A colossal Louisiana legal showdown began this week in a Plaquemines Parish courtroom, as attorney John Carmouche, who has led a statewide fight to make the energy industry pay for damage to coastal wetlands, squared off against oil companies in the first of more than three dozen landmark lawsuits to go to trial.
The case, Plaquemines Parish v. Rozel, filed in 25th Judicial District Court, centers on claims that Texaco, an oil company now owned by Chevron, discharged pollutants into wetlands near Bayou Gentilly over more than half a century, and broke other state laws and permitting rules that led to land loss and other environmental issues The company has said it complied with all applicable regulations.
Street tumbles
Uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs, trade war fuels decline
BY STAN CHOE
Press
Thursday after President Donald Trump’s
lating trade war dragged the S&P
more than 10% below its record, which was set just last month. A 10% drop is a big enough deal that professional investors have a name for it — a “correction” — and the S&P 500’s 1.4% slide on Thursday sent the index to its first since 2023. The losses came after Trump upped the stakes in his trade war by threatening huge taxes on European wines and alcohol. Not even a double shot of good news on the U.S. economy could stop the bleeding.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 537 points, or 1.3% Thursday, and the Nasdaq composite fell 2%.
into disarray.
In opening statements Thursday, Carmouche argued before the jury of six men and six women that the oil company had knowingly caused
The trial has taken on outsize importance. If the parish prevails, the resulting damages and required coastal reconstruction would likely serve as a model for the 40 additional lawsuits Carmouche has filed on behalf of Plaquemines and five other coastal parishes — which could reach into the billions of dollars. If the oil companies win, it could raise doubts about how other cases may fare in front of juries and make lower settlements or no settlements — more likely Carmouche’s team is asking for more than $3 billion in damages from Chevron in the trial that’s now underway Those funds would by law have to be used to restore the damaged area. Payouts to attorneys could be substantial as well.
BY SAM KARLIN Staff
ä See SUIT, page 9A
The dizzying, battering swings for stocks have been coming not just day to day but also hour to hour, and the Dow hurtled between a slight gain and a drop of 689 points on Thursday
The turbulence is a result of uncertainty about how much pain Trump will let the economy endure through tariffs and other policies in order to reshape the country and world as he wants. The president has said he wants manufacturing jobs back in the United States, along with a smaller U.S. government workforce and other fundamental changes.
Trump’s latest escalation came Thursday when he threatened 200% tariffs on Champagne and other European wines, unless the European Union rolls back a “nasty” tariff announced on U.S. whiskey The European Union unveiled that move on Wednesday in response to U.S. tariffs on European steel and aluminum.
U.S. households and businesses have already reported drops in confidence because of all the uncertainty about which tariffs will stick from Trump’s barrage of on-again, off-again announcements. That’s raised fears about a pullback in spending that could sap energy from the economy Some U.S. businesses say they’ve already begun to see a change in their customers’ behavior because of the uncertainty
A particularly feared scenario for the economy
‘His death will not provide closure’
As inmate’s execution day nears, victim’s husband torn over process
BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer
It’s been nearly 30 years since a duck hunter found his wife Molly shot dead and naked on Thanksgiving Day by the Middle Pearl River Andy Elliott says he isn’t sure now if he wants her killer, Jessie Hoffman Jr to be executed on Tuesday, as the state has planned, or to die in prison. But the March 18 date that a St. Tammany Parish judge has set for Hoffman to become the first death row inmate to be executed in Louisiana by nitrogen gas has filled the family with dread, forced to reckon with their feelings under
a media glare, Elliott wrote in a statement late Wednesday
“There is something about knowing it could actually finally happen that has forced all of us to relive the past tragedy and re-examine our true feelings,” Elliott wrote.
“The reality is this: after this much time passing, I’ve become indifferent to the death penalty vs. life in prison without possibility of parole. However, I’m not indifferent to the uncertainty that has accompanied these many years. If putting him to death is the easiest way to end the uncertainty, then on balance I favor that solution. But, his death will not provide closure.
“Anyone who has experienced a tragedy of this magnitude will recognize the absolute truth — Molly’s and my families and friends lost a great human being to a senseless series of crimes, the reasons for which we still don’t know The
ä See CLOSURE, page 7A
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MATTHEW HINTON
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
Attorney John Carmouche, center, walks to the Plaquemines Parish Courthouse in Pointe à la Hache on Tuesday.
Democrat Raúl Grijalva, of Arizona, 77, dies
WASHINGTON Democratic U.S.
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, of Arizona, who championed environmental protection during his 12 terms in Congress, died Thursday of complications from cancer treatments, his office said Grijalva, 77, had been absent from Congress as he underwent cancer treatment in months.
Grijalva, son of a can immigran was first elected to the House 2002. Know a liberal leader, he dedicated much of his career to working on environmental causes on the Natural Resources Committee. He stepped down from that position this year, after announcing that he planned to retire rather than run for reelection in 2026.
Senate Democrats under pressure
Deadline looms for Republican-led government funding bill
BY LISA MASCARO AP congressional correspondent
WASHINGTON Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer relented Thursday rather than risk a government shutdown, announcing he’s ready to start the process of considering a Republican-led government funding bill that has fiercely divided Democrats under pressure to impose limits on the Trump administration.
Schumer, D-N.Y., told Democrats privately during a spirited closeddoor lunch and then made public remarks ahead of voting Friday, which will be hours before the midnight deadline to keep government running. The New York senator said as bad as the GOP bill is, a shutdown would be worse, giving President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk “carte blanche” as they tear through the government.
“Trump has taken a blowtorch
to our country and wielded chaos like a weapon,” Schumer said. “For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift. It would be the best distraction he could ask for from his awful agenda.”
president also began casting blame on Democrats for any potential disruptions, saying during an Oval Office meeting, “If it shuts down, it’s not the Republicans’ fault.”
crats to fish or cut bait.”
During his time in Congress, Grijalva championed protections for endangered species and wilderness areas, as well as stronger regulations on the oil and natural gas industries. He played a key role in writing the National Landscape Conservation System Act and the Federal Lands Restoration Act, which were passed and signed by President Barack Obama.
Father gets 13 years for shooting football coach
ST LOUIS A father in Missouri was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Thursday for shooting and wounding a St. Louis youth football coach over his son’s playing time while 9- and 10-year-olds practiced nearby.
A jury found Daryl Clemmons, 45, guilty last month of assault and armed criminal action in the October 2023 shooting of Shaquille Latimore, a volunteer coach for the City Rec Legends Football League. He was hospitalized in critical condition but survived.
Both men were armed. According to prosecutors, the coach handed his gun to a friend and told Clemmons they should fight with fists. Clemmons rejected that idea and shot Latimore five times. The father fled but turned himself in to police later that evening.
The team was then suspended over what St. Louis officials described as “a series of incidents perpetuated by adults” that culminated in the shooting near a practice field in Sherman Park
The defense argued that the shooting was in self defense and filed a motion for a new trial.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s
Office said the two men were at odds over the amount of playing time Clemmons’s son had been getting.
States sue to block Education Dept. layoffs
WASHINGTON A coalition of Democratic-led states is challenging the Trump administration’s sweeping layoffs across the Education Department, saying it amounts to an illegal dismantling of an agency created by Congress.
In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Massachusetts, 20 states and Washington, D.C., say the layoffs are so severe that the department “can no longer function, and cannot comply with its statutory requirements.”
It alleges the cuts will result in a loss or delay of federal money for public schools, and will leave the agency unable to administer college financial aid or enforce civil rights laws at schools, among other disruptions
The department has insisted previously it will continue to deliver on its statutory obligations, despite the cuts.
Some Education Department employees have left through buyout offers and the termination of probationary employees.
After a layoff of 1,300 people announced Tuesday the department will sit at roughly half the 4,100 it had when President Donald Trump took office. Trump has repeatedly said he wants the agency shut down, calling it wasteful and overly influenced by liberal thinking
The suit says only Congress has the power to close the department or dismantle its core work.
The move by Schumer brings a potential resolution to what has been a dayslong standoff. Senate Democrats have mounted a lastditch protest over the package, which already passed the House but without slapping any limits they were demanding on Trump and billionaire Musk’s efforts to gut federal operations.
The Democrats are under intense pressure to do whatever they can to stop the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency which is taking a wrecking ball to long-established government agencies and purging thousands of federal workers from jobs.
Trump himself offered to wade in Thursday to negotiate: “If they need me, I’m there 100%.” But the
Democrats are pushing a stopgap 30-day funding bill as an alternative. But Schumer said Republicans rejected that offer And while Democrats were split over strategy, they worried about the further chaos they say Trump and Musk could cause if government was shut down.
Schumer told Democrats at a spirited closed-door lunch that he would be voting to proceed to the bill. His comments, first reported by The New York Times, were confirmed by two people familiar with the matter and granted anonymity to discuss it.
As the Senate opened Thursday, with one day to go before Friday’s midnight deadline, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, “It’s time for Demo-
Jewish protesters flood Trump Tower’s lobby
Group demands release of pro-Palestinian activist
BY CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated Press
NEW YORK Demonstrators from a Jewish group filled the lobby of Trump Tower on Thursday to denounce the immigration arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist who helped lead protests against Israel at Columbia University.
The demonstrators from Jewish Voice for Peace wore red shirts reading “Jews say stop arming Israel” and held up banners as they chanted “Bring Mahmoud home now!” on the lower level of the Fifth Avenue building’s public atrium.
After warning the protesters to leave, police said they arrested 98 people who stayed on various charges, including trespassing, obstruction and resisting arrest Khalil, a 30-year-old permanent U.S. resident who is married to an American citizen and who hasn’t been charged with breaking any laws, was arrested outside his New York City apartment Saturday and faces deportation. He’s being held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana.
President Donald Trump has said Khalil’s arrest was the first “of many to come” and vowed on social media to deport students who he said engage in
“pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.” The White House didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment about the Trump Tower demonstration.
Founded in 1996, Jewish Voice for Peace describes itself as a grassroots movement of American Jews seeking to “end U.S. support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.” It is one of a number of Jewish groups around the world advocating for the rights of Palestinians.
Protester Sophie Edelhart, a Barnard graduate who studies Yiddish as part of a Ph.D. program in Canada, said the building — with its golden escalator that Trump rode before announcing his 2016 presidential run — was a symbolic target.
Trump Tower serves as headquarters for the Trump Organization and is where the president stays when he is in New York. The skyscraper often attracts demonstrations, both against and in support of its namesake, though protests inside are less common.
Khalil’s supporters say his arrest is an attack on free speech and have staged protests elsewhere in the city and around the country, including outside a Manhattan courthouse during a brief hearing on his case Wednesday
Khalil whose wife is pregnant with their first child, finished his requirements for a Columbia master’s degree in December
Columbia University says it expelled some students who seized building
BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press
NEW YORK Columbia University says it has expelled or suspended some students who took over a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring, and had temporarily revoked the diplomas of some students who have since graduated. In a campuswide email sent Thursday the university said its judicial board had issued its sanctions against dozens of students who occupied Hamilton Hall based on its “evaluation of the severity of be-
haviors.”
The university did not provide a breakdown of how many students were expelled, suspended or had their degree revoked.
The takeover of Hamilton Hall came on April 30, 2024, an escalation led by a smaller group of students of the tent encampment that had sprung up on Columbia’s campus against the war in Gaza. Students and their allies barricaded themselves inside the hall with furniture and padlocks in a major escalation of campus protests. At the request of university leaders, hundreds
of officers with the New York Police Department stormed onto campus the following night. Officers carrying zip ties and riot shields poured in to the occupied building through a window and arrested dozens of people.
In June, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it would not pursue criminal charges for 31 of the 46 people initially arrested on trespassing charges inside the administration building — but all of the students still faced disciplinary hearings and possible expulsion from the university
Debates over funding the federal government routinely erupt in deadline moments, but this year it’s showing the political leverage of Republicans, newly in majority control of the White House and Congress, and the shortcomings of Democrats, who are finding themselves unable to stop the Trump administration’s march across federal operations.
House Republicans stuck together to pass their bill, with many conservatives cheering the DOGE cuts leaving Democrats sidelined as they stood opposed. The House then left town, sending it to the Senate for final action.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and would need Democrats to support the package to reach the 60-vote threshold, which is required to overcome a filibuster
Over the next 24 hours, Democrats face this choice: Provide the votes needed to advance the package, which funds government operations through the end of September, or risk a shutdown.
Egyptian wrestler sets 3 world records
He can pull a train with his teeth
BY MOHAMED SALAH and FATMA KHALED Associated Press
CAIRO Pulling a train by the strength of your teeth is no easy task. But for Egyptian wrestler Ashraf Mahrous, also known by his nickname Kabonga, it’s just one of several things he can do to show off his astonishing strength. Mahrous this week received formal recognition by the Guinness World Records in three categories, including the heaviest rail pull using only his teeth
His two other certificates are for the heaviest locomotive pull and for the fastest 100-meter road vehicle pull. He said he pulled the twoton locomotive in under 40 seconds.
On Thursday, crowds gathered at the Ramses train station in downtown Cairo to watch and cheer him on as he pulled a train — weighing 279 tons — with a rope held by his teeth for a distance of nearly 33 feet. He then repeated the feat, pulling the train with the strap around his shoulders to cheering spectators. Mahrous, who is in his 40s and also is president of the Egyptian Federation for Professional Wrestlers, was previously recognized for cracking and eating 11 raw eggs in 30 seconds in February 2024.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA
Demonstrators from the group Jewish Voice for Peace protest inside Trump Tower in support of Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil on Thursday in New york.
AP PHOTO By AMR NABIL Egyptian wrestler Ashraf Mahrous pulls a train for nearly 33 feet at Ramses Station in
Weldon nomination yanked amid vaccine concerns
BY LIA DEGROOT and JESSIE HELLMANN CQ-Roll Call (TNS)
WASHINGTON The abrupt White House decision Thursday to withdraw former Republican Rep. Dave Weldon’s nomination to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes amid questions surrounding the agency, including its handling of a growing measles outbreak and reports that it will study debunked theories linking autism to childhood vaccines.
Lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s actions on comments on vaccines since getting confirmed, which likely complicated Weldon’s path to confirmation. Kennedy and Weldon had been close since Weldon, a former House lawmaker from Florida, left office.
The decision to withdraw Weldon’s nomination hours before he was scheduled to face the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions panel for his confirmation
BY ISABELLA O’MALLEY Associated Press
More than 100 million people in the U.S. will be in the path of an intense March storm starting Friday as the sprawling multiday system threatens fires, blizzards, tornadoes, and flooding as it tracks eastward across the Great Plains. Scientists said the storm’s strength and potential for far-reaching impacts is notable, but its timing isn’t particularly unusual. Extreme weather can pop up in spring because storms feed on big temperature differences between the warmth that’s starting to show up and the lingering chill of winter “If there’s a time of the year where a storm like
hearing appeared to stun Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., second in seniority on the panel. He told reporters he had no knowledge of the decision.
But Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said Thursday she wasn’t surprised the White House withdrew the nomination, saying she had shared her concerns about him to the White House.
Weldon’s comments that staff said he was anti-vaccine. On Thursday, Collins said the news of Weldon’s nomination “came as a surprise to me.”
She said she did not express concerns to the White House.
“I had some reservations, but I certainly had not reached a final judgment,” she said.
anti-vaccine movement.
Pushback from Cassidy
The renewed focus on the debunked link between vaccines and autism by Kennedy has frustrated Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidey, R-Baton Rouge, a physician who has pressed multiple health nominees on the issue.
would have been too much,” Cassidy said in a statement.
‘Big Pharma didn’t want me’
Public health experts have warned Weldon would be a dangerous pick to lead the agency given his past comments about vaccines.
under fire for linking the outbreaks to poor diet and health while promoting cod liver oil as a treatment.
In a statement, Weldon, a physician, said Sen. Susan Collins, RMaine, had ex p ressed reservations about his nomination, and her staff accused him of being antivaccine.
“I reminded them that I actually give hundreds of vaccines every year in my medical practice,” Weldon said in a statement. “More than twenty years ago, while in Congress I raised some concerns about childhood vaccine safety, and for some reason Collins staff suddenly couldn’t get over that no matter what I said back.”
A Collins aide disputed
this can deliver these coastto-coast impacts, we are in it,” said Benjamin Reppert, meteorologist at Penn State University
The National Weather Service forecast strong winds stretching Friday from the Canadian border to the Rio Grande, with gusts up to 80 mph, which creates a significant fire risk in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Meanwhile, a winter blast was expected farther north in parts of the Rockies and Northern Plains, with possible blizzard conditions in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The central region from the Gulf Coast to Wisconsin is at risk of severe thunderstorms that could spawn tornadoes and hail On Saturday, severe storms are
A person familiar with a recent meeting between Weldon and aides to Republican members on the HELP panel also disputed Weldon’s characterizations of his interactions with congressional staff.
Weldon appeared unprepared for the meeting, stating that he did not have a strategic plan for running the CDC and had been busy working on transitioning his medical practice, the source said.
In Weldon’s four-page statement, which was sent to the New York Times, Weldon defended his background on vaccines, but also defended Andrew Wakefield, the discredited anti-vaccine advocate whose papers linking vaccines with autism was retracted from journals, but not before it helped spark an
forecast to move toward Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and then into Florida. Potential flooding was a concern from the Central Gulf Coast through the upper Ohio Valley Reppert noted that temperatures in the upper atmosphere in much of the central and eastern U.S. are close to record levels for this time of year, while a cool air mass behind the storm in the western states is one of the coolest on record for that region and this time of year He said that combination could be behind part of this storm’s expected strength.
Russ Schumacher a climatologist at Colorado State University, said the storm could become a bomb cyclone Friday afternoon or evening —
Administration asks court to partly allow birthright citizenship restrictions
BY MARK SHERMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
WASHINGTON
— The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to partly take effect while legal fights play out In emergency applications filed at the high court on Thursday, the administration asked the justices to narrow court orders entered by district judges in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington that blocked the order President Donald Trump signed shortly after beginning his second term. The order currently is blocked nationwide. Three federal appeals courts have rejected the administration’s pleas, including one in Massachusetts on Tuesday
The order would deny citizenship to those born after Feb. 19 whose parents are in the country illegally. It also forbids U.S. agencies from issuing any document or accepting any state document recognizing citizenship for such children. Roughly two dozen states, as well as several individuals and groups, have sued over the executive order, which they say violates the Constitution’s 14th Amendment promise of citizenship to anyone born inside the United States. The Justice Department argues that individual judges lack the power to give nationwide effect to their rulings. The administration instead wants the justices to allow the Trump’s plan to go into effect for everyone except the handful of people
and group that sued, arguing that the states lack the legal right, or standing, to challenge the executive order
As a fallback, the administration asked “at a minimum” to be allowed to make public announcements about how they plan to carry out the policy if it eventually is allowed to take effect.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris contends in her filing that Trump’s order is constitutional because the 14th amendment’s citizenship clause, properly read, “does not extend citizenship universally to everyone born in the United States.”
In all, five conservative justices, a majority of the court, have raised concerns in the past about nationwide, or universal, injunctions. But the court has never ruled on the matter
In the committee’s confirmation hearing with National Institutes of Health director nominee Jay Bhattacharya, Cassidy pressed him on whether he would expend federal resources studying what Cassidy described as a resolved question.
After the hearing, Reuters reported that the CDC in fact planned to study the link.
Weldon said Cassidy was also considering voting “no” and had asked for his nomination to be withdrawn.
But in a statement, Cassidy disputed that account. “I was looking forward to the hearing. I was surprised when Dr Weldon’s nomination was withdrawn. His poor response to this situation shows that the pressures of being CDC director
a designation given when a storm intensifies so rapidly that atmospheric pressure drops a certain amount in a 24-hour period. That would mean higher winds and more intense rainfall.
In addition to fuel from big temperature swings, the storm will be shaped by the jet stream. In a fairly typical position for this time of year, it’s diving south across the U.S. and will help lift air and moisture into the atmosphere to fall back as rain.
The storm also will tap into heat and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, also referred to as the Gulf of America as declared by President Donald Trump, which is 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than historic averages.
In his nearly 15-year tenure in the House, Weldon sought to remove vaccine safety research from the CDC’s domain. After he left, he became close with Kennedy, who reportedly put his name forward for the job, and continued promoting anti-vaccine theories.
Weldon’s nomination came as measles outbreaks grow across the U.S. The CDC is responsible for providing assistance to those outbreaks, including shipping vaccines to localities.
As of March 6, the CDC reported 222 measles cases from three outbreaks in 12 states. Kennedy has come
Weldon blamed “Big Pharma” for the withdrawal in the nomination, saying in a statement he would have investigated “why some kids have a bad reaction to the MMR,” or measles-mumpsrubella vaccine “Clearly, Big Pharma didn’t want me in the CDC investigating any of this,” Weldon said.
Weldon, who served in the House from 1995 through 2009, routinely questioned the links between vaccines and autism. He does not specialize in infectious diseases and has never formally worked in public health, having spent his career as a military doctor, internist and politician.
Weldon
Top diplomats from G7 countries meet in Canada
BY MATTHEW LEE AP diplomatic writer
LA MALBAIE,Canada Top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies gathered in Canada on Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policies have thrown the bloc’s once solid unity into disarray
The meeting began after Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on European wine and other alcohol if the European Union doesn’t back down from retaliating against U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs with a levy on American whiskey
The escalating trade war adds to uncertainty over relations between the U.S. and its closest allies, which have already been strained by Trump’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
It also likely means U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hear a litany of complaints as he meets with the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan over the next two days.
All of them have been angered by the new American president’s policies, and they smiled stiffly in frigid temperatures as they posed for a group photo at a snowy resort in La Malbaie, Quebec, on the St. Lawrence River
“Peace and stability is at the top of our agenda, and I look forward to discussing how we continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal aggression,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said. “Of course, we want to foster long-term stability as well in the Middle East.”
Rubio met earlier with Joly, arriving in Quebec late Wednesday just hours after Trump’s steel
Minister Antonio Tajani.
and aluminum tariffs kicked in — prompting responses from the European Union and Canada.
Canada won’t back down Joly, the host of the meeting, made clear that Canada, at least, would not back down. Trump has arguably been most antagonistic toward Canada with persistent talk of it becoming the 51st U.S. state, additional tariffs and repeated insults against its leadership.
Ahead of the talks, Joly said that “in every single meeting, I will raise the issue of tariffs to coordinate a response with the Europeans and to put pressure on the Americans.” She noted on Wednesday that Trump had “repeated his disrespectful 51st state rhetoric.” For his part, Trump doubled down on his anti-Canada rhetoric during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday with NATO chief Mark Rutte. “To be honest with you,
Canada only works as a state,”
Trump said before going on to say that he’s not going to change his mind on the tariffs he’s imposing on Canada. “We’ve been ripped off for years,” he said. “We’re not going to bend.” Rubio had downplayed Trump’s earlier comments, saying the president was only expressing what he thought would be a good idea. The G7 “is not a meeting about how we’re going to take over Canada,”
he said.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said G7 nations should avoid panic and posted a message of support for Canada on X, featuring a photo of her and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “We’ve got your back, @melaniejoly,” she wrote.
Rubio faces allies as tariffs start On tariffs, Rubio said G7 partners should understand that these are a “policy decision” by Trump to protect American competitiveness.
“I think it is quite possible that we could do these things and at the same time deal in a constructive way with our allies and friends and partners on all the other issues that we work together on,” Rubio told reporters Wednesday on a refueling stop in Ireland. “And that’s what I expect out of the G7 and Canada.”
Asked if he expected a difficult reception from his counterparts, Rubio brushed the question aside: “I don’t know, should I be? I mean, they’ve invited us to come. We intend to go. The alternative is to not go. I think that would actually make things worse, not better.” Rubio notably skipped a meeting of G20 foreign ministers — a bigger but less powerful group that includes developing nations last month in South Africa because of his concerns that the agenda, which included climate change and diversity, did not align with Trump administration policies. The agenda for the G7 meeting includes discussions on China and the Indo-Pacific; Ukraine and Europe; stability in the Americas; the Middle East; maritime security; Africa; and China, North Korea, Iran and Russia.
