The Times-Picayune 10-19-2025

‘HELENA SHOWED UP’

Inside Moreno’s dominant campaign forNew Orleansmayor

BY JAMES FINN |Staff writer

About an hourfrom HelenaMoreno’sMid-City campaignheadquarters and amillion miles off most New Orleans politicians’ radar is abar on Chef Menteur Highway just before the Rigolets known as Crazy Al’s.

Surrounded by the fishing camps andother homes that make up Precinct 45AinNew Orleans’ 9th Ward (number of registered voters: 92), the corrugated metal buildingbacks up to LakeSt. Catherine’sbrackish waters.Inside, acoupledozen regulars play video poker,snackon#2 crabsatplasticfolding tablesand sip Miller Lites. OwnerKayla Beaulieu offers acrab-and-shrimp special on Thursday,but even those are sleepy affairs.

Things were different on asweltering dayinJunewhenMoreno stopped by as part of a70-event series where she met voters in each of NewOrleans’ neighborhoods. Old people, young people, Black and White people flooded in to snap selfies and shake hands.

“Politicians never come out here,” Beaulieu said as she served drinks five days after Morenotrounced her closestrivalsinnearly everycorner of the city to win the New Orleans mayor’srace. “Helenashowedup.”

CrazyAl’sisthe kindofplace politicians go when they’ve alreadygone everywhere else

ä See MORENO, page 22A

ABOVE: Then-mayoral candidate Helena Moreno has amicrophone placed onto her lapel before adebate in NewOrleans on Sept. 16. STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS

GRANGER

TOPLEFT: Helena Moreno joins the front of the Satchmo Summerfest parade in NewOrleans on Aug. 3. STAFF FILEPHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

TOPMIDDLE: Helena Moreno, center,chats withresidents during acampaign stop for mayorofNew Orleans on Sept. 19 STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS

GRANGER

TOPRIGHT: NewOrleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno celebrates with supporters at her election night watch partyatthe Civic Theatre in NewOrleans on Oct. 11. STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

As wardrags on,arefugee family’s gymbecomes acommunity hub

BY JENNA ROSS |Staff writer

Abustling gym inside aMetairie mallissplit in two. On one side, kids in white karate uniforms and belts take awide stance, then kick, kick, kick. On the other side, girlsinblack leotards andbuns stand tall, then jump, jump, jump Awall inside the Champions Family SportsClubissplit,too. On one side hangs the flag of the UnitedStates. On the other,the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine.

Before Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians Sergiy Dolinnyy and Olena Zviagintseva coached afew hundred studentsatanOdesa gym in karateand kickboxing, tumbling

Last in aseries

BY SAM KARLIN |Staff writer

SummersinLouisiana are getting hotter andmore dangerous, and the numberof heat-related deaths in thestate in recent years has hit record levels. Butwhether adeath is classified as “heat-related” depends on an inconsistent, vague system: apatchwork of 64 elected coroners, each with their own protocols and standards forinvestigating deaths. Somecoroners say they have no way of tracking heat deaths at all. Others say theydon’t have anyonrecordoverthe past decade. Those withthe mosttraining say they go as far as checking liver temperatures to determine whether heat played a role in adeath. As aresult, the state’stoll is likely inaccurate and undercounted. “You’renot going to find anything that’s standard going on,” said Dr.ToddThoma, coroner of Caddo Parish. “I hate to say coroners are aragtag group, but they are. There’s64parishes and 64 coroners. Some are better trained, someare less trained.” The consequencesofLouisiana’sfaulty data are stark, clouding the state’svisibility into who is dying and why.Many Louisiana residents are vulnerable to extreme heat because of high rates of poverty,lack of access to adequate airconditioning and widespread underlying health conditions. The lackofanaccurate heat-related deathcount each year also obscuresthe scale of the problem: these deaths almost always occur out of the public eye, unlike deaths from crimeorother natural disasters. They typically do not drawany

Embassy issues warning in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT-OF-SPAIN,Trinidad The U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago cautioned Americans on Saturday to stay away from American government facilities on the twin-island nation.

It was an unusual warning that came as tensions grow between the United Statesand Venezuela over deadly U.S. strikesinCaribbean waters targeting suspected drug traffickers.

The embassy didn’tspecify why it issued the warning, saying only that, “duetoaheightened state of alert, please avoid and refrain from visiting all U.S government facilities through the holiday weekend,” as iturged people to “be aware of yoursurroundings.” Monday is aholiday to celebrate Dilawi, aHindu festival of lightswidely celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, where 35% of its 1.4 million people identify as East Indian.

Venezuela is located just miles away from Trinidad, where people in one coastal community are mourning the disappearance of two local fishermen believed killed in aU.S.strikeonTuesday

The alert is based on threats directed at American citizensin the Caribbean nation, with U.S. authorities saying “it could be linked”toongoingtensionsin the region,Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of homeland security, Roger Alexander,told The Associated Press. However, local authorities declined to share specific details about the reported threats.

Bus crashinBrazil leaves at least17dead

SAOPAULO Apassenger bus in northeastern Brazil crashedinto asand embankment and flipped on itsside, killingatleast 17 people, authorities saidSaturday The bus was carryingabout 30 passengers, police said. The number of injured, whowere taken to nearby hospitals, was not immediately clear.The vehicle crashed in Saloá, acityinthe state of Pernambuco, and was boundfor thecity of Brumado, in the neighboring state of Bahia.

Police said the driver lost control of the bus, crossed into the opposite lane and hit rocksonthe roadside. He then returned to the correct lane but crashed into a sandembankment, causingthe vehicle to overturn.

The cause of the crashisunder investigation. The driver suffered minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol,police said. Bahia Gov.Jerônimo Teixeira said on Xthat his administration was supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims. “I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of allthe families,” he wrote.

Taylor Swift’sEasteregg sparks windfall forotters

San Francisco An Easter egg dropped by Taylor Swift in the film for her new album is proving to be aboon for sea otters in Northern California.

Thepop star wore avintage Monterey Bay Aquarium otter conservation T-shirtina release party movie for her new “The Life of aShowgirl”album, sending her ardent fans on aquest to buy the shirt last produced in the 1990s. After the aquarium was flooded with calls about buying the T-shirt showingtwo otters floating on their back, it decided to rerelease the garment Thursday as part of aspecialcampaign to raise $1.3 million, anod to Swift’s favorite number,said Liz MacDonald,the aquarium’s director of content strategy

Theaquarium metand surpassed its goal to raisethe funds for its sea otter conservation program in less than eight hours, averaging about $100,000 in sales every 15 minutes, MacDonald said.

“Wedefinitely had alittle Taylor Swift danceparty in theoffice yesterdayafternoon when we hit the goal,” she said The aquarium beganaccepting back-orders and by Friday afternoon it had raised $2.2 million, according to its website.

How Swift acquired theT-shirt that was last produced more than 32 yearsago —whenshe was just 3years old —remains amystery

‘NoKings’protestsbring partyvibe

Largecrowds demonstrate nationwide againstTrump

BY MIKE PESOLI and GARYFIELDS Associated Press

WASHINGTON Large crowds of protesters marched and ralliedincities across the U.S.Saturday for “No Kings” demonstrations decryingwhatparticipants see as the government’sswift driftinto authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. People carrying signs with slogans such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism” packed into New York City’sTimesSquare and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown LosAngeles andpicketed outside capitolsinseveral Republican-ledstates, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smallerpublic spaces.

Trump’sRepublican Party disparaged the demonstrations as“Hate America” rallies, but in many places the events lookedmore like astreet party.There were marching bands, huge banners withthe U.S. Constitution’s“We ThePeople” preamble thatpeople could sign, and demonstrators wearinginflatablecostumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon. It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and came against the backdrop of agovernment

shutdown thatnot only has closed federalprograms andservices but is testing the core balanceofpower as an aggressive executive confrontsCongressand the courtsinways that protest organizers warn are aslide towardauthoritarianism

In Washington, Iraq War Marineveteran Shawn Howard saidhehad never participated in aprotestbefore butwas motivatedto showupbecauseofwhat he sees as theTrump administration’s“disregard for the law.” He said immigration detentions without due process anddeploymentsof troops in U.S. cities are“unAmerican” and alarming signs of eroding democracy

“I fought for freedom and againstthis kind of extremism abroad,” said Howard, who added that he also worked at the CIA for 20 years on counter-extremismoperations. “And now Isee amomentinAmerica where we have extremists everywherewho are, in my opinion, pushing us to some kind of civil conflict.”

Trump, meanwhile, was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

“Theysay they’rereferring to me as aking. I’m not aking,”the president said in aFox News interview thataired early Friday,before he departed for a$1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club.

ATrumpcampaign social media account mocked the protests by posting acomputer-generated video of thepresident clothed like a monarch,wearing acrown and waving from abalcony In San Francisco hundreds of people spelled out “No King!” and other phrases withtheir bodies on Ocean Beach. Hayley Wingard, who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty,said shetoo had never been to a protest before.Only recently she began to view Trump as a“dictator.”

“I was actually OK with everything until Ifound thatthe military invasion in Los Angeles and Chicago and Portland —Portland

bothered me the most, because I’m from Portland, andIdon’t want the military in my cities. That’s scary,” Wingard said.

About 3,500 people gathered in Salt Lake City outside the Utah State Capitol to share messages of hope and healing after aprotester was fatally shot during the city’sfirst “No Kings” march in June.

And morethan1,500 people gatheredinBirmingham,Alabama, evoking and thecity’shistory of protests andthe critical role it played in theCivil RightsMovement twogenerationsago.

“It just feelslike we’re living in an America that Idon’trecognize,” said Jessica Yother,amother of four.She and other protesters said they felt camaraderie by gathering in astate where Trump won nearly 65% of the vote last November

“It wassoencouraging,” Yother said. “I walked in and thought, ‘Here are my people.’”

While protests earlierthis

year —against Elon Musk’s cuts and Trump’smilitary parade —drewcrowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. BernieSanders are joining what organizersviewasanantidote to Trump’sactions, fromthe administration’sclampdown on free speechtoits military-style immigration raids.

More than 2,600 rallies wereplannedSaturday,organizerssaid. Thenational march against Trump and Musk this spring had 1,300 registered locations, while the first “NoKings” day in June registered 2,100.

“We’re here because we love America,” Sanders said, addressing the crowd from astage in Washington. He said the American experimentis“in danger” under Trumpbut insisted, “Wethe people will rule.” Republicans sought to portrayprotesters as far outside the mainstream and aprimereason forthe government shutdown, now in its 18th day From theWhiteHouse to Capitol Hill, GOP leaderscalledthem“communists” and“Marxists.” They said Democratic leaders including Schumer are beholden to thefar-left flank and willing to keep the government shut to appease those liberal forces.

“I encourage you to watch —wecall it the Hate America rally —that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson,RBenton.

“Let’ssee who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who“hate capitalism”and “Marxists in full display.”

Trump: U.S. to send survivorsofstrikeonvesselhome

Pair were aboard suspecteddrug ship sunk by U.S.

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The two survivors of an American military strike on asuspected drug-carrying vessel in theCaribbean will be sent to Ecuador and Colombia, their home countries, President DonaldTrump said Saturday. The militaryrescuedthe pair after strikinga submersible vessel Thursday, in what was at least the sixth such attack since early September.

“It was my great honor to destroy averylarge DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINEthat wasnavigatingtowards the United Statesona well known narcotrafficking transit

route,” Trump said in a social media post. “U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics.”

After Trump’s announcement, thePentagon posted on Xabrief black-and-white video of the strike In theclip, avesselcan be seen moving through the waves,its front portion submerged inches belowthe water’s surface. Then, several explosionsare seen, with at least oneoverthe back of thevessel.

ficefor Ecuador’sgovernmentsaid Saturday it was notaware of theplans for repatriation. Meanwhile, theMinistryofForeign Affairsand thepresidential press office in Colombia did notimmediatelyreturn messages seeking comment.

With Trump’s statementonhis Truth Social platform of the death toll, thatwould mean U.S. militaryaction against vesselsinthe region has killed at least 29 people.

capture and detain combatants and to use lethal force to takeout theirleadership. Trump is also treating the suspected traffickers as if they wereenemysoldiers in atraditional war.

The repatriation would avoidquestionsfor the Trumpadministration about

whatthe legal status of the two would have beeninthe U.S. justice system. It may also sidestep someofthe legal issues that arose out of the detention of enemy combatants in the global war on terrorism as wellaschallenges to theconstitutionality of the current operation.

The Republican president said twopeople onboard were killed—one more than was previously reported —and the two who survived are being sent to their home countries“for detention and prosecution.”

However, the press of-

Thepresident hasjustified thestrikes by asserting thatthe United States is engagedinan“armed conflict” with drugcartels. He is relyingonthe same legalauthority usedbythe GeorgeW.Bush administration when it declared awar on terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks, and that includes the ability to

1mariner missing near yemen

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United ArabEmirates ACameroonian-flagged ship caughtfire Saturday in the Gulf of Aden offYemenafter possibly being struck by aprojectile, officials said, with at least onemariner missing and another still likely aboard theburning tanker after the rest of thecrew abandoned the vessel.

U.K. and European Union officials offered differing opinions about what sparked the blaze on the Falcon, with the

British suggesting aprojectile hit it,while theEU said that it appeared to be “an accident.”They warned ships in the area that thevesselcould explode, because it was “fully loaded” with liquefied petroleum gas.

The incident comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been attacking ships through the Red Seacorridor.However,the rebels didn’timmediately claim to have been involved, though it can take them hours or even days to do so.

The British military’s United KingdomMaritime TradeOperations, or UKMTO, center issued an alert about the Falcon, describing the incident

as taking place about130 miles eastofAden.

“A vessel hasbeen hit by an unknown projectile, resulting with afire,”the UKMTO said. “Authorities are investigating.”

TheEU’sOperationAspides, which has been patrolling thearea, saidthat the Falcon’s crew of 26 wasall Indian except for one Ukrainian. The Greek frigate HS Spetsai was nearby theFalcon, while the French alsosent an aircraft overhead,the EU operation said.

“Initial indications suggest that15% of the ship is on fire andthe fire was caused by an accident,” the EU naval force said, without elaborating.

Israel says Hamashandedoverremains of 2hostages

BY TOQA EZZIDIN, SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

CAIRO— Israel said Hamas handed over “two coffinsofdeceased hostages” from Gaza late Saturday, while Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu increased pressure on themilitant group to share the restmore quickly under their ceasefire.

No names were immediately released. The bodies were in Israel and were being taken to the country’sNational Institute of Forensic Medicine. Israel announced earlier Saturday that Gaza’ssole crossing with the outside world, Rafah, would stay closed “until further notice,” tying it to Hamas’ release of remains. On Thursdayit had said the crossing likely would reopen Sunday Hamas has now handed over the remains of 12 of the 28 dead hostages in Gaza, akey step in the week-old ceasefire process meantto endtwo yearsofwar.The militant group says devastation and Israeli military control of certain areas of Gaza have slowed the handover.

The statementbyNetanyahu ’s office on the Rafah crossing came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt said it would reopen Mondayfor people returning to Gaza. Hamas called Netanyahu’sdecision avio-

Palestinians watchmembers of the Hamas militantgroup search for bodies of Israeli hostages on SaturdayinHamad City,Khan younis, in the southernGazaStrip.

lation of the ceasefire deal.

TheRafah crossinghas beenclosed since May 2024, when Israel tookcontrol of theGaza side. Afullyreopened crossingwould make it easier for Gazans to seek medical treatment, travel or visit family in Egypt, hometo tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Israel has beenreturning thebodies of Palestinians with no names, only numbers. Gaza’sHealth Ministry posts photos of themonline, hopingfamilies will come forward.

”Just likethey took their captives, we wantour captives. Bring me my son,

bring all our kids back,” said atearful Iman Sakani, whose son went missing during the war. Shewas amongdozens of anxious families waiting at Nasserhospital.

One woman knelt, crying over abodyafter identifying it.

As part of the ceasefire agreement,Israel on Saturday returned 15 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza, bringingthe total it has returned to 135.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s ruins werebeing scoured for the dead. Newly recovered bodiesbrought the Palestinian toll above68,000, according to Gaza’sHealth Ministry

Thousands of people are still missing, according to the RedCross.

The ministry,part of the Hamas-rungovernment, doesn’tdistinguishbetween civilians andcombatants in its count. But the ministry maintainsdetailedcasualty records that areseenas generally reliablebyU.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll.

Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians,and abducted 251 people in theattack on southern Israel that sparked the war on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel also said the remains of a10th hostage that Hamas handedoverFridaywere identifiedasEliyahu Margalit. The 76-year-old was abductedfromkibbutz Nir Oz during theOct.7attack

His remains were found afterbulldozers plowedareas in the southern city of Khan Younis.

U.S. President Donald Trumphas warned that he would greenlight aresumption of the warbyIsrael if Hamas doesn’treturn the remains of all dead hostages.

Hamas has said it is committed to the ceasefire deal butthat the retrieval of remains is also hampered by the presence of unexploded ordnance in the territory’s vast ruins.

The U.S. State DepartmentonSaturday said it had credible reports of an imminent planned attack by Hamas againstresidentsof Gaza.

“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute adirect and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediationefforts,”itsaidin astatement. ”The guarantors demand Hamas uphold its obligations underthe ceasefire terms.

“Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire” forged by Trump to end the

Ukrainiansdisappointedafter U.S. meetingfails

By The Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Ukrainians shared their disappointment Saturday that the U.S. may not provide Kyiv with longrange Tomahawk missiles, while work to repair the damaged power supply to the country’sZaporizhzhia powerplant soothedother concerns surrounding Europe’slargest nuclear plant.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday,after the U.S. leader signaled that Washington could provideUkraine with the long-range missiles Kyiv believes will help bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

YetZelenskyy ultimately left empty-handed —an outcome that dismayed, but did not surprise, many in the streets of Kyiv,who maintained their determination to end Russia’s3½-year invasion of their country

One Ukrainian military serviceman, Roman Vynnychenko, said that he believed the prospect of Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine was a political “game.”

“Ukraine won’tget those missiles,” he said.

Vynnychenko said Ukraine still needed to procure new weapons with or without American help, particularly as Russian drones and missiles continued to hit civilian infrastructure.

“Every dayciviliansand soldiers die, buildings collapse, our streets and cities are being destroyed,” Vynnychenko said.

Russia invaded its smaller neighbor in February 2022.

Trump’sfrustration with the conflict has surfaced repeatedly in thenine months since he returned to office. In recent weeks, he had shown growing impatiencewith Putinand expressed greater openness to helping Ukraine win the war,including with the sale ofTomahawks

ButTrump’stone shifted againafterheheldalengthy phone call with Putin on Thursday and announced that he plannedtomeet with the Russianleaderin Budapest, Hungary,inthe coming weeks

Thetalks raise new hopes that diplomatic progress couldbemade to end the war.But after multiplefailed starts,Ukrainians are reluctant to believe thatasignificantbreakthroughwill take place soon

“Totellyou the truth, Ilook at the news, but nowadays I read only theheadlines. And even thosemakemesad,” Victoria Khramtsova, apsychologist,toldthe AP.“We have been at war for more than three years.Wejust wantpeace.”

In the meantime, Russia continuedits aerial bombardment of Ukraine, launchingthree missiles and164 drones overnight, Ukraine’s

two-year war between Israel andHamas,itadded. There were no additional details. The Israeli organization supporting families of those abducted said it will continue holding weekly rallies in Tel Aviv until all are returned.

“Wedon’twant to go back to fighting, Godforbid, but this whole ordeal must end, andall the hostagesmust be returned,” said Ifat Calderon, aunt of freedhostage Ofer Calderon.

Hamas hasurged mediators to increasethe flowof aidinto Gaza as closuresof crossings and Israeli restrictions on aid groups continue. “Vast parts of the city arejust awasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chiefTom Fletcher said Saturday while visitingGazaCity, where international food security experts declared famine earlier this year U.N. data on Friday showed 339 trucks have been offloaded fordistribution in Gaza sincethe ceasefire began. Under the agreement, about 600 aidtrucks perday should be allowed to enter COGAT, the Israelidefense body overseeing aid in Gaza, reported 950 trucks —including commercial trucks andbilateral deliveries crossing on Thursday and 716 on Wednesday,the U.N. said. Israelhas said it let in enough food and accused Hamas of stealing muchof it, which the U.N. and other aid agencies deny

Air Force saidSaturday.It saidthat Ukrainian forces shotdown 136 of the drones.

Twopeople wereinjured after Russian drones targeted agas station in the

district of Sumy in northeast Ukraine, local officialssaidSaturday.

Dear UnitedHealthcare,

Everyday at LCMC Health, we show up to fight forthe people of NewOrleans Astrustedcareproviders, we treat complex cancers, deliver babies, perform lifesaving transplants,and help familiesnavigatesomeofthe happiestand hardest momentsoftheir lives.Wedothiswork becauseour patientsdeserve access to the best care possible,close to home, withoutdelay,and without unnecessary barriers

We writeto youwitha simple but urgent request:promptly reach afair agreement with LCMC Health thatprioritizes the patient/provider relationship and recognizes the value this health system brings to our community.

Our patients– your members– deserveaccess to the care and the coverage they rely on. This market is small. With only oneother provider in town, patientscould beforcedtopay more or travel furtherfor necessarycareifLCMCHealth is forced out of your network. For manyofour patients,that’ssimply notfeasible

For months,LCMC Healthhas been at the negotiating table trying to reach a fair agreement with UnitedHealthcarebefore the current contract ends on November 1, 2025.Yet despitebillionsinannual profitsand rising premiums for employersand families, UnitedHealthcarerefuses to payfair ratesthat reflect the real cost andcomplexity of thecareLCMC Health provides. Even worse, providers and patientscontinue to bear the burden of asystemic processofdenials,delays, andadministrativehoopsthat leavepatients waiting fortreatment their doctors havealreadydeemed necessary

We seethe damagethiscauses every single day.Patientsare forced to postpone treatment, insurerswantmorepaperwork, and familiesare hit with unexpected bills becausecoverage wasdenied. AndifLCMC Health is out of UnitedHealthcare’s network, many children in need of specialized care will be forced to travel out of statetocontinue their treatment.UnitedHealthcare’s decisions don’t justmakeour jobsharder,theycan ultimately impact people’s health

We didn’tbecome physicians to arguewith insurancecompanies. We became physicians to treat diseases,prevent suffering, andsavelives.Yet toooften, UnitedHealthcarestands between us andthe people who need our care It’stimefor that to change.

UnitedHealthcare hasthe resources, and the responsibility, to do right by the people it serves.Thatstartswith reaching afair contract with LCMC Health before November1 that keepspatients connected to their doctors and ensuresNew Orleans familiescan continueaccessingthe care theyknowand trustatLCMC Health without interruption.

Ourmessage is simple: your membersare ourpatients,and theydeserve better. Stop putting up roadblocks. Payfair rates. Stop underpayingfor care youknowis essential. And startworkingwith us to build ahealthcaresystemthat putspeople andtheir health first

Respectfully, The Physicians of

UNITEDHEALTHCARE MUST STOP STANDINGINTHE WAY OF CARE

RamsyAbdelghani, MD

William Alden, MD

Leah Antin,CRNA

Chris Argote,MD

Zachary Arnett,DO

KellyBabineaux, MD

CharlesJ.Ballay II, MD

Brian Barbara, DO

KathyBernstein, NP

Elyse Bevier-Rawls,MD

AmitK.Bhandutia, MD,FAAOS

Liz Blanton,MD

Michelle Blyth, MD

Jonathan C. Boraski,MD, DMD, FACS

Sheryl Boraski, CRNA

Walter Bortz,MD

J. Philip Boudreaux,MD, FACS

John Breaux,MD

Yvette Bren Mattison, PhD

E. Amandis Brooke, MD

CynthiaJ.Brown, MD,MSPH

Wesley Bryan, MD

Nathan A. Burns,DMD

JamesCallaghan, MD

Michael Carver,MD

Cory L. Cashman, MD

R. Patrick Cecola, MD

EvaBlanche Centanni, MD

Amit Chawla, MD

JasonChiang, MD

Harvey Chim, MD,FACS

JessicaChu,PA-C

Robert Chugden, MD

ShelleyM.Clapp, DNP,NNP-BC

ReneeClower, AG-ACNP

Meda Colvin, MD

MichaelCook,MD, FACS,FASMBS

AmandaCoomans,AGACNP

Ralph L. Corsetti, MD

SarahCossich, MD

Frank Culicchia,MD

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David Dionne,NP

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Gary Duhon, MD,MPH

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Daniel Fontanez, MD

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GregoryKyle Fulton, MD

Carlos Galvani,MD

CrystalGaur, MD

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Khuzema Ghafoor,MD

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AmandaGlinky,MD

Farrah Golmaryami,PhD

Fabienne Gray,MD

Stephen Green,MD

PatrickGreiffenstein, MD

JacquesL.Guillot, MD

Cynthia Hanemann, MD

CarrieHenderson,MD

Mary Hobbs Maluccio,MD

LarryHollier, MD

John P. Hunt, MD,MPH, FACS

Jeanne Hutchinson,MD

SarahC.Jackson, MD

David Janz,MD, MSC

Amelia Marie Jernigan,MD

VernilynN.Juan,MD

KimberlyKent,PhD,MSCP

Charvi Khurana, PA-C

AndrewG.King, MD,MB.ChB, FRACS,FACS

Mark W. Kline, MD

Ryan J. Kline, MD

PeterKrause, MD

Colleen LeBlanc,MD

ChristopherLege, MD

AlejandroLeon,MD

IlsaLeon,MD

Kristen Lindsey,CPNP

NishaLoganantharaj,MD

JenniferLohmann-Bigelow, MD

Joshua Lowentritt, MD,FASN, FNKF

Daniel Lucio, MD

Alfred Luk, MD

ScottMacicek, MD

Shreya Madhavaram, MD

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Robert C. McMyneJr.,MD

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Omeed Moaven,MD, FSSO

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Leslie Palmerlee, MD

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Leslie Reilly,MD

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BrookeStephens,PA-C

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Sanda Tan, MD

Gabriel Tender,MD

David Theriot, MD

Raju Thomas,MD, FACS,FRCS,MHA

AaronThompson, MD

Andrea Toomer, MD

Emily Turner,NNP

Vilija Vaitaitis,MD

StacyValley, FNP

Keith VanMeter,MD

Joshua Vicknair,CRNA

Bill vonAlmen, MD

SashaVukelic,MD, PhD

AlexisWaguespack, MD

Elizabeth Watkins,MD

Mark Wegmann,MD

LanceWehrly, MD

Frank Wilklow, MD

Adele Williams,MD

Leah Williams,MD

Sadie Williams,PA-C

Elizabeth Wisner,MD

LeonardWudel, MD

JessicaZagory, MD

Kiran Zaveri, MD

Learnmoreat

HeartofNOLA.com

media attention or federal government resources.

The heat deaths that coroners have been able to identify in recent years paint an alarming picture.

In New Orleans, elderly people have died mowing the lawn or trying to cool off in homes where spotty air conditioning units can’t keep up. Homeless people have died under overpasses. The prevalenceofconcrete and buildings has worsened the city’sheat island effect, and solutions haveproved elusive.

Twoyears ago, the state recorded an all-time high of heat-related deaths: 86. Deaths remained higher thanusual last year,before falling during arelatively more temperate summer this year

Still, there is broad agreement among coroners and health professionals that thetrue deathtoll is unknown —and far higher than the recorded tally Health professionals across the world say they struggle to count heat-related deaths, with ahostof factors —including medical judgment that variesby doctor —making it allbut impossible to understand the true toll of extreme heat. At the same time, heat is becoming arising threat to human health in cities across the U.S. because of climatechange, and officials are struggling to grapple with aproblem that is overlooked by many residents.

“Heatisa silentkiller,” said Kristie Ebi, professor of global health at the UniversityofWashington.

“People by and large don’t recognize that heat is a risk.”

Decades-oldproblem

In 1998, aheat wave gripped partsofLouisiana and Texas, bringing unrelenting heat that killed cattle, buckled railroads andbroughtmiseryto residents. The state epidemiologist at the time was flummoxed by the rising death toll, as many elderly residents perished in homes without adequate AC.

“There areprobably many more outtherethat we haven’theard of yet,” said Dr.Louise McFarland, the former state epidemiologist, to areporter at the time.

In all, at least 41 died in Louisiana that year,shattering records

But health professionals knew then —asthey do now —that it was adramatic undercount. Coroners hadno standard practice for identifying heat-relateddeaths especially those where heat was acontributing factor but not the ultimatecause of death.

That heat wave revealed shortcomings in the way Louisiana and the rest of the country traced the number of people who die from heatrelated illnesses.

But little has changed in nearly three decades since

coroners work in the state, according to aTimes-Picayune analysis.

School of Public Health.

TheHealth Department haspublisheda document guiding healthprofessionalsonhow to track heat deaths and is promoting it at conferences, Herrock said.

‘Reallytough’

Because Louisiana’scoronersystem is parish-by-parish, the level of rigor varies widely.Some small, rural parisheshaveshoestring budgets. Others with more staffing are better at identifying deaths.

ciationofMedical Examiners, said the organization hasspent yearswrestling with the question of how to standardize heat death reporting.

But he believescoroners need the freedom to make amedical opinion. If acoroner comes across an elderly New Orleanian who died mowing thelawnona hot summer day,ahost of questions arise: “Did he have a cardiacevent?Did he have astroke? Is it heat-related?

How much?”

“You might have twomedical experts with different opinions,” he said.

Still, coronerscan find more heat deaths if they are trained to look for them

“It’stough. It’s really tough,” Quinton said.

“Those tiny parishes with a one- or two-man office and they don’thave the experience of having that many deathstobegin with,they might not be as comfortable recording these deaths.”

Excess deaths soar

Anotherheatwave30years ago in Chicago brought afamiliar story: Temperatures soared well into the 100s for days, andelderly people,often isolated and without adequate air conditioning, died in record numbers.

of deaths in Chicago during the period, compared with similar time frames in past years, found the real number wascloser to 700.

Excess death analyses can often better capture the scopeofheat deaths. But there areother ways state and local officials can get a better sense of theproblem, like speeding up the process of certifying death certificates, Ebi said. And cities should be focusing more on preventing deathstobeginwith, she said.

“There is ahigh level of interest in the media to know exactly what the number is,” Ebi said. “The amount of money that’sgoing to take to be able to do that, we could invest in early warning systems, andwecould invest in cooling shelters, andwe could invest in taxis to take people to the cooling shelters.”

Some places in Canada and Europe have gotten better at conducting quick excess death analyses, Ebi said. But they still don’tprovide granular information about the peoplewho died and the circumstances that ledto their deaths —whichcan help prevent them.

then.

The state still has not standardizedthe practice, and coroners offices say it is difficulttodetermine whether heat contributed, rather than directly caused, adeath.Each Louisiana parishhas an elected coroner,and they have varying levels of expertise,money and manpower

Only one coroner’soffice in the state, Jefferson Parish, run by Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners, which hashigher standards for investigatingdeaths.The rest only followstate law,which merely requires autopsiesin ahandfulofcases including homicides and child deaths.

Genevay said.

“The number of bad health outcomes associated with heatare drastically underreported.”

ZACH SCHLADER, associateprofessor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health

Death investigators in Cvitanovich’soffice are trainedtotake livertemperatures, ambientair temperatures and make note of other factors that makeit likely heat contributed to adeath, said TimGenevay, director of forensic operations.

Theoffice handles autopsies for more than adozen southLouisiana parishes and, in many cases, theinformation provided is not enough to determine contributingfactors to deaths, according to Genevay and other officials in the office.

“Aroundthe state, you have deathinvestigators whoare not certified, who don’tknowthe procedure,”

For instance, someone whodiedofheart complications during aheat wave mayhave not otherwise died,but it’susually up to acoroner’sbestjudgment whether to list heat as acontributing factor Ebi, of Washington University,said half of all deaths during heat waves arecardiovascular related.And overstretched em erge nc y room doctors are more concerned withsavinga person’s life than taking arectal temperaturetodetermine if the heat played a role, she said.

TheLouisiana DepartmentofHealth has taken steps to get aslightly more comprehensive count of heat deaths, saidspokesperson Emma Herrock. Agency officials manually search for keywords like “heat”and “hyperthermia” on deathcertificates, which hashelped them catch afew heat deaths that were otherwise not classified that way on their certificate.

Using thatmethod, the Health Department found several more deaths in 2023 than the 86 officially reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The numberofbad health outcomesassociated with heat are drastically underreported,”said Zach Schlader,associate professor at Indiana University’s

Thoma, the Caddo coroner,said there’s no foolproof way to identify heat deaths. Someone whodies outside may have ahigh internal temperature at first, but it can drop tothe outside air temperature by thetime his investigators arrive. If officials aren’tspecifically looking for heat deaths,hesaid, they’ll miss them.

“Some arealwaysgoing to be missed,” he said.“If it’sthe middle of summer and theyhaven’tbeen seen in two to threedays …they may have had aheat stroke two to three days earlier, but it doesn’tshowuponan autopsy.”

Dr.Reade Quinton, president of the National Asso-

The Cook County Medical Examiner classified 465 deathsasheat-related that summer But later studiesthatexamined the excess number

“Knowing this two years laterdoesn’treally help, Ebi saidabout delays in getting such information. “It helps in going to policymakersand saying, ‘This problem is muchbigger than you think.’”

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and dance. Theybrought those students to competitions, where they won medal after medal. Then, in 2022, when thebombsgot too close, they left.

Like athousand other Ukrainian refugees, they landed in Louisiana.Many arrivedvia afederal sponsorship programthathas since been suspended, amid nonpartisan support that has since wavered,using alegal status that’snow in doubt But despite the uncertainty,some Ukrainian families are making plans, establishing roots and, in the case of Dolinny andZviagintseva, building businesses.

With coaching and marketing help from their two teenage children, they restarted their club. Located in Clearview City Center,ithas become ahub, acommunity center and an occasional concert venue, said Denys Bondar,a Ukrainian-born Tulane University professor and head of Kryla, an NGO providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine. “It’sbasically the heart of Ukrainian New Orleans right now.”

And, to Dolinnyy and Zvyagintseva, it’sa way of saying thank you to acommunity that has welcomed their family into their homesand their schools.

“My students once won world and European championships, bringing pride to Ukraine,” Dolinnyy,43, said. “Now, Idream that my American students will win major international tournaments and bring pride to the United States.

“That will be my way of expressing gratitude to this country for welcoming us andgivingusthe chanceto start anew life.”

‘Homesickfor anotherepoch’

The family arrived in 2022. At the time, the world’s eyeswere on Ukraine,the United States was welcoming Ukrainian refugees and many New Orleans homes were sporting blue-and-yellow flags.

An estimated 240,000 Ukrainians came to the United States via Uniting for Ukraine, aprogram the U.S. government suspended in January.Now,those Ukrainian refugees face uncertainty under the Trump administration, which has tried to halt programs that have allowed people from war-torn and crisis-ridden

countries to liveand work in theUnitedStates.It’s ended one such program, which grants Temporary Protected Status,orTPS, forpeople fromVenezuela, for example.

President Donald Trump met Fridayatthe White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,a day after holding alengthy phonecallwithRussian PresidentVladimir Putin. Therecent Gaza cease fire deal has raised spirits among Ukrainian refugees, whohopethat “a similar type of thing could be worked out with Russia,” said Edward Hayes, the honoraryconsulofUkraine to Louisiana.Ukrainiansare “extremelyresilient.…This is agroupand apopulation thatdoes not complain,” he said.

But thestatusofUkrainian refugees in theU.S. is “certainlyunstable and unsettling,” Hayes said Ukrainian refugees remain protected, according to an OctoberarticleinThe New York Times. Requests forre-parolewill be reviewed on acase-by-case basis, aspokesperson for the Department for Homeland Security said by email, “and

aliens need to demonstrate that urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit justifytheir continuedpresence in the United States and that they warrant afavorable exercise of discretion.”

In recent days, Bondar has heard about the federal government extending the TPS status of afew Ukrainian refugees.

“If youhad asked me lastweek,” Bondar said, he would have been far more pessimistic aboutUkrainians’ legal status in the country.Still, Ukrainiansare worried. “And many feel homesick for acountry that has been shattered by war, he continued, “homesick for another epoch, for the time before thewar.”

An emptyN.O.home

Dolinnyy,Zvyagintseva andtheir twochildren stayed in Metairie, at first, with Dr.OksanaNimkevych, whomoved to theU.S in 2006. But thenNew Orleans native Pam Conway Caruso, debating whether to sell or keep her latefather’s empty West Bankhome, had athought:“Maybe there are some Ukrainians whocould use it.”

phonecalls later, and Dolinnyy,Zviagintseva andtheirtwo children, Uliana and Mark, moved in.

For the first year,they paid

no rent or utilities. Aphoto from that time shows them on the house’sfront steps, Dolinnyy repairing ablue shutter,Zviagintseva stand-

TheNextChapter forNew Orleans: NOMARCID Forecast Symposium spotlightsthe

Advances in AI technology,major newconstruction, andNew Orleans’ newmayor-elect areusheringin compelling opportunitiesfor professionalsin theindustryamidstthe many challenges theareahas facedover thepastyear.

Theoverarching themeofthe 15th Annual Economic &RealEstateForecast Symposiumhostedbythe New OrleansMetropolitanAssociation of REALTORS® Commercial Investment Division (NOMAR CID) was “Breaking Ground:The Emergenceofa NewEconomy”. Thepremier eventboasted over 450attendees,morethan 40 sponsoringbusinessesfromacrossthe region,and speakers from numerous disciplinessharing thelatest industry data andanecdotal experience.Symposium attendees gleanedahelpful glimpseintothe bigpicture ofthe NewOrleans market andimportant changesthat areinthe works.

Commercial Real Estate Milestones

Severalprojectsofconsiderablesizeare poised to impact theten-parish NOMARregioninthe coming years. ShellOil brokegroundearlier this year on anew vertical,Class Aoffice building that will serveasaheadquarters forthe company. As thefirstClass Aoffice towertobebuilt in NewOrleans since1989, this major undertakingisforecasttobreathe newlifeintothe River District of NewOrleans

Theplanfor Omni Hotels &Resorts’new $590 million hotelbesidethe Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has continuedtotakeshape, with construction expected to beginin2026. Tulane University hasalsobeenworkingtopushforward plansfor therevitalizationofthe historic CharityHospitalbuildingonTulaneAve with hopestofeaturestate-of-the-artlaboratories, classrooms, retail,dining, andmore. This projectisexpected to driveupthe city’s economyand produceaplethora of newjobs.

TheLouisiana InternationalTerminal(LIT) project in St.Bernard Parish andVenture Global’s LNGexport facility in PlaqueminesParishare twomorelarge-scale projects that areprojected to provideeconomicboosts to thearea. In Richland Parish,inNorthernLouisiana Meta haslaidout planstobuild adatacenterthatcould placeLouisiana at theforefront of theemergingAItech revolution.While theconstructiondoesnot sitwithin theNOMAR region,the ripple effectitcould have may have majorimplicationsonhow outsideinvestors view Louisianaand itspotential

“There aretwo trends in theworldright nowthat Louisianaisincredibly well-positionedfor.One is that thedemandfor energy to fuel AI is goingtokeepgoing up becauseasingleChatGPT search takesapproximately 17xthe amount of energy aGooglesearchtakes.Atthe same time,the need for energy that hasalower carbon footprintwillcontinueunabated,” said MichaelHecht President& CEOofGNO,Inc.“In Louisiana, we have accesstolow-costnatural gas, andweutilize carbon capturesequestration (CCS), whichreduces carbon emissionsinthe atmosphere.Wehavethe infrastructure,natural land formations like salt domes, andthe expertisetodoso.

Changesonthe politicalfront arealsopredicted to impact theNOMAR region’s real estate market.Thispast Saturday,HelenaMoreno wonthe mayoralelectionfor thecityofNew Orleans, andthere is much speculation abouthow theshift in administration willimpactthe area.Notably,one of Moreno’s campaign highlights was an emphasis on implementing economicgrowthinNew OrleansEast—an area that hassuffered long-termdevas-

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi| stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

tation sinceHurricane Katrinain2005. Contractors anddevelopersare also optimistic that thenew administrationwilladdress thefailuresofthe city’s permitting systems, leadingtogreaterinterestininvestments from buildersoutside of NewOrleans

“I have neverbeenmoreencouragedthanIamtoday,” said Mike Sherman, Founder& ExecutiveCounsel of ShermanStrategies. “Wherever youstand with theelection,Ithink there’sareasontobeoptimistic. Thereis arenewed energy.”

Insights on ResidentialMarket

Regardingthe residential side of themarket, essential insights were shared by Gary Wagner,Acadiana Business Economist/BORSFEminentScholar Endowed ChairinEconomics at theUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette.

“I thinkthe main take away from this particular year is that what’s become ahousing affordability issueisnow turningintoanexcessinventory issue. If we went back to atypical Septemberfrom2013-2019,wewould have about4600residential homesfor sale in theNOMAR region.Right now, we areatabout 7600,” Wagner said “Housing affordability hasreallyshifted with the

Theremay be some pocketsofthe population wherethat mightbetrue,”saidWagner. “I wasalot more concerned aboutthatafew yearsbackand howpeoplewould react Butithasn’t hadquite thenegativeeffectIhad anticipated. It’s certainlynot apositivethingfor theregion, butIt’snot as badaswhatI thoughtcould happen.” Resets in Retail andAreas of Growth

In termsofretail, theNOMAR region hasbeenexperiencing success, especially in consolidated commercial corridorssuchasVeteransMemorialBoulevard in Metairie,along with othermixed-use centersacross theregion. KirstenEarly,Partner/Director of Retail at SRSA Real Estate,spoke to hownationalretailclosures in thearea, such as PartyCity, BigLots, andStarbucks arerestoring bigbox spaces to themarket.

“It’snot aretreat,it’sareset,” said Early, whowas optimistic aboutthe opportunitiesthe vacanciespresent AccordingtoEarly,new growth categories to be on thelookout for arequick servicerestaurants,fitness, discount andvalue stores (TJMaxx, Marshalls, etc.), grocery stores,and othermajor brands,all of which help to producesteadytrafficfor neighborhoodsand multi-usecenters

interest rate environmentchangingacoupleofyears agoand remaininghigh—with the30-year mortgage rate remainingsomewhere around 6.8%,” continuedWagner. “Weare seeing inventorylevelsmuchhigherthanwhat we typicallysee,and it hasflippedthe market from more of asellers’markettoabuyers’ market.”

TheFederal Reservelowered interest ratesinSeptember, providinga little relief andsignaledtwo more potential interest rate cuts in 2025.However,the nation is still alongway from the3%interestrates that fueled thereal estate market afew yearsago.Wagnerspeculatesthat priceincreases willremainmodestfor thenextcouple of years, andthatbuyerswillbegin to adjust to thenew interest rate environment.

Wagner also highlightedthatthe effects of increases to theregion’sfloodinsurance premiums have not appeared as far-reachingasheinitially expected.Insurance premiums have been decreasing this past year, providingrelief.

“Sofar,itdoesn’t look like therevisions to flood insurance arehavinga significant effectonhomebuyers.

AI’s Emerging Role in theIndustry

Theimplications of AI on therealestateindustrywere amajor elementinmanyofthe panels andpresentations throughout thecourseofthe day. On thepanel,“What do thelenders say?”, severalbankexecutivesspoke to theuse of AI in underwritingloans.While theamount of usagevariesacrosscompanies,the consensusisthat AI willbecomeaneverydayfixturefor allinvolvedin therealestateindustry With AI,everythingfromvirtual home viewings to instantaneouslyassessing abuyer’s assets for loan approval is on thetable,and in thefinalsession of the day, GuyWilliams, President&CEO of Gulf CoastBank &Trust Company, encouraged attendees to trythe differentAImodelsand become familiar with thetools they provide.

“Every technologicaladvance hasincreased thestandard of living—steam engines, steel, computers. AI is goingtoimprove prosperity around theworld,” said Williams.“This is atrain youhavetoget on boardwith, or youwillbeleftbehind.”

STAFFPHOTOSByCHRIS

like New Orleans, the couple had established athriving sports club, with Dolinnyy as sensei and Zviagintseva as dance coach. Karate had helped ayoung Dolinnyy “believe in my power.”And some of the youngathletes he was working with were shy, too. Otherswereaggressive. “I helped them find balance.”

They were competing across the country,and across Europe, when the war broke out. In those early days, Russia focused in part on the Odesa region, with its energy infrastructure and cultural cache.Dolinnyy believed that athletes andcoaches,representing Ukraine in international competitions, would be targeted, too.

Still, leaving wasadifficult decision. “Wewill go together or not,” Dolinnyy said An early morningbombing made up their minds. Uliana remembers her mother waking her: “Pack your clothes.” They crossed into Poland and then Romania, flying into New York, where Dolinnyy’sfather lives. Then they

came to New Orleans, where Zviagintseva’sfriend lived Dolinnyywas working for DoorDash and training Markinthe backyard when they decided to openthe gym

They had no biginvestors, no bank loan.They tookout an interest-free business credit card loan of $7,500 and turned to friends: One of Dolinnyy’sformer students from Odesabuilt the website. Mark andUliana took coursesinweb design. Ukrainian friends helped the coupleinstall mirrors andflooring. Afew fellowUkrainians enrolled theirkids. Acamp attracted adozen more. Now, the gym countsmore than 100 students.

Parents and grandparents linedupoutside the gym on an October weeknight, snapping photosoftheir children through the glass. Theywere from Ukraine andRussia, but also Metairie and New Orleans Straight A’s, aschoolplay In the studio, thegirls in leotardshad been eyeingthe pompoms from the moment Uliana mentioned them.

“Onlyifyou’regoing to listentome, OK?” she said,

her fingers to her ears.

“Promise?”

Thegirls scurriedover, onebyone,clutching the pompoms.Thenthey stood in neat linesasUliana, wearing an Olivia Rodrigo “so American” shirt, demonstrated the next move: “One, two!” sheshouted beforejumping, touchingher toes in the air and landing in thesplits.

“Ooooh,” the girls cried. “Wow!”

Uliana beganstudying karate when she was 4years old, dance when shewas 7. (“She didn’thave achoice,” herfather laughed.)At12, shedecided to focuson dancealone. In videos, she pliesand pirouettes, shuffles and leaps.

Landing in New Orleans at 14 meant starting over Afamily friend contacted the Academy of the Sacred Heart andasked whether they might have room on their Uptowncampus for an eighth grader GivenSacred Heart’smission, “I said ‘yes,’”saidMicheline Dutil, then the head of school. During her first meeting with the family,“it was so heartbreaking, her mom could not stop crying. Youcould see the devastation.”

Uliana, who goes by “Uli,” struggled, too. Talking day and nightwithfriends, she had “a front-row seat to the bombings,” Dutilsaid. But her Englishwas strong, and she wasn’t afraidofhard work. For areligion class, sherecorded thelectures, looking up the vocabulary She painted, selling works andsending the proceeds back to Ukraine.

Nowasenior, she is taking three Advanced Placement classes, earning straight A’s and starring in the school play,“AChorus Line.” And she’sa fixture at thegym, arriving early and leaving late, just like her parents.

“I think they arereally brave,” Uliana said of her parents, “for managing this business in acompletely differentcountry,witha

completely different language and completely different people.”

‘Onlygetting started’

But time anddistance have worn on the family.In September, Zviagintseva’s father died. But she couldn’t return to Odesa for thefuneralorthe burial.

“Itwas hard,” shesaid.

“My family,mykids have been helping and supporting me.”

On calls with friendsand family,theytry not to talk about the latest airstrikes, insteadfocusing on what theycan do,how theycan help. “If we just focuson problems,” Dolinnyy said, then laughed, pointing to his graying hair.“Yousee my hairs!”

He declined, too, to talk

Tulane’s

aboutU.S.politics, other than his gratefulness that the country has supported Ukraine andwelcomed people like his family.Instead,hetouts his students’ achievements.

In July,overfive days and hundreds of matches, they competed at the AAU Karate Nationals in Miami. Five students, including his son Mark, wonmedals.

In late July and early August, theycompeted at the AAU Junior Olympic GamesinHouston. Nine students won medals, including six gold.

“We’re so proud to representLouisiana on the national stage,”Dolinnyy said, “and we’reonly getting started.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Dr.VyAnh Maiwears

days,she serves as aprimary care physicianfor both adults andpediatric patients at Tulane’s Uptown Square clinic –seeingthemduringappointments, checking on test results, addressing theirmedical needsand ordering prescriptions. In addition,Dr. Maiisthe AssociateProgram Director of Internal Medicine andPediatricsResidencyProgram,aswellasanassistant professor of Internal Medicine andPediatricsatthe Tulane University School of Medicine.Inthose roles, she helpstrain newresidents on medicalbestpractices andconnectingwithpatients Born in Stockton,Californiaand raised in Missouri,Dr. Maihas made NewOrleans herhome since2013.

“You can’tfind thepeople, theculture andthe communityofNew Orleansanywhereelseinthe nation,” shesaid. “I love that this city is incredibly friendlyand allows people of differentculturesto interact.You canmakea friendanywhereinNew Orleansinlessthanfive minutes.

Dr.Mai shared more abouther work with Tulane Doctorsand howshe is helping NewOrleanianstake ownershipoftheir health,one step at atime. Whyare regularcheckupswitha primary care physiciansoimportant? There’sacommonmisconception that youcan’t be diagnosedwithacondition unless youhavesymptoms.Thatisnot always thecase. Ihaveuncovered multiple diagnosesfor people whodid notrealize they hadpotentially seriousconditions, such as high blood pressure,diabetes, or high cholesterol. They hadno symptoms at all. It’s really importanttohavethose checkups so we canbeproactive aboutmanaging thosetypes of conditions andhelping people reach andmaintainoptimal health

You’ve also been integral with theBAYOU BridgesHomeVisit program. Tell me about that work

This programaimstobridgethe gapinmental andbehavioralhealthcarecausedbythe current shortage of specialistsinthose areas. We visitpeople ages 11 to 39 in theirhomes to conductmentalhealth medicalinterventions,diagnoses,screenings,and medication management.Mostofthe people we see have conditions such as ADHD,depression, andanxiety. I’ve seen this programtransform patients.Once they receivethe care they need,theyare better able to handle theirfeelingsand have more autonomy in theirlives

We’realsousing BAYOUBridges to trainTulane residents in mental health care treatment. I’ve seen them become more confident in this area.Theyare achievinganew levelofknowledge aboutmental health,and that willtranslate into better treatment plansfor patients What wouldyou saytosomeone whomay be embarrassedtostart seeing adoctorafter many yearsofnot going to one? There’snobettertimethannow.It’sbetterlate than never. Primarycarephysicianscaresomuch aboutcreating lastingrelationships with patients andinvesting in theirpreventativecare. There’sno need for embarrassmentorshame.Weare very proud when they come to seeusbecausetheyare taking asteptowardbeing proactiveabout theirhealth. Tulane Doctorsprovidesprimary care at clinics in Metairie,UptownNew Orleans, andDowntown NewOrleans.Servicesinclude annual physicals, well womanvisits, acutecare, chronicdisease management,and general psychiatriccare. Call 504-9885000 or visittulanedoctors.com to learnmoreor schedule an appointment.

Immigrationcrackdown weighs on U.S. labormarket

BY PAUL WISEMAN and GISELA SALOMON Associated Press

Maria workedcleaning schools in Florida for$13 an hour.Every two weeks, she’d get a$900 paycheckfrom her employer,acontractor Not much —but enough to cover rent in the house that she andher 11-year-old son share with five families,plus electricity,a cellphone and groceries.

In August, it all ended. When she showed up at the jobone morning, herboss told her thatshe couldn’t work there anymore. The Trump administration had terminated President Joe Biden’shumanitarian parole program, which provided legal work permits for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans as well as Nicaraguans like Maria.

“I feel desperate,” said Maria, 48, whorequested anonymity to talkabout her ordeal because she fears being detained and deported. “I don’thave any money to buy anything. Ihave$5inmyaccount. I’m left with nothing.”

President Donald Trump’s sweepingcrackdown on immigration is throwing foreigners like Maria out of work and shaking the Americaneconomy andjob market And it’shappening at atime when hiring is already deteriorating amid uncertainty over Trump’serratic trade policies.

Immigrants do jobs cleaning houses, picking tomatoes, painting fences —that most native-born Americans won’t, and for less money.But they also bring the technical skillsand entrepreneurial energy that have helped make the United States the world’seconomic superpower

Trump is attacking immigration at both ends of spectrum, deporting low-wage laborersand discouraging skilled foreigners from bringing their talents to the United States. And he is targeting an influx of foreign workers that easedlabor shortagesand upward pressure on wages and prices at atime when most economists thought thattaming inflation would require sky-high interest rates and arecession —a fate the United States escaped in 2023 and 2024.

