LSU falls short of finals in bid to repeat as national champs
LSU gymnasts, from left, Olivia Dunne, Aleah Finnegan, Sierra Ballard and Haleigh Bryant console each other after the team’s season came to an end when they were edged out of a spot in the NCAA gymnastics finals on Thursday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
ä Complete coverage in Sports, 1C.
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
scholarships would get smaller at LSU
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
Louisiana college students would get bigger state-funded TOPS scholarships under a new bill proposed this legislative session — with one major exception.
House Bill 77, which advanced out of the Education Committee on Wednesday would overhaul the scholarship amounts that students get from TOPS, Louisiana’s program for high-achieving students who attend any of the state’s public colleges and universities. It aims to bring scholarship amounts more in line with rising college costs and standardize rates across schools, said the bill’s co-authors, Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie, and Rep. Christopher Turner, R-Ruston.
But it’ll cost the state an extra $47.5 million, according to estimates, and lower the amount awarded to some students at LSU’s Baton Rouge campus. The bill would create a new $12,000 annual “Excellence” award for the highest-scoring students and set new standard amounts for the other TOPS awards, which currently vary based on each
ä See TOPS, page 4A
Legislation could unseat Jenkins as party chair BY
TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
A legislative bill that would expand membership of the Republican Party’s executive committee in East Baton Rouge Parish normally would attract little attention.
The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates what is seen on television and heard on the radio, recently launched an investigation into NPR and PBS underwriting. And the
ä See CUTS, page 5A
WASHINGTON — Daniel Tiger and “NOVA” would be off the air in Louisiana should the Trump administration and U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy succeed in their plans to defund public broadcasting, local public media leaders say. Kennedy, R-Madisonville, filed a bill in February to abolish the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service, famous for Julia Child, Fred Rogers and Ken Burns documentaries. He wants the measure included in the budget bill that Congress is about to consider Some Republicans have complained for years about what they see as bias against conservatives in public broadcasting.
But GOP stalwart Woody Jenkins is raising a stink about House Bill 200, saying he believes Gov Jeff Landry is using it to try to punish him for campaigning against a proposed constitutional amendment sought by Landry that voters soundly rejected last month.
The added committee members could unseat Jenkins as the parish party chair, a position he has held since 2012.
Taiwan military found with Chinese permits
TAIPEI,Taiwan At least 62 activeduty Taiwanese military members have been found holding Chinese residency permits, the self-ruled island’s Defense Ministry said, in the latest revelation of Chinese influence in the Taiwanese armed forces.
Since splitting amid civil war in 1949, China has considered Taiwan a renegade province and increasingly relied on “gray area” tactics to undermine Taiwan’s will to resist on top of its threat of a military invasion.
Such residency permits give the holder the right to reside in China, potentially an option in case of an outbreak of hostilities. China, which does not recognize Taiwan passports, also issues a special document allowing Taiwanese to visit the mainland.
Holding such documents is legal in Taiwan, but can affect access to sensitive information. The 62 active-duty service members will be barred from handling intelligence and confidential data, Defense Minister Wellington Koo told a legislative hearing on Wednesday Cable car accident in Italy kills at least 4
MILAN A cable car carrying tourists south of Naples crashed to the ground Thursday after a cable snapped, killing at least four people and critically injuring one, officials said.
The snapped cable brought both the upward and downward-going cable cars to a halt as they traversed Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia. The upward cable car eventually crashed, causing the fatalities and injury, while eight tourists and an operator were evacuated from the downward cable car Naples Prefect Michele de Bari said.
“The traction cable broke. The emergency brake downstream worked, but evidently not the one on the cabin that was entering the station,” said Castellammare Mayor Luigi Vicinanza Italy’s alpine rescue, along with firefighters, police and civil protection services responded to the accident
The accident occurred just a week after the cable car, popular for its views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, reopened for the season.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences for the victims and their families and said she was in touch with rescuers She was in Washington, D.C., where she met with U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. pastor abducted in Africa has been rescued JOHANNESBURG An American pastor who was kidnapped last week by armed and masked men during a sermon in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa was rescued on Tuesday after three of his abductors engaged in gunfire with officials and were killed, police said Wednesday
The 45-year-old American, Josh Sullivan from Tennessee, has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist Church since 2018 alongside his wife and two children. The missionary was abducted on Thursday when four men broke into the church. They stole two cellphones from members of the congregation before seizing Sullivan from the pulpit and bundling him out of the building. His truck was found abandoned a few hours later
A multi-agency task force, including the Anti-Gang Unit and the Serious Organised Crime Unit, took over the investigation. On Tuesday night they approached the location where they suspected Sullivan was being held, a house in KwaMagxaki in the city of Gqeberha, about 20 minutes’ drive from the Baptist church. According to police, a shootout began when suspects in a car parked outside the house tried to escape and began firing at them. Three unidentified suspects were killed, police said. The number of kidnappings in South Africa has risen by 264% over the past decade police data showed.
BY WAFAA SHURAFA, FATMA KHALED and LEE KEATH Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Aid groups are raising new alarm over Israel’s blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations says.
The warning came as Israeli strikes overnight and into Thursday killed at least 27 people, including at least six women and 15 children.
The humanitarian aid system in Gaza “is facing total collapse,” the heads of 12 independent aid organizations warned in a joint statement. They said many groups have shut down operations because Israel’s resumed bombardment the past month has made it too dangerous.
No food, fuel, medicine or any other supplies have entered Gaza since Israel imposed its blockade on March 2. It renewed its bombardment on March 18, breaking a ceasefire, and seized large parts of the territory, saying it aims to push Hamas to release more hostages. Hundreds have been killed, and more than 400,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their shelters in the latest of multiple displacements.
A strike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed a family of 10, including five children, four women and a man, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Strikes in northern Gaza killed two other couples with nine children, according to the Indonesian Hospital.
A later strike hit a school sheltering displaced people in the northern district of Jabaliya, killing three people and a child. The blast left walls in rubble and
classrooms strewn with debris, charred mattresses and scattered cans of food.
The Israeli military strikes homes, shelters and public areas daily, saying it is targeting Hamas militants, and blames militants for civilian deaths because they operate there. It says it tries to limit civilian casualties. There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes.
The U.N. humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said almost all of Gaza’s more than 2 million people now rely on charity kitchens, which can prepare only 1 million meals a day. The meals mainly consist of rice or pasta with no fresh vegetables or meat.
Other food distribution programs have shut down for lack of supplies, and the U.N. and other aid groups have been sending their remaining stocks to the charity kitchens.
In markets — the only other place to find food in Gaza — prices are spiraling and shortages are widespread, with fresh foods nearly nonexistent. As a result, humanitarian aid is the primary food source for 80% of the population, the World Food Program said in its monthly report for April.
“The Gaza Strip is now likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months” since the war began, OCHA said.
“Kids are eating less than a meal a day and struggling to find their next meal,” said Bushra Khalil, policy head at Oxfam. “Everyone is purely eating canned food. Malnutrition and pockets of famine are definitely occurring in Gaza.”
Water is also growing scarce, with Palestinians standing in long lines to fill jerry cans from trucks. Omar Shatat, an official with a local water utility, said people are down to 6 or 7 liters per day, well below the amount the U.N. estimates is needed to meet basic needs.
BY DÁNICA COTO Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico
Crews scrambled to restore power to Puerto Rico on Thursday after a blackout hit the entire island, affecting the main international airport, hospitals and hotels filled with Easter vacationers
The outage that began past noon Wednesday left 1.4 million customers without electricity and more than 400,000 without water More than 850,000 customers, or 58%, had power back by Thursday afternoon, while 89% of customers had water restored. Officials expected 90% of customers to have power back within 48 to 72 hours after the outage.
“This is a shame for the people of Puerto Rico that we have a problem of this magnitude,” said Gov Jenniffer González, who cut her weeklong vacation short and returned to Puerto Rico on Wednesday evening.
She said it would take at least three days to have preliminary information on what might have caused the blackout, which snarled traffic, forced hundreds of businesses to close and left those unable to afford generators
scrambling to buy ice and candles.
“There’s still a long road of recovery,” she said.
“Our system is very fragile.”
González warned that the boiler of one power plant was not functioning and would take one week to repair, which could affect generation next week when people return from vacation.
It’s the second massive blackout to hit Puerto Rico in less than four months, with the previous one occurring on New Year’s Eve
“Why on holidays?”
griped José Luis Richardson, who did not have a generator and kept cool by splashing water on himself every couple of hours.
BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, ERIC TUCKER and PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Maine for not complying with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex.
The lawsuit follows weeks of feuding between the Republican administration and Democratic Gov Janet Mills that has led to threats to cut off crucial federal funding and a clash at the White House when she told President Donald Trump: “We’ll see you in court.”
The political overtones of the moment were clear, with Attorney General Pam Bondi — and one of the athletes who joined her on stage at the Justice Department — citing the matter as a priority for Trump. Bondi said other states, including Minnesota and California, could be sued as well.
“President Trump, before he was elected, this has been a huge issue for him,” Bondi said. “Pretty simple: girls play in girls’ sports, boys play in boys’ sports. Men play in men’s sports, women play in women’s sports.”
Trump campaigned against the participation of transgender athletes in sports in his 2024 race. As president, he has signed executive orders to prohibit that and to use a rigid definition of the sexes, rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being challenged in court.
Trump’s departments of Education and Health and Human Services have said Maine’s education agency is violating the federal Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to participate on girls teams. The Justice Department is asking the court to order the state to direct all schools to prohibit the
participation of males in athletic competition designated for females.
Maine officials have refused to agree with a settlement that would have banned transgender students from sports, arguing that the law does not prevent schools from letting transgender athletes participate. Mills said Wednesday that the lawsuit was expected and is part of a pressure campaign by Washington to force Maine to ignore its own human rights laws.
“This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law,” Mills said in a statement.
Maine’s attorney general, Aaron Frey, said Wednesday he is confident Maine is acting in accordance with state and federal law
“Our position is further bolstered by the complete lack of any legal citation supporting the Administration’s position in its own complaint,” he said in a statement. “While the President issued an executive order that reflects his own interpretation of the law, anyone with the most basic understanding of American civics understands the president does not create law nor interpret law ” The government’s complaint cites as examples the case of a transgender athlete who in February won first place in pole vault at a Maine indoor track and field meet and a transgender athlete who last year began competing in female cross country races in the state and placed first in a girl’s 5K run. The lawsuit reflects a stark philosophical turnabout from the position on gender identity issues taken during Democratic administrations.
Under President Joe Biden, the government tried to extend civil rights policies to protect transgender people.
CustomerService: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COMor225-388-0200 News Tips /Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM
Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com
The roar of generators and smell of fumes
filled the air as a growing number of Puerto Ricans renewed calls for the government to cancel the contracts with Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distribution of power, and Genera PR, which oversees generation.
González promised to heed those calls.
“That is not under doubt or question,” she said, but added that it’s not a quick process. “It is unacceptable that we have failures of this kind.”
González said a major outage like the one that occurred Wednesday leads to an estimated $215 million revenue loss daily
BY JOSH BOAK and COLLEN BARRY Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Thursday he isin“no rush” to reach any trade deals because he viewstariffs as makingthe United States wealthy.But he suggested while meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni that it would be easy to find an agreement with the European Union andothers.
Trump played down the likelihood of an accelerated timeline to wrap up deals, saying other countries “want to make deals more thanI do.”
“We’re in no rush,” said Trump, hinting he hasleverage because other countries want access to U.S. consumers. Even though Trump has a warm relationship with Meloni, shewas unableintheir meeting to change his mind on tariffs.
“No, tariffs are making us rich. We werelosing alot of money under Biden,”Trump said of his predecessor,Democrat Joe Biden. “And now thatwhole tide is turned.”
Trump is convinced that his devotion to tariffs will yield unprecedented wealthfor his countryevenasthe stock market has dropped, interest on U.S. debt has risen and
BY EMMA BURROWS and ANGELA CHARLTON
The Associated Press
PARIS France hosted high-level talks Thursday to discuss Ukraine and itssecurity,the first time since President Donald Trump’sinauguration that top American, Ukrainian and European officialsare known to have met together to discussanend to the war U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff joined other top Ukrainian and European officials for hours of separate meetings at the French presidential palace before French President Emmanuel Macron brought them all together for afinal roundoftalks at the end of the day
The meetings come as concerns grow about Trump’sreadiness to draw closer to Russia andafter weeks of U.S. efforts to broker aceasefire in Ukraine failed to bring an end to the fighting. Thereisalsofrustration among Europeans over the Trump administration’sother moves, from tariffs on some of its closest partners to rhetoric about NATO and Greenland. American view in Paris Rubio wrote on Xthat the American delegation in Paris was looking to “secure real, practicalsolutions to end the Russia-Ukraine war.” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce offered no additional details about the talks, telling reportersinWashington that the group was tryingtofind apath forward “to stop the bloodshed.”
Until now,Trump’sofficials have pursued separate negotiating tracks between the United States andUkraine,and between the U.S. and Russia.
Senior U.S. officials had previously made comments suggesting European representatives would not be involved in ceasefire negotia-
tions. Experts said the talks are thought to be the first time Witkoff —Trump’s chief envoy tasked with negotiating withRussian President Vladimir Putin hasmet senior Ukrainian officials.
Alina Polyakova,president ofthe Center forEuropean PolicyAnalysis in Washington, said the meetinginParis was a“unique momentbecause it is the first time Trump’srepresentatives, Ukrainians and Europeans are discussing Ukraine around the same table.
“That’sreally,reallyimportant.And Ithink that is emerging because Ithink theU.S. process has stalled and they realizedthat youneed European input because they have skin in the game,” she said.
“This is not just about aswath of territory in Ukraine,” shesaid.“This is aboutbroader questionsof European security and you can’tdisentangle those.”
Ukraine’sgoals
Theoutcome of the talks wasn’timmediately clear but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wantedhis representatives to raise thequestion of security guarantees for Ukraine and said he gave histeam amandate to discussafulland partial ceasefire —but not matters relating to the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Ukraine’spresidential adviser,Andrii Yermak, said the Ukrainian delegation and European partners discussed the next steps toward achieving a “just and lasting peace,” including afull ceasefire, thedeployment of amultinational military contingent, and the development of an effective security architecture for Ukraine.
“It was avery substantive conversation. We continue our work,” he wrote.
Trump’sspecialenvoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, also joined the talks.
CEOs are warning of price increases and job losses in what increasingly lookslike athreattothe existing structure of the world economy Abond market panicwas enough for Trump to partially pullback on histariffs, causing him to pause his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days andcharge abaseline 10% instead. Meloni’svisit showed the challenge even leaderswho enjoy arapport withTrump.
Meloni had, in asense, been “knighted” torepresent the EU at acritical juncture in the fast-evolving trade war that has stoked recession fears. The U.S.administration has
belittled its European counterparts for not doing enough on national security while threatening their economies with tariffs, sparking deep uncertainty about the future of the trans-Atlantic alliance.
She soughttoportray the U.S.and Europe as natural allies in Western civilization andsaid it was important to “try to sit down and find solution”totensions over trade and national security.
“The goal for me is to make the West great again,” Meloni told Trump.
TheEUisdefending what it calls “the mostimportant commercial relationship in the world,”with annual trade
with the U.S. totaling 1.6 trillion euros ($1.8 trillion). It wasunclear,based on Meloni’spublic interactions with Trump, whether the premier has aclear understanding of whatTrumpwants as part of an agreement.
His administration has said its tariffs would enable tradenegotiations that would box out China, the world’s dominant manufacturer. But Trumpmaintains that rivals andalliesalike have taken advantage of the U.S. on trade, apositionthathas frustrated long-standingpartnersand raised concernsabout whether Trump is atrustworthy dealmaker
Trumptried to push back againstclaims that his tariffs are harming the economy, saying that gasoline andegg prices are alreadydropping. The president blamed the FederalReserve forinterest rates rising on U.S. debt. Rates largely increased because investorswereworried about Trump’stariff plans and they becameless willing to buyTreasury notes, while thecentral bank has held steadyonits ownbenchmark ratesbecause of economic uncertainty. “Wehave very little inflation,”Trump said. “I would say we have essentially no inflation.”
BY ANNIE MA, FATIMA HUSSEIN and ALIA WONG Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’sadministrationhas escalatedits ongoingbattlewithHarvard,threatening to revoke theuniversity’s ability to host international students as the president calledfor withdrawing Harvard’staxexempt status.
The moves raise thestakes of theshowdown between the White House and the nation’soldest, wealthiest andarguably mostprestigious university,which on Monday became thefirstto openly defy theadministration’s demands related to activism on campus, antisemitismand diversity
The Department of Homeland Security ordered Harvard late Tuesday to turn over “detailed records” of its foreign student visa holders’ “illegal and violent activities” by April30. The department alsosaid it was cancelingtwo grants to the school totaling $2.7 million.
By takingaction against international studentsand the school’s tax status, the administrationstruckattwo pillars of Harvard, where international students make up 27% of thecampus,and the majority of the student body is in graduate school, often conducting nationally prominent research. Furthermore, theschool has risen to distinction by attractingthe world’stop talentand large, tax-deductible gifts from the country’srichest donors.
The federal government has already frozen more than$2billion in grants and contracts to theIvy League institution.
LeoGerdén,a seniorfrom Sweden,said many international studentsatHarvard are“scared of speaking up” becausethey feel merely attending theschool has put a targetontheir back.
“It’sincredibly scary for people,” Gerdénsaid. “All student visasright nowat Harvard areatrisk, and what the Trumpadministration is tryingtodoisdivide us.”
“Harvard withoutits international community is simply notHarvard,”added
Gerdén, who is studying economics and government.If the institution were unable to admit people from abroad, “it would be incredibly tough for this university,for its students, for its academiccommunity.Soweshould really fight with whatever means we have to make sure that doesn’thappen.”
The White House suggested IRS scrutiny of Harvard’stax status predated thepresident’s post on Truth Social.Federaltax lawprohibits senior members of theexecutive branch from requesting that an IRSemployee conduct or terminate an audit or investigation.
“Any forthcomingactions by the IRSwill be conducted independentlyofthe President,and investigations into anyinstitution’sviolations of its tax statuswereinitiated prior to thePresident’s TRUTH,”White House spokesmanHarrisonFields said.
Butaperson familiar with the matter said the Treasury Department directed Andrew De Mello, theIRS’s acting chief counsel, to begin the process of revoking Harvard’stax-exempt status
school’s tuition.
The new amounts — $6,000 per year for the Opportunity award, $6,500 for Performance and $9,000 for Honors — are higher than what students at most schools currently receive The updated rates would get closer to covering the full cost of tuition and fees, which range from $4,200 annually at most community colleges to about $9,500 at the University of New Orleans and $11,300 at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, according to state data.
The amount for TOPS Tech, a separate scholarship that pays for two years of vocational training, would also increase. It would go up to $3,500 — about $1,000 higher than the current average.
The bill would give a big boost to “students who only receive TOPS and no other academic scholarships to help fund the hefty burden of college,” Walker Pearson, student body president at Louisiana Tech University, told lawmakers Wednesday But there is a big catch: The proposed Opportunity and Performance amounts are several hundred dollars lower than the existing rate at LSU’s flagship campus
Continued from page 1A
“Why would the governor be so interested in taking over a local Republican Party?” Jenkins asked. “It’s obvious that it’s political payback, particularly over Amendment 2, on his part It reminds me of Huey Long.”
Amendment 2, which would have rewritten the tax section of the Louisiana Constitution, was one of the four proposed changes that voters rebuffed. Landry campaigned extensively for Amendment 2. Rep. Dixon McMakin, RBaton Rouge and the sponsor of HB200, said Jenkins’ concerns are misplaced. McMakin said he simply wants to involve more elected officials with the Republican Party, and the bill has nothing to do with Jenkins
“Nothing came from anyone on the governor’s staff,” McMakin said, adding that he hasn’t discussed the bill with Landry He acknowledged discussing HB200 with members of the governor’s staff but declined to identify them.
Jenkins, publisher of the Central City News, is one of the best-known Republicans in Baton Rouge, having served in the state Legislature from 1972-2000. During those years, he was a TV station owner and prominent voice against abortion. He subsequently lost three high-profile elections, co-chaired Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign in Louisiana and served as a Trump delegate to the Electoral College in 2020.
