that Godchaux quote, by the way.Heused that “best training camp” bit four times in his answer

Several factors have gone into these answers, but the one thing tying it all together is theway Mooreismanipulating time to his team’s advantage.

From the team operations side, Moore has full control of the Saints’ schedule, and he hascrafted an intelligent and efficient approach that is rooted in sports science.

“Wespend alot of time trying to be as detailed as we possibly can, get the drills to be really clean, operate at areally high level,” Moore said. “We’vegot to maximize every chance we get out here to put these guys in a really good position to be successful.”

It’s apparent in the practices themselves. There is very little wasted timewhere players andcoaches aremilling around,taking abreak to gather themselves for thenext

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

One UL player the local media neverthought they’dbeinterviewing for the 2025 season was senior defensivetackleKadarius Miller

“I didn’teither,”Miller laughedashesat downduring anewsconference last week.

Miller waspartofthe Cajuns’ senior day activities last November and thought his college over.But alawsuitagainst the NCAA resulted in athletes who had spenttime at junior coll an extra year of eligibility.

The 6-foot-2,310-pound Miller came to UL from Copiah-LincolnCommunity CollegeinMis that included him.

“It’sjust been ablessing so far,” Miller said.

Naturally,UL’scoaches were elated to have another year withMiller, abig body in the middle who is coming off his best season.

“I talked to (defensive coordinator Jim) coach Salgado and coach Des (Michael Desormeaux) and it’s

he

That’s themiddle of our defense.”

Miller isn’tsure what he’d be doing these days hadhenot gotten an extrayear of eligibility.All he’s focusing on right now is taking full advantage of it.

“Thisyearitjust makesiteven more special because Ifeel like God doesn’tgive too manypeople

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Garrett Nussmeier rolled to his lefttoescape the pressure.

Asmall cadre of defenders was on the precipice of squeezing the fifth-year senior out of the pocket. But before they could get to him,LSU’s starting quarterback aborted the rush.

Nussmeier found enough space to run for an extra few yards before ducking out of bounds. But as Nussmeier left the field exiting the field for sophomore quarterback Michael VanBuren and the second team offense— he departed slowly,and witha limp.

As coach Brian Kelly revealed, Nussmeier is dealing with apreexisting case of patellar tendinitis. Kelly reportedly took him outof practice early on Wednesday after he aggravated the issue, but he threw Friday and practiced fully on Saturday Online rumors suggested that Nussmeier had suffered aseason-ending injury.Kelly says that is farfrom the truth.

“This is like a1.5 on the scale of 1to10,” Kelly said on Friday.“And that’sjust being honest with you.”

Nussmeier woreablack sleeve on his left knee and participated in every drill on Saturday.But his limptoward the end of practice wasareminder that the star quarterback may not be 100% yet.

“Tendinitis is managed every single day around the world for all kinds of different ailments,” Kelly said. “Just like abad ankle that you’re going to come back in (for), he’ll be back out (there soon).

“This is preexisting, and he probably just planted it the wrong way.There’snothing really to seeonfilm with it. He aggravated it alittle bit, but he’sgood to go.”

Offensestruggles in redzone

The offense had twosessions of installing red zone plays before facing the defense in 11 on 11 scrimmaging inside the 20-yard line, but the extra workdid not pay off. Both the first andsecondteam offenses struggledtomove the ballagainst either defense. Neitheroffensive linecould

opportunities like this thetype to trytowaste another opportunity,”

“Sothis year is really special for me. I’m giv Iknow theteam expect me, andI’m fine withth Millerreturns to a d soned defensive line cludesveteranslike Jor

, and I’m not it once I get Miller said going to be ingit my all s more from at eep and seathat also indan Lawson, NS, page 3C

ä See CAJU career was ege getting sissippi, so

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS

Departing members sue Mountain West Conference

Three departing members of the Mountain West Conference are suing the league, alleging it improperly withheld millions of dollars and misled them about a plan to accelerate Grand Canyon’s membership. Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State filed an updated lawsuit in the District Court of Denver arguing the conference and Commissioner Gloria Nevarez willfully disregarded the league’s bylaws by “intentionally and fraudulently” depriving the schools of their membership rights.

Fleetwood clings to 1-shot lead

Scheffler, Rose pull closer at St. Jude Championship

The

MEMPHIS, Tenn Tommy Fleetwood had a three-shot swing go against him early and a two-shot swing cost him on the final hole Saturday in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He did enough right in between for a 1-under 69 and a one-shot lead over Justin Rose as he goes for his first PGA Tour title.

If that wasn’t enough, Scottie Scheffler had a huge presence only two shots back.

Still, those two holes were a reminder to Fleetwood that 18 holes can feel a long way off at the TPC Southwind. There figures to be plenty of pressure at the top and scattered among the rest of the field trying to advance in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

“It’s just another opportunity for me to go out and try and have the best round of golf I can enjoy being in that position,” Fleetwood said. “The more I put myself there, the more chance there is of it happening, and just go out and keep learning from every experience. But tomorrow might be my day, it might not, but being there is the most important thing, and I’ll continue to try and do that.”

Fleetwood, who has won plenty on big stages around the world but not on the PGA Tour, started the third round with a three-shot lead over Rose, who had to finish his storm-delayed second round in the morning.

On the par-5 third, Fleetwood’s second shot came up short and into the water He took his penalty drop, and then hit wedge over the

green into a bunker Fleetwood said he noticed his golf ball move ever so slightly on his swing with the wedge. Rules officials studied the video and determined that if it moved — they couldn’t determine if it did because it was so slight Fleetwood didn’t cause it and no penalty was issued. He made double bogey, and Rose ran off three straight birdies to take the lead.

“The third was just such a kerfuffle and such a mess,” he said. “It was not that bad of a second shot,

but it’s obviously a terrible shot if it’s in the water From there, drop, sort of felt like the ball had moved when I hit it, thinned it over the back, just made a double for nothing really.” Fleetwood rebounded to not only regain the lead but build it back to three shots. But on the 18th hole, he drove into the rough, couldn’t reach the green and made bogey to finish 54 holes at 14-under 196. Rose hit out of the rough to 5 feet from the front pin for his first birdie since the seventh hole.

That gave him a 67 and put him in the final group with his Ryder Cup teammate.

Scheffler, meanwhile, put together six birdies in his round of 65 and was two shots behind. He made his lone bogey on No. 10, and Scheffler avoided another when his bunker shot on No. 12 hit a sprinkler that kept it from going on the green. He holed a 25-foot putt from the fringe.

Scheffler, already assured of keeping the No 1 seed in the FedEx Cup playoffs, is going for his fifth win of the year He has not finished out of the top 10 since March. U.S. Open champion J.J Spaun (65) and Andrew Novak (67) were three shots behind.

Sunday is one of the more critical days on the PGA Tour, and not just for Fleetwood. The top 50 in the FedEx Cup advance to the second playoff event at the BMW Championship and are assured of getting into all the $20 million signature events next year

Rickie Fowler and Chris Kirk each had a 66 and were projected to move into the top 50, along with Bud Cauley and Jhonattan Vegas.

Among those who could get bumped out are Jordan Spieth, who had to settle for another 70. Key for the players like Fowler and Cauley are staying high on the leaderboard because those are worth more points and they have more room to make up.

For Fleetwood, it’s about winning. He is No. 15 in the world. He has starred in two Ryder Cups for Europe and won against strong fields. But the lack of a PGA Tour title is becoming a burden. He had a oneshot lead on the final hole at the Travelers Championship in June until taking three putts from just off the green and losing to Keegan Bradley’s birdie.

Van Gisbergen aims for elite company at Watkins Glen

BY NATE RYAN Associated Press

On the NASCAR tracks with the most circuitous sequence of turns, Shane van Gisbergen has shown a remarkably sublime sense of direction

But the Trackhouse Racing driver still needs help navigating his new life in the United States — such as the recent announcement of a 2026 street race in San Diego.

“I don’t even know where that is,” the Auckland, New Zealand, native said with a laugh “I had to find it on a map. It’ll be cool to go. I’ve never been there and get to experience all new things.”

The Cup Series rookie is an old hand on road courses, which he mastered with 80 victories and three championships from 2007-22 in Supercars (the top racing series in Australia and New Zealand). Those results caught the eye of Trackhouse founder Justin Marks, who took a flier on putting van Gisbergen in a Cup car for the inaugural Chicago Street Race in July 2023. After stunning NASCAR at Chicago as the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in 1963, van Gisbergen relocated to NASCAR last year He has won at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma this season, securing a playoff berth for the No. 88 Chevrolet and a multiyear extension at Trackhouse.

With a victory Sunday at Watkins Glen International, a 2.45mile road course in New York the 36-year-old van Gisbergen would join 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Though van Gisbergen has only 37 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series, his four victories already rank third among active drivers on street or road courses.

“These guys have egos, and they are not OK with this,” NASCAR on NBC analyst Steve Letarte said after van Gisbergen’s win at Sonoma last month. “When we go to Watkins Glen, I think it’s basically 35 against one, because they’ll be like, ‘What can we do to bury this guy?’”

It starts with getting close enough to rough up van Gisbergen, who has qualified first in his three wins.

He won at Mexico City by 16.567 seconds, the Cup Series’ largest margin of victory in more than 15 years and the largest gap on a road course in more than 45 years.

He faced more pressure at Sonoma on multiple late restarts, but runner-up Chase Briscoe raced him cleanly (and then compared van Gisbergen’s road course skills with Michael Jordan in his prime).

“I feel like everyone races really well, and I really love the racing here,” van Gisbergen said. “I don’t feel like anyone targets me on the track and tries to take me out, but I feel like we’re the benchmark, which is really awesome. But the best thing on the road course is I’ve never really raced the same guy Every week, there’s someone different. The spread of talent is quite high here.”

Chris Buescher is the only Cup driver to have gotten the best of him. Racing at Watkins Glen last year in a part-time Cup schedule, van Gisbergen missed a corner entry “by centimeters” and lost to the Roush Fenway Keselowski driver on a last-lap pass.

“I studied it a lot, and that was painful,” van Gisbergen said. “I’m quite self-analytical, and even when I think of it now, it frustrates me.”

He also is a humble perfectionist in addressing his inexperience on oval tracks, which comprise the bulk of the NASCAR schedule. On the advice of 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick, van Gisbergen has

spent his summer racing Tuesday nights at Charlotte Motor Speedway against preteens in miniature stock cars on a quarter-mile oval. He recently earned his first win on the short track, whose four turns encourage the full-contact racing that largely is absent on road courses. “I had 12-year-olds bump me and know exactly how to place their car, and I’d never hit anyone on purpose to pass them,” said van Gisbergen, who made his oval debut only two years ago. “It’s a skill that we don’t get taught because you’re not allowed to do it (in Supercars). So yeah, it’s been really beneficial and a lot of fun. It’s just more racing and more combat.” He figures to be battle-tested when the Cup playoffs begin in three weeks. The first round is held exclusively at ovals, where van Gisbergen has an average finish of 26.7, but he will start the playoffs with a points cushion because of his wins.

He is confident of advancing to the second round simply by avoiding mistakes at tracks located in Darlington, South Carolina, subur-

ban St. Louis and Bristol, Tennessee — while also enjoying their divergent cultures.

“Australia is the same size country, but from one side to the other, there’s not much difference in the accents,” van Gisbergen said.

“Here, it’s very diverse and the way people talk is so different. Every part of the country feels like a different country It’s been an awesome experience just trying to learn about it.”

Odds and ends

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, van Gisbergen (+125) is the favorite, followed by Connor Zilisch (+500), Christopher Bell (+1200) and Kyle Larson (+1200).

With his 63rd start on a road or street course Sunday, Kyle Busch will tie Terry Labonte for most in Cup Series history Both of Busch’s top-five finishes this season have been on a road or street course (fifth at Circuit of The Americas and Chicago). Three-time and defending series champion Joey Logano will become the 13th Cup driver to make 600 consecutive starts.

The three schools, which are all headed to the Pac-12 after the 2025-26 school year, are seeking damages for millions of dollars of alleged harm caused by the Mountain West, including the withholding of money earned by Boise State for playing in last year’s College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame loses TE, RB to season-ending injuries

Notre Dame announced on Saturday that sixth-year tight end Kevin Bauman and second-year running back Kedren Young suffered season-ending knee injuries in practice this week.

Notre Dame already was without Charles Jagusah, its projected right guard, after he was injured in an accident in Wyoming last month. Jagusah had surgery to repair a broken humerus bone in his left arm, and coach Marcus Freeman said he’s hopeful Jagusah will play this season. But Bauman won’t play this year because of an articular cartilage injury in his left knee, which will require surgery He also announced on social media this is the end of his football career

Raducanu advances to third round of Cincy Open

Emma Raducanu is through to the third round of the Cincinnati Open after a straight-sets win over Olga Danilovic.

The British No. 1 marked her first match since Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francis Roig joined her team with a confident 6-3, 6-2 victory

After four breaks of serve between the pair in the opening six games, Raducanu came from 30-0 down to grab another for 5-3.

She had won seven points in a row to bring up three set points and took the first with an ace. In the second, Raducanu gave her Serbian opponent nothing for free, drawing out errors and eventually earning a break for 3-2.

She did not drop another game, wrapping up a fine victory in an hour and 20 minutes.

Louderbaugh reaches U.S. Women’s Amateur semis

BANDON, Ore. — Kansas junior Lyla Louderbaugh reached the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur on Friday by losing a 2-up lead with two holes to play against topranked Kiara Romero and then keeping her composure to win in 20 holes at Bandon Dunes. Louderbaugh, a two-time Kansas Women’s Amateur champion, advanced to face Brooke Biermann, a 3-and-2 winner over Arianna Lau of Hong Kong. Stanford senior Megha Ganne held off Eila Galitsky of Thailand, 2 and 1, and next has a semifinal match against Ella Scaysbrook of Australia, who had the shortest match of the quarterfinals with a 5-and-4 win over Canadian Taylor Kehoe.

Cook declines to play in Bills preseason opener

ORCHARD PARK,N.Y Bills coach Sean McDermott was able to convince running back James Cook to suit up and take a couple of handoffs in pregame warmups on Saturday When it came to having him play in Buffalo’s preseason opener against the New York Giants, Cook declined as part of a contract standoff now reaching its first full week. Cook, the NFL’s co-leader with 16 touchdowns rushing last season, is conducting a “hold-in” by being with the team but refusing to practice in an escalating bid to secure a contract extension on the final year of his rookie deal. Cook made a surprise appearance on Saturday by taking the field during warmups, but come game time, he watched the game from the sideline.

Fitzgerald West and Jaelen Crider

“Just the overall focus and knowledge of the game not letting it catch me off guard,” Miller said. “We can get better at things like slide protection or a certain type of block. So it’s just all about the knowledge of the game, just getting more films, just don’t want anything to be a surprise.

“That’s where all my guys are from. We’re putting a lot of time in the film room and just making sure we’re not caught off guard by anything.” Thomas sees Miller’s veteran leadership in practice.

“With Jordan Lawson and Kadarius Miller, they both do it in different ways, but it’s more positive feedback from them,” Thomas said of the leadership skills. “It’s not so much of, ‘Get your butt going,’ or ‘Why you didn’t finish?’ It’s nothing like that.

“It’s putting their arms around them and letting the guys know, ‘Listen, you ain’t the first person to do it, and you won’t be the last, but this is what we need from you right now.’ ” Miller can already tell the second season under Salgado will provide a big boost. One of the biggest areas the unit is hoping to upgrade is the run defense after allowing 154.2 rushing yards per game last season

“This will be our second year in this defense, so we feel much more comfortable,” said Miller, who went from 12 to 24 tackles last season. “Mostly now it’s not like, ‘What should I do? Am I getting vertical or am I just playing a gap?’ So I think everybody knows their position and role. It’s all about focus, like I said, you know what you got to do, it’s all about just locking in and just executing it.”

Miller also has plans for being even nastier on the field.

“I kind of came to this conclusion of playing this side, you can’t really just be finesse,” he said. “You got to be a grimy, powerful, powerful kind of guy So that’s where I’m trying to take my game to this year — being just very disruptive. I have all the skills to be finesse, but I’m really trying to take my skill level to just be disruptive this year.”

In other words, Miller is convinced his defensive line can lead the Cajuns’ defense to even greater heights than last year’s 10-win campaign “We’ve got better depth,” he said. “Our second unit, third unit, and we even got some guys on our fourth unit making some plays. So it’s going to be very interesting to see who makes that surge until Aug. 30, but I know we definitely got some guys that’s on the third and fourth group that can make a surge to the second and first group.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

drill. The practices feel like a football version of a perpetual motion machine. On the most ambitious day of Saints training camp so far, the team ran 126 plays from scrimmage. But it’s just as evident when speaking to the players about the things that happen behind closed doors.

Between the end of practice and the first round of team meetings, Moore gives his players a lengthy break, often stretching out more than two hours. Though it’s been hard to nail down how this compares to other operations around the league, the general consensus is that the break is longer than what the players are traditionally used to The important thing is not the break itself, but what the players are doing with it.

“When we get done with practice, we’re all tired, you’re beat up, you might have something that is nagging you,” said offensive lineman Landon Young. “And it’s like, what better time to do it than right now?”

That window of time belongs to the players. It does not come with strict instructions from Moore and his staff for how it is to be spent. But the players are using the break in the schedule mainly for two things: Recovery and camaraderie.

“It forces you to recover,” Johnson said. “It treats us as pros like we’re supposed to be. We don’t have to go outsource the recovery; it’s all in house. I’ve even brought some of my own equipment in here to help some guys, like, ‘Look, this is what you can use so we can be great.’

“It’s been the best thing about it. Having guys in there, getting the opportunity to be in the cold tub and the recovery room and honestly (to) connect.”

Offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz, who missed four games with a knee injury last season, intuitively understood the purpose of that empty part of the schedule the moment he saw it.

“My job is to maximize that break and utilize that break and in a way be an example for the guys who are younger and don’t really understand what a routine is, or don’t have a routine,” Ruiz said. “If they’re just sitting around, it’s like, ‘Hey come get in the cold tub, come get some (cupping therapy), if anything’s bothering you, you can always work on something because it won’t hurt you.’”

The recovery side of things is important to consider, and it goes beyond the time allowed for players to work on their bodies after practice.

Last year, the Saints were among the most injured teams in football. Their long list of players who made a trip to injured reserve played a large part in the team collapsing to a 5-12 last-place finish in the NFC South New Orleans devoted significant attention to injury prevention this offseason, hiring Rath to oversee the team’s sports science department. While there is always some degree of luck involved, Rath has an impressive track record when it comes to getting

teams to the finish line relatively healthy

“There’s a lot of analytical information, it’s a lot of load management, a lot of assessment of each individual player,” said general manager Mickey Loomis. “It’s really a lot of things, a lot of variables But so far it’s been really really positive. (Rath has) had a good history of effective results in the places he’s been.”

Moore and Rath developed what could be called a stoplight schedule that is based on load management and building the players up to peak condition. There are red, yellow and green days on the schedule. Red days are recovery days, when players do little to no work. Green days are meant to be hard.

There are two clear benefits to this The first is that it is a scientific approach that does not put overt stress on players’ bodies or minds. To illustrate this point, Rath had an analogy.

“You unfortunately fall, you get a scrape, what happens? You develop a scab,” Rath said. “There’s a fine line between a scab and a callous. If you have a scab and you’re constantly picking the scab, what happens? It never heals.”

The Saints, therefore, are looking to callous the players. They gradually build, ease back then build again. Another way to think of it is progressive overload, allowing the body to adapt and acclimate to strain before testing it again. And the best part about that, Rath said, is that you can then push harder the next time you are scheduled to go hard.

It is the antithesis of the old-school approach, in which routinely tough practices supposedly beget tough players.

“When you continue to peck away at the same high load, high intensity, eventually something is going to break,” Rath said.

The second benefit of the stoplight schedule is a little more subtle, but the players and the assistant coaches have picked up on it — especially for the harder “green” days.

“It’s been awesome for the guys, because it’s clear,” said offensive line coach Brendan Nugent. “On days we’re going, we’re going.

That way you optimize the players’ work ethic, because they know it’s not just a suggestion on this type of day.”

Nugent said he first got the inkling that this sort of thing was coming when he was an assistant under Moore during their one year together with the Los Angeles Chargers Moore was still two years away from landing his first head coaching job then, but he’d already begun formulating a plan for how he’d run the show when he got his shot

Now that he’s gotten to see the plan in practice, Nugent said he’s bought in on Moore. And from the sound of it, he’s not alone.