“Immigrants are good for the economy,” said Lee Branstetter,aneconomist at Carnegie-Mellon University “Because we had alot of immigration over the past five years, an inflationary surge was not as bad as many people expected.”

More workers filling more jobs and spending more money has also helped driveeconomic growth and create still-more job openings. Economists fear that Trump’sdeportations and limits on even legal immigration will do the reverse.

In aJuly report, researchers Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson of the centrist Brookings Institution and Stan Veuger of the rightleaning American Enterprise Institute calculated that the loss of foreign workers will mean that monthly U.S. job growth “could be near zero or negative in the next few years.”

Hiring has already slowed significantly,averaging a meager 29,000 amonth from June throughAugust. (The September jobs report has been delayed by the ongoing shutdownofthe federal government.) During the post-pandemic hiring boom

Rollins’ suggestion in July thatU.S.-bornMedicaid recipientscould head to the fields to meet workrequirements imposed this summer by the Republican Congress. “People in the cityaren’t coming back to thefarm to do this kind of work,”he said.“It takesacertain type of person to bend over in 100-degree heat.”

TheTrump administration itself admitsthatthe immigrationcrackdown is causing labor shortagesonthe farmthat could translate into higher prices at the supermarket

food production and prices forU.S. consumers.”

‘You’renot welcomehere’

Jed Kolko of the Peterson Institute forInternational Economics said that job growth is slowing in businesses that relyonimmigrants.Construction companies, forinstance, have shed 10,000 jobs since May

“Those arethe short-term effects,” said Kolko, aCommerce Department official in the Biden administration.

to the United States, from as little as $215 to $100,000. “A $100,000 visafee is not just abureaucratic cost it’sasignal,” Dany Bahar,seniorfellowatthe Center for Global Development,said. “Ittells global talent:‘You are not welcomehere.’”

of 2021-2023, by contrast, employers added astunning 400,000jobsa month.

ThenonpartisanCongressional Budget Office, citing fallout Trump’simmigration and trade policies, downgraded its forecastfor U.S. economic growth this year to 1.4% from the 1.9% it had previously expected and from2.5% in 2024 ‘Weneedthese people’

Goodwin Living, an Alexandria, Virginianonprofit that providesseniorhousing, health care and hospice services, had to lay off four employees from Haitiafter the Trump administration terminated their workpermits. The Haitians had been allowed to work undera humanitarian parole program and had earned promotions at Goodwin

“That was avery, very difficult day for us,” CEO Rob Liebreich said. “It was really unfortunate to have to say goodbye to them, and we’re still struggling to fill those roles.”

Liebreich is worried that another 60 immigrant workers couldlosetheir temporary legal right to live and work inthe United States. “Weneed all those hands,” he said. “Weneed all these people.”

GoodwinLivinghas 1,500 employees, 60% of them from foreign countries.It has struggled to find enough nurses, therapists and maintenance staff. Trump’simmigration crackdown, Liebreich said,is“making it harder.”

TheICE crackdown

Trump’simmigrationambitions, intended to turn back what hecalls an “invasion” at America’ssouthern border andsecure jobsfor U.S.-born workers,wereonceviewed with skepticism because of the money and economic disruptionrequiredtoreach his goalofdeporting1 million people ayear.But legislation that Trumpsignedintolaw July4 —and whichRepublicanscall theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act —suddenly made his plans plausible The lawpours $150 billion

into immigration enforcement, settingaside $46.5 billion to hire 10,000 Immigration andCustomsEnforcement (ICE) agents and$45 billion to increase thecapacity of immigrant detention centers.

And his empowered ICE agentshave shown awillingness to move fast and break things —even when their aggression conflicts with other administration goals.

Last month, immigration authorities raided aHyundai battery plant in Georgia, detained300 SouthKorean workers and showed video of some of them shackled in chains. They’d been working to getthe plant up and running,bringing expertise in battery technology and Hyundai procedures that local American workersdidn’t have.

The incident enraged the South Koreansand ran counter to Trump’spush to lure foreign manufacturers to investinAmerica. SouthKorean President Lee Jae Myung warned that thecountry’s other companies mightbe reluctant about betting on America if theirworkers couldn’tget visas promptly and risked getting detained. Workingthe fields America’s farmersare among thepresident’smost dependable supporters.

ButJohnBoydJr.,who farms 1,300 acres of soybeans, wheat andcorn in southern Virginia,said that the immigration raids —and the threat of them —are hurting farmers alreadycontending with low crop prices, high costsand fallout from Trump’strade war with China, which has stopped buying U.S. soybeans and sorghum

“You gotICE out here, herding these people up,” said Boyd, founderofthe NationalBlackFarmers Association.“(Trump) says they’re murderersand thieves and drug dealers, allthis stuff. But these arepeople who are in this country doing hard work thatmanyAmericans don’twant to do.”

Boyd scoffed at U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke

“The near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens combinedwith the lack of an available legalworkforce,” the Labor Department said in an Oct. 2filing the Federal Register,“resultsinsignificantdisruptions to productioncostsand (threatens) the stability of domestic

“The longer-term effects are more serious because immigrants traditionally have contributed morethan their share of patents, innovation, productivity.”

Especially worrisome to many economists was Trump’ssuddenannouncement last monththathe wasraising thefee on H-1B visas, meanttolure hard-tofind skilled foreign workers

Someare already packing up. In Washington D.C., one H-1B visa holder, aHarvard graduate from India who works for anonprofit helping Africa’s poor,saidTrump’s signal to employersisclear: Think twice about hiring H-1B visa holders.

The man, who requested anonymity,isalready preparing paperwork to move to the UnitedKingdom. “The damage is already done,unfortunately,” he said. AP writers Fu Ting and Christopher Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.

PelicanCreditUnion haspartnered with Southeastern LouisianaUniversityAlumni Association to launch thenew Southeastern SchoolPrideDebitCard,designedtocelebrateand amplifythe public university’s role in theregion. With everyswipe of theseuniquedebit cards, Pelicandonates apercentageofthe transaction totheSLUAlumniAssociation.Thispartnership empowers students,alumni, andfanstoturn theireverydayspendingintoeffortless, monetary contributionstotheir favorite university “Weloveworking with this organization becausetheyare an engagedpartner, andthey want to show theirLionPride everytimethey opentheirwallet,”saidLeighPorta,ChiefGrowth OfficerofPelican Credit Union.

Asanot-for-profitfinancialinstitutionoperatingthroughoutthe majormarkets in Louisiana, PelicanCreditUnionis driven by thegrowthand successoftheirmanyschoolpartnershipsthroughoutthe state. Southeastern is Pelican’ssecond university partnership, followingasuccessful collaborationwithSouthernUniversity. Since launchingdebit cardswithSouthernlastyear, Pelicanhas donatedmorethan$32,000 in funds to theSouthernUniversityAlumniFederation. “WeareexcitedtoteamupwithPelicanCredit Uniontolaunchthe official Southeastern School PrideDebit Card,” said MalayneSharp,Director of Alumni Relationsfor Southeastern.“We’re grateful forthe partnershipwithPelican andthe opportunitytocreatemeaningfulbenefits for theSoutheasternLouisiana Alumni Association andour Lion family.”

Theseacademicpartnershipsimpacttheregion’s financial literacy for thebetterbydevelopingan awareness of theresources offered by thecredit unionandLouisiana’spublicuniversities.Pelican regularlycollaborateswithacademicleaders to hostfreeclassroomworkshopsandpresentations to advancestudents’financialeducation

“Ascommunitypartners,weattendoncampus events like tailgates, homecomingcelebrations, andconferences.But more importantly, we offer freeclassroomeducation,”Portasaid.“Professors

recognizethe valueofthe educationprovidedby Pelicanand itsimpactonyoung adultstudents preparingfor professional careers. Financial educationhasalwaysbeenahugepartofwhatwe do at Pelican, andwelookforward to continuing to trailblazeinthisarea.

Giving back is at thecoreofPelican’s values

Thecreditunion embraces a“PelicanPays” mindset—aphilosophythatbegan with several giveaway initiativesatlocalrestaurants and grocerystores. Theinitiativewas designed to inspirecommunity memberstopay it forward, andthe sentimenttookona life of itsown.The catchphrasenow reflectsthe generous spirit of Pelicanand itsidentity as an impactfulcommunity partner.

“Weare very passionate aboutwhatwedo here,”saidPorta.“It’sagoodfeelingknowingyou work fora business that is socially responsible andhas good intentions at heart.

Thenew Southeastern School PrideDebit Card is availabletoanyonewithorwho opens aPelican Credit Unioncheckingaccount. The debitcardfeaturesthe Southeastern University logo andcolorsand canberequested online or in-personatany Pelicanbranch. Formore informationonthe Lion PrideDebit Card visit: https://www.pelicancu.com/universal/southeastern-university-debit-card.

EDUCATION

Layoffs deplete offices at Education Department

Firings affect parts of agency that oversee special education, civil rights enforcement

BY COLLIN BINKLEY AP education writer

WASHINGTON A new round of layoffs at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous mass firings, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools in areas from special education to civil rights enforcement to after-school programs.

The Trump administration started laying off 466 Education Department staffers on Oct. 10 amid mass firings across the government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the federal shutdown. The layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced to less than half its size when President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.

The cuts play into Trump’s broader plan to shut down the Education Department and parcel its operations to other agencies Over the summer the department started handing off its adult education and workforce programs to the Labor Department, and it previously said it was negotiating an agreement to pass its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department.

Department officials have not released details on the layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, a union that represents more than 2,700 department workers, said information from employees indicates cuts will decimate many offices within the agency All but a handful of top officials are being fired at the office that

implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools, the union said. Unknown numbers are being fired at the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates complaints of discrimination at the nation’s schools and universities.

The layoffs would eliminate teams that oversee the flow of grant money to schools across the nation, the union said. It hits the office that oversees Title I funding for the country’s low-income schools along with the team that manages 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs. Without staff overseeing funding

for high-poverty schools or special education, schools may face delays in receiving reimbursement from the federal government, said Sasha Pudelski, director of advocacy for the American Association of School Administrators.

“We’re talking about the people who worked on the beating heart of our federal public school programs,” Pudelski said.

The layoffs will also eliminate teams that oversee TRIO, a set of programs that help low-income students pursue college, and another that oversees federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities.

In a statement, union president Rachel Gittleman said the new reductions, on top of previous layoffs, will “double down on the

harm to K-12 students, students with disabilities, first generation college students, low-income students, teachers and local education boards.”

The Education Department had about 4,100 employees when Trump took office. After the new layoffs, it would be down to fewer than 2,000. Earlier layoffs in March had roughly halved the department, but some employees were hired back after officials decided they had cut too deep.

The new layoffs drew condemnation from a range of education organizations. Although states design their own competitions to distribute federal funding for after-school programs, a small team of federal officials provided guidance and support “that is absolutely essen-

tial,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.

“Firing that team is shocking, devastating, utterly without any basis, and it threatens to cause lasting harm,” Grant said in a statement.

If upheld, the cuts will make it impossible for the government to fulfill its duties carrying out special education laws, according to a statement from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.

The layoffs will reduce the department’s special education office from roughly 200 workers to about five, said Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, which advocates for people with disabilities. Neas, who helped lead the office under former President Joe Biden, said families rely on those teams to make sure states and schools are following complex disability laws.

One prominent example dates to Trump’s first term, when the special education office determined that Texas had illegally placed a cap on the number of students who could receive special education services in each district. Under pressure from the U.S. Education Department, Texas lawmakers lifted the cap in 2017.

“As a result, tens of thousands of children in Texas now can access the education support that they need, whereas before they couldn’t,” Neas said.

The government’s latest layoffs are being challenged in court by the American Federation of Government Employees and other national labor unions. Their suit, filed in San Francisco, said the government’s budgeting and personnel offices overstepped their authority by ordering agencies to carry out layoffs in response to the shutdown.

In a court filing, the Trump administration said the executive branch has wide discretion to reduce the federal workforce. It said the unions could not prove they were harmed by the layoffs

CALIFORNIA

Plan to fire over highway during VP visit irks governor

Vance visiting for 250th anniversary of Marine Corps

BY SARAH RAZA Associated Press

A plan to fire live artillery shells over a major Southern California highway as part of a military showcase attended Saturday by Vice President JD Vance drew strong objections from Gov Gavin Newsom, who said safety concerns forced him to close a portion of the busy interstate.

“The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety,” the Democratic governor said in a statement. “Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous.” But U.S. Marine officials said there was nothing unsafe about the exercise at Camp Pendleton, where firing off artillery is a routine occurrence, and that it was unnecessary to disrupt traffic on Interstate 5, which is the main highway along the

Pacific coast between San Diego and Los Angeles.

Republicans castigated the highway shutdown.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, who represents a district east of the base, called it “a spiteful publicity stunt” by Newsom Vance, a Republican, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the base in north San Diego County to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, and watch troops put on a show of amphibious vehicles and Marines demonstrating a beach assault. Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, and his wife, Usha, watched as aircraft shot across the sky and columns of smoke rose from munitions strikes.

The state had considered closing the freeway earlier in the week, but the U.S. Marines said Thursday that the event would occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols.

State transportation officials ultimately made the decision to close the freeway after practice firings Friday evening and a request from event organizers for signage along the

Vice

road stating “Overhead fire in progress.”

The California Highway Patrol closed a 17-mile stretch of the highway for periods before and during the Saturday exercise.

Severe traffic delays were reported Saturday morning and early afternoon. No mishaps were reported related to the artillery fire.

“This is all because of the

California labor leader’s felony charge over protest reduced

By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

— The leader of a labor union in Southern California who was arrested while protesting an immigration raid earlier this year will have his felony obstruction charge reduced to a misdemeanor, court records show.

David Huerta had been charged with obstruction resistance or opposition to a federal officer — a class A felony, according to a Friday filing by Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in federal court.

However, prosecutors filed a proposed order Saturday seeking dismissal without prejudice of the original fel-

ony charge of conspiracy to impede an officer. The Justice Department confirmed Saturday in an email to The Associated Press that it had moved to dismiss the felony complaint against Huerta Huerta is president of the Service Employees International Union California. He was arrested June 6 while protesting outside a business in Los Angeles where federal agents were investigating suspected immigration violations.

A crowd of people gathered outside yelling at the officers. Huerta sat down in front of a vehicular gate and

encouraged others to walk in circles to try to prevent law enforcement from going in or out, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, wrote in an earlier federal court filing. An officer told Huerta to leave, then put his hands on Huerta to move him out of the way of a vehicle, the agent wrote. Huerta pushed back, and the officer pushed Huerta to the ground and arrested him, according to the filing.

Huerta later was released from federal custody on a $50,000 bail.

Afghan, Pakistani delegations in Doha for talks over cross-border violence

BY RIAZAT BUTT Associated Press

ISLAMABAD Afghan and Pakistani delegations were in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday, for talks on defusing the deadliest crisis between them in several years, after more than a week of fighting killed dozens of people and injured hundreds on both sides.

Both governments sent their defense ministers to lead the talks, which, Pakistan said, would focus on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability

along the border.

Each country says it is responding to aggression from the other Afghanistan denies harboring militants who carry out attacks in border areas Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar have called for calm, as the violence threatened to further destabilize a region where groups including the Islamic State group and al-Qaida are trying to resurface.

A 48-hour ceasefire intended to pause hostilities expired Friday evening. Hours later, Pakistan struck across the border. Pakistani security officials confirmed to The Associated

Press that there were strikes on two districts in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province.

The targets were hideouts of the militant Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

One said the operation was a direct response to the suicide bombing of a security forces compound in Mir Ali, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province a day earlier

The Pakistani Air Force raids killed dozens of armed fighters and there were no civilian deaths, they said.

White House-directed military event, that for the safety of the public, we need to shut down the freeway since

they’re sending live ordinances over the freeway,”

California Department of Transportation spokesperson Matt Rocco said.

U.S. Marines Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis said in a statement that there is artillery fire at the base nearly every week and that the exercises didn’t endanger motorists.

“Weeks of deliberate planning and rehearsals ensured success at every phase of execution,” he said.

In a statement to The New York Times, a spokesperson for Vance, William Martin, said Newsom misled the public about the safety risk.

“If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead,” Martin said.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Johnsonattractspublicity during government shutdown

WASHINGTON

—U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson got an earful when he fielded calls on C-SPAN last weekend.

Samantha, amilitary wifefrom Virginia, complained about Johnson’sdecision in mid-September not to convene the House until Senate Democrats agreedwith Republicans to reopen government.

Mark Ballard

“I am very disappointed in my party and I’m very disappointed in youbecause you do have the power to call the House back,” Samantha told Johnson. “You refused to do that just for ashow.”

Johnson, R-Benton, repeated what he’soften said lately: the House did its job by passing a resolution continuing government operations when spending authority expired Oct. 1. It’sDemocratic senators who have refused 10 times, as of Thursday,toapprove the resolution that has kept government closed for the pasttwo weeks and probably forthe next couple.

The shutdown has thrustJohnson into his highest profile in the public’seye during atwo-year leadership tenure as the behindclosed-doors Republican whisperer on Capitol Hillwho gets bills passed.

Usually calm, even taciturn, Johnson now calls himself “Mad Mike.”

He holds daily news conferences and goes on televisionoften to hammer the GOP theme that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,D-N.Y., is beingbullied by socialists bentonpicking afight with President Donald Trump.

Schumer’s“got to get permission from Bernie and AOC, Ithink, before he can ever vote to open the government again,” Johnson said Thursday on Fox News, referring to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez —two

Legislator —orWorld Gumbo Champ?

State Rep. Beau Beaullieuhas won two elections to the state House from New Iberia and now chairs one of the most important legislativecommittees. But nowadays he’d rather talk gumbo. Beaullieu’steam won its category in the World Gumbo Championship last Sunday in New Iberia. It was Beaullieu’sfourth victory in six years. The 35th annual cook-off filled Bouligny Plaza in downtown New Iberia in an event sponsored by the Greater Iberia Chamberof Commerce. About 100 teams competedin

leaders of the Democratic progressive wing.

“Wehave alot of things to do, butthey’ve turnedthe lightsoff andrealpeopleare hurting,”Johnsonadded.

Little negotiation progress has beenmade with theHousegone and the Senate stalled.

Noting congressional Republicans have allowed Trumpto rescind congressionally approved appropriations, Democrats say they don’ttrust theGOP and arguethe shutdown is their only

debonedeightsmoked turkeyand cutup30pounds of andouille, 15 of onions, 10 of celeryand 10 of bell pepper. Eachofthe teams had to cook thegumbo on-site Sunday Beaullieu, who said he begantomake gumbo with his mom while in high school, said his jobisto make sure the roux has the propercolor, texture and seasoning.

Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS

fivedifferent categories:amateur seafood, amateur chicken and sausage, amateur Melange (meaning they cook other combinations), professional seafood and professional non-seafood. Beaullieu’s team —all are members of the local Kiwanis Club —competed in the Melange category.Theymade turkey and andouille gumbo.

To prepare, he and his team

“I’mincharge of making sure it tastes right,” he said. “I make the final call on it.”

What’sthe secret?

“Camaraderie and patience,” Beaullieu replied.

Yes, but what areyour secrets?

“Wehave acouple,” he said. “Butitwouldn’t be asecret if I shared it.”

Are youthe best gumbo cook in the Legislature?

“If we’re going by world championships, it’spretty clear,” Beaullieu said.“Ihaven’t been challenged.”

Whatabout the statesenator fromNew Iberia,Blake Miguez?

“Miguezcan’t cook abaloney sandwich,” Beaullieu said.

RepliedMiguez: “Maybe so, but

leverage to delay theexpiration of tax credits that will cause the price of insurance policies to double for manylower income Americanswho buy their health care coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Trumpand SenateMajority Leader JohnThune, R-S.D., have hinted they’re open to an extension for the ACA subsidies. Thune went on the liberal MSNBC Thursday to say he’d consider avote on the tax credits, which if passed, would need House ap-

I’m really good at BBQ. I’m smoking Cassidy as we speak.” (Miguez is one of the Republicans challenging U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in next year’selection. Cassidy of course would take issue with Miguez’s BBQ abilities.)

Back to gumbo: “I have not found alegislator who is brave enough to meet the challenge,” Beaullieu said. “If youwrite this, (Rep.) Chad Boyer,(Rep.)Ryan Bourriaque and (Sen.) Robert Allain will be the first ones to stepup to the challenge. They know their way around apot.”

So what do you say,guys? Are you up to thechallenge?

Groups call for early education funding

Louisianagovernment should spend an additional $95 million over the next 10 years on early childhood education programs, theLouisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Policy Insitute for Children said in anews release this week. The groups released astudy by theEarly Childhood Care and Education Commission. It argues Louisiana’seconomy is projected

proval, alongwith avote to reopen government. The empty halls of the U.S. Capitol are now the stage forpopup political theater,such as when Democratic Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego confronted Johnson outside his office, with atroop of reporters, to complain that Adelita Grijalva had not received theoath of office.

Arizona elected Grijalva, aDemocrat,onSept. 23 while the House was out of session. She filled the seat of her fatherRep. Raúl Gri-

to expand over the next few years, but, “without access to affordable, high-quality child care, manyparents are unable to fully participate in the workforce.”

Parents’ inability to find good early childhood education costs thestate’semployers $762 million ayear and shrinks the state’s economy by $1.3 billion ayear, thereport found.

The report praised recent work by legislators to add moremoney to theChildCare Assistance Program,dedicate funding sources for theEarly Childhood Education Fund, which matches local spending, andpass tax credits for business that support child care costs.

But, “withmore than 100,000 economically disadvantaged children still unserved, the Commissionurgesa continued effort to ensure greater access to high-quality ECE so that Louisiana can thrive,” the groups’ news release says.

In addition to the $95 million annual investment, the groups call for an additional $30 million in the Early Childhood Dducation fund and further programstoincentivize employers. LABI represents Louisiana

jalva, D-Arizona, who diedearlier this year

Grijalva would be the last signature necessary on the bipartisan petition requiring Johnson to hold avote on forcing the Trumpadministration to release the files on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier accused of trafficking underaged girls and friend to the elite.

Johnson called “absurd” the Arizona senators’ complaints that he wasdelaying Grijalva’soath to keep the Epstein vote from happening. Once the House reconvenes, Johnson said, he would swear in Grijalva.

He pointed out on CNNThursday that Rep. Julia Letlow,RBaton Rouge, had to wait25days forher oath.

“Wedidn’thave news conferences to go banging on doors and make abig thing of it, because we understood that is the regular process and tradition,” Johnson said.

It’sstill too early to tell if Democratic and Republican gambits to place the blame on the other for the shutdown is working.

Apoll released Thursday spread the blame for the shutdown about equally,with 58% of the 1,289 Americans surveyed saying congressional Republicans were at fault and 54% pointing to the Democrats. The Associated PressNORC Centeratthe University of Chicago results are pretty muchin line with other recent surveys.

But that’sinWashington.

Back home in Louisiana, the political drama is largely unnoticed, said G. Pearson Cross, aJohnson constituent and apolitical science professor at University of Louisiana Monroe.

The effects of the federal shutdown haven’treally been felt yet in Louisiana, so Johnson’sactions haven’tbeen noticed, Cross said. “Johnson generally gets apass from his constituents.”

But that maybetested if the government closure starts impacting Louisiana.

EmailMark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

businesses and manufacturers, and is an influential lobbying group. The Policy Institute for Children is anonprofit think tank that researches policy proposals to benefit children from birth to age four Barksdale couldsee upgradesindefensebill Louisiana’sBarksdale Air Force Base could get morethan $20 million in upgrades if Congress passes the version of the National Defense Authorization Act, the huge bill that authorizes spending on the military The version of the bill passed by the Senate includes $18 million forconstruction and modernization of infrastructure forthe base’snuclear mission and housing improvements, according to a newsrelease from Sen. Bill Cassidy.Italso includes $2.2 million for anew on-base Child Development Center,which will allow capacity formore families; there is currently awaitlist. The bill has not been madelaw yet. It now heads to the House to work out aconsensus bill between the twochanges.

Government shutdown nears second longest on record

Federal workers, economy, services feeling impact

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON The federal government shutdown is quickly approaching the second longest on record with no end in sight. Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the 35 days from President Donald Trump’s first term.

The Trump administration is using the current shutdown to buttress priorities it favors while seeking to dismantle those it doesn’t. Nevertheless, Democrats are insisting that any funding bill include help for millions of Americans who will lose health insurance coverage or face dramatically higher monthly premiums

They were looking at missing a paycheck on Wednesday But Trump directed the Pentagon to redirect money

A second reprieve looks unlikely Of note for taxpayers, the government tab for paying furloughed workers while they are at home comes to roughly $400 million a day, according to a CBO estimate provided at the request of Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

The administration is also trying to fire thousands of federal workers in agencies that don’t align with its priorities. Republican leaders in Congress have said that’s part of the fallout from a shutdown Past presidents, however, did not use shutdowns to engage in mass firings.

The Republican administration has announced one reduction in force affecting 4,100 workers, with the biggest cuts happening at the departments of Treasury,

ASSOCIATED

A sign that reads ‘Closed due to federal government shutdown’ is posted outside the National Gallery of Art on Oct. 6 in Washington.

Food banks in some communities have boosted efforts to help them. The Capital Area Food Bank, for example, said it would hold additional food distributions in the Washington region beginning Monday to support federal workers and contractors.

Economic impact

Past shutdowns have had slight impacts on the economy, reducing growth in the

during the shutdown. The shutdown also has halted the issuance and renewal of flood insurance policies, delaying mortgage closings and real estate transactions.

The Federal Aviation Administration has reported air controller shortages in cities across the United States, from airports in Boston and Philadelphia, to control centers in Atlanta and Houston.

Flight delays have spread to airports in Nashville, Tennessee, Dallas, Newark, New Jersey and more.

Political fallout

The party that insists on conditions as part of a government funding bill generally doesn’t get its way That was the case in 2013 and 2018 for Republicans. It remains to be seen how things will shake out this time, but neither side appears to be budging.

So far, the public is rather split on who is to blame for the impasse. Roughly 6 in 10 U.S. adults say Trump and Republicans in Congress have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility for the shutdown, while 54% say the same about Democrats in Congress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Perceptions could change

depending upon how much the White House uses the shutdown to eliminate Democratic priorities and Democratic-leaning states and cities.

The administration has put on hold roughly $18 billion to fund a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey and an extension of the city’s Second Avenue subway It canceled $7.6 billion in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election The administration cited reasons apart from the shutdown for the funding changes. In the end, there does not appear to be an easy way out of the shutdown. Republicans insists any negotiations on health care occur after the government is fully open for business.

GULF COAST

Mississippiresearchers launch boatsintohurricane

Small, unmanned craftcollect data from inside storms

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

As Hurricane Humberto was rapidly gathering strength just eastofthe Caribbean late last month, researchers with the University of Southern Mississippi were busy preparing an experiment.

Leila Hamdan, aprofessor of ocean sciences, and her team loaded two fiberglass sailboats intoa truck and headed for North Carolina’scoast. From there, the boatsset sail forthe eyeof theCategory 5storm, where they encountered 150 mph winds and waves that rose several stories high. But though the boats were outatsea,noone wason board.

Measuring just 4feet long, the vessels,known as C-Stars, are completely remote-controlled andunmanned. They’re part of a larger effort, Hamdan said, to collect weather and climate data from the kinds of places people can’talways reach.

“For example,” she said, “in the eyewall of ahurricane.”

mightforminthe Gulfof Mexico as the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close.

“So really exciting stuff happening righthere in Mississippi,” Hamdan said. Greg Foltz, aMiami-based oceanographerwithNOAA, saidthe C-Stars arestill experimental, and past efforts to getthe boatsinto hurricanes weren’tassuccessful. TheymissedHurricane Gabrielle by about 40 miles.

But Foltz saidthe boats could soon becomeavital resourcefor hurricaneresearchers and scientists, who have long grappled with theproblemofhow to gather data in the strongest part of astorm,particularly close to the water’ssurface. That’sthe portion of astorm that people feel whenithits land, and havingabetter understanding of the forces at play inside astorm’s core could improve hurricane modeling, intensity and track forecasting and could improve help better predict rapid intensification.

Propelled by wind and outfitted with solar-powered sensors, C-Stars operate individually or in fleets to gather data from within and around storms,including wind speedand direction, sea-surfaceand air temperature, air pressure and relative humidity— allelements that help scientists understand how and why hurricanes form, and where they might go. That dataisthen transmitted back to scientistsinreal time via satellite. Oncea CStar is recovered, scientists can also access wave condition data and high-resolution images andvideos collected while at sea.

TheNationalOceanic and AtmosphericAdministration has expanded its use of unmannedvessels and aircraft in recent years as away to collect datafrom dangerous or extreme environments ata lower cost and lesser risk. But Hamdansaid the latest fleet of C-Stars, several of which were launched this summer in partnership with NOAA

StreamSondes are tinyweather stations that are dropped into tropical storms and hurricanes to gather data.

and robotics company Oshen, are among the smallest in the game.

“These boatsare durable, they’resmall, they’relight enough that one person can

pickthemupand put them in the water,” Hamdan said. C-Stars have beenused in the U.S.and Europe on missions to monitor marine mammalsand collect ocean

data.But theirexpedition into Hurricane Humberto was afirst, as farasHamdan knows, making them the smallest unmanned vessels ever to travel into aCategory 5storm and live to tell the tale.

The C-Stars were recovered shortlyafter passing through the storm,and, while some of them are in need of alittle repair,Hamdansaidher team didnot record any total losses.

While several C-Stars will remainnear theCaribbean Sea, Hamdan said two will return to their usual resting place off the coast of Gulfport, Mississippi, ready to launch into any storms that

Hurricane Hunters, drones and data-collecting probes that researchers drop into stormsare allon the frontlines of the same battle, but Foltz said C-Stars are able to collect continuousdataina waythatother tools can’t.

Foltz said C-Stars are roughly afifth of the size of unmanned vesselsNOAA has used in the past, someof which were roughly 20 feet long. Their small size makes them easy and inexpensive to launch, recover,repair and replace.

“It’svery difficult,” he said, “and this is oneofthe best waystodoit.”

Email KaseyBubnash at kasey.bubnash@ theadvocate.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

colleague, Oliver Thomas, launched his own long-anticipated mayoral bid.

Thomas had the makings of a formidable opponent. He was a political veteran who’d held three different City Council seats, including one citywide. But Moreno had already spent months assembling the nuts and bolts of a mayoral campaign.

She had $1.5 million in the bank by April 4 to Thomas’ $225,000.

In the spring, it looked like Thomas would be her main competition After going back and forth privately for months, Duplessis, a popular state senator who represents a swath of New Orleans’ downtown, had announced in January that he would not seek the mayor’s office.

In early June, Moreno sat down at Herbsaint Restaurant with John Carmouche, a Baton Rouge-based lawyer who had been a longtime Duplessis supporter Carmouche, like other donors, was looking for another candidate to back. Moreno sought him out.

Over a lunch of gumbo and grilled fish, “she blew me away,” Carmouche said. His firm donated $100,000 to a pro-Moreno political action committee.

Carmouche joined thousands of donors who gave to the PAC or directly to Moreno’s campaign, including a world champion equestrian from Kentucky, trial attorney Morris Bart and restaurateur Ralph Brennan. By the time summer came around, Moreno had earned the backing of heavy hitting donors, both Democrats and Republicans. She’d locked down support from grassroots figures like Major and 8th Ward Black Seminoles Chief Kenny Young. And she’d earned the support of Black political leaders Richmond, Harris, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and others. Then, in June, Duplessis

changed his mind. He announced he would seek the mayor’s office on Instagram on a Sunday evening.

Qualifying for the race ended July 11 and the field was set. Moreno would be taking on Duplessis, Thomas and retired judge Arthur Hunter, all Democrats, plus several lesser-known candidates. Hunter, who failed to generate much support, dropped out in August and endorsed Duplessis.

The race heated up after Labor Day Duplessis came out with a Sept 7 television ad that blamed Moreno for chaos within City Hall, alluding to the council’s fights with Cantrell. It also painted her as an outsider whose background — she was born in Mexico and came to New Orleans after college — made her the wrong candidate to lead the majority-Black city.

Yet Moreno’s poll numbers didn’t budge.

“Her numbers did not go down after that commercial, his did,” Richmond said. “I said, ‘OK, she has the staying power to win in the first.”

Opponents stumble

Moreno used a jam-packed fall debate circuit to polish her make-the-city-work pitch, staring directly at TV cameras as she spoke and scribbling notes on a yellow legal pad. The campaign enlisted a dozen-or-so social media creators to help spread the message.

Internally, Duplessis’ bid was troubled, according to multiple people familiar with the campaign. Hunter felt increasingly alienated from Duplessis in the weeks following his endorsement because of the attacks on Moreno and what people familiar with the campaign described as a lack of a clear internal strategy Hunter declined to comment.

In an email, Duplessis’ senior strategist, Tyronne Walker, said the campaign’s strategy was “consistent and clear” even as it ramped up quickly

“Conventional thinkers wanted a conventional campaign that was never going to be possible in this environment and time constraints,” Walker said, not-

ing that the campaign “had to not only introduce Royce, but also make the case for why he was better than his opponents through consistent fact-based contrast messaging.”

Political watchers said they were surprised by Duplessis’ messaging. He effectively never introduced himself to voters, they said, until two days before the primary when the campaign paid to air a 30-minute documentary-style segment about his life story on WWL Louisiana.

“The campaign was the political equivalent of Benjamin Button,” said veteran New Orleans political analyst Clancy DuBos. “He started it with an attack ad, and he ended it with a 30-minute biopic.”

Walker said the prime time special “was innovative and intended to give undecided voters a deeper glimpse” into Duplessis’ motivations and his plans for the city Thomas, for his part, stuck to his brand of retail politics attending multiple church services each Sunday and mingling with voters. But

candidate Helena Moreno chats with reporters following a recent debate in New Orleans on Sept.16. STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

a Moreno supporter, noted the diversity on display at her campaign headquarters opening. White candidates in majority-Black New Orleans can typically expect to win citywide office only if they’re able to secure both a bulk of the White vote and 25% of the Black vote. Roughly 36% of Black voters who went to the polls this election supported Moreno — more than either Thomas or Duplessis, both of whom are Black. By election day, Richmond, Moreno, Tuozzolo and Lapeyrolerie were feeling confident.

They had reason to be. Thanks to its voter data, before polls even closed on primary day, the campaign had tallied 25,000 people who were known Moreno supporters — 2,000 more votes than Duplessis, her closest competitor, would ultimately earn in total.

he wasn’t breaking through. Polls showed him earning less than 20% of the vote.

Meanwhile, Major, whose grassroots bona fides include decades organizing with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, was fielding calls from Black voters who wanted to know why she was backing a White mayoral candidate. She assured them voting for Moreno was the right choice.

“I was hoping that people understood that my presence showed I had a history of working with her and seeing her work, and that it was OK (to vote for her),” Major said.

Victory After riding with her in New Orleans’ Pride parade in June, state Public Service Commissioner Devante Lewis was certain Moreno could win the mayor’s race outright. People of all ages and races called her name, proclaiming her the next mayor Others recalled similar moments. State Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans and

By the end of the night, Moreno would tally 57,797 votes, good for 55% of the 105,326 people who turned out. And of 27 people who cast ballots in Precinct 45A of New Orleans’ 9th Ward, home to Crazy Al’s, 23 voted for Moreno. The results made clear that Moreno’s pledge to fix potholes and restore functional government had resonated, said James Carville, the veteran Democratic strategist.

“It wasn’t about a breath of fresh air,” Carville said “They wanted someone to run the trainyard.”

Polls closed at 8 p.m. WWL called the race 68 minutes later Soon after Moreno appeared on stage at the Civic Theatre with Richmond, Major, Williams, her husband, Chris Meeks, and many others.

Moreno thanked her supporters, her staff, her volunteers, her husband and God. “But more than anything,” she said, “I want to thank you, the people of New Orleans. You’re ready to take our city in a new direction.” Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

ThousandsattendNoKings rallyonGreenway

Protesters in N.O.,La. join nationwide standagainst president, policies

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

Thousands gathered on the Lafitte Greenway lawnfor the nationwide “No Kings 2.0” protest against what organizers describedasthe “authoritarian excessesand corruptionofthe Trump administration.”

JazztrumpeterKermit Ruffins kicked off the rally with renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner”and “America theBeautiful” as an American flag-waving crowd sang solemnly along, some dressed as ducks, unicornsand Pokémon, others wearing Statue of Libertyheaddressesorkaffiyehs

“What is ourobjective? To defend theConstitution fromthose whothink they areabove it,” said speaker Alanah Odoms, executive directorfor ACLU Louisiana. “You know why? Because we have aConstitution, not aking.” Attendees chanted, “This is what democracy lookslike”and toted signs that read “Resist like it’s1776,” “Won’tBow Down,” “Trump Releasethe Epstein Files”and “Immigration Built

ä See NO KINGS, page 2B

SENSITIVE TIME

The NewOrleans PoliceDepartment walksdownBourbon Street after 8p.m.aspartofthe

touriststreet in NewOrleans.

City asking fortax renewaltocontinueadded police presence as Quarterperformers, vendorsobjectto8p.m.curfew

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

As the clock tickedtoward 8p.m. one recent Friday,the entertainersofBourbonStreetbegan to scatter Drummerkids hoistedstacks of bucketsand sticks; brass players slung trumpets and trombones over their shoulders; and singers, dancers and stunt performers towed speakers, props and tip jars.

All weaved around tourists to make it off of the famous party strip asa nightlycurfewapproached. Though the 8p.m. endpoint hasbeen enshrined in city ordinance fordecades,it’sonly within the past year thata crew of New Orleans police officers and Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputies has worked daily to enforce it, telling performers, vendors and homeless residents to disperseoften just as thefestivitieshit full swing.

Now,the future of thatenforcement push and other FrenchQuarterpublic safety initiatives will be left to neighborhood voters, who must decide in November whether torenew asales tax that funds the efforts. Early voting begins Nov.1and runs through Nov.8; the election is Nov.15. Law enforcement and FrenchQuarter leaders say the patrols, whichcover Bourbon Street and other FrenchQuarterareas, havebeeneffectiveinmaking the neighborhood safer.Business owners who called on police to step up

saythe previous swarm of late-evening activitymadetheir area less secure and cut into their profits. “The street hasfeltbetterthanit’sfelt in along time,” saidAlexFein,president ofthe nonprofit French Quarter

the area has tremendous potential forgrowthina variety of industry sectors including traditionaland renewable energy,aswell as marine transportation and logistics. Economists, development experts andreal estate professionals presented those contrasting viewsofthe area’seconomy Thursday during the New Orleans Metropolitan Association

This Nation” between appearances by speakers including Alfredo Salazar,ofUnion Migrante; Cody Kyser,aU.S.Navy veteran and union organizer; and BridgetPranzatelli,anattorney at National Immigration Project.

“Don’tbescared into silence,” Salazar said. “Be scared into action.” Organizers said the estimated turnout surpassed that of the first “No Kings” rally in New Orleans on June 14,whenthousands paraded through downtown New Orleans protesting immigration policies, Medicaid cuts and government spending priorities.Italsofellonthe same daythe Trump administration heldamilitary parade. Similar protests around Louisiana occurred Saturday in Hammond, Baton Rouge,Covington,Lafayette and Shreveport, as wellas among 2,600 cities nationwide. Former mayoral candidate Richard “Ricky”Twigscalled Saturday’sturnout “incredible.” He wore a“Hunger Games” mockingjay on his lapeltosymbolize “resistance —and resistance is not abad thing.” Lasonja Eleby,a licensed professional counselor who attended the first protest, said she was notsurprised by the strong showing

“I did expect alarge crowd witheverythinggoing on with Medicaid and the governmental shutdown. …Things have become much more chaotic in Washington,”Eleby said. “This is an opportunity for the people to share their voice.”

New Orleans was an “anchor city” for the nationwide event, joining Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, New York City,Washington D.C., San Francisco and Bozeman, Montana, as adestination selected by the National Indivisible Project to receive professional event planning and security detail service, organizerssaid.

“Wewere not reallyprivy to thedecision process,but we speculate it is the imminent threat of military policing —a concern throughout the city,” said Beth Davis, aNoKings organizer andspokesperson. “Speaking on behalf of Indivisible, we think it is adisgrace to useour armed forces topolice us.”

Continued from page1B

is world famous for.With a National Guard deployment likely on the way,they worry about even more enforcement.

“There should definitely be apolice presence …but I think too much of it does really mess up the atmosphere,” said Rick Wellington, ajuggler who regularly preforms on Bourbon Street. “It makes it look unsafewhere it’s really not unsafe.”

Themillage

The New Orleans Police Department has long stationed officers on Bourbon Street and throughout the French Quarter.But with the force chronically understaffed, it wasn’tuntil voters approved asales tax for the French Quarterin 2021 that neighborhood leaders had the cash to increase their ranks. The 0.245% tax, dubbed the “Quarter for the Quarter,” plus federal grants and cash from New Orleans &Co. have funded multiple patrols, apublicsafety mobile app and other services.

Voters will consider in a few short weeks whether to renew the tax, which is levied on sales of goods in the French Quarter and is designated for “enhanced and supplemental public safety services and homeless assistance services to facilitateeconomic development projects.”

The tax would generate $4 million in 2026 if it is renewed, according to aSeptember draft budget from the French Quarter Management District, astate-created agency tasked with managing the area. The district also hasabout $1.3 million in unused cash from past years, for atotal of about $5.3million from the tax in 2026. All told, most of thatmoney,$4million, would go toward shoring up police patrols in the area, with asignificant share going toward officer overtime and incen-

Stephanie Holmes holdsMarion Holmes, 5, on Saturday during the No Kingsrally at the Lafitte Greenwayin NewOrleans.

Last month, Gov.Jeff Landrypetitioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to deploy1,000 federally fundedNational Guard troops in Louisiana,citinghigh crime rates. In New Orleans, overall crime ratesare at a50-year low, according to the NewOrleans Police Department.

Speakers pushed back against that action,aswellasthe incarcerationofimmigrants in Camp J at theLouisiana State Penitentiary at Angola,attacksonthe free press and deportations withoutdue process.

At theprotest in Hammond, three people dressed in colonial attire —tricorner hats, shirtswith frills, stockings andjackets —read aloudsomeofwhat thenation’s founders hadsaidabout kings.

“There are shockingsimilarities between (thefounders’)grievances then andgrievances today,” saidJenny Fauntleroy,a leader of St.Tammany Indivisible, who said shestarted organizing protests on the northshoreafter she said she felt like Congress and businesses were not standing up to President Donald Trump.

Raykesia Martin, a24-year-old from Franklinton,saidshe wants to seemorepeopleher age involvedinpolitics. “Young people today —speak outand getinvolved,” she said.

In Baton Rouge, hundreds of No Kings protesters marched to Perkins Road Community Park before leading hours of chants and receivinghonks of approval from passing motorists. There, Indivisible BatonRouge had tents ready to register residentstovote.

Trump’scrackdown against protests, especially in Democratic cities, has intensified since the June marches. He has since sent National Guardtroops to Washington, D.C.,and Memphis,Tennessee. House Speaker Mike Johnson dubbed “No Kings 2.0” the“Hate Americarally” at anewsconference on Wednesday “Weprotest …not because we hate,”Odomstold the crowd gathered on theGreenway.“We love this country,and we want it tolive up to its idea.”

Staff writers QuinnCoffman and Willie Swett and TheAssociated Press contributed to this report.

ECONOMY

Continuedfrom page1B

of Realtors’annualEconomicand Real Estate FORECAST symposium

The mixed messages coming from presenters at event, held at the JeffersonPerforming Arts Center, underscored the maxim that two things can be true at once —something the 250 or so attendees know well.Realestateagentsand economicdevelopment officials, by nature, tendtolook on the bright side. Lately,that’sbeen difficult to do.

Home sale activitysofar this year is at its lowest point in more than a decade, Gary Wagner,aneconomist from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, told the group. Property valuesare flat, andthe numberof homes listed for sale, measured in months’ supply of inventory,is significantlyup, which is keeping prices soft.

In September,Orleans Parish had an 11-month supply of available homes, twice the amount it averaged from 2013-19. In Jefferson andSt. Tammany parishes, the inventory of homes for sale was up about60% over recentaverages, Wagnersaid.

“If thedemand side doesnot increase soon, you can expect to see very sluggish prices and more sellerconcessionsathigherprice points,” Wagner said.

Commercialproperty ownersalso are feeling the effects of higher interestrates, inflation and insurance costs, apanel of lenders said during adiscussion following Wagner’s speech. While interest rates, currently at 7.25%,are low compared to double-digit highs of the1980s, they’re still double what they were during the pandemic,when alot of buyers got into the market.

“Wehave alot of loans out there with arate of 3% or less, andthey’re coming up foranadjustment,” said Thomas Ogg, senior vice president at Gulf Coast Bank and Trust.

“Even thoughthe feds are expected to lower the rate one or twomore times,you’re looking at folks whose interest rates aregoing to be double what theywere afew years ago. Thoseproperty owners need to be prepared.”

He added, “Hopefully,they’ve savedupsome reserves.”

Causefor optimism?

Despitethe sobering real estate picture, economicdevelopment experts said there arereasonsfor hope.For one, GNO, Inc. President

B-BoyManny, of Street Masters Crew,performs on

endpoint for French Quarter street performersand vendors

ordinance for decades, it’sonly within the past year that

enforcement agents hasworked daily to enforce it, often just as the

tives. Thedistrictwould spend $250,000ofits cash on homeless services, andanother $650 000onpedestrian and vehiclesafety measures andstreetlight maintenance. Offering overtime and incentives to officers hasallowedthe districttogofrom having less thanhalf of its officer shifts filled in2022 to nearly 100% of shifts filled in September,said GladeBilby, aFrench Quarter Management District commissioner That comes outtoanadditional 10,500 policepatrol hours per year, whichhas helpedbring response time by lawenforcement to under2 minutesinthe French Quarter,according to the district.

Thelatest police patrol effort on Bourbon Street kicked off in thefall of 2024 amid amultiagency campaigntoclean up thecity ahead of the Super Bowl. It is typically staffed by four or five officers on weekdays, andbymorethanadozen officers on weekend nights. Still being hashed out is just how thedistrict will use themoney to address homelessness in thearea going forward. The fundshave recentlyhelped to move people into housing, but the district is now considering redirect-

ing some of those funds toward mental health andaddiction treatment services

‘Wejustdealwithit’

As 14 officersand deputies made their way from Canal Street down the raucous strip on arecentFriday evening, theregularswho remained on the street knew thedrill.

Barry Sexton, who was hanging outinthe Quarter late Friday, began packing up hisfoldingchair from the back doorwayofa store as agroup of officersbegan directing him to leave. It was unclear whetherhehad any place else to go.

“It is what it is,”Sexton said, shoving histakeoutcontainer into aplastic bag.

JustpastBienville Street, the curfew is another element for Wellington to juggle in his finalroutine of the night. As onlookers gather around him, Wellington balances on aplastic tube and juggles three knives the length of his forearms,racing against the clock as police start theirpatrols

In the three decades he’s spent performing in the Quarter,policehave never been stricter than they are now,hesaid.

“It really hurtsusa lot,” said Wellington.

Afteryearsoflax enforcement, officers faced some pushback when they gotto workinitially,said Bilby.But as police handed out citations to performers andvendors, especiallythose selling alcohol, more people began to comply,Bilby said.

It is unclear how many peoplehavereceived citations for performing or vending on BourbonStreet in recent months, but the enforcement has transformed thestrip, with manysights common just ayear ago —women known as “shotgirls” hawking neon plastic testtubes of mysterious alcohol,vendors wheeling wagonsfull of CBD candy andsnacks—all but gone.

As he packed up just after curfew,magicianTommEE Pickles questioned theuse of so much policing manpower toward performersand vendors.

“They’re bringing out… cops to kick everyone off the street, andit’slike, wow You’re taking them off from doing crime?” said Pickles. The majorityofofficer shifts on the Bourbon Street patrol are overtime, district leaders have said.

Businesses applaudeffort

As the group of officersbe-

andCEO Michael Hechtpointed to the state’s“energy forall” strategy, whichcontinuestoattract investment from both traditionalfossil fuel companies as well as cleaner andrenewableenergyproducers, despite changes to the nation’senergy policy in recent months.

President Donald Trumphas said he wantstoincrease domesticfossil fuel productionatthe expenseofrenewables and killed many subsidies for solar,wind and cleaner-burning fuel projects in the budget bill passed by Congress in July

But Hecht said he is not worried about the impact of the cuts on Louisiana, where renewable energy projects are underway.Hebelieves global demand forcleaner energy, as well as practical political considerations, will ultimately keep the projects alive.

“There have been some hiccups, particularly with wind farms, which does impact us,” he said. “But I think it’s going to be temporary because toomanyofthe workers building these projects are Trump voters.”

Recentdevelopments in the state’smaritimesector areanother bright spot. Lastweek,Trump announced that Bollinger Shipyards hasbeen awarded amultibillion contract to build ice cutters with Finland forthe U.S. Coast Guard. In September, Texas-based Saronicexpanded into the state with afacility that will manufacture autonomous vessels.

The $10 billion AI data center under construction in Richland Parish by Facebook parent company Meta will also impact south Louisiana, Hecht and Ileana Ledet, Louisiana EconomicDevelopment’schiefeconomic competitiveness officer,said. LED is gathering information on new businesses that have cometo the state —orare looking at it —because of the massive project, Ledet said.

Hechtpredicted NewOrleans’ downtown office towers would eventually land moreregionalor corporate headquarters of companies associated with the project, though he said he doesn’tknow of anyspecific dealsinthe works just yet.

“The Meta deal basically puts Louisiana at the forefront of AI and us being at theforefront of atrend is not typical,” he said. “So, it’sreally good in terms of changing the brand andhow people think about us.”

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

gan to congregate on St. Ann andBourbon streetsonFriday,Kathy Geagan and Vernalee Pryce emerged from a bar to see what wasgoing on.

The two emergencyroom nurses —intownfromNew York Cityfor aconference— were startled by the sight of so manyofficers. Then, they heard from the officers that the patrol was routine.

“I think it’sgood,” said Geagan.

But Prycesaid the heightened police presence still made her uncomfortable.

“Sometimes when people see police officers, they get alittle intimidated and they act up,” said Pryce, who added that “you never know” how officers will respond.

Fein,the district commissioner,said the police are needed as acheck on unpermittedvendors, who put strain on the brick-and-mortar businesses that follow the rules.

“It’sa long strenuousprocess to be open for business in the city of New Orleans, much less Bourbon Street —ifpeople who areselling thingsonsidewalks don’t have to go (through) the process, that’snot fair to the rest of us,” said Fein.

Other district commissioners say officers could be doing even moretopolicethe area.

“There can be no question that there’sbeen an im-

provement,” said Christian Pendleton, general manager of Brennan’sand acommissioner on the FQMD. “I think we’re hoping to seemore consistency on the size of promenade to really just rid BourbonStreet andthe Quarter of these folks who are looking to take advantage of those who live and work in and visit the French Quarter The patrols also have the support of the Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents and Associates, aFrench Quarterneighborhood advocacy group.ErinHolmes the group’sdirector,said the police “project apresence of safety in the neighborhood.” “I think the businesses and residents likely appreciate the increased police presence on Bourbon Street,” she said.

EmailSophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

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Zivitz,Harrel

EJefferson

devoted father of Ashley AuthementJoyce (John).A veryproud Grandfatherof TaylorJoyce (Alexis),Caleb Joyce (Allie), Elizabeth Joyce,SamuelJoyce,and Jacie Joyce. GreatGrandfa‐therofLukeJoyce,Liam Joyce,LoisJoyce,Mia Joyce,BenjaminJoyce,and BrooksJoyce.Son of the lateAdamFelix Authement Jr. andDora(Pierce)Au‐thement.Heisalsosur‐vived by abrother,Adam Felix AuthementIII, as well asa host of nieces, nephews,and cousins. He was aproud US Navy vet‐eranand served St.Charles Parishasa Councilman and Councilman At Large for 12 years. He wasan avidhunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. How‐ever, hisfavoriterolewas asa family man. He loved meeting people andhad an engagingspirit, andwas constantlythinkingofoth‐ers before himself. He will berememberedmostfor his patience andhis in‐tegrity.One of hisfavorite thingstosay to hisfamily members was"DidI tell you that Iloveyou today? A Mass of Christianburial willbeheldat1:00PMon Monday, October20, 2025 atSt.AnthonyofPadua CatholicChurch, 234Angus Drive in Luling,Louisiana.A visitationwillbeheldat the church from 10:00AM until theMasstime. Terry willbelaidtorestatSt. Charles MausoleuminLul‐ing,Louisiana followingthe Mass. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www WestsideLeitzEagan.com forthe Authementfamily.