Derek Babcock, who chairs the Louisiana Repub-
in Baton Rouge, which has by far the most TOPS recipients of any state school. Nearly 9,300 students at that campus received one of those awards this school year, according to state data
If the bill passes, those students would get smaller scholarships and pay more out of pocket. To soften the blow, lawmakers amended the bill Wednesday to include an additional $700 annual stipend for TOPS recipients at LSU’s Baton Rouge
“Why would the governor be so interested in taking over a local Republican Party? It’s obvious that it’s political payback, particularly over Amendment 2, on his part. It reminds me of Huey Long.”
WOODy JENKINS East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Party chair
lican Party, said he went to the Governor’s Mansion on Tuesday to tell Landry that he will oppose the bill.
“We have an agreement to have differing views on it,” Babcock said, adding, “I think the bill is unconstitutional. I don’t think the Legislature has the authority to dictate to the party on how to seat their members. You would set a precedent with every time someone has a problem with an RPEC in their parish.”
Kate Kelly, the governor’s spokesperson, said in a text that Landry “knows nothing of the bill.”
HB200 would add nine elected officials to the 17-member party parish executive committee. As currently written, the changes also would apply to the East Baton Rouge Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee.
“It’s totally unnecessary,” said Randal Gaines, the Louisiana Democratic Party chair “It appears to be evolving from some selfserving political agenda.”
McMakin said he plans to amend the bill to take out the Democratic Party when it is heard by the House and Governmental Affairs Committee on April 23.
campus and its Health Sci-
ences Center in New Orleans, which also would see a drop in award rates.
“I do believe they appreciated my amendment,” Schlegel said.
An LSU spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the bill.
Even with the stipends, LSU students at those two campuses would get about $760 less for Opportunity awards and $660 less for Performance under the pro-
McMakin said one of the reasons he filed HB200 is because of an unexplained $24,000 expenditure by the parish party for a “campaign consultant” in 2023.
Jenkins said that money went to Kimberly Powers, a member of the parish Republican state central committee, to coordinate political campaigns throughout the parish. He said he donated half of the money that went to her Jenkins noted that Republicans hold a majority of seats on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Metro Council and hold all the parishwide seats except for the District Attorney’s Office. Jenkins championed the unlikely candidacy of football coach Sid Edwards, a Republican, who was elected mayor last year “We’ve been an influence to help elect good Republicans,” Jenkins said.
Besides speaking out, Jenkins is using his platform at the Central City News to publicize his opposition to HB200. An article published Thursday raised questions about the bill, saying it would amount to a takeover of the parish Republican Party Articles in the newspaper — which were shared widely on social media — criticized Amendment 2, which won only 35% of the vote on March 29.
Besides chairing the East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Executive Committee, Jenkins also organizes a weekly luncheon for party activists during the legislative session.
Email Tyler Bridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.
posed rates. By contrast, award amounts would increase by more than $1,400 for Honors recipients, who must score 27 or better on the ACT and earn a 3.5 GPA or higher in high school to qualify
While some LSU students would take a hit, about 70% of students statewide who
receive Opportunity or Performance awards and all Honors recipients would get more money under the proposed rates, Schlegel said.
The legislation is meant to bring the scholarship amounts, which have been frozen for nearly a decade, in line with college costs that have risen steadily during that time. And the new Excellence award, for students who score 31 or higher on the ACT, aims to deter high-achieving students from leaving Louisiana for colleges in other states that offer more generous scholarships.
“I’m on a mission to keep our kids here,” Schlegel said.
Bigger awards also mean a bigger price tag The bill is projected to increase state spending on TOPS by $47.5 million next school year, bringing the total to about $330 million, according to an estimate by the legislative fiscal office.
That could be a heavy lift for the Legislature, which is trying to find nearly $200 million to keep teacher pay from falling even as the state faces a projected revshortfall and possible
Rep. Phillip Tarver, R-Lake Charles, said legislators must rein in state spending.
“I’m not going to keep growing government,” he said. “This session for me is going to be about drawing a line in the sand.”
Another of the bill’s objectives is to create consistency across campuses. Each school’s TOPS awards are tied to its tuition rate from the 2016-17 school year, when the Legislature froze the amounts to contain the program’s ballooning costs. McNeese State University President Wade Rousse said the differences can fuel the misconception that award amounts reflect school quality
“An institution that has a higher TOPS award is not necessarily higher quality,” he said at the hearing. “And it certainly might not be the best fit for an individual student.”
The bill would establish a set rate for each award that is the same at every school. The changes would ensure that awards are “fair and consistent,” said Pearson, the Louisiana Tech University student, and show “that
BY JON GAMBRELL and AMIR VAHDAT Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
Talksbetween Iran andthe United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program are “in avery crucial” stage, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Thursday while on avisit to the Islamic Republic. The comments by Rafael MarianoGrossiofthe InternationalAtomic Energy Agency in Tehran included
Continued from page1A
Department of Defense revoked NPR’sPentagon press office access.
The White House is including cuts to public broadcasting assistance in its request to strike $9.3 billion in foreign aid and other programs, multiple national news outlets reported, citing an administration official granted anonymity to speak freely.Congressreturns to Washington on April 28, and lawmakers have asked for detailed requests to give Congress more say in the cuts Trump is considering in his efforts to streamline government. Supporters of public media argue that public broadcasting outlets, which operateondonations as well as taxpayer dollars rather than selling advertising, offer localand in-depth reporting.
Louisiana PublicBroadcasting is astate agencythat receives most of its funding fromthe state general fund and from corporate and viewer donations, said C.C. Copeland, LPB’spresident and chief executive officer
LPB is budgeted to receive $13.2 million from the state in thefiscal year that begins in July
As theonlystatewide network, LPB is called whenever the Legislature convenes, for gubernatorialnews conferences, when hurricanes threaten, and other events.
LPB shares its broadcast with private stations
LPB also provideseducational programming that augments kindergarten through 12th grade teaching in schools and programming that homebound and homeless children canuse to continue their education
Removing thefederal funding would end the programming thatisfunded by PBS. That means shows like “NOVA,” “Frontline” and “Finding Your Roots” would be gone from airways in the stateand probablyother states as well, Copeland said.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting gives money to PBS, which gives that money to local stations.Lou-
an acknowledgment his agency likely wouldbekey in verifying compliance by Iran shouldadealbe reached.Iranand theU.S will meet again Saturday in Rome fora new round of talksafter last weekend’s first meeting in Oman Grossi’svisit also coincided withSaudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Khalidbin Salman,visiting Tehran as thehighestranking official from the kingdomtovisit Iran since the twocountries reached a Chinese-mediated détente in 2023. That’sasSaudi Arabia triestoend its decadelongwar against theIranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen—evenas a new, intense campaign of U.S.
isiana receivesabout $2.5 million.
The stations then payPBS dues to allow access toits programming. Louisiana pays about $2.4 millionin dues.Thatmoney is then given as grants to theproducers, who are also raising money fromother sources to put together theindividual programs.
“It’llbea domino effect,” Copeland said. “Ifwecan’t payit andCPB doesn’t pay the other locals and they stop paying thedues,then PBS collapses.
Thelack of funding would mean the end of PBS’schildren’sprogramming in Louisiana— cartoons such as “Daniel Tiger’sNeighborhood,” whichteaches practical skills likebeingpolite to adults andtrying newfoods, to children betweenthe ages of 2to5,Copelandsaid.PBS also is aprimary funder for “NOVA ”the renowned science program.
Public radiostationsin Louisiana don’treceive any state money
TheCorporation for Public Broadcasting funds local public radio stations through National Public Radio. The amountsdifferdepending on thesizeand reachof the station.
For instance, WWNOin New Orleansreceives about $220,000 ayear and WRKF in Baton Rouge receives about $150,000, saidPaul Maassen, general manager of WWNOand WRKF.For both stations, themoney accountsfor about 8% of the stations’ budgets.
The rest comes from individual donations, local business underwriters, and various grants from public andphilanthropic sources, he said
But WWNOand WRKFoperate in largecities withlots of donors. Forotherstations, such as those that operate in rural areas, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting money canaccount for up to 40%ofthe budget.
Maassensaidreceiving the federal money helps with their fundraising efforts.
“It’sreally aplatform for the fundraising and it doeshelps with theoperating funds for our local programming,” he said.“The
airstrikes targets them.
The stakesofthe negotiations Saturday and the wider geopolitical tensions in the Mideastcouldn’tbehigher, particularly as theIsraelHamas war rages on in the GazaStrip. U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly hasthreatened to unleash airstrikes targetingIran’s nuclearprogram if adeal isn’treached. Iranianofficials increasingly warn that they could pursue anuclear weapon with theirstockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Grossi arrived in Iran on Wednesdaynight andmet with IranianForeign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who now is in Moscow for separate talks likely over the
strength of what we do is local.”
He added, “If you cut CPB funding, that is going directly impact every local station across thecountry.”
Kennedy said thefederal government subsidizes public mediatothe tune of about$500 million annually.
He notedthat Louisianahas 318radio stations, of which 10 getmoney from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and 48 television stations, eight of which get federal money
Kennedy argues that continuing taxpayer funding is wastefulspending when streaming, cableand other technologies provide plenty of programming.
He also contends that public broadcasting is biased.
On April 9, Kennedy showed aseries of headlines during aspeech on the Senate floor to prove his point Oneheadline read “The Hidden Racism of Young White Americans.” It was aPBS news report from March2015about studies on relations between Blacks and Whites.
Oneofthe headlineshe criticized was “How Illegitimate CRTconcernsshaped Louisiana’snew social studies standards.”That was anearly 8-minute report broadcastinApril 2022 by WWNO in New Orleans.
The piece discussedCritical Race Theory,anacademic framework to explain how systemic racisminthe past influencesthe present,and how critics of the theory cited it in creating curriculum
negotiations. On Thursday, Grossi met with Mohammad Eslami, thehead of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, thenlater toured a hall featuring someofIran’s civilian nuclear projects.
“Weknowthatweare in averycrucial, Iwould say, stage of this important negotiation, so Iwant to concentrate on the positive,” Grossi told Iranian media. “There is apossibilityofagood outcome. Nothing is guaranteed. We need to make sure that we put allofthe elements in place in order to get to this agreement.”
He added: “Weknow we don’thave much time. So this is whyI’m here.This is why I’m in contact with the United States as well.”
changesfor Louisiana high schoolers.
“Now,look, you don’thave to be aLatinscholar to see that these articles are biased —every single oneofthem —atthe federal level and at the state and local levelin Louisiana,” Kennedy said.
Asked about Trump’s threats to attack Iran, Grossi urged people to “concentrate on our objective.”
“Once we get to our objective, all of these thingswill evaporate because there will be no reason for concern,” he said.
For his part, Eslami said Iranexpected the IAEA to “maintain impartiality and act professionally,” areport from the state-run IRNA newsagency said.
Since the nuclear deal’s collapse in 2018 with Trump’sunilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the accord, Iran has abandoned alllimitsonits program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity —near weaponsgrade levels of 90%.
“And you know what, that’s the right of thesestate and local televisionstations. They have the right to say this stuff,but they don’t have the right to say it with your money.”
Maassen said, “I can’t tell you the number of stories
Surveillancecameras installed by theIAEAhave been disrupted, while Iran has barred some of the Vienna-based agency’s mostexperienced inspectors. Iranian officials also have increasingly threatened that they could pursue atomic weapons, something the West and the IAEA have been worried aboutfor yearssinceTehranabandonedanorganizedweapons program in 2003. Despite tensions between Iranand theagency, itsaccess has not been entirely revoked.But Grossi acknowledged in aFrench newspaper interview that “Iranhas enough material to build not one but several bombs.”
we do. It’sawhole lot. Our goal is to provide different points of view.You’re not going to agree with everything you hear.”
Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate. com.
TheEastBaton RougeParishRegistrar of Voters Office announces thatEarly Voting forthe May3,2025Electionwill be held Saturday,April 19,2025through Saturday,April 26,2025 from 8:30 am until6:00pm(Closed on Sunday)
Main Office:CityHall–222 SaintLouis St.–Room607 Southeast: Fire StationBuilding–11010 CourseyBlvd. Archives:State Archives Building –3851Essen Ln Baker: MotorVehicle Building–2250MainSt. Central: CentralBranchLibrary–11260 Joor Rd
Voters will be askedtoidentifythemselveswitheithera photoID or signatureonavoter affidavit. Youmay useadriver’slicense,a Louisianaspecial ID,a LA Wallet digitaldriver’slicense,a U.S. military identification card thatcontainsyournameand picture; or some other generallyrecognizedpicture ID thathas your name andsignature Sample ballotsare availableonlineatwww.GeauxVote.com Call (225)389-3940 formoreinformation
BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA
DURKIN RICHER Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Trump administration’sclaim that it can’tdoanything to free Kilmar Abrego Garcia from an El Salvador prison and return him to the U.S. “should be shocking,” afederal appealscourt said Thursday in ablistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict betweenthe government’sexecutive and judicial branches.
Athree-judge panel from the4th U.S.CircuitCourt of Appealsunanimously refused to suspend ajudge’s decisiontoorder sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia’sreturn.
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, wrote that he and his two colleagues “cling to the hope that it is not naïve to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.”
“This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best thatiswithin us while thereisstill time,” Wilkinson wrote.
The seven-page order amounts to an extraordinary condemnationofthe administration’spositionin Abrego Garcia’scase and also an ominous warningof the dangers of an escalating conflict betweenthe judicia-
ry and executive branches the court saidthreatens to “diminish both.” Itsays the judiciarywill be hurt by the “constantintimationsofits illegitimacy” while the executive branch “will lose much fromapublic perceptionof its lawlessness.”
When asked by reporters Thursday afternoon if he believed Abrego Garcia was entitledtodue process, President DonaldTrump ducked the question. “I have to refer,again,to thelawyers,” he said in the Oval Office. “I have to do what they askmetodo.”
Thepresident added: “I hadheard that there were a lotofthings about acertain gentleman —perhaps itwas that gentleman— that would make thatcasebeacase that’s easily winnable on appeal.Sowe’ll just have to see. I’mgonna have to respond to the lawyers.”
The Justice Department didn’timmediately comment on thedecision. In abriefaccompanying their appeal, government lawyers argued that courts do nothave the authority to “press-gang the President or his agents into taking any particularact of diplomacy.”
“Yethere, asingle district courthas inserted itselfinto theforeign policy of the United States and has tried to dictate it from the bench, they wrote.
The panel said the Republican president’s government is “asserting aright to stash away residents of this country in foreignprisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our
constitutional order.”
“Further, it claimsinessence that because it has rid itselfofcustody that there is nothing that can be done This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses stillhold dear,” Wilkinson wrote.
Earlier this month,the Supreme Courtsaid the Trump administration must work to bring back Abrego Garcia. An earlier order by U.S. DistrictJudge Paula Xinis “properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’srelease from custody in El Salvadorand to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been hadhenot been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the high court said in an unsignedorder with no noted dissents.
The Justice Department appealed after Xinis on Tuesday ordered sworn testimony by at least four officials who work for U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement, theDepartment of Homeland Security and theState Department.
The4th Circuit paneldenied thegovernment’srequest for astayofXinis’ order while they appeal.
“The relief thegovernment is requesting is bothextraordinary andpremature,”the opinion says. “While we fully respect the Executive’srobust assertionofits Article II powers, we shallnot micromanage theefforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court’srecent decision.”
BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
U.S. airstrikes targeting the Ras Isa oil port heldby Yemen’sHouthi rebelskilled 20 people andwounded 50 others, the group said early Friday
The strikes, confirmed by the U.S. military’sCentral Command, represent one of the highest reported death tolls so far in the campaign launched under President Donald Trump that has involved hundreds of strikes since March 15.
TheHouthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel aired graphic footage of the aftermath of the attack, showing corpses strewn across the site. It said paramedic and civilians workers at the port had been killedinthe attack, which sparked amassive explosion and fires.
In astatement, Central Command said that “U.S forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprivethem of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi effortsto terrorize the entire region
for over 10 years.”
“This strike was not intended to harm thepeople of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully,” it added. It did not acknowledge any casualties and declined to comment when asked by The Associated Press regarding civilians reportedly being killed.
Strikesspark fireball
TheRas Isa port,acollectionofthreeoil tanks and refiningequipment, sits in Yemen’sHodeida governorate along the RedSea. NASA satellites thattrack forest fires showed an intense blaze early Friday morning at thesite just off Kamaran Island, targeted by intenseU.S. airstrikes over the last few days.
The Ras Isa port also is the terminus ofanoil pipeline stretching to Yemen’s energy-rich Maribgovernorate, which remains held by allies of Yemen’sexiled government
TheHouthisexpelled that government from Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, back in 2015. However,oil exports have
BY SEUNG MIN KIM and ANTHONYIZAGUIRRE Associated Press
WASHINGTON Rep.Elise Stefanik, amember of HouseRepublicanleadership and onetime nominee for U.S. ambassadortothe United Nations, is considering arun for New York governor,according to aperson close to her The personwas grantedanonymity to discussinternal deliberations. The state’scurrentgovernor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, was elected in 2022 andis running for reelection next year Stefanik,a closeallyand fierce defender of President Donald Trump,had
been nominated to represent the U.S. at the United Nations. But her nomination was pulled last month amid concerns about leaving aRepublican House seat vacantwhenthe party hassucha narrow majority in the chamber Tr um p, in a Wednesday morning post on his social media platform TruthSocial, wrote, “Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!” In recent days, Stefanik has been encouraged to run by majorNew York donors, state Republican officials and WhiteHouse officials, according to the person close to her.She considered running for governor in 2022 and will make ade-
cision on acandidacy this time around in the coming months.
Stefanik, who represents asprawling congressional district in northern New York, released astatement Wednesday afternoon that didn’taddress apotential run for governor but lambasted Hochul as the “Worst Governor in America” andsaid“we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK.” If Stefanik does enter the race, she might face off in aRepublicanprimary against Rep. Mike Lawler, who hasbeen teasing a run for several months. But Stefanik alliesbelieve her strong name ID in the state, abilitytoraise cash andtiestothe TrumpWhite House would clear the GOP field.
been haltedbythe decadelongwar and the Houthis have usedRas Isa to bring in oil.
TheHouthis denounced theU.S. attack.
“This completely unjustified aggression represents aflagrant violation of Yemen’ssovereignty andindependence and adirect targeting of the entire Yemeni people,” theHouthis saidinastatement carried by theSABA news agency they control.“It targets avitalcivilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades.”
On April9,the U.S. State Department issuedawarning aboutoil shipments to Yemen.
“The United States will not tolerate anycountry or commercial entityproviding support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis, including offloading ships andprovisioning oilatHouthi-controlled ports,” it said.
The attack follows Israeli airstrikesonthe Houthis whichpreviously hit port and oil infrastructure used by therebels aftertheir attacksonIsrael
BY KATE PAYNE and DAVID FISCHER Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire Thursday at Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, killing two people and wounding at least six others, investigators said.
Officers quickly arrived and shot and wounded the shooter after he refused to comply with commands, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell
Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, which began around lunchtime just outside the student union, sending frightened students and parents hiding for cover in a bowling alley and a freight elevator inside the building.
The shooter, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, is believed to be a Florida State student, investigators said.
The two people who died were not students, said Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower, adding that he would not release additional information about the victims.
The shooter obtained access to a weapon that be-
longs to his mother, who has been with the sheriff’s office for over 18 years and has been a model employee, said Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil. Police said they believed Ikner shot the victims using his mother’s former service handgun, which she had kept for personal use after the force upgraded to new weapons. The alleged shooter was a long-standing member of the sheriff’s office’s youth advisory council, the sheriff said.
“He has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have,” McNeil said “So it’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.”
Witness says the suspect’s shotgun jammed
Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus just west of Florida’s capital after the university issued an active shooter alert.
Aidan Stickney, a 21-yearold studying business management, was running late to class when he said he saw a man get out of a car with a
UnitedHealthcare
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press
NEW YORK Luigi Mangione was indicted Thursday on a federal murder charge in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a required step as prosecutors work to make good on the Trump administration’s order to seek the death penalty for what it called a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
Thompson, 50, outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4 as the executive arrived for UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference.
Mangione’s indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Manhattan, includes a charge of murder through use of a firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty The indictment, which mirrors a criminal complaint brought after Mangione’s arrest last December, also charges him with stalking and a gun offense.
Mangione’s lawyers have argued that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement this month ordering prosecutors to seek the death penalty was a “political stunt” that corrupted the grand jury process and deprived him of his constitutional right to due process.
Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, faces separate federal and state murder charges after authorities say he gunned down
Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police say the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were scrawled on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.
The killing and ensuing five-day search leading to Mangione’s arrest rattled the business community, with some health insurers deleting photos of executives from their websites and switching to online shareholder meetings At the same time, some health insurance critics have rallied around Mangione as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills.
Mangione’s federal indictment came just before a deadline Friday for prosecutors to either file one or seek a delay It was not immediately clear when he will be brought to federal court in Manhattan for an arraignment.
A message seeking comment was left for a spokesperson for Mangione’s defense team.
Bondi announced April 1 that she was directing federal prosecutors in Man-
shotgun and aim at another man in a white polo shirt.
The gun jammed, Stickney said, and the shooter rushed back to his car and emerged with a handgun, opening fire on a woman. Stickney ran, warning others as he called 911. “I got lucky today I really did. I really, really did,” he said.
Trumbower said investigators have no evidence that anyone was shot with the shotgun.
Shots sent students scattering
Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the union’s lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar
“In that moment, it was survival,” he said.
Chris Pento said he and his twins were getting lunch at the student union during a campus tour when they heard gunshots. “It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told WCTV in Tallahassee.
They crammed into a service elevator after encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway “That was probably the scariest point
because we didn’t know It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”
Dozens of patrol vehicles, including a forensics van, were parked outside the student union hours after the shooting. Officers blocked off the area with crime scene tape.
Students and staff who left behind phones, keys and other items in the rush to evacuate waited in the shade and prayed for the victims.
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital confirmed it was treating six people wounded in the shooting, one in critical condition.
Shooting shocks campus and the nation
President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office that he had been fully
briefed on the shooting. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place,” he said.
But Trump also suggested that he would not be advocating for any new gun legislation, saying, “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.”
After receiving warnings of an active shooter, students and faculty took cover and waited in classrooms, offices and dorms across campus.
The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?” said Kai McGalla, a sophomore who spoke by phone while locked down at a campus testing center
Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the main library when alarms went off. Law enforcement officers escorted him and other students from the library with their hands over their heads, he
said.
University President Richard McCullough said he was heartbroken by the violence. “Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy,” he said. Another shooting a decade ago at Florida State Florida State is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet. In 2014, the main library was the site of a shooting that wounded three people.
Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May The university canceled classes for the rest of the week and canceled home athletic events through Sunday
hattan to seek the death penalty against Mangione. It was the first time the Justice Department said it was pursuing capital punishment since President Donald Trump returned to office Jan. 20 with a vow to resume federal executions after they were halted under the previous administration.
In her announcement, Bondi described Thompson’s killing as “an act of political violence.”
Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, countered in a subsequent court filing that “the United States government intends to kill Mr Mangione as a political stunt.” She wants prosecutors blocked from seeking the death penalty
Friedman Agnifilo and her co-counsel argued that Bondi’s announcement — which was followed by posts to her Instagram account and a television appearance — violated long-established Justice Department protocols and “indelibly prejudiced” the grand jury process that ultimately led to his indictment.
Mangione remains locked up at a federal jail in Brooklyn. His state charges carry a maximum punishment of life in prison.
Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks, with the state case expected to go to trial first. It wasn’t immediately clear if Mangione’s indictment Thursday will change the order
BY JAIMIE DING Associated Press
LOS ANGELES Erik and Lyle Menendez could learn this week whether they will get reduced sentences —and the chance of freedom —nearly 30 years after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
ALos Angeles judge willpreside over the resentencing hearing that’s expected to last twodays starting Thursday.The judge could rule during the hearing or issue awritten decision later If he shortens their sentences, the brothers would still need approval from the state’sparole board to leave prison.
The District Attorney’s Office fileda motion late Wednesday to delaythe resentencing hearings so the court can obtain one aspect of the stateparole board’scomprehensive risk assessments. California Gov.Gavin Newsom ordered the assessments in February and the brothers’ final risk assessment hearings are scheduled for June 13. Prosecutorssaid in their filing that one part of the risk assessment has already been completed.
Thebrothers were sentenced in 1996tolife in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering their entertainment executive father Jose Menendez and mother Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home in 1989.The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time of the killings. While defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense afteryears of sexual abuse by their father,prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for amultimilliondollar inheritance. The case has captured
decades, and the Netflix drama “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story ”and documentary “The Menendez Brothers” have been credited with bringingnew attentionto the case.Supportersof thebrothers haveflown in from across the country to attendralliesand hearings in recent months
Theresentencinghearing will center on whether the brothershave been rehabilitated in prison and deserve alesser sentence of 50 yearstolife.That would make them eligible forparole under California’syouthful offender law because they committed the crimewhen they were younger than 26.
Former Los Angeles District Attorney GeorgeGascón asked ajudge last year to reduce the brothers’ sentences.He lostreelectiontoNathanHochman, who moved to withdraw theresentencing request and has argued the brothers have not taken full responsibility for their crimes.
Aresentencing petition laid out by Gascón focuses on the brothers’ accomplishments and rehabilitation. The brothers’ attorneys say their clientshave worked hardoverthe decades to better themselves and giveback to theprison community.The extended Menendez family,with the exception of an uncle who died last month, has said they fully forgive the brothers for what theydid and want them tobefreed. With Hochmanincharge, prosecutors argued last Friday theycould not supportthe brothers’ resentencing. Los Angeles CountySuperior Court JudgeMichaelJesic ruled theresentencing hearings could continue despite
BY CHRISTINA LARSON AP science writer
WASHINGTON Endangered seaturtles show signsof recovery in amajority of places where they’re found worldwide, according to a newglobalsurveyreleased Thursday
“Many of the turtle populations have come back, though some haven’t,” said Duke ecologistStuart Pimm, whowas notinvolvedwith the research. “Overall, the sea turtle story is one of the real conservation success stories.”
The study looked at 48 populations of seaturtles around the world. Scientistsmeasured the impacts of threats such as hunting,pollution, coastal development and climate change to the marine animals.Inmorethan half of the areas studied, threats are declining overall, the study found.
Butthere aresome exceptions. Seaturtlepopulations in the Atlantic Ocean are morelikely to be recovering thanthose in Pacific waters. Andleatherback turtles are not faring as well as other species
Globally,leatherbacks are considered vulnerable to extinction, but many groups arecriticallyendangered, accordingtothe International Union for Conservationof Nature.
All sevenofthe regions where leatherbacksare found face high environmental risks, saidstudy co-author BryanWallace,awildlife ecologist at Ecolibrium in Colorado.
Leatherback turtlesare famous for making the longest knownmarinemigrationsof any animal —with some individuals swimmingasmany as 3,700 miles each way. That feat moves them through a wide swath of regions and may expose them to unique risks, he said.
Meanwhile, greenturtles are still considered endangered globally,but theirpopulations show signs of recov-
world, researchersfound.
“By ending commercial harvests and allowing them time to rebound, their populations arenow doing really well” in coastal watersoff many regions of Mexico andthe U.S., said co-author Michelle MaríaEarly Capistrán, aStanfordUniversity researcher whohas conducted fieldworkinboth countries.
Sea turtles were protected
under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, and Mexico banned all captures of sea turtles in 1990.
But it took afew decades for the results of these actions —alongside efforts to protect nesting beaches and reduce accidental bycatch in fishing —toshow up in population trends, she said.
Around theworld, the problem of sea turtles dying after accidentally be-
coming entangled in fishing gear remains amajor threat, said Wallace. New technologies are being developed to spare turtles, but they must be accepted and used regularlybydiverse fishing communitiestobe effective, he added. The survey was published in the journal Endangered Species Research and is the first update in morethana decade.
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
“All
Port Allen City Council meeting last week. The audit, conducted by Ericksen Krentel, revealed that the city violated the open meetings law by failing to post minutes on its website within 10 days of public meetings from May through October 2024.
The open meetings law exists
BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer
Woman’s persistence, DNA testing key
BY JILLIAN KRAMER Staff writer
Nearly 50 years after a man raped Jennifer Brush in her Uptown apartment, a jury delivered a conviction in the case Thursday ending Brush’s decadeslong quest for closure and justice. Ronald Craig, 69, is guilty of first-degree rape and aggravated kidnapping. He faces life in prison. Brush was a 19-year-old Tulane University student living in a Magazine Street
apartment when two men, their faces covered by bandanas, entered the apartment and held her at gunpoint. One raped her The other sexually assaulted Brush prosecutors said, but couldn’t penetrate her That man has never been identified Without suspects, Brush’s case went cold for decades Then, in 2018, Brush identified herself publicly as a rape survivor in an opinion article for her local paper, spurring a fresh investigation In 1975, when Brush was raped, DNA testing hadn’t been developed. But now with advanced technology, Louisiana State Police Crime Lab analysts could test a sample taken from a pair of
underwear Brush wore after the assault for DNA. They found a partial DNA match to Craig. He was arrested in 2020.
Thursday’s verdict was a resounding relief for Brush, who took the witness stand two years ago in Craig’s first trial in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. That jury hopelessly deadlocked after four hours, and prosecutors had struggled to set a second trial as Craig’s health took a downturn.
For the last five years, “I let this define me,” Brush said. The Times-Picayune does not typically identify survivors of sexual assault, but Brush agreed to be named for this article.
“If you’d asked me two hours ago, I would have said it isn’t worth it, for any woman,” Brush said Thursday afternoon “But getting this verdictchangedeverything.”
Assistant Orleans Parish District Attorney Penny Kissinger said in her closing argument that the facts of the rape were “undisputed.” Kissinger prosecuted the case with Mary Glass, the head of the sexual assault kit initiative at the District Attorney’s Office.
The chances that the DNA that was found in Brush’s underwear belonged to anyone other than Craig, Kissinger said, were 1 in 46 billion — greater than five times the earth’s population.
Continued from page 1B
officials,” according to a summary created by the Louisiana legislative auditor Material weaknesses highlighted in the auditor’s report included utility billing and payroll processes for city employees The city undercharged residents for garbage collection despite rising costs, the audit said, and one city employee was being paid while not submitting necessary time records In noncompliance issues outside of the open meetings law Port Allen neglected to amend a low-income housing budget when it exceeded planned expenditures by more than 5% and was late in providing an annual financial report to the Louisiana legislative auditor
“You all need to have relevant, timely information to be able to make decisions,”
Tani Budde, senior manager at Ericksen Krenstel, told the City Council. “This is a nonnegotiable. This is a basic minimum requirement to be able to do what you need to do.”
This year was the “messiest” Budde has seen since he started working on the Port Allen audit in 2018, he said.
“This one was bad,” Budde said. “I don’t know another way to say it, and I wish I was more optimistic.” Pattan said she will focus on holding departments accountable going into the next audit. She was not mayor during the period in question, she added.
“I was an employee,” Pattan said in an interview “I didn’t have that authority to get anything done or hold them to the fire, but going forward, hopefully, we’ll get all that rectified.”
Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@theadvocate. com.
Staff report
Someone who bought a lottery ticket at a Sorrento convenience store has won a half-million dollars and another person, who purchased a ticket in Livingston Parish, has won $100,000 both could still be unclaimed.
Continued from page 1B
to Sunday to set priorities and discuss business for the district for the following year
According to Renata Colbert, Caleb’s aunt, the campaign seeks not only to honor her nephew’s memory, but to demand change in the wake of his preventable death.
“In honor of our nephew, Caleb Wilson, we created this billboard campaign to demand accountability raise awareness and ensure that his story is never forgotten,” Colbert said in a news release along with three of Wilson’s uncles. “Caleb was a brilliant, kind-hearted young man with limitless potential a gifted musician, a loving family member, and a light in the lives of everyone who
Continued from page 1B
Lane for about two weeks before East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical call there early in the morning of Feb. 12, 2024. A bruised and beaten Buckles was unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics rushed the girl to the hospital in critical condition with brain bleeding, according to an arrest report.
No adults were present when officers arrived. Eight children ranging in ages from 11 months to 12 years were left at the house unsupervised for several hours, according to investigators
The winner of the $500,000 prize was playing the “100X” game, when they purchased a ticket in Ascension Parish at the Bayou Conway Super Stop on John LeBlanc Boulevard in Sorrento. In the 100X game, players can win 100 times the prize, if any of their numbers match any
knew him That light was extinguished far too soon because of hazing.”
The billboard will switch through multiple displays. One reads “Caleb Wilson. He had a future Hazing took it away,” in large red lettering next to a photo of Wilson on Southern’s campus. Below the message are Wilson’s birth and death dates: Nov 1, 2004, to Feb. 27, 2025. “Caleb was failed. Completely In the most unthinkable, irreversible way,” the billboard says at the bottom.
Another design reads out a list of life milestones that Wilson will now never reach: his 2026 graduation, his first day on the job as a mechanical engineer, his wedding, the start of his family It ends with a checkmark next to the only milestone he did reach: his March 15 funeral and burial.
“These billboards are a
Yates and Scott pulled up to the residence as deputies canvassed the area They told officers they had just left a nearby casino boat. At the hospital, medical staff reported Buckles’ bruises and abrasions to officers, telling deputies the injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma wounds. Investigators also noticed bruises on a 4-year-old girl at the house. Buckles died from her injuries Feb. 17.
Detectives identified the two boys, ages 10 and 12, as the culprits responsible for the girls’ bruises, according to arrest reports Scott was present when detectives questioned her son as one of the suspects in the fatal beating. She interjected several times and
of the winning numbers.
In Walker an easy
$100,000 is waiting for someone who bought a lottery ticket at the Best Stop 24 on North Walker Road, the Louisiana Lottery said.
The winning ticket was in the “Easy 5” game in which players pick five numbers from 1 to 37 or let the Lot-
public declaration of our grief, our love, and our fight for justice. They speak to what Caleb lost — but also what the world lost,” Wilson’s family wrote in the news release. “We want every student, parent, educator, and community member to understand the real cost of hazing. This is not tradition — it’s trauma. And we will not allow it to continue to go unchecked.”
The physical billboard is located at 1000 Poydras St. and will remain active through Saturday
The 88th annual meeting of Omega Psi Phi’s Ninth District gathers fraternity members from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans — just blocks from the billboard.
In the wake of Wilson’s death, politicians and fraternity and sorority leaders
told investigators she and Yates had previously noticed bruises on the other children when they were left alone with Scott’s nephew the other suspect Scott told officers Yates ignored her children’s pleas for help and continued to leave them at the house unsupervised for hours, despite the boys’ violent behavior toward them. It was not immediately clear if the two boys have been tried or sentenced in juvenile court During last week’s hearing, Yates also pleaded guilty to theft charges in two unrelated incidents. One of them involved her robbing a man she met at the blackjack tables at The Queen Baton Rouge casino in Octo-
tery computer pick them.
It’s not clear if the winners have claimed their prizes yet.
The lucky players have a few months to claim their prizes by bringing their original ticket to the nearest Lottery office, along with a valid photo ID and completed claim form.
have offered measures they believe could prevent another hazing-related death.
Tony Clayton, district attorney for the 18th Judicial District and chairman of Southern University’s Board of Supervisors, has proposed putting all recruitment and intake activities at Southern in the hands of the graduate chapters of Greek-letter organizations, not undergrads.
State Rep. Delisha Boyd, D-New Orleans, introduced legislation at the State Capitol this session that would require more stringent antihazing education for Louisiana college students. She has dubbed her bill the ”Caleb Wilson Act.”
The billboard campaign comes a month after Wilson’s funeral March 15 in Kenner, and one week after two Tulane University fraternities were suspended for suspected hazing.
ber 2023, according to court records. Greggs sentenced Yates to five years on those charges, but suspended the prison stint and ordered the woman to serve two years probation after she is released from incarceration.
Arrest reports and court records show Scott has been arrested more than 30 times since 2014 on counts of theft, criminal trespass and drug possession.
In July 2021, a grand jury in East Baton Rouge Parish indicted her on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of a woman named Dakayla Bailey The victim was fatally shot in a home in the 6000 block of Plank Road.
Scott was never tried or convicted in that case.
Continued from page 1B
relative to the shooting is asked to call BRPD’s Violent Crime Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.
The grandmother of an infant boy who died Monday morning in New Roads was arrested Thursday in connection with his death.
Temika Lashel Butler, 41, was arrested on counts of cruelty to juveniles and indecent behavior with juveniles as part of the investigation into her grandson’s death, according to a release from the New Roads Police Department.
Her daughter, Ke’iondra Butler, 19, was booked into the Pointe Coupee Detention Center on Monday on one count each of second-degreemurder and obstruction of justice.
The arrest follows new developments uncovered during detectives’ investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, no further details will be provided at this time, police said.
“This is a deeply emotional and serious matter,” Police Chief Louis Hamilton II said in a post on social media.
“Our investigators are working with care and determination to ensure that justice is served, and the safety of all children remains our top priority.”
Officers originally responded Monday morning to a medical call involving an unresponsive infant at a residence on Pennsylvania Street. The baby was found and transported to a hospital where he died
According to 18th Judicial District Attorney Tony Clayton, the baby had blood around his mouth and nostrils at the time of death.
He said the mother’s story about the circumstances of the child’s death was inconsistent in her conversations with police. In addition to the
bleeding, older welts could be seen on the child’s skin, Clayton said.
Clayton said on Tuesday he was awaiting the autopsy to look for signs of other abuse, such as possible blunt force trauma to the head or malnutrition.
“This case has deeply affected our community, and we are committed to seeking justice for those involved with the utmost care,” police Detective Sgt. Stacy Paul said.
Men arrested in exploitation of minor
Three Louisiana men were arrested in March by the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office after a multiagency investigation on various social media platforms linked them to the exploitation of a minor Mathew Wagner, 40, of Albany; Justin Baham, 30, of Holde; and Wilson Mesa-Gomez, 30, of Denham Springs, were all charged with indecent behavior with juveniles and computer-aided solicitation of a minor Baham was also charged with possession of MDMA, marijuana and a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. The arrests were the result of an investigation last month conducted by the LPSO Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and state homeland security
UnitedHealth keeps Wall Street in check
Most U.S. stocks climbed Thursday,but the worst drop for UnitedHealth Group in a quarter of acentury kept Wall Street in check.
The S&P 500 edged up slightly,eventhough 3ofevery 4 stocks climbed in the index. The Nasdaq composite slipped abit in amostly steadier performancefollowingits sell-off theday before.
The Dow Jones IndustrialAverage dropped, largely because of just one stock. UnitedHealth Group lost morethan afifth of itsvalue andfell 22.4% following aweaker-than-expected profit report
Helping to lead the way higher on Wall Street was EliLilly, which jumped 14.3% after the drugmaker reported encouragingresults foraonce-daily pill that could helptreat people withobesity and diabetes.
Stocks of companies in the oil-and-gas industry also rallied after the price of crude rose to recover some of its sharp losses taken this month. Diamondback Energy jumped 5.7%, and Halliburton climbed5.1% Technology stocks held firmer after global heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor ManufacturingCo. reported aprofit for the latest quarter that matched analysts’ expectations. Perhaps more importantly,italso said it hasn’tseen adrop-off in activity from its customersbecause of PresidentDonald Trump’s trade war,assome other companies have suggested.
Jobless benefitclaims fall for another week U.S. applications for jobless benefits fell again last week as the labor market continues to hold up despite fears of atariffinduced recession.
Jobless claim applications fell by 9,000 to 215,000 for the week endingSaturday,the Labor Department said Thursday.That’s well below the 225,000 new applications analysts forecast. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered aproxy for layoffs, and have mostly stayed between 200,000 and 250,000 for the past few years.
The four-week average of applications, which can soften some of the week-to-week swings, fell by 2,500 to 220,750. Despite showingsome signs of weakening during thepast year,the labormarketremains healthy with plenty of job openings and relatively few layoffs.
Railroad, chemical maker reach settlement
Norfolk Southern reached an agreement withone of two companies abouthow much each side willhelp payfor a $600 million class-action settlement, which the railroad agreed to after the disastrous 2023 Ohio train derailmentand toxic chemicals that were released and burned.
This lawsuitdoesn’tchange anything about how much money people will receive from the settlement or anypayments to thevillage of East Palestine or anyone else —those are all established in various settlement agreements. Thiscaseonly affects whichcompanies have to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement, which is separate from the cost of the massive environmental cleanup.
