ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascension, the nations largest non-profit health system, has begun a collaboration with Plug and Play Tech Center, a global innovation, investor and technology accelerator that supports innovative startups across multiple business sectors, including health and wellness.

This collaboration gives Ascension new opportunities to support our efforts to lead the transformation of healthcare. Plug and Play Tech Center offers us a defined, targeted method of spotting innovation in healthcare and wellness early on to solve problems and meet evolving consumer needs where, when and how they prefer, said Jim Beckmann, Chief Operating Officer of Ascension Holdings, part of Ascensions Solutions division. We know the future of healthcare lies in offering greater value and in empowering consumers, and teaming with Plug and Play gives us another tool in the toolbox to achieve that goal.

Plug and Play Tech Centers Health and Wellness Technology Accelerator connects forward-thinking organizations, corporations and investors with startups in the health and wellness industry around such broad topics as wellness, longevity and digital health. Each year, the accelerator provides two 12-week intensive programs for some 40 health-related companies, culled from thousands of applicants. These young companies then are connected with sponsoring organizations like Ascension for coaching, mentoring and testing ideas.

We are excited to welcome Ascension as an Anchor Partner in our Health program along leading corporations such as Johnson&Johnson, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, University of Mississippi Medical Center and Boehringer Ingelheim. Our partnership with Ascension provides the startups with access to the largest non-profit provider in the US for possible business development and investment opportunities, says Saeed Amidi, Founder & CEO of Plug and Play. We look forward to opening up our global ecosystem to their team and providing a soft landing to the Silicon Valley.

We looked at multiple accelerators before teaming with Plug and Play Tech Center, one of the largest and most successful multinational accelerators with a solid pipeline and proven processes, said Chris Young, Ascension Vice President of Innovation. These startups may be two or three people creating a new technology or method in their garage, or they may be further along as a budding business.

Young said Ascension is looking for innovative solutions and ideas to help the national health system deliver compassionate, personalized care, and this collaboration offers a new way to connect with the best new ideas as they emerge. He added, We know healthcare is a very difficult industry to break into as a startup, and we want to break down those barriers to bring exciting ideas and approaches to those we are privileged to serve.

About Ascension Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the worlds largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 150,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers. Ascensions Healthcare Division operates 2,500 sites of care including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities in 24 states and the District of Columbia, while its Solutions Division provides a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascensions own group purchasing organization.

About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. We connect startups to corporations and invest in over 150 companies every year. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in 24 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 6,000 startups and 180 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 365 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over$6 billionin funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visitwww.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

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Ascension Teams with Plug and Play Tech Center to Connect with Health and Wellness Startups - Business Wire (press release)

Press Release

Statement of Alderman Khalif J. Rainey - August 11, 2017

The announcement by Ascension that it will preserve the Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph Campus Hospital, the only hospital in Sherman Park and a strong and stabilizing partner in the neighborhood, is absolutely great news. I want to take this time to publicly thank them.

As one of the only safety-net hospitals in the city, St. Josephs future was unclear for some time. So many of my constituents were born at St. Josephs and so many more have been healed there. The loss of the hospital would have been devastating to the Sherman Park community. Ascension has consistently demonstrated a stakeholder and strong neighbor position to the area and securing the future of St. Josephs only adds to their commitment.

Through optimizing care at their multiple hospitals in Milwaukee, Ascension has provided a great service not only to the Sherman Park community, but to the entire City of Milwaukee.

Ascension has reaffirmed its support for the Sherman Park neighborhood and I look forward to many more years of partnership.

Go here to see the original:

Ascension committed to St. Joseph Hospital for the long haul - urbanmilwaukee (press release)

It seems a team of five has found an unbeatable strategy for the Ascension rotating game mode.

According to Reddit user TheCheeZZ, who made a post on the League of Legends subreddit on Tuesday, he and some friends were matched into an Ascension game with a team that chose all tank champions. The tank team refused to do any damage or attack and simply died over and over again. Every time they could back, they bought tank items. Eventually, the team that wasnt being attacked, TheCheeZZs team, couldnt do damage to the tanks anymore, because in Ascension, you can only buy items when you die.

TheCheeZZ said his team surrendered right around the 60 minute mark after it became clear that they could neither take objectives thanks to the tank teams collection of Sunfire Capes which interrupt the objective taking mechanic in Ascension or fight, meaning that the tank team won, despite doing almost nothing.

The thread was updated shortly after to reflect the fact that, in a moment of frustration TheCheeZZs team reported the tank team, and the team ended up receiving a 14 day ban. The protests came shortly after, with other Reddit users upset that the team was banned for a strategy that isnt explicitly outlawed. Riot responded to the players concerns.

According to a tweet from Rioter Ben Forbes, the bans were reversed and the players that were banned were contacted.

The official League of Legends Reddit account then posted a follow-up thread stating that they know that the pacifist strategy is horrifically unhealthy, and theyll be looking for a way to fix that. The players were unbanned because despite it being a completely unfun way to play, they were playing with the intent to win.

We can probably expect some changes to Ascension the next time its on the Public Beta Environment.

Originally posted here:

Bizarre Pacifist Ascension strategy leads to player bans that were later reversed - The Rift Herald

National security specialist to address Ascension GOP Roundtable

Jim LeBlanc, vice president of the New Orleans Chapter of InfraGard, will be the featured speaker at the Ascension GOP Roundtable sponsored by Ascension Republican Women. The Roundtable begins with a meet-and-greet at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at Galvez Seafood, 40306 La. 42, Suite 9, in Prairieville.

