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American Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- American Press
Jim Beam column:What did those lawmen do?
The arrest of four Louisiana lawmen, the wife of one of them and a private citizen has left some citizens wondering exactly what they did to be indicted by the federal government. The six were allegedly breaking laws that helped immigrants get what are called U visas. The visas help them stay in the country while their asylum cases play out. The indicted lawmen are former Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, Oakdale City Marshal Michael Slaney and former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea. All four pleaded not guilty last week. Alison Doyle, the Oakdale police chief's wife, was accused of rigging a bidding process in the mayor's office where she worked. Chandrakant 'Lala' Patel is a businessman accused of orchestrating the alleged visa fraud scheme. The Advocate in its report on the arrest story said Patel was a mystery to many locals. He was mainly known for running a Subway shop and two convenience stores. Allen Parish Sheriff Douglas Hebert said Patel has no local criminal record. Patel pleaded not guilty Wednesday to all charges filed against him. The Advocate's newly obtained Glenmora police reports provide the first look at what federal prosecutors allege was the bribes-for-visas scheme. The 62-count indictment includes allegations of faked police reports, fraudulent visas for foreign nationals and tens of thousands of dollars in alleged bribes. The newspaper said it portrays Rapides and Allen parishes as an epicenter of immigration fraud on a large scale. Prosecutors said each of the four lawmen got stacks of cash from Patel. Then, hundreds of people received visas based on phony police reports that portrayed them as crime victims or witnesses who were helping authorities. The Advocate said federal authorities haven't released much information about who exactly received the forged visas. Prosecutors allege that Patel and the men used the money to buy two pickup trucks, two campsites on Bundick Lake, an RV, a 2025 Land Rover, a Toyota sport van and other vehicles. Doyle's wife is accused of rigging the bidding process so Patel could acquire two city-owned properties. He paid $56,200 for two properties. Law enforcement officials said the scheme involved 'several central Louisiana parishes,' suggesting a wider reach, and that it could date back to as early as 2015. It's unclear if other public officials are involved. State Attorney General Liz Murrill said she expects her office will lodge additional state charges against the accused. The response of local citizens to the arrests was interesting. Ann Odom, 73, a lifelong Oakdale resident, said, 'Money is the root of all evil.' Oakdale has had other corruption scandals and a gift shop owner said, 'It's everywhere you go. But it's bad here. Really, really bad.' A former fellow Oakdale police officer and childhood friend of Doyle's, who wouldn't give his name, said, 'I honestly thought we wouldn't have stuff like that once (he) became chief.' Forest Hill Mayor Elizabeth Jeter said she was 'deeply saddened' over the indictment of Dixon. 'Forest Hill is a strong, close-know community and we understand how difficult this news is for our residents.' Local law enforcement in Rapides Parish said they've never had any real problems with any noncitizens, either way. District Attorney Phillip Terrell, 'Off the top of my head, I'm not aware of any felony cases that we have out of Forest Hill or Glenmora. There's not much activity there, other than, apparently, the fraudulent activity.' The Advocate in an editorial about the lawmen being arrested reminded its readers that an indictment is only an innocent until proven guilty. It said the lawmen, like those swept up in all the immigration raids that have taken place this year, deserve humane treatment and due process. '… The elderly man on his way to work in Lafayette, the nursing mother in Baton Rouge who showed up for a scheduled immigration appointment or the woman gardening in her New Orleans yard are not the problem with the nation's immigration system,' the editorial said. Targeting those folks is cruel, but that isn't the worst part. How about those arrested immigrants who are being sent to countries they have never been to before? They aren't getting the humane treatment and due process that the six who were arrested for fraud will be getting. Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or
American Press
19-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
Jim Beam column:Remembering the Piccadilly
