The Advocate 02-22-2026

UNLOCKINGMYSTERIES OF THEMARSH

Unique projectprovidesdeepinsights into state’ssinking soil alongthe coast

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Askinny bayou curves betweenthick reedsofmarsh grass, revealing aspot hidden deep in the muck withanimportance fargreaterthanits surroundings would suggest. Standing atop wooden planks, CalebIzdepski and Tyler Loeb pull up chunks of soil samples and take measurements to helpgauge the rise and fall of theland here. It is one tiny part of agiant research effort constantly in motion, unique worldwide and key to unlocking the mysteries of the Louisiana marsh. “It’sthe only oneofits kind in the world, really,”Melissa Hymel, ascientist with the state’scoastalauthority,said whileonthe visittothe site accessible onlybyboat, locatednearHopedale in St Bernard Parish.

Louisiana’snetwork of 390coastalmonitoringstationsisuniqueworldwide andhas become keytoawiderange of scientificresearch. Nowinits 20th year,the networkisdeepening understandingofLouisiana’slandlosscrisis, amongother subjects

Crawfish season heating up after slow start

High prices expected to fall,retailers say

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

As manyfamilies enjoy crawfish boils to kickoff the start of the 40-dayLentenobservance, mudbug peddlers say prices are on their waydown after early season spikes. Cold spells and labor challenges led to some vendors delaying sales, but they nowexpect supply and prices to return to normal by Easter

The crawfish season looked “optimistic” in early December.Then across the state, 2026 kicked off with freezing temperatures, which causedthe crustaceanstoburrow themselves deep in the mud, slowing their growth, movement and consequently,their harvest. But the weather has since warmed up.

Roof program can’tkeep up with demand

Largelyunknown outside the scientific community,the project is now in its 20th year stretching from the chenier plains of the state’ssouthwest to thesinking soils at theMississippi’smouth. Its ever-accumulating mountainofdata has become key to abroad range of research, including studies helpingdeepen the state’s

understanding of itsland loss crisis.Itisall posted online for anyone to view,enabling scientistsacross theworld to use it If apublicist would’ve named it, the network of

Only 20% of homeowners awardedgrant

390sitesmight be called something flashy.Instead, it carries ahumble butprecise moniker onlyascientist couldlove: theCoastwide

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

Nearly threeyearssincethe start of astate program to dole out grants forhomeowners to get stronger roofs, the number of people seeking help is faroutstripping the money available. Thestate’s fortified roofgrant program has emerged as apopular solution to rising homeowners insurancecosts, whichhaveculminated in acrisisthat is threatening

Report: U.S. accepts Iran’s uranium plans

U.S. officials have accepted Iran’s red line of continuing to enrich uranium, the semiofficial Iranian Students’ News Agency quoted one of the country’s diplomats as saying The idea that Iran would completely stop nuclear enrichment was dismissed during the recent U.S. talks in Geneva, according to the diplomat, whom ISNA did not identify but described as familiar with the discussions. Instead, the official said negotiations are focused on the technical components of Tehran’s atomic program, such as the location, level and number of uranium centrifuges, ISNA reported.

The unnamed diplomat’s remarks echo comments Friday by Iranian Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi, who told MS Now that the U.S. hasn’t asked for zero enrichment and that both sides are seeking a “fast deal.”

U.S. and Iranian officials met in Geneva on Tuesday for their second round of Oman-mediated talks, as President Donald Trump continues to bolster U.S military assets in the Middle East.

The diplomat said a regional arrangement to enrich uranium isn’t currently under discussion and dismissed suggestions that Iran would agree to relocate the nuclear material abroad, according to ISNA.

Another alleged drug boat struck, killing 3

WASHINGTON The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” It said the strike killed three people. A video linked to the post shows a boat floating in the water before bursting into flames.

Friday’s attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats to at least 148 people in at least 43 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

Mr Clean ends 68 years as company mascot

Mr Clean appears to be calling it quits. The retirement of the bald, animated mascot used in Mr Clean ads and on products since 1958 was announced in a social media ad posted Thursday That ad features Mr Clean standing behind a podium with a “breaking news” chyron flashing across the screen.

“After a career with zero stains on the record, he’s ready for new adventures,” the narrator says That voice assures consumers the company bearing his name will continue to operate, then asks “What’s next for Mr Clean?”

Among those wishing the smiling character well on Instagram were the social media teams behind Old Spice grooming products and Brawny paper towels

“We’ll miss you, legend!” wrote the team at Old Spice. Mr Clean’s people responded by saying they too will miss their mascot.

“While our products will continue to battle your dirt and grime, Mr Clean, well, first name Veritably, (yes, really), is off to new adventures. We know his journey will be fulfilling, and we support his decision,” the company wrote.

This may not be the end of Mr Clean altogether

USA Today reported that word of his departure is tied to another announcement coming March 4. The Procter & Gamble-owned brand reportedly has no plans to change Mr Clean’s packaging or branding.

Maxwell fights release of files

Lawyers say law forcing release of Epstein documents is unconstitutional

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK Lawyers for impris-

oned British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell are fighting the requested release of 90,000 pages related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell, saying a law used to force the public release of millions of documents is unconstitutional.

The lawyers filed papers late Friday in Manhattan federal court to try to block the release of documents from a since-settled civil defamation lawsuit brought a decade ago by the late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell.

The Justice Department recently asked a judge to lift secrecy requirements on the files.

Maxwell’s attorneys said the Justice Department obtained the documents — otherwise subject to secrecy orders improperly during its criminal probe of Maxwell.

They said the documents include transcripts of over 30 depositions and private information regarding financial and sexual matters relat-

ed to Maxwell and others.

Some records from the year-long exchange of evidence in the lawsuit battle were already released publicly in response to a federal appeals court order

Maxwell’s lawyers say a law Congress passed in December to force the release of millions of Epstein-related documents violates the Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine.

“Congress cannot, by statute, strip this Court of the power or relieve it of the responsibility to protect its files from misuse. To do so violates the separation of powers,” wrote the lawyers, Laura Menninger and Jeffrey Pagliuca about the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

“Under the Constitution’s separation of powers, neither Congress nor the Executive Branch may intrude on the judicial power That power includes the power to definitively and finally resolve cases and disputes,” the lawyers added.

The release of Epstein-related documents from criminal probes that began weeks ago has resulted

in new revelations about Epstein’s decades-long sexual abuse of women and teenage girls. Some victims have complained that their names and personal information were revealed in documents while the names of their abusers were blacked out.

Members of Congress have complained that only about half of existing documents, many with redactions, have been made public even as Justice Department officials have said everything has been released, except for some files that can’t be made public until a judge gives the go-ahead.

Giuffre said Epstein had trafficked her to other men, including the former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew MountbattenWindsor She sued MountbattenWindsor in 2021, claiming that they had sex when she was 17. He denied her claims and the two settled the lawsuit in 2022. Days ago, he was arrested and held in custody for nearly 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in having shared confidential trade information with Epstein.

Crews recover bodies of 9 after California avalanche

BY GODOFREDO VASQUEZ Associated Press

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Crews recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers who were killed in a California avalanche four days ago, authorities said Saturday, concluding a harrowing operation hindered by intense snowfall.

A search team reached the bodies of eight victims and found one other who had been missing and presumed dead since Tuesday’s avalanche on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe. The ninth person who was missing was found “relatively close” to the other victims, but it was impossible to see them because there were white-out conditions on Tuesday when the others were located.

At a news conference on Saturday, Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon praised the collective efforts of the numerous agencies who helped recover the victims, including the 42 volunteers who helped on the last day of the operation.

The tragedy began around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when six survivors called for help, describing a sudden and terrifying avalanche that was approximately the length of a football field. In the aftermath of the snowfall, those survivors had discovered the bodies of three deceased skiers nearby, according to Nevada County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Hack.

It was the last day of the three-day tour in the stunning and remote Sierra Nevada, and the group of 15 skiers decided to end the trip early to avoid the impending snowstorm.

Initial reports indicated that at least two people in the group did not get swept away, Hack said. The others were standing separately and relatively close together and were hit with the avalanche.

Hack declined to offer more information about what might have set off the avalanche.

First responders weren’t able to reach them until roughly six hours after the initial call for help, Hack said, and were forced to take two separate paths. The rescue teams also found the bodies of five others, leaving only one unaccounted for

But it was immediately clear to rescuers that it was too dangerous to extract the bodies of the victims at that time due to the heavy snowfall and threat of more avalanches.

Officials used two helicopters belonging to the California Highway Patrol with the help of Pacific Gas and Electric company, to break up the snow in the area to intentionally release unstable snowpack to reduce the risk of another avalanche for rescue crews Friday

The state highway agency was able to recover five victims that evening before it got too dark to access the last three.

Helicopters with the California National Guard and California Highway Patrol recovered the final four bodies on Saturday morning with helicopters by hoisting them from the mountain with ropes, fighting through severe winds that forced the agencies to make multiple trips. The bodies were then taken to nearby snowcats — trucks that are outfitted to be able to drive on snow

At least 5 killed in avalanches in Austria

By The Associated Press

VIENNA, Austria — At least five people have been killed in a string of avalanches in western Austria, authorities said Saturday

The government office of the Tyrol region said intense snowfall over the last week led to accumulations of up to 5 feet. Combined with windy condi-

tions and weak snowpack below, the conditions were especially susceptible to avalanches, it said.

Tyrol police said five offpiste skiers were caught up in a nearly 490-yardwide avalanche Friday afternoon in the St. Anton am Arlberg area at an al-

titude of about 6,500 feet.

An American and a Pole were among the five recovered dead after the

avalanche, and a 21-yearold Austrian died of injuries after being rushed to a hospital, police said.

Late Friday morning in the Nauders-Bergkastel resort to the southeast, a 42-year-old German man and his 16-year-old son were caught in an avalanche. The teen survived with injuries and called for help, but his father was killed.

In a memoir published after she killed herself last year, Giuffre wrote that prosecutors told her they didn’t include her in the sex trafficking prosecution of Maxwell because they didn’t want her allegations to distract the jury Maxwell, 64, was convicted in December 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Epstein took his own life in a federal lockup in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was moved from a federal prison in Florida to a low-security prison camp in Texas last summer after she participated in two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Two weeks ago, she declined to answer questions from House Oversight Committee lawmakers in a deposition conducted in a a video call to her federal prison camp, though she indicated through a statement from her lawyer that she was “prepared to speak fully and honestly” if granted clemency

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday

New rocket problem delays launch into April

BY MARCIA DUNN AP aerospace writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla

NASA’s new moon rocket suffered another setback Saturday almost certain to bump astronauts’ first lunar trip in decades into spring.

The space agency revealed the latest problem just one day after targeting March 6 for the Artemis II mission. Overnight, the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage was interrupted, officials said Solid helium flow is essential for purging the engines and pressurizing the fuel tanks.

This helium issue has nothing to do with the hydrogen fuel leaks that marred a countdown dress rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket earlier this month and forced a repeat test.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said a bad filter, valve or connection

Customer

plate could be to blame for the stalled helium flow Regardless of the cause, he noted, the only way to access the area and fix the problem is in the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center “We will begin preparations for rollback, and this will take the March launch window out of consideration,” Isaacman said via X. NASA’s next opportunities would be at the beginning or end of April. The interrupted helium flow is confined to the SLS rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage. This upper stage is essential for placing the Orion crew capsule into the proper high-altitude orbit around Earth for checkout following liftoff. After that, it’s supposed to separate from Orion and serve as a target for the astronauts inside the capsule, allowing them to practice docking techniques for future moon missions.

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Trumpdecides to boostnew tariff rate to 15%

BY CATHERINE LUCEY Bloomberg News (TNS)

President Donald Trump

said he will increase the global 10% tariff he announced one day earlier to 15%, stirring up more economic turbulence as he lashed out at the U.S. Supreme Court overits ruling that his preferred mechanism for applying tariffs was illegal.

“I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately,raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, withoutretribution (until Icame along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump said in asocial-media post on Saturday

Trump is rushing to preserve histrade agenda following the court’sruling against his use of an emergency-powers law to impose his so-called reciprocal tariffs around the world and to use levies as acudgel to bend foreign governments to his will.

Enraged by the decision, Trump initially imposeda 10% global tariff on foreign goods on Friday,hours after the high court ruling, as he seeks to maintain the duties he insists are key to his economic and nationalsecurity power

But his post on Saturday made clear he had decided that 10% was not enough, even though he said on Fri-

Containers

day,“Everysinglething I said today is guaranteed certainty.”

The president’sefforts to restoreand maintain the tariffs underscored the economic volatilityahead. The tools he is left with areless nimble thanthe sweeping authority he had claimed underemergencypowersand will be subjectedtofresh legal challenges. Additional details were not immediatelyforthcoming on how soon the15% tariff would go intoeffect. The initial 10% tariffsTrump announced on Friday were scheduled to go into effect Monday night, according to aWhite House fact sheet. The White House and U.S. Trade Representative’sof-

ficedidn’timmediatelyrespond to requests for comment.

Trumpisapplying thenew baseline tariff underSection 122 of the1974 TradeAct, which allows the president to impose tariffs for 150 days withoutcongressional approval. Securing that approvalcould prove challenging, as Democrats and some Republicans have opposed elements of his trade policy LastApril, he relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Actto levy dutiesranging from 10% to 50% on dozens of U.S.trading partners. The SupremeCourt ruled 6-3 FridaythatTrump had acted unlawfully in using IEEPA to justify his“reciprocal”

tariffs, saying his end-run around Congress was not justified in theConstitution.

Trumpsaid Friday he would maintain aflat 10% tariffwhile keeping in place existing duties imposed under Sections 301 and 232, and ordered the U.S. trade representative to launch new Section 301 investigationsonanaccelerated timeline. Those probes require country-specific inquiries andfindings of trade violations before tariffscan be imposed, and could eventually replace the baseline rate.Heisalso weighing tariffs of 15% to 30% on foreign cars, while preserving exemptions forgoods and certain agricultural products under atrade agreementamongthe U.S.,Mexico and Canada.

“Weexpect these investigations to cover mostmajor trading partners and to address areas of concern such as industrial excess capac-

ity,forced labor,pharmaceutical pricing practices, discrimination against U.S. technology companies and digital goods and services, digital services taxes, ocean pollutionand practices related to the trade in seafood, rice, and other products,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement Friday The Supreme Court decision raises fresh questions about revenue that already hasbeen collected on tariffs. More than1,500 companies had filed tariff lawsuits in trade court in preparation for the ruling, according to aBloomberg analysis. The court ruling didn’taddress whetherimporters are entitled to refunds, leaving the matter to lower courts —apotential exposure of up to $170 billion, or morethan half the revenue raisedby Trump’stariffs.

BY STEVEN SLOAN and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON The annual dinner with governors at the White House is typically a chance for leaders from both parties to come together,socialize and spend alow-key evening with the president. But like many traditions during President Donald Trump’ssecondterm, Saturday’s dinner has proven unusually controversial. Ahead of this week’sgathering of the National Governors Association, Trump ridiculed the bipartisan group’s leadership, Republican Gov Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma and Democratic Gov.Wes Moore of Maryland. He refused to invite Moore, along with Colorado Gov.Jared Polis, toa workingevent at theWhite House on Friday —only to relent at the last minute. Then the event ended shortly after Trump learned of the Supreme Court’sdecision to strike down his sweeping tariff policy

“It was unfortunate that the Supreme Court came out with abad ruling at that time,” said Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry,aRepublican and top Trump ally Dozens of Democrats had threatened to boycott Saturday’sdinner if members

of their party were blocked from Friday’smeeting. But even after Moore’sattendance, some said they still wouldn’tshowup.

“President Trumphas made this wholething a farce,”Massachusetts Gov Maura Healey saidina statement.

When the dinner finally rolled around, no Democrats were spotted in the room. Enjoyingthe black-tie affair,withtall candles arranged on tables, were just top administration officials and Republican governors. In brief remarks, Trump jokedthat stateleaders “look in that mirror andsay, Ishould be president, not him.”

The president didn’t criticizeany Democratsby name,but he blamedtwo states led by Democratic governors when he mentioned asewage spill in the Potomac River near Washington. “Wehave to clean up some messthatMaryland and Virginiahave left us,” Trump said, adding that “it’s unbelievable what they can do with incompetence.”

The ruptured pipe is part of aWashington-basedutility that’sfederally regulated and under the oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The final day of theconfer-

ence on Saturday focused on issues including affordability and politicalcivility During aconversationabout immigration, Moore and Stittsaidthatboth parties have failed over decades to address the issue.

Stitt said that states should be empowered to issue workforce permits andwarned thatbothparties aremaking false political assumptions

“People think ‘OK, all the Democrats want open borders,’” he said, “and‘all Republicanshateimmigrants.’”

But Stitt notedthat “rural Oklahoma Trump voters” have privately approached him, saying they couldn’toperate their businesses without people who were trying to obtainwork authorization.

For all the turmoil surrounding this week’smeeting, Mooresaidthe conference was asuccess.

“There were alot of things that were put in our way to try to distract us from our mission, to try to divide us as individual governors, to try to make the mission of this organization where a bipartisangroup of governors can come together and solve problems on behalf of our people, to try to make our work irrelevant,” he said. “Toall thepeople who tried to makethathappen, you failed.”

Hundreds protest far-right activist’s killing

BY NICOLAS VAUX-MONTAGNY Associated Press

LYON, France

About 3,000 people joined a march organized by far-right groups on Saturday after a nationalist activist died from a beating in the French city of Lyon, in an incident that highlighted a climate of deep political tensions ahead of next year’s presidential vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm ahead of the tribute to Quentin Deranque, 23, who died of brain injuries in a hospital earlier this month. The demonstrations took place under heavy police scrutiny, with no major incidents reported.

“This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility,” Macron said.

Seven people have been handed preliminary charges. The Lyon public prosecutor’s office requested that each of them be charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy

Six of the accused were charged on all three counts

The seventh was charged with complicity in intentional homicide, aggravated violence and criminal con-

spiracy

Deranque was attacked during a fight that erupted between far-left and farright supporters on the margins of a student meeting where a far-left lawmaker, Rima Hassan, was a keynote speaker

Macron said he will hold a meeting with ministers next week to carry out a comprehensive review of all violent activist groups that have links to political parties. He hinted that some groups could be dismantled “In the republic, no violence is legitimate,” he said.

“There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising.”

The main tribute to Deranque took place in Lyon, where clashes between farright activists and far-left groups have become frequent. Their fighting often takes the form of organized street battles in the city, sometimes involving groups of several dozen people.

Lyon’s far-left-leaning militant groups are more recent and were created in reaction to the many far-right groups that have been present for several decades. The city is seen by intelligence services as the cradle of far-right

Blizzard warnings issued for East Coast

BY ADAM GELLER Associated Press

NEW YORK A rapidly inten-

sifying storm triggered blizzard warnings Saturday for New York City, New Jersey and Boston as communities along the East Coast prepared for the Sunday arrival of heavy snow and damaging winds.

The National Weather Service increased its assessment of the potential severity of a storm that was projected to be much milder only days earlier

The weather service said 1 to 2 feet of snow was possible in many areas as it issued blizzard warnings for New York City and Long Island, Boston and coastal communities in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

“While we do get plenty of these nor’easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, it’s been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this very populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the service’s Weather Prediction Center Snell said the storm would arrive Sunday morning in areas around Washington before stretching toward Philadelphia and New York City and reaching Boston in the evening.

The weather service said the storm could begin as rainfall in some places be-

fore worsening, with the heaviest snowfall expected at night and as much as 2 inches of snow per hour at times in some areas.

The weather service warned that the storm, with steady winds of 25 to 35 mph would “make travel dangerous, if not impossible.”

Officials scrambled to prepare for a storm that forecasters days ago believed would have a much more limited impact.

New York brought in additional snow clearing equipment from outside the city and planned to increase use of geocoding to keep track of bus stops and crosswalks that need clearing, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

With the storm zeroing in, John Berlingieri scrapped plans for a family trip to Puerto Rico to prepare his company, Berrington Snow Management, for what could well be a mammoth task: Clearing snow from millions of square feet of asphalt surrounding shopping malls and industrial parks across Long Island.

Employees spent the last few days recharging batteries on the company’s 40 front-end loaders and replacing windshield wipers on snow removal vehicles, before resting up Saturday

“I’m anticipating at least one week of work around the clock,” Berlingieri said.

“We’re going to work 24 to 36 hours straight, sleep for a few hours and then go back.”

activism in France.

Deranque’s parents also called for calm and did not take part in the tribute.

Deranque’s death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming the far-left France Unbowed party and its leader, JeanLuc Mélenchon. Among the suspects is the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed lawmaker who set up the anti-fascist group The Young Guard. There was a minute’s silence before the start of the march. Some demonstrators held white tulips and displayed stickers bearing the slogan: “Quentin, killed by Mélenchon’s militia.”

France Unbowed’s opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Mélenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his party bore no blame for the tragedy

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IsraeliairstrikesinLebanon kill 8Hezbollah members

BY FADI TAWIL and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press

RAYAK, Lebanon Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon have killed eight members of the militant Hezbollah group, including several localofficials, two officials with the group said Saturday

The Lebanese Health Ministry put the death tollat 10, but did not distinguish between militants and civilians.

The Hezbollah officials told The Associated Press that the eight militants were killed in strikes near the village of Rayak in northeast Lebanon late Friday.They spoke on condition of anonymity becausethey were not authorized to speak to the media about such details.

An Associated Press team that visited thesceneofthe strike Saturday morning saw that the top floorofa three-story building was knocked out.

Yaghi was the son of prominentHezbollahofficial and one of its founders, MohammedYaghi, who died in 2023. Mohammed Yaghi wasalso aclose aide to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry saidSaturday that Israeli strikes on eastern Lebanon killed 10 people and wounded 24, including three children.

AliAbdullah,executive director of Rayak Hospital, told the AP that the strike occurredafter sunset, adding that they have received 10 bodies and 21 wounded. He added that the deadincludedtwo non-Lebanese aSyrianman andanEthiopian woman.The wounded included five Syrians and three Ethiopians.

Ethiopians often come to Lebanonasmigrant domestic workers.

After the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel triggered warinGaza, Hezbollah began firing rockets from Lebanon into Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians.

The Israeli military said Saturday that several members of Hezbollah’s missile unit, in three differentcommand centers in theBaalbek area in Lebanon, were “eliminated.”

bers killed were identified “as operating to accelerate readiness and force buildup processes,while planning fire attacks toward Israel.”

The Israeli army added that theHezbollah mem-

One of the Hezbollahof-

ficials said that three of the dead were local commanders andidentifiedthemas Ali al-Moussawi, Mohammedal-Moussawi and Hussein Yaghi.

Afuneral washeld Saturday afternoon in the eastern village of Nabi Chit for two Hezbollahmembers who werekilled in the strikes.

Israel responded with airstrikes and shelling. The low-levelconflictescalated into full-scalewar in September 2024, later reined in but not fully stopped by a U.S.-brokered ceasefire two months later Since then, Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to rebuild and has carried out near-daily strikesinLebanonthatitsaystarget Hezbollahmilitants andfacilities. Hezbollah has claimed one strike against Israel since the ceasefire. The death toll from Friday’sstrikes wasunusually high and comes at amoment of intensified tensions in the regionasthe United States has threatened to strike Iran —a backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas —ifnegotiations over Tehran’snuclear program fail to produce a deal.

Ambassador Huckabee’s statements on Israel causeregionaluproar

He said Israel had aright to much of theMiddleEast

BY SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

TEL AVIV,Israel Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday sharply condemned comments by the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who said Israel hasa righttomuchofthe Middle East.

Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday.Carlson said that according to the Bible, the

descendants ofAbraham wouldreceive land that todaywouldinclude essentially the entire Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had aright to that land. Huckabee responded: “It wouldbe fineiftheytookit all.” Huckabee added, however,that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has aright to security in theland it legitimately holds.

Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.

comment from Israel or the United States.

Hiscommentssparked immediatebacklash from neighboring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia,Kuwait, Oman, the Organization of

Saudi Arabia’sforeign ministry described Huckabee’scomments as “extremistrhetoric” and“unacceptable,”and calledfor the State Department to clarify its position on them.

Egypt’sforeign ministry called his commentsa “blatant violation” of international law, adding that “Israel has no sovereigntyover theoccupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”

“Statementsofthis nature —extremist and lackingany sound basis —serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious andnational emotions,” the League of Arab States said.

There was no immediate

Since itsestablishment in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognized borders. Its frontiers with Arab neighbors have shiftedasa result of wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements.

During the six-day1967 Mideast war,Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza andthe SinaiPeninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria.Israel withdrewfrom the Sinai Peninsula as part of apeace dealwith Egyptfollowing the1973 Mideast war.Italso unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Israel has attemptedto deepen control of theoc-

cupied West Bankinrecent months. It hasgreatly expanded construction in Jewish settlements, legalized outposts andmadesignificant bureaucraticchanges to its policies in the territory.U.S. President Donald Trumphas said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and has offered strong assurancesthathe’d block any movetodoso.

Palestinians have for decades called foranindependent state in the West Bank and Gazawith east Jerusalemits capital, aclaim backed by muchofthe international community

Huckabee has long opposed the idea of atwo-state solutionfor Israel and the Palestinianpeople. In an

interview last year,hesaid he does not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as “Palestinians.” In thelatestinterview, Carlson pressed Huckabee abouthis interpretation of Bibleversesfromthe book of Genesis, where he said Godpromised Abraham and his descendants land from the Nile to the Euphrates. “That would be the Levant, so thatwould be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It wouldalsobebig parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” Carlson said. Huckabee replied: “Not sure we’d go that far.Imean, it would be abig piece of land.”

BY MUNIR AHMED Associated Press

ISLAMABAD Pakistan said early Sunday it carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, targeting hideoutsofPakistanimilitants it blames for recent attacks inside the country Islamabad did not sayin precisely which areasthe strikes were carried outor provide otherdetails.There was no immediate comment from Kabul, and reports on social media suggested the strikes were carriedout inside Afghanistan. In comments beforedawn Sunday,Information Minister AttaullahTararwrote on Xthat the military conducted whathedescribed as “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban

Pakistan, or TTP,and its affiliates. He said anaffiliate of the Islamic Stategroup was also targeted in the borderregion. In October,Pakistan also conducted strikes deep inside Afghanistantotarget militant hideouts. Tarar saidPakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region,” but added thatthe safety and security of Pakistani citizens remained atop priority

Thelatest development came days after asuicide bomber, backedbygunmen rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of asecurity postin Bajaurdistrict in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince bordering Afghanistan. The blast caused partofthe compound to collapse,killing 11 soldiers andachild, and authorities later said the attacker was

an Afghannational.

Hours before the latest borderstrikes, another suicide bomber targeted asecurity convoyinthe nearby Bannu district in the northwest,killing two soldiers, including alieutenant colonel. AfterSaturday’s violence, Pakistan’smilitary had warned that it would not “exercise any restraint”and that operationsagainstthose responsible wouldcontinue “irrespective of their location,” language thatsuggested rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

TararsaidPakistan had “conclusive evidence” that the recent attacks,including asuicide bombing that targeted aShiitemosque in Islamabad and killed 31 worshippers earlier this month, were carried out by militantsactingonthe “behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.”

Opposition activistsamong prisonersset forrelease underVenezuela’s amnesty

By The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela— At least1,557 people held in Venezuela for political reasons have submitted their applications under an amnesty bill that was signed intolaw this week and are expected to be released from prison, authorities said Saturday Thursday’s measureisexpected to benefit opposition members, activists,human rights defenders, journalistsand many othersdetainedfor months or even years. Its approval marked areversalfor Venezuelan authorities, who for decades have denied holding any political prisoners. It follows last month’sstunning U.S. military raid in the country’scapital,Caracas, to capture then-President Nicolás Maduro.

“As of today,1,152 new applications have beenreceived, for atotal of 1,557 that are being addressed immediately,and at this moment hundreds of releasesofpersons deprived of liberty who are benefiting from the Amnesty Law are already taking place,” National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said on Saturday The president of the special commission overseeing the amnesty law,Jorge Arreaza, said Friday night on state television that379

amnesty requests had been received andthat the applicants’ releases would take place betweenFriday andSaturday.Furtherreleases could begranted within 15 days,hesaid.

Gonzalo Himiob,vicepresident of Venezuela-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal,told The Associated Press on Saturdaythatsofar some have been released in thestate of Barinas, in thesouthwest of the country,but the processofverifying releases under the amnesty was still ongoing.

Thenew law excludesthose convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, serious human rights violations and military rebellion.

Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela since Jan. 5, said during the signing of the law that it showed that thecountry’s political leaders were “letting go of alittle intolerance and opening new avenues for politicsinVenezuela.”

The bill’spurpose is to grant people “a general and full amnesty for crimes or offenses committed” during specific periods since 1999 that were marked by politically driven conflicts in Venezuela, including “acts of politically motivated violence” in the context of the2024 presidential election.The aftermath of that election led to protestsand the arrest of morethan 2,000 people, including minors.

He said Pakistanhad repeatedly urgedAfghanistan’sTalibanrulers to take verifiable stepstoprevent militant groups from using Afghan territorytolaunch attacks in Pakistan, but alleged that no substantive action had been taken.

He said Pakistan urges the internationalcommunityto press Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to uphold their commitments underthe Dohaagreementnot to allow their soil to be used against other countries.

Pakistan has seen asurge in militantviolenceinrecent years, much of it blamed on the TTP and outlawed Baloch separatistgroups. TheTTP is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban, who returned to power in 2021.

Islamabad accuses theTTP of operating from inside Afghanistan, acharge boththe

group and Kabul deny Relations between the neighboring countries have remained tense since October,when deadly border clashes killeddozensofsoldiers, civilians and suspected militants. The violence

Ukraine strikes key industrial site deep inside Russia

By The Associated Press

KYIV Ukraine Ukrainian forces struck an industrial site deep inside Russia on Saturday which Ukraine and unofficial Russian news channels say was a key state-owned missile factory

The attack in Russia’s Udmurt Republic left 11 people wounded, three of whom were hospitalized, according to a Telegram post by Sergei Bagin, the local health minister

“One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones” launched by Ukraine, regional head Alexander Brechalov said in another Telegram post. He added that the strike caused injuries and damage, but did not identify the site or give further details.

Hours later Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck a key missile plant near the city of Votkinsk, using Ukrainian-made FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles rather than drones

“A military-industrial complex enterprise, the ‘Votkinsk Plant’ was hit. A fire was recorded on the facility’s premises. The results are being clarified,” the General Staff said in a Facebook post An unofficial Russian news channel on Telegram, Astra, said earlier on Saturday that the strike targeted the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major state defense

enterprise. Astra said its claim was based on an analysis of footage from residents. The Votkinsk factory, more than 870 miles from Ukraine, produces Iskander ballistic missiles, often used in strikes against Ukraine, as well as nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, missiles for submarines and air-launched

Kinzhal missiles

Another unofficial Russian Telegram channel, SHOT, which often quotes contacts in the security services, said residents of Votkinsk reported hearing at least three blasts during the night, as well as what they thought was the humming of drones.

The Udmurt Republic’s main passenger airport, in the city of Izhevsk, and airports in nearby regions suspended operations early on Saturday, according to Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya.

In other overnight attacks, Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had also targeted a gas processing plant in Russia’s Samara region. Earlier Saturday, Russian military blogs reported that an attack caused a fire at the Samara plant. There was no immediate comment from Russian officials.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 120 drones and one ballistic missile overnight into Saturday, Ukraine’s air force said. Ukrainian forces shot

Hungary says it will block EU loan to Ukraine

BY JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press

BUDAPEST,Hungary Hungary will block a planned $106-billion European Union loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline resumes, Hungary’s foreign minister said.

Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since Jan. 27 after what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian drone attack damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe.

Hungary and Slovakia, which have both received a temporary exemption from an EU policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil, have accused Ukraine — without providing evidence — of

deliberately holding up supplies. Both countries ceased shipping diesel to Ukraine this week over the interruption in oil flows.

In a video posted on social media Friday evening, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of “blackmailing” Hungary by failing to restart shipments. He said his government would block a massive interest-free loan the EU approved in December to help Kyiv to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years

“We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraine’s war, we will not pay for it,” Szijjártó said.

“As long as Ukraine blocks the resumption of oil supplies to Hungary Hungary will block European Union decisions that are important and favorable for Ukraine.”

Hungary’s decision to block the key funding came two days after it suspended diesel shipments to its embattled neighbor and only days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s fullscale invasion.

Nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Yet Hungary and Slovakia both EU and NATO members — have maintained and even increased supplies of Russian oil and gas.

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long argued Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for its economy and that switching to energy sourced from elsewhere would cause an immediate economic col-

down 106 drones, while the missile and 13 drones struck targets in 11 locations in the country, the statement said.

Oleh Kiper, the head of Ukraine’s Odesa region on the Black Sea, said drones damaged civilian and energy infrastructure facilities in the region, including a secondary school and an energy company’s warehouses. Two people were also injured, he said on Telegram.

The southern port city of Odesa and surrounding region have been frequent targets for Russian attacks

Earlier this week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said tens of thousands of Odesa’s residents were left without heating and running water

In remarks Monday evening, Zelenskyy said Moscow should be “held accountable” for the relentless strikes, which he said undermine the U.S. push for peace.

FSB fears Telegram leaks

The FSB was quoted by Russian state media as saying it had obtained “numerous reliable reports” that the use of Telegram “has repeatedly resulted in threats to the life of service members over the past three months.” The reports did not cite any examples or evidence.

Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a law requiring mobile operators in Russia to block cellular and landline internet services at the request of the FSB, the latest move in the ongoing Kremlin effort to tighten control over the internet.

Earlier this month, Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it will impose new restrictions on Telegram, after accusing it of refusing to observe Russian law

Elsewhere, Russia’s Federal Security Service, known by its acronym FSB, claimed that Ukraine has been able to harvest data from Telegram and use it for military purposes. The app is hugely popular among Russians, including soldiers at the front.

until Russian oil shipments resume

lapse an argument some experts dispute.

Widely seen as the Kremlin’s biggest advocate in the EU, Orbán has vigorously opposed the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and blasted attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war His government has frequently threatened to veto EU efforts to assist Ukraine.

On Saturday, Slovakia’s populist Prime minister Robert Fico said his country will stop providing emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if oil is not flowing through the Druzhba by Monday Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said earlier this week that Hungary too, was exploring the possibility of cutting off its electricity supplies to Ukraine. Not all of the EU’s 27 countries agreed to take part in the 90-billion-euro loan package for Kyiv Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic opposed the plan, but a deal was reached in which they did not block the loan and were promised protection from any financial fallout.

Course that will launch in April2026. Industry consortium partners include WeeksMarine, Inc., Harbor Fleet, HORNBECKOFFSHOREand Florida Marine.AlsopicturedisNTCCMaritimeinstructor, CaptainMarkMier, NTCC ExecutiveDirectorofWorkforce Developmentand Continuing Education, BridgetLaBorde,and NTCC Assistant Director of Workforce Training,AdrienDalton.

duringdisasters,toprovidinglifesavingtrainingandsupporting militarycommunities,theRedCrossistherewhenhelpcan’twait.

AsLouisiana’seconomycontinuestoevolveandgrow, employersacrossthestatearetakingaproactiverolein shapingtheworkforceoftomorrow,oftencollaborating directly with LouisianaCommunity andTechnical CollegeSystem(LCTCS)institutionstodesignprograms that lead quicklytomeaningful careers.

Twosuchpartners, FloridaMarineTransporters andExxonMobilBaton Rouge, arehelping drivenew trainingpathwaysthatreflectreal-life hiringneeds from maritime deckhandstoindustrialtechnicians AtNorthshoreTechnicalCommunityCollege(NTCC), apartnership with FloridaMarineTransporters hasled to thecreationofanew weeklong, non-credit introductory deckhand course designed to prepare students forimmediate entryintothe maritime industry.The firstcohortlaunchesinMarch,with additional sessions expected throughout thespring.

“WithNorthshoreTechnical,wehadablankcanvas to builda programtomeetthe needsofthe maritime industryandourcompany.They’vetakenourinputand areworking with us to developtrainingbased on our needsaswellastheneedsofourpartnerorganizations,” said BrianLowrance, senior port captainatFlorida MarineTransporters.“It’sanincredibleopportunityto localize ourtraining at acollege that’s only 20 minutes awayandknowthatthisprogramwillmeetourneeds.

BridgetLaBorde,NTCCExecutive Directorof Workforce Developmentand Continuing Education, said that whileNTCCwas already offeringatwo-year maritime programonthe credit side,employers began emphasizingthe need for entry-leveldeckhands who couldbehired rapidly, then receiveadditionalon-thejob training.

“We’ve hadbusinessestellusthattheycould hire people if we hadthese classesevery month,”LaBorde said.“We’vemet with maritime industry leadersto discussthe topics that thecoursewillcover,and their feedbackhashelpedusunderstandthecomponentswe needed to add. We want to introducestudents to the maritime industry,but we also want to connectthem with localbusinesses. If they areready to go to work, companiesare ready to hirethem. LowranceandNeilSmith,FloridaMarineTransporters Safety Manager, notedthatwhile employeesmay start in themaritimeindustryasdeckhands,there are multiple ways to advanceintomanagementpositions andleadershiproles,whetheronthewaterorinon-shore supportoperations.

“Onceweget this introductory course established at NTCC,we’dlovetoexplore otherwaystobuild out theprogram,including more coursesfor licensing,” Smithsaid. “You cangoinsomanydifferentdirections in maritime andI’d love forstudentstohave the opportunitytoreceivetraining in thoseatNTCC. Asimilar employer-driven approach is helpingto shapeprogramsatBaton RougeCommunity College (BRCC),whereExxonMobilBatonRougeplaysacentral role viathe NorthBaton RougeIndustrial Training Initiative (NBRITI).The initiativeprovidestechnical andjob preparationtrainingtopeoplewho mightnot otherwisehaveaccesstosuchopportunities “ExxonMobildefinestheskills,performancestandards andsuccessmeasuresneededfor safe andreliable operations,withseveralemployeesservingasNBRITI instructors.BRCCthenconvertsthese requirements intostructured,credentialedtraining,”saidTaraBazille ExxonMobil BatonRouge SocioeconomicAdvisor “The BRCC collaborationsupportsExxonMobil’s

broadergoalofbuildinga skilled, localworkforce that supportstheiroperationslong-term.Itstrengthensthe talent pipeline by aligningcommunity training with industry standardswhile creating career pathways in theNorth BatonRouge area.”

BazillesaidNBRITIprovidestraininginsomeof thearea’smostin-demand skills,including electrical work,instrumentation,millwrighting,pipefitting, processtechnology andwelding “ThecollaborationbetweenExxonMobilandBRCC hasled to 90 percentofNBRITIgraduates receiving employment with contractors, ExxonMobil or other owner companiesfollowing theprogram,” sheadded BRCCProvostSarahBarlow,Ph.D.,saidthecollege’s otherindustrypartners have also expresseda need for positionsininfrastructure, transportationand computer science “Ithinkyou’regoingtoseemoreblendingofprograms –maybe HVAC with acomputer-basedsystem, or a traditional STEM field combined with craftskills,” Dr.Barlowsaid. “Healthcareisusing

Reference Monitoring System, or CRMS (pronounced “crims”)

In certain cases, it is confirming broader trends, such as its documentation of accelerating sea level rise. In others, it is upturning longheld assumptions, including through new insight into the dynamics underlying land loss.

Some monitoring stations, once on land, are now in open water Others sit within marsh that has proven surprisingly resilient.

And one insect may have CRMS to thank for exonerating it. It was previously blamed for a severe die-off of roseau cane, important vegetation helping hold Louisiana wetlands together, but data is now pointing to a different cause.

‘This is amazing’

How Louisiana ended up with such a powerful research tool involves a practical problem that required a solution. Since the 1990s, the state has received federal money for coastal restoration projects under what is often called the Breaux Act, referring to former U.S. Sen John Breaux, who pushed for the law alongside his then-colleague J. Bennett Johnston Its official name is the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, or CWPPRA (pronounced “cwipra”).

The law, funded by taxes on fishing equipment and boat fuel, has funded a long list of Louisiana projects since its inception. But evaluating those projects was problematic.

That’s where the CRMS idea emerged. As sketched out in a 2003 paper the idea was to install a vast network of monitoring stations at randomized locations across coastal Louisiana.

Doing so would provide a broad look at conditions before, during and after projects. But its value would go

far beyond that, providing real-time data on erosion, subsidence, water levels, salinity and other factors all vital to understanding Louisiana’s land loss challenges, with relevance across the Gulf.

The result was the CRMS system Its 390 sites include various components, appearing to the uninitiated to be little more than wooden platforms, PVC pipes and fuse boxes.

But those basic-looking materials are allowing for coastal understanding on a scale unmatched across the world, scientists involved in managing the system say Breaux Act funding covers roughly $8.5 million of the annual cost, and the state tosses in $1.5 million. Funds related to the 2010 BP oil spill pay for another couple million or so.

The state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority teams with a contractor Coastal Estuary Services, to operate most of the sites Izdepski and Loeb, the two scientists pulling the soil samples, work for that company

The U.S. Geological Survey is also a partner and manages some of the monitoring stations.

“I’ve been on the phone with Mississippi and Alabama and even California, and they’re like, ‘Hey how’d you get that? This is amazing,’” said Leigh Anne Sharp, a CPRA scientist who manages the CRMS network.

Surprising results

The data collected at the sites is vetted, then posted

online to a map that allows users to click on any of the stations and see the results. Graphs can be viewed showing changes in elevation and water level over time, among other data.

One striking detail involves the condition of marsh being monitored. Given the land loss afflicting coastal Louisiana, one might expect to see a continual decline in elevation across all sites due to the combination of subsidence and erosion.

But that has not been the case at many locations. The marsh being monitored in those spots has gained elevation, which would seem to run counter to assumptions.

That can be deceiving, however It does not signal that Louisiana’s land loss problem is solved, or that it has been overblown.

But the data is beginning to shift some of the scientific understanding of dynamics driving the problem, says Sharp.

What that means is that subsidence, or the sinking of land, is not the primary cause of wetlands destruction in many cases — contrary to assumptions. Instead, what’s known as “edge erosion” and storms are to blame.

That means the edge of the marsh is being whittled away by the tides, which is easy enough to picture. But why is marsh gaining elevation in those spots?

The data is showing that the water is pushing the soil from the edges back onto the marsh itself, causing it to gain elevation at the interior

while being weakened along its perimeter Gradually the marsh weakens so much that it is washed away

The end result is the same: Louisiana is losing land But the findings matter in figuring out how to address the problem.

“I’ve been working on this my whole career, and each data point is more interesting than the last,” said Sharp “But the trends are really fascinating. They’re kind of different than what they told me in grad school in a lot of ways.”

‘It’s pretty special’

Tracy Quirk, an LSU associate professor and wetlands ecologist, knows firsthand how useful the data can be. It is central to so much of what she and her fellow researchers do out of her lab.

One of her students has been using CRMS to look at the expansion of black mangrove trees in south Louisiana and how their deep roots help reduce erosion.

Quirk has also demonstrated through her work — again, using CRMS that an invasive scale insect previously believed to have caused a die-off of roseau cane around the mouth of the Mississippi River was not to blame.

Her research found that drought was at fault since it allowed salt water to move

into those areas, setting off a process that killed the cane.

“The CRMS data is invaluable for the things that we do,” said Quirk. At the station near Hopedale, Hymel and her CPRA colleague Bryan Gossman explain that the marsh there is in relatively good shape Years of data have illustrated the marsh’s progression — and in relation to other areas of the coast.

The tools used can seem rudimentary, but they have proven effective.

One method involves spreading a layer of white, chalky feldspar, then taking a soil sample in later years with the use of liquid nitrogen to figure out how much sediment has accumulated on top of it.

Another involves rods inserted into set locations to determine the elevation of the marsh. Using the datasets, scientists determine

whether the marsh is sinking or gaining elevation, and by how much.

Nearby, in the water itself, is a “hydrographic station” attached to a wooden post and a fuse box measuring salinity, surface elevation and temperature. Vegetation is also sampled to determine what is growing there and in which conditions.

Sharp said the expansive, coastwide effort matches the scale of Louisiana’s land loss problem and the solutions required to address it.

“I think it’s pretty special and pretty unique to Louisiana,” she said.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter, @MikeJSmith504. His work is supported with a grant from the Walton Family Foundation, administered by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

people’s ability to remain in their homes. But the chances of getting a fortified roof grant through a state lottery program remain unfavorable, according to state data

Only about 20% of those who registered in lotteries received grants, according to Louisiana Department of Insurance data. State officials also doled out several hundred more grants through partnerships with nonprofits and officials in Jefferson Parish.

The numbers suggest that while Louisiana has rapidly moved to fortify homes amid worsening hurricanes, tens of thousands of residents are still looking for help putting on stronger roofs

Since moving to a lottery system in 2024, Louisiana has allocated about 7,000 fortified roofs through the grant program, which gives homeowners $10,000 to put a stronger roof on their home.

The process includes a thirdparty verification and generally leads to lower insurance premiums.

More than 34,000 people have signed up in hopes of landing one of those grants Before 2024, the state used a first-come, first-served system instead of the lottery, meaning registration data is not available for the roughly 3,000 grants allocated through that system.

“I wish we could fund every Louisiana homeowner who has applied for a grant, but with so many people living and working in our coastal zone, that just isn’t feasible for the state to take on,” said Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple in a statement. “At the same time, the demand is a good signal of the growing understanding that we must build stronger to make Louisiana more insurable.”

People who miss out on the grant can still get help putting a fortified roof on their home if they don’t want to wait for a later round. A recent law passed by state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, gives people a tax credit of up to $10,000 in exchange for putting a fortified roof. That tax break, as well as a separate deduction, require homeowners to foot the bill on the front end.

Many homeowners have turned to the grant program in hopes of cutting their insurance costs. After a series of hurricanes in 2020 and 2021, a dozen insurers doing business in Louisiana went belly-up, sending thousands of people to the insurer of last resort. Climate change and inflation caused turmoil in the reinsurance market, which helps set prices, and premiums for Louisianans soared.

Temple’s office is working on a new rule that would push insurers to offer a benchmark level of discount in exchange for having a fortified roof.

Cracks emerge Still, the data indicates that the state’s program is not comprehensive enough to help all who need it. Many who win the lottery

The state has finalized nearly 4,200 fortified roofs through the program, and another nearly 7,000 people have gotten a fortified roof without the grant, according to data from Smart Home America.

still aren’t able to afford the out-of-pocket costs for a fortified roof, which include any costs over $10,000, plus evaluators and other fees.

The state Legislature sent several rounds of money to the program before directing certain insurance fees to help pay for it every year Since the program began, more than 2,500 people have dropped out after winning a grant, according to LDI data. In response to people falling through the cracks, the state partnered with nonprofits that find low-to-moderate income homeowners and help pay for those outof-pocket costs The “pilot” round set aside 200 grants.

John Ford, spokesperson for the Department of Insurance, said the agency is interested in pursuing similar rounds in the future and is sending flyers to local governments encouraging them to partner with the state to find gap funding. The agency partnered with Jefferson Parish to deliver roofs to homes in the process of being elevated against flood risk, as well as others.

William Stoudt, head of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, which partnered with the state to help cover costs for lower-income homeowners, said the gap is significant: Many of the roofs he helps put on cost

$16,000 to $17,000, far above the $10,000 grant.

Stoudt is pushing for a sliding scale, where people making less qualify for a higher grant amount.

“It’s going to get harder and harder to do,” Stoudt said. “The roofs that were easier and cheaper to fortify are getting done more quickly We can’t just do it the way we were doing it two years ago and expect the same results.”

Temple said his office isn’t currently considering increasing the amount of grants based on income. He said the agency is prioritizing finding funds to cover the gap, including with local governments.

Trial and error

The state has tested various ways to boost participation and deliver more roofs. For one round last year, for

instance, the Insurance Department told participants they didn’t have to register if they had already registered for a previous round.

But the round had an unusual number of dropouts, likely because people who registered months or years ago no longer needed a roof after being selected.

Ford, of LDI, said the rate of dropouts has remained relatively steady when excluding the 2025 round. And the most recent round saw significant interest from registrants about 10,400 people sought 2,000 available grants. Most of those are still pending.

SBP, a disaster recovery nonprofit, was among the nonprofits who partnered with the Insurance Department to try to help those who couldn’t afford to participate. The nonprofit completed 14 roofs under the pilot and is finalizing a deal to complete 20 more by this summer Keith McCulloch, SBP’s chief financial

By Amanda McElfresh|

After nearly four yearsofcoursework, examsand late-nightstudyingbalancedwithbuildingabusinessandraisingtwoyoungchildren,Christopher McGhee hasofficiallyearnedhis CERTIFIED FINANCIALPLANNER®(CFP®)certification–a credential held by fewerthan2percent of Black financialprofessionals in thenation1 ForMcGhee, a financialadvisor andfounder of ClimbwiseFinancial Planning,a division of NorthwesternMutual,thecertificationrepresents bothprofessionalgrowthandpersonalachievement

There’sdefinitelyasenseofaccomplishmentin doingsomethingthat’snotbeendonealotaround me,”McGheesaid.“Fromaprofessionalstandpoint, beinga CERTIFIEDFINANCIAL PLANNER® professional meansI’m in apositiontohelpmy team serveour clientsinthe best waypossible. That givesmeextreme pridegoing forward. TheCFP®iswidelyregardedasone of the most rigorous andrespected designations in the financialplanningprofession. Candidates must complete sevenintensive coursesand pass tests foreachphase,and also pass acomprehensive finalexam. McGhee said thereweremoments duringthe process when he questioned whether he couldcontinue. Yet, hisdetermination and perseverancecarriedhimthrough,asdidtheway he sawreal-time impacts on hiswork.

“IthinkthemostimportantthingI’velearnedis howtoidentifyareas of opportunityand concern forour clients. Ialready have ahigherlevel of awareness aboutdifferentideas andstrategies. I sawthathappeningthroughoutthe curriculum Iwould studya particular aspect of financial planning,and Icould applythose lessonsina meetingthe followingweek,”McGheesaid. “My overallabilitytoexamineallaspectsofasituation hasbeenelevated.