The program starts at noon.

Candidates in the 2017 elections are welcome to meet with guests at all Ascension Republican Women meetings.

InfraGard is a nonprofit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U. S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cost for lunch is $16. The event is open to the public; but reservations are requested. Call (225) 644-5728 or (225) 921-5187 or email arwrus@aol.com

Artists and photographers of all ages are invited to share their creative efforts with others at the River Community Church art and photography exhibit. The churchs Creativity Group is sponsoring the free exhibit, which will run Aug. 20 to Oct. 1. This is an exhibit only; no ribbons will be awarded.

Art will be accepted through Aug. 16; call the church before dropping off to make sure someone is there. Framed or gallery-wrapped canvas art and photography with wire hangers on back should be brought to the church, 36367 Old Perkins Road. Attach a card with artists name, medium and title of work.

RCC Creativity Group meets twice a month on Wednesdays at the Prairieville church. Members work on a variety of individual creative projects including drawing, painting, knitting, art quilts, beading and scrapbooking. Group members are mentored by the other artists in the group.

For information about the show or the group, contact Jennifer Ferguson at jennifer@rivercommunity.org or call the church office at (225) 744-4367.

The Dialogue on Race series, an educational process for the elimination of racism, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 22 to Sept. 26, at the Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown.

Understanding what racism is and how it operates through institutions is the core of this educational process. This six-session series is a structured two-hour weekly series led by trained facilitators.

Space is limited. To register to participate in this series, call (225) 673-8699.

For information about the series, call Maxine Crump at (225) 274-6902 or email info@dialogueonracelouisiana.org.

Continued here:

Around Ascension for Aug. 10, 2017 - The Advocate

GONZALES A nonprofit group of business leaders pushing to change Ascension Parish's form of government announced on Thursday plans to hold the first of three community meetings on Aug. 21 in Prairieville.

A Better Ascension wants voters to change the home rule charter and do away with the elected parish president in favor of a Parish Council-appointed parish manager in a bid backers say would improve government efficiency.

Critics have already emerged who oppose the proposal, saying it would deprive voters of being able to directly elect parish government's top executive.

We believe our proposed charter amendments will make the Ascension government more effective, in addition to making our parish a better place in which to live, said Jamie Bourgeois, A Better Ascension board member, said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to meeting with our neighbors throughout Ascension to present our amendments and, more importantly, to listen to their feedback.

A Better Ascension officials had earlier proposed four meetings starting Monday but, with the latest announcement, they have pushed back the meetings' start date and reduced their number to three. The meetings will be at the following locations:

*Monday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Sammy's Grill, Prairieville.

*Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 p.m. Church of Donaldsonville, Donaldsonville.

*Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. City Room.

During the meetings, the Better Ascension board plans to present the proposed amendments, data showing how the Parish Council-parish manager form of government would benefit Ascension, success stories from other communities and an explanation of the process of approving the charter amendments, Better Ascension officials said. The public is invited and will have a chance for questions and answers after the initial presentation, officials said in the statement.

Brandon Trosclair, A Better Ascension board member, said the group wants feedback and buy-in from the community.

A majority of voters in the parish must approve any change to the home rule charter, the parish's plan of government. For an amendment even to get on the ballot, two-thirds or eight members of the 11-member Parish Council, must agree to put the measure on the ballot.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

Continue reading here:

A Better Ascension announces meetings about parish manager plan - The Advocate

None of the parish's golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didn't stop many of the area's stars from putting up tremendous performances.

None of the parishs golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didnt stop many of the areas stars from putting up tremendous performances.

Due to this strong play, four of the parishs golfers were recently named to the Baton Rouge areas All-Metro teams.

Three male competitors made the Division I-II squad. Two of those selections came from Dutchtown.

These All-Metro standouts were Jacob Merritt and Collin Stinson. Both golfers put up identical numbers in certain statistical categories this past season.

Merritt and Stinson both scored an 88 at the Metro tournament, and both Griffins shot four over par during the regular season.

The other parish stalwart that made the All-Metro boys team was St. Amants Ben Wilcher. Wilcher finished the regular season with a 3.5 shots over par average.

Zacharys Brady Bennett was named the Division I-II Outstanding Player. Two of his teammates joined him on the All-Metro team.

Catholic of Baton Rouge placed a team-high four golfers on the squad.

As for the girls, only one Ascension standout was about to make the All-Metro team. She also came from Dutchtown.

Hagan Bell was the Lady Griffins lone selection.

Anna Heine of St. Josephs Academy was named the areas Outstanding Player.

St. Josephs and Zachary each placed two golfers on the All-Metro team.

Division I-II All-Metro boys team:

Brady Bennett (Zachary), Tyler Armstrong (Zachary), Andrew Bennett (Zachary), Carson Caruso (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jonathan Ellis (Catholic of Baton Rouge), D.J. Johnson (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jacob Merritt (Dutchtown), Luke Miller (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Collin Stinson (Dutchtown), Max Trapp (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Ben Wilcher (St. Amant)

All-Metro girls team:

Anna Heine (St. Josephs Academy), Hagan Bell (Dutchtown), Claire Harrington (St. Josephs Academy), Riely Heaslip (Episcopal), Whitley Moore (St. Michael), Kylie OBrien (Zachary), Brooke Riley (Parkview Baptist), Skylar Johnson (University)

See the rest here:

Four Ascension golf standouts make All-Metro teams - Weekly Citizen

DONALDSONVILLE Ascension Parish government's auditors say the parish ended 2016 flush with cash despite having spent more than $12 million from its reserves on flood recovery last year.