Garden of Memories Bell Jr., Benjamin Charles

Daigle,Christian Leitz-Eagan

Kleamenakis Sr., Nicholas NewOrleans Charbonnet

Bell Jr., Benjamin Greenwood

Mangiaracina Jr., John Lake Lawn Metairie

Burke, Edward

Hoffman, Catherine Zivitz,Harrel

St Tammany

Audubon

Fayard Jr., Merlin

Bagnell Son

Cassanova Jr., Lawrence

EJ Fielding

Crouch, Casey

Honaker

Friend, Ralph

Mattocks, Kathleen Wilbur,Rosalie West Bank

DavisMortuary

GaunichauxSr., Charles Mothe

Ducote,Jonathan Rando, Felix WattigneyJr.,Louis

West Leitz-Eagan

Authement, Terry

Obituaries

Authement, Terry Paul

Terry Paul Authement, ofBoutte,Louisiana,went tomeetthe Lord on Mon‐day,October 13, 2025, sur‐rounded by hislovingfam‐ily at theage of 73.Hewas the loving husband of the lateJosephine "Josie"Au‐thement of 50 yearsand devotedfatherofAshley

12 noon in the chapel

Please sign online guest‐book at www.charbonnetf uneralhome.com. Charbon‐net LabatGlapion,Direc‐tors(504) 581-4411.

Burke, Edward Albert

Edward Albert Burke passed away peacefully in his home on October 10, 2025, at theage of 78. He was bornonApril 28, 1947, in NewOrleans, LA and was aresident of Kenner, LA.Hewas theson of the late Thomas E. and Hannah S. Burke.

Eddie is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Thomas E. Burke, Jr, Barbara B. Healy, and Cynthia A. Burke. He is survivedbyhis belovedwife,Cynthia Bares Burke and theirchildren,Melissa M. Burke, Edward A. Burke, Jr (Savannah),and Michael P. Burke (Lisa). He lovedbeing "PawPaw" to Kirsten, Grayson, Evan, and Hayden.Eddie is also survivedbyhis cousins,Sheila Nicholson and Shelley Nicholson Hirstiusaswell as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Terrygraduated from Dominican HighSchool in 1967. She received adegree in Elementary and Special Educationfromthe University of NewOrleans in 1971 and aMaster of Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1977. Terry received aDoctor of Educationfrom Teachers College, Columbia University in 1995. Terry workedinthe Orleans Parish School systemasaneducator and administrator from 1971 to 2005. Her careerhighlight was her workatChildren's Hospitaland her implementationofthe inclusion of ventilator dependent studentsinclassrooms throughout thecountry From2005 tillher retirement in 2011, Terry worked as aSpecial Education Administrator in Ascension Parish.

CassanovaJr., Lawrence Joseph

andJanet. Later in life he became longtime partner of DeloresFountain Materne,a childhood friend. He also enjoyed the companyofCharlotte Knipmeyer of Mandeville Larry wasanavidcar buff andhad 6automobiles untilthe keyswereconfiscated.The familywould like to thankthe staff of BrookdaleAssisted Living andSouthernGrace Hospice fortheir invaluableassistance.Asper his requestthere willbeno formal services.

Benjamin CharlesBell, Jr.,age 85,formerlyof Friendswood,TX, passed awaypeacefullyonThurs‐day,October 9, 2025, sur‐rounded by family.Born April 3, 1940 in Hardwood, LA, to thelateElviraBailey Braxton andBenjamin Charles Bell,Sr. Benjamin affectionately knownas “June”and “Ben”, liveda lifemarkedbyintegrity hardworkand love.A proud Navy veteranand graduateofSouthernUni‐versity with aDegreein Economics,Mr. Bell builta respected career as aplat‐formengineerwithUnocal (laterChevron). Knownfor his quietstrengthand selftaughtingenuity,hecould fixorbuild almost any‐thing andwas always will‐ing to lend ahelping hand toneighbors andfriends Benjamingave hisbest every dayand theworld is gentler andbetterbecause hewas in it.Above all, Ben‐jamin wasa devotedfather and grandfather. He shareda cherishedchap‐ter of life with hisex-wife, Carolyn TreaudoBelland found hisgreatestjoy in his daughter,Deana Bell and granddaughter, Bria Wroten. In addition to his parents,Benjaminisalso precededindeath by his stepfather, JamesBraxton; siblings, Andrew Bell, Do‐lores Brown andseveral other belovedrelatives.In addition to hisdaughter and granddaughter, Benis alsosurvivedbya host of other relativesand friends. A Celebrationservice hon‐oring thelifeand legacy of the late Benjamin Charles Bell, Jr will be held in the ChapelofCharbonnet Labat GlapionFuneral Home, 1615 St.Philip Street, NewOrleans,LA 70116 on Monday,October 20, 2025 at 1pm. Visitation 12 noon in the chapel

Eddie graduated from St. Aloysius in 1965 then joinedthe United States Air Force Reserve which ledto his love of fighting fires. He joinedthe NewOrleans Fire Department in 1967. He was amuch sought afterOperatorwho drove on sidewalks and couldfind water in the desert. In 1990, he was promoted to Captain and inherited'children' at workwho have gone on to make him proud.Unfortunately, an injury in April2001 ended his careersooner than he wouldhaveliked.For years he wished he could fight one morefire

The family wouldliketo thank his lovely sitter, Lisa, and thewonderful staff at Passages fortheir incredibleassistance during his last days withhis family

Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend a memorial service on Monday, October20, 2025, at LakeLawn Metairie Funeral Home,5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA.Visitation will be held from 11 AM -1 PM with amemorial Mass to beginat1PM.

"We see life as ajourney. Birth is abeginning and death adestination.

ASacred Pilgrimage to Life Everlasting TerryAnn Heintz Caldwell, 75, passed away peacefullyonOctober 1, 2025, in her home in San Rafael,California. Terry was born in NewOrleans, Louisiana on December21, 1949.

Terry is survivedbyher BelovedLife Partner of forty-one years, Debbie Alcouloumre,her brother C. Glen Heintz III, her sisters Linda HeintzShear and Carol Ann Heintz, her sisters in law, AnnHeintz (Glen) and JudyHeintz (Jim), Debbie'ssiblings Jeanne Alcouloumre and EricAlcouloumre (Annie). She is also survivedbyher much-loved nieces and nephews; Kirsten Heintz (Dawn), JayHeintz (Laura), Kerri HeintzSimons (Justin),Roderick Heintz (Halsten), Jonathan Heintz (Jeanne), Michael Heintz (Macie), Kelsey Shear Chapman (Mark), Zachary Shear, JamieStrauszClarke (Chris), Kevin Shluka (Katie), Eliana Alcouloumre,Aaron Alcouloumre,Shira Alcouloumre,and great nieces and nephews plus many cousins and numerous friendsthroughout the country.

Terry was preceded in death by her husband Loyd Paul Caldwell,her parents Clarence Glen Heintz, Sr. and Muriel Lloveras Heintz, her brotherJames Lloveras Heintz, Sr. and brother-inlawJames Shear. We would like to thank Hospice by theBay and all thelocal friendsfor their amazing support during Terry's illness. There willbea CelebrationofLife at a date yet to be determined.

LawrenceJoseph Cassanova Jr.passed away peacefully October4th, at theage of 99 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Mandeville.BornMarch24, 1926 in NewOrleans to the lateLawrence Cassanova Sr.and Hilda Neagle Cassanova, he attendedSJ Peters High School and later joined the Navy for WWII. After the war he became amember of the NOPDrecruitclass number 1in1946. He served with theNOPD for over 20 years becoming the Commander of Homicide, Forgery and Captain of the Sixth and Third districts. Larry was an early member of the Fraternal OrderofPolice, Crescent CityLodge #2. He graduatedfromthe FBI NationalAcademy andalso served as Chief of Detective before his retirementatthe rankofMajor He retiredfromthe departmenttobecome Director of Security for Maison Blanche Stores.Helater joined the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfficeand retired as aColonel,the Commander of Internal Management After hissecondretirementheassisted withthe accreditation of Duramed Medical Supplyasemployee number 3and later broughtdonuts to theofficestaff on aweekly basis andrenderedgeneral assistancearoundthe office, in additiontohis volunteer work at East Jefferson Hospital. Larry is survivedbyhis son, retiredNOPD Lt. Richard Cassanova, (Renee Raymond Cassanova), and hisbrother Edgar, Lt. Commander USNretired, twogranddaughters, Suzannah (Douglas), and Briannah (Kevin), 11 greatgrandchildrenand many nieces andnephews. He waspredeceased by his sister CarmincitaGeiger andhis wife of over 50 years, Catherine Cousans Cassanova andtwo of theirchildren, LawrenceIII

Casey B. Crouch passed away on October12, 2025, surroundedbythe love of hisfamily. Born on November 13, 1978, Casey spent hisearly years in Metairie, Louisiana, before makinghis home in Bush Louisiana. In hisyouth,Casey enjoyed showing cows and taking partinagricultural events —a reflection of his strongworkethicand love forthe outdoors Throughouthis life,heexplored many paths, includinga career in themedical field before later working in hardware.Nomatter wherelifetook him, Casey wasknown for hiskind heart, sense of humor, and hisdeep love forthose closest to him. He is survived by his mother, Sylvia Webb Crouch;his daughter, Haley, and herfiancé BeauxAnglin; as well as manyfriends whowill cherish his memory Casey was preceded in death by hisfather,Terry LeeCrouch andgrandparents Paul andMolly Crouch of Bush Louisiana, Isaac Sidneyand TheresaMarie Webb of ErathLouisiana. Casey will be deeply missed andlovingly rememberedbyall who knew him. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. TheCrouchfamily invites you to share thoughts,fondest memories,and condolences on-

Daigle,Christian Patrick

ChristianPatrick Daigle passedawayathis home onOctober 6, secure in his loveofGod andsur‐rounded by extensivefam‐ily.Hewas 69 yearsold BorntoStanley andCarol DaigleonDecember29, 1955, he livedinthe New Orleans area forhis entire life. He attended St Matthew theApostle Catholic School andearned his high school diploma fromBonnabelHigh. He met hiswife, “Ginny,” at the young ageof14and wentontospend therest ofhis life with her. Chris had acareer in communi‐cations andspent many years with CoxCommuni‐cations as asupervisor and team leader.Hewas alsothe operator/owner and partnerfor WD Incor‐porated andCommunica‐tions Continuum,respec‐tively. In hisyears as a “TowerDog,”Chris was often afather figure,men‐tor,and theepitome of guy’s guyamongst the men who worked forhim Chris begansupportinga familyata very young age (employed by NAPA Auto Parts)and understood the importanceofa rigorous workethic.Whateverhis familyneeded,hemade certain that they hadit, and he encouraged and celebratedhis children’s success.Chris wasa lover ofthe outdoorsand camp‐ing,and he traveled with familyand friendstonu‐merousstate andnational parks.Hehad akeen inter‐est in history, particularly the CivilWar andWorld War II, andwould have liked to eventually spend his retirement yearsvolun‐teeringatthe National World WarIIMuseum. Chris lovedtoresearchand documenthis ownfamily’s ancestry, apassion he pickedupfromhis father and passedalong to oneof his daughters. He enjoyed takingroadtrips with his wife, reading, fishing, checkingout theclassic carsatCruisin’the Coast, and watching theSaints and LSUTigerswin.Hewas alwaysgood companyfor a beer,and thecrawfish boils he putonwithhis son-in-lawwerelegendary Morethananything, as a proud husband,father, grandfather,son,brother, and uncle,herelished spendingtimewithfamily. Bothatworkand in per‐sonal relationships, he was charismatic andperson‐able. As far as mengo, anyonewould be thor‐oughlyblessed to have simplyknown him. He will besorelymissedand mourned by many;may we aspiretobehalfof the force of goodness, love, and friendship that he em‐bodiedevery dayofhis life. Christianissurvived byhis loving wife of 53 years,Virginia(néeRoss); children: Scott(wife Jen‐nifer Mueller),Jessica (partnerAndrewPoland) and Nicole (husband Ryan Izatt);grandchildren: Madelyn,Ella, andCoco; siblings: Daniel Daigle (Stephanie),Elise McGinley (Kevin),Nanette Jarvis (late,David), andJan Gar‐cia (David); sisters-in-law: Kathy Warren (late, Tom) and Rosalind Smith(Jay); and alarge numberof close cousins, nieces,and nephews.Hewas preceded indeath by hisparents, Stanand CarolDaigle; and siblings, Andréand Jami Daigle. Services will be heldatGardenofMemo‐riesFuneralHome, 4900 Airline DriveinMetairie, on Saturday, October25, 2025 Visitationbeginsat11:00 a.m., with thememorial service to take placeat 1:00p.m.All arewelcome In lieu of flowers, thefam‐ily believes that Chris would enjoydonations in his memory to theNational World WarIIMuseum at www.nationalww2muse um.org or LosIsleños Her‐itage andCulturalSociety atwww.losislenos.org. To express condolencesorto send florals, please visit www.gardenofmemorie smetairie.com.

Jonathan “Johnny” Paul Ducote, alifelongresident ofGretna, LA passedaway peacefullyonthe evening ofTuesday,October14, 2025atthe ageof64, sur‐rounded by hislovingfam‐ily.Heshared41years of marriagewiththe love of his life,Deborah “Debbie” SinclairDucote. Alove story that beganingram‐mar school andblossomed intoa lifetime of laughter faith,and steadfastdevo‐tion. Together they builta beautiful family,raising two daughters, Megan Elise Ducote (Thomas),and Halie Leann Ducote,and their cherishedgrand‐daughter, Kinley Elizabeth Steel,who wasthe joyof his heart. He waspreceded indeath by hisparents Milburn Luke Ducote and Nay-Dee Ortego Ducote,his sisters ClaudiaSpiess (Donald)and Lois Norton (Robert), andhis brother LukeDucote. He is survived byhis sister-in-lawJoan “Peaches” Ducote,along withmanynieces, nephews,and extended familywho lovedhim dearly. Professionally he servedasthe NetworkAd‐ministrator of theRegional PlanningCommissionand retired after33years.His commitmenttopublicser‐vicealsoextendedtothe GretnaPoliceDepartment, where he worked in an IT capacityand designed the department’sbadge patch,and cardecalsin 1996; emblemsthatcon‐tinue to reflecthis pridein his community. Relatives and friendsofthe family, along with hisbrothers fromGermaniaLodge #46 F&AM, andthe Gretna Po‐liceDepartmentare invited toattend visitation and servicesonMonday, Octo‐ber 20,2025atMothe Fu‐neral Home,2100Westbank ExpresswayinHarvey, LA Public visitation will be from9:00am– 11:00am, witha prayer serviceto follow. Intermentwillbeat WestlawnCemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send do‐nations to Juvenile Dia‐betes Research Foundation (JDRF)(https://www.bre akthrought1d.org/)or LegacyDonor Foundation (https://organawareness. org/). Thefamilyinvites you to sharethoughts, fondmemoriesand condo‐lencesonlineatwww.mot hefunerals.com.

Eustis IV, Cartwright 'Carty'

Cartwright Eustis IV,84, passed awaypeacefully on October 7, 2025. "Carty," as he was affectionately known, was born to CartwrightEustis III and Elizabeth Nourse Eustis on Groundhog Day,February 2, 1941.Hewas alifelong New Orleanian. He graduated from AlceeFortier High School in 1959 and subsequently workedasa bookkeeperfor New Orleans Public Serviceuntilhis retirement. He is survivedbyhis loving, youngerbrother Charles "Charlie"L.Eustis.

of theGreen WaveClub,a long-timeSaintsseason ticket holder and an original member of Charlie's Saints Marching Club. Baseball was Carty's favorite sport, and he loved traveling thecountry with his friends to various Major League Baseball venues. In his lateryears, he immersedhimself in learning Japanese so that he could properlypronounce thenames of baseball players he drafted onto his fantasy baseball teams. Perhapsbecauseof his rotund body shape, he was drawn to bowling and became an accomplished bowler rolling several perfect 300 games. He was a lifetime member of the Southern Stars Bowling Associationand an occasionalvisitor to theCanal Street Brothel

Many thankstothe staff of SummerHouse Vista Shores where Cartwright resided forthe last several years.

As afashion icon, Carty wouldnever be seenin public without wearing plaid. Family and friends are invitedtowear somethingplaid,bring a Cartwright storyand attend acelebration of his life on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 from 2pmto4 pm at Rock 'n' Bowl,3000 S. CarrolltonAve.,New Orleans, LA,70118. In Cartwright's memory please consider adonation to theTulane Green Wave Club. https://tulanegreenw ave.com/sp orts/g re enwave-club

Carty willbedeeply missed butforeverremembered as aone-of-a-kind character ("yeah yeah yeah")witha big smile and abigger heart

Carty was agenuine NewOrleans characterand is best known asafixture at the bar at Ye Olde College Inn forthe last 60 years. He is ingrained into the history of CollegeInn wherepatrons could dine on the "Cartwright filet" and children could color his caricature on coloring sheets. Stories aboutCarty at the College Inn are too many to count and include havinghis head shavedfor losing abet and havingan entire excavator bucket filledwith cold Bud Light dumped on his head in the parkinglot during the Ice BucketChallenge in the summer of 2014. Speaking of which,Carty never met acold beerora pretty lady that he was not attracted to. Cartwright wasoften absolutely certainofthe correctness of something that was totally incorrect, thereby earning himthe nickname "Cartwrong."He was the official mascot of the College Inn.

Carty was an avid sports fanand ahuge supporterofall Tulane Athleticsand hisbeloved NewOrleans Saints.He was along-time member

Merlin "Mel"FayardJr. ofSlidell, Louisiana, passedawayonOctober 12, 2025, at theage of 74 BornonJanuary 6, 1951, in Algiers,Louisiana,Mel was a manwhose life was markedbyhis family,faith, and community.Mel was precededindeath by his parents,MerlinFayardand Williemena Fayard,and his sister, MarilynCreppel.He issurvivedbyhis loving wifeof57years,Barbara Fayard, andtheir children RossFayardSr.,Jonny Fa‐yard(Nicole), HeatherFa‐yardCallais (Josh),and Melissa Fayard.Mel's legacycontinues through his grandchildren, Ross Fa‐yardJr.,Rebekah Fayard, JonathanFayard, Macie Callais,Joshua CallaisJr. GunnerCallais,and Jade Hayes,aswellashis greatgrandchildren,SophiaFa‐yardand Gemma Fayard who broughthim immense joy.Mel wasknown forhis entrepreneurial spirit and dedicationtohis work.As the ownerofFayardInsur‐ance(AmstateInsurance), his work ethicand in‐tegrity were unmatched, and hiscontributions to the industry were widely recognized.Beyondhis professionalachieve‐ments,Mel's interests weredeeplyrooted in the simplepleasures of life.He loved vacations, where he could unwind andcreate lasting memories with his loved ones.Shoppingwas morethana pastimefor Mel;itwas an opportunity to find theperfect giftsto express hisloveand thoughtfulness. He often looked forwardtofamily gatheringsand dining out, embracing thelaughter, stories,and warmth of sharedmoments with fam‐ily andfriends.A devoted Christian,Mel wasa dedi‐cated member of Journey FellowshipChurch,where hefound strength andso‐laceinhis faith. Hiscom‐mitment to hisbeliefs was evident in theway he lived his life,alwaysstrivingto bea reflection of thelove and gracehefound in his faith.Relatives andfriends are invitedtoattend avisi‐tationonMonday, October 20, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00p.m.atAudubon Fu‐neral Home in Slidell. Afu‐neral servicewillbegin in the chapel at 4:00 p.m. Memoriesand condo‐lencesmay be expressed atwww.AudubonFuneralH ome.com

RalphClayton Friend,92, ofSlidell, Louisiana, passedfromthislifeon Thursday,October 9, 2025, In Jefferson, Louisiana. Ralph wasbornNovember 12, 1932, in Friendsville,MD, toHenry W. Friend and Pearl AdaRiley, next to the youngestoftheir tenchil‐dren. He served in the Armyand then beganhis post-high school educa‐tion. He graduatedfrom McPherson College (McPherson, KS)in1962, becomingthe only oneof his family to attend col‐lege. He served as adis‐trict executivefor theBoy ScoutsofAmerica in sev‐erallocations:PoplarBluff MO; Decatur, IL;South Bend, IN andMetairie, LA Among severallater en‐deavors,hefounded Cajun Popcorn andbecame widelyknown as “The Ker‐nel”. He residedmany years in Metairie,but in re‐centyears hadbecomea residentofSlidell, LA.In bothareas he wasactivein fundraisingfor variousor‐ganizations like Magnolia School,STARC,and St Michael SpecialSchool Ralph wasknown to light upthe room andenjoyed bringingjoy andinspira‐tiontopeopleofall ages Heissurvivedbyhis chil‐drenSandi Friend,Pam Lisotta (Tony) andJeff Friendand hisgrandchil‐drenAndrewLisotta,Adam Lisotta andPhoenix Friend Heisalsosurvivedbyhis ex-wife Margaret andsev‐eralniecesand nephews. A publiccelebration of Ralph’s life will be held on Friday, October24, 2025, at Honaker FuneralHome, 1751Gause Blvd.W.in Slidell LA.Visitationwill begin at 10:00amfollowed bythe memorial serviceat 11:00 am.Burialwithmili‐taryhonorswillbeat Southeast LouisianaVeter‐ans Cemetery in Slidellat 12:30 pm.Saints, LSU, or casualattire is requested. MemorialGifts maybe madetoMagnoliaCommu‐nityServiceshttps://formrenderer-app.donorperfect io/give/magnoliacommunity-services/endof-year-general-template or STARC, https://starcla. org/giving/.Pleasevisit www.honakerforestlawn. comtosignguestbook ArrangementsbyHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell LA.

CharlesBernard Gau‐nichaux,Sr. life journey cametoanend on Monday October 6, 2025, at theage of87. He wasa native of New Orleans, LA anda resi‐dentofGretna, LA.Charles was educated in theNew Orleans Public School Sys‐tem.Heservedhis country inthe United States Army Gator”,ashewas affec‐tionately knownbyfamily and friends, wasemployed asa longshoreman and truck driver.Charles wasa faithfulofJesus Is Lord EvangelisticMinistries, servedasseniordeacon. Beloved husband of 31 years to BarbaraGau‐nichaux.Lovingfatherof Charles Gaunichau, Jr Kenneth (April)Gau‐nichaux,Yolanda (Dwain) Vaughn, Lucius Gau‐nichaux,Demetrice (Peter) Riley,Shennel Gaunichaux, Jyn McCray,JaniceSkinner (Lydell),MonicaStrong, De‐maria Sonia, Alvin(Kenya) Sonia,Shana (Donald) Williams,Yolanda (Chris) Crawford, andBrandon (Camia) Sonia. Sonofthe lateAlbertGaunichauxand Ester Lepage.Brother of EdwardGaunichaux, An‐thony Gaunichaux,and the lateWallace PeterGau‐nichaux andPatriciaGau‐nichaux.Devoted uncle of Kevin Harris.Godfather of GeraldSylvest andthe late NicoleWlliams,alsosur‐vived by 42 grandchildren, 24great grandchildren, and ahostofnieces, nephews,cousins,other relatives andfriends.Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited also pastors, officers, and membersofJesus Is Lord Evangelistic Min‐

Lord Evangelistic Min istries, andall neighboring churchesare invitedtoat‐tendthe CelebrationofLife atofJesus Is Lord Evange‐listicMinistries1728Han‐cockSt. Gretna,LAon Monday, October20, 2025 at10:00 a.m. Pastor Donald C.Williamsofficiating. Visi‐tationwillbegin at 8:00 a.m.until servicetimeat the abovenamed church Interment: Southeast Louisiana Veterans Ceme‐tery- Slidell, LA.Arrange‐ments by DavisMortuary Service,230 Monroe St., Gretna, LA.Toviewand signthe guestbook, please gotowww.davismortua ryservice.com.FaceMasks Are Recommended

Hiers III, Wade Hampton WadeHampton HiersIII,born

August 1, 1946, sadlypassed away on September14, 2025, in NewOrleans,Louisiana. He wasthe son of Loyless, a NOPSI engineer,and Vivian (Rinehart) Hiers, anurse He grew up in Metairieand enjoyed scouting,eventuallyearningthe rankof Eagle Scout. He graduated from theUniversity of SouthwesternLouisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette). An avidsailor he joined the Merchant Marineafter college andspent therest of hisworkinglifeasanAble Seaman working up and downthe Atlantic andGulf coastsofAmerica. He was forced into early retirementin1993 by ashipboardaccidentthatleft himsaddledwith chronic painthereafter.Hebecame afull-time landlubberin hisUptown house, which hadformerly belongedto hisgrandparents, Frank andAugustine Rinehart

Thequiet life suited Wade'scontemplative nature andhededicated his considerable greenthumb to cultivating both flowers andvegetablesinhis backyard garden.Healso read widely, delvingintothe great worksofliterature andthe weightiest tomes of history, philosophy, religion,and art

He wasa highly skilled craftsman andanimaginative artist whoworked primarily in sculpture and painting.His artisticpassion culminatedina show of hisoutsider art at the Craftivist GalleryinNew Orleans. Wadewas deeply private andpracticedhis art as "Ross" andwas known by several other namesinvarious places, including "MrCash" at the downtown department stores wherehenever used checksorcredit cards.

Wadecould often be seen ridinghis bicycleon errands around Uptown dressed in afresh white shirt,whitehat, andwhite pants, or sitting on his porchfashioning amusing gewgaws for theneighborhood childrenfromwhatever odds andends he had lying around

Wadeissurvivedbyhis cousinsSusan Paycer,Bill Baldwin and Alfred Baldwin. He is preceded in death by hisparents, and cousinsHenryCarlin and Robert Baldwin andgrandparents, Frank and Augustine Rinehart.A celebrationofhis life will be held at 2pm November 2at Audubon Clubhouse. Wadeloved Audubon Park andthe city of New Orleansand hadmany goodfriends throughout thecity.

Hoffman, Catherine Schott

CatherineTheresa Schott Hoffman passed away peacefullywith family by hersideonFriday, October3,2025, at theage of 91. Cathy waspreceded in death by herbeloved husband, Thomas William Hoffman andher parents John Edward and Mary SchoderSchott Cathyissurvived by her children, Robert Hoffman, Mary Claire Hoffman, Cheryl Denenea(Johnny), Elizabeth Hoffman, and Jean Walker (Doug predeceased). Shewas aloving andproud grandmother to EmilyHurt(Joseph), AndrewMitchell (Katie), CatherineMitchell, Henry Mitchell, PatrickDenenea (Nyla), Madelaine Rabalais (Nicholas), Elizabeth Denenea,Aimee Denenea, andgreat-grandmother to

Joseph Hurt,Jr. Sheisalso survivedbyher sister MarionHoffman (Gene) andnumerous nieces and nephews. Cathy wasborn in New York City, NewYorkon December 31, 1933. After graduating with an Economics degree from theCollegeofNew Rochelle,Cathy moved to Washington DC andbegan acareeringovernment service whereshe met Tom, herhusbandof63 years. Thefamilylater moved to NewOrleans whereCathy transitioned into andultimately retired fromthe financial sector. Cathyembodied agentlespirit andaffected peoplewith herwarm smile. A quote describingCathy from hercollegeyearbook remained true throughout herlife: "Forher conversation hadnobitternessnor hercompanyany tediousness".

Ourfamilyiseternally grateful for thecompassionate care providedby herOchsner Healthcare professionals, hercaregivers, and TheBlake Assisted Living staff. Relativesand friends are invited to attenda Memorial Mass on Friday, October24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Lake LawnFuneral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd NewOrleans,LA 70124. Privateinterment for thefamilywill follow at MetairieCemetery Thefamilyinvites you to share condolencesonline at: www.lakelawnmetairie .com In lieu of flowers, please considerdonating in Cathy'smemory to acharity of yourchoosing.

KleamenakisSr.,Nicholas Andrew

Nicholas Andrew Klea‐menakis,Sr.,age 97,fell asleep in theLordonOcto‐ber 10,2025. Nick wasborn onFebruary28, 1928, in New Orleans, LA to Andrew Peter Kleamenakisand JasameGregoriou Kleame‐nakis,who settledhere fromGreecetostart their family. He is preceded in death by hisparents;sis‐ters, Angela Pemboand Despina Cockinos;and brother Andrew Kleame‐nakis.Nickissurvivedby his loving wife of 68 years, Argie Catsulis Kleame‐nakis;children, Dr.Michael NicholasKleamenakis (SusanChaix Kleame‐nakis), Nicholas Andrew Kleamenakis,Jr. and daughterAndreaKleame‐nakis Munch(Joseph Mar‐tin Munch).Heisalsosur‐vived by hisgrandchildren, Michael Kleamenakis, Jr (Lauren), John Kleame‐nakis (Breanne), Matthew Kleamenakis (Candace), Stephen Kleamenakis (Rachel), Amanda Munch (Jack Romano), andJenna Munch.Nickisalsosur‐vived by hisgreat grand‐children, Luke,Rose, Aubrie, Yanni, Austyn,Leo, and Costa; sistersinlaw CarrieGautreauand Stella Pearson;and brother-inlaw,Tom Pearson. He leavesbehindmanycher‐ished nieces,nephews,and cousins.“Papou” lovedhis grandchildren andwas im‐mensely proudofhis fam‐ily.Nickgrewupinthe New Orleansuptown area and attended Warren Eas‐ton High School.After graduatingin1945, at 17 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy proudlyand honorably servinginWWII and theKoreanWar.After his military service, he pur‐suedhighereducation at Delgado CommunityCol‐legeand Tulane University A highly skilledtradesman Nickbecamea certified steamfitterinthe maritime industryand dedicated43 years workingfor Dixie Machine &Welding Com‐panyasSuperintendentof the Pipefitting Department Nickwas alifetimemem‐ber of theUnitedAssocia‐tionofJourneymanand Apprenticesofthe Plumb‐ing andPipefitting industry ofthe United States and was also alifetimemem‐ber of theAmericanLe‐gion. Nick wastalentedin carpentry,woodworking and hadanexceptional ability to repair or build nearlyanything! He wasan avidoutdoorsman who en‐joyed hunting, fishing, and alwayshad multiple boats throughouthis life.He loved fishingtrips,being onthe water, andsharing those momentswithfamily and friends. Nick wasan active member of theHoly

member of the Holy TrinityGreek Orthodox Cathedral wherehewas in‐volvedinthe American HellenicEducation Pro‐gressiveAssociation (AHEPA) andspent numer‐ous yearsworking the “Greek Grill”atour annual Greek Festival.Hewas very proud of hisGreek Hellenic Heritage; lovedhis church and considered it adutyto honor andrespect hisfam‐ily name.Hewas an amaz‐ing manwho lovedhis family, faith,and country. Nicklived andembodied anexceptional work ethic, moral strength,and in‐tegrity.These values guidedhim throughout his lifeand reflectedthe virtues of theGreatest Generationtowhich he proudly belonged.Nickhas leftbehinda wonderful legacy, andwewillcon‐tinue to honorhim proudly. May hismemorybeeter‐nal!Relatives andfriends ofthe familyare invitedto attend thefuneral services atthe Holy TrinityGreek OrthodoxCathedral,1200 Allen ToussaintBlvd.,New Orleans,LAonMonday, October 20,2025, at 12:00 PM. Visitation will be held atthe cathedralfrom10:00 AMuntil 12:00PM. Inter‐mentwithU.S.NavyHon‐ors will follow at Lake LawnParkMausoleum.Fol‐lowingthe burial cere‐mony, aMakaria(repass) willbeheldatthe Hellenic Center. In lieu of flowers, pleaseconsidera donation inhonor of Nick to theHoly Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Archives Fund The family invitesyou to share your thoughts,fond memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatwww.lei tzeaganfuneralhome.com.

Elvye Marie Marks Letulle, alifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefullyon October 11, 2025.

Born on November 7, 1938, Elvye spenther entire life in the city she cherished. Elvye grew up in the Irish Channel on Annunciation Street before moving to Gretna. She made abeautiful home with her beloved late husband Gayle "Boss" Letulle, where they shared many years of love, laughter, and travel.

Elvye was the loving mother to her three daughters—Jeanne Boesch (Jose), Julie Bergeron (Robert), and Janette Lorenzo (Bryan)—and grandmother to Todd Sisung,Jacob Pritt, Gavin Boesch (Kierilyn), Marilynn Granato (Jack), Lydia McElderry (Robert) and Michael Beebe. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. They willfondly remember afternoons spent in her backyard hearing tales about her family and the history of the city. Her heart grew even fuller in 2024 with the arrival of her great-granddaughter, Zoey Rae, who brought her so much joy.

Elvye also cherished her relationship with her brother Tim Marks (Martha), who was always there for her to lend a helping hand or athoughtful prayer. Elvye was precededindeath by her parents Clifford and Mary Young Marks, her brother Clifford Marks, andher sister Geraldine Marks Albro. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and her nephew.

Elvye had afierce love for her family, history, cats and candy (especially chocolate). As the family genealogist, she loved telling stories of generations past and sharing them with those she loved. She loved learning about different religions, their histories, and the development of the Holy Land Throughout her life, Elvye pursued many passions. She worked as ahairstylist, an administrative assistantatWest Jefferson Hospital, and in the Tulane Athletics Department where she first met and fell in love with Boss. Elvye and Boss loved to traveloff the beaten path, fondly remembering their honeymoon in San Francisco and tripstoMissouri, Utah, and to visit her Aunt Audrey in Indiana

Those who knewElvye will remember herhumor

wit and curiosity. Herfaith in Jesusassuresusthat she is safely held in His Arms, basking in His Everlasting Glory! Herlegacy livesonin the beautiful familyshe created.

Mangiaracina Jr., John L.

John L. Mangiaracina, Jr.,age 76,passedaway after alongillness.Hewas the belovedfatherofJohn L.Mangiaracina, III, and the devotedson of thelate JohnL.Mangiaracina, Sr and Cecile Marino Mangia‐racina. He is survived by his former spouse,Wendy Mangiaracina, andhis longtimecompanion, Grace Petrucco,aswellas bynumerouscousins and lifelongfriends.A lifelong residentofNew Orleans, Johnwas agraduateof WarrenEastonHigh School, LouisianaState University, andTulaneUni‐versity.Hededicated 40 years of servicetothe Louisiana Department of Healthand Hospitals. Mr Mangiaracinawillbere‐memberedfor hiskind‐ness, loyalty, generous spirit, andremarkable memory. He hada deep loveof music, films, and the New York Yankees. His presencewillbe pro‐foundly missed by allwho knowhim.Relatives and friends areinvited to at‐tendvisitationat11:00 a.m. onThursday, October23, 2025, at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 CanalBlvd. New Orleans, LA 70124,fol‐lowed by aMassat1:00 p.m.Interment will be at Greenwood Mausoleum. Wealsoinviteyou to share yourthoughts, memories and condolencesonlineat www.greenwoodfh.com

Mattocks, Kathleen LeBlanc

Kathleen Mattocks, age 83, of Metairie,Louisiana, passedawayonWednes‐day,October 15,2025. Kath‐leenwas anativeofNew Orleans.She wasbornto the late GuyJoseph LeBlanc andDorothy FredrickLeBlanc.She loved her grandchildrenmore thanlifeitself. Shehad a passion forcooking, danc‐ing,and expressing her creativityincountless ways. Kathleen wasalways known forher generous spirit. Sheloved helping othersand giving to every‐one around her. Kathleen leavesbehindher longtime companion,JohnDaun‐hauer;three daughters, Michelle Tesvichand her husband SamTesvich,Deb‐orahJessupand herhus‐bandRichard Jessup Jr., and Cherie Dooley andher husband MichaelDooley She wasa proudgrand‐mothertoJoelWells Jr., Kathleen Jessup,Richard JessupIII, Payton Dooley, and Thomas Dooley.Kath‐leenwas also blessedwith great-grandchildren,Kay‐den Dooley,Nolan Dooley, and Joel Wells III, who brought herendless joy. Her warmth,kindness, and lovewillcontinue to live on through herfamilyand all who were fortunate enoughtoknowher.Rela‐tives and friendsofthe familyare invitedtoattend the FuneralService at Honaker FuneralHome, 1751Gause Blvd.West(In ForestLawn Cemetery), Slidell,LAonTuesday,Oc‐tober 21,2025, at 1:00 P.M. VisitationonTuesday after 11:00 A.M. until funeral time. Intermentwillfollow inForestLawnCemetery. Pleasevisit www.honaker forestlawn.com to sign guestbook.Arrangements byHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell,LA.

Rando, Felix Dominick 'Phil'

Felix"Phil"Dominick Rando,cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother,and friend,passed awayatthe ageof74on October 13,2025, in New Orleans,Louisiana.sur‐rounded by hisbeloved wife, KathrynMireRando and theirfourchildren, Amy,Brian,Laura,and MaryClaire. Born on June 11, 1951, in NewOrleans, Louisiana,Philwas raised inMarrero,where he would go on to buildhis lifeand raisehis family.He graduated from Arch‐bishopShawHighSchool in1969and earned aBach‐elorofScience in Microbi‐ology from theUniversity ofSouthwesternLA(now known as theUniversityof Louisiana at Lafayette) Phildedicated 17 yearsof his professional life as a Lab Technician at AMAX NickelRefinery,followed bya fulfillingcareerat Chevron OakPoint until his retirementin2014. Hislove ofprecise measurements and attentiontodetail shinedthrough so many aspects of hislife, beyond his career.Known affec‐tionately as "Phil,"hewas a manofdeepcalmness and selflessness. He had anextraordinary talent for makingeveryonefeel wel‐comed andappreciated; Philnever meta stranger His wrysense of humor re‐mainedbrightevenamid his struggleswithillness demonstrating hisremark‐ableresilience. In hisear‐lieryears,Philwas an avid runner, embracingthe challenge of marathons and numerous races, which complemented his lovefor swimming andbik‐ing.These passions not onlyshowcased hisphysi‐cal andmentalstrength but also hiszestfor life Following retirement,Phil loved travelingwith Kathryn andtheir family and found greatpeace in tending to hisgarden, cre‐ating calmingspacesfor himself andloved ones Cookingfor hisfamily brought himsomuchjoy Makingmeals to order, cateringtoall around him. Above allelse, Phil loved spendingtimewithhis five grandchildren—ColeAn‐thony,AmélieThérèse, Jean-Felix, Olivia Grace, and GabriellaElizabeth Phil’sfaith andcommit‐menttohis community wereprofound.Heand Kathryn were devoted parishionersofSt. Joseph the Worker Church for36 years,where he gener‐ously volunteeredhis time invarious ministries.Re‐cently, he washonored to becommissionedasanAs‐sociate of theCongrega‐tionofSt. Joseph,along‐sidehis belovedwife. Phil was also therecipient of The OrderofSt. Louis, rec‐ognizinghis outstanding service anddedication. He leavesbehinda legacy of compassionand kindness, deeplymissedbyhis lov‐ing family.Philissurvived byhis belovedwifeof52 years,Kathryn,and their fourchildren: AmyBil‐leaudeaux andher hus‐band, Jean-Luc Bil‐leaudeaux;Brian Dominick Rando;Laura Apriland her husband,Robert"Bobby" April,III; andMaryClaire Rando.Hewas aproud grandfather to Cole Rando, Amélie Billeaudeaux, JeanFelix Billeaudeaux,Olivia April,and GabriellaApril Philwillbemissedbyhis brother,DominickRando, Jr. andwifeCatherine Rando,and sister,Mar‐garet Hunt andhusband GaryHunt,aswellasmany nieces, nephews, cousins, and friendswhose liveshe touched.Philwas pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, thelateDominick Vincent Rando, Sr.and Santa MarieTuminello Rando,and hisGodchild and Nephew,DominickAn‐thony Rando. Visitation willbeheldonOctober 24, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with aRosaryat10:00 AM, at St.Josephthe WorkerCatholicChurch in Marrero,followedbya Massfrom11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.Following the Mass, Phil will be laid to restatWestlawnMemorial ParkinTerrytown at 12:30 PM. As we remember Felix Phil"DominickRando may we carry forwardhis legacyoffaith,strength, laughter, andrelentless kindness. Hismemorywill forever remain aguiding light in thelives of allwho werefortunate enough to knowhim.Thank youto the team of Leukemia Doc‐torsand Nurses at MD An‐derson, under thedirection ofDr. Courtney DiNardo. Along with theStemCell TransplantTeamofDoc‐tors andNursesatHouston

tors and Nurses at Houston Methodist, under thedirec‐tionofDr. RammurtiKam‐ble.Pleasevisit Mothefu‐nerals.comtoviewand signthe online guestbook

WattigneyJr.,Captain LouisM.'Toby'

Captain LouisM.“Toby” Wattigney Jr adevoted leader, family member, and friend,whose steady presenceanchoredboth his family andcommunity passedawayonSunday evening,October 12,2025, atage 67.While on atripto his huntingcampinMissis‐sippi—a placeheloved dearly, he found eternal peace andjoy surrounded bynature. Born on Novem‐ber 5, 1957, Toby wasthe son of LouisM.Wattigney Sr. andHelenaBlanchard Wattigney.A native of New Orleans anda resident of Belle Chasse for27years, hewas aproud graduate ofO.Perry Walker High School andattended the UniversityofNew Orleans (UNO) before beginninghis maritimecareerwithhis brother,William LouisWat‐tigneyJr.,atCrescentTow‐ing,where he served as a captain for18years.In 1976, Toby andhis brother wereatthe helm of the firsttugboat to arrive at the sceneofthe Luling–De‐strehan Ferry Disaster whena tanker collided witha passengerferry on the Mississippi River. To‐gether, they helped rescue one of thefew survivorsin a collisionthatclaimed 78 lives andremains the deadliest ferry disaster in U.S.history.Tobywenton toserve as apilot with the New Orleans–BatonRouge Steamship Pilots Associa‐tion(NOBRA) formorethan 30years,later becoming president,where he dedi‐cated hiscareertoensur‐ing thesafe navigation of the MississippiRiver and the protection of those who live andworkalong its banks.Duringhis tenureas president,Tobyservedin leadershipand advisory roles across Louisiana’s maritimecommunity,in‐cluding with NOBRA’s Board of Examinersand Board of Directors, the AmericanPilotsAssocia‐tion, BigRiver Coalition, Louisiana Pilotage Fee Commission, Maritime NavigationSafetyAssocia‐tion(MNSA), NewOrleans Board of Trade, Propeller Clubofthe U.S. Port of New Orleans,Universityof Louisiana Maritime Acad‐emy Advisory Council, OpenWatersLouisiana, and theWorld TradeCenter TransportationCommittee Healsochaired Governor JeffLandry’sTaskForce on Navigationand Safety withinthe LouisianaPorts Waterways,and Invest‐mentCommission. Outside ofhis work on theriver, Tobywas adedicated box‐ing coach, passionate about mentoringand in‐spiring young athletes Whetherguiding apilot or a boxer, he wasknown for his steady resolve, kind spirit, andunwavering sup‐portfor thosearound him. Faith wasatthe core of Toby’slifeand work.In 2024, he helped organize and orchestratethe inau‐gural Fête-DieuduMissis‐sippi,a Eucharisticproces‐siondownriver from Baton Rouge to NewOrleans, honoringthe soulslostin river tragedies. Working alongside Rev. Michael Champagne at thesugges‐tionofnow-GovernorJeff Landry, he guided vessels inblessingthe same wa‐tershehad navigatedfor decades.His leadership re‐flectedhis belief that faith and duty areintercon‐nected—that theriver is not only achannel of com‐merce butalsoa living symbolofGod’s presence and thelifeblood of Louisiana.For Toby,faith was notonlypersonalbut alsoaninheritance.One of the most meaningful tradi‐tions he kept alivewas the NineChurches Walk,anan‐nualGood Friday journey through NewOrleans that began in 1941, whenhis grandmother startedthe pilgrimageafter herthree sonsweredrafted into World WarIIasa wayto prayfor theirsafe return Eachyear, Toby made sure the walk continued, not justasa family tradition but as agathering of com‐munity andsharedfaith Beyondworkand worship, Tobywas aproud Pappyto his intelligentand beauti‐ful granddaughter, Grace, whomheadored. He found comfort outdoorsand was overjoyed to sharehis love ofhuntingand fishingwith hisson,Maurice,and his

his son Maurice and his great-nephews, Peterand Brandon.Healsocherished his time with hiswifeof34 years,Catherine Kloor Wattigney,inOrange Beach—one of thefew placeswhere he could truly unwind.Tobywas precededindeath by his parents,Louis M. Wat‐tigneySr. andHelenaBlan‐chard Wattigney, as well as his nephew,William Louis Wattigney Jr.Heissur‐vived by hiswife, Cather‐ine KloorWattigney;his son,Louis “Maurice”Wat‐tigney; hisgranddaughter, Grace Wattigney; his brother,William LouisWat‐tigneySr.;numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, countless friendsand fel‐low pilots who became familyoverthe years. Cap‐tainWattigney’s legacy flowsthrough thepeople heloved andthe riverhe served. Thelessons he sharedand theexample he set live on in thefamily, friends,and fellow pilots who knew himbest, which act as alasting reflection ofhis steadiness,generos‐ity,love, andstrength. Memorialdonations canbe madeinToby’shonor to the ManresaHouse of Re‐treats(5858LA-44,Con‐vent, LA 70723)orthe Fa‐therSeelosCenter(919 Josephine St., NewOrleans, LA70130), reflecting his lifelongdevotiontofaith, family, andservice.Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the Visitation on Monday, October 20,2025, at Mothe FuneralHome, 1300 Val‐lette St., NewOrleans,LA, from5 p.m. until10p.m Visitationwillresumeon Tuesday,October 21,2025, atHolyNameofMary Catholic Church,New Or‐leans,LA, from 9:30 a.m. until theFuneralMasstime at1 p.m.

It is with heavyhearts thatweannouncethe passing of Rosalie“MawMaw”Wilbur, age85, on October 15,2025, at her daughter’sresidence in Slidell, Louisiana. Rosalie was along-time resident of Kenner, LA.She spenther career as acafeteria workerfor JeffersonParish Schools.She is themother ofthree daughters: RhondaTodd, Robyn Willard, andRichelle Koontz(David).The daugh‐ter of thelate: Charlesand Marie Impastato; sister of: RonaldImpastato Sr (Brenda)and thelate Charles ImpastatoJr. Ros‐aliewas very proudofher family. Sheissurvivedby her children,seven grand‐children: RickyDavadi, Erica Petrocelli (Joe), NicoleDavadi, Lydia Davadi, Gabrielle Barreca (Michael),Megan Jackson (Evan)and Lillie Koontz; eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend theCatholic FuneralMassatHonaker FuneralHome, 1751 Gause BlvdW,(In Forest Lawn Cemetery),Slidell, LA on Wednesday,October 22, 2025, at 11:00AM. Visita‐tionatthe funeralhomeon Wednesday from 9:00 AM until funeraltime. Inter‐ment to follow in Forest

ment to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery.Arrange‐ments by HonakerFuneral Home, Inc.,Slidell, LA

HarrelA.Zivitz passed away peacefullyathome Friday, October10, 2025. He wasa true southerngentleman,both kindand dapper. Harrelwas born and raisedinMobile,AL, and moved to Metairiein1965. He will be remembered as adevoted husband, loving father,and proud grandfather andgreat grandfather He wasprecededin death by the love of his life, Betty, to whom he was married54yearsand by hisoldest, beloved daughter, AnnKimball Kientz Harrelwas theson of the lateRuth PrinceZivitz Lamensdorf andMarvin "Buster" Zivitz. He is survivedbyhis loving daughters Carol Zivitz Lange (Joey) and Lois MorganVinson(Keith).Harrel was especially proud of his six grandchildren, Harrel Kimball (Allie), Andrew Morgan(Amber), Alan Morgan(Samatha), Sam Lange Pierce (Matt), Zac Lange (Claire), and Ali Lange. He is also survived by hissix precious great grandchildren. Harrelgrewupwith and always lookedout for his threebrothers, Donald Zivitz (Leona), BuzzyZivitz (Ellen), and thelate Thomas MartinZivitz. He lovedvisitingwith his many cousins, nieces, and nephews. In hislater years, he enjoyed local theaterand diningout on MagazineStwith hiscompanion, thelateKay Kronenberg Harrelwas amember of Temple Sinai, owner of Rug andCarpet Center,and a long time,original Saints ticketholder. He andBetty enjoyed many years of socializingwith friends from Temple Sinai andBissonet ManedDowns Country Club. Harrelwas abig fan of Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Turner Classic Movies, Bear Bryant, and all things Alabama football. Thefamilywould like to give heartfelt thanks to all Harrel'swonderful caregivers, especially Terry, Jeannine,Annie, and Elsie. Agravesideservice was held at Hebrew Rest Cemetery on Monday, October13, 2025. Those wishingtohonor Harrel may considerdonating to Temple Sinai or acharity of yourchoice.

OUR VIEWS

Don’t letcoastal progress slip away, bitby bit

Erosion is defined as the gradualdestruction or diminution of something.It’saword we know all too well in coastal Louisiana, where damage from storms and climatechange is slowly claiming the land beneath our feet.

But there is another kind of erosion that we fear is occurring.It’sthe erosion of aconsensus thatled to big gains in coastalprotectionand made Louisiana alaboratoryfor research that was widely heralded. In recent months, it is worryinghow fast this consensus —thatour state must recognize coastalland loss as anurgent threat and take bold and unprecedentedactionto address it —isbeing chipped awayatbyall sorts of interests. Some are legitimate,others less so But if unchallenged, before long all our hard-won progress could be washedaway.

With the cancellation of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion in July,weurged the statenot to retreatinits commitment to find ways to restore wetlands andprotect the coast. We recalled the decades of Louisiana leaders across thepolitical spectrum who fought to bring attention— and federal dollars —tocombating the existential threat weface.

Now another wetlands restorationproject has been canceled. The Mid-BretonSediment Diversion, which aimed to restore land east bank of the Mississippi River near Wills Pointbychanneling river sediment into the BretonBasin, faced criticismover its cost and its potentialeffects on local fisheries.

Like the Mid-Barataria diversion, it was to be paid for primarily with moneyfromthe BP oil spill settlement. About $5 billionofthose funds wereset aside to restore the coast. Itwas a windfall that the state wasn’texpecting. Andit changed what was possible in coastal protection Gordon Dove, chairman of the state’sCoastal Protection and Restoration Authority,pointed to other projects under way,suchasland-bridge building and other smallerdiversions that could use the money from the canceledprojects But that is no consolation. Indeed, it points to how far off track we’ve gone.The updated 50-year Coastal Master Plan, approvedunanimously by the Legislaturein 2023,includesthese projects. It’s worth it to rememberin2007, when CPRA first issued areportcalled “Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Planfor aSustainable Coast,” part of the goal was to draw federal dollars by showing there wasablueprint on how they would be used.

Yetnow it seems we are abandoning that blueprint and canceling projects basedonunclear criteria and with no path forward.

That isn’tthe way to build trust that money is being spent wisely.Itisn’tthe way toaccomplish bold change. It is the way,though, to erode, dollarbydollar, project by project,the visionand legacy of those who havefought so passionately to save our coast.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE

WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address 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, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER SCANHERE

OPINION

Historically speaking, Sextus Congenius Verus was nobody special. He died nearly 2,000 years ago in what is now Italy.Hewas asailor in theRoman navy,serving on an oarpowered warship called atrireme. He didn’tlead alegion, seize athrone or start anew worldwide religion. Verus’ story,such as it is, is only known to us because his heirs, AtiliusCarus and VettiusLonginus, commemorated his life in several lines of Latin textonastonewhen he died. That stone, in aremarkable series of events, was uncovered earlier this year in aNew Orleansbackyard. Butfor this text, we might never know anything about Verus, who died when he was 42. It would be easy to dismiss thestory of Verus’ tombstone as aquirky tale of an artifact’srediscovery.But it illustrates something important about history

lives of the masses. Those like Verus. Andthat brings me to the present. There are those now whoseek to erase history of some of the masses in American history,especially those victimized through our national sins, like slavery and racism andother related violence.

are also filled with violence, prejudice, cruelty and malevolence.

