Comeback victory propels Tigers into Elite Eight for third year in a row
LSU’s Sa’Myah Smith, left, and Aneesah Morrow celebrate after the Tigers’ 80-73 win over North Carolina State in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament on Friday in Spokane, Wash. Morrow led the Tigers with 30 points and 19 rebounds, while Smith contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds Mikaylah Williams chipped in with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. The Tigers play again Sunday with a chance to advance to the Final Four ä Complete coverage in Sports, Page 1C. TIGER SW
BREC leader to leave in January
‘I am forever grateful for the opportunity’
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
BREC superintendent Corey Wilson announced at a meeting Thursday he will not renew his employment contract which expires in January 2026, and will leave the agency on that date.
“As a kid who directly benefited from the government service of having a park and recreation program right up the street from the public housing I grew up in, I know without a doubt, without a shadow of a doubt, that our efforts have had a lasting, positive impact in East Baton Rouge Parish and will continue to do so for years to come,” Wilson said
ä See BREC, page 6A
Elections will shape new city of St. George
Mayor, council seats and plan of government on ballot
BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer
A decade after the first petition to incorporate, six years after voters approved the new city and nearly a year after the state Supreme Court upheld its incorporation, the city of St. George will choose its first elected leaders Saturday Not only will a mayor’s race, a district council race and two at-large council seats be on the ballot, but voters will also approve or reject the proposed home-rule charter — a unique plan of government written by a local commission that has brought some controversy Saturday’s inaugural election comes down to three possibilities. Will voters back the established candidates and the charter they’ve endorsed? Will they reject both in favor of newcomers and a different form of government?
Four constitutional
Or will their support be split?
Though election season was only about two months in St. George, the mayoral race between two Republicans quickly turned fiery Appointed by Gov Jeff Landry last year, interim Mayor Dustin Yates hopes to hang onto the job as the leader of a group of appointees who’ve built St. George’s foundation over the past year But challenger Jim Morgan quickly established his candidacy with endorsements from firefighters’ unions in both St. George and Baton Rouge. He represents an effort to unseat a group of leaders some residents have criticized over the past year
The two unions opted for Morgan, a board commissioner of the St George Fire Protection District, over Yates, who has served as chief administrative officer for the St. George Fire Department for 11 years.
Yates has stumped on the importance of continued leadership as St. George takes shape, while also selling his experience in public service and his focus on bringing a school district to the new city “Voters are looking for somebody that has a proven track record of leadership, St George,” Yates said. “They’re looking for somebody that has stood up for and with the residents of St George. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.” Morgan’s campaign — which died and was
LSU announces hiring freeze
funding
BY PATRICK WALL and
COUVILLION Staff writers
tightening measures the public university will take in response to “unpredictable and unprecedented federal funding changes.” The school will pause hiring “with limited exceptions,” look for “redundant” positions to cut and explore using AI to take over some administrative tasks.
Universities nationwide have announced hiring freezes, layoffs and other cost-cutting measures after the Trump administration said in February it would reduce federal research funding by an estimated $4 billion annually
cited ä See LSU, page 6A
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yOUNG KWAK
Utah bans fluoride in public drinking water
SALT LAKE CITY Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, pushing past opposition from dentists and national health organizations who warn the move will lead to medical problems that disproportionately affect low-income communities.
Republican Gov Spencer Cox signed legislation Thursday barring cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems.
Florida, Ohio and South Carolina are considering similar measures, while in New Hampshire, North Dakota and Tennessee, lawmakers have rejected them A bill in Kentucky to make fluoridation optional stalled in the state Senate.
The American Dental Association sharply criticized the Utah law, saying it showed “wanton disregard for the oral health and well-being of their constituents.”
The ban, effective May 7, brings into the mainstream concerns over fluoridation that for decades were considered fringe opinions.
Khalil’s lawyers appear in New Jersey court
NEWARK, N.J Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student facing deportation for his role in pro-Palestinian campus protests, urged a federal judge on Friday to free their client from an immigration detention center in Louisiana, describing his imprisonment there as a “Kafkaesque” ploy to chill free speech.
“The longer we wait, the more chill there is,” defense attorney Baher Azmy said. “Everyone knows about this case and is wondering if they’re going to get picked off the street for opposing U.S. foreign policy.”
The parties appeared Friday before a judge in Newark, New Jersey, to debate where Khalil’s legal fight to be released from federal custody should play out.
An attorney for the Department of Justice, August Flentje, wants the dispute litigated in Louisiana, where Khalil was taken after his arrest, “for jurisdictional certainty.”
U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz said he would consider the “tricky” venue issues at play and issue a written decision soon. He declined to hear an argument for bail from Khalil’s attorneys, pointing to the need to settle the jurisdictional issue first.
Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdallah, an American citizen who is due to give birth next month, sat in the front row of the courtroom, surrounded by supporters. Scores of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse on Friday morning, chanting, “Free Mahmoud,” and hoisting signs featuring his face.
4 dead after storms at Texas-Mexico border
McALLEN, Texas Drenching rains along the Texas-Mexico border trapped hundreds of people in flooded homes and in cars stranded in high waters, scrambling rescue crews to calls for help that continued Friday even as the downpours let up At least four people died, including some who drowned. Officials warned that the devastation from the storms — which set records in parts of Texas’ low-lying Rio Grande Valley was only starting to come into focus. In Mexico, hundreds sought temporary shelter and videos on social media showed military personnel wading through chest-high waters. On the U.S. side, officials said at least three people were killed in Hidalgo County where officials said more than 21 inches of rain this week soaked the city of Harlingen. The region is rich with farmland, and Texas’ agriculture commissioner said the damage included significant losses to agriculture and livestock.
Quake rocks Myanmar, Thailand
Hundreds feared dead
BY DAVID RISING and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI Associated Press
BANGKOK — A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar on Friday, causing extensive damage across a wide swath of one of the world’s poorest countries and prompting officials to warn that the initial death toll — above 140 — was likely to grow in the days ahead.
In neighboring Thailand, at least 10 died in Bangkok, where a high-rise under construction collapsed.
The full extent of death, injury and destruction was not immediately clear — particularly in Myanmar, which is embroiled in a civil war and where information is tightly controlled.
“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” the head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said as he announced on television that at least 144 people were killed and 730 others were injured in his country
In Thailand, authorities in Bangkok said 10 people were killed, 16 injured and 101 missing from three construction sites, including the high-rise. The 7 .7-magnitude quake struck at midday, with an epicenter near Man-
International Rescue Committee’s Myanmar director Myanmar’s Englishlanguage state newspaper, Global New Light of Myanmar said five cities and towns had seen building collapses and two bridges had fallen, including one on a key highway between Mandalay and Yangon. A photo on the newspaper’s website showed wreckage of a sign that read “EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT,” which the caption said was part of the capital’s main 1,000-bed hospital.
A story Friday in The Advocate misspelled the name of a 17-year-old who died from injuries sustained in a January 2024 shooting. The teenager’s name is David Hampton. The Advocate regrets the error
dalay, Myanmar ’s secondlargest city Aftershocks followed, one of them measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude.
Myanmar is in an active earthquake belt, though many of the temblors happen in sparsely populated areas, not cities like those affected Friday The U.S. Geological Survey an American government science agency, estimated that the death toll could top 1,000.
In Mandalay the earthquake reportedly brought down multiple buildings, including one of the city’s largest monasteries Photos from the capital city of Naypyidaw showed rescue
Israel strikes Beirut
First such attack since ceasefire ended with Hezbollah
BY BASSEM MROUE Associated Press
BEIRUT Israel on Friday launched an attack on Lebanon’s capital for the first time since a ceasefire ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November
Associated Press reporters in Beirut heard a loud boom and witnessed smoke rising from an area in the city’s southern suburbs that Israel’s military had vowed to strike. It marked Israel’s first strike on Beirut since a ceasefire took hold last November between it and the Hezbollah militant group, though Israel has attacked targets in southern Lebanon almost daily since then.
Israel’s army said it hit a Hezbollah drone storage facility in Dahiyeh, which it called a militant stronghold. The strike came after Israel, which accuses Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields, warned residents to evacuate the area.
The area struck is a residential and commercial area and is close to at least two schools Israeli officials said the attack was retaliation for rockets it said were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel. They promised strikes on Beirut would continue unless Lebanon’s government worked to ensure such attacks ceased. We will not allow firing
at our communities, not even a trickle,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “We will attack everywhere in Lebanon, against any threat to the State of Israel.”
Hezbollah denied firing the rockets, and accused Israel of seeking a pretext to continue attacking Lebanon.
Lebanon’s government ordered all schools and universities in Beirut’s southern suburb of Hadath to close for the day. Residents were seen fleeing the area in cars and on foot ahead of the strike.
Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into Israel the day after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel by its Hamas allies ignited the war in Gaza. Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 in Israel and abducted 251 others during the 2023 attack
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict exploded into allout war last September when Israel carried out waves of airstrikes and killed most of the militant group’s senior leaders. The fighting killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced about 60,000 Israelis.
Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from all Lebanese territory by late January The deadline was extended to Feb. 18, but Israel has remained in five border locations while carrying out dozens of strikes on what it said were Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon. Last week, Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Lebanon killed six people.
crews pulling victims from the rubble of multiple buildings used to house civil servants.
Myanmar’s government said blood was in high demand in the hardest-hit areas In a country where prior governments sometimes have been slow to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar was ready to accept assistance. The United Nations allocated $5 million to start relief efforts President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. was going to help with the response, but some experts were concerned about this effort given his administration’s deep cuts in foreign assistance.
But the effects of his administration’s deep cuts in foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department will likely be tested in any response to the first big natural disaster of his second term.
But amid images of buckled and cracked roads and reports of a collapsed bridge and a burst dam, there were concerns about how rescuers would even reach some areas in a country already enduring a humanitarian crisis.
“We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction caused by this earthquake,” said Mohammed Riyas, the
Elsewhere, video posted online showed robed monks in a Mandalay street, shooting their own video of the multistory Ma Soe Yane monastery before it suddenly fell into the ground. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was harmed. Video also showed damage to the former royal palace.
Christian Aid said its partners and colleagues on the ground reported that a dam burst in the city, causing water levels to rise in the lowland areas. Residents of Yangon, the nation’s largest city, rushed out of their homes when the quake struck. In Naypyitaw, some homes stood partly crumbled, while rescuers heaved away bricks from the piles of debris. An injured man reclined on a wheeled stretcher, while another man fanned him in the heat.
Trump asks Supreme Court to allow deportations to continue
President using 18th-century wartime law
BY MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court for permission to resume deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law, while a court fight continues.
The emergency appeal to the high court follows a rejection of the Republican administration’s plea to the federal appeals court in Washington. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of appellate judges left in place an order temporarily prohibiting deportations of the migrants under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act
The Justice Department argued in court papers that federal courts shouldn’t interfere with sensitive diplomatic negotiations. It also claimed that migrants should make their case in a federal court in Texas, where they are being detained.
The order temporarily blocking the deportations was issued by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge at the federal courthouse in Washington.
President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act for the first time since World War II to justify the deportation of hundreds of people under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force.
“Here, the district court’s orders have rebuffed the President’s judgments as to how to protect the Nation against foreign terrorist organizations and risk debilitating effects for delicate foreign negotiations,” acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in the court filing.
Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens who were being held in Texas, hours
after the proclamation was made public.
The court set a Tuesday deadline for a response from the ACLU.
Lee Gelernt, the lead lawyer representing the migrants, said, “We will urge the Supreme Court to preserve the status quo to give the courts time to hear this case, so that more individuals are not sent off to a notorious foreign prison without any process, based on an unprecedented and unlawful use of a wartime authority.”
The case has become a
flashpoint amid escalating tension between the White House and the federal courts. Boasberg imposed a temporary halt on deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. That did not happen. The judge has since vowed to determine whether the government defied his order to turn the planes around. The administration has invoked a “state secrets privilege” and refused to give Boasberg any additional information about the deportations.
Patients are evacuated outdoors on Friday at a hospital in Bangkok,Thailand, after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HUSSEIN MALLA
A man stands next to a destroyed car on Friday at the site of an Israeli army strike that hit a building in the suburb of Dahiye, Beirut.
La. will vote on four constitutional amendments
Measures include changes to state tax law, criminal justice and elections
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
Voters across Louisiana on Saturday will be asked to decide on four proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution. If approved, they would impact the state’s courts, taxes, treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system, and elections for judges. The Louisiana Legislature approved the amendments during a special session in November, but voters now have the final say
Some voters also have local issues on their ballots.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling location and see what’s on your ballot at www.GeauxVote.com, on the GeauxVote mobile app or by calling the registrar of voters in your parish.
Here’s an overview of the amendments:
Amendment 1
State lawmakers would gain the power to create regional and statewide specialty courts, should this amendment pass Currently, legislators can only create specialty courts within a parish or a judicial district. Drug, mental health and veterans courts
are examples of these legal programs.
Amendment 1 would also clarify that, under the Louisiana Constitution, the state Supreme Court has authority over disciplinary cases involving lawyer misconduct by out-of-state attorneys working in Louisiana. The constitution currently says the Supreme Court has authority over “disciplinary proceedings against a member of the bar.”
Proponents say this amendment will give state lawmakers flexibility to set up needed legal forums like business courts, and it will empower the state to punish bad actors who don’t live in Louisiana. Opponents, however, say the real reason for the changes is unclear and those pushing for them haven’t revealed why exactly the new courts are needed.
Amendment 2
This amendment restructures one of the 14 articles of the Louisiana Constitution that governs state taxes and finance.
The legislation is over 100 pages and includes dozens of changes But at the broadest level, Amendment 2 would give state lawmakers more power to decide which
revenue streams should fund government and how to spend those funds. This would be accomplished by moving some of the state’s tax and budgeting policies out of the constitution, where any policy change requires voter approval, and into state statute, which can be changed by lawmakers without a vote of the people.
Many property tax exemption programs and special trust funds dedicated to certain spending priorities would be moved into statute, where they could be more easily adjusted.
Some constitutionally protected education trust funds would be liquidated, and approximately $2 billion would go to pay down a portion of debt in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
Savings from that debt payment would fund a $2,000 salary increase for teachers, and $1,000 salary increase for support staff. It would be tougher for lawmakers to create new tax-break programs: they would need a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, rather than a simple majority And new property tax exemptions would need a threefourths vote.
Amendment 2 would cap the state individual income tax rate at 3.75% down from the current cap of 4.75%. It would also limit how much state government can in-
Drought, wind, storm debris stoking fires across the U.S.
14,800 wildfires have burned 1,105 square miles this year
BY TAMMY WEBBER Associated Press
In North Carolina, wildfires stoked by unusually dry air and debris from last year’s Hurricane Helene are burning out of control.
In Florida, there are dozens of blazes, including one that scorched about 42 square miles in Miami-Dade County And they continue to burn in Oklahoma, where four people have died this month due to wind-driven fires Those states were just three of eight where large fires were being reported on Friday
Some 14,800 wildfires have burned 1,105 square miles so far this year — well above the 10-year average, according to data released Friday by the National Interagency Fire Center Most devastating were the Los Angeles wildfires in January, fueled by dry vegetation and howling winds, that destroyed entire neighborhoods. Wildfires have happened with such frequency in recent years that many U.S.
fire officials say there is no longer a “fire season,” which traditionally ran from late spring through the fall. That is because climate change, caused by the burning of fuels like gasoline and coal, has raised average global temperatures, creating drier conditions that allow wildfires, which are mostly caused by humans, to burn longer and more intensely
While major fires often happen early in the year — in February 2024, Texas experienced the largest wildfire in state history — this year is a bit unusual “because we’re seeing it happen in so many places,” said Brad Rippey a U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist who monitors drought.
This week, 45% of the country is in drought, when historically it’s around 20% at any given time, Rippey said That dried out lots of fuel just waiting for a spark — from freeze-dried grasses in the southern Plains to downed trees and brush from hurricanes that ravaged parts of the southeast and southern Appalachians in recent years.
The National Interagency Fire Center’s significant wildfire outlook notes that several states still have debris from hurricanes Laura,
Ida, Debby and Idalia in the past five years, as well as from ice storms and other severe weather Add in gusty winds and low humidity, “and you’ve got a pretty ripe situation for wildfires,” Rippey said.