Despite the flood expenses, the parish was able to boost its total reserves by $5.4 million last year to $192.7 million, but more than $105 million of that surplus is set aside by voters or by Parish Council spending priorities for recreation, parish jail expenses, drainage, fire protection or health and mental health services.

Auditor Tommy LeJeune, of Faulk and Winkler, told the Parish Council recently that continued strong sales tax collections have helped build the surplus. The past three years of collections have hovered around $55 million, about $15 million per year more than what the parish took in for 2012.

At the same time, the total surplus has risen from $147.5 million in 2012 to more than $192.7 million in 2016 also an increase of about $45 million.

"So, 15 times three is $45 million, so the whole point of it is you're not spending up to the high point of sales tax," LeJeune said. "So basically what you have been able to do is experience a really lucrative time from a sales tax collection perspective and you have been able to bank it."

He added that eventual reimbursement for last year's flood expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would only further improve those surpluses. Since the audit was finished, the parish has received about $7.3 million in reimbursements.

LeJeune made his comments Aug. 3 at the Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville as he reviewed the 2016 audit for the council. While the audit detailed the parish's strong financial status, it also uncovered a number of findings in the parish U.S. Housing and Urban Development public housing program and in travel, personnel and pay, and Lamar-Dixon Expo Center policies and procedures.

The Parish Council members have asked the parish administration to update them in a coming meeting about its progress in responding to many of these findings.

LeJeune's report of the parish's flush accounts prompted only some mixed reaction from the council. The parish is trying to fund major road improvements without a new tax and developing further spending on drainage improvements in light of last year's floods. Part of the road plan, Move Ascension, counts on a new debt issue and big part of the reserves in the parish road fund.

While the parish has continued to see population growth, the strong sales tax collections have come mostly during a period of expansion in the parish's industrial sector, the majority contributor to sales tax collections. That expansion has slowed some more recently.

After LeJeune's initial report on the surpluses, Council Chairman Bill Dawson sought to downplay their size, noting that only about $28.6 million is fully discretionary and could be spent for any purpose. He questioned LeJeune about whether that discretionary reserve was too high or low to ensure sound savings for unexpected expenses.

LeJeune said governments typically want to have a savingsequivalent to three to six months of annual spending. He said the $28 million fits within the lower end of that range.

"I don't think it's too low. I think it's a good comfortable number," LeJeune said.

But later, Councilwoman Teri Casso said that every year she hears the audit, she thinks, "My God, we have money. We are in a wonderful situation.

"We are not in the savings business. We need to be providing services, and so I look forward to next year seeing that we have spent the taxpayer's money, and if we're not going spend it, we need to give it back to them or quit collecting," she said. "It is time to spend it."

Auditors found the parish had about $27.8 million in a capital surplus fund for drainage and another $22.5 million for roads. The $40 million to $45 million Move Ascension program plans on tapping that reserve for nearly half its spending.

"Its a nice sum of money," LeJeune said of the road reserve, "but it's probably not an amount that solves all the parish's traffic woes."

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

Read the original:

Auditors: Strong sales taxes continue to boost Ascension government reserves - The Advocate

ST. AMANT - Teachers and students in Ascension Parish got a head start on the school year Monday night.

Even though school doesn't start for a few more days, they got the chance to check out the restored buildings at St. Amant Primary and Middle schools.

The school celebrated the much-anticipated reunion almost a year after the flood forced them out of their classrooms.

While touring the new school, Kevin Mitchell, a third grade parent, was impressed with the progress made over the past year.

"It's good to have it back, it's good to have her back at her home campus for school back with all her friends and everybody else," Mitchell said.

The Ascension Parish School Board officially presented the newly renovated primary and middle school at a ribbon cutting Monday night. Parents and students reflected on the past school year and watched viewed a documentary about the flood.

The principals of both schools shared the obstacles they've had to overcome during the past 12 months.

"Last August our school community and communities abroad stopped at nothing to make sure our students could continue their learning in spite of our circumstances," St. Amant Primary school Principal Paisley Morgan said.

"It was difficult, it was a very difficult year for us, but we're moving forward," St. Amant Middle school Principal Christy Bourgeois said.

St. Amant Middle school cheerleaders like Abigail Clifton say they're excited to be back on their campus for things like practice.

"It's better to have our cafeteria and our gym back because we were struggling with practice and stuff like that," Clifton said.

Original post:

Two Ascension schools back on campus one year after flood - WBRZ

ASCENSION PARISH, La (LOCAL 33) (FOX 44) - Ascension Parish is one of the fastest growing parishes in Louisiana. In fact, families have been sending their children to Ascension Parish public school since the 1980s, continuing the population growth.

The population has increased even more due to Hurricane Katrina.

Monday, Baton Rouge General officials said they are expecting a 40 percent population increase. CEO and President Edgardo Tenrerio said 22,000 Ascension Parish residents traveled to Baton Rouge for emergency care in 2016. With these numbers, they plan to build a new hospital in Prairieville.

What a better gift to this community than to bring that trusted brand here to Ascension Parish,"Tenrerio said.