To tell one without other is morethan adisservice; it’sanintense form of hubris. It’s intellectually and morally cowardly

They would rather we focus on the few (mostly) men at the top whodid say,think and write someincredible things. That’s theonly story they like to hear

The TrumpAdministration has issued edicts to the Smithsonian museums, promising to “restore truthand sanity to American History.” The goal, according to aWhiteHouse news release, is to counteract the “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.”

In Louisiana, there are worries that signs recounting racist events and enslaved people’slives—such as those at Cane River Creole National Historical Park —will be altered or taken down.

An honest confronting of our past is what enables and equips us to do better.Togoback to the football analogy, if we only look at our good plays, we will never address our shortcomings. Verus is not in any Roman historical highlight. No great poemswere written about him,noepics are dedicated to his exploits. He is not remembered as ahero. His picture is not required to be posted in classrooms. But Verus’ story is an essential part of Roman history.It’sawindow,a very small one, into the world of normal people in his time. At least some thought he wasworth remembering: In the engraving, his heirs referred to him as “most deserving.”

Most history that people learn in school is about wars, kings, battles and leaders. They memorize dates and administrations, movements anderas. Those are elements of history,but they don’ttell the whole story.Areal history tells not just of the few (usually) men at thetop of power structures, but also investigates and recountsthe

To borrow afootball analogy,those who would like to take them down want to pretend like the highlights are thewhole game.

An honest tellingacknowledges that our national and state histories are filled withstories of heroism,bravery, moxie and intellectual brilliance. They

There is alesson forusthere. We can and should remember the Veruses of our own history.Our heroes are worthy of study and commemoration, but so are the people whoserved, who struggled or whowere victims. They, too, are “most deserving.”

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

When letter writers call for thenewspaper to investigateacertain topic, we forward thoseletterstothe appropriate editor.But readers should know that if theyhave specific tips about storiesin their area, we also have an email inbox for suchitems at newstips@ theadvocate.com

Buthow to make sure your tipgets noticed? First of all, themore detail you can provide about your knowledge of the story,the better.Do you have documentsorother corroborating evidence? Do you know people who areconnected to the story who are willing to talktoareporter? Are you yourself willing to go on the record with what you know?

Secondly,realizethat reporters will put greater stock in atip from someone who has nothing to gain directly from sharing the information.Giving atip about abusiness rival or someone with

whom you have had an ongoing dispute will draw greater skepticism.And even though the information might be true, we do have to consider the source as always Lastly,isthe wrongdoing that you want to expose serious enough thatthe public would have an interest in knowing? Disputes of apersonalnature (a neighbor violating HOA rules, for instance) aren’tusually agood basis for anews story.Unless your personal situation illustrates apattern of wrongdoing by an individual or group, it’sunlikely to be something the newspaper would pursue. Youcan alsolook at whatvarious reporters cover and see if your tip fits in withsomething thatthey have shown an interestin. Often, the best tips come from people who’ve been affected by some problem we’ve written about whosestory can illustrate acomplex is-

sue. Also note that all reporters’ emails are linked to their stories online. So you can contact areporter directly if you have information relevant to astory you’ve seen. As governmental entities increasingly try to make it difficult for journalists to access information and official sources, our relationship with the public becomes more and more important. We are here to serve you, and the information you provide is often crucial to our work. We are committedtoprotecting our sources and handle all information we receive sensitively So send us your tips as well as your letters. Idon’thave acount of letters for you this week, but we will update you on our letters inbox next week. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Want to see your opinion published in TheAdvocate |Times-Picayune? Submit aletter to the editor

COMMENTARY

ForMoreno, toughtimes demand working honeymoon

Helena Moreno spent part of her

first day as mayor-elect watching last Sunday’sSaints game with one of New Orleans’ most prominentcitizens,team owner Gayle Benson; such are the perks of the City Council vice president’snew job, even if appearances like these also qualify as work. Beyond that brief respite, there’sactually been quite abit of work —the kind that doesn’tinvolve cheering on the home team even if it falls short —on her schedule. Moreno is still very much in her honeymoon phase but her transition is turning out to be no vacation. There’snotime for that. The voters who elected her with 55% of the vote are clamoring for tangible improvements to the quality-of-life woes that plague the city —aSuper Bowl-stylespiff-up for the rest of us, as Moreno often promised on the campaign trail. And providing it is proving to

be evenmorechallenging than Moreno probably thought,thanks to news from the state legislative auditorlastweek—inresponseto an auditthat Moreno pushed for amid conflicting estimates —that the cityfaces a roughly $160 million deficit, afigure that exceeds earlierpessimistic guesses.

15 runoff ballot, which would allow the city to spend more than half abillion dollars for drainage, housing and infrastructure.

to thepolice retirement fund for several years because of the number of officers thecity has lost, which Moreno hopes she might be able toconvince lawmakers to forgive.

longtime ally JP Morrell and newcomer Matthew Willard; all share the distinction of being Democrats who were able to pass meaningful legislation despite Republican majorities.

Moreno last week deemed these bond issues “obviously incredibly important to me” so that major capital projects can continue.

Stephanie Grace

Still acouncil member until shetakes over from Mayor LaToya Cantrell in January,Moreno will remainverymuch apart of the tough budget process for next yearnow underway,soshe’ll face an early testofwhether she canstick to hercampaign goal of avoiding the new taxes and fees that Cantrellhas suggested arenecessary.Among the places shesaid she’d look for cuts: large contractsand salaries that don’t provideasufficient return on investment.

Also looming large are three proposed bond issues on what will nowlikely be alow-turnout Nov.

“And so I’ll be doing whatever possible to assure thepublic that Iwill be agood steward of those dollars.”

Andmore asks are coming, including from Baton Rouge.

It’snosecret that ever since Cantrell got lawmakers to pass her 2019 “Fair Share” plan that redirected ahotel tax from the statetothe city and instituted a new tax on short-term rentals, the administration hasn’thad astrong hand before theLegislature.

Moreno is looking to change that, and has already got her eye on acouple of revenue sources.

Oneisonline gaming revenue that goes to thestate but not to thecity.Another is a$3.8 million fine New Orleanshas been paying

“That’s $3.8 million we’re just throwing in the fire,” she said in a pre-election radio interview Iconducted with her on WWNO.

She also expects to be playing somedefense, due to state officials’ longtime habit of getting up in the city’sbusiness.

“What Ihave told the governor, really just in passing,” she said on WWNO, is that “when Ido becomemayor,that I’ll be taking care of the city of NewOrleans, so we won’tneed him to be coming in so much and trying to takeover.” She said Jeff Landry took her gentleribbing well, and laughed.

That said, Moreno’sactually well positioned to make her case at the Capitol. She served there herself, as did the next council’s twoat-large council members, her

VOTING RIGHTS ACTUNDER FIRE

She starts with strong backing from several New Orleans lawmakers, including the influential state Sen. Jimmy Harris, one of the first members she named to her transition team. Moreno also noted last week that she served in the House alongside current Speaker Phillip DeVillier and nowSenate President Cameron Henry The former Louisiana co-chair of Kamala Harris’ campaign even got anice election night shout-out from the Trump-loving Landry, congratulating her and saying he looks forward to “working together to create abetter New Orleans.”

Sure, that could be honeymoon talk, but it’snot abad start.

EmailStephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

High courtputsracefront andcenter, as if it nevermatters

Race was at the core of Wednesday’sU.S. Supreme Court hearing of Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, apairofcomplicated cases that will likely change Section 2ofthe 1965 Voting Rights Act —orget rid of it. Depending on what the court decides, up to 30 members of the Congressional Black Caucus could lose their seats —including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, and/or U.S. Rep. CleoFields, D-Baton Rouge. Both were at the court for the hearing, crossing their fingers figuratively and processing what they heard literally “It was packed,” Carter told me minutes after the 2.5-hour hearing ended. “I was standing.Couldn’t get aseat. It was an absolutely packed house.” Carter said there were people inside and outside from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and other states, clearly “recognizing the importance of the Voting Rights Act.” He said there were hundreds of people outside ofthe court as popular songs played, including John Legend’s”Freedom” and ”Glory,” both sung by Common. “As Isat and listened to today’s oral arguments in Louisianav.Callais, Iwas reminded of just how much is at stake in our country’s democracy,” Fields wrotein a

statement.“This case marks a pivotalmoment in not only Louisiana’s ongoingfight to protect fair representation,but states all across this nation as well.”

Will Sutton

Alanah Odoms, executive director of theACLU Louisiana, was in thecourtroom. Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis was on thescene. So was Damon Hewitt, aNew Orleansnative wholeads one of the nation’smost important civil rights organizations as president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Hewitt, who hasread the various cases and briefs, had waited for this day as some of thenation’stop attorneysmade their cases in favor of continuing Section 2asisversus altering it or gettingrid of it. He had a reserved seat inside the court galley.Hewitt said thecourt seems positioned to make somechanges “Something’sgoing to change,” he told me.“It’s just amatter of how drastically.”

Those who have been watching these SupremeCourt cases, both those whodoand those who don’t wanttosee theVRA weakened, expect change. They include Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. The dayafterthe hearing,the governorcalled for aspecial session of theLegislature on Oct. 23.He wants legislators to change the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByCLIFFOWEN

Voting rights activists gather Wednesdayoutside the Supreme Courtin Washington, as the justices prepare to takeupamajor Republican-led challengetothe Voting Rights Act.

election schedule for congressional campaigns, since qualifying is in mid-January and Democratic and Republican primary elections are scheduled for April, and no one can tell the high court to issue an opinion on our timetable. If thecourt makes changes, we can pray that they give us enough time to adjust to anew reality Odoms is optimistic. She doesn’t thinkthat the Callais plaintiffs, theU.S. Department of Justice and Louisiana’ssolicitor general had astrong argument under the strict Gingles testestablished in aprevious court ruling. “Gingles looks at current conditions like segregated housing and racial

La.redistricting case will noterode

Wednesday’sSupreme Court hearing on acongressionalredistricting dispute created an interesting and instructive juxtaposition with Helena Moreno’selection as mayor of New Orleans four days earlier In asort of double-reverse way,Moreno’selection is yet one more example of why the court should change its long-flawed interpretation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. But before we start Yes, I get it: Any time anyone talks about changing how the VRA is applied, Black people and other minorities fear the worst. This nation’s history of voting barriers against Black people was abominable until Congress passed the VRA. People of goodwill understandably are skeptical of altering the VRA’s application. Still, the fears are misplaced: Copious evidence indicates that the abilityofBlack people to win public office likely will not be diminished if the SupremeCourt reinterprets Article 2. The issue arises in the twin SupremeCourt cases of Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, in

whichthe current design of Louisiana’scongressional districtsis being challenged.

To overly simplify ahorrendously complicated set of earlier rulings, the reigning interpretation of VRA’s Section 2isthat states shouldtry,when feasible, to create Black-majority districts in at least rough proportiontothe percentageofBlacks in the electorate.

polarization to determine if a remedyisneeded,” she said. “We have bothofthose conditions in this state. We have also never had aBlack candidate elected statewide in Louisiana.” IaskedCarter and Hewitt whether my sense that all justices wereinterested and involved was accurate. Iasked both whether Justices SamuelAlito, Ketanji Brown Jacksonand Clarence Thomas appeared to be the most engaged with questions. They said yes. WasJustice Amy Coney Barrett, Louisiana’sown, just as engaged? No, but she hadacouple of good questions. Separately,Carter and Hewitt

praised Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, for making abrilliant factual argument about why the VRA and Section 2have been so critical to rectifying discriminatory voting practices —whether intentional or the as aresult of commonpractice.

Now that the hearing is over,we wait for one of the most critical Supreme Court decisions in our lifetimes.

Ican’tbelieve the Louisiana solicitor general argued (previously) in favor of acongressional map drawn to include two majorityBlack districts, making it more likely that 33% of the state’spopulation would be fully represented in the U.S. Congress, only to flip and argue that it’sonly right that we lookatthese maps with acolorblind approach. Nothing is colorblind whenyou look as Iand others do. Everyone sees our color.Voting isn’tcolorblind. Why erase asignature provision more likely to guarantee fair representation? Make it make sense.

Like Carter,I’m “hopeful that the winning side is the right side.” Like Fields, I’m hopeful that this won’tturn out badly.Like Hewitt, I pray this won’tend with us having “rights without remedies.”

EmailWill Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Quin Hillyer

I(andmany others)have writtennumerous columns on whythat interpretation is wrong, not least because the last sentence of Section 2says“nothing in this section establishes aright to have members of aprotectedclass [i.e., usually Blackvoters]elected in numbers equal to their proportion in the population.” Despite this admonition, the courts have forced states to defy common sense in order to drawenough districts withBlack majorities,even ifitmeans ignoringcountylinesorgeographic features.

Alabama last year was forced to adopt aBlack majority district snaking from theMississippi state line all the way to Georgia, as if Blackvoters in urban Mobile in

the state’s westhave moreinterests in common withBlack voters in the ruralwiregrass areas in the eastthan they do withWhite neighbors two blocks away And the districtinquestion last week in Louisiana v. Callais is a monstrosity, shapedlike aweirdly unbalanced construction crane, stretching 400 miles from East BatonRouge to Caddo Parishway up northwest. The creation of thesedistricts, though, wrongly assumes that racial gerrymandering is necessary to protect minority rights.

The realityis, all acrossthe country,Black candidates get elected from majority-White areas,and majority-Black constituenciesoften elect White candidates.Touse akey phrase from Section 2, voters’ “candidate of choice” is far from certain to share the voters’ race. Moreno, who is Whiteand Hispanic, won in Black-majority New Orleans by earning as many Black votes as either of her two major Black opponents In Mobile, thelastsix mayor’s elections have been won by candidates of the city’sracial minority at the time: In 2005 and 2009, the main Black candidate won when

the citywas still majority White, and in the next four contests, a Whitecandidate wondespite the citybecoming majority (or this time, strong plurality) Black.

Nationwide, about half of the Black members of Congress of both partiesrepresent constituencies withBlack voter registrations under 40%. This is true north, south, east and west. And there have been enough cross-racial successesincity elections that prominent Black scholar Ravi K. Perry published a364-page book called “Black Mayors, White Majorities.

To repeat: White voters will elect Black candidates. Likewise,Black voters will elect White candidates, as New Orleanians did with Moreno, just as overwhelmingly Black Detroit has done three straight times with the popular MikeDuggan. Meanwhile, divvying up people by race is pernicious. It emphasizesimmutable externalities having nothing to do with character or qualifications. What should matter arecommonalities of culture or opinion. Moreover,inpractice, the electoraleffects of putatively proBlack racial gerrymandering have

played asignificant role in the polarization of American politics. In athoughtful columnonthis subject (with whose ultimate conclusion Irespectfully disagree), my colleague Stephanie Grace acknowledged that the current interpretation of Section 2leads to districts skewed so heavily in one direction or another that “it relieves politicians of having to listen to constituents who don’tshare their views.”

Consider this: To whatever extent political interests still are related to race, wouldn’tHouse Speaker Mike Johnson,R-Benton,havefar more political incentive to listen to Black voters if they comprised,say,33% of his district, rather than ameasly 2%?And couldn’tRep.CleoFields still win in a44% Black district (rather than his current52%)by adding enough votes from White Democrats?

In sum, the right legal interpretation of Section 2also is the right practical answer: To encourage even better racial understanding and cooperation, stop treating race as our defining political characteristic.

EmailQuin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

Audubon to host survival plan meeting

BY CHAD CALDER Staff writer

An 8-year-old okapi at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon

Species Survival Center on the West Bank is pregnant and will give birth to a calf later this year, an encouraging development for the shy and endangered species known as the “forest giraffe.”

The Audubon Nature Institute made the announcement Saturday to coincide with World Okapi Day, which aims to raise awareness for the threatened species native to the Democratic

Republic of Congo The survival center located on 1,200 acres of land owned by the city and the U.S. Coast Guard along the Mississippi River, has five okapis that roam on 26 acres.

Asili is now 14 months pregnant, and the father of her calf is 10-year-old Miraq, Audubon said. This will be his first calf. Asili gave birth to a female calf in 2022, though she was born with a untreatable congenital defect and survived only a few months.

“As with all newer mothers, the animal care team is monitoring this pregnancy closely and will be watching via a camera system, during the birth process to ensure the safety and health of both mother and calf. Now that Asili is an experienced mother, the team expects the new calf to

thrive,” Audubon said in a news release. Okapi are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, Audubon said. They are the only living relative of the giraffe and are considered one of the world’s oldest mammals. But because of their solitary nature and ability to avoid detection, scientists did not describe these animals until 1901, and even a hundred years later very little is known about them, Audubon said. In the wild, okapi are threatened due to illegal hunting, mining, deforestation and other human encroachment on their habitat. Audubon said there is no accurate accounting of okapi in the wild, but their number

Endangered okapi at West Bank preserve expected to give birth

is believed to have dropped by roughly 50% in the past 20 years, “making this pregnancy at Audubon extremely important for the survival of the species.”

Audubon has been participating in the Species Survival Plan for okapi, overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, since 2017. The program uses the parentage and genetic information of animals at accredited institutions within the system to provide breeding matches that will keep genetic variation among the captive animals at healthy and sustainable levels.

Next week, Audubon is hosting the International Okapi Meeting. Conservation leaders from eight countries and 31 zoos will gather to discuss efforts to protect these endangered animals.

Asili, an 8-year-old okapi at the FreeportMcMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center on the West Bank, is 14 months pregnant.

Miller said via text on Friday that he is not yet ready to disclose his plans for the firehouse, including whether it will remain a private residence or be developed as a venue or for some other commercial purpose

Other historic firehouses in the city have been converted to private residences and businesses like hotels, coffee shops and restaurants.

The Jackson Avenue building’s recent claim to fame was as the site of a 2008 mural by the pseudonymous British street artist Banksy, whose preserved works have fetched as much as $25 million at auction. The firehouse’s 6-foot-tall stencil depicted a stick figure pleading with the city’s late anti-graffiti crusader, Fred “The Gray Ghost” Radtke.

Installed behind a protective fence, the piece became one of the longest-surviving examples of Banksy’s post-Katrina works before Orgon removed it earlier this year, just ahead of the property sale

That section of wall — roughly 5,000 pounds of brick and mortar was cut free and cradled in a steel frame before being hauled away on a flatbed truck to the Louisiana State Museum for safe keeping. Long before its turn as a street-art landmark, the two-story structure

Philanthropist investor

Miller, whose son Lenny who is a fourth-year student at Tulane’s Freeman School of Business, has had a growing presence in New Orleans in recent years. In 2023, he purchased another historic property: a five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot mansion at 17 Richmond Place, for $2.35 million. The Queen Anne-style house was built in 1905 for Henry Louis Favrot, a prominent lawyer and state senator, and was the first constructed on that exclusive Uptown street.

Earlier this year, Miller and his wife, Tina Beltran Miller, a professional golfer, donated $1 million to Tulane University’s Innovation Institute, creating the Miller Family Endowed Fund, which supports entrepreneurial programming, pitch competitions and proof-of-concept awards.

served for decades as Engine 22, a New Orleans Fire Department station that operated at the site from roughly 1925 to 1973. Records and the horse stables at the back of the property suggest the building itself may date to the mid-19th century though the exact construction date is uncertain. Today, it’s listed by the Historic District Landmarks Commission as a contributing property within the Irish Channel Historic District.

Miller’s business interests span real estate, banking, and energy He founded Krillion Ventures, a $100 million venture capital fund backing technology startups in Miami, New York,BostonandSanFrancisco.The son of Leonard Miller, who grew a small homebuilding firm into Lennar Corporation, the second-largest home construction company in the U.S. now worth about $30 billion, Miller has long combined entrepreneurship with civic engagement. His philanthropic interests in-

clude The Miller Foundation, the family’s charitable arm, through which $150 million has been donated to the University of Miami, including the naming of the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. He is a notable supporter of music initiatives in Miami and chairs the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. The Jackson Avenue property was bought through a company called Nitetrippers LLC, an apparent reference to Dr John’s backing band. For his part Orgon is perhaps best known for founding the NOLA Art House, an artist collective and residence located in an antebellum mansion at 1614 Esplanade Ave. in the historic Treme neighborhood Established in 2005, the Art House provides affordable housing and studio space for professional artists, fostering collaboration and creative exchange. Its parlors, hallways, and backyard host exhibitions and installations.

The Art House is particularly noted for its multistory interactive tree house, created by longtime resident Scott Pterodactyl and other artists associated with the collective known as Homemade Parachutes, constructed almost entirely from salvaged materials in the post-Katrina years.

Secret post-Katrina visit

The mural came to be painted

at the Jackson Avenue firehouse during Banksy’s secret 2008 visit to the Big Easy, when he created small murals across the city to lift spirits and attract tourists during the post-Katrina recovery Many were later painted over removed or demolished The Gray Ghost mural at Jackson Avenue became particularly noteworthy because it survived for 17 years, largely protected by a fence and later a transparent panel.

Orgon may have glimpsed the elusive artist while scaffolding wrapped in tarps concealed the work, though he later admitted he didn’t know who Banksy was at the time. The mural is one of a handful of Banksy works salvaged for long-term preservation in New Orleans, along with Looters and Child on a Swing at the International House Hotel, a Bart Simpson mural at Habana Outpost, and recent removals of Gray Ghost and Umbrella Girl for restoration in early 2024.

The sale of the firehouse to Miller has ensured that one of the city’s few remaining Banksy murals will be preserved, highlighting the building’s unusual role at the intersection of local history, contemporary

acy

and

Email Anthony McAuley

tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

SPORTS

Retzlaff passes Tulane to dramatic victory

GreenWavequarterback leadslaterally againstArmy

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

After beating itself in multiple ways fora second consecutive game, the Tulane football team reached ado-or-die stagelate in the fourthquarter against ArmyonSaturday

As he hasoften in thepast, quarterback Jake Retzlaff turned it into winningtime

Going 8for 10 on the final two drives,Retzlaff threw an improvised 8-yard pass to Bryce Bohanonfor the tying score on fourth and 8with 1:54 left and then hit Shazz Prestonona pass that Prestontippedtwice before snagging in the end zone for ago-ahead

touchdown with 27 seconds left as the Green Wave won 24-17 at Yulman Stadium.

Just like that, ateam thatlooked like it was in trouble when Army capped itssecond 80-yard touchdown drive in the second half found away to complete another fourth-quartercomeback.

Tulane (6-1, 3-0) improved to 25-2 in AmericanConference regular-season gamessince thestartof2022and remained at theforefront of afour-team race for the league championshipgame. Reigning champion Army(34, 2-3) suffered another heartbreaker after losing twice in overtime earlier this season.

“It’sjust an exciting thing for the playmakers to feel like all right, let’sgomake aplay,” Retzlaff said. “Wewere running plays to

Former Saints coachAllen sticks to hisprinciplesinnew

LAKE FOREST,Ill. D’MarcoJackson has been in these meetings. The Chicago Bears linebacker knows what to expect. The pop quizzes. The push to make sure players are paying attention. You’d better be lockedin, because the questions fly at any moment.

Jackson understands the way DennisAllen operates.

“It just makes you like akid in class, like‘Oh,isheabout to call on you?’” Jackson said. “You ready? You’ve gottoanswer the question.”

Jackson has avoided being the target of an Allen inquiry this season, but the surprise tests have not caught him off-guard. The fourth-year linebacker watched the Bears defensive coordinator use the same tricks in meetings when they were together in New Orleans, when Allen was the Saints head coach and Jackson was trying to find his spot in the league.

The same can’tbesaidfor therest of Jackson’steammates, whoare still picking up on the approach “DA,” Chicago cornerback Nahshon

“DA, he’ssuper intense. ... DA doesn’ttakeno excuses, no apologies.”

NAHSHON WRIGHT,Chicagocornerback, on defensivecoordinator Dennis Allen

Wright said, “he’ssuper intense.” Allen’sintensity hadbecome astaple in New Orleans,perhaps to thepoint it hadwornout its welcomebythe end. At this mark aseason ago, Allen and the Saints suffered aloss so bad that Amazon Prime analyst Richard Sherman remarkedthatthe black and gold played like it wantedits coach fired. DenverBroncos coach Sean Payton hadhumiliated his successor in prime time,and Allen’s tenure never recovered. He was dismissedtwo weekslater,once the Saints’ losing streak hit seven. Contrast that with this Sunday,when Allenprepares to facehis former

JakeRetzlaff runs the ball in the first half of agame against Army on Saturday at yulman Stadium. Tulane won 24-17.

LSU‘D’ has no answer forPavia, ‘Dores

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. LSU relied on its defense through its first six games.

Coach Brian Kelly said as much, as its offense struggled to score points and the defense continued to clamp downonthe likes of Clemson, South Carolina and Florida. But on Saturday at First Bank Stadium againstVanderbilt, theLSU defense couldn’tget astop.The Commodores didn’t have to punt until the fourth quarter,accumulating 399 yards andaveraging 5.6 yards perrush when adjusted for lost sack yardage.

The offensive onslaught resulted in a3124 win for theCommodores,raising more questionsabout Kellyasthe Tigers’next twoopponents, TexasA&M andAlabama, sit in the top 10 of the AP poll.

“Whenyou play ateamlikethat, that’s going to take care of the football, is going to eat clock and limit your possessions, you equallyhave to play to thatlevel,”Kelly said. “And we just did not. They were the better team today.”

Trailing by seven, LSU had achance to tie the score with less than five minutes to play, but seniorwide receiverBarionBrown dropped apotential first-downthrow from fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeieronthird and 8, forcing the Tigers to punt withtwo timeouts andlessthanfour minutes to play Brown’smistake proved to be lethal as a43-yard carry from Makhilyn Young on Vanderbilt’sfirst playofthe ensuing drive essentiallyclinchedthe victory. TheCommodoresgainedone more first down to use up LSU’sremaining timeouts before kneeling out the rest of the clock.

“We’re just not on the samepage, and it’s frustrating,” Nussmeier said. “Wejust got to be better as aunit. Youknow,it’snot on any individual, it’saunit as awhole.”

1

UNO amps up fun

Master P’s influence on display in exhibition

BY SPENCER URQUHART

Staff writer

Percy “Master P” Miller continued his mission to build buzz around the UNO men’s basketball program, which got its first opportunity to play in front of fans during a Saturday exhibition game at Lakefront Arena.

Miller, who is in his first year as the UNO president of basketball operations, scheduled an exhibition matchup against a Sacramento State program that also has a first-year leader in general manager Shaquille O’Neal. The two teams fought to a tie at the half, but UNO pulled away in the second half for an 89-76 win.

The contest featured new ingame entertainment along with a halftime performance from the St. Augustine Marching 100 band and hip-hop artist T99zy UNO entertained the crowd on the court with several dunks and 3-pointers with a roster featuring 13 new players.

“I think there was a lot of excitement in our group,” UNO coach Stacy Hollowell said. “Got to give credit to Sacramento State, they got out and were disruptive on the perimeter but I like what we did. A lot of guys contributed.”

Miller, who now goes by “Coach P,” has made an effort to bring added entertainment during games at Lakefront Arena and recently helped install a jumbotron scoreboard that was on full display Saturday.

“Even though we’re a college organization, the game has

changed,” Miller said. “We had to bring some entertainment in here, bring some other things to the atmosphere to play good basketball. I just loved how we prepared to deal with this. These coaches and players have been in the community, and the community is coming out for us.”

Southeastern transfer Jakevion Buckley started at point guard for UNO and finished with 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting along with three rebounds and eight assists

“It’s been great (at UNO),”

Buckley said. “It’s everything I expected it to be. Just trying to keep the main thing the main thing and just play basketball.”

Buckley got to the free-throw

line consistently, making 10 of 14. UNO shot 82.1% from the freethrow line and 46.8% from the field.

Texas State transfer Coleton Benson also started at guard and scored 14 points while shooting 4 of 9 from 3-point range. Forward MJ Thomas shined off the bench with 17 points, shooting 5 of 5 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. “I think we have a nice mix of skilled guard play, bigger guys that can play on the perimeter and some guys inside that can really contribute,” Hollowell said. “I think we’ve got some depth, and we’ll just continue to grow into that.”

Forward Will Patterson and

guard TJ Cope also contributed off the bench with eight points each. The rest of UNO’s starting five consisted of center Churchill Abass, forward Enzo Boudouma and forward Eze Nwakamma. Sacramento State forward Jeremiah Cherry led his team with 23 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Shaq’s son, Shaqir O’Neal entered the game off the bench and scored four points. UNO opens the 2025-26 regular season at 7 p.m. on Nov 3 on the road against TCU. UNO’s home opener is at 3 p.m Nov. 8 against Southern University of New Orleans.

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

Georgia rallies late to beat Ole Miss

ByTheAssociated Press

ATHENS, Ga. — Gunner Stockton passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns, including three to tight end Lawson Luckie, and No. 9 Georgia overcame Trinidad Chambliss and No. 5 Ole Miss’ powerful offense to rally for a 43-35 win over the Rebels on Saturday Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) rallied after trailing 35-26 at the start of the fourth quarter Stockton’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Luckie with 7:29 remaining gave Georgia a 40-35 lead. Ole Miss (6-1 3-1) was denied its first road win over a top 10 team under coach Lane Kiffin even though the Rebels scored touchdowns on their first five possessions. Stockton completed 26 of 31 passes and added a 22-yard scoring run in the crucial SEC showdown.

“It was a great day,” Stockton said. “We just played for each other and that’s the best part of our team.” Stockton and the Bulldogs had no turnovers ARIZONA STATE 26, No. 7 TEXAS TECH 22: In Tempe, Arizona, Raleek Brown bulled in for a 1-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left and Arizona State rallied after blowing a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead to hand Texas Tech its first loss of the season. The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) labored most of the afternoon without starting quarterback Behren Morton (knee), finishing with 276 total yards after averaging an FBS-best 558.8 through the first six games. No. 12 GEORGIA TECH 27, DUKE 18: In Durham, North Carolina, safety Omar Daniels returned a fumble a school-record 95 yards for a touchdown and Georgia Tech pieced together enough late-game offense to beat Duke and continue its best

start to a season in more than a half-century Haynes King threw for 205 yards and rushed for a game-high 120 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left Georgia Tech (7-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has won its first seven games for the first time since 1966. The last time the Yellow Jackets were 4-0 in ACC play came 27 years ago. NO 14 OKLAHOMA 26, SOUTH CAROLINA 7: In Columbia, South Carolina, John Mateer threw for 150 yards and a touchdown and Oklahoma’s defense sacked South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers six times in the Sooners’ bounce-back victory Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) saw its perfect start end last weekend with a 23-6 loss to Red River rival Texas.

No 3 INDIANA 38, MICHIGAN STATE 13: In Bloomington, Indiana, Fernando Mendoza completed 24 of 28 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns and Indiana celebrated its highest ranking in program history with a rout of Michigan State. The Hoosiers (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten), who have won all but one game by double digits, kept pace with No.

1 Ohio State atop the conference standings with touchdowns on their first five possessions. No. 1 OHIO STATE 34, WISCONSIN 0: In Madison, Wisconsin, Julian Sayin connected with Carnell Tate for two of his four touchdown passes, and Ohio State rolled to a victory over Wisconsin. Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) has an average margin of 25.8 points during an 11-game win streak, which started with its four College Football Playoff victories during its run to the national title last season. The Buckeyes have won their first seven games this season by an average margin of 30.6 points. UAB 31, No. 22 MEMPHIS 24: In Birmingham, Alabama, UAB upset Memphis in the debut of interim coach Alex Mortensen, the son of late ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, after the Blazers fired Trent Dilfer a week earlier Memphis (6-1, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) reached the 1 twice in the final minute going for a tying touchdown, but two false starts and one delay-of-game penalty stalled the drive. Memphis threw an incomplete pass into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 11.

Pels rookie Queen clear for basketball activities

The New Orleans Pelicans received some good news Saturday Rookie forward Derik Queen has been cleared to resume full basketball activities, the team announced. Queen was diagnosed with a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist after injuring it in a Summer League game in Las Vegas against the Portland Trail Blazers. He had surgery on July 18. Queen, who played at Maryland, was selected with the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft after the Pelicans traded up 10 spots from the No. 23 position to select him. Pelicans coach Willie Green said Queen was a full participant in Saturday’s practice.

He recorded a double-double in the three Summer League games he played.

The Pelicans open the season Wednesday at the Memphis Grizzlies.

Top rebounder in NBA Sabonis to miss opener Sacramento

The

re-evaluated in a week. Sacramento opens the season Wednesday night at Phoenix and plays Utah in the home opener Friday night. Sabonis got hurt Wednesday in an exhibition game against the Clippers. He is the second starter lost to an injury in the preseason. Forward Keegan Murray had surgery on his left thumb and will be out for at least the first few weeks of the season.

Sabonis has led the NBA in rebounding the past three seasons, scoring at least 19 points per game in each of those years.

Big-toe injury sidelines Grizzlies guard Pippen

Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr will have a procedure to fix an issue in his left big toe that will keep him out to start the season. The Grizzlies announced Saturday that a timeline for Pippen’s return will be provided after he has a sesamoidectomy to deal with what they called “ongoing discomfort.” Pippen is expected to make a full recovery Memphis hosts the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night to open the season.

Pippen started his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent the past two seasons with the Grizzlies. He has played 100 games with Memphis and is averaging 10 points with 4.2 assists in his career

No. 4 TEXAS A&M 45, ARKANSAS 42: In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Marcel Reed threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 55 yards and another score as No 4 Texas A&M held on to beat Arkansas and keep its perfect season going.

The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) have opened with seven wins for the first time since 1994, when they finished 10-0-1. With No. 9 Georgia’s 43-35 win over No. 5 Mississippi earlier Saturday, Texas A&M is the only remaining unbeaten team in the SEC.

No. 18 VIRGINIA 22, WASHINGTON STATE 20: In Charlottesville, Virginia, Virginia’s Kam Robinson and Hunter Osborne stuffed Kirby Vorhees in the end zone for a game-winning safety, sending the Cavaliers to a wild victory over Washington State.

Virginia trailed 20-10 going into the fourth quarter Harrison Waylee had a 2-yard touchdown run with 9:45 left, and Will Bettridge made a tying 34-yard field goal with 2:55 to go. Jahmal Edrine had five catches for 102 yards, helping the Cavaliers (6-1) to their fifth consecutive win. Cam Ross had a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter No 8 OREGON 56, RUTGERS 10: In Piscataway, New Jersey, Dante Moore passed for 290 yards and four touchdowns and No 8 Oregon followed its first loss of the season with a romp over Rutgers in the first meeting between the schools. A week after falling 30-20 to Indiana at home, Oregon (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) extended the nation’s longest road winning streak to 10 games. Noah Whittington ran for 125 yards and two TDs and the Ducks piled up 750 total yards — 415 rushing and 335 passing — for the most yards against a Power 4 school this season.

Warriors cut sharpshooter Curry, but not that one

The Golden State Warriors cut one of the NBA’s best marksmen, and superstar Steph Curry’s younger brother, in a widely expected move.

Golden State, which had signed Seth Curry as the 15th man on the roster during training camp, announced it had let him go on Saturday morning.

Per NBA finance expert Keith Smith of Spotrac, Seth Curry’s contract was an exhibit 9 deal, which did not count against the salary cap after training camp. Had the team kept him on the roster after 5 p.m. on Saturday, the Warriors would have been required to cut or trade a player to make room for him.

Kim’s late eagle ups her lead to 4 in LPGA event

HAENAM, South Korea Sei Young Kim’s eagle on the 17th hole helped increase her lead to four strokes going into the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship after shooting a 3-under 69 on Saturday Kim finished with a three-round total of 19-under 197, despite a bogey on the 18th.

Yealimi Noh (67) and Nasa Hataoka (69) were tied for second.

American Brooke Matthews, who had trailed Kim by a stroke after the second round, triplebogeyed the par-3 15th and fell six strokes behind Kim in a tie for fourth place after a 74.

This is the first of consecutive LPGA tournaments in South Korea, with the International Crown team event scheduled for next week.

TULANE 24,ARMY17

THREEAND OUT: GUERRy SMITH’STOP TAKEAWAySFROMTHE GREENWAVE’SWIN OVER ARMy

WHATWELEARNED

1

Tulane keeps findingwaystowin on days when it makes enough mistakes to lose.The GreenWaveput itself in ahole against Army with several mental and physical mistakes. But Jake Retzlaff completed apass to Bryce Bohanon on awell-executed fourth-and-8 playtotie the score with1:54 left, then went 4of4onthe winning driveafter the defense forcedits first three-andoutofthe game. Shazz Preston bobbledthe winning score twice before snagging it in the end zone.The Wave is living acharmed life, but it is right where it needs to be at 6-1.

TRENDING NOW

2

youhaveheard thisbefore, but the Wave has alot to cleanup. Fromcornerback E’ZaiahShine letting areceiver getbehindhim near theend of the first halftoset up a field goal, continued red-zone issues on apairof first-half possessions that produced atotal of threepoints and ashorthandeddefense that wilted abit for much of the second half, this didnot look like achampionship team. Still, it is much betterto work on deficiencies aftera victorythan aloss, and the Wave gets itssecond mini-byeinthree weeks to cleanupits deficiencies.

3

FINAL THOUGHTS

It is easy to saynext manup, but Tulane missed injured linebacker Sam Howard dearly againstArmy. He is theheartofthe defense and atackle machine against an opponent likethe Black Knights —hehad ateam-high 14 against them in December.There’snoway to knowfor sure, but the guess here is Army would not have had two80-yard touchdown drives in thesecond half if Howard had been on the field. He is unlikely to playatTexas-SanAntonio on Oct. 30, but it would be hugeifhereturns for theNov.7 game at Memphis.

GreenWaveWRdeterminednot

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Wide receiver Shazz Preston won’tforget how miserable his experience was before andduring Tulane’s35-14 American Conference championship game loss to Army in December

On Saturday,hemade sure the Green Wave did not feel theblues against the Black Knightsa second time, scoringa tiebreakingtouchdown on awild 26-yard reception with 27 seconds left after Bryce Bohanon’sscoring grab tied itat the 1:49 mark.

“Me and Bryce were in thatcold weather in New York last year,” Preston said after Tulane’s24-17 come-from-behind victory. “We were like we’re not losing to this team twice. We remember getting off that plane with the wind cutting 100miles perhourand goingtothe (New York) Giants(stadium) with justshort sleeveson(for aprac-

TULANE

Continued from page1C

make big chunks of yardage, and it was fun.”

The connection with Bohanon, which came right after the twominute timeout, was the biggest. Even though the Wave still had all three of its timeouts left, failing to convert almost certainly would have led to aloss since thedefense had not forced athree-and-out all game. Retzlaff had no one open at first, bought some time in the pocket and lofted the ball to the wide-open Bohanon.

“He wasn’tthe primary (target),” Tulane coach Jon Sumrall said. “Wethought we were going to get one coverage and got atotally opposite coverage, and Jake hadto recalibrate and findBryce.” Army played zoneinstead of the expected man-to-man.

“Bryce knew the ins and outs of that play if they dropped to zone,” Retzlaff said. “He was really my only option because the other two guys were running routes that would get covered. He did agreat job fighting, and Isaw him pop open

tice right after the plane landed) andlosingthe championship. “Wesaidweare goingtodo whatever we can to pull this out because we alreadyknew this was goingtobeagut-check game.”

It was more like aheart-stopping finish.Preston andArmycornerbackJabril Williams deflected the ball inside the5-yard line before Preston spun around, bobbled the rebound in the end zone and finally caughtit.

QuarterbackJake Retzlaff, who labeled the play ESPN“SportsCenter” top-10 worthy, watched with an expression of disbelief as Prestonand Bohanon celebrated the score.

Preston, aSt. James graduate who will turn 22 on Monday,gave himselfa nicebirthday present with his first touchdown of the season. It came on his20th reception of theyear and fifth of the day, tying his career high after two seasons without acatch as atop pros-

when Idrifted. He made aheck of playunderstanding thesituation.”

TheBlack Knights, whohad hit a39-yard pass while driving for a tying field goal in the final 1:49 of the first half, wentconservative this time despite having fivemore seconds to work aftera touchback on the kickoff. Quarterback Cale Hellums kept the ball three straight plays, and Tulane stuffed him while forcingits first three-and-out while using all threeofits timeouts.

“I was alittle surprised (at no passes),” Sumrall said. “The only thingIthought was they didn’t want to give us atimeout by throwing an incompletion, and the way they are built, they are able to pop arun onyou at anytime.”

Tulane did not need thetimeouts. One down after dropping apass, Bohanonmadea 10-yardcatch on thesideline to convert athird and 7before Retzlaff found Preston on adeep outfor 16 yardstothe Army 46. Retzlaff then scrambled for 10 yards, andArmywas flagged for defensiveholding,setting up Preston’swild catch.

Covered tightlybycornerback Jabril Williams down thesideline, he tippedthe ball insidethe 5, spinning around whilesafetyCol-

to be left outinthe cold again

pect at Alabama andaninjury-affected 2024 with theWave.

“When adversity strikes,you have to have agood amount of people in your cornertoleanon,” he said. “It had been along road formeprior to this point. I’ve got agood family andfriends wholove me andcare aboutmesomuch. That just madethe fire in me go even harder every day.You never know when the moment is going to come. Youjust have to prepare for it.”

Thedecisive play might have been fluky,but nothing about Preston’sdevelopmenthas been accidental. Beaten down by his frustratingtime at Alabamaand asevere hamstring injury he suffered in Tulane’spreseason camp ayear ago, he has been gaining confidence sincethe beginning of spring drills.

CoachJon Sumrallcompared Preston’sdevelopmenttoDontae Fleming, who went from six

catches for 94 yardsin2023 to 31

catchesfor 594 yardslastseason and is on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice roster this year.Hesaid Preston’scombination of size and speed reminded him of Washington Commanders wideout Deebo Samuel.

Flemingspent all of May in 2004 on campus, working to get better So did Preston in May

“When guys workreally hard, the results usually showupat some point,” Sumrall said of the 6-foot, 206-pounder. “You don’t knowthe timeline, but if you put your head down and work your tail off when you have offtime,good thingshappen.

“When Shazz firstgot here,he had to rebuild his confidence. He’s worked incredibly hard and has tremendous ball skills.Ifyou are a (defensive back) trying to tackle a guythatsize, it’s ahard tackle, and he runs pretty well, too. Icouldn’t be moreproud of him.”

“Coach said go make aplay, andI said give it to me,I got you. The ball came my way,and Ijust had to come down with it.”

It was quite the finish to adull start in agame that wasscoreless at the two-minute markofthe first half. Army missed a44-yard field goal after an 18-play opening drive that consumed nearly 12 minutes

Tulane backup quarterback BrendanSullivan, subbing for Retzlaff after he had the wind knocked out of him on ahard fall, wasruled short of the marker on afourthdown run from the Wave 8. The teams traded field goals right before halftime, and Army appeared to takecontrol after the break behind 155 yards rushing from Hellums. Retzlaff flipped the script, adding to his 37-yard scoring run in thethird quarterwith 261 yards passing while finishing 22 of 29 and making every huge playdown the stretch

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Tulane rallied past Army on Saturdaydespitenot having senior linebacker Sam Howard,who sat out with aleg injury Coach JonSumrall said Howard injured his leg in the fourth quarteronOct.9 against East Carolina but played through the pain. No onerealizedits severity until the Green Wave beganpracticing forthe Black Knights.

“Eventhe next morning we thought it was alittleankle tweak,” Sumrall said. “Itwas a little moresignificant than we thought. It’sa (non-weight)bearing bone is hislower leg, his fibula,ahairlinefracturetype deal.”

Howard, Tulane’sleading returning tackler from 2024, was fourth on the team with 31 stops through six games. He joined Dickson Agu,who hada team-best 36 tackles in five games before suffering aseason-ending ACL tear against Tulsa, on the injury list, forcing some inexperienced replacements to play key roles. Sophomore Makai Williams,who was listed as questionable on the injury report, started alongside ChrisRodgers and made sixtackles after registeringhis first twostops of the season against East Carolina. Rodgers, comingoff his owncareerhighof seven tackles, had ateam-high 10 against Army.

“It was kind of different (withoutHoward), but we have alot of guys in the linebacker room that can really play,” Rodgers said. “The coaches really asked us to step up, and Ifeel like we all stepped up.”

Howard’s absence cost the Wave aspiritual leader who made ateam-high 14 tackles against ArmyinDecember

Sophomore Jean Claude Joseph, who made his first two tacklesof the season against East Carolina, rotated with the starters and hadfive stops. Army still mounted apairof80-yard touchdown drives in the second half against the short-handed defense.

Tulane gets an open date before playing at Texas-SanAntonio on Oct. 30, butHoward might not return until agame at Memphis on Nov7

“I’d say(Howard)issomewhere between doubtful and questionable forUTSA,”Sumrall said. “He’sprobably playing against Memphis.I think he’llbe back sooner than the average guybecausehe’snot average, but it’s(a) substantial (injury).” Wide receiver Garrett Mmahat, who made his first two career catches against East Carolina after sitting out the first five games with afoot issue, also was unavailable Saturday

“Weput himona steroiddose pack,” Sumrall said. “He’sgot a little ache or bruise. It’snot the sameinjury as before.”

Trailblazers remembered

Sumrallstarted hispostgame talk with reporters by acknowledgingthe four playerswho broke the color barrier for Tulane football in 1971 Charlie Hall, John Washington, Robert Johnson and Charles Innis

Four years after the foursome was honored in aceremony commemorating the 50th anniversaryoftheir arrival,aplaque was dedicated to them by the Green Wave Grille inside Yulman Stadium.Hall and Washington spent time with the current players on Friday after practice.

“It’ssucha privilegefor our guys to get to interact with them andsee thosethatcame before them to blaze the path for opportunity for all,”Sumrall said.“Hats offtothemfor whatprobablyenduredtobreak that barrier.” Lagniappe

lin Matteson overran theplay,and bobbled it again beforelatchingon to it near theback of the end zone.

“That was all God,” Preston said.

“He never doubts,” Sumrall said. “I went up to him before the fourth-down touchdown, and he gave me the biggest smile in a clutch moment. Some guys don’t have it.Some guys do. In that situation, he just has it.”

Tulane’swin was its second in arow whenitlost time of possession(38:58-21.02),was outgainedonthe ground (233-141) and trailed in the fourth quarter after having no victories under anyofthose circumstances in Sumrall’sfirst 19 games.

VANDERBILT 31,LSU 24

Vanderbilt pullsoff rare feats

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Vanderbilt scored ahistorical victory when it beatLSU on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Just how rare wasthe No. 17

Commodores’ 31-24win over the No. 10 Tigers?

LSUwas 14-1since 1976 in games it had played against Vanderbilt, the perennial SEC bottom dweller that, before Saturday,hadn’tbeaten theTigers in 35 years and sported a grisly6-125 all-time record against AP top-10 teams.

“Wedid notplaywellenoughon either sideofthe ball to be thebetter team today,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said, “and Vanderbilt was the better team today because they executed at ahigher level.”

Because they defeated LSUon Saturday,the Commodores (6-1) can claim seven victories over top10 teams in their history.Two of thosewins have comeinjust the last two seasons.

N.Anderson 1-0 Vanderbilt, Spence 5-56, Stowers 3-32, Sherrill 2-30, Alexander 2-16, Hoskins 1-16, Young 1-10 MISSED FIELD GOALS —LSU,Ramos 52.

Last year,quarterback Diego Pavialed Vanderbilt to astunning 40-35 upset at home over Alabama, which was then the nation’sNo. 1 team. Thatvictory made the Commodores players on thenational stage, bringing themtoheights they’ve never reached as aprogram

LSU hadn’tfaced aranked Vanderbilt team since 1947 before Saturday.

TheCommodores also had entered their last77 matchups against top-10 teams as underdogs, and accordingtoCBS Sports, they hadn’t been favored to beat the Tigers (62) since 1948.

YetVanderbilt began its Week 8gameagainst LSU as a2.5-point favorite, then comfortably covered that spread in adecisive win.

LSUscoresonopening drive

When Damian Ramos’ 48-yard field goal flew through theuprights on Saturday,LSU did something it had failed to do in any of its firstsix games —itscored on theopening drive.

Before the Tigers took on Vanderbilt, all six of their season’s openingpossessionshad ended in either apunt or an interception. Five ofthosedrives werethreeand-outs.

LSUpicked up twokey third downs on its firstpossession against the Commodores. First, Garrett Nussmeier found redshirt sophomore receiver Kyle Parker on the sideline for an 11-yard gain on thirdand 6. Four playslater,

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

atouchdownagainst

freshman running back Harlem Berry popped through ahole along the line of scrimmage to pick up 9 yards on third and 1. But LSU couldn’tend that drive in theend zone.

On afirst down from Vanderbilt’s28-yard line, Nussmeiertook a3-yardsack. Then he foundreceiver Zavion Thomas for achunk gain on second down,but the senior receiverlet thepassslipthrough his hands. TheTigerssettled for thefield goal after they failed to convert on thirdand 13.

Adamsinjured

Left tackle TyreeAdams left LSU’s loss to Vanderbilt withanankle injury,Kelly said. Adams was hurt lateinthe first quarter whena defenderrolled onto his lower leg. Trainers attended to him on thefieldbefore he limped to thesideline, ducked into theinjury tentand walked gingerly toward thelocker room. Later in thegame, he was spottedusing crutches on the sideline.

Redshirtsophomore DJ Chester enteredthe game in hisplace at left tackle.

Adams,a redshirt sophomore from New Orleans, startedall

sevenofLSU’s games this season

According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed 10 pressuresand four quarterback hits —the most among theoffensivelinemen. Only right tackle Weston Davis has given up more pressures (17) Anderson,Mubenga return

Wide receiver AaronAnderson and offensive lineman Paul Mubenga were active vs. Vanderbilt after they both satout LSU’swin over South Carolina with injuries. Both starters had quiet days. Anderson caught onepass for 18 yards, and Mubenga did not return to his usual spot on the firstteam offense. Most of his snaps at left guard went to Coen Echols,the redshirtfreshman whomade his first career start last week against theGamecocks andhis secondon Saturday against the Commodores.

Threedefenders sit LSU faced Vanderbilt on Saturday without three key defenders.

Star linebacker Whit Weeks (ankle), first-team defensive tackle Bernard Gooden (collarbone) and rotational edge rusher Jimari Butler (ankle) all were ruled out prior to kickoff. Weeks is battling abone bruise in hisright ankle.Hefirst suffered the

injury late in LSU’s Sept. 27 loss to OleMiss, accordingtothe game’s ABCbroadcast, then played through it in the Tigers’ win over South Carolina.

Sophomore Davhon Keys started in place of Weeks, and sophomore Dominick McKinley slid onto thefirstteam defensive line in placeof Gooden.

The LSU defense struggledto slowdown Vanderbilt without Weeksand Gooden.The Commodoresaveraged 6yards per play rushed for5.6 sack-adjusted yards per carry,converted 6of13thirddown tries and scored touchdowns on all three of their trips to the red zone, excluding their final drive. TwoDBs notspotted

Neithercornerback Ashton Stamps norsafety JardinGilbert were spotted in LSU’spregame warm-ups on Saturday.The Tigers did not list either on any of the availability reports they released ahead of kickoff. KokiRileycontributed to this report.

Email Reed Darcey at reed darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

NASHVILLE,Tenn. The LSU Tigers’ season ended early in the fourth quarter here Saturday against Vanderbilt. No, not actually. Not mathematically But realistically It ended when Caden Durham got caught from behind at the Vandy 2onthe end of a51-yard run. Not to criticize Durham, but you wondered whether theTigers would fail to punch it in from there. They did.These were LSU’snext five plays: Durham run for 1yard,false start (by Trey’Dez Green, erasing atouchdown catch), no gain on adirect snap to Ju’JuanJohnson, incomplete pass, 23-yard Damian Ramos field goal. That cut Vanderbilt’slead to 31-24 with 11:39 left.That’s where thescoring would end, although only because the Commodores tookaknee three straighttimes fromthe Tigers’ 1toburn thefinal two minutes off of the clock. Let that sink in for amoment. Vanderbilt —atraditional Southeastern Conference cellar dweller,a team thathad beaten LSU once in 15 tries since1976 could have beaten the Tigers by two touchdowns, if it wanted. It was the smart play.Itwas the betterplay.Itwas the play of a team that deserved the win and thechampagne toast of avictory formation. It was somethingthat never should happen between

LSUand Vanderbilt, no matter how good theCommodores are. “A disappointingday,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said, “obviously.” At least hehas agrasp of the obvious.

