The Advocate 03-01-2026

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Plane crashes in Bolivia, killing at least 22

LA PAZ, Bolivia The death toll rose to 22 on Saturday from the crash of a military plane carrying 18 tons of new bank notes a day earlier near Bolivia’s capital, damaging about a dozen vehicles and scattering bills on the ground, a police commander said Saturday

Another 29 people were injured, mostly passengers traveling on public transportation where the plane crashed. Among the dead are 12 men, including one crew member, six women and four children, police commander Mirko Sokol said.

Forensic investigators were still recovering remains from the wreckage Saturday. The injured were taken to clinics in the city of El Alto, near La Paz, where the airport is located.

Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said Friday that the Hercules C-130 plane was transporting newly printed Bolivian currency from the eastern city of Santa Cruz when it “landed and veered off the runway” at an airport in El Alto, a city adjacent to La Paz, before ending up in a nearby field. Firefighters managed to put out the flames that engulfed the aircraft. Images on social media showed debris from the aircraft, destroyed cars and bodies scattered on the road.

2 indicted in connection to Utah church shooting

SALT LAKE CITY A federal grand jury has indicted two men on firearms charges in connection with a shooting last month in a church parking lot in Salt Lake City that left two people dead and six more injured.

The indictment unsealed Friday charges 32-year-old Ryan Toutai with unlawful disposition of a firearm and 26-year-old Fineeva Maka with felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah said.

Investigators used cellphone videos and photos and GPS ankle monitor evidence to tie the two men to a pistol recovered from the Jan. 7 shooting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Prosecutors allege the two men are gang members.

The violence took place in the back parking lot of a place of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. Investigators have said the shooting broke out from a dispute between people who knew each other and were attending a funeral. All the victims were adults.

Cher’s son faces counts of assault, trespassing

CONCORD N.H.— Police say Cher’s son was arrested on Friday after acting belligerently at a New Hampshire private high school, of which he has no association.

Elijah Allman, 49, was charged with four misdemeanors: two counts of simple assault, criminal trespass and criminal threatening. Allman, whose father was the late Gregg Allman, was also charged with a violation of disorderly conduct, which is illegal in the state but not considered a crime.

At about 7 p.m. that day, Concord police responded to reports that Allman was disturbing people in the dining hall of St. Paul’s School. After charging Allman, police said he was released on bail as his case works through the court system.

A representative for Cher was not immediately available. St Paul’s School declined to comment.

In today’s tribute section for the late Norman Francis, a production error garbled a few words. In Edwin Lombard’s column, a sentence should state: “It was Doc who talked Rudy into coming out after he was arrested to meet those folks.” In Reynold Verret’s column, a sentence should state: “His legacy lives on in our alumni, the leaders he formed, and in so many across the nation who were blessed by his greatness.” The Advocate | The Times-Picayune regrets the errors CORRECTION

Pakistan strikes inside Afghanistan

‘Open war’ continues on border

BY MUNIR AHMED and ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN Associated Press

ISLAMABAD Pakistan’s military, backed by artillery and air power, struck more military installations deep inside Afghanistan overnight after Pakistan said it was in “open war” with its eastern neighbor

Pakistan on Saturday claimed more than 330 Afghan forces had been killed since fighting erupted Thursday night during a broad Afghan cross-border attack into Pakistan Afghanistan rejected the figures as false.

The casualty figures provided by either side could not be independently confirmed

The fighting was in response to Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan last Sunday. Pakistan said it was targeting the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, or TTP The group is separate but closely allied with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban. Afghanistan, however, said only civilians were killed in Sunday’s airstrike.

After the Afghan attack, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif declared Friday: “Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us.”

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Saturday that more than 331 Afghan forces had been killed and over 500 others wounded during the ongoing military strikes in Afghanistan Pakistan destroyed 102 Afghan posts, captured 22 others and destroyed 163 tanks and armored vehicles at 37 locations, he said Kabul has dismissed the casualty claim as inaccurate.

On Saturday the Afghan Defense Ministry claimed that Afghan forces killed 110 Pakistani soldiers during ongoing fighting Enayatullah Khawarazmi, a ministry spokesman, wrote on X that Afghan forces also captured 27 Pakistani posts.

There was no immediate response from Islamabad.

Pakistan’s army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday that 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the fighting.

The Afghan government’s deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, on Saturday accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar and Kandahar, as well as refugee camps in Torkham and Kandahar Fitrat said 52 people had been killed, most of them women and children, and 66 others wounded.

Meanwhile, the United Nations wrote on X that major cities in Afghanistan were reportedly bombed by the Pakistani military on Friday, marking a new escalation and raising fears for civilians already struggling under the harsh rule of the Taliban authorities.

On Friday, Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said 13 Afghan forces were killed and 22 wounded He also said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Pakistan put its own military figures at 12 killed, 27 wounded and one soldier missing in action.

Pakistan’s state-run media reported the country’s air force carried out strikes targeting key military installations in various areas of eastern Afghanistan.

According to Pakistani authorities, hundreds of residents living near the northwestern Torkham border crossing had fled. In recent days, Pakistan has also deported dozens of Afghan refugees to Torkham.

Ejaz Ul Haq, an Afghan refugee stranded near the Torkham border with his family, said he could not return to Afghanistan because of the fighting Many others were struggling to obtain food during the fasting month of Ramadan, he said.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry on Saturday said Afghanistan attacked Pakistani military bases in Miranshah and Spin Wam overnight, destroying military installations and causing heavy casualties in response to the ongoing airstrikes by Pakistan.

Mexican authorities hand over body of ‘El Mencho’ to his family

By The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY Mexican authorities returned the body of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” to his family after he was killed by the Mexican army last week, officials said on Saturday

In a brief note on X, the Attorney General’s Office said that it handed over the body of El Mencho after completing all the necessary procedural protocols.

“Genetic tests were carried out to confirm that there were indeed blood ties between the person who requested the release and the deceased,” the organ said.

The killing of the country’s most powerful drug lord was met with a wave of retaliatory violence in some 20 states. More than 70 people were killed.

The violence has fueled fears that the bloodshed could hurt tourism ahead of the FIFA World Cup later this year

“I don’t think handing over the body to the family is going to recreate the havoc,” said David Mora, a senior analyst and Mexico expert at global think tank International Crisis Group.

“The violence that is going to come next is going to play out differently,” Mora added, pointing to the reorganiza-

tion of the cartel following the decapitation of its leader and potential turf wars between smaller criminal groups.

The U.S. State Department had offered

Case on gun rights, cannabis use builds unusual alliances

High court to hear arguments Monday

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON Gun rights and cannabis legalization are usually on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but both movements have brought about seismic shifts in the United States in recent decades.

Now those forces are lining up for a rare overlap in a case coming before the Supreme Court on Monday, and it is not the only unusual alliance.

The Republican Trump administration will be defending a firearm restriction, with backing from gun-control groups typically more aligned with Democrats.

On the other side is a pairing of the National Rifle Association and the American Civil Liberties Union.

At stake is a federal law that bars people who regularly use marijuana from legally owning guns. It is an issue that has divided lower courts since a landmark 2022 Supreme Court decision expanded gun rights.

Cecillia Wang, legal director at the ACLU, said the law violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutionally vague about what it means to be a drug user

“We’re deeply concerned with the potential of this statute to basically give federal prosecutors a blank check,” she said. “Millions of Americans use marijuana and there is no way for them to know based on words of this statute whether they could be charged or convicted of this crime because they own a firearm.”

Cannabis is legal for medicinal use in most states and for recreational use in about half the country

But the law also applies more widely against all illegal substances, meaning the case could allow broader legal gun use by other drug users. The group Everytown for Gun Safety said the law meets the Su-

preme Court’s requirement that gun laws must have a strong grounding in the nation’s history and tradition.

“Restricting firearm use by illegal drug users is ‘as old as legislative recognition of the drug problem itself,’” attorneys wrote. Cannabis remains illegal on a federal level, though President Donald Trump has signed an order to fasttrack its reclassification as a less dangerous drug. His Justice Department is also asking the justices to revive a criminal case against Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas man who was charged with a felony because he had a gun in his house and acknowledged smoking marijuana every other day FBI agents also found a small amount of cocaine when they searched his home as part of a broader investigation, but the gun charge was the only one filed against him.

The conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the case, finding that only people who are intoxicated while armed can be charged with a crime.

The administration has argued in favor of gun rights in other cases, but government lawyers say this law is a justifiable restriction. “Habitual illegal drug users with firearms present unique dangers to society — especially because they pose a grave risk of armed, hostile encounters with police officers while impaired,” they wrote in court documents. The law fits within the nation’s history of restrictions on people who were frequently drunk, they argued.

While the conservativemajority Supreme Court has expanded gun rights, it also has upheld a federal law disarming people who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders. The Department of Justice argues that drug users are similarly risky

But the NRA and other gun-rights groups, typically aligned with the GOP, are arrayed against the administration in Hemani’s case.

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a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which he ran, is one of the most powerful and fastest growing criminal organizations in Mexico and began operating around 2009.

In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

The drug lord’s death was the Mexican government’s biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration in its efforts to crack down on the cartels.

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paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the two main centers of power in the governing theocracy As reports trickled out about the death, eyewitnesses in Tehran told The Associated Press that some residents were rejoicing, blowing whistles and letting out ululations.

Iran, which responded to the strikes with its own counterassault, warned of retribution.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, said Saturday that Israel and America will “regret their actions.”

“The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will deliver an unforgettable lesson to the hellish international oppressors,” Larijani posted on X.

Months of rising tensions

The joint U.S.-Israel operation, which officials say was planned for months, took place Saturday during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan and at the start of the Iranian workweek. It followed stilted negotiations and warnings from Trump, who last year trumpeted his administration’s success in incapacitating the country’s nuclear program but nonetheless cast the latest round as necessary to head off its potential resurgence.

About 12 hours after the attacks began, the U.S. military reported no U.S. casualties and minimal damage at U.S. bases despite “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.” It said targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.

Israel, for its part, said it had killed the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the country’s defense minister as well as the secretary of the Iranian Security Council, a close adviser to Khamenei.

Unsuccessful nuclear talks

Tensions have soared in recent weeks as the Trump administration built up the largest force of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East in decades. The president insisted he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program while the country struggled with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

in the Tel Aviv area died after being wounded in an Iranian missile attack. At least three explosions were heard Saturday evening near the Intelligence Ministry building in northern Tehran, witnesses said, adding that air defense systems had begun operating there. Israel’s military said it had begun new strikes against missile launchers and aerial defense systems in central Iran.

In southern Iran, at least 115 people were reported killed when a girls’ school was struck, and dozens more were wounded, the local governor told Iranian state TV U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said he was “aware of reports” that a girls’ school was struck and that officials were looking into them.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said at least 15 people were killed in the southwest, quoting the governor of the Lamerd region, Ali Alizadeh, as saying a sports hall, two residential areas and a hall near a school were hit.

ies supported by Tehran. He called on the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms, saying members would be given immunity or face “certain death” if they did not. Iran had said it hoped to avert a war, but it maintained its right to enrich uranium. Iran has said it has not enriched since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites the U.S. bombed. Satellite photos analyzed by AP have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material.

Trump had threatened military action but held off following Iran’s recent crackdown on protests spurred by economic grievances that evolved into a nationwide push against the ruling clerics.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency says it confirmed more than 7,000 deaths in the crackdown and is investigating thousands more. The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 killed.

Khamenei was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” Trump said. “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

An Iranian diplomat told the United Nations Security Council that hundreds of civilians were killed and wounded in the strikes. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and at U.S military bases in the region, and exchanges of

fire continued into the night. Some of the first strikes on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of Khamenei, the second leader of the Islamic Republic who succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israeli officials confirmed the death, followed by Trump.

Democrats decried that Trump had taken action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance.

Though Trump had pronounced the Iranian nuclear program obliterated in strikes last year, the country was rebuilding infrastructure that it had lost, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss Trump’s decisionmaking process. The official said intelligence showed that Iran had developed the capability to produce its own high-quality centrifuges, an important step in developing the highly enriched uranium needed for weapons.

Iran responded to the latest strikes by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar The Israeli military said Iran fired dozens of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted. The Magen David Adom rescue service said Saturday night that a woman

Flights across the Middle East were disrupted, and air defense fire thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ commercial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the UAE capital killed one person, state media said.

Attack was coordinated Israel said the operation had been planned for months with the United States. Air Force pilots struck “hundreds of targets across Iran,” Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Trump acknowledged Saturday that there could be American casualties, saying “that often happens in war.” He said he was aiming to “annihilate” the Iranian navy and destroy regional prox-

Markets could be affected

The strikes could rattle global markets, particularly if Iran makes the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic A third of worldwide oil exports transported by sea passed through the strait in 2025. Saudi Arabia said Iran targeted its capital and eastern region in an attack that was repelled. Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom, and three buildings were damaged in the capital, Manama, and Muharraq city by drone strikes and debris from an intercepted missile. Kuwait’s civil aviation authority

Travelersstrandedbyflightdisruptions afterIranstrikes

BY CARA RUBINSKY, MARC LEVY andJOSH FUNK Associated Press

LONDON America and Isra-

el’sattack on Iran disrupted flights across the Middle East and beyond Saturday as countries around the region closed their airspace and three of thekey airports that connect Europe, Africa and the West to Asia haltedoperations.

Hundreds of thousands of travelers wereeither stranded or diverted to other airportsafterIsrael, Qatar,Syria, Iran, Iraq Kuwait and Bahrainclosed their airspace. There also was no flight activity over the United Arab Emirates, flight tracking website FlightRadar24 said, after the government there an-

CONGRESS

Continued from page1A

nuclear program whilearming and funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and other internationally recognized terrorist organizations. Iran andits proxies have menaced America and American lives, undermined our core national interests, systematically destabilized theMiddle East, and threatened the security of the entire West.”

House Majority LeaderSteve Scalise, R-Jefferson, was one of the first in Congress to announce his supportofthe military strikes by the U.S. andIsrael with the stated goal of eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

nounced a“temporary and partialclosure”ofits airspace. That ledtothe closure of keyhub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, and thecancellation of more than 1,800 flights by major Middle Eastern airlines. Thethreemajorairlines that operate at those airports—Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad —typically have about 90,000 passengers perday crossingthrough those hubs and evenmore travelersheaded to destinations in theMiddle East, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Then later on Saturday officials at Dubai InternationalAirport —the largest in the United Arab Emirates and one of the busiest in the world —said four

After reports surfaced that Irani an Su preme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killedinthe attacks,Sen.John Kennedy,R-Madisonville, posted on X: “Khamenei chose war.Hepaidwith hislife.”

“The President has worked tirelessly to establish alasting peace through diplomacy with Iran Instead, Iran continued to pursue their sinister ambitions, promoting terrorism, developing missiles, attempting to rebuildtheir nuclear program, and posing an imminent threattothe security of the United States and our allies,” Scalise wrote on X. “Wecan never allow the world’snumber one state sponsor of terrorism to have anuclear weapon.”

The Trump administration held three rounds of negotiations with Iranian officials on limiting the nation’snuclear program. Trump said Friday he was “not thrilled”with the talks.

“They can never have anuclear weapon,” Trump said in aspeech.

people were injuredasthe Emiratescondemned what it called a“blatant attack involving Iranianballistic missiles.” Strikes werealso reported at othercommercial airports in theregion, including Kuwait International

“For travelers, there’s no way to sugarcoat this,” said Henry Harteveldt,an airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group. “You should prepare for delays or cancellations forthe next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”

Airlines that are crossing theMiddle Eastwill have to reroute flights around the conflict with manyflights headed ho Saudi

Kennedy addressed thesituation in aspeech on the Senatefloor Friday before thestrikes began.

“Put down thenuclear weapons. Put down thenuclear enrichment. Stop exporting terrorism to Hamas andHezbollah.End your missile program. Stop killing and torturing your people.That’s allwe want,” Kennedy said.“I’m not about to give the president any advice. He has intelligencethatI don’thave, andI respect the fact that he’s being very deliberate and careful in makingthe decision.”

“Inthe South, we givefairwarning before we crack a jaw.I would say 46 years, 3months, 3 weeksand 3days is fair warning,” Rep. ClayHiggins,R-Lafayette,wrote on XSaturday afternoon.

Trumptold Iranians there may never be abetter chance to overthrow the theocratic regime that has ruled the Islamic Republic of Iran since March 1979

With the help of Israel, the U.S launched massive and ongoingstrikes Saturday morning targetingIranian leaders and military Soon after America woke up to the news, incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy,R-Baton Rouge, wrote on social media: “The President’s decision to attack Iran presumably was basedupon aclear and present danger to the United States, and aplanned execution that does not put the United States in aforever war.Wepray for the safety and success of our servicemen and servicewomen.”

Cassidy is seeking athird term but faces atough closedprimaryMay 16 againstanumberofconservative Republicans including Rep. Julia Letlow,R-Baton Rouge, who has Trump’s endorsement.

Letlow’soffice released astatement: “Iran is the world’sleadingsponsorof terrorism and actively plots to kill Americans.President Trump’sdecisive strikes send amessage that America will not tolerate Iran’s threats to our national security.May God bless our troops and keep them safe as we confront radicalIslamic terrorism andseek lasting peace.”

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,”

Trump said Louisiana’s Democratic members of Congressdidn’tcondemn the attack but asked Trump for furtherinformation on hisplans and legal authority to strike.

“Any use of military force demands seriousconsideration with aclear andcoordinatedplan,” said Rep. Troy Carter Sr., D-New Orleans. “The American peopledeservetounderstand the objectives, the risks, and thepathforward.Myfocus is protecting American lives, supportingour troops, and ensuring Congress plays its properconstitutionalrole.”

Carter’swife, Ana, is atwostargeneral in the Army Reserve.

Carterlater said in astatement: “History has shown that conflicts involving Iran rarely staycontained. With partners and proxy forces operating throughoutthe region, thepotentialfor escalation is real, andthe consequences could reach far beyond.”

Air raid warnings set off all over Israel, the UnitedArab Emirates and five other countries as well as American bases in theMiddleEast as Iran launched missiles in a counterattack

Many Democrats and some Republicans are callingon Congress to voteMonday on awar powers resolution. TheConstitution gives only Congress theright to declare war.Over the years, however,presidents have been able

sume additionalfuel,adding to thecosts airlines will have to absorb.Soticket prices could quickly start to increase if theconflict lingers.

The added flights will also put pressure on airtraffic controllers in Saudi Arabia who might have to slow traffic to makesurethey can handle it safely.And the countries that closed their airspace will miss outonthe overflight fees airlines pay for crossing overhead.

ButMike McCormick, whousedtooversee air trafficcontrol forthe Federal Aviation Administration beforeheretired and is nowaprofessor at Embry-

Riddle Aeronautical University,said over the next fewdays these countries mightbeabletoreopen parts of their airspace once American andIsraeliofficialsshare with the airlines where military flights are operating andhow capable Iran remains at firing missiles.

“Those countries then will be able to go through andsay,OK, we canreopen thisportion of our space but we’ll keep this portion of our airspace closed,” McCormick said. “SoI think whatwe’ll see in thenext 24 to 36 hourshow theuse of airspace evolvesasthe kineticactivity gets more

well defined and as the capability of Iran to actually shoot missiles andcreate additionalriskisdiminisheddue to the attacks.”

But it is unclear how long the disruption to flight operations could last. For comparison, the Israeli andU.S. attack on Iran in June 2025 lasted12days. The situation waschanging quicklyand airlines urgedpassengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport. Someairlines issued waivers to affected travelers that will allow them to rebook their flight plans without paying extra fees or higherfares

Warpowersdebategrows afterattackonIran

BY LISA MASCARO AP congressional correspondent

WASHINGTON Key members of Congress are demanding aswift vote on a war powers resolution that would restrain President Donald Trump’smilitary attack on Iran unless the administration wins their approval for what they warn is apotentially illegal campaign that risks pulling the United States into adeeper Middle East conflict.

Both the House and Senate, where the president’s Republican Party has a slim majority,had already drafted such resolutions long before the strikes Saturday.Now they are ready to plunge into arare war powers debate next week that will serveasa referendum on Trump’sdecision to go it alone on military action without formal authorization from Congress

“Has President Trump learnednothing from decades of U.S. meddling in Iran and forever wars in the Middle East?” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., aleader in the bipartisan effort. He said the strikes on Iran were“a colossal mistake.”

In the House, Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky.,are demanding Congress go on record with apublicvote on theirown bipartisan measure.“Congress must convene on Monday to vote,” Khanna said, “to stop this.”

Massie blasted Trump’s own presidential campaign slogan and said: “This is not ‘AmericaFirst.’”

But most Republicans, particularly their leaders, welcomed Trump’smove against Iran. Many cited the longtime U.S. adversary’s nuclear programs and missile capabilities as requiring

amilitary response.

“Welldone, Mr.President,” saidSen.Lindsey Graham,R-S.C. “As Iwatch andmonitor this historic operation,I’m in aweofPresident Trump’sdetermination to be aman of peace but at the end of the day,evil’s worst nightmare.”

While presidents have the authority as thecommander in chief to conduct certain strategic military operations on their own, the Constitutionvests Congress with thepower to wage war. Before theIraqWar began in March 2003, Republican President GeorgeW.Bush made amonthslongpush to secure congressional authorization.No such vote was attempted on Iran,and an earlier Senate effort to halt Trump’sactions after last summer’sstrikeonIran failed.

The congressional debate overwar powerswould mostly be symbolic. Even if aresolutionwere to pass the narrowly split Congress, Trump likely would veto

it and Congress would not have the two-thirdsmajority needed to overturn that rejection. Congress has often failed to block other U.S. military actions, including in aSenatevoteonVenezuela, but the roll callsstand as a public record.

The response by House Speaker Mike Johnson reflectedthe party’slongstanding views. Iran, he said, is facing “the severe consequences of itsevilactions.”

Johnson,R-Benton, said theleaders of theHouseand Senateand therespective intelligence committees had been briefed in detail earlier in the week thatmilitary action “may become necessary” to protect U.S. troops and citizens in Iran. He said he receivedupdates from SecretaryofState Marco Rubio and will stay in “close contact” with Trump andthe Defense Department “as this operation proceeds.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., commended Trump “for tak-

ingaction to thwart these threats.”

Thune said he looked forward to administration of-

ficials briefing all senators —asignal that lawmakers are seeking moreanswers to their questions about Trump’splans ahead.

Many Democrats are calling the operation illegal, sayingthe Constitution gives Congressalone thepower to declarewar.Tothem, the administration hasfailedto lay out its rationale or plan forthe militarystrikes, and the aftermath.

Sen. Chris VanHollen, who serves on the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, said the president has undertaken “illegal, regime-change war against Iran.”

“This is notmaking us safer &only damages the US &our interests,” Van Hollen, D-Md.,saidinasocial media post. “The Senate must immediately vote on theWar Powers Resolution to stop it.”

House Democratic leader

Hakeem Jeffries of New York said while Iranisa “bad actor and must be aggressively confronted” for its human rights abuses and thethreat it posestothe U.S and allies, the administration “must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war.” New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader,demandedthatCongress be briefed immediately on the administration’s plans.

“Iran must never be allowed to attain anuclear weapon but theAmerican people do notwantanother endless and costly war in the Middle East whenthere are so manyproblemsathome,” he said.

Associated Press writers Mary ClareJalonick and Matt Brown contributed to this report.

By The Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany Oil markets currently closedfor theweekend areset tosee price swings next weekasthe impact fromthe U.S. and Israeli strikes on oil suppliesfrom the Middle East remains unclear

Scenarios before the latest conflict with Iran foresaw aquick price spike that fades if the attacks didn’taffect oil shipping and infrastructure such as Iranian pipelines and its Kharg island terminal. However, there would be abigger price spike and longerlasting impact if oilinfrastructure or supplies were interrupted, for instance because of disruption of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices have already risen on war fears. International benchmark Brent crude closed at aseven-month high of $72.87 on Friday Iran exports some 1.6 million barrels of oil aday,most of it going to China, where privately owned refineries arelessconcerned about the U.S. sanctions that prevent Iran from selling its oil elsewhere. If that supplyisdisrupted, Chinesecustomerswould look elsewhere for oil on the global market, potentially driving up prices.

Another question is around theStrait of Hormuz, through which20% of global oil supply pass through each day.Middle East exporters Saudi Arabia, Iraq andthe United Arab Emirates send most of their exports through the strait. However analysts say Iran has no incentive to trytoclose the strait because it would cutoff its own ex-

portsand hurt itsonly big customer,China.

Limitedstrikes on Iran’s nuclearprogram and the Revolutionary Guardthat avoid regime change or all-out war could see prices jump $5-$10 based on fear alone, according to Rystad Energy in aprewar scenario.

Awiderwar involving Iranian disruption of tanker trafficcould see crude push past $90per barrel and US gas prices “well above” $3 per gallon, according to another prewar scenario from Clayton Seigle at the Center for Strategic &International Studies. U.S. gaspricesaveraged$2.98 per gallon last week, according to U.S. motoring clubAAA.

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PROOFTHIS TREATMENTWORKS There’splenty of researchtobackupthe claims of Spinal Decompression Therapyand itseffectiveness.Hereare just afew of thepublished scientificstudies

•“Patients reported amean88.9% improvementin backpainand betterfunction. No patientrequired anyinvasivetherapies (e.g.epiduralinjections, surgery).”-AmericanAcademy of Pain Management

•“We thus submit that decompression therapy should be considered first, before thepatient undergoesa surgical procedurewhich permanently alters theanatomy andfunctionofthe affected lumbar spinesegment.” -Journal Of Neuroscience Research

•“86%ofthe 219patientswho completedthe therapy reported immediateresolutionofsymptoms.” -OrthopedicTechnologyReview

•“Vertebralaxial (spinal) decompressionwas successful in 71%ofthe 778cases”-Journal of Neurological Research

•“Good to excellentreliefin86% of patients with Herniateddiscs”- TheAmericanJournal of Pain Management

•“Decompression Therapyreported a76.5% with complete remissionand 19.6%withpartial remission of pain anddisability” -Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery

At LeBlancSpine Center, we utilizeadvanced, FDA-clearedtechnologythatisproventoeffectively alleviatepain.

It’s importanttonotethatnot everypatient is a candidatefor Spinal Decompression, whichiswhy we prioritize athorough individual assessment foreachpersonwho walks throughour doors. Ourhighsuccess rate in pain relief stemsfromour commitment to only taking on patients whom we confidently believewecan help

IcametoLeBlanc SpineCenterbecause Ihad beensuffering forabout 2years with pullingin my lowerbackdownintomylegs. Ihad tried physical therapybut wasstillsuffering. AfterstartingSpinalDecompression treatments,Iamnow 70%improved! Ihaveless pain with walkingand more mobility.I have less pain in themorning when waking up,and Ican nowlift, bend,dohousehold chores and otherdaily activities with less pain.I am treated wonderfully by thestaff andIdorecommend LeBlancSpine Centerveryoften others.The doctorsare honest andsincere Randi Henriques (SocialWorker) Hometown -New Orleans, LA

helpful.The treatmentisnot painful, andI enjoythe musicwhile Iamthere too! If askedtorecommend LeBlancSpine Center, Iwould saythatIamconvinced that youwillimprove abig amount,ifnot 100% Decompression therapyisthe waytogo! RonnieHebert (Civil Engineer) Hometown -Plaquemine, LA

Forthe next 7days, we areofferingaspecial “Decompression Evaluation”offer,atnocostto you! What does this offer include? Everything we normally do in ournew patientevaluations:

•Anin-depthconsultationabout your health andwellbeing wherewewill listen really listen to thedetails of your case.

•Acompleteneuromuscular examination

•Afullset of specializedX-rays(if clinically necessary)

•Athorough analysis of your exam andX-ray findings

Youwill sitwiththe doctor oneonone to go over your x-rays,and you’ll gettosee everything first hand

At LeBlancSpine Center,weare honest with our patients andwegivepersonalizedattention and analysis to each case.Wetruly enjoymeeting with patients to answer theirquestions andtohelp find outifSpinalDecompressiontreatmentscould be theanswertotheir pain

Thereisnochargeatall andyou don’tneedtobuy anything.You have nothingtolosebytakingus up on this specialoffer andyou will getanswers to what is causingyourpain. If youhave seenour ads in thepastand have thoughtabout calling, don’t hesitate.You don’thavetogoonlivinginpain, missingout on activities andother part of life that youenjoy.Callustoday!

BeforecomingtoLeBlancSpine Center, I suffered with rightleg pain duetoa herniated disc forthree months.Ihavehad an epidural acupuncture, CATscans andMRIs, physical therapyand variousmedications that didnot help.Since Ibegan DecompressionTherapy treatments on my lowerback, Iamnow 100% improved. Before treatment, Iwas notableto do anything. Icould notshower, butcould only sitinthe tub. I wasnot able to standupstraightnor couldI sleeponmyright side.After severalweeks of treatment, Inow have more mobilityand my achesand painsare gone. Iwould recommend this treatmenttoothersbecause it hasdone wondersfor me in just 5weeks!The doctors took theirtimeduringtheir consultations and made sure they couldhelpme. Thestaff is very friendly, professional, andhavetreated me very well

MaxBourgeois (Retired,ShellChemical) Hometown -Gonzales, LA

Ihad been sufferingwithpainfrom herniateddiscs in my lowerback. Icould notstand forlongerthan 5minutes without pain.I hadtried epidural steroidinjections andphysicaltherapy in thepast, butwas still suffering. Ihavealwaysbeenactiveand my back pain wasaffecting my lifestylegreatly IcametoLeBlancSpine Centerand began Decompression treatment. andIamnow 100% improved!Ican do everything Idid beforemypainstarted,and my favorite part aboutthistreatment is theresults! Ican do allofmydaily activities without anypain. Thedoctors andstaff here have also treatedmegreat IhaverecommendedLeBlanc SpineCenter to many people andwillcontinue to do so! Mark Evans (FormerHighSchoolCoach and InsuranceAgent) Hometown -Baton Rouge,LA

BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU, SAM McNEIL andSAM METZ Associated Press

BRUSSELS How longwill it last? Will it grow? What will the conflict and the reported death of Iran’sSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mean to us, and to global security overall? Those questions echoed across theMiddle East and the planet Saturdayasworld leaders reacted warily to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

President Donald Trump said on social media that Khamenei was dead, callingit“thesinglegreatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” Iranian state media said early Sunday the 86-year-old leader had died without elaboratingona cause.

Israeli officials previously told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Khamenei was dead. AndIsraeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu,ina televised address,saidthere were “growing signs”that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday

The apparent demise of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor,would likely throw its future into uncertainty —and exacerbate already growing concerns of abroader conflict.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting.

Perhaps cautious about upsetting already strained relations with Trump, many nations abstained from commenting directly or pointedly on the joint strikes but condemned Tehran’sretaliation. Similarly to Europeans, governments across the Middle East condemned Iran’sstrikes on Arab neighbors while staying silent on the U.S. and Israeli military action.

Other countries were more explicit: Australia and Canada expressed open support for the U.S. strikes, while Russia and China responded with direct criticism.

The U.S. and Israel launched amajor attack on Iran on Saturday, and Trump called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny”byrising up against the Islamic theocracy that has ruled the nation since 1979.Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

In astatement, British Prime Minister KeirStarmer,French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor FriedrichMerz called on the U.S. and Iran to resume talks and said they favored anegotiated settlement. They said their countries didn’ttake part in the strikes on Iran but are in close contact with the U.S., Israeland partnersinthe region.

The three countries have led efforts to reach anegotiated solution over Iran’s nuclear program.

“WecondemnIranian attacksoncountries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrainfrom indiscriminatemilitary strikes,” theysaid. “Ultimately,the Iranian peoplemustbeallowedtodeterminetheir future,” they said.

Later, at an emergency security meeting,Macron said France was “neither warned nor involved” in thestrikes. He called for intensified effortsfor anegotiated solution, saying“no onecan think thatthe questions of Iran’s nuclear program,ballistic activity,regional destabilizationwill be settled by strikesalone.”

The22-nation Arab League called the Iranian attacks “a blatant violationofthe sovereignty of countries that advocatefor peace and strive for stability.” That coalition of nationshas historically condemned bothIsrael andIran for actionsitsays risk destabilizing the region.

Morocco, Jordan, Syria and theUnitedArab Emirates denounced Iranian strikes targetingU.S. military bases in the region including in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Emirates.

Under former President Bashar Assad, Syria was amongIran’sclosest regional allies andastaunch critic of Israel,yet astatement fromits foreign ministry singularly condemned Iran, reflecting the newgovernment’seffortstorebuild tieswith regionaleconomic heavyweights and the United States.

SaudiArabia said it condemnsand denounces in the strongest termsthe treacherousIranian aggression andthe blatant violation of sovereignty.” Oman, which has been mediating the talks between Iran and theU.S.,saidina statement that theU.S. action“constitutes aviolation of therules of international law and the principle ofsettlingdisputes through peaceful means, rather than through hostility andthe shedding of blood.”

NewZealandrefrained from full-throated support but acknowledged Saturday that the U.S. and Israeliattacks were keeping the Iranian regime from remaining an ongoing threat. “The legitimacy of agovernment rests on the support ofits people,” NewZealandPrime MinisterChristopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in ajoint statement. “The Iranian regime haslongsince lost that support.”

Countries in Europe and the Middle East used careful wording, avoidingperceptions that they either support unilateral American action or are directly condemning theUnited States Others were more blunt. Russia’s ForeignMinistry called the strikes “a preplanned and unprovokedact of armed aggression against asovereign and independent U.N. member state.” The ministry accused Washington and TelAvivof“hiding behind” concerns about Iran’snuclearprogram while actually pursuing regime change.

Similarly,China’sgovernmentsaiditwas “highly concerned” about the U.S. andIsraeli strikesonIran and called for an immediate halt to themilitaryaction and areturn to negotiations. “Iran’s sovereignty,securityand territorial integrity should be respected,” aChinese ForeignMinistry statementsaid. Despite recent tensions with theU.S Canada too expressedits support for the military action. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said. And the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergencymeeting on theU.S andIsraeliattacks on Iran, at the request of Bahrain and France.

Palestinians in theoccupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across thesky from Israel’s Iron Dome interceptingmissiles overhead.

Unlike Israel, Palestinian cities have no warning sirens or bomb shelters, despite the risk of falling debris or errant missiles. As people sheltered less than 10 milesaway in Jerusalem, streets in Ramallah swarmed with shoppers browsing meat counters, vegetable stalls and Ramadan sweets, some stopping to record the sounds of distantsirens and missile interceptions.

ButasIsraelclosedcheckpoints to the movement of people and goods on Saturday,gas stations saw longerthan-usual lines as residents filled spare canistersincase of supply disruptions.

The Palestinian Authority in astatement, condemned the Iranian attacks on Arab nations,many which have historically helped underwrite its finances. It made no mention of the Israeli or U.S. strikes.

Nervousness is perceptible acrossmultiple countries. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he was concerned thefailureofnegotiations between the U.S. and Iran meant a“new, extensive war in the Middle East.”

The Nobel Peace Prizewinning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons condemned the U.S.and Israeli strikes on Iran in harsherwords.

“These attacks are totally irresponsible and risk provoking further escalation as wellasincreasing the danger of nuclear proliferationand the use of nuclear weapons,” said its executive director,Melissa Parke.

EU leaders issued ajoint statement Saturday calling for restraint andengaging in regional diplomacy in hopes of “ensuringnuclear safety.”

TheArab League,too, appealed to allinternational parties “to work towards de-escalation as soon as possible, to spare theregion the scourge of instabilityand violence, andtoreturn to dialogue.”

Skydance risestoovertakeParamount,WarnerBros.

Firm hasgone from boxoffice bomb to media powerhouse

BY MATT SEDENSKY AP national writer

NEWYORK In its debut film, Skydance Productions releaseda special effects-laden World WarI drama about fighter pilots with astarring role for an unknown actor, the company’sfounder, David Ellison.

It was abox office bomb

Twenty years later,ina twist fit for Hollywood itself, the tiny studioonce brushed off as abillionaire scion’svanity project is poised to be an entertainment behemoth. With that once-unknown actor at its helm and amerger with Paramount already under its belt, Skydance is now on the cusp of another takeover that once seemed unthinkable, thistimeof storied giant Warner Bros. Discovery

“It’sonly asurprise to thosewho haven’t been paying attention to the long game,” says Walter Nicoletti, founder of the film production company Voce Spettacolo, noting Skydance’s focus on financinghit movies and accumulating assets while partnering with some of the biggest companies in the business. “This is a sort of asilent takeover. Skydance didn’tstart as a predator.Itstarted as an essentialpartner.”

When Ellison, the son of tech giant Oracle Corp. co-founderLarry Ellison, launched Skydance as a 23-year-old in 2006, the company registered little more than ablip in an industry where he was just another rich newcomer trying to gain afoothold in thewarmth of Hollywood’s bright lights.

“Flyboys,” thewar story it chose as its inaugural feature, did little to raise its profile.

“Cloyinglyformulaic,” jeered The Seattle Times. An “inflated wannabe epic,” chimed in The Washington Post.“It’shard not to giggle,” concluded The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The celebrated critic Richard Roeper echoed the panning reviews of his brethren and the lackluster responseofaudiences in questioning what the movie’smakers were thinking.

“Why make such acorny andincredibly predictable film?” he wrote.

ByThe Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya— Amember of parliament was among six people who died after a helicopter crashed in Kenya on Saturdayinwhat police described as bad weather The helicopter went down minutes aftertakeoff and burst into flames in ahilly

ParamountSkydance Chair and CEODavid Ellison arrives Tuesday before PresidentDonald Trump deliversthe Stateofthe Union address to ajoint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

But Ellison ploddedon. As theyears ticked by,more flopscamebut he slowly notched successes too. He partneredwithsomeof thebiggest names in the business, including Paramount,Netflix and Apple, andunleashed astring of hits that brought in hundreds of millions at thebox office. He lured both talent and streams of financing. He even released the rare filmtosurpass the$1billion mark, the 2022 blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick,” with his studio’smost reliable star,Tom Cruise. Jason Squire, aformer studio executive, emeritus professor at the University of Southern California, and host of “The Movie Business Podcast,”isnofan of the deal that hasSkydance poisedtotake over Warner Bros., seeing theconsolidation as reducing competition and hurting the industry.But he nonetheless marvels at howEllison went from being “not high on the radar” in Hollywood to entertainment’spinnacle.

“One of the traditions of enteringthe movie business is serious wealth, or access to serious wealth. But once you get afoothold, you have to demonstrate that wealth —bybuying things, acquiring projects,”Squiresays. “They became aplayer.”

Moneyalonedidn’tassure Ellison’ssuccess, Squire says, but it sure helped

“He became amemberat the table when these partnerships and the infusion of dollars really set himupon areally strong trajectory,” he says.“It’squite amazing.” In time,the failure of “Flyboys” was notwhatanyone thought of about Skydance. While therehave been afew

area of Nandi County in the west of the country,police chief Samuel Mukuusi said, addingall six people on board had died.Among the deadwas lawmakerJohana Ng’eno.

Mukuusi saidaninvestigationsintothe causeofthe crash had begun Kenya’scivil aviation au-

disappointments, including its reboot of the “Terminator” franchise,astringof “Mission: Impossible” flicks continually put Cruise in the limelight and audiences in theater seats. Hits like “Grace andFrankie”on Netflix gave it an entry to streaming television.

Arun-up of successes had rumors swirling what giant might gobble Skydance up.

Butinthe end,Skydance did thegobbling.

After yearsofpartnering with Paramount, thetwo companiesmergedlast year, and in the months since, Ellisonwentona relentless spending spree, announcing agreementsoneverything fromstreaming rights for UltimateFighting Championship to adeal with the creators of “Stranger Things,” whowere luredfrom Netflix.

Meantime, while the much larger Netflix once seemed ashoo-intoacquire Warner Bros., Ellison’s Skydance was unrelenting in its counterproposal. On Thursday,itemerged the winner.Netflix walked away from its offer,leaving regulatorsasSkydance’s onlypotential foil.

“This was absolutelya meteoric rise. Twodecades from its formation to its current position to becomeone of the most powerful media companies in theworld is nothing less thanincredible,” says TreLovell, aLos Angeles media law and entertainmentattorney.“What Skydance has done over the past two decades hasnot been accomplishedbyany other media company in history.

Skydance’smerger with Paramount deliveredMTV, Comedy Central, Nickel-

thority is yet to comment on theincident Parliament SpeakerMoses Wetang’ula eulogized Ng’enoasa “devoted legislator and acommitted servant of the people.” The 54-year-old legislator was serving his thirdterm and was re-elected in 2022 on aruling partyticket.

odeon anda host of other channels,including its flag-

ship CBS, where the change in powerhas brought turmoil to its news division. If the Warner deal is finalized, Ellison will preside over asprawling empire that would include HBO, HGTV, the Food Network, andanother vast expansion into newswith CNN, amove that has some of its employees worried about interference from afamily seen as an ally of President Donald Trump. It also delivers to Paramount, which has sputtered recently at the box office, astudio coming off abanner year.Warner Bros. collected 30 Oscar nominations compared with Paramount’s zero, and accounted for21% of the domestic box office in 2025. Paramount’smarket share was just 6%.

Allofitnow could be Ellison’s. What adifference 20 years makes.

The failure of “Flyboys” had Ellison so depressed, he

DestrehanPlantation,

once said, that he suffered atrial fibrillation that requiredhospitalization. But forsomeone froma family so rich that his father owns most of aHawaiian island, and with alook that GQ described as “the golden glow of the genetically sparkling,”his reversal of fortunes may be unsurprising. In this redemption story,Ellison may be straight outof central casting. Ellison has scored his biggest big-screen wins with familiar storiesfrom popular franchises like “Transformers,” “Scream,” “Sonic theHedgehog,” and “Paw Patrol.” His own narrative, emerging the unlikely victor,may strike an equally familiar tone.

“Hollywood has seen David-versus-Goliath moments before,” says Vikrant Mathur,co-founder of the streaming companyFuture Today

Trump’s ‘America First’ motto gives way to strikes abroad

BY STEVEN SLOAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, whose fierce denunciation of military adventurism abroad fueled his unlikely rise to the top of the Republican Party, risks becoming ensnared by that very type of conflict.

The U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran Saturday cemented Trump’s decadelong transformation from a candidate who in 2016 called the Iraq War a “big, fat mistake” to a president warning Americans to prepare for potential casualties overseas and encouraging Iranians to “seize control of your destiny.” The strikes were also at odds with Trump’s warnings during the 2024 campaign that his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, was surrounded by “war hawks” eager to send troops overseas.

Trump justified the action as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons or developing missiles capable of reaching the U.S., less than a year after he said airstrikes “obliterated” their capability U.S. intelligence has also said Iran’s weapons capability was substantially degraded.

For Trump, memories of the false pretenses underlying the Iraq War could lead to pressure to prove his assertion that Iran’s weapons production posed an imminent threat to Americans And for Republicans already facing a challenging election year weighed down by economic anxiety, the shift could force a reassessment of how the attacks fit into the “America First,” isolationist-leaning movement the party has embraced during the Trump era.

While Trump might benefit from an early rally-around-the-flag effect, that could be hard to sustain for weeks and months, if not longer, a far different scenario from the swift effort to remove Nicolás Maduro from power earlier this year in Venezuela

Success on day one is one thing. The days after are inherently unpredictable.

“The question is whether Iran’s goal is simply to outlast America and whether Trump has strategic attention deficit disorder which will allow the Iranians to rise from the ashes and claim victory,” said Michael Rubin, a historian at the

American Enterprise Institute who worked as a staff adviser on Iran and Iraq at the Pentagon from 2002 to 2004.

Republican reaction

Many Republicans were quick to line up behind the president, including Texas Sen John Cornyn and state attorney general Ken Paxton, who are fighting a competitive Senate primary election on Tuesday “Hopefully lives will not be lost needlessly, but this always entails risk,” Cornyn said Saturday at a campaign stop near Houston. “But we know that Iran will not stop unless the United States and our allies stop them.”

Others, like Sen. Todd Young, of Indiana, praised the military and were critical of Iran while noting that Americans will have questions that “must be answered.”

And there was outright opposition from some who have long criticized overseas entanglements, including Sen. Rand Paul the Republican of Kentucky, who lamented the start of “another preemptive war.” Former Rep. Marjorie Tay-

lor Greene, the Georgia Republican who was once a close Trump ally rejected the president’s warning of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“It’s always a lie and it’s always America Last,” she wrote online “But it feels like the worst betrayal this time because it comes from the very man and the admin who we all believed was different.”

Little advance preparation

The administration did little in advance to prepare Americans for such a dramatic action.

Vice President JD Vance told The Washington Post this week there was “no chance” that the U.S. would become involved in a drawn-out war as it did in Iraq.

During his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Trump dedicated just a few lines to Iran, arguing the country and its proxies have “spread nothing but terrorism, death and hate.”

That stands in stark contrast to the lengthy run-up to the Iraq War.

President George W. Bush, for example, named Iraq as a member of the so-called axis of evil in January 2002. Then-Secretary of State

Colin Powell delivered a now-infamous speech to the United Nations in February 2003, making the case for war based on the inaccurate assertion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. The invasion, which ultimately dominated Bush’s second term, didn’t begin until March 2003.

“We just have to be honest that there is a sense that this was not sold to the American public sufficiently,” Andrew Kolvet said Saturday on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” an online program founded by the late conservative activist who was close to Trump. “Perhaps there will be an opportunity on the back end of this.”

Kolvet was willing, however, to give Trump leeway, noting these are the types of challenging decisions presidents are entrusted with.

“President Trump has earned a big, long leash,” he said. “Not an unlimited one. But a very long one to make tough decisions.”

Polling suggests that many Americans share Trump’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, even if they’re less confi-

dent in the president’s response. About half of U.S. adults were “extremely” or “very” concerned that Iran’s nuclear program poses a direct threat to the U.S., according to a poll this month from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Most Americans, 61%, said Iran is an “enemy” of the U.S., which is up slightly from a Pearson Institute/AP-NORC poll conducted in September 2023. But their confidence in the president’s judgment when it comes to relationships with adversaries and the use of military force abroad is low, the new poll shows, with only about 3 in 10 Americans saying they have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of trust in Trump.

Democrats sense an opening Democrats sense a political opening on the issue. In Maine, Gov Janet Mills and Graham Platner are competing for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in the fall. They both issued statements on Saturday pressing Collins, the only Republican on the ballot this year in a state won by Harris, to step up her oversight of the administration.

Collins was one of three Senate Republicans who backed an unsuccessful push last month for a war powers resolution that would have limited Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Venezuela. Democrats said Saturday they would quickly seek a vote on a similar proposal for Iran.

“If we’ve started a war where we begin to lose American lives, that starts changing the political calculus,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean.

But he noted that Democrats have vulnerabilities of their own, particularly if there’s a domestic terror attack while the Department of Homeland Security is closed as they demand changes to how immigration operations are conducted.

For now Trump isn’t offering much of a detailed strategy on what comes next. In a social media post Saturday evening, he said bombings could continue “as long as necessary.” Associated Press writer Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

OpenAI gives Pentagon access to AI model

Announcement comes after Anthropic dustup

BY RACHEL METZ and MAGGIE EASTLAND Bloomberg News (TNS)

OpenAI has agreed to deploy its own artificial intelligence models within the Defense Department’s classified network after rival Anthropic PBC saw its relationship with the Pentagon implode over surveillance and autonomous weapons concerns.

OpenAI Chief Executive

Officer Sam Altman said late Friday that he’d reached an agreement with the department that reflects the firm’s principles on prohibiting “domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems.” The startup also built safeguards to ensure its models behave as they should as part of the deployment, Altman said in a post on the social media platform X.

OpenAI declined to comment on whether the firm’s services for the department would replace work previously done by Anthropic. The Defense Department didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Just hours earlier, the Pentagon had declared Anthropic a supply-chain risk, an unprecedented move against an American company that could have profound consequences for its business Dean Ball, a former adviser to President Donald Trump on AI, described the deci-

it deemed it necessary to do so, the person said.

Altman addressed some of issues of surveillance and autonomous weapons in his post, saying the Defense Department was aligned with its principles and reflected them in its agreement with OpenAI asking the department “to offer these same terms to all AI companies, which in our opinion we think everyone should be willing to accept.”

sion as “attempted corporate murder.” Less than a day after Altman posted about the deal, Trump announced that the U.S. had carried out airstrikes against Iran alongside Israel. Anthropic, which has stipulated that its products not be used for surveillance of Americans or to make fully autonomous weapons, said Friday that “no amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position.”

The company vowed to challenge any formal notification that it’s been designated a supply-chain risk in court, and its chief called the move “retaliatory and punitive” in an interview with CBS News. The AI firm has been thrust into the limelight in more ways than one in recent weeks: Its push to expand AI offerings to businesses has triggered sell-offs in everything from software to financial services and cybersecurity stocks as investors fear

such products will disrupt entire industries.

OpenAI’s deal with the Pentagon threatens to widen the rift between the Trump administration and Anthropic, which has drawn strong support for its stance in Silicon Valley where tech workers rallied to the company’s side and urged other major tech companies including Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to follow suit The Pentagon has also struck a deal with xAI for Grok to start operating on the classified cloud.

The Pentagon had offered terms to Anthropic earlier this week that incorporated some language that the company had proposed on surveillance and autonomy, a person familiar with the situation said, asking not to be identified because the talks weren’t public. But in Anthropic’s opinion, they didn’t go far enough in ensuring the department wouldn’t set those restrictions aside when

South Sudan faces turmoil as former officials arrested

BY JOSEPH FALZETTA and DENG MACHOL Associated Press

JUBA, South Sudan A former South Sudan finance minister is the latest former government official arrested in a wave of detentions that analysts say shows cracks in the government of President Salva Kiir, who also faces an armed rebellion.

