The Advocate 08-31-2025

LSU quarterbackGarrettNussmeierreacts in thesecond half of Saturday’sgameagainst Clemson inClemson, S.C. LSUfootballended itsskid of five consecutiveseason-opening losses with agutsy performance on the road,taking down Clemson 17-10 in MemorialStadiumon Saturdaynight. CoachBrian Kelly,who pounded his fist on thetablefollowinga2024 loss to USC in LasVegas, finally left the fielda winner afterfalling in his first threeseason openersat LSU. While Nussmeier pacedthe LSUoffense in adetermined performance, theTigers’ defense frustrated aCadeKlubnik-led group for Clemson.

ä SEECOMPLETE COVERAGE OF LSU’S SEASON-OPENING GAME PAGE 1C

LDWF underscrutinyoverwildliferehab rules

Some legislatorsseek moreleewayfor abandoned animals

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN |Staff writer

From Neuty the NutriatoLittle Buck, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisherieshas sometimes faced criticism that it deals too harshlywith people who take in wild animals. Now thedepartment is underrenewedscrutinyafter it recently killed deer being kept by two differentfamilies, and after the Natural Resources Commission proposedeven further restrictions on rehabilitating wildlife.

Somelegislators say thelaw needs to change to give people moreleeway to nurseinjured or abandonedanimals back to health But LDWF officialssay such policies exist fora reason: to protect animals and people. Deer taken from the wild may lose their fear

ä See LDWF, page 6A

Johnson nets big wins for Trump, GOP

Buthefaces more hurdleswhenCongress comesbackTuesday

BY MARK BALLARD |Staff writer

WASHINGTON Over the past eight months, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson overcameatiny majority of often unruly Republicans to enact a batch of “ifonly” policiesthatconservativeshavewantedfor decades. ScalingbackMedicaid; closing borders andramping up immigration enforcement; slashing regulation; lowering taxes —key parts of President DonaldTrump’sagenda are now law,inlarge part because of thequietyet steely demeanor of the 53-year-old House leader from the Shreveport suburb of Benton. But in the “whathave-you-done-lately” world of nationalpolitics, Johnson faces a wholenew set of hurdles when Congress reconvenesinWashington on Tuesday. Foremost is passinga budgetduring the next 30 days to avoid shutting down federal government operations.

Just twoyears ago, few would have predictedJohnson, who wasfirst elected to Congress in 2016, would be the oneatthe helm. Johnson wasn’tthe narrow Republican majority’sfirst choice forspeaker during the bitter intraparty battles of October 2023 —orsecond or even third choice. But he was ultimately chosen

See JOHNSON, page 8A

Neuty the Nutriaisapet nutria that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries sought to confiscate in 2023. Amid public outcry, theycame to an agreement with the family that allowedthem to keep Neuty

Iowa Sen. Ernst expected not to seek reelection

WASHINGTON Iowa Republican

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is expected to announce in the coming days she won’t seek reelection, according to people familiar with her plans, opening up a Senate seat that could determine which party controls the majority.

Speedy deportations blocked

Judge temporarily stops administration from carrying out expedited removals

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

moval of migrants is trampling on individuals’ due process rights.

Ernst, a 55-year-old combat veteran, was passed over by her party for the third-ranking Senate leadership slot this year and angered the party’s base for her initial reluctance to back the nomination of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

She also came under fire from the progressive left for her flip response to worries about the health-care impact of Republican cuts to Medicaid, dismissing the concern during a town hall by telling the audience “we all are going to die.”

She also had a high-profile role as a backer of Elon Musk’s “DOGE” effort, co-chairing a Senate “DOGE Caucus” advocating for spending cuts Ernst had served as a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and led a battalion in Kuwait during the Iraq War. She served in the Iowa Legislature before her successful 2014 bid for Senate. She is one of the few U.S. senators to publicly acknowledge being a sexual assault survivor. In a 2019 interview with Bloomberg News after a divorce, Ernst said she was raped in college. Florida man in Batman PJs helps catch burglar

A Florida man wearing Batman pajamas helped Cape Coral cops catch an early morning burglar Officers were responding to a burglary in progress at around 2 a.m. Wednesday when they located their suspect, who was already being detained by a local man dressed as the Caped Crusader

“The neighbor, Kyle Myvett, told detectives he had gone to bed when his home security cameras alerted him to someone breaking into his vehicle,” cops wrote on Facebook.

Police said Myvett went outside, “still dressed in his Batman pajamas,” and saw 20-yearold Justin Schimpl rummaging through his truck. He then spotted him doing the same thing in a neighbor’s garage and “detained him until officers arrived.”

The suspect allegedly nabbed cash, a wrist wallet, more than $500 in gift cards and two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth $300 each.

Schimpl, who police said was “known to law enforcement from prior investigations,” was arrested on one count of burglary of an occupied dwelling, two counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and two counts of petit theft under $750.

In announcing his arrest, cops posted a photo of Myvett wearing his superhero jammies while flanked by two cops.

Little Leaguer’s flipped bat sells for nearly $10K

PHILADELPHIA The bat tossed in the air by a New Jersey Little Leaguer to celebrate a home run that earned him a suspension later lifted by a judge sold Friday for nearly $10,000 at auction. All proceeds from the sale of 12-year-old Marco Rocco’s signed bat will be donated to the program he plays for, Haddonfield Little League.

“Marco loves Little League and is happy that he is able to give back to an organization that he is very fond of,” his father, Joe Rocco, said in a text “Little League was such a big part of Marco’s life for a long time.”

The auction by Goldin Auctions drew 68 bids. The winning bid was $9,882; the name of the winning bidder was not announced Marco’s bat flip on July 16 in the final of the Little League sectional tournament resulted in an ejection, a one-game suspension and a legal fight.

Joe Rocco took Little League to court and won an emergency temporary restraining order that allowed Marco to play

WASHINGTON A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out speedy deportations of undocumented migrants detained in the interior of the United States.

The move is a setback for the President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand the use of the federal expedited removal statute to quickly remove some migrants in the country illegally without appearing before a judge first.

Trump promised to engineer a massive deportation operation during his 2024 campaign if voters returned him to the White House.

And he set a goal of carrying out 1 million deportations a year in his second term.

But U.S District Judge Jia Cobb suggested the administration’s expanded use of the expedited re-

“In defending this skimpy process, the Government makes a truly startling argument: that those who entered the country illegally are entitled to no process under the Fifth Amendment, but instead must accept whatever grace Congress affords them,” Cobb wrote in a 48-page opinion issued Friday night. “Were that right, not only noncitizens, but everyone would be at risk.”

The Department of Homeland Security announced shortly after Trump came to office in January that it was expanding the use of expedited removal, the fast-track deportation of undocumented migrants who have been in the U.S. less than two years.

DHS in a statement said Cobb’s “ruling ignores the President’s clear authorities under both Article II of the Constitution and the

plain language of federal law.” It said Trump “has a mandate to arrest and deport the worst of the worst” and that ”we have the law, facts, and common sense on our side.”

Before the administration’s push to expand such speedy deportations, expedited removal was only used for migrants who were stopped within 100 miles of the border and who had been in the U.S. for less than 14 days.

Cobb, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, didn’t question the constitutionality of the expedited removal statute, or its application at the border

“It merely holds that in applying the statute to a huge group of people living in the interior of the country who have not previously been subject to expedited removal, the Government must afford them due process,” she wrote. She added that “prioritizing

Indonesian local parliament building set on fire; 3 killed

BY NINIEK KARMINI and ANDI JATMIKO Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia — An angry mob set

fire to a local parliament building in an Indonesian provincial capital, leaving at least three people dead and five others hospitalized, officials said.

The blaze in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province, began late Friday Television reports showed the provincial council building ablaze overnight, causing the area to turn an eerie orange color

Rescuers retrieved three bodies on Saturday morning, while five people were hospitalized with burns or with broken bones after jumping from the building, said Fadli Tahar, a local disaster official.

Protesters in West Java’s Bandung city also set a regional parliament ablaze on Friday, but no casualties were reported.

In Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, protesters stormed the regional police headquarters after destroying fences and torching vehicles. Security forces fired tear gas and used water cannons, but demonstrators fought back with fireworks and wooden clubs.

Foreign embassies in Jakarta, including the U.S., Australia and Southeast Asian countries, have advised their citizens in Indonesia to avoid demonstration areas or large public gatherings.

Calm largely returned to Indonesia’s capital on Saturday as authorities

cleaned up burned-out cars, police offices and bus shelters that were set ablaze by angry protesters.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto canceled his planned visit to China, citing escalating nationwide protests.

Protests in several regions have escalated into riots, with buildings and public facilities set on fire and even police headquarters attacked, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo told a news conference Saturday evening.

“Such situations can no longer be considered freedom of expression, but rather criminal acts,” he said, adding that the police and the military “would immediately act to restore public order.”

Five days of protests began in Jakarta on Monday, sparked by reports that all 580 lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) in addition to their salaries. The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.

Critics argue the new allowance is not only excessive but also insensitive at a time when most people are grappling with soaring living costs and taxes and rising unemployment.

The protests grew wider and more violent following the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan. A video on social media apparently showing his death during a rally in the capital Jakarta on Thursday shocked the nation and spurred an outcry against the security forces.

Social Security whistleblower resigns

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON A Social Security official who has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging the Department of Government Efficiency officials mishandled Americans’ sensitive information says he’s resigning his post because of actions taken against him since making his complaint

Charles Borges, the agency’s chief data officer, alleged that more than 300 million Americans’ Social Security data was put at risk by DOGE officials who uploaded sensitive information to a cloud account not subject to oversight. His whistleblower disclosure was submitted to the special counsel’s office on Tuesday.

In a letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano, Borges claimed that since filing his whistleblower complaint, the agency’s actions make his duties “impossible to perform legally and ethically” and have caused him “physical, mental

and emotional distress.”

“After reporting internally to management and externally to regulators, serious data and security and integrity concerns impacting our citizens’ most sensitive personal data, I have suffered exclusion, isolation, internal strife, and a culture of fear, creating a hostile work environment and making work conditions intolerable,” Borges added.

The Project Government Accountability Office, which is representing him in his whistleblower case, posted Borges’ resignation letter on its website Friday evening. Borges declined to comment

In his whistleblower’s complaint, Borges said the potentially sensitive information put at risk by DOGE’s actions includes health diagnoses, income, banking information, familial relationships and personal biographic data. Borges had served as the Social Security Administration’s chief data officer since January

speed over all else will inevitably lead the Government to erroneously remove people via this truncated process.”

Cobb earlier this month agreed to temporarily block the administration’s efforts to expand fasttrack deportations of immigrants who legally entered the U.S. under a process known as humanitarian parole. The ruling could benefit hundreds of thousands of people. In that case the judge said those immigrants are facing perils that outweigh any harm from “pressing pause” on the administration’s plans.

Since May, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have positioned themselves in hallways to arrest people after judges accept government requests to dismiss deportation cases After the arrests, the government renews deportation proceedings but under fast-track authority

Mont. man faces 4 murder counts in bar shooting

BY MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press

BILLINGS Mont. A man suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar and evading capture for a week while hundreds of law enforcement officers searched for him in the nearby mountains faces four counts of murder according to court records. Defendant Michael Paul Brown lived next door to The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, where a bartender and three patrons were shot and killed Aug. 1.

Authorities have not commented on a potential motive for the 45-year-old former soldier His niece has said Brown long struggled with mental illness. The charges Brown faces were posted on a court website Saturday after the case previously had been under seal by a state judge. Charging documents were not immediately available. Following the shooting,

authorities said Brown stole a truck and then ditched it a few miles outside of town, close to where he was eventually apprehended. He hid in nearby forests, moving locations while helicopters and drones circled overhead and officers and dogs searched on the ground, officials said. But he was eventually flushed into a sparsely populated area near a state highway by the pressure of so many officers searching for him, according to officials. Brown was captured on Aug. 8 inside an unoccupied structure near a state highway Brown is scheduled to make an initial district court appearance Wednesday A conviction for murder known in Montana as deliberate homicide, is punshable by death in the state Executions have been on hold since 2015 under a court ruling regarding a drug used in lethal injections.

Tradingpartners‘dazedand confused’after tariff ruling

BY ERIK LARSON and LAURA CURTIS Bloomberg News (TNS)

The legal fight over President Donald Trump’sglobaltariffs is deepeningafter afederal appeals courtruled thelevieswereissued illegally under an emergency law,extending the chaosinglobal trade.

A7-4 decision by apanel of judges Friday night in Washington was amajor setback for Trump even as it gives both sides somethingto boast about.

The majority upheld aMay ruling by the Court of International Trade that the tariffs were illegal. But the judges left the levies intact while the case proceeds,asTrump had requested, and suggested that any injunction could potentially be narrowed to apply only tothose who sued.

It’sunclear exactly where the case goes from here.The Trump administration could quickly appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, or it could allow the trade

court to revisit the matter and potentially narrowthe injunction against his tariffs.

“Our trading partnersmust be dazed and confused,” Wendy Cutler,asenior vice president at the Asia SocietyPolicyInstituteand veteran U.S. trade negotiator, wroteinapostonLinkedIn. “Many of them entered into framework deals with us and some are still negotiating.

Trillionsofdollars of globaltrade are embroiledinthe case, which was filed byDemocratic-led states and agroup ofsmall businesses. A finalrulingagainst Trump’stariffs wouldupend histradedeals and force the government to contend with demandsfor hundreds of billionsofdollars in refundsonlevies alreadypaid

“It’svery gratifying,” said Elana Ruffman, whose family-owned toy businesses Learning Resources Inc. won aseparatelawsuit over Trump’stariffs issued under the International Emergency EconomicPowers Act,orIEEPA. “It’s greatthatthe court agrees with

us that theway thesetariffs are implemented is not legal.”

Mollie Sitkowski, atrade lawyer at Faegre Drinker Biddle &Reath LLP,pointed out in anote to clients on Friday that the ruling “does not directly apply” totariffs on Brazil or India that were issued under the emergency lawand may notaddress the separate removal of the “deminimis”exception for packages valued under $800.

Friday’sruling by theU.S. Court of Appealsfor theFederal Circuit held that Trump was wrong to issue tariffs under IEEPA, afederal law that thepanel concluded was never intended to be used in such amanner.Indeed, the court noted that thelaw doesn’t mention tariffs “or any of its synonyms.”

“Once again, acourt hasruled that the president cannotinvent a fake economic emergency to justifybillions of dollars in tariffs, New York AttorneyGeneralLetitia James, who is aparty to the tariff lawsuit, said in astatement.

Theruling appliestoTrump’s “Liberation Day” global tariffs

Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Minister

thatset a10% baselineand have been in effect formonths that the administration says are meant to address anational emergency around U.S. trade deficits. It affectsthe extra leviesonMexico, China and Canada that Trumpsaid were justified by theongoing fentanyl crisis in the U.S., which he also said was anational emergency under IEEPA Thedecision alsocovers Trump’s so-calledreciprocaltariffs that took effect Aug. 7for dozens of nations that failedtoreach trade deals with the administration by Aug. 1. Various carve-outs and extensionshave been announced since then, leaving the final tariffs for some nations up in the air Trump’s tariffs were first ruled illegal in May by the U.S. trade court in Manhattan. That decision was put on hold by the Federal Circuit for the appeal, allowing the administration to continue threatening tariffs during the negotiations. Hours before Friday’sruling dropped, Trump Cabinet officials told theappeals court that striking

downthe president’stariffs would seriouslyharm U.S. foreign policy,with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying it would lead to “dangerous diplomatic embarrassment” and undermine trade talks. On Friday night, Trump posted on Xthatifthe tariffs went away, “it would be atotal disaster forthe Country.”

Cutler,who spent nearly three decades as adiplomat and negotiatoratthe Officeofthe U.S. TradeRepresentative, suggested that the administration’sconcerns about trade deals may now be a reality. She wrote in herpost that India, hit by a50% tariff, “must be rejoicing,” while China “must be weighing its stance in making concessions in ongoing talks.” “EU efforts to secure domestic approvalofits deal may be called into question, while Japan and Korea whomapparentlyhave made oral dealswithlittleinwriting may choosetoslowwalkcurrent efforts until thereismoreU.S.legal clarity,while still pressing for lower auto tariffs,” Cutler said.

BY REBECCA SANTANA, AMANDASEITZ and VALERIE GONZALEZ Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Trump administration is planning to remove nearly 700 Guatemalan children who had come to the U.S. without their parents, according to alettersent Friday by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, and the Central American country said it wasready to take themin.

The removals would violate the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s“childwelfare mandate and this country’slong-established obligation to these children,” WydentoldAngie Salazar,acting director of theoffice within the Department of Health andHumanServices that is responsible for migrantchildren who arrive in the U.S. alone.

“This move threatens to separate children from their families, lawyers,and support systems, to thrust them back into the very conditions they are seekingrefugefrom, and to disappear vulnerable children beyond the reach of American law and oversight,” the Democratic senator wrote, askingfor the deportation plans to be terminated.

Carlos Martínez said Fridaythatthe governmenthas told the U.S. it is willing to receivehundreds of Guatemalan minors who arrived unaccompanied to the United States and are being held in U.S. facilities.

Guatemala is particularlyconcerned aboutminors who couldage outofthe facilities for children and be sent to adult detention centers,hesaid.The exact number of children to be returned remains in flux, but they are currentlydiscussinga little over 600. He saidnodatehas been set yet for their return. That would be almost double what Guatemala previously agreed to. The head of thecountry’s immigration service said last month that the government was looking to repatriate 341 unaccompaniedminors who were being held in U.S. facilities.

The plan was announced by President Bernardo Arévalo, whosaid then thatthe government hada moral and legalobligation to advocate for thechildren.

The White Houseand theDepartment of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond torequests for comment

Cards comfort girl after shooting

11-year-old was wounded at a Catholic church

BY DAVE COLLINS Associated Press

Lying in an intensive care unit hospital bed, 11-year-old

Genevieve Bisek is comforted by the many handmade cards she has received from fellow classmates after Wednesday’s shooting at a Minneapolis church.

Some are decorated with beads, some with sparkling stars. All of them are taped to the walls of her room at the Hennepin County Medical Center, where she has been recovering. Her condition has been upgraded from critical to satisfactory “All of these handmade cards are just absolutely adorable and heartfelt,”

Genevieve’s aunt, Wanda Stipek, told The Associated Press in a phone

intervi ew

Saturday

“This is coming from other kids who also have their own trauma and yet are still reaching out and showing their love for her She has these cards taped up on the walls in her room so that she can see this and be surrounded by that love.”

Genevieve was one of the 20 people who were shot during the attack at the

Powerball

WANDA STIPEK

PHOTO PROVIDED By

Cards made by classmates for Minneapolis shooting victim

Genevieve Bisek are seen taped to the wall of Genevieve’s hospital room at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Church of Annunciation, as hundreds of students from the nearby Annunciation Catholic School and others gathered for a Mass. The shooter fired 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows, leaving two students dead and 18 people wounded, nearly all of them children. The shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, died by suicide. At least seven people were

still in the hospital on Saturday A spokesperson for Hennepin County Medical Center said five children were being treated there, including four in satisfactory condition and one in critical condition, as well as one adult who was in serious condition. A spokesperson for Children’s Minnesota-Minneapolis Hospital said doctors there were treating one patient Genevieve, a sixth grader

lottery drawing worth $1 billion

BY ED WHITE and KENDRIA LAFLEUR

Associated Press

DETROIT — This could buy a lot of Labor Day weekend sunblock: Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is estimated at $1 billion, the sixthlargest prize in the game’s history

The numbers drawn were 3, 18, 22, 27 and 33, with the Powerball 17. Powerball, which costs $2 per ticket, is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. No one has matched all six numbers since May 31. As ticket sales climbed this week, game officials raised the estimated Saturday night jackpot to $1 billion from $950 million, before taxes. Payments would be spread over 30

years, or a winner can choose an immediate lump sum of $453 million, again before taxes.

“We’re bringing extra excitement to Labor Day weekend,” said Matt Strawn, head of the Iowa Lottery and chair of Powerball.

The odds of matching all six numbers, of course, are daunting: 1 in 292.2 million. By comparison, the odds of getting a rare shark bite during a last summer dip in the ocean are much lower, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History

Angela Schwartz, who sells tickets at City Market in downtown Detroit said the message Friday was consistent: “Give me a lucky Powerball.”

“I don’t know if that’s enough for me,” she said with a laugh, referring to the lump-sum payout. “It could pay a few bills.”

at the Catholic school who loves animals and playing outside, was conscious after the shooting, Stipek said. After authorities cleared the church from danger, she was gathered with other children to assess their injuries and was brought to the hospital in an ambulance with another wounded student, she said. Medical staff sedated Genevieve until Thursday “Genevieve is a very sensitive and compassionate little girl,” Stipek said. “When she did wake up from her sedation after the event, the first thing that she wanted to talk about, she asked about the other children.”

Stipek said Genevieve told her mother, “I can’t say that I wish this wouldn’t have happened to me because I don’t want it to have happened to anyone else either.”

Stipek said Genevieve has not been told yet who died. She said one of the students killed, Fletcher Merkel, 8, was a neighbor and friend of the family

The handmade cards and other outpourings of support from the community, including ribbons tied around trees in the neighborhood and donations made online, have helped the family cope with their trauma, Stipek said.

“I think sometimes that when something terrible like this happens, you think of the world as a scary and dangerous place full of bad people.

But we are very moved by the goodness,” she said.

500-plus jobs at Voice of America, parent to be cut

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The agency that oversees Voice of America and other government-funded international broadcasters is eliminating jobs for more than 500 employees, a Trump administration official said. The move could ratchet up a monthslong legal challenge over the news outlets’ fate. Kari Lake, acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, announced the latest round of job cuts late Friday, one day after a federal judge blocked her from removing Michael Abramowitz as VOA director

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth had ruled separately that the Republican administration had failed to show how it was complying with his orders to restore VOA’s operations. His order Monday gave the administration “one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial” to demonstrate its compliance. He ordered Lake to sit for a deposition by lawyers for agency employees by Sept. 15.

On Thursday Lamberth said Abramowitz could not be removed without the approval of the majority of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board. Firing Abramowitz would be “plainly contrary to law,” according to Lamberth. Lake posted a statement on social media that said her agency had initiated a reduction in force eliminating 532 jobs for full-time government employees. “I look forward to taking additional steps in the coming months to improve the functioning of a very broken agency and make sure America’s voice is heard abroad where it matters most,” she wrote. A group of employees who sued to block VOA’s elimination said Lake’s move would give their colleagues 30 days until their pay and benefits end. In June, layoff notices were sent to more than 600 agency employees. Abramowitz was placed on administrative leave along with almost the entire VOA staff. He was told he would be fired effective Sunday The administration said that it planned to send RIF notices to 486 employees of VOA and 46 other agency employees but intended to retain 158 agency employees and 108 VOA employees. The filing said the global media agency had 137 “active employees” and 62 on administrative leave while VOA had 86 active employees and 512 on administrative leave.

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Formorethan40years,AMMON Staffing hasconnected businesses with dependable talent.Today,the BatonRouge-based agency workswithcompanies across thecountry to helpthemfillpositionsinavarietyofindustries, includinghealthcare, office administration, skilledlabor,hospitalityandmore.Ithasbeen so successful in recent yearsthatAMMON Staffing is the2025BestofBaton RougeGold AwardWinnerfor Best Staffing Agency

“Theawardwasanexcitingandhappysurprise that createdalot of energy in theoffice,” said Boyd Ammon, vice presidentand co-owner of AMMONStaffing.“Everyone puts in alot of hard work,and this recognitionshows that thoseefforts arepayingoff.”

ThefoundationofAMMONStaffingwasformed inthe1960s,whenAmmon’sgrandmotherAlicia startedanagency.Hersuccessinprofessional placements quicklyestablished thecompany as aleaderinthe industry.Ammon’s father Rick started AMMON Staffing in 1984,with afocus on theindustrialand manufacturing industries.Since then,the agency hasgrown significantly andisstill recognized as alocal leader in staffing

“Wedoabitofeverythingnow,”Ammonsaid. “We’re always respondingtowhatbusinesses tellustheyneed.Wecanstaffanywhereinthe United States from righthereinBaton Rouge. Wecontinuetoadapt,especiallywhenitcomes to technology.Mygrandmotherusedtouse indexcards.Then, my dadhad aDOS-based system foralongtime. Today, we’reusing AI tohelpwithcandidatescreeningsandprofiles, as well as resumes.” AMMONStaffinghasremainedsuccessful despitesomeupsanddowns.Atornadodestroyed itspreviousBaton Rougeoffice in 2020.Yet, Ammonsaidtheyweregratefulthatnoonewas insideduetoCovidpushingeveryonetoworkat home.ThepandemicitselfpromptedAMMON

tocreateanewdivisionfocusedsolelyonhelping healthcareentities–includingnursinghomes, hospitals,long-termcarefacilities,behavioral health clinics andothers.

Whilehiringoverall wasstrongafter the pandemic,Ammonsaidrecentyearshavebeen more turbulent.

“It’snotthatcompaniesarenothiringatall But,insteadofhiring20or30people,theymight behiringtwoorthree,”Ammonsaid.“Thisyear, we’veseenanincreaseinhiringsince July 4. Rightnow,we’re seeing areallystrongthird quarter. We recently hadour best week in the past threeyears,which is saying something, because2023was agreat year for us.”

Ammonsaidcompanies todayare looking forpeoplewho arereliableand whohave at leastbasic computer skills.Candidatescan standout in acrowded laborpoolbytailoring theirresumestoeachjobpostingandensuring that it matchesthe skills that employersare lookingfor

“I encouragecandidatestoreadthe job descriptions andmakesurethattheir skills andbackgroundare amatch,” Ammonsaid. “Adjustingyourresume for different jobs is absolutelyimportant.It’shardtodoandittakes time,butitcandefinitelyhelptogetyounoticed.” Meanwhile, AMMON Staffing canserve as abridgebetween candidates andcompanies that arelooking to fillneeds

“Weoftengetjobsthatarenotadvertisedyet,” Ammonsaid. “Also, if we getacandidate with certainskills,wecanmarketthemtodifferent businesses.Sometimes we find candidates andput them in frontofhiringmanagersfor businessesthatmaynothaveanopeningright now,butiftheyseeacandidatewithskillsthat they need,theywillmakeaspotfor them.” AMMONStaffing is locatedat5353Essen Lane,Suite 120, BatonRouge.Tolearn more, visitammonstaffing.net or call 225-293-1171

Resilienceand renewal: 20 yearsofprogress since hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Likemany of you, Ihavestrong emotions aboutthe 20th anniversaryofHurricane Katrina and its impact on thecitywecallhome

New Orleans. Iremain in awe of nature’s rawpoweronthat fateful day and deeply sad about thetragedy broughtbythe storm to so many. ConsideringKatrina,and its equally terrifyingcounterpartHurricane Rita whichstruck theLouisiana/Texas border just afew weeks later, I’malso inspired by howour recoveryshowed the powerand resilience of thehumanspirit and what determinedpeople coming together canachieve

Then,asnow,New Orleans was the home to Entergy’s corporateheadquarters Thousandsofour employees and their familieslived in theplaces hardest hitby Katrina. I’mhonored that ouremployees metthe challenge head on, from those working at ourgeneration plantsand headquarterstothose restoring powerat EntergyNew Orleans, ourlocal operating company.Many of them helped theregion recover even as they suffered their own personal losses.

Thelessons learned after Hurricane Katrina made us astronger, morecustomerfocusedcompany and to this day,weknowthat progress requires dedication and power

—for homes, businesses, communitiesand ourlives. Thespirit of that day endures in our vision statement “WePower Life”aswe channel those lessons into thework that we doeveryday,even twentyyears later from that impactful time

Today,we’re aleader across our industry and in ourhometown. Our utility workersare nationally recognized for storm response. In fact,duringa major stormanywhereinthe country, there’sa good chanceEntergy willbecalledonfor expertise and support.

Weare aleader in corporate giving.For the10th year,Entergy was namedtoThe Civic 50, thePoints of Light prestigious annual list that recognizes top companies foremployeevolunteerism and community investment. In 2024 alone, we contributed $4.3milliontomorethan 100New Orleans nonprofits.

And we area leader in economic development by collaborating to help Louisiana securemajornew investments in thedatacenter,LNG,steel,and

petrochemical industries. Earlier this year,weserved as founding partner for theSuper Bowl 59 Host Committee, contributing millions to host this major event thatbrought morethan $1.25billion in economic impact to our state, region and city.

We continueour workinclose collaboration withour regulators and communities as we build energy infrastructurethat makes thegridstronger and moreresilient for yearstocome. An energy grid designedtowithstand the harshest conditions. That work balances affordability, reliabilityand sustainability on behalf of all ourcustomers.

In NewOrleans,the City Council recently approved Phase 1ofour proposed resilience plan, which includes strengthening morethan 3,000 structures and upgrading morethan 60 milesof electriclines.

TheLouisiana PublicService Commission also approved thefirstphase of those efforts, which includes2,100 incremental Entergyprojects across thestate. By

reinforcing ourgrid ahead of severe weather,Louisiana customerswill save an estimated $1.2 billion in storm costs.

ThePublic UtilityCommission of Texas approved an investment of $137 million in projects to strengthen theSoutheast Texas power grid, reduce storm-related outages, and save customersmillions in restoration costs for decades

And while we aremaking these needed investments,weare mindful that 40% of our residential customerslive at or below the poverty level. That realityispartofeach business decision we makeinNew Orleans and everywhere we serve. As aresult, we continue to maintain some of thelowest electric rates in thecountryand work hard everyday to keep bills as low as possible. Twentyyearson, thelessons of Katrina endure, and theresilience of this community continues to inspire. New Orleans remains our home as we work for everyone and honor our commitment to safely serve our cityand theregion. Thepeople of Entergy areoptimistic about thefuture, ready for anything, and striving to lead theway to a brighter futurefor all of us

Read about howEntergy restored more than just power at entergy.com/Katrina20.

Drew Marsh

Chair and Chief Executive Officer Entergy Corporation

of humans and can become dangerous, according to the agency They can also spread diseases between herds if they are taken far enough from their original location.

In Louisiana, it is generally illegal to keep wild animals as pets, and people cannot rehabilitate animals without proper permits.

Some animals, such as deer are not eligible for rehabilitation at all.

Such rules create circumstances where well-meaning Louisianans who want to help animals find themselves running afoul of the law

That’s what St. Helena Parish resident Kimberly Graham said happened to her in July, when wildlife agents took a fawn named BabyBelle from her property and euthanized the animal.

And in December, agents seized and killed a partially blind deer from a family’s property in Livingston Parish. The deer, Little Buck, had lived on the family’s property for seven years, according to WAFB, which first reported the story

Both cases drew the ire of state Rep. Lauren Ventrella, a Republican from Greenwell Springs known for adopting the baby pig Earl “Piglet” Long last year after a good Samaritan found several men throwing it like a football at a Mardi Gras parade.

“This is our tax dollars being spent to kick down people’s doors, euthanize deer,”

Ventrella said, adding that the LDWF should keep out of the way of people properly caring for animals.

Ventrella, also an attorney representing Graham, believes the state’s wildlife rehabilitation regulations are too strict. The department has been interpreting the law “without regard to common sense or humanity,” she said, adding that the agency is infringing on people’s freedom

On Aug 26, during a news conference in front of the white-tailed deer exhibit at the Baton Rouge Zoo, LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth pushed back against such accusations.

He described wildlife agents as “fellow Louisianans” who were “doing their jobs, carrying out the laws passed by your elected legislature.”

Such laws followed national standards and were based on protecting animal health, preventing disease and keeping wildlife and people safe,” he said

“These laws, these guidelines, these standards, they’re not about government overreach,” he said. “They’re about fairness, compassion and respect for both people and animals.”

Controversial enforcement

One day in late July, a wildlife agent showed up on Graham’s property in Greensburg A few days earlier, Graham had taken in a sickly fawn that was wandering house to house she said. Knowing the law, Graham initially wasn’t going to help the fawn, she said. But she gave in after two days, when it became apparent the fawn — soon to be dubbed BabyBelle — was without a mother, she said Graham used to have a deer-raising license and knew how to care for the fawn, she said Raising deer is legal in Louisiana with the proper permit, but those animals aren’t released into the wild.

The LDWF case report tells a slightly different story It says Graham had the deer for 10 days, not four, and that she found BabyBelle off the side of Interstate 12.

Graham said she told the agent she found the deer near the road because she did not want to involve the people who asked her to take in the fawn. She never reported keeping BabyBelle for 10 days and does not know where that information came from, she added. Fawns may appear aban-

HILARy SCHEINUK

District Attorney’s Office for the 21st Judicial District Court, which includes St. Helena Parish, declined to prosecute the case.

“It was simply someone trying to help a young deer that was in need of some assistance,” said District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. “It seems like discretion could have been better used here by the department.”

In the case of Little Buck, who was also euthanized, the family told WAFB they had not broken the law because Little Buck was free to come and go as he pleased. But the LDWF’s case report said the deer was kept in a fenced-in enclosure.

hooves, does can cause damage, too, he said. A deer taken from one location in the wild and released into another could end up spreading disease, Bordelon said.

Holding a deer in captivity can also harm its health and lower its chances of survival, according to the LDWF

When the LDWF finds a fawn less than two days after it is taken from the wild, officials can often reunite the animal with its mother, he said.

But beyond that, euthanization may be necessary as the state has limited options for where it can send the deer, he said. Sometimes, the state can place a deer in a zoo or with a licensed game breeder, he said, adding that those cases differ from rehabilitation because the deer do not return to the wild.

State Rep. Brett Geymann, a Republican from Lake Charles who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said lawmakers should work with LDWF to look for solutions, including possible changes to the law, to prevent more euthanizations.

“We’re all in a bad spot You have a law that says you can’t have a deer, and somebody has a deer — what are you going to do?” he said.

‘Outlaw quadrupeds’

destructive and cause human wildlife conflicts,” LDWF Wildlife Permits Coordinator Bradley Breland said in a statement.

Coyotes prey on cattle; feral hogs destroy crops; and armadillos damage lawns and gardens, he said.

A “USDA Wildlife Services report stated that coyotes were responsible for 68.8% of cattle losses and 81.7% of calf losses as a result of predation in Louisiana” in 2010, Breland said. “A 2022 LSU AgCenter report stated that crop damage to feral hogs totaled $91.1 million a year in Louisiana.”

But the proposal has sparked pushback from rehabilitators, especially in regard to coyotes. Amy Shutt, director of The Canid Project, a coyote and fox rehabilitation center, said rehabilitators only care for about six coyotes a year in Louisiana.

“How is that small number of coyotes being rehabilitated? How is that going to affect them being a nuisance?” she said.

Mark Mitchell, director of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana, said coyote rehabilitation programs help educate the public about the importance of the animal.

doned because their mothers leave them for hours to draw off predators, according to the LDWF That’s one reason not to disturb them, the agency said. Regardless of the circumstances, the outcome was the same: the LDWF took the fawn and later euthanized her “I’m so horribly saddened. It broke my heart because she was going to make it,” Graham said. “The law’s got to change.”

The LDWF also sought to bring criminal charges against Graham for illegal possession of a fawn, but the

In the report, the responding officer said the deer needed to be killed because of uncertainty about his health and origin, and because he was desensitized to humans.

Why the wildlife rules exist Officials say taking deer from the wild may inadvertently spread disease between herds, and that deer who no longer fear humans can become dangerous.

“Bucks especially are very dangerous simply because of their change in behavior associated with the breeding season,” said Johnathan Bordelon, the LDWF’s deer program manager. “They become much more aggressive.”

With their powerful

Geymann and Ventrella also harbor concerns about a recent Wildlife and Fisheries Commission proposal that would ban wildlife rehabilitators from caring for nutria as well as “outlaw quadrupeds” feral hogs, coyotes and armadillos.

Nutria are an invasive species that cause coastal erosion.

In 2023, the LDWF’s attempt to confiscate a Metairie couple’s pet nutria, Neuty, caused public outrage. The agency reached an agreement that allowed the couple to keep the animal. The new rehabilitation ban would not impact that agreement, the department said.

Meanwhile, outlaw quadrupeds have “a tendency to be

“We want to make sure that we have a stable ecosystem, and coyotes play an important role in that as one of our last big mesopredators.” Mesopredators occupy a middle spot in the food chain. Mitchell would like to see folks on both sides of the issue come together and work toward a resolution, he said. If the commission’s proposal remains as-is, Geymann said he plans to call a meeting of the House Natural Resources Committee, which could reject the rule or recommend changes.

“I want to make sure that we do everything we can to encourage and support the rehabilitation community,” and “that we’re not doing something that we don’t need to be doing,” Geymann said. Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

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because, after a month of bickering, most of the disparate GOP factions liked him.

That ability to work with all sides of his caucus has helped Johnson weather some rough political seas.

Johnson hasn’t done it alone. Fellow Louisianan Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, has a salesman’s instinct for identifying a member’s specific wants, fellow congressmen say, which has played a key role in closing deals. And Trump has frequently waded in personally to sway holdouts.

Republicans needed to be their majorities in the House and Senate could be counted on one hand. Democrats almost universally opposed Trump’s vision and Republican ideological factions never tired of fighting among themselves.

For Johnson to succeed, he needed nearly all the House Republicans rowing, for a change, in the same direction.

Still, many fellow Republicans credit Johnson’s even keel for keeping the caucus running smoothly

“Speaker Johnson, you know, makes the impossible happen,” U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper “For him, it’s kind of what happens every single day.”

In 2024, Johnson spent most of his time laboring to pass budget bills and other must-pass legislation, often relying on Democratic support. But after that year’s elections handed Republicans all levers of power — the White House, both chambers of Congress and a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court — Johnson saw his role as reshaping government and executing Trump’s vision, he told Time magazine in its Aug. 7 edition. Johnson joined commercial astronaut Hayley Arceneaux, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart and Huey Long as Louisiana residents appearing on the prestigious cover of Time magazine.

‘A well-oiled machine’

After the hiccups during Trump’s first administration and during the Biden years, Johnson said, “We are a welloiled machine now.”

Using a method of patiently listening to opponents and slowly talking through nuanced differences — a trait first noticed by the Rev Gene Mills when Johnson volunteered with the Louisiana Family Forum as an LSU student he was able persuade just enough GOP members to back Trump’s legislative agenda without having to rely on Democratic input, which would require concessions that Trump’s MAGA base are loath to make.

The biggest victory was the nearly 1,000-page One Big Beautiful Bill Act that included much of Trump’s domestic agenda: continuing to build the border wall, increased removal of immigrants, more energy production, tax breaks, regulatory rollbacks and more.

The Big Beautiful Bill spends nearly $4 trillion and adds $3.7 trillion to the nation’s $37 trillion debt over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The bill added responsibilities, such as work requirements, more bureaucracy, and required the states to foot more of the costs for social safety programs.

Health care analysts predict nearly 12 million lowincome Americans will lose their health care insurance over the changes. Johnson says they will make Medicaid more efficient and thereby more sustainable in the long run.

Success required first winning over GOP leaders, including Trump, that the best strategy was to use the “budget reconciliation” process

Bondi, who had told Fox News in February that a list of Epstein’s clients was on her desk, later released an unsigned, two-page memo in July saying there was no client list. The memo launched anger among Trump’s most loyal followers, who demanded the release of the files, which the president declined to do.

To defuse that anger, Republicans in Congress are taking other steps.

the past few years, because members couldn’t agree.

“As an appropriator, I want to do our job and pass all of our bills; that’s going to be my main focus when I get back to D.C.,” said Letlow, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Still, the deadline is close.

that would allow passage with just a mere majority thereby skirting the Senate’s requirement for 60 votes on budgetary measures.

That path required passage of several bills to set up the “budget reconciliation” process for the One Big Beautiful Bill. Johnson needed to corral a majority for each legislative step.

The legislation succeeded by only one vote, that of Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie in the Senate. In order to hit the deadline — Trump wanted to sign the bill into law at a July 4 event — Johnson had to persuade House Republicans to go along with changes imposed by the Senate, often with the promise that the policies could be adjusted in the future.

“At its core, the One Big Beautiful Bill is a distinctly pro-family piece of legislation. It represents a monumental victory for hardworking families across America,” Johnson said in a statement. “Republicans are advancing in this Congress an agenda that values them (families) — just as our principles and policies always have.”

Though the massive bill was Trump’s biggest victory, Johnson also procured other administration wins He blocked an effort to delay Trump’s tariffs and passed a law that expedites deportation of immigrants who commit crimes.

Johnson then delivered a “rescissions bill” that rolled

back $9 billion in spending already approved by Congress, including federal funding for public broadcasting.

Working with Trump

Johnson has often relied on Trump to come in at the end and persuade remaining GOP holdouts that it’s in their interest to go along.

For example, Trump came to Johnson’s rescue when a group of right-wingers sought to oust him from leadership in March 2024 and again in January to win over enough representatives to keep Johnson as speaker Johnson helped out Trump by sidetracking floor votes to publicly release federal investigation files on Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier who was accused of trafficking underage girls, then sending the House home a day early for its monthlong recess from work on Capitol Hill.

Negotiating the political fallout over the “Epstein Files” is one of Johnson’s present political tasks

Widespread conspiracy theories sprang up after Epstein died in custody in August 2019 because he was friends with a number of high-profile men, including Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Trump and his allies stoked those theories by repeatedly contending the files were being “hidden” by the Democratic Biden administration.

Attorney General Pam

The Justice Department in August released the first tranche of investigation documents to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and began deposing and subpoenaing officials related to the case.

These moves should dampen the ardor of House members clamoring for the investigation materials are publicly released, said U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge.

“Overlooked in all of this is that the House Oversight committee is doing good work. They’re taking the lead on this as the primary investigative committee,” Letlow said “Congress is playing a role in this right now.”

Budget battles loom

The House doesn’t need the Epstein distraction, as the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 needs to pass both chambers before September ends.

The Trump administration proposes $1.69 trillion in discretionary spending for executive department agencies — down from the $1.83 trillion enacted for the current fiscal year

Some of the spending reductions, such as $646 million less for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $33 billion less for the Department of Health and Human Services, are likely to cause consternation, as could a 65% increase in funding for the president’s “mass removal” of immigrants.

Republicans are hoping to pass full budgets for each agency, instead of the lastditch omnibus bills or continuing resolutions used over

“Members are talking to each other, Republican, Democrat, House, Senate, to try to get some kind of agreement before the Sept 30 deadline,” Scalise, RJefferson and Johnson’s top lieutenant, told Fox Business. “Will we get there? I don’t know.”

Congress also must pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes spending for the military and intelligence community as well as for improvements in armaments and infrastructure. In 64 years, Congress has never failed to approve the NDAA.

The Senate is set to vote on its version when the chamber returns. But the House hasn’t scheduled a floor vote. There’s a $32 billion difference between what Senate and House committees have recommended.

That’s not all. Johnson has talked about another massive reconciliation package, or reworking parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Debates over health care and paying college athletes are on the horizon, and Trump has talked about a sweeping crime package

Several possible problems could trip up Johnson’s efforts.

For instance, the confirmation hearing of Stephen Miran to the Federal Reserve could ignite controversies over Trump’s efforts to fire Fed Gov Lisa Cook. And Trump’s effort to redistrict Republican states in order to pad the GOP’s majority in the House for the 2026 midterms has enraged Democrats and worried some Republicans.