“The approach of the staff taking care of players is the right approach, and I think everybody should follow it,” Godchaux said “The players have to stay healthy, because you can have great coaches, but if you don’t have great players you’re nothing without your players.”

Staff writer Matthew Paras contributed to this story

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

LSU

Continued from page 1C

generate running lanes for the running backs. Sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green failed to haul in a walk-in touchdown grab and was called for holding on what would’ve been a touchdown for senior wide receiver Zavion Thomas.

Even the new wrinkles offensive coordinator Joe Sloan tried to install before the scrimmage didn’t go as planned. The offense worked on a variety of plays involving sophomore running back/quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson throughout practice, in which Johnson would receive the direct snap. During those plays, Nussmeier would either line up at wide receiver or motion out to the perimeter

The Tigers also had a variation of the concept involving sophomore running back Caden Durham receiving the snap directly instead of Johnson. The offense ran a play with Johnson receiving the ball and Durham getting a snap against the first-team defense, but neither sequence turned into a substantial gain.

The most success the offense found in the red zone came when Nussmeier or Van Buren went under center When LSU went to those alignments, Durham had a touchdown run and Van Buren had a play-action touchdown pass to Green.

O-line highs and lows

LSU’s offensive line has struggled against the defense for much of camp as the Tigers attempt to replace three starters up front. However Saturday in some ways was a step in the right direction for the unit

In one-on-one drills against the defensive line, the offense won nine of the first 10 reps. Sophomore defensive tackle Dominick McKinley rushing past redshirt sophomore guard DJ Chester on the second rep against one another was the only time a first-team defensive lineman got the best of a first-team offensive lineman.

Standouts in the drill included Virginia Tech transfer center Braelin Moore, who appeared to dominate sophomore defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux on two reps. Northwestern transfer guard Josh Thompson took care of business against South Florida transfer defensive tackle and camp standout Bernard Gooden, defeating him twice Redshirt sophomore left tackle Tyree Adams also held his own versus redshirt freshman edge rusher CJ Jackson and sophomore edge rusher Gabriel Reliford.

Where matters became rocky for the line came during 11-on-11 scrimmaging toward the end of practice. Up front, the Tigers’ offense had numerous penalties during the full-team period as redshirt freshman Weston Davis, freshman Carius Curne (twice) and redshirt freshman Ory Williams were penalized for false starts.

The unit also had trouble containing the defense in the run game. On the last play of the scrimmage for both second-team units, redshirt freshman linebacker Tylen Singleton was able to break loose into the backfield and force a fumble from freshman running back Harlem Berry

Changes to running backs room

After his arrest on Friday and subsequent suspension, freshman running back JT Lindsey was not at practice on Saturday, leaving LSU with just three scholarship running backs (not including Johnson). His absence meant more carries for junior Kaleb Jackson and freshman Harlem Berry With relatively little room to run, Jackson had a quiet practice, but Berry had two strong runs during the scrimmage periods, even if the second run was called back due to holding.

Lindsey will remain suspended until his accessory charge is resolved, his attorney confirmed to The Advocate on Saturday Linebacker depth flashes

With junior Whit Weeks still working back from a broken fibula and dislocated ankle, LSU’s young corps of linebackers has been able to get on the field more, even during full-team scrimmages. And on Saturday, they took advantage of that extra time. Besides Singleton’s forced fumble, freshman Keylan Moses earned some reps with the first team during the final scrimmage period. Freshman CJ Jimcoily — who is playing at the Star position behind redshirt junior Harold Perkins — made an athletic pass breakup on a Nussmeier throw meant for fifth-year senior tight end Bauer Sharp.

The linebacking corps was a clear strength for the Tigers’ defense heading into the fall. Saturday proved that the unit isn’t just filled with stars, it’s also deep with young talent. Staff writer Wilson Alexander contributed to this report

2025 SCHEDULE

Sept. 4OPELOUSAS

Sept. 12 Sam Houston

Sept. 19 Notre Dame

Sept. 26 WESTGATE

Oct.3 COMEAUX

Oct.10 Rayne

Oct. 17 NORTH VERMILION

Nov. 7Northside

Home games in caps

PROJECTEDSTARTERS

Offense

Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl.

WR Nick Celestine *5-11 190 Sr

WR AndrewViator *5-10 160Sr.

WR Quinn Simon 6-0 185Sr.

TE A.J.Price 6-3190 Sr

TJack Mathews 6-2 265 Sr

GDrakePerry *6-2 305Sr.

CJoshua Burrows 5-10225 Sr

GColston Olivier 6-2 285 Sr

TThomas Cramer *6-3 250Sr.

QB Alex Munoz *5-10190 Sr

RB Cason Evans *5-8 175 Sr Defense

Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl.

DE Jack Snyder *6-4 200Sr.

DT Jude Smith6-0 235Jr.

DT LucasGuidry6-0 230Jr.

DE AndrewFruge *6-0 215Sr.

LB Seth Miller *6-0 190Sr.

LB Jaxon Broussard *5-10 205 Sr

LB Carter Macha *6-1 190Jr.

CB Kaden Chavis *5-9 160Jr.

CB Jacob Dean 5-10 170 Sr

FS Luke Hebert5-10 160 Jr.

SS Alec Castille 5-9 170 Sr

*Returning starter

COACHES

Head coach: Michael Courville (firstyear) Assistant coaches: Bart Vitte (defensivecoordinator, safeties), MikeRichard (OC/QB), RobbieRichard (OL), Kent Masson (RB), Dayton Landry(WR),Quinn Viator (TE),AndrewHebert(ILB), Mike Lemoine (OLB), Chuck Stout (DL), Dylan Langlinais(DB), Phil Ford.

PREP FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

TeurlingsCatholic

Teurlings Catholic defensiveleaders include, from left, AndrewFruge,Karter Deculus, Jaxon Broussard, Jack Snyder and Kaden Chavis.

What we know

Teurlings Catholic’soffensive line will once again be large and capable of physically dominating up front.

The group was so good lastyear that tackle Gresham Perry,now at Tulane, was the District 4-4A and All-MetroMVP.His younger brother,Drake, and tackle Thomas Cramer,who hasadded15pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame, are returning starters.

“I’mlooking forward to thempaving theway and fitting thekind of offense we wanttorun,” said first-year coach Michael Courville, whoreplaces Dane Charpentier “Wewant to run the ball right at you. We want to possess theball.”

There is impressive depthinthe backfield despite the loss of Douge Viltz, a 1,200-yard rusherwho graduated. Seniors CasonEvans,Ian Schwanderand EliDeBoisblanc will join juniorsJames Benoit andHudsonClavelleand sophomoreE.J Granger in awell-stocked running back room.

“Schwander andDeBoisblanchad really good summers andare coming on strong,” Courville said. “Clavelle is coming over from baseball. He’snever played football, but onceitclicks, Ithink people are going to notice. Granger has abright future. Towardthe endofthe season,you can expect to see (Granger) carry therock.”

QuarterbackAlexMunozwas efficient as ajunior,passing and rushing for atotal of more than 2,000 yards. He tossed 13 touchdownpasses and wasn’tintercepted until aquarterfinal loss to John Curtis.

“Alex is, first off, adynamic athlete,” Courville said.“He is akid who runs 4.5 (seconds) in the40-yard dash. He minimizes turnovers and is really smart with theball. He’scerebral and very much a coach’s kid.”

SeniorA.J. Price will make the move from quarterback to tight end, wherethe coaching staff is excited about the 6-foot3, 190-pounder’sability to make adifference.

Courville is also high on slot receiver

AndrewViator,who can power clean 225 pounds, describing thesenior as aprototypical Teurlings Catholic player What we don’tknow

Evans and Nick Celestine, an all-district receiver,are recovering from ACL injuries. Courvillesaid he feelsconfident abouttheir progress, but doesn’texpect the seniors to be fully recovered to start theseason.

“Both are great high school players,” Courville said. “Soit’show quickly can they feel confident in theirabilities and be 100%?I do feel both should be 100% and readytogobeforedistrict starts. Once they’reready,theyare athletes whocan hurt you.”

The Rebels are breaking in several defensive starters on theinterior and secondarywith position battles still in full swing. Andrew Fruge is oneofthe unit’s returning starters.

Potentialdefensive impact playersinclude end Jack Snyder,linebacker Seth Miller and cornerback Kaden Chavis, an elite baseball playerwho hit leadoff for theback-to-back state champs as asophomore.

Howwesee it

Courville, aformer Teurlings Catholic player,ismaking his debut as ahead coach after workingatCatholic-Baton Rouge and Carencro, where the Bears won astate title underhis father Tony’s tutelage.

Courville assembled astaff led by offensive coordinator MikeRichard, who has collegeexperience, andhighly respected BartVitte as defensive coordinator

The Rebels, whoare seeking their first championship game appearance, are expected to competeinDivision Ifor one more year.The LHSAA passedaninitiative that will place all Class4Aschools like Teurlings in Division II, but themeasure isn’texpected to go into effect until next year

MikeCoppage

SCOREBOARD

NICK CELESTINE

WR,5-11, 190, SR

Celestine, wholed theteam in receiving touchdownsand was second in yardage, was being recruited by Georgia Tech last summer. He hauled in a69-yardscoring strike against Notre Dame CASON EVANS

RB,5-8, 175, SR Evans’ past twoseasons have been cut shortbyinjury. While healthy as ajunior,he averaged 8yards per carry (six touchdowns) and 17 yardsper catch. He’sa home runthreat,reaching the end zone on everyseventh carry

JAXON BROUSSARD

LB,5-10, 205, SR

Athree-year starterinthe middle, Broussard is the perfect fittolead Vitte’s defense. Courville said the senior is reliable and hardnosed.The all-district pick, whorecorded over 100 tackles, bench presses 320 pounds and squatsnearly 500. ALEX MUNOZ

QB,5-10, 190, SR

The son of theULassociate head coach and tight ends coach JorgeMunoz showed tremendous accuracy in the passing game and rushed for 550 yardswith an averageof 6.3 yardsper carry

DRAKEPERRY

at

n Boston at San Diego, n Toronto at L.A. Dodgers, n Sunday’s games Cincinnati (Littell9-8) at Pittsburgh (Burrows1-4), 12:35p.m. Miami (Quantrill4-9) at Atlanta (Wentz 2-3), 12:35 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Manaea 1-1) at Milwaukee (Priester 11-2),1:10 p.m. Philadelphia (Wheeler 9-5) at Texas(Corbin 6-7), 1:35 p.m. Washington (Gore4-12)atSan Francisco (Verlander 1-8), 3:05 p.m. Boston (Bello 8-5)atSan Diego (Cease4-10), 3:10 p.m. Colorado (Gordon 2-4) at Arizona (Pfaadt 11-7), 3:10 p.m. Toronto (Lauer 7-2)atL.A. Dodgers (Yamamoto 10-7), 3:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 8-4)atSt. Louis (Gray10-5),6:10 p.m. Golf PGA Tour St. Jude Championship At TPC Southwind; Memphis, Tenn. Purse: $20 million; Yardage: 7,288; Par: 70 Thirdround TommyFleetwood 63-64-69—196 -14 Justin Rose 64-66-67—197 -13 Scottie Scheffler 67-66-65—198 -12

OL, 6-2, 305, SR Aleft guardonoffense, Perryhas also lined up at tackleondefense. He has a3.9 GPAand landed his firstscholarship offer from NorthwesternState in February. He’sthe younger brother of former Teurlings star Gresham Perry, nowatTulane. MikeCoppage

Sungjae Im 71-64-71—206 -4

MaverickMcNealy66-66-74—206 -4

J.T. Poston 70-69-67—206 -4 Matti Schmid 71-66-69—206 -4

Sam Burns 70-71-66—207 -3

Wyndham Clark 67-68-72—207 -3

Harris English 70-68-69—207 -3

MattFitzpatrick 67-71-69—207 -3

Brian Harman67-68-72—207 -3

Russell Henley 66-70-71—207 -3

Aaron Rai 70-69-68—207 -3

KevinYu71-67-69—207 -3

Cameron Davis 69-72-67—208 -2

Max Greyserman 70-69-69—208 -2

Hideki Matsuyama69-70-69—208 -2

Corey Conners 71-68-70—209 -1

Emiliano Grillo 69-69-71—209 -1

Viktor Hovland 74-68-67—209 -1

DennyMcCarthy70-67-72—209 -1

DavisRiley72-67-70—209 -1

PatrickRodgers 71-68-70—209 -1

Jordan Spieth 69-70-70—209 -1

Jason Day71-68-71—210 E Tony Finau 69-68-73—210 E Mackenzie Hughes71-69-70—210 E Stephan Jaeger 72-69-69—210 E Sam Stevens 71-70-69—210 E Nick Taylor 67-71-72—210 E Justin Thomas 68-72-70—210 E Keegan Bradley 72-70-69—211 +1

Brian Campbell 69-71-71—211 +1

Nicolas Echavarria 72-70-69—211 +1 Ryan Fox72-71-68—211 +1

Ryan Gerard70-69-73—212 +2

Joe Highsmith 69-74-69—212 +2

JakeKnapp 72-70-70—212 +2

Shane

Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’ssingles Round of 64 Holger Rune (7), Denmark,def. RomanSafiullin,Russia,7-5,7-6 (5). Alex Michelsen(28),United States,def. CorentinMoutet, France, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Arthur Rinderknech, France, def.Casper Ruud (11), Norway,6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2. BenjaminBonzi, France, def. LorenzoMusetti (8), Italy, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4) TommyPaul (13),United States, def. Pedro Martinez, Spain, 6-2, 6-2. Felix Auger-Aliassime (23),Canada,def. Tomas Martin Etcheverry,Argentina,6-2 7-6(3) Stefanos Tsitsipas (25),Greece, def.Fabian Marozsan, Hungary,7-6 (3), 6-2. Jannik Sinner (1), Italy, def. Daniel Elahi Galan, Colombia, 6-1, 6-1. Adrian Mannarino, France, def. Tomas Machac (19),Czechia,6-3,6-3 Gabriel Diallo (30),Canada,def. Sebastian Baez, Argentina, 7-5, 6-4. Ugo Humbert (20),France, def. Coleman Wong, Hong Kong, China, 6-3, 6-4. Women’s singles Round of 64 Marta Kostyuk(25),Ukraine,def. Tatjana Maria, Germany, 6-0, 6-1. IgaSwiatek(3),Poland, def. Anastasia Potapova,Russia,6-1,6-4 AoiIto, Japan, def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27),Russia,6-1,4-6,6-4 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Spain, def. Leylah Annie Fernandez(21),Canada,6-3,6-3. Sorana Cirstea, Romania, def. Magdalena Frech (22),Poland, 7-6(4),2-6,6-4 Madison Keys (6), United States,def.Eva Lys, Germany, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) TaylorTownsend, United States,def.Liudmila Samsonova (13),Russia,6-2, 6-4. Emma Raducanu (30),Britain,def.Olga Danilovic, Serbia, 6-3, 6-2. Maya Joint, Australia,def.BeatrizHaddad Maia (18),Brazil, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Ekaterina Alexandrova(12),Russia, def. Lulu Sun, New Zealand, 6-4, 6-2. Yuan Yue, China, def. Diana Shnaider(14) Russia, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

FromCarencro to Malaysia, Gregg Martinez is alatebloomer

Gregg Martinez’ssoulful voice has brought him from CarencrotoMalaysia and more than adozen countries in between. He stillhas Ivana Trump’shandwritten note of praise he received during his four years of performing exclusively at Trump casinos in the 1980s in Atlantic City Martinez hung out with superstarsinger Teddy Pendergrass and songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, architects of the “Philly Soul” sound who churned out 75 gold and platinum records in the 1970s and ’80s.

Herman Fuselier

Record executives were ready to make Martinez the next star.But the casino fast life and his south Louisiana roots just weren’tinthe groove.

“I squandered the whole thing,” said Martinez, who’s now aretired school bus driver living in Opelousas.“Iwas too busy partying and didn’ttake it seriously enough.

“I didn’tconnect withthe music so much. Iwas so Southern, and they weremore of the Philadelphia sound. Iwas 28, but Iwas ayoung 28. Iwas a late bloomer.” Martinez has bloomed intoa seasoned performer,hosting his “50th AnniversaryCareer Celebration” at 4p.m. Sunday at the Rock ’n’ Bowl in downtown Lafayette. He showsoff his self-described“powerhouse Louisiana soul” singing style, with flavors of R&B,blues and swamp pop.

Writtenin thestars LIVING

“It doesn’tfeel like 50 years,” Martinez, 69, said. “I don’t know how that even happened Everything just flew by.I’m not retiring. This is not aretirement party.”

The 50th anniversary also has Martinez reminiscing about his post-casino journey as aChristian singer with three albums. He became a noted speakerinananti-drug program that brought him to churches and schools throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. By 2006, Martinez was back in Louisiana, ready to singthe R&B and swamp pop he left behind. His “Big Bad Daddy” CD kicked off astream of adozen albums and times as lead singer

ä See MARTINEZ, page 4D

BY JOYHOLDEN

Staff writer

“In thegreat meteor shower of August, the Perseid, Iwail all day for the shooting stars Imiss.”

Annie Dillard, from “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek”

Poets andartists have long tried to capture thefleetingmajesty of astar streaking across thenight sky It’s aspectacle available to anyone —just look up. The dogdaysofsummer bring one of the best opportunities: the annualPerseid meteor shower from lateJuly through August People tendtoremember seeing ameteor

LikeKarla Coreil, who saw aspectacular shooting starin2014 while kayaking at night in theVieques bioluminescent bayinPuertoRico. The meteor streaked across the sky moments before afish leapt from the water and smacked her friend, Brad France, in the face. Both

Coreil and France liveinBaton Rouge. More than30yearshavepassed since Matt Jones, also of Baton Rouge, saw a spectacular showing of the Perseids in New Mexico.

“It wasreally something —like God with an Etch-A-Sketch,” he said. “Every few With

NEED AN APPROPRIATE STARGAZING PLAYLIST?

n DavidBowie’s “Space Oddity” n Elton John’s

“Rocket Man” n Frank Sinatra’s“Fly me to the Moon” n Madonna’s“Lucky Star” n VanMorrison’s “Moondance” n Kate Rusby’s “Underneath the Stars” n Coldplay’s“Yellow” n AudreyHepburn’s

“Moon River” n OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” n Bob Dylan’s “Shooting Star”

HOLLYWOOD SOUTH

AnthonyMackierevsupsecondseasonin‘TwistedMetal’

N.O. actorisalso nominatedfor twoEmmys

Leslie Cardé New Orleanian Anthony Mackie’s career is firing on all cylinders.Not only does he havehis ownCaptain America movie this year,“Captain America: Brave New World,” but his series “Twisted Metal,” of which he is both the star and executive producer, has just begun its second season on Peacock.

Additionally,he’s been nominated for apair of Emmys —one for Outstanding Daytime Personality on “Shark Beach withAnthony Mackie: Gulf Coast” and another for his guest turn on Apple TV+’s popular series “The Studio,” about the behind-the-scenes machinations of the Hollywood film industry

He’singood company withthat nomination, vying against Ron Howard, Bryan Cranstonand Dave Franco.

Mackie’s“Twisted Metal” series, which he oversees, isbased on avideo game releasedover 30 yearsago.

Mackie plays the lead as apizza deliverydriver sufferingfrom amnesiainapost-apocalyptic United States

There are alot of car chases, and actors are expected to become proficient behind thewheel. Although stunt coordinator Logan Holladay says Mackie drives like aprofessional, the actor credits his driving double Aaron Parker, who he says taught him to do figure-eightsaround cones.

Designingaworld

“You know,there wasnever really astoryline for ‘Twisted Metal,’ the video game,” Mackie said. “It was just abunch of weird characters driving around and

shooting at each other.You didn’t knowwho they were, or where they camefrom. So,wehad this incredible opportunity to design aworld aroundthese characters, fleshed out with backstories we invented.”

Mackie has described the series as an action/comedywith gore. Whatever the formula, it has been ahit with Generation Z, mostof whom were not even born when theoriginal video game was released.

ShowrunnerMichael Jonathan Smith describesthe show as “Mad Max” meets“The Simpsons” and sings thepraises of his co-executiveproducer

“Anthony is agreat collaborator,” saidSmith.“From thesecond hestepsonset,hebrings this vibrant energy andsets agreat tone, making jokes with thecast andcrew andputting everyone at ease.