The latest arrest came Friday when Bak Barnaba Chol was taken into custody while attempting to cross the border into Uganda. His arrest followed that of another former minister of finance and planning, Marial Dongrin Ater who was fired in August.

In the past week, a former central bank governor, a former undersecretary for the ministry of petroleum, and a general in the domestic intelligence agency previously posted to the same ministry have been detained. The exact reasons for the arrests remain unclear Government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told lo-

cal media outlet Eye Radio that the arrests were “not political” and were a “direct response to irregularities identified within the monetary system.” He said that a committee was investigating “financial malpractices.”

Edmund Yakani, a prominent civic leader, said Saturday that the mood in Juba was tense among politicians fearing detention “So far, these arrests have mostly targeted financial institutions, but if the arrests carry into the security sectors it will be very dangerous,” he said.

Daniel Akech of the International Crisis Group said the arrests showed a narrowing of the president’s “big tent” coalition, which he has relied on for years to maintain control of a fractured political landscape.

The war in Sudan is hurting South Sudan’s economy, which is overwhelmingly dependent on oil exports All of South Sudan’s oil flows through pipelines in Sudan. Since the South Sudan war

began in 2023, pipeline ruptures have at times put more than 60% of oil production offline The World Bank estimates that South Sudan’s economy shrunk 24% in 2025.

In 2024, the International Crisis Group warned that the disruption of oil production could lead to much wider political violence as Kiir runs out of petrodollars “to keep South Sudan’s rivalrous generals and warlords on his side.”

The regime is already facing an armed rebellion. Opposition leader Riek Machar is under house arrest and on trial for alleged subversion, charges he denies. Many of his allies have since been arrested or purged from the government. Kiir suspended Machar as his deputy in September after Machar faced criminal charges

Machar’s removal coincided with a sharp increase in violence. The U.N. estimates that thousands were killed in 2025 and 280,000 people have been displaced since December

Altman’s statement on X, however, stops short of Anthropic’s redline to prohibit the use of their AI tools in fully autonomous weapons. His commitment to maintaining “human responsibility for the use of force” hews closely to existing Pentagon policy that has governed the development of semiautonomous and autonomous weapons for years and calls for “appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force.”

One key detail in Altman’s post: OpenAI’s tools will be used in a classified setting “only” on cloud networks, as opposed to edge servers. Cloud networks can potentially run automated decision-making systems, but they also make systems easier to command and control or cut if something goes wrong.

Forgenerations,BRECparks have been whereEast BatonRougeParishgathers–wherekidslearnteamwork onballfields,familiescelebratemilestonesunderpavilions andneighborsreconnectonwalkingtrails.Now,asBREC begins2026withseveralkeyprioritiesinmind,itsleaders areleaningintothatrolewitharenewedfocusonlistening to residents, modernizingfacilitiesand concentrating resourceswheretheycanmakethegreatestimpact Theparksareasliceoflife,”saidBRECInterimSuperintendent,JanetSimmons.“Somehavealotofathletics.Some have arts programs.Some fill nicheneeds with adaptive programming.WehaveplaceslikeFrenchtown,whichisa conservationpropertywithlessstructuredprogramming WehavetherapeutichorseprogramsatFarrPark,andnext tothat,youseepeopleflyingremote-controlledplanesand drones Thewidevariety of people andinterests that we serveistrulyimpressive.” ThatdiversityisoneofBREC’sdefiningstrengths,and alsooneofitsbiggestchallenges.Withoneofthelargest parksystemsinthenation,Simmonssaidtheorganization isbecomingmoreintentionalabouthowitplansprojects, addressesneedsandallocatesresources Someofthoseshiftsarehappeningbehindthescenes. BRECnowuseswhatSimmonscallsa“warroom”model, gatheringprojectstakeholdersinthesamespaceregularly to identify needsand streamline conversations.Inaddition,BRECleadersholdweeklymeetingswithEastBaton RougeParishmayorsandcityofficialstohelpensureeach community’svoicesareheard.

“Wearebeingverytargetedintermsofaddressingeach city’s needsand making sure we take care of each one’s requestsandpriorities,”Simmonssaid.“Thewholepurpose istomakesureBRECisnotleavinganybodybehind.

Whileeachcommunityhasexpressedcertaininterests Simmonssaidsomeconsistentthemeshaveemerged throughdiscussionsandfeedback.Forexample,parents across EastBaton RougeParishhave regularlysaidthey wantBRECparkstohaveampleathleticopportunitiesfor theirchildrentoplaybaseball,softball,soccer,basketball footballandevenlacrosseandrugbywithouttheneedto paytoparticipateintournamentteamsortravelleagues “Whenaparenthasachildthatisinterestedinathletics, they want an easy,straightforward wayfor them to participate.Theyjustwanttheirkidstobeabletoplayteam sports.We’re trying to fill that gap,”Simmons said.“I’m reallyexcitedaboutournewsevenmemberathleticcouncil Wehavemembersfromallacrosstheparish.Thatcouncil willhelpusdeterminehowyouthathleticsgrowhere. Beyondrecreation,BRECisalsoseeinghowhigh-quality programmingcan positively influence public safety and qualityoflife. Simmonssaidthatsince an initiative was implementedatGardereLaneParktoofferyouthstructured after-schoolandsummeractivities,crimeratesintheareahave droppedsignificantly.Similarmomentumisnowbuilding atHowellCommunityPark,whereanInspirationCenter andon-sitepoliceunitprovidementorshipandstability. “Ifwecan duplicatethe success from theGardere

Initiative at otherlocations by giving kids somethingto doandaplacetointeractwithadultsasmentors,wecan reallymakeadifferenceintheirlivesandtheirneighborhoods,”Simmonssaid

As theweather warmsup, that operationalfocus is carrying into seasonal offerings.BRECstaff are finalizingplans forsummercamps forchildrenofall ages and abilities,whileaquaticsprogrammingwillreturnaround MemorialDayunderanewthird-partyoperator.

“Weanticipatethatwewilldeliverouraquaticsservices inamuchbetterwaythisyear,”Simmonssaid.“Swimming lessonsforkidsaresoimportanthereinSouthLouisiana Peoplethinkofitasfun,whichitis,butit’salsoaboutsafety becauseofhowmuchwatersurroundsus.”

Meanwhile,manyBRECpropertiesareseeingrenewed usageand energy as BREC investsinfacilityupgrades andnew programming. At Farr Park Equestrian Center andRVCampground, improvementscompleted over thepastyearhavesparked arenewed interest in rentals andweekend activity.Witha newEquestrianDirector onstaff,FarrParkoffersboarding,trailrides,campsand eventrentals,alongwiththerapeutichorseprogramsand agrowing slateofcommunity events.And,Magnolia Mound:Museum+HistoricSitejustsouthofdowntown BatonRouge hasseenmorevisitsinrecentmonthsthan in thepastdecade-plus, as BREC workstorefurbish the historical site andadd relevant programs andhands-on demonstrations.

“One of thebiggest things I’ve learnedinthisjob is thatprocessesaresoimportant.Onceyougettheprocess right, youcan do things quickly,”Simmons said.“That goes foreverythingfrom financeand procurementto custodialservicestoprogramming.It’ssoimportant to make sure we have procedures to addressneeds rapidly. We’reworkingonalotofthoseissuesandstillhavemore roomforimprovement,butwearemakingprogress.” TheRapid Response TicketingSystemnow enables BRECstafftoprovideupdatestocrowdsourcedconcerns quicklyand address maintenanceissuesbybalancing day-to-day needswithlong-term priorities.Simmons said theorganization’srecreationcentertransitionplan is well underway.MostBRECcenters were builtinthe 1970sand1980s.Duetotheirage,leadershaveevaluated whichonesshouldberenovated,replacedorretired.In addition,Simmons said BREC hasidentified more than 30propertiestoberemovedfromthesystem,mostoften throughsales “Allofthisispartofourstrategicplan,”Simmonssaid. ThecommunityhastoldusoftenthatBREChastoomany propertiesandmanagingthemiscostingtoomuch.That hasled us to identify andfocus efforts on our flagship parks, make sure we keep thoseinpristinecondition anddevelopqualityprogrammingaroundthemthatthe residentswanttosee Thisistrulywherewecanmakethe mostimpactinthefuture. Visitwww.brec.orgtolearnmoreaboutBRECfacilities andprogramming

Boat deaths off Cuba spotlight Fla. anti-government groups

BY JOSHUA GOODMAN, GISELA SALOMO and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press

MIAMI A stolen boat, with 10 people aboard, loaded with weapons, departs the Florida Keys but gunfire erupts before reaching Cuba. The explanation, according to the Cuban government, is the men aboard were terrorists who wanted to infiltrate the country

The fatal shooting broke out Wednesday amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Cuba. The ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has led the Trump administration to take a more aggressive stance toward the country’s longstanding ideological nemesis in Latin America. It shines fresh attention on the deep-rooted freedom movement among Cuban exiles in south Florida, including some fringe elements who have long sought a violent overthrow of the island’s communist leadership.

Armed raids, provocative publicity stunts and protests blurring the lines of legality stretch back decades in the Florida straits. Many of them are led by hard-liner exiles, some who fought in Fidel Castro’s guerrilla army that took power in 1959 before breaking ranks when the popular leader converted Cuba into a Soviet satellite.

But such confrontational tactics have faded since the Cold War leaving many

in Miami to speculate the armed incursion was a fabrication of Cuba’s intelligence agencies.

“Cuban Americans today are whether on the left or on the right, really focused on trying to influence U.S. policy rather than thinking that somehow paramilitary action by small groups are gonna overthrow the Cuban government,” said William LeoGrande, an American University government professor who specializes in Cuba.

The shooting left four dead and many questions. Cuba’s government said most of the people on the boat were violent criminals U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who rose to prominence surrounded by the Cuban exile politics of Miami, was quick to cast doubt on the Cuban account, saying that the U.S would investigate what he described as a “highly unusual” sea shootout

Late Friday top officials with Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior unveiled the items they said were aboard the boat, including a dozen highpowered weapons and more than 12,800 pieces of ammunition

The counterrevolutionary groups — with names like Alpha 66 and Omega 7 were always small in number but were at their strongest in the 1970s and ’80s. Their influence receded as the Reagan administration arrested their leaders for violent attacks on U.S. soil, like an assassination plot

targeting Castro during his 1979 visit to the United Nations and the shooting death a year later of a Cuban diplomat in New York.

Antonio Tang joined Alpha 66 shortly after fleeing Cuba and going into exile in Canada in 1981.

He trained in weapons and guerrilla tactics with the volunteer group at a camp in the Everglades called Rumbo Sur — Direction South. Many of its actions were over before they started, he said.

“We were kind of amateurs — and no match for the Cuban military and interior ministry,” said Tang. “They always knew in advance what we were doing. Many folks ended up in jail.”

Ernesto Díaz, deputy secretary general of Alpha 66,

described the 10 men as martyrs.

“It is an act of compassion for a Cuban people who are suffering,” Diaz, 86, said. “It was a sacrifice that has demonstrated the nobility and sensitivity towards freedom in Cuba.”

Former Cuban intelligence officer Enrique Garcia said a well-funded Cuban intelligence department — called Q-2 — spent decades co-opting armed resistance groups. In some cases, Cuban agents would fund weapon purchases and drive unsuspecting exiles into plots.

Agents infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue, which lost four members in 1996 when Cuban fighter jets shot down their airplanes in the Florida straits.

“This strategy — seemingly still in place — sought to portray the Cuban exile community as extremist and link the U.S. government and agencies to such activities,” said Garcia, who defected to the U.S. in 1989. “The U.S. intelligence community is aware and must have documented in its archives that this was a permanent modus operandi of the Cuban intelligence service.”

Garcia said he can’t remember any covert act of the sort Cuba has denounced in at least three decades. He also finds the timing of the attack suspicious. The Trump administration has asserted almost unprecedented pressure on Havana to open its economy and relinquish almost seven de-

cades of single-party rule. Marina Luz Padron, whose ex-husband, Hector Cruz Correa, was among those reported killed, appealed for privacy as the family mourns. She described her ex-husband as an excellent father to their 4-year-old child, who still hasn’t been told about his fate.

“If he went to Cuba it was because he wanted freedom for his country,” Padron told The Associated Press in a brief interview

Other family members spoke to Spanish language influencers in Miami describing their loved ones as peaceful and far removed from what Cuban officials denounced as a “terrorist” incursion.

Ibrahim Bosch, president of the Republican Party of Cuba, another exile group, said that Michel Ortega Casanova, one of those killed, was the leader of his party in Tampa for a while until he requested to be replaced so he could spend more time to with his family “He was an excellent person, very hardworking, very dedicated to his family,” Bosch said. “He always had the hope of freedom for Cuba.”

But Florida resident Misael Ortega Casanova said his brother — an American citizen who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years and still agonizes over the suffering that Cubans endure — was on an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for Cuba’s freedom.

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY

AP technology writer

Instagram said Thursday it will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or selfharm. The alerts will only go to parents who are enrolled in Instagram’s parental supervision program. Instagram says it already blocks such content from showing up in teen accounts’ search results and directs people to helplines instead. The announcement comes as Meta is in the midst of two trials over harms to

children. A trial underway in Los Angeles questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately addict and harm minors. Another, in New Mexico, seeks to determine whether Meta failed to protect kids from sexual exploitation on its platforms. Thousands of families —

along with school districts and government entities have sued Meta and other social media companies claiming they deliberately design their platforms to be addictive and fail to protect kids from content that can lead to depression, eating disorders and suicide.

Meta executives including CEO Mark Zuckerberg have disputed that the platforms cause addiction During questioning by the plaintiff’s lawyer, in Los Angeles, Zuckerberg said he still agrees with a previous statement he made that the existing body of scientific work has not proved that social media causes mental health harms. The alerts will be sent via email, text or WhatsApp, depending on the parent’s contact information available, as well as a notification through the parent’s Instagram account.

Police findingsuspectsbased on online searches

Courts weighing privacyconcerns

BY MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa.—

Crimi-

nal investigators hoping to develop suspects in difficult cases have been asking Google to reveal who searched for specific information online, seeking “reverse keyword” warrants that criticswarnthreatenthe privacy of innocent people

Unlike traditional search warrants that target aknown suspect or location, keyword warrants work backwardby identifying internet addresses wheresearcheswere made in acertain window of time for particular terms, suchasa streetaddress where acrime occurred or a phrase like “pipe bomb.”

Police have used the method to investigate aseriesof bombings in Texas, the assassination of aBrazilian politician and afatal arson in Colorado.

It’snot awild guess by investigators to conclude that people are using Google searches in all manner of crimes, as the company’s search engine has become the main gateway to the internet and users’ dailylives increasingly leave online traces. The potentialvalue to investigators of the data Google collects is obvious in caseswithnosuspect, such as the search for Nancy Guthrie’skidnapper

The legal tension between the need to solve crimes quickly and the U.S. Constitution’sFourth Amendment protections against overly broad searches wasatthe heart of arecent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that upheld the use of areversekeyword warrant in a rape investigation.

Privacyadvocates see it as giving police “unfettered access to the thoughts, feelings, concerns and secrets of countless people,” according to an amicus brieffiledin the Pennsylvania appealby the American Civil Liberties Union, the Internet Archive and severallibrary organizations.

In response to written questions about the warrants, Google provided an emailed statement: “Our processes forhandlinglaw

center,was used in the rapecase of awoman in Milton, Pa.Kurtz was convictedin2020.

enforcement requests are designed to protect users’ privacy while meeting our legal obligations. We review all legal demandsfor legal validity,and we push back against those that are overbroad orimproper,including objecting to someentirely.”

Abreak in thecase

Pennsylvania StatePolice were stymied in theirinvestigation into the violent rape of awoman in 2016 on aremote cul-de-sac outside Milton, a small community in the center of the state. With no clear leads, police obtained awarrant directing Google to disclose accountsthatsearched for thevictim’snameoraddress over theweek when shewas attacked.

More thana year later, Googlereportedtwo searches for the woman’saddress weremadea fewhours before the assault from aspecific IP address, anumeric designation that lists where aphone or computer liveson the internet.

That led them to the home of astate prison guard namedJohnEdward Kurtz. Policethenconducted surveillance and collected acigarette butthediscardedthat matched DNA recovered from the victim, according to courtrecords.Heconfessed to the rape and attacks involving four other women overa five-yearperiod,and was convicted in 2020. Now 51,he’sbeen sentenced to 59 to 280 years.

Kurtz’sattorneys argued policelackedprobable cause to obtain the information and impinged on hisprivacy rights.

The stateSupreme Court rejected those claims late

last year butsplit on the reasons why.Three justices said Kurtz should nothave expected his Google searches to be private, while three more said police hadprobable causetolook for anyone who searched the victim’saddressbefore the attack. Buta dissenting justice said probable cause requires more than justa “bald hunch” and guessing that aperpetrator would have used Google.

Kurtz lawyer DouglasTaglieri made the same point in acourt filing, but conceded, “It was agood guess.”

Julia Skinner,aprosecutor in thecase, said reverse keyword searchesare much more effective when there are specific andevenunusual terms that can narrow results, such as adistinctive name or an address. They are alsoparticularly effective whencrimes appear to have been planned out beforehand, she said.

“I don’tthink they’re used super frequently,because what you need to target has to be so specific,” she said There were 57 searchesreturned in the Kurtz case, but many of themwere first responders trying to locate the home in theimmediate aftermathofthe crime, Skinner said.

Acting in good faith

In the similar case in Colorado, police sought the IP addresses of anyone who searchedovera 15-dayperiod for the address of a home where adeadly arson occurred. Authorities got IP addresses for 61 searches made by eight accounts,ultimately helping identify three teenage suspects The Colorado Supreme

Courtruled in 2023 that although thekeyword warrant was constitutionally defective for not specifying an “individualized probable cause,”the evidence could be used because police had acted in good faithabout what wasknown about the law at the time.

“Ifdystopian problems emerge, as somefear,the courtsstand ready to hear argument regarding howwe should reininlaw enforcement’suse of rapidlyadvancing technology,” themajority of Colorado justices ruled.

Courts have long permitted investigators to seek things like bank recordsorphone logs. However,civil liberties groups sayextending those powerstoonlinekeywords turnseverysearch user into asuspect.

It’s unclear how many keyword warrants are issued every year —Google does not break down thetotal number of warrants it receivesby type, according to the ElectronicFrontierFoundation andthe Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in aJanuary 2024 brief.

The twogroups said police working on the bombings in Austin, Texas,sought anyone who searched for terms suchas“low explosives” and “pipe bomb.” And in Brazil, investigators trying to solve the 2018 assassination in RiodeJaneiro of thepolitician Marielle Franco asked for thosewho searched for Franco’sname and the street where she lived. ABrazilian high courtisexpected to de-

cide soon on the legality of those search disclosures.

Reversekeyword warrants are distinct from “geofence” warrants, where criminal investigators seek information about who wasinagiven area at aparticulartime

The U.S. Supreme Court said last month it will rule on that method’sconstitutionality

For many people,their Google search historycontains someoftheir mostpersonalthoughts,from health

issues and political beliefs to financialdecisions and spending patterns.Google is introducing moreartificial intelligence into its search engine,seemingly away to learn even moreabout users.

“What could be more embarrassing,” asked University of Pennsylvania law professor andcivil rights lawyer David Rudovsky,ifevery Google search “wasnow out there, gone viral?”

When Chancellor John K. Pierre walksacrossthe campus of Southern University andA&M College, he seesarenaissancetakingplace.

Enrollment is steadily increasing.Anew welcome center,amphitheaterandpolicestationrecentlyopened WorkiscontinuingonanewSTEMbuilding,andplans areunderwayfor anew CollegeofBusinessand Lab School,plusanexpandedNursingSchool

27.TheJag-A-Thonistheuniversity’slargestsingle-day fundraiseroftheyear,withcontributionsgoingtosupport facilityupgradesandequipment,aswellasacademicand holisticprogramstosupportstudent-athletes’personal development.

Jag-A-Thondonationsmaybemadeinthefollowingways:

•Phone:Call225-771-2436thedayofthe Jag-A-Thonevent

“Greatthingsarehappening.Weareseeingrejuvenation everywhere,” Chancellor Pierresaid.“Thishasalways beenaschoolofaccessand opportunity, andwe’re reallyexcitedaboutwhat’s happeningherenow.” Thatrenaissanceextends into Southern’sacademic offerings.ChancellorPierre saidtheuniversityrecently became thefirstHBCUto offera risk management andinsurance program. Inaddition,theagriculture andcomputerengineeringprogramsareexpandingand evolvingtomeetmodernneedsandstudentdemand. “We’re gettingfolks workforce-ready,”hesaid. “We havegreatleadersthatcomeoutofSouthernUniversity andA&MCollege.” ChancellorPierreishopefulthattheseupgradeswill enhanceSouthern’snameacrossthenation.It’salready aninstitutionthatiswell-knowninathleticsandperformance, thanks to winningteams andthe band known worldwideasTheHumanJukebox “Allofthattravelswell.Ourfansarereally,reallygreat fans,and people look forwardtowhenSoutherncomes totowntoplay,”hesaid.“Theyreallylookforwardtothe enthusiasmthatisshown. When it comestoathletics,ChancellorPierresaid Southern’s goal is to create awell-balanced holistic environmentthatpreparesstudent-athletesfor transformativecareers.Those transformationsare only possiblewithfinancialcontributionsfromalumni,fans, stakeholdersandsupporters. Oneofthebestopportunitiestomakeacontribution willbeduringtheannualJag-A-ThononFriday,March

•Online:https://foundation.sus.edu/jag-a-thon/ •Inperson:LeonR.TarverIICultural andHeritageCenter(9a.m.to5p.m March27)

•Mail:SouthernUniversityAthletics, P.O.Box9942,BatonRouge,LA,70813

Thisyear’sJag-A-Thonwillbeacombinedin-person andvirtual eventencompassingphone banking, live streamingandsocializing.Alivestreamwillbeavailable from 9a.m.to5p.m.onJaguarsSportsNetwork.com, Facebook andYouTube.Itwillalsobebroadcast live on CumulusRadio:Max 94.1,Q106.5, Heaven 95.7 and ClassicHits103.3

“Athletics haschanged.Weneedpeopletosow into Southern University andmakethe investment,” Chancellor Pierre said.“We need folkstorecognize that you can’trunanathleticprogramofthekindandqualitywe wantwithoutinvestments.”

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Effectsshowing as health insurancesubsidies expire

afford the costs.

WASHINGTON —The federal government shut down for 43 days last year when Democratsdemanded Republicans extend the enhanced premium credits that helped pay for health insurance on the AffordableCare Act marketplace that expired Dec. 31. But negotiations stalled,leaving 24.2 million Americans —small businesses, gig workers, independent contractors, early retirees and others —paying twice as much for their health insurance this year compared to last “These enhanced premium tax credits keep their coverage affordable,” said Jan Moller, executive director of Invest in Louisiana, progressive Baton Rouge-based analysts on state finances.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated 2million people in 2026 could no longer afford health insurance and would drop their policies, with increasing numbers thereafter.The Urban Institute calculated 5million would loseinsurance because the financial cushion was removed.

The

first snapshotofactual sign-ups indicatesthose estimates could be reachedorexceeded by the end of the year

About 1.2 million policyholders have already dropped their ACA marketplace policies compared to enrollment numbers on the same date last year,according to the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services. CMS, which oversees Obamacare,took its initial census on Jan. 15, the day open enrollment ended.

Just how many in Louisiana dropped coverage is unknown. ButCMS reports 296,648 enrolleesinthe state —upslightly from last year KFF,nonpartisan healthcare analystsbasedinWashington, cautions that the initial enroll-

John Carmouche namedLSU vice chair

The LSU Board of Supervisors on Friday chose veteran trial attorney John Carmoucheasits vice chair Carmouche succeeds business owner Lee Mallett,who was named by Gov. Jeff Landry earlier this month to chair the 16-member board that oversees the university’s activities. Traditionally, themembersof the board chose the chair,who would serve ayear andthen be replaced by the vice chair

But Landry got the state Legislature in 2024 to allow himto name the chair,and the chair now servesatthe governor’spleasure. Serving on the LSU board is one of the most sought-after appointments in state government. Board members get to buy two tickets to sit in the LSU board suite at football games and hobnob with business, higher education andpolitical insiders.

ment report comes with alot of asterisks.

For instance,Louisiana saw a 1.2% increase in enrollment. But last year’sreport showed a27% increase.

About 40% of policyholders automatically reenroll for thesame policy,possibly without checking theprice, says KFF

New policyholders must pay a monthofpremiumsupon signing up. Renewalsare allowed three months to pay premiums.Thus, the numbers will be adjusted later this year to remove those whodon’t makethe payments. Those numbers won’tbeavailable

Carmouche, 57, is ahigh-profile attorney with aBaton Rouge firm that is best known for suing oil andgas companies, accusing them ofcausing coastal landloss through their drilling activities.

Carmouche is also amajor donor in judicial and gubernatorial races.

Landry named him to the board two years ago, to the consternation of some conservatives.

Carmouche was directly involved in thehiringofLane Kiffin as LSU’s football coach late last year through his role as chair of the board’sathleticscommittee.Hewas oneof thethreepeoplewho first met with Kiffin at his home in Oxford, Mississippi, to discuss apossible move to LSU.

Carmouche then served as the pointperson on theboard during thenegotiationsfor Kiffin’scontract.

CarmoucheisanLSU grad. Two of hischildrenhave graduated from LSU, while two more are

until July

Exchanges run by thestates, rather than relying on the federal government’s website, report that ACA Marketplace customers are buying policies that cost less but have much higher deductibles and provide much less coverage. For instance, California reported about athird of itsrenewing membersswitched to the less expensive bronze plan, which requires consumerstopay out $7,500 before theinsurance starts paying mostmedical costs.

Enacted in 2010, theAffordable Care Act expanded state and federally paid Medicaid coverage

studentstherenow

“I lovethe university,” Carmouche said. “It’sa passion of mine.Iwant to make sureweeducate andkeepasmanystudentsas we can in Louisiana.”

Landry touts Louisiana tax changes

As Louisianans findthemselves in themidst of taxseason, Gov Jeff Landry celebrateda majorcut to thestate income tax his administrationapproved over ayear ago, which taxpayers arenow seeing reflected in the returnsbeing filed for 2025.

“This year,this tax season, it’sgoing to be like every Louisianacitizen is going to hit the lottery,because their paychecks, their refunds are going to be real and going to go up,” Landry told reporters gathered at theCapitol in Baton Rouge.

“The typical middle-class workingfamily will save nearly$500 this year,” he said.

“The averageworking individual

for households making less than 138% of the federal poverty level, or $44,367 forafamily of four

It also recognized that many employers don’thelp their employees pay forhealth insurance, which is how about 60% of the nation is insured. The ACA Marketplace was created to fill in the gap by offering individuals bronze, silver,gold and platinumpolicies, each providing differing levels of coverage through private health insurers. Obamacare also provided a range of subsidies, mainly based on annual incomeand household size, for those whocouldn’tfully

is gonna save about $261.”

State Rep. Tony Bacala,R-Prairieville, whorecently tookover as chair of the House tax-writing committee for Julie Emerson, who resigned her seat to serveas thegovernor’schief of staff, said the taxcuts “are notanacademic study.”

“This is afamilywho goes out and earns aliving and gets to keep moreoftheirmoney,” Bacala said.

In aspecial session dedicated to Louisiana’stax system late in 2024, thegovernor andthe Louisiana Legislature reduced the state’stop individual income tax rate from4.25% to 3% and changed it from agraduated rate with three different brackets to oneflat rate.

They also increased the standard deduction from $4,500 to $12,500, an amount that will now be adjusted for inflation every year.And they doubled the tax exemption seniorsget on retirement income to $12,000.

“When people file taxes this year, they are going to geta biggerrefund,” Landry said.

Landryalso slashed the highest corporate income rate tax by two percentage points and set aflat

Any household of four making morethan $128,600 annually 400% of the federal poverty level —paid the premiums. But those falling in between the 138% of poverty and 400% could receive financial aid.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the income-level eligibility was lifted from 2021 through 2025, allowing some premium tax credits forfamilies making more400% of the federal poverty level —the amounts depended on several factors. The end of the premium tax credits on Jan. 1dramatically increased what those people pay

As manyconsumers fret over increased costs, the Democrats hope to focus on the Republican majorities’ refusal to renew the subsidies as akey point in this fall’scongressional midterm campaigns.

While “affordability” resonates in Louisiana, five of the six House races aren’tcompetitive, so touchy issues likely won’tbe addressed, said Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana Monroe.

The Fifth Congressional District, which includes parts of the Baton Rouge area and the Florida parishes, has seven Republican and five Democratic candidates. “Itispossible that candidates could stake out different positions on the tax credits, and it could be quite an issue,” Cross said.

In the Senate race, incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy,the Baton Rouge Republican whochairs the Senate Health committee, faces twostrong GOPchallengers.

“Itcould really be acontributing factor in the race,” Cross said. Ithink Cassidy would have much morecredibility on this issue than any of the other candidates. This might be something that he would capitalize on.”

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

rate of 5.5%.

“Wemade Louisiana one of the most competitive states in America forbusiness investment,” he said. “That investment translates into jobs.”

To make up forthe lost revenue to state coffers, Landry signed off on an expansion and increase of the state sales tax, which is now 5% andisscheduledtodropto 4.75% in 2030.

Legislature convenes on Monday,March9

The Louisiana Legislaturewill convene its annual regular session on Monday,March 9, at noon. Gov Jeff Landry is expected to open the session with an address laying out his legislative agenda. The sessionwill last through 6p.m. on June 1, unless extended. Hundredsofbills have already been pre-filed, covering everything from carbon capture and storage to prescription drug prices to social media safety and AI Check outnextSunday’sedition of The Advocate |The Times-Picayune forspecial coverageofthe biggest issues that are likely to emerge.

BY AMANDA SEITZ and HANNAH NORMAN KFF Health News (TNS)

More than a year after taking charge of the nation’s health department, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr hasn’t held true to many of the promises he made while appealing to U.S. senators concerned about the longtime anti-vaccine activist’s plans for the nation’s care.

Kennedy squeaked through a narrow Senate vote to be confirmed as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, only after making a number of public and private guarantees about how he would handle vaccine funding and recommendations as secretary Child vaccine schedule

In two hearings in January 2025, Kennedy repeatedly assured senators that he supported childhood vaccines, noting that all his children were vaccinated.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, DMass., grilled Kennedy about the money he’s made in the private sector from lawsuits against vaccine makers and accused him of planning to profit from potential future policies making it easier to sue.

“Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it,” Warren said during the Senate Finance Committee hearing. “Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in.”

Warren’s statement prompted an assurance by Kennedy

“Senator, I support vaccines,” he said. “I support the childhood schedule I will do that.”

Days later Republican U.S.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, declared Kennedy had pledged to maintain existing vaccine recommendations if confirmed. Cassidy, a physician

recommendations,” Nixon added. “Secretary Kennedy talks to the chairman at a regular clip.”

Cassidy and his office have repeatedly rebuffed questions about whether Kennedy, since becoming secretary, has broken the commitments he made.

Vaccine funding axed

Weeks after Kennedy took over the federal health department, the CDC pulled back $11 billion in COVIDera grants that local health departments were using to fund vaccination programs, among other initiatives.

any funding appropriated by Congress for the purpose of vaccination programs?”

A federal judge later ordered HHS to distribute the money. The National Institutes of Health, part of HHS, also yanked dozens of research grants supporting studies of vaccine hesitancy last year Kennedy, meanwhile, ordered the cancellation of a half-billion dollars’ worth of mRNA vaccine research in August.

Autism theory

specializing in liver diseases and a vocal supporter of vaccination, had questioned Kennedy sharply in a hearing about his views on shots.

“If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations without changes,” Cassidy said, explaining his vote.

A few months after he was confirmed, Kennedy fired all the incumbent members of the vaccine advisory panel, known as ACIP, and appointed new members, including several who, like him, oppose some vaccines. The panel’s recommendations soon changed drastically In January the CDC removed its universal recommendations for children to receive seven immunizations, those protecting against respiratory syncytial virus, meningococcal

disease, flu, COVID, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and rotavirus. The move followed a memorandum from the White House calling on the CDC to cull the schedule.

Now, those vaccines, which researchers estimate have prevented thousands of deaths and millions of illnesses, are recommended by the CDC only for children at high-risk of serious illness or after consultation between doctors and parents.

In response to questions about Kennedy’s actions on vaccines over the past year, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the secretary “continues to follow through on his commitments” to Cassidy

“As part of those commitments, HHS accepted Chairman Cassidy’s numerous recommendations for key roles at the agency, retained particular language on the CDC website, and adopted ACIP

That happened after Kennedy pledged during his confirmation hearings not to undermine vaccine funding.

Kennedy replied “Yes” when Cassidy asked him directly: “Do you commit that you will not work to impound, divert, or otherwise reduce

Cassidy said in his floor speech that he received a guarantee from Kennedy that the CDC’s website would not remove statements explaining that vaccines do not cause autism.

Technically, Kennedy kept his promise not to remove the statements. The website still says that vaccines do not cause autism.

But late last year new statements sprung up on the same website, baselessly casting doubt on vaccine safety “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism,” the page on autism now misleadingly reads. The webpage also states that the public has largely ignored studies showing vaccines do cause autism. That is false. Over decades of research, scientific studies have repeatedly concluded that there is no link between vaccines and autism. A controversial 1998 study that captured global attention did link the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to autism. It was retracted for being fraudulent though not until a decade after it was published.

EDUCATION

Educator says evaluationsa tool forgrowth

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Back when Wendi O’Halloran was an elementary school teacher in Rapides Parish, she receivedfeedbackafter aclassroom observation that improved her practice and showed her the power of teacher evaluations.

After observing her lesson, her principal pointed out at that O’Halloran had spent most of the time standing behind apodium. As aresult, some studentsinthe back lost interest in whatwas being taught.

After her evaluation, she and her principal sat down as ateam to discuss why it was important for educators to move around while teaching and how doing so could improve their relationship with their students.

“It wasn’t, ‘You need to move around more,’” O’Halloran recalled. “It was asupportive, ‘Let me show you why this is important.’” Today,O’Halloran is director of clinical practice and partnerships for the School of Education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, where she preparesstudent teachers for careers in the classroom.

One topic O’Halloran spends a lotoftime on are the mandatory evaluations that public school teachers receive twice ayear, which rate their effectiveness through metrics like classroom instruction and student test scores. Results are used to help teachers improve, and sometimes to

ASKING

determine whether they receive tenureorbonuses.

Some educators dread evaluations, but O’Halloran argues theycan be apowerfultool for improvement by clearly defining effective instruction and giving teachers clear-cut goals to work toward.

This school year,Louisiana rolled out arevamped evaluation rubric.

Thenew rubric measures four key aspects of teachers’ performance: instruction, including how well they pace lessons and present content; lesson planning; environment,which looks at teacher’sclassroom culture; and professionalism, including teachers’ abilitytogrow professionally

O’Halloran saidthe revised system gives educatorsaclearer guide on how to improve their practice and more opportunities to reflect on their performance and work withevaluators to pinpoint areas for improvement. Yet there’salsoaplace for spontaneity in the classroom, for teachers to bring their unique personalities into their work.

“The beauty of teaching is that it’sacreative practice,” shesaid, “that’sabout human development and making connections with your students.”

O’Halloran recently spoke with The Times-Picayune |The Advocate aboutwhy teacher evaluations are important and how educators can usethem to make the most of their time in theclassroom

This interview has been edited

and condensed for clarity

What makes agood teacher,and what are some effective teaching strategies?

It can look different from one classroom to the next, but there are commonalities that are all grounded in research-based practices.

Youhave to look for whether ateacher is using clear communication and whether they’re building relationships with their students.

Thereare several things you always need in aclassroom, like student engagement and classroom management, because studentscan’tlearn in achaotic environment. Teachers shouldn’t be scrounging around to find pencils, and they should have everything readytogoinadvance.

They alsoneed to be paying attention to whether andhow their studentsare taking in material; for example, are they getting any misconceptions from theway the information is being presented? Teachers have to monitor what studentsare able to do and be able to adjust instruction in the moment.

What are teacher evaluations?

Teacher evaluations identify if ateacher is utilizing best research practices in the classroom to better deliver theircontent to students.

With this new rubric, teachers also sitdown with their evaluator after the fact, andthe evaluator asks them what they felt went well, what they think they could have improved on and let them lead theconversation about how they can grow.Teachers’ self-

the lessonwhile the evaluator reviews it.

During the lesson, evaluators arelooking forseveral things: Howoften is the teacher posing aquestion? Are they giving enough time for thatquestion to be processedand answered by students? Are students collaborating with oneanother?

You’re also noting if there’s wasted instructional time. Is the teacher efficient at distributing materials? Are there procedures in place so thatthe teacher is notconstantly having to say the same thing over andover? Can I hear the teacher from the back of the room?

You’re really just trying to see the big picture of whatthis classroom’sinstruction looks like on adaily basis andget asense of whether the teacher is delivering content effectively

How do you useevaluations to help teachers improve?

In the same way that we want teacherstohelpstudents have a growth mindsetand give them asafespace to talk about their mistakes.

assessments arealso included in theiroverall rating. How do the new teacher evaluations work?

When it’stime fora teacher to be rated,the evaluator schedules ameeting with them to sit down and look at the lesson plan for that day together and have aconversation to make sure the teacher has thought about the different areas they’ll be scored in. This preconference is atime to makesure the teacher has considered everything andto make sure theyfeel supported and confident enough to deliver

Whenworking with astudent, ateacher may askthem what made thembelieve their wrong answerona test was correct. Thentheybothdig deeper and have aconversationabout the student’sthought process and howtheycan change their thinking to come to the right conclusion.

Evaluators use the same tools andthe same language, because we’re here to coach teachers and help themgrow. We want themtobelifelong learners, andwewantthem to continue to be better than they were yesterday.

Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com

THE GULF COAST

Mississippiprosecutorwho took on theDixie Mafiadies

BY ANITALEE

The Sun Herald

Peter Hickman Barrett,akey prosecutor in oneofMississippi’smost notorious modernday murder conspiracies, passed awayathis home in Gulfport. He was 78. The scrappy lawyer was working as an assistant U.S. attorney forMississippi’s SouthernDistrict when he helped prosecute defendants whose conspiracy led to the murders of Circuit Court Judge Vincent Sherry and former councilwoman Margaret Sherry in their Biloxi home. The investigation into the couple’sSeptember 1987 murders led to the convictions of DixieMafia members and Biloxi’sformer mayor FBI Special Agent Keith Bell, now retired, oversaw the 10-year case through the investigation and three trials that resulted in convictions. Barrett helmed the first trial in 1991. Bell said some prosecutors were hesitant to take up the case, but Barrettplowedthrough the investigative materialinFBI offices daily for weeks, including hundredsofinterviews with members of the southeastern mob known as the Dixie Mafia.Bell said he credits Barrett with the overall successful prosecution of those responsible for theSherry murders in what isone of the mostnotorious cases in Gulf Coast history

“He stepped up to takeitonwhen others wouldnot,” Bell said.

Although Barrett was devoted to his legal career,hewas also an involved fathertoson William Carl “Bill” Barrettand daughter Susan Barrett Creegan.

Peter Barrett attended alltheirsporting events and also found timetocoach their soccer teams.

“For somebodywho was so busy,hewas a generous person,” Bill Barrettsaid.“He was still present. To me andSusan and my mother, he was just dad, and he showed up.”

PeterBarrett was born andraisedinGulfport. He graduated from the University of Mississippibefore attending lawschool there. His obituary modestly notes: “Over his ca-

reer,Peter tried anumberof‘firsts’ in federal criminal cases in Mississippi, including the first federal death penalty prosecution, the first federal wiretap case, and the first federal possession of child pornography prosecution.”

It goes on to say,“He famously avoided the spotlight in thenewsworthy cases,” which wasverytrue, as this reporter canattest, having coveredthe Sherry case. Like most federal prosecutors,Barrett refused to speak with themedia. Buthewas always politeand friendly,never rude or arrogant.

His duty,hefelt, was to his client, whether that was theU.S. government, acorporation or acriminal defendant,his son said.

“He was agreat one,” said former assistant U.S. attorney and Jackson lawyer Joe Hollomon, whoprosecuted theSherry murderconspiracy case alongside Barrettin1991.

“Themostimportant cases prosecuted in theSouthern District of Mississippi were handledbyPeter Barrett. He did agreat job, justafearlesstriallawyer,alwaysdid the right thing,” Hollomon said.

Barrett and Hollomon shared many tense moments, but Barrettalways found away to lighten the mood

“Hewas just astand-upguy,” Hollomon said.

Barrett’ssister,Mary Elizabeth“Betty” Barrett,said that shewas teaching school when Peter Barretthelped convince her that sheneeded to get alaw degree.

He helped support her through OleMiss law school. After graduation, she enjoyed a career as an attorney

Hiswife, Fay,was also an attorney andboth their children followed them into thepractice of law.Bill Barrett practiced withhis father in Gulfport before receiving an offertogo to work for Tony Lawrence, then districtattorneyfor Jackson, Georgeand Greene counties. Bill Barrettisanassistant district attorneyinthe office.

He saidhis father encouraged him to take the jobunderLawrence because he thought it would be agood learning experience.

“He was like that,” Bill Barrett said. “His advice was what was best for us.”

Daughter Susan, nowa busy mother of three in Texas, also spent time in practice with her father Bill Barrett said that his father led by example: “It was obvious thathard workand trust were important.”

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Athree-story waterfront building that for more than adecade housedTripletails Restaurant in downtown Bay St. Louis hit themarket last week with aprice tagof $2.35 million. The property on SouthBeach Boulevard, with its metal roof, lime-green façade andblue-trimmed windows, spans 4,413 squarefeet and includes a3,920-squarefoot parking lot.

It is being marketed as “ideally suited for adestinationrestaurant, elevated retail concept,ormixed-use hospitality venture,” according to JohnMcDonald Realty, the listing brokerage.

The first floor includes afully equipped kitchen, an office space and two restrooms,the listing said. An elevator and multiple stairways lead to the second and third levels, featuring indoor and outdoor dining areas and bar spaces that overlook the waterfront. Theupper floors also includebalconies, deck walkways and four additional restrooms.

The sale comes as downtown Bay St. Louis continuestoevolvewithnew restaurantsand other developments shaping the area, often comparedtoDestin and Pensacola Beach. South Beach Boulevard

also is still hometolongtime local eateries, including The Blind Tiger,Buoy’s, Sycamore House and Trapani’sEatery,even as newbusinessesand restaurantconcepts open this year

Flying Dolly’s, aMandeville-based snoball shop, plans to expand to downtown in March, adding to agrowing presence of NewOrleans-area establishments such as PJ’sCoffee, Creole Creamery and Tacos and Beer.Last week, the building that formerly housed O’Dwyer Realty,betweenLemoine’s Landingand TheBlind Tiger, wasdemolishedtomakeway fora four-story arcadescheduledtoopennext spring.

Tripletails first opened in 2015, joining a beachfront rowofcolorful buildings offering food, drinks and nightlife in the growing Mississippi Coast city.Jonathan Allen, theco-owner of Tripletails who purchased the building in 2021, announced in January that the restaurant wasclosing, citing rising insurance costs and food prices.

“It’sbeen afun ride owning this place for the last 4years,” Allensaid in aJanuary interview,“But we need to turn it over to anew business ready to tackle the challenges of the modern restaurant world.” Tripletails drew in asteady clientele for more than adecade, offering seafoodand live music to the Mississippi Coast.

A horse’s neigh may be unique in the animal kingdom

Signature whinny comes from whistling, singing

BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN AP science writer

NEW YORK Horses whinny to find new friends, greet old ones and celebrate happy moments like feeding time.

How exactly horses produce that distinctive sound — also called a neigh has long eluded scientists.

The whinny is an unusual combination of both high and low pitched sounds, like a cross between a grunt and a squeal — that come out at the same time.

The low-pitched part wasn’t much of a mystery It comes from air passing over bands of tissue in the voice box that make noise when they vibrate. It’s a technique similar to how humans speak and sing. But the high-pitched piece is more puzzling. With some excep-

tions, larger animals have larger vocal systems and typically make lower sounds. So how do horses do it?

According to a new study, they whistle.

Researchers slid a small camera through horses’ noses to film what happened inside while they whinnied and made another common horse sound, the softer, subtler nicker They also conducted detailed scans and blew air through the isolated voice boxes of dead horses.

The whinny’s mysterious highpitched tones, they discovered, are a kind of whistling that starts in the horse’s voice box. Air vibrates the tissues in the voice box while an area just above contracts, leaving a small opening for the whistle to escape. That’s different from human whistling, which we do with our mouths.

“I’d never imagined that there was a whistling component. It’s really interesting, and I can hear that

now,” said Jenifer Nadeau, who studies horses at the University of Connecticut. Nadeau was not involved with the study, which was published last week in the journal Current Biology

Berry harvest has New Zealand’s flightless parrot ready for romance

BY CHARLOTTE GRAHAMMCLAY Associated Press

WELLINGTON,New Zealand The world’s only flightless parrot species was once thought to be doomed by design. The kakapo is too heavy, too slow and, frankly, too delicious to survive around predators, and takes a shamelessly relaxed approach to reproduction.

But the nocturnal and reclusive New Zealand native bird ’s fate is teetering toward survival after an unlikely conservation effort that has coaxed the population from 50 to more than 200 over three decades. This year, with a bumper crop of the strange parrot’s favorite berries prompting a rare enthusiasm for mating, those working to save the birds hope for a record number of chicks in February, which would move the kakapo closer to defying what was not long ago believed to be certain extinction.

Kakapo live on three tiny, remote islands off New Zealand’s southern coast and chances to see them in the wild are scarce. This breeding season has launched one of the birds to internet fame through a livestreamed video of her underground nest, where her chick hatched last week.

The kakapo is a majestic creature that can live for 60 to 80 years. But they’re undoubtedly weird to look at Birds can weigh over 6.6 pounds. They have owllike faces whiskers, and mottled green, yellow and black plumage that mimics dappled light on the forest floor

That’s where the flightless parrot lives, which has made its survival complicated.

“Kakapo also have a really strong scent,” said Deidre Vercoe, the operations manager for the Department of Conservation’s kakapo program. “They smell really musky and fruity gor-

geous smell.”

The pungent aroma was bad news for the parrots when humans arrived in New Zealand hundreds of years ago. The introduction of rats, dogs, cats and stoats, as well as hunting by people and destruction of native forest habitats, drove species of the country’s flourishing flightless birds — the kakapo among them to near or complete extinction By 1974, no kakapo were known to exist. Conservationists kept looking, however and in the late 1970s, a new population of the birds was discovered.

Reversing their fortunes hasn’t been simple.

One reason the kakapo population has grown slowly is that its breeding is, like everything about the birds, peculiar Years or even decades can pass between successful clutches of eggs.

A breeding season only happens every two to four years, in response to bumper crops of fruit from the native rimu trees the parrots favor, which last happened in 2022 A huge food source is needed for chicks to survive but it’s not known exactly how adult birds become aware of an abundant harvest.

“They’re probably up there in the canopy assessing the fruiting,” said Ver-

coe. “When there’s a large crop developing, they somehow tune into that.”

That’s when things get really strange. Male kakapo position themselves in dugout bowls in the ground and emit sonorous booming sounds followed by noises known as “chings,” which sound like the movement of rusty bedsprings.

The deep booms, which on clear nights can be heard across the forest, attract female kakapo to the bowls. Females can lay up to four eggs before raising their chicks alone.

Since January, admirers of the birds have had a rare glimpse into the process through a livestream showing the underground nest of 23-year-old kakapo Rakiura on the island of Whenua Hou, where she has laid three eggs, two of them fertile. So precarious is the species’ survival that the eggs were exchanged for fake replacements while the real ones were incubated indoors.

A technician replaced the fake eggs with the first near-hatching egg. The kakapo kept her distance while the switch was made but quickly returned to the nest, seemingly unperturbed. The chick hatched just over an hour later The second real egg is expected to be added within days.

A few small rodents like rats and mice whistle like this, but horses are the first known large mammal to have a knack for it. They’re also the only animals known to be able to whistle through their voice box-

es while they sing.

“Knowing that a ‘whinny’ is not just a ‘whinny’ but that it is actually composed of two different fundamental frequencies that are created by two different mechanisms is exciting,” said Alisa Herbst with Rutgers University’s Equine Science Center, of the study in an email.

A big lingering question is how horses’ two-toned calls came to be.

Wild Przewalski’s horses can do something similar as can elks. But more distant horse relatives like donkeys and zebras can’t make the high-pitched sounds.

The two-toned whinnies could help horses convey multiple messages at the same time. The differently pitched neighs may help them express a more complex range of feelings when socializing, said study author Elodie MandelBriefer with the University of Copenhagen.

“They can express emotions in these two dimensions,” MandelBriefer said.

Plaquemine rumblingsnearlycease

Fewexplanationsasmystery of source remains

BY AIDAN MCCAHILL Staff writer

Iberville Parish leaders say complaints about mysterious vibrations rattling homes in Plaquemine’s Historic District have dropped significantly though residents are still waiting on answers that have remained elusive for nearly 2years. The low-frequency rumblings have affected at least 30 people, mainly living between Railroad Avenue and the Mississippi River,since the summer of 2024. Aroundthe same time, VLS Environmental Solutions began cleaningbargesdirectly across the river at Plaquemine Point in St. Gabriel. Residents have describedrattling doors, patios andhousehold objects,sleepless nightsand damage to some foun-

Landry wantsto change Angola’s district

Governor has criticized federal immigration detainee rulings

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

—Gov.Jeff Landry

WASHINGTON

is seeking to move West Feliciana Parish —wherethe Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is located —into adifferentfederal judicial district after criticizing “liberal judges” in the Baton Rouge area for letting immigration detainees out of the “Louisiana Lockup” there.

