Some La. leaders back Trump plan to close Education Dept.
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
As President Donald Trump seeks to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, some of Louisiana’s top education officials say they are eager to bid the agency adieu. Echoing Republicans who have long opposed the Cabinet-level federal agency’s existence, Louisiana education leaders see the department as inefficient and an example
of federal overreach, arguing that school policies should be left to states and local communities.
“I have always suggested that the department should not exist,” Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said in an interview Thursday. “I trust people in Louisiana to make decisions based on the educational needs of the state of Louisiana.”
After repeatedly calling for the Education Department’s elimina-
CADE BRUMLEy, Louisiana Superintendent of
tion, reports this week said Trump is preparing to issue an executive order instructing his newly confirmed education secretary Linda McMahon, to shut down the agency
In an interview Friday, McMahon said Trump “certainly intends” to sign an order, but did not say when. Abolishing the department and shifting some of its functions to other agencies could reduce
ä See EDUCATION, page 4A
Inmate challenges nitrogen gas usage
BY ANDREA GALLO Staff writer
Jessie Hoffman Jr., who is scheduled to become the first person Louisiana puts to death using nitrogen gas, testified in federal court on Friday to ask that the state find another way Hoffman, 46, has spent the majority
of his life on death row over the 1996 abduction, rape and execution-style killing of Mary “Molly” Elliott in rural St. Tammany Parish. He appeared in court in Baton Rouge on Friday in an orange jumpsuit, one hand shackled and surrounded by security guards. Hoffman recently filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging that the plan
to use nitrogen hypoxia to execute him on March 18 constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution.
Louisiana Middle District Chief Judge Shelly Dick, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, is
ä See INMATE, page 5A
Arrest made in hazing death
BY QUINN COFFMAN and MATT BRUCE Staff writers
Baton
“Additional warrants can’t be ruled out,” Morse told reporters, noting it remains an “active, ongoing” investigation involving his department and the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office with cooperation from Southern University Late Thursday, former Southern University student Caleb McCray, 23, surrendered to Baton Rouge police McCray’s attorney said in a statement Friday his client is innocent.
McCray marked the first arrest tied to the fatal Omega Psi Phi fraternity hazing ritual Morse said occurred Feb. 27 in a warehouse at 3412 Woodcrest Drive.
McCray was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish jail Thursday night on one count each of manslaughter and hazing. McCray made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon, where his bond was set at $100,000, his attorney said.
“I maintain my client’s innocence and urge the public to withhold rushing to judgment until all
Two more suspects sought in case involving Southern student ä See HAZING, page 4A
Texas Rep. Green censured by House for disrupting Trump’s speech
N.O. native only 28th member ever punished
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON — The Republican majority in the U.S. House on Thursday censured Democratic Rep. Al Green a New Orleans native who represents parts of Houston, for interrupting President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress and the nation Green is only the 28th member censured in the 236-year history of the House. But he is the third, all Democrats, chastised since 2023, when the Republicans regained control of the
House. Now, the right-wing Republican House Freedom Caucus is looking to oust Green from his committee assignments as further punishment. During the Tuesday night speech, Trump said that the nation had overwhelmingly elected him Trump did win a majority of the electoral and popular votes. But he only polled 1.5% more votes than former Vice President Kamala Harris out of the 152.3 million cast. Green jumped up, shook the cane he uses to help him walk and shouted: “You have no mandate.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, ordered Green to sit down and Green refused Johnson had Green re-
moved from the chamber No Republicans opposed the resolution to censure Green — including all four GOP members in Louisiana’s congressional delegation in the 224-198 vote.
Ten Democrats joined the Republicans. Both Democratic members in the state’s delegation supported Green by voting against the resolution.
A censured member is supposed to stand contritely in front of the podium while the Speaker of the House reads aloud a resolution describing the chamber’s displeasure.
But Democratic members joined Green in the well and sang “We Shall
ä See GREEN, page 5A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Baton Rouge Chief of Police Thomas Morse Jr speaks to the media during a news conference Friday regarding the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy supplies
KYIV Ukraine Russia attacked Ukrainian energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones during the night, officials said Friday, hobbling the country’s ability to deliver heat and light to its citizens and to power weapons factories vital to its defenses.
The overnight barrage which also pounded residences and wounded at least 10 people — came days after the U.S. suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine to pressure it into accepting a peace deal being pushed by the Trump administration. Without U.S. intelligence, Ukraine’s ability to strike inside Russia and defend itself from bombardment is significantly diminished.
The U.S. government said Friday it halted Ukrainian access to unclassified satellite images that had been used to help it fight back against Russia.
The U.S. National GeospatialIntelligence Agency told The Associated Press the decision reflected “the Administration’s directive on support to Ukraine,” without elaborating. The satellite imagery provider Maxar Technologies confirmed the U.S. government decision to “temporarily suspend” Ukrainian access. Air-defense systems supplied by the West are crucial for Ukraine, but further U.S help is uncertain under President Donald Trump, who held a tempestuous — and televised — White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week in which he questioned Ukraine’s determination to end the war Zelenskyy has since said the blowup with the Trump administration was “regrettable.”
Clashes in Syria kill more than 200 BEIRUT Fighters siding with Syria’s new government stormed several villages near the country’s coast, killing dozens of men in response to recent attacks on government security forces by loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad, a war monitor said.
The village assaults erupted Thursday and continued Friday Ongoing clashes between the two sides have marked the worst violence since Assad’s government was toppled in early December by insurgent groups led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir alSham. The new government has pledged to unite Syria after 14 years of civil war
More than 200 people have been killed since the fighting broke out, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In addition to around 140 killed in apparent revenge attacks in the villages, the dead include at least 50 members of Syria’s government forces and 45 fighters loyal to Assad. The civil war that has been raging in Syria since March 2011 has left more than half a million people dead and millions displaced.
The most recent clashes began when government forces tried to detain a wanted person near the coastal city of Jableh on Thursday and were ambushed by Assad loyalists, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
U.S. military’s mini shuttle returns to Earth CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. military’s classified mini space shuttle returned to Earth on Friday after circling the world for 434 days. The space plane blasted into orbit from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in December 2023 on a secret mission. Launched by SpaceX, the X-37B vehicle carried no people, just military experiments. Its predawn touchdown at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was not announced until hours after the fact. Photos showed the white-and-black space plane parked on the runway in darkness.
It’s the seventh flight of one of these test vehicles Space Force officials said the mission successfully demonstrated the ability to change orbits by using atmospheric drag to slow down, saving fuel.
It’s “an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program,” program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart said in a statement.
PHOTO PROVIDED By PARIS POLICE PREFECTURE
The disposal efforts for a huge, unexploded World War II-era bomb in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, caused transportation chaos Friday including the suspension of highspeed rail links with London and Brussels and the closure of a vital road artery in the French capital.
WWII bomb disposal causes chaos in Paris
serves not only Paris’ northern suburbs and northern France, but also international destinations in the U.K., Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany
Texas reports nearly 200 measles cases
New Mexico cases hit 30
BY DEVI SHASTRI Associated Press
A historic measles outbreak in West Texas is just short of 200 cases, Texas state health officials said Friday, while the number of cases in neighboring New Mexico tripled to 30.
Most of the cases across both states are in people younger than 18 and people who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
Texas health officials identified 39 new infections of the highly contagious disease, bringing the total count in the West Texas outbreak to 198 people since it began in late January
ple’s illnesses had run their course. The department has said it hasn’t been able to prove a clear connection to the Texas outbreak, though on Feb. 14, it said a link is “suspected.”
On Thursday, New Mexico health officials confirmed an unvaccinated adult who died without seeking medical care tested positive for measles. The state medical investigator has not announced the official cause of death, but the state health department said Friday it is “measles-related.”
The CDC said Friday it has also confirmed measles cases in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey New York City Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington. But the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks make up for most of the nation’s case count.
BY SAMUEL PETREQUIN and JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press
PARIS The disposal of what Paris police called an “excessively dangerous” unexploded World War II bomb caused hours of transportation chaos Friday on rail and road networks in the French capital including the suspension of high-speed train links with London and Brussels.
Having moved the bomb into a hole, disposal experts managed to unscrew and then destroy its fuse, “like you see in the movies,” said Christophe Pezron, who heads the Paris police laboratory that includes bomb disposal services He said that the half-ton British-made bomb could have caused major damage had it exploded after workers inadvertently dug it up with an earthmover
But the police operation that made the bomb safe before it was then taken away triggered major disruption for hundreds of thousands of rail travelers and motorists.
The bomb was dug up near train tracks north of Paris, forcing a shutdown of the rail network serving Gare du Nord, France’s busiest station. A portion of the A1 highway — a major road artery into northern Paris and sections of the capital’s always-busy beltway were also closed while police disposal officers worked.
“We’re delighted and relieved that all this has come to an end,” Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot was able to finally declare Friday afternoon — 12 hours after the bomb-disposal police were first called — as roads reopened and rail services were progressively being restored.
The minister said that almost 500 trains had been canceled, impacting around 600,000 people at Gare du Nord that
“All of the northern part of our country was paralyzed,” Tabarot said.
Eurostar, the operator of high-speed trains through the Channel Tunnel that joins England with the European continent, said that normal traffic would resume Saturday between Paris and Brussels and Paris and London, after Friday’s full day of cancellations. Hundreds of commuter, regional and high-speed train services between Paris and its suburbs and towns and cities in northern France were also canceled.
Gabrielle Cotton, a tourist from the U.S. state of Missouri, was traveling by train from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Paris, but got no further than Brussels.
“I heard the girl next to me — her parents called her and said that there was a World War II bomb found in the train station,” she said. “They told us we had to get off in Brussels.”
Retired Parisian Michel Garrot also found himself stranded with his wife in the Belgian capital.
“There’s no solution. We’re going to call the hotel and stay one more day And change our train ticket,” he said.
At Eurostar’s hub in London, St. Pancras International station, passengers scrambled for alternatives. Fridays are invariably busy with thousands of weekend travelers. Paris-bound passengers were advised to try taking trains to Lille in northern France, or fly Bride-to-be Charlotte Liddell had a bachelorette party — her own — to get to in Paris and wanted to join friends already in the French capital.
“It’s the hen do without the hen!” she said. “We’re very upset, but it’s so out of our control.”
Eurostar said that it “sincerely apologizes for the disruption and understands the inconvenience this may cause.”
States sue over mass firings of federal probationary workers
Maryland, 19 other states
BY BRIAN WITTE Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland and 19 other states are suing multiple federal agencies, contending President Donald Trump’s administration has illegally fired thousands of federal probationary workers.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is leading the coalition of attorneys general in the federal lawsuit that was filed late Thursday in Maryland, where the state estimates about 10% of households receive wages from the federal government.
“The draconian actions of the Trump-Vance Administration could lead to tens of thousands of jobs lost, hundreds of thousands of lives disrupted, and the cratering of tens of millions of dollars in income here in Maryland,” Gov Wes Moore, a Democrat, said Friday in support of the complaint.
already have applied for unemployment benefits, Brown’s office said.
The lawsuit also contended that the layoffs will hurt state finances due to lost tax revenue.
“President Trump’s unlawful mass firings of federal workers are a blatant attack on the civil service, throwing thousands of hardworking families into financial turmoil,” Brown, a Democrat, said in a news release. “Instead of following the law and notifying states, his administration blindsided Maryland, forcing us to deal with the devastating economic fallout and social consequences.”
Brown followed up on Friday by moving for a temporary restraining order in federal court in Maryland seeking to stop any more firings of federal probationary employees and to reinstate those who have already been dismissed.
The mass firings will cause irreparable burdens and expenses on the states, the lawsuit said, because states will have to support recently unemployed workers and review and adjudicate claims of unemployment assistance. More than 800 fired federal workers in Maryland
Trump, a Republican, has said he’s targeting fraud, waste and abuse in a bloated federal government. The president and his adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have fired both new and career workers, telling agency leaders to plan for “largescale reductions in force.” The purge has spawned a number of lawsuits as unions and attorneys general have challenged DOGE’s authority Attempts to contact the White House and Justice Department for comment were unsuccessful.
Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because they’re usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection. While federal agencies claimed the employees were fired for unsatisfactory performance or conduct, the lawsuit said the firings were part of the administration’s attempt to restructure and downsize the entire government
That means the administration was required to follow federal laws and regulations that govern large-scale federal reductions in force, the lawsuit said.
Twenty-three people have been hospitalized so far Last week, a school-age child died of measles in Texas, the nation’s first measles death in a decade. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that they were sending a team to Texas to help local public health officials respond to the outbreak.
New Mexico health officials had been reporting for weeks a steady number of cases in Lea County — which borders the epicenter of Texas’ outbreak. But on Friday, state health officials provided The Associated Press a week-by-week count that shows cases have steadily increased from 14 cases in the week of Feb. 9 to 30 this week.
A spokesperson for the health department said more cases are expected and that many of the cases reported Friday weren’t identified until after peo-
The rise in measles cases has been a major test for U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who has questioned the safety of childhood vaccines Recently he has stopped short of recommending people get the vaccine, and has promoted unproven treatments for the virus, like cod liver oil. Kennedy dismissed the Texas outbreak as “not unusual,” though most local doctors in the West Texas region told The Associated Press that they have never seen a case of measles in their careers until this outbreak.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.
Matt Caldwell, left, a Lubbock Fire Department official, administers a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to Clair May, 61, on Feb 26 at the Lubbock Health Departmen in Lubbock, Texas.
Move comes after pausing military aid, intel sharing with Ukraine
BY AAMER MADHANI and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday
he is “strongly considering” levying new sanctions and tariffs on Russia for its war against Ukraine, floating the possibility of new pressure on Moscow just days after he ordered a pause on U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said he was considering the action “based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now.”
He added that the prospective sanctions could remain in place until the two sides come to a ceasefire and peace settlement.
The sanctions threat came as Trump faces criticism for increasing pressure on
Ukraine to reach a deal while playing down or even denying Russia’s responsibility for starting the war with its invasion three years ago “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now before it is too late,” Trump added in his post.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday that the U.S. has kept its sanctions in place on
Trump writes Iran’s leader about country’s nuclear program
BY JON GAMBRELL and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seeking a new deal with Tehran to restrain its rapidly advancing nuclear program and replace the agreement he withdrew America from in his first term in office.
Iranian state media immediately picked up on Trump’s acknowledgment, given in excerpts from a Fox Business Channel interview aired on Friday, though there was no confirmation from Khamenei’s office that any letter had been received. The interview airs in full on Sunday It remained unclear how the 85-year-old supreme leader would react, given that former President Barack Obama had kept his letters to Khamenei secret ahead of the start of negotiations that led to Tehran’s 2015 deal with world powers. In comments to reporters in the Oval Office later on Friday Trump did not mention the letter directly but made a veiled reference, saying, “We have a situation with Iran that, something’s going to happen very soon. Very, very soon.”
“Hopefully we can have a peace deal,” Trump said. “I’m not speaking out of strength or weakness I’m just saying I’d rather see a peace deal than the other But the other will solve the problem.”
He’s suggested that the alternative to a negotiated resolution would be the U.S.
threatening to intervene military in Iran. Trump’s overture comes as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at near weaponsgrade levels — something only sought by atomicarmed nations In the interview with Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump said, “I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily it’s going to be a terrible thing.’” He said he’d sent the letter on Thursday
The White House confirmed that Trump’s letter to Iran’s leaders is seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal The president’s comments in the Oval Office echoed his sentiments from the interview which was taped Thursday “I would rather negotiate a deal I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily,” Trump said in the interview “But the time is happening now The time is coming up Something’s going to happen one way or the other.”
“I hope you’re going to negotiate because, it’s going to be a lot better for Iran and I think they want to get that letter,” he added. “The other alternative is we have to do something because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump offered no details of what, if anything, was specifically offered to Iran in the letter
Russia and “will not hesitate to go all in should it provide leverage in peace negotiations.”
Joe Biden’s administration over the course of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine imposed thousands of sanctions on Russian firms, people and ships as well as a price cap on Russian oil, among other actions.
Bessent called Biden’s sanctions on Russian ener-
gy “egregiously weak” and “stemming from worries about upward pressure on U.S. energy prices.”
“Per President Trump’s guidance, sanctions will be used explicitly and aggressively for immediate maximum impact,” Bessent said. “They will be carefully monitored to ensure that they are achieving specific objectives.”
Kevin Hassett, director of
the National Economic Council, told reporters Friday there is still a “heck of a lot” of room to put further pressure on the Russian economy through sanctions.
“President Trump is adamant that we need to get everybody to the table, and we could do that with carrots, and we could do that with sticks,” Hassett said.
Russia launched overnight attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones, officials said Friday, hobbling the country’s ability to deliver heat and light to its citizens and to power weapons factories vital to its defenses.
The barrage — which also pounded residences and wounded at least 10 people — came days after the U.S. suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine to pressure it into accepting a peace deal being pushed by the Trump administration.
Without U.S. intelligence, Ukraine’s ability to strike inside Russia and defend itself from bombardment is significantly diminished.
But Trump, in an exchange with reporters, shrugged off the notion that Russian
President Vladimir Putin is taking advantage of the intelligence pause to inflict more pain on Ukraine.
“I think he’s doing what anybody else would,” Trump said of Putin. And Trump again questioned whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is committed to getting a peace agreement to end the conflict. “It may be easier dealing with Russia, which is surprising, because they have all the cards, and they’re bombing the hell out of them right now,” Trump said.
Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff to Saudi Arabia next week to meet with Ukrainian officials. Trump, days into his second, nonconsecutive White House term, said targeting Russia’s oil revenue was the best way to get Moscow to end its nearly three-year war against Ukraine. He leaned in on the idea that OPEC+, the alliance of oil producing nations, holds the key to ending the war by reducing oil prices.
S.C. man executed by firing squad
First U.S prisoner killed that way in 15 years
BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man convicted of murder was executed by firing squad Friday, the first U.S. prisoner to die by that method in 15 years.
Three volunteer prison employees used rifles to carry out the execution of Brad Sigmon, 67, who was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m.
Sigmon killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat in their Greenville County home in 2001 in a botched plot to kidnap their daughter He told police he planned to take her for a romantic weekend, then kill her and himself.
Sigmon’s lawyers said he chose the firing squad because the electric chair would “cook him alive,” and he feared that a lethal injection of pentobarbital into his veins would send a rush of fluid and blood into his lungs and drown him.
The details of South Carolina’s lethal injection method are kept secret in South Carolina, and Sigmon unsuccessfully asked the state Supreme Court on Thursday to pause his execution because of that.
On Friday, Sigmon wore a black jumpsuit with a hood over his head and a white target with a red bull’s-eye over his chest
The armed prison employees stood 15 feet from where he sat in the state’s death chamber — the same distance as the backboard is from the free-throw line on a basketball court Visible in the same small room was the state’s unused electric chair
The gurney used to carry out lethal injections had been rolled away
The volunteers all fired at the same time through openings in a wall. They were not visible to about a dozen witnesses in a room separated from the chamber by bullet-resistant glass. Sigmon made several heavy breaths during the two minutes that elapsed from when the hood was placed to the shots being fired.
The shots, which sounded like they were fired at the same time, made a loud, jarring bang that caused witnesses to flinch. His arms
briefly tensed when he was shot, and the target was blasted off his chest. He appeared to give another breath or two with a red stain on his chest, and small amounts of tissue could be seen from the wound during those breaths.
A doctor came out about a minute later and examined Sigmon for 90 seconds before declaring him dead.
Witnesses included three family members of the victims, David and Gladys Larke. Also present were Sigmon’s attorney and spiritual adviser, a representative from the prosecuting
solicitor’s office, a sheriff’s investigator and three members of the news media. Sigmon delivered a closing statement that he said was “one of love and a calling to my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty.” The firing squad is an execution method with a long and violent history in the U.S. and around the world. Death in a hail of bullets has been used to punish mutinies and desertion in armies, as frontier justice in America’s Old West and as a tool of terror and political repression in the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany
BY ALMA SOLÍS and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press
PANAMA CITY Panama an-
nounced Friday that it will allow 112 migrants deported from the United States who have been held in a remote camp in the Darien region since last month to move about the country freely until they decide on their next course of action. The government cited humanitarian reasons for the decision but rights lawyers promptly expressed concerns that this could be a tactic to absolve the authorities of international scrutiny for their treatment of migrants while also putting them in more danger
Panama’s Security Minister Frank Ábrego said the migrants — from a number of mostly Asian nations — would be granted temporary humanitarian passes as documents. They would find their own places to stay while they decide where they are going next, Ábrego said, without elaborating.
The passes would last for an initial 30 days but could be renewed, he added.
“They have exactly 30 days to figure out how to leave Panama, because they refused to accept help from the (International Organization for Migration) and (the U.N. Refugee Agency) and said that they wanted to do it themselves,” Ábrego said, speaking to reporters outside
a security conference Friday.
“Panama has decided to respect this,” he also said. Panama has come under pressure from human rights groups for holding the migrants without their passports or cellphones in harsh conditions. Lawyers had petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on their behalf.
Most of the migrants had been moved to the camp in San Vicente on Feb. 19, from a hotel in Panama City where they had initially been held under police guard. Migrants who agreed to voluntarily return to their countries remained at the hotel and those who didn’t were sent to the camp in the Darien.
PHOTO PROVIDED By UKRAINIAN EMERGENCy SERVICE Firefighters put out a fire Friday after a Russian rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
the evidence is heard,” attorney Phillip Robinson said. Morse said Friday Wilson’s death was the “direct result” of being punched “while pledging” to join Omega Psi Phi.
The police chief said McCray’s arrest and additional anticipated arrests in the case are the result of “around the clock” work by law enforcement that included questioning more than a dozen people.
Dennis Shields president of Southern University, said at the Friday news conference Omega Psi Phi was ordered to “cease all activities” at the university.
In addition, the university suspended all campus club and Greek life recruiting through the academic year, Shields said University officials are conducting an internal investigation of Wilson’s death, and Shields made clear student groups face the “prospect of discipline,” and it’s possible some students could be expelled.
Wilson, a Kenner native and former trumpet player for Southern’s famed Human Jukebox marching band, died Feb. 27 after he was punched in the chest while pledging for the fraternity The hazing ritual took place inside the Woodcrest Drive warehouse just south of Greenwell Springs Road
The pledges were brought to the building and forced to change into gray sweatsuits. With Wilson and eight other hopefuls lined up according to height, McCray and the two other suspects took turns punching them in the chest using a pair of black boxing gloves, according to McCray’s arrest warrant affidavit.
All the pledges absorbed four punches from fraternity members imposing the rite of passage, authorities said. Each punch represented one of the fraternity’s
EDUCATION
Continued from page 1A
federal oversight and regulation of schools.
That scenario would be cheered by some of Louisiana’s Republican leaders, who often clashed with the Education Department when it was controlled by President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Last year, the state sued to block an agency rule that barred discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, saying it conflicted with Louisiana laws and values.
Ronnie Morris, president of Louisiana’s state board of education, said he would welcome the department’s demise.
“The idea is to reduce the bureaucracy and give the states more control,” he said Friday
But some education advocates say that federal oversight is an essential safeguard for students who have often been underserved by public schools, including lowincome students, students of color and those with disabilities.
“The idea of closing the Department of Education without a plan to support students is really a devastating idea,” said Halley Potter, director of pre-K-12 education policy at The Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank. “I would expect that it would worsen student outcomes and move us in the wrong direction.”
The U.S. Education Department, which was created by Congress under President Jimmy Carter in 1979, has limited power over what’s taught in schools, as those
“four cardinal principles”: manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift.
Investigators were told neither Omega Psi members nor pledges were allowed to bring cellphones inside the warehouse during the pledging ritual, a source close to the investigation said.
According to the arrest affidavit, McCray delivered the final blow before Wilson collapsed to the floor and began having a seizure. Fraternity members did not call 911 after Wilson experienced the medical episode and waited to bring him to a hospital, sources said. An autopsy report mentioned in the arrest affidavit revealed a small bruise to the right side of Wilson’s chest.
Wilson’s full autopsy report is not yet complete, Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office chief of investigations Shane Tindall said Friday
decisions are left to states and local school boards. Most funding comes from local sources as well.
Still, dismantling the agency, which has more than 4,000 employees, could have a big impact on Louisiana schools.
The department doles out billions of dollars in federal aid to schools and colleges annually, including about $18 billion to support students from low-income families and $15 billion for special education, and it manages some $1.5 trillion in federal student loans. It also tracks education data and enforces laws that protect students, such as Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination at schools and colleges.
The department and many of its functions were established by federal law and would require congressional action to change. If lawmakers agreed to shut down the department McMahon said its essential operations could be assigned to other agencies.
Department of Health and Human Services could take over enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA, which requires public schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Louisiana relies heavily on federal education dollars.
