The Acadiana Advocate 08-24-2025

“You justneverknow what’s going to getthrown at you. Iwouldn’thavemoved to Lafayetteonmyown accord. Icouldn’thavedrawn this map.” SCOTTy WEEKS

FINDING HOME

Scotty Weeks andhis wife, Hope, displayadecorative plate fromtheir weddingthat survived Hurricane Katrina in thesanctuaryof TrinityChurch, whereScotty is nowa deacon

As HurricaneKatrina sent evacuees seeking refuge in Lafayette, many decidedtostay

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

In the days after HurricaneKatrina leveled southeast Louisiana in 2005 and flooded his lower St. Bernard Parish home, Scotty Weeks was so overcome with emotion that he had to takeawalk alone.

Thestorm surgeoff LakeBorgneput at least 10 feet of waterinhis home, and it sat for days. Everything that he and his family were not able to pack in their Toyota Corolla was in that house.

In BatonRouge with relatives,hewas overcome with anger,frustration and paranoia. So he took awalk

And that’swhen it hit him.

“I realized for thefirst time in my life I

KATRINA STORIES

ä TraumatizedbyKatrina at 12, he found safetyinLafayette.

ä Nurse brought to Lafayette forwork,but community kept her here. Page 12A

hadnoearthly commitments,” he recalls.

“I had nothingtomyname. We couldn’t get to our bank becauseall thebanks were closed. Otherthan thegenerosity of others, at that momentintime, we had nothing.”

It was agood time, he realized, for arestart. Weekswas amachinist, andafter he andhis family initially moved intoan apartmentonthe West Bank in NewOr-

leans, he inquired abouta job in Lafayette in manufacturing.

He got the job,and he and hisfamily movedtoLafayette in early2006and later built ahome in Maurice. He and his wife, Hope,will mark their 36th anniversary this year.Their two children,Faith and Keith, areadultswith successful careers. Weeks is now an ordained deacon at Trinity Anglican Church in Lafayette.

“You just neverknowwhat’sgoing to getthrown at you,”hesaid. “I wouldn’t have moved to Lafayette on my ownaccord. Butatthe sametime, Idid alot of thingsI wouldn’thave seenmyself doing, including being in an Anglican church and getting ordained. Icouldn’thave

See HOME, page 13A

Landry’s port plan hasearly success

Panelworks deal forsupplying HyundaiSteel plant

BY ANTHONY MCAULEY Staff writer

The $5.8 billionHyundai Steel plant that’sset to rise in AscensionParish is akey project for Gov. Jeff Landry’sadministration. And to makeitwork, Hyundai and state officialshavelongknown they would need anew port facilitytobring raw materialsinand send finished goods out to the Korean automaker’sassembly plants.

“What made thedeal between Port of South Louisiana and Baton Rougethat much easier to accomplish is that the ports have been meeting regularly since late2023.”

JOE TOOMy, Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission H

The answer to that logistics problem came last month, wh en the Port of South Louisianawas tapped to build andoperate a new$25.5 million deepwater dock. The project, however,isonland controlled by thePortof Baton Rouge, which in years past mayhave raised thorny questions of control and oversightthat could’ve turned into apolitical brawl.

But under the newly established Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission, which has been tasked with directing public funds to important economic development projects, the ports hashed out an agreement.

“What madethe deal between Port of South Louisiana and Baton Rouge that much easier to accomplish is thatthe portshavebeen meeting regularly since late 2023,” said Joe Toomy,the shipping industry executive and former chair of thePort of NewOrleans whohas been overseeing the Waterways Commission’sefforts.

If the Hyundai dock project is

ä See PORT, page 11A

Richland Parish explodingwithgrowthfromMetacenter

Changes concerning to some residents

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL

Staff writer

RICHLAND PARISH The SMart in Bee Bayou has always donea brisk business.

It’sthe only convenience store for miles amid the corn and soybean fields that line theold twolane La. 80 in rural northeast Louisiana, and the only place to get heaping to-go platesoffried chicken gizzards with mac and cheese.

But everything suddenly changed this year —ever since Facebook parent company Meta

broke ground on a$10 billion artificialintelligence datacenter in themiddle of acornfield in nearby Holly Ridge. Now the store is slammed. Constructionworkersinneon safety vests stream in nonstop for food, ice, cigarettes andgas. Sales have more than tripled. Store manager AnnWatson, 70, aBee Bayou native, can’thire enough workers to staff the store’sshifts.

“We’re so busy we don’tget a break,” Watson said as sheboxed personal pizzas freshout of the oven and stacked them in awarming case. “They start liningupbefore 6a.m.” The boom isn’tconfined to the SMart.AcrossRichlandParish, where theMetasiteislocated,land speculators are buying up proper-

ty,paying 20 or 30 timesmorethan they would have ayear ago.

Recreational vehicle parks and “man camps” are sprouting up in small towns nearby to accommodate the5,000 temporaryworkers beginning to arrive in aparish with apopulation of 20,000.

New business permitshave tripledsince the beginning of the year.Three new hotels and aDollar General are in the works. And all day, everyday,construction vehicles, bigrigspulling flatbed trailers and deep-bladdered dump trucks rumble up and down the country roads.

“The traffic andthe noise don’t stop,”said Watson. In aplace wherelifehas always

META, page

Lyle Menendez denied parole, same as brother LOS ANGELES Lyle Menendez was denied parole Friday by the same board that a day earlier rejected his brother Erik’s appeal for freedom after serving decades in prison for killing their parents at their Beverly Hills mansion. The reason was the same: misbehavior behind bars.

A panel of two commissioners denied Lyle Menendez parole for three years after a daylong hearing. Commissioners noted the older brother still displayed “anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization and rule-breaking that lie beneath that positive surface.”

The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez and mother Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion almost exactly 36 years ago on Aug. 20, 1989. While defense attorneys argued that the brothers acted out of selfdefense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers sought a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

A judge reduced their sentences in May, and they became immediately eligible for parole. The parole hearings marked the closest they have come to winning freedom since their convictions almost 30 years ago.

Erik Menendez, who is being held at the same prison in San Diego, was denied parole Thursday after commissioners determined his misbehavior in prison made him still a risk to public safety

A day later, Lyle Menendez told the parole board details about the abuse he suffered under his parents. He cried, face reddened, while delivering his closing statement. He seemed to still want to protect his “baby brother,” telling commissioners he took sole responsibility for the murders.

“I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family,” he said. “I will be forever sorry.”

Truck driver accused in fatal crash denied bond

FORT PIERCE,Fla.— A truck driver accused of making an illegal Uturn that killed three people in Florida last week was denied bond Saturday

The crash sparked a clash between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and California Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom over Harjinder Singh, a native of India, obtaining a work permit and driver’s license in the state. The Trump administration says Singh was in the U.S. illegally Singh was charged with three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations, and he was denied bond on all charges He is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail, Lt. Andrew Bolonka from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put a hold on him. California is one of 19 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, that issues licenses regardless of immigration status. Newsom’s press office responded on X that Singh obtained a work permit while Donald Trump was president, which Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin disputed. Florida authorities said Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018. Singh made the illegal turn on the highway about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A minivan in the neighboring lane was unable to avoid the truck’s trailer and slammed into it, killing the minivan’s driver and two passengers 21 taken to hospitals after bus crash in Pa

ECONOMY BOROUGH, Pa. A bus carrying a junior high football team to a game crashed Saturday north of Pittsburgh, sending 21 of the 28 people on board to the hospital, officials said Twenty-five Aliquippa Junior High students and three adults were headed to a game in nearby Gibsonia. The crash occurred in Economy Borough, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.

A Facebook page for the football team said each player was being evaluated.

U.S. seeks to deport Abrego Garcia

Immigration officials say they intend to send him to Uganda

BY TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press

— Immigration of-

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

ficials said they intend to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he declined an offer to be sent to Costa Rica in exchange for remaining in jail and pleading guilty to human smuggling charges, his defense attorneys told a court Saturday

The Costa Rica offer came late Thursday and included a requirement that he remain in jail for the time being and then serve whatever sentence he would receive for pleading guilty, according to a brief filed in Tennessee, where the criminal case was brought After Abrego Garcia left jail on Friday Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified his attorneys that he would be deported to Uganda and should report to immigration authorities on Monday

Later on Friday, “the government informed Mr Abrego that he has until first thing Monday morning precisely when he must report to ICE’s Baltimore Field Office to accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, or else that offer will be off the table forever,” his defense attorneys wrote. They declined to say whether he is still considering the offer Filed along with the brief was a letter from the Costa Rican government stating that Abrego Garcia would be welcomed to that country as a legal immigrant and wouldn’t face the possibility of detention.

Justice Department spokesperson Chad Gilmartin responded to the brief with a statement saying, “A federal grand jury has charged Abrego Garcia with serious federal crimes underscoring the clear danger this defendant presents to

the community This defendant can plead guilty and accept responsibility or stand trial before a jury Either way we will hold Abrego Garcia accountable and protect the American people.”

Abrego Garcia’s case became a flash point in President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, despite a judge’s earlier determination that he faced a “well-founded fear” of violence there. Facing a court order, the Trump administration brought him back to the U.S. in June, only to detain him on human smuggling charges.

He pleaded not guilty and asked the judge to dismiss the case, claiming that it is an attempt to punish him for challenging his deportation to El Salvador The Saturday filing came as a supplement to that motion to dismiss, stating that the threat to deport him to Uganda

Abbott says he’ll swiftly sign redistricting plan

BY JIM VERTUNO, JOEY CAPPELLETTI and HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press

AUSTIN,Texas Texas Gov Greg Abbott on Saturday promised to quickly sign off on a Republican-leaning congressional voting map gerrymandered to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in Congress.

“One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law,” Abbott said in a statement.

Texas lawmakers approved the final plans just hours before, inflaming an already tense battle unfolding among states as governors from both parties pledge to redraw maps with the goal of giving their political candidates a leg up in the 2026 midterm elections.

In California, Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom has approved a special election to take place in November for residents to vote on a redrawn congressional map designed to help Democrats win five more House seats next year Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has pushed other Republican-controlled states to also revise their maps to add more winnable GOP seats.

In Texas, the map includes five new districts that would favor Republicans.

The effort by Trump and Texas’ Republican-majority Legislature prompted state Democrats to hold a two-week walkout and kicked off a wave of redis-

tricting efforts across the country

Democrats had prepared for a final show of resistance, with plans to push the Senate vote into the early morning hours in a last-ditch attempt to delay passage. Yet Republicans blocked those efforts by citing a rule violation.

“What we have seen in this redistricting process has been maneuvers and mechanisms to shut down people’s voices,” said state Sen. Carol Alvarado, leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, on social media after the new map was finalized by the GOP-controlled Senate.

Democrats had already delayed the bill’s passage during hours of debate, pressing Republican Sen. Phil King, the measure’s sponsor, on the proposal’s legality, with many alleging that the redrawn districts violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters’ influence based on race.

King vehemently denied that accusation, saying, “I had two goals in mind: That all maps would be legal and would be better for Republican congressional candidates in Texas.”

The Texas redraw is already reshaping the 2026 race, with Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, announcing Thursday that he will not seek reelection to his Austin-based seat if the new map takes effect. Under the proposed map, Doggett’s district would overlap with that of another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Greg Casar

U.S. releases records on

BY GRAHAM LEE BREWER Associated Press

Just days ahead of the 70th anniversary of his killing, the federal government made public thousands of pages of records Friday on the lynching of Emmett Till.

The records in the National Archives, released by the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, detail how the Justice Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights responded to the 1955 killing of 14-year-old Till. The records were released in accordance with the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018.

“Our thoughts are with the Till family,” the National Archives and Records Administration said in a news release.

The Chicago teenager was falsely accused of whistling at a white woman at a grocery store in rural Mississippi.

Four days later, Till was abducted from a great-uncle’s home in the predawn hours by Roy Bryant and John William “J. W.” Milam. The white men tortured and killed Till in a barn in a neighboring county, and his body was later found in the Tallahatchie River Bryant and Milam were charged with murder in Till’s death but were acquitted by an all-white-male jury Bryant and Milam later confessed to a reporter that they kidnapped and killed Till. His killing galvanized the Civil Rights Movement after Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, insisted on an open casket so that the country could see the brutality.

Many of the records have never been seen by the public. They can be viewed in the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection on the National Archives and Records Administration website.

A member of the Till family did not immediately return a request for comment.

is more proof that the prosecution is vindictive.

“Despite having requested and received assurances from the government of Costa Rica that Mr Abrego would be accepted there, within minutes of his release from pretrial custody, an ICE representative informed Mr Abrego’s counsel that the government intended to deport Mr Abrego to Uganda,” his attorneys wrote in their filing.

The smuggling charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding. There were nine passengers in the car, and officers discussed among themselves their suspicions of smuggling. However, Abrego Garcia was allowed to continue driving with only a warning.

Abrego Garcia has an American wife and children and has lived in Maryland for years. Although he was deemed eligible for pretrial release last month, he remained in jail at the request of his attorneys, who feared the Republican administration could try to immediately deport him again if he were freed.

European postal services suspend shipments to U.S

BY DEMETRIS NELLAS and MAE ANDERSON Associated Press

ATHENS,Greece The end of an exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages coming into the United States is causing multiple international postal services to pause shipping as they await more clarity on the rule. The exemption, known as the “de minimis” exemption, allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency It expired Friday On Saturday postal services around Europe announced that they were suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.

Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the U.S. effective immediately France and Austria will follow on Monday

The U.K.’s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the U.S. on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in. Items originating in the United Kingdom worth over $100 — including gifts to friends and family — will incur a 10% duty, it said.

“Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out,” DHL, the largest shipping provider in Europe, said in a statement. The company said starting Saturday it “will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US.” A trade framework agreed on by the U.S. and the European Union last month set a 15% tariff on the vast majority of products shipped from the EU. Packages under $800 will now also be subject to the tariff.

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Trumpmakinggoodonpromise of revenge

He vowedtouse government power againstthose he believed wrongedhim

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press

Donald Trump ran on apromise to use the powers of the government for revenge against those he believed wronged him. He now appears to be fulfilling that campaign promise whilethreatening to expand his powers well beyond Washington.

On Friday,the FBI searched the home of John Bolton,Trump’s firstterm nationalsecurity adviserturned-critic, who recently in an interview called the administration “the retribution presidency.” Trump’steam has opened investigations of Democrat Letitia James, the New York attorney general who sued Trump’scompany over alleged fraud for falsifying records, and Sen. Adam Schiff, DCalif., who as acongressman led Trump’sfirst impeachment.

The Republican administration has chargedRep. LaMonica McIver,D-N.J., over heractionsat an immigration protest in Newark, New Jersey,after arresting Mayor Ras Baraka, also aDemocrat. Under investigation, too, is former New York Gov.Andrew Cuomo, acandidate for New York City mayor Trump has directed prosecutors to investigate two other members of hisfirstadministration: Miles Taylor,who wrote abook warning of what he saidwereTrump’sauthoritarian tendencies, and Chris Krebs, who earned the president’s wrathfor assuring votersthatthe 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden, was secure.

The actions look like the payback Trump said he would pursue after being hit with four separate sets of criminal charges duringhis four years out of office.Those included an indictment for his effort to overturn the 2020 electionthat was gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court, which saidpresidents have broad immunity from prosecution for official actswhile in office.

“JoeBiden weaponized hisadministrationtotarget political op-

ponents —most famously,President Trump,”Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said Saturday. Trump, shesaid, “isrestoring law and order.”

In addition to making good on his promisesofretribution, Trumphas deployed the military into American cities to fight crime or help with immigration arrests. He has sent thousands of NationalGuard troops andfederal law enforcement officerstopatrolthe streets in the nation’scapital, after activating theGuard and Marines in LosAngeles earlier this year

Taken together,the actions have alarmed Democrats and others whofear Trump is wielding the authorityofhis office to intimidate hispolitical opponents andconsolidate power in away thatisunprecedented in American history

Past election investigations

Trumpbegan his second term by pardoning more than 1,500people whowere convicted of crimes duringthe Jan. 6,2021,attack on the U.S.Capitol. His Justice Department, meanwhile, has fired some federal prosecutors who had pursued those cases. Attorney General Pam Bondiordered agrand jury to look into theorigins of theinvestigationofhis 2016 campaign’sties with Russia, and Trumphas called on her departmenttoinvestigate former Democratic President Barack Obama.

The government’swatchdog agency has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who investigated Trump’sefforts to overturn the 2020 election results andthe classified documentsstashed at his Florida estate. Those cases were amongseveral that dogged Trump

in the years between his presidentialterms, including the New York fraud case and charges for election interference in Georgia brought by the Democratic prosecutor in Fulton County

Allthose investigationsled him to claim thatDemocrats had weaponized the government against him.

“It is amazing to me the number of people the Trump administration has gone after,all of whom areidentified by thefactthatthey investigated or criticized Trump in one way or another,” said Stephen Saltzburg, aformer Justice Department official who is aGeorge Washington Universitylaw professor On Friday,Trump usedgovernmental powers in otherways to further his goals.

Trumphas been unsuccessfully trying to wrestcontrol of the independent Federal Reserve. After his housing director alleged that one of the central bank’sgovernors had committedmortgage fraud, Trumpdemanded she resign or be fired. He also announced that Chicago could be thenext city subject to militarydeployments.

‘Chief lawenforcement officer’ Vice PresidentJDVance denied that Bolton was being targeted because of his criticism of Trump. “If there’snocrime here, we’re not going to prosecuteit,” Vance told NBC’s“Meet thePress” on Friday Trumpsaidhetoldhis staffnot to inform him aboutthe Bolton search ahead of time, buthe

cutting funding over ‘sanctuary’policies

BY SUDHIN THANAWALA

Associated Press

Ajudge ruled late Friday theTrumpadministration cannot deny funding to Boston, Chicago, Denver,Los Angeles and 30 other cities and counties becauseofpolicies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts.

U.S. District Judge William OrrickinSan Francisco extended apreliminary injunction blocking theadministration from cutting offorconditioning the use of federal funds for so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions. His earlier order protected more than adozenother cities and counties, including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

federal agency to ensure that payments to state and local governmentsdonot “abet so-called ‘sanctuary’ policies that seek to shield illegalaliens from deportation.”

The citiesand counties that sued said billions of dollars were at risk. Orrick, who was nominatedbyPresident Barack Obama, said the executive orders and the “executive actions that have parroted them” were an unconstitutional “coercivethreat.”

stressedthathehas authority over all prosecutions. “I could know about it. Icould be theone starting it,” the president told reporters. “I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer.”

Bolton occupies aspecial place in the ranksofTrump critics. The longtime GOP foreign policy hawk wrote abookpublished in 2020, after Trump hadfiredhim theyear before. The first Trumpadministrationsued to blockthe book’srelease and openedagrand jury investigation, both of which were halted by the Bidenadministration. Bolton landedona listof60former officialsdrawnupbynowFBI Director Kash Patel that he portrayed as atally of the “Executive Branch Deep State.” Critics warned it was an “enemies list.”

When Trumpreturnedtooffice in January,his administration revoked the securitydetail that had been assignedtoBolton, who faced Iranian assassination threats.

The FBI is now investigating Bolton for potentially mishandling classifiedinformation, according to aperson familiar with the matterwho was not authorized to discuss the investigationpublicly

In contrast, Trumpcondemned theFBI’ssearch of his own Mar-aLagoresort in 2022.

Retributioniswide-ranging Trump hasalso targetedinstitutionsthat have defied him

The president issued orders barring several law firmsthat were

involved in litigation against him or his allies, or had hired hisopponents, from doing business with the federalgovernment. Trump cutdealswithseveral other firms to do freelegal work ratherthan face penalties. He has targeted universities forfundingcuts if they do not follow his administration’sdirectives.

His administrationfiled ajudicial misconduct complaint against ajudge who ruledthat Trumpofficials likely committed criminal contempt by ignoring his directive to turn around planes carrying people being sent to anotorious prison in El Salvador

Theactionsare amongsteps that seem to be intensifying. Trump’s defense secretary, PeteHegseth, has fired several military leaders perceived to be critics of the presidentornot sufficiently loyal, and earlier this weekthe administration revoked the security clearancesofabout threedozencurrent and former national security officials.

“It’swhat he promised,” said Justin Levitt, aformer Justice Department official and Biden White House stafferwho is alaw professor at Loyola MarymountUniversity.“It’s what bulliesdowhenno one tells them ‘No.’”

to be in violation of any federal criminal statutes.

The list was later removed from thedepartment’swebsiteafter critics noted it includedlocalitiesthathave actively supportedthe administration’stough immigration policies.

The Justice Department has also sued New York, Los Angeles and other cities over theirsanctuarypolicies.

Thereisnostrict definition for sanctuary cities,but the terms generally describe places thatlimit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces immigration laws nationwide but seekshelp from state and local authoritiestoidentify immigrants wanted for deportation and hold them for federal officers. JudgeblocksTrump

An email to the White House late Fridaywas not immediately returned.

In his ruling, Orrick said the administration had offered no opposition to an extended injunction except to say the first injunctionwas wrong. It has appealed the first order Orrick also blocked the administration from imposing immigration-related conditions on two particular grant programs.

The Trump administration has ratcheted up pressure on sanctuary communities as it seeks to make good on President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to remove millions of peoplein the country illegally.

One executive order issued by Trump directs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland SecuritySecretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal money from sanctuary jurisdictions. Another order directs every

In May,the Department of Homeland Security published alist of morethan500 “sanctuary jurisdictions,” saying each one wouldreceive formal notification that thegovernment had deemed them noncompliant. It also saiditwouldinform them if they were believed

States rethink practice of setting speed limits

BY JEFF McMURRAY Associated Press

Rose Hammond pushed authorities for years to lower the 55 mph speed limit on a two-lane road that passes her assisted living community, a church, two schools and a busy park that hosts numerous youth sports leagues.

“What are you waiting for, somebody to get killed?” the 85-year-old chided officials in northwest Ohio, complaining that nothing was being done about the motorcycles that race by almost daily Amid growing public pressure, Sylvania Township asked county engineers in March to analyze whether Mitchaw Road’s posted speed is too high. The surprising answer: Technically, it’s 5 mph too low

The reason dates back to studies on rural roads from the 1930s and 1940s that still play an outsized role in the way speed limits are set across the U.S. even in urban areas. Born from that research was a widely accepted concept known as the 85% rule,

which suggests a road’s posted speed should be tied to the 15th-fastest vehicle out of every 100 traveling it in free-flowing traffic, rounded to the nearest 5 mph increment.

But after decades of closely following the rule, some states with a nudge from the federal government — are seeking to modify if not replace it when setting guidelines for how local engineers should decide what speed limit to post

The concept assumes that a road’s safest speed is the one most vehicles travel — neither too high nor too low If drivers think the speed limit should be raised, they can simply step on the gas and “vote with their feet,” as an old brochure from the Institute of Transportation Engineers once put it

“The problem with this approach is it creates this feedback loop,” said Jenny O’Connell, director of member programs for the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “People speed, and then the speed limits will be ratcheted up to match that speed.”

The association developed an alternative to the 85% rule known as “City Limits,” which aims to minimize the risk of injuries for all road users by setting the speed

Under its “20 is Plenty” campaign, the Wisconsin capital of Madison has been changing signs across the city lowering the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph on local residential streets.

limit based on a formula that factors in a street’s activity level and the likelihood of conflicts, such as collisions.

The report points out the 85% rule is based on dated research and that “these historic roads are a far cry from the vibrant streets and arterials that typify city streets today.”

Amid a recent spike in road deaths across the country, the Federal Highway Administration sent a subtle but important message to states that the 85% rule isn’t actually a rule at all and was carrying too much weight in determining local speed limits.

In its first update since 2009 to a manual that establishes

ORLANDO SENTINEL PHOTO By RyAN GILLESPIE

This combination of photos shows a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando, Fla., that was removed overnight Thursday outside of the Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were gunned down in June 2016. The lefthand image shows the crosswalk in 2017.

Florida puts cities’ rainbow crosswalks in the crosshairs

BY JEFF MARTIN and JEFF MCMURRAY Associated Press

Multiple Florida cities are now facing deadlines in the coming days after being ordered to paint over or remove so-called rainbow crosswalks, brightly colored street crossings meant to celebrate gay rights and LGBTQ pride.

In letters from the state transportation department, communities are being ordered to remove them by early next month

“I am outraged by the State of Florida’s decision to forcefully remove Pride crosswalks — symbols of love, support, and unity in our communities,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Thursday

“They reflect the values we hold dear in Miami-Dade: respect, appreciation of fellow neighbors, and the fundamental right to live and love openly,” she said in a statement.

The warnings to communities across Florida come after last week’s removal of a rainbow-colored crossing marking the 2016 massacre outside the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were gunned down. It was painted over in the middle of the night by work crews

The issue has been simmering since a July 1 directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who gave U.S governors 60 days to identify what he called safety improvements. “Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork,” Duffy said in a statement at the time.

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis on Thursday

said on X: “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”

A statement from the Florida Department of Transportation said the agency has a duty “to ensure the safety and consistency of public roadways and transportation systems.”

“That means ensuring our roadways are not utilized for social, political, or ideological interests,” it said.

Efforts to remove the crosswalks are “clearly an anti-LGBTQ push on behalf of both the federal government and the copycat version from the state government,” said Rand Hoch, founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

“They’re basically blackmailing municipalities, counties and states by saying if you don’t do this, we’re going to withhold funding,” Hoch said. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

It is unclear whether other states and communities outside Florida are being ordered to remove rainbow crossings, but Florida is often the vanguard nationwide in fights over what some call the culture wars of politics. Those include battles over the removal of library books deemed inappropriate by DeSantis and other Republicans.

In Key West, state transportation officials said that if pavement markings downtown aren’t removed by Sept. 3, “the Florida Department of Transportation will remove them by any appropriate method necessary without further notice.” In a letter to Key West’s city manager, federal authorities also threatened the “immediate withholding” of state funds if it finds “additional violations.”

national guidelines for traffic signs, the agency clarified that communities should also consider such things as how the road is used, the risk to pedestrians, and the frequency of crashes.

Leah Shahum, who directs the Vision Zero Network, a nonprofit advocating for street safety, said she wishes the manual had gone further in downplaying the 85% rule but acknowledges the change has already impacted the way some states set speed limits.

“The 85th percentile should not be the Holy Grail or the Bible, and yet over and over again it is accepted as that,” Shahum said.

When Seattle took a similar step in a pilot program seven years ago, not only did it see a noticeable decline in serious injury crashes but also a 7% drop in the 85th percentile speed, according to the Vision Zero Network. California embraces the 85% rule even more than most states as its basis for setting speed limits. But legislators have loosened the restrictions on local governments a bit in recent years, allowing them to depart from the guidelines if they can cite a proven safety need Advocates for pedestrians and bicyclists say the change helps, but is not enough.

“We still have a long way to go in California in terms of putting value on all road users,” said Kendra Ramsey, executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition. “There’s still a very heavy mindset that automobiles are the primary method of travel and they should be given priority and reverence.”

Fears about oil prices prompted Congress in the 1970s to set a 55 mph national maximum speed limit, which it later relaxed to 65 mph before repealing the law in 1995 and handing the authority to states. Since then, speed limits have kept climbing, with North Dakota this summer becoming the ninth state to allow drivers to go 80 mph on some stretches of highway Although high-speed freeways outside major population centers aren’t the focus of most efforts to ease the 85% rule, a 2019 study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — a research arm funded by auto insurers — illustrates the risks. Every 5 mph increase to a state’s maximum speed limit increases the chance of fatalities by 8.5% on interstate highways and 2.8% on other roads, the study found. If elected officials in Sylvania Township, Ohio, got their way, Mitchaw Road’s posted speed

Gaza City becomesfocus of famine,Israeli offensive

BY MARIAM DAGGA and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

KHAN YOUNIS,Gaza Strip Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday,including people shelteringin tents or seeking scarce food,local hospitals said as afamine in Gaza’s largest city puts new pressure on Israel over its 22-month offensive.

Israel’sdefense minister has warned that Gaza City could be destroyed in anew military operation perhaps justdays away,even as famine spreads there.

Aid groups havelong warned that the war, sparkedbyHamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and months of Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies entering Gaza are causing starvation.

Israel hasrejected thedatabased famine declarationas“an outright lie.” Ceasefireeffortsare on hold as mediators await Israel’s next steps.

Israeli strikes killedatleast 17 people in southern Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to morgue records and health officials at Nasser Hospital. The officials said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis.

In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers near the Zikim crossing with Israel, where U.N. and other truck

convoysenter the territory,health officials at Sheikh Radwan field hospital told theAP.

Eleven people were killed in attacks elsewhere, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

shootings and “trucks running over people.”

Somecarried sacks of food like lentils andflour.Others carried the wounded, including on awooden pallet. They navigated fetid puddlesand therubble of war as temperatures reached above92 degrees.

Friday’sfamine report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said nearly half a million people —about one-fourth of Gaza’spopulation —face catastrophic hunger Therare pronouncement came after Israel imposed a2½-month blockade on Gazaearlier this year, then resumed someaccess witha focusona newU.S.-backed private aid supplier,the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’soffice assertsithas allowedenough aidtoenter during the war, while accusing Hamas of starving the hostages it holds.

ThePalestinian JournalistsSyndicate said cameraman Khaled alMadhounwas killed while covering events at the Zikim crossing, and assertedthat he was targeted by Israeli troops. The local Palestine TV confirmed hisdeath.

Israel’smilitary said it was not aware of astrike in Khan Younis at that locationand waslooking into theother incidents.

Mohamed Saada was among thousands seeking food in the Zikim area —and one of many who left empty-handed. He cited the “huge numbersofpeople,” the

AP journalists have seen chaos on roads leading to aiddeliveries, and there have beenalmost daily reports of Israeli troops firing toward aid-seekers. Israel’smilitary saysitfires warning shots if people approach troops or pose athreat.

Pope affirmsright of people to return home

LeoXIV meets refugees from Chagos Islands

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ROME Pope Leo XIV strongly affirmed the right of people to return to their homes after an unjust exile, issuing the message during an audience Saturday with refugees from Chagos, the Indian Ocean archipelago that is home to the strategic U.S.-U.K. military base.

“No one can force them

into exile,” history’s first American popesaid Leomet with adelegation of about15refugees from Chagos, some2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes byBritain in the 1960s and1970s so the United States could build a naval and bomber base on thelargest of the islands, Diego Garcia.

Displaced islanders fought for years in U.K. courtsfor the right to go home. In May,Britain and Mauritius signed atreaty to hand sovereignty over the islands to Mauritiusthat allows resettlement, while still ensuring

thefuture of the base.

Leotold the refugees he was “delighted” the treaty hadbeenreached, saying it represented a“significant victory”intheir long battle to “repair agrave injustice. He praised in particular the role of the Chagossian women in peacefully asserting their rightstogo home.

“The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and apowerful symbol on the international stage,”Leo said in French “All peoples, even the smallestand weakest, mustbe

respected by the powerful in their identity andrights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no one can force them into exile.”

Leo said he hopedthat Mauritian authorities will committoensuring their return, and pledged thehelp of the local Catholic Church.

Oneofthe lastremnants of theBritish Empire, the Chagos Islands have been underU.K. control since 1814. Britain split the islands away fromMauritius, aformer British colony,in1965, three years before Mauritiusgained independence. Underthe Mayagreement,

Many Israelis fear the assault on GazaCitycould doom the 20 hostages whoare believed to have survived since 2023. Another 30 are thought to be dead. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested a week agofor adeal to end the fighting and bring everyone home. Hamas hassaiditwill release hostages in exchange for ending the war,but rejects disarming without the creation of aPalestinian state.

theU.K.willpay Mauritius an average of $136 million a year to leaseback the base foratleast99years. It establishes atrust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says “Mauritiusisfreetoimplement aprogram of resettlement” on the islands other than Diego Garcia.

However,the deal does notrequirethe residentsto be resettled, andsomedisplaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Louis Olivier Bancoult, the head of the Chagossian delegation who hasfought for

more than four decades for the right to go home, said the meeting had cometogether very much at thelastminute thanks to the bishop in Port Louis, Mauritius.

Speaking to the AP at a cafe near the Vatican, he marveled that ever since the treaty had been signed, he had met for the first time with officials from the U.S. EmbassyinPortLouis.He also receivedrepresentatives of the British high commission in the capital. “For me its amiracle,” he said. “After the U.S., the U.K. and now the pope. Who will be next?”

BY LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press

WASHINGTON— FewerAmericans are reporting that they drink alcohol amid a growingbeliefthateven moderate alcohol consumption is ahealth risk, according to aGallup poll released earlier this month.

Arecord highpercentage of U.S. adults, 53%, now say moderate drinking is bad for their health, up from 28% in 2015.

The uptick in doubt about alcohol’sbenefits is largely driven by young adults the age group that is most likely to believe drinking “one or two drinks aday” can cause health hazards —but older adults are also now increasinglylikely to think moderate drinking carries risks

As concerns abouthealth impacts rise, fewer Americans arereportingthatthey drink.

The survey finds that 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcoholic beveragessuch as liquor,wine or beer.That’s lower than at anyother point in the past three decades.

The findingsofthe poll, which was conducted in July,indicatethatafter years of many believing that moderate drinking was harmless —oreven beneficial —worries about alcohol consumptionare taking hold. According to Gallup’s data, even those who consume alcohol are drinking less.

The federal government is updating new dietary guidelines, including those aroundalcohol. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, government data showed U.S. alcohol consumption was trending up. Butother

government surveys have shown adeclineincertain types of drinking, particularly among teenagers and young adults. This comesalongside a new drumbeat of information about alcohol’srisks. While moderate drinking was once thoughttohave benefitsfor heart health, health professionals in recent yearshave pointed to overwhelmingevidence thatalcoholconsumption leads to negative health outcomes and is aleading cause of cancer

Younger adults have been quicker than older Americans toaccept that drinking is harmful, but older adults are comingaroundtothe same view

About two-thirds of 18- to 34-year-olds believe moderatedrinkingisunhealthy, according to the poll, up from about4in10in2015.

Olderadults are less likely to see alcohol as harmful —about halfof Americans age55orolder believe this —but that’s asubstantial increase, too.

In 2015, only about 2in 10 adults age 55 or older thought alcohol was bad for their health.

In the past, moderate drinking was thought to have some benefits. That ideacame from imperfect studies that largely didn’t include youngerpeople and couldn’tprove cause and effect. Now the scientific consensus has shifted, and several countries recently loweredtheir alcoholconsumption recommendations.Earlier this year,the outgoing U.S. surgeon general, VivekMurthy, recommended alabel on bottlesof beer,wine and liquor that wouldclearly outline the link between alcohol consumption and cancer

Thefederal government’s current dietary guidelines recommend Americans not drink or,ifthey do consume alcohol,men shouldlimit

among women and young adults.

Young Americans’ alcoholconsumption hasbeen trending downward for years, accelerating the overall decline in alcohol consumption. In sharp contrast with Gallup’sfindings two decades ago, when young adults were likeliest to report drinking, young adults’ drinking rate is now slightly below middle-aged andolderadults.

Americans’ reported drinking is among the lowest since the question was first askedin1939. Formost of the last few decades, at least 6in10Americans have reported drinking alcoholic beverages, only dipping belowthat point afew times in the question’shistory

themselves to two drinks a dayorfewer while women should stick to one or fewer

Gallup’sdirector of U.S social research,Lydia Saad, said shiftinghealthadvice throughout older Americans’ lives may be areason they have been moregradual than young adults to recognize alcohol as harmful.

“Olderfolks may be a little more hardened in termsofthe whiplashthat they get withrecommendations,” Saad said. “It may take them alittle longerto absorb or acceptthe information. Whereas,for young folks, this is the environment that they’vegrown up in in many cases,itwould be the first thing young adults would have heard as they were coming into adulthood.”

The government is expected to release new guidelines later this year, under thedirective of healthsecretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr who has promisedbig changes. Kennedy has not hinted at how the alcohol recommendations may shift.

Drinking ratesfall

Slightlymore than half

of Americans, 54%, report that they drink alcohol alow in Gallup’sdata that is especiallypronounced

Consuminglessalcohol

Even if concerns about health risks aren’t causing

some adults to give up alcoholentirely, these worries could be influencing how often they drink. The surveyfound that adults who think moderate drinking is bad for one’s health arejust as likely as people who don’tshare those concerns to report that they drink, but fewerofthe people with health worries had consumed alcohol recently Abouthalfofthose who worry moderate drinking is unhealthy said they had a drink in the previous week, compared with about 7in10 who did not think drinking wasbad fortheir health. Overall, only about onequarter of Americanswho drink said they had consumed alcohol in the prior 24 hours, arecord low in the survey.Roughly 4in10said that it had been morethan a week sincethey had poured adrink.

-David M.

moved slowly,residents say the rapid change is at once exciting and unsettling. No one ever thoughtRichland Parish would be aboom town. No one, they say ever thoughtmuchaboutRichland Parishatall.

Now,parish AssessorLee Brown sayseveryone wants apiece of the action.

“It’schanging fastand we might as wellget used to it,” Brown said “In 10 years, you’re not going to recognize Richland Parish.” Opportunityand concern

Thescale of theMetaproject is hard to fathom, evenasittakes shape. Sitting on 2,250 acres, it will consist of several buildings totaling 4million square feet —about the equivalent of 70 football fields —each lined with racks of powerfulcomputers racing to outsmart the human brain. It will consume an estimated three times more electricity in ayearthanthe entire city of New Orleans.

It will also create some 5,000 construction jobs and up to 500 permanent ones.The project has beenchampioned by everyone from Gov.Jeff Landry to local public officials, who say any number of new jobs is welcome in aparish that ranks among the poorest in the state.

But the potential environmental impacts are raising concerns from advocacy groupsand some residents. They worry about the area’swater supply,and whether residents will face problems if the localaquifer is tappedtocool the powerful computers.

They also fear that ratepayers willultimately be saddled with higher electricity bills

The project has been on afast track since early 2024, when Landry’s administration began working behind closed doorsto woo Meta to thesite.Landryis focused on the potentialbenefits that the data center willbring to the area.

“The developmenttaking place in Richland Parish is the start of an economicrenaissance in north Louisi ana and throughout the entire state,” Landry said in astatement. “The investmentbyMeta is a once-in-a-lifetime transformational opportunity.Iam confident that we will look back at thisprojectasthe catalyst that truly diversified Louisiana’seconomy.”

Back in theold days

tical when he heard rumors that Meta was planning something bigfor the Franklin Farms site, a pieceoflandheknew like his own.

In themonthssince,he’s watched as the field he overlooks was cleared,the ground excavated, utility polesinstalledand cables buried. Modular buildings and massive cranes dotthe landscape. Constructionvehicles kick up aconstantswirl of dust and the two-lane road that once accommodated mostlytractors has already been re-paved.

“I hate to see the times changing,”Powellsaidoverthe roar of an oversized backhoe. “I loved the small farms. Everybody helped oneanother.”

Ronnie Powell, 68, has been watching the transformation from the front porch of his trailer, which sits directly acrossatwo-lane road from the Meta construction site.

