PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (BRPROUD) Around 20,000 lineman are working tirelessly in Louisiana to restore power after Hurricane Ida.

Jump N Jives, a gymnastics gym in Ascension Parish, is offering linemen a place to sleep, shower and eat at the gym.

We were looking through Facebook and saw some of our local lineman that are restoring all the energy were sleeping in our trucks and so we were not okay with having that happen, said Jimbo Gravois, Co-owner of Jump N Jives.

The gym is able to house a total of 160 people.

Lineman Jeff Christian has been trying to book his crew of 18 a hotel, however, most hotels in the capital area are booked due to evacuees from Ida.

Christian says he is grateful to be able to sleep at Jump N Jives.

This is incredible. We have been sleeping in our trucks in the Sams Club parking lot. Were working just 12 hours right now, he said. But this is just the beginning, we can work up to 20 hours.

Gravois says the lineman coming in are sunburnt, tired and hungry.

You have never seen tired until you see these guys walk into the doors and these guys are just beat, Gravois said.

With the help of the community, the gym received over 50 air mattress donations in less than an hour. The gym is still accepting donations including, pillows, air mattresses, water and hygiene products.

I am encouraging any local business to be available to them if you can, Gravois said.

Linemen who need a place to stay are encouraged to reach out on Facebook or walk in to the gym.

The gym will house linemen until most of the power is restored in the state.

Power outages in the viewing area are available here.

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Jump N Jives in Ascension Parish offering linemen a place to rest - BRProud.com

For those who knew him, it made sense that Dennis Duplessis would go out in Hurricane Ida's winds to prepare a generator so his wife, Hope, would have it running when she got back after the storm.

Duplessis was the kind of guy who made sure his family had what they needed no matter what. That's why he went out despite some warnings to stay inside that night, family members said.

Tragically, Ida's powerful winds brought a tree down just as Duplessis was getting out of a pickup truck, fatally striking him outside the house.

Duplessis, 60, is one of three people known to have been killed in Louisiana directly by Ida. Two others drowned in the New Orleans area. Others have since been injured in the storm's aftermath from the operation of home generators. Also, two were killed in Mississippi when a road collapsed.

The full death toll from the hurricane may not be known for days as search and rescue continues.

Earlier reports of Duplessis' death had him inside the home when the tree fell, but family members say he was outside it.

The tree one he worried would fall, but which he didn't have the money to get cut down smashed the truck he had just exited. Another man with him somehow emerged unscathed.

A cousin was with Duplessis in his last moments. They recited the "Lord's Prayer" together, Duplessis' youngest child, Chasity Fatherree, said.

"His last words was, 'Tell Hope I love her,'" Fatherree said in an interview Tuesday.

"He would have gave his last breath for her, and I guess he basically did trying to make sure she could come home where she was comfortable," said Fatherree, 32. "And he always said he wanted to go first because he wouldn't have been able to live without my mom."

Though Duplessis and his wife had long been separated, they remained close and lived on the same street a few houses from each other, in the kind of extended family compound still common in parts of Ascension.

Fatherree's mother has struggled with health troubles in recent years, drawing Duplessis' attention.

Duplessis married into one of Ascension's longstanding Babin families. He lived on a street named after a Babin and made his home on land originally homesteaded by a Babin north of Gonzales and off La. 621, his mother-in-law, Shirley Kirby, said.

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At the same time, the old name for the area where he lived is called Duplessis.

By Fatherree's own account, she and her dad had the kind of relationship fathers and daughters who are too much alike often share.

They butted heads. He taught her to be self-reliant. They worked together during past hurricanes keeping generators going for older relatives.

But he still insisted on taking care of things for her.

Duplessis seemed to know everyone in town. Fatherree recalls security officers at a skating rink telling her as a youth that they were friends of her dad's and would be watching out.

He even introduced her to her husband, Jeremy.

Duplessis worked as a car mechanic and later at Marchand's hardware store in Gonzales, where many grew to know him, Fatherree said.

In his later years, he also suffered from a variety of health ailments that limited his ability to work. But they didn't limit his dedication to his family, including his 12 grandchildren.

Fatherree said the sudden death of her father during the turmoil of Ida they were on generator power and housing family Tuesday has left her struggling to fully grasp with his loss.

Funeral plans have been delayed at least a week.

Fatherree says she keeps thinking she is going to go over to his home and he'll be there, pushing himself to do things despite his ailments.

"It does not seem real at all," she said.

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Ascension father died in Hurricane Ida doing what he'd always done: taking care of his family - The Advocate

El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron reviewA basic port of a cult classic action adventure that's still as visually stunning as ever, but also retains repetitive combat that makes exploration a real chore at times.

Ten years after it was first released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron has finally arrived on Steam as a PC port. It's a strange re-emergence for a game that wasn't exactly a smash-hit back in the day, but hey, it had sweet visuals. And I'm happy to say it still looks ridiculously good, even if it remains shallow beneath its glossy surface.

El Shaddai is a third-person action game that's basically an anime fan-fic of the Book Of Enoch, an ancient Hebrew apocalyptic religious text. You play as Enoch, a man selected by heaven to purify a bunch of fallen angels who've corrupted mankind. And by purify, I mean beat the ever-loving crap out of them. This is a boss-rush game at its core, in a similar vein to something like Hyper Light Drifter, but with more fighting, platforming and puzzling sandwiched between these fights.

And this makes sense if we delve quickly into El Shaddai's slightly confusing history. It was directed by Sawaki Takeyasu, who was a character designer on games including Devil May Cry and Okami. El Shaddai was originally made at Ignition Studio, before Takeyasu's new studio, Crim, acquired the rights in 2013. Anyway, the main takeaway here is that El Shaddai was formed in the fires of hack-n-slash.

At first, El Shaddai's arena combat is a proper thrill. You slash, bash, or shoot enemies with three different weapons, each with their own movesets. The Arch is a shiny saw that's quick and slashy, the Gale lets you shoot enemies from afar, and the Veil is actually twin-fists that pack a slow, meaty punch. What's cool is that you don't have these weapons on you at all times; you steal them from enemies mid-combat to switch things up and gain the advantage.

Knock an enemy's health low enough and they'll glow blue, letting you nab their weapon from them with a flourish. Not only does it look cool, it's a neat way of adding a sense of prioritisation to El Shaddai's combat. You need to decide which enemy's weapon you'd like to pilfer first to help you deal with the second, and so on. If all goes well, it creates a fluid chain of thievery.