In aletter to Louisiana members of Congress on Thursday, Landry asked to move the parish from the U.S. Middle District of Louisiana to the Western District. In the letter,hecited an increase in cases, much of it driven by prisoners at Angola.

“The Middle District has seen a35.2% increase in totalfilings since 2020 and currently has 25% more new filings perjudge than the Western District,”Landry wrote. “Moving West Feliciana Parish into the Western District will improvejudicialefficiency and better address publicsafety needs in East Baton Rouge Parish and the State of Louisiana.” Congressional action is necessary to effect thechange Landry proposes. But Landry showed another reasonfor the requestThursday when he blasted afederal judge in the Middle District over an immigration case.

“ALERT! The LiberalJudges of the Middle District of Louisiana are at it again,” Landry wrote Thursday afternoon on X. “Judge Shelly Dickhas ordered therelease of aconvicted RAPISTfrom the Louisiana Lockup, allowing him to roam free.” Landry continued: “Newsflash: in Louisiana, we protect victims and punish criminals NOTthe other way around. Those who arein theCountry illegallyand commit crimes like thisshould be locked away until deportation! Shameon you Judge Dick!”

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow,the Baton Rouge Republican whose district includes West FelicianaParish, reposted Landry’scriticism ofDick, and said she wouldbesponsoring abill to move the parish’sjurisdiction. “I stand with Governor Landry and(President Donald Trump) in supporting conservative judges,” Letlow wrote. Earlier this month, both Landry and Letlow publicly criticized Middle District Judge John deGravelles after Fox News

dations

After aheated January council meeting in which residents spoke out, ParishPresident Chris Daigle said complaints have dwindled to ahandful.The companyhas slowed down the amount of work and installed a wall to help.

“DoIthink it’scompletely over?I’m notgoing to sayitcompletely is,” he said at aFebruary

council meeting. “It’sbeen narrowed down to two or three complaints since January.”

The company promised to look into the cause of the rattling, but hasyet to present any results to the public.

“Wedidn’t get any of that information we went there to see,” said Kyte Aymond, aschoolteacher andchair of the Plaquemine HistoricBoard whohas been among the most vocal residents affected.“It’s beenaworkinprogress for almost two yearsnow.”

VLS’sPlaquemine Point facility extracts residual fuel and vapors frombarge tanks that transport liquefied petroleum gas. Those vapors routetoathermal oxidizer,which burns off volatile organic compounds andother waste beforereleasing them into the atmosphere. As aresult of thecomplaints, VLS said it spent over $1 million to relocate itsflaring activity on land, beginning in

FIRSTOF MANY

Newhistoricmarkers recognizeseveral St.James churches

BYCHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT

Staff writer

Standing before the Pilgrim Full Gospel Baptist Church on SundayinSt. James Parish, as the wind whirled down River Road, the Rev.MarshallCooper looked toward the Sunshine Bridge and the northerlygusts

“This windfeels like the dayofPentecost,” he said,referencing theChristian holiday that commemorates theHoly Spirit’s descentonthe Apostles. “Onthe dayofPentecost,there wasaviolent, rushing wind. And that’swhatitis. The spiritofGod, hallelujah, agreed upon what we’ve done today.”

As if to accent the point, aquick breeze sent hishat flying into the grass. It landedbehind anewlyinstalledhistoricmarker— afitting openingtothe day’s commemorations of historicallyBlackchurchesand acemeteryin theparish’s fourth and fifth districts.

Sponsored by Inclusive Louisiana and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, severalmarkers have beencreated to honor fourchurches andacemetery: Pilgrim FullGospel,Young Pilgrim BaptistChurch, Philippian Baptist Church andPleasantHillBaptist Church and

LEFT: Hundredsofattendees walk by theRaising Cane’s River Centertothe levee.

Cemetery

BY CHRISTOPHERCARTWRIGHT Staff writer

The groups have been workingtouncover, highlight and preserve historyinthe heavily industrialized area. They released areport in 2024 identifyingfive formerly enslaved people buried on thesiteofthe proposed Formosa Plastics plant just acrossthe Mississippi River, and the organizations said the new markers aremeantto“remember and honor thethriving community that existedlong before large-scale industrial expansion.” The signs were unveiled at the St. James Parish Library in LutcheronFeb. 7, where theywereavailable for the public to seeuntil being installed. Sunday’sevent completed

Anew lawsuit alleges arenewable fuel plant misrepresented its commercial viabilityand nowowesmorethan$56 milliontoanAscensionParish company Delta Biofuel LLC, the operator of arenewable fuelfacilityinJeanerette, was suedFeb.9

November. But when flaring resumed in December, so did the grievances.

At the January meeting, VLS representative Wade Grundmeyer told the council the company had brought in engineers from Mission Flare — the oxidizer manufacturer — to study the vibrations, and was exploring alternative equipment.

“I’m waiting for the reports now,” Grundmeyer said at the time. “They’re going to hopefully come up with the final plan, and then we’re done with this.”

The council gave VLS 30 days to return with results, and council Vice Chair Raheem Pierce floated the idea of issuing a ceaseand-desist order if progress was unsatisfactory

At Tuesday’s council meeting, those results were not presented Instead, in an addendum discussion, Grundmeyer reported that VLS had again brought in Mission Flare representatives, reduced the rate it burned fuel to “very low,” and installed a wall in front of the main flare stack. The wall is two pairs of shipping containers stacked atop each other, which falls short of the stack’s height.

HISTORY

Continued from page 1B

the process, with the organizations, congregations and community members gathering to cut ribbons.

Barbara Washington, a cofounder of Inclusive Louisiana with Gail LeBoeuf, told the assembled group that recognizing the history of the churches was “so important.”

“The spirit of our ancestors is right here with us right now,” she said. “We feel them pleased with what we are trying to do that this history will not be lost.”

Aim to expand to more churches

The day kicked off at 12:30 p.m. with a saxophone solo by Cooper at the marker dedication for Pilgrim Full Gospel Baptist Church, which sits on Legion Street in Union. With a land purchase on Feb. 11, 1892, nine community members founded the church and its burial ground.

Washington and LeBoeuf said they hoped this was only the start, saying they wanted churches across the parish and region to work toward getting historical markers and recognizing their histories

Laura Blokker, a historic preservation consultant, is working on nominating the areas for the National Register of Historic Places.

“It doesn’t end here,” she said during Sunday’s events. “We’re looking forward to building this out, to continuing to elevate these histories with National Register of Historic Places nominations to say that this history is here, and that it is so important, and that it tells the story of America that needs to be known.”

After the first ribbon-cutting, the group caravaned to the unveiling of the marker for Young Pilgrim Baptist Church, which is located on Rev Thomas Scott Street in Convent. The church began in 1887 on Foret’s Plantation and moved several times before

DELTA

Continued from page 1B

Development said it was expected to create 126 direct jobs with an average salary of $62,500.

Delta Biofuel and its attorney did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The lawsuit stems from a 15year storage service agreement the two companies struck in May 2023, through which ABT agreed to deliver and store the bagasse pellets at its Ascension Parish location. As part of the agreement, which included a $23 million expense cap, ABT constructed a storage dome to store the pellets.

In the complaint, Balart wrote that Delta Biofuel produced “a small amount of bagasse product” in the summer of 2025 but the pellets didn’t meet the commercial specifications required by Delta Biofuel’s customers.

ABT issued invoices for the trucking of the pellets and for the agreement’s payments for the first two quarters of 2025, totaling more than $1.2 million. Delta Biofuel did not pay the invoices and failed to pay a third one of $636,327 that was due by mid-Oc-

Grundmeyer said the company had cleaned only seven barges since the previous meeting, but the reduction in complaints was a promising sign.

“I think we’re close,” Grundmeyer said. “Hopefully we’re rounding third, getting ready to touch home.”

Aymond acknowledged the improvement but stopped short of relief.

“It has gone down; it is noticeable,” he said. “But I was looking for something more concrete.”

The facts, and lack thereof

Part of the difficulty is that no one has yet definitively identified what’s causing the vibrations or found a reliable way to measure them.

Daigle has tapped John Clark, the parish’s executive director of economic development and environmental, to dig into both questions. Clark told the council that industrial flares can cause vibrations — typically during startup, when excess air briefly causes the flame to detach from the flare tip before reattaching, releasing a wave of pressure.

Clark compared it to the rumble of a propane burner held on ignition too long. Research suggests the effect might actually be a feedback loop where flame instability generates pressure

waves, which further destabilize the flame, producing vibrations often too low in frequency to hear but strong enough to rattle walls and floors.

Near identical community complaints about flame instability causing low-frequency rumbles were documented at Exxon’s Baytown, Texas, plant in the 1990s, though the operation used steam-assisted flares and not thermal oxidizers

Clark also noted that frequencies from flare stacks can multiply by a factor of four when traveling across water — which might explain why residents within a quarter-mile of the facility on the same side of the river haven’t reported the same effects

Officials have also raised the possibility that other nearby industrial operations, like the Dow chemical complex in Morrisonville, or heavy road and water traffic could be contributing.

“At the end of the day, we live in an industrial corridor,” Clark said. “There’s a lot of unknowns as far as sounds, vibrations, smells.”

But Aymond, who can see VLS’s operation from the Plaquemine levees, says the worst vibrations coincide with periods when the facility is backed up with barges and the flares burn the largest.

As for measuring the problem, Clark said he’s reached out to LSU’s seismology and geophysics department, an engineering consulting firm named Terracon, and the Department of Transportation and Development — but finding the right tool for such a niche issue has proved elusive.

Clark said possible leads include Specto Technology, a firm specializing in geotechnical and environmental monitoring, or accelerometers that can detect vibration. Even then, he said, interpreting the data and knowing what to compare it to would be its own challenge.

“Looking into and measuring and detecting vibrations that’s not something that we typically deal with,” Clark said.

“It would have to be a research project.”

Daigle has maintained throughout that VLS has been cooperative, and said it’s important for a parish that depends on industrial business to give the company room to work toward a solution.

But he hasn’t ruled out a ceaseand-desist if that stops being true

“We feel like they have been constantly working,” he said. “(But) if this firm is working within Iberville Parish and is not working on a solution, we’re going to take the steps we need to protect our residents.”

settling at its current location.

Wilmer Jackson, the pastor, helped construct the most recent building, and he invited all the congregation members present to come forward.

“The church of yesterday is no longer here,” he said. “The church of now stands in your midst.”

The late Rev Moses Russ, who passed away in 1958, at one time led both the congregation for Young Pilgrim and Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. That congregation, founded in 1874, has also received a marker for its church and cemetery, although an appropriate spot for the sign is still being located.

Ruth Russ Debeau, 85, Russ’s eldest daughter, remembered how she’d ride in her father’s

tober, Balart wrote.

ABT said in the complaint that it terminated the agreement, and Delta Biofuel owes more than $56.2 million, which includes the unpaid invoices and all remaining payments under the agreement adjusted for inflation. Delta Biofuel did not respond to a notice of early termination of the agreement, the complaint added.

The lawsuit also alleges that Delta Biofuel and its leaders misled ABT when negotiating a 2025 amendment to the agreement.

The initial agreement required Delta to pay all construction cost overruns, and the construction of the dome totaled $26 million, according to the complaint.

It stated that the two parties negotiated an amendment to the agreement, which included ABT agreeing to cover the excess costs in return for an increase in the take-or-pay commitment. Takeor-pay commitments typically state that one company will supply a certain amount of product or pay a penalty if they come up short

ABT claims that during those negotiations, the Delta Biofuel project was facing trouble. These claims include that the project was over budget, sub-

wagon from Pleasant Hill services in the morning to afternoon services at Young Pilgrim.

“We were a community that lived together What one person had, anybody had,” she said. “It was like the (expression), ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, that’s the way we were when we were kids.”

Philippian Baptist Church

Sunday’s commemorations concluded with the ribbon-cutting on the marker for Philippian Baptist Church, located on Burnside Street in Union. Established in 1901, the church is led by Devin Mason, who is the sixth pastor in the congregation’s history

Mason referenced a chapter in the Book of Joshua in which God

commanded Joshua to gather stones with the Israelites as a memorial to remind them “of what the Lord had done for them and where the Lord had brought them from.”

“I thought about that passage not only for the Philippian Baptist Church this afternoon, but all the churches that Inclusive (Louisiana) has shared with on this day,” he said “ When the next generation will ask, ‘What meaneth these stones? What do these markers mean?’ We will be able to share with them and talk about our history our heritage.”

As Mason spoke, a siren wail rose from an industrial facility across the Mississippi River It swelled for a moment before vanishing in the wind.

A new lawsuit alleges Delta Biofuel

Continued from page 1B

that the judge had ordered four Louisiana Lockup detainees to be released from custody Rep. Cleo Fields, Baton Rouge Democrat in whose district the federal courthouse is located, said Friday: “I have not seen evidence that the current district boundaries are failing the people they serve. The Middle District was established for good reason, and an established appeals process already exists for litigants who believe a court has erred. I remain committed to protecting the independence and integrity of our federal judiciary.”

The case Landry criticized Landry was referring to a court order Dick signed Monday ordering the release of Roberto La Coss from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention.

“Court finds that Petitioner is substantially likely to succeed on the merits of his claim that he is unconstitutionally detained,” Dick wrote.

La Coss sought release through a motion for habeas corpus filed February 6. He was arrested September 16. She ordered an evidentiary trial for March 3.

A 47-year-old laborer from Madison, Mississippi, La Coss was born in Manila, Philippines, and adopted by Americans stationed by the military in the country He entered the country at the age of 21 and acquired permanent residence status six years later, according to court records.

As a 26-year-old in March 2005, La Coss pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a girl who was 14 years old or younger, court filings show He served two years in the Rankin County, Mississippi, jail, had 18 additional years in prison suspended and was required to serve five years of supervision upon release, according to his guilty plea.

His only other crime was a DUI in May 2021, court filings say Chief Judge Dick was nominated by President Barack Obama, as were the two other federal trial judges sitting in the Middle District, which is headquartered in Baton Rouge and covers nine parishes.

Five of the seven federal judges in the Western District, which covers 42 parishes and 47% of the state’s population, were nominated by President Donald Trump; another by President George W. Bush; and the seventh judge by President Joe Biden. There is one vacancy The courts sit in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport.

The three Middle District judges had 474 cases filed in 2025, 72 of which were felony criminal actions. Their dockets showed 569 pending cases on the last day of 2025, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Criminal cases take an average of 11.3 months from filing to disposition.

The Middle District received 1,421 legal filings requiring judicial disposition, including supervisory release hearings, in 2025 and had 1,707 such actions pending at the end of the year That’s the 35.2% increase since 2020 noted in the governor’s letter

The Western District, by comparison, received 2,642 such filings — a 22.5% increase since 2020 — and had 3,247 actions pending at the end of the year, the Administrative Office recorded.

The seven Western Middle District judges had 377 cases filed in 2025, 55 of which were felony criminal actions and 464 pending cases on the last day of the year, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Criminal cases take an average of 10.5 months from filing to disposition in the Western District.

Staff writer Meghan Friedmann contributed to this report.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

the

fuel facility in Jeanerette, misrepresented its commercial

and now owes more than $56 million to Ascension

contractors weren’t being paid timely, Delta’s commercial partners were canceling or altering their commitments and that the company hadn’t yet been able to produce a viable product.

“Pointedly, in connection with the renegotiation of the March Amendment, representations were made by Delta and its officers about the status of the Proj-

ect to lead Plaintiff to believe that the Project was, in fact, soon to be operational and productive,” Balart wrote.

“At or around this time, the Project was in jeopardy and Defendants knew, at all material times, that significant obstacles existed affecting the commercial viability of the Project,” he added.

“These facts were not disclosed to ABT by Defendants.”

Jeffersonschools plan to leaselandfor drilling

Bids to be sought for Lafitteproperty

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

TheJefferson Parish School Board has started the process of leasinga plot of school-owned property for oil and gas drilling in amove that’s expected to bring extra funds tothe district.

Board members unanimously voted in February to seek bidsfrom energy companiesinterested in paying for the rights to drill for oil and other minerals on the unused parcel of land, which is in amostlyundeveloped area in Lafitte.

Under theboard’sproposed lease guidelines, the district wouldreceive aquarter of all profitsthe selected company produces from drilling, as well as “other provisions favorable”

to the board,according to documents. The board has not set aprice forthe leasingrights, whichwilldepend on the offers it receives.

The decision comes as enrollment declines mean lessfunding for the district, which steadily dropped from roughly 50,000 students pre-pandemic to around 45,000 last school year

Onecompany has already expressed interest. Delta Lands Exploration Inc., aBaton Rouge-based oil and gas company,submittedabid requestingthat theboard open the plot for offers, according to board documents.

The 640-acre plot was granted to the state by Congress to serve as atrust fundfor public education and can be leased for thepurpose of farming, drilling or other uses.

TheJeffersonParish School Board owns about92% of theland, andthe Plaquemines ParishSchool Board owns 8%.

State lawrequires both boards to agree to theterms of thelease, though the process is expected to be handled primarily by the Jefferson Parish School Board. The board is required by law to advertise for bids before selecting acompany,though it’s unclear if it has started the process. Adistrict spokesperson did not respond to arequest for comment.

Now,Jefferson’sboard members are seeking additional bids from companies interested in the land. They’re also asking Plaquemines’ board to approve their proposed lease contract.

Keith Hall, director of LSU’sMineral Law Institute, said such deals can pull in considerable funds to the local community. In addition to royaltiesthatprovide extra money for local schools, businesses can get a boostfromdrillingcrews that often need to rent equipmentand housing in the area.

He added that company bids offer aper-acre amount that can vary widely. While he did notofferanestimate of how much the Lafitte plot could go for,hesaid bids for land in southLouisiana generally go for between afew hundredand afew thousand dollars. “It canvary alot depending on how ‘hot’ of an area it is, so to speak,”he said. If Plaquemines’ board approves thecontract, theJefferson Parish SchoolBoard will be able to advertise for bids, select the winning bidder,prepare the lease and submit the finalized documents to the State Mineral Board for approval. Documents from the Jefferson Parish School Board note that the boardhas undergone the leasing processtwice before, though it’sunclear when.

Jefferson Parish School Board documentssaid the Plaquemines Parish SchoolBoard wasexpected

to approve the lease at its February board meeting, but it’sunclear if that happened. Plaquemines’school boardand DeltaLands Exploration didnot respondtorequests for comment.

To be considered for the contract, companies must provide an upfront payment to the Jefferson Parish School Board, half of which counts toward payment for the rights to thelandand half of which countsas rent forthe first year.The selected company mustagreetodrill within one year fromthe lease date or pay additional rental payments for up to three years or else risk losing its contract.

It’sunclear when the board expects to select acompany. Accordingtoboard documents, the primary cost to thedistrict will be to hire an oiland gasconsultant, which is estimated to be up to $3,500, plus advertising costs.

NewOrleans school district weighs whichschools to close

As enrollment drops, up to nine campuses at risk

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

In New Orleans’ all-chartersystem, low-performing schools are routinely shut down.But now district officials face anew,more contentious situation: They will likely have to close schools not for poor performance, butbecause the shrinking system has too many campuses. An analysis by the nonprofit New Schools for New Orleans, shared with the School Board last week, saidthat up to nine schools should be shut down in the next fouryears to account for the city’sdeclining student population.

Now,with few schools across the B-rated district struggling academically, officials face the prospect of closing schools basedmore on enrollment than performance issues.

In coming weeks, the board plans to craft anew policy to guide the difficult and sure-to-be-controversial closure decisions,which officials said will likely take into account schools’ academic quality, building conditions,finances, enrollment and

community impact.

“We’re atthe point where we know there’s no low-hanging fruit,” said Maxwell Daigh, thedistrict’schief of data, accountability and portfolio “There are going to be hard discussions.”

Shrinkingsystem

Since 2020, New Orleans public schools have lost3,000 students becauseofa decliningbirthrate and outmigration from the city,Holly Reid,chiefofpolicyand portfolio forNew Schools forNew Orleans, told theSchool Board on Tuesday Reidsaid the declinehas been partially offset by an influx of immigrant students, but officials expect those numbers to fall due to the Trump administration’simmigration policy

School funding is mostly doled out based on student count, so emptier classroomscan create afinancial strain for schools, some of which have alreadyclosed or consolidated operations in recent years because of low enrollment.

One solution is to closeunderenrolled schools, which reduces costs and increases the population at other schools

Reid recommended closingfive to sixK-8 schoolsand twotothree high schools by the 2029-2030 school year

She presented theboardwith a case studyofa NewOrleans high school that added 35 studentsafter otherhigh schools closed. Theenrollment boost translatedto$570 extra perstudent, allowing the school to add staff members, increase teacher pay or update technology

School BoardmemberOlin Parker said that shuffling students may be the onlyway to increase school funding amid flat state aid and aprojected drop in local tax revenue.

“You have to have more students enrolled in those campuses,” he said. “That’sthe financial reality.”

More closures

The ongoing enrollment decline poses anew challenge forthe district, which until now has closed schoolsdue to academic, financial or operational issues.

Somecharter operators, feeling the pinch of too fewstudents, have voluntarily closed or consolidated schools. Mostrecently, Einstein Charter Schools opted to close Sarah T. Reed HighSchool and combine its three K-8schoolsinto one, citing low enrollment across the network as one reason.

Butthe enrollment declines could force the district to pursue more controversial closures, such as high schools with decent academics but very low enrollment —including,

potentially,some schools with large and vocal alumnicontingents

Board membersonTuesday expressedconcern thatsingle-site schools like Rooted School, asmall high schoolthatdoesn’thavethe alumni backingoflegacyschools but fills aprogram nicheinthe city, couldbeacasualtyofdistrict downsizing.

Parker saidsome high schools with deep roots in the community mayhave to close to keep up with enrollment declines,amove that is sure to be controversial.

“Do we care about the politics of school closure?” he asked his fellow board members. “Or do we care about providing more resources to students and teachers and raising teacher pay?”

The board already has apolicy for helping charter schools through theclosure process, but it expires in June. The board planstoupdate the policy,which helpsstudentsfrom closing schools find new placements andaddresses thefinances of closing schools. But that policy does not offer guidance forhow or when thedistrict should close schools in response to decliningenrollment. It also does not addressdistrict-run schools like theLeah Chase School, which the board opened in 2024 and recently consideredclosing partly due to its

low student count

Theboard appears poised to update thepolicy from assistingcharters thatmustclose duetoacademic or financial issues to more proactively lookingfor schools to shutter or consolidate in order to downsize the district. Daigh recommended theboard take into account multiple factors, including academics and building conditions, but it remains to be seen how they wouldsteer closure decisions.

NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Fateama Fulmore saidthe policy should include district-run schools andmakeclear that when acharter school closes, it won’treopen as atraditional public school, whichcould undermine the district’s consolidation efforts. In coming months,the district will also update the Charter School Accountability Framework,which it uses when deciding whether to renewschools’charters, to bringit in linewith thestate’snew accountabilitysystem. Thatrevisioncould include measures to make it easier to closeschoolstoaddressthe district enrollmentproblem.

“I personally would like to see us movequickly to optimize ourfacilities,” Parker said, “knowing thatit’s the only way thatwe’re going to bring more resources to our campuses.”

BY STEPHENMARCANTEL Staff writer

The city of Lafayette recorded10

homicides in 2025, or a44% drop from the previous year

That decrease was also seen in the parish as awhole, which had zero homicides last year,according to dataprovided by the Lafayette Police Department and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Thechange stands in stark contrast to 2023, when the city counted its deadliest year on record at 29 homicides

The following year,the city experienced a38% decrease in murders, according to the FBI’s2024 National Incident-Based Reporting System data

The first homicide victim in 2025 wasa15-year-old LafayetteHigh School student. Tameron Willis,was fatally shot Feb. 1onArthurStreet

Lastyear’s casesalso included a murder-suicide that resulted in the death of a16thJudicial District assistant attorney and the shooting death of a6-year-oldattending a vigilagainst another gun violence victimkilled by aformerLafayette policeofficer

The downward trend follows a national one, with 2025 seeing the national homicide rate at its lowest level inmore than acentury.Nationally,homicides weredown21% compared to theprevious year,accordingtothe CouncilonCriminal Justice, which tracked homicides across 40 large American cities. In New Orleans, violent crimesaw a 3% decline, with 121 homiceds recorded,comparedto125 theyear prior

Since2022, New Orleans has seen a55% decreaseinits homicide rate. East Baton Rouge Parish report-

ed 94 homicides in 2025, breaking arun of homicide totals that had remained stubbornly higheven as much of the rest of thecountry sawpost-pandemicreductionsin killings.The 2025 reductioninreported homicides moved the parish closer to matching national trends.

In Shreveport, thenumber of criminal homicides dropped 19% year over year,from 52 in 2024 to 42 in 2025, thelowestnumber sincebeforethe COVIDpandemic struck.

“It’sbeen anational trend,” said Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard in early January.“Butlocally,Ihave to attribute it to the men andwomen of that Lafayette Police Departmentand their proactive approach.”

That would still put Lafayette’s homicide rate at 8murders per

100,000, or doublethe projected national average. From 2021 to 2024, thecity’s murderratedecreased by 28% to 14.8 murders per 100,000, or 1.81 timesgreater than the2024 national average. Compared, New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge were on average 4.4 times deadlier than the national averageduringthe same period.

In 2025, there were 49 nonfatal shootings in Lafayette,with 165 guns seized by the city Police Department.Additionally,the city recovered $8.9 millionworth of illegaldrugs.Inthe parish, deputies investigated 12 attempted homicides. Trouardsaidthe improvement canbeattributedinparttohis calls for stability when he assumed theoffice of interim chief in 2024. When he took office, he createda list of 82 things he wanted to see

changed —from procedure, to policy,toprocurement. He said he was able to cross off that entire list during his first year in office.

“We’ve concentrated on those three things: stability,pay and equipment to help the department get where it needs to be. And it seemsthatthe moralehas gotten quite abit better,” Trouard said. Another contributing factoristhe department’srenewed approached to communitypolicingwiththe Community Engagement Unit, whichhandles crimeatthe neighborhood level, Trouard said. For instance, if apolice officer notices astring of burglaries in an area, aCEU officer would be assigned to patrol that area. While it sometimes leadstoarrest, it also increases police presence in an area, providinga proactive approach to deter crimes.

Verna Lee

Verna Lee Berthelot Aydell, 95, of French Settlement, LA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Born on April 4, 1930. She lived afull life rooted in family, faith, hard work andcommunity.

Verna began her career at French Settlement Elementary in 1978 as a French teacher's aide until she retired in 1995. She became part of the Foster Grandparent program in 1998 until 2022 where everyone knew her as Maw Maw Verna, atitle she proudly wore. She wasa member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray Aydell; Infant daughter, Peggy Lynn; parents, Earl Sr. and Leonie Berthlelot; brothers, Earl Jr (June) and Edwin (Lee Ann) Berthelot; brother-in-law, Philip Granata Jr; and grand sonin-law, Ritchie Ledoux. She is survived by her children, Danny Aydell (Lisa), Mary Beth Salassi (Michael), and Jeffrey Aydell (Dawn); grandchildren, Jeremy (Lori), Mandy (Landon), Jacob (Ashley), Brittni, Morgan, Brandi (Justin), and Brooke (Jeremy); 13 great-grandchildren, Peyton, Easton, Taylor, Jaxon, Logan, Jase, Parker, Lakyn, Blake, Colston, Carter, Brody and Kaden; and sisters, Erna Mae Granata and Edith Roland (Harry) along with numerous family members and acommunity that will never forget her laughter, her voice, and her unmistakable spirit. She was loved and cherished by all who knew her. Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2026,at St. Joseph Catholic Church in French Settlement from

9:00 am until Mass at 11:00 am.

Breaux, Sidney James 'Zeke'

Sidney "Zeke" James Breaux, Jr.passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday,February 25, 2026,atthe age of 97. He was aretired supervisor with Kaiser Aluminum with 40 years of service,resident and native of Plaquemine, LA. Zeke was aUS Navy Veteran who served in the Korean War.Visitation willbeheld at St.John theEvangelist Catholic Church, Plaquemine on Tuesday,March3,2026, from 9amuntil Mass of Christian of Burial at 11am, celebrated by Father Martin Lawrence.Entombment willfollow at Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine.Zeke is survivedbyhis wife of 71 years, Barbara LeBlanc Breaux; children, Keith Breaux and wife Sherri, Kevin Breaux and wife Kim, Kraig Breauxand wifeLinda, and Karen Breaux Medine and husband Felix "Bro"; grandchildren, ChristopherBreaux and wife Dawn, Jennifer Breaux,Jason Breaux, Jodi Breaux, CodyBreauxand Alyssa Cimino; great grandchildren, Peyton Parker, Madison, Jacey, andPresleyBreaux,and KierstenLouallen;greatgreatgrandchild, Atlas Hyatt; siblings,PatriciaRivet Nancy Barthelemy and husband Lynn, and Theresa Gauthreaux and husband Billy; brother-in-law, Phillip Provenzano; sisterin-law, Debbie Breaux;numerous nieces and nephews. Precededin death by his parents, Sidney and Cora Lee Martinez Breaux; siblings, John "Bob" Breaux, CarlBreaux, and RosemaryProvenzano; in-laws,C.J. andLula LeBlanc and sister-in-law, Catherine Gomez.Pallbear-

ers will be Keith, Kevin, Kraig, Felix"Bro", Jason, Christopher, Codyand James Gomez. Honorary pallbearerwillbeCalvin Lorio and Lewis Gomez. Zeke was aCharter MemberofLeKrewe Roi,loved traveling and was an avid LSUfan. Special thanksto Comfort Care Hospice especiallyJohn Barbee,Andrea Sandidge,Lacii Brown and Leslie Boudreaux, also Jackie Davis forall their loving care. Please share memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.

EvelynBujol Comeaux, born in Donaldsonville,LA and aresident of Baton Rouge, LA passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, February 26, 2026, surrounded by her loving family Evelynwas adevoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She dedicated27years of serviceto thestudentsand staff of ParkviewElementary School, where she worked in food service. Her warm smile, generous spirit, and caring heart touched the livesofcountless children and colleagues throughout her years there. She is survivedbyher daughters, Rebecca Comeaux and Melissa Ingram (Doug); her cherished grandchildren, Sara Dye, Ryan Ingram, and Kathryn Ingram; and her belovedgreat-grandchildren,Aubrey Elizabeth Reynolds and James Cooper Reynolds. She is also survivedbyseveral inlaws, nieces, nephews, cousins,and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, DonaldComeaux; her parents, Paul "Sweet" and Lovell LeBlanc Bujol; her sisters, Jeannette B. Maherand ErnestineB

Clark;and her brothers, LindenBujol and Russell Bujol AMass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at St.GeorgeCatholicChurch, 7808 St. GeorgeDr.,Baton Rouge, LA.Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. until the funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment willfollowatSt. GeorgeCatholicChurch Cemetery.

Davis, MarionShelton Marion Shelton Davis passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at theage of 84. She wasan avid tennis player, loved woodworking,and taking on any project she could gether handson. Above all, she cherished thetime she spent withher family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Marion is survivedby her children, Donna Dewailly(Buster),Jan Stuckey (Mark), and Ken Davis (Jill); grandchildren, Ally, Joey,Tina, Lydia, David, Brittney, and Tayler; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Sue Burkart;and ahost of otherfamily members. She is preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, William; and her parents, James and Erline Shelton. Visitation willbe at GreenoaksFuneral Home,9595 FloridaBlvd Baton Rouge,LA, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 9am until thetime of funeral servicesat11am. Burial will immediatelyfollow at Greenoaks Memorial Park Family and friends are invitedtosignthe online guestbookatwww.greeno aksfunerals.com

TheresaMarantoFoster, age76, of BatonRouge Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, surrounded by her family,af-

terbravely fighting Alzheimer'sand Parkinson's for manyyears. Theresa wascherished for hergentle, loving,and compassionatenature throughout herlife. She graduatedfromBaton Rouge High anddevoted herselftoserving others both through herworkand herfaith. For over two decades, Theresawas a pillar of the OurLady of Mercycommunity. She first served as theassistant bookkeeperand office assistantatOur Lady of MercyCatholic School and later became thereceptionist andfuneral coordinator at OurLady of Mercy Catholic Church,makinga lastingimpact on countless individuals untilher retirement. In addition to herministry work, Theresa joyfullyservedasa memberofthe churchchoir, wasa dedicatedmember of St.Matthew's Guild, and offered hertimeasa Eucharistic ministertothe homebound. Herdeep commitmenttoher family matchedher dedication to herservice,providing unwaveringlove andsupport. Theresawas preceded in death by herbeloved husband, Charles"Snow"Foster, Sr.; herparents, Joseph and Antionette Maranto; hersister,Diana Maranto Gauthier; and numerous aunts, uncles,and cousins. Sheissurvived by herchildren,Charles"Chuck"Foster, Jr.(Laura)and Dawn Dicharry(Dale); hersib-

lings, Toni Roumain,Cecile Johnson, Mary DeVilleneuve(Jon), Bernadette Sampere, and JoeMaranto (Connie); brother-in-law RoyFoster (Phyllis); as well as manynieces, nephews, and cousinswho will deeply miss her. Visitation will be held from 9:00-10:00a.m. on Monday, March2,2026, at OurLady of MercyCatholic Church, 445 Marquette Avenue, Baton Rouge,LA. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00a.m. Burial will take place at ResthavenGardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway. The family offersour sincere gratitude to Theresa'scaregiverswith TheHospice of Baton Rouge,aswellas thespecial nursing staff at Landmark of Baton Rouge for theircompassionate care.Inlieuofflowers, memorialsinhonor of TheresaMaranto Foster may be made to the Traditionsfor Tomorrow Campaign at OurLady of Mercy Catholic Church,The Hospice of Baton Rouge and/ or Alzheimer'sServicesof theCapital Area

Mary Bondi Guidroz, a resident of New Roads, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026 surrounded by her family at the age of 94. She was anative of Maringouin, Louisiana. She wasa graduate of St Joseph Academy, now CHSPC, attended apost graduate course at St Joseph Academy and worked with Sr. Louise Ellen at St. Joseph's until her employment with Lieux ChevroletCompany. After 14 years, she joined Guaranty Bankand Trust Company in New Roads until her retirement as aBanking Officer. She alsoserved as President of the Louisiana Ten Parish Chapter of the Bank Administration Institute. In addition, she was co-Owner of City DryCleaners along with her husband Ted Guidroz now deceased. She was also employed by Jumonville Farms as Office Manager and New Roads Mortgage Company. When her husband retired from the U.S Army, she received aCertificateofAppreciation from the Department of the Army for her 28 years of unselfish support of her husband during his military career. She is survived by 3daughters and 1son: Deborah and Tommy Cashio of Ventress, Patti and Randy Swindler of New Roads, Kandi and Mac Peek of Baton Rouge and son, Joey and Cindy Guidroz alsoofNew Roads. ASon-in-law, Randy Gustin, sister Ann (Jack) Serio of Morganza. Eight grandsons, Scott and Clay Cashio, Josh and Grant (Marcy) Gustin.Joseph and Jonathan Guidroz, Peyton (Victoria) Swindler and Harrison (Brigid) Walls; five great-grandchildren, Loghan Gustin, Benson Gustin, Cane Gustin, Sailor Swindler and Sage Swindler. She was preceded in death by husband, Ted Guidroz, parents Nelsi and Mary Miletello Bondi, sister, Amelia Bondi Odom, daughters, Chris Guidroz and Kim Gustin, grandsons Logan Gustin and Dillon Walls. Son-in-law Roland Schirmer, sister-in-law Peggy Guidroz Rock and brother-in-law Harvey Guidroz. She was amemberofSt. Mary's of False River Church in New Roads and previously served as a lector and commentator She wasalso amember of St. Mary's Alter Society Visitation will be at Nilands Funeral Home in New Roads, Louisiana on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 from 10:00 to 11:45 followed by mass of ChristianBurial at 12:00 at St. Marys of False River Church. Interment will immediately follow at False River Memorial Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be her sons-in-law, Jack Serio and Reid Johnson. Memorial donations may be made to Pointe Coupee Hospice, 350Hospital Road, New Roads, Louisiana or St. Mary's of False River Church. The familywould like to thank the professional and caring staff of Lacour House Assisted Living for the past 5years for making her life so enjoyable and fulfilling, and Hospice of Pointe Coupee Special thanks to Dr. Donald Doucet and Dr. Ashley Bordelon.

Guidry, Burton Burton Guidry was a lawyer, farmer, musician, and bon vivant, who loved life and shared that love of life with so many. Anative of South Louisiana, Burton was of the people and for the people. He was born in 1954in Vermilion Parish, in Abbeville, Louisiana.Burton had aspecial love for "Cajun country" and the people of Acadiana. After graduating Kaplan High School, Burton received aBachelorofArts in Political Science from LSU and subsequently earned his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola School of Law Burton had along and vibrant legal career, which he used to help the citizens of Louisiana.Hesaw thelaw as acalling andbelieved that trialwork was particularly fulfilling. The majority of Burton's legal career was in public service, including serving as apublic defender, assistant district attorney, assistant parish attorney, assistant city prosecutor, assistant attorney general, and director of the Criminal Division of the Attorney

General'sOffice. He was most gratifiedbyhis work in Washington, D.C. on behalfofLouisiana,toward recoveryefforts after HurricanesKatrina and Rita Burtonwas aCajunto his core. He was known as "Crawdaddy"toall -even to those who didn't know him directly. Burton lovedmusic. His guitar and fiddlewerehis favorite instruments out of his 13-instrument repertoire. Burton found joyin his music, and hismusic gave joytothose who heardit. He enjoyed mentoring up-and-coming musicians, as much as he enjoyedmentoring thenext generation of lawyers. Burton was alwayshappy to be of service—to people and to God. He had a deepand unshakable faith in the goodnessofGod's plan, which was strengthened by his three-decade commitment to the Jesuit men's retreat,Manresa, in Convent,Louisiana. Burton was preceded in death by his parents, J.D. andMarieAuthorine Guidry and his sisters, Debbie Menard and Nadine Kemmerly.Burton is survived by his wife, Lisa Freeman, his daughters, Jessica (Kevin) Balfour and Mary Katherine Koch, his grandchildren, Savannah and Connor Balfour,and his niece, Amber Kemmerly-Louviere. Acelebration of lifewill be held at alater date. Repose enpaix,Burton.

Lovingly known as Suda, Lee,and Maw-Maw, was born on March 3, 1940,in Port Allen, Louisiana,to Joseph Brownand Jennetta Brown.She peacefully departed this earthly lifeat St.Joseph Carpenter House, surroundedbyher loved ones. Louisa wasa devotedNurse, mother, grandmother, sister,and friend. Her love was steady, selfless, and unwavering. She leaves to cherish her precious memory her daughter,JanetDavis; son,GeraldHebert; her grandchildren, Jazz& Justin Brown, and Marketa Davis;and her greatgrandchildren, Skileigh, Elijah, and AliyahBrown. A funeral servicewillbeheld from 10:30 AM on 2026-0302 at Hall Davis& SonFuneral Services, 160 Louisiana Ave, Port Allen, LA 70726.

Holcomb,Gordon Ernest

Gordon Ernest Holcomb, born July 6, 1932, passed awaypeacefully at his home on January30, 2026. Services willbeheldatLA National Cemetery, located at 303 W. Mt. Pleasant Rd., Zachary, LA, on Wed., March 4, 2026,at2:00 PM whereGordon's ashes will be interred. All who wish to remember Gordon are invited to attend. See full obituaryatChurchFuneral Services.com

Olano, Darlene Matranga Ford

DarleneMatranga Ford Olano passed away on September 13, 2025,atthe ageof80. Shewas born in NewOrleans, Louisiana, and was along-time resident of Covington, Louisiana.Darlenewas an alumni of St.Mary'sDominicanHigh School.Her career as ahumanresources administrator for Hibernia and WhitneyBank showcased hercommitment to her profession. Shewas also aproud memberofthe Driftwood Country Club,whereshe formed lasting friendships and enjoyedmany memorablemoments. Darlene and her husband Dick, enjoyedtraveling in theirmotorhome for vacations, but mostlytoLSU for football, basketball and baseball games.Theymade many friends and memories in the LSU sports community. Shealsoloved meeting for

lunch withher Dominican Alumni life-long friends. Darlene is survived by her devoted husband, Richard "Dick" Olanoof31years. She is also survivedbyher loving daughters, Lisa Ford Cookmeyer(Ricky), Dayna FordBerthaut (Fred Richardson), and stepdaughter Alycia Olano Ward (Ron). Her legacy continues throughher grandchildren, Lindsey Van, Chase Cookmeyer, Cole Cookmeyer, Ford Gelpi, Haley Gelpi, Reese Berthaut, Harrison Ward and Georgia Ward,aswell as her great-grandchildren,ScarlettSkinnerand Juliet Skinner. She was preceded in deathbyher parents, Anthony Joseph Matrangaand Doris Hoerner Matranga, her sister Patricia Matranga O'Neill, and her brother Anthony JosephMatrangaJr. The family wouldliketoextend specialthanks to Dr.Ricardo Blanco for his care and support. Darlene willberemembered forher warmth positivity, generosity,dedication, and theloveshe shared with all who knew her. Relatives and friends are invited to attend services at LakeLawn MetairieFuneral Home, 5100 PontchartrainBlvd. NewOrleans, LA on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Visitation willbefrom 10:30am untilthe Memorial Mass begins at 12:00pm.

Steven Gerard Oufnac, age66, passedaway peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Steve was bornonNovember 17, 1959, in Baton RougetoAngelina and Herman Oufnac. He graduated fromCentral High School in 1978 and later attended Louisiana StateUniversity. Stevewas alovinghusband, devoted sonand brother, and a cherished friend to many. Steveembraced life fully and found greatjoy in fishing,photography, traveling,and making Italian sausage. He willbedearly missed especially by his lifelong friends, Johnny Medine and Charles Feduccia, as wellasbyall who knew and lovedhim. He was preceded in deathby his father, Herman A. Oufnac; his mother, Angelina L. Oufnac; and his brother, Herman J. (Bubbie) Oufnac. Steveissurvivedbyhis beloved wife of 42 years, PattiDier Oufnac; sisters, Peggy Oufnac, Jeannette Hidalgo (Dale), and CarolMahan (Carl); brother, Jimmy Oufnac (Tina); sister-inlaw, Kathy Oufnac (Bubbie), brother-in-law, TimD Dier (Oleg)and sister-inlaw, Jeanne Dier-Eckert (Ralph); as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. The Familywould like to extend asincere thank youtoSteve's Physicians: Bryan J. Bienvenu, M.D.and Staff, Michael D. DiLeo, M.D.and Staff, Charles E. DeDeaux, Jr., M.D.and Staff and Mark K. Hodges,M.D.who were instrumental in his health care. In lieu of flowers, the Family requestsdonations be madetoMary Bird Perkins CancerCenter, 4950 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA or Manresa House of Retreats, 5858 LA44, Convent, LA 70723. VisitationwillbeheldatOur Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.,followed by Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment willfollow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

The lovedones of Christine "Christy" Scoggins announce thepassing of our amazing and wonderful friend on February 19, 2026 at her home in Baton Rouge after abrief illness. Christywas borninNew Orleans, La on May 7, 1952. She graduated from BroadmoorHighSchool and at-

tendedLSU where she earneda Bachelor and Master of Science and Master of Education.She was amember of Kappa Alpha ThetaSorority. Christyloved working as an educatorinmany schoolsinBaton Rouge, primarilyinphysical educationand resources. Christywas instrumental in theformationofthe La Colleges Intramural and Recreational Sports Assoc. at theUniversity of New Orleans. She also served many clientsastheir Financial Advisor and Insurance agent.She served as an Officer and Board memberofthe ParkviewOaks CivicAssociationand was activeinthe PVOGarden Club. Christyloved gardening,traveling, art, animals, sailing and photography She was "rich" with friends whomshe cherished over alifetime. Afavoritequote was "Friendsare forever." She waspreceded in death by her parents; Creedand Jean Laudeman Scoggins and brother Richard. There will be aCelebrationofLife held in her honorata future date. In lieu of flowers Christyasked that adonation be madeinthe charity of your choice.

SidneyStaring,known as "Coach," peacefully passed away on February 5, 2026. He was born on January4,1946, to Reynaud and Yvette Staring. Aproud graduateofLSU where he earnedhis teaching.Sidney taught 33 ½ years in EBR School System. He beganteaching in 1969 at Broadmoor High School for4 years and then taught theremaining years at Westdale Middle until his retirement. Sidney's legacy is one of service, and unwavering commitment to allthe lives he touched as ateacher

and coach. He willbe deeply missed and forever remembered. Visitation will be at St AgnesCatholic Church,Baton Rouge,La., from 10:00 am untilthe Funeral Mass at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March4,2026. Inurnment will follow at Resthaven GardensofMemoryinBaton Rouge

Waller, AltheaGwen

Gwenpassed peacefully on 2/25/2026. Survivedby herhusbandof45years, Richard;childrenJonathan Drago (Mary Kathryn), Jennifer Ball (Ronald), siblings NoelleGulotta, Douglas Pourciau Jr,and grandchildren Whitney, James, Bre, and Cooper. Avisitation will be held from9:00am to 10:00am on March 3, 2026 at ResthavenGardensof Memory, 11817 Jefferson Hwy.

Watson, Jack Allen

Born July 21, 1932 and went to be with hisLord andSavior JesusChrist February 20, 2026 at 9:06am. Jack Watson was anative of Corbin, Louisiana and aresident of

Denham Springs, Louisiana. He wasa retiredschool teacher anda veteran of the US Army. Whilehenevermarried, he built arichlifesurrounded by hisfamilyand close friends. He lovedtotravel andhis greatest joywas ridinghis bike all over townand meeting people. Jackissurvivedbytwo nephews, Alvin Elton CorleyJr. andTerry Dale Templet, twogreat nephews, Jeff Corley andCorey Templet, great great nephews, Chase Corley,BryceCorley, Luke Templet, great great nieces Reagan Corley, Corley McDaniel and LaurenTemplet. He was preceded in death by his mother, Maggie AllenWatson, father Glen Watson, sistersAnita Corley,Faye Templet and his brother George Watson, nephew Elmus Corley andgreat nieceDebbie Corley.Athis request, hisbody wasdonated to the Bureauof Anatomical Servicesand therewill be no service held.Hewill be rememberedfor hissharp mind and hisindependent spirit

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OPINION

OUR VIEWS

La.builds on momentum with data center boom

With Amazon becoming thelatest bigtech company choosing to makea biginvestment in our state, we applaud the effortsofstate leaders and Louisiana Economic Developmenttocapitalizeonmomentum to attract new industries.

Thecompany said Monday it planstobuild twonew Amazon WebServices AI data centers in Caddo and Bossier parishes as part of $12 billion development expected to create up to 450 jobs

Theannouncement puts an exclamationpoint on the burgeoning potential in north Louisiana, an area of the state stillreelingfromthe lossof some of its major employers over thepastfew decades.

Theregion’sfortunes began to turn around in 2024 when Meta unveiledplans to build afourmillion-square-foot facility in RichlandParish, aproject whose price taghas now risen to $27 billion. Construction has spurred something of gold rush to thosepiney woodsasproperty values have soared and tiny townshaveseen a boom in economic activity.

Amazon’stwo data centers will bepartof 7-million-square-foot campuslocatednear Blanchard in CaddoParish andnearBentonin Bossier Parish. Athird Shreveport data center wasalsoteased.

Theexpansion of data centers to power the rapid development of AI technologyhas raised concerns in some quarters, specifically about electricityand water usage. AWSsaid it plansto invest $400 million in public water infrastructure in this project.

But as more data centers are built in ourstate, we also have the opportunity to makesurethere is asufficient regulatory framework in place to address public concerns.

The Louisiana Public Service Commissionisa key to that, and we urge commissioners to make theimpactonour communities theparamount issue.

We take utility officials and Gov.JeffLandry at their word when they say this datacenter will notraise costs for ratepayers. Yetweare glad to see that on the federal level, PresidentDonald Trump is also vowing action, saying in his State of the Union address Tuesday that hewould seek pledges from techcompanies to pickup more the electricity costs of datacenters.

Those issues aside, we areenthusiastic about what this new data centerannouncement by Amazon represents. Louisianaseems to be on themap nowfor largeeconomic development projects

That’slargely thanks to thework of LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois and herteam. It’sa good sign that for the second time nowthe state has been given astamp of approval by oneof the country’smost cutting-edgecompanies. We can’twait to see what comes next.

CORRECTION

Antoine Garibaldi was the third-longest-serving president of the UniversityofDetroit Mercy. Will Sutton’scolumn on Feb. 22 incorrectly said he was the longest serving

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE

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 and phone 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, BatonRouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

Carbon

Carbon sequestration wells don’t look much like windmills.

Butthat isn’tstopping ahandful of legislators from tilting at them regardless.

Pineville (not to be confused with U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Benton).

thing that would further restrict carbon capture.”

Carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS, the process by which excess carbon dioxide created during industrial processes is captured and stored underground rather than being released intothe atmosphere, appears poised to generate a fair bit of heat —but little in theway of new law —inthe upcoming legislative session.

During the prefiling period that ended last week, no less than eight bills were filed on thetopic, most of them aiming to give parish authorities more power to reject CCS infrastructure, including injection wells and pipelines; protect landowners in case of an accident, and prohibit companies from storing carbon under land without a landowner’sconsent.

The headliner is House Bill 5, which would award broad power to parish councils to reject carbon capture wells, pipelines or storage. The bill is sponsored by House Speaker ProTem Mike Johnson, aRepublican from

Johnson and acoalition of other lawmakers, manyfrom central Louisiana, filed the bills after monthsoffurious opposition to CCS in their districts. The bills are just the latest salvos in what has been asimmering fight between pro- and anti-CCS forces in thelegislature, in public meetings andinthe courts. Johnson’sbill, in manyways, echoes one filed last year by Rep. Chuck Owen,ofVernon Parish. That bill failed to make it out of committee.

