The Drum Newspaper

09/07/2025

Southern University partners with ALIVE Podcast Network to broadcast student narratives http://drumbeatsla.com/su-podcast Southern University and A&M College has made history as the first historically Black university to distribute student-produced content through the ALIVE Podcast Network, streaming on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV this fall. The partnership ensures that up-and-coming storytellers have the same stages as the world’s leading media creators.

“We are extremely excited to have the Southern University channel available on the ALIVE Podcast Network,” said John K. Pierre, chancellor. “This expands the university's footprint beyond our campus and state lines. More importantly, it equips our students with real-world experience writing, producing, and distributing content that reflects their unique perspectives.”

ALIVE Podcast Network is the first Black woman–owned podcast network with proprietary technology, built to amplify all voices and give creators ownership of their narratives. Founded by Angel Livas, a Howard University graduate, ALIVE has become a safe space for authentic storytelling while equipping creators with tools to monetize and thrive in an industry that often overlooks them.

“Students across all disciplines now have access to a distribution platform that has the power to put their work in front of millions,” Livas said. “As an HBCU alumna, this moment is especially meaningful. I know firsthand the innovation, talent, and cultural impact that lives within our institutions. Partnering with Southern University means their students’ voices won’t just be heard — they’ll help shape the future of media.”

Earlier this year, Southern University students earned an Emmy Award for their documentary “The Hidden Sport,” underscoring the level of excellence already emanating from the institution. With this partnership, their stories will now reach far wider audiences across both audio and video platforms.

The first program to debut under this partnership is the SU Ag Podcast, produced by Southern University’s College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences. Previously available only on Apple Podcasts, the show will now stream on Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, ALIVE’s mobile app (iOS + Android), and for the first time, television platforms.
ALIVE Podcast Network will soon announce additional HBCU partnerships as it continues to expand access, elevate diverse voices, and cement its role as a cultural catalyst for the next generation of creators.

09/07/2025

Marking lost in 2005, now the Katrina X-code symbolizes resilience http://drumbeatsla.com/katrina-cross In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, as search and rescue teams moved through flooded neighborhoods, they left behind the FEMA Xcode. Spray-painted in thick, urgent strokes across doors and walls, a large X became an unsettling indication of the disaster.

Each X was part of a system developed by FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue program. It documented who had searched a home, when, and what they found. The top quadrant recorded the date and time of the search. The left noted the team identifier. The right listed any hazards—gas leaks, unsafe conditions, or animals—and the bottom tallied how many people, living or deceased, had been found inside. From the Lower Ninth Ward to Lakeview, the marks appeared on churches, apartments, corner stores, and homes. Some were eventually painted over as part of rebuilding and moving forward. Others remain visible, their faded lines preserving a record that can’t easily be erased.

The symbol would come to define the storm’s physical and emotional aftermath. Scholar Sarah Hirsch found that New Orleans had redefined the natural disaster symbol by turning it into a cultural touchstone. She coined the phrase “Katrina Cross” to describe the enduring emotional and rhetorical power of the symbol. For many, the X-code represented more than the presence of first responders. “New Orleans reproduced the X by remixing it,” Hirsch said in a lecture.

The X-code has found new life in artwork, photography, and memorials. Scholars have studied it as a form of visual rhetoric—a way that public space held trauma and testimony. Artists have turned it into something reflective, even beautiful. Some critics view it as a reminder of abandonment, of systems that failed. Still, it endures as one of the most recognizable visual legacies of the storm.

Now, twenty years later, the X has been remixed—again.

This time as a silver and black lapel pin and a black-white-and gold jersey design worn over the heart.

At memorial events across New Orleans last week, survivors, first responders, and community members wore a new Katrina Cross designed by Sess 4-5 and Hustle God Clothing in the structure of the original X-code. It bears a K, 8/29, 20, and a Ø etched or printed in the X’s quadrants.

For those who lived through Katrina, the symbol remains personal. Some remember the spray paint on their own front doors. Others recall seeing it as they returned home for the first time. Whether covered or preserved, the X left an impression on the collective memory of the city.

Today, the Katrina Cross--worn on the jerseys and as a lapel pin-- offers a way to carry that memory forward, while shifting the meaning from a tool of rescue to a boast of remembrance and endurance.

09/04/2025

Sign up for Tangi Chess Tournament before Sat., Sept. 20 http://drumbeatsla.com/chess The Tangipahoa Parish Library, in collaboration with the Tangi Chess Club, is excited to host the Tangi Chess Tournament on Saturday, September 20, 2025!
Location: Main Street Dance - 138 Robin Hood Dr. Hammond, LA 70403Time: 10:00 AM – Registration begins at 9:00 AM
This exciting event will feature tournaments for all skill levels:Youth Categories: (Parent must register children)


8 & Under


10 & Under


13 & UnderRegistration for youth is FREE!