In Hurricane Helenedevastated North Carolina, power lines downed by strong winds have been blamed for two of three large fires that have burned for more than a week in an area where the mean relative humidity this month has been the lowest on record, officials said. Impassable areas and lots of toppled trees are making it difficult to reach intense and erratic fires that are spreading rapidly because of high winds and dry weather
Many roads have either been covered with storm debris or “they have just been completely washed away,” said North Carolina Forest Service spokesman Philip Jackson, who said the fire danger could plague the state for years as more debris dries out.
Much of Florida also is in drought, contributing to an earlier-than-normal fire season that included a massive brush fire in Miami-Dade County that at one point hindered travel to and from the Florida Keys.
crease spending from one year to the next.
Seniors age 65 and older would be able to double their standard income tax deduction.
Groceries, residential utilities and prescription drugs would continue to be exempt from state sales tax under the constitution And the homestead exemption would stay in the constitution, as would a property tax exemption for churches.
Proponents say Amendment 2 would streamline government and allow legislators to change economic development policies that are holding back the state. Opponents argue the policy changes will hurt the average individual taxpayer, and voters can’t understand the policy implications of the complicated amendment.
Amendment 3
This proposed amendment would empower state lawmakers to expand the list of crimes for which juveniles age 16 and younger can be treated as adults in the criminal court system. Juveniles can only be charged as adults for 16 specific felonies listed in the constitution, most of which are violent offenses like murder and rape. Amendment 3 would throw out that list, and lawmakers could choose to have juveniles charged as adults for any felony offense.
Proponents say the change would help legislators respond more effectively to the state’s crime problems and make communities safer Opponents say that sending young people to adult prisons is not an effective
crime prevention strategy
Amendment 4
This amendment would change the timeline for elections for vacant and newly created judgeships.
Currently, elections for those judicial seats must happen within 12 months. Amendment 4 would instead require them to happen during a gubernatorial or congressional election happening within 12 months, or on “on the election date first available pursuant to applicable law” passed by the Legislature.
Proponents say the change would potentially reduce the number of elections the state must hold and election administration costs. Some opponents have said changes to election timelines should be made in statute rather than the constitution.
resurrected a week later after The Advocate questioned him about his 1997 guilty plea to a prostitution charge has leaned on his opposition to the home rule charter
Morgan has called the salaries the city’s appointed council approved for themselves, the mayor and police chief too high, and believes the home-rule charter was written too hastily.
“The duly elected representatives of St. George can appoint an unbiased commission of citizens to craft a charter without centralizing powers,” he said. According to the most recent secretary of state filings, Yates’ campaign had raised at least $234,625 as of Friday, far more than Morgan’s $17,775.
If approved, St. George’s proposed home-rule charter would make the city look different than any other in Louisiana.
St George would operate under a hybrid form of government, with a council, city manager and mayor Unlike most other cities, like Baton Rouge, the city manager would be responsible for most day-to-day operations of government, not the mayor District 5 council memberelect Andrew Murrell said the commission of 11 who wrote the document called
other local governments
“outdated” and featured an “all-powerful-Oz-like mayor that we don’t believe is as accountable to the citizens as a council-manager form of government.”
Murrell, Yates and other established St. George leaders believe the form on voters’ ballots Saturday gives the people more power
But many other candidates running for office in St. George have voiced opposition to the home-rule charter
Critics say the city should have waited until after the election to write a plan of government, so elected leaders instead of appointed leaders would be responsible for it. And some don’t like the way it divvies up power Morgan called the document “terrible” last month, and said a rewrite would reduce the overreach of government concerns, taxation latitudes and the tremendous power of the city manager.”
The new City Council will also take shape Saturday
The council has seven members who represent specific districts and two atlarge seats. Three of the district seats have been filled already because a candidate ran unopposed.
Voters in District 4 will choose between four council members, while all voters within the city boundaries will choose two at-large candidates from a field of five.
In District 4, Republican Patty Cook hopes to keep her
appointed job on the council and ward off three challengers. Independent candidates David Madaffari and Shannon Powell and Republican Justin Turner hope to unseat Cook.
If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote Saturday a runoff would take place in four weeks.
As of this week, Cook had reported nearly $37,000 in funds raised, far surpassing Madaffari’s $6,225 and Turner’s $4,700. Powell did not appear to have filed any campaign finance reports as of Friday
Two at-large St. George City Council seats will be decided Saturday among a field of four Republicans and one Democrat. Republicans David Dellucci, Scott Emonet, Bill Johannessen and Jim Talbot and one Democrat, Shaunn Wyche, make up the field. Dellucci, a former Major League Baseball player dwarfs funds raised by any other council candidates. This week, Dellucci had tallied at least $103,250 in donations. As of Friday Talbot had brought in more than $10,000, Emonet had raised about $8,300, Johannessen had yielded $4,600 and Wyche had reported $3,124.
Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on how to vote, visit www geauxvote.com.
Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.
ON THE BALLOT IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA
ASCENSION PARISH
SORRENTO TOWN COUNCIL
(5 to be elected) Randy Anny, D Harrison “Jake” Benson, R Wanda LeBlanc Bourgeois, R Chad Domingue, R Darnell Gilbert, D Duane Humphrey, D Patti Melancon Poche, D PARISHWIDE HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT
To delete the language “Governing Authority members shall receive an annual salary not to exceed the maximum amount allowed for police jurors by state law.” EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH
NO. 2
Amendment 2 is an expansive item that, among other things, would lower the maximum rate of the state’s income tax and increase deductions for citizens over 65; set a “government growth limit” that restricts how much lawmakers can increase spending from one year to the next; and gives parishes the option of repealing the property tax on business inventory One of the highest-profile components of the amendment would give teachers a $2,000 pay raise and school support workers a $1,000 raise, though this would come at the expense of other educational programs.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
NO. 3
Allows lawmakers to more easily expand the list of felony offenses people under 17 can be charged with by removing an existing list of 16 specified crimes.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
NO. 4 Changes the timing of filling a judicial vacancy or newly created judgeship so special elections coincide with regular elections.
ST. GEORGE MAYOR Jim Morgan, R Dustin Yates, R ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE
(2 to be elected) David Dellucci, R Scott Emonet, R William “Bill” Johannessen, R “Jim” Talbot, R Shaunn Wyche, D DISTRICT 4 Patricia “Patty” Cook, R David Madaffari, I Shannon Powell, I Justin Turner, R PROPOSITIONS
ST. GEORGE HOME RULE CHARTER
To adopt a Home Rule Charter for the City of St. George. Copies of the proposed charter are available for review at St. George City Hall and on the city’s website https:// stgeorgela.gov/ WEDGEWOOD CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT
To continue an annual parcel fee on each improved residential and commercial parcel for 10 years beginning in 2027 not to exceed $95 per year for each residential parcel and $250 per year for each commercial parcel. The
fees, which are expected to raise $60,825 the first year, are subject to increase up to $150 per year for residential parcels and $400 per year for commercial parcels. The proceeds, after deducting administrative costs, are to be used to increase the presence of law enforcement personnel and security patrols, and to beautify and improve the common areas.
LIVINGSTON PARISH
DISTRICT JUDGE, 21ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT, DIVISION I (Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa parishes.) Rebecca Davis-Lee, R Jenny Richardson Fore, R Jessica C. Ledet, R TOWN OF KILLIAN MAYOR Caleb Atwell, R Louis McKinney Jr., R KILLIAN BOARD OF ALDERMEN (5 to be elected) Corey Beasley, R Wesley Bignar, R Trevor Clardy, R Bryce Felps, R Kimberly Gill, I Nicholas Guthrie, N John Henry, R Richard Herring Sr., R Walter Penalber, R Ronald L. Sharp Sr., R Leon Vicks, D
WEST BATON ROUGE
PARISH
PARISHWIDE PROPOSITION
1
To renew the 7.2-mill property tax, generating $5.9 million a year, for 10 years beginning in 2026, for drainage works.
PARISHWIDE PROPOSITION
2
To renew the 4.1-mill property tax, generating $3.36 million a year, for 10 years beginning in 2026, for the West Baton Rouge Parish Library and its branches.
A federal judge has paused the cuts to National Institutes of Health grants. But if they proceed, LSU could lose an estimated $12 million annually, Tate said last month, warning that research institutions like LSU would “face crippling financial shortfalls.”
State funding also is uncertain. Louisiana was able to avoid drastic cuts to higher education by increasing sales taxes, but analysts say the state could face shortfalls in coming years.
In his letter, Tate said the budget-cutting measures would help the university make the best use of its funding while accelerating recent gains in enrollment, research and student outcomes.
“By acting decisively today, we build a stronger, more resilient institution for the future,” he wrote.
BREC
Continued from page 1A
during his superintendent’s report Thursday night. Wilson’s departure will end a six-year tenure as the leader of East Baton Rouge Parish’s independent parks and recreation agency And it comes as some state and local leaders make moves to centralize authority, potentially placing BREC under the mayor and Metro Council’s control.
A spokesperson for BREC declined to comment on the announcement until after a staff town hall, which will take place Monday Wilson said he is proud of BREC’s achievements under his leadership, including the agency’s reaccreditation in 2019, navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic and winning the National Gold Medal Award from
Trump has also threatened to pull federal funding from colleges and universities that run afoul of his efforts to end diversity equity and inclusion programs and crack down on some student protesters. This month, his administration canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts at Columbia University for allegedly failing to address antisemitism on campus.
Daniel Tirone, an LSU political science professor and president of the Baton Rouge campus’ faculty senate, blamed the hiring freeze and other measures on the “chaotic and haphazard actions of the federal government towards higher education.”
In an email, he said the Trump administration’s approach “leaves no room for a deliberate process,” and seems designed to “weaken the system of colleges and universities which has made the United States the global leader in academics and scientific research.”
the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in 2022.
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity provided by the commission to serve in this role and for the dedication and sacrifice of staff in supporting my efforts to deliver exceptional services and exceptional experiences to this community,” Wilson said.
Wilson faced criticism during his time with BREC, with some officials saying the agency has not been financially transparent. BREC’s 2021 audit, filed several years late in August 2024, revealed three employees misappropriated funds.
In his announcement, Wilson did not address criticism of his tenure, but said parish residents’ vote to renew two property taxes funding the agency this past November showed how the community trusted BREC’s stewardship of tax dollars.
Tate also announced other efforts Friday to “shore up” operations and protect resources in the LSU system, which educates more than 40,000 students across eight campuses. Next fiscal year, LSU will withhold 2% of each department’s budget, the letter said. Most of the money will go into a “strategic fund” to provide competitive grants for academic and research projects. Departments can also recover some funding by hitting annual goals. The university’s procurement office will establish policies to promote “cost savings and operational efficiency,” the letter said. And LSU will seek to expand its online courses to serve 10,000 students by 2030, about double the number who were enrolled last fall.
“These strategic actions will help our university navigate financial challenges while advancing academic distinction, research innovation, and student success,” Tate wrote.
Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, who filed bills to bring BREC under city-parish authority and require mayors of the parish’s five cities to serve as commissioners, said in a statement that Wilson’s choice to not renew his contract “strengthens the argument” for East Baton Rouge Parish to take control of parks and recreation.
“Now is the best chance for bold, positive change for our park system,” McMakin said.
Wilson said his remaining time with the agency will focus on completing the 2023 and 2024 audits, implementing strategic plans and onboarding the next superintendent.
“At this time, I have not determined what my next adventure will be, but I am trusting God, who has blessed me with opportunities I would have never dreamed of,” Wilson said.
EPA cutting $70M in funds for La.
BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer
The Environmental Pro-
tection Agency is cutting about $70 million in funding for Louisiana government agencies and nonprofits, as part of a far-reaching plan to cancel hundreds of federal grants nationwide, according to internal documents released by a U.S. Senate committee.
The records show that grants for air quality monitoring, disaster response and environmental education are being terminated.
The move is part of an effort to curb what the Trump administration has said is excessive federal spending, and to cut support for government programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion Earlier this month, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency was canceling hundreds of grants as part of a collaborative effort with the Department of Government Efficiency, led by President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser Elon Musk
Many of the Louisiana organizations named in a list of roughly 400 grants are decades-old environmental nonprofits, such as the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. But state agencies, such as the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and commercial entities were also included.
The feds are seeking to trim around $1 million apiece from the state’s chief environmental agency, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Port of New Orleans, according to the records They also want to cancel a $20 million grant to Dillard University and eliminate another $20 million grant in partnership with the city’s Metro Bike Coalition for a “resilience hub” to support New Orleanians during storms “It’s devastating to the organization,” said Chuck Morse, the executive director of Thrive New Orleans, which received $1.5 million to promote environmental education for young people and small business development. The Democrats who published the list, including senators from Rhode Island, Delaware and California, said that the canceled
grants are an illegal violation of EPA contracts, congressional acts and court orders. The group is calling on Zeldin to reinstate the grants and desist further unlawful terminations.”
Port of New Orleans officials confirmed that the EPA has notified them about terminating an environmental justice program at the port. That initiative connects governments with nonprofit groups to address public health and environmental conditions in disproportionately burdened areas, according to the EPA Some of the eligible activities include developing disaster preparedness plans and mitigating pollution. According to the internal records, the EPA is targeting a $1 million grant awarded last summer to the state coastal agency titled “Piloting Insurance Solutions to Increase Equitable Disaster Response in Coastal Louisiana.” CPRA declined to comment.
The records also show a $1 million environmental justice grant to the Louisiana Department of Health on the list The grant funds indoor air quality monitoring and home assessments with asthma specialists to “improve asthma outcomes in vulnerable Louisiana communities,” according to the government’s spending tracker site, and supports a Center for Disease Control respiratory health tracking
program.
One of the two Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality grants appearing on the list was a $1 million award for the state’s air monitoring project. Agency officials said Thursday they had not received notice of any canceled EPA grants, and that they are analyzing the information.
The terminated EPA grants are not the first instance of environmental impacts to Louisiana since Trump began his second term Cuts to federal workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the country’s weather agency, affected scientists and researchers focused on coastal issues and hurricanes. And an earlier spending freeze put millions at stake for the New Orleans Office of Resilience and Sustainability, as well as local nonprofits.
But the city thus far has not seen any cuts to its own EPA grants, a representative for the sustainability office said Thursday
For many of the community-based organizations targeted by the EPA, the canceled grants are having an abrupt impact on small nonprofits doing local work.
“There was zero notice,” said Morse, of Thrive New Orleans.
Organization officials had talked to their grant officer the day before, he said. In the termination notice, the EPA states that the grant is no longer consistent with the agency’s goals or funding priorities. One of these priorities is ensuring that grants do not conflict with “a policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence.”
Thrive New Orleans is a
“bull’s-eye” target for the current administration, Morse said, because of its dual emphasis on racial equity and climate resilience.
The $1.5 million grant focused on educating high school students in mostly Black and Brown communities about climate change, while also seeking to address “brain drain,” Morse said, by creating infrastructure for young people to enter climate-related professions.
“It’s climate resilience, but also workforce and small business development,” Morse said.
On the other side of the state, another nonprofit focused on environmental education for disadvantaged areas was also targeted by the EPA cuts.
“With this grant, we were able — or we would have been able — to expand the number of informed, educated civically empowered community members,” said Cynthia Robertson, who runs Micah Six Eight Mission in Calcasieu Parish.
Robertson’s organization began in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura and the midst of the Covid pandemic, providing food, health
information and clothing to residents in need.
Last summer, the organization received $150,000 from the EPA, and another grant from the Department of Energy, that focused on environmental and civic outreach in an area with high rates of environmental hazards and low rates of education, Robertson said. Both grants to the organization were canceled this week, effective immediately, according to the termination letters shared with The Times-Picayune.
Like Morse, Robertson believes her organization was targeted because of the Trump administration’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion, or policies that seek to ensure diverse workplaces and inclusive and equitable treatment. She said the diversity ban will have impacts on the community she serves, a predominantly low-income White area that supported Trump.
“If you target poor people of color, you also target poor White people because we all live in the same communities and work in the same kind of jobs,” she said. While the cuts have left some nonprofits reeling, others on the list will likely be much less impacted. The Pontchartrain Conservancy was also included in the feds’ list, even though the nonprofit had already completed an environmental justice program for a studentled green infrastructure project.
As long as the EPA continues to offer grants — and the agency still has a few in the queue — the nonprofit will continue to apply, executive director Kristi Trail said. “We will continue on this work in the 16-parish region regardless of the title of the grant program,” she said. Email Josie Abugov at josie.abugov@theadvocate. com.
