The Acadiana Advocate 08-17-2025

‘It

felt good helping people’

Lafayette

fire chief says goodbye after 32 years on the job

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer

When Robert Benoit heads to work Monday morning, for the first time in 32 years he won’t be reporting to the downtown fire station as chief of the Lafayette Fire Department. Instead, he will report to Acadian Ambulance, where he will be working full-time as fire liaison supervisor

The position, he said, will keep him connected to the fire services. Acadian Ambulance was looking for someone with his credentials and relationships with fire departments across the state.

Benoit’s last day with the Fire Department was Friday

People asked Benoit why he stayed with the department for 46 years when he could do something else

Redefining their future

BY DESIREE STENNETT | Staff writer

making more money or retire.

“I would always say ‘God placed me here for a reason. When it’s time for me to go he’s going to let me know,’” he said. “He let me know.”

Some may not know, but in addition to leading the fire department, Benoit has been involved in ministry. He was ordained at his church

ä See FIRE CHIEF, page 9A

Change in police chiefs roils Golden Meadow

Investigators say previous chief deleted records after losing election

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY | Staff writer

GOLDEN MEADOW On Michelle Lafont’s first day as the newly elected police chief of this tiny speed-trap town and shrimping community on the way to Port Fourchon, the door of her Town Hall office wouldn’t budge.

You’ve got to be kidding me, she thought.

Her predecessor, former Golden Meadow Police Chief Troy Dufrene, had locked the keys inside the office after losing the November 2024 election by an excruciating nine votes, she said.

That wasn’t all.

The day after Dufrene lost, state criminal investigators say he began deleting computer records pertaining to the Police Department’s citations, calls for service, theft complaints and warrants. He also deleted administrative records like payroll sheets and fuel reimbursement reports, investigators said.

Dufrene continued doing so throughout his remaining 55 days in office — jeopardizing some 12 years’ worth of records, according to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.

Dufrene later apologized for his actions, explaining that he “felt the data belonged to him,” an investigator wrote. He was arrested Aug. 6 on charges of computer tampering, injuring public records and malfeasance all felonies.

See CHANGE, page 8A

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina shaped the lives of children in New Orleans, who have now grown up ä See KATRINA, page 6A

Cierra Chenier doesn’t like to leave New Orleans. Not after being forced out after Hurricane Katrina drowned the city Not for too long. Not when so many family members, childhood friends and countless others moved and never found their way back. She was 9 when Katrina turned her whole world — everyone’s world — upside down. In the years that followed, she and thousands of other children came of age in a new kind of New Orleans where they were suddenly divorced from the neighborhoods that formed generations of identities.

Cierra Chenier was 9 when Hurricane Katrina hit. A resident of New Orleans East, her home and nearly everything inside was destroyed in the storm. She stands in the now-vacant New Orleans East yard where she grew up playing

Tensions soar in Serbia amid angryprotests

BELGRADE, Serbia— Angry protestersclashed with police in a town in western Serbia and in the capital Belgrade on Saturday as tensions soared further in the Balkan nation following days of violent demonstrations.

Wearing scarves over their faces andchantingslogans against President AleksandarVucic,a group of young men threwflares at his Serbian ProgressiveParty offices in Valjevo, some 60 miles from the capital Belgrade. They set fire to the party’soffices beforeclashing with riot policeina downtown area.

Police threw multiple rounds of tear gas and charged at the demonstrators who hurled bottles, rocks and flares at them.

Similar clashes also erupted on Saturday evening in Belgrade, with police directing tear gas at protesterswhile battling theprotesters who set garbage containers on fire.

The protesters in Valjevo turned out to the streets to protest what they allege is police brutality

There were no immediate reports on the numbers of injured people in either Valjevo or Belgrade.

Serbia has been gripped by protests since November,when atrain station canopy collapse killed 16 people. Many blamed the tragedy on poorrenovation work resulting from widespread corruption in infrastructure projects.

Suspected Islamist rebels kill 30 in Congo

KINSHASA, Congo— Suspected Islamist rebels have killed at least 30 people in aseries of attacks in Congo’sNorth Kivu province in recentdays, aCongolese militaryofficial said Saturday

The killings took place in Bapere village between Wednesday and Friday,according to Col. Alain Kiwawa, the military administrator of Lubero territorywhere thevillage is located.

“Wehave more than 30 people dead, and at least ahundred who are beingheldhostage,”Kiwawa told TheAssociated Press.

Acivil society leader,Samuel Kaheni, the president of theBapere civil society organization, added that several houses were burnedand victims weremostly killed with knives.

Librarybook returned after 82 yearsin Texas

SANANTONIO Alibrary book has been returned nearly 82 years after it was borrowed fromthe San Antonio PublicLibrary.It came with aletter noting that “Grandma won’tbeable to pay for it anymore.”

The book is “Your Child, His Family,and Friends” by marriage and family counselor Frances Bruce Strain. It was checked out in July 1943 and returned this past June from aperson in Oregon, thelibrary said in anews release.

“After the recent deathofmy father,Iinherited afew boxes of books he left behind,” the person wrote in aletter that wasshared by the library on Instagram and signed with the initialsP.A.A.G

The book was aguide for parentsonhelping their children navigate personal relationships. It was checked out when the person’sfather was 11 years old.

“The book must have been borrowedbymyGrandmother,Mariadel Socorro Aldrete Flores (Cortez),” the person wrote. “In that year,she transferred to Mexico City to workatthe US Embassy.She must have taken the book with her,and some 82 years later, it ended up in my possession.” The book had received writeupsinvarious newspapersat the time. The Cincinnati Enquirer describeditinJune1943as a “completeguidebooktothe personal relationships of the child with his familyand the outside world.”

The person who returned the book wrote in the letter: “I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won’tbeable to pay for it anymore.”

The library said in anews release that it eliminated overdue fines in 2021. The inside cover of the book was stamped with the warning that the fine for overdue bookswas three centsa day. Not accounting for inflation, the penalty would amount to nearly$900.

Trumpwants overallpeace deal

President reverses on need forceasefire first to endwar in Ukraine

BY SAMYAKULLAB, JOHN LEICESTER and EMMA BURROWS Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine President Donald Trumpreversed course in thewake of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin tosay an overallpeace agreement notthe ceasefire that he has longchampioned —isthe next step in ending the 31/2yearwar in Ukraine.

In talkswith European allies after Friday’ssummit in Alaska,Trump said Putin reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas. But Putin appeared open to the possibilityof halting the stalemateintwo other regions, Zaporizhzhia andKherson, with afreeze alongthe front lines.

That is according to European officials familiar with thecalls whospoke on condition of anonymity to discussthe talksata U.S. militarybase between the Americanand Russian presidents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously rejected giving up the territory in the Donbas

Theaftermath of the summit offered littleclarity aboutthe next steps, other than Trump’scommitment for more meetings, includingwith Zelenskyy at the White Houseon Monday.It wasunclearamong those

Elmendorf-Richardson,

At left is Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and second from right is SecretaryofState Marco Rubio.

briefed on the exchanges whether Trump saw Putin’s desire for the Donbas as acceptable, withTrump’s blunt but elliptical way of speaking only adding to a sense of confusion.

The WhiteHouse had yet to provide apublic summary of the calls as Trump golfed on Saturday withhis special envoySteve Witkoff andFox News anchorBret Baier at his Virginia golf club. Themost transparent takeaway was Trump’s abruptreversal on aceasefire, raising questions of howpeace talks can proceed if attacks continue.

Trump’sabandoning a ceasefire as arequirement for further negotiations aligns him with aposition held by Putin. TheRussian leader has long said Moscow is notinterested in atemporary truceand is seeking along-term settlementthattakes the Krem-

lin’sinterestsintoaccount.

After the calls with Zelenskyy andEuropean leaders,Trumpsaid Saturday on social media that “it was determined by all thatthe best way toend the horrific war between Russiaand Ukraine is to go directly to aPeace Agreement,which would end the war,and not amere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF television that Trump said “Russia seems to be preparedtoconduct the negotiations based on the so-called line of contact andnot the administrative boundaries.” It was unclear from the commentshow issues pertaining to the Donbas had been resolved. Zelenskyy has previously refused to withdraw from theremaining 30%ofthe Donetsk region that Ukraine

controls. He saysthatwould be unconstitutional and the territory could be used as astaging ground for later Russian attacks.

In astatementafterthe Trumpcall, major European leadersdid notaddress whethera peacedealwas preferabletoaceasefire, saying they “welcomed President Trump’sefforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’swar of aggression, andachieve just and lasting peace.”

Putin on Saturday described his talks with Trump as “very frank.”

“We, of course, respect the positionofthe American administration,which sees the need for aspeedy endtomilitary actions,”he said at the follow-up meeting at the Kremlin, aclip of which was posted to the Kremlin’sTelegram channel. “Wewould like to move to resolving all issues by

peaceful means.” Putinhas “broken outof international isolation” and “wasn’tinthe leastchallenged” by Trump, who also ignored an arrest warrant issued for Putin by the InternationalCriminal Court, said Laurie Bristow,who wasBritish ambassador to Russia from 2016 to 2020. But the U.S. isn’tamember of the court and thus doesn’t have an obligation to arrest him.

Zelenskyy, whowas not invited to Alaska forthe summit, said he had a“long and substantive” conversation with Trumpearly Saturdayand that they would “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war” on Monday It will be Zelenskyy’sfirst visit to the United States since Trump berated him publicly forbeing “disrespectful” during an extraordinary Oval Officemeeting in February Trump confirmed the White House meeting and saidthat “if all works out, we will then schedule ameeting withPresident Putin.” Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of involving European leaders, who also werenot at the summit,“to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America.”

“Wealsodiscussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security,” he said. The Ukrainian leader did not elaborate, but he has previouslysaidEuropean partners putonholda proposal to establish aforeign troop presenceinUkraine to deter Russian aggression because it lacked an American backstop.

HurricaneErinexplodestoCategory5storm

BY DÁNICA COTO and RUSS BYNUM Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico HurricaneErin exploded in strength to aCategory 5 storm inAtlantic waters just northofthe Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly poweringupfromatropical storm in asingleday, theNational Hurricane Center said. While the compact hurricane’scenter was not expected to strike land, it threatened to dump flooding rains in the northeast Caribbeanasitcontinued to growlarger

The firstAtlantic hurricaneof2025, Erin ramped up from atropical storm to aCategory 5hurricane in amere24hours. By late Saturdaymorning, its maximum sustained winds had more thandoubledto 160mph.

Mike Brennen, director of theNational Hurricane Center in Miami, said Erin grewintoa “very powerful hurricane,” with itswinds

Awarning flag flies Fridayonthe beach as people swim in Condado, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane Erin approaches

gaining 60 mphinabout nine hours.

TheHurricaneCenter saidErinshould begin to slowly weaken Monday as the storm encountersincreased wind shear.However forecasterspredicted that it will remainamajor hurricaneuntil late in the week.

Thehurricaneremained aCategory 5storm Saturdayevening,whenitwas located 135 miles northwest of Anguilla and moving west at 15 mph. Thestorm’s center was forecast to remain at sea, passing 145

miles north of PuertoRico, according to the National Hurricane Center Tropical storm watches wereissuedfor St.Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten and the Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain in some areas could trigger flashflooding, landslides and mudslides. The Turks and Caicos Islands southeastofthe Bahamas were alsounder atropical storm watch.

Though compact, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles from its center,Erin was expected

Pakistan flooding deaths rise to 220

By The Associated Press

BUNER, Pakistan Floodinginanorthwest Pakistani districthas killed at least 220 people, officials said Saturday, as rescuers pulled 63 more bodies overnight fromhomes flattened by flashfloods and landslides, with forecasts of moreraininthe coming days.

Oneeyewitness, who escaped thedeluges in Buner,described seeing floodwaters carrying hundreds of boulders and “tons of rocks” crashing down.

Hundreds of rescue workers arestill searching forsurvivors in Buner,one of several places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where torrential rains and cloudbursts

caused massive flooding on Friday,said Mohammad Suhail, aspokesman for theemergency services.Dozensofhomes were swept away First responders have been trying to recover bodiesfromthe worst-hit villages of PirBabaand Malik Pura,where most of thefatalitieswere, said Kashif Qayyum, adeputy commissionerinBuner Local police officer ImtiazKhan, who narrowly escaped the deluges, said floodwaters carrying hundreds of boulders struck andflattened homes within minutes.

“A stream near Pir Baba village in Buner swelled without warning. At first, we thought it was anormal flash flood, but when tons

of rockscamecrashing down with thewater,60 to 70 houses were swept away in moments,” Khan told The Associated Press, adding thatmany bodies wereleft mutilated.

“Ourpolice station was washed away too and if we hadn’tclimbed to higher ground, we would not have survived,”Khan said.

Pakistan’sMeteorological Department predicted torrential rains in thecoming days and warned that monsoon activitywas likely to intensify from Sunday onwards, including in the northand northwest Rescuers said they saw large swathes of Pir Baba village destroyed, wrecked homes, and giant rocks filling thestreets as the water startedtorecede.

to double or even triple in size in the coming days.

Powerful ripcurrents could affect the U.S. East Coast from Florida to the mid-Atlanticnextweek,despite the eye of the storm forecast to remain far offshore, Brennan said.

Hurricanespecialist and storm surgeexpert Michael Lowry saidEringained strength at apace that was “incredible for anytime of year,let alone August 16th.” Lowry said only four other Category 5hurricanes have been recordedinthe Atlantic on or before Aug. 16. The mostpowerful storms tend to formlater in theyear withthe hurricane season typically peakinginmidSeptember

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LA 70501

W.Va. sending National Guard members to D.C.

BY MATT BROWN and MIKE PESOLI Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of West Virginia National Guard members will deploy across the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to overhaul policing in Washington through a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness.

The move announced Saturday comes as protesters pushed back on federal law enforcement and National Guard troops fanning out in the heavily Democratic city following President Donald Trump’s executive order federalizing local police forces and activating about 800 District of Columbia National Guard members

By adding outside troops to join the existing Guard deployment and federal law enforcement officers, Trump is exercising even tighter control over the city It’s a power play that the president has justified as an emergency response to crime and homelessness, even though city officials have noted that violent crime is lower than it was during Trump’s first term in office

A protest against Trump’s intervention drew scores to Dupont Circle on Saturday before a march to the White House, about 1.5 miles away.

Demonstrators assembled behind a banner that said, “No fascist takeover of D.C.,” and some in the crowd held signs saying, “No military occupation.”

Trump was at his Virginia golf club after Friday’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Morgan Taylor, one of the organizers who coordinated Saturday’s protest, said they were hoping to spark enough backlash to Trump’s actions that the administration would be forced to pull back on its crime and immigration agenda.

“It’s hot, but I’m glad to be here. It’s good to see all these people out here,” she said. “I can’t believe that this is happening in this country at this time.”

Fueling the protests were concerns about Trump overreach and that he had used crime as a pretext to impose his will on Washington

John Finnigan, 55, was taking a bike ride when he ran into the protest in downtown Washington. The real estate construction manager who has lived in the capital for 27 years said Trump’s moves were “ridiculous” because crime is down

“Hopefully, some of the mayors and some of the residents will get out in front of it and try and make it harder for it to happen in other cities,” Finnigan said Jamie Dickstein, a 24-year-

old teacher, said she was “very uncomfortable and worried” for the safety or her students given the “unmarked officers of all types” now roaming Washington and detaining people.

Dickstein said she turned out to the protest with friends and relatives to “prevent a continuous domino effect going forward with other cities.”

Gov Patrick Morrisey, R-W.Va., announced Saturday that he was sending a contingent of 300 to 400 Guard troops to Washington.

“West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump

in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” Morrisey said.

The West Virginia activation suggests the administration sees the need for additional manpower after the president personally played down the need for Washington to hire more police officers.

Maj. Gen. James Seward, West Virginia’s adjutant general, said in a statement that members of the state’s National Guard “stand ready to support our partners in the National Capital Region” and that the troops’ “unique capabilities and prepared-

ness make it an invaluable partner in this important undertaking.”

Federal agents have appeared in some of the city’s most highly trafficked neighborhoods, garnering a mix of praise, pushback and alarm from local residents and leaders across the country

City leaders, who are obliged to cooperate with Trump’s order under the federal laws that direct the district’s local governance, have sought to work with the administration, though they have bristled at the scope of the president’s takeover On Friday, the administra-

tion reversed course on an order that aimed to place the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as an “emergency police commissioner” after the district’s top lawyer sued to contest. After a court hearing, Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, issued a memo that directed the Metropolitan Police Department to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement regardless of any city law City officials say they are evaluating how to best comply In his order Monday Trump declared an emergency due to the “city government’s failure to maintain public order.” He said that impeded the “federal government’s ability to operate efficiently to address the nation’s broader interests without fear of our workers being subjected to rampant violence.” In a letter to city residents, Mayor Muriel Bowser a Democrat, wrote that “our limited self-government has never faced the type of test we are facing right now.” She added that if Washington residents stick together, “we will show the entire nation what it looks like to fight for American democracy — even when we don’t have full access to it.” Associated Press writer Josh Boak contributed to this report.

Canada forces Air Canada, flight attendants back to work and into arbitration

BY ROB GILLIES and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

Associated Press

TORONTO Canada’s government forced Air Canada and its striking flight attendants back to work and into arbitration Saturday after a work stoppage stranded more than 100,000 travelers around the world during the peak summer travel season. Federal Jobs Minister Pat-

ty Hajdu said now is not the time to take risks with the economy, noting the unprecedented tariffs the U.S. has imposed on Canada. The intervention means the 10,000 flight attendants will return to work soon.

The government’s action came less than 12 hours after workers walked off the job.

“The talks broke down. It is clear that the parties are not any closer to resolving some

of the key issues that remain and they will need help with the arbitrator,” Hajdu said. Hajdu said the full resumption of services could take days, noting it is up to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. Meanwhile, Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of the CUPE union, accused the government of violating the flight attendants’ constitutional right to

strike — and decried Hajdu for only waiting hours to intervene.

“The Liberal government is rewarding Air Canada’s refusal to negotiate fairly by giving them exactly what they wanted,” Lesosky said.

Air Canada did not immediately have additional comments when reached Saturday afternoon. But Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr previously said

it could take up to a week to fully restart operations. It’s likely that travelers will continue to see disruptions in the coming days.

The shutdown of Canada’s largest airline early Saturday is impacting about 130,000 people a day, and some 25,000 Canadians may be stranded. Air Canada operates around 700 flights per day

According to numbers from aviation analytics provider Cirium, Air Canada had canceled a total of 671 flights by Saturday afternoon — following 199 on Friday And another 96 flights scheduled for Sunday were already suspended. Hajdu ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board to extend the term of the existing collective agreement until a new one is determined by the arbitrator

Acadian is the onlyambulance service in Louisiana to holdaccreditations from both the CommissiononAccreditation of Ambulance Servicesand the Commission on Accreditation of MedicalTransport Systems, our industry’smost stringentaccreditation agencies.

Thatmeans Acadian exceeds thegoldstandardin EMStraining, equipment, protocols and medics

Louisiana.

100daysofLeo XIV

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY When Pope

Leo XIV surprised tens of thousands of young people at arecent Holy Year celebration with an impromptu popemobileromparound

St. Peter’sSquare, it almost seemed as if some of the informal spontaneity that characterized Pope Francis’ 12-year papacy had returned to the Vatican.

But the message Leo delivered that night wasall his own: In seamlessEnglish, Spanish andItalian,Leo told the young people that they were the “salt of the Earth, the light of the world.”He urged them to spread their hope, faith in Christ and their cries of peace wherever they go.

As Robert Prevost marks his100th day as Pope Leo this weekend, the contours of his pontificate have beguntocomeintorelief, primarily where he shows continuity with Francis and where he signalschange.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that after 12 sometimes turbulent years under Francis, acertain calm and reserve have returned to the papacy Leo seems eager aboveall to avoid polemicsormaking the papacy about himself, andwants instead to focus on Christ and peace.

That seems exactly what many Catholic faithful want, and may respond to what today’schurch needs.

“He’sbeen very direct and forthright …but he’s not doing spontaneous press hits,” said Kevin Hughes, chair of theology and religiousstudies at Leo’salma mater,Villanova University.Leo has adifferent style than Francis, and that has brought relief to many,Hughes said in a telephone interview.

“Even those who really loved Pope Francis always kind of held their breath a little bit: Youdidn’tknow what was going to come out next or what he was goingto do,” Hughes said.

An effort to avoidpolemics

Leo has certainly gone out of his way in his first 100 days to try to heal divisions that deepened during Francis’ pontificate, offering messages of unity and avoiding controversy at almost every turn. Even his signature issue —confronting the promise andperil posed by artificial intelligence —is something thatconservatives and progressives alike agree is important. Francis’ emphasis on caring for the environment and migrants often alienated conservatives.

Closer to home, Leooffered the Holy See bureaucracy areassuring, conciliatory message after Francis’ occasionally authoritarian stylerubbedsomeinthe Vatican the wrong way “Popescome and go, but theCuria remains,” Leo told Vatican officials soon after

hisMay 8election.

Continuity with Francis Leo, though, hascemented Francis’ environmental legacy by celebrating the firstever ecologically inspired Mass. He has furthered that legacy by givingthe goahead for theVatican toturn a1,000-acre field north of Rome into avastsolar farm that should generateenough electricitytomeet Vatican City’s needs and turn it into theworld’sfirst carbon-neutral state. He has fine-tuned financial transparency regulationsthatFrancis initiated, tweakedsomeother decrees to give them consistency and logic,and confirmed Francis in deciding to declare one of the 19th century’smostinfluentialsaints,JohnHenry Newman,a “doctor”ofthe church But he hasn’tgranted any sit-down, tell-all interviews or made headline-grabbing, off-the-cuff comments like his predecessor did. He hasn’tmade any major appointments, includingtofill hisold job, or taken any big trips. In marking the80thanniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki lastweek,hehad achance to match Francis’ novel declaration that the mere possession of nuclear weapons was “immoral.” But he didn’t.

Compared to President Donald Trump, the other American world leader who took office in 2025 with aflurry of Sharpie-penned executivedecrees, Leo has eased into his new job slowly,deliberately and quietly,almost trying nottodraw attention to himself.

At 69, he seems to know that he hastime on his side, and that after Francis’ revolutionary papacy, the church might need abit of abreather.One Vatican official who knows Leo said he expects his papacy willhave the effect of a“calming rain” on the church.

Maria Isabel Ibarcena Cuarite, aPeruvian member of aCatholic charismatic group, said it was precisely Leo’squiet emphasison church traditions,its sacraments and love of Christ, that drew her and upward of 1million young peopleto Rome for aspecial Jubilee weekthis month.

Ibarcenasaid Francis had confused young people like herself with his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics and approval of blessings for same-sex couples. Such gestures wentbeyond what a pope was supposed todoand what the church taught, she thought.

Leo, she said,has emphasized that marriage is asacrament between men and woman. “Franciswas ambiguous, but he is firm,” she said.

An Augustinianpope

From his very firstappearanceon theloggia of St.Peter’s Basilica,Leo has insisted he is first and foremost a

“sonofSt. Augustine.” It was

areference to the fifth century theological and devotional giant of early Christianity, St. Augustine of Hippo, who inspired the13th centuryreligious Augustinian order as acommunity of “mendicant” friars.

Like the other big mendicant orders of the early church—the Franciscans, Dominicans and Carmelites —the Augustinians spread across Christian Europe over the centuries. Today, Augustinian spirituality is rooted in adeep interior lifeof prayer,living in community, andjourneying together in search of truth in God.

In nearly everyspeech or homily since his May8 election, Leo has cited Augustine in one way or another “I see akind of Augustinian flavor in theway that he’s presenting all these things,” said Hughes, the theology professor who is an Augustine scholar

Leo joined the Augustinians after graduating from Augustinian-run Villanova, outside Philadelphia,and wastwice electedits prior general. He has visited the Augustinian headquarters outside St. Peter’s afew timessince hiselection, and some wonder if he will invite some brothers to live with himinthe Apostolic Palace to recreatethe spirit of Augustiniancommunity life there. Amissionarypope

Leoisalso very much a product of the Francis papacy.Francis named Prevost bishopofChiclayo, Peru, in 2014 and thenmoved him to head one of the mostimportant Vatican jobs in 2023 vetting bishopnominations. In retrospect, it seems Francis had his eye on Prevostas apossible successor.

GivenFrancis’ stump speech before the2013 conclave thatelected him pope, thethen-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio essentially described Prevost in identifying thechurch’smission today: He said the churchwas “called to go outside of itself and go to theperipheries,not just geographic butalso the existential peripheries.”

Prevost, who hails from Chicago, spent his adult life as amissionary in Peru, eventually becoming bishop of Chiclayo.

“Heisthe incarnationof the ‘unityofdifference,’ because he comes fromthe center,but he lives in the peripheries,” said Emilce Cuda,secretary of thePontificalCommissionfor Latin America.

Cuda saidduring arecent conference hosted by Georgetown University that Leoencapsulated in “word and gesture” thetype of missionary church Francis promoted.

Thatsaid, forall Leo owes to Bergoglio, the twodidn’t necessarily get along.

Prevosthas recounted that at one point when he was the Augustinian superior,the then-archbishop of Buenos Airesexpressedinterest in

assigning an Augustinian priest to aspecific jobinhis archdiocese.

“AndI,aspriorgeneral, said ‘I understand, Your Eminence, buthe’sgot to do something else’ and so I transferred himsomewhere

else,” Prevost told parishioners in hishomestate of Illinois in 2024.

Prevost said he “naively” thought the Francis wouldn’t remember him after his 2013 election, and that regardless “he’ll never appoint me bish-

op”

Israel prepares tomovePalestinianstosouthernGaza

Israelis urge mass protestoverwar

BY NATALIE MELZER Associated Press

NAHARIYA, Israel Israel announced Saturday that it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza as plans move ahead for amilitary offensive in some of the territory’s most populated areas.

The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, saidthe supply of tents to the territory would resume on Sunday Themilitarysaidithad no comment on when the mass movement of Palestinians would begin, but Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media that “weare now in thestageofdiscussions to finalize the plan to defeat Hamas in Gaza.”

Meanwhile, anxious families of Israeli hostages called for a“nationwide day of stoppage” in Israel on Sunday to express growing frustration over 22 months of war

Families of hostages fear the coming offensivefurther endangers the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, just 20 of them thought to stillbe alive. They and other Israelis were horrified by the recent release of videos showing emaciated hostages speaking under duress and pleading for help and food.

The families and supporters have pressed the government for adeal to stop the war —acall that some former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs have made as

Awoman with her facepainted in the colors of the Israeli flag takes partinaprotest on Saturday in TelAviv, Israel, demandingthe end of thewar,the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and against PrimeMinisterBenjamin Netanyahu’sgovernment.

well in recentweeks.

Agroup representingthe families has urged Israelis into thestreetsonSunday.

“Across the country,hundreds of citizen-ledinitiatives will pause daily lifeand join themost just and moral struggle: the struggleto bring all 50 hostageshome,” it said in astatement.

“I want to believe that there is hope, and it will not comefrom above, it will come only from us,” said Dana Silberman Sitton, sister of ShiriBibas andaunt of Kfir and ArielBibas, who were killed in captivity

She spoke at aweeklyrally in TelAviv,along with Pushpa Joshi,sisterofkidnapped Nepalese hostage Bipin Joshi,astudent seizedfrom akibbutz.

“I miss my best friend,” Pushpa said.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killeda baby girl andher parentsonSaturday, Nasser hospitalofficialsand witnesses said. Motasem al-Batta, his wife and the girl were killed in their tent in the crowded Muwasi area.

“Two anda half months, what has she done?” neighbor Fathi Shubeir asked, sweating as temperatures in the shattered territory soared above 90 degrees.

“They areciviliansinanarea designated safe.”

Israel’smilitary said it couldn’tcomment on the strike withoutmore details. It said it is dismantling Hamas’ militarycapabilities andtakes precautionsnot to harm civilians.

Muwasi is one of theheavily populated areas in Gaza wherePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel plans to widen the coming military offensive,along with Gaza City and “central camps”—anapparent reference to the built-up Nuseirat and Bureij camps in central Gaza.

Israelmay be using the threat topressure Hamas into releasing morehostages taken in its Oct. 7, 2023,attack thatsparked thewar Elsewhere, an official at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said it received the bodies of six people who werekilled in the Zikim area of northern Gaza, as well as four people killed in shelling.

Another 11 malnutritionrelateddeaths occurred in Gaza over thepast 24 hours, the territory’sHealth Ministry said Saturday,with one child among them.That brings malnutrition-related

deaths during the war to 251.

The United Nations is warningthatlevelsofstarvation andmalnutritioninGaza areattheir highest since the war began. Palestinians are drinking contaminated water as diseases spread, while some Israeli leaders continue to talk openly about themassrelocation of people from Gaza.

A20-year old Palestinian woman described as being in a“state of severe physical deterioration” diedFriday after being transferred from Gaza to Italy for treatment, the hospital said Saturday

TheU.N.and partners say getting foodand other aid intothe territoryofover2 millionpeople, and then on to distributionpoints, remains highly challenging with Israelirestrictions andpressure fromcrowds of hungry Palestinians.

The U.N. human rights office says at least 1,760 people

were killed while seeking aidbetween May27and Wednesday.Itsays 766 were killed along routes of supply convoys and994 in the vicinityof“non-U.N.militarizedsites,”areferenceto the Israeli-backed and U.S.supported GazaHumanitarian Foundation, which since Mayhas been theprimary distributor of aid in Gaza. The U.S. State Department on Saturday said all visitor visas forpeople from Gaza are being stopped while areview is carried out of how “a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas” were issued in recent days. The Hamas-led attack in 2023 killedaround 1,200 people in Israel. Israel’sretaliatory offensive has killed 61,897 people in Gaza, according to theHealth Ministry,which does not specify how manywere fighters or civiliansbut says around half were women and children.

By The Associated Press

SAOPAULO Brazil’sFormer President Jair Bolsonaro temporarily left house arrest Saturday to undergo medical exams in Brasilia, after ajudge authorized him to spend six to eight hours at ahospital Doctors at DF Star hospital said Bolsonaro was admitted forevaluation of fever,cough, persistent gastroesophageal reflux and hiccups. Tests revealed residual signs of two recent pulmonaryinfections, as well as persistent esophagitis andgastritis.Hewas discharged later in the day andwillcontinuetreatment with medication.

He has been hospitalized multiple times since being stabbed at acampaign event before the 2018 presidential election. Hismost recent surgery was in April, fora bowel obstruction.

Bolsonaro is on trial at the Supreme Court over his alleged attempt to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Afive-justice panel is expected to deliververdicts and sentences on five counts against him between Sept.2 and 12.

Bolsonaro denies any

wrongdoing Thefar-rightleaderhas been under house arrest since Aug. 5. Supreme Court Justice Alexandrede

Moraes,who

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“My dad grew up in the 7th Ward. You can put him anywhere on earth and he is still from the 7th Ward,” said Chenier a 29-year-old who was raised in New Orleans East until the storm, but thinks her connection to her childhood neighborhood is more fragile than her father’s relationship to his.

“My core identity is still tied to the East but I’m not there anymore, and the East is not the same anymore.

In a city like New Orleans, where we carry these neighborhoods with us until the day we die, Katrina disrupted that,” she said.

Twenty years after the disaster, more than half a dozen residents who were between the ages of 9 and 18 when Katrina hit shared stories of how the storm altered their trajectories. Katrina decided which family bonds thrived and died. It inspired career paths and artistic pursuits. And it preserved memories, or washed them away, depending upon which possessions survived.

Cut off from the lives they had before the storm, the children of Katrina, now adults in their 20s and 30s, were especially vulnerable as the region changed around them, said Devi Murphy, a child psychologist and professor of psychiatry at the Tulane School of Medicine.

“Adolescence is the time of identity formation and experimenting with different identities,” she said. “So kids who were growing up thinking, ‘I’m going to go to the same school as my parents or I’m going to go to the same church,’ what they thought was a predictable kind of life trajectory, that may have been completely disrupted because of the storm.

“They had to redefine what they wanted their future to be, redefine their social connections and their sense of self,” she said. A duty to preserve memory Chenier became a historian because of Katrina.

As the years passed after the hurricane, so much of New Orleans disappeared as the city built anew She said she felt like it was her duty to help preserve the memories of the 1990s and early 2000s, before everything changed.

Growing up in the East, Chenier said she remembers her family getting annual passes to the Jazzland theme park and visiting even before the park’s official grand opening. She would go nearly every week, often still in her uniform after school. Some days, when the weekday crowds were thin, the park and by extension, all of New Orleans East — felt like it was all hers.

from her childhood before the storm.

Convinced that their neighborhood would never be rebuilt, Chenier’s family chose not to move back to New Orleans East after Katrina.

From Metairie, then Algiers, then Gentilly, where she still lives now Chenier watched as Six Flags sat in ruins and the movie theater burned down and never came back. Even her grandmother’s house is an empty lot now Strangers live in her childhood home.

Trinh Tran, now 32, was 12 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed her family home in the predominantly Vietnamese Village de l’Est. Tran said she didn’t know key facts about the storm, until recently Now she wants to know more.

‘I think it’s kind of just to piece my reality back together.’

time, went to four different schools the year after Katrina. Two years earlier, his mom and sister died in a car crash. Having already lost so much, the storm felt easier to face, he said. In the upheaval, school became his refuge.

Ross settled into post-Katrina New Orleans, focused on getting the grades he needed for the scholarships that would pay for college. He also dived into student council at Edna Karr High School.

Ten years later, he had become a second grade teacher Now, he works in education policy for New Schools for New Orleans, a nonprofit founded after the storm to help independently run charter schools, which make up the bulk of the city’s schools today

“I wanted to be a teacher because it was teachers throughout middle school, elementary school, high school that played a pivotal role in my life,” Ross said.

“As I think about the things I was going through with my mom and sister passing away, Hurricane Katrina, different life moments, it was teachers who saved me, who were there, that kept me grounded, gave me the support and love I needed to show up as a good student.” He said his time working with children many born to parents traumatized by the storm — taught him that the true impact of Katrina is generational.

“This work is hard,” he said “We are so many different things to so many different students. We have one social worker for the entire school, and we had 800 kids, with 800 different experiences.”

Katrina shaped new lives

between 100,000 and 200,000 students were displaced. Of the 128 public schools that were in New Orleans at the time, 100 were damaged, and the state took over the local school system. Jahquille Ross, 14 at the

Alvin Harris, a local rapper, turned 9 the day Katrina hit. On the same date, years later, he attended his younger brother’s funeral. Even now, he prefers not to celebrate his birthday

“And from that point on, from 2000 to 2005, which at that point it had become Six Flags, my mindset was, ‘Can we go? It’s right there,’” she said. “That mindset of being able to have ownership over something that you enjoyed as a child, I can’t think of anything — not only in the East, but in Orleans Parish where I can say that young Black kids growing up in New Orleans at this moment have something of that level that they can feel that way about. And that’s unfortunate.”

“I think that the drastic change that occurred in the East... is why I feel emotionally connected to Katrina,” Chenier said. “So many of the things that I loved and experienced and that were core elements for me and my neighborhood no longer exist.

Her annual pass was the last thing she grabbed on her way out as her family evacuated for what they thought would be a few days Her home and nearly everything inside was destroyed, and the pass remains one of the few possessions she has

“I love the home I made for myself. I love Gentilly But I feel like a transplant in Gentilly, if we’re being completely honest.”

Teachers ‘saved me’

It’s difficult to say how many children evacuated the metro area and never came back after the storm. But Louisiana State University researchers estimate

KATRINA

Continued from page 6A

But this year, he’s making an exception. On Aug. 29, he’ll release his latest album, “2005.” The album cover is a photo of him, limp from dehydration, in his father’s arms outside of the Superdome, the city’s shelter of last resort for those weathering Katrina and the floodwall and levee failures.

In the photo, Harris and his dad, Alvin Williams, were flanked by U.S. National Guard soldiers who had been attempting to separate women and children from men, as both groups were told to board separate buses headed to Texas. But his father refused to leave him and his mother and convinced the soldiers to let families stay together for the trip.

“That photo represents a lot for me,” said Harris, 28, who makes music as Allay Earhart. “When I was a kid, I had a different criteria for being a man. But that moment was my dad taking a stand saying, ‘I don’t care what they’re talking about, the three of us will not separate.’” Katrina also instilled in Harris a love for music, he said. At a benefit concert held in Atlanta after the storm, watching Usher, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and others perform eased his worries for a moment and ignited a lasting spark in him. With the storm 20 years behind him, he thinks he doesn’t need music so much anymore. He’s not sure what’s next, but this album is likely his last.

“I’ve been able to find some sort of peace with how the storm impacted me,” he said. “Actually speaking about it through the album, realizing the traumas that we all experienced as a collective, I found a way to just preserve and commemorate the culture.”

A lost childhood

At 32, Trinh Tran, who grew up in the predominantly Vietnamese Village de l’Est, said her peace is coming in the form of information. She was just 12 when Katrina turned life upside down.

Her parents tried hard to keep her and her younger brothers sheltered from the harsh realities after the disaster Some of the aftermath couldn’t be avoided She saw the physical damage around the city and how her school changed. Her parents, siblings and grandparents lived across two FEMA trailers for the better part of a year as they made many of the repairs to her grandmother’s house themselves.

But she didn’t know key facts about the storm, like how many people died, until recently Now she wants to know more.

“I think it’s kind of just to piece my reality back together,” she said, comparing her “blur” of memories in the years immediately after Katrina to the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In both instances, she said, so much change was happening all at once that it was hard to keep track of it all, even in hindsight.

“Like COVID, it broke a part of my life,” she said. “But with COVID, we had all this information. Back then (after Katrina), if you didn’t have internet, then you had no idea what was going on. If you didn’t watch the news, you had no idea and most of the time, the parents would just cut off the news anyway.”