“Well, you know what I’m learning over and over again is don’t underestimate Speaker Mike Johnson,” Letlow said. “He manages to thread that needle beautifully.”

Chicagomayor urgeslaw enforcementtonot wear masks

BY ALICE YIN ChicagoTribune (TNS)

CHICAGO Mayor Brandon Johnson signeda wide-ranging, but largely symbolic, executive order Saturday that directs law enforcement against wearing masks in Chicago, in his latest effort to counter President Donald Trump’songoing threats of sweepingimmigrationraids and even apotential occupation of the city by federal forces.

While extensive, the “Protecting Chicago” initiative was also atacit acknowledgment that the mayor and city cannot stop any White House efforts to follow throughon Trump’sthreats regarding the nation’sthird-largest city.Still, it served as another arena for Johnson and his progressive allies to declare

their staunch opposition to the president’songoing crusade against big cities over immigrationand crime. And at aCity Hall news conference, Johnson maintained the order allows his LawDepartment to “pursue anyand everylegal mechanism to hold this administration accountable.”

“I do not take this executive actionlightly,” Johnson said. “But unfortunately we do not have the luxury of time. We have received credible reports that we have days, notweeks, before our city sees some type of militarizedactivitybythe federal government.”

Johnsonand Gov.JBPritzker have repeatedlysaid that they have notreceived any formal notification from theTrump administration regardingthe detailsofthe al-

leged incursion. When asked later what “credible reports” the Johnson administrationhas received, mayoral spokesperson CassioMendoza said thecityhas “sources inside the administration, but we don’twant to say more thanthat.” Mendoza also statedthat the sources confirmreports about an imminent federalsurge in the national and local media. Besides thedirectives on law enforcement, Johnson’s executive order directscity departments to coordinate their responses to federal agentsorthe presence of military personnel in Chicago and to submit regularpublic recordsrequeststothe U.S. Department of Homeland Securitytoobtain informationonimmigration enforcement.And themayor’s office will also launcha “Family

Israel will halt or slow aidtoGaza

BY JULIA FRANKEL and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

JERUSALEM Israel will soon halt or slowhumanitarian aid into partsofnorthern Gaza as it expandsits military offensive against Hamas, an official said Saturday,aday after GazaCity wasdeclared acombat zone.

The decision was likely to bring more condemnation of Israel’sgovernment as frustration grows in the country and abroad over dire conditionsfor both Palestinians and remaining hostages in Gaza after nearly 23 months of war The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, told The Associated Press that Israel will stop airdrops over Gaza City in the coming days and reduce the number of aid trucksarrivinginthe north as it prepares to evac-

uate hundreds of thousands of people south Israel on Friday ended recentlyimposed daytime pauses in fighting to allow aid delivery,describingGazaCityasa Hamas stronghold and allegingthat atunnelnetwork remains in use,despite previouslargescaleraids. TheUnitedNations and partners have said thepauses, airdrops and other measures fell far short of the600 trucksofaid needed daily in Gaza.

Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu‘s office announced that the remains of ahostage that Israel said Friday had been recovered in Gaza were of Idan Shtivi. He was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in the Hamas-ledattack on Oct.7 2023, that sparked the war.It said Friday it also recovered the remains of hostage Ilan Weiss.

By Saturdaythere had beennoairdrops for several

days acrossGaza, abreak from almost daily ones. Israel’sarmydidn’trespond to a requestfor comment or say how it would provide aid to Palestinians during another majorshift in Gaza’spopulation of over 2million people.

Israeligunfire killedfour people trying to get aid in central Gaza, accordingto health officialsatAl-Awda Hospital, where thebodies were taken.

An Israeli strike on a bakery in Gaza City’sNasr neighborhood killed12 people including sixwomen and three children, the Shifa Hospital director told the AP,and astrike on the Rimal neighborhood killed seven.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said another 10 people died as aresultofstarvationand malnutrition overthe past 24 hours, including three children. It said at least332 Palestinianshave died from malnutrition-relatedcauses during thewar

EPAemployees whosignedletterfired

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday fired at least eight employees who signed aletter criticizingthe agency’s leadership under Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump.

“Following athorough internal investigation,EPA supervisors made decisions on an individualized basis,” an EPAspokesperson said Friday in astatement.

The so-called declaration of dissent, signed by more than 170 employees in late June, “contains inaccurate information designed to mislead the public about agency business,” spokesperson Molly Vaseliou said. “Thankfully,this represents asmall fractionofthe thousands of hard-working, dedicated EPAemployees who are not tryingtomislead and scare the American public.”

The EPA“has azero-

tolerance policy for career officials usingtheir agency position and title to unlawfully undermine, sabotage and undercut the will of the American public that was clearly expressedatthe ballot box lastNovember,” she added Vaselioudeclinedtosay how many employees were disciplined, but the head of the agency’slargest union said at least six probationary employees who signed theletterwerefired,along with at least two career employees. Thefirings were first reported by The Washington Post.

The EPAunion, part of the American Federation of Government Employees, condemned the firings, which come after 139 workers were put on administrative leaveshortly after signing the dissent declaration. TheEPA at the time accused employees of “unlawfully undermining” the Trump administration’s agenda.

“The Trump administration andEPA’s retaliatory actions against these workerswas clearly an assault on labor and free-speech rights,”said Justin Chen, president of AFGE Council 238, which representsthousands of EPAemployees. More than150 workers whowere disciplined—up to and including being fired —included scientists, engineers, lawyers, contract officers, emergency response personnel “and awhole host of other jobs,” Chen told The Associated Press.

In aletter made public June 30, theemployees wrote that the EPAisnolonger living up to its mission to protect human healthand the environment. The letter represented rare public criticism from agency employees who knew they could face retaliation for speaking out against aweakening of funding and federal support for climate, environmental and health science.

Preparedness” campaign to inform Chicagoans of their rights when interacting with federal agents, including those from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The mayor’sexecutive order “urges” all federal law enforcement to follow Chicagopolicedirectives that ban them from wearing masks on dutyand require them to activate theirbody cameras at alltimes when interacting with thepublic.

Officersorarmedforces should also displaytheir federal agency,last name and badge numberorrank“in a clearly visible fashion,” per the order In Chicago and across the nation, ICEagents and those with otherfederalagencies have routinely worn masks and not thoroughlyidentifiedthemselves as they have detainedand arrested people federalauthorities sayare in thecountry ille-

gally.Federal officials have defended the officers’ practice of wearing masks and notidentifying themselves as away to ensure their safety and prevent the public release of their personal information and that of their family members. Johnson’s executive action comes after aweek of threatsfromthe White House that Chicago is Trump’snext target fora federal crackdown.

Hannon Jewelers Atraditioncontinued

8430 Bluebonnet Blvd., BatonRouge,LA70810 (225)766-8242|www.hannonjewelers.com

NewSuperintendentJohn Kennedyready to sethigh standardsina

family atmosphere at Parkview Baptist

John Kennedyand hiswifehad packed up their furniturefromtheir California home andsent it on itsway to Kentucky,withevery intention of relocating theretobeclosertoone of their children.Then, acallfromParkviewBaptist School changedeverything.

Parkview Baptistwas searchingfor anew superintendent, andKennedy’s name hadcome to theattention of thesearchcommittee.With 13 yearsofexperience in educationalleadership and25years in thebusinesssector, they thoughthemay be theright fit.Kennedy and hiswifedivertedtoBaton Rouge, wherethings immediatelystarted to fall into place.

“WhatI foundherewerepeoplethatnot only love what they aredoing,but that arevery welcomingand readytoknowothers. I’ve lived in places that areveryinsular andexclusive I’ve notfound Parkview BaptistorBaton Rouge to be like that at all,”Kennedy said.“Igrewup in asmall communityinsouthernOhiowhere that wasthe norm.Peoplewereinterestedin howyourday wasgoing.ParkviewBaptist has alot of that same feeling, andthatwas alot of what attractedmehere.

Kennedywas officially announcedasthe Parkview Baptist superintendent in June,with search committeemembers noting that his “humble, mission-driven leadership”aligns with theschool’svalues.

“Heisnot steppingintothisroletomerely manage aschool; he is here to invest in thelives of ourstudents andfamilieswithpurpose and intentionality,” thesearchcommittee said upon Kennedy’shire.

As he settlesintoBaton Rouge, Kennedy hasreflectedoften on thelessons he learned during a10-year stintlivinginAsia, primarily in Singaporebut also with time in SouthKorea While there, he earned agraduatedegreein educationand educationalleadershipand became aheadofschool. It wasalsowhere he learnedhow to connectmoredeeplywithpeople from allwalks of life

“Myexperienceoverseastaughtmethatat

theirheart,people areverymuch thesame. Mothersand fathers everywherewant to raisechildren whoareeducated respectful and appreciate the cl os en es so f family,” he said “Itmaylookalittle differentinAsia than it does in Louisianaorthe Midwestbecause of different cultural contexts,but thereare more similarities amongall of us than people oftenrealize.”

Kennedysaidhis main priorities for hisfirst year at Parkview Baptist includemaintaining itslongstandingtradition of excellence in academics, athleticsand theartswhile also fosteringa cultureofcontinual improvement. He also hopestosee students continue to grow in theirfaith andfind newand improved ways to reachtoday’s youthwithParkviewBaptist’s values andits missionofproviding education with an eternalfoundation.

“Assoonassomebodysaystheyhavearrived anddon’t want to improve, youhavetoask if they arereallyintouch with theright things,”he said.“Ithink we have thecapacitytocontinue to reach higher standardsineverythingthat we do. Ourultimategoalevery dayistoturn outkidswho will be good citizens of theworld Therootofeverythingwedoistomakesure we areproviding thebestpossibleexperience forour kids here.”

ParkviewBaptistSchoolprovidesaChrist-centeredcollege preparatoryeducationfor students in pre-Kthrough 12th grades.Its programis builtonthe four As –abundantlife, academics, arts andathletics.Visit www.parkviewbaptist comtolearn more By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

BY MIKE STOBBE AP medical writer

NEW YORK

— The CDC is in chaos and some groups are starting to step in and take over work the agency was doing.

The moves come in response to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s extensive — and some say illegal — restructuring and downsizing of the Atlantabased Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many public health veterans see an agency wracked by a leadership crisis, staff cuts, budget cuts and unprecedented levels of political meddling. The concern hit a crescendo when the White House moved to oust the agency’s director and some top CDC leaders resigned in protest.

But even before CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired, some organizations started pursuing new ways to do jobs formerly handled by the CDC.

Some are working to preserve long-standing vaccination recommendations. Some are trying to release information that CDC has stopped providing. Others aim to maintain health data collections at risk of being lost.

But these outside efforts don’t have the federal funding, resources, legal mechanisms or platform that have been the underpinning of the nation’s public health system As noble as they are, these patchwork efforts probably won’t cut it, some experts say

“There may be some workarounds,” said Dr Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health.

“But I’m not sure it’s fair or appropriate that people feel like they have to turn to private groups instead of the government.”

Vaccination guidance

For decades, the CDC has set the nation’s standards on vaccines — which ones are recommended and who

should get them.

The recommendations were guidance, not law But they were automatically adopted by doctors, school systems, health insurers and others. They were the result of a lengthy data review process involving a panel of outside experts, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

But in May, Kennedy a longtime leader in the antivaccine movement announced COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. He made the decision without input from the ACIP

In June, he abruptly dismissed the entire panel, accusing them of being too closely aligned with manufacturers. He replaced them with a hand-picked group that included several vaccine skeptics, and then shut the door to several doctors groups that had long helped form ACIP recommendations.

It’s not clear what other changes are in store for ACIP but a number of medical groups say Kennedy can’t be counted on to make decisions based on robust

medical evidence.

The moves sparked a group of public health researchers and others to form the Vaccine Integrity Project based at the University of Minnesota, which aims to become the kind of compiler and reporter of medical evidence that the CDC and ACIP have been in the past Meeting without CDC

In mid-August, the group held an ACIP-like Zoom meeting, in which subjectmatter experts presented lengthy reviews of recent research about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines for children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. It also featured a fourperson panel of experts, including the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine. Like ACIP members, they asked presenters questions about their analyses.

Presenters made clear that they had to base their presentations on what had appeared in medical journals and was publicly available; they weren’t privy to unpublished surveillance and safety data

that CDC collects.

The group is not making vaccination recommendations itself. But it is working with doctors organizations that are. One is the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which has said pregnant women should continue to get COVID-19 shots — counter to what Kennedy announced. Another is the American Academy of Pediatrics continuing to recommend them for children ages 6 months to 2 years.

But as medical societies split from CDC, it’s not yet clear which recommendations insurers will heed when making coverage decisions. And there remain a number of other questions, such as: What will happen in states that have vaccination policies tied to ACIP recommendations?

In Massachusetts, Democratic Gov Maura Healey included language in a $2.45 billion supplemental budget bill that gives the health department authority to set its own recommendations and requirements if the federal government “fails to maintain a robust schedule of vaccine recommendations.”

Some other efforts now

underway:

Vaccine finders

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC teamed up with researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School on www.vaccines.gov The website told about newly developed vaccines recommended to protect against the coronavirus and served as a search engine to help people find nearby pharmacies that had the shots in stock.

But the site gradually dropped information about vaccines and why they were recommended, and this year became a stripped-down version that simply said: “Find a pharmacy near you” and a box to type in your ZIP code. When the government’s contract with Boston Children’s Hospital ended in late July, the site stopped working altogether

Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital this month restarted a version of the site that existed before the pandemic, www vaccinefinder.org.

“We’re turning back to what it was,” said John Brownstein of Boston Children’s, who founded the site.

Dental safety

Last month, the Association for Dental Safety launched a new institute for dental safety that was designed to pick up some of the work done by the CDC’s Division of Oral Health, which was eliminated in the spring. The new institute is first focused on updating infection controls guidelines for dental offices, which the CDC last updated in 2003.

“Without a doubt, ADS is the best choice to continue oversight of dental infection prevention and control guidelines, ensuring recommendations are current, scientifically sound, translated into lay terms and disseminated to those who need them on a daily basis,” said Nicole Johnson, former associate director in the CDC’s

Division of Oral Health, in a press statement.

Pregnancy data

The CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, which annually surveys women across the country, lost its entire staff — about 20 people — in layoffs this year It was the most comprehensive collection of data on the health behaviors and outcomes before, during and after childbirth. Researchers have been using its data to investigate the nation’s maternal mortality problem. Some states that have the money and motivation might decide to run similar surveys, just within their borders.

But “if states are doing their own thing, then we don’t have national, comparable data across jurisdictions and across time,” meaning it’s not possible to see where problems are most severe and which policies to reduce maternal deaths are working, said Jamie Daw, a Columbia University health policy researcher focused on pregnancy

Violence prevention

Kennedy recently fired about 100 CDC staffers who provided training, education, and advice to state and local violence prevention programs, and evaluate how well they were working.

“What’s the point in knowing the about the rates of violence if you’re not going to do anything about it?” said Sarah DeGue, one of the laid-off CDC researchers. But existing programs still need technical guidance and expertise. In May, DeGue founded Violence Prevention Solutions, a consulting firm, to help community organizations develop and evaluate programs.

“It’s us trying to rebuild what we had somewhere else, in a different way, so that all the knowledge and experience and resources that we had can still be available,” she said.

2025 SouthernUniversityFootballGameDay Traffic,Parking,and StadiumRules

Southern UniversityAthletics urgesfanstoarriveearly before kick-off forall Southern Universityhomefootball gamesatA.W MumfordStadium to help with theeaseoftrafficflow

Driverswho parkinthe paid/reserve lots must have their hang tags visible on thevehiclesorriskbeing towedand/orticketed Contraflowmay begin earlierthandesignated if need be Additional reserveparking will be available at theMLK Catholic Center.Call theSUticketoffice at 225-771-3171 fordetails Also,the areasonIsabelHersonDrive,nearthe Southern UniversityLaboratory School, will be available forparking Generalparking,which is $20, will only be madeavailable on Saturday

Designated limited mobility parking areaswillbeavailable on a first come basis. Shuttles will be available in certain areastobring fans to thestadium.Pleasesee theLimited Mobility/ReservedLot manifestfor acomplete list of lotsand availableshuttle locations SouthernUniversityFootballGameTrafficPlan ALLHANGTAGSMUSTBEHUNG FROM REARVIEWMIRROR BEFORE ENTERING CAMPUS ANDREMAINVISIBLYDISPLAYED AT ALLTIMES.VEHICLESPARKEDINRESERVEDPARKING LOTS WITHOUT DISPLAYING RESERVED HANG TAGS FORTHATLOT WILL BE TOWED. Thereare alimited number of game dayRV andtailgatingspotsavailable,call225-771-3171for more info Individualvehicleswillnot be allowedtoparkinRVlots. Allmotor homesand fifth wheelersmustparkinthe areasdesignated for motor homes. If youwillbetowingavehicle,you must purchasea parking permit forthe vehicleand park it in thedesignatedlot that correspondstothe permit

Traffic on Campus during Normal Traffic Flow

Traffic onto campus by wayof HardingBoulevard

•The rightlaneofHardingBoulevard is forDecal Reserved ParkingLotsA,B,C,D,G(Mini Dome andStadium Parking), Tailgate Dome

•The left laneofHarding Boulevardisfor DecalReservedParking Lots, E, V, Uand MLK

•Gameday busparking should enteronHardingand proceed to E.C. HarrisonDrive.Parking is $250 forall non-SU Alumni/ Booster Clubs.

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2025

•General parking should enter throughHardingBoulevard,Mills Avenue or Swan Avenue.Parking is $20per car.

Anydecal entering theMiniDomemay be allowedtopassthrough theMiniDomeparking area if it is notLot Dtoget their designated decalparking area. Traffic ontocampusbyway of Swan Avenue

will be able to gettoLotsA,B,C,D,F,G,H,and I.

Traffic ontocampusbyway of B. A. LittleDr. from MillsAvenuewill

be able to gettoLotsA,B,C,D,F,G,H,and I.

Alltrafficthatisnot goingtoareservedlot must park in ageneral

parking area

Traffic onto HardingBoulevard

•BradfordHall ParkingLot

•Human ResourcesParking Lot

•Parking lot on theScott’s Bluff

•ArchivesParking Lot

•Museum ParkingLot

•Law Center ParkingLot

•MayberryDiningHall ParkingLot

•Army/NavyROTC ParkingLot

Traffic onto Swan Avenue

•The grassareaeastofIsabelHersonStreet

•The grassareanorth of theSouthernLaboratory practice field

•The grassareanorth of IsabelHersonStreet.

•TrafficontoB.A.LittleDr. from MillsAvenue.

•The grassareatothe southofMills Ave. andwestofB.A.Little Drive.

•The grassareatothe southofMills Ave. andeastofB.A.Little Drive.

HardingBlvd. Contra-flow Traffic

•All lanes will be inbound.

•Contra-flow traffic will startthree hoursprior to kickofforearlier if necessary.For example, fora6p.m.kickoff contra-flow traffic will startat3p.m

LimitedMobility

Bradford Hall andSUPoliceStation Parking

A.W. Mumford

StadiumPolicies

•NoAlcoholic beveragesfromoutside will be allowedinside A.W. MumfordStadium

•SouthernUniversityreservesthe righttorefusethe sale of alcoholic beverages

•FansCannotStore Prohibited Bags &ItemsNearStadium

Entrances

•All Unattended ItemswillbeRemoved &Discarded

•Full details listed at www.gojagsports.com

•All Persons&ItemsEntering areSubjecttoInspection

•NoRe-entry-AnyoneLeaving theStadium Must Havea New, Unused Ticket to Re-enter

•Tickets MayNot be Re-sold on Stadium Premises &Surrounding Grounds(IncludingParking Lots)

•All PersonsMustHaveaTicketfor Admission- Regardless of Age(children under 2years old do notneedaticket)

•Smoking &Use of AllTobacco Products(Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes,Cigars, Pipes,Smokeless Tobacco,Snuff,Chewing Tobacco,Vapes,etc.) is Prohibited Everywhere on Southern University’sCampus

•Inall sports, access to thecompetition area shallbelimited to participating student-athletes,coaches,officials, support personneland properlycredentialed individualsatall times.

•AtNotimebefore, during or after acontestshallspectators be permittedtoenter thefieldorplaying surface.

•Accesstothe field is reserved forparticipating student-athletes, coaches,officials, supportpersonneland properlycredentialed individuals.

EDUCATION

N.O. schools radically remade after Katrina

Researcher wanted to know: Did it work?

BY PATRICK WALL

Staff writer

Twenty years ago, it was the most radical experiment in American education. Today it’s just the New Orleans school system. That system, which state leaders and self-styled reformers engineered after Hurricane Katrina, remains unlike any other Nearly every public school is run by a private charter school operator, families are unbound by attendance zones and low-performing schools are routinely shut down.

Perhaps no one has studied this system or analyzed its results more closely than Douglas Harris, an economist and the founding director of the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans at Tulane University Harris and his colleagues at the research center have produced more than 50 studies on the postKatrina changes to New Orleans schools and their impact on students and families. He also wrote a definitive book on that research, “Charter School City: What the End of Public Schools in New Orleans Means for American Education.”

In terms of improving academic outcomes, Harris says, the evidence is undeniable: The overhaul worked. But other effects — a loss of veteran Black teachers, a de-emphasis on arts education, a weakening of school-community bonds were far less positive and remain painful to many.

In two recent interviews with The Times-Picayune | The Advocate, Harris described the impact of the changes, how New Orleans schools are faring today and where they go from here

His responses have been con-

densed and edited for clarity.

What are your main findings on how the New Orleans education overhaul affected students?

We tried to look at a lot of different outcomes over time. Test scores and high school graduation rates; college-going, persistence and graduation; ACT scores, SAT scores.

They all looked positive, really without exception. And not just in a good direction, but usually quite large improvements I’ve been studying education policy for most of three decades and you just never see outcomes like that

You rarely see effects on any outcome that are substantial. So to see large effects on essentially all the outcomes be sustained over 20 years — I can’t think of another example like that.

Considering the overwhelmingly positive academic results, why do the post-Katrina changes — especially the move to all charter schools — remain controversial?

I think part of it is the disagreement about what schools are supposed to be doing. The system is set up to generate positive academic outcomes, and it does that But if you’re more interested in the arts, if you’re more interested in critical thinking or really engaging students in their communities, these are things that I think the system is not designed to do.

I think part of it also goes back to the process of how the reforms were put in place Most people

Q&A WITH DOUGLAS HARRIS FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE EDUCATION RESEARCH ALLIANCE

couldn’t participate. Even if the reform leaders had really wanted the community input, it would have been very difficult to do that under the circumstances with everybody spread out and disconnected.

That leads to a bit of a conundrum if you view (the changes) as a success and you also view the democratic process as being something we value. Because of all the power struggles and the differences of opinion, there’s no way you would have ended up here. You would have ended up with something done by committee. You would get incremental change.

What do you hear from New Orleans families about the changes?

I hear a lot of contradictory answers. They’ll say “I wish we could have this system but have neighborhood attendance zones,” or “I wish we could have the system and not have to close schools for low performance.”

Also in the traditional public school system, everybody on the same block who’s the same age walks to school together and they go to sporting events together and things like that You just don’t have that (in the current system).

That’s another frustration.

But if you ask parents about the academics of the schools, they have generally positive things to say We expect an awful lot of schools and they can’t do it all. I think that’s why you always end up with these tensions and conflicts.

How have New Orleans’ charter schools evolved?

They’re a little bit more like traditional public schools than they were in the beginning.

The system has gotten a little

bit more centralized. Also, I think there has been a little relaxation in regards to student discipline, (moving away from) the idea of aggressively suspending and expelling students.

Also, that’s true on (school) offerings. If you go back and look at the marching bands in 2012 or so, a lot of schools didn’t have them or they were really small. Every year it seems like they’re getting stronger again.

Some charters also restored the names of the traditional schools they replaced, right?

The perspective of the charter schools at the beginning was that they were rejecting the past by adopting new names.

But that’s not really what people want. They like having the legacy, the name of the school is something you’ve heard about and you know somebody who went there.

One of the things that’s interesting about the charter school movement as a whole is that the original motivation was experimentation. But, for the most part, that’s not what parents are looking for

You’ve shown that New Orleans schools made dramatic gains in the decade after Katrina, then their performance leveled out. Can they keep improving?

Given how much performance improved in the first decade, the fact that they were able to maintain it is a huge success. It is harder to see how you get better from here, however

You’re probably going to need entirely different strategies to make further improvements. A prime example is early childhood education.

When kids first enter school, they’re not ready to learn. And the

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN IDEA? EMAIL

early childhood system in Louisiana and New Orleans is a mess.

If you can get students starting school in a better place, then that would substantially improve outcomes down the line, too.

In the past, charter schools enjoyed bipartisan support nationally Now Republicans mainly talk about private school vouchers while few Democrats publicly promote charters.What happened?

If you ask the voucher folks nationally, they’ll say part of what happened is that conservatives gave up on charter schools because they were “woke.” It was mostly Democrats leading the effort and they were focused on equity issues, which is all true.

(But when you ask charter school proponents,) their response is that if you look at legislation, the charter movement marches on.

Almost every state has a charter law, and the laws are getting more and more favorable to charter schools in terms of funding and regulation and accessibility of buildings. You don’t see any legislation getting through that’s anti-charter either

They’re winning the battle of the legislative pen, but not the public bully pulpit.

After studying the New Orleans education changes for over a decade, do you have any unanswered questions?

We don’t know the effects on students’ lives, how they do long term. All the improved academic outcomes predict better livelihoods, but we don’t know for sure. We don’t know the effects on communities, the effects on the arts and how that changes the culture of the city

There are a lot of things that are unmeasurable about education, and we need to pay attention to those things too.

Email Patrick Wall at patrick. wall@theadvocate.com.

Russiandrone,missile attack kills1,woundsdozens

By The Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Russia launched alarge aerial attack on southern Ukraine, officials said Saturday, two days after arare airstrike on central Kyiv killed 23 and damaged European Union diplomaticoffices as U.S.led efforts to end the threeyear war staggered.

Among other locations hit, the assault overnight into Saturday struck afivestory residential building, killing at least one civilian and wounding 28 people, including children, in the Zaporizhzhia region, Gov.Ivan Fedorov reported.

Russia launched 537 strike drones and decoys, as well as 45 missiles, accordingto Ukraine’sair force. Ukrainian forces shot down or neutralized 510 drones and decoys and 38 missiles,itsaid.

The Kremlin on Thursday said Russia remained interestedincontinuingpeace talks, despite the air attack on Kyiv that was one of the largest and deadliest since Moscow’sfull-scale invasion in 2022. Childrenwere among the dead, and search and rescue efforts continued for hours to pull people from the rubble.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Fridayexpressedfrustration with what he called Russia’slack of constructive engagement.

Ukraine has accepted a U.S. proposal for aceasefire and ameeting between Putin andZelenskyy, butMoscow hasraisedobjections. Trump said last week he would know within two weeks whether Russia was serious about entering negotiations.

Ukraine’sEuropean allieshave accused Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts and avoidingserious negotiations while Russian troopsmovedeeper intothe country Trump, in aninterviewwith the Daily Caller, aconservativeU.S. news site,thatwas published Saturday, said he believedthree-way talksinvolving Putin, Zelenskyy and himself would still happen.

“Wegot along.You saw it, we’vehad agoodrelationship over the years, very good, actually,” Trump said of Putin. “That’swhy Ireally thought we would have this done.Iwould have loved to have haditdone.”

Moscow’sforces are waging a“nonstop” offensive

Hours after the attack, the United States approved an $825 million armssale to Ukraine that will include extended-range missiles and relatedequipment to boost itsdefensivecapabilities. Washington’sefforts to broker peace betweenUkraine andRussia appear to have stalled.

in Ukraine,and have the “strategic initiative,” the chiefofRussia’s general staff said Saturday.Valery Gerasimov’saddress to his deputieswas publishedby Russia’sDefense Ministry

SinceMarch,Moscow has taken more than1,351 square milesofUkrainian territory,and captured 149 settlements, Gerasimov said. It was not immediately possible to verify thesituation on the battlefield.

Russian forces this month broke into Ukraine’ssoutheastern Dnipropetrovsk region, aUkrainian military official said Wednesday,pressing into an eighth Ukrainian province in apossible bidtostrengthen the Kremlin’s negotiating hand. Gerasimov on Saturday said Moscow’stroops have so far taken seven settlements in Dnipropetrovsk.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said theEUwas advancing toward seizing frozen Russian assets to hand to Ukraine.“It’sclear that the predator has to pay for what he did,”she said, referring to Putin Vonder Leyen spoke SaturdayinEstonia in ajoint news conference with Prime Minister Kristen Michal, while on afour-day tour of European states bordering Russia or itsally Belarus. Kaja Kallas, the EU’sfor-

Israeliairstrike killsHouthirebel primeministerinYemenicapital

BY SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

CAIRO— An Israeli airstrike killed the prime ministerof the Houthi rebel-controlled government in Yemen’scapital Sanaa, the Houthis said Saturday.Hewas the most senior Houthi official killed in the Israeli-U.S. campaign against the Iranian-backed rebels.

Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in aThursdaystrike in Sanaa along with anumber of ministers, the rebels said in astatement. Other ministers and officials were wounded, the statement added without providing further details

The premier was targeted along with othermembers of his Houthi-controlled government during a“routine workshop held by the government to evaluateits activities and performance over the past year,” the Houthi statement said.

Thursday’sIsraeli strike took place as the rebelowned television station was broadcasting aspeech by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the secretive leader of the rebel group in which he was sharing updates on the latest Gaza developments andvowing retaliation against Israel. Senior Houthi officials used to gather to watchal-Houthi’s prerecorded speeches.

Al-Rahawi wasn’tpart of the inner circle around Abdul Malik al-Houthi that runs the military and stra-

tegic affairs of the group. His government, like the previousones, was tasked with running the day-to-day civilian affairs in Sanaa and other Houthi-held areas. The strikethatkilled the prime minister targeted a meeting for Houthi leaders in avilla in Beit Baws, an ancient village in southern Sanaa, three tribal leaders told The Associated Press. On Thursday,the Israeli military said that it “precisely struck aHouthi terrorist regime militarytarget in the area of Sanaa in Yemen.” The military had no immediatecommentonSaturday’s announcementofthe prime minister’skilling.

eign policy chief, saidthat “everyone agrees that Russiashould pay for thedamages, notour taxpayers,” but that there was disagreement within the EU aboutconfiscating the assets. Kallas and Prévot spoke during asummit of EU foreign anddefense ministers in Copenhagen. Overtwo days,EUofficials discussed sanctions on Russia,ramping up defense supplies to Kyiv,postwar securityguar-

antees and Ukraine’sprospects forjoining the bloc. Ukraine has continued to strike oil refineries inside Russia that it says have supplied Moscow’swar effort, theUkrainiangeneral staff reported Saturday.Itsaid two facilitieswerehit overnight: in the Krasnodar region nearoccupiedCrimea, andthe Samara region farther northeast. In aseparate development, Ukraine’sformer par-

liament speakerand aprominent pro-Western politician wasshot dead in thecityof Lviv on Saturday,according to statements by Zelenskyy and local authorities. Parubiy,54, was alawmaker from the Lviv region who participated in Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004 and led self-defense volunteer unitsduring theMaidanprotests of 2014, whichforced pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych from office.

TheVirdure LawFirmiscelebrating atriplehonor in the2025BestofBaton Rougecontest,earning a Bronze Awardfor Best Black-OwnedBusiness, Silver Award forBestImmigration Lawand Bronze Award forBestWorkers’CompensationLaw.ForattorneyElle VirdureandherhusbandTreVirdure,whohandlesthe business side of thefirm,the wins reflect more than professional accolades–theyare theresultofyears of relationship-drivenworkthatalwaysputspeoplefirst.

“Our family andour businesses arebased on doingthe little things that make abig difference andputting people first,” Elle said.“When youput relationshipsfirst, thebusinessand successwill follow.Our clientsare neverjust anumber. They’re notjust anothercase. We take prideintreating people well.”

VirdureLaw Firm’s caseload spanspersonal injury,immigration andfamilyestateplanning, as well as business andlegal consulting.For the Virdures, that meansgivingindividualizedattention andstandingbytheir clientsevery step of theway

“You go on ajourney with people that oftenstarts with them in afrantic state,”Ellesaid. “Sometimes people call us from thescene of an accident or right aftera parent haspassedaway. It’s an honorthat they thinkofusfirstaspeoplewho canhelpthem througha difficult situation. To finally gettoa point wherethe case is over andthe clienthas something to show for it at theend is asweet victory.Itshows that allofour firm’sworkmeant something.

Elle’s path to alaw career beganinthe airline industry,helping carriers interpretand implement Federal Aviation Administration regulations.After oneparticular training, sherealizedshe wanted to take herinterestinthe legalspace to thenext level, andtoldher husbandshe wanted to go to law school.Atthe time,the couple waslivinginDenver with theirfirst child, then just ayearold.OnceElle successfully completedthe LSAT –while nine-anda-half months pregnant with thecouple’ssecond child– Tresaw an opportunity forthe growing family to return to hishometownofBaton Rouge.

“Myroots arehere,”hesaid. “Myfamilyhas always embraced my wife,and ourtwo children were small at thetime. Ithought it wasa good idea to getbackto Louisianasowecould be surrounded by family and have astrongpillarofsupport as we embarked on this forayintolaw.”

After24years together as acoupleand 14 years of marriage,the Virdures have builtbusinessesthat mirror theirpersonalvalues. Tre, whohas worked in entrepreneurshipforover25years,seestheVirdureLaw Firm cultureasanextension of hiswife’sleadership. “Every business takesonthe identity andpersonalityofits owners,” Tresaid. “Elle’sintegrity,her level of communicationand hercarefor herclients shines throughand makesthisfirm operateonahighlevel Thevictory at theend startsatthe beginning, andElle haseverythingtodowiththat.”

Thecouplealsohas establishedasolid foundation to protectboththeir businesses andtheir family life “A lotofwhatmakes things work forusisabout settingboundaries, settingexpectationsand moving forwardwithgrace,mercy andlove,”Ellesaid. “I can be aworkaholicattimes becauseIlovewhatIdoand what we standfor,and Idon’t want to letmyclients or my family down.I’vecometounderstandthatifI am giving my reasonablebestinevery dayand every moment,I can’t letthemdown. Theworkwillbethere tomorrow,and we aregratefulfor it.” And,withtheirtwochildrennowages14and12,the Virduresareintentionalaboutpreservingfamilytime. They’veevendeveloped buzzwordsand hand signals so theirkidscan letthemknowwhentheywanttotalk aboutsomething that is importanttothem.

“Wedon’twantourkidstogrowupsayingthattheir parentsbuiltabusinessandwealthbutwedidn’tmake anymemories,”Tresaid.“It’simportantforustomake memories with them andset good examples of howto workthroughchallenges.Familyisnotjustanimportant thingitiseverything. Ourfirm protects thefamily.” VirdureLawFirmislocatedat10202PerkinsRowe,

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

WASHINGTON –Most people who lived in south Louisiana 20 years ago can’thelp but recall what they were doing, what they saw, and what they experienced when Hurricane Katrina devastatedNew Orleans.

Mark Ballard

Neighbors stranded on their roofs; people shepherding children andthe elderly through filthy waist-high water; thousands awaiting evacuation without water and food at the Superdomeand Convention Center; police and the NationalGuard brandishing weapons at fellow citizens; it was all part of the tapestry of astorm that claimed an estimated1,833 lives, left millions homeless, and caused approximately $161 billion in damage.

Then-President GeorgeW.Bush said, “The system, at every level of government, was not well-coordinated and was overwhelmed.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency was created in the1970s to help local andstate governments. FEMA is supposed to coordinate searchand rescue efforts, evacuations, and help set up emergency shelters.

For atime, Republicans, even someDemocrats, wantedtodo away withFEMA. Instead, Congress in 2006 made adjustments.

During President Donald Trump’s first administration, Congress in 2018 made further changes.

These days, FEMA’s chief must have emergency management experience. Federal authorities, on their own, can preposition resources without local permission. Money is set aside to strengthen infrastructure —flood controls, levees, and the like —longbefore thestorm.

In his second administration, Trump said FEMA’s responses were tooslow and its coststoo high. He called for changes, perhaps evenelimination of the agency

The Trump administration cut billions of dollars from disaster preparedness and seeks tocut

Fields speaks outon congressional maps

U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, criticized Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’sannouncement last week that her office will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the state’s congressional voting maps, which include two majorityBlack districts.

of any expenditure of $100,000 or more.

Invoking Katrina’slandfall anniversary,191 FEMA employees signed aletter Monday to Congress warning that the changes had weakened the agency

“The diminished response and recovery capacities of partner agencies due to this administration has cascading effects that reduce FEMA’s ability to carry out its mission,” read the five-page letter they called the Katrina Declaration.

tion into atool that actually benefits Americans in crisis.”

Cameron Hamilton, whoTrump tapped to lead FEMA but was fired forsupporting continuation of the agency,posted Tuesday on X: “FEMA staffare responding to entirely new formsofbureaucracy now that is lengthening wait times forclaim recipients, and delaying the deployment of time sensitive resources.”

Since Congress created FEMA, legislation is necessary to eliminate the agency or makemajor changes in operations. Trumpset up the FEMA Review Council to study procedures and makerecommendations.

The task force held its third meeting Thursday but did not directly address the FEMA employee insurrection. Still, Texas officials thanked the Trumpadministration, though not FEMA, forhelp after aflash flood on the Guadalupe River killed about 138 people.

The meeting’schair,former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, said the panel has reached the “real core” of their report. They are looking at minimum standards for individual assistance and direct funding to the states.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, another member of the task force, said that, after questioning emergency response personnel across the country,the consensus of opinion wasthe need to streamline the process of funding direct assistance.

billions more in the 2026 budget

About a thirdof theagency’sstaff have quitorbeen fired. Andthe newdirector has no emergency experience —hereplaced one whoventured to tell acongres-

anews release.

Louisiana passed thecurrent map after afederal court ruled apreviousplan with only one majority-Black districtwas unconstitutional. Fieldswon an election for thenewly created seat.

sional committee that FEMA shouldn’tbedismantled.

Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, adopted apolicy that requires her direct approval

courtsshould not mandate states consider race in redistricting.

Thirty-five of the FEMA employees signed the letter in their own names. On Wednesday,they were suspended with pay by the agency Noem responded Thursday on Fox News Digital: “I am not surprised that someofthe same bureaucrats whopresided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform; including manywho worked under the Biden Administration to turn FEMA into the bureaucratic nightmare it is today.”

Noem continued: “That’swhy I am working so hard to eliminate FEMA as it exists today,and streamline this bloated organiza-

“I will use that word again, direct assistance. Not assistance that is migrating through amyriad of bureaucratic processes,” he said.

What wasthe takeaway Mark Cooper,who worked forboth Republican and Democratic governors in Louisiana, had from the failed Katrina experience?

“Werealized how important it wastohave FEMA and other organizations to support state and local governments,” he told the task force.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

focused on working forthe 5th” Congressional District.

CAPITOL

“While the Attorney General is afforded discretion as to her representation or supervision in any action challenging the constitutionality of an act of the state legislature, she is nevertheless required to act in the interests of the state,” Fields, who represents the new,second majority-Black district, saidin

Murrill’soffice originally defended themap in frontof theSupremeCourt against another lawsuit that claimed it unconstitutionally factored in race; the state argued it was compelled by acourt to draw themap.

BUZZ staff reports Fields

But theSupreme Court asked for arguments to more directly addresswhether consideringrace in voting maps is constitutional. Murrill argues that opened the door for Louisianaleaders to argue whatthey have long believed, which is that

“Our Constitution prohibitsthe sorting of Americansinto voting districts based on their skin color —and Louisiana wants no part of that abhorrent system,”Murrill said last week. “We have madethis argument for years, but thefederal courts so far have refused to hear us.” In his statement, Fieldsargued that thecurrent map was duly passed by theLegislature and Murrill should be defending it as constitutional.

“Reversing course and takingacontrary position against themap passed by thestate legislature and signed by Governor

(Jeff) Landry is in direct contradiction to the state’s interests of complying with federal law as directed by theSupremeCourt of the United States and ensuring fair representation for the people of Louisiana,”Fields said.

Is Letlow interested in LSU president job?

When asked if she’sinterested in becoming president of LSU, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow was noncommittal —but she acknowledged that her first love is higher education.

“It’s just humbling to have my nameinthe mix Ilove higher education. That’swhere my background is. That’s where I definitely feel at home,” Letlow said in an interview Wednesday.“It’salways been my dream to get back to higher education one day Butfor right now,I’m just

Acommittee organized by the LSU Board of Supervisors held its first meeting Aug. 19 to find and vet candidates forthe top job at LSU after William Tate left to become president of Rutgers University in New Jersey The panel will submit its recommendations to the full board, which will make the final decision.

Letlow said mostofthe members of the search committee are friends.

“So, Italked to them quite often. But other than that, I’mgoing to stay mum,” Letlow said. “I promise you that it is the honor of a lifetime to serve the people in the 5th District. So, I’m

just concentrating as much as Ican right now on being present and doing just that.” Letlow has represented the 5th Congressional District since 2021. The district covers much of northeast Louisiana, parts of Baton Rouge, including LSU,and the Florida parishes to Bogalusa. She is amember of the House Appropriations Committee, sitting on the subcommittee that decides how much money education receives. Letlow was afinalist forthe presidency of the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2020. She has a Ph.D.incommunications from the University of South Florida and worked as director of education at Tulane University School of Medicine. In 2018, Letlow becameULM’sdirector of external affairs and strategic communications.

THE GULF COAST

N.O. restaurant group closes Gulfport spot

FlamingoLanding knownfor music, food anddrinks

BY MARYPEREZ Sun Herald

Location is everythingin real estate and the restaurant business, but sometimes it isn’tenough.

Flamingo Landing restaurant and bar,off Cowan Road in Gulfport, had heavy traffic passing daily,a waterfront location on Bayou Bernard where customers couldarrive by boat for spicy food, icy drinks and some of the favorite music on the Coast. But last week, arental truck was pulled up to the building andbeing loaded with the decor.Asign on the door said the business is closed, and posts on Facebook confirmed the online speculation.

“With aheavy heart, I’m sharing that Flamingo Landing has officially closed its doors for good,” said Terry McCormack.“Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of bringing you quality entertainment, great memories and unforgettable nights.” McCormack said the music made Flamingo Landing “feelalive” in one of the busiest corridors of Gulfport. Musicians who were booked to play at the restaurant also posted that their gigs were canceled.

The property is owned by Coastdeveloper IvanSpinner,who said he’s given the operators of Flamingo Landing six months to sell their

PROVIDED PHOTO By SUN HERALD

FlamingoLanding,a restaurant from Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, closed last week in Gulfport, Mississippi.

business beforeherentsto anew tenant

The restaurant opened in May2023 in thebuilding that formerly was Marina Cantina. It was thefirst venture into Mississippi by New Orleans restaurantgroup CreoleCuisine Restaurant that opened Flamingo A-GoGo, Cafe Maspero, Broussard’sand Gumbo Ya-Yain Louisiana.