The state received about $2.3 billion from federal sources for K-12 schools in 2021-22, the most recent year available. That represents about 19.5% of its school funding — one of the highest rates in the U.S., where about 14% of public education funding flows from the federal government. Much of the money comes through Title I, a
afternoon. The cause and manner of his death remain undetermined pending additional tests, Tindall said.
Morse said Wilson was taken to Baton Rouge General Hospital by a group of friends. Police were called there at about 2:40 a.m. on Feb. 27, he said. Before leaving the hospital the friends said they had been playing basketball with Wilson at a Baton Rouge park, the police chief said.
In Louisiana, hazing can be a felony under the Max Gruver Act, passed in 2018 and named after an LSU Phi Delta Theta fraternity member who died in a hazing incident in 2017. Louisiana’s anti-hazing law prohibits hazing regardless of whether the targeted person voluntarily allowed it. Violators face a $1,000 fine and six months behind bars.
If the person being hazed dies
program that supports schools with large shares of students from low-income families.
“The states that have the highest percentage of federal funding, a lot of which is coming from Title I, they are largely red states,” Potter said. “And Louisiana is high up on that list.”
The Education Department’s control of federal funds is its main source of power It can set conditions for schools to receive the money or threaten to withhold it from schools or universities that violate federal laws.
For instance, under the Biden administration, the department put new restrictions on funding for charter schools. In 2022, when Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry was the state attorney general, he joined other states in challenging the regulations. Under the current Trump administration, the department cut $600 million in grants to teacher-training programs, including several in Louisiana, saying they promoted “divisive ideologies” related to race. On Friday, the department and other federal agencies said they would cancel $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University because they said the school failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus.
If the department is dismantled, school funding could come with fewer restrictions. Some conservative groups have called for converting programs like Title I, which requires the funding to go to hiring teachers and counselors or other approved ways to support low-income students, into block grants that let states decide how
be on our college’s campus. So my vote is to expel them, and I mean indefinitely,” said Clayton, himself a member of the fraternity In 2005, Omega Psi Phi was kicked off Southern’s Baton Rouge campus, archives from The Advocate | The Times-Picayune show.
The university ordered a threeyear expulsion, after university officials found “overwhelming evidence” a fraternity pledge was severely beaten, with injuries that led to internal bleeding.
More recently, Omega Psi Phi was kicked off LSU’s campus in 2016 after university officials found the fraternity responsible for complicity, endangerment and hazing violations of the student code of conduct. LSU found the fraternity “engaged in hazing activities.” They included sleep deprivation, personal servitude, 5 a.m. workouts, skipping class and more.
Omega Psi Phi has since returned to LSU’s campus.
or is seriously injured, penalties increase to a $10,000 fine and five years in prison. The increased penalties also apply if hazing involves coerced alcohol consumption that leaves the victim’s blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.30%.
A manslaughter conviction can lead to up to 40 years in prison.
The Woodcrest Drive warehouse is being leased by Todd Smith, owner of California Hardwood Floors. Smith is a member of the graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi, and he told WAFB that his son is a current member Southern University Board of Supervisors Chairman Tony Clayton, who is the 18th Judicial District Attorney in West Baton Rouge, said Friday in an interview he is pushing for the Omega fraternity to be removed from the university “They’ve forfeited their right to
to spend the money
Advocates like Potter said such a change would risk diverting funds from schools that need them most.
“Without any kinds of guardrails and accountability,” she said, “it could be misspent on things that aren’t related to instruction and aren’t directly helping the students it’s designed to help.”
Pointing to students’ recent reading improvements, Brumley said Louisiana knows better than federal bureaucrats what support students needs.
“We’ve proven we have the ability to make good decisions on behalf of kids and families and communities,” he said. “I think that given additional flexibility and fewer strings, we can do more of that.”
The Education Department is also the chief enforcer of federal education laws, including IDEA and Title IX.
States sometimes bristle at the oversight.
Last year, Louisiana and 25 other Republican-led states took the department to court after it issued a rule saying that Title IX also bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity Brumley advised schools to disregard the federal rule, saying it conflicted with a state law banning transgender students from participating in women’s sports.
“That really infringed on the sovereignty of the state,” he said Thursday
The department’s Office for Civil Rights also investigates complaints filed by students, parents and advocates.
The Louisiana Legislature sought to tighten laws around hazing after Gruver’s death in 2017. He was forced to drink excessively during a fraternity ritual called “Bible Study.”
Meanwhile, Wilson’s family last week thanked the community for its “unwavering” support.
The former Southern student’s father, Corey Wilson, has worked 35 years as a deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The elder Wilson also worked security details for Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson. Caleb Wilson’s mother is a student at Southern University’s New Orleans campus.
Last week in a statement on behalf of the family released by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Wilson’s family said, “We are committed to seeking the truth about the circumstances surrounding Caleb’s passing and ensuring that no other family has to endure such a tragedy.”
In 2023, the office launched an investigation into the Jefferson Parish school system following a complaint that the district’s decision to close several schools disproportionately affected Black and Latino students and students with disabilities. The district said it was cooperating with the Education Department, and said the allegations lacked merit.
The complaint system “is a way to get districts to make sure no federal rights are being violated and, if they are, to make sure they’re remedied,” said Lauren Winkler, a senior staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, the legal advocacy group that filed the complaint.
At her confirmation hearing last month, McMahon said the Office for Civil Rights could be moved to the Justice Department.
Critics say the move would shift the complaint system to the courts, which would slow down the process.
“Federal civil rights law is a difficult area to litigate,” Winkler said.
But Louisiana officials say that, whatever form federal oversight takes, the state will take care of its students.
“I think we’re going to fight for the needs and best interests of all our students,” said Morris, the state board of education president.
The office has dozens of open investigations into Louisiana schools and colleges based on complaints of discrimination against students based on their race, sex, national origin or disability, according to the office’s public database.
Email Patrick Wall at patrick. wall@theadvocate.com.
Hackman, wife died of natural causes, authorities say
Experts believe actor was impaired due to Alzheimer’s disease
BY MORGAN LEE, SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and LISA BAUMANN Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M.
— Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, authorities revealed Friday
Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference.
“Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” Jarrell said. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in
INMATE
Continued from page 1A
2003.
his death.”
Authorities didn’t suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Investigators found that the last
ing panic attacks during one medical transport from prison.
known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday Hackman’s pacemaker last
showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said.
Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said.
“It’s quite possible he was not aware she was deceased,” Jarrell said.
Dr Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer’s disease and unable to deal with his wife’s death in the last week of his life.
“You are talking about very severe Alzheimer’s disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care of him until she passed away,” Baden said.
Their bodies were found a little over a week later Hackman was found in the home’s entryway His death was tied to heart disease with Alzheimer’s disease contributing.
Arakawa was found in a bath-
room. Authorities linked her death to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings. Thyroid medication pills prescribed to Arakawa were found nearby and weren’t listed as contributing to her death, Jarrell said. Hantavirus typically is reported in spring and summer, often due to exposures that occur when people are near mouse droppings in homes, sheds or poorly ventilated areas. This is the first confirmed case of hantavirus in New Mexico this year While hantavirus is found throughout the world, most cases in the U.S. have been found in western states The virus can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection.
Jarrell said it was not known how quickly Arakawa died.
One of the couple’s three dogs also was found dead in a crate in a bathroom closet near Arakawa, while two other dogs survived. Authorities initially misidentified the breed.
The state, including Gov Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, have argued that putting Hoffman to death is necessary to bring justice in his case.
Hoffman’s attorneys argue that the state is making Hoffman a test case for the new execution method, which only Alabama has tried, executing four people with it. Louisiana added nitrogen hypoxia to a menu of legalized execution methods last year in a bill supported by Landry, aiming to activate a long-dormant execution chamber
It’s been 15 years since the state executed any deathrow prisoner, as Louisiana officials have struggled to procure drugs for execution by lethal injection. The last to be executed, Gerald Bordelon, volunteered.
A jury in St. Tammany Parish convicted Hoffman and sentenced him to die He is currently the only one among Louisiana’s 56 deathrow prisoners with an execution date.
His attorneys argue that nitrogen hypoxia is especially problematic as a method of execution on Hoffman because he is a practicing Buddhist and uses Buddhist breathing and meditation exercises to help manage his PTSD. They contend that if he’s forced to inhale nitrogen gas to end his life, he will not be able to use those techniques. Hoffman testified that he struggles in closed-in and confined spaces and worries that having a mask strapped over his face will trigger his anxiety. He said those fears stretch back to a childhood in New Orleans when his mother once locked him in a pantry while she went to work. He described hav-
GREEN
Continued from page 1A presiding over Hoffman’s challenge.
Overcome” while Johnson banged his gavel to regain order so he could read the resolution He gave up and recessed the session for a while.
Several hours later after the House reconvened, Green read aloud the resolution censuring him. “I rise a proud, liberated Democrat, unbought, unbossed and unafraid,” he said.
Green’s family moved from New Orleans to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in the 1960s. Green attended Florida A&M University and Tuskegee Institute of Technology in Alabama. In 1974, he received a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston.
Green, 77, opened a law
firm in Houston and became president of the Houston chapter of the NAACP He
“The idea of having a mask over my face,” he said, “I fear it’s gong to trigger.”
Hoffman largely stayed composed and stoic throughout the hearing Hoffman’s lawyers have also argued to be allowed to witness the execution to ensure it happens legally Not being there would deprive Hoffman of constitutional rights, they argue.
Louisiana Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott confirmed in his testimony Friday that he does not plan to allow any of Hoffman’s attorneys to witness the execution. Attorneys are not “required witnesses” to executions under state law
Westcott said he has three available spots at his discretion to witness the execution, and that they have been requested by law enforcement and representatives for the governor and attorney general.
In his testimony on Friday morning, Hoffman said he became a practicing Buddhist around 2002, after he lost his grandmother He said he has leaned on Buddhist teachings to help him improve his life, including when he was recently served with an execution warrant.
“Feb. 20, I was served a death warrant and immediately afterward, I was moved to a different location, in isolation, away from what I was used to,” he said. He credited his spiritual practice for carrying him through mentally “Everything I needed to cope and deal with what I was dealing with in that moment was inside me,” he said “It allows me every day to be a better version of myself.”
The state’s execution protocol, unsealed in court on Thursday, spells out that inmates with an execution
has been involved in local politics, serving in a variety of roles over the decades. Green joined the House in 2005 to represent Houston’s southwestern neighborhoods.
Disruptions like Green’s have become common in the past decade or so. In 2011, when Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry a Republican, was in Congress, he quietly held up a sign “Drilling = Jobs” during Democratic President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech. Last year and the year before, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., interrupted Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speeches. She yelled out that the president was a liar in 2023 when he detailed steps he had taken to protect Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance for the poor Greene continually disrupted Biden in 2024 when he spoke about efforts to pass a bipartisan immigration bill over the objections of Trump and far right Republicans. She was not censured
date are to be transferred to the “Execution Building” about a month before. There, all of his meals, telephone calls, movements and “mood changes” are logged every 15 minutes
Seth Smith, chief of operations for DOC, testified in more detail than the state has previously released about how long they’ve been planning their nitrogen gas process; changes to the death chamber at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to prepare for it; and visits to Alabama to learn from them. Darrel Vannoy, Angola’s warden, said the state would have needed too much extra equipment and supplies to perform executions by electrocution.
The only U.S. state to carry out an execution with nitrogen gas in the modern era, Alabama has done it four times Louisiana’s new protocol for nitrogen gas executions mirrors Alabama’s, and in key places follows it word for word.
Smith agreed in his testimony that Louisiana’s protocol largely matches that of Alabama, saying it was the only state they studied and that no medical personnel were involved in crafting Louisiana’s nitrogen gas protocols.
Though Landry announced last month that Louisiana had developed a protocol for using nitrogen gas, Smith testified that the state began obtaining gas in July 2024.
He said Louisiana corrections officials had long struggled to obtain drugs for use in capital punishment via lethal injection, and that the state signed an agreement with the well-known pharmaceutical company Pfizer in 2018 that said they would not use their drugs in executions.
Other pharmaceutical makers also made it clear that if Louisiana used their drugs for executions, they would pull the usage of their
The Congressional Black Caucus filed a resolution in September to censure U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, RLafayette, after he posted on social media that Haitian immigrants, who had moved to the U.S. legally, ate pets, practiced voodoo, joined cults and should be returned to the island nation. Higgins later removed the post, but the majority Republican House never voted on the censure motion. When Trump announced he wanted to address a joint session of Congress and the nation Tuesday night, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., asked House Democrats to show dignity and restraint.
Many Democratic members, however held up signs criticizing actions Trump and his efficiency czar Elon Musk have taken, such as pell-mell firings of employees with a goal of reducing the federal workforce. Others booed None of the Democrats stood in support of any of the points Trump made in the campaign-style speech.
medications from the state for other reasons, including to take care of inmates who are not on death row
Smith said DOC staffers made visits to Alabama in March 2024 and again last July to learn from their process and figure out how to retrofit Angola’s execution chamber for gas.
The second trip happened after Louisiana’s initial attempt at setting up its execution chamber for nitrogen hypoxia had “more room for human error” and Smith asked for changes, he said. He said the state added two exhaust fans to the execution chamber, along with permanently mounted oxygen monitors.
During a recent training on the new execution protocol on Feb 14, Smith said, they used “a small female” in place of the condemned. He also said that he tested out the mask, which is the type of respirator often used
by painters and sandblasters. He said he wanted to test the 70 liter per minute flow rate, though he tested it using “breathing quality air” from a can, rather than the “ultrahigh purity” nitrogen that the state has obtained for executions.
Other testimony at the hearing focused on why Louisiana has not opted to carry out executions by firing squad or physician-assisted suicide, neither of which are currently legal means of execution in state law
Medical experts faced off about whether those other methods would provide Hoffman with a more humane death. His spiritual adviser the Rev. Reimoku Gregory Smith, testified that a peaceful death is an important component of Buddhism.
Dr Philip Bickler the chief of neuro-anesthesia at the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center,
testified that a death by nitrogen gas “seems like a cruel experiment” and would feel similar to drowning.
“What this represents is forced asphyxiation,” he testified. “You’re able to breathe, but you don’t have the feeling your breathing is effective.”
But Dr Joseph Antognini, another anesthesiologist and clinical researcher from California, testified on behalf of the state.
Antognini reviewed the state’s execution protocol and also helped back Alabama’s nitrogen gas protocol. He said he inspected Louisiana’s nitrogen hypoxia system March 1. Antognini testified that inmates should rapidly lose consciousness when they breathe nitrogen gas.
“I do not believe the inmate would have suffering or pain,” he said. Dick did not rule on the matter Friday
to put off or even go without care. Simply put —without dentalinsurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.
comparing plans
Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meanttocover everything. Thatmeans if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection canprevent small problems from becomingexpensive ones.
The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventivecare. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, attend the Golden Globe Awards in
New Orleans Forecast
Single day of DOGE campaign remakes big parts of
BY CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
government
WASHINGTON A series of decisions
revealed Friday provided a glimpse of the turmoil engulfing federal agencies since President Donald Trump and Elon Musk launched their campaign of disruption, upending how government functions in ways big and small Some changes appeared designed to increase political control over agencies that have historically operated with some degree of autonomy, such as requiring Environmental Protection Agency officials to seek approval from the Department of Government Efficiency for any contracts exceeding $50,000. Other directives increased burdens on federal workers, who have already endured insults, layoffs and threats from the president and other top officials. For example, government credit cards issued to civilian employees at the Pentagon were altered to have a $1 limit, choking off their ability to travel for work.
The Transportation Security Administration became another target. The administration canceled a collective bargaining agreement with 47,000 workers who screen travelers and luggage at airports around the country, eliminating union protections in a possible prelude to layoffs or privatization.
The cascading developments are only a fraction of the upheaval that’s taken place since Trump took office, but they still reshaped how hundreds of thousands of public servants do their jobs, with potentially enduring consequences. The ongoing shake-up is much more intense than the typical whiplash that Washington endures when one administration gives way to another raising fundamental questions about how government will function under a president who has viewed civil servants as an obstacle to his agenda. The White House has wrestled with political blowback over Musk’s role and legal challenges that have tried to block or slow down his work. Republicans who are facing growing pressure in contentious town halls have started to speak up.
“I will fully admit, I think Elon Musk has tweeted first and thought second sometimes,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich during a virtual meeting with constituents on Friday “He has plunged ahead without necessarily knowing and understanding what he legally has to do or what he is going to be doing.” Mistakes are being made
The overhaul of the federal government is happening at lightning speed, reflecting years of preparation by Trump’s allies and the president’s decision to grant Musk sweeping influence over his administration. Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur with no previous experience in public service, has shown no interest in slowing down despite admitting that he’ll make mistakes in his crusade to slash spending and downsize the workforce.
The government is facing even more dramatic changes in the coming weeks and months. Trump has directed agencies to prepare plans for widespread layoffs, known as reductions in force, that will likely require more limited operations at agencies that provide critical services.
The Department of Veterans Affairs could shed 80,000 employees, while the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration are considering plans that would cut their workforces in half.
Trump has vowed not to reduce Social Security benefits, but Democrats argue that layoffs would make it harder to deliver payments to 72.5 million people, including retirees and children.
There are also concerns that politics could interfere with Social Security Trump has feuded over transgender issues with Maine Democratic Gov Janet Mills, and his administration recently said children born in the state would no longer have a Social Security number assigned at birth. Instead, parents would have to apply for one at a local office
Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner of Social Security, rescinded the order on Friday
“In retrospect, I realize that ending these contracts created an undue burden on the people of Maine,
which was not the intent,” he said in a statement. Dudek added that “as a leader, I will admit my mistakes and make them right.”
A startup mindset
More than a month after Trump took office, there’s still confusion about Musk’s authority In public statements and legal filings, administration officials have insisted that Musk does not actually run DOGE and has no direct authority over budgets.
But Trump has contradicted both statements. He said Tuesday that DOGE is “headed by Elon Musk” in a prime-time speech to a joint session of Congress, and he said Thursday that “Elon will do the cutting” if agency leaders don’t reduce their spending. Their approach has energized people like David Sacks, a venture capitalist serving as a Trump adviser on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, who praised the administration as moving “faster than any startup that I’ve been part of.”
Trump denied reports of friction between Musk and Cabinet officials, particularly Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a meeting Thursday “Elon gets along great with Marco,” the president said. The State Department had no immediate comment.
Norm Eisen, executive chair of State Democracy Defenders Fund, an organization that has been suing the Trump administration, said the president “made clear that Musk and DOGE have been calling the shots.”
Musk serves as a presidential adviser, not a Senate-confirmed official, which Eisen argued makes his role unconstitutional. He said Trump’s comments are “an admission that the vast chaos that Musk
and DOGE have wrought without proper approval and documentation is illegal — and so must be completely unwound.”
Executive orders
Many of the changes sweeping through Washington were ignited by Trump’s executive orders. One order issued last week said agencies must develop new systems for distributing and justifying payments so they can be monitored by DOGE representatives.
The EPA distributed guidance intended to ensure compliance.
“Any assistance agreement, contract or interagency agreement transaction (valued at) $50,000 or greater must receive approval from an EPA DOGE team member,” said the documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the involvement of Musk’s “unvetted, inexperienced team raises serious concerns about improper external influence on specialized agency decision-making.”
Republicans have shied away from holding town hall meetings with constituents after critics started using them to vent their frustration.
Some protesters gathered outside Huizenga’s district office in Holland, Michigan, calling on him to answer questions in person.
“I would like to ask him why he thinks that someone like Musk can go in and simply blow up agencies without seemingly even knowing what they’re doing,” said Linda Visscher, a Holland resident.
She said increasing the efficiency of government was a good idea, but she doesn’t agree with “just taking the blowtorch to it.”
Pope hits 3-week mark in hospital
BY NICOLE WINFIELD and MARIA CHENG Associated Press
ROME Pope Francis hit the three-week mark Friday in his hospitalization for double pneumonia, in stable condition, receiving therapy but not necessarily improving, after giving the world a tangible indication of just how frail and sick he is.
The 88-year-old Francis spent 20 minutes in the Gemelli hospital chapel, praying and doing some work in between rest and respiratory and physical therapy, the Vatican said. He was using high flows of supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.
Doctors not involved in his care said after three weeks of acute care in the hospital for double pneumonia, they would have hoped to have seen improvement and warned that he was increasingly at risk of secondary infections the longer he remains hospitalized. Additionally, Francis has had episodes of acute respiratory failure earlier this week and underwent bronchoscopies to suction mucus from his lungs.
“He’s had respiratory failure and they were not able to liberate him from the hospital in the first three weeks. And therefore I think you’d say this does look concerning, perhaps more concerning than it did right at the beginning,” said Dr Andrew Chadwick, a respiratory and intensive care specialist at Oxford University Hospitals in England Dr Jeffrey Millstein, a clinical assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said it wasn’t shocking that Francis hadn’t improved in three weeks, and that it was encouraging he was able to breathe part of the day with just a nasal tube of high-flow oxygen. But he said that his condition certainly was “a precarious, touch and go kind of situation” and that recovery while still possible, would be a long process.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BEN CURTIS
Posters showing the face of Elon Musk and messages relating to data privacy are hang Friday on a fence surrounding a building site in Washington.
Stunt driver arrested after 133-mph chase
Stop sticks needed on twin span bridge
BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer
A Lockport stunt driver
was arrested in New Orleans after a Mardi Gras “street takeover” event on Chef Menteur Highway rife with vehicle doughnuts and burnouts, according to Louisiana State Police troopers.
Brody Gautreaux, 26, al-
legedly led troopers on a 133-mph chase across the Interstate 10 twin span bridge to Slidell, where spike strips felled his Cadillac CT4 sedan
Multiple vehicles and pedestrians had blocked the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Press Drive at around 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday according to court documents, leading New
Boutique hotel set to open
Mid-City development replaces The Drifter
BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer
A new boutique hotel has opened in the 1950s-era motor lodge that until last year housed
The Drifter Hotel, the hipsterfriendly motel, bar and performance venue known for its clothing-optional pool.
The Drifter, which opened in 2017, was sold last year by the group that also operated the New Orleans boutique hotels Columns and Hotel Saint Vincent.
Offering affordable passes for its adults-only heated pool, it became known as the site of lively parties and concerts along a decreasingly seedy stretch of Tulane Avenue in Mid-City. In 2019, it scored a spot on Architectural Digest’s list of the “chicest” hotels in the nation.
In addition to sometimes topless sunbathers, the Drifter’s pool also hosted aquatic theatrical performances produced by Aqua Mob New Orleans.
Now known as the Maidstone New Orleans, the latest version of the hotel that first opened in 1956 as the Crescent Motel officially opened Feb. 18 following a transformation by its new owners, ISMD.
The revamped mid-century space includes 18 rooms, two fewer than in its prior incarnation. All have been “extensively renovated” by a New York-based design agency and now feature custom tapestries made by a Oaxacan textile artist, according to a news release.
The poolside bar has been rebranded as the Maidstone Lounge, with the outdoor area now featuring a saltwater pool, a sunken fire pit and a menu of craft cocktails and small bites provided in partnership with local food vendors. The 3522 Tulane Ave. property was purchased last year by an investment group that includes a celebrity attorney, a cannabis company CEO and a real estate investor awaiting trial for allegedly bribing a chief advisor for New York Mayor Eric Adams. Mark Geragos, the Los Angeles-based lawyer who has represented Hunter Biden, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Michael Jackson, has partnered with Irwin Simon, who leads the publicly traded cannabis, beer and hemp food producer Tilray Brands, and Mayank Dwivedi, who faces charges of conspiracy and bribery stemming from allegations that he and a fellow hotelier paid kickbacks for building permits. Dwivedi, who is represented by Geragos’ daughter in the case, pleaded not guilty last year Dwivedi has previously invested in New York hotel projects with Simon and Geragos, including the Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton with Simon and,
Orleans police to request assistance from State Police Troop NOLA officers.
“People have been hurt doing these exhibition stunts, and (they) create a danger to the public,” the NOPD said in a police report.
Illegal stunt driving events surged across New Orleans in 2022, leading to public safety concerns and
stiffer penalties, including charges of aggravated obstruction of a highway, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in jail.
Police said Gautreaux’s distinctive white Cadillac, with a switched license plate, was among the vehicles to flee the scene NOPD Lt. Troy Pichon and Troop NOLA Capt. Rodney Hyatt pursued Gautreaux in a marked Chevy Tahoe with lights and sirens blaz-
ing as he entered Interstate 10 traveling east to Slidell, the police report said.
The chase across the twin span bridge maxed out the Tahoe’s top speed as it chased Gautreaux, who allegedly switched off his taillights “in an attempt to disappear and lose troopers in the dark,” the report states. Hyatt ordered spike strips placed at the end of the bridge, the report states.
Those strips deflated the
Cadillac’s front left tire, Gautreaux lost control of the car, and officers “deployed a vehicle intervention stop technique,” the report states.