The railroad and OxyVinyls, the chemical companythat madethe vinyl chloride that was released and burned after the derailment, announced the settlement Thursday in the midst of the ongoing trialover who should pay people affectedby the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.Nodetails were released.
The third company involved in the lawsuit, GATX, which owned the railcar that caused thederailment,declinedto comment on the settlement. The case is expected to go to the jury next week in atrial that began late last month.
Residents are still waiting to receive most of the money from the settlement because of pending appeals,although somepayments have started to go out.
BYCHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer
Surging U.S. tariffs will weaken theglobaleconomyand push up inflation this year, according to projectionstobereleasednextweek by the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF’sManaging Director KristalinaGeorgieva, saidThursday that theTrump administration’s sharp increasesinduties have causedglobal uncertainty to spike. The import taxes will slow global growth, but notcause a
worldwiderecession, sheadded The details of the IMF’soutlook will be issued Tuesday
The world economy’sresilience is being tested “by thereboot of the globaltrading system” that threatenstocauseturbulence in financial markets, Georgieva said. Thatturbulencehas been playing out in financial markets for weeks now,especially on Wall Street, which has experienced wild swings from day to dayand often hour to hour
The IMF chief also echoed some Trump administration concerns. She called on countries toreduce their tariffs and lower other barriers to trade, aprocess that she said hadstalled out in the past decade
after making steady progress for many years after World WarII.
“Trade distortions —tariff and nontariff barriers —have fed negative perceptionsofa multilateral system seen to have failed to deliveralevel playing field,”she said. “Thisfeeling of unfairness in some places feeds the narrative: we play by therules whileothers game the system without penalty.”
Georgieva added that tariffs cause uncertainty, which can be costly. Duetothe complexity of supply chains,the costofa single item can be affected by tariffs in dozens of countries, she said.
Increased trade barriers also tendtoimmediately impact growth, and while it can lead to
more domestic production, that takestime to implement, she added.
In its mostrecent projections issued in January,the IMF forecast theworld economytogrownominallyfasterand forinflation to come down, though it warned that outlook was clouded by President Donald Trump’spolicies, including tax cuts and increased tariffs on foreign imports.
TheWashington-basedlending agency said at thetime that it expected the world economy to grow 3.3% this year andnext, up from 3.2% in 2024. Global inflation was forecast to fall from 5.7% in 2024 to 4.2% this year and 3.5% in 2026.
BY MICHAELLIEDTKE AP technologywriter
SAN FRANCISCO— Google has been branded an abusive monopolist by afederal judge for thesecond time in less than ayear,thistime for illegally exploiting someofits online marketing technology to boost the profits fueling an internet empire currently worth $1.8 trillion.
Theruling issuedThursday by U.S. DistrictJudge Leonie BrinkemainVirginia comes on the heels of aseparate decision in August that concluded Google’snamesake search engine has been illegally leveraging its dominance to stifle competition andinnovation.
Afterthe U.S. Justice Departmenttargeted Google’subiquitoussearch engine during President Donald Trump’sfirstadministration, thesameagency went after the
company’slucrative digital advertising networkin2023 during President Joe Biden’s ensuing administration in an attempt to undercut the power that Google hasamassed since its inception in aSilicon Valley garage in 1998.
Although antitrust regulators prevailed both times, the battle is likely to continue for several more years as Googletries to overturn the two monopoly decisions in appeals while forging ahead in the new and highly lucrative technological frontier of artificial intelligence.
The next step in thelatest case is apenalty phasethat will likely begin latethis year or early next year.The same so-calledremedy hearings in the search monopolycaseare scheduledtobegin Monday in Washington D.C., where Justice Department lawyers will try to convinceU.S.District Judge Amit Mehtatoimposea sweeping punishment that includes aproposed requirement for Google to sellits Chrome web browser Brinkema’s115-page decisioncenters on the marketing machine thatGoogle has
spent thepast17years building around its search engineand otherwidelyusedproducts andservices,including its Chrome browser,YouTube video site and digital maps.
Thesystem waslargelybuilt around a series of acquisitions that started with Google’s$3.2 billion purchase of online ad specialistDoubleClickin2008. U.S. regulators approvedthe dealsatthe time they were made before realizing that they had giventhe Mountain View,California,company aplatform to manipulate the prices in an ecosystemthata wide range of websites depend on for revenue andprovidesa vital marketing connectiontoconsumers.
In astatement, Google said it will appeal the ruling.
“Wedisagree with the Court’sdecisionregarding our publisher tools,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vicepresident of regulatoryaffairs. “Publishers have many options andtheychooseGoogle because our ad tech toolsare simple, affordable andeffective.”
BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AAMER MADHANI and JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON— President Donald TrumpattackedFederal Reserve
Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday for not cutting interest rates and said he could fire him if he wanted to, renewingathreat from his first term thatcouldcause amajor legalshowdown over theissue of thecentral bank’s long-standing political independence.
“IfIwant him out,he’ll be out of there real fast, believe me,”
Trump said in the Oval Office whiletakingquestions from reporters during avisit withItalian Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni.
“I’m not happy withhim.”
Trump’scomments followeda posting on his social media site in whichthe Republican president called on Powell to lower the Fed’sshort-term interest rate and said, “Powell’stermination cannot comefastenough!”The Fed chair’sterm ends in May 2026. Powell wasinitially nominated by Trumpin2017 and was appointed to another four-year term by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022. At aNovember news conference, Powellindicated he would not step down if Trump asked him to resign and in remarks Wednesday, made clear that “our independence is amatteroflaw.” He added: “We’re not
removable except for cause. We servevery long terms, seemingly endless terms.”
Trump’scriticism stems from his view that, as he saidThursday, “we have essentially no inflation.”
TheFed sharply raised rates in 2022 and 2023 to slowborrowing andspending andtame inflation whichdropped steadily from a peak of 9.1% in 2022 to 2.4% last month. Inflation is not far from theFed’s targetof2%. TheFed even cut rates three times at the end of last year
Butsincethen, Powell andmost otherFed policymakers have underscored that they are keeping rates on holdbecause of the uncertainty created by Trump’s
sweeping tariffs, including a10% tax on allimports anda 145% levy on imports fromChina In remarks Wednesday in Chicago,Powellreiterated that the Fed waswaiting for greater clarity before making any moves and said the tariffs would likely worsen inflation.
Powell has steadfastly maintained that the Fed is independent from politics, astance that Fed chairs havestressedsince at least the 1970s. Back then, the Fed waswidely seen as worsening a15-year run of high inflation by giving in to demandsfrom President Richard Nixontokeepinterest rates low in the run-up to the 1972 election.
Addison,Isabel
The
Today and devotedmother, prayerwarrior,and beacon of compassion, Isabel spenther life giving to others—offering her time,her heart,and oftenevenher hometothose in need. Shewas precededin death by many beloved family and friends, including her cherishedson, James Edwin Trahan. Those who willcarry Isabel'slove forwardinclude her daughter,Jamey Trahan; herdaughter-in-love, Barbara Freeman; her granddaughter, Jordan Nuernberg; and hergreatgrandchildren:Noah, Gia, Amiyah, Selah,and Bjorn "Bear. Also left to honor Isabel'smemory areher lifelongand dearly treasured friend, Dianne Walker; devoted friend, Gerard Klein; and many cousins and extendedfamilywho willforever carry hermemory with love.
in their final days. Agraveside service celebrating Isabel's life will be held on GoodFriday, April18, 2025, at noonat Roselawn MemorialPark. She leavesbehinda legacy of love,generosity and faith—and heartsforever changed by her presence.
Albert,MyrtleW.'Sister' Myrtle W. "Sister" Albert entered into eternalrestat her residenceinBaton Rouge,Louisiana on April 9,2025. Shewas a72-year old native of Fort Adams, Mississippi.Viewing Mt Pilgrim BaptistChurch Life Center, 9700 Scenic Hwy. Baton RougeonSaturday, April 19, 2025 at 9:00 am until CelebrationofLife Service at 11:00 am con‐ductedbyRev.Tanehsia Lee; intermentatSouthern MemorialGardens.Sur‐vivorsinclude herdaugh
trustedtoMiller& Daugh‐
ter Mortuary Camper,Jr. andwillbe missedbyher children, Darrell Camper,Charlene Siplin, ElvisCamper, Valarie Camper andLynn Camper. Visitation on Fri‐day,April 18, 2025 from 5to 7 p.m. at Pugh's Mortuary 58233 Plaquemine Street, Plaquemine, LA.Visitation continues on Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 9a.m until CelebrationofLife Service at 11:00 a.m. at Lit‐tle Zion BaptistChurch #1 61775 BayouJacob Rd., Plaquemine, LA.Rev Frankie Boyette,Pastor. In‐terment GraceMemorial Park.
Allen, Samuel Funeralservicesfor SamuelAllenwillbeheld Saturday, April19, 2025 at WordofFaith CC, 8844 Greenwell SpringsRd. A publicvisitationwillbe heldfrom10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with religious servicesbeginning at 11:00 a.m.Interment:Azalee RestCemetery, 4160 MchughRd.,Zachary,La. 70791. Professional ser‐vices entrustedtoCharles MackeyFuneralHome.
Davis,Anthony Joseph 'Scooby'
terminalillnesses, offering dignity, love,and comfort
Anthony"Scooby" Joseph Davis, abeloved residentofBaton Rouge, passedaway on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the age of 21. Knownfor hiskind heartand dedication, Anthonyworkedasa childcare driver. Anthonygraduated in 2021 from Scotlandville High School. He is survived by his loving great-grandmother,Bessie Clark Stirgus;grandmother,Bobbie Davis; mother Sherri Gilchrist;cousin whowas like abig sister NatashaCastle; and cousin,Tra'miyah Castle. He waspreceded in death by hisgreat-uncle and guardian, Willard Stirgus; great-great aunt Jane Stevens and great-uncle ClevelandStirgus Jr.Fami-
ly and friends are invited to avisitation on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon at Saintsville COGIC, 8930 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, LA. Funeral services will follow immediately at 12:00 PM.
Fisher,William Alan
WilliamAlanFisher, bornSeptember 20,1952, in Morrow, LA,raisedinBaton Rouge anda graduate of Central High School, passedawayApril 13, 2025 VisitationatCharlet Fu‐neral Home,Zachary,LA Saturday, April19, 2025, 11 am– 2pmwithservicesto follow. Internment at a later date.For more infor‐mation, please seewww charletfuneralhome.com.
Gautreau,Robin Kinler
RobinKinlerGautreau, mostpreciouslyknown as Grammy, passedawaysur‐rounded by familyonApril 14, 2025 after alongand courageousbattlewith canceratthe youngage of 61. Shewas born on June 25, 1963 to Dudley andPhe‐nie Dottolo Kinler.She is survivedbyher husbandof 28years,KyleGautreau, her sonJordan(Brandi)Re‐mondet, hersister, Patty (Gary)Roussel,brothers, Chuck(Jonnette)Kinler, Glenn (Kim)Kinler, her grandsons,Aysen andBay‐lor Remondet,several niecesand nephews, and her stepsonKolby (Taylor) Gautreauand theirson Emery.She is preceded in death by herfather, Dudley T-Dud” Kinler,her grand‐parents,Anthony “Tony” and KatieDottolo,Edmond and AnitaKinler, Sr., and her in-laws, Leon “Nap” Gautreau, Peggy H. Gautreau, andSharla M. Gautreau. Robinlived alife serving others untilher verylastbreath. Sheself‐lesslyensured herentire familywas caredfor,no matterwhatitdemanded ofher.She took greatpride inraising andwas so proud of heronlyson,Jor‐dan,never missinga thing hetookpartin. Shemar‐riedthe love of herlife, Kyle, on October18, 1996 Theyenjoyed many out‐ingstogether, whether it was going to dinner,at‐tending aconcert,ortak‐ing acamping trip to‐gether. Shelater embraced a love like no otherfor her two grandsons, Aysenand Baylor. Sheloved them un‐conditionally andwas pre‐sentfor everyoccasion. She lovedattending events and beamed with pride for everything they accom‐
plished. She andher sister, Patty,loved spending time together whether it was shopping, grabbing abite toeat,watchingthe newestmovie release, or justhanging out. Robin loved watching herbroth‐ers’childrengrowand was alwayssoproud of them She nevermissedthe op‐portunity to sitonher back patio andhavea glassof winewithher neighbors after alongday.She will bedeeplymissedbyher lovingfamilyand friends. Relatives andfriends are invited to attend theVisi‐tationand FuneralMasson Monday, April21, 2025 at St. Joseph Church in Paulina, LA.Visitationwill beheldatchurch from 9:00 a.m.to12:00 p.m. followed bya mass of Christianbur‐ial at 12:00 p.m. Burial im‐mediately followinginSt. JosephMausoleum Paulina, LA.Arrangements byRose Lynn Funeral Home. To view or sign the onlineguest book,please visit www.roselynnfuneral home.com.
Lacey, Gilbert Services forGilbert Lacey will be held Satur‐day,April 19, 2025 at Greater True Love Mission‐ary BaptistChurch,2143 CurtisSt. Apublic visita‐tionwillbeheldfrom10:00 a.m.until 11:00a.m.with religious services begin‐ningat11:00 a.m. Inter‐ment: Private. Professional servicesentrusted to Charles Mackey Funeral Home.
Denise Latour,63, passed away on April11, 2025, after ashort illness. A graduateofRiverdale High School,Denisereceived numerousdegrees from UNOand SLUinHammond Her academic journeylaid the foundation fora distin‐guished career in educa‐tion. Herexceptional work asa school counselorwas recognizedstatewide whenshe wasnamed LouisianaHighSchool
Counselorofthe Year in 2023. Denise wasknown not only forher accom‐plishmentsbut also forthe strengthshe broughtto every role sheembraced. A passionateeducatorand tough loving mother,she balancedcompassionwith resilience,alwaysstriving toupliftthose around her. Outside of herprofessional life, Denise found joyin quiltingand traveling. A devoted member of St Joseph'sCatholicChurch Denise’sfaith wasa guid‐ing forcethroughouther life. It shaped hervalues and inspired theway she servedothers-with humil‐ity,kindness, andpurpose Deniseloved crawfish -it’s fitting herobituaryis printed today, on Good Fri‐day,asthousands cele‐brate thelifeofChristand justasmanywillspend the weekendreflecting in church andenjoyingtime withfamilyatseafood boils across theregion. She’d love to join youmakesurethispaper is usedatyourboil! Denise is survivedbythe love of her lifeand husband,Rodney Schmaltz, sons Trey,Cody, Jacob,her daughter-in-law Mallory andgrandsondue tobeborninJune;Trey's partner Darren Stutes; Denise'smotherand fa‐ther, Althea andJohnnyLa‐tour; Brotherand sistersin-lawJohnand Beth Kenny andGina; Along witha huge, extended New Orleans family. Services for DeniseLatourare Monday, April 21, 2025, with afu‐neral mass at 11 a.m. at St JosephCatholicChurch 255 N8th Street,Poncha‐toula,Louisiana 70454 fol‐lowed by aprocession passing PonchatoulaHigh School where sheserved for more than 25 years. BurialwillbeatRosaryville Cemeteryimmediately after theservices. In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donationtothe newly formedDeniseLatour MemorialScholarship Fund which will be used to help highschool students fund their higher education dreams. Checks canbe madepayable to thefund and mailed to PO Box754, Ponchatoula,LA, 70454 Arrangementshavebeen entrusted to Harry McK‐neely& SonFuneralHome and CrematoryofHam‐mondand Ponchatoula. An on-lineguest book is avail‐ableatwww.harrymcknee ly.com
Peterson, George A. GeorgeA.Peterson, 74, of Gonzales, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, April16th, 2025. Avisitation willbeheldonTuesday, April22, 2025, at Ourso Funeral Home,13533 Airline Highway, Gonzales,
Louisiana, 70737. The service willfollow at 11:00AM.
Kimberly Lavern Thomas Coleman, adevoted mother, daughter, sister and friend passedaway peacefully on April 11, 2025. She wasa nativeresident of BatonRouge Louisiana, born April14, 1969. She wasaffectionately known as Kim, Tee Kim, Momo and Grandma.She graduated from Glen Oaks SeniorHighSchool in 1987. Visitation willbeSaturday, April 19, 2025 at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 2111 NorthStreet, Baton Rouge,LAfrom 9:00am untilfuneralservice at 10:00am. Burial will follow at St.John Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Clinton, Louisiana.
Kimissurvivedbyher motherThelmaLondon, father Joseph London Sr., childrenKimesha Thomas Toney (Donald) and KameronDixon, grandchildren De'Myah,Sincere,and Serenity, godson Joseph LeBraneIV, goddaughter Riketa Augustine Tebault; sister Pamela CainLeBrane (Joseph), brothers Reginald Thomas (Renae), and Sedrick Thomas Sr.; anda host of bonus siblings, aunts, uncles,nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Sherman T. Veal went to be with the LordonSunday April 13, 2025. Theviewing will be held Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 8am- 10 am. Religiousservice at 10 am at NewGideonBaptist Church
Enteredintoeternal rest on April 9, 2025. Survived by hisparents Taffnie and Jaydee Wright;sister,Mar KeyciaS.Gause;brother Jaiquan Wright andGod brotherJavion Wells. Visitation on Saturday, April 19, 2025 11:00 am untilreligiousservice at 12:00 pm BethanyWorld Prayer Center, 13855 Plank Road,Baker,LA. Reverend Gus Spurlock, officiating.EntombmentHeavenlyGates Cemetery of Baton Rouge 10633 Veterans Memorial Blvd.Service Entrusted to Hall Davis andSon. www.halldavisandson.com
When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news
The Preamble states thatone of the main purposes of enacting theU.S. Constitution is to “promote the general welfare.” The general welfare has been interpreted as referring to the well-being of society,including its health and safety Congress has the power under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1tospend money for the general welfare of the people of the United States. When it comes to assistance, including promoting the health of citizens, Louisiana has a disproportionate need for support from the federal government. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States with about 1in4 Americans atrisk of dying from cancer.Morethan 1.6 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed and nearly 595,000 cancer deaths occur annually,with direct medical costs totaling over $87 billion nationally Louisiana has the fifth-highest cancermortality rate in the nation, with 218.2 per 100,000 Louisiana
Walter LegerJr. GUEST COLUMNIST
citizens dying from thedisease annually.The highest deathrates in the state are associated with lungcancer,cancersof the breast, prostate, colon andrectum and pancreas To accelerate the early diagnoses of cancer and address Louisiana’s high rate of cancer mortality, theLegislature established the Louisiana Cancer ResearchCenter. The LCRCis charged with advancing researchand education in thediagnosis, detectionand treatmentof cancer, initially bringing together Louisiana’s two great healthsciences centers at LSU and Tulane and laterXavier University and Ochsner Health System to collaborate.
Proposed National Institutes of Health fundingcutsnow threaten to blockLouisiana’s fight against cancerand otherdiseases. Significant NIH funding to Louisiana in the fields of medical research totals more than $300 million annually
The NIH reimbursesthe univer-
sitiesfor “indirect costs”including construction, maintenance of laboratories and high-tech facilitiesfor energy,utilityexpenses related to research, as well as safety, securityand other governmentmandated grant expenses. These indirect cost reimbursements areprovidedasnegotiated and arestrictly audited. They areessentialtoconducting world-class research effectively,efficiently, safely and securely
This type of research is disproportionately important in Louisiana withour high incidence of cancer,diabetes, Alzheimer’s, hypertension and other life-threatening diseases and conditions
While the proposed cutscan be devastating to thehealth of our citizens,the impact of the cuts can have real economic consequences as well. According to anational study of all states by theUnited for Medical Research organization, Louisiana received grants thatdirectly supported nearly 3,500 jobs and $600 million in economic activityinthe state. It concluded thatfor every$1inNIH-
funded research, there is $2.46 of new economic activity LSU reports nearly $500 million of research expenditures, providing healthcare workers, as well as basic, translational and clinical biomedical research for the people of the state of Louisiana.
Tulane’smission is heavily research-focusedand touches everysegment of communities throughout Louisiana, supporting morethan 30,000 jobs statewide and generating $88.2 millioninannual taxrevenue.
In recent years, these two great universities have been successful in recruiting some of the best biomedical scientists in the world by leveraging federal dollars and strategic targeting. The annual economic impacttoLouisiana is billions of dollars.