“But, beyond that, we’ve both

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Aug. 10, the 222nd day of 2025. There are 143 days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On Aug. 10, 2020, apowerful derecho struck several Midwest U.S. states, causing four fatalities and an estimated $11 billion in damage, making it the costliest thunderstorm in modern U.S. history Also on this date: In 1792, during the French Revolution, mobs in Paris attacked the Tuileries Palace, where King Louis XVI resided. (The king was later arrested, put on trial for treason, and executed ) In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state admitted to the Union.

In 1945, aday after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Imperial Japan conveyed its willingness to surrender provided the status of EmperorHirohito remained unchanged. (The Allies responded the next day,saying theywould determine the Emperor’s future status.)

In 1969, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’scult, one day after actor Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.

In 1977, postal employee David Berkowitz was arrested in Yonkers, New York, accused of being “Son of Sam,” the gunman who killed six people and wounded seven others in the New York City area.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed ameasure providing $20,000 payments to still-living Japanese-Americans who were interned by their government during World WarII.

In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, serving until her death in September 2020 In 2006, British authori-

ties announced they had thwarted aterrorist plot to simultaneously blow up 10 aircraft headingtothe U.S. usingliquid explosives madetolook like soft drinks.

In 2018,Richard Russell, a29-year-old airline ground agent, stole acommercial plane from Sea-Tac InternationalAirportnear Seattle;heflew for 75 minutes, performing dangerous stuntswhile being chased by military jets before crashinginto aremoteisland in Puget Sound, killing himself

In 2019, Jeffrey Epstein, accused of orchestrating asex-traffickingring and sexually abusing dozensof underage girls, wasfound unresponsive in his cell at aNew York City jail; he was later pronounced dead at ahospital. (Thecity’s medicalexaminerruled the death asuicidebyhanging.)

Today’sbirthdays: Actor James Reynoldsis79. Rock singer-musician Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) is 78. Country musician Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) is 76.Singer Patti Austin is 75. Actor Daniel HughKelly is 73. Folk singer-songwriter Sam Baker is 71. Actor Rosanna Arquette is 66. Actor Antonio Banderas is65. Rock musician Jon Farriss (INXS)is64. Singer Julia Fordham is 63. Actor Chris Caldovino is 62. Singer Neneh Cherry is 61. Singer Aaron Hall is 61. Former boxer Riddick Bowe is 58. Actor Sean Blakemore is 58. R&B singer Lorraine Pearson (FiveStar) is 58. Singer-producer Michael Bivins is 57. Actor-writer Justin Therouxis54. Actor Angie Harmon is 53. Country singer Jennifer Hanson is 52. Actor JoAnna Garcia Swisheris46. SingerCary AnnHearst (Shovels & Rope) is 46. Actor Aaron Staton is 45. Actor Ryan Eggoldis41. Actor Lucas Till is 35. Reality TV star Kylie Jenner is 28. Actor Jeremy Maguire is 14.

agreed to make the comedy even bigger,and since Anthony loves physical comedy,we’ve thrown moreofthat intothis season’s show.It’sbeen great having him throw his support behind ‘Twisted Metal’ and believe in it.”

AWarrenEastongrad

The 46-year-old Mackie was born and raised in New Orleans theyoungest of six siblings, who went to Warren Easton High School.

It was there in his junior year that he starred as Edmund, the illegitimate sonofthe Earl of Gloucester in Shakespeare’s “King Lear.”

It was that play that he says propelled him intowanting to makeacting acareer

At theend of the play,ashis character is impaled in asword fight,three girls in theaudience screamed in anguish. Knowing he could have that ef-

fect on theatergoers cemented his desire to becomeathespian.

After graduation, Mackie headed for NewYork and the famed Juilliard School.

He performed there in aproduction aboutAmerican rapper Tupac Shakurcalled “UpAgainst theWind.”

Adirector came to see the play, was impressed with his performance, and introduced him to Curtis Hanson, whowas directing the movie “8 Mile” starring Eminem.

Mackie was hired forasmall part in what would becomehis first film.Originally just four lines, the part becameaugmented as Hanson kept building up his character

That film becamethe launchpad for asequence of supporting roles in great films like Oscar-winner “Million Dollar Baby” and the critically acclaimed film “The Hurt Locker” in 2009.

Mackie continued to work every year in popular filmslike “The Adjustment Bureau” with Matt Damon,and “Man on aLedge” with Sam Worthington. But he struck gold when the Marvel Cinematic Universe came calling in 2014.

Theroleofa lifetime

He had been lobbying forapart in “Black Panther.” Although he got acall from the producers, it turned out they had another role in mind forMackie.

Following ameeting in Los Angeles, he was offered the role of Sam Wilson, becoming the new Captain America in the role of alifetime in “Captain America: Civil War.”

Being asuperhero has its share of perks, particularly forthe four sons, ages 8-15, Mackie is raising in New Orleans along with his ex-wife.

“When you think of this theater kid from NewOrleans, it’svery different than being acelebrity in this pop culture time we live in now,” he recently told NBC’sWillie Geist.

In fact, his kids got to meet Thor,scoring big points fordad. But, the mostimportant thing to Mackie is being asuperhero dad, above and beyond being asuperhero forMarvel.

Speaking of superhero adventures, his next Marvel movie, shooting now,isslated forDecember 2026, when “Avengers: Doomsday” is set to release.

In the meantime, catch Mackie’sstarring role in “Twisted Metal,” currently streaming its first three episodes together on Peacock, with new ones dropping each Thursday night. Or,watch his guest-starring role in episode three of “The Studio” with Seth Rogen on Apple TV+.

The winner in his Emmy category will be awarded at the Primetime EmmysonSept. 14 on CBS.

Email Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail.com

Notsucha good sportatbaseballgame

Dear Miss Manners: When my husband and Iwent to aprofessional baseball game, part of our ticket package gave us access to aspecial club at thestadiumthat features alarge buffet

seatsinthe stadium were directly in thesun, so staying in the shaded club area overlooking the gameseemed like amore comfortable option than going to our seats.)

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

We got to theclub shortly after it opened, about an hour before thegame started, and alarge number of people were already there. There weren’t manyplaces left to sit,but we were able to find atall table with four chairs. After we’d finished eating, but were still enjoying our beverages and chatting, another couple came up and asked if we were saving the two other chairs for anyone. We responded that we were not, and they decided to join us.

Iwas alittle annoyed, since we’d made sure that we were at theclub in plenty of time to get thetable. But, as seats were at apremium, Ididn’t thinkthere was much Icould do.

My husband and Icontinued with our drinks, and occasionally got up to grab asnack. (I should notethat our

As theother couple wasfinishing up their meal, and Iwas hoping they’d be on their way,they greeted someoftheir friends and said, “Please, comejoin us.”

Iwas furious. Not only had the couple overstayed their welcomeat our table, but now they wereasking all of their friends to join them.

As four other chairs were pulled up, Ilooked at the womanand stated sarcastically,“No, please, by all means. Take my chair.Iwas just using it.”

Luckily my husbandand Iwere able to find another table (and we removed all extraneous chairs), but it took awhile. How would Miss Manners have handled the situation?

GentleReader: Youwould likely agree were Miss Manners to say that theclub’spolicy is first come, first served. Butinaworld with more people than tables, she does not agree that arriving early absolves you of any obligation to consider others. She mentionsthis because she

Supermarketthief

cannot help noticing that the second couple’sbehavior seemstohave changed: When they politely asked to join your table, you took offense. You do not mention if this showed in your behavior,but it seemslikely,asthe couple then neglected to consult you when their friends arrived —after which you actively insulted them

To answer your question: Miss Manners might have been disappointed that space was limited, but she would have behaved politely and shared the table —or, to put it in termsrelevant to the occasion, been agood sport about it.

Dear Miss Manners: Ihave an elderly friend whoisawidow.I truly love her,but she texts me too much: often four texts in arow,day after day How can Itell her in anice wayto stop?

Gentle Reader: By setting an example: Answer at your own pace.

Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite,www missmanners.com; to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO64106.

Nonperishablefood

Dear Heloise: M.W. writes that securing her purse in ashopping cart with thechild safetystraps works “unless they also take the cart.” When Iwas young (a good many years ago),Iwas holding my infant son and looking at greeting cards. Iturned around to discover that my cart was no longer behind me! We found it at the back of the market On this day,my husband (whowas elsewhere in the store) had not yet given me his cash as he usually did, and there were no credit cards. (This was along time ago.) So, thethief only got an empty wallet from asmall diaper bag, complete with adirty diaper.But since this day,Ihave never put my purse in the shopping cart Here are mysolutions to finding my wallet in my purse: Ieither use asmall cross-body or asling bag

that is easy to handle. If Ineed abigger purse, Ihave asmallcard case that holds just onecredit card in my pocket so Ican easily access it. Ialso once left my wallet on the shelf of apay phone (as Isaid, along time ago), so now Iuse astretch cord to fasten my wallet to my purse when Iuse abigger purse. Although Imake it apoint never to lay the wallet on the market counter,onoccasion Ineed two hands. But this way, I have never lost another wallet. —Leslie Ann, in Aiea, Hawaii Password idea

Dear Heloise: Ihaveanidea to help people with their passwords. Usean address as your password —but not your own address.

For example, Iuse the address of my first apartment, which was where Ilived nearly 20 years ago. Youcould use the address of where you grew up or where arelative lives. Just makesure no one else knows theaddress. —Jim S.,inHattiesburg,Mississippi

Dear Heloise: Idon’tknow where else to go foralist of nonperishable foods. My husband wants to stockpile additional supplies, and we need alist of foods that will last foralong time in storage. —Lorraine B.,inDubois,Wyoming Lorraine, you can simply type in “foods that last foralong time when stored” in the search bar of acomputer

Or you can check out this website: TasteofHome.com/article/longterm-food-storage-staples-that-lastforever/. Foods such as rice, dried beans, honey,salt and dried seaweed have been found in ancient burial sites and were still edible. (Not that you’d wanttoeat them!)

One key factor is where you’re storing these items. Acool, dry place is usually best, which rules out basements and attics. —Heloise Send ahinttoheloise@heloise.com.

AT THE TABLE

Sunday Dinner Guys cultivate community in 5 courses

Monthly theme meals bring together food enthusiasts

BY CATHERINE S COMEAUX Contributing writer

Stephen Rogers and Jason Stoner,

aka The Sunday Dinner Guys, are cultivating connection within the Duson foodie community one fivecourse meal at a time.

Sunday dinners at the RogersStoner house began as a family affair but have evolved into a monthly themed event with guests from the area.

The evenings unfold like domestic performance art, kicking off with Rogers shaking cocktails on the “kitchen stage” (backdropped by fabulously bright red cabinets), followed by a series of moving plates and a little dancing dog named Tico.

I was able to join in on July’s Midsommar Nordic dinner and came away inspired with a fabulous soup recipe to share.

Fizzy cocktails began the evening, followed by a cascade of light courses scattered variously with flowers, dill and “homemade lingonberries.”

Cool seafood dishes and a chilled pea soup led to the main course a warm peppery juniper-encrusted pork tenderloin. Though we remained in Duson, our taste buds traveled at a table lit by Aspen candles, until the final course of strawberry cream cake and Swedish coffee

We the guests, were all strangers — hailing from Lafayette and farflung Cossinade — but we connected at the table, breaking home-made rye bread together as conversation flowed from our mutual appreciation of well-made food.

The welcoming nature of the Rogers-Stoner home, combined with a well-put-together Nordic-themed tablescape, made it feel like eating with family in a foreign country, without all the baggage.

Sunday dinner themes are all over the map (and never repeated) but Rogers and Stoner rely heavily on local resources to fulfill the menus

As a partner in Foodies of Lafayette, an online hub for food enthusiasts, Stoner is well-connected to local food purveyors and often lauds their goods via social media, referring to them as part of the Sunday Dinner family June’s theme of “Hidden America” had a relatively easy-to-fulfill shopping list, but hosting a Nordic feast in south Louisiana required more strategy and a bit of outsourc-

ing Finding fresh lovage and lingonberries challenged Stoner’s foodie dedication to the pursuit of esoteric ingredients.

He ordered live lovage plants online but attempts to procure delicate fresh lingonberries were fruitless, so he made them.

Using lingonberry jam and agar agar, he created “jam pearls.” By candlelight they favored tiny rubyred berries and after sipping honey mead with the first three courses, I swore they were the real thing.

Preparation for Sunday dinners is a monthlong effort well-documented on the Sunday Dinner Guys social media page, with thousands of followers checking in on the process

The Guys, with a little bit of culinary matchmaking intuition, typically choose guests from the most avid of these followers.

They regularly post the tribulations and joys of putting it all together, assuring food enthusiasts that we are not alone in our dreams of elaborately creative meals, and encouraging us to follow through with them to bring people together at the table.

Martin’s

by

Pea & Lovage Soup found at BBCgoodfood.com.

7

1.

METEORS

Continued from page 1D

seconds, there were these long, bright lines in the sky. Sometimes there were two at a time.”

He happened to be in the middle of nowhere, and it was a new moon, so there was no ambient light to detract from the meteors racing across the dark sky. Jones pulled over to take in the Perseids’ incredible show for free.

Drive away from the city

If the skies cooperate, a similar show awaits next week closer to home.

Whether by chance or with careful planning, witnessing the Perseids usually means a late night or early morning. This year, the prime night for meteor watching will be Aug. 12 through the wee hours of Aug. 13.

For the planners, perhaps a late-night picnic is in order?

Blankets work better than most chairs for lying back. Simple finger foods like fruit, cheese, crackers and premade sandwiches work well. And, by all means, don’t forget the bug spray

For extra fun, make a skywatching playlist.

In the cities and towns of Louisiana, backyards are not the best for gazing upon the night sky so driving about 20 miles away from the lights of the city

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

It was really something — like God with an Etch-ASketch. Every few seconds, there were these long, bright lines in the sky.”

MATT JONES, of Baton Rouge, about a past Perseids meteor shower

works best.

A yellow fireball in the sky

Darkness is key for spotting the meteors, according to Christopher Kersey manager of the Highland Road Observatory He says the key to seeing the magic is simple: keep your eyes open.

Kersey remembers once seeing a bright yellow fireball during a celestial light show

“It looked like it just went right around the corner and just landed right there in St Gabriel,” he said. “Of course, it’s parallax, so it’s a wonky perspective, and it wasn’t that close.”

In other words it’s all about perspective, as the technical definition of “parallax” suggests (parallax means the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object).

For the sky-curious, the cosmic event is named for the northern sky constellation Perseus, which was catalogued in the second century by Ptolemy

“The meteors will be coming from the direction of Perseus, which currently doesn’t rise until after midnight,” says Colin Turley, an LSU instructor from the Department of Physics and Astronomy who has his Ph.D. in astrophysics. “This shower is associated with the comet SwiftTuttle, and under ideal conditions, an observer might see as many as 50-75 meteors an hour

streaking through the sky.”

The full moon on Aug. 9 means its waning gibbous phase may obscure fainter meteors. Still, bright ones will be visible under clear skies, said Turley Turley added that the times and dates for this shower are essentially the same no matter where you are in Louisiana, but light pollution is the biggest deterrent from seeing the meteors.

Whether sky gazers visit the Highland Road Observatory set off for a drive to a dark spot, or maybe even in a backyard, here are tips from the experts:

n Find a dark place to view the night sky

n Prepare to stay up past midnight.

n Keep your eyes open.

n Face west or northwest due to the waning gibbous moon present in the sky Aug. 12.

n You can talk as much as you want, no need to be quiet.

n Avoid looking at your phone.

n No flash photography

n Do not use a binocular or telescope because the meteor streaks go across the sky too fast, about 60 kilometers per second.

Places to watch for meteors

Baton Rouge has a light pollution problem, but Turley says that the levee, downriver from LSU’s campus toward St. Gabriel, should be a darker spot to watch for the meteors.

The Highland Road Observa-

tory a joint project between BREC, LSU and Baton Rouge Astronomical Society, will host a watch event with extended hours from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Aug. 12 for people ages six and older There is no admission fee. The telescope will be available from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Kersey says that on average, between 100 and 300 people attend the Perseid event to look for meteors. The numbers fluctuate from year to year depending on whether it’s a weekday or weekend, on weather conditions and what’s going on around town.

Kersey says the streaks occur in the region of the atmosphere called the thermosphere — about 80 to 120 kilometers above the ground.

“We have a white light ban,” Kersey said. “Since white light is a combination of all colors of rainbow, we want people’s pupils to be open as widely as possible. So no flash photography.”

Kersey also says that many pieces of rocky debris from outer space pulled into our atmosphere by gravity just burn up and don’t land at all.

For rules and requirements for the event at the Highland Road Observatory, visit hrpo. lsu.edu/perseid-meteor-shower

Louisiana culture editor Jan Risher contributed to this report. Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@theadvocate.com.

to keep fresh air in circulation, and during the cold months a modern steam heat system will keep the house at an even comfortable temperature.”

The walls were painted in neutral colors so they wouldn’t distract from the movie screen, and the theater’s simply designed chairs were made of steel and mahogany upholstered in “real Spanish leather.”

MARTINEZ

Continued from page 1D the corner lot now occupied by the Baton Rouge Police Department. It was demolished in 1979. Cue the soundtrack: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot .” Because, really, for a lot of movie fans, that’s exactly what happened. Even movie critic, screenwriter and actor Rex Reed, in a 2012 interview with The Advocate, recalled spending his Baton Rouge childhood Saturday afternoons sitting in front of the Paramount’s big screen, then walking across the street to eat at Piccadilly afterward.

So, it’s understandable that the palatial venue overshadowed the smaller Louisiana Theatre down the street. The Paramount Co. even bought out the old 1913 movie house at one point. Still, there’s irony in the fact that the more modest Louisiana Theatre is the one still standing with “1913” and “Louisiana” engraved in its facade.

Considered state of the art when it first opened boasting modern features as its own electrical generator and ventilation system, the building is still popular these days as home to the Basin Music Room. The New Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge, in a July 18, 1913, feature story preceding the Louisiana Theatre’s grand opening, states, “Most picture shows are remodeled store buildings. This

The Louisiana Theatre is now home to the Basin

building still has its opening year, 1913, and original name, ‘Louisiana,’ engraved in its facade.

one is an imposing structure designed and built specifically as a picture theatre.”

This statement is true. Some may argue that the Elks Theatre, which stood at 318 Third St., also showed movies. That’s also true, but it was built as a venue for live theater, and its foray into cinema didn’t begin until 1916 with a run of the now controversial “Birth of a Nation.”

The Elks burned in 1923, but its stage played a role in the legacy

of community theaters in Baton Rouge — eventually leading to the formation of the Baton Rouge Little Theater in 1946, whose name was later changed to Theatre Baton Rouge, which closed earlier this year Meanwhile, the Louisiana Theatre was specifically designed with moviegoers in mind. Its ventilation system was designed to draw heat upward and outward, and in hot weather the article states, “electric fans will be used

“The Louisiana will be operated by its own electric generating plant,” the article states. “This will furnish current in abundance to ensure perfect clearness of the pictures Simplex projectors, the last word in picture machines, will be used in this new house. They are equipped with lenses made especially for this theatre on account of its long throw.”

The Louisiana Theatre was managed by P.E. Coe and built by Jason A. Petty, who had offices in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge. And though the theater opened before talkies knocked out silent films, the Louisiana adapted. It closed its doors in 1954, which allowed plenty of time for it to introduce patrons to the likes of Clark Gable and maybe even Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” And lots of Hollywood magic in between.

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

of the legendary Boogie Kings. The praise continued when Ed Bradley of “60 Minutes” fame grabbed Martinez backstage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to say, “You are one of the best-kept secrets in this country.” Martinez sang at the funeral of soul great Percy Sledge.

Martinez remains a festival performer and continues to record songs, along with video performances. A cover of Donny Hathaway’s “A Song for You” was released Aug. 1 on YouTube.

Nola Blue Records has put out his original song and video, “Streets of New Orleans,” which marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Martinez’s hopes and dreams are now far removed from Atlantic City “I have a strong faith,” he says. “I spend every morning with my prayer time. I don’t pray for the same things anymore. I just pray for God to create opportunities to sing that I never dreamed of — and just see what happens.”