He grew up in Holly Ridge on land where his familyhas lived for more than 80 years.His grandfather was asharecropper for the Franklins, the wealthy,land-owning family that sold what isnow the Meta site to the state of Louisiana in the early 2000s in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to lure aToyota plant to the state.

Powell remembers riding around as atiny child in “Mr.George” Franklin’sJeep Wagoneer,back when the community was so tightknit that the richest manintown looked after asharecropper’skid.

He remembers his family always having enough corn to eat

He remembers theold Thompson store up the road —recently sold to make way for what locals say will be a24-hour liquor store— where kids would go for ice cream or aCoke.

And he remembers beingskep-

‘Peoplewantto be here’

Truth be told, the times have been changing in Richland Parish for decades, it just wasn’thappening at such abreakneck pace and was largely astudy in stagnation and decline.

Farming is no longer tenable except for thewealthiest farmers and largest farms. The population in the parishhas remained flatsince 1990. Seven of the eight cotton ginsinoperation back then have since closed down.There’s still plentyofcorn and soybeans, but fewer small farms and fewer farm-related jobs.

Economic development officials in theparish, with amedianannual income of $30,000, have been trying to jump-start thelocal economy for years.The Meta project is the supercharge they’ve been waitingfor

“Our leads have more than doubledsince thebeginning of the year,” saidRob Cleveland,president and CEO of Grow NELA,the regional economic development organization. “People want to be here because ofMeta.”

Examples abound. AHoustonbased subcontractor on the project is leasing a100,000-square-foot warehouseinMonroe to build a newpipefabrication facility

Another Texas company,4-Horn Trench and Shoring, is opening a

Shreveport office tosupply equipment and workers to the site and other spinoff businesses, creating 10 new jobs in the short term and more, the company suggests, in thefuture.

Southern States Equipment of Ruston is leasing construction equipment to subcontractors. Baton Rouge-based FiveS,which

does heavy civil construction, is filling thesite with crush aggregate it has broughtdown from its quarry in Missouri.

The rooftop bar at the new HotelMonroe in downtownMonroe is apopular gathering spot forthe managers andexecutives overseeing the project.

“On any given night, they may

have 15 or so rooms,” said developer and owner Mike Echols, who opened the hotel in June. “Wethink that will pick up dramatically.” Gold rush mentality

In arural community where everyone knows one another,the newcomers stand out. Their accents are different. Their T-shirts and baseball caps bear the logos of nationalfirms and faraway employers.

Jason Magee arrived in mid-July and was the first to laydown his stake in the Bee Bayou RV Park, whichhad opened for business just days earlier

ABirmingham native,Magee is amechanical contractor who has followed opportunityaroundthe country.Jobshavetaken him out westtobuild nuclear power plants andback easttoworkonrefineries. The Meta site will keep him in Richland Parish forthe next twoto three years, he thinks.

“They paya travelpackage,so it’sgood money,” said Magee, who lives in asouped-up RV he bought from his dad and stepmom. He can sense the gold rush mentality that has taken hold of the area. The owner of hisRVpark

is planning to invest several million dollars to build up to 70 pads as well as single-family homes, he says.

He’s already conversant in the local gossip about the eye-popping prices speculators are rumored to be paying for raw dirt.

“A lot of people are making money around here,” he said

Getting overwhelmed

Soon, much larger lodging sites will open. A mile or so down the road, construction is underway on Mammoth Industries’ Holly Ridge Lodge and RV Resort, a 130acre workforce housing development that will accommodate 300 RVs and 1,000 workers in modular buildings. Its amenities will include soccer fields, basketball courts, a barbershop and a theater.

Monroe-based developer John Lauve’s company, Corporate Mobile Housing, is also building one in nearby Dunn, an unincorporated area that consists of an interstate exit, a church, some long-abandoned weather-beaten structures and a potato processing plant.

Lauve’s Dunn Village and RV Park is directly across from the potato plant in the shadows of a water tower Workers have begun clearing the grassy field to make way for the RV pads and modular buildings that will eventually accommodate 550 workers and include a cafeteria and workout facility

“The infrastructure around here is going to get overwhelmed pretty quickly,” said Lauve, who scouted out seven or eight sites before landing on the parcel in Dunn earlier this spring. “That’s why they need people like us to build personnel facilities.”

The activity is spawning a real estate frenzy Farmland that averaged $2,500 an acre a year ago is being offered for $50,000 to $60,000 an acre today, according to listings. Property owners have put giant “for sale” signs up in the yards of their homes, farms and vacant lots.

Locals spread the word about who got what for their property

Verifying the information is difficult, Brown, the assessor said.

Many sale prices are being recorded as a nominal amount, like $100 “and other valuable considerations.” Some real estate brokers are being asked to sign nondisclosure agreements. Powell recently fielded an offer for his 5-acre property for $54,000 an acre. Most of his friends have already sold and moved away “We haven’t really decided what we’re going to do,” said Powell, who lives on the property with his wife, daughter two grandchildren and one of his five great-grandchildren. “This property belongs to the whole family.”

Hope for the future

Shelbie and Jeffery Stephenson see opportunity and hope in the Meta project.

They’ve set up their Hebrews Coffee and Eats Food Truck across the road from the entrance to the construction site. With its menu of specialty lattes and pressed pa-

ninis, it looks like it belongs in a trendy big city neighborhood.

In the middle of Holly Ridge, it looks like a mirage.

“When I heard Meta was coming, I said, ‘We gotta be there,’ ” said Shelbie Stephenson, who bought a franchise and the used food truck in a matter of weeks last December from the owner of the original Hebrews brick and mortar store in nearby Rayville.

Things came together for the couple quickly They opened in February, not long after contractors had begun clearing the fields. Shelbie Stephenson went up to the construction trailers, menus in hand.

The first week, they sold out of pastries every day The second week, they got a call from the catering director of one of the big contractors, asking if they could do 500 breakfast burritos.

“I’m not a ‘no’ kind of person, even though I wasn’t sure

how we’d make it happen,” she said. They made it happen. Now, they cater lunch twice a month for the contractor and do a bustling daily breakfast business.

The Stephensons see this as their one shot to stay in north Louisiana. Until they bought the food truck, Jeffery Stephenson was working offshore, FaceTiming their three young daughters before bed every night. Now he can tuck them in.

“Times are changing,” he said. “Either you adapt or get left behind.”

Nearby, Chris Beard is selling hamburgers and daily lunch specials from his Chillin’ Out food truck. He’s also grateful for the influx of new customers. But he is a generation older than the Stephensons and worries about the changes

“It’s progress,” Beard said. “But the sense of community is gone.”

Getting out

Greg and Jeanne Thompson have decided they want no part of it.

Thompson’s family has owned land all around the project site for decades, and he’d planned to spend his retirement in the spacious ranch-style home his parents built for $18,000 in the early 1960s. Now, he’s selling his land as fast as he can, and fetching more than $50,000 an acre for some parcels.

“I don’t want to spend my retirement years across the road from a natural gas turbine,” said Thompson, 66, who doesn’t know yet where they’ll go.

The Thompsons are bitter that locals didn’t have a say in the project, though there isn’t much they could have done to stop it The state had secured the site years earlier for the Toyota plant, and there aren’t any zoning rules in Richland Parish anyway Jeanne Thompson worries that the new development hotels, man camps, dollar stores — won’t create good-paying jobs or sustainable wealth and will leave the parish with a lot of junk real estate when the boom is over and things settle down.

“The kind of jobs they’re creating won’t help the folks who live out here,” she said. “They’re farmers. That is all they have ever known.”

Greg Thompson is sad his four grandsons, who live in Monroe and come visit on weekends, won’t be able to enjoy the land he and his brothers grew up on. He understands that things change. This is more than change.

“Our way of life is fixing to disappear,” he said.

Brown, the assessor is philosophical about it. He feels bad for the families that have lived on the land for generations. He also thinks Meta is creating opportunities for the parish.

“There is good and bad in everything,” Brown said. “It is change. Some people have accepted it easier than others.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Redistrictingcasemay enddecades-old civilrightslaw

WASHINGTON —Legal scholars say it’spossible the U.S. Supreme Court could use the redistricting case that will determine whether Louisiana sends one or two Black representatives to Congress as a vehicle to invalidate 60-year-old civil rights protections.

Last year,the Supreme Court heardarguments in Louisiana v. Callais on how best to balance Section 2 of the VotingRights Act, which allows configuringdistricts in away that minorities have an opportunity to elect one of their own, and theEqual Protection Clause, which forbids creating districtsbased on race.

The high court punted adecision last term andasked fornew arguments on whether Section 2, theremaining legal tool to enforce the Voting Rights Act,is now obsolete,thusviolating the 14thand 15th amendmentstothe U.S. Constitution.

“As sad as it is, it makes perverse sense that the conservative Supreme Court of this era will use this moment to kill Section 2ofthe VRA,” wrote Marc Elias of Democracy Docket, aliberalleaning group that trackselection law

If the court does as Elias suggests it might, Louisiana could lose both of its Black-majority congressional districts —the 2nd District represented by U.S. Rep. Troy Carter,D-New Orleans, and the 6th District representedby U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge —and revert to six congressional districts configured to ensure the election of six White Republicans.

“If that happens, it would likely amount to the largest decline in minority representation” since the late 1800s, when Southern Whites reassumed government authority after the Civil Warand promptly disenfranchised Black voters, said Harvard LawSchool Professor NicholasStephanopoulos during apodcast hosted by the National ConstitutionCenter, anonpartisan, nonprofit chartered by Congress to increase awareness of the U.S. Constitution.

“I’m not sure if people have really come to terms with how seismic this change could be,” Stephanopoulos said. “The court looks like it’snow interested in a broader holding in Callais, butall of the narrower options still re-

Nungesser seizes on shrimp controversy

Lt. Gov.Billy Nungesser has seized on arecent FDA warning that some shrimp imported from Indonesiamay be contaminated with aradioactive substance, urging the federal government to implement aseafood inspection fee he has long supported. On Tuesday,Walmart announced arecall on certain Great Value raw frozen shrimp after the FDA detected cesium-137, aradioactive isotope, on ashipment from

mainavailable and maybe hopefully will look more attractive to thecourt when it really stares at theprospect nullifying Section 2.”

Nobody will know the full result until the nine justices release their decision.

Still, observers who follow the Supreme Court closely say the tealeaves of judicial actions often suggest possible outcomes. Certainly,that wasonthe mind of LouisianaHouse Speaker Phillip DeVillier

The Eunice Republican texted Louisiana House members to keep their schedules flexible between Oct. 23 and Nov.13incase the Supreme Court decision requires statelegislators to redraw election district maps.

Legalscholarssay the high court’sdecision —particularly setting an early Oct. 15 hearing signals that the 6-3 conservative majority might be readytoset asideone of the last major civil rightsprotections from the 1960s. “Did they rush the argument in this case to increase theodds of a decisionthat wouldenable more anti-Democratic racial gerryman-

CAPITOL BUZZ staff reports

thecompany that provides it.

In aletter to President Donald Trump andLouisiana’scongressional delegation, Nungesser said the incident showed the need for tougher regulation of imported seafood.

“With millions of pounds of seafood imported into our country each year,much of it grown under unsafe and unsanitary conditions, it is only amatteroftimebefore dan-

dering before the2026 midterm elections? We cannot rule that out,” Katherine AnnShaw,aprofessor at theUniversityofPennsylvania Law School, said on the Strict Scrutiny podcast

The 14th Amendment tothe U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, ensured citizenship and due process for the formerly enslaved population. The 15thAmendment followed in 1870 to protect those rightswith prohibitions against denying theright to votebased on “race, color,orprevious condition of servitude.”

Butthose amendments weren’t enforced in the South for another century In 1965, abipartisan Congress passed theVoting RightsAct focused on policies and procedures that kept African Americans from registering and voting. As time passed and the more overt forms of racism subsided, courts began finding that parts of the VotingRightsAct were no longer necessary Section 2doesn’trequire minority-majority districts. What is mandated, under provisions

gerous productscauseseriousharm to the American people,”hewrote.

Nungesser proposesanew fee of 10 cents per pound on imported seafood. He argues that fee would generate about $600 million ayear, which could be used to hire tensof thousands of additional food inspectors.

“This fee would notonly help protect consumers, but alsolevel the playing field for our domestic seafood producers whoalready meet the highest standards of safety and quality,” Nungesser wrote.

Nungesser has advocated for the seafood fee for years, backedby theLouisiana Seafood Promotion andMarketing Board andstate fishing associations. The National Lieutenant Governors Association,

pushed by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1982, is that states with histories of polarized voting and diluting minority voices must allow minority-majority districtsif, generally,voters with like interests live close enough together Section 2only kicks in if astate meets alist of conditions, such as ahistory of White majorities never electing aBlack candidate —asisthe case in Louisiana.

When conditions such as segregated communities and polarized voting cease to exist —ashas happened in parts of the Northeast and West —Section 2nolonger applies. Similar provisions are in other laws, and dumping Section 2 could lead to legal challenges to protectionsfor employment, housing anddisabilities, which may be abridge too farfor the SupremeCourt at this point, legal scholars agreed across several different podcasts and seminars.

Still, Justice Brett Kavanaugh has indicated —and Justice Clarence Thomas has stated outright —that theConstitution doesn’t

where Nungesser wasonce the chairman, also supports the fee.

Landry digs LSU for ‘twerk performance,’housing

Jeff Landry scoldedLSU on social media last weekover twocontroversies on campus as students arrived for the fall semester

“Classes haven’tevenstarted at LSU and students have been welcomed with adegenerate twerk performance and rodents in their living spaces,” Landry wrote on X. “Wemustdemand excellence at LSUand we must get anew President as soon as possible.” Landry wasreferencinga welcome weekevent at LSU where a crowd of students gathered outside

allow forrace to be apart of any legal decisions, even though for ashort timerace wasincluded to ensure Black participation in government and politics where state policies had previously forbidden any Basically,the argument is that “racial relations are generally better and it no longer can be justified under our constitutional separation of powers, the general authority that states have to redistrict and the fact that the 14th Amendment prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,” said Bradley Smith of Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, and chair of the Federal Election Commission under Republican President George W. Bush.

“Classifying voters on the basis of race and requiring it by law would seem to violate the 14th Amendment and in away that is no longer justified. That’s the $64,000 question facing the court,” Smith added.

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.

the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter. Videosspread widely on social media of awoman perched on a high railing, dancing provocatively He was also referencing reports that theuniversity ran out of oncampus housing spaces, and some students were placed in an apartment complex thathad pestproblems.

LSU is searching foranew president after WilliamTate left for Rutgers in June. Asearch committee said last week it hopes to select his replacement by December Landry has aimedhis social media ireatLSU before, including in two cases where he called for discipline against professors who criticized him or President Donald Trump.

TheVincentismorethan just aplace to live,

Our enchanting community invites you to explore life’s exciting opportunitiesand defiesyourexpectations of whatseniorliving should be.Weare dedicated to providing outstanding senior living experiencesfor those seeking thebest in life. At TheVincent, youenjoy an exciting,adventurous,social, and enriching lifestyle. Come by for atourand discoverthe warmth andsupport of ourcommunity foryourself!

successfully funded and built, it would represent the first tangible result of Landry’splan to reshape the state’sport system. The strategy,which looks to increase and focus publicport investment and cooperation, is also aiming to curb the decades of parochial squabbling that critics say has contributed to the state’s loss of market share to Gulf Coast rivals.

The five Louisiana ports along the lowerMississippi River —the Port of Baton Rouge, PortofSouth Louisiana, Port of New Orleans andthe portsin Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes —collectively move overahalf-billion tons annually,accounting fornearly20% of allU.S cargovolumes andmore than twiceasmuch as nearest rival Houston

The problem, according to many shipping industry players and state economy boosters, is that for all their industrial might, they’ve never worked well together Each is overseen by its own board and represents the interests of the parishes where it has jurisdiction. That has meant that while container shipping has come to dominate trade, the state has fallen behind, and it has cost other potential investments, too, like manufacturing and distribution centers. That’sstartingto change, according to port officials.

The Ascension Parish dock investment would be part of approximately $600 million of proposed spending on infrastructure and other support efforts for the Koreanindustrial conglomerate’sproject,which was announced earlier this year for the Riverplex Megapark on the west bank of the Mississippi River

The facility will be in the jurisdiction of the Port of BatonRouge though it has ceded the project, via acooperative endeavor agreement, to the Port of South Louisiana, whose territory coversa54-mile stretch along the Mississippi River, from Waggaman in Jefferson Parish to Convent in St James Parish.

The Port of South Louisiana has long planned to establish operations on the west bank as part of its development strategy.However,last year,itabandoned a bid to buyAvondaleGlobal Gateway —which is in the PortofNew Orleans juris-

diction— after widespread opposition to the deal from state politiciansand the shipping industry

Anew commission

The uproar over that proposed deal helped spur renewedtalk aboutthe need for astatewide ports plan. That in turn led to the establishment by theLandry administration of the WaterwaysInvestment Commission, viaa bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Mark Wright,ofSt. Tammany Parish, which has beentasked with settingoverallstrategy and helping to direct state andother funds toward priority projects.

Micah Cormier,Port of SouthLouisiana’s chief commercialofficer,saidthe Hyundai dock would give theportthe west bank foothold it had been looking for It couldallowthem to replicate there its east bankGlobalplexmultimodalwarehousing and manufacturing center as suppliers builtto be near Hyundai “This could be acatalyst,” Cormiersaid. “Wehave had atremendous amountofinterest since we’ve been lookingatbuildingonthe west bank.”

At its last meeting in July, the commissionidentified the Port of South Louisiana’s Hyundaidock —dubbed “Project Huey” —asone of seven priorityport projects which would require various levels of state and other public funding.

Julia Fisher-Cormier, Landry’scommissionerof multimodalcommerceand vice chairofthe Waterways Commission, said the July

resolution should be seen as one of several efforts aimed at makingsurethe state’s portsare helping to accomplish the administration’s broader economicdevelopmentgoals.

Louisiana has 41 ports of various sizes that together support one in five jobsand contribute about 5% of the state’sbudget

However,despitethe industry’s importance, critics have said thelack of astatelevel strategy has meant that it haslost ground in recent decades,especiallyon the all-important container ship market,toHouston and Mobile.

In its resolution, the commission noted that the Port Priority Program,which was establishedin1989, is the only programavailable to fund port projects.

To date, it has provided lessthan $1 billion in total funding —less than $28 million ayear, on average— for port infrastructure and dredging projectsacross all of Louisiana’sports.

“OtherGulf states provide their ports with over $250 million annually for port infrastructure and waterways dredging projectsinorder to attract businesses and investmenttotheir states, and to facilitate growth in international trade,” the commission noted.

LITand otherprojects

to build anew Fourchon Bridge and accessroad,

which localofficialssay are needed to develop Fourchon Island in support of deepwaterrig repair andother oil services work.

Also includedonthe list is the $70 million Port of Terrebonne project to deepen the Houma Navigation Canal for oil related traffic and the $20 million worth of enhancements at the Central LouisianaRegionalPortin support of Fort Polk activities.

Toomysaid the most significant progress is on the Big Five deepwater river ports. In an interview,hepointed to their recent agreement to fund astudyintohow best they couldjointlymarket themselves to world.

Polaris Analytics &Consulting has been commissioned to comeupwith a marketingstrategythat will sell the ports’ collective strengths, both in terms of the commodities and containers it can moveaswell as how they can offer abase for manufacturing and logistics.

The aimistoturn the tide for the region and attract investment andjobs, like Mobile has done with its nearby Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz plants, as well as the bigWalmartdistribution center there. There arestill some wrinkles. Plaquemines Port nowcalledLouisiana GatewayPort —isstillpursuingits plan forawestbank containerterminal, which would be built and operated by APM, though thePort of NewOrleans opposes it. CharlesTillotson,Gateway’s CEO, said that the privately funded project doesn’tconflict with the LouisianaInternational Terminal and should benefit from thefive ports’joinmarketing plan.

“Thisinitiativegives us a broader platform to highlight the strategic value of our terminal within aregional framework,” he said. Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate. com.

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Topofthe commissions prioritylististhe Louisiana InternationalTerminal the Port of New Orleans proposesbuilding at Violet in St.Bernard Parish.Though it still faces opposition from St. BernardParish Council andalarge section of the local population,Landry made it clear in May that he backs theproject when he appointed Michael Hecht, CEO of GNO Inc., the regional economic development agency,topush the project through.

It is expected to begin constructionthis year if it gets thegreen light from theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with phaseone coming online in 2028.

The projectpriority list also includes the $95 million Fourchon Island Connectivity and Resiliency Project

Forsomepeople, thewords “seniorliving” canconjure up an outdated pictureofdimly litnursing homes, residents confined to beds or wheelchairsand alife stripped of independence.But,The VincentSenior Living in Lafayettehas turned allofthose stereotypes on theirheads “Wecan anddoprovide alarge scopeofcare, but at thesametime, ourcommunity is alively, upbeat positive environment,”saidCommunity Relations Director LorenzoViator. “Westill hear themisconceptionthatseniorlivingisonlyfor people whoare sick or frail. That is notthe case at TheVincent.We care for residentswithillnesses or medicalconditions, butwehavemanywho aresohealthy andactivethat people assume they arevisitors. Onething we have foundisthatmanyofour residentshaveconditions that flareupfromtimetotime, andtheylikethe reassurancethattheycan getassistance24hours aday if that happens. NomatteriftheyareinAssistedLiving,Independent Living,Cottage Living or Memory Care,residents at TheVincent areencouragedtobeindependent and active.For example, Viator said residentswho are able to walk to thediningroomare empoweredto do so as aformoflight exercise,ratherthanrelying on awheelchair. Arobustscheduleofactivitiesand events aredesignedtohelpresidents findnew hobbies andinterests,orre-engage with activities they once enjoyed. From artclasses to outings, thefocus is on engagement andenjoyment,not simply care

“Our activity programencouragesresidents to get outoftheir apartments, socializeand engage with others,” Viator said.“We providecaretoresidents butwealsoencourage them to do things that they canstill do on theirown.Weare here to assist and help,but we don’twanttodoresidents adisservice.

Thecostofseniorlivingisanother area where perception oftendoesnot matchreality.Viator explainedthatwhile themonthlyprice canseem high at first glance,itincludesfar more than rent Thecostincludesmeals andcommunity maintenance, andother amenitiesinclude housekeeping andlaundry services,personalcareand assistance,a full-service beauty salon, scheduledcomplementary transportation andaccess to areassuchasa game room,theater andcommunity library.

“The main thingwetellpeopleisthatyou have to thinkabout allofthe things that areincludedin life in ourcommunity,” Viator said.“When youlive at TheVincent,you aren’t paying forutilities,trash service, repairs, insurance, lawn serviceorother coststhatcomewithowninga home.Whenpeople start factoringinall of thosecosts,theyoften realize that themonthly pricehereisnot much more than they arepayingathomebecause of everythingthat is included.” Some people mayfearthatmovingintoa community settingmeans they lose theirprivacy,but The Vincent takesaresident-first approach.Participation

in activities is encouraged butnever required.Residentscan lock theirdoors anddecidehow oftenstaff memberscheck on them.Evensocialmedia photos areoptional–residents canchoosetobeincluded or remain off-cameraentirely.

“Thisistheirhome,”Viatoremphasized.“Ifsomeone doesn’t want to do an activity,weare notgoing to ever force them.Weaccommodate each residenttothe best of ourability whilestill prioritizing theirsafety. Perhapsone of thebiggest benefits to asenior living communityisthe positive shiftinfamily dynamics.Viatornoted that when seniorsrelyon adultchildrenfor taskslikemedicationreminders andmealpreparation,the relationship canturninto onethatresembles acaregiver anda patientrather than aparentand achild “Whena lovedone movesintoa communitylike TheVincent,theyget to resume thosenatural familial roles,”Viatorsaid. “Whenthe adultchildrenand grandchildrencomehere, it’s aboutrelaxingand doingactivitiestogether. It releases alot of that anxietythateveryonefeels.” Formoreinformation aboutlifeatThe Vincent Senior Living or to schedule atour, call 337-345-4105 or visitvincentseniorliving.com

Traumatized by Katrina at 12, he found safety in Lafayette

BY ANGELINE MATHEWS Contributing writer

Adam Davis was only 12 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. He had never had to evacuate the city because of a storm.

His grandparents told him they were going away for a while but never explained why So he packed his Nintendo Game Boy, helped board up windows and headed to a hotel 10 minutes away with his extended family.

That’s when the chaos began

“We lost power,” Davis said. “There were fights breaking out in different parts of the hotel. We heard people running up and down the halls and banging on doors. There was no TV We’re just looking out the window, and we see the water pouring in everywhere.”

One night, blaring alarms jolted the family awake. Unsure what was happening, they grabbed their luggage and fled down flights of stairs in darkness.

They ran to their car through ankle-deep floodwater The family felt safer spending the night in their vehicle than risking another trek back to the hotel.

After a restless night, they awoke to even higher water levels. To survive, they had no choice but to wade back toward the hotel through waist-deep water

“We didn’t know what we were stepping on,” Davis said. “I re-

member seeing a backup generator or something; I’m not sure but I remember seeing wires. I kept thinking ‘Oh my God, please don’t let us get electrocuted.’”

He helped his grandmother through the water while his younger brother clung to their mother

“My mom was walking, then she suddenly stopped and grabbed her abdomen,” Davis said. “She didn’t tell us, but I found out later that she had been bitten by some kind of snake. We couldn’t identify it because it was hidden in the water, but she got an infection.”

The days blurred together until the National Guard arrived. The family was transferred to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center where they received blankets and prepackaged meals.

Huddled on the floor, Davis watched devastated evacuees

around him.

“People were getting agitated,” Davis said. “I remember people getting on a golf cart and driving it around the convention center just doing reckless stuff. They ended up hitting a wall, almost causing it to cave in.”

When his aunt and uncle from Baton Rouge came to their rescue, he felt relieved. The relatives housed Davis, his brother, mother and grandparents before they moved to Lafayette, where Davis still lives today His grandparents have since died.

Before Katrina, Davis was homeschooled but struggled to keep up with his education. After moving to Lafayette, he began working toward his high school equivalency diploma.

He passed in 2016 and earned an associate degree from South Louisiana Community College and later a bachelor’s in business management at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He now works as a senior workforce student adviser at SoLaCC.

He loves New Orleans, but he plans to stay in Lafayette.

“That’s what I love about Lafayette — it’s so family-oriented,” Davis said. “I just feel a sense of peace when I’m here. I feel like I’m safe and like I’m in a better place. I sometimes worry about the kind of person I’d be if I wasn’t in this environment.”

her

BY ANGELINE MATHEWS

Contributing writer

When the news spread about the predicted severity of Hurricane Katrina, Ella M. was called into work. She lived in New Orleans, working as a nurse at Charity Hospital, and they required staff to be on-site to oversee hospital operations during the storm.

There was one rule, though — no family allowed. Ella, who asked not to use her last name, and her colleagues hunkered down on the third floor with no way to contact family members. They rationed

food and water, kept each other company and prayed for the worst to pass.

Ella’s adult children evacuated, but her husband insisted on staying at home with their dog. The couple had evacuated twice before for hurricanes, and he wanted to ride out the weather

She didn’t hear from him again.

“We lived on the first floor,” Ella said. “My husband could swim, but he had COPD, so he couldn’t really hold his breath. There were days when I would drive up and down the road, and I finally managed to sneak into New Orleans. I snuck

into the apartment just to check — I

wanted to see if I could find a body

There was no sign of him at all.”

Ella’s husband’s body was found in October 2005. During those critical days at the hospital, unsure of his whereabouts or well-being, Ella did what she had to do — work. Time passed with no word from her husband. She awoke in the middle of the night to frantic voices alerting her that water was rising quickly and they needed to seek higher ground. Colleagues broke the news the entire city was flooded, and conditions outside were rapidly worsening.

Helicopters dropped supplies for evacuees as food stored in the hospital basement was swept away by floodwater She and her colleagues heard yelling and gunshots nearby After five days of fear and uncertainty, the Cajun Navy, a volunteerbased organization helping natural disaster victims, came to the rescue.

“Katrina is when the Cajun Navy first got started,” Ella said. “They put us on boats and took us to an area around Poydras Street. They loaded us up on buses, and my bus went to Houston.” She stayed in a Houston hotel

room for a week before her boss notified her she’d be relocated to Lafayette for work. After transferring to Ochsner University Hospital in Lafayette, Ella never moved away Although Ella migrated to Lafayette because of work, she ultimately stayed for the community, culture and people.

“I had friends in New Orleans, but not like in Lafayette,” Ella said. “Lafayette has given me a home. I’m just comfortable here. Looking back on the 20th anniversary is bittersweet, but I know I’m where God wanted me to be.”

drawn this map.”

Weeks’ experience was similar to dozens —ifnot hundreds —ofothers who sought refugefrom Hurricane Katrina in Lafayette. When Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans, Lafayette was not only on the safe side of thestorm —the west side —but it was and remains today one of the highest points of elevation in southwest Louisiana.

Evacuees filled the Cajundome or people’s homes in Lafayette. Rock ’N’ Bowl ownerJohnny Blancher and his pregnant wife, not yet Lafayette residents, were crammed in ahome with more than adozen people.

Emergency crews, thenmayor Joey Durel recalled, were well-preparedtohandle the crisis. Acadian Ambulance, he said, was the star of the state.

Localpeople, too, pitched in.

“It was pretty impressive to me to see how welleveryone worked together,” Durel said. “And Ithink of people like my brother,who had 13 strangers in his house. We talk alot about government and shelters, but who doesn’t get any kind of credit are the numberofindividualswho were housing strangers.”

Many of thoseevacuees stayed, causing the real estate market to turn white hot basically overnight. Two decades later,they vividly recall the generosity they received in Lafayette.

Some of them never left.

Escape to Lafayette

Kisharra Angelety was only 18 when she and four other relatives left New Orleansand went to Jackson, Mississippi, to escape the storm. When they returned and state troopers wouldn’t letthem in the city,she knew something wasreally wrong.

So they traveled west, first arriving in Denham Springs before landing at the Cajundome. There, they found others she knew from New Orleans. It was then that the scope of the damage started to come into focus. First, she said, it was achance meeting with aman in scrubsat aWalgreens who described the devastation. Then,once they arrived at the Cajundome and saw the footage on TV,reality set in.

“That was areal shock because nobody was homeless yesterday but, today, I guess we’re homeless,” she said. “When we looked at the TV,that was when the whole world came crashing down. My whole family was from New Orleans, and Ididn’t know who was safe and who was not. That was probably the hardest part of it.”

Angelety,like so many others, knewatthat pointtheir liveswould be changedforever.More than 600 students from the New Orleans area enrolled in schoolsinLafayette Parish, reports from that time indicated. Angelety eventuallylanded in Houston and South Carolina before trying to move back to New Orleans. Butshe andher mom and

aunt ended up back in Lafayette, and she’sbeen here since.

“Peoplewere very nice,” she said.“Even when we lived in the Cajundome,peoplewere offeringusaplace to sleep at their house. It really was alot of people offering us alot of stuff. There wasn’t a hateful vibe here.”

JayToupsand hisfamilylefttheir Metairiehome ahead of Katrinaand stayed aweek at theHampton Inn Suites on CollegeRoad. It was an easy movefor him as he hadvisited Lafayette off and on forwork fornearly 20 years.

There were so many people from New Orleans at that hotel, he said, it feltlikea reunion. Yetonceword came that their home was significantly damagedand their kids’ schools wereunderwater, their stayinLafayette turnedinto along one.

They wenttoSt. PiusX Catholic Church and met with Monsignor Richard Mouton, who gave them a placetolive and made sure they had food and clothes and their kidsgot intoa school, Toups recalled

“Wewere incredibly blown away by the generosity of the Lafayette people,” he said. “Peopleknockedonour door that we never knew that were bringingusstuff to help us out. It was phenomenal. They gave us beds, sofas, atelevision, amonth’sworth offood and clothes for our kids.”

They stayed in that house fora year before buying a home in Lafayette. Toups later moved his business, a consulting firm, to an office in downtown Lafayette.

Thehousing issue

It’shard to determinejust howmany people arrived in Lafayette as aresult of Katrina, but census data and home salesare good barometers.

Thepopulation in Lafayette jumped by nearly 6,500 between 2005 and 2006, data shows.

Home sales in the month after Katrinamore than doubledthe totalfromthe previousSeptember,amark that remainsthe biggest spike on record, according to data from analystBill Bacque, with Market Scope Consulting.

New listingsthatSeptembershotup150%.

“Wesold every house that was available on themarket,” said Jim Keaty with Keaty RealEstate.“We were at, I wouldsay,a balanced market, and within two weeks, we had no inventory left.First, the rentals went, and then everybody started buying properties. It was amad dash.”

It was so busy that Bacque and Chad Theriot, with Van Eaton andRomero, got to thinking. Bacquehad just

bought acar off eBay and got theidea to build aweb platform to connect people in need of housing to those with housing.

The site went to the Louisiana Realtors Association, thentoemergency agencies to help those in need, Bacque recalled.

He was later honoredasan Outstanding Realtor Hero by theassociation for his efforts.

“I wanted to find aplace wherepeople could go and get answers,” Bacque said. “Itwas really in response to the volumeofpeople we were being inundated with. People were just calling, ‘I’m in acar with my family.’”

Now,20years later,those who found refuge in Lafayette are still trying to find ways to repay folks who offered help.

Adog boarding business in Lafayette took in the Toups’ family dogfor six weeks at no charge. Achurchin MarylandsentWeeksand

his family $2,000 in Walmart gift cards.

“How do you even begin to repaysomething like that?” Weekssaid. “(The pastor) said just shut up, say thank you, andpay it forward. That’swhatwe’vedonethe whole time. As blessings came in, blessings went out —whether it was (our) time, money or talent.”

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Tiffany Murray took an unconventional path to becoming ahigh schoolfinance teacher

Abankerfor more thantwo decades, Murray spent her early career at Total Choice Federal Credit Union in Laplace and Hahnville. She was aloan officer and branch manager before working her way up to vice president of business development, then vice president of operations.

But when the bank decided to open abranch at Destrehan High School in St. Charles Parish in 2018, Murray said shefounda new calling: helping youngpeople learn how to manage their money “A lot of kids had no idea how to even open or balance achecking account,” she said. “They’re not getting that at home, so Idecided Iwanted to teach it.”

After ayear working with students at Destrehan and another year at acredit union branch at East St. John School in St. John Parish, Murray became asubstitute teacher,which only solidified her desire to become afull-time educator,she said. She decided to enroll at the University of Holy CrossinNew Orleans to work toward her teaching certification.

This month, she began her first full year as afinance teacher at L.W. Higgins High School in Jefferson Parish, where she’sready to put20years of banking knowledge to use as she helps with the districtwide rollout of Jefferson’s new financial literacy curriculum, which aims to equip students for real-life financial situations

EDUCATION

like paying bills, applying for a credit card or buying ahome. The course’slaunch coincides with thestart of anew state law that requireshighschoolerstocompleteafinancial literacy course in order to graduate.

Whether young people are tryingtomake sense of thelatest economic news or preparing to enter theworkforce, they “need to know howtomanage money,” Murray said.

She recentlyspokeabout what it means to teach financial literacy.The interview has been condensed andedited for clarity.

Whyis financial literacy important for teens?

Youalways need to know how to manageyourmoney.You have to understand howmoney works andhow to make your money work for you.

We hearalot from students who say they want to have generational wealth,but the next generation needs to know how to manage their money to havethat wealth. That starts with financial literacy

What wasitlikeworking at high schoolbased creditunions?

We would train students to work as tellers andshow them how to count money.Wealsohad class time where we would talk about understanding credit. What does it look like to manage money,budget,save, apply for aloan?

Alot of students hadn’teven seen acheckbefore, so we would need to tell them that when someoneasks for your signature on one, you havetoactually write it in person. Simple stuff.

Alot of them are also really into Cash App (a digital platform for sending and receiving money), but wouldn’tknowthat every

time they withdraw their money, Cash Appcharges them afee. They like using Cash Appcards, but Iwanted to get them to open a checking or savings account and build arelationship with abank. Having worked at one, Iknow how important that relationship is.

Whyshouldstudents getfamiliar with their local banks?

Youget to know who’sinyour community and who’sworking in your community

Yougointoabank and they know your name, and they can help you apply for acar or your first homeloan.

Do the students you work with have a foundation of financial literacy at home? Or are many of them learning alongside their parents? Alot of them do not get it from home. Parentswill say that achild needs to stay in their lane and not ask about things like that.

Butyou can engage (kids). You have to tell them why you’re doing something. Youhave to tell them things like, “Turn off that light if you’re not using it, because guess what? It’sgoing to have an impact on your electric bill.”

Things like that are important.

What willyou be teaching in your class this year?

This year,we’re talking about money personalities and behavioral economics. Are you asaver? Areyou abalancer?

We’ll go in-depthtorealize how they’re actually spending their money.It’salso about understanding the behavior of the economy and what drives spending.

We’reinarecession, and I’m tellingmystudentswhere prices are rising. For instance, Imay

tell them that the price of eggs is higher,soI may not buy eggs this week. When you understand how you spend your money,itmight makeyou spend less.

The state recently passed anew lawrequiring high schoolers to complete at least one finance course before they graduate Do you want to see more policies like that in the future?

Definitely

Not everybody is going to a four-year college. Somemay be just going for(an associate degree) or going straight into the workforce, so requiring kids to take

What’sone piece of financial

you like to tell students? No matter what you do, this could be the mostimportant subject you

THE GULF COAST

Cozy cafe is serving up Southern cuisine for all

Mockingbird Cafe is the ‘living room of Bay St. Louis’

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

When Mockingbird Cafe opened in 2006, a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated Bay St. Louis, it was meant to be nothing more than a quaint coffee shop. Today, in a white house with a gable roof in downtown, it is now a restaurant that draws both locals and vacationers traveling along the Gulf Coast.

The cafe quickly became known as “the living room of Bay St Louis,” said its owner Alicein Schwabacher, attracting everyone from day workers to families

“It just became like a hub for the community,” she said, “And we were happy to be a part of it.

The outdoor area feels like a hip backyard, with wooden picnic tables and dusty barrels sitting on gravel, beneath a shed-style roof decked with strings of twinkling lights.

And inside, the cafe resembles a home more than a business. Canvases from local artists line the walls, with acrylic scenes of animals and cloudy landscapes Tucked between an empty brick fireplace and two teal couches for customers to sit at the coffee bar, where baristas serve drinks, pastries and full meals Schwabacher originally hadn’t planned for her establishment to offer such a lengthy menu. That changed when her friend Jeff Hinson, a Bay St Louis native who co-owns Flour Moon Bagels in New Orleans, encouraged her to expand the cafe into a restaurant.