The only item Tran still has from her life before Katrina is an old gray Nintendo GameCube system. Over the years, she tried everything to remove the stickers her brothers put all over it Now even though it’s almost impossible to play the outdated console on modern TVs, she’s glad she still has it and she’s glad her brothers’ stickers are still there.

“If you threw this into a pile of GameCubes, I’d know this one is mine,” she said, smiling.

Tran said she feels inspired to replace more items that were lost in the storm. Her holy grail: a new 22-inch Panasonic TV, DVD, VHS combo. It was the first thing she saved for and bought with her own money

After losing so much, she wants pieces of her childhood back, she said ‘We really didn’t learn’

It was days after Katrina before Richie Blink saw the first images of his hometown of Empire, a small fishing village in Plaquemines Parish with a population around 900.

Jahquille Ross was 14 when the storm hit. School became his refuge. Now, he works in education policy for New Schools for New Orleans, a nonprofit founded after the storm to help independently run charter schools, which make up the bulk of the city’s schools today.

STAFF PHOTOS

By CHRIS GRANGER

Blink was 18 and had just started community college and a job at the Baton Rouge airport working with private jets.

His family home had been obliterated. Their backyard shed was in pieces five miles upriver Shrimp boats were strewn along major roads

A refrigerator was stuck in a tree 14 feet above ground.

After two years, Blink moved back to Empire and got back on the water He needed to do something.

“I was physically seeing the coast wash away,” he said.

After conducting research at the library, which was still in a double-wide trailer at the time, he decided to start planting trees the beginning of his guerilla restoration projects

Since then with the help of countless volunteers, he has planted north of 50,000 trees along the shrinking Louisiana coast.

“It’s cool to see,” he said.

“There’s no doubt about it, there’s some places I can’t even get the boat through anymore because I put trees on both sides of a little bayou or something.”

He’s proud of his work. His trees will help protect his hometown and the rest of Louisiana next time there’s a hurricane. But riding through the bayou is bittersweet.

“It makes me realize how we really didn’t learn a whole lot,” he said, lamenting a massive $3 billion coastal restoration project that he said “probably would have given the West Bank another generation.”

The Mid-Barataria sediment diversion project was recently canceled because of political opposition and rising costs exacerbated by state delays.

“There’s a lot of despair that we’re not prioritizing

this kind of stuff,” he said

“There needs to be some corner of the metro area that’s got rows of greenhouses where we’re very serious about this and we have hundreds of people working on this so we can continue to enjoy a good quality of life.”

Until then, he said education needs to be a priority

to prepare the next generation across New Orleans, Plaquemines and all of south Louisiana.

Richie Blink was 18 and had just moved to Baton Rouge when the storm hit. His family home in Empire had been obliterated. After two years, Blink returned to Empire and got back on the water Since then, with the help of countless volunteers, he has planted north of 50,000 trees along the shrinking Louisiana coast.

“I think every student of a certain age here needs to fully understand that this is a risky place to live,” he said. “And that if you’re not careful, it will hurt you emotionally And physically, it could kill you if you stay for a storm. “I don’t know if we’re there some days. I think we’ve gotten better But I think we’ve forgotten some of those lessons.”

Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@ theadvocate.com.

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Itcanbealltooeasyforadultstomissoutonannual wellness visits with aprimary care physician. Busy schedulescanmakeithardtofindtimeforanappointment,andifsomeonefeelswell,theymaynotseeaneed to visitthe doctor

However, thesevisitsare importantbecausethey give doctors achancetoestablish aperson’shealth baselines, screen forchronic conditions that may otherwisegountreatedanddiscussanyconcernsabout mental health andlifestyle habits.

“I sometimesuse theanalogy that we do routine maintenanceonourvehiclesandhomesbecausewewant to keep them in thebestshape possible.Wedon’t wait forthemtobreak down.Our bodies arethe same way,” said Dr.Larry Simon, LouisianaBlueSeniorMedical Director.“Therecan be internal problemswiththings likebloodsugar,bloodpressure,andcholesterolthathave veryfewoutwardsymptoms,butcancausesignificant consequences in thefuture. An annual wellness visit is an opportunitytoidentifythose issues anddevelop atreatmentplanwithyourdoctortoprevent major complications down theroad.”

Dr.Simon shared more aboutwhy thesevisitsare important, what people should expect in awellness appointmentand howtheycan usethese visits to maintain optimalhealth. Howdoesawellnessvisit differ from seeing the doctor when youare sick?

This is atimefor doctorstosee what is normal for youand your body.It’satimefor an overallassessment of everything that is goingon. When someone is sick,itchanges theirbody’sphysiology.Also, those appointments areusually aboutaddressingthe particular illnessthat’shappeningatthatpoint in time,ratherthanacomprehensive overview What should people do to prepare forawellnessvisit?

Youdon’t necessarilyhavetohaveany questions in mind,althoughthere’s nothingwrong with that if there’ssomethingspecific youwanttotalkabout.We do oftentalkabout what screenings people need to be thinking aboutand if thereare anylifestyle changes they should make,suchasgetting more exercise,soit is agoodideatoknowyourscreeninghistory,dietand

exerciseroutinessotherecanbeaninformeddiscussion. Youshouldbefamiliarwithany medications youare taking andyourfamilyhistory of diseases Forexample,ifyou have afamilyhistory of cancer it canhelpful to know at whichage your relatives were diagnosed.

Do doctorsaddress mental health during thesevisits?

That’s actually amainpartofthese appointments Physicians willwanttotalkabout aperson’sstress levels,worklife, family life andwhether they are happywithhow things aregoing.Ifweidentifyany strugglesinthose areas, we talk aboutwhatwecan do improvethe situation. What advice do youhavefor people whomay have gotten off-trackwiththeir annual visits?

It’s importanttothink aboutwhatmight be causingany nervousness. Some people know they have unhealthyhabitsand areworried aboutbeing chastised. That’s notgoing to happen.Doctors are trainedtonot talk to people in that way. They are notgoing to judge youorforce youtodoanything. Theirroleistogiveadviceand recommendations, notget youintotrouble We also hear that people avoid thedoctorbecause they areworried aboutgetting badnews. Icompletely understandthatfear. However, if someonehas a condition, it’s so much better to findout aboutitearly andstart gettingittreated.You don’t want to wait two or threeyears, then discover that youhaveadisease that is advanced andhas fewertreatment options. No onewants to face that kind of regret.Medicine hascomea long way, andthere area lotofthingswe candoonceweidentifyaproblem early. What if someonehas financialconcerns? Wellness visits arecovered at no cost or very low cost by anycommercialinsurance plan in themarket. We do hear that people worryabout ahighcopay or cost sharing, butthatdoesnot come into play with an annual wellness visitwithaproviderwho is in networkfor your health plan.Peopleshouldn’t have to worryabout howitwillaffecttheir deductible.The plansare designed to make thesevisitsaffordable andaccessible for everyone

Lafont believes Dufrene had personal motivations, pointing to a confrontation at a community event shortly after Lafont launched her campaign last year Dufrene raised his voice and demanded to know if she was running against him, Lafont said.

“You can’t do my job,” Dufrene said, according to Lafont. “You can’t do a better job than me You have no experience.”

“I can,” Lafont replied. At his Golden Meadow home, Dufrene referred a reporter to his lawyer New Orleans-based attorney Brian Capitelli, who said Dufrene has “voluntarily cooperated with the attorney general’s investigation.”

“Former Chief Dufrene created a few custom programs for use by the Golden Meadow Police Department under his term,” Capitelli said. “Prior to vacating the office, he did not delete underlying data from the Golden Meadow Police Department, and he looks forward to continuing to cooperate with this investigation and defend his actions, as necessary.”

Dufrene has not yet entered a plea in the case. His arrest capped an unusually contentious era atop the five-person Police Department, whose notoriety has typically been limited to its officers’ aggressive enforcement of speed limits along Golden Meadow’s state highway Dufrene, 55, also a former member of the Lafourche Parish School Board, was appointed by the Town Council in 2021 to replace a former chief who resigned after the town settled a federal lawsuit that accused the previous chief of excessive force.

The system contains “modules,” pertaining to incident reports, traffic citations, arrests, misdemeanor summons, payroll, fuel reimbursements and other data, according to state investigators.

When the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation took over the case, investigators identified “over 30 reports/ modules” belonging to Golden Meadow police or LPSO that had been “deleted/deactivated” by Dufrene.

three felony charges, they’re nonviolent offenses and he does not appear to have any criminal history It’s unlikely that the charges would result in prison time if he were convicted, said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission.

“Nonviolent first offenders, for felonies, do not get sent to the penitentiary,” Goyeneche said. “If he is convicted of any of those, or all of those felonies, it’s probably a 99.99% chance that he will get (probation).”

‘Not protected’

To Daniel Lorraine, who has represented Golden Meadow on the Lafourche Parish Council for more than 40 years, Dufrene seemed to have done a fair job as chief by the end of his first term in 2024.

“He was just a normal guy,” Lorraine said. “But things do happen.”

Things came to a head in a January 2024 town council meeting when — after Dufrene complained about the cost of installing a door at Town Hall — Mayor Bouziga interjected.

In an exchange uploaded to YouTube, Bouziga accused Dufrene of overseeing a “toxic environment” in the workplace, without going into details.

Lafont had the support of Bouziga and Tom Pitre III, a well-known local businessman who knocked on doors with Lafont. Lafont’s husband fashioned wooden frames for her campaign signs in their garage.

The night of the election, Lafont expected to win she said She didn’t expect it to be so close. After 789 votes were cast, Dufrene received 390. Lafont received 399. Hands-on chief

On a recent afternoon, the wall of Lafont’s office was bare but for the four hooks that Dufrene left nailed into the drywall. One framed photo, a gift from Lafont’s 19-year-old daughter is hanging.

It shows Lafont, a daughter of a Lafourche Parish crab fisherman, being sworn in at Lafourche Landing, a restaurant across the street that serves soft-shell shrimp trawled by local anglers.

The ceremony was overseen by Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John Weimer, a friend of Lafont’s from Thibodaux.

On her desk is a stack of her department’s citations and an award from the Lafourche Parish school district for “Middle School Teacher of the Year” for the 2024-25 school year A live police radio sits silent.

Violent crime is virtually nonexistent in Golden Meadow, which has a population of around 1,600, according to crime data reported to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. The Police Department — which responds mostly to complaints of vandalism and other misdemeanors — averaged 15 arrests a year from 2022 to 2024, the data shows.

But Dufrene faced occasional complaints about his work ethic and sparred with Golden Meadow’s powerful Mayor Joey Bouziga, who has held that office for 26 years. In replacing Dufrene, Golden Meadow voters selected Lafont, a 53-year-old middle schoolteacher who had no recent experience in law enforcement: She spent two years as a Lafourche Parish sheriff’s deputy in the mid-’90s Her husband is a veteran officer with the local harbor police. Lafont is Golden Meadow’s

first female police chief in the department’s 75-year history, and one of just a few female chiefs in Louisiana. Lafont declined to discuss details of Dufrene’s actions, pending his criminal case.

Reports deleted

But she said she discovered something was wrong on her first day in January, when she tried to open a computer program to enter payroll information. The screen was blank.

She contacted the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, which oversees a report management program that the sheriff shares with Golden Meadow police.

Dufrene told an officer who worked under him that the department would have to “memorize anything they needed” after he was gone, an investigator wrote.

Eventually, IT workers for the program’s software company were able to recover some of the records, though no one involved has been willing to say how many, or share more details of what was inside them. The company billed LPSO $4,680 for its work, according to the investigation.

It’s unclear what effect, if any, Dufrene’s actions have had so far or will have in the future on any pending criminal cases in Golden Meadow

The Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office declined to comment

Though Dufrene is facing

“This town is not protected under your leadership in the Police Department,” Bouziga said, slamming his fist on the table.

“It’s not protected,” Bouziga repeated, as the back-andforth continued, with Bouziga and another council member accusing Dufrene of neglecting to do any patrols himself.

Lafont decided to run after watching the video. She was tired of the political infighting and promised to be a more visible chief who personally handled patrols.

“This cannot keep happening,” she thought as she watched it. “This is not the town I was raised in.”

“This is Golden Meadow,” she said in an interview “We’re a tight, close-knit community We work together.”

“Most of the time, it’s pretty quiet,” Lafont said. “Some days we go without handling a single complaint,” Lafont said. Still, Lafont said she’s taken a hands-on approach to the job. She spent a week doing ride-alongs with her officers, beginning at 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, the morning she took the job. She completed six days of Police Academy training in April, a refresher course from when she received certification as a

TristanRogers, superspy on ‘General Hospital,’ hasdiedat79

BY ALICIA RANCILIO

Associated Press

TristanRogers,who played legacy characterRobert Scorpio on ABC’s“General Hospital,” died Friday,less than one month after he made aspecial appearance on the soap opera.Hewas 79.

“The entire ‘General Hospital’ family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing,” said Frank Valentini, the show’sexecutive producer,inastatement

“Tristan has captivatedour fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio).”

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rogers’ firstforay into performing was in his earlytwenties andplaying drums in arock band with agroup of friends. They weren’tsuccessfulsoRogers turned to commercial work andmodeling to earn some money.When the band dissolved, Rogers decided to give actinga try.After variousroles in Australia, he also worked as aDJand eventually moved to Los Angeles to trytobreak into Hollywood. He saidcastingdirectors were initially

Rogers

turned off by his accentbut he eventually landed atwoday roleon“General Hospital” in 1980. “I had no idea at thepoint howbig theshow was,”Rogerstoldfellow “General Hospital” actor Maurice Benard on the YouTube show, “State of Mind with Maurice Benard” in 2022.

“I had no name. Iwas brought in expressly to beat up thehero, Luke (played by Anthony Geary), and then disappear,” Rogerssaid. His first day was half-over when then-executive producer Gloria Monty asked if he

FIRE CHIEF

Continued from page1A

in 2019 and has been doing prisonministryatthe correctional center and with juveniles for years.

He was in seminary six years, earning adegree in theology from Grand Canyon University and amaster’sindivinity from Wesley Seminary

“I knew when Igraduated from seminary in April,God wasgoing to move me,” he saidinaninterview Aug. 13. “I always prayedtoGod to let me know when it’stime to go. Don’tlet me stay too long, but don’tlet me leave too quick.

“I started to feel it and blessings started to come to me. That’swhen Irealized Godwas telling me that he was goingtobemoving me.”

When Benoit walkedinto first grade and was handed abook about firefighting, he knew that was what he wanted to do with his life. Well, that or atrain conductor Benoit graduated from highschool midterm in December 1975 at 17 years old, too young to join the Fire Department.

He worked several jobs until the age limit was lowered from 21 to 18,and he applied at 20.Fire Chief

WaynePrejean called him three weeks later offering himajob.Benoit hadnever meta firefighter in person or setfootina fire station until then

“That was themostexciting day of my life,” he reflected.

Benoit remembersthe first fire he fought. It was a house fire on Gilman Road, fully engulfed.

“I was kind of scared,going through the structure,” he said. “Hearing noises, stuff falling fromthe ceiling, the fire crackling, feelingmyway around.”

Restingonthe ground afterward,smoke drifting off hisprotectivegear,herealized he really likedfighting fires.

“It feltgood helping people,” he said.

Alwaysenergetic,Benoit learned all that he could about thefire service, readingand testingfor positions he didn’teven want.Hewas promoted quickly,becomingadriver in two years. He served in communications,was promoted tocaptain,served in fire suppression again. He wasaskedto help solve arson cases and worked in fire prevention, where he learned from fire investigatorswith the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,Firearms and Explosives and insurance companies.

On Aug. 7, 1993, Mayor KennyBowen appointed Benoit fire chief, thefirst andonlyBlack manto serve in thatpost. He would achieve something few,if any, othersinthe top level of city or city-parish administrationwould:serve under eight mayorsand mayorpresidents. Thereare differentrequirements andtests for each firechief in thestate.

During his final week as fire chief, in additiontopacking up three decades of mementos in his downtown office, interviewing recent fire academy graduates and saying his goodbyes, Benoit spent severalhourswriting an analysis of all thatthe Lafayette fire chiefdoes so thestate examiner can create atest forthose applying to replace him.

The last time atest was givenfor Lafayette fire chiefwas 32 years ago.

Reflecting on more than four decades with theFire Department, Benoit said he never wokeupfeeling like he didn’twanttogotowork “For me, thiswas alwaysa journey,ajoyousoccasion,” he said. “EverythingIdid didn’tfeel like Iwas working. It felt like Iwas giving back to society, and it felt good.”

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.

would like to stay on. They had no character written for him so for three weeks Monty asked him to just appear in scenes “looking furtive, looking suspicious”until theycameupwith astoryline.Itwas decidedhewould playa spy known as “CK8” and eventually he was given the name RobertScorpio. Thecharacter would remain afixture in Port Charles for therest of Rogers’ life, even when he wasn’ta current

cast member Scorpio’s on again/off again romance with Emma Samms’ character, Holly Sutton,remainedafavorite among fans. Scorpio also hada romance, andmany storylines with another spy, Anna Devane, played by FinolaHughes. Scorpio and Devane shared adaughter, Robin, played by Kimberly McCullough. Samms returnedtothe showfor astint last fall where it wasre-

vealed that Scorpiowas the father of her adult daughter, Sasha Gilmore(played by Sofia Mattson.) Rogers’ other acting creditsinclude“TheBoldand the Beautiful, The Young &the Restless” and“Studio City,” which won him outstanding supporting actor in adigital dramaseries at the DaytimeEmmy Awards. He is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, and a daughter and ason.

AIisavaluabletoolinorganizationsofall sizes. Today, many AI solutionsare designed to be budget-friendly, easy to integrateand tailored to smallbusinessusers.Atthe same time,AIcan facilitate time consuming processesand business decisionsinlargescale, multi-location businesses.Infact, AI hasbecome apractical andvaluabletool acrossall industries,helping them innovate streamline operations andstaycompetitive

Owners oftentakeonthe chiefAI operator role in smallbusiness.

With threeout of four smallbusiness owners saying they areresponsible for implementing andmanagingAIattheir company, it’s critical fortheir teamsto be trainedand confidentusing thelatest business technologies.So, wherepossible, entrepreneursshouldbesuretoweave in ongoingtechtrainingand educationnot only forthemselvesbut fortheir teams, too.

Taking this astepfurther,relying on a trustedthirdparty to serveasatechadvisor andAIimplementercan make this load even lighter.By2026, theITskillsgap is expected to becomeaglobalissue,potentially costing companies$5.5trillioninlostrevenue,so having apartner in placetohelpnavigate therapidly changing tech landscapeis worthwhile

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EDUCATION

LosAngeles school year begins amid ICEfears

BY JAIMIE DING Associated Press

LOS ANGELES LosAngeles stu-

dents and teachers returned to class for the new academic year on Thursdayunder acloudofapprehension after asummer filled with immigration raids and amid worries that schoolscould become targets in the Trump administration’saggressive crackdown.

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has urged immigration authorities not to conduct enforcement activity within atwo-block radius of schools, startinganhour beforethe school day begins and until one hour after classes let out.

“Hungry children, children in fear,cannot learn well,” Carvalho said in anews conference.

He announced several measures intended to protect students and families, including adding or altering bus routes to accommodate more students.

The district will also distribute afamily preparedness packet that includes know-your-rights information, emergency contact updates and tips on designating a backup caregiverincase aparent is detained.

The sprawling district, which covers more than two dozen cities, is the nation’ssecond largest,with more than 500,000 students.Some 30,000 students are immigrants, and an estimated quarter of them are without legal status, according to the teachers’ union.

While agents havenot detained anyone inside aschool, a15-yearold boy was pulled from acar and handcuffed outside Arleta High School in northernLos Angeles on Monday,Carvalho said. He had significant disabilities and was released after abystand-

er intervened in the case of “mistakenidentity,”the superintendent said.

“This is theexact type of incident that traumatizes ourcommunities;it cannotrepeat itself,”he added Administratorsattwo elementary schools previously denied

entry to Department of Homeland

Securityofficials in April, and immigration agents have been seen in vehicles outside schools.

DHS did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Carvalho said that while staffers and district police officers cannot

interfere with immigrationenforcement and do not have jurisdictionbeyondschool property, theyhave had conversations with federal agents parkedinfront of schools that resulted in them leaving.

The district is partneringwith lawenforcement in some cities and forming a“rapid response” network to disseminate information about the presence of federal agents, he said.

Teachers say they were concerned some students might not show up on the first day

Lupe Carrasco Cardona, ahigh school social studies and English teacher at theRoybalLearning Center,said attendance dipped in January when President Donald Trumptook office.

The raids rampedupinJune, right beforegraduations, putting adamper on ceremonies. One raid at aHome Depot near MacArthur Park, an area with many immigrant families from Central America, took place the same morning

as an eighth grade graduation at a nearby middle school.

“People were crying. For the actual graduationceremony, there were hardly anyparents there, Cardona said.

The next week, at her high school’s graduation,the school rented twobuses to transport parents to the ceremonydowntown. Many of the seats were ultimately empty,unlike at othergraduations.

One 11th grader,who spoke on theconditionthather last name not be published because she is in the country withoutlegal permission and fears being targeted, said she is afraid to return to school.

“Instead of feeling excited, reallywhat I’mfeeling is concern,” said Madelyn, a17-year-old from Central America. “I am very,very scared, and there is alot of pressure.”

She added that she takes public transportation to school but fears being targeted on the bus by immigration agents because of her skin color

“Weare simply young people withdreamswho wanttostudy, move forward and contribute to this country as well,” she said.

Madelyn joineda club thatprovides support and communityfor immigrant students and said she intends to persevere in that work.

“I plan to continue supporting other students who need it very much, even if Ifeel scared,” she said. “But Ihave to be brave.”

Some families who decidedthe risk is too great to show up in person have opted foronline learning, according to Carvalho, with virtual enrollment up 7% this year

The district has also contacted at least10,000 parents andvisited more than 800 families over the summertoprovide information aboutresources like transportation, legaland financial support, and are deploying 1,000 workers from the district’scentral office on the first day of classes to “critical areas” that have seen immigration raids.

“Wewant no one to stay homeas aresult of fears,” Carvalho said.

-LeeJ

LOUISIANA POLITICS

State lawmakers visit D.C., meet with Trump officials

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Dozens of Republican Louisiana state lawmakers on Tuesday visited Washington for the White House State Leadership Conference, where three of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet secretaries and other officials discussed the administration’s policy agenda during what attendees described as an open dialogue.

“Nothing was off limits,” said state Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro.

“They were there to answer whatever questions we had.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum took questions from the Louisiana delegation, as did officials from the justice, energy and education departments.

Louisiana legislators weren’t asked to craft or implement any particular policy but instead participated in a dialogue aimed at establishing open lines of communications with the Trump administration, state lawmakers said after the event.

Lutnick emphasized that Trump is “very committed” to his plan to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., Emerson said.

and hurricane protection, flood insurance and education.

Officials reiterated they are looking to downsize and close the Department of Education, Emerson said.

The four-hour event, hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, was billed as a chance for Louisiana elected officials “to learn how to partner with the administration to implement President Trump’s agenda at the state and local level.”

Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, were at the conference, which was held at the Executive Office Building, next to the White House’s West Wing.

No Democratic state lawmakers attended. House Democratic Caucus Chair Matthew Willard said he believed Democrats did not receive invitations.

Gov Jeff Landry didn’t attend but endorsed the delegation’s visit, saying Louisiana is playing “a pivotal role” in the country’s transformation under Trump.

“(He) encouraged us to make Louisiana a more business-friendly state for these manufacturing facilities.”

Dis cus sion about tariffs drew praise from Rep. Mike Bayham,

“He talked a lot about reshoring American manufacturing,” said Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, adding that the commerce secretary mentioned products like computer chips, steel and pharmaceuticals.

Landry gives Monroe deadline to pick fire chief

Gov Jeff Landry has given Monroe officials 30 days to appoint a fire chief — or he says he will choose one for them.

Local TV news station KTVE reports that Mayor Friday Ellis and the city council have been in a standoff for more than a year over appointing a permanent fire chief.

BUZZ staff reports

The Louisiana Legislature passed a law this year giving the governor authority to appoint a fire chief if the local municipality lets a vacancy persist for more than 12 consecutive months That period has already passed in Monroe, Landry said this week in a letter to the mayor and city council.

“Although this provision empowers the executive branch to intervene in prolonged vacancies, I believe meaningful local collaboration remains the preferable path forward,” Landry wrote.

The governor said he is placing his appointment authority on hold for 30 days to allow the mayor and city council to agree on a chief. If they can’t by that time, he will move to select one, the letter says.

“Please consider this a formal invitation to engage in concerted

action for the betterment of your community ” the governor wrote.

Mike Johnson rent draws ethics complaint

The Campaign Legal Center has filed ethics complaints against House Speaker Mike Johnson, alleging that the Benton Republican is improperly using campaign funds to pay his rent.

R-Chalmette, and other Louisiana lawmakers especially for the Trump administration’s new levies on imported seafood.

“We thanked them for the tariffs,” Bayham said. “They want

used to cover the cost of Speaker Johnson’s personal lodging,” the complaint states.

But Steele said “the amount paid by the campaign is exclusively for a separate campaign office space, at fair market value, with its own entrance, stairwell, and access to the street that is used strictly for campaign business.”

to make sure that we have a fair shot, that we don’t lose our domestic commercial seafood industry.”

Hegseth lauded Louisiana for supporting its military installations, noting in particular Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk.

Other topics included liquefied natural gas, or LNG, reopening oil and gas leasing in the Gulf, federal support for coastal restoration

“It is great to have Louisiana leaders in our nation’s capital to gain policy perspective and build relationships with our federal partners to ensure Louisiana is working lockstep to implement President Trump’s America First agenda,” Landry spokesperson Elizabeth Crochet said in a statement. Over the last few months, groups of elected officials from other states like Georgia, Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi traveled to Washington for similar meetings.

The Washingtonbased group that advocates for election reform announced Friday it had asked the Federal Election Commission and the Office of Congressional Conduct to launch investigations into whether Johnson violated House rules and federal law by converting campaign funds to personal use.

Greg Steele, Johnson’s political communications manager, said the campaign money was used for office space, not for Johnson to live in.

“The FEC and OCC have not notified the campaign of any complaints or asked for any response at this time,” he said.

The Campaign Legal Center points to FEC disclosures that report Johnson’s campaign account pays $2,500 a month to Greene Properties Inc., the property management company owned by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.

“Speaker Johnson’s campaign committee’s disbursements for rent suggest campaign funds were

“It is common practice for members to have campaign office space in Washington paid by the campaign and is in full compliance with the law,” he said.

Johnson moved into Issa’s Washington townhouse in March after ProPublica first reported that he had been living in the home of a major political donor His office confirmed that living arrangement, adding that Johnson was paying “fair market value” for the portion of the townhouse he occupied while in Washington.

Johnson’s office said he was paying Issa’s firm a fair market price to lease the home.

Fields joins calls to stop masked ICE agents

U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, is joining other Democrats in calling for federal law enforcement agencies — particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves when making arrests.

“When officers cannot be identified, accountability becomes impossible,” Fields wrote in a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “This practice opens the door to abuse of power

and puts both law enforcement and civilians at serious risk.”

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., have introduced a bill that would prohibit federal law enforcement agents from concealing their identity and require them to display proper identification. The bill faces steep odds with Republicans in charge of both the House and Senate.

ICE officials say there has been an increase in violence against officers and more people are publicly posting recordings of arrests due to the charged political

environment around immigration.

Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, told CBS News he is “not a proponent of masks” but will not bar agents from using them if they think it is necessary to keep themselves or their family safe.

In his letter, Fields urged Noem to set policies barring face coverings during routine enforcement operations, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations. He also requested she mandate visible identification, like agency insignia and badge numbers, and strengthen compliance with rules for using body cameras.

“The public deserves to know who is enforcing the law,” Fields said. “And officers deserve policies that protect their safety while upholding the public’s trust.

BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer

You’ll soon be able to take an Amtrak train from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, or stop in four Mississippi cities along the way, as the revival of the Gulf Coast passenger line kicks off Monday

The Mardi Gras Service has been years in the making, and the cities of Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula arehosting parties at their trainstations Saturdaybefore thefirstpassengers walk aboard Monday

Twotrains willrun each day, leaving New Orleans and Mobile in theearly morning and returning in the evening with enough time for aday’sworth of exploring one of the cities.

In Bay St. Louis, the Amtrak stop is in the heart of the city’sDepot District, less than 1mile from the city’sbustling downtown lined with local businesses, restaurants and New Orleans-style cottages. The Depot District has recently had arevival of its own in anticipation of the Amtrak line

IamaBay St. Louis native and have lived on the Mississippi Coast for most of my life until moving to New Orleans afew years ago. I’ve watched the downtownarea transform acute, sleepy beach town into awaterfront getaway that gives off Destin vibes withthe energy of Freret Street. And just like the beachfront has grown, so has the food scene. Here’salist of my favorite restaurants within walking distance of the Amtrak station. There are also afew New Orleans favorites close by,including Barracuda Taco Stand, Creole Creamery,PJ’sCoffee and Tacos and Beer There are also dozens of other bars and restaurants within walking distance to get anice meal. MockingbirdCafe, 110S.SecondSt.

This beloved coffee shop was a refuge for people looking to find community,breakfast and ahot

THE GULF COAST

cupofjoe when it opened theyear after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, theMockingbirdhas become apopular spotfor New Orleans visitors and touristsfrom aroundthe U.S., but is still beloved by locals. Youcan sit inside andlisten to the espresso machine grind and check out local art, or grab a seat on the extended patioorwraparound porch. Andthe line may be long, but it’sworth the wait. Get the meat breakfastburrito, the Second Street breakfast sandwich or the pulled porkgrits bowl. AndI’d suggest gettingthe biscuitsand gravy —the best I’veeverhad —asan appetizer to share. The Mockingbirdisalsoknown

for theirburgers if you stop in at lunchtime. Make sure youtakea photo with the “ALL ARE WELCOME” sign before youhead back Toro Sushi&Saki, 108Court St

Toro is one of the newerrestaurants in downtown BaySt. Louis, about a15-minute walk from the traindepotand rightnearthe beach.

This Asian fusion spot has an inventive menu, fancy cocktails and shareable main coursesperfect for date day. I’dsuggest the Dang Dang noodlesand egg drop soup.

UncleJoe’s Pizzaand Wings, 134BlaizeAve

Juststeps awayfrom the Amtrak stop, Uncle Joe’sisano-frills pizzeria that first opened near Diamondhead andhas since expanded. This is the perfect option for families looking for ahearty meal to share beforeexploring the Bay

or getting back on the train. Uncle Joe’shas large pizzas with uniquetopping combinations, a massive menu of wings and appetizers andisknown for its homemadehoney hot sauce. Youcan also pop next doorto Hen House for afun cocktail or mocktail before you get back on the train.

Sycamore House, 210MainSt.

If you’re taking the Amtrak on aweekend or planning on staying overnight in Bay St. Louis, make adinner reservation at Sycamore House. Inside aNew Orleans-style mansion, the beautiful yellow home on Main Street hasa fromscratch menu that blends Cajun favorites with aCuban flair

Trythe flauta of the day and the barbecue shrimp, and grab apizza to go. Yes, apizza from afine dining restaurant!

TheBlindTiger, 119N.Beach Blvd

One of the first restaurants to reopen on Beach Boulevard after Katrina, The Blind Tiger’soriginal location is in Bay St. Louis. Themenu is on achalkboard,and youshould absolutelyget acheap beer or bushwacker to go with your never-frozen seafood, burger or loaded fries. This place fills up quick, but there’s alot of seating even if it looks small.

Ms.Mary’s, 203B N. Second St

Youdeserve asweet treat, and Ms. Mary’sisthe place forasnoball or ice cream before you get back on the train. The building is right next to the Ugly Pirate if the adults wantacold beer,and you canalsoorder apizza fromthere and sit outside and have dinner and dessert with your family Iwould suggest the banana pudding or cotton candy sno-balls at Ms. Mary’s, and makesure you grab extra napkins.

Salter,Katrina-era Housespeaker,dies

‘Hewas kind andskillful, apeopleperson’

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Joe Salter,who as speaker of the state House helped then-Gov KathleenBlanco steer Louisiana through the immediate post-Hurricane Katrina period, offeringa friendly,even-keeled demeanor during astressful time,died Saturday

He was 82 and died in Baton Rouge from the spread of his kidney cancer

An educator,Salter spent 22 years in the House from Florien, avillage in Sabine Parish near the Texas border.Afterward, he served as asenior aide first for the superintendent of education and later for the secretary of state. He

Info on musicians, venues sought for database

Projectcontinues musiccensus in Acadiana

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Earlier this year,Lafayette Consolidated Government releasedfindings from the 2024 Lafayette Music Census.

Thecensus, conducted by Sound Music Cities, uncovered some interesting data. The area’smusicsector generates $13.2 million in reported revenue each year,but the census identified afew key challenges for the industry:audience outreach, professional support services and youth engagement.

To address those challenges,LCG has released aLafayette Music Database to continue to collect information from musicians,members of Lafayette’s music community,and supportersofthe local music scene. By filling out the database survey at lafayettemusiccensus.com/join respondents can stayconnected to upcoming opportunities and next steps in the Lafayette MusicEcosystem Strategy and ActionPlan, according to Jamie Boudreaux, chief communications officer forLCG.

The Lafayette Music Censuswas the first major,communitywide effort to gather data on Lafayette’s music economy,and thecensus generated more than 500 responses from artists, venue owners, sound engineers, educators and others who work with music.

The full report, which can be found at lafayettemusiccensus com, found that Acadiana’smusicians are highly experienced 82% have over 10 years of experience, and 63% are over 40 years of age. The musicians represent genres fromCajun and zydecoto rock, classical and R&B, andavast majority (85%) rely on nonmusic jobs as their primary sourceof

also spentthe past eight years as a board member ofthe University of Louisiana System No matterhis role, Salter, aDemocrat, won plauditsfor apersonalitythat helped getthingsdone without worrying about who got credit.

“He waskind and skillful, apeople person,”said Kim Hunter Reed, who worked with Salter when sheserved as Blanco’s policydirector andisnow thecommissioner of higher education.

Salter’squalities were badly needed after Katrina hit theNew Orleans area as aCategory3hur-

ricane on Aug. 29, 2005 —after Blanco had been in office for 18 months. That was followed by Hurricane Rita, aCategory3storm thatslammedLouisiana near the Texas border nearly amonth later

“He was the epitomeofcalm during thestormduring theaftermath of Katrina,”said Jimmy Clarke, whoservedasBlanco’s chief of staff. “He listened. He did notplay overtpolitics. He knew when he had to be strong. He was one of the giants of Louisiana politics in apositive way.” Clarke remembered that Blanco convened an earlymorning call for weeks after Katrina and Rita with him, Salter, then-Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc and then-Appropriations

Committeechair John Alario,to discuss the plans forthatday and upcoming days.

“Hehad theability to pick the right moment to speak andrecenter us or guide us with an appropriate way of thinking,” Clarke added.

In theaftermath of the hurricanes,Blanco oversawthe effort to rebuild shattered communities throughout south Louisiana.

Doing that required the passage of significant legislation.

The governor counted on Salter to get her bills through the House.

After Katrina,lawmakers created the Road Homeprogram to spend government money to help people get back into their homes.

They adopted recommendations from theblue-ribbon Louisiana RecoveryAuthority to address shorttermneeds while making changes needed for the long term

Lawmakers passed legislation to create the all-charter school system in New Orleans and consolidate the city’svenerable system of seven elected assessors into one.

Lawmakers raised pay for K-12 teachers, boosted per-pupil spending at Louisiana’s collegesand universities, andraised thestate spending limit to pay forthese and other plans.

To getthe measures through, Salter becameadept at managing egos and helping people who differed find common ground.

“Everybody liked Joe,” said then-House ClerkAlfredSpeer “He never lost his temper.Henever lorded over people. He was just akind and decent man.” Nonetheless, Salter could be tough when needed.

Staff report

The Lafayette Parish School BoardonThursday approved a $2,000 stipend for every Lafayette Parish school system employee, with payments scheduled for September.

Under the plan, the state of Louisiana will provide $2,000 to teachers and$1,000toall other employees.For thethird consecutive year,the board voted to contributeanadditional $1,000 for supportpersonnel, recognizing the criti-

ABOVE: Soccer player Denver Barnes, right,signs herautograph for young fans duringUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette Fans Day forall fallsports —football, soccer,volleyball, cheerleaders and Ragin’Jazz— at BlackhamColiseumonSaturday

LEFT: Quarterback Walker Howard, center, shakes hands with young fans alongwith other quarterbacks Daniel Beale, left, andLunch Winfield.

calroletheyplayinstudent success.

“Thisstipend is areflection of the value we place on every member of our team,” said Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr.“Fromclerks to custodians to classroomteachers, it takes all

of us working together to build thriving schools.”