Putin agrees in principle with proposal for Ukraine ceasefire
Russian president says ‘issues’ need to be discussed
By The Associated Press
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with a U.S proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but he emphasized that the terms are yet to be worked out and noted that any truce should pave the way to lasting peace.
“The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin told a news conference in Moscow “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk about it with our American colleagues and partners
and, perhaps, have a call with President Trump and discuss it with him.”
President Donald Trump said there have been “good signals” coming out of Russia and offered guarded optimism about Putin’s statement. He reiterated that he’s ready to speak with Putin and underscored that it was time to end the war Putin “put out a very promising statement, but it wasn’t complete,” Trump said Thursday at a start of a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte “Now we’re going to see whether or not Russia’s there. And if they’re not, it’ll be a very disappointing moment for the world.”
Putin, who launched the full-scale invasion of
and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Putin said.
The Russian leader made the remarks just hours after the arrival of Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow for talks on the ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted.
The diplomatic effort coincided with a Russian claim that its troops have driven the Ukrainian army out of a key town in Russia’s Kursk border region, where Moscow has been trying for seven months to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their foothold.
this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said Thursday in his nightly address to the nation.
Ukraine more than three years ago, noted the need to control possible breaches of the truce and signaled that Russia would seek guarantees that Ukraine would not use the break in hostilities to
rearm and continue mobilization.
“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin is “essentially preparing to reject” the ceasefire.
Putin “is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue
“That is why, in Moscow, they are surrounding the idea of a ceasefire with such preconditions that nothing will come of it — or at least, it will be delayed as long as possible.” Putin said it appeared that the U.S. persuaded Ukraine to accept a ceasefire and that Ukraine is interested because of the battlefield situation, particularly in Kursk. Referring to the Ukrainian troops in Kursk, he questioned what will happen to them if the ceasefire takes hold: “Will all those who are there come out without a fight? Or will the Ukrainian leadership order them to lay down arms and surrender?”
BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press
BEDFORD,Mass.— Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member who leaked highly classified documents about the war in Ukraine, pleaded guilty to military charges of obstructing justice at his court-martial Thursday and called himself a “proud patriot.” In a 10-minute address, Teixeira said he was “exposing and correcting the lies that were perpetrated by President Biden and force-fed to the American people” about the
war in Ukraine.
“I believe the Department of Justice was politicized against President Trump and myself,” added Teixeira, who said he acted alone when he shared the documents in a geopolitical chatroom on Discord, a social media platform popular with online gamers. He called on Trump and members of his administration to reverse his convictions.
“If I saved one American, Russian or Ukrainian life in this money-grabbing war, my punishment was worth it,” he said.
The judge agreed to the plea deal, which calls for dishonorable discharge and no jail time. Teixeira was already sentenced last year to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, following his arrest in the most consequential national security breach in years. Military prosecutors said before the court-martial at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts that charges of disobeying orders and
obstructing justice were appropriate given that obeying orders is the “absolute core” of the military
A plea agreement was accepted by both sides that drops the disobeying orders charge Teixeira pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge, admitting that he used a hammer to destroy a cellphone, a computer hard drive and an iPad.
The leaks exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including information about troop movements in Ukraine, and the provision of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian troops. The leaked documents also revealed assessments of the defense capabilities of Taiwan and internal arguments in Britain, Egypt, Israel, South Korea and Japan. Teixeira also admitted to posting information about a U.S. adversary’s plans to harm U.S. forces serving overseas.
Teixeira worked as an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. His lawyers described Teixeira as an autistic, isolated individual who spent most of his time online.
POOL PHOTO By SAUL LOEB
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, center right, speaks during the G7 foreign ministers meeting Thursday in La Malbaie, Quebec. Alongside Joly are, from left, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Italian Foreign
RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov as he visits military headquarters in the Kursk region of Russia on Wednesday.
Close calls at D.C. airport raise questions
BY JOHN HANNA and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
While Congress pushed ahead last year with adding 10 new daily flights to Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, many looked past concerns about dangers in the congested skies over the nation’s capital.
Squeezing in more flights would only increase the risks, said Virginia’s two senators, who called a near miss between two planes on a runway last April a “flashing red warning light.”
What wasn’t publicly known at the time — and didn’t surface until this week during the investigation into the January midair collision between an airliner and military helicopter that killed 67 people — was that close calls at the airport were far more frequent than travelers and aviation experts knew Now, safety experts and family members who lost loved ones in the Jan. 29 crash are asking why no one acted in the face of what appeared to be a looming disaster
The National Transportation Safety Board said airplane pilots were alerted to take evasive action to avoid hitting helicopters at least once a month from 2011 through 2024, citing data compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration
and that there were 85 near misses when aircraft were within a few hundred feet of each other during recent years.
“How does that happen in this day and age and somebody doesn’t do something about it?” asked
Doug Lane, whose wife, Christine Conrad Lane, and their 16-year-old son, Spencer, died in the crash.
Pilots have long worried about the congested and complex airspace around the airport near the heart of the capital, where flights must maneuver around military aircraft and restricted areas. It was no secret there had been previous close calls, but the numbers found by the NTSB were alarming.
“Why someone was not paying attention to those numbers and those events are questions yet to be answered,” said James Hall, a former NTSB chair during the Clinton administration.
FAA officials have not yet addressed whether they knew there were so many encounters between planes and helicopters at Reagan National. Messages seeking comment were not immediately returned Thursday Current NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy and Transportation
Secretary Sean Duffy both said they were angry that the number of close calls were not recognized
earlier by the FAA.
“If someone was paying attention, someone was on the job, they would have seen this,” Duffy said. He also announced he will move forward with banning some helicopter flights around the airport.
Safety advocate Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department, said that while there was plenty of blame to go around for the midair collision, the FAA was shockingly complacent. “They literally wait for a disaster,” she said. “I can’t even fathom how the families of those lost in this crash can even deal with this. I mean this would be so maddening to hear.”
The crowded airspace around Washington drew attention last year when Congress debated an aviation safety bill that allowed 10 more flights a day at Reagan National, despite strong objections from Virginia’s Democratic senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner Kaine, during a speech on the Senate floor, didn’t mention specific concerns about encounters between airliners and helicopters or cite any statistics, but he did say the congestion was “a problem waiting to happen.”
While Congress did OK the extra flights, they had not started as of the deadly January collision.
The FAA limits arrival and departure slots at three of the nation’s busiest airports, where demand exceeds the airport’s capacity: Reagan National and New York City’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports.
But Congress has a history of directing the FAA to add slots at Reagan, even though Washington’s other international airport, Dulles, has capacity to handle them. Reagan is closer to the capital and most federal departments and therefore more convenient, particularly for lawmakers.
Mike McCormick, coordinator of the Air Traffic Management program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said the congestion at Reagan National clearly contributed to the midair collision because the American Airlines jetliner, which was on a newly added route from Wichita, Kansas, was diverted to a different runway closer to the helicopter flights.
“In this instance, the sole reason for doing it was because they were too busy,” McCormick said. “This is something that controller has probably done thousands of times.”
The flight from Wichita to Washington began operating in early 2024, with the backing of Kansas lawmakers who said it was a “vital” to link the nation’s capital with
Plane catches fire at Denver airport
The Denver Post (TNS)
DENVER An American Airlines plane caught fire on the tarmac at Denver International Airport on Thursday, according to reporting from Denver7.
The plane was at gate C38 when the fire started and evacuation slides were deployed, a DIA spokesperson told Denver7. No injuries were reported.
News of the fire spread quickly on social media after passengers posted videos of smoke billowing from the plane just after 6 p.m. Representatives for DIA, American Airlines and the FAA could not immediately be reached for comment.
the city
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat who serves on an aviation subcommittee, said the cause of the accident and the congestion at Reagan National are for now “two different conversations.”
Early Voting
TheEastBaton RougeParishRegistrar of Voters Office announces thatEarly Voting forthe March29, 2025 Election will be held Saturday,March 15,2025through Saturday,March 22,2025 from 8:30 am until6:00pm(Closed on Sunday)
BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press
WASHINGTON Mia Francis, a 22-year-old barista from Boston, filed her taxes on her own this year for the first time, using a free government tax filing program that made it easy because it did most of the work for her Francis said it took 45 minutes to finish her taxes with the IRS Direct File program, an electronic tax return filing system that the IRS made permanent last year and that has rolled out to 25 states.
Francis is expecting a $530 refund. And because she saved cash by not using a commercial tax preparation company to file her taxes “that money will go a long way,” she said. She plans to use it for a trip to Amsterdam. Despite its popularity with Francis and other members of the American public, the IRS Direct File’s fate remains unclear as Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency cleave their way through the federal bureaucracy So far the program is still available for use ahead of the April 15 tax filing deadline, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent committed during his January confirmation hearing to maintaining it, at least for this tax season Representatives from the Internal Revenue Service and DOGE did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on their plans for Direct File But one Republican tax expert says the IRS never got congressional authorization to create Direct File. And Republican lawmakers and commercial tax preparation firms complain the program is a waste of money because free filing programs already exist, although they are hard to use. Direct File was rolled out as a pilot program in 2024 after the IRS was tasked with looking into how to create a “direct file” system as part of the money it received from the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. Last May, the agency announced that the program would be made permanent.
The IRS accepted 140,803 returns filed by taxpayers using Direct File in the 12 states where it was available last tax season. It’s been expanded to include half the country this year It is unclear how many taxpayers have used Direct File this year Merici Vinton, an original architect of Di-
rect File, noted the ease and accessibility of the program and called it “a great example of how people should interact with the government in the 21st century.”
“We effectively launched a startup in the IRS,” she said. “It was built by an in-house product team, in an iterative manner, and we ship updates to the software to improve user experience in real time based on feedback. If we continue to invest in it, both taxpayers and the IRS can benefit.”
Musk posted last month on his social media site that he had “deleted” 18F, a government agency that worked on technology projects such as the IRS’ Direct File program. This led to some confusion about whether Direct File is still available to taxpayers. However, conversations inside the IRS indicate that no decision has been made on whether to cut the program, two people familiar with these conversations tell the AP Derrick Plummer, a spokesperson for Intuit, one of the country’s largest commercial tax preparation firms said free tax preparation had been available for years before Direct File came along.
“IRS Direct File is a solution in search of a problem, a waste of taxpayer dollars and a drain on critical IRS resources,” he said. A June 2024 Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report estimates that the annual costs of Direct File may range from $64 million to $249 million.
Aquiel Warner in Austin, Texas filed her taxes with Direct File in 10 minutes using her phone and a chatbot that the IRS provides. She likes the program’s convenience, that it prepopulated her tax forms and that it allowed for free filing.
“I don’t want to be a product. I don’t want my information sold when I file my taxes,” said Aquiel, 31. “I have to file my taxes, and I don’t want to be put in a situation where, in order to file my taxes, I have to pay to get the help I need because I’m not a professional tax preparer.”
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, said the IRS never got explicit permission from Congress to create the Direct File system.
“It really doesn’t matter if it’s a good idea. It was done illegally,” he said, calling on Congress and the Justice Department to look into what he says is unauthorized spending that went into the creation of Direct File.
Main Office:CityHall–222 SaintLouis St.–Room607 Southeast: Fire StationBuilding–11010 CourseyBlvd. Archives:State Archives Building –3851Essen Ln Baker: MotorVehicle Building –2250MainSt. Central: CentralBranchLibrary–11260 Joor Rd
Voters will be askedtoidentifythemselveswitheithera photoID or signatureonavoter affidavit. Youmay usea driver’s license, a Louisianaspecial ID,a LA Wallet digitaldriver’slicense,a U.S. military identification card thatcontainsyournameand picture; or some other generallyrecognizedpicture ID thathas your name andsignature Sample ballotsare availableonlineatwww.GeauxVote.com Call (225)389-3940for more information.
is one where its growth stagnates but inflation stays high because of tariffs. Few tools are available in Washington to fix what’s called “stagflation.” If the Federal Reserve were to cut interest rates to boost the economy, for example, that could also push inflation higher Good news came on both those economic fronts Thursday One report showed inflation at the wholesale level last month was milder than economists expected. It followed a similarly encouraging report from the prior day on inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling.
But “the question for markets is whether good news on the inflation front can make itself heard above the noise of the ever-changing tariff story,” said Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley A separate report, meanwhile, said fewer U.S workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than economists expected. It’s the latest signal that the job market remains relatively solid overall. If that can continue, it could allow U.S. consumers to keep spending, and that’s the main engine of the economy On Wall Street, some stocks connected to the artificial-intelligence industry resumed their slide and weighed on stock indexes. Palantir Technologies, which offers an
CLOSURE
Continued from page 1A
pain is something we simply have learned to live with. That pain cannot be decreased by another death, nor by commuting the sentence of Molly’s assailant to life in prison.”
Elliott, 63, of Covington, thanked Gov Jeff Landry, whose interest in restarting Louisiana’s execution chamber after 15 years resulted in an expansion of the allowable methods of state killing, adding nitrogen gassing and electrocution to lethal injection in a new list of options Landry last month announced that the state had finalized its protocol for death by nitrogen hypoxia, the only currently available method in the state, officials said.
The issue has come to a head in federal court. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is now considering a district judge’s decision to halt Hoffman’s execution while she considers a claim that using lethal gas on him would amount to unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment.
Elliott said that he and Landry had “spoken personally of many things, among them being that the death penalty itself is meant to be the strongest possible deterrent, yet, if the system cannot be streamlined so that the penalty is imposed in a reasonable amount of time, it becomes a less effective deterrent or punishment But most of all, I appreciate Jeff’s decision to finally provide urgency toward a final resolution.”
Hoffman’s attorneys have challenged the protocol, while appealing to Landry for a reprieve until the state pardon board can consider a request for clemency Hoffman, who was 18 at the time of the crime and is now 46, has exhausted his appeals. He is the only inmate among the 56 prisoners on
AI platform for customers, sank 4.8%. Super Micro Computer, which makes servers, lost 8%. Nvidia swung between gains and losses before finishing with a dip of 0.1%.
death row in Louisiana with an execution date.
No explanation for brutal crime
His advocates describe Hoffman as a product of a grim upbringing in New Orleans housing projects, one “characterized by sexual, physical, and verbal abuse, and other trauma and violence,” including frequent shootings and killings in his neighborhood.
On the night of Molly Elliott’s murder, Hoffman allegedly forced her to drive to an ATM for $200 cash in New Orleans East, and then to a boat launch in St. Tammany Parish, where he killed her execution-style. Police arrested Hoffman at the Fischer housing development in Algiers a few days after the killing. He reportedly confessed a few hours later
Family members have pleaded for his life, describing a transformation in prison, where they say Hoffman has become a mentor on death row
State corrections officials have so far declined a request to interview Hoffman. A spokesperson Thursday cited the court injunction.
Molly Elliott was 28 and working at an advertising firm in downtown New Orleans when Hoffman, then a parking attendant fresh out of high school, abducted her as she walked to her car She died of a single gunshot to the head. A St. Tammany Parish jury convicted Hoffman in 1998 and sentenced him to death.
In his statement Andy Elliott said that he’s never heard an explanation for the brutal crime. When Hoffman took the stand at a hearing last week about whether nitrogen gas is a humane way to die, he did not elaborate on any details about the murder
“Molly was a cherished person who missed out on motherhood, a promising and successful career, and a life in the country on the property we bought together
Such stocks have been under the most pressure in the U.S.
Other areas of the market that had also been riding big earlier momentum have seen their fortunes swing drastically Elon Musk’s Tesla fell 3% following a rare back-toback gain, and it’s down more than 40% so far in 2025.
Hers was a life that was so full of hope and promise for a beautiful future,” Elliott wrote.
“The loss of Molly is a scar we will forever carry and it will never heal. From my standpoint, hearing why he did this crime is the only hole that could be filled by Jess(i)e himself, yet, he’s never offered any explanation or remorse, not even to his own family.”
Apology was in clemency petition
Hoffman offered an apology in a clemency petition that his attorneys filed in 2023 as part of a mass application that failed to reach the desk of Gov John Bel Edwards in his last year in office.
“To Mr Elliott, to Molly Elliott’s parents, and to all those impacted by such a senseless and painful loss, I want to say that I am extremely and genuinely sorry for all the pain that my very selfish, horrible and heartless acts caused you all,” it read.
“I cannot begin to comprehend the pain you have had to endure because of me. I know that I am the cause of unimaginable pain and suffering. I am truly sorry.”
It never reached Elliott’s family, however, Andy Elliott said.
“Jessie has wanted more than anything to have the opportunity to speak directly with the Elliott family, offer his heartfelt apology face-to-face, and answer any questions they may have,” said Caroline Tillman, one of Hoffman’s attorneys Francis Abbott, the executive director of Louisiana’s pardon board who also oversees the state’s victim outreach program, said Hoffman’s application “was refused because he was not disciplinary conduct report-free for 24 months.”
“We’re not required to notify anybody that we’ve received an application and refused an application,” he said. “There was no hearing scheduled, no investigation.”
Following the mass application
in 2023, after Edwards had declared his opposition to the death penalty, the law changed, restricting the ability of an offender’s attorneys from reaching out to victims’ families directly
They first need permission from the victim or survivor, Abbott said.
“There is a process: victim-offender dialogue. It’s got to be initiated by the victim,” he said.
That process runs through Abbott’s office. Since the law changed last year, he said there’s been no request regarding Hoffman.
Looking forward to having family
Elliott recalled being surprised at Hoffman’s swift confession after the crime.
Molly was from Arizona and went to college in Southern California before moving to Louisiana, he said. They wed in spring 1995, less than two years before her death.
Elliott, who later remarried and raised three children, said they were both looking forward to raising a family He’d started a business designing and manufacturing pumps for the oil and gas industry that remains, while still living on the property he and Molly bought.
Elliott said he won’t be attending Hoffman’s execution if it happens.
“I’ve gone back and forth. In the end I’ve decided not to for a couple of reasons,” he said in a phone interview Thursday “One being just the discomfort of having a grieving family all going through the same thing at the same time.”
Elliott said another reason for missing it is “just not really feeling like I need to watch another human being die.”
“I don’t have the appetite. If this would have happened three or four years after the event, I for sure would have attended and would have been one of the most prodeath penalty people you would ever meet,” he added. “It’s amaz-
American Eagle Outfitters dropped 4.1% after the retailer said “less robust demand and colder weather” have held back its performance recently It forecast a dip in revenue for the upcoming year, though it also delivered a stronger profit report for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
On the winning side of Wall Street was Intel, which jumped 14.6% after naming former board member and semiconductor industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as its CEO. Tan, 65, will take over the daunting job next week, more than three months after Intel’s previous CEO, Pat Gelsinger, abruptly retired amid a deepening downturn at the once-dominant chipmaker All told, the S&P 500 lost 77.78 points to 5,521.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 537.36 to 40,813.57, and the Nasdaq composite sank 345.44 to 17,303.01. In the bond market, Treasury yields lost an early gain to sink lower The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.27% from 4.32%. The yield has been mostly dropping since January, when it was approaching 4.80%, as traders and economists have ratcheted back their expectations for U.S economic growth.
While few are predicting a recession, particularly with the job market remaining relatively solid, recent reports have shown a souring of confidence among U.S. consumers and companies. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia, but the moves were relatively modest.
ing how much time and distance can change you.”
Execution currently held up Louisiana would become the second state to execute someone using nitrogen gas, behind Alabama, which has done it four times since the start of last year under a protocol that Louisiana officials have largely copied.
U.S. Chief Judge Shelly Dick of the Middle District of Louisiana ordered a temporary injunction Tuesday while she considers Hoffman’s argument that his execution would violate the Eighth Amendment with cruel and unusual punishment. Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office has appealed the ruling, and a decision by the appeals court is expected soon. Among the issues for the appeals court to decide is whether the March 18 execution date stands if the court reverses Dick. Hoffman’s attorneys argue that Dick’s ruling resets the clock, and that a judge must sign a new death warrant. Murrill says the preliminary injunction that Dick ordered is not a stay of execution and that the March 18 date can hold if the appeals court vacates the ruling. Landry led state lawmakers last year in adding to the options for executions in Louisiana, and he announced last month that the state had established a protocol for nitrogen gas. Soon after, a judge in St. Tammany Parish signed an execution warrant for Hoffman. It’s not closure, but finality that the family seeks, Andy Elliott said, “so we can stop dreading the reminder of the tragedy every time the subject of his execution re-emerges.”
“My sincere hope is either to get the execution done or commute his sentence to life in prison without parole, one or the other, as soon as possible. Then, we can put Molly’s brutal death in the past. That’s not closure, but it’s the best we can hope for.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW A pair of traders work on the floor of the New york Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The market’s sell-off hit a new low on Thursday.
BRIEFS
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
GMFS to buy back BR mortgage lender
GMFS, a Baton Rouge-based mortgage lender, said it has reached a deal to buy the business from Ready Capital Corp.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Tee Brown, president of GMFS, said the purchase should close in 75 to 90 days.
“This is a great opportunity to set the business on the course of becoming private and owned by management, and ultimately being owned by employees down the line,” Brown said.
GMFS was acquired by New Jersey-based Zais Financial in 2014 for $63 million in cash. Two years later, Sutherland Asset Management Corp., the parent company of Ready Capital, merged with Zais.
The deal shouldn’t have any impact on GMFS customers, because the company’s leadership, structure and service will not change, Brown said “Effectively, we’ll have the same consistency and experience that we’ve had for 26 years,” he said.
GMFS was founded in 1999 by J. Terrell Brown. The company has provided more than $33 billion in residential mortgage funds to more than 160,000 customers GMFS has operations in 22 states. About 175 people work for the company, with 60% based in metro Baton Rouge. Brown said the plan is for GMFS to grow the company and hire additional workers.
Spirit Airlines exits bankruptcy protection
Discount carrier Spirit Airlines has emerged from bankruptcy protection.
The budget airline — known for its no-frills, low-cost flights on a fleet of yellow planes — said Wednesday that its parent, Spirit Aviation Holdings exited Chapter 11 after finalizing debt restructuring. The reorganization plan, which received the court greenlight last month, aims to bring the carrier back to profitability and boost resources to compete with rivals Spirit filed for bankruptcy back in November, following years of struggles and mounting debt as it failed to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Florida carrier was particularly hit hard by rising operating expenses and stiffer competition By the time of its Chapter 11 filing, the airline had lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020. Whether Spirit will continue as a stand-alone airline has also been up in the air, although takeover attempts from budget rivals like JetBlue and Frontier have proved to be unsuccessful before and during the bankruptcy process Spirit rejected a third bid from Frontier last month
While future merger proposals may not be entirely off the table, Spirit signaled Wednesday that it would continue to focus its own growth and offerings.
Circle K shows interest in Japan 7-Eleven chain
Canada’s Alimentation CoucheTard reaffirmed Thursday that it is determined to acquire Seven & i Holdings, although the operator of Japan’s top convenience store chain has rejected its offer
“We are continuing to pursue a friendly, mutually agreeable transaction,” the chairman and founder of Alimentation CoucheTard, Alain Bouchard, told reporters in Tokyo.
Last year Couche-Tard which operates Circle K stores, proposed acquiring all of Seven & i Holdings shares for $14.86 per share in cash. Media reports now say the offer is for $18.19 per share, or about $47 billion.
Bouchard stressed that his company was pursuing a “friendly” transaction, not a hostile takeover He reiterated his promise to retain local management, saying the merger would be good for 7-Eleven’s business.
The chain has more than 20,000 stores nationwide and more than 80,000 outlets around the world, serving an estimated 63 million customers a day according to Tokyo-based Seven & i Holdings Co.