It's a shame, then, that El Shaddai just reuses the same three enemies in its arena battles. And apart from the ability to enter a super-powered up mode later on, you don't get any new attacks or upgrades either. Honestly, I'd had it up to here with the same big round dude, the floaty dude, and the lanky dude well before the end. Many fights in the first hour are identical to fights six hours in, and for such a combat-heavy game it genuinely wears you down.

But El Shaddai is somewhat merciful even if you don't get on with its hacking and slashing. Enoch doesn't have a health bar - there's no HUD at all, for that matter - so you need to keep track of how much armour he's wearing. Take damage and it'll shatter off his body until he's left wearing only a pair of jeans. Get the denim knocked off you the screen starts going white, which is your cue to smash buttons to prevent death and secure a second, or third, or even fourth chance at winning fights - without any repercussions. Yes, it takes more button-mashing each time you die, but still, it's surprisingly forgiving.

These chances at everlasting life make El Shaddai's fights less engaging at the same time, though. They eliminate any feeling of risk, a condiment which could've spiced up these otherwise dry encounters. It's another shame like the repetitive boses, because in full flow, the combat is fluid and flashy with some fun ideas. But it just doesn't evolve enough to keep things interesting later down the line.

Thankfully, boss fights in El Shaddai are a different story. While you still use the same combos and weapons, the game's big baddies bring some much-needed variety to this apocalyptic tale. You've got a real mixture here, with some intimate fights against fallen angels that require quick reflexes, alongside bombastic battles against enormous, tentacled beings where patience is key. A real standout for me was a fight against a gigantic Cheesetring that slowly flailed its podgy arms at me. I needed to time my jumps, or dash away at the last second to avoid being turned into paste.

There is actually another section that sees Enoch don a robo-suit, get a robo-bike, and tear through a futuristic city. It's a blisteringly fast ride filled with mad mechasplosions and silly vehicle combat and proves to be an excellent switch-up. If only there were more weird bits like this! The platforming in El Shaddai is relatively simple, too, with basic moving bits you've got to jump to, or spikes you've got to avoid, either in 2D or 3D. The platforming does work well, and I particularly enjoyed the 2D sections - it has gaps and puzzles that aren't that challenging, but are spaced in ways that let you build up a satisfying momentum. Still, more complexity or variation would be nice across the board.

Tell you what never lets-up though: El Shaddai's environments. This game is such a visual feast that at times it can feel like you're playing through a bizarre advert for an exhibition of religious art. The game knows it too, as the camera switches to a 2D platforming perspective as you clamber up an angelic mural, or zooms out to help you take in the enormity of a fallen city. Wispy ruins carved out of marshmallow; swirling multi-coloured portals straight out of TRON; towering statues; steps of glass. Cor, this game needs one of those tourist modes from Assassin's Creed, where you can just platform around the world while learning about its history.

El Shaddai shines brightest when it matches the beauty of its ever-changing environments with the same sort of variety in its boss battles, or platforming bits, or spectacular biking surprises. But all too often it stunts its own momentum with a repetitive cycle of boring fights. If you're able to push past the tedium and enjoy the view, great! For the majority of players, though, these switch-ups are likely too far and few between to hold their attention.

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El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron PC review - Rock Paper Shotgun

It was a typical late night for Jacob Peeler and Marcell Barbee. Peeler was browsing the internet for a new wide receiver. Barbee was playing video games.

Peeler was a member of Ole Miss staff from 2017-19 and had proven himself as one of the top receivers coaches and recruiters in the nation. Three of his top wideouts are currently in the NFL: 2020 Pro Bowlers A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf, and 2021 second-round pick Elijah Moore.

But on Dec. 1, 2019 three days after the Rebels finished their season with a 4-8 overall record Ole Miss announced the firing of head coach Matt Luke. And on Dec. 12, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that Peeler would become Texas States new offensive coordinator.

Peeler said that he accepted the job the same day his wife, Tori, gave birth to their son, Grayson. Hed been tasked by Bobcats head coach Jake Spavital with finding a plug-and-play junior college receiver and began his search when he returned home with his family in Oxford, Miss.

The coach started by filtering through the stats of Mississippi schools. He moved on to California, then Kansas. It was 2 a.m. by the time Peeler began combing through Iowa and found Barbees name.

Barbee was a sophomore at Iowa Western Community College. He finished second in both receptions (3.6) and yards per game (65.5) in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference in 2019. A year earlier, as a true freshman, he finished sixth in the league averaging 48.0 yards per game.

I Googled him and found his Hudl film and fell in love with his film, Peeler said. So I remember, I followed him on Twitter and he followed me right back.

Peeler hadnt yet updated his Twitter bio that still stated he was a coach at Ole Miss. Or his header photo, which featured Brown, Metcalf and the Nasty Wideouts moniker they made famous. He sent Barbee a direct message, complimenting his film. It was 3 a.m.

Im like, Oh s--t, this is legit, Barbee said. Im excited as hell. Im treating it like its 7 a.m., Im ready to get to work. I DMed him right away and I said, Look, what do we gotta do?

Barbees only other offers came from Southern Miss and UMass. He tweeted on Nov. 7, 2019, that hed received an offer from Texas State, though it came from former wide receivers coach Ron Antoine, who was let go at the end of the season.

But now Barbee was back on the teams radar. When Peeler brought up Barbee to Spavital, the head coach was already familiar with the name. The two sides came to an agreement quickly, with Barbee announcing his commitment to the Bobcats on Dec. 22.

Barbees since become one of the top pass-catchers for the maroon and gold. He tied with former slot receiver Jeremiah Haydel for a team-high 40 receptions and also led Texas State with 584 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2020, earning a spot on the All-Sun Belt Third Team.

I think hes an unbelievable player. I think you guys got a little bit of a taste of it last year, Spavital said. I think hes really starting to be very comfortable with this team, this offense and his position where, you know, I think hes got that big playmaking ability, as you guys see. And hes gonna be a guy we feed the ball to a lot.

The 10 touchdowns are especially notable. The Pueblo, Colo., native was one of just 11 FBS players to catch double-digit TDs during the season. Of the group, Barbee was the only one to come through the JUCO ranks.