The systemserves nearly 30,000 students across Lafayette Parish. The stipend is part of the district’songoing effortto recruit, retain andrewardquality employees

pwd=bIanSX8jtlQafNl FK4XTBQ9mHf99NC.1. In accordance with LouisianaRS38:2212 electronic Bids may be b i d l id y Consolidated Govern‐ment Building,located at 705 West

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AISSI, SAMI ROUPAR

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ANDERSON, GEORGE CHARLES

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CARDER, ANDREW VANCE

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EIDEN, AMANDA CECILIA

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KELLAR, KALYN ADAMS

KELLEY,LOGAN

KIDDER, CARL D KINCHEN,TYLER LANE

KLUSS, EARLINE D KUNAK, KRISTI LYNN

LABBE, CLAYTHOMAS

LABBE, MARLON JUDE

LABORDE, KENNETHJ

LAIRD, COLIN PHILLIP

LAMPERTI, KRISTIN ELIZABETH LANCLOS, SUSAN M LANCLOS, ERICA QUEBEDEAUX

LANDRY, MICHAEL G

LAURENT, VERA LEE

LEBLANC, COLE GARRET

LEBLANC, PEGGY LEE

LEBLANC,DALE W LEBLANC,DUSTIN PAUL

LEBLANC, DEDERA F

LEBLANC,RODERICK J LEDET,ROBERTJOSEPH

LEE, EMILYANNE

LEE, MYLES BLADE

LEJEUNE, CALVIN

LEON, SHANE ANTHONY

LEVET,WAYDE ANTHONY

LEVINGSTON,PEGGY MARIE

LEWIS, TAKEISHA WYNELL

LEWIS, VICTORIA ANN

LIVINGSTON,LINE E

LOUIS, MICHAEL EDWARD LOWRY, MICHAEL DOUGLAS

MABRY, STEPHEN WAYNE

MALDONADO, CARISA LYNN

MARAIST,DAVID VICTOR MARKS, KENNETH JOSEPH

MARLER, PEGGY D

MARTINEZ, LIZETH

MARTINEZ-LARIN,SONIA VILMA

MATTHEWS, ETHAN ALEXANDER

MAXWELL, MCKENZIEANN

MCCOVINS,GERALDLYN TRINITY

MCCURLEY,MADISON ASHTYN MARY

MCFARLIN, RONNIE LEE

MCGEE, MEGAN ANN

MCLEMORE, JUDITH DIANE

MCZEAL, PORSHE RAQUEL

MEAUX, CRYSTAL GEORGE MECHE,GLENN J MELANCON, TONYAMONIQUE MELANCON, JAVONELANAY MENARD,MORGAN LYNN MENARD,SHARILECOMPTE MENARD,JERRYSCOTT MERCIER, MARISSTELLA MERCIER, JANET M MIRIAN-DELCAMBRE, SETAREH A MOORE, SHERRYMICHELLE MOORES, GLEN CURTIS MORACE, JENNIFER CLAIRE MOREAU BRODEY MICHAEL MOREIN,ASHTON THORNE MORTON, JOSEPH MOSS, LAURIE A MOUTON, BRAXTON JUDE NAQUIN, MONAH NAVARRE, TREVOR COLE OLAYON, YOANNA OLIVIER, WALTER OPITZ, SARAH MARGARET ORGERON, TERRYANTHONY ORTTE, WILLIAM W PAPILLION, ANTONIO JAMES PARRISH,BROCHJOSEPH PEREZ, CHRISTOPHER CADENGO PITTMAN, SAMANTHA CLAIRE POLLARD, DANIKA DKEYAN POYDRAS, TEVIN JOSEPH JAMES PREJEAN, NICOLLE B PRICE, NYAN MARQUISE PRINCE, BRANDYNICOLE RADER, TREY MATTHEW RAINEY,SCOTT ALLAN RATLIFF,TIFFANY MARIE REES, JOHANNA C REESE, BRANDY ALEXANDER REZENDE, GUSTAVO RICHARD, JOSEPH F RICHARD, DAMIEN JOSEPH ROBERTS, LATAYNA RENA ROBICHAUX,LEAH ELIZABETH ROBIN,GANNON JOHN ROMERO, BRITTNINICOLE ROMERO, NATHAN JOHN ROMERO, BAILEY MARIE RUSHING, ROBERTDEAN RUSSELL, CHRISTOPHER M SATTINENI, HARSHAVARDHAN SCHEXNAILDER, MITCHJ SCHEXNYDER, KAYLAN BERYLE SEALS, SYLVIA ABRAHAM SEATON, THEODORE CHARLES SENEGAL, DENISE SHANTA SENEGAL, ALANA LANELLE SHARMA, VISHMANATH SIMON, LARRY J SIMON, LEAH BENOIT SINGLETON, DONZAEALOHILANI SMITH, JEFFERYJ SMITH, BRENDA KAY SONNIER, MARGO LANDRY SONNIER, CYNTHIA HABETZ SORREL, APRIL DANIELLE STANDIFER, TERENCE TYRELL STELLY, SUSIE ANN STELLY, BEVERLYC STEVENS, JARED DEMOIN STJULIEN, VENUS JAMES STMARTIN, KATHLEEN L STOUTE, CAROLYN CORMIER TAMOSAITIS, SHANNON CSHIMER TERRY, SUSAN MARIE THIBEAUX, MORGAN E THIBODEAUX, MICHELLE MARIE THIBODEAUX, JORDAN WAYNE THOMAS, VERNESSA DENE TOLLIVER, TRENT JOSEPH TORRES, IRENE TRAHAN, TRACY KAY TRAVASOS, KATHRYN GATES TRUMPS, CHERYLM TURNER, KADE DARIUS TURNER, TAYLOR J URIEGAS, COLE ANTHONY VALDEZ, ALEJANDRO VALLIER, RYAN ISIAH VALLOT,AUDREY NICHOLE VANBROCKLIN, HEIDI VEAZEY,JACOB G VENABLE,JACOB FREDERICK VENTROY,REGINALD WILLIS VETETO, DENAL WALSON, BEVERLYH WARLET,JEANPHILIPPE WASHINGTON, RICHARDJ WATTERS, ERIC J WEBB, HUNTERGREGORY WHITE, RODNEY G WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER JAMES WILLIAMS, ONIE G WILLIAMS, KANE DRAVEN WILLIAMS, KERMIT S WOOD, TRACY M WOOD, ANGELA MARIE WOODS, JIMMY YONGUE, HAZELANN VENEZIA YOUNG, KAREN DAWN YOUNG, DERREK MICHAEL YOUNG, MICHAELJAMES ZENO, MABEL ZENO, MICHAELJAMES ZONA, NICHOLAS ANDREW

Lawenforcement honors Sgt. Eisworth

BatonRouge

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

Hundreds of police motorcycles gleamed undera hot morning sun outside of Istrouma BaptistChurchon Saturday In front of them —and waiting behind the hearse that would take Sgt. Caleb Eisworth’sbody to its final resting place —sat the ghost bike: an empty Baton Rouge Police Department patrol motorcycle representing the fallen motorman in his own procession. His boots, empty,were placed backward on the bike’sfoot pegs, as is tradition for motorizedpatrol divisions across the country Eisworth served the department for23years,joining the motorcycle division in 2008. He received multiple awards for heroism in the line of duty,including the Medal of Valor —the highest honor bestowed by the department —for having pulled amotorist from acrashed vehicle while offduty. He was critically injured on June 16 after his motorcycle was rammed by a pickup truck on Joor Road in what police believe was a targeted attack on him for being alaw enforcement officer After amonthslong fight in the hospital, and some temporarysigns of improvement, Eisworth was taken off life support Aug. 10 and later died. He was 44 and is survived by his wife and daughter

Goinghome

Insidethe church,the central pews were filled with Baton Rouge police officers, with Eisworth’s family in the front nearest to his flag-draped casket. Photos of Eisworth graduating from the police academy,playing with his daughter,and with his wife on his wedding day sat on atable outsidethe sanctuary Hundreds of law enforce-

MUSICIANS

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ment officers were in attendance, each with ablack band around their badge in mourning for Eisworth The bands eachread Eisworth’sradio call sign, MC 24.

Police ChiefThomas Morsespoke first, choking up at times as he toldthose gathered about his many years on the forceshared with Eisworth. He recounted Eisworth’s achievements as an officer and motorman, having risen quickly to his place with theBRPD motorcycle division, competing and winning with other motormen at the national level, and having earnedhimself multiple medals forhis bravery and merit.

These included anincident in whichEisworth helped free atrapped motorist from her car while off duty,and anincidentin which he pursued astolen vehicleeven after thesuspectopenedfire on officers.

Morse himself was involved in that pursuit, and he and Eisworth were both injured in theshooting.

“As my heart led me to reviewthe personnel file of Sgt.Caleb Eisworth this week,I founditfull of countless letters ofcommendation and praises fromcommunitymembers and other law enforcement officials,” Morse said.He madea note that he would be passingthese to Eisworth’s wife anddaughter, so they would remember “how respected Caleb was as an officer.”

This was Morse’s13th funeral for aserviceman lost in the line of duty,but it was the firsthehad presided over as chief. He said it was his hardest

“I always knew Calebwas tough, going back to our shared incident in 2004,” Morse said. “But the toughness he showed in thefinal seven weeks of his life was something that Ihad never seen before.”

Morse said it was one of the highest honors of his life to be in theroom with Eisworth’sfamilyonSunday when he drew his final

breath He described the serene moment afterEisworth had been taken offlife support, when themachinesstopped humming andthose gathered looked to each other in knowing silence.

Morse looked at his watch in that moment, seeingthat the time read 10:42a.m.

“For the first responders in the room, youwill know thesignificanceofthat,” Morse said. “For in our world, 10-42 means ‘I am offdutyand going home.’”

Mayor-President Sid Edwards spoke next,saying thatwhile Morse and former PoliceChiefJeff LeDuffhavewitnessed past funerals for fallen policemen, thiswas his first.

Edwardsspoke of having to run fromtaking care of his sontowitness Eisworth’sbody be escorted out of the hospital. He made it in time, but was just in a T-shirtand shorts. He said some in Baton Rouge had criticized his informal dress.

“The problem withthis wretched world is we judge people on what they look like. Caleb was judgedby hisuniform,not hisheart,” Edwards said. “Wedon’t seeeachother forwho we are. We focusonthe fake.”

Edwards compared this to his time starting as football coach at IstroumaHigh School

“They saw aWhite man in the ’hood,” Edwards said. “Ittookthemfeeling whoI was to see who Iam. Caleb didn’t getthatchance. If Caleb was given thatchance, the perpetratorwould have understood that this was a good,godly man.”

Finally,Brandon O’Neal, president of BRPD’s police union, spoke on behalf of the motorcycle division. Its members all stood behind him, some with tears in their eyes.

O’Neal told stories from the men who rode alongside Eisworthonduty,most of them revolving around the love,loyalty andhumorhe sharedwith those brothers.

There were pranks Eisworth would pull (like ar-

income. It contains fascinatingtrivia about an industry that intersects deeply with thelives of Acadiana residents, such as the fact that venues host an averageof55liveevents per year,totaling 1,979 events annually Next steps for the Lafayette Music EcosystemStrategy and Action Plan include naming amusic liaison SamiParbhoo with the LCG trade andcultural center is serving in thatrole, said Boudreaux —and forming an informal music advisory committee.The initialwork of the committee is to boost audience development with acentral events calendar, expand youthmusic programming, and open amusic industry hub for networking andprofessional development. In the next phase of the

SALTER

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Then-state Rep.Troy Hebert found that out in 2004 after he told Salter and Blanco that he would vote against their proposal to extend asales tax. Hebert then went ahead with the no voteeven after theywarned him that his opposition jeopardized hischairmanshipof the House Insurance Committee, especially since the tax vote could go either way.Salter and Blanco like previous speakers and governors —expected their committee chairs to support them on tough votes.

Aday or two after he voted no, Hebert recalled Saturday,Salter called him into the speaker’soffice. Salter told him he would remove Hebertaschair but

took no pleasure in doing so

“It was very professional,” Hebert said. “Weremained friends. I’d buyyou acheeseburger if anybody says anything bad about him.”

After term limits forced Salter from office in 2008, he spent four years working for the state Departmentof Education, followed by 12 more working as thenumberthree official at the Secretary of State’sOffice.

“He was agreat guy to settle things down and achieveacompromise. He was atroubleshooter,” said TomSchedler,who as secretary of state in 2012 made the initial hire.

Salterwas inductedinto theLouisiana Political Hall of Famein2008. He is survived by Bettye Salter,his wife of 60 years; their two children,Brantley andMandy;and fourgrandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Salter graduated from Northwestern State and becameateacher in Sabine and Vernonparishes and later aprincipal at Florien High School. Afterward, he spent 17 years as the assistantsuperintendent of the Sabine Parish School System.

Salter was asked to run for an open seat in the state House in 1986.

He wenttohis mother-inlawtoask her foradvice, hisdaughterMandyGibbs said Saturday “She said, ‘You need to do it because you’re an honestand uprightperson,’” Gibbs said. “You can show allthose people that apolitician can have integrity.”

Salter won and ended up being seated on the House floor next to afreshman

riving to aparty wearing a shirt with an embarrassing childhood photo of acolleague on it), and pranks that were pulled on him (likebeing tricked into drinking ashotofliquid crab boil).

Among the laughs and tears, one message held true:These motormen were Eisworth’sbrothers, making Eisworth’sfamily memberspartoftheir own family

“Look up here andknow that you havemanyuncles that will protect youfrom the evils of this world,” O’Nealsaid to Eisworth’s daughter.

This sentiment was shared by all of the BRPD officers in the sanctuary, andwhenaskedbyEdwards who would “stand in the gap” anddance with Eisworth’s daughteronher wedding say, the entire forcestoodup.

‘It’sanhonor’

As Eisworth’scasketwas lifted by motormenand carried under amassive American flag hanging outside, onlookers could seethe diversity of firstresponder agencies that hadcome out to mourn him

Themembers were from Baker, Zacharyand Denham Springs police departments, as well as EastBaton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge Fire Departmentand Louisiana StatePolice Troop A.

At the grave site, Eisworth received the full honors of an officer who died in the line of duty: a flyover,tapsbeing played by Johnson, a21-gun salute and aflag being awarded to his family withthe shells of those rifle-volleys folded in. Butbefore the hearse could carry Eisworth to his final resting place, amotorcadeofalmost 200 motorcycles preceded it, from departmentsfar andwide their helmets and handlebars glimmering underthe sun.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

music census, Lafayette will join the 2025 Sound Music Cities multicity cohort, a networkthat allows cities to share best practices in buildingamusic-friendly civicenvironment. Participating cities include Charlotte, NorthCarolina; Baltimore, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan.

member fromLafayette: Kathleen Blanco.

Salter was not the obvious pick to be Blanco’schoice for speaker in 2003, but she trusted him “Joe came with no enemies to the job, which made it easier,” saidAlario, who had been speaker twice himself by that point. “He hadnoone he had crossed. He was so easygoing.”

15, 2025

Velma"Sue" Cormier

Sibille Coycault joined her past lovedonesinHeaven with God on July 4, 2025. Shepassed away peacefully, surroundedbyfamily. Born on November 10, 1929 to Homer and Ernestine Cormier,she graduated from highschool and moved to NewOrleans,LA, working at MaisonBlanche departmentstore andlater moving to Lafayette, LA, working as atelephone operator.She met andmarried GordainAquillus Sibille in 1951 and moved to Opelousas,together starting andraising afamily of 6children, David, Susan, Glenn, Timothy, Janineand Charles. She wasa master of the sewingmachineand created clothingfor herhusbandand childrenand was also awonderfulcook. She enjoyed travellingand shared that passion with Gordain as they travelled throughout theUnited States, Canada and Mexico, alongwith multipleCaribbean cruises. The majority of theirtravelling wasintheir motor home and they belongedtoa camping groupcalled C'est La Vie, enjoying funtimes andfriendships with other camping members. She wasalso talentedincreatingjewelry andother craft projects, often presenting as gifts. Shealso wasa member of theKrewe of CleopatrainNew Orleans, proudlydressing in multiplecostumesridingonthe KreweofCleopatrafloat duringMardi Gras parade season, alongwith sisters in law Lois Sibille and LilburnLeonhard. Sue contributedtothe familyincome in earlier years by covering adeliveryroute for theDaily World NewspaperinOpelousas, LA. Once heryoungest childstartedschool, she then attendedT.H.Harris trade school in Opelousas and graduated top of her class in Secretarial Science, having herproud husband andchildrenattending hergraduation. Upon graduation, she became theOfficeManager for an orthodonticpractice in Opelousasand worked therefor many yearsuntil retirement.

Obituaries backtoGrandCoteau,LA andsettledinwithher daughterSusan. Herchildren continuedtogather togetherwith herthrough theyearsatholidays and regularvisits. Sueissurvivedbyher brotherJohnMorvantof Cookeville,TN, sons, David andwife Ellen Sibille of Ponchatoula, LA, Glennand wife Cheri Sibille of Opelousas, LA, Charles Sibille of Lafayette, LA and daughters, Susan Sibille of GrandCoteau,Laand Janine andhusband RonnieCash of Canyon Lake,TX, daughterinlaw DonnaGaines Sibille (Tim) of Washington,LA, grandsons, Brennan andwife EmilySibille of Worcester, MA andMichael andMara Beth Sibille of Benton, LA andgreat grandson Oliver Sibille of Worcester,MA. Shewas preceded in death by herparents, Homer Cormier and ErnestineCormier Morvant, husband Gordain AquillusSibille, son Timothy Sibille, granddaughterSarah Grace Sibille (Glennand Cheri), brothers JamesCormier andCarroll Cormier and second husband Edward Coycault. Suealso spent the majority of hertimewithher well loveddog named Nickiwho followed hereverywhereand wasincluded on camping trips with herhusbandEd. She loved buying toy trucks andcars for hergrandsonOliver everychance she got. In Sue'slast years, she enjoyed ridinginthe carto placesshe visitedinthe past,suchashometown, camping grounds, beaches,etc. Perher wishes, herbody wasdonatedtoLSU Scienceand later hercremated remains will be returned to familytobe placedina beautifulrose adornedurn, chosenby herchildrenand joined with herhusbandGordain at theirfinal resting place in amausoleum in St Peter'sCatholic Church cemetary in Carencro, La. Amemorial mass will be held at St.Charles Borromeo in GrandCoteau LA on Thursday August 21st at 10:30a.m. The family is recommendingthose attendingthe mass to wear RED itemsofclothing, etc. in honor of Sue, beingthiswas herfavorite color.

After Gordain's passing she attendeda high school reunionand reconnected with afellowhighschool classmate, Edward Coycault, eventuallymarrying him andmoving to Lake Hills, Texas. After Ed's passing she moved

OPINION

Mississippi River issues need focused attention

Reporting by this newspaper’sMike Smith reminds us that for the health and economy of Louisiana, the single biggest imperative is to keep the Mississippi River on course. Federal and state officials, led by Louisianan U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, should prioritize Mississippi River planning and projects before it’stoo late. They should consider the plea of abipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Troy Carter,D-New Orleans and Mississippi Republican Rep. Mike Ezell. The group is asking the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to provide at least $7.5 million for the next phase of a now-stalled federal study of the operations and needs of the lower Mississippi.

Smith’sAug. 7report focused on the Old River Control Structures, near Ferriday in east-central Louisiana, which keep the river from shifting its main flow away from itscurrent course and to the Atchafalaya River basin instead. Almost overwhelmed in the massive flood of 1973 that caused one of the structure’s walls to collapse, Old River Control faces increasing pressures —literally from rising water,and figuratively from increasingly conflicting needs of downstream communities.

Old River Control is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers —as is theentire river’slevee systemand itslocks and spillways —which is why the first responsibility is that of federal officials.

As we editorialized in June, it is disturbing that the Trump administration has halted the comprehensive $25 million Corps study,mentioned earlier,ofthe lower Mississippi. In the whole scope of the federal budget,that amount is apittance. Moreover,the study is like preventative medicine.Byspending alittlenow, the country could avoid much larger costsin the future from acatastrophic river failure. Frankly,with this state boasting the two most powerful members in all of the House of Representatives, namelyJohnson and Scalise, there’snogood reason thestudy should remain in limbo. The information from the study can, in the long run, save so much money and potentially so many lives, that the Trump administration should see it as wise economic stewardship rather than as an item for the chopping block The study should be restarted.

State officials also needtopay close attention and prepare for the worst. If there does occur acalamitous failure of OldRiverControl (or of another part of the river-management system), the failure would pose an existential threat to communities throughoutsouthern Louisiana. State officials should already have in hand a comprehensive, fast-acting plan for evacuation of people and for whatever mitigation of damage canbeeffectuated. Andthe plan should be well-publicized.

With proper study and planning, theMighty Mississippi need not bring aflood of destruction, but instead should remain, for state and nation, an ever-continuing lifeblood.

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.

As President Donald Trump tries to “stop thekilling” in Russiaand Ukraine, what is being done to stop school shootings in America as millions of children begin returning to theirschools?

In my school days, we had two drills —fire drills and hiding under desks in caseof nuclear war.Now there are drills about what children should do if an active shooter is in their school.

nearly 40 yearsofschool violence found that roughly three-quarters of school shooters’ guns camefromthe home of aparent or close relative. An estimated 4.6million American children live in households withatleast oneloaded and unlocked firearm, according to areport published in 2022 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

According to theAmerican College of Surgeons, there have been more than 2,000 school shootings in theU.S. since 1970, including K-12 grades andcollege campuses. The number of school shootings has more than doubled in thepast decade, with 2022 being one of the deadliest years on record

Some other facts: The victims have been predominantly children and the perpetrators mostlyWhite. Handguns have been thepreferred weapon. The incidentshave not been limited to a particular region but evenly distributed acrossthe country

AU.S. Secret Service analysis of

One of the ongoing themes in the lettersweget is the nature of our democracy itself What do ourfounding documents really mean? What truths do we hold to be selfevident? How are we living up to the idealsthatthis nation was founded upon? Even basicphrasesthatmost of us learnedincivicsclass, such as “separation of church and state,” “checks and balances” and “judicial review” are nowsubject to raging debates.

Schools have implemented new strategies to thwart people with guns gaining entry into school buildings and classrooms, but givenhow some have eluded those strategiesit appears to be less than100% effective.

Preventive measures include identification badges thatallow entry intothe school building, assessment teams to measure the safety level of individual schools andmental health supportfor students andstaff. On that lastpoint, how many times have we heard from students who tell us after ashooting they suspected something was wrong with their classmate, or they heard him making threats. Studentsneed to be encouraged to say

something to teachers or administrators if theysee or hear something. More emphasis on bullying would also help. If parents have achild who is depressed, angry or who spends too much time obsessing about firearms, theycan do more to head offviolence andstopbeing in denial. An interventionmight be held with them, police andmentalhealth experts. It is astain on America that police carsare parkedoutside of schools todayand armed guards are outside and inside many churches. Back to school usedtobefun formostofus. Now,just as with policeofficers who go offtoworkeachday with aspouse andkids secretly wondering if they will come home at night, parents must be thinking the same. This should no longerbeallowed to happento America’schildren. That it does says there is something seriously wrong in ourcountry andeverything possible must be done to put an end to school shootings.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com

genius. They give us guardrails but not astraitjacket. Far from yellowed pages molderingonashelf somewhere, these documents seem very alive in theletters we receive.

conversation that is illuminating and heals somedivisions.

Youcould takethe viewthatthis is asignofhow poorlyour founding documents actually layout the core values of ournation andhow its government is supposedtorun.

But Itakethe viewthatthese debates show howrelevantour Constitution and Declaration of Independenceare even today.And while it’s true that the words can have multiple interpretations, that is part of their

Readers often cite words of the Founders to try to bolster their points, and some point to words notused in their writings to discredit an argument.

It’sa fascinating thing to see howfiercelythe Founders’ intentisargued today in all political circles. One hastowonder if they even realizedthe weight their words would have hundreds of years later

Many preparations are underway nowfor the250th anniversary of the founding of our nation with the signingofthe Declaration of IndependenceonJuly 4, 1776.

We are sure that, as the celebration approaches, we will have many musings aboutthe state of our democracy.Hopefully,itwill be an ongoing

After all, if there is one thing we do agree on, it is the importance of these documents to the nation we strive to be.

Going to our letters inbox for July 24-Aug. 1, we received 57 letters. The proposed LSU arena was the topic of four letters, making it the hottest topic of that week.

It’sclear that many of you are closely following our coverage of that development and have strong opinions on it.

Then, we received three letters on the cuts to public broadcasting and what they will mean for local stations. Finally,anumber of topics received two letters each, including immigration, auto insurance and Medicare.

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

COMMENTARY

In hindsight, George W. Bush looksprettygood

Acertain nagging idea led me west to Dallas last week: Nearly twodecades after Iwatched Hurricane Katrinadestroymy city and surrounding areas —and spent the next few years fuming over the federal government’s slow and seemingly grudging response —isittime to take afresh look at the presidentwho led it?

This is what Ithought this column would beabout. But it’snot —for the most part, anyway —because from the moment Ientered the George W. Bush Presidential Library andMuseum on the Southern Methodist University campus, Iwas bowled overby something else.

FILEPHOTO

The place, Iquickly realized, wasa monument to aRepublican Partyand afederal government thatare practically unrecognizable today

Consider the very first wordsBushchose to welcome visitors.

“I was not elected to serve oneparty, but to serve one nation. The President of the United States is the Presidentofevery single American of every race andevery background. Whether you voted for me or not, Iwill do my best to service your interests, and Iwill work to earn your respect.” Bush offeredthat healingsentiment in December 2000, just after theU.S.Supreme Court ended litigation over thedisputed vote count in Florida. It was anote of gracefollowingwhat had at that pointbeen the ugliest, most divisive post-electionperiod in modern memory —one thatfound acounterweight in defeated opponentAl

In the aftermath of Katrina,President George W. Bush, far right, was greeted by Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Michael Chertoff, secretaryofhomeland security,and Major General Bennett Landreneau.

Gore’sacceptance of the outcome. It also felt like it was out of atime capsule buried well before another Republican president would refuse to concede and incite amob to attack Congress after he lost one election andreturn to office four years later, bent on stoking daily division.

That’sjust theentryway Inside, one of thefirst exhibitscelebrates No Child Left Behind,the education policy that mandated accountability standards measured throughtesting, passed in partnershipwith Democratic U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. Contrast that with today,when President Donald Trumpislooking to vastly diminish thefederal role by eliminating the Department of Education.

The 9/11 attack is prominently featured, of course, and serves as areminder of another impulse that feels relegated to a long-gone era, Bush’scall for Americans not to demonize their Muslimneighbors. There’sa section on PEPFAR, Bush’sfarreaching commitment to attack HIV/AIDS around the globe, which he cast in termsof our country’smoral leadership and which is credited with saving millions of lives. It’sbeen targeted and severely disrupted by Trump, and itsfuture is uncertain. Then there’s the Katrina section, which too is difficult not to view throughtoday’slens. Isaw no sign of aphotothat manyremember from back then —Bush peering down at our flooded stateduring aflyover from Air Force One—but the museum does show thepresident in frontofalitup St.Louis Cathedral promising to “stay as long as it takes to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives.” It’s a rousing image until you remember that the lights were setupfor theoccasion, and the city remained dark and deserted long after Bush went home.

at the time and was glad it didn’tcome to pass, even though Bush’srecorded comments in the presentation suggest he still thinks it should have.

But compared to now,with Trumpin the process of sending federal forces into Democratic cities despite crime rates that have dropped significantly,atleast we can say that the 2005 debate happened in the context of areal emergency,not amanufactured one.

Looking at the long post-K struggle, the library exhibit touts acumulative $120.7 billion in federal funds provided forrecovery,disaster response, levee repair,flood protection, health care, education and relocation assistance.

That’sanenormous figure, and although the process of extracting it and getting it into people’shands wasdownright wrenching, Ihave to say that Idosee Bush differently now,assomeone whomostly tried to help and did largely keep his word, not just to ared state but to ablue city

Amultimedia feature revisits apainful controversy of those early days, whether Bush should invoke theInsurrection Act and send in federal troops to “restore order.” The argument at the time, and in the exhibit, was that the city and state —both led by Democrats —were overwhelmed by thesituation and needed the feds to take aleading law enforcement role. The program doesn’tmention astrong feeling on theground that it was more of apolitical move to deflect blamefor the televised images of disarray I, too, saw KarlRove’shand in the effort

I’ve thought forawhile that asimilar response would not happen should astorm of Katrina’sscale strike again, because climate change is leading to ever more frequent and severe extremeweather.I’ve thought so even moresince Trumpstarted talking about dismantling FEMA and leaving overmatched state and local governments struck by disaster on their own.

And I’mmore sure of it than ever now, having seen how much the type of leadership we saw in Bush’sday has been relegated to amuseum

Email StephanieGrace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Renaming base afteraBeauregardisaninsult

Stephanie Grace Quin Hillyer

To change the names of places or to remove historic statuesor memorialsisalmostinvariably an enterprise fraught withcontroversy. Some of us take more neutral, case-bycase approaches than do culture warriors on both sides. Everybody,however, shouldbedisgusted at the cheap trickGov.Jeff Landry is playing with thenaming of the onceand-future Camp Beauregard,the large National Guard training facility in Pineville, adjoiningAlexandria. New research by the Illuminator news outlet makes even more obvious how inappropriate thatparticular renaming is

To be clear,for those of uswith areverence for history,the benefit of thedoubt relating to monuments and place names should go to keeping things the same. Nonetheless, the presumption in favor of stasis should be rebuttable, and some monuments and names clearly should be jettisoned Some names and some monuments really do belong not in

places ofhonorbut in museums —which, by the way,isexactly what this newspaper reported last week is being done with thecontroversial Battle of Liberty Place Monument, now destined for an exhibit in Los Angeles. Thequestionbecomes how to determinewhich is which.Obviously there is no foolproofformula. While there is ample room for differing judgments both ethical and historical, certain situations involvebasic common sense and common decency

The reversion of Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville back to the nameof Camp Beauregard,especially in themanner Gov.Landry did it, is one of thosepatently obvious violations ofcommon sense and decency.

Until 2023, thetraining facility was known as Camp Beauregard, in memory of flamboyant Confederate General P.G.T.Beauregard. In certain circumstances and locations, such as with the artistically celebrated statue of him that

long graced the entrance to New Orleans’ City Park, ultra-strong arguments can be madeinfavor of memorializing the general. Aleading citizen of New Orleans both before and after the Civil War, abrilliant engineer whose projects vastly improved thesafety,beauty and commerce of the city and its surroundings, and the inventor of the city’s famous streetcar system, Beauregard after the war risked his local reputation by strenuously and eloquently advocating for civil rights, voting rightsand full public-sector integration, including in schools, for Black people. All of which obviously is admirable. Still, it madenosense for a U.S. military facility 207 miles from New Orleanstobenamed in honor of someone who took up arms against theU.S. military, especially in acause that would have maintained theevil of chattel slavery.(Andmake no mistake: Even the official state-run militia owes ultimateloyalty to thefederal government, which is why it is called the National

Guard.)That’sasirrational as, indeed even moreirrational than, it would be to nameLSU’s Tiger Stadium after Nick Saban, whoof course won one of LSU’sfour national titles but then spent years beating up the Tigers from the sideline of the AlabamaCrimson Tide. It’sbizarre to honor amortal adversary That’swhy in 2023 it wassensible to change the nameofthe Guard’sPineville training center —and why it would be inadvisable to rename it after Gen.Beauregard. What Landry did, though, was even worse. Rather than rename theU.S. military base after abrilliant officer whofought against theU.S. military,the governor tried to get clever by restoring thelast name while claiming to be honoring the general’sfather The claim is risible, bordering on insulting. First, the general’s father didn’teven use the last nameofBeauregard, but instead went by thelast nameof“Toutant.” Second, as the Illuminator discovered, Toutant was by his-

torical standards anear-nonentity

The mostprominent public records of him involve his role as owner of 86 slaves. And his only military service seemstohave been as acolonel’ssubordinate in aregiment that took part in minor skirmishes before (but not at) the Battle of New Orleans in late 1814. If astate changes the nameofa facility in order to stop honoring someone whofought on awar’s pro-slavery side, it is no fix at all to now honor someone whoowned 86 slaves. If astate wants to name amilitary facility,itisaninsult to the military itself to style it after the (unused) last nameofa historical cipher with almost no military record, much less even the slightest evidence of actual distinction under arms. Landry claims the new name honoring the general’sfather is part of awar against “wokeness.” Nonsense. Instead, it is contemptuous skulduggery in service of demagoguery

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

AOLdroppingdial-up is asignofthe times

I’ve been an early adopter of technology for much of my life. Idon’tcatch all new technology as soon as it pops up, but Ijump on some of it as soon as Ican I’ve had the great fortune of being abeta tester decades ago. Iwasn’tspecial. They clearly included people who didn’tknow what the heck they were doing. At other times, Ihad to pay to play.And sometimes that was expensive Ididn’talways make the move to pull out some cash or plop down acredit or debit card. Telephone answering machines werecommerciallyavailable when Iwas achild. Ihad nojob, no income and Irelied on my parents for my room and board, clothes, mealsand an allowance. Besides, those machines cost severalhundred dollars at that time. By 1980, the cost had dropped below $500. Youcould get one for $200-$300. If you wanted a machine with extra special fea-

Will Sutton

tures, that cost you more. As I asked questions, Iquickly upsold myself. One had acool recording tape for an outgoingmessage, andIcould changeitfromanywhere in the world.Another had ahand-held remote control device.About thesize of some beepers (look it up, youngsters),itcould send asignal to ahome answering machine that would recognize the sound and you couldconnect and get recorded messages before returninghome. Ihad to haveall of that. And more.Ipaid top dollar.Ibought oneofthe bulky,fancy machines for more than $500. My investmentpaidoff. Thevery first message Iretrieved remotely with my handheld device was from one of the top editors at thebig city daily Jim Naughton had seen my work at asmallerdaily newspaper.He wanted to talk withme.

Iwasn’t at homewhen he called. Actually,Iwas walking distance from his office in Center City

Philadelphia. Something told me to tryout my new remote, so Istopped at atelephone stall, pushed in my coins, called my number and pressed my remote to send asignal to get my first message. There were several other steps, of course, but Igot areporting job at amajor city newspaper with anational reputation at 25 years old. That was 1980. About adecade later,in1991, Iread about something called America Online. For aprice, you could use your telephone to connect to someone—ora website. In America. Online. Igot an AOL account because I had to have it.I’m agregarious, outgoing guy,and Ilike to be connected. Broadly.Across America. In person. By text. By phone. By FaceTime. Online. Those of you of acertain age know theemail extension aol. com. Youngsters,back in the 1990s, AOL was the best and only email game. There were more than 9million email accounts by thelate 1990s.

Now,more than three decades later,AOL is dropping its dial-up internet service.

I’m sure you’re wondering who theheck is still using amodem and dial-up service.

The answer: Lots of people. Just not manycompared to those of us with first-world problems.

In Louisiana, forinstance, according to American Census data, there were about 15,800 households withdial-up subscriptions and no other type of internet subscription connection in 2013. By 2023, that number had fallen to 1,240 households.

Broadband and mobile broadband have mademodem dial-up service obsolete in much of our stateand the nation.

Iwas an early adopter of what was originally America Online. I got excited aboutconnecting to theinternet andcommunicating with family and friends. Mark Lewers, my 1990s tech guru friend, set me up with anew computer,asubscription and an AOL email address Ihave to this day.Don’tjudge me. Ihave other

email addresses. With the introduction of cable modems and digital subscriber lines (DSL) in the 1990s, there was agreater need formuch faster service than what could be provided by the old school AOL discs that the company sent to Blockbuster movie stores to entice morepeople to give them —and the internet —atry.Itworked. They went from hundreds of subscribers to millions. As AOL succeeded, competition got tougher Broadband took off in the 2000s. Ijumped on that tech wagon, too. Bye-bye dial-up. Ileft dial-up so long ago that Ihave to use asearch engine to hear the screechy noises. Like so manynew technologies, there comes atimewhen it’stime forthem to give way to abetter, faster,younger version of themselves —orsomething totally new Ican’timagine AOL dial-up “talking” to AI or ChatGPT

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

DPACE(RS) OF Y

Transfers beginning to earn roles forLSU

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

LSU added18transfers during the offseason with the intention that mostofthem would have significantroles,and that certainly will be the case.

Twoweeks from theseason opener against Clemson, it’sbecoming clear how much the transfers will contributethis fall. Most of them are in line to start, andothers will be key parts of the rotation at their respective positions. There are also some further down the depth chart whomay not play much.

Below,weplaced the transfers into tiers based on everything we have seen and heard about them through 15 practices. TheTigers have six morepractices in preseason camp before they get to gameweek.

Somethings could change during the season, but after targeting transfers with power-conferenceexperience, LSUiscounting on these players to help the team reach the College FootballPlayoff forthe first time under coach Brian Kelly

Likely starters

Tamarcus Cooley •S•R-Soph.

Cooley probably has one of the safety spots wrapped up. Asked about him and fellowtransfer safety AJ Haulcyearly in camp,Kelly said theyare smart, physical and experienced players. After Cooley startedninegames at nickel forNCState, LSU seems comfortable with him at safety

ä See LSU, page 2C

uring ateam meetinginJune, Kellen Moore pulled film to showhow fast he wanted hisNew OrleansSaintstoplay

But the first-year coach didn’tshow clips from the Philadelphia Eagles offensehe called last year.Healsoelected not to use footage of historically greatNFL teams, such as the 2007New England Patriots or the “Greatest Show on Turf”Rams, either Instead, Moore wenttoanentirely different sport. He used the Indiana Pacers— then in the NBA Finals—toillustrate the effort andpace his team needed to replicate. Saints turn to NBAteamasinspiration forfast-pacedoffense

“I thought it was pretty cool,” wide receiver Rashid Shaheed said. “... We got to keep guysontheir toes,and that’show the Pacers play. That’show they have success running all four quarters. No matter how the score looks, you got to continue to fight. Younever know,and that’s how the Pacers madetheir money this year.”

“That’swhat he’stryingto embody,” tight end Juwan Johnson said.

Moore is afan of cross-sport references. In that same session, he highlighted the (eventual champion) Oklahoma City Thunder’scamaraderie and how teammates played forone another.Another time,the coach used this year’sFrench Open —which saw Carlos Alcaraz fend off three match points andstorm back from twosetsdown to beat Jannik Sinner —toillustrate the importance of never giving up.