The 60,000 square foot hospital includes a 10-bed inpatient hospital, a lab, a 14-bed emergency room, as well as physician practices and office space.

Fire Chief Mark Stewart said Ascension Parish will have a fifth fire station August 8.

"This is an area kind of isolated, Stewart said. We had the need to put one out here so this will better serve the people in this area."

There will be a ribbon cutting to open the newest fire station in Ascension Parish August 8 at 10:30 a.m.

More:

Ascension Parish population expected to grow - http://www.brproud.com

PRAIRIEVILLE- Hundreds of drivers turned out in Ascension ParishSunday to show support for a 3-year-old boy suffering from a rare disorder.

Jack Loebersuffersfrom Pacsone, a genetic disorder which causes him to have suddentantrums. But Jack's parents say watching cars drive by is one of the most effective ways to calm him down.

"You know I come home from work and after about ten minutes of me being home he's coming to me and, in his own special way, telling me it's time dad lets go for our walk," said Jason Loeber, jack's father.

But Sunday was much more than just a normal walk for the family.

A few weeks ago, Jack's mom posted a picture of what she and her son do almost every single day. On Sunday, hundreds of people from all across the community participated in "Honk for Jack".

"I'm shocked. I'm overwhelmed," said Hillary Loeber, Jack's Mother.

Hundreds of vehicles of all shapes and sizes drove by as Jack watched in awe from his parents call their "happy spot". They said the turnout was better than anything they could have hoped for.

"People that go out of their way to take care of their own... You know, all these people coming out just to put a smile on a little boys face that they don't even know," Hillary said.

Organizers said about 500 cars participated in the event, all to put a smile on a child's face.

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Hundreds turn out in Ascension Parish to support 3-year-old with rare disorder - WBRZ

PRAIRIEVILLE With a booming population, Fire Protection District 3 better known as the Prairieville Fire Department opened its fifth fire station this summer to meet the demands of the fastest growing area of Ascension Parish.

But the area may need another five stations to meet the demand.

The $1.4 million station on the corner of Bluff Road and Alligator Bayou Road is the second of two stations built in the area in the last three years, as new business and residential developments seem to break ground weekly in the unincorporated community of Prairieville, in the northern reaches of the parish.

"We're no longer country. We're really city now, in the Prairieville area," said Walter Leftwich, chairman of the fire district's board of commissioners.

And no slowdown in growth is anticipated.

Already home to several Ascension Parish public schools, Prairieville is where three new elementary schools and a new middle school will be built in the next several years, and where the School Board will be doing site planning for a new high school it hopes to build one day.

Last week, Baton Rouge General Medical Center announced it will be opening what it calls a neighborhood hospital at La. 73 and Interstate 10 in Prairieville.

"We're growing every day," said District 3 Fire Chief Mark Stewart.

The new fire station on Bluff Road will "get us closer to the people needing us" in that area, he said.

And, Stewart said, the additional station helps firefighters get to medical and fire calls quickly in a parish where traffic hold-ups are increasingly a part of daily life.

Ten years ago, when District 3 was at three fire stations, Property Insurance Association of Louisiana, which evaluates and rates fire departments ratings that affect property owners' fire insurance costs said the district needed five more stations.

"We've completed two of them," Stewart said.

The district's fourth station was opened on Duplessis Road in 2014. The other fire stations include the main one on La. 73 and two others, on La. 929 and Old Jefferson Highway.

Fire districts are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the highest ranking. Fire Protection District 3 has a rating of 4, an improvement over the rating of 5 it had when it was established in 2003, Stewart said.

The fire district's operations are funded by two 10-mill property taxes and a portion of one-third of a half-cent sales tax. The proceeds of that one-third portion is split among the three fire districts in Ascension, Stewart said.

Covering about 35 square miles and serving 40,000 residents, Prairieville's fire department answered close to 2,000 fire and medical calls last year, he said.

With the calls up at this point this year, compared to the same time last year, the district expects to answer 2,200 calls in 2017, the fire chief said.

The fire station on Bluff and Alligator Bayou roads is "important for the fire district, but most importantly for residents in that area, not only for fire protection services, but for EMS services," said Teri Casso, parish councilwoman for the Prairieville area and former board member for Fire District 3.

The new 6,000-square-foot station that opened in June was designed by Domain Design Architecture of Baton Rouge. The firm of ANR Construction, also of Baton Rouge, was the contractor.

Follow Ellyn Couvillion on Twitter, @EllynCouvillion.

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Prairieville Fire Department opens newest fire station, answering need for the booming Ascension Parish community - The Advocate

Record keeping is an important life skill for youth to attain. Many Ascension 4-Hers are working hard to create, maintain and update their records through writing and pictures, which helps 4-Hers to track their activities and experiences, set and achieve personal goals and aids in building resumes and scholarship applications.

This school year, over 130 4-Hers mastered their 4-H project area by setting and completing personal and project goals, completing their 4-H projects outlined tasks, recording their efforts and achievements, both in and out of 4-H, and submitting their completed 4-H portfolios and project books for the Ascension 4-H parish record book competition. Of those participating, 26 youth earned blue ribbon awards, with 10 record books being sent on to compete in the State 4-H Record Book competition.