The chainsaw cut to the NIH in the rate of indirect cost reimbursement would be devastating to vital research projects, likely resulting in setbacks in research discoveries, job losses and loss of traction just as we have been working to position Louisiana as
one of the leading bioscience research centers in the nation. To ensure the constitutional mandate to “promote the general welfare”bysaving lives and simply because it is the right thing to do, we ask our congressional leaders to support biomedical research by continuing indirect costs funding at current levels. The NIH has recognized the importance of providing reimbursement for indirect costs to universities while seeking cures for diseases. This is awise investment of tax dollars that will reap benefits by saving and improving lives through cures and by creating jobs and opportunities for Louisiana.
Louisiana has outstanding congressional leadership in both houses. We need to call upon them to use ascalpel, not achainsaw, whenitcomes to fighting cancer and other diseases.
Walter J. Leger,Jr.,isathreetime cancer survivor and amember of theBoard of Trustees,Louisiana Cancer Research Center
In asmall microschool in northwest Louisiana, personalized learning has unlocked remarkable opportunities for students like Isak Schmidley.Isak made history as the youngestever graduate of LSU Health Sciences Center At just 16 years old, he earned abachelor’sdegree inmedical laboratory science —all without taking on a single student loan. The key to his success?
thousands of studentsinLouisiananow canpursue an education that best fits their needs. The LA GATOR Scholarship also makes it possible forinnovative models like microschoolstoflourish.
Isak is agraduate of Country Day Montessori School. The microschool’spersonalized approach allows all students to study at their own pace. When they master aconcept, they move on. Thismodel has yielded extraordinary results,withnearly every graduate earningatleast an associatedegree. One student even went on to graduate from Bossier Parish Community College at just 13 years old!
Microschools have emerged as apowerful disruptive innovation in theconventional schooling paradigm.These small school modelsoffer aflexible, student-centered approach by emphasizingsmallclass sizes, personalized learningand community-driven education.
Unlike traditional schools, which often focus on standardized processes and scalability,microschools aredesigned to adapt quickly to the unique needs of theirstudents and families. By leveraging technology, creatively utilizing spaces and tailoring curricula, microschools redefine education, filling gaps left by larger,less agile institutions. They embodythe essence of educational innovation, challenging thestatus quo and providing aroad map for amore inclusive and customized learningexperience.
Education is undergoinga profound transformation, moving far beyond the conventional brick-and-mortar public school model that has long defined American schooling. Today,families are seeking educational options that are flexible, personalized and better suited to the diverse needs of their children.
Advances in technology,agrowing emphasis on individualized learning and the demand for greater choice have opened the door to innovative approaches that challenge traditional assumptions about what education should look like. These changes reflect abroader shift in how we think about learning, making roomfor modelsthat prioritizecreativity,community and adaptability over one-size-fits-all solutions.
Louisiana is embracing thiseducational transformation through the “GivingAll True Opportunity to Rise” or LA GATOR scholarship program. With the passage of the LA GATOR scholarship program in2024,
By expanding access to funding and resources traditionally limited to public schools, the programlevelsthe playing field andempowers school founders to provide customizededucation tailoredto theunique needs of their communities. The LA GATORScholarship programnot only supportsthe growth of microschoolsbut also reinforces Louisiana’s commitment to reimagine education for the 21st century
In itsfirst phase,the LA GATOR Scholarshipisopentofamilieswho currently participateinthe Student Scholarships for EducationalExcellenceProgramand those earning up to 250% of the federalpoverty level.Scholarships range from $5,500 to $15,000, with higher amounts forstudents with exceptionalities.
Currently,the voucherprogramserves 5,541 students, but the LA GATOR Scholarshipaimstoreach significantly more families, expanding to offerevery student in thestate an education savings account by Phase3
Unlike its predecessor,the LA GATOR Scholarship allows ESAs to cover arange of services beyond private school tuition, such as tutoring, therapies, artsprograms and microschooling. It allows entrepreneurs to provide educational and vocational services, broadening options for students statewide.
By expanding whateducation funding can cover,Louisiana joins agrowing waveof states redefining how students access learning opportunities. In stateswith universal ESAprograms like Florida,Arizona, Utah and West Virginia —microschools have become asignificant part of theeducation ecosystem.
No longer are Louisiana’sstudents confined to factory-era education. Instead, they can prepare for an innovative, everchanging 21st-century market. Education must followsuit by offering acustomizable marketplace of choices, allowing parents to set theirstudents up forsuccess starting right now Louisiana has the tools to reshape education for future generations. Educators, entrepreneurs and communitiesmust unite to ensure every student has access to abrighter,more personalized path to success.
NathanSanders is apolicy and advocacy directoratthe nonprofit EdChoice. Traci Schmidleyisthe founder of Country Day Montessori School in Red River Parish and aleader of Microschool America (and Isak’s mom)
Lastmonth, President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting revisionist history and divisive ideologies at our national parks andthe Smithsonian museums. Whatever one thinks of the scope of that EO, it does aim to address areal problem.Under theguise of telling amore inclusive, equitable and accurate history,the American story at present is being distorted at museums and historic sites across the nation. The EO supplies afew examples of discordant notes at the Smithsonian, such as “hard work” being labeled an aspect of “White culture.”
This is no happenstance. In 2022, Lonnie Bunch, secretary of theSmithsonian Institution, co-chaired atask force to produce areport on excellence in diversity, equity,accessibility and inclusion, which begins: “DEAI is integral to excellence in museum practice. FULL STOP.”
TheAmerican Alliance of Museumsis responsible for thereport and further claims that museums should “champion an anti-racist movement” to create a “more just and equitable world.” The AAM is composed of 35,000 museums and museum professionals. Funding for thereport wasprovided by the AndrewMellon, Alice L. Walton and FordFoundations.In2023, Mellon committed $500 million to transforming our nation’smonuments landscape,inpart because thereare no “U.S.-born Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or self-identified LGBTQ+ people” in thetop 50 individuals mostfrequently memorialized. Considering thepositions of those involved, the number of members in theAAM and the magnitude of funds at play,efforts to promoteDEI at museums andhistoric sites are indeed widespread. At theheart of this conflict is afundamental divide regarding the purpose of museumsand historic sites. Traditionally,those institutions have aimed at promoting civic education and preserving the American heritage. Agrowing trend, however,istouse them to further social justice, engage in activism and tell amore “inclusive” and “equitable” version of history
Each side claims to offeramore accurateversion of American history.Let’s examine the evidence.
Both Mount Vernon, hometoGeorge Washington, and Montpelier,home to James Madison, have incorporated tours andexhibitsonslavery,detailing the realities of the institution and individual stories of enslaved people.
Mount Vernon has done so in amodest and fact-driven mannerwithout straying from its core mission of presenting
the accomplishments of George Washington. Montpelier,onthe other hand, has no exhibits dedicated to the seminal contributions of James Madison. While someofthe exhibits on slavery are informative, others contain distortions and omissions. One panel on the first 18 presidents and their relationship with slavery notes that some presidents (Jefferson and Madison) never freed their slaves but fails to mention that Washington did, while another indicates that the enslaved population in New Hampshire in 1790 was11% when the actual figure was 0.11%.
In the Museum and Education Center at Mount Vernon, students are confronted with decisions George Washington himself faced, and advisers like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison step forward to voice their opinions. The exercise is about genuine education: demonstrating complexity and tutoring young people in the art of making prudential choices. In contrast, Montpelier’sexhibit for children (funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services) asserts that, “[b]ooks are great tools forintroducing young children to topics like race, identity,and justice.” One of the available books contains “imagination exercises” that encourage children to put themselves in the role of aslave-owner,whipping an individual until his “flesh cried blood.”
Rather than promoting liberal education, which encourages children to think forthemselves and aims at truth, Montpelier fails to present all the facts and aspects of the American story —both the triumphs and the failures —favoring an ideological telling that fosters resentment.
While both Mount Vernon and Montpelier could be considered as telling a more“inclusive” version of American history,only Mount Vernon’stelling is accurate. Montpelier is misconstruing American history and promoting activism,providing an example of the false revisionist version of history Trump’s executive order aims to combat.
Someofthe exhibits at the Smithsonian museums, as wellasstatements by Smithsonian leadership and the overall trajectory of the museum industry, raise legitimate concerns that America’s public museumswill follow the model of Montpelier over Mount Vernon.
BrendaM.Hafera is theassistant director and seniorpolicyanalyst at TheHeritage Foundation’s Simon Center forAmericanStudies
President Donald Trumpis threateningtotopull federal funding from Columbia University, HarvardUniversity andother private institutions that don’t comply with the administration’sdirectives.This wouldbeabig blowto universities that have long relied on this federal moneytosupportthe research their faculty members do.Aswe watch this ideological battle playout, here aretwo perspectives.
Let’scut to the chase. Mostof Donald Trump’sthreatsagainst Ivy League colleges areanattempt to divert attention away from an economy heading into crisis.
The trade war is producingeconomic and foreign policy nightmares. Despite the DOGE show,budget deficits are projectedtorisefurther under Republican rule. The stock market is traumatized Investors are startingtobail out of U.S. Treasury debt. Recession and possibly stagflation are both forecast
andpolitical might. Foreigners fight to getinto them.And so do the parentsofright-wingerscurrently pulling the strings in Washington. They want the prestige and the opportunity to pair their children with childrenofthe rich.
universities think because they think things like this: “Mispronouning” merits punishment, and advocating genocide against Jews deserves “contextualizing.”
Even Trump’sbeloved oildrillers are suffering. Thestock of the fracking company once run by Energy Secretary Chris Wright has fallen43% this year.The U.S. already had“energy dominance” under Joe Biden. Now it faces oversupply.
And so Trump has chosen atarget associated with the elitism that his MAGA base has cometoresent Better that MAGA fume over those Ivy League leftists than plans tocut theMedicaid that so much of the base relies on.
Trump is also helped by the cowardice some of the fancy schools have shown against outrageous student behavior. Letting protesters hidebehind masks as theytake over public spaces was pathetic. And some charges that eliteuniversities were tolerating abuse of Jewish students were justified.But weakness, more than antisemitism,probably explains the administrations’ fear of calling police or even expelling students who erectedtents on the quads against schoolrules andthen refused to leave withoutconcessions.
HarvardUniversitydid Americaagreat servicebyrejecting Trump’slatest efforts at extortion —his threats to cut over $2 billion in federal money and withdrawthe school’stax-exempt status.
The Ivies andthe elite non-Ivies (Stanford University,MIT,University of Chicago) are privateinstitutions. The governmenthas no right to take over the hiring of staff or assign auditors to examinewhat is taught. These institutions cantake credit for much of this country’s economic
published.
Three of Trump’skids attended one of the Ivies,the University of Pennsylvania, as did Trump. The president has frequently boasted of his attendance at UPenn’sWharton School of Finance, referring to his education there as “super genius stuff.” Elon Musk has tweeted that the level of propaganda at eliteuniversities “would make North Korea jealous.” He hasn’tdisclosed the schools his college-age children have attended,but at least one of them currently goes to Brown University —famed as perhaps the most fashionably left of the bunch. Then there are thewildly expensiveand hard-to-get-into private high schoolsprized for their reputationsasfeeders for the Ivies. The politically connected and extremely rich fight to get their kids intothese launching pads for the ruling class
Regardless of thepolitical bent of the teachers at the “top” universities, what the best of them offer is critical thinking, and critical thinking oftengoes in conservative directions. Conservative Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaughand Clarence Thomas all attended Yale Law School. John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch went to Harvard Law. Fourofthe conservatives went to Ivy League schools as undergraduates
As noted at theopen, this drama aboutHarvard attempting “to cross” thegreat and powerful Donald Trumpisa sideshow.It’sa colorful, easy-to-sell controversy for mediaof all political persuasions Nonetheless, themonumentally bigstory is what’shappening in the financial markets—toinflation, to the dollar and to America’sreputation as astable place in which to invest. The war against the Ivies is nearly all asmokescreen.
FromaHarropisonX,@FromaHarrop.
The Trumpadministration’scoercion of Columbia University involved reciprocal misbehavior by theschool and the government. This and other threatened punishment is probably aharbinger of further unlawful behavior by alawless government against teachinginstitutions that are slow learners Columbia was dilatory and incompetentindealing with demonstrations that disrupted education and created ahostile campus environment for a disfavored minority,Jews. Columbia deserved to pay acost for this violation of existing laws and regulations. There are, however,other pertinent rules.
The administration’sMarch 13 letter to Columbia ordered “immediate compliance” with its demands for: expulsion of certain students and student groups, reform of admissions policies and disciplinary procedures, and government supervision (“receivership”) of theMiddle Eastern, South Asian and African studies department.But Keith E. Whittington,director of Yale Law School’sCenter for Academic Freedom and Free Speech,notes: “Federal statutes require that the government demonstratewith awritten report to Congress and after afull hearing that there has been alegal violation before an educational institution can have its fundingcut off. Even if those procedural hurdles had been met, federal law does not permit administration officials to withhold any and all federal funds that might flow to an educational institution. It limits any withholding of funds ‘to the particular program,orpart thereof, in which such noncompliance has been so found.’”
The punishment that Columbia seems to have evaded by surrendering was therevocation of $400 million in funding for,among other things, medical and other scientific research.
When thenext progressive administration in Washington uses such financial coercion to force universities into accepting federal dictation of admissions and disciplinary policies, and supervision of curriculums about, say, race and gender,today’s“conservatives” will be embarrassed, if any are indeed capable of experiencing that emotional condition. There probably is scant public support for Columbia, Pennoruniversities generally They are learning, painfully,that when you ask for trouble, you should expect trouble. Of higher education, it is fair toask: Has so much prestige ever been squandered so quickly? Universities issuing solemn pronouncementsabout political eventshave appeared childishly self-absorbed. They seem unaware that few people takeseriously what
Intellectuals, often the last to understand things, are discovering the obvious: When universities adopt stances that are adversarial and disdainful toward the (they say: systemically racist, social-justice-deprived) society that sustains them,the sustaining wanes. Since 2017, afew of the largest college endowments have been taxed at 1.4%. JD Vance has suggested 35%, perhaps forall endowments. When the Trumpadministration seriously comes after endowments, the schools looking around forfriends will find few.
Progressives relish enforcing the principle that when government pays the piper,government gets to call the tune —even when the federal government pays asmallportion of the piper’sincome. Federal money has turned manyofsociety’sinstitutions —state and local governments, K-12 schools, universities, businesses, and others —into paid pipers.
The Obamaand Biden administrations spoke of using federal money fora“whole-ofgovernment approach” to coerce all-of-society conformity to government’spreferences In 2011, the Education Department’scivil rights division becameacivil rights violator with its 19-page “Dear Colleague” letter amenacing evasion of the Administrative Procedure Act’sdue process provisions. The letter,rescinded by the current administration, threatened schools with terminations of federal funding if they did not adopt new “sexual harassment” enforcement policies. Schools weretold that accused individuals could be convicted, and given life-shattering punishments, on the basis of only “a preponderance of the evidence,” not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
The current administration’sdisregard of the law does not seem like carelessness. It seemstobeachest-thumping expression of the belief that respecting legal boundaries is forweaklings.
Defiance of clear legal strictures indicates that some“conservatives” are jealous that progressives have been having all the fun throwing the government’sweight around. Be that as it may —and however muchColumbia, Penn and many other institutions have forfeited the public’ssympathy —government should not slice through the law to get at them.
Email George Will at georgewill@washpost. com.
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
The last time Ashton Larson recorded ahit beforeThursday night was March 11.
ä Alabama at LSU 6P.M. FRIDAy,ESPN2
The sophomore had entered the gamefor senior Josh Pearson. With LSUleading18-2 in the fourth inning againstXavier,itwas the Tigers’ last game before thestart of Southeastern Conference play Larson walked up to the plate only six more times after his double against the Musketeers, but LSUcoach Jay Johnson turned to the former starter in thesixth inningonThursday when the Tigers neededa spark at theplate. The Tigers trailed5-1 to Alabama following aweekend wherethey only scored eight runs Larson, pinch-hitting for senior Luis Hernandez, fouledoff thefirst pitchbut he didn’tmiss the next one. He sent ahanging breaking ball over the right field wall for a three-run home run.
The homer woke up asleepy LSU offense as the Tigers scored four runsinthe seventh inning to pull away with the 11-6 victory at Alex Box Stadium. With two runners in scoring position,
ä See LSU, page 5C
LSU won11-6.
BY SCOTTRABALAIS Staff writer
FORT WORTH, Texas They won theSoutheastern Conference regular seasontitle, the SECchampionshipmeet and their NCAA regional.
But in what turned out to be the LSU gymnastics team’s biggest meet of theseason, the one thatwould allow the Tigers to pursue asecond straight NCAAchampionship, they came up short.
LSU, theNo. 1overall seed in theentire NCAAcompetition, was unabletodoenough to make it to Saturday’s final. The Tigers finished withascore of 197.525 to wind up in thirdplace behind No. 4Utah (197.7625) and No. 5 UCLA (197.7375) in Semifinal II at Dickies Arena
One Tigerdid come away with oneofthe night’s big prizes, as freshman Kailin Chio won the vault individual title witha9.975. But cheers for Chio did little to mask
the disappointment for LSU in achampionship run that felt like it ended all too soon.
“That’ssports,” LSU coach Jay Clark said. “We’re fifth in the country and we’re devastated. But the truth of the matter is we had arecord-setting year.”
The Utes andBruins advancetoSaturday’s finaltotake on No.2Oklahoma and No.7Missouri, which finished in the top twoinThursday’sfirst semifinal. The Sooners posted a197.550, while Missouri edged No. 3Florida 197.300-197.200 to earn its first-ever trip to an NCAA final.
First vault is set for3 p.m.onABC.
LSU (28-4) won 10 straight meetsentering Thursday’s semifinals, eight of them with scores of 198 or higher.But on atight day forscoring, the Tigers didn’thave enough to prevail or even get in the top two.
ä See NCAA, page 4C
Three-time All-Protackle shared announcementin heartfeltsocialmedia post
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
Ryan Ramczyk has called it acareer. The New OrleansSaintslong-time right tackle announced his retirementThursday after eight years in the NFL. He missed all of last season because of achronic knee injury,but at his peak, he was one of the most dominant offensive linemen in theleague. Ramczyk,30, made threeAll-Pro teams —one first-team selection andtwo secondteam selections. Theformer 2017 first rounder,drafted 32nd overall, landed with theSaintsafter theteamtraded widereceiverBrandin Cookstothe New England Patriots,who sent back thepick New Orleans used to acquire theWisconsin product
In 2021, Ramczyk signed afive-year, $96 millionextensiontomakehim then the league’shighest paid right tackle.
Ramczyk’sretirement cameone week beforethe NFL Draft, where the former offensive lineman will announce the Saints’ selections on Day 2ofthe three-day event.
“Whatanincredible journey it’s been,” Ramczyk wroteonasocial media post that thanked his family,formercoaches and
On TV
AUTO RACING
8:25 a.m. Formula 1: Practice ESPN2
11:55 a.m.Formula 1: Practice ESPN2
4p.m.NASCAR Truck: Black’sTire 200 FS1 COLLEGE BASEBALL
6p.m. Virginia at FloridaSt. ESPN2
6p.m. Alabama at LSU ESPN2
7p.m.Georgia Tech at Miami ACCN
7p.m.Florida at MississippiSt. SECN
8p.m. Cal Poly at UC Santa BarbaraESPNU
9p.m. Texas Tech at Arizona St. ESPN2 MEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE
5p.m. Rutgers at Penn State BTN
6p.m. Navy at Loyola (Md.) CBSSN
7p.m. Johns HopkinsatMaryland BTN COLLEGESOFTBALL
5p.m. Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh ACCN
5p.m. Alabama at Florida SECN
6p.m. Oklahoma St. at UCF ESPNU
7p.m. TexasTech at ArizonaFS1
9p.m. UCLA at Oregon BTN GOLF
9a.m. PGATour:Corales Puntacana GOLF
1p.m. PGATour:The RBCHeritageGOLF
5p.m. LPGA Tour:JMEagleLAGOLF HORSE RACING
1:30 p.m. America’s Dayatthe Races FS2
MLB
1p.m.Arizona at ChicagoCubs MLBN
6:05 p.m.Seattle at Toronto APPLETV+
6:15 p.m.Minnesota at Atlanta APPLETV+
7p.m.L.A.Dodgers at Texas MLBN
10 p.m.San Francisco at L.A.Angels MLBN NBA PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
6p.m.Miami at Atlanta TNT
8:40 p.m.DallasatMemphis ESPN MEN’S SOCCER
8:55 a.m. Burnley at Watford CBSSN
6p.m.Vancouver FC at CavalryFCFS2 UFL
7p.m.Memphis at Michigan FOX
BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer
HILTONHEAD ISLAND,S.C. Justin
Thomas had around to match the immaculate weather Thursday at Harbour Town with 11 birdies that allowed him to tie thecourse record with a10-under 61 to lead the RBC Heritage
The best shot he hit all day was an 8-iron that dropped near the pin and settled 5feet away.He missed that birdie putt, one of the few chances he didn’tconvert There waslittletocomplain about on aday of hardly any wind, acourse in mint condition andwarm sunshine thatadded to the RBC Heritage being the ideal place to decompress from the hectic week at the Masters Defending champion Scottie Scheffler,coming off atie for fourth at the Masters, had very little stress at Harbour Town in around of 64 that looked easy which is not to say it felt that way.
