The Acadiana Advocate 04-17-2025

Stateofficialsspar over carinsurance

Landry backsmeasure giving insurancechief power to reject rate increases

Temple says legislation is setting him up to take thefallfor rising rates

Gov. Jeff Landryspeaks during aHouse Insurance Committee meetingatthe State Capitol on Wednesday. Housepanel overwhelmingly approves bill pushed by governor

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Ahigh-stakes legal and political battle between Gov.Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner TimTemple —one that affectseveryone who has car insurance —played outina House committeeroom at theState Capitol on Wednesday

After hearing from Landry,the House Insurance Committee sided with him by overwhelmingly passing ameasure that he saidwouldallow Temple to reject excessive rate increases for car insurance.

Temple spoke after Landry and told committee membersthatHouseBill 576 would give the commissioner the authority to act capriciously in ruling whether to approve rateincreases, a move he said would ultimately harm the state.

The governor said passing the bill is so important to him that he would call legislators into aspecial session

Commissioner of Insurance Tim Templespokeinoppositionto legislation that would givehis office moreauthority

to consider it again if they reject the measure.

Eight ofhis aides wereinthe small committee room while Landry spoke in favor of the bill. Underlying the three-hour hearing

on HB576 is the political fight over who will take the heat for car insurance ratesthat are driving angry voters to give an earful of complaintsto Landry,Temple and state legislators. Under some measures, Louisiana has the highest carinsurance rates in the country

Asked after thehearing what would happen if thebill passes and Temple doesn’tstop thecontinued climb in insurancerates, Landry replied, “The people could hold him accountable.” Temple, asked afterward whether he thoughtthe governor was trying to sethim up to take theblame, referred to arecentinterviewthatLandry gave to conservative talk showradio host Moon Griffon.

“If therates don’tgodown, then it’s on him,” Landry toldGriffon, referring to Temple. Said TempleonWednesday: “I don’t know if he really intended that. But

Fields callsout tariffs, cuts to Medicaid

Congressman meets with Lafayetteresidents

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, of Louisiana’s 6th District, said 206,000 residentsin his district are under threat of losing Medicaid coverage if the current budgetresolution becomes areality. Fields, D-Baton Rouge, was elected in November to aredrawn second majority-Black district that includes

parts of Lafayette andBaton Rouge and stretches to Shreveport. The congressman met withLafayette residents Monday to talk about what is happening in Washington, D.C., and the impacts on Louisiana. Fields spoke on possible cuts to Medicaid,the effects of tariffs on the state and Congress’ willingnesstostand up to President Donald Trump. Thecrowd, made up largely of seniors, voiced their concerns over cuts to Medicaid.The statemight have outsized reasontobeconcerned; Louisiana overall ranks second in the nation

for Medicaid enrollment, at 32% or 1.6 million residents. Arecentlypassed House budget resolution directsthe HouseEnergy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdictionover Medicaid, to cut $880 billion over the next 10 years. Despite the resolution not mentioning Medicaid services,some experts say cuts like that are notpossible without touching the program.

“Weuse awhole bunch of Medicaid Why? Because we have alot of poor

PSCabruptly haltsenergy efficiency program

intentionwas to help residentssaveonbills

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

About ayear after Louisiana’sutility regulator movedtoset up along-sought program to help residents reduce energy use and save on theirbills,the Public ServiceCommissionvoted Wednesday to abruptly change course and end the program Acomplexvote by thecommission’sthree Republican members —JPCoussan, Eric Skrmetta and Mike Francis —ends astatewide program to put millions toward energy efficiency in homes and businesses, especially for low-income residents. Staffwas in the process of standing up the programwhenthe commissionvoted to endit Wednesday at ameeting in Many,south of Shreveport. Instead, the commission, which oversees electric utilities, appears poised to double down on a program that allowsthe elected commissioners to steer millions in energy efficiency improvements to government officials and offices in their districts. The money goes to sheriffs, schools, parish councils and other local facilities. It wasnot immediately clear whether the commissionwould attempt to set up adifferent type of program that allows residents to take advantage

Number of eligible students will depend on financial allocation

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Anew program to help Louisiana families pay forprivate education drew nearly 40,000 applicationsinlessthantwo months, state officialssaid Wednesday —a numberthat Gov.Jeff Landry, who haschampioned the program, called “astounding.”

Beginning next school year,the LA GATOR Scholarship Program will give tax dollars to eligible families to payfor private school tuitionand other approved expenses like tutoring and school Nearly 40K applyfor

ä See GRANTS, page 4A

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

STAFF FILEPHOTO

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

U.S. Rep.Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, speakswith constituents at atownhall meeting in Lafayette on Monday.

page 4A ä See PSC, page 4A

Weinstein’s lawyers seek to move him from jail

NEW YORK Nine jurors were picked Wednesday on the second day of jury selection in Harvey Weinstein’s #MeToo rape retrial.

At the same time, the disgraced movie mogul’s lawyers asked a judge to allow him to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of the trial, citing his many health issues

The jurors — five women and four men — were picked from a group of 25 prospective jurors after prosecutors and Weinstein’s lawyers spent the past two days asking them questions to gauge their ability to be impartial. They are the first jurors picked for the case after none were selected on Tuesday Judge Curtis Farber has said a total of 12 jurors and six alternates will be picked.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seeks two-month delay

NEW YORK — Attorneys for hiphop producer Sean “Diddy” Combs asked a federal judge in New York on Wednesday to delay his May 5 sex-trafficking trial by two months so they can better prepare a defense

The lawyers said in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian that prosecutors have been slow to turn over some potential evidence for review making it difficult to be ready in three weeks.

Prosecutors oppose the request, the lawyers said. A spokesperson for prosecutors declined comment.

Subramanian wrote in an order responding to the delayedtrial request that he will address the issue during a hearing scheduled for Friday

Pending the conference, the judge wrote, both sides should proceed as if the early May trial remains in place.

‘Fireball’ lights up Mexico City skies

MEXICO CITY About 3 a.m. on Wednesday, a bright object, initially appearing to be a meteorite, lit up the skies over Mexico’s capital, stretching across plains, volcanoes and small towns

Videos of a ball of fire shooting over the Latin American country and dissolving in a burst of light over Mexico City struck awe in many — and quickly became the fuel for memes circulating on social media.

Soon, photos of the apparent meteor edited with cartoon characters and political jokes flooded the internet.

But scientists across Mexico were quick to note that the object rocketing across the skies was not a meteorite; it was a bolide. Bolides, defined by NASA as fireballs, are “exceptionally bright meteors that are spectacular enough to be seen over a very wide area.”

Colossal squid caught on camera for first time

A colossal squid has been caught on camera for the first time in the deep sea by an international team of researchers steering a remotely operated submersible.

The sighting was announced Tuesday by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

The squid filmed was a juvenile about 1 foot in length at a depth of 1,968 feet in the South Atlantic Ocean. Full-grown adult colossal squids, which scientists have uncovered from the bellies of whales and seabirds, can reach lengths up to 23 feet — almost the size of a small fire truck.

The squid was spied last month near the South Sandwich Islands during an expedition to search for new sea life.

CORRECTION

An article in Tuesday’s edition about proposed changes to the state Department of Transportation and Development misquoted state Rep. Ryan Bourriaque as saying, “We can acknowledge that the department is unfunded.” Bourriaque actually said, “We can acknowledge that the department is underfunded at times.” The Advocate regrets the error

Judge finds cause for contempt

Trump administration violated orders to turn around planes

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court and warned he could seek officials’ prosecution for violating his orders last month to turn around planes carrying deportees to an El Salvador prison.

The ruling from U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg, whom

President Donald Trump has said should be impeached, marks a dramatic battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over the president’s powers to carry out key White House priorities.

Boasberg accused administration officials of rushing deportees out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act last month before they could challenge their removal in court, and then willfully disregarding his order that planes already in the air should return to the United States.

The judge said he could hold hearings and potentially refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not act to remedy the violation. If Trump’s Justice Department lead-

ership declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to do so.

“The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it,” wrote Boasberg, the chief judge of Washington’s federal court.

The administration said it would appeal.

“The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country,” White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote in a post on X.

The case has become one of the

Palestinian woman reacts Wednesday as others carry the

Israeli official: Troops will remain indefinitely

BY ISAAC SCHARF, WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister said on Wednesday that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely remarks that could further complicate talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes across Gaza killed another 22 people, according to local health officials, including a girl who was not yet a year old. The girl’s mother, who was wounded, embraced her daughter still wearing a bloodied blue dress, before she was taken for burial.

Israeli forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas militants to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month. Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group last year, and it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after rebels overthrew Syrian President Bashar Assad in December

“Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

The military “will remain in the security

zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza — as in Lebanon and Syria.”

The Palestinians and both neighboring countries view the presence of Israeli troops as military occupation in violation of international law

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said that Israel’s continued presence in some areas in Lebanon was “hindering” the Lebanese army’s full deployment as required by the ceasefire negotiated with Israel.

Two Israeli drones strikes on Wednesday in southern Lebanon killed two people, the health ministry said The U.N said Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 70 civilians since the ceasefire took effect in November

Hamas has said it will not release dozens of remaining hostages without a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire.

“They promised that the hostages come first In practice, Israel is choosing to seize territory before the hostages,” the main organization representing families of the hostages said in a statement. “There is one solution that is desirable and feasible, and that is the release of all the hostages at once as part of an agreement, even at the cost of ending the war.”

10 guards charged in fatal beating of New York inmate

BY MICHAEL HILL and DAVE COLLINS Associated Press

UTICA,N.Y Ten New York prison guards were charged Wednesday in connection with the fatal beating of a 22-yearold inmate last month — including two charged with murder It’s the second time a group of correctional officers in the state was indicted for a death behind bars this year

The indictment says several guards severely beat Messiah Nantwi, a prisoner at the Mid-State Correctional Facility, who was hospitalized and died on March 1 “due to massive head trauma and numerous other injuries to his body.” Three guards are accused of plotting to lie about Nantwi having a makeshift knife in his room. In addition to the 10 guards, six other correctional officers agreed to cooperate with the investigation, a special prosecu-

tor overseeing the probe said. Two will plead guilty to felonies and four will plead guilty to misdemeanors, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick is also the prosecutor in the death of Robert Brooks, who was fatally beaten late last year at the Marcy Correctional Facility just across the street from the Mid-State prison. Six guards have pleaded not guilty to murder charges in Brooks’ death and other prison employees have been charged.

The Utica-area facility was one of many state prisons struggling to function during a three-week wildcat strike by guards upset over working conditions, which forced the governor to send in National Guard troops to maintain operations. Incarcerated people and their advocates complained that services and conditions deteriorated during the walkout.

most contentious amid a slew of legal battles being waged against the Republican administration that has put the White House on a collision course with the federal courts. Administration officials have repeatedly criticized judges for reigning in the president’s actions, accusing the courts of improperly impinging on his executive powers. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg, prompting a rare statement from Chief Justice John Roberts, who said “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” Boasberg wrote that the government’s “conduct betrayed a desire to outrun the equitable reach of the Judiciary.”

1 dead, 9 wounded in Russian strikes

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian glide bombs and artillery struck a city in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding nine others as Moscow forces continued daily attacks across the country

The city of Kherson was struck with glide bombs on Wednesday morning, and when rescue teams arrived at the scene, Russian forces launched an artillery barrage, said the region’s head, Oleksandr Prokudin. “This is a deliberate tactic by Russia to hinder the rescue of the injured and harm doctors, rescuers, and police,” he said. The attack damaged a sports facility, a supermarket, residential buildings and civilian vehicles, Proku-

din added. The strike on Kherson followed other deadly attacks in recent days. On Palm Sunday, two Russian ballistic missiles hit the northeastern city of Sumy near the Russian border, killing 35 people and injuring more than 100 others in the deadliest attack on Ukrainian civilians this year The Russian military said that the strike targeted a gathering of senior military officers, but did not offer evidence. In Sumy on Wednesday, mourners buried 11-year old Maksym Martynenko one of two children killed in the attack — and his parents Nataliia and Mykola. Their three caskets were open for final farewells at a church in the city center before the bodies were taken to the family’s village for burial in the same plot.

Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

body of a relative killed in

burial at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City

California sues to stop Trump tariffs

BY SOPHIE AUSTIN Associated Press/Report for America

SACRAMENTO,Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, challenging the president’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs that have set off a global trade war The lawsuit argues that President Donald Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China or a 10% tariff on all imports is unlawful. The act enables a president to freeze and block transactions in response to foreign threats but doesn’t allow the president to adopt tariffs, the suit says. The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, also argues that enacting such tariffs requires approval from Congress

Trump has offered many justifications for increasing tariffs, including that they are designed to spur U.S. manufacturing and stop the flow of illicit fentanyl into the country California’s move follows rapidly changing tariff plans by the Trump administration.

A White House official slammed the lawsuit and defended the tariff plan.

“Instead of focusing on California’s rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trump’s historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our country’s persistent goods trade deficits,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said. “The entire Trump administration remains committed to addressing this national emergency that’s decimat-

Kennedy says U.S. autism cases climbing

BY AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press

WASHINGTON Health secretary

Robert F Kennedy Jr warned that children in the U.S are being diagnosed with autism at an “alarming rate,” promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder

His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that found an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020.

Autism experts applaud efforts to further understand the condition, but say the number of reported cases began to balloon as the definition of the condition expanded to include mild cases.

“Autism destroys families,” Kennedy said. “More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children These are children who should not be suffering like this.”

Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some autistic traits can go unnoticed well into adulthood.

Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.

Kennedy said his wide-ranging plan to determine the cause of autism will look at all of those environmental factors, and others. He had previously set a September deadline for determining what causes autism, but said Wednesday that by then, his department will determine at least “some” of the answers.

The effort will involve issuing grants to universities and researchers, Kennedy said. He said the researchers will be encouraged to “follow the science, no matter what it says.”

Judge: EPA can’t end grants from $20B Biden-era fund

BY MICHAEL PHILLIS Associated Press

A federal judge says some nonprofits awarded billions for a socalled green bank to finance clean energy and climate-friendly projects cannot have their contracts scrapped and must have access to some of the frozen money The ruling is a defeat for President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency, which argues the program is rife with financial mismanagement.

The order late Tuesday by U.S District Judge Tanya Chutkan “gives us a chance to breathe after the EPA unlawfully — and without due process — terminated our awards and blocked access to funds that were appropriated by Congress and legally obligated,” said Climate United CEO Beth Bafford.

The lawsuit by Climate United Fund and other groups contends

that the EPA, Administrator Lee Zeldin and Citibank, which held the grant money, illegally blocked the funds awarded last year and had jeopardized the organizations’ operations.

Chutkan said Citibank must provide the money that was due to the nonprofits before the EPA had frozen their accounts in midFebruary The EPA immediately appealed

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, commonly referred to as a “green bank,” was authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act under Democratic President Joe Biden

Its goals run counter to the Trump administration’s opposition to climate-friendly policies and its embrace of fossil fuels. Zeldin quickly made the bank a target, characterizing the $20 billion in grants as a “gold bar” scheme marred by conflicts of interest and potential fraud.

ing America’s industries and leaving our workers behind with every tool at our disposal, from tariffs to negotiations.”