The 4-Hers earning a blue ribbon in the Ascension Parish 4-H Record Book Competition were Katelyn Frank, Stacey Kloosterman, Seth Amedee, Kylie Cliburn, Ben Clingfost, Jenna Einsel, Hannah Godchaux, Alyssa Hymel, Ava Klieferle, Abby Lobell, Karlie Lobell, Walker Morrill, Avery Robinson, Ava Surla, Hannah Woodring, Case Bastin, Bryce Binning, Brodie Bourgeois, Shawn Comminey, Grace Ostermiller, Anthony Comeaux, Anna Frazier, Brady Houston, Allie Cliburn and Kinslei Scroggs.

The 10 following 4-Hers from Ascension Parish for being selected to move on to the State 4-H Record Book Competition: Seth Amedee, Kylie Cliburn, Katelyn Frank, Hannah Godchaux, Stacey Kloosterman, Abby Lobell, Kinslei Scroggs, Racheal Stewart, Alex Sullivan and Ava Surla.

The State 4-H Record Book winners from Ascension Parish 4-H were as follows:

National 4-H Congress Trip Award Winner to Atalnta, GA- Stacey Kloosterman

Seventh and eighth Grade Achievement Award Winners for the Louisiana Educational Trip to New Orleans and Baton Rouge- Kylie Cliburn; fifth alternate- Racheal Stewart; eighth Alternate- Abby Lobell

Sixth Grade Achievement Blue ribbon winners- Seth Amedee, Katelyn Frank, Ava Surla

Jr. Wildlife Tour Educational Trip to Grand Isle, LA- Kinseli Scroggs, Eighth Alternate- Hannah Godchaux

Superintendents Livestock Award Blue ribbon winner- Kylie Cliburn

Continue reading here:

Ascension 4-Hers Master their Project Area - Gonzales Weekly Citizen - Weekly Citizen

ASCENSION PARISH- Ascension Parish School System leaders announced temporary buildings at four Ascension Parish Schools are being ventilated after volunteers and teachers complained of throat and eye irritation from a strong ammonia like odor. The complaints came when the buildings were getting prepped for students.

The buildings are located at Galvez Middle, Galvez Primary, Lake Elementary and St. Amant High.

Superintendent David Alexander said the ventilation is being done to rid the odor in the buildings. It was initially discovered at Galvez and Lake Elementary, but the School System decided to do ventilation at St. Amant as a precaution.

Balloon like plastic bags were installed to the windows of the T Buildings after environmentalists, air quality and engineering experts tested the buildings. They were consulted about the mysterious odor, that remains unidentified at this time. The School System said it's not harmful, despite people complaining of the throat and eye irritation.

Parents like Jessica Dufour want to make sure schools are safe for children when they return from summer break next week.

"That worries me," Dufour said. "They are just finding it out? Will it be safe for Wednesday when they start for school?"

Right now, Dufour is also troubled that the School System did not send out notices to the parents to let them know what was going on.

"I'm concerned that I had to find out through the media instead of the school contacting me to let me know what was going on," Dufour said.

Ascension Parish School Leaders were unavailable for an interview, but Superintendent David Alexander said the students' safety is their top priority. He said since the ventilation began, the smell is no longer there, and all will be re-tested before school begins.

The School System provided the following statement:

"While preparing for the return of school, we learned that some of the new temporary buildings that were closed with little to no air conditioning running during the hot summer accumulated a strong odor. We immediately engaged the manufacturer, air quality and engineering experts to assess the issue. As the odor was not present in temporary buildings that were used regularly over the summer, it is believed to be a buildup of new construction smells normally vented out from regular use. Although assessments revealed no dangerous levels in the classrooms, crews are currently venting the buildings to remove the odor and all buildings will be tested by environmental experts before the start of school."

Read more:

Ascension School System ventilating 'T' buildings at flooded schools - WBRZ

TULSA He sat in his Sequoyah High School classroom, wondering what would become of his next 12 hours. Further in town, in a stuffy courtroom, Ryan Helsley was having his short-term future pleaded over.

Same went for some of his closest friends and teammates.

Turns out, Nov. 2, 2012 was an unusual day from beginning to end.

A small collection of Sequoyah football players was having temporary court injunctions filed on their behalves, after the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association ruled that Sequoyah players had violated its summer camp policy. The governing body over Oklahomas high school sports had all but neutered Sequoyahs 2012 football season.

The Indians were 8-1 and steamrolling to the Class 3A playoffs with the likes of Brayden Scott at quarterback and Kyle Helsley at running back. Mix in Ryan Helsley, all over the field, Karter Woodruff, Robert Smith, Cody Hooper, Nick Kingfisher, Greyden Elrod and others, and the Indians were well-equipped to wreck havoc on the 3A playoff field.

The Helsley brothers, and their Sequoyah teammates, were granted permission to play in the regular season finale by Cherokee County District Judge Douglas Kirkley. The Indians went out and ambushed Lincoln Christian on Thompson Field, 63-40, thanks to Kyle Helsleys 265 yards and three touchdowns on only 14 carries.

It would be the last time Sequoyah fielded a football team during the 2012 campaign. The OSSAA released a 3A playoff bracket the next day, leaving the Indians off while forcing Sequoyah to forfeit all of its victories it had amassed during the season.

Nearly a year later, the state supreme court ruled the OSSAA acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner, while interpreting and enforcing its rules. By that time though, it was a moot point related to the Indians run that season.

It still irks Ryan Helsley to this day.

At the time, it was heartbreaking, Helsley said. We knew how good we were, and we had a chance to do something special.