“I will never say that golf is easy,ever.Golf is hard,” Scheffler said with alaugh.
But he was out of position only once off the tee and one other time when he went long ofa green and both times he saved par.Otherwise, he putted for birdieor better on the other 16 holes and converted enough chances for a start that only looked good —not great —because of Thomaswith the lowest score at Harbour Town in 10 years.
Bay Hill winner Russell Henley also had a64, while Wyndham Clark wasanother shotbackat65. The group at 66 included former
Hilton Head winner Matt Fitzpatrick and GaryWoodland, on theroad back from brain surgery and building momentum from a runner-upfinish in Houston.
Fifty players in the 72-man field broke par onacourse that yielded an averagescore of 69.2
“I felt likeifyou compared my four rounds lastweek to today,today wouldbeamuch less stressfulroundofgolf in terms of scrambling for apar,” Scheffler said. “A lot of the stuff Ihad to do last week Ifelt like Ididn’thave to do today to shoot agood score. Thegolf course is obviously abit different, but Iwas in position most of the day today
“Overall, yeah, Iwould say stress-free day ” Thomas is winless since capturinghis second PGA Championship title in 2022, though hisgame has been trending enough in the right direction that he is No. 8inthe world. TheMasterswas adisappointment— no round lower than 70, 13 shots behind in atie for 36th —but he put in some good work at Hilton Head fortwo days and madeitpay off. Six of his birdie putts were inside 10 feet,and he threw in three birdies from the 35-foot range, oneofthemonthe 17th hole that put him in range of the course record.
He thought he had it with that 8-iron to afront pin on the 18th, whichruns along theCalibogue Sound, only to miss the putt. He also misseda4-footpar putt on the10th.
“I’ve been playing really well, really solid. Felt good about things,” Thomas said. “I just didn’t play well last week. Putsome really good work in the couple days leading into the start today,and Ifelt prepared. It was just about going out and doing it, and it was nice to do so.”
Among those who played later as the breeze —and nothing more than abreeze —began to pick up wasJustinRose, wholostin aplayoff last week. He birdied hislasttwo holes fora 67 to join agroupthatincluded Jordan Spieth,Patrick Cantlay and Tommy Fleetwood Masters championRoryMcIlroy decided to skip this signature eventevenbeforethe Masters got started. Hilton Head wasnot a course he felt suited him with its tight,tree-lined angles.
Thomas felt differently
“I love it.I wish we played more places like it,” Thomas said. “I think more architects should design places likethis. It kind of stands of testoftime,I think. Especially if we continue to get weather like this and if these fairways getfirm —the greensare already getting firm —it’sgoing to be everything we want by the end of the week.”
He got everything he could have wanted —savefor that birdie putt on the 18th—atthe start of the week.
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
Apair of rising youngstars have committed to play in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, as Akshay Bhatia and Carson Young willteam up in next week’sPGA Tour event, tournament organizersannounced.
“This is another promising young pair,” said Steve Worthy CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation which runs the Zurich Classic.
“Akshay has two wins on the PGA Tour and has Walker Cup team experience, and Carson has shown some strong play over the last year.They should be fun to watch.” Once the youngest U.S. Walker Cup player in history,the 23-year-
BYSPENCERURQUHART
Staff writer
old Bhatia ranks26th in the world after atie for 42nd in theMasters tournament.The California native won his first PGA Tour event in 2023 in the Barracuda Championship and won again in 2024 at the Valero Texas Open
So farthis year he hasthree top10 finishes, thebest atie for third in The Players.
Bhatia was just 17 andstill a senior in high school when he played on the2019 U.S.Walker Cup team that defeated Great Britain and Ireland 151/2-101/2.He wasthe first high school student to ever represent theU.S.inthe Walker Cup.
Young, 30,earned his PGA Tour card for the2023 season and posted two top-10 finishes and eight top-25 finishes in his first full campaign.
In 2024, Young wasrunner-up by asingle stroke in theWorld Wide TechnologyChampionship in Mexico, tying for second behind Austin Eckroat withJustin Lower.His second-place finish in that tournament capped apromising season that included six top25 finishes, of which three were in thetop 10.
This year,the former Clemson golfer’s best finish has been atie for 10th in thePuertoRico Open.
The commitment of the Bhatia-Young team follows astring of high-profile commitmentsto thetournament, whichrunsnext Thursday-Sunday at TPCLouisianainAvondale. Newly crowned MasterschampionRory McIlroy, No. 2inthe
world rankings and No. 1inFedExCup points, is slated to team up again withShane Lowry,ranked 15thinthe world, to defend their title in this year’sZurich Classic. They will be joinedbytwo-time major champion Collin Morikawa, No. 4inboth world ranking and FedExCup points, playing with Kurt Kitayama.
The Zurich Classictournament field will be finalized Friday
Single day tickets for the Zurich Classic are $45 and will be mobile entry only.Active military are admitted free Wednesday-Sunday through VetTix, andchildren 15 and under areadmitted free with aticketed adult.
For more information call (504) 342-3000 or visit www.zurichgolfclassic.com.
The47thCrescentCityClassic is set for its traditional Easter weekend date, and the number of runners is expected to increase.
The 10K racebegins at 8a.m. Saturday and goes 6.2 miles throughout New Orleans, starting near the Caesars Superdome before reaching the historic French Quarter.Runners then maketheir way up Esplanade Avenueand cross the finish line at CityPark Race preparation has included expanding the fence linetoaccommodate the increased fieldas well as bringing in more misters, water,ambulances and medical personnel to aid runners
“We’re expecting 30%more runners than last year,which is significant,”Crescent City Classic race director Eric Stuart said. “Wedidn’tcome back as strong from the pandemic, but we sure aremaking up for it now.Running is cool again. There are running booms, and it’sdefinitely happening this year.People are also using it as asocial function.”
The race’smotto, ‘A Race For All
ä 47th Crecent City Classic.
8A.M. SATURDAy
Y’all,’ attracts people of all sorts of skill levels to sign up. Spectators canexpect tosee the likes of skilled distance runners, families with their kids and people dressed in costumes.
The Crescent City Classic used to recruitelite runners from throughout world, but that model has changed with increased appearance fees. The focushas shifted backtolocal runners “Wefeel the elites didn’tenhance our race enough,”Stuart said. “People are more interested in the locals, so we’ve moved to thatmodel.Wewere thefirst bigracetoembrace theprosin the ‘80s, but theirappearance feehas become more expensive than the prize money.”
Three of UNO’stop distance runners are set to compete this year as well as runners from local running clubs such as the PowerMilers. Last year’smalewinner Matthew Hansen,anAustralianative, wasa runner at UNO. Acap of around 18,000 runners is expected to be metwith over 15,000
having signed up as of Monday
“We’re farther aheadthanwhat we had all of lastyear,” Stuart said. “Weusually geta third of the runners sign up thelast week, but we have acap becausewecan’t run outofrace bibs, t-shirts and medals. Ithink we’ll hit the cap (of around 18,000).”
Runner 321
TheCrescentCityClassic has partnered with “Runner321”for thefourth straight year, aprogram thatreserves racebib No.321 for a runnerwithDown syndrome.
14-year-old RileyArmstrong from Raceland is set to be this year’s 321 runner and will compete alongside her parentsRoss andHeather Armstrong andher threebrothers.Lastyear’s321 runner Emma Ryancompeted despite alsobattling leukemia, which helped inspire Riley “Whenwewatched the video(of Emma Ryan), Ithink it motivated (Riley) forthe challenge,” Ross Armstrongsaid. “Down syndrome kids are such agit. They helppush each other to meet their potential. (Riley) is really starting to getfired up.”
“Runner 321” beganasanini-
LSU softball drops series opener againt Texas No. 9LSU dropped a7-3 decision behind No. 3Texas’ catcher Reese Atwood on Thursday at Red &Charline McCombs FieldinAustin, Texas.
LSU(35-9, 8-8SEC)led 3-0 through five innings before Texas (40-5, 12-4) tied thegame in thesixth offtwo home runs,and Atwood endeditwith agrand slam in theseventh, marking LSU’s fourth consecutive loss.
LSU pitcher Sydney Berzon (154) took theloss after giving up three earned runs on six hits in 62⁄3 innings. Berzon had one strikeout and walked three batters.
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan (19-3) got thecomplete game win, striking out five batters, giving up threeruns (one earned) on nine hits, and walking one batter
Nats’ López suspended for throwing at McCutchen Washington Nationals pitcher JorgeLópez hasbeensuspended three games and fined for throwing at Pittsburgh’sAndrewMcCutchen, Major League Baseball announced Thursday López was ejected from Wednesdaynight’s game against thePirates after ahigh pitch near McCutchen’s head led to the benchesbriefly clearing in the seventh inning.
López hit the previous batter, Bryan Reynolds, witha pitch before facing McCutchen, who had to fall to the ground to avoid getting hit by a92mph ball near his head.
The right-hander has filed an appeal of thesuspension, which was set to begin Thursday but will not take effect until that process is done.
FAMU to hire Heisman winner Ward as hoops HC TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Former Florida State dual-sport starand 1993 HeismanTrophywinnerCharlie Ward is set to become the new men’sbasketball coach at Florida A&M University Ward’shiring wassupposed to becomeofficial during aboardof trustees meeting Wednesday afternoon, but anationwide Zoom outage forced the meeting to be postponed to alater date. Nonetheless, the sides have a five-year,$975,000 contract in placethatispending boardapproval. Under the proposed deal, Ward would earn $175,000 during the 2025-26 season and get a $10,000 raise annually.The contract runs through June 2030.
Struggling Rockies fire hitting coachMeulens
DENVER— The Colorado Rockies fired hitting coach Hensley Meulens and replaced him with former manager Clint Hurdle on Thursday
The Rockies, who hadthe dayoff before starting aseries against the Nationals, are3-15. Theyare hitting .220, tied for 27th with 12 homers and last with 52 runs.
The 57-year-old Meulens had been the club’shitting coach undermanager Bud Black since 2022. He servedinthe same position forthe SanFrancisco Giants, helping manager BruceBochy guide that organization to three World Series titles.
tiative by Adidas for high-profile long-distanceraces throughout theU.S. such as theCrescent City Classic to save bib No. 321 for Down syndrome runners.
“(TheCrescentCityClassic) has been amazing to be apart of,” said Jason Heine, who’sinvolved with the 321 program. “Their motto is ‘A Race For All Y’all,’ and they’re certainly living by that.”
Tradition
New Orleans residents look forward to the CrescentCityClassic each year with the race drawing a significant crowd.
The race hastaken place on Easter weekendfor the past 47 years.
Stuart hasservedasracedirector since 2012 and plansonkeeping the race at its traditional date despite asuggestion that adifferent date could be moreprofitable.
“It’sa 47-year tradition,” Stuart said. “Some we’veseen outtraining sinceNovember,then they all cometogether forthisrace. It’smeaningful for the city,and it meansalot to alot of people.
It’s been alongstanding tradition on Easter weekend. We’re happy with where we’re at.”
Hurdle managedthe Rockies from 2002-09, atenure highlighted by atrip to the World Series in 2007. He was the club’sminor league hitting coach from 1994-96 and big league hitting coach under DonBaylor,Jim Leyland and Buddy Bell from 1997-2002. He later worked with the Rangers before managing the Pirates from2011-19.
Bucks’ star Lillard cleared for full basketballactivity
MILWAUKEE MilwaukeeBucks guard Damian Lillard is off bloodthinning medicationand hasbeen cleared for full basketball activity amajor step forward in his return from the deep vein thrombosis that has kept him out for the last month.
The Bucks still aren’tindicating exactly when the seven-time all-NBA performer might play again, though he has been ruled out fortheir first playoff game. TheBucks are seeded fifth in the Eastern Conference and open the playoffs Saturday at Indiana againstthe fourth-seeded Pacers. Lillard last playedina game March 18. The Bucks announced aweek later the star had deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and was undergoing blood-thinning medication.
‘Lives are more important’
Magic coach speaks on Florida State shooting
BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer
Jamahl Mosley had things
to say after the Orlando Magic finished practice on Thursday They were not about basketball
Upon hearing the news of Thursday’s shooting at Florida State University, with investigators saying two people were killed and six others injured, Mosley’s mind immediately shifted away from playoff preparations.
To him, thoughts of the upcoming NBA playoff series between the Magic and the defending champion Boston Celtics Game 1 is Sunday — could wait.
“This is the opportunity right now to talk about putting things in perspective,” Mosley said, unprompted at the start of his media availability and not taking any questions until he got the words out.
“What’s going on at Florida State I just want to send thoughts, prayers that things are handled speedily and that we can just continue to pray for those that have been impacted by this.
“Lives are more important, and human beings are more important, than a basketball game or a playoff series at any given time,” Mosley added. “And that’s what we need to continually remember in these moments right now.”
Mosley, like many other NBA coaches, has used his platform to speak out
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
on various matters when he feels it’s necessary or can be helpful. Orlando is located in the center of the state, about a 250-mile drive from Florida State’s campus in Tallahassee, the state capital.
Magic forward Jonathan Isaac played for one season at Florida State before entering the NBA.
“My mind is kind of all over the place,” Isaac said after he got the initial news, which broke while the Magic were practicing. “Obviously, I don’t have the details, but it’s tragic and I’m sad about it. I’m sad about anything that happens like this anywhere but for it happen at Florida State takes a toll, means a lot.” Isaac is very open about his faith, and said he’d be relying on that.
“The Bible says to grieve
with those who grieve, mourn with those who mourn,” Isaac said. “During this time it’s not really a feel-good message, ‘Oh, everything’s going to be OK.’ We’ve got to get through this. It’s hard. It’s difficult.”
The conversation between Mosley and reporters eventually shifted to basketball and the upcoming series with the Celtics, but not before he expressed more sadness and frustration about the tragedy
“It’s about coming together,” Mosley said. “It’s about finding the human being in everything we do, because lives are being lost and have been lost. We play a game of basketball — but I think the faster we can understand about coming together as human beings the better things can be.”
BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer
Klay Thompson has played in 33 NBA Finals games. Been to the playoffs nine times. Has four championship rings in his collection. He knows how the big stage feels. Don’t tell him the play-in tournament doesn’t matter The play-in tournament ends Friday night with a pair of elimination games, win-or-go-home matchups that will have a Game 7 feel to them. In the Eastern Conference, it’s Miami going to Atlanta And in the Western Conference, Thompson and Dallas visit Memphis. The winners go to the playoffs. The losers are finished.
“I know it’s not the NBA Finals or conference finals,” Thompson, in his first season with the Mavericks, said after Dallas extended its season Wednesday with a win at Sacramento that eliminated the Kings. “But shoot, we’re still alive and a lot of teams aren’t.”
That’s true. Right now 14 teams are in the playoffs, 12 teams are done for the season and four are left to decide the last two playoff spots.
“I always say it’s like
March Madness,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said “Win or go home.” For Atlanta and Memphis, these games are a second chance after both lost games where playoff berths could have been clinched on Tuesday. For Miami and Dallas, these games are a last chance to salvage a season and make a little bit of NBA history in the process. No play-in team has ever won two road games in the same tournament, and this format now in its fifth year, not counting a one-game play-in that was needed inside the bubble in 2020 — has never seen teams that entered as the 10th seed get into the actual playoffs.
Miami and Dallas can change that on Friday
“We’re only halfway there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. The Heat and Mavericks will be trying to stave off elimination for the second time in three days, after both got road wins Wednesday to keep hope alive; Miami ousted Chicago, Dallas ousted Sacramento.
The Hawks and Grizzlies — both of whom finished eighth in the standings, which doesn’t guarantee a
BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer
There was Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Boston in 2024. Six different seasons, six different champions. A run of parity like none other in NBA history
And now the Celtics get their turn at bucking that trend. Boston will try to win back-to-back NBA titles, something no franchise has managed since Golden State did it in 2017 and 2018. The NBA playoffs start Saturday with four Game 1s, continue Sunday with four more Game 1s and just like that a 16-team, two-month journey will be off and running.
“It’s the best time of the year,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.
Favored to win the title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, are the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder, the top overall seed and No 1 seed in the Western Conference a team that set an NBA record this season by outscoring teams by 12.9 points per game. Their fellow No. 1 seed out of the Eastern Conference: the 64win Cleveland Cavaliers, a group that put together the second-best regular season in franchise history
The Thunder haven’t been to the NBA Finals since 2012. The Cavaliers haven’t been there since the end of LeBron James’ second era in Cleveland in 2018. Over the last six seasons, nine different franchises have made at least one finals appearance — further speaking to the parity leaguewide right now and the Thunder and Cavs both have eyes on adding to that list.
“This is what you compete for, is to be able to compete on the biggest stages,” Thun-
der coach Mark Daigneault said. “We’re now entering that. We’ve earned the opportunity to be there just like everybody else. We’re certainly excited.”
The Cavs aren’t even favored to win the East; oddsmakers list Boston as the pick to represent that side of the league in the NBA Finals. Cleveland a team that led the NBA in scoring this season and finished second in field-goal percentage — may be turning that into fuel.
“I think I’ve been saying we’re humble and hungry,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I don’t know if that rings, but it’s kind of who we are. Within the humility, there’s a hunger in that locker room. They want to prove people wrong.”
Among the others in the playoff field: James and the Lakers, Stephen Curry and the Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee, Nikola Jokic and Denver All past MVPs, all past champions, and all of them looking to do what Boston did last year
“We’re not defending a championship. We won last year Can’t nobody take it from us,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “But last year was last season. That’s out the window We’re not worried about anything besides the Magic right now.”
Most of the matchups are set It’s Boston vs Orlando, New York vs. Detroit and Indiana vs. Milwaukee in the East, with Cleveland set to meet either Atlanta or Miami. In the West, it’s Houston vs. Golden State, the Lakers vs Minnesota and Denver vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, with Oklahoma City awaiting the winner of Memphis and Dallas. James and Curry have four titles apiece. Nobody has gotten to five as a player since Tim Duncan in 2014, when San Antonio won its most recent title. And both
have to believe they have a realistic chance of getting through a loaded Western Conference James and the Lakers bolstered by the addition of Luka Doncic, Curry and the Warriors bolstered by the addition of Jimmy Butler
“Means a lot to match up against him,” Minnesota star Anthony Edwards said of facing James, his Olympic teammate last summer, in Round 1. “Probably goes down as the greatest player to ever play basketball. So, trying to get putting him out of the playoffs under my belt is going to be a tough one but it’s going to be a fun road.”
There’s one Round 1 rematch from last season: Milwaukee vs. Indiana. The Pacers took advantage of a hobbled Bucks team last year and won in six games, and this year they’ll be facing a Bucks team that doesn’t have Dami-
playoff berth anymore — wasted chances to make the playoffs on Tuesday; Atlanta lost at Orlando, Memphis lost at Golden State.
“We put ourselves in a position to have two games to get into the playoffs,” Hawks guard Trae Young said after his team lost to Orlando in a game that decided the No. 7 seed in the East. “Us being in the 8 seed, if this was the old school we’d already be in the playoffs I’m glad they give us an opportunity to go home and get another chance. That’s pretty much it We’ve got another chance.”
It’ll be a quick turnaround for Friday’s winners. The Atlanta-Miami winner opens the playoffs at East No. 1 Cleveland on Sunday night, while the MemphisDallas winner opens the playoffs at West No. 1 and top overall seed Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon. They won’t be complaining. “You’re looking at the bigger goal the bigger picture, which is the playoffs,” Heat forward Andrew Wiggins said. “We’ve got to do whatever we can. Whatever we’ve got to do, we’ve got to do in that game.”