“When it first opened, I just wanted a coffee shop. I wanted to serve soup and pie and coffee,” Schwabacher said, laughing. “And then it grew into a restaurant. The food service started on the cafe’s side porch, where her uncle would flip burgers cleverly dubbed the “Mockingburger” — on the grill. Over time, the menu gradually expanded to include Southern dishes like biscuits and gravy and pulled pork and grits

The cafe also cooks up classic breakfast dishes such as burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, spinach, avocado and cheddar cheese, with sides of salsa and sriracha sour cream. It offers a meatless version of the breakfast burrito with fillings like zucchini, squash, onion and mushrooms. Beyond breakfast, customers can choose from a wide range of healthy and hearty lunches, including sandwiches and salads. One standout is the turkey quinoa wrap, which combines shaved turkey quinoa, feta and sun-dried tomatoes covered in homemade basil aioli.

Mockingbird Cafe’s evolution from a small coffee shop to a popular eatery points to a larger trend in Bay St. Louis a community that’s dining scene withered after Katrina but has since come back to life. Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@theadvocate.com.

SEPTEMBER 10-12

TheTulane Future of Energy Forumconvenes leadersinbusiness, academia, government, and nonprofitsfromaround theworld to engage in critical discussions. Get inspired bygroundbreaking talks, thought-provoking panels, and dynamic networking opportunitiesthat will shapethe energy conversation foryears to come.

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Plant explosion ignites health concerns

Oily residue coats cars, homes in Roseland

BY EMILY WOODRUFF and BOB WARREN Staff writers

Smoke rose from the stillburning tanks at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland on Saturday, and although the thick plumes had eased since the explosion the day before, a strong chemical smell permeated nearby communities in Tan-

gipahoa Parish, an oily sheen coating many of the cars, homes and other outdoor surfaces.

“You got oil on the ground, oil on the road,” said Gerri Stout, 66, who evacuated to Amite City with her husband under a mandatory order for residents within a mile of the automotive lubricant manufacturing plant. “We got oil on our car and we brought our car with us to the shelter.”

Waiting in line to wash his Chevy Silverado pickup at a car wash near Interstate 55 in Amite City on Saturday morning, Ross Cutrer said he’s trying not to fixate on the black substance covering everything or what it might mean for his health.

“I don’t dwell on it. But I did have a sore throat last night,” he said.

“You can kind of taste it in the air.” State and local officials expressed relief that no injuries or deaths were reported. But they do not yet have answers for what caused the blast, what materials caught fire, when it might be extinguished or what the health and environmental implications of the explosion could be.

“It’s still a very active scene,” Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller told reporters at an at-times contentious news conference Saturday morning. “We know

NIGHT LIGHTS

there are a lot of questions. We’re working to get answers.”

Miller said the main focus so far has been, and remains, bringing the fire under control.

“We’re fighting a big fire,” he said. “It’s not as big as yesterday, but it’s still big.”

Once the fire is completely suppressed, cleanup operations will begin and a hotline will be established for cleanup inquiries, State Police said.

Former officer arrested in hotel shooting

Police say 1 person killed after fight

Staff report

A former Lafayette police officer was arrested in a fatal Friday afternoon shooting in the 200 block of Hugh Wallis Road. Police said 39-year-old Kyle Jagneaux, of Lafayette, fatally shot 44-year-old Phillip Francis Jr., also of Lafayette, after an altercation about 2:20 p.m. at the Woodspring Suites Hotel. Jagneaux is a former Lafayette police officer, according to Robin Green, a Lafayette

Don’t expect cooler temps anytime soon

NOAA, farmers’ almanacs make predictions

BY JULIA GUILBEAU Staff writer

After the latest bout of high heat in Louisiana, fall weather can’t seem to come soon enough.

Though the state’s subtropical climate keeps many Louisiana residents from experiencing a full autumn season, September and October typically bring some relief from the sweltering 90-degree summer temperatures. For those eagerly awaiting that fall feeling, seasonal forecasts are now out from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other weather predictors.

cording to Megan Williams, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s New Orleans office.

Despite that, heat advisories and other extreme heat watches and warnings in New Orleans and Baton Rouge have been lower than previous years, likely thanks to a wetter summer and near-daily rainstorms.

But despite the less oppressive August heat, climate forecasters and weather predictors do not expect Louisiana to see significantly cooler temperatures in September, October and November Climate scientists at NOAA’s Center for Weather and Climate Prediction expect Louisiana and much of the contiguous United States to see temperatures that lean above average over the next three months.

pattern that brings warmer winter temperatures to the South, is expected to return briefly in the fall and early winter contributing to the potential for a warmer season.

Rain-wise, Louisiana is expected to avoid any drought potential this fall. Nearly the whole state has an equal chance for dry or wet conditions, though the far southeastern corner — including the New Orleans area is likely to see above-average rainfall, according to NOAA.

Besides utilizing climatology, weather enthusiasts and others who rely on seasonal forecasting have turned for decades to farmers’ almanacs for their predictions.

Already this August, temperatures in Louisiana have remained slightly above average, with the monthly average high leveling out to around 93.7 degrees, ac-

The state has a 40-50% chance of seeing above-normal temperatures in September, October and November, according to the latest predictions released on Aug. 21. Forecasters say that La Niña, a weather

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which has been predicting weather trends since 1792, expects Louisiana and the Deep South to see above-average temperatures this fall, on par with NOAA’s predictions. Meanwhile, a separate but similarly

ä See OFFICER, page 2B ä

‘Peopleretire; dreams don’t’

66-year-old tuba player becomesLSU

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

The LSU Golden Band from Tiger Land welcomed its new members Thursday,and one of them was born in 1959 —tuba player Kent Broussard.

Originally from LaPlace, the 66-year-old formeraccountant and vice president of Sazerac Co. played in the bandatRiversideHighSchool for four years and then forSoutheastern Louisiana Universityfor four years, graduating in 1980.But as an LSU Tiger fan,healways wondered what it would be like to march on the field in Death Valley About five years ago, Broussard told hisfamily that he would like to tryout fortubaatLSU afterheretired. They laughed. He wasserious They started cheering himon.

“Wewere talking aboutplanning for retirement when he said, ‘You know,I’ve been thinkingImight want to do something. Ithink Imight go back to school and try out for the for the LSU band.’ And Isaid‘The real band?’”said Kent’swife, Cheryl Broussard.

Despite her initial surprise,Cheryl Broussard supported him however she could. After retirement, the Broussards moved to Baton Rouge, and he began training for hisdream. The Broussard family,including their two daughters,Lauren who lives in Houstonand Jennifer who lives in Hammond, were invested in Kent Broussard’sgoal

Cheryl Broussard has known about her husband’slove for the LSU Tiger Band since they started dating in 1981.

“He would drag me all around the stadium at the end of the game to stand and watch the band play,” she said. “He always loved them —so this is abig, big thing forhim.He’s super excited.” The first step toward marching

PREDICTIONS

Continued from page1B

OFFICER

Continued from page1B named publication, the Farmers’ Almanac,saysthis fall is expected to “keep us on our toes.” Theirwriters

Police Departmentspokesperson. Although Green did not provide employment

formation began with acquiring a tuba,whichwas much harder than the Broussards expected. Kent Broussard finally found the right one in California, haditshippedto Baton Rouge and started lessons with Matt Thompsonatthe LSU SchoolofMusic

Next, he had to make sure he was still eligible after marching in a collegeband 45 years ago. He was because he hadn’tyet marched for LSU. Thenitwas afull green light for himtopursue his dream.

“He has worked so flippin’ hardfor this,” Lauren Broussard said. “He’s beenpracticing with atutor forover ayear.Hehad to relearn everything that he learned 45 years ago, and he’staken it in stride. We’re just so proud ofhim.”

Lauren Broussard went on to say that her father hasbeen playing hissongs outsidethe housewhile marching down the street, on the patio and inside daily

She jokedthat her mom deserved this news becauseshe has had to put up withall that tuba musicfor afull year.

In addition to practicing marching and playing the tuba, Kent Broussard hasbeenphysically training for the grueling practices and games. Lauren Broussard saidhe runs three miles aday fourorfive timesaweek, sometimes training with aweighted vest to simulate the weight of the tuba.

Aftertraining, applying to LSU, registeringasanonmatriculating student andpracticing daily,Kent Broussard made the 132ndLSU Golden Band from Tiger Land. He is now one of 325 band memberswho will march throughoutthe football season.

Lauren Broussard has been running herfather’s social media presence. Shesaid preseason camp has been quitea challenge,including long days from 9a.m. to 10 p.m.

predict early chills in the northern part of the country but lingering heat in the South. In Louisiana and itsneighboring statestothe west,the Farmer’sAlmanacexpects fair temperatures Much of theeastern and

details orJagneaux’stermination date,reports indicate he left thedepartmentin 2021. Jagneauxwas booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on Friday on one count of manslaugh-

Kent Broussard said that, above all, he is so humbled to be apart of sucha legacy of excellence. The audition week was achallenge, not only becauseofthe physical and musical demands, but also because everypersonauditioning was being evaluated the entiretime.

“As you as you’re going through everything, as you’re playing, as you’re marching, as you’re interacting with thestaff, the section leaders, andthe peopleinyoursection, youare being evaluated as apotentialmember.Soit’snot justhow you play, it’show youinteract. And if you’re agood fit,it’sabout the people. That’smyperspective,” he said.

He expressedawe at how supported he hasfeltthroughout the whole process. He says everyone from the administration to thedirector to the section leaders to theband members have been 100% behind him.

The audition process included learningsongs,practicing stand routines,and learning and practicing the cheersand fight songs. After learning the songs, then themusicians hadtolearn and perfect playing them“theLSU style.”

“It was an intense learning experience, anditwas extremely fast paced,” Broussard said. “Wehave averyshortperiod of time to make sure that we can all get it how LSU wants it.It’sa truly amazing experience to go through it.”

In additiontoall of thelearning, practicing andmarching, each potentialband member had several different pieces of individual work theyhad to present, along with marching tests and playing tests.

When the final roster was released on Thursdaynight,the tuba section eruptedinelation that Broussard had made the band.The percussion section heardthe news and ranover to celebratewiththe 66-year-old. Jumping, hollering and screaming ensued among the excited band-

midwesternportions of the U.S. are expected to see below-averagetemperatures in the coming weeks,but unfortunately for SouthLouisiana, those cooler temperatures won’tmake it this far down, Williams said. In the lower half of the

ter.His bail has been set at $50,000, according booking information.

The hotel, near Lafayette Regional Airport, is Lafayette’slargestextendedstay hotel. Last year,when theUniversityofLouisi-

mates.Although 40-plus years separated Broussard from those other musicians, their joy had no age.

“The entire environment is about building that cultureofexcellence, and Iwas part of it,” he said. “It’s great to see that this is howthey’re continuing to maintain that excellence. From the band to the color guard to the GoldenGirls, everyone has put hundredsormany, many, many hours into this season just as everyone before us and everyone in thefuturewilldo. I’mjustone little tiny piece of something that everybody sees and enjoys.”

Sincebeing interviewed on the Tingle &CoYouTube show last month, Broussard has been getting recognized around campus. He finds it curious thatsomanypeople areinterested in his story,but he said that he hopes he can inspire people his agetoattain adream.

This weekend, Broussard practiced walking down the hill for the firsttime. On Monday,hestarts classes. And on Sept. 6, Tiger Tuba Kent will participate in the pregame tradition andthe halftime show. His family cannot wait to watch him perform.

Broussard’smotto throughout this journeyhas been: “Peopleretire; dreams don’t.”

state, it is only expected to cool off afew degrees in the next sixto10days. Thehumidity,however,isexpected to drop, giving residentsa little bit of relief. Cold fronts typically stall outjust north of thestate around this time of year,and

anaatLafayette contracted withthe hotel to house students, dozens of families,including nearly 30 students enrolled in the Lafayette Parish school system, were displaced with little notice

Williams said Louisiana isn’tlikely to seeatrue coldfrontuntil closer to the endofSeptember or October

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OPINION

OURVIEWS

Twenty yearslater,

what Katrinarevealedabout us

Twodecades is alongtime. Long enough foranew generationto havegrown up with no memory of that terrible day in 2005 when the floodwalls broke and waterbegan rising so suddenly,soawfully and so devastatingly

Yetfor those wholived through it, cane Katrinacan feel likeyesterday It’shard to forget thepanic and the uncertainty.The surreal scenes of desperation and grief, playing out in familiar but alsobarelyrecognizable places. The smell of damp, moldy Sheetrock and freezers that had been stuffed withseafood before the power wentout

Thelives lost and foreverchanged.

It’s also hard to forget in the weeks and months that followed the worry etched on the faces of friendsand neighbors grappling with questions that would determinethe fate of acity,astate and aregion. Would we rebuild? Can we rebuild? How torebuild?

But perhaps the20th anniversaryofKatrina this week is theperfect vantage point to see the answers to those thorny questions, to assess notonlywhatwas lost but what’s been built.Perhapswecan finally take abreath from all theorganizing, planning andmaking ourcase —tostop and see clearly what we’ve achieved and what is left to do NewOrleans —then, nowand forever —is the creativeventure of thepeoplewho live hereand who love it.And 20 yearsafter Katrina, we can say,unequivocally,that when all seemed lost, New Orleanians, with the help of fellow Louisianans andpeople all over the country and world,loved it back to life.

It’s still here because of countless people whose names we didn’t know back then, and forthe most part still don’t.It’shere because of big decisions, yes, butalso countless small ones.

Lest we forget, in thoseearly days, it was a leapoffaith to bet on New Orleans’ ultimate survival. And indeed, some on thenational levelquestioned whether acitysopoor,lowlying and vulnerable to extreme weather should exist at all.

The city was still dark andempty then, with evacuated residents just starting to wrap their heads aroundwhat thelong, difficultroad back would look like There would beangry political fightsin thosefirst years, over which areas should be prioritized and how tofairly rebuild communities where manydidn’t haveenough

insurance coverage, over replicating what was lost versus seizing theonce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform —all against the backdrop of grief for those who didn’tsurvive and who were struggling wherever they to find their way home.

In theend, thefederal government came through with ahard-fought $120 billion to remakeschools, improve and fortify flood protection and create from scratch atroubled but ultimately massive residential rebuilding program.So did stateleaders, as well as Louisiana’s Congressional delegation and local officials. The national and international philanthropic community stepped up beyond all expectations. But, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear that New Orleansisnot still here because of them. The real heroes of the recovery were individuals who rolled up their sleeves, put pencils to paper and slept in cramped trailers while they put thepieces back together They’re thepeople who refused to give up on their homes, their people, their culture and their neighborhoods —even if outside planners suggested turning them intogreen space.

They’re theresidents of Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alexandria, Shreveport and all over Louisianawho offered temporary shelter and achance to regroup. They’re thefolks who volunteered more hours than theycould count to haul families’soggy possessions to thecurb or dream up reform plans.

They’re also thefriends and strangers who made up thesecond wave, those who saw thesuffering, flocked here to help from just about everywhere, injected desperately needed new energy and, in many cases, never left

There were communal touchstones, starting with theSaints’ epic return to theSuperdomein2006.

Butthere also were amillion private, intimate ones: the return of electricitytoa rebuilt home, aconversation with student volunteers who justwanted to let the people here know someone cared, neighbors coming together on Saturday mornings to plan out what they wanted their little corner of the community to be.

The amount of work done, of sweat equity invested over these two decades to get us to this point, is mind-boggling, when you think

about it.

Butstill, so much moreisneeded.

For as much as the past 20 years have been atriumph of will and of intent, fartoo many of the challenges that Katrina revealed to the world still vex us. The education system has been promisingly revamped, but chronic infrastructure shortcomings and the dearth of well-paying jobs still drive our young people to seek opportunity elsewhere.

The cost of living —particularly when it comes to housing and insurance —has skyrocketed,exacerbating the factors that kept toomany in what has long been alow-wage service economy from returning in the first place.

There’ve been spectacular flood control improvements since the storm,but in the age of climate change and extreme weather,weremain frighteningly exposed to the elements. And often lately,the can-do spirit of the early post-Katrina years seemstohave morphed into malaise.

For awhile after Katrina, the area grew Now it’sshrinking, alarmingly,just as it was before that fateful Aug. 29. Census figures peg greater NewOrleans as the fastest shrinking metro area in the country,with population downnearly 4% between 2020 and 2024. Statewide, census estimates show that two-thirds of Louisiana parishes lost population in 2024.

This anniversary comes as New Orleans is at an inflection point. It has seen somestunning successes in recent months, attracting business, hosting aSuper Bowl. But there is also asense that we’re forgetting someofthe hard-won lessons we learned after Katrina. Letthis anniversary be areminder of what can happen when we all set our minds to a larger cause. Because if we get the basics right, we’ve got so much to offer.We’re apeople who cook together,play music together anddance together in thestreet. We greet strangers instead of looking past them,honor creativity and embrace eccentricity.The lowscan be awfully low,but no place can match our highs. And when the chips are down, we fight for this place that we love, aplace that, 20 years ago, we simply refused to let die.

That’swho the people of this region were after Katrina.

That’swho we still are.

COMMENTARY

Amtrak MardiGrastrain awin forall

The Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is abig winner

The train route between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, is a winner for Amtrak, awinnerfor NewOrleans, awinner for Mobile, awinner for the Mississippi Coast, awinner for riders and awinner for public safety For safety,it’sawinner to the extent that it reduces the number of drivers on Interstate 10, which has become ahaven for rude and dangerous motorists. It’sanobvious winner for all the places along the route because it surely will increase thenumber of visitors to and from each place, thusdriving economic developmentand aspirit of community

no complicated security hassles. There is plentyoftime to board, and parkingavailability seems nearlyadequate Lifts for handicapped riders are available, although passengers withmobility issues should call ahead (yes, areal phone call) for arrangements. And theprices, starting as low as $15 on some weekdays, are terrific

Those points need no complicated explanations. Acceptingthem as agiven, then, let this column describe why the new passengerrail service is such awinnerfor riders.

To get afeel for the whole experience, Irode on both theceremonial inaugural ride from Mobile to New Orleans on Aug. 16 and the initial public ride from New Orleans to Mobile on the early morning of Aug. 18.

To begin with, consider the logistics. The whole process of takingthe train is remarkably easy (although Ihope Mobileprovides moreprotection from inclement weather,which right now is impermanent at its end). There are

The only two small hiccupsare aWi-Fi system that is spotty between New Orleans andthe Slidell area (but otherwise seems good), and the possibility that the freight lines, which by law should give “preference” to Amtrak,might ignore the law andblock thetracks (temporarily) anyway.Myadvice: Allow an extra half-hour foryour plans at yourdestination,just in case. As expected for abrand-new service, the trains arebright, clean and comfortable. Even when sold out, they aren’t cramped

The ride is usually much smoother than it is jerky.The train employees all seem friendly, helpful andindeedhappy to be there and to havethe trains in operation

Best of all, though, was afeature that was somewhat of a surprise. Namely,the wonderful scenery.Trains in this nation’s Northeast have areputation for unappetizing vistas: junkyards,

abandoned industrial sites, urban blight.Well, except for one section just east of New Orleans, that’snot the case with theMardi Gras line. Instead, the view out thewindows usually ranges from interesting to pleasant to absolutely lovely The stretch between Pascagoula and Mobile, for example, is lush, green, wooded and interspersed with streams. Then, for those who long have frequented theMississippi Coast, thechange in viewpointsfrom theusual roadways is fascinating: Crossing both theBiloxi River and Bay St.Louis from atrain’s-

eye perspective, forexample, seemsnew andpretty.And right near thedepot in Bay St. Louis, ascenic pondand park are adelight. The best part, though, is south of what we know as New Orleans East and then Slidell, in marshes stretchinginto Mississippi. The wetlands, spreading out for miles,are gorgeous. Waterfowl are plentiful, floating or skimminglow across the waters and grasses. In places of open water, dolphins splash. And at the Rigolets, even moredramatically than from the(closed) U.S. 90 bridge, thesudden opening to the Gulf on

one side with fishing skiffs in the shallowsonthe other,iswonderful.

Meanwhile, the journey isn’t the only worthwhile thing. Louisianans might wonder about the destination, too. The Mississippi parts are familiar: the white sand beaches, the bustling beach-town vibe of Bay St. Louis. But what about Mobile?

Well, the train lets out right at the riverfront there, with good sightlines to where Austal builds U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels. Within easy walking distance are four good museums: The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, the History Museum of Mobile, the Mobile Exploreum (especially but not exclusively good for children) and (for preservationists) the Conde-Charlotte House. All up and downwalkable Dauphin Street (or nearby) are good lunch places and (for dinner) two restaurants that can compete with NewOrleans’ fine dining standards, The Royal Scam and Noja’s.

And, foraninexpensive ride share, ajaunt to the USSAlabama Battleship Memorial Park can easily provide twoorthree hours of inspirational exploration. Much morecould be said, but fornow: Take the train. It’s not such abad thing, as it turns out, to be run out of town on arail.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Thestory behind La.’suniquelegal framework

Among Louisiana’smany quirks is alegal one: Its laws, ratherthan being based on English Common Law like those inthe other49states, areinstead based on the Napoleonic Code.

Iconfess that Ihave repeated this on countless occasions, without ever reallyunderstanding why it is that way The answer,itturns out, comes down to the remarkable achievement of three men more than 200 years ago. They produced the first Louisiana CivilCode, and in so doing, enshrined one of our state’smost enduring eccentricitiesinto its legal system.

The three were an interesting mix: Pierre Derbigny,who was born in France, Louis Moreau-Lislet, born in St Domingue, and one New Yorker, Edward Livingston.

took effect in 1825. And it has, for nearly twocenturies, remained the crowning achievement of Louisiana’slegal history

allowed to disinherit achild of any age, something that comes straight from the European civil law

First, we have to understand something about the legal situationin Louisianain the early part of the 19th century.Itwas, in aword, chaotic.

Many of the lawsthat existed were written in Spanish, whichwas no longer widely spoken. Others were writtenin French, and some tracedtoRoman civil law. Adigestproducedin1808 helped,but it wasn’t enough.

That’swhy,in1822,the Legislature appointed three men as “jurisconsults”and taskedthemwith coming up with anew system.

The governorsofWest Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee have sent National Guard troops to help President Donald Trump deal with what he says is acrime infestation in Washington, D.C. Add Louisiana Gov.Jeff Landry to that list. After completing some in-processing paperwork and processes, our Louisiana National Guard peeps will join National Guard troops from other red states to deal with Trump’sfederal crime crackdown in the nation’scapital

Each was already legally trained and accomplished; Moreau-Lislet had been one of the drafters of the Digestof1808, the earlier attempt to bring some order to Louisiana’s civil law. They immersedthemselves in not just Louisiana’slaw but also those of otherjurisdictions. That included studying the Napoleonic Code, which was published in 1804 —one year after the Louisiana Purchase —but in the ensuing decades had becomeaninfluential legal document in Europe.

Napoleon’scode, the drafters noted, was “nearer to perfection thanany which preceded it” and a“great work” bestowed by the French Republic not just to France but also to the rest of the world, accordingtoanessayontheir work prepared by Tulane Law Professor Ronald Scalise.

Not surprisingly,their final draft, presented in 1824, relied heavily on European civillaw,including Napoleon’scode. The Legislature adopted the code, and it

There have been revisions, of course, one in 1870 to remove references and laws pertaining to slavery and another,ongoing one since 1976.

The latterofthe two is incomplete and has engaged far more lawyers than the threewho crafted the 1825 version. But the revisers have been careful to stay within the guardrails and traditions of the original.

So how does the work of Derbigny, Moreau-Lislet and Livingston influence us today? IaskedScalise, an expert on Louisiana’s legal history

The civil code, he explains, governs all interactions between private persons.

So if you purchase acup of coffee, or a house, or get in acar accident or have to run asuccession, the rules you will have to follow in Louisiana derive from the civil code. And there are important differences from English Common Law Forinstance, in Louisiana, aperson cannot disinherit achild under the age of 23 or who is permanently disabled. The age provision was inserted in the 1990s, Scalise said. Beforethat, it was generally not

In Common Law,there is no such provision. There are also differences in what sellers of, say,houses, are required to tell buyers beforehand. Common law uses the phrase “buyer beware,” whereas the European civil law puts the onus on the seller to disclose any potential defects ahead of time.

The state might have ended up with a completely different legal tradition if not for Derbigny,Moreau-Lislet and Livingston.

Yet, outside of the state’smajor law schools and legal institutions, there has been little public celebration of their momentous achievement’sbicentennial this year.That’sashame.

We in Louisiana love to celebrate what makes us different.

Alegal code maynot have acatchy beat, but any innovation that still plays a role in our lives after 200 years deserves asalute.

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

proud to support this mission to return safety andsanity to Washington DC andcitiesall across our country,including right here in Louisiana.”

as Jefferson Parish and places including Franklin and Natchitoches. Constables,marshals and others have pitched in to help.

Based on recent reports, West Virginia is sending 300 to400 troops; South Carolina hasn’t said how many it will send but its guv has authorized sending 200troops; Mississippi is sending about 200 troops; Tennessee is sending 160 troops and Ohio has committed to deploying 150 troops. Our guv is sending 135 Louisiana National Guard troops.

“Wecannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence andlawlessness,” our guv postedonthe Xsocial media platform.“Iam

Theidea of additional help isn’tnew.Onthe home front, New Orleans and other Louisiana communities have had law enforcement help from the feds, neighboring parishes and the Louisiana National Guard for years. When there are large enough activities, events, games or festivals, Baton Rouge, Bossier City Lafayette, Lake Charles,Monroe, Shreveport and other cities have requested and received help. As the state’slargest single economic driver,New Orleans has far more need for additional help far more often.

In recent years, more than 150 Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies have worked the carnival season, especially the two weeks leading to Mardi Gras.

So have about 150 Louisiana State Police officers from across the state and scoresofofficers from neighboring parishes such

The Louisiana Departmentof Public Safety and Corrections has such federal agencies as the ATFand theFBI. In many of those cases, those agencies didn’tmake the officers pull Carnival duty. They asked for volunteers. The City of New Orleans covered their pay to help with parade and other duties as well as local accommodations and meals.

In each of these cases, theNew Orleans Police Department and theOPSO have asked for help. Though thefederal government is covering thecost to have our National Guard and other troops in D.C., Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser didn’task Trump for federal intervention. That’slike inviting afriend to your home for acasual visit and the friend returning withanarmy of household cleaners, janitors and window washers becausethe friend decided that your place needs sprucing up. Before Trump became presi-

dent,hetalkedabout the need for federal actioninWashington. As Trump issuedthreats about theneed to take over D.C., the mayor stayed mum. Earlier this year,inFebruary,Trump told journalists aboardAir Force Onethat the federalgovernment should “should take over the governance of D.C.” He raised thestakes in recentmonths and made his first move earlierthis month. Bowser spoke up, calling theaction “unsettling.” More recently, she hascalled the move “un-American,” in part because federalized troopsare patrolling an American city’sstreetsasif there’sawar or amajor crime problem. As if it’s reasonable to compare cities abroad to Washington, Trump citedcrime in other places as agood reason to attack a nonexistent probleminD.C. “The murder rate in Washington today is higher thanthatofBogotá, Colombia, MexicoCity,some of theplaces thatyou hear about as being theworst places on Earth,” thepresident said. The chart he shared had been displayedon aFox commentator’sshow,one

thatisn’tknown for accurate reality.For starters, it was old, inaccurate data By comparison, the U.S. Department of Justice issued areleaseinJanuary saying “Violent crime for2024 in the Districtof Columbia is down 35% from 2023 andisthe lowest it hasbeen in over 30 years.” Those aren’tmy words. Read the release foryourself. Check the DOJ data, too. It shows thatWashingtonhad 187 homicidesin2024, down from 274 homicidesin2023.

Yes, still far toomany homicidesfor D.C., New Orleans or anyothercity,but let’scall Trump’scrime exaggeration what it was: alie Irealize ourLouisiana National Guard folks aredoing their job. Theysignedupfor duty.They take orders. Theygowhere they’re sent. But this is acase where areal leader should admit amistake,rescind his directive andtellour menand womento return home. Theyhavebetter things to do Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

EXPLOSION

Continued from page1B

Health concerns

Stout, who has asthma and lung disease, said she was already feelingthe effects

“It’sbeen really bad on me, yesterday and today,too,” she said.

Smitty’sofficials told state regulators in 2023 that the facility’sstoragetanks can typically hold ethanol, charcoal lighter fluid, gasoil mixture, motor oil, lubricants and hydraulic fluids, diesel, brake fluid, grease and avariety of unnamed water-based chemicals, according to the report.

During the news conference Saturday morning, Sgt. William Huggins, of the State Police, said air monitoring in the area has shown “nondetect levels or results below any actionable thresholds.”

Other communities hitbylubricantplant fires have seen agap between officialreadings and what residents experienced. When aLubrizol facility caught fire in France in 2019, monitors picked up only briefspikes in chemicals, and officialssaidoverall pollution levels stayed within safe limits. Even so, residents reported foul smells, anxiety and alower quality of life, and some firefighters later showed changes in routine health tests.

A2021 fire at aChemtool plant in Illinois brought similar concerns. Government agencies said the air was mostly safe, but surveys found more than half of residentshad new or worsening symptoms,including coughs, headaches and eye irritation, while others reported fatigue and trouble sleeping.

An Environmental Protection Agency aircraft is monitoring the area for benzene, small particles and volatile organic compounds.

Daniel Harrington, acertified industrial hygienist and assistant professor at LSU’s School of Public Health, said those areimportant compounds to monitor,but they may not cover the full range of chemicals burning in the plant thathas led to the oily residue.

Harrington said exposuresare likelyto affect vulnerable groups most —including children, seniors and peoplewithasthma or other respiratory conditions —and recommended treating contact with oily deposits as you would with spilled motor oil. While tightly fitted N95 masks can help with fine particles, they will notprotectagainst chemical vapors. Contamination could linger in homes and on surfaces, especially during calm nights like the one forecast for Saturday.The mental health impacts to people dealing with job uncertainty and loss of property could also be significant, he said. “There is along tail to these disasters,” said Harrington.

Past safety concerns

Smitty’suses large heaters towarmmotoroil and other products. In at least one instance in November,overheated oil created afoul odorthat drew complaints from residents, according to documentsfromthe

GALLEGOS

ALouisiana State Police trooper movesa cone to allowa trailer carrying recovery containers through into Roseland on Saturdayafter a fire at Smitty’s Supply Inc. led to an evacuation. The containers were said to store fluidsthat leakedfrom the building as result of the fire.

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.Atthattime, thecompanyshut off aheater,which took aweek to cooltothe correct temperature.

State Rep. Kim Coates, R-Ponchatoula, said she had spoken with DEQ, which was placing booms in waterwaysand sand in ditches to contain oil and firedebris that landed in the Tangipahoa River

“Withrain falling alongside the fire and firewater,thisisa tough fight forcrewson theground,” she said by textmessage.

Capt. Russell Graham, commander of StatePolice Public Affairs Section, said seven people went to the emergencyroom after theblast but were evaluated and released.

Residents shouldbeabletoreturnto theirhomes Sunday or Monday,said Tanya Mabry,director of housing for Tangipahoa Parish. They were still sheltering people at an evacuationshelter in AmiteCity.About 200 signed up for the shelterand 46 slept there Friday night as people started to make arrangementstostay with family and friends.

Gov.Jeff Landrysaidinasocial media post that he andhis wife, Sharon, have residentsintheir prayers.

“Weare working closely withlocal officials to extinguish the fire,” he said. “This is still an ongoing situation, and we urge all in thearea to continue following evacuation.”

With roughly450 employees, Smitty’sis an anchor in Tangipahoa Parish. Robertson said many of them were in touch, and while they are grateful no one was killed in the explosion, they arementally shaken and wonderinghow long they will be employed.

Covering about 20 acres, Smitty’sblends anddistributes oil and other lubricants underthe SuperS,Shell, Quaker State,Castrol, Exxon, Valvolineand many other brand namesand also provides contract oil, lubricationand treatment product manufacture.

Thefacility,which has20separatetank farmsholding acombined8.7 milliongallons, also makes its own plastic bottles for motor oil andother products and manufactures grease. Staff writers Willie Swett and David Mitchell contributed to this report.

MANNING MADE

The untold story of Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s bond with grandfather Archie, his ‘role model’

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

On Sept. 14, Archie Manning sat in the study of his St. Charles Avenue condo and flipped on the TV to watch the University of Texas play Texas-San Antonio.

The study, lined with built-in bookshelves displaying family photos and keepsakes from Manning’s legendary playing career, is his happy place, his favorite spot to watch football games in his septuagenarian years.

Decked in a burnt-orange Texas hoodie, Manning and his wife, Olivia, hoped their grandson, Arch, would receive some playing time for the No. 2-ranked Longhorns in what figured to be a blowout. As a backup quarterback, Manning had played only sparingly in his first two seasons at Texas. Sure enough, early in the second quarter, he trotted onto the field after the starter, Quinn Ewers, was injured.

On Manning’s first play, he fired a 19-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore. One drive later, he faked a handoff to running back Tre Wisner and raced 67 yards down the right side of the field for a touchdown, leaving a parade of stunned UTSA defenders in his wake. The scintillating run brought the sellout crowd at Texas Memorial Stadium to its feet and left Archie and Olivia speechless. “We looked at each other and didn’t say anything,” Archie said. “I just laughed.”

It was a déjà vu moment for Archie, the former New Orleans Saints star. Fifty-six years earlier, he made an eerily similar 44-yard run in his collegiate debut for Ole Miss. In that 21-7 win at Memphis State, Archie passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, displaying the dual-threat ability that eventually would make him a folk hero in Oxford, Mississippi. The run would prove to be the longest of his career, college or the pros.

“I immediately thought of that play,” Archie said, recalling his scamper around left end. “And I hadn’t thought about that play in years. It was unbelievable.”

The pride was evident in Manning’s voice. The oldest of his four grandsons — the latest quarterback from the royal line of America’s first family of football wasn’t just his namesake. He was also his play-alike.

Family and football

When Cooper and Ellen Manning welcomed their first son into the world at Baptist East Hospital on April 27, 2004, they had no way of knowing he would become a football star

Prescience had nothing to do with their decision to name him Archibald Charles Manning. Family names were a tradition for the Mannings and Heidingsfelders, and it was simply their way of honoring Ellen’s late brother (Charles Jr.) and the couple’s fathers: Archibald Manning and Charles Heidingsfelder

Since Archie was taken, Ace seemed too flashy and, as Cooper said, “No one wants to be called Archibald,” the family called him Arch for short.

Paradoxically, Arch took after the Heidingsfelder side of the family with his bushy brown locks, wide smile and large, deep-set eyes. In turn, his younger brother, Heid, looked more like a Manning, with his straight hair, narrow face and long nose

“Obviously, we got it all wrong with the names,” Cooper said, tongue-in-cheek.

Arch was a quiet kid, even shy to a degree He wore glasses as a toddler and preferred to be a bystander rather than the center of attention May was the bossy older sister Younger brother Heid took after Cooper brandishing an extroverted personality and wry sense of humor

“Arch,” Ellen said, “was a great audience for Heid.”

Arch came out of his shell when sports were involved As fate would have it, he revealed himself to be a gifted athlete hardly a surprise given his lineage. Ellen was a track sprinter and star volleyball player at Sacred Heart Academy. Cooper was a standout receiver at Newman and Ole Miss before ending his career early because of a back condition called spinal stenosis.

From an early age, Arch would beg Cooper to play pitch and catch with him in the front yard of their Uptown home. Video of Arch dunking on a mini-goal as a bespectacled preschooler has been preserved for posterity in the Manning household.

Day One on the football field. Arch’s flag football teams would win by such lopsided margins Cooper often subbed Heid in for him at the end of games.

Archie and Olivia were at every game, just as they were for May and Heid. And once Arch started playing varsity football at Newman, Archie made every practice.

I

immediately thought of that play. And I hadn’t thought about that play in years. It was unbelievable.”

Archie learned the importance of family support from his parents, Archibald “Buddy” Manning and Jane “Sis” Manning, while growing up in Drew, Mississippi, a farming community of 2,000 in the Mississippi Delta.

ARCHIE MANNING, former Saints quarterback, on grandson Arch Manning scoring a running touchdown

From age 6 on, the red-haired, freckle-faced Archie was immersed in sports, changing with the seasons basketball in winter track in the spring, baseball in the summer and football in the fall. He excelled in all of them. Sports served as a bonding agent for the family, a vehicle to create shared history

When I was playing peewee baseball, my mother would bring a chair from the house and sit all day watching me play,” Archie said. “Sometimes we’d have games morning, afternoon and night. If we were winning, the mothers wouldn’t want to change dresses. It was hot, of course, so they’d go home to throw them in the washer between games.”

St. Francisville, he asked Archie whether he could impart any wisdom from all those years under center at Ole Miss and with the Saints.

Archie seiz ed the moment. He launched into a soliloquy on the importance of leadership at the position, starting with his huddle presence during practice and games. Lower your voice. Speak with authority. Don’t let anyone else talk. Look everyone in the eye. Sell the play call. Be in charge. Command the huddle.

“Red,” Arch replied, using his nickname for his grandfather, “we don’t ever huddle.”

A chagrined Archie thought to himself, “Well, I’m old.”

A different game

The brand of football Arch plays today is exceedingly different than the one Archie played at Ole Miss in the late 1960s.

During Archie’s first year as the starter at Ole Miss, the Rebels passed only 40% of the time, and Archie threw eight touchdown passes in 10 games. By comparison, Texas last year was a true 50-50 run-pass split, and Arch threw nine TD passes in only 90 attempts as Ewers’ backup. The average offensive lineman on Archie’s Ole Miss teams was 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. Arch’s starting left tackle at Texas, Trevor Goolsby, stands 6-7, weighs 312 pounds and can reverse dunk a basketball.

“But he’ll still remind me of simple things: being a leader, being a good teammate, run from drill to drill, take care of your linemen. Mostly, he just reminds me to be a good guy.”

While the game has changed, the respective games of the two Mannings are actually quite similar

The speed and all-around athleticism Cooper inherited from Archie has been passed on to Arch. He reportedly clocked a time of 4.6 seconds in the 40yard dash during his high school days and was recorded going 20.7 mph on the 67-yard run against UTSA, according to Reel Analytics and Next Gen Stats. That’s significantly faster than his Super Bowl-winning uncles, Peyton and Eli, who ran times of 4.8 and 4.9, respectively, at their NFL scouting combines. “Arch got his grandpa’s athleticism,” Sarkisian said. “He can move.”

As a junior at Drew, Archie ran the mile relay and sprints where he clocked a time of 11.5 seconds in the 100-yard dash. In baseball, he hit .425 and attracted the interest of the Atlanta Braves as a shortstop prospect In basketball, he averaged more than 20 points a game.

At Ole Miss, Archie put on 20 pounds of muscle but didn’t lose his speed. As a junior, when he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, he passed for 1,762 yards and rushed for 502 yards and a team-high 14 touchdowns. His dual-threat ability was so rare at the time, Ole Miss head coach Johnny Vaught predicted he would “revolutionize the professional game.”