This is also obvious: The Tigers (5-2, 2-2 SEC) have five games remaining inthe regular season, three against ranked teams (Texas A&M, at Alabama, at Oklahoma), one againstanArkansas team armed with adangerous offense and one against presumed rent-a-win Western Kentucky To aman after thegame, the LSUplayers talked about how

they have to be perfect therest of theway.How if they do that they canstill achieve theprogram’s manifest goal of reaching the 12team College Football Playoff.

“We’ve got to go 1-0 every single week,”linebacker West Weeks said, “and if we do that, we’re going to be in theplayoffs. We know what we have to do. We have to be perfect the rest of the season, and we still have all of our goals in front of us.”

Weeks has to say that.Heand his teammates have to believe that. No one outside the LSU program should, though.

What has LSU,with its $18 million roster and its $20 million coaching staff, showntoindicate that it can go 5-0 the rest of the way to get to 10-2, the presumed threshold forgetting into the CFP? Nothing. The only timeLSU impressed was when it opened the season with a17-10 winatthen-No. 4 Clemson, avictory that through no fault of LSU’sown proved to be fool’sgold.

Saturday’sdefeat wasamicrocosm of the season in all of its frustrating, high-definition glory Onething gets better forLSU and another goes bad. The offense finally starteda game with apulse, driving for afield goal that was the Tigers’ first opening-possession score this season. Vanderbilt countered with atouchdown, but LSU answered with a24-yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Green to start the second quarter

For the first time, the Tigers scored more than 20 points against aPower Four team That’snot leaping over ahigh barwith Mondo Duplantis-like aplomb, but it’ssomething. It wasn’tenough. Thedefense, the strength of this team most of the season, couldn’tget Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense off the field in criticalsituations, alathe Tigers’ 24-19 loss at Ole Miss. Slipping through their grasp timeand again like he was lightly buttered, Pavia helped Vandy convert 8of 16 combined third- and fourthdown situations(LSU was 5of

11). With Pavia’swheels churning, Vandy wound up with awhopping 239-100 edge on LSU in rushing.

In the final nine minutes, though, the Tigers finally stopped Vandy,forcing two punts. Then, in true LSU whack-a-mole style, the offense couldn’tmove the needle. When the Tigers punted back to the Commodores with 3:12 left instead of going for it on fourth and 8from their 22, Vandy was able to run out the clock. Taking. A. Knee. Three. Times. The story of this LSU season still is unfinished, but this feels like awatershed defeat for the Kelly era. This was the season he and everyone at LSU pointed to. They have all the players, the staff, the money,the facilities, the stadium andthe tradition in place to vault back into the national championship hunt forthe first timesince 2019. Aside from being downafew key starters Saturday such as linebacker Whit Weeks, defensive tackle Bernard Gooden and most of the gameleft tackle Tyree Adams, there were no excuses for the Tigers on Saturday (to Kelly’s credit, he did not try to make any). LSU had the moretalented roster Instead, the Tigers got outplayed and outcoached. Now, it’sdown

VANDERBILT 31,LSU

THREEAND

THEWEEKSNONFACTOR

1

Linebacker Whit Weeksisthe heartofthe LSU defense. Being without him Saturdaybecause of an ankle injuryreally showedfor the Tigers. Vanderbilt hasawell-crafted offense led by theheartof its team, DiegoPavia. Against him, LSUfrequently lost containment andstruggledtoget offthe field on third (and fourth) down. Vanderbilt ended up with 399total yardsand was a combined 8of16onthird and fourth downs.

2

HUSTLE BUTNOFLOW

LSUproduced explosiveplays, notably a62-yard touchdownpass from Garrett NussmeiertoZavion Thomas, butitstill typified the waythe offense struggles. Nussmeier just gotthe ball away under pressure, and Thomas had to breaktackles before outracing everyone to the endzone.The LSUoffense has little flow to it, blame that lies with offensivecoordinator JoeSloan and an offensiveline that has neverfound chemistry.

3

FINAL THOUGHTS

LSU’sinability to playcomplementaryfootball caught up withthe Tigers on Saturday, as it did in their loss at Ole Miss.The offense finally showed apulse, scoring more than 20 points against aPower Four team forthe first time, but the defense wasineffectivefor too muchofthis game.Now the Tigers face the likely prospect of having to runthe table in their final five games to make the CollegeFootball Playoff.Twowords: No way.

LSU finished with 325 total yards, averaged 5.9 yards per rush attempt when adjusted for lost sack yardage and earned 6.6 yards per play.Sophomore tight endTrey’Dez Green flashed again with five catches for 74 yardsand atouchdown.

But when the unit neededto mount acomeback in the fourth quarter,the Tigers scored just three points.

“Offensively,when we had an opportunity to score touchdowns, we had to take field goals,” Kelly said,“andthatwas thedifference in the game.”

The story of the day for LSU was still its defense, at least for the first three quarters. LSU didn’tforce the Commodores to punt untilthe 8:55 mark in the fourth.

At that point, the Tigers trailed 31-24, scoring afield goal on their prior possession thanks to a51-yard run by sophomore running back CadenDurhamthat set them up at the Vanderbilt 2. A 1-yard run, afalse-start penalty, a1-yard loss on the ground and an incompletiononthird down forced the short field goal.

“They did agood job with their cover zero package, and we had a plan,” Nussmeier said. “And, as I said, our details just weren’t,they weren’tgood enough.”

After the Vanderbilt punt, LSU had achance to capitalize but couldn’t. A10-yard sackonfirst downhalted apotential game-tying drive, handing the ball back to Vanderbilt with 6:28 left to play

The Commodorespuntedon that ensuing driveaswell after adropped pass on third down would haveset them up in thered zonewith less than fiveminutes to play.LSU couldn’ttake advantage of that stop either becauseof Brown’sdrop.

“When our defense madea couple of stops, we couldn’tturn those into positive possessions,” Kelly said. “And obviously,those two (late possessions)inparticular.But more importantly,itwas (not) cashing in on first and goal from the 1. Imean, you’ve gotto score atouchdown there.”

LSU found itself playing catch-up formost of theday and was in trouble after Vanderbilt’s 10-play,75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. The score extended theCommodores’ lead to 24-13.

That’swhen Nussmeier madea

play.Facingimmediatepressure on secondand 10 at theLSU 38, he magically escaped pressure andflippedthe ball out to senior wide receiverZavion Thomas, who broke three tackles and sprinted 62 yardsdownthe sideline for atouchdown.

Thescore, which was followed by atwo-point conversion catch by Green,cut theLSU deficit to 24-21 with 6:52 left in thethird quarter

It marked thefirst time LSU had scored more than 20 points against aPower Fourconference opponent thisseason. AndSaturday wasn’ta bad day for Nussmeier,who threw for 225 yards, completed 19 of 28 throws and had two touchdown passes.

“From an offensive standpoint, there were some good things there,” Kelly said. “But again, Ithink the thing that stands out is notscoring touchdowns when youhave an opportunityto.”

Trailing14-10, LSU hadtwo chances to retakethe lead before halftime.

The first series resulted in a52yard field goalattempt fromfifthyear senior Damian Ramos that landedwideright, handing the balltoVanderbilt with 2:33 left in thefirst half

After fifth-year senior linebacker West Weeks’ sack forced a turnover on downsinVanderbilt territory,LSU washeld to just a field goal.The Tigers earned just one first down as Ramos knocked through a42-yardfield goal to cut theVanderbilt lead to 14-13.

But Vanderbilt had enough time after Ramos’ kick to march down thefield,with 39 seconds left, for a46-yard field goal thathanded the Commodores a17-13 lead heading into halftime.

Thefirst half was the best opening half of football for the LSU offense. TheTigers accumulated 160yards, Nussmeier was 13 of 18 for118 yardsthrough theair, and the run game averaged 4.1 yards per carry when adjusted for lost sack yardage.

But LSU still trailedbecauseits defense struggled to contain Pavia. TheVanderbiltstar quarterbackcompleted 8of13throws for 124yards while adding 37 yards on theground in the first half.

Paviafinishedwith agame-high 86 yardsrushing. Play after play, he punished LSUwith his legs.

“Wefeellikewegame-plan and knew what hisabilities are, in termsofhis ability to scramble,”

Kelly said. “Wehad people that were assigned for that, and we just didn’texecute at thehighest level that we needed to against areally

Tigersoffense failsto deliverinkey moments

Breakdowns

lead to ‘frustrating’loss

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Garrett Nussmeiersighed as he answeredthe question. Afew minutes earlier,hehad buried his head in atowel on the LSU bench, dismayed that hisoffense had fallen short once again, this time in arare loss to Vanderbilt The details, Nussmeiersaid, were theproblem. Toooften,the Tigers weren’tonthe samepage. Therewere back-breaking drops, drive-killing penaltiesand headscratching timeouts —usually called after communication problems or substitution issues threatened to movethe offense behind thechains.

“It’sfrustrating,” Nussmeier said. “Wejust got to be better as aunit. It’snot on any individuals. It’sthe unit as awhole.”

LSU accomplished some things on offense in its31-24 loss to Vanderbilt.Itscored on its opening drive for the first time all season, and it finished withatleast 20 pointsfor the first time against an FBS opponent this year.Itdidn’t commit asingle turnover— not acrushing goal-line fumble or a drive-halting interception —and it even ranthe ball at an efficient clip, finishing with asack-adjusted rush average of 5.9yards.

Ordinarily,that’sall the Tigers would’ve needed to win this season.

Butitwasn’tenough on Saturday, when LSU’sdefense let the No. 17 Commodores(6-1) rush for239

yards in 36 minutes of possession, and when its offense failed to take advantage of the chances it had to tie the game or take the lead.

The Tigers trailed31-21 early in the fourth quarter when Caden Durham’s 51-yard run set them up at Vanderbilt’s2-yard line.

They then lost anet of 15 yards across the next nine plays.

“The offense had mustered some things that we had been lacking,” coach Brian Kelly said, “but when ourdefense made a coupleofstops, we couldn’tturn those into positive possessions.”

The problems began after Durham’s long run. The Commodores stuffed LSU’snextplay—aninside hand-off to Durham. Thena comedy of errors ensued.

Personnel confusion forced the Tigers to burn atimeout. Then tight end Donovan Green was whistled forafalse start. Then running back Ju’Juan Johnson wasstopped on awildcat runup themiddle. Then Nussmeier floated apass incomplete, forcing LSU to settle for itsfourth field-goal attemptofthe game.

“You’vegot to scorea touchdown there,” Kelly said.

Even though it didn’t, LSU’s offensefound itself with two chances to tie the game after its defense forced apair of punts in the fourth quarter

But afirst-down sack and thirddown holding penalty foiled the first opportunity.ThenZavion Thomas lost 3yardsona screen play, andBarionBrown dropped awould-be third-down conversion, thwartingthe second chance.

After theTigers puntedon fourth and 8with two timeouts and3:22 left in the fourth, they

never got the ball back.

“Wecould pick acouple of plays,” Kelly said. “The bottom line is, we didn’tscore touchdowns when we kicked field goals, and we didn’tplay wellenough defensively to give us enough possessions to winthe game.”

Before Saturday,LSU’s defense had held five of its first six opponents to 10 points or fewer.The only team to score morewas No. 5Ole Miss —which has one of the nation’s20mostproductive offenses.

Vanderbilt operated withease. Its offense averaged 6yards per play,rushed for5.6 sack-adjusted yards per carry,converted 6of its 13 third-down tries and scored touchdowns on every one of its trips to the redzone, excluding the one it used to salt the game away late in the fourth quarter

“It’sdefinitely frustrating,” center Braelin Moore said. “Weknew what kind of gamethis was going to be. We know they’re ateam that runs the ball alot and has a lot of possession time. We knew ourpossessionswere limited and thatweneeded to scorewith whatever possessions we had. We just weren’table to do that toward the endofthe game.Wehavetobe better there. No excuses.”

The problem, for LSU, is that it now might be too late.

“I think it was aproductive day,” Nussmeier said, “but it wasn’t enough to win the football game, and so that’sthe frustrating part.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

THE VARSITYZONE

MCCUSKER

STAFF FILEPHOTO By JOHN

Archbishop ShawquarterbackAllen Shaw fights foryardsagainst Edna Karrdefenders RichardAnderson, Nigel Marshall andJermichael QuinnonSept. 5. TheKarrdefense has not alloweda touchdown beforehalftime in five consecutivegames.

Karr,Curtisdefenseslooking good

There is plenty to like about Edna Karr and John Curtis. Both teams are undefeated, and each is capable of scoring lotsofpoints

But what Ilike most about both schoolsiswhat they can do on defense.

for five-star wideout Easton

Royal in the end zone —aplay that helpedCurtisbuild alarge lead before alate-game scare by Brother Martin.

winning streak that included the LHSAADivision II select state title game.

Anthonymakes an impact

Former Karrand LSUstandout

Smithhas 5TDs as Holy Cross runs past Easton

BY DARRELL WILLIAMS Contributing writer

Holy Cross senior running back Ke’Rynn Smith said he knewbefore the Tigers’ District 9-5A game against Warren Easton that he and his team would be in fora long day

First,Holy Cross starting quarterback JokobyFarria wasout with an injury,and the gamefeatured two teams who were winless in 9-5A. Smith was ready,rushing for 214 yards on 31 carries andfive touchdowns and turning ascreen pass into 41-yard score, as Holy Crosspulledaway in the fourth quarter fora42-29 victory Saturday at TadGormley

“I knew we’d be running the ball alot with our quarterback out,” Smithsaid. “I just triedto do my best.”

On Easton’snextpossession, Reed wassacked and fumbled at the 50. Smith brokeoff an 18yard run that set up a28-yard touchdown run up the middle with 3:30 leftfor a42-21 lead.

The Karr defense has not allowed atouchdown before halftime in five consecutivegames, astreak that began after the Cougars won in overtime against American Heritage (Plantation, Florida) in Week 2. St. Augustine and Brother Martinare the only teams to score touchdowns against the Karr defense during that streak, and those points came after Karr led by multiple touchdowns.

The Karr defense has LSU commitmentsRichard Anderson (defensive line) and Aiden Hall (safety), but linebacker Kevin Martin has made plays all over the field for ateam that has three shutouts this season —the latest one against Jesuit. As for Curtis, the Patriotshave stepped up when needed on defense to secure their past three wins. An open-field tackle by Jeffrey Curtis helped seal afour-point win against Warren Easton and late-gameinterceptions by senior Jewellz Tapp and freshman Jaden Turner helped defeat Holy Cross and Brother Martin the past two weeks.

This week, Tapp impressively batted away along pass intended

Both teams are on aroll and will face each other in twoweeks with apossible share of the district title on theline.

Until then,Karr will face Warren Easton, ateam Karr has defeated thepast 13 times they met, while Curtis faces Jesuit, ateam that defeatedthe Patriotslast season —solet’snot look too far ahead just yet.

Shaw offenseshows progress Shawscored six touchdowns on offense andposted aseason-high 50 points in aroad winagainst Walker,anotable achievement for ateam that began theseason with nine new starters on that side of theball.

That unithas made the most progress over the past four weeks, after a1-2 start that included gettingshutout by Karr andlosingtoRummel.

“Ever since Rummel, we’ve beensteadilyimproving on offense, particularly Allen Shaw,” coach HankTierney said about hisquarterback. “He’ssuch a good athlete, sucha hard worker.”

The former all-district cornerback movedtooffense this season. He threw twotouchdown passes against Walker,one week after heaccounted for two long touchdowns against St.James. Shawwouldlike nothing more than repeat what it did last season, whenitlost to Karr and Rummel in weeks 1and 3and then closed theseason with a12-game

Andre Anthony has Bonnabel looking like adistrict title contender in his first season as head coach.

First, the Bruins scored 67 points in ashutout of East Jefferson in thedistrict opener.This week, KarlPerkins threwthree touchdown passes and Kenyon Harper scored three times,including once on afumble return, in a 34-14 victoryover John Ehret Don’tbesurprised if Bonnabel and Riverdale meet with theoutright district titleonthe line in Week 10.

Othertop performers Destrehan and St. Charles won with some standout performers. For Destrehan,junior Malachi Dabney scored six touchdowns (fourrushing, two receiving) as he ran 12 times for 212 yards and caught five passes for 81 yards, and Jackson Fields threw four touchdown passes in a68-28 rout of Captain Shreve.

For St.Charles, safetyDax Pregeant ran back an interception and returned akickoff for apair of touchdowns before halftime in adramatic win against Legacy School of Sport Sciences (Texas). Senior Skyler Edwards ran 4 yards for thewinning touchdown with 18 seconds left in the 35-31 victory

ContactChristopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

The Eagles bottled up Smith in thefirsthalf, holdinghim to 28 yards on 13 carries, although he scored both of the Tigers’ touchdowns. In the second half, however,hebroke loose for 186 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 18 carries.

“I’ma four-quarter back,” Smith said. “I just kept running hard, andthe offensive line did a great job. We practice hard and correct things that need to be corrected.And Ithought (quarterback Carter Duplessis) did a great job forafreshman.”

Easton (3-4, 0-4) led 21-14 four minutes into the third quarter after quarterback Carl Reed threw a25-yard touchdown pass to receiver Davon Edwards then ran for the2-point conversion.

However,that’swhen Smith madethe play of the game, sweepingleft end on the way to an 80yard touchdown run that tied the score with twominutes, 30 seconds left in the third quarter Then came crucial back-toback mistakes by the Eagles that enabled Smith and the Tigers (43, 1-3) to break the gameopen. Easton was punting from its own 14 when alow center snap resulted in the punter being tackled at the 3. Three plays later,Smith scored on a5-yard run around right endthat gave Holy Cross a28-21 lead at 7:09 of the fourth. After the ensuing kickoff, Reed passedtoEdwards on the left sideline, where he was met by three defenders, andthe ball was ripped outofhis hands at the Eagles 25 and returned to the 11. Twoplays later,Smithburst through for a9-yard touchdown run.

“(Smith) is ahard runner,” Eagles coach Jerry Phillips said. “I don’tthink (Holy Cross’ line) woreusdown. Ithought we did a poor joboftackling and being in the right positions.

“But you have to give it to Holy Cross. They played hard, and (Smith) is atough kid.”

Holy Cross clung to a14-13 halftime lead.The Tigers went 65 yards to Smith’s2-yard touchdown run at 7:27 of the second quarter,giving Holy Cross a14-6 lead.

Thedrive wasaidedbythree big Eastonpenalties: one for targeting on asack of Tigers quarterback Duplessis; the second, apersonal foul, cameonaHoly Cross punt, and the third was a hand-to-the-face infraction that gave the Tigers afirst down at the Eagles 7. Three plays later, Smith scored on a2-yard run. Easton answered with an eightplay,70-yard marchthat ended withReed’s 11-yard keeper around the leftside, bringing the Eagles to 14-13 at the 4:39 mark. On thedrive,Reedmadethree bigplays.Hescrambled17yards for afirst down on third-and-15, threw an 18-yard pass to receiver Ge’gory Emory to the Holy Cross 26 on third-and-8, then passed 22 yards to Davon Edwards to the 4. Reed scored on the next down. Penalties were Easton’sdownfall in the first half, as it was assessedeight penaltiesfor 80 yards. The Tigers led after gaining 105 yards total offense in the half—46rushing and 59 passing.

Rosepine14 Many66, Winnfield40 Marksville 14, Caldwell Parish 7 Minden 55, B.T. Washington 30 NatchitochesCentral 35, C.E Byrd31 New Iberia Catholic 49, Delcambre 6 North DeSoto 56, Southwood 0 North Iberville 48, WhiteCastle0 Oberlin 51, Merryville 48 Opelousas 44, Livonia0 ParkviewBaptist 50, Collegiate BR 0 Parkway 30, Huntington 19 Plaquemine53, St.Michael21 Prairieville 32, LiveOak 28 Rayville 32, Delhi Charter 6 RedRiver 49, Lakeside21 Richwood 28, Lake Arthur 14 Ruston 41, Neville 37 Shreveport Northwood 48, Bossier 14 Southside 63, Sulphur 17 St. Edmund 58, Sacred Heart 36 St. Frederick Catholic 56, Delhi 12 St. Helena 50, St. ThomasAquinas 7 St. Mary’s 42, Montgomery 18 St. Thomas More63, Comeaux 10 Sumner 57, Bogalusa0 Teurlings 49, North Vermilion 0 Thibodaux 33, H.L. Bourgeois3 Tioga 49, West Ouachita 7 Vandebilt Catholic 41, Ellender 6 West Monroe 39, Ouachita Parish 25 Wossman 73, Grant 36 Saturday District 9-5A Holy Cross42, Easton 29 St. Augustine vs.Rummel, n District 10-4A Douglass vs.McMain,n District 9-3A Haynes 41, Fisher 6 Young Audiences42, Thomas Jefferson 6 Open date: South Plaquemines

SCOREBOARD

Second, Ryan Additon; Third, Doug Eddings; Right, Alfonso Marquez; Left, Ben May. T_3:00. A_46,758 (47,929). Late Friday

L.A. Dodgers 5, Milwaukee 1 MilwaukeeLos Angeles ab rhbiabr hbi

DP_Milwaukee 0, LosAngeles 2. LOB_Milwaukee 6, LosAngeles 6. 2B_Chourio (1)

Durbin (2). HR_Ohtani 3(3).SB_Durbin(2) Dean (1). IP HRERBBSO Milwaukee Quintana L,0-12 63 31 1

41 11 05

11 11 02

H,1 10 00 00

3 11 11 1

2 3 10 00 0 Sasaki 11 00 00

Quintanapitched to 2batters in the 3rd, Ohtanipitched to 2batters in the 7th. Umpires_Home, Adam Beck; First,Chad Fairchild; Second, Mark Ripperger;Third John Libka; Right, James Hoye;Left, Gabe Morales. T_2:41. A_52,883 (56,000).

Georgetown 21, Colgate 17 Harvard31, Merrimack 7 LIU Brooklyn 17, RobertMorris 7 Marshall 40, TexasState 37,2OT Monmouth (NJ) 49,StonyBrook 21 Oregon 56, Rutgers 10 Penn 35, Columbia 21 Princeton 40, Brown21 Rhode Island 58,Albany(NY) 17 Uconn 38, Boston College 23 Villanova 56, Hampton 14 Yale 47, Stonehill 7 SOUTH Chattanooga 42, ETSU 38 Coastal Carolina 45,Appalachian St. 37 Florida 23, Mississippi St. 21 Florida A&M 33, Alcorn St. 28 Georgia 43, Mississippi 35 Georgia Tech 27, Duke 18 Holy Cross 28, Richmond22 James Madison 63, OldDominion 27 McNeese St. 27,Houston Christian 0 Morehead St. 23,Marist 21 New Hampshire 24, Campbell10 Oklahoma 26,South Carolina7 Prairie View 24, Southern U. 3 Presbyterian 42, Stetson 7 S. Dakota St. 35, Murray St. 14 SE Louisiana 49, Northwestern St. 0 SMU 35, Clemson 24 Samford24, VMI 22 Southern Miss.22, Louisiana-Lafayette 10 Temple 49, Charlotte

Poole’sversatility an idealfitfor Pelicans

BY LES EAST

Contributing writer

One of the primary reasons the New Orleans Pelicans traded for Jordan Poole was his versatility

His ability to direct an offense as the primary ballhandler and to be aconsistent scoring threatwhen someone else is the primary ballhandler will come in especially handy as the Pelicans begin the season Wednesday at Memphis.

Dejounte Murray is the team’sstarting point guard, but the timing of hisreturn from Achilles surgeryto repair an injury suffered in January is uncertain.

New Orleans used the No. 7 overall pick in the Junedraft to select Oklahomaguard Jeremiah Fears, who may be the starting point guard of the future. Coach Willie Green has said he will give Fearsasmuchresponsibility as he can handle but allow the 19-year-old to ease into a prominent role, if necessary

The Pelicans can afford patience on both fronts because of Poole, who showed during hisfour seasons with the Golden StateWarriors and the last two with the Washington Wizards that he hasa really goodhandle on all aspects of being acombo guard.

“I was acquired to play my game andbethe player that Iamand have abigger role,” Poole said, “just to come over here and help us win gamesand make abig impact on our team over the course of our season.” Poole possesses other significant attributes that will be helpful for ateam featuring ahalf-dozen significant newcomers.

When that rosteroverhaul began under new executive vicepresidentofbasketball operations Joe Dumars, he hada brainstorming session with his top lieutenant,Troy Weaver,who hadbeena consultant with the Wizards during Poole’s tenure with them.

Weaver asked Dumars what he thought of Poole, and Dumars didn’thave a strong opinion.

“He’syourkind of guy,” DumarsrecalledWeaver responding.

That meant Poole was “obsessed with basketball”and could be found in thegym “non-stop.”

Afew weekslater Poole was on hisway to New Orleans as the centerpiece of athree-team tradethatsent CJ McCollum to Washington.

“I think Troy andJoe made an effort to get me over here as soon as they had the opportunity to just because they know howIplay the game, the things that I’ve learned,myexperience, just how good Iamasaplayer andhow good afitIamwith this team,”Poolesaid. “So I think the role is going to be big and important, regardless of the situationand regardless of who’sout there.”

Thepresence of Fears and dependable sparkplug Jose Alvarado will provideplenty of opportunities for Poole to play off theball while Murray is sidelined. “I thinkhehas the unique ability offensivelytoplay with the ball in his hands and offthe ball,” Green saidofPoole. “He comes off screens, comes off pin downs. He can get to the basket and finish. He’sare-

ally good free throw shooter,challenging himselfdefensively,tobeinthe right positions, brings alevel of physicality on theball and off the ball as well.”

As Fears matures and his minutes increaseaccordingly and when Murray returns, Poole figures to becomeless point guard/shooting guard andmore shooting guard/ point guard, though Poole said “the line isn’tasclear” between apoint guardand ashooting guard as it once was.

Green wants the Pelicans “to playwith apoint five mentality,”meaning all five players on the court are able and willing to initiate the offense.

But Poole’sversatility isn’t limited to his ability to play either guardposition.His tenure with the Warriors included him being asignificant contributor to the team’s2022 NBA title.

“He won aring,” forward Zion Williamson said, “so he knows what it takes to get there and having that experience on this team with him is big for us.” Poole, whoplayed in 35 playoff games while with Golden State, saw theother end of the spectrum in Washington as he was aleader on adowntroddenfranchise that finished 15-67 and 18-64 thelast two seasons. Last season he hadcareer-bests in scoring (20.5), 3-point shooting percentage (37.8), assists (4.5) andsteals (1.3). So Poole knows how to thrive in acomplementary roleona championship teamand also shepherd a team through difficult experiences.

(Mo.)

TexasA&M 52, Incarnate Word 45 Grambling St. 20, Ark.-Pine Bluff 16 Houston 31, Arizona 28 Lamar 23, UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 21 North Texas55, UTSA17 TCU42, Baylor 36 TexasA&M 45, Arkansas 42 TexasSouthern 61, Va.Lynchburg10 FARWEST Air Force24, Wyoming 21 Arizona St. 26, TexasTech 22 BoiseSt. 56, UNLV31 Hawaii 31, Colorado St. 19 Montana 43, Sacred Heart 21 Weber St. 43, Portland St. 27 Auto racing NASCAR YellaWood 500 Lineup After Saturdayqualifying; race Sunday At Talladega Superspeedway Talladega, Ala. Lap length: 2.66 miles (Car number in parentheses)

1. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet,182.466 mph.

2. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 182.400.

3. (8)Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 182.199.

4. (2)Austin Cindric,Ford, 182.181.

5. (60) Ryan Preece,Ford, 182.116.

6. (21) JoshBerry,Ford, 182.005.

7. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 181.846.

8. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford,181.780.

9. (35) RileyHerbst, Toyota, 181.735.

10. (23) BubbaWallace, Toyota, 181.728.

11. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 181.470.

12. (41) Cole Custer, Ford,181.456.

13. (24) WilliamByron, Chevrolet,181.453.

14. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford,181.357.

15. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 181.329.

16. (22) Joey Logano, Ford,181.298.

17. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 181.292.

18. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 181.178.

19. (5)Kyle Larson, Chevrolet,181.120.

20. (6)BradKeselowski, Ford,181.058.

21. (3)AustinDillon, Chevrolet,180.959.

22. (7)JustinHaley,Chevrolet,180.894.

23. (38) Zane Smith, Ford,180.867.

24. (1)RossChastain, Chevrolet, 180.833.

25. (9)ChaseElliott, Chevrolet, 180.819.

26. (99) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 180.744.

27. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford,180.693.

28. (42) John H. Nemechek,Toyota,180.679.

29. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet,180.649.

30. (43) Erik Jones,Toyota, 180.604.

31. (88) Shane VanGisbergen, Chevrolet, 180.346.

32. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 180.295.

33. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet,180.288.

34. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 180.264.

35. (51) Cody Ware,Ford, 179.848.

36. (4)Noah Gragson, Ford,179.571.

37. (47) Ricky StenhouseJr, Chevrolet, 179.225.

38. (62) AnthonyAlfredo, Chevrolet, 179.048.

39. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet,178.550

Golf

BMW Ladies Championship Saturday At Pine Beach Golf Links Haenam, South Korea Purse: $2.3million Yardage: 6,785;

QB classof2024has aspecial look

famed 1983 (JohnElway,Jim Kelly,Dan Marino), 2004 (Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger) or 2018 (Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield) classes. Butit’soff to a strong start Here’show I’d rank theClass of 2024 today, takinginto account how each quarterback has played so far and projectinghis potential:

1. DrakeMaye, Patriots

If we re-drafted the2024 NFL Draft,I believe Maye would be theNo. 1overall pick.Hehas improved dramatically since last season and has outperformed all of his peers this year.His passer efficiency rating (108.0), completion percentage (73.2%), touchdown-to-intercep-

rating on third down, and his 40.5% conversion rateisthird behind only Maye (45.7%) andPenix (45.5%).

Still, his 61.6% completion percentage is well below the league average.

4. Bo Nix, Broncos Nix’sraw numbers don’tmatch up with thetop three of this group except in one key area: wins. He’s 14-9 as astarter and led the Broncos to aplayoffberth for the first time in nine years as arookie. He still throws too manyinterceptions forSean Payton’sliking, but otherwise, he runs theoffense like aveteran and keeps theBroncos out of negative situations with his mobility,pre-snap reads and play under pressure. He leads thegroup with a95.5 passer

and losses do matter

7. J.J. McCarthy,Vikings

The former Michigan standout has had arough start to his NFLcareer.He missed his rookie season because of a knee injury and has been sidelined since Week 2with ahigh-ankle sprain in 2025. His twostarts this season were a mixed bag. He led the Vikings to abig comeback winonthe road against the Bears in the season opener,then looked overwhelmed in ahome loss to the

cons in Week 2. His body workislimited right

and doesn’tmeasure up to his peers. Email JeffDuncanatjduncan@ theadvocate.com.

KAMILKRZACZyNSKI

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILE PHOTO By

ChicagoBears defensivecoordinator Dennis Allen walks on the sideline during the second half of a preseason game againstthe Buffalo Bills on Aug. 17 in Chicago.

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

team after the Bears recorded their biggest win of the season.Allen mayno longer be ahead coach, but his unit came up big in the Monday nightvictory overthe WashingtonCommanders. The Bears forced three takeaways toextend their season total to 12, the second-most in the NFL.

If Allen holds any grudge toward theSaints for his firing, he won’tsay so publicly.Sure,he did not even get afull three years at thehelm, going18-25,but Allen will note that 15 of his24 seasons as acoach in the NFL came in NewOrleans. He has too many memories not tothink fondly of the place.

Left unsaid is his current role as acoordinatormight be better suitedfor him than hislast job. Not that Allen has anyinterest in reflecting on his time leading the Saints

“Yeah, look, Iappreciatethe question ”Allen said with asmile when askedwhat ultimately went wrong in New Orleans. “I don’tthink I’m going to go there. Let’sjustfocus on what we’ve got going on now.”

‘Hewas just DA’

Saints cornerback Rejzohn Wright calls his brother every day So when he found out that Nahshon was joining the Bears and the cornerback would be coached by Allen, Rejzohn wanted to share as much as he could. He toldhis brother to be ready to play physically,practice hard and “be up in people’sface.”

The details could go only so far “He found out quickly how DA is,” Rejzohn said.

“DA doesn’ttake no excuses, no apologies,” Nahshon said Standing in the Bears’ locker room, Nahshon gushed about many of Allen’ssame qualities that Rejzohn did days earlier in abuilding almost 1,000 miles away.The brotherssee Allen as an aggressive coach who instills confidence and holds players accountable to the standard heexpects. For Rejzohn, that meant believing in him as an undrafted free agent after stintswith two other teams. For Nahshon, that means appreciating howdemanding Allen can be.

lack of successasahead coach in New Orleans?

Askedthis, Yiadom said he didn’tthink so, because every coach hashis own way of coaching. Some coaches don’thavemuchtosay outside of thework itself, he said.

In any event, theBears are glad to have him

“He’sbeen agodsend to me,” said Bearshead coach Ben Johnson, afirst-time headcoach, “because he’sbeen incredible, not just from coordinating the defense, but he’shelpedme every step of the way as well.

“So, very grateful for him to be here and everythingthat he’sdone for this team up to date. He’s been averysuccessful coachinthisleague foralong time.”

Familiar challenges

When Sewell watches his brother play for the Bears, he recognizes what thedefense’scall is based on whether thelinebacker raises his right or left hand.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore said this week that Allen has added new wrinkles to his scheme, as you’d expect coaches todofrom yeartoyear.But at itscore, the Bearsdefense is what NewOrleans deployed foralmost10 years. Press man coverage. Defensiveends crashing down hard. Exotic pre-snap disguises with plenty of different fronts.

For the Bears, Year 1ofAllen’s system is very much awork in progress.

“My brother won’tbuy in —hedon’twant to be physical,” Rejzohn Wright said with alaugh. “That’s why we’regoing to beat theBears.”

He’s been a godsend to me, because he’sbeen incredible,not just from coordinating the defense, but he’shelped me everystepofthe wayaswell.”

BEN JOHNSON, Bears coach, on defensivecoordinator Dennis Allen

The Wrights aren’tthe only pair of brothers Allen has coached between New Orleans and Chicago. Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell gave his brother NoahSewellplenty of pointersabout playing linebacker under Allen.

Asked aboutthe connections, Allen saidhe hadn’tgiven the topic much thought. But ina way, that makes sense. Allen has spent the last few monthsinstalling his scheme andfinding ways to matchthat to his players’ skills.

That’show Allen coaches.Sometimes,figuring out the personnel takes precedence over the personal.

“Shockingly, Iain’t have much of arelationship with him,” Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom said. “I’m not going tolie. We didn’t share many words. Ijust played in the system.He was my head coach.” As he finished his sentence, Yiadom turned to teammate Jordan Howden.

“You evertalk to DA, really?” he asked.

“He wasn’tatalker,” Howden said “Yeah,” Yiadom said. “I don’tknow if anybody Idon’tknow.Hewas just DA.”

That’snot to sayAllen failedtoforma connection with any of his players.Saintsdefensive end Cam Jordan said Allen is always“going to be one of my guys,” while linebacker Demario Davis said he “definitely enjoyed my time” with the coach. Those are two prominentleaders. And even lesser-knownplayers such as NephiSewell and Rejzohn Wright said they’ve had an opportunity to catch upwithAllensincehis departure. Rejzohn chatted with Allen briefly when he was in an elevator with Nahshon as the brothers were on the phoneafew weeks ago. But it does raise afascinating question: Did the approach have anything to do with Allen’s

Playful trash-talking aside, theChicago defensehas struggled in ways that are familiar to anyone whowatchedthe Saints over the last few seasons. The Bears have struggled to stop the run, allowingthe second-most rushing yards pergame at 156.4.

Chicagoallows explosivesatthe seventh-highestrate. Opponents have scored thesixth-most pointsper game and gainedthe seventh-most yards.

But remember,ittook time for Allen’sunits to coalesce in New Orleans —even when he was asuccessful coordinator

Andthe Bearshave started to make steadyprogress. For one, they’vegotten healthier,with veterans T.J. Edwards and Kyler Gordon returning to thelineup. Andagainstthe Commanders,Chicago held Washington’s well-refined rushing attack to 4 yardsper carry andforced two fumbles.

“Even though we are getting takeaways every single week, Ifeel like we’re gettingbetteratsomething newevery single week,” Bears defensive endMontez Sweat said. “We’re adding anew play every week or anew scheme.

“It almost seemslike the defense is neverending, almost.”

That’s Allen. Sweat said he’stalked with Saints defensive endChase Young, his former teammate in Washington, about the complexities of Allen’sfronts for the defensive line.As an edge rusher,Sweat hasfound he’s “definitely got to be moredisciplined” and create apassrush plan within the scheme.

“I like him,” Sweat saidofAllen.“He brings avery different style of defense to the game.”

At Halas Hall on Thursday,there was abrief moment when Allensoundedlike theSaints coach once again. He talked about the strength of theNew Orleans offensive line, as wellas Spencer Rattler’s mobility.Hepraised wide receiver Chris Olave’s “exceptional routes” and raved about Rashid Shaheed’sprogress.

But he saidthese things while wearinga Bearsshirt anda Bears visor in front of aBears backdrop.

Allenmadeclear that he watched theSaints offense. Butout of curiosity, did he turn on the tape of his old defense at all?

“No,” Allen said.

Theformer Saints coach smiled again and then walked off the podium. There was another practice to getready for,inanother city that’s nowhis home.

Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com

TEAM STATS

STAFF PREDICTIONS

JEFF DUNCAN

BEARS24, SAINTS 16: TheBears have wonthree gamesina rowand areplaying with confidence. The Saints arestill in search of their first road win. If theSaintscan seize an earlylead, they mightbeable to dictateterms andsteal thewin Butit’shardtoenvisionit, giventhe Saints’penchanttostart slow

LUKE JOHNSON

SAINTS 27,BEARS 23: This is agut feeling. NewOrleans hasbeenohso-close to knocking offseveral big favoritesthisseason, andthe Bears’ record hasbeeninflated by their hard-to-repeatturnoverluck. As long as theSaintscontinuetakingcareof theball, this feelslikeanopportunity to stealawin

MATTHEWPARAS

SAINTS 26,BEARS 20: Ignore the Dennis Allenangle fora second Hisdefense with theBears isn’tthe sole reason I’mpicking theSaints to prevail. It boilsdowntothis: As an Illinois native,I’vewatched the Bearsfor most of my life.And this is thetypeofgamethattheylosequite often. Simpleasthat.

RODWALKER

SAINTS 20,BEARS 17: If theSaints don’t winthisone,theymay have to wait awhile to getanother.The Buccaneers andRamsare up next youbestbelieve Dennis Allenwill have theBears

SCORES & SCHEDULE

Daniels seeks to beat Cowboys Quarterback Jayden Daniels wants a victory over Dallas he can call his own when Washington comes to Texas on Sunday. He’s also trying to keep the Commanders from dropping below 500 for the first time since being 0-1 when he was a rookie last season Daniels lost to the Cowboys at home and was watching when Marcus Mariota led a late drive to the winning score in a mostly meaningless regularseason finale last season Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t face Washington last season He’s 11-2 against the Commanders in his career and is off to a hot start in 2025. Rams, Jags meet in London

Sliding Eagles challenge Vikings

2 1 3

Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars took different paths to London The Rams spent the week practicing at Camden yards in Baltimore after beating the Ravens and planned to arrive a day before facing Jacksonville at iconic Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars flew in Monday and practiced all week in London One of those approaches will lead to a fifth win on the season. The Rams will try to win away from home but will be without leading receiver Puka Nacua The Jaguars aim to bounce back from a home loss to Seattle in which they were handled on both lines of scrimmage.

Broncos dominant ‘D’ faces Giants Giants arrive in Denver behind rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo as they seek their third victory in four games. They’ll face a stiff challenge in Denver’s dominant defense. The Broncos lead the league with 30 sacks. No other team has more than 20 entering Week

7. Linebacker Nik Bonitto’s eight sacks lead the league and linebacker Jonathon Cooper is coming off a two-sack performance against the Jets that earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors a week after Bonitto won the same award The Broncos are seeking their fourth consecutive win of the season.

The Philadelphia Eagles take a twogame losing streak to Minnesota to face the Vikings The Eagles currently are 4-2. They never lost consecutive games last season on their way to winning the Super Bowl. The Eagles haven’t beaten the Vikings in Minnesota since the wild-card round of the 2008 playoffs They beat Minnesota at home in 2022 and 2023 The Vikings are 3-2 after their bye week Their run defense has slipped after ranking second in the NFL last season. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley also has been quiet after winning the 2024 AP Offensive Player of the year award

Falcons try to run over 49ers The Atlanta Falcons face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night on NBC The Falcons have a strong rushing offense leading the NFL with 151.2 yards per game. They also rank first in total defense Wide receiver Drake London is a key player to watch after a standout performance against Buffalo. The 49ers are struggling with their rushing game, ranking 30th in yards per game despite Christian McCaffrey’s presence. Linebacker Tatum Bethune steps in for injured Fred Warner San Francisco could see the return of tight end George Kittle Both teams are dealing with several injuries, which could affect their performance 5 4

GAME OF THE WEEK

Colts coach cut teeth with Chargers

BY DAN GREENSPAN Associated Press

INGLEWOOD Calif. Shane Steichen’s journey to becoming head coach of the Indianapolis Colts began in 2011 as a defensive assistant with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he spent nine seasons in total.

The 40-year-old Steichen is still well-respected within the Chargers organization, and that esteem has been apparent ahead of the Colts’ visit on Sunday

“Coach Steichen has done a great job, a tremendous job with the team, with the offense. And great guy from everything I heard around here, all my favorite people just speak glowingly about him and his time here,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. Before he was directing the best scoring offense in football for the upstart Colts (5-1), Steichen’s first

coordinator job came at the culmination of his second stint with the Chargers (4-2). He returned in 2014 and spent two seasons as offensive quality control coach. Steichen coached the quarterbacks from 2016-19, including during the move from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2017, then took over as interim coordinator during the 2019 season. He kept that job in 2020 before leaving for Philadelphia. Along the way, he built quite a few bonds.

“I spent nine years of my career there and I’ve got a ton of respect from the top down,” Steichen said.

“(Chargers owner and chairman) Dean Spanos, (president of football operations) John Spanos, (president of business operations) A.G. Spanos gave me an opportunity in this league. So I really appreciate them.”

The 2020 season was quarterback Justin Herbert’s rookie year after

being drafted sixth overall out of Oregon. It was a chaotic introduction, with the pandemic adding new levels of complexity to his adjustment to the professional ranks. Herbert appreciated his time with Steichen and wished it could have continued.

“It was really fun with him,” Herbert said. “He’s such a great coach, leader, friend, and there’s no surprise why they’re doing so well. I learned a lot from him. Wish I had more time to learn from him, just how smart he was but I wish him nothing but the best.”

The Chargers defense has dropped off considerably since linebacker Khalil Mack injured his elbow in a Week 2 win at Las Vegas, allowing at least 20 points and 118 yards rushing in each of the four games without him. Mack was activated off injured reserve this week, putting him in line to play Sunday

Niners activate TE Kittle vs. Falcons

San Francisco 49ers activated star tight end George Kittle from injured reserve on Saturday after he had missed the past five games with a hamstring injury

Kittle went down in the first half of the season opener for San Francisco but returned to practice this week and is ready to return to game action Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. The Niners hope the return of Kittle will provide a needed boost to the offense.

Commanders rule out wide receiver Samuel Washington Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel was ruled out for Sunday because of an injured heel, leaving Jayden Daniels and the Commanders without any of their three top wide receivers for the team’s game against the NFC rival Dallas Cowboys.

Samuel had missed practice time in recent weeks because of his heel but always had managed to be in uniform on game day until now He leads Washington with 34 catches and 315 yards receiving to go along with three receiving touchdowns.

Two receiving targets for Raiders are iffy

The Raiders could be significantly shorthanded in their passing game when Las Vegas visits Kansas City on Sunday Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is doubtful and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee and toe) is questionable for the AFC West matchup with the Chiefs. Raiders coach Pete Carroll has indicated he would rather sit Bowers because the bye week follows this weekend’s game. Bowers has missed the past two games. Meyers was injured in last Sunday’s 20-10 victory over Tennessee and did not practice Wednesday and Thursday

Titans will miss WR Ridley against Patriots Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley will miss Sunday’s game against New England with the hamstring injury that knocked him out of last week’s loss in Las Vegas. Ridley did not practice all week after suffering the injury in the first half against the Raiders. He leads the Titans with 290 yards receiving, and Tennessee also will be without wide receiver Bryce Oliver for a fifth straight game with a knee injury Edge rusher Arden Key also will miss a second straight game with a quadricep injury

OUTDOORS

Youth prevails

These four young menwere selected from among theentries in this year’sCCA Louisiana S.T.A.R. summer-long fishing tournament to win a14-foot bateau riggedwith a15-horsepowerMercuryoutboard on atrailer.The four caught and registered either a 14-inch speckled trout or asheepshead. The four,fromleft, are GraysonEvans, Andrew Delcambre, AndrewWilliams and Andrew Levert

It’s topwater time!

Bass anglersrejoice at best action of year

BY JOE MACALUSO

Contributing writer

Oh, joy!

It’stopwater time. Seems like bass across our state are providing the best action of the year on the most exciting way to entice aheart-stopping strike from ol’ Mr.Largemouth. Around here, False River and Old River are proving the point that topwater lures of all shapesand sizesare working their magic now that were gettingour third cool front of the fall. Trywalking the dog with a stick bait,orlistening to the whirring blades of abuzzbait, or casting any number of poppers and you’ll findout why bassing folks can’twait for this time of year

Even the report from Jim Breaux about last weekend’s visit to Toledo Bend by the Junior Southwest Bassmasters noted the top producers were topwaters. And, fromdownsouth off the Mississippi River —but only when thewind and tides are right —bass are taking topwaters in the ponds when they’re notinhaling soft plastics. But, watch it if you’re using abuzzbait in waters around Venice,because a redfish is justaslikelyto pounce on this lure and turn it into atangle of wire and hook. As for speckled trout, it looks likethesefishlike hanging in deeperwater andhaven’tmovedupinto the flats or into the interior marshes. Guess we’ll have to wait for another couple of cold fronts to get them moving.

Bigweek

Thestate team of D.J. Rebstock,Ben Nobile,SamAnthony and Jared Aucoin will bejoined by regional qualifier Travis Merritt as thefive Louisiana anglers competing for berths in next year’sBassmaster Classic. Thefive are making their way to LaCrosse, Wisconsin,for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the upper Mississippi River Anglers are coming from 48 states and seven other countries —250 in the boater division and 230 in nonboater.They’llfish for three placesinthe 2026 Classic, trying to stake aclaim for someofthe $223,000 purse andtohavepaidfees for 2026 in oneofthe three divisional B.A.S.S. circuits.

Thefield will fish Wednesday and Thursday before the top 40 anglers in boater and nonboater fish Friday, when the nonboater championwill takehome $10,000. Thatchampion and the top 10 in boater will compete in Saturday’sfinal

Daily weigh-insare scheduled to beginat 3:30 p.m. with daily coverage on the B.A.S.S. website:bassmaster.com

Then,inearly November, south Louisiana’sown Michael Frenette andhis fishing partner Mark Robinson will beout to defend their title when teams meet in Aransas Bay, Texas, for the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup championship

Teams can weigh two redfish per day —20-28 inches long —and the combined weight of the three-day

competition will determine which teams earns $75,000 first-place money

And, last week, twoLSUShreveport teamsearned berths in the2026 Collegiate BassFishing championship presented by Bass ProShops after finishing in thetop 10 in an AssociationofCollegiate Anglers tournament held on LakeDardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas.

ThoseLSUS teams consistedof William Tew and Miles Smith and Carsen Adcock and Will Powell Swampopened

Afterthe flood waters receded, state Wildlife and Fisheries staff has reopened theMaurepas SwampWildlifeManagementArea to deer hunters.

The staff uses the gauge on BlindRiver near theAirline Canaltodetermine when to close the deerseason becauseflood watersconcentratethe deer in small sections of the 112,615-acre WMA located southofSorrentoabout 25 miles west of New Orleans andalong the south shore of LakeMaurepas. The WMA includes propertyinAscension, Livingston, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes Redsnapper

We’re nearingthe end of therecreational red snapper season after Wildlife and Fisheries managers, using the LA Creel system, determined this year’s take at 856,857 pounds through theweek ending Oct. 5. That total is 95.7% of this year 894,955-pounds allocation. Look for aseason closure sometime this week

STATECOLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

By The Associated Press

HAMMOND Brandon Hayes returned akickoff 83 yards foratouchdown to open thesecond half,Deantre Jackson scoredthree times and Southeastern Louisiana blanked Northwestern State 49-0 on Saturday

The Lions (5-2, 3-0 Southland) posted asecond consecutive shutout for the first time since 1960. SLU outgained the Demons 402-96 and held Northwestern State (1-6, 0-3) to 24 yards rushing. SOUTHERN MISS 22, UL 10: In Lafayette, Micah Davis caught a98-yard touchdown pass from Braylon Braxton and Jabari Ishmael recovered afumble inside the 1-yard line to help Southern Miss win. On athird and14from

theGolden Eagles 2, Davis caught along ball down the right sideline for thelongest pass play in Southern Miss history.Itput the Golden Eagles (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt)up 20-10 at the3:40 mark in the third quarter

The Ragin’Cajuns(2-5, 1-2) nearly respondedwith atouchdown on theensuing possession,but Lunch Winfield reachedfor the goal line on aquarterback keeper andlostthe ball, whichIshmael recovered. PRAIRIE VIEW 24, SOUTHERN 3: In BatonRouge, Lamagea McDowell ran for two touchdowns andPrairieView A&M remained unbeaten in theSWACplay McDowell ran for a15yardtouchdown at the start of the second quarter forthe game’sfirstpointsand the

MONDAY

GULF COUNCIL FEDERAL

SHRIMP PERMIT MORATORIUM MEETING: 5p.m.virtual viaWebinar to address actions on expiration of the federal shrimp permit moratorium. Website: gulfcouncil. org

TUESDAY

LA. OUTDOORS FOREVER

TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING: 9a.m state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Dr., Baton Rouge.

LAFAYETTE KAYAKFISHING

CLUB MEETING: 6p.m Pack &Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com

WEDNESDAY

DELTA WATERFOWL/BATON

ROUGE CHAPTER BANQUET: 5:30 P.M., L’Auberge Casino, Baton Rouge. Tickets $25-$80 Call TomMcGee (225) 4279072/(318) 282-2974. Email: tmcgee@lee-associates.com

WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY

B.A.S.S.NATION CHAMPIONSHIP: Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Website: bassmaster.com

WEDNESDAY-MONDAY

MLF PATRIOTCUP: 12 1-angler teams, $560,000 purse, Oxford, Alabama. Livedaily broadcasts. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com

Junior Southwest Bassmasters MANY Age-group resultsfrom the two-dayJunior Southwest Bassmasters-Denham Springs’October tournament heldfromBridge BayMarina on ToledoBend with anglers, theirhometowns,number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-basslimit; 14-inch minimum length), total weight in pounds and big-basswinners: First day 15-18 age group: 1, BlakeLeRay Brusly (5)9.07pounds.2,Branson Sheridan, Ponchatoula(4) 8.21. 3, Branson McMillan, Brusly (3)5.27.

CALENDAR

THURSDAY

FLORIDAPARISHES’ FRIENDS OF THE NRA BANQUET: 6p.m., Carter Plantation, 23475 Carter Trace, Springfield.Call Marcell Parker (985) 507-6992 or Lori Parker (225) 229-5751. Website: friendsofnra.org

HUNTINGSEASONS

DEER/PRIMITIVE FIREARMS: Through Oct.24, State Deer Areas 2.

DEER/YOUTH &HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS: Oct. 25-31, State Deer Areas 1, 4, 5, 6&9

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Oct. 25-Dec. 2, State Deer Area 2, still-hunt only

DOVES: NorthZone,through Nov. 16; South Zone,through Nov. 30.

DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Nov. 30, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8&10.

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

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2&4 Either-sex takeallowed.

DEER/ARCHERY: Through Feb. 15, State Deer Areas 5, 6&9, either-sex takeallowed.

RABBITS &SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private landsonly

AROUND THECORNER

OCT.26—SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB &GARAND STATECHAMPIONSHIP

MATCHES: 8:30 a.m., Ascension ParishSheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road,Gonzales.