McGhee hasworkedin financialadvisingfor more than 15 years, andhis practice hasevolved alongsidehisexperience.Today,ClimbwiseFinancial Planning hasclients in 26 states.Manyare in what he callsthe “retirementred zone”–people within 10 yearsofretiringorwithin five years post-retirement. McGhee also works extensively with medicalprofessionals at allstagesoftheir careersand hasdeveloped aniche servingcollege andpro athletic coachesacrossthe country. Thatconnectiontoathleticsispersonal.Anative

of Alexandria,McGheecametoBaton Rougeon an LSUbaseballscholarship in 2006 andplayed forthe Tigers through2009. BatonRouge has sincebecomehome, aplace wherehehas built hiscareerand business whileachieving goalshe establishedfor himselfasa teen

“IalwaysknewIwantedtoprovidewellformyself andmyfamilyand do workthatmakes people’s livesbetter,”hesaid. “I also wanted autonomy When Ifound outI couldachieve thosegoals as a financialadvisor,Idecided to getstarted.” That flexibilityallowsMcGheetoshowup consistentlyforhischildren,CamdenandCollins. He canoften be seen at school events andbehind theplate at thelocal ballpark,coachinghis son’s baseball team

“I love theability to always be therefor them,” he said McGhee applies thesamephilosophies– being flexible andmakingdecisions that arebestfor an individual or afamily– to hisworkasaCFP professional.

Thereshouldn’t be anycookiecutter financial plans,”hesaid. “I thinkittakes atrained professionaltounpackwhatisimportanttothatperson or family,and howtools,resources andstrategies fitintothatperson’ssituation.”

That belief is reflectedinthe name Climbwise FinancialPlanning, whichisrootedina mountain-climbinganalogy

“A lot of times, we meet people on theirascent up themountain. They’resavingfor retirement andfocused on what they areaccumulating. Our goal is to make sure people arepreparedtocome down themountain,”McGheesaid. “Wefocus alot on howtheywillspend themoney they have accumulated, taxefficiency,and howthey will handle volatility.Evenwhenyou establisha financialplan,ittakesyearsordecadestoexecute it.Wealwaystalktoour clientsabout stayingthe course andtrustingtheir plan.” 1 CFPBoard:ProfessionalDemographics, February 2026

ClimbwiseFinancial Planning is committed to offeringclient-centered servicewithexceptional communication, growth,courageand fun. To learnmoreorscheduleanappointment,visit www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/ chris-mcghee/orcall225-293-9527.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

In report,Cassidy callsfor overhaul of FDA

‘Discoveries that never leavethe labhelpnoone’

WASHINGTON —U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidyused his high-ranking position earlier thisweek to draw attention to the beleagueredFood &DrugAdministration, releasingareport that calls for extensive changes in the way the agencyreviews and approves new drugs, vaccines and food.

The Baton Rouge Republican hasn’t submitted any legislation to that effectand getting such asweeping bill passed would be atall order with nine monthsleft before congressional midterms. But by focusing attention on the long-desired revampofthe FDA, Cassidy appears to be flexing his political muscles as chair of theinfluential Senate Health Education Labor &PensionsCommittee, aposition of leadership his campaign challengers can’t equal.

Mark Ballard

Cassidy is seekingreelection to athird term, but faces serious challenges from fellow Republicans Rep. Julia Letlow,who President Donald Trump endorsed,and Treasurer John Fleming.

Cassidy’sreport comes 10 monthsafter biotech leaders asked the HELPcommittee to address FDA practices.

Cassidy’s18-page “Patients andFamilies: Building the FDA of the Future” details at least adozen proposed changes in legislation, regulation and practice thathe contends would modernize the agency, clear “unnecessary bottlenecks” thatslow access of newermedicines to patients and improve medical research

“‘Innovation’ is meaningless unless it creates products that actually help patients. Discoveries that never leavethe lab help no one,” Cassidy wrote in thereport. “While many parts of FDA work well, unnecessarybottlenecks slow patients and consumers getting theproductsthey need.”

The report takes issue with thesystem companies face in gettingtheirproducts approved. The testsand reviews are unpredictable, often addingunnecessary

Louisiana ranks highon congressional earmarks

Four members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation ranked in the top five for receiving the most “earmarks” in this year’sappropriations bills, according to an analysis by Roll Call, a political trade publication.

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy,RMadisonville and amember of the Senate Appropriations Committee, ranked third in the upper chamber,with $450.6 million directed to his home district. Roll Call looked at all 8,472 local projects, worth $15.7billion total. Sen. Bill Cassidy,R-Baton Rouge, came in fifth, witha total of $339.8 million. That’sthe highest of 72 senatorswho requested earmarks in 2026 and were not on the appropriations committee. Over in the House, 389 members inserted earmarks. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise,

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, delivers

raceonFeb.13inBaton Rouge.

time and delays. “FDA teams can differ greatly in the extent to which they require testingorimposestandards that arenot calibrated to the relevant risks,” Cassidy wrote. He called for “new clinical trial approaches” that would be less expensive and much faster New drugs can cost hundreds of millions of dollars to test —costs that are recouped by manufacturersthrough higher prices to consumers. For instance, Cassidy’swhitepaper recommends reducing clinical testing burdens forbiological medicines similar to alreadyapproved biological medicines. Biosimilars, or biosims, have already been tested andmeet pharmaceutical quality standards. He suggested Congress con-

R-Jefferson,came in fourth with $164.8 million,and Rep.Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, ranked fifth in theHouse with $151.9 million.

One reason the four Louisiana membersranked so high is the $131.5 million appropriation to strengthen levees andother infrastructure and reduce the risk of flooding forabout 200,000 people, primarily in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

The Army Corps of Engineers’ Morganza to the Gulf project —the fifth largest earmark expenditure was sponsored by all four and was included in their totals, according to Roll Call.

In all, Louisiana’scongressional delegation gathered in $356.5 million for 51 community projects in the state.

Thepractice of individual lawmakers acquiring federal taxpayer dollars for purely local projects was restricted, even banned, through much of the 2000s as

sider additional laws.

The Washington Post in an editorial Wednesday,which did not mention Cassidy’sreport, noted that vaccine manufacturers “can’tbeasconfident they can jump through theFDA’s hoops withoutregulatorschanging theground rules mid-circus act.”

Posteditorialistscontinued, “The FDA has gone to great lengths in recent years to reduce this sort of red tape that merely slows down lifesaving medical innovations. Lamentably,itseems to be returning to its old ways under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership.”

Created in 1906 on theheels of Upton Sinclair’snovel “The Jungle”and incorporating an 1848 law toreview imported

corrupt “pork barrel spending” conjuring up images of Alaska’s $223 million “Bridge to Nowhere.”

Congress voted in 2021 to again allow earmarks, though now rebranded as Community Project Funding or Congressionally Directed Spending.

The debate over directing federal taxpayer dollars for local projects has not completely lapsed, however.Many of the senators and representatives who voted against the 2026 spending bills said they did so because earmarks were included.

Landry praises CVS pharmacyscholarships

medicines, the FDAmust sign off on every new drug and vaccine before they can be administered. The agency also oversees the purity of food products and the accuracy of food labeling, in addition to cosmetics and tobacco.

About 25 cents of every consumer dollar —more than $1 trillion annually —pays forproducts that the FDAregulates, according to the Cato Institute, alibertarian think tank headquartered in Washington. But the agency has been criticized for years, and manyargue it is chronically underfunded.

The widespread refusal by manytoget vaccinated forCOVID-19 wasone sign of distrust. And, in 2021, it approved the Alzheimer’sdrug Aduhelm despite expert advisers’ objections and data that shows one-third of test subjects were subject to brain bleeds and swelling.

Prior to Kennedy becoming secretary forthe Department of Health &Human Services, which oversees the FDA, he wrote on social media: “If you workfor the FDA and are part of this corrupt system,I have twomessages foryou. 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags.”

The FDAemployed about 20,000 people —half of whom werescientists when Kennedy took over

The agency now employs about 16,500 people and its appropriation was cut by nearly 10% to $6.8 billion. He has limited inoculations forchildren, canceled research contracts, and packed expert adviser panels with anti-vaxxers —all activities Cassidy has criticized.

Though Kennedy is one of the mostvociferous critics of the FDA, it is unsure how he will greet Cassidy’ssuggestions. Nevertheless, Cassidy wrote: “The HELP Committee looks forward to coordinating with FDAunder its new leadership to promote patient access, accelerate U.S. competitiveness, and improve the health of American families.”

Email Mark Ballardatmballard@ theadvocate.com.

thehealth care giant, is celebrating the initiative.

Landry,inasocial media post, lauded the program, saying he is “excited” to work with CVS and “grateful fortheir commitment to helping Louisiana’snext generation succeed!”

“When we create opportunities forour students to learn, train, and build their careers right here at home, we’re strengthening our workforce and our communities at the sametime,” he said in a statement.

The pharmacy scholarship will be available in the 2026-27 academic year,and information about it will be madeavailable at the financial aid offices of the twouniversities, the newsrelease says.

Landry last summer threw his political weight behind pharmacy and prescription drug legislation that CVS fiercely opposed. The bill, which did not pass, would have barred companies in Louisiana from owning both retail pharmacies and entities known as pharmacy benefit managers, which negotiate the price of drugs.

CVS, acorporation that owns both types of businesses, sent masstexts to customers saying the bill would force it to close all its pharmacies and urging them to reach out to lawmakers.

CVS announced Wednesday it is launching a$5million scholarship program for studentspursuing a doctor of pharmacy degree at either theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe or Xavier University in New Orleans—and Gov.Jeff Landry, who in recent monthshas publicly sparred with

According to anews release from CVS, “the program will help reduce financial barriers forstudentsfrom diverse backgrounds and communities, particularly those with adesire to serve in areas with critical health care needs.”

Xavier is the country’sonly historicallyBlack Catholic university, while UL-Monroe is in a population center that anchors rural north Louisiana.

“This initiative is part of CVS Health’sbroader commitment to advancing health equity, expanding access to care, and investing in the next generation of health care professionals,” CVS said.

Landry backed three lawsuits Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed in June against CVS. The lawsuits accuse CVS of violating customer privacy lawswith the text campaign; treating independent pharmacies unfairly; and using its size and ownership of multiple parts of the drug supply chain to drive up costs. Murrill on Friday announced that those lawsuits had been settled.

Laney King, co-founder of The Crawfish App, which tracks retail prices for live and boiled crawfish from more than 1,000 vendors said about 50%to60% of businessesare listing their pricesonthe platform at the moment. With low supplyearlyinthe season, vendors have to charge higher prices, so some refrain from listing on the app until they are offering lower prices, she said.

Many vendors who listed their prices on the app in Januarycharged about $10 to $11 per pound, when crawfish typically cost around $8 in the beginning of the year

“I sure hope that was the peak, because that’s not normal,” King said.

“That’snot anormal way to kick off the season, evenearly in January,wedon’tusually see $10- or $11-a-pound boiled crawfish.”

This week, crawfish on average cost about$8per pound for boiled and $6 per poundfor live —about $1.50 per pound higher than prices around this time in previous years, according to King. Kingsaid she’shopeful

that therest of the season will proceed normally with the temperature rising and expectsprices to fall and more vendors to list on the appinthe next twotothree weeks. Demand is high this weekendand more vendors aregetting their bearings, she said, so competition will drive prices down.

“If we can just get Mother Naturetocooperateand be done with winter,we’ll be able torock and roll,” King said Willie Chapman,owner of Willie’s Restaurant, said his Coursey Boulevard eatery started selling boiled crawfish on Black Friday at $12 perpound

Theseason started smoothly buthit arut in De-

cember and January after a combination of cold weather,labor delays and pricing pressures from neighboring states. The government shutdown halted visa paperwork for immigrants working for crawfish farms, leading to labor shortages,in additiontosome employees refraining from work due to immigration sweeps, WDSU reported.

“Prices have come down pretty rapidly from that freeze,” Chapman said.

Right now, Willie’ssells boiled crawfish at $7.50 per pound and will soon start selling live crawfishat$5 per pound. Chapman said overallcrawfish prices are past their peak andare on its way down,whilecrawfish

size is on therise.Around this time last year,crawfish were only about$0.50 cheaper than thecurrent price, Chapman said.

Achill is on its way to Baton Rouge,and Chapman expects prices to hold for the temperature dropbefore falling. He projects prices to decrease to about $5.50 to $6 per pound by St. Patrick’s Day Pricing crawfish is tricky, he said, but it’swhat makes theindustry exciting.

“It’sa big chessgame,” Chapman said. Whilepricesare on their

way down, demand has been lowsofar this season as customers wait for cheaper mudbugs, Randy Montalbano Sr owner of Randy Montalbano’sSeafood& Catering, said.

Randy Montalbano’sis currentlyselling boiled crawfish at $7.99 per pound andlive crawfish at $5.99 per pound. They started selling late December and early January at $10.99 to $11.99 per pound. “The supply wasn’tthere at thebeginning,”hesaid. “ButIthink crawfish are plentiful now,and we’re just

waiting on the prices to go down, hopefully,and Ithink they will before Easter.” Supply waned at the start of the season due to the cold weather and farmers were notfishing in as many ponds, Montalbano said. But as the weather warmed up and the Lenten season began, supply has improved, he said. “I think it’sgonna get better and better,” Montalbano said. “The crawfish are getting real pretty and holding up good.The supply is real good right now.Wejust need thevolume to getup. Just bear with us.”

Investinginthe financial future of Louisiana’s youththrough programs that celebratestudent successisalong-termpriorityfor PelicanCredit Union. Thecreditunion’s Dollarsfor A’sprogram awards cash for good grades—a little lagniappe, as it’s knowninLouisiana,for ajob well done “AtPelican,webelieve good habits startearly,” said Jeff Conrad,CEO of PelicanCreditUnion “Bypayingfor good grades,werewardstudents fortheir hard work whilehelping them understandthe valueofsaving, earning, andmaking smartfinancialchoices.”

Throughits Dollarsfor A’sinitiative, Pelican hasrecognizedacademicachievement across thestate by awarding nearly $440,000 in cash incentives to hardworkingstudentsoverthe last 5years alone. Morethan12,788individual awards have been givenacrossLouisiana since theprogram began.

Students with aTeamPelican YouthSavings accountora Teen Checking accountare eligible to participateinthe programand canearnupto $70per semester on theirreportcards.Toapply fora Team Pelicanaccount,visit pelicancu. com/youth.

Taking part in theprogram is simple—eligible students areencouragedtosubmittheir report cardsattheir localPelican branch or upload them digitallythrough theMyPelican app. Once reviewed,TeenCheckingaccountholders ages 13 andupearn$10 per‘A’,and thoseunder theage of 13 with aTeamPelican accountget $5 per‘A’

As anot-for-profitfinancialinstitution,PelicanCreditUnion seekstosupport itsmembers throughevery phaseoflife. Pelicanbelievesthe moneystudents receivefor theirachievements reinforces positive studyhabitsand promotes financial literacy by creating opportunitiesfor kids andteens to earn moneyand manage their ownaccounts.Allowingstudents to gain realworldfinancialexperiencebeforegraduating high school helpsbuild confidence as students transition into adulthood.

“Thisisjust oneofPelican’s commitmentsto education, financial empowerment, community impact,and meetingmembers wheretheyare by supporting them at everystage of life,” said Conrad Beyond theDollars forA’s program, Pelican partners with Louisianaschools to offer age-appropriatefinancial literacy curriculum and workshopsfor students at no cost to theacademic institution. Pelicanalsoprovidesstudent scholarship opportunitiesand contests with cash prizes forlocal teachers. In collaborationwith localuniversitiesand high schools, Pelican’s School PrideDebit Cardsserve as fundraisers for schools. With everyswipe,Pelican donates fivetoten centstothe partneredinstitution Throughevery educationalinitiative, new doorsare openedinthe livesofstudents, and Pelican’screativity andcommitmenttothe community’sfinancial empowermentshine throughprogramslikeDollars for A’s. Formoreinformationortobecome amemberof PelicanCreditUnion,visit www.pelicancu.com

Courtallowshaltto restoration of slaveryexhibit

BY TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA AU.S. appeals court late Friday said theTrumpadministration can halt work on aNational Park Service slavery exhibit in Philadelphia whileitappeals an order to reinstall it

About half of the large panels at the outdoor exhibit have been restored this week at the site of the former President’sHouse on Independence Mall.

U.S. Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman, in his order,said the exhibit as it stood Friday must remain in place and the remaining materials must be preserved.

The appeals court will now weigh the dispute between the city and the federalgovernment, which began when the administration abruptly removed theexhibit in January,amid an effort to remove information it deems “disparaging” to Americans from federal properties.

Senior U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe hadset a 5p.m.Fridaydeadline to restoreexhibits on the lives of nine people enslaved at the site underformer President George Washington in the 1790s, when Philadelphia served as the nation’scapital. That orderisnow on hold. The Park Service describes the exhibitasone “that examines the paradox between slaveryand freedominthe founding of the nation.”

The Interior Department has said in court papers that it planned to replace itwith its own narrativeon slavery Rufe hadsaiditmustwork with thecity on anynew material under along-standing cooperativeagreement.

“(T)he government can convey adifferent message without restraintelsewhere if it so pleases, but itcannot do so to the President’s Houseuntil it followsthe lawand consultswiththe city ”Rufe,anappointee of Republican President

George W. Bush, wroteinan opinion Friday

In its own filingFridayto the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Justice Department called her ruling “extraordinary” and “animproperintrusionon theworkings of acoequal branch of government ”

One of the panels being rehungFriday morning —titled “History Lost&Found” —details thesurprising discoveryofartifacts from the President’sHouse during an archaeological dig in theearly 2000s, as work was being done on anew pavilion for theLiberty Bell.

The exhibit had been on display since 2010, theresult of years of research and collaboration betweenthe city, the Park Service, historians and other private parties.

Rufesaidthe federal government wasunlikely to succeed at trial.And she said the public—and the city’s reputation —was being harmed with each passing day

BY KEN SWEET Associated Press

NEW YORK JPMorgan

Chase acknowledged for the firsttime that it closed the bank accountsofPresident Donald Trump and several of his businessesinthe political and legal aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 attackson the U.S. Capitol, the latest development in alegal saga over the controversial practice of “debanking.”

The acknowledgment came in acourt filing submitted last week in Trump’s lawsuit against the bank and its leader,Jamie Dimon. The president sued for $5 billion, allegingthat his accounts were closed for political reasons, disrupting his business operations.

“In February 2021, JPMorgan informed Plaintiffs that certainaccountsmaintained with JPMorgan’sCBand PB would be closed,” JPMorgan’sformer chiefadministrative officer Dan Wilkening wrote in the court filing. The “PB” and“CB” stands for JPMorgan’sprivate bank and commercialbank.

Until now,JPMorgan has never admitted it closed the president’saccounts, and would only speak hypothetically about when the bank closes accounts and its reasons for closing accounts.

Emails and text messages to aspokesperson for the bank were not returned.

Trump originally sued JPMorgan in Florida state court, whereTrump’sprimary residence is now located.

JPMorgan Chase is looking to have the case movedto New York, which is where the bank accounts were located and where Trump kept much of his business operations until recently.

Trump accuses the bank of trade libel and accuses Dimon himself of violating

Florida’sUnfair and Deceptive TradePractices Act In theoriginal lawsuit, Trump alleges he tried to raise the issue personally with Dimon after the bank started to close his accounts, and thatDimon assured Trump he wouldfigure out what was happening. The lawsuit alleges Dimon failed to follow up with Trump.

Further, Trump’slawyers allegethat JPMorgan placed the president and his companies on areputational “blacklist” that both JPMorganand otherbanksuse to keep clients from opening accounts with them in thefuture.

JPMorgan has previously saiditbelieves the suit has no merit.

Debanking occurs when a bank closes the accountsof acustomerorrefuses to do business with acustomer in the form of loans or other services. Once arelatively obscure issue in finance, debankinghas become a politically charged issue in recent years, with conservativepoliticians arguing that banks have discriminated against them and their affiliated interests.

“In adevastating concession that proves President Trump’sentire claim,JPMorgan Chase admitted to unlawfullyand intentionally debanking President Trump, his family,and his businesses, causing overwhelmingfinancial harm,” thepresident’s lawyers saidinastatement.

“President Trump is standing up for allthose wronglydebanked by JPMorgan Chase andits cohorts, and will see this case to ajustand proper conclusion

Debanking first became a national issuewhen conservatives accused the Obama administration of pressuring banks to stop extending services to gunstoresand payday lenders under “Op-

eration Choke Point.” Trump andother conservative figureshavealleged that banks cutthemoff from their accounts under theumbrellaterm of “reputational risk” after theJan.6,2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Since Trumpcame back into office, thepresident’s bankingregulatorshavemoved to stopany banks from using “reputational risk” as a reason for denying service to customers. This is not thefirst lawsuit Trump hasfiledagainst abig bank alleging that he was debanked. TheTrump Organization sued credit cardgiant Capital OneinMarch 2025 for similar reasons and allegations. The case is ongoing.

Massivemural in Greece wins awardfor street art

Kalamata wanted town to be put on themap

BY LEFTERIS PITARAKIS and THEODORA TONGAS Associated Press

KALAMATA,Greece Long known for its olives and seaside charm, the southern Greek city of Kalamata has found itself in the spotlight thanks to atowering mural that reimagines legendary soprano Maria Callas as an allegory for the city itself.

The massive artwork on the side of aprominent building in the citycenter hasbeen named2025’s “BestMural of the World” by Street Art Cities, aglobal platform celebrating street art. Residents of Kalamata, approximately 150 miles southwest of Athens, cultivate the world-renowned olives,figs and grapes that feature prominently on the mural.

That was precisely the point.

Vassilis Papaefstathiou, deputy mayor of strategic planning and climate neutrality,explained Kalamata is one of the few Greek cities with the ambitious goal of becomingclimate-neutral by 2030. He and other city leaders wanted away to make abstract concepts, including sustainable development, agri-food initiatives, and local economic growth, more tangible for the city’s nearly73,000 residents.

That’show the idea of a massive mural in apublic

space was born.

“Wewanted it to reflect averyclear anddistinct message of what sustainable development means for aregional city such as Kalamata,” Papaefstathiou said.“We wanted to create an imagethat combines the humbleproducts of the land, such as olives and olive oil— which, let’sbehonest, arefamous all over theworldand have put Kalamata on the map —with the high-level art.”

“By bringingtogether what isvery elevated with the humblenessofthe land, our aimwas to empower the people and, indoing so, strengthen their identity.We want them to beproudtobe Kalamatians.”

Southern Greece hasfaced heatwaves, droughtsand wildfires in recent years, allofwhichaffect theolive groves on which the region’s economy ishugelydependent

Theimage chosentorepresent the city was Maria Callas, widely hailed as one of the greatest opera singers of the20thcentury and revered in Greeceasanationalcultural symbol. She mayhave been born in New York to Greek immigrant parents, but her father came from avillage south of Kalamata. For locals, she isone of their own

This connection is also reflected in practice:the alumni associationatKalamata’s music school is named for Callas, and the cultural center houses an exhibition dedicated to her,which includes letters from her personal archive.

Artist Kleomenis Kostopoulos,52, saidthe mural “is notactually called‘Maria Callas,’but ‘Kalamata’ and my attempt was to paint Kalamata (the city) allegorically.”

Rath er than portraying a stylized image of the diva, Kostopoulos said he aimed for amore gro unde d andhumandepiction. He incorporated elements that connect the people to their land: tree branches —which he considers the aboveground extension of roots— birds native to thearea, and the well-known agricultural products.

“The dress IcreateonMaria Callasin‘Kalamata’ is essentially all of this, all of this bloom,all of this fruition,” he said. “The blessed land thatKalamataitself has …is whereall of these elements of nature come from.”

Creating themural was no small feat.Kostopoulos said it took around twoweeksof actual work spreadover a month due to badweather He primarily used brushes but also incorporated spray paint and acherry-picker to reach alledgesofthe massive wall.

Papaefstathiou, thedeputy mayor,said the mural has becomeafocal point.

“Webelieve this mural hashelped us significantly in many ways, including in strengthening thecity’spromotion as atourist destination,” he said.

koyama said. “Tackling aging waterpipesrequires ahuge investment, and I cannot thank enough for the donation.”

serves as awestern Japanese capital. Most of Japan’s main public infrastructure was built

BY MARIYAMAGUCHI

Associated Press

TOKYO— Osakahas received ahefty gift of gold bars worth 560 million yen, or $3.6 million, from an anonymous donor asking for itsspecific use: to fix the Japanese city’s dilapidated water pipes

The gold bars weighing 46 pounds in total were given to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau in November by the donorwho wantsto help improve aging water pipes, Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said Thursday “It’s astaggering amount andI wasspeechless,” Yo-

The mayor said his city will respect the donor’s wishesand usethe gift to improve waterworks projects.

Concern over thesafety of Osaka’swaterworks systemsgrewafter amassive sinkhole swalloweda truck and killed the driver last year.Itwas linked to a damaged sewerinSaitama, north of Tokyo.

Osakahad 92 cases of water pipe leaks undercity roads in the fiscal year ending March 2025, the city’s waterworks official Eiji Kotani said Friday With thepopulation of 2.8 million, Osaka is the country’sthird-largest city that

BY ISABELLA O’MALLEY and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press

WASHINGTON Millions in North America kicked off 2026 with bitterly cold temperatures, with many saying it’s been years since they’ve experienced such frigid winter weather

“Pipes that never froze on me for 15 years froze,” said Chris Ferro, 58, from Brooklyn, New York, about the abnormally cold temperatures he experienced in January and February Ferro owns several residential properties in Albany and said multiple days of below-freezing temperatures prevented him from doing repairs and renovations. He said he was thankful that none of the pipes burst and that this winter had the same bitter cold he remembers from when he was young, which contrasts with the relatively warmer winters he experienced in recent years.

About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say they’ve been personally affected by severe cold weather or severe winter storms in the past five years, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s an increase from an AP-NORC poll conducted in February 2025, when about half of U.S adults said they’d been affected by extreme cold.

The finding points to the growing prevalence of experiences with cold weather, or at least people’s perceptions of them, after a massive winter storm brought freezing temperatures to the East Coast and caused widespread power outages in the South. In a warming world, people’s reactions to cold weather are subjective. Scientific research indicates the first quarter of the 21st century was unusually warm by historical standards — mostly due to human-induced climate change — and abnormally cold winters are happening less frequently in North America. Because this type of extreme cold occurs less frequently, experts say Americans are experiencing it more intensely now than

they did in the past and prolonged cold spells are unfamiliar to many people, especially younger Americans.

In the summer of 2024, an APNORC poll found that about 7 in 10 U.S adults had experienced extremely hot weather or extreme heat waves in the prior five years.

Higher bills, more cancellations

The most recent survey found that just in the past year, Americans’ lives have been upended in multiple ways by cold weather

About 7 in 10 Americans say that in the past year, their electricity or gas bills have been higher than usual because of winter storms or extreme cold. About 4 in 10 have experienced a work or school cancellation because of winter storms or extreme cold, roughly one-third have experienced a power outage, and about 3 in 10 have had a travel cancellation or delay Annie Braswell, 66, from Greenville, North Carolina, said January and February felt like “it hadn’t been that cold in 40 years” and that her utility bill doubled compared with normal. She said it was a dramatic change from the weather she experienced last summer when she endured many days at

or above 100 F. “I just take life one day at a time, and I realize these are things that I can’t change,” Braswell said about how she copes with the extreme temperatures.

Heat waves and extreme cold require more heating and cooling to keep temperatures inside homes and buildings comfortable, which leads to higher utility bills.

Electricity prices are rising in the U.S. and an AP-NORC poll from October 2025 found that nearly 4 in 10 U.S. adults say the cost of electricity is a “major source” of stress for them. Bill McKibben, a longtime climate activist, said he thinks rising electricity prices will have a major political impact. The effects of cold weather were

felt across wide swathes of the country About 6 in 10 Midwesterners, about half of Southerners, and about 4 in 10 Northeasterners say they’ve experienced work or school cancellation as a result of winter storms or extreme cold, compared with 15% of adults who live in the West.

Temps and climate change

Among all of the people who experienced some kind of severe weather event in the past few years — including extreme heat, extreme cold, major droughts or water shortages, hurricanes or severe tropical storms, major flooding, wildfires, tornadoes — about two-thirds believe climate change

was a cause. “I think climate change is a natural thing that happens to some extent it’s sped up by some things,” such as pollutants released from factories and the shipping industry, said Joseph Bird, 21, a college student in Provo, Utah, who identifies as an independent. “I think it increases the frequency of extreme weather is how I’d see it,” said Bird.

Democrats and independents who experienced any kind of severe weather event are much likelier than Republicans to see climate change as a cause.

There’s a particularly large gap between conservative Republicans — only about 3 in 10 who experienced an extreme weather event think it was related to climate change — compared with liberal Democrats, the vast majority of whom think climate change was involved.

While rising atmospheric temperatures are a result of global warming, scientists say that extreme cold outbreaks across North America are a feature of climate change. The Arctic polar vortex, a swirling area of low pressure and cold air that is typically trapped over the North Pole throughout the year, can stretch down and infiltrate regions further south. Scientific research indicates such polar vortex disruptions are happening more frequently due to rapidly warming temperatures in the Arctic and shrinking Arctic sea ice.

Overall, the vast majority of U.S adults, 80%, have experienced some kind of severe weather event in the past five years, although they are much likelier to report experiencing extremely hot weather or extreme heat waves and extreme cold in the past five years than any other kind of major weather events, including major droughts or water

Zoo’s‘ridiculous’plansaves wild rhino’seyesight

Floridaanimal behaviorists traveled to Africa to help

BY CODYJACKSON and DAVIDFISCHER Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH,Fla. Corralling a wild rhinoceros into asmall chute to give it eyedrops might seem like acrazy plan. But if it’scrazy and it works, then it’snot crazy.

Animal behaviorists partnering with the PalmBeach Zoo &Conservation Society in Florida traveled to Africa in August to helpan endangered white rhinowith alifethreatening, parasitic eye infection Daniel Terblanche, asecurity manager with Imvelo Safari Lodges, said no one in Zimbabwe would have come up with the plan

“Believe me, we didn’tthink of it;itwas acompletely ridiculous idea to us,” Terblanche said. “But without trying all of the things that we could to rectify that situation,

toanendangered white rhino’sinfected eyeinBulawayo, Zimbabwe.

we would have been in trouble, I think.”

Outside of Zimbabwe’sHwange National Park, the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative,

withsupport from Imvelo Safari Lodges, engageslocal communities to reintroduce southern white rhinostocommunal lands for the first time in thenation’shistory

to different environments.

BY JESSICA HILL Associated Press

LAS VEGAS Katherine Ed-

dington was driving in North Las Vegas last week when she thought she saw abig black bird carrying abanana fly across the intersection

But after acloser look, she realized it was atoucan —a tropicalbird native to rainforests in Central and South America known for their large, colorful bills.

“They’re beautiful birds, so being able to see somethinglikethat so closeto home was fascinating,” said Eddington, who recognized thebird from socialmedia and contacted animal rescue.

That toucan is named Sam, and he has been living in the area since November,when aresident posted online that he’d escaped from his cage.

After surviving the Las Vegas desert for months, Sam has captivated community birding groups, with people posting occasionalsightings around town.

Alocal rescuegroup has been trying to catch him for months —and the clock is ticking.

Marsh, who has twotoucansofher own,saidSam is starting to showsigns of struggle. His eyes are sunken in, and the skin around his beak is starting to get discolored, she said.

“I’m really worried about him,”said Skye Marsh, president and co-founder of SouthWest ExoticAvian Rescue.The LasVegasbased group hasspent hours searching for him, only to find the bird50 feet upina palm tree, limitingrescue options. They havenot been in touch with the owner,she said Las Vegas is not agood environmentfor atoucan to be in the wild with its too-hot summersand cold winters, said Donald Price, aprofessor and biologist at the University of Nevada in LasVegas who studies how winged animal species adapt

Samlikelylived offfigs andpomegranates from trees in the Los Prados neighborhood, located about 15 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, when he first escaped in November,Marsh said. Those fruits have since disappeared, and Sam has moved on to citrus, which are harmful to toucans,she said. Their liverscannot process thecalcium, and the iron can be deadly

“This bird is not in good shape,” Marsh said.

Bird expertsand enthusiastsalike are surprised thetoucan has survived so long in Las Vegas. Exotic birds that escape often have difficultyfinding food and avoiding predators, andthe changing weather in Las Vegashas also likelytaken a toll on thetoucan.

“If it’sstill alive, it could be in trouble, Ican imagine. So hopefully they catch it,” Price said.

PalmBeach Zoo CEO andPresident Margo McKnight was visiting the area last year when Imvelo SafariLodges managing director Mark Butcher told her ahealth scare with amalerhino named Thuza could jeopardize the future of the program.

“This rhinohad bleeding eyes He was rubbing his eyes,” Butcher said. “And Iwas looking at apotential where this guy wasgonna lose his eyesight. And this is in a pilot project that’sgot fantastic vision forafuturefor conservation throughout Africa.”

Thad and Angi Lacinak, founders of Precision Behavior, traveled to Zimbabwe to work with the antipoacherscouts. They developed aplan based on lessons learned at PalmBeach Zoo, where animals aretaught to voluntarily participateintheirown care.

“Withthis few animals in this location in Africa, it was essential that we save allofthem,” Angi Lacinak said. “So when they called andsaid, Thuza is going to lose his eye, ablindrhino is adead rhino.

So no matter what it took, we were going to go over there and try.”

The idea was to coax Thuza into a tight space with his favorite foods and then to desensitize him to humanstouching and squirtingwater on the face.

“Within about aweek, we were actually putting the eye drops strategically in his eyes while he held for it,” Lacinaksaid. “And by theend of twoweeks, we had transferred that skill set to not only Daniel, who was in charge of leading their guards, but to the guards.”

The conservation status of southernwhiterhinosislistedasnear threatened, with about 16,000 animals living in thewild. Poaching and habitat loss remain significant sources of danger.Sowhile Thuza andotherrhinoscontinue to face challengesinthe wild, at least the animal’seyeshavebeen protected

“They’re consistently getting the medications into his eyes every day,”Lacinaksaid. “And the rhinos are just thriving now and they feel really,really confident that this solved their problem.”

EDUCATION

Immigration enforcement impacts classes, teachers say

New

BY MORIAH BALINGIT

AP education writer

In one testimonial after another, teachers detailed all the ways President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has shaped their work and the lives of their students.

In a court filing Thursday, educators around the country described rumors of immigration raids that scared away students, immigrant parents who stopped sending their children to school altogether, and stories of parents and students — including one middle schooler being picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at school bus stops.

The stories were shared as part of a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy that opened up schools, houses of worship and medical facilities to immigration enforcement. The lawsuit was filed last year by an Oregon farmworkers union and a group of churches that argued the policy change was “arbitrary and capricious.” The American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and three preschool employees joined the suit in September

As the impacts of immigration enforcement on schools and health care facilities grew, the plaintiffs

filed a petition asking a judge to halt the Trump administration policy as the lawsuit proceeds.

“In recent months — and escalating in the past several weeks — immigration enforcement agents have made startling incursions into cities and towns around the country, including unprecedented and unrestrained surges in and around vital community institutions such as schools and health care facilities,” attorneys wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Administration officials have defended the policy in the past, say-

ing that making schools, churches and other spaces off-limits to immigration enforcement could make them refuges for criminals.

Officials have said Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not target schools for enforcement operations, but there have been several instances in recent months where immigration authorities have pursued or detained people on or near school property

New policy

The government for more than three decades had barred immigration authorities from making arrests in schools and houses of worship. That policy was updated over the years to include other

“protected areas,” such as hospitals and homeless shelters, to prevent enforcement actions that would restrict access to essential services and activities.

Shortly after Trump took office, his administration rescinded that policy, instead issuing a four-paragraph memo that advised officers to use “a healthy dose of common sense” when deciding whether to make arrests near “protected areas.”

As Trump has ramped up his efforts to deport millions of people, some of the arrests have been made near schools during pickup and drop-off hours. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include a trio of educators from an Oregon preschool,

where ICE agents attempted to arrest a man in the parking lot after he dropped off his infant son.

In Chelsea, Massachusetts, teachers union president Kathryn Anderson said immigration enforcement has been more disruptive to learning than the COVID pandemic, which moved school online for months. The school system lost a significant number of students this year and absenteeism is higher than usual.

“Right now, kids of all backgrounds are being prevented from going to school because of the extremely real fear that either they or their family members will be separated,” said Anderson, who is not part of the lawsuit. “As an edu-

cator having to help kids move through and exist in that fear (has) been a near impossible task.”

During a Chicago operation in October, agents released tear gas that engulfed a school playground. They later arrested a teacher inside of her preschool during morning drop-off DHS said agents had attempted to pull over the car she was riding in before she got to school and said she barricaded herself inside, forcing agents to enter The woman, who has work authorization, was eventually released.

In Minneapolis, agents scuffled with bystanders after pursuing a man onto a high school campus as school was ending for the day Fear trickling into classrooms

The court filing included testimony from 60 teachers and health care workers from 18 states who described how immigration enforcement near their schools and medical facilities has challenged their work. All submitted their testimony anonymously

One middle school teacher said half of the students stayed home amid a rumor about immigration enforcement nearby

The following month, a student at the school was detained while at a bus stop.

Elsewhere, a speech pathologist described tearful meetings with immigrant parents fearful that signing documents to get their child special education services would draw the attention of immigration enforcement.

A high school teacher said many students, including immigrants still learning English, switched to virtual learning after a parent was arrested by ICE at a school bus stop. But the virtual option is only offered in English, and the teacher said they feared the students are falling behind.

A teacher at another school said a student was detained by ICE at a school bus stop and never returned to class after being released. Now, when students ask whether they can be arrested at school, “I can no longer reassure them that campus is safe from ICE.”

THE GULF COAST

Little haschanged in longtime Gulfport chickenspot

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Fried chicken, biscuits and dinner rolls glistened with oil and butterunderthe heat lamps as locals slid trays down the buffet line, pausing for sides until their plates disappeared beneath Cajun rice and red beans.

The lunch crowd —mostly gray-haired, save for afew stiff cowboy hats —settled into tables and booths, the same seats they’d claimed for years. Some conversed over diet colas and plates doused with Louisiana Hot Sauce; others sat comfortably alone, content in their owncompany.Nancy Sinatra, then Patsy Cline, played from the speakers, singingstories of failed love.

Perhaps over the years, time skipped past Cajun’sFabulous FriedChicken —and yes, it is quite fabulous —inGulfport,Mississippi. That still seems true today, even as the Gulf Coast rapidly grows in both populationand development, including new offices and boutiques neighboring the restaurant Owner TomHarvey,who opened the first shop in 1979 with hisfather,seems to recognize his own resistancetochange.For thefirst twoorthree years, hiswife, Patricia, mixed the spices by hand until they finally agreed to geta machine —adecision that came only after many discussions, they said, laughing together in alemon yellow booth.

Just over amonth ago, chicken tenders were added to the menu, the first addition in years. That required some convincing In aworld of debit cardsand mobile payments,the chickenshop accepts cash only.And don’tget your hopes up: That is unlikely to change any time soon.

While little has changedinside the restaurant, the opening of Cajun’sitself waspartofa larger shift in South Mississippi,asit was among the firstrestaurantsto

bring Cajunfood to theCoast Back when TomHarveyand his father opened their first storefront in Biloxi’sEdgewater Village, étouffée appeared on the menu

adish customers didn’teven know howtopronounce.Today,Cajun food stretcheswell beyond Louisiana’sbayous and the sole of its boot,into neighboring states like

Mississippi

Butthe Harveys, whohad never been in the restaurant business, didn’topen Cajun’s withthat missioninmind. Their reasoning, in fact, was rather simple.

“Weliketoeat fried chicken,”

TomHarvey said.

As aNew Orleansarchitect designed the building, thefamily perfected the fried chicken. Tom Harvey,along with hisfather,his wife andanyone willing to tastetest, spent about ayear making and mixing spices for recipes that have remained unchanged for 47 years.

“Weworeour friends andfamily out on fried chicken,” Patricia Harvey said.

The restaurant started as atakeoutplace, pairing its main dish withCajun rice before transitioningtoa buffet in 1982.Thatwas around the sametimeCajun’swas expanding acrossthe Coast, with storefronts in D’Iberville, Pass

Christian and Ocean Springs, before franchising in 1989. Thefirst out-of-state storeopenedinBaton Rouge,followedbylocations in Florida and Alabama.

Those shops are no longer around. The Harveys stopped franchising after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the originalCajun’s. When they returned after the storm, little remained. Asingle gaslight stood amid the wreckage, spewing gas onto the ground.

The only Cajun’snow sits along Pass Road in Gulfport, where carrots are peeled, cabbage is cut and red beans simmer before the doors open to alineofcustomers at 10:30 a.m. If they’ve been coming long enough, they know the menu will be the same as it was yesterday —and the year before.

That’sbecause TomHarvey’s philosophy on the food is as simple as the reason he opened Cajun’sin the first place.

“If something’snot selling real good,” he said, “Something’swrong with the recipe.”

Hisfavorite dish on themenuis the fried chicken.PatriciaHarvey, meanwhile, favors nearly everything, from the brownies topped with ice cream to the coleslaw and fried fish. Unlike many restaurants along the Coast, the fish doesn’tcome from the Mississippi River or the Gulf. Instead, it’san Alaskan deep-water fish, caught in “the Gulf of Alaska, Iguess,” Tom Harvey said with ahint of dry wit. Cajun’sold commercial jingle, which once rang fromtelevisions across Mississippi,had itsown opinion: “Red beans and rice, they taste so nice and our biscuits can’t be beat. It’s thegreatestfried chicken in the whole wide world.” It’s hard to say what therest of the world has to offer when it comes to fried chicken. No longer confined to the South, the delicacy now appears in nearly every corner of the globe. Popeyes can even be found on the streets of London and Paris —telling signs that the times have indeed changed for fried chicken. Butalong thesideofthe road in Gulfport, you’ll still find someof the South’sgreatest.

Plant permitted to allow storm runoff

Advocates say decision is premature

the state Department of Environmental Quality say discharges are expected to continue for two months.

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

The Smitty’s Supply Inc. plant that exploded and burned down last year can resume allowing storm runoff from the devastated site to flow into the Tangipahoa River thanks to an elaborate filtration plan, though a local environmental group calls the decision premature. State regulators recently granted Smitty’s an emergency permit to discharge as much as 1 million gallons per day of stormwater from the 20-acre site into the Tangipahoa via local ditches. That’s the equivalent of as much as 1.5 Olympic swimming pools of treated water and five times as much as the company had sought in an initial permit attempt denied in December Major changes were, however, made to the plans in the new application.

Man gets $1M bail after sentence vacated

He faces new trial on murder charge

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT and CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writers

A man imprisoned at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for more than three decades, whose murder conviction and sentence were vacated last year as he was remanded for a new trial, has had his bail set at $1 million, meaning he likely will remain incarcerated for the foreseeable future.

Keith Ezidore, a 73-year-old man from St. James Parish, was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1993, after he was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1991 stabbing death of Ralph Flowers.

The vast majority of the state’s case rested on testimony from a 15-yearold with a juvenile criminal record, some of which was not presented to Ezidore’s defense attorneys.

The Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeal found that this violated the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1963 Brady v Maryland decision, which requires prosecutors to disclose to defense

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Amazon is expanding its drone operations in Baton Rouge. The online retail giant is building an office in the parking lot of its 9001 Cortana Place fulfillment center to support its package delivery drone operations. The building, which broke ground this month, is expected to be complete in May

“We’re in the early planning stages of bringing Prime Air to Baton Rouge,” Daniel Martin, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement “Additional steps remain but we appreciate the great working relationship we have with local officials in Baton Rouge and will share more information as it becomes available.” Amazon began deliver-

Discharges into the river began Monday after a final round of testing to determine if the treated water can sustain aquatic life. Permit documents from

“All discharged water meets the strict limits, monitoring requirements and water quality standards established under LDEQ’s permit,” company officials said in a statement. Testing results are public.

Matthew Allen, director of the nonprofit Northshore Riverwatch, said his group

is urging the state to reconsider “This decision overlooks the extraordinary scale of the original incident at this site — where possibly millions of gallons were spilled — and disregards the fact that the area remains contaminated,” Allen said in a statement. “A location with this level of damage should have been isolated months ago with absolutely no discharges allowed.”

Allen added that the permit appears to signal that alleged past unpermitted discharges, over which he said residents have filed repeated reports, are forgiven.

“The people of this region — and the Tangipahoa River itself — deserve far stronger protections than what this permit currently provides,” he said.

DEQ officials didn’t

MICRO

the

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A Michigan man has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after a Baton Rouge federal judge remanded him for bilking several Walmart stores out of more than $300,000. Dondrell Lawayne Smith, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in November On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson imposed a 35-month sentence and ordered Smith to pay about $167,803 in restitution to the stores he targeted Smith must serve three years of court supervision once he is released from prison, Jackson ruled. A grand jury indicted Smith and Malikk Ziare Strodder his 24-year-old co-conspirator, on the con-

spiracy charge, along with seven counts of wire fraud. Court records show Strodder was arrested for his alleged offenses in December and has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces. His case remains ongoing. As part of his guilty plea, Smith admitted that he and others traveled to more than 100 Walmart locations across the country as part of a nationwide scam that netted them over $340,000 in stolen merchandise. They ran the scheme from September 2021 to August 2023 Federal prosecutors said the crew rented cars in the Flint, Michigan, area and hit the road, driving to Walmart stores in Louisiana and 14 other states. The scammers used fraudulent “cash cards” that appeared to be genuine credit or debit cards, but had no value on them. They used the cards to purchase high-ticket items like electronics at the stores. When Walmart’s computerized point-of-sale

systems declined the fake cards, Smith and his counterparts told cashiers they were former Walmart employees and instructed them to key in specific sequences into the registers,

Study: Stretch of I-10 one of deadliest in Louisiana

Segment near Lafayette had 14 fatal crashes in five years

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

A portion of Interstate 10 near Lafayette ranks among the deadliest highway segments in Louisiana in the past five years, according to a new analysis of fatal crash data. The study, published by Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, exam-

PLANT

Continued from page 1B

immediately respond to questions about the permit and Allen’s allegations of improper discharges, but Smitty’s says it “has worked closely with both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEQ to manage water at the site safely and responsibly.”

‘Industry-standard’

The 20-acre lubricants manufacturing complex near Roseland in Tangipahoa Parish exploded Aug. 22, sending up a towering black plume and oily droplets across the surrounding area. Combined with firefighting efforts, the incident and its aftermath released hydrocarbons and flame retardants into ditches and ponds that empty into the river

Uncontrolled releases from the site oiled some animals in the river, soiled riverbanks for miles downstream and left swirls of pollutants in ponds that risked finding their way into the Tangipahoa until emergency responders were able to close off drainage outlets.

The blaze spurred intervention by the EPA and a rash of classaction lawsuits. Smitty’s, a leading employer in the parish, has shut down. As cleanup work has progressed, the company has been shipping waste to a variety of locations: scrap metal to EMR Metal Recy-

BAIL

Continued from page 1B

attorneys any evidence that tends to show a defendant is not guilty The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision, vacating Ezidore’s conviction and sentence and remanding it back for a new trial.

Judge Steven Tureau, of the 23rd Judicial District Court, set Ezidore’s bail amount on Monday During hearings regarding his potential release, Ezidore’s attorneys and family members maintained his innocence in the case and said his current age and medical problems ensure he isn’t a danger to the community or a flight risk.

Richard Davis, legal director of Innocence & Justice Louisiana and one of Ezidore’s attorneys, wrote in a statement that Ezidore “has been wrongfully imprisoned since 1991 for a murder that he did not commit.”

“His medical conditions mean that he cannot even

ined fatal crash records from 2019 through 2023 using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Researchers divided highways into 10-mile sections and counted how many deadly crashes happened in each zone. If two sections had the same number of fatal crashes, they ranked the one with more deaths higher. The study found that six of Louisiana’s nine deadliest 10-mile stretches were on I-10, the main thoroughfare running east and west across the

cling, which has multiple south Louisiana locations, and removed soil and ash to River Birch Landfill in Waggaman.

Oily waste not processed onsite is going to Preston Environmental Solutions for recycling in Baton Rouge or being mixed with solids and dumped in Waste Management’s Woodside landfill in Livingston Parish. Some liquids are being injected underground in Mississippi.

Smitty’s plan to send runoff into the river will use a portable treatment system that the company says will remove pollutants.

The company will capture runoff in portable tanks that can hold 1.6 million gallons of water and send it through a Spectrum Water treatment system that uses “proven, industry-standard processes.”

Protecting the community and the environment remains our priority and we will continue working in coordination with state and federal agencies throughout the remediation process,” the company said

Improved cleanup

Two months ago, DEQ rejected the company’s earlier request amid public opposition. Smitty’s had proposed discharging 200,000 gallons per day, a fifth as much as now authorized, but also sought to include “wash water” from site cleanup

The company has been power washing the site’s concrete slab and is dismantling damaged build-

earn money doing barely paid prison labor He has no way to pay a $1 million bail,” Davis said

“Continuing to prosecute and incarcerate a frail 73-year-old who is presumed innocent in a case in which the crucial witness against him is on tape saying that he does not know anything about the murder is not reasonable. Despite this, Mr Ezidore’s resolve remains strong. Our office will keep pursuing every avenue to free and exonerate him.”

Before the bail decision, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office requested the court deny bail altogether or set it at no less than $1 million with ankle monitoring requirements according to the bail order Lester Duhé, press secretary for Attorney General Liz Murrill, said the office did not have a comment on the decision.

Behind the ruling Louisiana law requires judges to weigh nine factors when granting bail. These include the severity of the

state The other three were on Interstate 12.

One of the I-10 segments identified in the study is located near Lafayette, between Louisiana Avenue and Grand Point Highway in St. Martin Parish.