Gautreaux was arrested and booked into Orleans Justice Center on aggravated flight from an officer obstruction of justice, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, reckless operation of a vehicle, a
19TH-CENTURy CHARM
Marshall Wood, left, shares a conversation with Sondra Devorss, center, and W. Keith Hurtt while relaxing at Napoleon House in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The historic bar and restaurant has been a gathering place for locals and visitors alike for over two centuries. Located at the corner of Chartres and St. Louis streets, Napoleon House is one of New Orleans’ most storied landmarks. Built in the early 19th century, the building was originally the home of Nicholas Girod, the city’s mayor from 1812 to 1815. Girod famously offered his residence as a refuge for Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile, though the French emperor never made it to New Orleans. Over time, the house transformed into a bar and restaurant, known for its Pimm’s Cup cocktail, muffulettas, and old-world ambiance. With its weathered walls, classical music playing in the background, and a charm that embodies the spirit of the French Quarter, Napoleon House remains a beloved institution in New Orleans.
St. Tammany adopts pet ordinance setting fines
Owners required to spay and neuter their dogs, cats
BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer
Pet owners in St. Tammany Par-
ish who do not spay or neuter their cats and dogs could face possible fines under an ordinance the Parish Council adopted Thursday “I’m ecstatic. I think it’s really good, solid legislation,” said Rob Bremer, director of St. Tammany Parish Animal Services, which operates the parish’s no-kill shelter Bremer said the ordinance will help reduce the burden on the parish’s shelter, which is currently over capacity by about 60 dogs. “It’s going to help keep cats and dogs at home,” he said. Under the new ordinance, which takes effect March 21, pet owners can also seek a waiver from the parish that allows them to keep
their animals “intact.” Enforcement would occur only if an animal is impounded by the parish because of the violation of another ordinance, such as if the animal is running loose, Bremer said. Few members of the public showed up at the council’s meeting on Thursday to speak either in support or against the ordinance. Scott Bernier, the CEO of Northshore Humane Society, praised the ordinance and said the various shelters in the parish house about 600 animals at any given time. When the council initially introduced the ordinance in November, it received intense scrutiny from the public. Some accused the parish of “government overreach.” Others questioned the ordinance’s effectiveness, citing the findings of animal rescue organizations like the ASPCA, which has not found evidence that mandatory spay and neuter laws are effective in curbing the population of unwanted animal populations.
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD
All the dog kennels are full, including many with two dogs, at the St. Tammany Parish Animal Services shelter in Lacombe on Feb 21, 2024. The Parish Council adopted an ordinance Thursday requiring owners to spay and neuter their dogs and cats.
N.O. man dies in Marrero shooting
Two suspects sought in Jan. 5 incident
BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer
A bystander shot outside of a Marrero bar last month has died, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said Friday it is looking for two suspects to arrest on homicide charges. Deputies said two shooters fired at a man outside a bar on the 500 block of Ames Boulevard at 12:25 a.m. Jan 5. Instead of hitting their target, the suspects allegedly shot a woman and Curtis Lawrence, 36, of New Orleans. Lawrence later died from his injuries on Feb. 28. The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies ask that anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the suspects or intended victim call JPSO’s homicide section at (504) 364-5300 or contact Crimestoppers. Email Lara Nicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate.com.
CHASE
Continued from page 1B
switched license plate, and having his vehicle lights off. The aggravated obstruction of a highway count carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence upon a conviction.
On Wednesday, Orleans Parish Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman set Gautreaux’s bail at $55,000. Gautreaux remained jailed Friday
The interiors and exterior of The Drifter Hotel on Tulane Avenue were ‘restored to the 1950s appearance,’ the Louisiana Landmark Society said in 2018. ‘Fortunately this honored restoration converted this proto-typical example (of a mid-century motor motel) into the boutique 20-room Drifter Hotel,’ the citation said.
HOTEL
Continued from page 1B
with Geragos, the Capri Hotel in Southhampton.
The new owners aim to turn the hotel into “more of a fourstar guest experience,” real estate broker Elizabeth Novit said
last year
Calls to the listed phone line for the Maidstone New Orleans, which is under separate management from its East Hampton operation, went unanswered, and hotel representatives did not respond Thursday to an email requesting further details.
If he makes bail, he will be sent to St. Tammany Parish to face charges related to the same incident there, Friedman said. Gautreaux is currently on probation after doing doughnut burnouts and blocking the intersection of St. Phillip Street and South Boulevard in Baton Rouge, then running stop signs and speeding as he fled Baton Rouge police on April 9, 2023. He pleaded guilty last year to aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce and received two years probation.
PETS
Continued from page 1B
program that helped people pay for spaying and neutering.
The council ultimately agreed the fines were “too onerous,” said council member Jeff Corbin, and lowered them. Now the fines range between $25 and $150. They will still be used to pay for the voucher program, which, after the initial meeting, got an additional $125,000 in the 2025 budget, bringing the total funds available in the voucher program to $200,000.
The voucher program could also change, Corbin said. Under the current voucher program, residents are responsible for paying $65 to spay or neuter a dog and $20 for a cat, while the parish covers the veterinarian’s remaining costs. But the parish might try to establish a coupon program to expand the options available to residents.
The council adopted the ordinance in a 12-1 vote, with council member David Cougle casting the lone dissenting vote.
Cougle questioned whether the ordinance would reduce the shelter population.
“We’re giving it our best shot,” Corbin said in a phone interview Friday, adding that the council is open to changing the ordinance if it doesn’t work. “If we identify an opportunity for improvement, let’s do it.”
Email Willie Swett at willie. swett@theadvocate.com.
Rooms at the Maidstone New Orleans are available starting at $295, before taxes and fees, according to its website
The price for pool passes has also been increased, with drop-in passes now offered for $25 and
The new ownership, which has announced plans for further expansion in New Orleans, has significantly hiked prices in its quest for swankiness.
annual memberships now $600, a representative told Axios New Orleans.
Both the room and pool rates are now about twice as high as they were under the hotel’s previous ownership.
Email Jonah Meadows at Jonah.Meadows@th dvocate. com.
Walter "Jimmy" Oates was born on July 30th 1943 and passed away on February 28th, 2025. Jimmy grew up in Des Allemends, Louisiana. Jimmy is aNavy Veteran who served in theVietnam war. He was aretired truck driver for the Teamsters Trucking Union after atotal of 34 years driving 18 wheelers. He drove 16 years for Chemical Leaman, and 16 years for Quality Carriers. He earned over 3Million "safe miles" between thetwo companies. Walter andLiz Oates were married for 28 years until Liz passed away in June 2023. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Memorial Funeral Home located at 811 Paul Maillard Road, Luling, Louisiana70070. Funeral Services will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 10 at Jones Memorial Funeral home. Jimmy will be buried along side of his wife Elizabeth (Liz) Oates at St. Gertrude Catholic Cemetery located at 343 Down the Bayou Rd, Des Allemands, LA 70030.
SBA to relocate offices in so-called ‘sanctuary cities’
The Small Business Administration said it will relocate six of its regional offices in so-called “sanctuary cities,” part of a broader Trump administration effort to crack down on cities that it deems have immigrant-friendly policies. In a statement Thursday, SBA administrator Kelly Loeffler said offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City and Seattle will be relocated to “less costly, more accessible locations that better serve the small business community and comply with federal immigration law.”
No details were given about where the offices might be moving to.
There’s no legal definition for sanctuary city policies, but they generally limit cooperation by local law enforcement with federal immigration officers. Courts have repeatedly upheld the legality of sanctuary laws.
Affordable housing projects thrown into limbo
The Trump administration has stalled at least $60 million in funding intended largely for affordable housing developments nationwide throwing hundreds of projects into a precarious limbo, according to information and documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The move is part of a flurry of funding freezes, staffing cuts and contract cancellations by the Trump administration at the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, changes that have instilled widespread uncertainty in the affordable housing industry
The some $60 million is intended to go to small community development nonprofits in small grants. The money is often used as seed funding for affordable housing projects, turning a concept into a viable development and consequently drawing in more public and private investment.
Congress chose three nonprofits to distribute the grants, but HUD said in letters that it was canceling contracts with two of the organizations which together were to distribute the $60 million That’s pushed millions in funding already promised to small nonprofits, or yet to be awarded, into the twilight zone.
“Many of those organizations have already committed funds to pay workers, such as HVAC technicians, local contractors, homeownership counselors,” said Shaun Donovan, CEO of Enterprise Community Partners, one of the two groups whose contract was canceled. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation is the other group whose contract was canceled.
Trump tells crypto leaders he’s committed
President Donald Trump said Friday he’s committed to making the U.S. a world leader in cryptocurrencies as industry leaders heaped praise on him for reversing what they said had been unfair attacks on digital assets by the previous administration.
“I thought it was very important that we stay in the front of this one,” Trump said at the first-ever White House “Crypto Summit.”
A former crypto-skeptic, Trump has warmly embraced an industry that’s shown him significant love in return and spent heavily to help him win last year’s election. The summit included crypto company executives, cabinet officials and lawmakers, many of whom took turns raving about Trump’s leadership on digital assets The emboldened industry said it was unfairly treated by the Biden administration and helped Trump and other Republicans score wins in the last election.
Friday’s summit was the latest in a series of actions the new Trump administration has taken to try and boost the crypto industry Notably, that’s included the Securities and Exchange Commission dropping several enforcement actions against large crypto companies.
BUSINESS
NOLA.COM/BIZ
U.S. adds 151,000 jobs in February
Unemployment rises slightly to 4.1%
BY PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON U.S employers added solid 151,000 jobs last month, but the outlook is cloudy as President Donald Trump threatens a trade war, purges the federal workforce and promises to deport millions of immigrants
The Labor Department reported Friday that hiring was up from a revised 125,000 in January Economists had expected 160,000 new jobs last month.
The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.1% as the number of jobless Americans rose by 203,000.
Employment rose in health care, finance and transportation
and warehousing The federal government shed 10,000 jobs, the most since June 2022, though economists don’t expect Trump’s federal layoffs to have much of an impact until the March jobs report. Restaurants and bars cut nearly 28,000 jobs last month on top of a loss of almost 30,000 in January
“The labor market continues to hold up, but we’re still a far cry from where we were a year or two years ago,” said Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo.
House expects hiring to slow and unemployment to creep higher as Trump continues to cut spending on programs and reduce the federal workforce, while imposing tariffs on America’s trading partners.
The spending cuts “are likely to spill over into the private sec-
tor, hitting contractors and nonprofits, and we still have a trade war that is picking up,” House said. “There are multiple battles for the labor market to fight off, multiple shocks it’s having to work through in the months ahead.”
The economy’s unexpectedly strong recovery from the pandemic recession of 2020 set loose an inflationary surge that peaked in June 2022 when prices came in 9.1% higher than they’d been a year earlier In response, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023, taking it to the highest level in more than two decades. The economy remained sturdy despite the higher borrowing costs, defying expectations of a recession, thanks to strong consumer spending, big productivity gains at businesses and an
influx of immigrants who eased labor shortages. The American job market has remained remarkably resilient, but it has cooled from the redhot hiring of 2021-23. Employers added a decent average of 168,000 jobs a month last year
But that was down from 216,000 in 2023, 380,000 in 2022 and a record 603,000 in 2021 as the economy rebounded from COVID-19 lockdowns.
Inflation came down dropping to 2.4% in September — allowing the Fed to reverse course and cut rates three times in 2024. The rate-cutting was expected to continue this year but progress on inflation has stalled since summer, and the Fed has held off.
Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% last month down from a 0.4% increase in January
Golf industry wants to ‘spring forward’ once and for all
year-round standard time would hurt business
BY MARGERY A. BECK Associated Press
OMAHA,Neb Looking forward to more evening sunlight thanks to daylight saving time this weekend?
Many in the golf industry like the time change, too, and they are pushing to make that annual switch permanent
The move is intended to encourage more evening golf and to stave off efforts to establish permanent standard time which would leave less time for an evening on the links. And it is those late-afternoon players who tend to buy food and drinks in the clubhouse.
“We would lose 100 tee times a day if daylight saving time goes away,” said Connor Farrell, general manager of Stone Creek Golf Course in Omaha, Nebraska. “Switching to permanent standard time would cost us $500,000 a year.”
Golf has deep roots in the history of daylight saving time, which begins for most states at 2 a.m. Sunday when clocks “spring forward” by one hour Some credit goes to William Willett, a British builder and avid golfer who in 1905 published a pamphlet advocating for moving clocks ahead in April and returning them back to their regular settings in September The U.S adopted a version of that during World War I and again in World War II.
Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966 that set up the biannual time change, and lobbying efforts by the golf industry are largely credited for Congress expanding daylight saving time by a month in the mid-1980s But for as long as it has been around, the constant clock adjusting has drawn the ire of Americans weary of losing an hour of sleep in the spring only to be faced with the early onset of darkness in the fall. That exhaustion has led to hundreds of bills introduced in nearly every state over the years to halt the practice.
The National Conference of State Legis-
latures reports that in the last six years, 20 states have passed measures calling for a switch to year-round daylight saving time, many at the cajoling of golf industry lobbyists. But while states could switch to permanent standard time — as Arizona and Hawaii have done Congress would need to change the law to allow permanent daylight saving time. That hindrance along with arguments that permanent standard time would improve sleep quality and foster safer morning commutes — has seen more states consider opting out of daylight saving time Lawmak-
ers in more than a dozen states have introduced bills this year to make standard time permanent.
The National Golf Course Owners Association, which has about 4,000 members, recently polled stakeholders on the matter The vast majority favored either permanent daylight saving time or the status quo of changing the clocks, said CEO Jay Karen. Only about 6% backed a change to permanent standard time.
“If standard time was to be made permanent, thousands of courses would be harmed by that,” Karen said.
Wall Street careens through to end of week
Fed chief’s comments help ease worries
BY STAN CHOE Associated Press
NEW YORK — Wall Street rose on Friday, but only after careening through another wild day It was a fitting ending to a brutal week of scary swings dominated by worries about the U.S. economy and uncertainty about what President Donald Trump will do with tariffs. The S&P 500 climbed after storming back from an earlier loss that had reached 1.3% It was coming off a punishing stretch where it swung more than 1%, up or down, for six straight days.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite
both rose. The wild week, which was the worst for the S&P 500 since September, left the index a little more than 6% below its alltime high set last month. The head of the Federal Reserve helped ease the market’s worries on Friday afternoon after saying he thinks the economy looks stable at the moment, and he doesn’t feel pressure to cut interest rates in order to prop it up.
Traders in recent weeks had been building bets the Fed would have to cut its main rate more than three times this year following a stream of weaker-thanexpected reports on the economy. But Jerome Powell pushed back on speculation he and other Fed officials could feel pressure to act soon.
“The costs of being cautious are very, very low” right now, Pow-
ell said about holding steady on interest rates. “The economy is fine. It doesn’t need us to do anything really We can wait, and we should wait.”
A highly anticipated jobs report released Friday morning may have given him leeway to do just that. The U.S. Labor Department said employers added 151,000 more jobs last month than they cut. That was slightly below economists’ expectations, but it was an acceleration from January’s hiring. Recent, discouraging surveys had shown souring confidence for U.S. businesses and households because of uncertainty around Trump’s tariffs, and economists were waiting to see if Friday’s report would show if that was translating into real pain for the economy and job market.
“To sum it up: Today’s print wasn’t as bad as feared,” according to Lindsay Rosner, head of multi sector fixed income investing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Some economists, though, also warned the jobs data included concerning details underneath the surface that could imply trouble ahead. The number of people working part-time who would rather be full-time rose 10% in February from January, for example.
“The market might breathe a sigh of relief that the labor market was still looking healthy, but a deeper dive shows that spring could be a more challenging season,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARGERy BECK
Golfers line up to take some practice shots on the driving range of the Stone Creek Golf Course in Omaha, Neb., on Monday afternoon before hitting the links.
ANOTHER VIEW
How conservative are Louisiana’s congressional Republicans?
Where do Louisiana’s members of Congress rank on the ideological spectrum?
To answer that question, take a look at the congressional ratings produced by GovTrack, a nonpartisan government transparency web site that ranked members by ideology based on legislative activity during the two-year term that ended Jan. 3, 2025 A score of 1.0 is all the way to the right and a zero score is all the way to the left.
There are other rating systems available, often produced by interest groups. In any case, expect some members of Congress to question the efficacy of any rating methodology that produces scores they don’t like During the 2023-2025 term, Louisiana’s two Republican senators rated well to the right of the Senate’s center Bill Cassidy was the 39th most conservative senator with a score of 0.76. John Kennedy was the 34th most conservative senator with a score of 0.79.
Cassidy’s tone and temperament are widely regarded as moderate, while Kennedy is nationally known for his folksy, but pointedly conservative, aphorisms. Despite style differences their ideological ratings were similar only three-onehundredths of a point apart. Cassidy faces reelection in 2026. For context, let’s compare Louisiana’s senators to others. Vice President JD Vance, when he was Ohio’s senator, was the 30th most conservative member, scoring 0.82. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when he was Florida’s senator, was the 16th most conservative, scoring 0.89. Both ranked to the right of Kennedy and Cassidy
Left of Louisiana’s senators was Mitt Romney the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who represented Utah; he was the 46th most conservative senator, scoring 0.69. Former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the 44th most conservative, scoring 0.70.
The most conservative senator in America? Florida’s Rick Scott, scoring 1.00. The most progressive senator? You guessed it — Vermont’s Bernie Sanders, who scored zero Though Sanders is an independent, he caucuses with Senate Democrats Now-Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota scored 0.85 This placed him near the center of the Republican Senate caucus, with 23 members to his right and 26 to his left That gives Thune room to maneuver Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer scored 0.33, ranking closer to his party’s center than its left flank. Only 17 Democrats were to his right, while 31 were to his left Any attempt to topple Schumer as his party’s Senate leader would likely come from his left.
On the House side, Louisiana’s most conservative member during the 2023-25 term was U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins. A Republican from the state’s southwestern district, he was the 17th most conservative member of all 435, scoring 0.83.
Two other Louisiana House members during the last term, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow a Republican from Louisiana’s northeastern district, and former U.S. Rep Garret Graves of Baton Rouge, who didn’t seek reelection in 2024, had conservative records, but much less so than Higgins. Letlow was the 164th most conservative, scoring 0.62, and Graves was the 189st most conservative, scoring 0.57.
The most liberal member of the state’s congressional delegation was its only Democrat, U.S Rep. Troy Carter from New Orleans He was the 371st most conservative House member and the 64th most liberal.
Louisiana now has a second Democrat in the U.S House, Cleo Fields. He was elected in November, too late to be included in rankings for the last Congress.
It’s difficult to determine comparable ideological ratings for the two most prominent Louisiana Republicans, Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise That’s because top House leaders don’t always participate in the legislative process the same way that other members do, especially as it relates to bill introductions and floor votes Consequently, it would not be fair to compare their ratings to those of other members.
However before Johnson became speaker, he was the 59th most conservative House member in the 2021-2023 term, scoring 0.69 Scalise, elected to the top leadership in 2014, has also maintained a conservative record.
The most progressive full-voting member of the entire House was U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, a California Democrat. Her score was 0.01 The most conservative was U.S Rep Randy Weber, a Texas Republican. He scored 1.00. Keep in mind, these ideological measures don’t yet include activities from the current Congress, which started Jan 3. As Senate and House members confront the flood of new issues, who knows where their ratings go from here It’ll be worth watching.
Ron Faucheux is a nonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana. He publishes LunchtimePolitics.com, a nationwide newsletter on polls and public opinion.
Time for all good citizens to speak up
In response to the blitzkrieg assault on democracy in our country, today:
First they came for transgender people, and I did not speak out because I was not transgender
Then they came for immigrants of color, including Haitian, Venezuelan and Afghan immigrants who were in the U.S. legally or who were in process of coming legally, and I did not speak out because I was not an immigrant of color
Then they came for inspectors general, and I did not speak out because I was not an inspector general.
Then they came for USAID workers, who helped ordinary people around the world in famines, war zones and natural disasters, and I did not speak out because I was not a USAID worker
Then they came for DEI workers, and I did not speak out because I was not a DEI worker
Then they came for all federal workers, and I did not speak out because I was not a federal worker
Then they came for doctors and scientists who wanted to follow best medical and scientific practice, and I did not speak out because I was not a doctor or a scientist.
Then they came for soldiers and intelligence officers who pledged loyalty to the Constitution, and I did not speak out because I was not a soldier or an intelligence officer
Then they came for law professors who challenged governors and presidents, and I did not speak out because I was not a law professor
Then they came for Democratic and Republican leaders with courage to respect the Constitution because I was not a political leader
Then, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.
LOU IRWIN New Orleans
Hegseth not showing the strength U.S. needs
When President Donald Trump appointed Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense, he told us Hegseth would show the strength of the United States rather than weakness. So what did Hegseth do on the first trip abroad in his new position?
Before any negotiating takes place, he gave Russian President Vladimir Putin what he wants.
The secretary said, “It is unrealistic to think Ukraine will regain the territory Russia has taken by force.”
He said Ukraine will never be al-
lowed to join NATO.
He said that no U.S. troops will go to Ukraine to protect what is left after Russia has taken what it already has. What cards does America have left to play? I thought Hegseth was going to be a strong defense chief. Instead, he rolled over Maybe he will ask Putin to rub his belly and tell him “what a good boy you are.” Hegseth is not ready for prime time.
WAYNE EVANS Carencro
Pope’s example on immigration should be echoed
The newspaper recently reported that Pope Francis, citing the Book of Exodus and Jesus’ own birth and early childhood as an immigrant in a foreign country (Egypt), called out the U.S. government’s mass deportation as the unfolding of a “major crisis.”
This paper reported that the Pope said that anyone schooled in Christianity “cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some immigrants with criminality ”
Pope Francis counseled: “What is built on the basis of force and not on truth about the equal dignity of every human being begins badly and will end badly.”
By these words, Pope Francis extends to the leaders of Protestant faith and other Christian faiths an open invitation, grounded in the Bible and Jesus, to follow with an equally strong statement against the morally corrupt inhumanity ongoing in this country
CHARLES A. BOGGS Long Beach, Mississippi
Don’t underestimate the importance of U.S. soft power
In her 1961 autobiography, Eleanor Roosevelt lamented the failure of the U.S. to exercise “soft power” in the Middle East to counter the food and medical help being provided, and the influence gained there, by the Soviet Union. Powerful countries have competed for control or influence over the Middle East since the Silk Road started in the 2nd century BCE. Their efforts intensified with the building of the Suez Canal by the French and the discovery of oil.
After World War I, Britain and France created, out of thin air, the countries of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq, eventually granting them autonomy while retaining considerable influence.
After World War II, the greatly diminished European powers retreated from the region, leaving the United States to fill the vacuum.
Since then, the U.S. has continued the fight for control and influence in the Middle East through military power as well as aid (USAID). Lebanon, Syria and Jordan rely heavily on U.S. assistance.
President Donald Trump’s determination to “take” Gaza has infuriated the governments of all the countries in the region, with the obvious exception of Israel, of course.
Trump said he is “above” using the threat of withdrawing aid from Middle Eastern governments if they oppose his Gaza adventure, but I think everyone knows how much we can trust his word.
Americans should keep all this in mind, considering China’s growing influence in the Middle East as well as sub-Saharan Africa.
If Trump continues his attempts to bully other countries with American economic and military power these nations, including some that we consider our allies, may seek alignments elsewhere. Having rank amateurs run the national government can be effective in reducing its size. But it also introduces a significant degree of incompetence, which can endanger America’s position in the world.
WAYNE
Ron Faucheux
STAFF FILE PHOTOS By
MICHAEL JOHNSON AND HILARy SCHEINUK
Here’s what to look for as LSU football returns to practice field
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
Near the end of a disappointing 8-4 regular season, coach Brian Kelly vowed that LSU would be “very aggressive” in the transfer portal.
The team’s actions over the next month backed up his statement. LSU signed 16 transfers, giving it one of the country’s top portal classes and setting up a push for the College Football Playoff.
Since then, LSU players have been training as they prepare for the upcoming season Their work in the weight room has given the coaches an initial understanding of what kind of athletes are on the roster and now they have their first chance to see what this team might be capable of in 2025.
LSU begins spring football Saturday It will practice 15 times over the next five weeks, concluding with some kind of event April 12 in Tiger Stadium. Kelly said there will be “live action,” but he is considering changing the format of the spring game.
Between now and then, LSU will get a sense of a roster with plenty of new pieces. Here are the top position battles to monitor and the three biggest questions entering spring practice.
Key competitions
OFFENSIVE LINE: LSU has to replace four starters, and it did not bring back much experience. Only two returning players, redshirt sophomores DJ Chester and Paul Mubenga, have started at least five games. Needing instant help, LSU signed Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore and Northwestern
transfer Josh Thompson.