Thus, Helsleys football career was over. But as it turns out, baseball has worked out quite well for the Sequoyah graduate.

After a collegiate career at Northeastern State, Helsley was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. On Tuesday night, he made his Double-A debut with the Springfield Cardinals, throwing 92 pitches over four innings while not factoring into the decision in what became a 5-4 Tulsa win.

Its been an awesome journey so far, said Helsley, who gave up one run on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks against the Drillers at ONEOK Field, where several hundred loyal Sequoyah followers flocked on Tuesday.

Monday was trade-deadline day for major league ball clubs, but it was a relatively quiet day for the Redbirds. With trade winds swirling, minor league promotions went under the radar, much like Helsleys promotion from Single-A Palm Beach in Florida.

I got the call-up, and I looked at the schedule and saw the team was here in Tulsa, Helsley said. I called my mom and was a little emotional, just because I hadnt seen them in so long since I was so far from home. But it was a great blessing to be able to debut here in front of my own family.

Helsley, a 6-foot-1 right-handed hurler, began his rapid ascension through the Cardinals minor league system in 2015 after being drafted in the fifth round by St. Louis. In 2015, he pitched at the rookie-league ranks in Johnson City, Tennessee, and that segued into a 2016 season at Class A Peoria last year.

In 17 starts last season, Helsley registered a 1.61 earned run average while logging 109 strikeouts to only 19 walks. That was enough to vault him onto the top 30 list of St. Louis prospects, where he currently resides at No. 25.

For now, Helsley will look to stick with Springfield through the end of this season and re-evaluate from there.

Im going to pitch while Im healthy and make every start I can, said Helsley, who toted a 2.69 ERA in 16 starts for Palm Beach earlier this season. I just want to pitch every five days and see where it goes from there.

And as for the injustice levied by the OSSAA, Helsley sees it as nothing more than a memory now.

For the ruling to come out a year (after we graduated), it was already in the past, he said. It sucked. You think back on it and think, what if? Weve all moved then, even though it sucked then. But it is what it is.

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Helsley's ascension to the pros infused with heartbreak, triumph and promise - Tahlequah Daily Press

Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

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The Ascension of the Lord

MacKenzie said Ascension hired FreemanWhite, a consulting and design company in Chicago, to evaluate its Michigan hospitals and recommend improvements over the next several years.

In November, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital will break ground on a $48.1 million expansion project. The expansion, the largest in the hospital's history, will expand the east tower of the hospital from four to seven floors, convert 75 rooms into private patient rooms and renovate 42 other private rooms.

"They went to Macomb and characterized it as a very hard-working hospital for the amount of space contained in it," said MacKenzie.

St. John Macomb Hospital and St. John Oakland Hospital merged in 2007, and the hospital operates two campuses, one in Warren with 376 licensed beds and the other in Madison Heights with 159 beds.

By opening another 15 new private beds, St. John Macomb campus will have 220 private rooms, or 58 percent of the hospital's total beds. The project is expected to be completed the summer of 2019. The hospital also is launching a $2 million fund-raising campaign.

"The volume has been increasing and exceeding the capabilities of the hospital," she said. "We increased the building from four to seven floors. It is a bed tower."

An osteopathic hospital, St. John Macomb-Oakland trains 200 residents in 20 specialties, making it one of the largest osteopathic training programs in the country.

Providence-Providence Park Hospital in Southfield, another two-campus hospital with the second campus in Novi, is planning a three-year, $15 million renovation project to upgrade and renovate several service areas.

MacKenzie said upgrading at the Southfield campus will include critical care units, medical/surgical units and the birthing center. In addition, new flooring, wall coverings, painting, lighting upgrades, and upgrades to nursing stations and patient furnishings throughout inpatient units and patient rooms will be done.

"The renovations at Providence Hospital and the addition of more private rooms at St. John Macomb-Oakland will improve efficiency and safety, as well as provide a more pleasing environment for healing for patients and families," MacKenzie said.

Ascension Health Michigan is part of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. with 141 hospitals. Ascension Health Michigan operates 15 hospitals and hundreds of related health care facilities that together employ more than 27,000 people.

In fiscal year 2016 ended June 30, Ascension Health earned $753 million in operating income for a 3.4 percent margin. Through nine months of fiscal 2017, Ascension earned $1.39 billion in net for an 8.1 percent margin on revenue of $17.1 billion, according to Ascension's audited financial statements.

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Ascension plans $63.1 million in capital projects for Macomb-Oakland and Providence hospitals - Crain's Detroit Business

DONALDSONVILLE The proposal by the group A Better Ascension to eliminate the elected Ascension Parish president position in favor of a more autonomous, appointed parish manager won't make it to the ballot this fall as the plan's backers had hoped.

Ascension Parish Council Chairman Bill Dawson announced Thursday night he is establishing a council committee to hold at least three public meetings on the plan before the full council decides whether to put the measure before the voters. One of those meetings will have to be in west Ascension.

Reading from a statement, Dawson said the committee will have the "specific task of publicly vetting the charter amendments proposed by A Better Ascension." Dawson said the new committee will be composed of the entire 11-member council.

Backers of the A Better Ascension proposal want to make major changes to the parish home rule charter, which is Ascension's plan of government, to create the new parish manager position in a bid to improve efficiency and insulate the parish executive from political back and forth.

The creation of the committee by Dawson means three groups will be holding public meetings on A Better Ascension's plan in the coming weeks and months, including another Parish Council committee and A Better Ascension itself.