That section tied for fourth place in Louisiana, with 14 fatal crashes and 15 deaths recorded during the five-year period It is the only roadway segment in southwest Louisiana to appear among the most fatal 10-mile stretches in the state, according to the study

The study shows that the

highest-ranking segment overall was a portion of I-10 in New Orleans between South Norman C Francis Parkway and Bundy Road. Four of the top nine deadliest stretches identified were located in or around the New Orleans area. The analysis also identified multiple deadly segments along I-12 east Baton Rouge. Researchers said the rankings are based on total fatal crash counts within each 10-mile segment, rather than crash rates adjusted for traffic volume. According to the study, the goal is to

A drone captures the multicolored sheen of runoff from the Smitty’s Supply Inc. fire near Roseland in a private pond during the weekend of Aug. 23, 2025. The pond is south of La 10 and upstream of the Tangipahoa River The ponds and land in this area have frequently been hit with runoff from past spills from Smitty’s, lawsuits and state regulatory papers allege.

ings and equipment. Heather Ses-

sa, a spokeswoman for Smitty’s, said water from pressure-washing won’t be sent into the river

“The pressure washing water is not currently going into the discharge and is being recovered as part of untreatable water and being disposed of,” she said.

DEQ officials wouldn’t authorize the discharge permit in December because some post-treatment testing parameters weren’t good enough Since then, Smitty’s was

charge, the weight of the evidence, the defendant’s previous criminal record and their ability to pay

In his ruling, Tureau wrote that he took Ezidore’s age and medical conditions into account but stated that the allegation against Ezidore and his criminal history before his conviction weighed heavily against him.

“Although the Court must view the Defendant as though he had never been convicted this Court may still consider that the Defendant was indicted by a grand jury for second-degree murder,” the judge wrote.

Recanted testimony

Tureau’s decision followed two hearings held earlier this year at the St. James Parish Courthouse in Convent, during which Davis alleged Torrey Burnett, the prosecution’s star witness in the original case, had recanted his testimony Burnett implicated Ezidore and his now-deceased co-defendant, Larry Walker, in three statements to police during the original

able to supply new data showing the treatment system could meet the state’s standards, testing and permit documents show Submitted results show treatment leaves the water without grease or volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds commonly associated with hydrocarbons. Some trace heavy metals like aluminum barium, antimony, iron and lead, were left behind at levels within water quality guidelines, as well as more typical contaminants like

case. According to the 5th Circuit’s decision, Burnett had alleged that Ezidore and Walker went to rob Flowers at his business and that Ezidore grabbed and held Flowers while Walker stabbed him.

While the jury was aware that the state had promised to dismiss a pending burglary charge and give Burnett immunity in the Flowers case, the appellate court found that prosecutors did not disclose several juvenile adjudications and a pending armed robbery charge against Burnett.

“The information withheld by the State in this case was critical information about its primary witness,” the document stated, adding that the “suppressed evidence undermines the testimony of the prosecution’s star witness.” Burnett was the only witness to identify Ezidore in a case where there was no physical evidence linking him to the murder

In the motion for a bail hearing, Davis alleged that Burnett had recanted his

highlight where fatal crashes have been most concentrated geographically in recent years.

For drivers in the Lafayette area, the inclusion of a local stretch of I-10 among the state’s deadliest segments places a regional spotlight on a corridor that serves both daily commuters and longdistance travelers. The data illustrates how fatal crashes have been distributed along Louisiana’s major highways between 2019 and 2023, with I-10 playing a central role in the statewide rankings.

nitrogen, phosphorous and solids.

Testing data by a third-party firm, Pace Analytical, show the contaminants that DEQ officials wanted to see improved were reduced sharply, by 3 to nearly 50 times earlier results and fell within state water quality limits. Sessa said Spectrum adjusted equipment designed to separate dissolved contaminants from the water, as well as a carbon filtration system.

Under the permit, Smitty’s must do testing daily on the discharged water, but Allen, of Northshore Riverwatch, said that may not be good enough if results take days to obtain.

“Downstream waters have been affected, and additional discharges may have continued unchecked. After-the-fact data cannot prevent real-time harm,” he said.

Smitty’s permit applications don’t appear to address whether the system can handle PFAS contaminants, known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment.

More than 36,000 gallons of the AFFF fire retardant which contains PFAS, were used to fight the fire in the first days of the blaze, billing records show Though Smitty’s is waiting on the latest round of testing, tests in October detected PFAS in the water before treatment but not afterward, Sessa said.

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

former testimony twice. Burnett appeared at the first hearing held Jan. 12, but the hearing was paused so he could consult an attorney

Burnett later invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to Tureau’s bail order

Focus on sheriff’s captain

At the January hearing, Davis also introduced a recording of a phone call with a man he said was Burnett. In the call, which was provided to The Advocate, the man said he had been threatened to not testify by Capt. Brent Dicharry, commander of investigations at the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Brent told me I’d better not get up there and open my mouth, and I’d better not (unintelligible) or I won’t like the repercussions,” the man stated in the recording.

Dicharry was a juvenile officer in the early 1990s and took statements from Burnett, according to the 5th Circuit decision. Before

the second hearing on Feb 9, he told The Advocate the allegations were “completely false.”

Both parties questioned Dicharry for hours during the continued hearing. He stated he was “not involved in the murder case,” and when serving as a juvenile officer he was just looking into a complaint about a child being bullied. Joseph LeBeau, of the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, asked Dicharry on the stand if he ever threatened Burnett.

“No, sir, and I would be willing to take a lie-detector test,” Dicharry said.

LOTTERY

FRIDAY, FEB 20, 2026

PICK

Toomanyunits

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

More than 300 residents could be forced out of Guste Homes High Rise in Central City after federal officials said too many units at the public housing complex are vacant Residents fill about 77% of the 12-story building’s apartments. Butthe DepartmentofHousing and Urban Development, whichfunds thehighrise for elderly and disabled people, mandates thatat least88% of theapartmentsbefilled.

In December,HUD told NewOrleans’publichousing authority that if a building assessment shows Guste has failed tomeet HUD’s rules, theauthoritymust give every Guste resident avoucher to find housing elsewhere in New Orleans over the nextfive years.

Guste appears to meet the department’sdefinition of a“deeply distressed, high-vacancy publichousingdevelopment,”said Ben Hobbs, assistant secretaryofHUD,ina Dec. 15 letter to the Housing Authority of New Orleans.

The edict has set offa clash between federal and localhousing officials, who say that closing the complex wouldharmits 310 residents. They say that there is no guarantee Guste’sresidents will find landlords willing to rent to them andthatHUD should instead approve other spending to repair thebuilding so it can lure moretenants Closing Guste “is an unacceptableproposition thatwouldnot best serve the residents,” said MarjoriannaWillman,the head of HANO, in an email. Cynthia Wiggins, presidentofthe Guste Homes Resident Management Corporation, which works withHANOtomanage the complex as the only resident-led public housing managementcompanyinthe city,disputed thatthe property was in disrepair

“The property is not distressed. Over thepast severalyears multiple capitalrepairs andsystems improvements repairshave been made,” she said.

Theclosure of Guste would mark the final blow to New Orleans’ once-large stock of high-rise public housing, after others were demolished and replaced with housing vouchers or converted into townhome developments in thepast few decades “I don’twant anything to happen to this building,” said Debra Tousant,

72, who has lived at Guste forsix years. “Wekeep in touch andlook outfor each other —wewalk the hallway,westicktogether.”

Deferred maintenance

The high-rise,which was constructed in the early 1960s, wastaken over by aresident-led management companyin2000 after years of efforts by residents seeking to assert greater control over their housing.

Under the arrangement, the resident corporation is entirely responsible for managing the property, whilethe housing authorityaudits the company’s finances each year andhas oversight ofcertain large purchases.

Over the years, deferred maintenance has driven tenants outofthe building and spiked its operating costs, Willman said earlier this month. As aresult more and more units have become vacant

Th ev acan cy rat e reached nearly 23% in fiscal year 2025, far above HUD’scap of 12%. ArecentHANO-commissioned assessment found that it would cost almost $60 million to “modernize” the building, and that most of the building’scomponents werein either “fair”or “poor” condition.

“There’s been alot of missedopportunity for decades to modernize the development, and because of those missed opportunitiesthe cost to redevelop

the property hasskyrocketed,” said Willman,who took over as director of HANO in January of last year

Last year,itcost HANO

$8.2 million to runGuste That’s almost double the $4.4 million it would have costtoprovide vouchersto all of Guste’stenants, Willmanacknowledged.

Yetreplacing the units with tenant-based vouchers is the wrongapproach giventhe city’saffordable housing shortage, shesaid.

A2024 study found that the vast majority of landlordswould notaccept housing vouchers, and voucher holders often struggle to findunits that fall below the “fair market rent.” In 2025, avoucher holder could lease atwobedroom in New Orleans for between $1,411 and $2,131 depending on the ZIP code.

Instead, Willman wants HUD to pitch in federal andbond funds to repair Gustewithout displacing residents. Some building units,per thatplan, would be subsidized through housingvouchers, rather thanthrough ever-shrinking traditionalpublic housing dollars.

In aletter to HUDonFriday,Willman argued that theproperty shouldn’tbe closed because it houses elderly and disabled people, which HANO’sprevious leadership failed to tell HUD. Willman said sheishopeful afterspeaking with HUD leaders

that her request will be approved.

“I thinktheyunderstood (our concerns) and Idothink we have agood chancetobeexempt,”said Willman.

Willman said HUD officials told herthis month that their pushtoshutter Guste is in linewithother plans affecting 42 other U.S. public housing authorities. Allofitcomesas President Donald Trump’s administration hasvowed to shrink the country’salreadydiminished stock of traditionalpublic housing. Aspokespersonfor HUD did not respond to arequestfor comment.

Residentsrespond Willman and Wiggins, the resident property manager chief, agree on the need to keep Gusteopen, but disagreeonhow the property got to this point. Though Wiggins pointedtoaslew of repairs at Guste, she at the sametimeblamedany issues with the property on HANO’sleadership. She said the authority has taken apiecemeal approach to repairing things over the years.

“Our hands are tied because we don’thavecontrol of the capitaldollars,” saidWiggins Wilbert Washington, 77, an 11-yearGuste resident, said that maintenance at the building is inconsistent.

“Some things get done, some things don’tget done,” Washington said

“Thewhole building needs to really be cleaned.”

But at the same time, Washington said he worried that it wouldbedifficult to findanother place to live with avoucher

“It’sgoing to be kind of hardbecausealot of places don’twant to take your voucher,” he said.

Tousant praised the staff at Guste and said that the building is well-maintained. Tousant said she worried that if residents are given vouchers,they would be forced intofurther afield neighborhoods that are less connected to services

“A lot of us aredisabled and don’thave anybody to help,” Tousant said.

Wiggins also said that Guste residents need to be involved in decision-making about the future of the building, noting that Willmandid not consult Guste leadership before sending an initial responsetoHUD or meeting with HUD officials on earlier this month.

Willman said Thursday that she“followed the protocol that was dictated by HUD” and that shewanted to get a“clear understanding” of the process “before we start talking about what’sgoing to happen.”

“I can promise you everystakeholder will have an opportunity to sitatthe table,” said Willman.

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

1930 and resided in Baton Rouge,LA. He passedawaypeacefully at hishome on January 31, 2026 at the age of 95 surroundedbyhis family. Araearned hisBachelor of Sciencedegree from Robert CollegeinIstanbul, Turkeyand hisMaster of Sciencefromthe University of Texas, both in Civil Engineering. Arahad averysuccessfuland fulfilling career as aprofessional Civil/ GeotechnicalEngineer with over 50 years of experience in the field of environmental,civil,geotechnical, foundations, and geosyntheticsengineering He began hiscareerin1956 at the Louisiana DepartmentofHighways. In 1963 he began histeaching career in Civil Engineering at LSU. Whileemployed at LSU he served in many capacities including:Professor, AssistantDirector at theDivision of Engineering Research, Chairmanofthe Department of Engineering, andAssociateDeanof Civil Engineeringfor Instruction andUndergraduate Studies. In 1987 he served as the founder and directorofthe Louisiana Transportation Research Center(LTRC).After retiringfromLTRC he began his career in consulting, servingasa Sr.Geotechnical Consultant, Vice President andPrincipal at Woodward -ClydeConsultants. After leaving WoodwardClyde he became aSr. Vice President andExecutive Vice PresidentatGulfEngineers andConsultants. Arawas amember and officerofmanynational andinternationalprofessional and honorary engineeringorganizations. He initiated, chaired and presented at many and varied shortcourses and conferencesthroughouthis life. He hasinexcess of seventy publicationsinthe field of geotechnicalengineering, foundation design and chemicalstabilization of soils.Theyhave been published and citedintechnicaljournals andbooks in several countriesincluding theUSA, Great Britain, France, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden,the former USSR,Germanyand Japan Arawas afellowofthe American SocietyofCivil Engineers. He wasthe recipient of the prestigious A.E. Wilder, Jr.Award for OutstandingService from theAmerican Consulting EngineersCouncil.In2001, he wasinductedintoLSU CollegeofEngineering Hall of Distinctionfor hissignificant contributions to the field of civil engineering. Though he hasattained much successinhis professionalcareer, hispassion wasteaching and mentoring hisstudents Hisgreatest professional achievementwas seeing hisstudents succeed in theirpersonal lives andcareers. Hisguidanceand dedication to hisstudents

4B ■ Sunday, February22, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate left alasting impression and extended far beyond the walls of his classroom.

Ara's greatestsourceof pride and joy in his life was his family. He was adedicatedand devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved his family very much. He came to this country with littlemore than determination and hope for abetter future.He worked hard and built a successful career, aloving family and abeautiful life. He was cherished and loved by his family and friends and will be sincerely missed.

Ara is survived by his wife of 62 years, Claudia Carr Arman, son Eric H. Arman and wife Melissa daughter MichelleMarie Hancock and husband David, grandchildren Alexander H. Arman,Arianna Arman Hadley (husband Tim), AmeliaGrace Arman Ava Marie Hancock, and Anna Catherine Hancock

He was preceded in death by his father Dr. Hayg Arman, his mother Marie Anna Arman, and his brother Dr. Garbis Arman.

Private services were held on February 16, 2026 at St. GeorgeCatholic Church. The family would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to Father Jon Koehler, The Hospice of Baton Rouge, and Ara's personal caregiversfor their compassionate care and support.

Amemorial scholarship fund has been set up in Ara's name to support the LSU College of Engineering, Engineering Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made at http://givelsu.org/arman.

Donald "Donnie" M. Barcelona, age 91, passed away on Thursday,February19, 2026, in Jackson, Louisiana. Donniewas born on October 29,1934, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Louis and Effie Barcelona. After graduating from High School, he then went on to enlist in the military where he spent 20 years dedicating his service to the United States Navy. He was aservice member of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal division and then took his talents to the State Police and Exxon Mobile after his retirement from the military. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, was an avid gardener, and loved spending time with his friends and family. Donnie is preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Carolyn Sue Jones; parents, Louis and Effie Barcelona; son, Michael Martin Barcelona; sister, Mary Lucille "Celie" LaSage; brothers, Ronnie Barcelona and Louis "Bubba" Barcelona, Jr.; grandchild, Dana Rabalais Gautreaux. He is survived by his daughter, Tammie B. Kahn; son, Zane David Barcelona; grandchildren, Andrew Kahn and Angela Barcelona;greatgrandchildren,Taylor Gautreaux,Kade Gautreaux and Nora Kahn. Visitation will be heldon Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 5:00-8:00 PM at Resthaven Funeral Home, locatedat11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816.Visitation will continue Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 12:30-1:30 PM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, located at 865 Hatchell Ln, Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726. Funeral mass will beginat 1:30 PM, with burial to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. The family would like to give aspecial thanks to Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge for their care and support during this difficult time.

lessis, Louisiana,and a longtime resident of Gonzales, Louisiana,Fayewas alovingwife, mother, sister,grandmother,and great-grandmother. She was afaithful and sweet servantofthe Lordand blessed manywithher kind soul.She is survived by herson, JeffBerteau (Sherian); her daughters, Suzanne Berteauand Charla Hall (Doug); son-in-law, Chris;eight grandchildren and fourgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, ClarenceJoseph Berteau; her son,David Paul Berteau; herdaughter, Annette Berteau Dupre;her mother,Elphie BlouinMarchand;her father, HerbertMarchand and hersister,Maxine MarchandHebert.Family and friends areinvited to attend agatheringonSaturday, February 28th, 2026, from 10:00AM-12:00 PM at Household of Faith on Airline Hwy, followed by a Celebration of LifeService officiatedbyPastor Scott Bledsoe. Interment will follow at HopeHaven Cemetery on Highway30. The family also inviteseveryone to areception at Ourso FuneralHome following the committalservice. The family extends special thanks to the lovingstaff at The Parc in Gonzales, whereFayeresided,and to Pinnacle Long TermHospice fortheir compassionate care.

Gloria HelenAime Berthelot (February7,1935February 12, 2026)ofGonzales passed awaypeacefully at homesurrounded by her family. Born in Head of Island, Louisiana, to Peter J. Aime and Estelle Brignac Aime,she earneda Psychology degree from LSUand builta distinguishedcareer in corporate leadershipbefore servingby gubernatorial appointment with the Louisiana BoardofReview. Adevoted parishionerof OurLady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, shewas alsoa community tennis leader, Sr. Olympics Goldmedalwinner,and founder of the Ascension Tennis Association. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Howard, four children, ten grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren. Visitation:February 27, 9-11a.m.; Mass at 11 a.m., HolyRosary Catholic Church, St.Amant

Burrell,Freddie E.

Freddie E. BurrellSr. was aresident of Zachary, La. He peacefully departed this life on February16, 2026surroundedbyfamily He was adevoted husband, father,and grandfather.Hegraduatedfrom Channeyvile High School. He retired from Sunbeam Bakery and later became a business owner. Freddie was amemberofImmaculate Conception Catholic Church in Scottlandville.Heissurvived by his three children Freddie Burrell Jr Gloria P. Burrell, Gloria L. Burrell. He is proceeded in death by his Wife, Father, Mother, twoBrothers, and one Sister. Afuneral service will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:30PMon2026-02-23at Immaculate Conception Church, 1565Curtis Street.

Katherine Dier,

by family at thehome of herson, Darren, in Watson, Louisiana. She was born on July4,1943, in Napoleonville, LA,and spent morethan fiftyyears in Baker, Louisiana, where she and husband, Earl D. Dier, builta faithful, loving home for their family.Mary graduated from Redemptorist CatholicHighSchool in BatonRouge and later became afamiliar and belovedpresence at the iconic Baton Rouge restaurant Giamanco's, where she served customers with warmth and dedication for morethantwo decades. Her kindness, consistency, and welcoming spirit made her afavorite among regulars and coworkers alike Mary was adevoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She supported Earl throughhis serviceinthe United States Coast Guard and hislongcareer with theBaton Rouge Fire Department,all whilecreating ahome defined by steadiness, faith, and love To her family,she was the quietanchor who held generations together. Mary is survived by her son, Darren Dier, and his wife Deanna, with whom she resided in recent years; her grandsons Dustin,Keith,and Austin; and her great-grandchildren Savannah, Landon, Jackson, and McKenzie. She is also survivedbyher sister, Barbara Rushing, along with extended family and dear friends. She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Earl Davis Dier; her brother Gerry Rushing;and her belovedaunt,Geralda Mildred Reddy, who played a significant and formative role in her upbringing.She is also preceded in death by her parents. Agraveside servicewillbeheldat Greenoaks Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 9595 FloridaBlvd, BatonRouge, LA,onMonday, February 23that10am.

The family of Shirley Eileen (Venner) Doody is deeply saddened to announce her passing on January23rd, 2026. She was theonlychildbornto Thomas VernonVenner and EvelynMarian (Fey) VennerinGloversville,New York on November 17th, 1942. After graduating high schooland obtaining her NY statebeautician's license,she met and later married Jeremiah Joseph DoodyonSeptember 5th, 1964. Shirleyand Jerry were married for 61 years prior to his passing on November 18th, 2025. She is survivedbyher three children, Sean, Amanda Baker (Kelly)and Daniel (Heidi). She is also survivedby5 grandchildren, Alec, AmeliaKate and Meg Baker and Olivia and Kellan Doody.She was a mother and grandmother (Mimi)first and foremost She lovedbeing ahomemakerand lovedher children and grandchildren fiercely. Her passing has left avoid that cannotbe filled.Werejoiceinknowing that she is with the Lord and reunited withour dadand that we willone daysee her again.

"I havefought thegood fight; Ihavefinishedthe race and kept thefaith. Henceforth there is laid up for me thecrown of righteousness, which theLord, therighteous judge,will awardtomeonthatday ." WilfordPaul "Fee" Hamilton, Jr,ofBaton Rouge passedaway on Friday, February 6, 2026, at theage of 90, surrounded by family.BorntoBillie

Larguierand Wilford P. Hamilton, Sr July19, 1935, Fee was one of five children. Hisfamily descended from IsadoreLarguier III, an originalsettler of Baton Rouge. Fee graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1955 where he lettered in football.Fee attended Southeastern Louisiana University beforejoining theUnited States Army. During his service, Fee trained as adentaltechnician and practiced at WalterReedNational Military Medical Center, WashingtonDC. As acivilian, Fee excelled as atop performing sales representative forthe SylvaniaLighting Division of GTE. He served as president of theIlluminatingEngineering Society of NorthAmerica, eventuallyretiring as South-Central District Manager. Aboating enthusiast, Fee served as president of thePontchartrain Yacht Club. He livedlifetothe fullest whether captaining his yacht fromLake Pontchartrain to Florida throughsouthLouisiana's rivers and waterways or piloting his plane.All who knew Fee's kind,loving, generous spirit and quick wit lovedhim. Aborn comedian,Fee lovedtomake people laugh, entertaining allwithhis outgoing personality and hisown infectious laugh. However, Fee was always happiest when entertaining or visiting friends and family.Fee was adevout Christian and longtime member of St. Margaret'sEpiscopal Church in Baton Rouge, where he willbelovingly laid to rest. He is predeceased by hisparents BillieLarguier and WilfordP Hamilton, Sr; daughter Holly Jordan Hamilton; grandsonBrennan "Brody" Blavier; brother John Burgoyne "Jack Hamilton; sisters Mary Sue Bolen and Sarah Hamilton McDill. He is survivedby his loving wife LindaDee Hamilton, (dba Dee Davitt Hamilton); bonus daughter PiperElizabeth Davitt Vance and husband Stewart Earl Vance of Montgomery, AL;bonus son John Tyler "Ty" Davitt; four bonus granddaughters Sailor Dansby Vance,GeorgiaElizabeth Vance of Montgomery,AL, Sarah Haden Sabye (Joseph) of Birmingham, AL,and Townsend Vance Bessonen (Alex) of Mobile, AL;two bonus greatgrandsons Miles Townsend Sabye and Miller TullisBessonen. Also left to mourn hispassing, are his youngestsister Martha HamiltonWeaver of Seabrook,TX; nephew and GodsonJackHamilton and wife Julia Pickford HamiltonofRocky Point, NC;a host of loving cousins,nieces and nephews; and his longtime housekeeper and friend, Consuela Hampton. The family wishes to thank At Home Care of Louisiana for providing Ms. Tammy Young, certified nurse assistant,for her loving care. Heartfelt thanksgoout to physicians Steven TroyGremillion, Gerald Miletello,Mahesh Basirody,PAJudson Jones and thecritical care team at Our Lady of the Lake Acelebration of life will be held Wednesday, February 25, at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 12663 Perkins Road,Baton Rouge, visitation5:00 PM, service6:00 PM.Inlieuof flowers,the family requests that donations be madetoSt. Margaret's Episcopal Church or the charity of your choice in Fee's honor.

Muchow,ThomasL.

Thomas L. Muchow of Denham Springs, La passedawayonFeb.5, 2026. Born on Nov. 18, 1940, in Brooklyn, Tomspent his earlyyears in NewYorkbe‐fore starting afamilyin Floridaand eventually making hishomeinDen‐hamSprings,where he livedfor nearly thirty years. He builta life rooted in family,friendship, and kindness, andhenever meta stranger.Tom wasa belovedhusband,father, and grandfather, anda friend to everyone he met. He is survived by hisloving wife,Dianne Muchow;his children andstepchildren, Chuck(Charles) T. Mu‐chow,Tom (Thomas) L. Mu‐chow III andwifeChristine, SusanKlugeland husband Jeff, MarlaElsea andhus‐band Tim, MelanieTodd andhusband Jason, and ClaytonSmith;aswellas hischerished grandchil‐dren,ConnorElsea,Sean

Elsea, Emma Elsea, McKenna Fussell, Finn Todd, Nicole Osmon, Benny Osmon, andChuckEaddy He is also survived by many extended family members, includingnieces, nephews, andotherswho were fortunate enough to call himfamily. Thomas wasprecededindeath by hisson,Michael Muchow; hisparents Thomas and Loretta Muchow;and his siblings,Henry Muchow andLoretta Wolffe.Those whoknewTom will remem‐berhim forhis warmth and positivity,his generosity of spirit,and hisunwavering love forhis family.His presence will be deeply missed, buthis legacy of kindness andfriendship will live on in themany liveshetouched.A memor‐ialservice will be held on Saturday,Feb.28at4 p.m. at TheUnitarian Church of BatonRouge.Inlieuof flowers, thefamilyencour‐ages donationstoThe Trevor Project in memory of Tom’sson Michael.

Charlene McDonald Nelson, 80, devoted wife mother, andgrandmother, andnative of Baton Rouge, passedaway on February 19, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She wasa 1963 graduate of St Joseph's Academy, anda 1967 graduate of LSU whereshe earneda bachelor'sdegree in sociology. As ayoung teenager, shemet herfuturehusband, Michael,while takingclassical ballet lessons from hismother.Years later,she and hermother-inlaw taught ballettogether at theirown dance school, whereshe shared herlove of balletwith herdaughter, nieces, andmanyother students. Charleneloved andhad an incredible knowledge of plants. For many years, she owned andoperatedNelson's Nursery, awholesale plant nursery,supplying flowers andvegetablestoretail nurseries across Baton Rouge.Friends andfamily frequentlysought heradvice on all things related to gardening.The kitchen waswhere she felt most comfortable,sharingher love throughfood. Atrue south Louisiana cook, she wasa giftedchefand rarelyuseda recipe.Her grandchildrenknewthat all it took wasa simple mention of afavorite dish, be it gumbo, jambalaya, redbeansand rice,oreven mac and cheese, andit wouldsoon appearasifby magic.Itwas absolutely impossible to leave her housewith an empty stomach.

For more than twenty years, shewas theheart behind an annual family beach trip, atradition she lookedforward to all year, especially because it broughther Texas and Louisiana grandchildren together. Weeks were spent preparingtomake everythingjust right, and once at thebeachhouse, she cooked everydelicious meal, caringfor herfamily in theway she knew and loved. Thesetrips became thesettingfor countless cherished memories and were among hergreatest joys. Sheispreceded in death by hermother and father, Madge Young McDonald andCharlesGassie McDonald,and youngersister, Mary Charlotte McDonald Sheissurvivedbyher high school sweetheart andbeloved husband of 58 years, Michael Houston Nelson,her children,Shane Nelson of Austin, TX, and Casey Sullivan (Joe) of Baton Rouge,her grandchildren,Kelly Nelson and HenryNelson (Kate),of Austin, TX, Houston Sullivan andErinSullivan of Baton Rouge,her sister,Kathleen AnnMcDonald of Baton Rouge,and many cherished nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She washappilyanticipating thearrival of herfirst great -grandchild,due in August 2026. Charlene willberememberedfor herselflessness, loyalty, and devotion to family- someone whonever soughtthe spotlight,but whose quietpresence and steady care shaped the livesofthose aroundher Visitation willbeonFriday, February 27, 2026, at RabenhorstFuneral Home 825 Government St., 9:00 to 11:00 AM,with abrief service at 11:00am. Interment at RoselawnCemetery to follow Pallbearers willbeKelly Nelson,Henry Nelson,

Houston Sullivan, JoeSullivan,Jesse Saska, and Colin Nelson.Honorary pallbearerswill be PatrickNelson and Shawn Nelson Thefamilyextends heartfelt thanks to special caregivers Ire'an Marshall, AndreaParker, andAnnetteGrimes, for their compassion and care they providedinrecentmonths. In lieu of flowers, the familyrequestsdonations to be made to TheHospice of Baton Rouge Butterfly Wing or Wounded Warriors.

Olano, Darlene Matranga Ford

Darlene Matranga Ford Olano passedawayon September 13, 2025, at the age of 80. She wasbornin NewOrleans,Louisiana, andwas along-time residentofCovington, Louisiana. Darlene was an alumni of St.Mary's Dominican High School. Her career as ahuman resources administrator for Hibernia andWhitneyBank showcasedher commitmenttoher profession. Shewas also aproud member of theDriftwood CountryClub, whereshe formed lastingfriendships andenjoyed many memorable moments. Darlene andher husband Dick, enjoyed travelingintheir motorhome for vacations, but mostly to LSUfor football, basketballand baseball games. They made many friends andmemories in theLSU sportscommunity. Shealso lovedmeeting for lunchwith herDominican Alumnilife-longfriends. Darlene is survivedbyher devotedhusband, Richard "Dick" Olanoof31years. Sheisalso survived by her loving daughters, Lisa Ford Cookmeyer (Ricky), Dayna Ford Berthaut(Fred Richardson), andstepdaughterAlycia Olano Ward(Ron). Herlegacy continuesthroughher grandchildren, Lindsey Van, Chase Cookmeyer, Cole Cookmeyer, Ford Gelpi,Haley Gelpi,Reese Berthaut, HarrisonWard, andGeorgiaWard, as well as hergreat-grandchildren,Scarlett Skinner and Juliet Skinner.She was preceded in death by her parents, AnthonyJoseph Matranga andDoris Hoerner Matranga, hersister PatriciaMatranga O'Neill andher brotherAnthony Joseph Matranga Jr.The familywould like to extend special thanks to Dr. Ricardo Blanco for hiscareand support. Darlene willberememberedfor herwarmth, positivity, generosity, dedication, andthe love she shared with all whoknew her. Relativesand friends are invited to attendservicesatLake Lawn MetairieFuneral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd NewOrleans,LAonSaturday, March7,2026. Visitation will be from10:30am untilthe Memorial Mass begins at 12:00pm.

Oubre,Maurice'Poochie'

Maurice "Poochie Oubre, born 1October 1940 in St.Martinville,LA, died peacefully andenteredinto theKingdom of God on 19 February 2026. Visitation will be held on Monday, 23 February 2026 at 9:30 am, followed by Mass and FuneralServicesat11:00 am, at St.George Catholic Church.Burial will follow at St.George Mausoleum. Maurice wasa graduate of St.Martinville Senior High School wherehe played footballand excelled academically. He received aB.S. in Chemical Engineeringfromthe University of Southwestern Louisiana. Maurice worked for DowChemicalfor 35 years. On 17 June 1968, Maurice marriedthe love of hislife, Lillian Marie Bernard. "Lil &Pooch" enjoyed awonderful 57 year marriagefullofhappy times with familyand friends. Hiscareertook

them from Cajun country to Germany and Holland. Following his retirement from Dow, he worked for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for another 10 years. He is survived by wife, Lillian, and his two children, Leah Oubre Robinson (Grover) and Brian Maurice Oubre. He is also survived by his two granddaughters, Ava Claire and Elise Goodwyn Robinson, who loved hearing his many stories from his childhood. He is also survived by his brothers, Carroll (Margaret) and Glenn (Elaine), his sister, Myra Bienvenu (T-Hoss), his sister-in-law, Jane Oubre, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Esther Oubre, and his brothers Marvin, Bobby, and Ronny. The family would liketo express deepest gratitude to close family and friends who lovingly aided in Maurice's care, Maria and Chris Reid, the Emma Rozas Family, and Valerie Johnson. In lieu of flowers,the family asksthat memorial donations be made to the Parkinson's Foundation Gulf CoastChapter -https: //www.parkinson.org/gulf coast.

Mala Fran Newman Schott passed away peacefully on February 18 2026, in Hammond, LA. She was 69 years old. Malawas born in Baton Rouge and was the eldest in her family of four. She is preceded in death by her parents Emerson and Jean Newman. Mala graduated from Valley ForgeAcademy where she was valedictorian and Southeastern LouisianaUniversity where shemet her husband, John Upon graduation from SLU, Mala worked as an accountant in NewOrleans until she transitioned to being astay-at-home Mom. Married for 47 years, John and Malahad two children. Malawas very devoted to her family. She lovedcooking,plants, and animals (especially cats).

Mala is survived by her 2children and 3grandchildren: Elizabeth and Rick Joji of Humble, TX, their children Gavin, Kaden, and Alyssa; and Joseph Schott of Tickfaw, LA. She is also survived by her 3siblings, Eric Newman, Donna Newman Black, and Suzanne Travis and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation to the John and Mala Schott Endowed Scholarship at Southeastern, SLU Box 10703, Hammond, LA 70402. Checks should reference the John and Mala endowed scholarship. Online contributions can be made at www.southeastern.edu/ memorial.

Relatives and friends of the familyare invited to attend the Visitation from theChapel of Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home 12012 Hwy 190 West Hammond, LA. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until the start of the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Rose MemorialPark Cemetery.

Obituary for Anne Kerby Miller Stegall May 5, 1951 -January 31, 2026

It is with unfathomable sadness, that my beloved wife of 54 years. Anne Kerby Miller Stegall passed away suddenly on Saturday 31st of January at age 74. Anne was born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 22, 1951, to John Smith Miller Jr., and AlbiaWallisCooper. Anne resided most of her life in New Orleans, Louisiana and moved to her chosen city of Sarasota, Florida in 2014. Anne went to Messick High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Anne attended

the University of Mississippi from 1969-1971and later earned her Bachelor of Arts DegreeinEnglish from the UniversityofNew Orleans in 1979,Deans List Anne began herprofessional career with the Department of Energy's Strategic Petroleum Reserve Sites in Louisiana and Texas. Later becoming acontract administrator forBoeing Petroleum Service prime operator for the Strategic Petroleum Reservefrom 1982-1993. Annewon numerous outstandingachievement awards and letters of commendationduring her distinguishedcareer

Anne was extremely gifted and read obsessively.She was politically astute; extensivelyworld traveled;and relished the symphony. Anne loved nature and was particularly fond of allplants and flowers. She was an active memberofChateau Estates Garden Club where she servedonnumerous committeesthat supported the communityofKenner. Upon movingtoSarasota,she becameanactive memberofthe Sarasota Garden Club. Anne loved the beach and swimming in the Gulf which always broughtout herintoxicating smile. Anne wasa kind and lovingsoulwitha patience and humorous outlookon life.Anne addedto the world and will be dearly missedbyall those who knew and lovedher

Annewas predeceased by hersisterAlbiaCooper Miller and was survived by her niece, AhjileVikara Miller and family. StevenR Stegall, beloved husband. Amemorialservicewill be held forAnne on Monday, March 16th at11:00am in the chapel of TheFirst United Methodist Church, Sarasota, Florida. In lieu of flowers, Anne wouldwant donations to be made to acharity of your choice in her honor. A memorialservice will be held at 11:00 AM on 2026-03 -16 at The First United MethodistChurchofSarasota,104 SPineappleAve.

SykesSr.,Bennie P.

Bennie PaulSykesSr. wasa native of Baton Rouge, LA born September 30, 1948,inHomer,LA. After acourageous battle with cancer, he peacefully departed this life

He was aproud veteran of the United States Military and afaithful member of 68th Ave Baptist Church. Bennie was known forhis quiet strength, steady faith, and deeplove forhis family.Helived hislife with dignity, honor, and devotiontoGod, carrying the values he learned in military service into every areaofhis life His life and legacy will be cherishedbyall who knew and loved him. Afuneral service will be held from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM on 2026-02-24 at Hall Davis& SonFuneral Services,9348 Scenic Highway.

Tate, Mary

MaryDoris LeBlanc Tate, age90, died peacefully in hersleep on January 27, 2026,inDenham Springs,Louisiana.She was borntoEdral Paul LeBlanc and Élodie Mary Boullion LeBlanc on April 10, 1935,inNew Iberia Louisiana Mary moved through life with an open heart,delighting in meeting new people and savoringthe occasions she had to travel. To meet her wastobe welcomed by acompassionate spirit who never met astranger.Shapedby her Cajun heritage, Mary carried an easy warmth and adeepjoie de vivre, a love of life that showed itself in her laughter,her stories, herlove of dance, and the way she made othersfeelinstantly at home. Shehad araregiftofconnection, offering kindness freely and finding joyin even thesmallestmoments shared. In her later years, illness slowly quieted herworld, limiting her ability to continue many of the relationships she so

cherished.Yet her spirit endured, and her feetstill tapped in perfect beat to her favoritesongs. Her unwavering smileremained asteadylight that brought comfort to her family and reflected love,resilience, and selflessnessthatdefined her life

Aboveall,Mary's greatest joywas her family.She lovedher children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with an unwavering devotionthatasked for nothing in return. She embracedher son-in-law and daughter-in-lawasher own. Offering them the same unconditional love and acceptance. Mary gaveofherself freely,oftenquietly sacrificing her own comfort for thewellbeing of those she loved. No matter how full her days were, she always madetime to listen and to be present in thelives of thoseshe loved.

Mary took gentle pride in the milestones of her own life.She graduated fromNew IberiaHigh School as an honor student, achaptershe carried with her always, and later retired fromthe LSUManshipSchool of Mass Communication, an accomplishment she cherished deeplyand spokeofwith sincere pride.Thesewere notsmall things to her; they represented perseverance, dedication,and alife faithfullylived.

MaryDorisLeBlanc Tate will forever be remembered forbeing abeautiful personand extraordinary in her grace. Her passing willhaveetched amemory of joyful gratitudetoall those who knew and loved this remarkable woman.

She is survived by her children- one daughter, KathleenTateFillingim (husband, Mike Fillingim) threesons ChrisTate, Johnny Tate(wife, Diane Tate) and Tommy Tate. Grandchildren are Kelly Fillingim Griffin (husband Justin Griffin), Seth Fillingim (wife, Yaneth Fillingim) and Sarah Tate. Surviving great-grandchildren, Rhett Griffin,Hayes Griffin, SawyerGriffin,Samuel Watson, and Lola Hammond,along with muchlovednieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her father, Edral Paul LeBlancand mother, Élodie Mary Boullion LeBlanc; stepmother, Estelle LegerBoullion LeBlanc; brothers, Clarence J. LeBlanc, Easten LeBlanc, Roland Paul LeBlanc, Sr.and Antoine HarrisBoullion, and sister Nora Boullion Thibodeaux; great-grandchild Reeves Griffin;formerhusband Dempsey Willie Tate.

The family wouldliketo thank Golden AgeHealthcare &Rehabilitation CenterinDenham Springs and theQuirk family for 12 years of care and love,and all theamazing caregivers that interacted with Mary and gaveher greatquality of care throughout her illness.

ACelebrationofLife visitationwillbeheldatSeale Funeral Home,1720 S. RangeAve,Denham Springs, LA on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 2:00 PM until 3:30 PM.2:00-2:30 Visitation.2:30-3:00 Musical Interlude. 3:00-3:30 Personal Tributes. Should youwish to make any donations on behalf of Mary Doris LeBlanc Tate, please give to acharityofyourchoosing

Vernon Lee Wright loverofwhisky, hotpeppers, the greatoutdoors, LSUwomen'sbasketball strong women and good dogs, diedearlyinthe morning of February 9th, graciously waiting until his threechildren could allbe at hisbedside.Hewas not afraidofdeath, he had liveda good life and lived far longer than he had expected. BorninMuscatine, Iowa on 2/20/1941 to Bernice Hazel Wright (née Calvelage)and Paul Emery Wright,Vernonwas the 2nd of 8children, and grew up in and around Muscatine.Heand his older brotherRusselloften told thestory of their father buying them new shovels, laying out thestakes for their new house and saying "The basement goes here."His parents, who had not had theopportunity to finish highschool, instilleda life-long appreciation of hard workand integrity. After graduating fromMuscatine High School, Vernon went to Iowa StateUniversityand majored in Wildlife Management.Hemet Patricia Hammar there and they marriedin1966. He completed amaster's degree

at Purdue University in Indiana, aPhD in Zoology at WashingtonState University and aPostdoctoral fellowship in Statistics at Cornell University. He and his youngfamily ledthe itinerant life of a PhDuntil he landedat Louisiana StateUniversity in 1978 where he was a professor, first in Experimental Statistics and later in Forestrywhere he was oftenfound assisting others in designing experimentally rigorous research. He was notafraid of following thedataand making unpopular recommendations; his lab'sdata didnot support the then status quo of releasing farm-raised ~4-footalligators to "bolster"the wild alligator populations after ahighpercentage of tags fromcaptive raised gators were found in thebelliesof much larger wildgators In theearlyaughtsone of his grad studentsspotted apairofvery large woodpeckers,and thestudent's uncanny description of littleknown behavioral characteristics, among other details, convinced him that Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers might survive deep in the swampswhere few humans venture, and even fewerwoulddistinguish them from othernative woodpeckers.

He was very activein theSierraClub,for many years leading fullmooncanoetripsinAlligator Bayou and Two O'Clock Bayou

Some of these tripswere with hispeers -other naturalistsand canoeists -and some were with his children's friends, classmates or youthgroup members. He found an intellectual and spiritual home for many years at theUnitarian Church of BatonRouge. After retiring fromLSU he moved to property in Clinton, Louisianawhere he hunted,gardenedand farmed.Hecontinuedto teach; first as avolunteer tutoring studentsinClintonand laterteaching natural history throughLSU continuingeducation.

In 2012 he met Ada White and they fellmadly in love.Hemoved from his farm to hers in Etheland at various pointsthey had horses, cows, donkeys, goats, chickens, dogs and cats. He had very little use forcitiesbut traveled broadly to see thenatural world. He and Ada traveled togethertosee their families and to see Chaco CanyoninNew Mexico, the Boundary Waters in Min-

nesota, theOlympicpeninsula in Washington and GlacierNational Parkin Montana. After AdaWhitepassed away on December 16th, 2025 he spent several weeks staying with his son's familyorwith hisvisiting daughters, graciously hosted by hisfirst wife, before movingintoBarclay HouseinBaton Rouge wherehewas just starting to getconnected.Evenas hisphysicalneeds increased, he wasattentive andrespectfultoall who caredfor him, staff and family, always asking how we were doingand crackingjokes to lightenthe mood. Vern was preceded in death by hiswife Ada Koenig White, his brothers Russell and Ronald,his sister Jean Brase, his brother-in-law Hank Luba andmanydevoted canines. He is survivedby hischildren Becky (Jonathan Gaw)ofMinneapolis, Minnesota,Pam (Louis LaPierre)ofVancouver, Washington, andTim (Candace) of Baton Rouge; grandchildrenJade, Evie, Madeleine,Tessa, Emory, andCaroline. He is also survived by hisfirst wife Patricia Hammar Wright hisstep-children JT (Tracy), Russell (Kay), and Laura (Morgan);and stepgrandchildrenJake, Will, Sam, Jonand Graham as well as by hissiblings Melvin Wright (Kathy), EileenLuba, LorrieDicks

(Barry) and BernieWright Brown and many nieces andnephews. He is also survived by twoverygood dogs, Pete andBart,who will live with JT andLaura respectively. AMemorialfor both Vern Wright andAda White Wright willhappen at the UnitarianChurch of Baton Rouge on Friday April 10th, 2026 at 10:00 am. Afamily gravesideinterment will occuratGreenwood Cemetery in Muscatine later this spring. The familywould like to thank thestaff at Barclay HouseMemory Care, NeuroMedical Rehab Center,and Clarity Hospice fortheir care;Dottie Kelly for herfriendship andsupport,and DeeAlexander for years of compassionate home care,Robert Knighten for service on the farmand step-daughter Laura for uprooting herlife to move next door to allow them to live on thefarm for Ada's last year anda half of life.

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OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Afundamental protection against tyranny,an imperative not just by the Constitutionbut by normative ethics and basic human decency,is that nobody should be deprived of liberty (or life or property) “without due processoflaw.”

An obvious corollary to that imperative is that if the law,after alegitimatetrial, sentences someone to serve acertain amountoftime behind bars, any imprisonment beyond that sentenceisa violation of theconvict’sright to liberty In that light, it is encouraging,but notyet satisfactory, that Louisiana reportedly hasmade progressinfixing an old habit of keeping inmates in prison beyond what aresupposedtobe their release dates Until recently,the problem wasquite bad.In 2023, theU.S. DepartmentofJustice reported that Louisiana, since at least 2012, had held as many as thousands of prisoners beyond the releasedates set by their sentencesorregulations. In 2019,this newspaper reportedthatthe state “routinely” keeps inmates “weeks,months, [even] years aftertheir release dates.”Federal judges have blasted the statefor itspractices In October 2025, federal district judge John W. deGravelles granted class actionstatus to lawsuits seeking redress for the alleged abuses of prisoner rights, but state Attorney General Liz Murrill argues that “everything in thelawsuitsiseither long outdated,out-of-context or just flatly false.”

La.can stop over-detaining inmatesby reviewing practices Attorney whousedAIinhot water

William Most, an attorney whorepresents people claimingto have been over-detained,asserts that the problems continue. Either way,state officials report that they have taken major steps tocorrect the errors, and anew audit released Feb.4did notdetail anycurrent instances of over-detention. Nevertheless, the audit wasanythingbut a declaration that all is well. Forthe fifth consecutive year,the audit found thatLouisiana’s prison system has notfollowed proper proceduresin calculating release dates.The properdateof releasecan move up for good behavior or back for disciplinary infractions. Auditors insist that the Department of Public Safety &Corrections should have asecond person review, as afailsafe,any initialchange in release datesthatis entered into the system.

State officials say the secondary-reviewrequirement is burdensomeand unnecessary,and that anew software system calculatesrelease dates automatically Obviously,this is all open tointerpretationand judgment. What is not in disputeis that Louisiana had along-standing over-detention problem that remains enmeshed in potentially costly court fights. With this in mind, it behooves the corrections department to erronthe side of caution, and thus to comply withthe auditor’s suggestions. Legislators and Gov.Jeff Landry,meanwhile, should continue providingclose oversight. When basic human rights are at stake and have arecordofbeing violated,extra attentionis warranted.

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

Perhaps we should forgive Covington attorney JohnR.Walker or,at least, be willing to afford him alittle grace. He was admitted to the bar in 1983 and, as he notes in one filing, is a43year veteran of the legal profession. So it is perhaps easytobelieve his explanation for mistakes he made in alawsuit involving thecityofMandeville. Walker sayshedidn’tunderstandthe “limitations and potential pitfalls”ofthe cuttingedge tools he was using to help him writealegal brief. Plenty of folks struggle to adaptto new technologies ButWalker’sstruggles withtechnology might get him fined or otherwise punished when he has to go beforea judge next week. So what exactly did he do?

whole cloth. And Walker didn’tnotice beforefiling.

U.S. District Judge Brandon Long was not amused.

“The Courthas chosentoignore most of Plaintiffs’ arguments brought in itsresponse motionbecause many, if not all, of Plaintiffs’ case citations are to cases that do not exist,or, if theydoexist, incorrectlyquote from or inaccurately describe its facts and holding,” he wrote in aruling that went against Walker’s client.

“Presumably,” Long continued, “this is the result of an astonishingly careless use of generative AI …A failure by licensed attorneys to performeven acursory check to ensure their cited caselaw actually exists is wholly unacceptable.”

again. It would be easy, at this point, to dismiss the tale as just aone-off example of alazylawyerand the seductiveness of AI. But Walker is far from unique

The last threeyearshave seen hundreds of documented cases of attorneys failing to checktheir AI-written briefs forfictional content worldwide, according to adatabase maintained by Frenchresearcher Damien Charlotin. In some cases,attorneys have been finedorotherwise punished. Walker probably should be, too.

Per his own admission, Walker filed amotion in the case that, is normal, included caselaw citations and quotations. Butinwriting themotion, he used two generative AI programs: Westlaw Precision AI and ChatGPT The programs,Walker said, “hallucinated” cases.Made them up out of

To Walker’s credit, he took full responsibility and threw himself on the mercy of the court.

“I was new to using these toolsand did not appreciatethe limitations of and potential pitfalls in using such tools, including therisk thatChatGPT would ‘hallucinate,’”hewrote He vowed it wouldnever happen

None of this should be surprising. These AI models are seductive precisely because they seem so authoritative Real or not, what they produce looks good.And if theycan fool longtime practitioners like Walkerwith their bunkum, whatchance do us laypeople have?

Perhaps that’sthe real powerofAI: It’snot actually intelligent, but it’s very good at making us believe it is. Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

It’sclear that our country’sdemocracy and itstraditions are important to mostcitizens.One of the most common themes in letters these days is thehealth of our democracy and whether political leaders are infringing on our constitutional rights.

As elections approach, of particular concern in Louisiana are changes to how we vote and who is allowed to vote.

rightsina democracy,soit’sunderstandable that many worry when rules change.

est, with seven writers opining on the issue.

Arnessa Garrett

Closed party primaries this year will require voterswho do not belong to apolitical party to choose which party’sprimaries they will participate in.

Ournewspaper has done extensive reporting on this change, and our Editorial Boardhas urged all voters to check their registration early to make sure they will be able to vote in theprimaryoftheir choosing.

Butother issues that readers have raised concerns about arevoter ID laws and efforts to purge voter rolls.

Votingisone of our most fundamental

Efforts to stifle freedom of speech and of the press have also been on your mind. Some feel that we have entered a period where citizensare being intimidated, if not outright harassed, when they seek to exercise these rights. That’s concerning because ahealthy democracy relies on the free exchange of ideas, even if they are unpopular

Ourreaders often provide an importantbarometer of public sentiment. So we listen when you say you are feeling fearful about thefuture of our democracy.Wewant to hear what you believe we need to do to repairdivisions and unitebehind common goals.

Turning to our letters inbox, Ican give you thenumbers forthe previous two weeks. From Feb. 5-12, we received 72 letters, and immigration was the topic that drew the mostinter-

The next biggest concern was voting, which was the subject of four letters. Three letters talked about issues along the Mardi Gras parade route. Then we had anumber of topics that prompted twoletters, including abortion pills, prisons and criminal justice. From Feb. 12-19, the hottest topic was Mardi Gras, not surprisingly.Wehad 13 letters about issues related to the holiday or parades.