All but two of his touchdowns came inside the 20-yard line. Barbee considers himself an all-around receiver and not just a red zone threat his other two touchdowns came from 33 and 43 yards out, showcasing his burner capabilities. But hes got a unique skill set that is particularly dangerous near the end zone.

His connection with quarterbacks is a major factor. Barbee isnt just a favorite target of one signal-caller. Hes a favorite of all of them. Last year, six of his TDs came from redshirt sophomore Brady McBride and four came from junior Tyler Vitt.

Its easy to trust him, Vitt said. Thats kind of our guy down there, thats kind of our game plan. When we get down there, just kind of let him go make the play. And make it where he makes a play or nobody makes a play. And its cool because he does it a lot of the time, you know?

Barbees chemistry with Vitt formed steadily over weeks of practice after the wideout enrolled at Texas State on Aug. 1, 2020. His relationship with McBride was a bit more rushed.

Barbees apartment wasnt ready to move into when he first moved to San Marcos and he needed a place to live until he could. McBride opened his doors, offering Barbee and fellow JUCO receiver Kevin Howard to stay in his living room for a few weeks until they were settled.

That was probably one of the most rare, weird occasions Ive ever been in, Barbee said. (McBride) seemed like a cool dude when I first met him. You know, he was really, really quiet at first, he didnt want to say too much. But then he just started opening up and he started telling me just things like waking me up for practice, going over film and stuff like that.

I drove them around for, like, a month or two, so I got to know them pretty well, McBride said. Hes easy to be around, hes always gonna crack jokes.

A study done by Daniel Wilco and published by the NCAA in 2017 showed that the average Power 5 wide receiver stands at 6-foot-0.61 and 192.13 pounds. So at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and playing in a Group of 5 conference, Barbee has excellent size for his position.

He couples it with an altitudinous vertical that makes his catch radius much larger, extending beyond most defenders reach.

I always heard the stories about him And theyre all true, said redshirt freshman quarterback Ty Evans, a fellow Coloradan who went to high school an hour north of Barbee at Monument Palmer Ridge. I remember people telling me he had a basketball game and the first thing hed do is dunk from underneath the basket, not even warmed up or anything. And now knowing him, I completely believe that.

Peeler and all three QBs praised Barbees ability to go up and get it. Hes got balletic body control in the air, putting himself in good position to track the ball mid-flight and make the grab.

Being in the red zone means having less space to roam in terms of width and length. Barbee makes room by using the third dimension. Fade routes can be distinctly difficult to stop as a defensive back. A 50-50 ball is not close to being an even split against Barbee.

I feel like nine times out of 10, hes gonna come down with the ball, graduate senior safety Troy Lefeged said. You can have two people on him, three people on him and hes gonna come down with the ball somehow. I dont know how he does it, to be honest with you.

If he cant manage to find a good angle for a jump ball, Barbee has other methods of getting open, too. He credits his coaches for equipping him with a toolbelt of releases that help him get off the line of scrimmage and a step ahead of his opponents.

Hes really good at creating separation, defensive coordinator Zac Spavital said. I mean, physically, hes big and everybody wants to say thats the key to creating separation its really not. Its just, hes got great body control, he knows how to use his balance and he knows how to use leverage to his advantage.

Barbee has much higher expectations for himself in 2021. Jake Spavital and McBride both noticed him taking on a more vocal leadership role in training camp. Barbee said he feels much more confident and mentally prepared heading into his second year with the Bobcats. He was voted to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team in July.

Hell get a chance to score a few more touchdowns when Texas States season officially kicks off against Baylor on Saturday at 6 p.m. inside Bobcat Stadium.

He has a chance to be one of the better, if not the best, (receivers) in this league, Peeler said. I think thats a testament to him and the work ethic and all the work hes put in.

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The ascension of Marcell Barbee | San Marcos Record - San Marcos Daily Record

While areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ida may not get their power restored for several more weeks, the capital region should be mostly reconnected in the next few days.

Entergy the state's biggest electrical utility and the main provider for the Baton Rouge metro area has finally released complete restoration estimates for Ascension and Livingston parishes, with those parishes set to have power restored by Tuesday. The energy giant also unveiled detailed neighborhood-by-neighborhood estimates for East Baton Rouge.

Other parishes more affected by the storm will have to wait longer for power restoration, however.

St. James and Tangipahoa parishes will likely have to endure outages until Sept. 17 and Assumption until Sept. 22.

The pace of progress has quickened over the past couple days, especially in East Baton Rouge, but also in Ascension and Livingston parishes, and even in hard-hit Tangipahoa.

In the Baton Rouge region, about 112,000 customers were still without power Saturday morning, 15,000 fewer than Friday night and 46,000 fewer than Friday morning. On Monday morning, the day after Hurricane Ida, close to 260,000 customers in the region were left without power.

"Were feeling pretty good on that progress and understanding that we will make more progress in getting every last customer restored," said John Hawkins, Entergy's vice president for distribution operations, on a call with reporters Saturday.

Demco, which serves much of the region, issued some rough estimates of its own Saturday afternoon, saying that outages in Pine Grove and Montpelier will take two to three weeks to repair and Tangipahoa area outages will take three to four weeks. More than half of Demcos meters and its distributions are back in service, and only six out of 43 substations are still down.

The company expects to have all its transmission issues worked in the next five to seven days, which once complete will speed up the power restoration process.

The energy coop had previously said outside of Gonzales, Prairieville, St. Amant, Galvez and French Settlement, customers in Ascension and Livingston living outside those areas could be without power for one to two weeks.

In Livingston Parish, the hardest hit of the company's coverage area, progress is a bit slower and the Holden area particularly looks to be the slowest, with repairs to its substation likely to stretch on for weeks.

St. Helena Parish is even slower. Demco says restoration in Greensburg and Pine Grove areas will last three to four more weeks. The delays have prompted the public school district there to delay the restart of school until Monday, Sept. 27.

Entergyreleased updated restoration estimates for 21 localities Friday night and updated them again Saturday morning. Those estimates, in many cases, accelerated or expanded upon estimates released just 12 hours earlier.

In the greater Baton Rouge area, in saying that power will be restored to Ascension and Livingston parishes by Tuesday is expanding on previous announcements. Previously, Entergy would say that only for the cities of Gonzales and Denham Springs.

These represent no later than dates and the company will explore every option to expedite restoration, Entergy said in its update.