“Archie Manning played the game with an unmistakable flair,” wrote former Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger columnist Rick Cleveland in “The Mississippi Football Book.” “He was a strong-armed passer who could run when the situation called for it. And, both on and off the field, he always — always — conducted himself with equal parts class and dignity.”

Archie wants nothing more than for folks to say the same about his three sons and nine grandchildren. Without fail, he sends a text to Arch and the other Manning grandchildren and children every morning. The “Marvelous Mannings” thread serves as the family grapevine, and Archie kicks it off daily with a positive thought or aphorism.

“A kind word sure brightens someone’s day!!!!”

“Today is a good day to have a Really Great Day!!!”

“BE NICE to people for no reason!!!!!!!”

“His advice to me and, really all of us (grandchildren), is just be a good person,” Arch said.

Archie said his oldest grandson doesn’t need much guidance.

“He’s a sweet kid,” Archie said. “As an old coach used to say, he doesn’t have crap in his neck.

Blessed with the speed and athleticism of his parents and grandfather, Arch starred in Carrollton Little League games at the Fly and flag football games at Avenger Field Because of his speed, he played shortstop and center field and always batted leadoff on the diamond. He was the quarterback from

Ellen and Cooper showed similar dedication to their children, often splitting chaperone duties for travel team events across the Southeast. In addition to the big three sports, Arch also played tennis and swam at the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club. Archie and Olivia substituted as drivers whenever their services were needed.

In the summer before Arch’s sixthgrade year at Newman, Archie had his first serious quarterback-to-quarterback talk with him It would be Arch’s first season of tackle football, and, during a drive to a Little League game in

Archie realized quickly the most valuable role he could play for Arch would be as a supportive grandfather rather than a quarterback whisperer Unless Arch initiated it, he would leave the football advice to his coaches at Texas, head coach Steve Sarkisian and A.J. Milwee, the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“Receivers were in three-point stances when he played, so the game’s changed so much,” Arch said of Archie.

“I love my relationship with Arch because it’s not coaching. It’s not an old pro quarterback and a college quarterback. It’s just grandfather and grandson. That’s where it’s always been.” Dodging the spotlight

When Archie was 14, he penned an essay for his ninth-grade class about life in Drew He closed the piece with a pronouncement: “I have been blessed with a healthy body and mind. I stand five feet six inches tall and weigh one hundred-twenty pounds. I don’t know what I intend to be but plan to enter MANNING Continued from page 1C ä See MANNING, page 7C

SPORTS

Rice ushers in newULe

In 1982,Cajunsstar Verdin emergedvs. Owls

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

It’sfitting that UL will unveil the new OurLady of Lourdes Stadium at 7p.m.Saturday with the Rice Owls as the opponent.

In 1982,the Ragin’ Cajuns decided to leave the Southland Conference after it opted for Division I-AA status. So the Cajuns’season opener at Ricewas the program’sfirstgame as aDivision I-A independent. It was also the football world’s introductionto

wide receiver Clarence Verdin.

The former walk-on from South Terrebonne returned theopening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to ignite a21-14 road win over the SouthwestConference opponent.

“I’ll never forget it,” Verdin said.

Instead of staying in theSouthlandConference, the program had chosenanuncertainfuture and no one knew what to expect

“Everybody was excited about us stepping up andplaying apretty good team in Rice,” Verdin said. “People were saying, ‘Justkeep it close. Don’tgoout there and embarrass us, just keep it close.’ Iwas like, ‘Man, you must be out of your mind. This is showtime…and we went out there

Decision lingers

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler lookstomakeapass against the DenverBroncos during apreseason game on Saturdayatthe Caesars Superdome. The Saints ended their preseason witha28-19 loss to former Saints coach Sean Payton and the Broncos.

QuarterbackRattler’s

time is now... fornow

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Spencer Rattler had hischancetolock down the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback competition. Tyler Shough had his chancetostealthe spotlight Instead, the twoquarterbacks remained neck and neck after the Saints’ 28-19preseason loss Saturday to the Denver Broncos in theCaesars Superdome. Neitherquarterback definitivelycreatedthe separation that coachKellen Moore was hopingto see, and now the Saints end the preseason with achoiceon their hands. Does NewOrleans startRattler or Shoughwhenit plays for real Sept.7against theArizona Cardinals? After three preseason games, the stats reflect the tightnessofthe competition.Rattler postedan86.9 passer rating in three games toShough’s81.8. On Saturday, Rattler went 5of8 for43yards while Shough went 12 of 20 for102 yards with one rushing touch-

ä See SAINTS, page 5C

Jeff Duncan

I’ve seen enough. Kellen Moore might not be ready to namethe New OrleansSaints startingquarterback, but Iam. Spencer Rattler is the guy.He’s earned the right to start theseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals in two weeks. The second-year signal caller from SouthCarolina has been themost consistent, efficient and productive quarterback on the roster since the Saintsstarted training camp amonth ago. He opened camp as the starter with the ones, and his primary competitor,Tyler Shough, has been unable to unseat him Ifully expect Moore tonameRattler the starter when he and the Saints brain trust get around to making the decision later this week.

“Ultimately,Iknow Ihave to make adecision, andit’sa challenging one, because these guys have puteverything intothis,”Moore said. “They’ve been very,very close.

ä See DUNCAN, page 5C

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

Barion Brown realized he was fast as a sophomore at Pearl-Cohn High in Nashville, Tennessee.

Why then?

“Uh, Iwon state in the 100, 200 and the 400 (meters),” Brownsaid.

That speed helped make Brown one of the best kickoffreturners in the country at Kentucky.Inthree years, he scored an SECrecordfive touchdownsand setthe school mark for career kickoff return average at 30.33 yards.

SEASON PREVIEW

ä LSU at Clemson 6:30

“I’m fast,but you’vegotta have alittle patience,” Brownsaid. “Thenhit the hole and see daylight.” Brown’sarrival has given LSU another accomplished kickoffreturner,and it already had aproductive one in senior Zavion Thomas. With the two of them, plus redshirt junior Aaron Anderson, LSU may have an advantage on special teams.

“I will tell you that we are working diligently with the knowledge that we have game breakers,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “Weknow that they can flip the field.” That’s notthe only reason whyKelly thinks LSU could improve on special teams. Afteranotherseason with special teams problemsin2024, LSU madeafew changes. It parted with analyst Lester Erb —who Kelly had credited with designing schemes on special teamsfor the past three years and defensive analyst Bob Diaco became the defensive line coach at North Carolina after helping with special teamsduring his twoLSU seasons.

LSU then hired Grambling special teams coordinatorAmanAnand as asenioranalyst. Last year,Grambling tied for second in theFCS with sevenblocked kicks and four blocked punts. It finished 14th nationally in kickoffcoverage at 16.75 yards allowed per return.

“Whatever coach (Anand) got forme, I’ve just been taking the coaching, listening,”

On TV AUTO RACING

6:30 a.m. FIM MotoGP: GP ofHungary FS2

10:30 a.m.IndyNXT Series: The IndyNXT FS1

12:30 p.m. FIM MotocrossWorldChamp.CBSSN

1p.m. IndyCar:MilwaukeeMile 250 FOX

1p.m. The Michelin GT ChallengeUSA

4p.m. FIM MotocrossWorldChamp.CBSSN GOLF

6a.m. DP WT: Betfred British Masters Golf

11 a.m. PGA Tour:The TOUR Champ. Golf noon LIV Golf League: Team Champ. FS1

12:30 p.m. PGATour Champ.:Ally Chall. Golf

12:30 p.m. PGATour:TOURChampionship NBC

3p.m. LPGA: CPKC Women’sOpen CBS

3:30 p.m. LIV: Team Championships FOX

7p.m. U.S. Senior Women’sOpen Golf HORSE RACING

noon NyRA: SaratogaLiveFS2

4:30 p.m. NyRA: SaratogaLiveFS1

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

9a.m. LLWS:Third-PlaceGame ESPN

2p.m. LLWS: ChampionshipABC MLB

12:30 p.m. N.y.Mets atAtlanta MLBN

3:30 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at San DiegoMLBN

6p.m.Boston at N.y.yankees ESPN MEN’S SOCCER

8a.m.EPL: Brighton &HoveAlbionUSA

10:30 a.m.EPL: Man. U. at Fulham USA

1:45 p.m.Serie A: ParmaatJuventusCBSSN

8p.m.MLS: Kansas City at SeattleFS1 TENNIS

11 a.m. ATP/WTA:The U.S. Open ABC

2p.m.ATP/WTA: TheU.S.Open ESPN2

6p.m.ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open ESPN2 WNBA

6p.m.Indiana at MinnesotaCBSSN

Bechtstars forIowaState in win

By The Associated Press

DUBLIN RoccoBecht passed for twotouchdowns andran foranother score, helping No.22Iowa State beat No.17Kansas State 24-21 in theAer Lingus Classic on Saturday Becht was 14 for 28 for 183 yards. He found DominicOverby for a23-yard TD in the first quarter and passedtoBrettEskildsen fora24-yard scoreinthe third quarter

With 2:26 to go, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell had his team go foritonfourth and3atthe Kansas State 16-yard line.Becht found CarsonHansen for 15 yards and iced the game.

“He called agreat play,he gave me twoplaysand letme decide andIknew we were going to have achancetoget it,” Bechtsaid “We’ve worked on it in practice and it’sbeen working for us and we’re confidentwithitand Ihave trust in my guys.”

The Cyclones (1-0, 1-0 Big12) opened a24-14 lead in the fourth quarter after aturnover on downs by Kansas State at itsown 30-yard line. Becht finished the shortdrive with a7-yard touchdown run with 6:38 left.

Avery Johnson passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas State (0-1, 0-1).Healso had a10-yard touchdownrun in the second quarter

“I mean that’sthe thing, regardless of the outcome we have 11 games to play,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said.“We have our backagainst the wall, but now we’ve gottoreset andregroupand get ready to play.”

Johnson threw a65-yard touchdown pass to Jerand Bradley with 6:23remaining, but the Wildcats never got the ball back.

Both teams struggled to deal with wet conditions in thefirst

CAJUNS

Continued from page3C

and performed.’” Prior to that memorable kickoff return, no one knewofVerdin’s speed, dynamic personality or professional football potential.

TheCajuns suffered through a1-9-1 season with arun-first offense in1981, and Verdin caught only four passes for 42 yards During the offseason, coach SamRobertson brought offensive coordinator Lynn Amedee totown from Tennessee. The new offense called “Air Amedee” resultedin more explosive plays.

“When (Amedee) came in, I think everybody knew things were going to be different offensively,” quarterback Dwight Prudhommesaid.“Our defense was playing solid ball,but we had anew lease on life offensively.”

Prudhomme splittimewithDonnie Wallace at quarterback. In the matchup against Rice, Wallace played most of the game, securing thewin with an 8-yardTDrun in the fourth quarter

Verdin added a21-yard TD reception on ascreen pass. Defensively, Fred Dejean’sstop on fourth and 1 from the then-USL 21 and aChris Jacobs interception iced the win.

“Thatgameset thestandard for an exciting yearoffensively,” Prudhomme said. “Wehad bigger wins later that season against Northeast and Tech, butRice set the mood for the season.”

Listed as 5-foot-8 and160 pounds, Verdin alsohad a42-yard kickoff return to set up ascoring drive vs. Rice.

“That was agreat game forhim,” Prudhomme said of Verdin. “I’ll never forget that opening kickoff.” Verdin credits then-special teams coach Brad Roll forinspiring the unit.

“Coach Roll was so hyped,” Verdinsaid. “I never sawa special teams coach like that in my career in the NFL. He made you believe you were the best in the country.” Verdin knows how important that

half. Kansas State had two turnovers anda turnover on downs while Iowa State committedtwo turnovers in the first 30 minutes.

“Wejustmadesomegreat adjustments,” Campbell said. “We saw some things different in the first game and the opportunity to make someadjustmentsand to have the abilitytodothat,tohave the staffthat’sbeen togetherfor so long that we have the confidencetomake those adjustments.”

The Cyclones grabbed a14-7 lead when Becht foundEskildsen in the corner of the end zone with 1:07 left in the third quarter. Johnson respondedwitha 37yard touchdown pass to Jayce Brown, tyingitat14with14:09 remaining in the game Carson Hansen led Iowa State

game and 1982 season were to his 11-year professional football career

“Everynow and then, Iput on an oldvideoand watch it,” Verdinsaid “It was aspecial moment for me.”

Verdin was asmall running back at South Terrebonne from the small bayou town of Dulac.

“Guys down there didn’tplay football,” he said.“Theyworked on boatsorworkedoffshore. Ihad that dream to get off thebayou.”

Hisdream at the time was to play at Nebraska because of his hero JohnnyRodgers, but really all hewanted was achance.

First, Verdinneeded someone to open adoor

Oneday,Verdin andhis father were speaking to aSouth Terrebonne assistantcoach whodeclared if Verdin was 6foot, 190 pounds that “everyschool in the country would wanthim.”

For Verdin, the comment was the genesis of acarefully crafted scheme. He went home and asked his sister to type up aquestionnaire letter that listed him at 6 foot and 190 pounds, andhesent it to abunch ofschools

His artificial bait caught afish.

Oneday at school,Verdin was called into thecoaches’ office where he sawanassistant coach wearing aUSL Ragin’ Cajuns shirt. It was defensive assistant Don Lockwood.

“This ain’t theClarence Verdin

I’m coming to see,” Lockwood said.

“I said, ‘Yes sir,I’m so sorry,my mothermade amistake on the questionnaire,’ ”young Clarence Verdin responded

“Yeah, shemadeabig mistake,” said Lockwood, whoalso said Verdin could come for aone-week walk-on tryout.

In Verdin’s mind, he probably could get achance to play at Grambling orSouthern, but he didn’t wanttobecause “somanyguyslike me are there —fast and short.” He accepted Lockwood’soffer

In his first two seasons in Lafayette, theCajunswere running the veer and Verdin didn’tget much action.Then came 1982. Verdinsaid if Amedeehad coached offense for the Cajuns

with 71 yardsrushing on 16 carries. Joe Jackson had 51 yards on 12 carries for Kansas State.

“I thought thatthe (offensive line) did areally great job in the second half,” Campbell said. “Our tight ends ando-line did agreatjob of execution andman Carson is a really great player so we’re really proud of him.”

Iowa State has beat Kansas State in five of thepast sixseasons.

“I think those aregreat wins, anytime you can beat quality opponents that’sawesome,” Campbell said. “Wegot alongway to go, it’sonly game one and there’salot of football left and we’re going to have to seeifwe’retough enough as aprogram andteam to go home andget ready for agood South Dakota team next week.”

during allfourofhis years, “they’dhave astatue of me in front of Cajun Field.”

That may not be far from the truth.

“No doubt, he was that good,” former teammate Gerald Broussard said.“We didn’t know what to do withhim.”

In nine NFL seasons mostly with the Redskins and Colts, Verdin caught 82 passesfor 1,329 yards andseven touchdowns. As apunt returner, he had 178 returns for 1,650 yards andfourscores,and he returned 237 kickoffs for 4,930 yards and atouchdown.

HisNFL career followed two USFL seasons with the Houston Gamblers, where he caught 100 passes for 1,319 yardswith12 touchdowns from future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly

“I wasn’tsurprised at all,”Prudhomme said of Verdin’ssuccess

“I wasincampwithhim with the Gamblers andnothingsurprised me. He was an exceptional athlete with exceptional speed. As he developed, he startedcatchingthe ball more andbecame areceiver.” Abig reason Verdin got that op-

Henderson shares lead at CPKC Women’sOpen

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario— Canadian star Brooke Henderson holed out foreagle from agreenside bunker on the short par-4 17th to the delight of her large partisan gallery and shot a6-under 65 on Saturday forashare of the lead with Minjee Lee in the CPKCWomen’sOpen. The 2018 champion at Wascana in Saskatchewan, Henderson had theeagle, sixbirdies andtwo bogeys in breezyand cloudy conditions at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. Lee shot a65tomatch Henderson at 11-under 202. The Australian player chipped in for birdie on the par-4 eighth, made alongeagle putt on the par-512th. She ranin an 8-footer for another eagle on the 17th, then chipped in again to save par on the par-4 18th.

Philliesace Wheeler set forseason-ending surgery

PHILADELPHIA— PhiladelphiaPhilliesace Zack Wheeler was diagnosedwithvenousthoracicoutlet syndrome and will require additionalsurgery that’sexpected to sidelinehim forsix to eight months, the team announced Saturday

Wheeler hada follow-up evaluation following asurgery on Aug. 18 to remove ablood clot from his upper right arm.

After receiving asecond opinion, it was recommended Wheeler undergo thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the coming weeks. Sucha surgery would threaten Wheeler’sability to start the 2026 season on time.

Pop-Tartsunite

The matchup featured the past twochampions of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. To celebrate, the Frosted Wild Berry andFrosted Hot Fudge Sundae Pop-Tarts were on thesidelinesfor the showdown in Ireland.

Edwardsinjured Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards wasinjured in the first quarter on apunt that he muffed. He didn’treturn to the game.

Thetakeaway Becht looked like aveteran quarterback in thesecondhalf, leading his team with his arm and legs in acrucial opener

portunity with the Gamblers is the defensive line coach for Houston was Ray Alborn, whohappened to be theRice head coach in 1982.

As Alborn later told Verdin, when he sawthe Gamblers didn’thave Verdin high on theirdraft list,Alborn exclaimed, “You better get this kid. He single-handedly beat me.”

Now 62 andlivinginNew Orleans, Verdin is very grateful he got theopportunity to boost his career thanks to Amedee.Verdinremembers Amedee pullinghim aside one day at practice and saying, “I’m going to get you to the next level.

Amedee leftthe program after the1982 season.

“I’llnever forgetthe day he left,” Verdin said. “Whenheannounced he was leaving, Iwent in aroom and just cried. Iwas thinking my career was over.(Head coach) SamRobertson wanted to runthe ball. That’sjustthe kind of coach he was.”

With alot of time to reflect on his lifeduring Covid, Verdin decided he wanted to “find this man to tell him thankyou and that Iloved him for what he did forme.”

Amedee, whodied on May 20 of this year,called him back and the two reunited

“It was great talking to him,” Verdinsaid. “I hadn’tspoken to him in along time. He put me on themap. For somereason, he had alove for me. He would feedme theball. When Ilater heardhe passed, Iwas crushed.”

While Verdin hasn’tspent much time back in Lafayette, he hopes to attend Saturday’s bigopener against Rice.

“It’sanexciting timefor the program,” Prudhomme said. “I remember when there was Cajun Field and avery small athletic complex, and it was surroundedby cattle farms out there. Thewhole area has changed and it looks great. They’ve done agreat job.”

Andnoone knowswhatgreat things can come out of ahistoric season opener against Rice better than Clarence Verdin.

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

Wheeler,35, was 10-5 with a2.71 ERAin24starts in 1492/3 innings this season.His 195 strikeouts lead theNational League andhewas widely considered atop candidate in this year’sNLCyYoung race.

Xfinity Seriespointsleader Zilisch lands aCup ride

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Connor Zilisch paused to compose himself before wiping away tears, then spent thenext20minutes using his shirt as ahandkerchief. It was an emotionalpromotion at Daytona International Speedway,even if it wasone of the worst-kept secrets in NASCAR this season.

Zilisch, a19-year-old phenom who has seven victoriesinNASCAR’ssecond-tier Xfinity Series, officially landeda Cup ride for 2026 on Saturday.Itwas long expected to happen, so much so that Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marksjoked that“we’re here to shock the world with an announcementthatnobody saw coming.”

Marks said Zilisch signed amultiyear contract to drive full time forTrackhouse next year

DeChambeau, Rahm squads to meet in LIVteam final PLYMOUTH, Mich. Bryson DeChambeau made an 8-foot birdie putt on his finalholeSaturdayto beat TalorGooch and send his Crushers team into the LIVGolf League finalagainst Jon Rahm’s team and the Stinger squad from South Africa.

Rahm,whose Legion XIII narrowly got outofthe quarterfinals, defeated Phil Mickelson, and LegionXIII won thefoursomes match to eliminate the HyFlyers. LegionXIII had four team wins and Crushershad three as they were Nos. 1and 2inthe team standings this year They will be joined in theSundayfinalbyStinger, which beat Joaquin Niemannand his Torque team in the semifinals.

Ronaldo makes history with100 goalsfor 4clubs Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score 100 competitive goalsfor four clubs on Saturday, though Al-Nassr lost to AlAhli in apenalty shootoutafter the Saudi Super Cup final ended 2-2. The first-half strike at Hong Kong Stadium took the 40-yearoldtohis century for theSaudi Arabianclub, whichhejoinedin December 2022. It adds to his 450 goalsfor Real Madrid, 145for Manchester United and 101 for Juventus and moves Ronaldo ahead of the three players who hadscored 100times forthree clubs:Isidro Langara, who playedinSpain from 1930 to 1948, as well as Brazilian stars Romario andNeymar.

SAINTS

down and one fumble.

“I know I have to make a decision, and it’s a challenging one because these guys have put everything into this,” Moore said. “They’ve been very, very close.”

Entering Saturday, signs pointed to Rattler being in pole position to win the job. While Moore downplayed the significance of the second-year quarterback getting another preseason start with the first team, the reality was that Rattler was picked to start two of the team’s three preseason games. If he had done well enough to earn those reps, the logical assumption was Rattler could secure his status with a splashy performance.

But in three drives, Rattler didn’t have the kind of defining moment he had last week — when he led a game-tying touchdown drive in the final minutes of a tie against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Against the starting Denver defense, Rattler managed to lead the Saints to two field goals Chris Olave appeared to be his favorite target as they connected on three passes for 29 yards. The Saints first settled for a 56-yard field goal by Blake Grupe and later a 48-yarder

But there were opportunities that Rattler missed. On the Saints’ opening drive, his third-down pass to Brandin Cooks was broken up by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain — a play that could have benefited from Devaughn Vele’s size, though the recently acquired 6-foot-5 receiver did not play against his former team.

On the next series, Rattler was behind on a post route that Rashid Shaheed potentially could have taken for a touchdown if it had been completed.

“I want that one back,” Rattler said. “Just got to hit that one. I probably threw it a little early, but I just got to lead him because that’s a big play if we connected I told Shaheed I owe him one.”

Rattler’s third drive wasn’t better He was stopped short of the first down on a fourth-and-1 quar-

LSU

Continued from page 3C

Brown said “But any opportunity that I get to take it out, best believe I’ll be taking it out.”

Anand does not have the title of special teams coordinator, but that is essentially his job. And Kelly said he changed how LSU coaches special teams. It now organizes players into specific position groups, so gunners and upbacks get individual coaching. Then, the pieces are reassembled to practice an entire unit.

“I think he breaks special teams down to its fundamental form,” Kelly said. “Many coordinators that I’ve had at the position were much more unit-driven. Meaning, you send your 11 guys out on punt and you work on punt Or you send your 11 guys out on kickoff return, and all you do is kickoff return. We’re much more in pods.

“It has really resonated with our players in the sense that they really feel like they’re being coached from a technical standpoint.”

LSU needs the changes to work.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough runs for an 11-yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos during a preseason game on Saturday at the Caesars Superdome.

terback sneak, resulting in a turnover on downs The Broncos soon kicked a field goal to take a 13-6 lead.

If Rattler’s performance opened the door for Shough, the rookie didn’t sprint through it. It took Shough a few drives to settle in. Before his fourth series, Shough was spotty on throws, opted for checkdowns and committed a costly turnover when he fumbled inside the Saints’ 20-yard line Shough’s strip-sack fumble led to a Broncos’ touchdown when running back Audric Estime hit the hole for a 5-yard score.

Shough did find a rhythm. Just as he did after his pick-six in New Orleans’ preseason opener two weeks ago, the second-rounder bounced back impressively

Over the next 12 plays, Shough diced the Denver secondary as he methodically led the Saints down the field. Shough completed 6 of 8 passes for 57 yards, with the two incompletions the result of a throwaway and a drop.

To finally get New Orleans in the end zone, Shough took off on a read-option for an 11-yard touchdown. On the play, Shough scanned the defense and saw two defenders crashing in on running back Devin

Some parts of its special teams improved last season. LSU had an actual threat in the return game for the first time in Kelly’s tenure with Thomas, who finished second in the country with 633 kickoff return yards and scored a touchdown in the Texas Bowl Anderson also returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and kickoff specialist Aeron Burrell was an almost automatic touchback.

But, once again, LSU had issues. It ranked 112th in the FBS in punt return average with no touchdowns, unable to spring Thomas loose. When Burrell did not kick a touchback, LSU allowed 22.38 yards per return, which ranked 103rd in the country There were multiple malfunctions with the field goal team, and LSU was last in the SEC with an average of 39.6 yards per punt.

“Other than a couple of returns we had, we didn’t flip the field with our feet,” Kelly said. In other words, we didn’t flip the field very often with the punt game. We need to flip the field and put the pressure on offenses We didn’t do a very good job of that last year

“So as much as it is about

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Denver, Estime 8-45, Ehlinger

Badie 4-14, Watson 4-13, Harvey 3-4, Prentice 1-2, Mims 1-0. New Orleans, Shough 2-20 Neal 5-20, Miller 3-15, Haener 1-10, Akers 2-5, Edwards-Helaire 2-4, Jones 1-2, Rattler 1-0. PASSING: Denver, Ehlinger 22-31-1-198, Nix 10-14-0-110. New Orleans, Shough 12-20-0102, Rattler 5-8-0-43, Haener 5-9-0-37

RECEIVING: Denver, Sutton 4-83, Rowan 4-33 Badie 4-31, Krull 3-49, Newton 3-19, Watson 3-9, Bryant 2-19, Bandy 2-6, T.Franklin 2-5, Lohner 1-23, C.Jackson 1-20, Estime 1-8, Trautman 1-2, Harvey 1-1. New Orleans, Austin 3-34, Olave 3-29, Matavao 3-23, Shaheed 2-14, Neal 2-10, Wilson 2-8, Welch 1-21, Yarns 1-13, Stoll 1-12, Green 1-5, Pettis 1-5, Akers 1-4, Tipton 1-4. MISSEDFIELDGOALS: None.

Neal — creating the opening for Shough to pull it. The rookie’s instincts on such plays have been a constant all summer and the ability adds an extra layer to the run game.

Shough’s score, which cut Denver’s lead to 22-16, was what Moore needed to see. Rather than let the quarterback lead a potential comeback drive on the following series, the coach opted to put in third-stringer Jake Haener

Now Moore is left with one big decision.

The quarterbacks know the final choice isn’t up to them.

“For me, what I’ve put on tape I feel like it has been enough (to be the starter),” Shough said.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Rattler said. “I feel confident in what I’ve done.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt paras@theadvocate.com

returns, we gotta flip the field, too. And then let our defense get the ball back for our offense on a short field. Those are some of the things we’re really focused on.”

LSU tried to address its punting issues by signing Grant Chadwick, who averaged 43.4 yards per punt as a freshman last season at Middle Tennessee State. Kelly said Chadwick “has been really good all camp,” adding that he thinks Chadwick will be able to pin offenses deep the way LSU needs him to.

Chadwick also has a role on a field goal unit with two new players. Chadwick replaced Peyton Todd, who transferred to UL-Monroe after spring practice, as the holder And LSU has a new long snapper in fifth-year senior Jonathan Ferguson. They have to make things smooth for senior kicker Damian Ramos, which did not happen in a few critical moments last season. Using a Trackman simulator, director of performance innovation Jack Marucci helped Ramos increase his leg speed from 67 mph to 71 mph while trying to improve his distance.

Continued from page 3C

“We’ll watch (the game tape) tomorrow We’ll navigate it, and we’ll make the decision early.”

As has been the case throughout the preseason, the Saints’ 2819 loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday did little to delineate the competition. Rattler didn’t exactly light up the Denver defense, completing 5 of 8 passes for 43 yards for a 76.6 passer efficiency rating. More importantly, he managed the offense well against the Broncos starting defense and avoided negative plays. As much as anything, that might be the recipe for success this year because this Saints team figures to have little margin for error

just competing. We’ll see. Whatever the case may be, I’m going to be happy.”

“Obviously, it’s not my decision to make. I’m just trying to put my best foot forward. I feel confident (in my ability), but obviously there’s more out there to get.”

“Obviously, it’s not my decision to make,” Rattler said when asked about the QB battle. “I’m just trying to put my best foot forward. I feel confident (in my ability), but obviously there’s more out there to get.”

SPENCER RATTLER, Saints quarterback

If this QB competition were a boxing match, it would be decided on points. No one recorded a knockout. Three preseason games and weeks of workouts did little to separate the two. In three exhibition games, Rattler completed 69.7% of his passes (30 of 43) for 295 yards with one touchdown pass, one interception and one lost fumble. Shough completed 67.9% of his passes (36 of 53) for 333 yards and a touchdown. He also had an interception, a lost fumble and a rushing touchdown, which came Saturday on an 11-yard keeper around left end against Denver

“Obviously, it’s close, because we haven’t made a decision yet,” Shough said. “I think both of us have done a really good job, as far as week to week, day to day,

At the root of everything, Kelly thinks the specialists will be helped by the way the new coaching im-

It’s a difficult call no matter which way Moore goes. As I see it, Rattler has two things working in his favor His experience from a year ago is an important trump card for a veteran offensive unit that probably isn’t enamored with the idea of waiting for a starting quarterback to figure things out. Likewise, Rattler’s ability to extend plays with his legs will be crucial for an offense that might have issues upfront. Starting left guard Trevor Penning and right tackle Taliese Fuaga are nursing injuries, and the starting offensive line has looked ominously leaky at times throughout the preseason. While Shough has shown steady growth and improvement, he’s still not quite there. You can see the traits that led the Saints to select him in the second round.

The athleticism. The arm talent. The poise and maturity There’s a lot to like, but understandably, he’s still a little rough around the edges.

Throwing Shough to the wolves right now would be a mistake. At the risk of using a Dennis Allen analogy, Shough needs more time to bake in the oven. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Patrick Mahomes didn’t start as a rookie. Neither did Jalen Hurts. Those two guys have combined to win the last three Super Bowls. Shough eventually might be the man for the Saints, but he’s not now His time will come. Nothing he has done so far should diminish your or the Saints’ opinion of him

But, at least for now, Rattler should be the starter He’s earned it. No. 2 is No. 1.

Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.

proves the rest of the players around them. “Then, plug in some playmakers, right?” Kelly said.

“They all become, now better because we’re so much more technically sound in all those areas.”

Date

PAST THREE YEARS

2024: 6-4

2023: 1-6

2022: 0-7

PROJECTED STARTERS

Offense

WR Jacourey Duhon (5-9, 145, Sr.)*

WR Ashton Joseph (6-0, 165, So.)*

WR Shemar Tayor (6-2, 165, So.)

WR Brenden Miles (5-9, 155, Jr.)

OL Brandon Cormier (5-9, 260, Sr.)*

OL Hayden Easton (5-9, 240, Jr.)*

OL Kristian Owens (5-10, 250, Jr.)*

OL Xavier Dickerson (6-2, 310, Sr.)

OL Marcus Richard (6-1, 340, So.)

QB Keenan Brown (5-10, 185, Jr.)*

RB DaMarion Green (6-0, 210, Jr.)

Defense

DL Tyler yokum (5-10, 290, Jr.)*

DL Trilon Francis (6-2, 245, So.)*

DL James Jones (5-10, 330, Jr.)

LB Kaycee Sellers (5-9, 210, Jr.)*

LB Ky Sellers (5-10, 195, Jr.)*

LB Ansinneo Charles (6-4, 215, Jr.)*

LB Landon Anderson (5-11, 240, Jr.)

DB Jaymien Zenon (5-10, 175, Jr.)*

DB Khamari Jackson (5-10, 170, Sr.)*

DB Dylan Gay (6-2, 150, Sr.)

DB Tremaine Jones (5-9, 145, Sr.)

*RETURNING STARTERS

COACHES

Head coach: Hunter Landry (17-7)

Assistant coaches: Reggie Williams, Andre Gobert, Chase Malbrue, Jacob Jones, Dannie Harmon,Antonio Chapman, Lane Landry, Dexter Jones, Chris Davis,Trev Faulk, Jared Evans.

PREP FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

Lafayette Renaissance

What we know

Still a relatively new program, Lafayette Renaissance will keep ascending with an offense that boasts a tremendous group of skill players.

Junior quarterback Kennan Brown, whose father is on the coaching staff, is the leading returning passer in the area. Last year, he attempted and completed more passes than any local quarterback.

“Anytime you bring back a quarterback with game experience, that’s a plus,” said Tigers coach Hunter Landry, who oversees the offense “We have a few skill guys who made some plays for us, some youngsters.”

Jacourey Duhon and Ashton Joseph, a 6-foot sophomore burner already getting serious recruiting interest from colleges, return at receiver Brenden Miles began the year as a starter (injury) Shemar Taylor and Zion Batiste, another sophomore set to become a highly touted recruit, add size to the receiving corps (both are 6-foot-2)

If opponents load up with defensive backs, Landry has an excellent change of pace in running backs Jayden Polk and DaMarion Green, a junior with the makings of another future college player

“Green is a really good downhill runner,” Landry said. “Polk is dynamic. He can do anything from lining up in the slot to catching it out of the backfield.”

What we don’t know Landry expressed that the kicking game and offensive line are components that could prove crucial to success. Jayden Zeno replaces Hunter Hayes, the school’s first female football player, at kicker Every projected starter on the offensive line

weighs at least 240 pounds. The two new starters, Xavier Dickerson and Marcus Richard, are both at least 6-foot-1 and weigh over 300 pounds.

“We’ll go as our offensive line goes,” Landry said.

How we see it

LRCA got off to a 4-0 start in its first season competing for district honors and a playoff berth. The Tigers enjoyed a wild ride through District 6-2A, losing their opener to Lafayette Christian, beating Welsh and Lake Arthur by a combined seven points and dropping a 48-34 shootout to Notre Dame.

“I think a lot of our seniors got their feet wet last season and saw what Thursday and Friday night football games are like,” Landry said “They got a little taste of it and have worked really hard this spring and summer. Hopefully, we can come onto the scene, build off the experience and knowledge we gained last year and make a little run.”

The Tigers are expected to grow into a Class 4A program in the future, but they’ll be in a league again for at least one year with Lafayette Christian.

Landry added that his team has been working extremely hard, and he hopes the Tigers “can match up against some of the athletes (LCA) has.”

The LRCH program seems bound for success but the Tigers are focused on getting past the opening round of the playoffs this season.

“We like to tell our seniors that they don’t have next year,” Landry said.

Another name to watch is Dylan Gay a new starter in the secondary whose father, Randall “Blue” Gay, starred at Brusly High in the Baton Rouge area, signed with LSU and played cornerback in the NFL.

Mike Coppage

SCOREBOARD

Kaycee Sellers

LB, 5-9, 210, Jr.

The Sellers brothers, Kaycee and Ky, are the “heartbeat of the defense,” Landry said. Kaycee, who led the team in tackles, is a “coach’s dream” who only knows one speed. He is so aggressive that the coaches often have to pull in the reins in practice.

Jacourey Duhon

WR, 5-9, 145, Sr. Duhon is the leading returning receiver with over 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also a big factor in the return game.

Landry said the senior is a “safety valve” for QB Kennan Brown, who can take a swing pass 60 yards. Like Kaycee Sellers, Duhon always goes full speed in practice.

Kennan Brown

QB, 5-10, 185, Jr. Brown tossed nearly 30 touchdown passes last season.

Landry described him as one of the team’s hardest workers who has done a lot of film study.“Kennan knows what it takes,” Landry said. “He’s done a lot of speed work and is understanding where the ball needs to go a little quicker.”

Ky Sellers

LB, 5-10, 195, Jr. Ky Sellers does everything positionwise from outside and inside linebacker to safety An intelligent player with a high football IQ, he is trusted to get the defense in the correct position with pre-snap checks. “I’m super thankful to have the Sellers brothers,” Landry said.

Tyler Yokum DL, 5-10, 290, Jr. yokum is the main man along an experienced defensive front seven.“Tyler wrecks the backfield for us,” said Landry, who added that the nose guard is “super strong and a great kid to be around.

MANNING Continued from page 2C

some college. I hope to be someone my friends, teachers and parents won’t be ashamed of.”

His parents made sure he lived up to those words. His father instilled the Manning Way at an early age. He had four rules: Archie couldn’t talk back, he couldn’t bad-mouth anyone, he couldn’t brag about himself and he couldn’t quit anything that he started He fulfilled his commitments, looked people in the eyes when spoken to and always replied “yes, sir” or “no, ma’am” to his elders. For 13 consecutive years he never missed a Sunday school class at First Baptist Church.

Archie shunned the spotlight during his playing days at Drew High School and Ole Miss. When he led Drew to a thrilling 18-14 upset of archrival Cleveland in his final high school game, he nixed his sister Pam’s plan to hold a reception line at the postgame house party. During the height of Archie Mania at Ole Miss, he asked Olivia to refrain from wearing “Archie for Heisman” buttons to games. When Oxford restaurants played “The Ballad of Archie” on their sound systems after he and Olivia walked in to dine, he would cringe inwardly with embarrassment To escape the hoopla in Oxford and Memphis, he and teammates would sneak away to Natchez or other small towns in the region.

Arch has lived a similar experience at Newman and Texas, where by virtue of his famous last name — he has been a celebrity since junior high school when he was tabbed as the nation’s No 1 overall football prospect in the Class of 2023.

At Newman, Arch earned the starting quarterback job as a freshman but still rode the freshman bus to games with his fellow ninth-grade classmates and declined invitations to the upperclassman dinners. He intentionally hid near the back of the pack during the team’s pregame entrance to the field. Likewise, at the family-run Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux each summer he sat in the stands with the other high school campers during the Friday Night Lights skills competition rather than exert his VIP status to get access to the field.

At Texas, star cornerback Jahdae Barron said Arch persisted in performing traditional freshman duties by carrying Barron’s laundry to the equipment room after practice.

“He wanted to show me that he wasn’t better than anybody else, that he was still a part of this team and was only a freshman,” Barron said at the NFL combine in February. “He’s the humblest kid I know.”

Out of respect to Ewers, Manning declined to participate in the passing skills competition at the Manning Passing Academy with the other college quarterbacks until he moved into a starting role at Texas this offseason.

“That’s his nature,” Cooper said. “It’s always been kind of important to him to not get special treatment or be treated differently He just wants to be treated like a normal guy That’s his comfort zone.”

Arch tries his best to avoid the spotlight, but it’s more difficult today with the ubiquity of cellphones and social media. His every move generates headlines and internet traffic. When he lost his student ID as a freshman, the news went viral He is stopped regularly for autographs and selfies while walking to

class or going out in Austin. Wherever he goes, he is hyper-cognizant of being video-recorded surreptitiously

“It gets uncomfortable at times,” Ellen said “There are a lot of benefits that come with being a Manning and there are also detriments.”

Managing the mania

Arch Madness only will intensify this year Not only is he the starting quarterback but the Longhorns also are ranked No. 1 in preseason national polls. Vegas oddsmakers have installed him as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s all part of what Arch calls “undeserved attention.”