Vance claims Denmark underinvested in Greenland
BY PHILIP CROWTHER, KIRSTEN GRIESHABER and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
NUUK, Greenland
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Friday that Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory.
The pointed remarks came as Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik Space Base on the mineral-rich, strategically critical island alongside his wife and other senior U.S. officials for a trip that was ultimately scaled back after an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were not consulted about the original itinerary
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said.
“You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”
Vance said the U.S. has
“no option” but to take a significant position to ensure the security of Greenland as he encouraged a push in Greenland for independence from Denmark.
“I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States,” Vance said.
“We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”
The reaction by members of Greenland’s parliament and residents has rendered that unlikely, with anger erupting over the Trump administration’s attempts to annex the vast Arctic is-
land. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back on Vance’s claim that Denmark isn’t doing enough for defense in the Arctic, calling her country “a good and strong ally.” Soon after arriving, Vance briefly addressed U.S. troops stationed at the base as he and his wife sat down to lunch with them, saying that the Trump administration is very interested in “Arctic security.” He and his entourage, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, later received briefings from military officials.
Louisiana OMV director resigns
BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT Staff writer
“I want to sincerely thank Dan Casey for stepping up to serve as the Commissioner of Office of Motor Vehicles at a time most people would away from the pos Gov Jeff Landry said day in a news releas nouncing Casey’s d ture. “Dan faced nearly impossible circumst including a system was designed in the 1970s, with the demands of the 21st century I am thankful for his leadership and
Computer software issues continue on nearly 50-year-old system ä See ALLIGATOR, page 2B
wish him the best.” The computer system that OMV offices use to process driver’s licenses, car registrations and other important paperwork has been crashing or freezing repeatedly, often multiple times a day That has disrupted appointments and lengthened wait times for customers at OMV offices and public tag agents across the state. Officials have said the problem is that multiple users may be trying to access the same records or group of records, causing the system to lock up. Landry last week declared a state of emergency that waives the $15 late fee for failing to renew a driver’s license. The order also allows the OMV to skip the six- to ninemonth procurement process accel-
LOTS OF CLUCK
erating the process of purchasing a new software system.
“Taxpayers should not and will not continue to foot the bill for failed government systems,” Landry said in a news release. “In the coming days I will name an Interim Secretary who will work to fulfill the mission of an OMV that works for the people.”
Casey has said the software system is roughly 50 years old. The agency is close to selecting a new system, though it could take two and a half years to fully install it.
Peter Newsom, 3, jumps with joy after seeing a chicken in a pen during the LSU AgMagic event at Parker Coliseum on Friday The interactive educational event highlights the different facets of Louisiana agriculture and has hosted 7,000 people over the past week. It will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday
Sheriff’s deputies wrangle 9-foot alligator
Animal was caught in resident’s kitchen
BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer
Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputies wrangled a 9-foot alligator out of someone’s kitchen Thursday night with the help of a volunteer and released the ambitious gator back into the wild.
in porch,” said Lori Steele, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman. The 911 call came in about 10 p.m. from a Maurepas home located on the Division Canal in the Waterfront East subdivision.
Sgt. Bradley Harrell and Deputy Nicholas Bean were able to get a rope around the alligator’s head with one of the officers at one point standing on the kitchen island to get good traction on the rope. A video of the safe capture of
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
“The family tells us this gator broke in through their screened-
Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputies wrangled a 9-foot alligator out of someone’s
Thursday night with the help of a
and released the ambitious gator back into the
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Baton Rouge museum examines racism
Thrift store exhibit will be on display for next two weeks
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
Most can recall a time in a thrift store when they saw an offensive knickknack, a household antique emblazoned with a racist caricature or a reductive slogan.
An exhibit on display at the West Baton Rouge Museum poses the question: What should society do with these objects?
“Was it just a cutesy thing, or did it have a deeper, darker background, and does that still stand today?” Lauren Davis, a museum curator, said “Because some of these things are still hurtful for people.”
“Sorting Out Race,” a traveling exhibit through the Kauffman Museum at Bethel College in Kansas, can be seen at the West Baton Rouge Museum for another two weeks. It examines racial identity and stereotypes found in thrift store items, from board games to paintings to figurines.
The exhibit encourages a conversation on depictions of race in antiques, suggesting visitors reflect on particular objects and their subtext. Davis said she understands that for many middleaged and older adults, the items can be nostalgic
“It’s not placing blame,” Davis said. “It’s not trying to make peo-
A trade card displayed in the ‘Sorting Out Race’ exhibit at the West Baton Rouge Museum depicts a young boy who is Black and reads ‘WE NEVER FADE’ — a racist slogan meant to discourage interracial relations.
ple feel guilty for having an item that could be considered racist. It’s just, ‘Hey, did you ever think about the past, the story behind it?’”
The items range widely in their themes and functions. One corner of the exhibit discusses “mammy” collectibles, caricatures of enslaved Black women who carried out domestic work and often cared for white children. Another section focuses on brand mascots that might perpetuate stereotypes, such as the characters representing Lucky Charms, Land O’Lakes and Aunt Jemima.
Davis said reflecting on what to do with antique items with racial connotations is especially significant in 2025, as the Trump administration battles diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The exhibit inspires critical thinking, she said.
“There were times in the past where we had a power system, and people just didn’t have the opportunities, and it resulted in pop culture imagery of them to keep them in their place,” Davis said. “And nowadays, maybe we’re trying to change that, but do these items still have a place?”
“Sorting Out Race” is open through April 13. Admission is included with a museum ticket, which is free for West Baton Rouge residents. Nonresidents pay $4.20 for adults and $2.10 for students, AAA members, seniors and the military
Email Haley Miller at haley miller@theadvocate.com.
McNeese student manager gets star treatment
Amid NIL deals, will he follow coach to N.C. State?
BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer
The national frenzy around McNeese State University men’s basketball team student manager has culminated with the boombox-toting, NIL-laden Amir Khan getting immortalized with a sports trading card and bobblehead.
The 22-year-old Lake Charles native has inked a dozen name, image and likeness deals, since the video last month of him rapping, dancing and leading the Cowboys team out of the locker room to the court for a game went viral on social media. He became the first college sports team student manager to score endorsements.
Earlier this month, McNeese State pulled off a stunning upset win over Clemson to notch the school’s first victory in the NCAA Tournament, earning a spot in the coveted tourney for the second straight season. With the Cowboys’ basketball team’s success, the senior sports management major capitalized big time. Now he has endorsement deals with Topps, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, TurboTax, Fortnite, Buffalo Wild Wings, Insomnia Cookies and
GUILTY
Continued from page 1B
23, guilty of leading the deadly ambush that turned holiday festivities at the Fairway View Apartments into a tragedy that rocked the Baton Rouge community
The guilty verdicts capped a weeklong trial inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse Williams, 23, was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder in the May 31, 2021, slayings of 16-year-old Dewayne “D.J.” Craig Dunn Jr.; the teen’s best friend, Reginald Thomas Jr 20; and Ja’Tyri Unique Brown, a toddler caught in the crossfire.
After the jury rendered its decision, Williams insisted on waiving delays in his state-mandated fate and urged the presiding trial judge to sentence him immediately District Judge Fred Crifasi obliged and imposed mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for each of the counts of murder during a short post-trial sentencing hearing inside the courtroom. “I take no pleasure in pronouncing this sentence It’s just sad,” Crifasi said moments before handing the life prison stints. “Sad mainly for the victims’ families that we’re here. Sad for you and your circumstances now But mostly for our community that has to continue to endure this nonsense. And that’s exactly what it
about Khan following Wade, but the student manager told The Advocate on Thursday he’s not yet decided on a possible college transfer Kahn is set to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in sports management in December If he transfers, he’ll need to look into what credits can transfer so he can finish the degree before working on his master’s degree.
Regardless, Khan’s viral fame and the Cowboys’ NCAA Tournament run has led to his Topps trading card and the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum selecting him for a limited edition bobblehead in his likeness.
The Topps card was released March 21 and features Khan being splashed with water after the Cowboys beat Clemson 69-67 on March 20. As of Thursday, Khan’s card was sold out on the Topps site.
On Tuesday the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum announced there will be a Khan bobblehead with him in a blue shirt with a boombox around his neck, just like he’s wearing in the viral video that sparked his meteoric rise, said Phil Sklar, CEO and co-founder of the hall of fame.
it,” Sklar said. “It’s one of those things where there’s a lot of different cool things that you could have. I know he has a trading card, but for us and for a lot of people, it’s the ultimate thing to have a bobblehead made in your likeness.”
Khan said to be on a Topps card and have a bobblehead is “an insane feeling.”
“It means a lot to me, because I never expected any of this, especially as a manager,” Khan said.
“I just expected to do my part in helping the team, and hopefully that ends up getting me a job in the future. But to be recognized for what I’m doing as a manager, it means a lot. I’m just so appreciative of everything that’s happened.”
Even though he has yet to decide on his immediate future, Khan said N.C. State is obviously an option. He has been working for the Cowboys basketball team for two years, starting as a student manager when he first heard that his favorite basketball coach, Wade, was coming to McNeese from LSU in 2023.
Staff report
A Baton Rouge tire and autoparts store owner, famous for his costumed commercials promoting the shop, was struck and killed by a vehicle early Friday morning.
Bill “Simple” Simon, owner of Simple Simon Tire, was struck by a car on Gurney Road near his home around 5:30 a.m.
According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the driver who struck Simon remained on the scene, and impairment is not considered a factor Simon reportedly was wearing dark clothing at the time of the accident.
Simon started his business in 1966 with $1,500, but grew it over the years with his “hard work and dedication” to where it now exceeds $5 million in annual sales, according to the shop’s website.
Simon was also a committed member of the East Baton Rouge Lions Club for many years, having been district governor for the parish and receiving one of the organization’s highest honors, the Melvin Jones award.
His fundraisers for the Lions Club supported the organization’s Special Needs Children’s Camp Simon may be best remembered for starring in his shop’s series of iconic and whimsical TV commercials, which often showed Simon dressing up as various characters.
ALLIGATOR
Continued from page 1B
the alligator, which made bold “death rolls” as it gripped a chair pillow in its jaws, was posted to the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
With the help of a parish resident volunteer, deputies got control of the alligator’s head, then used electrical tape to tape closed its mouth.
The incident took about five to 10 minutes, Steele said. Deputies measured the gator at 108 inches. The team of three alligator wranglers can be seen in another Sheriff’s Office Facebook post pulling and pushing the big gator to a dock on the canal, untaping its mouth and releasing it back to its home.
“Livingston Parish has close to 400 nautical miles of waterways,” Sheriff Jason Ard said. “This isn’t our first run-in with a gator and won’t be our last — it’s part of the job.”
several other national brand companies. As the Cowboys went to Rhode Island to play in the tournament, news broke that head coach Will Wade is headed to North Carolina State University to coach the basketball team there. Rumors swirled
was; just awful.”
Afterward, East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore called the shooting “unfathomable” as he stood outside the courthouse beside prosecutors that argued the state’s case and members of the three victims’ families.
“This heinous crime set the entire parish of East Baton Rouge off at a time when things were really bad,” he said. “This made it worse. And I really think things like today can bring us back together.”
Prosecutors convinced jurors that Williams and his half-brother, Ladarius Coleman, who was 15 at the time, shot up a crowded pool party at the apartment complex in the 2200 block of College Drive. Coleman was found guilty last year of three counts of murder and sentenced to three life sentences. They argued the two brothers targeted Dunn and Thomas to rob them of their assault rifles. Williams shot Dunn in the temple, nose and neck, and Coleman shot Thomas four times in the back, including one wound to the back of the head. Both men died at the scene.
An errant bullet ripped through Ja’Tyri Brown’s torso, and she died at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center after her parents pulled her out of the pool and rushed her to the children’s hospital “No matter how much time he gets, it will never bring my child back,” Ja’Tyri’s mother, Tatianna
The bobblehead became available for preorder on Tuesday for $30 with expected shipping in September A couple hundred of them were sold in the first 24 hours, Sklar said.
“They say that once you’ve had a bobblehead, you’ve officially made
Day, said at the sentencing hearing. “I will never forgive or forget. Your soul is required in hell.”
Several eyewitnesses said Williams opened fire on Dunn seconds after he rushed into the pool area and demanded the teen’s highcaliber weapon Jarcobi Brown, Ja’Tyri’s father, took the stand Thursday and testified he heard Williams tell Dunn “Don’t move” moments before nine gunshots rang out Multiple witnesses said while Dunn and Thomas were armed, they kept their guns resting on their laps beneath pool towels and never brandished or threatened to use them during the attack. Jarcobi Brown said Dunn was “caught off guard” and only had time to turn his head toward Williams before the defendant shot him multiple times.
But Williams took the stand Friday morning and told jurors those were all lies from the witnesses He testified that he, his brother and friends weren’t attempting to rob the victims; they simply planned to go swimming in the pool. According to Williams, he and Dunn made eye contact as he walked through the gated entrance and Dunn confronted him asking, “I know y’all not trying to swim here,” as he walked past the teen’s lounging chair Williams demonstrated for jurors how he said Dunn began raising his assault rifle toward him and he grabbed the gun by the barrel to push it away That’s when Williams claimed he opened
“If I can have the opportunity to continue working for him, it’s definitely going to be an option,” Khan said. “But my mind is not made yet, so I guess we’ll figure it out in a few weeks.”
Email Courtney Pedersen at courtney.pedersen@theadvocate. com.
fire with his 9 mm, shooting Dunn multiple times.
“I was really just trying not to get shot,” he testified.
Yet three men who helped Coleman and Williams storm the pool deck were among the witnesses that said Dunn and Thomas never pointed their ARs at anyone before they were shot. When Assistant District Attorney confronted Williams with the conflicting testimony, he insisted all the eyewitness accounts were false.
“For the most part, they told the truth. But about the rifle, they lied,” Williams said.
Dunn’s mother, Shameka Murray, stormed out of the courtroom in disgust as Williams testified that her son instigated the fatal affair Afterward, she scoffed at his claims, saying they were entirely untrue
Following the guilty verdicts, she turned toward Williams, bristling with anger as she gave a victim impact statement just before sentencing. Tears streamed down her face as she shook with emotion over the loss of her youngest child.
“David Gerrell Williams, you are a heartless monster,” she told him.
“You took my only son. The decision that you made changed my baby’s resting place from home to Winnfield Funeral Home. And your new resting place will be Angola for the rest of your life.”
Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
The video of the dramatic alligator capture is tagged with the line, “Ya gotta be #Built Different to work in the LP, y’all!”
POPULATION
Continued from page 1B
alleged undercount of the parish’s residents in 2020 has cost the parish funding from the state and federal government that it could have received to account for its growing population.
“If this correction is approved, it could mean millions more for our parish, money we’ve already earned through growth,” Delatte said. “We’re not asking for a handout We’re asking for our fairness.”
However, he also encouraged residents to fill out census forms. Delatte told the state treasurer residents didn’t fill out the previous census questionnaire due to inadequate internet access in rural areas and a distrust in the government.
The 2020 census was conducted during the pandemic’s peak and was later used by state legislators to redraw Louisiana’s congressional districts. Livingston Parish was one of five parishes in Louisiana to have 1% to 2% population growth from 2023-24, according to the latest census estimates. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of Louisiana’s parishes lost populations.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLES KRUPA
McNeese State men’s basketball student manager Amir Khan, front, applauds during the team’s practice at the NCAA college basketball tournament in Providence, R.I., on March 19.
STAFF PHOTOS By HALEy MILLER
A display of food packaging challenges viewers to think about racial stereotypes in brand mascots in an exhibit at the West Baton Rouge Museum on Tuesday.
Williams, all long-time resi-
journey was atestament to her dedicationand passion for learning. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madisonwith aBachelor of Artsdegree, followed by amaster's degree in Italian fromUCLA. Her pursuit of knowledge culminated in aJuris Doctor from Tulane Law School. Withher law degree, Kathleen became a passionateprosecutor, tirelessly advocating for victims and earning the respect and admirationof her colleagues and the community. Her unwavering commitment to justice and her compassionate spirit made alasting impact on many lives. An avid animal lover, Kathleen found joy in the company of her beloved pets, including her horse, Romeo,and her twoGordon Setters, Rose and McDougal. Her home was asanctuary of love, laughter, and warmth, where her family and furry friends thrived.A celebration of Kathleen's remarkable life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at St Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, located at 9150 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810. Visitation will begin at12:30 PM, followed by aMass at 1:45 PM. Inhonoring Kathleen's legacy, let us remember her fierce spirit,her unwavering love for her family, and her dedicationtomaking the world abetter place. She will be dearly missed butforever cherished in thehearts of those who loved her. The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Pinnacle and Decision Critical medical staff for providing compassionatecare and ensuring her comfort during her final days.
dents of Baton Rouge. Mac attended Highland Elementary School and graduated from University High School in Baton Rouge in 1967. He earned his degree in Drama from the University of California Fullerton and went on to teach Speech and Drama while pursuing acareer in acting and other theaterrelated endeavors.