GONZALES With an attempted bribery indictment hanging over the head of Ascension Parish Pr

Amendments to the home rule charter require a vote of the public. At least two-thirds of the council, or eight members, must vote to put proposed charter changes on the ballot.

The proposal would mean the parish executive would not be directly elected by voters, as the parish president is now, but would be selected by the Parish Council after nomination by a separate committee of primarily business leaders.

The proposal has already drawn opposition from sitting Parish President Kenny Matassa, his 2015 election runoff opponent surveyor Clint Cointment, and some council members. But other members expressed openness to the idea.

Dawson had said earlier there was likely a window to get the measure on the November ballot if the council had been able to vote on the proposal by the end of this month. But Dawson said Thursday the committee of the whole chairman won't make his first progress report to the Parish Council until mid-September.Dawson has named Councilman Travis Turner as chairman of the new committee and Councilman Aaron Lawler as the vice chairman.

Separate from Dawson's initiative, Councilman Daniel "Doc" Satterlee also called for discussion of A Better Ascension's proposal before the committee he chairs, the Council Strategic Planning Committee, which meets 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Parish Courthouse Annex in Gonzales.

A Better Ascension, the nonprofit group of business people pushing the measure, is also planning public meetings later this month.

JHudson, a spokesman for A Better Ascension, said before the council meeting Thursday that the group's members respect "the process and are looking forward to sharing our message of professionalism, accountability, and efficiency throughout Ascension."

"Ultimately, the charter belongs to the people of Ascension," Hudson said. "Their voices deserve to be heard regarding these changes."

A Better Ascension is composed of business leaders from Ascension, including Eatel Corp. President John Scanlan and LABI political action committee director and Republican pollster and strategist John Diez Jr., a Gonzales native.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Proposal by A Better Ascension to change parish executive will go through extended Parish Council review, unlikely ... - The Advocate

Ascension Crittenton Hospital in Rochester Hills on Tuesday became the first hospital in the 141-hospital St. Louis-based Ascension Health family to receive a new name under the nonprofit health system's rebranding strategy.

Over the next 12 months, 14 other Ascension hospitals in Michigan will add Ascension to the beginning of their names, Ascension executives said in a statement.

For example, Providence Hospital in Southfield will soon be known as Ascension Providence Hospital and St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit will become Ascension St. John Hospital.

In 2018, the name of metro Detroit's five-hospital St. John Providence Health System name will be retired and folded into the management of Ascension Health Michigan.

Last September, Gwen MacKenzie, Ascension's senior vice president and Michigan market executive, told Crain's about the health care rebranding and management integration plan that will tie all properties under one surname and reporting structure.

Ascension medical groups, nursing homes and other sites of care also will prominently feature the Ascension name. Ascension's other 126 hospitals in Wisconsin and 22 other states will also change their names in the coming year.

Other regional Ascension hospital groups include Borgess Health in Kalamazoo; Genesys Health in Grand Blanc; St. Joseph Health System in Tawas City; and St. Mary's of Michigan in Saginaw.

Last year, Ascension eliminated local hospital and regional boards and created the Southeast Michigan Hospital Board, the West Michigan Hospital Board, the Mid-Michigan Hospital Board and the Michigan Market Board that oversees all Ascension properties in the state.

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Crittenton Hospital in Rochester Hills is first to be renamed in Ascension Health system - Crain's Detroit Business

Greg Fischer Editor-in-chief @AscensionEditor

Louisiana's Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) elected new officers at a Leadership and Orientation Seminar held July 24-25, 2017 at the Louisiana State Capitol, according to a recent LYAC press release.

St. James native and Ascension Catholic student Nydia Cooper was elected Historian. Cooper is an exceptional student judging from a June 23 LYAC press release, which reads:

"Cooper is a 15-year-old honor student at Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. She is currently in the National Honor Society; seven-year member at large with St. James Parish 4-H; Vice-Grand lady for St. James Catholic Church Junior Catholic Daughters; State 4-H Citizenship Board Member; Diocese of Baton Rouge Youth Board Member; St. James Parish 4-H Impact Club (Junior Leaders) Member; State 4-H Co-Op Camp Treasurer; St. James Parish 4-H Shooting Sport Team Member; Member of Ascension Catholic High School band, powerlifting team and tennis team. Nydia has a 3rd Degree Level II black belt in Taekwondo. Recently, Nydia placed runner-up in the category of photo illustration with the Rochester Institute of Technology."

Other newly elected LYAC officers are: President Marian Luzier, Walker High School, Walker; Vice President Reed Broussard, Teurlings Catholic High School, Youngsville; Secretary Ruby Roberg, West Feliciana High School, St. Francisville; Parliamentarian Jesse Landry, West Feliciana High School, St. Francisville; Communications Officer Katie Hall, Ouachita Christian School, Monroe.

Under this leadership, the council gets to select issues to discuss with Louisiana legislators for the upcoming 2018 Regular Session of the legislature.

"The goal is to get legislation sponsored, introduced and passed next year," according to the press release. "Now in its tenth year, LYAC facilitates the communication between youth and the legislature and gives students the unique opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government."

ACHS senior Micah Daggs also serves on the council.

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Ascension Catholic youth named LYAC historian - Post South

The former Marine general is unlikely to succeed in his new job, even as his appointment contributes to the decay of American civil-military relations.

