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The Drum Newspaper, Ponchatoula, LA (2025)

12/10/2025

Councilman Louis Joseph to lead Hammond Christmas parade as Grand Marshal http://drumbeatsla.com/joseph-grand-marshal Known as a man of integrity, a decorated Vietnam veteran whose word is his honor, a man whose faith is his life’s beacon, District 3 Councilman Louis Joseph carefully weighed his response on being selected as the grand marshal for the Hammond Christmas parade.

“When I got the call, I had to stop and think, ‘Are you serious?',"Joseph said with his typically welcoming smile. “This could have been a bogus call.”

“And then when I was found it was (Rotary Club President) Daryl (Ferrara), I knew it was for real,” he said, adding that it has “knocked him off his feet.”

Joseph is the first Black to lead the parade, which is sponsored by the Hammond Rotary Club.

“It’s truly an honor just to be considered, and it means an awful lot to be the first Black man to serve as the grand marshal,” said the St. Gabriel native who has lived in Tangipahoa Parish for more than five decades.

“But let me tell you I am just thankful God has placed me in a position for people to consider me,” he said. “I try to treat everybody right, regardless of race, regardless of creed, regardless of color, regardless of sexual orientation.

“And I think that may have played a role in selecting me as grand marshal.”

Joseph, a longtime educator and former superintendent of the Tangipahoa Parish School System, has spent his life serving others, answering what he says is God’s call. An Army veteran who enlisted at the age of 18, Joseph later joined the Louisiana Army National Guard, retiring after 34 years of service.

He takes pride in the fact that more than 60 years later, he can still fit in, and wears his Army uniform.

Joseph would spend 32 years as an educator and served on the Independence Board of Alderman for 24 years before being elected to serve the residents of District 3 on the Tangipahoa Parish Council.

He graduated from Southern University in 1972 with a B.S. degree and from Southeastern Louisiana University with his Master’s degree and Master’s+30. In 2019, he was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern University for his service to his community and veterans affairs.

“When the committee got together, it did not take long before a light bulb went off and the perfect individual to lead and represent the Rotary Club parade was (Joseph),” Ferrara said. “We could not ask for a better person, a better individual, a family man, a Christian, a community person to wear our Rotary Club emblem and the grand marshal emblem.”

Joseph that throughout his life he has been fortunate to receive several honors and accolades but the role of grand marshal ranks among the highest.

“Never in my life would I dream of being the grand marshal for the Hammond Christmas parade,” he said, joking that St. Gabriel is only 10 miles south of LSU and he does not need “the Lane (Kiffin) train,” to reach campus.

In a wide-ranging interview with AN17.com, Jospeh touched on a number of topics, including being a role model, race relations, being a leader, his message to young people, his faith and how he would like to be remembered. Throughout the interview, faith was Joseph’s constant partner, saying he tries to let his faith do “my walking and my talking.”

“I try to live by what I believe in, and I believe Jesus wants us to do as when He walked the earth, and that is to be fair and help those who are less fortunate,” he said.

Joseph said being a role model is rooted in the inner person and consistently doing the right thing if that person wants to be emulated by others. For him, it started with working in the school system, mentoring students who were often straying in the wrong direction and helping them turn around their lives.

Joseph said many of those kids are now grown and have their own children and will tell him they have used him as a reference point as to how they want their kids to be raised.

“That is one of the greatest accolades one can receive,” he said.

In the role of educator, Joseph said when parents entrusted their children to him, he was determined to give them the best that he had to offer, a trait developed during his military days when he was in training in California. With weekends off, he and several other servicemen would travel to a nearby Hispanic community and read to the children.

“That is where I really learned how to give back, and I am still doing that,” he said.

Community and political leadership, Joseph said, is rooted in asserting one’s self, attending meetings and getting involved. He said one must stay abreast of the issues and be educated as to new and evolving developments. And he said one must pay attention as to what is happening around him or her.

“And if you are really involved in your community, then you must really try to encourage those who are not to get involved,” he said. “I do at church, community support groups.

“If you want to be involved you need to get involved in the vo…

12/05/2025

Free the Swamp Campaign Condemns “Catahoula Crunch” Operation http://drumbeatsla.com/free-the-swamp-campaign-condemns-catahoula-crunch-operation Following the Dec. 3. Department of Homeland Security’s announcement of “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” members of the Free the Swamp campaign are urging New Orleanians to stay alert and be prepared to protect their neighbors.