BASS FISHINGRESULTS

CMPGSSM, NRA match rifle or service rifle,200-yard/50roundsmatch course & Prone matches. Call (337) 380-8120. Email Mike Burke: SouthLaHighPower@hotmail. com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore&outside watersopen statewide. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Redsnapper,greater amberjack (State waters only through Oct. 31), gray triggerfish; lane,blackfin, queen and silk snappers&wenchmen among othersnapper species; all groupersexcept closed for goliath& Nassau groupersin state/federal waters. CLOSED SEASONS: Flounder (recreational/commercial takethrough Nov. 30); bluefin tuna; gag, goliath& Nassau groupersinstate/ federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed. LDWF UPDATES CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/ boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, leveeconstruction) ROAD CLOSURE: Section of La. 975 through Sherburne WMA closed through

Bigbass: Sheridan, 3.21 pounds 11-14: 1, Hunter Carlson, Holden (2)7.22. 2, Khloe Morales, French Settlement(4) 7.15. 3, Cole Watkins, Hammond (3)5.54. Bigbass: Carlson, 3.95. 7-10: 1, Nathanial Watts,Livingston (4)6.63. 2, Jase Russell, Pride (4)6.36. 3, Wesley Ludlam, Baton Rouge (1)1.53. Bigbass: Russell, 1.96. Adultdivision: 1, Ricky Carlson, Holden (5)16.13. 2, Deric Morales, French Settlement (5)11.63. 3, JeremyPrejean, Brusly (5)10.68. Big bass: RonLeRay,Brusly,4.44. Second day 15-18 age group: 1, Wade Prejean, Brusly (5)11.47. 2, BlakeLeRay Brusly (5)11.33. 3, BransonSheridan,Ponchatoula (2)3.96. Bigbass: Prejean, 3.65. 11-14: 1, Rydge Herd, Springfield (4)11.19. 2, LandinSholty,Walker (2)4.87. 3, Jacob Martin, Baton Rouge (2)4.12. Bigbass: Herd, 5.93. 7-10: 1, CharlesLeonard, Lakeland (2)4.29. 2, Kanton Smith, Livingston (2)3.93. 3, Jase Russell, Pride (1) 2.77. Bigbass: Russell, 2.77. Adultdivision: 1, Jeremy Prejean, Brusly (5)11.47. 2, Ricky LeRay, Brusly (5)11.33. 3, Ricky Carlson, Holden (4)11.19. Bigbass: Daniel Suydam, Denham Springs,5.88.

Panthers(5-2, 4-0) went on to a17-0 lead after Cameron Peters’ 13-yard TD passto Jyzaiah Rockwell and Aiden Webb’s30-yard field goal at theend of the half.

Ashton Strother threw for 81 yards and an interception and Trey Holly rushed for 99 yards on 21 carries for the Jaguars (1-6, 0-3).Nathan Zimmer had Southern’sonly pointswitha 36-yard field goal.

GRAMBLING 20, UAPB 16: In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Tre Bradford ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns including thegame-winner with 1:42 remainingtogive Grambling awin.

TROY 37, UL-MONROE 14: In Monroe, Tray Taylor accounted for two touchdowns, andTroyscored the final 20 points forits third straight win.

On morning walks, I’ve been watching ayard down the streetwhere agraveyard is slowly blooming from the lawn. Each day,orsoitseems, anew novelty tombstone has sprouted from the grass, part of agrowing tableau thatalso includes plastic skeletonsthat offer me gruesome smiles. Halloween decorations this ambitious take time, and my neighbors have been adding to their display whentheyfind spare moments. Afew days ago, Ispotted an open box in their carport with more grisly supplies for their workinprogress. Abony white toe spilled from the edge of the cardboard container,and aslender skeletal finger beckonedfrom the far corner The dome of askull gleamed from within.

Askeleton

ayard

south Louisiana in advance of Halloween.

For aman of acertainage, such morbid theater should be sobering, but Ichuckle each time Istroll past the makeshift cemetery that appears each October astone’sthrow frommy house. That’sthe sly paradoxof Halloween, Isuppose. In winking at death, it sharpens our joy at the simple fact of being alive Within my own yard, the season has brought gentler tidings of mortality Our trees, increasingly bare, tell me that legions of leaves are dying as the year does. The annual leaf drop used to frustrate my ambitions for a perfectly manicured lawn,but my late neighbor,Zelda Long taught me to change my priorities. Zelda had faced afew challenges that deepenedher sense of what’sreallyimportant, and she urged me to stop fretting about fallen leaves.

She’sbeen gone adozen

NewOrleans police officerhas hisown way of expressing what he sees on thejob

Art ontheBeat

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

NOPD Sgt. Charles Beau Hoffacker is an oddcop. He says he has“the bestjob in the world.”Hegetsacharge out of the law enforcement stuff, thearrests andoccasional chases. But mostly he digs just cruising around the First District, checking in on his platoon of officers as they takecare of business. Hoffacker is alsoasailor. Years ago, he said, he bought alousy boatthat eventually sankin Lake Pontchartrain, requiring rescue by the Coast Guard. His skills have since improved, andinJanuary,hewas part of acrew thatsailed a ship from Argentina to Antarctica. He said he worked sixhours on andsix hours off for the whole trip, which wasexhausting. Buthiking on theice pack, withnoevidence of mankind anywhere, was absolutely moving,

borderline mystical even.

“I was 1million miles away from ahomicide,” he said. Theart beat

Hoffackeralsohas made pieces that reflect hislong career patrolling the

In addition to everything else, Hoffacker,44, is one of New Orleans’ most accomplished conceptual artists. He’shaving asolo show of his

ä See AT RANDOM, page 8D ä See ARTIST, page 8D

Do ghosts hauntthe stageofLePetit

Astagecrewman is silhouetted against a backdrop while building the set inside Le Petit Theatre for the opening of ‘The Lehman Trilogy.’

BY ANNETTE SISCO Staff writer

DININGSCENE

At 25,Herbsaint feelsfamiliar, yetalwaysnew

Which restaurant is Herbsaint, Ifound myself musing while sitting for aWednesday night dinner.Isitthe one serving the thick gumbo that takes you back to chef Donald Link’sfirst stomping grounds in southwest Louisiana? Or is it the one nestling slices of shima ajícrudo between crisp apple with aflicker of ginger for aspecial?

Is it the restaurant that’sbeen such asteady presence on St. Charles Avenue that it’sstarting to feel about as permanent as the streetcars that clatter past its broad windows? Or is it the place that’sclearlyon the bucket list for many visitors, who Iwatched stack up at the bar,waitingfor tables to turn, as if Herbsaint was the hot new thingthat some influencer just blewup?

Stop questioning it and just enjoy,Itold myself. And then proceeded to dig into both that gumbo and the crudo, served next to eachother,and look around theroom sparking with hot spot vibes even as it marks 25 years in business this month.

Herbsaint (701 St. Charles Ave., 504-524-4114) is the restaurant that launched more than the trajectory of Link as chefrestaurateur

The local sourcing, close ties with growers and fishers and the long-running relationships with customers that started here would extend through what is now the Link Restaurant Group, as consistenta hitmaker as the modern New Orleans restaurant scene has known. It also propelled the careers for many who have gone on toopen their own restaurants around the New Orleans area.

The downtown restaurant is celebrating its 25th year,a quarter-century of its own blend of Louisiana, French and Italian flavors.

To celebrate the milestone, the restaurant is serving aweekly three-course special meal, changing eachWednesday through Nov.5(see menus below).

With anew small plate,entree and dessert cycling through each week, it’smeant to showcase the restaurant’sdifferent influences, from rustic Louisiana to classic French to anew fascination with Japanese cuisine, something Link and his chef de cuisine Tyler Spleen brought home from an eating excursion in Japan this year

Bistro with history

The restaurant at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Girod Street had previously been Bizou, from chef Daniel Bonnot Herbsaint opened in 2000 as part of awave of modernbistros then croppinguparound New

Orleans. It originally debuted as aSusanSpicer restaurant, then best known for Bayona. Iremember standing in the dining room for an opening press event aSpicer introduced her relatively unknown partner chef, that being Link himself.

Spicer eventually left thefold, but Herbsaint has always been about more than one chef and has proved fertile ground for rising talent.

Stephen Stryjewski was cooking here when he and Link partnered up to openhis second restaurant,Cochon. The same happened with Ryan Prewitt, now chef/partner at the group’s Pêche Seafood Grill, and Maggie Scales, executive pastry chef and partner at itsLaBoulangerie bakery cafe, started with Link’s group at Herbsaint.

Others whohave come through Herbsaint over the yearsnow

have theirown restaurants around New Orleans, from Costera andthe Company Burger to thenewly debuted Evviva and Dr.Jones.

Amealwithmorethanmemory

My recentdinner,progressing on from the gumboand crudo, summed up theenduring character andappeal of this restaurant —one of rock-solid reliable consistency,withgradual change, so that arestaurant that always feels familiar to regularsalso staysfresh

Therewas the “house made spaghetti,” which per themenu style heretends to undersell the dish. It’s an incredibly rich take on carbonara with afried egg over the top to slice open and further enrich with its running yolk and, oh yes,acrisp plank of guanciale on top of that.

Therewas duck leg confit, with the confit part done so well

Icould tap abeat on its surface with my knife andthencut in to reveal the juicy dark meat encased beneath. Dirty riceon theside is areminder this is not southern France, but south Louisiana.

Butthen there was chawanmushi, the Japanesesavory custard, this oneimbuedwith crab and corn, dotted with fairy tale-small pickledchanterelle mushrooms anda dashi giving adarkly smoky aromaover the top SavoryJapanesecustard would seem like an outstanding outlier even listed as aspecial. But it’s partofwhatHerbsaint does layering standby signatures with thecurrent ideas andinfatuationsofits chefs.

Fordessert, there wasnoquestionitwould be abanana brown buttertart, the same in concept as I’ve been ending meals with here foryears, but better.Was the caramel alittle softer, the chew of the tart alittle stickier on the teeth, the crust alittle richer?

Or maybe it wasjust the effect of againtasting adish that has long livedinmymemory,which is oneofthe things valued restaurants give us through their ownlongevity

Take alook back at Herbsaint’s history with more photos from ourarchivesatnola.com/wherenolaeats.

Email IanMcNulty at imcnulty@theadvocate.com.

n Garden DistrictGlow

Sold-out! Special words for aspecial neighborhood night.They applied to therecent Garden District Association Fall Affair, whichunfoldedinseveral iterations at Commander’sPalace. The Benefactor’sCocktail Party ran from 6-7p.m., followed by the supporters, who socialized for ahalfhour, andthe culminating seated dinner.The sold-out crowdwas seatedinthe MainDining Room, the Garden Room, and the newly renovated Parlor.The initialtogetherness was outside in the patio, where attendees sipped the welcome cocktail, Autumn Harvest,and turned an ear to the lively music of Joe Simon Jazz.“Smile” was an earlynumber and atone-setter.

Headliners were Fall Affair co-chairs Michele Reynoir,and Ann and Jim Geary, who rated thanks galore, along with Commander’s cohorts Dottie Brennan, Lally Brennan, Ti Martin andchef MegBickford.Garden District resident PamGeorges whose floral shop, pameladennis,is ablock away in The Rink,did the flowers.

Noted,too were GDAPresident Andrea St. Paul Bland who chairs the Profiles in PreservationProject, andhusband David Bland,aswell as Jackie and Richard Yancey,Beth and Hugh Lambert,Jim Perrierand Jim Ashbee, Lauren andGeorge Brower,Katie and Frank Darden, and Susu andAndrew Stall with theirdaughter and son-in-law Lindsayand Peter Falconer, whoare new Garden District residents. The Gearys’niece, Kelly Gillin and her husband, Patrick Gillin,made rounds, too. They’ve movedtothe GardenDistrict from Chicago

n Light Levity

Contact:nnolan@theadvocate.com

EnlightenUp!

Others were associationvice president Andy Braun with Joy, Christina and John Fay, Robin Staudinger and Matt Williamson,Janeand HenryCasselli, Liz andTerry Creel,Janet and Thomas Favrot, Carolyn and Brian Fitzpatrick, Elaine and Douglas Grundmeyer, Janet and Scott Howard, Mathilde Learyand Bill Penick, Lynne Stern, andahundredorsomore,including Jennifer and John Rareshide, who co-chaired the 2024 event with Sarah and Marshall Hevron, and Ellie Sanders.

Some of the hearty conversation concerned the forthcoming coffee-table book, “New Orleans Garden DistrictProfilesinPreservation,” which is scheduledfor releaseinearly December.(Christmas/holiday presents, anyone?) Along-term project of theGardenDistrict Association, the book is a compilation of 100 homes in thedistrict, complete with old and current photos. The program includes bronze markers(plaques) thathave been placed in frontofthese homes. Especially involvedwiththe project are LauraMoise (joined at the dinner by spouse Ed), photographer David Spielman,and GDA executive director Shelley Landrieu,project coordinator

On to the tables it was at 7:30 where GDA guestsadmired the centerpieces of roses,hydrangeas and chamomile (alsocamomile) as theysavored the chef Bickford dinner of bluecrab andbutternut squash bisque, cochon de lait osso buco,and salted brown buttercorncake, accompanied by appropriate wines. AccordingtoaFall Affair principal, “The tables werefull, the crowd was loud anda good time washad by all.”

n CelebratingTwo Centuries

The Historic New Orleans Collectionextended invitations to commemorate over “two centuries of courage, progress, and the people who shaped our historyatHéritage de la Liberté, the 2025 Bienville Circle &LaussatSocietyGala.” Thevenue wasthe historic Garden District home of Erika and TedElliott.

Among the many relishing the inside-outside party flow were Ted’smother, Pam,aswell as Circle/Society chair Lisa Wilson with Peter, HNOC Board president Bonnie Boyd with John, state Rep. Michael Bayham Jr.,Terryand Lynette Dufrene, Emilie Rhys and DennyEbersole,Ann andTonyFuselier,Tiaand Jimmy Roddy,David Schulingkamp Virginia Weinmann with daughter-in-law Beibei,Vivian and Richard Cahn, Patricia and Ralph Cox, Marshall Hevron with parents John and Mary-Margaret, Diane and Andrew Plauche,Brobson Lutz and Kenneth Combs, Michelle and Jason Leckert, and HNOC President andCEO Daniel Hammer with Klara Party delights included Urban Earth’s florals; Ralph BrennanCatering &Eventsand their passedappetizers and buffet array of salad, Creole

To benefit Lighthouse Louisiana’s110-year mission of empowering individuals with disabilities, Soirée de Lumière held forth festively in theAudubon TeaRoom on aThursday evening. Hooray! It was sold-out. The top sponsor category,Gold, included the Goldring Family Foundation, Huhtamaki, and the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, while the Silver Sponsors wereOtto Candies, LLC and Victory Packaging. Tiaand Jimmy Roddy figured as individuals in the Bronze listing. More topnames to know —and several faces to note at the gala —wereLighthouse Louisiana Board Chair Cameron Currie (attending with spouse Abby), vicechair Connie Bellone (with Michael), secretary Ed Stauss, andtreasurer KeithMcCulloch,as well as boardmembers Celeste Eustis (with Curtis), Katie Lasky,Dr. MeganMajoue (with Garrett), TamraManfredo, Pastor Gregory Manning,Mercedes Montagnes, Hayden Presley, Glenda Spears, Dr Seema Walia,Dr. Duronne Walker and Peter Waring

Guests enteredthe Audubon TeaRoom through purple uplighting before stepping into aballroom glowing in warm amber.Tables dressed with richpurple Bella crepelinens featured tall, gold-accented centerpieces with sparkling crystals, oversize lamplights and soft candlelight. Gold trees with hanging crystal orbs and towering Titanic vases withcurly willowaddedheight and visual drama, while the Lighthouse logo, “Be theLight,” wasprojected on awall. Fancy Faces Décor and Insight Events provided thestunning look. Special features,and there were numerous, included theauction action. Businesses from across NewOrleans and Baton Rouge gave to the 45-items silent auction, while, in the live segment, aseven-day trip for eight people to France’sBurgundy regionhad Jane and KerryDrake as the beaming top bidders. Elsewhere, the“I’ve Been Framed” color photo boothprovided souvenirs.

Dickie Brennan &Company purveyed. During the first hour,guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The seated-dinner featured salad, braised short ribs and lobster mac &cheese, and Bananas Foster bread pudding. Choice wines, too.

Noted also were Maleen and George Dickinson,Earlineand Eli Bradley,Evie andKeith Katz,Donna and Jack Little, Blair Monroe and David Perryman, and Julia and C.J. Tessitore. From LL came president and CEO Dee Budgewater, COO JeniceHeck with mom Joan Daigle,and CFO Paul Bernard with Angie Picou.Asthe evening ensued, the Lighthouse lot took to the floor for the music of Groovy 7and their energetic mix of celebratorysounds.

and entertainmentbypianist Paul Weber, and theband, Pardon My French

TRAVEL

Stateparknestled in Acadiana jungle

BY CATHERINE S. COMEAUX

Contributing writer

Catherine S. Comeaux andher

family spent three summersexploring state, national and provincial parks —from Louisiana to Alaska then Nova Scotia and along the Mississippi River in between.This year she turns her attention to our Louisiana state parks to discover the natural beauty of the South less than a day’sdrive from home.

Palmetto Island State Park is nestled in the jungle like swamplands on the Bayou Vermilion, south of Abbeville. Both locals andtravelers love the park with its well-shaded campsites and cozy cabins elevated between the tree canopy and the understory filled with huge palmettos.

In addition to typical outdooractivities like boating,hiking and lazing around the campsite, thepark offers an excellentplacetolisten and watch for wildlife.

Over 230 bird species are sustained by the wetlands, and the nearby crawfish ponds combine with rice fields. Blackbear have been spotted (not to be confused with dark,furrywildhogsthatcan look bearish from adistance), and “Ursa Major,” alarger-than-life metal bear sculpture created by Brennan Steele, can always be seen lurking near the splashpad.

Even before construction began on the park in 2002, the land along the bayou was afavorite wilderness camp site for Scout troops.

In the early 1990s, my Scoutmaster father had takenmetothe area on areconnaissance trip foranupcoming campout. Iwas amazed that the same residential bayou running through our hometown became so wild andbeautiful —nothing like the landscaped bayou-side lawns of

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

Lafayette.

Just after the park openedin2010, luredbythe memoriesofthattrip with my father and thepromiseof asplash pad, Itook my children for ahike and an afternoon of running through thefountains. We’ve returned several times to explore, each time finding something new to love

Goingbyboat

Our latest trip to the park was supposed to be by boat. After reserving acabin close to the water,I planned our departure. Theideawas toexperiencethe connectivity of the Bayou Vermilion by putting our vesselinthe water at Lafayette, passingthrough the small towns of Milton, Abbeville and Perry as we wended our way to the cypress-lined banks of Palmetto Island.

We would encounterthe bayou like the waterhighway it usedto be, like those who camebefore us in

dugouts and pirogues —except our boat would have an outboard motor on it

The vision of arriving by water was clouded by thescheduling needs of afamily of five.

Practicality called for taking the minivan and trailering our17-foot aluminumflattothe park’s small boat landing.Being able to “dock” on theslope bank near ourcabin gave us thefeel of arriving by water (withoutthe hourslong boat ride) andallowed us to readilyexperience the bayou.

Forgiveusfor ourtrespassing

Palmetto Island State Park is an excellent jumping-off pointfor exploring the waterways.

The restaurant-rich town of Abbeville is about a30-minute boat ride north. To the south,past the remnants of an Ishakshell midden, is Vermilion Bay with opportunities for fishing and dolphin spotting. For the ultimatewater-as-highway

experience, adventurous boaters canaccess the nearbyIntracoastal Waterway and motor toward Brownsville, Texas, or Boston,Massachusetts.

We decided to stay close andhead to Abbeville forafternoon massat St.MaryMagdalenChurchdowntown.Trouble was, the only public river access in Abbeville is near the Highway 14 bypass —not easy walking distance to the church.Fortunately,wefound aspot closer to tieupand made it to mass with plenty of time forafew prayers asking forforgiveness forour trespassing.

Questionablymoored, we decided to head back to ourcabin forsupperinstead of walking to one of the delicious seafood restaurants in Abbeville.

Only at Palmetto Island

This stretch of bayou is an interesting mix of industry interspersed with agricultureand wildness.Pogie processingplantsextract omega3s, shipyards build crew boats, and cows graze in thedistance while kingfishers swoop through cypress.

The earlyfallbayou sidesare lush green, full of cattails and elephant ears speckledwithflowering plants. We hope to make it back in the spring for theflowering of thedark, blood-colored, 6-foot-tall Abbeville red iris (Iris nelsonii). This extremely rarenativeLouisianairishas only been found growing in asmall private wetland in VermilionParish.In 2011, 100 Abbeville red irises were planted in thestate park in hopes of expanding itsrange, while making Palmetto Island theonly place in the world to see theirisinits native habitat.

When we return, we’ll rent acanoe or akayak at theparkfor aquieter experience alongthe canoe trails Ilook forward to exploring this system of man-made canals and ponds thathave naturalized well over the years.

Formed by the dredging to build theparkroads,theyconnect to the natural flow of thebayou.Withthe continuous influx of fresh water and microorganismsfrom theVermilion, the system grows and attracts wildlife

The canoe trails, removed from the boat traffic of the bayou, would be agreat place to teach my kids howtopaddle andoffer another new,fun way to experience the park. Know before yougo

n Kayakand canoerentals are availableon-site.

n The main campground is RVcentric with 20 sites having wellmaintained tentpads.

n For amore secluded tent camping experience, visitors can paddle or hike into several primitive (no bathrooms) “back pack camp sites” around the largest of the ponds at thepark

n Tenters can rent the primitive group camparea near the boat launch and have bathroom access withinabout 200 yards.

n Cabins offer decent wheelchair accessibility(bathing is via tubwith atransfer chair stowed in acloset nearby).

n Bringawagon forcarting heavy loads between parking and the cabin entrance.

n The Nature Center is open 9a.m. to noon Saturdays.

n The Story Walk offers kids a chance to connect abook with hiking on the 500-foot-long Kid’sNature Trail. Ask about Cajun French translations of thefeatured book at thepark entrance station.

n The splash pad is closed on Mondays

n The Wi-Fiand cellserviceare spotty

n Groceries are availableinnearby Abbeville n Palmetto Country Store offers “beer &food”innearby Mouton Cove

Family’s dreamAlaskacruisecollapsesafter flight delay

Christopher Elliott

Ibooked an Alaska cruise through Holland America for my family.A Holland America agent urgedustobuy ourAlaska Airlines flights through the cruise line.We did not purchase travel insurance. But when our flight wascanceled because of amechanical problem, the cruise line said we’d missthe ship and our only option wastocancel. We lost $3,952.HollandAmerica refunded only taxes after weeks of fighting.HollandAmerica’sagent promised us supportifthe flight was delayed or canceled.We would likearefund of the remaining balance since the mishap was adirect result of what waswithin their responsibility,not ours.Canyou help? —Michael Ramer,San Jose

Holland America should have honored its verbal commitment to assist when your flight delay ended your cruise. It looks like your 7:15 a.m. flight was canceled because of amechanical problem The nextflightdidn’t leave until 10 a.m. Thatwouldn’thave given you enough time to reach your ship.

Youbooked your flights through Holland America’sFlight Ease program, which promises thatif your flight is delayed or canceled by the airline on the day you are on your way to or from your cruise “our staff is ready to assist you, 24/7. We’ll even take care of any flight changes if needed to join the voyage at the next available port of call.”

But Holland America doesn’t promise you will make your cruise or thatitwould refund your cruise under the Flight Ease program if you miss the boat. Youmade several mistakes when you booked your cruise. First, you should always give yourself acushion between when you arrive and your ship leaves —preferably an entire day.You were cutting it too close. Second, always get travel insurance for your cruise. Insurance would have covered the full cost of your cruise. Flight Ease won’t. Finally,inreviewing your paper trail, it looks like you spent alot of time on the phone with Holland America. Certainly,when your flight is canceled, you’ll want to call your cruise line right away

But after that, keep everything in writing so that youhavea reliable paper trail showing your efforts to resolve the case. Youmay need to forward it to theHolland America executives whose names Ipublish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. It looks like youwere dealing withaHolland America cruise consultant whenyou booked your cruise and airfare. Idon’t see any evidence that theHolland America agent recommended travel insurance to you. He should have done that. More importantly,Holland America should have refunded your airline tickets. Under Department of Transportation rules, an airline mustautomatically refund

youwhen it cancelsaflight. It appears your airline haddone that but Holland America didn’tpass therefund alongtoyou Icontacted Holland America on your behalf. It agreed to refund $759 in airfare in addition to the $832 in taxes and port fees it had alreadyreturned. Unfortunately, you’re goingtolose the valueof your cruise. That’sanexpensive lesson that Iwishyou could have avoided.

Christopher Elliott is the founderofElliott Advocacy,a nonprofitorganizationthathelps consumers solvetheirproblems. Email himatchris@elliott.org or get help by contacting himon hissite.

ARTS &CULTURE

In installation,African people make way in strangenew world

what it is and what it always was.

Thenarrative of the current New OrleansMuseum of Art exhibit “Dawoud Bey:Elegy” follows the movement of Africans into and out of American enslavement. In large-scale black-andwhite landscape photos, Bey travels the Richmond, Virginia, Slave Trail, Louisiana plantations, and the final miles of the Underground Railroad in Ohio —astory thatfollows the enslaved peoples’ arrival intobondage, their forced agricultural labor,and then their perilous journey north to freedom.

Organized by Valerie Cassel Oliver, acurator at theVirginia Museum of Fine Arts, theexhibit also features two video pieces, and the eerie audio soundtrack of one—athree-screen color survey of slave cabins at the Evergreen Plantation in Edgard —continuously echoes through the galleries. The video and some of the plantation photos werepreviously part of Bey’sProspect.5 installation at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Areflection room in the middle of the exhibit offers an opportunity for visitors to recordtheir reaction to three prompts:

•How can the landscapehold memory or tell astory?

•Inwhat ways do you feel history is present?

•How does Bey’sworkencourageyou to reflect on the influences of history in our lives today?

Gottoget theimage

At apre-opening preview,Bey, aNew York native, Chicagoresident and MacArthur Fellow,said he tries to override his personal emotions when making pictures at the subject sites.

“The reason I’m there is very emotional,”hesaid. “That’s what drives me to make the work. But once I’m there, it’sapicture-making process.

“The emotional piece of it doesn’ttell you how to make anything. So, it’svery interesting becauseonce I’m there, I’m in problem-solving mode.

“All the context, all theinformation, the sense of place in history it’salready there. There’snothing

Ican dotomake it more there, but Ican makeitresonate more deeplyifIcan figure out how to describe it to you.”

Example: TheVirginia-shot

“Stony the Road” images that open theexhibitionmostly show an unpopulated foot trail leading through brushand trees.

“How do you give adimension, akind of description, to this narrow,constrained space and not make thesame picture over and

At

Tuesday, the museum, 1112 Chartres St will host “Faith, Family and Footprints: Tracing Pope LeoXIV’s Lineage through Colonial and Catholic Records,” featuring historians, genealogists, and archivists exploring the Creole and colonial ancestry of Robert Francis Prevost. More: oldursulineconventmuseum.com.

THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM: Ameet the author event will be held at 5:30 p.m. WednesdayfeaturingDavid Nasaw, author of “The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After WorldWar II.” The free event will be offered inperson and online. More:nationalww2museum.org

THE 1850 HOUSE: The museum, 523 St Ann St will host Charles Chamberlain for adiscussionofhis new

over?” he said. “It’sonly about from here to there, maybe 5feet wide.

“It’s really about being able to see very clearly what you might

book,“New Orleans: AConcise History of an Exceptional City,”at 5:30 p.m. Oct.28. More: friendsofthecabildo.org. THE NEW ORLEANS MUSEUMOFART: The museum will launch itsfall “Producer’s Choice” filmscreenings at 7p.m. Oct. 29. The film this time withbe 2002’s“Frida” and will be followed by adiscussion withdirectorJulie Taymor and seriesorganizer Meryl Poster. More: noma.org.

MUSEUM OF THE SOUTHERN JEWISH EXPERI-

ENCE: Author Brian Costello will deliver alecture titled “FromOld Roads to NewRoads: Early Jewish Life in Southeast Louisiana” at the museum 818 Howard Ave., at 6p.m. Oct. 30. The eventwill takeplace inperson and online.More: msje.org.

call the structural geometry of thelandscape, the shape of it, to really see it, and to use that to begin to shapethe pictures themselves, because the slave trail is

“And, of course, black and white material is the material of photography’spast rather than largescale and color,which is avery contemporary photographic form of representation. So, with the elimination of color,it’salready kind of pulling you back into the past. Whether you realize it or not as you’re standing there, it’sdoing that. So yeah, the emotional piece of it happens before I’mthere and after,but largely before.”

Wisdom sits in places

Brian Piper,NOMA’s curator of photographs, prints and drawings, pointed out that Bey’seyelevel positioning of the camera both registers the photographer’s presence in the photos and places viewers there, too.

“These are purposely uninhabited landscapes at first glance, right?” he said. “I think that Dawood’sown physical presence is implied, and that’spart of it. You’re meanttosort of think aboutthe photographerinthe landscape. Butalso, they’re alltaken from acertaineye level, so they’re also meant to have theviewerthink about, youknow, if they werein this place, this is what(they)might be seeing at this time. Anditcreates asort of sense of empathy, I think,tothinkabout theenslaved Africanstaken off of theboats in Richmond or enslaved African AmericansinLouisiana or seeking freedom on theway Canada

“I hope that ourlocal audiences really think aboutthe way that memoryresidesinthe landscape. There’saphrase that actually comes from Native American thought,thatwisdomsitsinplaces, andthatthe landscape bears not just evidencebut someofthe spirit of thepast andcarries that through history.I think that’sinsome ways avery beautiful thing but also a very sobering thing.”

Publishedbythe Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Aperture Foundation, the exhibit catalog can be purchased in NOMA’s Museum Shop and online at shop.noma.org. Dave Walker focusesonbehindthe-scenes coverage of the region’s manymuseums here and at www.themuseumgoer com. Email Dave at dwalkertp@ gmail.com.

Duo explores ‘America’s most haunted city’

BY RACHEL MIPRO

Contributing writer

New Orleans natives Rosary

O’Neill and Rory O’Neill Schmitt frequently collaborate on writing projects, often turning back to the Crescent City for inspiration The mother-daughter duo have just launched their latest book, “The Haunted Guide to New Orleans: Ghosts, Vampires, and Voodoo.”

Surrounded by ribbons and racks of fur coats in Yvonne LaFleur’s boutique ahead of a book signing, O’Neill and her daughter, Schmitt, talked about their experiences with New Orleans spirituality, veering off into stories of haunted restaurants, prayer methods to avoid ghosts and encounters they believe they’ve had with poltergeists.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length How did your interest in ghosts start?

Rory Schmitt: My house was haunted. My brother, my dad and I had a poltergeist experience. I was 8. My brother was probably 15. My dad was in his 40s. All of a sudden, the door flew open, and this running blur of energy ran through the living room where we were watching “Star Wars,” and through the dining room, through the laundry room, into the kitchen, we had these like Chinese paper lanterns They started all spinning, and we had a rubber duck that started spinning the spirit or the supernatural, whatever it was, left this black like rectangular, almost like an imprint of a stamp. We would try to wash it off, and then it would come back the next day

Rosary O’Neill: My personal beginning, I was raised a lot by my grandmother who lived in a spooky mansion on Carrollton and Sycamore, and she would tell ghost stories from Ireland And I developed a terror She was so terrified of ghosts that she would have three religious objects on her bedroom door, a crucifix, and then we said prayer to Our Lady in the closet, where there was an altar, before we even climbed in bed So there was this whole sense of that, that afterlife was really going to come out if we weren’t careful. We all slept with crucifixes, she had a drawer she pulled out, and we could choose the one we wanted So I think that the belief in ghosts is kind of an extension of the spirituality

in New Orleans, where people do believe in God and these and where there is belief there are messengers. Does that belief coexist for you?

Rosary O’Neill: I wouldn’t do the ghost book if I didn’t feel it would bring people closer to God. It’s not worth the terror

What do you want readers to know about the book?

Rory Schmitt: We wanted to include

a chapter on voodoo, not because voodoo is ghosts, but voodoos are about recognizing the ancestors of the departed. You know, the spirits who come to visit us during the ceremonies, and who we respect through altars and through prayers too, if you can intercede and help us. We want to honor them and always remember them. But I think remembering to always have some sort

of spiritual protection. It could be carrying a rosary It could be some gris-gris. It could be a shaman, it could be a crucifix, whatever it might be, just to be able to rely and also have a community of support. The scariest experience that I had, I called the Voodoo priestess.

Was this at your house?

Rory Schmitt: A relative’s basement I had a visitation of a ghost when I was sleeping, and I just felt very unsafe. And so I called the priestess I know

She just came in, she did all these different rituals of hers. She yelled, she did the corn meal, the ancient symbols on the floor… the space felt so much better It felt lighter and brighter Still feels like there’s something there, but sometimes there’s a negotiation with ghosts over territory

What would you say are the most haunted places in New Orleans?

Rosary O’Neill: St. Louis Cathedral, because they buried so many people in the floor I wouldn’t go there alone.

‘Gentilly’ details history of N.O. neighborhood as suburban plantation

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

“Gentilly:A New Orleans Plantation in the FrenchAtlanticWorld,1818-1851”by Na-

thalie Dessens andVirginia Meacham Gould, Louisiana State University Press,288 pages

I had long assumed that New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood earned its name from the area’s quiet, pastoral qualities. It sure is gentle up here, I’d say to myself, while driving past block after block of ample-lawned houses.

Nope. The name is actually a corruption of Chantilly that original appellation appears on old maps of the city — a northern suburb of Paris.

That story is told in a new book of the same name, the work of a pair of preeminent scholars of colonial Louisiana, Nathalie Dessens and Virginia Meacham Gould, who trace Gentilly’s early history as a suburban plantation through the letters of its longtime caretaker

The Dreux brothers

Gentilly’s colonial founding fathers were the Dreux brothers, Pierre and Mathurin, middle-class arrivistes from France’s Loire Valley region. Just a year after Bienville planted a flag in a bit of spongy soil that he would call New Orleans, the brothers purchased a long strip of mostly swamp-filled land stretching from the downriver town border up nearly a mile and a half to Bayou Sauvage, a former portage route now paved over by Gentilly Boulevard.

On the waterfront they built La Brasserie, a popular bakery-restaurant — in fact, then one of the only places in town to grab a bite and a beer that Marc-Antoine Caillot, one of New Orleans’s first chroniclers, lovingly described as having “the feel of an open-air Café in Paris where countless numbers of people go to have fun.”

On their property’s backend, the Dreuxs planted corn, pastured cattle and horses, and, according to the early historian Grace King, built a “style of stately independence” while maintaining “an attitude of aristocratic supremacy” over their Gentilly plantation. Their mini empire, located four and a half miles from the French Quarter, was entirely built on the backs of enslaved laborers. The institution of slavery would define the fortunes of Gentilly and the Dreux family for generations. Mathurin’s great-grandson Charles Didier Dreux would be the first Confederate field officer killed in the Civil War.

The plantation eventually passed to Louis Leufroy Dreux, whose widow, Marguerite Delmas, married Henri de Sainte-Gême, a French aristocrat who arrived in New Orleans in 1809, in time to serve as a major under Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. Soon after marrying Marguerite, he inherited the title of baron and a chateau in southwestern France.

In the early spring of 1818, Henri and Marguerite handed off the keys to Gentilly to 25-year-old Jean Baptiste Auvignac Dorville, who

served as the plantation’s manager for the next four decades.

Over those years, Dorville wrote 218 letters to the Sainte-Gême family, 54 of which are translated from the French, ponderously footnoted, and collected by Dessens and Gould (the original letters reside in the Historic New Orleans Collection’s archives).

Microscopic detail

Dorville’s correspondence will be of uneven interest to the general reader of local history, though will be invaluable to researchers of a more scholarly bent (if they’re not already familiar with HNOC’s collection or Dessens’s 2015 monograph, “Creole City,” which covers much of the same ground).

Documenting, often in microscopic detail, the inner workings

of the plantation, Dorville pays special attention to the enslaved persons living and laboring there. Their names flit in and out of his letters, as readers get to know them through the overseer’s omnipotent and often cruel eyes. They turn the Sainte-Gême property into a viable truck farm growing corn, rice and citrus, including a whopping 40,000 oranges in 1821. They herd poultry and cattle and eventually transform the farm into a full-fledged sugar plantation.

In 1824, they raze and rebuild the dilapidated plantation house into what Dorville deems an “elegant,” eight-roomed ”chateau.” They keep the plantation afloat during economic downturns and finance, with their blood, the earnings he sends abroad.

Dorville writes of their illnesses, pregnancies and deaths. He tells of his intimacy with the women’s reproductive cycles, of renting them out as wet nurses, of his own enslaved daughter, Irma.

He provides little news from the city for Sainte-Gême, beyond tidbits concerning other members of the plantation gentry He begs Henri to return, if only for a month Dorville’s pleas would go unheeded, as the letters back and forth grow more infrequent.

‘Gentilly lies heavy on me’

In 1850, he oversaw the selling of the plantation to John McDonough, who, dying shortly after, willed the property to the city of New Orleans. Dorville stayed on, perhaps unable to pull himself away leasing the plantation for another four

years. “Gentilly,” he would write to the Sainte-Gême family in 1855, “lies heavy on me.”

That year, he finally left, moving to a house he built on Esplanade in the Marigny He continued to handle the financial affairs of the Sainte-Gême family and tell them news from New Orleans.

“All the slave states are upside down and the question of disunion is already being discussed,” he wrote three days before the 1860 presidential election “How will this end? Only God knows.”

After the war, Dorville moved to a St. Bernard Parish farm, where he died in 1876, three years after posting his final letter to the SainteGêmes. Over the next half-century, the city drained and parceled out the old plantation property, carving out the Gentilly Terrace and Gentilly Gardens neighborhoods.

Following the McDonough purchase, the fates of the enslaved persons that lived on the plantation remain unknown.

Today, the exact location of the Sainte-Gême house also remains unknown. But its footprint is likely buried under the intersection of Gentilly Boulevard and Interstate 610, somewhere in the vicinity of a pair of Black-owned businesses a vegan restaurant named Original Thought and Afro Mart, a pan-Atlantic grocery opened by a Ghanaian immigrant — fitting resolutions, perhaps, to a story of a New Orleans plantation.

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

veteran. His face, astudy in character, is framed by dramatic, curly hair

Around his neck he wears arosary

Backstage, the space is filled with the boxes, costumesand setpieces one of atheater that opened more than100 years ago. In the gloom far above, over thepulleys and thecatwalks, loom massive oldcypressbeams.

Butwhatelseisupthere in the shadows?

Welcometothe dark side

Audiences might know thetheater as abustling place, filled with light and cheer,but the technical crew sees adifferentside …the dark side.

Working lateinto thenight,constructing sets on deadline ahead of opening, they sometimes notice movement and sounds. There are props and costumes that disappear,thenmaterialize somewhere else.

Grimsley recalls thespectatorhesaw sitting alone in thebalcony,watching the builders and wearing ajaunty captain’s hat.

When he looked again, theman had vanished.

Other workers withlonger tenure at Le Petit instantly recognized the description: He was aformer patron of thetheater, they said,someonewho years earlier had gonetowhatwas supposed to be his final restingplace. An apparition they called “TheCaptain ”

The ghosts seem to manifest that way —afigure noticed from the corner of the eye, rustlinginthe shadows or a sudden, icy draft.

Since he started withNORD’sTy Tracy drama troupeinhigh school, Grimsley has spenta lifetime working all over the country in nearly every aspect of theater,creatingfantasy realms through acting, set building and lighting. Acertain opennesstothe otherworldly seems to comewiththe territory.

“I’ve worked at Le Petit many times late at night,” Grimsley reflected. “My feelingisthat when you’re on this earth,you createalot of energy.And when you die, it takes time for that to dissipate. Somepeople die, and they don’tknow they’re dead. They stick around.”

Tragedyinthe courtyard

All theaters have their legends, their superstitions, their stories. There’s acertain “Scottish play” by William Shakespeare that cannot be mentioned by name in any theater,lest its ghosts andwitches cause mayhem

In the courtyard off Le Petit, old windows overlook afountain, tables and tropical plants. Butwhat else is looking on?

According to theater legend, abeautifulyoung woman in along white gown can sometimes be seen behind the glass, gazing plaintively down at the flagstones.Could it be theghost of a new bride, who inexplicably threw herself from the sill during her own wedding reception many years ago?

The shadowy corridors and rooms in a theatermay lend themselvestosurprise encounters. Grimsley recalls opening a doorbackstage once to be confrontedby adarkman in colonial-eraclothes who rushed straight at him —and through

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him. And then disappeared.

On another lonely night, ahuge mirror outside adressing room presented thetechnical director with aterrifying image. “Whatever Isaw scared the hell out of me,” he said. He started, shrank back, looked again. It was only his own reflection. Or was it?

Email Annette Siscoatasisco@ theadvocate.com. Do you have aquestionabout something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@theadvocate.com. Includeyourname, phone number andthe city where you live.

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art at the Farrington Smith Gallery on St. Claude Avenue on Saturday,Oct. 11. As usual, his paintings might be a touch controversial. Chances are, not everyone will appreciate his point of view.That’s the way Hoffacker’sshows always go. Hoffackeronce created an enormous portrait of convicted gangster and murderer Telly Hankton from thousands of spent pistol cartridges. He produced portraitsofother violent criminals in paint mixed with gunpowder.Hecreated sardonic paintings of assault rifles festooned with Carnival beads. Hoffacker’sart can be abit scary Even when hisworkisunquestionablycompassionate, it’sdiscomforting. Hoffacker spent years collecting the cardboard signsused by panhandlers to solicit money.He paid the streetcorner denizens for their tattered placards and asked permission to take their pictures. Later, he painted small oil portraits of every panhandler on their own signs. It wasn’tjust art. It was a devotion. When Hoffacker displayed his collection of portraits together,he achieved adecree of affinityand intimacy thatwas disconcerting to those of us who sometimes passa dollar out the widow to the curbsidepaupers, butusually just breeze on by.It was preciselywhatconceptual art ought to be.

Becoming acop

Hoffacker was born in SantaFe, NewMexico When he wasateen, his mom moved to Chalmette. It was the 1990s, Hoffacker was askateboarder,and the St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies weren’tterribly tolerant of skateboarders.

Hoffacker and pals were out zipping around the parking lot of aBlockbuster video store when patrol cars rolled up andstern warnings were issued. Most of the authoritiessoondeparted, but one conspicuously young officer hung back. It turned out that deputy Jonathan Burnette was aformer skateboard nut himself, with atattoo of skating star Tony Hawk on his arm. Burnette counseled the kids that if they just waited until the store was closed, there’d be nobody to complain and the passing patrol cars wouldkeep on passing. “Just walk around the block and come back later,” he told the skaters.

Little did Burnetteknow that he was making alife-altering impression on young Hoffacker. Afew yearslater, when Hoffacker appeared at the New Orleans Police Department Academy —wearing shoulder-length hair and flip-flops—tobegin his law enforcement training, it was because he’d been inspired

by the cool youngcop in the Blockbuster parkinglot

Fifteenyears later,Hoffacker said he waschewing the fat with an unfamiliar NOPD officer who’d transferred from St.Bernard to OrleansParish. Yep, it was Burnette, who once again exposed hisTonyHawk tattoo. Now,Hoffacker and Burnette arepartners, patrollingthe streetstogether like Starsky and Hutch, or something like that “I never saw myself being an inspiration,” Burnette said,laughing,inarecent interview

Upsand downs

Hoffacker has had agreat 21-year career in thedepartment,thoughit’sbeen marked by acouple of bumpsinthe road. He’d become ahomicide detective, but had to leavethat position afteraminor scandal.Hoffacker said he was examining apuddle of bloodfor bullet fragments when he was overheard making agrim quip that ended up going

public in the press.

“It was an awful joke,” he said. He laterbecamea sniper on theSWATteam, but had to give that up, when he began having epileptic seizures. Now,hebelieves, he’s found his perfect place. He likes to be around people. He’sahugger. He likes defying the public’sexpectations

of acop’sattitude.

Burnette, 55, saidthat though he hasnoartistic skills himself, he and Hoffackerhave asimilarfreespirited mentality.Their sharedphilosophy is that thejob “doesn’thave to be a bad time.”

Burnette saidthat he believes Hoffacker’sartistic outlook definitely influences his police work.

“As we allknow,”Burnette said,“traditionallypolice work has leaned to the right. Buthis artistic vision, his mindset is notwhatyou’d expect. He hasalot of compassion.

Horror andbeauty

Hoffacker studied art at Delgado CommunityCollege,where he developed adirect, unfussy brand of realism. With trepidation he took someofhis drawings to Barrister’sGallery on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, acrossroads of folk artists, young conceptualists and anyone too unruly to exhibit their workanywhere else.

Galleryowner Andy Antippas didn’tmind Hoffacker’s artistic edginess and welcomed him into the fold.

“He has aspecial sense of irony,”AntippassaidofHoffacker in arecent interview

“Things like an AK-47 with Mardi Gras beadsisa blend of the sense of horror and the beautiful that all of us are accustomedto,” Antippas said of life in New Orleans. “Weknowitfrom reading thenewspaper,but

he sees it.”

Adownside,Antippassaid, is that it’s very difficult to sell Hoffacker’sartwork.

“Nobody,Imean nobody,is going to buy it. The subject matter is really hard,” Antippas said.

Hoffacker regularly showed at Barrister’suntil thegallery closed in 2021. Now he’sfound anew home at Farrington Smith.

Ghostship

Hoffacker calls his new show “Ghost Ship,” which reflects the challenges of urban crimefighting in the era of calls for police defunding. Hisnew paintings include totem-like images of old-fashioned police patrol cars, blue toy robots and the knit ski masks often worn by criminals to hide their identity

The backgrounds of his paintings, Hoffacker pointed out, are as important as thesubjectmatter.Each painting is created atop a collage of incident report formsand the other sorts of documentation that fill apolice officer’sdays. In at least one piece there are subtle symbolic references to the NewYear’sDay terrorist attack on Bourbon Street.

But best of all are three large, loving portraits of female officers. The concept of these works is simple, as Hoffacker explains it.The uniform,hesaid, is pretty much allmost peoplesee. But there are unseen individuals behind the blue shirts. One of hiscolleagues is atraveler, bent on exploring the world. One is amother who puts her child before all things. One is,yes,a skateboarderwho loves to feel the wheels rumbling beneath her feet.

“The uniform is acostume,” Hoffacker said. In eachpainting, Hoffacker said, these police officers aredistinctindividuals, with personalitiesand interests beyond their chosen profession.Hoffacker’s portraits are apleafor us to see past the surface into the humanity beneath.

“Ghost Ship” opens with areception from6 p.m. to 9p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, and continues through Nov 2atFarringtonSmith Gallery,1924 St. Claude Ave. Email Doug MacCashat dmaccash@theadvocate. com.

years now,but Ithink of her each autumn when the leaves fall and Iembrace the change instead of fighting it.

I’m looking now beyond our dining room window, where afresh carpet of leaves dropped from our river birch and Drake elm overnight. I’m always surprised to discover each morning how muchmysterious work has unfolded outside while Islept, the flight of leaves and owls as silent as snowfall in the darkness.

Over coffee on the patio after sunrise, my wife and Isometimes see the leaves drop in real time alittle blizzard of brown, orange and red as squirrels scurry on the branches and shake things loose. The squirrel mind, I’ve found, dwells on insurrection, always hatching schemes of theft and assault. Ijust heard one as Iwrite this, its insistent scratch amplified by the roof gutter where it’s trying to build anest. I’mback at my keyboard after Itapped the eaves with abroomstick. My assailant just staged aclever retreat, though I’msure the little gremlin will return. Such is the newsfrom the front lines of fall in suburban Louisiana. Zelda would tell me not to sweat the small things and enjoy the turning of the year —something I’m trying to do as the days shorten and the calendar drops its final leaves. EmailDanny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.

Letgoofone-sided friendships

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

Dear Annie: Iamwriting about afriendshipthat has left me hurt and confused. My husband and Ihave known this couple for many years. He has been our friend for decades, and when he remarried, we welcomed his new wife with open arms. She and I became close quickly; we shopped together,met for coffee and had long phone conversations. But over time, she grew distant. Calls became shorter,texts turned into nothing but emojis and her

warmthseemed tofade. When we moved to Florida, instead ofbeing happy for us, she gave me thesilent treatment.Later,when we invitedthem to visit,things felt fine, but as soon as they left, she pulled away again. Thefinalstraw came when they offered to watch our house while we were away for amonth. They never came by once. Our plants died, the thermostat broke, and all Ireceived was abrief “sorry” and aheart emoji. It hurt, especially because we have always been generous with them, even giving away furniture when they needed it. Since then, she has admitted she is a“bad

texter,” but nothing has changed. Ihave tried to keep thefriendship alive, but Ifeel like Iamchasing someonewho no longer values me. She dismisses my feelings as if Iamholding agrudge over one incident,when in reality, this distance has been building for years. Am Iwrongtofeel so hurt? Should Iconfront her,write aletter or simply let this friendship go? I miss the person Ithought shewas, but Idonot recognize her anymore. —Confused Friend Dear Confused: Youhave given this friendship time, energy and generosity What you have received back is distance andhalf-

hearted replies.Ithurts, but it alsotells you all you need to know Friendship has to go both ways. Youcannot keep it alive alone, no matter how much history you share. She has shown you where shestands.The kindest thing you can do for yourselfnow is to stop chasing and focus on people who value your effort Sometimes closure comes not from aletter but from accepting what is.And as AnnLanders would say,itfeels wonderful when you stop banging your head against the wall. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.

‘LOVE’

blooms again in SculptureGarden forNOMAbenefit

BY VICTORANDREWS Staff writer

Dear Heloise: Iread with interest the letter from Margaret aboutreading and our children. Iknow we all have busy lives, but children and their education are very important Teaching them to sound out words and read is only the beginning. The American educational system actually begins in the home, with parents who devote time each day to helping their children learn basic reading and math skills. Every child should be able to read simplesentences and do simple math before they start kindergarten.

Remember this: Unless youhave the cure forcancer or the secrettoworld peace,you will never leave anything behind in this world moreimportant than your children. —A Retired Schoolteacher,inOhio

Dishwasher disaster

Dear Heloise: Isaw aletter where thereader mentioned dishwasherpods and that they were capableofcleaningfriedfoodsoff plates Iusedpods andfoundthat effluent wascoming out of the air gapvent on the sink, so Idismantled all the pipes underthe sink all the way to the outer drainpipe. Iwas shocked to find a glutinous material lining the pipes and restricting the effluent flow,causingitto

Parents need to back up teachers and start demanding more from their children. Don’taccept bad grades.Ifthere is aproblem at school, talk to the teachers and find out what it is. If the problemisbullying, demand that the bulliesbeexpelledfrom school.Ifyour child is the bully,don’tmake excuses for them.Instead, make it clearthat bullying is not allowed and take steps to stop them.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Oct. 19, the 292nd day of 2025. There are 73 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Oct. 19, 1987, the stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged508 points, or 22.6% in value (its largest daily percentage loss ever), to close at 1,738.74 on what came to be known as “Black Monday. Also on this date: In 1781, British troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, as the American Revolution nearedits end In 1977, the supersonic airliner Concorde made its first landing in New York City,flying from France, in three hours and 44 minutes

The flight marked the start of regular commercial Concorde service between Paris and New York.

In 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified MotherTeresa during aceremony in St. Peter’sSquare.Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity global order that attends to society’soutcasts, was elevated to sainthood in 2016 by Pope Francis. She died in 1997.

In 2005, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was put on trial by the Iraqi Interim Government, accused of crimes against humanity.Captured by U.S forces in 2003, Hussein was convicted, sentenced to death and executed by hanging in December 2006.

Today’sbirthdays: Artist Peter Max is 88. Actor John Lithgow is 80. Fox News host Steve Doocy is 69. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 65. Boxing HallofFamer Evander Holyfield is 63. Filmmaker Jon Favreau is 59. Former first daughter Amy Carter is 58. “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker is 56. Comedian Chris Kattan is 55. Filmmaker Jason Reitman is 48. Actor Gillian Jacobs is 43. Actor Rebecca Ferguson is 42.

back up intothe dishwasher Iusedscraper tools,scoured out the material, and found thatitwas plastic. It became apparent that the plastic pods would melt in the hot water from the dishwasher,but when the effluent was pumped out through the pipes, thewater rapidly cooled. The plastic, which was in suspension, thenreformulated at alower temperatureand clogged the pipe, which blocked the outflow

Iwrote to thecompany to advisethem of the problem, and Ireceived avery lawyerly and intimidating letter,claiming that their product was excellent and thattheydenied liability or responsibility

These pods are areal problem. If the plastic doesn’treformulate inside the house pipes, then it will reformulateinside the city system. We switched to granular detergent after I scoured the pipes, and I’ve had no problems since. It

might help your readers to know of this plastic pod problem. —A Reader,via email Africanviolettea time

Dear Heloise: In arecent column of yours,Iread the letter regarding how best to make African violetsflourish. Youmentioned using nails.