Vaccinating poultry may help egg prices
Move delayed over export concerns
BY JOSH FUNK Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb Vaccines could be a key means of suppressing bird flu and avoiding the slaughter of millions of chickens, which has been blamed for egg prices averaging nearly $6 a dozen. But the move has been delayed in part because of concerns it could jeopardize chicken exports worth billions of dollars a year
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to spend $100 million to study bird flu vaccines to fight the disease in concert with meat chicken, egg and turkey groups. That’s part
of a larger $1 billion effort to invest in more protections to keep the virus off farms that President Donald Trump believes will help lower egg prices.
Chicken meat producers remain the most resistant to vaccines because of concerns they could harm meat exports, which totaled nearly $4.7 billion last year Egg and turkey producers sell most of their products in the U.S. and have been hit hardest by the virus.
Without a new policy including vaccines, the government will continue to slaughter every flock with a bird flu infection to limit the spread of the disease. Those deaths have totaled over 166 million birds in the U.S. since 2022.
Most birds killed are egg-laying chickens, and the death of so many hens is the main reason egg
prices keep rising. The average price per dozen has hit $5.90, and in some parts of the country, it is far higher Poultry veterinarian Simon Shane, who runs www.Egg-News. com, said the government is hesitant to use vaccines and change its policy of killing birds largely because of the meat chicken industry’s opposition.
“Basically this is a political issue, and this only came to a head because eggs are at $8 to $9 a dozen, and it’s embarrassing the government — embarrassing the present administration,” Shane said.
Before using vaccinations, the government must decide how to devise an effective system and monitor for outbreaks within vaccinated flocks that might not show any symptoms, said John Clifford,
the USDA’s former longtime chief veterinary officer who now works with a poultry industry export group. Once that is figured out, the industry can negotiate with countries to minimize trade problems. “What the industry wants is the ability to develop the strategic plan to share that with the trading partners and then find out what kind of impact that that will have on trade,” Clifford said. There are fears that vaccinating could allow the virus to linger undetected in flocks and mutate in ways that could make it more of a threat to humans and allow sick birds to get into the food supply
Like with other diseases, properly cooking chicken to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill bird flu, but the industry and chicken buyers don’t want it there at all.
BY STAN CHOE Associated Press
NEW YORK The U.S. stock market has just dropped 10% from its high set last month, hurt by worries about the economy and a global trade war
The fall for the S&P 500 is steep enough that Wall Street has a name for it: a “correction.” Such drops have happened regularly for more than a century, and market pros often view them as potentially healthy wipeouts of overdone euphoria, which could send stock prices too high if unchecked But corrections are frightening in the moment, particularly for every new generation of investors that gets into the mar-
ket at a time when it seems like stocks only go up. The S&P 500 is coming off two straight years with gains of more than 20%. Such stellar gains left the market looking too expensive to critics, who pointed to how prices rose faster than corporate profits.
Culling too-high enthusiasm among day traders is one thing. The larger fear always accompanying a correction is that it could be a warning sign of a coming “bear market,” which is what Wall Street calls a drop of at least 20%.
The U.S. stock market initially jumped after President Donald Trump’s election in November on hopes he’d bring lower taxes, less regulation for businesses
and other policies that would drive corporate profits higher
All those gains have since disappeared, as Wall Street faces the potential downsides of Trump’s White House for the economy
The president has been making announcements on tariffs at a dizzying pace, first placing them on trading partners, then exempting some and then doing it all over again. The tariffs could hit every country that trades with the United States, which would raise prices for U.S. households and businesses when high inflation has already proven stubborn to fully subdue.
All the uncertainty is also making things more complicated for the Federal Reserve, which had been cutting interest rates after
getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Cutting rates further would help the economy, but it could also put upward pressure on inflation.
The brunt of this sell-off has also hit stocks that critics were saying looked the most expensive after running wild through the frenzy around artificial intelligence Nvidia, for example, has already dropped roughly 14% in 2025 so far after surging more than 800% through 2023 and 2024.
Corrections occur every couple years, on average. Even during the historic, nearly 11-yearlong bull run for U.S. stocks from March 2009 to February 2020, the S&P 500 stumbled to five corrections, according to CFRA. Worries about everything from interest rates to trade wars to a European debt crisis caused the pullbacks.
Officials issue scam warnings on road toll texts
senders,
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW
Population fell in much of Louisiana in 2024
BY JEFF ADELSON Staff writer
Nearly two-thirds of Louisiana parishes saw their populations dwindle last year, including several that were among the fastestshrinking large counties in the country, according to new census estimates released Thursday
The new figures show that despite a slight uptick in the state’s population, which the Census Bureau attributed to international immigration, parishes across the state are still struggling to keep their residents from leaving for other parts of the country
Among the most notable declines was New Orleans, which saw its population slide by almost 2,470 people last year and nearly 20,700 people since 2020 About 28,400 people have left the city for other parts of the country an exodus that has only partially been offset by immigration.
That leaves the city with about 362,700 residents, a smaller population than it had in 2012. The city’s population is now about 73% of what it was in 2005, before the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina flooded the city The population loss in Orleans Parish amounted to
SUIT
Continued from page 1A
a decline of about 0.68%, making it the fifth fastestshrinking county with more than 100,000 residents in the country Just ahead of it was Caddo Parish, which lost about 1,570 people last year
The declines are further causes for concern for par-
environmental harm from the time it started drilling in 1941.
He compared the damage done to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. And when new regulations came into effect in 1980, Texaco did not apply for the permits it should have, Carmouche alleged.
“The obligation couldn’t be clearer,” he said. “You have to restore the property back to its original condition. That’s the law That’s what the marsh deserves.”
Carmouche was backed up by Jimmy Faircloth, an attorney representing the state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, which are supporting Plaquemines Parish in the lawsuit.
Faircloth made clear that Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration supports the oil and gas industry and the jobs it brings to the state. But he stressed that this lawsuit was about
ROOF
Continued from page 1A
recipient saw a 22% discount, saving them $1,250 a year
The findings are a boost to the state’s fortified roof program as lawmakers consider whether to continue funding it. High insurance premiums are wreaking havoc in hurricane-prone communities in south Louisiana.
Still, the report found that Louisiana is behind the curve in widespread adoption of fortified roofs, and adding more of them could make the state more attractive to the reinsurance market and lower insurance costs. Reinsurers, which
ishes across the state, which have seen their populations wither in recent years, as devastating hurricanes and insurance increases have ravaged the state.
But ultimately, the main thing that drives people to move to or from any area is
remedying “sins of the past” committed by Texaco as well as the regulatory state, which Faircloth said had failed to enforce regulations on the oil company over the years.
“The state is late to this,” he said.
“But it’s here now. This administration is here now.
Mike Phillips, the lead attorney for Chevron, argued in his opening statements that the parish was seeking to blame a single oil company for all of the coastal land loss that had taken place in the Breton Sound since 1940
He blamed the land loss instead on the levees on the Mississippi River, which have choked off sediment flows to the wetlands around Plaquemines Parish.
“Chevron’s position is that we are not responsible for the land loss,” he said.
Judge Michael Clement has set aside five weeks for the trial, and jury selection alone took three days this week.
During the process jurors made clear that as Plaquemines Parish residents, they’re all too familiar
offer insurance for insurance companies, play an outsized role in deciding how much Louisiana homeowners pay in premiums. And strengthening Louisiana’s buildings en masse could ultimately result in bigger drops in premiums.
Fortified roofs, which involve stronger fasteners and water sealant, are more wind resistant, making it less likely a home will take on serious damage if a hurricane hits. Louisiana, which began offering grants to help build them in 2023, has awarded less grant funding per coastal household than Alabama, North Carolina and Florida, according to the report. And the program continues to be a challenge for many low-income households, given that homeown-
whether there are enough well-paying jobs to support them, said Allison Plyer, the chief demographer for The Data Center, a research nonprofit in New Orleans.
That’s a troubling sign for Louisiana, which is heavily dependent on oil and gas and tourism, industries which Plyer said are both seeking to increase automation and cut the size of their workforces.
“We have not diversified our industries in a substantial way to grow our economy and we will keep losing population until we do that,” Plyer said.
The declines in parish populations come as statewide population estimates, released in December, showed that Louisiana’s population overall increased by 10,000 people, rising to about 4.6 million. That was largely due to changes in how the Census Bureau uses federal records to count immigrants across the country
“Ultimately people can’t stay if they can’t find jobs,” Plyer said. “I think everyone has an anecdote of someone who wanted to stay but couldn’t because they couldn’t find a good job.”
with local environmental issues. Land loss is personal to them, as is hurricane storm surge. Making their case to a jury in a Pointe à la Hache courtroom was a scenario that attorneys for the oil companies had long sought to avoid.
Thelitigationwasfirstfiledin2013. Since then, the oil companies made four attempts to appeal the case to federal court on the grounds that it involved permits granted to the oil company during World War II, explicitly to support the war effort.
In 2022, the ruling from a panel of judges at the federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to state court, which paved the way for the trial that began this week.
All the while, Carmouche was pursuing a similar strategy throughout the state. Carmouche’s lawsuits filed on behalf of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Vermilion, Jefferson, Cameron, and St. John the Baptist parishes, all allege that oil companies violated state law when they failed to apply for permits for their activities in the state’s coastal zone
ers must come out of pocket for typically thousands of dollars and meet other requirements.
Louisiana’s fortified roof program, which doles out $10,000 grants to homeowners, has emerged as a widely agreed on solution to the state’s insurance crisis. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is expected to advocate for a permanent funding source for the program during the legislative session this spring. And Gov Jeff Landry has indicated an openness to requiring insurers to provide certain discounts to people who put the roofs on, something Temple, a fellow Republican, has opposed.
“The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is a vital part of building resiliently in Louisiana, and I be-
after a law that required permitting was passed in 1978.
Louisiana’s oil industry has argued against the legal strategy from its onset.
“The allegations in this case, like the other similar parish lawsuits against oil and gas companies, challenge oil production practices going back for decades,” said Jason Harbison on behalf of the legal team representing the oil companies in 2022. He said that the cases “implicate distinct federal interest and deserve to be heard in a federal forum,” rather than in state courts.
In 2020, the oil and gas industry supported a bill in the Louisiana Legislature that would have forced the parishes to drop the lawsuits led by Carmouche. It did not pass.
In addition to keeping the suits in state court, Carmouche also managed to win the support of both Gov John Bel Edwards, a Democrat with ties to trial lawyers, and Landry, a Republican and longtime supporter of the oil & gas industry who received the backing of trial lawyers during his 2023 campaign.
lieve the program is off to a great start,” Temple said in a statement.
He noted that 3,800 people have gotten a fortified roof outside the grant program, up from under 900 a year ago. The state’s insurance market has been in tumult since a series of hurricanes rocked the state in 2020 and 2021, causing 12 insurers doing business here to collapse.
Some other insurers pulled out of the market Thousands of people were forced onto the rolls of Citizens, the insurer of last resort, which charges higher premiums.
The resulting crisis has threatened residents’ ability to stay in their homes, especially in coastal areas most at risk from hurricanes While the insurance crisis has
East Baton Rouge and Jefferson parishes, both of which saw declines in recent years, saw their population increase slightly in the new estimates, entirely due to the changes in how immigrant populations are calculated.
East Baton Rouge’s population climbed by about 2,080 residents, a 0.5% increase that brought it to about 453,020 people. And Jefferson grew by about 0.4%, a roughly 1,600-resident increase that left its population at about 427,250. Similar increases were also seen in St. John the Baptist and St. Bernard parishes. The most substantial increases not driven by international movement were in parishes that have seen strong population growth in recent years. Livingston Parish grew by about 2,320 people, or 1.5%, and now has a population of about 152,890. Ascension Parish grew by 1.2% and now has about 133,530 people. The largest increase was in Lafayette, which grew by about 3,760 people, a 1.5% increase that now has its population at 254,240.
While those changes, which were put in place last year, appear to have increased the accuracy of national population figures, it remains to be seen whether they will prove to be accurate on a more local level, Plyer said. That’s because the records being used don’t indicate where in the country the new residents live, forcing the Census Bureau to extrapolate from existing demographic trends. As a result, the signs of growth seen this year may end up being illusory, Plyer said.
In 2023, Carmouche’s law firm settled a similar case brought by Cameron Parish. How much the oil companies have agreed to pay the parish hasn’t yet been disclosed. The details are subject to a confidentiality agreement, a spokesperson for BP previously told The Times-Picayune. A judge subsequently sealed the details behind a protective order It also isn’t clear whether the companies are required to restore the wetlands the lawsuit alleged they had harmed. Plaquemines has filed 21 of the 41 active cases. In addition to the case currently underway, the parish has alleged that oil companies have damaged other coastal wetlands, including in areas near Coquille Bay, Bohemia and Tiger Pass. “Chevron is proud to be a longtime part of the Plaquemines Parish community,” said Phillips, Chevron’s lead attorney, in a prepared statement. He said he looked forward to a time when the company and the parish could return to working productively together
also taken root in other parts of the U.S., especially California and Florida, the legislative auditor’s report found Louisiana is uniquely hardhit among Southern states. Louisiana households spent 2.1% of their income on insurance, more than all southeastern states, including Florida.
Fortified roofs are gaining traction here, according to the report, even if the pace needs to pick up dramatically to cover a significant share of homes.
Most of the roofs are going to populous parishes in south Louisiana. Orleans ranks first with nearly 1,500 fortified roofs. Orleans, St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes account for 70% of the 5,400 fortified roofs in the state.
‘Offers of judgment’ rejected in lawsuits
EBR Metro Council votes on BRAVE Cave matter
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council on Wednesday rejected offers of judgment totaling $105,000 proposed by city-parish attorneys in two federal lawsuits tied to the infamous BRAVE Cave allegations.
Members of Baton Rouge’s NAACP chapter and local activists panned the offers as “egregiously” small, lowball attempts to sweep away the city police department’s alleged misconduct in 2020-2023
The offers of judgment were made in six ongoing civil rights complaints tied to abuse claims at the notorious police interrogation warehouse off Plank Road. Offers made in the six cases amounted to $385,000 combined Metro Council did not vote Wednesday night on proposals in four other cases before the meeting ended Those offers of judgment are slated to go back before council at its next meeting March 26.
“Why are y’all playing with these people like this,” said one NAACP member who identified himself at Wednesday’s council meeting as Donovan X
“If this was Madison Brooks or somebody would y’all handle this matter in the same way? You tore this city up when that happened to that girl. These
Parish Attorney Greg Rome, left, listens as Assistant Parish Attorney Michael Schillage speaks during a meeting of the Metro Council to discuss proposed offerings related to the BRAVE Cave on Wednesday
people — we’re human beings too. Y’all got to do better.”
The interrogation warehouse has been closed since allegations of excessive force, illegal strip searches and sexual assault surfaced in the slate of
lawsuits filed against the Baton Rouge Police Department and several Baton Rouge police officers.
In those lawsuits, attorneys for the
ä See BRAVE CAVE, page 2B
Port Allen official claims election interference
DA cites not enough evidence to prosecute
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
District Attorney Tony Clayton said he did not find sufficient evidence to prosecute a member of the Port Allen Planning and Zoning Commission accused by a former City Council member of trying to interfere in November elections. In November, former council member Clerice Lacy alleged that Walter Braud III offered to donate to her campaign if she convinced a colleague to drop out of the race for the District 4 seat on the council. The colleague, Shelton Berry, was later disqualified for not meeting residency requirements.
Clayton declined to comment on the specifics of his decision, but said he reviewed the statutes with Lacy
Lacy said she believes the decision will make Port Allen voters question the fairness of their elections going forward.
“I’m constantly going about it the right way, but justice is just not being served,” Lacy said.
Braud did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lacy recorded the phone call with Braud that captured what she said was a bribe attempt and played it on a postelection podcast Berry hosted. In the recording, Braud allegedly said he would put money behind her and help get Lacy reelected if she told Berry “to go get out of the race of District 4 before Friday.” The Port Allen Police Department said it referred the incident to the Election Integ-
rity Division of the Louisiana Secretary of State for investigation. A copy of the Election Integrity Division’s summary report, provided by Lacy, suggested two potential statute violations may have occurred: one election code statute concerning bribery of elected officials or candidates, and one criminal statute concerning public bribery
According to Lacy’s account of their meeting, Clayton said neither of the statutes applied directly to her situation.
She said her case is being “swept under the rug” and she will consider civil action.
“Elections should be free and fair,” Lacy said. “You should not have to be intimidated (and) have to go through that — any type of intimidation, bribery, anyone trying to influence you.”
Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@ theadvocate.com.
Atmosphere tense at CATS, union says
Leader: Strike stirred up grudges
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
Following a six-day strike that slowed public transit around Baton Rouge, local bus workers and the Capital Area Transit System are preparing to enter arbitration to address the union’s grievances about wages, safety, discipline and time off. But in the meantime, union officials said, the atmosphere is tense. Grudges remain between those who went on strike and those who continued to work or “crossed the strike line,” said George DeCuir Jr., president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1546. According to organizers, around 70 people walked off the job to protest what they said was CATS attempting to impose a new contract on workers, leaving about 20 employees who stayed in service. CATS said 65 workers participated in the strike, compared to 25 still on the job.
“There’s a clear divide in the workplace,” ATU senior organizer Stanley Smalls said.
Arbitration will likely begin in two to three weeks, DeCuir said, to give the parties time to select attorneys and for the attorneys to decide on a neutral third party The union selected Julie Richard-Spencer, who represents private and public sector unions, as its attorney A spokesperson for CATS said the agency does not comment on ongoing arbitration. However, based on the union’s concerns, a new labor contract will likely hinge on the parties agreeing on hourly wages, which workers have said are $4 to $5 less than other major transit systems in the state, as well as safety, discipline and other policies.
BR man gets mandatory life without
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
A Baton Rouge judge wasted little time Thursday sentencing to life in prison two months guilty of a fatal shooting outside a crowded club in 2016. Horace Alexa Smith, 45, said nothing he stood before Judge Brad Myers ing a short hearing the 19th Judicial Courthouse, where ers imposed the mandatory without the possibility Smith was convicted murder in the death
STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK
Joined by her attorney Ryan Thompson, left, Ternell Brown, center, speaks during a meeting of the Metro Council to discuss proposed settlements related to the BRAVE Cave at City Hall in downtown Baton Rouge on Wednesday.
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
A bus waits for riders at the main terminal for the Capital Area Transit System on Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge on March 3.
Louisiana schools will give fewer tests
Changes to affect kindergarten, fourth, sixth grades
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer
Louisiana students will no longer take a readiness screener when they enter kindergarten, and fourth and sixth grade students will eventually stop having to sit for an annual social studies test, state education officials said Tuesday
Starting next fall, schools will no longer give the Kindergarten Entry Assessment, a test that measures incoming kindergartners’ social-emotional, cognitive and physical development, as well as their literacy and math
skills. However, kindergartners will still take a one-time English proficiency test and a separate literacy screener three times over the course of the school year in addition to a new math screener schools will start using this fall.
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, the state Education Department will do away with the social studies exam for fourth and sixth grades, while continuing to administer the test to students in third, fifth and eighth grades.
The changes are part of an ongoing effort by the department to reduce testing in public schools.
State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said Louisiana students take more tests than their counterparts in other states.
“Students spend too much time testing,” he said during a state Board of Elementary and Second-
Two pedestrians hit by truck; one killed
A couple staying in Port Allen for the USBC bowling tournament underway in Baton Rouge were hit by a truck while walking across La. 415 Wednesday night, killing the husband and leaving the wife critically injured.
CRIME BLOTTER staff reports
Robert DiDomenico, 80, from Roanoke, Virginia, died at the scene, according to a release from the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. The crash is under investigation. The driver of the southbound 2024 GMC Sierra that struck the pedestrians showed no signs of impairment, and a breath test detected no alcohol, the release said.
The couple were staying at a nearby Port Allen hotel, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said.
Friends and family said the couple was in town for the 2025 USBC Open Championships, the Sheriff’s Office said.
State Police investigating multiple crashes in area
Over the course of six hours from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. — from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, three separate car crashes in the Baton Rouge area resulted in the deaths of four people.
One crash involved a police pursuit, and all three had at least one person not wearing a seat belt.
Baton Rouge
Just after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Louisiana State Police troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on La. 30 near Bluebonnet Boulevard The crash resulted in the deaths of 24-year-old Jeremiah Downing and 22-year-old Hunter LaGrange, of Hahnville. According to a news release from State Police, the preliminary investigation showed that officers with the St. Gabriel Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Downing, for speeding on La. 30 Downing refused to stop and continued traveling west at a high rate of speed in an attempt to evade officers.
As Downing approached the intersection at Bluebonnet, a GMC Sierra was traveling east on La. 30, attempting to turn left onto Bluebonnet. Downing traveled through the intersection, running a red light, and crashed into the Sierra head-on.
Downing was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. LaGrange, a passenger in the Camaro, was also not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the Sierra was wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries, and was transported to a hospital.
This crash remains under investigation.
Paulina Shortly after 8:15 p.m. Wednesday troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on La. 70 near La 3125 in St. James Parish The crash killed 37-year-old Demaricus Kensie of Donaldsonville. According to State Police, a preliminary investigation found that Kensie’s Jeep Wrangler was traveling east on La. 70. For reasons still under investigation, the Jeep traveled off the roadway to the right and overturned.
ary Education meeting Tuesday
“We need to know where they are academically to help drive instructional decisions and policy decisions,” he added.
“At the same time, I think that we should be evaluating the quantity of assessments that we are requiring.”
Brumley said Tuesday that Louisiana is the only state that tests all students in third through eighths grades in social studies.
He said doing away with the assessments in two grades would cut overall testing time for students from 1,100 minutes to 550 minutes.
He said the new social studies testing schedule aligns with the state’s revamped social studies standards, which officials call the “Freedom Framework.”
The testing change means that
fifth graders now will be assessed on world history they learn in fourth and fifth grades, and eighth graders will be tested on American history they learn in sixth, seventh and eighth grades, which spans from pre-Revolutionary War to the early 2000s.
“I think it’s important to assess students in history and civics, and so we’re going to continue to do that,” Brumley said, “but we’re trying to do it in modules.”
To scale back Louisiana’s heavy emphasis on testing, the department announced in October that the state’s annual math and English tests in third through eighth grades would be shortened by about 20%, reducing the average time students are expected to spend taking them by about 40 minutes.
Federal law requires students
to be tested annually in those subjects, but states determine what’s on the tests. Some parents and teachers argue that the tests can stress students and take away from instructional time.
Louisiana is in the process of revamping the way schools teach reading and math. As part of the reforms, students still will take multiple assessments each year in both subjects, which Brumley has said will allow the state to better track which students are struggling and help inform future policy decisions.
“I think we have to be surgical in the way we approach testing reduction,” he said, “so that we still get good information” without over-testing students.
Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.
Slidell pastor gets five-year jail sentence
Raymond convicted in child cruelty case
Kensie was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead on the scene. A juvenile passenger in the Jeep sustained serious injuries during the crash and was transported to a hospital. This crash also remains under investigation.
Prairieville
Just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday, State Police responded to a twocar crash on Interstate 10 westbound in Ascension Parish. The crash killed 41-year-old Dwayne Jackson of New Orleans.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a Nissan Titan, driven by Jackson, was traveling westbound on Interstate 10 near mile marker 170 in the right lane. At the same time, a Freightliner tractor-trailer was attempting to enter the roadway from the right shoulder For reasons still under investigation, the front of the Titan struck the rear of the Freightliner Jackson was not wearing a seat belt and suffered severe injuries. He later died at a hospital. The driver of the Freightliner was uninjured. This crash is still under investigation.
Woman dies after being struck by SUV on Plank Road
A woman was killed late Wednesday when she was struck by an SUV in the 8900 block of Plank Road, according to Baton Rouge police.
Police report a Ford Expedition was southbound on Plank Road about 11:05 p.m. when it struck Ashley Rivet, 38, who died at the scene.
It is unknown at this time if Rivet was walking in the roadway or attempting to cross the road police said.