BY ERIC OLSON AP college football writer
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel gave final approval to a rule designed to discourage football players from faking injuries to stop the game clock, the NCAA announced Thursday
Beginning this season, if medical personnel go onto the field to evaluate a player with an apparent injury after the ball is spotted for the next play that player’s team will be charged a timeout. If the team does not have timeouts remaining, a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty will be assessed
Feigning injuries, sometimes at the coach’s instruction, had become a tactic defenses use to slow down tempo offenses or as a way for an offense to avoid a delay-of-game penalty or get an extra timeout.
The NCAA Football Rules Committee has been concerned about feigned injuries for several years. Before the 2021 season, a framework was put in place that allows a school or conference to request a postgame video review regarding questionable actions involving injuries. If it is determined a player
faked an injury to manipulate the rules, the offending team’s conference was notified for possible disciplinary action
A change to overtime timeouts also was approved. Beginning with a third overtime, each team will have one timeout for the duration of the game. Previously teams were allotted one timeout for each overtime. Beginning in the third overtime, teams alternate running 2-point plays until a winner is decided. There will be change in verbiage when the decision on a video review is announced. The referee will only say that the call on the field is “upheld” or “overturned.”
The terms “confirmed” and “stands” will not be used. There also were a couple tweaks to kick and punt formations. No offensive player will be allowed in the direct line of the snap to the potential kicker or within the frame of the snapper on punts for the formation to qualify as a scrimmage kick formation. If a team is not in scrimmage kick formation, it must have five players numbered 50 through 79 on the line of scrimmage. Additionally if the snapper is on the end of the line by formation, the snap-
per will lose scrimmage kick protection and the opposition can line a player over the snapper
If any player on a kickoff-return team makes a “T” signal with his arms during the kick, the team gives up the right to return the kick and the play will be whistled dead.
No player can call defensive signals that simulate the sound or cadence of the offensive signals. The defensive terms “move” and “stem” would be reserved for players on that side of the ball and could not be used by the offense.
After the two-minute timeout in either half, if the defense has 12 or more players on the field and all the playersparticipateintheplay,theofficials will administer a 5-yard penalty The offensive team would have the option to reset the game clock back to the time at the start of the play If the 12th player is attempting toleavethefieldandhasnoinfluence on the play, the defensive team will be penalized 5 yards with no adjustment to the game clock.
Also, coach-to-player communication implemented for the Football Bowl Subdivision last year will be allowed in the Football Championship Subdivision.
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
Two days before he made his first career start, one of LSU offensive lineman Paul Mubenga’s tires blew out. Kyren Lacy saw what happened as he left the facility and asked if Mubenga needed help Mubenga pulled his car into a nearby parking garage He had never dealt with a flat tire, so he didn’t know he had one in the trunk. Lacy waited with him until he figured out what to do. Eventually, they put on the spare and Mubenga drove to a tire shop
“He stayed with me for over an hour, just to make sure I was OK,” Mubenga said “That’s the person he was. He always had a good intent, and it didn’t matter what he had personally going on. That’s one thing we could have helped him a little bit better with.”
This week, Lacy has been on the minds of the LSU players and coaches who knew him and considered him a friend Lacy died Saturday night in Houston from an apparent suicide, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said, four months after the end of his LSU career Lacy, 24, faced counts of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, after being accused of causing a December car crash that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall.
“I know, personally, a lot of wide receivers asked themselves the question what could they have done better to reach out to him make him feel like he still has a family here,” Mubenga said “Just because he’s done with the program, that doesn’t mean that he’s being excluded.”
After news broke of Lacy’s death, LSU called a team meeting at noon Sunday, and coach Brian Kelly told the players what happened
“Obviously, we knew because of social media,” Mubenga said “But to a lot of us, it was still a shock We was hoping to hear other news.”
There was some silence, Mubenga said, then senior safety Jardin Gilbert stood up.
“He told us that if we ever need anything, just to reach out,” Mubenga said. “It doesn’t matter what position group it is, just to
Continued from page 1C
teammates. “My path to the NFL wasn’t a straight line, it wasn’t the path most people expect. As I step into retirement, I’m filled with gratitude for everything this sport has given me.” That journey included spending his first two years of eligibility at UW-Stevens Point — a Division III school that employed his former high school football coach He then transferred to Wisconsin, where he worked his way to become a first-round pick.
As a Saint, Ramczyk joined William Road as the only tackle to be named an All-Pro three times. He
By The Associated Press
Lee Corso’s nearly four-decade run on ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to an end.
reach out to him.”
Sophomore defensive end Ga-
briel Reliford called the meeting “helpful” as his teammates began processing their emotions.
“We talked about how we could talk to each other, talk to the coaches whenever we needed,” Reliford said. “Obviously, it was a tragic situation. You never know what people are dealing with behind closed doors, so they gave us that option, let us know they’re always free to talk.”
Around LSU, players who were made available by the team Thursday remembered Lacy for his energy Mubenga said he “always had a smile on his face.” Reliford admired the passion he brought to the field.
“I’ll remember Kyren as a burst of energy,” junior running back Kaleb Jackson said. “With him around, it was always something funny, something to laugh at.
“When it was time to play, he was the guy in the locker room telling everybody to come on, screaming, getting everybody hyped.”
Others who knew Lacy remembered similar qualities. Former LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers posted an emotional message on his Instagram account earlier this week that said, in part, “you put a smile on everyone’s face. [I guess] we forgot to give you the same smile.” Nabers
was remarkably durable over the first half of his career, missing only one game in his first four seasons.
But then came the injuries.
Ramczyk’s career was undoubtedly cut short due to a chronic knee injury that slowed him down in later years. In 2023, his last season on the field, he missed the final five games because of the ailment and told reporters that he was uncertain of his future. He underwent surgery in the offseason, though his knee did not respond to the point in which he could play football again. While sidelined, the lineman appeared noticeably slimmed down in the few public appearances that he made last season. He was seen loading boxes into a car at the end of the 2024 campaign.
wished Lacy had called him Nabers and Lacy grew close during their two seasons together In the 2023 regular season finale against Texas A&M, Nabers would have broken the LSU record for career yards receiving on a 75yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it was negated by a holding call on Lacy Later in the drive, Lacy caught a touchdown that sealed the 42-30 win. Though Nabers later set the record in LSU’s bowl game, Lacy had tears in his eyes when he reached the sideline. He said the catch should have belonged to Nabers.
“After catching the game-sealing TD, all he could think about was his brother,” LSU assistant director of recruiting Bobby Barham wrote in a social media post.
“That is who Kyren was.”
Lacy’s funeral services will take place April 26, his family announced Thursday There will be a public visitation that morning in the David Stopher Gymnasium in Thibodaux. Before a celebration of life begins, LSU’s football team has its own visitation window, according to WAFB.
As those in the program who knew him grieve, Kelly said LSU will “lean heavily” on its professional counselors so players can have individual conversations if they need them.
The Saints, too, were expecting his retirement. The team and Ramczyk reworked his contract in January that reduced his $18 million salary to the league minimum of $1.255 million. Though he announced his decision Thursday Ramczyk also may technically wait to retire in June since it would allow the Saints to spread the $23 million left in dead money over the next two seasons rather than absorb it all at once in 2025. The procedural step would follow what the team did with former quarterback Drew Brees. Ramczyk also announced his retirement the same offseason as Terron Armstead, the former Saints left tackle who also revealed he was stepping away from the NFL weeks earlier
Corso, the longtime ESPN broadcaster and folksy former coach widely known for his endearing expressions and elaborate headgear picks, is set to retire after a career with the show that began in 1987, ESPN announced Thursday His final broadcast will be Aug. 30 Week 1 of the 2025 college football season — and the network said additional programming to celebrate Corso is also planned.
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and ‘College GameDay’ for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in a statement to ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
Corso, who turns 90 in August, began his popular headgear segment in October 1996 at a game at Ohio State. Since then, he has gone 286-144 in 430 selections wearing everything from helmets and mascot heads to dressing up as the Fighting Irish leprechaun from Notre Dame, the Stanford tree and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin.
“Not so fast, my friend” is one
Continued from page 1C
“Weknewitwouldbetight,”Clark said. “We knew any of the four (in LSU’s semifinal) could come out The days of a couple of great teams dominating the country are gone. You get to this stage of the game you can do everything right and it can still come out wrong.” LSU started on beam and got off to a strong start with a 9.90 from freshman Lexi Zeiss. But her score would turn out to be the Tigers’ best mark on bars, as a series of small missteps and scoring issues left LSU with a 49.325. That put the Tigers in third place after the first rotation, two-10ths behind UCLA’s 49.525 on floor and .0625 behind upstart Michigan State’s 49.3875 on vault Utah was fourth on beam at 49.2125. Needing a big score in their second rotation on balance beam to climb into the top two, the Tigers instead were stuck in neutral. Like on bars, LSU’s best score was a 9.90, this time from Konnor McClain, followed by 9.875s from Haleigh Bryant, Sierra Ballard and Chio. LSU needed to replace Kylie Coen’s 9.80 with a big routine from Aleah Finnegan in the anchor spot, but she fell midway through her routine and scored only a 9.225 that the Tigers had to discard. At the halfway point, LSU was in fourth place at 98.650, .125 behind second-place Utah.
“Momentum is a fickle thing,” Clark said. “Sometimes you can capture it and sometimes it can suck you down. We could never quite grab it. We never could seem to get out of our way.”
Still, the Tigers gave themselves a chance with a strong third rotation on floor Amari Drayton got LSU started with a 9.90 in the fourth spot followed by a huge bounce back score of 9.9375 from Finnegan in the fifth spot. When Bryant anchored the Tigers with a 9.9125, they had a 49.500 that vaulted them from fourth to second place going to
of his most well-known comments and his good humor alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and Desmond Howard and many others going back more than three decades helped make Corso and the show a beloved staple for millions on college football Saturdays.
“Almost 30 years together I have enjoyed sitting next to you, watching you do your thing,” Herbstreit said in a video on social media. “So much fun and so many great moments on the show and off the show This is a celebration for everything you did. You’re an icon and once in a lifetime person. It has been a special time for all of us You’ve earned this retirement.”
Corso’s career has lasted through a health scare in 2009, when he suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak for a while. He returned to “College GameDay ”later that year Though he hasn’t joined his colleagues as much on the road in recent years, Corso was at the site of last year’s national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta Corso was a college and pro football coach for 28 years before transitioning to broadcasting. He coached 15 years in college at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.
the final rotation. The scores stood at 148.1875 for UCLA, 148.150 for LSU, 148.1125 for Utah and 148.000 for Michigan State.
The Tigers were the nation’s No. 1 team on vault this season, but couldn’t match the kinds of performances they often had in 2025. Before Chio’s 9.975 in the fifth spot, LSU’s best score was a 9.875 from Drayton in fourth. Bryant, closing out her stellar career, finished with a 9.90.
“It shows our grit,” Bryant said, her eyes welling with tears as she spoke to reporters. “We fought to the very end. We came up short, but we fought.”
Like Chio, Bryant won an NCAA vault title in 2021 as a freshman. Her face brightened as she spoke about passing the baton to the Tigers’ new rising star
“She works so hard every day,” Bryant said. “She has since she arrived in August. She’s always trying to get better, working on the little details.”
As Chio waited to take the podium to accept her first-place trophy, gymnasts from other teams came over to console her about the Tigers’ defeat.
It was that kind of night capping that kind of season, both triumphant and heartbreaking.
For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
Central shortstop Connor Logsdon, left, makes a catch in front of second baseman Aaron Keller during Thursday’s Division I nonselect playoff game against Destrehan in Central.
BY WILLIAM WEATHERS
Contributing writer
Central third baseman
Cole Guidroz hadtaken the approach in batting practice that he wasn’tgoing to get beat on pitchesaway With the homestanding Wildcatsdeadlocked in Thursday’sDivision Inonselect opening playoff game, Destrehan starting pitcher Spencer Srubar retired the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth.
Leadoff batter Jesse Lord walked and Connor Logsdon followed with asingle to left, setting the stage for Guidroz whodrove atwo-run single off reliever Chase Marcotte into right, breaking the tie and helping send No. 15 Central to a4-1 victoryover No. 18 Destrehan in thebest-ofthreeopener at Central. Game 2isscheduled for 6p.m. Friday “We’ve beenfocusingthat everybody’sgoing to try and beat you away,” Guidroz said. “They’re going to live away and Iknew that inmy head. Itold myself that I couldn’tgodown looking at apitch away.Igot up on the line and fouled off as many as Icould until Igot something Icould do some dam-
Central 4, Destrehan1 Destrehan 000 010 0— 15 1 Central 001 030 x— 452 W— Brady Carter (2-0). L—Spencer Srubar. Leaders —DHS: Chase Marcotte 2-2, Chase Mire2-3, 2B, RBI; CHS: Cole Guidroz 1-3, 2B, 2RBIs, Jessie Lord 1-2, run, 2B, RBI, SB, 2 BBs, Parker Simcoe 1-3, RBI. Records —Central 22-10, Destrehan 21-13.
age with and Ifoundthat pitch. Ijust took one over thefirst baseman.” Central(22-10) scored three pivotal runsthatinning after Destrehan (21-13) had tied thegame inthe top of thefourth The right-handed hitting Guidroz fouled out three straight full-count pitches from Marcotteuntil going theopposite way to right and scoring both Lord and Logsdon. Brady Wiles followed Guidroz with awalk and first baseman Parker Simcoe greeted Destrehan’s second relief pitcher of the inning —Brady Carter with an RBI-singleunder the glovea diving second baseman, enabling pinch-runner Dawson Scivique to slide safely while the throw from right was cut off. “The oldsaying is when you hit with two outs, you play asa team,” Central first-year coach Sham Gabehart said. “Whetherthat’s skill or luck, you take it
however youcan getit. Our guys dida great job of just hittingthe ball where it was pitched and scratchingthe runs. Their pitcher (Srubar) did agreat job of commanding the zone withvery few free passes. He’s avery good strike thrower ”
Central’swinning pitcher Tucker Pitre (2-0) worked out of trouble in both the fifthand seventh. He inherited apair of runners and loaded the bases on awalk with two outs before striking out William Mullerand gettingagrounder that Simcoe took care of at first base. Destrehan (21-13), thecoDistrict 8-5A champion with Hahnville,twice hadthe tying run on in the seventh when Pitre recorded apair of strikeouts, sandwichedby afielder’schoice ground out. The teams weretied at 1-1 when Centralscored in the third on Lord’sdouble off the right-center wall and Destrehan countered on Chase Mire’stwo-out,RBIdouble to left in thefourth.
“Weweren’tvery experienced,wegraduated alot of quality baseball players from last year and these guys keep gettingbetter,” Gabehart said. “I’m very proud of that.”
series DivisionI No. 24 Thibodaux at No. 9Walker, 5p.m. Friday; 1p.m./4 p.m. Saturday, if necessary No. 19 Slidell at No. 15 Zachary 6:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m./1:30p.m. Saturday No. 23 Airline at No. 10 Dutchtown, 6p.m. Friday; 11 a.m./1:30 p.m. Saturday No.18 Destrehan at No. 15 Central, Game 1(Central 4, Destrehan 1) DivisionII No. 21 Plaquemine at No. 12 Pearl River,6 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m./1:30 p.m. DivisionIII No. 17 Winnfield at No. 16 St. James, 6p.m. Friday;11a.m./2 p.m. Saturday No. 19 Port Allen at No. 14 Loreauville, Game1(Loreauville 10, Port Allen 0) No. 23 RedRiver at No. 10 Doyle, Game 1(Doyle 11, RedRiver 1) Game 2(Doyle 11, RedRiver 1) Select bidistrict
DivisionI No. 20 Liberty at No. 13 St. Augustine, St. Augustine 9, Liberty 3; St. Augustine 17, Liberty1) DivisionII No. 17 LakeCharles CollegePrep at No. 16 Tara, 4p.m. Friday; noon/3 p.m. Saturday
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
Forthe fourth time in five weekends, LSU baseball will be playing against an old friend.
Alabama andformer Tigers catcher BradyNealtraveled to BatonRouge this weekendtoface off against his former team. Neal’smatchup against his former team follows LSU’sseries against Sam Dutton andAuburnlast weekend, CamJohnson andOklahoma the week before and AidenMoffettand Texas in Week 2ofthe Southeastern Conference schedule. Including Neal,Moffett, Dutton and Johnson, here’salook at how LSU transfers from last year’steam are performing with their new programs.
BradyNeal•C•Alabama
Neal was splitting time behind theplate with junior Will Plattner to start SEC play, but the former Tigerstarted at catcher in everygamelastweekend againstMississippi State. Prior to this weekend’sseries, Neal hada .206 batting average withone homerun and a.309 slugging percentage in 22 starts.
Ryan Kucherak •INF •Northwestern
Kucherak hasstarted in 34 games for the Wildcats, posting a.221 batting average withseven homeruns anda .295 onbasepercentage. He’sbeen Northwestern’s starting shortstop and went 3for 13 with ahomer last weekendagainst Michigan State.
AidenMoffett •RHP •Texas
Moffetthas had ahard timegetting opportunities this season.He’sonly pitched 22/3innings entering this week’s series againstAuburn, most recently throwing 11/3 innings last weekend against Kentucky.Moffett hasn’tallowed ahit and has six strikeoutsonthe season SamDutton•RHP •Auburn Dutton was lightsout in his last start against LSU on Friday.The Alabama nativetossed six shutout innings and allowed just threehitstolower his ERA on the year to 2.34 in 50 innings. He’s madenine starts this year as Auburn’sace.
CamJohnson •LHP •Oklahoma
Johnson started the season in Oklahoma’s weekend rotation but was later moved to a midweek starting role. Hislast appearance before this weekend came in relief on Sundayagainst Vanderbilt when he alloweda single anda walkbefore recording an out to endthe inning. This season, he hasa5.49 ERAand 18 walks in 192/3innings.
Paxton Kling•OF•PennState Kling hasbeen PennState’sbest hitter ThePennsylvania native leads the team in batting average,slugging percentage and home runs while serving as theNittany Lions’ starting center fielder.Hewent2 for 11 with ahomer last weekend against Southern California.
MicahBucknam •RHP •DallasBaptist
Bucknam had trouble carving out arole at LSU, but that has not been the case at DBU. He’sbeen the Patriots’ Friday starter,posting a3.63 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 52 innings before his 10th start of the year on Thursday.Last weekend against Jacksonville State, he surrendered just three hits in 52/3 shutout innings.
NicBronzini• LHP•Washington
Bronzini walked two batters, allowed a hitand recorded oneout in his only appearance on March 4against Portland.
ZebRuddell •OF• LouisianaTech
Ruddell had a.243 average with four home runs and a.381 on-baseplusslugging percentage in 32 games (29 starts) before Louisiana Tech’sgame on Thursday against Liberty.He went 2for 9last weekend against Middle Tennessee and blasted ahomer in his return to Alex Box Stadium on April 1.