Later in life, Mac settled in Iowa, where he deepened his Christian faith and continued to teach as long as he was able. He was an active member of English River Chapel in Kalona, where he also served in asecurityrole. His life reflected his devotion to God and his generous spirit Mac found great joyin spending time with his family. He cherished momentswithhis step-son PhilRadeboldt (wife Ashley) and theirchildren Dwight and Brooklyn, as well as his step-daughter Lillian Radeboldtand her cat Jack. To Mac, there were no "step" distinctions—he embraced them fully as his own, and they lovingly called him dad and grandpa.
He is survived by his wife Penny and his son Drew.
Mac's journey was one of faith, love, and service. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him and peace in knowing he now rests in the presence of God.
nior and senior choirs; and was engaged in the Home Mission Laura graduated from Morgan City High School where sheplayed clarinet and saxophoneinthe concert and marching bands, as wellasother extracurricular activities. Laura received abachelor's degree from Southern University A&M College and amaster's degree from Nicholls State University. Shedid further study at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA, andOur Lady of Holy Cross College. Laura loved teaching and learning. Her heart was rooted in education.She taught at the Jacquet Elementary School and the St. Mary Parish Alternative School. Laura loved her students, and they reciprocated her love. Her teaching career also included teaching adult education.
Laura participated in community and civic organizations including: the National Association of University Women andthe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Shewas aDiamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Laura's warm smile was abright lightwhere there wasdarkness.
Brydels Sr., John Henry
John Henry Brydels, Sr. age 95, died on March 24, 2025, at St. James Place in Baton Rouge, LA. John is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Faye Raye Crump Brydels. He is survived by their three children, Deborah Ann Brydels Buco (Dr. Steven Buco), Kathy Christine Brydels Seger (Jon Seger), and John Henry Brydels, Jr., all of Baton Rouge, LA. He is survived by eight grandchildren; Benjamin Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, Daniel (Rebekah) Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, Rev. David Buco of Galveston, TX, Dr. Steven (Dr. Ellen) Buco, Jr. of Germantown, TN, Jennifer (Jason) Seger-Paisley of Wilmington, NC, Allyson Seger (Stephen Cassidy) of Spicewood, TX, Dr. Sarah Seger of Moorhead, MN, and Katherine Seger of Brooklyn, NY. He is further survived by eleven great grandchildren; Faye Malyn Buco, Jackson Paul Buco, Savannah Mae Buco, and Brooks Lee Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, John Henry Robert Buco of Galveston, TX, AbigailLouise Buco and Andrew James Buco of Germantown, TN, Hailey Renee Seger-Paisley and Gabriel Luke Seger-Paisley of Wilmington, NC, Adeline Seger Cassidy and Beatrix Seger Cassidy of Spicewood,TX. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Gloria "Teasie" Hennigan of Natchitoches, LA, abrother -in-law Dr. Daniel "Danny" Crump of Starkville, MS, and brother-in-law Robert "Bob" Bender of Fort Wayne, IN. He is preceded in death by his wife, Faye Raye Crump Brydels. He is also preceded in death by his parents Jules Bernard Brydels and Mary Blondena Verzwyvelt Brydels of Alexandria, LA. He is fur-
He is preceded in death by his wife, Faye Raye Crump Brydels. He is also preceded in death by his parents Jules Bernard Brydels and Mary Blondena Verzwyvelt Brydelsof Alexandria, LA. He is furtherpreceded in death by his four sisters, Clementine Michiels (Joseph Joe" Michiels, also deceased) of Alexandria, LA, Catherine Turner (Ray Turner, also deceased) of Alexandria, LA, Judy Brydels of Alexandria, LA, and Madelane BenderofFort Wayne,IN and brothers, JulesBrydels, Jr. (Mavis Brydels, also deceased) of Lake Charles, LA and Francis Joseph "Jack" Verzwyvelt of Alexandria, LA (Hattie May Verzwyvelt, also deceased). He is further precededindeath by his brother-in-law Waymond "Bud" Crump and sister-inlaw Joyce Crump of Marthaville, LA and brother-in-law Dr. ThomasHennigan of Natchitoches, LA. John was born on March 5, 1930, in Alexandria,LAto parents Julesand Blondena Brydels. He graduated from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, LA in 1951. John is aKorean War veteran. After serving in the Army, John earnedan MBA from LSU in 1958. He was aCertifiedPublic Accountant from 1958 until his retirement in 2010. From 1980 until retirement John and Kathy worked together. He was amember of the LCPA and AICPA. John's hobbies included playing booray with wife Faye and other couples, attending horse racing events and LSU Football games, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, picking his figs and persimmons, coaching his children's baseball and softball teams, and later coaching his granddaughters' softball teams. Faye and he enjoyedtaking tripswith granddaughters to the beach and fishing trips to Lake Fausse Pointe. John enjoyedhis grandchildren playing Rook cards and watching theirathletic events. He enjoyedfishing in Debbie's lake with the great grandchildren. John and Faye were able to enjoy attending the Kentucky Derby for their anniversary and John and John, Jr. attended aWorld Series game in St. Louis. John and Faye also traveled on trips organized through the church and were able to visit his relatives in Belgium. John was raised in the Catholic faith. As an adult, he was amember of University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge,LA. The family expresses their gratitude forthe loving care given to Johnby Lillie Anderson and the staff at St. JamesPlace
Visitation will be Monday, March 31 from 9AM to 11AM at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA.
Funeral serviceswill be Monday, March 31 at 11AM at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA.
Reverend Katie Simpson will officiate
Carmouche, Kathleen O'Brien
Kathleen O'Brien Carmouche, abelovedwife, mother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully surroundedbyher loving family on March 25, 2025, in her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. BornonOctober 16, 1949, in Delavan, WI to Edward and Laverne O'Brien. Kathleenissurvived by her loving husband of 27 years, Don Carmouche, who was her partner in life and love. Kathleen was adevoted mothertoher daughter, Cristina (Michael), and a loving stepmother to her three stepsons, Donnie (Jaime), John (Trisha), and Brian (Shannon)and her wonderful ten step-grandchildren. Her family was her greatest treasure, and she nurtured them with love, wisdom, and awitty sense of humor that brightened every gathering. She is also survived by her siblings, Patrick(Jenny), Colleen, and Molly (Erik), who willforever hold her memoryclose to their hearts. Kathleen was predeceased by her parents, Laverne and Edward O'Brien, and her siblings Mike, Rory, and Kerry, who welcomed her with open arms. Kathleen's academic journey was atestament to her dedication and passion for learning. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with aBachelor of Arts degree, followed by amaster's degree in Italian from UCLA.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.-Omega Omega Service at 4:00p.m., Hall Davis & Sons Funeral Service, 9348 Scenic Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70807 and thecelebration of Laura's life on Monday, March 31, 2025, visitation from 9:00am until the 11:00am service, Mt. Era Baptist Church, 406 Lawrence Street, Morgan City, LA 70380. Rev. Norman Stovall, Pastor andOfficiant. In lieu of flowers, please make donationsto the Youth Departmentof Mt. Era Baptist Church, 406 Lawrence Street, Morgan City, LA 70380.
Netterville, Evelyn Christ Covenant Church, 1700 Lee Drive, at 11 a.m Stevens Sr., Calvin Funeral services for Calvin Stevens, Sr. will be held Saturday March 29 2025 at Greater Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 1414 Sora St A public visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m
Mary Harper, abeloved mother, grandmother, and friend,passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the age of 74. Anative of Baton Rougeand resident of Central, she was known forher warmth, kindness, strength and superb culinary skills as well as many other creative talentslike oil and china painting, sewing, floral arranging, interior decorating, gardening, etc. She excelled at so many endeavors while making them seem effortless. Mary dedicated her life to her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Mary is survived by her husband, Harold W. Harper; her daughter, Stephanie Harper; her son Adam Harper, and her grandson Dylan Gill. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sabbato and Evelyn Roppolo Pallbearers are Adam Harper, Dylan Gill, Steve Roppolo, Glynn Roppolo, Herbert Bickham and Dwain Bickham. Visitation will be Monday, March 31, 2025 at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway, at 12 pm until funeral service at 2pm. She was amember of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.
Hopper, Robert
Robert Mackenzie "Mac" Hopper passed away on March 22, 2025, in Kalona, Iowa, at the age of 75. Born on October 29, 1949, Mac was the beloved only child of B.J. Hopper, a speech therapist and prominent actor with the Baton Rouge Little Theater, and Alexa Williams Hopper, amaster preschool teacher at University Methodist Church and a dedicated backstage contributor to thesame theater. He was also the nephew of Dr. Hulen Williams and Dr. Virginia Williams, all long-time residentsofBaton Rouge. Mac attended Highland Elementary School and graduated from University High School in Baton Rouge in 1967. He earned his degree in Drama from
Samantha Beasley; also, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren with one granddaughter he was so proud of, Dailyn Miller, who followed in his footsteps in joining the US Army. He is preceded in deathbyboth
held at Slaughter First Baptist Church Saturday, March 29th. Visitation will begin at 9amwithservice to follow at 11 am
Laura Lee Bartley Marshall, age 70, anativeof Morgan City, LA, passed away, Monday, March 24, 2025, Baton Rouge, LA Laura was theloving wife of the lateArvel Charles Marshall, adevoted daughter of the late Frank Bartley Jr. and Hazel SmithBartley, sister of Ruby B. Sanchez, Celia B. Clark, Gloria B. (Calhoun) Moultrie, Lorraine Bartley, and Frank Bartley III; aunt to 8nieces, 6nephews, 9 great nieces, 12 great nephews, 4great-great nieces, and 13 great-great nephews; sister-in-law, Gertrude P. Bartley, brother-in-law, Roland S. Merchant, and numerous cousins, and other relatives.
Laura was also preceded in deathbysisters: Audrey B. Merchant,Melinda B. (Lawrence) Martin, and Jacqueline Bartley; brothers, Melvin Bartley, HerbertBartley, and Huey (Brenda H.) Bartley; brothers-in-law: Murphy Sanchez and Thornton Clark; sister-in-law: Janice L. Bartley; 2nieces and 3 nephews, and father-inlaw and mother-in-law, James and Evelyn Marshall.
Laura was baptized at the Mt. Era Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School; chaperoned youthtoBaptist Youth Encampment and other church/youth activities; sang in thejunior and senior choirs; and was engaged in the Home Mission.
Laura graduated from Morgan CityHigh School where she played clarinet and saxophone in the con-
Johnston Jr, Louis Burnell 'LBJ -The Plumber'
Louis was aUSArmy
Harper, Mary Roppolo
Marshall, Laura Bartley
BRIEFS
Consumers remain cautious about spending
Inflation picked up last month and consumers barely raised their spending, signs that the economy was already cooling even before most tariffs were imposed.
Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices increased 2.5% in February from a year earlier, matching January’s annual pace
Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.8% compared with a year ago, higher than January’s figure of 2.7%.
Economists watch core prices because they are typically a better guide of where inflation is headed The core index has barely changed in the past year
Inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, making it difficult for the central bank to cut its key interest rate anytime soon. The report also showed that consumer spending rebounded last month after falling by the most in four years in January Yet much of the additional spending reflected price increases, with inflation-adjusted spending barely rising. The weak figure suggests growth is rapidly slowing in the first three months of this year as consumers and businesses turn cautious amid sharp changes in government policies.
“Inflation too hot and spending too cold,” said Stephen Brown, an economist at Capital Economics, a consulting firm, in an email. “The Fed is unlikely to cut interest rates this year.”
Economist warns tariffs could add vehicle costs
Noted economist Arthur Laffer warns in a new analysis that President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on auto imports could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle and says the proposed taxes could weaken the ability of U.S. automakers to compete with their foreign counterparts
In the 21-page analysis obtained by The Associated Press, Laffer whom Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 for his contributions to economics, says the auto industry would be in a better position if the Republican president preserved the supply chain rules with Canada and Mexico from his own 2019 USMCA trade pact.
“Without this exemption, the proposed tariff risks causing irreparable damage to the industry, contradicting the administration’s goals of strengthening U.S. manufacturing and economic stability,” Laffer writes in the analysis. “A 25% tariff would not only shrink, or possibly eliminate, profit margins for U.S. manufacturers but also weaken their ability to compete with international rivals.”
Laffer said the report had caused a “kerfuffle” and cautioned that it only applied to the economics, rather than Trump’s negotiating skills and strategic approach to trade.
Javice convicted of defrauding JPMorgan
Charlie Javice, the charismatic founder of a startup company that claimed to be revolutionizing the way college students apply for financial aid, was convicted on Friday of defrauding one of the largest U.S. banks, JPMorgan Chase, out of $175 million by exaggerating her customer base by 10 times.
Javice, 32, faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term.
Javice was in her mid-20s when she founded Frank, a company with software that promised to simplify the process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a complex government form used by students to apply for aid for college or graduate school.
The company promoted itself as a way for financially needy students to obtain more aid faster, in return for a few hundred dollars in fees.
JPMorgan executives testified that she told them she had over four million clients and would have about 10 million by year’s end, but it turned out there were only about 300,000 customers.
Inflation,
tariff fears sink Wall St.
U.S. consumers more pessimistic about future finances
BY STAN CHOE Associated Press
NEW YORK Another wipeout walloped Wall Street on Friday. Worries are building about a potentially toxic mix of worsening inflation and a U.S. economy slowing because of households afraid to spend due to the global trade war
The S&P 500 had one of its worst days in the past two years. It thudded to its fifth losing week in the last six after wiping out what had been a big gain to start the week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite also sank.
Lululemon Athletica led the market lower with a drop of 14.2%, even though the seller of athletic apparel reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It warned that its revenue growth may slow this upcoming year,
in part because “consumers are spending less due to increased concerns about inflation and the economy,” said CEO Calvin McDonald. Oxford Industries, the company behind the Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer brands, likewise reported stronger results for the latest quarter than expected but still saw its stock fall 5.7% CEO Tom Chubb said it saw a “deterioration in consumer sentiment that also weighed on demand” beginning in January, which accelerated into February They’re discouraging data points when one of the main worries hitting Wall Street is that President Donald Trump’s escalating tariffs may cause U.S. households and businesses to freeze their spending Even if the tariffs end up being less painful than feared, all the uncertainty may filter into changed behaviors that hurt the economy
A report on Friday showed all types of U.S. consumers are getting more pessimistic about their future finances. Two out of three expect unemployment to worsen in the year ahead, according to a survey by the University of Michigan. That’s the
highest reading since 2009, and it raises worries about a job market that’s been a linchpin keeping the U.S. economy solid.
A separate report also showed that an underlying measure of how much income Americans are making, which excludes government social benefits and some other items, “has been treading water for the last three months,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.
“Households aren’t in a good place to absorb a little tariff pain,” he said. “The Fed isn’t likely to run to the rescue either as inflation moved up more than expected in February.”
The Fed could return to cutting interest rates, like it was doing late last year, in order to give the economy and financial markets a boost. But such cuts would also push upward on inflation, which has been sticking above the Fed’s 2% target.
The economy and job market have been holding up so far, but if they were to weaken while inflation stays high, it would produce a worst-case scenario called “stagflation.” Policy makers in Washington have few good tools to fix it.
Federal judge blocks offshore lease sale
Claims feds failed to consider impacts on Rice’s whales
BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer
A federal judge on Thursday blocked an oil and gas lease sale in Gulf waters off the coast of Louisiana, finding that a federal agency didn’t adequately take into account how new offshore drilling would impact the highly endangered Rice’s whale.
The ruling from Judge Amit Mehta in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will require the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management, which oversees the sale of oil and gas leases in federal waters, to conduct additional environmental reviews before the lease sale proceeds The current lease sale is not canceled but will be subject to additional environmental review
The court also ruled that BOEM did not fully take into account the impact of greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the new oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico, also referred to as the Gulf of America after President Donald Trump moved to rename it via executive order
“BOEM acted arbitrarily by failing to address the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS’s) de-
termination that the whale’s habitat range extends into the western and central Gulf,” Mehta wrote in his ruling.