“When the federal government launches an operation like ‘Catahoula Crunch,’ it is not just a name, it is a message,” said Tia Fields, NAACP Louisiana State Conference PAC Chair.

“The Catahoula is not just Louisiana’s state dog; it was bred for hunting, herding, and tracking, tools once used by bounty hunters and slave patrols. To resurrect that imagery in an immigration sweep aimed at Black and Brown communities is not coincidence. It is continuity. Whether they call it ‘Catahoula Crunch’ or ‘Swamp Sweep,’ the language may change, but the impact does not. These are federal enforcement actions that disproportionately target communities of color, dressed up as public safety. Louisiana remembers its history, and we will not be fooled by familiar patterns in new packaging.”

The DHS release included headshots and charges for a list of individuals they sought to portray as the reason for the operation even though the press release did not indicate that any of these individuals would be targeted by the operation. Campaign members warned that DHS is deploying racist Willie Horton style scare tactics to justify their campaigns of terror that have indiscriminately swept up children, U.S. citizens and people without any records of criminal activity.

“As someone who fled war and lost my own family to violence, I know what real danger looks like,” said Dauda Sesay, Founder and Executive Director of the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants.

“It does not look like a child walking to school or a parent driving to work. When you name a raid after a hunting dog and splash mugshots across the news to justify it, you are not protecting communities—you are sending a message that Black and Brown lives are expendable. We are calling on our neighbors of every race, faith, and political belief to stand together, to protect one another, and to EMBRACE LOVE over the politics of hate and humiliation.”

Similar operations in other cities have demonstrated their willingness to outright lie to the communities they terrorize. In Chicago, DHS purported to have arrested more than 1,000 people "including the worst of the worst pedophiles, child abusers, kidnappers, gang members, and armed robbers,” but could only provide verified criminal histories for 10 of the men arrested, just 1% of the people they detained. Outside of Austin, DHS arrested more than three dozen people under the guise of a targeted sting operation, but after months they couldn’t produce any evidence to prove those arrested had any gang ties.

Members of the Free the Swamp campaign urged New Orleanians and those in the surrounding areas to stay vigilant, look out for their neighbors, and be wary of DHS misinformation campaigns. They encouraged residents to call the Free the Swamp tip line at (504) 221-1499 to report suspected DHS activity.

“Louisianans are no strangers to being the targets of aggressive tactics, mistreatment and trauma at the hands of a federal government that we should be able to trust. We have risen above multiple crises, from hurricanes to pandemics, consistently defying the odds, coming together, and protecting our own communities. We are organized, we are prepared, and ICE and no scare tactics or intimidation will stop us from showing up to exercise our collective power and keep our loved ones and our neighbors safe,” said Angelle Bradford Rosenberg, Chapter Chair with Sierra Club Delta Chapter

12/02/2025

Louisiana recognizes the ongoing HIV crisis during World AIDS Day http://drumbeatsla.com/brhiv On World AIDS Day, Louisianans paused Monday to honor residents affected by HIV and the families, partners, and friends who carry their memories forward. The day offers a moment to reflect on decades marked by loss and resilience, and to recommit to preventing new infections and supporting people living with HIV.
Louisiana health officials highlighted the urgency of testing, treatment, and prevention, particularly in East Baton Rouge Parish, where new HIV diagnoses remain among the highest in the state.
The Louisiana Department of Health reports that the state has the fourth-highest rate of HIV diagnosis in the nation. As of March 31, 2025, 23,880 people were living with HIV in Louisiana. Parish-level totals are not publicly available, but East Baton Rouge is considered a region with a significant population of people living with HIV.
Health advocates note that stigma and limited access continue to challenge early diagnosis. Residents are encouraged to use available testing centers and to share accurate information about HIV treatment, including that individuals with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus.
World AIDS Day, observed annually on Dec. 1 since 1988, emphasizes both remembrance and the role communities play in reducing new infections. Early diagnosis remains one of the most effective tools for improving long-term health outcomes.
East Baton Rouge Parish residents have access to free or low-cost testing and care through state health units, community clinics, and nonprofit organizations.
If you’re worried you may have been exposed to HIV and want to know your status, here’s what to do:

- Get tested as soon as possible.HIV testing is free or low-cost at many EBR clinics, and results can come back in minutes.
- Seek immediate medical care if you test positive.Providers can connect you to antiretroviral treatment (ART), which allows most people to reach an undetectable viral load — meaning they cannot transmit the virus.
- Ask about prevention tools.Clinics can help you access condoms, safer-sex counseling, and, where available, PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV.
- Talk with someone you trust — if you feel comfortable.Many organizations offer counseling for people newly diagnosed or those awaiting results.
- Know that treatment is effective and long-term health is possible.People diagnosed with HIV today, when connected to care, can expect to live long, healthy lives.