Thebuildingwas remodeled extensivelybefore reopening, with modern decor upstairs and big windows and garage doors that let in the views and the breeze off the water

Downstairs, their customerscould sit in the covered areas or spaces open tothe waterfrontand thedocks Favorites on the menu were margaritas,Flamingo chicken bombs with fried jalapeños, and atrio of tacos

Comments on Facebook show some of theircustomersweresurprised by the closing,while otherssee it as asignthatSouthMississippi may have reached the point of too many places to go out to eat. Others, though,

suggested there is room for more restaurants, but more diversityisneededbeyond beach-style bars and seafood spots.

When Flamingo Landing opened in 2023, it was one of 40 new places on the coast,and dozens morehave opened in thetwo years sincethen.

“Kinda hard for on-premise/off-premise to survive when permitsare allowed at the snap of afinger,” one comment said.

“The coastisgrowing, but restaurants and stores are growing faster.Too many restaurants, not enough people.”

Many New Orleans brands are investing and branching out on the Gulf Coast Barracuda now has a taco standwithamassive patio in downtownBay St Louis, with Tacos andBeer opening afew blocks away Coteriehas awaterfront restaurant in Long Beach, and St. James CheeseCompany will soon open in anew PassChristian development owned by restaurateur Jourdan Nicaud.

Many destroyed in Hurricane Katrina’slandfall

BY ANITA LEE Sun Herald

Preservationists fanned outacross theGulfCoast as soon as they could afterHurricaneKatrina to document the historic structures ravaged by the powerful storm’swind and surge.

“Ofcourse, some of them were completely gone,” said Ken P’Pool, then deputy statehistoric preservation officer forthe Mississippi Department of Archives &History.“We could hardly determine where they had been.”

MDAH’ssmall staff was joined by volunteers from organizations that included the Mississippi Heritage Trust, HistoricNatchez Foundation, and the Vicksburg Foundationfor HistoricPreservation.

While many historic structureswere lostcompletely,many others survived.

P’Pool andothersgot to work,securingalmost $25 million in federal funds and other money,enlisting expertvolunteer assistance.

Katrina destroyedmore than300 Gulf Coastproperties on the National RegisterofHistoric Places, the Sun Heraldhas previously reported.

Working with preservation partners, MDAH was able by 2011tohelprestore 280 historic homes and buildings

“Wehad peoplecoming from all over North America, one even from Ireland,” P’Pool said.

“Wereally hada lotof wonderful preservation partners fromacrossthe country who steppedupat their ownexpense to tell us whatwecould save and how to go about saving it. We neverwould have been able to do thatonour own.”

Historichomes and public buildings weresaved, including Beauvoir,the last home of JeffersonDavis on the Biloxi waterfront. The raisedhome was heavily damaged. In the case of Grass Lawn, an antebellum home that the city of Gulfport ownedand where many residents celebrated life’smilestones, areplica was built.

The area’slove of its historic buildings was evi-

dent in the comments that recently flooded the Sun Herald’s Facebook page when readers were asked aboutthe biggest changes theysaw from Katrina. The lossofsomuch history was themost mentioned change. Several commenters said the Gulf Coast no longerhas the same small-town feel. Many of the properties lost were alongthe beach.

“I remember riding Highway 90 from Gautier to Pass Christian immediately after it was opened,” onecommenterwrote “Was in the Pass before I realized it. All landmarks Iknew growing up along theway were gone.Had tearsinmyeyes returning home (Gautier). Didn’tride Highway 90 foranother 11/2 years. Couldn’t handle the heartache!”

Trump’senvoyscausing diplomatic tensions

ernment“does not control or direct” the actionsofprivate citizensinGreenland.

BY LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press

LONDON Do not antagonize one’sopponents unnecessarily,abasic principle of diplomacy says. But as the United States faces atrade war with China and various tensions overseas, President Donald Trump’semissaries are increasingly ticking off allied countries and being called to account.

Lastweek, no fewer than three U.S. envoys scrambled to extricate themselves from diplomatic hot water

White House spokespersonAnnaKelly dismissed thenotion that therecent diplomatickerfuffleshave undercutTrump’sglobal standing or dimmed his trust in hisenvoys

“President Trump has restored America’sstanding on theworld stage, andhis foreign policyaccomplishments speak for themselves,”Kelly said, citing Trump’strade deals, his strike onIran ‘s nuclear facilities andthe freeingofAmericans detained in other countries as examples.

“He has fullconfidence in his entireteam to advance his America First foreign policy agenda.”

suredtoissue statements of support for Trump. “The woman,” Trumpsaidduring aphone call withPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “she’sgoing to go through somethings.”

Still, the recent dustups were strikingfor their risk of amplifying tensions among Western allies as the U.S. and China vie for economic superiorityand talk of ameetupbetween their leaders as soon as this fall.

Monday,aformal and public notice of displeasure. He did not show,soFrench officials met withthe embassy’s No. 2instead.Kushner,a real-estate developer,isthe father of Trump’sson-in-law Jared Kushner

What aboutDenmark? Trumphas been relatively quiet recentlyabout his desire to acquire Greenland, theDanishterritoryinthe Arctic,for securitypur-

poses. In March, Greenland voted to decide its own future as it moves toward independence from Denmark. But Trump’shint that he could invade the massive island stands. So when Denmark’smain broadcaster reported Wednesday that at least three people with connections to Trump hadbeen carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland, Denmark’sForeign Ministry summonedthe top

U.S. diplomat in the country Mark Stroh, acareer member of the foreign service, foranexplanation.

YunSun, director of the China Programatthe nonprofit StimsonCenterin Washington, said Trump’s envoys are unlikely to be reprimandedorchange their agendas. But the incidentsmight serve as awarning“to watch what they are saying and doing morecarefully.”

Denmark’sforeign ministersummonedthe topU.S diplomat in the country to answer for reports thatat least three people with connections to Trump have been carryingout covert influence operations in Greenland, aDanish territory France summoned the U.S. ambassador,Trump in-law Charles Kushner, overhis lettertoPresidentEmmanuel Macron alleging the country has not done enough to fight antisemitism. And the American ambassador to Turkey,longtime Trump friend Tom Bar rack, apologized Thursday for using the word “animalistic” while calling for agaggle of reporters to quiet down during apress conference in Lebanon. But in the other two cases, theTrumpadministration stood pat. Kushner did not show up for his summonsing,leaving the Frenchto take it up with his No. 2. The top diplomat in Denmark did attend his meeting in Copenhagen, and the State Department said a“productive conversation” ensued. But behind the scenes in Washington,the Trumpadministration —through an official who spoke only on condition of anonymity —had afar more casual response.

“The Danes,” the official said, “need to calm down.” Apattern emerges

There was much tsktsking from the diplomatic world over the indelicate exchanges, which would perhaps have been minor on theirown.

But they’re consistent with Trump’sblunt-spoken style, his“America First approach to foreign policy and his attitude toward reporters —all of which appeal to broad swathsofhis political base. And they trackwiththe president’s record of upending norms. Indeed, the State Department has offered little in response, except to say that it supports Kushner’sletter to Macron and that the gov-

The trifecta of ire against American diplomats in recentdayswas only thelatest against Trump’soverseas appointees,severalofwhom raised eyebrows during the president’sfirst term. That’s in part due to the particularly American practice —in both parties —ofhanding covetedpostingstocampaign donorsand presidential friends regardlessof their diplomatic experience.

Trump’sdiplomatshave something of atrack record of annoying foreigngovernments. During his first term, numerous U.S. ambassadors from Iceland to Germany and SouthAfricaaswell as the European Union got under theskinoftheir host governments, prompting summonsesifnot private complaints.

Oneformer senior State Department official said Trumploved thepublicity these incidents received and often sent the ambassadors in question congratulatory notes whentheir actions produced news coverage The main exception to that wasGordonSondland, theambassadortothe EU whom Trumpfired justdays after Sondland testified on CapitolHill during Trump’s first impeachment proceedings over Ukraine.

The hearings touched on another messy diplomatic matter— Trump’soustingof hisambassador to Ukraine, MarieYovanovitch, who testified that she felt pres-

“The Trump administration stresses, Ithink rightly, thatthe U.S.-China rivalry is now the major axis around which international affairs turn,”Iver B. Neumann, director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, an independent thinktankinNorway,wrote in an email. “Oneofthe majorassetsofthe U.S. in that rivalry is that it has ahigh number of allies,whereas China only has one(North Korea). PresentU.S.policy alienates allies on purpose, which risks losing them.” What happened in France?

It started with Macron’s decision to recognize aPalestinian state,which angered Israel and the U.S. because it revived the prospectof atwo-state solution to the seemingly endlessconflict.

Kushner’sresponse, published Aug. 24 by The Wall Street Journal,alleged that such“public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of aPalestinianstate embolden extremists, fuel violence and endanger Jewish life in France.” Kushner urged Macron, among other things, to “abandonsteps that give legitimacy to Hamas and its allies.”

France’sForeign Ministry said it “firmly refutes” Kushner’s allegation and declared that it fell “short of the quality of the transatlantic relationship between France and the United States and the trust thatshould result from it between allies.”

(Trump hassaidseveral times and in several contexts, “I don’ttrust anybody,” including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.)

The ministry summoned theU.S. ambassador on

Solera

‘Bigger than football’: SouthernJaguars build bondsand accountability as2025seasonbegins

By Amanda McElfresh|amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Throughoutthefootballoffseason,SouthernJaguars Strength andConditioning CoachRandall Mooreled acreativeway to help theteambond. Playersweresplit intogroupsofeightthatcompetedagainst eachotherineverythingfromclassattendancetoworkouts. Points were awarded if theentiregroup didwelland deducted if they fell behind “Itwas away of holdingeachother accountable,”HeadCoach Terrence Gravessaid.“Towatchthoseguysgoback andforth,itwasallgoodbecausetheygot really close. Youcan feel it in thelocker room now. It’s very importantfor us to really buildthose relationships.”

CoachGravesisoptimisticthattheteam’s closebondswilltranslateintoasuccessful football season.Heading into 2025,the Jaguarsfacehighexpectations.Analysts andcoaches widely predictSouthernto repeatasSWACWestDivisionchampions. In thenationalHBCUmedia preseason poll,SouthernisNo. 4. Senior Defensive EndCkelbyGivenswasnamedtheSWAC PreseasonDefensivePlayeroftheYear,as votedonbySWACheadcoachesandsports informationdirectors.Plus,twoSouthern DefensiveBacks–HermanBristerIIIand HoracioJohnson–werenamedtothe2025 Aeneas Williams Awardwatch list.The awardisgiven to thenation’sbestHBCU defensiveback.

“Thisteamishungry,”Coach Graves said.“We’redetailedabout thedetails

That’s oneofour slogansthisyear. We have awidereceiverroomand arunning backsroomthatare really exciting.The offensive line hasreallyimproved.Our defensivebacksareprobablyourstrongest area.We’re excitedabout whereweare andthe playersthatwehave. We’vegot a greathomeschedule. It’s probably oneof thebestonesthatI canremember.”

Thisyear’shomeslatewillseeSouthern facing AlabamaState (Sept. 6),Jackson State(Sept.27),Prairie View A&M(Oct. 18), FloridaA&M (Oct.25) andTexas Southern (Nov.15).Tickets areavailable at www.gojagsports.com

No matter howthe Jaguarsend the season in thewin/losscolumn, Coach Graves said hisprimary goal is to mold youngmen into positive role models and long-termcommunity leaders.

“It’snotjustthegame.It’saboutlifewith us,”hesaid.“We’retalkingaboutbuilding thetotalman–mind,bodyandsoul.You’re goingtobeamanlongerthanyou’regoing tobeafootballplayer.Wewantthemtobe greatrolemodels.It’sbiggerthanfootball.”

Judge extends heat alert mandate

Order aims to protect farmworkers

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A federal judge has ordered the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections to keep heat safety measures in place another 90 days for field workers at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jack-

son imposed a mandate on Angola prison officials earlier this year, directing them to issue “heat alerts” on the state penitentiary’s so-called Farm Line whenever the heat index reaches 88 degrees.

at Angola

Jackson issued that order through a May 23 injunction that expired Aug. 21. One day after it lapsed, the judge issued a new order extending the protections for Farm Line field workers.

“The court issued a lengthy ruling describing the factual and legal basis as to why the issuance of an order requiring defendants to maintain a Heat Alert threshold of 88 degrees Fahrenheit was necessary to preserve human health and safety,” he wrote in his Aug. 22 ruling. “Because there have been no intervening changes in fact or law

the court finds that a successive preliminary injunction is warranted to once again preserve human health and safety.”

In his May 23 injunction, Jackson also ordered Angola wardens to check the heat index of the Farm Line every 30 minutes. He did not extend that part of the injunction in his Aug. 22 order

The department’s policy is to monitor heat index on Angola’s Farm Line once an hour Jackson determined there was no need to

reissue that mandate because “the difference at issue is one of thirty minutes.”

Voice of the Experienced, an advocacy and reform group that represents formerly incarcerated people, sued Angola wardens and the corrections department in September 2023. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of eight prisoners, claims Angola’s policies pose a substantial risk of heat-related injury for

ARTISTIC APPRECIATION

Scott gestures with her arms while interpreting the meaning behind the artwork in front of her on Thursday at the Museum of Public Art.

Three environmental groups sue DEQ

Permit for Cameron Parish LNG plant contested

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

Authorities seized nearly 2 pounds of fentanyl, as well as quantities of crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine and other drugs, and eight illegal firearms during two operations Wednesday and Thursday in East Baton Rouge Parish, the Sheriff’s Office reports. The amount of fentanyl seized at a Baton Rouge apartment, occupied by alleged distributor Malchai Tillman Jr., equated to 7,802 lethal doses, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. The Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence and Enforcement Unit and local, state and federal partners executed the search warrants.

“By removing these dangerous drugs and illegal guns, we are preventing countless potential

Three environmental groups have joined forces to file a lawsuit against the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality regarding a permit for a new liquefied natural gas facility

in Cameron Parish. Last week, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Sierra Club and Environmental Integrity Project filed a lawsuit against DEQ for granting Venture Global a Clean Air Act permit for the Calcasieu Pass 2 LNG facility, according to a joint news release from the organizations.

“Venture Global has a long history of noncompliance with regards to its Calcasieu Pass LNG terminal,” Cameron Parish resident and Sierra Club member John Allaire said in the release.

“This company has been a bad neighbor and continually pollutes the air we breathe, while generating billions of dollars in profits.

“We fear that CP2 LNG will be more of the same — more air pollution that is making us sick. It is time for LDEQ to do its job and protect people, not corporate profits.”

DEQ Communications Director Greg Langley told The Advocate the agency does not comment on pending litigation. When The Advocate reached out

to Venture Global, the company did not respond. David Bookbinder, director of law and policy for Environmental Integrity Project, said the complaint is centered around the belief that CP2 will emit more pollution than DEQ assumed and will have air quality violations, as well as the fact that some of the permit limits are more lenient than justified for different pollutants.

“We’re dealing with a facility

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

PeterTrapolin, renowned N.O. architect, dies at 70

BY JOHN POPE Contributing writer

Peter Trapolin, aNew Orleans architect acclaimed for his work in preserving buildings and designing structures that blended with their environments, died Saturday of cancer in hisNew Orleans home.He was 70.

“He was skilled as aclassical architect, and he understood modern architecture, and he brought them together,” said Tony Gelderman,a businessman and preservationist. “He understoodthe vernacular of New Orleans, and he brought that to his practice.”

His firm, Trapolin-Peer Architects, which he founded in 1981, has designed buildings across the Gulf Coast. In New Orleans, the firm’sprojects include the Sazerac House; the New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Foundation headquarters; The Historic New Orleans Collection; the Lafayette Hotel; Richardson Memorial Hall, where Trapolin studied architecture at Tulane University; and the 19th-century Warehouse District building that houses Pêche Seafood Grill.

That structure, which Geldermanand his wife, Katherine,owned, once housed the mortuarywhere Jefferson Davis was embalmed after theformer Confederate president died in the Garden District.

Restoring it to its former glory was achallenge, Gelderman said. In addition to heavy termite damage, there seemed to be no way

CHIEF

Continued from page1B

to tell howtoproceed because an earlier owner had stripped the building of its distinctive ornamentation, includingan elaborate balcony and detailed window treatments.

But luckwas with Trapolin because he wasgivenan old photographofthe structure at Magazine andJulia streets. “Peter was able to takethe photograph and convert it into very accurate drawings and convert

“I’m not surprised, but I’m disappointed that tonight’s vote formalizes six yearsof operating without afull-time fire chief instead of filling theposition properly,” Summerssaid.

PERMIT

Continued from page1B the department. He believes the fire operations and ambulance servicemerit afulltimeposition

that’sgoing to be emitting many,many,many tonsof pollutants and …the local impact on people who are directly breathing the air is going to be bad,” Bookbinder said. “The other problem is that it, not just for the people who are going to be directly breathing it, willcontribute to the entire areahaving air quality violations. It mucks up people’sair.”

The facility,which will be one of the largest LNG plants in the nation, would export 20 millionmetric tons of LNG per year,ac-

MANDATE

Continued from page1B

workers toiling in Louisiana’ssweltering summertime humidity Claiming that the conditions on the line during extreme heat violate Eighth Amendment constitutional protections against“cruel and unusual punishment,” the plaintiffs asked federal courts to orderAngolato implementheat-related safeguards for prisoners. Inmates assigned to work the Farm Line plant and

it back,” Gelderman said “Very fewpeople could have done that. It was agreat accomplishment that Iwas privileged to see.

Suchscrupulous attention to detail was ahallmark of Trapolin’swork, said Paula Peer,who succeeded Trapolin as the firm’spresident “He was astewardof preservation and advocating for the preservation of our historic city,”she said. “The buildings are theplace

Manola said he wantsto allowtimefor the fire chief position to become “more attractivetopotential candidates” before movingaway from thepart-time arrangement. He said this is thefirst year theparish has received aconsolidated fire rating, and itsambulance service started only last fall.

cording to the release. The estimated life cyclegreenhousegas from the methane gas would be more than the annual emissions of 47 million gas-powered cars, accordingtothe release. Construction started on CP2this summer,and the facility is expected to begin LNGproduction in 2027.

Allaire, aformer oil industry worker,said he and the organizations are upset that the state wouldgrant CP2 a Clean Air Act permit based on thecompliance history of Venture Global at Calcasieu Pass, which began operating in 2022.

Duringits first calendar year ofoperation, theCalcasieu Pass LNG facilityhad

cultivate produce for the prisonpopulation, andlodge intensive hoursoflabor on the prison’ssprawling fields. Many of the prison’snew inmatesare forced to work without pay,while other Farm Lineworkers are paid afew cents per hour In July2024, Jackson orderedprison officials to address problemswith lack of shade, availabilityofsunscreen and heat relief on the Farm Line.

Three months after that preliminary injunction expired last year,corrections officialsaltered the prison’s heat pathology policy.Heat

where the culture happens. He had 45 years of expertise of modifying and updating these historicbuildings and doing new construction in a historic context.”

“I think he lovedthe city more than anything,” said Kathryn LeMieux, aniece. “He wanted to restore and honorits history andlegacy.”

AlifelongNew Orleanian, Trapolin graduated from De La Salle High School and

“At thetime when it becomesfinancially andoperationally feasible for us to reestablish thefull-timefire chief, Iwill bring aformal request to thefire board and to the Civil Service Board,” Manola said.

at least 139 incidents where it exceeded the hourly emission limitsofits air permits, The Advocate previously reported. In addition, DEQ grantedthe facility an increaseinits allowed emissions in 2023.

Bookbinder said the next steps forthe lawsuitwillbe thecourt reaching out within acouple of weeks to provide aschedule to submit all the preliminarypaperwork, and about two months later it will release aschedule for briefing.

Fromthere,there will be arguments and then adecision, “hopefully by the end of 2026,” Bookbinder said.

Anne Rolfes, director of the Louisiana Bucket Bri-

alertstrigger protective measures, such as bringing heat-sensitive workers inside, and offering other workers scheduled rest breaks in shaded areas to offset when theheat index reaches dangerous levels. The heat index trigger was 88 degreesuntil Angola approved policyrevisions in October and Aprilthatraised the threshold index for heat alerts to 91.

In his May 23 order,Jackson moved the heatalert threshold back to 88 degrees, citing expert testimony that prolonged exposure to heat indices at or above that tem-

Tulane University.Hewas among the first to see the potentialofthe Warehouse District, which before the 1980s had been acollection of industrial buildings going to seed. In fact, Peer said, Trapolin’sfirst office had been aflophouse.

The 1984 world’sfair drew developers’ attention to that part of the city.Trapolin, whoplayeda keyroleinits revitalization, bought atown house there and set up headquarters three blocks away forhis firm,which employs 24 people.

Alistofthe firm’slocal projectsfills two pagesonits website, trapolinpeer.com.

Trapolin’s style wasnever dictatorial, Gelderman said.

“He didn’tfight with people. He guidedthem. He hada way of guiding youtothe right results.”

“He was just atrustedadviser,” Peer said. “He was really smart, he was passionate, andhewas alittle bit shy.Hehad the right to carry his ego around, but he didn’t.”

Hisworktookhim to Texas, Colorado,Mexico andChina.Ina 2016 letter nominating Trapolin to be a fellow in the American Institute of Architects, fellow architect J. David Waggonner III praised his “innate ability forshaping and ordering the physical environment and its components into a congruent whole.”

“Whether the direction is determined to restore a historic state or to advance amore modern vocabulary the result his workachieves is appropriate, seamless, harmonious and desirable,”

The West Baton Rouge Civil ServiceBoardmust approve the removal of the full-time fire chief from the classification plan.Civil ServiceBoardattorney Henry Olinde,who spoke at the meeting, saidthe parish’sgrounds for abolishing the job —finances, as well as theongoing changesoccurring within the department, such as the nascent ambulanceservice —are likely valid.

gade, said thatoverall the permit is flawed and that is what they would like to see fixed.

“The Department of EnvironmentalQuality does not have arealistic assessment of this facility that they’re lettingthemget away with putting whatever they wantonpaper and notreally tending to the Clean Air Act,” Rolfes said. “Ourgoal wouldbetoget arealserious permit on this facility.I do believe that if you took an honest look at theemissions andatthe area andthe burden it’s already bearing, that they could neverget apermit because the pollution there is already too intense.”

perature posesasubstantial risk of serious harm to Farm Line workers.

He found credence to plaintiffs’ claims that the corrections department and Angola prison officials were “deliberately indifferent” to thatrisk, opining they“simply ignored” the“compelling medical findings” set forth in previous court orders.

State and prisonofficials challenged both of Jackson’s decisions —the July 2024 and May 23 orders. During an Aug. 4hearingbefore three U.S. Court of Appeals for the5th Circuit judges, a solicitor for the Louisiana

Waggonnerwrote. “He can be trusted to makethe judgment calls vital to historic preservation.” Trapolin, who was made afellow —the organization’shighest honor —was aformer president of the AIA’s New Orleans chapter and aformer Preservation Resource Center board member.Heserved on committees of the Downtown Development District, the LouisianaLandmarksSocietyand theBring New Orleans BackCommission, whichwas formed after Hurricane Katrina andthe ensuing floodwaters ravaged the city Trapolinalso wasa volunteer architect with the preservation center’sOperation Comeback,which helped low-incomehomeowners rehabilitate homes in historic neighborhoods.

Astatement from his firm praised him as a“dedicated advocate whoworked tirelessly to preserve the historic fabric of the city while contributing to amoresustainable andresilient New Orleans.”

Survivors include his companion, Leah Tubbs; four brothers, Miles, Edward and Neil Trapolin, all of New Orleans, andCharlesTrapolin, of SanFrancisco; andfour sisters, Louise Kuzmich, of Midland, Texas; Jeanne Kuehn, of Dallas;Therese Trapolin, of Hammond; and Kathleen Trapolin Barbee, of New Orleans. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Contact JohnPopeat pinckelopes@gmail.com.

“These are the types of grounds that normally civil service would look at,” Olinde said. Manola praised the direction of the fire department under Browning. “I’m not going to letthe actions of afew disrupt the progress of whatwe’ve made here in West Baton Rouge Parish,” he said. Email HaleyMillerat haley.miller@theadvocate. com.

Attorney General’sOffice argued that Jackson’sorders were toobroad andintrusive That violates the Prison Litigation Reform Act, afederal lawthatsets requirements forprisonerconditionlawsuits, the state argued.

Oneday after theAug.4 hearing, the 5th Circuit denied the state’sappeal challenging Jackson’sorder last year becausethatinjunction had already expired. The federal appellate court determined it was amoot issue.

On Thursday,six days after the May 23 injunction had expired, the 5th Circuit also denied thestate’s appeal of that order as moot. The defendants have already filed anew appeal challenging Jackson’slatest ruling.

LOTTERY FRIDAY,AUG. 29, 2025 PICK 3: 1-6-6 PICK 4: 6-0-4-9 PICK 5: 5-7-7-1-1

Beating the heat

Architect lived in N.O. for decades without AC, but climate change made it harder to avoid, and he caved

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

On a humid summer morning, the temperature inside John Klingman’s 19th-century home hovers around 80 degrees. There’s no air conditioning running, but it doesn’t feel stifling. Fans circulate air across shaded floorboards. Louvered shutters manage the sun like clockwork. Birds chirp in the garden.

“So you see, we’re in pretty good shape,” Klingman said, pausing by a thermostat. “We’re not even close to the limit of comfort.”

Over a decade ago, Klingman was featured in The Times-Picayune for doing something most New Orleanians would never attempt: living without air conditioning by choice. Readers had a lot of thoughts about it.

“Most of the comments were negative: ‘He’s crazy, why would anybody do that?’” Klingman said. But 13 years later, the 78-year-old is still at it — mostly About five years ago, he installed air conditioning, thinking he might want to sell his house one day and wouldn’t be able to without a feature most people in the South see as a necessity. Now, the system serves a different purpose: it’s what allows him to keep living mostly AC-free.

When the house hits 86 degrees, the unit kicks on, drying the air before cooling it down. That backup has become increasingly necessary as New Orleans has endured record-breaking summers, including an especially punishing summer in 2023, when the state recorded 88 heat-related deaths and nearly 6,200 emergency room visits. He mostly tries not to use it. But more often, it’s impossible to go without.

“I couldn’t have made it without AC two summers ago,” he said. “It was so bad I don’t think I even went outside for a week.”

Klingman’s 1898 Uptown

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Continued from page 1B

house is a study in passive cooling. Most rooms have a ceiling fan, installed when he bought the house in 1989. Original louvered shutters open and close with the sun’s movement, filtering the strong light in the mornings and afternoons. Windows are operable to catch breezes when they come.

“Most people think of their houses like cars,” Klingman said. “I think of houses more like a boat. You adjust.”

Screens are used on the first floor, but the secondfloor windows go without for better airflow, said Klingman. The second floor is generally above what he calls “the bug line,” where insects are most likely to enter. That hasn’t always stopped birds, which have found their way in and out of the house three times over the decades.

Even the headboard on his bed is engineered to rise and lower to allow for more circulation of air

Klingman keeps his garden lush and pesticide-free, which he says helps attract lizards, dragonflies and frogs that keep mosquitoes in check.

The rules of cooling

Tulane hired Klingman in 1983 to teach sustainable architecture.

“So I thought, well the best way to do that is to live it,” Klingman said His lecture course focused in part on bioclimatic design building with awareness of temperature, humidity and how the body cools itself.

“There are four ways the body can cool itself,” he said: conduction (touching something cold), convection (air moving across skin), radiation (giving off heat to cooler surroundings), and evaporation (sweating). In humid places like New Orleans, evaporation is less effective because the air is already saturated with moisture.

That makes the fans silently swirling air around his home’s five rooms essential.

overdoses and violent crimes,” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said.

Agents had investigated Tillman throughout July and August, the release said. They arrested Tillman and Troy Bell before searching the apartment, where they found drugs, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and $1,181, according to the release.

The other search, prompted by information from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office about cocaine distribution in the parish, occurred Wednesday at four locations around East Baton Rouge. The agents made six arrests on multiple counts, including possession of narcotics, illegal firearm possession and aggravated assault

They seized 16 grams of crack cocaine, 7.25 dosage units of oxycodone and other drugs. They also discovered eight firearms. Tillman, 46, faces multiple counts for distributing drugs, possession of weapons and

Fans help speed up the evaporation of sweat. Klingman turns them on in April and leaves them on until roughly October If he leaves town, they stay on, since moving air is good for keeping mold and mildew at bay

“Before air conditioning became ubiquitous, the earlier technology was fans,” Klingman says. “A fan consumes only about 10% as much energy as an AC system. You become cool in a way that’s not obvious, but you just feel comfortable.”

New Orleans before AC

For decades, Klingman’s home was proof that the old strategies that allowed New Orleans to flourish as a major port city in a time before air conditioning still worked.

Before air conditioning, New Orleanians relied on thoughtful design to keep houses livable: awnings, operable windows with shutters, French doors, tall ceilings with transoms, ceiling fans, porches, balconies and ventilated roofs, said Rich Campanella, a geographer with Tulane. They also just had a different mindset.

“People expected summers to be hot and humid,” Campanella said. “They knew no alternative.”

Klingman, who grew up outside of Philadelphia, has acclimated to a different standard than the arctic blast of AC most people are used to when they walk indoors during the summertime.

“It’s 80 at night, which actually feels chilly to me, so I have to sleep with a sheet,” said Klingman.

Connecting to the outside

Klingman’s home has advantages many New Orleanians lack: tree cover, operable shutters, space for airflow In neighborhoods with little greenery or where homes sit close together, the options are fewer

The city still hasn’t regained its tree canopy since Hurricane Katrina, despite

operating a drug lab. Bell, 37, was booked on drug counts. “This week’s operations show the tremendous work our deputies are doing alongside our partners to protect this community,” Gautreaux said.

Teen found dead after apparent shooting in Ascension Parish

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating after an 18-year-old male was found dead Thursday from apparent gunshot wounds at a residence on Brown Extension Road in Darrow

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Donovan Jackson said Saturday there were no new developments in the case.

Anyone with information that may assist detectives is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office anonymously at (225) 621-4636 or by texting 847411. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867 or online at crimestoppers225.com To be eligible for a cash reward, you must contact Crime Stoppers directly

studies showing that shade and vegetation can lower local temperatures by several degrees.

That becomes a bigger problem as New Orleans continues to experience hotter summers. Klingman sees it not only in his AC kicking on more frequently, but also in his plants blooming ahead of their typical schedule.

It isn’t just discomfort that heat brings. Rates of suicide and violence go up during spells of heat, and people who are elderly or with health conditions are more likely to suffer heat-related illness or death, said Regardt Ferreira, director of Tulane’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy

Blasting AC can contribute to the problem Earlier this year, a huge demand for electricity during a heat wave triggered widespread power outages in New Orleans.

“We have to be more adaptive to the changing environment, and we have to find innovative ways, instead of sitting and waiting for things to happen,” Ferreira said.

For Klingman, the experiment in living without AC was never about stoicism. It was about proving that de-

sign could lower energy use, connect people to nature and promote well-being.

Surrounded by objects of nature — seashells, rocks, palm fronds and blocks of wood shaped into whimsical structures — Klingman feels attuned to his environment. In August, he hosts dinner parties when the temperature is tolerable. The environment makes everyone livelier “Saturday was just right on the edge, and we did it, and it got a little raucous,” he said. “And I think that was maybe because everybody was outside.”

His house is now a hybrid model that he plans to leave to the School of Architecture to host visiting faculty. Designed by master architect Emile Weil, the house was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a place where fans, shade and garden breezes still carry the day most of the year and where the AC only hums to life when the heat pushes past what the body can safely bear “I like connecting to outside,” Klingman said. “I feel sorry for people who just lock themselves inside.”

Gras. Arthur Hardyhas preservedthe soul of what makes us NewOrleanians, making this the perfect holidaygift for anyone whobleeds the purple,green andgold of Mardi Gras. Booksship in time for holidaygift-giving!

Cappo, Richard H. 'Rick'

Richard H. "Rick" Cappo, devoted husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, and lifelong Baton Rouge resident, passed away Thursday, August28, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born with an unstoppable driveand an endless curiosity, Rick was never one to sit idle. After 12 years at Kaiser Aluminum, he turned an unexpected layoff into an opportunity, founding C& CCabinet Works, Inc. and later Richard H. Cappo Construction, two successful Baton Rouge businesses that stand as testaments to his vision, perseverance and work ethic.

Rick built farmore than cabinets and buildings he built opportunity for others. He employed friends, brothers, brothersin-laws, and former colleagues, giving many their startafter hard times.He expanded his workfrom custom cabinets to multifamily developments such as The Park at Bluebonnet, Live Oak Trace, The Parkat Covington, Citiscape at Essen, Shadowbrook Lakes, and numerous other properties, leaving alasting markonBaton Rouge's landscape.

ButRick's greatest legacy wasn't in business —it was in people. He was a husband whose partnership with his beloved wife Carolyn spanned decades of love, faith, and adventure. He was afather whose joy was found in raising his precious daughter, Brandi and later seeing her build afamily of her own.Tohis grandchildren, he was alarger-than-life presence, astoryteller, and asteady encourager, whom they referred to as "Super Pappy". To countless others, he was amentor, asecond father, and a man who never misseda chance to give someonea shot at success. As an avid hunter and fisherman, Rick loved being outside in nature enjoying God's Creation and loved sharing the outdoors with others. Those who knew Rick willremember his infectious joy, his gift of storytelling, and his passion for living life with purpose. As his family has often said, Rick was an "impact player" —hedidn't just move through life,he changed lives. Rick is survived by his loving wife Carolyn Whiddon Cappo; his daughter Brandi Cappo Rinaudo, and her husband, Chris Rinaudo; his three granddaughters, Brenley Claire Rinaudo, Gracen Caroline Rinaudo, Hadley Catherine Rinaudo; whom he adored more than anyone could ever imagine; his brother, Ronnie Cappo (Ann); his mother-in-law, Leatrice Whiddon ("Momma"); his two brothers-in-law; Terry Whiddon and Ronnie Whiddon (Diane); his loving nieces and nephews; and a host of extended family and friends whose lives were better because of him. He is preceded in death by his parents, HarryAnthonyCappo and Lily Drago Cappo;his father-inlaw, Claude Whiddon; his brother, Randy Cappo; and his sister-in-law, Charlene Whiddon.

ACelebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 11am at Parkview Baptist Church, 11795 Jefferson Hwy. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritan's Purse in Rick's memory. Rick's life was one of faith, family, and hard work —and his legacy will continue to live on in the people and communities he built.

OnThursday, August 28 our sweetmother, Barbara Ann Johnson Gallegos joined ourdad,William Joseph Gallegos with our Lord in heaven. Barbara, also known as Bobby and Nan, was aspunky lady and eveninthe days before her death pushedher walker likeshe was aFormula 1driver. She was kind,considerate and loving.Eveninher 90'sshe wouldget on the floor with her great grandchildren. In theshortsix weeksatthe St. JamesWellnessCenter, sheimmediately connected with the staff, andthey lovedher.Tothe staff at St. JamesPlace, whereshe livedfor the past nine years, she was the cookie lady and prepared atable of Christmasgifts each year for the staff.Her heartwas big and her smileevenbigger Barbara's legacy of "family comes first" will live oninher four children -Sonya Gallegos Tablada (Julian)ofNorcross, Georgia,TeresaLynnGallegos, WilliamJosephGallegos, Jr. (Marie Di Nome)and Mark WendellGallegos (Emily) of Baton Rouge as well as grandchildrenJason Tablada (Jennifer), Michael Tablada (Rebecca),RyanTablada (Becky), Barrett Gallegos, Collin Gallegos, RaeganGallegos, Grant Gallegos,Morgan Gallegos, and step grandchildren Seth andDamien Ard.She was blessedto enjoy many years and visits from her great grandchildren as well -William Tablada,CatalinaTablada, Joseph Tablada, Benjamin Tablada, and Christian Tablada. The daughterof10children, she is preceded in deathbyher mother Corinne, herfather Thomas Johnsonand her 7 siblings, Corinne,Ethel, Geraldine, Shirley, John, Thomas, James. Shehas two living sisters, Mary Johnson Saradet andMarie JohnsonHebert of Brusly. The list is longofthe people to thankwho came into mom'slives over the years, but we particularly thankSt. JosephHospice for the loving care over the past two months and particularlyher final dayson this earth. To hernurse Danielle the biggest hugs and thankyou forproviding acaring heartand beautiful smiletomom and to us the past two months

We willmiss you mom. Give abig hug to dad. I know you have missed him these past 18 yearsand are so happy to be finally reunited. God raised you up on eagle's wings and holds you now in his hands. In lieu of flowers please send donationstoSt. JosephHospice/Carpenter House, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Acelebrationof life willbeannouncedin the near future.

Griggs, Cathie Watts CathieWattsGriggs passed away on August 23, 2025. She was borninBaton Rouge,Louisiana,on April 19, 1950,toEdgar Leo and Dartha FaeWatts Cathieissurvivedbyher husband, Thomas; daughters, Cassie and Elizabeth; and sisters, Vickieand Debbie Watts. Memorial services willbeheldat UniversityBaptist Church, 5775 Highland Road,Baton Rouge, on Thursday, September 4th, at 2:00 p.m.

Henning, Larry Grant

Larry Grant Henning, a gentleman cowboy, passed peacefully intothe arms of the Lord he served on August 24, 2025 in Baton Rouge,LA. Larry was born on July 14, 1938inSulphur, LA to parents John Thomas and Edith WestHenning Reared in Sulphur,Larry workedand playedatthe homes of his grandparents. The Hennings were businessmen, circuit riding pastors, and foundersof Henning MemorialUnited MethodistChurch, and the Wests werecattlemenand horsemen, both fostering

his love of Christ and agriculture. Larry servedin theArmyNational Guard for12years. Following the Henning legacy,Larry graduated from McNeese University in 1961 in Business Administration, and in 1993 achieved amaster's degree in Telecommunications fromthe then University of Southwestern Louisiana. Larry worked forCameronTelephone in Sulphur, then was owner/ president of Louisiana Sign Company, laterestablishing acareeraspresident of Louisiana Telecommunications Associationlasting over fortyyears, first in Sulphur, and then moved to their Baton Rouge offices. It was there that he proudlyrepresented and served Louisiana'sprivately ownedtelephone companies throughout decadesofadvancement. Always humble andsoft spoken, he was atireless witnessfor his Lord,Jesus Christ,a member of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. He married Debbie in 1999, thewoman who would adorehim therest of his life,and therebegan years of perpetual kindness, deepest respect,and love in abundance. They encouragedeach otheras they enjoyed everyfunction of their respective careers, always leading each othertowalk in thelight of theLord. His very favorite place in theworld was NewOrleans' HotelMonteleonewithits employees who became dearest friends, and was their happy place even in his retirement.Larryispreceded in death by his parentsJT and Edith Henning, and brotherThomas Dayle Henning, Sr,ofSulphur, LA He is survivedbyhis devotedwife Deborah Shaw Henning and step-children Richelle Sherlock Simmons (Chad) of Mountain Brook, AL,and Richard Alston Sherlock III(Erin) of Highlands Ranch, CO, and was theadored PawPaw of their children JacobSheets (Tenaya Kenner), Katherine Sherlock Churchill (Christopher), BryceSherlock, Scott Sherlock,Anne BondsSimmons, George Simmons, MaggieSimmons, and grandchildLiam Sheets. Larry is survived by his brotherTerry Lee Henning (Debb)ofMontgomery, AL andhis sons WilliamRichard Henning (Virginia) of Prairieville,LA and her sonHarry,and Christopher Stephen Henning (Angie)ofZachary, LA,their children, Ricky McDavid (Raquel), Christopher Bradley McDavid (Amanda), AshleyMcCulla (Cameron) and seven grandchildren, TraeMcDavid, Bo Thomas McDavid,Christopher McDavid,Jr, Alena McDavid, Archie McDavid,Abigail McDavid,and Owen Henning McCulla. Larry is also survivedbyLinda Stephens Henning,his first wife and mother of his sons. Larry had avery special "granddaughter" Christin Knight of Houston TX who was always in his heart and on his mind. Larry is survivedbyand was abeloved father figure and "PaLarry" to David Casse (Krista) of Robert, LA and theirchildren Grahm, Graden, and Garrison. Aprivate family graveside servicewillbe conducted at Henning Cemetery in Sulphur, LA.It was Larry's earnest wish that rather than formally memorializehim, in his honor, please reconnect withthose youlove.

1Corinthians 13:4-7

Kling, ShelleyBrowning

Shelley Darlene Browning Kling, lifelong resident of Central,LApassedaway on August 29, 2025 at the ageof74. She was aloving mother, grandmother,sister, aunt,cousinand friend to multitudes. She was a long-timehairdresser, rodeosecretary, school busdriver (Central Private -Central;Silliman- Clinton), real estate agent and talented country singer Shelley had aknack for talking withanyone and knowing theirrelatives, friends or making some kind of connectionbefore theconversation was over She willbedeeplymissed by allwho lovedher. Shelleyissurvivedbyher son, John Kling (Melissa); grandchildren, Jacob, Torre, Jay, Daniel,Tyson, Anna, Leah Kling; brother and sister-in-law, Rusty Browning (Michele); nephew, BrodieBrowning and nieces, SydneyBrowning,Sherri Watts DeLee.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenny Kling; son, JimKling; parents, Sidney and Joyce Bedford Browning; in-laws, Kent and Effie Kling and sister-in-law, Ginger Kling Watts. Pallbearers willbe BrodieBrowning, Jacob Kling, JayKling, Daniel Kling, Rhett Lormand, Dale Cain and Danny Gillen. Ronnie Deville,Wayne Browning,Ronnie Valentine and Kirk Browning will serveashonorary pallbearers. The familywould like to extend their heartfelt appreciationtoTami Tucker,Zelda, Elaine and Jenniferfor their loving care. Visitation willbeheld at Central Funeral Home on Monday, September 1, 2025 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, resuming on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from10:00 am until thefuneral begins at 12:00 pm. Burial willfollow at Greenoaks Memorial Park Central Funeral Home is in chargeofarrangements.

ElizabethAnn Flowers Lee, belovedwife,mother, grandmother,and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. She wasborn on April 18, 1939, theonlydaughter of Melvilleand Ivor Flowers. Ann earnedher degree as aLab Technician as she devoted her life to caring forothers, not just professionallybut in her home as well. Her kindness,steady hands, and compassionate spirit touched countless livesinthe medical field. Shewas thecherished wife of Dr. Charles Lee, and togethertheybuilt alifecentered on love,family,and faith. Ann'sgreatest joy was her family.She and Charles raised four children:Dr. SharonLeeBarksdale (Dr. Phillip Barksdale), Charles Leo "Rod"Lee Jr., Kathleen "Kat"Evers (Wendell Evers), and Margaret "Maggie" Powell (GuildPowell). Her love and legacy live on in hergrandchildren:Kyle Evers,Dr. Mike Evers,RobbieClark, Emma Little, Mary BethSandroni (Dr. Peyton Sandroni), Charles Barksdale, Charles LeeIII, andThomas Lee.Each of them carriesa part of her spirit, her warmth,and her unwavering devotion to family.Ann created a home full of respect,loyalty, and love.She made each person who entered feelseen, valued,and cared for, leaving alasting impressionofgrace and kindness.Wewere all blessed to haveAnn in our lives, and whileher absence leavesa deep ache, her love and example will continue to guide us. Visitation willbeTuesday, September 2, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, followedbyservices beginning at Rabenhorst East Funeral Home,11000 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the Chapel.A graveside servicewillfollowatResthaven Gardens, 11801 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, all officiated by Father Bryan of St. Luke'sEpiscopal Church. In lieuofflowers, thefamily kindly requests that donations be madetoPatterson Place,a community for specialneeds adults, at PattersonPlaceAL.org.