AndifSenate President Cameron Henry is agood prognosticator,Johnson’sbill is unlikely to improve on that outcome.

“No,” he said, whenasked if he thought Johnson’sbill had abetter chance than Owen’s did last year

Regardless of whathappens in the House, Henry said he didn’tsee apath for thebills through the 39-member Senate.

“It comes down to avote to get 20 votes one way or the other,” he said.

“I don’tsee an appetite now to do any-

As Henry noted, the basic conundrum is this: Many industries coming to Louisiana cite carbon capture as a central piece of what makes the state attractive. The state has been granted expedited permitting authority from the feds, and so seemspoised to become aleader in the process. But manylandowners don’twant it. They worry about the CO2 stored underground seeping up into water supplies or pipeline accidents. This isn’tthe old business-versusenvironmentalists debate. This is two strands of conservative Republicans —one pro-business, the other pro-local control —duking it out. The safebet is on the former,atleast in the Legislature’supper house. In the famous musical, “Man of La Mancha,” based on Cervantes’ classic novel Don Quixote, the windmill-tilting knight sings, “Todream the impossible dream,tofight the unbeatable foe… this is my quest.” Louisiana’scarbon capture opponents can relate.

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

Timing is everything in journalism

Journalism is alot about waiting.

People often thinkit’sa job where you’re running here and there all thetime, and that can happen during big breaking news events, but most journalistsspend alot of time waiting —waiting outside courthouses, waiting in lobbies, waiting at concerts, waiting, waiting, waiting. That’sbecause to get the story,orthe perfect photo, you have to be in position before events unfold. If you get to aspot as things are happening, it may already be too late to get the information you need. That’swhy mostjournalists who’ve been in this business for awhile are always early to an assignment. You never know what can happen in the time you are waiting.

that perhaps would have gone unnoticed in acrowd. In Opinions, we sometimes have the luxury of letting the dust settle abit before weighing in. We do like ourcommentary to keep up with what people are talking about. Online, we publish opinions on news events if there is alot of interest in atopic.

Youcan catch asource in ahallway for an informal chat or see something

On somedeveloping stories, though, especially ones where facts may be unclear,welike to wait to write an editorial until there’smore information, particularly before stating aposition on ahot-button issue. That’snot always what happens on the internet, we know,where opinions are quickly shared after any controversy —even if they are later retracted. We like to stand by ouropinions, so that sometimes means holding

back our full-throated endorsement of aplan or idea until the details are known. There’smuch that can change during the implementation phase, and unintended consequences can become moreapparent. So we can come back later and clarify our opinion if necessary

Turning to our inbox forthe weekof Feb. 19-25, we received 53 letters. No one topic stood out. There werethree letters on Mardi Gras and its aftermath, twoletters on education, two letters on immigration and two letters on the TenCommandments law,which recently passed judicial muster.So perhaps this week, manyofyou were waiting before registering an opinion on atopic. We will be waiting to hear from you.

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

COMMENTARY

When an innocent manisjailed, we alllose

Sometimes it’seasy to see a story about asingular,gross miscarriage of justice and just stop reading, because it seems to have no real bearing on your own life.

Please don’tdothat here —because there’sabigger issue than the immediate injustice.

Iwrote last July about Jimmie “Chris” Duncan, who spent 32 years in prison after aconviction for allegedly raping and murdering the 23-month-old daughter of his live-in girlfriend. Famed lawyerauthor John Grisham also wrote about thecase in these pages, flatly stating of Duncan that it was “a crime he did not commit.” Two months before Grisham wrotehis column, Judge Alvin Sharp of the 4thJudicial District in Ouachita Parish had come to the same conclusion, declaring Duncan “factual[ly] innocen[t].

—and sincethen, Duncan has found ajob andreportedly is doingwell.

The state though, won’t drop its appeal, so Duncan isn’tfree and clear.That’s where thenew development comes in.

Quin Hillyer

On Feb. 4, thefamily of Loyd Donald Oliveaux, the since-deceased father of deceased 2-year-old Haley Oliveaux, filed an amicus brief with the Louisiana Supreme Court declaring afirm conclusion that Duncan is innocent and requesting thefinal vacation of his conviction.

AuntJennifer Berry,uncle JoshuaBerry and cousin Jacob Hamm wrote that “we don’tbelievethere is anyevidence for anycrime at all.” Notewell: Not just zero evidence that Duncan committed thealleged crime, but that no crime was committed by anybody.

Still, Duncan remained behind bars for sevenmore monthsbecause Louisiana prosecutors are appealing Sharp’sruling. In November,Sharp ruled rightly that Duncan should be released on bail while the appeal moves forward

Haley’s mother,Allison Statham,also was quoted last year saying shebelieves Duncan is innocent.

What is undisputed is that Duncan was babysitting for little Haley when she died by drown-

ing. Duncan says he left her in apartly filled bathtub while he washed dishes, returning minutes later to find her face down. Prosecutors alleged, though, that he deliberately drowned her after raping her,and cited what may have been bitemarks on her face and some inflammation in her posterior region. Duncan, though, had no criminal history or record of sexual deviance. He is theone who carried Haley’sbody,while weeping, to neighbors and asked them to call paramedics.

As Grisham noted, the assertion about the bite marks was based on what Grisham called “the wholly fabricated theories of two notorious forensic experts” with long histories of having their “bitemark evidence” subsequently found utterly unreliable by courts. Grisham also noted there was no blood or semen found at thescene of the death.

So far,everybody but theprosecutors seems to believe Duncan spent 32 years in prison, 27 on deathrow,for acrimehedidn’t commit. Notably,Duncan for decades was amodel prisoner,including working as aGeneral Ed-

ucational Development instructor to coach 16 fellow inmates in earning diplomas.

Meanwhile, Berry family members, who said that they fordecades believed Duncan wasguilty until being apprised of the exculpatory information,said that for some27years they have been denied their “basic rights as surviving family members of Haley Oliveaux,” including “the right to be present andheard during all critical stages of pre-conviction and post-conviction proceedings.”

Their brief says they wrote to Attorney General Liz Murrill, Gov. Jeff Landry and District Attorney Robert Tewtoask to present their support forDuncan, but they haven’treceived the courtesy of areply OK, let’spause here. The obvious question arises as to whythe statecontinues to press to imprison aman whoalready served 32 years behind bars even though the“evidence” against him was outrageously dubious and even though atrial judge and the victim’sfamily “believe fully in Mr Duncan’sinnocence.” There seems to be no good answer

The next question is whyreaders should care. Well, there’sabigger issue here. Afundamental tenet of the American creed, atenet especially at the heart of Reaganite conservatism, is that the main role of domestic government is to safeguard liberty.That’sthe very reason American government exists. And our Madisonian system is designed around the recognition that unchecked, centralized power is anathema.

That’swhy it is both unconservative and un-American, for example, to countenance massive internal policing by the federal government without extensive training or respect forcivil liberties. (Minnesota, anyone?) And that’swhy every time state power is used to take way liberty from someone unjustly accused, it is a travesty,asin —and athreat to us all.

Jimmie “Chris” Johnson has suffered enough. It’s timefor the state to drop its appeal —sohe can keep making his new lifein freedom.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com.

Twoverydifferentleaders agree: Higher ed in La.mustadapt

Percy Miller,aWarren Easton High School grad, ran arecordstore then became asuccessful record label businessman, rapper,entertainer and eventually Master P, an entrepreneurwho hit it big with 1997’s“Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” CameronHenry,aJesuit High School grad, became alegislativeaide to aLouisianapolitician, replacing him in the Louisiana House of Representatives, serving in the state Senate and,eventually,becoming thestate Senate president. Both have strong business acumen and experience. Neither has led asystem or auniversity.Neither has led adepartment, college or school. Butboth think something significant needs to be done with Louisiana’shighereducation and they’ve come to that conclusion from theoutside lookingin.

responsible for day-to-day oversight of the colleges and universities. Each institution hasits own leadership,faculty,staff and students.

To an outsider,that might seem like alot of bosses with multiple layers of system administrations, each claiming apiece of our academic focus, resultsand success In recent years, that hasn’tnecessarily led to success,with several of thestate’suniversities facing financial trouble, including UNO, which is struggling to close an estimated $10 million budget gap.

Will Sutton

To insiders, much of what exists is necessary because there’sno one layer of leaders that can keep up with all of the federal, state and accreditation requirements while also constantly changing curricula to meet ever-changing professional and workplace needs.

Last year,the UniversityofNew Orleans named Master Ppresident of itsbasketball operations, largely in an attempt to improve its marketing and branding.

In his Senate role, Henry is in charge of crafting astate budget that includescolleges and universities as some of itsbiggest ticket items.

In separate conversationsthis week, I found that Master Pand Master C(Cameron Henry) were sayingsome of the same things. In differentways, they each said thatfor higher educationinour state to succeed,some people are going to have to get out of the way

The state of Louisiana has about30publiccolleges and universities, dependingon which institutions you count. The Louisiana Board of Regents, created bythe 1974 state constitution, has the responsibility of coordinating higher education across the state. Four separate system boards are

Master Pand Master Chave some questions, and they think we need to seriously look at what we’ve been doing.

“Weneed more business-thinking people,” Master Ptold me during WBOK’s Good Morning Show on Wednesday.“We need morebusiness-thinking people in leadership. Ithink alot of academic people are afraid of that. They’re afraid of the changeand the growth. Things aredifferent. Our educators, they think that they’regoing to losetheir jobs. We just needtounderstand where thetimes are going. Andthis is abusiness.”

Henry is about to go intoaMarch legislativesession with lots on his mindand the minds ofour legislators. Oneissue is higher education and whether we’re getting the mostfor our taxpayer money

In ameeting with editorial board members, reportersand editors on Wednesday afternoon,Henry expressed concerns

about what he sees as alack of critical financial responsibility.

Pointingtothe BoardofRegents and its oversight role, he said that thegroup can’t shirk itsduty.

“They have tocome back andsay,with all of the universities that are struggling financially,ifyour job, big picture job, is to forecast what universitiesneed, want, desire and the role of the future, that’snot working real well,” he said.

Butthere are many factors at play.We Louisianans aren’tmaking enough babies and not enough young people have been moving into our state recently.The college-age population continues to decline. Not everyone goes to college, but the number of those who could dropped from 220,000 in 2012 to 201,000 in 2022. That decline has continued. Some projections say we could lose up to 15% more college-age

students by 2029. That meansthe samenumber of institutions will be competing forfewer students, knowing that someofthem will go to private, in-state colleges and universities and others will leave the state.

UNO has leftthe UL system,officially moving to the LSU system in July.Master Pisexcited about the move, especially the branding opportunities. But UNO and all of our schools need students.

We can’tcontinue to pay morefor the samenumber of leaders and people to educate fewerstudents.

Master Pand Master Cdon’thave the answer,but they have an answer: amore serious business approach.

Universities aren’tbusinesses. But the numbers must add up.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@gmail.com

Is time runningout forsanctuary cities?

In the end, the conflict between federal immigration authorities andprotesters in Minneapolis boiled down to one fundamental policy question: Should sanctuary cities be allowed to exist? Should cities, and counties, and states be allowedtoprohibit their policefrom cooperating with the enforcement of federal immigration law,even as those local agencies cooperate with all other law enforcement?

In the wake of Minneapolis, some hardcore Democratic leaders are doubling down on sanctuary policies.

Erika Smith at Bloomberg summarized what’sgoing on in apiece titled “This Immigration Crackdown Is Creating More Sanctuary Cities.” Abigail Spanberger,the new Democratic governor of Virginia, has ordered state authorities to cancel any

agreements withthe federal government allowing cooperation with immigration enforcement. In New York, Democratic Gov Kathy Hochul is pushing abill to do thesame thing. In New Jersey,new Democratic Gov.Mikie Sherrill has signed an order that in many situations will bar federal immigration authorities from state property.And in Maryland, DemocraticGov WesMoore is hoping to bar local jails from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Similar things are happening in blue cities, which already had sanctuary policies.

In New York, new Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to ban ICE agents from almost any cityproperty unless the agentsget ajudicial warrant.

AndinLos Angeles,Democratic Mayor Karen Bass has just signed alaw with new restrictionsonICE. No surprises there. Anything to resist thehated Trump. What is striking, though, is at thesame moment all that is happening, there is growing cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement elsewhere in thecountry NBC News reports that “agreements between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement that allow officerstomake federal immigration arrests have increased by 950% in the first year of President Donald Trump’ssecond term.”

The NBCreport continues: “As of Jan. 26, there were 1,168 agencies with officers trained to help ICE, up from 135 during the Biden administration and 150 at theend of Trump’sfirst term.”

The Trump administration has restarted an oldprogram under which local police officers essentially act as ICE deputies, with theauthority to arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally.ICE is encouraging local agenciesbyoffering grants for assistance. NBC reports the states that have the most agencies enrolled in the program are Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania andAlabama. They’re theanti-sanctuary jurisdictions. Public opinionseems to be on theirside. AHarvard CAPS Harrispoll from late January asked, “Do you think thatlocal officials should hand over to immigration authorities criminals in jail who are here illegally,orshould state and local officials notturn over criminals for deportation?” Sixty-seven percentofrespondents saidofficials should hand over thecriminals, while just 33% saidthey should not.

The poll also asked, “Do you think thatstate andlocal authoritiesshould cooperateorrefuse to cooperatewith federal immigrationauthoritiesonthe deportations of criminals?” The answers came out exactly the same —67% said authorities should cooperate, while 33%said theyshould not. There areseveral bills in Congress, allproposed by Republicans, thatwould outlaw or sharply limit sanctuary noncooperationpolicies. Evenifone or more of them make it through Congress —and despite public opinion, it is likely Democrats will fight them tooth andnail—theywill surely face court challenges. Still, it could be thatthe real momentum after Minneapolis is against sanctuary jurisdictions.

Email Byron York at byork@ washingtonexaminer.com.

Featherweight Scooter

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Her senior night is behind her.Now it’stime for Flau’jae Johnsontotry onelast timetoleadthe LSU women’sbasketball team back to theFinal Four

The basketball and hip-hop starishopingtobookend her career with national championships.Johnson was a freshman starter on theTigers’ teamthat won it all in 2022-23. Now she’sa senior,one who’salready accomplished enough to become one of the Tigers’ all-time greats —nomatterwhathappensnext.

James Borrego doesn’tmind thinking outside the box, no matter how far outside the box his thoughts may take him. So when theNew OrleansPelicans were struggling defending in the paint, Borrego didn’thesitatetoinsert37-yearold DeAndre Jordan —who hadn’t played since Oct. 29 —intothe starting lineup. The move has paid off, with the Pelicans beating the UtahJazz Thursday night for their third straightgame with Jordan in the lineup.

“When Ithink of LSU and all the tremendousathletes that have played all the sports here,” coach Kim Mulkey said, “her name’sgonna be right up there withthem.”

If Johnson scores 25 points in aroadgameagainst Mississippi Statethat tipsoff at 3p.m. Sunday (SEC Network), then she’ll become just the sixth playertotally morethan 2,000 career pointsinanLSU uniform.Joyce Walker, SeimoneAugustus, Julie Gross,CorneliaGayden and Sylvia Fowles arethe only other Tigers who have hit thatmark.

ä See JOHNSON, page 3C

LSU fallsto Sooners

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

LSU has had its fair share of letdowns at homethis season. From the heartbreaking game-winner by Kentucky to head-scratching defeats to Southeastern Conference opponents, including Mississippi State and South Carolina, fans have not left the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in good spirits often. The trend of homelosses continued as the Tigers wereunable to winasecond gamein arow forthe firsttime in SEC play. Theyfell 83-67 to OklahomaSaturday at the PMAC. Max Mackinnon had 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting, three days after scoring aseasonhigh 34 in the team’swin at Ole Miss on Wednesday PJ Carter had 12 points, and Pablo Tamba had 10 points and 10 rebounds. This was thefirsttimeLSU (15-14, 3-13)

ä See LSU, page 3C

BY

LSUforward MikeNwoko dunksagainst Oklahoma in the second halfonSaturdayat the PMAC.

Whowill be Saints’next Hall of Famer?

Now that Drew Brees has becomethe fifth NewOrleans Saint to gain induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you might be wondering: Who’sondeck?

Jeff Duncan

Who will be the next Saint to earn agold jacket and join Brees (2026), Sam Mills (2022), Morten Andersen (2017), Willie Roaf (2012) and Rickey Jackson (2010) in Canton?

The franchise has ahandfulofworthy candidates, but it might take awhile for them to earn enshrinement.

It’sone of several unconventional moves Borrego has madesince taking over as interim coach 12 games intothe season. Good leaders get paid to makegutsy calls and Borrego has shown he isn’t afraid to do so. He’ll shake thingsupwhen he has to —evidentfrom his very first game after takingoverafter Willie Green was fired. Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, said on the day Green was fired thathewould leaveall the on-court decisions up to Bor-

rego. In Borrego’s first game, he inserted rookie Derik Queen intothe starting lineup. Three games later,Queen scored 30 pointsand grabbed nine rebounds. Two nights after that, Queen recorded his first double-double. Borrego was just getting started.When Zion Williamson returned from an injury that sidelined him for six games, Borrego chose tobring him off the bench. Williamson, the face of the franchise, had never comeoff the bench in his career.Yet the move worked as the Pelicans won four straight games and went

ä See WALKER, page 4C

The Class of 2027 figures to be one of the strongest ever.Rob Gronkowski, Ben Roethlisberger,Adrian Peterson, Antonio Brown, Andrew Whitworth and Richard Sherman all worthy first-year-eligible candidates.

TomBrady and J.J. Watt headline the Class of 2028 candidates, while Aaron Donald, Jason Kelce and Julio Jones become eligible forthe Class of 2029.

It’s supposed to be difficult to get into the Hall, and it will be formany deserving candidates in the years ahead.

Here’show Iwould assess the chances

ä See DUNCAN, page 7C

Rangers lose Jung, Foscue for 10 days with injuries

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung is expected to miss about 10 days with an adductor strain. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker also told reporters, including MLB.com, on Saturday that designated hitter Justin Foscue has a hamstring strain and also could miss 10 days. Jung, 28, hit .251 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs in 131 games in 2025. Foscue, 26, had only nine atbats last season and is contending for a share of a platoon at designated hitter Neither player’s ability to be ready for Opening Day would appear to be impacted, which is good news, given the sudden lack of infield depth. After trading Marcus Semien to the New York Mets, the team is expecting Josh Smith to move from a utility role to being the regular second baseman.

Burries scores 20 in win over Kansas

BY JOHN MARSHALL

AP sportswriter

TUCSON, Ariz. — Brayden Burries had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Motiejus Krivas added 13 points and No. 2 Arizona clinched a share of the Big 12 regular-season title with an 84-61 win over No 14 Kansas on Saturday The Wildcats (27-2, 14-2 Big 12) used a 19-0 run to build an 18-point lead, allowed Kansas to whittle it to two midway through the second

half, then pulled away with another big run to earn a share of the Big 12 title in their second season in the league.

Jaden Bradley scored eight straight points during the decisive 19-2 second-half run and Koa Peat had 12 points after missing the previous three games with a lower-leg injury

The Jayhawks (21-8, 11-5) handed Arizona its first loss of the season on Feb. 9 and rallied behind star freshman Darryn Peterson

after being overwhelmed early in the rematch.

Peterson finished with 24 points, but Kansas had no answer during the Wildcats’ big run and lost for the third time in five games. Kansas won the first meeting 82-78 despite Peterson sitting out with flu-like symptoms.

The Jayhawks ran into early trouble in the rematch when Bryson Tiller, who had 18 points in the first go-round, picked up two early fouls.

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Arizona took advantage of Kansas’ smaller lineup with a 19-0 run that forced Jayhawks coach Bill Self to call two timeouts in a span of 1:12. Kansas missed nine straight shots during the run and the Wildcats kept pouring it on, stretching the lead to 37-19.

The Jayhawks tightened up defensively to close the half, holding Arizona without a field goal over the final 3:52 to pull within 39-28 at halftime.

Philon leads Alabama over Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Labaron Philon

Jr. hit a jumper with 22.8 seconds left to lead No. 17 Alabama to a 7169 win over No. 22 Tennessee on Saturday night.

Latrell Wrightsell scored 25 points to lead the Crimson Tide (227, 12-4 Southeastern Conference), and Philon came off the bench to score 15 of his 23 points in the second half. Aden Holloway added 12.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 26 points and had eight steals and seven assists to lead the Volunteers (20-9, 10-6), who lost their fourth SEC game after having a double-digit first-half lead

J.P Estrella had 12 points and Jaylen Carey had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Vols missed three shots within five feet of the basket in the final seconds.

Tennessee freshman Nate Ament sustained what appeared to be a right knee injury With 7:42 left in the first half, he became tangled in a scrum of players and his knee bent awkwardly He went to the locker room under his own power Ament started the second half, scored his only basket, but left for good with 17:53 to play Gillespie scored 15 first-half

points and Tennessee led at the break, 40-28.

Alabama freshman Amari Allen missed Tennessee’s win over Alabama in late January with a groin injury He shot 6 of 7 from beyond the 3-point line in Wednesday’s win over Mississippi State but had just two points against the Vols. Philon missed the Mississippi State game with an undisclosed injury NO.5 HOUSTON 102, COLORADO 62: In Houston, Milos Uzan had 26 points and six assists, Joseph Tugler scored 14 and No 5 Houston snapped its three-game losing streak with a win over Colorado on Saturday Uzan had 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half as the Cougars (24-5, 12-4 Big 12) built a 55-29 lead at the break. Houston shot 56%, including 6 of 11 on 3-pointers, in the first half. Chris Cenac Jr scored 12 points, Kingston Flemings had 11 points, six rebound and eight assists and Chase McCarty, Emanuel Sharp and Mercy Miller finished with 10 points each for Houston, which shot 60% for the game and 10 of 17 on 3-pointers.

WEST VIRGINIA 79, NO. 19 BYU 71: In Morgantown, West Virginia, Honor Huff scored 19 points, Brenen Lorient added 18 and West Virginia led the entire second half and beat No.

19 BYU on Saturday night. DJ Thomas added 13 points and Jasper Floyd and Chance Moore had 11 apiece for the Mountaineers (17-12, 8-8 Big 12). Robert Wright III scored 23 points and AJ Dybantsa added 20 for BYU (20-9, 8-8), which couldn’t make up a double-digit halftime deficit for the second straight game. The Cougars have lost two straight and eight of 12. NO 16 TEXAS TECH 82, NO. 4 IOWA 73: In Ames, Iowa, Donovan Atwell scored 18 points to lead No. 16 Texas Tech to an victory over No. 4 Iowa State on Saturday that sent the Cyclones to their first home loss of the season. Iowa State (24-5, 11-5 Big 12) was 15-0 at Hilton Coliseum before the Red Raiders (22-7, 12-4) came in and ended the streak, building a 20-point first-half run and fighting off a second-half surge by the Cyclones. Texas Tech, playing the rest of the season without JT Toppin, the reigning Big 12 player of the year stayed in a second-place tie with Houston, two games behind leader Arizona, heading into the final week of the regular season. Iowa State dropped into a tie for fourth with Kansas.

NO 12 NEBRASKA 82, USC 67: In Los

Angeles, Pryce Sandfort scored 32 points — one off his career high — and No 12 Nebraska pulled away in the second half to beat Southern California on Saturday for its school-record 14th Big Ten victory and third straight overall.

The Cornhuskers (25-4, 14-4) improved to 7-2 on the road in league play with one away game remaining. They began the season 20-0 and are 5-4 since then.

CLEMSON 80, NO. 24 LOUISVILLE 76: In Clemson, South Carolina, Jestin Porter scored all 16 of his points in the second half as Clemson snapped a four-game losing streak with an victory over No. 24 Louisville on Saturday

The Tigers, once comfortably in the NCAA Tournament field with 10 wins in their first 11 Atlantic Coast Conference games, had raised questions the past two weeks with their late-season slide. But Clemson (21-8, 11-5 ACC) held off the Cardinals (20-9, 9-7) with defense and Porter’s timely baskets. Up 55-49, Porter drove through the right side of Louisville’s defense for a basket off the glass. Moments later, Nick Davidson stole the ball from Adrian Wooley, fed a perfect pass to a wide-open Porter who hit a 3-pointer for a double-digit lead.

Mavs waive Jones, sign Nembhard to 2-year deal

DALLAS The Dallas Mavericks have waived point guard Tyus Jones, one of the players involved in the three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. The move announced Saturday gives Jones a chance to pursue a deal with a contender needing backcourt help. The 29-year-old made the playoffs three consecutive seasons with Memphis from 2021-23. The Mavericks now have the flexibility to convert rookie point guard Ryan Nembhard to a standard contract. Nembhard is closing in on the maximum number of NBA games allowed for players on two-way deals. Jones made two starts among eight appearances for the Mavericks, averaging 3.9 points and 3.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.

RHP Melton expected to miss opening day for Tigers

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers right-hander Troy Melton is not expected to be available for the start of the season due to inflammation in his right elbow

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Friday that Melton won’t throw for one to two weeks. Melton told the Detroit Free Press on Saturday he is “not too concerned over anything too long-term.” Melton, 25, was 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 16 games, including four starts, as a rookie in 2025. “We’ll know more in a week or two,” Melton said, “So, I don’t really know how much I can say.” Melton’s chances of earning a spot in the rotation took a hit when the Tigers agreed to deals with veteran starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez.

Australians Green, Lee take lead at LPGA Singapore

SINGAPORE Australians Hannah Green and Minjee Lee moved to the top of the leaderboard Saturday to lead by one stroke after three rounds of the HSBC Women’s World Championship. Green, the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner and who won the Singapore tournament in 2024, shot a 4-under 68 and threetime major winner Lee 69 to post three-round totals of 11-under 205 at the Sentosa Golf Club. American Angel Yin (68) and Haeran Ryu (70) of South Korea were tied for third in the LPGA tournament. With the final group on the eighth hole, six players were tied for the lead at 9-under Yin took the lead for first time with a birdie from off the green on the 10th, displacing her fellow American Auston Kim, who had led after the first two rounds.

F1 testing canceled following missile strikes

A planned two-day F1 tire test in Bahrain has been canceled following missile strikes as tensions grow in the Middle East. All Pirelli and F1 personnel on site in Sakhir are safe in their hotels following the United States and Israel launching attacks on Iran on Saturday morning. In retaliation to the attacks, Iran launched missiles across the Middle East, with a missile striking the command center of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Mercedes and McLaren had supplied mule cars for Pirelli to conduct routine tire testing, with the two-day event planned to feature wet-weather running by artificially wetting the track to gather crucial data.

Southern men fall just short against Bethune-Cookman

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

The Southern men had a chance to take down Bethune-Cookman for the second time this season, but the Jaguars ran out of gas.

Fazl Oshodi’s long 3-point attempt with four seconds left wouldn’t go down, and BCU escaped with an 8279 win over the Jaguars on Saturday afternoon at the F.G. Clark Activity Center Southern trailed the Southwestern Athletic Conference-leading Wildcats by 10 points in the second half, but fought all the way back to make the game tight in the closing minutes.

The Jaguars (13-16, 9-7) took a 62-59 lead before BCU surged ahead for good with an 8-0 run. The Jaguars were within 78-75 with three minutes left, but failed to convert on two chances to get closer Southern’s only other possession with a chance to tie ended with Oshodi’s missed 3-pointer

BCU (17-13, 14-3) picked up its final two baskets on a layup and a goal-tending call, while Southern closed the game with a 1 of 5 effort from the field.

“We’ve beat them before,” Southern coach Kevin Johnson said. “What this

JOHNSON

Continued from page 1C

LSU’s 2,000-point club last added a new member in 2008 —theyearFowlesjoined.She scored 2,234 career points.

Johnson has a shot to eclipse 2,100 points. If she maintains her current scoring average (14.1 points per game), then it would take her nine more games to hit that mark.

Only eight Tigers have ever posted a higher career scoring average than Johnson (14.6). She has more career points than all but seven active Division I players

“She’s all over this campus,” Mulkey said. “She’s all over this community. We don’t even know all the things (Flau’jae) does for people, and she’s very generous and shares her wealth.

“Her soul is so pure.

She’s happy She’s just a

Continued from page 1C

played Oklahoma at home since the Sooners joined the SEC during the 2024-25 season. For the second game in a row, sophomore center Robert Miller started in place of junior Mike Nwoko. Miller’s defense was impressive from the onset, getting an interior steal on Oklahoma’s second possession. That turnover led to the Tigers’ first score, a corner 3-pointer for Marquel Sutton, who was scoreless in the last game. Miller finished the game with six points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Oklahoma(15-14,5-11SEC)

found its footing offensively after Mackinnon was handed a flagrant one foul, grabbing Oklahoma while falling to avoid a fastbreak scorer following a passing turnover by Jalen Reece. Xzayvier Brown’s two made free throws were the catalyst for an 8-0 run that gave his team a10-5leadafterfourminutes.

The Tigers were active on the offensive glass as Sutton had two of the team’s four after six minutes of play The alertness kept LSU’s offense afloat as it repeatedly fouled Oklahoma on shots around the hoop. The Sooners led 1711 with 12:45 left and were 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Nwoko helped counter LSU’s free-throw discrepancy, making 5 of 6 free throws in the first half.

should do is give us confidence that we can beat anybody I’d like to be healthier, but we can beat anybody.”

Southern (13-16, 9-7) played with its top two rebounders, Damariee Jones and Malek Abdelgowad, but held its own on the boards despite being outrebounded 35-29. Terrance Dixon had eight rebounds and Michael Jacobs grabbed eight.

Offensively, Cam Amboree made the most of Southern’s senior day celebration scoring 21 points, including five 3-pointers. He also handed out nine of Southern’s 18 assists.

“I’m so happy for (Cam) on senior night,” Johnson said. “The 21 points was big, but nine assists — I’m so proud of him for that. And 18 assists, when you get that many, you usually win the game.”

Dixon finished with 14 points and A.J. Barnes added 11, but Southern hurt itself with a 10-for-19 effort at the free-throw line. Despite scoring 12 points, Jaguars leading scorer Michael Jacobs was 0 for 5 at the foul line.

“We’ve got to shake that free throw funk,” Johnson said. “Our best player goes 0 for 5, and he’s just got to be better I feel bad for him, but then, again, I don’t.

joyful person And she took a chance on LSU when what did we have to sell?”

Johnson is scoring more than four fewer points per game this season than she did last year But that’s because she’s both playing fewer minutes and taking fewer shots, on average, each night than she did in 2024-25. The same is true for Mikaylah Williams — the star junior who’s chipping in a career-low 13.1 ppg. Both Johnson and Williams, though, have improved their shooting efficiency Johnson is shooting a career-high 41% from 3-point range. Williams is converting 50% of her field-goal tries and 40% of her 3-point attempts Both of those rates would be career-highs.

Johnson scored only 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting on Thursday in a win over Tennessee. But she averaged 18.3 ppg on

Matt McMahon called were well defended by Oklahoma, who forced LSU to play late in the shot clock more than it wanted. With 7:42 remaining before halftime, the Tigers trailed 26-20 and were 8 of 21 from the field. No player had made more than one field goal until Tamba made a second shot with 6:01 left. The graduate student transfer from UC Davis was engaged on both ends He was relentless on the glass and used his speed at 6-7 to roll hard and finish contact layups He had six points, seven rebounds and a steal as LSU trailed 41-33 at halftime.

I want him to be able to go through this and come out on the top side. We’ve still got a lot of ball left to play.”

Six minutes into the first half, Southern led 19-13 after Jacobs’ layup, but the Jaguars hit a wall. BCU came back with a 19-0 run that carried until the eightminute mark. The Wildcats made seven field goals and five free throws while Southern missed 12 shots from the field.

Amboree’s 3-pointer finally got the Jaguars offense moving again. The Wildcats led by as many as 15 points before taking a 49-39 lead into halftime.

Southern came out ready in the second half. The Jaguars made 10 of 12 shots through the first nine minutes, and led 62-59 after Ashton Magee’s drive to the basket. BCU’s Arterio Morris and Jakobi Heady each contributed four points helping the Wildcats retake the lead for good at 67-62.

Morris led four Wildcats in double figures with 19 points while Ariel Bland pulled down 11 rebounds.

Southern will finish its regular season with a pair of midweek games. The Jaguars play at Alabama State on Tuesday followed by a visit to Alabama A&M on Thursday

48% shooting in the three games LSU played before they beat the Lady Vols.

That stretch includes Johnson’s 21-point outing against South Carolina on Feb. 14 and her 18-point showing vs. Ole Miss five days later She missed two key free throws late in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ loss to the Gamecocks, then bounced back by teaming up with MiLaysia Fulwiley to lead LSU to its come-from-behind win over the Rebels.

Now Johnson’s eyeing some bigger victories. She’ll join LSU’s exclusive 2,000-point club as she chases those wins.

“First year, winning the national championship really set the bar for me,” Johnson said, “and now I want the freshmen to feel that, you know what I’m saying?

“I want them to feel that excitement, that confetti, cutting the net.”

Reed lifts SU women past Bethune-Cookman

BY CHARLES SALZER

Contributing writer

Bethune-Cookman played the Southern women on even terms for two and one-half quarters Saturday afternoon. After that, Southern’s offense found another gear Sparked by Jaylia Reed’s four second-half 3-pointers, Southern ran away from Bethune-Cookman to pick up a 73-47 win at the F.G. Clark Activity Center

Reed led the Jaguars with 14 points. She made 5 of 10 shots from the field.

Southern held BethuneCookman to 34.1% shooting (14 of 41) for the game. The Jaguars were no better in the first half, but opened up in the second, making 15 of 25 shots, good for 60%. Including a 6-for-11 showing in the second half, Southern made eight 3-pointers.

“When we hold a team under 50 points, we expect to win,” Funchess said.

knowing when the ball came to me, shoot it and knock it down.” Southern used 13 players in the game, 12 of them scored and 10 saw at least 10 minutes of playing time. The Jaguars’ top rebounder was Dixon with six, and they outrebounded the Wildcats 31-27.

Bethune-Cookman’s top producers were Tyler Butler with 12 points and Sanai Tyler with eight rebounds.

LSU’s offense was chilly in the first half The plays coach

The Sooners’ top players are guards Nijel Pack and Brown, who average 15.7 and 15.5 points, respectively, in conference play Both demonstrated their shotcreating abilities. Brown made all six of his free throws in the first half and Pack, a 5-foot-10 redshirt

senior, was crafty around the hoop. He was a deadly pullup shooter from beyond the arc. Brown and Pack had 11 and 10 points, respectively, at halftime.

LSU had to be cognizant of its opponent’s perimeter shooting. Oklahoma is third in the SEC in 3-pointers made per game (10) and tied for second in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7%). In its most recent 91-79 home win over Auburn, it was 13 of 19 from beyond the arc, which was a season-high percentage (68.4).

The Sooners were not as lethal, but still went 10 of 25 from the 3-point line compared to the Tigers’ 6 of 23. Mackinnon found his shooting touch to open the second half. He scored LSU’s first seven points, using his off-ball movement more effectively to make plays The Australian guard had 11 points in the second half. However, Oklahoma kept LSU at a distance with timely 3s from Pack, who finished the game with a game-high 21 points, and company

The Sooners went on a 14-2 run to go up 71-52 with 7:52 remaining.

PJ Carter made back-toback 3s to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 79-65 with 4:29 remaining, but that run stalled after a timeout from Oklahoma.

The Sooners got revenge from last season as LSU beat Oklahoma on the road 82-79 in dramatic fashion.

Former Tigers guard Cam Carter went on a personal 7-0 run in the final 20 seconds, including the goahead three-point play with eight seconds left. LSU

The win keeps Southern (16-11, 12-4) in the hunt for a top-three seed at the Southwestern Athletic Conference postseason tournament. Bethune-Cookman (624, 4-13) is near the bottom of the league standings, but will make the tournament as part of its expanded format.

“Jaylia knocked down some big shots,” Southern coach Carlos Funchess said. “She stepped up and we created some separation. We were a little shaky coming out, but we got into a groove as the game went on. We did a good job defensively and wore them down.”

Southern’s lead was only 29-28 three minutes into the third quarter Reed then connected on a 3-pointer from the right corner that touched off a 14-3 run. Olivia Delancy and Jestiny Dixon also made 3-pointers, and Southern took a 43-31 lead at the four-minute mark.

Bethune-Cookman didn’t get closer than 10 points the rest of the game. Southern took a 52-35 lead into the fourth quarter, when Reed added a trio of 3-pointers.

“It was just being confident,” Reed said. “It was

The first half was evenly played with seven ties and four lead changes. Southern held a five-point lead with three minutes left in the first quarter Bethune-Cookman responded with a 6-0 run, and the teams went to the second quarter tied 14-14. After falling behind 18-16, Southern put together a 6-0 run of its own to take back the lead. Mykayla Cunningham’s 3-pointer from the left wing helped Southern hold its ground as the Jaguars took a 28-24 lead at halftime. Southern shot 31% from the field, but grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in the half.

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU’sKailin Chiohits aposeonbalance beam against AlabamaonFridayatthe PMAC.Chio scored hersecondstraight perfect10 on beam and third in that event thisseason. Chio and theTigers will takepartinthe Podium ChallengeonSundayatthe RaisingCane’sRiver Center

No.2LSU among4ranked teamsinPodiumChallenge

Tigers to compete with Alabama, UNCand Arizona at RiverCenter

BYSCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

March begins Sunday,the month where the gymnastics regular season ends and the postseason begins.

Forthatreason, Sunday’s Podium Challenge meet at the Raising Cane’sRiver Center serves avital purpose for the four participating teams: No. 2-ranked LSU, No. 3Alabama, No.17 North Carolina and No.27 Arizona.

It doesn’tcount in the Southeastern Conference standings for LSU and Bama, who had an SEC dual meet Friday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center won by the Tigers 197.975197.600. It does count as aroad score for all four teams, including LSU, despite competing onlythree miles north of the PMAC. All four events will be contested on raised podiums, just like they will be in conference and NCAA Champi-

onships, giving this meet a postseason feel ForLSU coach JayClark, it’s perhaps one last chance to tinker with the lineup before the regular season ends in two weeks.

“It’snice to see ourdepth used effectively” in Friday’s meet, Clark said. “We’ll probablysee someofthat on Sunday.We’llhuddle up (Saturday) and see what changes we want to make. What things we wanttoshift alittle bit.”

First vault is set for 3p.m. Sunday.The meet will notbe televised.

The PodiumChallenge will feature someofthe nation’s top gymnastsfrom all four teams, led by LSU’sKailin Chio.

The Tigers’ sophomore wasdazzlingagain Friday night, recording herfifth perfect10ofthe season and second straight on balance beam. Chio has had four 10s in the past three meets.

Chio won four of the five individual titles, including vaultand floor with 9.975s, and theall-around with a 39.800. Shegoes intothe PodiumChallenge rankedfirst on vault and beam and Fridaysurpassed UCLA’s JordanChiles as thenation’stop

all-arounder with a39.704 National Qualifying Score.

Chio and Chiles arethe only gymnaststhis season withfive 10.0 marks. Utah’s Avery Neff is third with three.

“Wejust want tocarry on our confidence” in Sunday’s meet,Chio said. “Weput ahighroadscore up last week at Oklahoma (197.925) and doing this tonightshows we’re going in the right direction.” Alabama’sChloe LaCoursiere, whowon unevenbars witha9.95Fridaynight, is ranked No. 1nationally on bars while teammate Azaraya Ra-Akbar is No. 3. The Crimson Tide’sGabby Gladieux is ranked sixth on floor North Carolina’s JoJo Valhovic is rankedseventh nationally on vault,while Arizona’sEmma Strom is tied for 11th on floor.LSU’s Kaliya Lincoln is seventh on floor but hasbeen held outofthatevent the past twomeetsbecause of an inflamed Achilles OneofUNC’sassistant coaches is former LSU gymnast Sami Durante-Money, daughter of UNC head coach Danna Durante. DuranteMoney is married to former LSUpitcher Blake Money

40, No. 6Scotlandville 38 No. 7Teurlings Catholic 62,No. 18 Liberty 48 Division II select No. 1Madison Prep67, No. 8Northside39 No. 3Parkview Baptist 77, No. 6Vandebilt Cathlolic 37 No. 2University 65, No. 7E.D.White 24 Division III select No. 1Lafayette Christian 60, No.9 Episcopal 27 No. 2Rosepine 58, No. 7GEO Next Generation 39 Division IV select No. 1SouthernLab 71, No. 8Sacred Heart 21 State tournament glance At University Center, Hammond Monday’s semifinals Division IV nonselect: No. 2Merryville vs No. 3Arcadia, 1p.m. Class C: No. 2Calvin vs.No. 3Pleasant Hill, 2:45 p.m. Class C: No. 1Simpson vs.No. 4Evans,4:30 p.m. Division IV nonselect: No. 1Midland vs.No. 5 East Feliciana, 6:15 p.m. Division III select: No. 2Rosepine at No. 3 Sacred Heart, 8p.m. Tuesday’s semifinals Division III select: No. 1Lafayette Christian vs.No. 4Holy SaviorMenard, 1p.m. Class B: No. 1Bell City vs.No. 5Zwolle, 2:45 p.m. Class B: No. 2Pitkin vs.No. 3Fairview,4:30 p.m. Division III nonselect: No. 2Oak Grove vs No. 3Westlake, 6:15 p.m. Division III nonselect: No. 1FrenchSettlement vs.No. 5Ville Platte, 8p.m. Wednesday’s semifinals Division IV select: No. 2JSClarkLeadership vs.No. 3Ouachita Christian, 1p.m. Division IV select: No. 1SouthernLab vs.No. 4Cedar Creek, 2:45 p.m.

Nussmeier revealsmore detailsofbafflinginjury

4-3 before Williamsonwas put back in the starting lineup Then there was the decision to bench Jordan Poole, the secondhighest-paid player on theroster Poole was struggling, so Borrego sat him out for nine consecutive games When Borrego decided to use a bigger lineup, that meantletting Herb Jones handle point guard duties.Inturn, that led to moving rookie Jeremiah Fears to the bench. Then, in Tuesday’s game against the Golden StateWarriors,

when DejounteMurrayreturned from ayear-long absence rehabbing from atorn Achilles,Borrego started Murray right away and benchedQueen. “I felt Dejountewas theright move to start,” Borregosaid. “Thatwas not an easydecision becausethere was agroup that had some chemistry.But Ilikethe balance of the two groups (starters and reserves).”

The Pelicans, unlike the other teams in the NBA withnoplayoff shot, are still trying to win. They don’t have afirst-round draft pick, so there’snoneed forBorrego to tank. “The goal for us is to win and DeAndre is movingthatneedle

Notes on agolf scorecard while contemplating asight Inever thought I’d see: Lane Kiffin and Olivia Dunne posing for pictures together at Friday’sLSU gymnastics meet Garrett Nussmeier has been gradually revealing moreinformation about thebaffling injury that scuttled his 2025 season. How early was Nuss hurt?Now we finally know

“My injury occurred on Day 2offall camp,” Nussmeier said this week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. “How much did it affect me? Ithink it was pretty evident. Ireally wasn’table to throw the football. Ihad astabbing pain in my (abdomen) every time Iwent to go throw theball.

“Weweren’table to figure out exactly what it was. It was afrustrating deal.”

Nussmeier and then LSU coach Brian Kelly were loathe to give manydetails about the fifth-year signal caller’sinjury while he was still on the team, even after he played his last for theTigers on Nov.8at Alabama.

There were plenty of warning bells —like Nussmeier not attempting apass in one preseason scrimmagereporters were allowed to attend —but nothing cameout like this latest news. Everyone was left to speculate as Nussmeier attempted wobbly pass after wobbly pass, throwing for just 1,927 yards with12touchdowns and five interceptions.

The early date of Nussmeier’s injury and its impact on his and LSU’sseason begs the question: If he had been as healthy and effective as he was in 2024 when Nuss threw for 4,052 yards and 29 TDs —how different would the Tigers’ season have been? Would LSUhave been theCollege Football Playoff contender everyone expected the Tigers to be? Would Kelly have even been fired after

Division II select: No. 2University Lab vs.No.

3Parkview Baptist, 4:30 p.m. Division II nonselect: No. 1Sterlington at No. 4Woosman, 6:15p.m. Division II nonselect: No. 2LaGrange at No. 3 North Vermilion, 8p.m. Thursday’s semifinals Division II select: No. 1MadisonPrepvs. No 5Buckeye,1 p.m. Division Iselect: No. 1John Curtis vs.No. 4 Huntington, 2:45 p.m. Division Iselect: No. 3St. Joseph’s Academy vs.No. 7Teurlings Catholic, 4:30 p.m. Division Inonselect: No. 1Zachary vs.No. 4 Neville, 6:15 p.m. Division Inonselect: No. 2Slidell vs.No. 3 Prairieville, 8p.m. Boys basketball Note: All regional round games areTuesday unless noted.

Nonselect

DIVISION I Bidistrict scores No. 1Zachary,bye No. 8St. Amant 65,No. 25 Hahnville 62 No. 4Denham Springs, bye No. 14 East Ascension 49,No. 19 H.L.Bourgeois 36 No. 6Central 73, No. 27 West Ouachita 39 Regionalpairings No. 16 Covington at No. 1Zachary,7 p.m. No. 9NorthshoreatNo. 8St. Amant, 7p.m. No. 13 Destrehan at No. 4Denham Springs 7p.m. No. 14 East Ascension at No. 3Natchitoches Central, 6:30 p.m. No. 11 South Lafourche at No. 6Central, 6 p.m.

DIVISION II

Bidistrict scores No. 16 Ellender 41, No.17Albany34 No. 8West Feliciana 54,No, 25 Rayne40 No. 3Brusly, bye No. 7Plaquemine 47, No.26Bastrop 37

for us,”Borrego said.

So Borrego will continue trying to push allthe right buttons down the final stretch of theseason

“I couldn’ttellyou what we are going to do next game,” Borrego said. “We’vegot to figure that out together.Isthis aone-gamething?

Afive-game thing? Idon’t know.

I’m just taking it onegame at a time with the focusbeingonwinning each possession.”

Fortunatelyfor Borrego, his players seem to have bought in even with thechangesintheir roles.

“Poole has stayed ready and has been apro,” Borrego said. “This has not been easy for him.”

Poolecame off thebench and scored 23 points in hissecond

JOHNSON

STAFFPHOTO BY MICHAEL

Former LSUquarterbackGarrett Nussmeier watches Emile Picarella warmupbefore the Texas Bowl on Dec.27in Houston. Nussmeier saidatthe NFLscouting combine that he is feelingmore likehimself againafter an early-season injury at LSUlimited hispassing ability

LSU’s Oct. 25 49-25 loss to Texas A&M gameand Kiffin hired?

There’snoway to know forsure. The only certain things are that Kelly is gone, Kiffinishere and Nussmeier is, as former LSU coach Les Miles might have said, coming to health. Nuss wasthe MVP of the Senior BowlonJan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama. Currently,ESPN ranks Nussmeier as the fourthavailable quarterback in April’sNFL draft, behind Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, Ty Simpson of Alabama, Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss (though he has been granted asixth year of college eligibility) and ahead of Carson Beck of Miami.

“I’ve madealot of progress over the last month,” Nussmeier said. “Feeling much morelike myself, which has been exciting. I’mlearning how to retrain myself,get rid of the bad habits Icreated. Just being able to get to throw the football like Iknow I can.”

Whatever LSU fans thought of Nussmeier and his whole mysterious saga this past season, everyone should wish him wellashe tries to further his quarterbacking career …Ifyou’re one of the folks able to shoehorn your

way into Tiger Stadium this fall, consider yourself fortunate. LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry recently said on WNXX-FM, 104.5 that the school sold out of 71,250 season tickets and has awaiting list for44,000 more, aschool record.

If you are in the stadium this fall, you’ll have a better chance of putting through acall to your jealous friends watching at home. AT&T is making a$45 million upgrade in Tiger Stadium to improve cell and internet service forthis coming season. The upgrades will be in the form of antennas placed throughout the stadium to improve wireless coverage.

“When you have over 100,000 people in one place, you need infrastructure that works,” Gov.Jeff Landry said. “Strengthening connectivity at Tiger Stadium helps keep fans informed, supports law enforcement and first responders, and makes sure gameday runs the wayit should.”

Still, Iwant State Rep. Dixon McMakin, Tiger Stadium’s new public address announcer,togive us at least one old-fashioned pager message this season like Sid Crocker used to do: “Doctor No.3-5-9 …please call medical exchange!”

No. 23 Lutcher 64, No.10Belle Chasse 62 Regionalpairings No. 24 Woodlawn-Shreveport at No. 8West Feliciana, 6p.m. No. 14 Minden at No. 3Brusly,6:30 p.m. No. 23 Lutcher at No. 7Plaquemine,6:30 p.m.

DIVISION III

Bidistrict scores No. 16 St. James 57, No. 17 Springfield42 No. 8French Settlement 75, No. 25 Oakdale 48 No. 4Doyle, bye No. 3Donaldsonville, bye No. 15 Port Allen 59, No. 18 Church Point51 Regionalpairings No. 16 St. James at No. 1Marksville,6p.m. No. 9Avoyelles at No. 8FrenchSettlement, 6:30 p.m. Monday No. 13 Jena at No. 4Doyle, 6p.m. No. 14 Rayville at No. 3Donaldsonville,6:30 p.m. No. 15 Port Allen at No. 2Madison, 6:30 p.m.