Immigration was second among your concerns that week, with eight letters on the subject. Elections and voting prompted twoletters.

As election season swings into high gear,please continue to let us know about your experiences with voter registration or any other election-related issues. We’ll be watching, as we know you will.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor.Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com

COMMENTARY

Landry learns cooperativespiritisscriptfor CVS

time.”

Sometimes the bestprescription for dealing with powerful corporations is cooperation, not confrontation.

Whateverthe reasons, Gov.Jeff Landry is suddenly singing the praises of CVS, the pharmacy giant, after spending many months treating it as apublic enemy.The encomiums, as we shall soon see, come for anew development —a pharmacy scholarship program for Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Louisiana at Monroe —well worth celebrating. First, though, consider some background, which is bothironic and interesting.

the multiple-ownership practices

Murrill may well be right, meaning CVSand United may be wrong, about howthe laws govern vertical ownership structures. (She’sstill dead wrong about their First Amendment rights, but that’sadifferent subject.)

Last year,Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill waged legislative and court battles against CVS andUnited Healthcare of Louisiana, which they accused of unfairly driving up prices by improperly leveraging their ownership of multiplesectors of the drug supply chain. Murrill also filed suit to stop CVS from—Lord forbid! using its First Amendment rights to ask customers to oppose legislation Landrywas pushing against

Murrill, with Landry’s support, went so far as to demand that the Louisiana Department of Health suddenly end its contractual arrangements for Medicaid insurance with aCVS affiliate and with United, specifically becauseof the ongoing litigation.When CVS in December entered legal settlement talks with Murrill —settlements that on Friday finally were consummated with a$45 million pledge from CVS—Murrill quickly dropped her opposition to the CVSaffiliate’sMedicaid insurance. (After ample pushback from legislators, United’scontract also, wisely,was extended).

Nonetheless, Landry was so invested in Murrill’shardball tactics thatwhen your humble scribe noted (correctly) that theunplanned ban of the two insurance

providerscould leave hundreds of thousands of Louisiana patients in asort of limbo, he accused this columnist on multiple social media platforms of being “a shill for big corporations that prey upon consumers.”

As of this week,though, Landry no longerconsidersCVS an ogre that devoursunsuspecting Louisiana patients. Apparently, the transformation from predator to benefactor is transactional: Allit takes is afee of $5 million, payable to aworthy cause. Rather than wanting to slay CVS, Landry now saysheis“excited” to partner with thedrugstore king and“grateful for their commitment to helping Louisiana’snextgeneration succeed!”

The governor’s about-face was precipitated by acorporate good deed. CVSannounced a$5million scholarship initiative for students seeking adoctor of pharmacy degree at Xavier or ULM.

As Landrysaid, “When we create opportunities for our students to learn, train, andbuild their careers righthere at home, we’re strengthening our workforce and our communities at the same

The governor is right. Moreover,ifhehad anything to do with facilitating CVS’ donation, he too merits compliments.

Both colleges have admirable pharmacy programs. Xavier’s pharmacy school is known far and wide for its excellent graduates, and it produced Mary Muson Runge, who half acentury ago became the first Black and first woman to lead the American Pharmacists Association. ULM boasts, amongothers, Brian Primeaux, theManager of Clinical Pharmacy Services at the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center

The timing of the scholarship announcement was particularly poignant,coming (by happenstance) on the very day that longtime XavierPresident Norman Francis, the educational and civil rights icon, died at age 94. It was Francis who movedXavier to concentrate on training health specialists, including pharmacists, thus carving out adistinctive educational niche long before the national trend toward science/math education.

So, one could say all’swell that

ends well. Still, there are lessons here. The first is that big corporations are neither demons nor angels; they are just organizations seeking to makemoney while providing goods and services for which people are willing to pay They aren’tanimate; they are literally impersonal.

Businesses are, however,run by human beings. Sometimes those human beings are selfish, but sometimes they have humane instincts. Often, of course, they blend several very human traits.

Various metaphors (and clichés), therefore, apply: building bridges rather than barricades, using honey instead of poison, carrots rather than sticks.

One way or another,CVS is now making asmallish but still eminently valuable contribution to the future of the industry —asociologically valuable one —inwhich it is amajor player For the health of the state, perhaps morefriendliness from the governor might attract even greater beneficence.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Some Republicansare stillinCassidy’s corner

in his corner,though,and that’s hismost powerful peers in Washington.

It’sfair to say that Louisiana’s rip-roaring U.S. Senate race would be amuch calmer affair if not for the disruptive energy of one Donald John Trump. Indeed, it’sonly because of Trump that Bill Cassidy, the two-term incumbent nowin the fight of his life for athird, is even remotely controversial. Some voters are mad that he voted to convict Trump back in 2021for inciting the Jan. 6attack on the U.S. Capitol. Others are angry that he tried to get back into the newly reelected president’sgood graces last year by enabling the confirmation of RobertF.Kennedy Jr.tohead the Department of Health and Human Services, even though Kennedy’s wackadoodle ideas on healthcare couldn’tbefurther from what Cassidy’sown expertise as aphysician tells him. There’sone group that remains

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of SouthDakota came to Baton Rougetocampaign with Cassidy shortly before Trump cast his lot with U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow inthe state’snew Republican primary.Thune reportedly urged the president to leave well enough alone, tonoavail.

South Carolina U.S.Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is another big-name supporter Whether this will help Cassidy’scase at all is verymuch in doubt. Senators from other states obviously don’tvote in Louisiana elections, and the NRSCisunlikely to spend in astate that is allbut guaranteed to stay in the Rcolumn when other seats that could cost Republicanstheir majority are very much in play

Butitistelling. That these establishment Republicans —the same people who have largely

ceded their independent roles in confirmation, legislation and oversight of the executive branch —are chafing at Trump’s heavy hand suggests that maybe, just maybe, there’ssome desire for independence left in theU.S. Capitol after all.

Trump’sinvolvement will surelyplay well withmany of theLouisiana voters who support him. Butifyou’reasitting Republican senator,his call for Letlow to challenge Cassidy couldn’t possibly have been welcome.

If apetulant president can recruit an opponent for asenator whohas done everything to supporthis agendasince his return to theWhiteHouse —even when it forced him to humiliate himself, sellout hisprofessional standards and verylikely put American lives at risk —then what could it mean for the rest of them if they darestray?

Also, what effect might this have on their agenda? As Thune toldthe president, according to The New York Times’ account,

Trump’sendorsement of an opponent could well free up Cassidy to actually followhis ownconscience on future votes. It could also cost Trump Cassidy’shelp on the health carelegislationthat Trump hopestopassbefore the midterms, on which the Louisiana senator is expected to be a major playerasbothanexpert and chair of the committee that oversees health, education, labor and pensions. Should Cassidy somehow pull offawin despite Trump’sopposition, it could free him entirely over the next couple of years.

Andhere’sthe good news for those whoare hoping Congress will reassert its constitutional roleasacheck on presidential power:The Letlowendorsement could backfire even further by letting othersenators know there’snoguaranteed return on absolute loyalty.

It’sworth noting thatTrump isn’tjustgoing after one of his own here in Louisiana. He’salso refusing to back another veteran

establishment Republican who’s been areliable vote for his agenda.Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn faces aprimary challenge from the state’s much more controversialattorneygeneral Ken Paxton, even though, as Cornyn hasworriedaloud in recentdays, aPaxtonprimary victory would give Democratsanopening to take the seat Trump hasalso talkedatvariouspoints aboutnot supporting otherRepublicans who normally back him but on rare occasions don’t, although it’sunclear whether he’ll followthrough or use the threat as leverage. This much is clear,though: He’s alreadygiven up his leverageoverCassidy,now that he’s basically declared him persona nongrata.AsThune warned, Cassidy’sreally gotnothing left to lose Now if only he’d finally start acting like it.

Email Stephanie Graceat sgrace@theadvocate.com.

Norman Francisbuilt leadersacrossall disciplines

It’snot the norm for university presidents to continue in their roles beyond five to sevenyears these days. Apresident with a ten-year tenure is someonewho really beat the odds.A20-year tenure is amiracle. Four-plus decades is darn near worthy of sainthood. Only afew in modernday American higher education have had presidential tenures of that length or longer.Norman C. Francis wasone of afew In his 47 years as president of Xavier University of Louisiana, Francis achieved citywide, statewide, nationwide and global fame. He’sthe man who built the nation’sonly historically Black Catholic university into an academic powerhouse. He’sthe man who made aCatholichigher education institution competitive with better-funded Catholic higher educationinstitutions. He’sthe manwho took St. Katharine Drexel’s dream to heart and built out her vision, making it his own. It included civil rights, social justice and educational excellence as apart of his good work Francis died at the age of 94 on Wednesday

national figure that he is today

He leaves behind aloving family of daughters, sons,other relatives and close friends wholoved himbefore he became theinter-

He also leaves behind alegacy of leaders he coached,encouraged, groomedand nurtured to continue hisGod-given mission work. Loren J. Blanchardwas a Xavier student when Francis was president in the early 1980s. Likeanumber of Xavierites, Blanchard remembers when Francis asked him his last name and proceeded to tell himhis family history Blanchard knew now-famous musician and trumpeter Terence Blanchard was his cousin, but he didn’tknow howhewas related until Francis told him. That interaction became deeper and important. Loren Blanchard earned his graduatedegrees andstarted his education career.Hereturned to Xavier as chair of the education departmentfor 10 years. After Hurricane Katrina significantly damaged the Gert Town campus, Francis asked Loren Blanchard to return to be apart of rebuilding the campus— and thecity.He returned as provost. He learned alot about higher education,leadership and life underFrancis.You might call it the Norman C. Francis Leadership Academy. “I had afront-row seat daily as provost,” he said. “I’d listen to the things he’d tell me, thelittle things I’demulate the thingshewoulddo.”

building abetter society through higher education.

AntoineGaribaldi’sfive siblings attended Xavier.Hewent to Howard University in Washington,D.C. But Francis got him to return home to NewOrleans as he grew hiseducation career.He worked for Francis as chairman of the education department, then as dean of arts and sciences and as vice president foracademic affairs, the first lay person to hold that role. Though he had several opportunities to go elsewhere, he stayed at Xavier to be apart of somethingspecial. “Xavier was agreat opportunity,” he said, and Francis was “supportive of education (as amajor) when others were not.”

dents and manyother university leaders. “They are department chairs, deans and faculty-senate leaders, too,” added Blanchard. Former NewOrleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu isn’tsurprised. “He wasbright enough to be mayor,achief justice or the president of the United States,” Landrieu said. “But he decided to go to that Catholic school, invest alot and accomplish much so that others could do even more.”

Francis didn’tlimit his impact to Xavier students, faculty and staff. Former NBCsportscaster Bryant Gumbel didn’tattend Xavier University,but his father did. Francis and Gumbel’sfather wereschoolmates.

To this day,hehas abook of Francis’notes and quotes. He’sone of many Somebecame attorneys, doctors, engineers, judges or public servantslike U.S. Rep. Troy Carter Xavier was one of the leadership stops made by Monique Guillory.She was aspecial assistant Now,she’spresident of Dillard University.Tuajuanda C. Jordan was aXavier associate dean and faculty member.She studied Francis andleadership and recently retired as president of the prestigious St.Mary’sCollege in Maryland after serving from 2014-2025. More than afew followed Francis’ footsteps and focused on

Garibaldi wentontobecome the sixth, and first African American, president of Gannon University,a Catholic diocesan university,before becoming the longest-serving president of the University of Detroit Mercy Just last month, Blanchard, president of the14,000-student University of HoustonDowntown, waschosen by the California State University (CSU) BoardofTrustees as president of California State University, LongBeach (CSULB), aschool with about 44,000 undergraduate and graduate students. He knows Francis-mentored university presidents. There are Francis Academy provosts, vice presi-

The elder Gumbel fought in the warand attended the New Orleans school as aveteran, an older student with awifeand a family.Francis had great respect forhis dad. When Gumbel’sfather passed away,Francis called him to offer his condolences, his encouragement and his support. That call developed into aspecial, lifelong relationship.

Francis has taken his muchdeserved seat in Heaven. He can rest in peace, and in power

And he can look downonthe Norman C. Francis Leadership Academygrads continuing his good trouble and his good work.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com

Graves wouldbeagreat

Cane’s co-founder checks all theboxes needed to succeed Benson when thetimecomes

Todd Gravesfinallyspoke intoexistence

ahypothetical manyNew OrleansSaints fans have pondered in recentyears

Yes, in fact, he would love toone dayown the Saints.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, theRaising Cane’sco-founder acknowledged that he’dlike to own an NFL team andsaid the Saints would obviously “make sense”because of his local ties and buddingfriendship with Gayle Benson.

Predictably,Graves’ comments caused astir.Heprefers to keep alow profile,so

it was unusual to hear him publicly address theissue of potential NFL ownership. He likes and respects Benson and the last thing he would want is to be seen as some kind of stalking horse to herownership. After all, she and hertrusteeswill determine who becomes the next owner And that scenario is likely tobeaways off. At 79, Benson isn’tgoing anywhere anytime soon.She remains in good health and keeps herself in great shape with daily workouts.

“Mrs. Benson has addressed this issue publicly anumber of times where she

has madeitvery clear that she has no intention of selling aminority stake in theteam, nor does she plan to sell the teamprior to herdeath,”Saints spokesmanGreg Bensel said Friday.“Upon her death, both teamswill be sold andall of the proceeds will be distributed through her charitable trust to avariety of initiativesand organizations with the solefocus being to support the overall bettermentof our cityand state.”

While theteams have not enjoyed as much success as she’d like in recent years, Benson has been aterrific steward of theteams for thecity and state. She understands the responsibility of her position and, above all, is loyal to ä See DUNCAN, page 5C

Tigers need to accomplish asix-gamewinning streak

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

When the New Orleans Saints removed SpencerRattler from thestartinglineupmidway throughthe 2025season,asizablecontingent of people questioned whether the team was making the right call becauseofthe promise Rattler showed.

Now,the question is entirely different: Should the Saints consider shopping Rattleraround the league? Or should they hang onto him and develop himasabackup to Tyler Shough, whoseized the jobaftertakingover for Rattler in Week 9?

The answer may depend on whether other teams approach the Saints withanoffer they can’t turn down. New Orleans selectedRattler in the fifth round of the

2024 NFL Draft out of SouthCarolina, and unlike most fifth-roundpicks,hehas played alot of football in the first two years of his career Guiding an injury-riddled offensethat was mostlyfilled withbackups,Rattler struggledwhile playing in seven games(sixstarts)asa rookie.But though he compiled a70.4 passer rating and took 22 sacks, Rattler showed flashes of abilitythroughout his time in the lineup. After Derek Carr’sretirement in 2025, Rattler beat out Shough for thestartingjob out of training camp and showed whyearly in theseason:Hewas playing decisive football within the offense’sparameters, for the most part avoidingthe negative plays that plaguedhim throughout his rookie season.While wins did not come,

ä See SAINTS, page 5C

Brown, Arrambideshine in LSU’swin over Irish

BYSCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

JACKSONVILLE,Fla. What impressed Notre Dame coach Shawn Stiffler the most about LSU’soffensive approach Saturday? Not what the Tigers did, which was substantial, but what theydidn’tdo.

“They understand the value of not swinging,” Stiffler said after LSU’s9-4 victory.“They don’tchase. They have a really,really great knackofwhichpitch to handle.

“It’sfunny,but by doing nothing,they create so much more pressure than just

standing there swinging.” Sometimes, apparently, lessreallyis more. TheTigershavehad much more offense than their first two opponents in the Live Like Lou JaxCollege Baseball Classic at VyStar Ballpark. Afteropeningthe classic by pounding Indiana14-7 on Friday,LSU has acombined23runs here with atotal of 30 hits, alongwith 19 walks. The Tigers haven’t relied on thelong

ball, either.Just two of their hits here are homeruns: Zack Yorke’sthree-run blast against Indiana thattouched off aninerun rally in theeighth inning andCade Arrambide’stwo-run homer in the fourth against Notre Dame.

“Our offensive approach has been great,” LSUcoach JayJohnson said.“We’veleft stuff on the table. That’show good it’sbeen. That’sa credit to our hitters.

“Wehave avery smartteam. Alot of college at-bats. Alot of experience. We’re really patient.Wetrain to be good at that.

ä See LSU, page 7C

ä Missouri at LSU

Believe it or not, the LSU women’sbasketball team maystill have ashot at landing a No.1seed in the NCAA Tournament. It looks like there’s still apath, albeit a narrow one, for the Tigers to move back into considerationfor oneofthose spotsin the bracket. They’ll just need to break off a six-game winning streak,starting at 3p.m Sundayvs. Missouri (SEC Network) and ending in the SEC Tournament championship.

3P.M. SUNDAy, SECNETWORK

It’s unlikely.But it’s certainly possible, especially if LSU can play in the rest of its matchups the wayitdid Thursday in the fourth quarter of its comeback road win over Ole Miss. “The thing about this team,” coach Kim Mulkeysaid, “I don’teverget upsetatthis team. Imean, Icoach hard, get on them and challenge them.”

But, as Mulkeypointedout, the Tigers(234, 9-4SEC) have playedwellenough to win all but one of their games.

LSU hasfourlosses, andthreeofthem were close battles. Kentucky,Vanderbilt and South Carolinabeat theTigers by an average margin of 4.3 points. They missedkey free throws against the Gamecocks, turned the ball over afew too many times against the Commodores and fell victim to abuzzerbeater against the Wildcats.

“So those are all learning opportunities,” Mulkey said. “We’re always in the ballgames.”

The NCAA selection committeerevealed Feb. 14,beforethe loss to SouthCarolina, that it had LSU ranked eighth overall, penciledintothe tournament field’slastNo. 2 seed.

Barringa surpriseupset, UConn,UCLA and South Carolina should each hold onto their No.1 seed until the bracket is set on March 15, which leaves Texas, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Louisville and LSU battling for the last top seed.

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LSUfalls to No.25Alabama

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

LSU had an opportunitytoearn its first ranked win against No. 25 Alabama.

Coach Matt McMahon’sgroup knew how much that result could help boost its resume during this trying season. While it battled in thefirst half and made acomeback attempt late, it was denied victory by the CrimsonTide.

LSU lost to Alabama 90-83 on Saturdayatthe Pete Maravich Assembly Center McMahon said the difference in the game wasthe free-throw line disparity —the Tigers went 16 of 22 compared to Alabama’s30of 37 —and his team’stendency to settle for difficult two-point shots when it was run off the3-point line.

“I thought we took alot of tough twos in that 12 to 17 foot range, and kind of took the bait on some of those difficult shots,” the fourth-year coach said. “I know there was apoint there in the game wherewewere shooting over 50% from 3and around 32% from two, and that’snot agood formula for us.”

LSU (14-13, 2-12) has now lost five straight games —its longest losing streak of the season. Alabama (23-9, 13-6) earneda sixth straight win. Marquel Sutton had 21 points and six rebounds. Jalen Reece had 14 points, five assists and three turnovers.Max Mackinnon,LSU’s top scorer in conference play, was unable to find arhythm, finishing with eight points and shooting3 of 16 overall

The Tigers made acoupleof late pushes despite trailing by as

many as 16 points with 7:11 remaininginthe game.

PabloTambahad someaggressivedrives andscores at thebasket.After missing afree throw on an and-one finish, Sutton collected the offensive rebound and PJ Carter made atop-of-the-key 3-pointer to make the score81-75 with 2:38 remaining.

Coach Nate Oats’ team is among the mosthigh-poweredoffenses in thenation, leading the country in scoring (92.7) and second in made 3-pointers(12.7). Theirfast-paced scoring style is led by point guard Labaron Philon,who is third in the SECinpoints per game (21.2) and fourth in assists (5.0).

LSU center Mike Nwoko substitutedout of thegamewithout fouls at the 17:18 mark for Robert Miller.Less than aminute later the sophomore made his presence known with ablock under the basket.

Millerwas notonlya positive earlyasa rim protector,but he also displayed quick hands on the perimeter.Hepoked the ball loose from Philon on theperimeter and dove to the floor for asteal. That forced turnover ledtoa transition 3-pointer for Sutton, giving the team a9-6 advantage. Suttonhad astrong start as he drove to thehoop for post-ups for hisseven points in the first five minutes.PJCarter and Rashad King, whowas replaced by Max Mackinnon in the starting lineup, bothgave the team good minutes, finishing with13and 12 points, respectively

The Tigers remained competitivefor theentire first half thanks to their standout defense early Alabama started 4of13fromthe field, making only one 3-pointer Reece applied subtle pressure in the backcourt on Philon, and the team was aggressive in the

25 ROUNDUP

half-court, taking away 3-pointers andfunneling opposing guards’ contested looks. Philon was 1of 5from the field at halftimeand finished with eight points.

The defensive intensity was strong enough that at the 10:30 mark, LSUforced arare turnover on afive-second call on asideline inbound by Alabama’sAmari Allen.

Afterstarting 1of7on3-pointers, Alabama responded by making four of its next five. Alabama guardAden Holloway had agamehigh 10 points in the first half LSUlost its lead with 5:27 leftin the first half andtrailed43-40 at halftime.The biggestmistakein the first half for coach McMahon’s team was Miller picking up athird foul. He returnedtothe game with twofouls at the2:48markofthe first half. With 2:15 left, the team’s best defender reached for an onballsteal and waswhistled after playing eightminutes.

The Crimson Tide played with new life to open the second half, scoring on itsfirstfourpossessions.Center Aiden Sherrell took over as ascorer TheAlabama sophomore got back-to-back stops on Nwoko, who missed ahook shot and astepthrough layup. Sherrell tallied nine pointsinthe first six minutes of the second half Sherrell finished with12points and 10 rebounds.

Miller had zero points, three rebounds,threeblocks, anda steal in 10 minutes. LSUoutscored Alabama by four in thetime Miller played.

LSU’snext game is against Ole Miss at 8p.m. Wednesday at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi.

No.4 ArizonatopplesNo. 2Houston

HOUSTON Anthony Dell’Orso tiedaseasonhigh with22points and No. 4Arizona toppledsecondranked Houston 73-66 on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference Arizona (25-2, 12-2),which opened theseason 23-0, won its second straight game following consecutivelossestothen-No 9Kansas and then- 16th-ranked Texas Tech, that knocked the team out of the No. 1spot in the AP Top 25 poll. The Wildcatswere down by two before scoring the next 12 points to make it 60-50 with about five minutesremaining. The Cougars missed eight consecutive shots andhad three turnoversinthat stretch to allow Arizona to build the lead. Houston (23-4, 11-3)hadn’t scored in about eight minutes when Emanuel Sharp made two free throws with 4 1/2 minutes to go. Kalifa Sakho made twomore free throws to cut the lead to 6054 with less than four minutes remaining. It had been more than 10 minutes since the Cougars made a field goal when a3-pointer by Kingston Flemings got them within 61-57, but Arizona got four straight points by Jaden Bradley to pad the lead with just overa minute left. Flemingshad 17 points and Sharp added 14 for the Cougars, who lost consecutive games for the first time this season after falling 70-67 at No. 6IowaState on

Monday night to end asix-game winningstreak. TheCougars struggledtotake care of the ball, committing 12 turnoversthat led to 16 pointsfor the Wildcats.

Arizona ledbyasmany as 10 in the firsthalfand wasupbyfour earlyinthe second half before the Cougars usedan8-2 runtomake it 44-42, giving themtheir first lead of thegame with about14minutes left NO.20ARKANSAS 94, MISSOURI 86: In Fayetteville,Arkansas, Billy Richmond III scored 21 points and Darius Acuff Jr.added 20 topace No. 20 Arkansastoawin over Missouri on Saturday Arkansas (20-7, 10-4 Southeastern Conference) improved to 7-0 in games followinga loss this season while alsostaying in contention for the SEC regular-season title. TheHogsare in second place, two games behind conferenceleading Florida with four games still to be played.

NO.21LOUISVILLE 87,GEORGIA 70:

In Louisville, Kentucky,Mikel BrownJr. scored 19 points, including seven during a17-2 run midway through the second half thathelpedpropel No. 21 Louisville past Georgia Tech 87-70 on Saturday.

TheCardinals (20-7, 9-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) nevertrailed but allowed the Yellow Jackets to get within 44-35 just after halftime.

NO.13TEXAS TECH100, K-STATE72: In Lubbock, Texas, Donovan Atwell had 26 points with six 3-pointers, Christian Andersonscored 21 and No. 13 Texas Tech beat Kan-

sas StateonSaturday in thefirst game for the Red Raiderssince standout post JT Toppin’sseasonending knee injury Texas Tech (20-7, 10-4 Big 12) maintained adouble-digit lead aftermaking nine consecutive shots, including three3sina row by Atwell, during a26-10 run in just under seven minutes for a40-20 lead with6:20 left in thefirst half.

NO.12FLORIDA95, OLE MISS 75: In Oxford, Mississippi, Alex Condon scored24points and No.12Florida tightened its grip atop the Southeastern Conference standings with awin over Ole Miss onSaturday Florida(21-6, 12-2 SEC) entered as theconference leader with atwo-game cushion in theloss column over Alabama, Arkansas and Tennesseewith fourgames remaining TENNESSEE 69, NO.19VANDERBILT65: In Nashville, Tennessee, Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 17 points as Tennessee outlasted No. 19 Vanderbilt in aback-and-forth affair on Saturday Aturnaround jumper by Nate Ament, who was double-teamed by Commodores Jalen Washington and Chandler Bing, gave the Volunteers(20-7, 10-4Southeastern Conference) a66-65 lead with lessthana minute to play.Ament finished with13points.

NO.14VIRGINIA 86, MIAMI 83: In Charlottesville, Virginia, Chance Mallory drewafoulona3-point attempt with 3.6 seconds to play, andthensankall three free throws tolift No. 14 Virginia to an win over Miami on Saturday Jacari Whitecameoff the bench

Canada wins Olympic goldinmen’s curling

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO,Italy The Canadianmen brushedaside earlier accusationsofcheating and beat Britain for Olympic gold in curling on Saturdayatthe MilanCortina Games. Brad Jacobs’ team defeated BruceMouat’s all-Scottish squad 9-6inside Cortina’s historic ice arenatogive curling powerhouse Canadait’sonlygoldofthe Olympics in the sport.

It’sCanada’sfirst gold in men’s curling sincethe 2014 Sochi Games, when they also beat Britain in the final with Jacobs as the skip. This is his first Olympics sincethen— he lost in theCanadian Olympic trials for2018 and 2022.

Mouat wasoff on the freeze and Canada chippedBritain out of the house forthree in the ninth end.

Suns star Booker out for aweekwith hipstrain

PHOENIX Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker will miss at least oneweekbecause of aright hip strain that happened against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday

The team made the announcement on Saturdaybefore agame against the Orlando Magic. Booker is averaging 24.7 points, 6.1 assistsand 3.9 rebounds over 44 games this season. The 29-yearold recently missedseven straight games with asprained right ankle. TheSunsalsosaidthatrecently signed guard Haywood Highsmith is continuing to recover from right knee surgery last offseason. The team said Highsmith is making “good progress.”

Cardinalssigninfielder Urías to a1-year deal

JUPITER, Fla. The St. Louis Cardinals have signed infielder Ramón Urías to aone-year contract with amutual option for2027, the team announced on Saturday

The 31-year-old Urías played most of his career with the Baltimore Oriolesbeforegetting traded to the Houston Astros in the middle of last season. Between the two teams, he hit .241 with 11 homersand 44 RBIsin 2025.

Urías had his best season in 2022 when he hit 16 homers and won aGold Glove at third base,which is hisprimaryposition. He also has experience at second base, shortstopand first base.

To make room forUrías on the roster, right-handedpitcherZak Kent was designatedfor assignment.

Thitikultakes

3rd-round lead in Thailand tourney

World No. 1Jeeno Thitikul birdiedher final three holesSaturday fora 6-under 66 andatwo-stroke lead going into the final round of her homeLPGAThailand tournament.

to score17points, hitting five 3-pointers forthe Cavaliers (243, 12-2 Atlantic Coast), whowon their eighth straight.

NO.17ST. JOHN’S 81, CREIGHTON 52: In New York, Bryce Hopkins had 15 pointsand 10 rebounds as No. 17 St.John’sbreezed past Creighton on Saturday for its 13th straight victory —marking the school’s longest winning streak in 41 years.

Dylan Darling scored 17 points off the bench and Zuby Ejiofor added 15 for the first-place Red Storm (22-5, 15-1 Big East), who ledwire-to-wire andheld Creighton to 32% shooting in their 18th win in 20 games.

NO.16UNC 77, SYRACUSE 64:InSyracuse,New York, Henri Veesaar returned to the starting lineup and scored 19 points in leading No. 16 NorthCarolina to awin over Syracuse on Saturday The 7-foot center,who averages 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds for the TarHeels, missedthe Tar Heels’ past twogames, mostrecently Tuesday’s 24-point loss at N.C. State.

No. 9NEBRASKA 87, PENNST. 64: In Lincoln, Nebraska, Pryce Sandfort scored 20 of his career-high 33 points in the first half andfinished witheight 3-pointers, leadingninth-ranked Nebraska in an rout of Penn State on Saturday The Cornhuskers (23-4, 12-4 BigTen) bounced back from a 57-52 loss at Iowa on Tuesday and moved into atie forthird place in theconference with their dominant performance against the league’slast-place team.

Thitikul made a15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th to break away from afour-way tie for the lead, then sawher eaglechip justslide past the hole on 18 beforetapping in for abirdie.

Thitikul had a54-hole total of 20-under 196 at the Siam Country Club Old Course.

In second place wasHyo Joo Kim after a65. Allisen Corpuz (67), second-round leader Somi Lee (72) and Chizzy Iwai(68) were tied for third, three strokes behind Thitikul.

No. 18 Saint Louis,VCU

fined by Atlantic10

The Atlantic 10 has issued reprimands and fined both No. 18 Saint Louis and VCU for violating the conference’ssportsmanship policy following ascuffle between the twoteams near theend of abasketball game. The conference said in astatement that it would not issue suspensions and praised game officials forhandlingthe situationin “exemplary fashion.”

The A-10 did not disclose the amount of the fines, but said they would be according to conference policy

On Friday,the coaches from Saint Louis andVCU were preparing to shake hands when the benches cleared with 1.1 seconds left. With its 88-75 victory,Saint Louis (25-2, 13-1 Atlantic 10) prevented VCU (21-7, 12-3) fromtaking over first place.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Southernguard Jocelyn Tate, shown liningupafoul shot against Texas SouthernonJan. 3atthe F.G. Clark Activity Center,made twolate3-pointers on Saturdayagainst Grambling

Clutch treys help lift Jags over Grambling

BY CHARLESSALZER

Contributing writer

Sophomore forward Jocelyn Tate has been ajack-of-all trades for the Southern women’sbasketball team, and Saturday afternoon she showed just how valuable her contributions are With Southern lockedina tight battlewithSouthwesternAthletic Conferencerival Grambling, Tate made two 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter to help the Jaguars pull awaylate for a 59-45 win at the F.G. Clark Activity Center Southern (14-11, 10-4) led 49-44 with five minutes left when Tate drained a3-pointer from the right wing with the shot clock running down. Twominutes later,she added asecond 3-pointer,thistime from the left side, to give Southern a57-45 lead.

The Jaguars coasted from there.

“Those were huge,” Southern coach Carlos Funchess said “Jocelyn has reallyimprovedher 3-point shooting. On bothofthem,

LSU

Continued from page1C

If the Tigers win six straight, picking up one or two victories over the SEC’stop teamsin Greenville, South Carolina, along the way,then they’d be 29-4 overall and 15-4 in league play on SelectionSunday.That’sastrong resume,especially because it would includeatournament title in the nation’stoughest conference.

Texas (25-3, 10-3) andVanderbilt (24-3, 10-3) would each drop at least one more game in that scenario, which would leave the selection committee choosing between abunch of four or five-loss teams for the last No. 1seed.LSU couldhave victories over two of them.

The Tigers couldn’thave imagined that possibility had they lost to the Rebels on Thursday.But because they erased a13-point third-quarterdeficit andpulled out the win, they stillcan Junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley led the comeback, scoring10 of her career-high 26 points in just the last seven minutes of the fourth quarter

“Wehave each other’sback,” Fulwiley said. “And regardless of how we’re playing or who’sgoing off or who’snot doing as well, we have each other’sback,and we

when the ball left her hand, Iknew it was good. Oneofthem was with theshotclock running down,but shedidn’tflinch.”

Tate finished with eight points, six reboundsand three steals. It was part of an overall Southern effort that was led by Demya Porter,who lookedfully recoveredfromaninjury by scoring 17 pointsand grabbing nine rebounds.

Also playing key roles were D’ShantaeEdwards (five points, four steals) and Zaria Hurston (six points, nine rebounds).

Grambling (9-17, 6-7) came into thegame on athree-game winning streak. The Tigers stayed close throughout aback-and-forth first half, and trailed the Jaguars 42-38 afterthree quarters. Grambling tied the game 42-42 early in thefourth, but Southern held it to one field goal over the game’sfinal eight minutes.

The Tigers were led by Alisha Murray with 11 points and Monica Marshwith 10. Including Tate’s two 3-pointers,

wanttowin.”

LSU has been given aNo. 3 NCAA Tournament seed in each of the first fourseasonsofMulkey’s tenure. The Tigers haven’tlanded aNo. 2seed since 2008, and they haven’tearned aNo. 1seed since 2006

The only way LSU can ensure that it would avoidrunning into eitherofthe nation’stop two teams (UConn and UCLA) until theFinal Four this season is by landing a No. 1seed. If the Tigers getone of the No. 2seeds, then the selection committeecoulddecide to put them next to either the Huskiesor the Bruins at the top of one of the bracket’s fourregions.

This year,Sacramento, California, andFortWorth,Texas, are the two sites that will host the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight.

LSU traveled to Albany,New York, and Spokane, Washington, to play those two rounds the past two seasons

The Tigers fell one step shy of the Final Four both times.

Now they’re trying to climb backoverthat hump.

And yes, they still haveachance to do it as aNo. 1seed.

“All of us want to win,” Fulwiley said. “It’snot just afew of us. It’s all of us, andwejust keep playing. We’re hard,we’re tough.”

Email ReedDarcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

the Jaguars outscoredGrambling 17-3 to close the game.

“It was an old-fashioned rivalry game,”Funchess said. “Grambling came out ready to go. Ithought we hadsome opportunities early,and we just didn’tcapitalize.Defensively,Ithought we were solid.

The first half was close throughout.Grambling’slargestlead was 7-2 midway through the first quarter.Southernfought back to take an 11-9 lead and had chances to moveout farther Southern forced turnovers on fourconsecutive Grambling possessions but missed three shots from the field. The score was tied 12-12 after one quarter

There were six ties and six lead changes in the second quarter.The largest lead for either team was 2724 by Southern with 2:06 left. After Grambling picked up two baskets, Southern’s Mykayla Cunningham fed Porter for alayup, giving the Jaguars a29-28 halftime lead.

Southern returns to actionon Thursday whenithosts Florida A&M.

Southern offense catchesfire in win over Grambling

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

The party almost started too earlySaturday evening, but Southern shot the ball so well thatitnever allowed Grambling to come all the way back.

TheJaguars ledby32points early in the secondhalf, thenheld off asteady Grambling rally to defeat their Southwestern Athletic Conference rival 87-73 at the F.G. Clark Activity Center

The Jaguars have been lookingfor consistency on offense, and they found it Saturdaywith their best outing percentagewise in league playthis season. Southern (13-14,9-5)made31of 50 shots (59%) to give itself an insurmountable second-half lead, but Grambling tried.

After Southern took a6028 lead with 16:17 left to play, Grambling (11-15, 5-8) outscored theJaguars 45-27. The closest the Tigers got was 83-72 with one minute left.

“Weshowsigns (of consistency) in every game,”Southern coach Kevin Johnson said. “Even in theone-point loss to Texas Southern (74-73 on Feb. 16), there weresigns because we were up 17 or 18 points. We’ve got to do abetterjob staying focused and closing out games.”

Johnson didn’tstart leading scorer Michael Jacobs in an effort to keep him fresher later in thegame. Jacobs finished with 11 pointsin34minutes.

A.J. Barnes turned in his best game of the season with agamehigh 22 points. He made good on allfour of his 3-point attempts andwas 8of10from the field. DaMariee Jones added 15 points, and Terrance Dixon scored 12.

“A.J. Barnes brought tremendous energy,and these last couple of weeks he’sbeen our guy,” Johnsonsaid. “He’satwo-way player.Hecan drive the ball, he can defend andhecan rebound. And when he’s making threes, he’s aguy youcan’t reallyaccount for.”

Southern also got significant minutes from guard Cam Amboree andpost player Malek Abdelgowad,two players who have

battled injuriesinrecentweeks. Amboree played 24 minutes, and Abdelgowad wasinfor 11. Amboree contributed a3-pointer early in the second half helping fuel a12-4 run that gave the Jaguarsa60-38 lead. Thelead held for awhile, but Grambling battled back with the help of long-distance shooting.

Derrius Ward and Jamil Muttilib each made two 3-pointers, and Gramblingput together one last push after Barnes’ steal andlayup gave Southern a71-49 lead. The Tigers went on a21-12 runthat got them within83-70 with 1:29 left Grambling’sleaders were Antonio Munoz with 19 points, Muttilib with 17, and Jimel Lane, who picked up adouble-doublewith 11 points and 10 rebounds. Southern separated itself from Grambling eight minutesinto the game. Leading 15-11, the Jaguars wentona24-8 tear that leftthem witha 39-19 lead withless than four minutes remaining in the half Barnes hit keyshots throughout the half, including apair of 3-pointers duringthe bigrun He finished off the half with a 3-pointer from near thetop of thekey,and Southern took a4824 lead into halftime.

For thehalf, theJaguars made five 3-pointers and shot 62% from the field.

Improved defense, balanced scoring keyinPelicans’ victoryover76ers

BY LES EAST Contributingwriter

JamesBorrego waslooking for much better defense and he got it

The New Orleans Pelicans’ interimhead coach also got balanced scoring as lagniappeinhis team’s 126-111 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night in theSmoothie King Center

Borrego emphasized before the game thatthe Pelicans’ fate rested primarily with defensive improvement over its139-118 home loss to Milwaukee on Friday

The first half wasn’tgreat as the Pelicansfell behind 65-57, but the secondhalf was much better and the game turned on New Orleans’ 40-26 edge in the third quarter thatled to a69-46 second-half advantage.

“Itwas afullteameffort,”Borrego said. “Itwas agreat overall response from last night.”

Jordan Poolescored 23 points, Zion Williamson had 21, Saddiq Bey had20, Herb Joneshad 14, Bryce McGowens13, KarloMatkovic 12, Herb Jones 12 and Derik Queen 10 for the Pelicans (16-42),

who will playthe GoldenState Warriors at 7p.m. Tuesday in the Smoothie King Center “Poole was fantastic,” Borrego said. Borrego’s search for improved defense included himinserting 6-foot-11 center DeAndre Jordan into thestarting lineup alongside 6-10 Queen. Jordan had played in just two games this season, the lastbeing his only previous start on Oct. 29 at Denver

He responded withsix points and15rebounds in 31-plus minutes. He had 11 rebounds in the first half, the first time he has had double-figure rebounds in afirst half since Nov.20, 2022.

“I have fresh legs,” Jordan quipped afterward.

“DeAndre raised everybody’s level,” Borrego said. “He was ready.Hehas been atotal pro and he has elevated ourprogram in so manyways.”

Tyrese Maxiescored 27, New Orleans native Kelly Oubre Jr had 25, VJ Edgecombe had 14 and QuentinGrimesadded11tolead theSixers (30-26).

Bey scored 10 points as New

Orleans began the third quarter with a19-11 run to tie the score at 76. The score was tied twice more before Fears madetwo free throws and Matkovic added six points to give the Pelicans a 97-91 lead at the end of the third quarter

Matkovicmadeone 3-pointer and McGowens and Poole made one each to help New Orleansexpand the lead to 115-97 midway through the fourth quarter

The Sixers scored the first eight points of the game, but Bey scored eight as thePelicansheated up and grabbed a14-11 lead. Philadelphia rebuilt the lead to seven before holding a29-24 lead at the end of the first quarter

The leadreached nine points as theSixers scored the first four points of the second quarter,but Williamsonscored eight points during a19-8run that gave New Orleans a43-41 lead. Oubre madetwo 3-pointers, Maxey had a3-pointer anda threepoint play and Edgecombe and Jabari Walker each had athreepoint play as Philadelphia surged to a65-57 halftimelead.

UHigh’sSie Parker,center, tries to clear the ball against Hannan during aDivision III semifinal game on Saturday at U-High. The Cubs won2-1 to advance to the state final.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

THEVARSITYZONE

May’sday liftsCubs

University senior scores game-winnerafter competingintrack meet

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

UniversityHigh’sWilliam May hadabusy day

The Cubs senior began his day at Carl Maddox Fieldhouse, running in the 3,200-meterrelay and 800-meter relay races at the LHSAA state indoor track meet Hours later,hewent afew blocks down LSU’scampus to theCub Complex, where he scored the winning goal off athrow-in tosendUHigh to the Division III state soccer championship match No. 1University High(19-3-2) defeated No. 4Hannan in the Division III semifinals 2-1 on Saturday night. May’sgoal came in the 58th minute to send the Cubs to their third straight state title.

“My legs are dead,” May said on hisday.“I’m going to sleep really well.” Minutes afterthe matchwent

final, he learned U-High won the boys Division IIindoor track and field state title.Although tired, he said he might needtosave some energytocelebratewith his track andfield team.

Cubs coach Chris Mitchell said it was incredible to see his team make it back to another state title.

“Weare avery blessed group of coaches to havethe typeofguys that we’ve beenabletohave in our program,” Mitchell said.

Hannan(15-7-2) struck first in the 17thminute. Ben Bryant fired afree kick from midfield that flew right over theU-High keeper’soutstretched arms and nestled intothe backofthe net to make it 1-0.

“Wesaw theball go in the back of the net,and wedidn’thave any doubts at all,” May said. “Weput theball back in the center circle, and we just kept playing our game.”

Justbeforehalftime,U-High’s

Vaughn Miener whipped in across to Buck Deblieux, who waited at theback post and headed theball into the net to tie thematch 1-1 at halftime.

“That was the mark of our team is that we never stop,” Mitchell said. “Wealways battle to thebitter end.

“ºThey fought really hard, and they gotthat goal.Thatwas massive going intohalftime tied 1-1.”

U-Highfound agoal to go in front in an unusual way in the 58th minute. May heaved athrow-infrom the right side of the field just above thebox as the wind picked up. His throw landed just in front of the keeper and then bounced twice, finding its way into theright side of thegoal to make it 2-1.

“I’ve practiced sinceIwas 5 years oldtobeabletothrowitas far as Ican,” May said, “watching U-High games and seeing those long throw-ins.”

Area schools dominate stateindoortrack meet

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Baton Rouge-area schools dominat-

ed in the LHSAA indoor track and field championship meet. Local schools captured allfourteam titles at LSU’sCarl Maddox Fieldhouse on Saturday Catholic won the Division Iboys team title, and University High captured the Division II boys title. St Joseph’sAcademy won the Division Igirls title, and Madison Prep and Parkview Baptist tiedfor first for the Division II girls title.

St.Joseph’sphoto finish

The Redstickers held on to the Division Igirls title with 57 points,just ahead of Lafayette with 54 St. Joseph’swon threeevents, including the 3,200-meter relay, the 60 meters and the high jump Sophomore Amalia Terry-Lee’swin in the 60 meters came downtojust tenths of asecond. Liberty sophomore DestinyHarrison and Terry-Lee both finished with atime of 7.60 seconds.

After review,Terry-Lee won with a time of 7.598 versus Harrison’s7.599. Terry-Lee cried after the race because she thought she fell just short, but that quickly turned totears of joy after she madeher way to the top of the podium.

“It’ssurreal,” she said. “I feel like next year Ican breakthe record (of 7.31). My seasonisgoing really great, and next year willbe10times better.”

Senior Kennedy Papillion won the high jump and tied the DivisionImeet record of 5feet, 91/4 inchesset in 2017. She outjumpedthe next closest finisher by 61/4 inches.

U-High wins big

The Cubs capturedthe Division II boys team title with 59 points. U-High fended off Glen Oaks and Episcopal, which each had 35 points.

U-High’s ErinMoore won the 60 meters with atimeof6.87 seconds.

Cubssenior Lamar Brown,LSU’stopranked football signee, won theshot put with atoss of 55-11.

Brown contemplated whether he’d compete intrack and field this year, but he washungryfor amedal.

“I wasgoing to focus on football,” Brownsaid. “I realizedI hadleft something on the table, winning it last year,sowhy not win it again? Ijust came outand dominated.”

In just his second meet, he said it felt greatseeing hiswork pay offwitha spot atop the podium. He addedthat balancing preparing for LSU footballand training for track andfield came down to living up to the U-High standard.

“The standard’salways high, Brown said. “From books to every sport, it’sjust astandard you’ve got to stick with.”

Area athletes shine

Of the56total events, Baton Rougearea athletes won 20.

Madison Prep’sMakalya Miller won the Division II 60 meters and the 60-meter hurdles, to help Parkview Baptist tie for theDivision II girls team title.

One first-time indoor winner was Slaughter Charter senior Ty’Kimion Ford in the Division II high jump with ajump of6-43/4 He said he didn’tprepare much for the event, with most of his time this wintercommitted to theKnightsbasketball team.

Parkview’s fast start sinksSacredHeart

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

Parkview Baptist took control earlywitha pair of first-half goals anddidn’tlook back.

The third-seeded Eagles beat No. 2Sacred Heart2-1 in aDivision IIIgirls soccer semifinal match on Saturday at Pan-American Stadium in New Orleans. Sacred Heart’sLeah Varisco scored right before halftime to cutthe deficit to 2-1. Sacred Heart searched the whole second half for the equalizer,but couldn’t find it as Parkview advanced to itsfourth straight state championship game.

“I told the girls at thebeginningofthe game (early goals) in asemifinal or achampionship game candecide it,” Parkview coach Raphael Nunes said. “If we can go up acouple of goals it’s going to set the tone of the game, and the girls did it.”

Sacred Hearthad multiple scoringopportunities in theclosing minutes, but Parkview cleared the ball each time.Sacred Heartdelivered its last shot withtime expiring, which went wide of thegoal.

“I don’tthink we attackedin the first half in the way that we’ve typically had success this season,”SacredHeart coachMichael Plaisancesaid. “Weshowed that toward the end of the first half andalittlemoreinthe second half. We had anumber of open looks. We certainlyhad chances to put this gameaway, and we didn’t.”

Parkview’sfirstgoaloccurred in the first five minutes as junior Ella Kate Johnston created ashot on her own to take the early lead.

Johnston, thereigning Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year, assistedParkview’snext goal at the 23-minute mark of the first half. She found sophomore AnsleyBernhard, whoscored to put Parkview up 2-0.

Johnston also saw time as Parkview’sgoalkeeper.She switched positions before Sacred Heart lined up forapenalty kick, and recorded asaveafter deflecting senior Vivian Real’sshot.

“We’ve been working alot on (penalty kicks),” Johnston said. “I just went out there and kind of guessed one way and went all out and saved it, which wasgreat.” Johnston, athree-time state champion, has started since her eighth-grade year

Parkview(16-3-1),one win away from afour-peat, will face No. 1-seeded Hannan(19-1-1) in the championship gameat5 p.m Thursday at Southeastern Louisiana ºin Hammond.

“We’ve played (Hannan) in the championship game before,” Nunes said. “It was atough game, butwebeat them.I think both teamswill be well prepared to face each other.”

Sacred Heart (18-3-5) saw its season endinthe semifinals against Parvkiew for asecond straight year.The Cardinals had 10 seniors this year

“(The seniors) have brought a lot,” Plaisance said. “Across all of them, there werea lotofminutes played for the Academy of Sacred Heart.Their leadershipis the best I’ve seen since I’ve been here, without question.”