Moore will play center, Kelly told The Advocate, which means Chester will slide to guard after starting at center last season. Thompson could play tackle or guard, but Kelly suggested that, ideally someone else will assert himself at tackle.
“We’re, quite frankly, looking for one of the younger players to emerge at
Florida vs. LSU ended after this edition went to press. For complete coverage, visit nola.com.
Frey celebrates health with pop for LSU
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
When Ethan Frey made his way back to the dugout, LSU coach Jay Johnson was confused.
ä North Alabama at LSU 6 P.M. SATURDAy, SECN+
Frey’s teammates were emanating a level of excitement for him that puzzled the Tigers coach. After all, it was only a Tuesday afternoon game in February against Southern. “I’m like, ‘What’s the big deal?’ “ Johnson said. The big deal? It was Frey’s first collegiate home run. Despite hitting countless balls over the wall in batting practice and being 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, the junior had somehow never homered during his first two years with the Tigers. “This guy’s got more power than anybody on the team,” Johnson said. “Like, I didn’t get it. Like, I literally didn’t understand that was his first home run in a game.” It was a special moment for Frey, in more ways than one. Hitting a homer for the purple and gold had been a dream of his while growing up in Rosepine. But the blast also signified the end of a difficult stretch of his career
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ä North Alabama at LSU ended after this edition went to press. For complete coverage, visit nola.com.
speaks during a news conference
13 at the team’s practice
the tackle position,” Kelly said. Redshirt sophomore Tyree Adams enters the spring with the edge at left tackle after starting twice last season. On the other side, it’s a big offseason for redshirt freshman Weston Davis, the highest-rated offensive lineman in LSU’s 2024 class.
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Skenes an early candidate for ‘face’ of MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher is trying to take his burgeoning fame in stride
BY WILL GRAVES AP national writer
BRADENTON, Fla. — There are times when Paul Skenes, the 22-year-old, can’t escape Paul Skenes, baseball’s Next Big Thing It happens randomly and without warning. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year ran into former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman at the Super Bowl last month. The retired three-time Super Bowl champion told Skenes he was a fan. Caught maybe more than a little off guard, Skenes quickly replied: “Same.” A few days later, Skenes was minding his own business in the Bradenton-Sarasota airport after arriving for his second spring training with the Pittsburgh
Pirates when he caught a glimpse of his mustachioed face staring back at him. It wasn’t a mirror It was one of the countless ads in the area featuring the flame-throwing right-hander who turned every one of his first 23 major-league appearances (24 if you count the 2024 AllStar Game, which he started) into appointment viewing. Throw in the former LSU star’s upcoming cover appearance on the popular video game franchise MLB The Show and his recent guest spot on “Late Night with Seth Meyers”, and at times it can seem like he’s everywhere even if he believes he’s not. If Skenes is being honest, he’s still getting used to the outsized attention he’s commanded since making his debut in May Yet, it also beats the alternative. If his now fully-bearded mug isn’t plastered throughout Florida’s Sunshine Coast this time next year, he’ll know why
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MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
KellenMoore’scoachingstaffisofficiallyset. The New Orleans Saints announced Moore’s staff on Thursday, almost a month after the coach was hired. The list contains 27 names, most of whom have been reported previously. But the staff also revealed a few previously unreported holdovers from last year such as Brian Young now the team’s assistant defensive line coach after overseeing the unit for the second half of last season. Here’s a breakdown of the group: Offense Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier: The father of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Doug Nussmeier has coached with Moore at his three previous stops and arrives to the Saints after coaching the quarterbacks of the Philadelphia Eagles. His new role represents a promotion for Nussemeier, though Moore will be the play-caller Associate head coach and running backs coach Joel Thomas: Thomas, a former longtime running backs coach with the team, returns to the Saints after spending the 2024 season with the New York Giants. Run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti: Paganetti, 35, is seen as a rising coach around the league and follows Moore from Philadelphia to New Orleans. He’ll help handle run-game duties.
Chris Hilton
Blake Baker
Brian Kelly Garrett Nussmeier
Paul Mubenga
Zavion Thomas
AP PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 1 in Sarasota, Fla.
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore
on Feb
facility
LSU analyst Parks charged with
Antonio
as an offensive analyst in February was charged Monday with one count of felony strangulation, according to online records from the Oregon Judicial Department.
The Oregonian, citing a probable cause affidavit filed in the Lane County Circuit Court, reported Thursday that Parks was accused of strangling a woman for 30-60 seconds in mid-December after he ordered her to delete a video titled “A Day in the Life of a Stay at Home Girlfriend” and she refused. Parks told The Oregonian that he is innocent. He was released from jail Wednesday on conditional release, records show Parks, a native of Reserve, played at East St. John High before going onto a college career at Arizona and UTSA, where he played for now-LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson.
Raiders land QB Smith after trade with Seahawks
Geno Smith is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Friday
LSU’s Carter worth celebrating in lost season for Tigers
BY TOYLOY BROWN III
Staff writer
Vyctorius Miller, like the rest of his team, was desperate to end a seven-game losing streak.
“That whole entire game I’m just praying,” the LSU men’s basketball freshman said. “We went down some crazy number.” LSU trailed by as many as 13 in the second half at Oklahoma on Feb. 15, but the Tigers were down five with 35 seconds left.
Miller’s prayers were answered in the form of Cam Carter “Cam just took over,” he said. Carter converted a fourpoint play after a pull-up 3-pointer and finished an and-one at the hoop after a full-court trap led to a turnover His seven-point flurry was responsible for LSU winning 82-79.
The senior’s heroics were memorable but led to only the second of three Southeastern Conference wins for LSU (14-16, 3-14 SEC).
The third season under coach Matt McMahon has been underwhelming, a drop-off after going 17-16 overall and 9-9 in the conference last season, albeit in a much weaker SEC. Also true during this down season is that Carter is an individual success story that fans will have one last chance to see in the final regularseason game against No 22 Texas A&M at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Senior tribute ceremonies start at 2:45 p.m The Donaldsonville native transferred from Kansas State for two reasons He felt called to come back home to help reshape a basketball program 50 minutes from his hometown. Carter also arrived to develop. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard wanted a situation and coaching staff that align with his desires to reach the NBA. That was part of McMahon’s pitch.
“When we recruited him, we talked about becoming a more efficient offensive player by improving shot selection and his 3-point percentage while
LSU guard Cam Carter, a Donaldsonville native who transferred from Kansas State, has averaged 16.8 points per game this season.
ä Texas A&M at LSU 3 P.M. SATURDAy SEC NETWORK
lowering his turnover rate,” McMahon said “I think Cam is really bought into doing those things, and it’s why he’s having the best season of his career, through the hard work and time investment he’s put into getting better.”
At Kansas State, Carter averaged 14.6 points on 39.1% shooting and 30.9% from the 3-point line. He also averaged 2.6 assists and 3.0 turnovers in 35.5 minutes per game.
This season, Carter is averaging 16.8 points, shooting 43.6% from the field and 40.4% from 3-point range to go along with 2.6 assists and 2.3 turnovers in 33.2 minutes. In the SEC, he’s eighth in scoring, seventh in 3-point shooting and sixth in freethrow percentage (86.1%).
The growth is a testament to his work. His 3-point percentages ballooned to the 40% mark because he focused on balance and making his shooting form as repeatable as possible.
Carter’s statistical improvement is more eyeopening because of the surrounding talent.
The Tigers, who were 14th in the SEC preseason poll, lost their second-best player and returning leader Jalen Reed for the season after he tore his ACL in the eighth game. The highest-scoring returner Tyrell Ward (9.1 points) stepped away from the program to focus on mental health.
In conference play, Carter was the lone player who is averaging double-digits — Jordan Sears is second at 9.5 points.
Carter’s shooting efficiency is remarkable for someone who was atop every opponent’s scouting report. He still had signature performances such as a career-high 29 points against Oklahoma and 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting against No. 1 Auburn.
Despite a disappointing season for LSU, fans can appreciate the local star’s productivity in his last home game Saturday
Texas
Horns advance
Booker scores 19 as No. 1 Texas holds on to defeat Ole Miss in SEC quarterfinals
By The Associated Press
All-America forward
GREENVILLE,S.C.—
Madison Booker scored 19 points, and No. 1 Texas held on to beat Ole Miss 7063 on Friday night in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
Kyla Oldacre scored 12 points and Shay Holle added 11 for Texas (30-2), which stretched its winning streak to 14 games.
The Longhorns, the tournament’s No. 2 seed after losing a coin flip to South Carolina, will play either Florida or No. 9 LSU in Saturday’s semifinals.
Getting there was tougher than expected.
Texas led by 15 early in the third quarter when Ole Miss went more than eight minutes without a field goal, missing 13 straight shots. But the Longhorns could not pull away and Kirsten Deans began to get hot from beyond the arc, helping the Rebels get within two with 41/2 minutes left.
No. 5 SOUTH CAROLINA 84, VANDERBILT 63:
In Greenville, South Carolina, Chloe Kitts had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Gamecocks held off a secondhalf rally in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 15 off the bench and Sania Feagin added 13 points for South Carolina (28-3), which will face No. 10 Oklahoma, a 69-65 winner over 12th-ranked Kentucky in Saturday’s semifinals.
Coach Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks, the top seed, appeared plenty motivated to win a third straight SEC Tournament title.
No. 10 OKLAHOMA 69, No 12 KENTUCKY 65:
In Greenville, South Carolina, Raegan Beers had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Payton Verhulst added 16 points and the Sooners battled back from a 10-point second-half deficit to advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals.
Sahara Williams chipped in with 13 points for Oklahoma, which has won nine straight.
Georgia Amoore scored 29 points and Clara Strack added 12 points and 16 rebounds to lead Kentucky (22-7)
Other Top 25 games
No.2 USC 84,INDIANA 79: In Indianapolis, JuJu Watkins scored 31 points and Kiki Iriafen added 21 and each grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Trojans in the
Big Ten quarterfinals.
The Trojans (27-2) have now won all three games they’ve played in Indiana this season and will take an eight-game winning streak into Saturday’s semifinal against fifth-seeded Michigan (229).
No 4 UCLA 85, NEBRASKA 74: In Indianapolis, Lauren Betts finished with 28 points 13 rebounds and seven blocks and Gabriela Jaquez added a seasonhigh 23 points and nine rebounds as the Bruins reached the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Kiki Rice had 14 points and nine assists to help the Bruins (28-2) rebound from last weekend’s loss to crosstown rival Southern California.
No. 6 NOTRE DAME 73, CALIFORNIA 64: In Greensboro, North Carolina, Hannah Hidalgo scored 25 points and the Irish took over down the stretch in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
Olivia Miles added 14 points and six assists for the second-seeded Fighting Irish (26-4), the tournament’s reigning champion.
No. 8 TCU 69, COLORADO 62: In Kansas City, Missouri, LSU transfer Hailey Van Lith made five 3-pointers and scored 24 points, Sedona Prince added 18 points before fouling out, and the Horned Frogs held on in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.
Donovyn Hunter also scored 13 points for the top-seeded Horned Frogs (29-3), who blew most of a 12-point fourth-quarter lead before holding on to win their eighth straight overall.
No. 14 NORTH CAROLINA 60, No. 22 FLORIDA STATE 56: In Greensboro, North Carolina, Alyssa Ustby scored 12 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and freshman Lanie Grant made two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to lift the Tar Heels the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
No.16WESTVIRGINIA 73,No.20 KANSAS STATE 69: In Kansas City, Missouri, JJ Quinerly made a critical steal to set up her game-winning basket and scored 24 points to lift the Moutaineers in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. The Wildcats attempted a sideline inbounds lob into the key when Quinerly soared in to intercept the ball with a minute to go. She then drove into the lane for a floater that put West Virginia on top 71-69 with 44.2 seconds remaining.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the teams haven’t announced the deal, said the Raiders are sending the Seattle Seahawks a third-round pick for Smith.
The 34-year-old, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback reunites with new Raiders coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Seahawks will seek a new starter Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season.
Las Vegas released Gardner Minshew during the offseason.
Woods not in field for TPC in final year of exemption
Tiger Woods is not in the field for The Players Championship next week at the TPC Sawgrass, the final year of his exemption from winning the 2019 Masters.
The decision was not surprising, especially when Woods said after a TMRW Golf League match earlier this week that it was only the third time he had played since his mother Kultida, died suddenly on Feb. 4.
Two of those times were at TGL. The other was with President Donald Trump on Feb. 9. He also played in the Seminole Pro-Member on Monday
“This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really gotten into it,” Woods said Tuesday “My heart is not into practicing right now.”
Lowry builds a two-shot lead at PGA Tour’s Bay Hill
ORLANDO, Fla. — Shane Lowry loves the grind of a strong test and it’s showing at Bay Hill. He had six birdies Friday in slightly tamer conditions for a 5-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
It wasn’t as cold as the day before. The wind was minimal. Bay Hill still had some bite.
Lowry, playing alongside good friend Rory McIlroy, holed a 35foot birdie putt on the 13th and closed with an 18-foot birdie to lead by two over Clark.
Corey Conners (70) and Collin Morikawa (68) were three shots behind, followed by McIlroy (70) and Jason Day, who has reunited with longtime coach Colin Swatton and posted a 64 for the lowest score of the tournament.
Texas Tech assistant new basketball coach at SFA
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Texas Tech assistant coach Matt Braeuer was named Friday as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin. Braeuer will finish the current season with the ninth-ranked Red Raiders before joining the Lumberjacks.
Tony Jasick was 6-6 as interim head coach for Stephen F. Austin (14-17, 7-13 Southland), which has completed its season after not qualifying for the conference tournament.
Kyle Keller had a 171-95 record and was in his ninth season as head coach when fired Jan. 22 with SFA off to a 1-7 start in conference play SFA went to the NCAA Tournament in 2017-18, his second season, and won Southland regular-season titles in 2019-20 and 2021-22.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAVID yEAZELL
forward Madison Booker shoots over Ole Miss guard Sira Thienou during
nal game on Friday in Greenville, S.C.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
TOP 25 WOMEN’S ROUNDUP
LSU sweeps doubleheader in different fashions
BY JIM KLEINPETER
Contributing writer
After having its offense stifled in the first game No. 4 LSU softball exploded for a season-high in runs with an 18-4 victory against South Alabama in the LSU Round Robin on Friday at Tiger Park.
LSU won the first game against South Alabama 2-0 on a two-hit shutout by Sydney Berzon. The LSU pitching staff has nine shutouts this season.
The Tigers (21-1) scored all 18 runs on 11 hits and 10 walks through the first three innings of the second game after getting just five hits in the first game. Tori Edwards hit her team-leading eighth home run, a two-run shot, in an eight-run second inning McKenzie Redoutey had a tworun double and Maci Bergeron a two-run single to highlight the attack.
“The coolest part was the way the offense answered,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “Between games, Bryce (Neal) called on them to do some things, a little different approach. It was awesome to see them answer the way they did.”
Danieca Coffey Jalia Lassiter
and Avery Hodge had two hits apiece. Coffey reached base seven consecutive times on Friday with
hits and three walks in the two games, before breaking the streak with a sacrifice
National League pitcher Paul Skenes, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, throws to an American League batter in the first inning of the MLB All-Star Game on July 16 in Arlington, Texas.
SKENES
Continued from page 1C
“If I start sucking, my photo is not going to be (there),” he said.
A fresh ‘face’
Skenes understands in a way that belies his age that none of the trappings of his already remarkable success will stick if he doesn’t find a way to build on one of the most remarkable rookie years in a generation. He finds himself at the confluence of the game and the culture at large. From a fastball that regularly hits triple digits to a “splinker” borne out of experimentation, he has the kind of “stuff” that sends baseball purists scrambling for superlatives. He couples it with a mix of swagger and savvy that could, in theory, make him Major League Baseball’s first Gen Z crossover star
It’s a lot to take in for someone who was a late bloomer by baseball standards, not truly coming into his own until his sophomore year at Air Force, where the former catcher developed so rapidly on the mound he made the difficult but necessary decision to transfer to LSU. Ask Skenes whether he wants to be the “face” of the game and he deflects. He’s been doing this as a pro less than two years. That kind of honor, for the moment anyway, is reserved for the Shohei Ohtanis, Aaron Judges and Mike Trouts of the world. Those guys have earned the right. He hasn’t. Not yet anyway
Besides, “that stuff takes energy, frankly,” Skenes said flatly Leading from front
While Skenes became an instant sensation from the moment he was called up, Pittsburgh faded in late summer to a 76-86 finish. There is a sense of ur-
AP FILE PHOTO By MATT FREED A young fan sports a mustache to support Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes during the first inning of a game against the St Louis Cardinals on July 23 in Pittsburgh.
gency pulsing throughout Pirates City this spring. Perhaps because the clock is already ticking on the Skenes Era. Technically he is under team control through 2029. If Skenes sticks around that long, he seems destined for a megadeal from deeperpocketed franchises such as the Dodgers or Yankees. Skenes would prefer not to talk about his future. There’s too much at stake in the present. He thinks the 2024 Pirates were “an underperforming team,” not unlike the one he was on as a freshman at Air Force.
The following season, he was named a co-captain, and the Falcons improved, though he stressed he needed a lot of “grace” from his teammates as he found his way He’s drawing on that experience to try and take a more visible, vocal role on a mostly young team that’s still learning how to win. He doesn’t plan to force things, optimistic that it will happen organically, though he was quick to add he’s “not going to be the guy who is (cursing) other guys.”
He’s focused on example setting. This is the same player, after all, who wears suits to the ballpark on the days he pitches. He firmly but gently reminds Pirates
prospect and good friend/ workout partner Bubba Chandler that a given rep doesn’t count if Chandler didn’t execute it perfectly
“That’s what elite people do,” the 22-year-old Chandler said.
Name recognition
The spotlight figures to get brighter, both in Pittsburgh and beyond for someone Chandler called “the biggest freaking name in sports right now.”
Skenes just shook his head when that moniker was passed along.
“I really try as much as I can to try and insulate myself from all that,” he said. “You can’t completely avoid it. But I try to insulate myself as much as I can from it to where I don’t have that perception.”
He is willing to do what he can to promote the game up to a point. Yet there’s a line he is intent on holding. The kid who grew up an Angels fan in Southern California learned about more than just baseball while watching Trout and Ohtani. Both are all-time greats who also have fiercely guarded their privacy, lending them an air of mystique. Baseball appears to be in the midst of a resurgence. Skenes understands his popularity is a small part of it. Just don’t expect him to start flooding social media — he doesn’t even have an active TikTok account, although he’s easy to find on MLB’s feed — or popping up on your favorite podcast regularly Baseball’s Next Big Thing is more intent on chasing greatness instead. Fame is “cool.” It’s also not the point.
“All we want to do is play the same game we’ve played since we were 3 or 4 years old,” he said. “And all this other stuff comes with it, you kind of have to be built up to do that. Everybody chooses how to do it in their own way That’s very much how I am.”
“We weren’t hunting pitches in the first game, just seeing a pitch and thinking we could hit it,” Coffey said. “That’s not our goal. That was the conversation after the first game.”
Left-hander Jayden Heavener (5-1) went three innings before giving way to Ashley Vallejo for the final two. Heavener allowed three hits and two runners to reach base in each inning but worked around it with six strikeouts.
Katie Schuler hit a three-run homer off Vallejo in the fifth for South Alabama (11-12).
In the opener Berzon struck out nine batters and didn’t allow a runner past second base while retiring 15 consecutive hitters in one stretch. The Tigers stranded 11 runners but got stellar defensive play, especially from Hodge at shortstop.
Hodge made multiple highlightreel plays, twice short-hopping grounders while charging in and easily making throws. She also displayed a strong arm after fielding two grounders in the hole while moving to her right and throwing out the batters.
“As the season has been going on, I’ve been growing within my own process,” Berzon said. “It’s
kind of come together What was effective, we were able to mix everything, through the zone, out the zone.
“(Avery) is an absolute blessing to have behind me, as many groundballs as I get. She had such an outstanding game, truly amazing.”
LSU worked South Alabama pitcher Sydney Scapin for eight walks but needed aggressiveness base running to scrape together two runs. Sierra Daniel and Maddox McKee walked to start the second inning, and one out later, Coffey singled up the middle with the ball deflecting into right field off second baseman Caitlyn Gavin’s glove.
Daniel scored and McKee beat the throw to third from the outfield McKee continued home on third baseman Olivia Branstetter’s throwing error to second when she tried to get Coffey out while advancing.
LSU loaded the bases in the first inning and the sixth inning, but Scapin pitched around the jams with five popups and a fielder’s choice.
Berzon had a no-hitter going until Presley Lively’s leadoff single to center field with two outs in the sixth.
LSU
Continued from page 1C
For nearly all of last season, Frey played with a torn labrum in his shoulder He suffered the injury diving back into first base against Xavier on March 9.
The ailment affected every aspect of his game. He couldn’t play in the field. He had to completely change his swing. His workouts in the weight room were adjusted drastically
“I’ve been having the same swing since I was 5 or 6, and then all of a sudden I had to completely change it with an injury,” Frey said. “So it was just like a little bit of a weird feeling.”
Frey played through it and took a step forward from his freshman year He had 13 hits in 34 games after playing in just 19 contests in 2023. He also led off multiple times and earned consistent playing time against left-handed pitching.
The pain he felt wasn’t constant, but it hurt whenever it would pop up.
“It actually wasn’t too bad, except for when I did feel it,” Frey said, “and then it was kind of bad.”
Frey is 100% healthy again after offseason surgery His homer against the Jaguars was a welcome back, but it might also have been a positive sign for what’s to come.
Frey has a .375 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage in 24 plate appearances this year He hit another home run, a towering 387-foot threerun shot, on Sunday against Sam Houston State, and he has cemented his role as a weapon against left-handed pitching.
“He’s kind of one of those X-factor guys on the team,”
“He’s kind of one of those X-factor guys on the team that could take us to another level.”
JOHNSON, LSU coach
Johnson said, “that could take us to another level.”
Frey has played only two games in the field this year entering Friday’s game against North Alabama and it’s difficult to see that changing drastically soon.
The Tigers have a plethora of strong defensive outfielders, including redshirt sophomore Mic Paul and senior Josh Pearson, nei-
ther of whom start in the outfield on a regular basis. But as long as Frey continues to hit the ball, he’ll be an important piece, whether he’s the starting designated hitter or not. He’s already come through as a pinch-hitter, drilling a runscoring double last week against Dallas Baptist. The LSU lineup is built off depth and versatility. Frey supports that vision.
“We’re creating this AllAmerican player,” Johnson said. “It’s (just) done within like three or four different guys.”
Email Koki Riley at Koki. Riley@theadvocate.com.
AP FILE PHOTO By JULIO CORTEZ
JAy
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK LSU designated hitter Ethan Frey flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run against Southern on Feb 18 at Alex Box Stadium.
PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON
LSU pitcher Sydney Berzon winds up against South Alabama on Friday at Tiger park. Berzon registered a shutout.
THE VARSITY ZONE
Shepeard scores 19 in St. Augustine win
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
Jakobe Shepeard never played a minute of varsity basketball before this season.
The St. Augustine senior found the wait to be worth the result with what occurred Friday, when the 6-foot-4 Shepeard scored a team-high 19 points and helped the fourth-seeded Purple Knights defeat No. 5 Alexandria 57-43 in an LHSAA Division I select state quarterfinal.
St. Augustine (28-4) will face reigning state champion Liberty, the No. 1 seed, in a semifinal next week at the state tournament in Lake Charles.
“I feel like me being on (junior varsity) last year gave me the drive to want to win something,” said Shepeard, whose biggest contribution came in the third quarter Shepeard scored his team’s first seven points after halftime and chipped in with two more baskets during a 14-0 run that widened the St. Augustine lead to 18 points before the period ended.
Shepeard made a 3-pointer early in the quarter and scored late in
the period when he intercepted a pass near midcourt and put down the first of his two dunks that brought the St. Augustine crowd to its feet.
“I told him before the game he needed to be who he is,” said St. Augustine coach Wade Mason, who called Shepeard “our most talented player.”
Mason said Shepeard has “sacrificed so much this year because there’s been several games where he had to guard the other team’s best player.”
“I hate that because it takes away from his offense,” Mason said. “But tonight I needed him to be a dude, and he was.”
St. Augustine led by eight points after the first quarter and never let Alexandria get closer than four the rest of the way
Sophomore point guard Aaron Miles scored 11 of his 14 points before halftime. He went to the bench for nearly four minutes in the third quarter after he took a knee to the thigh during a drive to the basket.
Senior Kolbin Jefferson replaced Miles and scored four points and assisted on another basket during
Sacred Heart savors journey despite loss in end
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
Sacred Heart basketball team-
mates Leah Varisco and Taylor Robert gave each other a hug just before the opening tip of a state championship basketball game Friday They made sure to savor the moment before the final game of what would be remembered as a special season.