Newsom, a Democrat, said the tariffs have essentially resulted in inflated costs and could bring billions of dollars in damage to California, which has the largest economy and is the largest importer among U.S. states. Many businesses have told state officials they will start passing the cost of tariffs to consumers. The state budget could take a major hit with the tumbling stock market because California disproportionately relies on income tax revenues from capital gains — mostly money made from investments and stocks — from its wealthiest taxpayers. The additional costs from tariffs could also hamstring the state’s ability to plan for the future and pay for services, the suit states.

Md. senator meets with El Salvador vice president

Trip in support of man sent there despite court order

BY YOLANDA MAGAÑA, MARY CLARE

JALONICK

and MATT BROWN Associated Press

SAN SALVADOR Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday and met with the country’s vice president to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen said at a news conference in San Salvador that Vice President Félix Ulloa said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States and declined to allow Van Hollen to visit him in the notorious gang prison where he is being held.

“Why is the government of El Salvador continuing to imprison a man where they have no evidence that he’s committed any crime and they have not been provided any evidence from the United States that he has committed any crime?” Van Hollen told reporters after the meeting. “They should just let him go.”

Van Hollen’s trip became a flashpoint in the U.S. The Trump administration sharply criticized

it while Democrats have rallied around Abrego Garcia.

President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send him back, even as the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return.

Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity

“We have an unjust situation here,” said Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“The Trump administration is lying about Abrego Garcia. The American courts have looked at the facts.”

Trump officials reiterated Wednesday that he would not be returned to the United States. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news briefing with the mother of a Maryland woman, Rachel Morin, who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.

“It’s appalling and sad that Sen. Van Hollen and the Democrats applauding his trip to El Salvador today are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens,” Leavitt said at the

briefing.

Republicans have focused on the victims of crime committed by people in the U.S. illegally in arguing for Trump’s promised immigration crackdown and mass deportations.

Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the case to highlight what they say is Trump’s disrespect for the courts and as base voters have encouraged them to fight harder against Trump’s policies. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.

“This is a constitutional crisis,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., one of the Democrats who is considering a trip.

“This is not just about a deportation policy This is about defying the Constitution and the Supreme Court.”

Garcia sent a joint letter with Rep Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., requesting a congressional delegation to travel to El Salvador to investigate Abrego Garcia’s condition. Garcia said if the trip isn’t approved, some Democrats still plan to travel to the Central American nation.

“We need to bring attention to this case We need to be in El Salvador We need to work with the family We need to work with the Salvadoran government. We need to pressure the White House to do the right thing,” Garcia said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SALVADOR MELENDEZ

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks Wednesday to the press in La Libertad, El Salvador. Van Hollen traveled to the country to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NOAH BERGER

California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses President Donald Trump’s tariffs during a Wednesday news conference at an almond farm in Ceres, Calif., as almond farmer Christine Gemperle, listens.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr discusses a report on autism Wednesday at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium.

INSURANCE

he said it.” Under currentlaw,the commissioner approves rate increasesthat are “actuarily justified,”meaning astaffer has reviewed thedata from insurance companies and found the proposed increase to be mathematically sound.

Under HB576, by Rep. Robby Carter,D-Greensburg,the commissioner could simply decide that the proposed rate increase was excessive and deny it.

The commissioner needs that authority to stop insurance companies from continuingto raise rates, Landry told the committee members.

Using populist language, Landry said lawmakers have passed ahost of measures in recent years at the behest of insurance companiesto lower rates.

“Wehave been asked to trust them,” Landry said.“Butwe have no ability to hold them accountable if they lie.” As aresult, he added, “Insurance companiescontinue to report recordprofits while our rates continue to rise. It’sfrustrating our citizens.” Rep. TammyPhelps,D-Shreveport, expressed that sentiment

when sheaccused Temple of not doing enough to stop the rate increases.

She said she favored HB576 because sheisonthe side of consumers.

Temple replied that giving an insurance commissioner the authority to rebuff rate increases without basing the decisionondata would discourage companies from wanting to do business in Louisiana. Consumers would be the losers, he added, saying he hasalreadyrefused to approve 40 rate increases.

for the program.

uniforms. It will replace the state’s existing voucher program for poor families. Families submitted more than 39,000 applicationsfrom March 1toApril 15, exceeding many observers’ expectations anddemonstrating strong demand forthe state grants. But onlyafraction of those families will receivegrants, which can range from about $7,600 forlower-income familiestonearly $15,300 for students with disabilities. The actual number of participantswilldependon howmuch money the Legislatureallocates

PSC

Continued from page1A

of more energy efficiency programs,orstickwith thesame system that it has had for years.

Butthe move is awin forutilities like Entergy and Cleco, whose leaders have argued against efforts to set up the energy efficiency program led by athird-party administrator. The utilities want to continue a“quick start” program to deliver more basic upgrades,a program they oversee.

It’sablow for advocates who have lobbied for years for the commission to set up amore substantial program. The commission enacted the initial initiative more than adecade ago but punted for yearsontaking the next step until former Republican Commissioner Craig Greene helped bring it across the finish line last year.Last year,Coussan replaced Greene,

FIELDS

Continued from page1A

people in this state.” Fields said. “I’m trying to convince every member of Congress from Louisiana that we can just not afford to lose Medicaid. These are people with disabilities,these areelderlypeople, and to cut $880 billion would be, in my view,unconscionable.”

Those cuts could end up having alarger impact on rural residents andhospitals, according to the National Rural Health Association, which called the program a “lifeline.” NRHA also noted that rural residentsare far more likely to participate in Medicaid, with 20%ofadults and 40% of children enrolled in Medicaidand the Chil-

With the state facing aprojected $194 million shortfall, top lawmakers want to fund LA GATOR at roughly the same level as the voucher program, which got about $44 million for 5,300 students this school year.But Landry wants more than twice that amount, nearly $94 million, enough to give grants to an estimated 12,000 students.

On Wednesday,hetouted the applications as evidence of thenew program’spopularity—animplicit argument for giving it more money

“These astounding numbers show justhow vital the Gator Scholarship is to Louisianans,” he said in a statement,adding that the program empowers parents to choose “the

who retired. Louisianaresidents pay low rates for electricity,but electric bills are high —and unaffordable formany— in large part becausetheyuse more energy than residents in any otherstate. The Louisiana legislative auditor, in a recent report, noted other states have takensteps to promote energyefficiency to lower rates. Francis, whobrought the motion to endthe program, defended theso-called “public entities” programthatsendsmoney to government agencies locally.And he raised concerns about theamount of money being allocated to running the new statewide program.

“We’re talking about schools. We’re talking about hospitals,” Francis said. “They serve everyoneinthe community.”

LoganBurke, head of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, which advocated for the program, said thedecisionwill cost residents money on their electric bills,

dren’sHealth Insurance Program. Discussion on tariffs and their effect on the state, particularly on farmers, also came up during the discussion.

Trump’ssweeping tariffs were paused for 90days, barring a145% rate onChina.The loomingthreat of retaliationfromcountriescould hurt Louisiana’s export-driven agricultural sphere, said Fields.

In 2023, Louisiana exported around$1.8billion in crops, accordingtoU.S.Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service data.Soybeans andrice alone accounted for $617 million.

In Trump’sfirst term, atrade war with China led to the bailout of Americanfarmerstothe tune of $23 billion.Fields did not say whether he would supportanother bailout but didsay he would do everything he

The bill sought by Landry is part of what he calls “a balanced approach” tosolvingLouisiana’scar insurance crisis.

Thegovernor is also supporting several bills that trial lawyersoppose.

Temple blames high insurance rates on alegal system that he says allows too many lawsuits and big payouts for injured drivers and their attorneys.

His solution is to impose fewer restrictions on insurance companies and restrict thelegal rights

learning environmentthatbest suits their needs and values.”

Louisianaisone of nearly 20 Republican-ledstates that have created tax-funded grants, also called education savings accounts,tohelp parentspay for private education. Champions of this approach, including President Donald Trump, say parents should decide whether the tax dollarsallocated for their children go to public,private or homeschools.

State Superintendent of EducationCade Brumleysaid Wednesday that LA GATOR received more applicationsthanmanysimilar programs in other states when theyfirst launched.

“Louisiana families aremaking it clear —theywant more educationaloptions andthe freedomto

which are already unaffordable for many “Weare decades behind on addressing energy waste,”Burke said. “Itdoesn’t matter howlow the rate is when we’re throwing money outthe doors and windows.”

Ahandful of advocates and customers spoke out against the move, but critics complained public participation was limited by theremote location at afishing resort near theTexas border Francis,the commission’schair, addedthe itemtothe agenda a couple days before the meeting, further angering critics.

The complex motion to suspend theprogram, which caused a lengthy debate, alsoupset Democratic Commissioner Davante Lewis, who wroteonthe social media site Xafter the vote that he’s“still confused about what the Republicans did, and if you watch themeeting so were they.”

By contrast,lastyear’svoteto

could do to help farmers.

“(Farmers) are feeling squeezed You’re selling out of the states; that’swhere most of our products aresold.”Fieldssaid, “Farmers need to let their voice be heard through their members of Congress.”

Overall, the state exportedabout $87 billion worth of goods, making it the fourth largest exporter in the U.S. in 2024 andaccounting for 32% of thestate’sGDP in 2023, according to White Housedata. China is thestate’slargest market.

Tariffs should be thepurview of Congress instead of being issued throughexecutiveorder,Fields said. The congressman used time with residents to urge Congress to impose their power over the issuance of tariffs.

“A lotofwhat this president is

of trial lawyers in the belief that those changes would make more companies want to come to Louisiana to operate. Temple said that is alreadyhappening for property owners after theLegislaturepassedaslewofinsurance measures affecting them last year.Eight insurers have filed for lower rates this year,hesaid.

But the auto insurance problem remains particularly acute for commercial trucking companies, said Renee Amar,a lobbyist for truckers. They typically have only two choicesfor insurers, which drives up their rates, she added.

Along withLandry’saides, insurance company lobbyists took many of the other seats in the committee room Wednesday,and they sided with Temple when it came their time to speak Rodney Braxton,a lobbyistfor theInsurance Council of Louisiana, said passage of HB576 would have “a chilling effect” on insurers. The high carinsurance rates have emergedasthe biggest political issue during theregularlegislative session that began Monday

One of the subplots is that Landry and Temple have not been talking while House members, pushed by freshmen Republicans, have been holding hearings for months to find solutions. Most of

choose whatworks best for their children,” he said in astatement. Students whoreceived vouchers this school year will be given top priority for LA GATOR grants, followed by students with disabilities andchildren from families with atotal income at or below250% of federalpoverty guidelines, or $80,375 for afamily of four It appearsthatmostapplicants fall into oneofthose categories: More than 80% meet the income requirements, andabout 8% are studentswith disabilities, state officials said. Assuming there are not enough grants forevery student in those groups,the state will award stipends based on which families applied first. In other states with voucherlike programs, manyofthe grants

set up the more substantialprogramcameafterthe Alliance and Together Louisiana packed the meeting room in Baton Rouge and after monthsofdebate over how to best helpresidents lower their energy usage. Ultimately,the advocacy groups gotmuch of what they sought:A thirdparty would run the program,not utilities. And companies like Entergy andCleco wouldn’tbe able to charge customers for energy they would no longer be able to sell if homes and businesses had better insulation anddidn’tneed as much power

“The leastexpensive generation plant for customers is the onethey’re not forced to payfor,” Greene said last year Louisiana residents have been hit with soaring bills in recent years, especially in 2022, when natural gasprices skyrocketed andutilities passedthe costs to customers. Louisianaelectric companiesrely heavily on natural

doing crossesthe line.The Constitutiongives us the 100% carte blanche authority to do so. Congress has to assert itself, and if Congress asserts itself, we can stop alot of this,” Fields said.

The president can issue tariffs fornational security reasons.

House andSenate lawmakers have introduced legislation that rein in thepresident’spowers but the bills are unlikelytopass.

Fields did notspeak on the particularlegislationatthe discussion, but he did mention hiswillingness to work acrossthe aisle with people likeHouse Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, on issues.

“(Johnson) does what he feels is best,” Fields said. “Hopefully, at some point, he andIend up on thesame page. Ijust want to do

their bills align with the insurance industry Landry and Temple said the two finally gottogether on Tuesday Both saidthey had acordial discussion at the Governor’sMansion.

“Weboth want the samegoal, which is for citizens andbusinesses to have lower insurance,” Temple told reportersafterward “Wejust have alittle bit different perspective on how to get there.”

Seven Democrats and six of the 10 Republicans voted forHB576. The four Republicanswho buckedthe governor were: Reps. Dennis Bamburg of Bossier City, Jay Gallé of Mandeville, Troy Hebert of Lafayette andJohnIllg of Metairie.

“A numberofushad questions about what we were trying to accomplish and whether it really moved the needle,” Illg said afterward.

In an unusual move, Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine,a former deputy insurancecommissioner, presented thebill forCarter.Afterward,hesaidthe Governor’s Officeaskedhim to do so because he is so steeped in the issue. Carter saidinaphone interviewlater that he missed thehearing because he wassick in bed.

Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate.com.

have gone to families with children already in private schools or homeschooled— not parents of public-schoolstudents seeking better options. For example, nearly three-fourths of students who participated in Arizona’sexpanded voucher program when it launched in 2022 had never been enrolled in apublic school. Asimilar scenario could unfold in Louisiana. Less than 30% of LA GATOR applicants —about 11,000 students —are enrolled in public schools, according to the state education department. The majority are already enrolled in private schools or homeschools. Because most applicants don’t attendpublic schools, they will represent anew expense forthe state.

gas to power their turbines, meaning price swings can hit customers. At the same time, utilities are charging customerstopay forrepairs and upgrades to their aging electric grids, which have been hammered by hurricanes.

The commissionisset to debate the matter againnextmonth, specifically around the public entities program and whether to continue moving forward on amore robust energy efficiency plan. In the meantime, utilities like Entergy and Cleco will continue to be in charge of the “quick start” program. That programassists only asmallfraction of utility customers.

Skrmetta said in arecent interview that he believed thenew energy efficiency program was going to be “inflationary” forcustomers. He also questioned the “quick start” program by pointing out that mostpeople don’ttake advantage of it.

what’s best forLouisiana.I really don’tcarewho thepresident is.I just want to do what’s best forthe citizens Irepresent.”

“But I’ll be honest with you, our democracy is at stake,”Fields added.

Fields said he plans on introducing abill that would forgive the loansofthose going into the education field and stay in their state.

Louisiana has made gains in teacher retention, with teachers working in public schools growing by about1,000 in 2024. Still, theprofessionhas been doggedbysome of the lowest wages in the nation.

Constituents used their time to askFields questions aboutSocial Security,the expansion of Veterans Affairs services and the need for ahospital on thenorth side of the city

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine, speaks during aHouse Insurance Committee meeting at the State Capitol on Wednesday

Authorities look for motive in arson

Pennsylvania governor’s residence targeted

BY MARK SCOLFORO and JOHN SEEWER

The Associated Press

HERSHEY, Pa — Authorities

investigating why a man set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence are probing whether the suspect was motivated by the Democrat’s Jewish faith or positions on Israel’s war in Gaza.