The lawsuit, brought in 2023 by a handful of environmental organizations over lease sale number 259, alleged that the federal government didn’t take into account the potential risk of future oil spills, or the disproportionate effects that the lease sale could have on low-income and minority communities.
On those issues, the court sided with the government, ruling that those issues were adequately taken into account.
“What a great victory this decision is for Gulf communities and wildlife, who’ve been living in a polluted sacrifice zone for far too long,” said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups that sued over the lease sales.
Scott Lauermann, a spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute which sided with the federal government in the lawsuit, said that the blocking of the lease sale was “yet another example of activists weaponizing the [National Environmental Policy Act] process in the courts to block critical access for exploration, underscoring how permitting reform is essential to ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy.”
He added that his group would
be reviewing the court’s decision and evaluating its legal options going forward.
BOEM referred questions on the ruling to its parent agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior A spokesperson for that agency said that its policy is not to comment on litigation.
Recently, the agency issued a statement celebrating the results of other oil and gas lease sales on federal lands, which Secretary Doug Burghum said “demonstrate Interior’s unwavering commitment to fostering American Energy Dominance.”
97% of oil and gas production
The lawsuit, filed by Healthy Gulf, Bayou City Waterkeeper, the Center for Biological Diversity Friends of the Earth, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club, alleged that BOEM did not properly evaluate the environmental impacts of the lease sale.
The Biden administration had sought to limit offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters. During his last month in office, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that banned drilling in most federal waters but left waters off Louisiana open to new and existing oil and gas operations.
President Donald Trump has swiftly reversed course, promising to “unleash American energy” on his first day in office, in part by
encouraging offshore oil and gas development.
The federal government sells leases to private energy companies that allow them to drill offshore in the Gulf The vast majority of U.S. oil and gas production — about 97%, according to BOEM occurs in the Gulf of Mexico.
The ruling by Mehta, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, does not permanently bar the federal government from eventually proceeding with the oil and gas lease sales. Rather, it delays any lease sale until the government is able to provide additional environmental reviews.
The environmental groups have also challenged Gulf lease sale 261, which took place in December 2023, on the same grounds The ruling issued Thursday only applies to the lease in question, according to George Torgun, an attorney for Earthjustice who was involved with the litigation. He said that the ruling should apply to all oil and gas leasing in the Gulf.
The Rice’s whale lives in Gulf waters and nowhere else — and was only discovered to be a distinct species a few years ago. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association recently estimated that there could be as few as 51 Rice’s whales left in the wild.
Email Alex Lubben at alex. lubben@theadvocate.com.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW Traders work on the floor of the New york Stock Exchange on March 12.
A way to escape the madness of March
Like many people, March Madness was driving me bonkers. I needed something to change my emotions after the few ups and downs I was experiencing. Wait, I should clarify here. I’m not talking about the all-eyes-on-college-basketball run for the national championship No, I’m talking about the nutso scary stuff happening in Washington, D.C., with the folks running our nation. I’ve lost count of the technical fouls involving events there.
Things finally turned around a few days ago for me when I hugged someone I had not seen in decades. Seeing Ruby Coleman’s smile made most of the madness evaporate at least for a while Here’s why. Many years ago, my dad was dealing with multiple strokes that left him confined to a wheelchair He lived with me for a while, but being the independent person he was, he decided to be on his own
We shopped around and found an assisted living facility that he liked. Always the talker, in a few months, he had become a member of the facility’s community room in-crowd.
For the most part, he was able to dress himself. Nurses would come by to check on him, and he found the independent lifestyle to his liking
One day, a shy young woman came to visit her grandmother who lived in the building While there, she met my dad, and they talked a bit.
Over time, she would stop to see him when she visited her grandmother My dad became her unofficial grandfather She would run errands for him and make sure he took his medicine.
Ruby never asked for nor accepted a dime
Sometimes, Ruby would help straighten up the apartment, but mostly, she and he would sit outside and chat. When I dropped by, we all would have a good time Ruby liked to hear my dad and me talk about anything.
“He always tickled me with what he talked about,” she said.
Ruby was not there every day, but every day she was there was special. She would encourage him to take his medicine and she would know if he had not been out visiting with the other residents.
When his health declined and my dad had to enter a full-time nursing facility, she would drop in when she could. “That was my buddy. I had to see him,” she said. When my dad died, I tried to reach out to her but I couldn’t find her That’s when I realized I didn’t know that much about Ruby When my family and I were walking out of church at my dad’s funeral, a young woman was standing in a corner with her face in her hands, crying. It was Ruby I went over to comfort her, then told her to ride in the family car to the gravesite. It lifted her spirits.
When we came back to the church, I waved goodbye with the idea that I would try to keep up with her Sadly, that didn’t happen
Flash forward around 20 years. A church member told me a few months ago that after church, she went to a local store and a clerk who worked there asked her what church she attended “When I told her, she asked if Ed Pratt went there?” she told me Ruby gave her some background on how she knew me But how did she remember that’s the church I attended?
I was stunned and excited when my church member passed the information to me. When I walked in and saw her last week, she knew immediately who I was and we hugged I told her again how much I appreciated what she did for my dad, and said that it was so good seeing her She smiled and said again, “That was my buddy.” We took a photo and hugged, and I got her phone number because she will be a part of my family Ruby who also works with preschool children, promised, “I’ll come by as long as y’all don’t have a dog,” she laughed. On the way home, I promised myself that I would reach out more regularly to Ruby She was, and is, a blessing.
Yep, the emotions of March Madness, both of them, don’t stand a chance against Ruby Coleman’s genuine goodness, kindness and thoughtfulness.
Email Edward Pratt, a former newspaperman, at epratt1972@yahoo.com.
Edward Pratt
SPORTS
STILL DANCING
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
SPOKANE, Wash.
— All that stood between the LSU women’s basketball team and a third consecutive appearance in the Elite Eight was North Carolina State, a No. 2 seed that the Tigers already had routed back in November On Friday, the two teams met in a much tighter battle in the Sweet 16
The No. 3-seeded Tigers still grabbed enough offensive rebounds and hit enough fourth-quarter shots to prevail sending themselves back to the
doorstep of the Final Four with an 80-73 win.
“We made plays down the stretch,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said.
Aneesah Morrow finished with 30 points and 19 rebounds after shooting 12 of 25 from the field.
Sa’Myah Smith added 21 points and 11 boards in another impressive tournament performance, and Mikaylah Williams notched 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists after finding a groove down the stretch in the fourth quarter
In November, LSU used a large edge on the glass to win by 17. On Friday, it grabbed eight more offensive rebounds and took seven more field goals than
NC State, a dangerous offensive team that shot only 37% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc in another loss to the Tigers.
At the 4:29 mark of the fourth, the Wolfpack led 69-64.
Then Williams hit a mid-range jumper and scooped in a driving layup, giving LSU two buckets it used to cut the deficit to one.
Williams scored two more baskets, including a layup with 1:07 left that gave LSU a 74-73 edge after Kailyn Gilbert blocked a shot at the other end. Smith
ä See LSU, page 4C
BY JIM KLEINPETER
Contributing writer
The Smash Sisters were at it again for the No. 3 LSU softball team against South Carolina on Friday at Tiger Park. Maci Bergeron and Tori Edwards hit home runs in the first and second innings, respectively, as LSU dominated the No. 10 Gamecocks, 11-3, in a five-inning mercyrule win. The game’s start was delayed for an hour by inclement weather Bergeron and Edwards combined to hit four home runs in a sweep against Kentucky two weeks ago and got the Tigers off to another fast start Friday. Bergeron slugged a three-run homer to left field, her eighth, in a four-run first inning. Edwards hit her homer near the same spot for her third grand slam of the season and teamleading 12th homer overall.
“Me and Maci know what our roles are, we’re going to compete,” Edwards said. “Choose who you want, we’re going to keep doing our thing.
“(Smash Sisters is catching on) a tad. We’ve been hearing it from people. It’s an inside joke we like to laugh about. It’s really cool.”
That gave pitcher Sydney Berzon a nice cushion as she bounced back from her worst career outing at Georgia to pitch a five-hitter. Berzon walked one and struck out four She had allowed a career-high nine earned runs in an 11-3 loss at Georgia in her last appearance. Berzon took a two-hit shutout into the final inning but loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit batter Quincee Lilo hit a sacrifice fly
See SUCCESS, page
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
The long ball has become an integral part of modern college baseball. Granted, this isn’t a new development. Home runs were plentiful in the late 1990s with the rise of “Geauxrilla Ball.” But the implementation of BBCOR standard bats in 2011, which were meant to lower the “trampoline effect” of metal bats, reduced home run totals drastically The change made that season one of the hardest for Jay Johnson as a coach
“It was so drastically different of a game,” the current LSU coach said.
But the new sticks only temporarily curbed home runs. With pitchers throwing harder than ever before and hitters getting much
stronger, home runs are a major part of the sport again, especially in the Southeastern Conference. Johnson said the uptick in homers has led some SEC coaches to believe the college game should transition to using wooden bats. Johnson is not among them. He argues home runs and high scores have helped the sport become more popular Abnormally high run totals are a hallmark of the sport and a true differentiator from the professional ranks.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JENNy KANE
LSU forward Sa’Myah Smith, left, hugs guard Kailyn Gilbert after their Sweet 16 victory against North Carolina State on Friday in Spokane,Wash.
Ravens extend coach Harbaugh by three years
OWING MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens extended coach John Harbaugh’s contract by three years, taking him through the 2028 season.
The 62-year-old Harbaugh is the Ravens’ all-time winningest coach with a 172-104 record over 17 seasons, not including going 13-11 in the playoffs along with him being the second-longest tenured active coach behind Mike Tomlin, who has been the Pittsburgh Steelers coach for nearly 18 years. Baltimore has made the playoffs 12 times under Harbaugh, who even coached the Ravens to the Super Bowl title in their 2012 season.
Before renewing his deal with Baltimore, Harbaugh was entering the final year of his contract.
Sanders’ contract at Colorado extended
Grizzlies fire team’s winningest coach
BY TERESA M.WALKER AP sportswriter
The Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins, their winningest coach, on Friday with the team struggling down the stretch and at risk of losing home-court advantage for the postseason.
Still sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies decided to dump Jenkins anyway without immediately announcing an interim coach Jenkins led the Grizzlies for six seasons. He was let go with the team on the verge of playing three home games in a four-day span starting Saturday — first the Lakers, then Boston on Monday, then Golden State on Tuesday
That starts a stretch where eight of Memphis’ final nine opponents are either playoff clubs or contending for a play-in spot But it’s still possible, at least mathematically, that Memphis could get back to No. 2 in the West, and it’s highly unlikely that the Grizzlies will fall into the play-in tournament range.
Still, Memphis decided it was time for a change.
“This was a difficult decision, given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership,” Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies’ president and general manager of basketball operations, said in a statement.
The Grizzlies did not practice Friday and announced no media availability
Jenkins was the fifth longesttenured coach with his current club in the league, behind only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Denver’s Michael Malone — all of them having won NBA titles.
Results against the league’s best teams so far this season weren’t a good sign for Jenkins
The Grizzlies were 0-4 against Oklahoma City, losing those games by 24, 13, 17 and 21 points. They’re 3-6 so far this season against Houston, Denver and the Lakers, the next three teams ahead of them in the West
And that’s been a trend all season for Memphis. The Grizzlies were really good against the sub.500 teams, but struggled mightily against the winning clubs.
Against the 13 other teams that currently are over .500, the Grizzlies are 11-20 this season and getting outscored by 77 points.
Against the 16 clubs at .500 or worse, the Grizzlies are 33-9, outscoring those opponents by 462 points.
Jenkins, with a career record of 250-214, passed Lionel Hollins for most wins in franchise history Nov 20 with a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He also coached the most games in Grizzlies’ history, with the franchise launching in 1995.
He took Memphis to the postseason three times during his tenure but only got to the second round once.
In the 2021-22 season, the team won 56 games for the Grizzlies’ most in a season under Jenkins.
The Grizzlies captured the Southwest Division and were a No 2 seed in the West. They ousted the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round, but lost to Golden State in the second with star Ja Morant dealing with an injury
MacIntyre-Detry team
BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer
The international team of Robert MacIntyre and Thomas Detry has committed to play in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, tournament officials announced Friday
MacIntyre, a native of Scotland and a McNeese State product, and Detry, a native of Belgium, teamed to finish tied for eighth in last year’s Zurich.
The tournament will be played April 24-27 at the TPC of Louisiana in Avondale.
“They are both young but established European players who have found success on the PGA Tour, and who I’m sure are very
focused on being part of the European side for the Ryder Cup in September,” said Steve Worthy, the CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, which operates the tournament for the PGA Tour “Their strong play over the last year and high world rank will make them a team to watch.”
MacIntyre was a two-time winner on the PGA Tour last year
He took the crown at the Canadian Open, then won the Scottish Open, the championship in his home country
He became only the second player from Scotland to win the national tournament, following Colin Montgomery in 1999.
MacIntyre earned his PGA Tour card in 2023 and posted six
Jenkins replaced J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired after failing to make the playoffs in the 2018-19 season. He had served as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, both working for coach Mike Budenholzer
He also served a stint in the San Antonio Spurs organization, eventually becoming head coach of the Spurs G League team in Austin.
Jenkins’ arrival in Memphis coincided with the Grizzlies drafting Morant with the No 2 overall pick in 2019. Memphis made the postseason three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023. Then the Grizzlies went through a season plagued with injuries to major players.
Morant played only nine games because of a 25-game league suspension and a right shoulder injury that ended his season. Fellow guard Desmond Bane missed
considerable time with a left ankle sprain, and frontline reserve Brandon Clarke managed only six games because of a left Achilles tendon tear
That left Jenkins to manage the season with forward Jaren Jackson Jr and a bunch of makeshift lineups eventually finishing 27-55. This season, Jenkins turned over his coaching staff and brought in a new offense based on spacing.
Despite being plagued with turnovers, Memphis spent a large part of the season second in the West. Other teams surged as the Grizzlies’ rough patch dropped them to fifth place.
Again, Jenkins spent another season piecing together lineups around Morant limited to 43 games with various illnesses, soreness, contusions and sprains.
Morant missed Thursday night’s game, his sixth straight, with a strained hamstring.
top-10 finishes in 2024. This season, he has posted four finishes in the top 15, including a sixth in the Phoenix Open. He currently ranks 18th in the world.
He played in the 2023 Ryder Cup, posting a record of 2-0-1 helping his European team, captained by Luke Donald, win decisively in Rome over the U.S. squad 161/2-111/2 Detry, currently ranked 26th in the world and 10th in the FedExCup points, won his first PGA Tour title by seven strokes at this year’s Phoenix Open. It was the largest margin of victory on the PGA Tour this season. He opened the year with a tie for fifth in the Sentry in Hawaii.
Playing with Victor Perez of France, he tied for 13th in the 2023 Zurich Classic, then paired with Macintyre to finish tied for eighth in last year’s event.
In addition to his win on the PGA Tour this year Detry also won the Bridgestone Challenge on the DP World Tour in 2016, his rookie year as a pro. Last year on the PGA Tour, he recorded four top-10 finishes, the best a tie for second in the Houston Open.
He represented Belgium in the last two Olympics, finishing tied for 22nd in Tokyo and tied for ninth last year in Paris.
Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.
Deion Sanders brought back the glitter — and the wins — to a downtrodden program in just two seasons. For that, the Colorado Buffaloes rewarded the charismatic coach with a contract extension through the 2029 season, making him the highest-paid football coach in the Big 12 Conference and among the most lucratively paid across the country
His five-year $54 million extension includes $10 million in each of the first two seasons, $11 million in the next two and $12 million in Year 5.
The deal was reached with three years remaining on Sanders’ existing five-year, $29.5 million deal he signed when he was brought in from Jackson State.
Jets sign veteran WR Reynolds to one-year deal
The New York Jets signed veteran Josh Reynolds to a one-year deal Thursday adding depth to their wide receivers group.
The 30-year-old Reynolds, who spent last season with Denver and Jacksonville, is reunited with Jets coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand with whom he worked during three seasons in Detroit.
Reynolds joins a Jets wide receivers room that includes Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Irvin Charles and Tyler Johnson, who was also signed as a free agent this offseason. New York released wide receiver Davante Adams, who later signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Reynolds could end up replacing Lazard, who could be traded or released.