Herman Fuselier is a writer, broadcaster and tourism director living in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” radio show airs at noon

TRAVEL

Discoveruniquestories at thesehiddengem museums

Staff report

We surveyed our editorialstaff, asking for their thoughts on underrated museums acrossLouisiana— and they delivered.Enjoy the first installment of recommendations below:

Wedell-WilliamsAviation& CypressSawmill Museum, Patterson

118 Cotten Road, Patterson

Located in Patterson in St Mary Parish, about 90 minutes southwest of New Orleans, the Wedell Williams Aviation Museum tells the story of Jimmy Wedell, afearless barnstormer,and Harry Williams, heir to awealthy cypress mill-owning family

The men teamed up in the late 1920s, at atime when tiny Patterson barely had paved roads, to build some of the fastest airplanes in the world.

The planes built by thecompany they founded broke many world records. They also provided the first commercial flights between New Orleans andHouston. Alas, both died in separate plane crashes in the 1930s, about thesame time Patterson lost its prominence as aregional aviation hub thanks to the new Shushan AirportinNew Orleans. But what afascinating and largely forgotten piece of Louisianahistory —Stephanie Riegel Biedenharn Museum and Gardens,Monroe

2000 Riverside Drive, Monroe

The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens is asmall complex, but that doesn’tmake it less fascinating. Joseph A. Biedenharn, the firstbottler of Coca-Cola, built his home in Monroe. In 2008, the Coke Museum opened and showcases two exhibit rooms full of Coca-Cola memorabilia and historical items. Also at the Bienharm Museum is the Bible Museum —for Christians, authors, book fans, collectors and historians.

Emy-Lou Biedenharn was inspired by an 1854 facsimile of the Wycliffe Bible to begin a Bible collection. Today,the col-

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

lection features an original 1611 King James Bible, art Bibles and apage from the 1454-55 GutenbergBible. “The collection celebrates the contribution of the Bible and biblical literaturetothe enrichment

of Western Civilization; the Bible Museum exhibits demonstrate theimportance of the Bible in American culture,” the museum’swebsite states.

There’smuchmoretoexplore at the museum. —Will Sutton

AbitaMystery House, Abita Springs

22275 La. 36, Abita Springs Is it amuseum, aroadside attraction, an artinstallation or maybe allofthe above bundled together? Perhaps that is the mystery of the Abita Mystery House

Also known as the UCM Museum, the mystery house was founded by JohnPreble,whose motto is: “One man’strash is anotherman’s treasure.” The attractionislocated in the center of the historic districtonthe Tammany Trace bicycle trail. It’sa folk artenvironment with thousands of found objects and homemade inventions. Some of the attractions areold arcade machines, avintage service station, a100-year-old Louisiana Creolecottage andthe House of Shards. —Ian McNulty

EddieG.RobinsonMuseum, GramblingUniversitycampus

126 Jones St., Grambling

For college football fans, the Eddie G. Robinson Museum at Grambling University looks at the lifeand legacy of the winningest coach in NCAA Division Ihistory

After learning about Robinson’s football career and personal philosophy,some visitors are left with asense of awe.

Robinson coached at Grambling from 1941 to 1997, accruing 408 wins, 45 winning seasons, 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships and nine Black college football national championship victories. Over 200 of his players went on to play professional football. Someofthe exhibits include recreations of Robinson’soffice, the football team’slocker,a“Hall of Honors” and aroom with professional football jerseys from notable Grambling alumni. There’s even footage of the national commercial spots that Robinson starred in. For those whowent to HBCUs, as well as forthose whodidn’t, there’ssomething to learn about this coach. —Arnessa Garrett

JetBlueloses suitcase containing weddinggown, meds

JetBlue lost my all-important bagfor 43 days as Ileft on my 50th anniversarytripto Greece with my children and grandchildren

The bag contained necessarymedications forour 30-daystayalong with my hearing aids, clothes, wedding dress for my vow renewaland heirloom items for the ceremony.

Christopher Elliott

The loss of this bag caused extreme stress and ruined whatwas supposed to be theepic trip of alifetime. My husband calledalmost everyday and sent 26 emails through their messageboard.

JetBlue has offered $181, and that doesn’teven cover the clothes and medications (not all were able to be filled) we had to scramble to find before our cruise.Can

you please help?— Jean Michielli-Pendl, Dunkirk, N.Y JetBlueshould have found your lost luggage quickly and returned it. Whydidn’tit? Ican see that you had abusy itinerary in Greece. Based on your correspondencewith JetBlue, it looks like the airline had ahard time coordinatingadelivery.

Still, JetBlue offered you only $181, which did not even cover thecosts of theclothes and medicationsthat you hadtopurchase while you wereinGreece. It should have done better Your right to arefund is outlined in the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that established rules and limits regardingairline liabilityfor baggage.

When dealing withaloss on an international flight,you’ll want to refer directly to the convention textifyou think your airline isn’t compensatingyou appropriately

Article 22 of the convention sets theliability limit for damages associated withdelayed passenger baggage at about $1,700. JetBlue’s offer was well below that.

Yousay that the loss of thebag caused extreme stress and ruined your trip,and that you are seeking reimbursement for the $2,445 you spent trying to survive in Greece for amonth. Youprovided adetailed timeline of your communications withJetBlue, which included requests for the bag to be delivered to your hotel in Athens and then later to your home.

JetBlue asked you to submit receiptsfor your out-of-pocket expenses and you also provided a list of the contents of the bag. So what went wrong?

You’ve repeatedlymentioned that losing the bag caused you distress. Unfortunately,there’sno provision in the Montreal Convention for pain and suffering. You also mentioned that you lost an heirloom —your wedding dress. Airlines often exclude itemslike heirlooms from their liability which may have caused some confusion during your claims process.And never,ever check essential medications or hearing aids. Always put those in your carry-on luggage. Ihave moreon luggage reimbursement in my

free guide to finding your lost luggage. Youmight have appealed this to one of the executive contacts at JetBlue. Ipublish the names, numbers and email addresses of the JetBlue customer service managers on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. Icontacted JetBlue on your behalf.The airline agreed to review your claim and revised its offer It offered you an additional $900 with a$400 JetBlue credit.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

Author offers newinsight into Elvis’ manager

Book divesinto relationship with ColonelParker

BY BARBARA SIMS Contributing writer

“The Colonel and the King”byPeter Guralnick; Little, Brown and Company;624 pages

When Colonel TomParker approached Sam Phillips in 1955 with aproposal to arrange arecording contract for alittle-known, but promising singer named Elvis Presley,Phillips was not only exasperated with the man’snerve, he was indeed insulted. Phillips responded with something like, “He records for me, Sun Records, and he’snot for sale!” Phillips had already released five singles by Presley that had gained some regional success, but it was the fanatical response to Presley’s in-person shows at the LouisianaHayride andsmall venues in the area that had so impressed the Colonel. Never one to give up, ultimately Parker told Phillips to name his price and was told $35,000. Never before had amusician’scontract been sold for such alarge sum. But the Colonel had made adeal that Steve Sholes at RCA in Nashville could accept, and in January 1956, RCA introduced theirfirst Presley recording, “Hound Dog,” and thus an entertainer the likes of which the world had never seen was launched. It placed No. 1onthe Billboard Top100 and also No. 1onits Country &Western chart, both for months. With this explanation of how thePresley-Parker relationship began, Parker’spersonal and professional life story,and it’s along and amazingone, can begin. As a young teenager,Dreis van Kuijik stowed away on aship leaving his native Holland and ended up in New Jersey for anew life. Soon after arriving, the futureColonel found an ideal (for him) job with acircus.

He was fortunate to be taken in by aDutch family in New Jersey, but soon he headed west, spending several months as ahobo working his way to Los Angeles. There, he worked briefly with the Aimee Semple McPherson evangelistic temple, learning some of the tricks of promotion thatwouldserve himwellinshow

business.

Soon, though, he was again on theroad,ending up in Huntington,West Virginia, where he was befriended by afamily named Parker thatallowed him to work with their pony ride concession in asmall circus.

When he moved on again, he began identifying himselfasTom Parker,contending that the Parker familyhad adopted him, thus providing him with his new name. Inventing adate of birth in Huntington, he established himself, in time,asanAmerican citizen by registering with Social Security and later serving inthe military

Thetitle of Colonel came much later,bestowed upon him by Louisiana Gov.Jimmie Davis

Upon receiving amedical discharge from the military (depression according to the Army,a knee injury according to Parker), thefuture Colonel was again working as an advance man with acircus, next for atour of then-

singing star Gene Austin, and later as head of the Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough CountyHumane Society.Guralnick provides quotes from newspapers and employers attesting to his impressive performance as apromoter with all three ventures

Moving to themanager/promoter role for various Grand Ole Opry acts, he had outstanding success in helping Eddy Arnold become theacknowledged No. 1country act of his day.Parker also launched asuccessfulpromotion of another country singer, Hank Snow

With this background established, Guralnick launches into thestory thebook’stitle promises,“The Colonel and theKing.” Guralnick devotes approximately half of this 624-page book to discussing the character of Colonel Parker,especially as related to theshaping of Elvis’ career,and theother half to Parker’sletters and commentary on their context.

The letters tell muchabout thepromoter’s inner as well as professional life,but the most interesting ones are to Presley andhis parents. These reveal the role he played as adviser,almost afather figure, always showing concern for his client’swelfare and the importance of goodchoices in his career as well as his personal and financiallife.

Guralnick brings adepth of knowledge of Presley from his previous publication of atwovolume biography of Presley and abiography of Sun Records founder Phillips. Upon Presley’srelease from his Sun contract,the first major effort was the famous “Hound Dog” recording sessions at the Nashville studiosofRCA. Next came roadbookings and media appearances, for whichColonel had all the right contacts. The most memorable of Presley’sinitialintroductions to a wide audienceishis famous debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which setoff anational debate about Presley’sanimated performance, whichmany decried aslewd andnot suitable for TV Presley’sstardom, demontrated by the near-riots of his ans during his live shows and heresulting deluge of publicty, meant it wastime forHolywood. Hisfirst movie, “Love Me Tener,” was quickly completed and eleased in 1956. In the same ear,Presley made his Las Veas debut as an add-on to ashow by other performers. Movies and recording consumed most of his time until 1968, with atotal of 31 movies,mostofthem less than memorable. By thetime his final film was shot in 1969, Presley wasfed up withthe movies andwanted to refocusonsinging. His comeback TV special at Christmastime 1968 signaled his return to live performingand resumption of the “hillbilly cat”identity with which his career began.

The next phase of Presley’scareer began immediately when the Colonel set him up for aheadline show at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.Itwas adifficult schedule —two shows aday,seven days aweek.Taking abreak now and then, he made occasional one-nighters, which were becoming more andmoreattractive to Presley

As theletters show,during the entire time with Presley from 1956, Parkerhad juggled the negotiations forcontracts, sched-

LSUgavepoetStanley Plumly agreat boost

In 1968, young Stanley Plumly came to LSU’sBaton Rouge campus to teach creative writing. He stayed only a couple of years, but the connection changed his life. LSU Press published two of Plumly’searly poetry books, “In the OuterDark” and “Giraffe,” attracting critical acclaim. Numerous collections followed. Then came along and distinguished academic career including many years as a professor at the University of Maryland. Meanwhile, Plumly’s stature as apoet continuedto grow When Plumly died in 2019 at 79, the world of letters took note, with The New York Times rememberinghim as apoet

who used richlanguage imbued with precise syntax in 11 volumes of poetry that often touched on aspects of his life, including growing up poor in rural Ohio; his alcoholic father,who became amuse; and the polio epidemic thatstrucksome of his classmates after World WarII.” Now,his legacy is getting renewed attention with “Collected Poems ofStanley Plumly,” recently publishedbyW.W Norton. This beautiful volume, supportedbya major trade publisher, is atestamenttoPlumly’s reputation asa stellartalent. In

an introduction, poet David Baker considers howPlumly’stime at LSU, where literarygeniuses Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren once held sway,might have influenced his poems. It’saninteresting question, although Plumly’sfavorite literary hero was amuchearlier figure,the 19th-century English poet JohnKeats. Plumly didn’t write likeKeats, whose period language,ifvoiced by modern bards, would seem like astrange riff on aJaneAustennovel

But Keats, who diedat25, gave Plumly an enduring sense of the quickness of life— andhow often beauty andfleetingness keep close company That sensibility ledPlumly to write more than afew poems about backyard birds, whose momentary presencenudgesus to stop and payattention. In a lovely poem called“Chickadee,” Plumly writes of these tiny,tux-

edoed birds with “their feathers fluffed,each of them so small Icould wrap one /inmyfist to keep it warm, alive, then suddenlygone.”

This wasone of Plumly’slast poems, and it can be read as a reflection on mortality as well as acelebration of wonder

An author photo on the back of “Collected Poems” shows an elderly Plumly at his typewriter, aholdoutinacomputer culture. He apparently liked the physical sensation this gave his work —a nod, perhaps, to his father’sskill with tools.

“Towatch him with an axe or hammer, the way his right hand swallowed the handle, was to be impressed,” Plumly writes in “Extremities,” along prose poem. Plumly recalls with affection working with his father on their “half-built house,” which was always awork in progress, prone

uling, song selectionwhen it involvedboththe movies and RCA, marketing, promotion and other aspectsofthe career of someone of the caliberand celebrity of Presley. Forall this, Colonel receiveduptoa50% draw for his various services.Presley wasa great moneymaker,not just for himself andhis manager,but for allthose with whom Parker negotiateddeals.

By the early ’70s,Presley was showing signs of disintegration. His heavy use of drugs was certainly afactor. Wife Priscilla Presleyhad left him. Those who had seen him early in his Las Vegas stint were concerned upon returning later to note the decline in the spirit andfun of his performance. Aftera seven-year run, his Vegas days ended.

Although he indicated he wanted to resume touring, there were signs thatPresleywas reluctant to commithimself to performances thatColonel was poised to arrange Presleywas spending more and more time in Memphis with the cadre of friends who constantly surroundedhim. Nicknamed “The Memphis Mafia,” they enjoyedPresley’scompany and the lifestyle they gained being with him.

Though Guralnickisnot one to assign blame, he suggests that Presley’sfriends were driving awedge between Colonel and Presley. Rumors that were false but nevertheless were widely circulated were asource of distrust that was seeping into the long relationships the two had, forthe most part, enjoyed.

In 1973, it seemed inevitable that abreakup with Colonelwas coming because Presley neither accepted norreturned his calls andmessages.

Aconfrontation between Presleyand Colonelfinally addressed this issue,and Presley got to continue one-night bookings on a limitedbasis. Presley and Colonel remained friends, and Presley continuedworking almost until his death in 1977. In considering allthe evidence, Guralnick concludes that the unflattering persona of Colonel Parkerthatisheld by many people is largely undeserved. His careful study of Colonel’sdealings with the stars he managed revealed to him no signs of neglect or exploitation.

True, he hadassumeda name andidentity otherthanthe onehe wasborn with, but isn’tthatwhat alot of performers do? That’s showbiz!

to addition and elaboration. As apoet, Plumly had the same passion to get things right. “Collected Poems” is an enduring monument to his craft.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@ dannyheitman.com

“Caught Up” by Navessa Allen 4. “All theColors of theDark” by Chris Whitaker 5. “LightsOut”byNavessa Allen 6. “The Tenant”byFreidaMcFadden 7. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby VanPelt 8. “FourthWing” by Rebecca Yarros

“IronFlame”byRebecca Yarros

TALKING BUSINESS Agencyseeksto strengthen state’sworkforce with one-stop initiative 3E Louisiana is set to see more Gulf oil revenue 5E

ground up From the

Some Louisianabuilders arefortifyingmorethanjust roofsinhopes of lowering home insurancecosts

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

IDEAS INNOVATION

The Rising Oaks subdivision construction site in Terrytown was buzzing with activity on arecent Thursdaymorning. Under ablazing sun, workers swarmed aroundeightmidcentury-modern-style houses underconstructionina neighborhoodthatmay eventually grow to 150 homes. Some workers were usinga giant crane to unload stacks of drywallpanels. Others were installing layers of waterproof material on aroof in anticipation of afternoon showers.

&

The Rising Oakshouses are athrowback to 1960s

design,but under their shingles and behind their walls theyfeature constructiontechniques and materials that are verymuch of the moment,all designed to makethe homes more resilient during extreme weather.Each house has multiple water barriers on theroof,metal connections bolstering thewood framing, impact-resistant windows and morewindproofing measures.

The project is an example of how five years after fourhurricanes smashed through south Louisiana —causing billions in damage and spiking insurance rates —stricter building codes,new technology and the insurance industry’svoluntary “Fortified” homes building program arechanging the way somehomes get built in thestate.

What’snot clear is if projects like Rising Oaks are asign that every builder in the state is going all in on construction methods that couldmake south Louisiana saferduring storms, bringing down insurance rates in the process. So far,most of the developers who areadopting these super-strong “gold” methods are nonprofits —like Habitat for Humanity,Rising Oaks’ developer —that qualify for subsidies and, in general, are building affordable or workforce housing.

Getting the private sector to consistently build better,stronger homes —and at scale— depends on whether developers follow stricter new state buildingcodes andconsumers show willingness to spendmore money up front to potentially save in the long run.

Frustrations

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

TimWilliamson has spent decades talking up the entrepreneurial promise of New Orleans. In 2000, he co-founded Idea Village, abusinessincubator that helped create alocal startupculture and gave early supporttosome of the city’smostsuccessfultech founders. More recently,he’sbeen promoting The Nieux, avenue on St. Charles Avenue that seeks to connect entrepreneurs with opportunity. So it struckachordwhen

Williamson, ever the optimist, took to Substackrecently andposted that he was “sounding the alarm” aboutthe challenges of living and starting abusiness in New Orleans. “For founders with families tryingto buildinNew Orleans —the math doesn’t work,” he wrote. Housing costs, sky-high insurance rates, school tuitionand ever-present infrastructure issues are all making entrepreneurship “financially impossible in practice.”

“Unless we do something, we’re going to lose thevery peoplewho make this city’s

future worthinvesting in,” he said. The missive served as thelatest rallying cry from along-frustrated business communitythat says New Orleans needs to do something —and fast —todiversify itseconomy,attract andretaintalentand halt an exodus of businesses from thecity

It arrived as local civic leaders areexpressing a renewed sense of urgency as the city prepares to elect anew mayor.Some of New Orleans’ most prominent

ä See LIVING, page 2E

“More resilient housing can address the insurance crisis, but you need the stakeholders all aligned: insurance companies, housing developers, the state and the homeowners,” said Will Cotten, of general contractor RNGD, which is driving pilings for a new development on the Lafitte Greenway for Providence Community Housing Going for gold

The Rising Oaks homes are being built to “Fortified Gold” specifications, a designation created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, an industry nonprofit that promotes resilient building standards to prevent damage during extreme weather events and reduce claims.

Many in south Louisiana have heard of the group’s Fortified roof standards because of a state grant program that has provided $10,000 checks to help offset the cost of the more expensive roof option for more than 3,600 homeowners. The Fortified Silver and Gold designations, less common, expand the resilience to the entire structure.

Homebuilders that “go for gold,” so to speak, use various methods to harden a structure against high winds, depending on the type of home and location. Walls and framing are rigidly bolted to the foundation. Metal straps are used to connect the walls to the ceiling. Special windows, with plastic layers in between panes of glass, prevent debris from penetrating a home’s envelope

“All that goes into making the homes more robust and more rigid, so it’s highly unlikely we’ll see minor roof tearoff and other damage in a typical storm,” said Brady Garrity one of the architects at Rising Oaks.

About 80,000 homes across 32 states now have some kind of Fortified designations, more than half of those in Alabama, according to the Insurance Institute. An industry study released in May showed that, after Hurricane Sally in 2020, Fortified homes in that state had far fewer claims than their counterparts.

The number of Fortified designations in Louisiana is smaller but certainly bigger than it was a couple of years ago. The Insurance Institute said there are more than 8,000 Fortified roofs in Louisiana and more than 1,000 homes with a gold designation. The state also has over 200 Fortified multifamily buildings to date.

“It’s not surprising that roof designations are far outpacing gold, given the much larger existing home stock to be retrofitted,” said Fred Malik, the program’s managing director “We expect gold designations to grow steadily as Louisiana contractors become

LIVING

Continued from page 1E

leaders say they’re having conversations on the subject almost daily and that this time, things feel different.

“I hear it in every boardroom and meeting I walk into,” said Greg Rusovich, CEO of Transoceanic Development and a longtime civic leader “It’s all anybody talks about.”