The references serve as away to lighten the mood and connectwith playersinwaysthataren’tfootball-related, much like howformer interim coach Darren Rizzi often would use construction metaphors when he ranthe Saints. But thePacers are particularly relevant. Across Moore’stime with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and Eagles, tempohas served as ahallmark if not the defining trait —ofhis scheme. The 37-year-old wantshis teamstoplay fast.And in training camp,the Saintshave emphasized this pace by incorporating nohuddle calls tostressthe defense.

No matter who starts at quarterback this season —Tyler Shough will start Sunday’spreseason game against theJacksonville Jaguars —Moore saidhewants to ä See SAINTS, page 3C

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The New Orleans Saints areone of the biggest mysteries in the NFL this season. They have anew head coach, anew staff, anew quarterback and new schemes on both sides of the ball. Three weeks of training camp has done little to clear things up. There is still so much we don’tknowabout this team, and theseason opener is only three weeks away

Here are the 10 biggest questions facing the team as the season looms:

10. IS KELLEN MOORE READY? The early returns have been positivefor the first-yearheadcoach.Players have praised him for the efficiency of his practices and the creativity of hisplay calling. So far,sogood. But the litmustest will come when Mooreleads theteam intothe regular season. 9.ARE SPECIAL TEAMS SPECIAL?

Foryears, theSaintsspecial teams units have ranked among the best in theleague. This year feels like acrap shoot for myriad reasons. Longtime coordinator Darren Rizzi is in Denver.The unit’s longtime captain,J.T.Gray,ishurt. Andthe punter likely will be either Kai Kroeger or James Burnip,two unknown commodities.

8. IS ALONTAE TAYLOR OK? The Saintsare counting on abig year from Taylor,sohis groin injury is worrisome. Taylor plays the starposition, theplaymaking role Derwin James and Jalen Ramsey manned in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’sdefenses elsewhere. His loss for any period of time wouldbeasetback.

7.WHEN WILL TAYSOM HILL RETURN? Moorehas been intentionally vague with details whenever he’s asked about Hill’sstatus. Theveteran utility back is Jeff Duncan

ä See DUNCAN, page 3C

Thelasttwo seasonshavebeenabout change forULredshirt seniorTerrence Williams. Most of that stretch included learning a new position after playing running back his first twoseasons in Lafayette. Thencame anew defensive coordinator priortohis first full season at linebacker, which required learning anew playbook. This time around, the change comeswith elevated expectations.

He’sstill got plenty of things to learn, but the training wheels are off. The inside linebacker room needs the 6-foot-1, 223-pounder from Many High to perform.

“I feel moreprepared than last year,” Williams said. “Last year was my first actual time getting snaps in the game at linebacker since high school.”

Inside linebackers coach Scott Stoker has noticed an uptick.

“He’s workedveryhardatitand he hada great spring,” Stoker said. “It’sjust knowing it and being able to play fast. Ithink he’snot even the same person he wasayear ago.”

Last season, Williamswas credited with 20 tackles in 14 games as areserve. The spring served as the first big step toward amore productive 2025.

“During theoffseason,I was trying to be intentional about the details of the position

1 p.m PGA:

6

3

a.m EPL: Crystal Palace at Chelsea USA

a.m EPL: Arsenal at Man. United NBC 11:30 a.m.Italian Cup: Pescara at Parma CBSSN 2 p.m Atletico Madrid at Espanyol ESPN2

3 p.m. CP:

noon Jacksonville at New Orleans KATC,NFLN

7

PRESEASON ROUNDUP

49ers squeak past Raiders on late FG

By The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS San Francisco 49ers

kicker Jake Moody made a 59yard field goal as time expired in the 49ers’ win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday Moody also converted a 44-yarder for the 49ers (1-1) with 37 seconds remaining to tie the game, and then Jaylen Mahoney intercepted Raiders quarterback Cam Miller to set up the winner Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown on seven carries Moody made 5 of 6 field goals while Daniel Carlson made all four of his tries for the Raiders (0-1-1). Brock Purdy played the first series for the 49ers, which ended in a field goal. He was 5 of 7 for 66 yards. Backup Mac Jones completed 13 of 16 passes for 135 yards with an interception, and former Raider Carter Bradley led the tying and winning drives and finished 8 of 13 for 96 yards. Star running back Christian McCaffrey did not play for the 49ers. Geno Smith completed 6 of 8 passes for 55 yards as the Raiders’ first-team offense played the first two series. The Raiders scored 10 points on those drives. Aidan O’Connell guided the team into the fourth quarter finishing 15 of 23 for 138 yards with an interception. PACKERS 23, COLTS 19: In Indianapolis, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson went 6 of 11 with 73 yards with no interceptions or fumbles, but it wasn’t enough as the Green Bay Packers rallied for the win.

Tyson Goodson scored the Colts’ lone TD on a 3-yard run. Richardson also took advantage of a fumble recovery to set up the second

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Mansoor Delane • CB Sr Delane looks like LSU’s most consistent cornerback He has more experience than anyone else at the position after starting 29 consecutive games over three years at Virginia Tech, and he’s a steady player Though LSU talked about using Delane at safety or nickel if needed, he has settled in at cornerback.

Bernard Gooden DT • Sr One of the camp standouts, Gooden has impressed since transferring from South Florida Listed at 6-foot-1 and 268 pounds, Gooden makes up for his lack of size with a quick first step and high energy

“His second foot is in the ground before the offensive lineman,” defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “So, even though he might be giving up 30 pounds, he’s able to get leverage and get power.”

AJ Haulcy S • Sr

Another camp standout, Haulcy transferred from Houston in the spring and asserted himself within a couple of weeks of practice He’s 222 pounds and will come downhill to make plays on the ball. At least once, he lowered his shoulder into a receiver to break up a pass over the middle. Baker called him “one of the most instinctual players I’ve been around.”

Braelin Moore • C • R-Jr Moore quickly cemented himself as the center in preseason camp Kelly has raved about him, complimenting his combination blocks and ability to recognize fronts. Even though there are concerns about the offensive line, Kelly has maintained his confidence in the unit. Part of the reason he feels that

of Spencer Shrader’s four field goals.

Daniel Jones played the first two series and went 7 of 11 with 101 yards for the Colts (0-2).

Israel Abanikanda led a 159yard rushing attack for Green Bay (1-1) with 12 carries for 43 yards.

PATRIOTS 20, VIKINGS 12: In Minneapolis, New England rookies TreVeyon Henderson and Efton Chism III each had another preseason touchdown as the Patriots beat the Minnesota Vikings. Henderson rushed for 20 yards with an 8-yard score on four carries during a two-drive stint for the first-team offense.

Second-year Pats quarterback

Drake Maye went 4 for 7 for 46 yards with a delay-of-game penalty and an overthrow that was nearly intercepted by Tavierre Thomas.

way is because of Moore, who he said “sets up the rest of the group for success.”

Jack Pyburn DE Sr.

One of the most physical players on the team, this preseason has been a continuation of what Pyburn showed in the spring.

He’s LSU’s best defensive end at setting the edge. In the pass-rush package, he plays defensive tackle as a 3-technique.

Bauer Sharp • TE • Sr. Sharp looks like a well-rounded tight end, though Kelly noted earlier in camp he needs to continue to develop Coaches like his leadership

“He plays hard every snap,” offensive coordinator Joe Sloan said.

“He’s going to give you everything he’s got. I think that’s physicality and violence in the run game. Then, also,he’stwitchyatthetopofroutes

He’s been able to get separation. And he’s a really good ball carrier with the football once he catches it.”

Josh Thompson OL • Sr Thompson has struggled at times this preseason, but there hasn’t been any sign of competition with him at right guard.

Chism had six receptions from backup QB Joshua Dobbs for 71 yards and a score for the Patriots (2-0).

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy wore an earpiece on the sideline while Sam Howell started. Howell went 1 for 5 with an interception for Minnesota (1-1).

TEXANS 20, PANTHERS 3: In Houston, C.J. Stroud found Nico Collins for a touchdown pass on his second drive in the Texans’ win over the Carolina Panthers.

Stroud played two series, going 6 for 8 for 44 yards. The Texans (11) punted on their first possession before Stroud found Collins on the 5-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to cap the second drive and make it 7-0. Nick Chubb ran five times for 25 yards in his Texans debut after spending his first seven seasons in Cleveland. Chubb played with

The battle has taken place at left guard, primarily between redshirt sophomores DJ Chester and Paul Mubenga.

Grant Chadwick P • Soph.

Chadwick has been a little inconsistent in brief viewing periods, but as long as he averages 43.4 yards per punt like he did as a freshman at Middle Tennessee State, it will be animprovementoverLSU’spunting last season.

Key players

Nic Anderson WR R-Jr

Anderson has stood out since he got out of concussion protocol near the beginning of preseason camp. He’s bigger than LSU’s other receivers at 6-4, and he has reliable hands. He also maintains his speed through his breaks. Anderson might not start every game, but he’s going to play a lot in a deep receiver rotation.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the way he has prepared and the consistency at which he has played every day,” Sloan said.

Barion Brown • WR • Sr Brown is one of the fastest players on the team His ability to stretch defenses vertically could help the passing game, and LSU has tried to get the ball in his hands in space with screens. He’ll also be the kick returner Kelly referred to him and Chris Hilton as 1A and 1B at the X receiver

“We’re going to get over the top of a lot of defenses with those two guys,” Kelly said.

Patrick Payton • DE • Sr Payton hasn’t flashed during preseason camp, but he will be a big part of the defensive end rotation. Kelly said he is learning a slightly new position after Florida State used him as a pass rusher only “He was strictly a rush end,” Kelly said. “So, there’s been a little bit of a learning curve for him.

Phillies ace Wheeler diagnosed with blood clot WASHINGTON The Philadelphia Phillies placed ace Zack Wheeler on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a blood clot in his right arm.

Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations for the Phillies, said after a 2-0 loss at Washington that Wheeler had been diagnosed with a “right upper extremity blood clot.”

“There’s not a lot that we can say on it at this time,” said Dombrowski. “It could have been a much more trying situation than it is.”

Phillies athletic trainer Paul Buchheit said Wheeler had been feeling better after some right shoulder soreness caused him to push back a start earlier this month.

But that changed Friday when he felt “a little heaviness,” Buchheit said.

Colts offensive lineman Freeland fractures leg

the starters with Joe Mixon out recovering from a foot injury he sustained this offseason.

Bryce Young failed to move the offense in two drives for Carolina (0-2). He was 0 for 2 and was sacked once.

DOLPHINS 24, LIONS 17: In Detroit, backup quarterback Zach Wilson had a strong first half for the Dolphins and third-stringer Quinn Ewers threw for two second-half touchdowns as Miami beat the Detroit Lions. Wilson, the No. 2 QB behind Tua Tagovailoa, completed 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown for Miami (1-0-1). Ewers went 11 of 17 for 116 yards. For the Lions (1-2), Kyle Allen impressed in the first half, going 14 of 17 for 124 yards and two scores.

Ollie Gordon II had 50 yards rushing for the Lions on 10 carries. Jacob Saylor had 13 carries for 39 yards.

BROWNS 22, EAGLES 13: In Philadelphia, the game’s decisive touchdown came on defense instead of from relief quarterbacks. K.J. Henry returned an interception 45 yards for a score in the third quarter to send the Browns to a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrew Mukuba returned an interception 75 yards for a score and recovered a fumble for the Eagles (1-1), and Jihaad Campbell had a sack.

Dillon Gabriel was 13 of 18 passing for 143 yards and the pick-6 for the Browns (2-0). Tyler “Snoop” Huntley played in the second half and was 10 of 13 for 71 yards.

Campbell, a linebacker out of Alabama selected 31st overall, sacked Gabriel on the second play of the game.

But I love the way he comes at it. He’s very conscientious. I think when it’s all said and done, we’re going to have a pretty good rotation of players coming in and out of the game.”

In the mix

Jimari Butler DE Sr A Nebraska transfer, Butler will get snaps at defensive end. He usually plays on the second-team defense at practice.

Ja’Keem Jackson CB R-Soph. Jackson missed some time last week after suffering what Kelly described as a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He could end up starting opposite Delane, but he hasn’t secured that spot yet. Junior cornerback Ashton Stamps is still getting a lot of work with the starting defense.

Backups

Michael Van Buren QB Soph. Van Buren was inconsistent early in camp, but he has played better of late. Sloan pointed out he had to learn a new offense after transferring from Mississippi State, and even though he played a lot as a freshman, that can take time. He has improved over the course of the offseason, especially in recent practices.

Donovan Green • TE • R-Jr Sloan complimented Green for his consistency He works with the second-team offense.

Destyn Hill WR R-Soph. LSU has been pleased with Hill, who was a bit of an unknown after transferring from Florida State. He might be able to crack the rotation, but there are six receivers ahead of him.

Sydir Mitchell • DT • R-Soph.

After a promising spring, Mitchell has dropped down the depth chart. He’s not on the two-deep. He could play in certain situations because of his size.

INDIANAPOLIS Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Blake Freeland was carted off the field with a fractured right leg in the first half of Saturday’s preseason game against Green Bay Freeland was injured early in the second quarter on a running play on third-and-1. As the play ended, Freeland’s right leg got pinned underneath other players before he fell to the ground. Trainers worked on his leg for several minutes, placing his leg into a boot. Freeland’s injury only complicates matters along an offensive line that struggled against Green Bay’s pass rushers during Thursday’s joint practice.

The three-year veteran from Brigham Young was expected to back up Braden Smith and possibly serve as Indy’s swing tackle.

Packers safety Brown in hospital after chest bruise

INDIANAPOLIS — Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said safety Omar Brown will spend Saturday night in an Indianapolis hospital for further evaluation after suffering a chest contusion in a preseason game against the Colts. LaFleur provided the update following Green Bay’s 23-19 victory Brown was seen wearing an oxygen mask and holding his midsection as he left the field on a golf cart. LaFleur did not have any additional details about the injury

“It’s a scary deal,” LaFleur said. Brown spent most of last season on the Packers practice squad, but wound up playing in two games and has had a strong enough training camp that he could make the Packers’ 53-man roster

Commanders activate McLaurin off PUP list

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders activated Terry McLaurin off the physically unable to perform list on Saturday amid lingering contract extension talks with the All-Pro wide receiver McLaurin, who is entering the final year of a three-year, $68.2 million contract signed in 2022, reported to the team on July 27 after skipping the initial four days of training camp and minicamp. That has not necessarily accelerated extension talks or returned McLaurin to practice. The team placed its top target on the PUP list with an ankle injury, and McLaurin requested a trade on July 31.

He was not on the field Saturday for Washington’s final practice before its Monday night home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Semenyo thanks soccer community for support

LIVERPOOL England Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo thanked his teammates, Liverpool’s players and the soccer community as a whole for the “overwhelming messages of support” he received after reporting he was racially abused by a spectator at Anfield. Merseyside Police said on Saturday that a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offense. He was taken into custody to be interviewed. Police launched a hate crime investigation after ejecting a spectator for his alleged racial abuse of Semenyo, who is Black, on Friday during the Premier League opener The incident occurred when Semenyo reported abuse to referee Anthony

in

with

Continued from page 1C

expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform list, which would sideline him for the first four games of the season When/if he returns, Hill will give Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier a key offensive chess piece. The Saints have no one with Hill’s skill set on the roster

6.WILL CHASE YOUNG BREAK OUT?

If the Saints defense is going to make a big leap, it likely will need a big year from Young. He looks poised to deliver The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is healthy and appears to be thriving on the edge in Staley’s 3-4 scheme. The league has been waiting for him to resurrect the promise he showed as a rookie. It might be now or never for the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

5.WHO BACKS UP ALVIN KAMARA?

Kendre Miller is the most talented. Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are the most experienced. Velus Jones is the most versatile And we don’t yet know where rookies Devin Neal and Marcus Yarns fit into the mix. Miller’s blend of size, speed and explosiveness is unmatched. Reliability has been his issue. Not only has he been injured for much of his career but he’s also struggled with missed assignments. His preseason performance has been encouraging.

4.WHO IS THE THIRD WR?

Brandin Cooks was signed in the offseason presumably to be the No. 3 option behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but the 31-year-old veteran is on his third team in four years and has seen his production decline annually since 2021. He’s had a relatively quiet camp Unheralded Mason Tipton has made a lot of plays this preseason but remains unproven Veteran reserves Cedrick Wilson and Donovan Peoples-Jones have yet to make an impact.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

control “the rhythm” of a game.

“Sometimes you’re going fast, sometimes you’re going slow and everything in between,” Moore said “There’s a rhythm to the game. You’re constantly trying to control the rhythm and change it up. If the defense gets a feel for you that can allow them to play and control some things from their perspective.”

Under then-offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak last year, the Saints didn’t huddle on 9.8% of their plays — ranking slightly above average at No. 15 in the NFL. But dig deeper and it becomes apparent those calls were often situation driven. Of the Saints’ 99 no-huddle plays, according to TruMedia, 31 of them happened in the final two minutes of either half — when teams typically hurry up. The Saints also ran 51 of their 99 no-huddle plays when trailing by at least a touchdown in the fourth quarter Sixty-two of those 99 calls occurred in the second half when the Saints trailed. Moore’s tempo isn’t nearly as situational; it’s a philosophy.

When the play-caller got hired to run the Eagles offense last year, he amplified the volume for an already fast-paced team

The Eagles went from 183 no-huddle snaps (16.4%) in 2023 to 274 (24.5%) last year — despite running only two more offensive snaps in 2024. The Chargers went from 19th in no-huddle snaps to third (168) in the one year with Moore. And from 2019-22, when Moore called plays for the Cowboys, Dallas ran the fifth-most no-huddle snaps and placed in the top 10 every year

The volume was effective, too. Last year’s Eagles had an EPA (expected points added) of 0.20 per play in no-huddle compared to 0.05 on other plays. In simpler terms, the high-powered Eagles offense was even more efficient when it pushed the pace.

Saints players like the change. Quarterback Spencer Rattler said the tempo plays to his and the offense’s strengths, while wide receiver Chris Olave noted that the shift is taking advantage of a league-wide trend to play faster Shaheed said Moore’s emphasis on it is one of the bigger differences from other offenses he’s learned.

“The biggest thing when you use tempo in a system like this, when teams have exotic blitz packages on third downs and stuff like that, and you use tempo on third down, that (opposing defensive) coordinator is not going to get to one of his exotics,” quarterback Jake Haener said. “So he might give the quarterback on defense a picture we’re more comfortable seeing We can go through the progression, and we don’t have exotic pressure if we’re maybe going tempo.

“Kellen does a really good job integrating that into a game plan.” As much as Moore likes to push the pace, the coach acknowledged there’s an “ebb and flow” to play calling. Though the Eagles ran the second-most no-huddle plays last season, Philadelphia was still far behind the Washington Commanders — who ran a staggering 677 (62.4%) no-huddle snaps under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury Moore said it’s trickier to run tempo plays when the offense keeps stalling or “getting pushed back.” The last thing Moore wants is a three-and-out that puts his defense back on the field, he said. So when’s the right time to push it? Historically Moore has been a fan of running tempo plays on first down — accounting for 49.2% of the Eagles’ no-huddle snaps and 43.5% of the 2023 Chargers’ no-huddle snaps. Moore said it’s easier to stick with tempo if the offense is in a flow, and the coach also will rely on tempo to exploit mis-

Don’t be surprised if the Saints add a veteran receiver or two after roster cuts. I don’t think they’re finished at this spot

3. HOW IS TREVOR PENNING’S HEALTH?

The Saints can’t afford any injuries along their depth-shy offensive line, so the loss of Penning and backup center Will Clapp in the preseason opener is cause for concern. Turf toe injuries are notoriously finicky, and Penning has battled foot injuries in the past His availability for the season opener against Arizona is up in the air His replacement, veteran Dillon Radunz, hardly inspired confidence with his performance against the Chargers, allowing two sacks — including one that led to a lost fumble — and committing two penalties.

2. HAS THE DEFENSE IMPROVED?

Staley’s 3-4 scheme has looked stingy and started strong against the Chargers before the reserve units hemorrhaged points and yards late. The front seven should be stouter against the run, and Kool-Aid McKinstry has made a big leap in Year 2. Still, the Saints need Young and Taylor to have breakout years for this unit to be special. The best friend of a young quarterback is a good defense

1.WHO’S THE QB? IS HE ANY GOOD?

Granted, it’s two questions, but none loom larger In a quarterback-driven league, the Saints have the most inexperienced quarterback room. And with the regular season just three weeks away, they still don’t know who their starter is. At this point, it’s a twoman race between Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler. My sense is the Saints would like to see Shough take the bull by the horns and win the job, but so far, he hasn’t separated himself from Rattler, who continues to make the decision difficult. Shough has started to look more comfortable as the game slows down for him, but there will be growing pains no matter who starts the season. Sunday’s preseason game against the Jaguars could prove decisive.

Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS NAME QB SHOUGH STARTER SUNDAY VS. JAGS

The Saints will have a different starter under center for their second preseason game Sunday.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars after Spencer Rattler took the first snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Saints announced Saturday on social media.

Shough led the Saints on two scoring drives in Los Angeles and ended the game with an 86.4 quarterback rating compared with Rattler’s 75.2.The second-round pick ended the game 15-of-22 passing for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Rattler, a second-year player, went 7-of-11 passing for 53 yards and a fumble.

Both quarterbacks remain in a competition to be the opening day starter Jake Haener also remains in the competition, said coach Kellen Moore, although his practice snaps have dwindled throughout training camp.

Will Nickel

matches Hurrying to the line of scrimmage often prevents the defense from making personnel changes.

Moore’s most interesting use of tempo might come in the red zone. In camp, the Saints have mixed in tempo plays in the area. Moore relied on such plays last year dialing up 47 no-huddle red-zone calls In those situations, Moore was more than comfortable running the ball, doing so almost 77% of the time.

Moore makes it clear when he wants his team to go. In his ear, Haener said he’ll hear “Tempo! Tempo! Tempo!” followed by a play call. Then the Saints sprint to the line to quickly get off the snap. Squint close enough, and it’s almost as if there’s point guard Tyrese Haliburton leading the Indiana Pacers on a fast break.

“Coach Moore got a standard for how he wants his offense to be ran,” guard Cesar Ruiz said. “And it’s our job as an offense to uphold that and be that standard, too.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com

— the run fits, the drop responsibilities, reading run/pass and my tackling,” Williams said. “So I feel like I’ve taken a big step in that role, along with the whole defense.”

Williams notes his biggest improvement is footwork.

“Last year, my footwork wasn’t as good as it could have been,” he said. “So just being intentional and working on the detail of the footwork, reading the guards keeping my shoulder squared to the line of scrimmage, things like that.”

Stoker mentioned the transformation doesn’t “happen overnight,” but the best thing about Williams coming from offense is he hadn’t developed any bad habits at linebacker

Stoker believes the next step for Williams is training his eyes.

“Everything in college football now is to get basically the backer’s eyes in bad spots,” he said. “You know, with all the motions, the speed motions, cross motions, empties, and it’s just really trying to get your eyes in bad spots. It’s hard to have eye control A lot of people don’t have good eyes.”

As Williams explained, “Don’t get nosy in the A gap. Let the other person do their job. Do your 1-11 and make the play.”

Williams is concentrating heavily on using his hands in camp.

“Being consistent with my hands,“ he

said. “I feel like in the run game, striking and winning with your hands is important at the line of scrimmage. You know, that could be the difference between making a play and it being a 1-yard gain or a 5-yard gain.”

Williams said the pressure is on the whole defense in its second season under defensive coordinator Jim Salgado.

“Because it’s your second year in the system, you have no excuse,” Williams said. “You know what you’re supposed to do. You know this is your second time coming through an offseason with it being faster to the run fits or being faster in the drops.”

Williams knows he’s not alone. He’s part of what appears to be a five-man rotation on the inside linebacker depth chart. He’s joined by Jaden Dugger, Jake St. Andre, Kailep Edwards and Caleb Kibodi.

“That’s what I’m hoping on,” Stoker said of the rotation, “but you don’t really know how the season goes until it kind of goes. That’s the process that we’re starting with, and like I said, those five guys, I feel very comfortable with it at any point in the game.”

Williams also feels supported by an improved defensive front.

“We’ve got dogs upfront,” he said. “A lot of people are going to have to double those guys. They’re going to have to use two linemen to double them, so that’s going to open up the run game and run through for the linebackers.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

Date Opponent Sept. 5RUMMEL

Sept.

PAST FIVE YEARS

2024: 6-7

2023: 11-3 (staterunner-up)

2022: 10-4 (state runner-up)

2021: 10-2(state runner-up)

2020: 9-1 (state champions)

PROJECTEDSTARTERS

Offense

WR Brayden Allen (6-2, 180, Sr.)*

WR Draylon August (6-1, 165,Sr.)*

WR Jace Babineaux (5-10, 160, Sr.)

WR Kaden Ledet (5-8, 150,Jr.)

OT Kaleb Campbell (6-9, 305,Sr.)*

OG Lane Broussard (6-0, 200,Jr.)

CAustin Domingues (5-10, 225,Sr.)

OG Gavin Auguillard (5-8, 240, Jr.)*

OT Torrey Landry(6-3, 240, Sr.)*

QB Braylon Walker (5-11, 170, Sr.)*

RB Caiden Bellard (5-10, 180,So.)

Defense

DL Michael Bonnett (6-2, 250,Sr.)*

DL Joseph Adams (6-2, 235,So.)

DL Brayden Lanclos (5-8, 255, Jr.)*

LB Jayden Arceneaux (5-10, 225, Sr )*

LB Jaimason Marzell (6-2, 205, Sr.)*

LB Kaydin Paul (5-8, 190, Sr.)

LB Kaleb Simon (5-8, 185, Jr.)*

CB Davion Batiste (5-9, 140,Jr.)

CB Sky Ryan Alexander (6-1,180, Jr.)*

FS LukeGreen (6-2, 180, Sr.)*

SS Tristen Jones (5-9, 165, So.)

*Returning starter

COACHES

Head coach: Matt Standiford (5-4)

Assistant coaches: Mitch Craft (DC), DrewBergeron (STC/DB), Jared Davis (WR),Tuskani Figaro (QB),Will Chance (OL), Shane Broussard (DL), Tyrell Fenroy(RB),Treverance Patt (DB)

LafayetteChristian

Luke

What we know

Lafayette Christian is once again loaded with talent on boththe offensive and defensive sides of the football.

So, expect the Knights to be even better than they were ayear ago when they reached the quarterfinals of theDivisionIII select playoffs

“This is themost balanced that we have been,” Knights coach Matt Standiford said. “We’re definitely morebalanced thanwewerelast year.Wewon’tbelacking on offense or defense.”

Offensively,the Knightsreturn sixstarters, ledbyquarterback Braylon Walker, aULRagin’ Cajuns commit, and receiver Brayden Allen, whorecentlycommitted to Tulane. Defense mightultimatelybethe strength of theKnightswithseven returning starters and another six players who received playingtime a year ago. The unit is ledbyCajuns commitLuke Greenat safety,linebackersJaimasonMarzell and Kaleb Simon, and junior cornerback Sky Ryan Alexander

“If the offense or thedefense is winning every day in practice, then something is wrong,”Standiford said. “That hasn’tbeen thecase. It’s been balanced to wherethe offense wins one day, and thedefense winsanother day.”

What we don’tknow

The Knightssuffered losses to the offensive line, but they have two impressive players at the left and right tackle positions in Kaleb Campbell and Torrey Landry.But thekey to theunitwillbedetermined by howwelltheyplayatthe guard and center positions.

“Wehavetoreplace some guys up front,” Standiford said. “We’re going to have anew center thatweconverted from the defensive line and anew left guard. But they’ve both done really well so far.We’re excited to see what those guys can do.”

Standiford identified specialteamsasanother area of concernfor theKnights, who have to replace kicker Lincoln Aragona.But Standiford likes thetwo options they have to choose from in junior Jude Fairchild andfreshman Kenner Thibeaux, bothofwhom have soccer backgrounds.

“Our punter graduated, andour kickertransferred,” Standifordsaid. “Last year,wehad the luxury of kicking field goals 40 yards and in.” Howwesee it

The Knights, whohavedynamic weapons all over thefield,are going to be oneofthe best teamsinthe state. If they stay healthy,the Knights should once again be atitle contender in Division III select.

EricNarcisse

SCOREBOARD

SoxatKansas City,n Detroit at Minnesota, n N.Y. Yankees at St. Louis,n TampaBay at San Francisco, n L.A. Angels at Athletics, n Sunday’s Games Miami(Junk 6-2) at Boston (Crochet 13-5) 12:35 p.m Texas(Eovaldi 10-3) at Toronto (Berríos 9-4), 12:37 p.m Atlanta (Fedde 4-12) at Cleveland(Allen7-9) 12:40 p.m Baltimore(Kremer 8-9) at Houston(Javier 1-0),1:10 p.m Chicago White Sox(Martin 4-9)atKansas City (Bergert 1-1), 1:10 p.m Detroit (Paddack 4-10) at Minnesota (TBD), 1:10 p.m N.Y. Yankees (Warren 7-5) at St. Louis(Mikolas6-9), 1:15 p.m L.A. Angels (Soriano 8-9)atAthletics (Springs10-8),3:05 p.m TampaBay (Pepiot 8-9) at San Francisco (Webb 10-9),3:05 p.m. Seattle(Kirby8-5)atN.Y.Mets(Holmes 9-6), 6:10 p.m NationalLeague

Francisco,n San Diego at L.A. Dodgers, n Sunday’s Games Philadelphia (Nola1-7)atWashington (Parker7-13), 10:35 a.m. Miami (Junk 6-2) at Boston (Crochet 13-5) 12:35 p.m. Atlanta (Fedde 4-12) at Cleveland (Allen7-9), 12:40 p.m. Milwaukee (Quintana 10-4) at Cincinnati (Abbott 8-3),12:40 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Warren 7-5) at St. Louis(Mikolas 6-9),1:15 p.m. Pittsburgh (TBD)atChicago Cubs (Assad 0-1), 1:20 p.m. Arizona (TBD)atColorado (Freeland 3-12) 2:10 p.m. TampaBay (Pepiot8-9)atSan Francisco (Webb 10-9), 3:05 p.m. San Diego (Darvish 2-3) at L.A. Dodgers (Glasnow1-1), 3:10 p.m. Seattle at N.Y. Mets (Holmes 9-6), 6:10 p.m Golf

BMW Championship Saturday At CavesValley Golf Club Owings Mills, Md. Purse: $20 million Yardage: 7,601; Par: 70 ThirdRound Robert Macintyre 62-64-68—194

BraylonWalker

QB,5-11, 170, Sr Walker is a tremendous athlete whoshowedlast year he’s athreat to score from anywhere on the field.Adual threat undercenter, Walker has greatspeed and thearm strength to make everythrow BraydenAllen

WR,6-2,180, Sr Allen is one of the best receiversto everplayfor the Knights.The Tulane commit has agreat combination of size and speed. He’s an outstanding route runner, and his jump ball skills are second to none CaidenBellard

RB,5-10, 180, So Bellard is the bell cowinthe Knights’ backfield, and it comesasno surprise that big thingsare expected from the secondyear running back. Bellard has the speed to runpast and the powertorun through would-be tacklers. He’salso an assetinthe passing game as he’s equippedwith greathands.

Jaimason Marzell

LB,6-2,205, Sr Marzell has developed into agreat defender.Hehas allthe toolstobea game-changer forthe Knights. Marzell, who plays witha nonstop motor, is aferocious tackler who, accordingtoStandiford,“is trying to runthroughyour face.” Luke Green FS,6-2,180, Sr Green is the quarterback of the Knights defense. Although he doesn’t have many interceptions in his career,Green has good ball skills. He doesn’t shyaway fromcontact and has proventobean outstanding tackler in runsupport.

EricNarcisse

LIVING

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

Abeach trip

reminds me of life’s possibilities

In their trips to the beach each summer,mychildren first learned about the largeness of the world, aplace big enough to hold their dreams.Wideblue waves stretched to the horizon, invitingthem to look toward distant places.

My daughter and son live far away these days, each one near adifferent shore at opposite ends of the country.Parenthood no longer asks me tobea beach dad, and there have been some summers when my swim shoes and ice chest stay on the shelf.

But this year,Ifelt aneed to enlarge my sense of the world, too. My daily routines, normally acomfort, were makingme wonder what might liebeyond my quietly orderedlife.When my sister-in-law invited usto the Gulf Coast for afew days, I quickly agreed.

Ialways reward myself after the long drive to Florida by dipping my bare feet in the waves before Iunpack. As dusk softens the day,Iinch closer to the tide, the sea’s salty fingers tickling my toes while Ilaugh and make friends with the ocean again. On that first evening, Ikept my ankles in the surf until the lights in all the beach condos slowly winked on, aconstellation of families getting ready for dinner.Nearby,a young man and his sweetheart were using the last moments of daylight to gettheir engagement picture taken on the beach. These seaside photo sessions have become aromantic tradition along the Gulf Coast for many couples, but Inever get tired of seeing them. There’s something hopeful about watching two loverspledging themselves to each otheratthe ocean’sedge, radiant with joy as they stand at the brightlip of eternity The next morning, Islathered myself with sunscreen and went deeper into the water, up to my shoulders, as Istaggeredthrough the waves like adrunkard winding his way home. Iwas so still for an hour that afew gullsstopped byand kept me company,maybeconvinced that Iwas alog.They seemed suspendedastheyhovered over my head,like model airplanes hung by thread With age, I’ve come to understand that Idon’thave to be in the ocean to savor it. Sometimes, we enjoyed the water best from our balcony,sipping coffee while the sea moved in and out, its steady heartbeat slowing our own. What Iliked most, Ithink, was watching the open sky through the bigwindow near my reading chair.Inthe shifting view,Icould see the day work through its many moods.

ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D

One of four statues located in the corners of Jackson Square in NewOrleans. The statues are partofan 1850s-era attempt to restore the square.

STAFFPHOTOSByBRAD BOWIE

PatLink, left, and Liz Friedmancompete againstmore than 60 otherplayers in amahjong tournament on Tuesday at the PetroleumClubinLafayette.

BEYOND NUMBERS

It’s agameof‘aesthetics andmathematics.’ Meet thewomen of Lafayettewho play mahjong.

BY JOANNABROWN Staff writer

The first thing you notice aboutmahjong is how beautifulitis. The tiles arecolorful pieces of art, often made of bamboo, ivory or bone and depicting exquisiteimages that reveal your hand.

Mahjong is also amusical game. In Chinese, it is “the gameofthe sparrows,” in reference to the chimethatfillsthe room as players shuffle and clink their tilestogether in thecourse of play

It’s acomplex game, one that originated in China in the19th century and based on older tile games Four playerssit around atable, competing against each other to collectand discard tiles to build awinning hand. With 144 tiles to manage, the player needs adeep understanding of rulesand strategytocome out on top According to Lafayette resident CarolSaucier,who has been playingmahjong for more than 40 years, the rules aremoredefined andabsolutethan bridge, another strategic, socialgame with groups of dedicated players.She says that knowing cards helps withlearning the basics, and it helps to play

The rules of mahjong are more defined and absolute than bridge, another strategic, social game with groups of dedicated players.

regularly —she plays threetimes aweek.

“People usedtosay that it’sjust little oldladies that play mahjong, but now it’s alot of young people. It’sa really fun, friendly game,” said Saucier Saucierand 60 otherplayers gathered at thePetroleumClubof Lafayette on Aug. 12 for amahjong tournament, organized by 92-yearold Lafayetteresident and longtimeplayer Pat Link. Link said that hergranddaughter,who she taught

to play,was in attendanceatthe tournament, as wasAnna-Carlisle Campbell, the granddaughter of Link’sbest friend. Campbell said that sheembarked on ajourney to learn how to play last November,after her grandmother,who also played for over 40 years, passed away

“She wanted me to learn, andPat, who put this on,was like,‘You’re doing this.’ So Igot sixofmy

ä See MAHJONG, page 4D

What is thestory of peculiar statuesinJackson Square?

BY RACHELMIPRO Contributingwriter

Areader was curious about aquartet of statues in New Orleans’ French Quarter.The question: “In Jackson Square, there is aset of four statues in each corner,not exactly hidden, but also not obvious. They represent theseasons: spring, summer,fall and winter However,they don’tseem to be placed in alogical order.What’sthe story with these statues? They look older than the other statuary in thepark.” In thecorners of Jackson Square, four often-overlooked statues hark back to agrand 1850s-era attempt to restore the square to respectability.The four white marble statues, possibly some of theoldest in the city,

hold amyriad of significance. Historian Buddy Stall, in his book “Buddy Stall’sNew Orleans,” claimed they were the first statues in the city to be displayed outdoors, with the exception of cemetery statues. “The placing of the city’sfirst statues,” Stall wrote, “was apparently not considered abig deal by the city fathers or the

ä See STATUES, page 4D

LOUISIANABAKES

Twocooldessertswhenit’stoo hottobake

Ice Cream Cake

Serves8-10

1pintvanilla icecream*

1pintmintchocolate chip ice cream*

Olivia Regard

August is peak summer in south Louisiana, which means some days are just too hot to think, too hot to move and certainly too hotto bake. While the slower pace of summertime may be coming to an end and studentsare returning to school, the unrelenting heat of summer in the south persists. For those sweltering, sweaty days, there is nothing better than acool,delicious dessert. These no-bake treats willkeepboth you and your kitchen cool.

The ice cream cake —ariff on the Italian tartufo —isa crowd favorite. The recipe below pairs vanilla and mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate cookie layers and achocolateshell, but other flavorcombinations are worth exploring.

Classic variations include chocolate and peanut butter or strawberry and vanilla, but for something more adventurous, try coffee and salted caramel or raspberryand white chocolate with Biscoff cookies.

The opportunities to experiment are endless.