STATEINDOORTRACK ANDFIELD RESULTS

Final results from the LHSAA indoor trackand fieldmeet held Saturdayat LSU’s Carl MaddoxFieldhouse. Girls

Division I Team scores: 1. St. Joseph, 57.2.Lafayette, 54. 3. Zachary,44. 4. Alexandria, 27 5. Barbe, 23. 6. Northshore, 21.7.Byrd, 20. 8. Ruston, 20.9.Dutchtown, 18.10. Mandeville, 14.10. John Curtis, 14. Field Pole vault: 1. Scarlett Petticrew, Lafayette, 11-11.75. 2. Olivia Woods, St. Thomas More, 11-05.75. 3. Miranda Weeks, Mount Carmel,11-05.75. 4. AnnabelleGriffin,LiveOak, 10-11.75. Shot put: 1. Kaci Fulton, Barbe, 42-03.25. 2. KaiRichard, Zachary,39-08.50. 3. Journi Douglas, Ruston, 37-08.75. 4. Zaniyah Carter, Parkway,37-07.25. High jump: 1. Kennedy Papillion, St. Joseph, 5-09.25.2.Taylor Bennett, Barbe, 5-03. 3. Shelby Ledet, Airline, 5-03.4 Addilyn Dufrene, John Curtis,5-03. Triple jump: 1. Noelle Williams,Alexandria, 39-02.25. 2. Emoiree Rogers, St. Joseph, 37-05.75.3.AlayahStanley West Feliciana, 35-07.75. 4. Bethany Long, Lafayette, 35-07.75. Track 4x800: 1. St. Joseph, 9:42.16. 2. Lafayette, 9:48.26.3.Ruston, 9:53.42. 4. Byrd, 9:58.75. 60: 1. Amalia Terry-Lee, St. Joseph, 7.60. 2. DestinyHarrison, Liberty, 7.60. 3. Dai’Jah Robertson, Easton, 7.72. 4. Gabriella Glover, Ouachita Parish,7.73. 4x200: 1. Lafayette, 1:42.25. 2. Zachary, 1:43.11. 3. Alexandria, 1:43.12. 4. St. Joseph, 1:43.37. 1600: 1. Grace Keene, Northshore, 4:54.09. 2. KeiraMelan, Dutchtown, 5:04 3. Emma Aldana-Huegla, WillowSchool, 5:07.79. 4. Lucy Thomas, Baton Rouge High, 5:13.86. 400: 1. Jaleyia Woods,Woodlawn, 56.16. 2. Ja’Hanna McGinnis,John Curtis, 56.49. 3. Hayla Demery,Byrd, 56.96. 4. T’Avion Clark, Ruston, 57.43. 800: 1. Grace Keene, Northshore, 2:19.34. 2. Riley Siner,Lafayette, 2:19.59.3.Aaryam Saleh, Teurlings Catholic, 2:21.25. 4. KeiraMelan, Dutchtown, 2:22.77 Division II Team scores: 1. MadisonPrep, 63. 2. Parkview Baptist, 63.3.Episcopal, 43.4 LakeCharles College Prep, 34.5.CountryDay,25. 6. ARCA,23. 7. Lafayette Christian, 22. 8. University, 18. 9. Ascension Episcopal, 14.10. Menard, 12. Field Triple jump: 1. Alaysia Titus,Lafayette Christian, 36-11.75.2.Savannah Thompson, Thomas Jefferson, 36-04.75.3.Jada Recasner, Newman, 36-00.75. 4. Cali Cain, University,36-00.25. Shot put: 1. Jelani Jonson, Donaldsonville, 36-00.25. 2. Kyla Charles,Highland Baptist,35-05.25. 3. ChideraAjoku, St. James, 34-11.4.CarlyMeynard, Menard, 34-05. High jump: 1. Emma Smith, Delcambre, 5-06. 2. Semaj Malveaux, LakeCharles College Prep, 5-01.75. 3. Makayla Hiles,

Episcopal,4-11.75. 4. Ella GraceHebert, Ascension Episcopal, 4-09.75. Long jump: 1. Alaysia Titus,Lafayette Christian, 17-07. 2. Treasure Mathews, ARCA, 17-05.50. 3. Zoey Hodges, Episcopal, 17-00.50. 4. KenliAddison, Madison Prep, 16-10. Pole vault: 1. RachelOwens,ARCA, 1101.50. 2. Olvia Marcantel, Menard, 10-00. 3. Emma Romano, NorthlakeChristian, 9-06.25. 4. Jaycie Willis, Iota, 9-06.25. Track 60: 1. Makayla Miller, Madison Prep, 7.78. 2. KassidyWashington, University 7.80. 3. TiffanyFoxworth, Episcopal, 7.81. 4. KenliAddison, Madison Prep, 7.82. 4x200: 1. Lake CharlesCollegePrep, 1:46.72. 2. Madison Prep,1:46.87. 3. University,1:49.41. 4. ARCA, 1:49.84. 1600: 1. VarenkaZhuk,Country Day, 5:09.09. 2. Lucy Cramer, Parkview Baptist, 5:09.47. 3. Molly Cramer,Parkview Baptist, 5:13.14. 4. Bella Biggerstaff Ascension Episcopal, 5:15.58. 400: 1. JernyStevens,LakeCharles College Prep, 58.11. 2. KenliAddison, Madison Prep,58.12. 3. Myah Trahan, Midland, 58.21. 4. Malajia Hubbard, East Iberville, 58.90. 800: 1. GeorgiaTheriot, Parkview Baptist, 2:19.00. 2. CocoAlvarado, Country Day, 2:19.60. 3. AdaMere, Episcopal, 2:21.65. 4. Kaitlyn Sawyer,Hathaway, 2:25.61. Boys

Division I Team scores: 1. Catholic High, 77. 2. Jesuit, 38. 3. Parkway,21. 4. Destrehan, 20. 5. Zachary,20. 6. Hammond, 16. 7. Airline, 14. 8. Rummel, 13. 9. Warren Easton, 13. 10. Ouachita Christian, 12. 10. Ellender, 12. 10. East Ascension, 10 Field Shot put: 1. Joseph Rivet,Alexandria, 60-09.50. 2. JackTorrance, Catholic High, 58-01. 3. Dar’ReyusScott, Denham Springs, 57-01.50. 4. Spencer Waguespack, Jesuit,55-11. Long jump: 1. Damien Richard,Destrehan, 22-05. 2. Owen Moller, Brother Martin, 21-10.25. 3. Miles Torres, Easton, 21-10. 4. Gavin Ellison, Benton, 20-10.75. Pole vault: 1. BlakeGuidry,E.D.White, 15-05. 2. John HenryOverton,Catholic High, 14-11. 3. HoustonHunt, LiveOak 14-05.25. 4. Jack Evans, Fontainebleau, 13-11.25. Triple jump: 1. Damien Richard, Destrehan, 45-01.75. 2. Malik Brown, Ponchatoula,4-07. 3. Cody Nelson, Ouachita Parish, 43-06. 4. ChandlerHartman, Ellender, 43-06. High jump: 1. Austen Nelson, Dutchtown, 6-08.75. 2. Travon James, Ellender, 6-06.75. 3. TramareByrd, East Ascension,6-04.75. 4. Brady Biossat, Catholic High, 6-00.75. Track 4x800: 1. Central Lafourche, 8:01.20. 2. Catholic High, 8:08.54. 3. Jesuit, 8:11.47. 4. East Ascension, 8:14.76. 60 hurdles: 1. Ja’ir Burks, Jesuit, 7.88. 2. Fayden Brown, Scotlandville,8.16. 3. Jeron Bickham,Easton, 8.24. 4. Jude Schlegel, Catholic High, 8.30.

60: 1. Micah Green,Rummel, 6.79. 2. Sterling Wright, Chalmette,6.87. 3. Macario Dade, Ouachita Parish, 6.88. 4. Chauncey Wilkins, Huntington, 7.01. 4x200: 1. Catholic High, 1:29.43. 2. Zachary,1:30.78. 3. Ruston, 1:30.80. 4. Huntington, 1:31.63. 1600: 1. Brennan Robin, Parkway, 4:14.97. 2. Jayden Williams, Airline, 4:19.68. 3. WilliamDeCuir, Catholic High, 4:19.82. 4. Connor Fanberg,Jesuit, 4:22.43. 400: 1. Jaylen Jackson, Hammon, 49.17. 2. Harrison LaLande,Catholic High, 49.43. 3. Henry Mensman, Catholic High, 49.61. 4. Ke’Mondrick Hunter, Ruston, 50.22. 800: 1. Tytan Johnson, West Monroe 1:55.87. 2. BraydenBerglund, Mandeville, 1:55.93. 3. CohenAucoin, Thibodaux,1:57.27. 4. Julian Lee, Belle Chasse, 1:57.81. Division II Team scores: 1. University, 59. 2. Glen Oaks, 35. 3. Episcopal, 35. 4. Highland Baptist,34. 5. John F. Kennedy,27. 6. Lake CharlesPrep, 24. 7. Ouachita Christian, 24. 8. Delhi Charter, 20. 9. Northwest,16. 10. Slaughter Charter, 15. Field Triple jump: 1. Tayven Carter, Delhi Charter, 45-02.25. 2. GrangerCollins, University, 43-06. 3. Bra’Jon Melancon, North Iberville, 43-01. 4. Jeremiah Smith, Glen Oaks, 41-06. Long jump: 1. Tayven Carter, Delhi Charter, 23-00.75. 2. WilliamPlaster, Lake CharlesCollege Prep,21-08.25. 3. Keshaun Toney, East Feliciana, 21-01.50. 4. BeckettWilson, Dunham, 20-11.75. High jump: 1. Ty’KimionFord, Slaughter Charter, 6-04.75. 2. Rafael Cuartas, Houma Christian, 6-02.75. 3. Keshaun Toney, East Feliciana, 5-10.75. 4. Thomas Carter, Slaughter Community Charter, 5-10.75. Shot put: 1. Lamar Brown, University, 55-11. 2. Justin Suire, Highland Baptist 54-04.75. 3. KalebCampbell, 49-04.50. 4. Dylan Kolenovsky,Newman, 48-03.50. Track 4x800: 1. Ouachita Christian, 8:24.85. 2. Glen Oaks, 8:26.19. 3. Lake Charles CollegePrep, 8:36.24. 4. University, 8:39.75. 60 Hurdles: 1. Terry Matthews, ARCA, 8.18. 2. Sean Herrington, Erath, 8.27. 3. AndreAbshire,AscensionEpiscopal, 8.36. 4. Garen Lewis, De La Salle,8.38. 60: 1. Erin Moore, University, 6.87. 2. KevonJohnson, Northwest,7.03. 3. Corbin Nicoladis, St. Martin, 7.05. 4. Jayden Hamilton, Mansfield, 7.07. 4x200: 1. John Kennedy,1:30.80. 2. University,1:32.53. 3. GlenOaks, 1:32.81. 4. Northwest,1:33.98. 5. St. James, 1:36.50. 1600: 1. Tyler Blissett, Highland Baptist, 4:21.05. 2.

Rebuilding Live Oakstill keepingexpectationshigh

BYJACKSON REYES

Staff writer

Coming off aDivisionI nonselect runner-up finish, the Live Oak baseball team hasa differentlook this season. The team from Watson returns just three starters and has anew coach in Cary Myers after former coach Jesse Cassard retired Regardless, the expectations remain the same, another state-title run. “I don’tcare if we’re aseniorheavy team or afreshman-sophomore-heavy team,” Myerssaid

BASEBALL

“The expectation is the expectation, and it’stoplay in that final gameinMay.” Thepathtoa deep playoffrun will start with apitching staff led by seniorZant Gurney.The 6-foot2left-hander was 9-2 last year with a1.64 ERAand 72strikeouts.

“With twoofour best (pitchers) out, Ihavetoholdmyweightand execute,” Gurney said. “I want to repeat what Idid last year.” He’s hoping he can get all four pitches in his arsenal in thestrike

zone consistently this year

“Wejust need him to be the same 9-2 guy that he was last year,” Myers said. “He’sdefinitelyour leader on the pitching staff. He’sthe leader that ouryoungerguys look up to; they need him.”

The rotation also features three sophomores, including RippClark and Brice Craig. The lineup is still awork in progress with anumberofnew starters. Myers and his coaching staff work daily to decide playing time.

The team features three position plays making their varsity debuts.

“They’ve got to get their feet

wet,” Myers said. “They’re getting better every single game.”

One starter looking to be astaple in the lineup is Mac Beadle. He hit .303 with a.425 on-base percentage last season. The senior can play multiple infield positions andhas seen time at catcher aftergetting 15 RBIs and13stolenbases last season. Another returning starter is sophomoreIsaac Ott. Myers said he hopesthe trio of Gurney,Ott and Beadle can propel Live Oak to another solid season. The team still hasspots yetto be decided, with 12 or moreguys

getting playing timeineach game.

The pieces of the puzzle are still being figured out, but Myers likes the grit his team has shown.

“Wepreach toughness because we believe toughness wins,” Myerssaid. “We’re agritty, tough bunch and we play hard.”

Onesignofthattoughnessis astatMyers pointedout: hit-bypitches. Through six games, the lineup has drawn22HBPs.

“When they see something, they’ll buy into it,” he said. “They’re buying into it.

“I can see it in their eyes when I talk to them.”

BY DARRELL WILLIAMS Contributing writer

Team Gaither beat Team Robinson, 27-23, in the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday at Tulane’sYulman Stadium.

To the victors go the spoils, as they say,as running back JaQuan Kellyand

linebacker Erick Hunter of Team Gaither —which featured players from the East Coast and Midwest —were chosen offensive and defensive MVP,respectively

However,TeamRobinson —composed of players from conferences such as the Southwestern Athletic Conference —had bright moments of their own, as well.

Leading the waywas defensive back Blake Davis of Grambling, whose 44yard interception return on the last play of the third quarter cut Team Gaither’s lead to 27-20 just as it appeared they wereincontrol.

Wide receiver Jon McCall of Kentucky State, who prepped at Sophie Wright High in New Orleans,had to share time with many wideouts,but he made his presence felt when he wasin. McCall tied the receptions-high with five, but had 65 yards, including a32-yard catch in the second quarter “I wanted to show my speed —my40timeisinthe high 4.3s, but Ialso wanted to improve my route running, getting in and outof cuts,” said McCall, 6-foot-2, 200. “I would have liked to

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

Rattler kept the Saints competitiveingamesagainstsome of the NFL’s premier teams.

Rattler’srate statistics all improved from Year 1 to Year 2, including touchdownpercentage (1.3% increase), interception percentage (0.3% decrease), passing success rate(8.5% increase), sack percentage (2.25% decrease) and passer rating (16.1-point increase) Wide receiver Chris Olave saw enough to believe Rattler is astarting-caliber quarterback —something he made sure to bring up upon the conclusion of the 2025 season.

“Spencer’sagreat quarterback —Idon’tbelieve he’sa backup quarterback in this league,” Olave said. “In this worldnowadays,everybody wants to point the fingerif something is going wrong.

get the ball more, but this game wasfor alot of guys to getachance to show that they can play on the next level.

“Hopefully,I showed enough toget drafted or get invited to someteams’ camp.”

Southern Universitytight end Dupree Fuller wanted to show he can do anything any tight end can do, even though he’snot a6-5, 270-pounder

Right after Team Gaither cornerback AaronHarris returned an interceptionto the 1that led to Kelly’ssecond touchdown andthe 2713 lead, Fuller had a22-yard reception tothe 1with 1:37 left in the third quarter.Two plays later, however,Team Robinsonquarterback Cam’RonRansom of Bethune-Cookman waspicked off by North Carolina Centralcornerback Jelani Vassell, one ofthe game’stop plays.

“I felt Imade thetype of play Imade all season,” said Fuller.“I’ve shown I’m agood receiver,but Iwanted to show that Ican block, thatI’m agood blocker

“And, Ithink I’ll be betteratitwith practicethis week. One thing the coaches showed me was how to use and place my hands better when blocking.”

Team Robinson coach Tremaine Jackson of Prairie View saidhewas proud of howhis players performed without much practice.

“Thiswas the last game for many of these players,” he said. “For all of them, it was about getting an oppor-

Ifeel likeSpencer’s done a great job when he was back there startingatquarterback. He deserves another opportunity to be able to be astarting quarterback in this league “I don’t feel like there’s 32 quarterbacks betterthan him.”

Still, Shough clearly established himself as an improvement over Rattler in 2025, removingany doubt about aquarterback competition going into 2026. So: Should the Saints try to cash in while Rattler’sstock is high,orhang onto him because they (perhaps better than most teams) understand the value of acapable backup quarterback?

Quarterbacks are valuable tradechips, and that is true forbasicallyanyonewhohasa shredofupsideattheposition. Consider three players: SamHowell, Kenny Pickett and Joe Milton. Howell,afifth-round pick in the 2022draftwho threw 21 interceptions in his lone

tunity,and they made the most of it.”

Jackson saidTeam Gaither’s Kelly “was awesome,” getting76yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, and a37-yardrun. He was also impressedbyNorth Carolina quarterback Walker Harris, who completed 4-of-9 passes for 49 yards anda touchdown andmoved theteam well. Gaither’sbig offensive anddefensive linesalso impressedhim, he said.

He ticked off alitany of playerswho playedwell and hard, including Grambling defensive lineman Bryce Cage of Baton Rouge, and 6-3, 330-pound guard Tony RoundtreeofSavannah State.

He said McCall showed he canhelp an NFL team withhis speed and athleticism.

“Heplays withsuch a high motor,and he can run,” Jackson said. “His change of direction was really good allweek. He’s a playmaker. He stood outin the game at times, but his week stoodout. I’m really hoping the best for him.”

Davis said the pick-six was huge

Stating the obvious, he said Fuller put themina positiontomaybe winthe game.

“That kidisstrong, he blockswell, andhetakes a lot of pride in the way he plays and the way he practices,” Jackson said. “On theplay that got us down to the1,Itold himIwas glad he didn’tdothat against us (PrairieView).”

season as astarter,has now been tradedthree times all as part of apick swap that improvedthe draft positioning forthe team that had previously held his rights. Pickett, aformer firstround pick who never lived up to his draft status, has also been traded three times In fact,bothHowell and Pickettwere tradedfor draft considerations twice in the span of fivemonthslastyear. Milton, whowas selected around laterthan Rattler in the2024 draft,was traded to theCowboys in exchange for afifth-round pick this pastsummer despiteplaying in only oneNFL game as arookie

All of thoseplayerswere traded to be backups elsewhere. If ateam saw enough in Rattler to consider letting him compete for astarting job, muchthe sameway he did last year,itwould be reasonable to expect afourthround pick or better in return —which would be an

AnalystputsNussmeier in thirdround of NFLdraft

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

GarrettNussmeier seemingly helped hisdraft stock with astrong performance at theSeniorBowl last month.

Now,the former LSU quarterback will look to carry that momentuminto next week’s NFL scouting combine.

Afterbeing namedthe SeniorBowl MVP,Nussmeier hasachancetofurther impressteamsatthe combine withanother round of interviews and testing. But where will the 24-year-old eventually land? Nussmeier is arguably one of the trickier evaluations in this year’s classafter adisappointing, injury-marred campaign damaged the perception that he could become atop 10 pick Where does that leave him?

improvementonthe Saints’ initialinvestment in Rattler Butthat would require another team to notonly be interested, but also willing to part with an asset that could help speedalong the development of the young quarterbackitisacquiring. And the Saints may not want to be

“I likehim as athird-round pick,” NFL Network draft analyst DanielJeremiah said on aconference call Thursday.“Ifeel like that’s the sweet spot for him. But we’ve seen in years past that guyscan getelevated,so maybe there’sachance he goes in the second round.

ButIlikehim more as a third-round playerwho’s got areal interesting skill setinterms of contact delivery.”

Jeremiah,a former scout, praised Nussmeier’sability to operate from thepocket, despite the LSU product’s undersized 6-foot-1 frame

The analyst said Nussmeier“doesn’tneed alot of foot space to operate,” while praising his arm and toughness.

“He’sreally,really tough,” Jeremiah said. “It was butt coldatthe Senior Bowl, man. It waswindy anditwas coldand it didn’t

seem to have much of an effect on him, which is a great sign for him going forward.”

Nussmeier’stoughness included playing through amysterious abdominal injury that plagued him throughout the 2025 season until he was shut down in November.Atthe Senior Bowl last month, Nussmeier told reporters that he still wasn’t100% healthy, but had focusedonhis rehaband retraining his throwingmotion “fromthe ground up.”

Jeremiah said Nussmeier’s game reminds him of NFL veteran Andy Dalton —the former Saints quarterback who was along-time starter for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals picked Dalton in the second round, 35th overall, in 2011. “(The Senior Bowl) was a nicerebound forhim,”Jeremiah said of Nussmeier.

the one to initiate trade talks. While Rattler does have some value as apotential tradechip, he also coststhe Saints pennies against the dollar—hewill count $1.2 millionagainst the team’s 2026 salary cap and $1.3 millionin2027 —while providing astrong depth option at themostimportant position on the field. He also knows coach Kellen Moore’ssystem. It wouldbehard to blame NewOrleans for considering that more valuable than an early Day 3pick. Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

New Orleans. She has spent much of her recent tenure trying to secure successful futures for both teams in the state. As we all know,though, Father Time is undefeated. Eventually,she will have to sell the teams, as stated in TomBenson’ssuccession plan. Benson has designated anumber of trustees to handlethe sale of both teams. When that happens, Graves will certainly be a strong candidate. He checks every box: He’slocal. Anative New Orleanian, he was raised in Baton Rouge and has spent his entire life in Louisianaexcept for his college years at Georgia.

He’sviable. Forbes recently listed his net worth at $22 billion, which makes him the wealthiest person in the state and one of the wealthiest in the country

He’smore than qualified to buy an NFL team.

He cares. Through his various donations and sponsorships of local sports teams and events, particularly LSU, he has shown a commitment to strengthening the local community and sports scene. And he seemingly has the league’sendorsement. Rest assured, he’sonthe

NFL’s radar Graves gained bonafidesbydonating to several important causes at Super Bowl LIX. It wasn’t an accident that he served as the grand marshal of the NFL’s SuperBowl parade and cohosted afireside chat for the Manning Family Children’sHospital event. When the timecomes, Graves will be well-positioned to becomethe fourth owner in Saints franchise history.But he’s far from ashooin.The competitionwill be fierce. There are only 32 NFL clubs, and they are incredibly valuableassets.

The Seattle Seahawks recently went up forsale, and industry experts expect the team to sell for $7 billion to $10 billion. The final sale priceisprojected to exceed the $6.05 billion paidfor the Washington Commanders in 2023. With such skyrocketing valuations,NFL teams, including the Saints, are approached regularly by vettedinvestors interested in buying their teams or piecesofthem.

The NFL has strict guidelinesfor ownership transfers. Prospectiveowners can form groups with up to 25total partners, but the league requires the principalowner to hold at least 30% of the total equity of the team’svalue. With teams selling for $6 billion and maybe more soon, that

would mean $1.8 billion or more in cash.Thisstipulation alonelimits the candidate pool to aprivileged few

While the Benson trustees will have afiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of the trust, theydon’tnecessarily have to go withthe highest bidder.Trustees can argue thata slightly lower bid is “better”ifthe bidder has moreliquid capital, acleaner background for NFL vetting or abetter plan for the team’slong-termstability —all of which protect the trust’sassets. Because the NFL is a private entityand requires the approvalofatleast 24 of the32NFL team owners (a three-fourthsmajority) forany ownership change, fit is critically important. If the ownersdon’t like aspecific person—regardless of howmuchmoney they have —the trustees can’t forcethe sale. Consequently,trustees usually only present abuyertheyknow the league will ratify. And Graves, by allaccounts, would qualify No,the questionon Graves isn’twhetherhe would be agood ownerfor the Saints or another NFL team. By all accounts, he would.

The better questionis, will he eventually become the Saints’ owner? That answer remains to be seen —and is along way off.

LSU shortstop Kylee Edwards drives the ball against UL in the second inning of their game on Saturday.

Edwardshit an RBI triple in the 10th inning to givethe Tigers the win.

PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSUbeats UL in 10, edgesMichiganSt.

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributing writer

LSU shortstop Kylee Edwards entered the Tigers’ game Saturday with a.143 batting average andone run batted in through13games but made that adistant memory with one big night Edwards had three hits including awalk-off triple to score Char Lorenz with the game-winner in the 10thinning of a2-1 victory against UL in the Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park.

The Tigers (11-4) also beat Michigan State in the doubleheader’ssecond game.

Edwards, ajunior transfer from Mississippi State, hit a2-1 pitch over the head of right fielderLily Knox with two out. Lorenz, who had walked with two out, scored easily as the Tiger dugout emptied and mobbed Edwards at third base.

Jayden Heavener (4-2) was the winning pitcher after entering the game in relief of Cece Cellura, who allowed five hits and one unearned run with three strikeouts in eight innings.

At one point, she retired 10 consecutive batters UL’s Sage Hoover was the hard-luck losing pitcher, keeping LSU at bay despite

LSU

Continued from page1C

We don’twant to kick field goals in the red zone; we want to score touchdowns.

“Wedid that today.”

The No. 2-ranked Tigers extended their best startin

fiveseasons under Johnson to 7-0 and won their 15th straight game overall, extending back to last year’s NCAA Baton Rougeregional

The Fighting Irish, who lost to Central Florida 4-2 in 10 innings Friday night despite six perfect innings from starting pitcher Jack Radel, fell to 2-3.

Right

fielder Jake Brown led the LSU attack with the Tigers’ first four-hit game of the season. He was originally credited with going 3-for5, but after the game, ascoring decision was changed from an error on third baseman Parker Brzustewicz to ahit, raising Brown’sseason average to .514. Brown was on base with a one-out single in the fourth inning when Arrambide filling the designated hitter’s slot in the lineup insteadof his usual role as catcher left theyard. He smasheda 1-1 pitch from Notre Dame reliever Garrett Snyder to straight away center,right over the 400-foot sign at VyStar Ballpark. Arrambide explainedthat the plate patience that Stiffler admired in the Tigers helped him on that at-bat

“I took achangeup for a strike, then thought Iwas very likely to get afastball,” Arrambide said. “He laid a fastball in there, and Iput a good swing on it.

“Quality at-batsare what we train to have. Inever try to chase pitches. Iwant to make the pitcher work to get me out, notjust make outs.” LSU led Notre Dame 7-0 at that point, more than enough support to make awinner out

giving up 10 hits andfive walks. Shestruck out six while throwing 172 pitches.

Edwardsalso knocked in theTigers’ otherrun with a single inthe second inning, triplingher season’sRBI output.

Heavener came on after Cellura gave up aleadoff triple to HaleyHartinthe ninth. She walked Emily Smithonfourpitches but gotapop-up out from CeciliaVasquez. Pinch runner Erin Ardoin appeared to steal secondunchallenged but was ruled out for leavingthe baseearly afterLSU appealed for avideo review.

Heavener put out the fire on agrounder to Edwards at shortstop to end the inning and then she struck out the side inthe top of the 10th.

LSU had plentyofopportunities with baserunners in every inning but the first but stranded 13 runners. Sierra Daniel tripled with two out inthe seventhand Maci Bergeron hada chanceto walk it off but hit afly ball to center field for the third out In the eighth, Alix Franklin walkedwithone out and went to second on abase hit by Ally Hutchins.Lorenz fouled out,but Kylee Edwards walked to load the bases, bringing on Maddox

McKee, who came on as a replacement for designated playerRylie Johnson and hit aline drive to left field

But Hart came in fast and made adivingcatch to keep the game alive

LSU 5, MICHIGANSTATE 4: Sierra Daniel lifted asacrifice fly to right field to score the go-ahead runinthe bottom of the sixth inning. Destiny Harris, making her first start this season, started thewinning rally with a single up the middle

Jalia Lassiterfollowed withasingle and therunners advanced on awild pitch before Daniel delivered the winning run.

Harris also hit her first careerhomer in the first inning in her fourth careerat batwhile Tori Edwardsalso homered for the Tigers, her team-leading fourth. Tatum Clopton pickedupthe pitching victory with 2 2⁄3 innings of scoreless relief. She retiredthe side in order in the seventh to protectthe lead

“It felt really great to play for my team and do what I needed to do,” Harris said “I was just trying to executeand get on base.

“Wewereall pumped up and hyped. Just go up there and have fun.”

LSU closes out the weekend against Howard at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Ohtani settoplayinCactus League gamesbeforeWBC

BY JANIE MCCAULEY Associated Press

GLENDALE, Ariz. Shohei

Ohtani playedfor the first time in what is expected to be only acoupleofCactus League games for the twotime reigning WorldSeries champion Los Angeles Dodgers before he departs thedesert to join Japan for theWorld Baseball Classic. He was in the lineup leadingoff as designated hitter and went 1for 3with an infield single, groundout and strikeout during theclub’s spring training openerSaturdayafternoon against theAngels at TempeDiablo Stadium

Ohtani hita roller for a single to start the game then groundedout to second on six pitchesthe next inning, thenstruck out swinging in his second atbatofthe inning to end the Dodgers’ six-run second that put Los Angeles up 9-0.

He called it aday after that andran off the field out of agate in right field during apitching change in the second, when countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto exited from what manager Dave Roberts said wouldbe his only spring start before he also joins the Japanese team for the WBC —but Yamamoto announced after his outing that he expects to pitch again Feb. 27 against theSan Francisco Giants.

“Sometimeshetakes two andhefeelsgood or he wants that third at-bat,” manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani.

When asked about Ohtani’stravel plans, Roberts smiled andsaid,“I promised I’dtry.”

“I knowthat it’s going to be soon. He’sgoing to play in acouple Cactus League games, but I’m not exactly sure when hisplane ticket is.Hehasn’tsaid,” Roberts said. “SoIdon’tknowwhat

play in onlyacoupleofspring training games before he joinsJapan for the WorldBaseballClassic.

day he’sgoing to join Team Japan.”

Ohtani is scheduled to pitch against live hitting Sunday —and Roberts has already said the 31-year-old two-waystarshould be in the Cy Young Award conversation this season.

Reigning World Series

MVP Yamamoto hadbeen scheduled to throw twoinnings and around 35 pitches.Hegaveuptwo runs and threehitsin1 2⁄3 innings with three strikeouts.

“I waslooking forsome stuffIneeded to get back before Igoback to Japan and join the team. Iwas looking forward to the feeling, the delivery and those things,” Yamamoto said in Tempethroughinterpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “And then when Iwas coming out of the game, Doc came to the mound and he said ‘good luck in the WBC,’ but Ihave one moregame to pitch.”

Beforehand, Roberts spoke of whatwill be a thoughtful build-up process forYamamoto given his lengthy postseason in which he pitched six times.

WHO: LSU(7-0) vs. UCF (4-1 entering Saturday’splay)

WHEN: 2p.m. CST Sunday

WHERE: VyStar Ballpark (11,000),Jacksonville, Florida

ONLINE/TV: D1Baseball.com

RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1(Baton Rouge); WWL-AM, 870 (New Orleans); KLWB-FM, 103.7(Lafayette)

RANKINGS: LSUisNo. 2byD1Baseball.com;UCF is unranked

PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU— TBA; UCF— TBA PREGAME UPDATES: www.TheAdvocate.com/lsu ON X(FORMERLYTWITTER): @RabalaisAdv

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: TheTigersclose out the weekend going for the series sweep after alsobeatingIndiana 14-7 Friday.TheTigershave pounded out acombined 30 hits against theHoosiers and Irish while also drawing 19 walks. Neither teamwas expected to announce a pitcher until after Saturday night’sUCF-Indiana game, but LSU is likely to startsophomore right-hander William Schmidt(1-0, 6.75 ERA).

—Scott Rabalais ON DECK

PROVIDED PHOTO By LSUATHLETICS

LSU outfielder JakeBrown bats during agameagainst NotreDameonSaturday at VyStar Ballparkin Jacksonville, Fla.

of startingpitcher Cooper Moore (2-0). He ran into a little difficulty after cruising through the first four innings, allowing arun in the fourth andtwo in the fifth,but gave the Tigers asecondstraight quality start. Moorestruck out six and walked justone batter in 52/3 inningsofwork.

“I felt really good,” Moore said, “flooding the (strike) zone. That’sone ofmy strengths as apitcher.Putting upzeros andletting the defenseworkbehindme.” RelieversEthan Plog, DevenSheerin and DaxDathe combinedfor 31/3 innings of

onehit, one-run relief while striking out eight to make Moore’sstintstandup.

Sheerin had to workout of a bases-loaded jam in theseventhafter issuing apair of walks on top of onebyPlog, but gotout of it with astrikeout and asoft liner to Milam.

“Both of themhave tremendous stuff, but both are very young pitchers,” Johnsonsaid of Plog and Sheerin. “This is great experience for them.

“Weneed those guys to be good. Our ceiling is higher with them pitching well.”

Yorke alsohad apair of hits, as did second baseman SethDardar,who doubled andscored in the second and followed thatwith an RBI double in thethirdtodrive in shortstopSteven Milam.

“As many good hitters as we have,” Johnson said, “no onefeels like it’s just on them to getitdone.”

TheTigerswrap up their trip to Jacksonville on Sundayinthe final game of theclassic against UCF First pitch is set for 2p.m. and will be streamed live on D1Baseball.com. The Golden Knightswere4-1 goinginto Saturday’ssecondgame against Indiana, which playsNotre Dame at 10 a.m.

“Obviously him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’sgoing to be kind of trying to rampitupand get prepared so Ithink it’sjust moreofwhat he does strike one, use his secondaries and be efficient and get someouts,” Roberts said. Once Yamamotoreturns to Los Angeles’ camp, he will be scheduledfor around four innings and60 pitchesinitially,according to Roberts.

The 27-year-old Yamamoto, whosigned a$325 million, 12-year contract in December 2023, went3-0 with a1.09 ERAinthe Dodgers’ seven-game World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays—sohis workloadis something the Dodgers will monitor closely “I think it’suptoall of us to be mindfulofworkloads and short term, long term and all of that stuff, which we are,” Roberts said. During his remarkable World Series, Yamamoto struck out 15 andwalked two over 17 2⁄3 innings, allowing tworunsand 10 hits He and Randy Johnson are the onlypitchers since1969 to winthree games in one World Series.

OUTDOORS

First bass!

Zelda Stephenson, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Episcopal School in Baton Rouge, astounded her family when she caught this massive bass on her first fishing trip to the banks of the Calcasieu River last weekend. She became the envy of thousands of south Louisiana bass fishers who’ve hoped to catch what appeared to be a 6-pound bass after learning how to cast her Zebco spincast just days before the trip Even more unimaginable is she baited her hook with a nightcrawler

CALENDAR

FLY FISHERS

FLY TYING SESSION: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library

9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Materials and tools available for beginners. Website: www. rsff.org

WEDNESDAY LA. SHRIMP TASK FORCE

MEETING: 10 a.m., Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Dr., Houma.

THURSDAY

ACADIANA BUGS & BREWS:

6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Casual fly tying and local beers provided. Open to the public. Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@ gmail.com. Website: www packpaddle.com

SATURDAY

CENLA FLY FISHING 101:

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., BookerFowler Hatchery, 10 Joan Stokes Rd., Forest Hill. Open

Junior Southwest BassmastersDenham Springs’ February tournament held from the Amelia public landing with anglers, their hometowns (when available), number of bass weighed in parentheses (5bass limit), total weight in pounds and big-bass winners: 15-18 age group:

1, Khloe Morales, French Settlement (5) 10.0. 2, Jase Russell (5) 9.61. 3, Lane LeRay, Brusly (5) 9.2. Big bass: Keegan Felder, Denham Springs, 2.91.

to public. No fee, preregistration required. Casting, tackle setup, fly selection. Kisatchie Fly Fishers event. Website: kisatchiefly.org

HUNTING SEASONS QUAIL, RABBITS & SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only

SNIPE: Through Feb. 28, statewide.

GEESE/CONSERVATION ORDER: East & West zones through March 15. Limited to take of blue, snow and Ross’ geese only. No daily nor possession limits. Hunters allowed to use electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells.

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore season closed in Zones 2 & 3 & portions of Zone 1 except Breton/ Chandeleur sounds. Outside waters from Caillou Boca west to Freshwater Bayou Canal closed. All other outside waters open.

FISHING RESULTS

7-10: 1, Nathaniel Watts, Livingston (5) 9.7. 2, Charles Leonard, Lakeland (5) 8.13. 3, Rowan Tapia, Bourg (3) 4.69. Big bass: Watts, 2.71. Adult division: 1, Destin Morales, French Settlement (5) 13.06. 2, Scott Nobile, Paulina (5) 11.92. 3, Anthony Tapia, Bourg (5) 11.51. Big bass: Morales, 3.33. Bassmaster Elite ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — Final top 5 from the four-day Lippert Bassmaster Elite held on Lake Martin with anglers, their hometowns, number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-bass daily limit), total weight in pounds and ounces and prize winnings. Also listed are Louisiana anglers, the big-bass & contingency winners. Only the top

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEA-

SONS: Flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Red snapper; greater amberjack; gray triggerfish; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATE

CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/ boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction); Price Lake Road (Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge) weekdays from March 2-20 (repair hurricane damage); Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMA closed through June 12, 2026 (replace bridge) access from U.S. 190 and I-10 open. EMAIL: jmacaluso @theadvocate.com

50 in the 101-angler field moved to the third round, and only the top 10 advanced to the final round: Top 5: 1, Fisher Anaya, Eva, Alabama (20) 54 pounds, 6 ounces, $100,000. 2, Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Mississippi (20) 52-14, $20,000. 3, Emil Wagner, Marietta, Georgia (20) 50-13, $15,000. 4, Easton Fothergill, Grand Rapids, Minnesota (20) 50-11, $13,500. 5, Joey Cifuentes III, Clinton, Arkansa (20) 48-11, $11,750. Louisiana anglers: 16, Tyler Rivet, Raceland, (15) 33-11, $6,500. 78, Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia (10) 18-11. 96, Greg Hackney, Gonzales (10) 16-13. Phoenix Boats Big Bass: Michael Iaconelli, Pitts Grove, New Jersey 5-3, $2,000. Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag: Anaya, 15-12, $2,000.

United States, Canada set for Olympic gold showdown

STEPHEN WHYNO AP hockey writer

MILAN Dylan Larkin has been thinking about the U.S facing Canada for gold at the Olympics for a year All the dreams he had as a kid crystalized after he and his teammates lost to their rival in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“I’ve thought about it so much,” Larkin said. “It’s what everyone wanted, this matchup in a gold-medal game. Yeah, I’ve thought about it a lot.”

Those thoughts become reality Sunday when the North American countries that have become the preeminent

ä U.S. vs. Canada 7:10 A.M., NBC

global hockey powerhouses face off in a titanic final of a best-vs.-best tournament with many of the NHL’s biggest stars. The U.S. against Canada on the biggest stage in sports should be hard-hitting, quick-skating, must-see entertainment. “It’s gonna be a big-boy game,” Canada’s Tom Wilson said. “It’s going to be as fast and physical and skilled as you can ever imagine. Right now it’s the two big countries for hockey in the world. Every single guy is going to be doing everything

Let nature be your No. 1 fishing guide

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

they can at every single moment.”

Favorites reach the final Canada and the U.S entered the tournament as the favorites and played like it

Each team went undefeated, winning all five games, with the U.S. outscoring opponents 24-8 and outshooting them 201-124 and Canada 27-8 and 202-106.

“It’s two of probably the best teams ever, maybe,” U.S. winger Matthew Tkachuk said. “We’ve got a lot of respect for the players over there and what they’ve done in the past, and we want to be the team that comes out on top.”

Notebook

The more things change in our pursuit of bass — all the new things along with sac-a-lait and the many species Louisiana anglers call “bream,” the more fishermen need to pay attention to the agesold lessons pass ed along to us by previous generations of freshwater veterans.

New things?

Yep. Bladed jigs, heavy jigs, scented soft-plastic lures and the newfangled electronic devices can mask the need to pay attention to the tried-and-true time tables that trigger trips into south Louisiana waters.

Like what?

The time to start paying attention to getting your sac-a-lait tackle in order came when willow trees began showing their first green leaves.

For bass, check out budding water oaks. For bluegill and chinquapin, the new green showing on pecan trees is a time-tested sign.

All that new growth was a signal the ground had warmed, and was a sign the water had warmed to temperatures triggering spawning time for those individual species. Some fishermen read those signs during last week’s warm-up, which, in turn, sent some sac-a-lait and bass to shallower water and stake out prespawn territories.

All that will go away with the projected early-in-theweek cold front and rapidly

rising barometric pressure.

Still, the next warm-up is on the way, and it’s time to check water temperatures in your favorite spots to know if it’s time to take to the water

The time table goes like this: sac-a-lait are the first to spawn. They like water temps in the upper-50s to low-60s. That’s about the time male bass move to spawning spots to prepare nests ahead of the time when waters warm to the lower-to-mid-60s spawning trigger Bluegill go a little later, then chinquapin (redear sunfish) wait until water temps hit the low-70s.

True, there are variables.

With the sun getting higher in the sky, it’s sunlight that warms our waters. Rain, wind, extended periods of clouds, cold fronts, water clarity and water levels along with barometric pressure affect all waters.

Nevertheless, get ready We’re close to prime time for what usually is the best fishing time of the year

The Atlantic side

Earlier this year, federal fisheries managers announced a plan to turn over red snapper management to the states in the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Then, two weeks ago, a proposal was announced to issue Exempted Fishing Permit requests for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina fishermen, a move that would allow recreational red snapper anglers the chance to have seasons ranging from 39 days to 62 days this year af-

ter having seasons as short as two days in recent years. So NOAA Fisheries has opened this request to public comment, and there have been the usual objections from groups claiming the red snapper populations cannot stand this increased take. Public comment is open through March 10. Life jacket loaners

BoatUS’ Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has opened its application process for a new digital check-out pilot Life Jacket Loaner Program. The foundation hopes parks, marinas, campgrounds, fire departments, fuel docks and waterfront businesses will apply for loaner life jackets by March 26 It’s funded by a $375,000 Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund grant. The application website: BoatUS.org/Life-JacketLoaner/Apply

On your calendar Wildlife and Fisheries’ staff announced a March 14 (9-11:30 a.m.) fee-free beginner-friendly reptiles and amphibians seminar at the Woodworth Education Center south of Alexandria. The purpose is to help hunters and hikers to learn to “accurately identify common local snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, salamanders and alligators found in Louisiana’s forests and bottomlands.” Added to that list is addressing concerns of hunters encountering venomous snakes and “seasonal wildlife activity patterns.”

Now’sthe time to celebrate

Acadiana’s Lee AllenZeno

In his raucous “Soul Alive!” album, singer,bishop, mortician, limousine driver,drugstore owner,backstage barbecue vendor and father of 21 Solomon Burke testified, “The answer in life is love and understanding.”

The soul-singing minister continued, “I don’t want nobodyto give me flowers when I’m dead and gone. Give me my flowers while I’m living. So Ican feel ’em, smell ’em, see ’em.”

Ithought about Burke’s words after hearing fateful news of Lee Allen Zeno of Lafayette. Zeno is asideman, a musician who makes the stars sound great but rarely gets the spotlight. Zeno and his remarkablebass guitar skills helped Buckwheat Zydeco become a Grammy winner and the only zydeco bandtowin an Emmy Zeno is all over “New Beginnings,” the debut album and Grammy winner for Buckwheat Zydeco Jr

Lee Allen Zeno performs at the 2024 Clifton Chenier Centennial &Slim’sy-Ki-Ki Fundraiserin Opelousas.

Since 1980, Zeno has song credits on at least 73 albums singles, EPs and videos. They include works by Burke,Charlie Rich, Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush, Boozoo Chavis and the Neville Brothers. Zeno’sbass fuels “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,” which won the Best RegionalRoots Album Grammy earlier this month. Just afew weeks after that joyous Grammy newscame Zeno’stroubling announcement. After fighting cancer throughout his music career, Zenodecided he’shad enough He’sending chemotherapy. According to longtime friend and supporter John Williams, Zeno’scancer count after his latest round of chemo showed his leukemia is getting worse. Williams said on social media that Zeno will now “focus on staying healthy and receiving blood transfusions as needed, in order to have more vibrant time with his family and playing his music.” Williams has been on amission to help unsung music heroesand forgotten legends.

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

ä To seea more complete list of theother Louisianans whohave competed on “The Voice,”their hometowns and howtheyplaced, GO TO TINyURL. COM/2PVMAyCV

PROVIDED PHOTOS/ STAFF ILLUSTRATION

BY JUDYBERGERON| Staff writer

Twenty-eight seasonsin, “TheVoice” has yet to crownaLouisiana winner. But thestate keeps sending singersdeep into thecompetition— and turning national exposure into momentum long after thecameras stop rolling

The 29th season of “The Voice” premieres 8p.m. Monday on NBC with judgesJohn Legend, Kelly Clarkson andAdamLevine. The show streamson Peacock theday after airing.

MeghanLinsey came oh-so-close to winning “The Voice” in 2015, finishing as runner-up. It was abanner Season 8for four other fellowLouisianans whoalso fared well in thecompetition, among them NewOrleans’ Tonya Boyd-Cannon. ä See ‘THE VOICE’, page 4D

ä See ZENO, page 4D ä See

Building bridges

ing Duvall and his wife,

local

often invited

restaurant was Mulate’s. Lynette Hayes remembers see-

4, the

to bring his accordion on stage to join

PROVIDED PHOTO

South Live Oak Elementary

Louisiana Department of Education officialsand Board of Elementaryand Secondary Education members recognized SouthLiveOak Elementaryasa2025 Louisiana Blue Ribbon School by presentinga bannerfor the school. Shownare, from left, LDOE Assistant Superintendent Trey Folse, Livingston ParishSchool Board member BobSeals, LDOE representativeLeeAnn Smith, BESE member Dr.JudyArmstrong,LDOE representativeJoni Lacy,South LiveOak ElementaryPrincipal AmySavage, Asstistant Principal Marty Henry, instructional coach AshleyPatin, school counselorBrittany Bigsby, LDOE representative Dr.Jennifer Tuttletonm, BESE member Simone Champagneand Livingston Parish School SuperintendentJodyPurvis.

Live Oak Elementary celebrates Blue Ribbon recognition

Louisiana Department of Educationofficials and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members formally recognized SouthLiveOak Elementaryasa Louisiana Blue Ribbon School for success in student academic performance and growth.

South Live Oak is one of only eight schools in the state to be named a2025 Louisiana Blue Ribbon School.

The school is astandout among its peers for demonstrating remarkable progress in closing the achievement gap between itshigher-and lower-performing students

The school has been named aTop Gains and Opportunity Honoree by the state and recognized as having the highest assessment

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

index for K-8 (93.2) and excellence in attendance,” anews release states As part of theceremony,the school’sBeta Club choir performed two patriotic songs, andthe national anthem was performed by Live Oak High School Student of the Year Rachel Henry andLive Oak Middle School Student of the Year Landry Seals. South Live Oak Elementary student Olive Bailey led theaudienceinthe Pledge of Allegiance. The other seven 2025 Louisiana BlueRibbonSchools areCaneviewElementaryin Iberia Parish, CecilPicard Elementary in VermilionParish, EarlyCollege Academy in Lafayette Parish, Haynes Academy in JeffersonParish, MulberryElementary in Terrebonne Parish, St.Dominic School of theNew Orleans Archdiocese, and St.Jude School of theBaton Rouge Diocese.

The Community column runs Sundays in the Living section and accepts submissions for news of events that have taken place with civic,philanthropic, social and religious auxiliary organizations, as well as academic honors. Submissionsshould be sent by noon Monday to runinthe upcoming Sundaycolumn. Because of spacelimitations, organizations that meet monthly or more are limited to one photo per month. If submitting digitally,weprefer JPG files 300KB or larger.Iftaking aphotoofagroup, have them stand or sitshoulder-toshoulder. If more than six people are in the photo,arrangethem on multiple, distinct rows. Avoid strong backgroundlight sources. Identify thosepictured by firstand lastnames as viewed from left to right, rowbyrow.Weprefer emailedCommunity columnsubmissions to features@theadvocate.com.We also accept submissionsbymail at P.O. Box588, Baton RougeLA70821.Aphone number must be included.

Krewe of Mutts parade is Sunday

staff reports

The 27th annual CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Parade rolls at 2p.m. Sundayindowntown Baton Rouge. Hosted by the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society,the parade theme this year is “Hairy Pawter” in honor of the beloved Harry Potter movies. Bark in the Park willtakeplace from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. in Galvez Plazaand Town Square. DJ Mike Larry will play musicall dayin Galvez Plaza

The Baton Rouge Police K9 Unit will hold ademonstration at 11 a.m. in frontofthe Galvez Plaza stage.

TheDog Costume Contest will takeplace at noon on theGalvez PlazaStage, whereparticipants are encouraged to dress up with thetheme.Contest judges include WBRZinvestigative reporter Bess Casserleigh, Fox 44 meteorologist Ashley Renee and arepresentative from Raising Cane’s, theparade’ssponsor Costume contest prizes from RaisingCane’swill be handed out for first, secondand third place in three categories: Best Costume, Best Float and Best Group. Participants may pre-register online

the

Associated Women In TheArts DavidGeary, president of the Louisiana Art Guild,spokeon‘Let’sdesign our best artyear yet! Creating focus,momentum and joyinour creative practice’ at the Feb.10meeting of the Associated Women in the Arts at Bluebonnet Branch Library. At right is KathyDaigle, president of AWA.

PROVIDED

Garden DiscoverySeries

certified Master Naturalist, Herb Society of America member and practicing Druid, John Hough and Wally Taylor

and save 10% on the contest and parade shirt at caaws.square.site or register and buy aparade shirt at the CAAWS tent on parade day

During the parade, theFlorida Street Blowhards jazzband will provide Mardi Gras tunes, followed by Raising Cane’smascot Cane III, who is serving as grand marshal.

The Baton Rouge BeignYAYS will also dance in the parade. The Baton Rouge Caledonian Pipes and Drums will also provide music Paradelineup begins at 1p.m. at St. Ferdinand Street and North Boulevard. The parade route will go down North Boulevard, then left on St. Joseph Street, left

on North Boulevard, and end at FourthStreet and North Boulevard.

For more info, visit www.caaws. org.

‘Education As ACivil Right’ program is Feb. 25

The Baton Rouge Alliance for Studentspresents the seventh annual “Education As ACivil Right.” This year’sthemeis“The LinkBetween Learning and Liberation.”

Hosted by the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students during Black History Month,this event focuses on affirming education as afundamental civil right.

The free, in-person event will take place from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Feb. 24, at the Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. AtticTrashand Treasure sale is March6

The big sale begins 8a.m. March 6and lasts until March 8 at Town and Country Furniture, 6545 Airline Highway,Baton Rouge.

Proceeds will go to selected charities —Baton Rouge Children’sAdvocacy Center,Brave Heart of Louisiana, Capital Area Family Justice Center,Louisiana Parole Project and Louisiana Mental Health Association.

TRAVEL

Some of theSouth’s best storiesare foundinlyrics

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Icould be anywhere

In my heart I’m always there

Where they drink sweet teaand they raise you to be polite.

No changin’ who Iam

That’sthe way I’ve always been No matter what state I’m in I’m in asouthern state of mind.

—DairusRucker,“SouthernState of Mine”

Darius Rucker doesn’t needto pinpoint aspecific place when he closes his eyes and thinksof home

And though home for therockerturned-country singer-songwriter is Charleston, South Carolina, he knewwhen writing “Southern State of Mine” that he could be home anywhere in the South

Because it’sinthe South where storytelling is an art —where people will stop and listen to a tale about akid named BillyJoe or contemplate the heartache of a man who is mired in the blues of his personal crossroads.

Sometimes, whenthe stories aren’tenough, they pack their bags and follow the lyrics to see where these stories happened. Itdoesn’t matter if the storiesare truthor fiction, they were inspired by a place in the South.

Once there, with alittle bitof imagination set to amelody,they come to life.