“It was an unreal experience,”
Robert said after she played her final high school basketball game.
“It was something I dreamed about forever To be doing it with people that I’ve been playing with since fifth grade and Leah I’ve been playing with my entire life. An incredible experience.”
That was the high point for Sacred Heart as it played in a basketball state championship game for the first time in school history
Once the game started, the Cardinals were quickly outmatched by top-seeded Lafayette Christian in a 67-28 rout in the LHSAA Division III select state final at Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center in Hammond. LCA junior Kaliyah Samuels earned the LHSAA outstanding player award with 22 points and seven rebounds, as she helped LCA lead by 15 points after one
“The intensity of the game got to us a little bit. Lafayette Christian is just a good team They were able to get out in transition a lot. Our foot speed wasn’t matching theirs.”
COURTNEy
WARD, Sacred Heart coach
quarter and by 20 points before halftime. The LCA lead swelled to 30 before the third quarter ended.
The win gave LCA (29-5) its fifth consecutive state championship and the eighth in the past nine seasons.
“The intensity of the game got to us a little bit,” Sacred Heart coach Courtney Ward said. “Lafayette Christian is just a good team. They were able to get out in transition a lot. Our foot speed wasn’t matching theirs. It became a struggle for us But our effort was there.”
Sacred Heart (20-7) scored only four points in the first quarter and six points in the third. The 13-point second quarter included a quick bucket by junior Libby Fitzpatrick off an inbounds pass and a put-back by sophomore Lily Varisco.
Usual leading scorer Leah Varisco scored seven points in the
the long scoring run that put St Augustine ahead 46-28 before the third quarter ended. He finished with six points.
Senior Brayden Boyd had four points and seven rebounds. Senior Khalil Jones made a 3-pointer Senior Tye Williams dunked on a putback during the long scoring run.
“The tale of the game was the third quarter,” said Alexandria coach Lance Brasher, whose team did not score over the final five minutes in that period. “The third quarter we were awful as far as execution and getting the matchups where we wanted it.”
Junior Jarvell Bordelon scored 14 points for Alexandria (27-7).
Tyshawn Duncan, a 6-6 senior, fouled out after he had eight points, six rebounds and five blocked shots.
The win advanced St. Augustine to the state tournament for the first time since it won a Division I state title in 2021. The Purple Knights have won eight state titles, including the 1995 championship that was won with Mason as a leading player
“Like I tell them all the time, I want them to experience what
I did,” Mason said. “That’s all I want. I want them to experience it because I know it’s life changing They’re experiencing something now that they never dreamed of.” Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com
quarter, including a 3-pointer from the left corner She finished with 11 points. Robert had three points and seven rebounds.
The past two seasons have been special for Sacred Heart. First by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in 2024. This season, the Cardinals won a quarterfinal at home against Holy Savior Menard and followed with an exciting semifinal win against Rosepine on Monday
“We just believe in each other more and more each year,” Robert said. “And being with the same group the past five years, since eighth grade, and other underclassmen building on top of us, it just helps us become so
much better.”
For Bria Egana, another senior, “Being able to make history for your school is not something that everyone gets to say,” she said. Audrey Lavie, Natalia Mehaffie and Marguerite Doucet are the other seniors set to graduate after this season.
Other top scorers for LCA were senior Taelyn Taylor with 11 points and 11 rebounds, sophomore Shanna Simien with 13 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Paityn Dean with 13 points. Sacred Heart played with former New Orleans Saints standout Steve Gleason on hand. His nieces are the three Varisco sisters on the team.
BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer
The Crescent City boys basketball team will be returning to the state semifinals for a third straight season after a secondhalf scoring surge against Martin Luther King in the Division IV select quarterfinals
Crescent City was the No. 1 seed despite a midseason coaching change and defeated the No. 8 seed King 67-50 Friday at Crescent City King only trailed by five points at halftime, but a 12-0 Crescent City run in the fourth quarter saw the game become one-sided.
In a low-scoring third quarter
Crescent City held King to just five points, but the fourth quarter was a different story with the Pioneers outscoring King 29-23.
“We just talked to (our players) about locking in,” Crescent City coach Jerry Thompson said. “We know that they’re a really great ballclub when they play together
“We just talked to (our players) about locking in. We know that they’re a really great ballclub when they play together Once we started to pass the ball and get everyone involved, that’s when things started to open up for us.”
JERRy THOMPSON, Crescent Cty coach
Once we started to pass the ball and get everyone involved, that’s when things started to open up for us. That (12-0 run) was a momentum shifter for us.”
Thompson became Crescent City’s head coach in January when he took Brandon Russ’ place. Thompson said Russ has been out because of a personal matter
Crescent City had six players score seven or more points. Junior Dwight Magee and senior Isiah Stevens carried the scoring load, with Magee leading the Pioneers with 18 points and hitting a three-pointer that began the 12-0 fourth quarter run. “The key was we had to knock down our open shots,” Magee
said “In the second half, we knocked down our open shots and that when’s we built a lead up.”
Stewart had 15 Crescent City points, which was the second most on the team Center Kenneth Malarchar had seven points and threw down a commanding dunk in the second quarter to put the Pioneers up by nine.
Other Crescent City scorers included seniors Frederick Green with eight points and Cam’Ron James with seven.
Stewart said Crescent City’s defensive effort as key “Just locking in on defense,” Stewart said. “Knocking down shots, making plays and trusting everyone defensively. Everybody
played a big part.”
King’s Amir Dobley scored a team-high 11 points. Chari Coleman had nine points followed by Christian Doyle and Camron Gibson with eight each.
Crescent City will be looking for redemption next week in Lake Charles after they had to vacate their state championship from last season because of an ineligible player
“When something is taken from you, it should make you want to go back and really prove a point,” Thompson said. “The main point here is that (our players) put in hard work for it You take one away, you stand up eight times. It’s not about how many times you fall, it’s about how many times you get up.”
Next up for Crescent City will be a semifinal matchup against No. 4 seed Hamilton Christian at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON Academy of Sacred Heart guard Leah Varisco makes a pass to a player along the baseline against Lafayette Christian in the Division III select championship at the LHSAA girls basketbll tournament on Friday at the University Center in Hammond.
STAFF
PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER
St. Augustine’s Aaron Miles tries to maneuver past Alexandria’s Jordyn Johnson in a Division I select quarterfinal playoff game on Friday at St. Augustine
Lakers prevail in game with playoff-like feel
BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter
LOS ANGELES It is fitting that in a town built on movies and television, JJ Redick likes to use a popular directing term to refer to different moments in his first season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
On Thursday night, the Lakers provided Redick with another memorable callback moment.
Los Angeles began a stretch of five games against some of the top teams in the NBA with a 113-109 overtime victory over the New York Knicks.
The Lakers have won eight straight and are second in the Western Conference at 40-21.
“Our guys, in what felt like a playoff game at times, really just gutted out a win,” Redick said The Lakers trailed by double digits midway through the fourth quarter, but rallied to force overtime. It was tied at 107 — on free throws by injured Knicks star Jalen Brunson — late in overtime before Los Angeles closed it out
SPRING
Continued from page 1C
The battle at guard could be intense. Chester, Mubenga, Thompson, redshirt freshman Coen Echols and redshirt junior Bo Bordelon all will be in the mix. Early enrollees Carius Curne, Solomon Thomas and Tyler Miller also could push for time. Kelly said Curne has the physicality to play early
CORNERBACK, SAFETY: Ashton
Stamps has started 16 straight games at cornerback dating back to the 2023 season, but he will have to fight for a spot. That’s because LSU signed five-star prospect DJ Pickett, Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane and Florida transfer Ja’Keem Jackson. Delane could play safety, but Kelly said he’s at cornerback right now At safety, LSU brought in NC State transfer Tamarcus Cooley who played nickel last season. Regardless of where he fits, someone else needs to step up Senior Jardin Gilbert, junior Javien Toviano and sophomore Dashawn Spears will compete to start.
WIDE RECEIVER: LSU has plenty of options. It brought back redshirt junior Aaron Anderson, redshirt senior Chris Hilton and senior Zavion Thomas, among others. It also signed Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson and Kentucky transfer Barion Brown. All five could have a role. It’s a matter of figuring out who starts and how they fit into the offense.
Questions to answer
CAN GARRETT NUSSMEIER CUT DOWN ON MISTAKES AND CONSISTENTLY THROW DEEP?
In his first year as a starter, Nussmeier finished fifth nationally with 4,052 yards passing and threw 29 touchdowns, making him one of the top returning quarterbacks in the country He did some impressive things, but he needs to improve in two key areas to meet the early Heisman expectations.
Let’s start with the interceptions. Nussmeier threw 12 last season, tied for the most in the SEC with Carson Beck of Geor-
with a 6-2 run.
“We haven’t had many of those games because frankly, we’ve had the lead a lot lately,” Redick said.
“I think it’s a good reminder for our group going forward that we can win games like this where we’re not at our best offensively, where we get off to a slow start defensively but we have enough toughness and grit to get these games.”
On a night when Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 32 points and LeBron James added 31, it was other players who also stepped up when needed.
Gabe Vincent made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Jaxson Hayes made a pair of free throws to give the Lakers a 109-107 lead. Austin Reaves was 2 of 13 from the field after missing two games because of a right calf sprain, but hit a 3-pointer in overtime
“A lot. I think Gabe won us the game with those 3s in the fourth quarter That was huge for us,” Doncic said. “That is how we got the energy up, that is how we got
the crowd in.
“To win these types of games, especially at home, you build more chemistry.”
The Lakers have won nine of 11 since Doncic made his L.A. debut on Feb. 10 and 20 of their past 24 But this stretch could provide a clearer picture of how much of a factor they can be in the postseason. Los Angeles hits the road for four tough games. It begins on Saturday night with a nationallytelevised game against Boston, followed by a visit to Brooklyn on Monday
After that is a back-to-back set on March 13 and 14 against Milwaukee and Denver
“I think we’re just holding each other accountable. We want to get better,” James said. “So, guys are buying into what JJ and the coaches give us every single night. Our keys to success, our keys to goals and then we just try to go out and execute that.
“It’s close to 48 minutes or 53, like I said tonight, and (we) live with the results.”
NEW LSU D-LINE COACH TO MAKE $700K
LSU finalized a three-year contract with new defensive line coach Kyle Williams that will put him among the highest-paid defensive line coaches in college football, according to a copy of the deal obtained Friday by The Advocate through a public-records request.
Williams will make $700,000 this year his first as a college defensive line coach. His salary then increases over the next two years of the deal He will earn $775,000 next year and $850,000 in the final year of the contract, which ends after the 2027 season.
Williams replaced Bo Davis, who was set to earn $1.35 million this year before he left for the same job with the New Orleans Saints. Davis was the highest-paid defensive line coach in the country
With his initial salary,Williams will make the same amount as LSU edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples this year He would have tied Peoples and Louisville defensive line coach Mark Hagen as the 13th-highest paid defensive line coach in the country and seventh-highest paid in the SEC last year, according to a study by Football Scoop.
Similar to LSU’s other assistants,Williams can make up to $125,000 in postseason incentives if LSU wins an SEC and national championship. He also received a $25,000 relocation incentive.
gia and Quinn Ewers of Texas. He had six turnovers combined in LSU’s losses to Texas A&M and Alabama. If there was a positive sign, Nussmeier had only one pick in the last four games. As for throwing deep, Nussmeier tossed nine touchdowns and 982 yards on passes of more than 20 yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus. But he completed only 36% (31 of 86) of those throws, which ranked 10th in the SEC among quarterbacks who started the majority of their games. Nussmeier ranked 12th in the SEC at 7.7 yards per attempt. By comparison, Jayden Daniels averaged 11.7 the year before. Part of the issue was LSU’s receivers. Until Hilton got healthy at the end of the year, LSU did not have a vertical threat, letting defenses squat on underneath and intermediate routes. The speed that LSU added in the transfer portal should help stretch the field.
HOW WILL LSU TRY TO FIX THE RUN GAME?
In the first year without Daniels, LSU rushed for 116.4 yards per game, down from 204.5 the year before. The Tigers tried to add variety to their run schemes and lean on an experienced offensive line without a dual-threat quarterback, but they finished 107th in the FBS and last in the SEC in yards rushing per game.
Commanders release DT Allen, re-sign LB Wagner
BY STEPHEN WHYNO Associated Press
Six weeks after their playoff run ended with a loss to eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia, the Washington Commanders parted ways with one of their defensive leaders and brought back another
Jonathan Allen was released Friday, ending the standout defensive tackle’s time with the team that drafted him after eight seasons
The Commanders also made official their one-year contract with six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner after agreeing to terms with him on Thursday
Cutting ties with Allen was not a surprise, coming less than two weeks since they gave Allen’s camp permission to talk to other teams around the NFL about a potential trade. There was no guaranteed money owed to the 30-year-old veteran going into the final season of his contract, which made him a candidate to be released to save the Commanders roughly $20 million against the salary cap.
“He’s somebody, a true professional somebody that obviously we respect a lot,” Wagner said.
“I wasn’t here all the years, but I know what he’s meant to the city and what he’s done for this team through the good and the bad years. I’m excited for the opportunity that he gets to continue his career and I know he’s going to continue to do special things.”
Drafted in the first round out of Alabama in 2017, Allen was the second-longest-tenured player in the organization after punter Tress Way.
Allen missed half of last season after tearing a pectoral muscle but returned for Washington’s final four games, including the playoffs. The Commanders reached the NFC title game before losing
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
Offensive line coach Brendan Nugent: Nugent overlapped with Moore in 2023 on the Los Angeles Chargers, but he returns to New Orleans after being with the franchise from 2015-21. Quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien: The former journeyman quarterback spent the last two seasons in the same role with the Dallas Cowboys Wide receivers coach Keith Williams: A holdover from Dennis Allen’s staff, Williams had fans in the building after working with Chris Olave and company last year Tight ends coach Chase Haslett: The son of former Saints coach Jim Haslett, Chase Haslett has carved out his own coaching journey in the NFL — coming to New Orleans after the last five with the Dallas Cowboys. He has 10 years of coaching experience.
to eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia.
Since debuting eight years ago, Allen has appeared in 108 games for Washington, making 401 tackles and recording 42 sacks. That sack total ranks fifth in franchise history since it became an official stat in 1982.
Wagner put pen to paper on his contract, worth up to $9.5 million with $8 million guaranteed, at the team’s practice facility in Ashburn, Virginia, on Friday afternoon. He said he never got time to consider going anywhere else.
“I just love what we’re building here,” Wagner said. “I love the team. I feel like this is the place. You always want to be in a place where they want you to be here and they accept you, and I think we’ve got unfinished business to do.”
Wagner, who turns 35 a month before training camp opens, grew close with Jayden Daniels during his Offensive Rookie of the Year and said he texted the franchise quarterback immediately after agreeing to the contract.
It has already been a busy offseason for the Commanders, who last weekend reached an agreement to acquire wide receiver Deebo Samuel from San Francisco for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
“I think it was amazing,” said Wagner, who was in Samuel’s division and faced the 49ers twice a season during his many years with Seattle and one with the Los Angeles Rams. “We got to play on the other side of the spectrum watching him perform at a high level all those years that we had to go back and forth. Being his teammate, I’m excited.
“I’m excited to play with him, and it’s going to be fun, man. I look forward to what he brings to our team.”
experience, coaching the Detroit Lions defensive line from 2018-20. Edges coach Jay Rodgers: He coached with Staley in Los Angeles but was most recently with the Atlanta Falcons as the defensive line coach. He was fired after last season.
Linebackers coach Peter Sirmon: Sirmon also comes from college after serving as the University of California defensive coordinator for the last five years.
Cornerbacks coach Grady Brown: Brown joins the Saints after spending four seasons coaching the defensive backs of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Assistant cornerbacks coach Robert Blanton: Like Joseph, the Saints will be Blanton’s first NFL coaching job. He coached previously at the University of Miami (Ohio) as a position coach and was a safety in the NFL from 2012-17.
Assistant defensive line coach BrianYoung: Young was credited with the Saints’ newfound pass rush production over the second half of last season. He sticks around in an assistant role and is well-liked by players.
Wilson Alexander
Was the problem execution, personnel or play-calling? Most likely a combination of the three. Now, something has to change. It would give the offense balance and make a difference in the red zone, where LSU scored touchdowns only 56.6% of the time.
WILL TRANSFERS HELP THE DEFENSE IMPROVE IN THE SECOND YEAR UNDER
BLAKE BAKER?
Baker inherited one of the worst defenses in school history, and the unit got better under a remade coaching staff. LSU allowed 24.3 points per game, down from 28 the year before. It was more disruptive and better at making red-zone stops. Still, LSU was far from where it needed to be. The Tigers allowed 224.3 yards passing per game, and they got shredded by dual-threat quarterbacks multiple times. In three SEC losses, LSU gave up 666 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. New players could make a difference. Most of the seven defensive transfers are expected to have key roles, and Pickett could make an early impact There are plenty of questions to answer within the defense. Will a young interior line hold up? Can the secondary improve, especially in man coverage? Are three new defensive ends able to replace the pass rush? LSU will begin to find out soon.
Assistant wide receivers coach KyleValero: His hire previously was unreported, but he also left Philadelphia to join New Orleans. This will be his 15th NFL season.
Assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans: One of the franchise’s most decorated offensive linemen, Evans remains with the Saints after transitioning to coaching following his 2018 retirement.
Senior offensive assistant Scott Linehan: One of Moore’s mentors, Linehan has not only been a head coach in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams but also coached Moore in Detroit and Dallas. He’s back in the NFL for the first time since 2018.
Offensive assistant Tobijah Hughley: Hughley’s hire was also not known until Thursday’s announcement, but he arrives in New Orleans after fellowships and internships for the Miami Dolphins, Eagles and Houston Texans. Hughley played center at Louisville from 2012-16.
Defense
Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley: Moore’s former boss with the Chargers, Staley reunites with his former offensive coordinator to oversee the defense. He spent last year with the San Francisco 49ers and two-plus seasons as head coach of the Chargers.
Defensive pass game coordinator Terry Joseph: This is Joseph’s first NFL job, but he has an impressive resume at the college level most recently serving as the defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Texas.
Defensive line coach Bo Davis: Another college hire, Davis jumps from LSU to the Saints. He has NFL
Assistant linebackers coach Adam Gristick: This is a new title for Gristick, but he has been with the Saints since 2023.
Senior defensive assistant Peter Giunta: Giunta has been in the NFL for 34 years and is approaching Year 10 with the Saints.
Special teams
Special teams coordinator Phil Galiano: Galiano ran the special teams last season after Darren Rizzi was promoted to interim coach. Though Rizzi left for Denver to be special teams coordinator, Galiano stays in New Orleans with a promotion.
Special teams assistant Kyle Wilber: Wilber will work with Galiano after spending the last two years with the Green Bay Packers as their special teams quality control coach.
Strength and conditioning Director of sports performance Ted Rath: Rath replaces director of sports science Matt Rhea after an injuryfilled season for the Saints. Rath will oversee the Saints’ conditioning after tenures with the Eagles and Los Angeles Rams.
Strength and conditioning coach Charles Byrd: He is set to return for his 18th season with the Saints.
Strength and conditioning coach Riley Ireland: Ireland returns for a second season with the team.
Administrative
Assistant to the head coach Mike Martinez: Martinez has been with the Saints since 2020.
Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK J TERRILL
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after the Knicks turned over the ball during the second half on Thursday in Los Angeles.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Take the plunge, follow your heart and finish what you start. It's a great day to combine your imagination with determination Recognizing and implementing changes necessary for happiness will pay off.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Stay on target regardless of what others try to persuade you to do. Stick to basics, simplify your routine and make time for the people and pastimes that bring you joy.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Observe, and you'll figure out how you can help those you love. Discreet and kind gestures will be appreciated, bringing you closer to those you care about most.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Too much of anything will get you in trouble. Take a moment to evaluate situations and aim for balance, integrity and stability. Make what you contribute count.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Concentrate on getting things done. Talk is cheap and won't amount to anything if you don't follow through. It's how you play the game that counts. Honor and action are key.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Make changes for the right reasons. Trying to impress someone by tagging along or being their gofer won't satisfy your soul. Take the path that encourages you to do what's meaningful to you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Changing your environment will spark your imagination and fill your head with thoughts and
plans. Don't deny yourself the chance to gain ground and to use your skills in new and exciting ways.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Put your emotions aside and avoid situations filled with drama, volatility and disappointment. It's time to use your charm, intelligence and connections to your advantage.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Redefine what you want to do next. Consider what brings you joy and how to implement more of it into your everyday routine. Find ways to use your time effectively.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Make costefficient changes at home that will ease stress and improve your living arrangements. Opportunity knocks, but it's up to you to open the door. Set rules and boundaries within meaningful relationships.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Personal investments determine your lifestyle. Selling off what's no longer necessary to make your dreams come true will positively impact your attitude and health.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Spend time organizing and clearing space to pursue what truly matters to you. Following your heart will help you redefine how you build your future.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
TODAy'S CLUE: V EQUALS D
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe
SALLY Forth
beetLe bAILeY
GooSe And GrIMM
Sudoku
InstructIons: sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
CurTiS
BY PHILLIP ALDER
Sun Tzu, an ancient Chinese general and strategist, wrote, “To win 100 victories in 100 battles is not the acme of skill To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” At the bridge table, sometimes your judgment of the opponents’ skill will influence your play — as in this deal.
South is in four hearts. West leads the diamond 10. East takes the first two tricks in the suit, then shifts to the club six.Declarerwinsontheboardandplays a trump to his king. West takes the trick and returns a diamond. How should South continue? North’s transfer bid followed by three no-trump showed five hearts and game values.
South starts with three top losers and onlyninewinners(onespade,fourhearts and four clubs). He seems to need the spade finesse to work. However, after West’s diamond lead at trick five, if hearts are splitting 3-2, declarer could discard a spade from the dummy, ruff in his hand, cash his last trump, cross to dummy with a club, draw trumps and claim. Note, though, that this fails here because West gains a second trump trick.
If West is a beginner, South must guess what to do But if East and West are experts, West cannot have the spade king. If he did, he would have dropped the diamond nine at trick two as a suit-
wuzzles
preference signal and East would have shifted to spades, subduing the contract.
InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
B.C.
PiCKles
dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition
Puzzle Answer
ken ken
InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a
WiShinG Well
Scrabble GramS
Get fuzzy
jump Start
roSe iS roSe
animal crackerS
DuStin
Drabble
Wallace the brave
breWSter rockit
luann
An alcove in architect Lacey Wotring’s Algiers Point home holds her husband’s 36-inch Fisher Paykel sixburner range.
HOME | DESIGN | GARDEN | REAL ESTATE
First up, don’t forget to move your clock to 1 a.m. at midnight tonight. It’s time to spring forward.
While there are bills in Congress to do away with the twiceyearly changes from daylight saving time, for now, you’ll still be losing sleep over it.
And keeping to the topic of timeliness, Jyl Benson finds lots of changes are in store in
Karen Taylor Gist
kitchen design, from the addition of bold countertops to painted cabinets and more wood. This may be the death knell of the all-white kitchen. Learn about more trends on Page 12. It’s also the right time to begin getting ready to plant a warm-season vegetable garden Dan Gill explains the basics of what he says is a growing trend. See Page 8.
The InsideOut home and garden section is published every Saturday by The Times-Picayune Questions about InsideOut should be directed to the editor
INSIDEOUT EDITOR: Karen Taylor Gist, kataylor@theadvocate.com CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS:
Victor Andrews, Jyl Benson, Dan Gill, John McCusker, Poet Wolfe
COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel
COVER PHOTO: Haleigh Howcott
TO BE FEATURED: Send information and photos to insideout@theadvocate. com
InsideOut’s mission is to give readers peeks inside the many different ways that people in the New Orleans area live. We profile spaces that are opulent, or just offbeat; sophisticated or simple; functional or light-hearted; historic or brand-spanking new. And anything in between. Please help us by sending information and JPEG photos of your home, or specific spaces inside it, to insideout@theadvocate. com. We love gardens and outdoor spaces, too. And we’re waiting to hear from you.