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The company, however, warned that while getting power restored on this schedule will be the norm, a few customers in the most affected areas could still be without power for longer.

Entergy is projecting that within the day power should be back for customers in the Felicianas and in Iberville Parish. Demco, however, was still listing more than 1,700 outages in East Feliciana Parish on Saturday morning.

East Baton Rouge overall is expected to have power fully restored by Monday, Entergy said, but its coming quicker in some places.

On Saturday, Entergy released updates broken down by neighborhood. Of those, only Central, Goodwood and ONeal-Millerville will have to wait longer, until Tuesday, to get power.

Here's is the breakdown:

Baker and Zachary Saturday

Baton Rouge North

Baton Rouge West

Baton Rouge East

Baton Rouge South

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When will power be restored in your neighborhood? Here's a breakdown for Baton Rouge metro area - The Advocate

PRAIRIEVILLE- Frustrated residents in Ascension Parish lined up one at a time at gas stations across the parish Monday morning, only to discover that the lack of electricity meant the pumps did not work.

"I've been looking all over town," Bruce Moore said. "I filled up my other car since this morning around 6 a.m., hoping they had gas."

Moore was out of luck in Prairieville on his quest for gas. Others were also in the same situation.

Watch WBRZ+ for a live update from Ascension officials Tuesday

Many residents told WBRZ Monday they were caught off guard by Ida. They had no idea that the duration and intensity of the storm would linger around for hours.

"You could hear things crackling in the house," Jenny Roberts said. "The duration of the storm and how long it lasted, it was pretty long."

Others were grateful that they chose to leave. Sherry Templet said she rode the storm out in Baton Rouge after she did not feel comfortable in Prairieville with so many trees around her home.

"My little boy, he said momma you made a good decision for us to leave last night," Sherry Templet said.

When she returned, she found a tree on her house.

"No electricity and no phone service," Templet said added to the problems.

Despite the rebuilding that some residents will have ahead of them, many were grateful that it wasn't worse for them.

"I had God with me, so I was alright," Moore said.

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Ascension residents find long lines at the pump, no electricity means no gas - WBRZ

Ascension DPW announces intersection improvements on Joe Sevario Road

Ascension Parish Department of Public Works has announced that Devall Road at the Joe Sevario Road intersection was set to close on Aug. 24 and will remain closed for approximately two weeks.

Travelers will need to detour using La. 933 and Joe Sevario Road.

On Monday, Sept. 6, Devall Road will be open and Norwood Road will be closed at its intersection with Joe Sevario Road, and Merritt Evans will be closed at its intersection with Joe Sevario Road. This closure will remain for three weeks. Norwood Road drivers can detour using John West Road and La. 931 (Red Singletary Road). Drivers using Merritt Evans Road can detour using La. 44, Bertville Road and Joe Sevario Road.

These closures are needed to provide improved turn radiuses and sight distance, which will improve the safety at these intersections, a news release said. Drivers are encouraged to use caution when traveling in these construction areas.

The work is part of the Move Ascension transportation initiative. Follow all projects at moveascension.com.

Learn how to grow a bountiful small fall vegetable garden in small spaces. Explore types of small gardens, including container and edibles in the landscape with Janis Poche, Advance Master Gardener. Discover types of space-saving vegetables that produce plenty without taking up space.

The Fall Vegetable Gardens for Small Spaces workshop is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Ascension Parish Library in Galvez. This educational gardening workshop is brought to you by Ascension Parish Library and the Ascension Parish Master Gardeners Association under the direction of the LSU AgCenter.

Registration is required and space is limited. Call (225) 622-3339 to register or for more information. Masks may be required according to current mandates.

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ascension Parish Library is hosting an educational poster exhibition, curated by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, that presents the events of that fateful day, the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the nine-month recovery period and the ongoing repercussions in order to give visitors a deeper understanding of this key moment in modern American history.

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Told across 14 posters, this exhibition includes archival photographs and artifact imagery from the 9/11 Memorial & Museums permanent collection. To view this exhibition and learn more about the history of 9/11, visit Ascension Parish Librarys Gonzales, Dutchtown or Galvez locations during regular operating hours throughout the September. Masks may be required according to current mandates.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the countrys principal institution concerned with exploring 9/11, documenting its impact, and examining its continuing significance. This poster exhibition has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom. For more information about the exhibition, visit 911memorial.org.

As COVID-19 cases rise in our area, many events are being canceled or moved to a virtual program. At press time, plans were also being altered because of approaching Hurricane Ida.

We're listing planned events, but be aware that anything could get canceled. Call or visit websites to verify the event will be held.

The staff at the Ascension Parish Health Unit reminds residents they can get the COVID-19 vaccine at the health unit.

The Moderna vaccine is available at the Ascension Parish Health Unit, 1024 S. East Ascension Complex Blvd., in Gonzales. Appointments are available by calling (225) 450-1425.

For information, visithttps://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/.

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Around Ascension for Sept 1, 2021 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

If you're trying to gas up your car or generator in Baton Rouge, good luck.

Most of the gas stations are without fuel due to an increase in demand driven by Hurricane Ida.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, 62.4% of gas stations in Baton Rouge did not have gasoline for sale, according to information from Gas Buddy, a crowdsourced mobile app. That's an increase from roughly 50% in the morning.

About 38% of stations were out of diesel in Baton Rouge.

For Joe Heck, who lives in Walker, it's been hit or miss to find gas.

"It has really turned into a scavenger hunt," said Heck, who was waiting in line Wednesday morning at a Shell station on Siegen Lane. At 8 a.m., the line at the station stretched into the busy road.

Heck brought gas cans to fill up for his generator because he's been without power since Sunday night.

Tuesday night, he waited for about an hour for gas at the RaceTrac on Perkins Road before heading home.

"The lines are horrific," he said. "It seems to me like there should be an alternate plan. But here's the thing, I'm bitching a little bit about waiting for gas, but when I get home I've got my generator. It's inconvenient, but I'm not displaced."

O'Neal Smith said he spent Tuesday night at the Shell station, waiting for gas.

Smith, who lives in Jennings, had driven to New Orleans to drop off some generators and searched for a gas station as his truck ran low. He ran out of fuel at 6:30 p.m., while he was waiting in line.

"When we turned into the parking lot, that's when they said they were out of gas," Smith said.