The driver of the Ford Expedition has not been charged with any violations at this time, and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
Man killed in house fire in neighborhood off College Drive
A 75-year-old man was killed Thursday morning in a house fire in a neighborhood off College Drive, according to the Baton Rouge Fire Department.
Firefighters received a call at about 6:20 a.m about a fire at the 2000 block of Bunker Hill Drive, BRFD spokesperson Robert Combs said.
Firefighters found that the back half of the house was fully engulfed, Combs said. The fire was under control before 7:10 a.m.
The body of a man was found in a hallway near the rear of the home, according to BRFD.
The cause of the fire is undetermined and remains under investigation. The fire is believed to have begun in the rear in the area of the carport.
BRFD labeled the home a total loss. The fire also totaled a 2007 Dodge Ram.
One booked on suspicion of DWI in East Baton Rouge Parish
One person was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison between noon Wednesday and noon Thursday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Those booked and the counts against them: n Devante Davis, 32, Baton Rouge, operating while intoxicated, first offense; domestic abuse battery.
BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer
Slidell Pastor John Raymond, convicted on charges of cruelty to juveniles after a high-profile trial last year, was handed a five-year sentence Thursday by a judge who said Raymond’s testimony during a recent appeal hearing displayed a lack of remorse. In handing down the sentence during a three-hour hearing at the courthouse in Covington, state District Judge John A. Keller said Raymond must serve two years in prison. The other three years are suspended and he will be on probation for that time. Raymond was remanded into custody Thursday but will have an opportunity to be out on bond while he appeals the sentencing. Raymond, the founder of Lakeside Christian Academy in Slidell and a former contestant on the reality TV show “Survivor,” was found guilty in September of three felony charges of cruelty to juveniles for taping students’ mouths shut at the school. He was also
BRAVE CAVE
Continued from page 1B
alleged victims described the site as a “torture warehouse” dubbed the BRAVE Cave by officers who used it.
Ternell Brown, one of plaintiffs suing the city-parish, Baton Rouge police and multiple current and former officers, claims in her lawsuit two officers took her to the warehouse and performed an illegal body cavity search on her One of the proposals Metro Council rejected Wednesday would have allocated $90,000 for parish attorneys to offer her
Council members Denise Amorosa, Carolyn Coleman, Cleve Dunn Jr., Twahna Harris, Dwight Hudson, Darryl Hurst and Anthony Kenney voted to reject the offer of judgment. Council member Laurie Adams favored it, while council members Rowdy Gaudet, Aaron Moak, Mayor-Pro Tempore Brandon Noel and Jennifer Racca did not cast votes.
The rejection means the court case proceeds as usual. A settlement conference in Brown’s case ended without resolution in December, according to federal court records. No trial date has been set.
Brown was at Wednesday’s council session and said she has been harassed and bullied by police since she filed her lawsuit in September 2023. She told council members she’s undergoing counseling, and no city-parish officials have ever reached out to apologize.
“It has taken a lot from me,” Brown said.
City-parish attorney Michael Schillage explained to council members the offers of judgment are not the same as settlement agreements. He said their offers are commonly made by defendants in civil cases that plaintiffs can either reject or deny But the parish attorney’s office needed council approval before even considering the offers as options in the federal cases.
“The settlement recommendation, in the most general sense, is after the parties have agreed on a number and they are seeking settlement resolution of a case,” Schillage said “An offer of judgment is not that at all. It’s an offer that is to be made by a defendant to
found guilty of a second-degree child cruelty charge for placing his hand over another student’s mouth until the student “went limp,” according to witness testimony
During the three years of probation, Raymond may not serve as a headmaster of Lakeside Christian Academy or any school, nor may he work with children, Keller said. Northshore District Attorney Collin Sims, who tried the case alongside Assistant District Attorney Christina Fisher, had requested five years in prison. “I think we were pretty close,” Sims said afterward. “I respect the sentence. I respect the analysis.”
Keller said that at one point he considered giving no jail time to Raymond due to mitigating factors, including that Raymond was a first-time offender, had caused no long-term physical injuries to victims and had shown criminal negligence, as opposed to intent.
But Raymond’s testimony last month during a hearing on a motion for a new trial apparently influenced Keller’s decision to ultimately give jail time. There had been a question as to whether Raymond would testify during the six-day trial in September In the end, he did not.
a plaintiff with a confidential number that will be used for judgment purposes, when the plaintiff accepts it.”
Attorneys for the alleged victims, however, called the offers “scare tactics” that could have negative consequences if plaintiffs reject them and pressures the alleged victims to settle their respective cases.
Baton Rouge attorney Ron Haley, who is representing one of the BRAVE Cave victims, said offers of judgment are tools designed to thwart frivolous claims in civil cases. But he said that doesn’t apply to any of the BRAVE Cave lawsuits.
Plaintiffs who take their cases to trials and are awarded an amount for damages less than an offer of judgment could be on the hook for the defendant’s legal fees and have to pay for their expert witnesses. Haley said that’s a prospect that could bankrupt plaintiffs involved in the BRAVE Cave cases.
“Basically being penalized for exercising their due process right. Which I think is unfair,” the attorney told council members Wednesday night. “These are citizens. You’re their representatives. Do not treat them like you’re a claims adjuster Treat them as people.”
Schillage said the offers also pose a risk to defendants if the plaintiffs are awarded a higher dollar amount at trial.
“If the number through trial, is higher than an offer of judgment, it’s favorable to the side that did not accept it,” he said “So there’s two sides to that coin.”
Attorneys involved in four of the six federal complaints said cityparish officials never notified them about the proposed offers before Wednesday’s council meeting.
Ryan Thompson, who is part of the legal team representing Brown and plaintiffs in two separate BRAVE Cave cases, characterized the offers as a “slap in the face” to his clients.
Jessica Hawkins, another of Brown’s attorneys, said she emailed the city-parish attorney’s office a “serious settlement offer” on Oct. 11 that broke down the proposed settlement amounts by injury. There was no response from parish officials.
“So if we are going to talk about a number explain to my client how you got to this number,” Hawkins
But represented by a new lawyer at last month’s hearing seeking a new trial, Raymond did take the stand and testify He argued he deserved a new trial because the lawyer who had represented him during his trial last year, Joseph Long, had not allowed him to testify in his defense.
Keller was not convinced by those arguments and denied the motion for a new trial last month. And on Thursday, he said Raymond’s testimony at the hearing influenced the sentence.
“Mr. Raymond did not appear remorseful,” Keller said. “He came across as somewhat arrogant. He still believed he did nothing wrong,” Keller said, adding that Raymond attacked the credibility of some of the witnesses witnesses that Keller said he found credible.
“And so I started to rethink where on the spectrum and the scale the defendant’s sentence should be placed,” Keller said, adding that Raymond’s sentence was also based on the “seriousness of the offense,” the fact that it involved children and the need to send a message that this “type of criminal behavior (is) not to be tolerated.”
said. “Maybe then she would be able to accept a number But they didn’t do it. You showed up to a meeting without doing it. And now we’re here.
“She’s not accepting $90,000 She doesn’t deserve $90,000,” she said. “You are way past $90,000 worth of attorneys fees.”
Metro Council also voted unanimously to reject a $15,000 offer of judgment for the plaintiff in a separate suit.
Council member Dunn acknowledged a “communication issue” between attorneys that has served as a barrier in the cases.
“Would it be accurate to describe your alleged experience with the parish attorney as one where the level of communication was not what you expected or appreciated,” Dunn asked Brown’s attorneys.
“I don’t chase my dog as much as we’ve chased the attorneys for the parish,” Hawkins said.
During the meeting, Dunn and several other council members apologized to Brown for the “trauma” she and other victims experienced at the BRAVE Cave warehouse.
Council members also dispelled notions Metro Council supported an idea Mayor-President Sid Edwards floated last month to invest at least $1 million to transform the BRAVE Cave site into a community center Council member Darryl Hurst told spectators he would never support such a venture.
“That’s like supporting slave castles,” he said. “It’s a relic of the past and it needs to stay a relic. So I will not support turning the plantation known as the BRAVE Cave into a visiting bureau.”
Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
YOUNGSVILLE
Woman helps wild birds thrive in rehab center
BY ALENA MASCHKE Staff writer
Walking across Letitia Labbie’s 5-acre property on the outskirts of Youngsville, it’s hard to shake the feeling of being watched. And despite the tall tree line that hems it, spectators it’s the perch watch from.
Labbie, shy to admit she prefers company over people, and reh injured wild most of them prey variety gets clipped by the side of a truck? Bring it to Labbie. A red-shouldered hawk named Toot Toot, Astrid the barred owl and a murder of crows are among the eyes that follow Labbie and her visitors around, hoping for a snack of thawed out mice to come their way
whole life,” Labbie said. “It’s my calling.”
They represent a small fraction of the thousands of animals the Georgia native has nursed back to health over the decades and released back into the wild Labbie doesn’t get paid to do this work; she operates on donations, liberally dipping into her own limited funds to pay for food and speciesappropriate enclosures for the animals in her care.
“I’ve been doing this my
Labbie cared for her first animals when she was only 10 years old, bringing home baby squirrels from science class to look after over the summer break. When a wildlife agent spotted her with her shoulder r family’s Columbus, he asked rents what going on. Her ended up permit to rehabilitate animals cages in the 1999, Labbie has been a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist in Louisiana, where she moved at age 17 to join her sister She’s one of just a handful of federally licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the state There’s an abundance of interested volunteers to help her, she said, but many of them change their minds as soon as they realize her work involves little cuddle time with animals and lots of cleaning up feces and dried up remnants of mice or chicks used to feed the predatory birds. “They usually disappear really fast,” she noted dryly More professionals are needed, but the financial burden can be intimidating. “There definitely needs to be
While she still releases some of her recovered birds into the wild straight from her property, she now has to rely on friendly ranchers around the state to allow her to release formerly injured birds on their land.
“If I release too many birds on this piece of property, then they won’t have food,” she explained. Meanwhile, having birds of prey, such as owls, on a ranch property has its benefits One owl can eat up to 1,000 mice per year eliminating the need for pest control measures like rat poison.
more training for younger people to get people interested in it, but I think the cost scares people,” she said.
Labbie had to build a 50foot long enclosure to adequately house vultures and hawks while they recover a $20,000 expense that came out of her own pocket. She hopes to get her license to rehabilitate eagles, too, but an appropriate enclosure would have to be double that size.
Some states have wildlife rehabilitation centers staffed by a mix of government employees and volunteers, but not Louisiana. Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge has an animal hospital that can operate on injured wildlife, but housing them while they recover is left to
Labbie and her peers.
In addition to a calling, Labbie sees it as a responsibility. “Humans are the main reason most of these birds are injured,” she said. She also hopes every interaction with a person bringing in an injured bird can serve as an opportunity to make them aware of the impacts humans have had on the ability of wildlife to simply exist in its natural habitat
Her own environment is an apt example of that. Once surrounded by cane fields, trees and gravel, the city of Youngsville has experienced explosive growth and now encircles her sanctuary with dense subdivisions, trucks speeding on fresh blacktop roads and new homes.
Picking up and later releasing injured birds also offers an opportunity to educate ranchers on their value. “So usually they’ve called me and say: ‘Hey, can you take this baby owl that we found in our barn?’ ” she said.
“Then I say: Can I release it back? And when they realize that I can bring more, they’re usually really happy.”
Labbie’s move to the sprawling property and the founding of Acadiana Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation, her nonprofit, was born out of a personal tragedy In 2014, she and her husband bought a camp in Butte La Rose. The two planned to purchase another camp in Arkansas and spend their time in picturesque reclusion, riding their motorcycles.
Then one day, in 2016, while Labbie was caring for her mother in hospice in Alabama, her husband texted her that he was going to get a hamburger and a soft drink. “Ten minutes later, he was gone,” Labbie recounted His motorcycle had slid on a gravel road along the levee to their camp. The next day her mother too passed away “I came out here just to look at the little house because I figured I needed something small,” she said When she saw the rest of the property, she fell in love. To prevent anyone else from building on the tree-studded land, she bought the whole tract. She now leaves most of it wild, mowing around the wildflowers that dot the lush green floor, and defending a dam that a colony of beavers built on the coulee flowing along the property line. While her efforts come at a sizable financial cost, especially for someone living on a fixed income, and often go unappreciated by the public at large, Labbie finds meaning in her work. “The odds are that one out of 10 birds of prey only make it to live a year,” she
Youngsville increases police presence at Mardi Gras
BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer
As Youngsville’s Mardi Gras parade continue to grow in popularity, so too does the number of law enforcement personnel needed to ensure the safety of the small town and its visitors.
This year’s Mardi Gras festivities saw anywhere from 89,000 upward to 100,000 people entering the city of Youngsville, said Police Chief JP Broussard, or about a 9% increase compared to last year Policing and ensuring safety for the ever-rising number of revelers required new and increased security measures in light of recent events like the New Year’s terror attack in New Orleans.
Those measures included blocking roadways with dump trucks and excavators, more barricades, banning parking along major roadways, flying drones and even a plane to spot safety concerns before they boil over
CONVICTED
Continued from page 1B
Edwards early the morning of Oct. 23, 2016 Gunshots rang out moments after the two men exchanged words inside The Executive Club in the 2200 block of North Foster Drive. During a four-day trial that ended Jan. 9, prosecutors successfully proved Smith got into an altercation with the victim when Edwards snubbed his handshake inside the club. After security guards kicked Smith and his older brother, Mack Arthur Smith, out of the club, the two brothers briefly went to their vehicle. Prosecutors said Horace Smith opened fire on Edwards in the parking lot when they returned to the club.
The 30-year-old Port Allen resident died on the barroom floor moments after he was shot in the chest.
In a statement read by Assistant District Attorney Schyler Brooks, the victim’s family noted Edwards was killed days before his 31st birthday over a handshake.
“Instead of wishing Chris a happy birthday, on his birthday our family was planning his funeral,” ac-
But the main focus of this year was getting more officer boots on the ground, Broussard said “Officer presence is a big thing We have a great mayor I’m working with and the first thing he asks is what I need to make sure the city’s safe,” Broussard said Last year, the city had around 90 officers posted around the event. This year saw that number increase to 140 officers coming from more than 20 agencies, including Louisiana State Police. Security alone cost the department around $50,000, Broussard said “There’s no price you can put on public safety.” He added, “And we’re going to reevaluate next year and see if we need more.”
Broussard said that this year’s parade went well, with only a handful of brawls and five weapons recovered. He added the department has already started planning for next year’s parade.
Coordinating and having a good rapport with other agencies is key, Broussard
cording to the statement. “You took a genuinely good person. You left a void in our family because of your action.”
During Thursday’s sentencing Horace Smith’s attorney, Robert Tucker Jr., told the judge he intends to file an appeal that alleges police misconduct during the investigation. Tucker told jurors at trial that homicide detectives allowed two men — one of them a manager at The Executive Club access to the lounge while it was still an active crime scene after the shooting He argued that footage from a surveillance camera hanging above the front door may have gone missing as a result, footage he suggested may have shown Horace Smith wasn’t the shooter. “He’s here present today to stand for these charges. He’s not running from this situation,” Tucker said. “But let the record reflect we are filing an appeal on this.”
Prosecutors said Mack Smith, 46, also was armed at the time of the shooting, although he did not fire the fatal gunshots He was indicted as a principal to the murder, and his trial is set
said He said different departments have different cultures and ways of operating, but all agencies are focused on public safety
The department holds a briefing the morning of the parade to ensure that everyone knows their job and duties.
Limiting the length of the parade and the amount of time people stay in the city is also important, officials said. Simply put, the more time people spend drinking, the more likely something will go wrong. In 2023, the parade route had 137 floats, compared to this year’s cap of 75.
In 2024, the city capped it to 80 floats to give emergency services better access to throughout the city
“The parade, granted, is fun, but you have people that take it to the extreme. They’re sitting there power drinking while the parades are going on, so it gives them a long time to power drink. You end up with fights and safety issues. God forbid someone getting
CATS
Continued from page 1B
From the picket line, workers consistently listed wages as a priority in the new contract. In 2024, according to a wage chart from the previous labor agreement, pay started at $17.51 per hour for an operator trainee and $18.74 for an operator in their first year
“As the capital city and as the second-largest transit agency in the state, we should not be falling behind Jefferson Parish, nor Shreveport,” DeCuir said.
Regarding workers’ safety, he said, the union is calling for the buses to be sanitized more frequently and tires to be checked for quality tread.
Smalls said the union’s demands have been consistent throughout the negotiating process.
“I think the people of Baton Rouge need to understand that not only the union is fighting for our members — we’re fighting for common-sense management that can bring and deliver adequate transit service for them,” Smalls said.
Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@theadvocate. com.
shot at,” Broussard said. Broussard said next year he hopes to improve traffic leaving the city Traffic issues made up the bulk of calls for service this year In the next few years, Broussard hopes to have police traffic cameras put up across the city to monitor
hot spots and traffic choke points better
“My thing is to make sure to fight for the citizens and everybody that comes into the city of Youngsville.” Broussard said, “To make sure we’re safe and to fight for those officers that they’ve got everything they
need to do their job. You give them the right tools, the right knowledge and the right training, it makes sure everything is running smoothly “
Email Stephen Marcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTO By ALENA MASCHKE
Letitia Labbie feeds a great horned owl fledgling in an enclosure on her property in youngsville on March 7.
Obituaries
Allen, Ernest J. 'Bayboy'
Ernest J. "Bayboy" Allen
Sr., 78, of White Castle, passed awaypeacefully on March 7, 2025. Aproud U.S Army veteran, Ernest served his country with honor and was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery. Adevoted husband, father, and grandfather, He leaves behind his wife of 53 years Audrey Stevenson Allen, children, Ernest Christopher Allen Felicia Osborne, and Raychel Stevenson, 8grandchildren and 5greatgrandchildren. Viewing will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Roscoe's Mortuary, 58635 Meriam Street, Plaquemine, LA. Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph Baptist Church, 58105 CaptainT THarris Street, Plaquemine, LA 70764, on March 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Interment in Louisiana National Cemetery.
Alton Ard Jr.(JR) passed away on February 23, 2025, in Prairieville,Louisiana. He was born on May 1, 1979, in Zachary, Louisiana. JR is survived by his wife, Liberty Ard of Zachary; sons, Simon Ard, Talan Ard, Collson Weems; and daughter, London Ard. Mother, Beverly Ellis (Greg) of Farmersville,TX. Father, Ray Ard Sr. (Connie)of Mississippi. Sisters, Karmine Lee (Nick), Jackie Schwartz (Lawrence)of Lucas and Frisco TX,. Many Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Family was at the heart of Alton's life, and he cherished his children above allelse. He was preceded in death by his loving grandparents, Scott Robertson, Faye Robertson, Janet Smith, and Sonny Smith. ACelebration of Life will be held in JRs honor on March 15, 2025, at Zachary Community Park in Zachary, Louisiana. The service will take place from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM May Alton'smemory bring comfort to those who knew them. He is at peace now wrappedinGods arms.
Charles “Jim” Becnel, 85, a native of Franklin LA and a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge LA died on Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025 in New Orleans. He is sur‐vived by his brother, Glenn A Becnel (wife Kathryn), of Harahan and three nephews, Charles (wife Kate) Jeffrey and David (wife Priscilla). He is also survived by six great nephews/nieces (Elise, David Mary Sophie Amelie and James). Jim was preceded in death by his father Charles J. Bec‐nel, Sr.; and mother, Elise Robichaux Becnel both of Franklin, LA. Mr. Becnel graduated from Franklin High School and LSU, with a degree in Landscape Ar‐chitecture. He worked as a City Planner for Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes. He also did land‐scape architecture pro‐jects for numerous clients through the years Jim’s in‐terests included garden‐ing interior design art travel, dining and visiting with family and friends He was always very support‐ive of his family friends and many charitable causes throughout his life
The family is deeply grate‐ful to the late, Lisa Orcino and Buddy Price for their friendship and support of Jim in his later years that allowed him to live in his home in Baton Rouge Rela‐tives and friends are in‐vited to attend a memorial service at Greenoaks Fu‐neral Home located at 9595 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70815. Visitation will be at 1 pm followed by the memorial service at 2 pm on Saturday, March 15 2025. In lieu of flowers, do‐nations may be made in his memory to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank or the charity of your choice. To view and sign the online guestbook, please visit www greenoaksfunerals. com
Rouge, LA 70815. Visitation will be at 1 pm followed by the memorial service at 2 pm on Saturday, March 15, 2025. In lieu of flowers do‐nations may be made in his memory to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank or the charity of your choice To view and sign the online guestbook please visit www greenoaksfunerals. com
Arleen
Arleen "Nana" Berthelot
Brignac passed away at her home on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at theage of 84. She was aloving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She modeled unconditional love and forgiveness, Christlike behavior, and never judged others. She enjoyed reading her Bible lessons, cooking for family gatherings, playing Rummy with her hubby while bird watching, and loved talking on the phone with friends and family. She also enjoyed watching tennis, keeping up with the news, occasional outings to the casino, and scrolling through Facebook. In her younger years, she loved traveling with Pampie and friends. She was preceded in deathbyher parents, Raoul Joseph Berthelot, Sr. and Winifred Ruth Berthelot; great-grandchild, Bodie Devall; and her sister, Theresa Oubre. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, whom she met in 8th grade, John "Pampie" Emmett Brignac; daughters, Meredith Brignac Landry (Jason) and Allison Brignac Wooten (Ryan); sons, Dean Michael Brignac (Traci) and Remi Paul Brignac (Chris); grandchildren, Brittany Devall (Blake), Lauryn Robinson (John Michael), Brennon Brignac (Beth), Emily Arnold, Brooke Lowenkron (Ben), Beau Brignac (Hannah), Brohn Brignac, Anna Wooten, Luke Immasche, and Jake Wooten; greatgrandchildren, Bristol Devall, Harper Lowenkron, Baker Devall, Finley Arnold, Wesley Robinson, John Emmett Brignac III, Rex Arnold, Cooper Brignac, Ellie Arnold,Logan Lowenkron, Mollie Robinson, Garrett Landry (Bridgit), Peyton Landry, and two on the way; sisters, Winnie Gilbert and MelindaBecnel; and brother, Raoul Berthelot.Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge. AVisitationwill be held at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. The family would like to give special thanks to Bridgett Barker, Ursula Pinkney, Jessica Carr, Linda Kelley, and Marshon Isaac, Pinnacle Home Healthand Hospice, Decision Critical, and Landmark SouthRehab for taking great care of their Nana. Family and friends may sign theonline guestbook or leave apersonal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.
Nana. Family and friends may sign theonline guestbook or leave apersonal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.
Burks, Shelia Gail
Shelia Gail Burks was born on November 11,1960 Shelia departed this life on March 03,2025 at Our Lady Of The Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She leaves to cherish her memories, her loving son, Reginald Williams, Jr. of Baton Rouge,La., one granddaughter Briana Williams of Arizona, three siblings Deborah Burks, Temika Burks, bothofBaton Rouge,La and Darrell Burks of Gonzales, La. Three nieces, one nephew and two great nieces. Visiting from 9am until religious service startsat11am on Saturday March 15, 2025. Zion Travels Baptist Church 9339 Ravenswood Road, Fordoche, Louisiana.