Here are three suggestions of lyric trails to follow:

Thereisahouse in NewOrleans

In 1964, The Animals madean internationalhit from an old blues song, “The House of the Rising Sun.” It shot up to No. 1onmusic charts in both the United States andUnitedKingdom, yetthe group wasn’tthe firstto record it.

Theearliest versions of this song can be found in musicologistAlan Lomax’scollection at The Smithsonian. Other recordings weremade and commercialized beginning in the early 20th century,probably the most notable being renditions

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

Poor Bobissinkin’ down

Ah,the crossroads along what is now the Blues Trail on U.S. 61 through theMississippi Delta. It’s said this is where an aspiring musician named Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil to becomeone of the greatest legends to play the blues.

Movieshavebeen madeabout thestory, bookshavebeen written, but intrigue doesn’tnecessarily mean the tale is true.

The intersection where Johnson’s purported conversation with the devil is marked by guitar-shaped signs topped by aU.S. 61 highway sign where the highway crosses U.S. 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The spot is the perfect landmark for selfies, but, as is the case with so many lyric trail stops, there’s contention about this location.

by Woody Guthrie and Louisiana’s own blues legend, Huddie “Leadbelly”Ledbetter

But The Animals immortalized it through lead singer Eric Burdon’shauntingvocalization, which naturally piqued the curiosity of listeners not just in the States but throughout theworld.

Wasthere really aHouse of the RisingSun?

First take into consideration that themelodyoriginated out of the Appalachian folk tradition andprecededthe lyricsbyquite afew years. No singlesongwriter is creditedfor the“House” lyrics, though Georgia Turner andBert Martin first wrote them down from Lomax’soriginal recording. That said, apopular theoryfor the inspirationbehind the lyrics points to aFrench Quarter house at 826-830 St. Louis St.

It’s saidthe house, aformer brothel, was named for Marianne LeSoleil Levant, whose surname in translation would mean “The Sun.”

Butisit true?Some historians and musicologists are skeptical, saying “Rising Sun” could have beena commonnamefor various disreputableestablishments.

Still, the St. LouisStreet house

offers travelers aspecific address to aplace perfect for speculation.

Even The Animals’ lead singer made his own pilgrimage there in 2000 to experience what may have been theinspiration for his hit

Burdontold The Los Angeles Times that he connected withthe house at once whenthe ownerinvited him for avisit. He joked that theowner made him sing “House of the Rising Sun” acappella for 40 minutes.

“What can Itell you?” he said. “The house was talking tome.” Pass thebiscuits, please

The usual questions surrounding Billie Joe McAllister have moreto do with what he andthe narrator were throwing off the Tallahatchie Bridge andwhat, exactly, drove him to jump off said bridge tohis death.

Thequestionofwhere the bridge is located usually ranks third when Bobbie Gentry’s1967 hit, “Ode to Billie Joe” flows through earbuds or speakers The song follows alunchtime conversation amonga Mississippi

Quickswapofdamaged rental

Deltafamily in the heat of summer,where it’srevealed that Billie Joe hasjumpedtohis death from the Tallahatchie Bridge, which crosses the Tallahatchie River The town is called Choctaw Ridge in Carroll County. Both are real, as is the Tallahatchie River, which flows through the county Gentry,whose real nameisRoberta Lee Streeter,lived there.

Butwhat aboutthe bridge?

There are twobridges that cross the river near Choctaw Ridge, but theState of Mississippi has markedonly one with ahistorical marker,which stands on Grand Boulevard on theedgeofGreenwood, Mississippi.

The second bridge is ametal structure in Money,Mississippiw, thatreplaced awooden bridge, which burned in 1972. It has no marker,but Gentry hassaidthe original wooden bridge was the inspiration forher song.

Check out both for good measure.

Thatway,all bases will be covered in thestory of Billie Joe McAllister

Other fans of the story,including bluesguitarist Joe Bonamassa, believe the true crossroads are located where Mississippi Highway 8crosses state highway 1atRosedale, where Johnson grew up. Rosedaleis38milessouth of Clarksdale,soitmight be worth stopping to take aphoto at its quiet crossroads before continuing to the more celebrated stop along U.S. 61. As for Johnson’ssong, “CrossroadsBlues,” it wasrecordedin 1936 and released in 1937. The lyrics asks for God’smercy at the crossroads, yet they don’tmention the devil. Thefocus seemsmore about aman at adecision-making crossroads in his life.

Accordingtothe legend, Johnson aspired to be agreat blues musician and was instructed to take his guitar to acrossroad near his home on the grounds of Dockery Plantation in Rosedale at midnight. There,hewas metbythe devil who tuned the guitar and returned it to Johnson.

This gave Johnson mastery of the instrument, allowing him to becomethe foremost player of the Delta Blues. Is it true? Probably not. But it makes agood story to chase on the lyric trail.

Email RobinMilleratromiller@ theadvocate.com.

atic on several levels.

Christopher Elliott

Irecently rented aHyundai Sonata from National at Raleigh-Durham Airport.Within minutes of driving off the lot, Istarted hearing noises from underthe car.I drove acouple of exits, then turned around and brought it back. When Ientered the National facility,one of the attendants said, “Well, there’sanother Sonata with thelower engine cover coming loose.”I explained what happened, and arepresentative said no problem, and Igot another car.I had the Sonata for maybe 30 to 60 minutestotal. About amonth later,I gotanemail from National’sDamageRecoveryUnit demanding my insurance information. Icalledand explained Idid nothing to the car —Ijust

droveitout of the lot and onto the highway Arepresentativesaid that since Ionlyhad the car forsuch ashorttime,I should be good. But three months later,I gotanother demand. Iappealed,and they denied it with no explanation.I nevergot photos of the damageorexplanations of what they’re claiming Idid. I’ve emailedthree National executiveslistedonyour site but haven’t heardback. I’ve been aloyal National customer for20years. National wants me to pay$2,000for the damage.This is ridiculous! —Walter Gluzkin, MiamiBeach, Fla.

When you returned that defectiveSonata within an hour and an employee acknowledged there was “another” car with the same problem, that should have been theend ofit. National should have

documented this as amechanical failure, not customer damage. The fact that even its own employee recognized this as arecurring issue withthat model should have protected you completely Instead, National’sdamage recovery unit decided to pursue you for money.I’ve lostcount of the number of times I’ve seen this. Usually,customers roll over and surrender their insurance information.But not you. Ithink you could have strengthened your case by getting the employee’sconfession in writing. But honestly,you shouldn’t have needed to. National’sown employee confirmed this was a known defect National’sactions are problem-

Under moststate consumer protection laws, businesses can’tchargecustomers forpreexisting defects. Also, National should haveprovided you with detailed documentation of the alleged damage, repair estimates and photographic evidence —not just vague demands forinsurance information.

Youdid exactly what Iwould have recommended: escalating to National’sexecutives. Ipublish their contact information on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott. org. The fact that they initially ignored your appeals is frankly embarrassing foracompany that claims to value customer service. Most importantly, you were not

apushover.That’sakey ingredient to asuccessful resolution. When you’re right, you have to stand up foryour rights! Icontacted National on your behalf and it reviewed your rental record. “Customer satisfaction is our top priority,” acompany representative told me, “and maintaining acustomer’slong-term loyalty is important to us.” National contacted you and agreed to drop the claim.

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 at elliottadvocacy org

Fast forward to Season 25, when Louisiana’s Karen Waldrup placed fifth and Zoe Levert reached the top 12. Last season, Acadiana’s Dustin Dale Gaspard brought something new to “The Voice,” wowing the judges in his blind audition by singing Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me” in both English and Cajun French. He made it to the knockouts round before being eliminated.

Here, we catch up with BoydCannon, Levert and Gaspard, and give a glimpse of what those five Louisianans from Season 8 have done post-”The Voice.”

‘She is unafraid and she’s bold.’

When someone tells Boyd-Cannon she’s a busy woman, she’ll quickly correct with, “No, I’m blessed.”

According to the Mississippiborn-and-Louisiana-raised BoydCannon, 46, the blessings have only multiplied since her 2015 appearance on “The Voice.” The NBC singing competition wasn’t her first stop on the road to national TV She had pursued “Star Search,” “Showtime at the Apollo” and “American Idol.” She was turned away from the last one not because she lacked an impressive voice, but for being “too gospel.”

However, Boyd-Cannon, who grew up in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, had early success on “The Voice” with soul, pop, rock, gospel and rhythm-and-blues performances. She advanced to the live playoffs, when contestants were trimmed from 20 to 12, before being eliminated.

At one point, her coach, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, had this to say: “She is unafraid and she’s bold The No. 1 one thing I try to tell everybody else on my team, do what Tonya does.”

“That makes me feel amazing, to know that someone, that he saw me in that light, because it’s such a great opportunity to be able to do what I love to do, be bold and just to take a chance,” she said Nevertheless, Boyd-Cannon needed time to heal post-”The Voice,” leaning on the words of another of the show’s four coaches.

“I recalled something Pharrell (Williams, singer, songwriter and record producer) told me on that same day (of her elimination). He said, ‘Tonya, this is your springboard. Don’t let nobody take this moment from you,’” she said. “And so I left remembering that.”

Following that pause, her music picked back up in a big way Since 2015, Boyd-Cannon has toured around the globe, released multiple singles and albums. She also teaches voice in the Black American music program at Tulane University as an adjunct professor, at an after-school program at the Leah Chase School, and at a vocal workshop at the Jazz and Heritage Center

She described her most recent

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

parents now live near him in the Nashville area As for the restaurant, Jardon said the Cafe Des Amis was the first restaurant that came to mind when reading about the HayesDuvall meeting.

“I remember how famous people who ate there signed the poles in the Cafe Des Amis,” she said. “And I remember seeing an autograph by Robert Duvall on the door.” Duvall’s inscription? “I love the smell of napalm in the morning, Bobby Duvall.”

The inscription offers proof that Duvall had visited the restaurant, which opened in 1992, but the autograph, like the restaurant, is no longer there. The eatery closed its doors in 2017, and it has since reopened as the Cafe Syndie Mae.

“All of the autographs are gone,” said Tina Begnaud, executive director of the Breaux Bridge Area Chamber of Commerce. “But there were a lot of famous people who passed through there. The former owner, Dickie Breaux, even had the Beach Boys there one night.”

So, Mulate’s was the place, and Duvall and his wife, Luciana, were in town for the seven-week filming of “The Apostle.”

A movie legend

Duvall was a movie legend with such roles as Don Corleone’s consigliere Tom Hagen in “The Godfather” movies, Major Frank Burns in “M*A*S*H,” former Texas Ranger Gus McCrae in “Lonesome Dove,” volatile Marine fighter pilot Lt. Col Wilbur “Bull” Meechum in “The Great Santini” and his Oscar-winning

record, 2025’s “The Cluster,” as “a Dear Tonya letter.” Her latest single, the lively, fun “Everywhere Else It’s Tuesday,” dropped just before Mardi Gras.

She currently has 21,000 followers on Facebook and 27,100 on Instagram.

Levert makes her move

Things have been moving quickly for folk/pop/contemporary Christian artist Levert since her move to Nashville, Tennessee, last year

The New Orleans native and former Baton Rouge resident, 23, has signed with By Design music company and WME, a talent and booking agency

She’s writing and releasing songs, scoping out gigs and mapping her future in Music City

Reflecting on Season 25 of “The Voice,” where she reached the top 12 in 2024, Levert calls the experience “incredible.”

The then-20 year old, in what was essentially her stage debut, impressed the judges and the voting viewers at home with her spins on songs like “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Chicks, Little Big Town’s “Better Man” and “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

“Feed the Flame” and a reprisal of “Bring It On Home To Me.” Soon,he’lldo10daysofshows on Prince Edward Island, off Nova Scotia. Gaspard will follow that with a four-week tour across British Columbia.

Audiences at these abovethe-border performances aren’t like back home, Gaspard has observed.

“Oh, far off rowdy I hate to use the word respectful, but it’s just a different environment,” he said. “People are there to consume music, not to be entertained by it. It’s not like a background feature of the culture or atmosphere. It’s actually the feature that you’re going to witness, you know? That’s the biggest difference.”

Likewise, song choices vary greatly while in Canada from Lafayette on Saturday night.

“When I’m there, I’m doing folk music and telling stories. When we’re playing somewhere here out on Saturday night, we’re trying to keep the people on the dance floor,” said Gaspard.

He pursued music in South Carolina for a while but has since earned a juris doctorate, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2020. He was admitted to the Texas Bar Previously, he earned a bachelor of science in marketing from LSU. He currently has 1,900 friends on Facebook and 2,303 followers on Instagram.

Koryn Hawthorne: This Abbeville native competed on “The Voice” in 2015 and won fourth place on Pharrell Williams’ team. Abbeville’s mayor proclaimed May 6, 2015, as Koryn Hawthorne Day Her debut studio album, “Unstoppable,” was released July 13, 2018, and earned her multiple awards nominations, including two Grammy nods. She released her most recent album, “On God,” in 2024. These days, she’s still performing, but also self-contracting residential buildings, including a decked-out barndominium in Acadiana.

She currently has 505,000 followers on Facebook and 509,000 followers on Instagram.

“It was my first time really performing on a stage like that. I had to learn how to perform and how to be captivating on stage,” she said.

With John Legend as her coach, Levert says the many vocal coaches and choreographers put her through what she calls “artist boot camp.” She had a crash course in the facets of the music industry building a brand and becoming an artist.

Levert adds that she feels like she thrived the most on the singing competition series when she started being herself — requesting songs that she loved and talking about her faith

“I definitely carry that into my career now; just trying to be who I am and who God designed me to be and tell stories that I’m passionate about,” she said

Those stories surface in the three singles Levert has dropped in the last five months, including this month’s breakup song, “sharing Jesus with an ex.” Now happily married to fellow musician Ryan Turner, she reached into her past for inspiration

“I remember, when I was younger, going through a really bad breakup and having this temporary thought of, ‘I feel like Jesus would be on my side in this breakup,’ which isn’t exactly fair to the guy that I ended the relationship with,” she explained “The song is kind of a sarcastic, funny way to deal with that feeling of wishing Jesus would only take your side, especially when it’s a guy that didn’t treat you super well.”

Levert initially posted the song on TikTok, attracting millions of views. With the amount of people who were relating to the story, she

decided to release the song with her label.

The singer-songwriter’s other two recent singles are “Custody,” released in October — a song about who gets custody of coffee shops and friend groups after a breakup and “Dear Carpenter,” released in December

“In the Bible when we talk about how Jesus was a carpenter and a craftsman, there’s gotta be something there with him being a carpenter and him fixing things and how the love of Jesus can fix and heal us,” Levert said. “Instead of saying, ‘Dear God,’ I say ‘Dear Carpenter,’ and I use the language of fixing and refining and rebuilding.”

Plans for an album from Levert in the near future are still fluid. For now, she and her team are focused on producing one song at a time. Levert currently has 1,000 followers on Facebook and 26,200 on Instagram.

Gaspard on the road again

Acadiana’s Gaspard can sum up the difference in his music career since competing on “The Voice” last fall in one word: volume.

“Nothing has changed except the volume, you know? Everyone is finally paying attention, so I have opportunities that I’ve never had before,” Gaspard, 33, said by phone on Monday “And the frequency of which those doors open is a little more often, but besides that, I’m still performing as much as I can, playing as often wherever I can to wherever people will have me.”

On Lundi Gras, that “wherever” was the 20th annual Swamp Pop Reunion Show in Ville Platte. The Cow Island native performed three songs: Rod Bernard’s “Allons Danser Colinda,” Van Broussard’s

role as Mac Sledge, the former country music singer who finds redemption, in “Tender Mercies.” And that’s not forgetting the role of Lt. Col. Kilgore in “Apocalypse Now,” where his famous “napalm” line became his most

memorable catchphrase the same phrase he inscribed on the Cafe Des Amis door But the character of a charismatic Pentecostal preacher named Euliss F. “Sonny” Dewey was his focus while filming “The

Gaspard says he “had one of the best times of my life” while working with the coaches on “The Voice.” The main lesson he took away from the experience is that all artists, no matter where they are, have the same passion, sacrifice and humility to share their craft with the world.

Gaspard, who’s released a few singles, also hopes to make an album happen.

Meanwhile, his fan base has grown exponentially since his global exposure on “The Voice.”

Tens of thousands of followers on every platform, videos viewed by millions of people across the world and many requests to perform and produce new music.

“And I’m hoping to find a way to keep them all satisfied because it feels like a lot of pressure,” he said. “And it’s hard to keep up with when there’s so many people that you care about because they care about you.”

Gaspard currently has 51,000 followers on Facebook and 21,000 on Instagram.

The Louisiana 5 In Season 8, five Louisianans made it deep into the season. These days, four of the five are still in the music world — while one has become an attorney in Texas. Another is also dabbling in the world of real estate.

Besides Boyd-Cannon, filling out the 2015 five are:

Travis Ewing: In 2015, Lafayette native Ewing moved to Charleston, South Carolina, just before auditioning for “The Voice.” He was originally on Pharrell Williams’ team, but was stolen by Blake Shelton. After Ewing advanced to the top 32, he was eliminated in the knockouts round. He originally said “The Voice” experience gave him the confidence to pursue music as a full-time career

Apostle” in Acadiana. The movie co-starred Walton Goggins, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter Cash and Farrah Fawcett.

And the cast included Hunter Hayes in a church scene among a group of churchgoers in the Acadiana area.

After hearing the young musician play, Duvall approached his parents’ table and asked if their son could appear in his film.

A pivotal birthday present

The Hayes family joined the Duvalls for dinner a couple of times afterward, then invited the Duvalls to Hunter’s fifth birthday party That’s when Hunter Hayes’ music career forever changed. Duvall not only attended the birthday party but presented the young musician with a beginner guitar and amplifier

But this wasn’t just any guitar it was Hunter Hayes’ first. Hayes didn’t waste any time in learning to play it. Today, he plays guitar accordion and piano in his repertoire of country pop music and has shared the stage with such artists as Taylor Swift, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, Carrie Underwood, Johnny Cash and Stevie Wonder

And through it all, Hunter Hayes and his parents maintained a friendship with Duvall, keeping in touch with the actor and exchanging annual Christmas cards. Lynette Hayes remembers the actor as the most down-to-earth, kindest and humble person. Now Duvall is a part of Hunter Hayes’ musical journey

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

Meghan Linsey: In April 2015, the Ponchatoula native and four other Louisiana contestants made it up the ranks in Season 8 of “The Voice.” She finished in the runnerup spot behind Sawyer Fredericks, and rose to fame as one half of the country music duo Steel Magnolia with her then-boyfriend, Joshua Scott Jones.

In 2023, she reworked the theme song for “Queer Eye” when the then-fab five filmed in New Orleans and Baton Rouge Most recently, she released ”Blue” on Feb. 13. Nashville Noise described Linsey’s newest song: “After nearly a decade between full-length albums, Meghan Linsey is stepping back into the spotlight with ‘Blue,’ a retro-tinged, emotionally rich ballad that leans into heartbreak’s quieter more lingering aftermath.”

She currently has 75,000 followers on Facebook and 68,000 on Instagram.

Rob Taylor: Hailing from Donaldsonville, Taylor was 22 when he auditioned for Season 8 of “The Voice.” Coach Christina Aguilera was so impressed, she rushed the stage to hug him. Guess which team Taylor joined? He made it to the show’s Top 10. His Top 12 night performance of “I Put a Spell on You” reached No. 1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul singles chart. In 2020, he decided to give the television singing-competition world another go and auditioned for “American Idol.” He made it through round 3 and went to Hawaii where he was eliminated before making the Top 20. He currently has 5,300 followers on Facebook.

As a new season of “The Voice” begins 8 p.m. Monday on NBC, Louisiana will once again be watching — and waiting — to see whether one of its own can finally claim the title.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1D

Through the years, many musicians struggled in their final days. Families had to hold “benefit dances” to bury them.

Love of People, Williams’ nonprofit organization, has helped senior musicians with medical bills, home repairs and other financial and health challenges. Funding has come through the “Blue Monday Concert Series,” a blues jam which celebrated its 10th anniversary Feb. 9 at the Ruins Lounge in Lafayette. Williams went the extra mile literally in Zeno’s latest cancer bout. He transported Zeno to treatments in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and beyond, before suffering a serious flareup of diverticulitis. Williams said he will now “lean on all the angels” that have been part of Zeno’s fight.

I hope Zeno accepts this bouquet of gratitude for a life of award-winning music in the shadows of the stars. As your friend Solomon Burke said, feel, smell, see and enjoy the flowers.

I hope you’re moved to celebrate a Lee Allen Zeno in your life with a handshake, hug or a few dollars. It’s the least we can do for artists who create in the shadows, yet still bring sunshine to our lives.

Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM. ZENO

Call forstudent artists The Louisiana Art &Science Museum, 100 S. RiverRoad, in collaboration with Ellemnop.Art,will host its 2026 Student Art Exhibition, “Blueprints of Culture: Architecture and Design That Shapes Louisiana,” in the museum’s STEAM Gallery

The museum invitesLouisiana students in sixth through12th grades to participate through an open call for art submissions. The exhibitionwillexplorethe foundations of architectural design in Louisiana,encouraging studentsto create original artworks inspiredby the past, present, and future of the state’s built environment. Theshow will run from April 2026through April 2027.

Deadline for submissions is March 31. Forspecific requirementsand a submission form, visitellemnop.art/ steamgallery Summer camps Registration is open for Manship Summer Camps for mini musicals and film. Fordetails, visitmanshiptheatre.org.

‘Bravo Broadway!’

Tickets areonsale for the Baton Rouge SymphonyOrchestra’s pops concert, “BravoBroadway!,” at 7:30 p.m.March 7atthe Raising Cane’s RiverCenterPerforming Arts Theater, 240 St. LouisSt. Tickets are$25-$80. Visit brso.org

Glasgowexhibit

The GlasgowMiddle School Talented ArtStudentswill open their annual art exhibit at 6p.m.Feb. 23, in theShawCenter for theArts, 100 Lafayette St. This year’s exhibit, “Power of Symbols andCultural Pride: African Textile Design,” will run through March 31. The exhibit isannually coordinated by Talented Arts teacherGeeta Dave,who is retiringafter this show. Admission is free.

Seekingartists

Ellemnop is nowaccepting artist and creativesubmissions for the Arts &CultureArtistWalk at the Louisiana RedBeans &Rice Heritage &Music Festival. Taking place

TODAYINHISTORY

Today is Sunday,Feb. 22, the53rd day of 2026. Thereare 312days left in theyear

Todayinhistory:

On Feb. 22, 1980, the “Miracle on Ice” took place at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NewYork, as the U.S.Olympichockey teamupsetthe Soviet Union, 4-3. (The U.S. teamwent on to win the gold medal two days later,4-2,over Finland.)

Also on this date:

In 1732, the first presidentofthe UnitedStates, George Washington, wasborninWestmorelandCounty in the Virginia Colony

In 1784, aU.S. merchantship, theEmpress of China, left New York for the first trade voyageofan American ship to China.

In 1819, aweakened Spain,facingrevolutionsin Latin America, signed atreatycedingFlorida to the UnitedStates.

In 1862, Jefferson Davis was inauguratedtoafull six-yearterm as presidentofthe ConfederateStates of America afterhis election the previous November. He previously served as theConfederacy’sprovisional president.

In 1959, the inaugural Daytona500 race washeld; although JohnnyBeauchamp was initially declared the winner, thevictory was laterawarded to Lee Petty

In 1967, more than 25,000 U.S.and South Vietnamesetroops launched Operation Junction City,aimedat smashing aViet Cong stronghold near theCambodian border.

In 1997, scientists in Scotlandannounced they had successfullycloned an adultmammalfor thefirst time,asheep they named “Dolly.”

In 2010,Najibullah Zazi, accused of buyingproducts from beauty supply stores to make bombsfor an attack on New York City subways,pleaded guilty to chargesincluding conspiringtouse weapons of mass destruction. (He spent nearly adecadeafterhis arrest helping the U.S. identify and prosecute terrorists and was givena10-year sentence.)

In 2020,pioneering Black mathematicianKatherine Johnson, who calculated rocket trajectories andEarth orbitsfor NASA’s early space missionsand was later portrayedinthe 2016 film “Hidden Figures,” died at theage of 101.

In 2022, three White men were convictedoffederal hate crimes in the killing of AhmaudArbery,who was jogging through theirneighborhoodnear Brunswick, Georgia, when he was attacked in 2020. (Themen are serving life sentences afterbeingconvicted of murderinstate court.)

In 2024, aprivate lander built by Intuitive Machines made the first U.S. touchdown on the moon in more than 50 years, but the spacecraft only managed a weak signal and spotty communications with flight controllers.

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Paul Dooleyis98. Actor James Hong is 97. Actor Julie Walters is 76.BasketballHall of Famer Julius Erving is 76. Golf Hall of Famer Amy Alcott is 70. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 67. Golf Hall of Famer Vijay Singh is 63.Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine is 61.Actor PaulLieberstein (TV:“The Office) is 59. Actor Jeri Ryan is 58. Actor-singer Lea Salonga is 55. Tennis HallofFamer MichaelChang is 54 Singer James Blunt is 52.Actor DrewBarrymore is 51. Comedian Iliza Shlesinger is 43.Dancer andsinger Genneya Walton is 27. Rapper Molly Brazy is 27.

March 21–22 in DowntownBaton Rouge, this iconic celebrationof food, music, and cultureisseeking artists whose work honors community,rhythm and southerncreativity Applications deadline is March 1.Visit ellemnop. art/redbeansfest/?mc_ cid=5fb3436691&mc_ eid=3719ce2d2d.

MPAC tickets

Tickets areonsale for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s annual fundraiser, MPAC:Music. Performance. Art. Community,from 7p.m.to10p.m.March 6inthe Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 Ferdinand St. Tickets are$161.90. Visit artsbr.org

At LSUGalleries

LSU’s BarnesOgden Gallery,31S Campus Drive, is showing “Twofold: CollaborativeWork by Addoley Dzegede &LyndonBarroisJr.”through Feb. 28.

LSU’s Glassell Gallery in the Shaw Centerfor theArts, 100 Lafayette St., is showing “The Middle: Paint-

ingsbyWill Maxen &Bradley Kerl” through March 14.

The Lauraand Clark BoyceGallery in LSU’s Julian T. WhiteHall, 297 Field House Drive, is showing “Interiors Under Construction: Ria Bravo” through Feb. 28. Admission to all exhibitsisfree.

Lookingfor submissions

The Corbel Interiors, 5741 Commerce St St. Francisville,isaccepting submissions for itscurated Summer Art Show Formoreinformation, visit thecorbel.com/pages/art-show?.

At theOld Capitol

Louisiana’s OldState Capitol, 100 North Blvd., is showing “PresentDay Traces of Segregation, Civil Rights, and CollectiveMemory in Louisiana” by the Louisiana Photographic Society through March 14. Admission is free. Visitlouisianaoldstatecapitol.org.

At MidCityCivic Theatre Registration is open for classes,

“Acting for Film &Digital Media,” beginning Feb. 28, and “Directing 101: From Script to Stage,” beginning April 18, at Mid CityCivic Theatre. Formoreinformation, visit midcitycivic.org.

Golden Ticket

The Hammond Regional ArtsCenter 217 E. Thomas St., will hostits fundraiser, Art of theCocktail, from 6p.m. to 9p.m. on Feb. 28. This year’s theme, “Golden Ticket: Art of theCocktail,” features an evening where art, imagination and cocktails collide. Therewill be a VIP hour from 5p.m. to 6p.m. with complimentary appetizer bites. Fortickets, visit hammondarts.org.

At NuNu

Nunu Arts and CultureCollective, 1510 BayouCourtableau Hwy., Arnaudville, will hostan“Acadian BrownCotton: Seed Distribution & Regenerative Ag”seminar on March 14. Formoreinformation, visit nunucollective.org

Allthese people aresoobsessedwithme

Dear Miss Manners: Lately,Ifind that whenever Ischedule even the most mundane of appointments, Iam endlessly nagged by correspondence from thehost: “Please confirm Lady Tuna’srabies booster appointment,” or “Are you still planning to attend our Needle-Felting Calico Cats class at the library?”

Such repetitive messages arrive by post, text, email and sometimes even dreaded phone calls —atall hours of the day These multiple demands for confirmation have grown tiresome.

am usually requesting from them a crucial service —say,surgery I’m inclined to escape the unending confirmation requests by “breaking up” with the desperateparties, but I’mquite sure it’s not good formyhealth to dumpmysurgeon simply due to theoffice’swild desire to makesure Ishow up.

Perhaps I’m annoyed because such hounding dredges up memories from my dating life.

Gentlemen were so eager to spend time with me that they pestered me endlessly to ensure our date was still on. The consequence of their exuberance was that Iwould, politely and with fair warning, release them to the wilds: “Somethingsuddenly cameup, andIfear Imust forgo thepleasureof dining withyou …ever again.”

How do Ipolitely discourage restaurants, salons and taxidermists from hounding me? After all, Iamthe party who initiated the appointment, so of course Iwill attend! Furthermore, I

Perhaps thesolution is as simple as Miss Manners issuing apolite, but stern, PSA or awitty bon mot discouraging this practice.

GentleReader: As someonewho likewise keeps her appointments, Miss Manners also finds it annoying to receive 236,475 emails, phone calls and texts remindingher about them. Especially when she then finds herself in waiting rooms long past those scheduled times. Many of these reminders are automatic, so unsubscribing from emails or blocking texts is ashort-term solution

ButifMiss Manners is to issue a declaration, it is that everyone else should stop cancelingappointments at thelast minute and commit to showing up on time. Youare ruining it forthe rest of us.

Dear Miss Manners: Iamwondering how one responds to people whoofferrude and unsolicited commentary on one’s alma mater Iwas introduced to the friends of aneighbor,and the question “Where do you go to school?” came up. Itold them,and one of them responded, “I’m sorry.” He evidently thought himself the soul of wit, but, as Ihave to look fora job with my degree from this school, Idid not find his comment at all amusing. Ilaughed with him anyway, partially because it wasexpected, but mostly because Iwas startled. Later on, Ifelt like atwitfor laughing. Is there any polite response to a comment such as this one? Idonot wish to laugh at the reputation of a school at which Ihave had agood experience as astudent, nor do Iwish to respond with rudeness.

Gentle Reader: “Why?” comes to Miss Manners’ mind. Or genuinely asking what is funny.Nothing disarmsa bad joke like taking it seriously.And watching the joker splutter an explanation is what really makes it amusing.

Send questions to Miss Manners at dearmissmanners@gmail.com.

Doctor officesshouldprovide clearscheduling

Dear Heloise: Regarding Mr.Kupstas’ comment that was published in arecent column, Iexpect medical office staff to provide patients with clear scheduling information and to treat us as adults. I highly doubt that medical office schedulers tell drug representatives or accountants who review thedoctors’ retirement plans that they have an appointmentataparticular time but “must comein15minutes early to sign in. They just provide an appointment time to them. If there is paperwork that must be done for apatient at 10 a.m., this is fine. Just say so:“Your paperwork appointmentwith theoffice staff is at 10 a.m. Your appointment with the gynecologist (or whatever specialty) is at 10:15 a.m.” Patients should show up on time and still be respected. —FrancilleR., via email Francille, manydaily schedules in

aphysician’soffice are disrupted by emergencies, staff shortages, phone calls from the lab or other offices with requests, and patientswho think that their appointment time wasonly a suggestion. I’mbeginning to wonder how the front office getsanythingdone, but they do their best to keep everyone on track.

Aperfect day in adoctor’s office when everythingruns smoothly is rare! Fillingout paperwork or waiting to see your doctor hasnothing to do with respect —Heloise Onlinepaperwork

Dear Heloise: In reply to the hint submitted by David J. Kupstas about doctors’ offices, here is my experience: I don’tknow how tech-savvy Mr.Kupstas is, but Iget an email and/or text from thedoctor’soffice afew days before, asking metocheck in early online.

If filling out paperwork is warranted, it’sdone online. Then, on the day of the appointment, Iarrive at the office about 10 minutes early to show my ID and insurance cards. —Ann R., via email Epsomsaltuses

Dear Heloise: Iread your column every day and am grateful forthe many money- and time-saving hints. An oldtimer once told me that forclipping tough toenails, it helps to soak the feet (up to the ankles) in warm water after one-half cup to 1cup of Epsom salt dissolves in the water foratleast 20 minutes.

Not only does this help, but moreimportantly,I’ve found that this soaking shrinks apainful bunion on my right foot so that my shoes fit comfortably with little, if any,pain. Epsom salt has several other uses and is available at mostdrug stores. —JohnM., in Longview, Washington

Sendahinttoheloise@heloise.com.

BOOKS

Book examines lives of thosewho found inspirationinnature

BY BARBARA B. SIMS

Contributing writer

“SouthernWomen, SouthernLandscapes:CulturalReflections on the Garden, 1870-1970,” by Judith W. Page and Elise L. Smith.UniversityPress of Mississippi, 2026.

While Eudora Welty’sgardenin Jackson, Mississippi, may be themost famous of those discussed in Southern Women, Southern Landscapes,” Louisiana’sCarolineDormon may be the most important.

The scope of Dormon’swork embraced Louisiana’sKisatchie National Forest, aportion of mainly old-growth forested landthat might have lost its natural quality to development without her advocacy

She promoted highway andlandscape beautification using native plants and cultivatedand hybridized native irises.

In an era when women had norole in forestry,Dormon was thefirst person to serve as the education specialist for public schoolsfor the Division of Forestry,LouisianaDepartment of Conservation, and thefirst female memberofthe Society of American Foresters.

“Southern Women, Southern Landscapes” is replete withpaintingsand drawings by Dorman, andwe learn of her friend, folk artist Clementine Hunter

In fact, the coverofthe bookdisplays one of Hunter’s colorful paintings of her favorite flower,the zinnia Hunter’spaintings in recentdecades have been featured innational magazinesand the subject of an exhibition at the LSU Museum of Art in 2024.

Page and Smith presentfascinating accounts of Southern womenand their gardens in Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, North Carolinaand Louisiana from Reconstruction through the civil rights era.

“Page and Smith explore the women’svarious attitudes toward the natural world as they responded tothe disruptions of war andthe restrictions

of race and gender,” the University PressofMississippi website states “Thebook emphasizes the concept of a‘storiedlandscape,’ recognizing that landscapes areboth natural and cultural phenomena that speak to humans whoare open totheir narratives.”

The stories begin with Harriet Beecher Stowe’sdescription of the flora,bothcultivated and wild, in the area near Jacksonville, Florida, where sheestablished awinter home. Her book, “Palmetto Leaves,” was published in 1873.

In “Southern Women,Southern Landscapes,”the chapter on Florida features theworks of writers Zora Neale Hurston and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

So rich anddetailed is the book that it’s impossible to highlight morethan afew individuals, but Welty is unique in that she often spoke of the way she absorbed the natural environments she found herself in —and used the memories that emerged as she was writing fiction.

The other aspect of her gardening hadtodowith thephysical garden her mother,Chestina, designed in 1925 at

their home.

Until 1945, Welty and her mother spent much time cultivating the garden. Today,the Eudora Welty Garden is one of only two public botanical gardens in Mississippi and is recognized as an official stop on the American Camellia Society Poet andwriter Margaret Walker is thefinal gardener/writer discussed. Her historical novel “Jubilee, published in 1966, is afictionalized account of her great-grandmother Margaret Duggans Ware Brown, who was born enslaved and lived through Reconstruction in southwest Georgia.

Though “Jubilee” doesn’ttouch on any experiences Walker had in growing plantsherself, her poetry describes her grandmothers as women who worked theland.

In “Southern Women,Southern Landscapes,”Pageand Smithgive biographical accountsofthe lives of all thegardeners, including stories of the mothers, offspring, servants, neighbors and fellow gardening enthusiasts who encouraged them.

Both of the book’sauthors are academics —Page, aliterary scholar,and Smith, an art historian. They draw from thepublications of the esteemed figures they highlight to address the issues in “Southern Women,Southern Landscapes,”but they also conducted archival research from novels, poetry essays, letters, newspapers, bookillustrations, photographs, folk art and more.

The quality that this book offers, which many others about gardens do not,isthat it does not feature publicsupported national or stateformal spaces, but rather shows what the individual can do and what some have already done.

It might inspire areader to get a trowel and some seeds or pass along plantsand learn what nature can do with alittle help. If digging in the dirt does not appeal, perhaps awalk in somewooded area with acamera or sketch pad could provide an experience akin to the devotion to nature that many have found in creating a garden.

Newbook praises pleasuresof La.winters

Winter officially ends next month, but in Louisiana, we assume the gig is already up. Though it’sonly February,the days grow longer,brighter,bluer,greener and more glorious, like acanvas filling with paint.

As winter wanes, fewwill grieve its passing. But in “Winter,” her new book, author ValMcDermid offers alove letter to the year’scoldest season, arguing that the frigid interlude between autumn and spring is worth embracing. She mentions Louisiana as one reason to love what winter offers. McDermid lives and works in her native Scotland, where winters tend toward the gray,the dampand the blustery.She’sbest knownasapopular mystery writer,excelling in agenre that requires ajust-so arrangement of action and details.

“Winter,” aseries of brief essays about the joys of bundling up foroutdoor adventures or snuggling inside by the fire, doesn’t aspire to that kind of design. It’s loosely discursive in the best sense, like a long chat with a good friend near ablazing hearth.

In one chapter,“The Light Fantastic,” McDermidexalts the pleasures of holiday lights, their brilliance madeall the morevivid because they shine against winter’s gloom.She cites the Christmas lights of New Orleans, which she visited in 1998, as the gold standard forilluminated cheer

“The friend Iwas visiting insisted we had to tour the annual display in Audubon Park,” McDermid recalls. “I’ll admit, Iwas alittle ‘whatever’ about it.”

After seeing Yuletide lights in manyother places, she didn’texpect to be impressed by what the Crescent City had to offer

“I waswrong,” McDermid tells readers. “Wepaid our admission feetodrive into Carousel Gardens and joined aslow-moving line of cars taking their time to get their money’sworth. And it was worth every cent. The display was breathtaking in its beauty,its witand charm, and its sheer scale.”

That’shigh praise from an author who’s seen winter wonders in manyother corners of the globe.

In another chapter,McDermid recounts frosty journeys by rail, including an eventfultrip through the snowybackdrop of Russia.

“There is something quite magical about train travel through adark landscape,” she writes. “There are so fewclues as to where we are.”

Despite her travels —orperhaps because of them —McDermid seemstoappreciate winter best at her homeinScotland. The bare trees beyond her window makeiteasier “to let the wheels turn so the next piece of prose can form in my head,” she notes.

“Winter makes it easy to follow strange tracks in my mind; summer is less straightforward, obscured by green,” she writes.

Illustrated with magical images by artist and printmaker Philip Harris, “Winter” hints that the season is as much astate of mind as aspot on the calendar.It’sall the morereason to enjoy this charming book long after winter has passed.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com

Most scholars OK with liberties in ‘Wuthering Heights’

Experts say it still works, despite fight about adaptations

BY HILLEL ITALIE

AP national writer

NEW YORK If you’re looking for someone to debate the new “Wuthering Heights” movie with, you might want to start with Lucasta Miller

She’s a British author, editor and critic who has published an acclaimed study of the Brontë sisters and wrote the preface for the Penguin Classics edition of “Wuthering Heights.”

When she had the chance to see Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel last week, she was well aware of the liberties taken by the director, but was otherwise unbothered.

“It would be meaningless to criticize it for that, just as it would be to criticize a grand opera that plays fast and loose with the plot,” Miller says. “I wasn’t asking for a faithful adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights,’ but whether it works on its own terms. And my sense is that it does.”

Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” was the box office leader last weekend, bringing in more than $34 million in North America alone, despite mostly negative reviews that found the movie both overdone and unsatisfying. Even before its release, Brontë obsessives questioned some of Fennell’s choices: casting Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff instead of a dark-skinned actor closer to how Brontë described the character; making explicit the sexual attraction between Heathcliff and Cathy that is suppressed in the book; having the famously dark-haired Cathy, her coloring a literary signpost for danger and allure, played by the blond Margot Robbie.

“All adaptations choices in terms of casting that don’t always fit character or character descriptions — and this film has certainly been in the spotlight for that reason,” says Brontë scholar Claire O’Callaghan, a senior lecturer at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England. “In terms of Cathy, I was skepti-

cal initially, but having seen the film, it is a good performance, and Margot Robbie really brings out Cathy’s spoiled and selfish nature in ways that other adaptations have paid less attention to.”

Separation of book and movie

Authors have long lamented the fates of their books once filmmakers acquire rights.

But countless adaptations have served as showcases for artful crystallization, or innovative license. “The Godfather” movies are widely regarded as superior to the original Mario Puzo novel, and differ notably from the book, even with Puzo assisting on the screenplays. Billy Wilder’s film version of the James M Cain thriller “Double Indemnity” had the main protagonist, played by Fred MacMurray tell his story through a dictation machine, a twist that Cain himself thought so ingenious he wished he had used it in the book.

Among current Oscar contenders, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is the loosest of takes on Thomas Pynchon’s

“Vineland,” while Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” departs from the Maggie O’Farrell novel of the same

name in various ways common to adaptations, from compressing characters to altering the narra-

tive structure. O’Farrell, who helped write the screenplay, has said her collaboration with Zhao was an education in how to condense a story for film. “You know the book is mine it’s my baby, but the film is Chloé’s adaptation,” she told The Associated Press in December. “And the film feels not like my child, more like a kind of niece or nephew And that’s exactly as it should be.”

Halving the ‘Heights’

“Wuthering Heights” fans are likely to care much more about fidelity to the novel than would the average reader of “The Godfather.” But as O’Callaghan and other Brontë experts note, you’d need a multi-hour streaming series to faithfully replicate the 1847 book, which runs some 400 pages and has a timeline extending beyond the lives of Cathy and Heathcliff.

The best known versions, including Fennell’s and the 1939 movie starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, essentially eliminate the second half of the book.

“Some TV versions have attempted to capture the whole book, as have some films, like the 1992 adaptation (starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche),” O’Callaghan says. “But what film and TV can’t do is maintain the ambiguity in Emily’s novel the fact that her book is both a tragic love story and a revenge novel and a tragedy Film and TV tend to focus on one of those for clarity and to focus dramatic tension.”

Fennell told the AP during a recent interview that she was inspired by her early memories of the novel, how she responded to it as a teenager: “There are things I have added for my own needs, because I loved the book so much and I always desperately needed some kind of sense for it to go a little further,” she said.

Miller likened the movie to a fairy tale, “stylized and extravagant,” and thought Fennell “quite insightful about using the language of fairy tales.” O’Callaghan found it “quite Tim Burton-esque in its surreal perspective.”

“It radically departs from the book, but I still found it entertaining even if I’m unsure if I’d claim to like it,” she says.

When you’re comparing plans

Early

The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.

Previous dental work canwear out.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t takeyour dental health forgranted. In fact, yourodds of havinga dental problem only go up as you age.2

Treatment is expensive especially the servicespeople over 50 often need.

Consider these national average costs of treatment. $274for acheckup $299 for afilling $1,471 foracrown.3 Unexpected bills likethis canbea real burden, especially if you’re

AT THE TABLE

Savorsimplicityina generational Cajunfamilyfavorite

BY DEBRA TAGHEHCHIAN

Contributing writer

“OK, whose turn is it to go and get the milk?” Mama asked.

“I’ll go,” Isaid. Although Iamthe youngest of the four children in the family, getting milk from the dairy was everyone’s job. Icollected the stainless-steel pail, the one with the side handle for easy pouring, and Iheaded to the dairy.Once there, Iwent to the room with the large bulk tank where the milk was collectedafter milking. The stainless-steel tank had a large paddle that circulated the milk, and the chilledtank kept the milkcold until thelocal milk coop truck came by to collectthe fresh milk.

Our dairy farm was one of many small farms in our area. Lafayette Parish during the 1960s and ’70s had about 100 family-owned dairy farms. Nowadays, the whole state of Louisiana does not have 100 dairy farms. Milkisbrought in from midwestern states down to Louisiana.

Iwas told that the shift from local dairy farms to milk being brought in from out of state happened when interstate travel was opened, and trucking milk south became possible and more economical. Cows give more milk in colder climates, so milk production was higher

With my pail in hand, Imade my way to the end of the milk cooling bulk tank, where there was alarge spigot, or milkoutlet valve. Iwould position my pail under the valve and ever so slowly open the valve for milk to drain into my pail. Iwas careful not to overfillthe pail, only filling it halfway.Istillhad to carry the milk back to the house, and I didn’twant it splashing around. Once in the house, Mama usually took over.Wehad glassjugsfor storing our milk. Mama poured the unpasteurized,unhomogenized, fresh milk into the jug and capped the opening with paper tabs to seal it. The milkwas then placed in the refrigerator. As you might imagine, milk was served as the drink at every meal at our home.

On occasion,wehad freshsqueezed lemonade or root beer made with root beer extract, water and sugar.But most of the time, milk is what we drank.

My father liked his milk ice cold and sometimes added acouple of ice cubes to his glass to keep it really cold.

My father liked hismilk ice cold and sometimes added acouple of ice cubes to his glass to keep it really cold.

As milk was left to cool in the jug in the refrigerator,the cream would rise to the top of the jug. Before we served ourselves aglass, we would shake the jug to distribute thecream into the milk.The taste of that wholemilk was delightful. Our milk, to describe it in present-day terms, was grass-fed, whole raw milk.

“Mama, can Ihave somecoffee milk?” Isaid after having helped with the milk.

“OK. Let me see if Ihave some coffee left,” she said.

Mama walked over to the stove where the drip coffee pot sat on the stove in ashallow pot of simmering water

“I have just enough for you to make one glass of coffee milk,” she said.

Like most Cajun families in southwest Louisiana, dark roast coffee was astaple.Myparentsdrank coffee every morning, but kids were only given smallamounts occasionally —adults would say it wasn’t good for kids. We wereonly given alittle bit of coffee, and thenour glasses were filled with milk, creating awonderful coffee-flavored milk drink.

Ilaugh now when Ithink about the first time Iheard about an iced latte Iremember thinking, “Mais, that’s coffee milk!”

My recipe today is ever so simple. Andlike allsimple recipes with few ingredients,each ingredient should be of good quality.Buy grassfed whole milk,makea good, strong, dark roast coffee and use sugar

Some of life’sgreatest pleasures can be as simple as acold glass of coffee milk. Enjoy

Serves 18-ounce glass

1. Pour 1/4 cup of freshly brewed dark roast coffee into an 8-ounce glass.

2. Add2teaspoons sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Aglobal jointventure is planning tobuild Starlab,one of severaldesigns competing to replace the International Space Station, which has been operated by NASAand four other space agencies for the last quarter-century.

PROVIDED RENDERING By STARLAB

WORLD OUTOFTHIS

NewOrleans companyhelping buildthe U.S.’s potential successortothe InternationalSpace Station

IDEAS INNOVATION &

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Formore than aquarter-century,humans havelived on the InternationalSpaceStation, acollaborative orbiting laboratory paid for by NASAand the space agencies of four other countries. Butthat era is scheduled to end in 2030, when NASA will mostlikely let the ISS, which is nearing theend of itslifespan, reenter Earth’s orbitand fall into the PacificOcean Now,NASA is making plans to replace the historic spacecraft with newversions developed by theprivate sector,and aNew Orleans aerospace contractor is

playing aroleinthe process.

Last fall, the company,Vivace International Corp., won abid to provide engineering, design and fabrication services for Starlab, a roughly $3 billioncommercial space station beingdevelopedbya U.S.-ledglobaljoint venture competing withseveral other high-profile contenders to launch replacementstothe ISS. Becauseofthe competitivenature of the work, Vivace isn’table to disclosethe price tag for its contribution to the project, but Luke Wright, the company’stop executive,said the contract and

severalothers in the pipeline will bring hundreds of high-tech jobs to Michoud.

Wright,a New Orleans native, saidthe project alsoisanopportunity for his hometown to playa key role as the commercial spaceflightindustry takes off, boosted by technological breakthroughs that make it moreaffordable than ever beforetosend infrastructure into space.

“This will accelerate our country’sability to beat our adversaries to the moon and our

BELOW LEFT: Qualitycontrol inspector Johnnyyates uses a lighttolook forfractures on a high-pressure tank being built by Vivace International Corp.at Michoud AssemblyFacility in NewOrleans East. The tanks, which cancost several hundred thousand dollars each, sometimes holdspecialized gasses worthmillions.

BELOW RIGHT: Vivace executiveLukeWright, center, along with technicianChad Bealer and engineer Dylan Macon, looksatthe friction stir weldingmachine at Michoud.

Smallerairportsare adding hangars

BY JONAH MEADOWS

Staff writer

Since the pandemic, commercialair travel hasgotten worse in pretty much every way.Delays are longer.Seats are smaller. Tickets arepricier.And passengers are more hostile. In response, agrowing number of businesstravelers andwealthy individualsare making the move to private aviation, boosting demand for fueling services, hangar space and concierge-type services at fixed-base operators, the plane equivalent of gas stations and

parking garages. Across Louisiana,regional and smallerairportsare expanding andupgrading theirinfrastructure, adding newhangars,new FBOoperators and newservices aimed at theprivate aviation market.

While thestate’slargest airport, LouisArmstrong New OrleansInternational Airport, has twolarge FBOs, both owned by global private equity firms, much of the recent growth has come in markets with smallerairports butgrowing companies andincreased demand for more air service.

Over the past five or so years, four new FBOs have opened in Baton Rouge, Hammond, Monroe and New Orleans’ Lakefront Airport. Other providers have expanded

Privatejet boom boosts demand fornew services in Louisiana

existingoperations. Experts estimate theinvestments have totaled in the tens of millionsofdollars. Andthey expect the growthto continue.

Baton Rouge attorney Brett Furr,who owns acharter plane company,Baton Rouge Air Charter&Management, and recently sold his FBO, BTR Jet,said the biggest appeal of private air travel is the convenience of not having to deal withairlines, airport security or weather delays. “If you’ve got six people going to Houston for ameeting on Tuesday for four hours, it’snot awhole lot moreexpensive to charter aplane than it is to buy sixtickets,”said Furr,apartner at Taylor Porter

general defense posture,” Wright said during a tour of Vivace’s 150,000-square-foot Michoud production space last week. “It’s also important to this area because Michoud has provided quality jobs for engineers and highly skilled technicians for years We’re going to capitalize on that for aerospace, space travel and national defense.”