“I’ve only (started) two games, so I have a lot to prove,” he said. “I’m ready to play, I’ve always dreamed of playing in the SEC, so it’s a dream come true. Got to go play well.”

Few doubt that he will play well. He was so impressive in his limited appearances last season that many Longhorns fans wanted him to remain the starter after Ewers returned to health in Week 7 last season. His career statistics are 63 completions in 95 pass attempts for 969 yards and nine touchdowns, along with two interceptions. His passer efficiency rating of 184 would have led the nation if he had played enough snaps to qualify last season. He also ran for 108 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s a great guy. He’s a great teammate He’s got an unbelievable work ethic,” Sarkisian said. “And I think, if he stays true to himself, that’s going to help him navigate these waters as they present themselves.

We’ve got to do a great job of supporting him around him, as coaches, as players,

and ultimately I think he’s prepared for the moment. But now it’s just time for him to go do it and enjoy doing it, quite frankly.”

He’s such a great guy and just the perfect role model for me, the way he carries himself and cares about others.

To that end, the Mannings and Texas officials have tried to prepare him for the craziness ahead. They have strategically limited his media interviews and public appearances this offseason He knocked out his duties for the multiyear endorsement deal he signed with Red Bull earlier this spring and has conducted media interviews at only official settings such as the MPA and SEC media days. Undaunted, ESPN, The Athletic and Texas Monthly already have published or scheduled major profile stories on him. Undoubtedly, more are on the way as the Longhorns’ opening showdown against reigning national champion Ohio State approaches Aug. 30 One thing Texas won’t have to worry about is a self-inflicted social media crisis. Arch spends little time on any platform, his aversion perhaps a byproduct of his upbringing. Ellen and Cooper made the kids turn in their cellphones at 9 p.m. and charged them each night. Since opening his accounts five years ago, he’s posted five times on X and 19 times on Instagram, despite having more than 550,000 combined followers.

I was taught that good things happen to good people who work hard and put their head down, and that’s what I’m focused on right now. ”

ARCH MANNING, Texas quarterback, on grandfather Archie Manning

“I don’t really care about all that stuff,” Arch said. “I’m not a big media guy.” After two years on the sidelines, he is relishing the opportunity ahead of him. He spent the offseason honing his leadership skills and building a rapport with teammates. In May, he asked new Texas basketball coach Sean Miller for permission to sneak into the on-campus Moody Center so he and teammates could play pickup games.

In June, he flew to St. Louis to attend a football camp in support of teammate Ryan Wingo. And in recent weeks, he’s led post-practice walk-through sessions on the Texas practice field with teammates.

“He loves being ‘the dude,’ because now you’re supposed to speak out, you’re supposed to fuss at someone when they’re not doing something right, to talk to someone on the side,” Cooper said. “That’s all the things that he loves. And now he’s been able to do it without anyone looking over his shoulder going, ‘Hey, it’s not your team.’ ” When Arch needs football advice, Cooper, Peyton and Eli are just a text away He joked about how he reached out to Peyton for advice on the two-minute offense earlier this summer and received a multipart, 30-minute voice text from his detail-obsessed uncle.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders, so he doesn’t necessarily need my advice,” Peyton said at the MPA in June. “I’m very proud of him, how hard he’s worked. He’s put in a lot of time. He’s been patient He’s enjoying college. My advice is, enjoy the journey I’m looking forward to seeing him out there this year.”

Opportunity knocks

Archie purposefully has taken a step back as the big season approaches. An off-hand comment to a reporter about Arch’s draft status went viral for 24 hours earlier this month, and Archie was so dismayed by the kerfuffle it caused that he decided to shut down all future interviews and media appearances.

He knows firsthand the challenges that await Arch in the season ahead. The last thing he wants to do is exacerbate the challenge by causing a distraction.

“The SEC is going to be tougher than it’s ever been, so it’ll be a yo-yo, and the haters will come out,” Archie said. “I told him, just control what you can control. He’s pretty good about that. Peyton always put people in two categories: You get it or you don’t get it. Arch gets it. He’ll be fine.”

Archie’s final reminder to Arch this summer was a simple one: Don’t forget to have fun He knows how quickly the college years go by and wants Arch to embrace every aspect of the journey — the highs, the lows and everything in between

“He’s such a great guy and just the perfect role model for me, the way he carries himself and cares about others,” Arch said about his grandfather “I was taught that good things happen to good people who work hard and put their head down, and that’s what I’m focused on right now.”

Archie hopes to attend a game or two this season, but traveling has become more difficult in recent years. His severe neuropathy requires him to walk with a cane, and crowds can be problematic even with Texas supplying golf carts and suite accommodations. Still, he hopes to catch an early nonconference game in Austin and perhaps the Longhorns’ game against Mississippi State in Starkville He and Olivia will watch the Ohio State game from the comfort of his study

“What I pray for is that Arch stays healthy,” Archie said. “Mainly, I just want him to really really enjoy his college experience.”

No matter how it turns out, the messages in the Marvelous Mannings text chain will remain the same.

Newname. Aboldnew chapterfor kids.

Ourlegacyisdefinedbycaring forall children,and only children –with afoundation of innovation and compassion that has fueled themission of Children’s Hospital NewOrleans since1955.

Nowinour newchapteras Manning FamilyChildren’s,we move intothe next 70 yearswith a bold vision to make Louisiana anational leader in child health andwellbeing.

Announced in February, our extraordinarycollaboration with the Manning family –Olivia, Archie, Cooper,Peytonand

Eli –unites twochampionsof excellencewho shareadeep commitmenttoinnovation, compassion, andthe care and wellbeing of kids.

Together with the ongoing supportofour community, we will makeanevengreater impact on kids’health movingforward, helping ensurethat allchildren haveaccess to the expertand oftenlifesavingcaretheyneed, close to home

Discovermoreat manningchildrens.org

Boogie down with thebest during the Zydeco Fest

For everyone else, Aug. 3031 is Labor Day weekend.For zydecomusic fans, these are holy days of festival obligation. Seismic cultural shifts take root that weekend. St. Landry Parish and the surrounding countryside serve as the soil, where generations of accordionplaying families were born and continue to live.

The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music planted the seed in 1982. The Treasures of Opelousas, asocial group affiliated with Holy Ghost Catholic Church, were concerned that the music’spioneerswere dying.

Aflatbed trailer in asoybean

field in rural Plaisance served as the stage. Four hundred people came for an event they had never heard of —azydeco festival. Thenext year,4,000 people showed up. Forty-three years later,there are zydeco festivals across the United States and Europe.

The roster includes “TheBig Weekend,” held earlier this month in North Shropshire, England. The event featured Opelousas native and thirdgeneration accordionist Koray Broussard, RubenMorenoof Houston and at least ahalf dozen zydeco and Cajun bands based in theUKand Ireland.

PROVIDED PHOTO Rockin’ Dopsie Jr left, and the Zydeco Twisters perform at Festival International de Louisiane in 2023.Atrightis AnthonyDopsie.

That’sanother mission accomplished for the Zydeco Fest. Now,the big weekend that blazed atrail from the music’scradle to the world celebrates with these events: n Aug.30: The Original SWLA Zydeco Fest,Opelousas —After 43 years, the 12-hour,Saturday event is indoors at the Yambilee Building. The festival honorsits past and present with Grammy winner Chubby Carrier,C.J.Chenier,Geno Delafose, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr and the Zydeco Twisters,Leroy Thomas, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas and Rusty Metoyer.“Zydeco Unplugged,” anew feature, hosts aheritage tent for jam sessions,storytelling, Creole conversations, genealogy,dancelessonsand more.Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Playboys play the kickoff dance Friday night at Evangeline Downs Racetrack &Casino in Opelousas

n Aug.31: Creole Renaissance,Rayne —zydeco and its ä See ZYDECO FEST, page 4D

TASTETOWN

Does Lafayettehavethe most restaurantsper capita in thecountry?

BY JOANNABROWN Staff writer

Lafayettehas long been home to acelebrated restaurant scene. Acadiana’slargestcityisthe acknowledged capital of Cajun and Creole dining, offering some of the mostexciting foodie experiences in the world.

Lafayette diners can try Anthony Bourdain-approvedturkey wings fromLaura’sII, alittle plate lunch spot helmed by aJames Beardnominated chef. They can experience elevated regional cuisine at spots like Vestal, or enjoy inspired Cajun barbecue from meat markets and lunch counters. Recent decades have brought an enormous variety of flavors to the Lafayette area, from dumplings to award-winning Cuban sandwiches. And of course, every place in town still servestheir version of the “world’sbest” gumbo, crawfish étouffée or redbeans andrice.

The Lafayette restaurant community is so prolific and wellregarded, it has spawned an oftrepeated claim: that Lafayette has the highest number of restaurants per capitainthe country.

The source of theclaim has largely been lost to time. It has

been repeated without citation by theLouisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and by national organizations like Livability,which tracks quality of life in small-to-medium cities. Three monthsago, thetopic popped up again on the Foodies of Lafayette Facebook page, where commenters indicated that they were given that information in statistics courses at the UniversityofSouthwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in the early 1990s.

However,Lafayette has acompetitor forthe crown. According to a2009 article that ran in Baton Rouge’s225 Magazine, “it is often said there are morerestaurants per capita in Baton Rouge than any American city its size.”

So this is apopular claim —and adisputed one. Back in 2015, The Advocate’sMegan Wyatt explored the data in areport forThe Daily Advertiser.She found that at that point, Lafayette had 445

ä See CURIOUS, page 4D

N.O. rock photographer,hauntings historianbracesfor

Music photographer SidneySmith is reflected in abedroom mirror at his home in NewOrleans. All the photos that hang on the walls of his home are his work from years of photographing awho’swho of rock bands.

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

Sidney Smithisnot amusician, but he’slived arock ’n’ roll life. Several, in fact. He was arock photographer who embedded with the Allman Brothers Band, spent Mardi Gras withPaul and Linda McCartney andshot membersof LedZeppelin partying withProfessor Longhair He was amalestripper and a

four-timehusband. He’sthe founderofHaunted HistoryTours,New Orleans’ most prominent ghost tour company He’sagrieving father anda memoirist, which may turn out to be his final act. In January,Smith announced on Facebook that he’d been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer At 71, his medical history is extensive.He’sbeaten cancer

three times previously.Healso endureda hernia,astaph infection,sciatica, twokneereplacements, one hip replacement, two cervical fusions, two spinal fusions, vertigo,the removal of his gall bladderand tworotator cuff tears, which rendered his right arm unable to hoist acamera. “I managed to get through that,” he said. “But pancreatic cancer is alittle different.”

TRAVEL

‘Revitalized retro’ town of Bunkie agreat touriststop

Selfies,sweets andmorefound in Avoyelles Parish

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Bunkie, the city said to be named after atoy monkey is now atourist destination.

Yes, the same Bunkie that bordered either side of U.S. 71 with shuttered buildings not so long ago —the same place whose name was mocked by people throughout the state.

Now those same people are stopping for Instagram shots and selfies in frontof the city’sdowntown mural, eating homemade cakes in the cafe at Griffin’sAntiques &Main StreetMarket and parkingtheir RVsat Gator Grounds while their kids swim the lazy riverin the resort’swater park. That’sright. There’s an RV resort in Bunkie, andit also hasagolfcourse.As for the downtown, everything’sopenfor business these days. And one of the major businesses flowing through Bunkie is tourism.

The city isn’tthe butt of anyone’sjoke anymore.

“I’ve been calling Bunkie arevitalized retro town,” said Wilbert Carmouche, director of theAvoyelles Commission of Tourism “I think it’sthe perfect description, because that’sexactly what it is.”

Carmouche is right.

Though new businesses occupy the once closed buildings, the buildings still bear theoriginal proprietors’ names.Asfor the downtown businesses themselves, most are the same kindof novelty establishments that attract travelers on vacation. Or local travelerslooking for day trips.

Bunkie’srevitalization

startswith businessman Gregory B. Kojis, owner of Gibko Signs on theedgeof town.

“Greg’ssign shop builtall of this,” said Leslie Jusselin, owner of Griffin’sand Kojis’ business partner.“We have pictures of the beginning. There was nothing in here.”

Not so today.Jusselin and business partner Claire Pilgreen operate acafe at the front of Griffin’sat228 S.W Main St., where avariety of pies are made fresh daily The menu also includes a complete selectionoflunch items with po-boys on bread baked in-house.

The building nextdoorto the antique shop operatesas the market’sbakery

“The building next door used to be Mr.Fattie’sbarbershop,” Jusselinsaid.

“So, we kept the name. It’s abakery now,but it still has Fattie’sname on it, and we bake and cook all of our food there.”

As for Griffin’s, it’snamed for the 1904 department store that originally operated out of the building. And Hoover’sdown the street? It was onceHoover’s

Dry Cleaners at 202 S.W Main St but nowitoperates as Hoover’s5 &10, an old-fashioneddimestore, where shelves arefilled with retro candies, toys, soft drinks and other items from yesteryear

Through aselectionof novelty retro soft drinks, one in particular stands out: Bacon Soda

Tryitifyou dare.Then again, alot of customers are game to trya lotofthingsin this store,simply because it reminds them of the old five-and-dime stores from their childhoods.

“Greg told us that he visitedthe five-and-dime store in olddowntown Branson, Missouri, and askedhow they put theirs together,” Carmouche said. “Then he modeledhis store on theirs.”

Branson’s store, Dick’s 5&10, bills itself as the “Last of an American tradition.”

But Kojis’ Bunkiestore debunks that statement Griffin’s on the corner also houses an antiques and handicrafts mall behind its cafe and in itssecond story The store is one of several antiques shops located in the city’sdowntown area, but it’sthe only one that stands across from Griffin’s ServiceStation at 302 S.W. Main St. This isn’tjustany gas station —itoffers full service,meaning an attendant willgas up customers’cars while also wiping down windshields.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

The entrywaytoHoover’s5&10islocated along U.S. 71, which is Bunkie’sMain Street.

That’s notsaying customers can’tget out and

explore. In fact, Kojis, also the benefactor behind this enterprise, designedthe stationjust forthat.

Gaspumps stand on the backdropofa wall-sized postcardmural spelling out“Bunkie,” belowabannertouting the70vendors in the antique mall. Each letter in theBunkie spelloutfeaturesa landmark in thecity,and it’s allpictureready for group shots and selfies.

Alongside the station stands arow of retro gas station signs for the Shell, Standard Oil, Sinclairand Mobilcompanies, their placement just right for family group shots.

And on top of the pavilion sheltering the gaspumps is arestored blue ’57 Chevy, complete with tail fins and headlights that come on when thestation lightsup at dusk.

“They stagedagrand opening forthe station in early August, where they chargedonly 25 cents agallon forgas,” Carmouche

and store the image in your app.

said.

“They’ve also erected a large crossonthe edge of the station, which is lit up at night,and it’s absolutely beautiful. The gas station definitely is afavorite photo spotfor travelers.”

Forvisitors who want to spenda littletime exploring more of the area, there are severalovernight options. Of course,theycan take the 18-mile trek along La. 115 to Marksville,where accommodations usually are readily available at the Paragon Casino Resort’shotel or the Hampton Inn across the street

Along the same highway there’s also the Knights Inn Bunkie,3541 La.115, which offers42rooms, apool, gym andlaundry facility For those wanting to stay within the Bunkie area, the Evergreen Bed &Breakfast, 1461 La. 29, offers eight bedroom rentals at prices ranging from $200 to $600.

The establishment is a reproduction of the National Landmark Evergreen Plantation main housethat stands in near Wallace in St. John the Baptist Parish, its trademark feature being thewinding staircases on eitherside of its entrance. For RV campers, there’s Gator Grounds, 200 Golf Course Road, with its waterpark, indoor swimming facility andgolfresort. The park also offers acouple of cabins fortravelers without RVs.

Both Evergreen andGatorGrounds areowned and operated by Kojis. And for both day-trippers andovernight travelers, Bunkie offers avariety of locally owned eating options, including Rocky’s Tails &Shells at 126 Lyle Ave.,DugoutNeighborhood Grill at 124 Lyle Ave., Zapote Mexican Grill at 1023 N.W.MainSt.,Bunkie Pizza Shack at 412 N.W.Main St., Bernice’sSandwichShopat 911 S.W.Main St. and Sammy’sTruck &Auto Plaza, 3601 La.115.

The Facebook page, Bunkie Buz, makes it easy to plan atriptoBunkie,as thepagepromotes thecity’s Main Street tourist destinations andhappenings.

Visitors can also stop by the restored Bunkie Train Depotalong Main Street operated by the Bunkie of Chamber of Commerce, whichhas informationon all events in thearea,especially the annualLouisiana Corn Festival that place the second full weekend in June

Finally,for those interested in the area’shistory, there’sSt. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 409 St. John St. The parish was founded in 1904 to support Italianimmigrants in the area.

“Peopleare rediscovering Bunkie,” Carmouche said. “The city really does have a lottooffer.”

For more, visit travelavoyelles.com.

Email Robin Millerat romiller@theadvocate. com.

Christopher Elliott

Irented a2015 Hyundai Sonata from Turo in Myrtle Beach for three days. During my rental,the paint started to bubble, crack and peel, with flakes flying off while Idrove.The car wasn’tinvolved in anycollisions or struck by anything.This was clearly due to apoorquality paintjob,not any actions on my part. Iimmediately reported the issue to thecar owner and Turo. But instead of acknowledging the problem,Turo blamed me and charged me $500 for anew paint job.Turo insists Iwas responsible because the peelingoccurred during my rental period. This experience has shaken my trust in Turo’scommitment to fairness andcus-

tomer satisfaction. Can you help me getmy money back? —Latisha Thompson, Groton, Connecticut

Idon’t see how you could be held responsible for peeling paint on acar you rented from Turo. Imean,ifyou had collided with another vehicle and thepaint was peeling, then yes, perhaps then.

Butyou showed me pictures of your car, anditlooked like apaint job gone wrong. So what happened? Your recordsshowthat Turo had charged youa$500 deposit when you rented the vehicle.

After you returned theSonata, Turo’sclaims team sentyou an email that said the owner had filed aclaim to repair the paint on

theroof. Since you declined Turo’soptional protection, you were liable for the damage, according to Turo.

Yousigned an agreement that said you arefinancially responsible for “all physical damage toor theft of abooked vehicle that occurs during atrip” including any additional costs and fees resulting from damage, regardless of who is at fault. In other words, while thedamage wasn’tyour fault, you were still responsible.

Turo strongly recommends that you take“before” and “after” photos of your car.Iteven has afeature on its app called Trip Photos that allows you to do that

Ithink this is brilliant, because if you can prove the car wasdamaged before you rented it, you’re far less likely to face asuccessful claim by yourhost.

Why didn’tyou spot this damage when you picked up the car?

Yousay the vehicle looked “very glossy and shiny” as if someone recently painted it. The paper trail between you and Turo shows that the company was unconvinced. Abrief,polite email sent to one of the Turo managers Ilist on Elliott.org, my consumer advocacy website, might have led to a reversal of this $500 charge. Ithink there wasenough reason for Turo to take another look at

this claim. It’s hard to imagine you did anything to the vehicle to cause the paint to peel like that. Something just felt off about it. So Icontacted Turo on your behalf In response, Turo sent you an email that it had decided to drop the matter

“Weare pleased to inform you that we will be closing the claim and you will not owe anything for damages at the present time,” it added.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email

AT THE TABLE

Memories andmorefrom7steak andgravy recipe

BY DEBRA TAGHEHCHIAN Contributing writer

My siblings and Iweresome of the first kids to get on the businthe morning and the last to get off in theafternoon. Because our home was located on the outer edges of the school zoningarea, our trip was long, and we couldn’t wait to getoff of the hot, bumpy bus ride at home.

Mr.Bouillion, our bus driver,dropped us off at the end of our longgravel driveway,and we walked up the slight hill to our old Acadian home on the farm. After alengthy day at school and that ride home, we were usually hungry

At about 200 feet away from the doorway,like agenie’sfingers pulling us in, the aromas of dinner drew ustothe kitchen. On tonight’smenuwas riceand gravy,Ijustknew it. There is nomistaking that delicious scent.

“Hey Momma, what are we havingfor supper tonight?” Iasked anyway

“I made rice and gravy.Wehavesome smothered okra, corn macque choux and cabbage, too,” she replied Now,itmight be calledrice and gravy by everyone from around thissouthwest Louisiana area, but we all know we are talking about meat that has been browned and braised in aheavy aluminum pot or acast-iron Dutch oven Diced onions and bell peppers are added and sautéed. Add water,and themeat is braised until tender. The meat with its gravy is then served over abed of white rice.

The cut of choice for this braise is locally referred to as “7 steak.”Its namesake comes from the boneshaped like the number seven. The cutofmeat is beef shoulder steak. On ourfarm, we raised our own cattle for beef, and we chose younger cattle to slaughter. The meat, referred to as babybeef, was slightly sweeter and more tenderthan heavybeef, making it thebestchoice for this braise.

If you are in our area andhappen upon alocal restaurant servingriceand gravy,just know that you areabout to have astick-to-your-ribs kind of delicious meal. Along with the rice, gravy and meat, sides are usually beans, black eye peas, corn or other vegetables. My family liked to serveasimple, fresh cabbage slaw dressed lightly with vinegar and seasoned withsalt andpepper along with this entrée.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Aug. 24, the 236th day of 2025. There are 129 days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On Aug. 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew smashed into Florida; the storm resulted in 65 deaths and caused more than $26 billion in damage across Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas.

Also on this date: In 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces invaded Washington, D.C., setting fire to the still-underconstruction Capitol and the White House, as well as other public buildings

In 1912, Congress passed ameasure creating the Alaska Territory

In 1932, Amelia Earhart embarked on a19-hour flight from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey,making her the first woman to fly solo, nonstop, from coast to coast.

In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty came into force.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Communist Control Act, outlawing the Communist Party in the United States.

In 1989, Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti banned Pete Rose from the game for betting on hisown team, the Cincinnati Reds. In 1991, in response to a coup attempt by hard-line Communist leaders attempting to reassert control over the Soviet Union, Ukrainian parliamentarians voted to approve aDeclaration of Independence for the state of Ukraine.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto was no longer afull-fledged planet, demoting it to the status of a “dwarf planet.”

In 2012, aNorwegian court found Anders Behring Breivik guilty of terrorism and premeditated murder for twin attacks on July 22, 2011, that killed 77 people; he received a21-year prison sentence that can be extended as long as he is consid-

7Steaks in aGravy

Serves 4

2tablespoons vegetable oil

2beef “7 steaks” (shoulder steaks)

1teaspoon red cayenne pepper

2teaspoonssalt

1teaspoon granulated garlic

1large onion, mediumdiced 1medium green bell pepper,medium diced

1. In alarge, heavy-bottomed pot or acast-ironDutch oven, add oil to the potand heat over medium-high heat until hot.

ereddangeroustosociety

In 2018, thefamily of ArizonaSen. John McCainannouncedthat he haddiscontinuedmedical treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer;McCain died the following day In 2019, policeinAurora, Colorado, responding to areport of asuspicious person, used achokehold to subdue ElijahMcClain, a23-yearold Black man; he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and was later declared brain dead and taken off life support. In 2020, Republicans formally nominated President DonaldTrump for asecond term on the opening day of ascaled-down convention; during avisit to the conventioncity of Charlotte, North Carolina,Trump tolddelegates that“ the only way they can take this election awayfromusisifthis is a riggedelection. ”

Today’sBirthdays: ComposermusicianMason Williams is 87. R&B singer Marshall Thompson(The Chi-Lites)is 83. WWE co-founder Vince McMahonis80. Author Paulo Coelho is 78. Actor Anne Archer is 78. Author Alexander McCall Smith is 77. ComposerJean-Michel Jarre is 77.AuthorOrson Scott Card is 74. Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson is 73. Actor KevinDunn is 70. Former Arkansas governor and political commentator Mike Huckabeeis70. ActorwriterStephen Fry is 68. Actor Steve Guttenberg is 67.BaseballHallofFamer Cal Ripken Jr.is65. Actor JaredHarris is 64. Talk show hostCraigKilborn is 63. Actor MarleeMatlin is 60. Basketball Hall of FamerReggie Miller is 60. Film director AvaDuVernayis53. Actor-comedian DaveChappelle is 52.Actor James D’Arcyis51. Actor Carmine Giovinazzois52. Actor AlexO’Loughlin is 49. AuthorJohnGreenis48. Actor Chad MichaelMurray is 44. Actor Rupert Grint is 37. Basketball playerKelsey Plum is 31.

2. Season the steakswith red cayenne pepper, salt and granulatedgarlic

3. Add meat to the pot in a single layerand brown the beef on both sides until the meat is deeply caramelized. Remove meat andset aside

4. Addthe diced onions and bell peppers.Sauté the vegetables. Scrap thebottom of thepot as yousauté the vegetables.

5. Return themeat to the pot, placing steaksontop of the vegetables. Addwater to just cover themeat, then cover thepot andreduceheat to medium.

6. Cook covered,adding water as needed until the meat is tender. This maytake about1 hour,depending upon the ageofthe beef being prepared.

7. The gravyshould notbe too watery.Cook to reduceto agravythatwill coat therice.

Go aheadand reciprocate, already!

Dear Miss Manners: We have afriend who frequently invites us by for brunch. She has alovely,immaculate, pet-free and pristine home. We feel as though we should reciprocatethe invitation.

However,our home is the antithesis of hers: small, cluttered and quite pet-friendly We want to invite her over,but we feel that she would not be comfortable in our home. Plus, she often doesn’t even eat much of the food that she serves at brunch, so we aren’teven sure of her dietary preferences.

Should we not worry too much about these things and go ahead with an offered invitation? We don’twant to put her on the spot,but we also don’twant her to thinkweonly want to see her in her own home.

Gentlereader: Presuming that one’s homeorfood will never be good enough for an exceptional host has left manyanexceptional host exasperated and resentful that their generosity is never reciprocated.

Miss Manners therefore insists that you invite this friend over immediately.Clean your house, inquire about allergies (both pet and food) and do your best. Your friend will no doubt appreciate theeffort. Because for all you know,the minuteyou leave her pristine house, the crammed closets burst open and the critters run fortheir lives.

Dear Miss Manners: My husband and I were going on vacation forour anniversary.When our neighbors learned we were renting atwo-bedroom,twobathroom condo, they invited themselves along. We didn’tknow how to say no, but were abit encouraged by thethought that our rental would be cheaper shared.

The couple, unknown to us, thought thetrip was free forthem.They kept tellingeveryone we metthat they were on afree vacation,when we’d paid nearly $3,000 forthe accommodations. They did not pay apenny, nor have they offered.

Arewewrong forthinking this was rude? How can we politely ask them to pay aportion of the costs?

Gentlereader: First, Miss Manners must teach you how to say no po-

Thinkminimally

litely Inviting oneself on an anniversary trip is already appalling. Expecting it to be paid forisbonkers. What you could have said at the timewas, “This is an anniversary trip, but we would be happy to figure out an occasion to vacation with you. Perhaps when it is the anniversary of us being neighbors?”

But if you really feel that you had no choice and now want somecompensation out of the deal, you can still tell them,“Youknow,I should have said so in the first place, but we were not expecting to have guests forour anniversary trip. However, since you came along, your half of the condo is XYZdollars.”

Do not pose this as aquestion. And if they balk at it and push back? Tell them the polite no that you should have told them in the first place.

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

Dear Heloise: Inoticed several people have written about items that you can give to agraduating student to taketocollege (a hammer,nails, atool kit, etc.). Has everyone forgotten that thecollege will have maintenance people who already have these tools and will help studentsif they need to assemble things?

People mean well, but don’toverload kids with thingsthat they’ll most likely never need or use. They are only atemporary resident of their college dorm.It’snot as though they’re going to be needing abunch of tools, abig first-aid kit,and abunch of other things.

Think in minimal terms: alaundry bag, an alarm clock, soap (for both laundry and their body),and other things that are easy to pack and cause less clutter.After thefirst month, thestudentswill have a better idea of what they really need. —Scott W.,inLubbock,Texas Doggydoo-doo

Dear Heloise: Ilove dogs and have two rescue babies. Every time Iwalk my dogs, Ipick up after them instead of leaving poo on aneighbor’syard. Yesterday one of the neighbors walked their dog past my yard and let their dog use my frontlawn as his bathroom.Then they just walked off. Iknew where he lived, so Itook ashovel and scooped up thedog droppings. (And

it was rather large, but so wasthe dog!) Idumped it on his front porch. Just as it slipped off my shovel, he opened his door,and I pointed to the poo and said, “You forgot something.”

I’mtired of people who do not pick up after their dogs. If you walk your dog, then makesure to pick up after your pet. It’s not the pet’sfault; it’sthe owner’s responsibility —WalterF., in Flagstaff,Arizona Walter,I agree with you. If you have apet, you need to take responsibility fortheir actions, which includes picking up poo! Heloise Scrubbingcarrots

Dear Heloise: About peeling carrots, whypeel them unless they are severely blemished? Ijust scrub them with avegetable brush, and they don’tget

slippery —R.J., in Wisconsin Waterconservationhint

Dear Heloise: Ilive in aCalifornia, where every drop of water must be saved. When Ineed ahot cloth for wiping, instead of waiting forthe faucet to produce hot water,I soak it in cold water and put it in the microwave for10-15 seconds. Isave alot of water this way. —Rick T.,inNipomo, California Ahot reminder

Dear Readers: It’s still hot out there very hot! So, makesure you’re still bringing your pets inside. If you want to walkyour pets, wait until at least an hour after sunset forthe sidewalks and streets to cool off. —Heloise Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

A positive person by nature, in late June, he still thought he might outlive his prognosis.

“They tell me that I’m not going to live out the year which I find kind of hard to believe,” he said June 27 “Maybe I’ll be one of those that breaks the odds.” Weeks later, he’s not so confident. His weight loss has accelerated. On Aug. 13, he was hospitalized with complications related to pain management. Since returning home, he’s often extremely fatigued. He is on oxygen and receiving IV infusions of fluids and vitamins “Intolerable” days are becoming the norm. After his diagnosis, friends convinced him to write a memoir He divvied up his life into the 21 chapters of “Being Sidney,” augmenting his stories with more than 200 photographs from his archives.

“Being Sidney” is set for publication in mid-September He hopes he lives long enough to see it Running away with the Allmans On a hot afternoon this week, Smith was at home in the Broadmoor neighborhood, being attended to by Laurie O. Dawes, a friend since kindergarten.

Wanting to show visitors proofs of “Being Sidney,” he was frustrated to find his downstairs office computer turned off. These days, he has little tolerance for wasted time. Just inside his front door is a signed note for anyone who might find him unresponsive: “Do not resuscitate.”

His house is a gallery of rock ’n’ roll greats. Upstairs is a shrine to the Beatles. Smith’s own photos lining a downstairs hallway trace a chronology of Jerry Garcia in 1972, Bruce Springsteen in ’74, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page in ’75 and Tom Petty in ’76.

He inherited his first camera from his father, an art teacher at Alcee Fortier High School, which Smith also attended. The Warehouse, the grungy brick concert venue that stood on Tchoupitoulas Street, offered a teenage Smith ample opportunity to photograph music legends.

“The Warehouse was the Fillmore East of the South,” he said, referring to promoter Bill Graham’s famous New York venue. “It stunk and it was crowded, but we loved it.”

He ingratiated himself by taking pictures of roadies as well as musicians; the roadies gave him backstage and stage access. His photos turned up in national music magazines.

In November 1970, at age 16, Smith snuck into Tulane University’s homecoming dance to photograph an up-and-coming Southern rock band called the Allman Brothers. The Brothers took an immediate shine to him.

“I wasn’t some hotshot photographer I was a kid with a camera I was pretty damn naive.”

Off and on for years, he traveled with the Allmans, photographing them backstage, in hotel rooms and at their compound in rural Georgia. Smith identified with the 2000 movie “Almost Famous,” the semiautographical account of Rolling

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

restaurants and a population of 124,276, giving the city 3.58 restaurants per 1,000 residents

This ranked Lafayette No 4 in the state for restaurants per capita, behind Houma, Baton Rouge and Monroe but ahead of New Orleans, which held the No. 5 spot.

We’re taking another look What does Lafayette’s restaurant sector look like today, and has it now claimed the banner of “most restaurants per capita?”

The Lafayette of the 1980s and 1990s had a sharply different restaurant scene, according to chef Patrick Mould, who has cooked at notable Lafayette institutions like Charley G’s, Cafe Vermilionville, Hub City Diner and City Club at River Ranch.

“Back in the day, it was all independent restaurants,” he said. “You hardly had any other kind, outside of McDonald’s and Burger King.”

During the oil boom years, Lafayette was also reported to have a large number of wealthy citizens.

A 1981 article from The New York Times called Lafayette the “home of a thousand millionaires.”

So, it’s possible that Lafayette did at one point have the most restaurants per capita — or at least, the most independently owned restaurants.

Today, the numbers look a little different. According to data compiled in the 2024 Lafayette Parish

Stone writer Cameron Crowe’s adventures as a fresh-faced teenage journalist on the road with a rock band in the 1970s.

“That,” he said, “was my life.”

Carnival with the McCartneys

In November 1974, Smith attended a George Harrison concert in Baton Rouge. Emotionally overwhelmed to be in the same building as a Beatle, he shed tears.

Two months later, a press agent called him from New York. Would he want to shoot Paul McCartney’s “Venus and Mars” recording sessions at Allen Toussaint’s Sea-Saint Studio in Gentilly?

Driving to Le Richelieu Hotel in the French Quarter, Smith kept telling himself, “I can’t cry I’ve got to hold it together.”

Joe English, a drummer Smith had met through the Allman Brothers, introduced him to McCartney at the hotel pool.

“It was a slow-motion walk for me,” Smith said. “There was Paul McCartney in his bathing suit with his wife, Linda. He’s looking at my photos and commenting on them, and I’m having an out-of-body experience.”

He spent the next few weeks photographing McCartney at SeaSaint, as well as Paul and Linda’s Mardi Gras adventures, costumed as clowns. It was a dream come true.

When McCartney hosted a wrap party aboard the Mississippi River boat Voyageur, Smith shot 40 or so rolls of film. As the party ended, he set down his camera bag to savor the moment.

It was promptly stolen.

He’d tucked two rolls of film in his shirt pocket; another was in the camera around his neck. But the rest of the film he’d shot, along with most of his cameras and gear, was gone.

Business List by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, the city of Lafayette has around 289 restaurants in total both full-service restaurants and limited-service spots like Subway, Taco Bell and other fast food joints.

Those numbers don’t include places like meat markets, specialty grocery stores, home businesses and food trucks that offer great meals, showing how complex it is to track every place where you can find delicious food in Acadiana.

LEDA sees Lafayette restaurants as a key, but often overlooked, economic engine for the region. According to Mandi Mitchell, LEDA president and CEO, “restaurants are sophisticated entrepreneurial ventures that require tremendous skill in operations, finance, marketing and customer service.”

“For residents looking to support local business, dining at our locally owned and operated establishments is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to keep dollars circulating in our local economy,” she said.

Looking at total restaurants, today Lafayette has 2.38 restaurants per 1,000 residents down from a decade ago, when Wyatt found 3.58 restaurants per 1,000 residents. Wyatt tracked total numbers, including chains and fast food restaurants.

Removing the fast-casual chains in the limited-service category, Lafayette goes down to 1.82 restaurants per 1,000 people.

Total restaurant data for the same period was not available

Smith was devastated: “I lost my innocence that day.”

Disillusioned, he abandoned his dream of becoming a full-time rock photographer

Stripper-grams and ghosts

Shifting gears, he founded Merry Minstrels Singing Telegrams. He specialized in “stripper-grams,” bursting into song in offices, bars, homes and hospitals in various states of undress.

“This was in the ’70s, ’80s and even into the ’90s,” he said. “I was stripping longer than I should have.”

Realizing that “I can’t be a 70-year-old stripper, but I can be a 70-year-old tour guide,” he launched Haunted History Tours in 1995.

From French Quarter ghost tours, Haunted History expanded to cemetery, true crime, voodoo and vampire tours. The company hosts over 100,000 customers annually Smith conducted tours early on, but soon realized his strength was in marketing and running the business. He hired guides who were also actors and storytellers. “Everybody,” he says, “loves a ghost story.”

A ‘Hugh Hefner’ arrangement

He always sustained his love for, and connection to, rock ‘n’ roll. He eventually picked up his camera again. He befriended the next generation of Allman Brothers offspring and, in 2019, published a book of his Allmans photography He was an early promoter of child prodigy Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, now Jon Batiste’s touring guitarist.

Along the way Smith was married four times. After his fourth divorce, he shifted to a more loosely defined domestic model: “I recon-

for Baton Rouge, but Visit Baton Rouge has compiled an updated list that puts them at 2.02 restaurants per 1,000 people.

According to 2018 data compiled by the newspaper’s Ian McNulty and Jeff Adelson, Orleans Parish had 1,216 restaurants and a population of 362,701, which means it has approximately 3.35 restaurants per 1,000 people. Of those, 605 were full-service restaurants, 476 counter-service or fast-food eateries and 135 bars serving food from their own kitchens.

Lafayette Travel also maintains a restaurant guide. Using their data, centered on locally significant spots and excluding fast food chains, Lafayette is at 1.51 restaurants per 1,000 people.

“Our food is part of who we are and how we live,” said Ben Berthelot, CEO of Lafayette Travel. “Our locally owned restaurants play a key role in the visitor experience. They are the reason we have been named best food city in the U.S., tastiest town of the south and many other accolades.”

There may be a clue there as to why people are so eager to believe that Lafayette has the most restaurants per capita. We don’t lack for places to grab a meal, fast or sitdown, and we have a robust food culture with strong local pride in the wide range of Cajun and Creole restaurants. In that category, Lafayette is truly the hub city.

“People are genuinely excited about Lafayette’s restaurant scene because it offers something unique,” said Jason Stoner, one of

structed my life in a Hugh Hefner type of situation.”

Meaning multiple girlfriends simultaneously, generally decades younger than him.

“I’m extremely honest with everybody in my world. I don’t lie to anybody.”

Pictures of his girlfriends decorate the invitations to Smith’s legendary birthday bashes.

The parties, set in and around his lush backyard and pool, feature live bands, loads of crawfish and celebrity guests. In recent years, he’s issued wristbands to help control the crowd. He didn’t throw a birthday party this May, largely because of his cancer diagnosis. But he was also preparing for court.

Remembering Justin Smith’s son Justin was born in 1981. As an adult, Justin struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse.

He and his father were extremely close. Justin lived in an upstairs bedroom of Sidney’s house and helped market Haunted History Tours, even as he sometimes didn’t take his psychiatric medication.

In June 2023, Justin, who was 42, disappeared. His frantic father spent weeks looking for him, only to discover that his body had been at the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office for 25 days. Justin had died of a drug overdose without any identification.

“Nothing is a greater tragedy than losing a child,” Smith said “And my son Justin was a beautiful person. He was an artist. He was a kind soul and he died way too soon.”