‘Have to be practical’

GNO Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht said the perception that the business community is on edge and desperate for solutions to the gnawing problem of affordability is very real.

“I hear it in my role as economic development leader-slash-therapist,” he said. “I hear a lot of people’s hopes and frustrations.” Williamson said he penned his

more familiar with the program’s requirements and documentation process.”

‘Proving this out’ For now mostly nonprofit developers are seeking Fortified Gold certification

In addition to Habitat’s Rising Oaks, New Orleans-based Colmex Construction just completed 17 gold single-family homes for two different nonprofit clients in Gray, Louisiana.

RNGD is constructing 45 single-family homes for Providence along a two-block stretch on the Greenway And People’s Housing Plus recently completed four gold homes in New Orleans East that also have stormwater gardens and French drains to control flooding.

from insurance deductibles and potential casualty losses makes it “very advantageous.”

Creating a tension

“As people realize insurance is half the rate, maybe there will be more of a market for Fortified Gold.”

COLIN FELSMAN, People’s Housing Plus director of housing development

“We like to think of these houses as beautiful tanks,” said Colin Felsman, People’s Housing Plus director of housing development. Providence communications director Lori Wilken said though there is an upfront cost to building to higher standards, the savings

post after learning that a longtime friend and successful local startup founder is packing up for a place with lower insurance rates and better public schools because, quite simply, he can’t afford to live here with a family and a house.

“It was a like a gut punch when he told me,” Williamson said by phone Monday morning. “What struck me was that all the work we’ve done will be for naught if we don’t figure out how to keep people here.”

Williamson isn’t alone. Hotel broker and developer Lenny Wormser has also been putting his ideas on paper, sharing them with anyone who will listen. He’s so frustrated with the local business climate he considered a long-shot bid for mayor until his children threatened to disown him.

Like Williamson, Wormser has long put his faith in New Orleans and was president of the Young Leadership Council in the early 1990s, when it launched its signature “Proud to Call it Home” campaign

These days, he’s concerned, among other things, about red tape at City Hall that slows the permit-

The private sector on the other hand, isn’t fully on board, in large part because of the added expense of building to Fortified standards. For one thing, better building materials cost more, at least 15% according to industry estimates. Local luxury homebuilders say clients often opt for Fortified roofs, but rarely build an entire home to Fortified Silver or Gold standards because installing wind-resistant windows and doors on a large, new, high-end home is prohibitively expensive. Labor costs are higher, too, because there’s a shortage of qualified builders and certified evaluators, who must sign off on the projects to ensure they meet regulations.

Additionally, building a home to Fortified standards makes life more complicated for contractors, who have to document many stages of construction using a

ting process and zoning issues that he says hinder development.

“The City Council spends 90% of its time on property issues and variances,” he said. “I get that people don’t ever want anything to change. But we have to be practical.”

Longtime arts supporter and public relations executive Jeanne Nathan has been equally vocal, though about addressing a different facet of the local economy — the creative industries. She’s been working on a plan with support from the Downtown Development District and recently hosted a panel at the Contemporary Arts Center to discuss ways to make it easier for artists and musicians to live here and create an industry around them.

“We must recognize the power of our creative human assets and our century-old branding as a seminal, influential creative force and build on it as never before,” a draft of Nathan’s plan says. Mayoral candidates are taking notice.

At a forum Tuesday sponsored by the Young Leadership Council, City Council member Helena Moreno acknowledged housing

small group of evaluators that is stretched thin.

“The documentation has to happen at very specific moments,” Felsman said. “This creates tension with the contractors, who want to work fast.”

So what can be done?

Experts say part of the key to getting the private sector to build to Fortified standards is to increase awareness of the long-term savings that come from building a better house. The insurance quotes for one of the new 1,350-squarefoot houses that People’s Housing Plus just completed came in between $1,600 to $1,800 year, according to Felsman.

“That’s at least half the price for a normal house that size,” he said. “As people realize insurance is half the rate, maybe there will be more of a market for Fortified Gold.”

Dan Mills, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, said it’s also important to note that Louisiana updated its building code in 2023, enacting tougher new regulations that are

affordability is one of the reasons people are moving out of the city, saying, “New Orleans is at a tipping point.” City Council member Oliver Thomas said he believes it’s important “to create an economic foundation in this community that builds on entrepreneurial plans and grows our middle class.”

State Sen. Royce Duplessis, DNew Orleans, said it’s important to keep young professionals in the city and engaged, challenging them with the question, “Are you going to be a part of changing the narrative?”

Improvements to build on Hecht said it isn’t all doom and gloom though, and there are tangible wins that residents should look to for hope.

The NOLA Coalition, for one, was formed three years ago, when the city’s crime rate was climbing to alarming levels not seen in two decades. In the years since, in part because of the coalition’s efforts to bring in a new police chief and push for other public safety reforms, violent crime is significantly down.

Similarly when business and civ-

close to the Fortified standards in some ways and among the best in the country

“We want to tell that story accurately because we know we are in the top five resilient building codes in the country,” Mills said “If we provide that data to insurance companies, they are going to want to come down here and do business.”

But the key to getting more builders to follow the new regs is better enforcement, which isn’t always easy in a cash-strapped state.

A new law passed earlier this year, requires permits for reroofing, which means builders will have to follow rules about creating multiple water barriers. An additional benefit of that change is that cities and the state will be able to gather more data to use as leverage with insurers.

But all of that hinges on whether or not builders comply with the new rules.

Said Mills: “Enforcement is always the challenge.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

ic groups worked with City Hall on a focused plan to clean up the city and address certain infrastructure problems ahead of the Super Bowl, the results impressed even the city’s most hardened critics.

“When we get into a rhythm of teamwork and daily task focus, we are able to slowly and steadily improve not only our environment but our feelings about the place we live,” Hecht said.

Rusovich said the next mayor needs to engage with business and civic leaders in that same way to tackle the broader challenges at hand.

“Every single movement cannot be citizen-led,” he said. “You need strong political leadership, even just leadership that will work cooperatively It’s not rocket science.”

Williamson said he posted his blog to “reignite a conversation” around the issues. Hecht said he’s tired of conversations.

“The issue is not about ideas,” he said. “It’s about execution.”

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

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

State workforce agency chief overseeing major changes

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Q&A WITH SUSANA SCHOWEN

Louisiana is in the midst of a major overhaul in how it approaches workforce development. Overseeing much of those changes is Louisi ana Workforce Commission Secretary Susana Schowen. Under new laws, which were signed by Gov Jeff Landry after passing unanimously in the Legislature, the Workforce Commission will eventually serve as a one-stop shop for Louisianans seeking services like SNAP or child care assistance in addition to workforce training and unemployment benefits.

The goal of the “One Door” policy, Schowen said, is to help Louisianans get access to the social services they need while also connecting them to employment opportunities. As part of the changes, the agency will be rebranded Louisiana Works in October Full implementation remains a ways away The Department of Children and Family Services isn’t slated to hand over management of the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, which pays for a range of services, to Schowen’s agency until 2027.

In this week’s Talking Business, Schowen discusses how the “One Door” policy will work and Louisiana’s biggest workforce challenges. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Tell us about the“One Door”policy and how it will work. What we’re focused on is developing a case management system where when somebody needs assistance in the state of Louisiana they can come to one place meet with an employment counselor — so the focus is always on helping that person reach self-sufficiency — build

Under the leadership of Secretary of Louisiana Workforce Commission Susana Schowen, the Louisiana Workforce Commission will eventually serve as a one-stop shop for Louisianans seeking services like SNAP or child care assistance in addition to workforce training and unemployment benefits.

out a plan, and then provide them with the social services to get them over the barriers

Those supports might be access to child care, transportation, assistance with disabilities. They might need tuition paid so that they can attend a training program, or help with housing stability

A lot of our state agencies, particularly the federally funded ones, are built around programs, not around the people that we serve. So a lot of the work that we have been doing is trying to figure out who’s serving the same people and how can we serve them at the same time in the same place.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate in June was 4.5%. What does that mean for the work you do?

That’s a relatively low number and there’s a rule of thumb in economic development circles that an unemployment rate around 4% essentially constitutes full employment, meaning the people who are

currently unemployed are kind of moving between jobs and aren’t really available to necessarily take a brand-new job

We had 93,000 unemployed people in June. We also had 114,000 job openings.

We come fairly close to leading the nation in the number of job openings per capita and we do not tend to have enough unemployed people to fill those job openings. So, we have this issue where the math doesn’t work out

The question is then, like, what are we going to do about it? And we have to ask ourselves We’ve got low unemployment rates We’ve got all these jobs out there, and we are still one of the poorest states in the nation. And how do we have that grinding generational poverty that spurs so much of the misery and suffering in Louisiana at the same time that we’ve got all these fantastic jobs that are going unfilled.

The fundamental answer to that

question is the labor force participation rate.

That’s the percentage of the population that is either employed or actively looking for work.

Louisiana’s labor participation rate is around 58%. How do you improve that?

We are objectively doing worse with labor force participation than almost everybody else.

We overcome generational poverty by helping people become self-sufficient, earn good wages and support their families.

What are some of the biggest workforce needs?

We’re seeing a gigantic challenge in all of the skilled trades.

The Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance does a regular assessment of the skilled craft workforce. They projected they were going to need about 70,000 more skilled trade people over the next five years in just the Baton Rouge area.

The hub of industrial construction globally is here in Baton Rouge, and so we have a lot of support from the industry partners here.

You spent about 12 years helping Louisiana businesses train and recruit employees through Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program.What lessons did you learn from that work that you wanted to bring to the Louisiana Workforce Commission?

I came in with a lot of opinions of what we needed to do Under the Jindal administration, I spent so much time at the Louisiana Workforce Commission that people thought I worked here.

The first and most important thing that I wanted to do was really open this agency up to collaboration, with business partners, with other state agencies, with education partners and very much with our local areas.

We have 15 local workforce development boards. They don’t always get the recognition and the traffic that they need in order to really contribute to the communities in the way that they could We’re working on a lot of things with our local areas to help them get more recognition and to build standardization but foster local innovation

as well. The work of One Door really ties directly into our work with our local areas, because they are our on-the-ground service delivery operators.

What direction did Gov Landry give you when you took over as secretary?

The specific direction that he gave me was, “I want this to be a dynamic agency.”

This agency has not always had a reputation for being dynamic, change oriented, employer focused. He did have some specific guidance, a lot of which was really just around being more responsive to employers.

How can Louisiana better connect young people with employment opportunities?

We really do have a lot of excellent job opportunities in this state, but I don’t think we’re doing a great job of making sure that our young people know about them and we’re not doing a great job of connecting them to employers and industries in general in Louisiana.

The best way to connect young people with employers is with work-based learning programs, whether it’s internships or apprenticeships.

You’ve mentioned that there are lots of components of the Louisiana Workforce Commission that go unnoticed.Is there a program you want to spotlight?

As part of workers’ compensation, we have something called the Second Injury Board, which a whole lot of people are completely unfamiliar with.

The Second Injury Board is supposed to incentivize employers to hire people who have previously been injured on the job. Sometimes it is a bit of a concern for employers in hiring somebody who was previously injured because they’re worried that they may reinjure themselves.

The Second Injury Board provides some protections for employers. It’s almost like a reinsurance program for employers.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

NewStudy Challenges Long-Held Beliefs AboutMenhaden and theGulfFood Web

Thisarticle is Brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFisheriesCoalitionLLC

One of the most importantquestions in the Gulf is also, surprisingly,one thathasn’t had adetailed answer: whatexactly do predator fish eat? Species likered drum southern flounder,and spottedseatrout are importanttoboth the Gulf ecosystemand the recreational fishing economy, and knowing whattheyeat is keytomanaging them successfully

Anew study from the Universityof Southern Mississippiishelping answer thatquestion with one of the most comprehensiveinvestigations of predator diets to date

Rethinking the Role of Gulf Menhaden

One of the headline findingsconcerns another importantspecies: Gulf menhaden Often viewedasthe keyfood source formany of thesepredators,the study finds theymay not be as central to thesepredatordietsas previously thought.

While menhadenare part of the mix, the study found no predatorspecies examined relied on them as aprimary food source. Instead, predatordiets were found to be incredibly varied and opportunistic, depending on whatpreyisavailable at differenttimes and in differentplaces

Science Backed by Industry-Academic Partnership

The project wasfunded by the Science Center forMarine Fisheries (SCEMFIS),an academic-industry research initiativethat is part of the National Science Foundation’s Industry–UniversityCooperativeResearch Center program. SCEMFIS aims to reduce uncertaintyin

fishstock assessments and developtools for sustainable management–bringing together topresearchersand industry partnersto answerreal-world questions

InnovativeMethods Reveal NewInsights

Led by researchersDr. RobertLeaf and Dr Kevin Dillon, the studyusedatwo-pronged approach to analyzepredatordiets:

•Stomach contentanalysis based on a large databaseofpast fieldsamples,some dating back decades

•Stable isotope analysis, amodern technique thatexamines chemical signatures in predatortissues to reveal longer-term dietary trends.

This dual approach wasapplied to more than 30 predatorspecies,including reddrum, southern flounder,and spottedseatrout.

“When youlook at the information that we have,whatwefind is thatGulf menhaden areapreyitem—certainly,theyplayarole— but not to the extent of other prey items, which arealsovery important—in fact,more important,”said Dr.Leaf,who heads the university’sSchool of OceanScience and Engineering

According to Dr.Dillon, this method reveals “whether the fish waseating phytoplanktonorifitwas eating another fish thathad eatenphytoplankton,”helping scientistsbetterunderstand who eats what in the Gulf.

This studymarksthe first time thatstable isotope analysis has been used in astudy involving Gulf menhaden. An eight-minute YouTube video from the research team bringsthe studytolife, taking viewers from fieldwork to lab analysis

Sustainable ManagementNeeds the BestScience Gulf menhaden support avital commercial fishery.They’re processed into marine ingredientsusedinaquaculture, pet food, and nutritional supplements while supporting hundreds of jobs in coastal communities

Ensuring their harvest is managed sustainably,based on the best science available, is essential forprotecting both ecosystemand the economy

No Silver Bullet in the Gulf Diet

The findingschallengethe idea of asingle “keystone” prey species –likemenhaden –dominating predatordiets in the Gulf Instead,the study reveals predators as opportunistic feederswhose diets shift withthe seasons,preyavailability, and environmental conditions.Crabs,shrimp, anchovies,and Atlantic croaker all emerged as importantcomponents of predatordiets often playing alargerrolethan menhaden.

No predatorspecies overwhelmingly relied on asingle prey type. This has importantimplications forfisheries management, highlighting the complexity and resilience of food webinteractions rather than dependence on anyone link in the chain.

Thesefindingsarriveatacritical time for menhaden policy in the Gulf.Some advocacy groups have argued forharvest restrictions based on the assumptionthatmenhaden are aprimary food source forsportfish. Butthis newscience shows thatpredatorfish rely on abroad rangeofprey–and menhaden are just one piece of amuch larger puzzle. This suggests regulations shouldbebased on a comprehensiveunderstanding of the food web, not narrow assumptions

Science Driving Smarter Gulf Policy

This research comesonthe heels of Louisiana’s$1-million independentbycatch study, which found thatthe Gulf menhaden fishery is not amajor contributor to red drummortalityinstate waters.Together thesefindingsadd strong newdatatoguide fisheries policy.

As pressuremounts fordecisions rooted in solid science, this diet studyshows how modern research canchallengeassumptions andreshape ourunderstanding of the Gulf’s food webs “This study reinforces asimple truth— sound fisheries managementmustbe grounded in science, not assumptions, said BobVanasse,spokespersonfor the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition, acollective of menhaden fishermen, relatedbusinesses, andsupporting industries.“When research likethis is allowedtoguide policy, we getsmarter regulations,healthier fish populations,and stronger coastal economies. It’sproof thatdata-driven decisions work for both conservation and communities.”

Dutch Bros Coffee could open in Lafayettethis year

Dutch Bros Coffee could open a Lafayette location by the end of the year after adeveloper closed on a deal to buy property last week.

The Blue Ox Group of Houston bought the formerRegions Bank building at 5711 Johnston St. for just under $1 million, land records show Alexandria-based commercial builder Petron was the seller.

Blue Ox Group was granted ademolition permit on Wednesday by Lafayette Consolidated Government, records show It’s thelateststepinthe process for Dutch Bros Coffee, often ranked behind Dunkin’ and Starbucks as the most popular coffee brands in the U.S.

Founded by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma in GrantsPass, Oregon, in 1992, Dutch Bros has 1,012 locations in 18 states. It serves specialty coffee, nitrogen-infused cold brew,teas, lemonades, sodas, the Dutch Bros Rebel energy drink

Fool’sTake:

Fizzy, snackydividends

PepsiCo (Nasdaq: PEP)—a

and more.

Otherlocations are plannedfor Lake Charles, Shreveport andBatonRouge.

Dunkin’ to open as partof Carencro combo location

ADunkin’, Baskin-Robbins and Jimmy John’s combo restaurant will open in the former Soul Haus KitchenspaceinCarencro.

Aakash Management Co., aSouth Florida-based franchisee, bought the building at 110 Hector Connoly Roadfor $1.5million, land records show.Kasturi Children’sTrust LLC wasthe seller

Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins have opened combo locations in othermarkets acrossthe U.S.,but theCarencro location will be the first to operated as atri-brand, said Camille Mahtook, acommercial real estate agent withLee & Associates

All areunderthe Inspire Brands umbrella,whichalso include Arby’s,Sonic andBuffaloWildWings

The 2,750-square-foot building,

4.1%, meaning that investors will get paid asignificantsum while waiting for the company to more fully turnaround.

which had been listed at $1.65 million and initially housed aHardee’srestaurant, had been for sale sinceSoul Haus Kitchen closed in March. Kasturi Children’sTrust paid $1.4 millionfor it in 2021, aboutsix months after Hardee’s closed, land records show Mahtook and Clesi Camden, also withLee &Associates, represented the buyer HomeBank reports net income bump forquarter Lafayette-basedHomeBancorp Inc., the parent company of Home Bank, generated $11.3 million of net income during thesecond quarter,up$366,000 from the $11 million in thefirst quarter

Per share earnings wereat$1.45 per diluted common share, up from the$1.37 in thefirst quarter, bank officials announced.

Loans totaled $2.8 billion as of June 30, up lessthan 1% from the first quarter. Total deposits reached $2.9 billion, up 3% from the first quarter

The averageloan yield was6.5%, up 7basis points from the first quarter,bank officials reported Yields were impacted by higher ratesonnew loansand loans paying off at lower rates.

Growthcame from commercial real estateloans, whichoffsetthe declines in construction and land loans in the quarter primarily in the Houston andNew Orleansmarkets, bank officials reported. It also offset declines in commercial and industrial loansinthe Acadiana, Baton Rouge and Houston markets.

“Aswecelebrate the bank’s 117thanniversary,I’m pleased with the strong results produced during the second quarter of 2025,” President and CEO John W. Bordelon said. “Wesaw growth in loansand deposits and net interestmargin continued its upward trajectory as we were able to keep depositand fundingcosts stable We saw increases in nonperforming and criticized loans at the end of the quarter but do not anticipateany losses.”

Issued July 30 to Aug. 5

Commercial alterations

RETAIL: 4702 Johnston St., Suite B; description, light renovation to space for Rosse Nutrition; applicant, ChaseGroup Construction; contractor, Enrique Izaguirre; $8,000.

MEDICAL: 1214 Coolidge St., description, temporary storage area during renovation for primary morgue at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center; applicant MBSB Group; contractor, The Lemoine Co.; $316,055.

RETAIL: 3215 Louisiana Ave., Suite A-2, description, expand existing Tesla EV charging station; applicant,Dewberry Engineers; contractor, Global Technical Solutions; $316,055.

RETAIL: 924 E. Simcoe St., description, renovation; applicant and contractor, SignatureCigars;$50,000.

MEDICAL: 201 Rue Iberville, description, renovation to first-floor space of LaHaye Total EyeCare; applicant and contractor, Ziler Architects; $10,000.

GAS STATION: 1002 N. University Ave., description, installnew fuel tankand linesfor Wellcome Country Store; applicant, Aumiller Pump Services and Equipment;contractor, LegendsDevelopment;$250,000.