Space station competition

Starlab is in play because NASA wants to get out of the space station business, which costs the agency roughly $4 billion annually

Instead, the agency is prioritizing a return to the moon and other space exploration. To that end, it’s hoping the commercial space industry will take over the construction and maintenance of stations that can house astronauts, researchers and even space tourists.

To get things started, NASA is funding several competing groups that are pursuing their own designs.

Starlab majority owner Voyager Technologies raised $383 million via an initial public offering last year for its solution. A competing partnership between the Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin and Sierra Space is developing a station called the Orbital Reef. Another domestic competitor Axiom, is planning its own design.

To date, NASA has committed more than $200 million toward Starlab’s total price tag and has made large investments in the other projects as well. All are competing for more public dollars, though it’s possible more than one will launch space stations without additional taxpayer help.

Each company’s approach is different. Starlab, which will hold at least four astronauts, is built with research in mind. The Orbital Reef has been described as an outer space modular “business park.” And Axiom infrastructure will start by connecting to the existing ISS before forming its own selfsufficient spacecraft

“Starlab is designed for research but also for commercial space tourism,” Wright said. “Wealthy individuals could potentially fly up there for a vacation. Katy Perry could stay the night instead of just a few minutes.”

To the moon

The Starlab partners announced the selection of Vivace to manufacture the primary structure of their commercial space station last September The small company was able to bid on the job after building a track record of making similar aluminum structures using a spe-

JET

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Plus, smaller planes can reach more remote locations with smaller runways.

“The biggest reason people fly privately is to save time,” said Doug Gollan, a longtime aviation journalist who founded a subscription-based buyer’s guide called Private Jet Card Comparisons. “It’s not the ‘Kardashians luxury experience’ or glamorous videos. It’s basically door-to-door time savings.”

Changing market

Last year, saw a record number of private jet flights, around the world and in the U.S., which makes up about two-thirds of the market, according to data from aviation market intelligence firm WingX. Activity in 2025 was up by 34% over 2019 levels.

New business models have also boosted demand. Fractional ownership allows for customers to sign a multiyear contract to buy access to a set number of flight hours on a private jet. Jet cards that come preloaded with $100,000 or more that can be used for private flights without the complications and commitment of full ownership.

Owner-operated jets now make up a minority of flight hours, having been overtaken by charter and fractional jets in 2020.

As a result, revenue for U.S. FBOs has grown more than 25% over the past decade to $6.2 billion and is projected to grow even faster over the next five years, according to market research firm Insight Partners.

Capital investment at capital

Some of the most significant FBO growth in Louisiana has come at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, which local users attribute, in part, to a $3.7 million taxiway expansion in 2024 that opened up land adjacent to the airfield for additional development.

Since 2020, there have been 18 new hangars of varying sizes and configurations built at the airport —

Vivace International Corp. executive Luke Wright stands next to a sample structure panel for the Starlab commercial space station at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East. Last fall, Vivace, won a bid to provide engineering design and fabrication services for Starlab a roughly $3 billion commercial space station being developed by a U.S.-led global joint venture competing with several other high-profile contenders to launch replacements to the International Space Station.

“Starlab is designed for research, but also for commercial space tourism. Wealthy individuals could potentially fly up there for a vacation. Katy Perry could stay the night instead of just a few minutes.”

LUKE WRIGHT,Vivace International Corp. executive

cial type of welding that’s become common in aerospace.

The company was founded in 2006 in San Antonio to make very lightweight, specialized tanks for satellites and other spacecraft. It moved to Michoud in 2012 to take advantage of attractive rent and amenities after the facility sought new tenants to fill space left behind after the end of the Space Shuttle program

Several years ago, Vivace began building larger space hardware at Michoud using “friction stir welding,” in which a spinning tool heats up, softens and blends the edges of metal pieces together Once the metal cools, the connections are much stronger than those created by traditional welding.

Wright said the company has been getting more and more work related to the booming private sector space industry, including fabricating several tanks for an

uncrewed spacecraft created by Texas company Firefly Aerospace that landed on the moon last year

“We’re a partner for many of the industry’s lunar payload programs,” he said.

In 2024, Vivace founder Dave Cochran sold a portion of the business to Cerberus, a $70 billion global investment and private equity firm. At the same time, the company hired Wright, who spent nearly two decades at industrial conglomerate Textron, to be director of operations. Since then, Cerberus bought the company outright and made Wright its top executive.

Today, Vivace has about 70 employees. It does not report annual revenue figures, which will likely

get a boost from its work for Starlab.

Wright said that, when completed, the space station will be the largest pressurized vessel ever designed to launch in one piece. The habitat is nearly 30 feet in diameter, and the entire spacecraft is about six stories tall when including a cone that houses life support equipment and other systems.

“The International Space Station was constructed in space, piece by piece, using the shuttle,” Wright said. “This project aims to build the entire structure on Earth.” Starlab is one of many subcontractors working on the project. Others will attach armored panels, life-support systems and more cru-

of

two by BTR Jet, three by Williams Jet Center and 12 by a retired optometrist’s real estate venture, 337.

BTR Jet also has built a new larger administrative building, and Signature Aviation, the world’s largest FBO chain, has renovated its offices and hangar area.

“We had demand for tenants, so we felt like, if we built the hangars, we would generate enough fuel sales,” Furr said. “We’ve been pretty much continuously full since we’ve been open.”

Local companies with their own aircraft are also getting in on the act. Industrial construction firm Performance Contractors, for one, is completing construction on a new hangar on land adjacent to the recently extended portion of taxiway Williams, the airport’s smallest FBO, has plans to build new hangars with space for about 32 more aircraft, aiming to more than double the amount of planes it services.

Owner Luke Lewis said there is a national shortage of hangar space.

He’s targeting clients who own their own planes, with plans to sell one-third of the new hangar space to owner-operators in a condo-style arrangement.

“Some of them build out little areas in the corner for TV and lounge or whatever,” Lewis said. “It’s like their own little slice of paradise before they take off in their private aircraft.”

More than half of the spaces have already presold, he said, anticipating the construction would be complete in about a year

Expansion across state

At some of the state’s airports, the growth has been fueled by industrial expansion. In Monroe, construction of the Meta data center in nearby Richland Parish helped boost the airport’s 2025 passenger traffic by more than 12% over the previous year Now plans are underway to build the airport’s

cial components. It’s a complicated collaboration.

“Every small adjustment by any of these companies can affect what you’re doing,” Wright said. “If they add half an inch to something, we have to redo everything.

Wright’s team in New Orleans will design, engineer and build the structure. A sister company in California, called Votaw, is machining some of the metal panels, which will be sent to New Orleans to be welded together

Vivace’s goal is to complete construction of the cone section by June, and the entire vessel is due to be operational before the ISS is decommissioned at the end of the decade. Wright is hoping Michoud’s strategic location and access to a deep water port will allow more work to be done on site.

“We have a lot of capability here and would love to do more of the assembly,” he said. “It’s hard to move a structure of this size. It makes sense to do as much as possible here.

More work for Michoud

Wright isn’t the only one hoping for more work at Michoud, an 832acre complex in the swamps of New Orleans East with a 65-year history of contributions to space exploration. The facility has also been a crucial source of high-tech engineering and manufacturing jobs in the state. In the 1960s, NASA and its private contractors used the site to build the rockets that sent Apollo missions to the moon. Later, it was the manufacturing location for the external fuel tanks that powered the Space Shuttle flights. Now it provides several key components for NASA’s Artemis program which has struggled with delays and cost overruns but is gearing up for its first crewed flight in the next few months.

Vivace, meanwhile, will be competing for more work for companies building satellites, lunar landers, space stations, hypersonic weapons and other areas of expertise.

Wright said the Cerberus acquisition of Vivace, which was officially announced Wednesday, Feb. 18 will help the company scale production capacity, enhance advanced manufacturing capabilities and support a growing portfolio of national security and space programs. But a key milestone will be completing its most high-profile project.

“Starlab is making this replacement for the space station,” he said. “Yes, there’s a competition with the NASA program, which is very important, but they are positioned very well to succeed.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

phase of a $16 million construction of a new FBO in Hammond aimed at luxury flyers. Once complete, it will include more than 100,000 square feet of hangar space able to accommodate the industry’s largest private jets, with amenities like a recreation room, private showers and a movie theater in a 10,000-square-foot terminal building. At New Orleans Lakefront Airport, the owner of charter aircraft company Jazz Aviation last year opened a new FBO, Skyborne. It’s the third FBO at the lakefront airport. CEO Ankur Hukmani is now hoping to build a new private terminal at the site.

Private equity sees opportunity

The growth in the aircraft services market, with its recurring revenue from fuel sales and leases, has made it appealing to private equity, which is buying up FBOs like it has medical practices, law firms and real estate brokerages.

“It’s like Monopoly There’s only a certain amount of FBOs on a field, and some of them are longterm leases,” said Gollan.

second FBO. Airport Director Charles Butcher, who also heads the Louisiana Airport Managers Association, said there are a variety of different ownership arrangements between airports, FBOs and airplane hangars.

“Sometimes the FBO owns the hangars, sometimes the airport owns most of the hangars,” Butcher said. “Regardless, for the most part, the airport always owns the ground underneath the hangars.”

Private aviation at Monroe Regional Airport was “dead” prior to the pandemic, according to DaveAir owner Dave McGee, who is building the new FBO in 30,000 square feet of hangar space vacated by Lumen Technology two years ago. It’s an expansion of his flight school and will be an “all-inone” facility, able to store, service and repair planes.

Elsewhere in the state, Rob Scariano’s Sky X Aircraft Services recently completed the first

Experts date the trend to 2021, when Signature Aviation, the world’s largest FBO chain with six Louisiana locations, was acquired for $4.7 billion by a Blackstone-led consortium.

“It’s almost like it was the first company or first ownership structure to break the ice, and once that happened, everybody’s like, ‘OK, this is safe, we can do this,’” said Jessica Ballou, an appraiser and a partner in the aviation real estate consultancy BA Group.

In 2020, none of Louisiana’s FBOs were owned by private equity Today, five are, including Furr’s BTR Jet Center, which was acquired in early February by the Miami firm that owns the Velocity FBO Network.

“We’ve had offers in the past,” Furr said. “This was the best offer we had, and we felt like there was a good commonality of how to manage it, be customer-focused, offer quality service, good prices.”

Email Jonah Meadows at Jonah. Meadows@theadvocate.com.

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Developer’s slow-growth strategy has paid off

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

With a portfolio that includes hotels, office buildings, apartment complexes and an 1,800-acre, mixed- use community in Baton Rouge with hundreds of upscale, single-family homes and a school, Mike Wampold is, arguably, Louisiana’s most prolific and experienced real estate developer

He got his start in the early 1980s, using low-interest loans from the Farmers Home Administration to develop apartment complexes in rural Louisiana. His big break came in 1985 when he won two federal contracts, totaling $30 million, to develop military housing at Fort Polk. Before he could break ground, interest rates plummeted, enabling him to finish both complexes with a profit that he would go on to leverage.

A few years later, when a variety of economic crises resulted in a huge inventory of distressed properties on the market, Wampold was able to buy cheap, fix them up and lease them at a premium He gradually amassed a diverse portfolio, often holding onto raw dirt for years or even decades until the timing was right to build. It was a slow-growth strategy that paid off.

Today, Wampold counts among his holdings the historic Whitney Bank building in downtown New Orleans, which he insists he still plans to renovate more than seven years after buying it; hotels in Texas, Atlanta and Clearwater Florida; and some of Baton Rouge’s best known properties, including: I and II Rivermark Centre (the old Chase Bank towers), City Plaza and II City Plaza United Centre (the old Shaw Tower), Bayonne at Southshore (which overlooks the

LSU lake), the Watermark and Renaissance hotels, and Harveston, the mixed-use community In this week’s Talking Business, Wampold discusses where he sees opportunity across Louisiana, what’s on the top of his to-do list and why he’s more bullish on Baton Rouge than ever.

Interview has been edited for length and clarity

You buy and sell so much and are constantly growing and developing.What is the status of Wampold Cos.’ portfolio today?

We still have our original 600 military family housing units in Fort Polk that we finished in 1988 — and plenty of others. But we

have pared it down to what we feel are the best and brightest of our properties Bayonne The Residences at Rivermark (high-end apartments in 14 floors of I Rivermark Center, the old Chase South Tower), Chateau Dijon (a luxury apartment complex off Essen Lane in Baton Rouge), Bayou Shadows in Lafayette. Rivermark was an ambitious project — converting a midcentury,brutalist-style high-rise to mixed use with 168 luxury apartments. How is it doing? It’s doing really well. The apartments are 99% leased and all but one of the seven floors of office is leased.

Rivermark II, the former Chase North Tower, was 100% occupied until McGlinchey Stafford closed and moved out, so now we have one floor in that building that is completely built out, fully furnished and available. So, overall, that project is doing well.

Another of your high-profile projects is the old Whitney Bank building in New Orleans. Is that still moving forward?

I guess it depends on your definition of forward. We are in the process of gathering economic incentives and a potential joint venture partner I would think in 2026, we’ll establish a definite direction for that building. But the plan is still to convert it to a hotel.

Over the past year we’ve seen several downtown hotels sell at a deep discount as occupancy rates have remained relatively soft. You still believe there is demand for this one?

What you say is true, but I do believe there is demand. What has been built new in the last five years down there? Not much, and the No. 1 complaint you hear is that there are not enough hotel rooms. I think highest and best use for that building is a hotel. It’s a great location, ideal for the business traveler and just two blocks

NATION & WORLD

Amid controversial pricing, Chipotle is losing its sizzle

BY CAROLINE PETROW-COHEN Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, the Cal-

ifornia-based chain known for its bursting burritos and lunch bowls, just finished its worst year ever

Its same-store sales declined last year for the first time since going public two decades ago. The downturn reflects what analysts say is a broader slowdown in fast casual chains — considered a step above fast food but below full-service restaurants.

In a K-shaped economy where the few with money are still spending while everyone else is anxious about rising prices and keeping their jobs, Chipotle is stuck in a sour spot. It isn’t a destination for the rich. Instead, it is a skippable splurge for those looking to save.

“Our guests (are) placing heightened focus on value and quality and pulling back on overall restaurant spending,” Chipotle Chief Executive Scott Boatwright said recently after announcing earnings.

In an uncertain economy muddied by tariffs and an immigration crackdown, consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending and increasingly seeking the best value on essentials such as lunch and dinner

Chipotle has boomed in popularity since opening in Denver in 1993. It moved its headquarters to California in 2018.

The burrito staple opened 334 new locations last year bringing its total to roughly 4,000 The company’s net income was $1.5 billion in 2025, virtually flat compared to the year prior Its comparable sales lost steam with a roughly 2% decline in 2025 following a 7.4% increase in 2024.

In an earnings call earlier this month, executives estimated that same-store sales would be about flat in 2026, with 350 to 370 new restaurants slated to open.

“As we move into 2026, the consumer landscape is shifting,” Boatwright said.

In

He tried to suggest that Chipotle customers are from the upwardsloping part of the K in the Kshaped economy so it will not be planning big price cuts to attract new customers. Boatwright said on the earnings call that 60% of Chipotle’s core customers make more than $100,000 per year

“We’ve learned the guest skews younger, a little more higher income, and we’re gonna lean into that,” Boatwright said.

The company’s suggestion that it doesn’t plan to do much more for cost-conscious consumers sparked an online debate that the burrito giant is no longer for regular people.

McDonald’s demonstrated the

value of offering more value these days. It announced recently that its sales surged after the launch of its $5 meal deal last year part of broader value wars among fastfood establishments.

Chipotle has tried to offer value by not raising its prices as much as inflation would require, reviving a rewards program, testing a “happier hour” with lower prices and offering smaller portions at lower prices.

Chipotle came under fire in 2024 for dishing out inconsistent portion sizes but has since recommitted to giving every customer a “generous” helping.

Late last year, Chipotle launched

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a high-protein menu that includes inexpensive options like a cup of chicken or steak for around $4.

Protein has been trending as the rise of GLP-1s have many Americans eating less and focused on getting the most out of their meals.

“This is going to be a marquee year for Chipotle to get back on track,” said Jim Salera, a restaurant analyst at Stephens. “Chipotle has traditionally been much more resilient through ebbs and flows of the consumer, but nobody’s immune.”

The company has weathered other challenges in the past. Its business took a hit when it served tainted food that sickened more

than 1,100 people in the U.S. from 2015 to 2018. The company paid a $25 million fine to resolve criminal charges connected with the outbreaks.

Some full-service restaurants are also lowering prices to levels that compete with Chipotle, analysts said. A Chipotle burrito or bowl plus a drink costs around $15, while the value-focused fullservice restaurant Chili’s offers a multicourse meal for under $11.

“The pricing advantage that fast casual has relative to other segments has eroded significantly,” said Aneurin Canham-Clyne, who covers restaurants for the trade publication Restaurant Dive. Middle- and upper-income consumers aged 25 to 30 make up a significant share of Chipotle’s business, but many are looking for cheaper ways to get their meals. Fast casual chains have to rely on consumers with a range of incomes, not just the top 20% of households, Canham-Clyne said.

“White collar workers making in the low six figures in major cities who are feeling the heat from services inflation or feeling insecure in their jobs as a result of AI, they’re going to be saving a little bit more money,” he said.

Chipotle shares have fallen more than 37% over the past year, and it is not the only fast casual company to struggle in the stock market. Sweetgreen, headquartered in Los Angeles and catering to a healthconscious Southern California consumer has seen its shares plummet 80% over the past year The Mediterranean bowl spot Cava saw shares fall more than 50% over the same time period.

Canham-Clyne said Chipotle is not yet in dire straits. The brand has proven itself consistent and appealing to those looking for high-quality meals at a lower price than most sit-down restaurants.

“They sell a lot of burritos, they have a lot of stores,” CanhamClyne said. “They can survive a bit of a downturn and continue to grow.”

LOOKINGBEYOND: AvidentAdvisors

Client-Centered Site Selection and Economic Development Solutionsfor Smart, Data-DrivenDecisions

Tariff uncertainty,tax changes,and ashifting jobmarkethaverecentlyhinderedproject momentum —but opportunityisonthe horizon. AvidentAdvisors is readytoguide your site selectionstrategyasactivity acceleratesin2026, fueled by growth in steel, shipbuilding,hydrogen, batterymaterials aerospace, food processing,and data centers. Across industries,top site selection criteria remain consistent:power,infrastructure, workforce, andwater.Statesare investing heavilyinsitereadiness,withLouisiana recently announcing a$150million initiative along withother US states.Atthe same time incentive structures areevolvingfromdirectdisbursements to customizedpackagesemphasizing infrastructureand workforcesolutions tailored to specificindustries.

Fromsitereadiness programs to customized solutions, AvidentAdvisors is proudtohelpleadthe wayforward to secure competitiveadvantagesina changinglandscape

MajorprojectsacrossLouisiana aremoving from announcementtoreality.Morethan $76 billion in capitalinvestment is creating over 70,000 jobopportunities,with averagesalariesexceeding $90,000 The work spansacrossenergy, manufacturing, infrastructure andlogistics to grow Louisianacommunitiesstatewide

Staff report

SouthLouisiana businesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the followingpromotions, new hires and resignations.

BatonRouge

Better Louisiana announced its 2026 board chair and officers, including: Dr Phillip Rozeman as chair for 2026-27; Scott Ballard,incoming chair; Spencer Martin,treasurer; RobertSchneckenburger, secretary; and Heather Spillers Poole,immediate past board chair

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry announced its 2026 board of directors and officers. Scott Ballard,founder of Ballard Brands and BallardLogistics, will serve as chair,succeedingGolfballs. comfounder andExecutive Chairman TomCox,who becomes immediate past chair RoyOMartin President and CEO Scott Poole was named vice chair; Danos Ventures Owner and CEO Eric Danos becomes secretary; and Kristin Wall,presidentand CEO of Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp., serves as treasurer New board members include: Valerie Aymond, of Gilchrist Construction Co.; Todd Citron, of HubCity Ford; David Cresson, of the Louisiana Chemical Association; JonMcKinnie, of UnionParish ChamberofCommerce; Jen O’Connell, of Taylor Porter; Mawe Takyi, of Asempa Wealth Advisors; Traci Thompson, of CVS Health; and Todd Weldy, of Placid Refining Co.

The law firm Kean Millerannounced the hiri ng of three former McGlinchey Stafford attorneys, two in its Baton Rouge office and one in New Orleans. Amanda Stout,who has defended governments and

privateemployers against whistleblower claims and allegations of discrimination and harassment, and Caroline Taylor,who has represented employersin retaliation, di scri mination and wage theft claims, will be based in Ba to n Rouge Katheri ne Conklin,aspecialistintax law andestate planning, will be basedinNew Orleans.

Brad Barback and Kaylan Richardson have joined theBaton Rouge office of the la wf ir m Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson.

Ba rb ac k joinsthe firm as apartner,where hispractice will focuson construction and complex commercial litigation, while Richardson joins the firm as a transactional associatewith afocusoncorporate,business and real estatematters.

NewOrleans

Darrin McCall hasbeen namedpresident of the YouthEmpowerment Project, while Jerome Jupiter will becomeCEO of thecommunity-based nonprofit Both haveextensive expe-

rience with theorganization, McCall as chiefofstaffand Jupiter as chief operating officer

They succeed Melissa Sawyer,the co-founderand CEO of more thantwo decades whowill stepinto an advisory role with thenonprofit, which began as Louisiana’sfirst reentryprogram for formerly incarcerated youth.

The law firmSimon, Peragine, Smith &Redfearn announced the addition of eight attorneys, three legal assistants and two paralegals from McGlinchey Stafford, which recentlyvoted to dissolve.

New hires include partners TimothyHurley, Jose Cot, Marcelle Mouledoux, Kevin Frey and MadisonBarton,along with associates TaylorWillis, Hannah Stierwald and Tevin Rosenthal,a recent graduate.

Amie Lyons has been pro-

moted to president and CEO of FifthDistrict Bancorp Lyons had been serving on an interimbasis since June following the death of CEO Brian North LindsayCalub hasbeen elected to the board of directors of Metairie Bank and Trust. Calub is the managing partnerof Duplantier, Hrapmann, Hogan &Maher, having spent more than fourdecades with what is today oneofthe largest local certifiedpublic accountant firms in south Louisiana.

Thelaw firm Carver Darden KoretzkyTessier FinnBlossman& Areaux hasopeneda Mandeville office with additional attorneys available to meet clients on the north shore.

David Landry, amember an dp ast chairofthe St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, pio nee re d theestablishmentofthe new office. Stephen Scullin,a member, focuses his practice on real estate,financial transactions, commercial lending and contracts.

Patrick Stewart,anassociate, focuses on commerciallitigation property law andenergy

Do you have personnel changes to share or other ideas for our business coverage? Dropusaline at biztips@theadvocate. com.

Fool’sTake: A paycheck giant

AutomaticData Processing (Nasdaq: ADP), also known as ADP, is a longtime dividendpaying stock —and it has increased its payout every year for morethan 50 years. Itsmost recent increase wasasolid 10% bump,and thestock recently yielded2.8%.(It has also been rewarding shareholders via share buybacks.)

More than 75 years old, ADPisaleading provider of employersolutions, best known for itspayrolland humanresources services. It serves morethan 1millioncompaniesofevery type andsize, both in the U.S. andworldwide Given thenature of its business, ADPisnot ahighgrowth company.Itis, however,ahighly andreliably profitableone.Its January earnings report (for the secondquarter of itsfiscal 2026) showed revenue up 6% year over year and earnings pershare up 11%

Andits stock hasnotched averageannualgains of 12% over thepast 15 years. ADPcan keep growing by adding morecompanies to serve, andalsobyoffering them moreservices to sign up for.

Businesses withADP’s kind of sustainedprofitabilityare rare. That stability, combinedwithadividend yield that’swellabove the averageof1.1% forall S&P500 componentstocks, makes ADPasolid and reliable income stock.It’s resilient during economic downturns,too, because companies will still need to keep paying workers and managing theirworkforces.

Fool’sSchool: Wayto abetter retirement

Whether retirement is around thecorner or it’s still decades away,there are someactionsyou can

taketomakeyour future morefinancially secure. Here are sometips You’ll need aplan. Take sometime to estimatehow much income you’ll need foracomfortable retirement,and then figureout howyou’llget it.Makeyour estimateasaccurate as possible,considering factors such as health care costs andinflation. Considerconsulting afee-only financial planning professional,too, as they should knowmuch moreabout retirementissues than you, and they can saveyou or earn youmore than they cost. (You can find afee-onlyadviser near you at napfa.org.)

Aimtohavemultiple income streamsinretirement,sothatifone disappoints, you’llstill have others. These couldinclude Social Security benefits, pensions, annuities, dividends, interest and/or rental income. Youcan gradually make withdrawalsfrom retirementaccounts. You might considerapart-time job foryour first fewyears, too. Other possibilities includerelocating to aless costlyregionortakingin aboarder.You might even considergetting areverse mortgage. The easiest way to amass aretirementwar chest is to regularlyinvest part of your income in oneormore low-feebroad-market index funds over many years. Be sure to learn more aboutSocial Security,because thedecision about when to start collecting your benefits is important. Youcan start as earlyas age62oraslate as 70, and your checks will be bigger or smallerdepending on when you start. (Remember that while starting earlier meanssmaller checks, you’ll also get moreof them.) Find outmore at ssa. gov. In your planning, also considernonfinancialmatters. It’s common fornew retirees to feel aimlessor lonely.Explore activities that youmight enjoy in retirement, including social outlets.

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Whether business or personal, the best advice rarely comes from a textbook.

You can’t find it in a strategic plan or an employee handbook.

It’s not emblazoned on the wall. It may not have sounded profound at the time.

But regardless of its origin, it stuck with you for decades, shaped your professional development and helped guide your business philosophy

In this week’s One Big Question, we ask several business leaders from different industries across south Louisiana: What was the best piece of advice you received early in your career?

TIM BARFIELD principal and president, CSRS, Baton Rouge

They call it “work” for a reason

You’re going to have to do a lot of things you don’t want to do or aren’t comfortable doing, you’re going to have to go out of your comfort zone.

But whatever you’re asked to do, whatever you’re called to do, just throw your heart and soul into it and do the best job you can, and learn as much as you can. If you put in the effort and do a good job, people will notice that and give you more opportunities.

That’s what I was told early in my career, and now, when I sit and mentor people, that’s what I tell them. It has served me well, and I still try to live that almost every day If you put that effort in, you may not be the expert like some people are, but people respect you really soon. That’s been a great telltale for my career, which has been a crazy career I’ve done a lot of dif-

ONE BIG QUESTION

ferent things, none of which I was qualified to do when I started.

VICTORIA PHIPPS

vice president of global philanthropy, JP Morgan Chase, New Orleans

It likely was from one of my college professors — I truthfully cannot pinpoint which one — but it’s something that I have carried around with me and that I talk about most frequently when I’m having conversations with young people in their careers.

I was taught to “sharpen the points of my star.” There’s a lot of conversation about being wellrounded in business and in your career, but I don’t subscribe to that. I think you should focus relent-

lessly on your strengths and be intentional about surrounding yourself with people whose strengths offset your weak spots.

In my own career, I spend a lot of time assessing the things that I know I am exceptional at, the things that I’m pretty strong at, and the things that I know I’m never going to be at the top of the heap at, and try to govern myself accordingly

We all have things that we either are exceptional at or have the potential to be exceptional at — and we likely will get further faster and deliver more impact by focusing on those things than trying to strengthen the things that might not be our natural assets and strengths.

DEANNA RODRIGUEZ

CEO, Entergy New Orleans

I had just moved to Louisiana and I called one of my colleagues in Baton Rouge, and I said, “Hey, this is Deanna Rodriguez. I’m calling about, blah blah blah blah.”

And he goes, “Hey, Deanna, how’s your mama?” I’m like, “What?” He goes, “Well, we should start this conversation with how’s your mama?” I just started laughing. “My mom’s fine.” I loved it. It really stopped me. It got me thinking: That’s where you have to add connectivity to whatever it is that you’re doing.

People are people Do you know about them? Do they know about you? That way, people are more likely to understand where you’re

coming from, and business can be dealt with in a way that is less adversarial and more collaborative. We’re at the (New Orleans City) Council often, and we’re an adversary

Sometimes we have angry customers — more often we have happy customers — our team knows this: We need to lean in either way If they don’t know you, if you’re invisible, if they don’t see you, it’s easier to hate somebody that’s a corporation rather than somebody that’s a person.

DENNIS STINE

CEO, Stine Lumber Co., Lake Charles I worked with Buddy Roemer many times. In his speeches, he said, “It’s real simple: Buy low and sell high,” which was the same values as Warren Buffett, and I’ve read every one of his board reports since 1965.

His advice is enduring over time for small businesses or large businesses throughout any and all economic conditions. It was the same principle that he undertook in being a value investor that he learned from his mentor, Benjamin Graham, of Columbia University It’s all about creating economic value, to add economic value in everything you do. And quite frankly it’s getting harder and harder to do it with an economy that is not good in Louisiana, when we’ve lost 55,000 people in the last five years, and most other states have increased population. We’re struggling. We’re really struggling. And I’m struggling to figure out how I can add value between lost population and increased inflation. I think about it constantly What was the best career advice you ever received? Drop us a line at biztips@theadvocate.com.

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LOUISIANA

A new program at Southeastern Louisiana University aims to help Louisiana

‘Positive changes’

Southeastern University program helps stroke patients with aphasia

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

When a stroke steals a person’s ability to communicate, the loss is often invisible but life-altering. Conversations halt. Independence shrinks. Isolation creeps in A new program in Hammond aims to help Louisiana stroke survivors reclaim both movement and language.

The program’s origins go back to 2024, when Eddie Hebert stumbled upon a science journal newsletter

about a program in Montana that combined university efforts to provide care and support for stroke patients who suffered aphasia.

“I thought, ‘Well, we could do that at Southeastern,’ ” said Hebert, a Southeastern University professor of kinesiology His first mission: learn more about aphasia. That’s where Rebecca Parker, a Southeastern associate professor for communication sciences and disorders, came in. Together a year later the pair launched the Physical Activity and

Communication Together program, or PACT The university-based program, open to people with aphasia in Hammond and surrounding Louisiana communities, helps stroke survivors practice speaking, moving and reconnecting socially Aphasia is a language disorder typically caused by stroke that creates difficulties speaking, understanding, reading or writing. One third of all stroke survivors have long-term aphasia and many

ä See PROGRAM, page 2X

Uterine cancer cases are climbing

Survival gaps persist for Black women

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

In January, the American Cancer Society reported that for the first time women younger than 50 had a higher cancer incidence rate than men. Based on 2023 data, cancer incidence rates among women under 50 were 82% higher than among men, up from 51% in 2022. One cancer driving that shift is uterine

cancer

Uterine cancer is a collection of different diseases, but the most common is endometrial cancer, a cancer that forms in the lining of the uterus.

“Those are the majority of the cases that we see,” said Dr Chad Hamilton, gynecologic oncologist at Ochsner Health, based in New Orleans. “Both the incidence rates and the mortality rates are increasing for endometrial cancer.”

As the incidence and mortality of many cancer types are declining in the U.S. uterine cancer cases have been increasing by about 1% per year and the

PROVIDED PHOTO Eddie Hebert

death rate by 1.5% per year even more among non-White women.

In 2025, an estimated 69,120 uterine cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. and 13,860 died from the disease, according to American Cancer Society data. In Louisiana in 2025, 780 new uterine cancer cases were diagnosed with 120 deaths due to uterine cancer

Over the last decade, the incidence for uterine cancers in Louisiana increased from 5.5 new cases per 100,000 in 2011 to 6.4 new cases per 100,000 in 2021, data

ä See CANCER, page 3X

HEALTH MAKER

Sports medicine doctor followed his roots to medicine

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Dr Christopher (CJ) Tosino is a sports medicine specialist and primary care physician in Acadiana, with expertise in sports-related injuries.

Tosino earned his medical degree from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dublin Ohio. He completed a residency at Dublin Methodist Hospital and a sports medicine fellowship at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama Tosino, who started working with Ochsner Lafayette General Andrews Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute in November, is accepting new patients and referrals for sports injuries, musculoskeletal conditions and regenerative treatments. Originally from Ohio, Tosino said he enjoys running, cycling, hiking, golfing, enjoying live music and spending time with his fiancee outside of work. When did medicine become a possibility for your career? Where did your interest begin?

I lean heavily on my roots. I come from a family that originated in the Philippines. My grandfather was a first-generation immigrant. He was the first generation of my dad’s side of the family to disconnect from the usual family trade, which was farming. His family laughed at him, said, “There’s no way you’re going to do it.”

He married his childhood sweetheart and immigrated to the United States to start his medical residency in anesthesiology and was a practicing anesthesiologist in Toledo, Ohio, for over 40 years. My father grew up in that household and ended up in medicine as well. He’s still a practicing family physician in northeast Ohio. He’s an incredible doctor He’s an incredible father He’s

Dr Christopher (CJ) Tosino is a sports medicine specialist and primary-care physician in Acadiana, with expertise in sports-related injuries.

an awesome guy in general. I usually tell people that, for better or for worse, I’m becoming him a little bit more.

I’m a former athlete. I played football, baseball, basketball growing up my entire life.

I ended up playing baseball in college, and it really gave me a good shot to try to work out for a couple major league teams before I ended up having an unfortunate injury that ended my career

But those experiences — the experiences of being an athlete and a teammate — led me down the path of sports medicine. I want to take care of patients who are motivated to get back to what they love That’s something that pushes me harder and harder, not only as the physician in the room, but also in my own life

At what point did you move from athlete to doctor?

I was a collegiate baseball

player I was a double major, double minor I think that gave me a sense of accountability and a lot of responsibility to stay on top of my studies and to also try to work as hard as I could to be the best in baseball and to be the best teammate that I could be.

I graduated in 2016 and through my “failed baseball career,” I took a year off in between college and medical school. In that gap year I got a job as a medical scribe at an orthopedic surgery clinic. They took care of Akron University Athletics in Ohio. That was my first true introduction to sports medicine.

I think that experience, that insight, gave me more and more determination to eventually get to that, that mountaintop.

My time in my family medicine residency at Dublin Methodist Hospital in Dublin, Ohio, was an

Students at Southern University work in the Physical Activity and Communication Together program to assist stroke patients with aphasia. Anthony Vosbein, from left at top, Goodness Egware, Aiijahnae Leagea, Caroline Dominique, Katelyn Taylor, Rylee Vicknair, Brianna Harper, Jada Clark, Rylan Hiatt, Nicholas Bowden and Asyia Blount. Taylor Tran, from left at bottom, Briana Boyle, Emily Peltier, Nicole Opdyke, Hannah Bradham, Dr Rebecca Parker, Emily Lambert, Savannah Madere, Kendall Curran and Nancy Webb

Continued from page 1X

have unilateral paralysis or paresis (incomplete paralysis caused by nerve damage). As a result, individuals with aphasia often experience social isolation, depression and poor quality of life.

The PACT program runs year-round, according to the academic calendar semesters with breaks in the winter and summer The program provides physical therapy sessions and communication development activities on Friday mornings. Plus, the 10 patients involved this semester get to socialize with their care team and other participants in the program — caregivers, too.

“There’s such a fantastic range of both physical capabilities and various ways that aphasia kind of manifests itself,” Hebert said.

Exercises, in 30-minute sessions, are primarily focused on coordination, strength and balance. Participants receive individualized support from kinesiology students and faculty who monitor participants

and provide individual feedback and ability level modifications.

Communication activities, in 45-minute sessions, are designed to improve receptive and expressive language skills. Activities are designed and supported by speech-language pathologists and student clinicians.

“We look at their syntax, semantics, phonology We look at pragmatic language. We work on morphology We look at those aspects of language in terms of a social communication model,” Parker said. “We also try to make it engaging and fun.”

Graduate students under Parker’s supervision are also gaining clinical experience working with participants as well.

In addition to the educational, social and physical services PACT provides, the program is collecting research to further inform treatment opportunities for future patients

“The main variable of interest, I think, in the research study component, would be increasing their quality of life,” Parker said. Each participant is evaluated by Hebert’s team physi-

incredible residency I was delivering babies. I was helping with surgeries. I was in the ER. I was in the hospital. I was on the staff for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon. I was on the staff for what’s called the Arnold Sports Festival that’s held by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Columbus, Ohio — professional amateur weightlifting, slap fighting and professional tag. I got to take care of a local area high school for all their athletes.

I ended up actually choosing an extra year of sports medicine as a fellowship at Auburn University in Alabama, where I got to take care of all the athletes, all the staff.

The head team doctor at Auburn trained and was good friends with Dr James Andrews, who is the godfather of sports medicine, as some people like to say Last October, he called me and asked, “Have you ever been to Louisiana?”

He told me about an opportunity in Lafayette, a new sports institute. They flew my fiancee and me down here, and we were both so in shock and awe of how awesome this community was, how great the providers were. We realized just how beautiful it is down here in Lafayette, and that really drove my decision to take the job.

How has developing, or working in, a new institute been in Lafayette?

Opening up this brandnew space, it’s just beautiful. I don’t know if there are enough words in the dictionary to be able to describe how awesome the complex care that we’re able to provide is.

I’m a primary care sports medicine physician. I have another partner who’s a primary care provider We have general orthopedic surgeons. We have specialists in the shoulder hip, knee, ankle. We’re adding specialists as fast as we’re

Study ties junk food to heart health

Ultra-processed items linked to cardiovascular disease

BY CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL

Tampa Bay Times (TNS)

cally, takes a standardized test (the Western Aphasia Battery) on their communication abilities and fills out self-reported evaluation forms about their progress.

Three semesters in, Hebert says that the program’s results are promising. However, the long breaks in summer and winter between school sessions show a regression in the participants’ progress.

“That increase, then decrease, then increase again shows how important the program is,” Hebert said. “Even a once-a-week program is having some positive changes in their capabilities and their lives.”

Enrollment is rolling and open to all who have a referral from an occupational therapist or with approval from a physician. The program is completely free for participants.

“Our target audience for this is people who live within reasonable driving distance of Hammond who would like to participate,” Hebert said. Space in the program is limited, but Hebert and Parker hope to be able to bring on more participants in the future.

growing.

Also, having physical therapy in the building was a nice addition that we all appreciate as providers to be able to continue care in-house and send patients to physical therapists that are sports medicine trained downstairs. I think the communication availability is invaluable.

Can you speak to any interesting, or new and novel, changes that have been happening in sports medicine? What’s on the horizon?

Both my partner and I are trained in musculoskeletal ultrasound, a noninvasive imaging method used to diagnose muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve and joint conditions. We can diagnose things before we even have to get an MRI, but we also use it for treatment and therapies.

We also do ultrasoundguided steroid injections, trigger point injections and platelet-rich plasma injections (a concentration of a patients’ platelets from their own blood to accelerate healing in injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints). That is a relatively new thing. Those are things that are already on the horizon and starting to really take off.

I think everybody wonders about regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies as well. I think that is an area that will be introduced to sports medicine as research and medicine pushes things forward.

We want to be on top of the wave, not behind it. We want to be coasting in with the newest and the best for our patients.

What are three things you want people to know about their health?

I think, unfortunately, most men tend to not care about their health. They’re usually either taking care of their family They’re worried about their job. Or they’re oblivious to the things that may be unknown and under the surface that they don’t know

are happening with their health.

Priority number one is heart health. Heart disease is leading cause of death in men, and things like high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be asymptomatic. I always want to highlight the importance of health maintenance — going and seeing your doctor, getting your physical done, getting some blood work done. Staying on top of your health is always going to be a huge piece to overall living a healthier life. I wouldn’t be a primary care doctor if I didn’t mention cancer screenings. There is a nationwide increase of colon cancer that is contributed by diet or possibly genetics. It’s important that patients rediscuss the new screening age of 45 years old with primary care providers. That way we can make sure that we do so that we can screen and ensure that you are not at any risk for developing something that may end up taking your life. Those recommendations can go for prostate and testicular cancer, too. I think that the other priority is mental health. It’s not optional anymore. Our mental health is not something we can sweep under the rug. Everybody deals with it to some degree. Speaking out, leaning on support systems, but also knowing that there are so many other support systems that you can utilize is huge. That could start with a conversation with me as a primary-care sports provider my job as a primary care provider is never going to go away I hope it never does for me. I want to make sure that I’m taking care of my patients, not only for their injury, but also the thoughts, beliefs, fears, stresses and anger that come with it.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com

Junk foods like sodas and potato chips could be bad for your heart, a new study from researchers in Florida said.

findings. In the meantime, health care providers should advise patients to decrease consumption of junk food, along with adopting other healthy lifestyle changes, it states.

Junk food like sodas, potato chips, packaged snacks and processed meats has long been linked to higher risks of diabetes and hypertension.

Now an increasing body of research is also tying ultra-processed foods to cardiovascular disease.

The latest is a study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, which found those who consumed more junk food had a 47% higher risk of heart attack or stroke compared with those who ate the least

The findings were stark enough for researchers to warn that the nation’s fondness for processed foods represents an urgent public health priority similar to past efforts to curb tobacco use.

It comes as the food on American tables has come under increasing criticism from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr as part of his Make America Healthy Again initiative.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Medicine, calls for more large-scale observational studies to verify its

“These results have major implications for future research as well as clinical care and public policy,” said Charles H. Hennekens, professor of medicine and preventive medicine at FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. Around 70% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and nearly a third of adolescents have prediabetes, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. A 2016 study found that junk food makes up as much as 60% of American’s diets.

In January the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture released new dietary guidelines and described the nation’s diet as a “national health emergency.” The guidelines urged Americans to eat real food like meat, vegetables, fruit and whole grains.

The same message was repeated during Sunday night’s Super Bowl 60 broadcast with an advertisement showing former heavyweight world championship boxer Mike Tyson biting into an apple while the messages “Processed food

kills” and “Eat real food” flashed. It was paid for by the MAHA Center, a new advocacy group aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement, according to a New York Times report. Florida Atlantic researchers from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2021 to 2023 to conduct their study. Just under 4,800 adults who provided at least one day of detailed dietary records and information about heart attack or stroke were included in the study The participants reported everything they ate for two days, which researchers used to calculate how much of their diet was ultra-processed food. For the purposes of the study, ultra-processed foods were categorized as those that are industrially modified and loaded with added fats, sugars, starches, salts and chemical additives like emulsifiers.

“Addressing (ultra-processed foods) isn’t just about individual choices it’s about creating environments where the healthy option is the easy option,” said Hennekens. “Clinical guidance and public health education are necessary to make nutritious foods accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Eat Fit LiveFit

Hot chocolate,reimagined: Cozy comfort without the sugar crash

Wedon’tneedcoldweatheras anexcuseforhotchocolate. Formanyofus,it’sago-to comfortdrinkyear-round.It’swarm, andit’snostalgic,buttraditionalhot chocolatealsocomeswithaheftydose ofaddedsugar —sometimesnearly doublewhat’srecommendedforan entireday.

Thegoodnews?Wedon’thaveto giveupthiscold-weatherritualtomake itworkforourbodies.Today’sready-touseoptionsmakeiteasierthaneverto enjoyhotchocolateinawaythat’smore balanced,nourishingandstillsatisfying. RethinkingHotCocoa

Mostclassichotcocoarecipesand mixesarecenteredonsugarfirst,cocoa second.Asingleservingcancontain20 to35gramsofaddedsugar,withvery littleproteinorfiber,whichhelpsexplain thefamiliarsugarspike(andcrash)that oftenfollows.

Butcocoaitselfisn’ttheproblem. Infact,it’snaturallyrichinflavonoids:plant compoundslinkedtoimprovedblood flow,bettervascularhealthandpotential benefitsforbloodsugarregulationand brainfunction.Cocoamayalsosupport moodandcognitiveperformancethanksto itspolyphenolsandmildstimulanteffects.

Thechallengeisthatmanycommercial productsdilutethesebenefitswithadded sugarandprocessing.Anewgenerationof hotchocolateoptionsisflippingthatscript. Thinklessdessert,morefunctionalcomfort.

Thefollowingarethreeoptionsthat highlightdifferentnutritionalbenefits, dependingonwhatyou’relookingfor

Note:Nutritionfactsareforthe chocolatemixonly.Totalcalories, carbohydratesandsugarwillvary dependingonthemilkused.Iprefera plant-basedmilk,likeRipple,orFairlife, anultra-filteredoptionforcow’smilk.

LakantoMonkFruit-Sweetened DrinkingChocolate

Ifyoulovetraditionalhotchocolatebut wanttoskipthesugarload,lookforblends sweetenedwithplant-basedsweeteners likemonkfruitorerythritolinsteadofcane sugarorcornsyrupsolids

LakantoDrinkingChocolate(available athealthfoodstoresandonline)isa greatexample.Itdeliversthatfamiliar cocoaflavorbutissweetenedwithmonk fruit,whichincludesnoaddedsugar orartificialsweeteners.Withabout30

caloriesandonegramofnetcarbs perserving,it’splant-based,low-carb andeasytopreparewithhotmilkora milkalternative.

Thisoptionworkswellforpeoplewho wantsomethingcomfortingandfamiliar withoutthebloodsugarrollercoaster. It’salsoaneasyswapforfamiliestrying tograduallyreducesugarwithout feelingdeprived.

OMMushroomSuperfood HotChocolate

Anothercategorygainingpopularity isfunctionalhotchocolate:blendsthat includespecificingredientsdesignedto supportwhole-bodywellbeing

ProductslikeOMMushroomSuperfood HotChocolate(availableonline)include adaptogenicmushroomssuchaslion’s mane,reishi,chagaandturkeytail,along withcocoa.Thesemushroomshave beenstudiedfortheirpotentialroles insupportingimmunehealth,stress resilienceandcognitivefunction.

OMalsocontainsafulldose(250mg)of ashwagandha,anadaptogenicherbshown tohelpreducestressandsupportfocus andsleepquality.

Sweetenedwithasmallamountof sugarandmonkfruit,itcontainsjusttwo gramsofsugarper30-calorieserving Theflavorisstillchocolate-forward,but slightlyearthier,makingitacomforting optionforthosecuttingbackoncaffeine orlookingforacalmingeveningritual.

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsnersEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THENUMBERS

1IN3LOUISIANANS ARELONELy, LACK EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL SUPPORT

Lonelinessand lack of social connection are widespread and negatively affect physical and mental health and well-being,according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Positiverelationships and interactions with family,friends, co-workers, and community members can have a protectiveimpact on individual health andwell-being.These relationships can alsohelp mitigate the negativeimpacts of challenges that people face likeliving in an unsafe neighborhood or trouble affording housing or food.

High levels of social isolation increases the risk of developing chronic conditions —depression, cardiovascular disease, hypertension —by25%, research from the National Institutes of Health says These Louisianaparishes had the highest percentage of adultswho reported sometimes, rarely or never

CANCER

Continued from page1X

from the National Cancer Institute says. The main driving factor for endometrial cancers is thelifetime imbalance in estrogen versus progesterone, two important hormones that most of the time the body does agood job of keeping regulated. In endometrial cancer,the body is producing too much estrogen. Hamilton says rising obesity rates are likely amajor contributor to the upward trend of uterine cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that 60%ofuterine cancers can be attributable

VitalProteinsCollagen

HotChocolate

Forthose looking to make hot chocolatemore filling or to support muscle recovery, connective tissue, joints, gut and skin health, collagenbased optionsare worth considering. Chocolatecollagenpowders,like thosefromVitalProteins,mixeasilyinto hotliquidsandprovideabout20grams ofprotein(fromcollagenpeptides)per serving.They’renaturallylowinsugar, oftenlightlysweetenedwithsteviaand blendsmoothlywhenwhiskedorfrothed intowarmmilk.

Incorporating collagenintoour hot cocoa canturnanindulgenceintoa more functional treat–especially helpful during colder monthswhencravings tend to increase

HowtoMakeItCreamy(Without aSugarSpike)

Afewsimpleupgradescanelevateany oftheseoptions:

•Whiskoruseasmallmilkfrotherto preventclumps

•Addapinchofcinnamonorvanilla fordepth

•Forextrarichness,addateaspoonof coconutcream

Thesesmalltweakscanmakeabig differenceinbothtextureandsatisfaction.

TheTakeaway

Hotchocolatedoesn’thavetobean occasionalsplurge,anditdoesn’thave tocomewithasugarcrash.Whetheryou choosealow-sugarclassic,amushroombasedfunctionalblendoracollagenboostedoption,today’sbetter-for-you choicesmakeiteasytoenjoythecomfort ofhotchocolatewhilestillsupporting yourhealth.

getting the socialand emotional support they need, according to the CDC, in descending order:

n East Carroll Parish with 37.8%, n Claiborne Parishwith 34.9%, n Madison Parish with 34.8%, n Morehouse Parishwith 34.3%, n Tensas Parish with 34.1%, n St. Helena Parish with 33.8%, n IbervilleParishwith 32.9%, n St. John the Baptist Parish with 32.7%, n RedRiver Parish with 32.3% n Avoyelles Parish with 32.1%

These Louisiana parishes had the lowest percentageofadults who reported sometimes, rarely or never getting the socialand emotional support they need, according to the CDC, in descending order:

n St.Tammany Parish with 25.4%, n LafayetteParishwith 26%, n CameronParishwith 26.6%, n Livingston Parish with 26.7%, n

to excess body weight and insufficient physicalactivity —and are thus potentially preventable.

Overall excess body weight andabdominal fatness increases theriskofuterine cancer partlybyincreasing the amount of circulating estrogen, whichisa strongrisk factor becausefat cellsin thebodyconverthormones in the body to estrogen. An excessoffat cells leadstoan excessofestrogen. “It’sanother source of the body producing estrogen to throw thatbalance of estrogen and progesterone off,” Hamilton said.