Angered by the delay in identifying Justin’s body and that it was allowed to decompose at the morgue, Smith sued coroner Dwight McKenna, alleging negligence. In July,

the co-directors of the Foodies of Lafayette Facebook forum. “This area is the only place where you can find authentic Cajun food. Our chefs and restaurant owners are not just cooking, they are preserving a culture.”

Mould agrees. He said, “It’s amazing how, after all these decades of Cajun food being hot, it’s still hot. We have a reputation for great restaurants in Lafayette, and I think it all goes back to our original Cajun and Creole cuisine, thanks to guys like Paul Prudhomme who became so hot. We’re still riding that wave.”

And Lafayette has something else in its corner: a deep bench of restaurant talent that continually brings new energy to the dining scene. Said Mould: “Generationally, we’re still producing chefs in this region. We have a whole cadre of young talent that keeps coming up through the ranks, and that keeps the food fresh and dynamic and appealing to folks. And if you know how to produce good, highquality food, you can be successful in Lafayette owning a restaurant.”

Louisiana culture editor Jan Risher contributed to this report. Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com. Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

Civil District Court Judge Marissa Hutabarat found McKenna’s office was liable for “outrageous and reckless” misconduct.

That wasn’t the end of Smith’s crusade.

Earlier this month, he took the unprecedented step of securing an injunction from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill that prohibits the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office from handling his own remains. Smith’s previous lawsuit created a potential conflict of interest, Murrill agreed.

So a coroner from a different parish will collect Smith’s body when the time comes.

‘Being Sidney’ a little longer

Despite making his living from ghost tours, Smith isn’t sure ghosts or any sort of afterlife exists.

“I believe that there’s something out there,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen to me when I’m gone. I would love to think that I would be reunited with loved ones. It’s a lovely thought, a very romantic thought. But no one will be more surprised than me if that happens.”

That said, he’s “totally OK” with his terminal diagnosis “It is what it is. I would love to live, like anybody else.

“But I’m not afraid or anything like that. I’m good to go, if that’s what happens.”

Appropriately enough, he’s “Being Sidney” until the very end

“If I die tomorrow, I will have had a great life. I am happy with who I am as a person. I’m happy with what I’ve done for others.

“Somebody told me the other day that people leave my life a lot better off than they came into it. And I would like to think that’s true.” Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.

ZYDECO FEST

Continued from page 1D

predecessor, Creole La La, go back to the 1800s in the family of the ever-popular “Zydeco Boss” Keith Frank. Frank headlines the Sunday event, which also includes his father Preston Frank, Next Gen Zydeco, Horace Trahan, Poncho Chavis, Zydeco Force, Step Rideau and J. Paul Jr Veteran players Jude Taylor, Major Handy and Morris Ledet are honored in the annual “Creole Stomp” segment. n Sept. 1: Labor Day Jam, Lebeau — More than 30 years ago, Step Rideau left his St. Landry Parish hometown of Lebeau for Houston. Rideau and his zydeco Outlaws band helped to establish the region as a zydeco hotbed. Rideau goes home for a new, Labor Day Jam that starts at 11 a.m. Monday on the Immaculate Conception Church Grounds. Performers also include Andre Thierry, Eric Singleton and C. J. Vedell. Happy zydeco weekend. Herman Fuselier is a writer, broadcaster and tourism director living in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” radio show airs at noon Central time Saturdays on KRVS 8.7 FM and

Areyou walkingyourcat?Why,yes,Iam!

BY STEVE MARDON Contributing writer

While everyone knows who the quintessential New Orleans dog is, it’sless clear which cat best captures our city’sspirit.

Human Condition

Ihumbly nominate my cat, Buddy.While Buddy hasn’t leapt off any second-floor balconies, he is charismatic and well known, at least in my MidCity neighborhood.

Buddy’sorigins aren’t clear,but we first encountered him in the fall of 2008 when he joined acolony of feral felines living underneath the apartment my wife and myself were renting Uptown on Valmont Street. Unlike the other postKatrina strays, Buddy didn’tflee when humans approached, instead welcomingascratch on the top of the head. Aneighbor started calling him Buddy which quickly stuck. When temperatures neared freezing that winter,wedidn’thave the heart to leave him outside, so we started taking him in overnight.

Before long, he was ours. He was young but already full grown, making him about 18 today

The next year,webought

ahouse in BayouSt. John, and Buddy adjusted well to his newneighborhood. Through the 2010s, he was the classicindoor/outdoor cat,roaming the adjoining streets during the day and (usually) coming in at night.Hewasn’tone to prey on mice or birds, but he did once have aminor scuffle with aneighbor’s escaped chicken.

Here Ihave toadmit

Idropped the ball as a cat dad, failing tonotice thatasthe years went by Buddy —who was always abig guy —was gradually getting even larger Around the pandemic, he transitioned to being mostly an indoor cat,just lolling on the porch when he ventured out.

Things came to ahead a couple of years ago, when, with Buddy now pushing 20 pounds, avet seeing him for the first timesaid he needed to start losing weight ASAP.Ibelieve his exact words were: “If we’re measuring obesity on ascale of 1to10, he’s an 11.”

Coincidentally, Iwork as ahealthcoach, helping peopledevelop better health habitsand lose weight, with the emphasis on nutrition and exercise. So Iaccepted the vet’s challenge and set towork getting Buddy intobettershape. We shifted to “weight management”food

and carefully measured the serving size.

Getting him more active was harder.Athis age, traditional cat toysnolonger held his attention, and making him walk from one end of the house to his food bowl would not be enough.

So Idecided to see how he would react to going for awalk outside. From prior experience, Iknew he

hated collarsand wouldn’t tolerate thetraditional dogwalking experience. Instead, Icarried him several blocks from our house, put him on the sidewalk, and watched to see if he would follow me home. He did!

Andsoadaily routine was born. We head out mornings around 9or10, to one of ahalf dozen nearby

corners, andBuddy walks back home

His pace is notexactly a cheetah’s,orevena donkey’s.

Agood word to describe it is “lumbering.” But it is pretty steady, with occasional pausestoliterally smell the roses. If he gets toodistracted,ajingle of my keys gets him back on course

Localsseeing us for the first time areoften perplexedand amused. “Are youreally walking your cat?” WhenIsay yesand tell themwhy,responses have rangedfrom“Well, good for him!” to “Never seen thatbefore” to “That is so NewOrleans!”

While grown-ups are uniformly encouraging —and also accommodating in keeping their dogs at adistance— early on a couple of unruly teenagers calledout: “Thatcat is so fat …you should give him asalad!”

And the coaching has worked. Slowly,his weight dropped…19, 18,17, 16 andcurrently in the mid15s,a loss of more than 20% of his starting weight. To weigh him, Istand on the scalewith him in my arms, andsubtract my weight from ourcombined weight, aritualthathas givenmeinsight into the joys andfrustrations that can come on aweight loss journey. He plateaued sev-

eral timesbut always eventually broke through. One open questionis Buddy’sopiniononhis morning constitutional. A friend once referred to it as his “forced march.” I like to think he enjoys it, or at leastdoesn’tmind. I have noticed thatifI’m late to take him out, he’ll often start brushing against my knees while Iwork, but it’s possible he just wants a snack In December,Buddy had an unrelated medicalissue: His right eyecloudedover anddidn’trespond to antibiotic eyedrops. After the vetremoved it, Buddy was back to his daily walks in a few days. So nowI’m the proud ownerofa geriatric oneeyed cat.Ifyou see us strolling on Bell, North Dupre or DeSoto,feel free to sayhello andgive Buddy apat on the back or two. Nowadays it’scommon for catstolive into their 20s,sopresumably he has many miles to go …three blocksata time —Mardonlives in New Orleans.

HumanCondition submissions of 600 words or fewermay be emailed to features@thedvocate. com. Stories will be kept on file and publication is not guaranteed.There is no paymentfor Human Condition.

Home videoshotduringKatrina turned into film

‘A Reason to Stay’ shot by N.O. homeowners

Leslie Cardé

Angela and PeterBecnel III got married in March 2005. Theplan was to buy Peter’sgrandfather’s multi-unit home in Mid-City and do some remodeling, since Peter Becnel owned a construction company They ended up purchasingthat home in August, just four daysbefore Hurricane Katrina made landfall. In one piece of luck, they wereurged to buy flood insurance before their closing. The reason? Astorm named Katrina was edging its way toward the Gulf of Mexico, and if it entered, that sort of insurance would no longer be an option.

The Becnels immediately took out flood insurance on aproperty that had never had any.Asthey say,the rest is history As Katrina approached, the Becnels decided they couldn’t afford to leave and would have to ride out the storm alongwith their friends Ryan and Deirdre Scully,who came to stay with them. They shot what happened after that on avideo camera. Their story would eventually become the documentary“AReason to Stay,” about what happened at Toulouse and Rendon streets after thelevees broke at thelake, pouring millions of gallons of wa-

ter into the heart of the city

‘There arethousands of stories’

“Everyonewho lived through HurricaneKatrinahas astoryto tell,” Peter Becnel said. “There arethousands ofstories out there. This one is ours.”

Recording hours of astorm andits destruction is certainly enoughtodocument ahurricane, but turningitintoa film requires professionals whoknow how to organize thefootage. Many years later,Janene Knox,who lives in New York City andowns ahouse in Bywater,was able to take a look.

“What Isaw in boxes of tape was not professionally shot, as it was doneonahand-held camcorder,withoutparticularly

good lighting,”Knox said. “But Ithought thefootage was magical. It had alyrical, almost poetic quality, and despite theshooting of adisaster,iteven had humorous moments. There wasn’t much structure, and just getting through all of those boxes of tapes would take me years.

“It becameapassion project, to work out when Icould find time, while Bill Poznanski (her filmmaking partner) and Iwere working on funded projects. It became clear years down theline that this Katrina story had real potential.”

Telling someone else’sstorycan be impossible without their input,soKnox asked Peter Becnel to becomeaco-director,feeling it could makeareal difference in sorting through the feelings

and emotions of those wholived through theordeal.

Meanwhile, the film’s eventual director of photography,Poznanski, who had viewed the extensive footage, washaving second thoughts.

Validand historic

“Wedid have this hesitation initially about doing the film because there weresomany other stories aboutenduring the storm, which were so much worse, and we didn’twant to discount them,” Poznanski said. “After all, people died. Wholecommunities disappeared. Iwondered if we should be puttingthis out.

“But this is their story to tell. It’svalid and historic and shows aMid-City block where people of mixed ethnic backgrounds, who were mostly property owners, all pulled together and werelike family to one another.”

Although the film came together in 2015, it has been updated since to show where everyone is now

The two families today have five kids between them, andRyan Scully,who wasleft behind along with wife Deirdre when the helicopter came to rescue Peter and Angela Becnel from the secondstory window,isstill playing in his band. He ended up doing the award-winning soundtrack for thefilm.

The helicopter didn’treturn for him that day,but Ryan Scully swam through flood waters with his bike, commandeered aboat and rescued the others in the house, days after thestorm

There’ssomething about watch-

ing real-lifefootage, where the thoughts of those in the storm are unfolding before you. When the storm has finally passed over and everyone is expecting the 3feet of water to recede, it’sunnerving to watch the waters rise, but not to understand why.

Asense of immediacy

It wasonly when agenerator allowed those hunkering down in their homes to see television reporting that they becameaware the levees had broken, and realized how dire things had already become. “Rescue” started to take on asense of immediacy

When the people of NewOrleans wereevacuated in Katrina’s wake, manywere bused out of towntoAtlanta and Houston, or as faraway as Phoenix and New England.

Somewere uprooted formany years; others, forever.Asthe city tried to recover amid FEMA trailers and programslike the ill-fated Road Home, the mood in the city wasbleak.

“I wanted to stop hearing about Katrina,” said Peter Becnel. “It wasevery other wordcoming out of people’smouths. It wasbouncing around the room like abig echo chamber.But looking back, I don’tever want to forget.”

The Becnels restored the house at Toulouse and Rendon, and stayed there until their growing family needed morespace. They now live in Lakeview,with aladder in their attic, just in case.

Email Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail.com

BY ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press

In Starz’s“Outlander,”

Caitriona Balfe’sClaire Fraser is bold and brave. She can also thinkonher feet in high-pressure moments. Her husband Jamie Fraser, playedbySam Heughan, is protective and empathetic In anew prequel series out now,called “Outlander: Blood of My Blood,” we see how they each got that way “Blood of My Blood” tells the love story of Jamie’s parents, Ellen and Brian, and Claire’sparents, Julia and Henry.The characters are inspired by the stories of Diana Gabaldon but there are no novels for showrunner Matthew B. Robertsto follow.Healso is the showrunner of the original series, which debuts its final season early next year With no source material, “there’salot more room to

plays Ellen. “They don’tmix. It’scompletely forbidden. My father’sworst enemy was Brian’sfather so I’m sure he’d have had some strong wordstosay aboutthe whole thing.”

Jamie Roy,who plays Brian,enjoys the duality of his character.There’sthe “tough, stoic, Highland warrior”who he says“rides around on horses and swings swords and stuff.”Then there’sthis “lovely,gentle, poetic,romantic guy who wants nothing morethan to takecare of other people.”

at the start. And Ikind of see what they mean.”

Claire’sparents Julia and Henry are mentioned even less in the books. They died in acar accident when Claire was young. We see them meet in “Blood of My Blood” during World WarI Henry wasasoldier and Julia worked in postal censorship.

where Irvine explains they are “trying to live second by second.”

playin,” explainedRoberts. In “Outlander,” “there are allthese tentpole moments that we havetowrite to becausethat’swhat ouraudience wants from the books.” In the books, Gabaldon mentions Jamie’sparents in “breadcrumbs,” said Roberts. “Westick to those, but the freedom is what can we do after that to gettoessentially where‘Outlander’ begins.”

Afew monthsago Roy went back and rewatched episodes fromseasonone of “Outlander,” because he wanted to watch Heughan as his TV son.

The big obstacle facing Jamie’sparents, Ellen and Brian, who meet in 18th-century Scotland —isthat they come from families that “don’tget on,” said Harriet Slater,who

“There’ssomany people who had said there wasresemblances aboutour performancesand such.I was like, ’Well, let me seewhat Sam’s journey was like right

“Whenwemeet him, he’s pretty much given up,” said Jeremy Irvine,who plays Henry.“Ithink he’saccepted death really and doesn’t have anything to live for andsends this onelast lifeline out in the form of an open letterback to England.” Julia finds his letter at work and feels compelled to respond. The two end up falling in love while writing back and forth.

Aseries of events send Julia and Henry,like their daughter,back in time. Theyend up in the1700s,

“The time they’ve gone back to is not afriendly time to be an outsider at all. Beinganoutsiderwouldlikely mean death. Henryand Julia, as is Claire, are very quick-witted, fast-thinking, intelligent people. They survive by the skin of their teeth.” The castisalreadyinproduction on season two of “Blood of My Blood.” Hermione Corfield, whoplays Julia, says it’sbeen nice filming“in our ownlittlesecret bubble.”

Promoting the series has been tricky because they have to remember what happenedinseason oneversus season two.

“You almost forget what youdid in season onebecause you’re alreadyonto that next journey and storyline,” said Corfield.

Newbookcharts life of Mississippi, otherrivers

Thanks to “Ol’ Man River,” the Broadway showtune madefamous by Paul Robeson, many of us grewup thinking of the Mississippi River not merely as apiece of geography but a giant personality.That idea resonates with special meaning in Louisiana, where the river defines thelandscape. Is it really true, though,thatrivers live in this way? Robert Macfarlane explores the question in “Is aRiver Alive?,” his new book about theessence of waterways around the world. There’snoquestionthat healthy rivers hum with life: fish andplants, birds and wildlife, the pulse of people coming and going. But Macfarlane, acelebrated British naturalist, wonders if rivers are such acomplex presencethat they might be regarded as fellow beings.

At the very least, he suggests, rivers look alive,asevidenced bytheir tendency to move.

“The ghosts of rivers lie all about us,” Macfarlane tells readers, noting the traces they leave behind when they change course. He shares the story of Harold Fisk, ageologist and cartographer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who found away to map how theMississippi had meandered over many years. The shifts had created “river ghosts” —deposits of sediment and other evidence that revealedwhere the current had once flowed.Working from south Illinois to southLouisiana Fisk “mappedthe Mississippi’smem-

Poetry

BY SERENA PUANG

Contributing writer

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita at20:

An AnthologyofLouisiana Poetry and Art, Edited by MonaLisa

Saloyand John Warner Smith, Black Bayou Press

“They say ‘You’re eithergoing to astorm, going througha storm, or coming out of one.’// That’swhat they say,” begins apoem by J. Kevin Chavis in a new anthology commemorating the 20th anniversaryofhurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“So, we wait. //Wait to go to. // Wait to go through.//And once you’re through, you pick up the pieces and rebuild.”

The collection, titled “Hurricanes Katrina and Rita at 20: An Anthology of Louisiana Poetry and Art” contains poetry and artwork from 44 Louisiana writers and/or artists,all of whom were impacted bythe hurricanes and had to rebuild their lives. It’spublished by Black Bayou Press,and itwas edited by two Louisiana poet laureates: John Warner Smith, who was the secretary of labor during Katrina, and Mona Lisa Saloy,who is from New Orleans and was displaced by the storm.

“Weboth felt very strongly that no one can better capture the tragedy of the stormsand the resilient spirit of our state than the poets of Louisiana,” Smith wrote in the introduction.

Smith reached out to Saloy to work on the project together in 2024. They had done readings together and knew each other, since they were both deeply impacted by the storm. Saloy said that it took 16 moves in 14 and ahalf years to get hometo New Orleans.

The poems, sorted in alphabetical order by author’slast name, include contributors such as Alison Pelegrin,the Poet Laureate through 2025, Peter Cooley and Julie Kane. Both editors also contributedto the collection.

Dan an ny Heitm DannyHeitman

ories,” creatingimages that Macfarlane hails as artistic masterpieces.

“In them,” he writes, “the Mississippi comes to life: twisting like matingsnakeswrithing with river ghosts.Seen inFisk’scartographic imagination, plotted colorfully across both time and space, theMississippi becomesanitinerant, wandering being.”

TheMississippi River,grand though it may be, is one of many rivers that figure into Macfarlane’s narrative. The three headliners of his bookare Río Los Cedros in Ecuador the“watery city” of Chennai in India andCanada’sMagpie River

Macfarlane’sbook has arrived at a time of heightened interest in river life. Earlier this summer,Rien Fertel, oneofour newspaper’sfrequent reviewers, wrote about Boyce Upholt’s“The Great River: The Making and Unmakingofthe Mississippi.” In 2022, we shared news here about “Lifeonthe Mississippi,” Rinker Buck’s colorfulaccount of his travels down The Big Muddy on aflatboat Macfarlane’s case for the person-

RobertMacfarlane is the author of ‘Is aRiver Alive?,’which explores the roles of rivers such as theMississippi in shaping life on the planet.

hood of rivers is moreofapoetic argument than ascientific one, but his poetics hum withalyrical urgency LikePhilip Hoare, another British naturalist very much worth reading, Macfarlane often steps outside the frame of ordinary perspective, nudging us to see thealien beautyofa world we sometimes takefor granted. He writes of aforest in Ecuador, for example, “where bright-red bromeliadswith their red-spiked flowers flared like open penknives.”

Macfarlane says that when his young son learned about the title of “Is aRiver Alive?,” the boy told him, “That’s going tobeashort book then, Dad, because theanswer is yes!

Email Danny Heitman at danny@ dannyheitman.com

collection by La.writers,artists ‘feeds thesoul’

“I know people still not in their homes, struggling. Iknow peoplewho want to return but cannot because thecost of livingissohigh,” Saloy said. “I know tradition bearers, the Black Masking Indians, who have hadtomoveout of the city because thecostissohigh.”

But in themidst of these losses and hardship, she said, it’simportant to remember and celebrate theway no disaster haseclipsed New Orleans. People, as Chavis’ poemsays,get throughit, pick up thepieces and rebuild

“Weare evolving, and we are here,and we’re still creating culture,” Saloy said. “We’re still beingour wonderfulSouthern selves.”

Her first of three poemsin the collection, titled “New Orleans: Broken Not Dead,” honors thepoet Claude McKay, who wrote the sonnet “If we must die” in responsetomob attacksbyWhite Americans against Black Americans during the Red Summer in 1919.

Both Smith andSaloy see poetry as away of preserving history and evoking memory

“It might be alittle cliché, but it (poetry) feeds the soul,” Smith said.“It nurtures.It inspires. If we really take the time to read and let it just do its thing.”

Smith hopes that putting stories in print will help to preserve the memories.

“I think it can be part of the legacy just helpingusnever forget —never forget how devastating thosestorms were, lives destroyed, millions of dollars of property,”Smith said.

“It’sjust something we wanted to be around forever.”

Landryadministration narrows scope in bids forinternational investment 5E

Localprivate equity firmsputting southLouisiana

ON THE MAP

BY STEPHANIERIEGEL Staff writer

Four longtime southLouisiana companies have been acquiredinthe past three months, all by out-of-state privateequity firms, raisingalarms among civicleaders aboutthe loss of corporate decision-making in the local economy

But flying under the radar are a small group of homegrown private equity firms that inrecent years have raised billions of dollars, bought their ownout-of-statecompanies and are startingto create a local investmentecosystem thatis turning heads outsideofLouisiana.

Bernhard Capital Partners, founded adecade ago in Baton Rouge, is by far thelargest. It has raised more than $5.5 billion in five investment funds and owns 21 companies, including Delta Utilities, whichrecently bought Entergy’s natural gas business.

“National endowments,pension funds and foundations arecoming to New Orleans and Baton Rougetoinvest with these firms, in the sameway they would a firm in New York, ChicagoorHouston.”

GARy SERNOVITZ, New Orleans-based financial writer and managing directorwithHouston-based Lime Rock Partners, a$10 billion privateequity firm

New Orleans-basedBlack Bay Partners launched its third fund earlier this year after raising more than $500 million in less than adecade and currently has 15 energy-focused companies in its portfolio.

Carr’sHill Partners, founded by former Bernhard partner David deLaureal, raised $210 million in its initial fund, which closed in March, on top of some$200 million ithad previously raised to fund four com-

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

panies it owns. And LongueVue Capital in Metairie, whichwas foundedin2001, has raised more than$850million from five funds withaportfolio that in-

cludes more than adozen “middlemarket”companiesina varietyof industries. Compared with the largest private equity firmsinthe country

First row, from left, are Matt Schovee, Michael LeBourgeois and Julie Isacks; and second row, TomAmbrose, Guy Cook and John Lancaster with Black BayPartners. The NewOrleans-based private equity firm launched its third fund earlierthisyear after raising more than $500 million in lessthan a decade and currently has 15 energyfocused companies in itsportfolio.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

—Blackstone has morethan $1 trillioninassets under management the local firmsare small. But some ä See PRIVATE EQUITY, page 2E

Lizbeth Montelongoloved her custodial job at Lake Forest Elementary Cha r te r School, where she worked for more than adecade. Her co-workers had become exten ded family,supporting her side hustle designing balloon decorations for birthdays, graduations and other specialevents. But in 2022, Montelongoleft her longtime position behindinhopes of turning her hobby into afulltime career The bet paid off. In 2023, she opened Balloons Creations by Liz in aChalmette storefront. Twoyears later,she’s planning amove to abiggerlocation. And her gigs now rangefrom providing dozens of balloons for ababy shower to installing thousands of them for events in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center One of Montelongo’sfirst stops after deciding to go into business for herself was El Centro,anow 7-year-old nonprofit

way,” she said.“Theyhelped me find the ladder up.”

Montelongo’sballoon business is just one example of the type of company El Centro wasbuilt to serve. In ametro area wherethe overallpopulationisshrinking butthe Latino demographic is growing, the nonprofit business incubator aims to provide “culturallycom-

“Wewant to do everything we can to help people understand the mechanicsofthe financialsystem here in the United States,” said Lindsey Navarro,aLoyola University MBA grad whocreated El Centro in 2018after leaving behindher ownlongtime jobwith the Texasbased nonprofit lender LiftFund. “And we have to prepare them to compete in this marketplace.” Now, on designated weekdays, staffers host one-on-one coaching sessions at El Centro’sheadquarters on Earhart Boulevard,

hampr lands $500K investment from state

hampr, the on-demand laundry service platform launched in Lafayette, was awarded a $500,000 investment from Louisiana Innovation’s new Louisiana Growth Fund.

The company, which is now in 16 states with plans to enter another four, is the first business to receive financing through the fund, an initiative designed to accelerate homegrown innovation, state officials announced Monday

The $50 million Louisiana Growth Fund, stewarded by Louisiana Economic Development’s Louisiana Innovation, targets high-growth, technology-enabled startups and signals a shift in how the state supports entrepreneurial success.

This initiative is part of the state’s strategic plan to attract, nurture and scale companies redefining industries and generating new economic opportunity statewide.

“Receiving the first investment from the Louisiana Growth Fund is both an honor and a turning point for hampr,” hampr CEO and founder Laurel Hess said. “It’s a vote of confidence in our vision to transform the way businesses manage their laundry needs, and it underscores the strength of the opportunity we see ahead.”

hampr will use the $500,000 to ac-

celerate its expansion in Louisiana extend into new markets and invest in sales and go-to-market initiatives to capture a greater market share

“This partnership allows us to accelerate our growth in the commercial sector and expand into new markets faster than ever before,” said Hess. “It’s about taking what’s working today and putting more behind it ensuring we move faster, win bigger accounts, and bring hampr’s solution to more communities than ever before.”

LEDA head named to regional group’s board

Mandi Mitchell, president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, was elected to a second term as state director for the Southern Economic Development Council’s board of directors.

Mitchell’s two-year term begins Jan. 1.

“Being an active member of

SEDC has allowed me to positively represent Louisiana among 17 Southern peer states and has proven impactful in enhancing and deepening my knowledge of the best practices and strategies in economic development,” Mitchell said. “I look forward to collaborating with the South’s top economic

developers while developing programs that will further the impact of economic development activities in Lafayette Parish.”

In the last three years, council members have facilitated nearly $600 billion in capital investment, creating more than 600,000 American jobs.

The council has 1,800 members, nearly double its size in recent years.

Kay Jewelers to open new Lafayette location

A fourth retailer will open in the former Books-A-Million building in south Lafayette Kay Jewelers, which has a location in the Acadiana Mall, was issued a building permit for final vacant spot at 4419 Ambassador Caffery in the River Marketplace shopping center on Monday, records from Lafayette Consolidated Government show It’s unknown if the company will close its store in the mall.

The building was divided into four retail spaces that total about 16,700 square feet. Lululemon, J Crew and Sephora occupy the other spaces.

The Books-A-Million store closed last year ahead of opening the 2nd & Charles store nearby

INCUBATOR

Continued from page 1E

not far from the new Five O Fore Golf and Entertainment complex. In the evenings, the space houses workshops.

Since its inception, the organization has hosted more than 400 events with more than 7,000 participants and more than 2,000 individual coaching appointments. About 140 businesses have completed El Centro’s six-week “Impulsate” accelerator program, which combines classes and coaching to grow businesses.

These programs, administered by a staff of seven, are supported by an annual budget of about $640,000, cobbled together from public and private sources.

“We’re doing a million dollars of work with those funds,” said Navarro, who stretches the budget by partnering with other organizations. Propeller, the nonprofit business incubator located nearby, sometimes hosts events, as do banks and other local partners.

“Despite a small budget, Lindsey has done a great job of making entrepreneurship accessible to a growing part of the population,” said Jon Atkinson, CEO of The Idea Village, a tech-focused business accelerator that’s another El Centro collaborator The nonprofit’s clientele is nearly 80% women, the majority of whom are under 40. They come mostly from Honduras, followed by a long list of Latin American and Caribbean nations. Most live in Jefferson Parish.

Two of El Centro’s clients are now tenants in its small co-working space. One is a college prep service and the other a staffing company that’s already cracked $1 million in annual revenue, according to Navarro.

Other success stories include Hilda Alvarez, owner of Hilda’s Construction, who credits El Centro’s business accelerator program with creating new opportunities for her company

Cafétomas owner Saul Alcazar has established three locations of his Latin American restaurant concept with support from Navarro’s team.

Ingrid Ferguson, owner of three Variedades Ceibeña markets, credits El Centro for helping her establish a successful sales incentive program for her employees.

Big dreams, a lot of paperwork El Centro’s clients work in many industries, including catering, construction, janitorial services,

PROVIDED PHOTO

Lizbeth Montelongo, right, owner of Balloons Creations by Liz, and Julio Hernandez assemble a display at a balloon convention in Columbus, Ohio, in July Montelongo received business coaching from the New Orleans nonprofit El Centro when she launched her retail store in Chalmette two years ago.

housekeeping, and professional services. Despite the variety Navarro said most of them have one thing in common

“They want to open their own businesses so they can control their own destiny and create opportunities for others,” she said. Before they can do that, they have to cut through a lot of red tape, which is where El Centro comes in

Navarro said a big part of her team’s job is helping clients understand and complete all sorts of paperwork, ranging from articles of incorporation to occupational licenses and, even, parade permits A major focus is teaching clients to correctly file tax returns, which Navarro said can help build credit and unlock opportunities, such as qualifying for home and car loans.

El Centro also teaches entrepreneurs about the differences between the financial systems in the U.S and Latin America. Navarro said her team often has to explain the fundamentals of amortization and how the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is in place to guarantee bank deposits are safe.

“Credit access in Latin America is based on your family name,” she said. “It’s kind of like an old boy’s club And there’s a sense you should pay it back immediately which makes it hard to build credit.”

PROVIDED RENDERING By BENSON CAPITAL PARTNERS

Benson Capital Partners real estate fund has invested in student accommodation in the Dallas suburb of Denton, the Panhandler at Rayzor Ranch at Panhandle Street and East Park Boulevard.

PRIVATE EQUITY

Continued from page 1E

market watchers say they are proving themselves in institutional and private investing — a slice of Wall Street that’s never really been present in south Louisiana — and creating opportunities that could help attract other investment firms to the area.

“We put seasoned executives in place, introduce the companies to new customers and help them find other businesses to buy,” LeBourgeois said. “When you’re a specialist and backing companies in high-growth mode, there are a lot of ways to help your portfolio companies.”

Lindsey Navarro, founder and executive director of El Centro, leads her weekly team meeting in New Orleans. The nonprofit’s clientele is nearly 80% women, the majority of whom are under 40. They come mostly from Honduras, followed by a long list of Latin American and Caribbean nations. Most live in Jefferson Parish.

Hilda Alvarez, owner of Hilda’s Construction, credits El Centro’s business accelerator program with creating new opportunities for her company.

‘Original American dream’

Navarro believes a successful small business like Montelongo’s balloon shop — combined with many more like it — can create economic benefits for the community at large.

She’s especially focused on getting that message out in the current political climate with its anti-immigrant bias. The entrepreneurs El Centro helps are citizens or are here legally with visas and work permits. Still, they face challenges because of the chill that immigration raids have put on the area.

“There’s a fear now even for citizens, but it hasn’t stopped them from opening businesses because they want to create opportunities,” she said. “Latinos are very entrepreneurial.”

As a kid growing up in Houma, where her Panama-born parents moved for her dad’s engineering job, Navarro loved traveling to New Orleans to visit all the great Latin-owned restaurants and markets, which were lacking in her hometown.

Now she’s proud to be a part of the ecosystem that’s creating more businesses just like them.

She said she’s not the only one who gets emotional at graduation ceremonies for El Centro program participants, where graduates share one cap and one gown, taking turns to wear them for photos.

“It’s beautiful,” Navarro said “It’s like Ellis Island. It’s the original American dream, and we’re helping people pursue that.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

“National endowments, pension funds and foundations are coming to New Orleans and Baton Rouge to invest with these firms, in the same way they would a firm in New York, Chicago or Houston,” said Gary Sernovitz, a New Orleansbased financial writer and managing director with Houston-based Lime Rock Partners, a $10 billion private equity firm.

“These are not just local, boosterish ventures,” he added.

“These firms have shown they can win in the competition for capital.”

Proof of concept

Private equity has been around since the 1940s, but it didn’t become widely used as an investment vehicle until the 1980s, when Wall Street firms began taking over vulnerable companies in leveraged buyouts, often selling them for parts or merging them into other companies at great profit.

Many private equity firms today avoid the strategies that earned the industry its corporate raider reputation, with some focused on rolling up industries into national brands or buying midsized companies and bringing in experienced managers to boost growth

Carr’s Hill has a similar approach though it’s not specifically focused on the energy sector Employing a strategy deLaureal learned at Bernhard Capital nearly a decade ago, Carr’s Hill targets regional companies, many family owned and operated, that haven’t kept up with the times and are losing ground or, perhaps, need a succession plan and exit strategy

“We bring a management team to the table on day one to help them manage growth,” deLaureal said. “There is a ton of sweat equity that goes into it.”

The firm targets companies valued between $20 million and $200 million and is focused on the South — a region where its team knows the culture and has the advantage of personal and professional connections.

“We acquire things between Texas, Florida and the Carolinas, deLaureal said. “I can be in front of people quickly.”

Growing trend

They’ve also evolved into an alternative to stocks or bonds for wealthy investors because of looser regulatory restrictions and higher returns. There are plenty of critics, who point to instances where regional companies are swallowed up and higher profits are eked out of longtime customers.

But the industry’s success at generating returns has meant continued growth. Over the past decade, private markets have seen assets under management increase from just under $3 trillion in 2010 to $11.7 trillion in 2022, according to EQT, which tracks the industry

During the same time, private equity firms have expanded into a broader array of industry sectors, buying up medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies, fitness chains and local media groups, to name a few.

While the largest national firms have multiple funds that invest across industry sectors, local and regional firms in south Louisiana are narrowly focused, mostly around energy and industrial services, which works to their advantage, Sernovitz said.

“They’ve all said, ‘This is a market where we can invest in reasonable valuations and generate returns that investors expect,’” he said. “The fact that they are now on second, third and fourth funds proves they are successful.”

Focused approach

Black Bay Partners has built its firm investing in energy and chemical companies in North American that are focused on innovation, according to Michael LeBourgeois, who founded the firm in 2016 with Guy Cook and Tom Ambrose.

Its companies are involved in things like recycling fuel stockpiles so they can be reused by industry, developing more effective capture-carbon methods and using artificial intelligence to squeeze more oil and gas out of rocks and shale.

Most of Black Bay’s investments are between $10 million and $50 million, and include not only a capital infusion but a growth strategy and management expertise.

Bernhard Capital started out with much the same approach, when former Shaw Group founder and CEO Jim Bernhard and his partner and co-founder, Jeff Jenkins, launched the firm in 2015. Initially, Bernhard Capital had just four portfolio companies under its umbrella, each comprised of smaller companies like E.P Breaux Electrical in Lafayette and MCC in Metairie, the late Joe Jaeger’s mechanical construction company

Over the decade, its growth has outperformed even its founders’ expectations, Jenkins said recently. In recent years, it has branched beyond energy and industrial services into regulated public utilities Today, it owns seven natural gas, water and wastewater utilities, with another utility deal in New Mexico pending regulatory approval.

Despite its growing national footprint, nine of Bernhard Capital’s companies are based in Louisiana, which is home to 6,000 of its total workforce of 25,000.

“Across Louisiana and the southeast, we see thousands of thriving businesses that want access to growth capital,” Jenkins said. “We’re glad to support those businesses and to also see a growing trend of investment firms in Louisiana that can be partners in providing that critical capital.”

‘Less exotic’

Benson Capital Partners, Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson’s investment arm, is among the investment firms providing capital to regional businesses. Founded in 2020, the firm has raised more than $100 million across two funds. One is focused on venture capital making small investments to help startups — the other is a real estate fund.

New Orleans also has several smaller venture funds, including the Louisiana Fund, Tulane Alumni Ventures and 1834 Ventures, focused on seeding and growing local tech companies and small, innovative startups.

All of them are valuable to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, experts say but they provide a different function than the more traditional private equity firms, such as Bernhard Capital.

Having private equity firms in south Louisiana with successful funds and robust portfolios helps attract other investment firms to the area and the high-end attorneys and accountants that serve them, Sernovitz said.

“Having a community invites community,” he said. “The more there are, the more that will come and the less exotic being in New Orleans will seem.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Post-Katrina visionary says city is ready for next steps

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Q&A WITH DAVID DIXON

David Dixon, a Boston-based architect and urban planner with Stantec, is nationally renowned for reimagining strip malls into new suburban downtowns, launching innovation districts in urban corridors and rethinking the role of density in building more livable, walkable, resilient and equitable communities.

Around these parts, however, Dixon is best known for helping draft New Orleans’ post-Hurricane Katrina master plan, which was completed in 2007 and became law in 2010. In the years since, the plan has been influential in guiding growth and development in the city, including projects like the Lafitte Greenway and the conversion of historic downtown office buildings into hotels and apartments.

Earlier this month, Dixon was back in New Orleans to deliver the Jacob Haight and Mary Meek Morrison Memorial Lecture, presented in partnership with the Historic New Orleans Collection, Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates and the Vieux Carre Commission Foundation.

We caught up with him for coffee at Croissant d’Or in the French Quarter to discuss where he sees New Orleans 20 years after the historic flood. In this week’s Talking Business, he discusses what New Orleans got right, what needs improvement and why he’s optimistic about its future.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity

Two decades after you helped lead the master planning process here, what stands out?

Halfway through the process, the late Bill Borah, preservationist and civic leader, launched a referendum to give planning the force of law. We realized at the time that if we couldn’t develop a plan that everyone owned, it wouldn’t be

tem matters. New Orleans is not fully there. It’s better than when I got here right after Katrina, but it’s not where it needs to be.

Third, there is a perception here that city services are not on par with other cities and that matters. It’s also important to recognize that having a strong innovation economy does not compete with having a tourist economy They work well together and should complement each other So, how do we get there?

New Orleans needs to do more to support investment by innovation companies. It needs to be known as a real player It needs to be out at every venture capital conference in the country

There

valid, whether it had the force of law or not In the end, the referendum passed and so it does have the force of law

How would you summarize the plan?

The master plan is not a highly detailed plan. That’s not what New Orleans needed. It was a plan that demonstrated the value of planning as opposed to constant political confrontation, which is what had happened before. There was no common vision, no common understanding as to what New Orleans as a whole was trying to achieve. It was literally a confederation of neighborhoods, each functioning on its own, working to see what their council member would support and what could get approved. So looking back 20 years later,what did the master plan achieve?

What the plan said is, you have to do planning, the City Planning Commission matters, here are design guidelines for the city, you need to constantly support your culture bearers, reinforce the legacy, the living culture and living legacy you have because that is New Orleans’ future as well as its past. Why does this matter?

Because New Orleans desperately needed to diversify its economy and companies are competing for talent. New Orleans didn’t compete very well in that arena 20 years ago but, boy, does it compete today

And that’s because the kind of workers you need to attract love living in places that are walkable, which means a city with places people want to walk to — places

with food, beer places to run into friends. They also want places that have authenticity — where you feel like you are in a place that grew organically in a way that reflects the local history and culture and in a place with diversity

This all sounds great. Makes sense Why is there still so much pessimism in the business community? So little growth in the local GDP?