Commercial demolition

Motley Fool

global beverage and snack giant with brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, PepsiCola, Mountain Dew,Quaker and SodaStream —is looking like a promising investment these days. The company has struggled lately,but its second-quarter earnings report surprised the market, beating analyst expectations. While growth was modest, it showed the companymoving in the right direction. Better still, PepsiCo is alongtime dividend-paying stock one that has increasedits payouts for 54 consecutiveyears. Those payouts have been growing at abrisk pace, too: The total annual dividend was recently $5.49 per share, up from $4.02 in 2020 and $2.76 in 2015.The dividend yield wasrecently ahefty

The yield is on the steep side because shareshaveslumped 20% over the past year,asPepsiCo faced near-term growth headwinds fromtariffs and other factors. But over thelong term,the company expects its capital investments to deliver 4% to 6% annual organic revenue growth and high-singledigitearnings-per-share growth. Additionally,PepsiCo has the financialflexibility to make strategic acquisitions as opportunities arise. For example, it recentlycompleted the purchase of functional soda maker Poppi to accelerate the strategic transformation of its portfolio to healthier options.

Fool’s School: Meet the price-to-sales ratio

Many investors are familiar with price-to-earnings ratios, which compare astock’s current price with its earnings, offering

aroughidea of whether it’sovervalued or undervalued.Sometimes, though, due to short-term or long-term issues, acompany may have losses instead of earnings.Because youcan’tcalculate aP/E ratiowhen earnings are negative, you might want to use theprice-to-sales ratioinstead The P/S focuses on sales also known as revenue —instead of earnings because even companiesintrouble are likely to have some revenue. (You can calculate this ratio forprofitable businesses, too, of course.)

To calculate acompany’sP/S you’ll start with its market capitalization (“market cap”) and divide that by the company’ssales over thepast 12 months. The market cap reflects acompany’s current total market value —it’s the current stock pricemultiplied by the total numberof shares outstanding. Youcan find market caps listedfor companiesonmajor financialwebsites such as fool com andfinance.yahoo.com. (Both of those sites also offer valuation ratios already calcu-

lated foryou, alongwithtotal revenue figures.) Here’show youwould calculate the P/S on your own:Imagine that Old MacDonaldFarms (ticker: EIEIO) has10million shares outstanding anda current share price of $50 —soa market cap of $500 million. If sales over the past year totaled $1 billion, its P/S would be $500 milliondivided by $1 billion, or 0.5. If itspeers have much higherratios, that would suggest that Old MacDonaldFarms is more attractively valuedand likely to have asubstantial upside relative to itsrivals —ifit executes its strategiessuccessfully By checking acompany’sP/S instead of its P/E, youcan see howmuchyou’dbepaying fora dollarofsales instead of adollar of earnings. Compare theP/S with sales growth, too: Ahigh ratio isn’tnecessarily badif sales are growing rapidly But never rely on just oneor two measures of valuation when making an investmentdecision Check avarietyofthem.

OTHER: 5611 Johnston St., description, none listed for former Home Cut Donuts&Kolachesspace; applicant,Yury Remedio; contractor, self; $8,500.

OTHER: 5711 Johnston St., description, none listed for futuresiteof Dutch Bros Coffee; applicant, Larae Design; contractor, A.W.E. &Associates; $25,000.

$400,000.

Beyond isn’taplace —it’samindset. Andit’sabeliefthathas poweredusfor over80years

We areJones Walker LLP,a firmdrivenbyanentrepreneurial spirit,adeepsenseofcommunity, and afierce determination to deliverexceptional serviceand valuefor ourclients

Since1937, our firmhas been committed to workingwithcommunity leaders to developbusiness opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing ourdedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork

William H. Hines,ManagingPartner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000 201St. CharlesAvenue NewOrleans,LA70170-5100

LA-25-18980

|KENTUCKY|LOUISIANA |MISSISSIPPI |NEW

|TEXAS

BP, other Gulf oil producers launch new projects

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Oil and gas companies are bringing several new projects online in the Gulf, moves aimed at keeping production flowing offshore as older projects shutter and the Trump administration gives a stamp of approval to fossil fuels

The most recent project came online Monday when BP started production at three new wells connected to its existing Argos platform, expanding the amount of oil it can produce by as much as 20,000 barrels per day

Argos, BP’s first new platform in about 15 years, began producing oil in 2023 with the capacity to produce up to 140,000 barrels of oil per day, increasing the British oil giant’s output in the Gulf of Mexico by about 20%.

In January, Shell, the largest oil producer in the Gulf started production at its floating Whale development around 200 miles south of Houston. The facility has an estimated peak production of around 100,000 barrels of oil per day the company said.

Two other projects, in the Ballymore and Dover fields, started production in April, connecting new wells to existing platforms operated by Shell and Chevron. And in July, Beacon Offshore Energy said it began production at its floating facility in the Shenandoah field. The project has the capacity to produce up to 120,000 barrels per day

The Trump administration has sought to boost offshore oil and gas production across the U.S., including in the Gulf, which it renamed the Gulf of America, by easing regulations and ramping up the number of offshore lease sales.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump also signed an executive order repealing a Biden administration ban on drilling along most U.S. coastlines. The ban affected areas where drilling wasn’t underway and where drillers had few current prospects. While the changes could increase output over time, they are unlikely to result in a significant near-term boost given how long it takes to begin production offshore, said Greg Upton, executive director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies.

“Offshore production is a lot more stable, and there’s a lot longer time lags on things,” Upton said. “It’s not as nimble.”

from last year, though lower than the peak of 1.89 million barrels a day in 2019.

The Trump administration has sought to boost offshore oil and gas production across the U.S., including in the Gulf, by easing regulations and ramping up the number of offshore

The Energy Information Administration said it expects crude oil production in federal waters in the Gulf to average 1.8 million barrels a day in 2025 and 1.81 million barrels a day in 2026. That’s an uptick

Even with a modest increase in production, Louisiana is expected to see a big increase in offshore oil and gas revenues from the federal government. That’s because of a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill that increases the cap on how much revenue Texas,

Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama receive each year

Under previous law, 37.5% of offshore oil and gas revenue is shared among the four Gulf states, but the total amount is capped at $500 million per year Louisiana receives the most of the four amounting to $156 million for the past fiscal year

The change lifts the cap to $650 million for the next decade. The amount of revenue does not reach the cap every year, but it has done so for the past three years in row Louisiana could gain an extra $46

million per year, or $460 million over the next decade, if the cap is hit each of those years, according to estimates of revenues and production.

That funding must be used for coastal protection and restoration projects.

The law also requires 30 new offshore lease sales for the Gulf over the next 15 years.

Staff writer Mike Smith contributed to this report.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

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Gallagher: ALouisiana StoryofGrowth, Community andResilience

Gallagher,one of the world’slargestinsurancebrokerage,risk managementand consulting firms, has asignificantpresencein Louisiana, with arich history andadeep commitmenttothe local community. With roots in the statedatingback decades, Gallagher has grownintothe largest broker inLouisiana, providing awide array of services to businesses of allsizes acrossvarious sectors

“WhereIthink we areuniquelypositioned is thatwedon’t have that institutional mindset. We haven’talwaysbeen big.We’vealwayshad to be alittle morenimble, creativeand client-centric, said” Numa “Bumpy” Triche,regional president. “The result isthatwehavethe sizeand scale of anybody in the world, with robustdataanalytics and modeling capabilities. But our local operations arevery much integrated within the local market.”

Founded in 1927,Gallagher has expanded globally and reports $11.3 billion in total adjustedbrokerage andrisk managementrevenues in 2024 and amarket capitalization of $76.1billion as of January 30,2025.

Thecompanyhas aworkforce of nearly56,000 employees worldwide morethan 970officesglobally,and servesclients in over130 countries.

In Louisiana, Gallagher’s journeybeganwithanacquisition in Baton Rouge,which led to theestablishmentofofficesinNew Orleans and Monroe,Louisiana. Thecompanyhas strategically acquired local firms overthe years, integrating their employees and maintaining alocal focus. This growth has resulted in 18 officesstatewide and asignificant regional market share. Thecompanyhas grownits businessbyworking withpeople and organizations who sharecommon values and vision. “Gallagher has one of thelargest operations within ourSoutheastregion in terms of our footprint acrossthe stateand the various markets, Triche said. “Atthe same time, we arealwaysclient-focused, withthe people in the statebeing the ones who work with the local teams and businesses. People work with us because we provide awhite-glove service experiencewitheasyaccessibilitytoour team and our broader tools and resources. We have invested heavily in areas relatedtodata analysis and forensicaccounting in order to provide the technical and detailed support to our teams.Whatwedoisoffer ourclients access to global expertise tailored to their needs.”

As proud as Gallagher is of its growth,theyare prouder to have been able to maintainits unique culture. This cultureissummed up in 25 tenets called TheGallagher Way, aset of shared values thatemphasize ethics, integrityand aclient-centricapproach. These values were articulatedbyRobert E. Gallagher backin1984and have sinceguided the company’soperations and relationships. Keyprinciples include providing excellentrisk managementservices,supporting and respecting colleagues, pursuing professional excellenceand fostering open communication. Thecompanyculturevalues empathy, trust, leadership and teamwork, with astrong emphasis on treating everyone with courtesyand respect

Gallagher’s commitmenttoLouisiana goes beyond business. The companyhas alocalpresence, with employees deeply embedded in the community.

“Our employees see theirclients at church on Sundays,play golf with them on Saturdays,and go to lunch with them on Wednesdays,” said William Jackson, ExecutiveVicePresidentof Gallagher’s SoutheastRegion and leader of the NewOrleans operation and the region’s specialtyproducts.Our local connection is akey differentiatorfor Gallagher,combining the resourcesand capabilities of alarge global firmwith the personalized serviceofa communitybroker.

“Weteam up withlocalpartnerstomakeevery communitywejoin a morevibrantone.Fromfundraisersfor localcharities to crawfishboils and hurricane relief,our officesgivebacktothe peopleand places in whichwelive. As we grow larger,wemaintain close ties to the communities we serve.

Gallagher serves adiverse range of industries in Louisiana,including manufacturing, agribusiness, public sector,higher education, aerospace, energy,entertainmentand lifesciences. Thecompanypositions itself as athought leader when it comes to riskmanagementguidance on topics suchascyber risks, healthcare,marine construction AI, social inflation and other influences thatimpactinsurance claim costs, leading to higher premiums and impacting the insuranceindustry’srisklandscape.The team prides itself on providing expertiseand insights on keyindustries and currenteventsimpacting this region.

WILLIAM JACKSON ExecutiveVicePresidentSoutheast Region, Gallagher

Gallagher is poised forcontinued success in Louisiana,driven by its strong values, localfocus and expertise in keyindustries. Thecompany’s emphasis on client-centric service, combined with its global resources, positions it as atrustedpartner forbusinesses andindividuals seeking insurance, risk managementand consulting solutions.AsGallagher continues to grow and adapttothe evolving needsofthe market its commitmenttothe local communities remains acornerstone of its identity

In 1971, Acadian Ambulance’s founders, Roland Dugas, RichardSturlese and RichardZuschlagproposed a membership subscription model thatwould support the company’sservice. The model wasbased on asimilar ambulance membership programthatZuschlag recalled from his home stateofPennsylvania. Acadian’s first membership drive enrolled8,400 members.

The support of our membershas been acornerstone of Acadian’ssuccess. The program supports numerous communityservice projects, including free standby service forarea high school football games, fairs, festivals and other special events.

The membership program also helps our companystay atthe forefrontofemergencymedical care with the most advanced equipmentand training in theindustry

•30% discountonbilledambulance charges.

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Acadian is the only ambulance service in Louisiana to hold accreditations from both the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services andthe Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, ourindustry’smost stringentaccreditation agencies.

ThatmeansAcadianexceeds the gold standard in EMS training, equipment,protocols andmedics

LOUISIANA

PERFECT STORM

Heavy rain, high humidity and poor drainage make mosquito haven

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

In Louisiana, even a stray bottle

cap can become a mosquito nursery

That’s because a mix of ideal conditions make the state one of the most mosquito-prone places in the country

“There are five reasons mosquitoes are really bad here: rain, humidity temperature, soils and the diversity of habitats,” said Kevin Caillouet, director of the St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District.

Mosquito breeding conditions

Louisiana gets about 70 inches of rain each year. Its flat clay-heavy soil slows drainage, creating puddles and ditches where mosquito larvae can hatch. In warm weather, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in as little as five to seven days about half the time it takes in cooler climates.

Those conditions, Caillouet said, create the perfect environment for a surge in mosquito reproduction as temperatures rise.

“The warmer it gets, the faster they develop,” he said.

A range of habitats

The state’s varied landscape supports around 60 mosquito species Coastal marshes pine forests, hardwood swamps and urban stormwater systems each offer different breeding environments. That means mosquitoes can thrive at different times and in different places throughout the year

On the northshore, aging septic systems sometimes leak into roadside ditches. That can kill mosquitoeating fish and allow mosquito populations to grow unchecked.

Among the most concerning species is Culex quinquefasciatus, the southern house mosquito, which thrives in polluted water found in ditches and is the state’s primary vector of West Nile virus.

West Nile is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause fever, headache and fatigue. In more severe cases, it can lead to inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and sometimes longterm neurological complications or

death. The virus is typically passed to mosquitoes from infected birds.

As of mid-July, the state had reported five cases of neuroinvasive disease and four cases that presented with fever, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. The number of human West Nile cases in Louisiana is second only to Arizona, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In St. Tammany, virus activity was three times higher than at the same point last year, said Caillouet.

A lengthy season

Climate change appears to be extending the mosquito season. In 2022, New Orleans recorded 275 “mosquito days,” when temperature and humidity levels fell within the insects’ ideal range, according to a report from Climate Central. That’s 11 more days than the average in the 1970s.

Although extreme heat can slow virus replication inside mosquitoes, warmer nights and an extended warm season means mosquitoes stay active longer, said Aaron Ashbrook, an entomologist with the LSU AgCenter Surveillance

The conditions create a “never-

Lake Charles sisters’ bond more than blood

Two share place of work, and now organs

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Nurse practitioner Anne Griepsma and her sister, Dr Alice Babst, have worked together in obstetrics and gynecology, taking care of women for years. The Lake Charles sisters’ dedication to their patients and health care is matched only by their caring bond for each other Now, they share organs too. In the eighth grade, Griepsma was diagnosed with lupus and underwent kidney biopsies and chemotherapy to manage her symptoms. She was in remission for the next 25 years.

Then, in March 2023, after going on vacation, 47-year-old Griepsma was having trouble breathing. She was dizzy on the plane and close to blacking out. Instead of going home like she wanted, her friends drove her straight from the airport to the emergency room.

“I went to the emergency room, begrudgingly,” Griepsma said. “I found out that I was in complete kidney failure — heart failure, too. I had COVID. I had pneumonia.” The doctors confirmed that her lupus was flaring up and Griepsma was sent home from the hospital. Two days later her hands and feet turned purple. She was soon on her way to Ochsner in New Orleans for treatment and emergency surgery for a perforated colon. Griepsma started dialysis three days a week and still worked fulltime as a nurse practitioner at CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital, where the sisters work

the words ‘withdraw bean

and ‘deposit bean here’ written on their abdomens.

HEALTH MAKER

Nurse midwives do more than deliver babies

BY EMMA NELSON

The Minnesota Star Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS Andrea Engdahl remembers the first time she said the words, 25 years ago.

“I want to be a midwife.”

She was pregnant with her first child at the time and exploring her health care options A nurse midwife, she discovered, was a registered nurse who delivers babies and cares for women from puberty through menopause.

Eighteen years later — after leaving her early childhood family education job, raising her kids and eventually earning a nursing degree to work as an RN, including in obstetrics — Engdahl graduated from midwifery school

Now 49, Engdahl sees patients at M Health Fairview Clinic-Riverside and delivers babies at Masonic Children’s Hospital.

In an interview edited for clarity and length, Engdahl shares what it’s like to be in her shoes. What does a nurse midwife do as compared to an OB-GYN?

We are not surgeons, first of all, and we are specialists in lowrisk pregnancy But in addition to pregnancy, we do full, well-woman care similar to what a women’s health nurse practitioner would do. We care for women from puberty through menopause, which I think is surprising to a lot of folks. They think that they can come and have their babies with us, and then they’re like, “OK, well, I’m never going to see you again, because I’m not having babies.” And we’re like, “No, no, please come back! We can take care of you.”

How is a normal day on the job for you?

I work in the clinic, and that’s just a regular 8-4 day where I am seeing patients for prenatal visits, for annual exams, for gyne-

cology visits. And then I also have a call day

Most midwives work either 12hour call shifts or 24 — we actually prefer 24 in my practice — but a call day is kind of a wild card.

We’re seeing the postpartum patients. So we go, and we round on our patients that had babies in the previous 12 to 72 hours to set them up and get them ready to go home. And then we are also, of course, triaging patients. So preterm labor patients who come into the hospital with severe nausea and vomiting and then also patients that are in labor

Why do you prefer a 24-hour shift?

I worked night shift for many years, so being awake for 24 hours was not something new to me when I came to this job. But there’s a lot of continuity of care for patients when you’re with them for a full 24 hours. If we have downtime, we can be in our own quiet space and take a nap or work on whatever projects we have going on.

Normally, we’re not on our feet, patient-facing, for 24 hours. I have had days like that, and they’re tough, but they’re pretty few and far between But also, you’re working on adrenaline at that point, and you’re just emotionally invested in your patients and the things that are happening It’s amazing how quickly 24 hours can go when you are actually working for the full 24 hours.

There’s no guarantee a patient’s OB-GYN will actually deliver the baby. Is it the same for nurse midwives?

We have seven midwives on our team, and we take turns doing 24hour call shifts. We encourage our patients to try to meet everyone throughout their pregnancy so that when they come to have their baby, they’ve got a familiar face there with them It’s pretty

rare that I go into birth with a patient that I haven’t met before. It does occasionally happen, and those days, I get to work really hard at relationship-building in a very short amount of time.

How is delivering with a nurse midwife different from an OB-GYN?

We just have fewer patients in our care, so we’re able to spend more time educating and getting to know our patients really well Not that OB-GYNs don’t do that: We work with a lot of amazing OB-GYNs who are able to really do that in a short amount of time. You’ll find a midwife at the bedside more often, and we don’t run

in at the end, normally, to just catch the baby We are generally there with our patients through much of their active labor and are just able to be more present. What do you wish you’d known before your first delivery?

Having worked as a high-risk nurse, it was really important to me that I learned to trust normal, physiologic births. I want my patients to trust themselves and trust their body, but I needed to really learn that, as well, as a midwife — that truly, it is possible to have an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth.

Also, just the power and the re-

silience of birthing people is so amazing. From teenagers through women in their later birthing years, it’s amazing to me, always, how even when people don’t think they can do it, they step up, and they are amazing. I always say if I ever stop being amazed at this process, I would need to find a new job. How many babies have you delivered? I would guess it’s several hundred at this point, but I don’t keep a count. It’s something I always said I would do, and it just — at the end of the day you just want to go to sleep sometimes.

Supplements could affect medications, doctors warn

Five things to consider before mixing

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Walk down the health aisle of any pharmacy or grocery store and shelves are packed with supplements promising everything from better sleep and stronger immunity to constipation relief and diabetes control.

With so many options, it’s easy to wonder: Is it effective? And is it safe?

The Food and Drug Administration defines dietary supplements as products that include dietary ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and enzymes. These are often sold as pills, liquids powders, gummies and more. Doing the homework before adding a supplement to a daily routine takes a little extra time, but could prevent a variety of health issues. Here are five things to consider: Supplements aren’t regulated

Assuming that if a supplement is sold in a store, it must be safe and effective, is not necessarily the best course of action. Unlike over-the-counter and prescription

MOSQUITOES

Continued from page 1X

ending battle” for Louisiana’s mosquito control experts, said Ashbrook, but the state has extensive local coverage through parish mosquito control districts and partnerships with pest management firms. Those programs use surveillance traps and virus testing to inform when and where to spray Experts say prevention starts by surveilling your property for any mosquito breeding grounds.

“Anything that can hold water can breed mosquitoes,” Ashbrook said. That includes clogged gutters, plant saucers, tarps, toys and birdbaths.

To protect against bites, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends using only insect repellents with an EPA registration number which means they’ve been tested for safety and effec-

drugs, supplements don’t undergo the same rigorous testing and approval process.

“Supplements are very poorly regulated. They’re not regulated by the FDA in any way,” said Dr George Therapondos, a Louisiana hepatologist and liver transplant surgeon. “We have to look at two things: whether they’re actually achieving what they claim to achieve, and whether they’re causing any harm.”