As achild, Irecall my mother being the queen of blooming African violets, and she seemed to have a magic touch. She would brew standard black teaand allow it to cool to room temperature in awide, shallow bowl. After placing theplastic potted plant in thebowl of tea, she’d let the roots soak for about 30 minutes She said African violetslike the acidity of the tea. We had ahousefull of beautiful purple flowers, and she gifted many to friends and family —Robert M., in Dana Point, California Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Aftera year hiatus, “LOVE in the Garden” returns to the NewOrleans Museum of Art, thefall outdoor fête at City Park.

Planned for Nov.7,the popular event will be held in theSydneyand Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden to raise funds for the museum. The sculpture garden’s Visionaries Galamarking its 20th anniversary was held instead of the LOVEfest in 2024. Organizers also opted for acooler date on thecalendarfor the al frescofun. It is usually held in September

Entertainment for the evening will including Where Y’acht, with food provided by local restaurants.

Ahighlight of the evening includes the Cocktail Challenge of love-inspired libations fromlocal mixologists, with prizes awarded from judges and the audiencevote.

The setting for the party features morethan 100 pieces on 12 acres sur-

rounding the museum, includingRobertIndiana’s iconic “LOVE” sculpture, part of thegardensince 2003.

“LOVE in the Garden offers the opportunity to come together to celebrate one of the city’smost importantculturaldestinations: NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden,”said Susan M. Taylor,NOMA’s director

The theme of the party will be “Light up the Night,”anod to thepresenting sponsors and museum supporters the Frischhertz family.Honorary chairs will be Ellen and StephenFrischhertz, Janet andJimmy Frischhertz, and Lori and Kevin Frischhertz.

“By ho noring the Frischhertz family as chairs of this year’sevent, we celebrate their longstanding history as generous benefactors to NOMA,” said Taylor Tickets start at $100. Visit noma.org.

Email Victor Andrewsat vandrews@theadvocate. com.

LOUISIANABAKES

Addpersonaltouch with homemade spiceblend

Olivia Regard

It is officially fall and while the cooler temperatures are abit delayed in their arrival, the pumpkin spice takeover is in full swing. From coffee to candles, pumpkin spice is everywhere. Though Iwill never be the kind of person whoruns out to get apumpkin spice latte on the first day of autumn, Idoenjoy the flavors and scents that arrive with the change of the season. Pumpkin spice is amain signifier of this transition, even more so than the browning leaves falling from the trees, and its curious blend of spices just feels like fall.

When Ibake cozy fall treats, Iuse homemade pumpkin spice instead of buying apre-made spice mix. Making your own pumpkin spice blend is easy and allows you to control the ratio of spices. Ilove the balance in the recipe below,but if cinnamon or ginger are your favorite,increase the amounts; and if a bit more kick from allspice and cloves is your aim, adjust accordingly to make it your own.

Once you land on ablend that you love, have fun adding it to hot drinks, cookies, pancakes, muffins or bread this fall. Use the pumpkin spice blend as a1:1 replacement for the spices in the recipe you are making. For example, if arecipe calls for 2teaspoons cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, substitute 21/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend. One of my favorite recipes for celebrating the

changing of theseasons andmaking my home smell like fall is this pumpkin spice coffee cake. The cake features pumpkin puree, abevyofwarm ground spices, apecan and oatbased streusel anda subtle Steen’ssyrup-infused glaze. The cakeismoist courtesy of pure pumpkinpuree and sour creamand,best of all —except foroat flour (which you can makeat home)—you likely have everythingonhandtowhip up afall treat whenever the craving hits.

PumpkinSpiceBlend

3tablespoons

1cup chopped pecans, toasted 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1tablespoon heavy cream

1tablespoon Steen’ssyrup (or pure maple syrup) 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Note: If youdonot have oat flour,make it. For this recipe, pulse 2cups of whole oats in afood processor until theoats resemble acoarse flour.Use as instructed for cake and crumb topping.

1. Heat theoven to 350 F. Grease a9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan withbutter

to have dentalcoverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-providedbenefits. Whenthose benefits end with retirement, payingdental billsout-of-pocketcan come as ashock, leading people to put off or even go without care. Simply put—without dental insurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage

2. Toast thepecans until fragrant, approximately 10 minutes. Let cool.

3. Make the crumb topping by whisking together 1cup oat flour,1cup light brown sugar,cinnamon and salt.Add cold, cubed butter and incorporate into the dry ingredientsusing your fingers or apastry blender

Continue mixing until the butter resembles peas and thestreusel forms large clumps. Stir in toasted pecans and chill in the fridge until ready to use.

4. To makethe cake, whisk together the remaining oat flour,all-purpose flour,baking powder,baking soda, pumpkin spice blend and salt.

5. In aseparate bowl, whisk together brownsugar,oil, and pumpkin puree. Add sour cream and whisk to combine until no lumps remain. Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next. Whisk in milk and vanilla.

6. Fold wetingredients

into dry ingredients until the batter is mostly smooth.

7. Pour the batter into the baking pan and cover with streusel topping.

8. Bake for55-60 minutes, until atoothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool.

9. Just prior to serving, makethe glaze by whisking together confectioners’ sugar,heavy cream, Steen’s (ormaple)syrup and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle generously over the crumb topping.

GAME DAYIS

BOOMING

Turnkeyservices, localvendorsand othercompanies aretapping into agrowing tailgating industry

BY IANNESALVOSA Staff writer

Sincethe 1990s,Kristineand art rumney have been tailgating in their rV nearthe LSuagcenter, where theyset up camp with their family and spend the day cooking, visiting and soaking up the atmosphere ahead of the showdown in death Valley. In recent years,they’ve noticed some changes. their game day outpost, one of dozens of rVslined up in LSu’sdesignated lot for mobile

homes and rVs, costs $1,000 per season. It used to be free. the crowds arebigger,too. and, others have noted,morecorporate logosare visible among the tents sprinkled across the campus.

“thirty years ago, there wasnone of this,”Kristine rumneysaid on the morning of the recent LSuvs. Southcarolina game, thoughshe’s notcomplaining. thechangeshave helped the university better manage the tailgates and cut down on some of thegameday hassle, she said.

as longtimefootballfanshave observed, tailgating has evolved, as ever-larger crowds gather forevermore spectacular game day experiences.Inthe process, what was traditionally adownhomeway forfamily and friends to get together before thegamehas become big business on many levels.

LSu —which sets the standard for tailgating in Louisiana and, many wouldargue,among division 1 schools in the ncaa—now licenses premium spots on campus to aturn-

keytailgate company that hasexclusive rights to setuplavish, pregame parties. the university also provides choice game dayreal estate to itscorporate partners, whoshell out six or seven figuresa year on licensing packages that allowthem to advertise as sponsors of LSuathletics. brandedtailgates, company executives say,are a waytoreach thousands of potential customers andentertaintop clients.

ä See TAILGATING, page 2E

Guests relax and watch agame at the Huey P. Hooligan’s tailgate party before LSU’s game against South Carolina at TigerStadium.

Colleges lend supporttoundergraduate entrepreneurs

“Students of this generation seean opportunity while they are young to takerisks and trytobuild something on their own.”

SHAFIN KHAN, vice president at theUniversity of NewOrleans Research and TechnologyFoundation

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

In 2022, Kat Lee and herroommate at Tulane University thought the geckos sharing an enclosure in their dorm room were both females. They didn’tlearnotherwise until they discoveredahappy family —mom,dad and two babies —living in the habitat afew weeks later Afterthe initial shock, Lee, who grew up around allsortsofexotic pets, came up with a solution with an

companions. By theend of the school year,she hadbred andsold10baby geckosfor$400 each, including a complete “starter kit” that included an enclosure andsupplies. Each transaction earned her atidy profit. After transferring from Tulane to thenursing program at Loyola University New Orleans at theend of herfreshmanyear, Lee has continued to grow her startupcompany, Katamaran ReptileRanch,now headquartered in her half of shotgun double near campus. Over the past 12

ä See COLLEGES, page 2E

wonLoyola University’s business pitch competition last month for the geckobreeding business she runs from her shotgun apartment in NewOrleans.

2E

Chef Jeremy Coco finishes boudin

balls at the P.G.A Tailgate before the LSU game against South Carolina at Tiger Stadium. Coco, an LSU alumnus, provides tailgate catering services, including on-site cooking dropping off meals at clients’ tents and delivering meals to fans’ homes

PHOTO By

STAFF

MICHAEL JOHNSON

TAILGATING

Continued from page 1E

Then, there are the vendors and small businesses that have long supplied game day necessities. For them, the growth of tailgating means increased sales that have multiplied noticeably in just a few years.

“LSU has a reputation for having one of the best tailgates in the entire country,” said Ben Price, director of partnership and business strategy for LSU Sports Properties, an independent company that handles licensing deals for the university “People come from all over to experience it. That presents tremendous business opportunities.”

‘Explosion in interest’

The changes in tailgating can be traced, in part, to the rise of social media, which has altered what fans expect from special events, whether football games, concerts or festivals. They want an Instagramworthy experience and an entire industry has sprung up to satisfy their demands.

At the same time, universities have become more sophisticated about monetizing college athletics and now have sports licensing divisions and companies that handle the business for them, like Playfly Sports, the Pennsylvania-based owner of LSU Sports Properties.

The confluence of factors can be seen in the way that tailgates have become bigger, splashier and more corporate.

“In the past five to 10 years, there has been an explosion in interest on the brand side for inclusion with college athletics at the highest level,” Price said “It’s not just about coming here on Saturday night. It’s a way of life.”

LSU, to be sure, isn’t the only university in the state where a cottage industry has sprung up around tailgate culture. Since Tulane University in New Orleans completed its Yulman Stadium on the Uptown campus in 2014, dozens of organizations pay a fee to set up tailgate tents on the main quad attracting hundreds of alumni and neighborhood fans every week during the season. Southern University has a robust

COLLEGES

Continued from page 1E

months, she has grossed roughly $30,000 by breeding and shipping the lizards nationwide.

As she’s worked to grow the business, Lee has received support from Loyola’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development, an 11-year-old initiative that’s been cranking up programming to meet rising student interest in all things entrepreneurial. She is far from the only one getting similar help Across the state, colleges and universities are cultivating student entrepreneurs and helping them launch successful startups through new and expanded entrepreneurship classes, on-campus business incubators and pitch competitions. The move comes as young people show a greater awareness of entrepreneurship than older generations and less interest in trying to climb the corporate ladder for the duration of their career

The internet and social media have fostered the growth of this trend by providing access to lowcost marketing, customer feedback, e-commerce and networking. Lee’s business, for instance, is powered the website MorphMarket, an “Etsy for reptiles” of sorts that connects buyers and sellers online.

Khan

“Students of this generation see an opportunity while they are young to take risks and try to build something on their own,” said Shafin Khan, a vice president at the University of New Orleans

and venerable tailgate tradition all its own at its north Baton Rouge campus, where food trucks and local vendors serve thousands of Jaguars fans. Tailgating is also a thing at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, where a dozen or so RVs line up on Friday nights before the game to get the party started early But LSU has taken it to a new level.

Beer please, bellhop

One of most obvious examples of the changing nature of tailgating is LSU’s 5-year-old partnership with Revelry an Arizona company with New Orleans ties that offers turnkey tailgate services. For roughly $14,000 a season, Revelry staff will set up a 10-foot by 20-foot tent with couches, tables, a big-screen TV, ice chests, coffee and a bellhop. When the party’s over, they’ll break everything down.

The company’s licensing agreement with LSU gives it exclusive rights to two key spots: the area outside of Patrick F. Taylor Hall on South Stadium Drive dubbed “The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce Tailgate District” and the area in front of Matherne’s market on Nicholson Drive dubbed “The Huddle.”

Matt Truax, a New Orleans native who founded the company in 2019 before selling it, said Revelry will do nearly 800 tailgates at LSU this season, which is nearly sold out.

“The Michigans and Penn States have big footprints, but in the SEC, the tailgating culture is just more electric,” said Truax, who now serves as Revelry’s vice president of events.

LSU’s contract with Revelry trickles down to other local business. The company partners exclusively with Acme Oyster House to provide food, if customers don’t want to bring their own. On game day the restaurant operates out of an external kitchen set up nearby to cook onsite and provide fresh food to their clients.

This season, Acme will fill more than 40 catering orders per game, which presents not only a revenue booster but a marketing opportunity, Acme interim CEO Monique Ricci said.

“This gets our boots on the ground with fans and shows them what we can do,” Ricci said.

Research and Technology Foundation, which runs some of the school’s entrepreneurship programming. “They want to leave their mark and that’s why there’s high demand at the competitions.”

From basketball to donuts

Lee’s fellow undergrad entrepreneurs at schools across Louisiana have set out to solve a wide range of problems.

During his freshman year at UNO in 2022, Andrew Bradford partnered with his friend Julien Bourgeois to take the top prize at the school’s inaugural StartupUNO pitch competition. Bradford and Bourgeois have since racked up about $70,000 in prize money for “Automatic,” their Apple Watch app that helps basketball players improve their performance by providing shot-by-shot analysis as they practice. The app, recently renamed Ball AI, has been downloaded 40,000 times.

What better way to brand?

While the footprint of LSU’s official turnkey tailgates through Revelry continue to grow — it’s up 40% since 2019, Price estimates so does the number of corporate tailgate parties hosted by official LSU partners, of which there are roughly 150.

This season, about 20 of them are throwing branded tailgates at choice spots on campus they secured through larger partnership deals that may also include stadium signage, social media and digital promotions. Blue Plate Mayonnaise and Powerade are among the companies handing out promotional tchotchke.

Law firm Jones Walker also throws corporate tailgates on campus. Since 2003, it has hosted a large pre-game gathering for its staff, clientele and their families outside the Manship School of Mass Communication The firm selects the

founded Breeze Shuttles in 2023 to provide safe and affordable latenight rides for students. The service began with golf carts and is expanding to add electric vehicles to its fleet.

Other student-led ventures include an online game to help children develop emotional intelligence; 3D-printed, biodegradable Mardi Gras beads; a tool to improve the efficiency of solar panels; and an app to help farmers manage their crops more efficiently

Some of the companies have a higher potential for growth than others.

“Pitch competitions teach you how to speak publicly and how business works,” Bradford said. “Engineering and computer science majors aren’t going to learn to write financial models, create a pitch deck or strengthen networking skills, but starting the business has given that to us for the rest of our lives.”

Tulane senior Dylan Murray is one of four co-founders of Exactics, a biotech startup that has raised $1.5 million from investors so far to help launch its first product, an at-home test that can confirm if a tick is infected with the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease, enabling early detection and treatment.

In Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Lafayette student Ethan Ly launched a mochi donut business “Domochi,” which offers an assortment of colorful, Instagramworthy treats in flavors that include beignet, matcha and Nutella. Social media marketing is a key to the venture’s growth. Loyola student Tristan Sariego

Last month, Tulane’s 2-year-old venture capital firm, Tulane Ventures, announced a $250,000 investment in the young company, which has contracted the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center to validate the effectiveness of its product.

“They have plans for developing future diagnostic tools,” said Kimberly Gramm, leader of the Tulane Innovation Institute. “Lyme disease is the first of many, and infectious diseases is one of Tulane’s areas of scientific focus.”

‘It’s how you take control’

The school leaders supporting these young entrepreneurs see the coursework and extracurricu-

biggest game each season this year it’s LSU vs. Texas A&M — to host festivities that allow them to connect with clients outside of the office.

“Many of our clients are LSU related and LSU fans, and so it provides them an opportunity to tailgate and to interface with them in a very informal and fun environment,” Brandon Black, head of the firm’s Baton Rouge office, said.

At the annual tailgates, which attract up to 800 attendees, the firm gives out branded merch like buttons and cup koozies with Jones Walker, LSU and opposing team branding. It also hosts tailgates at Ole Miss and Texas A&M for their Mississippi and Texas offices.

“It’s definitely a signature event that our clients look forward to every year,” Chief Marketing Officer Kim Perret said.

Local vendor buy-in

For local businesses, the oppor-

lar programming as a way to enhance learning in all departments.

“We’re giving students across all disciplines different tools to identify problems, analyze markets and pitch their solutions through new courses, mentorship programs and campus-wide competitions,” said Gramm.

The ultimate goal, she added, is to see more companies launched in New Orleans that create jobs and keep more talented graduates in the local community

Changes at Tulane and elsewhere reflect efforts to achieve that goal.

Tulane’s Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation debuted in 2017, and the school’s minor in entrepreneurship became available five years later Separately, Tulane’s Innovation Institute launched in 2022 to help students, faculty and community members turn ideas into businesses.

The same year, UNO launched its StartupUNO pitch competition.

Xavier University of Louisiana established its Entrepreneurship Institute in 2023. LSU launched its major in entrepreneurship four years ago and hosts multiple pitch competitions and other similar programs across all disciplines.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe has a long-running event that attracts applicants from around the state. UL at Lafayette debuted its “Inneaux-vate” pitch competition six years ago and has seen growing interest.

“We had 83 students submit applications this year, which is crazy,” said Jonathan Shirley a program manager at UL’s entre-

tunities to capitalize on the tailgate craze are endless. Chef Jeremy Coco, an LSU alumnus, provides tailgate catering services, including on-site cooking, dropping off meals at clients’ tents and delivering meals to fans’ homes. His business focuses on year-round meal delivery, but tailgate catering rakes in high rewards. Each football season generates about $20,000 to $30,000 in revenue

The demand for nicer, more comfortable tailgates is also opening doors for companies that, initially didn’t have anything to do with tailgating. Sondra Richard founded Adventure Rent A Camper several years ago to provide furnished RVs for campers or those in need of temporary housing. Soon after launching, she received calls from clients interested in renting a camper for tailgating. Now, tailgates make up at least half of her rentals.

“It’s kind of like going to your nearest hotel,” she said. “You just check in, and everything is there.”

Smaller businesses are also benefitting from recent trends. Jamilla Barnes, who runs Carnival Concessions food truck with her siblings Deanna Branch and Eddie Bynog Jr., started selling funnel cakes and crawfish nachos at fairs and festivals in 2014. In 2022, the siblings, all Southern graduates, started vending at Southern tailgates to be a part of its “electric atmosphere.”

Tailgates now make up 25% of their sales, and Grambling State University has reached out to them to start serving at their tailgates. Barnes said Carnival is game for it. Football fans are always looking for convenient food at tailgates, she said. “And not everybody can pack up a grill or have an RV or a tent.”

Email Ianne Salvosa at ianne salvosa@theadvocate.com.

preneurship center. “That’s about double what we had last time.” Earlier this year, Tulane hosted a training program for faculty to help them find ways to embed innovation and entrepreneurship into their classes. The school also has created the Startup Strategy Lab for undergraduates, and the Tulane Innovation Institute has partnered with the Young Entrepreneurship Academy to provide an after-school program for high schoolers.

Loyola hosts the annual Wolf Pack LaunchU pitch competition, which Lee won last month, along with the 4-year-old Side Hustle Expo, which is a combination of a pop-up market and science fair

“Our goal is to help students survive off of their passions,” said Sam McCabe, director of the school’s entrepreneurship center Taking the goal a step further, Loyola began hosting New Orleans Entrepreneur Week last year The multiday event originally created by the Idea Village now connects undergrads with founders, investors and entrepreneurial support organizations from around the region.

To Shirley, this type of programming is about more than developing business skills.

“It’s a philosophy for life,” he said. “It’s how you take control and do what you want to do. That mentality is something more universities are looking to weave into their curriculum because it’s a skillset that transcends whatever job you might go get.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Lafayette could be a major hub for the drone industry

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

Lafayette, of all places, could be-

come a major player in the drone industry

Earlier this month, global drone manufacturer DMR Technologies announced it will house its manufacturing base in Lafayette, where it will employ more than 500 people and build its Field Ranger X50. The 10-foot by 10-foot device can weigh 220 pounds when its 13-gallon tank is full and fly for nine minutes on a fully charged battery

The announcement was the latest of several by drone companies that are setting up shop in the Acadiana area, spawning a new industry sector in the process. Others include logistics company Blueflite and services company FlyGuys.

Bruce Bosworth is among the local players in this emerging field, which has the potential to alter the way many businesses in operate in the decades to come. He spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy before founding SoLa Drones, based in Scott, in 2023 with his son Jack.

SoLA Drones is now partnering with DMR on its Louisiana venture. In this week’s Talking Business, the Bosworths discuss their relationship with DMR why the drone industry can do well in Lafayette and the company’s plans for the old Reptile Tannery of Louisiana building

This interview has been edited for clarity Tell me about the X50 and how it can be used. What makes this model unique?

Bruce: It’s designed for a number of things but primarily herbicides or pesticides for agricultural purposes. So if you have rice, sugar cane, soybeans — all those crops we have in Louisiana — it does a great job. We’ve got a couple of these right now that are being used for sugar cane. The first results are coming back from the sugar mills right

now, and they’re very positive, well above the mill average. And this replaces the traditional human pilot spraying acres of crops from the air?

Q&A WITH BRUCE BOSWORTH AND JACK BOSWORTH

Bruce: Obviously it doesn’t have the capacity of an airplane. However, for safety purposes, there’s no risk. It’s well-defined within a small area It doesn’t make any loud noise. It’s not flying over tree lines or near power lines. If we do get close, it’s got an obstacle avoidance radar so you can very safely navigate lines and power lines and get much, much closer than you can with an airplane. You can cover much more of that field precisely DMR has a global footprint but is expanding into the U.S. market.You all are a young company. How did the two of you get connected?

Jack: They originally reached out to us as they were entering the U.S. market. We came aboard originally as dealers and distributors for them, but as the market changed and drones — (global drone leader) DJI specifically — became more difficult to get, we explored different opportunities to partner with them We realized with onshoring, distribution, manufacturing and assembly, there was a huge potential there. We worked with some partners to kind of put that together here. What role is Lafayette going to play in the production? And why is this area key to its future?

Bruce: Lafayette is going to be their flagship facility for assembly and manufacturing, and the other locations Kentucky Alabama, Michigan — are going to remain as distribution and sale partners. Manufacturing will be here. It’s

just Louisiana and the pro-business climate that we have. And the Gulf South region and the climate yearround (works) for the ag spraying. We’re the nation’s leader in sugar cane and No. 2 in rice. It just made sense that it start somewhere that’s got a great city, great infrastructure and close proximity to agriculture.

You were in the Navy for 22 years. How did you transition into this industry and find a niche so quickly?

Bruce: I grew up in Fort Worth, did a full career and retired from the military and moved back to Lafayette. I always wanted to have my own business, and we were interested in drones. With the proximity to agriculture and what was going on, we recognized that spray drones were coming on board. So we taught ourselves how to do that and fly it. That led to Jack joining me, and he was like, let’s figure out

where we can take this. This represents a neat opportunity for us to grow as a business and a partnership with a more established and larger group.

What’s next in this process? When will the first X50 roll out of the Lafayette facility?

Bruce: We’ll get the first

or two dozen

hires to

with the assembly and manufacturing piece, starting with the X50. Then we’ll add in more fabrication and manufacturing capability By the end of 2027, we should be fully up and running on some of those different product lines. But the next three months, we’re really focused on establishing and renovating this facility The first quarter next year is when we’ll start pushing products out the door Hopefully as early as January

Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

El Guapo, the New Orleans-based producer of nonalcoholic cocktail bitters and syrups, is a familiar sight in high-end restaurants, bars and shops. Now two of the company’s products will be available on the shelves of Walmart, the country’s biggest retailer

The move comes after El Guapo CEO Christa Cotton successfully competed against 500 entrepreneurs earlier this month in the 12th annual Open Call event at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she snagged one of the retail giant’s coveted “golden tickets.” The prize entitles her to sell El Guapo’s canned Bitters & Soda and other products on Walmart shelves and in online marketplaces.

Cotton is hopeful the new deal will allow her to expand operations at El Guapo’s Mid-City manufacturing facility

“Scaling at this level is no joke,”

Cotton said. “This is an opportunity that can affect real change if we can execute and do it well.”

In 2017, Cotton began brewing the all-natural bitters and syrups that are used to build flavorful cocktails in the same way spices are used to season a meal Bitters are made by blending ground roots, berries, barks, peels and other ingredients into a liquid base. Syrups, made from sugar, water and added flavors, add a touch of sweetness to drinks.

El Guapo is known for getting creative with its bitters flavor combinations, which include chicory pecan, cucumber lavender and even “crawfish boil.”

During the pandemic, the company survived by growing its online business, supplying ingredients to customers who wanted to make high-end cocktails at home. Then, in 2022, after raising more than $1 million from the Gulf South Angels, the New Orleans Startup Fund and other investors, the company moved from a 3,000-square-foot manufacturing

AROUND THE REGION

“Scaling at this level is no joke. This is an opportunity that can affect real change if we can execute and do it well.”

facility on Tchoupitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans to its current 36,000-square-foot space near Norman C. Francis Parkway and Tulane Avenue, where about 20 employees help manufacture, package and ship products. Before the Walmart deal, the company had about 5,000 commercial customers, including the wellknown retailers World Market and Crate & Barrel. Now the company’s growth potential is unlimited, though a golden ticket doesn’t guarantee success. On the contrary, the com-

CHRISTA COTTON, El Guapo CEO

pany will have to prove it can meet Walmart’s expectations for large, timely shipments. Cotton said the number of Walmart locations that will sell El Guapo is initially contingent on production capacity and how fast the brand can ramp up, though the goal “is to grow into nationwide shelf space.”

For now, Walmart will sell several variations of El Guapo’s canned bitters and soda products, which Cotton describes as an alternative to sparkling waters and sweetened carbonated drinks. The Love Potion flavor includes chamomile,

hibiscus and orange blossoms combined with rose, jasmine and lavender Cucumber Lavender is complemented with citrus and mint.

“People want a nonalcoholic beverage that doesn’t taste like juice,” Cotton said. “And research shows that women hate the term ‘mocktail,’ so we refuse to use that in our marketing. It’s an elevated adult beverage.”

Challenges and opportunities El Guapo will join dozens of other Louisiana products to grace

Walmart shelves. Other homegrown foods include Reily Foods Co.’s Luzianne Tea, French Market Coffee and Blue Plate Mayonnaise, among others; Baton Rouge-based Hanley’s Foods salad dressings; and Louisiana Fish Fry Products, also of Baton Rouge.

Food manufacturers have said landing big deals with national retailers like Walmart and Amazon can be game changers, exposing national shoppers to local brands and increasing demand for local products. Executing on such contracts, however, ups the pressure on small companies and requires adequate capital, manufacturing and distribution capabilities and lots of planning.

Cotton is aware of the challenges ahead and is excited about them. She said she will share more details about exactly how many stores El Guapo will initially appear and which specific products they will carry in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, she credits Greater New Orleans Inc the regional economic development nonprofit, for bringing the opportunity to her attention and encouraging her to apply GNO Inc. hosted a Road to Open Call event in June at The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown New Orleans where she was one of dozens of businesses that pitched their products.

Overall, thousands of consumerpackaged goods companies applied to participate in the national competition this year Of the 500 or so who were invited to pitch in Arkansas, fewer than 200 earned the right to sell their products on Walmart shelves.

“It was an amazing experience,” Cotton said. “I left with a totally different impression of Walmart. The camaraderie and culture there is really strong. They are making an effort to support small brands and help then scale on a national level.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

NATION & WORLD

Buildings adopting ice batteries for cooling

Sustainable air conditioning technology gains traction

BY ISABELLA O’MALLEY Associated Press

Every night, some 74,000 gallons of water are frozen at Norton

Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky The hospital used to get all of its air conditioning from a conventional system found in most U.S. buildings, but now, 27 tanks of ice sustain a network of cold-water pipes keeping operating rooms at safe temperatures and patients comfortable.

This type of thermal energy storage, also known as ice batteries, is being added to buildings in the U.S. for its ability to provide cool air without releasing planet-warming emissions. These systems cut electricity usage and lower the strain on the grid With rising temperatures and the growing demand for electricity in the U.S., ice thermal energy storage offers a sustainable option for cooling buildings.

Trane Technologies, a company that makes heating and cooling equipment, says it has seen a growing demand for this technology over the past few years. Its ice batteries are mostly used in schools as well as commercial and government buildings. Nostromo Energy, another company that makes ice batteries, is pursuing customers among energy-intensive data centers that have high cooling demands. Smaller systems are also made for homes by companies such as Ice Energy. Ice thermal energy storage tech-

ergy Some commercial buildings use lithium batteries, which can store excess solar or wind energy that are available intermittently

Dustin Mulvaney, environmental studies professor at San Jose State University, said ice batteries are a sensible option for health care settings and senior homes because lithium batteries can pose a fire risk.

Manufacturers also see opportunities in data centers, which are increasing in number to support artificial intelligence and have high energy and cooling needs. A December report from the Department of Energy found that data centers consumed more than 4% of the electricity in the country in 2023 and that number could grow up to 12% by 2028.

With rising temperatures and the growing demand for electricity in the U.S., ice thermal energy storage offers a sustainable option for cooling buildings.

nology varies between manufacturers, but each follows a similar concept: At night when electricity from the grid is at its cheapest, water is frozen into ice that thaws the next day to cool the building. The ice chills water that is circulating through pipes in the building, absorbing heat from the rooms and creating a cooling effect. Air cooled by the system is then pushed through vents.

Norton Audubon uses a Trane ice battery system. Trane said its ice batteries are often used alongside traditional air conditioning, and the ice-based cooling is used to lower energy

costs during peak demand times. The traditional AC components are typically left in place or downsized when ice batteries are added.

The stored ice doesn’t require energy to thaw which reduces the strain on the grid and minimizes the building’s electricity usage, ultimately lowering monthly bills.

“Storing energy for further uses is where we’re going with the future of the grid,” said Ted Tiffany, senior technical lead at the Building Decarbonization Coalition He said access to air conditioning is a major public health need that is being exacerbated by a warming planet, and ice batteries are a sustainable way to address health risks associated with extreme heat.

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Energy costs at Norton Audubon were $278,000 lower for the first year the ice battery system was in operation after it was installed 2018. The hospital estimates that the system and other energy-saving measures have saved it nearly $4 million since 2016.

“The technology has been awesome for us,” said Anthony Mathis, a Norton Healthcare executive who oversees sustainability He said he receives inquiries from other building operators about the technology and thinks more facilities will adopt it as awareness grows.

Experts on sustainable energy say ice thermal energy storage is among the options commercial buildings can use to reduce electricity demand or store excess en-

“Data centers are very energyhungry and about 30% to 40% of their energy use is for cooling. That’s where a solution like ours could really help,” said Yoram Ashery, CEO of Nostromo Energy Nostromo Energy said it is discussing deals to install its systems with several large data center operators, but declined to provide further details. Its ice battery technology is also used at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California. California is the biggest market for this technology because the grid there uses a lot of solar power during the day but switches to polluting energy sources such as natural gas after the sun sets. Ice batteries can be used for air conditioning in the late afternoon and evening instead of drawing from the grid.

“A lot of utilities are really interested in this type of load-shifting technology,” said Joe Raasch, chief operating officer at Ice Energy, another ice thermal energy storage company He said summer is typically the most expensive time for utilities to operate because of the air conditioning demand.

“It’s really great technology that the grid really needs because so much of the future electric load is driven by cooling,” Raasch said.

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AIALouisiana’s Design Awards laud architects,projects

Staff report

The transformation of a 200-year-old cottage into a museum, aproject to put a performance pavilion in a public park and therenovation of aRomanesque university hall were all recognized recently by the Louisiana chapter of theAmerican Institute of Architects.

The 2025 AIA LA Design Awards were presented at the annual AIA Louisiana Conference of Architecture in Lake Charles.

Judges selectedsix Merit Awards, twoHonor Awards and one Members’ Choice Award out of 62 entries reviewed by ajury of nationally recognized architects

Winners included five firms based in New Orleans, one based in BatonRouge and from Lafayette. Apair of New Orleans-based architects also came away with individual awards.

n RHH Architecture, of Baton Rouge, won the Members’ Choice Award for The Retreat at Quarters Lake, a grief and bereavement care facility arranged in aprotective configuration. Anchored by abutterfly garden at its center,the inward-facing

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design and pitched roofs help deflect sound and bring natural light into atranquil setting. The winnerofthe Members’ ChoiceAward is voted on by allofAIA Louisiana’s membership n Trapolin-Peer Architects, of NewOrleans,received an Honor Awardfor therenovation andexpansionof Richardson Memorial Hall at theTulane School of Architecture. Theproject reorganizeddisjointedprogram spaces by linkingthe original 1909 structure to amodern additionwith anew entry,re-

located offices and expanded labs. Jurors praised the “striking interplay between old and new” and suggested every space there “reflects thoughtful contrast and cohesion.”

n SO Studio, of Lafayette, was honored withaMerit Awardfor the CarencroWelcome Centerand Museum The project involved restoring a200-year-old Acadian cottage, adding afreestandingbathroom facility in the process. Judges noted the preservation of original architectural, describing the

contemporary addition “a perfect youngersibling to the historic building.”

n AQ Studios, of New Orleans, was awardeda Merit Award for its work on 34 Restaurant &Bar,which was transformed from adirt-floor warehouse into aEmeril Lagasse’s newest restaurant The Portugueserestaurant’s design features a“wooden cocoon” entrance tunnel leadingtoamoody,layered interior of quartzite,wood, brass and an open-fire grill.

n Bell Butler Design &Architecture, of New Orleans,earned

aMerit Award for Birkdale Concierge in Huntersville, NorthCarolina. The minimalist pavilion anchors an outdoor plaza and includes apronounced roof line and a stage for events.

n Holly &Smith Architects, of Hammond, was awarded a Merit Award for its work on the Nunez Community CollegeStudent Testingand Career Counseling Center in Chalmette. Judgesdescribed the new campus building as “very handsome,” featuring metal panels with restrained and elegant colors and aharmonious compositionofindoor and outdoor spaces.

n NANO, of NewOrleans, received aMerit Award for itsdesign of Octavia Books +Scrambled Café,which mergesapostmodernbuildingand ahistoriccorner store in the West Riverside neighborhood. The project features pivoting bookcases, preserved brick walls and a woodacoustic ceiling, with judges praising how “took advantage of ahistoric building with hidden character by exposing it and integrating a modern aesthetic.”

n Trahan Architects, of New Orleans, received aMerit Award forthe Performance

Pavilion at LutherGeorge ParkinSpringdale,Arkansas. Inspired by the rolling Ozarkhills,the sculptural structure frames views across the site while doubling as astage and shade canopy.Judges described it as “unique in its design and innovative in construction.” n Mark Heck,principalof Studio%5ERISE in NewOrleans, receivedthe Emerging Professional Award for his state-level leadership in the field of architecture. Heck was AIA Louisiana’s 2024 board president, aiding in the passage of legislation limiting theabilityfor civil engineers to practice architecture. Heck has previously served on the boards of AIA New Orleansand the LouisianaArchitectureFoundation.

n CarolineGarfield,anintern architect with EskewDumezRipple in New Orleans, received the Louisiana Associates Professional Achievement Award. The co-chair of theAIA NewOrleansCommittee on the Environment, Garfield has led education and advocacy efforts around sustainability,stormwater management, healthy materials and affordable housing.

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Bankruptcy basics

If youfollowcompanies in the news, you’ll occasionally hear of onethatmight or didfile for bankruptcy protection. In 2024 alone, BowFlex, Red Lobster,SpiritAirlines, TGIFridays, Tupperware Brands andTrue Value allfiled for Chapter 11. It’sgood to understand what that meansand howit works.

Abusiness filing for bankruptcy protectionisfacing serious problems, such as notenough money coming in to cover obligations. If it filesfor Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, it will be permitted to keep operating while reorganizing itself.Some such companies

—suchasGeneral Motors and American Airlines —successfully turn their businesses around. Others, though, fail to recover —and may end up in Chapter 7, where they’ll have to liquidate assets to paycreditors.

In Chapter 11, abusiness holds on to its assets, though it’srequiredtofile areorganization planwith the bankruptcy court. Any creditors in line to receive less than all they’re owed can vote on the matter.After the vote, the court can accept or reject the plan. So the company does have some flexibility,but if it offers creditors too little, its plan may notbeapproved.

Sinceadistressed business is often unable to pay all debts in full, those creditors sometimes accept partialrepayment —which may include stock in the new,reorga-

nized company Here’sanimportant point: A reorganized public company usually emerges from bankruptcy protection with new shares of stock, leaving former holders of its commonstock with shares that are now worthless. Holders of preferred stock mayreceive some payment, but preferred shareholders’ place in line is behind debt holders (like banks), trustees, employees, tax agencies and merchant creditors. It’sbest to avoid investing in any companies that have filed for or are reportedly near bankruptcy —and to consider selling any shares you own, as they mayend up worthless. Even if acompany emerges and thrives, it will usually be as anew entity with different shares. It’ssafer to stick with healthy and growing businesses.

BY THE NUMBERS

Foreclosure rates on the rise in south Louisiana

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Foreclosure filings surged across south Louisiana during the first half of the year with double-digit increases recorded in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette metro areas.

Across the state, 45 of 64 parishes had an increase in the number of residential foreclosure filings for the first six months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to Attom Data, a national research firm that aggregates foreclosure and property sale data from 3,000 counties and parishes around the U.S. Orleans Parish had the largest number of residential foreclosure filings in the first half of the year — 434, a 36% increase over last year In Jefferson Parish, which has a larger population than Orleans but fewer housing units, the number of filings rose 50% to 184 from 123 last year St. Tammany Parish had 230 filings, a 22% increase over 2024, while East Baton Rouge Parish logged 233, an increase of 24% The rate of increase was smaller in Lafayette and Livingston parishes, where the number of foreclosed properties rose by just 18% and 8.5%, respectively Attom Data’s foreclosure market report compiles the total number of housing units with notices of default, scheduled auctions and completed bank repossessions.

with other states, Louisiana, overall, had a slightly higher than average increase in foreclosure filings during the first half of this year Some real estate brokers attribute the rise to the fact that some homeowners overextended during the pandemic-era buying frenzy of 2020-21 and are now getting squeezed by escalating insurance premiums and declining property values.

Real estate brokers say they’ve noticed the uptick in foreclosure activity and aren’t surprised by the data. They attribute the rise, in part, to the fact that some homeowners overextended during the pandemic-era buying frenzy of 202021 and are now getting squeezed by escalating insurance premiums and declining property values.

states, Louisiana, overall, had a slightly higher than average increase in foreclosure filings during the first half of this year, with the number of filings up 24% compared with the same period last year

economy here in Louisiana,” said Jeffrey Furniss a Baton Rouge broker with Coldwell Banker One, who specializes in foreclosure sales. “It’s going on everywhere.”

slowing for the past 18 months or two years,” he said. “But I am not seeing a lot of other data that makes me concerned. Something to watch, yes. But not worried yet.”

cally seeing is that we didn’t have any foreclosures for almost four years,” Furniss said. “Foreclosure activity just stopped after COVID. Now we’re kind of getting back to normal.”

“When there is a sharp escalation in the insurance rates, the amount homeowners (with a mortgage) have to put into escrow goes up and that can price people out of what they can afford,” said David Favret, regional vice president for Louisiana and Mississippi with Compass. “So, we’re definitely seeing an increase, though it’s a small increase.”

Compared with other

The trend has continued through the third quarter In September, 1 out of every 4,700 homes in Louisiana was in foreclosure, which landed the state 21st out of the 50 states in terms of the number of filings, or, roughly, the middle of the pack. Florida, where the rate of foreclosure filings is roughly twice that of Louisiana, topped the list. South Dakota came in last.

“This isn’t unique to our

Gary Wagner, an economist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said the uptick can be traced, more broadly, to a slowdown in the economy across the country He points to other economic indicators that also are inching up — higher default rates on credit cards and auto loans.

But he doesn’t think there is “any reason to sound the alarm bells.”

“This is consistent with an economy that has been

For a bit of context, Wagner and others point out that while foreclosure filings are up and continuing to climb, they are nowhere near the highs of the mortgage banking crisis that triggered the Great Recession in 2008 and sent foreclosure rates skyrocketing in 2009-11. At the end of September, a little more than 100,000 homes across the U.S. were in foreclosure In 2009 more than 900,000 were.

“In terms of the rate of increase, what you are basi-

While Louisiana’s foreclosure rate is more or less in line with national trends, the state leads the nation in one regard: the length of time it takes to complete a foreclosure. Statistics show it takes an average of about 3,600 days nearly a decade —to complete a foreclosure once it is filed. In Texas, by comparison, it takes less than six months. Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@ theadvocate.com.

The Louisiana MenhadenIndustry: An Economic Engine for Coastal Communities

Thisarticle is brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFishing Coalition LLC

Formorethan acentury,Louisiana’s commercial menhaden fishery has been apillar of the state’s coastal economy, providing stable jobs,sustaining businesses, and fuelingessential industriesworldwide. From the Gulf waters to global markets,menhaden fishing supports communities and industries thatrely on its valuable marine ingredients–fish mealand fish oil –for aquaculture, petfood, and human nutrition.

Leading the industry,OmegaProtein andits fishing partner Ocean Harvesters, along with Daybrook Fisheries and its fishing partner Westbank Fishing, operate one of the largest and most productive fisheries in America. Theirwork transforms Gulf menhaden into highvalue products thatdriveinnovation and sustainabilityacrossmultiple industries

AVital Industry for Louisiana

More than fishing, the menhaden industry drives the economyand supports communities:

•$419M annual economic output

•2,000+ direct &indirect jobs

•$25M in state &local taxes

•$50K+ annual wageswith benefits

Thesewell-paying jobs,particularly in rural areas,sustain Louisiana’sworking coast through multiple generations.Ina state wherecommercial fishing is deeply

woven intoour culture, themenhaden industry ensures thateconomic opportunityremains arealityfor coastal families

Regional Economic Impact Together,OmegaProtein and Ocean Harvestersgenerate well over$100 million in economic activityannually, benefiting Vermilion Parish and surrounding areas.With aworkforce of morethan 260direct and skilled employees,thesecompanies provide stable,high-wage jobs,offering more than $21 million in annual payroll and benefits –making them among thelargest and highest-paying employers in theregion. Likewise, Westbank Fishing, aLouisianabased, U.S.-owned company, plays avital role inPlaquemines Parish, with all its catchprocessed locally at Daybrook Fisheries in Empire, LA. Together,these operations support over400 employees, making itthe largest employerinsouthern Plaquemines Parish.In 2023, total employee compensation, including wages, bonuses,and benefits, reached $36.5 million,

underscoring the industry’s critical economic role in theregion.

Statewide, the Louisiana menhaden industry procures goods valued at over $62.4millionfrombusinessesin32 parishes.Beyond its coreoperations in Plaquemines ($11.4million) and Vermilion($7.4 million) parishes, significantindustry-relatedexpenditures

flowinto: JeffersonParish ($6.4 million), Terrebonne Parish ($6 million), Lafayette Parish ($5.9 million), Orleans Parish ($3.7 million), East BatonRouge Parish ($3.5 million) and Lafourche Parish ($3.2 million), among others

Additional parishes benefiting from over $1 millionin industry-driven spending include St.Mary,St. Martin, Calcasieu, Iberia,St. Tammanyand St.John the Baptist.Many othersreceive between $500,000 to $1 million, reinforcing howthe menhaden industry fuels localeconomies farbeyond coastal fishing communities

This widespread economic footprintin Louisiana underscores the industry’s vital role in creating jobs supporting small businesses, and

sustaining Louisiana’sworking coast statewide.

CommitmenttoSustainability and Innovation

When the Louisiana menhaden industry thrives,sodoour coastal communities.Weare committedto both economic growth and responsible stewardship of our unique coastal environment. Our work supports:

•A science-driven approach to fisheries management, ensuring responsibleharvest levels and minimal environmental impact

•Long-term jobstabilityfor generations of fishing families

•Innovation in marine ingredient production to improve nutrition worldwide Louisiana’smenhaden industry has long-balanced economic prosperitywith responsiblestewardship of ourmarine resources.Through science-based managementand ongoing innovation, we remain committedtosustainable fishing practices thatprotect our waters support our communities,and drive economic growth. As we look to the future, this industry willcontinue to provide stablejobs, strengthen local businesses, and deliver essential products thatpowerglobal nutrition—ensuring thatLouisiana’sworking coast thrives for generations to come.

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PULLING TOGETHER

Breast cancer warriors practice on Bayou St. John for rowing competition in Boston

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

Shortly before sunset on a recent Wednesday, a group of women stepped into a long, narrow boat on Bayou St. John. At the coxswain’s command, they pushed off, eight blades cutting into the bayou at once.

It’s a far cry from their first practice about a year ago, when they could barely lift the boat into the water

The women belong to the Survivor Rowing Club, a team of breast cancer survivors who meet several times a week to row and workout. Of around 28 rowers, only one had ever rowed before. But they all know the lasting effects of

breast-cancer treatment the fatigue, scars and fear of recurrence. Out on the bayou they’re trying to reclaim strength, community and the parts of themselves that felt buried by the cancer Later this month, they’ll compete in their very first race, and it’s a big one: the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, the world’s largest rowing competition, often described as the Super Bowl of the sport.

“It’s like the mecca of rowing,” said coach Rob Phillips, watching from the banks of the bayou before starting the electric motor on his boat. “They’re starting with the mecca.”

ä See ROWING, page 2X

Researchers grow mini-hearts with blood vessels

BY MIRIAM FAUZIA

DALLAS Scientists at the University of North Texas report a breakthrough in building tiny, lab-grown replicas of human organs. These replicas, called organoids, can mimic some functions and structures of real organs, but a key limitation has been the lack of blood vessels. The UNT team, working with Stanford Univer-

sity, managed to grow mini-hearts that have their own blood vessels. Using the same strategy, the researchers also created vascularized mini-livers. The study, published in Science in June, suggests a path toward more realistic organ models for studying disease and testing clinical therapies. This research could also one day help tackle barriers scientists face in generating full organs outside the body, said Gi-

useppe Pettinato, director of the stem cell and organoid research lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, who was not involved in the study

Organoids are grown from stem cells that mimic real tissue. Despite advances in growing organoids since the mid-2000s, there has remained the challenge of incorporating blood vessels, said Adam Yang who co-authored the study and is an assistant professor

of biomedical engineering at the University of North Texas.

Guiding stem cells into tissue demands a precise diet and timing of nutrients and growth chemicals. Typically, scientists mature each cell type under its ideal conditions and then mix them together, Yang said. But in true organs, multiple cell types develop side by side and influence each other’s growth.

Yang and his colleagues focused on growing heart organoids, a

project he became involved with at Stanford in 2016 and brought with him when he joined UNT in 2020.

The researchers arranged human stem cells into precise shapes using a technique that guides stem cell growth with geometric cues, Yang said.

To track the development of each cell, Yang and his colleagues added genetic tags that glowed

ä See MINI-HEARTS, page 4X

ROWING

Continued from page 1X

Fighting against recurrence

Dr Karen Blessey, the group’s founder was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago. An internal medicine doctor, she was used to being the one giving diagnoses

“Facing your mortality at 45 with two small children was very humbling,” Blessey said She started the local chapter last August, recruiting other people she knew with breast cancer Rowing is historically an expensive and exclusive sport But not for Survivor Rowing Club. All breast cancer patients are welcome, and Ochsner Health, where Blessey works, has provided much of the funding to rent equipment so the club remains free to everyone.

The women range in age from their 30s to their 70s. Some finished treatment years ago; others are less than two years out from their last surgery But they’re all still navigating what comes after survival: regular checkups, side effects from hormonal treatments or surgeries, and the fear that the cancer might come back.

That’s one reason why Blessey focused on rowing, despite never having done it before. Research shows that 150 minutes of moderate to strenuous exercise — “real huffing and puffing” — weekly decreases the risk of recurrence. For those who can’t or don’t want to row because they haven’t regained their range of motion, the club offers an alternative: Walk on Water, which hosts weekly walks by bodies of water

“It’s one thing to just tell people you need to exercise,” Blessey said. “It’s another thing to give them a way to do it.”

Lauren Reech first heard about the club from a co-worker who was also a survivor She was a runner, but didn’t know the first thing about rowing. She loves the sport now But the support from people who understand that cancer doesn’t end after you ring the bell keeps her coming back.

“It’s not just like a time in my life that was 10 years ago,” said Reech, who was diagnosed at 35 after a family member’s diagnosis prodded her to get a mammogram herself. “The effects of it are felt for a lifetime, whether it be pain, menopausal symptoms, body-

image issues. You kind of all have that in common.”

Allison Durant 60, was treated for breast cancer nine years ago.

When she lost her hair, she had a hard time recognizing herself in the mirror Rowing makes her feel like herself.

“It makes me feel young, like part of some sort of baseball team,” Durant said. “It takes you back to this youthful place of everybody working together for a common good, and it takes the focus off of the breast-cancer part.”

‘This is rampant’

At Phillips’ first meeting with the group, there were nine women. In true New Orleans small-world fashion, he knew six of them but had known about a cancer diagnosis for just two of them.

“That’s when I was like, ‘OK, this is rampant,’” Phillips said, whose mother is also is a breast-cancer survivor

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Louisiana, accounting for nearly 14% of all invasive cancers statewide. Over 3,700 new cases are found each year, according to statistics compiled by LSU Health. Louisiana ranks No. 4 in the nation for its breast-cancer death rate.

“When another friend ends up with cancer my first word is ‘F***.’

Another one,” said rower Erika Olinger

For Gwen Taylor, 50, October’s onslaught of pink ribbons and 10Ks used to be a painful reminder of loss. She lost her mother and aunt to breast cancer — both diagnosed in their 30s and gone in their 50s.

At 45, an MRI found hers, even though she tested negative for genetic links.

“When they would have those breast cancer walks, it didn’t save my mom,” Taylor said.

Now, she’s running in the Crescent City Classic and it’s “pink everything,” along with rowing several times per week.

“I know I’m doing something to keep me healthy, so it doesn’t stress me out like it used to,” Taylor said.

‘We’re warriors’

Still, a lot of the women have developed a distaste for some of the culture that creeps up around October

“We hate the term survivor,” said Olinger “We’re warriors. We’re gonna beat the s*** out of it.” That camaraderie carries them

through. When they don’t feel like showing up for their three-day-aweek practices, they keep each other in line.

“Get your butt here,” one teammate told another “I am waiting for you. I got a playlist.”

At one point during a recent practice, as the women finished another long row, Suzette Doucet, just a year and a half out from her last surgery, had a request.

“This is going to sound crazy,” she said.

“You, crazy?” laughed her teammate.

“Could you make waves for us?” she asked the coach following them in a small boat.

The coach took the lead, weaving back and forth to simulate the conditions they might face in midOctober’s Head of the Charles.

While there will be no 10-foot alligator sightings in Boston, there will be more turns, more wake and far more boats to navigate around.

The team rowed through it, perfectly timed. After treatment, Doucet couldn’t lift her hands over her head. She couldn’t lift luggage into the overhead bin. Rowing helped her find herself again.

“We went from feeling strong, to losing your identity and feeling weak, to feeling strength again and the joy and the humor of all these smart-alecks running around,” she laughed.

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.

WYes, youcan have your Mondayred beans and EatFit,too

Ir fascinating my Mon if that up Bat Mon the least growing and Louisiana, passed of Monday and Sunday al hocks are co en we face lo hanging (which original co into ex —a su haveourredbeansandourMonday comfortfood,too.

Redbeansarewildlynutritious.They’re apowerhouseforfiberandplant-based protein,plusthey’reamongthefoods withthehighestantioxidantcontent. Thequietheroofbetter-for-youred

BY THENUMBERS

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Free bystanderCPR training eventinVermilion Parish

BY MARGARETDELANEY Staff writer

HEALTH NOTES

n SUN Bucks.

On Saturday,Oct. 25, Acadian Ambulance and Abbeville General Hospital will host two free community CPR training sessions. Both sessions will be at Kaplan High School, 200 E. Pirate Lane, Kaplan. One sessionwill be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and the second sessionwill be from 11 a.m. to noon.