The second recipe, for lemon freeze bars, requires just a few ingredients and is another make-ahead dessert.The simple, no-churn ice cream has abright, citrusy flavor that melts in your mouth. Prefer key lime? Simply substitute the lemons for key limes and incorporate the same amount of zest and juice.

My hope for you is that these cold treats provide the perfect respite from the heat after afun-filled day at the pool, lake or abackyard barbecue

Brownie Brittle (or chocolate wafer cookies)

(enough toyield approximately2 cups of cookie crumbs)*

6tablespoons coconut oil

12 ounce bagsemisweetchocolate chips

1. Set yourvanilla ice cream out to soften

2. Lineabowl or loaf pan with plastic wrap,leavingafew inches of overhang on all sides.

3. Melt two tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave.

4. In afood processor,blend cookies until coarse like sand. Then, stir cookie crumbsinto the melted coconut oil.

5. Addvanilla ice cream to the prepared bowl/pan andspread theice cream until smooth.Place half of the cookie crumbsonthe ice cream and gently press into thesurface. Cover with plastic wrap andplace thebowl in thefreezer to harden for 15-20 minutes.

5. Allow thesecondpint of ice cream to soften. Once soft,remove thebowl from thefreezer and addthe sec-

ond flavor of ice cream to the bowl. Spread until smoothand top with the remainingcookie crumbs, pressing the crumbs intothe ice cream layer.Cover andfreeze for at least two hours, preferably overnight.

6. At leasttwo hours prior to serving, makeachocolatetopping by placing semisweet chocolatechips and the remaining four tablespoons of coconut oil in adouble boiler or heatproof bowl set over apot of simmering water.(Note: Make sure thebowl does not touch the water in the pot). Melt chocolateuntil it is smoothand glassy.Set aside to cool slightly

7. Removethe bowl from thefreezer and invert the ice cream onto awire baking rack placed on acookie sheet or sheet pan. Removeplastic wrap.

8. Starting from the center,slowly pour themelted chocolate over the cake, allowing it to harden. Place the cake in the freezer uncovered to refreeze for at least two hours. Slice and serve.

*Note: This dessert is ripe for experimentation. Theice cream and cookie flavors are easily interchangeable with your favoriteflavor combinations.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Aug. 17, the229thday of 2025. There are 136 days left in the year

TodayinHistory:

On Aug. 17, 1998, President BillClintongave grand jury testimony via closed-circuit television from the White House concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky; he then delivered aTVaddressinwhichheadmitted his relationship with Lewinskywas “wrong”but denied previously committingperjury(Clinton was subsequently impeached bythe Houseof Representatives,but acquittedinthe Senate). Alsoonthisdate:

In 1807, Robert Fulton’s NorthRiverSteamboat made its first voyage, heading up the Hudson River on asuccessful round trip between New York Cityand Albany

In 1863, federal batteries andshipsbegan bombarding Fort SumterinCharlestonharbor during the Civil War, but theConfederates managed to hold on despiteseveral days of shelling.

In 1915, amob in Cobb County,Georgia, lynched Jewish businessman LeoFrank, 31, whose death sentence for themurderof 13-year-oldMary Phagan had been commuted to life imprisonment. (Frank, whohad maintained hisinnocence,was pardoned by the state of Georgia in 1986.)

In 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed independence for Indonesia,setting offthe Indonesian NationalRevolutionagainst Dutch rule.

In 1945, the George Orwell novel “Animal Farm,” an allegorical satire of Soviet Communism, was first published in LondonbyMartin Secker&Warburg.

In 1959, trumpeter Miles Davis released “Kind of Blue,” regarded as oneofthe most influential jazz albums of all time.

In 1978, the first successfultrans-Atlantic balloon flight ended as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzoand Larry Newman landed theirDouble Eagle II outside Paris.

In 1988, Pakistani President MohammadZia ul-Haq and U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel were killed in amysteriousplane crash.

In 1999, more than 17,000 people were killed when amagnitude 7.4 earthquakestruck the Kocaeli ProvinceofTurkey Today’sbirthdays: Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton is 89. Actor Robert DeNiro is 82. Businessman Larry Ellison is 81.Film director Martha Coolidge is 79. Filmmaker/author Julian Fellowes is 76. TennisHall of Famer Guillermo Vilas is 73. SingerBelinda Carlisle is 67. Author Jonathan Franzen is 66.Actor Sean Penn is65. Singer/actor Donnie Wahlberg is 56. College Basketball Hall of Famer and retiredNBA All-Star Christian Laettner is 56 Rapper Posdnuos (De La Soul) is 56.Tennis Hall of Famer Jim Courier is 55. Soccer great ThierryHenry is 48. Rock climber AlexHonnold is 40. Actor Austin Butler is 34.Singersongwriter Phoebe Bridgers is 31.

For those sweltering,sweaty days, there is nothing better than a cool,delicious dessertlikeIce CreamCake.

Lemon Freeze Bars

Recipeisadapted from The Kitchn; Makes 12 servings

For thecrust:

8tablespoons unsalted butter,melted and cooled 12 full-size sheets of graham crackers (or 1 1/2 cups

store-bought graham cracker crumbs)

2tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For thelemon filling:

1(14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

3tablespoons finelygrated lemon zest (approximately 3lemons)

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 3-4lemons)

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

11/2 cups heavy cream (keep colduntil ready to use)

1. For the crust, line an 8-inch square baking pan withtwo sheets of parchment paper,allowing for excess to overhang on allfour sides of thepan.

2. Place graham cracker sheets, granulated sugar,and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in

afood processor.Process until the crackers are the texture of sand. Remove two tablespoons of the crumbs mixture and set aside.

3. Add the melted and cooled butter to the food processor and pulse to combine. Transfer the mixture into the baking pan and press the crumbs into an even layer

4. To makethe lemon filling, whisk the sweetened condensed milk, twotablespoons of finely grated lemon zest, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt together in alarge bowl.

5. Beat the heavy cream on medium speed until softpeaks form.Gently fold into the lemon mixture until no streaks remain. Transfer onto the crust and smooth into an even layer

6. Add the remaining lemon zest to the reserved graham cracker crumbs, and sprinkle the mixture over the top. Cover and freeze until firm,atleast three hours or up to overnight.

7. Using the sides of the parchment paper,liftthe slab out of the pan and place on acutting board. Cut into 12 bars.

Restaurant should welcomefeedback

Dear Miss Manners: My wife and Iwent out to anewly opened restaurant for dinner Toward theend of the meal, the waiter asked how thingswere.

Ireplied that my meal (chicken parm over spaghetti) was very good, but that the deep cast-iron dish it had been baked in, and subsequently served in, waschallenging to eat from.

My wife chastised me for sayingthis, which Ithought was oddcoming from an outspoken woman.

able but also useful to state politely any concerns at restaurants. Awaiter should not take this personally,but should assure you that thecriticism is usefuland will be reported.

sponse to these comments or questions?

Gentle Reader: “It’saparasol, silly!”

She said that Ishould have only said how good the food was, since thewaitstaff has no control over the serving dishes. Apparently,according to her,I’m only supposed to saysomething if it’sa compliment.

Gentle Reader: Your wife, like just about everyone else, has mistaken therestaurant-customer relationship for asocial one.

However pleasant theatmosphere as asetting for socializing, restaurants are businesses that sell cooked food. Especially as this is anew restaurant,its owners want you to return and torecommendit.

So while it would be rudetocriticize a private host’s meal, it is not only accept-

What Miss Manners finds worse than your wife’sconfusion is that manypeople also do the opposite and treat private hosts as if they were running businesses: dictating or criticizing the menu, seizing leftovers, and even failing to show up after acceptinginvitations. They might not dare to do the latter to arestaurant, for legitimate fear of being charged.

DearMiss Manners: Isuffer from adebilitating medical condition where I can’tfunction in theheat formore than acouple minutes. If Iaminthe heat any longer,the symptoms Isufferare severe. It’ssobad that Iwas diagnosed with adisability

To offer aslight reprieve from the sun, when walking between buildings at work or in parking lots, Iuse asun umbrella. When doing this,Ioften receive rude comments from people inquiring, “When is the rain coming?” or something similar,oreven worse. What would be an appropriate re-

Dear Miss Manners: My fiancé and Iare at the point in our lives where we are frequently invited to weddings, often destination weddings. Our friends, mostofthem affluent, often choose to get married in Europe (or somewhere else far away) to “keep costs down,” even though the flights and hotels makethings moreexpensive forguests. One particularly egregious example is the daughter of acentimillionaire whoheld her wedding abroad “to save money” —and so that her guests would “have an opportunity to take avacation.” In the view of myself and my fiancé, this behavior is selfish and rude. What do you think?

Gentle Reader: That you need only decline the invitation, which will indeed save them money.Ifeveryone declines, they should save quite abit, as will the invitees. This strikes Miss Manners as awinwinsituation.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to heremail, dearmissmanners@ gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners,Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO64106.

Dear Heloise: Iwanted to write in regarding using newspaper in the sink to catch vegetable peelings so that they don’tgo down thedrain or disposal. Many people no longer get a physical newspaper,soIhave started saving various substitutes for this purpose, such as the bags inside cereal boxes, large envelopes that bring items in the mail, and even cereal boxes themselves. All can be cut to lay flat andcatch peelings as well as other debris for composting or trash disposal. —A Tennessee/ Texas Reader,via email

Tipfor prescriptions

Dear Heloise: After aheart attack expanded my prescription use dramatically,my

memorysurrendered. No way Iwas remembering all those pills, times and doses! So, this tech-savvy Grandpa created a cloud spreadsheet. Iused Google Drive, but there are other options. Ilisted all my medications’ brand names, technical names, dosages, times of day to be taken, and any comments (the past dosage, “this one makes me gag,”etc.).

Now,all this info is with me whenever Ihave my phone, which, like most of us, is all thetime. Ican share thesheet with others or bring it up on my tablet or laptop when I’m filling my weekly pillboxes. Plus, at every single doctor’s appointment, they ask which medsI’m taking, and Ijust bring up thesheet on my phone. Incidentally,Iprefer the seven-day pillboxes that are

color-coded and include aslot for each timeofday.I don’t mistake the time of day as easily,and they fit in aquartsized zip-close bag fortravel. —Mitch Tayse,inTipp City,Ohio

Shredded paperuse

Dear Heloise: Ihave another use forshredded paper.You can use it as areplacement for kitty litter if you happen to run out.

Also, when your cat has had surgery,the vet usually suggests not to use regular claytype litter foraweek or two. I’ve done this several times, and it works well. —Michelle Balk,via email Freshbread

Dear Heloise: Ihave asuggestion forpeople whocan’t seem to keep their bread fresh. Idonot use the heel piece. Itake the first heel piece out, then takethe slices

of bread Ineed. Ithen place the heel back to keep the air from getting to the rest of the interior pieces of bread. My bread has lasted formuch longer after starting this routine, and Ihope it helps the rest of your readers.

—YourFriend K.G., in Newport,New Hampshire

Usingour resources

Dear Heloise: Troy S. asked about foods that had fiber.You recommended searching the internet or abookstore, but another good place forinformation, usually at no cost, is your local public library We have moved away from this excellent resource, and with budget issues, we are likely to lose them if we aren’t using them —N.D in Albany, New York Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

‘NOLA RAIN’ is a feast for fans of Banksy

The author tracks down long-lost painting ‘Bugle Boy’

BY DOUG MACCASH Staff writer

Author and street artist Jesse Zuefle’s new book, “NOLA RAIN

The New Orleans Banksy Story,” is a lavish history of the 2008 visit by the British graffiti superstar

Jesse Zuefle is way more than a mere Banksy fan. By his own description, he’s obsessed with the British graffiti master, who reigns as the world’s most famous 21stcentury artist. For years, Zuefle has produced his own street paintings, which look a lot like Banksy’s characteristic black and white stencils. In graffiti circles, Zuefle uses the ironic pseudonym Banksy Hates Me. Zuefle may know more about Banksy’s legendary 2008 undercover visit to New Orleans than anybody but Banksy himself. His new self-published book is an admiring, hyper-detailed account of the anonymous artist’s sneak attack on the Crescent City

Based on our perusal of a digital copy of the book, the volume includes copious photos of Banksy’s 17 murals, from their original pristine states to their eventual destruction, disappearance and — in a few cases — resurrection.

Since no New Orleans Banksys survive in their original states, in their original locations, “NOLA RAIN” is their testament.

Verifying the unverifiable

Zuefle is quick to point out that the anecdotes in the book are practically always based on “hearsay” — such is the nature of covering clandestine, sometimes illegal behavior “How do you verify the unverifiable?” he asked rhetorically in a recent telephone interview.

“You’ve got to get the same story at the same time from 10 different

people.”

Since Banksy’s purpose in executing artworks in New Orleans was to call attention to the city’s continued struggle to recover from 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, Zuefle hopes to have books on the shelves of bookstores by the 20th anniversary of the storm on Aug. 29.

Heading south

Zuefle, 54, grew up in blustery Buffalo, New York He affectionately calls his folks first-generation hippies. His dad was an auto mechanic and folky” musician, and his mom ran a day care center As an adult, Zuefle owned a nightclub in Buffalo and a Goth/ punk clothing store His personal style tends toward muscle shirts, tats and shades. Nowadays, Zuefle said he sells his own artworks and owns a few rental properties.

Zuefle met up with some friends for a vacation in New Orleans in 1999 and was immediately smitten with the architecture and arty vibe In 2011, he bought a house in the Marigny, where he spends about a quarter of the year

Zuefle said he’s always been an art lover and was especially drawn to graffiti and street art. Banksy’s art was his favorite, he said, because “it’s so basic and simple, but delivers such a strong message.”

By the time Zuefle became a part-time New Orleans resident, most of the 2008 Banksys were already ruined. But the so-called

“Umbrella Girl,” also known as “NOLA,” was still intact at the corner of Kerlerec and North Rampart streets, just blocks from his home. Zuefle became one of the painting’s protectors, replacing the clear plastic sheeting that shielded it when necessary Becoming ‘Banksy Hates Me’

In the meantime, Zuefle learned the art of stencil cutting and began making his own Banksyesque murals, first in Buffalo, then New Orleans. He said he was aware of how many fellow artists “ride Banksy’s coattails,” and how some onlookers confused real Banksy paintings with those of his imitators.

Zuefle wanted to be sure that viewers understood that his works were tributes inspired

by the master, not counterfeits. His motto was “I’m not Banksy, Banksy Hates Me.” Hence his street art nickname.

Zuefle said he’s never met his hero, though he believes he may have brushed with the Englishman’s inner circle, when he made pilgrimages to Banksy’s hometown Bristol and to his darkly satirical Walled Off Hotel in Palestine.

In New Orleans, Zuefle’s most stirring artwork is a skeletal version of the “Umbrella Girl,” which he created to replace the original when it was removed by the property owner in 2024.

Revelations

Zuefle has achieved a few scoops in his new book that may surprise even those of us who’ve

Daughter of Methodist pastor writes

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

“World Without End: Essays on Apocalypse and After” by Martha Park, Hub City Press, 240 pages.

It’s hard to say something new about a bird that’s likely been extinct for over 80 years, especially one like the ivory-billed woodpecker a species that has generated its own cottage industry of books, essays, scientific surveys and conspiracy theories since its last universally accepted sighting back in 1944. But in “World Without End,” Martha Park’s debut collection of essays exploring the intersections of the climate crisis and faith, Park adds a fresh twist to the ivory-billed saga

She’s interested in the religious overtones of the bird’s many nicknames: the Good Lord Bird (for the exclamatory disbelief purportedly expressed upon seeing the woodpecker’s enormity), the Grail Bird (after the passion some birders have to prove its continued existence) and the Lazarus Bird (because now the poor thing won’t stay dead).

Park offers up the more nuanced and no less biblical “resurrection creature,” for a bird that once depended on forests of newly dead trees, their trunks easily permeable and grub-laden, for shelter

and subsistence. It’s too bad, she reasons, that the ivory-billed woodpecker disappeared during this era of increased logging, saltwater incursion and hurricanes. More dead trees would have made the species among “the perfect creatures for our time, at home in a world of change and disruption,” she writes.

You might, like me, own a sagging shelf of books on the Anthropocene age, the term for the past century of devastating human-induced environmental impact. This makes me a doom-reader sure, and, I’d contend, a well-informed realist. After a decade-plus of focused reading, I can’t help but feel a bit jaded. Another book, the gloomily benumbed reader asks, about dead birds, melting ice caps, climate refugees, so on and so forth? (Full disclosure: I’ve writ-

ten one myself) But in these echo-chambered times, “World Without End” is a much-needed palliative.

Atheists and agnostics are true believers when it comes to the climate crisis. Though, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, only 8% of Americans identify as both “highly religious” and “very concerned about climate change.”

Park, the Memphis-based essayist, is the daughter of an itinerant Methodist pastor, now retired, who uprooted his family every three or four years.

“Whenever we moved,” she writes, “one group of white-haired ladies was replaced by another all singing the same songs.”

Her father’s politics skewed progressive. Parishioners at times called him a socialist, accused him of not believing in Jesus. He refused to preach from the Book of Revelation for its apocalyptic bent and made his young daughter listen to Rush Limbaugh, that bloviating mouthpiece of political doomsayerism, so she “would know what the enemy was saying.”

So, perhaps, Park was destined to begin her writing career, literally and figuratively, at the world’s end.

“With increasing frequency,” she writes, “I’ve found the language of apocalypse creeping up in my own life.”

Still several years away from turning 40, her retirement plans “consist entirely of assuming the world will no longer be habitable by the time I’m sixty-five.”

(PHOTO COURTESy JESSE ZUEFLE) Jesse ‘Banksy Hates Me’ Zuefle’s book ‘NOLA RAIN: The New Orleans Banksy Story,’ is a selfpublished labor of love

long studied Banksy’s New Orleans sojourn.

He’s investigated the stories behind the three portraits of Abraham Lincoln that Banksy is said to have given as gratuities to those who aided him in his New Orleans adventure. And there’s the tale of the panel van that crashed into the building where the “Umbrella Girl” was painted, in what may have been an effort to destroy the artwork.

But the most riveting revelation is Zuefle’s tracking down of Banksy’s “Boy with Trumpet” — a child blowing a horn while buffeted by the wind, which was painted on the clapboards of an unoccupied house in Treme. According to Zuefle, he contacted two New Yorkers who admit to having flown to New Orleans in 2008 expressly to find a Banksy to take home.

In Zuefle’s telling, the pair pried the painting from the wall, boxed up the clapboards that held it, and spirited the artwork away to the Big Apple where it was reassembled. According to Zuefle, in 2024, the art collectors offered to lead him to the long-lost painting, which was displayed in a private home, with the proviso that he be blindfolded and that he leave his phone behind to prevent him from geolocating the artwork.

“It was a surreal experience, and gave me a great story to tell,” he wrote. The episode will also give readers a great opportunity to debate the ethics of the unauthorized collecting of unauthorized street art.

Producing the book has been “super exciting and fun, especially for a fanboy like me,” the author said.

Zuefle said that “NOLA RAIN The New Orleans Banksy Story,” was printed in Mexico and is currently being shipped. When it arrives, the book will sell for $40 or $50 for a limited, signed edition. Advance online sales are underway

on climate crisis, faith

Most of the book’s dozen essays have been assembled from various print and online publications, which can, at times, give “World Without End” a cobbled-together feel. The collection’s saving grace is a third through line that threads across many of these pieces: Park’s impending motherhood.

The birth of a child marks any number of beginnings but also represents its own, distinct world without end — a constant seesaw of rapturous moments and tiny apocalypses that can send even the most non-spiritual parent to their knees in thanks.

Bunkered down during the pandemic, a pregnant Park and her husband binge-watched “Doomsday Preppers” and the survivalist series “Alone,” then reluctantly begin stockpiling their own survival kits. The apocalyptic impulse, she reflects, is a constant, especially in Christian thought. The fifth-century theologian known as St. Augustine compared his world with that of Christ’s earliest followers: “Those were the last days then; how much more so now!”

In other essays, Park hits the road, searching her environs for end-times fun.

In Dayton, Tennessee, she attends the annual reenactment of the Scopes Monkey Trial, an American Waterloo for an earlier evolutionary stage in Christian fundamentalism. She ponders the reactionary binarism that then pitted creationists against Darwinists and today has led to the polarized decay of American politics.

Christians, she reminds, “ostensibly model their lives and values”

after a man who, above all else, contained multitudes: “both human and divine dead and resurrected.”

Traveling to the Florida Panhandle, she unearths the story of Elvy Edison Callaway who claimed that the site of the biblical Garden of Eden could be found along the Apalachicola River Noah sourced the wood for his Ark from Torreya taxifolia, commonly known as Florida torreya or stinking-cedar, a species now listed as critically endangered due to a fungal blight.

In Kentucky, she tours Ark Encounter, an amusement park for liturgical literalists and youngearth creationists centered on a full-size replica of Noah’s biblical barge. The exhibit catalogs the 6,744 animals that humanity’s O.G. prepper brought on board, including a pair of unicorns and several dozen dinosaur species, or in creationist parlance, “kinds,” the term that appears in Genesis.

Despite denying climate change, the Ark Encounter’s parent organization, the Creation Museum, sued its insurance company for $1 million in damages due to unseasonably heavy rains in 2019.

“There never was a more holy age than ours,” writes Annie Dillard, a notable influence on Park, “and never a less.”

Despite its often bleak perspective, “World Without End” is a spirit-buoying book. I’m excited to see where Park takes her readers next.

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

MAHJONG

friends, andwe go everySunday for lessons, and we’re still going,” said Campbell.

“At first Iwas like,‘I’m never going to get through this.’ There’sjust alot going on. But after about eight lessons, once we started playingtogether,all the rules start to makesense.”

Link, the grand dame of the tournament, does alot to build a friendly communityaround the game by making sure everyone is on the same page. Mahjong isn’tjust about knowing the rules. As agameof“aesthetics and mathematics,” according to Link, there’s an etiquetteand rhythm to the experience that makes the game an event, as well as acompetition.

Continued from page 1D Mahjong is such afriendly game whereyou don’t really get mad at people. If youhave aproblem, youtry to work it out. But we don’t really have problems.It’s just awonderful game, so mentally stimulating. And you meet so many people.

Link’slist of “mahjong manners” she displays at tournaments emphasizes thepolite nature of the game. According to Link, knowing the etiquette helpstobuild acommunityof mutual respect and understandingarounda game that hasan active, vibrant culture all over the world.

Her “mahjong manners” includes how to keep your tiles

STATUES

Continued from page1D

local newspaper.”

Stall pointed to aJune20, 1852, article in the Daily Picayune that documented the statues’ placement in one paragraph. Thearticle gives ashort description of each statue; an old bearded manwith a cloak as winter,aflower-holding girlasspring, autumn as agirdled woman and summer as ayoung man with grapes and abook. The article doesn’tmention thesculptor,instead offeringup abrief summaryofthe statues’ origins: “Marble statues received severalmonths previously from the north were set up in the corners of Jackson Square.”

Atimeofrenewal

Historian Leonard Huber offered more details in his account, “Jackson Square throughthe Years,” placing their installment in atime of renewal for the square.The square, firstknown as the Place d’Armes under French rule, which then became

PATLINK

PROVIDED PHOTO

the Plaza de Armaswhen the Spanish government hadcontrol, was neglected bythe end of the 1840s, Huber chronicled. Houses around the former military grounds were in need of majorrepair,St. Louis Cathedral neededwork, andthe Presbytère

clean, the importance of playing your turn in atimelymanner andrefraining from comments at the table that could mess up someone’sgame or cause feelings to flair

In aworld wheregameplay often features an “anything goes” ethic, mahjongisa game that builds community as much as it providesacompetitive outlet, made all the more entertaining with groups of friends that typically end up playing

and the Cabildo had leaking roofs.

Daily Picayune reports described old sycamore trees with bark peeling off in blotches, the “crumbling and molding” architecture and the overall “desolation”ofthe square.

City officials appointed an improvement committee to examine the square.Committee members returned with an equally damaging report, calling the square an “eyesore” and a“resort for loafers and vagabonds.”

Thesquare’s revitalization would be championed by an unexpected contender: Baroness de Pontalba Thebaroness, born MicaëlaAlmonester,was the daughter of a wealthySpanish colonialofficial. When he died, she inherited alarge fortune andvast real estate holdings, including buildings that lined the square. Huber pointed to a 1846 improvement plan the baroness sent to New Orleans officials, outliningways to revitalize the square.The baroness demolished herfather’sold buildings to build the Pontalba Buildings, whichstill lineJackson Square today, sparkinga wave of changes. “I would say theBaroness

together for years.

“Mahjong is sucha friendly game where youdon’t really getmad at people. If you have aproblem, you try to work it out,”said Link.“But we don’treally have problems. It’sjustawonderful game, so mentally stimulating. And you meet so many people.I hada tournament here in July,and we hadpeople playing from Mississippi, Texas, allover Louisiana.”

in the Acadiana area interested in learning mahjong can reachout to Facebook groups like Hub City Mahj, whichhosts regular open play events at Sunday’sSoda Fountain in Lafayette.The South Regional Library,at6101 Johnston St., also hosts agame each Thursday,from 1p.m. to 4p.m. Email Joanna Brownat joanna.brown@theadvocate. com.

Pontalbadid moretobeautify theFrench Quarter than any one individual before or since,” said Tulane geographer Richard Campanella. “The results are evident all around Jackson Square today.” By 1851,the newly renamed Jackson Square was ahub of activity,with newplants put in, new pathwaysbeing created and widescale renovation. Huber mentioned oneotherchange:four statues put in the square,offered up by amember of the improvement committee, D. Lanata.Stone dealer NewtonRichards supplied the marble basesand erected the statues; Huber placed the totalcost of the statues andbases at $1,030. Today,the four unassuming statues still stand in the square, moreorless in the samecondition as when they wereplaced there. ContactRachel Miproat rachelmipro1234@gmail.com. Do you havea questionabout something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phonenumber andthe city where you live.

from page1D

TRAVEL

Cincinnati celebrates itsriver rootswithOct.festival

BY CHERE COEN

Contributing writer

Youcan’tsimply describe Cincinnati.

It’sanOhio citythat one might consider Midwest, but Kentucky exists moments away on theother side of the Ohio River.Cincinnati established itselfasa port town in the early 1800s and attracted many nationalities, but it wasthe Germans who flocked there, leavinganindelible mark on thecity’s work ethic and culinaryscene. There’savibrant art scene with murals literally everywhere, award-winning cuisine andthe Cincinnati Reds, the oldest team in Major League Baseball to pay their players.

There are so many reasonsto visit this river city,but this fall offers one more. Steamboats from the Mississippi and Ohio riverswill sail from theirhome ports to join Cincinnati’sown Belle of Cincinnati and the River Queen for America’sRiver Roots festival. This celebration of musical acts and artists kicks off the city’s—and America’s—250th anniversary of the signingofthe Declaration of Independence in 2026. The festival, Oct. 8-12, honors America’ssteamboat golden age —inthe early 1800s, there were 143 steamboats operatingonthe Ohio, 48 of them built in Cincinnati —and offers visitors achance to board 1800s-style riverboats. The Steamboat Natchezfrom New Orleans will join theBelle of Louisville and the Mary M. Miller from Louisville, Celebration Belle from Moline, Illinois;the Belle of Memphis from Memphis, Tennessee;Three Rivers Queen from Pittsburgh, and Anson &Betsey Northrup from the port of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

The festival includes agospel revival, programs at the National Underground RailroadFreedom Center,tastings from Kentucky bourbondistillers and Ohio beer brewers, demonstrationsfrom celebrity chefs and amarket of regional food artisans on the pedestrian Purple PeopleBridge that connects historic Newport, Kentucky,toCincinnati.

More than100 performances willbeoffered on eight stages on both sides of the river byrenowned and up-and-coming musicians. Look for Grammy-winning rockers(and Cincinnati natives) The National and Weezer,plus Maren Morris and Mt. Joy Charles Gaines’ interactive, 110-foot-long “Moving Chains” kinetic sculpture evokes thehull of aship, with nine massive chains in motion overhead as visitors walk through. It examines the roles America’srivers played in the transatlantic slave trade. For more information, visit https://www.americasriverroots. com

Don’t-miss Cincinnati tours

Findlay Market in the center of town dates to 1852 and hasbeen named oneofthe top 10 food markets in the world by Newsweek. Barb Cooper knows well the market’shistory as well as its many vendors and loves sharing

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

bothwith visitors through her CincinnatiFood Tours. She visits awide variety of food options but alwaysstopsatEckerlin Meats butcher shop where thecity’s

trademark goetta, aGerman sausage madewith pork and oats, is made. To learn moreabout thecity’s German heritage and settlement,

and its reason forbeing named the“beer capital of the world” in the1840s, take one of the Queen City Underground Tours. On our Over the Rhine walking tour, nativeLaura Resnick explained how Germans populated 7square miles of the city,which today contain America’slargest contiguous collection of 19thcentury Italianate architecture, larger than Charleston’shistoric district andhaving morehistoric buildings than New Orleans.

Naturally,these Germansproduced beer (was safer to drink than the city’swater at the time) and carved out underground lagering tunnels to store their wares.

Resnick takes visitors through these fascinating tunnels, marvels of engineering and other landmarks such as historic

SoutheastAsiatourreroutedunder

Massachusetts

I booked a17-dayNational Geographic Expedition to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

churches and parks.

Don’t-miss culinarydelights

Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides combined spices with America’slove of cheese to create aunique Cincinnati chili at his Skyline restaurant, named forthe original eatery that overlooked the city’sskyline.

Skyline Chili places Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce over spaghetti and tops it with apile of cheddar cheese. It arrives with oyster crackers that locals enhance with hot sauce.

Esquire magazine named Wildweedone of the best new restaurants in America and James Beard agreed. ChefsDavid and Lydia Wildweed serve up seasonal and foraged ingredients in innovative ways.

Enjoy an after-dinner drink at Ghost Baby,located within an old lagering tunnel four stories under Vine Street. The venue features live music and creative craft cocktails.

Across the river in Covington, Kentucky,Brad “Dusty” Bonds stirs up unique spirits —those madebefore Prohibition or afew years beyond —atRevival Vintage Spirits.

For only afew dollars, visitors may sample unique spirits or the original recipes of today’sname brands.

Don’t-miss Cincinnati attractions

The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is amultimuseum complex with something of interest foreveryone. The building served as an inspiration for“Hall of Justice” in the recent “Superman” movie.

Founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Nichols Storer,Rockwood Pottery wasthe first large U.S. manufacturing company founded and owned by awoman. It continues its production of hand-crafted ceramics today and offers tours of its factory

All types of neon and roadside signs are on display at the American Sign Museum,from old McDonald’sand Bob’sBig Boy signs within are-created Main Street USAtounique creations such as Earl Scheib’srotating cars and a Rock City barn segment. The nation’slargest public sign museum includes neon-bending demonstrations at an on-site neon shop. In Covington, the massive green alien Clive peers downupon visitors from aparking garage, dangling amagnifying glass to check out human inhabitants. It’s amust-see and the perfect selfie opportunity

Otherupcomingevents

Bourbon &Belonging in several areas around Cincinnati will be Oct. 3-5, the only LGBTQ+ inclusive Bourbon weekinthe country, followed by the Cincinnati Coffee Festival Oct. 25-26. In November the second-oldest zoo in America will host alight display

The Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights has been voted by USA Today as America’sNo. 1zoo light display.Martha, the last passenger pigeon that passed away at the zoo in 1914, is immortalized in one of the zoo’soriginal aviary buildings.

Christopher Elliott

I’m traveling with four other people. We recently discovered that on day11, our itineraryhad been changed. Instead of aday of sightseeing,wewere scheduled to spend the entire daytraveling from Hanoi to Luang Prabang,Laos

The original itineraryincluded a one-hour and10-minute nonstop flight. But National Geographic now has us on a flight with astopover Our revised itinerarynow includesa 1-hour 50-minute flight from Hanoi to Bangkok, athree-hour stopover, and a1-hour 25-minute flight from Bangkok to Luang Prabang,Laos.

I’m not getting anywhere with National Geographic. Can you help me? —Harrison Coerver,Dennis,

NationalGeographic shouldhave done what it promisedinyour original itinerary

And whatwas that?Day 11 says, “Begin the daywith amorning cruise bysampan through the stunning landscapes of TamCoc. Then explore the cavetemples of Bich Dong pagoda and the serene 13th-century Thai Vi temple, surroundedby beautiful scenery. Idon’tsee anythingabout spending morethansix hoursintransit. But have alook at thetermsofyour tour.National Geographic reserves the right to change the itinerary or activity “asappropriate for safety, security,comfort or convenience,without liability or notice.” In other words, National

Geographic was bothright —and wrong. The fine print, which you agreed to when you signed up for the tour,allows National Geographic to turn your nonstop flight into an all-day affair.But there’s also an impliedagreement thatyour tour operator will be respectful of your time. Seeing threecountries in 17 days is pretty ambitious, and the tour itinerary certainly leaves you with the impression that you won’twastea minute Isee you did everything you could torescue day 11 of your tour. Youasked repeatedly for your original nonstop flights to be restored. WhenNational Geographic refused, you appealed. It’s hard to know what was happening behind the scenes.But as someone who has spent afair amount

of timeinSoutheast Asia, Ican tell you thatflight scheduleschange all the time. This might have been the only available flight to Luang Prabang.

National Geographic Expeditions tours are operated by Global Adrenaline, awholly owned subsidiary of the company.Ilist the names, numbers and emails of their executives on my consumer advocacy site,Elliott.org. Aquick note to one of themmight have helped. Ithought it was worth asking National Geographic what was going on with your flights. (Full disclosure: I spent 17 yearsasaneditor at National Geographic. I alsopublished my book, “HowToBeThe World’s Smartest Traveler,” through National Geographic.)

Ireached out to National

Geographic on your behalf. The company switched your flights back to the nonstop, as you requested.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy anonprofit organization that helps consumerssolve problems. Email chris@ elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

ARTS &CULTURE

Presbytère balances Katrinatalewithstory of rebuilding

Since it opened in 2010, the Presbytère exhibition “Living with Hurricanes: Katrinaand Beyond” has occupiedsome of the mostvaluablereal estate in the Louisiana State Museum system and has arguably been the most important permanent museum exhibition in town.

Dave Walker

Steps from the tourist magnet of Jackson Square, it’sbeen an engaging learning machinefor visitors who only know the storm and its failed-levee aftermath through fading memories of live TV coverage of the catastrophe that came in the wake of Aug. 29, 2005.

To mark Katrina’s20th anniversary,the exhibit is undergoing renovations to update its multimedia displays (with the Solomon Group supporting staff curators) and to broaden and extendthe city’srecovery timeline into the present.

“Weneed to do the normal refresh you do from infrastructure aging over 15 years,” said Becky Mackie, acting director of the Louisiana State Museum’s10institutions. “Also, we have more of astory to tell.”

Billy Nungesser,achampion for the State Museum as part of his portfolio as lieutenant governor duties, said his initial observation of visitors passing through theoriginal exhibit was that its narrative left people “down in the dumps.”

“It was all thenegative,”he said. “And so, from that moment forward, Isaid, ‘We’ve got to do something as we rebuild to show that in the face of disaster,Louisianans help each other out,they

protected, building differently.I hope that message is what people leave there with.”

Still, care has been taken to not “lighten the mood too much,” Mackie said.

“Because we don’twant to disrespect the agony that people went through.”

Pirogue, hatchetremain

come together,and look what we’vebeen able to do in 20 years.’

“I think they’ve done agood job in highlighting all of the armored (levee) systems put in place, some of therebuildingefforts. Andso

you leave there saying, ‘Wow, with all the disasters hitting all over the country now,it’sgood to see an example of adevastation and the rebirth of aregion coming back stronger —better

During arecenttour of the exhibit while the renovation work was in progress, KarenLeathem, aState Museum historian and curator whowas partofthe team that did the original installation, saidthe changes to theexhibit will be mostnotable near itsconclusion —where therecovery and protectionstories have been updatedand expanded —and in the “storm theater” presentation near the beginning of the exhibit thatdisplays news and home-video footage of the storm blowing through the area, then flooding.

Many key artifacts remain in place.

The homemade pirogue Stephen J. Fordused to rescue family and neighbors in the flooded Lower 9th Ward is among them.

Alsostill in place is the hatchet

Judith Buffone and her teenage daughter used to escape the attic of their St. Bernard Parish home.

Buffone “had grownuphearing about Betsy and hearing that warning: ‘You better put an ax in your attic,’”Leathem said. “And so, she wenttothe hardware store theday before Katrina and got it and then had to use it. It’s just an amazing story of these stories that she had heard as achild and then thought, ‘Oh, wellI better do that.’” After aribbon-cutting at the Presbytere to markthe “Living

‘Peanuts’goestosummercampinmusical

AppleTV+ special features Charlie Brown, Snoopy

BY MARK KENNEDY

AP entertainment writer

NEW YORK Charlie Brown and Snoopy go to sleepaway camp in anew,bittersweet Apple TV+ special fueledby apair of Emmy Award-nominated songwriters that’s being billed as the first “Peanuts” musical in 35 years.

“My motivation has always been to preserve and enhance my dad’slegacy,” says co-writer Craig Schulz, ason of the iconic comic strip “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz. “So it’s really an honor to get to play with these kids.”

“Snoopy Presents: ASummer Musical,” which premiered Friday,features five songs —two by Jeff Morrow,Alan Zachary and MichaelWeiner —and three by Ben Folds.

“If someone asked me to write for astupid kids thing, Iwould finditdifficultbecause Idon’tlike talking down to anyone, much less kids,” says Folds. “‘Peanuts’ isn’tlike that. We’re working in very rich, fertile soil.”

The special opens with the kids getting ready to catch the bus to Cloverhill Ranch camp, but Sally isn’tsosure it’sgoing to be great. “Honestly,big brother,Icould stay home,” she says. Sally is initially intimidated by the camp’sinside jokes and rituals, turned off by the insects, the endless climbing, no TV,coldlake water and lumpy beds.