Cunningham misses third game with bruised calf
DETROIT Detroit Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham missed his third straight game with a bruised calf. The Pistons announced Cunningham would not play against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, adding that the All-NBA candidate is day to day He hurt his left calf last week in a game at Dallas.
Cunningham has been the key player during Detroit’s turnaround, leading a team vying for home-court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs after having the league’s worst record the previous two seasons.
The Pistons set a single-season record with 28 straight losses last year and finished with 14 wins, a year after winning just 17 games.
Djokovic advances to Miami Open final
Novak Djokovic cruised into the Miami Open final by routing 14thseeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium. The fourth-seeded Djokovic is trying for his seventh Miami Open title in his first appearance in the event since 2019. The 37-year-old Djokovic, who won six times at the tournament’s previous venue at Key Biscayne, also is going for his 100th professional title. He has been out of form this year, starting with an injury retirement at the Australian Open in January Earlier this month, he lost his first match at Indian Wells to
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROB GRAy
Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins looks on during a game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in Salt Lake City.
Lutcher girls win 19th straight state title
BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer
Anything less than a state championship would have been a disappointment for the Lutcher High School girls powerlifting team considering it had won 18 state titles in a row Lutcher was looking for 19 at Friday’s Divisions I-III girls LHSAA powerlifting meet at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner and got it. Six Bulldogs lifters won their weight classes to ensure the streak wouldn’t end.
The Division LHSAA’s Division I-III boys meet concludes action Saturday in Kenner
Lutcher freshman Avery St. Pierre was named Division II Most Outstanding Lifter for the lighter weight classes St Pierre won the 132-pound class with a total lift of 820 pounds. Each lifter does the squat, bench press and deadlift and the total weight is combined
“Honestly, we didn’t know what (St. Pierre) could do,” Lutcher
coach Jon Magendie said. “She’s a freshman, but she’s not too far away from a state record total.”
St Pierre said her 340-pound deadlift was a key to her victory
My deadlift really helped me pull through,” St. Pierre said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but it feels good. All the work we put in really came through.”
Lutcher’s Zahyra Hayes, Colbie Mitchell and Zalie Florian finished first in the three heaviest Division II weight classes. A senior, Hayes competed in the heaviest class and lifted a total of 1,135 pounds, with Mitchell lifting 995 pounds in the 220-pound class and Forian lifting 880 pounds in the 198-pound class.
“(Hayes) has had several good years here,” Magendie said. “Last year she competed internationally and had to train all summer for that. She kept going this year and did a good job with it.”
Senior Tanae Martin placed first in the 123-pound class for Lutcher, with Danielle Louqe placing first
in the 148-pound class. Addison St. Pierre and Jade Chabaud placed second in their classes, with Jade Madere and Briley Holley placing third.
“Tanae Martin was with us for a couple years and left to dance for a little while,” Magendie said. “She came back this year and won her weight class, so that was pretty cool. Jade Madere didn’t make the team for state last year, but she focused this year and got back.”
Woodlawn, Dutchtown shine
Woodlawn had a strong showing with six girls delivering podium finishes in Division I.
Kaityln Reed, Kennedi Kullman, Krystel Amo, Jadyn Barner and Cassandra Araujo finished second in their weight classes for Woodlawn Aerion Lange finished third in the heaviest class.
Emma Carona delivered a firstplace showing for Dutchtown in the 181-pound class. Dutchtown also had three fourth-place finishers.
GIRLS POWERLIFTING RESULTS
1135. 2. Maggie Pharis, Grant, 445-265-335-
Ex-Vols coach Pruitt sues NCAA,
says he was a ‘sacrificial lamb’
BY TERESA M. WALKER AP sports writer
Jeremy Pruitt is suing the NCAA for $100 million for lost and future wages, accusing the organization of conspiring with the University of Tennessee to make him possibly the “last coach in America to be punished for impermissible player benefits.”
Pruitt’s lawsuit was filed Wednesday in DeKalb County Circuit Court in northeast Alabama, about 170 miles south of Knoxville. The lawsuit also accuses the NCAA of negligence and Tennessee of limiting the investigation into rules violations before his hiring.
“Jeremy Pruitt is one of the coaches who has been subject to an unfair wrongful, and inconsistent NCAA investigation and ruling with potentially career-ending penalties,” according to the lawsuit. “The NCAA conspired with the University of Tennessee (“UT”) and others to make Jeremy the sacrificial lamb for conduct that long preceded his tenure at UT.”
When the NCAA punished Tennessee in July 2023, the sprawling report specifically called out Pruitt for his personal involvement and that “the former head coach violated head coach responsibility rules.” Four of his former staff members reached agreements with the NCAA’s enforcement staff and were given show-cause orders.
“NCAA rules are proposed and adopted by member schools and penalties for violations are imposed by a committee of representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences as well as individuals from the public who have legal training,” the NCAA said in a statement Thursday “In this case, the Committee on Infractions found violations and assigned penalties, both of which were affirmed by the Infractions Appeals Committee.” Tennessee fired Pruitt and nine others Jan. 18, 2021, for cause after an internal investigation found what the university chancellor called “serious violations of NCAA rules.” Chancellor Donde Plowman said Pruitt was responsible for overseeing the program. Tennessee had been
conducting an internal investigation since a tip Nov. 13 about alleged recruiting violations. Plowman called the infractions “serious violations of NCAA rules” at a news conference.
Pruitt’s lawsuit claims Plowman told him Jan. 18 that “Jeremy, we know you haven’t done anything wrong.”
He was hired in December 2017 after a tumultuous search cost athletic director John Currie his job with former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer taking over Pruitt’s lawsuit alleges the new coach learned less than one week after being hired “that payments were being made to some players” despite being against NCAA rules at that time. Pruitt reported what he learned to Fulmer, and the lawsuit states Fulmer told Pruitt that “he would handle it” and deal with the compliance department. The lawsuit also alleges that Pruitt learned after being fired that one or more people inside the Tennessee athletic departments or boosters “had systematically engaged in making payments to players at a time when NCAA rules did not allow such payments.”
The NCAA found that Pruitt or his wife, Casey, were involved in impermissible payments to two prospects who later signed with Tennessee. The mother of one player received $6,000 from Pruitt’s wife as a down payment on a car Pruitt’s lawsuit accuses the NCAA and Tennessee of a “farcical hearing” to determine if Pruitt violated any rules when the NCAA had a “direct financial stake” in the outcome with Tennessee’s “vested interest in the pre-determined outcome of the one-sided ‘investigation’ so that it could justify its failure to pay Jeremy the millions of dollars due under his buyout and other incentives stipulated in his contract.”
An attorney originally promised a lawsuit in October 2021 over the $12.6 million buyout in the coach’s contract. Tennessee never paid the buyout, telling the NCAA that Pruitt and the others fired “repeatedly deceived” administrators and compliance staff overseeing the program. In July 2023, the NCAA fined Tennessee more than $8 million and issued a scathing report outlining more than 200 infractions during Pruitt’s three-year tenure.
1005. 3. Aundra Brisco, Washington-Marion, 410-250-375-970. Division III 97 pounds: 1. Madelyn Marcotte, Buckeye, 230-115-255-550. 2. Halie Richard, Mamou, 215-105-210-485. 3. Mandy Smith, Doyle, 165100-185-435. 105 pounds: 1. Reaghan Gartman, Church Point, 260-145-305-690. 2. Jaden Woody, Port Allen, 210-110-225-485. 3. Dream Simmons, Wossman, 185-75-215-450. 114 pounds: 1. Kerigan Kimbrough, Springfield, 215-125-295-615. 2. Mariana Caffey, Church Point, 250-120-275-610. 3. Kendyll Lavergne, Mamou, 220-125-270-590. 123 pounds: 1. Khandi Shuford, Abbeville, 345-195-375-915. 2. Ava’Grace Richard, Church Point, 295-165-285-725. 3. Maddison Vidrine, Doyle, 270-165-285-725. 132 pounds: 1. Abigail Williams, St. Louis Catholic, 325-200-315-840. 2. Melissa Mai, Abbeville, 310-140-315-750. 3. Ava Matte, Church Point, 305-175-305-745. 148 pounds: 1. A’na Reyes, Church Point, 335175-330-820. 2. Morgan Churchman, St. Louis Catholic, 315-160-310-760. 3. Rosalee Richey Buckeye, 330-130-310-755. 165 pounds: 1. Lillian Cortez, Church Point, 350-220-310-880. 2. Caitlyn Vaughn, De La Salle, 280-165-335-775. 3. Ainsley Manuel Iota, 305-165-315-755. 181 pounds: 1. Tonie Landry, Abbeville, 330-160-330-790. 2. Harley Lovell, Doyle, 315-135-360-750. 3. Emma Harrington, Erath, 310-170-280-745. 198 pounds: 1. Brylee Batiste, Abbeville, 535-305-465-1260. 2. Pipper Lemaire, Erath, 300-180-290-770. 3. Keanna Plowden, Kaplan, 315-180-285-765. 220 pounds: 1. Hailey Brown, Berwick, 365225-365-925. 2. Chloe Knapp, Erath, 290-175370-835. 3. Taylor Hathaway, Jewel Sumner, 385-145-320-835. SHW: 1. Deondria Jones, Jena, 410-200-4051000. 2. Arin Ashley, Jena, 410-225-350-960. 3. Dodie McLin, Doyle, 375-185-425-920.
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
STAFF PHOTO By JOSEPH HALM
The Lutcher girls powerlifting team won the Division II state title on Friday.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
South Carolina holds off Maryland
The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 23 points, including a go-ahead layup with 2:22 left, and Chloe Kitts added 15 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 1 seed South Carolina beat fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67 on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament
The reigning national champion Gamecocks went back-and-forth with the Terrapins all game before finally doing enough in the final few minutes to put it away South Carolina will face Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday The Blue Devils beat Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina 47-38 earlier Friday
Dawn Staley’s team trailed 60-59 with 3:25 left before holding Maryland without a point over the next three minutes. Fulwiley’s layup began the 7-0 run that gave the Gamecocks(33-3)justenoughofacushion. Kitts added three free throws during the spurt and Fulwiley scored on a coast-to-coast drive.
The Gamecocks were up 66-60 with 25 seconds left when Saylor Poffenbarger ended Maryland’s scoring drought with a 3-pointer But the Terps couldn’t get closer as the Gamecocks made five of six free throws down the stretch, including two by Fulwiley with 10.9 seconds left that made it 71-65.
“No one in the country has anyone to match that type of speed,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said
Continued from page 1C
and Williams combined to make six free throws in the final minute to seal the victory
“We made some bad plays down the stretch,” Mulkey said, “but we made plays down the stretch to pull it out and win, and it means we did some good stuff.”
LSU rocketed through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament by scoring at least 100 points in both of its games. Through the first quarter of action Friday it appeared that the Tigers’ red-hot shooting followed them to the Pacific Northwest. But LSU gave away an early 11-point lead as part of a bumpy second quarter. NC State started to catch fire from 3-point range, and the zone defense it deployed halfway through the frame forced the Tigers out of rhythm. Two LSU starters had at least 10 points by halftime, but Flau’jae Johnson was scoreless, Williams had only six points and the Wolfpack led 40-36. The Tigers also struggled to contain NC State guard Zamareya Jones, a 5-foot-7 freshman who scored 11 of her 13 points in the second quarter
Things started to shift again in the third. LSU missed 11 shots but grabbed six offensive rebounds, creating looks around the rim that propelled it back in front By the
of Fulwiley “We were trying to corral her with two or three players. I thought she was no question the most valuable player in this game. She played 20 minutes and had 23 points. We had no answer for her That’s how elite she is with her speed.”
Kaylene Smikle scored 17 points to lead Maryland (25-8) before fouling out.
Neither team could get into an offensive flow in the first three quarters. South Carolina trailed 43-39 late in the third before closing out the period with a 13-7 run that was capped by a spectacular transition basket by Fulwiley who went behind her back and then hit a pull-up shot.
The two teams had met once previously in the NCAA Tournament, an 86-75 win for South Carolina in the Elite Eight in 2023.
South Carolina avoided becoming the first reigning champion to lose this early in the tournament since Louisville knocked off Brittney Griner and Baylor in 2013 in the Sweet 16.
DUKE 47, NORTH CAROLINA 38: Oluchi Okananwa had her third doubledouble of the season and Duke beat Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina in a grind-it-out defensive battle.
The second-seeded Blue Devils climbed out of an early 11-0 hole to advance to the 12th regional final in program history and first since 2013.
“I’ll be honest. I was a little worried down 11-0 and we hadn’t scored at all in the game,” Duke coach Kara Lawson said. “But I don’t think there’s ever been a shutout. I felt pretty good we could score at some point.”
That didn’t come until the fourminute mark of the first, when Jordan Wood drew a foul and made one of two free throws.
Okananwa, a reserve, scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half and had 10 rebounds. Duke (29-7) got 26 points from its bench compared to North Carolina’s six.
Ashlon Jackson finished with 10 points, and Toby Fournier, Duke’s leading scorer this season who was sidelined for the Blue Devils’ second-round win over Oregon with an illness, was held to three points
Fifth-year senior Alyssa Ustby had nine points on 3-of-10 shooting for the third-seeded Tar Heels (29-8), who were seeking their first Elite Eight appearance since 2014. Led by Ustby, who averaged 10.9 points per game, the Tar Heels had reached their second Sweet 16 in the past four years.
“Sitting up here after a loss is disappointing,” North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said, “especially when you hold your third straight tournament team below 50 points and you don’t win the game.”
Neither team shot the ball well. The 85 points were the fewest combined ever in a regional semifinal. Duke shot 31% after missing its first nine attempts. North Carolina shot 28% from
Johnson finished with only three points on 1-of-8 shooting.
For the first time in her career, Smith played 40 minutes. She’s now tallied at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in two consecutive games after she posted only one such outing across her first 76 career contests. Williams scored all 10 of her fourth-quarter points in the game’s final four minutes
On Monday, LSU assisted on 29 shots in a 30-point, second-round win over No. 6 seed Florida State
But on Friday, the Tigers tallied only 14 assists on 32 field-goal makes.
Spartans dance into Elite Eight
Richardson lifts Michigan State past Ole Miss in second half
The Associated Press ATLANTA Jace Richardson scored 24 points and Michigan State surged past Ole Miss in the second half for a 73-70 victory on Friday night in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Ole Miss (24-12) was denied in its bid for its first Elite Eight appearance despite leading by 10 points in the first half and by nine in the second half.
Michigan State (30-6), the South Region’s No. 2 seed, rallied to keep alive coach Tom Izzo’s bid for his ninth Final Four and second national championship. The Spartans will play either No 1 seed Auburn or rival Michigan on Sunday Izzo, in his 16th Sweet 16, earned his 59th NCAA Tournament win, breaking a tie with Jim Boeheim of Syracuse for fourth all-time.
A drive and short jumper by Jaden Akins gave Michigan State a 65-63 lead. Following two misses by Rebels guard Dre Davis, Izzo called timeout with 57 seconds remaining and then pumped his fist as he welcomed his players back to the bench. Following the timeout, Carson Cooper’s layup stretched the lead to 67-63, the Spartans’ biggest of the game. A floater by Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla, who led the Rebels with 24 points, cut the lead to two.
Ole Miss was making only its second Sweet 16 appearance after losing to Arizona 66-56 and failing to advance to the 2001 Elite Eight.
The Spartans scored the final six points of the first half to trail 33-31 at the break.
TENNESSEE 78, KENTUCKY 65: In Indianapolis, Zakai Zeigler had 18 points and 10 assists, and Tennessee outhustled and outplayed Kentucky on both ends of the court in a victory Friday night that sent the Volunteers to a second consecutive Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The second-seeded Vols (30-7) beat their border rival in the first all-Southeastern Conference Sweet 16matchupsince1986andwillplay
AP PHOTO By GEORGE
Michigan State guard Jace Richardson reacts to a play against Ole Miss during the first half of their Sweet 16 game on Friday in Atlanta.
SundayagainstHoustonor Purdue in the Midwest Region final.
Chaz Lanier added 17 points and Jordan Gainey had 16 for the Vols, who lost twice to Kentucky in the regular season but prevailed on a much bigger stage this time.
Lamont Butler scored 18 points to lead first-year coach Mark Pope’s third-seeded Wildcats (2412), who were held 20 points under their season scoring average. Their 65 points matched their fewest in a game this season.