Police have said that Cody Balmer of Harrisburg, harbored hatred toward Shapiro. Several search warrants released Wednesday offer the first details about a potential motive for the arson attack early Sunday in a room where only hours earlier, Shapiro and his family celebrated Passover with members of the Jewish community

Balmer called 911 less than an hour after the fire erupted, promised a confession and talked about Palestinians being killed, police wrote in search warrants

Exactly what the man was trying to say and who he was referencing isn’t clear from the partial quotations included in the search warrants. Police quoted Balmer as saying “our people have been put through too much by that monster,” and that Shapiro “needs to know that he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.”

During a police interview

BY BRIAN MELLEY, JILL LAWLESS and SYLVIA HUI Associated Press

LONDON The U.K. Su-

preme Court ruled Wednesday that a woman is someone born biologically female, excluding transgender people from the legal definition in a long-running dispute between a feminist group and the Scottish government.

The court said the unanimous ruling shouldn’t be seen as victory by one side, but several women’s groups that supported the appeal celebrated outside court and hailed it as a major win in their effort to protect spaces designated for women.

“Everyone knows what sex is and you can’t change it,” said Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, which brought the case. “It’s common sense, basic common sense, and the fact that we have been down a rabbit hole where people have tried to deny science and to deny reality, and hopefully this will now see us back to reality.” Five judges ruled that the U.K. Equality Act means trans women can be excluded from some groups and

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visits the

after turning himself in, Balmer “admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” according to a police affidavit that did not expand on that point. Police obtained search warrants for Balmer’s electronic devices and a storage locker seeking any writings or notes that contain “the name of Josh Shapiro (or a) reference to Palestine, Gaza, Israel or the current conflict in Gaza.” Shapiro declined to talk about a motive on Wednesday, saying prosecutors will ultimately determine what prompted the attack. “It’s not for me to answer that,” he said.

The governor has been publicly critical of Israeli Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the nature of Israel’s military action in Gaza, but also has backed Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas. Balmer 38, had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but didn’t believe the assessment, his brother, Dan Balmer, told The Associated Press. He said he twice helped Cody get treatment at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. In court on Monday Balmer denied having any mental illness and described himself as an unemployed welder with no income or savings. A judge denied bail and ordered him held on charges including attempted homicide, terrorism and arson.

Police: Student opens fire at Texas school, injuring 4

BY JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press

DALLAS The student ac-

cused of injuring four in a shooting at a Dallas high school was let into the building through an unsecured door and then walked down a hallway toward a group of students, opening fire on them and then appearing to take a point-blank shot at one, according to an arrest warrant released Wednesday

The 17-year-old suspect was being held in Dallas County jail on Wednesday on a charge of aggravated assault mass shooting. He was taken into custody several hours after the shooting, which happened just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday at Wilmer-Hutchins High School.

mained hospitalized for observation but were expected to recover, the Dallas Fire-Recue Department said.

Three of those injured were between the ages of 15 to 18 and were shot, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue.

A fourth person whose age was unknown had an injury that Dallas Fire-Rescue said could only be identified as a “musculoskeletal injury” to the lower body Dallas Fire-Rescue said Wednesday that a fifth person — a 14-year-old female — was later taken to the hospital for anxiety-related symptoms. She had not been shot.

The shooting drew a large number of police and other law enforcement agents to the roughly 1,000-student campus.

arrest warrant. The arrest warrant said that after spotting the group of students in the hallway he displayed a firearm and began firing “indiscriminately” before approaching a student who was not able to run and walking toward that student and appearing to take a point-blank shot.

Christina Smith, assistant police chief for the Dallas Independent School District, said during a Tuesday news conference that she did not have any information on what led to the shooting.

Smith said the gun didn’t come into the school during “regular intake time.” She said “it was not a failure of our staff, of our protocols, or of the machinery that we have.” But she said she could not elaborate on that.

single-sex spaces such as changing rooms, homeless shelters, swimming areas and medical or counseling services provided only to women.

The court said the ruling did not remove rights for trans people still protected from discrimination under U.K. law But it said certain protections should apply only to biological females and not transgender women The ruling brings some

clarity in the U.K. to an issue that has polarized politics in some other countries, particularly the United States. Republican-controlled states over the last four years have been banning gender-affirming care for minors, barring transgender women and girls from sports competitions that align with their gender and restricting which public bathrooms transgender people can use.

Four male students were injured in the shooting and taken to hospitals, according to authorities. By Wednesday, two had been discharged and two re-

School surveillance camera footage showed that an unidentified student let the suspect in through an unsecured door prior to the shooting, according to the

Dallas school district officials did not immediately respond to an email or call from The Associated Press seeking additional information on Wednesday

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIO CORTEZ

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, left, speaks Tuesday with law enforcement outside Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE

Hershey Company’s new manufacturing plant in Hershey, Pa., on Wednesday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIN CHEUNG

Marion Calder, center, and Susan Smith, left, of For Women Scotland, celebrate Wednesday outside after the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that a woman is someone born biologically female, excluding transgender people from the legal definition in a long-running dispute.

Puerto Rico hitby massiveblackout

Outage comesas island residents prepareto celebrateEaster

BY DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico

An island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday as the largely Catholicresidents of the U.S. territory prepared to celebrate the Easter weekend, officials said.

All 1.4 million clients on the island were without power,Hugo Sorrentini, spokesman for Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distributionof power,told The Associated Press. “The entire island is without generation,” he said Hotels were at near-capacity,with thousands of touristscelebratingEaster vacations on the island.

Meanwhile, at least 78,000 clients were without water, with officials warning that power likely won’tbefully restoredfor another 48 to 72 hours

“This is unacceptable,” said Josué Colón, the island’s so-called energy czar and former executive directorof Puerto Rico’sElectric Power Authority

It was not immediately clear what caused the shutdown, the latest in astring of major blackouts on the island in recent years. Gov Jenniffer González,who was traveling, said officials were “working diligently” to addressthe outage.

Thousands of Puerto Ricans were fuming over the latestoutage, with many renewing their callsthat the government cancel the contract with Luma and Genera

PR, whichoverseesgeneration of power on theisland.

“This is atotal disaster,” said OrlandoHuertas,68, as he sipped adrink with afriend at astreetside bar and criticized thegovernment for not doing enough to tackle the chronicoutages.

Dozens of peoplewere forced to walknexttothe rails of therapid transit systemthat serves the capital, San Juan, while scores of businesses including the biggest mall in the Caribbean were forced to close. Professional baseballand basketball games were cancelled as the hum of generators and smell of smoke filled the air.Trafficbecame snarled as policeofficers were deployed to busy intersections.

By late Wednesday afternoon, some5,000to7,000 clients had their power restored, although that numberisexpectedtofluctuate.

Those without generators crowded around grocery stores and other businesses to buy ice.

“I’m desperate. My generator is broken,” said Carmen Suriel,who worried about theimpact of the blackoutonher two children, a 6-month-old anda5-year-old with Down syndrome, as the temperature rose across Puerto RicoonWednesday Alma Ramírez,69, said she was frustrated withthe constantoutages, some of which had already damaged her TV andmicrowave,forcing hertobuy newappliances.

“They have to improve,” she said of the government. “Those who are affected are us, thepoor.”

The island of 3.2 million residents has amore than 40% poverty rate, and not everyone can afford solar panels or generators. While there was apush to use more

renewable energy sources under theadministration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, which provided Puerto Rico with mega generators and other resources, expertsworry thatwon’t happenunderU.S.President Donald Trump.

Roughly 117,000 homes andbusinessesonthe island have solar rooftops. Meanwhile, petroleum-fired power plants provide 62% of Puerto Rico’spower,natural gas 24%, coal 8% and renewables 7%, according to theU.S.EnergyInformation Administration.

Daniel Hernández, vice presidentofoperationsat Genera PR, said at anews conference that adisturbancehit thetransmission system shortly after noon on Wednesday, during atime when the grid is vulnerable because there are notmany machines regulating frequency at that hour

Verónica Ferraiuoli, acting governor and secretary of state for Puerto Rico, said theWhiteHouse reached out to local officials and said they are available if needed.

PabloJosé Hernández, Puerto Rico’srepresentative in Congress, said he would work to ensure that “Washington understands the real andurgent situation Puerto Ricansface every day.”

“The electric grid crisis is frustrating, and after years of blackouts, it feels like it’s goingfrom badtoworse,” he said.

The lastisland-wide blackoutoccurred on NewYear’s Eve.

Puerto Rico hasstruggled with chronic outages since September 2017 when Hurricane Maria pummeled the island as apowerful Category 4storm,razing apower grid thatcrews are still struggling to rebuild.

Cuts threaten Children’s Advocacy Centers

Agencies

could lose $1.2M, La. director says

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Louisiana’s Children’s Advocacy Centers, which serve children who are victims of abuse or human trafficking or who have witnessed violent crimes, are facing a $1.2 million budget cut that their leaders say could force them to close their doors or lay off staff if the state government

CPRA approves $2B coastal plan

$570M tied to paused Mid-Barataria project

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority approved the agency’s annual plan Wednesday, which forecasts record spending of nearly $2 billion on projects aimed at creating new wetlands, elevating homes and building additional hurricane protections.

But more than a quarter of that spending, $573 million, is tied to one project, the MidBarataria Sediment Diversion, which is in limbo after Gov Jeff Landry questioned its effectiveness and state officials issued a 90-day pause on the project earlier this month. The annual plan provides funding for the project as though construction were to proceed.

The board unanimously voted to approve the spending plan, which now moves to the Legislature for final approval.

“We felt that you can’t just take something off (the plan) until there’s something officially done,” said CPRA board chairman Gordon Dove. It was suspended for 90 days because the cost is just atrocious.” In addition to the Mid-Barataria project, which would create a break in the Mississippi River levee in Plaquemines Parish and use the river to rebuild land, Dove said there are 140 other projects funded through the agency’s annual plan. Those include a pair of multiyear $3.4 billion projects.

One, in southwest Louisiana, is breaking ground this year and aims to elevate between 800 and 1,000 homes and is being carried out in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Another the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection System, will provide storm surge protection to about 60,000 residents from LaPlace to Garyville. During the meeting, state Rep. Jerome Zeringue, R-Houma, who is Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier’s designee on the agency’s board, said that he was uncomfortable with a plan that included the $2.9 billion diversion project when “the intent (is) to work to cancel it,” he said.

“It seems somewhat disingenuous to vote on a plan when we know that this one project is no longer included without a path forward or an indication of what we intend to do now that that project is being

doesn’t help “We have several centers who are definitely facing some difficult decisions to, like I said, to keep the doors open or, of course, to keep staff,” Krystle Mitchell, executive director of the Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers, or LACAC, told the House Appropriations Committee. “I would say the majority of that alloca-

tion would go to the salaries at the CACs (Children’s Advocacy Centers).” Mitchell asked the committee to add $1.5 million to the budget for the centers. Gov Jeff Landry’s office had already included an initial $1.5 million in its proposed executive budget, she said, and the second allocation would ensure CACs had at least $3 million from the

state The centers “provide not only the forensic interview, which is key for the prosecution, they also provide victim advocacy services, mental health services as well as the multi-disciplinary approach to child abuse cases,” Mitchell said. In 2023, centers statewide served 7,573 children, conducting 5,991 forensic interviews, according to the LACAC’s website. They also provided abuse prevention education

to over 14,000 children and over 47,000 adults, the website says.

CACs across the country receive funding from the federal Crime Victims Fund which supports victim services, said Mitchell. The fund gets its money from federal criminal fines, penalties and forfeited bail bonds, according to the federal Office for Victims of Crime. The fund began to decline with

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE

LOTTA LAGNIAPPE

select a track corresponding to the language they’re interested in pursuing. More than 75% of their

first graders

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

grade students who are interested in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish or American Sign Language, known as ASL. Students enrolled in the tuition-free immersion school will

will have an authentic cultural experience, learning beyond the curriculum and language.” The pod, run by Charter Schools USA, is at the Progressive Baptist Church campus near East Pinhook Road and East Simcoe Street in Lafayette.

Parks include City Park, Brown Park, Moore Park and Heymann Park

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

Four Lafayette park complexes will be getting new names if bills introduced by state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux are approved. Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, is the former director of Lafayette Parks and Recreation.

The park complexes include City Park, Brown Park, Moore Park and Heymann Park. The proposed legislation will

ABOVE: Students in the School of Business, Carson Quebedeaux, left, and Brandi Martin, paddle a canoe through Cypress Lake as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette holds their annual Lagniappe Day on Friday

LEFT: Contestants feel the heat during the pepper eating competition.

proposed

add names to the park and recreation complexes but will not remove existing names of individual park entities. The City Park complex, which includes the Jay and Lionel Hebert Municipal Golf Course, the Domingue Recreation Center and Clark Field, will be named in honor of Ernest Nabors Jr They will retain their existing names, Boudreaux said Tuesday Nabors, who died in 2019, served as head of the Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department. Before that, he was a teacher and coach at the former Paul Breaux High School in Lafayette and later served as

cipal of Northside

LSU gymnastics againreaches forthe high bar

As LSU gymnasts makea run fora repeat in thenational championships in Fort Worth, Texas, at the NCAA meet,whichstarts today, we must take time to praise thesolidarity of this team. Last year,when the teamwon itsfirst gymnastics national championships in school history,the odds were thatitwould beafavorite this year.After all, several of thesuperstarsof the 2024 championship season returnedfor an encore. They include HaleighBryant, Sierra Ballard, Chase Brock, Aleah Finnegan,Konnor McClain, Alyona Shchennikovaand Olivia Dunne. And the team added promising newcomers, including freshman Kailin Chio,who had a standout seasononvault and wasnamed SEC Freshman of the Year

Yetthe only thing harder in sports than getting to the top of the mountain is staying there. This season, LSU gymnastsshowedtheywere up for the challenge. Despiteafew hiccups, including an upset loss to Arkansas in January that coach Jay Clark called “growing pains,” the team managed to stay focused.Wemust add here that Clark and his team havebeen outstandinginbuilding this program, andwe’re glad LSU can keep such talent despite efforts to lure him away Clark called on the teamtostepupits mental toughness, and it responded.Onits waytothe NCAA championships, LSU was able to plow down thecompetition andhas not losta meet since Jan. 24.

It entered the tournament as theNo. 1seed, winningregionals with itshighestscore ever However,the semifinal field featureseight teams, each with astrongshot at the title.Some have along gymnastics pedigree, like Oklahoma, which won the two previousNCAA championships before LSU derailed its three-peat chances in athriller lastyear.Some arehungry forredemption, includinga UCLA team that hasn’twon atitle since the2003-24 season but is led by Olympian Jordan Chiles. Aftertoday’s competition, the top two teamsineach semifinal will compete in the finals on Saturday.