This lack of oversight and regulation means manufacturers aren’t required to prove their product is effective. This isn’t to say supplements never work.

“Vitamins, however, are definitely not dangerous unless taken into excess,” Therapondos said.

For instance, people who have undergone the weight loss procedure bariatric surgery may require a multivitamin and other supplements to prevent certain nutrient deficiencies And if blood testing indicates a deficiency in vitamin D, doctors may recommend taking a vitamin D supplement

Beware of bold claims

If a supplement claims to be a miracle cure, proceed with caution

“In reality, the majority of supplements probably underperform in terms of what they’re

tiveness. Products with ingredients like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus and 2-undecanone are all proven to protect against mosquito bites. Oil of lemon eucalyptus and DEET in concentrations over 30% should not be used on children under 3. Loose-fitting clothing can provide an added barrier Mosquitoes have an easier time biting through tight-fitting clothes, said Ashbrook.

Common essential oil ingredients used to repel insects include citronella, geranium, peppermint, rosemary and soybean oil. These ingredients are typically deemed safe but have not been approved for effectiveness by the EPA. Essential oil-based repellents may provide some benefit but tend to wear off faster in heat and humidity, requiring more frequent reapplication, said Ashbrook.

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.

trying to achieve,” Therapondos said. “In terms of causing harm, I would say most of them are probably relatively harmless, but because supplements are so prevalent — and so many people think that buying something easily over the counter is going to help them in their lives — it becomes harmful overall.”

By law, supplement labels cannot claim to treat or cure diseases. Instead, they promise vague improvements such as “promotes circulation” or “supports immune health.” These claims often simply allude to limited evidence about a specific ingredient rather than a proven health outcome.

“Just because the bottle says it’s natural doesn’t mean that it’s harmless, he said. “Snake venom is naturally occurring, but it’s not safe Don’t be fooled by this natural thing.”

Keep in mind that marketing buzzwords like “superfood” or “all-natural” can be misleading, too. Natural does not always mean safe.

“Things like turmeric can cause some injury Niacin can cause some injury Even green tea extract and green tea in general, is a safe thing. But if you take extract in very high doses, there is a potential to cause an injury,” he said. “And the injury actually is very unpredictable.”

Supplements and medications

Supplements aren’t safe for everyone. Certain ones can interfere with medications in serious ways — either making a medication less effective or increasing its potency to a dangerous level.

“The only implication we see sometimes in transplants are some of the nonprescribed supplements interacting and reducing the efficacy of immunosuppression — the anti-rejection medicines for transplants,” Therapondos said.

For example, St. John’s Wort can make birth control and blood thinners less effective. And ginkgo biloba can interfere with blood thinners and platelet medications, increasing the risk of bleeding, according to Houston Methodist Hospital.

Not what they claim

Because supplements aren’t closely regulated, what’s on the label may not actually match what’s in the bottle.

For instance, a 2017 study tested over 30 different melatonin supplements and found that the actual melatonin content varied widely — some had 83% less than what was listed on the label. Others contained up to 478% more.

What’s more, one-quarter of tested melatonin supplements

contained ingredients other than melatonin.

Some supplement brands voluntarily seek third-party testing to verify their contents. If choosing a supplement, look for products that have been certified by an independent third-party laboratory such as ConsumerLab, NSF or USP Alert doctors

“From time to time, we do see supplements that cause liver injury that can range from a minor elevation in liver tests to high bilirubin to a lot of liver inflammation, and sometimes, very rarely, liver failure. Most of the supplements are close to impossible to predict how the body will react,” Therapondos said. “I think the majority of problems we see tend to be with supplements that are taken for performance enhancement.”

He also emphasizes the importance of keeping doctors informed of the supplements in a person’s diet — including how much — to ensure they don’t interfere with existing medications or health issues. If considering supplements, use the golden rule of medicine: consult a doctor first.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

CORRECTION

A story Sunday July 20 2025, misstated child life specialist Olivia Bourgeois’ place of work.

She is employed by Ochsner Children’s The Advocate and TimesPicayune regrets the error

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.

Eat Fit LiveFit

BROUGH TT OY OU BY

Raisingadventurouseaters— without food battles

Thisweek’scolumniswrittenbyBrittanyCraft,RDN,LDN,wholeadstheEatFitnonprofitinitiativeatOchsnerHealth.

WhenmydaughterNorawas born,oneofthethingsIlooked forwardtomostwasintroducing hertorealfood.There’snothingsweeter thanthosefirsttastes—whetherit’saface ofsurprise,puckeredlipsorajoyfuldeath griponthespoonreachingformore.But babyhoodisfleeting.Beforelong,Ifound myselfnavigatingtoddlerhood,where strongopinionsaroundfoodcanemerge —andthepossibilityofraisinga“picky eater”becomesveryreal

Asaregistereddietitian,foodplays abigroleinmylife.Ilovefood.Ilove talkingaboutit,cookingit,sharingit andIwantedmykidstoloveit,too.So,I begantoexplorewhatleadingpediatric dietitiansrecommendforraisinghealthy, adventurouseaters.I’veadoptedthose evidence-basedstrategiesinmyown home.

We’renotperfect.Noradoesn’teat everything,andyes,sometimeswebreak the“rules.”But,forthemostpart,our mealtimesarepeaceful,pressure-free andfilledwithgrowingcuriosityand enjoymentaroundfood.

HereareafewthingsI’velearnedto helpkeepfood-relatedstressoffthetable atourhouse.

Createalow-pressuremealtime environment

Onekeytoavoidingfoodbattles iscreatingacalm,low-pressure environmentaroundeating.Registered dietitianandfamilytherapistEllynSatter developedthewell-knownDivisionof Responsibilityinfeeding,aframework widelyrecognizedasbestpractice forhelpingchildrendevelopahealthy relationshipwithfood.Inthismethod, parentsdecidewhenandwhattoserve formealsandsnacks.Childrendecide

whetherandhowmuchtoeatfromwhat’s offered.

Inpractice,thismeansoffering structuredmealandsnacktimeswitha varietyofnutritiousfoods—includingat leastone“safe”foodyourchildusually enjoys.Iftheyaskforsomethingelse,a gentle“I’msorry,that’snotonthemenu today”isallthat’sneeded.You’reincharge ofthemenu;they’reinchargeoftheir appetite.

Toddlersareespeciallynotoriousfor eatingverylittleatsomemeals.Let them!Theirintakeusuallybalancesout naturallyovertime.Avoidpressuringwith commentslike“justthreemorebites” or“finishyourvegetablesfirst.”Instead, encouragethemtotuneintotheirhunger andfullnesscues.

Sticktoasnackscheduletoavoid constantgrazing.Snacksshouldresemble minimeals.Ilikethe“protein+produce” formula:stringcheeseandsliveredgrapes, yogurtandberries,orhummuswithsliced veggiesasdippers,forexample.

Stayneutral Keeplabels—aboutfoodandyourkids —outofmealtimeconversations.Instead ofsaying,“Noradoesn’teatthat,”wesay, “she’sstilllearningtolikeit.”Wealsoavoid “yucking”someoneelse’s“yum.”Ifwecan’t commentkindlyaboutsomeoneelse’s foodchoiceorcombinationoffoodsthat

weperceivetobestrange,we choosetostaysilent.

Whenyourchilddoestryanew food,staycalm.Youmaywantto doahappydanceinyourchair butresisttheurge.Instead,askfor theirthoughts:Howdidittaste? Isitsour,salty,sweet,creamy, crunchy?

Skipfood-basedrewards.Using dessertorsweetsasaprizecan makethosefoodsevenmore desirable.Instead,offertreats whenyoufeellikeit,without conditionsormorallabels.All foodscanfit.

Finally,ratherthancalling foods“good”or“bad,”focuson highlightingtheirnutritional benefitsinanage-appropriateway:This chickenhasproteintohelpyourmuscles growstrong!CarrotshavevitaminAto helpyoureyes! Ifyouneedawaytoexplainwhysweets aren’tofferedasoftenasothermore nutrient-densefoods,considerusinglabels like“alwaysfoods”and“sometimesfoods.” Getkidsinthekitchen Yes,itcanbemessy,butgettingkids involvedinmealprepisoneofthebest waystogrowadventurouseaters.Handsonexperiencewithsomethingnewcan removebarrierstotryitandhelpscreate

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsnersEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THENUMBERS

MORE THAN

40%AREN’TGETTING ENOUGH SLEEPINLA.

In Louisiana, 41% of adults reported getting fewerthan7 hours of sleep per nightonaverage, according to Louisiana CountyHealth Rankings.

Insufficient sleep, defined as getting less than 7hours of sleep per night on average, can severely impact thebodyand itshealth.

In the shortterm, alack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learnand retain information, andmay increase the risk of serious accidents andinjury, according to Harvard Medicine’s Division of Sleep Medicine.

If lack of sleep persists, people are more likely to develop longlastingconditions including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even early mortality

Claiborneand East Carrollhave thehighest rate of insufficient sleep among adults with 48% reporting

SISTERS

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together in Lake Charles.

“It was very,very emotional,” Griepsma said.“I remember telling my sister, ‘I don’twant to do this anymore.’ Everything just kept happening over and over again.” Babst, however,onlyadmired her sister’scontinued strength.

“Who do you know that’s doing dialysis, working with an ostomy and going to Orangetheory?” Babst said. “She just kept persevering and pushing through it.” In April 2024, just over a year after starting dialysis,

Kimball RD,CSSD

familiaritywithnewfoods.Everyexposure counts!

Childrenoftenneed10-15(ormore) exposurestoacceptanewfood.Offeritin differentformsandoccasionallyletthem helpdecidehowit’sprepared:Rawor roastedcarrotsfordinnertonight?Should wetrygarlicpowderorcinnamonontop? Keepservingthenewfoodwithout pressure,anddon’tforgettomodelthe behavioryouwanttosee.Aimforvariety inyourmealsandtrynewthingsyourself. Showyourkidsthatyou’restilllearning andexploringfood,too.

Bepatient

Feedingkidswellmeansplayingthe longgame.Youmightseesmallwins orsetbacks—daytoday,butprogress happensovermonthsandyears. I’velearnedthatmealtimescanbefun, interestingandevenjoyful.I’mexcitedto continueexploringtheworldoffoodwith mylittlefamily,onebiteatatime.

less than 7hours of sleep per night on average.

Claiborne and EastCarroll are followedinthe rankings, in descending order,by:

n Madison and Tensas parishes with 47% adults reporting lessthan 7 hours of sleep per night on average; n Morehouse Parish with 46% adults reporting lessthan 7hours of sleep per night on average; n Bienville, Red River and St. John theBaptist parishes with 45% adults reporting lessthan 7hours of sleep per night on average.

n Beauregard Parish adults, on average, getthe most sleep each nightwith just 37% of adults reporting fewerthan 7hours of sleep pernight.

Beauregard Parish is followedin theLouisiana rankings, in ascending order,by:

n Acadia, Lafayette and Livingston

Griepsma started the transplant process. With over 100,000 people in theUnited States waitingfor alife-savingorgan transplant, Griepsma turned to family.At Ochsner,about 30% of kidney transplant patients receive organs from living donors, either someone they know or a total stranger.Ofthe family’sfive sisters tested for compatibility,Babst wasthe closest match “Mysisterhad alot of guilt thinking someone was going to have to do this for her,” Babst said.“But as a sister, seeingyoursister go through dialysisthree days aweek and being wiped out completely it’snot even a question.”

The morning of thesurgery in September2024, after 18 months of dialysis, thedoctorstook Griepsma to surgery first to determine whetherher body couldtake atransplant. She went under anesthesia not knowing if she was going to wake up with anew kidney

“Going into it,Iwas very anxious,” Griepsma said. “But Ifelt alittle bit of relief knowing that if they couldn’t do it,atleast we weren’tgoing to waste my sister’skidney.”

This is rare, according to Dr.Ian Carmody, akidney and liver transplant surgeon at Ochsner Health.Transplantsurgeons evaluate patientsbefore theirrecipient only in 1out of 100 or 1out

parishes with 38% of adults reporting lessthan 7hours of sleep pernight on average; n Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron,

of 150 transplants.

“In very few cases do we start therecipient operation and confirm thelanding zone and that everything we have to attach will be OK,” Carmody said. “Most of the time, we can evaluate before apatientand be very sure that we can go ahead.”

Oncesurgeons determined Griepsma was clear for the transplant, Babst was taken in for surgery The transplant was asuccess for both sisters. Babst was left with asmall scar on herleftsideand little pain She was back delivering babies in Lake Charles aweek later

After receiving her sister’s lifesaving kidney donation, Griepsma feltanimme-

diate difference. “I didn’trealizehow greenish-grayIwas before,” Griepsma said. “My life is completely going back to normal —going to thegym and working full time.”

Carmody uses the case of the sisters to stress the importanceoflive donation,whichmakes up only 30 to 40% of all transplants through the United Network forOrgan Sharing or UNOS. Louisiana is on the lower end of live donations, hovering at around 30% of all transplants, Carmody said.

“Weneed to have moreand more live donors.The number of people waiting for a transplant is increasing,” Carmody said. “Live kidney donation is avery safeoper-

ation, often people are able to get out of the hospital the next day. They’re able to go back to work.” Babst wasn’tthe only family member Griepsma credits with herjourney to health. Her oldest sister,Mary,was Griepsma’s elected support person after surgery.Another sister took care of her twokids for twoorthreeweeksafter surgery.People brought her family meals. Friends stepped in to stay with her children when shewas in NewOrleans for over a month.

“It has brought our family —wewere always very, very close— but nowthere’s adifferent level of closeness,” Griepsmasaid.

Staying in the

Healthy Heat

What is heatstroke?

7ways to protect yourselfand your family

Heatstroke,alsoknownas“exertionalheatillness,’’isaspecialhealth concernforathletesandforpeoplewhoworkoutsideinthesummer. Sweatingisourbody’swayofregulatingourtemperature.Buthigh humidity,likeweexperienceinLouisiana,makesithardertosweat.The goodnewsisthatwithsomesimpleprecautions,youcanhelpprotect yourselfandyourlovedonesfromthispotentiallydangerouscondition.

Followthese stepsto help prevent heat stroke:

Wearloose-fitting,cool,breathableclothing.

Planoutdooractivitiesduringcoolertimesoftheday,ideallyinthe morningandeveningwhenthesunisnotasscorching.

Drinkplentyoffluidslikewaterandlow-sugarsportsdrinksthat containelectrolytes.

Avoidalcoholasmuchaspossible,asitisdehydrating Protectyourselffromthesunwith“broadspectrum”or“UVA/UVB” protectivesunscreen,sunglassesandhatsthatprovidecoverage.

Knowyourlimits!Donotoverexertyourself,especiallyifyou’renot accustomedtoexercisingintheheat.Ifyoustartfeelingill,takea break.Don’tcontinuetopush.

Donot,underanycircumstance,leaveachildorapetinaparkedcar.

10 symptoms of dehydration

orfishing.

It’s

Ifyouhavethesesignsofdehydration,startdrinkingmorewaterand electrolytesuntilyoufeelbetter.Avoidalcoholandcaffeinateddrinks, whichcandehydrateyou.Ifyoudon’tfeelbetterwithin24hours,seeyour healthcareprovider.Andifit’sanemergency,call911

Canpickle juice help prevent muscle cramps?

affi

5Refreshing infused waterrecipes

Weallknowweneedtodrinkplentyofwater,especiallywhenit’shotandhumid Butwhatifyou’reboredwithplainwater?Infusedwatercanmakestayinghydratedfunand delicious.Tryanyofthesecombinationsforrefreshinghydration.Addicefor achilleddrink

1tablespoonoffreshlemonjuice,6muddled blueberriesand1/8cupoffreshmint

16ouncesofwater;1/8cupofcucumber, peeledandthinlysliced;¼ofalemon,thinly sliced;and1/8cupoffreshmint

16ouncesofwater;1/8cupofcucumber, peeledandthinlysliced;3cubesofseedless watermelon;and1/8cupoffreshbasil

Tips forhealthy summer travel

If youstill have upcoming summer travel plans,makethemmoreenjoyableby staying healthyusing these simpletips.

Usehandsanitizerontheplane,especiallybeforeeating.

Chewgumduringtake-offandlandingtohelpmitigateearpopping.

Didyouknowthatairplanecabinscanbedehydrating?Also,folkstendtodrinklesswater whilethey’reflying.Makesureyoubringabottleofwaterontheplanewithyou Iftheflightcrewallows,walkaroundontheplanetohelpavoidbloodclots.Avoidcrossing yourlegswhileflying,andconsiderwearingcompressionsocks.

Bringmedicationswithyouandsetalarmsonyourphonetoremindyouwhentotakethem. Bringover-the-countermedicationsontrips,suchasDramamineformotionsickness,ear plugsandeardropsforwater-cloggedears,dropsfordryeyes,firstaidkitsforcutsand scrapes,ImmodiumorPepto-Bismolfordiarrheaandupsetstomach,alongwithmedications forheadachesandseasonalallergies.

Manyathletespre-gamewithafewsipsofpicklejuicetohelpprevent musclecramps.

Drinkinganounceortwocanhelpstopcrampsfasterthanwateralone. Picklejuicehas20timesmoresodiumandeighttimesmorepotassium thantheaveragesportsdrink.Consideringthehighlevelsofsodiumand potassium,limityourselftojustafewsips.

Drinkingpicklejuiceshouldnotbeviewedasacure-all.Stretchingand hydratingaremoreimportant.

Legacy in motion

For the inaugural Louisiana Inspired ENCORE Awards, seven Louisianans over the age of 60 arebeing honored for their continued leadership, service to others, innovativeness andthe ways they inspire young and old.

Over the summer,readers across the state submitted nominations, highlighting neighbors, friends,family and mentors who hadn’tslowed down —people still doing meaningfulwork,still learning,still giving.

Areview panel consideredeach nomineeusing arubricfocusedoncommunity impact, innovation and service.

Theresult?Sevenindividualswhose lives remind us thatgrowing older doesn’tmean stepping back.Narrowingthe field of nomineestoseven wasa challenge. In thenewsroom,the exercise of learning so much about so many was

Encore Awards honorseven Louisiananswho provepurpose doesn’tretire

inspiring.The bigtakeaway: For many, purpose and passiondon’tfade.They expand.

The honorees arelaunching new projects, creating art, building things, mentoring others and teachingimportant skills. These people continue to take on fresh challenges, proving thatsecond and third acts can be just as richand rewarding as the first. In short,they continue to showup.

TheENCORE Awards aimtoshine a light on those who defy outdated ideas of aging —and in doingso, lift up the rest of us. These seven are reminders that curiosity doesn’tretire, and servicedoesn’t have an expiration date.

Each honoree will be profiled in Louisiana Inspired this week and next,with storiesthat explorethe workthey’ve done andthe livestheycontinuetotouch

The2025ENCOREAward winners are:

n Carol Fleischman, NewOrleans

n Eldridge(Butch) Gendron, St.Amant

n Sally Hebert, Lafayette

n Sal LaRock, NewOrleans

n JudgeCalvin Johnson, NewOrleans

n LoisKuyper-Rushing,Baton Rouge

n ShelleyThomas, NewOrleans

‘Powerful, positive practice’

90-year-oldLouisiana life coachinspiresothers

BY LAURENCHERAMIE Staff writer

Carol Fleischman did it big for her 90th birthday.Asshe should.

She requested aglobal theme, from food down to decor,withthe Bruce DaigrepontCajun Band asentertainment at the DeutschesHausinNew Orleans. Herfriends and family followed tradition and brought pies for thecelebration.Pies have been Fleischman’sgo-tofor herchildren’s birthdayparties since shenever liked making cakes.

“I did my 90th birthday in grand style,” Fleischman said, “and people said, ‘Oh, well, invite us to the 100th.’ AndIsaid, ‘No, it’s one yearatatime andone day at atime.’ Idid not plan to have any more big celebrations. I thinkwedid it well enough.”

While the nonagenarian aptlycelebrated her birthday,she’smostly used to celebratingother people’slives as acertified life coach who helps individuals positively recall and live their lives. More than 200 people have par-

ticipatedinher Cycles of Life Legacy program, which includes afive-step process of recallingand recording life memories in seven-year cycles in groups of 6to12people.The approach is based on the 7-year cycle theory, which suggeststhatsignificantlife changestend to occur in seven-year intervals.

Participants leave the program with awritten statement that illuminates thesignificanceoftheir lives

“People go away witha story that tells what their great strengths and qualities are —and also what contributions theyhavemade to the world,” Fleischman said.