Several clinics in East Baton Rouge Parish offer free or low-cost HIV testing, prevention services and linkage to care:

HIV Testing Sites in East Baton Rouge Parish

East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit353 N. 12th St., Baton RougeWebsite: https://ldh.la.gov/directory/east-baton-rouge-parish-health-unit

Open Health Care Clinic / HAART Clinic3849 North Blvd., Baton RougeWebsite: https://www.openhealthcareclinic.com

Metro Health950 Lorri Burgess Ave., Baton RougeWebsite: https://www.mhbr.org

CareSouth Medical & Dental – Baton Rouge Clinic3140 Florida Blvd., Baton RougeWebsite: https://www.caresouth.org

Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge (select testing services)323 E. Airport Ave., Baton RougeWebsite: https://www.familyroadgbr.org

11/19/2025

Bid on rare Black History memorabilia in New Orleans http://drumbeatsla.com/auction The River Road African American Museum, in partnership with the Amistad Research Center, is hosting Legends & Legacies: Black History Auction, a once-in-a-lifetime cultural event featuring rare memorabilia connected to the icons who shaped America.

From Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, and more, bidders will have an opportunity to own authentic pieces tied to the trailblazers whose brilliance changed our nation’s narrative.

Attend the Event

BID ONLINE NOW
The full auction is officially open. Browse extraordinary items and place bids online directly online:

Bid on Historic Items

10/30/2025

Louisiana legislators approves $150 million for SNAP funding. http://drumbeatsla.com/snap-150-million As the state Legislature finished its special session today, Oct. 29, it requested $150 million to temporarily fund SNAP food benefits in November because the federal government shutdown could cut off benefits beginning Saturday, Nov. 1.
The Senate passed a resolution also urging the federal government to refund the state the $150 million it will pay to continue SNAP benefits starting Nov. 1. Otherwise, there will be no funding for the program, leaving almost 800,000 Louisiana residents without benefits.
The Legislature moved to transfer the money from its health department’s budget Wednesday, Oct. 29. to continue the benefits.
After the Legislature adjourned, Gov. Jeff Landry complimented the House and the Senate and said that a surplus in the state government “gives us the opportunity to act with compassion and reason.”
By Courtney Bell, Avery White, and Sheridan White, LSU Manship News Service

10/30/2025

State Legislature delays primary election and ends special session http://drumbeatsla.com/state-legislature-delays-primary-election-and-ends-special-session The state Legislature ended the special session today (Oct. 29) by voting to delay the statewide primary election next year for one month while the U.S. Supreme Court considers the legality of the state’s two so-called majority-minority congressional districts.

The final vote came in the state House, where lawmakers cleared the election delay in a 73 to 29 vote, which broke along similar lines with the state Senate in its 27-9 vote on Saturday, Oct. 25. The vote in both houses reflected hard opposition from Black lawmakers who contended that the change is premature and will result in confusion and chaos among voters.

This legislation will move the spring primary election for Republicans and Democrats running in a party primary to May 16, 2026 from April 18, 2026. The voting date for five state constitutional amendments is also delayed about a month. A second party primary, or runoff, if needed, will
occur on June 27, 2026, instead of May 30, 2026. Candidate qualifying dates were pushed back as well, and signatures on nominating petitions from Sept. 16 remain valid.

Republican legislators argued that a delay was prudent given the uncertainty of when the Supreme Court might rule. But opponents argued there was a bigger motive.

“The ultimate goal of this bill, regardless of if anybody wants to say it or not say it, is to change the dates with the hopes that the Supreme Court strikes down Section two,” of the federal Voting Rights Act said Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge. Democrats also worried that a Supreme Court decision could remake congressional districts and eliminate at least one majority-minority district represented by a Black member.

Section Two of the federal law bans racial discrimination in voting practices and drawing maps. If ruled unconstitutional, Louisiana’s maps would have to be redrawn; possibly eliminating both districts that favor Blacks which make up about a third of the state’s residents.

Rep. Edmond Jordan, (D-Baton Rouge), echoed his colleague’s concerns about racial motivations. “I think the frustration most African-Americans feel, and I certainly feel, is that when it’s something that’s beneficial for us, it’s ‘Let’s kick the can down the road, let’s delay,’” he said Tuesday, Oct. 28. “When it feels like it’s an advantage for the white citizens of Louisiana...It’s ‘let’s get ahead of this, let’s anticipate, let’s speculate how they will rule on this so we can be prepared,’” he said.

The author of the legislation, state Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen, insisted that there are no ulterior motives. “We’re giving people more time,” he said.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this year and again on Oct. 15 regarding the Louisiana v. Callais lawsuit, which objects to a “four-two” map that produced a congressional district it says is drawn entirely along racial lines that suppresses the non-Black vote. The Republican-majority Legislature produced the current map of six U.S. congressional districts with two majority-minority districts in 2024, both represented by Rep. Troy Carter of New Orleans and Rep. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge. Two national leaders hold two of the other four districts; House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City and Rep. Steve Scalise, R- Metairie.

Constitutional amendments on the ballot for the new May 16 voting date include a mandatory retirement age for state judges and a restructuring of state civil service.

The House saw heated debates again Wednesday over the new election dates. Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, called the Republican efforts, “the Trump Two-Step, which is legislatures rigging elections.” She argued that her Republican colleagues were, “willing to do the will of a president that does not care about Louisiana.”

Rep. Gerald “Beau” Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, defended the delay of 2026 elections. He cited previous maps that have been deemed unconstitutional. “Thirty years later, we find ourselves in the same vicious cycle of conflicts with section two challenges and their conflict with the 14th Amendment,” of the U.S. Constitution, he said.

On Monday, Oct. 27, leading Black Democrats and Louisiana residents from across the state rallied in support of the current congressional maps. “This is about representation and this is about power,” said Davante Lewis, a Democrat and a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

By Gracie Thomas, Kylah Babin, Avery White, and Sheridan White
LSU Manship News Service.
Featured photo: Rep. Gerald Beaullieu R-New Iberia responds to Rep. Tammy Phelps D-Shreveport during debate Wednesday morning. Avery White/ LSU Manship School News Service

10/29/2025

Louisiana at a Crossroads: Fair maps, fair power, fair future [DrumCall] http://drumbeatsla.com/denage-piper As the Louisiana Legislature gathers for an Extraordinary Session to adjust election timelines, qualifying fees, and procedures ahead of the 2026 cycle, this moment is about more than logistics. It is about who holds power, who is represented, and who risks being written out of democracy.

Louisiana is one-third Black. That’s not politics—it’s math. Yet, despite two courts affirming the need for fair representation through two majority-Black congressional districts, the fight for equity has reached the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. With Governor Landry calling this special session as Louisiana v. Callais is being weighed, it’s fair to ask: Are these legislative adjustments about preparation—or preemption?

Proposals to delay Louisiana’s spring primaries by a month are described as routine, but timing matters. When lawmakers shift qualifying periods and election dates while redistricting decisions hang in the balance, they risk confusing voters, weakening participation, and eroding public trust. Election integrity is not only about counting ballots; it’s about ensuring every Louisianan can access the process freely and fairly.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Metropolitan Baton Rouge Chapter calls on Louisiana legislators to uphold three commitments:

- Protect Fair Representation. Maintain at least two congressional districts where Black voters have a fair and equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
- Preserve Transparency. Conduct all election adjustments openly, with full public explanation of intent and impact.
- Prioritize Stability. Keep election laws consistent and predictable to safeguard voter confidence and participation.

Adjusting the machinery of democracy without clear cause is not preparation—it is interference. Louisiana’s voters, particularly those whose representation has been hard-won through decades of struggle, deserve better. When our maps are fair, our future is fair. That is the legacy worthy of this moment.

By Denage Piper
President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Metropolitan Baton Rouge Chapter

Denage Piper is President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Metropolitan Baton Rouge Chapter, an organization advocating for Black women and girls through leadership development and public policy engagement.

10/28/2025

Senators oppose changing the 2026 Louisiana election calendar http://drumbeatsla.com/senators The Louisiana Legislature is in a special session aimed at pushing back the election dates to buy time while state awaits a ruling from the Supreme Court in a case that challenged the creation of a second congressional district with a majority of Black voters.

The Supreme Court is considering whether race should remain a factor in drawing district maps.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Senate passed two election bills 27-9 that would push back the timetable for primary elections by a month to give the state time to react to any court ruling that ordered it to redraw the maps—a process that could eliminate one of the two seats now held by Black representatives. The vote came after objections from Democratic lawmakers. The House will take up the bills Monday, October 27.

About a third of the state’s residents are Black. Several white residents sued over the current maps, which created two Black-majority congressional districts out of the state’s six.