In addition to the team competition,LSU gymnastics is also highly favored forsome individualawards. Bryant,who wonthe SEC allaround title in March, will belookingtodefend theNCAAall-around title shewon last year Safe to say, we expect there will be fireworks at Dickies Arena for the nextfew days.All eyes will be on LSU gymnasts as so many seniors are looking to end their collegecareer on ahigh note. Whatever happens, we say they’re already winners. Their success hasnodoubt been abig reason for the increasing crowds at women’s gymnastics events around thecountry andinterest in women’ssportsingeneral. When we look at this team, we see thekind of camaraderie and dedicationthat we know will lead them to succeed in whatever the futureholds.

HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND USA LETTER, SCANHERE

Localclergycalledontolead outreach to ICEdetainees

Twointernational studentsinthe U.S., one with agreen card and another on avisa, have now been arrested in or near their homes in New York and Massachusetts. They are being detained in Louisiana while awaiting deportation for having protested or signed editorials concerning theturbulent situation in the Middle East.

As an American citizen, Iamoutraged. Ienjoy aconstitutional right to freedom of expression and believe that thisright extends to those who visit and otherwise reside in our country.As aChristian, Iamalso outraged. Christ instructs his followerstogive refuge to therefugee and to care for all those who are in distress, regardless of whether we identify them as friends or enemies News reports suggest that federal authorities in Louisiana are denying thetwo detained students visits with family,friends and lawyers.This kind of isolation must be terrifying. Websites for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sites in our

state, however,all indicate that “clergy may visit detainees at anytime,” by prior arrangement with theoffice of thechaplain or religiouscoordinator at each site. Most of the ICEfacility websites give telephone numbers for theseoffices Iurgelocal clergyofwhatever denomination to contact these offices and to meet regularly with these detaineesina spirit of charity.Archbishop Gregory Aymondhas in the past made clear public statements on behalf of immigrants and refugees, reminding local Catholics that Christ mandates our welcome and protection of them. I urge him especially,inanecumenical spirit,toreach out to faith leaders in thedetainees’ own religious traditions and to encourage them to visit the detainees. By providing spiritual comfort and reassurance, clergy will remind ICE officials and the general public of the detainees’ essential humanity MICHAEL P. KUCZYNSKI NewOrleans

DOTD reformsneedtoattacksomehardtruths

The focus of improved highways in Louisianashould be on reform of the stateLegislature and its ties to thecontracting organizations, material suppliers and other special interest organizationswho provide campaign contributionsand other goodies to members of theLegislature. That, along with inadequate funding, are the real problems that prevent theDepartment of Transportation and Development from carrying out the highway priorityprogram that is based

on professional studiesand allocation of available funding It is tragic that so-called “reform” is being based on astudy that was paid for by ahighway advocacy organization,which lobbies forincreased highway program funding.Ofcourse, there are needs for improvement at DOTD, but it needs to be based on solid facts and not on political considerations.

KENNETH A. PERRET Baton Rouge

Refusalto fixdeportation errorsends chillingmessage

To err is human, but to refuse to amend is ashame: the Trumpadministration has admitted that it deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an American citizen, to El Salvador because of an “administrative error,” but that it is now beyond their power to correct their error and bring him back. If theadministration is unable to retrieve him, it is an embarrassment; if unwilling, it is an unconscionable

failure and unpardonable sin. It is not histrionic to fear that the Trumpadministration may use this excuse of error in future deportations if it pays no political price forthis one. What use are our legal protections, then, if this administration can arrest us, ship us off and declare, “Oh well, what’sdone is done?”

ZACHARYMcGAR St. George

There is agroup mindset permeating today’ssociety that sets a dangerous precedent. These individuals have taken it upon themselves to decide what behavior society should follow.Ifyou don’t behave as they have determined you should, they feel they have the right to be violent, attack you and/ or destroy your property All this is done in the nameof righteousness —they are always right, and you don’tunderstand what is right. They believe their behavior entitles them to infringe on your rights. Few reasons justifyany group destroying your property and your rights. The justification is centered on Elon Musk aligning himself with Donald Trump, making Elon their opponent. So evil! These individuals must be held accountable forthe damage and danger they pose. Many are paid agitators and are evil themselves. There is no reason to justifythis behavior.It’scriminal. We have the right to disagree, but not the right to attack or destroy personal property.Both deserve jail time. Liberal media and government leaders seemingly justifythis behavior and, in manycases, openly encourage it.

I’mnot optimistic that this situation will quickly be remedied. Hate is tough to overcome, especially when it’spaid to take place and is deeply ingrained in closed minds. The combination is lethal and perpetual.

My first presidential administration (JFK)asavoter began astudy of how the government behaved. Over the years, I’ve witnessed how socialist/communist ideals have permeated the thinking of liberal leftists. They believe the ends justify the means—a dominant communist belief that never produces good results.

My college history professor, Dr.Joe Grey Taylor,warned about this takeover in 1961. What foresight from this brilliant man The English say,“God save the Queen.” It’s timeAmericans say, “God save America.”

BILLYARCEMENT Prairieville

COMMENTARY

ON THERECORD LOUISIANAAGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER MIKESTRAIN

‘Everybody’s gottoeat’

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain sat down with columnists Faimon Roberts and Stephanie Grace recently to talkabout farmers, tariffs, the economy and other topics affecting the industry today.This conversation has been edited for length and clarity

Roberts: What do you see as the biggest challenges to agriculture in the upcoming year?

Stephanie Grace Faimon Roberts

Strain: The biggest challenge right now is the low commodityprices, and we’re working desperately to get that up. Now,you wouldn’tthink that when you go to the grocery to buy food products, that there’sa huge disconnect between what the farmer gets and what is going on at retail.

We’re at the end of the season, when you would expect the prices to be higher.And if you look at theprice of soybeans, they’ve been hovering at or below $10 or so. If you look at rice, $13, $14, that’sjust too low.And so for many of our farmers, if thecommodities prices do not riseacross America, then they’re going to have big issues going intonext year on getting crop loans.

Grace: So we’re seeing high grocery prices —everyone’s talking about this —but lowcommodity prices. Where the disconnect?

Strain: The disconnect is the fact that inflation pressures supply and demand, and the increased cost due to inflation from the point of processing forward is being borne by the consumer From that point on, different entities set the price and the farmer is basically told: This is what you’re going to get. There’salso the disruption in the worldwide economy,worldwidemarket issues dealing with the value of the American dollar versus foreign currency.It’s making it harder for us toexport and cheaper for us to import, which adversely affects the price of our commodities, because our commodities are sold in dollars. And since the dollar is much stronger than the euro, the pound, the yen and yuan, it is much more difficult for us toexport. Forty percent of the value of these commodities is based on the export market. So across the board, we import in all goods and commodities over atrillion dollarsmore than we export in the United States. The imbalance of trade agriculturally is going to be between $45 and $55 billion.

Grace: Do tariffshelp?

Strain: So you have to look on amacroeconomics level with tariffs, and also look at what tariffs can do. And with tariffs, the problem is we are exporting money out and not importing money in through all of our products. This is putting astrain on our entire financial system, driving the imbalance in the currencies, andyou see it in the foreign currencies being driven down by the amount of dollars we’re putting into the foreign economies. We’ve got to move more goods offshore. If you look at our soybeancrop, athird or more of our entire crop has to be exported. We’re the largest exporter of food in the world, twice thesize of Ukraine.

And we have got to move those markets, increase supply going out and get abetter,amore favorabledollar

ExportingLouisiana products

Roberts: We’ve seen news stories about the cuts to USAID harming Louisiana and other farming

state’sexports. What impact are those having?

Strain: That’sgoing to be remain to be seen. If you look specifically at rice withUSAID, between Louisiana and Arkansas, we’re the two largest producers. Fifty percent of the rice crop is shipped outside the country.If you look at USAID, 5% to 10% of the entire rice crop that is shipped out is for food aid. So if youtake 10% of 50%, that’s 5% of the total rice crop that’s shipped out for food aid.

Thebottom line is that the world’shungry,and there are a lotof parts of the world that are not getting adequate nutrition. If you take the islandofCuba, the average Cuban is 250 to 275 calories short per day,everyday, and that’s happening across the world.

Oncethesemonetary things are corrected, Ithink you’regonna see agreater demand for the products we have. The bottom line is thatweare continuing to consume more across the world thanwe’re producing, we’re eating into inventories, but at some point the inventory is going to get too tight, and that’s going to cause —hopefully not arapid rise in commodity prices —but it is going to cause ariseincommodity prices.

Grace: Ithink I’m hearing you say thatyou think that these aid programs should continue. Is thatright?

Strain: Well, Imean, Iguessfor the sake of the farmers and also forthe people who are receiving food, which is the greatest form of diplomacy

We need to look in these programs to find out where the waste, fraud and abuse are and clean that up, period. Now,with thatbeing said, wherever we can feed those thatare starving, we need to do that —but we’ve got to look at where the money is really going.

Grace: Have you seen diversions?

Strain: Ihaven’t,because most of that’shandled federally

Roberts: What are you hearing from rice farmers?

Strain: They’realittlenervous right now,because no one knows exactly what’s goingtohappen. Normally,most of the rice is going into the ground by Valen-

tine’sDay.Soyou’re seeing the rice being planted. We got to plant therice so we can have the crawfish, right?And so thefarmers, they’re gonnaplant,and then we’re gonna work really hard to try to get good commodity prices

Roberts: What aresome markets that are outtherethat you think we should be getting into?

Strain: Pacific Rim, looking at India specifically,and maybe South America, Mexico as well. We’re shipping alot of rice to Cuba. Roberts: In thelast few years, we’ve seen sort of an unprecedented runofweather events in Louisiana.

Strain: Ag commissioners recognizethat we live with the climate changing, and it’simperative upon us to start looking ahead and be better prepared. We know that plant pests anddiseasecan generally be foundalatitude further north than 10 yearsago. And we’re recognizing that we need to try to be prepared and start looking ahead.

Waitingonthe Farm Bill

Roberts: What impact has thedelay in theFarm Bill had in Louisiana, and what you would like to see in anew Farm Bill?

Strain: I’mthinking thenew Farm Bill, we’re going to have to make sure we have adequate and consistentfarming funding for theforeign ag service so that we can do theoutreach and get into themarkets. We need to make sure that we are stepping up on research to deal withany emerging diseases that may be there. We also need to makesurethat crop insurance is adequate and thereference prices are correct. Don’tput all these programs in and have reference prices that are 10 years out of date. Reference prices and yields, they need to be correct.

Grace: Will it be adifferent process because of the atmosphere up there than it hasbeen in the past?

Strain: Ithink alot of the legwork has been done. This thing should have been passed two yearsago, right?Sowhen it gets down to the bottom line, once it’s all written out, then you’re gonna have SNAPversus commodities.

Grace: SNAPhas become very politicized. Do you think SNAP

should be altered?

Strain: Well, whatIwould like to see is that we raise incomes up enough to where people don’t have to rely on it. No one in this country should ever go hungry Iwould like to seeittowhere people are earning their way off those programs.

Political evolution

Grace: Let’sshift alittle to state politics.Itseems from the outside that politicshas changed quiteabit over the periodyou’ve been in office. Howdoyou think it’s changed?

Strain: In my family,webelieve that of allthose things that God gives us,wegot to give back,and it’s in public service. So as you recall, Ireplacedmycousin in theLegislature,Big Bill Strain. He was there like 28 years. At that time, there were far fewer Republicans, there were more Democrats. But it wasa very, verycordial. Idon’t see it as being quiteascordialasitwas.

Grace: It’sbecome much more partisan

Strain: Andwealways talked about that we didn’twantitto become partisanbecause Iwork with all sides of the aisle, Democrats, Republican,even those independents. That’sjust my naturetodothat. My legislative instruments, Inever looked at when Iaskedthe author,Democrat or Republican,it’swho’sthe champion of thatissue

Grace: It seems like everything’s aparty-line vote these days.

Strain: Butnot in agriculture Everybody’sgot to eat. Their constituents buy groceries. Iget along fine with Troy Carter.He and Iare good friends. And Ican talktoTroyjust like I’m talking to Clay Higgins or Julia Letlow or any of them.

Grace: There have been controversies over how much former agricultural land has been taken up by solar farms. How has that affected the farmers in the state?

Strain: If youlose10,000 acres of sugar,you could lose amill. That’sabig deal.It(solar) needs to be on land of minimalfoodproducing value

Roberts: Ialso wantedtoask about the condition and the future of the timber industry in Louisiana.

Strain: Oneofthe issuesthat

we’re continuing to battle is the dumping of Canadiantimber on the American market. The Canadians dump softwoods on ourmarkets, depressing our markets.

And so overall, we have gotto getinterest ratesdownsowecan rebuild andstart building more houses. Do we need Canadian timberfor that? No, sir,wegot plenty.Wehavemassive amount of timber.

The otherthing thatweare doing is developing additional utilizationfor the timber.We have 15 million acres of farmed softwoods andabout 3.6 million acres of hardwoods. So that’s18.6 million acres.Like with Drax, where we mix hardwood and some soft wood. We send that to England andEurope, where they burn it forelectricity

Gettingshrimprules right

Grace: Before we wrap up, what should we be looking at coming from youinthe legislative session?

Strain: Ithink we will see some changesinthe wayseafood is dealtwith that, because it’svery complicated what we’re doing now. We areinspecting imported seafood,but we areworking on a contract underCRT through the shrimp safety task force, along with wildlife andfisheries and the seafood promotion board and health andhospitals. So it’svery complicated.But Ican tell you we aretesting seafood, we are looking at labels. The shrimp industry is struggling to survive.Wehavereally gottoworktohelppromote Louisiana shrimp. If you go back to my first days in the Legislature, we had big shrimp boils. Now we have crawfishboils. We really pushedand promotedthe crawfish industry And nowthe crawfishindustry, it’s$250, $300 million ayear,but the shrimping industry is dying on the vine What’sonthe menu has got to be what’sbeing served. Now, if youchoosetoserve foreign shrimp, that’sfine.You can’tsay thatit’sLouisiana shrimp when it’simported. Youcan’tdothat because consumer has aright to knowwhatthey’re eating and to be protected

STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Agriculture Commissioner MikeStrain

Police:2accused

Newdetails revealed in court testimony

BY JOSEPH CRANNEY Staff writer

Twopeople accused by Jefferson Parish authorities in the Super Bowl week death of aKansas City reporter had been scheming with other women to drug and rob men, a Kenner police detective toldajudge Wednesday, usingalcohol and Xanax as a“knockout” punch before making off with cash,

CUTS

Continued from page1B

the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,which slowed federal cases, said Mitchell. Since then, the fund has continued to be depleted, and CACs have faced multiple yearsofcuts, she said. This year,the cuts are especially deep for Louisiana CACs, according to Mitchell: between 50% and 68%. Collectively,the cuts total $1.2 million,she said.