Virgie R. Clark departed this life on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Woldenberg Vil‐lage in New Orleans, LA She was 87, a native of Bertrandville LA and resi‐dent of Marrero, LA. Visita‐tion on Saturday, March 15 2025, at St Joseph the Worker Catholic Church 455 Ames Blvd., Marrero, LA 70072 from 8:00am to re‐ligious services at 10:00am Interment in St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church Cemetery Arrangements by Williams & Southall Fu‐neral Home, 5414 Hwy 1, Napoleonville LA (985)3697231. To sign the guest book or offer condolences visit our website at www williamsandsouthallfune ralhome.com
Ster ng E. Man Cooks departed this life on Sunday, March 9 2025, at Assumption Community Hospital He was 66, a na‐tive and resident of Napoleonville LA Visita‐tion on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Williams & Southall Funeral Home Napoleonville, LA from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Visitation on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Nelson Chapel A.M.E Church from 9:00 am to religious services at 11:00 am. Interment in St Phillip Baptist Church Cemetery Arrangements by Williams & Southall Fu‐neral Home, 5414 Hwy. 1 Napoleonville, LA, (985) 369-7231. To sign the guest book or offer condolences, visit our website at www williamsandsouthallfune ralhome.com
Duplessis,Florence Daigle 'Flo'
Florence "Flo" Duplessis, 86 and aresident of Darrow, LA passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 after alengthybattle with Parkinson's disease. She lived for herfamily both immediate andextended to include nieces, nephews,godchildren and friends and especially the babies. She loved to cook and provide Sunday dinners for her family. On any day, you could get acup of coffee and great company gathered around her kitchen table. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Burton L. Duplessis; 3daughters, Stacie D. Naquin (David), Rachel D. Robert (John), and Kristi D. Herbst (Josh); 2sons, Burton L. Duplessis Jr., (Vickie), and Bris J. Duplessis (Donna); sister-in-law, Clara B. Daigle; 14 grandchildren,Amanda L. White (Jason), Allyson LeBlanc, Savannah R. Morales (Jacob), Sarah R. Phelps (Joseph), Andrew Robert, Nicholas Robert, John B. Robert, Abram Herbst, Easton Herbst, Brad Duplessis (Sarah), Talmage Duplessis, Ashley D. Guillory (Ryan), B.J. Duplessis (Tori), and Brant Duplessis (Heather); 10 great-grandchildren,Jacob and Addison White, Colt LeBlanc, Noah, Jack, and Audrey Morales, Liam and Bonnie Duplessis, and Briston and Britley Duplessis; Flo was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Estelle Lanoux Daigle; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marie and Billy Mares, Catherine and Doyle "Pomp" Bourgeois, baby Delores Daigle, Fay and Elmore Cranfield, and baby Mae Daigle; brothers and sister-in-law, Arthur and Rita Daigle, and Manuel Daigle. Avisitation will be at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, LA on Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 5pmuntil 8pmand will resume at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Darrow, LA on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 9amuntil Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Burial to follow in Cornerview Cemetery. Flo was blessed with 9grandsons who will be the pallbearers. Arrangements by Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales, www.oursofh.com.
lessis, Ashley D. Guillory (Ryan), B.J. Duplessis (Tori), andBrant Duplessis (Heather); 10 great-grandchildren,Jacob and Addison White, Colt LeBlanc, Noah, Jack, and Audrey Morales, Liam and Bonnie Duplessis, and Briston and Britley Duplessis; Flo was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Estelle Lanoux Daigle; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marie and Billy Mares, Catherine and Doyle "Pomp" Bourgeois, baby Delores Daigle, Fay and Elmore Cranfield, and baby Mae Daigle; brothers and sister-in-law, Arthur and Rita Daigle, and Manuel Daigle. Avisitation will be at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, LA on Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 5pmuntil 8pmand will resume at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Darrow, LA on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 9amuntil Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Burial to follow in Cornerview Cemetery. Flo was blessed with 9grandsons who will be the pallbearers. Arrangements by Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales, www.oursofh.com.
Melissa Bell Faucheux, a resident of Gonzales, La passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at theage of 77. She wasa seamstress, she loved knitting, crocheting and quilting. She was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church. She is survived by her husbandof 57 years, Vernon Faucheux; children,Dion Faucheux (Michelle), Tina Falgoust (Scott), and Kevin Faucheux; grandchildren Trent Faucheux, Nathan Faucheux (Ryllie), Cameron Falgoust, Alex Faucheux (Alexis), Seth Faucheux, and Channah Faucheux; sisters, Vivian Ireland, Rachael Holy (Bill), and Barbara Cotton; and sister-in-law, Pauline Faucheux. Melissa was preceded in death by her parents, Henry andMary Helen Bell; daughter-inlaw, Helen Marttz Faucheux; grandson, Heath Faucheux; siblings, Charles Bell, Virginia Starkey, Tom Bell and Harriett Bell and her mother-in-law, Ange Marie Haydel Faucheux. Services for Melissa will be on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church, 1022 N. Burnside Ave, Gonzales. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until the memorial mass at 11:30 am. Arrangements by Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales.
Brignac,
Berthelot 'Nana'
Harris, Betty Rock Zion B.C. 1405 Gummers Lane, Sunshine, La. at 7pm Hillman, Matthew Sunrise Chapel
Faucheux, Melissa Bell
Clark, Virgie R.
Jones, Douglas
Becnel, Charles 'Jim'
'Cookie Man'
Faucheux; grandson, Heath
Faucheux; siblings, Charles Bell, Virginia Starkey, Tom Bell and Harriett Bell and her mother-in-law, Ange Marie Haydel Faucheux.
Services for Melissa will be on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church, 1022 N. Burnside Ave, Gonzales. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until the memorial mass at 11:30 am. Arrangements by Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales.
Franklin, Danny
Anative of New Orleans, LA passed away on March 6, 2025 at his residence in Innis, LA at the age of 66. Survived by two daughters, Zeadra Sparrow and Briana Wheeler, siblings, Patrick White, Gloria, James, Paul,Calvin, and William Franklin, other relatives and friends. Visitation on Saturday, March 15, 2025, A. Wesley Faith Center, 152 Hwy 3050, Morganza, LA, 70759. Rev. Lionel Davis, officiating. Interment in Good Faith Cemetery, 2308 LA Hwy 971, Lettsworth, LA
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, William James Glasper, Sr., 94, graduated honorably from this life to alife of eternal rest. William was born on February 11, 1931, in Baton Rouge, LA to George and Jessie RandallGlasper, Sr. William graduated from McKinley High School in 1948. His education after high school took adetour, because he entered the United States Air Force after his freshman year at Southern University, where he was enrolled in the first ROTC program at Southern. William served honorably in the USAF. HisAir Force service took him to Japan, where he served 31 months during the Korean War. After his service tour,he re-entered Southern University where he graduated in 1955 with aBachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. He later earned aMaster's Degree in Education plus 30 hours of graduate work at Southern University in 1965. He did further study at LSU, the University of Oklahoma, and Loyola University in New Orleans. William Glasper was employed with the East Baton Rouge School System in 1955 and served for 401/2 years. During his tenure in the school system, he was ateacher at Northwestern High School from 1955 to 1967. He later served as the school system's demonstration teacher for the Louisiana Arts and Science Center Planetarium, taught mathematics, and was ascience teacher. He served as Supervisor of Evaluation for ESEA Title IPrograms, Coordinator of ESEA, Supervisor of Research and Program Evaluation and finally, as Director of Research and Evaluations before his retirement in 1996. Mourning his departure is his beloved and devoted Wife of 64 plus years, Clara Byrd Glasper; Children: Malcolm Glasper, Sherri Glasper, Sharon G. Lenoir (Horace), Mark Glasper,Sr. (Tamika); nine Grandchildren, nine Great-Grandchildren, one Great-Great Grandchild; Sisters: Elouise Hays and Rosa Lee Broussard, and ahost of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Viewing is at Elm Park Baptist Church on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 10:00 am until Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am. The Interment is at Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary, LA. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to A.
Gordon, Joyce Guitreau
Joyce Lee Guitreau Gordon, bornAugust 7, 1932 in French Settlement, Louisiana passed peacefully at the age of 92 ather Baton Rouge, Louisiana residence on March 12, 2025. She attended French Settlement Highschool and graduated in 1950. She pursued her clericalskills at SpencerBusiness College and then workedwith the Louisiana Insurance Commission for 30 years before retiring in 1983. Joyce was amember of Grace Baptist Church. She married Victor Bruce Gordon, Sr. on May 1st, 1953 and together they had 1son, Victor Bruce Gordon, Jr. She wasanexcellent cook and enjoyed quiet time in herhome, especially while reading and watching her shows. Traveling was alove of hers and she was happiest when camping with her husband and family that was able to join. She enjoyed many years of sweet friendship with her bestfriend Sylvia Simmons. She is survived by her grandson JamesChristian Gordon (Kristin), great-grandsons Dustin "Patrick" Gordon, Noah Bruce Gordon, and Jonah David Gordon, great grand-daughterLilah Grace Gordon, brother Joseph Ray Guitreau (Dixie), sister June Guitreau Berthelot (Roger), six nieces, six nephews, and numerous otherfamily members and lovedones. She is preceded in death by husband of 37 years Victor Bruce Gordon, Sr., son Victor Bruce Gordon, Jr., father Andrew Clodian "A.C." Guitreau, motherAlice "Bernice" Wascom Guitreau Wells, and brother Norman Guitreau.There will be avisitation held at Pine GroveBaptist Church (21949 LA-444, Livingston, LA 70754) on Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 9am to 11am with aservice starting at 11am. Burial willfollow at Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Harris, Betty
Betty JamesHarrisdeparted this lifeFriday February 28, 2025 Visitation Roscoe Mortuary 58635 Mariam StPlaquemine La on Friday March 14, 2025 from 5to7pm Religious service at Rock Zion B.C. 1405 Gummers Lane Sunshine La 70780. Johnson Jr., Charley Jessie 'CJ'
Charley Jessie Johnson Jr., native of Scotlandville, La., passed awayonMarch 6, 2025. Viewing willbe held Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 10:00 am to 12 noon at Resting Place Funeral, 7840 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge,LA70806.
McKenney, Carolyn Jones Carolyn JonesMcKenney, anative of Dorseyville,LA, passed away on Sunday, March 2nd 2025 at age 73. She leaves to cherish her memoriestwo children,two grandchildren, 2brothers, 1sister, one brother-inlaw, and two sisters-inlaw. Viewing on Friday, March 14, 2025 atRoscoe MortuaryofPlaquemine, LA. From 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Viewing will resume on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Church of Dorseyville,LA.,from 9:00 A.M. until Funeral Service at 12:00 P.M. conductedby Rev. Gregory L. Coates, I.
Felix “Pop” Mollere Jr departed this life on Tues‐day March 4, 2025, at Thi‐bodaux Regional Medical Center He was 77, a native and resident of Paincourtville, LA. Visitation on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Williams & Southall Funeral Home, Napoleonville, LA from 2:00pm to 4:00pm Visitation on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Virginia Baptist Church from 8:00am to religious ser‐vices at 10:00am Inter‐ment in the church ceme‐tery. Arrangements by Williams & Southall Funeral Home, 5414 Hwy 1 Napoleonville, LA (985)3697231. To sign the guest book or offer condolences, visit our website at www williamsandsouthallfune ralhome.com
Shaffers, Lee Services for Lee Shaf‐fers will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Redemp‐tion Life Fellowship, 2400 Debra Dr. Baker, La. 70714 A public visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m with religious services beginning at 10:00 a.m Interment: Private Professional services en‐trusted to Charles Mackey Funeral Home
Lucille Davis Taylor, a native of Napoleonville and resident of Donaldsonville, gained eternal life on March 2, 2025 at the age of 93. Visiting 9 am Saturday March 15, 2025 at St. Phillip Baptist Church 7471 High‐way 405, Donaldsonville, until Celebration of Life Services at 11 am, con‐ducted by Rev Roland Julien, Pastor Interment in the church cemetery Please visit www dembyandson com to sign the guestbook
Thomas, Virginia Funeral services for Vir‐ginia Thomas will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Greater New Galilee Bap‐tist Church 9185 Wilbur St A public visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m with religious services beginning at 11:00 a.m Interment: Heavenly Gates Mausoleum. Profes‐sional services entrusted to Charles Mackey Funeral Home.
Thomas Jr., Senior 'Wamp'
Alifelong resident of Maringouin, LA and U.S. Army Veteran transitioned on March 6, 2025 at the age of 66. Survived by his mother Mary Jane Thomas, siblings Irma,Carl, Kenneth, and Troy Thomas, and other relatives. Preceded in deathbyhis father Senior Thomas, Sr., brothersSteven and Warren Thomas, sister Patricia Horton, and his niece Brittany Serf. VisitationonSaturday, March 15, 2025, House of Refuge Ministries, 3631 LA-78, Livonia, LA 70755, 8AMto10AM, followed by Religious Ser-
Horton, and his niece Brit-
tany Serf. VisitationonSaturday, March 15, 2025, House of Refuge Ministries, 3631 LA-78, Livonia, LA 70755, 8AMto10AM, followed by Religious Service at 10 AM, conducted by Rev. Mark Rodney. Interment in Greater Bethany B.C. Cemetery, 214 Valverda Road, Maringouin, LA 70757.
Thompson,Barbara Williams 'BJ'
Barbara "BJ" Thompson, age 74 of Baton Rouge, LA departed this life, Thursday, March 5, 2025. Viewing at Greater Philadelphia Baptist Church, 24497 Cook Rd, Zachary, LA on March 15, 2025 from 9:00 AM until service at 11:00 AM. Arrangementsentrusted to Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton, LA.
Varnadore, Michael W. 'Mike'
Michael W. Varnadore, 63, “Mike”, a resident of Zachary, LA, died on Sun‐day, March 9 2025. He worked for Corrosion Ma‐terials for over 35 years. There will be a visitation on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc. in Zachary, LA from 1:00 pm until funeral services at 3:00 pm, con‐ducted by Rev. Brendan Hannington He is survived by his daughter Rebecca McDaniel and her husband Matthew McDaniel of Cheyenne, WY; son, Adam Varnadore and his partner Nicole Johns of Baton Rouge; two brothers: James L. Varnadore and wife Susan Varnadore of Zachary; Richard Var‐nadore and wife Donna Varnadore of Gonzales; two granddaughters Ma‐honey McDaniel and Mait‐land McDaniel; and stepmother Karen Varnadore of Zachary. He was preceded in death by his father, James Varnadore; sister Angela Davenport; mother Joyce Smith; stepmother Nelva Galland His hobbies include machine work car‐pentry, and computers He was an active member of Apostolic Church in Zachary. Share sympa‐thies, memories, and con‐dolences at www Charlet FuneralHome.com
Michael W. Varnadore, 63, “Mike”, a resident of Zachary, LA, died on Sun‐day, March 9, 2025. He worked for Corrosion Ma‐terials for over 35 years There will be a visitation on Saturday March 15 2025, at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc in Zachary LA from 1:00 pm until funeral services at 3:00 pm, con‐ducted by Rev Brendan Hannington. He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca McDaniel and her husband Matthew McDaniel of Cheyenne, WY; son, Adam Varnadore and his partner Nicole Johns of Baton Rouge; two brothers: James L Varnadore and wife Susan Varnadore of Zachary; Richard Var‐nadore and wife Donna Varnadore of Gonzales; two granddaughters Ma‐honey McDaniel and Mait‐land McDaniel; and stepmother Karen Varnadore of Zachary He was preceded in death by his father James Varnadore; sister Angela Davenport; mother Joyce Smith; stepmother Nelva Galland. His hobbies include machine work, car‐pentry and computers. He was an active member of Apostolic Church in Zachary Share sympa‐thies, memories, and con‐dolences at www Charlet FuneralHome.com
Young Sr., Leroy
Leroy Young Sr. -Age 86, of Baton Rouge, LA passed away to glory on March 8, 2025. Born March 12, 1938, in New Orleans, LA to the late Viola Reynolds Young and David Young. Leroy was the beloved husband of Mary Young; lovingfather of Vanessa Young Payne (Franklin Jr.), Meci Young Duncan (Keith), Leroy Young, Jr. (Patia) and Pastor Dedra Miller (Reginald). Cherished brother of Gladys Gant. He had one stepdaughter, Votika Turner Spears (Wayne). He has ahost of grandchildren,great grandchildren,nieces, nephews andfriends. He was preceded in death by parents David and Viola Young, daughter Bridget Young, son Audie Murphy, brother, Louis Young, sisters' Ethel Warner and Mildred Shepherd, and mother of the children from a previous union, Annie Jean Young. Leroy was agraduate of Scotlandville High School (Class of 1957) and attended Southern University and Baton Rouge Vocational School. He retired from the LouisianaSchool of the Deaf after over 22 years of dedicated service. He was recognized by the late former LouisianaGovernor Edwin W. Edwards for hisgreat service. Leroy wasa foundingDeacon at the Richardson Chapel Church of God in Christ and avery devoted Deacon at City of David Church of God in Christ andlater also served as Associate Deaconwith his daughter at No More Chains Outreach Ministry, all in Baton Rouge, LA. He will be remembered for his love for God and his family, his zest for life andlearning, his musical talents and love of poetry. Celebration of life services will be held at Saintsville Church of God in Christ, 8930 Plank Rd. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70811, March 22, 2025, at 2pm. Interment following at Winnfield Memorial Park, 7221 PlankRd. Baton Rouge LA. 70811. Pastor
of Baton Rouge, LA passed away to glory on March 8, 2025. Born March 12, 1938, in New Orleans, LA to the late Viola Reynolds Young and David Young. Leroy was the beloved husband of Mary Young; lovingfather of Vanessa Young Payne (Franklin Jr.), Meci Young Duncan (Keith), Leroy Young, Jr. (Patia) and Pastor Dedra Miller (Reginald). Cherished brother of Gladys Gant. He had one stepdaughter, Votika Turner Spears (Wayne). He has ahost of grandchildren,great grandchildren,nieces nephews andfriends. He was preceded in death by parents David and Viola Young, daughter Bridget Young, son Audie Murphy, brother, Louis Young, sisters' Ethel Warner and Mildred Shepherd, and mother of the children from a previous union, Annie Jean Young. Leroy was agraduate of Scotlandville High School (Class of 1957) and attended Southern University and Baton Rouge Vocational School. He retired
Mollere Jr., Felix 'Pop'
Glasper,William James
Taylor, Lucille Davis
OPINION
Southern Spirit project is a good model
The first thing to know about the electric grid is that electrons are agnostic about who pays for the electric superhighway that connects generators with substations and ultimately customers Electrons follow the laws of physics.
The second thing to know about the electric grid is that customers very much care about who pays for that electric superhighway. Traditionally captive customers, often referred to as ratepayers in regulatory parlance, get stuck with the bill when big utilities make investments in the grid.
Recently, however, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved a multibillion-dollar grid project — Southern Spirit — that suggests a different model
for financing construction: one where the developer wears the risk and costs of building the project. At the end of 2024, the commission reached a settlement to approve the Southern Spirit Transmission Project, a near 320-mile ±525 KV, 3,000 MW high voltage direct current transmission line connecting Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. and southeastern transmission grids Conservatively speaking, 3,000 megawatts of transmission capacity provide a pathway to serve approximately 600,000 homes
The agreement follows a model that will increase grid reliability and access to affordable renewable energy by using private
investment, rather than committing ratepayer dollars to the grid project. This project will provide benefits to multiple regions across the Southeast. The project is designed to enhance grid resiliency during severe weather and extreme power usage events while also adding to electric diversification to help drive down rates. It is geared to address growing power demand by supplying reliable power to the ERCOT and southeastern grids.
Across Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, the project boasts a private investment of more than $2.6 billion by Pattern Energy For Louisiana, the economic impacts cannot be ignored. In every parish the transmission line passes through including DeSoto, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, Richland, Franklin and East
Carroll parishes, Southern Spirit will bring a range of direct and indirect economic boosts to these communities.
Once completed, the transmission line will support over 250 permanent jobs in the state, while also supplying over 2,000 construction jobs during its two-year construction. In the first 40 years of operations, the project is estimated to bring in local and state property tax revenue of over $349 million, while also adding many opportunities for local businesses. Louisiana stands to gain greatly from this project: The parish corridor needed for its function ensures that our state will not be left out of its loop of large-scale benefits.
The Southern Spirit project points to a larger storyline one distinguished by conservative, free market solutions to increase
grid reliability and access to affordable, clean energy Conservatives for Clean Energy Louisiana is proud to see conservatives working hard to develop and support private sector solutions to our energy challenges. We commend the Louisiana Public Service Commission for its approval of the Southern Spirit project.
After all, while the electrons may be agnostic about costs, the customers paying for those electrons and the grid that delivers them are not. Opportunities like Southern Spirit abound. We need only buy-in from the right minds, companies and developers to make economic energy solutions work across our nation.
Will Hardy is the director of Conservatives for Clean Energy Louisiana
Fluoride’s benefits have been proven over time I was a USAID cut. Here is what we are losing.
Fluoride has been used in drinking water for decades to help prevent cavities, but this common practice is now under attack. The movement has gained momentum in Florida and has the support of the nation’s health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr Any efforts to end fluoridation of public water supplies must be viewed with a critical eye. As a family nurse practitioner with a master’s degree in public health, I cannot overstate the urgency of safeguarding this vital public health measure. The evidence in support of fluoridation is overwhelming and irrefutable. Since Grand Rapids, Mich became the first city to fluoridate its water in 1945, communities with fluoridated water have consistently reported significantly lower rates of tooth decay This breakthrough is grounded in the pioneering research of Dr Frederick McKay who, in the early 20th century discovered the benefits of naturally occurring fluoride in Colorado water: While it caused minor tooth discoloration, it drastically reduced decay Today, federal guidelines recommend maintaining fluoride levels at 0.7 mg/L — an optimal concentration that maximizes cavity prevention while ensuring safety. The results are compelling: Fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 25% in both children and adults and children in fluoridated areas experience, on average, 2.25 fewer cavities than their peers in non-fluoridated regions. By preventing cavities, fluoridation reduces the need for expensive pro-
cedures such as fillings, root canals and extractions — many of which are not fully covered by insurance. The benefits extend beyond health care costs as untreated dental issues can lead to missed school days for children and decreased productivity for adults, affecting both educational outcomes and economic well-being. Fluoridation helps mitigate these challenges, ensuring healthier communities while alleviating financial burdens.
Organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics unequivocally endorse water fluoridation as the most effective and economical way to prevent tooth decay Beyond oral health, fluoridation promotes health equity by acting as a powerful equalizer that provides cavity prevention to all families regardless of income or access to care. At a time when health care disparities are widening, this intervention is more crucial than ever. Critics of fluoridation cite isolated studies suggesting potential neurodevelopmental effects in
children exposed to high fluoride levels. However, these studies often focus on regions with fluoride concentrations far exceeding the strict regulatory limits maintained in the United States. Here, careful monitoring ensures fluoride remains within safe and effective ranges, mitigating any risks.
Despite decades of robust scientific backing, fluoridation programs face mounting threats. Social media has become a hotbed for pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, eroding public trust in proven public health practices. As we face these challenges, we must not allow baseless fears to dictate public health policy The evidence is clear, the benefits are undeniable and the need for fluoridation is urgent. The obligation to protect the oral health of our communities, especially our children, remains constant. The time to act is now to protect our communities and uphold a legacy of public health progress.
Melissa Perera LeBrun is a professor at the Loyola University School of Nursing.
Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, I fell in love with the French language. Cajun French was all around me, and not just when we laissez les bons temps rouler! We would all coo at every cher bebe and quip with a mais non! or zut alors! when things went sour
I continued to pursue French as schooling went on, and was thrilled to learn I could apply these language skills for the greater good — working in global health, supporting U.S. Agency for International Development-funded public health activities across west, central and southern Africa.
In my 15-year career I traveled to Niger to meet with the country’s government about how to most efficiently and effectively distribute moustiquaires, or insecticide-treated bednets. While we are no strangers to pesky mosquito bites in Louisiana, outside of the U.S. the insect can carry malaria, a leading cause of death and disease in children and pregnant women worldwide.
I crossed the globe to Madagascar, a francophone island country, to conduct market research on how best to decrease the country’s astounding rates of stunting of children’s growth, a result of chronic malnutrition across many parts of the country Most recently I helped to facilitate a dual French-English language meeting in Ghana, bringing 183 grassroots organizations together to share how to better their businesses to prevent and treat HIV across the continent.