“You wake at dawn/Like you would in jail,” she sings in the song “A Place Like This.” “The food’snot what you’d call upscale/This whole endeavor,anepic fail/ And that’sbeingdiplomatic.”

Trust “Peanuts” to explore reluctancetoleave home and fear of change. Craig Schulz, who co-wrote the script with his son, Bryan, and Cornelius Uliano, channeled some of his own childhood.

“Cloverhill Ranch actually is atake-off of the one

in Santa Rosa called Cloverleaf that Iwent to as achild and hated. Ibailed out after aweek andwent home,” he says. “So many connections in the film kind of date back to my childhood that we weaved intothe film.”

While Sally warms to camp,Snoopy discovers what he thinks is atreasure map that will transform himintoawealthy pooch, one whowilllay on topofa gold dog house. And Charlie Brown learnsthat this summer will be the last for his beloved but struggling camp —unless he doessomething.

“I guess your generation wouldrather sit in front of the television than sit under the stars,”hetells Sally “Wehavetoprotect these

kinds of places because once they’re gone,they’re gone forever.”

Charlie Brown comes up with theideatoinvite generationsofcamp-goers back for afundraising concert, but theskies darken on the big day,threatening to cancel the event and sending him into a“Good grief” spiral.

“Charlie Brown is differentinthis special,”says director ErikWiese.“He’s really happy.Helovesthis place. Andsothat’s why when we gettothatscene it’ssoeffectivebecause he returned back to thezero we sort of know himtraditionally.”

Folds suppliesthe lovely last threesongs —“When We Were Light,” “Look Up, Charlie Brown” and“Leave It Better”—and credits his songwriting collaborators forsetting the stage.

“I entered when those first two songs existed,and Iget to justsort of step in at the point wherethingsget really complexand melancholic,” he says.

Foldshas had aflirtation with musical theater before, having written the “Peanuts” Earth Day song“It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown” in 2022 and afew songs for themovie “Over

the Hedge” in 2006.

“People can easily confuse asongthatsounds like musical theater withasong that should be musicaltheater,” he says. “Really whatthe value of the songisthat it obviates the need foragood five to 10 pagesofscript.”

This Octobermarks the 75th anniversary of “Peanuts,” and the musical arrives with aboatload of branding, from tote bags by Coach to shoes by Crocs and Starbucks mugs.

Craig Schulz is already at work on asecond animated musical withhis son, having long ago fallen in love with the family business.

“I used to always wonder how in the world my dad could go to the office every day for 50 years and write acomic strip every day,” he says, comparing it to the “I Love Lucy” episode with Lucytrying to keep up witha chocolate conveyorbelt.

“Then Icame to realize that he hadhis family of five kids, but Ireally think he enjoyed going to the studio and working withthe ‘Peanuts’ characterseven moreso than hisrealfamily. He got to go in thereand embrace them, drawthem, make him happy,sad,whatever. It was aworld that Idon’tthink he could ever leave.”

with Hurricanes” renovation at 9a.m. Aug. 29, afree symposium will take place at Le Petit Theater from 10 a.m. to noon. Panelists will be Nungesser,Walter Isaacson and Aaron Broussard. Norman Robinson will moderate. Additional museum exhibits and programsmarking the Hurricane Katrina anniversary: n Anew documentary,“Hope in High Water: APeople’sRecovery Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina,” will screen at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center at 5p.m. Aug. 24. Former Times-Picayune reporter Trymaine Lee is host and executive producer.ashenola.org.

n The Ella Project will host “The State of New Orleans Culture: 20 Years After Katrina,” a free reception and panel discussion at 5p.m. Aug. 28 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.nolajazzmuseum.org.

n A“then and now”photography exhibit will open at 6p.m. Aug. 29 at the George Dunbar Gallery in Slidell City Hall. A related commemorative event is scheduled for4 p.m.Aug. 30 at Slidell Municipal Auditorium northshorecec.org.

n “Dapper Bruce Lafitte: A Time Before Katrina,” an exhibit of large-scale drawings, is on view at the NewOrleans Museum of Art. noma.org.

n The photography exhibit “Looking Back: Hurricane Katrina at 20” is on view at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. ogdenmuseum.org.

n “Surviving Katrina: The Hope, Healing and Rebirth of New Orleans,” an exhibit of paintings by TedEllis, is on view at the Tate, Etienne and Prevost Center tepcenter.org.

Dave Walkerfocuses on behindthe-scenes coverage of the region’s many museumshere and at www.themuseumgoer com. Email Daveatdwalkertp@ gmail.com.

BY DAVE COLLINS Associated Press

Billy Joel’s belovedLong Island motorcycle shop is closing downafter nearly 15 years of offering fans afree peek at his personal collection of dozens of bikes.

The music icon will be shuttering 20th Century CyclesinOyster Bay,New York, in late September and auctioning offhis collection later this year because of a brain disorderhehas been diagnosedwith, according to aspokesperson, Claire Mercuri.

In May,Joel announced that he wascanceling upcoming concerts after learning he has normal pressure hydrocephalus, afluid buildup in his brain that can affect thinking, concentrating, memory, movement and more, according to theCleveland Clinic. The 76-year-old singer, composer and pianist was having trouble with his balance but otherwisefeltgood,hesaidin an interviewlastmonth on Bill Maher’sClub Random podcast.

Joel,who grewupin nearby Hicksville,opened 20th Century Cycles in late 2010 as aplace to maintain and repair his motorcycles, restore and customize ones he bought and showcase his collection for thepublic at no charge.

“It’sbasically promoting an aesthetic here,” he said in a2013YouTube video filmed at the shop. “I like olderstyle.I likethe automotivestyle from the’30s to the ’60s. Iwanted to collect awhole bunch of those kinds of bikes, put ’em in one place and let people seewhatthatera of bike looked like. Because it’s startingtobealostaesthetic.” He said he also wantedto bring foot traffic and busi-

ness to downtownOyster Bay —aritzy waterfront community about 25 miles east of midtown Manhattan —where part of thestreet that includes20th Century Cycles was renamed Billy Joel Wayin2023. “I’ve been living in this communityfor along time,” he said in the video.

“I actually grew up not far from here. And I’d like to get alittle interest going intothe townand thevillage.”

Joel’s nearby home in Centre Island is listed for $29.9 million, andhehas been living in South Florida, while keeping ahomein Sag Harbor on Long Island. The shop becameapopular stop for motorcycle enthusiasts and tourists. It was home to Joel’s collection of morethan 75 bikes, dating back all the wayto the 1940s and including Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, Indians and BMWs. Oneofthe mostvaluable, he said, wasa1952 Vincent Rapide, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars and sometimes more, according to auction sites.

“I thinkeverybody in OysterBay would agree that it’sabig loss,” said Ted Bahr,who owns avintage rock poster gallery next to 20th Century Cycles. “Billy’splace is visitedon weekends by dozens and dozens of people, typically on motorcycles but also people in cars,.People comeupand look at the window all the time. Imean it’s areal destination.Billy Joel is areal superstar,and he is ahometown boy, so it’s really unfortunate.” The motorcycles that were in theshophavealready been moved out. But it hasbeen open on recent weekends selling new, used andvintage motorcycle partsthatwerestill in stock there.

aiaction

LohithSasanapuri, clockwisefrom

Quarter-based purveyorof

From artgalleries to electricity, Louisiana businesses areembracing tech in big, bold ways

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

While working as atech consultant for alarge healthcare system in 2023,Alex Northington wassurprised to getacall from arecruiter about adatamanagement job opening at an unlikely place: M.S. Rau, the 113-year-old French Quarter-based purveyor of high-end jewelry,fine art and antiques.

After his initial confusion evolvedinto curiosity,Northington decidedto makethe

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

On the outskirts of Boise, Idaho, semiconductor manufacturer

Micron Technologyis building a$15 billion complex to produce the chips that smartphonesand computers use to store data, one of several mega-projects spurred by government subsidies for the critical technology

It’sthe largest private investment in Idaho’shistory,and Micron turned turned toBaton Rouge-based MMRGroup,the private construction services firm headquarteredatanunassuming campus on Airline Highway,to oversee the complex taskofinstalling the facility’selectrical wiring. It’snot the type of project MMR which cut its teeth in theoil and

IDEAS INNOVATION & IDEA

gas sector,istypicallyknown for outside of theconstructionindustry.But in recentyears, the 10,000-person company has quickly expanded from its corebusiness building refineries, petrochemical plants and other nodes of the energy industry into the multibillion-dollar infrastructure boomthat’sunderway in thetech sector MMR’sannual revenue grew by 75%in2024 to more than $2.3 billion, a record for the company,according to figures it providedtothe Baton Rouge Business Report. That’sup from around $705 million in revenues in2015. Founded in 1991 by James “Pepper” Rutland, aformer LSU linebackerand team captain, MMR is oneofthe largest privately

career switch, and two years later,heis leading the gallery’sfull-scale datamining operation as its first director of artificial intelligence. In partnershipwithTulaneUniversity’s computer scienceprogram, Northington leads ateam of threeAIspecialistswho help the store’scurators search collections andauctions worldwidefor valuable and interesting items, such as the original WinstonChurchill painting Brad Pitt bought for Angelina Jolie from M.S. Rau for $3 million in 2011.

ownedelectricaland instrumentation contractors in the U.S., with more than two dozenoffices acrossNorth America. Earlier this month, the company opened anew regional headquarters in Salt Lake City to oversee projects in the West, like Micron’sexpansion, and to expand its footholdin Utah, ahub forthe mining industry and aplace where tech firms are lookingto build more data centers and other infrastructure to support artificialintelligence MMR’sexpansionunderscores howsome Louisiana businesses are using skills honed in theoil and gas industry to expand into emerging sectors and diversify their portfolios.

ä See MMR, page 2E

The high-end retailer’snew division is just one exampleofhow Louisiana businessesare changing theway they work thanks to rapidly evolving computers that are designedtorivalthe humanbrainin theirabilitytolearn,solve problems, make decisions and create. Nearly threeyears afterthe public launchofChatGPT brought the power of this generative AI into the public consciousness with abang, companies have had time to learn about the technology’s capabilities and are beginning to integrate

it into their businesses in myriad ways. Some large organizations have built out entire AI divisions of their own. Others are looking to outside vendors for solutions. Some, like M.S. Rau, have partnered with academia.

But even as some businesses begin to get their arms around the technology, others are still trying to grasp what AI really means and how it will change their companies and industry sectors.

Jonah Evans, a New Orleansbased senior facilitator for global business consulting firm theDifference, said many of his clients have access to AI tools but not humans who understand how to use them.

“It’s like having a room full of instruments, but no one knows how to get the band to play the same song,” Evans said. “Do you hire tech people and teach them strategy, or do you hire strategists and teach them tech?”

AI in action

AI research dates back to early computer experiments in the 1950s. The technology experienced major growth this century, though it mostly operated behind the scenes, powering things like search engines and obscure industrial processes. The advances that led up to the release of ChatGPT and the massive interest in computers’ newfound ability to mimic human interaction and creativity have changed the game, causing many to liken the technology’s recent advancements to a cultural moment as profound as the emergence of the internet.

As they grapple with how to make the rapidly evolving technology work for their bottom line, Louisiana companies are testing the AI waters in a variety of ways.

Entergy, one of the only two Fortune 500 companies in the state, is one of the few local organizations big enough to have built its own AI division, established in 2023.

Led by Chief AI Officer Andy Quick, the roughly 60-person team is using new tech to tackle old challenges — grid reliability and operational efficiency across the utility’s four-state footprint.

Quick said one active AI program helps predict when the

MMR

Continued from page 1E

‘We intend to stay’ MMR’s rapid growth has attracted interest from private equity and outside investors. But Rutland, who is the firm’s CEO, said as long as he’s in charge, MMR will remain privately owned and based in Baton Rouge.

“We grew up here. We started here. We appreciate this state,” Rutland said in an interview. “The market’s been good for us, and we intend to stay You couldn’t get us out of here.”

MMR got its start in the energy sector, installing electrical wiring and instrumentation at refineries and petrochemical plants around the world.

That remains a core part of MMR’s business, and has grown with the surge in investments in liquefied natural gas export terminals. MMR has probably done more electrical work on LNG terminals “than anybody in the country,” Rutland said, including on Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass and Plaquemines LNG facilities, as well as its Calcasieu Pass 2 megaproject now under construction MMR has recently emerged as a major contractor in the race to build AI data centers and the power plants needed to keep them humming. It is working with Meta on the $10 billion data center planned for north Louisiana as well as Entergy on its proposals to power the facility, Rutland said.

“There’s not a lot of people left in the country that have built power

Morgan Cottingham, left, and Jill Rovira, clinical pharmacists with Ochsner Medical Center, look for medicines in a refrigerator at the call center on Jefferson Highway. In 2023, Ochsner partnered with Latent Health, a California startup, to launch an artificial intelligence system designed to cut through red tape at its pharmacies, specifically the prior authorizations from insurers required for certain prescriptions

transformers are going to fail by analyzing massive amounts of data from the utility’s network of smart meters.

“Think of it like an EKG is to a cardiologist,” he said. “We’re trying to repair or replace the equipment before it flatlines.”

Entergy is working on another AI project in partnership with Tulane computer science professor Nicholas Mattei to track the content of New Orleans Public Service Council meetings to be able to quickly find information relevant to the utility’s regulation. A third AI initiative in collaboration with LSU aims to identify broken equipment from photos and video so, in the future, the company can perform inspections from drones or vehicle cameras.

In the health care sector, Ochsner Health Chief Digital Officer Denise Basow is overseeing the implementation of several AI initiatives, with more on the way Through a partnership with California-based company DeepScribe, the health system is recording and transcribing patientdoctor conversations. Another vendor tool uses AI to answer patient questions online.

In 2023, Ochsner partnered with Latent Health, a separate Califor-

nia startup, to launch a system designed to cut through red tape at its pharmacies, specifically the prior authorizations from insurers required for certain prescriptions.

“We want patients to get access quickly,” said Debbie Simonson, Ochsner’s vice president of pharmacy services, who said authorization delays can result in patients abandoning treatment.

In each sector of the local economy, AI brings its own set of opportunities and challenges.

In banking, for instance, “the regulatory guidance hasn’t caught up,” according to Guy Williams, president of Gulf Coast Bank.

“AI can’t make lending decisions, because you have to validate that it isn’t using a discriminating factor,” he said. Williams said some banks are using AI to sort résumés, identify potential customers and answer questions via chatbots. His own IT team is using it to write code faster when creating in-house apps and other software.

Growing AI law practice

As organizations like Entergy

and Ochsner build their AI strategies, law firms are helping them navigate the new legal issues associated with rapidly evolving technology

In the New Orleans office of Jones Walker attorney Graham Ryan is focused on standing up a new AI practice.

“Preexisting laws were not developed with this tech in mind,” Ryan said. “How do they apply to something that’s advancing at the speed of light?”

The law firm is helping clients create internal guidelines that include banning the use of personal ChatGPT accounts or other consumer products for business purposes because these tools may not meet privacy or accuracy standards.

Another danger zone: using AI to help make hiring decisions. There is a case pending against an AI tool company that alleges the product unlawfully discriminates against a group of particular applicants.

Jones Walker itself has established its own governance framework, including a new steering committee, mandatory training programs and AI tool-vetting processes.

“We view generative AI as a

Baton Rouge-based MMR has recently emerged as a major contractor in the race to build artificial intelligence data centers and the power plants needed to keep them humming. It is working with Meta on the $10 billion data center planned for north Louisiana as well as Entergy on its proposals to power the facility said the company’s CEO James ‘Pepper’ Rutland.

plants,” Rutland said, pointing to a lull in the number of new natural gas-fired power plants constructed over the last decade. “Fortunately, we have.”

MMR recently completed work on both a “major hyperscale data center” in Boydton, Virginia, and a large-scale semiconductor facility in the southwestern U.S., according to an MMR spokesperson, who declined to name the firms behind the projects. MMR also has a foothold in the renewable energy sector

Its subsidiary, Phoenix-based SouthWestern Power Group, was the original developer behind a proposal to build a 3,500-megawatt wind farm and 550-mile transmission line between New Mexico and

Arizona in what was billed as the largest renewable energy project in the U.S.

The company sold the rights to the SunZia transmission project in 2022, after years of regulatory delays, but retained the rights to a parallel line.

Millions of feet of wires

The work MMR does can be difficult for a layman to understand.

“We’re on the construction side,” Rutland said. “All of the electrical, all of the instrumentation, we do that.”

That often includes installing millions of feet of wiring and the instrumentation that monitors how electricity flows through the sys-

tem, Rutland said. On Chevron’s Big Foot deepwater oil platform, MMR installed 1.7 million feet of cable, 119,000 feet of tubing and approximately 55,000 field terminations.

“We don’t design it. We do construct it,” he said “We will commission it. We will start it up for the client.”

Geaux Tigers

There’s a deep vein of purple and gold that runs through the firm.

MMR recruits heavily from LSU and many of its top executives are alumni.

Rutland was a member LSU’s first class to graduate from its construction management program.

powerful complement to attorney expertise, enabling our lawyers to accelerate research, streamline routine work, and uncover insights more quickly,” said Andy Lee, chair of the firm’s innovation committee.

Speeding up software

Businesses that can’t afford their own AI teams are reaching out to software companies for help. Vendors that might have been hired a few years ago to design an app or data management system for a small business now find themselves being asked for help with AI. In turn, they’re using AI to change the way they deliver solutions.

“We can use it to write software that would have been ridiculously expensive before,” said Nees Sus, founder of Susco Solutions, a 20-year-old Metairie-based custom software provider Susco, which has many insurance industry clients, uses AI tools to speed up the claims process.

“Before, a human would go through PDFs or emails and get information in different formats into claims management,” he said. “Now, the AI is smart enough to parse the information no matter the format.”

Sus said his company’s workflow is constantly evolving as new tools become available.

“By the end of next year, it’s fair to say the way we’re delivering software will be dramatically different than it is now,” he said.

Buyer beware

As the AI era continues to evolve, industry veterans say it’s wise to take AI-related advice with a grain of salt and to consider the source.

As with any tech trend, new AI “experts” are peddling their services, while companies and products are adding “ai” to the end of their name.

“Business leaders are told that if you aren’t adopting AI, you’re going to lose your job or your company is going to fall behind,” said tech entrepreneur Chris Reade, the owner of software company Carrollton and organizer of a series of AI roundtable events.

“It’s important to demystify and debunk the myths so people can see what’s actually practical,” he added.

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

His classmates from 1972 included included Art Favre, founder of Performance Contractors, and Eddie Rispone, the Republican donor and former gubernatorial candidate who started ISC Constructors In December Rutland gave a seven-figure donation to LSU’s NIL collective to help recruit and retain football prospects MMR also donated $7.5 million to LSU’s new stand-alone construction management building.

MMR, Rutland said, has probably “deployed more LSU graduates around the country to different offices than anybody else in the state.” But the demand for skilled craftspeople and project managers continues to outstrip supply To help fill the gap, the company launched its own workforce development program, MMR University, in 2023. The two-year program teaches college students “what we think is important,” Rutland said, adding that when students finish the program, “they’re four or five years ahead of other kids just out of school.”

Louisiana has seen a slew of family-owned businesses scooped up in recent years by out-of-state investors. Rutland said that’s not in the cards for MMR.

“We’re not interested in being part of private equity Seen that. Know how it ends. We don’t like it,” he said.

“We are kind of a big family operation. With that comes flexibility Nobody has to call New York to find out if we can buy tickets to an LSU football game.”

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

In the retail cycle, coffee shops

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

Ryan Pecot has been in the commercial real estate industry for 25 years. Retail development, he says, comes in cycles

Q&A WITH RyAN PECOT

The south Louisiana market is in a new one. What you’re not seeing right now: the national big brands like Costco and Whole Foods that entered the market about 10 years ago. Also with a couple of exceptions, those recently wide-open spaces are becoming shopping centers.

What you are seeing is this: infill development of mostly smaller brands that have a base here. More franchise brands are entering the market, but many of them have smaller footprints that allow them to be more nimble.

“I work from Lake Charles to Mobile, and every major metropolitan area on that corridor has got activity,” said Pecot, a senior retail leasing and development adviser with Stirling Properties in Lafayette

“You’re seeing redevelopment more than greenfield development,” he said. “Since the pandemic, outside of what’s happening at Juban Crossing (in Denham Springs) and other spots, there’s not a ton of new bricks and sticks on retail leasable anchor space It’s just not there.”

As a longtime commercial broker, Pecot can also play the role of market analyst. In this week’s edition of Talking Business, Pecot gives evidence that the area’s restaurant scene may have overextended itself in recent years and could use some right-sizing.

He also talks about the Youngsville retail market, why the coffee trend is still hot and how something might finally happen at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Louisiana Avenue in Lafayette

This interview has been edited for clarity

The restaurant scene in Lafayette has had its share of closings recently, but it seems, of late, more are opening than are closing

What’s going on there? Is it another one of those cycles?

I think it’s lack of (profit) margin.

I think it’s over-saturation. There were good brands that were in Lafayette and went to Youngsville and didn’t make it. There are others that are hanging on to make it that haven’t announced anything and we know they’re in trouble. There are a few restaurants that are quietly on the market that people are still eating at and the employees don’t know.

But there’s two sides of the coin. You go to Texas Roadhouse on any given night, and you’re waiting for a long time. It’s an ebb and a flow

That’s just a tough industry with tight profit margins, right? I think a telltale on restaurants

is how long availability is now for a space that has restaurant infrastructure. In my career, the fastest space to re-lease after a landlord took it back was any space that had restaurant infrastructure. The amount of restaurant spaces that are on the market that are not being consumed does tell you a lot about people’s desire to invest in restaurants I can name a handful of them. That’s bananas. Twin Peaks is the next one up. That thing has been on the market quietly for months. They couldn’t find a replacement and finally decided to close it. There are a few others on the market. I think there’s room for Lafayette to right-size in numbers.

Let’s talk about the Youngsville market and what’s happening there. Lately, there have been some significant wins there with Wendy’s, Swig and others. Is that market maturing? The bad thing for Youngsville is

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It’s an exciting one. I’m super hopeful they can execute their vision. I grew up in that mall. I think the tide has turned on malls and they are pointed in the right direction. I think the ones that are welllocated geographically have an opportunity to turn around. There’s not that much that has the visibility and has the traffic count, and that acreage does check a lot of those boxes. It’s going to take someone with vision and capital to do what they need to do there, but I’m hopeful. I really am. Is this coffee shop fad here to stay? There’s got to be enough now, right? This is going on across the country. I was on a call with our entire Stirling brokerage team last Monday, and we’re really from Lake Charles through Pensacola almost to Tallahassee and then up in Shreveport. The amount of my colleagues that are tenant reps for these coffee shops is wild. We have four shops represented by people in our Stirling brand, and they

that it’s generally a one-way street. People who live there eat and shop and do things there, but they also eat and shop and do things in Lafayette. People in Lafayette generally aren’t going there to eat and drink. There’s this run on services being provided, but look at how many restaurants are turning over there. Guys who know how to run restaurants can’t survive in that market because there’s not enough consistent traffic. But the neighborhoods are building out and creating that denominator They and Broussard have some very high-end average household incomes. It’s growing pains. I don’t think they’re done with them, but they’re pointing in the right direction.

You’ve been a big fan of the old shopping malls and what’s being done at sites across the country. I’m curious of your thoughts on the recent purchase of the Northgate Mall. What’s the potential there?

Issued Aug. 6-12

Commercial alterations

OFFICE: 1500 Camellia Blvd., description, site work for the parking lot for Guidry &Horaist Orthodontics; applicant, DavidGuidry; contractor, Thomson Brothers Construction; $200,000.

CLINIC: 325 E. Main St., description

interior tenant improvementfor Talecris Plasma Resources; applicant, AckalArchitects; contractor, Magellan Construction; $150,000

CELL: 707 Robley Drive,A-2; description, addition of adieselgenerator to lease area of celltower; applicant, Swaan PM on behalf of Dish Wireless; contractor, APEX NCT;$14,000

CELL: 316 Bertrand Drive, A1; description, addition of adiesel generator to lease area of cell tower; applicant, Jessica Landry; contractor, APEX NCT;$14,000.

RETAIL: 111 MeadowFarm Road, description, remodel of Marshalls storetoinclude new fixturesand furniture, flooring,updatesto restrooms, new checkout stands and other work; applicant,Alex Henein;contractor, TenantBuild Inc.; $49,000.

Newcommercial

OTHER: 137 BAmy Road, Broussard; description, slab only; applicant, 3735-90 LLC; contractor, Park Group Construction; $300,000.

Commercial demolition

APARTMENTS: 408 Scottsdale St., description, repairs from fire damage of downstairs apartment; applicant, Cody Dodge; contractor, Perna Group; $3,000.

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RETAIL: 110 Production Drive, description, demolition of interior walls;applicantand contractor, Chase GroupConstruction; $40,000

OTHER: 315 West End Ave., description, none listed; applicant and contractor, Isabella Alexander; $1,250.

OTHER: 319 West End Ave., description, none listed; applicant and contractor, Isabella Alexander; $1,250. Newresidential

112 CRANSTON COURT: DSLD $168,500.

5001 LANDRYDRIVE, DUSON: BourgeoisHomeBuilders,$81,990.

344 MARTIN-PREJEAN ROAD,CARENCRO: MarshallPorter Construction $310,500.

117 LENOVA LANE: Manuel Builders $275,000.

501 JOAN ST.: ForwardThinking Construction,$137,250

503 JOAN ST.: ForwardThinking Construction,$137,250 111 GOSLINGWAY: Manuel Builders, $279,625.

137 BRATTLE COURT: DSLD,$260,250.

104 JANTZDRIV: Ricky Tucker Custom Homes of Louisiana,$205,625

100 JANTZDRIVE: Ricky Tucker Custom Homes of Louisiana,$205,625 104 CRANSTON COURT: DSLD, $175,500.

315 HIDDEN MEADOWDRIVE: DSLD, $436,625. 741A GARBERROAD, BROUSSARD: BECC Enterprises, $1.4 million.

116 RETREATST.,BROUSSARD: RL Builders, $850,000. 115 LOTUS ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD, $202,473.

203 SUMMER ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD,$231,667.

‘Zombiedebt’ maynot be worthpayingback

Youhave aresponsibilitytorepay the money you borrow

However,sometimes life interrupts: Youunexpectedly get laid off or amedical crisis limits your ability to earnaliving.

This disruption to your income makes it impossible to keep up withyour debt payments. Then the collection calls start. The chase for payments may start cordially,but eventually the threat of legal action accelerates.Here’s why

THECOLOR OF MONEy

Debt collectorshave alimited number of years in which they can sue for repayment. After thetime runs out,certain unpaid consumer debts, such as credit card charges, fall under astatute of limitations. Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, once the legal deadline expires, thedebt is “time-barred,”and thecollector is prohibited from suing or threatening to sue

The statuteoflimitations for time-barreddebt dictates how long acreditorordebt collector has to sue you to collect payment, and this can varybystate and the type of debt.

known address, Social Security number and debt amount. Frequently,the most financially vulnerable are targets for zombie debt:people who are overwhelmingly low-income, elderly or disabled. Living on the edge, they are already easy preybecause they fear further damage to their credit histories. Credit scores matter even more when lenders tighten credit,asmany do whenthere is a recessionoreconomic downturn.

Here’swhat you should do if you have zombie debt.

Know what youowe Youshould regularly review your credit reports, not just for accuracy,but also to monitor efforts by collectors to report debt that should have been expunged from your files.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends that you ask the collector to provide information on when youmade your last payment.That will help determine if the debt is past the statute of limitations, whichvaries anywhere from twoto15years, depending on your state By law,the three major credit bureaus —Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—must give you afreecopy of your file every 12 months.

your state for the specific statute of limitations. The do-it-yourself legal website nolo.com has astate chart for debts, including for the DistrictofColumbia. On the site, using the search icon, click “Articles” in the drop-down menu and type in “Civil Statutes of Limitations.” Be sure to double-check the information on the list, because there mayhave been achange in your state law

Youcan also contact alegal aid office or your state consumer protection agency.You can find the agency information at usa.gov/ state-consumer

Askfor proof

Youhave rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

The debt collector must inform you of the amount you owe and the name of the creditor

Youalso have aright to dispute the debt. It might not be alegitimate claim

Zombie debt can include aliability that has been discharged in bankruptcy,adebt you have already settled or an account that doesn’tbelong to you.

ergy (NYSE: NEE) has raised its payout every year for more than three decades,and has grown it ata 10% compound annual rate since 2007. Basedon its strong secondquarter results and growth outlook, it should have plenty of powerto continue increasing the dividend, which recently yielded 3.2% The core of NextEra Energy is its regulated utility operation, which is largely made up of FloridaPower &Light. The utility has become one of the world’s largest providers of solar and wind

powerand is positioned to grow alongwith the world’sdemand forcleaner poweralternatives. One bigbenefit of mixing a strong and reliable core operationwith agrowth-oriented business hasbeen dividend growth. NextEra’s average annual dividend increaseof10% is significant—halfthat ratewould be goodfor autility NextEra Energy’searnings are growing rapidly,a trendthat shouldcontinue in the coming years. The company’searnings growth shouldgive it fuel to continue increasing its high-yield dividend. Thatcompelling combinationofgrowthand income makes NextEra Energy look like an excellent stock to buy and hold forthe long term. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends NextEra Energy.)

This does not mean adebt collector will not pursue you for payment.Old debtscan comeback to life after along period of inactivity.This “zombie debt,” as it’s called, can be revived by unscrupulous debt collection companies, which often trytoscareortrick debtors intorestarting the statute of limitations

Much of this debt is no longer affecting people’spayment history because it has fallen off their credit reports. There are also time limits for how long negative information, including old debts, can remain on your credit report.Generally,late payments,collections and charge-offs must be removed after sevenyears. But collecting on zombie debt can be lucrative. Debt buyerspay pennies on the dollar for defaulted debt,either from original creditors or other debt buyers and brokers. One person’slong-forgotten debt can be sold four or five times. Often, there is scant documentation other thanthe person’sname, last

At the onset of the pandemic, the bureaus made it even easier for people to view their credit history by offering free weekly credit reports. Although the offer was supposed to sunset, the bureaus have permanently extended it. Here’s the official site where you can get your reports free: annualcreditreport.com.

Afairdefense

Debt collection companies have sent people letters or postcards thatweredesigned to look as if theyhad comefrom amunicipal court, according to cases brought by the FTC. Or acollection company might falsely claim to be affiliated with alaw firm. Even if you think acompany is violating the law,don’tignore a debt collection legal action. You may still need to defend yourself in court and show ajudge proof thatthe statute of limitations has expired.

If you can’tafford an attorney and choose to fight the matter on your own, check the law for

Ihave been on the other end of atelephone call with acollector trying to bully me into paying an old debt Ididn’towe. The person was attempting to collect medical charges that he claimed were owed by my deceased brother.I hadn’tco-signed on any debt for my brother,soIknew Iwas under no obligation to pay

Atimetodonothing

Any action you take could restart the collection process and expose you to legal action.

“In some states, if you make a payment or even acknowledge in writing that you owe the debt, the clock resets and anew statute of limitations period begins,” according to the FTC.

If you don’thave the money to stick to apayment plan or negotiate acash settlement —and you can’tbesued —don’tbescared of the zombie debt.

As muchasyou maywant to honor your promise to pay,itdoes not mean you deserve to be terrorized by illegal and unethical collection tactics.

EmailMichelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

Bernhard to sell stakeinBrown &Root

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

Bernhard Capital Partners has agreed to sell its stake in Baton Rouge-based Brown &Root Industrial Services,10years afteritcreated the business.

One Equity Partners, aprivate equity firm focused on the industrial, health care and technology sectors, is set to purchase Bernhard’sshare in Brown &Root for an undisclosed sum.Houstonbased KBR Inc. will continue to own asignificant stake in Brown &Root. The deal is set to close in September or October

Bernhard Capital and KBR partnered in 2015 to create Brown & Root, which provides industrial and turnaround services for refineries, petrochemical, chemical andmanufacturing plants.The company cameaboutafter Bernhard acquired Wink Engineering and merged it with KBR’sindustrial servicesgroup, whichhad recently been spun off.

It was one of the first businesses in the Bernhard Capital portfolio. Bernhard Capital now has more than $5 billion in assets under management and is ranked as one of the 300 largest private equity firms worldwide, accordingto Private Equity International.

In less thanayear and ahalf under Bernhard,Brown &Rootacquired threeother industrial service businesses, including White Castle-based MEI Group. Thisallowed Brown &Root to expand its footprint and offer more services to clients in the chemical, petrochemical, refining, pulp andpaper, agriculture and energy transition industries.

“Our partnership with Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins, MarkSpender and the entire BCPteam has been instrumental in our growth and success over the last decade,” Andy Dupuy,Brown &Root CEO, said in astatement.

Spender,apartner with Bernhard Capital, said he was proudof what has been accomplished with Brown &Root and looks forward to what the business does in the future.

“Our

partnership withJim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins,Mark Spender and the entire (Bernhard Capital Partners)team has been instrumental in our growth and success over the last decade.”

ANDy DUPUy,Brown &Root CEO

“Our partnership with Brown &Root Industrial Services is emblematic of our approach to supporting world-class management teams andexecuting on ashared vision for growth,” Spender said in astatement.

industry expertise and experience

executing transformational combinations will help build on ourrecent success and accelerate Brown &Root IndustrialServices’growth trajectory.

Dupuy said thesale is the culmination of arewarding partnership with BernhardCapital.

“Weare pleased to embark on this newpartnership with One EquityPartners as we seekto continue growing our operations,” Dupuy said in astatement. “OEP’s

OneEquity said Brown &Root is well-positioned for growth, with aging infrastructure and increased utilization driving demand for maintenance and modernization. Additionally,customersare outsourcing morebecause of skilled labor shortages and theincreasing complexity of equipment maintenance.

Brown &Root has more than 10,000 employees in North America, including about300 in Louisiana. The company is headquartered in Baton Rouge. Brown& Root datesto1919, when Texasbrothers George and Herman Brownpartnered with brother-in-lawDan Root to form what would become aglobal construction company. In 1947, the company built thefirst offshore oil platform about 43 milessouth of Morgan City M.W.Kellogg mergedwith

Beyond isn’taplace —it’samindset. Andit’sabeliefthathas poweredusfor over80years We areJones Walker LLP,a firmdrivenbyanentrepreneurial spirit,adeepsenseofcommunity, and afierce determination to deliverexceptional serviceand valuefor our clients.

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

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

‘WE ARE ALL HEROES’

Louisiana doula Robin Blanche helps guide people through death

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

What feels undone?

That’s the question Robin Blanche asks herself every day And each day, she settles conflicts with friends, finishes essential chores, meets deadlines and cherishes moments with her children.

She writes “if-I’m-hit-by-a-bus” letters just in case the worst happens — letters that include what people mean to her, what she admires about them, even if she hasn’t spoken to them in weeks or months.

Her work and life focus on one thing: closure before death.

Blanche is a death doula, a rapidly growing profession that works with people as they prepare for their ends. The National End-of-Life Doula Alliance grew from 350 members in 2019 to more than 1,600 members at the end of 2023. She uses a variety of tactics in her work with clients — all in the name of finishing things that are undone, including:

ä See DOULA, page 2X

Serious liver disease on rise

Rate for heavy drinkers spikes

BY NIAMH ORDNER Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES Serious liver disease is becoming more common among Americans who drink heavily, according to a new study from Keck Medicine of USC.

It’s not that more people are partying with alcohol. And it’s not that the drinkers are having more drinks. It’s that more of the people who drink regularly are becoming sick.

Over the last two decades, the share of heavy drinkers who have advanced liver scarring jumped from 1.8% to 4.3%. For women, more than 1.5 drinks per night, on average, is considered heavy drinking. For men, it’s 2 drinks.

“The fact that the risk not only increased but that it more than doubled — almost tripled — is really astonishing,” said Dr Brian P. Lee, a liver transplant specialist at Keck Medicine of USC and lead author on the study It was published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology last week Lee said he thinks patients might dramatically change their thinking and behavior if they had this information.

The increase in illness was seen especially in women, older people and those with conditions like obesity or diabetes.

Three USC researchers analyzed national health data from more than 44,000 adults surveyed between 1999 and 2020 in a well-known national health study known as NHANES. Of those, 2,474 were heavy drinkers according to the definition of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — 20 grams of alcohol per day for women and 30 grams for men, roughly the equivalent of 1.5 and 2 drinks.

They found a more than twofold increase over the two decades in significant liver fibrosis, a condition where healthy liver tissue is replaced by stiff, fibrous tissue — like a sponge hardening into leather If left unchecked, this can eventually lead to liver failure or cancer By comparison, nonheavy drinkers saw a much smaller increase, from 0.8% to 1.4% over the same period.

This rise in liver damage is especially troubling because many people don’t realize anything is wrong until the disease is advanced. “Liver disease is silent,” Lee said. “Most people won’t, even if they have (advanced liver scarring), have any symptoms at all.”

ä See LIVER, page 3X

HEALTH MAKER

Hospital leader climbs mountainstosupport patients

BY MARGARETDeLANEY Staff writer

Lou Fragoso is up at 4a.m every morning. He trainswith the Tulane InstituteofSports Medicine, along with professional trainers and dietitians Stretching. Running. Fueling. Repeat.

On Aug. 16, Fragoso begins his third attempt at The Leadville 100, a100 mile “Race Across the Sky” through the Rocky Mountains.

But this year is different:every mile will be dedicated toa child being treated at Manning Family Children’sHospital in New Orleans, where Fragoso is CEO and president.