BACKSTORY
Early balloonists helped map the city. PAGE 4
INSIDE INFO
Home and garden happenings. PAGE 6
IN DETAIL
Volumes of interest with bay windows. PAGE 7
GREEN THUMB
Get that veggie garden growing. PAGE 8
COVER STORY
Find out what’s hot in kitchen design. PAGE 12
ONE IN A MILLION
Understated elegance on Audubon Blvd. PAGE 16
INSIDE STORY
Anne Rice’s home was Carnival central. PAGE 17
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
Recent transactions in the metro area. PAGE 18
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Beautifullyrestoredhomeondoublelot 60 x110,w/new cool blue saltwater pool!Electricgated 3-4car driveway.1 blktoNewman& Freret St restaurants& cafes, 4blkstoStCharles!Hi-ceilings,3Bds/2Bas,living, dining,kitchen on 2nd flr. 2Bds/2Bas, den, kitchenette, hang outorapt,on1st flr. Huge bkyd foroutdoor entertaining.500sqftofstorage/artstudio!FloodZoneX.AMustSee!Owner/agent CharlotteDorion• 504-237-8615 TaniaVelasco •504-343-3540 BerkshireHathawayHSPreferred,REALTORS504-799-1702
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Living theSt. BernardParishDream!Gorgeous4-bdrm, 2-bath home built in 2018.Experiencecomfort &modernstyle at its finest.Thisbeautyfeatures 10’ceilings, crownmolding,wood-grained tile flooring throughout. Openconceptlayout, dream chef’s kitchen. Spacious primaryw/ensuite bath. 2-cargarage. Patio& cov’dporch w/ wood deck &lrg yard forentertaining! Team RightSide504-233-2551 LATTER &BLUM| Compass• Historic District 504-948-3011
4829 Sheridan Avenue •Metairie$1,400,000
Unique opportunitytoown an exquisite custom builtColonialstyle home on thelevee of Lake Pontchartrain. Sophisticatedelegancemeets everyday luxury living in this threestory,4Bd,4.5Ba home w/ modern amenities. Designer finishes arecomplementedbysoaring ceilings,uniquecustom detailsthroughout& an abundanceofnatural light &somuchmore!
PROVIDED PHOTOS By THE LIBRARy OF CONGRESS John Bachman’s 1851 balloon map depicts New Orleans along the Mississippi River viewed from a highly volatile, lighter-than-air balloon.
BY JOHN McCUSKER Contributing writer
In the latter half of the 19th century, panoramic, or “bird’s-eye view,” city maps became a staple of commercial art New Orleans was depicted in several such views between 1851 and 1884. Today, these maps endure as decor in homes and offices, offering a glimpse into a time before aerial photography
One particularly striking example is an 1851 panoramic map bearing the inscription “drawn from nature on stone” by artist John Bachman. How in nature did Bachman attain a bird’s-eye view five decades before the invention of the airplane?
The answer lies in the alternative name for these panoramic maps — “balloon maps.”
A bird’seye view of New Orleans at the time of the
in 1884.
BACKSTORY
A so-called aerial representation completely misses the bend in the river at Algiers Point.
A view from above
The fascination with bird’seye views was fueled by a revolutionary technology of the time: lighter-than-air ballooning. As balloonists ascended into the sky, they offered humanity its first real glimpse of the world from above, igniting public imagination.
The enduring legacy of these early aeronauts is not just aviation, but an artistic vision that shaped how people viewed their cities.
New Orleans was a venue for ballooning starting in the mid-1830s, with aeronauts like Richard Clayton taking to the skies. Between 1836 and 1839, Clayton completed numerous flights over the city, offering firsthand accounts of his aerial
adventures
On March 10, 1839, he launched from the City Gas Works at Perdido Street and South Claiborne Avenue (near today’s LSU Health Science Center), ascending into the atmosphere “In a few moments, I had a grand view of New Orleans and its surrounding country,” he wrote However, what he discovered the hard way was that New Orleans is an island of urbanity amid a vast landscape of wetlands. Twice, he crash-landed in the backswamp — a harsh reminder of the city’s unique geography
The perils of early ballooning
Despite its allure, ballooning was fraught with danger. Un-
like today’s propane-heated hot air balloons, 19th-century aeronauts used balloons fueled with hydrogen — made by mixing iron filings with sulfuric acid. The gas was lighter than air, but also incredibly flammable. With curious crowds gathering to watch inflations as the dangerous chemical reaction occurred, what could go wrong?
A lot In 1839, just a month after Clayton’s New Orleans flights, fate struck in Louisville, Kentucky. A spectator’s cigar ignited a hydrogen explosion, injuring Clayton and four others.
A near-disaster also unfolded in New Orleans in 1848, though it became the stuff of comedy.
As Madame Renards’ balloon was being inflated, it suddenly
burst into flames. While one unfortunate bystander had his whiskers “singed considerably,” according to a report in the New Orleans Crescent on April 3, 1848, Renards herself was unharmed — except for her pride.
Embarrassed by the failure, she hurled bricks and stones at the gathering crowd. “The lady in question did not go up, but her temper did not go down,” the newspaper wryly observed.
The end of an era
As the 19th century wore on, ballooning emerged as a tool for artists, cartographers and the military Panoramic balloon maps became a fixture in homes and businesses, offering a new way to see the world.
As with any enterprise, there was the real deal, like Bachman’s map, and there were fakes. In fact, a great many balloon maps were created entirely on the ground, and it shows. One purported bird’seye-view of New Orleans omits the bend in the river at Algiers Point and proceeds directly to English Turn.
The dawn of the 20th century signaled the decline of the aeronauts. With the advent of fixed-wing flight and aerial photography, balloons were no longer the artist’s, or aviator’s, best vantage point. The golden age of the aeronauts came to an end, leaving behind tales of adventure, misadventure and the enduring legacy of balloon maps.
Cotton Centennial
Lakefront to host Louisiana iris market
Louisiana irises will be on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at the New Basin Lighthouse, 8001 Lakeshore Drive, in New Orleans.
The Greater New Orleans Iris Society sale features potted plants for $10 each.
Visit facebook.com for information about the group.
Plants on sale at greenhouse in City Park
A wide selection of plants will be available to purchase from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday at the Pelican Greenhouse, 2 Celebration Drive, in City Park.
Annuals, perennials, tropicals, antique garden roses and houseplants are just some of the types of foliage available. Potted plants start at $3, roses at $25.
For information, visit neworleanscitypark.org.
Spring garden seminar set at Castine Center
Thursday’s Spring Sip, Sow and Mow seminar, hosted by the St. Tammany Master Gardener Association and the LSU AgCenter at the Castine Center in Pelican Park in Mandeville, will share information on fruit and vegetable gardens,
INSIDEINFO
Restaurant; Austen Barron Bailly, of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; and Tracee Dundas, of New Orleans Fashion Week, the event, under the theme “Lives in Design,” will host field trips for school groups and hold a community design day.
Tickets start at $250. For information, visit longuevue. com.
Workshops blend bonsai and brews
canning basics, native plants, fleur de lis tea, vermiculture, red roselle hibiscus and zen gardens.
Registration is required; the event begins at 9 a.m. at 63350 Pelican Drive. Tickets start at $25. Visit stmastergardener org.
Speakers planned for design symposium
Four featured speakers will look at how design and experiences combine in homes and environments at the annual Design Symposium on April 2-5 at Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, in New Orleans.
In addition to lectures by architect Gil Schafer; Stella Chase Reese, of Dooky Chase
Bonsai Bar brings pairs horticulture with craft brews in a class on the fundamental skills and techniques of the Asian art. Instructors will lead participants through the core concepts to pot, prune and design a bonsai tree.
Upcoming sessions are Wednesday at Port Orleans Brewing Co., 4124 Tchoupitoulas St., in New Orleans, and March 21 at Chafunkta Brewing Co., 69123 Sky Brook Road, in Mandeville. Additional sessions are planned.
Cost starts at $85. For information, visit bonsaibar.com.
Volunteer projects abound at City Park
A variety of cleanup days and initiatives are on tap at City Park to improve and maintain the extensive urban green space.
n Super Saturday: 9 a.m., Saturday Volunteer Center, 1031 Harrison Ave.
n Litter Abatement Campaign: 9 a.m. Tuesday Volunteer Center.
n Graffiti Cleanup Krewe: 9 a.m. Thursday Volunteer Center
n Big Lake Native Plant Trail Restoration Project: 9 a.m. Friday Big Lake Native Trail near 7 Friedrichs Ave.
Register for the programs and find out more about what to bring at friendsofcitypark. volunteerhub.com.
Have a home and garden event coming up? Send it to events@theadvocate.com.
Bay watch
There’s nothing more boring that a straight line. Bay windows add not only some interesting angles to a home’s façade, but the volume of space they add inside can made a room feel bigger.
— Karen Taylor Gist
STAFF PHOTOS By JOHN McCUSKER
GREENTHUMB
GARDEN TIPS
BULB CARE: Remove faded flowers and developing seed pods from spring-flowering bulbs that are to be kept for bloom next year Do not remove any of the green foliage.Wait until the foliage turns mostly yellow before you cut it back. Bulbs that reliably rebloom here do not need to be dug and can be left in the ground Bulbs that rebloom well include leucojum, many narcissuses and daffodils, Dutch iris, amaryllis, ground orchid (Bletilla), Easter lily, wood hyacinth, freesia, star flower (Ipheion), hyacinths (will rebloom but the spikes are much smaller), Louisiana irises, spider lilies (Hymenocallis) and calla lily GET READYTO MOW: As the weather warms up, lawn grasses will begin to grow, and you will need to start mowing more frequently Now is a good time to sharpen your mower blades and have your mower serviced. Delay fertilizer applications until late March to allow the grass to recover from winter dormancy before pushing growth.
PLANT NOW OR LATER: If you are anxious to plant warm-season vegetables or warm-season bedding plants, you should be OK planting in beds and containers in the next couple of weeks. More cautious gardeners may want to wait longer, just in case a late cold snap brings in one last freeze. It won’t hurt the performance of the plants to wait as late as mid-April to plant.
Spring planting of warm-season vegetables — tomatoes, snap beans, bell peppers, squash and cucumbers — begins in March.
Self produce
6 basic tips for starting your own spring vegetable garden
There seems to be something in the air this time of the year that brings out the vegetable gardener in all of us. Every spring, new gardeners discover growing their own food, and veteran gardeners look forward to another season of fresh vegetables.
I’ve never seen vegetable gardening more popular than it is now.
ä See VEGETABLE, page 10
Dan Gill GREEN THUMB
Spider lily
FILE PHOTO By ELLIS LUCIA
GREENTHUMB
Cut back butterfly gingers ahead of new growth
BY DAN GILL
Contributing writer
I have some gingers that make a very fragrant white flower They look really ragged now, after the winter. If I cut them back now, will I lose their blooms? And if it’s OK to cut them back, how far back should I cut them? — Russell
The gingers you have are butterfly gingers (Hedychium coronarium). Feel free to cut back the cold-damaged, unattractive stalks now before the new growth starts to show up. Cut the stalks to ground level. Scatter a general-purpose fertilizer over the soil following package directions and apply 2 or 3 inches of mulch.
The new stalks will bloom well beginning in midsummer and last until fall.
Can you tell me how to eradicate this grassy weed (see photo)? It is taking over my lawn It laughed at the Ortho Weed-B-Gon I put on it. — Wendy
This is annual bluegrass (Poa annua), a very common coolseason weed in our area this time of year Seeds germinate in the fall and grow over the winter, becoming noticeable as we move into the spring.
Most lawn herbicides are ineffective on this grassy weed. Indeed, when annual bluegrass gets this old, it’s hard to control it with anything. When it is younger, Atrazine will do a fair job.
Sprays made in January or early February generally work pretty well. At this point, though, I’d just mow regularly to keep it from flowering (as it is currently doing) and setting seeds. This will reduce problems next year.
Cool-season annual bluegrass will not take over your lawn and will die off completely and disappear by late April. When your lawn is growing vigorously and you are mowing regularly, it will not be an issue. If you prefer not to use
FILE PHOTO
There’s no rush to prune dead parts off of herbaceous plants like these butterfly gingers. Just do it before new growth begins.
herbicides, that’s all you ever need to do.
Control with herbicides begins with applying a lawn weed preventer the first week of October (check nurseries for these). This keeps the annual bluegrass seeds from germinating.
Then, check over the lawn in January and early February. If you see enough annual bluegrass to warrant additional control, spray with Atrazine (it
Do keep in mind that if you cover the soil of a container with Spanish moss (or any mulch), it will be more difficult to see when the soil becomes dry and you need to water It’s possible that mulched containers will not dry out quite as fast.
If someone has an abundance of Spanish moss, it could even be used to mulch beds in the landscape. It’s a great way to recycle Spanish moss that blows down after windstorms.
by late April.
will control a wide variety of cool season weeds in the lawn)
Can I use Spanish moss to line flower baskets like the way that sphagnum moss is used? Can it be used to cover the top of the soil in pot plants? I know it would be attractive, but will it harm the plant being that it is a live plant itself? It seems that it would hold in moisture in the summer when terra cotta pots dry out so quickly as well as be a good protection in the cold season to protect the plant. I am not aware of it being used as a soil cover, but if it can, it would be attractive to be able to use it being that it is so available. — Laurie
You can use Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) for lining flower baskets just like you would sphagnum moss. You may also use Spanish moss as decorative mulch in containers.
As to protection from the cold in winter, the layer of Spanish moss on the surface of the soil will not help. Heat will still be lost through the sides of the container putting the roots in jeopardy of freezing.
Dan Gill is a retired consumer horticulture specialist with the LSU AgCenter. He hosts the “Garden Show” on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9 a.m. Email gardening questions to gnogardening@agcenter.lsu. edu.
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PROVIDED PHOTO By LSU AGCENTER
Annual bluegrass is a coolseason annual lawn weed that will die off
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VEGETABLE
Continued from page 8
Mid-March to mid-April is one of the most active times of the year for vegetable planting.
So much information on vegetable gardening is available that it can be bewildering. Advice from staff at the nursery, friends, family, books, publications and, especially, the internet may leave you feeling bombarded by various, and even contradictory, recommendations.
It seems needlessly confusing. Surely you’d think there is a best, surefire way to successfully grow a garden.
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But there isn’t. The sooner you understand that the better you will be able to sift through the plethora of information and find what works for you. Take a deep breath and decide which ways best fit what you are trying to accomplish.
Gardening is like cooking. Expecting there to be just one way to prepare a bed for planting is like expecting there to be just one way to make a great gumbo. The basic techniques of cooking a gumbo (the vegetable “trinity,” the protein and the roux) provide a foundation upon which to work — just like the basic techniques of vegetable gardening are there to help ensure consistent success.
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But whether cooking or gardening, beyond the basic techniques, there is ample room for creativity and variations that result in successful outcomes.
Above all, be sure the information you are using is appropriate for southeast Louisiana. Vegetable planting schedules vary from one region to the next. Even some gardening techniques can be different.
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The LSU AgCenter has vegetable garden publications written specifically for Louisiana available online. You can access LSU AgCenter information through online searches. Use “LSU AgCenter home vegetable gardening” to see the
Find the right tomato variety for spring planting.
broadest listing. You could also search for specific vegetable information, such as “LSU AgCenter tomatoes” or pest control, such as “LSU AgCenter vegetable insect control” or “LSU AgCenter vegetable disease control.”
Know the basics
1. BEDS: In southeast Louisiana, we plant vegetables in raised rows or raised beds due to the high level of rainfall. Much of the rest of the country does not do that.
Be sure your rows or raised beds are at least 8 to 12 inches
Vegetables can be grown in raised garden beds like these. The size and shape make them easy to access.
higher than the surrounding soil. You can also grow vegetables in large containers.
2. BED PREP: Proper bed preparation is very important. If building raised beds, fill them with quality topsoil or garden soil mixes. In-ground beds should be generously amended with organic matter before planting.
Nothing beats good, homemade compost when preparing beds. But you can also purchase bagged compost, manure and soil conditioner. Generally, a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic matter is dug into the upper 8 inches of soil in the bed during preparation.
3. FERTILIZING: Doing this properly is important to abundant harvests. There is no one best fertilizer for a particular vegetable, or for vegetables in general. You do not need different fertilizers for each of the different vegetables you grow
Generally, if your soil is high in phosphorous, use a fertilizer with a lower middle number, like 15-5-10, 16-4-8 or anything similar. If your soil is low in phosphorous, choose a more evenly balanced fertilizer like
STAFF FILE PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING
FILE PHOTO
By JULIA KUMARI DRAPKIN
A soil test is the best way to determine what mineral nutrients are needed.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
By LSU AGCENTER
8-8-8.
GREENTHUMB
You may also rely on organic sources of mineral nutrients, such as compost, manure, alfalfa meal, blood meal, bone meal, fish emulsion or blended organic fertilizers. Sidedress with a nitrogen fertilizer four to six weeks after planting (except for legumes like snap beans, yardlong beans and edible soybeans)
4. KNOW YOUR SOIL: A soil test is the best way to determine what mineral nutrients may need to be added to the soil. A soil test is also important in determining the need to add lime. Contact your parish LSU AgCenter Extension office for information on getting your soil tested or go www.lsuagcenter.com/soiltest.
5.TIMING IS IMPORTANT: Planting vegetables at the optimal time can make the difference between success and failure. For example, tomatoes, bell peppers and snap beans set flowers best when temperatures are in the 70s and 80s during the day As daytime temperatures move up into the 90s, fruit set is greatly reduced You can see why these crops are best planted from midMarch to late April. Waiting to plant in May means that most of the blooming will be done when temperatures are too high for good production. For complete information on when to plant vegetables, do an internet search for “LSU AgCenter Vegetable Planting Guide.”
6. HANDLING PESTS: When it comes to pest control, there are so many sources of information. This topic can be particularly confusing. First, know what pest you are dealing with. Get the insect or disease identified before deciding
Know which pests you’re fighting. This leaffooted bug is widespread and a pest of many crops including fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and ornamentals.
what to do (contact your parish LSU AgCenter extension office for diagnostic help).
Then look at a variety of effective options with an eye toward utilizing organic and/ or chemical pesticides safely and minimizing environmental impacts. Make it a policy to minimize the use of pesticides,
but the judicious application of pesticides can make the difference between success and failure.
The basis of vegetable gardening successfully here involves learning how to grow vegetables in our unique climate. Above all, enjoy yourself.
COUNTER CULTURE
All-white looks are out, but painted kitchen cabinets and wood grain join the mix
BY JYL BENSON Contributing writer
For those who have grown weary of the long-standing popularity of white kitchens, 2025 is bringing some opportunity for changes.
Houzz, a website popular with those seeking inspiration for home improvement projects, recently published a kitchen trends study of 1,620 U.S. homeowners planning kitchen renovations. The study provided insight into
The counters and extended backsplash in this kitchen by Classic Cupboards are white but bold veining changes the stark look. Wood, which adds warmth, gets a lift from metal in the hood vent and light fixtures.
PROVIDED PHOTO By CLASSIC CUPBOARDS
how people spend money on the house’s most expensive room. It is also the most popular room, with 35% of study respondents growing the footprints of their kitchens, 29% of whom snagged that extra space from their dining rooms.
White won’t go away It remains indispensable; few colors can evoke the same sense of cleanliness and simplicity However, the trend of entirely white kitchens — with white cabinets, fixtures, countertops and flooring — has
begun to wane. This style often creates a washed-out appearance and can be quite stark.
Plus, over the past decade, it has been extensively utilized, leading to a growing perception that it is overdone.
While white remains the most popular color for cabinets, pair those white cabinets with black counters and you are on top of the style game.
ä See KITCHEN, page 14
ABOVE: Modern, durable industrial finishes like these polished concrete countertops are on trend Granite and marble are out. Stone finishes like this reclaimed brick are also big for 2025.
LEFT: Painting cabinets in jewel tones is another way of escaping the all-white kitchen.
PROVIDED PHOTO By HALEIGH HOWCOTT PHOTOGRAPHy
The butler’s pantry in the home of architect Lacey Wotring is used to hide small appliances and clutter.
FILE PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT
Continued from page 12
Wood grain with furniture
“Wood grain is back in, but in lighter, more natural tones,” said John Lagarde, a kitchen designer and owner of Classic Cupboards in Harahan, a business his father founded in 1983.
“Painted cabinets will always be around,” Lagarde added, “but the warmth of the wood grain has a positive impact, especially with so many kitchens that are open to the living space. The wood grain gives a more natural furniture feel and less of a utilitarian feel.
“Wood grain also tends to wear better due to the camouflaging effects.”
Cabinet-matching wood hoods, however, are not as popular as they once were. Mixed-metal hoods are gaining popularity, Lagarde said.
The English look is in
The Houzz survey showed that many homeowners renovate kitchens for style updates. Of those, 12% chose modern styles and 11% went for contemporary Surprisingly, 14% went for traditional styles, whereas last year that number was at 9%.
However, the most popular choice is a transitional style, combining elements of both and chosen by 25% of renovating homeowners.
Under the auspices of a tra-
ditional makeover, homeowners are showing affinities for English country-style kitchens, while French countrystyle is resoundingly out.
For the Brit look, think natural wood cabinets, exposed wooden beams and jeweltoned paint colors like smoky blue and hunter green, with counters of wood or soapstone. Granite and marble are out.
Creating special spaces
An alcove for the must-have showpiece range plays into the English aesthetic, but the spaces also turn up in more streamlined spaces. Bonus style points if the alcove has a curved arch.
For the recent kitchen renovation in her Algiers Point home, Lacey Wotring, principal architect with Archetype,
designed an arched plaster alcove for her husband’s 36inch Fisher Paykel six-burner range. She covered the wall behind the range in shimmery tiles with the appearance of mother-of-pearl.
“I wanted to frame and define the range as a focal point in the space,” Wotring said. “The kitchen is now an extension of the rest of a home’s living space rather than a place where some utilitarian thing happens. It needs a focal point.”
While the range is commanding ever more attention, other appliances have disappeared. Coffee setups, ice makers, microwaves and other undesirables have been banished to butler’s pantries. Refrigerators and dishwashers are hiding out behind panels that allow them to blend seamlessly with the cabinetry
“I didn’t want the refrigerator to be a focal point, and who wants to look at the dishwasher?” Wotring said musing. “If we hide these things, the eye is free to rest on something beautiful or interesting. I want to look at the range with my beautiful copper pots hanging over it.”
Island style Islands continue to be strong features in the kitchen. Fiftyeight percent of renovating homeowners in the Houzz study either added an island or upgraded an existing one while remodeling. Storage space plays a big part in those
This wooden island in architect Lacey Wotring’s home is designed to look like a piece of furniture to better blend with the rest of the home’s decor
islands. Eighty percent added drawers, and 79% added cabinets with doors to their island designs.
Wotring and her husband, Jason Thibodeaux, both natives of Lafayette, brought in Grand Coteau woodworker Toby Rodriguez to custom-build a seated walnut island with storage drawers on the working side and open access on the seated side.
“The island is not a built-in,” Wotring said. “It is a freestanding piece of furniture. We did not want a squeaky clean feeling in the kitchen We wanted it to look periodappropriate to the house.”
Ben Davis, of Lafayette, crafted custom recessedpanel cabinets, some with glass fronts. The black soap-
stone counters feature white veining. Unlacquered brass fixtures provide a periodappropriate touch, while a butler’s pantry and panels over the refrigerator and dishwasher keep the design sleek and fresh.
“I love the idea of a scullery or back kitchen,” Lagarde said. “It keeps the open kitchen looking great while the back kitchen is more utilitarian. Also, we can’t get enough ‘integrated’ appliances almost completely hidden in cabinetry panels.”
Blacksplashes making waves
The expanded use of backsplash material has become a thing. Houzz reports that 67% of homeowners are expanding backsplash coverage up to the
PROVIDED PHOTO By HALEIGH HOWCOTT PHOTOGRAPHy
FILE PHOTO By JEFF STROUT Color
cabinets or range hood, and 12% are extending it to the ceiling. Ceramic and porcelain tile that contrasts with the counter material are the most popular choices, but mirrored finishes, wood, stone and glass are in the game, too.
The report found resounding support (68%) for rectangular tiles for their kitchen backsplash, followed by hexagonal tiles at 4%, diamond-shaped tiles at 3%, and tiles with no particular shape (blobs?) creep in at 2%. Use octagonal tiles, and you will find yourself in the 1%, not the 1% anyone is aiming for
Homeowners and designers are turning to woven and mesh panels to front an expanse of kitchen cabinets to break things up while introducing warmth and visual interest. Visual interest is also being introduced with accent cabinets, glass-fronted being the choice of 36%. Open shelving was popular, with 16% tidy enough to maintain it or sloppy enough not to care.
“Open shelves were a big trend in the ’70s,” Lagarde said, “then clients realized open shelves can get cluttered quickly, but somehow floating shelves are back in style.”
Hardwood floors are out for the kitchen, but vinyl planks that look like hardwood are all the rage, according to 46%
of homeowners in the Houzz study.
Lagarde said that a common mistake homeowners make with their kitchen is that the refrigeration is not in the right place or insufficient refrigeration. “Don’t skimp on appliances,” he said.
Lagarde has garnered sage advice in the hundreds if not thousands of kitchens he has helped homeowners with throughout his nearly threedecade career
“Two dishwashers could be a lifesaver if you are a cook and like to entertain. People regret not planning a kitchen that functions best for them and their families,” he said.
A closing note of caution on kitchen design: Avoid too many textures in one space.