Legislative leaders say they merely want to push back the primary elections next spring to give themselves more time to react to a court decision.

Black lawmakers called the two bills premature and unconstitutional. Sen. Samuel Jenkins, D-Shreveport, said they were “riddled with election law violations.”

Opposition got heated in a committee hearing Thursday, Oct. 23, when Sen. Gary Carter, D-New Orleans, said, “It sounds like the first step in the process of how we rig an election.”

Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen, told the LSU Manship News Service that Sen. Carter later apologized to him regarding the heated discussions.

Carter clarified, “I apologized that he took whatever I said personally.” But he said he did not regret his opposition to delaying next year’s elections.

By Gracie Thomas, Kylah Babin, Margaret Liner, and Sheridan White, LSU Manship School News Service

Feature photo: Black senators opposed to changing the 2026 election calendar met with Senate leaders before debate began Saturday. By Avery White/LSU Manship School News Service

10/25/2025

Essie Chambers’ ‘Swift River’ wins 18th Ernest J. Gaines Award http://drumbeatsla.com/essie-chambers Essie Chambers, author of the debut novel Swift River, received the 18th annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence Tuesday night in Baton Rouge. The award honors outstanding emerging African American fiction writers and includes a $15,000 prize.

Swift River, set in a 1980s New England mill town, follows 16-year-old Diamond Newberry as she uncovers family secrets amid racial isolation and loss. Chambers’s novel has received national recognition. It was selected as a "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick and the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize 2024. It is also longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

In accepting the award, Chambers reflected on her connection to Gaines’s work, which she first encountered through The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

“What took my breath away was Mr. Gaines’s unflinching look at the cost of demanding one’s dignity,” Chambers said. “His gaze on Black life is unflinching but never without tenderness. That’s what I strive for in my own writing.”

The novel draws from Chambers’s own experience growing up as one of few Black families in a predominantly white town. It explores themes of racial exclusion, family legacy, and the haunting effects of history.

Chambers’s research included James Loewen’s Sundown Towns, a book revealing how all-white towns, often in the North, excluded Black residents by law or threat. This informed a key character’s story—Clara, a young Black woman who stays behind when others are driven out.

Founded by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in 2006, the award honors emerging Black American fiction writers and commemorates the legacy of Louisiana author Ernest J. Gaines.

10/23/2025

Lawyers invite Smitty claimants to public meeting Oct. 23 http://drumbeatsla.com/lawyers-invite-smitty-claimants-to-public-meeting-oct-23 Roseland residents who have filed claims in the class action lawsuit against Smitty’s Supply are invited to attend a town hall meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Amite Community Center, located at 200 SW Railroad Ave.
According to the Smitty’s Supply Litigation Plaintiff Steering Committee (PSC), the meeting will provide updates from the PSC, as well as insights from community leaders and environmental experts. The event is not open to the general public, but claimants may bring family members.
A trial attorney representing the plaintiffs confirmed that nearly 3,000 residents have submitted claims related to the class action suit.
The lawsuit stems from an explosion at Smitty’s Supply on August 22, which blanketed Roseland and parts of Tangipahoa Parish with oil and chemical residue. In September, the EPA released a 305-page report detailing the millions of gallons of petrochemicals that were released into the air, soil, and water.
Earlier this month, the EPA transferred site management responsibilities back to Smitty’s Supply, which is now in charge of cleanup and remediation efforts. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) will oversee the condition of local waterways and ponds.
Residents who have not yet signed up for the lawsuit but believe they may be eligible can contact the Plaintiff Steering Committee at 985-355-9101 or visit the case’s page for updates and more information.

10/22/2025

Congressman Troy Carter to host virtual town hall http://drumbeatsla.com/carter-town-hall U.S. Congressman Troy Carter to host virtual town hall on healthcare cuts and the federal government shutdown, Thursday, Oct.23. on Facebook.

10/22/2025

Lawyers in Libraries will provide free legal assistance statewide through Oct 25 http://drumbeatsla.com/lawyers-in-libraries-will-provide-free-legal-assistance-statewide-through-oct-25 For the past 12 years, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louisiana Library Association, the State Library of Louisiana, the Law Library of Louisiana, and local libraries have hosted “Lawyers in Libraries” events during National Celebrate Pro Bono Week.

Events will be held October 20-25, 2025, across Louisiana where lawyers and libraries come together to provide free, limited services to the public in-person and virtually. Here's is the schedule, locally.

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