The lines at the former Piccadilly cafeterias in Lake Charles are long gone, but the memories of the favorite establishments have been reawakened.(Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor). What do you think of when you think of Piccadilly? The Advocate in a Thursday story about the once famous cafeteria chain asked that question right off the bat, and it brought back some pleasant memories. My family years ago headed straight for the Piccadilly cafeteria on Ryan Street right after church when our two children were youngsters. Jamie and Bryan weren't happy about having to stand in the always-long lines of churchgoers, but the wait was always worth it. We also ate at the Piccadilly on Wednesday evenings and always saw a lot of people we knew whether at the Piccadilly on Ryan or the Piccadilly at the Prien Lake Mall. When I covered the Louisiana Legislature in Baton Rouge for many years, I ate often at two Piccadilly cafeterias. They were a great place to go when you got tired of eating sandwiches and hamburgers and wanted some meat and vegetables. The newspaper said Piccadilly was founded in downtown Baton Rouge by T.H. Hamilton in 1944. The headline on the story also asked. 'How has Piccadilly weathered the decades?' Some who remember the two local Piccadilly cafeterias that closed may recall there was talk about another Piccadilly opening at the mall. However, that turned out to be an unwelcome rumor. After the Piccadilly chain purchased Morrison Restaurants Inc. in 1998, Piccadilly had about 270 locations. Now, there are only 30 Piccadilly cafeterias left. There are four in Baton Rouge and one each in Denham Springs, Gretna, Lafayette, Metairie, Monroe and Shreveport. The others are in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. Peter Ricchiuti, a business professor at Tulane University, and his students worked to study and track numerous public companies, including Piccadilly in the 1990s. They determined the purchase of Morrison's was a huge blunder for the company because people had loyalty to their own brand of cafeteria. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2003 because of poor performance. It was purchased by Piccadilly Investments. The purchase took the company private after 27 years of being a public company. It filed for bankruptcy again in 2012. In 2014, it was purchased by Falcon Holdings, which is known for revitalizing struggling businesses. The decline of Piccadilly is also a story about changing times. Cafeteria-style dining has fallen out of vogue, and the chain has long struggled to court younger customers. The Tulane professor said, 'If you're not from the South, you associate cafeterias with the worst times in your life — like being hospitalized or being in middle school. That's what they're fighting against.' In the 70s and 80s, fast food became a much larger part of the American diet, and since Piccadilly's heyday, dining out in general has become a bigger thing. The newspaper said in an attempt to cut costs, keep up with the times or adapt to the economy, Piccadilly also lost some defining features. At one time, there were cloth napkins, some live music and commissioned murals. Jeannine Gerald Schutte, 70, was hired to play the piano at the Piccadilly at Bon Marche Mall in Baton Rouge when she was in high school (1968-72) and got free meals. Her favorite was mac and cheese and chocolate pie for dessert. Schutte talked about busloads of soldiers stopping and readers wrote the newspaper about their baseball or basketball teams stopping at the Piccadilly cafeteria for meals. Seniors on gambling or vacation trips do that these days at fast food places, and you don't want to be there. The Advocate said a former executive vice president of Piccadilly said Mother's Day was the biggest day of their year from 1971 to 2001. One Piccadilly customer said something that best defines what Piccadilly means to a lot of people. 'Piccadilly is all about family,' he said. 'It's about places that you went with your parents, with your children, maybe your extended family.' He said it was a place he loved to go to and spend quality time together and it was a time in his life when getting together with his three kids over a meal was easy. Yes, it was great. And when Jo Ann, my late wife, and I took a dozen medical trips to Houston every year, we always ate at a Luby's cafeteria. My daughter and I still do that when we make those rare trips now. Do you have any personal memories of the Piccadilly cafeteria? Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or
American Press
16-07-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Jim Beam column:Independent thinkers are rare
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, is leaving Congress like others who are frustrated about the failure of members of Congress to compromise for the good of the country.(Photo courtesy of Nebraska Public Media). Moderates are leaving Congress as fast as chickens would run from an open coop. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who said his fifth term would be his last, is among the latest. The Advocate last week ran two columns talking about moderates leaving Congress. Kathleen Parker wrote about U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, announcing he wouldn't seek re-election after President Donald Trump threatened to support primary challengers to any Republican who dared oppose his Big Beautiful Bill Act. Parker said a lengthening line of dropouts that GOP members like to call RINOs — Republicans in Name Only — have left office since Trump first became president. Steve Roberts in his column said, 'While Trump had promised to protect Medicaid funding, Tillis argued that his bill would eventually deprive almost 12 million Americans of health care coverage, including 663,000 in Tillis' home state. Tillis joined all 47 Democrats and Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Susan Collins in voting against Trump's BBB Act. Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to pass the bill. The Nebraska Examiner quoted Bacon when he announced he was leaving Congress who said, 'I hope to be remembered for … I'm a Christian, first … American, second … somewhere down here being a Republican. It's about doing the right thing .. I'm a traditional conservative at heart.' Like Louisiana's Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge, Bacon cast a pivotal vote for President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill that put him at odds with Trump. After the vote, Trump criticized Bacon during a May 2022 visit to Nebraska, calling him 'bad news.' His political team worked for years to recruit potential GOP primary challengers. The Examiner said, 'But Bacon kept winning and continued to publicly spar with Trump…' Bacon did vote for the BBB Act and was criticized for it by some national and Nebraska public officials. NBC News in a story about Bacon's retirement from Congress said he spent 30 years in the Air Force and specialized in intelligence matters. He is a retired brigadier general who did four tours of duty in Iraq and also spent time in Afghanistan. The NBC report said Bacon is one of the few sitting Republicans willing to publicly criticize Trump who has a reputation for retaliating against his enemies and ending their political careers. Bacon insisted that neither the public feuds with Trump nor the violent threats he and his wife have faced had any impact on his decision to leave Congress. He said he didn't have the 'fire in my belly' for another congressional run. The news about Bacon caught my attention because, like me, he is a strong defender of Ukraine in its war with Russia. He has a photograph on the wall of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And he has consistently been critical of Trump's handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Trump's 'appeasement' of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered a pause in sending a shipment of missiles and ammunition to Ukraine and Bacon said whoever ordered the weapons pause should be fired. Bacon said, 'If Ukraine falls, the world's a more dangerous place. I really don't understand why President Trump doesn't see that. And if Ukraine goes down, Moldova will definitely fall. I think Georgia is in trouble.' Although he said he was embarrassed to say it, Bacon said, 'President Trump has done worse than Biden (on Ukraine). I don't like it. He seems to have a blind spot with Putin. I don't know what purpose it serves to withhold weapons to Ukraine and not see that Putin is the invader.' Trump has since resumed weapons for Ukraine, but the delay has been costly in terms of lives lost and damage in Ukraine. Bacon added, 'I do believe that if I was president, I'd be trying to provide Ukraine with every weapon they needed to convince Putin he has no chance to win.' He added that he wished GOP Vice President JD Vance 'saw the Russian threat a little better.' Tillis confirmed where this country is at the moment when he said, 'In Washington over the last few years, it's become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species.' Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Prime Healthcare vows to keep Sisters of Mercy mission alive at medical center in Aurora
For years it has been said that the good Sisters of Mercy would be rolling over in their graves if they could see what's happened to the Aurora hospital they founded in 1911. It's no secret Mercy Medical Center has struggled for years with an identity crisis as those wonderful – and aging — nuns relinquished their role in community health care to corporate America. Under a series of new owners and/or names – starting with Provena Mercy in 1997, then Presence Mercy, then AMITA Health Mercy – the Aurora hospital went through so many changes it could not even keep up with the signage in front of this once-venerated facility. But hope springs eternal. In 2022, Ascension Health, which had been part of Presence and then AMITA, took sole ownership of Mercy. And hospital leaders, acknowledging Mercy's watered-down reputation, promised a return to its Catholic roots that were planted on the grounds of integrity and compassion for so many generations. 'People that come here need us, many don't have access to health care. We teach all staff members that everyone deserves the same high level of care. This is what our patients, our community deserves,' said then hospital President Rich Roehr as the medical center held a Blessing and Rebrand Celebration. Unfortunately, Mercy didn't seem to have a prayer after Advocate Healthcare, which completed its takeover of Aurora's beloved Dreyer Medical Clinic in 2017, deserted this venerated hospital in the state's second-largest city by demanding its network of doctors bring patients to other Advocate hospitals, including Good Samaritan in Downer's Grove. Enter Prime Healthcare, which claims to be the medical center's savior. According to this California-based corporation, the eight Illinois Ascension hospitals Prime acquired in March were losing nearly nearly $200 million annually and in danger of closing. But Mercy Medical Center, according to spokesperson Michael Deering, faced particularly difficult circumstances when, in a 'deeply disruptive move,' Advocate required its physicians to relinquish privileges at Mercy, 'preventing them from continuing to care for their patients at the hospital' and requiring them to travel 45 minutes or more to the next closest Advocate facility. It was indeed a tumultuous time – for patients and staff. But Prime's purchase of these Ascension hospitals for more than $370 million involved its own controversial changes, including the fact that six of these eight Illinois hospitals, Mercy among them, went from nonprofit to for-profit. Prime also announced in June the elimination of more than 100 jobs collectively – including chief medical officer at Mercy, which is now under a regional CMO – with more cuts to come through July. And in April Mercy lost its designation as a Level II trauma center from the Illinois Department of Public Health because of staffing shortages, which created more criticism, including from Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora. So are the sisters once more on a roll? We all realize health care across the board is far different than when the late Sister Dorothy Burns was CEO of this Aurora hospital that, even back in 1996, stood out among other Illinois Catholic hospitals because nuns still lived and worked on the Mercy campus. So just how Catholic is Mercy Medical Center these days? I posed that question to the Rockford Diocese, which specifically pointed out that Prime is a for-profit corporation and therefore Mercy and Elgin's St. Joseph Hospital are 'not Catholic institutions.' Nor will they be included in the next edition of the Official Catholic Directory of the United States, the diocese noted in a responding email. However, the statement continued, Prime has 'committed to continue the moral, ethical and Catholic tradition, practices and teachings at those acquired hospitals, including the Ethical and Religious Directives approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.' According to the diocese, this allows Prime to 'maintain the hospitals' Catholic names, maintain chapels where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and to continue to use Catholic symbols and imagery,' including, I might add, the beautiful life-size statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mercy's surgery waiting room, which I wrote about a few years ago because her rosary would sometimes go missing. While no money was exchanged to keep the hospital name, Prime owner Prem Reddy did seek and receive permission for the purchase of the hospitals, which included personally delivering the agreement to the Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy, according to Deering. That final step was completed just days before the sale, which 'underscored the trust placed in Prime Healthcare to the legacy and mission of these hospitals,' he added. Charity of course was the focus of the Sisters of Mercy. And Prime had an immediate response, with its spokesman noting that the corporation 'has provided more than $14 billion in charity and uncompensated care,' which 'exceeds those previously in place under Ascension' while also 'going beyond state requirements.' The statement also pointed out its focus on holistic healing, which includes meaningful investments in spiritual care services such as the continuation of chaplain programs, support for prayer/reflection spaces and resources 'to ensure patients of all faiths and belief systems receive respectful holistic care.' Concerns continue, of course. I've heard from at least a dozen past and present employees, including doctors and nurses, who have been understandably shaken by the many changes at Mercy and worried about its future. But on a positive note, in May the Aurora medical center received an 'A' ranking in patient safety from the independent hospital watchdog organization Leapfrog – from data compiled from 2024 and earlier. And on Thursday, a press release from Prime announced the Aurora hospital also earned top grades from the health care think tank Lown Institute in the areas of clinical outcomes, health equity, social responsibility, community benefit, pay equity, inclusivity and cost efficiency. 'Hospitals are facing unprecedented political and financial challenges,' said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, in the statement. 'In this uncertain environment, it's more important than ever to support socially responsible hospitals that are delivering high-quality care to all in their community.' Prime, which touts its success in turning around struggling community hospitals across the nation, insists this quality will continue. In the first three months following acquisition, the health care group has already completed or initiated investments of more than $104 million in state of the art technology, equipment, systems and plant upgrades, Deering said. At Mercy specifically, early capital investments have included an elite electronic medical records system, advanced imaging and cardiovascular monitoring systems, as well as enhancements in its catheterization lab, officials said. And just as Ascension Mercy leaders pointed out in that rebranding celebration a few years ago, Deering says Prime Healthcare is focused on addressing the gap in mental health, particularly for older residents. Already, he continued, Prime has budgeted over $10 million for preliminary construction costs for the expansion of senior behavioral health programs and facilities. On that topic, Deering told me the Crisis Stabilization Unit – the first of its kind in Illinois when it opened a few years ago to deal with adults experiencing a critical mental health emergency – was closed by Ascension because of low volume and staffing shortages, but that Prime is 'reevaluating opening the CSU' as it considers improving access to behavioral health services. 'Mercy Medical Center continues to embody its founding spirit, now strengthened by Prime's investment, stewardship and unwavering dedication to healing the whole person with compassion, dignity and respect,' he added. All of which sounds like a vow the sisters would approve of, along with all our prayers Mercy's new leaders give the Aurora community what it needs and deserves.
Malaysian Reserve
30-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Eyemart Express' 10th Annual Stand Up To Cancer Fundraiser Champions Cancer Research
Optical retailer will donate $5 for every pair of SU2C glasses sold June 30-Aug. 30 in stores and online DALLAS, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — What started as a single fundraiser for cancer research in 153 Eyemart Express stores a decade ago, has become a powerful tradition to fight the disease that will claim the lives of more than 600,000 Americans this year. With the goal of raising more than $1 million, the leading optical retailer is inviting shoppers to join in supporting nonprofit Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) and its cutting-edge research efforts by purchasing SU2C frames through Aug. 30. Now in its 10th year, Eyemart Express' fundraiser for SU2C is now underway, rallying support both in the retailer's brick-and-mortar stores, which today totals 262 nationwide, and online store. For every pair of the 25 dedicated frames in the SU2C collection sold, Eyemart Express and Visual Eyes Eyewear will donate $5, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $30,000. With inspirational names such as 'Brave,' 'Advocate,' and 'Cure,' the unisex frames start at $69.95 and feature an assortment of on-trend colorful plastic styles in square shapes and traditional metal designs. 'Our mission to improve the lives of people and make a difference in the fight against cancer is simple,' say Katy Hanson, Eyemart Express chief marketing and merchandising officer. 'Shopping with us during this time lets you check off your to-do list of updating your prescription lenses or style with new glasses and contributing to the future of cancer research in a meaningful way.' Eyemart Express' decade of supporting SU2C proves that everyday eyewear purchases can have an extraordinary impact on people's lives. Visit a local Eyemart Express store or shop online to join SU2C's mission to raise awareness and fund research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Get more information about the nonprofit organization here. About Eyemart ExpressEyemart Express is more than just a local eye care provider—we are eye care experts embedded in the fabric of our local communities. Doctor-founded in 1990, our team has grown alongside our customers and their families, bringing quality and accessible eye care services to each town we serve. Partnerships with local optometrists, skilled lab specialists, and local labs enable us to deliver glasses in as little as 30 minutes in our 262 stores nationwide. We offer a seamless blend of the latest technology, comprehensive eye care, and genuine human connection to deliver glasses that are 'Made Today, Shipped Tomorrow' anywhere in the United States. Eyemart Express is a VSP Vision™ company that ranks among the top optical retailers in the country with its family of brands: Vision 4 Less, Visionmart Express, and Eyewear Express. For more information about Eyemart Express, visit