Adult Tournament:


Entry Fee: $25 (pay at registration) REGISTRATION FEE GOES TOWARDS WINNERS POOL


Don’t miss your chance to showcase your skills, compete for bragging rights, and enjoy a day of strategy and fun!
Register now: https://forms.office.com/r/0qkDxwppAf
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow chess enthusiasts in Tangipahoa Parish.

09/04/2025

Reading of the Constitution with the League of Women Voters https://drumbeatsla.com/reading-of-the-constitution-with-the-league-of-women-voters In celebration of Constitution Week, the Tangipahoa Parish Library invites you to a special live reading of the United States Constitution. This inspiring event will feature local students and members of the League of Women Voters, taking turns reading sections of this founding document aloud.

09/03/2025

Brian Pinkney and Andrea Davis Pinkney come to EBR library Sept 18-19 https://drumbeatsla.com/pinkney The 48th Annual Author-Illustrator Program on September 18 and 19 features Brian Pinkney and Andrea Davis Pinkney at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library.

There will be three opportunities to hear the Pinkneys speak about their outstanding contributions to the field of children’s literature, as individuals and a team, including more than 70 books, many of which have received the highest awards such as Caldecott Honors and Coretta Scott King Honors. A selection of their books will be available for purchase at each event.

School librarians, teachers, and administrators are invited to register for a Virtual School Visit with the Pinkneys on Thursday, September 18, 10-10:45 a.m. Kindergarten – 5th grade students will enjoy stories about their creative collaboration for nearly four decades. The presentation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please register by Wednesday, September 17 at 10 a.m. at ebrpl.com/events-classes to receive the virtual link.

All ages are welcome to a Meet the Authors event at the Main Library at Goodwood on Thursday, September 18, 7-8 p.m. An autograph session and reception will follow this free, family-oriented presentation. No registration is required.

Teachers, librarians, writers, parents, and lovers of children’s literature are encouraged to attend Behind the Writing on Friday, September 19, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Main Library at Goodwood. Registration is required, but there is no charge for this event! To register, please visit ebrpl.com/events-classes.

Snacks will be provided during breaks, and an autograph session will follow this professional presentation.

The Author-Illustrator Program affords an excellent opportunity to hear the “story behind the story” from prominent writers and illustrators of literature for children and young adults. The program is sponsored by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library and Patrons of the Public Library.

09/03/2025

Petra Foundation Gala returns to Hammond Sept. 20 http://drumbeatsla.com/petra-gala

09/02/2025

Plant and seed swap scheduled Sept. 4 https://drumbeatsla.com/seed-swap

09/02/2025

Picture the Power exhibition travels state through November http://drumbeatsla.com/picture-the-power Beginning this week, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is launching Picture the Power, a statewide juried photography traveling exhibition, with a gallery talk Friday, Sept. 5, at the YWCA Women’s Empowerment Center, 1690 North Blvd, in Baton Rouge.

“Professional and amateur photographers from across Louisiana submitted compelling images that tell the story of democracy in action. From rallies to quiet moments of reflection, the exhibition aims to celebrate the power of civic engagement and inspire future participation,”� said Maya Miller, Picture the Power exhibition director.


The exhibition highlights Louisiana’s ongoing fight for voting rights and democratic participation and features 14 photographers:
· Khaelyn Jackson of New Orleans;
· Dorcas Brandon of Baton Rouge
· Antione Lacey of Baton Rouge
· Chansey Augustine of New Orleans
· Gus Bennet of New Orleans
· Johari Smith of New Orleans
· Sydney Walker of New Orleans
· Twajuana Spears of Baton Rouge
· Katie Sikora of New Orleans
· Jay Evans of New Orleans
· Austin Trosclair of Baton Rouge
· Jeanine Blaney of Lake Charles
· Wil Norwood of Baton Rouge
· Danny Fortes of Hammond.

“Picture the Power is more than an exhibition—it’s a visual testimony to the legacy and future of democracy in Louisiana, carried by the communities who shape it with every ballot cast," said Gerri Hobdy, director, Power Coalition Arts Framework.

The public is invited to the 6pm gallery talk on Friday which features Cree Matlock, Director of Government Affairs & Policy for the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice.

JurorsAshley Shelton, founder & CEO, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice�, Joyce Jackson,Ph.D., cultural anthropologist�, and Rita Harper, visual journalist� will present Jackson with the President’s Legacy of Power Award, the Voice of the People Award to Brandon, and the Light of Democracy Award to Lacey.