The Vols did what they failed to do in their first two meetings with Kentucky The Wildcats had shot 12 of 24 on 3-pointers in each of those games.
It was apparent early the Vols weren’t going to let the Wildcats and their 85-point-per game offense put up those kind of numbers again. Kentucky finished 6 of 15 from distance.
The Vols were in full control by the middle of the first half, using relentless defense and attacking the glass to generate offense and build a 19-point lead. They generated 13 secondchance points off nine offensive rebounds on their way to a 43-28 lead at half, only the second time Kentucky has been held under 30 points in a first half this season. Tennessee coach Rick Barnes is now 15-0 in the NCAA Tournament when up by 10 or more at halftime.
start of the fourth, NC State coach Wes Moore was telling the ESPN broadcast that his team had no answer for Morrow, and LSU led 57-53. Once NC State hit enough shots to take a five-point, fourth-quarter lead, LSU answered with a 16-4 run to close out the game. Smith and Williams combined to score all 16 of those points. “Nobody likes to lose,” Morrow said, “so I talked to my teammates in the huddle, and I told them we got to take our matchups personally We have to be able to dominate, and we have to be able to make defensive stops, and we did that toward the end of the game.”
Mulkey-coached teams are now 13-5 in the Sweet 16. Because it won on Friday, LSU will make its 11th trip to the Elite Eight, the only round of the NCAA Tournament in which Mulkey’s teams have a losing record (5-7) in her career
Last season, the Tigers lost to No. 1 seed Iowa in the Elite Eight after Caitlin Clark erupted for 41 points.
This year, it will face the winner of a Sweet 16 matchup between No. 1 seed UCLA and No. 5 seed Ole Miss that tipped off on Friday night after LSU’s win.
“I think there’s five in our locker room that have never been to a Sweet 16,” Mulkey said, “so they certainly haven’t been to an Elite Eight, and that’s what excites you as a coach, is having players experience something for the first time. And you don’t take it for granted. You just don’t.”
BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer
The fourth and fifth players from this past season’s LSU men’s basketball team have entered the transfer portal.
First on Friday freshman Vyctorius Miller entered the transfer portal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Later in the day, junior Noah Boyde followed suit, according to reports from 247Sports and On3.
Miller made five starts and averaged 8.9 points on 44.7% from the field in 19 minutes per game He missed seven games because of a pair of ankle injuries during the season. Miller earned his place in Matt McMahon’s rotation after a 15-point game against Kansas State during the third game of the season. He became the team’s third-leading scorer after Jalen Reed’s season-ending ACL injury on Dec. 3. The 6-foot-5 guard was an inefficient scorer for most of Southeastern Conference play and only entered the starting lineup after McMahon decided a four-guard lineup was best for the team.
The Los Angeles native’s most impressive game was a 17-point performance in a 65-59 loss to Tennessee.Hewas6of11fromthefield with three rebounds and a steal.
Miller is the son of rapper Silkk The Shocker and the nephew of rapper Master P. He also was the No.60playerinthecountry,according to the 247Sports composite. Boyde, a 7 feet, 245-pounder, played in just five games and 12 total minutes, averaging 1.4 points. His best game was a
six-point outing in five minutes against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 29. Boyde was signed out of McCook Community College in Nebraska. The center joined LSU but wasn’t immediately available because of his recovery from an ACL tear the season before. He began fully practicing on Dec. 6 and made his season debut on Dec. 8 against Florida Gulf Coast The Monchy, St. Lucia, native appeared in two Southeastern Conference games, playing two minutes against Georgia and a minute against South Carolina. Miller and Boyde joined redshirt freshman Corey Chest, junior Tyrell Ward and sophomore Mike Williams in the transfer portal.
One
AP PHOTO By JENNy KANE
LSU forward Aneesah Morrow reacts after getting a rebound during the second half of a Sweet 16 game against North Carolina State on Friday.
SCHEINUK
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT
South Carolina guard Raven Johnson, right, and forward Joyce Edwards leap for a rebound against Maryland forward Christina Dalce, left, during the second half of their Sweet 16 game on Friday in Birmingham,Ala.
WALKER IV
Pelicans fall to Warriors in Curry’s return
BY ROD WALKER Staff writer
The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t look the part of a team with nothing to play for Friday night
Instead, they played like a team jockeying for playoff position while facing a team that really was. For a little more than three quarters, the Pelicans hung around but didn’t have quite enough falling to the Golden State Warriors 111-95 at Smoothie King Center Bruce Brown led the Pelicans with 18 points.
Elfrid Payton, who dished out 14 assists in Monday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, had 10 more assists Friday Rookie Yves Missi finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for his 12th double-double.
The Pelicans (20-54) lost all four games against the Warriors (42-32) this season.
This one, played before a crowd where the Warriors fans were louder than those cheering for the Pelicans, was way closer than anyone would have expected. Especially considering how shorthanded the Pelicans were.
Both Zion Williamson (lower back contusion) and CJ McCollum (right foot contusion) sat out the game.
The Warriors, meanwhile, got Steph Curry back. He missed the Warriors’ past two games with a pelvic contusion. The Warriors, who entered Friday tied for sixth in the Western Conference standings, lost the two games without Curry
Even at full strength, Golden State coach Steve Kerr knew that didn’t mean this would be a cake-
walk
“Our guys know how often this happens where guys are out on the other team and how well everyone else plays because they are getting an opportunity,” Kerr said before the game. “We know that’s what’s coming tonight. They’ll play with great energy All the guys getting the minutes are going to be excited about that. So it’s on us to bring our own energy.”
Early on, it was the duo of Brown and Jose Alvarado bringing the energy.
The Pelicans raced out to a 7-0 lead to start the game and stretched it to 14-2 with 7:49 left in the opening quarter Brown (eight) and Alvarado (six) scored all of the Pelicans’ points during their fast start.
The Pels led 28-21 after a first quarter in which the Warriors shot a woeful 1 for 14 on 3-pointers. The Warriors got some offense going in the second quarter, but the Pels still led 53-50 at the break. Curry led the Warriors with 23 points.
The Pelicans used their 41st different starting lineup Friday
With just eight games remaining, it’s unclear what the Pelicans’ plans are for Williamson the rest of the way Pelicans coach Willie Green, when asked Thursday whether they would possibly sit Williamson for the rest of the season, had this to say:
“Not my call,” Green said. “That will be something that he decides or the organization decides collaboratively.”
The Pelicans host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday
Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com
at Tiger Park. Bergeron hit her eighth home run Friday in LSU’s win over South Carolina.
SUCCESS
Continued from page 1C
“Sydney was awesome tonight,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “We probably got a little ahead of ourselves trying to finish the game. I was worried about the rainstorm coming in and just trying to get three outs. Overall, she was awesome I saw a lot of good things she’s been trying to do.” Danieca Coffey also had a good night at the plate with two hits and two walks. She started the
JOHNSON
Continued from page 1C
“I think it’s something that makes college baseball unique,” Johnson said on his radio show Monday “And I think we’re in a really popular spot right now There’s more talent in college baseball, meaning more talent in the SEC, probably than ever before because of the contraction of the minor leagues, the contraction of the draft.
“It’s pretty marketable right now At least in our league, everybody’s going all in on baseball. It’s forcing us to have to hustle, to keep up and keep where you want it to be. And I think the aluminum bat thing is unique.”
Junior Jared Jones agrees with his coach, even if the slugger is used to hitting with wooden bats, having played in wooden bat leagues growing up.
“Obviously summer ball is wood bat as well So, I think it’d be interesting,” Jones said. “(But) I think metal bats make college a little bit more exciting, a little bit more fun, but we’ll see.” Sophomore Steven Milam is
game with a single, and after Jalia Lassiter walked, Bergeron homered on a 2-2 pitch with a strong wind blowing in. Edwards followed with a walk and McKenzie Redoutey made it 4-0 with a triple to left-center field off South Carolina starter Nealey Lamb as the Tigers batted around. Lamb was relieved by Jori Heard, who finished the first inning, but LSU got to her quickly in the second. Coffey led off the second with a walk, Lassiter singled and Bergeron walked before Edwards hit a high, arching shot that easily cleared the left-field wall.
By
LSU first baseman Jared Jones hits a solo home run in the first inning against UNO on March 18 at Alex Box Stadium. College baseball has used aluminum bats since the 2011 season.
more open to playing with wooden bats. He used wooden bats last summer while playing for the U.S. Collegiate National Team.
“Wood would be cool, I’d say,” Milam said. “At USA, it was really cool to play with wood again and just kind of get the natural feel back.”
It’s no accident that the best teams in the sport over the last
“This team has a knack for ing first and did a good job,” rina said. “Danieca did a good We found a lot of different on base, a lot of walks, and always helps with the cro number innings. The offense the star of the show tonight.”
Coffey, Edwards and Redoutey each produced run-scoring hits the third inning as LSU piled onto the lead.
HOF former Saints equipment manager Simmons dies at 78
BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer
LSU improved to 31-2 overall and 6-1 in SEC play while South Carolina dropped to 25-7 and 2-5. The teams meet again at 6 p.m. Saturday
few seasons were also ones that could consistently hit the ball out of the park. En route to winning its first national championship last season, Tennessee broke its program home run record by blasting 184. The Volunteers became the first program in NCAA history to have five players with 20 or more homers and were just four long balls shy of reaching LSU’s single-season home run record set in 1997. The year before, when LSU won its seventh national title, it had eight players with double-digit homers and hit 144 on the season. The Tigers entered Thursday’s game against Mississippi State only 18th in the country in homers, but they hit three Thursday in an 8-6 comeback win over the Bulldogs. To keep up with the times, they’ll need to have more nights like that for a return to Omaha.
“I was talking to somebody yesterday that is a fan, not like a baseball person,” Johnson said. “And they were telling me how much they love it Like it’s so much more exciting when it’s 1311 as opposed to 2-1.”
Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@theadvocate.com.
Dan Simmons, a beloved former equipment manager for the New Orleans Saints, died Friday in his hometown of St Louis, team officials confirmed Friday He was 78. Simmons, affectionately known “Chief,” was a beloved figure in organization, serving as the head equipmanager for years before tiring in 2014. served as the /legends ator in the oryears after mons was employee in organization and four-decade service. just the very quarterback Archie Manning said.
“He was so kind and sweet and humble. He just did his job and never sought attention. If everyone with the Saints had done their jobs as well as Chief did when I played, we would have won Super Bowls.”
Manning said he received numerous text messages and phone calls from former Saints players on Friday after news of Simmons’ death spread.
“Everyone loved Chief,” Manning said. “You never heard any-
When you need the news. Wherever you read the news.
one say a bad word about him.” Simmons began working for the Saints as the equipment manager on April 1, 1973. He worked a total of 858 preseason, regular-season and postseason games and was proud to be a member of each of the franchise’s 10 playoff teams, including the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV championship team.
In 2022, Simmons was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural “Awards of Excellence” class, honoring the achievements of assistant coaches and support staff. In 2015, he was recognized by his colleagues from all 32 NFL clubs with the National Football League equipment managers’ lifetime achievement award.
In 2010, Simmons and longtime assistant equipment manager Glenn “Silky” Powell were honored by the Saints Hall of Fame with the Joe Gemelli Fleur-De-Lis Award, the hall’s annual honor recognizing contribution to the franchise.
Simmons’ father Bill, was the equipment manager of the St. Louis Cardinals football team for 22 years, with Dan assisting him on a full-time basis from 1971-72 before coming to New Orleans. A graduate of Meramec College in St. Louis, Simmons was also a Vietnam veteran who served four years in the U.S. Navy He is survived by his wife, Elaine, and their three children, Amy, Tony and Tracy
Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@ theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTO
HILARy SCHEINUK
FILE PHOTO By PATRICK DEN
LSU’s Maci Bergeron watches her fly to deep left field during a game against Virginia Tech on Feb 16
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
New Orleans Pelicans center yves Missi holds onto the ball as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green plays defense during the first half of their game Friday at the Smoothie King Center
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Flower Fest brings floral art, sculpture to BR
BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer
Baton Rouge florists are going “Under the Sea” in April for Flower Fest, the unconventional floral design challenge that doubles as a St. Jude fundraiser
The gala will take place 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. April 4, and the festival will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m April 5-6 at PointeMarie, 14200 River Road, Baton Rouge. Tickets for the gala are $175, and tickets for the festival are $20, available for purchase on Eventbrite.
Flower Fest founder Amy Vandiver was inspired to create the event after she was inspired by the Netflix show “The Big Flower Fight,” which displayed floral talents from around the world through challenges and competition. When Vandiver had the idea, it was 2020, and the pandemic was affecting the flower industry because of the decrease in events.
“Yet all the flowers were still harvested just like any kind of crop,” Vandiver said, “so back then people were bringing flowers to nursing homes, hospitals and airports because they had to do something with them. The idea grew from that and watching the show.”
Vandiver credits being the daughter of an art teacher and a festival-loving Louisiana girl for her instincts to start and plan a flower festival: food, music, something to do and the things she enjoys.
In 2021, Vandiver launched the first Flower Fest. Since then, the fundraiser has worked with Louisiana florists who compete to create thematic designs in two days within a certain budget.
“They’re given an amount to go and splurge,” said Ericka Poole, event chair for Flower Fest “A lot of them end up coming out of their own pockets because they need extra. They place orders for the most beautiful, exotic flowers, and then they bring them all out there, and they start building on Wednesday and Thursday.”
During the event, guests receive tickets to vote for their favorite floral designs Some of the categories include “Most Instagrammable” and “Favorite Theme.” In addition to the floral competition, Vandiver wanted to use the event to give to a worthy cause. Over the past four years, Flower Fest has raised over $300,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital while celebrating the talent and ingenuity of floral artists and hosting market vendors, food trucks and other creatives This year’s Flower Fest is sponsored by Capitol Wellness.
Honoring St. Jude’s
The floral sculptures may draw the crowds, but Flower Fest is really about the people — the children who have battled cancer,
the
A View of the Soul
The LSU Textile & Costume Museum uses joy of color to present fashion through a different lens
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
Michael Mamp can’t contain his smile when walking into the LSU Textile & Costume Museum main gallery which proves Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky right.
“Color is a power which directly influences the soul,” Kandinsky said That’s certainly the case with Mamp, the museum’s director His smile grows bigger while surveying the museum’s newest exhibit, “Color Me Fashion,” where Kandinsky’s quote is displayed within a splash of orange and blue among more than 45 designs categorized by complementary colors.
Welcoming spring
The show opened March 23, joining the azaleas, wisteria and regional Holi festivals’ colorful celebrations in welcoming springtime to
From left to right, Blazin loaded fries, 3 jumbo tenders with fries, and 2 jumbo sliders are all on the menu at Blazin Hot Chicken.
The ‘Color Me Fashion’ show represents a century of fashion between 1890 to 1990, which is grouped in categories of complementary colors.
Louisiana. It runs through Aug. 15.
Mamp, assisted by curatorial graduate students Morgan Strzynski and Katherine Bankhead, chose pieces from the museum’s permanent collection. The designs and their related accessories use color to explore fashion history between 1890 and 1990.
And though Mamp knows every stitch and thread in this room, he’s still amazed at how the barrage of color, as Kandinsky would say, influences his soul.
Color affirms joy
“To me, color is one of those lifeaffirming things,” he said. “I study fashion because it’s joyful, and I think that color is a way to be immersed in that joy I want people to come in here and experience that kind of joy.”
STAFF PHOTOS By ROBIN MILLER
The LSU Textile & Costume Museum’s exhibit,‘Color Me Fashion,’ uses color to explore fashion history. More than 45 pieces from
museum’s permanent collection are on display through Aug. 15.
Get screened early for Parkinson’s at free event
Staff report
Mission for Movement will host a Parkinson’s screening event from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the ExxonMobil YMCA, 7717 Howell Blvd. in Baton Rouge. The free screening event will provide an opportunity for individuals to be tested for early signs of Parkinson’s disease and take proactive steps toward their health Early detection plays a crucial role in improving quality of life, Mission for Movement stresses. Appointmentsarerecommended, butwalk-insarewelcome.Toscheduleatime,emailCarmenHigginsat cghiggins1955@gmail.com.
The screening will include a movement assessment and vital symptom check.
“With knowledge and resources, people with PD can live long, productive lives,” says Randy LeBlanc, founder and co-director of the Mission for Movement “I was diagnosed 20 years ago and have spent much of my time trying to stay ahead of this disease and help others to do the same.”