However, my dream career came to a screeching halt earlier this year I was laid off from USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS on Jan. 28, the day after returning from maternity leave. The office was helping to provide lifesaving medication for more than 20 million people worldwide, including more than 500,000 children with HIV, within an agency that lives depended on in 177 countries around the world was swiftly and haphazardly torn apart in less than a month.
In an attempt to help me feel better, many of my friends and family have shared that they know someone who lost their job under the Biden or first Trump administrations. Others have cited that under Clinton, more than 400,000 jobs were lost.
This is not that.
When the Clinton administration conducted its National Performance Re-
view in 1993, it cut more than 400,000 jobs, methodically and thoughtfully They gave the key leaders six months to determine how and when to cut down. I am one of 51,946 Americans who lost their jobs just from USAID’s shutdown in a matter of weeks. More than 100,000 more job cuts are expected globally when taking into consideration USAID’s vast network. And those of us affected by the USAID shutdown are not just losing a job, we’re losing our entire industry of helping others — all while being called “radical lunatics” by our president along the way Seth Middleton, an army veteran who served in the military for 21 years who was let go from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, put it best: “USAID is neither a criminal organization nor a ball of worms. It does not deserve to die or to be thrown into the wood chipper Rather, it is filled with patriotic Americans who have honorably served their country.”
Still, many remain happy that our money is no longer going abroad — reflecting that at least private sector workers and businesses on American soil are not being affected by these cuts.
This is not that.
Louisianans are going to suffer. Not just francophone Louisiana natives like me who found an opportunity to use their French skills in international development. Louisiana rice farmers are losing income.
Reports have noted that more than $500 million worth of food, planned for distribution to those affected by famine and starvation, is sitting and rotting in a Houston port. Louisiana institutions are losing funding. Millions in research previously funded by USAID to LSU’s AgCenter to breed resilient crops will be taken away And for those who were hoping that at least all of these cuts would result in significant savings to our federal budget?
This is not that.
USAID typically accounted for between 0.7-1.4% of our federal budget. So much good done around the world, jobs provided, agriculture and research funded, for so little of our taxpayer dollars.
Mais non, c’est pas ça. Zut alors! C’est pas bon.
Elizabeth McGehee Kiriakou lives in Virginia Beach, Va.
Melissa Perera
Elizabeth McGehee Kiriakou GUEST COLUMNIST
STAFF FILE PHOTO By G.E ARNOLD
Efforts to put fluoride in the water supply of Louisiana cities began in the 1950s.
COMMENTARY
ROOM FOR DEBATE AMENDMENT 2
Early voting begins Saturday on four proposed amendments to the state constitution on the March 29 ballot, including a sweeping rewrite of the section that deals with taxes and revenue.Amendment 2 advances some longheld priorities but also faces criticism for having been hastily debated and creating consequences that voters might not fully understand. Here are two perspectives:
Tax reform ballot measure gives La. a chance to lead
It’s rare in these polarized political times to find much of anything on which 80%-plus of people can agree Amendment 2 presents that opportunity, as evidenced by the fact that it passed overwhelmingly from the legislative process, drawing opposition from only 15 state House members and winning the vote of every single state senator
That overwhelming legislative support reflects a harsh reality: For too long, our state has lagged behind its neighbors, weighed down by an outdated tax system and a bloated constitution that stifles economic growth, sending our children and grandchildren to states with more jobs and greater opportunity
On March 29, voters have an historic opportunity to change that trajectory Amendment 2 isn’t just another ballot measure; it’s the capstone of Gov Jeff Landry’s and the Legislature’s bold tax reform agenda, a plan that has already delivered the largest tax cut in Louisiana history and hundreds of new jobs in just a short few months. Now, it’s up to us to finish the job.
The passage of Amendment 2 would double the income tax deduction for seniors — a well-deserved reward for a lifetime of contribution. It also moves parishes away from taxing business inventories by making such a tax, a relic that punishes entrepreneurs and deters job creation, optional. The existing homestead exemption — and protections for religious organizations remain in place.
These changes aren’t just tweaks; they’re a signal to job creators and families alike that Louisiana is open for opportunity
The Pelican Institute has long championed pro-growth policies to unleash Louisiana’s potential. We’ve argued that our tax code — riddled with complexity, high rates and disincentives for investment — has held us back from competing with states like Texas, Tennessee and Florida.
Last year’s special legislative session marked a turning point: Income tax rates were lowered and flattened, the job-killing corporate franchise tax was repealed and structural reforms were set in motion. Amendment 2 locks in those gains and takes us further revising Article VII of our constitution to create a leaner, more competitive framework for the future. What does a “yes” vote mean?
For starters, it lowers the maximum allowed individual income tax rate, enacts a government growth limit to keep spending in check, bolsters the state’s “rainy day” fund and eliminates duplicate savings accounts that tie up resources. It even secures a permanent pay raise for teachers and school support staff by redirecting currently locked-up funds to erase teacher retirement debt a win for education without raising taxes.
This isn’t about short-term fixes; it’s about long-term prosperity By shifting certain provisions from the constitution to statute, Amendment 2 gives the Legislature flexibility to adapt as needs evolve — something most states take for granted. It also imposes a higher bar for new tax deductions and special interest treatment, requiring a two-thirds vote, ensuring that tax relief benefits all Louisianans, not just the well-connected. And by empowering local governments to align sales taxes with state law and opt out of inventory taxes, it fosters local control without overreliance on Baton Rouge.
Skeptics may point to the length of the amendment — yes, it’s substantial. But that’s because it tackles decades of constitutional clutter head-on.
For years, good government advocates from all sides of the political spectrum have called for a streamlining of Article VII. This is that moment. It’s a chance to shed the complexity that has made Louisiana an outlier and embrace policies that can bring our kids and grandkids back home
On March 15, early voting begins. By March 29, we can set Louisiana on a path to rival the economic powerhouses of the South. The Pelican Institute has said it before: Tax reform isn’t optional, it’s essential. Amendment 2 is not just a vote for lower taxes; it’s a vote for a Louisiana where people want to live, work and raise their kids. We’ve waited long enough. Let’s lead the way
Daniel Erspamer is chief executive officer of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy.
Flawed constitutional rewrite would create bad policy
Louisiana voters face an important choice on their March 29 ballot that could have a generations-long impact on the state’s ability to fund the public services that can help our state thrive. Amendment 2 is a complicated and cumbersome 115-page rewrite of the longest section of the constitution, which governs tax and budget policy Crafted behind closed doors and approved in haste during a November special session, it would permanently enshrine a regressive tax system where the wealthiest people and corporations pay lower effective tax rates than people with low incomes.
The amendment would eliminate constitutionally protected funds that provide ongoing funding for education and transportation, and would make it harder for policymakers to deal with the ups and downs of Louisiana’s economy It would almost certainly leave Louisiana with less state and local revenue to finance essential services such as schools and health care that people and communities need in order to prosper
not change.
The amendment also does away with the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, created by voters less than a decade ago to help smooth out the volatile ups and downs of Louisiana’s corporate tax collections. This new fund has been wildly successful, collecting $2.8 billion in reserves that state lawmakers could use to shore up the budget in a down year or invest in new roads, ports or other infrastructure.
Instead, the fund would be eliminated, with some of its money used to pay for tax cuts and provide one-time payments to local governments that agree to give up on an ongoing source of funding.
This amendment is being presented to voters in language that is misleading. The 91 words that voters will see on their ballot don’t come close to capturing the true extent of what they are being asked to consider.
Before we talk about what the amendment does, it’s worth looking how we got here, as Amendment 2 is a case of a flawed political process leading to bad policy outcomes.
Louisiana’s 1973 constitutional convention was a two-year process with hundreds of public meetings by elected delegates. This latest constitutional rewrite happened in a 16-day special session, where legislators also made deep cuts to corporate and personal income taxes and gave Louisiana the nation’s highest overall sales-tax rate.
From this rushed process came an amendment that is poorly written and barely understood, revives discredited budget practices and comes with the possibility of unintended consequences.
The “permanent” teacher pay raise? It depends on doing away with constitutionally protected funds that provide $64 million per year in ongoing support for education programs. While most teachers would be getting a raise from their local school boards, they would also be giving up on the stipends they’ve received the past two years from the state, so their total compensation would
Amendment 2 also creates a new — and unnecessary — “government growth limit” that would make it much harder for policymakers to create and sustain new programs and services. If a future Legislature decided that the status quo was no longer acceptable and wanted to bring teacher pay to the Southern average or make early childhood education available to everyone, the growth limit could prevent it from doing so.
It’s a similar story with taxes: By putting a low constitutional “cap” on income tax rates, the amendment would give future generations less flexibility to deal with budget challenges. Should they decide that wealthy households should bear a higher share of the cost of funding state services the cap would stand in their way All of this comes at a time of unprecedented budget turmoil in Washington Each day brings new headlines about federal programs and services that President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, want to cut. These cuts will hit especially hard in Louisiana, where federal funds make up more than half of the state budget. Programs like Medicaid, disaster relief and K-12 education are shared costs between the state and federal government. If Congress cuts these programs, it will create pressure on Louisiana to make up the difference. State policymakers need more freedom and flexibility as they confront these challenges. But Amendment 2 would make their job much harder, and potentially leave Louisiana citizens without the services they need to reach their full potential.
Jan Moller is executive director of Invest in Louisiana.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
The Louisiana State Capitol is lit in the early morning hours of Jan. 15 in downtown Baton Rouge.
Jan Moller GUEST COLUMNIST
Daniel Erspamer GUEST COLUMNIST
Ozone
Inside the day LSU pitcher Schmidt passed on the MLB Draft and rocked the baseball world
William Schmidt woke up at 11:30 a.m. on July 14 not knowing what decision he’d make. Would he become a professional baseball and potentially earn millions of dollars as a firstround MLB Draft pick? Or would he stay home and fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming an LSU baseball player?
All he knew was that he needed to make the five minute drive back home to talk about it with his parents. The draft was starting in a matter of hours.
“I would say it was probably 50/50,” Cindy Schmidt, William’s mother said.
LSU fans know the next chapter of the story Schmidt picked LSU and effectively pulled his name out of the MLB Draft. Despite being ranked as the No. 1 high school right-handed pitcher, according to MLB.com, the Catholic High star decided to stay home and enroll at LSU.
So far, it’s a choice that’s paying off Schmidt has a 1.35 ERA through the first 131/3 innings of his LSU career
He’s started three midweek games, but coach Jay Johnson told 104.5 ESPN FM that he probably won’t be throwing on Tuesdays anymore “for the rest of his career here.”
Instead, he’ll be one of a handful of arms Johnson will rely on in relief ahead of LSU’s Southeastern Conference opener against Missouri on Friday (4:30 p.m SEC Network+)
“I’m loving it,” Schmidt said. No regrets at all.”
So how did it happen? What transpired onthedaySchmidtdecidedtostayatLSU?
Here’s the story of how one of the most heralded recruits in LSU history made his choice.
Derek Curiel knew Schmidt for two years before they were roommates.
They had participated in the same All-American showcase events over the last few summers. Curiel was a top 10 player in the country, according to Perfect Game, and committed to LSU. Schmidt was the No. 1 pitcher in the nation and the top player in Louisiana.
“One was in Arizona, one was in North Carolina, another one was in Texas,” Curiel said. “We (also) played against each other in some
tournaments in like Georgia.”
At these events, the two bonded through ping pong. Curiel claims that he and Schmidt were always the best players there, but he’d usually win anytime they’d face each other
“Me and him would just spend literally hours before the game just playing ping pong, messing around,” Curiel said, “and we just talked for hours and played.”
While at these showcases, Curiel would talk with Schmidt and Konnor Griffin a fellow LSU commit — about what it would be like to play together at LSU.
ä See LSU, page 3C
LSU gym heads to Auburn with SEC title on line
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
Every week, multiple times a meet, the “stick crown” comes out. An LSU gymnast nails her routine, glues her feet to the mat as though there was a magnetic attraction, and the crown, a surprisingly weighty piece of costume jewelry, materializes and is carefully placed upon yet another Tiger’s carefully coiffed head. No doubt several LSU gymnasts will get crowned in Friday’s meet at Auburn. And it stands to reason the more stick crowns the Tigers get the better their chances of winning.
This Friday, there is a bigger prize in mind. LSU has come to the end of the regular season tied with Oklahoma for first place in the Southeastern Conference standings at 6-1. Both the Tigers and Sooners, who are at Georgia, need a win to ensure they claim at least a share of the trophy For No. 1-ranked Oklahoma, in its first season competing in the SEC, it would be a new achievement. For LSU it wouldn’t be a first but something that none of the current
ä See SEC, page 6C
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
Chase Young says he has always been invested in taking care of his body But as his career progressed and he was affected by several significant injuries, the New Orleans Saints pass rusher decided to spare no expense. So Young spent $30,000 on a pulsed electromagnetic machine — better known as a PEMF machine. They’re typically found in NFL facilities and can help with inflammation, scar tissue, bone density and all sorts of areas that athletes have grown used to treating.
He keeps it at his house.
“I wouldn’t have made a purchase like that my rookie year,” Young said.
LSU freshman starting pitcher William Schmidt throws against Xavier of Ohio on Tuesday at Alex Box Stadium. STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
ä See SAINTS, page 2C
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSU gymnast Konnor McClain bows as teammate Alyona Shchennikova places the Tigers’ ‘stick crown’ on her following her balance beam routine on Feb 28 at the Raising Cane’s River Center
On TV
MEN’S
3:35
TBD ESPNEWS
8 p.m. Big Ten: TBD vs. Michigan BTN
8 p.m. AAC: TBD vs. UAB ESPNU
8 p.m. Big East Tournament: TBD FOX
8:30 p.m. Mountain West: TBD CBSSN
8:30 p.m. AAC Tournament: TBD ESPN
8:30 p.m. Big 12 Tournament: TBD ESPN2
8: 30 p.m. SEC: TBD vs.Alabama SECN
10:30 p.m.Big West : TBD vs. UC Irvine ESPN2
11 p.m. Mountain West: TBD CBSSN WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
4 p.m. AEC: Vermont at Albany ESPNU
SAINTS NOTEBOOK
Saints sign Yiadom to bolster secondary
BY LUKE JOHNSON AND MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers
After enjoying a career year with the New Orleans Saints in 2023, Isaac Yiadom is coming back for more on a new free agent deal. The Saints are signing Yiadom, according to his agency, reuniting with the veteran defensive back after he inked a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers last season. On Thursday, the Saints announced the three-year $9 million deal that includes nearly $5 million in guarantees.
Though he made the roster as a core special teamer, Yiadom was pressed into starting duty in 2023 after a rash of injuries to the Saints defensive backfield, and he performed well in the role.
He broke up a career high 14 passes while also recording an interception and a fumble recovery His strong season was enough to earn him a $3 million contract with the 49ers last offseason. Yiadom appeared in 17 games for the 49ers last season, starting five of them while recording 46 tackles and an interception. He was there with Brandon Staley, who is now the Saints defensive coordinator He gives the Saints some much needed experience in the secondary. After PaulsonAdebo left the Saints
New york Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is on the ground after being hit by New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac yiadom during the first half of their game on Dec. 17, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome.
in free agency earlier this month, New Orleans had only two corners on its roster — Alontae Taylor and KoolAid McKinstry — who played more than 150 defensive snaps last season.
Saints add TE
Tight end was a priority for the Saints this offseason, and the team wasn’t done adding at the position even after re-signing Juwan Johnson.
The Saints reportedly agreed to terms with tight end Jack Stoll on a one-year contract, signing a player who played under coach Kellen Moore when they were with the Philadelphia Eagles last year
Stoll, 27, had two catches for 10 yards in seven games for Philadelphia last season. But he actually finished the year with the Miami Dolphins, who claimed the
27-year-old off waivers after he was released in November
An undrafted free agent out of Nebraska, Stoll is set to enter his fifth NFL season. The 6-foot4, 247-pound tight end spent his first three years with the Eagles. He has 22 career catches for 193 yards in 61 games.
The Saints hired Moore, Philadelphia’s former offensive coordinator, last month.
Clapp back
Will Clapp is back in his hometown.
Clapp, the former Brother Martin and LSU alumnus who was a seventh round pick of the Saints in 2018, signed a one-year deal with the club Thursday
He appeared in 34 games during his first four seasons in New Orleans, most often as the sixth offensive lineman in jumbo formations. He has since played with the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills.
Clapp left the Saints in 2022 to join the Chargers, where Brendan Nugent was his position coach. Nugent coached Clapp during his first four seasons with the Saints, and New Orleans recently hired Nugent back in the same role.
The 29-year-old Clapp has mostly played as a swing offensive lineman along the interior in his career, giving the Saints depth at both center and guard.
Darnold hopes to ‘do something special’ as Seahawks QB
BY ANNE M. PETERSON AP sportswriter
Once the Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Geno Smith, Sam Darnold saw his opening
The Seahawks introduced Darnold on Thursday after he signed a three-year deal he agreed to earlier in the week. The contract is worth $100.5 million, and Darnold will make $37.5 million this season.
“Obviously heard the Geno news, when that broke I knew that this could potentially be a spot for me,” said Darnold, who wore an unbuttoned flannel shirt to his introductory news conference. Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders last week. He threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season for the Seahawks, who missed the playoffs.
The 27-year-old Darnold reunites with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The two worked together in 2023, when Darnold backed up Brock Purdy with the San Francisco
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
The investment also paid off — perhaps quite literally.
Young re-signed with the Saints this week on a three-year, $51 million contract, and it’s arguably no coincidence that the 25-year-old was able to secure such a deal after playing a full season for the first time in his five-year career
After undergoing neck surgery last offseason, and after suffering a traumatic knee injury years earlier, Young was able to stay healthy and play in all 17 games in the 2024 season.
Young’s health, too, had been a question mark entering last season. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year settled for a one-year, $13 million contract that was essentially a prove-it deal. And that
49ers.
“I think we have an opportunity to do something very, very special here but it’s going to take a lot of hard work — and we know that going in,” Darnold said. “Very excited to take this one day at a time, and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to put my head down and go to work.”
The Seahawks are the fifth team for Darnold, who was drafted third overall out of Southern California by the New York Jets in 2018 but struggled during three seasons with the Jets and two with Carolina.
After pulling backup duty with the Niners, he had a breakthrough in his only season with Minnesota, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 TDs while posting a 102.5 passer rating and leading the Vikings to 14 wins.
“The thing about Sam that really sticks out is he’s an A-plus teammate,” said Kubiak, who was the Niners’ passing coordinator when Darnold was there. “He elevates those around him and guys he plays with respect him because your best players are your hard-
contract also contained provisions that would have cost Young money if he had been forced to miss time.
But Young stayed on the field — and played some of his best football as a result.
“That’s what I’ve been working towards,” Young said. “But I definitely think it helps being healthy
This is a league where people get injured, snap of a finger you never know So it’s always a blessing being able to go through a season fully healthy.”
This offseason also marks the rare occasion that Young hasn’t had to worry about recovering from a major injury Last year, he said, he had to sit for three and a half months — “like do nothing, a bump on the log,” he said — before he could begin working out after his neck procedure. Each of the two years before that, Young focused on working his way back from his 2021
est workers, that’s what you really strive for It’s what you want as a coach and Sam has that in spades.”
Darnold will be the centerpiece of a new-look offense after the departures of Smith and receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett Thirdyear receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had 100 catches in 2024, should be Darnold’s top target.
Darnold has a strong arm and the confidence to fit throws into tight windows. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell harnessed Darnold’s aggressiveness, and the Seahawks hope to do the same.
“You definitely feel Sam’s presence, poise, competitiveness, accuracy, the downfield threat, that’s certainly a part of it,” Seattle coach Mike McDonald said. “Then to be able to run the show operationally, Sam can do it with the best of them, as well.”
Metcalf, a two-time Pro Bowler who was drafted by the Seahawks in 2019, went to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A fan favorite, Metcalf expressed his gratitude to Seattle
knee injury that forced him to miss a total of 22 games. But Young can feel the difference now He said he hasn’t stopped working out, later saying that he’s excited about what the Saints’ new coaching staff will bring. Young is looking to build upon a 2024 campaign that included 51/2 sacks and 73 quarterback pressures. Though his sack total was underwhelming, Young still affected the passer by ranking sixth in pressures. Young said he was pleased with his output from last year but acknowledged there were areas to improve. The Saints, of course, would welcome more sacks. Of the top eight in pressures, Young and Los Angeles Rams rookie Jared Verse were the only players to not record double-digit sacks. And Young’s career high, to this point, is only 71/2 Young said he’s not wasting time
Stephen F. Austin tops SLU for SLC tourney title
Stephen F. Austin put four players in double figures and used a second-half rally to beat Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference women’s championship game and earn an NCAA Tournament bid on Thursday in Lake Charles. The third-seeded Ladyjacks (295) were led by Trinity Moore with 14 points, while Harmanie Dominguez, Ashlyn Traylor-Walker and Avery Vansickle each had 13. SFA trailed 32-29 at halftime but outscored the Lions (26-5) 14-7 in the third quarter and 22-18 in the fourth Top-seeded Southeastern which made just one of its last 12 field-goal attempts, was led by Alexius Horne and Taylor Bell with 13 points each. Lexi Alexander had a team-high 10 rebounds for the Lions, the SLC’s regular-season champions.
Duke loses Flagg, Brown in costly victory over Ga. Tech
Cooper Flagg went airborne to snag a rebound in his first ACC Tournament game when Duke’s freshman star landed awkwardly and crashed to the court, holding his left ankle and writhing in pain. It came moments after defensive whiz Maliq Brown had to be helped to the locker room, his left arm hanging limply by his side.
Duke now faces serious injury questions that threaten to linger well beyond however long the Blue Devils play this week in Charlotte. Coach Jon Scheyer said it’s a “real long shot” Flagg will be able to play in the ACC semifinals due to that sprained ankle suffered in Thursday’s quarterfinal win against Georgia Tech. Brown was taken to a nearby hospital after dislocating his left shoulder again less than a week after returning from injury
in an Instagram post.
“From the city to the organization to the 12s — you’ve been more than just a fanbase. You’ve been family You’ve given me so much, including the chance to play the game I love alongside some incredible men who will forever be my brothers. To my teammates — you’ve pushed me, believed in me, and let me be me both on and off the field...much love always,” Metcalf wrote.
In other moves, the Seahawks signed veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal He played in eight games last season with the Saints, with 17 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
The Seahawks also added longtime Dallas Cowboys edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence on a reported three-year deal. A four-time Pro Bowler, Lawrence played just four games last season because of a right foot injury. Over 11 seasons, he has 61 1/2 sacks.
Seattle also signed offensive lineman Josh Jones on Thursday
this offseason.
“My fire is still lit,” he said. As for his contract, Young said he wanted to stay in New Orleans from the beginning. Even with last year’s disappointing 5-12 record, Young said he liked his teammates, the city and the team’s fanbase. And it helped his family liked it in New Orleans also, he said After the deal was done, Young reached out to general manager Mickey Loomis and thanked him for believing in him. Often last year, Young would downplay the fact that he was on a prove-it type contract. But on Thursday, he acknowledged that he did bet on himself — to a point. Every year in the NFL, he said, requires to bet on yourself But some bets pay off more than others. And it takes work for that to happen. “You’ve got to invest in your body,” Young said.
Rangers RHP Bradford to open season on injured list SURPRISE,Ariz.— Texas Rangers righthander Cody Bradford will start the season on the injured list because of soreness in his throwing elbow Bradford had an MRI this week that came back clean, but Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday the club will shut him down for 10 days to see how he responds. Bradford was scratched from a scheduled start on Wednesday Bradford is the second Texas starter to get hurt this week after Tyler Mahle was scratched with forearm soreness. The right-hander is expected to start throwing again in a few days. The 27-year-old Bradford went 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 13 starts last season after appearing eight times the year before. He pitched in five playoff games during the Rangers’ 2023 World Series run.
NBC, IOC agree to $3B Olympic media rights deal
LAUSANNE, Switzerland NBC will now be the champion of Olympic broadcasting in the United States through at least 2036.