During Tuesday’sappropriations meeting, amember of the governor’s staff vouched for the CACs: Monica Taylor,director of human trafficking prevention for the Governor’sOf-

LANGUAGE

Continued from page1B

Because it’sacharter school, families don’thave to pay tuition but need to enroll students intothe program. It opened in the fall with acohort of MandarinChineseimmersion students. The World Languages Academystepped in to fill ahole created in the community when the Lafayette ParishSchool System decided to shutter its Mandarin immersion program, Granier said. The schoolisstarting with kindergarten and first grade cohorts and plans to grow the program one grade level every year, with the ultimate goal to be offering K-12 immersion. The school will also have class sections in second through fourth grade for older siblings. Studentsnot on the immersion track will have accesstolanguage classes as electives. The campusoffers a “small family environment,” Granier said. The staff gets to know students

phones, jewelry and other property

Detectives obtaineda trove of text messages between suspects Danette Colbert and Rickey White, which police said show a trailofincidents similar to 27-year-oldAdan Manzano’sdeath in aKenner hotel room in February, which they believe was unintentional. Manzanowas aTelemundo reporter and afather of one. After anight of drinking with Colbert, Manzano’sbody was found at the Comfort Suites on Feb.5 four daysbefore theSuper Bowl at theSuperdome.

fice.

She called thework the CACs do a“methodof crime prevention.”

“If someonecan get help for the abuses and the things thathave been done to them,theyare less likely to endupinour criminal justicesystem, number one,” Taylorsaid. “And number two, we have found throughchild advocacy centers, domestic violence centers and sexual assault centers that thelonger a victim has advocacy services,the longerthey will stay engaged in the criminal justice system and prosecute their perpetrators.”

“That’swhy some of this funding is so important,” she added.

State Rep. Jack McFar-

Surveillance footage showedthatManzano and Colbert were outonBourbon Street the night before,and captured the pair in the hotel lobby before they went to Manzano’s room.

KennerPolice Detective JeffreyFitzmorris said Wednesday that Colbert and other womenprowled New Orleansnightlife hot spotstotarget men they could plywith drugs and alcohol.

The group referred to Xanax as “knock out,” abbreviatedintext messages as “KO.”White provided transportation, helped

land,R-Jonesboro,who chairsthe House Appropriations Committee and plays akey roleincreating thebudget,said in astatement that he was“encouraged to do everything possible” to backfill the $1.2 million.

“This is another example of the effectsofareduction by thefederal government,” he said.

Landryhas attempted to create a“standstill” budgetfor next year,keeping spending levelsfrom state coffers as similar as possible to the current year’s budget

Butthatcould prove difficult as Louisiana expects to losemoney through federal cutsadministeredby theTrump administration, which has promised to

drawcash from thestolen credit cardsormove other stolen property,Fitzmorris said. In one text to White, which Fitzmorris said was related to adifferent case, Colbert wrote, “Got the phone code. Give me amin.Hegot money in here and I’m waiting for him to sleep. About to check theATM then to you.”

At the conclusionof Wednesday’shearing, Jefferson Parish Criminal Commissioner DavidWolff ordered thatColbert, 49 of Slidell, and White, 34 of Harvey,continue to be held

slash what it calls wasteful and inefficient government functions.

The DepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency,headed by billionaire ElonMusk, lists at least $133million in cuts to organizations in Louisiana, though theaccuracyofthe agency’s figures has been questioned

The cuts are expected to hit the Louisiana DepartmentofHealth,whichadministers the state’s Medicaid program, thehardest. This month, state healthofficials said they anticipate losing up to $86 million from eight federal grants settobeeliminated by the Trump administration

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

“inside and out” tohelp address their needs. What students learn in an immersion program —asecond language, cultural diversity,respect for others —isa“special gift no one can takeaway,”

saidGranier,who is bilingualinASL andwhose children arebilingual in French.

sessions areinthe works, Granier said, but families can reach out to thestaff directly with questions.

“It’sanadventure for a child to embarkonthat will stay with them,” shesaid. In-person information

Email Ashley White at ashley.white@ theadvocate.com.

NAMES

Continued from page1B

High in 1971, the first Black principal of an integrated high school in Lafayette. The soccer complex, consisting of 24 soccer fields at Moore Park, will be named in honor of the late Deanna “Ma D” Bostick, who founded the Lafayette Youth Soccer Association andthe Louisiana Youth Soccer Association. Shecreated

the Lafayette association in the 1980s becauseshe wanted her children to play soccer,and there wasn’taccess on the northside where she lived. The Brown Memorial Park complex, whichincludes the newly rebuilt baseballfields and Dupuis Recreation Center on East Pont des Mouton Road,will be collectively namedafter Merlin Leger, Boudreaux said. Leger volunteered more than 40years as a board member,coordina-

torand coach at Brown Park. Lastly, theHeymann Recreation Center complex will be named after John “Cush” Leblanc,arecreationcentersupervisorfor at least 25 years andwho worked in parksand recreationfor morethan 40 years. The four proposed bills were referred to the Senate Local and Municipal Affairs Committee.

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.

without bail.

Thepair are booked on arange of charges including second-degree murder, robberyand fraud.

Attorneys for the pair didn’treturnmessages seeking comment. White’sattorneys said during Wednesday’shearing that Whitewas out of thestate when Manzano died, according to WDSU. Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Michael Morales told Wolff thatinvestigators have yet to obtain proof that Colbert gave Manzano drugs, but that therewas “loadsof circumstantial evidence

CPRA

Continued from page1B

canceled.” Dove countered that therewere other plans in the works, and that CPRA and thegovernor’sadministration would present them to thepublic “once we finishthis aggressive compilation of everything.”

Zeringue,asthe house speaker’srepresentative on the board, does not get avote.

Advocatespushback

During the meeting’s public comment period, representatives fromenvironmental advocacy groups expressed their supportfor the Mid-Barataria project and criticized efforts to kill it.

“How can aproject that has anchored four coastal masterplansbe excluded?” said Simone Maloz,the campaigndirector of Restore the Mississippi River Delta. “Louisianans wantaction, they do not want abandonment of theprojects designed to protect their future.”

Kristi Trail, the executive director of the Pontchartrain Conservancy, urged the board not to approve the annual plan unlessthe Mid-Barataria project would proceed as previously planned.

“We’ve heard suggestions that asmaller diversion would suffice,” Trail said. “However,the current scale of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is necessary to effectively address themagnitude of Louisiana’scoastal land loss.”

Ethan Melancon, the advocacy director for theCoalition to Restore CoastalLouisiana, said the Mid-Barataria project “is and can be the solution to major issues that’sfacing the Barataria Basin.”

“We’ve heardit’sthe linchpin. We’ve heard

againsther.”

Earlier toxicology reports showed Manzano had thedepressant benzodiazepine in his system, aclass of drugs that includes the generic version of Xanax. Colbert and Whitealso exchanged 30 phone calls on theday of Manzano’s death, authorities said. “The arrest warrant is replete with textmessage aftertextmessage stating her intentions were to drug individuals to obtain their money,” Morales said, addingthatunintentionally killing someone during the commission of arobberyis homicide.

it’s thecornerstone,”he added. “Allthe terms they have used are true.” But he stressedthat his organizationwas committed to supporting otherdiversion projectsthatare also included in CPRA’s annual plan.

The project broke ground in 2023 and wasexpected to move forwardbefore Landry took office in 2024 Shrimpers and fishermen have long opposed the project, which is expected to hurtsomecoastal fisheries. Landryappears to have taken their concerns to heart: He said lastyear the projectwould “break our culture.”

The Mid-Barataria project appears to have support among Louisianans more broadly.Several of the commenters cited independent polls released this week, paid for by Restore the Mississippi River Delta, that found that 83% of respondents supported the diversion project.

“You can’tget 83% of people to agree on the color of this table,”said Ryan Lambert, acharter boat captain in Buras. “But 83% of the people saythey want thediversion because (CPRA) did such agood job…over theyears, going and being transparent, teaching people, going all throughout thestate with meetings, showing how it can be done, why it should be done.”

Email AlexLubbenat alex.lubben@theadvocate. com.

Shower.Manyoptionsavailable. Qualitymaterials &professional installation.Senior& Military DiscountsAvailable. Call Today! 1866-806-5009 Preparefor poweroutages today with aGenerac Home Standby Generator. Actnow to receivea FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase.Call1-844-335-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRADBOWIE

Aribbon-cutting and grandreopening celebrationfor Brown Park washeld on Feb.27in Lafayette. Thenewly expanded park includes anew playground,practice T-ball/little league field, extended walking path, small and largedog parks,outdoor basketball courtand more.

PROVIDED PHOTO By THE WORLDLANGUAGES ACADEMy

Students enrolled in the WorldLanguages Academy’s Mandarin immersion program celebrate theLunar NewyearinJanuary.

SPORTS

Kelly predicts quiet spring portal for LSU

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

When the transfer portal opened in December, LSU had to address needs throughout the roster It was a critical stretch for the football program, and coach Brian Kelly vowed the coaching staff would be aggressive.

LSU ended up signing 16 transfers, giving it one of the top classes in the country And because of how much it got done at the time, Kelly

“I

BRIAN KELLy, LSU coach

struck a different tone before the transfer portal opened again Wednesday “I like our roster right now,” Kelly said. “It wouldn’t surprise

me if we didn’t have anybody in the portal on either side, either leaving our program or adding. If you asked me right now, I would be happy to take this roster right into

May on both sides of it.”

Although that indicates LSU won’t be as active in the spring portal window, Kelly acknowledged players could leave at any time from now until April 25. LSU also may pursue transfers if they fit positional needs and come at the right price.

“If something shows itself that is an incredible opportunity, we’re certainly going to investigate any time that we can help our football team,” Kelly said. “We’re always

going to be looking to help our team, but it’s not like it was obviously in January.” A defensive tackle and safety likely would top the wish list. LSU hosted multiple transfer safeties in the winter portal window but only signed NC State redshirt sophomore Tamarcus Cooley It doesn’t have proven defensive tackles, and similarly, offensive tackles may be considered because of

‘Her own story’

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

When the Saints drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry in the second round last year, there was a question around when the cornerback would see the field because of how stacked the team was at the position. Life can change fast in the NFL, huh?

Just one year later, cornerback is a huge need for the Saints. Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo — last year’s Week 1 starters — are gone. McKinstry and Alontae Taylor are in line to replace them, but there’s no doubt New Orleans could use additional help in the secondary With defensive coordinator Brandon Staley installing a new scheme, the Saints likely will look for a different kind of cornerback than Dennis Allen preferred. Let’s take a look at who could be a perfect match. Will Johnson, Michigan

A defensive playmaker, Johnson had nine interceptions in three years at Michigan. The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder has good size and plays with a fluidness that allows him to be in position to force turnovers. According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Johnson “is at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes down the field.” That might fit well if Staley implements more zone coverage for the Saints next season. The former Los Angeles Chargers coach ran zone coverage 67.1% of the time in his two-plus seasons at the helm, whereas that number was 60.6% for New Orleans

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

defensive back Trey Amos, a UL transfer, is expected to be picked in the first three rounds of the NFL draft next week

LSU gymnast Aleah Finnegan breaks into tears after she realized her routine on the balance beam clinched LSU’s first NCAA championship on April 20 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Finnegan out of sister’s shadow as LSU goes for another national title

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

FORT WORTH, Texas Aleah Finnegan can’t count the number of times she has watched the 2024 NCAA gymnastics finals

“It’s a memory you just can’t beat,” she said. Especially the ending. LSU finished on balance beam, with Finnegan basically needing to avoid a fall to clinch the program’s first NCAA team championship. Lele, as she’s known by her teammates, didn’t fall. She soared. Finnegan glided through her trademark back handspring, back layout, back layout switch

leap triple combination, then nailed her gainer full dismount for a 9.95.

As soon as she finished, Finnegan burst into tears as she fell into assistant coach Ashleigh Gnat’s arms. All the years, all the competitions, all the endless hours of practice had paid off in the ultimate moment for Finnegan and LSU.

“Every so often someone will come up to me and say where they were,” Finnegan said.

Where Finnegan and the Tigers are now is right back where they triumphed last April. Back at Dickies Arena, trying to win a second straight NCAA title.

Their quest starts Thursday night as No. 1 overall seed LSU competes at

8 p.m in Semifinal II against No 4. Utah, No. 5 UCLA and No. 8 Michigan State. The top two teams from that semifinal will meet the top two teams from Semifinal I at 3:30 p.m. among No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida, No. 7 Missouri and No. 11 Alabama in Saturday’s championship meet.

Both semis will air on ESPN2, with Saturday’s 3 p.m. final on ABC. As Finnegan is eager to point out the Tigers aren’t seeking a repeat of last year’s performance.

“Last August when we came back from the summer, we closed the chapter on

Cajuns eye goals in uncharacteristically down year

UL in danger of missing 10-team Sun Belt tourney

it’s safe to expect a motivated South Alabama team that plans to end the streak

“It’s going to be a battle,” Habetz said. “They have good pitching, good hitters, and they’re going to fight without a doubt.” The Cajuns still have a lot of work to do to even qualify for the conference tournament. Currently, UL would be the last team in, but James Madison (18-21, 5-10) is just one game behind the Cajuns and own the tiebreaker after winning twice in Lafayette last weekend. After South Alabama this weekend, UL must play at league leader Troy (2812, 11-4) before finishing with Southern Miss (20-22, 7-7) at home.

ä See CAJUNS, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP True freshman first baseman Emily Smith has a teamhigh 10 home runs and a .686 slugging percentage.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy Ole Miss

ä See KELLY, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

On TV

COLLEGE BASEBALL

6p.m. Virginia at FloridaSt. ACCN

7p.m. Alabama at LSU ESPNU

7p.m. Texas A&M at Arkansas SECN

WOMEN’S COLLEGE GYMNASTICS

3:30 p.m. NCAA Semifinals ESPN2

WOMEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE

5p.m. North Carolina at DukeESPNU

7p.m. Michigan at NorthwesternBTN COLLEGE SOFTBALL

5p.m. Mississippi at GeorgiaSECN GOLF

1p.m. PGA: RBCHeritageGolf

5p.m. LPGA: JM EagleGolf

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

11:30 a.m.Washington at Pittsburgh MLBN

5:40 p.m. Kansas City at DetroitFS1

6:05 p.m.N.y.yankees at Tampa BayPRIME

8:30 p.m.L.A.Angels at Texas MLBN NHL

6p.m.Washington at Pittsburgh ESPN

8:30 p.m.Calgary at Los Angeles ESPN MEN’S SOCCER

11:40 a.m.BetisatJagiellonia Bialystok CBSSN

2p.m.Rangers at Athletic Bilbao CBSSN

LSUbullpen on rise,but Guidry out

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

The bad news LSU fanswere dreading became areality Tuesday Juniorright-handerGavin Guidry is officially out for the season. Coach Jay Johnson announcedGuidry willundergo season-ending backsurgeryFriday and spend the nextthree to four months recovering.

“He’sa terrific human being, and he hashandled this better than anybody Iwould have ever expected to handle this,”junior Jared Jones said. “He’sthe best competitor on our team, even though he’snot pitching.And I know this is hard for him,and I’m going to try andbethere and support him as best Ican.”

LSU hasn’thad Guidry at its disposal since he suffered the injury during thefirstweek of the season. Since he hasn’tpitched this season, it won’tchange how Johnson utilizes his bullpen

“There’sreally no change,” Johnson said, “because we’ve been operating without (him) the whole season.”

Johnson will need other relievers to step forwardasLSU gears up for apostseason push.

That charge begins Thursday when the Tigers kick off the secondhalf of their Southeastern Conference scheduleagainst Alabama at Alex Box Stadium (7 p.m., ESPNU).