“The arts have always been a cornerstone of social change. Picture the Power captures the spirit, sacrifice, and strength of Louisiana voters whose acts of courage shape our democracy every day,”� said Shelton.

The exhibit travels to Lake Charles' Imperial Calcasieu Museum September 11 – 25. Then continues October 3 – 10: Davis Studio and Creative Space in Shreveport�, October 17 – 24: Mason Freetown in Lafayette�, and November 10 – 28: Shell Gallery – Arts Council Greater Baton Rouge.

08/24/2025

Poet bears witness and honors voices of Hurricane Katrina survivors https://drumbeatsla.com/donney-rose-katrina As the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Baton Rouge native and poet Donney Rose offers a deeply personal and profoundly important contribution to historical accounts with his latest project, "Down By The Riverside". Set to be performed live in New Orleans and Baton Rouge Tuesday, Rose’s work brings together poetry and oral history to honor survivors and reflect on the storm’s enduring impact.

Hurricane Katrina’s devastation reshaped the physical geography, education system, and communal identity of the city. Its impact continues to be recorded in mainstream retellings and during local commemorations of a tragedy that altered countless lives.

Rose’s "Down By The Riverside" adds to the vital record keeping by delivering a powerful fusion of spoken word poetry and first-person testimonies from ten New Orleanians who lived through the storm.

The project was born from months of conversations and interviews, with Rose drawing from the memories, pain, resilience, and hope shared by his “neighbors to the east.” Their recollections form the backbone of a narrative that is part tribute and part reckoning of the natural disaster, manmade negligence, and the long road to recovery.

Rose, a Baton Rouge native who resides in New Orleans, said the project was "jarring" at times. It is witness and testimony that ensures that the stories of those who lived it remain vivid, urgent, and impossible to ignore.

On Tuesday, August 26, the award-winning poet will present "Down By The Riverside" at the Adinkra Lounge, 1719 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans, and Wednesday, Aug 27, at the Mid City Ballroom, 136 S. Acadian Thruway, in Baton Rouge. Both events are free and open to the public.

This project continues Rose's larger work, The American Audit, a multimedia series of spoken word poetry historical accounts chronicling the nuances of Black American life. The collection is an artistic act of remembrance and resistance.

Rose is a Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow, a teaching artist, and creator at Observations In Blackness.

08/23/2025

08/13/2025

Noncustodial parents have a chance to get ‘On the Road Again’ http://drumbeatsla.com/noncustodial-parents-have-a-chance-to-get-on-the-road-again As Child Support Awareness Month begins, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is announcing a limited-time promotion for parents who have lost their driver's licenses due to unpaid child support. The On the Road Again initiative, running from September 1 to October 31, 2024, offers noncustodial parents whose licenses have been administratively suspended by DCFS an opportunity to have them reinstated for a reduced fee.

“On the Road Again is a win-win for Louisiana families,” said Sammy Guillory, Assistant Secretary of Family Support. “Children benefit from support from both parents, and noncustodial parents can better secure employment and meet their obligations when they have a valid license.”

To get back their licenses, parents must typically be current on child support payments, have paid all past-due amounts, and provide medical insurance for their child if required. During the promotion, parents may be eligible to get their licenses reinstated by paying two months of child support for each case. They must also pay $100 towards any past-due amount for each case, plus any court-ordered fees. For arrears-only cases, the amount due will be determined on a case-by-case basis. These payments are separate from any fines or fees the parent might owe the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles for reinstatement of their license.

Federal law requires child support programs to withhold, suspend, or restrict licenses for unpaid child support. In Louisiana, parents who have not paid court-ordered child support for 90 days can have their driver’s license suspended, as well as their recreational (hunting and fishing), professional (doctors, barbers, etc.) and business licenses.

Noncustodial parents who would like to participate in On the Road Again are encouraged to make an appointment with their child support caseworker to determine the amount they must pay to qualify for the promotion. Full payment by cashier's check, money order or cash is due on or before October 31, 2024. A parent’s license may be suspended again if they miss any future child support payments.

To find out more about the On the Road Again program, visit dcfs.la/otra. To find out if they qualify for the license suspension reinstatement promotion, including how much they must pay to get their license back, noncustodial parents can:



- Complete and submit this online form.
- Send a message to their caseworker on our online CAFÉ portal (www.dcfs.la.gov/cafe).
- Email our Child Support Enforcement staff at [email protected].
- Contact our Customer Service Center at [email protected] or 1-888-LAHelp-U (1-888-524-3578.
- Visit their nearest Child Support office. Visit the DCFS website at www.dcfs.la.gov/offices for locations.