Other conditions like high blood pressure,diabetes and insulin resistance cancause inflammation in thebody,

whichisalso linkedtoanincreased risk of endometrial cancer

Since 1975, the five-year survival ratefor uterine cancer has decreased from 87% to 81%.Itisnow the fifthleading causeofcancer deaths in women. Additionally,uterine cancer hasone of thelargest racial disparities in survival—84% in White patients, compared to63% in Black patients

Thedisparity is partly because Black women are much less likely to be diagnosedearlywhen the disease is localizedand are more likely to have aggressive subtypes, although neither fully explains the survival gap. “The ratesoverall of endo-

metrial cancer are lower in Black women,but high-risk cancer typesare twotothree times higher in Black women,” Hamilton said. “Andwe don’thavegreat reasons for that.”

Like othercancers, uterine cancer can develop when mutations happeninthe DNAcells of the uterus and endometrium, alsocalled the endometriallining. Sometimes, these mutations can turn normal, healthy cells into abnormal cellsthat grow and multiply uncontrollably and invade nearby tissues. Whenthis happens, two main typesofcancer can develop:

n Endometrial cancer starts in the endometrium. This is the most common

type of uterine cancer,and it can oftenbecured when detectedearly.Endometrioid cancer is atype of endometrialcancer that starts in gland cells.

n Uterine sarcoma starts in the muscles andsupporting tissues of the uterus. It is much less common,about 10% of all cases, but usually more aggressive. Abnormalvaginalbleeding can be asign of uterine cancer.After menopause, anyamount of blood is considered abnormal.

“If you have any bleeding after menopause, it’ssoimportant to get checked out quickly,” Hamilton said.

For youngerpeoplewho haven’tgone through menopause, abnormal bleeding

can include bleeding between menstrual cycles or after sex, and prolonged or heavy bleeding. Though in manycases abnormalbleeding can be attributed to non-cancerous conditions, it’sbest to talk to health care professionals if thereare anychanges in the menstrual cyclethatare out of the ordinary “Spotting or abnormal bleeding doesn’tmean something’sthere,”Hamiltonsaid. “The risks are high enough that if everybody would just come in whenithappened, we would be ahead of the game.”

EmailMargaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED

Doctors say it’s unlikely people require supplements to cortisol,

Doctors: You likely don’t need to control cortisol

Stress hormone has become talk of the internet

BY DEVI SHASTRI AP health writer

Cortisol, what is known as the stress hormone, is the talk of the internet.

Wellness influencers warn about the various symptoms of chronically high cortisol: waking up at 3 a.m., swollen “cortisol face” and accumulating belly fat. And many offer diet and exercise routines that they claim will help.

But do you really need supplements and advice from influencers to control your cortisol? Doctors say it’s very unlikely

Don’t be so quick to label this hormone as a villain, they say And if you suspect something is off, talk to a professional.

Cortisol keeps you alive

Cortisol is a hormone and you need it to survive. It comes from the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, and is one of many hormones at play in times of stress. It can influence inflammation, the immune system, metabolism, blood pressure and many other bodily functions.

Cortisol is incredibly attuned to your body and environment. It fluctuates throughout the day, rising in the morning when you wake up and falling at night before you go to sleep It also rises when you’re sick or in other times of stress, doctors say “Our cortisol level is regulated by the minute,” said Dr Roberto Salvatori, a Johns Hopkins University endocrinologist.

“It is very sensitive.”

It’s rare that people have a disorder where cortisol on its own is the cause. If a person’s cortisol level is chronically low, doctors would diagnose them with adrenal insufficiency This includes an autoimmune condition called Addison’s disease, in which the immune system attacks the adrenal gland.

People with Cushing’s syndrome have cortisol levels that are too high Among its causes are tumors, which are usually benign, in the adrenal or pituitary glands. It is treated with medication, surgery or both. Talk to your doctor

The symptoms of either high or low cortisol are wide-ranging and can overlap with signs of other health issues.

Adrenal insufficiency can manifest as fatigue, unintentional weight loss, low blood pressure and loss of appetite. Cushing’s syndrome comes with weight gain, high blood pressure, brittle bones, weight gain around the face and belly, abnormal hair growth in women, sleep issues and more Diagnoses take time, multiple tests and an understanding of a patient’s overall health,

doctors said. Cortisol can be measured through the patient’s saliva, blood or urine.

“There’s a lot of nuance to interpreting cortisol and that’s what makes me a little bit nervous about patients getting cortisol testing for themselves without having some kind of physician oversight,” said Dr Katie Guttenberg, an endocrinologist at UTHealth Houston.

A one-off cortisol blood test won’t provide useful information for most people, she said and could lead to unnecessary stress and medical follow-ups. For example, women who are on birth control will have falsely high cortisol blood results, because of how the medicine works in the body

Be cautious of supplements

Endocrinologists say there are no proven over-the-counter treatments for high or low cortisol, despite claims that supplements like ashwagandha and magnesium are helpful in “lowering cortisol.”

Beyond Cushing’s syndrome, chronically high cortisol is a concern, said Dr James Findling, an endocrinologist with the Medical College of Wisconsin, but more research into treatments is needed.

He worries about people taking unregulated supplements when it’s not always clear what’s in them

“They’re not innocuous,” Findling warned.

Even in patients who have Cushing’s syndrome, the medications have to be carefully dosed, Salvatori said, because an overcorrection could drive cortisol levels too low and cause other health issues.

Manage stress

Salvatori notes there is a condition called “pseudo Cushing’s syndrome,” which is often milder but causes some of the same physical effects despite the patient not having a tumor. It can be caused by alcoholism and other chronic issues.

It is generally treated by addressing the underlying cause, doctors said, like getting the patient to stop drinking.

Endocrinologists are learning new potential benefits for treating high cortisol, said Findling, who studies the condition. For example, it could potentially help diabetics who are on multiple drugs better control their blood sugar

The doctors also acknowledged that stress is highly subjective and Cushing’s syndrome patients can go unheard and undiagnosed.

But their advice for the vast majority of people: Talk to a doctor if you are concerned.

For healthy people, rather than focusing in on one elusive hormone, the doctors recommended going back to the basics of stress management: Eat well, get enough sleep, move your body or go to therapy

“Nothing new about any of that,” Findling said

Researchers link obesity, estrogen use, blood-clotting

LSU Health New Orleans publishes study

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Obesity combined with estrogen-based medications may significantly increase the risk of dangerous blood clots.

Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans published a study connecting obesity and estrogen-based drugs — including hormonal therapies and oral contraceptives — to an increased risk to develop harmful blood clots in veins or arteries in premenopausal women.

Dr Rinku Majumder from LSU Health New Orleans led the study published in November 2025 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Researchers discovered that the risk of blood clots increases dramatically in premenopausal women with obesity who are taking estrogen-based medications due to a substantial reduction in Protein S, a natural blood thinner that helps prevent harmful blood clots. When Protein S levels fall, blood clot risk rises.

“This study gives us a clearer picture of how everyday factors like weight and hormone use can interact in ways that have real health consequences,” said Majumder professor of interdisciplinary oncology at LSU Health New Orleans. “For cancer patients especially, having this knowledge helps us protect them more effectively.”

LDH expands ‘Louisiana Carrot Initiative’ to 2 more parishes

The Louisiana Department of Health expanded a project encouraging healthy eating among SNAP recipients to Walmart stores in East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes.

The Louisiana Carrot Initiative gives Louisiana SNAP recipients a 30-cent bonus for every dollar spent on fresh produce at participating retailers. Participants can earn up to $25 in bonus benefits each month, which are automatically credited to their benefits card to purchase SNAP-eligible groceries at any retailer accepting SNAP benefits.

By expanding to both East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes, the program will reach an additional 135,000 Louisianans, according to LDH. Ascension, Calcasieu, Jackson, Lafayette, LaSalle, Rapides, Sabine, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Webster and West Carroll parishes already taking part in the project.

LDH is working with retailers to expand the program to all 64 parishes.

Tulane study explores mother-to-child infection

Cytomegalovirus, or CMV is an infection passed from mother to child through the placenta and diagnosed in 1 in 200 newborns in the United States — about 20,000 to 40,000 annually

In some cases, about 5,000 newborns each year, the infection can lead to children developing permanent issues like hearing loss or developmental disabilities.

Most people are exposed to the virus during their lifetime, often without symptoms and without ever knowing they have had CMV In healthy children and adults, CMV infections are typically mild or unnoticed.

The concern arises when someone who has never had CMV before experiences a first infection during pregnancy

Researchers at Tulane’s National Biomedical Research Center (previously known as Tulane National Primate Research Center), led by Dr Amitinder Kaur and first author Tabitha Manuel, followed CMV in primates as it infects the placenta during pregnancy and reaches a developing fetus.

The study showed that CMV affects pregnancies in different ways, according to a news release from Tulane:

n Some pregnancies had only brief or lowlevel signs of the virus, while one showed more extensive involvement Others had little to no virus detected.

HEALTH NOTES

n Across nearly all pregnancies, CMV was present in the placenta, even when the fetus itself did not show signs of infection.

n Pregnancies with higher amounts of virus in placental tissues tended to have smaller fetuses at delivery, suggesting that placental infection alone may influence growth.

n The study also identified differences in maternal and fetal immune markers that may help identify pregnancies at higher risk for transmission.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and the Oregon National Primate Research Center Ochsner ALS center marks 10 years of care in Louisiana

Ochsner’s Neuroscience Institute announced its 10-year anniversary of its Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, center Since opening in November 2015, the center served more than 500 patients in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Michigan and Puerto Rico. The center became a center of excellence, awarded by the ALS Association, in 2018. In 2026, Ochsner is set to open the new Debra H. and Robert J. Patrick Neuroscience Institute. The Institute will bring together Ochsner’s neuroscience programs under one roof, including a multi-specialty early onset dementia clinic, patient education and caregiver support, a state-of-the art neurological rehabilitation center and the ALS center

State launches maternal mortality initiative

The Louisiana Department of Health has announced hospitals for Project Maternal Overdose Mortality, or M.O.M., an initiative to reduce maternal mortality associated with substance use.

The statewide project aims to reduce pregnancy-associated opioid overdose deaths by 80% within the next three years, while protecting an untold number of infants from loss or foster care placement.

The hospitals participating “advance evidence-based, compassionate care for pregnant and postpartum women impacted by substance use disorder across Louisiana,” according to LDH:

n Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women

n Lakeview Hospital

n Lane Regional Medical Center

n Ochsner American Legion Hospital

n Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center

n Ochsner St. Anne Hospital

n Opelousas General Health System

n Our Lady of the Angels Hospital

n Rapides Regional Medical Center

n Touro Hospital

n Woman’s Hospital.

New Orleans hosts national summit for lung cancer

The third annual African American Lung Cancer Patient & Caregiver Summit in New Orleans is set for April 23-25 at the Marriott Warehouse Arts District. The weekendlong event will focus on “survivorship, emerging treatments, clinical trials, environmental and clean-air justice, public policy AI in care, mental wellness, financial navigation, caregiver support and patient advocacy.”

The event is free for lung cancer patients and caregivers and includes meals, hotel accommodations and travel and learning materials.

Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana

Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

Experts discuss how much protein is needed in your diet

BY MEG WINGERTER

The Denver Post (TNS)

DENVER Protein is having a moment, with federal guidelines significantly raising the recommended amount people should eat every day and products ranging from coffee drinks to Pop-Tarts touting enhanced levels of the nutrient. Eating enough protein is important for good health, Denver-area dietitians said, but people who want to increase their intake need to make sure they choose quality foods and don’t crowd out healthy carbohydrates and fats.

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that, as of 2020, the average American already ate enough protein to meet the new recommendations.

The most recent edition of the federal nutrition guidelines, released in early January, raised the recommended floor for protein consumption, setting a range from 50% higher to double the previous recommendation

U.S. Health and Human Services

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr also unveiled a flipped food pyra-

mid, with beef and full-fat dairy among the foods to emphasize at the top. Federal recommendations had ditched the pyramid about 15 years ago for a model plate divided between produce, protein and whole grains. The previous protein guideline was a bare minimum to avoid malnutrition, so raising that was probably the right call, said Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian nutritionist who works at HCA HealthOne Rose.

Generally, Crandall recommends 60 to 80 grams of protein each day for women and 80 to 100 grams for men. For comparison, a threeounce serving of ground beef has 22 grams, a skinless chicken breast has 18 grams and 6 ounces of Greek yogurt has 15 to 17 grams, according to Washington University in St Louis.

But the right amount for any individual will depend on their body weight, age, level of physical activity and health, with some conditions requiring more protein and others demanding restrictions, Crandall said.

The International Food Informa-

tion Council’s 2024 Food and Health survey found about 71% of Americans were specifically trying to eat protein, up from 59% in 2022. About one in five said they specifically follow a “high protein” diet, making it more popular than calorie counting, low-carb or Mediterranean food plans.

People who work in nutrition have known about protein’s importance to the muscles and immune system for quite some time but public perception of it has changed significantly in recent years, said Kelly Elliot, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Saint Joseph Hospital. “It’s interesting how marketing sways the public and how the public sways marketing,” she said.

While protein shakes and bars have been staples among the gymgoing set for some time, other food brands are getting in on the game. Snickers and Pop-Tarts unveiled higher-protein options, and Thomas’ bagels added a line about protein content to the front of the packaging for their existing products. Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts recently debuted drinks

enhanced with whey protein, and Chipotle’s menu now promotes a “protein cup” of chicken and a chicken taco, designed to offer a similar mix of protein, fat and carbs to a protein bar, said Stephanie Perdue, Chipotle’s interim chief marketing officer

“We’ve seen growing demand for protein-forward choices across more occasions, especially snacksized portions at accessible prices,” she said in a statement. “We’ll carry this focus throughout 2026, with our culinary team driving protein-led innovation informed by customer behavior and emerging trends across our restaurants and digital channels.”

As more people get the message that they need to increase their protein intake — despite the fact that most Americans already eat enough — food companies have responded by adding protein in unexpected places, including pretzels, chips and even bottled water, said William Hallman, a psychologist at Rutgers University who studies how people think about food.

Emphasizing protein creates a “health halo” around products that

makes people think they’re a better option, even if the manufacturer had to increase sugar and fat to mask the taste of protein powder, he said.

“Consumers think it’s healthier for them, and that’s the problem,” he said.

Brands highlight the positive aspects of their food, but that doesn’t mean that every high-protein product is a good choice, Elliot said. Consumers need to consider other factors such as sugar and saturated fat content, and whether the ingredients list includes a string of additives, she said.

The new nutrition guidelines also warned the public to avoid added sugars and ultra-processed foods, while maintaining the existing advice to limit saturated fat for heart disease prevention.

The new nutrition guidelines may encourage products to continue jumping on the protein bandwagon, but in the long run, food companies will have to consider whether the costs of fortifying their products are worthwhile in an increasingly crowded marketplace, Hallman said.

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisstory is brought to you by OchsnerHealth.

UHeart HealthCan’t Wait: Ochsner HealthExpertson Protecting Your Heart Before40

pto80% of heart disease, including heart attack and stroke,ispreventable with regular screenings,control ofchronic diseases and a healthy lifestyle.Adopting heart-healthyhabits earlier in lifeisnow moreimportantthan ever,asagrowing number of adults arebeing diagnosed with heart disease beforethe ageof40. Heart diseasehas long been considered acondition thatprimarily affects older adults,but Ochsner Health physicians saythatperception no longer matches reality. Increasingly, theyare diagnosing serious heart conditions in people in their 20s,30s and 40s,some of whom initially appear healthyand active. Experts attributethis to acombinationofgenetics andlifestylefactors,underscoringtheimportance of early screening andempowering individuals totakeanactiveroleintheirhealth.

Thatwas the case forEllen Pino,aBaton Rougebusinessowner, momofthree and competitivetennis player. Duringaroutine tennis practice in October 2022,Pino felt likeher heart briefly stopped, then began beating rapidly.Her Apple Watchindicated her heart rate wasmorethan200 beats per minute. Similar episodesbegan happening almost daily.Pino,then in her mid-30s,also noticed that her resting heart rate wasoften morethan 100beats per minute, even when she wasrelaxing at home.

“It didn’tmakeany sense. I’mactive and healthy. Iplaytennis severaltimes a week. Ieat healthy. Idon’tsmoke. Irarely drink,”Pino said. “It wasscary,and Iknew something waswrong from the first timeit happened. My chestgot tight, and it literally took my breath away;then my heart was suddenly pounding very hard. It wasavery distinct feeling.”

Afterseveral months of theepisodes,PinoconnectedwithPavanMalur,MD, acardiologist at OchsnerMedical Complex–The Grove.Dr. Malur immediately placed Pino on a24/7 heart monitor,which confirmed his suspicions thatsame day. Pino wasdiagnosed withsupraventricular tachycardia (SVT), arhythm disorder If left untreated, SVTweakens the heart overtime, especially with frequentorprolonged episodes, potentiallyleadingtoheartfailure, stroke,or,inrarecases,suddencardiacarrest

Since sharing her story with morepeople, Pino has referred multiple friends and acquaintances to Dr.Malur.Likeher,theyare often activeadults in their 30s and 40s.Some have had similar concerning symptoms while othersare awareofafamily history of heart diseaseorother risk factors.

“I think the useofsmart devices alsoplays arole in younger people comingtousmore often. Many people wear thosetomonitor their heart ratesand other health metrics,” Dr.Malur added. “Lately,alot of patients who arediagnosed with aform of AFib notice irregularities on their watches beforeI seethem. The devices aremoreaccurate and reliable than even afew yearsago.”

While wearable technologycan help people keep bettertrack of their health on adayto-daybasis,itcan’treplacewellnessvisits with trained physicians

“The demographic shift is broad, but the riseisparticularly noticeable in people with obesity, sedentary routines and strong family histories of early heart disease,”said SamyA Abdelghani,MD,cardiologistatJohnOchsner Heartand Vascular Institute–Slidell. “The most common pattern is earlier onsetofhigh blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes,often alongside weight gain, lowactivity levels,poor sleep and high stress.”

SamyA.Abdelghani,MD Cardiologist JohnOchsnerHeartand VascularInstitute–Slidell

“Anirregular heart rhythm canlead to a weakening of the heart muscle or astrokeifa blood clot develops,” Dr.Malur said. “In some people, their blood pressuredrops to avery lowlevel, which cancausethem to faint. That canbedangerous if someone is driving or in another environmentwherepassing out can causethem to be in harm’sway.”

Dr.Malur said thatwhen cardiac conditions arediagnosed,modern medications and operations canoftenresolvethe problem. Pino was referred to Michael Bernard, MD, section head of electrophysiologyat Ochsner Medical Center -New Orleans,and underwent acatheter ablation proceduretocorrect the misfiring areas of her heart

Dr.Abdelghani said common symptoms of heart problems can include chest pain or tightness, shortnessofbreath, feelingsof discomfort or heaviness, dizzinessorfainting. Symptoms can be subtle in some individuals, whichmakes regular primary care visits so important.

“I went from having symptoms every single daytomaybe every couple of weeksatthe most,” Pino said. “I’mstill kind of shocked thatall of this happened. Ifeel like thepeople at Ochsnertruly savedmylife. I

Reshma A. Bhanushali, MD,primary care specialist at OchsnerLafayetteGeneral InternalMedicine, said atypical appointmentshould include blood pressureand blood sugar measurements,aswell as an accurate check of aperson’sweightand body massindex(BMI). People whohaveexperienced heart-relatedsymptoms maybereferred to acardiologist forcardiac monitoring,anechocardiogram or tests to determine their coronary calcium score, a measureofplaque in the arteries leading to the heart,which can be an early indicatorofcoronary artery disease.

ReshmaA.Bhanushali,MD Primarycaredoctor OchsnerLafayetteGeneral

Increasingly,thosetests reveal high blood pressure cholesteroland blood sugar— conditions that maynot have immediate symptoms,but canput aperson at risk of serious futurecomplications if

thatsmart lifestyle choices canmeaningfully reduce aperson’srisk of heart disease even when geneticsare not ideal,”Dr. Abdelghani said.

In particular,Dr. Abdelghanisaidhehas seen improvementamong adults who adopt an exerciseroutinethatcombines aerobic activityand strength training, eataMediterranean-style diet heavyinvegetables, fruit,beans,nuts,seeds and fish, maintain a healthysleep schedule, and avoid all formsof tobacco and vaping.

“Establish routine primary care early and treatyourhealthlikealong-terminvestment. Know your numbers, move consistently and eatinawayyoucansustainforyears,”hesaid. “If youdoafew basics well, most people can dramatically lowertheir lifetime risk.”

Dr.Bhanushali added thatpatients should seek outphysicians, like thoseatOchsner who will listen to their concerns and discuss their lifestyles to uncoverany risk factors.

“A lot haschanged to lead to this trend of heartdiseaseatyounger andyounger ages,” Dr.Bhanushalisaid.“Ourgrandparentsdidn’t have the stressofsocialmedia.Theyprobably walked to work, and therewas alot more physical activityinthatgeneration without actually calling it exercise. So,our genetics cannot be changed, but our lifestyle canbe.

She stressedthataheart-healthylifestyle has long-term benefits forevery organ, including importantprotections forbrain health as people age.

“Sometimes,people don’trealizehow poor habits canbedetrimental to their health. Thoseconversations areoften eye-opening,”she said. “Theseare young adults who have alot of lifeahead of them. The sooner we canaddressany problems theyare having, thesoonertheycan getback to the thingstheyenjoy.”

I’mstillkindofshocked thatallofthishappened. Ifeellikethepeopleat Ochsnertrulysavedmy life.Idon’tknowwhatthe repercussionswouldhave beenhadInotadvocated formyselfandmyhealth.

patient

Leading careto keep youmoving

AttheOchsnerAndrewsOrthopedicsandSportsMedicineInstitute,every decisionwemakeisfocusedonhelpingourpatientsmoveforward.Fromthe latesttechnologytothedepthofourexpertise,ourteambringselitecare, cutting-edgeresearch,andadvancedtrainingtothecommunitiesweserve. Yourrecovery,goals,andqualityoflifedriveeverythingwedo—andwe moveforwardwithyou,everystepoftheway.

Learnmoreorscheduleanappointmentatochsner.org/BRortho

LOUISIANA

New-agelearning

Museum’s partnership bridgesgapsin earlyeducation

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

There’splenty to do at Knock Knock

Children’sMuseum, even if you’veonly just celebratedyour first birthday

From crawlingthrough aplastic cypress tree trunk or sliding out of an eagle’snest, to dressing up as aswamp critter and completingablock puzzle with other kids, the Crawbaby Learning Zone at Knock Knock is made so even the youngest visitors can learnwhile having fun.

Now,the Crawbaby zone has anew sponsor who’sbringing opportunitiesfor Louisiana’syoungest learners to visit and explore: Volunteers of America.

“We’re extremely excited about this partnership. Not only are we sponsoring this beautiful exhibit that is going to enhance infant toddler development, but we’re also sponsoring hundreds oftickets so that families do not have to face abarrier to come and enjoy this,” said Tonya Harden, director of the Partners in Childcare division with Volunteers of America.

Volunteers of America is anearly 130-year-old charityorganization operating across the country,with more than 15,000 professionals working to provide affordable housing, skilled nursing care,veterans’ services and more.

The South-CentralLouisiana branch of VOA servesEastBaton Rouge and 26 other parishes in thestate.

Its Partners in Childcare division helps to refer parents to child careproviders, traincaretakers and fundraise forchildren’seducational experiences like those at Knock Knock.

At aribbon-cutting ceremony outside of the children’smuseum,leaders with Volunteers of Americaannouncedthey would sponsor theCrawbaby zone as part of their mission to make earlychildhood education and child careavailable for more Louisianans

This partnership is aidedbyfunds from the state’sWorkforce Child Care

TaxCredit,which helps Volunteersof America collect donations from business ownersfor their various early child care initiatives.

“Wewant to pour(this funding) back into this age group and into families, and what better way than to support one of thepillars of ourcommunity,which is our Knock Knock Children’sMuseum,” Harden said.

Alackofearly childhood opportunities

Thepartnership withKnock Knockwas soughtout specifically because the Louisiana Department of Educationhas emphasized how important the infant-to-toddler learning period is.

Not only is that developmentalperiod moreimportant for children than previously thought, but there’salso not alot of resources available, Harden said, so she and her team are bolstering their support for infants and toddlers.

“There are hundreds of families on the waiting listfor child care assistance in our community,” she said, “Hundreds. So, how can we fill in that gap of those families, those children who need quality, hands-on learning experiences?”

State data from the early 2000s,when Louisiana’soriginal child tax credit package was passed, showedonly 27% of 4-year-old children in Louisiana were enrolled in public child care.

These numbers haven’t improved enough yet for Harden, whocites day care expensesasamainbarrier to families.

“The deficit is so wide,and it costs so much for one child to be educated for a whole year,” she said.

For a4-year-old child to be in care fora year,itcosts theaverage Louisiana family $8,153, or 9.7% of the medianfamily income.

Kayla Paul, who attended the ribbon cutting with her 2-year-old son Pilar,said that child care is an expense new parents don’toften thinkof. Luckily,getting Pilar into aprograminBaton Rouge wasn’tdifficult

“It was prettyeasy. We didn’thave anywait list,” Paul said. “This is my secondbaby, andmyfirst child also went to Greater King David Nursery,but we didn’thave any issues.”

As his mom spoke, Pilarran up the plushstairs to the Crawbaby zone’seagles nest, looked out over thefaux-branches, and quickly slid down the slide.

While it might seem liketoddlers are too young to benefit from schooling, that time is actually one of the mostimportant periods forchildrentobelearning and experiencing new things, said ChristinaMelton, executive director of Knock Knock.

“I think it’simportant to remember that something like 90% of brain development happens beforea child enters kindergarten,” Melton said. “Soreally trying to form these little synapses in theirlittle brains early-on is really crucial.” Melton said exploring astimulating

ä See LEARNING, page 1Y

JanRisher

LONG STORy SHORT

The boring parade?

It’s4:37 on aFridayafternoon as Isit to write this week’s column —and Iamout of words. I’m tired. Not sleep-for-a-week tired. Just ready-to-go-home tired. Decision-fatigue tired Edited-too-many-words tired. Like so many across Louisiana, Ifeel like Ijustran amarathon —somanyparades, so many parties, so many late nights,so many king cakes. Andthen, time did its thing, andTuesday became Wednesday After allthe foofaraw,weare easing back into ordinary time ordinary in the everydaysense, notthe church-calendarone Five days after Mardi Gras, Louisiana is back to its other rhythm. By now, most of the piled-up laundryhas been washed.Costumes, wigs,headpieces and beadsare back in the closet.At ourrentalhome as we rebuild from ourAugust2025 house fire, we have packed up Mardi Gras in oneofour many boxes. It’swaiting for next year with so many others, each labeledin black marker

Fornow,the music has stopped. Emails have resumed. Even for Louisianans whodon’t observeLent, the quietthatfollows Carnival feels earned.Lent is often describedasaseason of giving something up, but subtractionhas its own kind of generosity.Afew empty evenings.A calendarwithout colored blocks. Aflower bedweeded before Louisiana’s spring makes its many demands.

Experience makes onefact undeniable:Life cannotbelivedat afull-time crescendo

My fourth-grade piano teacher, Mrs. Edna Earle Gibson,insisted on honoring the dynamics. Crescendo means building volume Decrescendo means lessening. Music requires both. We have to pauseand lower the volume.Thatsaid, there’snothing gradualbetween Mardi Gras andAsh Wednesday Celebration is beautiful —but maintenance keepsaplace functioning.

Louisiana hasjustsurviveda wholelot of sparkle,but there’s beauty in matte finishtoo. Amatte finishdoesn’t demand attention. It holds its color quietly with asurface thatdoesn’t shout. Matte-finish paint absorbs light rather thanthrowing it back.Itholds steadywithout flash or fanfare.

Carnival is gloss. Ordinary days are grain. Gloss dazzles underbright lights.Graincarries the weight of daily use. Parenting hasits shiny moments, but most of it hasamatte finish. Parenting isn’tlivedat crescendo Neitherismarriageorfriendship. Andyet,crescendo hasits appeal.The music, the crowd,the bright lights.It’sintoxicating —noone organizes aparadefor maintenance. However,doing so would be a very Louisiana thing to do.Bill it as the Boring Parade. It could be ahit. Ican see it already. The Boring Paradewould feature its own brandoffloats.

The LaundryKrewe would rollbyona flatbedtruck with clotheslinesstrung endtoend, white sheets snapping in the breeze, mismatched socksflapping behind.

The Insurance Adjusters float would sport folding tables, clipboards, flashlights andsomeone carefully examining aroof. The

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

ASK THE EXPERTS

La. woman champions cardiovascular health

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE

Staff writer

Katie Ferguson is a heart disease survivor, caregiver advocate and community leader in Acadiana. After being diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve, she underwent open-heart surgery in January 2023 and now champions awareness of women’s cardiovascular health.

She served as the immediate past chair of American Heart Association’s Greater Acadiana Go Red for Women campaign. A 2020 Fellow of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Ferguson dedicated more than 15 years to caring for a catastrophically injured family member and advocating for caregiver rights. She is also a recipient of the Lafayette Commission on the Needs of Women award for her advocacy and community service.

This interview was edited for length and clarity

What first pulled you into heart advocacy work, and how has that connection evolved over time? In 2005, I was just a volunteer I had friends who worked for the association, and it was always an organization that I paid close attention to because heart disease ran in my family My father had a heart attack, and my grandfather had open-heart surgery back in the late ’70s. It’s something I knew I needed to pay attention to.

Fast forward to 2021: I was diagnosed with an enlarged ascending aorta. That brought it all back

LEARNING

Continued from page 2y

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Katie Ferguson served as the immediate past chair of American Heart Association’s Greater Acadiana Go Red for Women campaign.

because, for 20 years, I was raising money for heart awareness and heart health. It was one of those full-circle moments where 20 years later I was able to give the survivor story at the 20th anniversary for Go Red for Women in Acadiana.

The advocacy and fundraising work I was doing 20 years before partially saved my life When they got in there, they found out I had a bicuspid heart valve. I had to have a mechanical heart valve For both the graft and the valve, the research was paid for through American Heart Association dollars. It was very humbling and made me proud of the work I did years prior What are the statistics for heart disease?

One in three women are going to die from heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. That’s more than all cancers combined. One in four men are going to die from heart disease.

A lot of times, when people have cancer, for example, it physically shows on the outside. Most heart disease does not show, so most people aren’t aware that every

first attendees to explore the zone for free.

Other ways to support

Neither the deficit in available child care, nor the state’s child care tax credits, are new

Q&A WITH KATIE FERGUSON HEART DISEASE SURVIVOR

80 seconds a woman will die from heart disease.

It’s prevalent in different populations. We’re recognizing that more research needs to be done on females, African Americans, Native Americans, etc. The more we’re able to diversify, the more we are able to help others.

What small, realistic lifestyle changes can make the biggest difference for heart health?

What comes to mind immediately is changing eating habits. You can still have the cookies, but have one instead of five. Instead of having a full sandwich, have a fold-over sandwich to have less bread and more protein.

Small changes start adding up. All of that ultimately affects your overall health, but definitely your heart health.

How has volunteering with the American HeartAssociation changed the way you think about your own health?

I’m more intentional now I’m intentionally trying to make sure I have enough protein and drink enough water every day I intentionally walk, if something is one or two blocks away, as opposed to taking my car

Whenever you have something as wild as open heart surgery, you recognize that the more you can do every day the better off you are.

How is the American Heart Association working toward solutions in Lafayette?

Money that’s raised does go to nationals for research, no doubt, but they have focused in the past 10 years to start putting money back into local communities.

Right now, they’re focusing on areas such as food safety and partnered with

operates a child care referral agency of their own, which sources donations from Louisiana businesses interested in the credit, then sets their own goals for how best to use that money to promote early childhood learning.

the Second Harvest Food Bank. They purchased freezers to help with foods that need to be refrigerated, blood pressure cuffs and things for local public libraries. The association has also been putting dum-

their classrooms with.

Another is how Volunteers for America brings child care experts and educators to train the caregivers at the various facilities they support.

mies in local high schools so that teachers can use these mannequins to perform CPR and teach their students. They’re putting blood pressure check stations in public recreation centers —

RISHER

Continued from page 1y environment like the Crawbaby zone is useful for that development, especially when paired with interactions with a trusted adult or other young children.

“This special little swamp is specifically designed for that age group, and it’s one of the only designated spaces for that purpose in the entire capital region,” Melton said.

Volunteers of America began providing free tickets in November to families with young children at child care facilities across the parishes the organization supports.

So Pilar Paul, and the other kids from Greater King David’s Nursery, are not the

The 2007 legislation provides a partially refundable credit for families, child care providers and businesses for contributions to child care in various forms, including child care center construction costs and payments for child care on behalf of a company’s employees.

For families, these credits pay for the child care itself, while for child care professionals, the credit helps support their salaries and to encourage more early childhood teachers to join the field.

Volunteers of America

“How will we want to invest this back into early childhood? What initiatives do we want to go forth this year? What’s needed?” Harden said about how Volunteers for America prioritizes how to spend those funds. “Some of it is classes to build a workforce. We have a very-high turnover rate in early childhood educators, so we look at ways that we can keep the workforce together.”

One example is a program that gives out $100,000 to Louisiana teachers to make over

As part of their partnership, the children’s museum will soon be hosting these trainings as well.

But for 19-month-old Rylee Grant, who joined other toddlers in running around the Crawbaby zone after the ribbon cutting, the most important part was having a new space to play in and explore.

“She’s been all over,” her mother Jaeda Grant said. “She’s been loving rocking back and forth on this boat.”

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

crowd cheers politely

The Calendar Krewe’s giant planner would have neatly blocked squares mapping out the spring — a dentist appointment, an oil change, the parent-teacher conference. Individual highlighters would be placed in onlookers’ hands.

The Maintenance Department would be the traditional last float. People in work boots carry tool boxes. Someone replaces a faucet mid-route. The crowd simply nods in appreciation.

Throws for the Boring Parade would include coupons, spare buttons, laundry pods (wrapped safely, of course), and packets of

trying to meet people where they are and give them the tools to actively stay on top of their heart health.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

flower and bird seeds.

The Boring Parade would issue a strict no-glitter ban. Attendees would wear khaki shorts or capris, comfortable shoes and sun hats.

But I digress.

The truth is that 24 years of writing Sunday columns in Louisiana has reinforced the same lesson: Endurance requires rhythm. Some weeks demand repetition rather than applause. Some weeks look a lot like the Boring Parade. At 6:48 p.m. on a Friday, this column is nearly finished. For now the parade has passed. Dinner still needs deciding. The whites still need folding. That is the rhythm.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

LSU Shreveport Olympian to launch healthy youth initiative

Statewide project released in conjunction with Winter Games

MATT VINES

LSU Shreveport

Three-time U.S. Olympian

Kendrick Farris is launching a statewide school-based initiative to advance youth wellness and expand access to plant-forward nutrition.

The FEED initiative, which stands for Fueling Every Eater’s Development, is designed to support the roll out of the Healthy Kids Act across Louisiana in conjunction with the 2026 Winter Olympics this February and beyond.

Farris, an LSU Shreveport graduate who got his weightlifting start at the on-campus USA Weightlifting Development Center, will visit schools and deliver interactive assemblies focused on active lifestyles and plantforward nutrition.

“I believe this initiative promoting movement, nutrition literacy and plant-forward eating to underserved youth can uplift students, schools, and families while making Shreveport a model for health equity,” Farris said. “As a three-time Olympian, husband, and father of four, I have seen firsthand how access to food, movement and education shapes long-term outcomes.”

The Healthy Kids Act legislation includes guidelines to improve school lunch nutrition by removing ultra-processed foods and foods with certain dyes and additives.

Farris is partnering with the Louisiana Department of Education along with other entities like the locally-based Heartwork Institute in this initiative.

Farris, whose diet has been fully plant-based for more than a decade, advocates for more access to and education about plantrich meals.

“I help young people understand how to fuel their bodies

with accessible foods like lentils, beans, hummus, fruits, vegetables and other plant-rich meals that support both performance and long-term health,” Farris said. “I changed my diet after my second Olympics (2012 London Olympics) “I discovered my Hebrew an-

cestry, and I aligned my lifestyle more intentionally toward holistic performance — spiritually and physically That shift transformed how I trained, recovered and ultimately how I now coach and mentor youth.”

In addition to nutrition, Farris intends to enhance after school

and summer programming and conduct fitness activities to include community workouts, plant-based taste testing and local athlete engagement.

The Shreveport native is the only American male to break two U.S. records in two different weight classes en route to three

top-11 Olympic finishes in his weight class. He also captured two Pan American championships. Farris recently educated youth at a Rockford, Illinois, weightlifting meet and is active locally and nationally in the youth health and education space.

Delivering a Secure Supply of Energy

With thousands of Shell employees acrossthe state, we areworking everyday to provide

forthe United States

powering progress forabrighter future. Louisiana is whereweliveand we’reproud to call it home

As thelargest deep-wateroperator in theGulf of America, Shellhas along history of leading theway in producing thesecure, reliable energy our world needs. None of this would be possible without thedrive and innovative spirit of generations of Louisianians

Louisiana Hinduism combines ancient, modern practices

BY JON PARKS Contributing writer

A visit to the Datta Temple, a Hindu place of worship in Baton Rouge, is an experience both ancient and modern at once. Priests lead chants and perform rituals that have been practiced for millennia, and incense and candles create a sense of eternal mystery

Meanwhile, the lighting, sound and live streaming are controlled from iPads, and the priests sometimes reference their smartphones to lead the chants.

“We may be the world’s oldest religion,” says temple priest Harish Jagarlapudi, “but we have to keep up with technology.”

The temple, tucked in a quiet corner of an industrial park, provides an apt symbol for the Hindu communities in Louisiana — they’re often hiding in plain sight.

Most Louisianans know little about their Hindu neighbors, many of whom have immigrated to the U.S. from India. They may have come for work or for university, but they have found a home here and have established thriving communities of Hindu practice in south Louisiana.

The world’s third-largest religion, Hinduism has at least 1.2 billion adherents across the globe, mainly concentrated in India. When many think of India or Hinduism, they think of yoga, spicy vegetarian food or festivals like Holi and Diwali.

Like any religion or culture, the truth is deeper than the stereotypes.

What’s it like to move to the Deep South and live as a practicing Hindu? Many said they have been pleasantly surprised by the openness and kindness they’ve experienced here For those who immigrated here, their country of origin will always be “home,” but they feel like they are equally at home in Louisiana.

As the Hindu community has grown, so has the curiosity and awareness among their neighbors.

“We have many school groups that come to visit our temple and learn about our faith,” says Piyush Maisuria, coordinator for the Hindu Temple of New Orleans in Metairie. “Sometimes we have more requests than we can accommodate.”

While the Hindu community is becoming more recognized, there are still many misconceptions — and not everyone has been so generous. Some in Louisiana confessed that they have faced discrimination because of their clothing, their accent or their bindi the red dot on their forehead that represents the “third eye” and the seat of wisdom and intellect Nidhi Sthanki recounts being teased for the Indian meals she took to school.

“I used to have such delicious Indian food that I’d bring from home, because there weren’t a lot of vegetarian options at the cafeteria,” Sthanki said. “Then some of the students said my food was ‘disgusting,’ and I never wanted to take my food there again.”

Sthanki wrote a book, The Magical Promise,” about her experiences as a Hindu growing up in the United States, as a way of reaffirming her cultural identity and her faith.

Many Hindus follow a strict vegetarian diet, an extension of the Hindu belief that all forms of life are precious and should be protected which can present a challenge at restaurants, which may prepare vegetarian foods side-by-side with meat dishes At sandwich shops, for example, Hindu patrons may ask the servers to change gloves after they’ve handled meat

The practice of devotion is an integral part of daily life for Hindus Some perform rituals at home two or three times a day, a time-intensive

Temple priests lead chants during services at Datta Temple recently in Baton Rouge. The day’s veneration focused on Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. In her honor, school children, students and all seekers of knowledge were blessed as part of the ritual. While many believe Hindus worship thousands of different gods, they actually consider these to be different facets of the One Eternal Brahman.

process that involves ritual bathing, prayers and offering food at their home altar

They attend temple activities weekly and go more often during the numerous Hindu festivals that occur throughout the year

“I’ve seen our community grow from 200 attendees in 2019, to more than 400 at our biggest festivals last year,” says Srinivasan Ambatipati, one of the volunteer leaders at Sri Krishna Balaji Temple in Lafayette. “It’s been wonderful to see the Indian community grow here, and to see how Lafayette has embraced its Hindu citizens.”

Holi, the festival of colors, became an official yearly event by proclamation of the mayor of Lafayette in 2014, Ambatipati said.

Asha Sthanki says one thing outsiders should know about Hindus and their faith is that it is not a single belief or practice but “a way of life that’s grounded in values like compassion, discipline and respect for diversity.”

“The best way to learn about Hinduism is to come experience it,” says Bala Subramanian, noting that all temple activities are open to the public “Come to our worship time. Share a meal with us, and let’s learn from one another.”

Jon Parks is a pastor, writer and musician residing in Baton Rouge. Reach out to him at jon@ jonparks.net with any questions or comments.

Forest Service examines ban on commercial huckleberry picking

BY STEVE LUNDEBERG

Contributing writer

Editor’s note: This story, created by Steve Lundeberg for Columbia Insight, is part of the AP Storyshare. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world. Nine months after announcing a moratorium on commercial huckleberry harvesting, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest wants to gauge public sentiment regarding how well the 2025 ban worked. On its Facebook page, the forest has posted links to a feedback form and a news release explaining its desire to “hear about your 2025 huckleberry experience.”

“Great year Even better than years past since commercial picking wasn’t allowed,” wrote one commenter

“Best year ever!” added another While providing argument that the pause may have been a step in the right direction, “great” and “best” aren’t entirely accurate descriptions of a Pacific Northwest resource that’s been under pressure for more than a century

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest encompasses 1.32 million acres along the Cascade Range’s western slope in southwest Washington and includes the 21,000acre Indian Heaven Wilderness, home of the legendary Sawtooth Berry Fields.

Named for the first director of the U.S. Forest Service, the forest is bounded to the north by Mount Rainier National Park and to the south by the Columbia River Prior to the moratorium — whose announcement came amid lobbying from tribal nations, forest users and local government officials to address dwindling huckleberry numbers, enforcement limitations and disputes among harvesters — the Gifford Pinchot had been the only national forest still allowing the large-scale, com-

mercial harvesting of huckleberries.

Perspectives gathered via the feedback form “will help inform decisions about whether and how to offer a commercial huckleberry program for the 2026 season and beyond,” said forest spokeswoman Amanda Kill.

The Forest Service is using multiple methods to make people aware of the survey, Kill said, including postcards and flyers that have been shared with various stakeholders and partners.

Huckleberries, which can sell for up to $200 a gallon, are a relative of the blueberry They remain an important traditional food for the region’s Native American tribes, under whose stewardship the berries thrived for millennia.

A series of developments following White settlement, though, including 100-plus years of forest fire suppression and prohibitions on cultural burning, have eaten away at habitat for the roughly one dozen species of huckleberries native to the Pacific Northwest

A popular ingredient in consumer products ranging from lip balm to ice cream, from wine to honey, huckleberries can’t be cultivated, meaning supplies are limited to what grows in the mountains.

“There are no domesticated varieties,” said Stephen Cook, a University of Idaho professor who studies huckleberries. “We can produce plants that grow in a greenhouse, and we can outplant them, but it doesn’t matter what we do, when we outplant them they die within three or four years. Very seldom do they flower.”

Tribal rights, picking limits

An 1855 treaty gave the Yakama Nation the right to hunt, fish and gather food, including huckleberries, throughout their ancestral homeland, whether on or off the reservation that had been created for the Yakama. It didn’t take long, however, for the federal government to begin falling short of honoring the treaty

During the Great Depression, thousands of white huckleberry harvesters descended upon the Sawtooth fields, leading in 1932 to what’s known as the Handshake Agreement: 2,800 acres of the Sawtooth fields would be reserved for tribes during each summer’s huckleberry season.

The agreement, codified in the forest’s cultural resource management plan in 1990, prohibited non-Indian harvesters from picking huckleberries east of Forest Road 24.

At about the same time, the Gifford Pinchot’s permitting system for commercial pickers went into effect. In 2024, the last year before the ban, a commercial harvester could purchase a two-week permit with a 40-gallon limit for $60, or a season-long permit with a 70-gallon limit for $105.

Personal-use pickers, who are not affected by the ban, also need a permit; it’s free and is good for up to three gallons per year

The forest sold more than 900 permits in 2024 and says that annual harvests range between 50,000 and 70,000 gallons.

“In the last 10 years it’s been really bad,” said tribal picker Elaine Harvey, a member of the Kah-milpah Band of the Yakama Nation. “Thousands of commercial pickers take the berries before we can get there; they clear it out.”

For the tribes, harvesting doesn’t begin until after an annual huckleberry ceremony in late July or

early August, and unlike commercial pickers who use “rakes” tools that look like a cross between a comb for grabbing berries and a dustpan for collecting them tribal harvesters pick with their fingers

“They used to wait till tribes had had their ceremonial feasts, but now people are just going out there to gather berries,” said Brigette McConville, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and a Columbia Insight board member “The rakes are damaging to the huckleberry bush

If commercial picking is allowed again, they should ban the use of the rakes.”

“I don’t have data, but rakes have to do some damage,” added Cook

“People who are concerned about them have a right to be.”

Misunderstood berry

Another concern is that while huckleberries have been culturally important for thousands of years and economically significant for more than 100, they continue to pose questions that science struggles to answer

“New starts are almost always associated with stumps of some conifer, but we don’t understand pollination for huckleberries,” Cook said “We don’t know that insects are truly necessary for pollination activity That leaves us in a quandary: How do we protect or restore something when we don’t even understand how it

reproduces?” Botanical mysteries aside, the reevaluation of commercial harvesting on the Gifford Pinchot that began with last year’s ban seems like a good place to begin.

Harvey said the influx of commercial pickers from Seattle, Portland and even California had become a free-for-all with virtually no regulation. Over the past two decades, McConville said, commercial picking simply devolved into a “disrespect of the resource.”

“In the last 15 years they’d been harassing us, intimidating us, siccing dogs on us, bringing weapons against us,” said Harvey, referring to commercial harvesters. “Women and elders have been scared to go up and pick alone, and we never let our children run in the forest like I did as a kid. Last year we felt safe to camp, safe to pick, safe to let the kids run free. There were actually berries on the bushes for us to harvest. It was like the clock went back to a time when it was peaceful.”

Peace and commercial picking don’t have to be mutually exclusive, said McConville, who has on occasion purchased commercially harvested berries.

“If I don’t have time to get out there and pick, I don’t mind paying someone for the time they put in, the fuel, the food, the man-hours,” she said. “But it’s fair to have a stricter policy, and the Forest Service should have more employees to patrol and check how people are gathering, check their permits. And there should be some education component to the permitting process, an understanding of the berries’ importance to native people.”

Determining if, when and how to offer commercial huckleberry harvesting in the future is all part of the current feedback gathering effort, said Kill. The first decision will cover what happens this year The Forest Service is in ongoing discussions with partners, interested parties, tribes and the wild foods industry

SUNDAY, FebrUArY 22, 2026

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 — snAPPisHLY: SNAPish-lee: Curtly; arising from annoyance.

Average mark 44 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 63 or more words in SNAPPISHLY?

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

super Quiz

Louie in a rush

It was the last round at the club’s Saturday night duplicate and Hard Luck Louie’s game had not been going well He estimated that he had a below-average score and he wanted to head for the bar to drown his sorrows. He playedthisdealtooquicklywhen he covered the king of spades lead with dummy’s ace East ruffed and there was no way for Louie to come to 10 tricks. Down one and off to the bar, cursing his luck on the way out.

Lucky Larry played this deal a round earlier. Larry was having his usual solid game and he gave this deal the attention it deserved. Larry played low from dummy on the opening spade lead and also played low on the spade continuation. West persisted with another high spade Larry played low from dummy once more and ruffed in hand. He drew trumps in three rounds and discarded a diamond on the ace of spades. Larry conceded a club to the defense and claimed 10 tricks. Larry had given up on

a fair chance for an overtrick because he knew it was possible, at this vulnerability, for West to have seven spades for his pre-empt, rather than six. Well done!

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Social events will lead to new beginnings. Doors will open through the connections you make. Love, romance and the exploration of new possibilities are on the rise. It’s up to you to make things happen.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Connections can make a difference to your financial outcome. Put in the effort, use your imagination and draw on your expertise to develop a lucrative plan.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) If you want to accomplish what you set out to do, work quietly, and don’t draw unnecessary attention. Focus on using your discipline and imagination to help people and make a difference.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) The impression you make will impact how others treat you. Be bold and take initiative, and the returns will be excellent. If you love someone, let them know. Romance is apparent if you are open to it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Emotional challenges will require thought. Don’t make promises you cannot afford. Monitor your time, energy and money carefully to avoid setbacks. Rethink and redirect your plans to meet your needs.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Place your feet firmly on the ground and take a realistic look around you. What you discover will determine what’s next. Too little thought and planning will get you in trouble.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Engage in direct, from-the-heart talks, and initiate conversations that resolve issues. Participating in events that address your concerns will lead to interesting encounters.

LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct 23) Set limits before you engage in anything that can cost you financially emotionally or physically Indulgent

behavior will lead to regret and can affect your reputation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Choose compassion and understanding over anger and disruption. Social events will lead to interesting encounters and conversations. If you love someone, tell them so.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Stay home. Be wary of fast-talking scammers. If something sounds too good to be true, know enough to walk away Set standards that suit your needs.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Opportunity is within reach. Don’t limit what you can do by the company

you keep. Step out and see what’s available in your community and make the most of whatever situations you encounter AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take the plunge and follow through with your ideas. Life is too short to waste your time stressing over things you cannot fix. Apply pressure where necessary and work to make a difference.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

1. Lorry.2.Windscreen.3.Cot.4.Handbag. 5. Petrol. 6. Torch. 7. Braces. 8. Pram. 9. Nappy 10. Flat. 11. Waistcoat. 12. Flyover. 13. Biscuit 14. Post. 15. Interval.

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: It wasnot theapple on the tree butthe paironthe groundthatcaused the trouble in the garden of Eden.—Elizabeth Barrett Browning