“Super excited about the future of our pitching staff,” Johnson said. “For the rest of this year and for the years to come.”

Junior right-hander Zac Cowan and freshman right-hander Casan Evans have been staples in the bullpen all season without Guidry Cowan has a0.79 ERA in 34 innings, and his walk rate is at 4.7%.

Evans holds a0.73 ERA andleads the team in strikeout rate among pitchers who have thrown at least 10 innings this season (39.4%).

Evans and Cowan becomingtwo of the better relievers in the sport has created ahigher floor for the bullpen. Whether Johnson can get the rest of his relievers on asimilar track will determine theunit’s fate.

Last weekend against Auburn and Tuesday night vs. McNeese State were steps in the right direction. In LSU’slastfour games, relievers not named Cowan and Evans have a1.46 ERA in 121/3 innings.

“I think we’reexpanding that

LSUpitcherGavin Guidrydelivers apitch against Ole Miss on May16at AlexBox Stadium.Guidry,who has not pitched this season,was ruled outfor therest of 2025and will have back surgeryFriday

window of guys that we really can go to in any situation,” Johnson said.

Those relievers also walkedonly four batters.For the bullpen,commanding the baseballhas been a problem for much of this season.

Juniorleft-hander Conner Ware, junior right-hander Connor Benge,redshirt sophomore lefthander DJ Primeaux and freshman right-hander Mavrick Rizy have been called upon in some big spots in SEC play,but they’ve had atendency of handingout free passes.

Benge and Ware have walked at least six batters per nine innings. Rizy has hitthree batters and walked eight others in 162/3 innings. Primeaux has hit five batters andwalked six in nine innings.

“Some daysyou don’t have it,”

Rizy said, “but on those days, it’s like, ‘Can you bring it withyour best stuff that you have for that day?’ “

Benge allowed an earned run on Tuesday but got LSU out of ajam in the fourthinning. Primeaux and Ware threw acombined 21/3 score-

less frames across LSU’slast four contests. Rizy had40-plus pitch outings Fridayand Tuesday.He wasespecially good against McNeese State, striking out sixbatters and not walking anyone in 22/3 innings.

“Thatwas electric last night from thesixth inning on of guys being able toget anyone out,” Johnson said. “(It’s) another layer of what we’ve done so far to win games.”

Freshman left-hander Cooper Williams and redshirtsophomore right-hander Jaden Noot haven’t thrown as often as Benge, Rizy, Primeaux or Ware have against SECcompetition,but they have thepotential to help LSUonweekends moving forward.

Williams and Noot havehad some troublecommanding the ball. Williams holds a19% walk rate despite his ERA sitting at 0.00. Noot walked two batters in hislastouting against Nicholls State.

ButWilliams emerged against Auburnand McNeeseState, not allowing an earned runand striking outthreebatters in 12/3 innings.

UL baseball searchingfor

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Not scoring enough runshas a once-promising SunBeltseason heading in the wrong direction for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns.

The Cajuns dropped to 8-7 in league play witha 3-2 loss at ULMonroe on Sunday

“No, it shouldn’tbethe case,” UL coach Matt Deggs said of Sunday’sloss. “There’snorhyme or reason why that’sthe case.

“I don’tknow if anybodycould see that coming —a20 mile-anhour wind blowing straightout andit’sa3-2 ball game. Very frustrating week, but you’ve got to put that in the rearview mirror.”

As aresult, UL heads to OldDominion starting at 5p.m. Thursdayinneedofsome answersin ahurry outofthe road seriesat Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia.

TheCajunsenter the series 1722 overall with a3-10 road record.

The Monarchs are 12-21 and 7-8 in the Sun Belt with only sixgames played at homethe entire season because of astadium renovation. Neither team played amidweek game prior to theThursday-Saturday Easter weekend series.

“Tome, this is kind of aprecipice for us this weekend to get a real look at arested team,” Deggs said. “Wedon’thave any midweek games you’re lugging with you. Comeout and see how good you canplay.”

In a10-7 loss at Louisiana Tech on April 9, Deggsposteda lineup

ä UL at Old Dominion. 5P.M. THURSDAy,ESPN+

with thefuture in mind. If the offense keeps struggling, the future may be sooner than someexpected

“I gaveeverybody aglimpse into the future on (April9),” Deggssaid. “I think that’s kindof where we’reat. How you proceed with that is the psychology of the game. My job isn’tjust today or tomorrow or this Thursday.It’salso next year and the year after that. You’ve got to look around the corner.You’ve got to haveintuition.

“I know what it’sgoingtobe. It’s just amatter of when’sthe right time.I don’tknow whenthat is We’vegot some olderkids who have played well in spurts here andare capableofmore.Let’sjust seehow that plays out.”

TheApril9 lineupincludedKasen Bellard, BrooksWright, Owen Galt, Blake Lucas, Mark Collins, GriffinHebert, Drew Markle, Maddox Mandino and Clayton Pourciau.

“That lineup (April 9), that was pretty good,” Deggs said. “It’s who is going to fit within that moving forward.”

UL weekend starters Chase Morgan (3-1, 2.43 ERA),Andrew Herrmann(2-3, 4.70) andJRTollett (3-3, 3.40) have been pretty good this season.

Relievers Matthew Holzhammer (1-4, 2saves, 5.14), lefty Dylan Theut (0-0,1 save,3.06) and nowRiley Marcotte (0-0, 1save, 4.01) are playing keyroles.

ON DECK

WHO: LSU (32-6, 10-5 SEC) vs Alabama (30-8, 8-7)

WHEN: 7p.m.Thursday

WHERE: Alex Box Stadium

TV: ESPNU

RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1 (Baton Rouge); WWL-AM, 870 (New Orleans);KLWB-FM, 103.7 (Lafayette)

RANKINGS: LSUisNo. 9by

D1Baseball; Alabama is No.15

PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU— LHP Kade Anderson (6-1, 3.48 ERA); Alabama —RHP TylerFay (0-0, 4.98 ERA)

WHATTOWATCH FOR: Anderson gets the nod forLSU after allowing five earned runs in 41/3 innings last week against Auburn. He’ll be matchedupwith Fay, aredshirt sophomore whosurrendered two earned runs in 31/3 innings on Sundayagainst Mississippi State.

Noot also has the potential to help out in alongreliefrole, throwing multiple innings in four of his last five outings.

“(Cooper’s) competed. He hadn’t been on the mound for 10 days or so,” Johnson said last Friday. “I thought his arm looked live.”

Perhaps LSU’sbiggest wild card out of the bullpen is junior righthander Jacob Mayers.

Despitehaving one of the best fastballsonthe team,command issueshaveprevented him from earning more time against SEC competition.Hehas morewalks (12)than innings pitched (eight) this season. But like the rest of the bullpen, Mayers’ last two outings have been promising. He struck out four batters and didn’tissue a walk in shutout innings against Auburn and McNeese State.

It’shard to understate Guidry’s value outofthe bullpen. As a freshman, he threw the final pitch of LSU’s national championshipclinching victory and posteda 3.77 ERA. Last season,helowered his ERA to 2.59 and struck out 34 battersin261/3 innings.

Butthe Tigers have gotten used to life without him this season, and this bullpen slowly has improved.

“They are getting better,” Johnson said.

Email Koki RileyatKoki. Riley@theadvocate.com.

AndrewHerrmann

“Tollett was great (Sunday),but Ithought Marcotte’sstuffwas as good as I’ve seen it,” Deggs said. “They had agroundballand caught us in ashift basically,that was thedifference.”

The Monarchs are 3-3 in their six home gamesthis season and are coming offtaking two out of three against Georgia Southern. ODU is hitting .248 as ateam with 28 homers and41steals in 50

Commanders are in talks about astadium deal

The Washington Commanders andtheDistrict of Columbia are in discussions abouta newfootball stadium in the nation’scapital, aperson with knowledge of talks said Wednesday No deal has been finalized yet. The team hasbeen looking for a new stadium for several years, and that search moved to anew level when JoshHarris’ group bought theCommandersfrom previous owner Dan Snyderin2023. Places in Washington, Virginia and Maryland have all been under consideration. The site of old RFK Stadium is believed to be the preferred destination. TheWashington NBCaffiliate reported Wednesdaythatthe team and D.C.governmentwereclose on an agreement to build there, with the framework of adeal north of $3 billion.

Ex-Texas WR Bond sues woman afteraccusation

Former University of Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond was arrested last week after asexual assault accusation, but the 21-yearold has filed adefamation lawsuit against his accuser

Bond faces asexual assault charge after awoman accused him of assaulting her at his apartment, asking her to sign anon-disclosure agreement and offering her money after the incident.

Bond, whodeclared forthe NFL draftearlierthis year,has denied the allegations. The suit, filedin federalcourt,accusesthe woman of sparking a“smear campaign” against him aftershe initiated communications via social media beginning in October 2024. The woman waseight years older than Bond during their first encounter

Tennisplayer apologizes for deodorant request

British tennis player Harriet Dart hasapologizedafter asking the chairumpire to tellher opponent to put on deodorantbecause she “smells really bad.”

Dart lost 6-0, 6-3 to French player Lois Boissoninthe first round of the clay-court Rouen Open on Tuesday, andshe said during achangeover to the umpire:“Can youtell (Boisson) to wear deodorant?. Becauseshe smells really bad.”

Afterthe footagespreadonsocial media, Dart posted an apology on Instagram. Boisson, who made herfirst WTA Tour appearanceofthe seasonand is working her way back up from 303rd in the rankings after injuries, gave alight-hearted response by posting aphoto of herwith adeodorant edited above herhand.

Duke freshman Knueppel declares for NBA draft

Duke’sKon Knueppel is heading to the NBA after one college season.

The 6-foot-7, 217-pound wing announcedhis decision Wednesday after aseason thatincluded him being named MVPofthe Atlantic CoastConferenceTournament while helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four

Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as the team’s No. 2scorer behind Associated Press national player of the year Cooper Flagg.

Knueppel is the first memberof Duke’stoutedfreshmanclass to go pro. He’s widely projected as alottery pick. Knueppel is only the eighth freshman to winMVP honors at the ACC Tournament.

Umpire hospitalized after foul ball hits hisface

Veteran umpire Hunter Wendelstedt wenttoahospital forfurther examination on Wednesdayafter he was struck in the face behind first base by aline drive foul ball in Minnesota.

tries. On the mound, theMonarchs have a6.50ERA and opponents are hitting.276 against them. By comparison, UL has a5.61 ERAand opponentsare hitting .266 against the Cajuns

“If we can startbanging the ball around, Ithink we can get hot here in thesecond half,” Deggs said.

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

Crew chiefToddTichenor, who called home plate during the 4-3 victory by the Twins over the New York Mets, told apool reporter after the gamethat Wendelstedtwas coherentand speaking but going through aconcussion protocol.

“Hopefully it’s just some stitches is what I’mthinking,” Tichenor said. Major League Baseball said Wendelstedt was undergoing additional tests.

“Weare encouraged that he was in good spiritswhenhewas in touch withour medical staff,” MLB said. “Wewill continue to monitor his status.”

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

UL starting pitcher

delivered another solid start during the Cajuns’ road series loss to ULM.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

1

HALEIGH BRYANT, SR., LSU

Theengaging NCAA all-around champion won theSEC allaround titleinMarch.Ifshe can winatthatmeet, shecan repeat at nationals.

FINNEGAN

Continued from page1C

last year,” Finnegansaid.“Everything started freshand brandnew It’sanew team and anew environment.

“We’ve done areallygood job trying to leave last year in last year. We’re notlooking to duplicate anything.”

What is true in that respect for the 2025LSU gymnastics team is true for Finnegan herself.

She arrived at LSUin2021 two years after her older sister,Sarah Finnegan, completed one of the greatest careers in programhistory. Shewon two NCAA individual titles, the2019 AAI award, five SoutheasternConference titles, 95 totalwins and 23 All-America honors.

“It wasn’taslam dunkthat she would come here,” LSU coach Jay Clark said of Aleah Finnegan. “She had been in her sister’s shadow throughout their elite careers and everything else.

“When she decided to come here, there had to be some concern that she was always going to be known as Sarah’slittle sister.But (the coaching staff) made sure that

2

JORDAN BOWERS,SR. OKLAHOMA

Tied forsecond nationally in the all-around,Bowers hadthree perfect 10stowin theNCAAWashington regional all-around titlewitha 39.900

3

JADE CAREY, SR., ORE. ST

Atwo-timeU.S Olympicgold medalist and thenation’sNo. 1-ranked all-arounder,the only thing missingfromher résumé is an NCAA individualtitle

she knew this was allabout Aleah Finnegan. We wanted hertowrite her own story,and boy has she.” Finnegan has been stellar in her own right with 43 career wins, including the2024NCAA floor title and ashare of the 2025 SEC beam championship with

fellow LSU senior Haleigh Bryant. She also hasadozen AllAmerica honors. Coming off an appearance for ThePhilippinesinthe 2024 Paris Olympics(her mother Linabelle’s homecountry), Finnegan got 20 of her wins this season and was one

4

JORDAN CHILES,JR. UCLA

Athree-time Olympicmedalist (gold,silver, bronze), Chiles has twoNCAAtitlesfrom2023(floor, bars)and is tied forfirstnationally on floor.

of six finalists for this year’sAAI award given to the nation’stop senior female gymnast.

“She’s exceeded beyondanything Icould have hopedfor,” Clarksaid. “I knew shewas talented. ButI didn’t know she would play the role as effectively as she has and go beyond that and become an Olympian andstill be able to lead her team in theway shehas.

“Wedon’ttalkabout Aleah as much as we have Haleigh over the years. Butshe’s alot like Haleighin terms of thecharacter of the person. She’s just alovelyhuman being. She lovespeople, and she loves people deeply.I couldn’tbemore proud of the career that she’s had andthe impact that she’shad on the program and me personally.”

By now,the endofher fourth and finalcollegiate season,the routines are deeply ingrained.

What does Finnegan think about when she’s4feet off the ground performing on that 4-inchwide balance beam?

“I have certainkeywords,” Finnegan said. “Sometimes Italk to myself up there. If the mouth is closed, the brain can wander

“Keywordslike ‘use your wrists’ or ‘move your arms’ or ‘push off

Michigan defensiveback Will Johnson is the

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

under Allen. Johnsoniscoming off of aseason-ending toe injury but is reportedly healthy now.Hechose not to run a40-yard dash at his recent workout for teams but still participated in other drills. He could be off the board by the time the Saints pick at No. 9, though Jahdae Barron, Texas

The Saints hired Texas defensive pass game coordinator Terry Joseph for the same role thisoffseason, so if New Orleans is interested in Barron, the teamwill have plenty of insight to lean on Barron was aversatile piece who lined up all over the field and was productive doingit. He’s coming off afive-interception seasonafter moving to outside

KELLY

Continued from page1C

inexperience at the position

But LSU already has reached the 85-scholarship limit, so some players would have to leave in order to bring in more transfers. The SEC said it would maintain an 85-scholarship limit for the 2025 season, even thoughrules around roster sizes will change as aresult of the House settlement, which must be approved.

corner,ashift fromplaying on the inside earlier in his college career

At 5-11, Barron wouldn’tbethe biggest outside cornerback in the world. But the Saints have aquestion mark at nickelcornerback do theymoveTaylor back inside?

