SAINTS DEDICATE RESOURCES TO REPAIRING RUN DEFENSE 1C THE
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W e d n e s d ay, au g u s t 13, 2025
Expansion at Lourdes aids maternity care
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Haynes wants some evidence dismissed Lafayette assistant DA indicted in bribery case
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR
Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Construction continues Tuesday on the neonatal intensive care unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Lafayette. The expansion will provide 19 private NICU family suites to increase the hospital’s NICU capacity to 60 total beds.
Gary Haynes, who was indicted in September in connection with a bribery scheme involving the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Lafayette, wants a federal judge to exclude files seized during a May 2022 raid on the office where he was an assistant district attorney. Haynes’ attorney, Todd Clemons, of Lake Charles, filed six motions in U.S. District Court in Lafayette on Monday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed one motion. Haynes A hearing on the motions and pretrial hearing are scheduled for Aug. 25 in Lafayette before federal Judge David Joseph. The trial is set for Sept. 8 and is expected to last about two weeks, according to court documents. Haynes handled the pretrial intervention program under District Attorney Don Landry. He was indicted on six charges, including bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice. He and a contractor in the District Attorney’s
ä See HAYNES, page 7A
NICU project part of $100M hospital upgrade
Abortion pill fight has high stakes
BY JA’KORI MADISON
Staff writer
Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital is undergoing $100 million in improvements as part of what hospital leaders say is its commitment to provide the best maternity care and meet the growing needs of the region. At the heart of the Advancing Acadiana project is the expansion of the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, featuring significant exterior upgrades and private suites — each with a full bathroom and a dedicated family area within the room. The NICU will expand from 51 to 60 beds and will feature 19 new private suites. “The Advancing Acadiana Project is more than buildings,” Lourdes President Stephanie Manson said last year at its launch. “It is a pledge to advance the health, to nurture the future and to cherish the community that we are privileged to serve. Each facet of this initiative is designed to ensure that every patient receives the highest standard of care in an environment of warmth, comfort and excellence.”
La., N.y. case could help define post-Roe v. Wade era BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
A rendering shows a private family suite inside the neonatal intensive care unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Alesha Alford, vice president of Women’s and Children’s, said because the medical center is one of four facilities in the state with a level three surgical NICU, having in-room accommodations helps ease the burden for families being transferred from rural areas.
“Traveling itself is difficult enough. Then if we don’t have rooms available for them to stay, they now have to worry about getting a hotel, which is expensive,” Alford said. A March report from the Louisiana
ä See LOURDES, page 7A
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022 ended a constitutional, nationwide right to abortion, states have passed their own, oftentimes widely divergent laws. Louisiana has a near-total ban and criminal penalties for providers, for example, while in New York, there is an “absolute right” to abortion until 24 weeks in a pregnancy. As some states outlaw abortion, others have passed shield laws to protect abortion providers and patients within their borders from states that have restricted the procedure.
ä See ABORTION, page 4A
Gulf Coast sees surge of flesh-eating bacteria water exposure. Pathogen found in warm salt water, raw shellfish direct Vibrio bacteria flourish in warm,
BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
The Gulf Coast has seen a rise in infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a deadly pathogen found in warm salt water and raw shellfish known for its ability to rapidly infect and destroy skin and tissue. So far this year, the bacteria has been linked to over 70 infections and nine deaths across Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. Louisiana accounts for a disproportionate share
WEATHER HIGH 92 LOW 76 PAGE 8A
of the cases, with 20 infections and four deaths. In comparison, the state averaged just seven cases and one death per year over the past decade. Experts point to several factors fueling the recent increase, including rising water temperatures and storm runoff that provides nutrients for bacterial growth. While the bacterium can sometimes enter the body through eating raw or undercooked seafood, the Louisiana Department of Health reports that three-quarters of recent infections involved wounds or other
brackish waters — conditions that are common during the summer months. After heavy rains and storms, nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen wash into coastal waters, helping the bacteria multiply, said Tiong Aw, a public health microbiologist and professor at Tulane University. “All these create an ideal condition for Vibrio to grow and survive,” Aw said. There are dozens of types of Vibrio
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD
Deadly bacteria found in warm salt water has been linked to ä See BACTERIA, page 6A over 70 infections and nine deaths across the Gulf Coast.
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