Patricia Ann'Pam'

It is with sadness that we announce thepassing of ourbeloved brother, Glen Michael Richard,who died August 17, 2025, at the age of 83 followingseveral weeks of acute care at Our Lady of the Lake RMCin Baton Rouge.Glenwas born September 19, 1941, in Houma,Louisiana, theson of Laywood andMarie Ellender Richard. He attended Terrebone High School butgraduated from Marion Military Institute in Alabama whereheletteredin footballand baseball. Later,hetransferred to LSU wherehegraduatedwith a Bachelor of Artdegree (1965) and aMaster of Science degree (1966). With numerouscousins, there were often timesspent fishing, summers spent in Grand Isle andsharing special holidays together. He started hiscareer as a pharmaceuticalrepresentative in Florida wherehe workedfor Upjohn and Glaxo Pharmaceutical companies. After several years, he relocatedto Houma andstartedhis owncompany DeltaDrugs. Upon itsclosurehemoved to Laughlin, Nevada, where he workedfor acasinoas adealer.His love forpeopleand histalent for telling jokes made him very popular.Healso enjoyed working withnumbers and had aphotographic memory.Hecontinued working in the casino business when he returned to Baton Rouge Glen truly enjoyed art and created little gifts for those he loved. Hisdistinctive handwriting could pass for calligraphy. Knownfor beinga comedian,everyoneenjoyedhis jokes when told in hisCajunaccent. Glenwas quite thecharacterand full of life andanavidLSU fan Visitation will be at OurLady of Mercy Catholic Church in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, September10, at 9:30 am. The funeral mass will begin at 10:00 am, followed by areception in the parish activity center from 11:00 -12:30. He is survived by hisbrother WayneRichard (andson Remy Richard) andhis sister Cindy Richard Murphy (and hersonsJeremyand Aaron Walpole). Glen is preceded in death by his parents Laywood and Marie Richard, his maternalgrandparentsHenry andJesse Ellender, his paternal grandparents Walterand Alice Richard and hisgodparentsLeonce Richard and JessieEllender Henchy. He enjoyedhis last four years while living at La Plantation RetirementCenterinDenham Springs wherehedeveloped manyfriendships. Theresidentselectedhim King of Carnival andhe wasvoted theirrepresentative to management.The staff remembers Glen as a generous, courteousand thoughtful man. The family is gratefulfor thewonderfulcarethatGlenreceived from theattentivestaff at La Plantation,Our Lady of theLake RMC, anddevoted friendDot Wilson. Special thanks to all hiscousins and friends whoenriched hislife. Glen nowrestsin God's loving arms

plain, Cecile Zeringue, Gladys Porrier, Mable Guichet,Elma Chiquet. Bertisgraduated from LSUinForestry.Heretired from Big RiverIndustries. He wasanavidhunter, fisherman, and gardener Thefamilywould like to give special thanks to the staff of Hospice of Baton Rouge Visitation will be at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church,445 Marquette Ave Baton Rouge on Tuesday, September2,2025 from 9:00 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge

James"Jim" Robertson, age 83 and anative of Springhill, La andresident of Gonzales, La passed away Saturday, August 30, 2025. He wasloving, caring anddevoted to hisfamily. Jimwas aNavySeabee Veteranwhere he served in Antarctica for Operation Deep Freeze. He wasa boardmember of Bell Oaks Inc. Springhill, La. He retiredfromShell in 1997 after 28 years as alab Supervisorwhere he earneda nickname as Lightning. He enjoyed knife making, woodworking andhorses. Jimissurvived by hiswife, Patricia Robertson; sons, Shawn Robertson (Lisa), and JimRobertson;sisterin-law,Cathy Gil (Gerardo); 6grandchildren,Joshua Robertson (Charlene), Tess Fell (Tyler), Roland Robertson, Elizabeth Robertson, Emma Robertson and Ryan Bonaventure; 5great grandchildren, John Robertson, Ava Robertson, Waylon Fell, Elayna Fell, Lorelai Fell, andwas expecting Theodore Fell in September; brothers, Mike Robertson, Glen Robertson, David Robertson, and Dennisand little sister,Jennifer Robinson.Hewas preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Judy Elizabeth Robertson; mother, Hilda Robertson and father, JamesRobertson Sr.; andsister,Jeanette Robertson. Avisitation will be held on Tuesday, September2 2025, from 9amuntil the funeral service at 11 am at OursoFuneral Home 13533 Airline HwyGonzales,La. www.oursofh.com

With heavyheartsand much love,friendsand family announce thepassing of PatriciaAnn McElroy "Pam" on August 5, 2025. Patricia was born in Norman, Oklahoma on August 11, 1950 to Buel and Elizabeth McElroy. For acompleteobituary, please go to Church FuneralServices at this link https://www.ch urchfuneralservices.com/o bit

BertisJosephRobert, born October 9, 1923, passed away on August 23, 2025, at theage of 101. He wasa native of Donaldsonville, LA anda resident of Baton Rouge,LA. He was aNavy Military Veteran that served hiscountry in WorldWar II andKorea. He wasa loving husband of 72 years to TheresaBossier Robert whoprecededhim death.Heissurvived by his2 daughters, Patricia Robert andSusan Helm; sistersin-law,Barbara Perrere andPat Bossier; and numerousnieces and nephews. Bertisisprecededin death by twin infant daughters; hisparents, Zelia Hymel Robert and Jean WallisRobert; brothers, Maurice,William, Jean Wallis, Maxie, Lester Robert;sisters, Wina Tam-

Jodie Elizabeth Suarez Simmers passed away peacefully at Our Lady of the Lake on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at the ageof 69. She was aretired automotive service manager for Gerace Auto Parts and Hanks Buick GMC, anda resident and native of White Castle, LA. She was amember of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church. Aprivate memorial servicewill be held at a later date, with her ashes to be laid to rest at OLPS Cemetery in White Castle Jodie is survived by her devoted husband, William "Billy" Earle Simmers; son, Philip Joseph Simmers; brother, Philip "Fee" Suarez and wife Elvena "Butsy"; nieces, Adrianne Rivera and Teri Suarez Boudreau; and numerous other nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. Preceded in death by her parents, Philip Joseph and Alice Earline Smith Suarez; and sister, Loretta Suarez Ward. Jodie graduated from White Castle High School where she played trumpet in the band. She was alover of music and enjoyed singing in the OLPS church choir. The family would like to thank thestaff of Our Lady of the Lake for their kindness and professionalism shown during Jodie's final days. Please share condolences online at www.wilbertservices.com.

Solar, James

James Michael Solar,75, aresident of Osyka, MS, passed away Wednesday, August 27,2025 at his residence. Amemorial visitation will be held Wednesday, September 3, 2025at First Baptist Church of Summit, 1109 Robb St., Summit, MS 39666 from 10:00 AM until services at 11:00 AM. Dr. Larry LeBlanc will officiate. Hartman Jones Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Jimmy was born on June 10, 1950 to Spaulding F. Solar and Velma Morris Solar. He enjoyedhunting, fishing, his horses and cattle. He is preceded in death by his parents, stepfather William "Bill" Smith. Brothers: Lloyd, Robert "Bobby", Spaulding "Neg" Solar William "Little Bill" Smith. Sisters: Rita Zeringue, Betty Murphy, Evelyn McIntyre, Jeri "Sue" Lofton. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Rose Mary Thompson Solar, son James R. "Jamie" Solar (Trish), daughter Jonnie S. Whiteaker (JR). Grandchildren Rosemary G. Mancuso and Andrew J. Beggs Brothers C. J. (Ginny), Richard "Dickie"Solar. Sisters Lois Clements, Melinda Comeaux and Debbie Lobell (Harry).

Emily Allendorph Svendson, 85, passed away peacefully at her long-time home in Boulder, CO,surrounded by family on July 21, 2025, only six weeks aftershe was dancing to live bluegrass music. Born April 26, 1940, in Baton Rouge, LA, she was raised in the country with an affinity for horses, nature, and Cajun culture. She met Douglass Svendson at LSU married, and together had two sons, Douglass and David. Emily moved with her sons out west to Boulder, CO in the mid 70s and spent most of the past twenty years in Castle Valley, UT.

Shewas most alive campingfor weeksata time in the Southwest or Westcoast, caringfor her dogs and horse, hiking, dancingatmusic festivals with friends, striking up conversations, reading a goodbook, visiting Louisiana or sharing good food andlaughter with family.Manymealsshe shared with her granddaughterwoulderupt in laughter.Emily loveda goodadventureand would oftenfindherselfinsituationsslightly beyond the comfortlevelofher son David. She deeply valued the black women who helped raiseher and their culture,and speaking up forjustice &equality. She will berememberedasloving, wild, fiercelyindependent and compassionate.

Sheispreceded in death by herson Douglass,her brotherHarry, herformer husbandDouglassand many beloved pets. She is survived by her son David and his wifeSarah and their daughter Maya; her sonDouglass' partner Isabelle and their son Matthias (of Paris); and numerous relatives. Donationsinher honor may be made to localhospice or animal rescue organizations.

Shewas most alive campingfor weeksata time in the Southwest or Westcoast, caringfor her dogs and horse, hiking, dancingatmusic festivals with friends, striking up conversations, reading a goodbook, visiting Louisiana or sharing good food andlaughter with family.Manymealsshe shared with her granddaughterwoulderupt in laughter.Emily loveda goodadventureand would oftenfindherselfinsituationsslightly beyond the comfortlevelofher son David. She deeply valued the black women who helped raiseher and their culture,and speaking up forjustice &equality. She will berememberedasloving, wild, fiercelyindependent and compassionate.

Sheisprecededindeath by her son Douglass,her brotherHarry, herformer husbandDouglassand many beloved pets. She is survived by her son David and his wifeSarah and their daughter Maya; her sonDouglass' partner Isabelle and their son Matthias (of Paris); and numerous relatives. Donationsinher honor may be made to localhospice or animal rescue organizations.

Terrell Jr., Beverly Joseph'Buddy'

Beverly "Buddy"Joseph Terrell, Jr. passed awayon Monday, August 25, 2025, at the age of 89. He wasa lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, LA. He lovedfishing atLakeVerretwithhis wife, Shirleyand two daughters. He loveddeer huntingwith his dad brothers, brothers-in-law, and nephews. He was among the bestindustrial electric motor repairmen in the Baton Rouge area for over 35 years. He was called upon to repairmotors as farawayasthe DominicanRepublic. Buddy often jokedhow he would go to workand not come home for three days due to workingonthe job. Buddy's laugh and sweetspirit willbegreatly missed Buddy is survivedbyhis daughters, TerriAnderson (Roger)and Darla Gatte (Treb); grandchildren,Vivian and Simon Gatte;siblings, Ronnie Terrell (Maggie), Kenneth Terrell,and Judy Lemoine;and ahost of other family members. He is preceded in death by wifeof46years, Shirley;a baby daughter; parents, Beverly J. Terrell, Sr. and Theresa Terrell;and sisters, Rose Furnish and ElaineRichardson. Visitation willbeatGreenoaks FuneralHome, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge,LA, on Monday, September1, 2025,from9am until the funeral service at 10am. Burial willimmediatelyfollow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.Family and friends areinvited to sign the online guestbookatwww.gre enoaksfunerals.com

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Theprecious hoursaway from the grinding wheels of work

Editor’snote:This newspaper haspublished this editorial, with variations, on previousholidays.

For those of us who live in south Louisiana,the arrival of another Labor Day prompts agood bit of self-congratulation. We know, with reliefand no small amount of pride, that we’ve survived another summerinaplace where the mercury rises each May and stubbornly stays there, like acat stuck in atree. Summer doesn’tofficially enduntil laterthis month —and both the hot weather and therisk of dangerous tropical weather lingerfor weeks after that —but Labor Day isthe notchweinformally place in the calendar to tellus aseason hasturned. It’searly autumn now,nomatter what thepurists might say

If our fellow Americans upnorthcan claim some measureoftheir ancestors’ pioneerspirit by making it through frozen winters each year, then Labor Day is our time to brag.We’ve stared down one more summer,anunusually hot onethisyear,yet somehow prevailed Hurricane season officially endsinNovember, and vigilance must stillbe theorder of theday We’ve now seen repeatedly that asmaller tropicalsystem that might not be expectedtobother us much can ramp up intoadestructive hurricanelike Laurain2020 and Idain2021. For people who don’thave jobs to laborin, this Labor Day makes it alittle harder to count their blessings. That’sparticularly true as thelabor market seems to be entering aperiod of deep uncertainty.Wewish all those seekingworkthe best of luck in their search.

Labor Day is away station between theFourth of July and Thanksgiving, and it wasput on the calendarprecisely for that reason.In1882, Peter J. McGuire, the founder and general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, suggested settingaside oneday to honor America’slaborers. He saw room in thecalendar between July and November, andthought the holiday would, in his words, “fill agap in the chronology of legal holidays.” McGuire was anative of New York,but his gift for sensing an unmet need forcelebration seems like aLouisiana way of looking at the world, doesn’tit? He would probablyhavefelt at home here.

New Yorkers observed the first Labor Day in 1882, and it became afederal holiday in 1894 after President Grover Clevelandsigneditinto law.Getting an extra dayoff was abig deal for workers back then, as ayoung labor movement struggled to achieve what many Americans broadly enjoy today: a40-hour workweek and formalized vacation policies.

The best gift of Labor Day,for those fortunate enoughtohaveitoff, is the day itself —a few spare hourstospend as we like before autumn begins in earnest. Thank you, Mr.McGuire,for makingitso.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Church services sink creamery liquor license

In what must have seemed like a scene fromthe sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” aLouisiana city council deniedanalcohol permit renewal last month to alocal creamery because it’salso achurch Youread that right. Tim andTashaLevert, thepastors of Mustard Seed Church in DenhamSprings, alsoown and operate acreamery in the suburb’sdowntownarea. Their creamery is called, youguessed it,Mustard Seed Creamery,and it also serves tapas. (I know— lots of questions here,but let’skeep to themainissue.)

Lastyear,the Leverts applied for and received an alcohol permit from theCity of Denham Springs for their creamery.But they were informed this year that their permit would not be renewed because theLeverts’ church had begun meetingweekly in their business. Acity ordinance prohibitsalcohol sales within 300 feet of achurch. The ruling —and the city ordinance itself —raise some fascinating questions about howlocal lawand religion should interact. Whatdefines achurch in the eyes of the law? Why is the 300foot bufferneeded?Plenty of church-

es serve realwine withCommunion. Do those transgress the, uh, spirit of the city’slaw? The Leverts have arguedthatthe church is notthe building where the congregation gathers, but ratherthe people who make up the spiritual body. There is some theological merit here.For instance, whenone of the oldest creeds in Christendom references“the holy catholic (universal) church,” it is notreferencing abuilding here, but the group of Christian believers as a whole

But the DenhamSprings CityCouncilapparently doesn’tsee it that way For them, achurchmeansbricks, mortar,stained glass windows and, in this case,perhapsrocky road andbutter pecan. It seems thatthe city’srule,while perhaps well-intentioned,neglects some fairly important facts about Christianity’sfounder.After all, his first miraclewas to turn water into wine at aparty. Idon’t recallanyone asking if he hadmarked offthe proper numberofcubits from thenearest synagogue Near the end of his life,hedid take

thebread andthe cupand share them amonghis disciplesinone of Christianity’sholiest moments. The Gospels don’trecordhim saying, “This is my blood,whichisalegally specifieddistance from ahouse of worship,”when he inaugurated theLast Supper. Sarcasm aside,this seemstobea tempest that should have been calmed from thestart. The creameryshould have been givenits permit,and the council should have refrainedfrom wading intothis problem. The Leverts, for their part, are at least attempting to follow the second greatest commandment to “love your neighbor.” They’ve beseeched their many allies in the community not to blame other local downtown businesses. Andtheyhaven’t givenuptheir sense of humororthe hope of getting theirlicense renewed.They’ve posted on Facebook that thechurch services have moved to another location and in themeantime, assuredfolks that they are still serving icecream withanintact “LickerLicense.”

Faimon A. Roberts III canbe reached at froberts@theadvocate. com.

Looking at therange of topics that we cover on the Opinion pages, some are more complex than others. In order to makesureweunderstandthe ins and outsofan issue, we occasionally host editorial boardmeetings with key playerssowecan get all our questionsanswered. Often,we are able to ask them the questionsthat you raise in letters to theeditor

boardmeeting, butnot always. The issues that promptthe meetings are usually ones that are ongoing. And we may choose to write only when news develops to acritical stage.

weeks of August.

We recognizeit’saprivilege for us to have accesstonewsmakers, and it is one we don’ttake lightly

Ialways view theeditorial board meetings as arare opportunity to understandthe background and context of the news. We try to ask thetough questions, yes.But we alsogive those we invite to editorial board meetings achance to have theirsay.The main goal isn’ttobecontentious; it is to gain knowledge so we can be informed in our opinions.

Sometimes, we will write an editorial immediately after an editorial

Sometimes, we will invite theopposing side of an issue to meet with the editorial board as well.

Community groups and politicians request meetings with our editorialboard when they have specific concerns. It used to be routine for top political leaders to meet with newspapereditorial boards,but these days, some prefer to touttheir plans through social media and other channels, where they don’t have to face pointed questions. But we always keep thedoor open for any who do want to meet. And we hope theytake us up on the opportunity,not becausewe’re important, but because you, our readers, are.

Turning to ourletters inbox, Ican give you thecounts for the first two

FromJuly 31 to Aug. 7, we received 69 letters. The topic that was the main concernofwriters thatweek was the war in Gaza, which prompted four of youtowrite.There were threeletters aboutthe possibility of immigrants being housedatthe Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.Thenthere were anumberoftopics that were the subject of two letters each.They includedearly education, Sen. Bill Cassidy’sreelection bid, the Katrina anniversary andschool choice. In the week of Aug. 7-14, we received72letters. The president sending NationalGuard troops into Washington, D.C., wasthe topic of three letters. The warinGazaalso prompted threereaderstowrite. Then we received two letters on the closure of PlannedParenthood clinics and two letters on coyoterehabilitation.

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

COMMENTARY

Conservative wonksembrace La.

When 1,500 policy wonks from around the country gathered at the Sheraton New Orleansthis past week, the next trendy legislative ideas surely were floating around the premises. The biggest beneficiaries of the State Policy Network’sannual meeting, though, may have beenthe cityofNew Orleans and state of Louisiana. The SPN is an association of conservative think tanks concentratingmostly on state andlocal issues. Each state has at leastone SPN member-organization; there are64inall. Louisiana’sPelican Institute acted as host thisyear for the four-day meeting, which attracted not just those 64 but also representatives of more than 500 other organizations that push right-leaning solutionsinthe public square.

that lead to national impact,” said Brooke Medina, SPN’svice president of communications.

“States are the test labs of liberty.”

In all, the conference featured more than 100 sessions on issues relating to education reform, artificial intelligence, state budgets, upward mobility,health care, energyand more.

SPN is “a ground-up organization that works for state solutions

Harkeningback to the long-cherished conservativebelief that government and public policy are usuallybest handled at levels closer to home, the participants rarely mentioned Washington, D.C.’s political battles. Far morethan a few,though, seemed concerned —without referencing any particular person byname— about thetrend toward centralization of power in the nation’scapital and in the presidency And even thoughthe event, by its very nature, almost exclusively featured conservative experts speakingtoconservative audiences, arepeated theme involved theneed to not just “preach to thechoir” but instead to promote civil discourse among any willing constituencies not already “dug in” to far-left positions.

New Orleanian Jay Lapeyre, who is chairman of both thenational CATO Institute and the Atlas Society and afounder of

theFree SocietyCoalition that is pushing civic education stemmingfrom theDeclaration of Independence, repeated that imperative multiple times during two different panel presentations. Onereason the Declaration is a good starting point,hesaid, is that it lets us “focus on what we share in common.”

AndMonica Harris, executive director of Fair For All, which is “committed to challenging threatstocivil liberties from identity-based practices,” insisted that“we have so much morein common than what separates us.” Harris, who is Black and aHarvard Law graduate, previously worked as alegal affairs executiveatWalt Disney Television, NBCUniversal Media and Viacom Media Networks. She has written abook called “The Illusion of Division,” arguing that “political opportunism, exploitative media and fringe voices have distorted our collective reality” to make us think—wrongly,she says —that “our country is hopelessly fractured.”

Similarly,keynote speaker Arthur Brooks, theformer president of the American Enterprise

Institute andbehavioral scientist who teaches courses at Harvard on leadership and the “science of happiness,” insisted several times that we should “not wanttoadjudicate[our] friendships based on [our] political affiliation.”

At thestate and local levels, then, the conservative approach is not to “divide and conquer” but to build bridges and use the power of ideas and airtight research toget practical things accomplished.

It is far too soon forthis column to discern which new ideas will percolatebroadly and take hold nationwide.

It is worth noting, though, that Louisiana’snew “One Door” policy for streamlining the bureaucracy of public assistance, long pushed by Louisiana’sPelican Institute, could be amodel that other states could adopt to make it easier for people nationwide to escape the poverty trap.

The SPN brings its annual meeting’s1,500 people —and the money they spend forfour full days —onlytoplaces that feature amember state think tank. As host,Pelican organized the conference’sannual “state night” at

It’s time forCassidy to join

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy made one decision earlier this year that willfollow him the rest of his days, in public office and out Now,he’sfaced with another one —or, more accurately,avariation on the same dilemma: What todo aboutRobert F. Kennedy Jr.?

We all know where Cassidy,arespectedBaton Rouge physician and longtime advocate for lifesaving vaccines, came down when he had to vote on President Donald Trump’s nomination of the notorious vaccine conspiracy theorist to head the Department of Health and Human Services. He agonized but ultimately went along, and justified his vote by saying that Kennedy had agreed to consult him regularly, to follow mainstream science and not to sow public distrust in vaccine safety. If there was ever aquestionofwhether the secretary would be true to his word, it’sanswered.

tions,according to her lawyers.

Cassidy again protested, vowing undefined “oversight” from his perch as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and calling for an upcoming meetingofthe reconstituted advisory group to be postponed.

Mardi Gras World, complete with food from area restaurants and a live parade through the facilities.

“It’simportant that each state, particularly aunique state like Louisiana, is able to promote its culture and to encourage people to come and experience it,” said Stephen Gelé, Pelican’sboard chairman. Saying he considered it the best state night ever,Gelé added: “Louisiana is atourist economy.Wewant to show people the unique culture.”

“Pelican Institute did afantastic job being ahost to us, to not only …their sister think tanks across this country but even someinternational attendees,” said SPN’s Medina. “Welove NewOrleans, particularly the food scene …and the jazz music.” All of which is perhaps fitting fororganizations dedicated to maximizing ordered liberty.As expressed by Harvard’sArthur Brooks (his website, www.arthurbrooks.com,does athorough job explaining the brain science behind this), “The free enterprise system is ahappiness machine.” Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

theresistance

“Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific processbeing followed,” he warned, although he might as well be talking to himself, because talkingto Kennedy sure doesn’tseem to be doing the trick.

Last week, when Monarez reached out to Cassidy after Kennedy came after her, he contacted the secretary,but the call from Cassidy just “angered” Kennedy,according to The New York Times.

Republicans who might be willing to play hardball, who could leverage their (admittedly small) numberstoholdup administration initiatives unless Trump either fires Kennedy or blocks his worst impulses

Former Majority Leader MitchMcConnell, asurvivor of childhood polio, is already on record as the only Republican to opposeKennedy’sconfirmation. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and SusanCollins of Maine often see things clearly and at least sometimes votethat way; Collins saidlast week that shefound Monarez’s firing “alarming.”

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis once saidthat “theonly way that Bobby Kennedy and Iwill get crosswise is if does actually take aposition against the safety of proven vaccines.” Tillis isn’tseeking reelection, so politically,he’sgot nothing left to lose.

doing so only infuriates others who want him to stopthe most dangerous directives coming outofthis second Trump administration, of which Kennedy’sdrive to upendvaccine protocols is just one example. It is, admittedly,apolitical mess. But it’s nothing compared to the mess thatKennedy is making of health care. Evenifwejust focus on vaccines and the CDC, much is at stake —not just accesstoCOVID vaccines and future research breakthroughs, but overall confidenceinthe science that Cassidy understands far betterthan Kennedy does.

He’sfired members of avaccine advisory panel he’d vowedtokeep, and canceled $500 million in development contracts for new vaccines using promising mRNA technology —both despiteCassidy’sprotestations.

Now he’sgone and gotten Trump to fire Susan Monarez, the headofthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because she refused to “rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives” on vaccina-

If Cassidy really believes in thework he did before entering politics, if he really meant everything he’ssaid about the safety and immense importance of vaccines tokeep Americans from dying of preventable disease, he needs to do more thantalk. It’stime for him to act.

On the HELP Committee, he’sgot an eager potential oversight partner in ranking member Bernie Sanders. Imagine the hearings the two could hold if they were to put aside party politics.

Or Cassidy could rally thefew fellow

Cassidy,onthe other hand, does.

He’supfor another term next yearunder anew party primary system that favorsthe moreextreme elements that he’s actively courting by,among other things, backing Kennedy and Trump’sother questionable nominees

Butaccommodating Kennedy’scrazy ideas isn’tgoing to win over MAGA voters who’ll never forgive him forvoting to convict Trump at impeachment for instigating theJan. 6attack on Congress. And

As Demetre Daskalakis, one of several high-ranking CDC officials who quit in protest, wrote in his resignation letter, “the intentional eroding of trust in lowrisk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to apre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer.”

His colleague, now-former chief medical officer Debra Houry,saidonher way outthe door that“We need Congress to intervene …Ihopethis is the tipping point.” Cassidy’sjust the guy to lead thatintervention—ifhedecides, at long last, that some things mattermore than the next election.

Email Stephanie Graceatsgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Katrinaanniversary haspassed, butrealtests start

As Katrina developed into ahurricane, the massive storm spun off more than 40 tornadoes.There were multiple warnings. As early as Aug. 24, there were watches and warnings. On Aug. 27, there was awatch, then awarning that night. The next day,Aug. 28, there were warnings about storm surge flooding of as much as 15 to more than 20 feet. The watches became warnings. They were voluntary Youwant to think about leaving. Youmight wanttoconsider leaving. This wouldbeagood time to leave. We’re not saying you have to leave, but thingsare going to get pretty bad. Youdefinitely want to leave. Finally,there were mandatory evacuation orders: Youmust leave. Now There was aproblem. Our local and state officials weren’tinsync with our federal officials. People were getting different pieces of information. Or getting no informationatall. The officials who were supposed to protect us let us down.OnAug. 28, it was kind

of late.Ifyou hadn’talready left, yougot stuck onInterstate10and state highways,often stalled in standstill traffic with thenext gas stationmilesaway Wasthat natural? No. Wasit man-made? Youbet. On Aug. 29, Plaquemines Parish was hit by theCategory3hurricane. The windswere whipping at about 125mph and moving at only12mph. With such slowmovement, therisks are higher because the storm sits and pounds away at anything it touches.Orleans Parish and neighboring parishes were hit.Though the storm moved slowly,itdid move on The water moved, too. The 17th Street Canal was breached. The Industrial Canal was breached. The London Canal levee was breached. Multiple breachesled to the flooding of theLower 9th Ward. In relatively shortorder,80% of the citywas underwater. Wasthat natural? Nope. Wasit man-made?You bet. Iwasn’t around for theLast Island HurricaneinAugust 1856,

when about 300 people died, including about 200 in our state. The storm surge split theisland in two and destroyed Abbeville.

Iwas around for Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. It was as though we hadn’t learned much of anything about the impact of water,and especially how much damage can be caused by storm surge. Our officials had looked at past hurricane damage and upgraded our levees,telling us those things were unlikely to happen again.

Then theydid. When Katrina hit,there were New Orleans stormsurges of morethanafoot.PassChristian sawstorm surgesofmorethan 27 feet.NOAA says it was up to 19 feet in New Orleans East. Wasthatnatural? Not really We’ve known enough about water to know thatwater will find its way to other waterways and create new waterways and water paths wherethere are none.

Didn’tweknow that? Of course we did. We just didn’tplan well enough. Our nationhas disasters of many kinds. Wildfires. Snowstorms. Tor-

nadoes. Dust storms. Hurricanes. They’ve often been called “natural disasters.” But it’snot anatural disaster when some fool lights a match and tosses it atop brush and limbs. That’snot natural. That’s man-made It’s hard for me to imagine a man-made dust storm, snowstorm or tornado. It’snot hard for me to imagine aman-made natural disaster.Ithought about walking you through afew climate change facts, but I’ll save that for another day.What is true is that “natural disasters” such as hurricanes like Katrina can—and have been man-made.The storm itself was natural. The reasons the storm had suchadevastating impact were man-made The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was Aug. 29, 2025. There were Katrina-connected, related, looking back and looking ahead events in recent months and quiteanumber in recent days. There were alot of details and factsshared. There were some awful and heartwarming Katrina storiestold. There were some quite engaging debates and discussions about whathappened.

But what Ifound most promising was asense that no matter whatmistakes we made, we’ve learned from those mistakes, we made some progress and we —at least most of us —have realized we don’twant anything like this to happen again.

According to the New Orleans Data Center,sinceKatrina arrived, we gained morethan15,000 Hispanic residents, we lost more than 23,000 Whiteresidents and we lost awhopping 121,000 Black residents. Part of the issueisacknowledging that we don’thave enough “affordable”housing,enough jobs paying livingwages or enough good housingtoaccommodate any significant economicgrowth. Wasthis natural? No way. Was this man-made? Definitely Can New Orleans regain its population? Absolutely.Start with living wage jobs and affordable housing.

But only if WE decide that’s whatwewant, and only if we hold our elected and public officials accountable.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Buckeyes silence Horns, Manning

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

COLUMBUS,Ohio Julian Sayin had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State got a couple of key stops in the red zone and the thirdranked Buckeyes opened the defense of their national championship with a 14-7 victory over topranked Texas on Saturday. It was the fourth time the top team in the AP preseason poll has met the previous season’s national champion in the opener. The reigning champ has won the past three.

“Just a gritty win to start the season,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We just felt like in Week 1, we didn’t want to beat ourselves. We took that into consideration with everything that we did.”

Arch Manning completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Longhorns.

Texas was 1 of 5 on fourth down, including being stopped twice in the red zone. Manning was stuffed at the 1-yard line on fourth-andgoal by Caden Curry and Lorenzo Styles Jr on a QB sneak in the third quarter

The Longhorns were driving for a tying touchdown late in the game but Jack Endries was stopped by Caleb Downs 1 yard short of a first down to end hopes of a comeback

“Ultimately not good enough. Obviously you don’t want to start

off the season 0-1,” Manning said.

“They’re a good team. I thought we beat ourselves a lot, and that starts with me. I’ve got to play better for us to win.”

Sayin was 13 of 20 passing for

LB who helped Dallas to first Super Bowl dies at 84

DALLAS Lee Roy Jordan, a linebacker on the first Super Bowlwinning team for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s, has died. He was 84. The Cowboys announced Jordan’s death Saturday without saying when he died or giving a cause of death.

Jordan was a first-round draft pick by Dallas in 1963 after a standout career at Alabama, where he played for Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Jordan was a big part of the “Doomsday” defense that carried the Cowboys to a Super Bowl title in a 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins during the 1971 season. He retired in 1976, the year before Dallas won its second championship. A five-time Pro Bowler, Jordan was the first player inducted into the team’s ring of honor after Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989.

Panthers to re-sign WR Renfrow, put Coker on IR

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers are re-signing wide receiver Hunter Renfrow and placing wide receiver Jalen Coker on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Renfrow was with the team throughout minicamps, organized team activities and training camp but did not make the final 53-man roster Since then, the Panthers have traded veteran wideout Adam Thielen to Minnesota, and the injury to Coker opened a spot on the team’s roster for Renfrow

The 29-year-old Renfrow is trying to make a comeback in the NFL after sitting out last season with a severe case of ulcerative colitis.

Giants All-Star reliever set for season-ending surgery

CJ Donaldson Jr. opened the scoring midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard run up the middle to cap a 13-play 87-yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock The Buckeyes benefitted from a pair of penalties, including a face mask call on Colin Simmons that wiped out an incomplete pass on third-and-4.

126 yards. His best pass of the day came with 13:08 remaining in the game, when Tate beat Texas cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau for the long score. Tate juggled the ball before pulling it down in the end zone to put the Buckeyes up by two touchdowns.

Texas finally got points with 3:28 left in the fourth quarter when Manning connected with Parker Livingstone on a 32-yard TD.

The Longhorns defense forced a three-and-out, giving Texas a chance to tie.

The Longhorns had their 11game winning streak in true road games snapped. The run included five victories against ranked opponents.

Castellanos, Florida State stun No. 8 Alabama

By The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — New quar-

terback Tommy Castellanos led a punishing rushing attack for Florida State with 78 yards and a touchdown as the Seminoles stunned No. 8 Alabama 31-17 on Saturday, ending the Crimson Tide’s streak of 23 straight wins in season openers.

Coming off a 2-10 season, Florida State handed a crushing setback to Alabama, which was viewed as a College Football Playoff contender under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer

Students and fans swarmed the field at Doak Campbell Stadium to celebrate the upset by the Seminoles, who were 131/2-point underdogs according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Under new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn — who spent eight seasons as Auburn’s head coach — Florida State was physical from the start, finishing with 230 rushing yards and averaging 4.7 yards per carry The Seminoles averaged just 89.9 yards during their disastrous 2024 season.

No. 7 OREGON 59, MONTANA STATE 13: In Eugene, Oregon, Dante Moore started at quarterback for No 7 Oregon and threw for 213 yards with three touchdowns, and the Ducks routed FCS power Montana State.

It was widely assumed that Moore Dillon Gabriel’s understudy last season — would be the Ducks’ quarterback this season but coach Dan Lanning did not publicly name a starter before the first game. Freshman Jordan Davison rushed for 26 yards and three touchdowns and Malik Benson caught five passes for 51 yards and a score for the defending Big Ten champion Ducks, who built a 38-3 lead by halftime.

No. 2 PENN STATE 46, NEVADA 11: In State College, Pennsylvania, Nich-

verted linebacker, had five catches for 90 yards.

No. 20 INDIANA 27, OLD DOMINION 14: In Bloomington, Indiana, Fernando Mendoza scored on a 5-yard run in his debut as Indiana’s quarterback, Jonathan Brady returned a punt 91 yards for a score, and the Hoosiers wore down Old Dominion in a season-opening victory

Mendoza, the starter at California last season, finished 18 of 31 for 193 yards and ran six times for 34 yards. His TD run late in the first half gave the Hoosiers a 17-7 lead Indiana’s 309-yard rushing attack was led by Maryland transfer Roman Hemby, who had 23 carries for 110 yards Kaelon Black added 92 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

No. 22 IOWA STATE 55, SOUTH DAKOTA

threw three touchdown passes, Jadan Baugh ran for 104 yards and a score and Florida routed Long Island.

olas Singleton ran for two touchdowns, Penn State forced three turnovers and the Nittany Lions pulled away to beat Nevada. Singleton capped Penn State’s opening possession with a 1-yard run then scored on another short plunge early in the third quarter Kayton Allen cut around the defense for a 13-yard score in the second.

NO 5 GEORGIA 45, MARSHALL 7: In Athens, Georgia, Gunner Stockton enjoyed a promising start to his first full season as Georgia’s starting quarterback, running for two touchdowns and adding two scoring passes as the Bulldogs rolled past Marshall.

Stockton, a junior, had scoring runs of 13 and 11 yards. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 190 yards and ran for 73 yards.

No. 15 FLORIDA 55, LONG ISLAND 0: In Gainesville, Florida, DJ Lagway

Lagway who had missed months of work due to injuries, was sacked on Florida’s first play and threw two errant passes early But he settled down and showed plenty of promise, completing 15 of 18 passes for 120 yards, with TD passes to Eugene Wilson III, Hayden Hansen and J. Michael Sturdivant.

No. 18 OKLAHOMA 35, ILLINOIS STATE 3: In Norman, Oklahoma, John Mateer passed for 392 yards and three touchdowns in a record-setting first game at Oklahoma.

Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, set the school record for most yards passing in an OU debut surpassing Baker Mayfield’s 388 yards against Akron in 2015. Keontez Lewis, a transfer from Southern Illinois, had nine catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma. Jaren Kanak, a con-

7: In Ames, Iowa, Rocco Becht threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, two to tight end Benjamin Brahmer, and Iowa State defeated South Dakota. Iowa State (2-0), which beat Kansas State 24-21 in Ireland last week, opened with back-to-back wins for the fourth time under coach Matt Campbell. Becht completed his first 14 passes and finished 19 for 20, a school-record 95%.

No. 24 TENNESSEE 45, SYRACUSE 26: In Atlanta, Joey Aguilar passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and Tennessee held off Syracuse. Aguilar was 16-for-28 passing in his first game with the Volunteers. He threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Staley in the second quarter and found Star Thomas for a 7-yard TD in the third. He also helped close out the win when he passed to Miles Kitselman for a 2-yard TD in the fourth. Thomas also had 92 yards on 12 carries for Tennessee, which opened a 38-14 lead in the third DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis each rushed for a TD.

SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco Giants All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team said Saturday Last weekend, the Giants placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow sprain. The 25-year-old right-hander sought multiple opinions about the injury and was hoping to avoid having surgery before doctors made the recommendation to move forward with the procedure.

Rodriguez had emerged as a valued piece in the Giants’ bullpen this season. He had a 1.78 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings with four saves while helping anchor the back end of San Francisco’s bullpen.

Germany hoops captain targeted by racial abuse

TAMPERE, Finland Germany captain Dennis Schröder faced racial abuse during his team’s 107-88 victory over Lithuania at EuroBasket on Saturday, and one fan was banned from attending the rest of the tournament by FIBA officials.

The German Basketball Association said two people were identified as the alleged perpetrators of the abuse and were subsequently ejected from the arena.

“Making monkey noises, that’s something I don’t respect,” Schröder told reporters in German after the game. “No matter what status, insults, that’s all fine But racism simply doesn’t belong in this sport. That’s something that’s not OK.”

Schröder, who is Black, heard the noises while walking to the locker room at halftime.

Wang builds 3-shot lead at FM Championship

NORTON, Mass. — Miranda Wang left the TPC Boston with a threeshot lead for the second straight day, this time having to overcome a three-shot deficit with brilliant putting that led to a 7-under 65 in the FM Championship as she goes after her first LPGA victory Wang took only 24 putts on the rain-softened course, and might have been helped by only have to play 18 holes. Some of the Chinese player’s challengers faced much longer days because of storms that interrupted so much play the day before.

She holed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap off a bogeyfree round that gave her a threeshot lead over Sei Young Kim (71) and Rose Zhang (67).

Wang was at 18-under 198.

Rice knocks off Cajuns; both SLU, Nicholls fall

By staff and wire reports

LAFAYETTE UL’s stadiumopeningpartywas spoiled by Rice’stripleoption rushingattackina14-12

win over the Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

The Owls rushed for 213 yards —187 in the first half —and their defensive frontgot thebestofthe UL offensive front for the road victory Rice limitedULto239 total yards and 151 yards rushing.

QuarterbackWalker

Howard finished the game 10-of-22 passing for 88 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

UL got abig defensive stop at the 5with 1:56 left, butthenHoward was injured. After completing a 25-yard pass to LSU transferShelton Sampsonon first down, Howard didn’t get off the ground with an apparent leg injury

Daniel Beale finished off the game. He drew one defensive pass interference call to the 35, but he didn’tcomplete any of his six pass attempts. Afourth and 10 throw was off target, and Rice was able to kneel out the clock.

Howard had 47 yards rushing and ascore. Sampson had four receptionson 12 targets for 59 yards. Bill Davis had 57 yards rushing andZylan Perry had 47 for the Cajuns.

LOUISIANA TECH 24, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 0: In Ruston, Kam Franklinhad an 80-yard fumble recovery touchdown, defensive linemanZionNason recorded his first career interception, and defense led the way in the Bulldogs’ season-opening win. Drew Henderson’s 19-yard field goal as time expired in the half was the first score of the game. The Bulldogs offense came alive early in the second half withtouchdowns on back-to-back drives.

Omiri Wiggins found open space on acheckdown and scored a17-yard receiving touchdown, and Clay Thevenin ran it in from 2yards out just four minutes later Bulldogsquarterback Trey Kukukcompleted14 of his 19 passing attempts for 130 yards and one touchdown. Carson Camp completed 11 of 22 attemptsfor 122 yards passing to pace the Lions. Luke Besh hauled in threereceptions for59 yards, andJaedonHenry had 31 rushing yards on eight attempts.

TROY 38, NICHOLLS STATE20: In Troy,Alabama, Goose Crowder threw two touchdownsand rushed foranother in the fourth quarter as Troy rallied by outscoring the Colonels 28-3 in the fourth quarter Crowder tied the game with a16-yardrushing score, then hit Tray Taylor for a28-yard TD to give the Trojans their first lead in the fourth quarter Meadows broke free for a47-yard run on the next possession,and Crowder capped the surge with a5-yard scoring passto Ethan Conner

Deuce Hogan went 21 of 27 with 184 yards, atouchdown and an interception as the Colonels (1-1) put up only 249 yards of total offense.

McNEESE STATE54, LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN 9: In Lake Charles, Jake Strong threw three TDs, four ball carriers rushed for touchdowns, and at least three school recordswerebroken in the Cowboy’sdrubbing of NAIA-member Louisiana Christian. Strong, asophomore transfer from Texas Tech, distributed the ball effectively in his debut for the Southland Conference’s Cowboys, going 22 for 28 for 305 yards.

Anew spot

Leave is up to the JuniorSouthwest Bassmasters to trytheir handsatcatching bass across south Louisiana. Evan Burris wonthe 15-to-18 agegroup witha five-basscatch weighing 5.54 pounds and had theday’s heaviest bass, a1.8-pounder when, for the first time, the clubwent tothe BayouBienvenu launch near Chalmette last weekend.Primarily known for speckled trout and redfish,this area has aremarkablebass population in the marshes off theMRGO and the Intracoastal Waterway

There’s stilltime

Nottoo late fordeerhunters to help feed whitetails

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

Talking about the early days ofour long huntingseasons usually focuses on the opening of thedoveseason and this year’snine-day teal season.

Butfor the thousands of Louisiana deer hunters, the season for taking whitetails isn’tfar behind. In fact, the archery season beginsSept. 20 (teal season opens the same day) in fourofour state’s10deer huntingareas.