DIVISION IV

Bidistrict scores No. 3East Iberville,bye No. 6LakeArthur 78, No. 27 East Feliciana51 No. 10 Northeast81, No. 23 Tensas 57 Regionalpairings No. 19 HomeratNo. 3East Iberville,6p.m. No. 10 NortheastatNo. 7Midland, 6p.m. Select

DIVISION I Bidistrict scores No. 16 McDonogh 35 62, No. 17 Woodlawn42 No. 12 Catholic 68, No.21St. Paul’s 53 No. 10 Brother Martin 56, No. 23 Scotlandville 30 Regionalpairing No. 13 Catholic HighatNo. 5Teurlings Catholic,7 p.m.

DIVISION II Bidistrict scores No. 1Madison Prep,bye No. 17 McKinley69, No. 16 Vandebilt Catholic

game back after being benched. He had12points and six rebounds in the win over the Warriors. That game was the first one in which both Fears and Queen cameoff the benchsince the second game of theseason.

“There are no egos,” Murray said. “Nobody is pouting. We have young guys who were starting. Theywent to the bench and took it like they should take it. Igive alot of credit to them for that. We are allhere to win and longevity is the keyfor everybody.”

But also credit the guy who is calling the shots. The decisions will geteven tougher once Trey Murphy (right shoulder contusion) andYves Missi (left calf

strain) return from their injuries. Does Borrego replace Jordan with Missi at center?

Does Saddiq Bey,who poured in aseason-high 42 points in Thursday’swin over the Jazz, remain in the starting lineup? Or does Borrego stick with Herb Jones for his defense?

“It’svery complicated right now,” Borrego said. “It’sabout to get more complicated, probably in the next game or two. It’sagood problem. We’ve been waiting for this. We’ve got healthy bodies back. We’re playing good basketball. It’sapuzzle that I’ve got to figure out night to night.” Borrego embraces the challenge.

Carr,Rattler andother topics buzzingatcombine

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

INDIANAPOLIS

All it takes is one. Let’sget that caveat outofthe way When it comes to whetherDerek Carr actually un-retiresthis offseason, just one team needs to be motivated enough to persuade the former New Orleans Saintsquarterback to return, hash out atrade and work through whatever else pops up along the way Oh, and they apparently haveto be good enough to win the Super Bowl.

If you’re reading that with a healthy sense of skepticism, you wouldn’tbealone.

Based on several conversations at the NFL scouting combine, doubt exists over the idea that a team —especially acontender would be willing to put its faith in a34-year-oldwho hasn’tplayed in ayear,iscoming off what was described as amajor shoulder injury and didn’thave the best track record of postseason success to begin with.

Yes, the quarterbackmarket isn’tgreat. And yes, Carr seems to want to play But if Carr is serious about only returning for ateam thatcan win it all, that very much narrows his options.

Some teams fit the criteria.The Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers are all clubs that have talented rosters, have been on the quarterback carousel and are desperately trying to find an option that puts themover the top. Any of thosewould be great for Carr.But would it be great forthe teams?

As logical as it might appear for those teams to take aswing, it’seasy to come up with counterarguments. If the Vikings want aveteran option,why notjust bring back Kirk Cousins —their former starterwho meshes well with coach Kevin O’Connell? Pittsburgh’sbrass has already indicated it prefers Aaron Rodgers, and that would take Carr offthe table. Atlanta? That’show they want to begin the Matt Ryan era?

Perhaps Carr stillhas it. In his last season with the Saints, hewas

undeniablydeserving of astarting job. He wasevenelectricthe first two weeksofthe year

But that will be two years ago comethe fall —only adding tothe skepticism that all the cardswill alignfor Carr

An under-discussedX factor

Allright, my apologies.There’s another elephant in the room when it comes to Carr’sreturn.

His contract.

TheSaints don’tsee the quarterback’scontract as any sort of obstacle in potential tradetalks

That’sclear. But multiple people this week acknowledged that any team takingonCarr likely would have to address the deal for him to return.

As aresult of Carr’sretirement, his contract tolled —meaning he walked away withtwo years left on hisdeal, so hewould return with two yearsleft on his deal, even though ayear has passed. And at thetimehewalked away,the guaranteed portion of Carr’scontract was essentially over with. In that case,why would Carr ever return without any additional security?

Throwinthe no-trade clause in hiscontract —yes, he has one— and Carrgets to pick his next destination. It wouldn’tmake sense for him to do so without areworked contract,even for aplayer who surprisingly agreed to give back $30 million upon retiring last May Rattler’smarket

The Saints aren’t in arush to tradeSpencer Rattler, andasof now,noother team has called to check on the25-year-old’savailability New Orleans would have to legitimately be moved by an offer to part ways. Andlike withCarr,it can be tricky to find the right team. It doesn’thelp, in this case, that there is asea of backup quarterbacks whocould be moved this spring. The Bearsacknowledged there’s interest in TysonBagent,while the Jets have beenlinkedtoPhiladelphia’sTanner McKee and Houston’sDavis Mills.Indianapolis gave Anthony Richardson permission to seeka trade. San Francisco’sMac Jones won five games and nowhas the Kyle Shanahan glow Green Bay’sMalik Willis —the

most desired of themall —isset to cash in at free agency

The Saints believe Tyler Shough and Rattlerhave agreat dynamic, creating no reason to break them up so soon

Taylor perception

Alontae Taylor is believed to be seeking adeal comparable to former teammate Paulson Adebo —whose contract with the Giants last year averaged $18 million per year

Whether he gets it is adifferent story

Taylor wasinitially reluctant to move insidetothe slot because of what it could mean forhis future earnings. Those fearsaren’tnecessarily validated yet, but several people said there is agap in how teams valueTaylor

Chicago’sKyler Gordon is the NFL’shighest-paid slot corner at $13.3 million —almost $5 million less than Adebo.

Gordon’sdeal,too, was signed last April, and positional values in theNFL rarely getreset fornonquarterbacks in the wayitwould take for Taylor to make $18 million per year.(Chicago’scommitment

to Gordon, forwhatit’sworth, is also why theBears will likely be outofthe running forTaylor, despite their reported interest in him at the trade deadline.)

Taylor,though, is versatileand talented.Some teams may easily believe he’s worththe money because he can play outside in base packages and excels on the inside. The Las VegasRaiders, as previously mentioned, havecoaches with ties to Taylor and ample salary cap space. Taylor said at the end of the season that he believed his market would be robust. All it takes is one.

Downsisup

TheSaints met withall kindsof incoming rookiesatthe combine, so it’snot necessarily news when they meet with astar prospect. That said, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs left quite the impression —somuch so that there was a feeling thatifheinterviewedthat well with otherteams,he’ll be gone by thetime theSaintspickatNo. 8. Odds andends

Opinions are splitoverwhether linebacker Demario Davis ends up testing the market, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him at least talk to other teamswhen the negotiating window opens March 9. Davis and New Orleans still wouldlike to reach an agreement. …The Saints would like another pass rusher regardless of whether Cam Jordan returns. …Never saynever,but even with astrong group of tackles in this year’sdraft, the Saints don’tseem on track to take another offensive lineman in Round 1. The Saints have expressed alot of confidence in Kelvin Banks and Taliese Fuaga and their development The Saints are bracing forsome team to give center Luke Fortner achance to start, likely putting him outside their price range.Thatmakes it even more important for Erik McCoy to stay healthy,though NewOrleans will almost certainly look for depthat the position. …The Saints blocked the Raiders’ interview request to speak with wide receivers coach Keith Williams for what would have been the same role on Klint Kubiak’sstaff, asource said.

LSUdefeats Northeastern with pitching anddefense

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Thechanges werenoticeablein the first inning.

As Northeasterncenter fielder Ryan Gerety walked up to the plate, LSU’s infieldersbegan to swap positions. Junior Steven Milam moved from shortstop to second base. Oregon State transfer Trent Caraway slid to shortstop but was on the right side of the bag because of the defensive shift. High Point transfer Brayden Simpsonwas atthird base, playing at the edge of the grass in case the left-handedGerety bunted.

This was not aone-off alignment.LSU returned to the formation each time aleft-handed hitter walked up to the plate. When arightywas up,LSU positioned itself more typically,with Milam at short, Caraway at third and Simpson at second base.

LSU’sdefensive changes on Saturday worked. TheTigers’ infield didn’tcommit any errors, and Milam, LSU’sbestdefensiveinfielder, recorded three outs from the alignment. The effort helpedLSU secure the 3-1 win over the Huskies at Alex Box Stadium.

“I’m not afraid to do thingsa little bit differently in thoseregards,” Johnson said. We’re not trying to reinvent the game. Ijust felt like it fit today.”

This isn’tthe first time Johnson has movedhis shortstop to second base againstleft-handed hitters. In 2023, Johnson moved shortstop Jordan Thompson tosecond against lefties to help out second baseman Gavin Dugas, who was playing with an injured right shoulder

Thompson was also LSU’sbest defensive infielder at thetime. Getting him as many chances as possibletofieldthe ball made sense for ateam that was aiming for anational championship. Johnson used thatsame logic on Saturdaywith Milam.

“Michael Jordan alwaysguarded thebest player on the other team as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year,” Johnson, who won his 200th game as LSU’scoach on Saturday,said.“And I’m nottrading (Milam)for anybody, so Ijust put himwhere Ithought they were going to hit it themost.”

LSU (10-1) has struggled to find areliable defensive option at second base. Simpson, Kansas StatetransferSethDardarand fifth-year senior Tanner Reaves have all gottencracks at the position,but Dardarcommitted twoerrorsatsecond base on routine plays on Friday.Reaves has had defensive issues wherever he’sbeen sincearriving on campus, andSimpson played mostly third and first base at High Point thelast twoyears.

LSU’sbest defensive optionat second is freshman Jack Ruckert. But he hasn’tearnedJohnson’strust at the plateyet, despite being adefensive replacement late in games on multiple occasions, includingthe eighth inning on SaturdayasLSU was nursinga3-1 lead.

“I am very pleased with what he’sdone to thispoint in time,” Johnson said. “… To getonthe field for nineofyourfirst 11 games as a freshman at this place, it’sa pretty good accomplishment.”

TheTigers’ defensewas amassive part of their championship campaign ayear ago. They finished the year with asterling .981 field-

ingpercentage.But headinginto Saturday,only three Southeastern Conference teams had aworse fielding percentage thanLSU,as Johnson’steam was also tied for fourth in theconference in errors.

“I think Jack’sthe best guy (defensivelyatsecond base),” Johnsonsaid. “… Ithink therest of them, they’reworking hard. I mean, Seth andBrayden were out there today before (batting practice) and continuing to work.”

LSU’sdefensive solution on Saturday helped out Kansas transfer and right-handed starter Cooper Moore, who tossedaseason-high 72/3 innings,allowing just one earned run with10strikeouts. Northeastern (1-6) didn’tnotch its first hit until thefifth inning.

He threw 104 pitches —easily themosthe’d tossedall year beforehanding the ball off to redshirt sophomoreright-hander DevenSheerin,who struck out three of the five batters he faced to end thegame.

“I was at mybest when Iwas filling it up at the bottom of the zone,” Mooresaid. “And Itried to do as much as that today as Icould.”

TheTigers needed everybig pitch from Moore andSheerin as their offense struggledfor athird consecutive game.Theydidn’t have an extra-base hitand were just 2for 12 with runners on base despitedrawing seven walks

“Weworkedhardtoday before the game,”Johnson said. “You have good players that may be missing some pitchesthatthey normally hit.”

LSU will face Dartmouth again on Sunday,back at Alex Box Stadium. First pitchisset for 12:30 p.m., and the game willbeavailable to stream on SEC Network+.

Privateers headed in rightdirection underHollowell

Stacy Hollowell just shook his head on the sideline as Tyshawn Archie’sdriving layup found the bottom of the net in the final seconds of McNeese’s66-63 win over New Orleans Saturday night.

two holdovers from 2024-2025, and resulted in aLevel 3violation from the NCAA.

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributing writer

The big hit has been elusive for LSU softball this season, but the Tigers got acouple of them Saturday night to closeout the LSU Invitational at Tiger Park.

Char Lorenz had athree-run double to spark a5-3 win over Iowa, and Maci Bergeronbroke out of a small slump with her secondhomer as the No. 17 Tigers blanked Memphis 7-0 behind Paytn Monticelli’sfirst career shutout.

The two victories lifted LSU to 17-4 and 16-0 at homegoinginto next week’sSEC opener at No. 1 Tennessee. LSU pitched well and played good defenseall weekend

“It did feel like we had some timely hits,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “Wewere able to hit with runners in scoring positionwith some of the people in the middle of our lineup come through in big spots. We’ve been missing alot in the last couple of weeks.

“It’snice to see Maci get one there at the end. Every at-batshe was getting closerand closer.A lot

of good things happening; we’re trendingup. It’snice to nothave amidweek (game) to kind of get a resetand we’llbeready to go this weekend.”

Lorenz droveinfourruns in the Iowa victorywith arun-scoring double in the second inning and then clearing the bases in the third with atwo-bagger to left field after singles by Maddox McKee and Destiny Harris and awalk to Sierra Daniel.

“It was executingaplan, that’s what (assistant coach) Bryce (Neal)has been stressing, not trying to make anymomenttoo big,” Lorenz said. “I wanted apitch I couldelevate with arunner on third and at least get asac fly out of that.I’m pretty sure it was a curveball that cameback over the middleofthe plate.”

Jayden Heavener improved to 6-2 with her sixth complete game in seven outings,allowing four hits with two strikeouts andthree walks. After Lorenz gave LSU a 5-1 lead, Heavener worked out of two jams, including abases-loaded no-out situation with thego-ahead

Jeff Duncan

The bucket broke a63-63 stalemate, and along with it, the Privateers’ hearts. UNO’svaliant upset bid against the Southland Conference’slongtime kingpin cameupjust short. The Privateers would have to settle for amoral victory instead of one that counted in the win-loss column.

“Wewere right there,” Hollowell said afterward, still replaying the final sequence of events in his mind.

The loss was only the third in the past 10 games for UNO. And while it disappointedanenthusiastic home crowd at Lakefront Arena,itdid nothing to diminish the positive momentum UNO has gained down the stretch of the season.

The Privateers can secure afourth-placefinish and firstround bye in the Southland Conference Tournament with awin over Southeastern Louisiana on Monday night.

“Weshowedsome toughness in thesecondhalftonight,” Hollowell said. “I think we learned some things from this game that we can take into the tournament thatwill help us. That’s as talented ateam as there is in our league.Wewere able to play with them.”

The Privateersentered the game as oneofthe hottest teams in the Southland. They’d won seven of their previous nine games, including astunning 77-71 win at Stephen F. Austin, the conference leader, which was15-0 at home before the loss.

The slugfest with McNeese was agood gauge of UNO’sprogress. The Cowboys have ruled the SLC for the past few seasons, and ayear ago they dominated the Privateers in apairof worse-than-it-looked86-61 and 78-64 wins. This year,McNeese beat UNO 82-63 in Lake Charles by leading just 57-51 with 13 minutes to playbefore pulling away late.

On Saturday, the contest could have gone either way,a nail-biterthatwasn’tdecided until the finalseconds.

“Tough loss, but the ball just didn’tgodownfor us late,” Hollowell said. “It is what it is.”

Morethananyone,Hollowell understands thatprogress at UNO is measured in baby steps rather thanleaps.

The Privateers, after all, are light yearsahead of where they were ayear ago, whenenduring anightmare season that qualified as the worst in the program’s49-year history.They won just four of 31 games and were wracked by agambling scandal thatsaw Hollowell dismiss three players for allegedly fixing games. The scandaldetonatedthe roster,leaving only

At the same time, his wife, Nicole, was undergoing surgery and chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.

“It was agrind,” Hollowell said of the trying campaign.

All things considered, the Privateers have shown remarkable growth in Year 2ofHollowell’s tenure.

They entered the McNeese game ranked No. 181 in the latest Torvik ratings, acollege basketball analytics website usedinthe NCAA tournament selection process for both men’sand women’s basketball.

While that might seem underwhelming, it’sexponentially higher than their 343 ranking a year ago. In fact, it’sthe highest the Privateers have ranked since Torvik began charting teamsin 2008, higher even than the 2017 team that went to the NCAA Tournament (No. 185) and Joe Pasternack’s19-13 team in 2008 (No. 183).

Likewise, the Privateers’ 1416 record might not excite the masses, but it’sskewed by a brutal non-conference schedule that featured nine road games, including trips to Top10powers Houston and Texas Tech. The Privateerswent2-7 in those gamesbut managedtoupset TexasChristianand Tulane alongthe way.

Theynearly hadathird win but droppeda heartbreaker to Mississippi State on abanked 3-point shotinovertime after squandering alate13-point lead in regulation. The Privateers busedtoStarkville, Mississippi, on the dayofthe game. After arriving back in New Orleans at 2:30 a.m., theyboardedan 8a.m.flight the next dayto Lubbock,Texas,where they playedNo. 10 Texas Tech aday later. Unsurprisingly,the Privateersshot37% from the field andwiltedinthe secondhalfof alopsided82-50 loss.

“It was brutal,”Hollowell said. “Wewereexhausted.”

The gauntletof“guarantee games” was necessary to help thecash-strappedprogram generate revenue.The Privateersremainone of themost underfundedprograms in college basketballwithone of the smallest budgets in theDivisionIranks.

To theircredit,UNO survivedthe stretch andfound its footing in SLCplay. The Privateers’ 77-73 upsetofSouthland Conferenceleader,Stephen F. Austin, last week snapped the Lumberjacks’ 13-gamewinning streak and sent amessage to the rest of the Southland that UNO will be adifficult out for anyone in the tournament.

“When we went through that tough stretch early in the season, alot of people checked out on us,” Hollowell said. “We’re moving the right way. Youtake steps, and you stack recruiting classes and you get better.Ifwe’re able to retain the core of this team, we’ve gotthe bones of something really good.”

nine with twowalks. After getting out of abases-loaded jam with a strikeout in the fourth, she retired the final 10 batters she faced. She struck outthe side in the sixth.

“I just wanted to trust my defense,” Monticelli said. “I knew anypitch Ithrew thedefense was going to have my back. It gave me the ability to trust all my pitchesand notjust afew My fastball is always kind of on, but my rise ball as well, they tunnel welltogether.Coach called a good game.”

LSU

only four

run at the plateinthe sixth. She allowed asacrifice fly but thengot Brianna Johnson on afoul out to left field andAnna Streffona force

out to end the inning. In the second game, Monticelli, a senior transferfromOklahoma, allowed only twohits and struck out

OUTDOORS

Fly-ing in

Dr.Joe Kahler shows his prized 36-inchredfish he took on achartreuse and white Clouser minnowfromthe Louisiana marsh. Kahler and his fellowRed StickFly Fishers members will hold the

and other species on a fl

Spring in theirsteps

Louisiana fishermengetting excitedaspeakseasonnears

BY JOE MACALUSO

Contributing writer

We’re closing on on the first day of spring.

If you follow the old saying about awhat spring does to ayoung man’s fancy —it’ssupposed to be love, right? —well, not around here, because it’sfishing! Andits attraction affects more than young men. Need proof?

So many south Louisiana folks are talking about how many sac-a-lait areshowing up in lakes, ponds, bayous, marshes and river systems now that we’re on arun of warm afternoons.

Yet, it’smore than sac-alait. Saturday,the Red Stick Fly Fishers invite any and all who want to learn about the art of fly fishing —Red Stick Day —tothe Waddill Wildlife Education Center in Baton Rouge.

That same day,2026’s first of along line of fishing contests takes centerstage when the annual Anglers AgainstAutism bass tournament takes plays and weighs in at Doiron’sinStephensville.

Over its many years, this pick-your-partner event has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help Baton Rouge area children and adults affected by autism.

UPCOMING FISHING EVENTS

March 7: Anglingfor Autism Bass Tournament,Doiron’s Landing,Stephensville.

March 13-15: Bassmaster Classic, Knoxville,Tennessee March22: Kiwanis of Pointe Coupee Open Bass Tournament, FalseRiver, NewRoads.

March 28: NewOrleans Big Bass Rodeo &Fishtival, City Park, NewOrleans

May1-3: La.High School &JuniorBassmaster State Championship, Doiron’s Landing,Stephensville.

NewthisyeartoAAA are allwaters accessible from Doiron’slaunches in the Verret andAtchafalay basins. Yes, the marsh is open, but allposted areas remain off limits to tournament anglers.

There’sa$205 entry fee ($5 of that goes for alaunch fee) and, better yet, there’s a$5,000 guarantee for the first-place team. There are three pay-out places in thebig-bass list and, as usual, organizer Moonie Bergeron has $300 for a team weighing a3-pound (on the nose) bass. This year’sproceedsgoto two scholarships funds along with the Port City Bakery andGreenhouse projects.

June 4-6: Catholic High Alumni Fishing Rodeo, Port Fourchon

June 10-13: Swollfest

Fishing Rodeo, Grand Isle

June 19-20: Br.MartinHigh Rodeo, NewOrleans

June 19-20: Br.Dardis/ JesuitHighRodeo, New Orleans

July 2-4: Golden MeadowFourchon Tarpon Rodeo, Port Fourchon

July 23-25: International Grand IsleTarpon Rodeo, Grand Isle

To register for the tournament, email: susanner@cox. comorcall Keith Thibodeaux at (225) 938-0941.

Triggerfish

Gray triggerfish are on an angler’scatch list nowthat the season will run from March 1-May 31 in both state andfederal waters. There’sa15-inch minimum size and the limit if one per person per day

Hopefully,the recreational red snapper season will give offshore fishermenthe chance to catch red snapper and gray triggerfish in May

The triggerfish season will close June 1and will reopen Aug. 1and runthroughthe end of the year

Thecommission

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is departingfrom its usualThursdaymeeting day and will convene its March meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

Topping the agenda is areport on December’ssecond blackbearhuntalong with adiscussion of possibly expanding the2026 hunt.

Then, theseven-man commissionwill take up setting this year’sprivaterecreational redsnapper season along with daily creellimits, and vote on any amendments to the2026-2027 resident-game, migratory bird andmigratory waterfowl seasons.

Other agenda items include:

n Consider anotice of intent to change bass and sac-a-lait regulations in the Saline-Lartocomplex;

n Consider resolutions adding “acquiredproperty” to the John Franks, Sandy Hollowand Salvadorwildlife managementareas;

n Hear apresentation on thenew Geaux Volunteer Portal;

n Areport from legal counselonpossiblelegislation in the forthcoming Legislative session.

The meeting’saudio/video stream will be available via Zoom webinar

Reddickon pole chasing history, SVG

Driver looksfor 3rd straight win, but vanGisbergen has been ruling road

BY JIM VERTUNO AP sportswriter

AUSTIN, Texas Shane van Gisbergen wassodominant on road courses last season than many had looked at NASCAR’sfirst road race of 2026 like it wasalready settled: SVG in arunaway Hold on.Tyler Reddick’s pursuit of racing history may yet have asay in that. Reddickearnedthe pole positionfor Sunday’srace at the Circuit of the Americas as the winnerofthe Daytona 500 and again last week at Atlanta lookstobecome the first driver to win the first three races of the season.

VanGisbergen won five of six road races last season, andSunday’sracehas been teed up as afight between New Zealand’sroad wizard andhis 19-year-old Trackhouse rookie teammate, Connor Zilisch. But Reddick has history at COTA—hewon atripleovertime crash-fest here in 2023 —and has theconfidence of adriver whohas no plans to surrender races to anyone fornow.His win here in 2023 was his first withMichael Jordan’s23XI Racing.

“Ithelps thechances certainly,” Reddick said of Sunday’spoleposition.

“Starting up front is huge.”

But that was earned with speed over onelap.Beating van Gisbergen’sroad course mastery over the 95 laps of afull race is something else indeed.

“I just need to getas much of ahead start on him as Ican and try to stay ahead of him all day,” Reddick said.

VanGisbergen will start from 13th andhe’schasing his own history.Asixth consecutive road course winwould tie Jeff Gordon’s recordset from 1997 to 2000 andleavehim two shy of Gordon’scareer record of nine.

As dominant as he was on road courses last season, vanGisbergen didn’twin at COTA, aracetrack originally built for Formula 1. He’d been expected to fight for pole but was well off the pace Saturday

Zilisch will start 25th and still figures to contend for the victory despite adifficult qualifying session. He made an impressive and fiery Cup Seriesdebut at COTA last year when he chargedthrough thefield

in the second stage before alate wreck knocked him out.

“With Connor,it’sexciting. (He’s) apretty cool talentcoming into this level now, in thesameequipment,” van Gisbergen said. “It’sgoing to be good.”

Zilisch said he learned a lot from racing last year against SVG in the secondtier O’Reilly series, where he won four road course races last season. Zilisch won poleposition for Saturday’sundercard race with van Gisbergen right next to him VanGisbergen won a head-to-head battle between the drivers in the O’Reilly series in Chicago lastyear when he pushed Zilisch into the wallonthe finalrestart Aweek later, Zilisch gotthe bestofSVG in another tussletowin at Sonoma.

“I feel like I’ve been able to run with himinthose,” Zilisch said. “I feel like personally Ican do it. But putting an entire race together,being consistent and not making mistakes Ifeel like Ihavethe speed to do, it but Ifeel like Ihave to run aperfect race to be able to beat him.I think everybody’srealized how difficult that is.”

Keselowski keepingHand

Brad Keselowski plans to race Sunday as he continues recovery from a broken right leg. He raced in Daytonaand Atlanta, butthe road course in Austinisadifferent physical strain. He’ll have sports-car ace Joey Hand available to step in if needed.

“It’sgoing to take alot forthattohappen,” Keselowski said.

“I’llhave to be either really slow,orreally in pain I’marace car driver,that’s what Ido.”

Odds andends

VanGisbergen is the betting favorite (+100) to win therace, according to BetMGM Sportsbook Sunday will be the debut of the newhorsepower boostfor road courses this season, abump from 670 to 750, achange severaldrivers said should create more passing.

TEXASGRAND PRIX LINEUP

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

NSCASPORTING CLAYS EVENTS: Wilderness Club, Lafayette.

31ST RED STICK DAY: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Waddill Outdoor Education Center 4142 North Flannery Road, Baton Rouge. Free.Fly fishing programs, tying, casting clinics &kayakdemos.Red Stick Fly Fishers event. Website: rsff.org

ANGLING FORAUTISM BASS

TOURNAMENT: Safe daylight to 3p.m. weigh-in, Doiron’s Landing, Stephensville.

Benefits Port City Enterprises. Call Moonie Bergeron (225) 938-2834 or KeithThibodaux (225) 938-0941.

HUNTING SEASONS GEESE/CONSERVATION ORDER: Through March 15, East &West zones. Limited to take of blue, snowand Ross’ geese only.Nodaily nor possession limits. Huntersallowedtouse electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding morethan threeshells.

AROUND THECORNER

MARCH 9—REDSTICK FLY FISHERS PROGRAM: 7p.m., BluebonnetRegional Library, 9200 BluebonnetBlvd, Baton Rouge.Open to thepublic. Email Brian Roberts:roberts. brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org MARCH 11—BUGS &BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois St,New

Orleans. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@ gmail.com. Website: www neworleansflyfishers.com

MARCH 12—JUNIOR SOUTHWESTBASSMASTERS MEETING: 7p.m., Seminar Room, BassPro Shops, Denham Springs. Boys &girls agegroupbass tournaments for ages 7-10, 11-14 &15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux (225) 772-3026.

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore season closed in Zones 2&3& portions of Zone 1except Breton/Chandeleur sounds. Outside waters from Caillou Boca west to Freshwater BayouCanal closed. All other outside waters open. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Gray triggerfish;flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers &wench-

men among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath &Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Red snapper; greater amberjack; 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 LakeRoad (Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge) weekdays from March 2-20 (repair hurricane damage);Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMAclosed through June 12, 2026 (replace bridge) access from U.S. 190 and I-10open. EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

AfterSaturdayqualifying; race Sunday At Circuit of the Americas Austin, Texas. Laplength: 3.41 miles (Car numberinparentheses) 1. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 88.380 mph. 2. (1)RossChastain, Chevrolet, 88.256. 3. (19) Chase Briscoe,Toyota, 88.242. 4. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford,88.179. 5. (9)ChaseElliott, Chevrolet, 88.161. 6. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 88.031. 7. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet 88.027. 8. (20) ChristopherBell, Toyota, 87.980. 9. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 87.931. 10. (24) WilliamByron, Chevrolet 87.822. 11. (38) Zane Smith, Ford,87.798. 12. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 87.749. 13. (97) Shane VanGisbergen, Chevrolet,87.748. 14. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford 87.718. 15. (5)Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 87.703. 16. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 87.678. 17. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford,87.661. 18. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 87.625.

Thanks to “Winter,” abook by ValMcDermid that Iwrote about last week, Ilearned about atradition in McDermid’snative Scotland that helps locals avoid the winter blues.

Every January,the National Gallery of Scotland brings out 38 brilliant watercolors by William Turner for everyone to see. Henry Vaughan, a wealthy patron who donated the pictures long ago, madethe January show acondition of his bequest. He thought showing the masterpieces in weakwinter light would be the best way to preserve them. Vaughan’sidea had another pleasing result.

During Scotland’sgray winters, Turner’svivid images give visitors to Edinburgh’spremier art venue aredeeming splash of color.McDermid’sstory about Vaughan and those Turner watercolors really resonatedwith me because every winter,Ifind myself especially drawn to the dazzling palettes in art museums, too. My birthday falls in January,when the holidaysare gone and the weeks can fall prey to post-Yuletide blahs. For the past few years now, I’ve answered that challenge by giving myself the gift of an art museum visit. Previous itineraries have included the Dallas Museum of Art, home to astellar VanGogh exhibition in 2022, and the LSU Museum of Art, which staged an exhibit of American Impressionist paintings last winter

This year,mywife and I flipped the script abit by visiting an art show to celebrate Valentine’sDay rather thanmy birthday.The LSU Museum of Art obliged with an eveningof Champagne, desserts and fellowship to openits new exhibit of Marc Chagall lithographs, which runs through May 24 Chagall’slyrical senseof humor and vivid embraceof color make his pictures blaze like afestive hearth, and openingnight visitors to the exhibit almost seemed to warmtheir hands around his masterworks.

“I need thisnow,” the museum’sexecutive director,Mark Tullos, said of the exhibit

“This puts me at peace. I’m glad you’re here to enjoy this with us.” Chagall, who died at 97 in 1985, lived in several places throughout his life, but his most formative years were in France. In anod to Chagall’s artistic roots, Rudolphe Sambou, consul general of France in New Orleans, was on hand to offer remarks, too.

“Culture is not an ornament for prosperous times,” Sambou told listeners. To the contrary,Sambou pointed out, it’sasustaining part of our sharedhumanity.

Ithought about Sambou’s words as patrons sipped bubbly from plastic cups and milledaround the lithographs, which were mostlyconceived to explore romantic love. In aseason of grim headlines, it was comforting to see so many people gathered at an event that joyously celebrated matters of the heart. For Chagall, who had suffered in life but answered its pain with beautiful images of soaring spirituality,art wasn’tmerely an escape. It was away to summon the best in us, something we all need now more than ever Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com

Louisianaactor

wasinaSuper Bowl commercial.Noone at theparty noticed.

BY JANRISHER Staff writer

WhenElliotHamilton’s face appeared in aSuper Bowl commercial last month, no one at the Midtown Manhattan party where he was watching the gamenoticed. They were talking aboutBad Bunny’shalftime show Hamilton, 31, hadknown the advertisement would air during the game, but he had no idea

when.Bythe fourth quarter, he was starting to suspect that somethinghad gone wrong. “Was Ilied to?” he wondered.

When theadvertisement came on,itwas theculmination of years of auditioning and near-misses—his first commercial to air nationally.But around him, the conversation continued uninterrupted.

“I said, ‘Who was that guy?’ to my friends, buttheywere still talking about BadBunny,” Hamilton said.

Within seconds, though, his phone began lighting up. Texts pouredinfromLouisiana from high school friends in Lafayette,fromLoyolaclassmates all over,from his family who had been sworn to secrecy At 31, the Lafayette native had just made his national advertising debut on the biggest television night of the year Twoweeks later,not muchhad changed.

BY DAVID NORMAND

KreweofOrion

The Krewe of Orion hosted its annual rendezvous luncheon at the City Club of Baton RougeonFeb.6.From left,are Christopher Cappo,Tammie Cappo,Rick Osborne, Angie Coates, Dave Renoud, Shawn Hodges, RobertHodges, Kris Cangelosi, Guy Blanchard,King Ryan Maranto, Queen BrittanyLipoma, HenryStremlau, AshleySweet, Thad Foreman, Sonya Morris, Frank Coates, Linda Coates, RussellRuh, Racheal Blythe, Elizabeth Blythe, DannyPaline and Laura Dunlap

Spanish Town MardiGras

The 2026 Spanish Town Mardi Gras royaltywere presented during its 36th annual ball on Jan. 31 at the RaisingCane’s River Center.Gathered are, from left, Rick Jarreau, grand marshal;Darlene Broussard, queen, and Christan Rogers, king

Baton Rouge DAR

Members of the Baton RougeChapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed membersand gueststo the annual GeorgeWashington birthdayparty and national defenseluncheon at BatonRougeCountryClub. Shown are, from left, ElenaBranzaru, Alice Wynn Welch Fresina,Jim Moffat, Frances Fresina Lero and RuthUnderwood Bayhi.

BR DARChapter

celebrates president

The Baton Rouge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted its annual George Washington birthday party and national defense luncheon recently at the Baton Rouge Country Club.

Regent Alice Wynn Welch Fresina welcomed members and guests.

Chaplain Judith Burch led the invocation and benediction.

Jim Moffatt,president of the General PhilemonThomas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, brought greetings from his chapter and spoke about the common heritage and missions of SAR and DAR. His wife, Marguerite, amember of the Baton RougeChapter accompanied him Louisiana Society Regent Katie Collins was unable to attend, but State DAR Librarian Lillian Dunlap spoke on her behalf. Dunlap is alsoa member of the Baton Rouge

ChapterofDAR,and she reminded members about the upcoming Louisiana Society State Conference setfor March in Alexandria.

Regent Fresina also recognized military veterans and other guests. The guest speaker was Elena Branzaur,commissioner of the Louisiana Veterans Commission andherself aveteran of the United States Marine Corps. She shared insight into the commission’sactivities to help allveteransresidinginthe state.

Chapter member PatReed prepared theprinted programs andformer Regent andchapter member Susan DixieRiley Smith shared several door prizes. The upstairs dining room was filled with patriotic andcolorfuldecorations.

Chaptermembers ZoraMCGuffee Olsson, Nedra DaivsHains, DebraMcNeil Cowart and Smith ledmembers andguests in the Pledge of Allegiance and DAR ritual elements.

Cangelosi Dance Project

The Cangelosi Dance Project held its Dance Education weekend dance conference on Feb.22, teaching classical ballet, contemporaryhip-hop and jazz dance. Shown are, from left, Angelique Francois, Daniel Therrien, Minori Therrien, Teddi Rayborn,Nick Anthony, Kris Cangelosi and Jessica Touchet.

West Side Women’sClub

Members of the West Side Women’sClubheldtheirFeb 19 meeting at the West Baton RougeMuseum in Port Allen, where theylearned the details of howtomakeanexhibit successful.Shown are, from left, Lorraine Bergeron, Karen Cordell, FannieEasterly,Metha Arnold, Lauren Davis and ShirleyCatanzaro. Not

Good Ole Boys

On Feb.19, the NorthBaton RougeGood Ole Boys attended aluncheon at Rudy’sSeafood &Steakhouse in Watson. Shownare, from left, seated,Raymond Fisher,Ron Stewart,TonyMcGee, Lester Mayer, Haskell Douglas, Floyd Kimble, Wayne Price, Gerald Humphrey, Doug Daigle, Darrell Walton and GeraldBello; standing,EarlPhillips, DannyKennedy, Mike McHorter,RudyRobinson, Ronnie Repen,Gene Hernandez,Allie McClure, Ronnie McKinney, Mitch Smith, Winston Vass, Davis Rayborn, Dickie Rembertand Gary Respone. Attending,but not shown, were Tony Dier,JohnnyBrand,AlbertLanglois, Buddy Wicker,Larry Nichols and Donnie Cotten.

DAYCAMP: 1st-5thGRADE

OVERNIGHTCAMP: 3rd-12th GRADE

TRAVEL

Make themostofyourPTO withoutfeeling guilty

BY JESSICA PUCKETT TravelPulse (TNS)

Workers in the United States arenot greatabout taking paid vacation days, due to an array of factorslikebeing overwhelmed by heavy workloads and feeling guilty for taking abreak. But 2026 can be different if you know the right way to plan and focus on adjusting your mindset. That might feel like anear-impossible taskfor some, according to the numbers.

Nearly aquarter (24%) of U.S. workers took no paid time off in 2024, even though 82% of employees have PTOtouse, saysarecent survey fromFlexJobs, aplatform that helps workers find remote and hybrid positions.

“Even when PTO is technically available, many workers still don’tfeel comfortable usingit,” says Keith Spencer, acareer expert at FlexJobs. “Heavy workloads, fear of falling behind, lack of coverage, and pressure to be ‘always on’ can make stepping away feel risky.There’salso the concern abouthow time offwill be perceivedorwhether it unintentionally signals alackofcommitment or reliability.”

According to the survey,43% of workers said their workload was too heavy to justify timeaway, while 29% of respondents said they felt too guilty or too much pressure to appear committed to their job to take avacation.

Further complicating matters are unspokenworkplace cultures against taking PTO, ongoing economic uncertainty in the U.S., and concerns about jobsecurity, which can all make “PTO feel like aluxury rather thana right,” Spencer says But with the right planning and communication,it’spossibleto maximize paid vacation daysand minimize guilt.

Thefirst step to quieting that judgmental voice is to try to consider paid time off the same way as asalary

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

“It helpstostart by reminding yourself that PTO is acore part of your compensation package,not afavor youremployerisgranting,” Spencer says.“It’sthere to be usedand taking regulartime off is associated with better focus, creativity, and long-term resilienceatwork.”

Just as thereare documented workplace benefitstotaking time to unplug and regroup, thereare professional downsides to never taking timeoff. Employees who skiptheir PTO can experience burnout and declines in productivity, according toSpencer “When workers recognize that time off actually supports their long-term performance, it becomes easier to advocate for it, he says.

Another way to minimize guilt is

to makesurecoworkers areprepared for the time away from the office.

Telling amanager and team about the time off as early as possible,making acoverage plan like naming aspecific point of contact while away,and trying to finishup anymajor tasksbefore heading out can help bring peace of mind during vacation.

Being strategic withthe allotted time off can help maximizevacation days in 2026. To getthe most from days off, plan to group PTO with federal holidays that might be company holidays,too.

Delta AirLines,for instance, hasahelpful guide on howtouse this strategy to take 18 days of PTO and turn them into 61 vacation days in 2026bygrouping them with weekends and federal

holidays.Somepeople may or may notbeable to stretchtheir vacation days that far,depending on theholidays different offices observe. For example, Deltacounts Veterans Dayand Columbus Day as potential company holidays, but manyoffices remain open on those days.

If travelers do getVeteransDay off, the airline suggests adding twoPTO daysonto theholiday, whichfalls on aWednesday in 2026, to stretch it into afive-day break, including one weekend. Thetiming would be ideal fora fall shoulder season trip just before Thanksgiving travel begins. For alongertrip or international vacation in 2026, the airline’splan suggests taking nine days of PTO from June 19 through July 5to incorporate twofederal holidays

—Juneteenth (Friday,June 19) andFourthofJuly (whichison aSaturday butwill be observed on aFriday this year) —plus two weekends, for atotal of 17 days off. Delta’soutline also recommends using threePTO days during Thanksgiving 2026 to bridge the gapbetween the holiday itself (Thursday,Nov.26) and the two surrounding weekendsfor atotal of nine vacation days from Nov 21 to 29.

Taking three or four wellplaced PTO days in December can stretch Christmas —which falls on aFriday thisyear —into an 11-dayvacationfromDec. 24 to Jan. 3bycombining vacationdays with weekends and NewYear’s Day, whichwillbeonthe Friday following Christmas in 2026.

HollandAmerica wantsanother $800 afterpayment

Christopher Elliott

Irecently booked aseven-dayCaribbean cruise on Holland America. Ipaid $650for averanda stateroom, courtesy of an MGM casino certificate. An agent verbally confirmed the booking, and Igot azero-balance invoice.ThenHolland Americachanged the price to $1,450and told me to pay $800 more or lose my cabin. I’ve begged supervisors to call me; all Iget are formletters blamingMGM. I’ve already booked nonrefundable airline tickets from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale for $850. I’ve also lost two days of sleep. Help! —Greg Rothman,West Hills, Calif.

Once HollandAmerica issued an invoice showingapaid-in-full stateroom, it created abinding contract under federal maritime law andCalifornia’sconsumerprotection statutes. Thecompanycan’tunilaterally rewrite thedealbyciting an internal mix-up with MGM. If the agent miskeyed thecertificate level, that’sonHolland America —not you Youfollowed thescript to resolve this. Youaccepted aquoted price,paidinfull, received written confirmation,then made downstream plans. Holland America, meanwhile, followed a different script:Blame thecasino

partner,change theterms and dare thecustomer towalk away That’snot customer service. It’sa shakedown. I’ve seen this kind of thing before. It usually happens when someonepays atoo-good-to-betrue price, like azero fare. But your initial $650 fare was not a decimal point error,and since you received it in conjunction with aspecial offer from MGM, you couldn’thave known that Holland America would kick it back to you. What could you have done differently? In hindsight,just alittle. Youcould have taken a screenshot of the confirmation

page as proof of your purchase. Andyou could have roped MGM into this, to get the company to pressureHolland America to do theright thing. When the stonewalling started, you escalated —exactly as Irecommend. Youasked forsupervisors, kept every email,and finally copied the cruise line’schief commercial officer,its senior VP of guest services andits president. You’ll find the direct contacts for all the Holland America executives on my consumer-advocacy site, Elliott.org Ialso reached out to Holland America for you. Arepresentativecalled you, apologized and

reinstated your original obstructed-view veranda forthe $650 you already paid. Holland America also threw in a$200 in shipboard credit.

I’mhappy this is resolved, but it shouldn’thave taken all of these escalations forHolland America to help you. But in an age of increasing automation, apparently that’swhat it takes.

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.

Struggling reader takesout loansfor vacation

Dear Harriette: Irecently took out loans so Icould go on avacation Iknow that sounds financially irresponsible, but I hadn’tgone anywhere in 10 years. Iwork paycheck to paycheck, and Ineeded abreak from working all the time. For amoment, the trip made me feel human again, rested in away Ihaven’tfelt in years. Now that I’m home, reality has set in. I’m overwhelmed by guilt and anxiety aboutthe debt Iadded to my already tight finances. Ikeep replayingthe decision in my head, wondering if Iwas selfish for choosingrest over responsibility.Atthe same time, Ican’tignore how close I

HAMILTON

Continued from page1D

Harriette Cole

SENSE AND SENSITIVITY

felt to breakingbefore Ileft, and Iworry aboutwhat will happen if Inever allow myself momentsofrelief. I’m struggling to reconcile my need for rest with the constantpressure to make the“smart” financial choice. Wasthis amistake Ishouldregret, or is it OK to acknowledge that survival sometimes requires more than just paying bills? How do Imove forward withoutpunishing myself forfinally choosingmyown wellbeing? —Riddled With Guilt

Dear Riddled With Guilt: Youalready took out theloan and spent the money,sothere’s no use beating yourselfupover it.You made a

decision that you thought would provide somerelief for your stressed-out life. Did you enjoy your vacation? Ihope so. Rather than spiraling out about how much money you spent,focus on thefuture. What can you do today to help improve your qualityof life? While you cannot afford regular vacations, you can do thingstotakecare of yourself. Schedule in sometype of physical activity each week. Find free events in your town.Put yourself in social environments so that you can have alittle fun. Findways to smile, even as you map out astrategy to pay your bills and earn aliving. Stop fretting about what was. Live your life. Dear Harriette: I’ve been tasked

with ahuge assignment at work, but Ifeel overwhelmed. I’ve felt this way for months, but Iwas able to skate by doing what Ican without raising too manyflags. Now that we have this major assignment, though, it is hard for me to avoid my workload. The spotlight is on me, and Ifeel like I don’thave the capacity to give my all to this project. We’re asmall team, so Idon’tfeel like Ihave theoption to share the workload with my boss or my colleagues. There’snoone else on the team who is available to take on this project.DoI have any other options? How do Iget back to feeling motivated and capable of doing my best work? —Burnout Dear Burnout: Your boss will ap-

preciate the heads-up that you do not have the capacity to complete the workathand. It’s much better to say something before you miss adeadline than to apologize after Ask forhelp. Who knowswhat will happen? Perhaps your company can find interns or interim workers whocan come in fora fewdays or weeks to help lighten the load. As uncomfortable as you may be in revealing your inability to get the job done, trust that a cry forhelp now is better than the alternative.

Sendquestions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o AndrewsMcMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Hamilton still auditions regularly —about two tothree times a week for commercials, web shows and television roles. He stillworks weekends at aBrooklyn restaurant that specializes in Southern food. During the week, he coaches youth baseball. He buys and resells baseball cards for extra money He performs stand-up comedy five nights aweek, mostly at open mics. He runs ashow at Freddy’s Barand oftenperforms at O’Keefe’sBar &Grill, Halyard’s Bar and Young Ethel’s— all in Brooklyn.

“In acting,” he said, “you audition for like 8billion things and never get anything —and then something just appears.”

The Super Bowl commercial was hissecond national advertisement, butthe firstone he shot never aired.

Choosing sports,thenacting

Hamilton graduated from Episcopal School of Acadiana in2013 and earned an economicsdegree from Loyola University NewOrleans in 2017.

Acting, for most of that time, lived in the background.

He had always liked performing. As achild, his mom says he was unusually verbal. He memorized thepresidentsand couldrecite them to acrowd. He enjoyed performing. Then, somewhere around middle school, sports took over Mark Broussard, his high school baseball coach at Episcopal School of Acadiana, said that duringthe Super Bowl advertisement, he first recognized his former student’svoice and then he realized it was Hamilton on television.

Hamilton is grateful for his time on the baseball field despite it taking him away from theater and performing.

“In junior high and high school, if you do anything other than sports, kids make fun of you,” Hamilton said.

“So, Ileaned into that.”

He was part of his small high school’s theater productions, which were directed by Kat Surratt Movassaghi. She says she loves seeing former students pursuing paths of the arts in today’sworld.

“I always knew there was something

CURIOUS

Continued from page1D

special abouthim on thestage. He had adry wit andgood comic timing,” Movassaghi said Despite hisease on the stage, Hamiltonchose to major in economicsatLoyola and didn’treturn to actinguntilhis senior year, when he took atheater elective. He auditioned for acampus play and landed the lead.

“All the theaterkids were like, ‘Who’s this econ major gettingthe lead in our play?’” his father,Dr.

Scott Hamilton of Lafayette, said.

ForElliot Hamilton, getting back on stagefelt less like adetour and more like acorrection.

“I remembered howmuch Iliked it,” he said. “I was like, why did I ever get away from this?”

From accounting to waitingtables

After graduating from Loyola in 2017, he took ajob in accounting in New Orleans. He worked in an accounting firm for four years while quietly auditioning for independent filmsand small roles in New Orleans,where the film industry was booming at the time.

He signedwith an agent. He auditioned constantly

Nothing landed.

Then, in 2021, he booked arole in an Amazon series thatwas settoshoot in New Orleans. On his first day on set, production shut down because of COVID exposure. Soon after he learnedhis scene had been written out

“Itwas really devastating,” he said.

Twoweeks later, he booked asmall role in AMC’s“Mayfair Witches.” That onedid film. It was enough to convince himthe grind might lead somewhere.

After he was fired from his accounting job, he leaned further into actingand performing.

“I just didn’t care aboutbecoming a better accountant,” he said. “IfIdon’t have full interest in

something, it’svery hard formeto apply myself. But if Ido, Ikind of obsess over it.”

He began waiting tablesinNew Orleans— andthe money was good. Then he moved to NewYork in 2022, chasing broader opportunity.Hesays the first few months in the BigApple felt like an adventure. He clicked withthe pace of life immediately

“Every dayIgot up, Iwas excited,”hesaid. “You don’tknow what’sgoing to happen, but it’sgoing to be interesting.”

Embracingthe hustle

Elizabeth FournetHamilton, his mother,describes her son as positiveand hardworking.

“He auditions every day,” she said. “He hasn’tgiven up.”

Likemany parents, she hopes her son will oneday buya house and settle into financial stability

As parents, the Hamiltons have watched theirson navigate theups and downs of the arts withsurprising tranquility

“He doesn’tmind the uncertainty,” she said.

Elliot Hamilton acknowledges theinstability. Acting pays well when the jobs come, he said, but thechallenge is neverknowing when that will be.

“I don’twanttobestuck just working side hustlesforever,” he said. “But Ialways have confidence that I’ll figure it out.”

Work has never intimidated him.

As ateenager,hespent summers working at his grandfather Howard Fournet’sChevron station on Johnston Street in Lafayette —pumping gas, patching tires andcleaning the

service bay in the heat.

From 7a.m.to5 p.m., six days a week.

“Ittaught me alot about being hotoutside in thesummer,”hesaid with alaugh. His mother’sbrother, Brian Fournet, ran the service station. It wasthe Fournets —his mother’s large, lively and loud family of storytellers —who shaped his instincts on stage.

“The only waytoget their attentionisifyou tell agood story,” Elliot Hamilton said. “They all talk over each other.Ifyou don’thook them,they won’tlisten.”

Thatlesson translates easily to stand-up comedy

Afterthe camerascut away

Since the Super Bowl, he has been testing thestory of theunnoticed commercial at open mics. It usually works. Still,headmits it feels awkward. He’snot completelycomfortable talking about the experience.

“Itfeels self-congratulatory,” he said. “Like, ‘Hey,I was in aSuper Bowlcommercial.’