Put Isaac Yiadom there? —and Barron could be theanswer

Trey Amos,Ole Miss

On paper, Amos matches the kind of corner that theteam drafted often under Allen.His height (6-1) and 8.37 Relative Athletic Score are in therange of the Saints’preferences, and he has “an appetitefor press” mancoverage, according to The Athletic’s DaneBrugler. Brugler even compared himtoAdebo, whoBrugler said had asimilar kind of super senior season that convinced NFL teams that he was capable of becominga starter

After its success in the winter portal window,LSU doesn’thave to takethe sameapproach now At thetime, theTigersneeded alot of experienced players who couldhelpthe team contend after missing theCollege Football Playoff forthe first three years of Kelly’stenure. LSUsignedwhat was theNo. 1transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports, though it has since been overtaken by Texas Tech LSU wanted to get mostofits work done then. Asking prices tend to riseinthe spring —asthe

At OleMiss, Amos played on theoutsideand registered an SEC-high 16 passesdefended. He took advantage of his transfer thereafter spending time at Alabama —asabackup to McKinstry,coincidentally —and UL, where he playedfor theRagin’ Cajuns for three seasons. He could be an optiononDay 2for the Saints.

Azareye’hThomas, FloridaSt. Anotherpossible Day 2option, Thomas started only one season at Florida State but hadanimpressive campaigninwhich he allowed only 17 catches. Thomas is tall (6-1) and has notable speed, running a4.43 40-yarddash.He also excels at press-mancoverage but is lengthy enough to hold his own after that. There are questions about whether Thomas can contributeright away.Zierlein projects him as astarter in

two or three years.

Dorian Strong,Virginia Tech

The Saints reportedly hosted Strong for avisit this week. The VirginiaTech product was afiveyear starter,and five of his seven interceptions came in the last two seasons. The Athletic noted that coaches praise Strong for being aleader who has “lockedin confidence.” The 23-year-old couldbeaDay 3pick, though, because of his lack of twitch. While there are also concerns abouthis speed,Zebra Sports clocked him as one of the fastest players during the week of practices ahead of the Senior Bowl —with Strong topping out at 21.36 miles per hour.That was behind only USC cornerback Jaylin Smith.

Email MatthewParasatmatt.

paras@theadvocate.com

Tigers learned in the defensive tackle marketlast year —and after afundraisingpush for its NIL collective, there was enough money to frontload deals ahead of the expected beginning of revenue sharing this summer Combining the transfers with key returning players and incoming freshmen has given Kelly confidenceinwhatLSU can accomplish. He hassaidthisteam can winthe SEC, and he spokehighly of theroster throughout spring practice.

“You want to be in aposition

where you bring in portal players building offofwhat youalready have,” Kelly said, “andthat’swhy this roster is the best roster we’ve had because we’re building both depthwithin our football team and we’re bringing in veteran players. So, that mix is the best mix that we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Hisbelief that the quality of the roster has improved helps explain whyLSU will trytoreach the end of the spring portal window withoutmuchactivity oneway or another There could be additions and

5

LEANNE WONG, SR. FLORIDA

Tied forsecond nationally with Bowers in theallaround,she won theSEC bars titlewitha perfect10, oneofthree shehas this season Scott

with your legs.’Itseems silly when you’ve done this azilliontimes, but it’spart of it.”

The Tigers are in about the same position health-wise as they were when they won theirregionalat Penn State two weeks ago. Clark said therewas aconcernKonnor McClain may have injured herself Monday in LSU’s final practice in Baton Rouge,but after Wednesday’spractice session here he is fairly confident she can compete on bars, beam and floor,ifneeded. LSU will start on bars, then go to beam,floor and vault.

At the regional, Clark didn’twant his team to peak too soon. Here, it’s timefor LSU to go all out and for the Tigers to make sure theyadvance to Saturday “When you get here, you’ve got to pretty much put togethertwo big ones,” he said. “You’ve got to go hard. You’ve gottoput your foot into the gas alittle bit and go.”

Do that, and maybe Finnegan or one of her teammates will have a title-clinching performance worthy of watching over andover again.

For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

CAJUNS

Continued from page1C

James Madisonplays Southern Miss, Troy andGeorgia Southern (2716, 11-4) to close the season.

“Six of nine of our conference losses have been by one run,” Habetz said, “whichtomeisthe good news in the sense that it gives us hope in finishing outthe season strong andinthe tournament. We knowwecan beat everybody We know that. In aone-run game, it’sa verysmall margin of error.”

The second goal is to finish with a winning season. The only timethe program hasendureda losing season waswhen it was6-14 in its first year of existence in 1981.

“We’re goingtokeep working hard, getting betterand just keep fighting andfiguring outwaystoget over that hump,” Habetz said.

If the Cajuns are going to finish strong, it falls largely on the shoulders of two true freshman in pitcher Mallory Wheeler (8-8, 3.88 ERA) and first baseman Emily Smith (.343, 10 HRs, 33 RBIs).

Wheeler is coming off three straight quality outings.

“Maldefinitelygot herswagback, and that was really good to see,” Habetz said. “I’m proud of her working through the mental part of it.”

After UL wentthrough mostofthe season without anything resembling an ace, Wheeler’srecentsurge puts her in that role fornow

“I definitelygot my swag back at Louisiana Tech (on April 8),” Wheeler said. “Thatwas the first game where Ifinally got astart againand just trusted myself. My team’salways had my back thewhole time, buttheywere so excited formeto get the start. Them having that confidence in me really helped boost my confidence.”

For Smith, progressing through the ups and downs of aseason has taken maturity beyond her years.

“It’salways hard, but my confidencenever wavers,” shesaid. “I go up to themound withthe same mindset every time. Ibelieve in myselfevery time. If Istrike outorhit ahomerun, Igouptothe plate thinking the samething Idid before.

“I’ve really hadtolearn that the pastisinthe past and just focusonthe next at-bat, leaveeverything behind. Thenextat-batisall thatmatters.” Email KevinFoote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

losses, but forthe mostpart, Kelly wants to maintain what LSU has in place.

“Maybe that’sfool’sgold, maybe that’swishing morethan anything else,” Kelly said. “But Ilike what we’ve done with this roster.I like thedevelopment of it.Not allof that is in my control, obviously But Ican tell you we’re not actively saying we’ve gottohavethis, we’ve got to have that.”

For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Rabalais

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILE PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI

top available cornerback on someNFL draft boards.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSUgymnast Aleah Finnegan starts her routine on the floor against MissourionJan. 31 at the PMAC.

LIVING

Coldcomforts

BY APRIL HAMILTON| Contributingwriter

hen my oldest daughter was in pre-K—more years agothan seems possible— Ipacked up my old school ice cream machine, abig bag of ice, some rock salt,apint each of cream and milk, abit of sugar and abasket of market-fresh strawberries andhauled it all into her classroom. Ialso carried a tremendous amount of courage, giving each preschooler aplastic knife to slice off the tops of the juicy berries andthencut them intoirregular pieces.

The bits were collected in abig bowl and mashed up with the sugar, cream andmilk.

ä See STRAWBERRY, page 6C

StrawberrySorbet

Enjoy thepure essence of strawberry in this red-as-arose sorbet made with just 4 ingredients.

1pound fresh strawberries, rinsed, capped and quartered About ½cup homemade simple syrup, cooled (recipe included)

1. Place thestrawberries in afood processorand pulse withthe blade to break up the chunks. Addthe simple syrup and continue to processuntil smooth.

2. Churnaccording to your ice cream makerinstructions. Scrape into acontainer with a tight-fitting lidand freeze until firm. Scoop and serve with a smile.

Homemade

Simple Syrup

As thename states, this is so simple anda different formula than thesqueeze bottles found in thestore. This makes the right amountfor thesorbet recipe.

½cup sugar

¼cup water

1tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. Combine the sugar,water and lemon juice in asmall saucepan and bring to aboil over medium-high heat. Stir gently to help the sugar dissolve, ensuring all crystals have steamed off the sides of the pan. Remove fromheat and pour intoasmall bowl or heatproof glass measuring cup. Let cool completely before adding to the strawberries.

LINDAGASSENHEIMER

BY BETH DOOLEY

TheMinnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

Recipe, 6C

Radishes can do awhole lot morethan garnish avegetable plate or cheese board. Crisp and peppery,radishes are arefreshing taste of spring and they makeacrunchy addition to salads, slawsand sandwiches. Local farm-fresh radishes are in our farmers markets and co-ops now —bright red, purple, white and those pretty pink-tipped French varieties. They brighten our winter-weary palates with peppery snap, and this nutrient-dense cruciferous vegetable is loaded with vitamins C, Kand B6, plus calcium, potassium magnesium and antioxidants. Sure, they’re good fresh, but have you tried them roasted? Youshould. Heat tames the radishes’ assertive spiciness If radishes aretoo ‘spicy’ foryou,try roasting them

ä See RADISHES, page 6C

TNSPHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Poisson en Papillote (Steamed Fish Parcels) with Garlic Bread

PHOTO By APRILBUFFINGTON

Strawberry IceCream

Makes about 1quart. Recipeadapted from White Mountain Ice Cream Maker Manual.

For afun way to serve ice cream cones,placethem in stemless champagne flutes. Recipe can be scaled up depending on the volume of your ice cream maker.Keep in mind that the pink liquidexpandsasitfreezes

1cup whole milk

½cup granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

1teaspoon vanilla extract

1cup heavy cream

1pint basket of fresh strawberries, rinsed, capped and finely chopped

STRAWBERRY

1. Heat milk in asmall saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form around theedge. Remove from heat.Whisk in thesugar and salt, stirring until dissolved. Addthe vanilla andcream and whisk to blend. Stir in thechoppedstrawberries.

2. Chill the mixture until cold, at least30minutes or up to overnight. Churn according to your icecream maker instructions. Scrape the soft ice cream into acontainer withatight-fitting lid and freezeuntil firm— or enjoy immediately as soft-serve.

Making agaragesaleenjoyable

Dear Heloise: Here’smybit on the recent chain on garage sales. Ifigured there are two reasons tohave a garage sale: to get rid of stuff and tohave fun. So, when someone offers me $2.50 for an item that I’d marked $3, Ishake my head and say, “Nothing doing! I won’ttake apenny morethan $2.25!” It’saninstant sale, and I’ve met my two goals for theevent During the next-to-final hour of the sale, Isell anythingand everything for anickel. Then, for the last hour,Igive the customers anickel for every item they take. They feel like they’ve won something, and Idon’thave to pack all theleftovers back into the house. I’ve gotten rid of the stuff, and I’ve had fun. —J

Keith Cook, in Omaha, Nebraska

No leftover soap here

By TheAssociated Press

ries and their early years together

Dear Heloise: Your reader had acomplex method of dealing with soap slivers. Inever have them When my bar gets thin enough to be flexible, Ibreak out anew one and use it enough to get it good and wet.At the end of my shower,I rub the two bars together and leave them to dry.Bythe next shower,they are like one bar.Easy peasy! —Emily Murphy, in Kingwood,Texas

Memories

Dear Heloise: When my mother passed with dementia in her 80s, my father,who had taken care of her forfour years, was very depressed. He kept talking about his memo-

TODAYINHISTORY

in prison today.)

Today is Thursday, April 17, the 107th day of 2025. There are 258 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On April 17, 1961, some 1,400 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in an attempt to topple Fidel Castro, whose forces crushed theincursion within three days.

On this date:

In 1964, Jerrie Mock completed the first solo around-the-world flight by awoman, landing her single-engine Cessna plane in Columbus, Ohio, after a 29-day journey

In 1970, Apollo 13 astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after aruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraftwhile en route to the moon

In 1972, the Boston Marathon allowed women to compete forthe first time. Nina Kuscsik wasthe first officially recognized women’schampion, with a timeof3:10:26.

Ithought of aproject that Ihoped would help with his depression. Ibrought over our laptop and told him to tell me stories of the past, growing up, meeting Mom, their early years together, etc. The order didn’tmatter because Icould arrange it later Ityped and printed out pages. He would read and edit them. When he was finished with his stories, Iput them in order,and I printed abinder forhim with pictures Icould find to correspond with the story.Hetold me many times how it brought him out of his depression. I madecopies forall of our family as well. —Leanah L., in Normal, Illinois Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Their unforgettableglee still tickles me, adozen or so 3- and 4-year-olds collaborating on homemade strawberry ice cream. We poured the pink mixture into the churn’scontainer, watching the ruby bits of berry bob to the top and the tiny seeds fleck the mixture like fresh cracked pepper Once the mixing paddle was in place, on went the lid. Then we layered the ice and salt all around the container nestled inside the rustic wooden barrel and let the machine do its thing. Their glee crescendoed as the motor strained, signaling the ice cream was ready.The teachers helped

manage the crowd while I dolloped the pink soft-serve into cones andpassedthem aroundtothe incredulous kids. Pink smiles surrounded me.Pure magic. My mother started this tradition in my early days after we gathered fresh strawberries like Easter eggsfrom aU-pick farm. Instead of classroom chaos, we churned our ice cream in the driveway where the salty water could spill outofthe churn’sbucket withoutmaking an indoor mess. Momwould suggest we wait for the ice cream to “cure,” meaning it sits in the container withfresh ice packedall around it soit could firm up We enjoyed it as-is. Nothingcompares. At the pinnacleofLoui-

siana strawberry season, where their sweet perfume mingles withthe brass band at the farmers’ market, my longing for homemade strawberry ice cream consumes me. There is no shaking nostalgia. In the absence of aclassic churn, Iordered theice cream attachment for my KitchenAid mixer and got busy Icould not decide between pale pink ice cream or velvetyred sorbet, so Imade both. When my now-grown-andflown daughters flock back to thenest, we will re-create this taste memory with my new toy and the classic recipe, plus theaddition of thenondairy sorbet. We will time travel back to thepreschool days. Cue thegiggles. Afew simple ingredients are all it takes.

Pan-Roasted RadisheswithLemon on Crostini

Serves 2to4.Recipe is from BethDooley.Serveoncrisp crostini or triangles of light toastfor an elegant appetizeroralongside soup or salad.

1bunch radishes, sliced

2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2tablespoons unsalted butter

2clovesgarlic, smashed

1tablespoon lemon juice

4to6 crostini or toast triangles

Coarse salt

Chopped parsley for garnish

1. Place alarge skillet over medium heat. Add the oil andbutter andwhen thebutterismelted, addthe garlic cloves.

2. Arrange the radish slices cut-sidedown without crowding the pan. Cook without moving until the radishes are tender and wrinkled, about 3to5minutes.

Roasted Whole Radishes

3. Removethe radish slices, setaside,and swirl in the lemon juice.

4. Arrange the radish slices on the crostini, drizzle with thelemonypan butter and sprinkle with coarse salt. Garnish with the parsley

Serves2to4.Recipe is byBethDooley.This works beautifully with thesmaller round radishes or theFrenchBreakfast varieties. Serveasavibrant side dish, toss withpasta, or toppolenta.