Whilesomewill tell deer hunters it’stoo late to start afoodplot,it’sa good time to consider fertilizing the nativeplants —called “browse” —whitetails have beeneatingthroughout the late spring and into summer Native grasses provide chlorophyll deer need from an early age, andplantslike brierscan use fertilizer to send out tender shoots needed forberry production next year. Deer lovetofeast on tender green shoots and you canjudgethe size ofthe deerinanarea by the height of the newly eaten browse along stands of briers. The higher the height ofthe browse line gives ahunter the height of thedeer

Another thing this year is we’ve had enough rainthis spring and summer to give our nut-producing trees, primarily oaks,enough water to produce an aboveaverage crop of acorns, a primary food source deer will usewhenacornsand other nutsbegin falling in theearly fall.

Ourall-state angler

Bennett Fontenot,a young bassangler from Krotz Springs, was named to this year’sBassmaster High School all-state fishing team Forest Hill’s Justin Blais was an honorable mention selection Fontenot was among 33 young fishermena Bassmaster committee selected for all-state honors, from which 12 will be named to theAll-America teamlater this year.There werenearly 200 nominations. Qualifications were based on the students’ “success in

NOTEBOOK

bass tournament competition,academic achievement (a minimum 2.5 grade-point average) and leadership in conservation and communityservice.”

Thecommission

The next moveinLouisiana’squest to remove abandonedand salvagedboats from waterways is among theagenda itemsfor Thursday’sWildlifeand Fisheries Commission meeting.

The notice of intent seeks to establish protocols for registration and titling of these boats.

Themeetingisset to begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at state headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

Other major agenda items include:

n Considering an emergencydeclaration to allow disabled veterans touse any firearm during theprimitive weapons season;

n Sethunting seasonson the newlyestablished Bogue Chitto and Flatwoods Savannawildlife management areas;

n Setthe 2025-2026 oyster seasons;

n Hear an update on the bass andsac-a-laitnumbers in the Saline-Larto Complex.

The meeting will be carried live via Zoom.

Snappercount

Through Aug. 17, theLA Creel survey estimate for theprivate recreational redsnapper takeis720,127 pounds or 85.4% of our state’s 894,955-pound annual allocation.That’sa one-week increase of 89,682 pounds from theAug. 10 estimate.

TheGulfCouncil

Lastweek’sGulf Counciladded public comments andother data to open the federal for-hire red snapper season on the Friday before MemorialDay next year

The previous opening day variedduring the month of June.

The council’sreport stated charter operations with federal permits preferred to open the season earlier than in previous yearstotake

advantage of early-summer bookings rather than having their season extend into the fall.

Another councilmove changed deep-water groupercatch limits,allocations and recreational accountability measures for species like Warsaw,snowy grouper andyellowedgegroupers andspeckled hinds,agroup of fishdatashows is “experiencing overfishing.”

The move resulted in a nearly50% reduction in the allowable catch to end overfishing of yellowedge grouper, andestablishedsector separation for this group of fish.

The new overfishing limit will be 731,035 pounds with an acceptable catch and stock annual catch limit of 555,026 pounds. That last number meansthe recreational annual catch limit will be 56,668 pounds with the respective commercial annual catch limit and quotaat498,358 pounds and 478,424 pounds.

Both amendments need thesecretary of U.S. Commerce for approval and implementation.

On amission

If you don’tknow who Jeff Kolodzinski is, well, stay tuned. At 5p.m. Sept.10, Kolodzinski will attempttobreak his world record he set in 2022 when he caught 2,977 fish in a24-hour period. He will end his try during this charity event at 5p.m. Sept. 11 at Camp Dallasnear Spring Bay,Illinois.

WEDNESDAY

JUNIOR SOUTHWEST

CALENDAR

BASSMASTERS MEETING:

7p.m., Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs Boys &girls age-group bass tournamentsfor ages 7-10, 11-14 &15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux(225) 772-3026.

THURSDAY

LA. WILDLIFE& FISHERIES

COMMISSION MEETING:

9:30 a.m., Joe Herring Room, state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, Quail Drive, Baton Rouge

SATURDAY

FLYFISHING101/REDFISH: 9-11 a.m., Orvis Shop,BluebonnetBoulevard,Baton Rouge.Fee free. Basics of casting, rigging. No fee. Equipment furnished. All ages, but15-and-younger mustbeaccompanied by an adult. Preregistration required. Call Shop (225) 757-7286.Website: orvis.com/ batonrouge

ONGOING

CCASTATEWIDE TOURNAMENT &ANGLERS’RODEO/

S.T.A.R.: Summer-long fishing contest through Monday. Multiple species categories. CCAmembership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com

HUNTINGSEASONS

DOVES: South Zone:Sept. 6-21; NorthZone:Sept. 6-28. Firstofthree splitsboth zones.

TEAL/RAILS/GALLINULES: Sept. 20-28, statewide.

DEER/ARCHERY: Sept. 20-Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8& 10. Either-sex takeallowed.

HUNTINGLOTTERY

SEPT.30— YOUTH WATERFOWL DEADLINE: Forages 10-17 on Sherburne Wildlife ManagementArea. Fee $8.50. Application website: louisianaoutdoors.com/ lottery-applications. Email David Hayden:dhayden@ wlf.la.gov

WORKSHOPS

WOMEN’SFISHING101 WORKSHOPS/OPENREGISTRATION: Sunday is deadline for Oct. 4workshop,Waddill Wildlife Refuge, NorthFlannery Road, Baton Rouge State biologists/instructors Classsizelimited to 15.

Minimum age 18. No fee. Also offered Dec. 6(Oct. 1-31 open registration). Registration website: ldwf. wufoo.com/forms/z1f79wq71k6674d/ AROUND THECORNER

SEPT.8—RED STICKFLY FISHERS

SEPT.10— BUGS

6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois St., NewOrleans. Flytying. Open to thepublic. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@ gmail.com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com

Sport, 5-stand, 12-gauge 50 and 20- & 28-gauges 100, .410 bore 100. Email: rhonda.barfield@ gmail.com. Website: coveyriselodge.com. Call Covey Rise (985) 747-0310.

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore&outside watersopen statewide. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Redsnapper, greater amerjack, gray triggerfish, flounder; gag grouper (through Sept. 15), lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers &wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers exceptclosed for goliath &Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Bluefin tuna and goliath& Nassau groupersinstate/federal waters. Commercial season for greater amberjack ends Sept. 1.

LDWF UPDATES CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction); Dobbs BayRoad &all roads on theMississippi River batture east of La. 15 (Richard Yancey WMA, flooding).

DRAWDOWNS: Underwayon HendersonLake, Lake Bistineau, Saline,Kepler, Iatt, Black &Clear lakes and Wham Brakeimpoundment;begins Sept. 2onLake Martin. EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

CALENDAR

Junior Southwest Bassmasters CHALMETTE Age-group results from the Junior Southwest Bassmasters-Denham Springs’Augusttournament heldfromBayou Bienvenu Marina with anglers, their hometowns,numberofbass weighedinparentheses (five-bass limit), total weight in pounds and big-basswinners: 15-18 age group: 1, Evan Burris, Walker (5)5.54 pounds.2,Branson Sheridan, Ponchatoula(3) 2.68. 3, Carter Debetaz, Prairiville (2)2.2. BigBass: Burris, 1.8. 11-14: 1, Dylan Lapeyrouse, Walker (5)5.75. 2, Parker Richard, Port Allen (4)3.96. 3, LandinSholty Walker (3)3.33. BigBass: Lapeyrouse, 1.63. 7-10: 1, Nathaniel Watts,Livingston (4)2.58. 2, BlakeHarper, Livingston (1)1.48. 3, Kanton Smith, French Settlement(1) 1.07. BigBass: Harper, 1.48. Adultdivision: 1, Kevin Lapeyrouse, Walker (5)6.85. 2, Drew Comeaux, Livingston (5)6.1. 3, Tom Burris, Walker (5)5.54. BigBass: Lapeyrouse, 1.78. Bassmaster Elite LaCROSSE,Wis. Top5 from the four-dayBassmaster Eliteheld on the Mississippi River with anglers, their hometowns,numberofbass weighedinparentheses (5-bass daily limit), total weight in pounds and ounces and prize winnings

Also listed areLouisiana anglers, the big-basswinners &contingency winners,and the finalAngler of the Year standings.Onlythe top 50 in the 101-angler field movedto thethirdround,and only thetop 10 advanced to thefinalround.:

SOUTHERN 34, MISS. VALLEY 29

THREE AND OUT: TOyLOy BROWN’S TOP TAKEAWAyS FROM SOUTHERN’S FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

1

Southern should have won this game much easier than it did.The Delta Devils are better than the 1-11 team from last year, but it’s a program with a new coach in Terrell Buckley and a revamped roster that should have more kinks to work out than Southern.The Jaguars returned more talent and had one game already under their belt. Mississippi Valley State’s lack of cohesion showed, but so did Southern’s lack of focus in some stretches on offense and defense

SOUTHERN NEEDS TURNOVERS

2

The Southern defense showed early signs of repeating one of its biggest issues from last year: dropping interceptions.The Jaguars had at least five opportunities to pick off Mississippi Valley State passes.The Southern secondary has length and experience, but for some reason it can’t haul in the ball when the opportunity presents itself.The Jaguars can’t beat better opponents if they don’t capitalize on those chances and hold on to the ball.

RUNNING BACK DEPTH EXISTS

3

Southern has four running backs it can use and feel comfortable doing so.The season opener showed it had “thunder and lightning” in running backs Trey Holly, the gifted LSU transfer, and Mike Franklin, the bruising 6-foot-2, 225-pound halfback.When neither of the two stood out against MVSU Southern returnees Jason Gabriel and Barry Remo stepped up key moments. SU should experiment with giving them more touches earlier if the top backs struggle.

SOUTHERN

Continued from page 1C

quarterback Josh Brown threw the ball down the middle to Shade Schaefer in double coverage. The pass was behind him and went directly to Johnson, who dropped what could have been his second interception.

On fourth and 19 of the same drive, the Delta Devils appeared set to punt the ball from their own 21-yard line but instead ran a trick play The punter was swarmed, running for no gain.

Starting quarterback Jalen Woods, who was later injured, was unable to lead the Jaguars into the end zone with the advantageous field position. Southern settled for a 24-yard field goal, taking a 3-0 lead with 1:25 remaining in the first quarter

Southern’s next score came early in the second quarter after Woods, a sophomore, was hit in the helmet and lay on the ground for several minutes

The hit came as he was sliding in traffic during a quarterback keeper Woods, who only played the final 6:12 in the season opener against North Carolina Central, was carted off on a stretcher and taken to a hospital He did give a thumbs-up while he was on the stretcher

“That’s a tough situation,” Graves said. “Any time you have those types of situations on the field, you’ve got to really get those guys back in and really push them staying to the task at hand.”

The Jaguars replaced Woods with Cam’Ron McCoy with 12:46 remaining in the first half. With Southern on Valley’s 31, freshman running back Jason Gabriel entered the game and on his first touch, rushed for 22 yards. McCoy finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to give the Jaguars a 10-3 lead with 11:22 left.

Mississippi Valley answered with a 19-yard field goal to start a rally for the Delta Devils. Two short drives later, the home team found the end zone for the first time. Quarterback Josh Brown passed to Caleb Brownlow on a crossing route to the right. Brownlow evaded the reach of Southern linebacker Vincent Paige and then twisted back to the left for a 53-yard touchdown catch. Mississippi Valley led 13-10 with 2:34 left in the first half. McCoy, a Jackson State transfer, was undeterred as he threw his best pass to date for Southern. After a pair of drops earlier in the drive including one to tight end Jermaine Minor that would’ve been for a touchdown, McCoy flicked a 35-yard touchdown pass

“That’s

a tough situation. Any time you have those types of situations on the field, you’ve got to

TERRENCE

to outside wideout Darren Morris on first down to give Southern a 17-13 lead at halftime. Southern’s top running backs struggled to take care of the ball to begin the second half. Trey Holly fumbled on the MVSU 31, and it was returned to Jaguars 1, resulting in a field goal On the ensuing drive, Southern running back Mike Franklin fumbled the ball. MVSU took it 38 yards to the end zone, giving the Delta Devils a 24-22 lead.

“We had a few lapses,” Graves said. “We turned the ball over too many times. And I said it before, you can’t turn the ball over against a good football team, (and) expect to win. And then it’s a dogfight when you’re playing against teams that you should beat.”

The Jaguars found their way in the final period as they scored 10 points thanks to a 32-yard field goal by freshman Nathan Zimmer and a 25-yard rushing touchdown by Barry Remo for the final Southern score with 8:35 left.

The defense allowed one last passing touchdown on a fade route to MVSU with 1:45 left in the game. However, after a failed onside kick, Southern kept the ball on the ground and got enough first downs until the clock ticked to zero. Ashton Strother entered the game at quarterback for Southern on the last drive. Graves said that McCoy got “banged up” but wasn’t sure to what extent.

Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

ITTA BENA, Miss. — The fans at Rice-Totten Stadium went into a hush.

Southern quarterback Jalen Woods stayed on the ground for several minutes during his team’s first Southwestern Athletic Conference game against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday night After a hit to the head, Woods was eventually carted off on a stretcher and driven to a local hospital.

The sophomore, making his first start of the season, executed a quarterback keeper after initially doing most of his damage as a pocket passer Woods’ only carry of the game was up the middle and went for 8 yards. When the defense converged, he slid and was hit hard on the front of his helmet with 12:46 left in the second quarter Fans from both sides were concerned and players on each team went to one knee as they hoped Woods was not seriously injured. When he was put on the stretcher, Woods managed to gesture a thumbs-up before being taken off the field. He ended the game completing 9 of 13 passes for 70 yards in the Jaguars’ 34-29 win.

Coach Terrence Graves later confirmed Woods’ hospital tests came back negative and he is in good condition with full range of motion.

After no flag was thrown on the play, Graves was irate, yelling at the referees. He went to Woods’ side after he realized the quarterback was not able to get up. “Well, they’re telling me that he waited too late to slide, but the slide was put in to protect the quarterback,” Graves said. “And like I told them, I said, ‘You know, that was a head-to-head deal.’ (The official) was telling me, somebody said it was a shoulder I said, ‘Whether it was a shoulder or a head, the guy gave himself up.’ And, you know, not to call (a penalty) their guy got to play and my guy got carted off to the hospital. The replay was out, so they didn’t have a way to show the replay “We’ve got to protect our players. And they do a great job, but on that one right there, I was just upset about that one.” Southern running back Barry Remo who had a 25-yard rushing touchdown, said seeing Woods on the ground was disheartening.

“It was pretty tough, I had to say like, two prayers for him,” Remo said. “When I seen him down, it was like, you know, he’s a redshirt sophomore, so I’m seeing him every day at practice, getting reps with him. So it was pretty hard I’m praying for him and his whole family.” Despite the team’s up-anddown performance, the Jaguars said they were motivated to win the game for Woods. Southern got a solid performance from his replacement Cam’Ron McCoy McCoy, a junior Jackson State transfer, completed 8 of 17 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also ran five times for 35 yards and a TD. McCoy also had at least two passes for big gains dropped in the second half.

Injuries

McCoy wasn’t on the field for the team’s final drive. Graves said he thinks McCoy got “a little banged up” but wasn’t sure about the extent of his injury McCoy was replaced by Ashton Strother, who handed the ball off to his team’s running backs until it burned MVSU’s last timeouts and got enough first downs to run out the clock. Running back Trey Holly injured his leg and limped off the field after a third-quarter fumble. He returned and had three carries in the fourth quarter Lagniappe

Southern’s improved its series record to 41-9 against Mississippi Valley The Jaguars are 10-1

Thecrystal ball is cloudy for the 2025 New Orleans Saints. With anew coach, new quarterback and new schemes on both sides of the ball, the Saints are adifficult team to read Five weeks of training camp and three preseasongames have done little to improve their prospects.

Since camp started in late July, Vegas oddsmakers have decreasedthe Saints’ odds of winning the NFC South and Super Bowl.

They’re now 400to-1 to win the Super Bowl at DraftKings, making them the longest shot in the entire NFL.

Time will tell if the experts are right or wrong

Here’show Isee the season playing out:

Week 1vs. Cardinals, Sunday

Kellen Moore couldn’t get amuch more manageable game for his NFL head coaching debut. The Saints have won an NFLbest six consecutive season openers. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have lost three straight season openers and haven’twon in the Superdome since 1996. The Saints are underdogs, but they have three things working in their favor: home field first-game enthusiasm and the element of surprise. Spencer Rattler gets the start at quarterback and leads the Saints to agamewinning field goal in the fourth quarter Saints 20, Cardinals 19

Week 2vs. 49ers, Sept.14

These are not your father’s49ers. Their topheavy roster still features stars Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Trent Williams and Fred Warner,but they’re no longer among the league’supper echelon The 49ers open the season at NFC West rival Seattle so they could be motivated to avoid a0-2 start, depending on how they fare out West This one could go either way,but Isee the 49ers wearing down the Saints late to spoil their dreamsof a2-0 start and cancel city of New Orleans plans for a celebratory second-line parade. 49ers 23, Saints 21 Week 3atSeahawks, Sept.21

Lumen Field is one of the loudest and toughest places to play in the NFL, and this game is going to be achallenge. Former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak certainly knows what he’sfacing, just afew months removed from his

stint in New Orleans. His ground-heavyattack will test the Saints defense and eventually bethe difference. Seahawks26, Saints16

Week 4atBills,Sept. 28

Oneweek after a2,000mile flighttothe West Coast, the Saints are rewarded with atrip to Buffalo. If the travel schedule weren’tdauntingenough, there’sthis inconvenient truth to consider: theBills went10-0 at homelast season. The Saints will be heavy underdogsinthis one. The Bills are aSuper Bowl contender andfeature one of themost explosive offenses in the league, led by reigning MVP Josh Allen. If that weren’tenough, the Bills will be rested after having played aThursday night home game theprevious week. This one could getugly Bills 33, Saints 13 Week 5vs. Giants,Oct.5

The Giants used to be the perfect “get right”team, but theyfiguretobeone of the league’smostimprovedteams this season. The Saints catch theG-Men after they play back-tobacktough ones against the Chiefs and Chargers, so an upsetisapossibility.The Saints should be hungry for awin after losingthree straight games, but the Giants win adefensive battle on alate Graham Ganofield goal. Giants 16, Saints 14 Week 6vs. Patriots, Oct. 12

The Patriots look likea team primed to makealeap In Drake Maye andMike Vrabel, they have asolid quarterback-coach battery to build around, and the roster should be greatly improvedfrom ayearago. In a quarterback-driven league, sometimes gamescome downtowho hasthe better guy undercenter.Thisis one of those games Patriots 28, Saints 20 Week 7atBears,Oct.19

YouknowBears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen hashad this game circled on hiscalendar since the schedule was released in May.After spending15 of the past 20 years with the Saints, Allen will have his Bears defense primed and ready for abig performance. This willbethe Bears’ first home gamein nearly amonth, so they and the home crowd should be stoked. Bears 24, Saints 16 Week 8vs. Bucs,Oct.26

Finally, adivisiongame. The Bucs are the consensus pickto win theNFC South for afifth consecutive season. They are the more experienced and talented team, butthe Saints catch them on the heels of what should be anemotional and physical Monday night game in Detroit. If the Bucs have their heads in the

clouds, the Saints could pull off theupset. Regardless, they’ll keep it close. Bucs 31, Saints 27

Week 9atRams, Nov. 2

The last time the Saints beat theRams on theroad was 2009. Sincethen, they’ve lost five straight games to them, and it hasn’t mattered whether they playedinSt. LouisorLos Angeles. This game could boil down to whether Matthew Stafford is under center with his balkyback The teams should be familiarafter practicing against each other during training camp.The Saints can use all the help they can get. Rams 35, Saints 16 Week 10 at Panthers,Nov.9

Almost exactlya year later,the Saints return to the site of their2024 nadir, ademoralizing 23-22 defeat to the 1-7Panthersthatled to Allen’sdismissaladay later.There’s optimismin Charlotte that the Panthers are ready to make ajump in Year 3underquarterback Bryce Young. By now, we should know whether Carolina is acontenderor pretender.Myguess is the Panthersare somewhere in between, which might be good enough to beat atravel-weary Saints team here The losing skid continues. Panthers20, Saints 14

Week 11,bye

Week 12 vs Falcons, Nov. 23

The bye week sparks a change at quarterback as rookie TylerShough gets his first start as areplacement for Rattler.The Saints should be rested andready for rivalry week.Nineconsecutive losses also should

havethemmotivated. The Falcons always bring out the best in the Saints, andI expect them to give Atlanta everything it can handle. Ultimately, the Falcons have too much offensive firepower Falcons 30, Saints28

Week 13 at Dolphins,Nov.30

The losing streak has to endsomewhere. If Miami’s season goes as Iexpect, the Dolphins could be playing out the string by now. Mike McDaniel enters his fourth season squarely on the hotseat, and the roster is in disarray.Bythis time, the clubs could be headed in opposite directions. Shough gets the game ball after recording his first

NFL win as the starting quarterback. Saints 26, Dolphins 23

Week 14 at Bucs,Dec.7

The Saints have thrived in Tampa over the years, often turning Raymond James Stadium into their home away from home. They’ve won 11 of 16 games there since 2009, but most of those wins were by teams muchmore talented than this one. Still, the Saints historically play well at RayJay,and they’ll put up agood fight before fading. Bucs 26, Saints 20 Week 15 vs Panthers,Dec.14

The Panthers will be coming off abye week, and

they’ll need it after playing the Falcons, 49ers and Rams. Buoyed by Shough’s inspiring play,the Saints score their first home win since the season opener Saints 24, Panthers 16 Week 16 vs.Jets, Dec. 21

Former Saints assistant coach Aaron Glenn returns to New Orleans as afirsttime head coach. Unfortunately,hemight have a bigger rebuilding job on his hands than the one Moore faces. By this point, Glenn’s first Jets team should have its bags packed. Saints win another one, this timebehind adominant defensive effort. Saints 17, Jets 12 Week 17 at Titans,Dec.28

The Saints storm into Nashville, Tennessee, riding their first two-game winning streak of the season. This will be only the Saints’ fifth visit to Nashville since the Titans moved there in 1998, and they might need to pack their thermals. The average low temperature in late December is 33 degrees. It would not be a surprise if this game had implications at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Titans have the home field and better quarterback. Titans

Battle on theBluffwarms up localteams

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Defensive dominance was the storyline during the three games during the Battle on the Bluff jamboree Friday night.

Glen Oaks shut out Capitol in the first game of the evening at A.W.Mumford Stadium. The Panthers picked off Lions junior quarterbackCameron Wilson twice, once by JeremiahSmith and again by Jaquan Jackson.

“I’m really proud of thedefense,” Glen Oaks coach Anthony Jones said. “We’ve got some young guys, but they’re coming with it.”

The Panthers secured a6-0 win over Capitol. Glen Oaks’ only scorecame at the beginningof thesecondhalf. Carderious Jacksonreturned thekickoff80yards down the left sideline for atouchdown.

“He’selectric,” Jones said of Jackson. “Try to get the ball in his hands at least 10 times agame. Hand it to him, pass it to him, kick return, punt return.He’s ourguy.”

In the second game, Scotlandville’ssecondary made several big plays. Midway through the first half in its contest against Istrouma, senior defensive back Dwayne Benpicked offIndians junior quarterback Elijah Parker.

Glen Oaks quarterback JyrusReado runs withthe ball against Capitol during the

at A.W. Mumford Stadium

Late in the first half, Scotlandville seniordefensive back Brendin Perkins jumped aroute and picked offParker.

Istrouma’s defensive line wreaked havoc on the other end.

Junior lineman Joseph Huggins

31, H.L. Bourgeois 14 Elton 14, Berchmans Academy0 Elton 16, Gueydan 0 Eunice 24,Abbeville6 Gueydan 14, BerchmansAcademy0 Holy Cross 24, Belle Chasse 13 Iowa 20, Westlake6 Jeanerette 18, Loreauville 13 Jennings 16, Sam Houston 13 Jesuit 17, Northshore10 John Curtis 36, East Jefferson 3 Lafayette 16, BreauxBridge 0 Lafayette Christian 26, Vandy 7 Lafayette Renaissance 32, Central Catholic 6 LCCP 19, LaGrange 0 LiveOak 32, Hammond 13 Mamou 18, Ville Platte 0 Many20, Rosepine 7 Morgan City 7, West St. Mary 0 Peabody 6, Buckeye 0 Plaquemine 26, White Castle6 Pineville 0, Buckeye 0 Ruston 13, Neville 10 Slaughter Charter 7, St. John 0

stuffed several run plays andtallied asack in the first half

Perkins continued tocause chaos after picking offanother pass late in the second half. With 3:27 left in the game, Perkins forced afumble to give the Hornets the ball back. “We’ve got asenior defensive back that reallyunderstands football. He just stepped up and played big forus,” Hornets coach Richard Oliver said. “Hewas like the Honey Badger tonight.”

South Beauregard39, DeQuincy 16 Southside 6, Northside0 Sulphur 28, Washington-Marion26 St. Augustine 28, Shaw7 St. Amant 27, Assumption 7 St. James 28, Hahnville 21 Terrebonne 35, South Lafourche13 St. Thomas More24, Cecilia 7 Teurlings Catholic 21,St. Martinville 3 Thibodaux 37,Ellender 7 University 27, Dunham 12 WillowSchool 34, Haynes Academy21 Westminster-Opelousas 10, Ascension Episcopal 0 Westminster-Lafayette 15, Hamilton Chr.12 University 27, Dunham 12 Week 1Schedule Thursday AlbanyatWestminster-Lafayette, 7p.m.

TradingNFL starsnot uncommon

Dallas’trade of Parsonsissimilar to otherhugemoves

BY JOSH DUBOW Associated Press

The shocking decisionbythe Dallas Cowboys to tradeMicah Parsons to Green Bayafter four dominant seasons as apass rusher is far from unprecedented. Avery similar trade happened on the eve of the 2018 season when the Oakland Raiders shipped twotime All-Pro and one-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Khalil Mack to Chicago. Both trades happened after failed contract talks and featured two first-round picks in return, although Dallas also got defensive tackle Kenny Clark from the Packers. That 2018 trade didn’tultimately work out for either team. Mack was highly productive in Chicago, earningAll-Pro honors his first year,but couldn’tdoenough to help the Bears wina playoffgame in his four seasons before being tradedtothe Chargers. The Raiders used the first pick on running back Josh Jacobs, who was very productive before leaving as afree agent following the 2023 season. The second firstrounder was wasted on cornerback Damon Arnette, who was cut halfway through his second season Here’salook at some other stars who were traded in their primes: Herschel Walker

The most famous trade in Dallas history came in Jerry Jones’ first season as owner in 1989 when the Cowboys dealt Herschel Walker to Minnesota for apackage that ultimately led to eight draft picks, including three first-rounders.

Dallas used those picks to help draft Hall of Famer EmmittSmith and key contributors to three Super Bowl wins like Darren Woodson, Kevin Smith and Russell Maryland. The Vikingsdidn’twin aplayoff game in two-plus seasons with Walker CharlesHaley

Jones has another famous deal

thathelped fuel Dallas’ 1990s dynastywhenheacquired thepass rusher from San Francisco for second- and third-round picks in 1992. Haley was the final piece on defense the Cowboysneeded to winthree SuperBowls in hisfirst four seasons, eliminating the 49ers in theNFC titlegameonthe wayto the first two titles.

RandyMoss

Moss wasa three-time All-Pro and themostdominant deep threat in theleague when Minnesota traded him to Oakland in 2005 for apackage that included the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. The deal helped neither team as theVikings usedthe pickonTroy Williamson, whocaught79passes in three seasons, andthe Raiderswon six gamesintwo seasons.

Mosswas then tradedagain in 2007 to New England andset an NFLrecord with 23 TD catches his first seasonasthe Patriotsbecamethe onlyteam to go 16-0 in the regular season

Fran Tarkenton

Six yearsafter being traded by Minnesotatothe New York Giants, Tarkenton returned to the Vikings in 1972 after making four Pro Bowls in six seasons in New York. Tarkenton led Minnesota to the Super Bowl threetimesinseven seasons in his second stint —losing every time —and was the NFL MVPin1975.

Eric Dickerson

Dickerson was traded from the LosAngeles Rams to Indianapolis in 1987 inablockbuster dealthat also sentCornelius Bennett to Buffalo. Dickerson helped theColts make the playoffs for the first time in 10 yearsinhis first season and then ledthe NFLinrushing in 1988.

Marshall Faulk

Faulkled theNFL with 2,227 yards from scrimmagein1998 when Indianapolis madethe surprising decisiontodealhim to St Louis.The Colts went on to draft Hall of Famer Edgerrin James in the firstround as Faulk’sreplacement,but theRams really won the deal Faulkhelped form the “Greatest Show on Turf” offenseasSt. Louis won the Super Bowl his first season. Faulkhad nearly 1,500more yards fromscrimmage and 18 more TDsthan anyother player from 1999-2001 as he won AP Offensive Player of theYear all three

seasons and MVPin2000.

ChristianMcCaffrey

McCaffrey helped transform SanFrancisco’soffense when he was acquired from Carolina duringthe 2022 season for apackage of four picks.

McCaffrey gained 3,233 yards and scored 31 TDs in his first 27 regular-season games for the Niners before being hampered by injurieslastseason. He won AP Offensive Player of theYear in 2023 when he helped SanFrancisco reach the Super Bowl.

Fred Dean

Dean was coming off an AllProseason in 1980 when he was traded the following year to San Francisco for apackage that included afirst-round pick. His addition helped fuel the start of the 49ers dynasty.Hewas an All-Pro in 1981 when SanFrancisco won itsfirst of five titles in a14-season span and had a171/2-sack season in 1983 beforeending up in the Hall of Fame.

Darrelle Revis

Reviswas the NFL’s topshutdown cornerback when he was traded to Tampa Bayfor apackage that included afirst-round pick beforethe 2013season.The Jets turned thatpickintoSheldon Richardson, and Revis spent only oneseason with theBucsbefore being cut. He then went to New England as afreeagent where he won aSuper Bowl.

ChampBailey

In one of the biggest star-for-star trades, Denver acquiredBailey from Washington for star running back Clinton Portis. Portis had four 1,000-yard rushingseasons with Washington, but the Broncos were thebiggest winner Bailey played 10 moreseasons, earning All-Prohonors hisfirst threeseasons, leadingthe league with 10 interceptionsin2006 and gettingintothe Hall of Fame.

Paul Warfield

Warfieldhad madeback-to-back Pro Bowlsfor ClevelandwhenDon Shula acquired him in his first seasonasMiami’s head coach. Warfield provided aneeded deep threat for the Dolphins, making the Pro Bowl in five straight seasons.

Warfield was an All-Pro twiceand helpedMiami winback-to-back Super Bowls,including the17-0 season in 1972.

Scotlandville managed to win 6-0 off alone rushing touchdown by quarterback Gerard Green. Woodlawn closed outthe night by facing Broadmoor. After missing Woodlawn’sscrimmage, senior QB AhmadPricetook the field for the first time against the Bucs. He showed off his ability as a dual-threat quarterback.Midway through thefirst half, he flipped thefieldwitha30-yard pass to senior receiver Trinton Bennett. On the ensuing play, he kept the ball and used his shiftiness to get around defendersfor a25-yard gain to make it first and goal. Price capped off the drive with a 7-yard touchdownpass to senior receiver Jaiden Robinson. In the second half,Price found senior Cayden Randall on a screen pass. Randall took theball 35 yards downthe right sideline foratouchdown to makeit20-0 with 8:26 left in the game.

“I can attack all the defense’s weak spots,”Price said. “I’m pretty good on my legs. Ididn’t really use them alot tonight, but Iused them enough.” Broadmoor scored atouchdown with just sixseconds left in the game, butitwas waytoo late as Woodlawngrabbed a20-6 win. Woodlawn coach Tramon Douglas was happy with how his side performed,but he thought his team wasn’tasconsistentinthe second half.

“I saw alittlebit of growth,” Douglassaid. “We’ve got to be able to play at ahigher level in order to be ready for Week 1.”

Woodlawn at UniversityLab, 7p.m. Bourgeois at Ascension Catholic, 7p.m. McKinley at Capitol, 7p.m. North Iberville at Central Private, 7p.m. Friday BelaireatGlenOaks, 7p.m. Brother Martin at East Ascension, 7p.m. West FelicianaatAlexandria, 7p.m.

St. Amant at Byrd,7p.m. Destrehan at Catholic —BR, 7p.m. De La Salle at Central,7p.m. Denham Springs at Hammond, 7p.m. Madison PrepatDutchtown, 7p.m. Livonia at East Jefferson, 7p.m.

BY PETEIACOBELLI Associated Press

DARLINGTON,S.C.— Thepressure hasramped up for defending Southern 500 winner Chase Briscoe as the NASCAR Cup Series playoffsapproach. Then again, all playoffdrivers feel things heating up at Darlington Raceway as the postseason begins Aseason ago, Briscoe was on theoutside hoping to squeeze into the field of 16 as NASCAR came to Darlington for its final regular-season event. Alate pass of three otherspushed Briscoe to the front and gave soon-to-beshutteredStewart-Haas Racing asurprise chance at aCup title. Briscoe lasted through the secondround, whichheand his old SHR organization considered success. Now with Joe Gibbs Racing,Briscoe hasbeen locked intothe playoff grid forsome time andcarries increased expectations into Sunday night’s race. “Ifyou just make theround of 16 (at JGR), it’snot asuccessful season,” Briscoe said Saturday “It’skind of afailure.” The roundconcludes at Gateway outside of St. Louis and Bristol the next two weeks before the playoff field is cut to 12. Regular-season champion William Byronand Briscoe’sJGR teammate Denny Hamlin understand that theline between along runand early exit is razor thin. Byron doesn’tsee atrackahead where his No. 24 Chevrolet can’t be as fast as anyofhis competitors, starting at Darlington

ä Cook Out Southern500 5P.M. SUNDAy,USA

where he won the spring race in 2024. “SoI thinkatthe sametime, though, you never know whateveryone else is going to bring and howfast they’re going to be.So we’ve just got to keep working,” Byron said.

The race comes just days after ahearing on the legal fight over charters between NASCAR and the teams of 23XI Racing and Front Row Racing.

“What we shared was just talk among ourselves that doesn’t have anything to do with the case,” Byron said.

Hamlin won the pole for Sunday’srace after what he said were struggles in practice Saturday.“What drives me is the competition knowing that Ican still go out and win races,” he said. Hamlin, afour-timewinner this season forJoe Gibbs, is also co-owner of 23XI withMichael Jordan and will balance his unofficial status as NASCAR’sbest current driverwithout atitle and his ownership duties helping team playoff drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick advance.

“It’sjust another chance to roll the dice,” said Hamlin, who is in the playoffs for the 19th time.

He believeshis No.11JGR Toyota is as strong as ever,but he knowstoo well how bad luck, acautionatthe wrong time or a mistakeonpit road can thwart a championship.

“Those are the small things that decide whether you move on in the playoffs or not,” he said.

Trustisn’t given.It’searned. Just like athletes on the field, our doctors earn it every day through commitment, precision and passion.Whether you’repushinglimits or recovering from them,you can trustthe team that understandsboth.

From championship athletes to everyday champions, Our Lady of the LakeHealth is wheretrusted carebegins.

In thecoming century, world mightneed NewOrleans more than ever

After Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana 20 years ago, my wife joined many others in working full-time to help the state recover.She recently gathered in New Orleans with former colleagues from that sad, twisted time to remember what was lost, what was reclaimed, and what still needsto be done two decades after that epic tragedy On the morning of the reunion, Ispotted aphoto in The New York Times of ayoung man reading “A Confederacy of Dunces,” John Kennedy

Toole’scomic novel aboutoddball Ignatius J. Reilly’smisadventuresinthe Crescent City. When Ifirst read “Dunces” many years ago,Iwondered if people beyond New Orleans would grasp its strange local vibe. But as Icame to understand, readers everywhere loved the story because of not in spite of —its peculiar New Orleans sensibility. Toole knew how the city’spageant of cultures tends to refract reality abit, revealing colors not normally visible in other places.

This aspect of New Orleans, quickly felt, though not easily explained, was lostonthe cynics who wondered in 2005 whether the city should be rebuilt. There were many practical reasons to bring back New Orleans, but the true value of the city,its vibrant civic identity,defiesthe dry logic of ledger sheets.

Iwas stillthinking about all of this when we visited The Bell on Esplanade Avenuefor lunch. It’sacharming homage to aBritish pub, reimagined with aNew Orleans spin.I tackled the fisherman’spie, aclassic British dishthat’s been newly interpreted with Louisiana shrimp. The culinary mashup reminded me of what New Orleans does best: mixing myriad cultural traditions into something truly new We followed lunch with coffee down the street at Le Ponce, aFrench café and bakery where we sipped away another hour within walls that doubled as an impromptu art gallery. The city outside was its own painted landscape. Oaks yawned acrossthe avenue, and flowers spilled from old iron gates, beauty breaking through ruin with an insistence that seemed like resolve The city’sresolve continues to be tested. Housing affordability and public education frustrate economic growth, and political intrigues at City Hall are adragonprogress,

LIVING

The2025PostcardProject wrapsup, areminderofsome amazingpeople

Four years in, the Postcard Project still feels fresh.These tiny missives hold so much joy,hope and community —strangers becoming partofthe samestory.

Each card of the 267 cards received is a tangiblereminder of the beauty of the physical in adigital age, and every time Iread oneI’m reminded that astranger,afriend or afar-off reader thought enough to pause their life, pick up acard and share alittle piece of themselves.

This year,asoflast week, we had received postcardsfrom all 50 states —the last being West Virginia —and 29 countries including Australia, Borneo, Costa Rica and more.

PamBaldwin wrote last week to say that she had mailed postcards from three other countries, Greece, Albania and Montenegro, but who knows how long it will take those postcardstoarrive.

The Postcard Project has only deepened the mysteries of the mail. Onepostcard mailed from France reached us in amatter of days. Another from Italy took 10 weeks to arrive —why one arrives in days and another in months is amysterywe’ll never solve.

More this summer than in previous years, peoplewrote that postcards are increasingly difficulttofind. And yet,they persevered. In Morgantown, West Virginia, Amber BrugnoliOhara had to visit eight different places before she found apostcard to send.

“No wonder no one has sent one yet! I need to tell thestate tourism board to print some or something, because that’scrazy,” shewrote. “Even hotel gift shops didn’thave any!”

Still, she persisted —the kind of effort that is alittle metaphor for thewhole project.

In place of traditional store-bought postcards, some people sent hand painted, homeprintedand other atypical postcards.

Martha Williams, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi,sent apostcardthat is asample of brightly colored fabrics quilted together and sewn onto apostcard, mailed with aregular stamp.

Danny Wheeler,ofRiver Ridge, painted a bucolic watercolor landscape and sentitoff with aForever stamp (now 78 cents)

A postcard from Australia

These days, aregular sized postcard costs 61 cents to mail. I’ve keptWheeler’s beautiful painting at mydesk by my computer throughout this year’sPostcard Project —areminder of how amazing people can be.

Patricia Mann,ofBaton Rouge, visited her daughter who lives in Paris. She wrote, “Most places are not air-conditioned andithas been in the 90s. Feels like hometemps. Ihavebeen accomplishing my goal of eating anew kind of pastry daily.Oooh la la. Bread,cheese, wine and pastry! Bon appétit!” Her card mademesmile andremember theapricot pastries my daughters and Ilove

Considering her glamorous position at the

of

films, you might assume that

Pictures’ lady with

pure Hollywood heritage. But the Columbia logo comes from right here in New Orleans. The fact is, the goddess-like symbol of the century-old movie studio wasmodeled on a pregnant Times-Picayune page designer,who wore amakeshifttoga and held aloft alight bulb as

TRAVEL

More underrated La.museums that areworth thetrip

Staff report

We surveyed our editorialstaff, asking for their thoughts on underrated museums across Louisiana —and they delivered. Enjoy the second installment of recommendations below: Here are 5underrated Louisiana museums worth discovering, according to our staff.

TheLouisianaCountry Music Museum

1260 La. 1221, Marthaville

The Louisiana Country Music Museumis astate-of-the-art venue featuring memorabilia from the early days of country,gospel, theradio era and to modern day Peruse musical instruments, household objects, Johnny Horton’sgold record for “Battleof NewOrleans,” Hank Williams Jr.’sshirt and more. Outside the museum is an equally state-ofthe-art amphitheater that has hosted concerts by countrymusic legends.

The museum is located seemingly in the middle of nowhere in the Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville, about 20 miles directly west of Natchitoches. Instead of turning toward Natchitochesonce you exit Interstate 49, you turn the opposite way. The grounds feature apicnic area and two shortnature trails. Check out the schedule for live performances of both local and national artists, and the popular annual fiddling championship There is asmall entrance fee.

Free for seniors and kids 12 and under —Robin Miller DeltaMusic Museum

218 Louisiana Ave., Ferriday

The Delta Music Museum is located in downtownFerriday and is free to the public.

The museum holds the distinction as the first Louisianalocation marked with aMississippi Blues Trail designation. The museum currently showcases 29 artists from musical genres of blues, soul, gospel and country During the 1950s, these genres would converge in the delta to create the new sound of rock ’n’

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

roll androckabilly music. The space also includes atheater called “TheArcade,” alandmark movietheater converted into a250-person performance hall available for rent.

Visit the museum Thursday through Saturdayfrom 9a.m. to 4p.m.— Margaret DeLaney Frogmore Plantation andGins 11656 U.S.84, Ferriday Cotton was considered “king” in Louisianaprimarily during the19th century and early 20th century,especially flourishing between approximately 1820 and 1930. During this time, cotton was thedominantcrop in thenorthernpart of thestateand formed thebackboneofthe regional economy. Historical cotton and plantation culture are thestories told at Frogmore Plantation. An 1800acre workingcotton plantation, Frogmore has 19 restored antebellum structures that datefrom theearly 1800s.

Alongwith the history of the early Natchez planters and their slaves, thetour includes arare Smithsonian-qualitysteam cotton

gin and then contrasts the historical methodswith modern-day planting, harvesting and computerized ginning of cotton.

The tourbegins upon arrival and is fully guided through eight historical buildings. The guides tell of theevolution of change beginning in the1790s through thewar that created the lifestyle called sharecropping.

As of 2025, approximately 110,000 acres of cotton are planted in the state of Louisiana, which

is reported as the smallest cotton croponrecord forthe state and represents abouta30% decline from theprevious year —John Ballance.

TheGermantown Colony and Museum

200 Museum Road, Minden Germantown was the earliest religious communal settlement in Louisiana. It wasfounded in 1836 by Germans, adherents to ideas

of religious leader Maximilian Ludwig (1788-1834), the “Count of Leon”, and it lasted as acommune until 1871.

Itsfounding was led by Elisa Leon, the “Countess of Leon,” widow of Maximilian Ludwig. In the colony,all property was owned in common and observance of religious principles was required. Though the colony was not very large —only about 35 people —itworked together and prospered.

Germantown once had numerous houses, barns, stores and shops, as well as akitchen-dining hall and a“bachelor’shall.” The historic buildings are mostly gone. The listing included just twocontributing buildings: Countess Leon’shome and the kitchen-dining hall, both built of hewnlogs with dovetailing at their corners.

The kitchen-dining hall has a dry-walled stone cellar and an adjacent frame shack. Many windowshave been replaced, and none of the porches are original. These surviving historic buildings, and sympathetic rustic others, still “convey in their crude and primitive character something of the lifestyle of the Germantown settlers.”

