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The Times-Picayune
recently began publishing announcements recognizing gay commitment ceremonies and same-sex marriages, in states where the practice is legal. "This change recognizes an important celebration for our gay readers, their families and friends," says T-P editor Jim Amoss. Louisiana's largest daily newspaper joins more than 100 newspapers nationwide in opening its pages to the gay and lesbian population.

Melissa Zeier and Gary Huntley,
were chosen from 850 Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana nominees as the 2003 "Big Sister of the Year" and "Big Brother of the Year," respectively. Zeier, a full-time student at Tulane University with two part-time jobs, volunteered one hour a week at a school-based program. Huntley, a financial analyst and married father of two, donated two hours weekly to help needy kids.

Gov. Mike Foster
continues to demean his critics -- and his office -- by name-calling. "There are a few of them out there that are nuts and kooks, and [Internet columnist] C.B. [Forgotston] is one of them," Foster told the Houma Daily Courier. Foster press secretary Marsanne Golsby recently called her boss' critics "idiots" and labeled Forgotston's Web site as "extremely irresponsible." Earlier, Foster referred to another elected official as a "sick fellow."

Archbishop Alfred Hughes
of New Orleans has lost moral high ground with the release of the Massachusetts attorney general's report on the sexual abuse of hundreds of children by clergy in the Boston Archdiocese, where Hughes was the No. 2 official in the early '90s. Hughes and other church officials "supported the perceived needs of offending [pedophile] priests, more than the needs of children who had been, or who were at risk of being, abused," the report states.

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