1bunch radishes with leaves

2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Coarsesalt

Coarsely ground black pepper

RADISHES

Continued from page5C and turns

1. Preheat the oven to

400F andline abakingsheet with parchment.

2. Scatter theradishes on thebakingsheet and drizzle with theoil; sprinkle with the salt and pepper

3. Roastthe radishesuntil they begintoshrivel and become tender,about 15 minutes,shakingpanoccasionally

4. Removeand serve warm or at room temperature.

In 1969, ajury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (Sirhan’sdeath sentence would be commuted to life in prison with thepossibility of parole. He remains

In 1975, Cambodia’sfiveyear civil war ended as the capital Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, which instituted brutal, radical policies that claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives (nearly one in four Cambodians) until the regimewas overthrown in 1979.

In 1993, afederal jury in Los Angeles convicted twoformer police officers of violating the civil rights

of beaten motorist Rodney King. Twoother officers were acquitted. In 2020, President Donald Trump, via Twitter, urged supporters to “LIBERATE” three states led by Democratic governors, apparently encouraging protests against stay-athomemandates aimed at stopping the coronavirus. Today’sbirthdays: Actor David Bradleyis83. ActorClarke Peters is 73. AuthorNickHornby is 68. ActorSean Bean is 66. Rock singerMaynard James Keenan (Tool) is 61. ActorLelaRochon is 61. ActorKimberly Elise is 58. Singer-songwriter Liz Phair is 58. Directorproducer AdamMcKay is 57. Rapper-actor Redman is 55. Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli is 53. ActorJenniferGarner is 53. SingerVictoria Beckhamis51. ActorRooney Mara is 40.

Continued from page5C

baby turnips, but way tastier as they become more complex. The roasting process is reliable and simple. Cut the larger orbs into halves or quarterssothey roastup evenly and at the same rate.

Just toss them in oil, spread on abakingsheet so they’re nottouching, sprinklewith abit of coarse salt andblast them in theoven until they begintowrinkle. For quicker results, slice theradishes into coins and pan-roast them in butter or oil on the stovetop. Serve roasted radishes on crostinifor an elegant appetizer and easy snack.Fold them into awhole grain pilaf with chopped herbs;

tangle withpastaorpile on butterypolenta and dust with Parmesan. Addcauliflower,carrots, beets and/or parsnips to theroasting pan for awinning side dish to grilled fish, crispy chicken and seared steak, and spark it all with hot sauce. If the tops are green and vibrant,don’tdiscard them. They add acrisp, finishing touch. Radishes, when roasted, areone of the simplest foods packed with surprise

Hints from Heloise

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Learn,converse, gain experience andmaster the art of negotiation. Put your energy and enthusiasm into networking, and you will gainacceptance amongyour peers.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Apersonal change is favored. Observe your surroundings and the opportunities around you, andconsider if there is abetter location to callhome. Take nothing for granted.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Put await-andsee policy in place. You'll overreact if youaren't careful. Expecttemptation to crossyourpath. Putyour energy into research and communicating with peopleoffering firsthand information.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Appearing vulnerable will attract scammers. Pay more attentiontohow you look and present yourselftoothers. Invest more time and moneyinyourself instead of buying into someone else'sadventure.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Raiseissuesof concern, and be the one to make adifference. Listentothe input youreceive from people you influence or work alongside,and you'll findaway to move forward that appeases the majority.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Refrain from letting your emotions andego get in the way of common sense.Change is needed, but don't try to fix what's already working. Focusonthe problem and applya solution.

LIBRA (sept.23-oct. 23) Expand your interests, knowledge and experience.

Socialize, and you'll find common ground with someone you encounter; but first, take care of responsibilities, or someone will complain.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Adiversion will helpyou gainmomentum.There is plenty to achieve if you arediligent about how you proceed. Seek out people who can help you excel.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep an open mind, but put your assetssomewheresafe. Don't be tempted to bail anyone out or take on responsibilitiesthat will weigh you downorcost you emotionally, physically or financially.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Work to avoid interference. Put moretime and effortinto self-improvement instead of trying to change others. Question everything and everyone.

AQuARIus(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Stick close to home andtowhat's familiar. You'll feel better if you organizeyour space. Investyour time and money in yourself, upgrade your skills and tailor opportunities to suityour needs

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Set boundaries to deter someone from talking you into something you don't need or want. Put your energy into personal and professional goals that make you feel better about your life.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created fromquotationsbyfamous people, past and present. Each letter in thecipherstands foranother ToDAy'scLuE: DEQuALs c

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to place thenumbers 1to9 in the empty squaressothat each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontainsthe same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

Daniel J. Bernstein, aresearch professorofcomputer science at the UniversityofIllinoisinChicago,said,“Themost important functionofa bibliographic entry is to help the reader obtainacopy of the cited work.” The most important function of a bridge entry is to help the player obtain the maximum number of tricks.

In this deal, how would youprogram acomputer (South) to make three notrump? West leadsa lowheart.East wins with his queen and returns the suit to dummy’s ace. One thing should be immediately apparent to South: If he loses thelead before he hastakenninetricks, he will go down. Thedefenders will cash too many hearttricks Next, declarer should realize that he needs the club finesse to succeed. And if it is winning, he can collect nine tricks viaone spade, oneheart,three diamonds and four clubs

Theotherhurdleisthattheclubfinesse mightneedtobetakenthreetimes.When this is the case, first lead the lowestcard that can take the trick whenthe finesse is working. Here, South shouldfirst run dummy’s club nine.Thenheruns the queen.Nextheplays aclubtohis jack Andlastly he claims.

Note that if declarer starts with dum-

wuzzles

my’s clubqueen,East defeats thecontract by not covering. Then, if South plays his two,hewill have to take the next club trickinhis hand. Or, if declarer unblocks the 10 or jack under the queen, East can cover thenine to leave his eight beating South’s twoonthe fourth round of the suit.

©2025 by NEA, Inc.,dist. By

Each Wuzzle is awordriddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,”are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words,orvulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAy’s WoRD nAscEnT: NAY-sint:Having recently come intoexistence.

Averagemark20words

Time limit 30 minutes

Can youfind26ormore words in NASCENT?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —FoRAGInG

fair fang faring faro forging frog oaring organ ragi raging rain rang rani ring roan aging agog agon argon gain gang gnar going gong goring grain grin groan grog groin inro iron naif noir nori

today’s thought

“They went out from

Andrews McMeel Syndication

loCKhorNs

Real Christians stick with Jesus.Jesus hasthem andtheyhavehim. G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

BRIEFS

FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS

Houston nonprofitdigital news outlet to close

The Houston Landing, anonprofitdigital news outlet,said it is shutting down due to “financial challenges” less thantwo years after itwas launched

The Landingstarted in publishing in June 2023, backed by more than $20 million in seed fundingfrom ahostoforganizations, including Houston Endowment,American Journalism Project and the John S.and James L. Knight Foundation. Thepublication waslaunched after atwo-yearstudy from the American JournalismProject foundHouston residents said they didnot feel they had access to adeeply reported stories that impacted theirdaily lives.

But the board said it hasbeen unable to develop revenue to support its ongoing operations andwill shut down in about amonth. TheLanding spent $2 million more than it brought in last year,and oneofits initial founders decided to stop donating money to the organization, according to the Columbia Journalism Review

“Weare proud of the Landing’scoverage of Greater Houston and continue to believedeeply in the need for more free, independent journalism in our region,” said Ann B. Stern, board chair of Houston Landing.

“This decision was difficult but necessary.Houston Landing’s reporting has made a meaningful impact in the community,but it struggled to find its long-term financial footing.”

The board said it is indiscussions withThe Texas Tribune, an Austin-based nonprofit news outlet, about establishing a Houston newsroom. The Texas Tribune is expanding across the Lone Star State and is set to open newsrooms in Waco and Austinthis year

Administration to end free tax filing program

The Trump administration plans to eliminatethe IRS’ DirectFile program, an electronic system for filing tax returnsdirectly to theagency for free, according to two people familiar with the decision.

The program developed during Joe Biden’spresidency was credited by users with making taxfiling easy,fast and economical.But Republican lawmakers and commercial tax preparation companies complainedit was awaste of taxpayer money because free filing programs alreadyexist, although they are hard to use.

The program had been in limbo since the start of the Trump administrationasElonMusk and the DepartmentofGovernment Efficiency have slashed their way through thefederal government. Musk posted in February on his social media site, X, that he had “deleted” 18F,agovernment agency that worked on technology projects such as Direct File.

Those familiar with the decisiontoend Direct File said its future became clear when the IRS staff assignedtothe program were told in mid-March to stop working on its development for the 2026 taxfiling season.

Chinese sites Temu, Shein to raise prices

China-foundede-commerce sites Temu and Shein saythey plan to raise prices for U.S. customers starting next week, aripple effect from President Donald Trump’sattempts to correct the trade imbalance between the world’stwo largest economies by imposinga skyhigh tariff on goods shipped fromChina.

Bothcompanies said they wouldbemaking “price adjustments” starting April 25, althoughneither provideddetails about the size of the increases. Since launching in the United States, Sheinand Temu have givenWestern retailers arun for their money by offering productsatultralow prices, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising

Fedpatient on interest rate moves

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve can stay patient andwaitto see how tariffs and other economic policies of the Trump administration play out before making any changes to interest rates, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday “As that great Chicagoan Ferris Buelleronce noted,‘Lifemoves pretty fast,’ ”Powell said in a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago. “For thetimebeing, we arewell-positioned to wait for greater clarity” on the impact of policy changes in areas such as immigration, taxation,regulation and tariffs, hesaid

Thesharp volatility in financial markets sincePresident Donald

Trump announced sweeping tariffs April 2, only to put mostof them on hold aweek later,has led to speculation about whetherthe Fedwould soon cut its key interest rate or take other steps to calm investors. Yetthe Fed is unlikely to intervene unless there is abreakdown in themarket for Treasury securities or other malfun ctions, economists say In hisprepared remarks, Powell reiterated that the Trump administration’s tariffs are “significantly larger than anticipated.”

mandates it’s been givenbyCongress:Toachieve maximum employment andmaintainstable prices.Should both inflationand unemployment rise, that would be a“challenging scenario,” he said, because theFed would essentially have to choose whether to keep interest rates high to fight inflation or cut them to spur growth and hiring.

“The same is likely to be true of theeconomic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth,” he said.

Powellalso said that the Fed could face threats to both of the

“Our tool only does oneofthose two things at the sametime,” he said in aquestion-and-answer session.

Powell and many Fed officials have signaled previously that they aremoreconcerned about tariffs pushing inflation higher than their potential hit to growth.

That would mean that even if the economyweakened, the Fed might keep rateselevated to combat inflation.

Powell said the inflation from tariffs will likely be temporary,

but “could also be more persistent,” echoing aconcern expressed by amajority of the Fed’s19-member interest rate-setting committee in the minutes of their meeting last month.

Yetsome splits among the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee have emerged. On Monday, Fed governor ChristopherWallersaid that he expects the impact of even alarge increase in tariffstobe temporary,evenifthey are left in place for several years. At the same time, he also expects such large dutieswould weigh on the economyand even threatena recession.

But otherFed officials, including Neel Kashkari, president of theFed’sMinneapolis branch, have said they aremore focused on fighting theeffectsofhigher tariffs on inflation, suggesting they are less likely to support rate cuts any time soon.

to Nvidia’sresults for the first quarter, covering charges related to inventory and purchase commitments.

“impossible to predict this year with any degree of confidence.”

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEWYORK U.S. stocks fell Wednesdayafter

Nvidia warned newrestrictions on exports to China will chisel billions of dollars off its results, while companies around theworld said President DonaldTrump’strade war is clouding forecasts for howtheyand the economy will do this year

TheS&P 500 sankafter falling as much as 3.3% earlier.Such an amount would have vied for one of itsworst lossesinyearsbefore the historic, chaoticswings that have upended Wall Street in recent weeks.

The Dow JonesIndustrial Average and the Nasdaq composite also plunged.

Nvidiadropped 6.9% afteritsaidthe U.S. government is restricting exportsofits H20 chipstoChina, citing worries thatthey could beused to build asupercomputer.The restrictions could mean ahit of $5.5 billion

Advanced MicroDevices sank 7.3% after it said U.S. limits on exports to China forits own chips may mean ahit of up to $800 million for inventory and other charges.

In Amsterdam, ASML’s stock sank5.2%.

The Dutch company,whosemachinery makes chips, said demand forartificialintelligence technology is continuing to drivegrowth. “However, therecent tariff announcements have increased uncertainty in the macro environment and the situation will remain dynamicfor awhile,” CEO Christophe Fouquet said.

The uncertainty around Trump’stradewar has been scrambling plans for companies acrossindustries andaround the world. It’s so dynamic that United Airlinesgave two differentfinancialforecasts forhow it may perform this year,one if there’sarecession and one if not. The airline said it madethe unusual move to give twin forecasts because it believes it’s

United’sstock finished roughly flat even though it reported astronger profit forthe latest quarter than analysts expected.

Many investors are bracing fora possible recession because of Trump’stariffs, which he has said he hopes will bring manufacturingjobs back to theUnited States andtrim how much moreitimports from other countries than it exports.

Asurvey of global fund managers by Bank of America found expectationsfor recession are at the fourth-highest levelinthe last 20 years.

One U.S. companythatmoves products around thecontinent, J.B. HuntTransport Services, tumbled7.7%for oneofWall Street’ssharper losses, even though it reported slightly stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Tariffs could also drive up inflation, at least temporarily,bypushing U.S.importers to pass alongthe higher costs to their customers.

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

Dupré Logistics, aLafayettebasedtransportation company with apresence across theGulf Coast, has been acquired by aNew York-based investment firm Stonepeak, which specializing in infrastructure and real assets, announced apartnership on Wednesday with Dupré Logistics, headquartered at 201 Energy Parkway.Terms of thedeal were

not disclosed. Reggie Dupré, whofoundedthe company 45 yearsago and was later CEO as well as boardchairman, will remainwith thecompany as a board member. Chris Sower,who has more than 25 years in thesupply chain logistics industry,was named interim chief executiveofficertosucceed former CEO Mike Weindel. Dupré servesa broad range of industrieswith more than 700 trucks and 1,000 professional drivers. Stonepeak, which has offices around the world, has $72 billion

of assets. It providescapital and operationalsupport to grow investmentsindigital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics and real estate.

“Over the last 40 years, Dupré has established an impressive footprint, becoming an integral part of the supply chain in the SunBelt,” Stonepeak managing director Graham Brownsaid. “We believe that Dupré will be agreat complement to our growing transportation and logistics portfolio and look forward to working handin-hand with Reggie, Chris, and the Dupréteam to take the company to thenext level.” Said Dupré: “Weare thrilled to have found Stonepeak and en-

ter this new era alongside such a strong partner.Their proven track record, investment strategy and alignment with our core values makethem the perfect partner as Dupré continues to expand.” Dupré has garnered awards in the transportation industry, includingtwo first-placeSafety Awards from the Louisiana Motor Transport Association last year

The companyhas annualrevenue estimated at more than $300 million.

G2 CapitalAdvisors facilitated the transaction as adviser to the seller

Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByRICHARD DREW