The site, several miles off U.S. 79 and about 9miles north of Interstate 20, continues to be operated as amuseum —Robin Miller Shreveport WaterWorks Museum

142 N. Common St., Shreveport

The McNeill Street Water TreatmentPlant was constructed in 1887 as the original water works forthe city of Shreveport. It wasthe second water works built in Louisiana and one of the first in the post-Civil WarSouth. As the last knownsteam-powered municipal water treatment plant in the United States, its steam engines werefinally retired in 1980. The site is now anational historic landmark.

The Shreveport Water Works Museum is open from 10 a.m. until 4p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon through 4p.m. on Sunday Jan Risher Email Jan Risheratjan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

Budget airlineovercharged forluggage before boarding

Christopher Elliott

Iwas flying from Denver to Orlando on Frontier Airlines. Iprepaid for my checked luggage Ionly had one carry-on bag and asmall personal item, both of which were within the size limits. But when Ichecked my bags, Frontier charged me anextra $220. Ihad to pay twice for the same bags. Irequested arefund, but Frontier will only give me credit thatexpires within ayear.I don’t want credit with Frontier,I want my money back.This ishorrible customer service! Ishouldbeabletoget a refund, right? Can you help me with this? Allison Sanders, Hannibal, Missouri Frontier Airlines shouldhave

honored its agreement with you. Youprepaid foryour luggage through your online travel agency,but for some reason,the ticketagent charged you for it again. And it looks like Frontier charged you the more expensive rate for checking luggage the same day —itdiscountsits luggage rates if you prepay Frontier incentivizes its agents to collect as many luggage fees as possible (to enhance theairline’s profits) but sometimes they take it toofar In this case, itappears the agent didn’tsee your prepaid luggageand charged you again. Based on the correspondence betweenyou and Frontier,itlooks

like theairline found theerror but then offered you acredit

This is standardoperating procedureatFrontier.Airlines particularly budget carriers like Frontier —try to avoid giving you arefund. They would prefer to offer an expiring ticket credit. Why? Because they know you there’s achance you won’tuse it.But I digress.

It looks like you were going back and forth with Frontier’s online customer service agents. It’sfine to do that to start, but when you keep getting thesame answer over and over,you have to appeal. Youcan find contact information for Frontier Airlines

executivesonmyconsumer advocacy website, Elliott.org. A brief, polite emailtoone of them would have helped. (I know the CEO answers his emails personally.)

Your case illustrates the problem withthese so-called ultralow-farecarriers.

They charge youlessupfront but make it up laterwith extra charges. And as you now know, they’re notshy aboutbilling you —orabout keeping your money when they make amistake. Interestingly,these discount carriers are fighting forsurvival as people start to understand that theprices they’re being quoted are not the prices theyend up paying.

If FrontierAirlines had not been able to help, you could have disputedthe chargeswith your credit cardcompany. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your credit cardcan refund you for an itemyou paid for but did not receive.

Icontacted Frontier Airlines on your behalf. Arepresentative acknowledgedthe error and agreed to issue afull refund of $220. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

At LSUTheatre

Tickets areonsale for the LSU Theatre’s productionofMaggie Smith’s “The Courtship of Winifred Edwards,” opening Oct. 2, inthe ShaverTheatreinthe LSU Musicand Dramatic Arts Building, Dalrymple Drive. Tickets are$9-$22.Visit lsu.edu/ theatre.

Musiccensus

The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge announces the Baton Rouge Region Music Census, anew regional initiativeaimed at understanding and strengthening the area’s music ecosystem. Set to begininSeptember, the project will gathercomprehensivedata from individuals and organizations involved in all parts of the music ecosystem —creators, venues, educators, producers and businesses.

Those interested in getting involved can sign up at brmusiccensus.org.

‘Overthe Top!’

Tickets areonsale for “Over the Top!,” thefirstproductioninOpera Louisiane’s 2025-26 season,featur-

ing threehigh-flying sopranos Rainelle Krause, Kelly Curtin and Sarah McHan —singing to prove which is the greatestdiva. The performance will beat3 p.m. Sept. 28, at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center forthe Arts,100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge Tickets are$51.50. Visit operalouisiane.com.

‘Nutcracker’ auditions

The Baton RougeBallet Theatrehas scheduledchildren’s auditionsfor “The Nutcracker:ATale from the Bayou” for Sept. 14, in the Dancers Workshop, 10745 Linkwood Court, Baton Rouge.Times vary by age. Audition fees are$15 pre-pay and $20 on-site. Formoreinformation, call (225) 766-8379 or visitbatonrougeballet. org/nutcracker-auditions, where audition registration paperwork and schedulescan be found.

1920scelebration

Tickets areonsale for the Louisiana Art &Science Museum’sArt After Hours program, “Fascinate Me: A1920s Chapeaux Affair” from 5:30 p.m.to7:30p.m. Sept. 11, at the

museum,100 S. River Road, Baton Rouge. Get ready to embrace the glitz and glamour of theRoaring 20s at this event in celebrationofthe museum’strain station home’s100th anniversary.Tickets are$60 for museummembers, $70 for nonmembers and can be purchased by visiting tinyurl.com/LASMFascinateMe.

At thePoydras Center

The PoydrasCenter, 500 W. Main St New Roads, is showing “Plein Wild,” acollaboration exhibitbetween L. Charleville and Ellen Ogden, through Sept. 30. Hours arefrom9a.m.to2 p.m. Mondaythrough Wednesday. Formore information,call (225) 638-6575 or visitpointecoupeehistoricalsociety org.

At Southeastern Southeastern Louisiana University’s Contemporary Art Gallery,E.Strawberry Stadium, 411 Ned McGehee Drive, Hammond, is hosting the 2025 Visual Art +DesignFaculty Exhibition through Sept. 24. The exhibition will featurethe work

of theSoutheastern faculty in the Visual Art +Design Department. It represents awidearray of media ranging from painting to sculpture performance, photography, printmaking,video, ceramics, theatre design and graphic design. Artists includeJefferyMickey,BenjaminDiller, Shayla M. Kelly,Chad Serhal, Lily Brooks,Rachel Harmeyer, John Valentino, Eric Huckabee, Ernest Milsted, MonaJahani, Garima Thakur, TabithaNikolai, Kathryn Baczeski, Stephen Schepker, Dale Newkirk, TomWalton, Dominic Marasco and Rose McBurney. In additiontothe exhibition, a lecturebyAssistantProfessor of Costume Design MonaJahani titled “Costume Designing Clue:Exploring American Identity in theMcCarthy Era” is scheduled at 5p.m. Oct. 2in the gallery Galleryhours are8 a.m.-5 p.m.Mondaythrough Thursdayand 8a.m.noon Friday. Admission is free. For moreinformation: southeastern. edu/slucontemporary AuditionsinLafayette Lafayette BalletTheatreinvites area female dancers to audition on Sept.

6-7 for the25th anniversaryofthe holiday classic “The Nutcracker.” Auditions will takeplace at thetheater, 201 Petroleum Drive,Lafayette. Advancedauditions for dancers ages 15 to professional will be Sept. 6. Beginnerand intermediate auditions for ages 8-14 will be Sept. 7. The audition fee is $35 cash or check for participants ages 8to18. Thereisnoaudition fee for dancers age 19 and older.The online feeis $36. Auditions for boys,ages9-12, are Sept. 28 and Oct. 5. Foraudition details or to

Sunday.Admission is free. Visitnunucollective.org

COMMUNITY

DAR

Members of the Daughtersofthe AmericanRevolution on hand for an America250! Patriot Markerreveal at Highland Cemeteryare,fromleft,Christie Webre, Kim Varnado, Kayla Albarado, Anne Favrot, DonDuplantier,Michael Duplantier,Martha FavrotHeausler,Helen Schneidau, Semmes Favrot, PatVeazeyand Kim Fossey.

DARunveils America250! marker at Highland Cemetery

The Canary Islands Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted an America250! patriot markerreveal at Highland Cemetery on Aug. 23.

The marker,awarded by theNational Society of DAR, helped launch thelocal America 250! celebration andspecifically honored Highland Cemetery andthree Revolutionary Warpatriots buried there: Armand Allard Duplantier,Pierre Joseph de Favrot and John RandolphJr.

The patriotic ceremonyand blessing featured the color guard from the Gen Philemon Thomas Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution and showcasedthe patriots’ military history,presented by two of their descendants, Semmes Favrot and Michael Duplantier.The Canary Islands Chapter also presented Highland Cemetery with a new infographic display detailingits history and mini-bios of the three patriots, alongside atimeline of Louisiana’s contributions to thewar,inparticular,Galvez’s

Gulf Coast Campaign (1779-81).

Kiwanis names Laypersonofthe Year honoree

The2025 Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District of Kiwanis International Layperson of theYear is Raven LaBiche.Her selection was announced at the LaMissWTenn District 107th annual convention in Memphis, Tennessee.

LaBiche, executive director of Arcof East Ascension, was nominated by the Kiwanis ClubofAscension. Attending the award ceremony on Aug. 19 at the AEA were coworkers, ArcofEast Ascension Day program participants, and Kiwanis ClubofAscension members.

LaBiche received aplaque and certificate. The LaMissWTenn Foundation made acontribution to thenonprofit of herchoice, Volunteer Ascension, which providesanetwork of assistance to childrenand elderly withdisabilities in need throughout the Ascension Parishcommunity

District of Kiwanis International

RavenLaBiche is the Kiwanis Layperson of the year,members of Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District of Kiwanis International announcedrecently.Gathered are, from left, Donna Leggett, TiffanyLaporte,LaBiche, Sherry Denigand Boni Pater

Members of Fais Do Do welcomed newmembers at their annual

Baton RougeCountryClub.Shown are, from left, treasurer Mary

Paul and Lisa Mayeaux,Garyand Rene Graphia, and Stephanie and Trent Grand, and brunch chairwoman SusanDonohue.

SEPTEMBER

illustrator and scored afew plum assignments, includingdesigning the poster for aWerner Herzog film.

Eventually came the call from Columbia, asking if he could reimagine the ladywith the torch for anew generation of moviegoers. The image wouldremain essentially the same, withone important innovation: realism. In the past, the logo always seemed to be aheroically idealizedeverywoman. Deas wanted her to be an actualperson. But who?

An unexpected goddess

Deas looked for aprofessional model, but never quite settled on asubject.Then, the artist,who was acquainted with The TimesPicayune’sart department, discovered page designer Jenny Joseph. As Deas explained to Ogden Museum of Art curator Bradley Sumrall in 2012, “she was elegant tall, beautiful, and classy.IknewI had found the right one.”

During alunch break, Times-Picayune news photographer Kathy Andersontook some reference photos of Joseph in asublimely stalwart pose. The shoot was exacting and abit exhausting. When Joseph, who was standing atop a box, began leaning,itcame to light that she was expecting. Thenew Columbialogowasn’ta generic figure; it was an individual. Even the erupting storm cloudsin thebackground were real. “Those are New Orleans clouds,” Deas told Sumrall. “One day,Ilooked out my window and saw this huge

ArtistMichael Deas,in1993, with JennyJoseph, the model used by Deastocreate the newColumbia Pictureslogo. Joseph posed for photographer KathyAnderson, who shot the reference photos Deas used to paint the famouslogo.

bank of cumulus clouds over the Mississippi River.I grabbedmy bike androde like crazytothe CrescentCity Connection.” Fame,fortune andanonymity

Deas deftly rendered Joseph in aportrait that was both solid and ethereal, relaxed and dramatic. Deas wasa master,and pretty soon everybody who went to the movies would know it. The logo debuted in 1992.

In the next decades, the unassuming artistwould be called on to design sixTime magazine covers, including portraits of BenFranklin and FDR.Heproduced the art for

Remote worker considerslooking forhybridposition

25

U.S.postagestamps, featuring portraitsofMarilyn Monroe, Tennessee Williams, RuthBader Ginsburg andother American heroes plus book jackets, including the 25th anniversary edition of Anne Rice’s“Interview with theVampire”and other big-time commissions.

Sincethe newColumbia logo’s backstory hadn’tbeen publicized, most people neverwould have known anything about the design’s New Orleansroots. If it weren’tfor movie star Annette Bening, thatis.

No,NoAnnette

Apparently,fromthe time the image first appeared,some onlookers mistook the newladywith a torch for Bening, whohad recently been lauded for her steamyrole in

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“The Grifters.”

There certainly was aresemblance, which ignited arumor that eventually reached Bening herself. In 2004, the late Roger Ebert, alion of filmcriticism,sought to get to thebottomofwhathad becomeanurban legend and asked Bening directly if she’d been the model. Theactresssaidthatshe’d been told by insiders that she was “Oh sure,” shereportedlytold Ebert. “The artists told me it was me. But just the face, not the body.”

Back in NewOrleans, there were those who knewbetter.Deas told a Times-Picayune reporter that he’d never met Bening and wasmost certainly inspiredbyJoseph. The artist’sdebunking of the myth appeared under the headline “No, No Annette.”

Bragging rights

In arecent interview,Deas said the logo commissionwas acareer breakoutfor him, andprobably the highest profile project of hislife. In recent years, Deas said, the imagewas animated, with radiating darts of torchlight. But at its heart it is still an old-fashioned oil painting —probably amongthe most viewed in the world.

“I stillget bragging rights,” Deas said. “I never get tired of seeing it on the screen.”

These days, he’sworking on another Hollywood project, he said, aportraitofleading manTom Cruise, for an upcoming biography.And there arethree more postagestampsinthe works, scheduled for2026.

Themovie star of Blanco,Texas

Joseph, who was born in England, now lives in the small town of Blanco, Texas, where her 1992 claim to fameiswell-known. Her daughter Adriane, who was not yet born when Josephposed in front of Anderson’slens, is now 32 years old and has twokids of her own.

Asked what she recalls of her foray into modeling, Joseph said that “primarily,itwas just alunch break.”

“Wenever expected thatitwould expand and that it would still be used.”

Josephsaidher hobbyispainting. Deas created an incredibly beautiful, wistful portraitofJoseph’stwo children standing amid the same“NewOrleans clouds” he used in the background of the lady with the torch.

Email Doug MacCashat dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

Harriette Cole SENSE AND SENSITIVITy

Dear Harriette: Iwork remotely,and while I’ve enjoyed the flexibility and freedom it provides, I’ve started to feel increasingly isolated and unmotivated. At first, it felt like adream: no commute, more control over my schedule and the comfort of home.

Lately,I’ve noticed that I’m missing the dailyinteractions, spontaneous conversations and overall sense of community that comes from being in a physical workspace. Most of my communication with co-workers is confined to emails or scheduled video calls, which makes it hard to feel connected to the team. Ifind myself feeling drained and uninspired, even though Istill like the actual work Ido. Some days, Ibarely speak to anyone at all, and I’ve started to worry that this lack of connection is taking atoll on my mental health and productivity.

I’ve been thinking about looking for ahybridposition, something that would offer abetter balance betweenremote work and in-person interaction, but I’m not sure if that’sthe right move or if Ineed to adjust my current routine. How can Istay connected, motivated and productive in aremote setting, or is it time to consider achange?

—Isolated

Dear Isolated: Working remotely does not work for everyone, as you are seeing. Yes, it is smart to look for another job that is better balanced for your needs. Meanwhile,schedule after-work activities that put you in the company of

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other people. Join abook clubthat meets in person. Volunteer at alocal museum or retirementhome. Take an art class. Don’t sit at home alone. Putyourself out there with others.

Dear Harriette:: My boyfriend and Ihave been together for aboutfour years now, and we finally decided to move in together about a monthago.Unfortunately, my partnersmokescigarettes at night. He insists that it’sthe onlything that helps himsleep. I’ve encouraged him to try melatonin, different teas and even therapy,but he chooses to stick with his cigarettes. I’vealways known this about him, but now thatwe live together,it bothers me morethan inthe past; Ihad never actually seen him smoke acigarette until now It rubsmethe wrongway for anumber of reasons, and Idon’t know what to do aboutit, seeingasI’ve let it go onfor solong. Can I demand that he quitahabit I’ve been sort of complicit in for the past four years? Smoking Habit

Dear Smoking Habit: Smoking is an addiction,soit’snot a simple thingtoget someone to quit. What you maybe able to do is to put some boundariesaround this behavior.You can request no smoking inside thehouse so that your home does not smell like smoke. Youcan also request that hebrush histeeth andwash his face after smoking so that the residue of smoke doesn’t end upinyourbed.Inthe end,ifit really is toomuch for you to handle, thiscould be adeal-breaker for your relationship —oratleast for the two of you to live together

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com

ing more andmore toward ablandly collective mind. New Orleans, where blissfulnonconformity is acivic creed,mightstandout all themore as arespitefrom the regimented culture of onlinegroupthinkand ChatGPT In such acentury,the world could need New Orleansmore than ever Here’stothose whoworked so tirelessly to saveit.

than aliability.In an age of AI, we risk mov-

EmailDanny Heitmanat danny@dannyheitman.com

so much in Paris.Our family spent thebulk of asummer therewhen our daughters were 7and 11. Every morning, we walked tothe samebakery and bought theapricot pastries Mann’spostcard was proof that afew words can lead to near time travel.

Postcards don’tjust carry words, but slices of people’slives in faraway places —avalue for the 2.10 euros (about $2.44) Mann used to send hers across the sea.

Randy,ofLafayette, sent apostcard from Poland. “Heard you needed mail from all over! Here is one from Krakow,Poland.” Hispostcard has three Polishstampsthat total 11 Zloty,about $3.

Molly Lestoishiking theAppalachian Trail.

Somewherealong the way,her dad let her know that we needed a New Hampshire postcard. So, Lesto stopped in Hanover and sentone of Dartmouth Hall.

Suzyand Tommy Blanchard sent apostcard from Senoia, Georgia, where they noted the quaint town has been thesetting for many films, including “The Walking Dead,” “Driving MissDaisy,” “Fried Green Tomatoes” and many others.

Jim and Imma sentapostcard from Mount Rushmore that simply read,“Day 21 on the road.15more to go! 5,750 miles so far!” The postcard has thecoolest “Goodnight Moon” stamp on it.

Someone sentapostcard from Forks, Washington, “on thebeautiful Olympic Peninsula, themost northwestern town in theLower 48. We’re amid the forests and riversof theOlympic National Park, which also claims the only rainforestinthe 48 states. We get an average of 10 feet of rainannually,which keeps thearea green and lush, mostly evergreens, so green year-round,” the anonymous postcard sender wrote.

Back in June, Alan Krouse of Gonzales drove to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Along theway,hesent several postcards —including one from the real “Field of Dreams” in Iowa, even though it meant adetour from the most direct route between Louisiana and Omaha.

By thenumbers:Stateside

It’seasy to get swept away in the stories, but stepping back and looking at the scope of the Postcard Project, the numbers tell astoryoftheir own.

n So far,we’ve received 267 postcards, and more will likely trickle in beyond Labor Day —and certainly, theyare welcome!

n We received 31 postcards from Louisiana, thehighest number from any state. Several readers suggested encouraging readers to send postcards in from their towns across the state—maybe we will make that one of our goals next year

n The state with the second highest number of postcards turned out to be Delaware, which was erroneously thought to be thelast state for about aweek —and during that time, the people in Delaware jumped on the postcard bandwagon withabang.

n Tennessee comes in third place with nine postcards, including one from Dollywood.

n Minnesotaand Florida tied for fourth places with eight postcards each.

n Kentucky,New Hampshire, Mississippi and Pennsylvania were next —with seven postcardseach. From around theworld

n In true homagetoLouisiana’s roots, Canada led theway internationally with eight postcards.

n France andthe United Kingdom tied for second with six postcards each.

n Iceland, Spain and Germany fol-

low with three postcards each.

n Apostcard from Malaysia traveled the longest distance (about 10,150 miles), followed by Borneo, Australia, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, NewZealand, China, Mongolia, Israel, Turkey,Hungary,Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany,Switzerland, France, Spain, Scotland, England, Ireland, Iceland, Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Canada, Jamaica and Mexico. The postcards traveled across borders, timezones and oceans, each carrying the simplest but most powerful message of all: We are connected.

Email Jan Risheratjan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

AT THE TABLE

Steamedmussels getbitefromspicy Italiansausage

BY GRETCHEN MCKAY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

If you like eating and cooking foods from across the globe, you’ll probably agree that sometimes the one ingredient that makes acertain dish sing is one you can’teasily pronounce if you don’tspeakthat country’slanguage.

For me, that includes anything that gets asavory heat with‘nduja (pronounced en-DOO-ya), asoft and spicy sausage made with small but mighty sun-dried chilies from the Calabria regionofSouthern Italy

The fatty ground pork that makes the spreadable salume such atasty topping for pizza and pastamelts when it is heated up in apan, bloomingthe Calabrian chileinthe sausage’sown fat.

The result not only imbues the dish with aflaming red hue— that bleeds onto your fingers, ifyou’re not careful —but adds aspicy, umami-rich flavorthat is quiteaddictive.

In this recipe adapted from Serious Eats, the sausage gives aspicy kick to mussels steamed in dry white wine (I usedsauvignon blanc, which also is good for pairingwith the finished dish) along withsauteed shallotand garlic. Agood squeezeof lemon along with its zest addstoits bright finish.

To serve, you definitely need a crusty,quality bread —such as sourdough or abaguette, hopefully toasted —tosoak up the broth

Mussels are best prepared and eaten the day you buy them. When cooking them, be sure to discard anythat are cracked or don’tclose when tapped with another mussel.

To remove grit, scrub shells well under cold running water.Toremove beards (that look like wisps of hair trapped between the shells) grab and pull toward the hinge-endofthe mussel.

Youcan find ‘nduja at mostItalian markets.

While unopened logs can last several months in the fridge or pantry, once opened, it should berefrigerated to prevent it from drying out andabsorbing other flavors.

Steamed mussels and ‘nduja

Serves 2

1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2largeshallots, thinly sliced 2garliccloves, thinly sliced Kosher salt

2ounces‘nduja (about 1/4 cup)

1cup drywhite wine

1pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves Juice and zest from1lemon

Toastedbread, forserving

1. In alarge saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add shallots and garlic, season lightly with salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not brown, 5-7 minutes.

2. Add ‘nduja and, using a wooden spoon, break it into pieces and stir vigorously to combine with shallots and garlic.

3. Continue to cook, stirring frequently,until fat from ‘nduja separates and shallots and garlic are stained red and fully coated with ‘nduja, 3-5 minutes longer Add wine, increase heat to high and bring to aboil.

4. Add mussels, stir,cover pan with alid and cook, shaking pan constantly and peeking every 30 seconds to stir.Cook just until all the mussels are open, 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat, and using tongs, quickly transfer to awarmed heatproof serving bowl. Discard any mussels that did not open.

5. Cover mussels with saucepan lid to keep warm.

6. Add chopped parsley,lemon juice and zest to saucepan and stir to combine.

7. Taste broth and adjust seasoning with salt, if needed. To serve: Remove lid from the serving bowl, and pour contents of saucepan over mussels. Serve immediately,passing toasted bread at the table along with alarge empty bowlfor collecting empty mussel shells.

‘Afterlife’looks at howauthors’ work liveson

Andmanytimes, that work is incomplete

BY DOUG GRAHAM Staff writer

“Afterlife: The StrangeFate of LiteraryRemains,” by David Wyatt,Louisiana State University Press, 252 pages

Unlike many other forms of art, works of literature never seem to rest.

Can you imagine if someone decided to tweak the smile on the Mona Lisa? Or add a pair of boxer shorts to Michelangelo’s David (although some have tried)? The only comparable art form that undergoes regular change after its release to thepublic is film, but those alterationsare less common, unless George Lucas is involved.

Publishing the written word has always been afluid exercise, going from the author to an editor or two —ormore before finding its way to the printing press, or now awebsite. And this creative process cancontinue even after the author has passed this life.

AuthorDavid Wyatt explores this sometimes winding roadtopublication in “Afterlife: The Strange Fate of Literary Remains.”

He examines how anumber of famous works found their way to the page, sometimes with no input from the author at all.

Hemingway

When Ernest Hemingway died by suicide in July 1961, his work after World War II had been described as a“faltering career,” Wyatt writes. However,his wife Mary found atrove of unpublished manuscripts that contained what would become books, including “A Movable Feast,” “Islands in the Stream,” and “The Garden of Eden.”

Each was shaped by editors, as Wyatt points out that Hemingway did not see most of the works as finished products. Put together,they shift the perception of Hemingway’s creative output in the last 15 years of his life intoa differentlight, accordingto Wyatt.

The works of Emily Dickinson found similarlife, although none of the poet’s works had been published before her death in 1886. Wyatt tells of the battle over Dickinson’swork, known as the “War Between the Houses,” involving differing sides of her family.This led to her skirmishes over publishing her work, including hundreds of poems, akerfuffle that continued into the digital age. Another problem with publishing Dickinson’swork was that no one seemed tobe able to decipher the series of dashes that servedasmany forms of punctuation in her

work, which made it difficult to translatethemto the print page. This hasled tosome tomesthat feature photographic facsimiles of her originalmanuscripts. No debates over editing needed there.

Otherauthors featured in Wyatt’s book were simply unable tolet go of their work or find asatisfying conclusion before they died.

Of course, writers are their own editors, going backover their work to revise passages and add details, much like we rework memories in our minds. English poet William Wordsworth began his poem “The Prelude” when he was 28 years old, expanding it over the years, altering some parts as he aged and grew anew perspective.

Thefinal version of “The Prelude” was published three months after Wordsworth’s deathin1850, and Wyatt describes how scholars have pored over the hundreds of pages ever since, developing new editions using different versions of the author’s words put on the page over the years.

For Ralph Ellison, completing his follow-up to “Invisible Man,” for which he became the first Black author to win the U.S. NationalBook Award for Fiction in 1953, proved to be an impossibletask. Although he wrotethousands of pages and spent years agonizing over the work, he was unable to completeit, Wyatt writes.

Apparently, the fast-changing worldkept outpacing the themeshewas trying to address. Parts of his would-be novel have been published in different forms, but the authorwas never able towrite the coda himself.

In addition to discussing the editing decisions thatwent into these publications, Wyatt takesthe time to describe them, so areader unfamiliar with aparticular author’s works can get asense of their meaning and impact.His analysis of the differing versions of WilliamShakespeare’s “King Lear” goes far deeper thanwhat anyone would gatherfrom apresentation on page or stage.

For those who love the writtenword, “Afterlife” offers abehind-the-scenes look that deepens appreciation of how these works were created and recreated.

Email Doug Graham at doug. graham@theadvocate.com.

‘KingofZydeco’

alove story to southwestLa.

Book divesintolife of musicmaster CliftonChenier

BY GERALDINE WYCKOFF

Contributingwriter

“The King of Zydeco: The Life, Music, and Legacy of Clifton Chenier,’”byTodd Mouton, 207 pages

Avid fans of the late, great accordionist, vocalist, composer and innovator Clifton Chenier will surely savor therich mix of musical, factual and quotable ingredients in “The King of Zydeco.” The carefully researched biography’svivid tellingofChenier’s rise from his southwest Louisiana country roots to international royaltyoffers plenty of tasty bits for acasual music enthusiast as well. Few could resist first checking out the black-and-white snapshotsofChenier and the many old-school posters advertising his gigs, as well as pictures of 45 rpmsscattered throughout “The King of Zydeco: The Life, Music and Legacy of Clifton Chenier.”

Included are many photos of the always smiling Chenier,strapped into his beautiful, hefty,keyboard-style, chromatic accordion, either alone or with his older brother and frottier (rubboard) man Cleveland Chenier,plus those that capture him fronting his bands during his almost fourdecade-long career.The visuals are both an appetizer and the hot sauce for the narrative to come.

Author Todd Mouton, ajournalist and musician with many impressive credits in boosting themusic of southwest Louisiana, dug deeply for some20years to follow thetrail blazed by Chenier during his creation of the vibrant hybrid of blues, Cajun, R&B, country and soul that came together as zydeco music.

Mouton relied on recorded interviews with Chenier,band members, record producers, artists who felt Chenier’sinfluence, including membersofthe Rolling Stones, plus manymore from an

array of musical genres

As it turned out, the book was published right on time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chenier’sbirth on June 25, 1925.

He passed away Dec. 12, 1987. Rulerofthe zydeco nation

Chenier eventually and rightfully ruled the zydeco nation. He went on to earn aGrammy and aLifetime Achievement Award from theorganization, and he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Through Mouton’sextensive research, readers learn just how hard he worked forit. The road was rough when Chenier and his band packed his van, pulling a trailer full of equipment to leave his homestate of Louisiana and head to California.

There, manyex-residents of the Bayou Statewere eager to hear themusic of theirmemories and hearts.

The ruts along the way were due not onlytothe dirt roads and bumpy pavement but the presence of JimCrow.Never deterred, Chenier on arrival would jump on abandstand and play his now legendary marathon-length shows withouttaking abreak. His love of the music and determination to succeed drove him to spread his nameand zydeco music around the globe.

At Chenier’sfirst appearance at the 1970 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which was held in CongoSquare, jazz archi-

v i s C t e b C d t Di th C so m si in Li ac w lea

ist Dick Allen scored an amusnginterview.Chenier,who poke both English and French reole, attempted to define what heword zydeco meant. “Zydeco n pas sale is no salt in my snap eans. Yousee, it’sthat simple,” henier explained, as he unoubtedly had hundreds, if not housands of times. ggingintoChenier’s history Audiophiles will appreciate e in-depth information on henier’salbums: labels, dates, nglists and the names of the embers of each band. In amore mplified approach, Mouton also cludes anumber of “Suggested stening” pages that offer easy cess forthose ready to hear hat they’ve been reading about. Chenier’slinks to NewOrleans werealways solid and perhaps never moreevident than revealed on his first big hit, the 1955 single on Specialty Records,“Eh, Petite Fille.” Mouton traces the mystery of its origins to the legendary Professor Longhair,Henry Roeland Byrd, and his song “Hey Little Girl,” recorded in 1949, though it wasn’treleased until twoyears later on Atlantic Deluxe. “(T)he tune seemstohave traveled a fewmiles before Clifton reinterpreted it,” Mouton writes.

An eye-opening, or perhaps better stated, an ear-opening fact that rhythm and blues icon, the great vocalist Etta James traveled with Chenier’sband for about ayear when she wasstill underage. “I met Etta James in 1955,” Chenier remembered, “Her namewas Etta, but Icall her Eddie. Oh, yes.”

James once recalled when the police pulled Chenier and company over because they thought she wasaWhite woman. She had to pull somepapers out and say to the cops, “No, I’mnoWhite woman. I’mcolored.”

“The King of Zydeco —The Life, Music and Legacy of Clifton Chenier” is alove story celebrating the rhythm and soul that thundered from the master’s gorgeous accordion and shone as brightly as the sparkling diamondset in his front tooth.

Contact GeraldineWyckoffat gwnomusic@yahoo.com.

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Aug. 31, the243rd day of 2025. There are 122days left in theyear

Todayinhistory:

On Aug. 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed after the car shewas riding in crashed in Paris; herpartner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul(who was found to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident)alsodied

Also on this date:

In 1881, the first U.S. tennis championships (for men only) began in Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1886, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of up to 7.3 devastated Charleston, South Carolina, killing at least 60 people.

In 1962, the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago became independent of British colonialrule.

In 1980, Poland’sSolidaritylabor movement was born with an agreementsigned in Gdansk that ended a17-day-old strike.

In 1992, White separatist Randy Weaver surrendered to authorities in Idaho, ending an 11-day siege by federal agents that hadclaimed the lives of Weaver’swife,son and adeputyU.S. marshal.

In 1994, Russia officially ended itsmilitary presence in the former East Germany andthe Baltics afterhalf acentury

In 2006, Edvard Munch’spainting The Scream” was recovered by Norwegian authorities after being stolen ninedays earlier

In 2010, President Barack Obamaannounced the end of the U.S.combat mission in Iraq, declaring no victory after seven years of bloodshed andtellingthose divided over the war in his country and around the world: “it’s time to turn the page.” In 2019, agunman carried outa shooting rampage that stretched 10 miles between the Texas communities ofMidland and Odessa, leaving seven people dead before police killed the gunman outsidea movie theater in Odessa.

Today’sbirthdays: World Golf Hall of Famer Isao Aoki is 83. ViolinistItzhak Perlmanis 80. Singer VanMorrison is 80. Rockmusician Rudolf Schenker (TheScorpions) is 77. Actor Richard Gere is 76. Actor Stephen McKinley Henderson is 76. Attorney and author Marcia Clarkis72. Olympic gold medal hurdler Edwin Moses is 70. Rock singer Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) is 68. Rock musician Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s) is 68. Singer-composer Deborah Gibson is 55. Queen Rania of Jordan is 55. Golfer Padraig Harrington is 54. Actor Chris Tucker is 54. Actor Sara Ramirez is 50. Former NFL widereceiver Larry Fitzgerald is 42. NBA All-StarJalen Brunson is 29.

Wild collegedayshaveresurfacedonline

bands? We don’tknow how mostmen would react to having an old video of their nude wives show up online!

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Dear Miss Manners: Ihave been married to avery sweet guy for over 15 years now Ihave never made ahabit of keeping secrets from him,and we have avery honest relationship. However,mylifelong friend recently discovered that something from our college days has surfaced online. It’sa video of myfriend and me participating in a wet T-shirt contest during spring break. In an effort to win,weactually both lost our shirts …and bottoms and got totally naked during the event. We even gave each other alittle smack on thebootynear the end of the contest.

Well, now it’sonline. On one hand, we think, “Oh well, at least we look good, and it’sfrom along time ago.” On theother hand, it’sa bit embarrassing —especially for me, because my husband would find this to be totally surprising and out of character for me.

Shouldmyfriend and Itell our hus-

Dear Heloise: Just asuggestion:

GentleReader: Better coming from you than having it sent to them by astranger forhush money Miss Manners thereforeencourages you to get to him first,laughing it off and attributingittothe folly of youth.

No doubt your husband has blemishes in his own past that he wouldprefer to forget —ofwhich you might remind him, if he acts anything other than quietly bemused.

Dear Miss Manners: We used to have nextdoor neighbors we were extremely close with. We had meals together once or twice aweek, and even watched their 2-yearold twins for aweekend when they had to leave for afuneral.

They started distancing themselves from us due to politics, and eight years ago, they moved away without even saying goodbye. Recently,out of the blue, we received some random text messages from the wife, and then, by mail, we received graduation announcements for

each of their boys. Given the break in the friendship, which wasnot our choice, are we obligated to send gifts? Iamhappy to send anice note congratulating them on their graduation, but my partner feels we should send gifts. Gentle Reader: Amilestone announcement is not asubpoena forgifts. Well, Miss Manners should clarify: It should not be received as one, whether or not that was its sender’strue intent. If your former neighbors really wanted to makeaconnection with you again, they would have invited you to the ceremony or graduation party.Then you might have wanted to give the graduates presents. If you do decide to send apresent anyway, Miss Manners trusts it will not be a political donation to your preferred party —however tempting that may be.

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

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Ask

Guillermodel Toro to auctionoff moviememorabilia

BY ITZEL LUNA Associated Press

SANTAMONICA, Calif.— Manyfled when wildfires devastated Los Angeles earlier this year,but Guillermo del Toro rushed back in, determined to save his lifelong collection of horror memorabilia.

It’sthe same loyaltythat finds him making another tough decisiontoprotect the items he loves like family: letting some of them go. Del Toro partnered with Heritage Auctions for athree-part auction to sell afractionofa collection that is bursting at theseams Online bidding for the firstparton Sept. 26 started last week and includes over 100 items, with more headed to the auction block next year

“This one hurts. The nextone, I’m going to be bleeding,” delToro, 60,said of the auction series. “If you love somebody, you have estate planning, you know,and this is me estate planning for afamily that has been with me since Iwas akid.”

Del Toro is one of the industry’s most respected filmmakers, whose fascination with monsters and visual style will shape generationsto come. But at his core, the Mexicanborn horror buff is acollector.The Oscar-winner has long doubled as the sole caretaker of the“Bleak House” —which stretches across two and ahalf Santa Monica homes nearly overflowingwiththousands of ghoulish creatures, iconic comic drawings and paintings,books and movie props. The houses function not just as museums, butaslibraries and workspaces where his imagination bounces off the oxblood-painted walls.

“I love what Ihave because Ilive with it. Iactually am alittle nuts, because Isay hi to some of the life-size figures when Iturnonthe light,” del Toro told The Associated Press, sitting in the dining room of one of the houses, now asanctuary for “Haunted Mansion” memorabilia. “This is curated. This is not acasual collection.”

from the fires. Out of themore than 5,000 items in his collection, he managed to move only about 120 objects. It wasn’tthe first time as fires had come dangerously close to Bleak House twice before.

The houses werespared, but fear consumed him. If afire or earthquake swallowed them, he thought, “What came out of it? Youcollected insurance? Andwhat happened to that littlesegment of Richard Corben’slife, or Jack Kirby’scraft, or Bernie Wrightson’slife?”

endeavor.The auction isn’t just a “piece of business,” forhim, but rather alove letter to collectors everywhere, andencouragement to think beyond amovieand “learn to read and writefilm design in a different way. That’smyhope.”

Housefullof‘unruly kids’

Caring forthe Bleak House collection feelslike beingon“abus with 160 kids that are very unruly and I’m driving for nine hours,” del Toro said. “I gotta take arest.”

“It’svery hard to have someone come in and know whythat trinket is important,” he said. “It’ssort of avery bubbled existence. But you know,that’swhat you do with strange animals —you put them in small environments where they can survive. That’sme.”

Each room is organized by theme, withone room dedicated to each of his major works, from “Hellboy” to “Pacific Rim.” Del Toro typically spends his entire work day at one of the houses, whichhepicks depending on the task at hand.

The “Haunted Mansion”dining room, for instance, is an excellent writing space.

“IfIcould, Iwouldlive in the Haunted Mansion,”hesaid. “So, this is the second best.”

Building aminiBleak House

In selecting whichitems to sell, del Toro said he “wanted somebody to be able to recreate amini version of Bleak House.” Auction items include concept sketches andprops fromdel Toro’s 1992 debut film, “Cronos,”all the way to his morerecent works, like 2021’s“Nightmare Alley.”

The starting bids vary,from $2,000 up to hundreds of thousands.

OneofWrightson’sdrawings fora1983 illustrated version of Mary Shelley’s“Frankenstein” is the highest-priced item,starting at $200,000.

Race to save horror history

In January,del Toro had only a couple hours, his car and afew helping hands to save keypieces

The auction includes behind-thescenedrawings andone-of-a-kind props from delToro’sown classics, as well as iconic works like BernieWrightson’sillustrations for “Frankenstein” andMike Mignola’spinup artwork for “Hellraiser.”

An auction, del Toro said, gives him peace of mind, as it ensures the itemswill land in the hands of another collector who will protect theitems as he has. These are notjust props or trinkets, he said, but “historical artifacts. They’re pieces of audiovisual history for humanity.” Andhis life’s mission has been to protect as much of this history as he can.

“Look, this is in reaction to the fires. This is in reactiontoloving thisthing,”del Toro told theAP.

Theinitial auctionuncovers who del Toro is as acollector,he said. Upcoming parts will expose how the filmmaker thinks, which he calleda much more personal

Theauction will give the filmmaker some breathing room from thecollection’sarduous maintenance. The housesmust stayata certain temperature, without direct sunlight —all of whichismonitoredsolely by del Toro, whooften spends most of his day there.

He selects the picture frame for every drawing, dusts allthe artifacts and arranges every bookshelfmostlyhimself,having learned his lesson fromthe handfuloftimes he allowed outside help. Onetime, del Toro said, he found someone “cleaning an oil painting with Windex,and Ialmost had aheart attack.”

The auction also includes art from comiclegends like RichardCorben, Jack Kirby andH.R. Giger, whose work delTorowrote in the catalog “represent thepinnacle of comic book art in the last quarter of the 20th century.”

Other cultural touchstones in illustration that are represented in the auction include rare images from the 1914 short film “Gertie the Dinosaur,” one of the earliest animated films,and originalart for “Sleeping Beauty” by Eyvind Earle and KayNielsen.

“As collectors, you are basically keeping pieces of culture for generations to come. They’re not yours,”del Toro said.“We don’t know which of the pieces you’re holding is going to be culturally significant 100 years from now, 50 years from now.Sothat’spart of the weight.”

TULANE ENERGYFORUM

SEPT.11-13 5E

Plaqemines LNGmakes itscasefor expansion

FILEPHOTO By BRETTDUKE

U.S. SecretaryofEnergyChris Wright greetsworkers at Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG exportfacility on March 6after VentureGlobal, along withlocal, state and national officials, announced itsplan to expand the massivePlaquemines LNG facility

VentureGlobal leadershave bigplans for1,000-acreproject, but firsttheymustsecure supportfromregulators

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Venture Global laid out its plans earlier this year for an $18 billion expansion of its liquifiednaturalgas export terminalnearPort Sulphur, aprojectthat’sexpected to take nearly five years andinvolve thousands of workers.

Now,federal regulators are combing throughthe public’sthoughts on theproject as part of apermitting processthe company must clear before construction can begin.

Thepublic commentperiod, which ended Thursday,isrequired as Venture Global

seeksapproval from the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission—a five-member body appointed by thepresident andconfirmed by the U.S. Senate. That process startswith an environmental review In coming months, staff at the regulator will prepareadocument outliningthe environmental impacts of the expansion thatwill then be sharedwithFERCmembersand used to determine whether the project is in thepublic interest Constructionofthe PlaqueminesLNG expansionwould involve the use of more than

Some reinventingworkspace amid return-to-o

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Every Wednesday,dozens of the 90 employees who work at International-MatexTankTerminals’ downtown New Orleans office gather for aweekly, catered lunch in the company’s29thfloor common space, which is lined with awallofwindows overlooking Poydras Street below Accounting folks sit next to co-workers from human resourcesormarketing departments, whilemembers of the executive team visit with new and younger employees in what company officials say is an effective way to build

astronger corporateculture

effort to increase productivity and get co-workerstalking to each other,face-to-face.

IDEAS INNOVATION &

“Being in the officecreates asense of communityamong employees, and theweekly lunches help strengthen relationships,” saidKim Nave, IMTT’soffice administrator.“It’s an opportunity to sit with people from other departments and get toknowone another.” Thecoronavirus pandemic sent office workers home andushered in a new era of remotework that promised to redefine the way professionalsdobusiness.

Five yearslater, companies that allowed remote workare increasingly callingemployees back to theircubicles in an

Since the beginning of the year,JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, AT&T and the federal government, among others, have done away with work-fromhome policies,while other large employers, like Southwest andIBM,havegoneto hybrid schedulesthatrequire employees to spend more days in the officethan not. Around thecountry, small and medium-sized employers arefollowing suit. In south Louisiana,whichoften lags nationaltrends, the return to the officehas been more gradual. But real estate brokers say thereisanuptick of 15%-20%

From dating appstostreaming,canceling asubscriptionshouldbeeasier

It was supposed to be ariskfree offer,achance to find alove match. But for many,the search for companionship turned intoafrustrating endeavor to cancel their online dating subscription.

That’swhat the FederalTrade Commission alleged in alawsuit against Match Group, which has aportfolio of online dating companies that includes Match.com, Tinder,Hinge and OkCupid.