Because there are so many obstacles that still stand in the way to progress And the opportunities are so great it’s worth addressing the obstacles. So, first, it has to be a place that people feel is safe in the face of climate change You need more maintenance and investment in levees and storm gates. Second, companies have to serve families with kids, so the quality of and confidence in your school sys-

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

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Beatinginflation

Your emergency fund needs to getelevated to “stat” status.

As Iwrote back when inflation hit a40-year high in the summer of 2022, you need arainy-day fund —because it’snot amatter of if you’ll have afinancial emergency, but when. For millions of Americans, that when is now Inflation has come down significantly since it skyrocketed to 9.1% three years ago. Still, the recent consumer price index report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed inflation standing at 2.7% in July.Core inflation, which excludesvolatile food and energy,rose 3.1%.

Dig down into the numbers, and you can see why people’sbudgets are being stretched. The cost of milk, eggs, meats, fish, cereals, bakery products and used cars wasupyear-over-year.Notably, the price of eating out increased by 4.4%.

The recent data has financial experts on high alert, with some warningof“stagflation,” an economic condition characterized by high inflation, slowgrowth and high unemployment.

“The consistent upward trend in inflation is the latestsign that President Trump’sreckless trade war and the resulting economic uncertainty are wreakinghavoc on family budgets and the American economy,” Natalie Baker,director of economic analysis at the Center for American Progress, said in astatement soon after the

Issued Aug.13-19

Commercial alterations

OFFICE: 3329 W. Pinhook Road description, interior modifications of former Schlumberger building for WHC Inc.;applicant,Zaunbrecher Design; contractor, S1 Construction; $1.4 million.

RETAIL: 4419 Ambassador Caffery Parkway,description,interior tenant build out for KayJewelers; applicant, Pulley Studios; contractor,R.E. CrawfordConstruction; $400,000.

APARTMENTS: 408 Scottsdale Ave., Building A; description, repairs from firedamage to downstairs apartment; applicant, CodyDodge; contractor, Perna Group; $3,000.

My brother’sonly income was from his Social Security disability payment, whichbarely covered necessities.

Michelle Singletary THE COLOR OF MONEy

inflation report wasissued.

The CPI report, taken together with a“lackluster” jobs report, “is aclear warningsign that the president’spoliciesare raising pricesand squeezing consumers,” said Baker,calling it a“chilling reminder that the risk of stagflation is growing by the day.”

As inflation rises, cutbackswill be necessary for many consumers. But the time tostart your pullback—tobuild an emergency fund —is now, notwhenthings getworse.

So,whatkind of saver are you? Here’swhatIrecommend if you’reinone ofthese categories.

Can’tsee your wayto save: Iknowit’s frustrating to many people when they hear advice about cutting expenses to save. For them, there isn’tmuchto trim.

Formore than adecade, Iwas thefinancialprotector for my disabledbrother.Hehad epilepsy, and despite his efforts to maintain ajob, he couldn’tstay employed becausehis medication didn’t completelycontrolhis seizures.

Iwas 21, just three years older than my brother,whenI began helping himmanage his money

Newcommercial OTHER: 1010MuddAve., description, storage building for firehouse trailer;applicant,Trahan Architecture +Planning;contractor, Diversified Construction of Louisiana; $506,000. INDUSTRIAL: 101 La. 182, Broussard, description,new warehouse for OEG Energy; applicant, 1001 LLC; contractor, S1 Construction; $4.5 million. Commercial demolition INDUSTRIAL: 103 Row1,description, none listed; applicant, VanEaton Partners; contractor, none listed; $10,000.

RETAIL: 121 ArnouldBlvd.,description, renovation; applicant,Magnolia Salon andParlour; contractor, none listed; $5,000.

It was hard to tell him he couldn’tafford to splurge on eating out. We even fought once over the use of his ATMcard. He kept incurring fees because he was withdrawing money from machinesnot affiliated with hisbank. Those fees addup. The average total ATMfees reached a26-year high of $4.77 in 2024, according to aBankrate survey

Whensomeone’sincome is as lowasmybrother’s, it may notbe possible to save the recommended three months’ worth of livingexpenses. But even asmall cushion can help cover higherprices.

In my brother’scase, he finally saw that by sweating the small stuff, he could build amodest savings stash. Imanaged to get him to see that he could set aside alittle money by changing some habits.

Iworkedwith him to use coupons, shopsales at thegrocery store andeat almostexclusively at home.

He switchedtoafree banking account that allowed for alimited numberofATM transactionsoutside of his financialinstitution’s network.

Can’tstopraiding your emergency fund: Trysome financialtruth-telling. Is this you?

Your savings account that’s supposed to be earmarkedfor

BUILDINGPERMITS

Newresidential 1354 ST.ESPRIT ROAD,CARENCRO: Brad Brinkman, $452,000. 207 GUIDRYST.: DebraAucoin, $150,000. 200 SOUTHERN HEIGHTS DRIVE: Anna Maria, $237,000. 122 SOUTHERN HEIGHTS DRIVE: Anna Maria, $237,000. 120 SOUTHERN HEIGHTS DRIVE: Anna Maria, $237,000. 913 S. ORANGE ST.: Lafayette Habitat for Humanity,$185,000. 1707 SAVOYROAD, YOUNGSVILLE: Castle Row Construction, $420,390. 353 ARNAUDVILLE ROAD,CARENCRO: AymondBuilding &Design Group, $200,000. 203 OATS DRIVE: Hammerhead

emergencies is aslush fund that is tapped regularly for expenses like happy-hour drinks with friends or alate-night Uber Eats treat.

Youswear: “I don’teat out much.”

Youopen the refrigerator or cabinets, and although there’s food in there, you say: “There’s nothing to eat.”

Isee this financial fibbing all the time.

With consumer prices rising, do this onething: Go back six months to ayear and examine your bank andcredit card statements. You need hard evidence to replace your false memories of your spending habits.

Add up all the unnecessary spending, and use that as abenchmark for how muchyou can afford to save.

Can afford to save but lack the discipline: There’sone tip that can be the saving grace for folks who have trouble prioritizing saving for emergencies.

Have your employer automatically split your direct-deposit paycheck into adedicated emergency savings account. When trying to build an emergency fund, it’sbest to set it and forget it.

Ialso recommend the savings portionbesent to adifferent financialinstitution from the one where youkeep the account to payyourhousehold bills. The separation usually results in less temptation to transfer funds into the household account to make up for overspending.

If you need more help, Irecommend two websites, AmericaSaves.org and nfcc.org, run by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

On the America Saves site, click the link to take apledge to save. Once you do, you’ll be encouraged to set asavings goal, and the organization will send you messages of encouragement.

The NFCC has nonprofit counselors who can help you budget better to find money to save.

Can save and you do: If you find yourself in this category,please take amoment to be grateful. Although you don’tlike having to deal with inflation, you can handle the increases because you’ve been agreat saver.For this, you should be congratulated.

But Ialso challenge you to give generously from your abundance. Consider something that my husband and Ido: We have afamily-and-friends emergency savings account that holds money we give to others in need (notice Ididn’t say “lend”), especially during economic downturns.

One of my mantras, taken from Luke 12:48, is: “Towhom muchis given, muchwill be required.” If you can afford to help others who may be struggling right now Iencourage you to do so.

EmailMichelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

Homes, $509,375.

344 MARTIN-PREJEAN ROAD,CARENCRO: Marshall Porter Construction, $310,500.

108 NEWTOWN DRIVE: Manuel Builders, $292,250.

400 PARKINGTONCOURT: DSLD $178,875.

417 RUE GAMBETTA: Manuel Builders, $348,125. 108 SORREL DRIVE: RelianceReal Estate Group, $315,125.

109 SWEET CANE DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: LevelConstruction andDevelopment, $308,334.

204 CENTRAL VILLAGE WAY,YOUNGSVILLE: Manuel Builders, $199,900.

133 LAKE RIDGE DRIVE, BROUSSARD: DR Horton, $132,890.

135 LAKERIDGEDRIVE,BROUSSARD: DR Horton, $146,986.

‘Most likely to invest in Louisiana’

State revises foreign investment plan, puts focus on fewer countries

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration is launching a new strategy to convince foreign businesses to invest in Louisiana, scrapping a broad-based approach that tried to win business in nearly a dozen countries to instead focus on companies in Japan, Australia and parts of Europe.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois, who has led the changes, said in an interview last month that those markets are where there’s the most opportunity for growth in energy, aerospace, logistics and other sectors that were identified as areas deserving of special attention in LED’s economic development strategy adopted earlier this year. LED, Bourgeois said, was focused on the “sectors that the plan said we had the best opportunity to win in” and the “countries or regions that have the most need for or opportunity in that space.”

The targeted approach, which was discussed Wednesday at the meeting of the Louisiana Board of International Commerce in Baton Rouge, is a departure from years past, when Louisiana contracted with consultants in China, Brazil, Austria, Taiwan and several other countries LED terminated those contracts in October “It was really more of a spaghetti on the wall approach,” Bourgeois said of the past strategy “That was a lot of places without a specific, ‘We’re here because of A, B and C.’” Gregory Rusovich, chair of the Louisiana Board of International Commerce, in an interview ahead of Wednesday’s board meeting, said the markets selected are the “most likely to invest in Louisiana.” LED is contracting with the World Trade Center of New Orleans to manage the new consul-

tants once they’re hired. Louisiana has allocated $550,000 to the foreign marketing efforts. Japan is already one of Louisiana’s top foreign investors, with companies like Shintech, the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese plastics giant Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd, operating manufacturing plants in Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes. Harrison Crabtree, executive director of the World Trade Center of New Orleans, said during the meeting that Japan was chosen for its leadership in energy logistics, precision manufacturing and robotics.

In February, the Japanese chemi-

cal company UBE broke ground on a nearly $500 million plant that will make electric vehicle battery ingredients.

Because of the time zone difference, Japan is also a market “where having a physical presence is really important,” Crabtree said. Louisiana’s representative in Europe will work in Italy, Germany and France, with a focus on businesses in manufacturing and energy, Crabtree said.

BASF, the German chemical company, already operates three manufacturing sites in Louisiana, Rusovich noted.

In June, Landry led a delegation to the International Paris Air Show

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Paige Carter, chief development officer at Louisiana Economic Development, said that trip resulted in around a dozen leads on potential investments. Australia is investing heavily in “the future of energy,” and looking to the U.S to grow their companies, Crabtree said, adding that Louisiana is among the first states in the South to tap into that market.

There’s also opportunity for investments from Australian companies in the defense and aerospace sector, Crabtree said

The consultants selected must agree not to represent any other U.S. states.

“We will be having a global pres-

ence that’s loyal to Louisiana and that’s focused on Louisiana,” Rusovich said.

Carter recalled a company calling her to say that one of Louisiana’s previous representatives had given them his Arkansas business card Louisiana’s new strategy doesn’t mean it will ignore the rest of the world, Crabtree said, pointing to an upcoming trade mission to Norway centered on maritime innovation.

“Wherever there’s an international lead, we’re going to pursue it,” he said Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

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Gallagher: ALouisiana StoryofGrowth, Community andResilience

Gallagher,one of the world’slargestinsurancebrokerage,risk managementand consulting firms, has asignificantpresencein Louisiana, with arich history andadeep commitmenttothe local community. With roots in the statedatingback decades, Gallagher has grownintothe largest broker inLouisiana, providing awide array of services to businesses of allsizes acrossvarious sectors

“WhereIthink we areuniquelypositioned is thatwedon’t have that institutional mindset. We haven’talwaysbeen big.We’vealwayshad to be alittle morenimble, creativeand client-centric, said” Numa “Bumpy” Triche,regional president. “The result isthatwehavethe sizeand scale of anybody in the world, with robustdataanalytics and modeling capabilities. But our local operations arevery much integrated within the local market.”

Founded in 1927,Gallagher has expanded globally and reports $11.3 billion in total adjustedbrokerage andrisk managementrevenues in 2024 and amarket capitalization of $76.1billion as of January 30,2025.

Thecompanyhas aworkforce of nearly56,000 employees worldwide morethan 970officesglobally,and servesclients in over130 countries.

In Louisiana, Gallagher’s journeybeganwithanacquisition in Baton Rouge,which led to theestablishmentofofficesinNew Orleans and Monroe,Louisiana. Thecompanyhas strategically acquired local firms overthe years, integrating their employees and maintaining alocal focus. This growth has resulted in 18 officesstatewide and asignificant regional market share. Thecompanyhas grownits businessbyworking withpeople and organizations who sharecommon values and vision. “Gallagher has one of thelargest operations within ourSoutheastregion in terms of our footprint acrossthe stateand the various markets, Triche said. “Atthe same time, we arealwaysclient-focused, withthe people in the statebeing the ones who work with the local teams and businesses. People work with us because we provide awhite-glove service experiencewitheasyaccessibilitytoour team and our broader tools and resources. We have invested heavily in areas relatedtodata analysis and forensicaccounting in order to provide the technical and detailed support to our teams.Whatwedoisoffer ourclients access to global expertise tailored to their needs.”

As proud as Gallagher is of its growth,theyare prouder to have been able to maintainits unique culture. This cultureissummed up in 25 tenets called TheGallagher Way, aset of shared values thatemphasize ethics, integrityand aclient-centricapproach. These values were articulatedbyRobert E. Gallagher backin1984and have sinceguided the company’soperations and relationships. Keyprinciples include providing excellentrisk managementservices,supporting and respecting colleagues, pursuing professional excellenceand fostering open communication. Thecompanyculturevalues empathy, trust, leadership and teamwork, with astrong emphasis on treating everyone with courtesyand respect

Gallagher’s commitmenttoLouisiana goes beyond business. The companyhas alocalpresence, with employees deeply embedded in the community.

“Our employees see theirclients at church on Sundays,play golf with them on Saturdays,and go to lunch with them on Wednesdays,” said William Jackson, ExecutiveVicePresidentof Gallagher’s SoutheastRegion and leader of the NewOrleans operation and the region’s specialtyproducts.Our local connection is akey differentiatorfor Gallagher,combining the resourcesand capabilities of alarge global firmwith the personalized serviceofa communitybroker.

“Weteam up withlocalpartnerstomakeevery communitywejoin a morevibrantone.Fromfundraisersfor localcharities to crawfishboils and hurricane relief,our officesgivebacktothe peopleand places in whichwelive. As we grow larger,wemaintain close ties to the communities we serve.

Gallagher serves adiverse range of industries in Louisiana,including manufacturing, agribusiness, public sector,higher education, aerospace, energy,entertainmentand lifesciences. Thecompanypositions itself as athought leader when it comes to riskmanagementguidance on topics suchascyber risks, healthcare,marine construction AI, social inflation and other influences thatimpactinsurance claim costs, leading to higher premiums and impacting the insuranceindustry’srisklandscape.The team prides itself on providing expertiseand insights on keyindustries and currenteventsimpacting this region.

WILLIAM JACKSON ExecutiveVicePresidentSoutheast Region, Gallagher

Gallagher is poised forcontinued success in Louisiana,driven by its strong values, localfocus and expertise in keyindustries. Thecompany’s emphasis on client-centric service, combined with its global resources, positions it as atrustedpartner forbusinesses andindividuals seeking insurance, risk managementand consulting solutions.AsGallagher continues to grow and adapttothe evolving needsofthe market its commitmenttothe local communities remains acornerstone of its identity

In 1971, Acadian Ambulance’s founders, RolandDugas, RichardSturlese and RichardZuschlag proposed a membership subscription model thatwould support the company’sservice. The model wasbased on asimilar ambulance membership program thatZuschlagrecalled from his home stateofPennsylvania. Acadian’sfirst membership drive enrolled 8,400 members.

The support of our membershas been acornerstone of Acadian’ssuccess. The programsupports numerous communityservice projects, includingfree standby service forarea high school football games, fairs, festivals and other special events.

The membership program also helps ourcompanystay at the forefrontofemergencymedicalcare withthe most advanced equipmentand training in the industry

• 30% discountonbilledambulancecharges.

•Enrollmentinour Savings Network, offering thousands of discountedproducts &services 1

• Save 10% on monthly monitoring ratesof Acadian On Call medical alertsystems.

• SecurityCamerasystemincludes: 4AI-poweredwired cameras,1 powersupply backup system, and 1network video recorder for $99 down and $59.99 permonth.2

• Exclusiveaccess to the MemberVIP phone linefor specializedcustomer serviceand billingassistance.

1

Acadian is the onlyambulance serviceinLouisiana to hold accreditationsfromboththe Commission on Accreditationof Ambulance Servicesand the Commission on AccreditationofMedical Transport Systems,our industry’smost stringent accreditationagencies.

That meansAcadian exceeds thegoldstandard in EMS training, equipment,protocols andmedics.

GETTINGBACK TO THEMSELVES

Occupational therapyhelps patients regain function in theirdaily lives

BY SHANTELL GOMEZ

Contributingwriter

ForJessieDevillier, thepathtobecoming an occupational therapistwasn’t straightforward— but it was the right choice.

“As an undergraduate, Istruggled to decide what to do withmylife,” sherecalled. “I wanteda career that would hold my interest, fulfill and challenge me, and not ultimately feel like adead end.”

Shefound heranswer in occupationaltherapy —a field that offers bothdepthand flexibility

“We’re trained to help peopleadapt to life at any stage, and we can choose to focus on any age group,” she explained. “That variety was,and still is, so appealing.”

Devillier works in an acutecare settingatLafayette General and Ochsner University Hospital, whereoccupationaland physical therapistsare often among the first to help patients regain mobility after trauma, illness or surgery

“We’re trained to move our bodies without injuring ourselves so we can safely help othersmove theirs,” she said.

Even somethingassimpleashelpingapatientsit upright after days or weeks in ahospital bed can be a turning point.

“Just that step can takedays —especially forpatients recovering from astroke or prolonged ICU stay,” Devillier said

Where physical therapytypically focuses on mobility and strength, occupational therapy emphasizes function —particularly the kind thatsupports independence.

“Wetarget recovery based on essential needs ADLs, or Activities of DailyLiving,” Devillier explained. “Getting dressed, feeding yourself, going to the bathroom —these are thebasicthings you need to be able to do to return home.”

The impact goesbeyond thephysical.

Expert discusses rise of greens powders

BY AVERYNEWMARK

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)

If you’ve spent anytime scrolling social mediaorshoppinggrocery aisles, you’ve likely spotted greens powders or gummies promisingto boost everything from brain health to your immune system.

But can these trendy supplements really replace the benefits of eating real vegetables?

To find out, we talkedtoLuisa Hammett, the Atlanta-based dietitian behind Peaches to Pearls, alifestyle blog filled with dreamy farm scenes and homemade meals. Beyondthe charming aesthetics, Hammettisalso apediatric registered dietitian with amaster’sin clinical nutrition.

“I think that calling them supplements is the important part because they should never replace a healthy diet,” Hammett explained. “Wewant to still eat our fruits and veggies, and Ithink that’ssomething that powdered greens sometimescan be amisconception— like,‘Oh,this will, youknow, I’m not eating vegetables so I’ll just do the greens,’whereas it should never take the place of them.”

Accordingtothe U.S. Dietary GuidelinesofAmericans, adults should aimtoconsume around 21/2 cups of vegetableseachday as part of ahealthy diet. This includes fresh, frozen, canned and driedoptions.But arecent report shows that almost 90% of the U.S. population do not meet the recommendation forvegetable intake.

Powdered greens typically combine leafygreens, fruits, algae and herbs, providing aconcentrated dose of micronutrients and antioxidants, Healthline reported. They’re convenient, easy to add to smoothiesand appealing forbusy lifestyles.

But, according to Hammett, there’sone big drawback.

“At the end of theday,you’re going to getthe best nutrients most importantly,fiber— from eating your veggies, and also it’s so much cheaper,” she explained.

Regarding the safety and selection of greenspowders, Hammett emphasized the importanceof third-party testing whenchoosing supplements.

“Supplements are not regulated by theFDA.Literally,Icould put whatever Iwant into ajar and say, ‘This green supplement is going to help your skin look better,lose weight, no bloating,’ and Idon’t have to back it up. So that’sthe dangerous world of supplementation.”Although shedoesn’t personally reach fora greenssupplement in her day-to-day,Hammett understands their appeal.

“Somepeople do wantthat extra

See POWDERS, page 2X

HEALTH MAKER

Tulane researcher focusesonAlzheimer’s disease

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

The Healthy Brain Aging Initiative was developed by Tulane’sNeurology Chair, Dr.Demetrius Maraganore, in response to the notably high incidence of Alzheimer’sdisease and dementiain Louisiana.

The research from this programisfocused on Alzheimer’sand dementia prevention and memory disorder treatments using the latest evidence-based research and movement disorders treatment, like Parkinson’s, related to brain aging.

Maraganore, aChicago native born to Greek immigrant parents, graduated from Northwestern and spent much of his career at Mayo Clinic. He moved acrossthe world for ayear to study Parkinson’sand genetics in London as part of his training at Mayo.

After 24 years at Mayo Maraganore got the itch to move back home and began work as the chair of the department of neurology at community health systems associated with the University of Chicago, where he spent the next nine years of his career While he was working in Chicago, Maraganore’s father developed Alzheimer’sdisease —the same condition that plagued his grandmother and greatgrandmother ”Here Iamasthe fourth generation, and Iwas starting to sweat alittle bit,” Maraganoresaid. “Whyis there so much Alzheimer’s in my family.And what can we do to prevent Alzheim-

er’s disease.”

So,Maraganore pivoted again. This time,heopened the Center forBrain Health in Chicago— aplace where people couldgoand learn about their modifiable risks He found that thereare more than 20 modifiable risk factors forAlzheimer’s disease, and theycould be found using geneticstests.

Patients at the brain health center can get genetically tested to determine their risk for Alzheimer’s and receive personalizedinterventions to try to reduce their risk.

Maraganore hopesthe newbrain aging centerin New Orleanscan provide the same care forLouisianans, aglobally known hotbedfor Alzheimer’srisk and prevalence.

”Myideawas to come here and developa four-pillared program: prevention, treatment, researchand support,” Maraganore said. “If you canprevent Alzheimer’s in New Orleans and Louisiana, you can prevent it anywhere in theworld.”

How did you design the newresearch center? What principlesdid you use?

Iwantedsomething concrete, bricksand mortars —aunique partnership of expertcare stakeholders, something thatwould provide arange of services to all people in ourcommunity. Initially,itwas Tulane-only, but partnering withLCMC Health, University Medical Center and LSU has helped us go bigger. We have eightdifferent experts. We have neurologistsspecializingin movement disorders and

PHOTO PROVIDEDByTULANE UNIVERSITy

Dr.Demetrius Maraganore, aneurologist at Tulane University, is one of ahandful of Louisiana doctors whohavetreated patients withanew Alzheimer’sdrug.

memorydisorders, including Alzheimer’sprevention. We have advanced practice nurses. We’ve got social workers, geriatricians and we’reall in thesame space withaverylarge staff thatsupport us. We areable to seepatients there,and we provide them careinamultidisciplinary way,incorporating holistic approaches,but also evidence based medical approaches.

Who are ‘super-agers’? What can researchers learnfrom them?

We’redoing studies of special populations across thenation of people who are over age 90. They are super-agers. Andwe’re beginning to learnwhat’swhat. Where’sthe fountain of youth? What are the factors that allow you to get to be 90-plus free of Alzheimer’s, even when carrying agenetic risk for Alzheimer’s?

Growing up in aGreek household and spending

mostofmychildhood summersinGreece with my relatives, Iwas exposed at a very early age tothe Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet is the diet of Greece, SouthernItaly and Spain. For research purposes, we use asnapshot of the diet common on the island of Crete in Greece in 1961. That’s the benchmark reference.

That particular dietary pattern has been studied for severaldecades,now in observational studies and in randomized clinical trials, as the only diet that, at any age, cutsyour risk for death in half.

It cutsrisk of cancer in half, heart disease in half, risk of stroke in half and risk of dementia in half.

It’s not only aneuroprotective diet, but it’sa neurorestorative diet. It restores brain health.

Whyaren’tweall eating the Mediterranean diet then?

Well, we learned to love

‘Japanesewalking’promisesbig

Health experts skeptical

BY ASPEN ANDERSON Los Angeles Times (TNS)

It promises the benefits of a10,000-step walk in just 30 minutes. No gym membership required. Just apair of shoes and awillingnessto alternate between brisk and slow-paced walking in threeminute bursts.

Dubbed “Japanese walking,” the latest viral fitness trend is all over TikTok and has people wondering whether this short-interval workout can improve health more efficiently than atraditional stroll.

The trend has spread across social mediaand beyond, with bloggers, online articles and major media outlets all jumping in on the walking routine.

The protocol traces back to a2007 Japanese studythat tested the effectsofhighintensity interval walking on middle-aged and older adults. But the recent buzz started with apunchy video from Australian contentcreator and fitness coach Eugene Teothat surpassed 10 million views on TikTok and 17 million views on YouTube Known to his over 426,000 TikTok followers and 1.22 million YouTube followers

as “Coach Eugene,” Teorebranded the science-backed routine into an accessible, algorithm-friendlyidea: “Japanesewalking ”

“People don’tlike fitness jargon,”Teo,33, said in a recent interviewwith The Times. “They don’tlikescientificterms… andifIwant to impactmillions globally Ilike to make fitnessadvice and scientific jargon alot more accessible.”

In hisvideo explainer, Teo describes the method: Walk fast for three minutes, slow down forthree minutes and repeatthe cycle five times.

According to the small study of 186 womenand 60 men, participants who followed this routinefour or more days aweek sawgreater improvements in blood pressure, leg strength and aerobic capacity than those in the moderate-intensity continuouswalking group

“It’sthatcardioworkthat alot of peopleare missing,” Teosaid.

Teo, alongtime coach and nutritionist, didn’tinvent the protocol,but he did helpit reach millions. He saidhis viral video resonated with people overwhelmed by the pressure to hit10,000 steps aday —a goalTeo himself oftenfinds out of reach.

He’s been following this protocol on and offfor years, ever since hecame across

According to the U.S. DietaryGuidelines of Americans adults should aimtoconsume around 21/2 cups of vegetables each dayaspartofahealthydiet. This includes fresh, frozen, canned and dried options. But arecentreport shows almost 90% of the U.S. population do not meet the recommendation for vegetableintake.

the study.Usually,hedoes his walking on atreadmill.

“A lotofpeople have this all-or-nothingapproach wherethey think, ‘Oh, Ican’t hit 10,000 steps.I’ve failed,’” he said. “It’s about just changing the stigma people have andthatall-or-nothing mentality of what fitness should be about.”

He emphasizes effortover perfection: Walk fast enough to get outofbreath, but not so fast that you can’tfinish thethree-minuteinterval. The recovery periodsare as slowasneeded to reset.

Butisthe sciencebehind the trend as strong as the messaging?

Dr.Helga VanHerle, acardiologist with Keck Medicine of USC, noted flaws in theoriginalstudy’s design —namely,that only the highintensity walking group was monitoredwith accelerometers, not themoderateintensitygroup, abias that could have skewed results.

“This creates amajor bias in the monitoring and compliance and could potentially skew theresults in favorof the high-intensity training group,”she said in an email, pointing to the Hawthorne effect,aphenomenon in which people alter theirbehavior because they know they’re being watched.

Dr.Parveen Garg, also with Keck Medicine of USC,

Continuedfrom page1X

supplementation, or they’re on the go too much or they’rebusy moms.I completely understand that, but Ithink theimportantpart is justitshouldn’treplaceit. We should still aim to try to eat whole veggies and whole fruit.”

In the end, no powder can fully replace aplateofreal veggies —but for some, it might just be thepush to eat alittle greener Curious about tryinga greens powder? Here are threepopularoptions reviewed by experts: n Live it Up Super Greens: Registered dietitianEstelle

the things that aren’tgood for us. We have developed this Westernized pattern of diet that’svery inflammatory and that promotes gut dysbiosis, which promotes an unhealthy composition and overgrowth of bacteria in the gut. That triggers a whole cascade of immune events and neural events that lead to inflammation in the brain and increase the odds for dementia.

The reality is, that even in the affluent, primarily white suburbs of Chicago, where Ihad been practicing, only 25% of this privileged population was adhering to the Mediterranean diet.

So imagine how things might be. Youknow,here in the South, probably avery small proportion of people are adhering to the Mediterranean diet.

In the years that I’ve been doing healthy brain aging efforts, we teach people about the Mediterranean diet. We even give them weekly diaries that they can keep to track their eating habits. But, it’svery hard for people later in life to change how they eat.

So, as researchers, we asked ourselves: “Do we have to change the way we eat? What if we just change our gut bacterial composition?”

We’ve been doing experiments in aging rats and also in miceengineered to get Alzheimer’s, feeding them the Western diet versus the Mediterranean diet. We’re finding that the animals receiving the Mediterranean diet have healthier gut compositions of bacteria and are smarter than the animals

that are fed the Western diet.

Then, we looked at taking the gut bacteria from the healthy Mediterranean animals and fed it by mouth to the Western diet animals. Couldweimprove animals’ gut composition and couldweimprove their cognitive performance?

The answer is, yes. We are actually developing aMediterranean diet-derived probiotic that people will be able to take as acapsule to improve their cognitive performance and to prevent cognitive decline and dementia. It’ssomething that we hope to bring to clinical trials very soon, after December 2025.

Iknow we’re not going to stop eating po-boys or fried catfish in Louisiana anytime soon. But, Idobelieve that we can continue eating foods that we’re accustomed to eating while also converting the gut to ahealthy gut that will then lead to a healthy brain. What keeps you busy outside of work?

Ipicked up the harmonica. Every Saturday for the last eight years, I’ve been taking lessons with aguy in Dublin, Ireland. I’m aguy born in Chicago, living in New Orleans, being taught the blues harmonica online by aguy in Dublin. That’sthe definition of globalization. We’re exploring the blues and jazz and American standards and rock and folk and country —all expressions of the harmonica. Ilike Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen or Rolling Stones. Ihave anumber of songs that are in my repertoire.

health gainsin30minutes

said he doesn’tsee intense intervalwalkingasa standout recommendationamong physicians.The study,he said, was small and meant to be thought-provoking and encourage further research, not to support sweeping conclusions

He supports any activity that getspeople moving but cautions againstover-hyping Japanesewalking benefitsor ease.

“It’skind of onerous,”he said, explaining that remembering to switch gears every three minutes, walking fast andslow andnavigating technology isn’teasy foreveryone.

He said it’spossible to get similar benefitsbywalking continuously at avigorous pace for ashorter time. But there isn’tenough evidence to confirmthat Experts agreethatvigorousactivity,eveninshort spurts, is beneficial.David Raichlen, professor of biological sciences and anthropologyatUSC, saidshortintervals of increased effort even just walking briskly for afew minutes— canyield meaningful healtheffects.

“There’ssomethingtothe ideathatsmallamounts of vigorous activity arereally beneficial,” Raichlen said.

Raichlenalsonotedthat calling high-intensity interval walking “Japanesewalk-

Benoit described this option as “by far the best-tasting productItried,” adding, “I felt really great after drinking it daily for 30 days: more energized, focused and ready for myday.”

n Lemme GreensGum-

ing” simply because of the study’sorigin is problematic.

Yasuyuki Suzuki, acardiac imaging specialist from Tokyo, is awareofthe trendand the associated study.Hesaid that while there is some new interestinthe topic,itisnot trending in Japan the way it appears to be in other parts of the world. He also said he does not feel any discomfort or concern about it being referred to as “Japanese walking.”

As forwhether this method is better than 10,000 stepsor continuouswalking, Raichlen is hesitant to say —the research just isn’tthere yet.

Higher walking cadence has been linked to lowerdementia risk, Raichlen said.

Also, walking in generalhas been tied to lower mortality, reduced cancer risk and improved cardiovascular health.

“I do think there’salot of good from encouraging people to think aboutwalking as exercise,” Raichlen said. “Finding ways to sort of makewalking work better for you is,you know, not abad thing.”

Still, the simplicity and catchy name may be why it took off.

“Pretty much anybody in Los Angeles can go outside and walk around,” said Sarah T. Roberts, aUCLAassociate professorand internetcul-

mies:According to Dr.Kathleen Valenton, board-certified doctor andowner of Rodeo Women’s Health and Wellness, these gummies offer “a convenient wayto increase daily intake of essential nutrientsthathelp

ture expert. Roberts sees the trendas areflection of broader social forces, including medical mistrust and the rising cost of health care and fitness.

“We’re in amoment of economic uncertainty,” she said. “For most people,a $300-amonth membership at Equinox is not areality.” That, she said, makes lowbarrier trends like “Japanese walking” especially appealing. But Robertscautioned againstthe risksofturning to TikTok andothersocial media platforms for medical advice.

“Stuff doesn’thappen in a vacuum,” she said. “There’s abigger social and political context to all of these things, andthe backdroptothese kinds of trends is not great.” Roberts encouragesviewers to critically evaluate where theirhealth advice comes fromand who profits fromit. “People with big followings often have something to sell,”she said. “They’re not really acting in the public interest.”

Still, Roberts said, with every health trend, social media companies are profiting. Although some platforms have tried to crack down on medical misinformation, Roberts said such content moderation has fallen out of favorbecause it affects revenue.

thebodyfunction properly and feel its best.”

n AG1 Next GenPouch: In Women’sHealth, St. Louis-based dietitian Sydney Lappe praised its design “to fill nutritional gaps and enhance whole-body health.”

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

TheLouisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to livewell.

Health editions will also profile people whoare advancing health for the state of Louisiana.

Do youhavea health story? We want to hear fromyou. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

EatFit LiveFit

BROUGH TT OY OU BY

Fresh from the Gulf: Light, bright shrimp salad

Shrimpsaladmakesfortheperfectdishwhenyou’recraving boldflavorsfromamealthatcoolsyouoffanddoesn’t weighyoudown.Caffe!Caffe!—aMetairieneighborhood favorite—gaveusaspinontheirtraditionalrecipethatis creamyANDEatFitapproved.Oneheapingscoop (oneserving)oftheirshrimpsaladlettucecups withraspberrymintvinaigrettehasless than200caloriesandonly4gramsof carbs.

FreshGulfshrimpandahintof cayennelendthatSouthLouisiana kick,andservingitinlettucecups keepsthingslightandgluten free.Thevinaigretteisaversatile recipeyou’llmakeonrepeat.Tryit drizzledovergrilledfish,chickenor vegetables.

Thedishisn’tcurrentlyonthe restaurant’smenu,soyou’llwant tosavethisrecipe,whichisstraight fromTheEatFitCookbook

NutritionNotes:

Theoliveoilinthe vinaigretteaddsheart-healthy monounsaturatedfats,whilethe raspberriesandmintprovideplant compoundslinkedtoreduced inflammationandimproved vascularhealth.Bonus:pairing leanshrimpwithhealthyfatsisa satisfyingcombinationthathelps youfeelfulllonger.

A3-ounceservingofboiledshrimp packsabout20gramsofleanproteinfor under100calories,withvirtuallynosaturated fat.They’realsorichinselenium,vitamin B12,iodineandthepowerfulantioxidant astaxanthin,whichgivesthemtheirpink hueandmayhelpreduceinflammation. Andyes,shrimpdocontaincholesterol,but researchshowsthatdietarycholesterolhas farlessimpactonbloodcholesterolthan saturatedfatsortransfats.Aswithany meal,moderationiskey.

ShrimpSaladLettuce CupswithRaspberryMint Vinaigrette

Makes6servings

1¼poundsmediumshrimp,boiledand cleaned

¾cupdicedcelery

½tablespoondicedgreenonion

¼teaspoonseasalt

¼teaspoonfreshlygroundblack pepper

¼teaspooncayenne

1/3 cupmayonnaise

6heartsromainelettuceorcurlylettuce leaves

6tablespoonsRaspberryMint

Vinaigrette(recipefollowing) 1lemon,cutintowedges

Inalargebowl,combineshrimp,celery, greenonion,salt,pepperandcayenne. Addmayonnaiseandmixthoroughly. Serveassingle-serving“cups”inside oflettuceleaves,eachdrizzledwith1 tablespoonofvinaigretteandgarnished withalemonwedge.

Perserving:190calories,9gramsfat, 1.5gramssaturatedfat,220mgsodium, 6gramscarbohydrate(6gramsnet carbs),0gramsfiber,3gramssugar (0addedsugar),23gramsprotein

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsnersEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THENUMBERS

RaspberryMint

Vinaigrette

Makesapproximately1cup

½cupraspberryblushvinegar

½tablespoonhoney

1tablespoonchoppedfreshmint

½teaspoonSwerveGranular

½cupextravirginoliveoil

Addallingredientsexceptoliveoiltoa blender.Blendwhileslowlydrizzlingin oliveoiltoemulsify.

Perserving(2tablespoons):90calories, 9gramsfat,1gsaturatedfat, 0sodium,4gramscarbohydrate (4gramsnetcarbs),0fiber,3grams sugar(<1 gramsaddedsugar), 0gramsprotein

ServingTips:

•Foranextrapopofflavor,try tossingtheshrimpwithasqueeze oflemonbeforemixingintothe salad.

•Ifyoucan’tfindraspberryblush vinegar,useredwinevinegarwith afewfreshorfrozenraspberries blendedin.

•Makethevinaigretteahead flavorsdeepenafteradayinthe fridge.

•Speakingofleftovers,shrimp arebestenjoyedfresh,butthey alsofreezebeautifully.Thekey isfreezingfresh,uncookedGulf shrimpinone-poundbagswiththe shellsontolockinmoistureand flavor.Defrostintherefrigerator

Foralistofretailersortopurchase TheEatFitCookbookonline,visit EatFitCookbook.com.

CIGARETTESMOKING IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOWINLOUISIANA

Cigarette smoking, long-known for its adverse health effectsand connection to lung cancers, is at its lowest usageacross the UnitedStatessince officials started tracking rates in 1990, according to America’sHealth Rankings.

Louisiana still ranks sixth highest in the nation forthe percent of adults whosmokecigarettes.

Both national and statewide use of cigarettes is at an all-time lowwith only 15.7% of adults reporting cigarette use.

Nationally,overthe past decade,the percentageof adults whoreported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smokedaily on somedays in thenation has been on asteadydecline.While in Louisiana, the numbers have been up and down from year to year,between 2013 and 2023, the overall rate is down is nearly 8percentagepoints.

The data for the U.S. is asfollows:

n In 2013, 19% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2014, 18.1% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2015, 17.5% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2016, 17.1% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2017, 17.1% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2018, 16.1% of U.S. adults reported smoking

Continued from page1X

“When your therapist comesinand tells you today is the day you can stop using abedpan andget up to the toilet, it’sa pretty sweet relief,” she said.

For many patients,regaining these small daily routines becomes ahuge psychological shift.

Occupational therapists tailor their therapytoreallife, personal goals. For one person, it may mean brushing their teeth at asink instead of in bed. For another, it mightinvolvecooking again, returning to work or modifying their home environment with adaptive tools.

