Each year, we comb the state in search of Louisianians who stand out in their professions, give back and represent what’s best about the Pelican State. From teachers and artists to culinary pros and conservationists, these are the individuals enhancing…
Conservation Occupation: Campaign Director, Restore the Mississippi River Delta - Hometown: Houma Simone Maloz Communicating effectively about the environment can be tricky. On the one hand, people need to know the severity of the situation and understand the urgent need…
Education Occupation: Teacher - Hometown: New Orleans Brittany Bonnaffons Louisiana’s Teacher of the Year didn’t always see teaching as her career path. Hahnville High School math teacher Brittany Bonnaffons, 41, was working in corporate America when she started volunteering as…
Healthcare Occupation: Nurse Practitioner - Hometown: Baton Rouge Tanisha Smith When she was in college, Tanisha Smith, the winner of the 2022 Louisiana State Nurses Association’s Nightingale Award, wanted to be a doctor. But when she watched a friend giving…
There are so many activities that are a big part of daily life that people take for granted. That is, they take them for granted until one day those activities become painful and difficult to do. Then seemingly simple tasks…
Louisianians are a diverse bunch, but we have a few common traits. For example, many Louisianians, no matter how close we are to our family, have an independent streak. Strength and persistence also come to mind when you consider people…
Growing up in Houma, Annie Barahona dreamed of working in the medical field. When it came time to decide on a career path, Barahona chose nursing. Sixteen years after starting her nursing journey, the Louisiana State Nurses Association named Barahona…
James Clesi’s restaurant career began as a teenager at the Copeland’s on Veterans Boulevard in New Orleans. He bused tables, then moved to dishwashing. Clesi fell in love with the atmosphere in the kitchen — the smells, the sounds, the…
The word Chalmette native Annelise Cassar Tedesco, the 2022 Louisiana Teacher of the Year, most frequently mentioned in her interview was “community.” She strongly believes in the importance of forming a community at Chalmette High School with both her students…
On what seemed like an ordinary day in September 2020 (or what could pass as ordinary in the 2020s), Mandeville resident Larry Saar felt a little dizziness in the front of his forehead while working at his real estate office.…
In 2015, Phil de Gruy was a successful restaurateur in his 40s. He owned and operated three locations of the popular burger restaurant Phil’s Grill. He had a loving wife and four children. But he was beset by severe stomach…
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were looking for ways to break the monotony safely. Gardening is an activity that can be done while socially distancing and there are many physical and mental health benefits. “You get to go outside,…
If you’re looking to eat healthier, there are many simple switches you can make to help you achieve that goal. But before looking at swaps, Molly Kimball, a registered dietitian at Ochsner Fitness Center, says self-knowledge is key. If you’re…
This past year has been full of anxiety and uncertainty for people across the globe. That is also true for children, who have endured months of staying at home, as well as separation from friends and fun activities. Even though…
When the news mentions the “novel coronavirus”, sometimes the “novel” part isn’t emphasized enough. It means COVID-19 is completely new, something the world has never seen before. In the fight against it, doctors and government officials alike have scrambled to…
In a life-threatening emergency, seconds matter. When it’s a loved one or friend who’s unresponsive, it can be all too easy to freeze in shock and fear. However, with simple CPR training, you can save a life. Daniel Daire, nurse…
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men (only skin cancer has more cases). The latest estimates from the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) state that over 191,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer per year and…
There is one major source that provides credible ongoing analysis of hospitals: Medicare, which, as the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities, often provides funding for many of the…
At different times and to different degrees, all people experience anxiety in their lives. But how can you manage it? How can you keep your mind from racing nonstop, especially in times like now, amid the COVID-19 fallout? Awareness and…
Louisiana is a social state. Part of that social scene includes drinking — during Mardi Gras, at football tailgate parties, at neighborhood bars and often parents partake (a little) at children’s birthday parties. But what are the best ways to…
Each year, we comb the state in search of Louisianians doing great things at home and, potentially, around the country or even the world. We look for individuals who stand out in their professions, give back and represent what’s best…
Over 50 million Americans have some form of arthritis, and approximately 923,000 of them live in Louisiana (arthritis.org). For some people, the condition may be unavoidable, but there are ways you can make living with arthritis easier. Some of the…
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can result in potentially fatal problems like heart attacks and strokes. According to the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov), Louisiana ranked fifth in the country for deaths by heart disease and third for…
In an era where so much information is at our fingertips, it can sometimes be hard to know how to direct our mental energy. What should Louisianians be most concerned about according to statistics? The numbers point to heart disease,…
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