In reality, themoment wasless glamorous than it looked from afar.Atthe party in Manhattan, he eventually had to tell friends what they had missed. They pulled up the commercial on YouTube and replayed it.

He still appreciates the element of surprise.

“I think it’smore funifyour face just comes on the screen and peoplehave no idea it’s going to,” he said.

He knows building acareer today is nearly impossiblewithout the likes and follows. The industry,heknows, now runs on visibility.Social media followers matter Short clipsmatter.Recognition matters.

Even still, Elliot Hamiltonappreciates the other indicators of success.

“AslongasI feellikeI’m making progress, I’mcomfortable,” he said.

Most viewers sawhim for afew fleeting seconds during the Super Bowl. The rest of the work —the auditions, open mics, restaurant shiftsand coaching sessions continueslongafter the cameras cut away Back home in Louisiana,they noticed.

ElliotHamiltongrewupina large,loudLouisiana family where stories competed for air,and attention had to be earned.

In New York, on small stages and in crowded audition rooms, he’s still earning it. Follow Elliot HamiltononInstagram @definitelyelliothamilton.

Email Jan Risheratjan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

was built, creating the Company Canal waterway.Maritimeworkers, drawn by trade, became familiar with the area. But Westwego owes its name and population increase to later developments—namely the growth of the railroadindustry a few decades later.New Orleans native John Churchill Chase gave an account of the settlement’s history in his book, “Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children and Other Streets of New Orleans.”

The New Orleans, Mobile & Chattanooga Railroad, by 1870, had completed aline to Mobile. The company decided not to go onto Chattanooga,insteadturning westward, aiming for Texas. The western division of the company, known as the New Orleans, Mobile &TexasRailroad, started looking for suitable sites for this westward line. They needed to build aterminus with all the trimmings,docks wharves and infrastructure for a

railroad ferry.A plantation was purchased forthis purpose and renamedAmesville. Disappointment struck whenAmesville was discovered to have an unstable riverbank, unsuitablefor transportation and construction purposes. Anew site had to be found. The area near Company Canal, with its steadyriverbank, rose to theoccasion. The Westwego terminus was built there, and by 1871, construction on awestern line began. Local stories have several versionsofthe naming process for thisterminus. Oneofthe more popular versionsattributes the name to railroad conductors shouting “West-We-Go,” as the trainstook off westward. Chase hasadifferent theory: New York board directors. “It grew outof aseries of meetings of therailroad’sboard of directors in farawayNew York,” Chasewrote. “They had purchased ahuge plantation,only to findituseless for terminus purposes. …Whenthe recommendations came in from the engineers that theCompanyCanal was suitable, it was withgreat relief

that they voted, “Then west we go from here!” In 1872, one of theearliest documented newspaper uses of the namewas reported in The TimesPicayune.

“The New Orleans, Mobile and Texas Railroad have completed and have in operation their main stem from Westwego, distant from Canal street about five miles on theopposite bank of the river,

Donaldsonville,” the Times-Picayune reported on July 19, 1872. While the terminal namecaught on quickly,“Westwego” the city took timetobuild.

Sensing an opportunity in 1892, entrepreneur Pablo Sala bought a tract of land on the lower side of Company Canal. He split the land into 162 plots, naming the whole area “Salaville.”

After an 1893 hurricane wrecked the nearby fishing community of Cheniere Caminida, manyCheniere refugees bought plots and moved into the area, drastically swelling the area’s population. Residents knew the area by the Westwego terminus and the nameofWestwego became the common way to reference the settlement.

The name was formalized in 1919, when thearea was incorporated as the“Village of Westwego.”

Do you have aquestion about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phonenumber andthe city where you live.

DININGSCENE

LegendarychefSusan Spicer rollsout slow retirement

Here’s one way to assemble agreat meal at Rosedale. First, share thefried cauliflower with pepper jelly and crab boil aioli,whichmakes the normally humble vegetable creamy,crisp, atouch spicy and totally irresistible.

“She’saperfectionist,” Birdsall said of Spicer.“It takes tenacity and keeping on people but also you have to understand it’snot criticism,it’sabout growth, it’sgetting them where they need to be.”

Now,cut into the shrimp Creole with panéed eggplant for some finelywrought classic Creole-Italian,or sample thecurry with tofu and green Hatch peppers, a flavorful, meatless Southeast Asian-Southwest USA riff that’snot just avegan placeholder Then ask yourself what sort of restaurant you’re dining inafter all. Each dish could have come from adifferent place, yet they’re together at acasual spot that defies aneat category

Many regulars know Rosedale simply as aSusan Spicer restaurant, and that’senough

Over decades, they’ve cometo trustthe taste and famously high standards that have made Spicer among the most respected chefs in New Orleans.

Now,though, Rosedale is also increasingly an Allison Birdsall restaurant.

This younger chef has been working with Spicer for years, and last fall she became executive chef and apartner in the restaurant.

It’spart of aslow-motion approachtoretirement for Spicer who, at 73, has long talked about backing away from the daily demands of the business.

What does the swan song look like for someone who loves her workand closely values what she’screated, but understands she’sapproaching anew chapter of life?

Rosedale right now is aportrait of alegend in New Orleansfood methodically navigating that turn. “Passing the torch” sounds tooabrupt. It’smore achoreography of two chefs engaged inan exchange of ideas, styles andenergy as one prepares to leaveher work in the other’shands.

“She was one Ilooked uptoa long time before Imet her,”said Birdsall. “And now here we are cooking shoulderto shoulder.It’s like being able to play with arock star.”

Wine dinnersand collabs

Found down aside street of the same name, Rosedale is the nicest neighborhood joint imaginable.

It’scasual and affordable enough for anytime meals. Yetin sourcing and quality of ingredients, in thecocktails and itswine selection, it punches much above its weight.

Many of the entrees are sandwiches, even at dinner,and these areexcellent (especially the meatloaf sandwich and cochon de lait po-boy). But the daily specials list is always lengthy and loaded with surprises, including dishes you’d expect at ahigh-end bistro. Rosedale also hosts winedinners, just about monthly,when its in-house sommelierMichelle

Gueydan bringsinprominent winemakers from around the country.Theywork with Spicer andBirdsall for events that can make Rosedalefeel like aonenight tastingmenu restaurant. One such dinnerinJanuary,featuringNapa cult producer White Rock Vineyards,was ashowcase for theway the two chefs work together now.Anoyster stew for onecourse was classic Spicer,a local standarddonetothe Platonic ideal. Another course from Birdsall brought trumpet mush-

ROSEDALE

801 Rosedale Drive (504) 309-9595

Wednesday-Saturdaylunchand dinner,Sundaybrunchand dinner

roomscooked with bone marrow butter,alustyand original treatment of afarmers market harvest

“Collaboration has always been my favorite part of working with past chefs and sous chefs.

Rosedale is considered casual and affordable enough for anytime meals

From Bayona to Rosedale Rosedale is filled with character and quirky design touches. That includes vestiges of the property’shistory as apolice precinct house (one restroom still looks very much like aholding cell). The bar has atavern feel. Atable on the leafypatio feels like dining in the country Walls are covered with memorabilia from Spicer’slong career and photos of people whohave intersected with it.

Spicer grew up in Algiers and started cooking in restaurants in the 1970s, including an influential early apprenticeship with the master French chef Daniel Bonnot at the Louis XVI, along-gone French Quarter restaurant. In 1990, she opened her first restaurant, Bayona, with business partner Regina Keever.This is where she becamealeading voice in modern NewOrleans cuisine, with apioneering approach that broke the moldoflocal dining with much broader sweep of global influences.

In the years since the pandemic, Spicer began stepped away from Bayona, devoting her timeto Rosedale. Eventually she sold her share of Bayona to her former business partner; she’snolonger involved with that restaurant. At Rosedale, Spicer started looking forpeople whocould gradually take the reins. There wasnoobvious heir apparent. Her stepson worked with her for awhile, before he chose adifferent career “I had to find the right people whowant to know what Iknow to hand things over to,” Spicer said.

Thelonggoodbye

It’sgood to stay open to things,” Spicer said. “Too manycooks can spoil thebroth, but twochefs, the right chefs working together,can makeitbetter.”

For Spicer,the right chef turned out to be one she helped shape.

Aprotégéesteps up

Birdsall grew up in Louisiana bayou country,inCut Off, and came through the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls StateUniversity.She started her career working in classic French and modern Italian restaurants (if you remember the magnificent roasted carrot pizza at Domenica from adecade ago, that was her creation).

When she saw Spicer at an industry event, she did not miss her shot.She explained her passion for cooking, and Spicer invited her to apply at Rosedale. She becamechef de cuisine in 2018. She left for afew years to start a catering business, but felt the call to return.

“This restaurant pulled me back in,” Birdsall said. “The type of food, thelocal customers, it’sthe perfect restaurant to me.”

The menu is increasingly a blend of their respective styles, and chefs’ collaboration is also about transmitting lessons in kitchen leadership.

Jonas Owens, whoworked with her at Bayona in its earlier days, joined the Rosedale staffand a fewyears ago becameapartner He manages the restaurant now, though this has been acollaboration too.

“She’svery protective of what she built and puts her nameon,” Owens said. “She had to push through alot as awoman in the business when she was getting started. Ithink she looks forthat drive in others. She wants people to be engaged and to challenge her.”

Spicer doesn’thave afirm timeline forretiring fully.She discusses her current status like someone whohas set boundaries forherself while carving out plenty of exceptions. She doesn’t work nights anymore. Notusually,anyway,unless there’sawine dinner,aprivate event or afunction around town, in which case she does.

At lunch, she frequently steps out of the kitchen to visit with longtimecustomers whohave become friends.

Then she’sback at the stove, working up their order

“My favorite part of it is still being aline cook,” Spicer said. “Cooking food, and knowing people are enjoying it, and getting to see that in your restaurant. Ilove that. That’swhy I’m still here.”

BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH DR. MARC SIEGEL

Scalise among cases called ‘miracles’ in new book

Bestseller tells stories of divine, modern medicine working together

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Dr Marc Siegel offers three reasons why his book, “The Miracles Among Us,” was recently on The New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestsellers lists for seven weeks. First, it’s hopeful. Second, people like stories, and third, people can relate to these stories.

“The idea that miracles aren’t rare, that they’re more common than we think, that they are relatable, is very uplifting to people, and it’s also true,” Siegel said His years in the medical field don’t conflict with his belief in these inexplicable events, as Siegel sees the doctors and the divine working together in these situations, he said.

Siegel spoke by phone from New York, where he’s a clinical professor of medicine and practicing internist at NYU Langone Health, medical director of “Doctor Radio” on SiriusXM and senior medical analyst for Fox News.

The author devotes each of 16 chapters to a different “miracle”

subject, detailing, through extensive research and interviews, how divine intervention unfolded for that person. Among these stories are those of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during a 2023 game, Dan Redfield’s traumatic brain injury and subsequent hemicraniectomy (removal of the front half of the skull) after a fall from a moving golf cart, and that of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Metairie.

Scalise was critically wounded by gunfire in a 2017 shooting during a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia. He had a 10% chance of survival. Here, the author discusses the Scalise case, how different religions view miracles, how accurate the TV medical dramas are and why he

included prayers in his book.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity

What struck you as you interviewed Scalise about the shooting and its aftermath?

His courage and strength. His indomitable spirit. He’s a person of great faith in prayer He believes that people praying for him made a big difference. He believes the people on the field that got him off the field, into that helicopter, got the tourniquet on, got the IV and gave him fluids. And he arrives in the ER with a blood pressure close to zero and needing 50 units of blood.

He feels that that coordination of effort was divine.

In the book, you touched on the different religions and how they look at miracles. Would you talk a little on that?

The Catholic Church tends to define miracles as there is no other explanation but divine intervention.

But it’s not the only way to look at a miracle. Cardinal (Timothy) Dolan says to me that there’s also soft miracles where, if God’s hands are the hands of great physicians, that, plus an accumulation of coincidences, leads to a miracle that would be a soft miracle, where a personal God is present in the world.

That is incredibly uplifting to people the effects of prayer God choosing what miracles he wants to give. That’s perhaps a Christian point of view on miracles, but not a Catholic point of view It’s certainly the Jewish point of view on miracles, that God is present every day and makes his presence felt every

day in magical events.

I’ve had many conversion moments in my life, and many things occur that are unfathomable. Like the time in the ICU when I was a resident, when a man had been in a coma for three months, the family praying every day at the bedside. The man woke up when everybody had written him off, and we thought the family was crazy They’re saying, “Look, he’s moving. Look, he’s twitching. Look, his heart rate’s going up.”

We were just dismissive, and then the man walks out of the ICU and goes back to work.

What do you do when you are working alongside a doctor who doesn’t believe any of this?

I haven’t had that, because over 70% of doctors have faith and over 55% think they’ve seen miracles in their daily practice. But doctors don’t want to admit it because they’re afraid that people will see them as diluting their science.

Not a single physician has complained or come to me and said, “This is hogwash,” because I’m careful to distinguish what is a miracle, including science. It’s not instead of science, it includes science. It’s like saying, “Let’s value the preciousness of each human soul.” Doctors like that, because many of them, the vast majority, already believe.

What led to your including prayers in the book? And does a miracle have to come from a prayer, in your opinion, or through prayer?

Prayers are connected to miracles, but not all your prayers are going to be answered the way that

you ask. I added that section because those are healing prayers. These are, for the most part, healing miracles, and I am a healer I see myself as a healer

We’re too ecumenical about it these days. We’re like, “We’re scientists.” But there’s no distinction between faith and science when you get inside the human body and see the incredible miracle of life itself. So I think the prayer section fits because it’s icing on the miracle cake.

How well do you think TV medical dramas are capturing accurately what happens in a hospital?

“The Pitt” is doing a good job, and I think “ER” did a pretty good job. I think “Grey’s Anatomy” does a pretty good job.

But here’s where they fall short: Drama always supersedes the differential diagnosis.

So something that’s unlikely if it’s dramatic enough, will appear more likely in a medical drama, whether it’s “The Pitt, or whether it’s “ER” or whether it’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” the drama supervenes. Anything to add?

If my book accomplished anything, it’s to teach people that there’s no separation between science and faith. That doesn’t need to be there. Most doctors will tell you they’ve seen miracles in their practice. Look at miracles as an accumulation of events that have a positive outcome — that creates a sense of hope and togetherness in our society at a time when it’s badly needed.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Mississippi author pens micro-memoir, ‘The Irish Goodbye’

Fennelly to teach class on unique writing style at workshop

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

“The Irish Goodbye: Micro-Memoirs,” by Beth Ann Fennelly Norton, 144 pages.

I love authors that swerve, those multitalented multihyphenates. Case in point, Beth Ann Fennelly, who started as a poet, publishing three collections of personal, frequently humorous verse that rank, in my estimation, as modern classics. She then published a compilation of epistolary essays on motherhood, “Great with Child,” followed by a novel, “The Tilted World,” co-written with her husband and University of Mississippi colleague, Tom Franklin In 2017, while serving as Mississippi’s poet laureate, she swerved once again, releasing “Heating & Cooling,” a collection of what she calls “micro-memoirs” short-form poetically informed often quite intimate prose. Years later, I can still recite a few of her punchier pieces, many just a sentence long.

She returns to the form in “The Irish Goodbye,” an as-always revealing book that finds Fennelly mourning family redefining relationships with old friends and posing for a naked self-portrait.

Fennelly will appear at the New Orleans Book Festival March 14, and, the day following, will lead a micro-memoir workshop with the New Orleans Writers Workshop

This interview has been condensed and edited. What was the impetus for the micro-memoir form?

I confess it’s not anything I plotted out in advance. What happened was I had written a collaborative novel with my husband, Tom Franklin, and it was a pretty big project After it was published, I wasn’t sure what was going to come next. I thought, “Maybe I’m going to write my own novel now.” And every day I would go to my notebook, and I would wait for this big novel to announce its grand arc. Meanwhile, I’m scribbling little funny thoughts or a bizarre memory that I didn’t know why I remembered or something I’d overheard. At some point I looked at my notebook and thought, “OK, I don’t know what this is.” It’s not a novel, clearly It’s not essays. It’s not poetry But I’m having fun. And, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to follow the fun.

So I thought of the word micro-memoir And when I thought of that word, it changed everything. It actually gave me permission, because now I had a thing to call it. It wasn’t that I wasn’t writing, it was that I hadn’t recognized what I was writing. I looked back at my notebook, and I realized I’d probably written a book already in there. I’m still finding out what this form has to teach me. When it comes to the observations you’re making, the act of recording, do you now immediately see things as micro-memoirs, or could they be poetry?

What I love from poetry is that extreme compression and abbreviation and lyrical thrust And what I love from fiction is creating a narrative arc and maybe suspense. And what I love from nonfiction is truth telling.

This form allows me to steal from those different genres and create this thing that takes the best of all three. Right

now, even though my training is in poetry and I love poetry and I do hope to return to it one day, I’m still just crushing on the sentence.

I love the idea of crushing on the sentence.

My whole life was organized around the line break. For someone who’s spent so much time balancing and thinking about the rhythm of the line break, it felt really liberating to stretch all the way to the period. And it allowed me to have a different ability to craft narrative.

Can you talk about the role of humor in your writing?

I grew up Irish Catholic in a very conservative neighborhood, going to Irish Catholic schools. It was a very, very patriarchal society Women didn’t crack jokes or seek the limelight. When I got to graduate school and I wanted to be taken seriously as a poet, I thought at first I had to be very serious.

And what the serious poets were doing at that time was writing poems about Greek myths, like everyone had their Odysseus poem or whatever And so I thought, “OK, I want to be taken seriously, so I better write my Odysseus poem.” And I don’t give a (expletive) about Odysseus. It took me a while to find my voice and give myself permission to think, “I don’t care if anyone else thinks this is interesting or important. I think it’s interesting. I think it’s important.” I stopped forbidding myself from having this quirky worldview and just telling it like I saw it. And when I started doing that, I felt for the first time like I was writing in my own voice. I’ve gotten more me since then. What do you think the micro-memoir can offer the writing community at large, whether that’s established writers or writers who are just starting out?

I’m teaching a class in the micro-memoir for the New Orleans Writers Workshop. One thing I really love about the micro-memoir is what a teachable form it is. It’s kind of low stakes and doesn’t come with a lot of pressure. Sometimes I work with senior citizens, and they want to write their life story for their grandkids, but they don’t know where to start. So I’m not saying you have to write your whole life story, I’m saying let’s write this paragraph. Then they can do it. They can write another one and another one — these little pieces start adding. I’ve done it with school kids who have learned from their phones that their attention span is approximately 36 seconds. And I can get something good out of them So I have found it to be a really teachable, joyful form. It helps me help people who feel the urge to write and who need it to be made a little more user-friendly

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”w

Rock N Rowe returns March 5

Rock N Rowe is back with live music every Thursday (rain or shine) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m March 5 through April 23 in Town Square at Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge. In the event of rain, shows will be moved to The Great Hall. All Rock N Rowe events are free and open to the public.

The spring 2026 lineup is:

n March 5: Michael Foster Project

n March 12: The Gillis Silo

n March 19: After 8 and Family Night

n March 26: Longneck Society Canid Project director to speak March 7

Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge. Shutt is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on wildlife and is the director of the nonprofit The Canid Project. Icon painting workshop to be held at Burden

LSU Vet Med Raptor Team to lead bird rehab talk

Representatives from the LSU Vet Med Raptor Team will lead a talk with resident birds from the rehab program 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 24 at the LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road, Baton Rouge. The raptor rehab team is a part of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana. They will speak about the critical work being done to rescue, treat and release injured birds of prey and other wildlife in Louisiana.

and conservation in Louisiana. They will be joined by Dr Mark Mitchell, professor of zoological medicine, whose work focuses on training future veterinarians and supporting wildlife health through teaching, research and clinical care.

Spring Garden Fest is March 28

Speaker Amy Shutt will discuss a brief history of foxes and coyotes in Louisiana at 2 p.m. March 7 at the Main Library at

Enjoy a day of plants, learning, shopping and celebrating spring from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28 at Ione E. Burden Visitor Information and Conference Center at Burden Museum & Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Browse plant sales from the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and East Baton Rouge Master Gardeners, explore a vibrant marketplace and attend gardening lectures by the Master Gardeners at the Spring Garden Fest. The event is free and open to the public. Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com. FYI BR staff reports

The Icon Workshop is a thoughtful and meditative weeklong retreat focused on traditional painting techniques that date back 2,000 years. The workshop will take place March 15-21, led by trained iconographers in the Ione E. Burden Visitor Information and Conference Center at Burden Museum & Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. No artistic skill or previous painting experience is required, and all materials are provided by Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Coffee and lunch are provided daily Email dianawells1548@gmail.com for more information.

BY MARK KENNEDY AP entertainment writer

NEW YORK Luke Grimes

thought he’d said goodbye to stoic Kayce Dutton. The universe of “Yellowstone” had other ideas.

In the hit show’s fifth and final season in 2024, Dutton rode off into the proverbial sunset at peace, building a new life ranching on his own terms with his wife and son.

“I thought, ‘This is it,’ ” says Grimes. “I love the way this ends for him. He kind of got what he always wanted, which is just a simple life.”

Luckily for fans — somewhat less so for Dutton — that simple life is upended as Grimes once more slips into the role for the primetime spinoff “Marshals,” which premieres Sunday on CBS and streams on Paramount+.

In an artful piece of writing, showrunner Spencer Hudnut takes Dutton from a neo-Western family drama to a Western law enforce-

ment procedural, giving him a badge and having him join a band of U.S. Marshals in Montana.

“We wanted to make it feel organic and we wanted there to be enough of the sort of ethos of ‘Yellowstone’ in there that the original fans could have something to hold on to getting into the show, but then have it have somewhere to go that felt like its own thing,” says Grimes.

During the pilot, Dutton meets with an old comrade from his days as a Navy SEAL who gradually re-

cruits him into their fourperson Marshal team.

“May look like God’s country but the devil’s running free out here,” Dutton’s friend tells him. “I’m guessing you got your own demons to conquer, and I could sure use another doorkicker.”

“Marshals” allows the show’s creators to explore the military backstory of Dutton, a combat veteran with Special Forces skills. In the first episode, viewers will see Dutton smartly unlock a cellphone with a dead man’s eyes, a talent

The presentation will explore common causes of wildlife injury, what happens behind the scenes at a rehabilitation clinic and how the public can responsibly respond when encountering injured animals — including when to intervene and when to leave wildlife alone.

The LSU Vet Med Raptor Team is led by veterinary students who care for birds of prey while advancing wildlife education

that wasn’t exploited on the Taylor Sheridan-led “Yellowstone.”

“We barely scratched the surface of that,” says Grimes. “In a way, it was kind of a blessing because we have all that stuff to explore now without it feeling like we just made some stuff up.”

Grimes says Dutton looks beyond the ranching life to take the job as a U.S Marshal as a way to come out of his shell, help people and recover from personal tragedy

“Clearly he’s making an effort to do something different here and change his life and change his son’s life at the same time,” says Grimes. “Because whatever dream that he had is over now, he’s never getting it back.”

The series also stars Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos and Tatanka Means, as well as familiar faces from “Yellowstone,” including Gil Birmingham, Moses Brings Plenty and Brecken Merrill as Dutton’s son.

Hudnut says the show has twists and turns each week but isn’t a regular crime-ofthe-week show: “CBS really

wanted this to be a non-traditional procedural, which really allowed us to lean heavily into character.”

“Marshals” joins a slate of potential future “Yellowstone” spinoffs, including “6666,” “1944” and “The Madison.” Three other “Yellowstone” spinoffs — including “1883,” “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” and “1923” — have already debuted.

Grimes gets to spend more time inside the mind of fan favorite Kayce Dutton, a watcher and a protector who only speaks when absolutely necessary and, when he does, only speaks the truth.

The actor says creating Dutton’s persona reflects what Grimes liked watching while growing up, namely actors who told a story without overdoing it, with still excellence, like Paul Newman.

“He could sort of just sit there and have a flicker in his eye and you knew what he was saying,” Grimes says. “I just was always drawn to those kinds of actors who could do a lot with a little. And so, maybe, that’s just me trying to sort of emulate my heroes in a way.” “Marshals” promises plenty of action each week, with

the team battling gangs, drug cartels, race warriors, human traffickers and polluters, among others. The pilot kicks off with a bombing.

“This show is some good people going after the bad people. And if you like that sort of thing, it’ll be right up your alley,” Grimes says. The series also marks both Grime’s rise to lead a primetime TV network show for the first time and also his debut as a producer He jokes that he’s a little closer to how the sausage is made. “I’ve been working professionally as an actor since I was 20 and I’m 42 now, so it’s been 22 years,”

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,March 1, the 60th day of 2026.There are 305 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps;since its establishment, more than 240,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers.

Also on this date:

In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, making Yellowstone the nation’sfirst national park.

In 1932, Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family home in New Jersey.(Remains identified as those of the child were found two months later; Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted of murder in the case in 1935 and executed in 1936.)

In 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire from the spectators gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives, wounding five members of Congress.

In 1966, the Soviet space probe Venera 3crash-landed on the surface of Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to reach another planet. However,Venera was unable to transmit any data back to Earth because its communications system had failed

In 1971, abomb went off inside amen’sroom at the U.S. Capitol. The radical group Weather Underground claimed responsibility for the pre-dawnblast, which damaged the building but caused no injuries.

In 1974, seven people, including former Nixon White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman;former Attorney General John Mitchell; and former assistant Attorney General Robert Mardian, were indicted by agrand jury on charges of conspiring to obstruct justice in connection with the Watergate break-in. (These four

defendantswere convicted in January 1975, thoughMardian’sconviction was later reversed.)

In 2005, Dennis Rader,the churchgoingfamily man accused of leadinga double life as theBTK serial killer,was charged in Wichita, Kansas, with 10 counts of first-degree murder.(Rader later pleaded guilty andreceived multiple life sentences.)

In 2007, atornadooutbreak in the Southeast U.S.killed at least 19 people across Alabamaand Georgia. Oneofthe tornadoes toppled aconcrete wall at ahigh school in Enterprise,Alabama, killing eight students.

In 2014, amass stabbing by menwielding knives and machetes atarailway station in Kunming, in southwest China, left at least 29 people deadand 130otherswounded.Authorities blamed a militant separatist group for the attack and said fourofthe suspects were shot dead.

In 2024, thousands of mourners bidfarewell to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnyata public funeralinMoscow,two weeks after his unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony. Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow to face certain arrest after recuperatinginGermany from nerve agent poisoningheblamed on theKremlin.

Today’sbirthdays: Rock singer Roger Daltrey is 82. Actor Dirk Benedict is 81. Republican Sen.Deb Fischer of Nebraska is 75. Filmmaker Ron Howard is 72. Actor TimDaly is 70. Hockey Hall of Famer RonFrancis is 63. Filmmaker Zack Snyder is 60. Actor Javier Bardem is 57. Basketball Hall of Famer Yolanda Griffith is 56. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webberis53. Actor Mark-PaulGosselaar is 52. Actor Jensen Ackles is 48. Actor Lupita Nyong’o is 43. Popsinger Kesha is 39. Pop singer Justin Bieber is 32. NFL wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is 26. Actor Izabella Alvarez is 22. Actor Sawyer Sharbino is 20.

Creepy mansplaineroutdoes himself

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Dear Miss Manners: Iamafemale student,and Ihave asituation where amale classmate inappropriately chimes in on personal conversations. For example, Iwas asking my friends about atype of bra, and later that day,this classmate followed me to my car and gave me atutorial about bras. The crazy thing is he didn’tseem to notice thatIwas very uncomfortable. So I didn’tsay or do anything about that situation, and now today,hechimed in again. Iwas talking with my teacher about severe cramps and vaginal pain, and he jumpedinthe conversation to explain why it’shappening.

Ineed to know how to tell this person he’sbeing inappropriate and needs to stop. He does these things to other people, as well, and none of us know how to handle it

GentleReader: The fact that he is following you to your car is more concerning to Miss Manners than his choice of subject.She recommends you focus on that needing

to stop and avoidthe trap of telling him that women do not wish to hear aman’sopiniononwomen things. Of course it is irksome, but would it not be worse to have him explain to youhow you would feel if the situationwere reversed?

Better to have your personal conversations out of his earshot —but not before pointing out that aman ought to know better than to follow awoman to her car

Dear Miss Manners Adirector at my place of work sent out asystemwide email inviting everyone to a baby shower forher daughter,who does not work here, never has, and no one here knows her,except by name.

The shower is scheduled fortwo hours, during work, in one of the roomsatmyplace of employment. Many of us are baffled by,first of all, the use of the companywide email system (that very fewpeople have access to) forsuch astrange invitation, and second, the fact that she somehow thinks this is appropriate.

On occasion, we have had departments host brief showers forpeople who do work here, but have never done so for grandparents, aunts, etc. Making people further uncomfortable is that, because of her position, she has influence over many of us. Are we overreacting? Should we attend this event to protect our jobs, or should we politely decline due to our workload and hope she realizes how tacky this all is? To the best of my knowledge, managementhasn’tsaid anything to her, because she acts as if everything is perfectly fine.

Gentle Reader: This is awild overreach on the director’spart and an abuse of both the facilities and the people whoreport to her But before you go tattling on her to management (which is indeed tempting and warranted), Miss Manners suggests you bring it up to her delicately —asking if there might be abetter place to hold the event that does not utilize company resources or involve people her daughter doesn’tknow If your colleague balks, then you mayconsider going to HR or management. They probably already have arule in place that guards against such practices.

Email dearmissmanners@gmail. com.

Usingdry-erase markersonmirrors

Dear Heloise: Alot of people use white boards to makelists and notes. Butdid you know that you can use dry-erase markers on your bathroom mirror?

open. Ihave been cutting the foil around the pill into about half-inch squares that fit into my SundaySaturday pill holder

Hints from Heloise

It’seasy to jot notes on the mirror while you’re gettingready for theday,and more than likely,you will be back in that same bathroom throughout theday to see your notes.

Additionally,you can write inspirational notes toyourself on the shower wall above where thewater hits. —Karen McV., via email Blisterpackmishap

Dear Heloise: Ihave ahint that might save someonealot of unwanted pain. Ihave aprescription drug that Itake once aweek. It comes in a blister pack and is very difficult to

This seemed like agood idea until Ididn’tsee the squares under the other pills in one of the daily sectionsand tossed everything in my mouth as usual to swallow with somewater.Immediately,the sharp edges of the blister card began cutting into my throat! Itried to swallow more water,not realizing that the foil-covered pill was in my mouth.

It then slipped over my windpipe, andIstarted to choke, not being able to breathe.

Running to the kitchen sink, I folded my body over the edge and mademyself throw up. When Isaw theblister card in the sink, Istarted to cry.Inever imagined that Icould pop my pills withoutseeing the blister card.

So, this is my warning: Never cut

out asection of pills that is smaller than 1inch, whether it’ssquare or round. Make sure that you keep these pills away from daily ones. It madefor ascary momentfor my husband and me. —Patti W.,inThousand Oaks, California Anti-dampnesspackets

Dear Heloise: Iread Erika B.’shint about storing vitamins in the refrigerator.I use the anti-dampness packets that come with my prescription meds. They workgreat with my gummy medications and vitamins. If they are safefor our prescriptions, then they are definitely safefor over-thecounter meds. Ialso use them in any dry dressing mixes or seasonings that tend to clump together once opened. —Priscilla W.,via email Sendahinttoheloise@heloise com.

BY

HOWLOUISIANA IS BECOMING ADATACENTERDESTINATION

BY STEPHANIERIEGEL Staff writer

When Facebook parent company

Meta announced plans in December 2024tobuild amassive artificial intelligence data center in rural northeast Louisiana,the state’seconomic developmentchief, Susan Bourgeois, predicted the deal, now estimated to cost$27 billion, would attract other big data centers to thestate. Those statementsnow seem prescient. Earlierthisweek, Amazon Web

Services announced it wouldbuild a $12 billion AI data center across three sites in the Shreveport area.

Twoyearsago,manypeople in Loui-

siana had never heard of AI datacenters,muchless knewwhatthe airportsized warehouses full of computer servers looked like or did.

Now,the state has two big ones on the way,including oneofthe country’s largest, Meta’sHyperion near Monroe. Athird one, partially backed by Google, is planned for asite in West Feliciana Parishnear Baton Rouge.

Thedeals illustrate how Louisiana has landed on the radar of the tech companies and real estate developers racing tobuild AI datacenters, aconstruction boom expectedtoexceed $700 billion this year alone.

Butthe AI datacenter arms race is competitive andincreasingly controversial. Louisianaisn’tamong the top 10 fastest-growing states for new data centers, alistthat is topped by Texas and Virginia. And somecritics question whether thepromised jobs are worththe lucrative state incentives

or the potential strains they could place on local power grids and water resources.

“These things are popping up everywhere,” said Laurent Withycombe Keeler,anassociate professor at Arizona State University who studies data centers. “The Beltway is the front-runner,but there’s increased interest in Texas, Illinois and Indiana, and the mountain westbecause of the hospitable climate.”

Twodecades of trialand error in theindustryhavehelped owners and operators calibratetheir offerings based on what remote workers, freelancers andentrepreneursare lookingfor ä See DATACENTER, page 2E

Pandemic cooled co-working industry,but newspacessurging

BY RICHCOLLINS Staff writer

On arecent weekday,construction workers were installing fiber optic lines beneaththe plywood subfloors in a1960s-era building at the corner of St. Charles and Louisiana avenues. The crew was hustling to completethe renovation of aformer medicalbuilding that soon will house New Orleans businessman Chris Reade’snew venture aco-working space named 1538, whichwillfeature private offices, shareddesksand alargecommon area with comfortable seating, astocked barand plenty of light from floor-to-ceiling windows.

Reade is counting on demand for theseoffices and amenities andthe ample parking beneath theraisedone-story structure— to make his$1.8millionpurchase of the property and an extensive renovation pay off. Lately,he’snot the only one in Louisiana making thesame bet. The 20-year-old co-working industry,which experienced major growth in the late2010s before apandemicslowdown,isascendant again —and evidence canbeseen across thestate. Last week, TheShopatthe CAC announcedplans to opena second location in downtown New Orleans

Regus employees meet at the company’s PlaceSt. Charles co-working location. Regus is abrand of the International Workplace Group that opened several newcoworking spaces in Louisiana last year and now has 15 total in the state.

Pulling out the stops

States poised to emerge as data center hubs are those with lots of available land and sources of cheap power both of which are available in north Louisiana Another factor, according to industry researchers, is a lack of organized opposition, which can slow the permitting and approval processes.

“What attracts data centers is speed to market,” said Ning Lin, an economist at the University of Texas. “So, they go to places that have abundant power, land and the ability to ramp up quickly.”

The Meta deal in Richland Parish, which came together in a matter of months, is an example of how Louisiana pulled out all stops to woo the tech giant to a state-owned cornfield in tiny Holly Ridge.

State officials quietly changed a bill about broadband access into a sales tax exemption on computer equipment which Meta had said was a must — letting only a handful of legislative leaders in on the deal and forcing them to sign nondisclosure agreements in the process.

Bourgeois says the law change was key to winning the deal.

“Without doing the sales tax exemption during the session in 2024, none of these conversations would have happened,” she said It also helped that the state already owned 1,400 acres of shovel-ready farmland, which had been marketed by economic development officials for years after an unsuccessful attempt in the early 2000s to attract an auto manufacturer to the site.

Entergy, which struck a deal with Meta to build three new natural gas plants to power the site, was also key

“These facilities are going up quickly, which means three to five years, so they want to know they can get power and get through permitting,” Keeler said.

Economic development officials

CO-WORKING

Continued from page 1E

Independent operators have recently opened new facilities in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. And International Workplace Group, a global provider of short-term offices, co-working spaces and meeting rooms, is expanding its operations in the state.

Two decades of trial and error in the industry have helped owners and operators calibrate their offerings based on what remote workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs are looking for And now big companies like Amazon and JPMorgan Chase are buying into the co-working concept as well.

Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that co-working has rebounded from its pandemic downturn, with its U.S footprint growing from 115.6 million square feet three years ago to 158.3 million square feet. Co-working businesses now occupy 2.2% of U.S. office space, up from 1.7% three years ago.

For Reade, who previously owned a co-working facility in the Bywater called Club Discovery this new project is a chance to put an empty building back into commerce and, he hopes, bring in more income than if he rented to just one tenant. As the leader of a mostly remote software team, he’s also looking forward to the company

“I wanted an office again,” Reade said “I thought I could work from home after selling the last building, but I couldn’t. It’ll be nice to have a lot of people around.”

Co-working turns 20

The modern co-working industry traces its roots back to the early 2000s in San Francisco, where a software engineer opened what is considered one of the prototypes of the modern shared office space. Copycats followed, offering small offices or desks that users could rent for a fee that also enabled them to access common areas, kitchens, conference rooms and basic business services. Furnished and staffed executive offices that could be leased for short periods had been a thing for years, but they didn’t come with the amenities and programming designed to support the freedom of freelance with the community of a traditional office. The idea spread across the U.S. and Europe, with the high-profile company WeWork leading the charge. But the pandemic disrupted the office market, and the co-working industry stumbled as customers canceled contracts and operators struggled with longterm leases. WeWork itself went from poster

say the Meta project has already spurred economic activity in the area, driving up sales tax collections, doubling the number of new building permits issued in a year, spawning new housing and hotels and attracting new air service to the Monroe Airport.

The biggest proof of concept, however, is the Amazon deal,

which Bourgeois said would not have happened had it not been for Meta.

“Meta was the catalyst,” she said. Keeler said that’s because data centers tend to cluster

“There are some transaction costs that are lowered when you already have one data center,” she

said. “Community support or op-

position can be more easily understood and you have figured out how to access power All of that eases barriers to entry.”

Cons and pros

Whether Louisiana should focus its economic development efforts on attracting more AI data centers is a question some policymakers and environmental advocates are now asking. Data centers are increasingly controversial because they can disrupt communities, drive up utility rates and draw heavily from local water supplies.

Some states and municipalities are pushing back against them.

Bourgeois has said the state is not putting all its eggs in the data center basket. South Louisiana’s economy is still primarily dependent on the energy and petrochemical sectors Because of its climate vulnerabilities, it isn’t suitable to house data centers anyway, she said.

North Louisiana, by contrast, is sparsely populated and has

has 500 or so members, including the growing software company Copado. Club Discovery which opened in 2019, was rechristened last year as a co-working space for nonprofits in the Bywater, where a larger workspace called The Warehouse has attracted more than 100 members. The Green House in Mid-City offers lush environments inside and out, and Maroon on St. Charles offers perks and support for entrepreneurs along with the advantage of being just on the edge of downtown.

Open since 2024, The Rigs at the Batture has a dozen or so private offices plus shared workspace in two renovated structures that were one part of active oil rigs in the Gulf. Members have views of the Mississippi River and access to ample outdoor space.

Creating communities

Reade isn’t the only entrepreneur in Louisiana combining coworking facilities with his own office space.

struggled for decades to diversify its largely agricultural economy

Rob Cleveland, head of Grow NELA, the regional economic development organization, said data centers are an important piece of a puzzle that is paying off.

“We have so much activity in this region and so many eyes on us,” said Cleveland, who pointed to seven potential industrial projects that are also in the works.

“They’re all sizes, from $50 million to $1 billion, and they’re not all in Ouachita and Richland parishes.”

He predicts the deals will come to fruition in the next 12 months.

Making it work for everybody

It’s hard to say how many more data centers will be developed in the next few years and where Louisiana fits into the larger picture

“Also remember,” Lin said. “It’s happening so fast. Not all of the mega campuses will be 100% delivered.”

Still, given the expected growth, Lin and others who study the industry say it’s important for communities to educate themselves about what data centers can bring to an area and ensure they are extracting meaningful concessions from developers if they decide it’s worth pursuing them.

“Data center demand is real, and there are pros and cons,” Lin said. “Communities need to align their interests with the data centers and know what they can ask for, and what their options are.” Contracts between data centers and communities, called Community Benefits Agreements, are increasingly common and important, Keeler said, in creating better deals.

“A community can put a floor on salaries, require job training for workers, establish special funds for projects like parks,” she said.

“And it’s OK to ask for what feels like a lot. It’s not a lot for these data centers.”

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

weeks,” he said.

His business joins Creative Bloc, Spaces, The Brewery and other active co-working concepts in the capital region.

In Lafayette, marketing and branding veteran Jaci Russo opened a co-working hub last year in her downtown building. She sells access by the day, week, month or year to co-working desks and private offices as she competes with other Lafayette co-working options, including Trendy Spaces.

“We’ve already paid for the remodel, and now it’s a profit center, even with new places opening constantly,” Russo said.

In New Orleans, attorney Jade Brown-Russell is trying new things this year to grow Maroon, her 4-year-old co-working space near the Pontchartrain Expressway Her offerings include a podcast area, several lounges and a conference room. She rents private offices to clients that include a barber, whose customers add to Maroon’s foot traffic. And the space hosts meetings, parties and special events.

This year, Brown-Russell launched Kinfolk Coffee, a coffee shop that’s reserved for Maroon members now but will soon serve the public.

“People are looking for social spaces,” Brown-Russell said. “If they’re going to come and sit at our space for work, we want to make sure they don’t have to leave to find coffee or food.”

Not just ‘beer pong, happy hours’

The independent ventures are joined by options from national and international companies, including Regus, a brand of the International Workplace Group that opened several new locations in Louisiana last year and now has 15 total in the state.

To industry vets, the investment demonstrates that co-working is more than a trend and it has room to grow

child to cautionary tale. In 2018, the company bragged that it occupied more Manhattan real estate than anyone else. Five years later, its leaders declared bankruptcy The controversial startup never made it to New Orleans, but the city had its own co-working pioneer: Launch Pad, which opened in 2009 in the Warehouse District and for a few years “served as the heartbeat of our city’s first tech generation,” according to New Orleans tech executive Patrick Comer Launch Pad moved to another location in 2017 and closed in 2020 as the pandemic and other factors took their toll.

In the years since, as employers and employees have embraced remote and hybrid work, co-working spaces are finding what appears to be a more stable niche.

“People thought we could all work from home, and we were silly to think we needed offices,” said Ann Olsen, director of co-working at The Shop. “Then we started to understand all the points of creativity and sharing that you’re missing by working in your kitchen, and a new understanding of the value of co-working has emerged.”

In New Orleans, there are heirs to what Launch Pad started. The Shop, which debuted in 2017,

In Baton Rouge, tech entrepreneur Matt Adler opened Studio Cowork last year to make additional income and have a lively place to work.

“I feel most productive when I have other people to talk to,” he said. He gave his rented space in the city’s downtown a face-lift to make it more inviting and comfortable. Now, it features shared space, one private office, semi-private desks, lounge areas and a creative studio space with photography, video and podcast studio.

“Someone might come in on a weekday and make all the content they need for the next couple of

“People think it’s just for startups interested in beer pong and crazy happy hours, but that’s not true,” said Olsen. “Companies that have been established for over 100 years are embracing it.”

Mike Siegel, president of Corporate Realty, who focused much of his career on the traditional office market, believes co-working is here to stay

“It’s a way to quickly get space without a long design and construction process, and without having to deal with a lease negotiation or order furniture,” he said “Office building owners are now looking at whether they do it themselves or bring in third parties to lease to and let them do it.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Solar deal fuels growth for St. Landry’s Noble Plastics

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

Q&A WITH MISSY ROGERS

When Missy Rogers left LSU with a degree in mechanical engineering almost 40 years ago, she went to work at Texaco. Back then most engineers found jobs in the petrochemical industry

While that’s still primarily the case, Rogers, now CEO of Noble Plastics in Grand Coteau, is optimistic about the potential for new employment in the state’s manufacturing sector, which has grown significantly since the pandemic and is poised for more in the coming years. It ranges from the massive Hyundai steel plant in Ascension Parish that will employ 1,300 to the First Solar plant that went online in Iberia Parish at the end of 2025 and will employ about 700.

“With the (Mississippi) river, the ports and the local energy production, there are a lot of reasons Louisiana should be a much bigger player in the manufacturing space,” said Rogers, who has headed Noble Plastics for 25 years.

“We have tens of thousands of skilled craftsmen who have really perfected the building of things. I think it’s not just good for America it’s good for this region of Louisiana.”

The number of manufacturing jobs across the state has bounced back since the pandemic, with gains in Acadiana particularly strong. The sector topped 20,000 jobs in the region in the second quarter of 2025, the first time that’s happened since the fracking boom in 2014.

Last fall, Noble Plastics announced an $8.5 expansion after landing a deal to make precisionmolded plastic components for First Solar The business that’s housed in an unassuming building

just off Interstate 49 will also add 29 jobs to its current staff of 65. In this week’s edition of Talking Business, Rogers talks about her custom plastic injection molding company’s expansion to supply solar panel manufacturer First Solar, how it meets its workforce needs and her role as chair of the board at the Federal Reserve Bank in New Orleans. This interview has been edited for clarity

Tell me about the First Solar deal.That’s 29 more jobs and 15,000 square feet that is being added to your building to accommodate their business.Will this be a transformational deal for you? It’s a good 25-30% expansion, and we love that. What we love more is this is a company that puts its words to action. They are spending in the community They want their whole ecosystem to thrive. They want uniform companies, plate lunch companies and day cares.

You see that it’s a genuine commitment to American manufacturing to rural communities.

How did you all initially get connected with First Solar?

We have a good reputation in the industry and find ourselves on some short lists when people start looking at manufacturing capacity and capabilities. What was very rewarding to my team is to know that they have a global supply chain organization. There’s a VP of this and a head of that and a commodities manager, and they all had to come down, and we were assessed and vetted So to be selected by them is a real honor and privilege for my team. Their machines are going to run pretty much 24/7, so our warehousing — which is five days a week — is going to go seven.

You’ve diversified from the energy sector like many other manufacturers in the region. Is that a lesson everyone has kind of had to learn?

It’s a part that I think the Acadiana region and Louisiana as a whole had to understand that solar or other green energies are not a threat to oil and gas. They’re too deeply embedded in the American lifestyle. You’re looking at a generation at least of primary oil and gas, energy consumption. So it’s not “or.” It’s “and.” And I think the more the state can say and the more Acadiana can say, “Now my clients are oil and gas and solar.”

You’re a small manufacturer with about 65 employees. Are there challenges for you to find employees? How are you finding qualified workers? We’ve had robot technicians who used to work retail at Dollar General. We have a quality inspector and assembler who used to work in the cafeteria at a middle school. We have people whose background maybe didn’t challenge them or their education didn’t expose them to opportunities for programming. Our traditional education doesn’t do a very good job identifying spatial skills One of our favorite ladies here spent her entire career in banking. She came here as a re-

Always Do the RightThing

tiree looking for a little part-time work. We put her to assembling product, and she loved it. It never occurred to her at any point in her young adulthood, midcareer or advanced career that she had a spatial skill and an attention to detail that would serve well in a quality control environment.

Are you still a unicorn of sorts as a female executive in the manufacturing sector? Or are more women leading companies now? Definitely more than when I started, for sure. Maybe there are two other female founders I can think of It tends to be a secondgeneration (thing), something that they’ll come to. They tend to be younger professionals, but that’ll change. You’ll start to see more and more female founders. It’s a capital-heavy business, and I think there’s a barrier to entry there for anybody who isn’t already either in the business or closely associated to the business. But we see women in every field now, and I would like to think that in another generation, you don’t even think about what’s traditionally male and traditionally female.

Tell me more about your role with the Federal Reserve Bank in New Orleans. That sounds like an opportunity to make a significant impact.

I am one of the appointees who is a director representing industry That helps the rest of us have a voice and a seat at the table for those larger economic things. I really feel like I represent the little guy at the table. There’s something to be said for little Noble Plastics being at the table and saying things like, “Hey guys, if these rates don’t come down, my workers, St. Landry Parish residents, are looking at how they can get into that next vehicle when this one dies. And if cars cost too much and the cost of financing cars cost too much, how are they supposed to make a living when there’s no public transportation service in a rural parish?” Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.

Staff report

Businesses and nonprofit organizationsacrosssouth Louisiana recently announced the following honors and recognitions BatonRouge

HydrovacNews named Walter Sheese,owner and managing partner of Allwaste Industrial Services, to its 2025 Hydro Excavation Industry Leaders list. The Gonzalesbased company provides nondestructive excavation and industrial cleaning solutions.

Forbes named Woman’s Hospital as oneofAmerica’s Best Midsize Employers for thethird consecutive year It was one of two hospitals in Louisiana to make the list for 2026.

LSU Law will honor seven alumniwith its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards for their contributions to the LSU Paul M. Hebe rt La w Center in the followi ng categories: Ben Aguiñaga, Outstanding Young Alumnus; Bill Corbett,Honorary Alumnus; Vance Gibbs,Engaged Alumnus; Richard Ieyoub,Outstanding Public Service;

Fool’sSchool: Don’t neglect estate planning

Kean Miller,Career Champion; Michael Pinkerton,Legal Innovator; and U.S. District JudgeJay Zainey,Service to theProfession.

Leaders foraBetterLouisiana, now in its 38th year, announced the 52 members of its class of 2026: ThadAngelloz,director of grants and communications,Greater Lafourche Port Commission; Lance Armentor,president and CEO, Opelousas General Health System; Abbey Bain, vice chancellor for student engagement, LSUAlexandria; ElizabethBentley-Smith, deputy commissioner for financeand administration, Louisiana BoardofRegents; PilarBlanco-Eble,vice chancellorfor advancement and executive director of the BRCC Foundation, Baton RougeCommunity College; Dani Borel,partner,Breazeale Sachse Wilson; Brett Brown,senior financialanalyst, BRF; Eddie Buttross,vice president andcommercial relationship manager,First Horizon

It’seasy to avoid thinkingand planning for death, especially when we’re still relatively young, but the Grim Reaper comes for young people on occasion,and for us all eventually.Get some estate planning done,and you can save your loved ones alot of hassles and perhaps alot of money,too. Death often triggers probate,

Bank; DavidCarter,principal, Emergent Method; Justin Centanni,assessor,Lafayette ParishAssessor’sOffice; and Steven Ceulemans,president and CEO,Baton Rouge Health District.