The IOC said Thursday it signed its long-time United States broadcast partner to a $3 billion renewed deal for the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2036 Summer Games. The International Olympic Committee’s statement said the agreement elevates Comcast NBCUniversal to being a strategic partner instead of just a media rights holder, promising “innovative joint strategic initiatives and projects” and involving the streaming platform Peacock.
WNBA announces 2025 draft to be held on April 14
NEW YORK The 29th WNBA draft is set to take place on April 14, the league announced late Wednesday For the second consecutive year, fans will be able to attend the draft when it takes place at The Shed in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards. In 2024, about 1,000 fans were on-site at the Brooklyn Academy of Music — steps away from Barclays Center to witness the Indiana Fever select Caitlin Clark with the No 1 overall pick.
The Shed, which opened to the public in 2019 and features concerts, theater and art experiences, is a significant upgrade from BAM. The Shed’s key space can hold an audience of up to 2,220 and also features room to house an additional
STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
LSU won’t
BY JIM KLEINPETER
Contributing writer
As well as the LSU softball has played this season, coach Beth Torina knows her No. 4-ranked Tigers haven’t reached their potential. At the same time, she’s taking the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach with SEC play beginning Friday with a three-game series against Kentucky at Tiger Park.
“The message is to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Torina said of her team which has started 24-1. “We’ve put up a nice brand of LSU softball on the field for the first 25 games Just continue that and playing the way we’ve played since the beginning of the season.”
The Tigers dive in against a team that is already tied for first in the league. The No. 23 Wildcats (17-7, 3-0) swept Missouri last weekend as one of 12 teams that has started conference play LSU, No. 23 Alabama and No. 1 Texas had byes the first week.
“It’s important we’re continuing to find ways to get better,” Torina said. “Even though the team has been super successful and doing a lot of things well, we’re continuing
LSU
Continued from page 1C
Griffin never made it to campus after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. But Curiel decided he was staying at LSU once he arrived on campus for freshman summer school nine days before the draft.
Schmidt also went to summer school but his future was still uncertain. Curiel had already been recruiting him to stay at LSU before they had gotten to campus.
Schmidt suspected that’s why LSU coach Jay Johnson paired them together as roommates. It turns out he was right.
“Why not put the guy that’s already made the decision to turn down pro baseball with him,” Johnson said. “And they’re both just so simple, easy going (and) fun guys, and I thought that they would enjoy being together.”
Curiel’s recruiting pitch to Schmidt was less of a pitch and more of a bonding exercise. He wanted to continue strengthening their relationship and show that he cared for his roommate.
He and his fellow freshmen didn’t bombard him with the same question that everyone else in his life was asking: What are you going to do?
“I kind of just try to keep it personal relationship, and just ask him like, ‘How’s (your) day going?’ and just be a good friend,” Curiel said. “And I felt like he respected that probably more than anything.
“We just kind of showed him, like, ‘Hey, if you stay here, this is what’s going to be like.’ And I think he wanted to be a part of that.” Curiel’s approach wasn’t a sign of uncertainty He was confident with how Schmidt’s decision would turn out, enough so that he stepped into pitching coach Nate Yeskie’s office a couple days before the draft and hinted at the possibility of Schmidt staying at LSU.
“The next thing I know, two or three days before the draft Derek’s texting me, like, ‘Hey, I’m your ace recruiter I got this,’ “ Johnson said “This (roommate decision) turned out way better than I even thought it would.”
Curiel’s confidence stemmed from his strong relationship with Schmidt and how he spoke about LSU. They talked about winning SEC championships and national championships together
On the morning of July 14, Curiel woke up to a call from Johnson asking if Schmidt had made his decision yet.
“I walked out there and Derek’s sitting in the living room,” Schmidt said. “He’s like, ‘You ready?’ And I’m like, ‘No, not really.’ “
Curiel made breakfast and went back to sleep afterward. The next thing he remembers was Schmidt waking him up to tell him the good news. He was staying at LSU.
The two then hopped in Schmidt’s car and blasted music on the drive over to the draft party Schmidt’s family had put together
“He was a man, and he ended up making his own decision,” Curiel said “People were telling him to do the opposite, go to professional baseball. But I felt like he stuck to his guns and made the right decision.”
Johnson figured that he was gone. There was no need to have a suit and tie draft meeting. There would be no power point presentation comparing him to an MLB star that Schmidt hoped to one day become.
Johnson didn’t believe there was any chance they could land the Baton Rouge star, despite his family insisting that they had not made up their minds.
“I watched him pitch at Catholic a couple of times and walked away like ‘This is not happening,’ “ Johnson told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club in January “Somebody’s going to give this dude a lot of money and he’s going to go.”
Schmidt still came to summer school, which wasn’t the case fowr all of LSU’s freshman signees.
Along with Griffin, left-handed pitchers Cam Caminiti and Boston Bateman also never arrived on campus. Both lefties ended up getting picked in the first two rounds of the draft.
Schmidt even showing up led Johnson to believe that he had genuine interest in becoming a Tiger. He didn’t think Schmidt was
to grow them and find ways to get better That only happens through attention to detail and how you
using LSU as leverage against MLB teams.
But what really opened Johnson’s eyes to the possibility of Schmidt staying at LSU was a conversation they had the day before the draft.
“Hey man, how are you doing?” Johnson asked.
“Awful,” Johnson remembers Schmidt replying.
“What do you mean? Talk to me about this,” Johnson responded.
“Coach, I really just want to play here but I don’t want to be dumb for turning down $3 million or whatever,” Schmidt said.
“Okay Well, explain that to me a little bit more,” Johnson asked.
“Well, if it doesn’t work out, I would rather it not work out here than out on my own in minor league baseball,” Schmidt stated.
Johnson was intrigued by his response for obvious reasons, but he also agreed with everything Schmidt said on face value.
“He’s right, honestly,” Johnson said. “Like there’s a thought of, ‘Hey, maybe I should just take the money.’ But if that’s all that you have and you don’t have this 36 month deal to grow, to work towards a degree, to be transitioned into manhood properly, your life can get off track.”
Johnson then told Schmidt that he’d support him no matter what decision he made. But when he hadn’t heard back from him on the morning of July 14, he figured Schmidt had started moving out of his summer dorm room.
“Well, I think I have my answer,” Johnson remembered thinking.
Bracing for the bad news, Johnson called Curiel.
“I was like ‘Hey, what’s going on with our boy,’ “ Johnson said. “He was like ‘Oh, coach, he’s still asleep right now.’ “
Then, at around 12:30 p.m., Johnson received a text from Schmidt. It was a picture of him holding a stuffed toy tiger
Johnson had landed his man, but he still needed to ask one more question.
“Hey buddy, I think I know what this means,” Johnson remembered saying. “But, I’m just making sure that’s an LSU Tiger and not a Detroit Tiger.”
When Cindy heard what Johnson
practice, prepare and conduct yourself on a daily basis.”
So far, so good. LSU has handled almost every situation and is playing its best ball with four consecutive five-inning, mercy-rule wins.
The Tigers are No. 2 in team batting average (.384) and tied for third in runs (209) among SEC teams.
Third baseman Danieca Coffey’s ability to get on base (.680 on-base percentage) and Tori Edwards’ power output (nine homer runs, 39 RBIs) have fueled the start. But the rest of the lineup is also producing, with three other starters batting better than .400.
The Tigers are also relying more on speed and aggressiveness on the bases The 40 steals is four fewer than they had in 61 games last season.
The pitching staff with junior Sydney Berzon, freshman Jayden Heavener and transfer Tatum Clopton has produced the No. 3 ERA (1.59) in the conference. LSU is facing a Wildcats team coached by Rachel Lawson, who is
said at the rotary club, it turned into a moment of reflection.
Did she really let her son sleep in until around noon on the biggest day of his life?
“Yeah,” Cindy said, “we did.”
Does he normally sleep in?
“Yeah, he’s a teenager.”
The night before, William and his fellow freshmen had gone out to Top Golf and had dinner together It was something Johnson had planned ahead of time, believing that a group outing could help get their minds off the draft.
But once the next day arrived, William wanted draft day to end as soon as possible.
“I decided to sleep on it a little more,” William said.
During William’s final season at Catholic, the family didn’t really talk about the draft. They wanted him to focus on trying to win a state championship and finish the year strong.
But, over the next month or two, major life events started coming at William fast and furious. He won a state championship, he graduated and then, suddenly he found himself in Arizona for the MLB Draft Combine.
The plan was for William to attend the combine and LSU summer school. It was so he could get a taste of both professional baseball and college before making his decision.
“We needed to give 110% (effort) to seeing what the draft was about and minor league baseball, and 110% effort into if LSU was the right place for (William),” Cindy said. “So we allowed him to do that without really putting any pressure or having any high level discussions about what his decision would be.”
Cindy and her husband, Bob, had no preference for whichever path William chose Naturally, they’d be happy with whatever he thought was best for him.
“We talked to him and gave him all the facts,” Cindy said, “and asked questions to make sure that we were comfortable with where his mindset was.”
But no matter how late he was willing to sleep in, William couldn’t push off his decision any longer
“We (asked), ‘Which way are you leaning?’ “ Cindy said. “And he said he really wanted to go to
in her 18th season and considered “one of the smartest minds in softball” by Torina. On the field, Kentucky is led by right fielder Peyton Plotts who is batting .364 with four homers and 26 RBIs. Third baseman Ally Hutchins is hitting .344 with three homers and 13 RBIs.
Among the Wildcats’ losses were games against No. 8 Duke, No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 4 UCLA, a team LSU defeated 2-1 two weeks ago. Alexia Lacatena, a control pitcher, is the ace of the pitching staff with a 6-1 record and a 2.52 ERA. She has 29 strikeouts in 461/3 innings but has walked only six batters. Sarah Haendiges, a transfer from Oregon State, is 4-2 with a 1.56 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 36 innings.
“They’re well coached and are going to be well prepared,” Torina said. “They are one of the best teams we will have played all year I don’t think our schedule has been a slouch by any means. We’ve played some really good teams, but looking at this team from top to bottom they’re going to be one of the best teams we’ve played all season.”
school. And we talked to him about that and laid out both paths.” William had made his decision, but what happened next was the hard part. He had to tell his advisor that he was taking himself out of the draft.
He wanted his mother to make the call on his behalf, but Cindy wouldn’t allow that.
“No, these are big boy decisions you have to (own up to),” Cindy said. “I get it. You’re asking your 18-year-old son to do things that you know most 18 year olds aren’t having to do.”
Shortly after he made the call, William’s advisor called back about 30 minutes later informing the family that they needed to post his decision on Twitter MLB teams thought William’s declaration was potentially a leverage play for more money
“People aren’t believing this is true,” Cindy remembered hearing. Cindy wanted to tell friends and family about his decision first before announcing it to the world, but the madness of the draft process made that impossible.
“I don’t know the inner workings (of the draft), but I think there’s a lot of leverage plays,” Cindy said, “and so I understand that.”
But it was finally over The only thing left to do for the Schmidt’s was celebrate.
The draft party was held at Marucci’s headquarters on McCann Dr in Baton Rouge The gathering was small and only included close family and friends Cindy didn’t want to organize a major gathering, especially since they weren’t sure with how the day would turn out ahead of time. They hung out and watched the draft. They got a laugh whenever William’s name would pop up on the ticker at the bottom of the screen, stating that he was the highest ranked player available. The stress they had faced was all gone.
“Once you go to the draft, you can never come back and play baseball for LSU,” Cindy said. “And if (his) dream — since he was a kid — was to play baseball for LSU, it’s hard to buy somebody out of their dream.”
Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
THE VARSITY ZONE
Brusly comes up just short again in semis
Panthers can’t hold late lead against No. 1 Wossman
BY MIKE COPPAGE
Contributing writer
LAKE CHARLES Brusly High School had a one-point lead and possession of the basketball with less than a minute remaining in its Division II nonselect semifinal game against No. 1 Wossman.
A technical foul on Brusly coach Kirby Loupe with 54 seconds left gave the reigning champion Wildcats the necessary daylight to even the score and ultimately
escape with a 56-52 win on Thursday at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
“Man, it’s tough,” said Loupe, whose fifth-seeded Panthers lost in the semifinals for the third time in five years. “I’ve been to the semis four times and lost at the buzzer all four times.
“Just on the record, I have no comment about a technical foul while I’m talking to my player That’s tough to swallow but no comment on that.”
Earlier, Loupe was given a warning for going out of the coach’s box to try to signal a timeout. He ventured onto the court to address one of his players during a pause in the action when the technical foul was called with the Panthers ahead 49-48.
Zion Weeks, who led all scorers with 31 points, made one free throw and followed with a basket for Wossman (27-6), which forced a turnover and ran out the clock with free throws.
History in the making?
Southern Lab can claim record-tying 17th state title
BY WILLIAM WEATHERS Contributing writer
Southern Lab senior point guard Braylon Brown has been at the school since the third grade. Two years later, as a middle school player, Brown started to understand the bigger picture and the school’s place among the state’s premier basketball programs.
When Southern Lab won its last state title — No 16 Brown was a freshman watching from the bench That 2022 team, coached by Harold Boudreaux, ended a 17-year state title drought. The hard work required to maintain such a lofty standard is an integral part of this year’s squad on its climb to the Division IV select championship game
“When you see all of the (state championship) banners, it makes you want to earn more, you want to be part of a culture,” Brown said. “The history makes you determined.”
The third-seeded Kittens (21-7) face No. 4 Hamilton Christian of Lake Charles (19-7) at 2 p.m Friday in the Division IV final at the boys state tournament at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
A win would give Southern Lab its 17th state championship and move it into a tie for the Louisiana’s all-time lead with Class C Zwolle. A win would also give SLHS a season sweep of Division IV girls and boys titles.
Boudreaux is in his fourth season, having capped his first season with a 57-54 victory over Calvary Baptist. The former LSU player understands the school’s rich basketball created under legendary coach Joel Hawkins, who won 11 state titles during his tenure at the school.
“The guys I’ve had for the last four years have bought in since the beginning,” Boudreaux said “They realize the tough work that they needed to be put in to make us that type of team. They’re
coachable and trust the process that we’ve given them every day.”
Hamilton Christian will play in its second state championship game after a runner-up finish in 2019. Southern Lab beat Hamilton Christian 61-60 in the semifinals in 2022.
The Warriors of Lake Charles advanced with a 54-51 semifinal upset of No. 1 Crescent City behind a triple-double from sophomore Javon Vital (16 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists).
Brown, the team’s leading scorer was 6 of 6 from the field — including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, for a gamehigh 20 points in Monday’s 51-46 semifinal win over Lincoln Prep Fellow senior Charles LaGarde-Leblanc added 14 points and five rebounds.
“We’ve been talking all year long winning a state title,” said Brown, one of three seniors along with Braydon Laws. “That’s the goal, to win a state title.”
“I thought we had control of the game,” Loupe said.
“It’s unfortunate that it was taken from us. I’m very proud of my kids.
“My kids battled. Wossman is the standard, right? I think they’ve been here 13 times in a row Man, congrats to (coach) Casey Jones and Wossman. What a quality program. They’re so well-coached They’re so physical, so tough. It’s what we aspire to be.”
Brusly (25-5) led 16-13 after one quarter and could’ve had a much larger lead, making only 8 of 18 free throws
in the quarter The Panthers, who shot three more free throws the rest of the way, were led by Edrick Snearl’s 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals.
“We really worked on developing for the future, for this moment right here,” said Snearl, a senior four-year starter “(Coach Loupe) talked to us as freshmen like we were seniors. I think that’s why I think we were good. He gave us some expectations to meet, and we all met them. We just couldn’t get over the hump tonight.”
Junior Micah Bryant added 12 points for the Panthers, who shot 35% from the field (19 of 53). Junior forward Ben Radford had eight points and 11 rebounds. Senior Steven Wesley scored seven points with six rebounds, three blocks and two assists. “I think we’re getting there as a program,” Loupe said. “We have to find a way to knock down the door The future is bright. These two (Snearl and Wesley) really changed the culture as fouryear starters. We have a talented junior group.”
Central holds off rival DSHS to reach final
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer
LAKE CHARLES The notion that it’s hard to beat a team twice in one season — especially when that team is a rival did not apply to second-seeded Central on Thursday night. The Wildcats scored the first nine points and answered a second-half charge by Denham Springs with a 7-0 fourth-quarter run in a 62-56 semifinal victory at the LHSAA boys basketball tournament.
Top-seeded Zachary beat Natchitoches Central 65-45 late Thursday, setting up an all-District 4-5A final. The Division I nonselect final is set for 8 p.m. Saturday at Burton Coliseum.
“I told them before the game that they did not have a thing to prove to me,” Central coach Scott Osborne said. “They’ve prov-
en themselves every day by how hard they work. “We knew (Denham Springs) was going to come back on us In the timeouts, I never saw a look of panic.”
Jace Conrad scored 14 of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter The junior also saved his best for last, making two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to thwart a rally by third-seeded Denham Springs (29-4).
Collin Verrett added 11 points and Kedrick Franklin finished with 10 and 11 rebounds for DSHS.
Central outrebounded a smaller DSHS squad 45-25. Markell Sampson had a game-high 12 rebounds and DSHS made only 4 of 14 free throws.
De’Jean Golmond had 14 points and Jeremy Williams 13 to lead a quartet of double-figures scorers for Denham Springs, a team making its first tourney ap-
pearance in 22 years.
A switch to a 1-2-2 zone defense in the second half gave Denham Springs a much-seeded spark.
“We hit some big 3s at crucial times, but we also missed some layups and free throws,” DSHS coach Kevin Caballero said. “(The zone) turned the game around, but it’s also hard to rebound out of a zone. And they are so athletic.”
A layup by Conrad with 17.9 seconds left sent Central into the second quarter with a 20-9 lead. Central led 37-25 at halftime. DSHS cut the Central lead to 45-38 going into the fourth quarter and then tied it 45-45 on a free throw by JK O’Conner with 6:06 remaining. After Conrad hit a 3-pointer to give Central a 48-45 lead, the Yellow Jackets tied it on a 3-pointer by Golmond at the 5:08 mark.
Zachary leaves little doubt, routs Natchitoches Central
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
LAKE CHARLES Zachary rallied twice from early deficits in the first half of a state semifinal Thursday And once the Broncos went ahead for good, they left no doubt about deserving a chance to play for a state title.
A long scoring run over the second and third quarters helped top-seeded Zachary surge by No. 4 Natchitoches Central in a 65-45 drubbing in a Division I nonselect semifinal at Burton Coliseum.
The Broncos went form seven points down in the second quarter and led by nine after a 22-6 scoring run that put them up 40-31 midway through the third.
The Zachary lead widened in the fourth quarter — enough so that coach Jonathan McClinton could clear his bench with his team leading by 25 points at the 1:31 mark. The two leading scorers for Zachary (27-6) got most of their points after the break. Senior Xavier Ferguson scored 10 of his 18 points after halftime and junior Kriston Brooks scored all but two of his 16 points in the second half Brooks made the two free throws that put Zachary ahead for good in the third quarter Ian Edmond (13 points) quickly intercepted a pass at midcourt and scored on a layup to keep the run going. Junior Cambien Price scored 10 points.
The win advanced Zachary to face No. 2 Central in the state final set for 8 p.m. Saturday — a rematch from when Central won a 4-5A district game in the final week of the regular season. The NCHS scoring duo of senior Jaden Braden and junior Ja’Dell Demery challenged Zachary by scoring 23 points in the first half but managed to score only 11 after the break. The teams were tied four times in the first quarter Jay’sen Prelow made a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer that put NCHS ahead 17-14. NCHS (25-6) led by seven points in the second quarter Zachary closed the half with a 10-2 run that put the Broncos ahead 28-27.
Division I nonselect: No. 2 CentralBR vs. No. 1 Zachary, 8 p.m. Central 62, DSHS 56 Denham Springs 9 16 13 18 56 Central 20 17 8 17 -62
SCORING: DSHS: Golmond 14, Williams 13, O’Conner 12, O’Conner 11 Golmond 4, Guerin 2; CHS: Conrad 22, Verrett 11, Franklin Jr. 10, Ranel II 8, Womack 4, Sampson 3, Thomas 2 Smith Jr. 2 3-POINT GOALS: Denham Springs: 6 (Golmond 4, O’Conner 1, Williams 1); Central: 5 (Conrad 3, Verrett, Franklin Jr.) St. Thomas More 46, John Curtis 44 John Curtis 7 16 15 6 44 St. Thomas More 9 15 11 11 -46
SCORING: JCCHS: Stevenson 17, Manning 11, Joseph 5, Johnson 4, Tapp 3, Martin 2, Shepard 2; STM: Bourgue 15, Roy 12, Potier 6, Cook 5, Babineaux 5, Guidry 3 3-POINT GOALS: John Curtis: 4 (Manning 3, Stevenson); St. Thomas More: 2 (Couvillion, Babineaux) Wossman 56, Brusly 52 Brusly 16 8 12 16 -52 Wossman 13 17 8 18 56
Southern Lab guard Braylon Brown dribbles around Liberty guard Chivas Lee during an East Baton Rouge Parish tournament semifinal game on Dec 28 at Woodlawn High School.
Ole Miss edges Arkansas in SEC tourney
By The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sean Pedulla
sank a long 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left after two missed two free throws at the other end to give No. 8 seed Ole Miss an 8380 victory over ninth-seeded Arkansas on Thursday in the second round of the SEC Tournament.
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile was at the free-throw line with 7.4 seconds left after he was fouled going for an offensive rebound. He missed both free throws and Dre Davis grabbed the defensive rebound Davis passed it ahead to Pedulla, who dribbled up the court for a shot well behind the arc for a go-ahead 3-pointer.
Billy Richmond III had a decent look from midcourt at the buzzer that bounced hard off the backboard and rim.
It was Pedulla’s only made 3-pointer in seven tries.
Arkansas finished 21 of 32 at the free-throw line.
Ole Miss (22-10) advances to play top-seeded Auburn in the quarterfinals on Friday
Malik Dia led Ole Miss with 19 points and eight rebounds and Jaylen Murray added 17. Pedulla was 4 of 12 from the field for 10 points. Jonas Aidoo had 17 points and eight rebounds for Arkansas (2013) before picking up his fifth foul with 4:44 remaining. Brazile had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Rich-
TOURNAMENT
mond also scored 15 and Karter Knox 14.
TEXAS 94, TEXAS A&M 88: In Nashville, Tennessee, Tre Johnson made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:08 left in the second overtime and the Texas Longhorns extended their first visit to the Southeastern Conference Tournament by beating old foe No 14 Texas A&M on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals.
Texas (19-14) came in as the SEC’s No. 13 seed with the Longhorns needing victories to play their way into the NCAA Tournament. They will face No. 4 seed and eighth-ranked Tennessee on Friday Johnson finished with 20 points.
Tramon Mark had 15, Kadin Shedrick added 14 and Jordan Pope had 13 for Texas.
MISSOURI 85, MISSISSIPPI STATE 73: In Nashville, Tennessee, Missouri began the postseason by getting back into the win column.
The No. 7 seed Tigers held off No. 10 seed Mississippi State for an victory in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday overcoming turnover issues and a star’s injury to snap a three-game losing streak.
Power forward Mark Mitchell left the game with a right knee injury, which challenged Mizzou’s depth and could be an impactful
LSU unraveled in conference tournament opening game
After promising start, Tigers suffer blowout loss to Mississippi State
BY TOYLOY BROWN III
Staff writer
Cam Carter rejected the screen and gave a legal push-off to a defender who embellished the contact with no foul called.
The LSU senior swished a pullup 3-pointer from 25 feet from the right wing. Carter trotted back on defense with an extra bounce in his step, trimming the deficit to one point after six minutes in his team’s first-round matchup against 10th-seeded Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tennessee.
This positive moment for the 15th-seeded LSU was not a sign of more lovely shotmaking to come.
After Carter’s first 3-pointer, his scoring was erratic, making just one of his next eight field-goal attempts.