Registration open for diabetessymposium

Thetraining will provide instruction on hands-only CPR trainingand highlight the benefitsofbystander CPR. It will also include demonstrations on what to do whensomeone is choking, theuse of an automated external defibrillator and stop-the-bleed techniques. Cancer center completes Gonzales renovation

In September,MaryBirdPerkins Cancer Center completed therenovation and expansionofits Gonzaleslocation at 1104 W. La. 30.

The 6,000-square-foot facility expansion features a2,500-square-foot infusion suite with 14 semiprivate infusion bays and one privateroom, astate-of-the-art lab, aretail pharmacy,new exam roomsand more

North Oaks Hospital System invites community members to its annual Diabetes Symposium from 11 a.m.to12:30 p.m. on Nov. 4. With athemeof“Every Step Matters,” the event is geared to help participants take control in their diabetes journeys. It will be hosted in the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center within NorthOaksDiagnostic Center, at 15837 Paul Vega M.D. Drive, on the North Oaks Medical Center campus in Hammond. Admission is free, but preregistration is required and can be completed online at northoaks.org/diabetessymposium2025. SU Ag Center relaunchesfree teletherapyrural communities

Onaverage, there are 4child care centers per 1,000 children in Louisiana, slightly higher than the national averageofthree centers

Accessible, affordable child care can increase opportunities for parents or guardians to pursue further education or participate in paid work to earn income and in somecases, gain health care andretirement benefits to support their families.

Research has shown that, in addition to supporting economic securityfor families, access to high-quality child care contributes positively to achild’s health and development, according to the University of Wisconsin PopulationHealth Institute’s2025 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. These parishes had the mostchild care

Southern University Ag Center’sfree virtual counseling program “Rural Connections for Rural Resilience,” hasreopened for enrollment.

centers per 1,000 children, in descending order:

n Madison Parishwith 9 child care centers per 1,000 children.

n East Carrolland West Feliciana parishes with 8 child carecentersper 1,000 children.

n Avoyelles, Franklin, Iberville, Lincoln, St Helenaand Webster parishes with 7 child care centers per 1,000 children These parishes had thefewest child care centers per 1,000 children, in ascending order:

n LaSalle,Sabine and Vernon parishes with 1 child carecenter per 1,000 children.

n Assumption, Beauregard, Jackson,

Patients will also gain accesstoenhanced programs and resources, including apatient navigator,adietitian, palliative care specialists andclinical trials. This expansion will more than triple theGonzalesCancer Center’s capacity,allowing it to serve over 300 patients each month.

Louisiana Department of Health acquires SNAP

TheLouisiana DepartmentofHealthhas acquiredthe Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program fromthe Departmentof Children and Family Services. SNAP will continue to provide benefits to participants without interruption in service. There are no changes to eligibility as partofthis move. The shift simply brings SNAPunder thedepartment so that nutrition assistance can be better aligned with other servicesunderthe department, such as Medicaid, officials said.

The goal of thetransition is to consolidate benefit applications into one agency,reducing paperwork and wait times for residents and increase efficiency of staff.

In additiontoSNAP, LDHisalsoacquiring thefollowing services from DCFS: n Disability Determination Services, n Electronic Healthy Incentives Project, n Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, n Kinship Care Subsidy Program,

The program, which is open to adults, aims to combat alarming mental health trends by providing free teletherapy services to rural communities where access to mental health services is often limited due to geographical barriers. The program will run until July 15, offering eight free counseling sessions with licensedmentalhealth professionals through acollaborationwith Soundminds Counseling. To sign up forthe Rural Connectionsfor RuralResilienceprogramvisit, bit.ly/4pvD37W ProjectLazarus WellnessCenter opens in NewOrleans

Project Lazarus Wellness Center celebrate the restoration of theprogram as ahub for residential programming, social offerings andcommunity collaboration in support of at-risk individuals living withHIV whoare facing housing insecurity

The NewOrleans-basednonprofit, at 2824 Dauphine St., was founded in 1985 to provide assistance in transitional and supportive housing, accesstomedical andwellness programs andopportunitiesfor community engagement.

Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

HEALTH MAKER

Tulane senior raises $1.5M for biotech startup

Firm developing test to check ticks for Lyme disease

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Exactics, a biotech startup, is developing multiple at-home tests for infectious diseases, starting with a rapid test that will allow users to determine if a tick carries the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. It takes 15 minutes.

Dylan Murray, a computer science, premed and psychology senior at Tulane University, is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Exactics and the pioneer for much of its funding.

The startup was founded by students from the University of Chicago and Tulane: Julian Kage, chief executive officer; Sean Greeby, chief scientific officer; Max Almeida, chief technology officer; and Zachary Sarmoen, chief financial officer Murray tapped both Tulane University and the University of Chicago’s grant programs to raise $1.5 million for the Exactics company What did the early days of the biotech startup look like?

My co-founder Julian Kage, was my lab partner in freshman biology at the University of Chicago, before I transferred to Tulane He was tall. He was in a fraternity He was not at all what I was expecting. We became lab partners because we both wanted to get through our labs as fast as possible. We were great friends instantly But back in 2018, when he was only 13 years old, he had this best friend who started getting incredible

Exactics cofounders in Chicago Lab HQ with a prototype of the TiCK

Sean Greeby, Julian Kage and Dylan Murray.

pains in his joints and his legs His friend had this fatigue, and he had to stop spending time with Julian and a lot of his other friends. Doctors spent months trying to figure out what was wrong. They found later that it was Lyme disease Julian, who had been looped into an invention convention circuit in middle school, was primed to ask himself, “What’s the solution?”

Julian recalls one day watching a school nurse pick ticks off of kids at the school’s nursing office He said, at 13, “That’s when we should be testing. That’s when you should be able to know if your is for Lyme disease.”

At 13, he created an alpha design for a lateral flow immunoassay — which is a fancy way of describing something like an at-home

rapid test like COVID tests or a pregnancy test.

He created a design for a test that would be able to take a tick as a sample and test it to determine whether or not the tick had recently transmitted Lyme disease. He won all these awards, including a grant from the Ford Foundation that would allow him to apply for patents.

At 18, when he finally arrived freshman year at the University of Chicago to be lab partners with me in biology, he received the patents for his tick-testing technology What is the importance of this technology for Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a really big problem in the North, and it’s spreading to all over America. Rates have been increasing, and states that have rarely seen cases are

include,

seeing them higher than ever before.

Dogs and horses are also at risk. By feeding on your blood, if a tick is carrying the bacteria for Lyme disease, it will transmit the bacteria to you and give you Lyme disease.

The problem that Julian’s childhood friend, Brendan, faced, and that about half a million Americans face every year, is that we often don’t catch the symptoms in time.

The unfortunate thing about Lyme is that it can become untreatable over time. This can happen in a matter of months. It can happen a matter of years. You can develop muscle paralysis. You can develop brainstem swelling or joint pain arthritis if you don’t catch Lyme disease in time.

This test streamlines ev-

erything. With this test, just take the tick, crush it into the test, and it tells you if the tick was carrying Lyme disease.

How did you become involved with Exactics?

I traveled to New Orleans with my ex-partner over Easter It was very last minute, but I fell in love with New Orleans. I applied to transfer to Tulane for my sophomore year of college on the plane ride back to Chicago.

I was just more of a Tulane-ian at heart.

The next year, the summer after my sophomore year at Tulane, Julian, my old lab partner, called me.

He said, “Remember those patents I was telling you about? I’m going to start a company, and we’re going to a pitch competition. I was wondering if you could help me convince people that this is a good idea.”

That’s where this starts for me.

The reason I was brought on was to talk to people. That summer in New Orleans, I made the trip twice to Chicago to talk about Exactics. I would pitch to everyone. My Uber driver The waiter The flight attendant on my travels home.

In May 2024, I got to start as the chief operating officer of Exactics.

Tell me about the business plan and launch of the TiCK Test for 2026?

Our first test is called the TiCK Test. It will be launching in 2026 through our licensing partners.

Zach, Julian and I, as part of our business plan, wanted to go out and find a company that already has established brand to use their distribution path to sell the test.

We found Tick Solutions Global, the inventors of

the TiCK MiTT, who have a vast international distribution network. They will support our 2026 launch for the TiCK Test in major pet health and outdoor retailers. We want to partner with companies like Tick Solutions Global to sell our tests so we can go to market and reach a wide swath of customers as soon as possible. We’re making another version of the TiCK Test — currently called TiCK Test Plus — to test ticks for up to 200 tick-borne diseases. What are the next steps for this startup?

I think sometimes we get pigeonholed as a tick-testing company That couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re currently working on solutions for broader infectious diseases. After tickborne diseases, it’s going to be STDs. The idea is to have the exact same business model where we’re going after companies that have that established brand and using their brand association to help sell our tests get to people as soon as possible. When we started this, Julian and I both wanted to be doctors. I remember us studying for our freshman chemistry exams, our bio exam, thinking about another four years of this work, and then another of medical school and another four years of residency We wanted to be doctors because we wanted to help people. What I think we both realized is that our new path in this company offers us an opportunity to help people on a ginormous scale —

Things that sting: How to handle bug bites in South Louisiana

BY SHANTELL GOMEZ

Contributing Writer

In Louisiana, pesky bug bites are far too common — even into fall and sometimes winter

There’s no escaping mosquitoes. Even a cold winter won’t keep the stinging, biting creatures away for long. Swatting, scratching and attempts to outsmart the bugs that thrive in our warm, humid climate is the norm. So what can be done to treat and prevent the things that sting from going from bad to worse?

From mosquitoes to caterpillars, here’s what to know:

Mosquitoes

Sitting through a soccer game at dusk, many know that the mosquitoes are relentless. They thrive in Louisiana’s wetlands and abundant water They especially love hanging around at sunrise and sunset.

They’re not just a nuisance — mosquitoes can also carry West Nile virus and other illnesses. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, West Nile virus is endemic to all parts of Louisiana.

“When an insect bites, it leaves behind its saliva, which our body’s immune system reacts to. Histamine is released, causing inflammation and itching,” said Lauren W. James, a nurse

MINI-HEARTS

Continued from page 1X

different colors for different cell types, then fed the cells a recipe of nutrients and growth chemicals designed to help blood vessels blossom alongside heart tissue. With that method, the researchers could watch a human heart unfold in real time. “You can see the heart beating as soon as day nine or 10,” Yang said. After about two weeks of nurturing, the research-

practitioner and Lafayette resident

That’s why bites swell and itch so quickly

Don’t forget the basics, James said, use insect with DEET or picaridin (a synthetic compound first made in the 1980s that is odorless).

“Controlling mosquito populations in your yard is k ey,” James said.

“Empty and clean anything that holds water at least once a week — buckets bird baths even kids’ toys. Mosquitoes are attracted to scent too, so skip perfumes or scented lotions if you know you’ll be outside.”

To treat bites, wash the skin with soap and water, then press on a cold pack.

A hydrocortisone cream with soothing ingredients like aloe or oat can calm the itch. If resisting a scratch isn’t possible, James recommends covering bites with a bandage

“It helps avoid a superficial infection,” James said.

Ants

Nurse practitioner Lauren W. James notes, ‘Controlling mosquito populations in your yard is key. Empty and clean anything that holds water at least once a week — buckets, bird baths, even kids’ toys. Mosquitoes are attracted to scent too, so skip perfumes or scented lotions if you know you’ll be outside.’

ness or trouble breathing, call 911 immediately

Caterpillars

Some of the fuzzy caterpillars in Louisiana carry the worst stings. The puss caterpillar for example, hides venomous spines that feel like a burning rash when touched.

“Kids are especially at risk because caterpillars look so harmless,” James said.

The LSU AgCenter advises that if stung, use tape to pull out the spines, wash with soap and water, then apply ice packs. Severe symptoms like nausea or headache require immediate medical care.

Remedies

These medications work by blocking histamine, a substance released during allergic reactions that causes itching and inflammation.

Keeping bugs out

While no method is perfect, a few simple steps can make a difference:

n Install screen doors on entrances that tend to be left open.

n Run a diffuser with essential oils like citronella or peppermint on the patio.

n Keep the yard trimmed and clear of debris, which attracts insects.

n Wear loosefitting long sleeves and pants to prevent skin exposure to insects and their bites.

Alcohol wipes create temporary relief, but the best bet is to wash with soap and water, apply ice and use hydrocortisone cream or an antihistamine like Benadryl. If the bite is scratched open, dab on a little Neosporin or Mupirocin to avoid infection And as tempting as it is, don’t scratch — that only makes it worse.

Bees and wasps

Bees usually sting only when provoked, while wasps are more aggressive and can sting multiple times. Both hurt immediately, and swell-

Fire ants are another Louisiana trademark. One ant may bite, and suddenly there are a whole bunch of welts. For prevention, wear shoes in grassy areas and gloves while working in the yard.

ers saw the mini-hearts had built their own branching blood vessels, complete with hollow tubes, although without circulating blood The mini-hearts also formed the three layers of their larger counterparts and even some nerve cells

The researchers ran tests that showed these organoids looked and behaved like human hearts about six-and-ahalf weeks into pregnancy, Yang said. To show their recipe works for other organoids, the scientists used the same approach to grow

mini-livers that developed hollow blood-vessel networks alongside various types of liver cells.

Since what Yang and his colleagues grew are technically gastruloids, or embryolike organoids, it’s unclear whether their approach will yield a mature vascularized model, Pettinato said.

A gastruloid helps understand how the body assembles itself in the early stages of development, Pettinato explained. “But with an organoid, you have to have an actual, functional 3D struc-

ing can last a couple of days.

“The first thing to do is check for a stinger — bees leave them behind, wasps don’t,” James said.

Scrape it out with something like a credit card, not tweezers. From there, a cold pack, antihistamines, or even a simple baking soda paste can help with pain and swelling.

“Most people will have a mild localized reaction — redness, itching, and swelling,” said James. “But more severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening.” If swelling spreads beyond the bite or you notice dizzi-

ture that will mimic what is a real organ.”

Such organoids afford scientists a bird’s-eye view into how organs form. They can also help model diseases in human tissue and test how drugs interact with such tissue. This could accelerate drug discovery and open doors to more personalized medicine.

Organoids are already used in preclinical research. Intestinal organoids have helped reveal how COVID-19 invades the gut and brain organoids are shedding light on

While some remedies may take the edge off like tobacco on a bee sting or mud on mosquito bites — James said the best path is still straightforward.

“Clean with soap and water, use ice for inflammation, apply cortisone cream, and if needed, take an oral antihistamine. Most people already have everything they need at home,” James said.

According to the Louisiana Pharmacists Association, over-the-counter treatments such as topical antihistamines can be effective in managing itching and swelling associated with insect bites and stings.

early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Cancer organoids are being used to screen chemotherapies and match breast cancer patients to more effective treatments.

Yang acknowledges there’s still work to be done to create organoids that have the same complex vasculature as inside the body He hopes to replicate larger blood vessels like arteries and veins and potentially have real blood circulating through an organoid. Another innovative avenue of research is incorporating

Bug zappers may look satisfying, but research shows they kill more harmless insects than mosquitoes. You’re better off with repellents, fans on the patio, and screens on your windows.

Living in south Louisiana means dealing with bug bites it’s just part of life. But being prepared can save a lot of discomfort Keep bug spray in the car, cortisone cream in the cabinet and ice packs ready to go in the freezer

Ultimately, the goal is to enjoy being outside while striking a balance with the creatures that come with it.

nanomaterials into organoids to harness their diagnostic and therapeutic potential, such as for gene therapy something that Yang is also looking into. In gene therapy, organoids could be used to test a variety of drugs that compensate for faulty genes, sussing out the risk before testing in humans, Yang said. If he and his team could create a system for testing any kind of therapy or treatment, he added, it could provide better guidance and confidence for clinical trials.

Community trustmeetsglobal expertise in newpartnershipamong Ochsner Health, Slidell Memorial and MD Anderson Cancer Center

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisstory is brought to you by OchsnerHealth.

Adult cancer patients from NewOrleans to BatonRougeand acrossthe Northshorenow have accesstoone of the nation’smost advanced treatmentnetworksthankstoanexpanded collaboration between Ochsner Health and MD AndersonCancer Center.Anew location of Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center is nowserving patients at Slidell Memorial Hospital’s(SMH) Slidell Regional Cancer Center.The partnership in Slidell is modeled after Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center locations in NewOrleans,BatonRouge, Covington, Kenner and Gretna.Atevery location, patients receivethe top-levelclinical care theyexpect from Ochsner and MD Andersonwith increased accessfor newpatients,convenientonline scheduling forestablished patients and extended infusion hours. The partnership with SMH began this monthand establishedOchsner MD AndersonCancer Center at Slidell Regional Cancer Center,ACampus of Ochsner Medical Center

Ochsner is the firstand only provider in Louisiana to fully integrate its cancer program with MD Anderson’sstandards and treatmentplans.Through this newaffiliation,Ochsner MD AndersonatSlidell Regional Cancer Center is nowone of eightfully integrated Ochsner MD Andersonlocations in the state

Patients treatedherewill receivehigh-quality care with thesame protocols and practice standards available at MD Anderson, which areamong the most advanced in the nation, while remaining under the direct care of their local oncologist.Physicians at Ochsner MD Andersonlocations collaborate with MD Anderson’sspecialists and researcherstocreate individualizedtreatment plans including advanced approaches to some of the most difficult-to-treatcancersinadults and access to the largest clinical trials network in Louisiana

ForSMH, the partnership represents the next chapter in astory thathas always been rooted in community service. The hospital’scancer center, builtwithpublicsupportthrough local taxes,has provided chemotherapy, radiation and support services foryears. LisaReso, director of cancer services at Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center at Slidell Regional Cancer Center said the newcollaboration will elevate thoseservices

“Our patients arepeople we go to church with and who we seeatthe grocery store. Theyare truly ourfriends and neighbors. This partnership ensures thattheywill receive the best of both worlds advanced innovationand expertisecombined withthe personal touch thatwegiveasacommunityhospital, Reso said. “This will giveusanincredible opportunityto have earlier accesstoclinical trials,new therapies and advanced technologies.For our team, this strengthens our abilitytodeliver care thataligns with the highest standards and evidence-based therapies.”

Reso noted thatthe center’sexisting multidisciplinary approach, which bringstogether medical oncologists,radiation oncologists surgical specialists and support staff around each patient, will only deepen.

“Wehavehad acomprehensive care modelfor afew years. Now, we will be abletoadd to thatwith morespecialists andservices.That’sexciting forus,”she said. “We’re going to be able to move to the next levelofcarefaster than we could have ever done before.

SandyBadinger

Communityownership has always been adefining principle of SMH. Chief ExecutiveOfficer Sandy Badinger said the partnership will not only preserve thatidentitybut also strengthen it

“The people of Slidell deservethe highest quality of care,and thatiswhattheywill receivehere,”Badinger said. “Theywill receiveexpanded services thatwepreviously were not able to offer and have access to select clinicaltrials thatwerenot available to us before this.”

In preparation forthe collaboration, and to meet MD Anderson’srigorous standards,Badinger said advancedimagingandradiologyequipmentisbeinginstalled, andfournewcomprehensivecareroomsarebeingaddedto Ochsner MD AndersonatSlidellRegionalCancer Center

“We’re really excited to getour clinicians and team

aligned with everything thatisneeded to make this partnership successful,”she said.

MatthewMcElveen, MD,medical director Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at Slidell Regional Cancer Center, said the partnership bringsalevel of specialization thatiskey to complex, individualized, modern cancer care

“Through this partnership with Ochsner,we areable to elevate cancer care,research and services forpeople in South Louisiana from NewOrleans to BatonRouge, Covington and Slidell, by collaborating with the nation’sleader in cancer care,the world-renowned MD AndersonCancer Center,” Dr.McElveen said. “Weall have the same mission —toend cancer,and we will get therefaster,together.”

Multidisciplinary teamshavealready been built at SMH forthe treatmentof breast,lung,and upper andlower gastrointestinalcancers. Dr.McElveen said this collaboration is moreessential than ever

“Very often, the differences in treatmentcan be very subtle but very important. We gettogether with Ochsner specialists to talk about casesalready Our partnership with MD Andersonisgoing to bring thattoa newlevel,” Dr.McElveen said. “We’ll be working with physicians who areextremely specializedand spend all daylooking at thosesubtle differences.Theycan helpusunderstand whyone therapymight work betterthan another.Having thatassistance in the decision-making processisextremely important.

Dr.McElveen added thatthe partnership will provide Slidell physicians with direct,valuable accessto global expertise.

“The providersthatour patients seeare not changing. What we aregoing to do is bring newstandards to thoseproviders,” he said. “Weare going to be able to provide moreeducation in specific diseaseareas so our teams cancontinue to advance their work.”

Badinger underscores the importance of this partnership expanding to Slidell, wherethe communityhelps fund SMH facilityprojects andconstruction, andtrusts its providers with their care

“Wemade apromisetoour communitytocontinue to ad-

Ourpatientsarepeoplewe gotochurchwithandwhowe seeatthegrocerystore.Theyare trulyourfriendsandneighbors. Thispartnershipensuresthat theywillreceivethebestofboth worlds—advancedinnovation andexpertisecombinedwiththe personaltouchthatwegiveasa communityhospital.

vance care forour lovedones who arediagnosed with cancer and we arekeeping thatpromise,”Badinger said. “This collaboration underscores our commitmenttodeliver the highest standard of care by ensuringour patientshaveaccessto renowned cancer expertisehereintheir community.

Together to End Cancer

MatthewMcElveen,MD HematologyOncology | Slidell,LA

SpanningeightOchsnerlocationsacrossNewOrleans,St.TammanyParish andBatonRouge,OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenterservespatients withthesameprotocols,practicestandardsandcustomizedtreatmentplans availableatMDAndersonCancerCenter,alongwithexpandedaccessto researchandclinicaltrials.

Tolearnmore,visitochsner.org/EndCancer

OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenteratTheGayleandTomBensonCancerCenter OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenteratOchsnerHealthCenter–Baptist NapoleonMedicalPlaza OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenteratOchsnerMedicalCenter–WestBank OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenterat OchsnerHealthCenter–Kenner OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenteratOchsnerCancerCenter–BatonRouge OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenter atOchsnerMedicalComplex–TheGrove OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenteratSt.TammanyCancerCenter–ACampusofOchsnerMedicalCenter OchsnerMDAndersonCancerCenteratSlidellRegionalCancerCenter–ACampusofOchsnerMedicalCenter

LOUISIANA

Fulfilling

God’scalling

founders. “There are few times in my life where he’sput his fingeronmeand told me this is whereheneeds me. If you can be clear aboutthat,you don’thave to worry about anything else. Youcan trust thatGod will take care of you.”

Meetinga need

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Faith abounds in many different ways.

For some,ittakes shape in mentorship to the lost and broken, while othersare inspired to donate to the poor and misfortunate.

One of the ways faith shows its face at St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge is through ateam of medical professionals that work to provide free dental care for people in desperate need.

Forthe pasteight years, alegion of oral surgeons, pharmacists, retired dentists, nurses and other practitioners have participated in avolunteer program that treats uninsured patients with dental emergencies whenthose patients can’t afford to payfor the much-needed treatment.

“It feels like that’s what Godwants us to do. And there’snothing that makes me feel better than to be certainthatthis is what Godwants me to do,” said Dr Steven Brooksher,one of theprogram’s

Dental care for indigent populations emerged as perhaps the biggest unmet need in the capital city’shealth care system years ago. Hospital staff workers at emergency rooms in the area were surveyed andpointedtoa growingcrisis: Howtohandle homeless and low-income patients that go to the ER in excruciating pain with adental emergency that requires immediate attention when they have no health care coverage?

There wasnowhere in BatonRouge to send uninsured patientsfor dental treatment in thosescenarios.Doctorsoften prescribed them medicine to relieve the pain. But once the meds ran out, patients inevitably showed back up in ERs or urgent careclinicsweekslaterwith the same untreated problem.

To address that challenge,Baton Rouge leaders established the Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Dentists,orBRAVO,program in 2018. By then, St. Vincent de Paulhad already been running aone-mandentist

office inside its community pharmacy for decades.The small clinic was at that time an internal operation —only used to treat transient guests from St. Vincent de Paul’shomeless shelter.The BRAVO program openedthe clinic’s services up for patients allacrossthe city. Anyone who proves they lackdental benefitsorhave unaffordable copays qualify for the program andcan get free treatment.

“I showed up,and IknewI wasinthe right place. I’vebeen hereeversince,” saidDr. Douglas Strickland. “I get much more outofitthanI give.You help people out thathave no clue of what to do.”

Fillings,rootcanalsand extractions

Strickland beganvolunteering to treat patients at St. VincentdePaul about 15 years ago. He’sone of thetwo retired dentists that screen,examine anddiagnose patients there on aweekly basis. The dentists do X-rays to determine each patient’smost acute needs and refer them to other volunteer dentists, who then treat thosecritical deficiencies at theirprivateclinics

The programislimited to themost pressing needs, notcomprehensive or preventive care. The dentists perform extractions, give fillings and do root canals for some teeth, butthey don’tdo molars.

Thereare currentlyabout 18 dentists throughout metro Baton Rouge participating in the BRAVO program.Last year, the team of volunteers did work on 318 patients, providing more than $100,000 worthofdental services, program officials said.

Organizers hope more local dentists —particularly oral surgeons —will volunteer to participate so BRAVO can treat morepeople in need and offermore services. They’re also putting acall out to thecommunity for more equipment or cash donations to buy necessarysupplies

Sweetness in surprising places

In the news industry,we’ve spent the past two decades talking aboutdisruption. The internet, of course,completely changedhow people consume news —creating anonstop, never-ending news cycle. Iremember early discussions prophesying whatthe World Wide Webwould do —listening to people who knewa lotmore thanIdid talk abouthow it would allpan out. In the yearssince, the details of those early discussions have made me skeptical when someone tells me whatlife is going to be like in 30 years. Thatsaid, Idorealize that disruption demands adifferent approach —new ways of doing things anda fresh look at why we do thematall. In my ownlife,nothing has causeddisruption like ourrecent house fire —whichhas led to newwaysofdoing things and some re-evaluations of how and what we do at all. The results have yieldedsome surprises. Not only areweliving in atemporary rentalhome, but for the most part —savethe kindness of friends who have shared extra pieces —we’resurrounded by rentedfurniture. Ididn’teven knowitwas possible to rent kitchensuppliesorget abathroom in abox —all the basics, down to spatulasand toothpaste. At first pass, the little rental hadthe basic necessities, but it did notreflect ourmoreeclectic approach to life.Inthe weeks sincewe’ve movedin, bit by bit, it feelshomier andmorecomfortable

It’sstrange, the small things thatremind me of what we lost. Forexample,when Iwas packing forour recentbreak to the beach,Iwas making my mental checklist of supplies. Ididn’t even considersunscreen and beach towels because we have a stash of those Exceptnow,wedon’t—and thatrealizationwas astrange one.

The fire also changedour pace —and ourplans. We had to cancel abig trip we had been planning formonths, which left ourcalendars empty,giving my husband andmetime we don’t usually have together.So, on Saturdaymorning, we went to the mall.

Ican’t remember the last time we went to the mall together, certainly notwhenwehad time to stroll andlook around and weren’tona mission to geta specific item. On Saturday, without aplan, we approached the mall the way we did when Iwas much younger. And youknowwhat? It wasa blast. We window-shopped. Isaw things Ididn’tknow Ineeded like abeautiful set of pajamas, things thathadn’tcrossed my mind in the post-fire swirl. Wandering the mall made me think aboutthe disruption shopping hasfaced,too.Ihad never thought aboutthe parallels be-

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS

Attorney turns old gym into community center

B22Fit now sports recreation site of the parish, offering CrossFit and more

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Grant Parish native Bonita Armour has practiced law in Louisiana for nearly 30 years, but it was an investment in fitness that has turned her community around. A Louisiana Christian University and LSU Law School alumna, Armour found herself without a place to work out. She solved the problem by creating a home gym with her husband for her and her friends to do CrossFit.

They named their group B22, inspired by the Taylor Swift song “22.” Armour says she and her friends want to have fun, feel 22 and do this for the rest of their lives. When Armour’s fitness group outgrew their home gym, she knew she had to go bigger She never could have imagined how much bigger her fitness club, B22Fit, was going to be.

After buying the former Grant High gymnasium in Dry Prong, which was abandoned for seven years at the time of purchase, Armour poured sweat equity and more money into the large building. Once she finished cleaning and renovating, the community came calling. All Grant Parish needed was the facility and a slew of programs developed at the site. Armour has said yes to many ideas and requests, and now B22Fit is the sports recreation center of the parish. For her vision tenacity and commitment, the Louisiana Blue Foundation has awarded Armour an Angel Award for 2025. This interview was edited for length and clarity

What was the condition of the Grant High School gym when you bought it? I had gone to high school there, but I hadn’t been in it for 30 years. When we went and looked at it, it was in horrible shape. The floors were rotten. The roof was leaking. It was yellow My friends said, “No, do not do this. It is a money pit. It’s too big. We’ll never use it.”

But my God, the architecture of this place was amazing. This facility was the rec center at Camp Claiborne until the end of World War II. After the war, Dry Prong didn’t have a high school or any gym. So, men took apart the gym, numbered all of those boards and

CALLING

Continued from

“When you’re coming to work somewhere that you don’t have to necessarily — you’re doing it for altruistic motives or a desire to help — it’s a whole different atmosphere entirely,” Strickland said.

A full-service operation

BRAVO was a collaborative effort mapped out by the Greater Baton Rouge Dental Association, the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative, Our Lady of the Lake hospital and the Baton Rouge Clinic. The Wilson Foundation, Blue Cross and other sponsors from area dental offices raised more than $50,000 in grants to refurbish the clinic in 2018. The equipment upgrades transformed it into BRAVO’s hub.

It’s a full-service operation.

Volunteers at the community pharmacist prescribe patients the antibiotics and other medications they need for their treatments, and no money ever exchanges hands throughout the process

“One thing that’s unique about this program is we serve folks

hauled it back here and put it together It was the biggest gymnasium around at the time.

I thought, “We’ve got to restore this. We’ve got to save it.” I financed it. I made arrangements and signed the papers and bought it in March 2018, but I still had no support.

How did the Dry Prong community get involved?

I bought one of those paint sprayers, because it was all red, ugly brick. I got this really dark gray color that I thought was really cool, and I sprayed the entire outside of the building. I power-washed it and started painting. People started driving by, and they stopped and said, “Hey, I see you doing all this painting. Can I help?” They brought people, and then my girls, who had been working out with me, started helping.

We had the community come together

I bought it March 1, and July 1, we were ready to move in. I took all of my workout equipment that I had in my three-car garage, moved it all over, and we started. We opened it up to the public in October 2018.

What programs does B22Fit offer?

Our plan was to have a place to work out for CrossFit, but we were able to start a Rock Steady boxing affiliate here in Dry Prong to help Parkinson’s patients.

Four ladies in their 70s walked in, and they said they wanted to join That started the Coffee Club, which has about 50 members who are 60 and older It gets people out of the house and keeps them going. Then I met this group called “Teen Challenge.” The girls who finish the program told me that, after they transition out of Teen Challenge, they don’t have anywhere to go. So we bought the auditorium and the property on the other side of the road that’s part of the campus (the old Grant High School) We started Chesed House, which is a nonprofit for girls coming out of Teen Challenge, to give them transitional housing and work on campus.

We got hit by Hurricane Laura in 2020, and a tornado hit the campus and tore off every roof on campus. We sort of had to start over In that process of rebuilding, we were able to build an indoor walking track for our people who have

that don’t have Medicaid,” said Sunnie Johnson-Lain, St. Vincent de Paul’s CEO. “Some of them are working poor, people who don’t qualify for Medicaid, or they are transient and don’t qualify So it’s really an underserved population.”

Dental problems like periodontal disease can cause tooth decay and abscesses in the mouth. Patients grappling with tooth pain often can’t chew properly, which leads to poor nutrition. When left untreated, serious oral health issues can even increase the risk of cancer if inflammation causes an infection that spreads through the bloodstream, studies suggest Gum disease has also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, according to the Harvard Medical School.

Christ-like care

Many of BRAVO’s patients are people living in survival mode, preoccupied with daily necessities like where they’ll sleep at night and when they’ll get their next meal. Others suffer with mental illness, according to program leaders. So dental concerns take a back seat to more pressing needs in their lives.

“For the people that St. Vincent

Parkinson’s and for elderly people.

Then we had another building that was just educational classes and computer rooms, and we gutted that out to make indoor soccer We usually have 100 to 150 kids who are playing each season.

When Grant Parish went to a four-day school week, kids were off on Mondays, so we started an out-of-school program. Finally, we started a nonprofit back in 2019 called B22 Sports Complex, which we are trying to renovate the ball fields and get grants for that. We have an old football field and an old softball/baseball field.

We got a grant to build a new walking trail around the whole campus. We just had our first race.

What does it mean to you to have watched this incredible center develop for your community?

It was not planned. It was part of God’s plan and not mine. We’re just trying to help our community

That’s what it’s all about. Every day is a miracle to keep the lights on.

What changes have you noticed in the community in the last five years?

It has drawn people together in our community and even inspired other communities around us to grow We’ve helped another couple in the community open a gym in Montgomery out of an old school.

It’s gotten people out of their houses The older people’s doctors’ reports are coming back so much better They have developed friendships, and it’s given so many people a reason just to keep on fighting against Parkinson’s.

It’s drawing families together It’s giving kids a place to come and play that’s fun and safe. You can come and bike, you can skate, you can get out, you can exercise

DePaul serves, most of them have a long list of problems that are pretty overwhelming,” Dr Brooksher said. “So dental care doesn’t come up until they have pain and it interferes with their life.”

Dr Thomas Nash began volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul’s clinic several years ago after he retired from his private practice near Bluebonnet Boulevard. His call to serve was three-fold. He wanted to continue honing his skills after retirement, and he enjoyed mentoring young students from dental schools that volunteered at the clinic But beyond those professional and social reasons, a spiritual catalyst propelled Nash to enlist.

“I see the people coming in as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Like it says in the Gospel, ‘If you’ve done it to the least of these, my brother then you’ve done it to me.’

Johnson-Lain cited the scrip-

ture in the biblical book of Matthew as a core gospel for St Vincent de Paul’s communityoriented ministry She dabbed away tears while describing the underlying spiritual component of holistic care upon which the operation is founded.

“We literally believe that every person we’re serving is Christ. That is our mission — to see Christ in the face of the poor and to show a small glimpse of God’s love to them,” Johnson-Lain said.

“I always say that St. Vincent De Paul is actually a faith-formation program disguised as service The goal of everyone is to get to heaven and to get everyone we serve to heaven. So if we can share that compassion, that mercy and that service, then our work is done.”

Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

tween the struggles news organizations have experienced in the wake of the internet and the ones retail has seen. One of the challenges the internet brought aside from the bias and the flood of AI-generated fake news — is that our news feeds are now tailored to our interests and viewpoints. Therefore, often we don’t browse the news to seek the stories that we don’t know are out there

Pre-internet, reading the news meant stumbling on stories we wouldn’t have sought out — simply because they were printed beside the ones we did. That kind of accidental discovery broadened our perspectives.

Shopping at the mall felt so similar

I saw things I never would have seen online because I wouldn’t have sought them out. I bought things simply because I came across them, not because I’d gone searching. Maybe that’s what disruption does best it shakes us out of our routines just enough to help us notice what we’ve stopped seeing.

Disruption has me rethinking what makes a house feel like home. I know now that I don’t need all the stuff I had before, and I’m giving careful thought to what’s worth replacing. It’s made me appreciate the wonders of a Saturday at the mall and reminded me of the beauty of one headline beside another

Sometimes, the surprise is where the sweetness lives.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

Musicveteran nowhelps NewOrleans venues

Professorspent 3 decadestouring world in audioproduction

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Chuck Keith knowsa thing or two about makinglive music sound good.

The three-decade veteran of the industry has toured the world with ahandful of household name performers, sliding faders on mixing boards to control audio levels in theaters, arenas and even acastle in France overlooking theMediterranean Sea.

“I’ve worked everywhere you can imagine, from giant festivals to crappy little bars,” Keithsaid.

Now,inhis current roleasan adjunct professor at Loyola University NewOrleans,Keithshares his knowledgewith anew generation of audio engineers —and he’s contributing to anew collaboration with the City of New Orleans that couldhelp improve the sound quality in New Orleans music venues while providing real-world training for his students.

The $60,000 Tune-Up Grant Program will provide $5,000 grants to eight to 10 New Orleans music venues and pay for consultingservices from Keith and his team of upper-level students participating in anew Loyola coursecreated for the initiative.

About two dozen venues —including breweries, nightclubsand outdoor spaces —submitted applications before the mid-September deadline. From that group, nine awardees were selected: d.b.a, Cafe Negril, Anna’s, Banks Street Bar,Chickie WahWah, Neutral Ground Coffeehouse, the Allways Lounge &Cabaret,Kermit’sTreme Mother-in-Law Lounge and the Original Nite Cap.

Keith has already visited several of the awardees in advanceofhis team of student sound engineers making recommendations and implementing changes

“We’re bringing alot to thetable for venues, whowillhavethe opportunity to upgrade their systems and learn how to manage sound levels inside and outside their businesses,” Keith said.

‘Bestinthe world’

The new Tune-Up Grant Program, created by the three-yearold Mayor’sOffice of Nighttime Economy,started as away to help venues address soundcomplaints from nearby homeowners and businesses, but the scope of the initiative eventually expandedto include the improvement of audio quality overall.

“When you see ashowinNew Orleans, you’re going to see some of best musiciansinthe world, and we thinkthe sound qualityinthe rooms should be the best as well, said Julia Heath, the department’s policy and outreach manager since 2023.

To get the project started, Keith said he plans to visiteach venue during theday to measure noise levels.He’lltalktoowners, staff and neighborstoget feedback. A second visitatnightwill allow his team to record sound levels during aperformance.

“We’ll be able to seethe difference,” Keith said. “People might think that it’smuch louderatnight,

but thatmay or maynot be true

We need abaseline to know for sure.”

To control noise, theLoyola student consultantswill likely recommendavarietyofsolutions, including building andinstalling “bass traps” to absorb low frequencies, and hanging foam panels or heavy curtains on walls to soak up more sound. They mayrepositionsubwoofers, thespeakersthat generatethe problematic low frequencies,to minimizesound resonance and tilt PA speakers down afew degrees.

“There will be alot of tapestries in my future,because sound abatement is aboutsoft goods,” Keith said.“Each room will require different things.”

The Loyolateam will provide club owners withequipment and training —and will offer suggestionsboth for inexpensive quick fixes and morelong-term solutions. An existing partnership with ahigh-end audio company may lead to deals on new gear

“We’re trying to help guide them

themost efficient wayofusing the money to get mostbang forbuck,” he said.

The goal is forthe experience to benefit students as well as venue owners, Heath said.

“It’sa way to getthemout of theirbubble and into the real world,” she said. “We’re hoping this program teaches them how to be flexible with resources available, knowing thatthe venues won’t be able to spend $50,000 to get anew system.”

Nighttimeisthe righttime

The Tune-Up program is the latest initiative from afledgling city department withamandate to solve problems related to aportion of the hospitalityindustrythat brought 19 million tourists to the city in 2024and hadaneconomic impact of roughly $10 billion, according to New Orleans &Company,the city’sdestination marketing organization.

The department, which has three staffers and a$500,000 annual budget,has unveiled aseries of initia-

tives focused on making life easier forhospitality workers, musicians and others. In August, it unveiled aprogram in partnershipwiththe private sector to offer discounted parking for hospitality workers in downtownNew Orleans. Special parking zones specifically for musicians are in the works.

Anew harm reduction program in coordination with the city’s health department provides training to avoid opioid overdose and alcohol-related accidents, and a new “best practices” guide for nightlife businessescovers everything from security plans to health insurance, hurricanepreparedness andhealthdepartment compliance.

Last year,the nighttimeeconomy office completed its first New Orleans music industry census. It also collaborates withThe Ella Project, anonprofit that offers legal counseling to artists and musicians, to present free workshops covering musicbusiness skills. And it mediates disputes between businesses and their neighbors.

“It turns out most of the time people just need to talk to each other face to face,” Heath said Step in theright direction

Despite his road warrior lifestyle and his Texas roots, Keith has made his home in New Orleanssince2003 —and specifically at amarina on LakePontchartrain where he livesyear-round on his sailboat Since2007, he has been on the sound productionteam at Bayou Boogaloo, where he’s“gained experiencewith sound mitigation at alarge scale,” and he runs sound every Saturday nightatthe Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street. Keith said he’sbeen wanting to createalive sound degreeat Loyola, and this collaboration with thecityisa step in the right direction.

“It’sright up my alley,” he said. “Wedon’t have abig studio world in NewOrleans, so someofthe studio engineers Loyola trains end up going to California or Nashville, but we do have agood grassroots live music industry Now Iwant to raise the level of its sound quality.”

FAITH &VALUES

Should we emulate Jacobwhen he wrestles with God?

This Sunday’sOld Testament churchreading, accordingtothe Revised Common Lectionary used jointly by anumber of Christian denominations, contains arguably one of the oddest passages in the Bible.

Quin Hillyer

Amid alengthy Genesis story about Jacob and his large entourage traveling to see his brother Esau, we reach the famous, but strange, tale of Jacob spending all night wrestling an unnamed and mysterious “man” who couldn’t defeatJacob but who did knock Jacob’ship from its socket.Bythe end of the passage, though, it is said that Jacob actuallyhad “striven with God” and “seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.

As pure narrative, this interlude seems like ablind alley.It interrupts, but seems to have absolutely no thematic continuity with what comes before and after As metaphor,though, the passage seems to abound with meaningand insight.

To be sure, some blessed people seem to have arelationship with God suffused with nearly pure peace and joy.Itseems to me, though, that far more of us, of widely varying degrees and styles of belief, feel that the bulk of the time we are wrestling with God rather than experiencing beatific harmony.

Part of this involves the age-old questionofhow God can beomniscient, omnipotent,and all-loving while allowing so much pain to exist in his creation. The pat answer about man’sown bad choices allowing evil into the world do not, cannot,explain sufferings from cancers and other dread diseases or from natural disasters, none of which involve human decisionsor human agency Heck, Iwant to put God on trial even for some far more quotidian annoyances, such as allergicrhinitis (bad “hay fever”)and mosquitoes. If sneezes and itchesare part of His design, those alone can seem like evidence of incipientcosmic sadism.

Again and again, then, we wrestle with God. We wrestle to understand Hisfull nature and His intentions. We wrestle with His silence and apparent abandonment of uswhen things go terribly while our prayers seem to disappear into the ether And, at one time or another,surely all of us have felt like GeneHackman’sdoomed priest character in “The Poseidon Adventure” who, before the ultimate self-sacrifice, yells at God: “Wedidn’task you to fight for us —but, dammit, don’tfight against us!”

Here, though, is the interesting thing: Aside from the disjointed hip (which is no fun: Idislocated my own hip in first grade!), God doesn’t actually punish Jacob for wrestling with Him. Instead, God rewards and blesses Jacob and gives him the new name of “Israel” that would also apply to Jacob’sdescendants forever The metaphoric message is evident: While wrestling with Godis never “safe” (again, the hip!),God seemstoactually want us to wrestle with Him. He wants us brave and resilient enough to grapple with who and what God is, ahumanbeing directly encountering divine being: striving, striving, striving God demands from us not mere obedience nor facilebromides of belief, but strenuous effort from the wholes of our bodies and souls. Frankly,this isn’tthe God Iwould choose if Iwere in charge. The God Iwant, the God many of ushumans want, would be easier. Butthat’s not the God we need —nor theone who really does give us unfathomable blessings.

Advocate/Times-Picayune

columnist Quin Hillyer has adegree in theology from Georgetown University.Heis an Episcopalian who attended an Episcopal grade school and a historically Jewish high school, studied Martin Luther at aJesuit University, and taught at aBaptist college. His novel“The Accidental Prophet,” amelding of theology and satire, grapples with exactly the questions in this column.

According to the National Park Service, St.Gabriel RomanCatholic Churchisone of the oldest

churches

the Mississippi River.According to records and oral history, the parish wasformed in 1761.

the Mississippi River

LOUISIANAPILGRIMAGE

7sites to visitduring theCatholic Church’s Jubilee year

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

For theCatholicChurch’s2025

Jubilee Year,the late Pope Francis selected thetheme “Pilgrims of Hope.” During this time, which began Dec. 24,Pope Francisencouraged people to encounter Christ through pilgrimagestosacred spaces Since PopeLeo XIV’selection, he hasalsoembracedpilgrimages In July,hesaid,“Apilgrimage has avital parttoplayinour life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routinesand gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply,” as reported by the Catholic NewsAgency Louisiana archdioceses have designated pilgrimagesitesfor visitors to celebrate and observethe Jubilee, which ends Jan. 6.

“In most religions, the idea of a pilgrimage is sacred,” saidthe Rev. Msgr.KeithDerouen of Opelousas.

“I suspect that, for us as Christians, it goes back to the Jewsmaking pilgrimage once ayear to Jerusalem for Passover.”

These sites sometimes offer indulgences, or specialgraces,while also allowing participants to focus on spiritual renewal and prayer:

OurLadyofPromptSuccor

2701 State St., New Orleans

In 1810, the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor,known for granting quick and favorable help, arrived in NewOrleans.The shrine is locatedon campus at Ursuline Academy of New Orleans,the oldestschool for girls in the country.For over two centuries, theUrsuline Sisters have gathered thewritten petitions in thesanctuary of theshrine and prayed for theintentions.

BlessedFrancis Xavier Seelos

919 Josephine St., New Orleans Francis Xavier Seelos cametothe United States from Germanyin1843.

He was assigned New Orleans in 1866.

Located in St. Mary’sAssumption Church, the shrine features the remains of Seelos, his original lead coffin, artifacts and more.

St.Augustine Catholic Church

1210 Governor Nicholls St., New Orleans St. Augustine is oneofthe oldest Black Catholic churches in the country, established by free people of color in 1841 in Treme. The church is the site of theTombofthe Unknown Slave dedicated to the memory of enslaved people who were buried in unmarked graves.

Vietnamese Holy Martyrs

5069 Willowbrook Drive, New Orleans MaryQueen of Vietnam Church houses the Shrine of the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs, whichhonors117 VietnameseMartyrs killed for their faith in the19th century in Vietnam.Visitors can receive Plenary Indulgence —the complete remission of alltemporal punishment due to sin.

St.MartindeTours Catholic Church

133 S. Main St., St.Martinville In 1765, agroup of Acadian exiles

arrivedinSt. Martinville after the British deported themfromAcadie in Canada. St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church is the third oldest in Louisiana, recognizedasthe MotherChurchof the Acadians. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1972.

St.Gabriel Catholic Church

3625 La. 75, St. Gabriel St. Gabriel Catholic Church, established in the late 18th century,is oneofthe oldest wooden churches in theMississippiRiver Valley, featuring the original bell of the parish in its tower that’sstill used. Before thechurchwas remodeled around 1870, it was an example of the earliestformofCreolearchitecture, using cypress from nearby swamps to build it.

Shreveport Martyrs

315 Marshall St., Shreveport Holy Trinity Catholic Churchishome to the Minor Shrine to the Shreveport Martyrs, whichhonors fivepriestswho served the sick during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic in the city.The priests were declared “Servants of God,” the first of four steps in the canonization process.

Christianauthor shares advice to deal with anxiety

BYJOY HOLDEN Staff writer

“Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body,the Church, and Politics” By SaraBillups, Baker Books, 225 pages

Review

Sara Billups, aSeattle-based writer and cultural commentator, presents acandid look at anxiety of the individual anxietyofthe Christian church and anxietyofpolitics in her second book, “Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body,the Church, and Politics,”which will be released Nov.4 Billups, who earned aDoctor of Ministry in the sacred art of writing at thePeterson Center

for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary,is honest about strugglingwithher own generalized anxiety disorder throughout the text.

Thefirst third of “Nervous Systems”includesmemoir-style writingasBillups describes heranxietywhile herparentsare experiencingmajor healthcrises. Billups recommends tangible practices to manage the anxiety,mostly from herexperiences with the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius.She explains howembodiment andsacraments ground us in the present.

Billups then takesacritical yet compassionate eye to the American Christianchurch and its proclivitytofear and anxiety,which hasresultedinaresurgence of Christiannationalism. While doingso, sheraises herown

spiritual anxiety by examining scrupulosity,anobsessive compulsivedisorder that revolves around moral or religious guilt. She unpacks herown fears of belonging within her home church of 20 years and howstability and community are the roots of conqueringthatworry Her recommendation fordealingwithsystemic anxiety is expansiveness toward God and others.

Finally,Billups examines anxiety in politics and advises holy indifference and detachmentfor Christians who are dealing with fear and anxiety in the current political environment.

“Nervous Systems” is atimely read that is aresource of practices and recommendations in times of tension.

SUNDAY, OctOber 19, 2025

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 — disseMBLed: dihSEM-beld: Hid under a false appearance.

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 57 or more words in DISSEMBLED?

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

zhouqin Burnikel

super Quiz

Great play, no reward

Today’s deal is from a recent matchbetweenateamfromItaly and a team from Norway All the players were top tier. Declarer won the opening diamond lead in dummy with the ace, led a heart to his ace, and cashed the king of hearts to draw the last trump. He cashed dummy’s ace and king of spades and ruffed a diamond back to his hand. He cashed the queen of spades, discarding a club from dummy, and exited with a low club. Had West played the jack, East would have been endplayed with the king and forced to give a ruffsluff, presenting declarer with his doubled contract. West was Italian Giovanni Donati, and he rose with his ace of clubs, swallowing East’s king, and cashed two more clubs for down one. Outstanding play! At the other table, they reached the same contract but not doubled. The timing was slightly different Declarer ruffed a diamond at trick two and then played the ace and king of hearts and then the ace and king of spades He crossed back to his hand with a trump and East, Norway’s Boye Brogeland, discarded the king of clubs! This

would have been crucial if partner’s clubs were ace-queen-10 instead of ace-queen-jack. It was a brilliant play that did not gain for his team, but we can still admire the excellent defense at both tables

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Share your feelings and intentions and find out where you stand. Communication is the key to making informed choices and moving forward with your life.

SC ORPIO (O ct. 24 -Nov. 22 ) Social events will lead to new opportunities. Tap into the resources available in your community and embark on a new adventure A change will raise awareness.

SUBJECT: POTPOURRI

(e.g., Who was President Biden’s vice president?

Answer: Kamala Harris.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. “Au” is the chemical symbol for what element?

Answer________

2. What was sparked by the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

Answer________

3. What does the “T” stand for in the acronym LGBT?

What was the birth name of the boxer

What is venison?

By what name is the painting “La Gioconda” popularly known?

The first names of TV’s

help you recognize what’s possible and encourage more meaningful human connection. You don’t have to spend money to enjoy the company of others.

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

ship appears appealing and can become a lucrative prospect.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Update personal papers to ensure everything is ready to go if necessary Self-improvement, fitness and a healthy lifestyle will help you feel great.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Finding common ground with others will

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Establish what you enjoy doing and revamp your resume to suit your needs It’s your responsibility to plan for your future based on what makes you happy CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Live and learn. Do your best to avoid opposition. Expect others to scrutinize your actions. Excess and overindulgence can lead to a negative response if you give in to temptation.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A financial change is evident. Manage your money with care. Being too generous or paying for someone else’s mistake can’t buy you love or acceptance. Offer your time, not your cash. wuzzLes

ARIES (March 21-April 19) A change of heart will lead to better relationships and an understanding of what matters most to you. A cash infusion or a gift someone offers will encourage you to make positive lifestyle changes.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) A change of pace will help you recognize what’s purposeful and rewarding. Use your voice, do what you can and make a difference. A partner-

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Figure out what’s lacking in your life and make a change. Stop waiting for everything to come to you when a take-charge attitude will help you deal with negatives in your life.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Do something that brings you joy A domestic adjustment that helps you make your surroundings more peaceful is a great place to start.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Let your actions speak for you. A kind gesture will go a long way to impress

those you encounter Be the one to brighten everyone’s day, and the rewards will be overwhelming.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.

© 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

1. Gold. 2. WWI. 3. Transgender.4.CassiusClay 5. The meat of adeer.6."Mona Lisa "7.Blanche. 8. Roosevelt. 9. Nevada.10. "The Shining." 11.In adeck of Tarot cards. 12. Amy.13. Hanukkah. 14.Marilyn Monroe. 15.The world's tallest structure.

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?

The heat of autumn is different from theheat of summer.One ripens apples, theotherturns them to cider. —JaneHirschfield