Mission for Movement is a Ba-
ton Rouge-based nonprofit that provides resources, support and connections for individuals living with Parkinson’s. For more info, go to themissionformovement. org
TODAY IN HISTORY
house arrest.)
By The Associated Press
Today is Saturday, March 29, the 88th day of 2025. There are 277 days left in the year
Today in history
On March 29, 1974, a group of Chinese farmers digging a well struck fragments of terra-cotta buried underground; archaeologists would ultimately discover terra-cotta sculptures of more than 8,000 soldiers and other figures. The “Terra-cotta Army” would become one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century
On this date:
In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began, limiting American consumers to store purchases of an average of about 2 pounds a week for beef, pork, lamb and mutton using a coupon system.
In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. (They were executed in June 1953.)
In 1961, the 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, allowing residents of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections.
In 1971, Army Lt. William L Calley Jr was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the 1968 My Lai massacre. (Initially sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor, Calley’s sentence would ultimately be commuted by President Richard Nixon to three years of
In 1971, a jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders. (The sentences were commuted when the California state Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in 1972.)
In 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War
In 1984, under the cover of early morning darkness, the Baltimore Colts football team left its home city of three decades, sending the team’s equipment to Indianapolis in moving trucks without informing Baltimore city or Maryland state officials.
In 2004, President George W. Bush welcomed seven former Soviet-bloc nations (Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia) into NATO during a White House ceremony.
Today’s birthdays: Comedian Eric Idle is 82. Former British Prime Minister John Major is 82. Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier is 80. Football Hall of Famer Earl Campbell is 70. Actor Brendan Gleeson is 70. Actor Christopher Lambert is 68. Actor Annabella Sciorra is 65. Comedian-actor Amy Sedaris is 64. Model Elle Macpherson is 61. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, is 61. Actor Lucy Lawless is 57. Tennis Hall of Famer Jennifer Capriati is 49. Musician-author Michelle Zauner is 36.
RELIGION BRIEFS
FROM STAFF REPORTS
St. Joseph Cathedral observes Laetare Sunday
St. Joseph Cathedral, 401 Main
St., will observe Laetare Sunday this weekend, marking a moment of joy during Lent.
Masses will be held at 4 p.m.
Saturday and 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday The Anointing of the Sick will follow the 10:30 Mass, offered to those who are ill, preparing for surgery or seeking healing. The rite includes anointing with sacred oil and a blessing with relics of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos. For more information, contact Cathedral Pastoral Services at (225) 387-5928 or office@cathedralbr.org.
Freeman Baptist Church 5th Sunday Fellowship
Freeman Baptist Church, 4628 La. 955, Ethel, will host its 5th Sunday Fellowship Service at
8:30 a.m
Guest pastor John Bowman and Beech Grove Baptist Church will lead the service. All are invited to worship.
Gospel singing on the calendar in Tickfaw
The Rev Mike Vaughn will lead a Quartet & Southern Gospel Fest on Friday, April 4, at Good News Fellowship Church, 13101 La. 442 West, Tickfaw Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and singing will start at 6:30 p.m. with Kelly Barber & Friends. Vaughn will sing at 7 p.m. and The Revelations Quartet from Brandon, Mississippi, special guest artists, will sing at 8 p.m.
This is a free concert but a love offering will be received. A concession stand will serve desserts, and there also will be a cakewalk. For further information, contact Barbara Vaughn at (985) 9740507 or mvmgoodnews.com.
EXHIBIT
Continued from page 1D
Each piece in the exhibit has its own story, whether it’s tied to a designer, the person who wore it, an ancient way of stitching or Marilyn Monroe.
The iconic Hollywood legend factors into the shades of pink and pantone, the former being this year’s “it” color among home and clothing designers. The pinks take the spotlight in glass cases at the center of the room with William Travilla’s design highlighted near the front Meet Marilyn’s designer Travilla designed costumes and dresses for film stars during Hollywood’s golden era, one being the “shocking pink” gown worn by Monroe while singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
Monroe never wore Travilla’s dress design in LSU’s exhibit, though it looks like it was made for her Gold sequins drip from its low cut bodice, oozing on its pink, chiffon, flouncy skirt.
The dress’ combination of gold and pink also is an example of Mamp’s mindfulness of grouping complementary colors.
“In the world of color, opposites attract, and unlike humans, opposites often work really well together in the fashion color world,” he said. “In December of 2024, Vogue magazine did a special issue that was edited by guest designer Marc Jacobs. And on the cover of that month’s issue was a model dressed in vibrant color and a background in vibrant color So, I took that as a starting point for this exhibit.”
Whereas blue and orange are opposites on the color spectrum they work well together in the first grouping of designs that include pieces by Oscar de la Renta and Emanuel Ungaro, as well as a dress from the 1920s with a handpainted bodice in blues and golds.
‘COLOR ME FASHION’
Through Aug. 15 at the LSU Textile & Costume Museum, 330 Tower Drive, LSU campus. l Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 2 to 4 p.m. the first
when it was published in 1888, especially in its examination of reincarnation. “World’s End,” Troutbetskoy’s first novel, published in 1914, was considered even more scandalous with themes that included the erotic passions of a newly widowed woman.
“Through this show you’re also learning the stories behind the fashion and these pieces,” Mamp said. “They all come together to tell this bigger story of color.”
Both digital and static information stations spell out these stories
“The blue skirt on the 1920s piece is velvet and has an asymmetrical hem,” Mamp said. “And it has a Franklin Simon & Co. label in it, which was a very old New York department store.”
Stories behind fashion
But not everything is blue and orange. Mamp has designed each grouping in the exhibit to flow into the next. Blue and orange gradually morph into green and yellow designs that include a finely embroidered, silk Edwardian bodice worn by author Amelie Rives
Troutbetzkoy
“She was a feminist author in the late 19th and early 20th centuries known for her books, ‘The Quick or the Dead?’ and ‘World’s End,’” Mamp said.
“The Quick or the Dead’s” philosophical approach to life and the afterlife caused a national stir
Visitors can learn which evening gowns were worn by Katherine Long, former wife of U.S. Sen. Russell Long; which garments were embroidered with the “forbidden stitch” once reserved only for members of Chinese royalty; and which garments were designed by Louisiana native Geoffrey Beene, whose pieces once were the toast of the New York fashion world. His pieces are found in the purple and gold grouping.
Purple and gold
“Of course, we had to have a purple and gold section for LSU,” Mamp said, laughing. “They’re also complementary colors.”
The grouping actually is labeled “purple and yellow” and highlights LSU’s school colors through a variety of fashion statements, including hats.
All are chic, yet bright. And they all have a way of reaching out and touching souls while prompting joyful smiles.
Email Robin Miller at romiller@ theadvocate.com.
Childless friend feels left out on life
Dear Miss Manners: I am in my late 30s and childless, not by choice.
I prefer to have a small circle of friends, but I have found it difficult to find other childless friends; statistically, most people my age have children — especially in church settings, where I spend a lot of my time. It often leaves me feeling like I don’t fit in, as I cannot relate to the conversations revolving around pregnancy and child rearing.
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
One close friend, who is aware of how I feel, and with whom I converse nearly every day, often shares stories with me that I cannot relate to. I often find it hard to cope with this, as they bring up a
Dear Heloise: My first cousin with whom I’m close is registered for several items at a large department store. Her wedding is approaching very soon, and as of yet, I haven’t gotten around to buying her a gift. The only thing no one hasn’t bought yet is something called a “ramekin.” Can you tell me what this is? — J.E., in Mississippi J.E., a ramekin is a small individual-sized baking dish. It’ll do as a last-minute gift for your cousin! — Heloise Forcemeat
Dear Heloise: I have my great-grandmother’s cookbook that was published in 1910. In one section, it briefly discussed “forcemeat.” I have no idea what that is. Do you? — R.C., in Washington
BLAZIN
Continued from page 1D
and one in Shreveport, both set to open by this summer, she said.
Blazin’s chicken comes in six different spice levels: “country, mild, medium, hot, xtra hot and blazin’ hot.” These blends contain the Trinidad Scorpion pepper and the Carolina Reaper pepper respectively, two of the hottest peppers in the world. If one wants to order menu items at the xtra hot or blazin’ hot level, they are asked to sign a waiver “I acknowledge that eating the ‘BLAZIN HOT’ or ‘XTRA HOT’ sandwich and/ or chicken tenders can cause me harm, including but not limited to bodily harm, property damage, emotional dis-
lot of grief and feelings of being the odd one out. She just shared her excitement over a conversation she had with two other friends (whom I do not know) about the similarities in how they raised their now-adult children and some of the relational results of their various parenting choices. I don’t want to squash my friend’s excitement, nor do I want to discourage her from sharing the things that are important to her; however, I find her lack of tact related to subject choice to be unintentionally hurtful.
How do I politely tell her that I care about what is important to her, but that I feel hurt and
R.C., the word “forcemeat” is a very old term that is rarely used today It’s seasoned stuffing that’s been finely minced, pounded, ground or combined in a food processor and cooked separately to be served with a garnish — Heloise
Protecting card numbers
Dear Heloise: I use clear office tape to cover the printed numbers on transit passes, gift cards, workaccess fobs, badges, etc. These codes easily rub off often, and the tape provides the right amount of protection to keep the numbers legible for years! — J.B., in New York
Removing mustard stains
Dear Readers: With spring and summer approaching, it will soon be time for outdoor barbecues and parties. Of course, hot dogs and hamburgers will surely be on menu But the mustard that we love to slather on dogs and burgers may also
tress, or even death,” a portion of the waiver reads.
The waiver also affirms that the person is consuming the food willingly and is not intoxicated.
According to manager Dennis Collins, for a customer’s first time in, “the best thing to go with is anything.” But his personal favorites are the jumbo sliders (Number 1 on the menu) and the Mac & Cheese Crunchwrap (Number 4).
“We have the total, allaround experience, and we don’t like to let down customers,” Collins said. “If you’re into spice, there’s no reason you should not come here.”
Blazin’ Hot Chicken, 4075 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m Sunday to Wednesday and
unseen when she talks about how she relates to other mothers, or goes into detail about how she parented? I don’t want to discount her very important work of being a mother, but I also don’t want to suffer in silence.
Gentle reader: Certainly, it is inconsiderate to talk incessantly about something your conversational partner is sensitive toward or has not experienced. But it is also difficult to confine oneself only to subject matter that is shared.
So while Miss Manners has sympathy for your situation, she also warns you not to fall into the habit of only seeking out likeminded companionship.
She also notices that the example you use of your friend’s insensitivity is not as damning
FLOWER
drip and end up on our clothing.
If this happens, try to remove it as soon as you can. Dampen the areas and rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain. Rinse, then soak in laundry detergent and hot or warm water for several hours. It will be gone, and then you can launder it with enzyme detergent. — Heloise Santa Claus believer
Dear Heloise: At which age do children stop believing in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny? My son is 9 and still believes they exist. K.A., in Mississippi K.A., I believe it varies from one child to another, but eventually, most children figure it out by themselves. If your son doesn’t know that these figures aren’t real, you may have to sit him down and tell him someday — Heloise
Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.
from 10 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Thursday to Saturday
Email Serena Puang at serena.puang@ theadvocate.com.
as you seem to think. Your friend was not speaking about current parenting experiences, but of the results of past parenting. Surely, as a child of parents yourself, you can relate.
But if you still need to emphasize the difference, you could always preface it by saying, “Well, I can’t speak to it from the parenting end, but as a child of the authoritative parenting method, I can tell you that …”
In any case, it would be a shame if you cut yourself off from others’ human experiences because you have been deprived of some of your own. Rather than suffer in silence, see if you can find deeper connections. You may be surprised by the rewards.
Dear Miss Manners: Whether at
Continued from page 1D
their families and the guests of honor who have raised money for St. Jude. St. Jude survivors get into the festival for free.
The organizers of Flower Fest choose a St. Jude Child of the Year who is recognized along with their family at the gala.
“Their family gets to come up on the stage and tell their story,” said Poole.
“And this year, we’re doing a St. Jude tent solely for St. Jude families and survivors, which will be like a VIP area for them to relax Saturday and Sunday.”
The Flower Fest Gala also recognizes 12 honorees from the community who have raised money for St Jude. The honorees work with one of the florists to have a floral component added to their outfit.
“This isn’t your grandma’s gala,” said Vandiver, as she described an artsy crowd that dresses in high
home, in a restaurant, or someone else’s home, how does one handle food that has slipped off one’s plate onto the table?
Gentle reader: With a quick flick off of the table and onto the side of your plate, where it should remain until the plate is cleared. But if no one saw and you deem the table clean enough, Miss Manners will not chide you for discreetly pushing it back with the rest of the food and eating it.
Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
Twelve-foot-tall flower sculptures are on display at a past Flower Fest.This year’s arrangements will be designed and built on the fairy-tale theme of ‘Under the Sea.’
fashion, themed costumes or floral cocktail attire. Flower market and more
The attractions don’t stop at the sculptural installations. Vandiver has added a kids zone and a market where every vendor features something floral or items connected to the theme, so there are candles, jewelry, ceramics and even flash tattoos.
Flower Fest also includes
live music and food trucks. Vandiver says that, even if people have attended in the past, this year’s event promises new activities: new florists, new designs, interactive exhibits, watercolor artists, a memory wall and a muralist. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com.
Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.
Vandiver
Poole
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Share your thoughts and feelings. You must do the legwork to achieve something new or make positive lifestyle changes. Reach out to people in the know and pick their brains.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Handle matters personally. Pay attention, and you'll recognize when someone or something is excessive or exaggerated. Make your surroundings aesthetically pleasing.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Turn your attention to learning, gaining experience and connecting with people who share your concerns and interests. Explore what's available, and adjust your routine to include what resonates with you most.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Put your energy where it counts. Rethink your financial strategy and look for investments or budgets conducive to helping you achieve your long-term plans.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Bang on doors to get answers. It's your responsibility to look out for your interests and to ensure you make good choices. Put your thinking cap on and fend for yourself.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A direct approach will deter others from trying to take control. Emotions will surface over joint ventures or shared expenses. Think before you act to avoid insult or a blow to your ego.
LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct. 23) Look, and you will find the path that leads to solidarity. Unleash your persuasive powers using charm, insight and intelligence.
Listen, analyze and choose to take the path that suits you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) A change will do you good. Welcome challenges and discussions that help you help yourself. A social occasion will lead to a change of perspective and direction.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec 21) You'll be torn between what you want to do and what you should do. Protect your home, reputation and meaningful relationships from loss. Keep your eye on investments, medical issues and anyone trying to exploit you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be careful who you partner with and what you agree to do. Talks can lead to situations that back you into a corner. Misinformation is apparent; verify what you hear and get what you want in writing.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take control of money matters. Don't change what's not broken. Take time to summarize intricate details before reviving a plan that lacks substance. Smart moves require thought and precision.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Review your options and back the change that makes the most sense. Refuse to leave what matters to you most in someone else's hands. Put your energy behind the plan that suits you best.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
TODAy'S CLUE: O EQUALS N
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe
peAnUtS
zItS FrAnK And erneSt
SALLY Forth
beetLe bAILeY Mother GooSe And GrIMM
LAGoon
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
Puzzle Answer
BY PHILLIP ALDER
Carl Hiaasen, a columnist and novelist, said, “My books are shelved in different places, depending on the bookstore. Sometimes they can be found in the Mystery section, sometimes in the Humor department, and occasionally even in the Literature aisle, which is somewhat astounding.”
At the bridge table, we try to find lines of play or defense that are favorites to succeed. We accommodate likely distributions. However, occasionally we must allow for an unlikely scenario to maximize our chances.
In this example, South is in three notrump. West leads the heart queen. What is the best defense? How should South then try to make his contract?
First,Eastmustovertakewithhisheart king at trick one. South will duck, hoping the king is a singleton, but East returns his second heart.
Let’s assume declarer plays low again. West wins and leads a third heart, East discarding a spade.
South starts with seven top tricks: three spades, one heart, two diamonds and one club. The other two winners obviously will come from the club suit. But if West gets on play with the club king, he will cash his last two hearts to defeat the contract
Declarer must work to keep West off the lead.
After winning the third trick South should play a spade to the board, then lead the club queen, encouraging East to cover if he has the king. But when East plays low, South should put up his ace. If the king does not fall, declarer leads another club, hoping East has to take the trick. Here, though, the king tumbles (a priori,
thought
word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalms 119:11
Memorize Bible verses. It will help you to overcome temptation. G.E. Dean