As the team’s leading scorer, Carter and LSU (14-18) stumbled losing 91-62 to Mississippi State (21-11). This was the third-most points the Tigers allowed and the second-biggest loss this season The lopsided defeat was not all Carter’s fault. The Tigers guard finished with 13 points on 4-of12 shooting, six rebounds and a career-high seven turnovers. This was a teamwide unraveling where poor offense, shooting 39% overall, bled into its defense.
LSU scored easily in the beginning, starting 5 of 8 from the field
The most improbable score during this stretch was a contested end-of-shot-clock 3-pointer near the top of the key by Jordan Sears, who had 20 points and five steals.
While LSU was shooting 53% from the field with a little less than nine minutes left in the first half, it was still down 26-19.
The Tigers trailed because they lost the field-goal attempt battle. Their four-guard lineup failed to limit second-chance opportunities early. LSU also forfeited possessions because of a combination of the Bulldogs’ defensive pressure and some carelessness.
Mississippi State finished with 11 more shot attempts and forced 15 LSU turnovers.
Contested shots from Carter and Sears kept the score close initially but it wasn’t a winning formula. The current iteration of LSU has a minimal margin for error especially, without Vyctorius Miller and Corey Chest.
LSU entered the game 121st in offensive rating on KenPom for a reason, the worst among SEC teams Its tough buckets tapered off and it rarely generated any uncontested looks.
Carter was guarded tightly and outside of freshman Robert Miller, who had 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting, no other player could find breathing room for easy shots.
The Tigers’ issues were most clearly personified in the final 10:04 of the first half when they
mustered only three points and made no field goals.
LSU battled hard early in the second half to cut the deficit to 11 points. That effort was fruitless in a four-minute span when Mississippi State scored 17 unanswered, taking a 68-40 lead with 10:52 left in the game. While LSU’s scoring confidence appeared to dissipate with each miss, the Bulldogs seemed to get more empowered. Star guard Josh Hubbard had 26 points making half of his 12 3-pointers. The rest of the roster defended with intensity and played with a freedom where it seemed it could score every time down the court. Mississippi State shot 58% from the field and 61% from 3-point range in the second half. Mississippi State feasted on a disorganized defense, converting multiple alley-oop plays and made a season-high 15 3-pointers. The Bulldogs, who led by as many as 33 points, had 10 players make at least two field goals. LSU had only five and went 13 of 26 from the free-throw line.
It’s not known yet if the Tigers will have more basketball ahead this season in the NIT Coach Matt McMahon said after the game the program hasn’t thought about that. If this was LSU team’s final game of the 2024-25 season, the offensive deficiencies will be linger
Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com
Indiana guard Myles Rice, front, and Anthony Leal wait during a stoppage in play against Oregon during the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Thursday in Indianapolis.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
By
Indiana and Xavier now feeling the heat
BY NOAH TRISTER Associated Press
A look at the NCAA Tournament bubble picture: Missed opportunities Xavier and Indiana had chances to give their resumes a significant boost Thursday, but the Musketeers lost 89-87 to No. 25 Marquette, and Indiana fell 72-59 to No. 23 Oregon. Those aren’t bad losses by any means, but they were squandered chances, given that Xavier and Indiana are very much on the bubble.
And Texas and North Carolina, two bubble teams whose outlooks seemed pretty precarious a couple days ago, are still alive in their conference tournaments. The Longhorns snagged a huge win over No. 14 Texas A&M, 94-89 in double overtime. The Tar Heels beat Wake Forest 68-59, avenging a regular-season loss. North Caro-
lina has won eight of nine since a blowout loss at Clemson with the lone loss being at home to Duke last weekend. Indiana also closed the regular season strong, winning five of its last seven, but the Hoosiers fell short of the type of run in the Big Ten Tournament that could have solidified their position.
The experts say To underscore how close Texas and North Carolina are to the borderline there was plenty of disagreement on their status among bracket projections Thursday morning. The Washington Post and Sports Illustrated had Texas in the 68-team field but not North Carolina. CBS Sports had both teams out, with Boise State capturing an at-large spot. ESPN had North Carolina in but not Texas until an early evening update moved Texas in and Indiana out.
points Point guard Tony Perkins was clinical in the paint and finished with 18 points.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV
Ole Miss guard Dre Davis celebrates a basket against Arkansas during their SEC Tournament game on Thursday in Nashville, Tenn.
PHOTO
MICHAEL CONROy
MORE ST. PAT’S
Denham Springs will also be celebrating on Saturday at Main Street’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The 5 p.m. procession rolls from Denham Springs High School along Range Avenue, ending at Veterans Boulevard. Watch out for flying cabbages and moon pies. A prime watching spot is the Antique Village. READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? The East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s 19th One One Community selection is “Season of Life” b Jeffrey Marx. This six-week celebration of football and youth mentorship opens with a free tailgate kickoff party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Main Library at Goodwood. Entertainment, food, children’s activities and more.
BACK ON THE ICE
The second season is on for Baton Rouge Zydeco hockey, bringing high-energy action with a family-friendly atmosphere to the Raising Cane’s River Center Arena. The Zydeco takes on the Athens Rock Lobsters at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $10-$25+. ticketmaster.com.
By The Associated Press
Today is Friday, March 14, the 73rd day of 2025. There are 292 days left in the year Today in history
On March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein, who would revolutionize physics and the human understanding of the universe, was born in Ulm, Germany
On this date: In 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized the American cotton industry.
In 1964, a jury in Dallas found Jack Ruby guilty of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F Kennedy, and sentenced Ruby to death. (Both the conviction and death sentence were overturned, but Ruby died before he could be retried.)
QUEST
Continued from page 1D
prayerful performance of Mumford and Sons’ “After the Storm.”
“In order to be ready to walk into a room and make music with somebody at Sullivan’s level, I had to have been practicing and collaborating with people all these years,” Elling said. “That gave me the experience and the expertise to play at a certain level. It’s my responsibility to maintain and, possibly, expand my abilities through the course of a lifetime.”
Elling and Branford Marsalis — a member of the New Orleans jazz family that features Wynton, Jason and Delfeayo Marsalis and their late father, Ellis — worked together for nearly three years. Elling sang for the Branford Marsalis Quartet’s 2016 album, “Upward Spiral,” and Marsalis contributed to Elling’s Grammy-nominated 2018 album, “The Questions.” They hit the road together, too.
“Branford has done so much with music and understanding music,” Elling said. “Not just in terms of theory, but in the concepts of the greatest composers and improvisers. He has very well thought out, informed opinions. He’s stubborn about some of them. If you disagree with him, you’re going to get good argument.” Marsalis wins almost every argument, Elling added.
CIRCUS
Continued from page 1D
In 1967, the body of President John F. Kennedy was moved from a temporary grave to a permanent memorial site at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. In 1973, future U.S senator and presidential candidate John McCain was released from North Vietnamese captivity after being held as a prisoner of war for over five years. In 1980, a LOT Polish Airlines jet crashed while attempting to land in Warsaw, killing all 87 people aboard, including 22 athletes and staff members of the U.S. boxing team. In 2015, Robert Durst, a wealthy eccentric linked to two killings and his wife’s disappearance, was arrested by the FBI in New Orleans on a murder warrant a day before HBO aired the final episode of a serial documentary about
his life. (Durst would be convicted in the shooting death of his friend, Susan Berman; he died in January 2022 while serving a life sentence in California.)
In 2018, Stephen Hawking, the best-known theoretical physicist of his time, died at his home in Cambridge, England, at the age of 76 after living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for 55 years. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Michael Caine is 92. Country musician Michael Martin Murphey is 80. Actorcomedian Billy Crystal is 77. Country singer Kristian Bush is 55. Actor Betsy Brandt is 52. Actor Grace Park is 51. Actor Corey Stoll is 49. Actor Chris Klein is 46. Actor Jamie Bell is 39. NBA star Stephen Curry is 37. Actor Ansel Elgort is 31. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Simone Biles is 28.
“I knew that I had won an argument when he changed the subject real fast. I was proud of myself, but that happened only once.”
Elling recently returned from the jazz festival at sea known as the Jazz Cruise.
“Usually when you think of a jazz festival, it’s outdoors and there are a bunch of bands,” he said. “Well, here’s a jazz festival where everybody gets to stay the whole week. It’s inspiring to be among cats of that caliber.”
Jazz Cruise talent includes long-established performers like Elling and younger stars.
“I heard a couple of solo sets from Sullivan,” Elling said. “I heard Bill Charlap (one of America’s premiere pianists) a couple of times. And the fans are nice and the view is excellent.”
A Chicago native, Elling began pursuing a music
inspirational journey as he enters a world featuring a cast led by Ringmaster Shai Yammanee, the artistry of Deaf dancer Malik Paris and a host of acrobats, aerialists, comedic performers and more. Omnium Circus describes its show as a high-spirited, limit-defying, life-affirming spectacle that is a blend of wow moments and laughter In addition to the public performance on Friday, Performing Arts Society of Acadiana will also offer a daytime performance for students on Friday This performance is underwritten by a grant from Love Our Schools. The performance is part
career after he realized that being a jazz musician wasn’t an obsolete profession.
“I thought all the jazz musicians were dead,” he said.
“Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, all those incredible cats, I missed them all!”
But then Elling learned that jazz music venues still existed in Chicago.
“When I was old enough to go to clubs, I found that jazz was alive, and people were continuing the tradition,” he said. “Some of the Chicago legends took me into their wing. They encouraged me, again and again. I really owe it to Von Freeman, Eddie Johnson and Willie Pickens. I credit the musicians on the Chicago scene, the elders of that time, for my life in music.”
Email John Wirt at j_ wirt@msn.com.
of Performing Arts Serving Acadiana’s season of live entertainment.
Tickets start at $30 (student and group discounts available) and are available at omniumcircus.org and pasaonline.org. Tickets are also available at the Heymann Center Box office, 1373 S. College Road. For more information about Omnium, visit www omniumcircus.org.
FRIDAY
THE LAST MANGOS: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.
CHRIS HIMEL DUO: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m.
MICAH GILL: The Alley Downtown, Lafayette, 5:30 p.m.
THE MINTLLY ILLBILLIES: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.
PARADE
Continued from page 1D
oughly enjoyed.
Do you work outside the home or are you retired? If retired, what was your profession?
I was a primary school teacher, teaching children ranging in age from 4-13 years old. I taught every age group during my 37 years in the Irish education system. How did you and the parade organizers become connected?
I first got to know the Shingleton family through Patrick Quigley who once owned Ivar’s bar in Baton Rouge. My late brother Denis (who was Wearin’ of the Green grand marshal in 2004) got to know Paddy’s dad, Ivar, through the “universal language that is golf.”
The Quigley family became very close friends with my family We subsequently met Pat Shingleton (one of the parade’s founders) when he and a group of his family and friends came to my hometown, Killarney, on a golfing trip and as they say “the rest is history” — friends for life.
Have you ever led a parade before?
I have never had the honor of leading a parade, and what an honor this is. I have participated in a number of parades in Killarney, but never with an important role.
What was your first reaction to being asked to be grand marshal?
THE SOCIAL DIVIDE TOUR FEATURING CRASHING WAYWARD + THE ALMAS: Feed’n’Seed, Lafayette, 7 p.m.
SHAMROCK RUN
An all-ages 5K race preceding the Wearin’ of the Green Parade l 8 a.m. Sunday l From Moreau Physical Therapy on Perkins Road, left on Dalrymple Drive, left on East Lakeshore Drive, right on Perkins Road back to Moreau. l Awards to top 10 male and female runners l Register at wearinofthegreen.com/ shamrock-run
(Shingleton) called me. In fact in such a state of shock that I said yes immediately Then I had to “pinch myself“ after the conversation with Pat and say, “Did that really happen?” It was sheer delight then. Possibly the best way to describe the feelings is how you feel as a child when waiting for Santa’s arrival at Christmas.
Will this be your first time in the U.S.? If not, please give a few details on your last visit.
I have been to the U.S. on many visits, but never to the beautiful state of Louisiana. It’s a state I’ve always wanted to visit.
I’ve visited New York; Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Florida; Colorado; California and Hawaii over the past 40 years and thoroughly enjoyed every single visit.
Any particular place you’ll want to see while you’re here?
I loved geography when I was a student in secondary school high school for you — and the Mississippi (River) in New Orleans was
THE ROCK ORCHESTRA BY CANDLELIGHT: Heymann Center, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m.
TERRY HUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m. GROOVE ROOM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
DULCIMER JAM: St. Landry Visitors Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m.
JILL BUTLER: Whiskey & Vine,
something I’ve always wanted to see. My interest in geography has given me a bucket list to see the major rivers of the world. The Danube and the Rhine in Europe are already ticked off, along with the Zambezi in Africa. The Amazon is on the wish list.
Your sister is accompanying you to Baton Rouge. Tell us about the rest of your family My sister, Mary O’Rourke, is traveling with me There were five siblings but alas, just three of us are still alive. My two brothers, John Joe and Denis, are deceased. My last remaining brother Dermot, lives in Greystones County, Wicklow, Ireland. I’m single. Do you tell your age? I like to keep people guessing, but you can tell by the fact that I am retired — I retired before it was mandatory to do so in Ireland. I will quote Lucille Ball: “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.“ And the secret of really staying young is subtraction. It never fails. For more on the parade go to www.wearinofthegreen com.
Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.
PROVIDED PHOTO By ANNA WEBBER
The jazz fusion-crossover group yellowjackets is performing a series of concerts with Kurt Elling this year, including Wednesday’s show at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge.
Hozier headed back to N.O. with new tour
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
Barely a year after his previous visit, the Irish singer-songwriter Hozier plans to return to New Orleans in 2025.
His Unreal Unearth Tour is scheduled to stop at the Smoothie King Center on Sept. 23. The opening act is Amble. Tickets are on sale at livenation com
Hozier kicked off the Unreal Unearth Tour back in 2023. In its first two years, the tour logged 83 performances in 72 cities.
The 30-plus shows on the docket for 2025 include appearances at the Governor’s Ball and Bonnaroo festivals, as well as two nights at Boston’s Fenway Park.
Hozier performed on the second Friday of the 2024 New Orleans
Jazz & Heritage Festival, headlining the Gentilly Stage at the same time the Foo Fighters were at the Shell Stage. He had previously played Jazz Fest in 2015.
His 2024 EP “Unheard” yielded the No. 1 single “Too Sweet,” the first of his singles to top the charts in the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland.
Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.
SHOWS TO WATCH — BATON ROUGE
FRIDAY
JESSICA COMEAU (DULCI-
MER ARTIST): Bluebonnet Branch Library, 4 p.m.
ORIGINAL MUSIC GATH-
ERING: La Divina Italian Café, 6 p.m.
CAM PYLE: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.
EDDIE SMITH: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.
FLOYD BROWN: Pedro’s Siegen, 6 p.m.
KENDALL SHAFFER: Chris’ Specialty Foods, 6 p.m.
RACHAEL HALLACK: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m.
TERRELL GRIFFIN: Crowne Plaza, 6 p.m.
MELISSA SINGS: Pizza Art Wine, 6:30 p.m.
BULLS, BANDS & BARRELS FEATURING SAMMY
KERSHAW AND VINCENT MASON: Lamar Dixon Expo Center, Gonzales, 6:30 p.m.
FLORIDA STREET BLOWHARDS: Main Library at Goodwood, 7 p.m.
RHETT ANTHONY: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.
ALLISON COLLINS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.
DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: VFW HallChoctaw, 7 p.m.
JOVIN WEBB: Bin 77, 7 p.m.
HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-
STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.
BRYAN SOUTHWICK: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.
CHRIS THOMAS KING/
ERIC DISANTO: Red Dragon Listening Room, 8 p.m.
JOSH GARRETT: Spanky’s, Dutchtown, 8 p.m.
THE DRUNK UNCLES: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8 p.m.
BRYCE BROUSSARD: Moonlight Inn, French Settlement, 9 p.m. I-10 BOUND BAND: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.
JOEL COOPER & SCOTT
JORDAN: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.
KYLE WILSON: Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.
JOSIE OLIVA: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.
SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC
W/HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m
ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.
YELLOWJACKETS/KURT
ELLING: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
DIXIE ROSE’S ACOUSTIC
CIRCLE: Teddy’s Juke Joint, Zachary, 8 p.m.
OPEN MIC JAM: Brickyard South, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY
KYBALION: El Paso-Sherwood, 6 p.m.
OPEN MIC W/AMANDA JO
HESS: Istrouma Brewing, St. Gabriel, 6 p.m.
THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 6 p.m.
ALLISON COLLINS TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m
DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.
EMMA: Zilantro’s Mexican Grill, Central, 6 p.m.
STEVE LEVINE & FRIENDS: La Divina Italian Café, 6 p.m THE ROUX TONES: Pedro’s-Siegen, 6 p.m.
TONI & LAMAR: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.
TRAVIS MATTE AND THE KINGPINS: Perkins Rowe
6 p.m
ERIC LEGER: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.
MIKE HOGAN: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.
THE BISHOP ELLIS TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7 p.m.
TET DUR: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7 p.m
BRSO STRING QUARTET: Unitarian Church, 7:30 p.m. BRYAN MANNINO: Moonlight Inn, French Settlement, 7:30 p.m. DAMN TALL BUILDINGS: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m. HENRY TURNER JR. & ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m. BRITTON MAJOR:
FRIDAY
FRIDAY NIGHT LECTURE:
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events are covered. For ages 14 and older. Free. https://hrpo. lsu.edu/. Also, evening sky viewing 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY
“ROLEPLAY”: 7:30 p.m.
nightly; 2 p.m. Sunday, Reilly Theatre, Tower Drive, LSU An LSU Theatre production, the 2019 drama was developed by students and professionals at Tulane University Tickets are $9-$20. Visit lsu.edu/cmda/theatre/ events/index.php.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY AND THURSDAY
“THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME”: 7:30 p.m., Sullivan Theater, Central.
Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature $25-$35. https://www. sullivantheater.com/
FRIDAY-TUESDAY ZERBINI FAMILY CIRCUS: various times, Livingston Parish Fairgrounds, 13325 Florida Blvd., Livingston Adults, $15; children, $7. zerbinifamilycircus.com.
SATURDAY RED STICK FARMERS
MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada. org.
FAMILY HOUR STARGAZING: 10 a.m., Irene W Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky, followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org. A CELTIC CONCERT EXPERIENCE: 10 a.m., Zachary Branch Library, 1900 Church St. Featur-
ing Madam Dulcimer (Amanda Roberts) and Lady Chops (Elizabeth Vidos). Free. ebrpl.com.
READ AND CREATE!:
11:15 a.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Children ages 3-8 and their accompanying adults participate in a museum guide-led story time and art activity. Regular admission applies. lasm.org
TUESDAY
FLEX AND FLOW YOGA:
6:30 p.m., Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Rotating instructors and a variety of techniques. Free.
TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 18303 Perkins Road. Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom.ly/y-CKtQ4.
WEDNESDAY
RONNIE RANTZ: MY LIFE IN SPORTS: 6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. The former LSU baseball star, CEO and owner of the Baton Rouge Rougarou
Compiled by Judy Bergeron. Have an open-to-thepublic event you’d like to promote? Email details to red@theadvocate. com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following Friday’s paper AROUND
baseball team, and radio show host, will discuss his life. Free.
TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 27350 Crossing Circle, Suite 150, Denham Springs. Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom.ly/yCKtQ4.
THURSDAY
RED STICK FARMERS
MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/ redstickfarmersmarket.
TRIVIA NIGHT: 7 p.m., Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Test your trivia skills with your friends and family. Free.
ONGOING
BATON ROUGE GALLERY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. Scott Andresen, Paul Dean, Paulo Dufour and Frankie Gould, through March. Free. batonrougegallery org.
CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” through Jan. 10. (225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.
ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Group show. Call (225) 924-6437 or follow the gallery’s Facebook page.
IN DEMAND ART STUDIOS: 5800 One Perkins Place, Suite 5D. “This is Our Garden,” featuring the work of eight Baton Rouge-area women artists.
LOUISIANA ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S River Road. “Discoveries on the Nile: Exploring King Tut’s Tomb and the Amin Egyptian Collection,” through Oct. 31. (225) 344-5272 or lasm. org.
LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books,” through May 25; “In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940,”
works from the Bank of America Collection, and “Southern Reflections: Art by Kathryn Keller and Shirley Rabe Masinter, both through March 23. (225) 389-7200 or lsumoa.org.
MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and self-guided tours. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondaySaturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec. org/facility/MagnoliaMound.
OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com.
OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. “America’s Sacred Freedoms in the First Amendment,” yearlong exhibit. Free admission. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org. THE POYDRAS CENTER: 500 W. Main St., New Roads. Exhibit by artists Kellie Martin Smith and
Olivia McNeely Pass, through March. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Monday-Friday. Free and open to the public. https://650poydras.com/. SHAW CENTER FOR THE ARTS: 100 Lafayette St. “Umbrella of Color,” an installation by students in Glasgow Middle School’s talented visual arts program, through March 31.
USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displays of a variety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and naval military history Note: Vessel is in Houma for drydock repairs. usskidd.com.
Hozier performs on the Gentilly Stage during the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Taking on too much will be your downfall. Sometimes, you should yourself first to replenish yourenergyandconsiderhowbesttouse your strengths. Focus on relaxing.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Refrain from lockingyourselfintosomethingyoudon't want to do. Check out other possibilities and consider where your time and effort willmakethemostsignificantdifference in your life.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Finish what you startandheadintotheweekendwithouta worry Taking some time to enjoy nature or engage in social events will give you the pick-me-up you need.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Be careful not to start something you cannot finish. Honesty is the best policy, especially when dealing with people who need help or want answers.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Put your energy where it counts, and you won't be disappointed. A chance to make others take notice of your skills will help you move in a more responsible direction.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Take responsibility for your happiness. Love, romance and participating in something that brings you closer to someone will offer insight. Don't forget to relax.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Implement a financialplanthathelpsyousavemoney. Think twice before you take on someone's debt or responsibilities. Strive for
equality and balance in relationships to avoid dissatisfaction.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Let your emotions and heart step up and take the lead. Personal gains, self-improvement, love and romance are featured and can turn an ordinary day into something special.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) You'll have a revelation if you test your strengths and courage. Don't sell yourself short; you have more to offer than you realize, and the right people will help you discover how special and talented you are.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Fall in love with your life, your surroundings and the prospects available to you, and it will change the way you see yourself and your future. Make your way forward.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Set a budget and plan to alter your surroundings to suit your needs. Adding to your comfort and convenience will improve your attitude and benefit you more than you can imagine.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Putyourtalents and intelligence to work, and you'll find a way to bring in extra cash. A sideline business or activity will take on a life of its own.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
toDAy's cLuE: D EQuALs B
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe peAnUtS
FrAnK And erneSt
SALLY Forth
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM
SherMAn’S LAGoon
dooneSbUrY
bIG nAte
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
nea CroSSwordS
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
CurTiS
Puzzle Answer
Bridge
By PHILLIP ALDER
There are times when it is easier to play against good players. They are reliable. If they can do something beneficial for themselves, they will; they will not make silly errors. Beginners are not trustworthy. That is relevant in this deal, where South is an expert. He is in seven hearts. West leads a trump What should South do, and how should West discard?
After South opened one heart, North understandably drove into the grand slam after two doses of Blackwood.
Despite all of the high-card points, the contractlooksimpossible—declarerhas only 12 tricks. His only chance is to run winners and hope for a misdefense.
At the table, South took all of his trumps, discarding a spade from the board. West calmly pitched all of his diamonds. This persuaded East to throw diamonds as well. Thencamedummy’sdiamondwinners. East let go of three clubs; West released onespadeandoneclub.ButWestwasnot sure what to do on the last diamond.
Eventually, not wanting to come down to queen-doubleton in clubs, he discarded a second spade But now the missing spades were 2-2 and declarer gained a 13th trick.