Also, Kalli Christ,CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana; Hardeman Cordell,president,Central Oil& Supply; Lyla Corkern,owner and CEO, Finding Solace; Martha Crenshaw,general counsel, RoyOMartin; Shannan Cvitanovic,executive director,Friends of New Orleans Public Library; Anna deTiege,director of innovation capital, Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO); MeganDuhon director of economic development, OneAcadiana; Karla Edwards,HRbusiness partner, Sasol; BobbyFruge,owner and founder, Radix; and Jill Galmarini,director of civic initiatives, Community FoundationofSouthwestLouisiana.

Also, Kate Griener,senior community affairs adviser,WoodsideEnergy; Judd Jeansonne,executive director, Volunteer Louisiana; Viveca Johnson,owner andclinical administrator,Forward Moving Counseling Services; Chris Joseph Jr ,associate, Adams and Reese; Heather Kleinpeter,director of strategic projects, Corporate Mobile Housing; Deanna Lafont,parish administrator,Lafourche Parish Government; Ryan LaGrange, director of workforce development, Lafayette Economic Development Authority; Matthew Lee,member,Bradley Murchison; Christina Lord,regional medical director for the office of public health, Louisiana Department of

Health; and Justin Marocco, partner,Jones Walker

Also, Pamela Matassa,deputy chiefadministrative officer andcommunicationsdirector,AscensionParish Government; Samantha McKee,assistant treasurer,Cleco; Ethan Melancon,governmentaffairs director,Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana; Jennifer Messina,vicepresident of development, Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West; KimMontie,executive director Port of Cameron; Bailey Morse, chieflegal officer,Louisiana OrganProcurementAgency; Ana Nanney,vice chancellorfor enrollment andstudentdevelopment, Fletcher Technical Community College; James O’Quinn, II,executive director, LouisianaTroopers Association; Ryan Page,CMO,Coastal Conservation Association of LA;and Emily Fenet Parker,directorofmarketing, L’Auberge Also, NgaQuinlan,partner andchief experience officer, HippoTechnologies; Paula Shepherd,executive vice president for health plan operations andtechnology, LouisianaBlue; Ronald Simpson,directorofcommunity engagementand public affairs, OchsnerHealth; Blake Stanfill,executive vicepresident andCOO,Finance New Orleans; Shannon Warren,campus president, Unitech Training Academy West Monroe Campus; Jesse Watson,director of community engagement and partnerships,Discovery Schools; Liz Webb Hebert,senior director of business development,Surgery Partners, and Lafayette City Council member; TifferneyWhite,CEO,Louisi-

ana Children’sMuseum; MatthewWoodard,chief financial officer,Hunt, Guillotand Associates; Tony Zanders,president and CEO, Nexus Louisiana, founder and CEO, SkillType; and Kristin Zatta,customer service manager,Entergy NewOrleans TwoTulane University executives were recently recognized by Ragan Communications. Kimberly Allen,senior associate vice president of university co mm unications and marketing, was honored in Ragan’s TopWomen in Communications, Cla ss of 2026, in the brand storytellers category CarmenSarduy,assistant vice president of marketing, was recognized in the brand marketers category as one of Ragan’sTop WomeninMarketing for 2025.

The National Association of Criminal DefenseLawyers honored Calvin Duncan, incoming Clerk of Criminal Court forOrleans Parish, and Baton Rouge attorney Jean Faria,the formerstate public defender and capitalcasecoordinator for the Louisiana Public Defender Board, with aspecial recognition during the organiza-

tion’smidwinter meeting in NewOrleans.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Net wor k selected Kimberly Novod, founderand ex ecu tive director of the nonprofit Saul’sLight,for its18-month fellowship curriculum aimedatfurtheringsystems transformation and improving collaborative skills.

Forbes named The Spiro Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as No 1inLouisiana on its list of Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams.

Press Ganey, ahealth care performance improvementcompany,recognized Avala as a2025 Guardian of Excellence Award winner

The recognition means the Covington-basedhealth network is in the top 5% of health care providersinpatient experience among the more than 41,000 facilities that workwith Press Ganey Meanwhile, Becker’sHospital Review named Chief NursingOfficer JoyMelgar to its 2025 Chief Nursing Officers to Know list.

Do you have personnel changes to share or other ideas forour business coverage? Drop us aline at biztips@theadvocate. com.

thelegal process of administering an estate. It involves demonstrating that awill is valid, valuingand distributingthe deceased’s property, paying debtsand taxes, transferringtitles and more.It can bealengthy and costly hassle, sometimes leaving assets in limbo until everything is settled.

Check therules for your state, because you can probably bypass probatebytaking certain steps now,such as settingupalegal document like aliving trust. This lets you formally transfer assetsand properties to your heirs before you die. Youmight also designate“transfer on death” or “payable on death” beneficiaries on various financial accounts, permittingthe accounts’ assetsto pass directly to thebeneficiaries

Beyond Boundaries.

Thehealthcareindustryhas asingle constant:change.

As thefastest growingsectorofthe American economy, theindustryisalwaysinastate of change in responsetomacroeconomic forces,the public’s demandfor high-quality andaccessible health care,and fiscalconstraints.Wehelpour clients successfully navigateachallenging andconstantly evolving business andregulatorylandscape as they create,and respond to,new delivery models to meet thesenew challenges.

William H. Hines

Managing Partner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000

201St. CharlesAvenue NewOrleans,LA70170-5100 joneswalker.com

on your death

Above all, be sure that you don’t die “intestate” —without having prepared awill. Without awill, your estate will be handled according to government rules, with your assets distributed according to formulas, often involving court proceedings.

To learn more, search for “estateplanning” at sites such as ncoa.org, nolo.com and aarp. org. Or check out books such as

“Nolo’sGuide to Estate Planning” by Liza W. Hanks or “Essential Estate Planning forBeginners: Protect Assets by Avoiding Probate, Reduce Taxes and Minimize Expenses, Ease the Legal Burden forLoved Ones” by Freeman Publishing. Also consider consulting an estate planning professional. Spend alittle timegetting your affairs in order.Revisit your plans now and then to see if anything needs updating.

Digitalhealthcareinthe United States is continuously shaped by acomplex patchwork of federaland statelawsand regulations.

Federallawsgovernprivacy,while federal agencies regulate medicaldevices and certainsoftware. Telehealth rulesvaryby state, though Medicare andmanystates have expanded coverage andlicensure

flexibility,and oversightcomes from multiple agencies. However, challengespersist regardingthe regulation of AI,cross-state telehealth practices, cybersecurity, anddata notcovered by federallaw,sopolicymakers continue to pursue reformstoensure innovationaligns with patientprotections

Ourfirm is proudtohelpleadthe wayforward forLouisiana healthcare providersand supportcompanies as they undergo digitaltransformationand navigate this evolving andcomplex legal andregulatoryenvironment.

MADE IN LOUISIANA

State’s largest salsa maker looks

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Twice a year, things kick into gear at the 2 Sisters’ Salsa Co. plant in Avoyelles Parish

Over the past decade, the company has become Louisiana’s largest salsa producer, shipping the popular condiment to about 30 states. And its production schedule is determined by the tomato season.

“You can only get them at certain times of the year,” said Denise Ramon, president and new majority owner “So they’re picked, and we cook at that perfect time.”

That means Florida tomatoes in the winter and Indiana tomatoes in the fall.

During peak production 2 Sisters’ Plaucheville manufacturing facility operates 24/7, with a handful of employees working 12-hour shifts to produce 16,000 jars a day along a largely automated assembly line. Those jars eventually make their way onto the shelves of more than 6,000 grocery stores around the country

Earlier this year the company’s founder, Avoyelles Parish farmer Patrick Deshotels, sold 2 Sisters to Ramon, the company’s president and a longtime employee. She plans to grow 2 Sisters, which has revenues of between $2 million and $5 million a year, by focusing on e-commerce and building out the company’s private label business, or producing goods for other retailers under their own labels.

“People are focused on saving money but they still want the same quality product, and they’re looking for a ‘better-for-you’ product,” said Ramon. “A lot of grocery stores are going in that direction, and we can help fill that void with private label.”

Widespread distribution

2 Sisters’ makes its salsa from a handful of basic, raw ingredients: onions, jalapeños and cilantro. They’re dumped, along with the fresh tomatoes, into an automated washer and dicer, then loaded into 150-gallon kettles, where locally made Cajun seasoning is added.

Each kettle boils for more than two hours, producing about a thousand jars.

“The sauce is pumped through into these fillers, then from the fillers, there’s a feeder feeding jars,” Ramon said. “The lids are placed on them, torqued, then the label goes on them, and then they go in a box.”

The boxes are stacked on pallets with room for 1,200 jars each. They await pickups from trucks, which distribute the salsa across the country

2 Sisters is sold in mom-and-pop retailers as well as regional and national chains — about half its sales come from the 1,000 Walmart locations that shelve its jars.

A crossroads

When Deshotels started 2 Sisters’ Salsa a decade ago, he wasn’t chasing a dream of becoming a

condiment baron. Rather, his garden produced too many tomatoes and he wanted to put them to use.

He started experimenting with different salsa recipes in his kitchen before testing them out at local farmers markets

From there, 2 Sisters — named in honor of his daughters, now students at LSU — began distributing to grocers and wholesalers, starting with Rouses Markets and eventually growing to include more than a dozen supermarket chains and warehouse groups.

The company now produces five salsa flavors and employs about 15 people, a third of whom are brokers who act as liaisons between the company and the retailers.

Late last year, Deshotels found himself with another kind of surplus — piloting his own small plane to sales meetings for his growing salsa company, while juggling

responsibility for 5,000 acres of soybeans, sugar cane, rice and crawfish.

“I just went through and said, ‘Look, my plate is a little too full,’” Deshotels said.

After a conversation with his wife, they decided it was time to sell.

Ramon, who started as a sales manager in 2018 and has been company president since 2021, bought a majority stake in the salsa company in February

The deal allows Deshotels to retain ownership of the plant through a holding company while Ramon owns 90% of the brand, including its recipes and intellectual properties.

The sale coincides with a redesign of the salsa’s packaging, which now emphasizes that it is “farm fresh” and has no added sugar

Room to grow

In 2022, the company completed an approximately $400,000 expansion that more than doubled the size of its production facility

Now it has the capacity to produce 5 million jars of salsa every year from the 17,000-square-foot complex.

“We still have the capacity to grow into the facility, which was on purpose,” Ramon said. “We sit on close to 10 acres of property, so there’s definitely room for growth as we continue to scale the brand, both in terms of the facility and the land.”

But Ramon hopes that an increased focus on e-commerce, combined with an expansion into the private labeling and food service markets, can help boost sales volume beyond the 1 million jar mark.

The company has already found some international distribution, launching in Costa Rica in 2024 and in Hong Kong earlier this year

The recent focus on e-commerce also includes partnerships with influencers and affiliates to increase awareness of the 2 Sisters’ brand in a very competitive category

“Back in the day, you stuck it on a shelf, put it there, and they will come,” said Ramon.

Not anymore. Now, you need to run in-store promotions and create a secondary location in the store with high-visibility displays. And, she said, brands need to ensure that their product can reach customers outside of the grocery store.

That means selling on Amazon, improving its own website and getting more involved in sales through social media channels like TikTok Shop.

“We definitely want to get incremental business, but we also want to use it for brand awareness,” she said. “If somebody is out of town and walks into a store, buys the salsa and loves it, we want them to be able to get online and find it.” Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. meadows@theadvocate.com.

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REMEMBERING NORMAN FRANCIS

March 20, 1931 l February 18, 2026

Reflecting on longtime leader and activist’s legacy Page 4

Remembering the life of Dr. Norman Francis Page 2

Friend. Mentor. Teacher. Community looks at his impact. Page 6

Saying farewell to civil rights icon, longtime

Xavier University president

BY JOHN POPE Contributing writer

Norman Christopher Francis, the president of Xavier University for 47 years who was a force for justice in classrooms and boardrooms at the local, state and national levels, died Feb. 18 at Ochsner Hospital. He was 94.

During Francis’ years as the leader of the country’s only Black Catholic institution of higher learning, the Gert Town campus grew from five to 16 buildings, expanding far beyond its original boundaries.

Because of his focus on science, Xavier became a university that consistently sent more minority students to medical schools than any other college in the country

“His impact is immeasurable,” said Dr Michael Francis, his son. “He would do anything for his family the Xavier family and the Louisiana family.”

Among those Francis welcomed to Xavier’s campus were the Freedom Riders, civil rights activists he housed in a dormitory in 1961 after White supremacists attacked them in Alabama; former President Barack Obama, who was Illinois’ junior senator when he delivered the university’s 2006 commencement address; and Pope John Paul II, who, during his September 1987 visit, spoke in the campus’ quadrangle to the leaders of every Catholic university in the country

“It was a great, great moment for Xavier,” Francis said of the pope’s visit in a 1997 interview

“That moment gave us a national presence.”

Francis’ years of service have been recognized with a slew of awards, including 42 honorary doctorates and, in 2006, the Presidential Medal of Freedom the country’s highest civilian honor.

Because he built the university and thereby drew national attention to it, Francis is “clearly one of the most influential New Orleanians of the 20th century ” said former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.

“His greatness is being a builder of institutions that are going to continue being significant players in New Orleans.”

People- and book-smart

Francis, who served on 54 boards and commissions and advised eight presidents on education and civil rights issues, was born on March 20, 1931, in Lafayette during the Great Depression. One of five children, he earned money by shining shoes and painting houses.

He graduated from St Paul High School and considered enlisting in the Army because his family couldn’t afford to send him to college.

But a nun who had taught him contacted the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament the order of Catholic nuns that founded and ran Xavier The group arranged a scholarship for Francis that allowed him work in the library to pay his tuition. He enrolled in 1948 at 17.

His leadership skills were evident even then, said Sybil Morial, a friend since their undergraduate days at Xavier, an educator and a civil rights activist. Sybil Morial, the wife of former Mayor Dutch Morial and mother to Marc Morial, died last year

“I knew he was full of life and very smart, not just book-smart but peoplesmart,” she said. “It was an innate talent.”

Francis was president of his class each year until his senior year, when he was elected student body president and graduated with honors in 1952. He later applied to Loyola University’s law school, becoming its first Black student. But there was a catch: Even though Francis had integrated the law school, he couldn’t live in a Loyola dormitory So he bunked in a Xavier dorm, where he was in charge of freshmen men.

“I was a budding lawyer living with a bunch of rowdy teenage boys,” Francis said in an interview “At night, they’d set up bowling pins at one end of the hall and roll a Coke bottle down it to knock them over Those were some of the best years of my life.”

His first day there, Francis met a fellow student, Maurice “Moon” Landrieu, in the lobby “I put my hands on his shoulders and said, ‘Welcome aboard. If there’s any

way I can help you, let me know,’” said Landrieu, a former New Orleans mayor who died in 2022.

Before the two met, “I never thought about segregation. That’s just the way things were,” said Landrieu, who often called Francis for advice during his public service career “But when I met Norman, I began thinking in terms of fairness and integrity I became convinced that as long as his freedom was limited, mine was, too. It made me angry.”

After Francis got his law degree, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in the 3rd Armored Division. He later worked on special assignment with the U.S. Justice Department to desegregate federal agencies in major cities, especially in the South. He also joined the New Orleans law firm of Collins, Douglas & Elie, which was counsel for the Congress for Racial Equality the civil rights organization known as CORE. In this job, Francis fought segregation and represented activists who were challenging shop owners on the then-bustling Dryades Street to hire Black workers and staging sit-ins at White-only lunch counters on Canal Street.

A legacy as an educator

Although his legal career was going well, Francis decided in the late 1950s to pivot.

“I made a decision that education was going to be the answer for me because as I looked at the struggle for African Americans, I knew we weren’t going to make it if we just kept showing up in courtrooms defending ourselves against whatever the circumstances,” he said in a 1992 interview

He returned to Xavier in 1957 to become its dean of men, the first of several posts he would hold during his climb up the administrative ladder In the spring of 1961, a group of Xavier undergraduates told him about the Freedom Riders, a group of young people who planned to take a Greyhound bus from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans in a bid to end segregation in bus travel in the South.

The riders got as far as Anniston, Alabama, where about 50 White supremacists

attacked them and their bus. The next day, Vincent Roux and Rudy Lombard, who were coordinating the New Orleans end of that ride, went to Francis’ office to ask if the Freedom Riders could beput up in St. Michael’sDormitory, which had an empty third floor

“I had to think about it awhile for two reasons,” Francis said. “I knew if Iput them in thedormitory, Iwas perhaps endangering the lives of the other kids there, but this was the right thing to do.”

SisterMary Josephina Kenney,Xavier’s president, agreed,Francis said, on the condition that theschoolnot announce the decision in anews release, as localhotels andresidents feared violence would followthe group.

But he didn’tkeep alow profile. Instead, Francisheld anews conference in the dorm lobby to celebrate the group, who arrived on campus bloodied and bandaged in ascene Francis described as“sad and triumphant.” He also joinedthe group at Zion Baptist Church to celebrate the seventhanniversary of theU.S.Supreme Court’sdecision that outlawed segregation in publicschools.

Seven years later,the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament decided it wastime for aXavier graduate to become presidentofthe 43-year-old university thatSt. Katharine Drexel, the order’sfounder,had established for Black students. Francis became Xavier’sfirstlay president and first Black president

When he took over, “everyone was tryingtobeageneralliberal artscollege,” Marc Morial said. “He had afocus. Hepositioned Xavier with afocus on science. He diditbefore it was atrend.”

These days, Xavier turns out dozens of graduates each yearwho go on tomedical schools, and it has one of Louisiana’s twocolleges for training aspiring pharmacists.

Sybil Morial, who heldaseries of administrative positions at Xavier for 28 years, witnessedall thechanges.“It wasanexciting jobtobepartofthisvibrantthing that was turning out these successfulstudents who were contributingnot only professionally butalso personally,” she said. “Heset the example.”

As president, he was perpetually cheerful, and he had aheartygreeting for everyone. But he couldbe serious whenthe situation demanded it, as Sybil Morialremembered whenshe describedaprotest on campus.

“It could have been very ugly,”she said. “He told the students he wanted to meet withthemand hear what theirconcerns were. He let them talk, not just theleader.Hetotally disarmed them, and they

DR.NORMAN C. FRANCIS

walked away satisfied. Iguesstheydid somemarchingand public speaking on the campus, but it wasn’t angry.Hehad the talent to do that.”

A1986 survey by theCouncil for Advancement andSupport of Education named him one of the 100 most effective collegepresidentsinthe country

When HurricaneKatrina’sfloodwaters battered southeast Louisiana, ravaged his Gentilly home and torethrough Xavier’s campusinAugust 2005, Francis vowed to notonly rebuild thecampus but makeit better

“Bringing us back to where we were before Katrina wasn’tgood enough,” he said in an interview.“We hadtoget wherewe were planning to go. We were able to combine the plan thatstartedbefore Katrina …and see how we could move tothe next step.”

Eventhough the campus marinated for weeks in water as deep as 6feet, Francis vowed that classes would resume in January2006. They did.

“Some saiditwas crazy.Some said it couldn’t happen,”Obama said on campus on the fifth anniversary of thestorm. “But they didn’tcount on what happens when oneforce of nature meets another.”

‘Never forget’

Francis also developed areputation for leadership in civic and business organizations, including Liberty Bank, one of the biggest Black-owned financial institutions in the United States. He helpedfound it in 1972 and was chairman of its board of directors.

Gov. KathleenBlancoalsoappointed Francis in 2005 to lead theLouisiana Recovery Authoritytocoordinate the state’s comeback from Katrina.

“He was one of the few people that peopleinpolitics trusted to do theirthings,” Dr.Michael Francis said of his father

Despite his accolades, “I don’twear my title on my chest,”Francis saidina1992 interview.“It’s the last thing Iwould do Ijust see everybody as important. I’m president because thathappenstobemy job, butthatdoesn’t make me anybetter than anybody else.”

Francis chaired theNew Orleans Aviation Board and the boards of the Educational Testing Service, the Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Teaching, the Southern Education Association, WLAE-TV,the MetropolitanAreaCommittee EducationFundand theSouthern Association of Colleges andSchools, aregional accrediting agency.Hewas president of the American Associationof Higher Education andthe UnitedNegro College Fund and amember of the Catholic University of America’sboard of trustees and The Times-PicayuneEditorial Advisory Board.

In addition to the honorary degrees he received, Francis was awarded The Times-Picayune Loving Cup andthe UniversityofNotre Dame’sLaetare Medal.

In 2020, the New Orleans City Council changed the nameofJefferson Davis Parkway,whichruns past theedge of Xavier’s campus, to NormanC.Francis Parkway

At Francis’final commencement, in 2015, the tributes raineddown. Vartan Gregorian, the Carnegie Corporation president and an honorarydegree recipient,was succinct when he toldFrancis, “The universe is notgoing to see anyone like you again.”

In response to all the praise,Francis said

Mrs. GayleBenson&theNewOrleans Saints

he felt privilegedtobeofservice, andhe told the graduates to “never forget from whenceyou come. …Iwould especially hope that yougiveyour talent and your expertise to those who need it most. …You have the tools. Youhave the strong leadership example. Now go out and contribute.” Francis’ wife,Blanche Macdonald Francis, died in 2015.

Survivors include four sons, Michael Timothyand David Francis, allofNew Orleans, and Patrick Francis of Austin, Texas; two daughters, Kathleen Francis of NewYork City and Christina Francis of Los Angeles; asister,Mabel Bailey of Lafayette; and 11 grandchildren.

Hisbodywill lie in repose on Monday from 9a.m. to 3:30 p.m.inXavier’sConvocationCenter,on7910 Stroelitz St. Francis’ family will be there from 4p.m. to 5p.m.

The Most Rev.Curtis Guillory,aformer bishop of Beaumont, Texas, will deliver opening andclosing remarks, andaprogram will begin at 5p.m.

AMasswillbesaidat10a.m. on Tuesday at the cathedral after visitation there from 8a.m.to9:30 a.m.Cardinal Wilton Gregory,aformer archbishopofWashington, D.C., will be the principal celebrant. In the half-hour before the service, the rosary will be prayed, andpeople will offertheir thoughts about Francis.

Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, 3421 Esplanade Ave. D.W. Rhodes Funeral Homeisincharge of arrangements.

Contact JohnPope at pinckelopes@ gmail.com.

Dr.NormanC.Francis

Mrs. GayleBenson: Iwas deeply saddenedtolearn of thepassing of Dr.NormanC.Francis.Iwas grateful forhis friendship andheldgreat admiration andrespect forthe leadership andinfluencehebrought to ourcity, state, and nation fordecades

Afterbeginning hiscareerinthe military andinlaw,Dr. Francis became atransformationalleader in civilrightsand higher education, servingmorethan50years at Xavier University of Louisiana, including47asPresident.Healso played an earlyroleinsecuringanNFL expansionfranchise forNew Orleans andwas aproud original investor in theSaints.

Iextendmy deepestcondolences to Dr.Francis’family.

REFLECTIONSONA LEGACY

Norman Francis’impactisapparent in so manyaspects of life in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. His quietcontributions always aimed at making amore just and equitable future for all.

Xavier head showed thepower of quietleadership

As achild, Ioften visited “Miss Blanche’s” home with my parents and siblings in the tree-lined Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. It was a beautiful house on aspacious lot, complete with a detached garage that doubled as a guest space. Even at ayoung age, Iunderstood that visits to Miss Blanche’s home were different. We dressed a little nicer.Wewere reminded to mind our manners. And we showed up with respect Miss Blanche was always warm and welcoming and she never failed to offer candy One day,myparents toldmewe

were going to visit Dr.Norman C. Francis. Ihad no idea whothey meant.They describedwhere he lived,what he looked like and spoke of his many accomplishments. None of it connected until my mother finallysaid, “You know,Miss Blanche’shusband …” Suddenly, everything clicked. Looking back, Inow understand whyIdidn’trecognize Francis by name. His leadership never demanded thespotlight.Whenhe was home, he was fully present with hischildren and his beautiful wife. In aworld where many leaders command every room they enter,even theirown living rooms, Dr.Francis led differently.

He led quietly. In allthe time Iwas around him, Inever once heardhim raise his

TheworkofNorman

Francis’

life goes on

Dr.Norman Francis andmyfather,Moon Landrieu, were both born into working-class families in the segregated South. They met as college students in 1950 whenNorman, at Xavier, and Dad, at Loyola, planned atripto aCatholic conference in Grand Coteau.

Norman later chuckled, recalling my father’s naiveté about their meticulous planning process. “We’ll just stop when we’re hungry,” Dad said, not realizing that his new friends couldn’tjust stop anywhere. Dad later explained that “White Only” signs dotted the landscape —but you only noticed them if they impacted you.

voice, not even when he was overlooked to receive apiece of chocolate cake at abank celebration. As I’ve matured professionally,those small moments have become powerful lessons.

Today,weoften measureleadership by visibility. The louder the voice, the moreattention it receives.The moresomeone is seen, the morevaluable theyare perceived to be.

But Dr.Francis’ life provedthat impact does notrequire noise

He achievedextraordinary successwithout seeking attentionfor himself. Instead,heelevated others andwhatmattered to them. He had araregift for weaving history,common sense and genuine compassion intoconversations about the issuesdiscussed. At the center of everything he

did, Dr.Francisdid so withthe embodimentofone simple but profound belief: People matter He believed in people and movements when othersand evensocietydid not. In 1972, Dr Francisinvited my father, AldenMcDonald Jr., to joinhim in creating Liberty Bankand Trust Company,whichtoday stands as the largest African Americanownedbankinthe United States. Once again, Francissaw potential long before it waswidely recognized.

Thatabilitytosee potential and greatness in othersand institutions before it is realizedwas one of his greatest gifts. He understood that whenpeople aregiven opportunity,trust andspace to grow, the result is often fargreater than the presentmoment.

He saw people,listened to what they hadtosay,respected their perspective even if it wasdifferentfrom his.And, mostimportantly, after speaking withDr. Francis, youfeltheard.

In an era that rewards volume over substance andvisibility over values, Dr.Francis reminds us of adeeper truth:The most enduring leadership is rooted in humility, faithand an unwavering beliefinpeople Quietleadership doesn’t seek recognition. It creates legacy Andsometimes, theleaders who shapeusmost are theones who neverraise theirvoices but raise thepeople around them.

Todd McDonaldisthe president of Liberty Bank andTrust Company

Idecided in 1988 that Iwanted to become acollege president Oncethat occurred, Ibegan to read everything Icould about presidents, generally in trade publications like The Chronicle of Higher Education and Black Issues in Higher Education. Back then, before therewas easydigital access, Icut out articles andplaced them in afolder,a folder Istill have.

As Iprogressedthrough graduate school to thecompletion of aPh.D., I read anything Icould get my hands on aboutpresidents. Everywhere Iworked, Ialways found away to engage the president, be it Jim Laney at Emory,CarlPattonat Georgia State, Jim Koch at Old Dominion or Portia Holmes Shields at Albany State

But there was one person Iadmired from afar He began his higher education career working in student affairs, like me.Hewas amemberofAlpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,like me. He became acollege president at 37.

Being from Atlanta, Iwas terrified of hurricanes (still am to be honest), but he and Dean Joseph Byrd spent two hours with me,not just explaining hurricane season, but how he facilitated the development of their premedical program, and whatheproposed Dillard do as acomplement. When the federal government changed the qualifications for receiving the Parent PLUS loan, he was the one who called me to tell me to see if Iwas seeing what he sawatXavier. He was my hero, and that made me protective of him. Iampraying Ican still get into heaven after Ipublicly reprimanded Archbishop Gregory Aymond in an op-ed after he disrespected Francis right before his last commencement. I’m sure Iconfused people. The president of Dillard University,publicly supporting his crosstown rival. He did not need my defense, but Iwantedto remind everyone that there would be no disrespect to Francis, no matter who youwere And yes, while Iloved beating Xavieronthe basketball court, especially there, Ineverreally celebrated out of respect for him. But when he retired, it was adifferent story

Twoyears later, Norman and another Black student, Ben Johnson, became Loyola’sfirst AfricanAmerican law students

In considering Norman’sapplication, law school Regent the Rev.Louis J. Joseph Twomey wrote to the university president: “[Norman Francis] represents the type of law school applicant whom we rejoice to welcome into our studentbody Ordinarily,wewould not hesitate to accord him unqualified acceptance [However], we cannot act affirmatively on his application without prior clearance from higher authority.For it happens that Norman Francis is aNegro.” Francis shared two things with me aboutthat era: First, he wanted to make sure Iremembered thatother,equally or betterqualified Black applicantswere denied admission in prior years; and second, my father greeted him at Loyola by saying, “I know who you are and I’m here to be your friend.” Indeed, friends for life they were. In 1954, when the U.S. Supreme Court’slandmark Brown v. Board of Education decision ended legal segregation in public schools, Dad enthusiastically and naively (his words) said,“Norman, it’sfinally over.” Sadly,itwasn’t.

One evening, ageneration later,after Norman and Dadhad both “married up” (as they would say of Norman’swife, Blanche,

andmymother,Verna), served in the military,and had15childrenbetweenthem,Dad arrived at Carrollton playground to pick us up from theopening night of Little League baseball. Upon arriving, Dad learned that two boys —Norman and Blanche’s two eldest sons, Michael andTim —were sent home because they were Black My father, then the mayor-elect of New Orleans, raced to the Francis home to apologize to Norman and Blanche personally and on behalf of the city.He asked Norman to bring theboys back to the playgroundand promised they would play.Norman responded, “Thankyou, Moon. I knowyou can fix itfor my boys, but the question is bigger than that. Can anyBlack kid play? I didnot know theplayground was segregated, or Iwould not have sent them over there.”

That response was typical of Francis. More than opening doors forhimselfand his family,hewanted doors opened for all. It also underscored how tirelessly peopleofcolor had to work to shield their children from the remnants of Jim Crow years after legal segregation was outlawed.

Thelessonsimparted by Dad andNorman’slifelong friendship could fill volumes,but what comes to mindmost clearly is this: They wanted us to play ball together so we could learn afew things about life. Show up. On time. Dressed to play.Run hard. Playfair.Trust yourteammates. Back each other up. When everyone gets an equal opportunity to play, we can all be as good as our talents and hard work take us.

This is what Francis would wantusall to remember.His and Dad’s unfinished workremains forustocomplete. Because it’s still not over I’m blessed to have grown up in the shadow of their beautiful friendship. Dr.Francis, may yourestinpeace inGod’sloving embrace.

Madeleine Landrieu is dean of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

When Ibecame president of Philander Smith College in 2004, I, too, was 37. With Philander Smithbeing aUnited Negro College Fund institution,like Xavier University,Ifinally had achance to meet Dr.Norman C. Francis in March 2005 at our annual meeting in New York. For me, Iwas meetingacelebrity,aMichael Jackson-level superstar in myeyes. Butthose seven and ahalf years in Little Rock only provided semi-annual opportunities to see him work, particularly as chair of our governmental affairs committee. It wasn’t until 2012, when Imoved to New Orleans, that I got to see this legend regularly,and he did not disappoint.

Although Iwas an experienced president, Itook advantage of everychance to learn from Dr.Francis.

“Why do Idothis? Iwant no political influence, no prestige, no office. Why do Idothis? Ibelieve Idothis because Iambuilt this way.”

These words by Louis A. Martinet,one of the first Black lawyers in this statewho led the Citizens Committeethatchallenged the separate but equal doctrine, describe Dr.Norman C. Francisperfectly While Doc had many titles and roles in his life, threeofhis roles had thedeepestimpact on my life: the preeminent educator,avisionary and leader in thebusiness community anda servant leader in thenation. Through his faith, Doc was “built”tobe the longest serving historically Black colleges and universities president in this country,educating thousands of African American students. He was “built” to found the largest African American-owned bank to createBlack homeowners and Blackowned businesses; and he was “built” to be an amazing servant leader for our community and nation, chairing the Louisiana Recovery Authority that addressedthe recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana and New Orleans after the devastationofhurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005,while also rebuilding XavierUniversity. As ahigh school senior in 1980, Itook acourse at Xavier.Being on Xavier’s campus under the leadership of Doc was amazing —Xavier was alive, and youfelt it.Xavier recruited topBlack students from all around the country who, consistent with Xavier’smissionand the leadership of Doc,believedthey were theretocontribute as leaders to a better society. Doc had an unshakable commitment to the power of education and believed thateducationwas transformative to everystudent whoset foot on Xavier’scampus.While Iultimatelyattended another university out of state, Doc left an indelible impact on me, suchthat Ibecameapart-time instructor at Xavier as ayoung attorney.Inhigh school, Iwitnessed thetransformationalnature of a Xavier education, and Iwanted to play evena small role at Xavier under his leadership.

Iwas talking to my wife about his legacy, and she wondered who fills that void? Is there an HBCU president who is known outside of higher education, someone who was viewed not only as ahigher education leader,but aBlack leader,like Benjamin Mays or Johnnetta Cole? He cannot be replaced, but we need that kind of national voice forour sector,now more than ever As akid, other than my parents, my hero was Muhammad Ali. As aman, Ialso have ahero: Dr NormanC.Francis.

Walter Kimbrough is executive vice president, member services and engagement, at the United Negro College Fund. He previously served as president of Dillard University from 2012-2022.

In 2017, Ihad the honor of being asked to serve on the Liberty Bank board of directors underDoc’s leadership as chairman. This allowed me to witness his phenomenal business acumen and commitment to working to ensure that every individual, regardless of race or ethnicity,has the right to “financial dignity” as we refer to it at Liberty Bank. His commitment to fairness and equity hascreated substantial home ownership and businessesand expanded access to capital in the African American community His calling as aservant leader for our community and the nation was, and will always be, the most significant to me.The positions he had, the roles he served, the individuals he assisted and the contributions made to our community and the nationare numerous. But Doc’swork as chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority for ourcity and state after the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 mayhave been his most notable philanthropic achievement, positively impacting the lives of millions of Louisiana citizens. As amember of the LRA, Ihad the privilege of watching Doc navigate the politicsof recovery (national, statewide and local), while serving as the moral voice for why Louisiana and New Orleans had to be rebuilt. As then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco recognized in appointing Doc as the chair of the LRA, he was the only person who had the undisputed integrity,reputation and credibility to serve as chair Some of Doc’s words make clear who he was and what he contributed to our nation: “Wehavetobe able to make decisions about who needscertain things to be able to live alife, go to school, or anything else that is apart of living.” There will never be another Dr.Norman C. Francis, and Iamhonored that Ihad the privilege of knowing him, learning from him and being mentored by him.

Kim Boyleisapartner withthe Phelps

basedinNew Orleans

Thearchitect of opportunity

FrombreakingbarriersasthefirstBlackgraduateof theLoyolaUniversityNewOrleansCollegeofLawtoguiding XavierUniversityandhelpingleadLouisiana’srecovery afterHurricaneKatrina,Dr.NormanC.Francislivedthepromise ofhopeandopportunity.Hebelievedindignity,in educationasjusticeandinfulfillingeverystudent’spotential.

Carryingforwardhispassionofempoweringfuturegenerations througheducation,weareproudthatmanyOchsner programsareconnectedtohislegacy,includingtheXavier OchsnerCollegeofMedicineandothersatXavierUniversityof Louisiana.Hislifewasaninvitationnotonlytobelieveina betterworld,buttobuildit.Somethingwestriveforeveryday.

PresidentEmeritus XavierUniversityofLouisiana IN LOVINGMEMORY

Dr.NormanC.Francis | 1931–2026

Norman C. Francis,

in 1984.

SCENES FROM ALIFE

NormanFrancis was afriend and mentor to many. His calm demeanor and steadyguidance left an impression on all who knewhim.Their stories,gathered through countless encounters with him overthe years, paint apicture of aman whoalways strove to make thosearound him better,and in so doing, to make our society better

‘Itwas theright thingtodo’

Norman Francisprovided Freedom Riders asafehaven

My

Francisknew education wasthe keyto empowerment

first encounter with Norman Francis waswhen Iwas in seventh gradeat All Saints Elementary School. As is the custom in most Catholic schools, they have fundraisers for the students, and Iwas out tryingtoraise money on my own.My brother Rudy,who wasthen afreshman or so, said, “Why don’tyou gotoXavier and ask them to buyanad?”And theyreferred me to thisguy namedNormanFrancis,who was adean. And he was anice guy.Wesat forabout an hour and ahalf, and he gave me whatI thought was, at the time,avery large ad to putinthe school paper.Itwas $25. So my first memory of Dr.Francis was longbefore any relationship he developed withmeor withRudy.

Butthe mostsignificantthing is thatRudy and Iwould meet with Doc often,and Rudy would recordsome of the conversations and go over what happened duringthe time when the Freedom Riders were broughtto Xavier It took alot for Dr.Francis to make that move. If you put it in the proper contextof his time, it was avery riskymove forhim to make in terms of not only endangering Xavier and the students because of thehatred at the time, but alsothe risk of losing his job. It was not aunanimous kind of decision. At the time, people were afraid for their lives, people werebeingkilled.This was for real, and to makethatone decision, to let those people stay in St. Michael’sHall. When Italked to him aboutitlater,he said, “You know,itwas theright thing to do.” He knew it was goingto be controversial, but his Christian belief was thatthese people were injured and needed aplace to go. Francis is the one who got Rudy out of jail after hewas arrested for leading the lunch counter sit-in at McCrory’sonCanal Street to protest segregation (his case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he won). He used to lovetotell this story; He was at Xavier,and there were two recruiters on campus on Xavier campus, one from Harvard and one from Syracuse (where Rudy Lombard would go on to earn aPh.D.) who wanted to talk to Rudy.Rudy had decided that he wasn’tcoming out of jail. He

Members of the Congress of Racial Equality picket outsideMcCrory’sDepartment store to protest the five-and-dime store’spolicy of segregating lunch counter customers. This demonstration followedthe historic demonstration on Sept. 17, 1960, when four young Civil Rights Movementactivists were arrested for apeaceful sit-in at the lunch counter.Theywere Oretha Castle,RudyLombard, Sidney‘Lanny’ Goldfinch and Cecil W. Carter Jr

was going to makeastatement while in parish prison. AndDoc tells the story that he went back there and the prison guard asked him:Did he represent Rudy? Doc remembered he was alawyer,and he said, “Yeah, that’smy client.” It was Doc who talked Rudy into coming out after he was arrested to meet those folks.

Edwin A. Lombardisaretired judge who served on Louisiana’s4th Circuit Court of Appeal.

Francisguideda youngXavierite’s steps

“Regina, you know you canalways come home.”

Dr.Norman C. Francis was my universitypresident, my guidance counselor,mymentor,myconfidant and my friend.

During my days as ayoung Xavierite, my fellow students and Iwould oftensee Francis walking across the quadrangle, andhe would stop to chat. Ilater realized he had gotten to know each of us by name, where we were from, our family histories, our hopes and struggles. He then followed ourcareers. Years later,ifIweregoingtovisit anew cityortown, he would givemethe name of an alum to look up, and everything Ineeded to know about them.

While J.W.Carmichael prepared us well for medical school, it was Francis who personally introduced me to afuture mentor,

Dr.Louis Sullivan, at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Ibecame amember of the school’ssecond entering class. Throughout my leadership rise in theAmerican Medical Association andinmedical regulation, Francis would get me on thephone with former U.S. Labor Secretary Alexis Herman to discuss political strategy They were supportive as Iestablished my clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. They were confidants when President Barack Obama asked me to serve as the 18th U.S Surgeon General. Behind the scenes, they held my hand and guided me through aunanimous U.S. Senateconfirmation

As Iconsidered the difficult decision to leave government to keep my BayouClinic going, Icalled Francis, once again, for guidance. His responsetomewas simply,“Regina, youknow you can always comehome.

On alater call, he offered me aposition at Xavier and allowed me to volunteer at my clinic. Iwas the NOLA.com |TimesPicayune Endowed Chair in Public Health Sciences.

Oneofmyroles included the privilege of representing him at outsidemeetings and events, especially those that required overnight travel. He lovingly took care of his beautiful but ailing wife. He alwaystried to makeapoint of being home with her each night.Once someone commented to him that “she may not even knowwho you are” and he responded, “but Iknow whoshe is.” Dr.Francis, we know who you are, and we are blessed to have had you in our lives.

Regina M. Benjamin, M.D.,founder and CEO of BayouClinic, holds the Endowed Chair of PublicHealthSciences at Xavier University.She wasthe 18th U.S.Surgeon General from 2009-2013.

I’manactor,but moreimportantly,I grew up here in New Orleans, and one of the icons that I’ve always knownisDr. Norman C. Francis. He was aleader in the community whodidn’tjust talk the talk, but he walked the walk. He was aman whomade me understand the importance of the mantra to exercise your right of self-determination. And he also taught me that education is your first wealth: Nothing monetary,nothing that is property,but the wealth that you get from getting agreat education is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you. He led Xavier University fornearly 50 years, after he decided to makethat pivot from being alawyer in the Civil Rights Movement to aleader in an education movement, knowing that there’sthe one thing that can actually change lives. Education can actually change people’sminds, and the power of education and knowledge can change their spirit. And that wasthe weapon that he used to fight injustice, to give people opportunity,tomake sure that those whodid not have avoice received avoice, and those whodid not have away madeaway out of no way. He gave them the tools that they needed to have asuccessful life. And whenever confronted with the violence, the ignorance of racism and oppression, Francis gave us the weapons to fight back because he knew there are those whowill never have our best interest at heart. So we would have to do it ourselves. The waytodothat is to makesure that you are empowered.

There’saline in the play “Waiting forGodot” where Vladimir says: “All humanity is us. Let us do something while we have achance before it’stoo late.”

And that’sthe lesson that Francis taught us: Do something now,before it’stoo late.

He’sleft us agreat legacy,and his death is areminder of what we have to do. What is our contribution to the paradigm going to be? He’s given us ablueprint and given us the great command and call to service. So thank you, Dr.Francis. Rest in peace.

WendellPierce is an actor and businessownerinNew Orleans This piece was originally aired on WBOK and is printed with permission.

Forceof Norman Francis’ characterkeptLRA on track

At one of our Louisiana Recovery Authority meetings, agroup of protesters started chanting about one of the issues we were addressing. Norman Francis, who was the chairman, turned to me and said he had to go to the bathroom. He told me, as vicechair,that I had to take over the meeting.

“Don’tgo,” Ibegged, as the protests were getting heated.

“When you’re my age andyou have to go,” he said, “you have to go.” Donna Brazile,amember of the LRA, started challengingthe protesters. Things went downhill. Iasked astaffer to go to there-

stroom and find Dr.Francis and tell himtohurry When he got back, the room miraculously settled down. Thetension disappeared andthe chanting stopped. He smiled Dr.Francis had that effect throughout his life. He could calm the waters while also pushing for progress. He was not only nice, but he madeeveryone aroundhim nicer Historically,that helped New Orleans duringthe Civil Rights years. When he housed theFreedom Riders at Xavier,or when hegathered theBlack and White civic leadersofthe city in the upstairsroom at Dooky Chase’s, he was always able to inspire people to be better

In 1988, Dr.Francis invited my wife, Cathy,and me to be with him at the Vatican,where he was celebrating alongside Pope John Paul II the beatification of Mother Katharine Drexel. It occurred to me as Iwatched him next to thepope that, at least among those who were blessed to know him,Francis deserved to be in that venerable number someday We were fortunate to have among us such aforce for good, and we can pray that his memory will inspire all of us to try, every day,tohave our course guided by his moral compass

Walter Isaacson, ajournalist and bestselling author,was vice chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority

DR.NORMAN C. FRANCIS

Aquiet giantand moralforce setanexample

Ihave been thinking for daysabout how to put into words what Dr.Norman C. Francismeant to me, not only as aleader of extraordinary vision, but as an exemplar whose quiet confidence and steady counsel guided my own journeyin ways Iamstill discovering. Francis was already aliving legacy when Icame to knowhim, first as ayoung faculty member at aneighboring institution.Toso many,hewas the longest-serving universitypresident in the nation in modern times, amoral force in American higher education,and the steward who guided Xavier University of Louisiana throughnearlyfive decades of profound change. To me,hewas also somethingmoreintimate and enduring—agenerous teacher whoexemplified

responsibility of leadership and the dignity of service to others. When Iwas selected to succeed him as president of his beloved Xavier,Iwas keenly aware of themagnitude of that moment. Onedoes not simply “follow” Norman C. Francis. One inherits asacred trust.Dr. Francis understood this better than anyone whenhetook on the weight of leadership. Yet, Francis did not allow hisformidable legacy to preclude hisprudent counsel and support for my work as his successor.He encouraged without presuming, advised without directing and affirmed withoutever centering himself. His encouragement was steady and sincere in momentswhen thechallenges were great. Moreover,Iprized and will miss his

deep faithand spiritual counsel.When we met, it was rare for him not to speak of his prayers for me as president andfor my family.Wespoke of prayer forour children and his grandchildren. This man of faith would remind me of our mission and call from St. Katharine Drexel. What struck me mostabout Francis was how consistently he lived his values. He lived his commitment to theflourishing of thehuman community.Hebelieved, unwaveringly,infull freedomfor the oppressed, especially thedescendants of the enslaved, and he understood education as a liberating instrument.His leadership was anchored in faith and love for the manyhe served, and he never separated excellence from responsibility

Even after stepping away from the presidency,Francis remained deeplypresent

in the lifeofthe university.Hewanted Xavier not only to endure, but to thrive and to remain faithful to its mission while meeting the demands of achanging world. This is agiftI will always treasure. As we mourn his passing, we are grateful. Grateful forhis guidance, forhis trust and forthe example he set. It wasone of humility,courage, and unwavering love forXavier University.His legacy lives on in our alumni, the leaders he formed and in so manyacross the nation whowere blessed by his greatness. Iamhonored to be among these.

Reynold Verretispresident of Xavier University of Louisiana. He succeeded Dr.Norman C. Francis in that role in 2015 after Francis served as president for 47 years.

Honoring Dr.NormanC.Francis: ALegacy That LivesOn

Onbehalfofthedirectors,officers,staff,andcustomersofLiberty BankandTrustCompany,wehonortheremarkablelifeandenduring legacyofDr.NormanC.Francis,ourfounderandChairmanEmeritus. Dr.Franciswasabold,courageousvisionarywhosesteadfast commitmenttoequitablequalityoflifeandservantleadershipshaped LibertyBankfromitsfoundingin1972.Heinstinctivelyunderstood thatgenerationalchangebeginswithaccess–toeducation,to opportunity,andtoqualityfinancialservices.Hisconvictionwas unwavering:financialdignityisacivilright

Poweredbythatbelief,LibertyBankgrewfromaboldideawithjust $2millioninassetsintoaninstitutionwithover$1billioninassetsand a53-yearlegacyofimpact.ItisbecauseofDr.Francis’sdetermination, resilience,andhumbleservantleadershipthatwestandtodayasthe largestBlack-ownedbankintheUnitedStates,continuingtoprovide fairfinancialaccesstotheunderserved.

Heknewthatthrivingsmallbusinesses,homeownership,financialsecurity,andhealthycommunitiesareonlypossiblewhen individualsareempoweredwiththerightfinancialtools–andhededicatedhislifetoensuringthataccesswasavailabletoall, regardlessofrace,origin,orreligion.

Withprofoundrespect,weacknowledgeDr.Francis’spassingandexpressourdeepestgratitudeforhisgenerationalimpact.His principles,compassion,andleadershipnotonlyshapedourcompanybutstrengthenedourresolvetocombatthewealthgapand expandopportunityforallAmericans.Hisexamplesetastandardthatcontinuestoguideourhearts,ouractions,andourmission.

Aswemoveforward,LibertyBankremainsdevotedtofulfillingourvisionoffinancialinclusivityandopportunityforeveryone Wewillcontinueourworkwithhumility,determination,andaccountability–provingeverydaythatitmatterswhereyoubank.

Thankyou,Dr.Francis,foryourextraordinaryleadershipandtimelessinfluence.Yourlifewasalesson;yourworka witness;andyourimpactwillendure.

–Liberty Bank BoardofDirectors

Louisiana oyster farmer, part-time nurse keeps family business alive

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Brandi Shelley, a registered intensive care unit nurse at Ochsner West Bank hospital, has a passion for the bayou.

She can’t stay away from the water

Shelley grew up in a commercial farming family in Belle Chasse. Her father, Terry Shelley, has been a commercial fisherman since he was 19 years old. Terry Shelley, now 75, is leaving the bayou business to his daughter as he looks to retirement.

Shelley was studying at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary until Hurricane Katrina hit the city. She then relocated to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she completed her education in nursing at William Carey University After finishing school, Shelley decided to settle in a hospital as close to home as possible.

Shelley owns Shelley Farms, an oyster farm in Bayou Hertesa in Port Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish. She also part-owner of Terry Shelley’s Shucking House with her brother and father The oyster farm and distribution company services Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky

During the week, Shelley works two 12-hour shifts as an ICU nurse at Ochsner West Bank. The rest of the week she is either at the shucking house or on the bayou, working between 60 and 80 hours a week

Shelley Farms brings in 5,000 single oysters each week The wild division of the family oyster business, which harvests the oysters they shuck, brings in 500 to 600 sacks a week The shucking house is open to the public for walk-in sales Monday through Friday from 8

Brandi Shelley brings oysters to the hospital staff at Ochsner West Bank all the time. Shelley also hosted a shucking class for lunch and showed her colleagues and friends at the hospital how to shuck oysters.

a.m. to 3 p.m. In 2016, Shelley donated a kidney to a friend. Ten years later, both are doing well.