Dozens of vehicles were waiting for the station Wednesday morning for the pumps to get turned on. Nearly all of the pumps had plastic bags over the nozzle.

"They say they have gas (now), but I don't know," Smith said.

At some gas stations, the situation became tense between customers.

Livingston Parish officials said a person had been shot in the arm during a confrontation at a truck stop over who was next in line to buy gasoline.

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"That's just two people being impatient, one decided to get a gun and shoot the other one, Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in a radio interview this week. I know everybody wants gas, I know everybody's going through hard times and tensions are high, but at the end of the day, we've got to be patient and work together. We can't have that type of thing happening."

And in Clinton, a convenience store was shut down on Tuesday after a gas-related confrontation that involved a weapon.

Clinton Police Chief Ned Davis Jr. said officers were on duty at another convenience store late Wednesday afternoon that still had gas, to make sure it doesnt happen again.

The average price of gas in Louisiana is $2.83, and in Baton Rouge, it was $2.80, according to AAA.

"There's not a gas shortage but ample supply to go around," said Nick Chabarria, spokesperson for AAA. "What we're seeing are temporary outages and logistical issues getting gas to some of the impacted areas. Many roads have debris which prevents traffic. Gas stations aren't able to fuel and have a limited amount on hand."

Gas prices have increased by a few cents compared with last week, but AAA expects a temporary spike in prices as demand has surged.

"It just depends how long those refineries stay offline; typically with a Category 4 storm in the past, it took three weeks," Chabarria said. "We can't stress enough that panic buying is going to exacerbate the issue even more."

Unlike the cybersecurity attack which brought down the Colonial Pipeline for several days recently, the issue after a hurricane is largely lack of power.

"There's a lot more layers. The lack of power is holding up refineries from being able to get the chemicals they need to make the gas," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy. "There's a temporary supply bottleneck. ExxonMobil has plenty of gasoline in storage but the issue is getting it out on trucks, The other issue is hoarding."

On average, gas stations nationwide have enough fuel to fill up the tank of roughly 10% of the population on any given day, but when 50% of residents look to fill up that's when they run out.

In Ascension Parish, local officials are considering a fuel convoy to bring gasoline for emergency services and local residents alike.

The region has become a magnet for nearby parishes hard hit by Ida such as Livingston, St. James, St. John the Baptist and St. Charles.

The 911 Center is running on generators and received enough diesel for 48 hours on Tuesday but it's been a challenge, said Ascension Sheriff Bobby Webre.

"We just cant get the answers (about fuel) and there are long lines at the fuel stations," he said.

Webre said his deputies would drive to Houston, if necessary to get fuel for the 911 center.

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Upwards of 62% of gas stations in Baton Rouge are empty; Ascension wants to truck in fuel - The Advocate

ASCENSION PARISH, La. (BRPROUD)- Parts of Ascension Parish are facing high waters after a weekend of nonstop rainy weather.

According to Ascension resident, Rodney Purvis, the parking lot of Freds Bar on Port Vincent received around nine feet of water. The flooding mark in the area is eight feet.

The last time this happened was in 2019, it was 8.77, back in May of 2019 Purvis says. Sometimes you live on part of the river, sometimes you live in it. Right now youre in it.

Residents say flooding in the area is not common after a rainy day, however they learned to prepare for any high water after the floods of 2016.

I kayaked out today. Im not staying there tonight I have work in the morning, Purvis says.

Businesses around the area are already seeing water levels decrease after receiving some sun on Sunday.

They expect the flooding to clear out by the end of the week.

Its leveled out now, Purvis says This is part of Louisiana.

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Ascension Parish left with flooding after weekend full of rain - KLFY

PRAIRIEVILLE - Residents are still assessing damage from back to back hail storms in the Prairieville area.

"That is the worst hail storm I have ever experienced," Rev. Anthony Bridges said, who lives in the Crestview area.

"I heard all that banging on the window. I never heard that before," Rev. Bridge added.

The two days of hail caused damage to Bridges' car. Now he's concerned about the house.

"I started worrying about my roof being damaged.Ijust put a new roof up, then my car windows are broken," Rev. Bridges said.

A roofing company answered calls several about damage in Bridges' neighborhood.

"The last two days it's been pretty busy," Kase Dupont with SOCO Roofing said.

DuPont says most of his calls were coming from the Prairieville area.

"The area we're in right now is a one (hail) inch impact zone,which is pretty significant as far as damage that will be causedto a roof," Dupont said.

Dupont says his workers won't be able to start repair jobs until next week, because they are still answering calls and inspecting hail damaged property.

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Roofers slammed with business after hail storms damage property in Ascension - WBRZ

ASCENSION PARISH - Homeowners who live along the Amite River have been dealing with flooding since Thursday.

With roads expected to be unusable for the next couple of days, some residents have come up with creative solutions to get around.

Bo Mathern owns a house on Airport Drive. Because of the high water, he and his wife have been using his bulldozer to get to and from his home.

Dudley Marchand III lives right down the road from Mathern. Marchand's land has flooded so much that his front yard looks like a lake. Marchand said that he uses a boat to get around, leaving it parked in the garage for easy accessibility.

Residents also faced power outages Friday night when a tree fell on power lines and cut off electricity in the neighborhood. A DEMCO crew was still working on repairing the lines Saturday.

Even with all the flooding and the power outage, residents say they are still happy to live in the area.

"It's so peaceful and quiet back here it's worth a little bit of aggravation from the water," Marchand said.

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With roads still flooded in Ascension Parish, residents find different ways of getting around - WBRZ

(WXYZ) In the middle of this pandemic and with the civil unrest still simmering across the nation due to the Capitol insurrection and now the George Floyd trial, first responders are under tremendous stress.

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That's why as a community service Ascension Michigan brings a mobile unit to our local police and fire departments to screen for the number one killer of men and women, but what they're uncovering goes far beyond.

Novi Police Officer Tim Farrell has been suiting up in the blue for 31 years. For him, it's a calling especially when someone's life in on the line, as it was during a recent motorcycle accident.

"We were able to save a gentleman's life; he lost two limbs," said Officer Farrell.

Now our men and women in blue and fire rescue are under more stress than ever before.

"Stress can play a significant role in any person's health especially in a police officer who will go to work every day wondering if he is going to come home alive," said Dr. Jerome Seid, a medical oncologist with Ascension Michigan.

