SUMMARY: Dr. Michael McCaskill has spent nearly a decade studying sickle cell disease and its link to vitamin D, which plays a vital role in regulating inflammation, immune response, and mental health. His team found that higher vitamin D levels correlate with reduced inflammation in sickle cell patients. Despite the body’s ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, over 80% of Black Americans are deficient due to melanin’s UV-blocking properties and geographic factors. The Fitzpatrick scale helps estimate vitamin D conversion based on skin tone. McCaskill urges people to request vitamin D tests, as treatment is often simple if deficiency is found.

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SUMMARY: Chef Myisha “Maya” Masterson, founder of the Black Roux Culinary Collective, blends food, history, music, and travel into immersive culinary experiences. Her Juneteenth tribute, a shrimp watermelon salad, honors African American resilience with symbolic ingredients like watermelon, red onion, and pickled collard greens. Masterson views cooking as a deeply artistic and nourishing act, rooted in ancestral tradition. Watermelon, once a tool of survival and later a racist stereotype, has been reclaimed as a symbol of liberation and pride. Masterson’s work highlights the powerful connection between food and cultural legacy, offering nourishment not just for the body but for the soul.

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SUMMARY: With City Council approval of a road ownership swap, Lafayette’s revitalization of Bertrand Drive and Johnston Street is moving forward. Funding remains unresolved, with Councilman Andy Naquin proposing an Economic Development District (EDD) to impose an extra sales tax on businesses in the area. Mayor-President Monique Boulet agreed to explore the EDD but emphasized the need for more analysis and stakeholder input. Though controversial, especially among businesses, EDDs could support infrastructure upgrades, with Johnston Street receiving \$5 million in initial state funding. Naquin hopes to finalize EDD boundaries by year’s end, framing it as a potential public-private partnership.

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