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T u e s d ay, a p r i l 14, 2026
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Hospital demolition, redevelopment advances $11.5M in city bond funds to be used on project at the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center site
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
President Donald Trump speaks outside the Oval Office of the White House on Monday.
Trump says he won’t apologize to pope President defends his social media post that depicts himself as Jesus BY WILL WEISSERT, JOSH BOAK and NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
opened, was a priority. Jeff Schwartz, director of the city’s Office of Housing and Community Development, helped negotiate the deal on behalf of the administration. Harris said she expects the council to approve the agreement at its April 23 meeting. “This is exactly the kind of transformative project Harris that demonstrates city government working in concert with private partners to deliver real results,” Harris said in a text message Monday. Moreno’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hoffman Redevelopment of the 13-acre site — still referred to as “Mercy,” its original name — by the development team, has long frustrated city of-
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump refused to apologize to Pope Leo XIV on Monday after criticizing the pontiff for his opposition to the war in Iran — and he sought to explain away a now- ä Trump deleted social me- says U.S. dia post depicting military has himself as Jesus begun a by saying he had thought the im- blockade of age was of him as Iranian ports. a doctor. PAGE 7A Tr u m p w a s ä Pope asked about his starts Africa comments toward the U.S.- tour in born head of the Algeria and Catholic Church, calls for as well as the post peace. depicting himPAGE 7A self as a healer, in a hastily called question-and-answer session with reporters at the White House. “He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result,” Trump said, adding, “I think he’s very weak on
ä See HOSPITAL, page 4A
ä See TRUMP, page 5A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
The former Lindy Boggs Medical Center, located in Mid-City, has been abandoned since Hurricane Katrina. BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL
street flooding in the area. In an interview, Hoffman said the developers want to then build a complex After decades of false starts, New Or- of apartments and retail outlets, though leans officials and the owners of the for- plans and financing for that portion of the project haven’t been finalmer Lindy Boggs Medical Center have agreed on a ized. Former plan to demolish the hulk“It’s fantastic,” HoffLindy Boggs ing Mid-City eyesore as man said of the agreeMedical La soon as this summer, pavment, which was introCenter ing the way for a redevelduced at last week’s City Council meeting by counopment of the site. Co nt The deal, a cooperacil member Lesli Harris. iS t. “We’re farther along with tive endeavor agreement Bi this project today than we between Mayor Helena en vil le have ever been.” Moreno’s administration Av e. Tearing down the hospiand developers Bill Hoffman and Paul Flower, was tal, which could begin as MID-CITY finalized last week and soon as July, would represpells out how roughly sent an early victory for Staff map $11.5 million in city bond Moreno, who has vowed funds, approved by voters to address blight and last fall, will be spent on the project. other long-standing quality of life issues The money will be used to demolish in the city. In prior statements, she has the nearly 70-year-old structure and then said redeveloping the former hospital on build an underground stormwater re- Norman Francis Parkway, which flooded tention tank aimed at helping to reduce during Hurricane Katrina and never reNo rm an
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Staff writer
Driving test bill facing opposition
La. lawmaker again pushing ban on fluoride
been driving and you’ve Legislation calls for you’ve thought to yourself, ‘Man that’s bad driver,’” state Rep. Dixon exam every 6 years aMcMakin, R-Baton Rouge, said
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
Local governments could hold a vote to stop adding fluoride to their public water systems under a proposal advancing in the Louisiana Legislature, resurfacing a debate that has emerged from the Make America Healthy Again movement. Last year, an outright ban on fluoridation of public water systems sponsored by Sen. Mike Fesi, R-Houma, failed in the Legislature. This year, Fesi again pitched the ban, but other senators pushed him to pare it back. Now, his proposal would give towns and parishes that
ä See FLUORIDE, page 4A
WEATHER HIGH 83 LOW 67 PAGE 6B
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Sen. Mike Fesi, R-Houma, is proposing legislation that would allow local governments to hold a vote to stop adding fluoride to their public water systems.
Louisiana drivers would be required to take a “driver’s knowledge” test every six years under a measure being proposed at the State Capitol, but the plan faces bipartisan pushback from lawmakers who said it would be too burdensome. “Think about all the times
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while presenting his driver test proposal during a public hearing Monday. “That’s what I think about all the time when I’m on the interstates here in Baton Rouge.” McMakin said having smarter, better drivers will lead to fewer wrecks and lawsuits and could even help keep car
ä See DRIVING, page 4A
13TH yEAR, NO. 245