Tell me about your career as a registered nurse. What do you like most about the job?

I’ve only ever done ICU as a registered nurse. I did case management for a few years when my little girl was

younger I’ve always liked the puzzle of a patient who’s sick trying to figure out the complexity and what goes into fixing them. If the patient is taking a turn for the worst, knowing beforehand what’s going to happen and seeing symptoms

LSU students tour hospital in BR

Our Lady of the Lake visit included android patients, ER rounds

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Over 50 LSU College of Science students practiced intubating lifelike mannequins and diagnosing a talking android patient during a February “house tour” at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

The regional medical center tour, which started nearly four years ago, includes a trip to the Lake’s educational building, where students try their hands at intubating human mannequins, using minimally invasive surgical tools in a game-style simulation and speaking with a human android patient that complains of symptoms in real time.

“It’s a great opportunity to expose these kids early to the hundreds of options in the medical field,” said Lauryn Modenbach, the director of academic affairs at the Lake.

Because the path to advanced medical degrees can take up to eight years beyond college early exposure helps students make informed decisions, Modenbach said.

The day begins with a meet-andgreet with physicians before students break into small groups for rotations through the lab, emergency room and education center

“I thought I wanted to do cardiology,” said LSU junior Jessica Rodney after intubating a practice dummy “But now I’m thinking about lab work and emergency medicine, too.”

BEYOND THE SCALE

Join us on a health journey through 2026 with ‘BEYOND THE SCALE: Addressing Louisiana’s obesity epidemic’ Do you want to start a health journey? We want to hear from you — not about weight, but about health, stress, food and life. As we move through 2026, we are inviting readers to come along a health journey with us.

Our next project will explore youth obesity We pose one question to our readers: What are some healthy school lunches your kids actually liked? Send us photos. Email your answers, comments or questions to Margaret DeLaney at margaret. delaney@theadvocate.com.

HPV-related throat cancers rising in men, doctors say

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Michael Hamilton devel-

oped a lingering cough in June 2023 that would no go away Hamilton, 72, knew something was wrong. He visited his ear, nose and throat doctor, Dr Ben Walton, who said his vocal chords looked strained. Walton’s advice, according to Hamilton, was to limit talking and revisit in a months time.

“It did not go away,” Hamilton said. His next appointment included a CT scan that led to a scope and a biopsy at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

He was diagnosed with throat cancer in January 2024. Hamilton never smoked. He never drank beer wine or mixed drinks. He never drank coffee.

He was “baffled” by his diagnosis, he said. However, in many cases, like Hamilton’s, these cancers can occur in nonsmokers

Throat cancers, including larynx and oropharyngeal, account for roughly 3% of malignant cancer in U.S with more than 60,000 new cases annually Incidence rates are also rising, accord-

ing to the American Cancer Society, driven by human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer, particularly in men over the age of 55.

cinations and regular checkups for HPV as it pertains to cervical cancers. This regular, watchful eye has not yet translated to the male space, according to Vernado.

“We’re not sure yet why incidence rates are going up,” said Dr William Vernado, a medical oncologist and Hamilton’s doctor at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge Head and neck cancers, a broader grouping of cancer types, includes diseases starting from the lips through the larynx and windpipe. HPV-related head and neck cancers occur in the oropharynx, the back of the tongue in the tonsils.

While the vast majority of head and neck cancers are attributed to smoking, the majority or oropharynx cancers are driven by HPV the virus can remain dormant for years and ultimately cause enough inflammation to form cancers

Rates of HPV-related throat cancers are higher in men, primarily because women typically receive vac-

“We expect, hopefully, for the incidence to go down over the next 10 to 15 years,” Vernado said. “Because children who grew up with the HPV vaccination growing up will reach the age where these cancers are common.”

However, national skepticism over vaccines could halt any potential progress to be seen over the years.

Cervical cancer rates fall

The rate of new cervical cancer cases in the U.S. has fallen significantly over the last three decades from 11.1 per 100,000 people in 1992 to 6.9 per 100,00 in 2022.

The American Society of Cancer attributes the decreased incidence rates to increased cervical HPV screenings that have been normalized across the country and regular HPV vaccinations in children.

HPV vaccination coverage stalled in 2023 for the second consecutive year according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV vaccine cover-

as early as age 9. “The idea is to initiate vaccination before any sexual intercourse or potential exposure to HPV,” said Dr David Barrington, a gynecologic oncologist at Ochsner Health in New Orleans. “We’re getting more and more data that even one dose of the HPV vaccine (without a booster later in life) is effective at preventing any infection.”

Beyond vaccination regular screening has greatly benefited female HPV-related cancers to slow the incidence of the disease.

Men, however should be aware of the HPV-related cancer symptoms in the body including lumps in the throat, genital warts or skin tags.

age already lags most other routine vaccines.

In 2023, about 77% of adolescents, ages 13 to 17, received at least one dose of HPV vaccine and about 61% of teens were up to date on HPV vaccination, including 64% of females and 59% of males.

Nearly all cervical cancers, developed in the lower part of the uterus, are caused by persistent HPV infection and are preventable. Each year in the U.S. 13,000 new

cervical cancer cases are diagnosed with Louisiana among the highest cervical cancer death rates in the country

Cervical cancer rates have declined by 11% each year for women ages 20 to 24, “reflecting the first signs of cancer prevention from HPV vaccination,” according to the American Cancer Society

Both men and women are recommended to receive their first HPV vaccination

“I do not have enough kind words to describe the care I received and the compassion shown by the doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center,” Hamilton said. After 33 radiation treatments, six chemotherapy visits, a blood transfusion, a feeding tube in his stomach, a nine-day stay in the hospital, losing 70 pounds and many treatments for dehydration, Hamilton is cancer free.

FDA to drop two-study requirement for new drug approvals

BY MATTHEW PERRONE AP health writer

WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration plans to drop its longtime standard of requiring two rigorous studies to win approval for new drugs, the latest change from Trump administration officials vowing to speed up the availability of certain medical products.

Going forward, the FDA’s “default position” will be to require one study for new drugs and other novel health products, FDA Commissioner Dr Marty Makary and a top deputy, Dr Vinay Prasad, wrote in a New England

NURSE

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that alert you to say, “Oh, this patient is going in the wrong direction. I need to do this or do that, or let the doctor know about the different things.”

I guess I like stressful situations.

What was it like to grow up in a commercial fishing family?

I liked it. I love the bayou. I love anything that has to do with water the beach the bayou. It’s just like a drug to me. It’s so relaxing and soothing to me to be out there. My dad has been a commercial fisherman as long as I can remember He went straight to the bayou from high school. He was a commercial shrimper He had a 72-foot double river boat. When we were little and out of school during the summers, we would spend a week or so out on the boat with him. My dad has caught every thing shrimp, crab, all of it — finally ending up in oysters. In 2009, he opened a shucking house called Terry Shelley Shucking House. In 2017, he decided to open an oyster farm, Shelley Farms. We have a brand called Terry’s Oysters. We shuck oysters into gallons, and we ship them out. At the beginning, I was working as a nurse, but then also helping with the business just a smidge. We opened it for six months, then the BP oil spill happened. We closed for six months, and we were able to reopen again. Instead of being commercial fishermen, we had to reinvent ourselves more like farmers. We replenish the water with the leftover oyster shells to be able to have a crop the next year or the next few years — that’s the hope. My father started investing more into oysters and putting rocks out so his

Journal of Medicine piece published Feb. 18.

The announcement is the latest example of Makary and his team changing longstanding FDA standards and procedures with the stated goal of slashing bureaucracy and accelerating the availability of new medicines.

Since arriving at the agency last April, Makary has launched a series of directives that he says will shorten FDA reviews, including mandating the use of artificial intelligence by staffers and offering one-month drug assessments for new medications that serve “national interests.”

It contrasts with the FDA’s more restrictive approach to other products, including vaccines.

In their piece, Makary and Prasad state that dropping the two-trial requirement reflects modern advances that have made drug research “increasingly precise and scientific.”

“In this setting, overreliance on two trials no longer makes sense,” they write. “In 2026, there are powerful alternative ways to feel assured that our products help people live longer or better than requiring manufacturers to test them yet again.”

The FDA officials predict-

out on the bayou in Port Sulfur where they catch oysters for their shucking house, Shelley Farms.

business would grow I told him then that I wanted to work on the farm

That’s when I stepped back from nursing for a little while to help him run the farm full time. After two years of high rivers and two hurricanes (Zeta and Ida), I had to flip the script. I went back to nursing full time and farming part time. Meanwhile, my dad is getting older In February of last year, he said, “I think I’m done. I’m too old for this.” He wanted to shut down Shelley Farms. That made me so sad So I decided to take over for him and the family I ordered seed I got the oysters in the water in July I worked all summer getting everything back and running after the offseason. I couldn’t use the same cages he used, because they were way too heavy for me, so I used a smaller cage that I can actually get in the water Since July, I’ve been working nonstop six (sometimes seven) days a week

between the oyster farm and the shucking house and nursing. It gets overwhelming, but I want my dad to feel like he can slowly back out and know that somebody is going to be there to continue to carry on his legacy

How does it feel to keep the legacy going?

Just like my dad always said, “The bayou is a disease. Once you get addicted, you just want to be there always.”

There’s so much freedom in the water The sun’s shining. Sometimes it’s just not work. But then sometimes it’s so stressful.

Coming to the hospital is easier because the days are so controlled and regulated. It’s not like on the bayou where one machine breaks and a new batch is coming in while we’re trying to get things to run smoothly

I bring oysters to the hospital staff here all the time. We did a shucking class one day for lunch, and I showed all my colleagues and friends how to shuck

ed the shift would lead to “a surge in drug development.”

Dr Janet Woodcock, the FDA’s former drug director, said the change makes sense and reflects the FDA’s decadeslong move toward relying on one trial, combined with supporting evidence, for various life-threatening diseases, including cancer

“The scientific point is well taken that as we move toward greater understanding of biology and disease we don’t need to do two trials all the time,” said Woodcock, who led the FDA’s drug center for about 20 years before retiring in 2024.

The two-study standard for

drugs dates to the early 1960s, when Congress passed a law requiring the FDA to review data from “adequate and wellcontrolled investigations,” before clearing new medications. For decades, the agency interpreted that requirement as meaning at least two studies, preferably with a large number of patients and significant follow-up time.

The reason for requiring the second study was to confirm that the first trial’s results weren’t a fluke and could be reproduced.

But beginning in the 1990s, the FDA increasingly began accepting single studies for the approval of treatments

oysters. Then, we air-fried them. Tell me about donating your kidney to a friend. How did that come about?

I went into labor one Sunday morning at 26 weeks with my little girl. She ended up being born that day at one pound, nine ounces. She was in the hospital at the Ochsner West Bank. She did so well. She came home a month early

When my daughter came home with me, one of my friends who I grew up with came to visit. My friend, Jasmine Meladine, has had lupus since she was a young girl. Growing up, I would spend the night with her at Ochsner’s main campus hospital for her treatments. When she came to visit me after my daughter was born, I kept thinking I needed to find a way to pay it forward. Because God gave me my daughter Even though she was a preemie,

she was still perfect. I couldn’t just go buy somebody a cup of coffee and that be equivalent. Jasmine came to visit, and I told her, to pay my miracle little girl forward, “I’m going to give you a kidney.” Jasmine had been on dialysis for eight years. She rejected her mother’s kidney Her dad and her brothers weren’t a match. I figured I could try to give her mine. She told me to think about it — at least for a month.

So I waited a week and called her transplant coordinator to start the process and get tested to see if I was a match. To make a long story short, we were a match. The transplant team gave us the green light and we had our transplant surgeries on March 21, 2016.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com.

for rare or fatal diseases that companies often struggle to test in large numbers of patients.

Over the last five years, roughly 60% of first-of-akind drugs approved each year have been cleared based on a single study The shift reflects laws passed by Congress that directed regulators to be more flexible when reviewing drugs for serious or hard-to-treat conditions.

Woodcock said the new policy announced Wednesday will mainly impact drugs for common diseases that previously weren’t eligible for reduced testing standards.

STUDENTS

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Throughout the eighthour day, students explore:

n The lab, where they learn about blood samples, cultures and testing bacteria; n The emergency room, where they learn about triage and emergency medicine; n and the education building, where they get to practice on state-of-theart “dummies.”

The tours happen quarterly, according to Modenbach and programs all over the state participate — including Southern University and high schools.

Hospital leaders say the impact is already visible.

“I really see a difference this program has made. It’s pretty unique,” said Dr Mark Laperouse, the chief of emergency medicine at the Lake. “I’ve had emergency medicine interns come up to me on their first day at the hospital and tell me that this tour is what inspired them to become doctors.”

Eat Fit LiveFit

Tracking without tension: howtouse wellnessdatawisely

archinSouthLouisianacan

Mofferusabitofareprieve. Carnivalseasonisbehind us,andfestivalseasonhasn’tfully arrived.Socialcalendarstendto feelalittlelighterwithabitmore downtime.Formany,thisbecomes anaturalwindowtorefreshroutines andfocusonhowwewanttofeel daytoday.

Foralotofus,thatresetstarts withdata.

TheUpsideofTracking Youmightbepayingcloser attentiontoyourAppleWatchor checkingyoursleepscorewithan Ouraring.Maybeyou’rewatching yourrecoveryonWhooporlooking atstepcountsonaFitbit.Perhaps you’veheardaboutglucose monitoring,andyou’recurious aboutwhatacontinuousglucose monitor(CGM)mightrevealabout yourownpatterns.

IgettheappealbecauseIshare it,too.Ilovedata,Ilovethesefitness wearablesandIlovetalkingandwriting aboutwellnesstrackers.Infact,CGMs aremycurrentpersonalfavoritewhen itcomestotoolsthatoffermeaningful insighthelpingusidentifytrendsand seewhetherwhatwe’redoingisactually havinganimpact.

That’stheupside.

TheRisksofOver-Tracking Thepartwedon’talwaysrealizeis howquicklythesetoolscanshiftfrom helpfulintostressful.Thesamedevices thatcanbuildawarenesscanalsofeed perfectionism.Iseeitwithpatientsand clients,andI’veexperienceditmyself. Whenthenumbersstarttofeellikea grade,itchangesthedynamic.It’seasy tofeelfrustratedifaworkoutdoesn’t “count”becausethetrackerdidn’t

sync.Wefeelguiltywhenwemissastep goal.Wecheckoursleepscorebeforewe evencheckinwithhowwefeel.Thedata becomesthedriverofourbehaviorsand moodinsteadofatoolquietlysupporting usinthebackground.

UsingDataWisely So,ifyou’reconsideringusingafitness trackertosupportyourspringgoals, here’stheapproachIencourage:usedata

BY THENUMBERS

intentionallyandputguardrailsaroundit. Startwithclarityofpurpose.What areyouactuallytryingtoimprove? Sleepconsistency?Energy?Bloodsugar awareness?Trainingperformance? Mealplanning? Pickoneprimaryfocus.Whenwetry totrackeverythingallatonce—steps, calories,macros,sleep,hydration,heart ratevariability,fastingwindows—it quicklybecomesoverwhelming.Weend

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam

LOUISIANA RANKSLAST IN THEU.S.FOR WOMEN’S ANDCHILDREN’SHEALTH

Louisianahas the worst health outcomes and environment for women andchildren in the country, according to areportfrom the United Health Foundation.

The foundation released the America’s Health Rankings 2025 Health of Women andChildren Reportearly this year, which takes acomprehensiveviewof 125measures of health and well-being from 34 data sources to compare health nationwide and within individual states. Some measures for children’shealth include: childhood obesity,early childhood education, neighborhood amenities, household smokeexposure. Somemeasures for women’shealth include: smoking duringpregnancy,wellwoman visits,women with adedicated health care provider,excessivedrinking and chronic conditions.

Nationally,this year’sreport finds encouraging gains in children’shealth and well-being across arangeof measures,aswell as in some maternal health behaviors. However, these advances were offset by worsening mortality rates among children of all ages and continued increases in maternal mortality

The healthiest state for womenand childrenwas Massachusetts, followed by Vermont, Minnesota, NewHampshire andUtah.

Louisianawas the least healthy, followedbyArkansas,Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

Some highlights from the national data include:

n The percentage of children who were overweight or obese improved7%from 2021-22 to 2023-24.

n Early childhood education enrollment rose 4% from2022 to 2023.

n Children’sphysical environments improved: between 2021-22 and 2023-24, household smoke exposure decreased 19% and the rate of neighborhood amenities improvedby 6%.

n Smoking during pregnancy decreased 19% between 2022 and 2023.

n Well-woman visits improved3% from 2020-21 to 2022-23, but the percentageofwomen with adedicated health care provider decreased2% between 2021 and 2022-23.

n Child mortality increased 14% between 2018-20 and 2021-23, while infant mortality increased 4% between 2020-21 and 2022-23 —the first rise in this measure since theHealth of Women and Children Report began reporting

n Maternal mortality rose 36% between 2014-19 and 2019-23, even though overall mortality among women decreased 8% from 2022 to 2023. Racial differences persisted forboth measures.

n Women living in rural areashad healthier rates of excessive drinking than their metropolitan counterparts in 2022-23, but alsoexperiencedseveral chronic conditions at higher rates.

Thestates with the highestoverall scores for health for women in children, in descendingorder,include:

n Massachusetts with an overall health score of 0.766; n Vermont with an overall health score of 0.628; n Minnesota with an overall health score of 0.607; n NewHampshire with an overall health score of 0.587; n Utah with an overall health score

upmanagingadashboardofdata insteadoffocusingonthebehaviors thatmovetheneedle. Italsohelpstorememberthat mostmetricsareestimates,not verdicts.Stepcountsvarybydevice andplacement.Calorietrackingis notoriouslyimprecise.Sleepstaging fromwearablesisabestguess,not aclinicalsleepstudy.EvenCGMs,as valuableastheyare,havelagtime andvariability.Theyaretoolsfor learning,notforjudgment.

Ifyou’rewearingaCGM,think ofyourselfasacuriousobserver. Focusontrendsratherthansingle datapoints.Lookforpatterns insteadofstrivingforperfection. Noticewhathappenswhenyoupair carbohydrateswithproteinorfiber comparedtowhenyoueatcarbson theirown.Payattentiontowhata shortwalkafterdinnerdoes.Observe howpoorsleeporalcoholintake impactsyournumbersthenextday. It’salsoimportanttokeep listeningtoyourownbody.Buildin momentswhereyou’renottracking.Take awalkwithoutcheckingyourpaceand exercisewithoutwatchingyourheart rate.Thosebreaksprotectyourinternal cues—hunger,fullness,energy,mood recovery,satisfaction—whicharejustas important,andhonestlymoreimportant, thananymetric.

Ifdatahelpsyoumoveyourhealthin apositivedirection,I’mallforit.Butif trackingmakesyoumoreanxious,more rigidormoreself-critical,it’salsookayto stepaway.

Thegoalisn’tperfectnumbers.Thegoal isbetterenergy,steadiermood,stronger bodiesandhabitswecansustain.The healthieststrategiesaren’ttheonesthat lookimpressiveonadashboard.They’rethe onesthatfitintoreallifeandstillworklong afterthatinitialburstofmotivationfades.

Health forAmericanwomen

An overallscore forhealthwas givenbycombining 2025 data on health outcomes,health behaviors, clinical care,physicalenvironment andsocialand economic factorsineachstate

of 0.55;

n NewJersey with an overall health score of 0.522;

n Connecticut with an overall health score of 0.492;

n Colorado with an overallhealth score of 0.482;

n Maryland with an overall health score of 0.462;

n Washington with an overall health scoreof 0.445;

n Rhode Island with an overall health score of 0.443;

n Hawaii with an overall health score of 0.381;

n Nebraska with an overall health score of 0.35

Thestates with the lowest overall scoresfor health for women in children, in ascending order,include:

n Louisiana with an overall health score of -0.868;

n Arkansas with an overallhealth score of -0.84;

n Mississippi with an overall health score of -0.806;

n Oklahoma with an overall health score of -0.712; n West Virginia with an overall health score of -0.62; n Alabama with an overall health score of -0.504; n Tennessee with an overall health score of -0.503; n Nevada with an overall health score of -0.477; n NewMexico with an overall health score of -0.455; n Missouri with an overall

of

; n Kentucky with an overall health

of -0.34; n South

of

with an

; n Ohio with an overall health score of -0.263; n Georgia with an overall health score of -0.26

Expert Cancer Care

Close to Home

MatthewGiglia,MD ColonandRectalSurgery BatonRouge

OchsnerHealthandMDAndersonCancerCenterareclinically integratedtoprovideadvancedcancercare,righthereinBatonRouge. Thismeansaccesstolife-savingclinicaltrialsforinnovativetherapies, morespecialistsandmoreresourcesforourpatients.Throughthis collaboration,OchsneristhefirstandonlyproviderinLouisianawith afullyintegratedcancerprogrambasedonMDAnderson’sstandards andtreatmentplans.Learnmoreatochsner.org/EndCancer

Growinggarden

Clover expands, now reaching over 8,000 individuals annually with family-orientedservices

BY JONAH MEADOWS

Staff writer

On arecent afternoon at Clover’s8-acre New Orleans’ Lower Garden Districtcampus, toddlersnapped in classrooms while preschoolers built withmagnetic tilesand seniors played bingo.

In the decade since opening Louisiana’s first purpose-built intergenerationalcampus, the nonprofit —knownasKingsley House until a2022 rebrand —has expanded dramatically

The number of children served has increased sixfold. Itsbudget, staff andadult day care participation have doubled. Today,Clover reachesmore than 8,000people annually

The organizationhas adopteda multigenerational, family-oriented approach to meetingthe needsofthe young and old alike, accordingtoco-CEO Keith Liederman. Sometimes, that happens simultaneously,like when the preschoolers and their elders —some with cognitive challenges —doart projects, songs, storytelling, parties andMardi Gras balls.

“It’sawin-win foreverybody,the kids —infants, toddlers —lovebeingaround older folks, andkids get exposure to people with all kinds of special needs and differential abilities,” Liederman said.

“When they transition out of heretokindergarten, our kids are the kids thatare themostwelcominginthe classroom for kids that are different in any way, shape or form.”

Keith

Historyof firsts

Nowinits thirdlocation,the organization known today as Clover has atrailblazing historydating back to its founding in 1896 as thefirst settlementhouse in theSouth.

Under itslongest-serving leader,Eleanor McMain, Kingsley House becamesecular and launchedthe city’s first free health clinic, kindergartenand classes for the blind.

As thedemographics of the surrounding neighborhood evolved —with fewer foreign-born Whites anda growing Black population —sodid the organization.

Despite state laws forbidding it,Kingsley Housebegan racially integrating its programs in the1940s. It operated the city’sfirst integrated swimming pool in the 1950s,becameone of the state’sfirst two

Head Start providers in the 1960s and one of the state’sfirst adult day care programs in the 1970s.

AfterKatrina,itwas the first New Orleans child care facility to reopen, resuming classes for about 100 children in its historic gym in December 2005 and coordinatingwithother six nonprofits doing recovery work while completing about $5 million in repairs and storm-mitigation work.

Multi-generational services

Clover’sservices begin with Early Head Start andHead Start for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children, offering free education for low-income families alongside developmental screeningand other forms of advocacy

Chinell Williams, amother of two Clover Academy students, crediteda parent advocate with help diagnosing and treating her youngest daughter’sautism.

“IfIdidn’thave my advocate pushing me to say,‘Hey,listen, let’sgoand get this checked out.’ Iprobably would have prolongedit, which wouldn’thave benefited herinany type of way,” saidWilliams,who also received help with herown professionaldevelopment and financial literacy through Clover Williams saidshe encourages others to send theirchildrentoCloverbecause of theorganization’sdedication to advocating for its students.

“That’s where you want to send your baby,” she said.

Clover also partners with 10 childcare providersacross Orleansand Jefferson parishes. Combinedwith the students on its main campus and at EducareNew Orleans at Columbia Parc, the first such program in theDeep South,Clover reaches morethan2,000 children —meeting

ä See CLOVER, page 2Y

JanRisher

How language shapes perceptions

As we are doing all the things necessary to rebuild our house after the August fire, I’m going to places I’ve never had reason to visit before.

I’m looking for tile, flooring options, bathtubs, furniture, front doors, ceiling fans —somany little things to find, to order,topay for

Aweek ago, Iwas in the tile/ flooring store and saw asample of arug. I’ve long loved the depth, colors and designs of Persian rugs. So, Iwas surprised when this new, rather plain, solid ivory-colored rug sample caught my eye. Idon’tanticipate ordering it, but the salesperson told me that I could take the small sample piece with me to consider it further Later,Iturned it over to read the label. In large printed letters, it read: “70% Art Silk and 30% wool.”

Because the price seemed reasonable, Iwondered: What is “art silk”?

So, Iwent on asearch and learned that “art silk” is short for “artificial silk.” It’saterm used to describe any synthetic fiber that resembles silk, but typically costs less to produce.

Frequently,the term is just a synonym for rayon.

“Art silk” sounds alot more impressive than rayon.

Irealized my reaction wasn’treally about rayon. It was about the name. Art silk felt fancy.Rayon felt ordinary And yet, they are the same thing. Iwondered how often Iallow words to inflate or deflate value. Isent amessage to the newsroom to ask if people knew what “art silk” meant.

One person responded: “I picture alarge piece of the finest silk, almost like awater-ish texture. Something you would see in agallery.”

Another said, “A silk canvas.”

Acouple of people did, in fact, already know whatitwas —one of them majored in fashion merchandising. The vast majority of people were with me. Theydidn’t know either

Istarted thinking about all the ways people play with language and connotation:

n Pre-owned vs. used.

n Curated vs. collected.

n Starter home vs. small house.

n Bespoke vs. homemade.

n Season of transition vs. grief. n Rebuilding vs. burned down. In the months since our fire, I’ve learned alot of vocabulary —replacement value, depreciation, allowance and more. Most of the new terms I’ve learned are connected with attempts to assign numbers to memory —aline item for the linen cabinet, 17 pages of the contents of our home, aformula for loss. At first, none of those words felt big enough. But they were tidy and contained —easier to absorb than simply saying: everything we built here is gone. Maybe “art silk” is harmless. Maybe it’sjust branding. Branding works because we want to believe the upgraded version of something is better —shinier, more elevated, more valuable. There is nothing wrong with rayon. There is nothing wrong with choosing something affordable. But these days, Ihave less patience for anything that

David Begnaud launches ‘Do Good Crew’

First show includes Oprah interview

BY JAN RISHER Staff writer

Lafayette native and longtime

CBS journalist David Begnaud

launched a new venture called Do Good Crew on Feb. 23, beginning with an interview featuring Oprah Winfrey

The venture includes a podcast, newsletter, live events and social media accounts under the handle, @DoGood. Begnaud will continue his Monday morning segments on CBS.

To learn more about Do Good Crew and to join the community, visit thedogoodcrew.com. Listen or watch “The Person Who Believed In Me With David Begnaud” on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday. How are you feeling about the launch of your new venture?

Relieved that it’s here It’s been years in the making. After Puerto Rico, I started getting this itch. It wasn’t what I wanted to do with the rest of my life — knock on doors of mothers whose kids die in school shootings; cover hurricanes that devastate families and ruin homes.

I knew I wasn’t destined to do that forever It’s what I had to do, and I felt like it was time to do what I want to do.

You’ve been doing this work a long time. How many years, total?

Almost 25. I was a teen reporter at KLFY in Lafayette as a senior in high school. Maria Plasser put me on the air at 18. That was 2001

You mentioned the emotional toll of hard news. Is that what’s driving this pivot?

A thousand percent. It’s also a reminder that I had to do the work to get here — Lafayette, Shreveport, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, New York. People know me through differ-

ent moments: COVID, Puerto Rico, disasters. I loved being Johnny-onthe-spot. But I knew it couldn’t be forever

You said this is also a return to your roots. What do you mean?

When I started at KLFY, I wasn’t doing hard news. They had me doing the softer storytelling — the stuff I loved because I could connect with people Faces-in-Placesof-Acadiana type stories.

My partner, Jeremy, said it best: “That’s not a pivot — it’s a return to your roots.”

My mom and dad have always been public service-oriented people. This is that in a different form.

Why do these “news for the soul” stories matter right now?

People crave them — maybe more than ever When I was growing up, this was seen as “feel good” and soft. Today, it’s salve for the soul. We’re living in a world that feels upside down. I stay away from politics. My soul needs this too.

Some people treat this kind of work as less important than hard news. What do you say to that?

I have mad respect for hard news and the standards of journalism — which is why this shift took real conversations at CBS. We’re not blurring the lines without thinking about it. But in a two-hour morning show, there’s room for news for the heart. Hard news can feel soulsucking. Stories like these can feel soul-filling. I’m not saying everything should be this — I’m arguing for balance.

How does Do Good Crew relate to CBS?Are you staying on the Monday mornings?

A hundred percent. Nothing changes with CBS. Do Good Crew is happening at the same time. The relationship is a living, breathing document we’re figuring out with good intentions. One thing that’s different in the Do Good Crew newsletter is the calls to action. We tell stories — and where there’s a way to get involved, we

provide it Sometimes it’s sending a note of encouragement. Sometimes it’s a GoFundMe or a nonprofit Sometimes it’s donating blood. I don’t just want people to read and watch. I want them to be activated to do something.

You mentioned CBS taking a risk. How did that happen? I walked in and told them, “I’m coming to you with an ask that will cross a line — and I understand if you need to let me go.”

Wendy McMahon, a New Orleans native (and then president and CEO of CBS), said, “This is an experiment we’re doing together,” and she took a risk on me.

The current leadership has continued that good faith. We do things case by case, and standards matter — but this can be done in a way that’s honest and clear to viewers.

How big is your “Do Good Crew” team?

About five people right now — a small and mighty team. My busi-

ness partner and co-founder is Olivier Defoe. Everyone has experience, but I’ve also carved out room for young people — like I was — who have a lot to give

What do your parents think about your new chapter?

They want me to make sure I’m getting enough rest — and I’m probably not. They didn’t dream this for me because it’s bigger than what they could have imagined

They’re proud because they can see I’m not just doing what made me successful — I’m doing what sets my soul on fire. I’m grateful they’re here to see it.

How did you decide to start with Oprah?

Because the core idea is: Celebrities and successful people don’t often get to shine the light outward. People are always fawning over them. But everyone has “the person who believed in me.” And I think famous people would like to sit down and talk about that

— because it’s not about them. It’s about gratitude and who helped make them.

You mentioned a question that stuck with me: “When did you begin to believe in yourself?”When did you?

The biggest moment was after Puerto Rico and the response I got to my coverage. It grounded me. It made me softer kinder more natural on camera, more content in my own skin. I remember feeling different — in how I sat in chairs in front of cameras. It was less about one person and more about an event.

What was so transformative about Puerto Rico for you?

I went there not looking for validation and not prepared for a tsunami of support. There was no power, barely any connectivity — I could transmit out, but I couldn’t download. I couldn’t even see the messages or follower count rising. Then suddenly, people were flocking to me. I’ll always be grateful to Puerto Ricans and to the people who followed the coverage. It gave me the comfort to take a risk and say: I don’t want to live on a plane and chase the bad headlines forever I can prove there are ratings and revenue behind good news.

Are you excited — or terrified?

I’m more afraid than excited. Every good story has the glory and the struggle The struggle is: I sleep like

significantly more rigorous standards than those set by the state. It also offers summer camps for kids aged 8 to 16 of all incomes, with sliding-scale tuition.

For working-age adults, Clover offers a range of services to help achieve economic independence, including training, financial coaching, tax preparation or emergency assistance.

For older family members who need full-time assistance, there’s Clover Care, a five-day-a-week adult day care with nursing care, social services, meals and structured activities. Licensed for up to 158 participants, it hosts about half that many on a typical day It’s paid for by Medicaid waivers, the VA or sliding-scale private pay with about 95% of participants able to remain at home.

Liederman said program aims to prevent people from unnecessarily going into nursing homes, which costs three to five times as much as the community-based program.

“Getting caregivers and their loved ones out of isolation is a big part of what we do,” Liederman said. “When their participants are here, their caregivers can take a bath, they can go shopping, they can work outside of the home, they can go to school.”

Challenges and expansion

Despite that success rate, Clover must contend with strong lobbying from for-profit child care providers and nursing home operators looking to improve their bottom lines. Commercial day care operations push back on the lower teacher-to-student ratios, while federal and state regulations favor nursing homes over community-based care.

Of Clover’s $17.5 million annual budget, about 78% comes from Head Start and related programs, about 4% comes from Medicaid and the VA while the remaining 18% comes from private donors, foundations and corporations.

During last fall’s government shutdown, the organization’s board was forced to draw on a line of credit and its reserves.

“Without any kind of guaran-

tee that we were going to see this money again, we drew out about $1.5-$2 million to keep everything going,” Liederman said.

Since COVID-19, Clover added a food pantry, partnered with Lycee Francais for French immersion starting at age 2, and will soon offer in-home adult day care with

housekeeping and errands And it will soon host a new “one-stop shop” 17 partner organizations offering wraparound services.

Liederman is retiring in April after 32 years with the nonprofit and more than 20 as its chief. He’s succeeded by co-CEO Arnel Covey, a longtime community college ad-

Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

ministrator, who was on the nonprofit’s board before becoming its strategy and impact officer Covey said she aims to increase policy advocacy work with elected officials, expand community partnerships and use more data-driven approaches to track progress and improve services.

“Our priorities are always focused on those things that are impacting our children and families not necessarily just the ones we serve in our programs — because they represent so much of the larger part of the entire community,” Covey said.

With her youngest entering her final year at Clover Academy, Williams it’s been more than a preschool, it’s helped her manage money, grow professionally and connect with other parents. She now serves as the parent representative on Clover’s board and plans to run for president of its parents council.

“They want to see the families advance, and they want to provide the resources to make it happen It’s not just about what they say,” she said. “They make sure that their walk matches their talk.”

HPV VACCINE

In December 2022, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, committed to expand access to the HPV vaccine in lowerincome countries, aiming to protect 86 million girls against the virus that causes most cervical cancers by the end of 2025.With $600 million in new investment, the program raised coverage in Africa to 44% by the end of 2024. In November Gavi met its target ahead of schedule, expecting to save around 1 million lives and produce $2.3 billion in economic benefits. More than 50 countries now offer the vaccine nationwide, free of charge, with Gavi support.

TUMOR ELIMINATION

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a molecular signal that tumors use to exhaust T cells — the immune cells that are supposed to attack cancerous cells — and found a way to counteract it.Tumors increase CD47 on T cells, which interacts with thrombospondin-1 to weaken these cells over time. In mouse models, disrupting this interaction with a peptide called TAX2 helped T cells stay active longer and slowed tumor growth.The scientists hope that targeting the CD47–thrombospondin pathway could improve T cell-based cancer immunotherapy They also plan to explore the idea of blocking both PD1 and CD47 to produce T cells that are more effective at killing cancer cells.

COP30

CLIMATE SUMMIT

The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held at the Hangar Convention Centre in Belém, Brazil, in November There, almost “every country in

In September, Switzerland’s parliament approved a law that designates corporal

the world signed off on a final COP30 package called the ‘global mutirão’ — meaning ‘collective efforts’ — after two weeks of talks,” as reported by Carbon Brief.The package mentions biodiversity loss, land rights and deforestation, but did not feature food.A highlight was the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, Brazil’s new program that rewards countries that conserve

their tropical forests More than 3,000 representatives of Indigenous peoples attended the summit where the mutirão decision secured recognition of Indigenous peoples’ land rights.

CHILD PUNISHMENT

Starting this year, slaps, hits or severe verbal humiliation is no longer considered acceptable

disciplinary methods in Switzerland according to End Corporal Punishment. In September 2025, Switzerland’s parliament approved a law that designates corporal punishment of children as an act of violence rather than an acceptable parenting practice

The law requires cantons (states) to provide access to counselling and support services for children and parents.With this, Switzerland becomes the 70th jurisdiction to ban corporal punishment.

Fixthenews.com is a solutions journalism newsletter that finds stories of progress and shares them with readers from across the world. Acclaimed author Steven Pinker calls Fix the News “the best source for positive news on the internet.”

Church fundraising goes beyond bingo night

Religious groups look for new ways to raise money

BY JON PARKS Contributing writer

As LaTrice Stampley made her way onto the grounds of St. George Parish Fair in October she was overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the festival.

“I’d heard it was a great event,” she recalls, “but I was still amazed by how much was going on.”

Stampley and her children spent several hours at the fair enjoying live music sampling foods and trying out the carnival rides. The annual three-day event draws thousands of people — and raises thousands of dollars for the church and school.

“It has grown a lot over the years,” said Jo Dale Ales, a member at St. George, who noted that in its early days the fair was just a few tents with craft sales and hot dogs. “Not only is it a great fundraiser for the church and school, it builds our community and brings us together.”

St. George is not alone

Many area congregations and parishes have begun organizing festivals, fundraisers and other events to add to their income. These range from simple activities like bingo nights, bake-offs and pumpkin patches that involve a few people, to larger and more creative endeavors like festivals or raffling off Taylor Swift concert tickets.

For most congregations, these types of activities are nothing new, but the need is greater now than ever before.

In its 2024 report, the Giving USA Foundation noted that, while total charitable giving rose in 2024 (a 2.7% increase, adjusted for inflation), giving to religious and faith-based organizations has been steadily declining for decades. In

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Mark DeYmaz is the founding pastor of Mosaic Church in Little Rock, Ark., and author of of the 2019 book ‘The Coming Revolution in Church Economics: Why Tithes and Offerings Are No Longer Enough, and What You Can Do About It.’

1985 to 1989, 56% of all charitable giving went to religious groups.

From 2020 to 2024, that percentage dropped to 25% of total giving.

In short people are still giving — they’re just choosing to give to other causes.

The drive for clever, new fundraising ideas is as old as religion itself, but statistics predict that the funding gap will continue to widen.

While some religious groups keep looking for creative new ways to raise funds, others believe that congregations must make a larger, strategic shift.

In his 2019 book, “The Coming Revolution in Church Economics,” pastor, author and speaker Mark DeYmaz asserts that most Christian congregations are no longer able to sustain their ministry using only the tithes and offerings of their congregants. He cites factors such as changing religious demographics, generational differences in approach to giving and wages that aren’t growing to meet increasing demands on family budgets.

While giving is down, costs are rising.

Basic utility costs continue to rise, and insurance rates for many houses of worship have more than doubled in just the last two to three years. For more established congregations with aging facilities, the cost of repairs and maintenance is soaring.

Many congregants believe the answer lies in specialized giving campaigns and attracting new members. It falls on church leadership to find a “magic bullet” approach that will turn the statistics around. But tithes and offerings, according to DeYmaz, won’t be enough to cover the growing gap between revenue and expenses.

“To expect people to give more while making less… it’s just not going to happen,” says the Rev

Brady Whitton, pastor at First United Methodist in Baton Rouge. Whitton brought DeYmaz to Baton Rouge in August 2025 to hold a workshop for church leaders. At the workshop, DeYmaz challenged the notion that faith leaders are solely responsible for finding a magic-bullet solution.

“It’s actually liberating for church leaders to hear this message,” Whitton says. “The answer to declining giving is not about learning new ways to ask for money and it’s not about getting more people in the pews We have to change the way we think about funding.”

DeYmaz’s Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas and other congregations have found success

by moving their outward-focused ministries, like food pantries and shelters, to a new nonprofit organization owned by the church.

This opens opportunities for funding from governments, businesses and civic groups many of which will not contribute directly to a religious organization. While attractive, some church leaders balk at the legal, financial and theological hurdles.

Whatever the answer, it’s clear that faith-based organizations can’t rely simply on past methods and a single-source income.

“At the end of the day,” Whitton says, “we have to find a way to thrive and accomplish our mission in an economic landscape that keeps changing.”

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe looks to expand buffalo herd

BY GABRIELLE NELSON

Contributing writer

Editor’s note: This story, created by Gabrielle Nelson for Buffalo’s Fire, 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

Driving a pickup truck to one of the two buffalo pastures on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, William Thompson spots a group of about a hundred buffalo grazing at one of the herd’s typical spots near the pasture’s entrance. Though the wind is biting and the temperature is below freezing, the herd seems unfazed.

As the tribe’s buffalo herd ranger, Thompson checks on the herd every other day His second stop on Friday, Jan. 9, is at the larger of the two parks, about a 20-minute drive from his office at the Standing Rock Game and Fish Department in Fort Yates, North Dakota On the 12,350 acres of arid badlands, Thompson has seen the buffalo run down the steep sides of buttes and jump 10-feet ruts but the terrain is impossible for large vehicles to traverse So to get to “all four corners” of the pasture, Thompson exits his truck, starts up a side-by-side vehicle and drives out to meet the herd

“I think our big bull is out there,” he says, singling out one buffalo in a sea of brown fur “That’s him. Even laying down he’s bigger than the rest.”

Unit is the tribe’s biggest male buffalo, weighing around 2,700 pounds. Most weigh around 2,000 pounds, twice the typical weight of females. He was transferred to Standing Rock from Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, when the tribe reintroduced buffalo to the reservation, says Thompson. For 30 years, the herd’s population has been stable. It currently sits at 324 — 276 cows (female buffalo) and 48 bulls (male buffalo). Now Thompson wants to expand the herd, which he said will revitalize the tribe’s economy, land and Native culture The Game and Fish Department’s goal is to have more than a thousand buffalo. But the department doesn’t have enough funds to lease more land or install more fencing, and the tribal

Thompson, Standing Rock

watches a group of

North Dakota.

government isn’t providing more funding. So Thompson is turning to tribal organizations for grant funding, including the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance, which provides technical and financial assistance to support environment programs of the Northern Great Plains tribal nations.

“There are a lot of costs with raising buffalo,” the alliance’s CEO, Shaun Grassel, told Buffalo’s Fire. “And when those herds are managed for the community, quite often there’s not a lot of revenue to be made. So if they want to do more with their buffalo, that’s just added costs that they have to source from somewhere.”

The Game and Fish Department is currently trying to acquire land abutting the existing buffalo pastures. Thompson says the alliance can provide funding for land acquisition and cover some fencing costs. A specific grant aims to help tribal environment departments cover the cost of leasing croplands for grassland restoration a process buffalo are essential to.

With the current herd size, yearly buffalo auctions pay for Thompson’s salary, equipment (like tractors and corral gates) and material to repair fencing

This past year, Standing Rock auctioned off 81 buffalo, mostly calves and yearlings, to private buyers, bringing in $148,400, says Thompson

With a larger herd, he says, the tribe could make a profit at its auctions, plus the department could

start holding buffalo hunting auctions. But increasing the herd would require more land, fencing and staff. Thompson says it’s “a gamble” that some tribal council members are hesitant to invest in.

“Buffalo are assets of the tribe,” he says. “If we get more support from them, it’ll actually help in the long run, creating better job opportunities, creating more surplus of funds.”

Bringing buffalo home

Buffalo are a keystone species of grasslands They helped shape the Northern Great Plains, and their presence supports the overall health and stability of the ecosystem. Their hooves help aerate the soil. They spread seeds that get trapped in their thick fur as they roam, and their poop has essential nutrients to fertilize the soil.

As a testament to their ties with the land, Thompson says he’s seen sick buffalo cure themselves by finding natural medicine in the pasture, like bear root and bitterroot. And unlike cattle, they don’t require supplemental hay grain or soy meal. They can get all the nutrients they need from grazing

He says a couple private buffalo ranchers in the area have gone the last four winters without feeding their herds, which lowers operation costs.

“They’ve been here way longer than us,” he says, adding that millions of buffalo used to roam from Canada all the way to Texas. Their

population fell to less than a thousand in the late 19th century when the U.S. Army, American settlers and fur traders hunted buffalo to near extinction for sport and as a way to weaken Native American communities that relied on the species. Recently buffalo populations have been growing due to restoration projects.

Yet, in the last few decades, grasslands buffalos’ native ecosystem — are declining. Over half the world’s temperate grassland, 62%, has been lost to agriculture, urban development and climate change. Indigenous grassland species, including pronghorns, elk and porcupine, are in danger, says Grassel, who, before starting the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance, worked for 25 years as a wildlife biologist for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, where he’s a citizen.

“I got to experience seeing those animals, hunting those animals, but my grandkids might not,” he says, honoring the Native value of “looking seven generations ahead.”

In 1975, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act recognized tribes’ right to selfgovernance and granted authority to tribes to manage their own fish and game programs, including the management of buffalo herds in the Northern Great Plains.

Less than two decades later, 19 tribes created the InterTribal Buffalo Council to support the restoration of tribal buffalo herds. Today the council consists of 86 member tribes in 22 states and has returned 20,000 buffalo to tribal lands. Standing Rock Game and Fish Department Director Jeff Kelly started working for the tribe in the early years of its program 20 years ago.

“It’s part of our past and our ancestry that we were close with the buffalo,” he says. “They provided us with everything — shelter, food, anything we could have needed to survive.” He says that while working with them he “learned to appreciate them as our relatives.”

And as people drive past the herd, which can be seen from the highway, Kelly says he hopes they are reminded of the relationship between Native communities and buffalo: “Our relatives are still here. We’re still here.”

Restoring land

Back at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, wildlife is thriving, particularly on the largest pasture, called Unit 41.

The land is now home to 80 elk, which the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance helped reintroduce, as well as a mountain lion and her three cubs, mule deer, coyote, beaver, porcupine, raptors and prairie dogs, in addition to buffalo.

Together, the two pastures span roughly 17,000 acres with 58 miles of fencing, which Thompson checks every week in case there’s a need for repairs. But the setup can support only 300 more buffalo, he says.

As they return buffalo herds to tribal lands and restore native ecosystems, Thompson says Native communities are “gaining back our identity.” He has worked with buffalo for 15 years. About a year ago, he started managing the herd at Standing Rock, where he’s an enrolled citizen. Thompson says he’s come to know the herd and their personalities in the past year Some of them are curious, getting so close you can feed them by hand, while others are mean and rowdy and will challenge your vehicle, he says.

“It’s the bulls you have to get to know,” he says, driving the sideby-side vehicle up to a particularly “mischievous” group of young bulls tussling apart from the herd.

“They’re smart. They’re powerful. But I know where they’ll be and where they’re trying to get out.”

The bulls butt heads and leap across crevices in the rocky, grassy landscape as they chase one another Wary of the sound of the engine, they separate and run back to the herd. Thompson points out a cow with a red tag affixed to her ear She’s marked for harvest.

The Game and Fish Department typically harvests one buffalo a month to distribute the meat to community members. The hides and skulls, he says, are gifted to tribal members for sun dance ceremonies.

The department keeps its freezers stocked with 500 to 1,500 pounds of meat, which is processed at Wozu Inc., a Native community-focused organization on the Standing Rock Reservation, and West Side Meats, a meat market in South Dakota run by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

SUNDAY, MArch 1, 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 — unrAVeLs: un-RAVuls: Disengages or separates the threads of Average mark 41 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 60 or more words in UNRAVELS?

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

Aggressive behavior

This is another deal from a recent team match in Sweden. South was Swedish expert PerOla Cullin. Cullin’s four-spade bid was very aggressive, based on useful distribution and high hopes. It served to shut West out of the auction, despite his fine hand, after opening the bidding. West led his ace, and when dummy had a singleton in the suit, it became a suit-preference situation.

East played the two as a suitpreference for clubs, so West led the king of clubs and another club. East took his ace and shifted to a heart. Cullin won with the ace and led a spade to dummy’s queen, He ruffed a heart and led another spade, picking up West’s king and drawing trumps When another heart ruff dropped down the king, Cullin could claim ten tricks.

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

At the other table, North overcalled one spade rather than two diamonds and East made a negative double. South raised spades, but West bid three no-trump A heart lead and a spade shift would have defeated the contract by two tricks, but North made the reasonable lead of the queen of spades. West took his king and made nine tricks, thanks to the friendly club position. Bidding and making game at both tables created a huge gain for Cullin’s team

guilty

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Let your imagination and ingenuity take the lead, and your creativity and discipline help you complete your mission Don’t reveal secrets or let your ego cost you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use your intelligence, charm and wit to win favors. A colorful approach to promoting and presenting your capabilities will grab attention. Refuse to miss out on something good due to stubbornness. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Control your emotions. An unnecessary

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You may want to address how and when to let go of what no longer benefits you. Shedding negativity or whatever weighs you down or holds you back will exhilarate you once you start the process. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Be open regardingmoney,jointventuresand shared expenses. Make sure you go throughtheproperchannelsandfollow the required documentation to protect against loss.

change will leave you vulnerable. Focus, get ready to learn as you go and give your all. Discipline and hard work are your tickets to success.

recting your skills, qualifications and interests.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Too many choices will confuse you. Take the path that minimizes discord. Be open to suggestions and willing to learn, and express your desires with truth and hope for a better future in mind.

VIRGO(Aug.23-Sept.22) Putyourhead down and finish what you start Stay focused, read the room and do your part, and something good will transpire. A personal pick-me-up will attract the attention of someone you look up to. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Keep your thoughts and emotions to yourself until you gather all the information necessary to make better choices. Broaden your opportunities by redi-

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23-Dec 21) Concentrate on personal strength, fitness, a healthy diet and doing your best in all things. Pay attention to money matters and go through the proper channels to reach your objective. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Denial won’t get you where you want to go. Face situations head-on, and use your insight, experience and wherewithal to bring about positive change before it’s too late.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep close tabs on your finances and career options. Timing is everything, and being aware of what’s possible is crucial if you want to get ahead. Channel your energy wisely Choose positivity over negativity wuzzLes The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

1. Avis. 2. Intel.3.Pepsi.4.Sony.5.Certs. 6. Midas. 7. Nivea. 8. Tums.9.Avon. 10. Advil. 11 Evian. 12.Mobil.13. Folgers.14. Lacoste.15. Renault.

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: Whatever we believe about ourselves and our abilitycomes true for us. —Susan L. Taylor