The Leadville 100 was first held in 1983 and was created by Ken Chlouber,alocal miner who wanted to bring attention to the town of Leadville after the closure of the ClimaxMine.It has since become one of the most iconic ultramarathons in the world.

The terrain is relentless. The air is thin. The 100 miles must be completed in under 30 hours.

In his first two attemptsatthe 100-mile race with apeakaltitude at 12,600 feet —in2023 and 2024 —Fragoso made it to mile 44, then mile 62. In his running career that he shares with his wife, Jill, Fragoso has run over 30 marathons, 11 Ironmans, run across the Grand Canyon eight times and run 50 miles for their 50th birthdays. Fragoso is dedicating his third attempt to the kids at Manning Family Children’s. Each mile is sponsored by local companies that will be given directly to the various causes and needs atthe New Orleans hospital.

Thinking of each childinthe hospital, on each dedicated mile, will help Fragoso push through the mountains and finish the race. What catapulted you into extremerunning races? In 2001, Itore my knee badly and needed reconstructivesurgery —anACL graft and ligament repair,which is where my running journey began. Iknow that’sareally weird place to start.

DOULA

Continued frompage1X

n writing ethical wills (a document that passes values from one generation to the next) n creating memoirs n providing grief support for family members n going through homes for death cleaning (a decluttering process focused on simplifying one’slife and reducingthe burden on loved ones after one’spassing)

OriginallyfromLos Angeles, Blanche worked as atelevision executive and produceraswell as ascriptwriter and author of 12 young adult novels.She traveled to New Orleans in 2012 to film a projectfor MTV and met her husband. They movedtoBaton Rouge in 2013 and never left.

In 2019, Blanche’sfatherwas diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She spent the next five months traveling back and forth to and from Arizona to care for him.

“Nothing between us felt undone,” Blanche said. “But he was really notprepared to die —and that was tasked to me and my sister.” When he died in Januaryof 2020, Blanche and her familyrehomed his two elderly dogs. They removed his things from his closets and cabinets.They donated They sold.

All while grieving alifelost During that time, Blanchebecame fascinated with the dying process —not just the physical aspect, but the emotional,psychological and social ones as well.

As the pandemic raged around her, Blanche trained as an end-oflife doula. She got certified as a community death care pediatric griefeducator,specificallyproviding support to those who have lost, or will lose children.

In 2021, she faced with her own mortality when she was diagnosed with follicularlymphoma. She thoughtabout living her last moments. She thought abouther young children, how theycould possiblygrowupasshe did without amother

“My mom died when Iwas 6, and

Iwas devastated. Iwas working for ahealth care system in Chicago at the time, and an auditor came into my office. She asked if Iwould sponsor her for amarathon shewas running for charity.

Isaid, “What’samarathon?”

Ihad no idea what amarathon was.

She explained that you run26.2 miles. AndIsaid, “Why on Earth would anybody do that? That is the most insane thingI’ve ever heard.”

Isponsored her,and shetold me more about the Chicago Marathon.

Irealized that the marathon, set for October 2002, would be one year after my knee surgery Iwas still pretty depressed. Inever had amajor injury.I wasn’table to do things Iwas wanting to do.

For whatever reason, Isaid, “You know what Ineed, Ineed to do this. If Ican run 26.2 miles, it will let me know that I’m back to normal.”

My first training run the next day was a3-mile run. Ithought I wasgoing topass out. It was horrible. But Istuckwithit, andI finished the training —and eventually the Chicago Marathon.

It was such acool journey of experiencing commitment to something. Knowing what other people go through, realizing the different people that go through this marathon journey

They’re notall elite athletes. There’sdifferent shapes and sizes and different reasonswhy theydothis, and it was spiritual as well as physical.

It was meditationthrough movement, and Ireally connected to it.

100-mile races? Where did that idea come from?

When Jill, my wife, and I turned50two years ago, she said, “Hey,weshould run50 miles on our 50th birthday.”

Ourbirthdays are one week apart.I’m always up for an adventure, and we have this shirt thatsays, “What ahorrible idea …what time?”

That’skind of how Ifelt about this idea. It sounds like ahorrible idea. I’m up for it

“The reason alot of people don’twant to talk about death is that they have a lot of regrets.Youcan start to do this work now,oryou can wait untilyour back is against the wall. It’sa hugegift to your family to think aboutthese things beforehand. It’sreally freeing.”

ROBIN BLANCHE, death doula

when Iasked my father about my childhood stories beforehedied, he really didn’tremember much of it.” Blanche said. “I never wanted that tobemykids’ stories.”

Thankfully,her condition was treatable, andBlanche wasableto continue providing love and support for those in hercommunity

Sometimes Blanche’swork is practical like going through lists of documentsneeded or files prepared when someone dies

Sometimes Blanche’swork is emotional likewriting letters to eachfamily member reminding them how much her client’sloved them, and how proud they are of their livesahead.

“It’s notone size fits all,” Blanche said.

Starting early

Death brings out theworst, and the best, in people.

“The end of life, at the very end, or at diagnosis, it’sa crisis,” Blanchesaid. “Having someone else navigatethat whoisnot a family member is really,really helpful.”

Family dynamics when facing death can revert back to old habits, become tense and disagreements can skyrocket when there’s nota calming,rational voice in the fray

“I think people appreciate having someone as asounding board. Not emotionally loaded,” Blanche said.

However macabre it may seem, Blanche recommends that people andfamilies startasearly as possible to plan for death.Being prepared, knowing the answers surrounding death can help ease

On our 50th birthday,weran 50 miles. It was so hard. It was incredible. Ilost 13 pounds. Iwas depleted. Iwas chafed everywhere. My wife and Iboth said, “Let’snot do that again. That was abad idea.”

But, two days later,wewere sitting in our livingroom in New Orleans, and shelooked at me and says, “You know what we should do?Weshould run 100 miles.”

We both signed up for 100-mile races.Ihad learned about the Leadville 100. When Iread about it, it was thecraziest thing Ihad ever heard—ahundred miles acrossthe Rockies

The entire race takes place between 10,000 feet and 13,000 feet elevation,and you’ve got to finish it under 30 hours. That’sinsane.

ButIsaid, “If Iever do a100mile race, that’sthe one I’m doing.”

Itold my wife that Ipromised myself 20 yearsago that if Iever did arace like that, it would be this one.

the anxiety when faced with endof-life conditions.

“The reasonalot of people don’twant to talk aboutdeath is that they have alot of regrets,” Blanche said.

“You can start to do this work now,oryou can wait until your back is against the wall. It’sahuge gift to your family to think about thesethings beforehand. It’sreally freeing.”

Blanche starts conversations withnew clientslike she starts her days:What feels undone?

The answersrun thegamut:

n Writing letters to family in the future

n Starting acommunity garden

n Ascholarship for dance for young children

Whatever incompleteness calls to people to leave in theirname or in theirplace.

Capturingthe essenceoflife

“These are thelessons I’ve learned, these arethe values I’ve learned, this is what Ihope for the family in thefuture,” shesaid.

Anyone can regurgitate facts and figures and dates.What Blanche is really looking for is whoapersonisinside.The seeds of aperson’slife, and when those seedswere planted.

Blanche pridesherself on being moreofanimpartial observer when listening to someone’sstory. Part-biographer,part-therapist, part-confessor, she called herself.

“People have these narratives thatare weighed down by baggage,” Blanche said. “Weall have astory.Some of the most humble people in the worldhaveincredible, heroic stories. We are all heroes that have lived in theend.”

Blanchehad thehonor of telling thestory of Roberta Guillory, the founderofthe RedShoes, a space in Baton Rouge that provides workshops, retreats and programs that nurture themind, body and spirit When speaking to Guillory, she only wanted to talk about the Red Shoes,and notherself. Blanche hadtodig deeper.The closer they gottobeing done with hermemoir,Guilloryhad edits, and changes and revisions

“She did notwant to end the story,” Blanche said. “It becamea

old.

Thatkid, he’s absolutely amazing. He hassickle cell disease. The pain episodesare described as shards of glass going through your body,cutting you from the inside out. Danielhas been living with this for 22 years.

Daniel hasthis dream to become acommercial pilot. He’s gone through allthese classes, allthis training andgotten all these certifications to become a commercial pilot. But, he’sbeen constantly told no because he has sickle-celldisease.

Now,just last year,Manning Family Children’sbecameone of ahandful of children’shospitals with accesstothis cure. Daniel, who never gave up on his dream, next year,will be cured of sickle celldiseaseand be able to become apilot.

Whatis30hours of running up amountain to Daniel’sfight for 22 years?

You’ve gottokeep promises you make to yourself. Who are some of thekids you’re running for? Everyday Igointo the hospital,and these kids thatIhave gotten knowreally well, they face theirown mountains every day

They push through the next chemo session, the next bone marrow transplant, the next surgery, thenexttherapy session, thenext needle stick —and they don’tgive up. That just hit me like aton of bricks.Whatis30hours of running comparedtothat?

Igot alittle buddy named Abraham, who’s11yearsold. Three yearsago,hewas diagnosed with cancer.Seventy-five percent of the cells in his body were cancerous. That little dude battled cancer for three years—infusions, chemo, surgeries, allofit. Acouple months ago, he beat cancer,and he rangthe bell.

My buddy Danielis22years

running joke.Icould tell she did not want to be done.”

One day,Guillory told Blanche thather sonwho had died years ago visited her in herdreamsand toldhis motherthatthe story was done.

Blanche set to printing the story soon after Aftertwo years of Blanche’s work going forth to Guillory’s house on the LSULakes, talking about her client’slife, successes, prides andjoys, Guillorywent into hospicecarewithaninoperable brain tumor.

Blanche visitedGuillory one last time, anddelivered her memoir

“She got to hold it in herhands,” Blanche said. “She affected so many women’slives, Iwas so grateful that people gottoread

BrianMorello is oneofour spina bifida warriors. Brian was born with his spinal cord sticking outhis back.He’s15years old. Thatkid hasfought through. Twoyearsago,hewanted to getinto road racing. Isaid, “All right, Brian, Crescent City classicsare coming up. Youwant to do the 10K? I’ll do it with you.”

BrianMorello was14atthe time,and he crossed the finish line andfinishedhis first 10K. He did it in aboutanhour

He finishedhis second Crescent City classic in 45 minutes, beating 96% of thepeople thatsignedup. Brian Morello, at 15, has had more surgeries than birthdays. He has aspirationsofdoing theParalympics in the future, becoming an Olympian.

WhenhelearnedthatIwas doing this 100-mile race forour kids, he reached out to me and said, “Hey, Mr.Lou, you helped me cross the finish line formyfirst 10K. I’dlike to fly outthere andhelp you cross the finish line for your first 100mile race.”

He’sgonna be my last pacer.He’s gonna meet me at mile99, and pace me into the finish.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

thisstory.She was such agood example of having avision and the ripple effect of goodness.”

Blanche holds onto rituals. She interviews family memberand friends, captures snapshots of life and tries to speak in the tone and voiceofthe life she is experiencing.

She lets people talk for hours, often letting silencering out and holding space forthoughtsthat comeunencumbered —stories forgotten andremembered.

“It’s healingand beautiful.And their kids get to read about them too,” Blanche said. “It’sbetter than anyHollywood job Iever had.”

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

TheLouisiana Health sectionisfocused 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 livewell. Health editions will also

profile people whoare advancing health forthe state of Louisiana. Do youhavea health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

EatFit LiveFit

BY

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Putting protein in perspective:How much, whyitmatters and wheretofind it

Walkdownanygroceryaisleand you’llspotit:“High-Protein” splashedacrosslabelson everythingfromicecreamtocereal. Cottage-cheeseshipmentsaresellingout beforenoon,andwhey,aonce-discarded cheese-makingbyproduct,isbecominga hotcommodityforcompaniesthatmake proteinpowders.

Eventhoughitmaybeastretchto sayalltheseproductsliveuptotheir ‘protein-fortified’marketing,asadietitian I’mthrilledtoseemorepeoplepaying attentiontoprotein.Thequestionis:How muchdowereallyneedandhowcanwe hitthattargetaseffortlesslyaspossible?

Whyalltheattentionisa goodthing

Proteinsuppliestheaminoacidbuilding blocksthatformourmuscles,bones, enzymes,immunecellsandhormones.Here arethreewaysproteinbenefitsthebody: •Preservesleanmassandstrength. Thisisespeciallyimportantforathletes andolderadultstohelpminimizeagerelatedmuscleloss,sarcopenia,which affectsroughly45percentofpeople over65

•Supportsmetabolichealth.Protein helpspromotesatietyandcan mitigateblood-sugarswings.

•Speedsrecovery.Post-workout proteinrepairsmicro-tearstohelp musclesbouncebackfaster.

Ontheflipside,chronicallylowprotein intakecanshowupasfatigue,slow healing,thinninghairorstubborn plateausinweight-lossefforts.

Howmuchdowereallyneed?

Thecurrentrecommendeddietary allowanceis0.36gramsofproteinper poundofbodyweight,anamountset decadesagotohelppreventdeficiency nottooptimizehealthorperformance. Butagrowingbodyofresearch,

incl from of hig roug prote weigh In most approximate protein (goa day. that’ amount with (around am Onc carb training appetite. as macros

Protein Total yous

acid“reservoir”andcandrawfromitover thecourseoftheday,theessentialamino acidsdon’tallhavetoshowupinthe samemealtobeeffectiveinbuildingand repairingmuscle.Followlunchtimelentils withquinoaornutsatdinner—orsimply eatavarietyofplantsthroughouttheday —andtheaminoacidpuzzlepiecesfall intoplacejustfine.

Proteinpowdersandfortifiedfoodscan beconvenientsourcesofprotein,butthey workbestassupplementstoanotherwise balanceddiet.Readlabelstofindoptions thatarethird-partytestedforqualityand containlessthanthreegramsofsugarper 20gramsprotein.

Addingunflavoredwheytoyouroatmeal orcollagenpeptidestoyourmorning coffeecanmakea30-gramprotein breakfastabreeze.Justdon’tbefooled intolettingneon-colored‘proteintoaster pastries’crowdoutrealfood

Whatabout“toomuch”protein? Instudyingproteinintakeswellabove onegramperpound,researchershave foundnoadverseeffectsonkidneyorliver functioninhealthyindividuals.Ifyouhave pre-existingrenaldisease,talkwithyour physicianaboutproteinintake.Otherwise, theupperendoftherecommendedrange issafeandoftenbeneficial.

Bringingitalltogether

Protein’srecentspikeinpopularityis morethanatrend—itreflectsagrowing recognitionofthismacronutrient’spower topositivelyimpactstrength,metabolism andhealthyaging.Setaspecificand consistentproteintarget,distributeit evenlyandchooseamixofleananimaland thoughtfullyselectedplantsources.Let carbsandfatsslideupordownaslifeand goalschange,butkeepproteinsteady. Foradeeperproteindive,checkoutthe August7episodeofmyFUELED|Wellness +Nutritionpodcast.

United Health Foundation.

There are three typesofADHD, characterized by the most prominent symptoms:

Primarily hyperactive-impulsivetype

Primarilyinattentive type(previously referred to as attention deficit disorder or ADD)

The combined type (both hyperactiveimpulse and inattentive)

A2023 studyfrom the National LibraryofMedicine estimated that in Louisiana alone, an averageof 1in 5 children ages 5to17are living with ADHD —regardless of diagnosis.

Drinking patterns did not change much over the study period. But the health profiles of heavydrinkers did. Rates of metabolicsyndrome—acluster of conditions including obesity,diabetes, and high blood pressure —increased from 26% of people, to nearly 38%.

Demographics shifted too: heavy drinkers became more likely to be women, people over the age of 45, and those living in poverty

“We’re showing with this study

n and Orleans Parish with 23.41%

These 10 parishes had thelowest prevalenceofADHD amongchildren aged 5to17, in ascendingorder, according to the NLM study:

n Bossier Parish with 13.72%, n Jefferson Parish with 14.72%, n Cameron Parish with 14.79%, n St. Bernard Parish with 16.11%, n Sabine Parish with 16.33%, n AcadiaParishwith 16.49%, n PlaqueminesParishwith 16.73%, n Terrebonne Parish with 16.99%, n Jefferson DavisParishwith 17.01%, n and Ouachita Parish with 17.05%

that the picture of the American drinker is changing dramatically,” Lee said. “You have more womenwho aredrinking heavily, more ethnic minorities who are drinking heavily,and these are groups that are known to have ahigher sensitivity to alcohol in causing liver damage.”

Other factors may alsobeat play,saidDr. Sammy Saab, medical director of thePfleger Liver Institute at UCLA,who was not involvedin the study. People could be consuming different types of drinks, or at differenttimes.

“Have we moved away from beer, wine, to hard cocktails? Have we moved away from drinking with food,where the food absorbs some

“We’re showing with this study that the picture of the American drinker is changing dramatically.You have more women who are drinking heavily, more ethnic minorities whoare drinking heavily, and these are groups that are known to have ahighersensitivity to alcohol in causing liver damage.”

DR.

BRIAN P. LEE, aliver transplant specialist at Keck Medicine of USC

of thealcohol youconsume, versus drinking withoutfood where alcohol is better absorbed?” Saab asked. Then there arecultural changes, he said. “Inthe olddays, if you drank, you’d still have to drive home, but now we’ve got Uber, we have Lyft,” he said, which may remove some deterrents to heavy

drinking. The current definition of heavy drinking in theU.S.may actually be too lenient, Lee said, especially compared to evolving global standards.Canada, for example, now advisesnomorethantwo drinks perweek to minimize health risks.

“Inthe U.S. right now,weconsiderheavy drinking to be eight

drinks or moreper weekfor women and15ormore formen —but that’squite high,” he said. “We’ve shown in prior studies that you can developliverdisease at lower quantities than the U.S. threshold.” The study’sfindings highlight theneed to rethink long-held assumptionsabout alcohol-related liverdisease, andLee hopesitcan be usedtodevelop more effective screening methods forearlydetection. The paperraisesa lotofgood questions, Saab said, serving as a call to action for researchers and clinicians to better understand this

in

and

Continuous glucose monitors popular

But is it really needed to track blood sugar?

BY JONEL ALECCIA Associated Press

A quarter-size device that tracks the rise and fall of sugar in your blood is the latest source of hope — and hype — in the growing buzz around wearable health technology Continuous glucose monitors, small patches that provide 24hour insight into concentrations of sugar in the blood, could be a tool for Americans to “take control over their own health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr recently told federal lawmakers.

“They can take responsibility,” Kennedy said. “They can begin to make good judgments about their diet, about their physical activity about the way they live their lives.”

The devices have lifesaving benefits for people with diabetes, the disease caused when blood sugar remains high because their bodies don’t make enough insulin or become resistant to it. The condition, which affects more than 38 million people in the U.S., raises the risk of serious health problems such as heart and kidney disease and vision loss.

But the devices have surged in popularity among people without diabetes. Sales have been driven by high-profile marketers such as Casey Means, the nominee for U.S. surgeon general.

There’s scant evidence the monitors are useful for people with normal blood sugar levels, said Dr Jody Dushay, an endocrine

specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Healthy bodies can effectively regulate glucose after meals and provide the energy they need to function. Glucose monitors may lead people to misinterpret normal swings in blood sugar that happen after eating or activity In addition, the devices can be “notoriously inaccurate,” providing misleading readings, she said.

“The problem with wearing these is that you can just be zooming in on and creating pathology when it’s not there,” Dushay said.

Here’s what you need to know about the devices:

Here’s what a continuous glucose monitor does

The device is a small patch, about the size of two stacked quarters, usually placed on the upper arm or stomach. It uses a needle to painlessly pierce the skin for a tiny sensor

The sensor measures the glucose in fluid under the skin, delivering a signal every few minutes to a phone app or a handheld display The apps typically record blood sugar levels and help people track the foods they eat and how they impact those levels.

When healthy people eat a meal that contains carbohydrates, their blood sugar rises, peaks and falls in response to the food.

A healthy fasting blood glucose level for a person without diabetes is roughly 70 milligrams per deciliter to 99 milligrams per deciliter A range from 100 to 126 milligrams per deciliter indicates prediabetes and above 126 milligrams per deciliter indicates dia-

betes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

In adults without diabetes, blood sugar levels can climb to 140 milligrams per deciliter or more within an hour of a meal, before falling back to baseline levels within two or three hours, according to the association. It’s a sign the body is processing sugar normally

Continuous glucose monitors have been available since the late 1990s.

For decades, these devices were available only for people with diabetes. The monitors revolutionized care by allowing more precise adjustment of insulin used to treat diabetes and giving people the ability to modify meals and activity more accurately

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter monitors. Since then, many companies have emerged to market them, claiming to provide intensive, individualized health monitoring. Cost is generally about $100 a month.

They’ve really caught on with consumers curious about how food and activity affect their blood sugar levels. For instance, Noom, the weight-loss and fitness app, launched a blood glucose feature last year that has proven extremely popular, said Alexander Fabry, a company executive.

“Of the people who are using a CGM, the vast majority of them don’t have a diabetes diagnosis,” he said.

Who can use the monitors?

The devices have been lifesaving for people with diabetes. And they can be helpful for people

with risk factors for the disease, including obesity, prediabetes, a history of gestational diabetes or a family history of the condition.

The devices can allow users to see how specific food and activity choices affect their blood sugar in near real-time, said Dr Alaina Vidmar, a pediatric obesity specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“After a large meal, you may watch your blood sugar go up and sort of learn something about yourself,” Vidmar said. “For example, I drink a sugar-sweetened soda and my blood sugar goes up really high, really fast. And maybe I don’t feel as good, right?”

What are the cautions?

People without risk factors for diabetes may turn to the monitors just because they’re curious, said Dr David Kessler A former FDA commissioner Kessler doesn’t have diabetes, but he wore a monitor for a couple months during research for his recent book, “Diet, Drugs and Dopamine.”

“I think it’s a very interesting tool to experiment with if you’re so inclined,” Kessler said.

But, he noted, the devices can’t be used to diagnose or treat disease. Even experts don’t agree on how to interpret or provide health advice for people without diabetes based on blood sugar data.

“No one knows what’s optimal in the nondiabetic state,” he said.

Before using a monitor, Dushay asks patients to consider their motives.

“What do you think you’re going to get from the data?” she said. “What is to be gained from wearing that monitor?”

Cancer patients should prepare for disasters

4 thing to know during emergencies, hurricane evacuations

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

In 2016, Eboni Malveaux-Barber, her husband and two sons had to evacuate when waters began to rise across Baton Rouge. Her home flooded, and she was living with various relatives for weeks.

Malveaux-Barber was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Over the years, she’s had scans, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments, talks about diet and nutrition and much more. Beyond the treatments, managing the constant flow of information gets tricky

Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, where Malveaux-Barber was treated, provides each cancer patient with a binder It’s filled with everything: a flow chart explaining each patient’s cancer diagnosis, a history of appointments and medications, example recipes and meal plans, handwritten notes from doctors, lists of symptoms and more.

Malveaux-Barber’s folder is full, nearly bursting out of its confines with all of the extra information she has gathered over the years.

The binder is tangible, easy to navigate. And, it’s full of specifics to her case, recommended by her doctors.

According to Malveaux-Barber, the binder is exactly what she needs to feel like she has everything in order when faced with an emergency

Here are four things that cancer patients, and people with other conditions, should have on hand when evacuating:

Treatment, patient information

Malveaux-Barber said the binder was especially helpful in the beginning when she didn’t know the differences between scans: PET MRI, a dye CT, etc.

There was information about her port, what side it was on and how to manage other health emergencies while it was with her Information on how to properly take her blood pressure after surgery was in the binder too (it had to be taken on her left arm, not her right)

“We forget, as well,” MalveauxBarber said. “Chemo brain is real, and I don’t always remember the exact date I was diagnosed or the Latin words that describe my condition. I need to know those things when talking to new doctors.” Michelle Leerkes, a registered nurse on the navigator team at Woman’s Hospital, said the binder has been a game-changer for her patients.

Leerkes agrees that chemo often creates memory fog, making it difficult for patients to remember de-

Study: Single shot may shield children

from HIV

A new study led by Tulane researchers and featured in Nature magazine shows that delivering a single injection of gene therapy at birth may offer yearslong protection against HIV This treatment takes advantage of a critical window in early life and could reshape the fight against pediatric infections in high-risk regions.

Answer ALS launches AI drug collaboration

Answer ALS launched a groundbreaking collaborative initiative in July aimed at accelerating AI-powered drug discovery for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The effort, known as the Louisiana AI Drug Development Infrastructure for ALS, brings together leading institutions and innovators, including GATC Health, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Tulane University

The ultimate goal is to identify and prioritize therapeutic targets using AI-driven insights from the Answer ALS’ Neuromine Data Portal, the largest open-access ALS dataset in the world.

FranU plans $2M health care building renovation

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) announced a transformative $2 million renovation to its School of Health Professions Building, a project designed to enrich the academic experience and prepare students to become skilled, compassionate health care leaders grounded in Franciscan values, according to a release from the university The building is scheduled for completion in Fall 2025.

tails.

“The binder is crucial,” Leerkes said.

The binder also has information on medications: which ones patients have taken and which pills can possibly counteract their essential treatment.

“My husband can go in the binder and look at what specific symptoms to look out for when I’m on my medications,” MalveauxBarber said, in lieu of combing through online suggestions. “He can also look up what medications I can take on top of my cancer drugs like Tylenol.”

Have a go-bag

Malveaux-Barber has a “gobag” prepped in her car with certain medications and medical essentials, like drain sponges.

Malveaux-Barber has an ice pack ready or a cooler in the car so that medication does not get too hot when traveling. Her binder is in the “go-bag” as well.

Since her diagnosis, MalveauxBarber has evacuated her home multiple times during while under treatment for cancer

The meal plans and recipe books were her favorite tool to keep her, and her family, on track.

“So we’re not just consuming fast foods all the time while not a home,” Malveaux-Barber said.

“Which is what most people do during hurricanes.”

Plan for prescriptions

Malveaux-Barber is in remis-

necessary for her condition.

Communication key

In emergencies, or in times of evacuation, the binder can be handed right to doctors at emergency rooms, new oncologists and other physicians to get information as quickly as possible.

“We know online exists, and all of the information is on there too,” Leerkes said. “But the information is all on different apps, with different passwords to get into them. Sometimes, you don’t have that kind of time.”

Technology also dies, according to Leerkes. She had a patient in Hammond who was caught in a hurricane last year when the storm track unexpectedly hooked right over her neighborhood Leerkes’ patient, who had just undergone surgery, was without power, phone service and water for days.

sion now, but she still keeps her prescriptions filled, even the ones mailed to her

“I never know where the medicine is coming from — Alabama, Mississippi or Florida,” MalveauxBarber said. “But I make sure to have them on hand in case the storm reroutes the mail.”

Malveaux-Barber also has a backup address associated with her medication, so that in the case she evacuates to her father’s home, her medication can be delivered.

Malveaux-Barber does not track storms herself. It’s part of the stress and anxiety management

Numbers of doctors, navigators, nurses and dietitians to call were all in her binder The staff at Woman’s, including Leerkes, kept in contact with her and gave her instructions to keep her fresh surgical wound dry and how not to overheat. Provided numbers for national support groups can also help displaced families find good hotel rates, open locations for assistance as well as essential medical equipment that patients did not take with them.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

Ochsner Health names scholarship recipient

Ochsner Health announced the University of Queensland Medical School – Ochsner Health recipient of the 2025 Dr and Mrs. Roy Gregory Scholarship, student Kristen Johnson. Johnson volunteered at Luke’s House Clinic in New Orleans throughout medical school, providing care to uninsured and Spanish-speaking patients. She also served with Floating Doctors in Panama, a mission to improve health care delivery worldwide.

The scholarship supports senior medical students at the Ochsner Clinical School who commit to pursuing careers in family medicine and are dedicated to serving their communities.

University of Birmingham address bone fractures

The University of Birmingham has opened an international research center to address an urgent global emergency faced by an aging population — soaring numbers of fractured bones.

The International Centre of Excellence in the Treatment of Pathological Fractures (FractureFix) unites the Universities of Birmingham, Uppsala (Sweden) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland) to address the urgent clinical challenge of pathological fractures, which are expected to rise.

LSU Health Foundation announces new leaders Rob Allen, coming from the University of Virginia, assumes the role of LSU Health Foundation’s vice president and chief advancement officer on Aug. 18. He brings more than two decades of leadership in higher education and will lead the Foundation’s advancement strategy, build strong donor relationships and strengthen collaboration across the LSU Health community BRG Sinus and Nasal Specialists opens clinic

Baton Rouge General Sinus and Nasal Specialists of Louisiana has opened a new stand-alone facility providing specialized ear, nose and throat and allergy care. Centrally located on Perkins Road, the facility brings several ENT services together under one roof, giving patients access to comprehensive care in a space built just for that purpose.

Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret. delaney@theadvocate.com.

Ochsner LafayetteGeneral offerssolutions forextraskin and post-weightlosswellness

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisstory is brought to you by OchsnerHealth.

With morepeople inAcadiana using GLP-1medications likeOzempic and Wegovy to support their weightlossjourneys,many arenow reaching anew chapter in their body transformations beyond anumber on ascale. Today, lifestyle changes overall wellnessand increased activity thatare included in aGLP-1-supported weightlossplan arehelping people shed significant amounts of weightthatmany have carried formost of their lives.With increased confidence that theycan keep the weightoff,people areturning to plastic and reconstructivesurgery to address physical changes that canresult from successful weightloss.

Joseph Lupo,MD, plasticand reconstructivesurgeon at Ochsner LafayetteGeneral, is seeing morepatients –particularly women in their 40sand 50s –seeking proceduresto restoretheir appearance and confidence, post-weight loss.

“Therehas been atremendous increase in the numberofpatientswho arecoming to us because theyhavelostalot of weight, andlosing thatweighthas led to extra skin and sagging,”hesaid. “They are asking whatcan be donetoimprove their appearance.”

While most of his patientsare women, about 10 percentare men. The concerns aresimilar— tightening sagging skin that maybecausing rashes or irritation, restoring firmnessand achieving amore comfortable, confidentfit in clothing but theapproach is always tailored

It’savery individualized process,”Dr. Lupo said. “Some patientshaveaperfect idea of whattheywant. Othershavea general idea,and we help fine-tune their goalsand expectationsbased on our discussion.

Dr.Luposaid the most common procedure is an abdominoplasty, widely known as atummy tuck. Thissurgery removesexcessskin and tightens the abdominal muscles,which can’tbe done with diet and exercisealone and is especially important forpeoplewho have experienced muscle stretching during pregnancy or dramatic weightchanges.

“After asignificantweight loss, it’snot uncommon forthe abdomen to look deflated,”he said. “Wemakeanincisionabove the bikini line, liftthe skin and tissue to the levelofthe ribs and breastbone, re-tighten the muscles and remove the extra skin.”

Recovery is gradual and mayrequiretwo to three weeksawayfromwork and about six weeksoflight activity, including minimal lifting.

resumingnormal activitywithin six weeks.

Dr.Lupo said he recommends patients beattheir goal weightfor at leastsix months beforeconsidering anyofthese surgeries.While cosmetic improvement is often the goal, the benefits canalsobephysical. Patients have reported relief from back, neck and shoulder pain after surgery,and hygiene canimprove significantly when folds of extra skin areremoved.

JosephLupo,MD PlasticandReconstructive Surgeon OchsnerLafayetteGeneral

“I tell patients not to lift anything heavier than their phone oraremote control,”Dr. Lupo said.“By twomonths, most arebacktonormal activities.”

Breast lifts and augmentations arealso common, especially when weightlossor aging has caused volumelossand sagging. Consultations arein-depthand includea patient’smedical history,breastfeeding experienceand mammogram results. 3D imagingand implant sizershelp patients visualizepotential outcomes

“Some people aregood candidatesfor a breastlift, some need alift withimplants, andothersare looking forareduction,”he explained.

Recovery from breast procedures is typically alittle easier than with abdominoplasty, with most patients

“For patients who have lost a tremendous amountofweight, this is the finishing touch,”Dr. Lupo said. “Theydon’tfeel great about the extraskin and often don’tfeel confidentintheir clothing or in abathing suit.The improvementwesee in their confidence is tremendous.”

Menundergo slightly different techniquesaimed at achieving aflatter, more rectangular physique rather than the hourglassshape often soughtbywomen. Butliketheir female counterparts,their goalsare centeredaround self-confidence, comfort and long-term results

When consulting patients,Dr. Lupo saidheoften cautions them against puttingtoo much stock into photos or stories theysee online, particularly on platforms likeInstagram and TikTok.

“You cansee alot of thingsonsocial media that aremisleading,”hesaid. “They canmanipulate before-and-after photos orsuggest thatthe recovery time is much shorter than it actually is.”

At Ochsner,the approach is rooted in

medical safety and long-term care

“Aside from our training in surgical techniques,it’simportanttoustobe honest with patients about whatkind of outcome theycan expect,” he said.

Therehasbeena tremendousincreasein thenumberofpatients whoarecomingtous becausetheyhavelosta lotofweight,andlosing thatweighthasledto extraskinandsagging. Theyareaskingwhat canbedonetoimprove theirappearance.

JosephLupo,MD PlasticandReconstructiveSurgeon OchsnerLafayetteGeneral

One keyadvantageofhaving surgery at Ochsner is theadvanced clinical setting. The facilities arefully equipped with the technologyand staff to handle all medical needs,and patients have the

option of staying overnightiftheydon’t feel comfortable going home rightawayor if doctorsdetermine theyneed additional observation.

“You’ll seedoctorswho aren’taffiliated with us who offer procedures in their offices while patients areawake,” Dr.Lupo said. “That’snot to the patient’sbenefit Thoseare usually cost-cutting measures thatreduce the qualityofthe procedure and overall care.”

People canexpect to seeavisible difference almost immediately after surgery,but the full healing processtakes time.

“Wedon’tconsider thingsfinal until about six months after the procedure, Dr.Lupo said. “The entirebody healing processcan takeabout ayear especially when it comes to reducing the appearance of scars.”

While body contouring is the most common request,Lupo alsosees patients seeking facial rejuvenation, especially after major weightloss. In thosecases injectables such as fillersorfat transfers canmakeasignificantdifference without the need forsurgery

With the continued useofGLP1medications to manageweightand diabetes,Dr. Lupo and his colleagues at Ochsner areplaying avital role in helping people meet their wellnessgoals,lose weightand gain confidence.

“It’svery meaningful formeasadoctor to seehow asurgery thattakes afew hourscan have such amajor impact on somebody’s lifelong-term,”hesaid. “It’s about morethan howtheylook. It’sabout howtheyfeel.”

Preventing and carin forsports injuries

It’simportantforanyonewhoplayssports reducetheriskofgettinghurt.Athletesof thesetipscanhelpyoustayinthegame.

Tips for preventing sport injuries

Athletes,coachesandweekendwarriors cantakethesestepstolessenthechanceof asportsinjury:

Scheduleaphysicalexam Anyonenewtoasportor trainingprogramshouldvisittheirprimarycaredoctorfor asportsphysicalbeforethestartoftheseasonortraining period.Thedoctorcandetermineifthereareanyhealth problemsthatcouldimpactsportsperformanceorbe worsenedbyphysicalactivity.

Focusonstretching.Don’tskipthewarm-up.Stretching musclesandgettingthemwarmbeforejumpinginto activitywillhelppreventstrainsandsprains.

Recognizeinjuriesearly.Knowwhentostop.It’sOKto takeastepbackifyoufeelatwingeofpain.Alotoftimes, that’showwecanpreventfurtherinjury.

Getplentyofrestandfluids.Dehydrationandheat exhaustioncansneakuponyou,especiallyinsouth Louisiana.Don’twaituntilyou’rethirstytostartdrinking. Dehydrationcancausefatigue,dizzinessandheadaches. It’salsoimportanttogetrest,asthishelpsimprove athleticperformanceandrecovery.

Beawareofprolongedoutdoorexposure.Using sunscreenandinsectrepellantcanpreventannoyances thatcancontributetodiscomfortandaffect concentration.

Useappropriateequipment.Wearprotectivegearthat’s intendedforthespecificsportandposition.

adingcontinuestogrowinpopularity,butitalsoranksamong hestforinjuryratesinhighschoolandcollegesports.Thehighnatureofthesportputsathletesatincreasedriskforinjuries, ticularlytotheankles,knees,hipsandshoulders.

Injuriescanhappensuddenly,butmanycheerleadersalso experienceoveruseinjuriesfromrepetitivemovementsand demanding,year-roundtrainingschedules.

Toreducetheriskofinjury,properrestandhydrationare essential.Longtraininghourscanleadtofatigue,andtired musclesaremoresusceptibletoinjury.Stayingwell-restedand hydratedsupportspeakperformanceandfasterrecovery.

It’salsoimportanttoincorporatestretchingandstrengthtraining before,duringandaftertheseason.Theseexerciseshelpbuildthe muscularstrengthandenduranceneededtohandlethephysical demandsofcheerleadingwhileenhancingperformanceandreducing theriskofinjury.

Stuntsareafundamentalpartofthesport,buttheycarryinherent risks.Coaches,parentsandathletesmustworktogethertoensure safetechnique,properbodyalignmentandclearcommunicationat alltimes.

Howtochoose the right running shoes

Whenbuyingrunningshoes,there’snothingwrongwithchoosingaslick-looking pair.Justdon’tletlooksbetheleadingfactorinyourdecision.

Tolessenthechanceofinjuries,runnersshouldconsidertheirgait,feet,running styleandshoefit.

Whatisgait?

Yourgaitisthewayyouwalk,jogorrun.Amongthemanyfactorsthatdetermine gaitaresupinationandpronation..Supinationmeansthatwhenyouwalkorrun,your weighttendstobemoreontheoutsideofyourfoot.Ifyou’repronetopronation, youtendtoputmoreweightontheinsideofyourfootwhenyouwalkorrun.