According to the online database ScienceDirect.com, 80-percent of first responders report dealing with traumatic events on the job, and nearly 15 percent suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We see a lot of good things and we see some sad things as well," said Farrell.

Death, car accidents, police shootings -- all can cause your blood pressure to rise, heart rate to go up and that creates a perfect storm for the number one killer of men and women.

That's why Ascension Michigan has committed to screening 1,000 police officers and firefighters from Metro Detroit with their mobile heart unit, and they come directly to our first responders.

"This is really our way for not just a health system but the community to give back to a lot of these folks that put their lives on the line, they run toward the fire not away from it," said Dr. Shukri David, Chair of Cardiovascular Services at Ascension Michigan.

This mobile unit screens for vascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and more, and for Officer Farrell, who had no idea he had a cancerous tumor the size of a baseball growing inside him causing acid reflux, the screening was a wake-up call.

"I had a feeling something was going on as the tech was doing it cause she was asking me about my abdomen and if I had prior surgery," he said.

From there a CAT scan, MRI, and then surgery to remove the tumor, which is called a GIST, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

"This is really a cancer of the wall, the material that holds that stomach wall together," said Dr. Jerome Seid.

Dr. Seid put Officer Farrell on targeted oral chemotherapy, which is a once-a-day pill for three years to reduce the chance of a recurrence.

"The likelihood of him being cured is extremely high," he said.

For Officer Farrell, who works sun-up to sundown and risks his own life daily just by the profession he's chosen, the results of this simple screening are just another reason to be grateful to see the sunrise.

"Every day is precious and this is a chance for anybody who can do any type of preventative testing, taking those measures so you don't run into something that can cost you your life," said Officer Farrell.

These screenings are $60-$70 and covered by Ascension as a community service, but certainly life-changing for first responders like Officer Farrell who have little time to make it to the doctor's office for a routine physical let alone a screening like this one.

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Novi police officer discovers he has a tumor thanks to Ascension Michigan's mobile health clinic - WXYZ

GONZALES Ascension Parish residents who had flood water in their homes or businesses after last week's heavy rains should report it to parish government.

Parish officials said they have received no reports of structure flooding so far but want to create "a complete record of any and all high-water events that are regularly reported to State and Federal agencies."

The information will be compiled by the parish Floodplain Management and Stormwater departments, officials said in a statement Monday.

Parish officials are not seeking flooding information on sheds, pole barns, and other out structures.

Between the morning of April 13 and Sunday morning, 7 inches of rain fell on the Gonzales, with about 3.5 inches falling between Tuesday, April 13, and Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service says.

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The heavy rains sent the Amite River and Bayou Manchac to minor or moderate flood stages over the weekend and early this week.

All residents who have had flooding issues should call the Citizens Service Center at (225) 450-1200.

The technician fielding the call will use the work order system to register the call and assign it so the case can be documented, parish officials said.

"It is a good way to track the work the work order, and it can also hold information and pictures," a parish statement says.

To date, the Parish has received no reports of any water in homes. This is a proactive step to ensure the Parish has a complete record of any and all high-water events that are regularly reported to State and Federal agencies.

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Seven inches of rain in Gonzales? Ascension officials seek information on house, business flooding - The Advocate

PRESS RELEASE

Ascension Healthcare announces partnership with Grand Meadows to launch joint support technology NANOFLEX in US Animal Healthcare market

LONDON, April 15 2021 Ascension Healthcare plc (Ascension or the Company), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising innovative therapies for haemophilia and osteoarthritis is pleased to announce it has signed a commercial partnership agreement with Grand Meadows, Inc. a US-based market-leading provider of high-quality science backed equine and pet supplements, to launch a revolutionary new joint support technology, NANOFLEX, for Horses, Dogs and Cats.

NANOFLEX, represents the first significant scientific evolution in joint support for animals in many years. Harnessing the power of Ascensions patented sequessome technology (SEQ TECH), it changes the way we approach joint wear and tear in animals to improve mobility. Through its lubricating action, NANOFLEX offers a premium and unique treatment for joint health and is entirely drug free.

Biresh Roy, Chief Executive Officer of Ascension said: We are delighted to be partnering with Nick and his team at Grand Meadows to launch NANOFLEX exclusively in the US to build a successful equine and companion animal business together. This exciting collaboration marks Ascensions commercial debut into the large and growing US equine and companion animal markets, using our proven, and highly effective drug-free SEQ TECH.

Nick Hartog, Owner and President of Grand Meadows said: The animal health market in the US, particularly in the area of joint support, has, from a product innovation standpoint, been stagnant and there is a need for new innovative joint support products. NANOFLEX is easy to use, entirely drug-free and, as such, is perfectly suited to fill the gap in this market. I am looking forward to a long and successful collaboration with Ascension.

- Ends -

For further information please contact:

About Ascension Healthcare plc

Ascension Healthcare plc is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising innovative therapies for the treatment of haemophilia and osteoarthritis.

The Company has several products in clinical development for the treatment of Haemophilia A and also a range of internationally marketed products for osteoarthritis and well-being.

For more information please visit: http://www.ascension.co.uk

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Ascension Healthcare announces partnership with Grand Meadows to launch joint support technology NANOFLEX in US Animal Healthcare market -...

LightCounting releases its China Wireless Infrastructure & Macroeconomics Update

April 15, 2021 -- LightCountings latest report provides an update on 5G developments in China, including macroeconomics, geopolitics, and technology. The predictions made last year that Chinas economy would be the only major one to grow in 2020 and that 5G rollouts would go as planned turned out to be true.

In fact, Chinese consumers could not travel abroad and spent their money at home, which kept the economy on track, and China over-delivered and exceeded its 5G base stations (BTS) target. China is now home to more than 70% of the worlds 5G BTS footprint, said Stphane Tral, Chief Analyst at LightCounting Market Research.

Our major findings in the report are:

- China was the only economy to grow in 2020 while the U.S. posted its worst year since the end of World War II. This also suggests that China remains on track to surpass the U.S. as the worlds largest economy in the 2026-2028 timeframe because COVID-19 reset the GDP race between the U.S. and China.

- China added more than 900k combined 4G and 5G BTS in 2020, driving total capex up by 11% YoY5G capex grew 327% YoY

- Chinas RAN market rose more than 30% YoY, and Huawei and ZTE commanded a combined market share greater than 75% for 2020.

- This year, we expect the same level of 5G activity as last year.

- In the mid- and long-term, our model shows lumpiness and bumpiness through 2026, which we predict will be the year China kicks off 6G.

- Overall, we expect no changes in the U.S. administrations stance against China and that further motivates Chinas 5G ecosystem to keep up with the 5G race, build up self-sufficiency and pave the way to 6G. But there will be still severe headwinds and challenges.

About the report:

LightCountings China Wireless Infrastructure and Macroeconomics report focuses on 5G developments in China, including macroeconomics, geopolitics, and technology. The publication date is scheduled a few weeks after the 4 services providers (e.g., China Broadcasting Network, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom) provide their interim reports so that we can gather many details about 1H21 and provide a 2H21 outlook and a 5-year forecast. This report also includes RAN vendor market shares and analysis.

More information on the report is available at: https://www.lightcounting.com/products/ChinaFY20/

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COVID-19 and 5Geopolitics failed to derail China's ascension and 5G aspiration - Lightcounting Market Research

Baton Rouge General will have a free COVID-19 vaccination event 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at its Ascension Parish hospital off La. 73 in Prairieville, hospital officials said.

Participants must register in advance and bring identification and an insurance card, if you have one, officials said in a statement Tuesday.

The hospital is providing the Pfizer vaccine. Recipients must stay at the hospital for 15 minutes after receiving the shot to ensure they don't have an allergic reaction, hospital officials said.

BRG has vaccinated more than 30,000 people through two vaccine clinics in its Bluebonnet and Mid City campuses in Baton Rouge, as well as community events and special events for groups such as postal workers and teachers, hospital officials said.

The vaccine is available to those age 16 and older.

To register for the vaccination event Friday, go hereor to the BRG website athttps://www.brgeneral.org/in-the-community/events-calendar/event-details/?Event=23439.

The Baton Rouge General Ascension hospital is located at 14105 La. 73, Prairieville, near the Interstate 10 interchange.

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Free COVID vaccinations Friday in Ascension campus of Baton Rouge General - The Advocate

Tom VanOsdol, Guest columnist Published 10:42 a.m. CT April 15, 2021

Since the first patients with positive indications and test results for the novel coronavirus began to arrive at local hospitals in March 2020, nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, environmental services personnel and other essential staff members have heroically put their lives at risk to care for those stricken with COVID-19. The pandemic has tested and stressed our teams as never before, and exacted a terrible toll across Northwest Florida. At Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola alone, more than 2,000 people have been hospitalized in our COVID-19 units and ICUs.

When the pandemic began, Ascension Sacred Heart was one of the first hospitals in the state to open drive-through testing sites. Since then, our Ascension Medical Group has provided more than 80,000 COVID-19 tests to people in our region. Similarly, Ascension Sacred Heart was THE first provider in the region to open a mass vaccination clinic. To date, our clinics in Northwest Florida have administered 60,000 shots of vaccine.

It's been an extraordinary and historic effort, and our ongoing work to fight this virus has come at a material and human cost. COVID-19 imposed a financial hit on most hospitals, but especially on safety net hospitals like Ascension Sacred Heart which care for the largest percentage of those who are poor and most vulnerable in our community.

When the pandemic began, our hospitals temporarily stopped performing non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to appropriately conserve personal protective equipment and prevent the spread of the virus within our facilities. Consumers anxious about COVID-19 also stopped coming to our ERs for care they needed, and they postponed other essential and necessary medical care for conditions like heart and vascular disease, cancer care,and other significant and potentially serious health concerns.

At a time when we are still experiencing a loss of revenue due to COVID-19, we never expected the Florida Legislature to further cut the Medicaid funding we receive to care for the poor and vulnerable in our communities. But sadly thats exactly what's happening. While the Governors budget recognized our efforts over the past year and proposed no cuts, the Florida House budget proposes to reduce Ascension Sacred Heart's Medicaid reimbursements by $16 million and the Senate bill includes cuts totaling $15 million. Importantly, these are NOT governmental payments to healthcare institutions. Rather, these cuts follow individual patients, and further reduce the already less-than-cost reimbursement hospitals receive to cover the care of Medicaid beneficiaries.

We are further dismayed that hospitals providing neonatal intensive care are facing some of the most dramatic funding cuts in the Senate and House budget plans. As the 7th largest Medicaid provider in the state, Ascension Sacred Heart has no room to absorb these proposed cuts. With over 30 percent of our patients being Medicaid enrollees, we now face $16 million in reductions of an already anemic reimbursement rate. In light of these proposed cuts, we simply cannot see a way to balance our budget. For our doctors, nurses and other caregivers who have performed so valiantly and selflessly over the past year, this would mean we would not be able to support and resource them as before. This is not the reward they deserve for their service. And for patients, these cuts would render us unable to continue and extend all the essential services we provide, particularly for those most in need.

We sincerely ask our legislators to reconsider the fairness and the full implications of the House and Senate plans to cut support for the safety net hospitals in Florida, and for those most in need. We are specifically asking the House to reinstate the Critical Care Funds, which are allocated to the top 25 Medicaid providers in the state and are intended to help offset losses incurred when reimbursement is far less than the cost to deliver care. Importantly, were not asking for more money. Were simply asking NOT to be cut, particularly in light of the year weve all lived through.

Additionally, the Legislature is planning these cuts at the same time that Florida is the beneficiary of $10 billion in federal funds coming to the State and over $300 million is coming from an increase in the rate of federal matching funds for the Medicaid program.

Throughout the pandemic, the community has been able to rely on us despite the financial and operating challenges COVID-19 has presented. And in turn we've been fortunate to have the support of the community, and of our state and local officials as we worked to fight this battle, save human lives and slow the spread of the virus. Today, the new vaccines provide great hope, but the fight against COVID-19 is not finished. Now is not the time to reduce Medicaid funding for healthcare providers who have battled tirelessly over a year to serve the needs of our community and those most vulnerable to this insidious disease .

Tom VanOsdol is president and CEO ofAscension Florida and Gulf Coast.

Read or Share this story: https://www.pnj.com/story/opinion/2021/04/15/dont-reduce-medicaid-funding-safety-net-hospitals-guestview/7237002002/

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Now is not the time to reduce Medicaid funding for safety net hospitals | Guestview - Pensacola News Journal

Coaching is not easy, but when you can coach a mature group with the same set of goals, it makes it easy.

Coaching this team is easy due to the senior leadership we have; they lead us on and off the field, said East Ascension High baseball coach Kade Keowen.

The East Ascension Spartans baseball team is full of senior leaders who have played for several years at the varsity level. Leading the group is four-year starter Kael Babin (outfielder) who is hitting .325 and has 18 stolen bases this season. Senior catcher Jacob Falgoust leads the team with a .365 average along with two home runs, 33 runs batted in and eight doubles. Senior first baseman Brock Hebert is hitting nearly 300 and has 15 runs batted in. Junior OF Dominick Regira hits at a .333 clip and leads the way with three home runs.

The Spartans pitching staff is led by senior Tanner Hebert, a four-year letterman, with a 5-2 record, 3.02 ERA and 44 strikeouts recorded. Regira has a 4-2 record with a 3.60 ERA and 24 strikeouts. Brock Hebert has the best ERA at 1.43 and is 1-1 on the season.

The Spartans have played to their strengths this season with eight seniors leading the way; they started with Keowen when he became the head coach four years ago.

Everything runs through the seniors. They are sometimes vocal and sometimes just lead by example. I am so proud of them as the lead this program, Keowen said.

Making the routine plays is something the coaches want to improve on.

We need to just make the routine plays, dont make the hero plays, this will allow our pitchers to stay away from big innings and minimize the damage, said Keowen.

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The Spartans have hit well as a team and the coaches like the daily approach.

Putting the ball in play with two strikes and force the defense to make plays, this will extend innings for us and run up opposing pitchers counts said Keowen.

The Spartans play in a tough district with Catholic High and their rivals.

I believe this will be a tight district race. We have split with Catholic, everyone knows that St. Amant has a well-coached and talented team, plus Dutchtown as a rival, all of the teams are well coached, and they play hard, Keowen said.

The 5A playoffs look strong from top to bottom and just making the top 16 will guarantee a home playoff game in the first round.

We are currently sitting as the No. 20 seed. We will travel anywhere, we dont care, but everyone hopes to get the 16 seed or better to get a home game; we will be ready no matter where we fall, Keowen said.

As the season winds down and heads to the playoffs, the Spartans will certainly be a team to watch in 5A. East Ascension opened district play with two losses to Dutchtown High.

This is my fourth year as their head coach and having this senior group makes it extremely fun, our philosophy is to start fast, score early and most of all, just play hard and have fun, Keowen said.

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Seniors lead the way for Spartan baseball - The Advocate

MICHIGAN The number of people in the hospital being treated for COVID19 reached an all-time high on Tuesday.

According to state data, 4,158 patients are hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus, with 663 patients locally. There are 896 people in the ICU and 530 people are on a ventilator.

While the east side of Michigan is behind much of those numbers, doctors say West Michigan is nowhere in the clear.

Our trend is still going in that upward direction, said Dr. Joshua Kooistra, chief medical officer at Spectrum Health West Michigan.

According to Kooistra, Spectrum Health is nearing hospitalization records of their own. Currently there are 314 patients, with about a quarter in the ICU. Last November, the health system hit a high, treating 358 patients.

Adding to the issue, Kooistra says, is Spectrum seeing its normal levels for other inpatient admissions, such as routine illnesses and injuries.

Our capacity is becoming strained, said Kooistra. Like in the fall, we are deferring some non-emergent or urgent procedures that could be safely deferred until our capacity will allow us to care for our patient population.

Regionally, Mercy Health is seeing a slow increase at its hospitals in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, with numbers shifting from the low 40s and 50s to upper 40s and 50s. The trend is translating to its ICU admissions.

At Ascension Borgess in Kalamazoo, data shows its two cases from hitting its highest number of patients since mid-December.

Bronson Healthcare saw a recent peak at its hospital in Kalamazoo with 73 patients, however the health system says its four hospitals saw a 10 percent reduction in hospitalizations over the weekend. A spokeswoman said its too early to tell if the worst is behind them.

Our teams are fatigued, but still have the mission to care for our community and do so in the best way possible, said Kooistra.

According to Gov. Whiter, youth sports, COVID-19 fatigue, and variants are behind the increased numbers.

Health officials are urging people to continue to mask up, social distance, wash their hands, and get vaccinated. Kooistra says at Spectrum, the number of people hospitalized in the 70+ age group is not rising like the other age groups.

The West Michigan Vaccine Clinic has appointments open this week. To sign up, click here.

That alone should encourage people in those younger age groups to really go out and get vaccinated, said Kooistra. If you have the opportunity and youre eligible to do so, I would encourage everybody to sign up and get your vaccine.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations in Michigan hit record high, health systems in West Michigan managing - Fox17

Sufjan Stevens has shared the second part of his upcoming five-part album listen to Lamentations below.

The track is included on the second part ofStevens new 49-track album Convocations, which is due out next month.

Each of the five parts of the album are being released one-by-one in the run-up to the albums full release. Earlier this month, Stevens shared the albums first part, Meditations, before the Lamentations release was previewed earlier this week by new track Lamentation II.

Following them will be Revelations (April 22), Celebrations (April 29) and Incantations (May 6). The new instrumental record from Stevens will be released digitally on May 6 via Asthmatic Kitty. A 5xLP coloured vinyl edition of Convocations will follow on August 20.

Listen to the 30-minute Lamentations below.

The forthcoming project is comprised of five volumes Meditations, Lamentations, Revelations, Celebrations and Incantations and sees Stevens reflect on a year of anxiety, uncertainty, isolation and loss through 49 new songs.

Stevens created the album in tribute to his biological father, who died just two days after his 2020 album The Ascension was released. According to a press release, each Convocations volume represents a different stage of the mourning process.

Reviewing The Ascension upon its release last year, NME said: The unashamed pop feel of The Ascension is regularly coupled with the sort of wiry electronics you might expect to hear in a Glastonbury dance tent at 4am.

These anxious instrumentals echo the albums uneasy outlook and fear of the future, and when they combine forces it often makes for an astonishing listen. The world is pretty shitty at the moment and its easy to feel helpless, but as the horror show that is 2020 continues to rumble on, The Ascension is yet another ample soundtrack to rage-dance to.

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Listen to Sufjan Stevens Lamentations, the second part of his five-part album - NME