Susan Burge, whonominatedFleischman forthe LouisianaInspired Encore Awards,wrote thatFleischman’s No.1goal is to help others become optimistic

“She often asks, ‘What if everyone in the world operatedout of whatisgood in their lives?,’ ”Burgewrote. “Certainly,for anyone of anyage, being impacted by majorchange(s)and adjusting to newliving circumstances of anykind, recallingthe ‘best of times’

and living outofpositivity,which is thecore of Carol’s program, has proven tobea powerful, positive practice.”

From WisconsintoNew Orleans At 90, Fleischman is sharp as atack.

See LIFECOACH, page 2Y

JanRisher LONG STORY SHORT

Rulesfor better conversation

Not long ago, Iwas reminded of an oldepisode of “This American Life”—one I’ve returnedto more thanoncesinceitoriginally airedin2013. In it, SarahKoenig, the episode’s producer,shares hermother’s“seven rules of conversation.”Her mother,Maria Matthiessen, admittedly broke herown rulesonoccasion and was generally forgiving with others, but she reminded her family of the rulesona regular basis. Matthiessendidn’tinvent the list. She learnedthe rules from aFrenchfriend, which, in Louisiana,makes the list feel even more official.

The reasoning behind the rules of conversation, according to Matthiessen, is that, “Nobody cares”about these specific topics. The topicsaren’twhatyou might expect —not politics, religion, or death. Instead, they’re the everyday things many of us bring up without thinking. To each one, Matthiessen has the same reply: “Nobody cares.” Howyou slept? Your dreams? Your money? Your diet? Your health?

“Nobody cares,” says Matthiessen. According to the episode, Matthiessentakes the list seriously andaddedtwo items to the originallist —health and route talk (explaining whichroads one took to getsomewhere and that someone cuthim off on the exit or thatsuchand suchroad was closed,etc.)

Clearly,Iloved the episode —12yearslater,I’m still talking, thinking, andwriting about it, partly because the idea of a mother admitting she didn’tcare aboutsomething felt so revolutionary to me. Certainly,Icould notimagine my mother saying anyofthis.

At onepoint, herdaughter asks, “Wait, when Icall you and I’m sick, areyou saying you don’t care?”

Hermotherexplains that if she’s seriously ill, of course, she cares,but minoraches and pains? Notsomuch.

My ownmother,tothis day, hangs on everywordher childrensay.Idonot take this kind of love andlistening forgranted. Evenwith ourchildren now young adults, Istill find myself striving to be more like her.

But everynow andthen, Matthiessenbreaksinto my brain especially when route talk starts, herNo. 1conversational no-no.

EvenRobertRedford —yes, thatRobertRedford —wasn’t exempt.

In the episode,Koenig and Matthiessenreview the list and even tell aboutthe time Robert Redford drove to their home for avisit. Shortly after his arrival, he did the unthinkable. He told themabout his drive to Long Island fromManhattan.

He gotlost. He got aticket. Someone recognizedhim. Matthiessensaidthe drive takestwo hours andthatRedford practically took two hours to tell the story

“Was he dead to you after that?” Koenig asked.

“Pretty much,” hermother replied.

Perhaps this oldradio episode hasremainedtop of mind because ourfamily hashad a chronic route talk violator.Now thatour childrenlive in different statesand time zones, we often catch up on the phone during commutes.

With oneparticularfamily member,weoften get adetailed,

ASK THEEXPERTS

Former educator is stayingbusygivingback

SalLarockturns passions into opportunitiestohelp community

BY COURTNEY LUCIUS Staff writer

Amite native Sal Larock has served his community as an educator,volunteer,gardener and more for decades. Starting in Jefferson Parish schools as aphysical education coach, Larock spent over 40 years working in Jefferson Parish schools as ateacher, principal, operations manager anddirector of community education.

Post-retirement, Larockremains active with the Caesars Superdome, is the sole caretaker of the 250 “knockout” rose bushes at Lafreniere Park and works with Concord Shore Servicesasthe voice welcoming people on Carnival Cruise Lines and aiding peoplein wheelchairs. As amember of Dawn BustersKiwanis Club, Larock volunteers with the Rewardsfor Reading program and created the mascot, Rockythe Rooster, to bring to presentations. Larock hascontinued to serve, lead and inspire his community, turning his passions into opportunities to help people around him.

This interviewhas been edited for length and clarity

How do you define aRenaissance man? Wasityour goal to be one?

ARenaissance man has pride, passion and proper purpose giving back. Youwant to give back because there are so many opportunities because seniors don’ttake advantage of things. Ican show you wherea lotoffriendsdrink coffee in acoffee shop all morning talking about the past. Look at me, I’m talking about the future. We’re looking

LIFE COACH

Continued from page1Y

Her voice is warm and light —much like her family’sfavorite raspberryapple pie. Her weekly schedule is consumed with Zoom meetings, phone calls and early morning exercise. Shecontinues to be,by allaccounts,a forcetobe reckoned with.

In her quest to help people positively age,she has done the same. She says that the key to aging well is to “do it with apositiveattitude, knowing that there’s hope and possibility in every day.” She added that taking care of yourself is important as well.

Through the trials and tribulations of her life, Fleischman’s daughter, Laurie Kramer,says her mother has always kept her positive attitude.

“As achild, it was always, ‘The futureisopen. The past is forgiven. Today is good.’ That was kind of my mom’smantra,” Kramer said.

Fleischman grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and attended aone-room schoolhouse with eight grade levels in the same space.

“By the time you graduated, you learned things eighttimes,” she said.

As achild, her favorite thing to do was read the National Geographic magazines that werestoredin herhouse. This practice inspired alifelong love of travel.

Butitwasn’t until her 40s that she traveled out of the United States for the first time. She parted ways with her husband and was the mother to ason and two daughters. At 45 years old, Fleischman attended Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, to participate in an external degree program for two years. In 1978, she joined the Institute of CulturalAffairs and worked on community development projects in rural communitiesinIndia and Indonesia. To date, she has traveled to Italy Greece, Portugal, Chile, Ar-

to the future.You’vegot to make sure you get what youwant. Igot to take care of my grandkids What do you do in the Superdome? What does that look like?

Iamincharge of the press box. Ihave 18 people working forme. We’re the top people here.You know, walking on the deck up in the press box, and theycomeupand do their work.

It’s aworking environment.No loud talking,nodrinking, no nothing. Yougot to have credentials to getuptous. As they come in,they’ll go ‘Hey Mr.Sal!,’and it’s so much fun. When they first gotstarted Ihelped them out, andnow we’re 10 to 20yearsinto it. They’revery successful, and Istill get to watch them grow.

You’re the voice of the cruise line. How did that happen?

Networkinggot me to Carnival, and at Carnival Iwas just working different positions —computer positions andthenaposition came up of the announcer.When it came up about theannouncer,I took it Guess what? Idevelopedit.

ThenIsaw alot of seniorpeople, and I’mtalkingthem, and Isaw our young people pushing to help them. So Isaid,let me try that. So that’s howI gotthe announcer position, and that’show Igot thewheelchair position,and that’show Iwill continue to make adifferencefor however long.

As chair of Dawn Buster’sadopt-a-garden programand caretaker of Lafreneire Park’s knockout rose bushes, wheredoes your passionfor gardening come from?

Igrew up in avery,very small town ina povertysituation, and we were strawberry farmers. We made farming our living. Whatwe ate is what we grew, and so, my innate ability is to farm. WhenI came to the city andI started teaching,I would always go back to the country continually Whyknockout roses?

Q&A WITH SAL LAROCK RETIRED PHYSICAL EDUCATION COACH

Knockout roses are drought resistant. They’ll bloom maybe two, maybe threetimes ayear.I don’t have to,like other roses, baby them as much. When adrought is bad, I’ve got abig tankIput in the back of my truck. And Igoaround, and Iwater themtokeep them going. Do you think that gardening strengthens the community? Gardening strengthens community because it brings the community together on acommon cause.It creates an environmentoftranquility.Theycome, sitonthe benches, and theytalk about it,reaping men-

taland social benefits.

The color designs is aesthetic.

On apersonal level, they visit to recall their positive childhood.It strengthenscommunity because it gives those in their community an opportunitytocome to the park and reap the rewards of all the benefits.

Howhaveyou found different ways to strengthen community?

In anutshell, if you network, you stay active, youstayinthe flow, things will come to you— if you have avision of what you want to do,you’remotivated and you have integrity,integrity doingthe right

thing for the right reason.

Whyhaveyou continued to work with children in Dawn BustersKiwanis? How have you seen theseprograms benefitkids over time?

During my education career,I wasdeeply involved in Kiwanis. Thewholetime Iwas involved with Kiwanis, Ialways had the belief of making adifference in my community.So, the answer to that question is, educationcontinuedfor me after Iretired because Kiwanis allowed me to continue nonprofit community involvement. Community involvementisthe nature of the game.

gentina, Ireland, Germany, Mexico,Costa Rica,New Zealand,Australia, France and Hungary

Travel, she says, taught her howtotunein to people,even if shecouldn’t speak the language

“Every human being is unique,” she said.

Cycles of Life Legacy

In 1981, Fleischman landed in New Orleans and worked at the Belle Chasse State Schoolfor twoand a half years.Thoughnot anative New Orleanian, Kramer saysthat her mother feels like she belongs in the CrescentCity Fleischman went towork at LSUMedical Center in theDepartment of Rehabilitation Counseling as a trainerand program developer in1984. After LSU, she did strategic planning with Trinity Episcopal Church, the NO-AIDSTask Force and other clients. In 1994, she became a

certifiedlife coach with Success UnlimitedNetwork, aglobal school that is accreditedbythe International Coaching Federation. Today, Fleischman facilitates retirementcoaching, groupand individual coaching andvocation transition, along with her Cycles of Life Legacy program, across Louisiana. While the legacy programisopento anyone, theprimary focus is on people who areexperiencing the second halfof life (age50and beyond)

“She’strying to impart to other people, ‘Stop looking at your lifeasaseries of mistakes andsuccesses Everything you go through hasmeaning, is purposeful and can be looked at positively,’ ”Kramer said. “She’sgot the story to back it up. She proves that you can do this.”

‘I want it to last’

WhenPatriciaSharpe attended one of Fleischman’s

courses at her church, she was estranged from her younger brother.She recounted thefirst seven years of her life witha partnerinthe group, and she had theopportunity to open up and talk about the impact of her childhood. After the program, she was able to find and meet her brother who she hadn’tseen sincehewas 3years old.

“I would not have been able to handle meeting him had Inot done that process,” Sharpe said.“And I wasable to share the way I felt with him.

She added that Fleischman’sprogram allowed hertolook at thefirst seven years of herlife with anew perspective

“It was life-changing for me to go throughher process,” Sharpe said. In thefuture, Fleischman hopestotrain and certify more people in theCycles of Life Legacy process.A cadre of her

colleaguesiscurrently working to prepare the program and facilitators’ guidefor copyright and publication

“I have documented the process, andIneed to getit outthere andget it valued,” Fleischmansaid. “Because Iwantittolast.” Through her years of facilitating people throughlifetransitions Fleischman says that people are really surprisedatthe value of their contributions

“A lotofpeople live their life and just plod on, or dance, whatever style is theirs, and don’treally realize the significance of what hasalreadyhappened,”she said. “And Ithink (documenting it) just adds great power and strength to going forward, no matter what ageyou are.”

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

RISHER

Continued from page1Y

play-by-play account of her drive home

Thanks to Matthiessen’s rules, gentle route talk reminders have given us a way to steer the conversationtowardothertopics or askifshe needstofocus fully on herdriving and get offthe phone At this point, ourdaily Denver traffic updatesare part of ourfamily lore. We gripe.Werollour eyes but, like my mother,we still listen. Ifind acertain beauty in ruleslike Matthiessen’s— notbecause they’re rigid, but because theyforce us to think aboutand pay more attentiontowhat fills ourheadsand whatwords come outofour mouths. Maybe that’sthe deeper truth behind Matthiessen’s rules. Whenwestrip away the filler, what’sleftmight be real connection—conversationthatstays and reminds us to saythe important things andnot just what pops in ourheads. EmailJan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

Algierswoman took 10

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

The feisty 74-year-old inventor of the Eco Wonder Cloth lives in an Algiers home with sparkling hardwood floors and spotless countertops.

Born and raised in New Orleans, ShelleyThomas used disposablewipeattachments when mopping her floors, but she got fed up when they kept sliding off the base. That’swhen an idea popped into her head: a reusable, reversible microfiber cloth that attaches to the mop with Velcro.

She grabbed some towels, scissors, asewing machine —and she got to work on a prototype.

After an almost 10-year journey litteredwith trial and error,Thomas’ Eco Wonder Cloth hit the market in 2023 withits ownwebsite Now,it’salso available for purchase throughWalmart and Amazon.

“You spend about maybe three to four months buying those (disposable) sheets, and after that, when you keep buying sheets, my cloth is continually going,” Thomas said.“It’ll last hundreds of uses.”

Thomas specifically chose microfiber because research demonstrates its ability to pickupdirt and 98% of bacteria effectively.The Velcro made the cleaning process quick and simple.

Users can sweep with it or add water and mop, so there’snoneed to drag around abucket, she said. And it’seco-friendly because disposable sheets aren’tfilling landfills Thomas didn’tlet age stop her from doing something big. She also didn’tlet imperfect prototypes, dust or legalese get in her way either

Patent problems

Apatentmustbeuseful andunique, Thomas said, and the EcoWonder Cloth was just that. But not everybody seemed to think so.

Patentingthe product design wasn’teasy.Her patent attorney’s write-up didn’tproperly explain the product, so it kept getting rejected in its final stageby the patent agent, Thomas said. Back andforth. Rejected again. And again. “I said, ‘Ireallydon’tfeel I’ve exhausted allmyoptions,’ ”Thomas said. I think Imight want to try this on my own. Finish up.’”

At 66 yearsold in 2017, Thomas typed the application on her own and after submitting,the agent finally thought it was perfect “I’ll never forget. Iwas right there,” Thomas said, pointing to her living room.

“And Iwas on the phone with (the agent) .‘How do Iknow if Ihave the patent?’ And she said, ‘Youhave the patent.’ AndI was like, ‘What? Ihavethe patent?’ She started laughing, she said ‘Yes, you do.’ She found amanufacturer

in China who did agreat job making the product and completed the entire business deal via email. The product hit themarket, and her life changed.

“Ifsomebodywould’ve told me Icould deal with someoneinChina through emailand getthe product finished, Iwould’ve said, ‘You out of your mind,’ ” Thomas said.

Family support

Thomas’family members chimed in to support the business.One of her sons came up withthe product’s name. Her daughter helped sell products from up in New York,and Thomas’sister did the same from her workplace at asalon.

Thomas heard aboutthe Encore Awards, and, like thego-getter sheis, she asked her daughter to nominateher

“I thoughtaboutit, and Isaid,‘Wait aminute,’ Thomas said.“’I better do thisbecause Imightbe dead next year.’”

Having people support you is important,Thomas said, so when you have down days, youcan keep going. Her daughter,Shannon Picou, 47, has observed the

entire journey

“It’sbeen along road,” Picou said. “I feel like shehas accomplished alot, especiallyfor someone herage, where you’resupposed to be winding down, and she’s revving up.”

Picou said hermotheris the type of persontostop and talk to everybody.She’s also independent,feisty and big on community,Picou said.

“My motherisareally good, great cook,” Picou said. “Let’ssay it was your birthday or something. She would find out all the things youlike,and shewould make aspecial dinner for you, like amenu that caters to what you like.”

Because of her background in technology software, Picou volunteered to design theproduct’s website (ecowondercloth.com).

Aftersome technology lessons, Thomas is able to tweak thewebsite here and therewhen needed, Picou said.

“I’m very picky abouthow things look andstuff like that,” Picousaid. “WhichI get from her.”

Next steps

When she’snot devising

thelatesttechnology for spotless floors, Thomas attends morning Mass at herchurch, readsAgatha Christie novels, weeds her gardenand cooksorbakes for loved ones

As she cooks wearing her pink “ChefShelley” apron, aframed photo sits on the kitchencounter. It was gifted by her friend, Edna, andit’sa picture of Thomas posing with the cloth on the WGNO NewOrleans set after her live interview in 2023.

“She took it upon herself and went and did that,” Thomas said. “I didn’teven know she was going to do that. She surprised me. She came oneday to church. Shesaid, ‘I toldyou. You

should’ve framedthis picture.’

Thomas keeps abin of her old prototypes in her laundry room, and yes, she still cleans with them.She also continues her daily research into the Eco Wonder Cloth’sfuture, like increasing product sales, advertising andreviews. Herdedication to pristine floors seems never-ending. EvenasTimes-Picayune photographerSophia Germer snapped photos forthis story,Thomas kept checking to make sure the floors looked flawless.

“It’snever too late if you have something youwant to do,” Thomas said. “You still can do it.It’snever too late.”

At Our Lady of Lourdes JD Moncus Cancer Center,wewant to make sureyou nevermissa momentofwhat really counts. Our attentiontoyourcareisbased on adecades-long foundationofexperience and compassionate, comprehensive treatmentfor Acadiana families, includingall theresources youneed to fight cancer.That’s why we’rethe region’s trusted cancer treatmentdestination. That’s why it allcounts here. LearnmoreatLourdesRMC.com/cancer

SUNDAY, AUgUSt 10, 2025

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 — LiBretto: lih-BRET-

oh: The text of a work for the musical theater

Average mark 39 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 62 or more words in LIBRETTO?

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

By amanda CooK

goren Bridge

Mystery declarer

The declarer in today’s deal is not known to us. He deserves recognition for his efforts here.

East won the opening diamond lead with his ace, felling the king from South. East shifted to a low heart, ducked to West’s queen. A heart to the ace and another heart put South on play

Declarer played a spade to the ace, a spade back to his king, and another spade to East. East led a low diamond and South had to guess what to do. He could only afford one more loser Should East have the queen of diamonds, South could discard a club on this trick and then would only have to guess the club position, assuming it was guessable. South chose to ruff the diamond. He led a club, putting up dummy’s king when West played low South ruffed a diamond, felling the queen and leaving this position: NORTH

wuzzLes

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

super Quiz

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep your finances, feelings and plans to yourself. Sharing too much information will make you vulnerable. Avoid emotional spending and trying to buy love or favors

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Spend more time with someone you love or people who are working toward a similar goal. Sharing will result in a better understanding of what you can accomplish.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Chase your dreams, secure your position and use your connections to advance You can be helpful without paying

South led a low club and the defense was helpless Should West duck his ace, East would win and have to give dummy the jack of diamonds. The ace from West would drop East’s queen and make dummy high. Beautifully 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. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

the price. Don’t take unnecessary risks with your reputation, health or finances.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22) A physical change will lift your spirits and attract attention. Let your actions speak for you, and you’ll avoid a confrontation with someone trying to damage your reputation.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Carrying out some home improvements or preparing to host an event will encourage creativity Your insight into investments and situations will lead to awareness and change your perspective.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take nothing for granted. Shape your future by identifying opportunities that align directly with your goals and aspirations. Refuse to let outsiders interfere.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take charge and get things done. Work to make a difference and stand up for people who need help. Someone will recognize your input, and an unexpected reward will follow.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Let your emotions play out and your feelings be known. Direct your energy into personal improvements, social

activity and spending time with someone you love.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Actively search for new ideas, concepts and ways to use your skills and experiences to get ahead. Networking events can pay off and provide connections A domestic change requires financial restrictions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Arguing is a waste of time. Give others the same benefits you want for yourself Stick to people who share your agenda, do your best and send those heading in a different direction on their way

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Refuse to get involved in someone else’s drama. Separate yourself from situations that conflict with your ethical beliefs. Set high standards.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Take the guessing out of situations that appear to have hidden factors by asking direct questions. It’s up to you to gather sufficient information before participating.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Answers to puzzles

1. Albany.2.New Jersey. 3. Missouri River 4. Philadelphia. 5. Alaska.6.Missouri. 7. Arizona

8. Colorado. 9. GeorgeWashington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt,Abraham Lincoln. 10. France. 11. Alaska. 12. Nevada and Arizona. 13. Idaho. 14. Sea-to-Lake. 15. Phoenix, Arizona.

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?

Cryptoquote Answer

If you can't be kind, at least be vague.— Judith Martin

word GAme Answer super

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

sCrAbble Answers

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAtoAnswers