Latest news with #BatonRouge
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana Fish Fry Appoints Joe Tuza as Chief Executive Officer
BATON ROUGE, La., July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Louisiana Fish Fry ("LFF"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of authentic, Louisiana-inspired food products, has announced the appointment of Joe Tuza as Chief Executive Officer. Bringing deep expertise cultivated over three decades across brand building, innovation, and go-to-market strategy in the consumer packaged goods space, Joe will drive the acceleration of Louisiana Fish Fry's strategic growth initiatives and help to solidify its reputation as a market leader for years to come. "We're thrilled to welcome Joe as the new CEO of Louisiana Fish Fry," said Daniel Penn, Managing Director at MidOcean Partners, majority owner of LFF. "Joe's appointment as CEO marks a strategic milestone for the business. Leveraging Joe's proven leadership and significant operating experience will allow LFF to catalyze its next chapter of strategic growth as we continue to build on the brand's rich legacy and recent momentum." Joe brings more than 30 years of experience in the food and consumer products industries, with a strong track record of brand development, leadership, innovation, and growth. Most recently, he served as Chief Growth Officer at Sauer Brands, where he was responsible for driving revenue and margin growth across a broad portfolio of brands such as Duke's Mayonnaise, Mateo's Salsa and Kernel Season's. Prior to Sauer, Joe served in a variety of senior leadership roles at blue-chip companies including T. Marzetti, Del Monte, StarKist, and Nestlé Purina. "I'm honored to join Louisiana Fish Fry and help build on its well-established heritage and reputation for quality," said Joe. "This is a brand with deep roots, a passionate consumer following, and an exciting portfolio of authentic Louisiana-inspired food products. I look forward to working with the talented team here to expand our impact and bring great-tasting food to more tables across the country." About Louisiana Fish FryLouisiana Fish Fry is a leading manufacturer and distributor of Louisiana-inspired food products founded in 1982 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With origins rooted in a local seafood and produce market, the company has grown into a trusted national brand known for delivering bold, authentic Cajun-style flavors to kitchens across the country. Its product offerings include batters and coatings, seasonings, seafood boils, sauces, marinades, entrée mixes, and more. All products are proudly made in the USA, with operations based in Baton Rouge. LFF was acquired by MidOcean Partners in 2021. For more information, visit: About MidOcean PartnersMidOcean Partners is a premier New York-based alternative asset manager specializing in middle-market private equity, alternative credit, and structured equity. Since its inception in 2003, MidOcean Private Equity has targeted investments in high-quality middle-market companies in the consumer and business services sectors. MidOcean Credit was launched in 2009 and currently manages a series of alternative credit strategies, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and customized separately managed accounts. For more information, visit: Louisiana Fish Fry Media:The DoorLouisianafishfry@ MidOcean Media:Prosek PartnersPro-MidOcean@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Louisiana Fish Fry Products
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields speaks on ‘The Big Beautiful Bill'
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Congressman Cleo Fields sharply criticized a newly passed federal bill, calling it damaging to Louisiana residents and favoring the wealthy at the expense of the poor. 'I really do not see how it is beautiful for Louisiana because of the impact it is going to have on the people of Louisiana,' Fields said. He pointed to a $4.4 billion tax break for the wealthy included in the legislation, which also slashes more than $1 trillion in healthcare funding, potentially leaving millions without insurance. Fields said roughly 260,000 Louisiana residents could lose coverage, including 36,000 in his own district. The congressman also condemned a $1.1 billion proposed cut to public broadcasting, saying it would harm rural parishes in his district, where many residents rely on public media during hurricanes and other natural disasters. In response to the bill, Fields outlined three new proposals: a teacher loan forgiveness program for educators who serve eight years in Louisiana public schools, universal early childhood education starting at age two, and a measure to allow SNAP recipients to use benefits for grocery delivery in food deserts. 'It's not as controversial as it may sound, because I think we all want people to have healthy foods,' Fields said. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy defended the legislation, saying it would benefit workers, students, patients, and seniors across the state. 'We help those on Medicaid by strengthening the program and ensuring that those on it receive the care they need,' Cassidy said. 'For most seniors, we cut taxes and protected Social Security. We also included a $50 billion rural hospital fund to preserve access to care in rural areas.' Cassidy added that he, President Trump, and fellow Republicans are united in 'putting Americans first' through the bill. 'We're working together to secure these wins for people in Louisiana—and there's more to come,' he said. Latest News Gunman kills four, including NYPD officer, in Manhattan skyscraper shooting New Orleans Saints defensive line shines in padded practice Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields speaks on 'The Big Beautiful Bill' New Orleans Saints safety Julian Blackmon finally teams up with Brandon Staley Zachary Rouses, shopping center prepares for major upgrades Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Contract employee dies at LSU Tiger Stadium Monday afternoon
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A contract employee at LSU's Tiger Stadium reportedly died in the venue after a medical emergency. According to LSU, on-site personnel attempted first aid Monday afternoon but were not successful. The workers' identity has not been shared at this time. The university released the following statement after the incident. 'We are saddened to share that a contract employee experienced a medical emergency earlier today at Tiger Stadium. On-site personnel responded with first aid, but the individual could not be revived. Our thoughts are with their family and colleagues.' LSU No further details were immediately available. Latest News Gunman kills four, including NYPD officer, in Manhattan skyscraper shooting New Orleans Saints defensive line shines in padded practice Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields speaks on 'The Big Beautiful Bill' New Orleans Saints safety Julian Blackmon finally teams up with Brandon Staley Zachary Rouses, shopping center prepares for major upgrades Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Child molestation survivor revisits case of his father killing his accused abuser on live TV
A child abuse survivor whose father shot his accused abuser to death in plain view of television news cameras in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the 1980s says he suggests parents whose children are molested 'not to take the law into your own hands and put yourself in a position to be prosecuted'. Instead, 'I would advise [them] … to be there for their child,' Joseph Boyce 'Jody' Plauché remarked in a new interview that was recently published by People. Plauché's comments revisited the slaying of his karate coach Jeff Doucet at the hands of his father, Gary Plauché, which was once one of the US's most sensational criminal cases. Jody was 10 when Doucet became his karate coach and began molesting the boy, as Plauché recounted in a 2019 memoir. In February 1984, Doucet drove an 11-year-old Jody to a relative's home in Port Arthur, Texas, and then they took a bus to the Los Angeles area to visit Disneyland. Doucet and Jody were there for about a week, and authorities found them in a motel room after the man let the boy make a collect call to his mother. The boy was quickly brought home, and tests confirmed he had been sexually assaulted. Two deputies from the sheriff's office in Baton Rouge flew to California to bring Doucet back on charges of kidnapping and child sexual abuse, and Gary Plauché learned from someone at the Louisiana news station WBRZ when the karate coach was arriving at the local airport. Gary Plauché went to the airport in sunglasses and a baseball cap and lay in wait. As officers walked past him with a handcuffed Doucet, Gary Plauché aimed a handgun at the 25-year-old's right ear, fired point-blank and killed him as news cameras filmed. Video recorded one of the deputies who helped arrest Jody's father – and recognized him – as he shouted: 'Gary, why? Why, Gary? Why?' Gary Plauché – who instantly became a vigilante hero to many Americans at the time – eventually pleaded no contest to a manslaughter charge, spent five years on probation and avoided serving any time in prison. He died in 2014 at age 69. Jody, who would go on to title his memoir Why Gary Why?, later told the Associated Press how people constantly approached him to exalt his father long after the case fell out of the news headlines. Well into his adulthood, he would post cooking videos online – and rather than weigh in on his dishes, viewers would write comments commending his father. 'They won't comment: 'That gumbo looks great,'' Jody said to the AP. 'They'll just be like: 'Your dad's a hero.'' But in his recent conversation with People, the 53-year-old Jody Plauché said his father 'got lucky' that he didn't face a harsher sentence which would have taken him away from his son at a crucial time in his recovery from his sexual abuse. He said he even gave his father the silent treatment for a couple of months after Doucet's killing. 'I didn't want Jeff dead – I didn't want daddy to hurt Jeff,' Jody Plauché said to People of his state of mind at the time. 'I just wanted Jeff to stop doing what he was doing, which he never would've, but that was just the hope back then, the prayers I would say at night.' Jody Plauché said he forgave his father after seeing Gary and his mother 'getting along really [well]' in the aftermath of the deadly shooting. He had done that upon accepting that authorities would not come take Gary away at a time when his boy needed him, as Jody told People. During one of the rare conversations they had about Doucet's slaying, Jody recalled, 'I told him … 'I'm not mad at you no more. I understand why you did it.'' Jody said he remembered Gary responding with something to the effect of: 'I love you.' As Jody tells it, he later earned a general studies degree at Louisiana State University with minors in speech, communication and psychology. He worked in Pennsylvania as a sexual assault counselor for seven years, returned to Baton Rouge in 2005 after his father suffered a stroke, and took a job at his brother's transportation company. Jody Plauché has said that the purpose of Why, Gary, Why? is to give hope and knowledge to survivors and their parents, respectively. 'I wanted outsiders to get a general understanding about sexual violence and sexual abuse,' said Jody Plauché, now a vocal advocate for child molestation survivors. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rutgers is targeting LSU administrator as next athletics director, per reports
The search for Rutgers' new athletics director appears to finally be ending. The university has narrowed its search to Keli Zinn, the executive deputy athletics director and chief operating officer for Louisiana State, according to multiple reports. Rutgers' newly hired president William Tate was previously at LSU in the same role, so Tate has clear familiarity with Zinn, who's been in Baton Rouge since 2022. Zinn at LSU oversees all 21 varsity programs with direct oversight over football, revenue generation and capital projects – all areas important for Rutgers. Zinn previously was the deputy AD at West Virginia, her alma mater. She's also worked at Maryland and as a compliance assistant with the Big East before that. If Rutgers finalizes the hiring of Zinn, it would end a long search for the new athletics director, a role that became open when Pat Hobbs resigned last August. Ryan Pisarri became interim AD at the time, but he recently left to become the AD at Tufts. Matt Colagiovanni is the current interim athletics director. NJ Advance Media reported Rutgers had targeted longtime sports administrator Brian Lafemina, a Rutgers alumnus, as its top candidate, but he pulled his name from the search. Rutgers needs a new AD to stabilize the department at a time of ongoing change in college athletics. It's been a long time since Rutgers has had a full-time athletics director in place - Patrick Hobbs resigned from the job in August 2024 - but that could be changing soon. This article originally appeared on Rutgers targeting LSU administrator as next AD, per reports