“There was a trend for a while of more is better when it came to colors and materials in kitchens,” said Lagarde. “We would see multiple colors on kitchen cabinets, and often different woods, tile on the floor and different tile on the backsplash. Additionally, heavy moldings (sometimes with inlays) and furniture details were popular in the recent past. All of these elements when used together create textures and busyness when completed. Today, much of our design is cleaner and less complicated.”
ECO-FRIENDLY: Bamboo, recycled glass, reclaimed wood and stone finishes are in.
POLISHED CONCRETE: Modern, durable industrial finishes are in. Granite and marble are out.
QUARTZAND SOAPSTONE: Easy-to-maintain countertops in bold colors like black, charcoal or deep navy
Color
DARK CABINETSARE BACK: Browns, deep reds and black add drama and sophistication, but white will always be the goto for cabinets.
JEWELTONES: Deep greens, warm reds and moody blues lend character.
Design
CONCEALED KITCHENS: Personalized furniture details in larger spaces.
RUSTIC MINIMALISM: Solid wood elements with soft Scandinavian design.
STATEMENT BACKSPLASHES: Bold with color, pattern or texture.
TRENDS AT A GLANCE
MIXED METALS: Playful finishes for extra character
ALCOVES: With arched openings
STORAGE
SMART STORAGE SOLUTIONS: Promote a clutter-free environment.
16 EAGLETRACE DRIVE $865,000
Other trends
n Traditional style returns.
n Classic tile shapes and patterns gain favor.
n Kitchen islands remain supreme.
n Arched openings.
n Appliances with specialty features.
n Warm natural wood tones.
n Subtle high-tech features.
AHaysTowninspiredhome is
Completely renovatedEnglish Turn home by renowned builderChris Adams. This residenceisbathedinnatural light, thankstoits open floorplan&windows thatconnect theinteriortothe outdoors.The main levelhas aspacious first-floorprimary suitewitha spa-inspiredbathroom. Thegourmet kitchenisachef’sdream,withmarble countertops,Bertazzoniappliances,& Bgroovepaneling. Features8-inchcrown molding, spray foam open cell insulated attic, whole-homegenerator,& built-in surround sound. Therearyardisanentertainer’s paradise, aheated saltwaterpool, afirepit,subsurfaceroofdrainage, & state-of-the-art sprinklersystem.
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PROVIDED PHOTO By CLASSIC CUPBOARDS
Large islands, as shown in this kitchen by Classic Cupboards, provide extra storage and are a particularly useful trend.
ONEINAMILLION
A long island with seating is the culinary center for the kitchen, with a panoramic view of the backyard.
The theme for the home at 199 Audubon Blvd. is understated elegance, a home at once grand yet welcoming.
$1.95M Audubon
BY VICTOR ANDREWS Staff writer
Audubon Boulevard, the broad thoroughfare that traverses sections of Uptown to Fountainebleau, is a grand address populated by numerous examples of classic architecture and stylish dwellings near the universities.
A cream-colored morsel of understated elegance sits at 199 Audubon Blvd., capped by a verdant tile roof, decorative balustrade on the upper balcony, architectural elements that frame spacious windows and a feeling of comfort.
With four bedrooms, more than four baths and almost 4,700 square feet of space, the century-old edifice, a blend of classic style and contemporary ease, is on the market for $1.95 million.
A recessed front entrance, complete with a wrought iron gate and arched details, is formal yet welcoming.
Rich wood floors stretch from the front through the main public areas, while a commanding staircase leads to the private chambers upstairs. A powder room sits discreetly beneath the stairs.
To the right, a sunporch is
The front door welcomes visitors into the broad hallway, anchored by a staircase leading to the private areas of the home and flanked by formal living and dining rooms.
Blvd. home has understated elegance
The formal living room is the mainstay of several public spaces, including a sunroom and sitting room that expand the space yet delineate several seating options.
protected with glass between the arched panels and columns, whimsically paired with a dark and light tile floor, making the room a wonderful spot for a bit of al fresco-style relaxation.
French doors lead into the
formal living room, anchored by a fireplace that features a carved marble surround and mantel, flanked by windows.
The living space continues to a diminutive sitting room and a bayed glass porch leading to the backyard, perfect for
reading and relaxing.
Across the hall from the living room, the formal dining room, with double chandeliers and detailed ceiling, is a linear locale for entertaining, from holiday banquets to quiet celebrations.
A hallway connects the dining room to the contemporary kitchen, with counter space along the way to expand service potential for formal meals. Classic white cabinets with gleaming pulls, appliances and fixtures, join harmoniously with the beige and gray counters. A breakfast area is a relaxed dining destination, making it handy for the chef to visit and prepare while enjoying the expansive views of the backyard.
On the second floor, the four bedrooms and three baths are well situated for privacy and comfort.
A large fireplace with tiled hearth and elegantly carved wooden surround is the focal point of the primary sleeping quarters, a sunlit room with plenty of space and access to a large walk-in closet with several windows. The marble bath, with echoes of a European spa, features a large walkin shower, double vanity and dual glass-front cabinets.
Two additional bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bath, while the third is an en suite. One of the bedrooms is being used as an office, with built-in shelving and cabinetry
The third floor features a
PROVIDED PHOTOS
ONEINAMILLION INSIDESTORY
rear entry and the wall of windows, transitioning from the outdoors to the serenity of the formal living room.
bonus room with full bath. At once spacious and light-filled from a row of windows, this space could work as an additional bedroom, music room or game room.
Fun and games are the focal point of the backyard, dominated by a heated saltwater pool with walls on two sides featuring water elements. The broad surround makes for a party pad large enough for dining and relaxing and is backed by a pool house.
The vaulted ceiling of the pool house amplifies the space of the room, which includes a kitchenette with full fridge, sink and counters, plus tile floors that make the space resilient for high often damp traffic. A full bath makes the room a self-contained spot for guests.
Mature landscaping creates a tidy look for the lawn, while parking for multiple vehicles is behind an electric gate.
In addition to the main two floors and third-floor space is a walk-in attic for storage and a basement.
The home is listed by Ashley R. Nesser, of Latter & Blum | Compass, (504) 866-2785.
One in a Million is an occasional series featuring upscale homes for sale in the metro area.
A pool house balances the large, heated saltwater pool, which is fed through several water elements.
Son recounts Anne Rice’s big parties at home along the Uptown parade route
BY POET WOLFE Staff writer
From her decadent tales of vampires to her trove of antique French Bru dolls, Anne Rice carried an aura of mystique. But one thing was certain of the Gothic novelist: She loved New Orleans and its culture.
The days leading up to Fat Tuesday, Rice — best known for her 1976 novel “Interview with The Vampire” — would transform her Lower Garden District home into a hub for extravagant parties. The celebratory tradition ended in 2002, but over two decades later, her son, also an author, Christopher Rice still remembers even the minute details of these get-togethers.
Beer never stopped flowing. King cakes and sandwiches were piled high on platters. Elders sat on rocking chairs outside of the pearl-white house at 2524 St. Charles Ave., waiting for papier-mâché floats to drift past. His mother would wear a shimmering dress and a wig. His father opted for a more casual look — a Perlis rugby shirt — while sipping tea and smoking a cigarillo.
By the end of the parades, house windows were shattered by throws and plastic beads dangled from oak tree branches.
But what Christopher Rice treasured most was that everyone was welcomed in what his family called the “Mardi Gras house,” whether they were on the 50-page guest list or revelers in otherworldly costumes dancing in the streets.
“What I cherish is we were known as the house that let anybody in, no matter what,” he said.
Like the Krewe of Orpheus, in which he was a float captain — it was the first parade to include both men and women — the home welcomed all to celebrate Carnival, a time of indulgence before the sacrifice of Lent.
Anne Rice had a deep connection to the house. She briefly lived in it during her childhood before she was forced to leave the city at 15 when her father re-
PROVIDED PHOTO By CHRISTOPHER
Christopher Rice stands with his mother, Anne Rice, during a parade outside of her former Lower Garden District home.
married after the her mother’s death. The family moved to a Dallas suburb, Christopher Rice said.
As an adult, she and her husband followed the Beat Generation to San Francisco, where they had their son. But the West Coast lacked the warmth and kindness found in New Orleans, even when standing in a grocery store line.
“I don’t think she ever found another place in America, maybe somewhere in Europe or the Caribbean, that offered up the flavor and the beauty and the culture of New Orleans,” Christopher Rice said.
Anne Rice didn’t return to New Orleans until after she became successful, when she could afford to move her family there.
“I think the joy never stopped — the joy she felt of being able to return to her true home, to her spiritual home, to the home that was in her blood,” her son said. “She just wanted to share it with the world.”
Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.
RICE
Whimsy meets al fresco relaxation in the glassenclosed sun room at the front of the home, with rich views of the boulevard.
A sitting room enjoys grand sunshine from the bayed
REALESTATETRANSFERS
NEW ORLEANS
TRANSFERS ISSUED FEB. 19-23
DISTRICT 1
BARONNE ST. 1527: $254,000, Frances Sims to Andrew E. Brott and Moira Flanagan Brott
CARONDELET ST. 339: $385,000, 339 Carondelet 2A LLC to Ryan S Thibodeaux.
CLEVELAND AVE. 3321-23:
$110,000, Brenda Spiers Lafargue, Sharon Spiers Hickey, Steven G. Spiers and Susan A. Spiers to Peaches Investments LLC.
COLISEUM ST. 1765, UNIT 222: $249,000, George M. Braddock to Charlene Schreiner Brooks and Kenneth Wayne Haga.
JULIA ST. 603-605: $825,000, HPA New Orleans LLC to Red Ibis LLC.
ST. CHARLES AVE. 3000, UNIT 307: $205,000, Ruth Petal to Janice Martin Schaff.
S. PETERS ST. 1107: $181,000, XAR Investment Corp. to Bethany Johnson Mangle and James H Mangle.
S. SCOTT ST. 222: $462,000, Kathleen Becker Rutledge to Charles Higgins and Jessica Kutcher Higgins.
DISTRICT 2
BARRACKS ST. 1005: $275,000, Kiley P. Martin Alvarez and Oscar Armand Alvarez Martin to Lauren Cicalese and Patrick Cicalese.
BIENVILLE ST. 2134: $43,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to Donna Reeves
CANAL ST. 1201, UNIT 529: $195,000, Robert Tyree Greene Jr. to Shelton D. Day.
CANAL ST. 2743: $325,000, Succession of Sheila Mae Dixon to Triple E Holding LLC.
CHARTRES ST. 921: $225,000, John A. Gregory to Matthew David Meinke.
DECATUR ST. 929-31: donation, no value stated, Lenny K. Motwani to Tina Motwani Narra.
IBERVILLE ST. 2740-42: $242,500, Jeraldine Dixon and Shelia Mae Dixon to Triple E Holding LLC.
LOUIS XIV ST. 7031: $437,500, Kasey Lynn Jenkins to David Carney and Tasha Marchese Carney.
MARSHAL FOCH ST. 6116: $10, Brenda Illin Schorr and Henry John Schorr Jr. to Michael Lee Williams Jr.
MILNE BLVD. 6896: $650,000, Cynthia Horn Cazenave and Daniel V. Cazenave to Leonard John Dubroc III.
MILNE ST. 6318: $215,000, Bayou
Boys Real Estate Ventures LLC to Burk Property Investments LLC.
N. TONTI ST. 212: $73,000, Silviano Properties LLC to Ashley Nicolle Freeman.
ORCHID ST. 2775: $900,000, Alon Shaya and Emily Ruth Ostuw Shaya to Kearney G. McDonnell.
DISTRICT 3
BACCICH ST. 4452: $338,000, Elliott Powell and Sarah Berger Powell to Kevin James Hackett and Stephanie Jodeir Hackett.
BANCROFT DRIVE 5819: $279,000, Patrick Joseph Burk and Sarah Marie Burk to Andrew Bergeron and Sarah Bergeron.
BUNDY ROAD 4743: $279,000, Damien Roby to Charles Otis Williams and Summer Martina Kendrick Williams.
BURGUNDY ST. 2519-21: $413,000, Carol Evans Sigur and Rosa Ma-
ria Huete Sigur to Elizabeth Davis Edenfield and Jacob Edenfield.
BURGUNDY ST. 3055: donation, no value stated, Brandon Joseph Stewart and Stephone M. Hood to Branstep Trust.
CADIZ ST. 2128-2130: $175,000, Earl Porter Jr. and Mary Ann Porter Williams to Jean LLC.
CAMPUS BLVD. 6109: $110,000, Tsai Hua Tan to B&F Lunch Corporation.
CHARMES COURT 5035: $20,000, Rosetta M. Etienne to J. Lopez Property LLC.
CHEF MENTEUR HIGHWAY 11741, 11745, 11749: $55,000, Amy Kate Scandaliato and CSR Solutions LLC to Mohammad Abdelrazak Dairwieh.
CROWDER ROAD 7122-30:
$1,187,500, Cornell Pendleton to IRP Crowder LLC.
DAUPHINE ST. 2618: $719,000, Derek S. Tueller and Jeremiah H. Hansen to Matthew J. Madden and Taylor E. Moss Madden.
FORSHEY ST. 9025-27: $30,000, C Hamp Rental Properties LLC to Sylvia Austin Jones.
JAPONICA ST. 1333: $985,000, Japonica Holdings LLC to Stay Ready Nola Inc.
LAKE FOREST BLVD. 10555: $90,000, Assist LLC to Berrys Legacy LLC.
LESSEPS ST. 1442: $285,000, Phillip R. Rollins II to Bria T. Lafrance.
LIZARDI ST. 1730-32: $10,000, Spencer Theard to LJT Investments LLC.
MANDOLIN ST. 1486: donation, no value stated, Leon Thompson to Labree Hingle Stockstill.
MARAIS ST. 5340: $150,000, Joyce Howard Garrett to Houses and Land LLC.
MARIGNY ST. 710-712: $550,000, Historic Marigny Investments LLC to 710 Marigny LLC.
MARAIS ST. 3036: $397,000, Christian P. Clark to Cara Marie McClain and Michael Lewis Lancaster.
MARIGNY ST. 708: $225,000, Historic Marigny Investments LLC to 708 Marigny LLC.
MARYWOOD COURT 6: $100,000, Siyan Partners LLC to A Plus Unlimited LLC.
MUSIC ST. 6134: $390,000, J&W Builders Group LLC to Lawrence A. Dismore and Roberta J. Dismore.
NEW ORLEANS ST. 2719: $22,500, Investnu LLC to Gregory George Washington and Tara A. Williams.
PAINTERS ST. 1922-24: $37,000, Carrie R. Weatherspoon Wilford to Milton Terrell Carter.
PAUL MORPHY ST. 1661: $155,000, Hip Flips LLC to CLS AMG 550 LLC.
PAUL MORPHY ST. 1661: $295,000, CLS 550 AMG LLC to Austin Venture Properties LLC.
PLEASURE ST. 2053: $275,000, Anne Carter McGinnis to Kenneth Daniel Smith.
ROYAL ST. 2231: $725,000, Historic Marigny Investments LLC to 2231 Royal LLC.
ROYAL ST. 2237: $700,000, Historic Marigny Investments LLC to 2237 Royal LLC.
ST. MAURICE ST. 1600-02: $70,000, Bryant D. Anthony to 1600 St. Maurice LLC.
SERANTINE ST. 2933: $60,000, Mattie Prophet Harvey to Cristian N. Yuma.
S. EASTERLYN CIRCLE 11420: $405,000, Kimberly Lavon Wright Burbank to Marcus Smith.
SWIFT ST. 7801-7803: $212,000, Craig Anthony Raphael II to Cornelious Celestine and Subricia Brown.
TOURO ST. 727: $430,000, Helen Richardson Newman and Johnny W. Newman to Kaitlin Rust Landry and Matthew S. Landry.
TULIP ST. 4757: $35,000, Babette Wesby Haines, Babette Wesby Huntley and Kenneth Haines Jr. to 4757 Kk LLC.
VERNA COURT 1448: $723,400, Anna Saul Harrison and Richard D. Harrison to Daniel Warren Johnson and Terri Joi Mockross Johnson.
W. DEER PARK BLVD. 5800: $107,000, Succession of Tyronne Anthony Larkins Sr. to Evana Badie.
WOODBINE DRIVE 7817: $181,000, John Clifford Petrie to Cierra Dangelique Clay Bradley and James K. Bradley.
ORLEANS
Continued from page 18
DISTRICT 4
FOURTH ST. 3309-11: $76,972, Carlton Capital Management LLC to Rivers End Holdings LLC.
LAUREL ST. 2239, PHILIP ST. 909915: donation, no value stated, Zachary Cole Wood to Gabrielle Petrucelli Wood.
SECOND ST. 829-831: $666,255, Dowling Burke Stough and Ilse M. Falk Stough to Nicole Youell Johnson and Spencer Johnson.
S. GALVEZ ST. 2704-06: $315,000, LJT Investments LLC to Aminn Gabriel Thompson and Dominique Alexander Thompson.
WASHINGTON AVE. 2633: $100,000, Evelyn Sawyer Battiste to Perrilloux Properties LLC.
DISTRICT 5
ENGLISH TURN DRIVE 274: $96,500, Alton Bates Sr. and Jacquelyn Bates to Corey Eusebio Rosales and Hillary Alma Hafner Rosales.
ETON ST. 2639: $160,000, Algiers
EAST JEFFERSON
n TRANSFERS FOR FEB. 22-28 HARAHAN
STONELEIGH DRIVE 7413: Margaret A. Picone to Chad M. Cazabon, $565,000.
TYLER AVE. 928: Margie M. Benoit to Keith G. Benoit, $200,000.
JEFFERSON
DODGE AVE. 752: Christopher M. Gallo to Kipp O. Fellon Sr., $255,000.
FOURTH ST. 4213: Kathleen L. Poster to Herman W. Woods, $165,000.
KENNER
AVANT GARDE CIRCLE 185: Dennis Forvendel to US Bank Trust National Association, $106,000.
BAYLOR PLACE 136: Stefson Arnold Jr. to Heart of Lion LLC, $140,000.
BAYLOR PLACE 117: Dorcas T. I Wesson to US Bank Trust National Association, $105,000.
BORDEAUX DRIVE 4248: Ls Realty LLC to Rola A. Husam, $444,000. CALIFORNIA AVE. 3300: Thai H.
REALESTATETRANSFERS
United Methodist Church to Benita W. Scott and Nathan H. Scott.
HENDEE ST. 823-825: donation, no value stated, Gloria Hills Lewis to Patrick W. Edwards.
HERSCHEL ST. 4638: donation, no value stated, Anna Marie Poncenti Chastain, Anthony E. Poncenti and Earl Theodore Ponceti III to John Martin Ponceti and William Gerard Ponceti.
MARR AVE. 2473: donation, no value stated, Joanne Pontiff to Laura Whittle Toney
MERRILL ST. 1124: $125,000, Succession of Althea Marshall Lawes to Marc Cole.
STRATFORD PLACE 6131: $175,000, Marcelo Morales to Austin James Fontenot and Devin Fontenot.
TASHA PLACE 3651: $186,345, Jeane De’Esther Smith Jones to Jalana Farlough.
DISTRICT 6
ANNUNCIATION ST. 3400: $210,000, Kelsey Elizabeth Kilmartin Antoon and Michael Francis Antoon to Christopher Patrick Trout and Kathryn Lynn Kennedy Trout.
AUSTERLITZ ST. 7009: $335,000, Erich W. Soraghan to Wasim Rentals LLC.
Pham to John D. Nguyen, donation, no value stated.
CANARY ANSAS DRIVE 5325: Robbie Villani to Jesse A. Schudmak, $535,000
DELAWARE AVE. 2040: Robert G. Primeaux Jr. to Ronim W. G. Hernandez, $87,000.
FLORIDA AVE. 4105, UNIT C: Suzanne Salazar to Mlc Property
CADIZ ST. 517: $388,000, Ryan Fruin to Cia Ellen Nypower Cyronek and Jacquelyne Anne Cyronek Nypower.
CAMP ST. 4534: $815,000, Sarah Amanda Dumas Sanderson and Todd Michael Sanderson to Pamela Budin Pereira and Tomas Alan Pereira.
CAMP ST. 5347: $800,000, Patricia Close Management Trust 6-M to Brandon Copple and Margaret M. Willey Copple.
COLISEUM ST. 5342-44-46, LEONTINE ST. 1140: $1,150,000, Camelback LLC to Chad P. Lusco and Kelly Glover Lusco.
DELACHAISE ST. 1019: donation, no value stated, Stephanie Christel Bayne Turner to Stephen C. Turner.
FRERET ST. 7309: $442,000, 7309 Freret Street LLC to Endeavor Partners LLC.
GARFIELD ST. 5710: $1,085,000, Ellen F. Kempner Sucherman and Lee G. Sucherman to Peyton Cater Robinson Jr.
JOSEPH ST. 2300: $10, Joseph Thomas Wilson to Mary Wilson.
LASALLE ST. 5113: $350,000, Jared Frank to Barnaby Lair Brasseux Jr.
LAUREL ST. 4938: $780,000, Eileen Mary Mohan and Natesh Chandra
Group LLC, $97,000.
FURMAN CIRCLE 28: Laura Debram to Daja Realty LLC, $67,500.
KENTUCKY AVE. 2607: Dorothy L. Figueroa to Jamie Vidrine, $215,000.
KENTUCKY AVE. 3217: Earl J. Naquin Jr. to Maher A. Madrahi,
ä See EAST, page 20
Mohan to Richard Ketchum.
PITT ST. 4516-18: $770,000, Lawrence Eugene Spegele Jr. to Andrew Philip Weber.
S. GAYOSO ST. 1600: $190,000, Priscilla R. Edwards to Jedidiah Bernell Jackson.
STATE ST. DRIVE 3330: $479,000, Danielle Ross Herring to Megan Cockfield Tillman and Parish Jaques Tillman.
WALNUT ST. 338: $1,565,000, Donni E. Halvorson to Lindsay Mains Wells.
DISTRICT 7
CAMBRONNE ST. 1940: $650,000, Danh N. Nguyen and Hung T Nguyen to Helen E. Pope Young and Kenneth George Young.
FRENCHMEN ST. 2622-24: $122,150, Quality Housing LLC to Jacob Zakris.
GREEN ST. 8218: $390,000, Amy E.
Vincent Christian to Allison Cartmell Emmerson and Nathaniel Harold Emmerson.
JEANNETTE ST. 8931: $115,000, Moskoula Katsikis and Zane George Katsikis to Jean LLC.
JOLIET ST. 1919: $155,000, Renewal Homes LP to Charles R. Brown.
MILAN ST. 2503-05: $240,000, Historic Second Baptist Church Inc. of New Orleans to Annelise Claire Senkowski and Douglas John Cloninger.
NERON PLACE 63: $618,400, Emile F. Combe III and Gabrielle Maag Combe to John R. Newcomb and Kathleen Gregory Newcomb. OAK ST. 7707: $490,000, Lynn Meloy Johnson to Jocelyn D. Carlin.
STAFFORD PLACE 239: $385,000, James A. Tillette Jr. and Stephanie Nadine Kosarin Tillette to Hannah Reed Tucker Varas and Matthew Tucker Varas.
REALESTATETRANSFERS
EAST
Continued from page 19
$125,000.
LUCAYA DRIVE 79: Ghian C. Hernandez to Monica Hernandez, donation, no value stated
MINDEN ST. 1028: Elizabeth P. Knott to Isabella M. Lainez, $250,000.
SUGAR MILL ROAD 3301: Karen Faucheaux to Ranada Doucette, $430,000.
THERESA AVE. 27: Connie Mezzic to Kh Flip LLC, $160,000.
TUPELO ST. 2613-15: Dealty Property Solutions LLC to Dalcy A. Santos, $275,000
METAIRIE
42ND ST. 3228: William G. Kampen Jr. to Delta Doolittle LLC, $305,000.
43RD ST. 3423: Pamchris LLC to Rahul S. Sadhwani, $315,000.
ANDREWS AVE. 513: Jenny L. H. Sortino to Angela R. Pawley, $287,500.
BONNABEL BLVD. 921: Cindy Donze to Alta M. Schnaider, $425,000.
BOUTALL ST. 6112: Fay Servicing LLC to Alex Herrera, $175,100.
CARTHAGE ST. 4521: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to M. Andras, $300,000.
CENTRAL DRIVE 117: One Hundred Seventeen Central LLC to One Hundred Seventeen Central Drive LLC, $475,000.
CRAIG AVE. 5013: J. L. Mendelson to Vu Le, $350,000.
CYNTHIA DRIVE 5820: Dylan M. Spiers to Gerald C. Bagley Jr.,
$95,000.
DAVID DRIVE 1912: Maximo F. Fernandez to Maria D. C. Linares, donation, no value stated.
EISENHOWER AVE. 1425: Paul C. Staehle to Deirdre M. K. Kennedy, donation, no value stated.