That suit, filed in 2019, was settled earlier this month withMatch agreeing to pay $14 million related to acomplaint that it stymied customers’ efforts to cancel their memberships or take advantage of afree six-month trial if they did not “meet someone special.” Others were locked out of their accountswhen they tried to dispute their bills, the complaintsaid.

Match agreed,amongother things, to provide asimpleway for consumers to cancel theirsubscriptions.

“Match Group admits no liability as part of this resolution and was fully prepared to take the case to trial, but opted to resolve the case to put the matter behind it,” the company said in an emailed statement. “The FTC’soutdated claims are entirely moot, as the alleged practicesatissue ended years ago or are based on mischaracteriza-

tionsthat do not reflect ourbusiness today ”

Whileit’snot clear how much people will receive, themoney will be used “toprovide redress to injured consumers,” theFTC said.

Here’swhy this casematters.

It’sanexampleofwhy we need strong government watchdog agencies. And yet the shuttering of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau underthe Trump administration puts the American public at risk of seeing fewer of these types of actions.

Agencies like the CFPB and FTC are our advocates againstbad industry players who take advantageofconsumers.

Recently, afederal appeals court blocked plans by the FTC to clamp down on companies that make it hard for customers to cancel subscriptions.

Icertainly hope the FTC takes up theissue again. It’snot too much to ask that consumersbe abletocut off recurring billing when they want.

Often at the coreofthese subscription or membership cases are “negative option” offersinwhich aconsumer agrees to afree trial or to regularly receive aproduct or service until they say,“that’s enough.” That’swherethe negative partcomes in. The billing only stopsifyou take action to cancel.

Negative-option offersaren’t illegal, but they can pushthe boundaries of the law,which requires companies toclearly and conspicuously discloseterms and not useunfair methodstoavoid granting the consumer’srequest to cancel.

I’ve long been critical of these offersbecause people forget to cancel or,worse, they can’tstop theautomatic billing even when they try

The actions go againstthe Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, under which companies must provide “simple mechanisms for aconsumer to stop recurring charges from being placed on theconsumer’s credit card, debit card, bank account, or other financial account.”

Has this happened to you?

Youforget to cancel after atrial period, but when you realizeyou madeamistakeornolonger want or need theservice or product, you can’tstop theautomatic billing becauseyou can’tfind the

WORKSPACE

Continued from page1E

in the number of cars in downtown and Metairie office tower parking garages during the middle ofthe week, which offers aglimmerof hope for an office market sector that hasbeenbatteredbythe pandemic.

“The days of downsizing headcount are over,and the garages are more full than they were two years ago,” said Cres Gardner,abroker with Beau Box who manages four downtown New Orleans office towers and two in Elmwood. “But Mondays and, especially,Fridays are still light.”

Bringing people back

While remote work proved effective enough when social distancing was amatter of public health,after the pandemic ended, agrowing number of corporate executives began to call for areturn to the office. Workers, they argued,simply weren’tasproductive from the comfort of their kitchen table.

Earlier this year,JPMorgan ChaseCEO JamieDimon sounded off on atown hall with some of Chase’s350,000 workers about the shortcomings of remote work,saying it hinders innovation, slows decision-making and fails to adequately train younger workers Local executivessay thebanking executive, who is building a new 60-story Chase headquarters in downtown Manhattan, isonto something.

“I really do believe, andI’m oldschool, that being with peopleis extraordinarily importantand effective,” said Bill Hines, managing partner of Jones Walker,which has more than 300employees in downtown New Orleans. “I’d say 90% of our attorneys and all of ourstaff are back in the office every day.”

As one of the largest lawfirms in theregion, Jones Walker has awindow on the work habits of some of the area’slargest employers. Hines said, like Jones Walker and IMTT, most of those employers have some sort of return-to-office policy, though most offer some degree of flexibility

“Some of the biggest companies in New Orleans that went partially remote and stayed partiallyremote claim it is working for them,” he said. “So, for the foreseeable future,

Ithink many companies in our region will stay that way.”

Small employers are also callingworkers back. In Lafayette, SchoolMint moved into its recently renovatedheadquartersbuilding last week. Though employees have been graduallyreturning to the tech company’soffice since 2022, now that its building projectiscomplete, workers will be expected to show up in person every day

“I can already see thebenefits,” company CEO Bryan McDonald saidTuesday.“I’mbumping into peopleI haven’ttalked to in months, and we’re solving things in five minutes that used totake us two days and a30-minute Zoom call. Office marketseeschanges

Other businesses have done the same of late,and it’sled to aslight increase inactivity for commercial spaces, said Rex Moroux, commercial real estateagent with Scout Real Estate in Lafayette

Bill SandersofLee &Associates, whotracks theBaton Rougeoffice market, said the capital region office market has also seenanuptick in activity,withemployers leasing space in new buildings thatoffer amenities like fitness centers.

In Metairie, cafe vendors at the Galleriaand One Lakeway are experiencing such highdemand that some run out of food daily and have to bring in additional staff, according to Colette Wharton, regional director/asset manager at the Feil Organization, whichowns andmanages several Metairie office towers. Feilrecently completed an extensive renovation of the lobby, com-

contact information. Or maybe the cancellation policiesare buried on thewebsite.

Or when you call, you’re routed through an automated telephone system thatseems to have been specifically designed to wear down your resolve.

Agood example is the learning app ABCmouse, which agreed in 2020 to settle an FTC complaint that it refusedtoaccept cancellation requests made over the phone, via email or through aform on its website. Instead, people who wanted to cancel were directed to an inconspicuous portalonthe website, where they had to navigateanywhere from six to nine screens. The company paid $10 million but didn’tadmit any guilt. Thesesettlements are areminder of steps you can take to avoid being stuck in one of these deals. Here’swhatthe FTC recommends: n Make anote on your calendar to remind yourself to cancel before your subscriptiontrial ends.

n If you have to payfor shipping, it’s not free. I’ve talked to manyconsumers who thought they were providing their credit cardinformation to cover shipping and handling —but instead werecharged for products and services theyhadn’tordered. “If acompany offers something free

EXPANSION

Continued from page1E

1,000 acres of land near Mile 54 of theMississippi River on the West Bank of Plaquemines Parish,adjacenttothe existing facility according to afiling with FERC. That includes around 560 acres for the“expansion, marine berth, andworkspace” and another 586 acres for a“temporary workspace to easetraffic constraints from construction.”

but says you have to pay to get it, at best it’sadishonest business youmight notwant to deal with,” the FTC says. “At worst, it might be ascammer.”

n Payattention to pre-checked boxes. Youmight be agreeing to future automatic charges.

n Before signing up, look around the site to see how easy it is to cancel. Is there an easily disclosed contact number for cancellations?

Ishould have heeded that last piece of advice foranews subscription Isigned up forlast year After several attempts, Ihad trouble accessing the site for certain articles. Igot so frustrated, Idecided to cancel. I’m not exaggerating when Itell youittook about an hour to figure out who to call. And Ihad to call. There was no online option to cancel, despite the fact that it took less than a few minutes to electronically subscribe

Iwas finally able to cancel the billing. But I’m still getting weekly emails begging me to return. One suchoffer promisedIwould be charged only $3 for a12-month subscription.

“No, sir,” Isaid to myself. Youwill not trap me again.

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

mon areas and tenant lounge spaces at theGalleria andalso made improvements at One Lakeway.Itis currently working on upgrades at Lakeway Two. Wharton saidthe enhancementshavechangedhow people use the building.

“We’reseeing more employees stepout of their offices to work, meet or relax in the sharedspaces,” she said.

‘Not what it wasin2019’

While catered companylunches, on-siteworkout facilities and shiny newlobbiesmakelife at theoffice more pleasant, brokers caution that things arenot what they were prepandemic.

“It’sbetter than it was two years ago,”said Gardner. “It’snot what it wasin2019.”

They also say that while amenitiescan make adifference, the biggest incentive to get employees back to the officeistogive themat least alittleflexibility.Nationwide, more than two-thirds of employers surveyed earlierthis year allowfor some sort of hybrid schedule

IMTT gives employees the option to work fromhomeonFridays. Most employees, Nave said, take it.

“It helps with thework-life balance,” she said. “It conveys to our employees that the leadership team trusts them to getthe job done regardless of where they are.”

Staff writers Adam Daigle, Tim Boone and Ianne Salvosa contributedtoreporting thisstory

Email Stephanie Riegelat stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

Venture Global would maintain about 400 acres forpermanent operations once construction is complete, andthe remaining acreage“wouldberestoredand revert to former uses,” FERC said. The expansion would boost thefacility’soutput to nearly 52 metric tons of LNG. When Venture Globalannounced itsplantoexpand the massive Plaquemines LNG facility in March at an event featuring Gov. Jeff Landry andtop Trump administration officials, theycheered the investment as ajob creator and pillarofthe president’s pushtoincrease already record-setting domestic oil andgas production Construction on the first phaseofVenture Global’sPlaquemines LNG plant began in 2021, and at its peak, employed6,000 construction workers. It kickedoff production in 2024, andhas been touted as an important element of U.S. foreign policyand national security,as energy importers, particularly countries in Europe, seek to wean themselves from Russian supplies.

Federal regulators have begun combingthrough public comments as partofapermitting process Venture Global mustclear before construction canbegin on an $18 billionexpansion of itsliquified natural gasexport terminal near Port

ment of Energy under President Joe Biden said that in coming decades, the continued expansion of LNGexport terminals could lead to higher prices forU.S. consumers, moregreenhouse gas emissions and strains on poor and non-White areas near the plants. Aftertakingoffice in January,President Donald Trump signed an executive order lifting the Biden-era pause andpromising to fast-track permitting.

U.S. exports of LNG beganless than adecade agobut have grown rapidly in recent years, to thepoint that the U.S. has become theworld’slargest gasexporter Louisiana handled more than 60%of thenation’sLNG exports in 2024.

Venture Global is planning to begin construction in 2027. The project will require 6,000 construction workers at its peak and will employ 275 permanentworkers, with an average salary of around $150,000, the company said.

At the same time, the fossilfuel megaproject and others likeithave faced scrutiny from environmentalgroups andsome residents, who argue the multibillion-dollar investment locks in decades worth of planet-warming emissions, contributes to poor localair quality andcreates astrain on water and other local services due to the influx of workers.

Last week, environmental groups filed alawsuit asking a federal appeals court to stop the construction of Venture Global’s $28 billion CP2LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish, arguing that Louisiana’sdecisiontoissue permits for the project violated theClean Air Act.

Arapid increase in exports

LNG export terminals convert gasinto liquid by supercooling it, allowing it to be loaded on to tankersand taken to import terminals in Europeand Asia, where it is then reheated into gasand distributed to households and businesses.

U.S. exports of LNG began less than adecadeago but have grown rapidly in recent years, to the pointthat the U.S. hasbecome the world’slargest gas exporter.Louisiana handled more than 60%of thenation’sLNG exports in 2024.

Last year,the Biden administration put apause on approving new export permits for LNG plants, in part to study their effectsonclimate change. An analysis released by the Depart-

Localconcerns

Plaquemines Parish President Keith Hinkley, who backsthe expansion, said in an interview he is hopefulthatissues that camewith the first phase of construction will be better this time around. He thinks traffic won’t be as much of aproblem now that the Belle Chasse toll bridge is open.

He’salso hoping the Peters Road bridge and extension project is completed before the expansionbegins. Congestion caused by the simultaneous construction of toll bridge andLNG export terminal in 2021 led to hourslong traffic snarls.

“I think with this expansion, it’s not going to be that bad,” Hinkley said.

FERC gathered public commentthrough Aug. 28 to help determine the scope of its environmentalreview. The public will have another chance to weigh in once the report is drafted.

As of Monday,the regulatory bodyhad already received nearly threedozen comments. Much of those comments highlighted VentureGlobal’scontributions to local economy,while others raised concern about the expansion’s impact on wetlands, water and air quality

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THEEXPERTS

Bankingexechas unique vantagepoint into economy

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

New Orleansnative LizHefler

Q&A WITH LIZ HEFLER

joined Whitney Bank in 2004, afew monthsaftergraduating from the University of Virginia. Nearly 22 yearslater,she has riseninthe ranks to become Greater NewOrleans regional president of the institution now called Hancock Whitney after a2011 merger with aMississippibased rival.

The $35 billion regional bank is headquarteredinGulfport, Mississippi, and its footprint spreads from Florida to Texas, but nearly athird of its 3,600 employees are located in greater New Orleans. About half of that team works in Hancock Whitney’sdowntown building, 701 PoydrasSt., the former One Shell Square, where

Hefler’scorner office provides a panoramic view of her hometown

Because of its size andits work with many of the region’slarge companies andorganizations, Hancock Whitney has aunique vantage point of its own: Its executives know which sectors of the economy are most active based on its commercial lending activity.

In this week’sTalking Business, Hefler shares what she’sseeing in the local marketand why New Orleans must do more to growits economy

This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. Hancock Whitney serves some of the region’sbigger companies and organizations That means you’re seeing who’sbusy and who’snot. What’sthe state of commerce right now?

After aslow start to theyear,activity picked up in the last 40 days. That typically happens,but we’ve been working on loans formonths and then, at the end of July,it seemed like everyone needed their term sheets right away

isn’towned locally.Our building is owned by the Hertz Group out of Dallas, for instance. We do have somedowntown buildings, but therehas to be alocal tiefor us to get involved.

It’s difficulttoget anybankto consider office space. We have 10 empty floors in ourbuilding. Showing back up to work has not come into play for every industry

What elseisaffecting investment in the region?

The mayoral election is afactor Peoplehavetheir different candidates that they’re going to vote for,but they’re hopefulthatacity that hasnot been very welcoming to new businesses will have somebody they can talk to.

Whoever’sinoffice isn’tgoing to always be the candidatethat’s 100% pro-business, but there has to be away to have tough discussions.

sive that it makes it tough for smaller banks to stay in business.

AI has been here forawhile, but Ifeel like only recently people are willing to accept the Big Brother aspect of it. Tenyears ago, if businesseswere using cookiestomonitor what people were doing on the computer, they would freak out. Now afterInstagram and other things, people areapparently perfectlyfine withit. It’s like,“Not only am Iokay withit, but why is everything Ilook at not tailored to me?”

People don’t know how much all banks spend on fraud protection, paying millionsuponmillionsof dollarsfor software so that when your transaction history changes, it alerts you that something’soff.

What’sHancockWhitney’sgrowth plan?

$10,000. On the small-banking side, we want to hire more small-business bankers to grow in agranular way. In themiddle marketspace, the goal is to continue to grow loans, deposits and fee income. Oneextra challenge aGulfCoastbank has to deal with is hurricane season.We’reatthe height of it now.How do you suggest businesses and communities prepare?

We’veseen maritime activity including terminals, and adecent amount related to Venture Global’s liquified natural gasoperations.It might be acontractor that needs $20 million for aproject, acement supplier or acompany pulling pipes out and putting new ones in.

We also have acompany here that’sgoingtodowork at the Meta data center near Monroe,and someone with aproject related to theHyundaisteelplant in Donaldsonville. These projects will be life-changing for them

In what industries are you seeing the most loan activity?

Hospitality,maritime, health care andhigheredare topofthe list.

Tulaneand Loyola are investing aton in on-campus housing becausethey’ve done thestudy that saysifstudentslive onsite for four years, they have abetter collegelifeand are more likelytobe investedalumni.

Commercial real estate has been slow.We’ve donesome hotels, but alot of the real estate downtown

Ialsothink people arehopeful that either theCharityHospital building renovation or the new Shell office building takes off or something else happens to tell people that folks are investing in thecity and it’s agood place to be.

Tariffs are another factor.Many business ownershavethat entrepreneurialspirit andtheywantto take that risk, buttheyneedcertainty.Tariffs themselves aren’t theend of the world, but “tariffs, no tariffs, tariffs, no tariffs” is. Pick the numbers, stick with them, and then people can decide if they can make money or not.

How is technology affecting the industry?

The consumer is demanding more. When they log in, they want to seepie charts thatshow how muchthey spent over the last year.When they have to click three thingstopay someone, they’re annoyed, which means banks are going to have to makesure that their app is the freshest technology

There are less banks today than there were 10 years ago. That’sbecause theamount of money banks will have to spend on technology and compliance is justsoexpen-

We’re the only regionalbankof our size headquartered in the region, andwe’reactively trying to growbypurchasing, but we have to find the right fit. On the wealth and assetmanagement side, we recently purchasedSabal Trust Co. in Florida.

New Orleans is shrinking, andthe majority of ourassets are in Louisiana and Mississippi. That’snot sustainable. We need new businesses to come to town.

We always will have agoal to grow our market share every year

On theconsumer side, we wantto grownew checking accountsabove

Make sure you understand the details of your business and personal insurance policies, and make sure you have digital copies. Before storm season hits, makeas much as you can electronic. If you have the cash flow,put your bills on auto debit. Butdohavesome cash on hand. Carry more than one form of payment. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck,think aboutstockpiling a littlebit of savings throughout the other months for that extra tank of gas or an extra $100 or $200 to stay in ahotel room.Evacuating is expensive,and notevery household can afford to do that. From abusiness perspective, make sure your employees are on direct deposit and that you can pay vendors electronically.Tell your employees whatyour plan is so they know there’sajob for them to do and their regular paycheck will be coming in.

Email RichCollins at rich.

On this 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we pausetohonor thelives forever changedbyone of themostdevastating naturaldisasters in American history. Twodecadeshavepassedsincethe stormswept throughNew Orleansand theGulfCoast,leaving behind both ruin andheartbreak, but also countlessinstances of extraordinaryresilience.

As we mark this milestone, we remember thoselost, celebrate thestrengthofsurvivors,and reaffirm ourdedicationtobuilding asafer andstrongerfuturefor our communities.

At JonesWalkerLLP,wecontinuetorecognize theimpactofHurricane Katrinabyfostering unity, strength,and compassion. Maywecarry forwardthe lessonslearned,the memories cherished, and thepromise of abrightertomorrowfor allwho call theGulfCoast home

WilliamH.Hines,ManagingPartner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000 201St. CharlesAvenue NewOrleans,LA70170-5100

BatonRouge

Jody Caraccioli has been named as the next president and chief executiveofficer of Neighbors Federal Credit Union Caraccioli will take over leadership of thecredit union in January 2027. He will replace CEO Steve Webb, who is transitioning intoretirementafter a decade of leading the creditunion. Caracciolihas served as chief financial officer of Neighbors since 2008. Before being hiredby Neighbors, he was chief financial officer of KeyPoint Federal Credit Union He earned abachelor’sinfinance from Millsaps College and an executive master’sinbusiness adm inistratio n from Southeastern Louisiana University

dent in charge of commercial lending. LaCombe has 34 years of banking experience. He has experience in commercial and consumer lending, commercialcredit analysis andbuilding business relationships with his clients.

John Graff hasbeen hired by Kean Miller as director of project management. Graff has almost 30 yearsofbusiness experience in multiple industries, including financial services, technology and petrochemicals.

Shane P. LaCombe has been hired by Plaquemine Bank and Trust Co. as executivevice presi-

Fool’sTake: Consider buying thedip

The Trade Desk (Nasdaq: TTD)

The BatonRougeArea Chamber hasa new leadership team for its Business Investment division, the team tasked with attracting new businesses, supporting existing companies, and diversifying the regional economy Jayson Newell is now senior vice president of business investment.Newellsucceeds

Motley Fool

had its worst day as apublic company on Aug. 8, with sharesdropping nearly 40% as investors processed second-quarter financial results, a new incoming chief financial officer and cautious third-quarter guidance due to tariff uncertainty.Multiple analysts think the market overreacted, though. The Trade Desk recently hadamedian target price of $75 per share, implying 43% upside fromits recent share price of $52. The Trade Desk operates amajor independent cloud-based,artificial intelligence-poweredplatform that helps advertisers plan campaigns and optimize their spending, getting the right ads in front of the right eyeballs. Its independence —meaning it does not own media

content that might bias ad spending on its platform —distinguishes it from larger competitors such as Alphabet’sGoogle, Meta Platforms and Amazon. The company has consistently taken market share from rivals in digital advertising, and CEO Jeff Green believes that trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Despite the sharp decline in the stock, TheTrade Desk reported reasonably good second-quarter financial results that beat estimates on the top line —revenue rose 19% year over year,to$694 million Patient and risk-tolerant longterm investors might want to take a closer look at The Trade Desk. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends The Trade Desk.)

Fool’sSchool:

TheF.I.R.E. strategy

As you plan for retirement, you might want to learn moreabout the F.I.R.E.movement. The acronymstandsfor “Financial Inde-

By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisarticle is Brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFisheries Coalition LLC.

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish on August 29, 2005,asaCategory 3storm, the people of Daybrook Fisheries in Empire,LA faced the unimaginable. Prior to the storm, its menhadenfishing business–anchored by afleet of boats processing plantand atight-knit workforce –was thriving.

“Wewereinaprettygood place Daybrook waswell-recognized in the community,”said Borden Wallace,thenowner of the company’sprocessing plantand fleet.“We had modernizedour facilities.Wehad agood line of credit,a good group of people workingfor us and our shareofthe market based on the numberof vessels we had.

Katrina Strikes

Storms arepart of lifeinPlaquemines Parish, but Katrina wasdifferent. Everything changed when the hurricane’scourse shifted unexpectedly.Wallace, out oftowninNorth Carolina,rushed back to NewOrleans after seeing the stormtakeasuddensouthwest jog toward Louisiana.For thefirsttime in his 30-plus-year career,heordered all Daybrook employees and their families to evacuate

“Oftentimes,boats area safe place to be in astorm,”Wallace explained. “Theyare well-stocked andhavegenerators.Theyare designed to sustain winds and waves. Butfor Katrina,wetold everybody theyhad to leave.”

Russell Richardson,who was recently hiredaspresident andCEO of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corp.Hehas been with BRAC since 2018; before that, he was aproject manager at LouisianaEconomic Development. He earned abachelor’sand amaster’s in economic development,both from theUniversity of Southern Mississippi. RobbyAbboud is vice president of businessinvestment, process industries. Abboud comesfromLED where he was director of business development. He earned amaster’s in public administration fromLSU.

AnthonyBodin is vicepresident of business investment, technology Bodin previously worked at LED andGNO Inc. He earned amaster’s in business administration from Tulane University’s FreemanSchool of Business. Janet Galati is vicepresident of business investment,energy.

pendence, Retire Early,” and it’s become amovement of people who save and invest aggressively to retire early —often very early,such as in their 30s or 40s. F.I.R.E. practitioners will typically calculatetheir F.I.R.E. number,which is often their annual expenses multipliedby25. Then they’ll plan to withdraw around 3% to 4% of their nest egg each year in retirement (adjusting each withdrawal for inflation). So someone who spends around $60,000 per year would aim to amass a$1.5million nest egg. And in their first year of retirement,they’dwithdraw around $45,000 to $60,000 from it Allthatismuch easier said than done, which is why F.I.R.E. folks often manage their money in an extremeway,living very,very frugally; some save at least 50% of their income. Atwo-income household might live frugally on one earner’sincome, saving all of the other.Othertactics can include living without acar (orowning only one car),rarely dining out and

Galati spentseven years with the JeffersonParish Economic Development Corp. and nearly four years with the Montgomery County,Pennsylvania Commerce Department. She earned abachelor’sand a master’sinpublic administration, both from the University of South Florida. Adelina Lepine is director of compliance and operations. She has been with BRAC for more than six years. She earneda bachelor’sinbusiness administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

NewOrleans

Dr.Russel Hirsch will join Manning Family Children’s as chief of cardiology and co-director of the Heart Center in January Hirsch will also serve as professor of pediatrics and division head of cardiology in the Department of Pediatrics at LSU Health New Orleans.

renting or owningamuchsmaller home thantheycan afford.They mayalso take on secondjobsor side gigs. There are somevariations of the F.I.R.E. approach to knowabout: The FatF.I.R.E.variation is for those who want to livelarge in retirement and therefore need to build extra-large retirementnest eggs. The Lean F.I.R.E.variation is the opposite, withpractitioners willing to liveaminimalistlifestyle. The Barista F.I.R.E.variation features an earlysemiretirement coupled withapart-time job. Some risks andcautionstobe aware of: Withdrawingaround 4% each year (withannualinflation adjustments) could lead youtorun out of money too soon.And working fewer than 35 years will shrink future Social Security benefits. Also,beingyoung andfully retired means you’llhavetoarrange your own healthinsurance, andyou can face early withdrawal penaltiesif you take money out of retirement accountsbefore age591/2

Hirsch has served as afaculty member at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’sHospital for 23 years, with a rank of full professor since 2017. Since 2007, he has served as directorofcardiaccatheterizationand the pulmonary hypertensionservice at Cincinnati Children’s He completed his pediatric residency,chief residency and pediatric cardiology training at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by additional training in interventional cardiology at the University of Michigan.

Gambel Communications recently promoted two employees.

TajOdem and JustinVlosich both now have the title of senior communications coordinator

Ask the Fool: What’s the prime rate?

What’sthe prime rate? —J.F.,Green Bay, Wisconsin

It’s theinterest rate that most banks chargetheir lowest-risk commercial customers —typically around 3percentage points higher than thefederal funds rate, therate at which banks lend money to each other Every bank sets itsown prime rate, though many use TheWall Street Journal Prime Rate, which is based on therates used by many of thebiggest U.S. banks. The prime rate is used as abase rate formany other interest rates, such as those charged formortgages, home equityloans, creditcards and small business loans. Many credit cards, forinstance, set theirinterest rates by taking thecurrent prime rate andadding acertainamountbased on the perceivedrisktothe lender The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate was recently7.5%,down from 8.5% ayear earlier.

From Ruinto Recovery: HowDaybrookFisheries rebuilt afterHurricane Katrinaand Came Back

Surveying the Damage In Katrina’saftermath, roadsinto Plaquemines were impassablesoWallace secured aflighttosurvey the damage. From theair,hesaw substantial flooding and felt aflicker of optimism. But on the ground, the destruction wasoverwhelming

“Everything had been destroyed,”he said.“Everything wasbentand mangled We even founda deadcow inside one of our conveyors.”

Katrina’s35-foot storm surgelifted two of Daybrook’smenhaden steamers– each worth around $7 million –and dropped them inthe middleofLouisianaHighway 23.For weeks, theships blocked the parish’s primary evacuationand supplyroute. Officials consideredcuttingthem apart to remove them. Instead, Daybrookundertook thepainstaking taskofrefloating them –a jobestimatedat$1.2 millionper ship.

Putting People First

Even beforetackling the logistical nightmare,Wallace focused on his employees.The companyworked to ensure crewshad steady income during the rebuild.

“Werecognized thatour employees were local and wanted to seetheirhomes rebuilt and their lives restored,”Wallace said. “We tried to act like afamily companyand give people some hope.

CommitmenttoRebuild

Wallace’s next prioritywas to get Daybrook’sboats afloat so theycould be used as temporary housing foremployees and their families becauseevery other structurewas destroyed. Another task was ordering all newequipment. He and his businesspartnersdecided early on thatthey

wouldrebuild, motivatedbythe livelihoods at stake.

“Thereweretoo many jobs and toomuch work happening to just leave,” he said.

The recovery wasgrueling –long days in theheat, tearing outthe damaged equipmentand replacingitasquickly as possible. Then, in late September Hurricane Rita flooded the plantagain and stalled progress forweeks. Despite setbacks, Wallace stayedfocused. Daybrook wouldbeready to fish by April

Building Back Stronger

During the rebuilding process, Daybrook improvedits infrastructuretobetter withstand futurestorms.Utilities were buriedunderground to reduce outages More generators were purchased, with connections forlargerunits

“Wealsoraised alot of stuff off of the ground,”hesaid.“We builtasecond story on oursupplywarehouse so thatcritical parts wouldhopefully be outofharm’sway in futurestorms.”

Return to the Water

After months of hard work, Daybrook met its April 2006 goal. The fishing went so well thatboats were nearly at capacity by noon the firstday.But with the plantnot fully restored until late May, unloading and processing took days

“It wasaproud momenttosee thefleet go out,”Wallace said

Loyaltyinthe YearsAhead Daybrook’sinvestments paid off again in 2010when the DeepwaterHorizon disaster threatened the Gulf fishing industry.With waters closed and lucrativecleanup work

available, Wallace feared losing his valued crews.

“Wemet withour captains,and theymet withtheirteams. Every one of them said theyweregoing to staywithusbecausethey remembered whatDaybrook had done for themduring Katrina.Theysaid theyweren’t going to leave us now.

ALasting Anchor

Today, Daybrook Fisheries and its menhaden fleet remainthe largest employer in southernPlaquemines Parish– an anchor forthe region’seconomyand identity As southeast Louisiana commemorates the twentiethanniversary of Hurricane Katrina,Daybrook standsasa testament to the perseverance and resilience of those whoweatheredthe storm. Thankstotheir grit and determination,the company continues to support hundreds of families and sustaina proud fishing tradition along Louisiana’scoast

Tulane event aims to draw discussion on the future of energy

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to elevate the price of oil and natural gas in Europe. China controls the supply chain of minerals needed for hightech industries and renewable energy And the world struggles to find consensus on climate change.

Amid these geopolitical realities, Tulane University’s second annual Future of Energy Forum — happening Sept. 10-12 — will bring together industry executives, policymakers and researchers to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the energy industry in Louisiana and elsewhere.

100 speakers gather to talk about new technologies, critical minerals, regulations and the case for nuclear fusion as an energy source.

High-profile panelists will include Entergy CEO Drew Marsh and Shell USA President Colette Hirstius.

The university hopes the free event will be for the energy industry what its popular Book Fest is for all things literary, as more than

“As we find ourselves in multiple different contexts of uncertainty around energy — whether geopolitical, technological, commercial or regulatory it becomes increasingly important to look at how innovation, competition and collaboration will shape the future of our energy world,” said Tulane energy law professor Frédéric G. Sourgens, one of the energy forum’s organizers. One panel will cover job opportunities in energy sustainability and environmental rehabilitation in Louisiana. Another will focus

on challenges for port cities. In a separate conversation, representatives from FUEL — a publicly funded program led by LSU that aims to boost energy industry innovation — will discuss the “energy systems of tomorrow.”

These talks will be joined by deep dives into state and federal regulations artificial intelligence for power grids and battery backup power systems for homes.

Collaboration is key

Sourgens said the biggest challenge facing the global energy industry is how nations can work together at a time of increasing tension, and as energy access is used as leverage to serve geopolitical goals.

“We all need commodities, and nobody has all the processes to make energy future work, so we have to work together,” he said. “We have to create policies that

find the sweet spot between competition and collaboration.”

Sourgens believes Louisiana will play a key role in the nation’s energy plans, citing the state’s oil and gas legacy, its ongoing offshore drilling, new liquefied natural gas activity, planned carbon capture projects and the massive Meta data center planned for north Louisiana

News of that $10 billion project

— one of the biggest economic development initiatives in the state’s history broke a year ago at last year’s energy forum. Debate about Entergy’s plans to power the data center are ongoing.

“Louisiana is at the forefront because of its traditional place at the intersection of energy production and energy refining and power distribution,” said Sourgens. “A lot of where energy is going into the future is where Louisiana is strong, and the things we do are things the

world needs.”

Other topics at this year’s event will include the rise of energy-as-aservice — a model where customers pay energy providers monthly fees vs. owning equipment — and nuclear power’s ongoing image makeover Other speakers will discuss nuclear fusion, a potentially limitless energy source that some hope will contribute to the world’s energy in the decades to come, and the impact of Trump’s tariffs on global trade.

“We should all be interested in how much we pay for electricity, whether the light comes on when we flip the switch, and whether there’s gas at the pump when we need it,” Sourgens said.

The Future of Energy Forum will take place on three stages on Tulane’s Uptown campus.

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@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

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ALLERGIES ABOUND

With 2 Louisiana cities ranked among the allergy capitals of the U.S., expert offers advice on managing the fall

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

The Asthma and Allergy

Foundation of America annually ranks U.S. cities to find the allergy capital, from the 100 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas. The rankings included two Louisiana cities. New Orleans took the secondmost challenging city for pollen allergies, just behind Wichita, Kansas.

Baton Rouge ranked as the 14th-worst city in the country for allergies.

Although summer allergies are far from over fall allergies are just around the corner Fall allergies can begin as early as late July, despite what the name may suggest According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, with an a nnual cost in excess of $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year

Dr John Carlson, an allergist and immunologist at Ochsner Health, researches the environment and how that can trigger allergic conditions. That can include reac-

season

tions from venomous insects to allergies to particles in the air that may bring on asthma. Most inhaled allergies can be divided into three categories:

n Pollens like tree pollen in the spring, grass pollen in the summer and weeds’ pollen in the fall.

n Perennial, or indoor, allergens including reactions to cats, dogs, mice, cockroaches, dust mites, dust and more — things commonly inside the home.

n And mold spores, which can be found year-round in the Gulf South.

“It is really hard to avoid the spores of the fungi just being out and about in the world,” Carlson said. “And living down here in Louisiana.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common symptoms of allergies are congestion, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and postnasal drip (the feeling of constantly needing to clear the throat

of mucus).

Tracking pollen counts can be beneficial in managing symptoms Taking allergy medication before symptoms arise can massively improve lifestyle and symptom management.

Most weather apps, including The Weather Channel, have a 15-day allergy forecast with a pollen tracker on a scale from very low to very high.

Bladder cancer outcomes improving

Deion Sanders’ diagnosis highlights treatments

BY DEVI SHASTRI AP health writer

Colorado football coach Deion

Sanders was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer earlier this year, had surgery to remove the organ and is now considered cured by his doctors, the pro football Hall of Famer said July 28. Sanders said he is upbeat and plans to coach the Buffaloes this fall.

Bladder cancer is the 10th leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But recent advancements in its treatment have improved outcomes for people who are diagnosed, according to the American Cancer Society

The 57-year-old Sanders shared the details of his diagnosis and treatment, which involved surgeons reconstructing a section of his intestine to function as a bladder, and said it “was a fight, but we made it.”

Here’s what you should know about bladder cancer

What is bladder cancer?

This cancer starts when the cells in the bladder which stores urine, grow out of control and form tumors. In some cases, the cancer spreads to other parts of the body

The most common symptom for bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which can cause urine to look orange, pink, or rarely, dark red. The color change can come and go, the American Cancer Society says, and early tumors may not cause pain.

Pain or burning while urinating, weak stream, frequent urination or urge to go when the bladder isn’t full can also be signs of bladder cancer. Symptoms of advanced bladder cancer can include an inability to urinate, bone pain, loss of appetite, weakness, swollen feet and lower back pain on one side. If you have symptoms, it is worth getting checked out, because all of those symptoms might be from other health issues. Blood in the urine is most often from an infection, a benign tumor, a kidney stone or bladder stone or other benign kidney disease, according to the American Cancer Society Sanders said during a news conference on Monday that the cancer was found when he went for a precautionary annual CT scan; he has a history of blood clots in his legs. How common is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is more common in men than women.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be nearly 85,000 new cases in 2025, with more than 65,000 in men.

The incidence rate for bladder cancer has decreased by 1% per

HEALTH MAKER

La. pharmacist fell in love with science, service

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Catherine Oliver the systems director for clinical pharmacy services at Ochsner Health System, has a doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Louisiana-Monroe

As a Eunice native, Oliver feels passionate about giving back to Louisiana and making sure she is here to provide for those in need in the state — both in the city and in rural areas like her hometown.

Oliver finished her pharmacy residency in acute care at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina. She worked in Lafayette for four years before moving to New Orleans with Ochsner Health, where she has stayed for 10 years

What drew you into pharmacy?

I always had an interest in health care but more the science of it and not so much bedside care.

I have a chemistry background. I have an undergraduate degree in chemistry I thought that if I decided to change my mind and go into medicine, I would meet the qualifications to apply to medical school.

I applied to pharmacy school in Monroe and fell in love.

As I went through my

curriculum in pharmacy, I anticipated I would work in a retail pharmacy because that’s what most people know about the industry

Most people see the corner drugstore pharmacist. They’re very accessible. You can ask questions about your medication. They can help you with prescriptions and over-the-counter needs. But, in my second year of pharmacy school, we started learning about what a clinical pharmacist is. That area of pharmacy requires residency training — that’s an extra year or two — in a particular area of pharmacy, similar to physicians after medical school.

That training could be in oncology or pediatrics or critical care or any of the specialties in medicine.

I completed my residency in North Carolina. In North Carolina, pharmacists can actually practice more like a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant — they have a lot more autonomy in the clinic setting to manage medication therapy on behalf of patients. We wrote notes in patients’ charts and were very involved We would educate the patient: “The physician has started you on this medicine. Here’s what it means, here’s what it’s for here’s some of the side effects.”

The practice of pharmacists does vary from state to state. At the time that I trained in North Carolina, Louisiana was a little bit behind. But I will say that we have done a lot of work, advocacy and worked with our board of pharmacy and with the board of medical examiners to expand what pharmacists can do in the state.

I would say that Louisiana has really grown in what a pharmacist it can do in collaboration with the physician. We’ve really grown our footprint. We know that patients benefit from pharmacists being involved in their care.

What are some roles pharmacists play that people, and patients, would not expect?

Within the hospital, there are all kinds of different pharmacists who are providing care. The clinical pharmacist is often at the bedside. There’s also a team of pharmacists hidden from the public in the hospital who work to review, verify and check medication. We also have pharmacists who work in the clinic. These pharmacists are not dispensing medications like the pharmacist in the retail pharmacy, but rather, they are working with the physician to select the best medication for the patient for a

particular disease.

We’ll work with the physician to build that best therapy plan and plan of care for the patient.

We can also carry out monitoring. We may see the

patient again in a month or six weeks and see how are they responding to that medicine.

The pharmacist will, both in retail and specialty clinics, provide medicine

information to insurance companies to make sure that patients have access to medication.

Is there a pharmacist shortage?

We know a shortage of pharmacists is coming similar to a shortage of nursing and physicians, particularly in the primary care setting. Pharmacists can really help to bridge that gap.

There’s a pharmacy, and a pharmacist, in every town, but maybe not a physician in every town.

By working alongside physicians, pharmacists can take some of the work off of the physician. Instead of having to see your doctor again when you have a question about your medicine, you can see the pharmacist. That allows the physician to see more urgent or more complex patients in the clinic. It also decreases turnaround time — when a physician is really bogged down with messages. It can take a couple of days to get messages back and forth from the physician to the pharmacy

That continuous collaboration with physicians is really a new and novel thing that the public might not know about.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

‘Sandwich generation’ faces stress caring for parents,

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

Though the label “sandwich generation” dates back to 1981, those feeling the squeeze of responsibilities of caring for growing children and aging parents know that the moniker is still as relevant today as ever According to the American Psychological Association, those in “the sandwich generation” feel more stress than any other age group as they balance the demanding, delicate acts of care. Dating back to 1981 the term was coined by two women, Dorothy Miller and Elaine Brody At that time, the middle generation in the sandwich was Baby Boomers.

ALLERGIES

These days, while nearly two in five men and women in this age group feel overextended, the survey reveals that more women than men report experiencing extreme stress and say they manage their stress poorly Not only is balancing the medical, financial and educational burdens of two generations taking a toll on these “sandwiched” mothers, now, they have another thing to worry about: heart health.

Dr Dominique Williams is a medical director and cardiologist for women at Ochsner Health Williams says that these women “caught in the middle” are typically between the ages of 40 and 50 and suffer from chronic stress. This stress, brought on by managing three generations

at once, if left untreated, can lead to devastating health concerns.

“Some people can have maladaptive or psychological responses like anxiety or depression,” Williams said. “But they could also have behavioral responses, such as smoking or improper nutrition — things that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

A shifting population

In today’s world, Generation Xers are filling the roles of care for the generations before and behind them.

Of course as time marches, the sandwich generation will be largely composed of millennials.

The Pew Research Center looked into the numbers, and according to their findings, about one in eight Americans between the ages of 40 and 60 was rearing a child

and caring for a parent In fact, about 8.5 million were caring for an elderly parent from a long distance.

Additionally when evaluating U.S. Census Bureau data, these statistics will increase.

The government agency postulates that by 2030, there will be more than 70 million Americans over the age of 65, forcing perhaps more adults pushed to the stressful middle of a generation sandwich.

Managing the stress Stress itself triggers the fight or flight response, or the sympathetic nervous system, increasing cortisol levels and inflammation. According to Williams, this has been associated with increased risk of coronary events or heart attacks that are more common in women.

But why do women miss the signs?

“Most of it is because they are not prioritizing their own needs,” Williams said. “It’s even more difficult because women tend to have atypical or less-subtle symptoms.”

The classic, mostly malecentric, research says that the main symptom for a heart attack is chest pain down the left arm and up the neck. But symptoms that mimic acid reflux, life exhaustion and shortness of breath can also be indicative of heart events.

Every person has a different threshold for stress. How people perceive what is happening and they internalize that stress can make a huge impact on health.

Practical symptoms to look for when thinking about chronic stress include: n Increased blood pres-

children

sure n Fatigue n Craving unhealthy foods n Poor sleep. Williams recommends investing in a blood pressure cuff, available from $16 to $50 online, and tracking the numbers daily “I know it’s hard,” Williams said. “But I like to tell people to try to slow down.” Taking a moment, just 10 to 15 minutes a day, to go on a walk or spend some time alone can do wonders for stress management.

Exercise doesn’t have to be dramatic: a moment walking through the park while running errands, building in a time block for exercise or scheduling a workout class ahead of time that can’t be canceled.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1X

When planning the day, pollen counts are usually highest between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. Minimizing earlymorning activities may help to get a jump-start on a symptom-free day as well as showering right after coming indoors and making sure windows are shut to prevent outdoor pollen from entering the home.

Over-the-counter options

The great news, whether an allergy is new or old, is that the best first-line treatments are available over the counter

“You can go to any drugstore and pick up a steroid spray or an antihistamine nose spray,” Carlson said.

“Those are your first and second line treatments, regardless of what’s triggering your allergic reactions.”

Patients do not need an allergy test or a doctor’s prescription to receive these treatments from the drugstore.

“It tells you how to use it right there on the bottle, and that works for most people,” Carlson said.

n Over-the-counter saline sprays and drops: Saline sprays and artificial tears are most helpful in washing pollen out of the nose and eyes. They are effective when used after coming in from the outdoors.

n OTC nasal steroids: These sprays must be administered only at the recommended dosages, and when used, must be placed in the nose pointing to the ear It often takes several days before the full benefits can be felt.

n Antihistamines and decongestants: Antihistamines reduce sneezing, sniffling, and itching by blocking histamine receptors in the body, while decongestants shrink the blood vessels in the nasal passageways to relieve congestion.

n Eye drops: Help relieve

itchy, watery eyes. When to up the ante

People should see an allergist when their quality of life is so impaired that they are unable to function fully or enjoy their normal lifestyle.

The two big reasons people need to get in to see an allergist are either that those nose sprays available over the counter aren’t working, or if a patient can’t use them because they’re having side effects, like nose bleeds from over-the-counter nasal sprays, Carlson said.

Allergy injection therapy, also known as immunother-

apy, can be very effective in preventing allergy symptoms and may decrease the need for daily medications.

Emerging allergies

If allergies are new to you, you are not alone. Both adults and children can develop allergies at any point in their lives. Typically, however it takes at least two seasons of exposure to develop an allergy

“It’s pretty rare to see a kid with allergies less than age 2,” Carlson said, “We don’t really know why people develop allergies at particular times.”