Donald Trump is not much of a man. He feels sorry for himself, he whines, he gropes women; he bullies the weak. He brags and he lies. As a young man, this self-proclaimed athlete collected five draft deferments rather than wear his countrys uniform. He doesnt even work out. The motto emblazoned on Trumps bogus coat of arms should probably be faithless, which makes it odd that he has picked as his chief of staff a general steeled in a service whose motto is ever faithful. (The Trump coat of arms wasreportedly liftedfrom another family, with the motto integrity replacedinevitablybyTrump.)

John Kelly, retired Marine four-star and new White House chief of staff, has been throughout his career everything Trump is not: He has endured more than Trump could imagine, and has displayed virtues that Trump may not understand and certainly has not exhibited, among them candor, courage, and discipline. Which is why some observers have welcomed Kellys hiring as evidence that perhaps the president is learning, that maybe now we will have a disciplined White House that will focus on the business of public policy. Maybe the early morning tweets will diminish or evenstop.

Trumps pick of Kelly is probably better understood in a broader and darker context. That includesa speechthat he gave the same day to New Yorks Suffolk County Police Department calling on cops to bang suspects heads into squad cars; the brusque, uncoordinateddismissalof transgender service personnel by presidential tweet; aspeecha week earlier at the commissioning of USSGerald R. Fordurging sailors to lobby their representatives; a harangue to 30,000 Boy Scouts that includeda rant about loyalty, and that earned him an astonishing rebuke from the head of the Boy Scouts of America; and a longer history of toying around the edge of inciting violence, to includethe assassination of his opponentin the lastelection.

As the coils of the Russia investigation grow tighter, as his failures in Congress mount, Trump reaches for what he knowsdemagoguery of the rawest sort. He reaches as well for what he thinks of as his base, which includes (he believes) the military, many of whose leaders are actually quietly appalled by what he represents. He has picked Kelly not because of his political or administrative skills but because he thinks of him as a killera term of praise in his lexicon, which is why he likes referring to his secretary of defense as Mad Dog Mattis, a nickname the former general rejects. Kelly will not organize Goon Squads for Trump, but the president would probably not mind if he did. More to the point, Kellys selection, and that of a foul-mouthed financier from New York as Trumps communications director, tells us not that Trump is planning on moderating his behavior, but rather on going to the mattresses. He just may have picked the wrong guy for that mission, thatsall.

Kellys decision to take the job lends itself to multiple explanations. It may be an irresistible call to duty by someone who thinks of the president mainly as commander-in-chief; it may be an act of deep, quiet patriotism by someone who intends to shield the country from Trumps lawless worst; it may reflect personal ambition, or mere hankering for as difficult a management challenge as one could imagine; or it may reflect a sneaking admiration for the boorish businessman who has successfully slapped around the politicians of left and right that many officers, and Marines in particular, despise as cowardly and corrupt. Kelly once handed a ceremonial saber to the President while unfunnily suggesting that he use it on the press. In April, hesaidthe following: If lawmakers do not like the laws theyve passed and we are charged to enforce, then they should have the courage and skill to change the laws. Otherwise they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines. A less supine Congress might have noticed the discourtesy and reacted sharply to being told to shutup.

His occasionally contemptuous attitude towards the press and Congress, though, is only one reason why it is highly unlikely that Kelly will succeed. Trump will remain Trump, and the various denizens of the White House are unlikely to treat Kelly with much more deference than they treat one another. He will discover that he is no longer a general, or even a cabinet secretary, but a political functionaryneither more norless.

There was a reason why he spent 42 years on active duty rather than run for mayor of Boston. He probably already knows, but if not he will soon learn, that he will be as dispensable as his predecessor, that Trump hates any of his subordinates being too powerful or too visible. And worst of all, he will soon find himself wrestling with the moral corruption that being close to this man entails. You cannot work directly for Trump while adhering to a code of honesty, integrity, and lawfulness. Sooner or later Kelly will have to defend the White Houses jabber about fake news, alternative facts, and witch hunts. He will have to ascribe to Trump virtues that he does not possess, and deny the moral lapses and quite possibly the crimes that he hascommitted.

There is one further reason to find this appointment depressing. It contributes to the continuing decay of American civil-military relations. Those of us who were relieved to see James Mattis as secretary of defense, H. R. McMaster as national-security adviser, and Kelly himself as secretary of Homeland Security, felt that way partly out of appreciation for the virtues of all three men, but also, very largely, out of relief that their sanity might contain their bosss craziness. But it is inappropriate to have so many generals in policy-making positions; it is profoundly wrong to have a president regard the military as a constituency, and it is corrupting to have the Republican Party, such as it is, act as though generals have if not a monopoly then at least dominant market share in the qualities of executive ability and patriotism. It is unwise to have higher-level positions in the hands of officials who have openly expressed disdain for Congressnow a dangerously weak branch ofgovernment.

Trump, who has no idea how many articles there are in the Constitution, neither knows nor cares about any of the niceties of civil-military relations. To their credit, Kelly, Mattis, and McMaster have thought long and hard about these issues. But like any of us they have their individual limitations, and like any of us, their characters can be eroded by the whirlpool of moral and political corruption that is Donald Trump. The Marines live by a hard code, and John Kelly has endured tests of character more difficult than most of us can conceive. But his hardest tests lie ahead, and neither he nor anyone else can be sure that he will passthem.

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The Downsides of John Kelly's Ascension - Defense One