GLENDALE DRIVE 224: Ronald G. Zibilich to Nightstone Properties LLC, $100.
GLENWOOD DRIVE 245: Daniel C. Duke to Dia Custom Builders LLC, $650,000.
HESPER AVE. 436: Naf Cash LLC to Grant M. Hubbard, $1,015,000.
LOVELAND ST. 4712: Alfred Scramuzza to Alfred Scramuzza, $95,161.
LOVELAND ST. 6219: Laura A. Warner to Damaris Deleon, $125,000.
MARION ST. U8 3725: Hunter J. Regan to Ivy Gottet, $60,000.
MELODY DRIVE 1528: Brigitte Lally to Precision Investors LLC, $900,000
METAIRIE LAWN DRIVE 227: Cdb Perdido LLC to Amy P. Rovira, $450,000.
METAIRIE LAWN DRIVE 2601, UNIT 14, BUILDING 317: Danh C. Nguyen to Belinda D. Mcallister, $177,777
MILLER LANE 1: Alan L. Moore to Hbgno LLC, $395,000.
N. SIBLEY ST. 924: Marilyn Mire to Trisha Eshleman, $189,000.
OCEAN DRIVE 1300: Elaine Favaloro to One Thousand Three Hundred Ocean Dr LLC, $230,000.
OLD METAIRIE DRIVE 828: Ronald E. Mills to Jennifer Couvillion, $365,000.
PAPWORTH AVE. 428: Anthony P. Cascio to Paige Holtgreve, $189,000.
PRATT ST. 4201: Acm Historic Properties LLC to J Baudier, $275,000.
PRINCETON AVE. 1603: Michelle Rauch to Kennedy Roberts, $225,000.
REBECCA BLVD. 4417: Robert D. Berger to Jerry E. Crail, $425,000.
ROSALIE COURT 6201: Angela M. Quintero to Legacy Capital Group Inc. LLC, $125,000.
ROSALIE COURT 5621: Lois Bordelon to Deborah Brooks, $9,000.
ROSEWOOD DRIVE 237: Nancy L. Fitzgerald to Molly B. D. Paternostro, $865,000.
SENA DRIVE 816: Terrance M. Owens II to Brisbi Development LLC, $250,000.
SMITH DRIVE 617: Julia A. Mcdaniel to Robert Brocato, $300,000.
TRANSCONTINENTAL DRIVE 4705: Rachel Held to Chandler Fields, $369,000.
VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD. 4704: Scallan & Scallan Fireside LLC to Area 55 LLC, $3,475,000.
WADE DRIVE 5104: Paul Alvendia to Butterfly Holdings LLC, $363,845.
RIVER RIDGE
BELLVIEW ST. 417: Teresita V Hammond to Jason M. Rodgers, $580,000.
CHARLOTTE DRIVE 9633: Tracy S. Snyder to Robert Leslie, $460,000.
CROCHET AVE. 9032: Michael Ostarly to John C. Bowman, $285,000.
FOLSE ST. 516-518: Gwen C. Vanmatre to Elizabeth G. Noya, $396,500.
WEST JEFFERSON
n TRANSFERS FOR FEB. 22-28
GRAND ISLE
LA. 1 1119: Jay A. Taylor to Bmj Gi LLC, $85,000.
LA. 1 2935: Linda Fabre to Booking LLC, $165,000.
LA. 1 2506: Nancy M. Stpierre to Luke W. Stpierre, donation, no value stated.
GRETNA
EVERGREEN DRIVE 921: Noby J. Ordogne Jr. to Gage M. Polkey, $70,000.
FAIRFIELD AVE. 424: Cascade
Funding Mortgage Trust H.B.8. to Sarah F. Vallon, $192,000.
LAKE TIMBERLANE DRIVE 3637: Kathleen W. Aucoin to Sau Le, $440,000.
LEGION DRIVE 2144: Miray L. Pinar to Darwin J. R. Meda, $245,000.
SUGARPINE DRIVE 204: Jose L. A. Morales to Senia Y. Herrera, donation, no value stated.
WALL ST. 404A-404B: El Jaouhari LLC to Saad Properties LLC, $600,000.
HARVEY
FOS AVE. 412: Lsf9 Master Participation Trust to Tavonjia H. Hills, $176,000.
JUPITER ST. 2684: Thi Tran to Andy N. Vo, donation, no value stated.
MANHATTAN BLVD. 2920: Thomas J. Williams to Vitoli3320 LLC, $85,000.
MARRERO
AVE. A 519: Clifton D. Daquin Sr. to Cody P. Townsend, $75,000.
BALD EAGLE PARK 4221: J & B Home Investments LLC to Melisa Santillan, $439,000.
BARATARIA BLVD. 2725: Donald C. Laborie Jr. to Harbros Solutions LLC, $150,000.
BLUE HERON TRACE 2592: Marley Fontinelli to Robin L. Raymond, $330,000.
BOUTTE ST. 6192: Lois Walker to Qash Investors Inc., $80,000.
BRITANNICA DRIVE 2837: Glorimar Padilla to Ludwig Bermudez, $221,000.
CARVER DRIVE 6712: Victoria J. Sanders to Miguel A. E. Batres, $147,000.
CEDARLAWN DRIVE 2549: Kyra Bulmer to Deryl L. Frame, $395,000.
COLLETTE DRIVE 2724: Mary M. Juneau to Juneau Mary Michelle Self Settled Special Needs Trust, donation, no value stated.
CORINNE DRIVE 2717: Austini L. Small to Elegant Houses LLC, $77,500.
DOLORES DRIVE 2804: Elegant Houses LLC to Matthew Hurd, $172,000.
ELLEN DRIVE 3917: Harold M. Morgan Jr. to Rosa I Hurlston, $312,500.
LEE ST. 1229: Celene Juge to Van T. B. Nguyen, $235,000.
MARISHA COURT 2709: Henry J. Thompson III to Carlius M. Lemon, $143,000.
PHIL LANE 2737: Shana H. B. Jimenez to Preston R. Bodden Sr., donation, no value stated.
SANTA MARIA DRIVE 1149: Dionne E. C. Duncan to Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC, $50.
SIEGLINDE CT 2804: Mallorie R. Berthelot to Vanessa N. Richardson, $215,000.
TERRYTOWN
E. LEXINGTON AVE. 956: Richard P. Berry to Daniel E. Bosse, $295,000.
WESTWEGO
AVE. A 722: Tina M. Gautreaux to Kelvin E. S. Castillo, $115,000. RIVER ROAD 6423: Larry J. Barrios Jr. to Charley E. Baker IV, $200,000.
REALESTATETRANSFERS
ST. TAMMANy
n TRANSFERS FOR FEB. 12-18
ABITA SPRINGS
ALLEN ROAD 73367: $62,500, Karol S. Byrd to Down the Stretch LLC.
HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES, LOT 13, SQUARE 4: $8,500, Cecelia Guenther to Andrew Brewer.
LITOLFF SUBDIVISION, LOTS 6B, 6C, SQUARE 12: $80,000, KG Land Co. LLC to Treadaway Properties LLC.
MIRE DRIVE 21442: $290,000, Albert D. Giraud and Minette M. Giraud to Matthew Daniel and Sherry Crain.
NATHANVILLE SUBDIVISION, LOTS 16, 17, SQUARE 7: $3,275, Succession of James Albert Burlet to Eduardo Herrera Jr. and Jacqueline K. Dufrene.
ST. JOSEPH ST. 71458: $415,000, Christina G. Goodman to Michael J. Ragan.
TOWN OF ABITA SPRINGS, LOT 2: donation, no value stated, Kyle Jackson to Jamie Lee Jackson.
COVINGTON
BARRINGTON DRIVE 1248: $315,225, DSLD Homes LLC to Colter Lakes and Jamie Hoffman Lakes.
E. FOURTH AVE. 210: $289,000, Emilio S. Tesei Jr. and Kare R. Tesei to Gary J. Darling and Angele J. Darling.
JIM SHARP ROAD 81183: $425,000, Travis Pruitt to Patrick Coyne and Bridgette Coyne.
LA. 437 85207: $375,000, Jimmy L. Corne to Aaron T. Manaseri and Eleanora J. Manaseri.
LAKE TAHOE DRIVE 14336: $319,000, GloriaBelle LLC to Christopher C. Ponthieux.
LARK LANE 80491: $340,000, Justin P. Oalmann and Brittany Gaudet Oalmann to Aaron Deville.
LOCKWOOD ST. 416: $730,000, Robert Pellegrin and Alicia Isaac Pellegrin to Joshua T. Fouquet and Marcella B. Fouquet.
MARGARET DRIVE 1309: $379,900, Danny P. Thibodeaux to Corey J. Scott.
MILITARY HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, LOT 21: donation, no value stated, Sherry L. Kenney to Clayton T. Pruitt and Katherine P. Pruitt.
N. CORNICHE DU LAC 568: $780,000, Gaunt Contracting LLC to Anwantbir S. Chawla and Satinder K. Chawla.
NEAR COVINGTON, PORTION OF GROUND: no value stated, VRM Enterprises LLC to Virgil Ray
Magruder Jr. RIVER FOREST SUBDIVISION, LOT 1, SQUARE 3: $43,000, Gary G. Mott Jr. and Donna M. DiTullio Mott to Robert F. Peatross and Jane H. Peatross.
SIXTH ST. 70424: $218,000, David Paul Cross to Jared J. Braggs and Erin F. Mayeaux Braggs.
SIXTH ST. 70502: $214,900, Habitat For Humanity St. Tammany West Inc. to Yakira A. Evans.
SMITH ROAD BRIDGE, PORTION OF GROUND: $2,687, Joseph A. Mistich and Sandra S. Mistich to St. Tammany Parish.
SMITH ROAD, PORTION OF GROUND: $11,780, Alfred H. Gahn and Karen F. Gahn to St. Tammay Parish.
SUNSET DRIVE 72437: $100,000, Terence J. Maderson and Barbara Jo Fisk Maderson to Michael J. Houser.
TAULLA DRIVE 68231: $600,000, Conbeth Revisited LLC to Amor Fati.
TCHEFUNCTE DRIVE 15257:
$299,000, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust to Anthony R. Babin.
FOLSOM
KEENELAND PLACE LOOP 148:
$312,500, SACC Premier Builders LLC to Joshua Malant and Zoe Steed Malant.
NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: $168,000, E Bar W Ranch LLC to Gilbert M. Garcia Jr. and Carol Desselle Garcia.
NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: donation, no value stated, Michel N. Ball to Fernanda Martin Ball.
TOWN OF FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: $123,000, Madelyn Carroll to Ram Folsom Properties LLC.
LACOMBE
BRIER LAKE ESTATES, LOT 24B, SQUARE 3: $389,000, Daniel W. McKenney III and Kathryn P. McKenney to Jorge Lopez and Jackie R. Burnaman.
N. PONTCHARTRAIN DRIVE 61150: $88,500, Andres O. Alvarado and Virginia Jahuey-Ramirez to Patti Fussell.
ROWLEY DRIVE 30784: $264,660, DSLD Homes LLC to Drew Kennedy and Calah Kennedy
ROWLEY DRIVE 30841: $242,200, DSLD Homes LLC to Madelyn Roland.
U.S. 190 28517, 28525: $215,000, Donald P. Flettrich III, John L. Flettrich, Lisa M. Flettrich, Lori A. Flettrich and Leonard G. Flettrich to Diane Carney
MADISONVILLE
FOX BRANCH CROSSING 633:
$445,000, Jason K. Ballinger and Michelle D. Ballinger to Mantz C. Sussky Jr. and Valarie O. Sussky.
N. BROWN THRASHER LOOP 613: donation, no value stated, Dana G. Mitchell Strain to Grady L. Strain Jr.
PENCARROW CIRCLE 336:
$735,000, Cindy Lynne Parden to Harold N. Piper III and Jessica Clark Piper.
PERRILLOUX ROAD 199: $635,000, Jeffrey P. Chauvin and Gina L. Chauvin to Jaired J. Shaw and Traci M. Dillon-Shaw.
SAFFLOWER COURT 1137: $479,000, Integrity Builders Inc. to Chad E. Ezzell and Maureen C. Ezzell.
SECRETARIAT DRIVE 215:
$310,000, Anthony J. Blankenship to Jeffrey P. Chauvin and Gina
Lorino Chauvin.
SHADY LANE 702: $324,900, Christopher J. Cronin and Jessica A. Rinaldo Cronin to David A. Soregaroli and Sarah M. Soregaroli.
SWEET PEA COURT 1612: $587,000, Integrity Builders Inc. to Joshua K. Stroud and Denise W. Stroud.
TOWN OF MADISONVILLE, LOT 1A: $115,000, Tyler R. Kimble and Keegan Shaw Kimble to Scott Lenyo and Darleen Dauenhauer Lenyo.
MANDEVILLE
BEAU CHENE DRIVE 946: $608,000, Steven S. Simpson and Olivia L. Hill Simpson to Cassandra L. Bergeson.
CHASSE PLACE 102: $700,000, Carl E. Lowder Jr. and Theresa G. Lowder to Anthony Occhipinti
and Laurie Occhipinti.
CHERRY CREEK DRIVE 129: $400,000, Succession of Louis Pierre Theriot III and Muriel Zimmer Theriot to Susan Rhodes Murphy.
DELTA DRIVE 212: $585,000, Linda Lea Martin Songy to Hunter A. Simpson and Jasmin Mimi Hoang Simpson.
FRANKLIN ST. 1326: $185,000, Raybourne M. Reynolds Jr. to Chase E. Penton.
GRAND CHENIERE DRIVE 111: $435,000, Beier Property Management LLC to Ann K. Pobanz revocable trust.
HIGHLAND DRIVE 236: $369,900, Jill A. Dupont to Varnitta L. Davis. N. CAUSEWAY BLVD. 2111: $800,000, Sushurata Partners LLC ä See TAMMANY, page 22
Bullying neighbor is making home life miserable
Dear Annie: I moved into my bungalow six months ago. My new neighbor, we’ll call him “Jeremy,” who I share a very thin party wall with, seemed friendly at first — in fact, overly so.
He called first thing every morning — up to eight times a day — mainly to see if I was going out that day so he could pester me to bring things back for him, often without paying for them. In truth, he intimidated me, and I tried to be kind. When he couldn’t get my
TAMMANY
Continued from page 21
to LMBD Properties LLC.
NEAR MANDEVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: donation, no value stated, Lonnie A. Lambert to Gene J. Lambert.
ST. JAMES CONDOMINIUM NO. 1, UNIT 428: $145,000, Charlene J. Adams to Evan M. Gibson.
VINE COURT 301: $477,000, Keith J. Farrell and Julie Schlachter Farrell to Kelley Porter.
PEARL RIVER
ALTON SUBDIVISION, LOTS 2, 3, SQUARE 9: donation, no value
attention, he’d bang on the wall. I gave him meals, but he constantly pestered me for bread, milk, coffee and tea, none of which he would ever return He had a mold problem, and I felt sorry for him, so I bought him a new bed and bedding for $800. At Christmas, I gave him $400, suggesting he could repay me by cutting my grass over the year.
He’s abrasive, shouting obscenities at neighbors.
He started picking on me for being moderately overweight. When it escalated, I texted him, telling him if he couldn’t say anything nice to say nothing at all. And I blocked him
stated, Albert Q. Farrier III to Albert Quinn White PONDEROSA RANCHES SUBDIVISION, PHASE 4, LOT 53: $59,500, Joseph M. Larocca Jr. and Kelli D. Larocca to Ryan W. Welch.
SIXTH WARD
NEAR SIXTH WARD, PORTION OF GROUND: donation, no value stated, Norman Dennis Blackwell to Donna Lynn Kellar.
SLIDELL
AVERY ESTATES, PLOT 9: $26,000, Carol Ann Darby to St. Tammany Parish.
AVERY ESTATES, LOT 3: $35,000, Louis S. Prokop and Betty Jean Lundberg Prokop to St. Tammany
Now, he screams insults at me through the wall.
I called my housing association, and they told me to record him.
The problem is, his outbursts are short and unpredictable. He probably knows that by the time I press record, it will be too late to catch him. Worse, if the association got involved, I fear he’d do damage to me, my cat or my property I have mental health issues myself — bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — and am being assessed for autism.
Jeremy is causing me a lot of stress, and I’m starting to have thoughts of self-harm. I really can’t afford to move
Parish.
BIRDIE STREET, LOT 17, SQUARE 18: $15,000, Cherland LLC to Bobby T. Foster and Marian S Foster.
BLUEBIRD ST. 2506: $120,175, Loandepot.com LLC to LeBoeuf Property Investments LLC.
BYPASS BREEZE DRIVE 5308: $298,000, D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf Coast to Brooke D. Scott.
CAREY ST. 2613: $375,000, Justin G. Amacker and Jessica R. Fawer Amacker to Avery Goff and Ericka Asante Goff.
CHESHIRE COURT 1802: $100,341, Joi Laval Argeyo to Hardt Investments LLC.
CLEARPOINT DRIVE 5221: $244,500, William Babineaux, Kevin J. Brown, Lori T. Brown,
and don’t know what to do. — Trapped and Terrified Dear Trapped: I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Jeremy’s behavior is flat-out harassment and would be absolutely unacceptable anywhere; the fact you’re enduring it in your own home — a place that should be a safe haven — is heartbreaking. If you haven’t already, start documenting any and all of Jeremy’s abusive behavior Even if you’re not able to get it recorded, start logging it. If any of your neighbors can corroborate these incidents, all the better If your housing association won’t evict Jeremy or intervene, they should at least be able to take
William Babineaux and Ricky J. Brown to Erien Lennix.
DOWNEY ROAD 42128: $36,000, Jesse W. Alvarez and Charlotte Beasley Willis Alvarez to Dallas S. McClanahan and Tiffany M. Stire McClanahan.
E. LAKESHORE VILLAGE DRIVE
319: $226,240, D. R. Horton Inc.Gulf Coast to Kacey G. Stampley.
EFFIE ST. 3033: $152,500, Jack A. Kellum and Marie L. GuthibKellum to J’Remi Barnes.
HARBOR COVE 12: $59,500, Thomas E. Jackson and Juanita N. Jackson to Rodriguez Three LLC.
JEFFERSON AVE. 110, UNIT 22:
a formal complaint from you. Should his behavior escalate to anything physically violent, destructive to your property, etc., do not hesitate to contact police. If moving is truly not an option, I highly encourage you to seek support from a therapist and to lean on your loved ones. Coupled with the mental health issues you’re already facing, I imagine it’s easy to feel alone and isolated — but you aren’t. You deserve to live a happy, peaceful life, and there is support out there to help you make that happen.
Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.
$85,000, Michael C. Hulse to Bonnie L. Cure.
LEGENDRE DRIVE 605: $470,000, Christopher J. Dyer and Sheree L. Dyer to Robert Marvin and Sonia Marvin.
MAGNOLIA ST. 508: $22,000, Eminent Investment Group LLC to Manalla Construction LLC.
MARINA VILLA 4101: donation, no value stated, Hung Q. Vu to Hung Q. Vu and Han Bao Vu revocable living trust.
PEACHTREE ST. 3605: $225,000, Patrick J. Bull to Angel Cosme Jr. and Charity Cosme.
PONTCHARTRAIN DRIVE 4700, UNIT A: $252,000, Sharon Lavonne Garland to Michael D Provenzano and Debra L. Jones Provenzano.
RICHARDS DRIVE 519: $28,000, Tata’s Blues & Barbeque LLC to St. Tammany Parish Government.
SEAGULL CIRCLE 3854: $199,900, D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf Coast to Jasmine N. Carrasco.
SPARTAN LOOP 201: $255,000, Tommie Powell III to Jamaya Nakita Johnson.
SPRING DRIVE 59450: $245,000, Kirk D. Marshall to Alyssa M. Vogel.
STERLING OAKS BLVD. 1026: $281,000, Canaan LLC to Siegfried K. Kamga and Becky A. Kamga.
WALNUT ST. 1066: $23,000, Douglas M. Cruz-Majano and Wendy S. Espinoza-Morales to Manalla Construction LLC.
WHITEHALL DRIVE 131: donation, no value stated, Jeffrey N. Hardy revocable trust to Jeffrey N. Hardy and Josetta Hardy
Annie Lane
DEAR ANNIE
By The Associated Press
Today is Saturday, March 8, the 67th day of 2025. There are 298 days left in the year.
Today in history
On March 8, 1965, the United States landed its first combat troops in South Vietnam as 3,500 Marines arrived to defend the U.S. air base at Da Nang.
On this date:
In 1917, protests against food rationing broke out in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), triggering eight days of rioting that resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the end of the Russian monarchy.
In 1948, the Supreme Court, in McCollum v. Board of Education, struck down religious education classes during school hours in Champaign, Illinois, public schools, saying the program violated separation of church and state.
In 1983, in a speech to the National Association of Evangelicals convention in Orlando, Florida, President Ronald Reagan referred to the Soviet Union as an “evil empire.”
In 1988, 17 soldiers were killed when two Army helicopters from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, collided in midflight during a night training mission.
In 2008, President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have banned the CIA from using simulated drowning and other coercive interrogation methods to gain information from suspected terrorists.
In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 with 239 people on board, vanished during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, setting off a massive and ultimately unsuccessful search
Today’s birthdays: Author John McPhee is 94. Songwriter Carole Bayer Sager is 81. Actormusician Micky Dolenz (The Monkees) is 80. Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice is 72. Singer Gary Numan is 67. TV journalist Lester Holt is 66. Actor Aidan Quinn is 66. Actor Camryn Manheim is 64. Actor Freddie Prinze Jr is 49. Actor James Van Der Beek is 48. Songwriter-producer Benny Blanco is 37. Tennis player Petra Kvitová is 35. Actor Montana Jordan is 22. Actor Kit Connor is 21.
Pritzker-winning architect an advocate for ordinary citizens
BY JOCELYN NOVECK AP national writer
The annual Pritzker Architecture Prize was awarded to Liu Jiakun, of China, who earned the field’s highest honor for “affirming architecture that celebrates the lives of ordinary citizens,” organizers announced recently.
Liu, 68, becomes the 54th laureate of the prize, considered akin to a Nobel in the field of architecture In an interview with The Associated Press in his office in Chengdu in China’s southwestern Sichuan region, the architect said he had a simple definition of his profession:
“To simplify, the task of architects is to provide a better living environment for human beings,” he said, speaking in Mandarin. “First of all, you do something that is functional But if it is just like that, it cannot be called architecture. (So) you have to provide poetry.”
Liu is known for creating public areas in highly populated cities where there is little public space, “forging a positive relationship between density and open space,” a Pritzker statement said.
The architect “upholds the transcendent power of the built environment through the harmonizing of cultural, historical, emotional and social dimensions, using architecture to forge community, inspire compassion and elevate the human spirit,” the statement said.
Liu Jiakun, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, designed West Village, a block-long, five-story project in Chengdu in southwestern China’s Sichuan province that includes a perimeter of pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.
Among his 30 or so projects, which range from academic institutions to commercial buildings to civic spaces, organizers cited in particular his 2015 West Village in Chengdu, which spans a block. The fivestory project includes a perimeter of pathways for cyclists and pedestrians around “its own vibrant city of cultural, athletic, recreational, office and business activities within, while allowing the public to view through to the surrounding natural and built environments.”
They also noted the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Department of Sculpture in Chongqing, which they said displays an alternate solution to maximizing space, “with upper levels
ology and strategy to adapt to local conditions. I like to fully understand the place, and then look for resources, problems … and then distill and refine, and finally turn (this) into my work.”
Liu also said he tries to balance his country’s artistic and architectural heritage with the realities of modern technology.
“I think China’s traditional architecture is of course brilliant and very classic,” he said, “but it is a product of its time.”
protruding outward to extend the square footage of a narrow footprint.”
Liu, who established his practice, Jiakun Architects, in 1999, said he does not like to have a strongly recognizable visual style. Rather, Liu said, he pays more attention to method and strategy.
“Many architects use a strong personal style and form to gain a foothold in the world,” Liu said. “No matter where it is, people can tell immediately that it is his or her work with a very strong symbolism. But I am not such a kind of architect.
“I take a more methodological and strategic approach. I hope that when I go to a specific place, I can use my method-
He said he hopes to deeply understand “the thematic part of tradition that can survive,” and then express it with contemporary technology and language. In that way, he said, “tradition can be used as a core but the presentation of your work is contemporary.”
Liu said he also seeks to balance commercial imperatives with civic concerns.
“The rapid development of cities nowadays is basically driven by capital. It is natural for capital to pursue profits,” he said. But he added: “You have to leave the public the space they deserve. Only in this way can the development of a city be positive and healthy, rather than being completely high-density, where people live in drawers and boxes … without even a place to go and no space for communication.”
AP senior video producer Wayne Zhang contributed from Chengdu, China.