“Wewant to know what’s important to them,” she said. That individualized approach is especiallyvital in

Cigarette smoking declines nationwide Percentage of adultsinthe U.S. compared to Louisianawho reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in theirlifetime and currentlysmokedaily or some days from2013to2023.

n In 2019, 15.9% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2020, 15.5% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2021, 14.4% of U.S. adults reported smoking

n In 2022, 14% of U.S. adults reported smoking

stroke recovery.After aneurological eventlikeastroke, occupational therapy often involves neuromuscular reeducation —retraining the brainand body to workto-

gether again. According to theAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy practitionerscan help those that have hada strokeregain function and learn new ways to perform everyday activities.

Devillierpointedtoevidence-based techniques like task-specific, repetitivemotiontherapy,which studies show can improve upper-limb function andindependence when linkedto patient-driven goals.

Twelve yearsago, a 28-year-old Lafayette woman experienced astroke shortly after giving birth, believed to be causedbya clot followinga C-section. She wasunable to move the right side of her body

With acombination of therapies —particularly occupational therapy —over threeyears, she worked

n In 2023, 12.1% of U.S. adults reported smoking

The data forLouisiana is as follows:

n In 2013, 23.5% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2014, 24% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2015, 21.9% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2016, 22.8% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2017, 23.1% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2018, 20.5% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2019, 21.9% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2020, 18.3% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2021, 19.5% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2022, 16.7% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

n In 2023, 15.7% of Louisiana adults reported smoking

diligently to reclaim her independence. Today, she functions at nearly 100%, and mostwouldn’tnotice a difference between whoshe is now and who she was before. In outpatient settings, occupational therapists also support people recovering fromorthopedic injuries like rotator cuffrepairs or carpal tunnel surgery

Beyond physical healing, occupational therapy can touch every corner of aperson’sdaily life —helping stroke survivors regain fine motor control in their hands, or teaching someone with a neurological conditionhow to adapt their routine safely

The workgoes farbeyond hospitals.

“OTs are doing really cool therapyyou might noteven realize is OT,” Devillier said.

She highlighted local colleagues like Simonne Boul-

lionSaab at OneOnOne Physical and Occupational Therapy Services, who is certified in neurodevelopmental treatmentand vestibular rehabilitation. Susan Mouton at Rise Therapy combines diet and lifestyle coaching with aRock Steady Boxing program designed to support those with Parkinson’sdisease —all in Lafayette.

Thereaches of occupational therapy are broad, from pediatrics to geriatrics to mental health andchronic illnesses.

“It’sa career that’shard to summarize in one sentence —which is exactly what makes it rewarding,” Devillier said. “Most OTs I know genuinely love what they do.It’sa profession that’s provided me withvariety,challenge and the kind of fulfillment Icouldn’t find anywhere else.”

At care pers you clear we’r Withsame-dayandnext-dayappointments,gettingthecare youneedhasneverbeeneasierormoreconvenient

Visitochsner.org/primarycaretolearnmoreorto scheduleanappointment.

NEVERTOO FAR

N.O. native founda waytohelpinFrance afterKatrina struck

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staffwriter

When Carol Allengets frustrated, her anger prompts her to want to hit something—a pillow,a door or acar steering wheel, whatever’shandy.

In 2005, Allen was living inProvence, France, when sheheard the news that Hurricane Katrina was destroyingher beloved hometown. Every morning, she watched CNN International and “cried her eyes out.” She was overcome with sadness and defeat, so she hitthe steering wheelofher carone afternoon while she was driving into town to get groceries.

“I was ahomesick woman, watching my city and my fellow citizens die anddrown,” Allen said. “I justhit the steering wheel, andI said, ‘Do something!’

Her act of ferocity ledher to two women who introduced her to the Rotary Club of Vaison-La-Romaine in Provence, whichincluded people of all nationalities. Allen had landed in the region after marrying aFrenchman, who she is now divorced from.

After hearing aboutthe news of evacuees in need,volunteers conducted what the French call a“collecte” in 15 villages over athree-day period Allen says the mayors of every village opened up their city halls to collect items forhurricane victims.

“I just said, ‘Help,’ and everybody jumped,” Allensaid.

The volunteers in France collected

over 550 boxestobedelivered to the school. After atriage of discardingunacceptable items, Allen panicked. She cold-called FedEx and explainedwhat they were trying to accomplish— and, frankly,how much they had. The company agreed to ship everything free of charge to New Orleans,towhich Allen asked for ashipping company to provide boxes.

Afan of the cold call, Allen contacted Grospiron, an international moving andrelocationcompany.The call resultedina truck delivering free boxes andshipping labels to Allen’shome in Provence “When we finishedpacking, we had filledmygarage andaneighbor’s,” Allen wrote in an email.

Allencalleda friend at LSU who told her about 100 families living near East Iberville High SchoolinSt. Gabriel.

Some of the itemsthe volunteers collected included jeans, aminkcoat, toys, new clothes from sporting goods stores, and agiant grey teddy bear that Allen last saw sitting on asofa in thelibrary at East Iberville High School in St. Gabriel, whereabout 100 NewOrleansfamilies wererelocated

At the time, the principal at East Iberville High School was Lionel Johnson Jr.Today,heisthe themayor of St.Gabriel

Around late October,employees with Grospiron loadedupthe boxes and delivered themtoCharles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where threeFedEx airplane containers were filled and shipped to New Orleans. Once in the States, Grospirondelivered thepackages to East Iberville Elementary and High School.

“I didn’thaveaneed. Ijusthad such afeeling of hopelessness, helpless-

ness, nothing,” Allen said.“That’sbasically what Isaidtothese people, ‘What can Ido?’ Andtheytook it from there. That’swhatitbecame. Threeairplane containers.”

Allensaid seeing the distribution of items to the familieswas life changing.

AlsoinFrance at the time wasKaren Fawcett, fromWashington, D.C. She arrived in France in 1988, and her planned, six-month stay turned into 30 years. She is theoriginal founder and former presidentofbonjourparis. com, the first English-language website about France

She met Allen in Paris at the ContinuingEducation Center,and when the Hurricane Katrinaefforts began, Fawcett jumpedintohelp.

“New Orleans was really Carol’s home. As much as both of us loved Provence, your home is where you’re from,” Fawcett said. “Everybody jumped becauseitwas Carol. Carol really engendersall kinds of loyalty.”

She noted that the French have a better government-responsesystem to disastersthat doesn’trequire the same kind of charityasthe States. Instead, she says thatAmericans are more philanthropic with grassroots movements andwillingto“get their hands dirty.”

“When atragedy happens, Americans are there,”she said.“Franceis amuch smaller country in so many ways, and I’m not saying that when there was aterrible flood, that the residents didn’tpitch in and take people in.But (helpingwithKatrina) somehowfeltdifferent to me.”

On April 4, 2006, Allen hosted athank youdinneronthe terrace of her home in Provencefor all the people whoassisted in the project to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Today,inher New Orleans

JanRisher

LONG STORy SHORT

With abanjo on herknee

This is astory aboutthe strange intersectionofDNA and digitalaudio,science andsong.

Background: I’ve been fascinated by DNA mapping and identifying relativessincethe HumanGenome Project was declared complete in 2003. Once Ancestrystarted offering DNA testing andmatches,I was an early adopter.These days, on Ancestry, Ihaveamere87,520 geneticrelatives, withthe most distant onebeing ahalfthird cousin once removed.

Of those masses, Iknow28people —frommyparents, brother, nephewand acouple dozenclose cousins. Afterthat, things get murky.Still, I’ve enjoyedgetting messages from distant cousins through theyearsand figuring outthe connection In July,I receiveda message fromawoman in Austin who is my third cousin. Ihad nevermet her, but when she explainedthat she was Julia Greer Maréchal’s great granddaughter, Icould connect thedots. Maréchal was my great-grandfather’syounger sister. Ihad heardher name allmy life,asmygrandfather frequently referredto“Aunt Julia.”

My “new” cousin andImessagedseveral times until she toldmeafascinating story about aman named ByronArnold, a folklorist with the University of Alabama who spent the summers from1945 to 1947 visiting and recording singers in theirhomes acrossAlabama.

Arnold collected more than 600 ballads, spirituals, work songs, frolic tunesand children’ssongs frommen andwomen,young andold, richand poor,Black and White

Along theway,herecorded my great-great aunt Julia,then 94, singing. Aftermorethan30 songs, Arnold is said to have asked, “I hate to tire you, but will yousing just onemore?

She responded, “Singing doesn’ttire me!” Arnold usedselected recordings to create asongbook called “Folksongs of Alabama,” publishedin1950. Yearslater,the UniversityofAlabama produced aCDwith his originalrecordings called“BullfrogJumped” thatfeatured42songs Arnold hadgatheredacrossthe state Of those, four of my great-great aunt’s songs were included. “Julia Greer was born in Jones Bluff (Sumter County,Alabama) on theTombigbeeRiver. She was eight yearsold whenthe Civil Warbegan.Whenshe married Edwin LesleyMaréchal,she moved to Mobile andraiseda large family,” according to the CD’slinernotes.“She learned many of hersongs at the family home in Sumter County from herUncle Johnny McInnis who fiddled, sang andwrote poetry.” Iorderedthe CD minutes after learning aboutit. Icouldn’timagine hearing this woman so far removed from my life but still so connected.WhenIread thescant words abouther life,I couldn’t

See RISHER, page 2Y ä See KATRINA, page 2Y

INSPIREDDISCUSSIONS

ASK THEEXPERTS

Contributing to agrowing community

Lafayettenative uses herfamily foundation to help hertownthrive

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

Lafayette native Emily Hamner runs the Pinhook Foundation, which her father started in 1987 to serve the community.Hamner dedicates her time and the foundation’sresources to organizations that focus on Lafayette’ssocial issues, with the goal of making the citya better place to live and visit The PinhookFoundation collaborates with other family foundations to increase their impact.

This interview was edited for length and clarity When did you decide it wasagood time to getinvolved with yourfamily’s foundation?

Igraduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2000 with a business degree. Icame to run the family real estate business. After both of my grandparents passed away, most of their assets were put into the foundation, and so we had alot more money to give away

We needed more of aprofessional mechanism to do that. Igot connectedwith Scott Brazda, who was running the Stuller Family Foundation. He took me under his wing and took me to meetings with local nonprofits —and it took off from there.

Ijoined the Junior League andLeadershipLafayette and Istartedgetting more involved in the community My dad was always involved in civic life, church, PTA andthe boardfor ourhigh school.

Iguess the acorn didn’t fall far from that tree. What inspiresyou to keep doing this job,especially in the midst of so manychanges in the nonprofit sector?

It’stwofold. Ilove Lafayette. Lafayetteismyhome, born andraised. Istayed here for college,and Iwork

Q&A WITH EMILyHAMNER

with the nonprofitshere to betterour community for the children who aregrowinguphere.

That’sone of my big drivers. This is just agreatplace to live. Ilove volunteering. I serve on anumber of boards and commissionsintown. It’svery fulfillingfor me.

Connecting people and then workingwith some of theother family foundations helps to really make alarger impact. We’reall about partnerships.Wedon’t want to sail the ship by ourselves.

What kinds of nonprofits does the foundationworks with?

We primarilyfocus on social service nonprofits. We help fund theBoys and Girls Club, Big Brothers BigSisters, the St. Bernadette’sclinicofOur Lady of Lourdes Foundation, which is amedicaland dental clinic for thehomeless in our community,Acadiana Animal Aid, Catholic Charities and Moncus Park. We helped Cathedral-CarmelSchool with acapital campaign.We’ve partnered with some of Hospice of Acadiana’snew programs. Oneofmydad’spassions is ChristianYouthTheater, anonprofit that is making a big impactinour community with anamazing amount of kidswithunbelievable talent.

Arethereany specificareas that you personally have apassion for?

When Iwas in the Junior

League, Igot associated with the Boys and Girls Club, and we usedtohold aprogram that wascalled“Kids in the Kitchen.” We went to theBoys and Girls Club and cooked simple meals for the kids. Throughthe Junior League, Iwas acoach for Girlsonthe Run.I metthis young lady whowas on my team for thatsemester,and we hit it off. She was how I got involved withBig Brothers Big Sisters, because we needed an outlet to do mentoring. I’ve been on the board for over 10 years now Do you do anyout-of-the-box programminginthe community?

Ialso love animals, so Acadian Animal Aid and Spay Nation are passions of mine because Idon’t have children, Ihave fur children.

Severalyears ago, Isaw a news articleonABC News about this woman who decided to hostbirthday partiesinhomeless shelters. I wonderedifwecould do that here.A coupleoffriends from theJunior League and Icreated aprogram that endedupoperating underneath ourfoundationcalled “My Special Day ” We startedhaving birthdaypartiesinthe homeless shelterthatCatholic Charitiesran in Opelousas. Oncea month we would go over and have birthdaycakes, presents andgames forall the kids and the moms. Onehiccup in life could put people in aplace wheretheydon’t have ahome. So, when Catholic Charities moved their facility here in Lafayette, we continueddoing birthday

Inspired Book Club to meet in person

TopiconPaul Prudhomme’s ‘Louisiana Kitchen’

BY JANRISHER Staff writer

The Louisiana InspiredBook Club haschosenthe legendary Louisiana chef Paul Prudhomme’sfirst cookbook, “Louisiana Kitchen,” published in 1984, as the fall book club selection.

The Louisiana InspiredBook Club will be hostingalive panel and discussion at noononOct. 16 at the Main Library’slarge meeting room at 7711 Goodwood Blvd. in BatonRouge. Louisiana culture editor Jan Risher will facilitate the conversation with a panelofLouisiana chefs and experts on Prudhomme and Cajun/ Creolecooking. Prudhomme’sCajun and Creole cookbook profoundly impacted American cuisine and food culture in general, both nationally and internationally.When it comes to Cajun andCreole food, there is be-

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

help but notice more familiar threads. My favorite, much-loved uncle, “Uncle Mack,” whosefull name was McInnis, was named in honor of my great-greatgrandmother —her mother and her uncle Johnny’ssister

The trickiestpart of this tale occurred once the CD arrived at my house —Inolonger have a way to play aCDand neitherdid

Paul

on the balcony of K-Paul’srestaurant on Chartres street in the NewOrleans French Quarter May16, 2005.

forePrudhomme’sbook and after His recipes —particularly fordisheslike blackened redfish, gumbo and jambalaya brought the bold flavors of Louisiana into kitchens across the country

The chef was born on afarm in Opelousas. In his early career,heworkedinkitchens in New Orleans, including Le Pavillon hotel and Maison Dupuy

We invite readers to join us in revisiting Prudhomme’s first cookbook. Make the recipes. Remember the heyday of

the friends Iasked. Instead, one fellow journalist remembered that there was an old CD player on along-agodesk.I sat down, put on my headphones and started listening,hopingthatIwould know one of the songs. Listening through the decades to the slightly crackly voice of a 94-year-old woman singing felt like an almost-supernatural experience. Her first songwas called, “Too Daddle Addle.” Then came “Paper of Pins,” “Allthe Pretty Horses,”and finally,“WhenI

restaurant scenes withblackened everything. Take aculinary trip down memory lane. Leaf through its pages and create the dishes according to Prudhomme’s specifications. Then,join thelivediscussionin October

Sign up fornotices forthe LouisianaInspired Book Club, which selects abook to read and discuss quarterly,here

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

Wasa Young Girl.” Iknewnone of thesongs she sang, but that didn’tdiminish the experience of hearing the songs of someone long gone Thespiritfelt familiar.It’sthe same stubborn joy in storytelling that I’veknown in generations of my family,the same spirit in singing that I’veheardinmy daughterGreer’ssong. Themagic of DNA shines through.

Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

parties. Does your father stayinvolved beyond CYT?

My dad is also very passionate about the St. Bernadette’sclinic that is downtownonSt. John Street. We have expanded their dental program, which has been a gamechanger forpeople. Something as simple as pulling teeth andprovidingdentures can be agame changer forpeople.

When you think of Lafayette and Pinhook Foundation, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Making ourcommunity a better place.

Iknoweverybody probablythinks their hometown is the best place, but we’ve traveleda lot, andthere’sa different feeling when you cometoLafayette. There’s something about our com-

munitythatweband together.I don’tknow if that’s Cajun culture or if that’sjust how we are. We take care of our own people. We love our community.Wewant to see Moncus Park thrive and be this beautiful 100 acres in the middle of our city so that our kids and our grandkids can enjoy it. It takes alot of people working together across this town to make our community better.Itdoesn’timpact me, or may notimpact me directly, but it makes our community better —and we want to see the goals we are working toward cometo fruition and thisplace be the best it can be.

Email Joy Holdenatjoy holden@theadvocate.com.

KATRINA

Continued from page1y

apartment, 20 years since the aftermath of Katrina, Allen still gets teary-eyed when shelooks at the scrapbook she created about the experience. Shehas filled the book with items she kept: newspaper article cutouts

photos,flyers, lettersand more She insisted she wasnot the leader of the humanitarian operation,onlythe instigator.She said thevolunteers were the true leaders. “It only takes aspark,” Allen said, “to get acandle burning.”

Email Lauren Cheramieat lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. com.

100+ yearsof LSUFootball history in ahardcoverbook

‘TailoredTiger Closet’helps students gain professional attire

saidJesse Downs, the directorof the Olinde CareerCenter.“The dignityofstudents in this process wassomething at thecore of this.”

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

The transition from acollege wardrobe to awork wardrobe can be achallenge for many university students.Insomecases, the individual is from out of state. Other times, they have limited finances. Regardless of the reason some college students need help dressing up their closet to aprofessional level.

In thefall of 2024, the LSU Olinde Career Center opened theTailored Tiger Closet for students pursuing any LSUdegree —whether undergraduate, graduate or doctorate —touse as aresource for job interviews, career fairs or even internships.

On the third floor of the LSU Union, at the end of aserpentine hall, sits the closet’smicro-boutique and adressing room. The layout feels like thetiniestmall department store possible.

Last school year,from 20242025, The Tailored TigerCloset served438 students with personal shopping experiences and free professional clothing. From August to May,1,250 articles of clothingwere given outtostudents.

TheroadtoProject Tailored Tiger

In 2022, LSU Student Body President Lizzie Shaw proposed theidea of aprofessionalclothing closet to the vice presidentof Student Affairs, Jeremiah Shinn, who then asked around for adepartment to sponsor the closet.

That fall, the Olinde Career Center took on the sponsorship role, and the following year,LSU Student Government successfully proposed the career closet to theStudent Sustainability Fund to cover the start-upcosts. By spring and summer 2024, theCareer Center and StudentGovernment locatedthe location in the Union, renovated the space to reflect aboutique style and collected clothing donations.

“When we were in the creation of it, it was very important to our staff, and just in general, that studentsfeltgoodinthe experience,

Upon entry,the Tailored Tiger Professional Clothing Closet looks like awell-curated boutique with uniform hangers, clear divisions of garment style, visible sizing and clean organization.

The lighting and clothing rods aresimple and evokeamalldepartment storemorethan asecondhandshop

On the oppositewall, asize guide formen andwomen, amirror and ameasuring tape are available for shoppers.

Liv Tees, amass communication seniorand career center studentworker,has managedthe closetsinceits opening in September2024. Students make oneon-one appointments with Tees for aconsultation and personal shopping experience.

“I can kind of get the vibe of when they wanthelp and when theydon’twant help,” Tees said “People don’talways know their ownsize, especially with women’s clothing, so it’sbest to just try everything.”

Students are allowed to select four garmentstokeep per semester,choosing from full suits,blazers, sport coats, slacks,buttondown shirts,ties, skirts,blouses, pants, dresses and jackets

Downs said the Tailored Tiger Closet’sgoal is forpeople to be authenticin who they areand confidentintheir clothes.

“Weknow our students are really talented,and they’vegot great skills,and they’re highly marketable, but they don’talwayshave theconfidenceinthat,” Downs said. “So some of it is as simple as when you when youlook good, youfeel good. And forsomestudents, it’s notasmuchabout looking good as it is fitting in to the work environment.”

Downs and Tees sort all of the donations, and they choose what they will keep andwhatthey will donate to the Purple Cow,alocal thrift storeinBaton Rouge.

Tees maintainsthe inventory, selects the pieces for the closet, steams the clothes and even sometimes mends small repairs or missing buttons in an Olinde

Career Centerofficeroomacouple of floorsdown from the actual closet

“I find that students,when they come in andsee thattheyget to take this clothing home forfree —and some of them arereally nice brands from people who are well established in law firms or business —they are so happy,” Tees said. “Maybe they’ll remember, ‘I got my first internship, and Iworea suit from Tailored Tiger, and that’show Igot it.’”

Howtocontribute

The Tailored TigerCloset accepts gently used business professional items,which mustbe cleaned and free of damage, stains,tears, etc. Requested garments include:

n Businesssuits

n Dresspants

n Button-up shirts

n Blouses n Dresses

n Skirts

n Ties andbelts

Those whowould like to contribute items maydropoff donations at the CareerCenter Main Office, 158 Student Union, on LSU’scampus Monetary donations can be made to theAshley GrantCareer Closet Fund through theLSU Foundation. Grant,aLSU College of Agriculture employee, establisheda pop-upcareer closet for ag students. She was instrumentalinthe early planning days of the OlindeCareer Center closet. Granthelped guide the Career

Center team in their planning and preparation for the Tailored Tiger Closet.When she unexpectedly died in February2024,her family set up this fund in her memory

This fall, the Career Center will hostseven recruiting events,includingthe Fall Career Expoon Sept. 10, which should bring over 200 companies to campus. LSU students willneed to be outfitted in their best professional attire forthese events,and the Tailored Tiger Closet is ready for it. For more information, visit lsu. edu/career/dress-for-success. php.

Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

At Our Lady of Lourdes JD Moncus Cancer Center,wewant to make sureyou nevermissa momentofwhat really counts. Our attentiontoyourcareisbased on adecades-long foundationofexperience and compassionate, comprehensive treatmentfor Acadiana families, includingall theresources youneed to fight cancer.That’s why we’rethe region’s trusted cancer treatmentdestination. That’s why it allcounts here. LearnmoreatLourdesRMC.com/cancer

FAITH & VALUES

Chaplains changing spiritual care understanding

BY RACHEL BERKEBILE

Contributing writer

Religiously unaffiliated Americans represent about 28% of the country’s population, according to 2024 Pew Research Center data. As this demographic has grown, so, too, have the number of religiously unaffiliated chaplains.

Chaplains often sit with patients and families in hospitals as they face some of the most difficult moments of their lives. They work on university campuses providing a listening ear and guidance to students as they maneuver young adulthood. And for the last 250 years, they have offered spiritual support to their fellow service members in the U.S. military Regardless of the setting, chaplains provide spiritual or pastoral care. As religious demographics overall shift, so too do the religious identities represented amongst chaplains.

“I think one of our primary (roles) is accepting and acknowledging things the way they are,” said Mariela Gonzalez, a hospital chaplain at Advocate Aurora Health in Downers Grove, Illinois. “Then, inviting a patient to reflect on what might connect them to goodness, or love or hope in those difficult moments. But not moving them toward that if it’s not where they are.” Gonzalez identifies as a humanist, a belief system that drives her chaplaincy work in combating dehumanization in the health care system — “the idea that a person is a commodity in the hospital, or you know, a cog in the machine of the health care industrial complex,” she said. She described her work as being “able to have a sense of (a patient’s) personhood and their wholeness.”

Many employers expect chaplains to either be board certified or at least working toward it. There are a number of requirements to receive board certification including, among other things, a master’s degree in either theology philosophy or psychology, completed units

out supernaturalism,” Iten said. “… ‘Without supernaturalism’ has kind of been our dividing line lately that has kind of become our boundary for who we let in and who we let out.”

The Humanist Society, which is active throughout and beyond the U.S., currently endorses 139 chaplains, Iten said. It receives, on average, four applications for endorsement a month, which he anticipates will grow closer to six a month in the next year Gonzalez said the issue of endorsement has been a prominent topic of conversation for chaplains, particularly nonreligious ones. While some in the industry question whether endorsement is needed, she believes having institutional community connection is important for a chaplain’s self-orientation.

type of spiritual support sought.

Gonzalez acknowledged that some patients want a chaplain to perform more overtly religious or spiritual rituals, such as prayer, which nonreligious chaplains can also facilitate. In those moments, she asks them, “How do you want to pray?” and follows their lead. For example, when a patient told her, “We pray in the name of Jesus,” Gonzalez invoked Jesus’ name in the prayer she offered.

nonreligious, to treat that moment as a sort of coming out. “Thank the patient for trusting you with that,” he said. “Give them some sort of empathetic reflection like, ‘I hear it’s hard to be atheist in America these days. What’s that like for you?’”

of clinical pastoral education and endorsement or recognition from a faith group recognized by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. While the list of faith groups recognized by BCCI is extensive, the options for nonreligious chaplains are still limited.

One of the few endorsing bodies for nonreligious chaplains is the Humanist Society, which was started by a group of Quakers in 1939 and is led by values based on the principles of humanism. It has been recognized by BCCI since 2014.

Ben Iten, president of the Humanist Society, said successful chaplaincy applicants meet BCCI criteria, completing CPE units and receiving a Master of Divinity or an equivalent degree like other faith organizations that certify chaplains However, the applicant also needs to show they are a humanist.

“When we are endorsing folks, a lot of our dividing lines right now (are in) the humanist manifesto, (which) talks about that humanism believes that humanity is able to live moral and ethical lives with-

“I think if smaller communities could form that would have some structure of accountability and participation, that would help for people to have that accountability, have that grounding, have community,” she said. “More (endorsing bodies) would form, just grassroots.”

Iten also works as a hospital chaplain with OhioHealth, a nonprofit health care system in Central Ohio affiliated with the United Methodist Church, and is a certified educator with the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education. He defines his religion as humanism and says his work is about providing community and human connection.

Most patients Iten and his students see say they are religious. He estimated that only about 1% to 2% of patients in his hospital identify themselves as nonreligious. He thinks that number is actually higher but said in the presence of a chaplain, patients often conceal nonreligious identities.

In most settings a chaplain works in, regardless of their spiritual or religious orienting system, they meet with care recipients of all faith backgrounds. As such, chaplains who don’t follow any one religion are well-poised to adapt to any

Two prominent nontraditional chaplains include Greg Epstein and Devin Moss. Epstein works as a humanist/agnostic/atheist chaplain at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology On his bio page at Harvard, it is noted that New York Times Magazine described him as ”a ‘godfather to the (humanist) movement.’” Moss’ work with fellow atheist and convicted killer Phillip Hancock was highlighted in the Times last year Vanessa Gomez Brake, university chaplain at the University of Southern California, said growing up Catholic, she saw priests as spiritual authorities. Now, she identifies as a secular humanist and culturally Catholic, and her work represents these interfaith dynamics of chaplaincy She said when it comes to helping others create ritual spaces, she can do anything — and does. On USC’s campus, she helps organize everything from Ramadan festivities to Diwali celebrations, aiming to ensure students of all faith traditions can access their sites of worship. She also advocates for recognizing whatever belief systems students identify with. At her hospital in Downers Grove, Gonzalez estimates she meets with one to two patients weekly who self-disclose as nonreligious. She said when patients hear she is a chaplain, they will sometimes use language like, “well, I used to be this” religion. In those moments, she tries to let them know, “It’s OK to be where you are now,” she said. Iten said he teaches his students that when someone shares they are

Gomez Brake said that a solid third of students she meets on campus identify as nonreligious, pointing to a generational trend toward religious disaffiliation in younger adults. That doesn’t mean her role is any less significant.

“I think people are just as spiritual and religious as they’ve ever been,” she said, “but we’re finding new terminology for it because we don’t trust the institutions. We don’t want to be affiliated with them, but folks still have needs for their spiritual well-being and health.”

Asked about having to defend their nontraditional belief systems in a traditionally religious industry, each of the chaplains RNS spoke with had different experiences. Gonzalez said she doesn’t feel she has to defend herself, but rather works to educate others about and advocates for nontraditional chaplains. Iten, however, said, “The higher up I got in certification, the more I had to defend myself.” While as an intern, having to defend his spiritual route was minimal, as he worked toward chaplaincy board certification and then took on the process to become an educator, his humanism often seemed to come into question.

For Gomez Brake, the experience has been different. “Students don’t care,” she said, noting, however, that some of the religious affiliates she works with have been surprised to learn an atheist has a Master of Divinity degree. She also said she doesn’t believe nonreligious chaplains are as new of a phenomenon as many people think.

“There have always been people of every worldview who have been serving in these chaplain roles,” she said. “It’s just the stereotypes of a chaplain are always very Christian.”

Warming climate is changing growing conditions

Planting zones shifting northward

BY OLIVIA COHEN Contributing writer

This story, created by Olivia Cohen for The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, is part of the AP Storyshare. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world.

A few years ago, Holly Jones started studying the micro-climate and the topography on her family farm in Crawfordsville, Iowa, about 40 miles south of Iowa City Jones said learning more about the landscape of her fifth generation flower farm helped her recognize some of the ways weather and climate change could affect her operation.

“There are some areas of our land that are a little higher than others,” Jones said. “That’s going to impact, for example, when we’re looking out for frost advisories or frost concerns really early in the season or the end.” Around this time the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its plant hardiness zones map, which divides the United States into 13 zones based on average annual minimum temperatures in a given time period.

Todd Einhorn, an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, said simply put, plant hardiness zones help gardeners and farmers determine which plants are most likely to survive winters in a specific location.

Jones’ farm, called Evergreen Hill, is currently in zone 5b. The USDA found that for her area the temperature had increased by one degree Fahrenheit between 2012 and 2023 – a trend experts say will continue in the Upper Midwest. In response to the changing climate and her deeper understanding of her land, Jones created “crossover plans” for the farm, planting flower varieties with overlapping bloom times. If one species is late to flower or runs its course early, she has other plants that can fill in as the farm’s “focal flower” at any given time. She said she and her team have

PROVIDED

Dean Colony of Colony Acres Family Farm 1150 Front St NE checks on his pumpkin crop in North Liberty, Iowa, on July 9. Colony grows around 40 varieties of the fall-harvest gourds. Colony checks on the health of the plants as well as what insects are on the plants and flowers.

learned that they must be flexible when it comes to farming in a changing climate since she does not have control over growing conditions.

“We can prepare as much as we want, but there’s so much variability now in growing, especially in the ways that we grow that you just have to be prepared to pivot and adapt,” Jones said.

Jones won’t be the only one adapting.

Plant hardiness zones are shifting northward nationwide as the country continues to warm, affecting farmers, gardeners and producers across the country The biggest changes in the coming decades are predicted to be in the Upper Midwest. The Midwest produces 27% of the nation’s agricultural goods. What are plant hardiness zones?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map has 13 zones, which serve as guidelines for growers on what kind of plants will grow well in their area.

“Hardiness zones are meant to at least delineate which species or cultivars of species could be planted based on their survival,” Einhorn said, who specializes in plant hardiness science, particularly with fruit tree species.

Each zone covers about 10 degrees for example, Iowa lies primarily in zone 5, which means its coldest temperatures range from -20 degrees to -10 degrees Fahrenheit on average Each zone is further divided into five degree half zones — the northern half of Iowa is in 5a,

the southern half in 5b.

Madelynn Wuestenberg, an agricultural climatology extension specialist with Iowa State University, said that plant hardiness zones are defined by their average coldest temperatures. The averages are calculated over 30 years.

In 2023, using new averages, the USDA updated the map, moving about half of the country up by half a plant zone, meaning average minimum temperatures rose by zero to five degrees in the affected places

Zones shifting north Climate Central, a non-profit researching climate change and how it affects people, analyzed 243 locations around the United States and found that about 67% of the locations studied based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data have already shifted to warmer planting zones from the mid-1900s to present.

The researchers found that the Northwest and the Southwest, along with Alaska, have been the most affected to date.

With unabated climate change about 90% of locations examined will likely shift to warmer planting zones by the middle of this century

The Upper Midwest is predicted to be affected most.

Wuestenberg said winter temperatures in the Midwest are becoming warmer on average, compared to decades past.

“What we saw from the 1981 to 2010 climatology versus the 1991 to 2020 climatology is we’re really

starting to see warming across the U.S.,” Wuestenberg said. “And this has been observed for a long time, and really it’s a pretty consistent overall warming, but the specific amount of warming varies region to region across the U.S.”

Of the cities with the highest predicted temperature change between now and mid-century, a majority of the top 25 are in the Mississippi River Basin. Madison, Wisconsin, for example, is projected to switch from zone 5b to 6a as the average coldest temperature is expected to increase by 8.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Jefferson City, Missouri, will likely change from zone 6b to zone 7b, as the area’s average cold temperatures are projected to increase by 8.3 degrees Fahrenheit

In Dubuque, Iowa, the average coldest temperatures are expected to rise by 8.3 degrees Fahrenheit and producers will go from zone 5a to 6a.

Average cold temperatures in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are on course to warm by 8.2 degrees Fahrenheit and the region is expected to jump an entire planting zone to 6a.

The shift in plant hardiness zones could force some growers across the country to select plants that are adapted to a wider and warmer range of temperatures to survive warmer winters and earlier frosts and thaws. In some cases, that could mean new opportunities.

Dean Colony runs Colony Acres Family Farm in North Liberty Iowa. On his 200-acre farm, he grows pumpkins, corn, soybeans and zinnias.

His farm is currently in plant hardiness zone 5, but Colony said it could be a matter of time before Iowa is able to produce peaches like Missouri and Kentucky can.

“How many more years is it going to be? I mean, we could grow peaches in Iowa, but it seems like they grow them way better down there,” Colony said. “So is it a matter of time before that comes here?”

Wuestenberg said one challenge with the shifting zones is that they are based on climatological averages and do not take atypical and significant frost or freeze events into account, which can be challenging for producers.

Who will be most affected?

Wuestenberg said gardeners and

fruit tree producers will likely be more concerned about the shifting zones, rather than row crop producers.

Fruit trees and vines need a certain number of chilling hours, which is the minimum period of cold weather a fruit tree needs to blossom.

For example, Einhorn said most apple trees require about a thousand chilling hours in the winter to break their dormancy period and bloom in the spring.

But with winters warming, even by a few degrees, apple trees will want to break dormancy earlier

“Instead of being at 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, maybe now the days are at 34 (degrees Fahrenheit) and that little bit of warming actually has a humongous effect on a tree,” Einhorn said.

The apple trees could start flowering in late February or early March.

“Unfortunately, what can happen is overall, winter may have been warmer but we still might get a March, April frost. And once that happens, those buds, those flowers, are exposed to that cold temperature, and then it kills them,” Wuestenberg said.

This could lead to reduced fruit yields later in the season.

But Einhorn said there are ways that producers can work within the unpredictable conditions.

For example, there are various methods for raising temperatures for trees during a freeze, including using fans to pull warm air out of the atmosphere and running water over plants. There are also research efforts underway breeding new plants that have either delayed blooms or can withstand the new conditions.

Meanwhile, farmers will continue to adapt Jones, the flower farmer, has noticed strong winds and storms coming through the Eastern Iowa region. She’s planted sunflowers in windier areas of the farm because they can withstand stronger gusts. More delicate flowers go near trees for natural protection. She also uses netting to help stabilize flowers from winds, rains and storms.

“At the end of the season, we’re at the mercy of our climate and the weather,” Jones said. “And that can greatly impact what we have in any given season.”

SUNDAY, AUgUSt 24, 2025

grams

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 — reGiMent: REJ-ihment: A military unit consisting of several battalions.

Average mark 53 words Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 67 or more words in REGIMENT?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

By zHouQin

goren Bridge

Polish ingenuity

South in today’s deal was Polish World Champion Katarzyna Dufrat. She found herself in a poor slam after a highly competitive auction that forced North to make a key decision at a high level. North made the aggressive choice and now Dufrat had to play it.

She won the opening heart lead with her ace and led a club to dummy’s 10. This won, but East’s discard on the ace of clubs was a disappointment West’s opening heart lead was certainly a singleton,soDufratcouldbereasonably sure about the distribution. She discarded a diamond on the ace of spades and ruffed dummy’s remaining spade, cashed her two high diamonds, and led a club to West. She ruffed the forced spade return and started to run her clubs. This was the position with one club left to cash:

She cashed her club and discarded a diamond from dummy East was finished. WhateverEastdiscardedwould allow Dufrat to take the last two tricks. Beautifully played!

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

super Quiz

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

VIRGO (Aug.

SAGITTARIUS(Nov.23-Dec.21) Distance yourself from situations before you let your emotions step in and take charge.Directyourenergyintohoning your skills, improving your lifestyle and exploring ways to increase your income.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Keep the momentum flowing. If you limit what you can do, you’ll encounter regret. Refuse to let anger set in if something erupts beyond your control. Work with whatever comes your way and show your true potential.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Go undercover to do what you’ve got to do. In solitude, you will discover you have talents you didn’t know about. It’s up to you to follow your instincts and to live the life that brings you joy SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Participation will lead to a fabulous learning experience. Embrace conversations with a positive attitude. A change of perspective will encourage you to research your options.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb 19) How you handle others, use your money and present yourself will lead to attractive offers and the chance to improve your lifestyle Discipline andingenuityareyourwayforward. Enjoy the ride.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Focus on your happiness and do something thatbringsyoujoy Personalgrowth, pampering and self-improvement are favored, along with events that allow you to network or socialize.

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2

SUBJECT: LEFT-HANDED PEOPLE (e.g., Who was the last left-handed president of the U.S.? Answer: Barack Obama.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. Baseball star nicknamed the “Bambino” and the “Sultan of Swat.”

Answer________

2. Businessman best known as the co-founder of Microsoft.

Answer________

3. Tom Hulce portrayed this famous composer in the film “Amadeus.”

Answer________ 4. Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne.

Answer________

5. He starred on TV along with Michael Richards, Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. Baseball pitcher nicknamed the “Left Arm of God.”

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Go where the action is and use your insight, discipline and experience to bring about change. A unique approach will seal the deal and put you in a position of power TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Opportunity knocks; receive the message and turn the information into something meaningful. It’s up to you to interpret and react as you see fit. You have plenty to gain through networking, interviewing and marketing. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Change requireshands-onhelp Don’texpect things to fall into place without nurturing on your part. You’ll have to walk a fine line and be precise to make headway Trust your instincts, stamina and charisma.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Know your boundaries, set rules and rethink schedules. Use your voice to clarify yourposition,whatyouarewillingto do and what you expect in return. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Refuse to make changes that will jeopardize your financial position or lifestyle. Look for the best alternative and do the legwork to ensure you come in under budget. wuzzLes The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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: The wilderness holds answers to questionswehave notyet learnedto ask. —Nancy Wynne Newhall

1. Babe Ruth. 2. Bill Gates. 3. WolfgangAmadeus Mozart. 4. Prince William.5.Jerry Seinfeld. 6. Sandy Koufax. 7. Rafael Nadal. 8. Oprah Winfrey.9.Judy Garland. 10.JimiHendrix. 11. GordonRamsay.12. Buzz Aldrin.13. Paul McCartney.14. Julia Roberts. 15. Hugh Jackman. Crossword