A curious thing can also happen: the immune system can begin to attune its response and symptoms of allergies can go away in adulthood. It’s actually quite common.

Home remedies?

Carlson says that often when someone feels a cold coming on, they make a cup

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

of tea with honey, frequently adding lemon.

But there isn’t much research to support that honey will help allergy symptoms, according to Carlson, although it is a delicious addition to hot tea.

“It may make you feel more comfortable,” Carlson said. “But typically, nothing that you’re going to do along those lines is going to be sufficient to really open up your sinuses, to really make a difference when you’re having these really strong immune system attacks against the pollen.”

Other elixirs are vitamin C and eucalyptus and frankincense essential oils used as antimicrobials — substances that kill microorganisms like bacteria or fungi.

Carlson admits that as long as these “remedies” are not harmful to the body, they are perfectly fine if it makes an allergy sufferer more comfortable.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.

Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you.

Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

EatFit Live Fit

Performancefueling: Textbook formulas simplified forreal life

AsIstudytorenewmySports NutritionBoardCertification (CertifiedSpecialistinSports Dietetics–CSSD),I’mremindedjust howdifferent“textbook”nutritionis comparedtowhatactuallyworksin reallife.I’veheldthiscredentialsince 2006andtaketheCSSDexamevery fiveyearstorenewit.Whilethescience hasevolved,onethinghasn’tchanged. Thetestisstillfullofpreciseformulas: gramsofcarbohydrateorproteinper kilogramofbodyweightandhydration schedulesdowntothemilliliter

Yes,forprofessionalathleteswhose performance(andpaycheck)depends oneveryfractionofasecond,those detailscanmatter.Butfortherest ofus,wejustneedclear,actionable guidelinesthatfitintoeverydaylife.So,Iam sharingsomeofthoseformulas,alongwith simpletranslationsforreallife.

Carbohydrates

Textbook:Carbsshouldmakeup40–50percentofdailycaloriesforsedentary adults,60percentforactiveindividualsora specificratioofgramsperkilogramofbody weight

Here’sthequickmath:Yourweightin kilogramsisyourweightinpoundsdivided by2.2.

Fromthere,theguidelinessuggestthe followinggramsofcarbsperkilogrambased onexerciseintensitylevels:

•Low-intensity(lessthan1hour/day): 3to5grams

•Moderate(1hour/day):5to7grams

•High(1–3hours/day): 6to10grams

•Extreme(4+hours/day):8to12 grams

Translation:A140-pound(64 kilogram)moderatelyactiveperson wouldconsume320to450grams ofcarbsaday—morethanany unprofessionalathleteneeds

BY THENUMBERS

LA.ISTHE FIFTH-MOSTPHySICALLy INACTIVE STATEINTHE U.S.

In 2022, justunder 1in3adults were notphysically activeduring their leisure time in Louisiana.That’swell above the national averageof24.2%.

Across the U.S.,Louisiana ranks toward the bottom in the countrywhen it comes to physical activity

Physical activity afterworking hours can decrease the risks of certain cancers, heartdisease and Type 2diabetes. Additionally,exercise can reduce the risk of developing seriousillnesses from infectious diseases like COVID or the flu, according to the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention. Regular physical activity canalso increase lifeexpectancy, strengthen bones anddecrease the likelihood of falls in older age.

Theseparishes had the most adults whoare physically inactiveamong adults after working hours in 2022, in descending order:

n East Carroll and Tensas parishes at 42%

CANCER

Continued from page1X

year in recent years. Death rateshave stayed relatively stable,declining by 1% per year since 2013.

What can cause bladder cancer?

Smoking is the biggest risk factor,according to the American Cancer Society.The recent decline in incidencerates is likely due to fewer people smoking. Other risk factors include working in jobs that expose you to chemicals —like painters, metaland leather workers, miners and firefighters. People who usea urinary catheter for

n Claiborne Parishat 40%

n Madison Parish at 39%

n Bienville and Morehouse parishes at 38%

n Evangeline Parish at 37%

n Avoyelles and Concordia parishes at 36%

These parishes had fewest adults whoare physically inactiveamong adults after working hours in 2022, in ascending order:

n Ascension and St. Charles parishes at 25%

n Lafayette and St.Tammany parishes at 26%

n East Baton Rouge, Orleansand West Felicianaparishes at 27%

n Beauregard, Bossier,Cameron, Livingston and Tangipahoaparishesat 28%

TheCDC suggests that adults prevent health problemscaused by notbeing physically activeby:

n Increase weight-bearing activities like

along time are alsoathigher risk. What is theoutlook forbladder cancer patients?

Outcomes for bladder cancer patients improve basedonif and how much thecancer has spread. The five-year relativesurvivalrateis72% to 97% if the cancerhas notspread outside the bladder,but dropsto40% if the cancer has spread to lymph nodesorother nearby partsof thebody, and 9% if it hasspread farther

Treatmentcan include surgery to removethe tumor, parts of thebladder or the whole bladder; radiation; chemotherapy;targeted drugtherapy and immunotherapy

mostsportsdietitiansagree thattheRDAistoolowfor activeadultstopreserve muscle,recoverfromworkouts ormaintainoptimalhealth. Realworld:Formost people,Iprefertheupperend ofproteinrecommendations —closerto0.75to1gramper pound Spreadyourproteinintake throughouttheday.Aimfora palm-sizedportionofprotein atlunchanddinner(thisisthe sizeofyourpalm,typically from3to8ounces)andagood sourceatbreakfastandsnacks (Greekyogurt,eggs,cottage cheese,nutbutter,leanmeats t-basedproteins)

olytes&Hydration book:Sportsdrinkhydration linesoftendescribesodium trationintermsofmilliequivalents er(mEq/L),whichcanfeellike tryclass. Here’sthebreakdown: tandardsportsdrinkslikeGatorade dPowerade—historically nsideredtheoptimalsodium ncentrationforfluidreplacement —typicallycontain20–30mEq/Lof dium edialyteSportbumpsthatupto ound60mEq/Lwhichimproves hydrationoverlow-sodiumoptions

saregistereddietitian underofOchsner’sEatFit ewellnesscontent,tuneinto llness+Nutrition,andfollow FitOchsneronsocialmedia. rgtoconnectwithMollyor rteam.

•SportsdrinkslikeLMNTorMyHy contain1,000mgsodiumperpacket, whichcanbeaddedtobottles rangingfrom20ouncestoaliteror more,translatingto43to74mEq/L, dependingonthewatervolume. Realworld:Mostpeopledoing everydayworkoutsorlongrunsonthe weekendarefinewitharegular,low-sugar sportsdrinkorevenwater,alongwith thesodiumwenaturallygetfromfood. Butfor“saltysweaters”—withactual saltcrystalsdriedontoskinandclothing afterasweatyworkout—ahighersodium concentrationmaybeexactlywhatyour bodyneeds MypersonalfavoriteisLMNT,especially intheheatandhumidityofoursummers inSouthLouisiana Ifyouhavehypertension,kidney concernsorothersodiumsensitivities, alwayscheckwithyourhealthcare providerbeforeincreasingyoursodium intake

Creatine

Textbook:Oneformulaforaninitial 5-7day“loadingphase”:multiplyyour weightinkilogramsby0.3.So,a175-pound person(80kg)wouldconsume24grams ofcreatinedaily.Othersshortenitabit withthegeneralrecommendationof 20-30gramsdailyfortheloadingphase

Realworld:Evensimpler:Skipthe loadingphase.Consistencymattersmore Take5gramsdailyformusclebenefits andupto10gramsdailyforpotential cognitivebenefits.Takeitatanytimeof day,ideallyseparatefromcaffeine.

Bottomline:Nutritionscienceis valuable,butforthemajorityofus,it shouldn’tbeovercomplicated.I’llbeusing theseformulasformyexam,butI’llalso keeptranslatingthemintoreal-lifeadvice thathelpsyoulive,trainandfeelyour bestwithoutacalculator

Managing and understanding menopause

Mostwomenexperiencemenopausebetweentheagesof45and55whenovariesstopproducing estrogenandprogesterone,causingthosehormonelevelstodrop.Thismarkstheendofa woman’sreproductiveyearsandisoftenreferredtoas“thechangeoflife.”

Duringthismenopausaltransition,womenexperiencechangesinmenstruationandcanalso havehotflashes,nightsweats,sleepproblemsandmoodswingsasthebody’sproductionoftwo hormones—estrogenandprogesterone—declinesdramatically.OchsnerHealthisheretohelp withtipstoeasecommonsymptomsandmake“thechange”aneasiertransition.

Menopause and mentalhealth:

Nearly40%ofwomenexperiencemoodsymptomsintheearlystagesofmenopause. Emotionalchanges,suchasirritability,anxiety,lowenergyanddepressioncandisrupt dailylife.Althoughsuchchangesmayfeelunavoidable,womencantakestepsto managetheirsymptomsandimprovementalwell-being.Theseinclude: tipstomanage mood changes

Prioritizingphysicalactivity:Exerciseisanaturalmoodbooster.Regular,moderatelyintense aerobicactivities—suchasbriskwalking—areshowntoimproveenergylevels,reducestress andregulatesleeppatterns.Pairthiswithmuscle-strengtheningexercisestoprotectagainst boneloss.

Focusingonnutrition:Abalanceddietisessentialtomanagemenopause-relatedemotional swings.Incorporatefoodsrichinomega-3fattyacids—likesalmonandwalnuts—andfoods highinproteintostabilizeenergylevelsandsupportbrainhealth.

Limitingalcoholconsumption:Whileaglassofwinemightfeellikeawaytounwind, alcoholcanexacerbatemooddisordersandnegativelyimpactsleepquality.

Practicingrelaxationtechniques:Calmingactivitiessuchasyoga,meditationor rhythmicbreathingexerciseshaveprovenbeneficialforreducinganxietyand improvingoverallemotionalwell-being.

Buildingasupportnetwork:Connectingwithotherswhounderstandyour challengescanbringcomfort,encouragementandasenseofcommunity.

Gettingagoodnight’ssleep:Afullnightofsleepcanboostyourenergy andhelpeasemenopausesymptoms.Lackofsleepandfatiguecanworsen symptoms.

Exploringmedicaloptions:Forwomenwithseveresymptoms,talktherapy ormedicalintervention—suchashormonereplacementtherapyand antidepressants—canproviderelief.

Doesmenopause causeinsomnia?

AccordingtotheNationalInstitutesofHealth,40%to60%ofmenopausalwomen experienceinsomniaortroublesleepingduringthistransition.

Hotflashes,moodswings,anxietyandvariousphysicalsymptomsassociatedwith menopausecanmakeagoodnight’ssleepdifficulttoachieve.

Thereareproactivestepsandtreatmentsthatwomencanexploretoaddresssleep problems.Theyincludehormonetherapy,antidepressants,over-the-countersleep aidsandlifestylechanges.

Ahealthcareprovidercantailoratreatmentplanforsleep-deprivedmenopausal women.Remember,sleepisessentialforgoodhealth.

Can hormone changes during menopause cause UTIs?

Onecommonyetoftenoverlookedmenopausal changeismorefrequenturinarytractinfections (UTIs).Thiscanoccurbecausemenopausecausesa steepdeclineinthebody’sproductionofestrogen, ahormonethathelpsmaintainthehealthoftissues intheurinarytractandvagina.

SymptomsofUTIsincludeastrongurgetourinate, aburningsensationwhileurinating,strong-smelling urine,discoloredurineandlowerbellydiscomfort.

UTIscanbetreatedwithantibiotics,butrepetitive useofthesemedicationscancausegutdiscomfort, diarrheaandlong-termantibioticresistance.

Talktoyourdoctororhealthcareproviderifyou experiencefrequentUTIs.Preventivetreatments likevaginalestrogencreamscanhelpreduceUTIs.

HowdoIcontrolmenopause

Themajorityofwomenexperienceweightgainduringmenopause.Hormonal changes,decreasedsleep,lessleanmusclemassandincreasedinsulinresistance canbecontributingfactors.

Thesechangescanalsoincreasethechancesofdevelopingdiabetes, cardiovasculardisease,highbloodpressureandosteoporosis.

Studieshaveshownanti-inflammatorydietsrichinfresh,wholefoodscanhelp menopausalwomenlosefatandmaintainmuscle.

Gettingadequatehydration,practicinggoodsleephygieneandmaintaining physicalactivitywithafocusonbuildingmusclearealsoimportantincontrolling weightgainduringmenopause.

Ifyouareexperiencingweightgainorothersymptomsrelatedtomenopause, scheduleanappointmentwithyourOB/GYNtodiscussanyquestionsorconcerns youhave

OchsnerHealthistheleadingnonprofithealthcareproviderintheGulfSouth,deliveringexpertcareatits46hospitalsandmorethan370healthandurgentcare

LOUISIANA

CARVING MEMORIES

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Fighting to stay afloat on what looks like asea of chocolate milk,desperation begins to define aTuesdaymorning in Thibodaux. My boat shakesuncontrollably,and Ifeel like anewborn deer learning to walk.

“You might be going swimming, my brother,” says Ernie Savoie.“Youhave a change of clothes?”

Giventhe suffocatingJulyheat, an impromptu dip in Bayou Lafourche doesn’t seem like the worst idea.But Ididn’tpack fora swim, andwith intrusivevisions of alligators incoming, Itry harder to maintain equilibrium. The more Istrain, the worse the boat shakes.

Savoie shouts instructions fromaboat launch frontingthe campus of Nicholls State University.

“You in alog!” hesays.“All you have to do is stay in the middle.”

Savoie, 67, is acarpenterwithgrayhair that begins as frizzy mutton chops and trails into aponytail. Moments before, he smoothly paddled the 140-year-old pirogue, passeddown through generations of Cajuns, and it had cut through the water’ssurface like butter

Ishift my weight towardsthe boat’s cen-

ter of gravity,but epoxy coatsthe cypress like slick black ice, and Islide back and forthbetween port and starboard; afurioussplashing pendulum that spoils the serene waterfront.

Savoie’slaughter grows louder,and I’m regretting asking to take theheirloom for aspin. By the time Ireach safety,he’s howling.

Vickie Eserman, aretiredelementary school teacher from Raceland, joins him on the dock, urging him to muffle hisguffaws.

Both serve on the board of the Center forTraditional Louisiana BoatBuilding, working to raise funds for amuseum plannedjust afew hundredyards away —that will house nearly 80 handcrafted Cajun boats, whose previous homewas destroyed by Hurricane Ida.

By hand andbyeye

Eserman’spath to boatbuildingbegan after her father,anantique collector and boatenthusiast,passed away in 2010. She andher sister decided to builda pirogue in hishonor.Hoping to learn thecraft, she started volunteering at the center,where Savoie was often working.

“Where are the plans?” she recalls askinghim. “I wanted to studyall aboutthis.”

But Savoie isn’ta fan of formal instruction,and Cajun boatbuilding comes with no Ikea-style instruction manual, relying instead on intuition to build —atradition called “by hand andbyeye.” And, as Eserman discovered, every craftsman employs his own sacred technique.

“He’svery particular,” she said. “If one nail went in crooked,hewas pullingit out.”

“It’sall done by feel,” said Savoie, first taught by his father to build pirogues from plywood, aprocess he’srefined over the years. “It’sfiguring the angles and widths… it’saprocess of shaping somethingyou’re satisfied looking at.”

Savoie’s 14-foot, round-bottompirogue that nearly capsized earlier in the day washandmadebyhis great-grandfather, Arsene Savoie, from asingle cypress log. Thestory goes that for those willing to toil sunup till sundown for nine days on his farm in Larose, Arsene would pay them in pirogue —a deal common in Cajun country’sbarter economy

“You busted your butt for thatpirogue,” said Savoie. “More than likely youneeded it for something else. Youwere atrapper or fisherman who needed that to makehis living.”

Though far from theonly popular waterway,Bayou Lafourche had, by the 19th century,become an aquatic precursorof Interstate 10. Before its disastrous damming in 1903, theriverflowed freely from its split with the Mississippi at Donaldsonville all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, drawing more and more coastalCajuns north to settle along its banks, said Ray Brassieur,aretired University of Lafayette anthropology professor whohas spent decades studying Cajunculture.

“Tothem, thiswas paradisewhenthey landedhere,” addedSavoie.“It washotter thanhell and the mosquitoes will carry you away,but you’ll eat.Anybody that couldn’tsurvive down here, it’sbecause they weren’ttrying.”

Back then, mammoth-sized old-growth cypress lined bayou banks, readily available for any prospective fishermen, trawler,trapper or farmer,its rot and termiteresistant wood denser,and higher quality thantoday’snew growthiterations. As a result,wooden boatbuildingwas away of life.

Narrow,shallowdraftpirogues were largely modeled from Native Americans dugouts —usually atwo-person utility boat forthe bayou, rowed facing forward, andoften standing up. Unlike most Native Americans, Europeans had theadvantage of steel.

“Theycould make their dugout much thinner,muchlighter,much more dynamic in thewater,” said Brassieur.“The tricksvariedaccordingtothe master that had them.”

By the 1930s, as the state’sloss of marshland began to dramatically increase, industrial logging hadwiped out nearly all of Louisiana’svirgin, old-growth cypress. Even today,some still search forthe legendary “sinker” cypress logs —trees that sank to thebottom of bayous on their way to sawmills —but for themost part, dugoutsand cypress-plank boats gradually gave way toplywood hulls.

“Once they saw that plywood, aboat builder could shape any boat they wanted,” said Brassieur.“It was much easier to work with …but the skills ran out when thematerial changed.”

Finally,sheet-metal designs made old methodsall but obsolete, and today,traditional wooden boatbuilding is left to a handful lucky enough toinherit the skills —areminder to some of what waslost.

“The skills are still here,” said Bras-

ä See MEMORIES, page 2Y

‘Your

houseis on fire’

Last Sunday,aswewere getting ready to go to our book club, I noticed the ceiling faninour bedroom wasn’tspinning.

My husband and Ihave alongrunning, unspoken ceiling fan battle. Ithought he had turned it off, so Ipulled the string. Nothing. Iflipped the switch —still no spin. The light didn’twork either For amoment, Ithought the electricity was out. But other lights in the house were on.

Before we got in the car with the giant vat of chicken spaghetti Ihad madefor our book club, aneighbor sent me the name and number of an electrician. I gave the electrician acall. It was Sunday night, so Ileft amessage and asked if they could come out Monday morning. Our book club wasdiscussing “Diary of aMisfit” by Casey Parks, set in Delhi, Louisiana. The themeofthe meal was “Southern food.” In my mind, chicken spaghetti fit the book perfectly.I believe folks in Delhi werebuying Rotel and Velveeta forchicken spaghetti, just like my mama had done afew miles east in Mississippi. Imade enough chicken spaghetti forthe LSU football team. Turns out, that chicken spaghetti wasthe last thing Icooked in our house.

About 8:50 p.m., Iwas taking abite of pound cake when adifferent neighbor called. We were still at the table at book club, so Ididn’tanswer.She called right back. Istood up and answered the phone. She yelled, “Your house is on fire.”

PHOTO PROVIDED By JULIO

This mug from a2004 Erma Bombeck conferencesurvivedthe fire in columnistJan Risher’shouse fire in Baton RougeonAug.17.

Icould hear sirens in the background. We were in our car headed that way in aflash. Driving across town toward your burning homeisastrange ride.

The fire trucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles had swarmed our whole block. We parked about 70 yards from our house.

All of our neighbors werein the street. Our friends showed up from book club and beyond. And, as our house burned and firefighters worked, those people who love us took turns hugging us and standing by our sides.

The fire started in the attic. Neighbors have given us photos of flames shooting 20 feet into the sky,catching the giant live oak next door on fire too. The experience of standing there forthree hours was utterly surreal. The swirl of lights that wereaconstant throughout the ordeal will stay with me. It was like being in astrange, outdoor flashing discothèque.

Ididn’tcry.I knew that every-

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

ASK THE EXPERTS

LSU Museum of Art executive director preparing for future

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE

Staff writer

Mark Tullos serves as the executive director of the LSU Museum of Art, one of the South’s largest university-affiliated art collections, with roughly 6,000 works. Before his return to his home state, Tullos acted as the founding president and CEO of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian, Mississippi.

He has also served as the assistant secretary for the Louisiana Office of State Museum, director of the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans and founding director of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.

We’re two weeks into the new school year at LSU What is the LSU Museum of Art looking forward to?

We’re coming out of one of our most successful years we’ve seen in a decade. The museum met a lot of challenges over the past 10 years with COVID and budget cuts, but last year, we managed to achieve a lot of things that were long overdue, including our reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. Now, we’re preparing for even bigger things this next year How has the museum had to pivot its approach to funding with the current budget cuts?

First, LSU has been stalwart in their support for the museum. They’ve not budged from what they contribute to our operations, which is about 42% of our budget The rest of the budget we have to raise privately through grants, membership and donations.

A lot of our grants that come through local sources like the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Division of the Arts are all supported by the National Endowment for the Arts indirectly, which is now being eliminated. So we’re looking for other ways to create self-generated

MEMORIES

Continued from page 1y

sieur “They can be encouraged and redeveloped as needed It can happen.”

Warehouse of wooden ghosts

About a 10-minute drive from Nicholls State, Eserman and Savoie pull off La. 1. There, in a stuffy warehouse, lie 78 full-sized wooden boats, ranging from a 1980s-built lugger to an Indian dugout carbon-dated to the 1500s. The collection traces its roots to Tom Butler and John Rochelle, two fishing buddies and faculty members at Nicholls State University In the 1970s, they became captivated by the groups of men they met during long trips down the bayou, who were still handcrafting boats on river banks. They began inviting the boatbuilders to a maintenance barn on the university’s campus, where they conducted interviews and documented building methods. In 1979, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building became official.

“They really just wanted to preserve the art of boatbuilding, because they were seeing fewer and fewer boats,” said Eserman.

Over the years, the barn evolved into a cross between a workshop and tourist destination. People from across South Louisiana came to build and restore boats, while anyone interested in Cajun heritage found a living museum.

In 2007, the center was moved to a former Ford dealership in Lockport, where Eserman says the collection exploded. In addition to boats, people donated Cajun artifacts, including tools, art work, and antique boat motors. During the pandemic, the museum shuttered its doors. Then Hurricane Ida ripped the facility apart, leaving it irreversibly damaged. Savoie, Eserman and a few others scrambled to find a safe storage place, where, for the past four years, the boats have lain forlorn, closed to the public

The situation visibly pains Eserman and Savoie, who both see the boats as more than just artifacts. For them, each vessel tells a specific family history, a heritage, that if not passed to the next generation, risks being lost.

“This shouldn’t be like this. It’s not right,” said Savoie, walking among the collection. “It’s a big concern of mine that I get these out of here as soon as I can.”

funding through fundraisers and things of that nature.

What are some of the big events that you’re preparing for in the coming years?

This year, we are launching the museum’s first-ever annual fundraiser Southern Palette, a food and drink experience downtown. People can visit southernpalette. org to see the guest chefs who are coming in throughout the South on March 21. People can come and taste very unique, award-winning samples from each of the chefs.

We’re trying to rebuild our website to make our collections accessible to the public. As a scholar, you’ll even get a level of access where you can go in and see the collection and study certain things that the general public can’t.

The next piece is our effort to expand our collaboration with the university and the college students. We’re employing more student workers and graduate students than we have before. We’re also developing more programs and partnership with various departments on campus to impact student education. On the other end, we’re working with the public schools and educators to provide access for opportunities here on our campus at the Shaw Center

A lot of people don’t realize that exhibition planning takes a long time. We have one program that’s three to four years out. In 2026 and 2027, we’re working on a major exchange with an artist in Cuba that we’ve been working on for two years.

Why was it important to earn reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums?

Out of roughly 33,000 museums in the United States, only about 1,000 of them are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. What that means is the museum has gone through a process of self study and examination for at least one year in upgrading their policies, procedures, organization,

Bringing the Cajun fleet home

As direct links to traditional boatbuilding dwindles, Eserman has encouraged Savoie to document his techniques, with little success.

“Ernie, are you writing this down?” she’ll ask. “Are you recording yourself? Is your wife recording you?”

But Savoie isn’t much of a notetaker, and the electronic stuff, he says, “is Greek to me.”

Instead he’s holding out hope for a better way

A sign outside Nicholls State currently advertises a new home for the center, which Savoie and Eserman see as a continuation of the original maintenance barn — a living history depicting life in the 18th century, where visitors can come to see remaining boat builders, and oral histories from Rochelle and Butler’s original work can be displayed.

“Most of the exhibits we take in, we’ll try to have a story from that person, “ said Savoie. “Of what was done with that boat, how they used it. That way you preserve the history of that family,”

So far, Eserman says the center has raised 20% of the $2 million needed for construction of the new museum. She and Savoie aren’t the only ones working to revive the museum, but they work well together

“He and I are nothing alike, but we both have the same vision,” said Eserman. “I’m doing all the secretary work and designing brochures, while he’s getting out there building boats.”

Most of their campaign, said Eserman, is centered around grassroots crowdfunding.

To cover operating costs Savoie envisions renting out pirogues — hopefully more stable than Arsene’s — for families to paddle outside the center on Bayou Lafourche, though the experience might be more authentic to lend them out in exchange for a few chores.

It’s unclear when the center will find enough money to break ground. In the meantime, Savoie is passing his knowledge to his son and grandsons, just as his father, and his father before him, once did lessons from the past that may guide their future.

“If you don’t try to pass it down to your family,” he said. “It’s just going to go away.”

Email Aidan McCahill at aidan.mccahill@theadvocate. com.

Q&A WITH MARK TULLOS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LSU MUSEUM OF ART

ethics policies and education programs to a level that is best practices in the industry

After you strive to improve in those areas, a team of reviewers from peer institutions visit on behalf of the American Alliance of Museums, which is our membership organization. The last time we were accredited was back in 2007, so we had to review all those qualifications. A team came to Baton Rouge, and we passed with flying colors.

How do the arts build community and create solutions in a city?

This is a really important conversation to have right now be-

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

thing that could be done was being done.

I learned many things Sunday night. First, the kindnesses of friends can be overwhelming. One friend walked up with an overnight bag full of essentials — toothbrush, toothpaste, sandals and clothes.

I learned that the flip side of the brute force the firefighters used to cut down the door to get into our burning home was their thoughtfulness. They recognized that we had a lot of original art and that it must be important to us. They took most of the art down, piece by piece, and placed each on our giant mesquite dining table. Then, they covered the whole thing with a tarp.

At one point, as I was standing there watching our house on fire, a firefighter approached me and said, “Here’s your laptop,” charging cord included. Another fireman brought us the two prescription medicines that were in the bathroom cabinet.

Much of the evening is a blur I don’t know how three hours passed. Time is elastic. I remember the guy from the electric company who took down the meter The guy from the gas company came and shut off the gas. I didn’t think to ask about the water

By 11:30 p.m., we had convinced our friends to go home and promised to make our way to one of their homes as soon as we could. I had been standing for nearly three hours and saw a place on Engine 9 where I could sit. My husband snapped a photo of me.

Around 11:40 p.m., the firemen came and said they would take us inside to grab a few things.

We found about two inches of standing water and foam in the living room. I had on nice sandals and didn’t think those would be my safest option as the floors were covered with soot, ashes, wires and debris. I remembered I had left my tennis shoes near the front door They were conveniently under the tarp under the table with the art. I put them on and walked past the charred remains of the attic entrance and passed decades worth of soggy yearbooks.

Headed toward our bedroom, standing water was everywhere. Firefighters had put a tarp on our bed too. I grabbed a bunch of my

cause of the recent challenges museums are facing with censorship.

In 2021, the American Alliance of Museums hired an independent research firm to conduct a survey, and they discovered that 9 out of 10 Americans found museums more trustworthy than any institution in the United States, just below their family members. Above their churches and educational institutions, they believed in museums. I think it’s because we’ve cherished, for decades now, that when we mount an exhibition, we should be unbiased, and we need to bring the facts. We may not like the his-

tory what the artist might be saying or what the scientific discovery was, but it’s the fact. People rely on museums for that information, exposure to opinions, ideas and freedom that we have to express and exhibit those things. People come to us because they want to be challenged with new ideas, or they want to learn what the truth is about ourselves. Museum are really central to our American story Our democracy is founded on that principle of truth.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. com.

dresses from the front of my closet. One of the firemen suggested taking the dirty clothes basket.

“You know you wear those clothes,” he said. He also asked if I’d like for him to take the nice shoes I was holding. We loaded what we could into my car and went to our book club friends’ home. They made us as comfortable as possible. Still, sleeping was hard. So many scenes and thoughts kept running through my brain.

I was thinking, “Things are bad, but much of the stuff seems to be OK.” I thought we could just go back and get what we needed. Turns out, a house that’s been on fire doesn’t work exactly like that. When we arrived back on Monday morning, we learned a water pipe in the attic (where our hot water heater was) had not been turned off and had been flowing all night long. There was even more water in the house. Ceilings were beginning to sag.

I called friends at our church to see if they could help us get out all the art while we could. Within minutes, both pastors and a team of people were there and loaded all the art out. Within two hours, one of the church members brought a key to another church

member’s home. They’re out of town for several weeks. We could stay there temporarily

Another friend made it his mission to save as many of our yearbooks and photo albums as possible. He consulted with an LSU Libraries archivist and placed the waterlogged books in the sun and stood there for hours turning the pages of each book every 15 minutes.

Of all the little moments, that’s the one that chokes me up. Throughout the week, we felt the love. Early Monday, two other church members cleaned out our refrigerator Our book club friend washed all of our dirty clothes, gently folded them and delivered them to our temporary home. Another friend bought me a muchneeded makeup brush and other toiletries. Other friends have brought delicious meals, treats and a prayer quilt. My much-loved dishes and giant table seem to be OK. The chicken spaghetti may have been the last thing I cooked in that version of our home, but we will share meals with those we love again. We already have chicken spaghetti, in fact. The fire took a lot. But in the darkest nights, I’ve been reminded once again, people shine brightest.

Bossierartistmakes inclusivedolls

BY MOLLYTERRELL Staff Writer

ABossier City woman hasspent years perfecting her craft of sewing unique dolls to make everyone feel included. Now she’sopening her own storefront.

Cassondra Bolden owns All Y’all Dolls in Bossier City where she hand sews faceless dolls of all complexions and sizes for consumers to see themselves in thedolls

Bolden saidshe didn’t evenreallyknow how to sew that well when she made her firstcustom doll for her grandmother in 2010 as agift, and she said her grandmother thought she had it delivered from astore.

Shedidn’t pursue making dolls for other people until the COVID-19 pandemic, when she had time to pursue the craft again.

She said it was ahobby at first, and that she didn’t think about selling them until friends told her she should.

Bolden hasconsistently been selling dolls for two years, participating in local markets and events, such as art•ish last month, and selling on Etsy.Now,she’s opening up astorefront on Barksdale Air Force Base andgrowing her business, fully diving into the meaning behind “All Y’all Dolls. She grew up in Houston, and her husband’sjob in the AirForce broughther creativity to Bossier City For Bolden, she said she strives for inclusivity because she remembers it being hard to find dolls that looked likeher whenshe was younger Because of that, she became fixated on dolls with “no features at all” and just wanted to coverall different complexions andethnicities through thedolls’ clothing and skin tones

She said she learned that children didn’treally care

aboutfaces on their dolls, and instead focused on the hair,skin colorand clothing. She said alittle boy becomeinfatuated withone of her dollsbecause they were wearing the same outfit and had the sameskin tone.

Accordingto Bolden, the boy “takes that dollwith him everywhere.”

“I’ve sold over 100 dolls and I’m just excited about that and how Iamgrowing,” Bolden said.

Pricingofher dolls

Bolden said herpricing depends on the complexity andhow long it takes herto completethe dolls.She said sometimes it only takes her abouta daytocompletea doll and that herpremade dolls typically fall between $65and $75.

Customdolls can be up to $200 dependingonthe sizeand complexity,but shealsohas moreaffordable dolls so shecan sell to awider variety of people.

For custom dolls, the buyer can choose the fabricfor theskin tone, which can rangefrom realistic to whateverfabric they want, and describe thehair andclothes to her. Bolden said people often sendher pictures forreference when she’smakingcustom dolls

One of her recent dolls wasmodeled aftera photo of awoman who wears very extravagant clothes on a daily basis, and thedoll reflecteditwithreplicasof herclothesand her very large hat.

She said she has made a headlessdoll for agirl who loved WednesdayAddams, dollsinspiredbyindigenous cultures, Beyoncé andmore.

Bolden said people donate fabric and clothesto her sometimes,and shesaid she finds something do with all of it.She loves making custom dolls but also likes having someready to be

sold for customers walking through as well. Bolden said she wants children to love themselves andhavea diversecollection of dolls that look like them.

To see more of Bolden’s work,you can viewher Instagram or herEtsy shop.

Email Molly Terrellat molly.terrell@theadvocate. com.

FAITH &VALUES

Inmodern, scientific world, faith still rocks

“This is not a‘dumb rock!’” Georgetown University chemistry professor Joseph Early had just dropped ahand-sizedpebble,with aclatter,onto the table at thefront of the lecture hall,and then held it aloft, while loudlyuttering those words

BEyOND BELIEF

This class in 1983, called “ScientificWorldview,” was openly described by Early as “the science course for humanities majors.” Essentially,itwas about how science fits in with, informs, and is informed by,other majorfields of learning Early’spointwith the stone was that very little separated that rock from living organisms. If you could take most of the same chemical elements from that rock but rearrange which protons and which electrons latched on to each other,you could have something aliverather than inert.

Early went further still: Even assuming thelinking of atoms was rearranged to form life, thereisnothing in chemistry or physics which yet explains human consciousness. The scientific world that aims to explain the mysteries of theuniverse runs into that seemingly unsolvable mystery

Or,asEarly (in one of his many published writings) approvingly quotes from philosopher John R. Searle, “How is it possible in auniverseconsisting entirely of physical particles in fields of forcethatthere can be such things as consciousness, intentionality,free will, language, society,ethics, [and] aesthetics?”

In Early’stelling, even the supposedly dumb rock holds the same building blocks that,ifrearranged, can lead to life and thence, mysteriously,tohuman consciousness but nobody can prove exactly how Early, adevout Catholic, therefore positedthat scienceitself possibly leads to the possibility of theinexplicably “unmoved mover.” In sum, perhaps, to God.

From aperch in chemistry,then, Earlyjoined along and growinglist of scientists who assert that scientific inquiry not only does not contradict God’sexistence, but instead makessuch existence somewhat more plausible.

While Early taught, despite so many understandings to thecontrary,that the scientific worldview is not at odds with areligiousworldview,the broaderlesson of his class was thatscience viewed rightlyisin arelational position with allsortsof other fields of inquiry rangingfrom faithtoarts to literature.

What can also be intriguing, however,isthe same idea from the other end of the looking glass: from faith to science, or from faithtoso many other aspects of our lives.

So many questions arise: Is faith at odds with science, or with modernity? How —not legally or politically,but practically —can faith add value to the public square? Where or how,ifatall, does faithfit into a21st Century where formal affiliation with religion has declined markedly?

And, of course, age-oldquestions remain: When is random fateat work, contrasted with whenGod’s will is all-controlling? How, if God is aloving entity,are we to explain not just evil but also intense suffering resulting not from any willful human actionbut from natural processes cancers, natural disasters,etc. —of the world God supposedly created? These foundational questionsand topics are inherently newsworthy. Issues of faith are deeply enmeshed in the fabric of everyday American life, and certainly of life in deeply religious Louisiana. It is well worth reflecting upon the ways in which faith —inmuch the same way as Professor Early’sscience —isinrelationship with the restofexistence

One can hope, too, that these explorations willanimate what otherwise, physically speaking,isjust dumb newsprint.

Advocate/Times-Picayune columnist Quin Hillyer has adegree in Theology from Georgetown University.Heis an Episcopalian who attended an Episcopal grade school and a historically Jewish high school, studiedMartin Luther at aJesuit University,and taught at aBaptist college

‘You have to meet people wheretheyare’

Digitalmissionariesare upliftingthe

BYLAURENCHERAMIE Staff writer

The Vatican is stepping up its digital game Leading Catholic officials have realized the power and potential of the internet as an evangelism tool.InJuly,they invited Lake Charles’ Katie Prejean McGrady alongwith 1,000 other Catholic social mediainfluencers, for thefirst Jubilee of DigitalMissionaries and Catholic Influencers eventatthe Vatican But Katie McGrady didn’tneed to travel to Rometorealizethe power of theinternet. She says she wouldn’tbemarried to her husband without Facebook In May2014, TommyMcGradysent a message to Katie after he read one of her blog posts. Theylong-distancedated fora year, and then Tommy moved to Louisiana in 2015. They married thenext year

“My two kids wouldn’texist withouta Facebook DM,” she said.

Katie McGrady started her career working in youth ministry and as aCatholic school teacher.In2017, she beganspeakingfull-time at retreats, religious education conferences and more.

Today,she is an author,podcast and radio host, and aVatican analystfor CNN, exploringvarious topics about theCatholic faith.

“The honest and vulnerable and authentic sharing of life —anauthentically Catholic life—opens up opportunities of encounter,” she said.

As far as asocial media strategy goes, she shares whatinterests her —whether that’sanews story,personal story or accounts fromothers. She doesn’tnecessarily focus on aspecific age group. She just tries to target those who are curious about thefaith Bernard Dumond, founder and CEO of Catholic Vitality360, based in Lafayette, says thedigital tactics are on point

“You havetomeet people where they are,” Dumond said. In Baton Rouge, Kendrick Slan,withVag-

Catholic faith

abondMissionsatSacredHeart of Jesus Catholic Church, uses social media to connect with teenagers.

The organization’smissionisto serveteenagersinurban and innercity communities through weekly programs, outreach and mentorship.

The Vagabond missionaries withSacred HeartofJesus in Baton Rougeare based in the Underground Hub,a buildingthat is owned by the church. youth in the community are able to cometothe space to connectwith the missionaries and each other Slan

To build relationships, Slantook apage out of Jesus’playbook and uses food. It’s not loaves and fishes, but Vagabond missionaries go into theneighborhood and hand out pizza —one slicefor afollowonthe Instagram, @225_ Underground. Slan says the pizza/Instagram approach has been more effective in building connections than any other digital medium

TheRev.Josh Johnson,priest at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, echoes the importance of meeting people where they are.

“Peter wasn’tinthe temple when he encountered Jesus. Peter was out fishing by the lake. Jesus met him on his boat,” Johnsonsaid.

“That’sapowerful reminder for us today.Like Christ, we are called to meet people where they are, and formany in our culture, that place is social media.” Louisiana cultureeditor Jan Risher contributed to this report.

Email Lauren Cheramieatlauren cheramie@theadvocate.com.

Medievalistexaminesthe role of modern pastor’s wife

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

”Becoming the Pastor’sWife: How MarriageReplaced Ordination as aWoman’s Path to Ministry,”ByBeth Allison Barr, Brazos Press, 232 pages

Review

Beth AllisonBarr’snew book examines thedivide between the role of the pastor’s wife and the professional ministryof women. This duality underpins her study of pastors’ wives and how their roles have shifted over time. In “Becoming thePastor’sWife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as aWoman’sPath to Minis-

try,”Barr,amedieval historian and professor at Baylor University,unpacks thecontemporary expectations of evangelical pastors’ wives and compares them to the complex history of women’sroles in the Christian church. She argues theissue is not whether women minister in the church, but that their work is not recognized as professional ministry Barrcombines her research with her experiences as aSouthern Baptistpastor’s wife for 25 years. In her research, Barranalyzed 150 works written either about pastors’ wives or by them. She also researched multiple figures of the

early Christian church, the medieval church and female Christian leaders of the 20th century She showshow,inthe 20th century,women’sministry in the Southern Baptist Convention the largest evangelical Protestant organization —shifted dramatically,especially in the 1980s and ’90s, when changes in ordination policy pushed ministerial duties onto the roleofpastor’swife.

Drawing on both her personal and academic vantage points, Barr critically examines how the role of pastor’swifebecame asubstitute for ordination.

Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

SUNDAY, AUgUSt 31, 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 — ABridGed: uh-BRIJ'D: Shortened or condensed.

Average mark 41 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 64 or more words in ABRIDGED?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Play the percentages

South won the opening spade lead with his king and was very pleased with his contract There were 11 easy tricks provided that the club suit came in for six tricks. That was a sure thing unless the missing clubs split 4-0, so South gave some thought about the best way to play the club suit. Knowing that West had long spades, South judged that East was far more likely to have four clubs than West. Accordingly South started clubs at trick two by leading a low club to dummy’s ace. He was gob-smacked when East discarded a diamond! There was no longer any way to get to nine tricks. South cashed his eight top winners and settled for down one.

super Quiz

SUBJECT: IMAGINARY PLACES (e.g.,

South could have done better. It would cost nothing to play the ace and queen of diamonds before starting on clubs. When West shows up with a singleton diamond, the odds would change dramatically. It would be very unlikely that West held a club void in addition to a singleton diamond. South should then start clubs by cashing the king

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept 22) Consider the outcome

in his hand. When East shows out, South will continue with the 10 of clubs and double finesse West out of the jack and nine of clubs, using the ace of hearts to re-enter his hand if West covers the 10 with the jack.

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

A

be heard. A change of plans will lead to an interesting and unexpected encounter

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Reach out to those in a position to help you, and you’ll get a sense of what

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Take better care of your mental and physical well-being. Refuse to let stress filter into aspects of your life that require common sense and immediate attention. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Savor the moments that matter Share your experiences, thoughts and feelings. Focus on doing your best and helping those around you meet their expectations. CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19) Keep life simple. Surround yourself with helpful people who offer sound advice and support. Consider healthy choices and fine-tune your lifestyle to suit your needs.

and how you can invest efficiently in your future. Be bold and brave, and you’ll benefit from doing your best to stand out. PISCES (Feb 20-March 20) Kindness is a blessing, but also a vulnerability if you are too eager to please. Set boundaries and limitations with those who are anxious to take advantage of you. ARIES (March 21-April 19) A change to your schedule will position you for an adventure. Short trips, getting together with old friends and revisiting dreams will change your perspective and your direction.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Be precise regarding what matters to you, but also be willing to compromise. Balance, integrity and feeling good about an agreement you reach will make a difference in how you feel about yourself.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Stick to the script. If you keep waffling or changing your story, you’ll lose the confidence of those you count on for support. Giving back, sharing and caring go hand in hand with achieving success CANCER (June 21-July 22) Don’t get caught in someone else’s crossfire. Avoid volatile situations or those who exhibit excessive behavior Let go of what no longer works for you, and start dancing to the beat of your drum. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Engage in what and with who excites you. Social events, travel and reconnecting with old friends you miss will brighten your day Choose simplicity over complexity, and you’ll win every time.

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: Whensummergathers up her robes of glory, and like adreamofbeauty glides away.— Sarah Helen Whitman

1. Wonderland. 2. Camelot.3.Emerald City. 4. Metropolis. 5. Neverland.6.Hogwarts. 7. Narnia. 8. Shangri-La. 9. Wakanda.10. Atlantis. 11. Bedford Falls. 12. Asgard. 13. Rivendell. 14.Cloud City.15. Amity Island. Crossword Answers