Runnerswithsupination—whooftenhavehigharchesandatendencytorunon theirtoeswithminimalheelcontact—typicallybenefitfromshoesthatoffergreater flexibilityandalowerheel-to-toedrop.Theheel-to-toedropreferstothedifference inheightbetweentheheelandtheforefootofarunningshoe.

Runnerswithoverpronation—wheretheanklerollsexcessivelyinwardandthearch collapses—needshoeswithfirmfoamandsupportivemidsolecushioningforbetter stabilityandmotioncontrol

Agoodruleofthumb

It’salsoagoodideatofollowthe‘ruleofthumb’whenbuyingrunningshoes:leave aboutathumb’swidthofspacebetweenyourlongesttoe(usuallythebigtoeor secondtoe)andthefrontoftheshoe.Thiswillhelpyouavoidbruises,losttoenails andawkwardshoeholes.Runningshoesthataretoosmallcanleadtobruised toenails,blistersandsorefeet. OchsnerHealthistheleadingnonprofithealthcareproviderintheGulfSouth,deliveringexpertcareatits46hospitalsandmorethan370healthandurgentcare

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

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

Sally Hebert stretches recentlyatthe Camelia House in Lafayette.

By thetime this column is in print,I should have completed a mission Iset outtoaccomplish this summer Truthbetold, Iset outtodothe samemissionlast year —and a similar version of it theyear before that.

Andmaybe even theyear before that.

This summer,finally,I’veput my full effort intoaccomplishing this goal —and Imay have aimed too high. Still, thetrain is on the track andshould arrive Sunday morning at my church Iplantoplaya songonthe piano during theoffertory. Our church’s choirtakes time off in thesummer, andthe church invites memberstosign up for aSunday. Back in May, August seemed like alongtime away plentyoftime to learntoplaya song. After all, Iwas agood piano player.

Turnsout,the emphasis should be on thepast tense of that verb in thepreceding sentence. Pianoand Igoway back.I took lessonsevery week of school from third through 10th grades. After that school year,mymom hada baby.Mydad became a high school principal, andwe moved from ourlongtime town. My piano lessonswentbythe wayside.

Butduring those eight years I took lessons, my parentsdidn’t believe in simply paying forpiano lessons, whichmeantI hadto practice every dayfor at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour Fortunately, Iloved to playthe piano andenjoyed my time practicing (at least formostsongs) Then, there were also recital duets withmycousin, solopieces andstate contests.

During most weeksofthose years, Iplayedthe piano or took lessonsatleast seven hours. However, in themorethanfour decades since, Idoubt Ihave playedthe piano atotal of seven hourscumulatively

BY JOANNA BROWN Staffwriter

Spending time around Sally Hebert means picking up on afew of her secrets to ahappy,energetic life.

The Acadiana native has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 50 years. She’saregular on thepickleball court,and

loves to go out dancing with her friends at spots like Randol’s and Feed &Seed. Hebert says that she eats well, mostly organic and non-processed foods, but doesn’tdeny herselfwhen she wantssomething decadent. Mostly,she just enjoys staying busy and living “simply,” according to Hebert’s granddaughter,Savannah DesOrmeaux.

“She just keeps it moving. She really has askill in not sweating the smallstuff,” said DesOrmeaux.“IhopeI’ll grow into old age likeher,but Ialready don’thave as active of alife.”

DesOrmeaux grew up in Lafayetteand now lives in New York City,working as an actor,writerand comedian. Heruncle, John Hebert, owns the Camelia House and Acupuncture Center of Acadiana,where Sally Hebert teaches aweekly yoga class at 11 a.m.onTuesdays. One could say that the wholefamily stays busy —and Sally is

Retiredjudge workstotacklecrime’s roots

BYJILLIAN KRAMER

Staff writer

Thefirst year Calvin Johnson wore the robes, his fathercameto watch. He sat in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, listening as his son —newly elected and the first Black judge to reach astate bench in Louisianawithout agubernatorial appointment presided overcases Afterward, the elder Johnson didn’toffer praise.

“He didn’tthink Iwas doing jack,” Johnson said. Instead, “he told me that Ineed-

ed to be doing more than what I was doing,” Johnson said. “That was 35 years ago. My father would be 123 years old today.And I’m still tryingtodomore.”

Now,Johnson is being honored with an Encore Awardfor his continued public service after ajudicial career marked by fairness and innovation. His retirement has been anything but quiet, accordingtothose close to him Rather than step back in the yearssince retiring, Johnsonhas stepped up, said Melissa Sawyer, CEOofthe Youth Empowerment Project.

“This chapter is atrue reflection

Thatis, until this summer. Finding thetime andplace to practice piano hasbeen suchan interesting process. The first challenge wasinfinding theright songtoplay. After eight false starts, Idecidedonsomething I’d once playedwell. Iremembered abeautiful songIplayedinmiddle school called“The Homecoming” by Hagood Hardy

It’s asongthatusedtotouch my heart allthose yearsago.I still remember thecolor blue of its cover.Sometimes sitting at the piano in my family’sliving room, thechordsstruck so right that it felt like thereal-life versionof “thesongs that make theyoung girls cry,” just like Barry Manilowused to sing about.

Growing up, Iplayed“The Homecoming” as often as Icould andimagined thenostalgia of coming home.

After multiple failedattempts to locate theexact arrangement I’dplayedback then,I finally found it —justamonth before my turn forthe special music Practice beganinearnest

Musclememory is real,and someelementsofthe piece came back immediately. As Iplayed thepiece repeatedly,I remembered specific chords my middle school piano teacher,Mrs.Hayes, loved. Iremember howeasily thesong used to be to play—sosmooth. Nothing aboutgetting it right this time hasbeen easy or smooth

WhenIsit down at thepiano this weekend, my fingers may fumble andmytiming may drift

ASK THE EXPERTS

LSU librarian adds Fulbright to her title

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

Lois Kuyper-Rushing, 70, serves as the LSU Libraries‘

Associate Dean of Public & Collection Services. This year she was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to travel to Valenciennes, France, to conduct research on the 20thcentury French composer Eugène Bozza. Kuyper-Rushing is among the world’s leading scholars of Bozza, a composer known primarily for his chamber music for wind instruments. Her research on Bozza has shown that he composed a much wider range of music than performers were aware of, including symphonies, operas, oratorio and film music. During her time in France she will work on a volume of neverbefore-published songs, some of which will be performed at a recital planned for spring 2026 at LSU. When were you first introduced to Eugène Bozza, and what made you want to dive so deeply into his work?

I come from a musical family, and I was singing and playing musical instruments from a very young age. By high school, I settled on the oboe as my primary instrument. I majored in oboe performance for both my undergraduate and master’s degrees, then I obtained a doctor of musical arts degree.

Bozza is known for music

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— but I will be there, just as I was so many years ago, doing something I once loved. The exercise of practicing this song all these years later has been a bit like time travel. It’s been a reminder of that feeling of a teacher sitting be-

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that is played on wind instruments, so brass and woodwind instruments.

As a doctoral student, I needed a dissertation topic, and I was coming up empty with ideas. At the time, I was babysitting for the children of Lyle Merriman, Dean of the Louisiana State University School of Music One night, we were talking about school, and I said, “Do you have any ideas you want to give me for a dissertation project?”

He replied immediately, saying that a useful and interesting project would be a thematic index for the works, woodwinds only by Bozza. A thematic index is like a bibliography of all the composer’s work in a certain genre, but it has a musical example of every movement or piece, so it involves adding music to the index.

When he said that, I thought later, I’ll bet he had no idea that with that very quick statement, he had set me on a lifelong research journey What area of Bozza’s work will your Fulbright focus on?

The dissertation only covered the woodwind work, so my next project was to do a thematic index for all of Bozza’s works, which is about 298 different works. That published in 2000, but when I was last in France, I discovered boxes of his music that had not yet been processed. There were tons of works I’d

to everyone.

Do you have any tips for aging well, mentally? And do you think that music helps?

The first and most important thing for anyone, regardless of background, is to keep moving, of course. Secondly, you have to exercise your brain with meaningful work. And then add music to that.

Most of us believe that music is a product of the right brain, that emotional and creative side. But, actually, the left brain is equally important for playing music because math and analytical thinking are so necessary in music as we listen to other voices in an ensemble to make sure we’re all at the same place.

listens to music. The storage of those tunes in that music can come back to us later in ways that allow us to remember memories. No matter what you have or haven’t studied, most people can sing. That performance exercises your brain and vocal cords, even if you’re just humming along. Singing in a church choir helps with that other part of aging, to remain socially active, which is so important.

never heard of — unpublished things that haven’t been discovered, in a sense, yet. That is my project for the Fulbright, to edit and publish a volume of his unpublished works for voice and small vocal ensemble.

What do you admire about Bozza’s work that makes you want to keep sharing it with the world?

I put his works in two categories. A lot of them are incredibly technically complex and difficult to play It takes a lot of work to get them under your fingers and to be able to play them. There’s another set that

side me, looking over my shoulder, and how hitting the wrong notes sent a jarring sensation down to my toes. The song is just as lovely as I remembered. Even in my imperfect playing, those beautiful moments still shine. These days, I don’t have a piano at home. So, every time I see one, I take a moment to give my best effort toward this song I loved as a seventh grader

around mental health.

of his character and values marked by kindness, wisdom and lasting impact,” said Sawyer, who nominated Johnson for the Encore Award.

Much of Johnson’s work has been informed by his own early struggles with discrimination with a quick temper and with poor eyesight that made attending school difficult. What might be diagnosed today as ADHD, he said, often left him isolated in classrooms.

But those challenges also helped him relate to people who were often misunderstood: defendants in court, teens caught in the justice system and adults who felt written off.

Johnson was just a teenager when he marched with other Black students to desegregate his high school in Iberville Parish. That night in the summer of 1963, they were met by a White mob armed with billy clubs, fire hoses and cattle prods But Johnson was convicted of inciting a riot He never threw a punch. He’d only carried a sign demanding equal education.

Johnson later served in the U.S. Air Force and earned a law degree from Loyola University He was inspired to pursue the law after watching attorney Lolis Elie defend him in court as a teen. He was elected to the criminal bench in 1990 and became its first Black chief judge. His courtroom was known for centering dignity and second chances, said Will Snowden, a Loyola University New Orleans law professor and defense attorney From the bench, Johnson shaped statewide conversations about mental health and addiction, as well as criminal justice. He helped launch one of the state’s first mental health courts, and later stepped in as interim executive director of NAMI New Orleans, a nonprofit that provides education and support

“He is driven in everything he does by seeing the dignity in all people,” said Madeleine Landrieu, who first met Johnson when she was a student at Loyola University Landrieu, who is the dean of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, served as an Orleans Parish Civil District Court judge while Johnson sat on the criminal bench.

“There’s an easy way to be a judge: You see the crime. It fits the elements. You apply the sentence,” Landrieu said. “Or you can ask yourself, ‘What’s going on with this person that caused them to be where they are — to do what they did?’ And that’s what Calvin saw and what he did well before anybody was writing about it or talking about it.”

Troubled by how many defendants in his courtroom couldn’t read or write, Johnson helped establish the New Orleans Adult Learning Center during his final year as a judge The program allows court-referred adults to earn their high school credentials.

Since it was created, more than 800 students have graduated from that effort, said Sawyer, whose organization, along with Delgado Community College and the City Council, helped launch the program.

“There is a direct connection between that piece of paper that high school equivalency — and the kind of life you now can live and live more fluidly,” said Johnson. “In terms of what we do here in the justice system that can make a difference in people’s lives, one of the biggest things is to encourage them and not just encourage, but to make it a condition of their probation, for instance that they enter school and earn that piece of paper.”

In 2008, Johnson retired from the bench. He’d served for 17 years.

Since then, colleagues say Johnson has been a behind-thescenes force for some of the city’s most transformative programs. He served as criminal justice commissioner under Mayor

are incredibly lyrical and just soaring melodies. So you have those two very contrasting styles coming from one composer When I went to France for that first time and discovered that he also had works for orchestra — he’d written a couple of operas and large ensemble works — there was so much variety in his work which I admire. What keeps me going back to him is the number of projects that are still there to be done. That’s my motivation, as much as anything. I want to make this available

And the music carries me back again and again. So, in case you are somewhere and hear an occasionally hesitant version of a beautiful song, know that I very well may be the one on the piano bench, smiling like a middle schooler who’s just found her way home to her favorite chord.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com

Mitch Landrieu, and co-authored a landmark study on Louisiana’s death penalty system. Johnson led the Metropolitan Human Services District, expanding access to behavioral health services in Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes.

At the Youth Empowerment Project, where he still sits on the board, Johnson helped expand services that now reach more than 1,000 young people a year said Sawyer In 2022, Johnson earned an honorary doctorate of laws from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law at a ceremony where he also finally received an apology for the 1963 attack that changed his life. Gov John Bel Edwards sent a letter acknowledging that “Louisiana’s authority and power were unjustly wielded as an outreached arm of hatred.”

Madeleine Landrieu arranged the ceremony

“You think that someone who had been throughout that would have turned away from the law but he turned toward it,” said Landrieu “He sees it as the answer, not the problem.”

Today, Johnson sits on four nonprofit boards and hosts a weekly civil rights radio show He’s writing his first book.

He’s also still working in New Orleans’ criminal court: Johnson has been appointed several times as an ad hoc judge since his retirement. He’s currently serving in its Section J until Aug. 20.

Snowden worked as a public defender during one of many of Johnson’s earliest ad hoc stints. He remembers Johnson starting each docket with a brief lesson usually on civil rights.

“By starting court that way — in such a different way, with such a different message — it set the tone for what was going to be taking place in that courtroom while he was presiding,” Snowden said. Johnson said he has no plans to slow down any time soon. “When is enough enough?” he asked. “I haven’t found that place yet.”

Email Jillian Kramer at jillian. kramer@theadvocate.com.

Whether you’re aging or not, music exercises the brain in ways that nothing else does, because when you’re entwining all of those aspects, you’ve got the aural part of it — listening to make sure you’re in tune with people, reading music or looking to others for head nods or cues.

Of course, add to that the creativity and emotional parts of music, and you’ve got everything engaged in a collective way

For someone who doesn’t necessarily play an instrument,how does music help to stay mentally sharp?

As we go through life, the vast majority of the public

Stanley Wilder, who submitted your Encore Award nomination, mentioned that most people could,“coast on past achievements at this point in their careers.” What motivates you to keep working and being a student of life? I just can’t imagine a life without learning and working on projects. I’ve been motivated to do this since before I went to school painting, watercolor or having an art show Even those activities had a goal in mind. Going into the future, I love the feel of accomplishing something that’s meaningful, whether it be editing this newly found music and publishing it, or volunteering with a social cause. Having a purpose and a goal motivates me to continue with all of the work that I love.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

YOGA

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at the center of it all, as family matriarch and inspiration to everyone who knows her Hebert’s class covers yoga basics, to a full studio of women and men who are mostly 20 to 40 years younger than her According to Marie Hebert, one of Sally Hebert’s longtime students, she is an “inspiration and a model for living.”

One of Acadiana’s first yogis

Hebert is a 1953 graduate of the Southwestern Louisiana Institute, and she and her husband were both career teachers in Abbeville, where they raised their family on the banks of the Vermilion. She said that sometime in the 1970s, her husband got a book on yoga and was intrigued by the emphasis on Buddhist spirituality and wellness.

“It was a way of life, and we got interested, but no one was doing it here,” said Hebert, who was widowed 25 years ago. “People thought we were so weird. We had to go to California to take classes.”

Over the decades the Heberts participated in yoga workshops all over the country, while gradually seeing the practice come to New Orleans and spread across Louisiana.

Hebert was also a longtime tennis player who is now a weekly fixture on Acadiana’s pickleball courts. She says that her approach to exercise is the same one she emphasizes to her students: listen to your body

“I’m just helping people move, stretch, do all the simple things that are good for your body,” she said. “If you feel like something isn’t working for you, don’t force it, because it can hurt you. So I’ll give people different options. There’s always a different way.”

Hebert lost her Abbeville home in the 2016 floods, and now lives in La-

fayette where her six children have also settled. Her son, acupuncturist John Hebert, said that his mother’s attitude to life has been a major contributor to her health and longevity He said that after leaving the floodwaters that consumed the family home, she was back in the studio helping her students the following week.

“She does not have a cynical bone in her body. How do you maintain that? How does that not creep in when you get tired of people, or life beats you down? She just continues believing in people,” John Hebert said.

For Sally Hebert, life has been something to enjoy and experience, no matter what it threw at her She continues to live that philosophy today whether she’s on an outing with her friends — Hebert’s studio has framed photos of her and her girlfriends, touring around Acadiana — or spending time with her family and three cats, who she describes as the perfect roommates.

“My philosophy has always been, ‘let’s go play.’ I like to do things that are fun, and I like to help people.”

“All I know is that you need to do what makes you happy You know, there’s so much horror in this world, but you need to take care of yourself. When I was young, I didn’t think like that. My job was taking care of my kids, I didn’t think about time for me. But now I know it’s important, and when I take care of myself, I can take care of others.”

Hebert’s yoga class is offered at the Camelia House at 708 Jefferson Blvd., Lafayette, from 11 a.m to noon on Tuesdays. The class is accessible for beginners and anyone who wants to focus on the fundamentals. Classes at Camelia House are open to all with a suggested donation of $15 to $15 per class.

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

From thelaboratorytomuseumvolunteering

Retirement meant anew career

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

For Eldridge “Butch”

Gendron, 72, retiring from his 36-year career at Shell Chemical Company in Geismar meant starting anew chapter as avolunteer at the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge. Accustomed to aquietlaboratory for multiple decades, Gendron was ready to be outside, delveinto rural history and meet new people. His post-retirement tenacity for preserving history and teaching others about rural Louisiana life has earned him one of Louisiana Inspired’s ENCORE awards. Michael Perkins nominated Gendronfor theaward because he has witnessed Gendron’spersonalgrowth over the last 12 years. He described the Rural Life Museum as having opened Gendron up.

In 2013, Gendron wantedto findsomethingtofill histime, so he attended an archaeological dig at the sugar mill on the former Chatsworth plantation, where L’Auberge casino is today. He metthe Rural Life Museum director at the time, David Floyd, and the docent coordinator Gendron told them he was getting ready to retire. They encouraged him to be adocent, aguide for the museum.

From alonglineoffarmers

Gendron grew up in Reserve, arural town on the Mississippi River,and comes fromalong line of farmers abackground that fueled his fascination with rural ways and Louisiana history He wentthrough docent training in August 2013, 12 years ago this month, and hasbeenadedicated volun-

teer ever since. After about ayear as adocent, Gendron became the assistant docent coordinator, whichincluded a public speaking role.

When Floyd approached himabout becoming the assistant docent coordinator, Gendron initially refusedthe position

“I struggledwithpublic speaking, but Iovercame that fear,”Gendron said,“andI served as assistant docent coordinator for twoyears. That wasthe term. ThenI became the docent coordinator,and I was in charge roughly over 125 people.”

Gendron’spassionfor history overflows when he gives tours of the museum and grounds. He has led people through the museum from all over thecountry and even alloverthe world. In 2019, he graduatedtoproject coordinator for the Rural Life Museum Preservationist Woodworkers Group.Healso serves as atrainer for incoming docents.

Hisrole today is astark contrast to hisworkatShell, where he didn’tregularly interact with peopleand had a routine schedule.

“This volunteer work has been likeanawakening, affording him opportunitiesnot previously offered,” Perkins said.

‘The core’

Bill Stark, thedirector of theLSU Rural Museumsince 2020, says Gendron’svolunteer hours surpass everyone else. Of all the dedicated volunteers,hesays Gendron goesabove and beyond.

“He does so much for us He’ssodedicated. Butch is out here often multiple times aweek,” Starksaid. “He’s one of many volunteers that we have out herewho are the core of what keeps thismuseum going, and he exemplifieseverything that they do.” Stark is especially appre-

ciative of Gendronand the Preservationist Woodworkersfor their workhelping to install the displays for the Louisiana Lights event at Burden Gardens. He says that everyoneatthe museum knows they can callupon Gendron for repairs,help or atour

“It hasbeen an educational ride for me, because Ihad no idea when Iretired thatthis would happen —that I’d become involved with amuseum of this nature,” Gendron said.

As the project coordinator for the RuralLife Museum Preservationist Woodworkers,Gendron travels often, looking for 18th- and 19thcentury buildings and wood that can be transported to the museum.

One rare find from Magnolia Plantation in Schriever

was athree-seater outhouse from 1850. Gendronand his team dismantleditand brought it to the Rural Life Museum. After afew years, thePreservationist Woodworkers recently finished restoringthe outhouse,which was quitefancy for thetime.

Gendrondoesn’tconsider himselfa woodworker, though he cansaw,hammer and do detail work. For complex projects, he relies on his 14-member woodworking team.

“Wehavesomereally top talent as far as woodworking and craftsmanship goals. So Irely on those guys,”hesaid. Themuseum includes32 historic outbuildings that spread over 25 acres and are dividedintofoursections: the Working Plantation,the Upland South Region, the Gulf CoastRegion and an

Exhibit Barn.

Stark says the preservationist woodworkers do repairs, createnew things and restore structures around the RuralLife Museum in a way that follows guidelines for historic restoration.

They learn as they go to ensure correct preservation practices.

Another contribution from Gendronand his team was building awooden gutter for aschoolhouse that channels rainwater into an old sugar kettle,demonstratinghow wateronceflowed into acistern.

“Ithas been such arewarding experience,” Gendron said. “First of all, Imeet alot of educated people. Second of all, to see the expressions on our visitors’ faces when it comes to the museum, Ican’t hardly put it intowords. To

see theexcitementontheir faces, and then to be able to explain how the buildings worked and how the people worked. It’ssomeaningful.” Gendronsaidhechose the Rural Life Museum when he retired because he wanted to keep learning. With his dedication to preserving, educating and volunteering, Gendronembodies the spirit of alifelong learner.Healso serves as alivingrepresentative of rural Louisiana for the museum’svisitors.

“I want to preserve this area for other generations to be abletosee howpeople lived from the 1800s to be able to discuss the social, economic and archaeological effects on not only on the people,onthe buildings,but also on the way of life,” Gendron said. “That’sthe driving force for me.”

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FAITH & VALUES

Early Hawaiian petroglyphs visible on beach again

BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

Contributing writer

Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least a half-millennium are visible on Oahu for the first time in years, thanks to seasonal ocean swells that peel away sand covering a panel of more than two dozen images of mostly human-looking stick figures.

The petroglyphs are easy to spot during low tide when gentle waves ebb and flow over slippery, neongreen algae growing on a stretch of sandstone. This is the first time the entire panel of petroglyphs are visible since they were first spotted nine years ago by two guests staying at a bayside U.S. Army recreation center in Waianae, about an hour’s drive from Honolulu Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Glen Kila, who traces his lineage to the aboriginal families of this coastal Hawaii community, said he believes the resurfacing of the traditional marvels are his ancestors sending a message.

“It’s telling the community that the ocean is rising,” said Kila, a recognized expert on the local culture and history of Waianae who is consulting with the Army on the protection of the petroglyphs.

Army officials are trying to balance protecting the petroglyphs with their accessibility on a public beach.

John and Sandy Stone consulted tide charts and drove about 30 minutes from their home early Tuesday to get a glimpse after a watching a local TV report about the petroglyphs.

“It was so interesting to touch them,” said John Stone, who splits his time between Hawaii and Cali-

fornia. “It felt interesting to kind of have a connection with the past like that.”

It is difficult to date petroglyphs, but an archaeological site in the area is from about 600 years ago, said Laura Gilda, an archaeologist with U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii.

According to Kila, Hawaiians arrived in Waianae at least 1,000 years ago.

The beach here fluctuates in size and profile each year, with low-pressure weather systems that form in the eastern Pacific between May and November causing waves that cut away loose sand from shorelines and redeposit them further out, according to an Army report on the petroglyphs.

That shift is likely what causes their temporary exposure.

Archaeologists identified a total of 26 petroglyphs. Of the 18 anthropomorphic stick figures, eight are depicted with possible male genitalia and the remainder are of undetermined gender, the report said.

The entire panel stretches about 115 feet long, Gilda said.

When the petroglyphs first reemerged in July 2016, it was after late spring and early summer storms, including hurricanes, with a lot of wave action that swept the sand away, Gilda said.

They remained visible for a period and then got covered again.

“So there’s been portions that

have been exposed since then, but this is the first summer that the whole panel has been exposed again,” Gilda said.

Based on the teachings Kila learned, the lineal petroglyphs appear to be telling a religious, ceremonial story He interprets the largest figure, which appears to include hands and fingers with one arm raised and the other down, to represent the rising and setting sun.

Kila said that when the military in the 1930s took over the area and evicted Native Hawaiians, including his family who lived there for generations, his great-great grandmother refused to leave so his family exchanged moun-

tain lands with a coffee plantation so she could remain near the bay

In an interview included in the Army’s report, he recalled growing up in Waianae without television. So “the ocean and mountains were our playground,” he said. The Army recreation center was off-limits to the public, and the seawall was the barrier between Native Hawaiians and the military Kila said.

Kila, now 72, recalled that if they walked on top of the wall, they were clubbed and pushed off by military police.

“We were proud and knew where we came from, so we never fostered any hatred for the military because one day we believed that the land will eventually return to us,” he said.

Kila, while visiting the petroglyphs earlier this week, told The Associated Press that the Army’s protection of them represents a shift in that community relationship.

Officials have been grappling with how to share the petroglyphs with the community while also protecting them, Gilda said.

“How much attention do you want to bring to this area? You don’t really want people to go digging for them when they’re not exposed,” she said. “But they’re certainly awesome to come and see on the public beachscape.”

Donald Kauli a, a Native Hawaiian who was born and raised in Waianae, snapped photos of the petroglyphs Tuesday Seeing them, he said, feels like “validation that our ancestors were from here.”

Water source now trickles in Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation

BY MORGAN SJOGREN

Contributing writer

A pelican descends through a canopy of green cottonwood leaves. The frost-plumed bird lands upon an exposed sandbank in a thin ribbon of blue water

flanked by lithe willows Gorgeous as it is, this lush Sonoran Desert oasis is but a relic of a time when the water was much more than a sliver Here, the once-mighty Colorado River swelled across the Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation, straddling California and Arizona near the U.S.–Mexico border Frank Venegas, the Quechan Tribe’s water technician looks out on the river and shakes his head. He grew up fishing here with his uncles and laments not being able to do the same with his nephews Now, not only has the water been reduced to a trickle through the reservation, but in many areas, just beyond this stretch of shoreline, invasive plants choke out river access.

For the Quechan people, a living river is not just about water — it requires native plants and wildlife. To help bring the Colorado River back to life, the tribe is taking matters into its own hands by planting one native seed at a time. The tribe is successfully restoring 100 acres of the river’s original riparian assemblage on the reservation, ushering in a return of critical wildlife and cultural resources for the Quechan people.

The Colorado River once fanned across the Yuma Valley, lined by craggy volcanic peaks. Seasonal muddy torrents spread water and nutrient-rich sediments across the floodplain Ribbons of green spread along the river corridor until the next flood scoured away plant life while spreading new growth downstream. This cycle repeated naturally with spring runoff and monsoon floods.

In the 1800s, salt cedar was introduced from Eurasia to stabilize stream banks and prevent catastrophic flooding. Salt cedar consumed native plant habitat, altered soil chemistry and, in addition to reduced water flows, narrowed the Colorado River like a canal. Steamboats shipped goods and passengers up and down the wide river, fueled by cottonwood lumber This began to decimate native plant populations, but its effect was minimal compared to 20th century dam construction Laguna Dam, built in 1905 on the northern boundary of the Quechan Reservation, began altering the river’s ecological habitat by reducing water flows. Today, 15 dams and 1,358 diversions control the natural flow of the river to serve 40 million people,

support agriculture and generate electricity The Colorado has been further stressed by two decades of drought the worst in 1,200 years. The water passing through the reservation is now less than 20 percent of its volume a century ago. The tribe’s latest project is supported by funding from the Bureau of Reclamation and private funds sourced by Blue Commons and Bonneville Environmental Foundation Both nonprofits pair private sector businesses with water conservation efforts to replenish corporate water withdrawals from the Colorado River watershed. While Venegas’ key role is managing the tribe’s Colorado River water allotment for agriculture, he has spearheaded this project as part of his deep commitment to the future of the river “The living river is the plants, the fish, the animals, the people,” he says. We stop near the river to see the tribe’s 56-acre restoration site — the newest of seven such sites on the reservation dating back to 2011. Chase Choate, the Quechan Tribe environmental director, is leading the reintroduction of three native plants: honey mesquite (Neltuma glandulosa), Goodding’s willow (Salix gooddingii), and Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii). “I’m Johnny Mesquite Seed!” Choate jokes. Before planting, introduced species are cleared from the riverbanks and flood plain. A longrange excavator also clears out phragmites reeds, which cling to the precipitous edge of the riverbanks. Though this common reed is native to North America, an introduced variant chokes out the riverbanks. Dust plumes into the air as a tractor bulldozes two types

of salt cedar, Tamarix ramosissima and Tamarix chinensis. The chinesis variety can grow 14 feet tall and are the toughest to clear The goal is to beat the salt cedar’s spring blossoms — its beautiful pink tendrils allow swift propagation. The drought-tolerant plant, which is also known as tamarisk, concentrates salts in its spindly leaves. Upon dropping, those leaves increase soil salinity under the plant canopy As Choate explains, a major aim of the project is to prevent regrowth of salt cedar but other stressors threaten the native plants as well. In the early years, reintroduced native plants had a survival rate of just 40 percent because the willows were affected by a period of blight, fungus and insect predation. Now, native plants at the 2023 site have an 80 percent success rate because of improved maintenance, especially continued tamarisk removal and drip-line irrigation methods

The Quechan Tribe’s current project conserves water by replacing antiquated agricultural infrastructure on 446 acres known as “Ranch 4 and 7.” This includes relining the earthen Mohave Canal to prevent loss of water to seepage. A solar pump installation will allow withdrawals from the Mohave Canal instead of the Colorado River (This water is more efficient to use because it is strained of river debris by Imperial Dam, unlike the sediment-laden water in the river’s mainstem.)

Leased ranches are irrigated with a portion of the tribe’s 77,966-acre-foot Colorado River water allotment finalized in the 2006 Arizona v. California decree. (An acre-foot of water will flood

an area the size of a football field with one foot of water.) During the hottest months of the year, April to July, Ranches 4 and 7 will voluntarily fallow their fields, saving 13,000 acre-feet to help maintain critical levels in Lake Mead, the reservoir formed by Hoover Dam. Water savings from this project contribute 200 acre feet of water that are used to irrigate the new 56-acre restoration site. At the restoration sites, new plants are irrigated with waterefficient drip line irrigation for five to seven years until they can be weaned. The combination of water conservation savings and the reintroduction of native plants has already begun to bring the lower Colorado River habitat back to life. At a site planted in 2023, three-foot tall cottonwood saplings grow in clear view of mature trees at the flagship site (planted in 2011), standing 50 to 75 feet tall. The Quechan Tribe’s goals for this restoration project are the sustained return native plants and wildlife as well as availability of cultural resources for tribal members to gather for traditional uses. When native saplings take hold, other native flora thrive. Endemic shrubs like Baccharis or seepwillow (Baccharis salicifolia) return to riverside areas of their own volition. Palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) and ironwood (Olneya Tesota) are planted in the maturing restoration sites. Choate points out a wolfberry (Lycium carolinianum) bush that provides a nutrient-dense berry similar to Gojis. “Give [native plants] space, the water, the love, and they’ll take over,” says Choate.

As the plants return, so does the wildlife quail, rabbits, snakes and coyotes. The Quechan restoration sites are within designated critical habitat for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher

As its name implies, willows (not tamarisk) are a critical habitat for the flycatcher Maximizing potential habitat value for this species is part of the Quechan’s agreement within the Fish and Wildlife Management Plan for the critical habitat area. This is especially vital as the current U.S. administration seeks to remove habitat protections from the Endangered Species Act. The lower Colorado River is a migratory bird flyway where 70 percent of avian species depend on riparian habitat — and 95 percent of the Southwest’s vital riparian habitat has been altered, degraded or destroyed in the last century In addition to birds, Choate says the return of keystone species, like bobcats indicates a healthy wildlife habitat. “I’ve seen several bob-

cats while I work, they just mosey on past me,” Choate says. “I do this for the critters. These are our ancestors.”

Choate is also focused on the tribe’s future: He is working with local San Pasqual High School students who are cultivating native plant seedlings for the project. On weekends, he leads field trips to teach the youth about native plants and wildlife at Anya Nitz Pak, Quechan for Sunrise Point Park. Anya Nitz Pak sits on 40 acres of tribal land set aside for restoration in 2006.

Choate spends time every day at the riverside observing the qualitative data that affirms the tribe’s vision of this project’s success.

“Seeing [the riverside] thrive — the return of critters, plants, and people — is what is important,” he says.

Choate is also focused on the tribe’s future: He is working with local San Pasqual High School students who are cultivating native plant seedlings for the project. On weekends, he leads field trips to teach the youth about native plants and wildlife at Anya Nitz Pak Quechan for Sunrise Point Park. Anya Nitz Pak sits on 40 acres of tribal land set aside for restoration in 2006.

A goal of the restoration is to encourage the return of Quechan people to the river On April 26, 2025, 80 tribal members across multiple generations planted 270 trees at the new restoration site. A tribal elder, Preston Arrowweed, attended and spoke with the group. Children sang pipa songs to honor the land, people and trees. Planting is an opportunity for the Quechan Tribe to honor ‘Anyamátt ‘Antáyts (Mother Earth) for providing “food, water and shelter for our people for thousands of years.”

Each of the native species planted holds cultural significance and uses for the tribe. Willow branches are shaped into handles for gourd rattles, and dolls are crafted from cottonwood. Willow and mesquite are used to make cradleboards.

“Growing native plants and having them available to gather revitalizes culture,” says Choate, who observes tribal members collecting plants near the river for traditional uses.

As water throughout the Southwest faces a tenuous future, the Quechan Tribe’s relationship with the Colorado River demonstrates possibilities for balancing human and economic water uses with a living river “As long as we are taking care of the land, the land is taking care of us,” says Choate. He looks out at the growing seedlings and smiles. “This,” he says, “is land back.”

SUNDAY, AUgUSt 17, 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 — rAcKeteer: rak-ihTEER: One who obtains money by an illegal enterprise, usually involving intimidation.

Average mark 27 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 48 or more words in RACKETEER?

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

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

wuzzLes

Careless play

North’s second double showed extra values in a hand that could not raise spades South might have bid four diamonds instead of four spades, but it was reasonable to take a shot at game. East won the opening heart lead and continued the suit. South ruffed, led a low spade to dummy’s ace, and a spade back to his jack West took his queen and led another heart, which South had to ruff South cashed the king of spades, his last trump, and ran his clubs. West ruffed the fifth club and led a diamond. South had to lose a diamond trick and finished down one. South did not play this hand properly Can you spot what he did wrong?

super Quiz

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3

SUBJECT: REDHEADS Each answer is the name of a person with red hair (e.g., The first U.S. president. Answer: George Washington.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Duke of Sussex. Younger son of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Answer________

2. Dutch painter whose works include “Sunflowers” and “The Starry Night.”

Answer________

3. She was the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.

Answer________

4. His plays include “Arms

South should have expected that the hearts would split 6-3 after this bidding. He should simply have discarded a diamond at trick two instead of ruffing. He could then ruff the third heart and play the spades the same way This time, when West won his queen, he would have no heart to lead West would shift to a diamond, but South should play dummy’s ace and cross to his hand with the

queen of clubs. The king-jack of spades would draw the trumps and allow both of dummy’s remaining diamonds to be discarded. South could then claim with all good clubs in dummy.

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

something concrete. Protect yourself against excess health risks and injuries.

your vicinity and provide your expertise to those in need of support or a friendly gesture.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Keep what you are working on to yourself Devote more time and effort to supporting a cause that makes you feel good about yourself. Choose peace and love over chaos and discord.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Reconfig-

ure your space, lifestyle or plans, and turn your expectations into

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Travel, attend reunions or participate in learning expeditions. Let your gestures be a testament to how much you love someone. Less talk and more action.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Make money and investments your focus. A business or personal partnership looks promising; however, keeping your assets separate is in your best interest.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A positive attitude will help ward off

anyone trying to thwart opposition or dismantle your plans Make personal improvements, love and romance your objectives.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to money, health and contractual matters. By doing your due diligence, you will make better choices and come out ahead. Open your doors to people who bolster your imagination.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) You’ll be prone to attending events and talking to people that lead you astray Being too trusting will lead to indecisiveness and setbacks.

Pay attention to detail and selfimprovement. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Social events will be informative and energizing, helping you look and feel great. Engage in activities that encourage improved health and well-being.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Talks will lead to trouble. Make sure you have everything in order, do things by the book and let precision guide you. Change is good when handled with care.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Keep moving. Having downtime can be nice, but it will not be advanta-

geous. Don’t leave yourself open for criticism or blame others for your shortcomings. Do something that makes you feel proud.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Take a closer look at how you live, your finances, your responsibilities and what you can do to lighten your load. Choose to elevate your quality of life by managing your time effectively

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.

© 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

1. Prince Harry.2.Vincent vanGogh. 3. Margaret Thatcher. 4. George Bernard Shaw 5. Leonardo da Vinci. 6. Rod Laver.7.Nicole Kidman. 8. JamesCagney.9.Reba McEntire. 10.Willie Nelson. 11. Susan Sarandon. 12. Sissy Spacek. 13. Elizabeth I. 14.MarkTwain.15. Redd Foxx.

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?

Saturday's Cryptoquote: Aman says alot of things in summer he doesn'tmeaninwinter.— Patricia Briggs