Austen Roellig•INF •Utah
After redshirting last season withthe Tigers, Roellig had a.362 batting average, .413 on base percentage and a.485 slugging percentage in 32 starts for the Utesentering this weekend’sseries with Baylor.He’s played second base, third base and shortstop but has spent mostofhis timeatthird. This past weekend against BYU, the California native went5for 10 with five RBIs. Derrick Mitchell •OF• Austin Peay Mitchell has only played in one game for the Governors. He went 0for 3with a strikeout on Feb. 17 against Arizona State.
sophomore StevenMilam blasted athree-run homer 396 feet over the right field stands tohand LSU a7-5 lead. TheTigers extended their lead after an errant throw to second base on a potential double play ball allow sophomore Jake Brown to score from first base. Junior Ethan Frey put the cherry on top of the comeback by blasting atwo-run homer in the eighth inning
Leading theTigers in hits was freshman DerekCuriel who went 3for 5with an RBI. Frey and junior Daniel Dickinson had two hits apiece. Junior Chris Stanfield drove in LSU’slone run through the first five innings with adouble in the third Keeping Alabama’soffense at bay as LSU (33-6, 11-5 SEC) exploded at the plate was freshman righthander Casan Evans. He entered the game with arunner on and nobody out in the seventh inning, escapingit
without allowing arun. But the inning didn’t end without some drama. With twoouts and the count full, Evansstruckout shortstop JustinLebron looking on a pitch that nearlyhit the dirt The call sent Alabama’s coaching staff into afrenzy as first base coachMike Morrisongot ejected from the game. Evans tossedadrama-free eighth inningbefore coming outwith one out in the ninth forjuniorConnorBenge. He walked three batters and hit another that scored arun. Juniorright-handerZacCowan replaced Benge after the run-scoring walkand forced a flyout to end the game. LSUsophomore left-hander KadeAndersonmadehis 10th startofthe seasonon Thursday and it was an up and down night for him to say the least. Through the first fiveinnings, he allowed just two hits with nine strikeouts and no walks allowed. He pounded the strikezoneand made justtwo mistakes, surrendering apairofsolo home runs
Alabamaleft fielder Kade Snell hit asolo shot in the first inning beforeformer Tigers catcher Brady Neal hit his secondhomer of the year in thethird. Anderson didn’trun into anymore trouble until the sixthinning. With arunner at first and one out, he allowed another homertoSnell thatgave Alabama a4-1 lead before giving up asecond consecutive bomb to center fielder Richie Bonomolo that extended the Crimson Tide (30-9, 8-8) lead to five. After surrendering four homers on Thursday,Anderson has allowed 12 homersin 571/3 innings. Anderson allowed adouble after Bonomolo’s homer andwas replaced by junior right-handerJacob Mayers The Nicholls State transfer got astrikeout to end the inning before hittingthe leadoff batter in theseventh. LSU and Alabama will square off for Game2ofthe series on Friday. First pitch from AlexBox Stadium is set for 6p.m. and the game will be available to watch on ESPN2.
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK Darryl Strawberry saysMajor League Baseball needs to focus on developing and marketing thegamewithinthe inner cities in order for the percentage of Black players to rise substantially “They have academies everywhere else, butthey don’thavethe attraction for what inner cities are allabout,”Strawberry said
Thursday at Citi Field prior to what the New York Mets marketed as their “Black Legacy Game” against the St. Louis Cardinals. “That’s where we played —meand Eric Davis, Chris Brown, all of us came from theinner city and inner city baseball wasorganized.” Strawberry,Davis and Brown all grew up in the Los Angeles area and made big league debuts in 1983 and 1984.
“They don’thave those anymore. Those parks are closed down. Those parks aresoccer fields. They’re notbaseballfields anymore,” Strawberry said. Black players comprised 6.2% of the opening-day rosters this season —up from 6% last season and down 18% from1991, the first yearThe Institute for Diversity and Ethics in SportatCentral Florida conducted its annual study
BY LESLIE CARDÉ
Contributing writer
When abig video game production company hires aGrammy-award winning composer like Austin Wintory,out of Hollywood,tocreate the musical scorefor agamethattakes place in New Orleans, what does the composer do?
The Family Dinner ComedyTroupe takes on the 1991 swashbuckler “Hook” for Spoof Night! at 7:30 p.m. FridayatManship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. Evening includes moviescreening,livecommentary, drinking games and loadsoflaughs; costumes encouraged. $17. manshiptheatre.org
Kissel Entertainment brings an updated, festive midwayexperience to 16072 Airline Highway,Baton Rouge, through Saturday Rides, game and food are “next level,”Kissel says. Gates open at 5p.m. Friday and 1p.m. Saturday.$10; ride wristbands and VIPtickets are extra charge. kisselentertainment.com.
Bring the kids to the RiverCenter Branch Library, 250 North Blvd.,Baton Rouge, during April for the FunnyBunnyScavenger Hunt. Head to the children’sroom and join the funby finding the punchlines to 12 bunnythemed jokes to claim asmallprize. Not available to groups.ebrpl.com.
He moves production to New Orleans, specifically Esplanade Studios, and hires the most talentedlocal musicians money can buy If this sounds expensive, it is, but the gaming world generates the kind of revenuethat justifies big production budgets. The revenue that blockbuster videogames bring in is staggering.ThinkGrand Theft Auto V or GodofWar.Interms of media,itisnot film, TV or records that reap the big bucks; it’svideo games.
Movies and television together account for about $35 billion in box office revenue annually (theaters and streaming), and the global recorded music industry generates around$27 billion, but the global gaming industry generates around $200 billion over the same time period.
“Some games are free to play, but you must have arecurring subscription,” said video game and film composer Wintory. “Those games can makeunbelievable fortunes. Take the video game League of Legends. It makes so much money because there are fan bases in the hundreds of millions, and there’san ancillary merchandising market, as well.
“See asword in aparticular gamethat you like? Youcan own it, because there’sanentire adjacent industry manufacturing the props made popular in these games.”
N.O. musiciansondeck
Assembling agroup of musicians in New Orleans is easy, because the city has some of the best in the business. On arecent evening at EsplanadeStudios, Wintory is working with his group of percussionists.Whether it’s Alexey Marti on congas or Doug Beloteondrums, the composer is very specific aboutthe particular soundheislooking for Wintory and drummer Belote get into the nitty-grittyabout technique:when to use the pedal, at what point to bring in the snare, and how to shake up the rhythmic profile while staying on the brushes. It all sounds like code, but it is the language of musicians trying to elicit avery clear-cut and definitivesound
“For composers who score films, and I’ve done about 60 movie scores, the processbehind video games is much
WBY JUDYBERGERON| Staff writer
hen LVVRS frontman River Gibson says theband has a lot going on, he’snot kidding.
Areturn appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, anew single dropping soon, anew album out this fall— yes,things arehappening for the pop-rock band formed on Valentine’sDay 2018 (thus the name LVVRS, pronounced Lovers).
Formerly based in Lafayette, the band’snewest lineup is scattered from LouisianatoFloridaand Georgia. In addition to Gibson, membersare Gareth Calk,synth; Zac Lyons, bass; Mike Hilbun, lead guitar; andBrenon Wilson,drums
ä See LVVRS, page 2D
LVVRS
FRIDAY,APRIL25 n 3p.m.: New Orleans Jazz & HeritageFestival n 8:30 p.m.: Jazz Fest After-Party, Rock ’N’ Bowl, New Orleans (opening forCowboyMouth) SUNDAY,APRIL27 n 8:30 p.m.: Festival International AfterParty, Rock ’N’ Bowl, Lafayette
“Sinners,” written and directed by Ryan Coogler,isalush, enveloping, historical, phantasmagorical social-panorama from-dusktill-dawn vampire film It’sa richly imagined, vibrantly acted portrait of aDeep South community in the early 1930s. It’salso awild and bloody throatripping blowout—athriller that pushes the vampire-as-metaphor thing about as farasitcan go. (The film has alot on its mind.) “Sinners” works more than it doesn’t, even if it doesn’talways gel, but it’sa commanding demonstration of how lavishly spirited and “serious” apopcorn movie can be. The movie
By The Associated Press
Today is Friday,April18, the 108th day of 2025. There are 257 days left in the year
Todayinhistory
On April 18, 1906, the deadliest earthquake in U.S. history struck San Francisco, followed by raging fires acrossthe city. More than 3,000 people are believed to have been killed by the quake, which was estimated to havereached as high as 8.3 magnitude on the Richter scale.
On this date: In 1775, Paul Revere beganhis famous ride from Charlestownto Lexington, Massachusetts, warningcolonists that British Regular troops were approaching In 1942, in the first World War II attack on theJapanesemainland, 16 U.S. Army Air Force B-25 bombers conducted an air raid, ledbyLt. Col. James Doolittle, over Tokyo and several other Japanese cities.
In 1978, the Senate approved the Panama Canal Treaty,providing for the complete turnover of control of the waterway to Panama on the last day of 1999.
In 1983, 63 people, including 17 Americans, werekilled at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, by asuicide bomber driving avan laden with explosives.
In 2015, aship carryingmigrants from Africa sank in the
Continued from page1D
Just back in Lafayettefrom a business trip to Nashville,Tennessee,Gibson, 30, sat down for an update.The interview has been edited for clarity andlength. So, are you guys getting readyfor Jazz Fest? Oh, yeah, yeah,yeah. We had all my band in town allweekend, and we were rehearsing and we did a big photo shoot and all that stuff. So we’regetting pumped for sure. We played Jazz Festlast year and had such agood experience. They have us on the Gentilly Stage, which is freaking huge, it’sthe second biggest stage. And we’re playing in front of (right before) Cheap Trick. It’sgonna be fun. Last year,Heart wasplaying on our stage. Walk us through the whole experienceof playing Jazz Fest.
It’sareal deal, it’sthe biggest festival in the whole South. You’vegot to getthere earlyin the morning to get all our gear loaded, sound check. And whenever you have to get on stageor you have about10minutes to set up and play,you know,it’squite nerve-racking. Andtobeinthe presence of, you get to meet so many amazing people in the business, musicians and people behind the scenes. It’sjust really incredible to be apart of that.
The big thing for me is that I’m happy to be there becausewe’re kindofdifferent from the typical thing that they book as far as local musicians, you know,theyhave alot of jazz and all, alot of New Orleans, roots bands, but we’re an alternativeband from Lafayette, and that just doesn’thappen very often that they askabandlikeus to play
That’sjust the really special thing for me. And I’m happy to represent, you know,where I’m from and to be able to bring my music to the stage. It’sjust really an honor
Mediterranean off Libya. As manyas700 people are believed to have drowned.
In 2016, “Hamilton,” Lin-ManuelMiranda’ship-hop stage biography of America’sfirst treasury secretary,won thePulitzer Prize for drama.
In 2019, the finalreport from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russiainvestigation was made public. It outlined Russianinterference in the 2016 presidential election but “did not establish that members of the TrumpCampaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
In 2023, Fox and Dominion VotingSystemsreached a$787.5 millionsettlement in thevoting machine company’s defamation lawsuit, averting atrial in acase that exposed how thetop-rated networkpromoted falsehoods regardingthe 2020presidential election
Today’sBirthdays: Actor Hayley Mills is 79. Actor James Woods is 78. Actor Rick Moranis is 72. Actor Eric Roberts is 69. Journalist-author Susan Faludi is 66. Actor JaneLeeves is 64. Ventriloquist-comedian Jeff Dunhamis63. Talk show host Conan O’Brien is 62. Actor Eric McCormack is 62. Actor Maria Bello is 58.Football Hall of Famer Willie Roaf is 55. Actor David Tennant is 54. Filmmaker Eli Roth is 53.
Tell us aboutthis newsingle
Ijust actually got the finalmix back on that. Aguy out of Los Angeles did that one. He’s done a lotofworkwith artists like Post Malone andMiley Cyrus, and a lot of Grammy winners and stuff. The single’sprobably goingto be out in late May.It’scalled “The Bed.”
It was kind of one of those songs that really,the idea came to me and Isat down with it and the wholesong just fell out. It was just one of thosestories thatyou hear whereanartistgetsanidea and in five minutesthe entire song is done. The whole thing just kind offellout.Ipersonally think it’sone of the best.It’skind of a balladsong. It’sdefinitely apretty heavy song lyrically,definitely a breakup type song. The heaviest lyrics that we have so far so it’s kind ofcool. It’salittle different for us, you know?
It takes me awhile to write songs sometimes because Ioverthinkthings. Butthis one just cameout likeitneeded to be said. …It’sthe most personal song I’ve ever done.
It will be the first single from ournew album, “Heaven and the Heartland,”expectedinOctober
Has your band’s sound changed anysince with the new (all-male) lineup?
It sounds really awesome. The sound is much bigger.I’vebeen ecstatic. It’slike the music feels likethere’salot more life to it. There’sa lotmorerhythmtoit. It really has breathed anew life into the music that we couldn’t achieve before without having more instruments involved, as youcan imagine.
Thesongsonthe newrecord, Iwould say are alittle more organic, alittle moreheartfelt, just because that’sjust theway this body of music came out. But we haven’tlost the disco aesthetic and the rhythmicelements or anything. It’svery much the same band.
Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.
Continuedfrom page1D
Bogalusa, Donaldsonville and Labadieville as filming locations. It opens in theaters Friday
“Sinners” is set in 1932, over one long day and night in the rural town of Clarksdale, Mississippi, aplace of sharecroppers and blues singers and racist rednecks and sexy pent-up passion. Michael B. Jordan, in adual role, plays theSmokestack twins, Smoke and Stack, who grew up in Clarksdale but left to fight on theGerman front in World WarI and wound up in Chicago, where they worked for Al Capone and honed their underworld skills. They’ve been hustlers, pimps and killers. Now they’ve returned to their hometown, in the land of Jim Crow,because as one of them putsit, “Chicago ain’tnothing but Mississippi withtall buildings.”
Jordan’sdouble performance is introduced with state-of-the-art digital trickery,asthe two characters pass acigarette back and forth, and thefilm makes asly point of not distinguishing them in any super-obvious way.Smoke sportsa blue Britishflat cap; Stack wears ared brimmed hat and has two of his teeth outlined in gold. But they’ve got thesame thick goatee, thesame hefty muscled handsomeness, thesameairy down-homecrushed-mint drawl.
We’vegot to look closer to pick up on the difference, which is there in Stack’ssoft smile, and Smoke’s lack of one; in Stack’stough but coiled willingness to cut people a break, and Stack’scolder attitude Jordan makes the differences quiet and subtle and bone-deep, the way Robert De Niro did in his criminally underrated double performance in “The Alto Knights.”The Smokestack twins are the crooked version of agood and bad cop, though with spirits joined at the well-dressed hip. And Jordan invests themwith consummate star panache.
Horror movies often have grandiose themes, but “Sinners” is therare mainstream horror film that’sabout something weighty and soulful: thewages of sin in Black America, an idea that in the movie extends from the embrace of criminality as away to transcend oppression to theliteral “deal withthe devil” that Robert Johnson is said to have madeata crossroads to gain his world-shaking musical gift.(As thevisionary
Continuedfrom page1D
different,” Wintory said.
“I mustcome up with ascorefor thesegames beforeIever see the video, whereas when scoring afilm, youare rolling the footageand designing music thatgoes with each frame. Because Idon’t have footageinthisinstance, Iask thestudios behind the video games alot of thesame questionsthat Iwould ask afilm director,because it’scritical Ihave the right feel. So, I’ll want to know what we are trying to communicate, what they want the audience to walk away with, and what the high-level philosophical aspirations of this game might be.”
Musicfor differentscenarios
Wintory says he also needs to get into thedetails of what the music is going to attach to. Is themusic accompanying combat,orisitavisualization of therooftopsofLondon? He says it’svery important to have radically differentmusic
of the blues, he was essentially theinventor of rock ’n’ roll.)
Robert Johnson doesn’tappear in “Sinners,” but one of the film’s main characters, who would have been born around the same time (in 1911),isSammie Moore (newcomer MilesCaton), known as Preacher Boy,and he’sgot asingular talent —his twanging guitar and lyrical voiceseem to swing the blues right up to the sky.He’s the Smokestack twins’ cousin, and theyengage him to play at the juke joint. They make the same offer to Delta Slim, abroken down old tough-dog harmonica and piano player (played by apitchperfect DelroyLindo) who will go anywhereifthere’senough liquor (the twins have brought 500 bottlesofIrish beer from up north). In many ways, “Sinners” is a personal vision, steeped in its nervy and expansive collage of ’30s Black America. The movie is exquisitely shot, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw’scinematography immersing us in the sunlit splendorand leafy ominousness of back-country Mississippi. It’s alsothe fifth film (out of five) that Coogler has made with Jordan, and you feel the director’sflair in the supple waythat he gets us onto Smoke and Stack’swavelength, making us eager to see them succeed. For all their strong-arm tactics, these two carry themselves as formidable businessmen. To make thejuke joint work, they want to put on ashow that will stop the night.That’show they intend to make akilling, which is exactly what happens, though not in the way theyplanned.
If you didn’tgoinknowing
that can be appropriate formany different kinds of scenarios.
While atypical film may run between 90 minutesand two hours, videogames canbelongand may require40-50 hours of music.It’s aprocess that can takeyears, just for one game.
And, it’s acollaborative process between the composer,and in this case the co-producer Jay Weigel, andthe scoreengineer, Misha Kachkachishvili, who all find themselves at amixingconsole, making the sure the elements are all coming together to produce the desired sound, whichWintory has running through his brain.
Aboy wonder from Denver who conducted the Utah Symphony at theage of 18, Wintory,41, now has 300 scores behind him. His score forthe video game Journey made history as the onlyvideogame soundtrack to be nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack forVisual Media.
Although Wintory now makes his homeinLos Angeles, center of thefilm world, L.A. is not ahub for videogamecomposers.The clos-
that “Sinners” was ahorror film, you wouldn’tguess it from the first hour.It’sgot that much realistic vivacity.Each twin has leftawoman behind, and that’s part of the film’s layering. Mary, played by Hailee Steinfeld with aristocratic airs (more than ever, she seemsborn to play Elizabeth Taylor), wasloved and abandoned by Stack, and though he won’t say it aloud it’sclear that what made him cut off the relationship was the impossibility,inhis mind, of sustaining it in aracist world. Smoke abandoned Annie, the local medicine womanhehad a baby with (the infant died). She’s played by WunmiMosaku, an actor whohas come out of next to nowhere, and look out —she’sa powerhouse of stern passion. Vampire metaphors are almost always erotic, but despite the rather steamy atmosphere of “Sinners” (at the juke joint, there’sa whole lotta hookin’ up goin’ on), that’snot whatitmeans here. The vampires are presented as extensions of the racist white culture that wants to stop the party.Three vampires show up at the joint, but the wayvampire protocol works they’ve got to be invited in in order to enter.And Smoke and Stack are too suspicious to kowtow to these gate crashers. But that’s OK —they’ll infiltrate it adifferent way, by getting Mary to come out and talk to them (as they play a nice folk song).
The vampires promise eternal life, but they’re like zombies who have come to leech away your freedom. And that, in the case of this setting, takes on amore heightened meaning, since the Black characters are already searching forataste of freedom, which they find through the liberating spirit of the juke joint. Once the key characters are trapped and fighting fortheir lives, “Sinners” becomes atale of vampirism as cult. There’sa terrifically creepy scene in which the vampires, led by O’Connell’s fiery-eyed Remmick, go into an Irish step dance (at this point there are Black vampires who’ve been bitten and are part of the cult), and the message is: Give up your freedom and join us! Stay tuned forthe lengthy postcredits sequence, which is more than ateaser —it’sthe place where Coogler,casting Louisianaborn blues veteran Buddy Guy, completes his film’s fanciful cosmology.Though maybe he should have madeitalittle less fancy
est thing to that, Wintory says, is Japan. In the states, it might be Seattle or Silicon Valley,all tech hubs. So,it’snicetohaveavideo game produced in New Orleans —not atech hub, but definitely a place where the crèmedelacrème of musicians reside.
The video game Wintory is working on here in the city,whose subject matter andtitle are forthe moment tightlyunder wraps, will debut later this year and showcase NewOrleans, this time, in adifferent light.
FRIDAY
TAYLOR HARRIS: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.
SHANE MADERE: The Colonels Club, 5p.m.
ORIGINAL MUSICGATHERING: La Divina Italian Café,6 p.m.
3:05 EXPRESS: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6p.m
CHRIS ALLEN &DAKOTA
CIVELLO: Rio Cantina, Brusly, 6p.m.
DON POURCIAU&KONSPIRACY: Pedro’s-Siegen, 6p.m.
RUSTY YATES: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6p.m.
SOUTH OF CENTRAL: Papi’s Fajita Factory,Watson, 6p.m.
TAYLOR RAE: Galvez Seafood Prairieville, 6p.m.
TOBY TOMPLAY: Crowne Plaza, 6p.m.
EDDIE SMITH: El Paso,Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.
KIRK HOLDER: PizzaArt Wine, 6:30 p.m.
TAYLOR NAUTA: Le Chien Brewing Co., DenhamSprings, 6:30 p.m.
CHRIS OCMAND: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7p.m.
JOVIN WEBB: Bin 77,7 p.m.
SHANE MADERE &LAURIE GRIMES: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7p.m.
THE LEE SERIO BAND: The Legacy,7p.m.
HENRYTURNER JR. &ALL-
STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room,8 p.m.
PHIL CHANDLER: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8p.m.
BILL KIRCHEN/GARYRAGAN: RedDragon Listening Room, 8p.m.
CHRIS PRYOR& THE MAIN EVENT: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8p.m.
THE BAND LOUISIANA: Icehouse TapRoom, 8p.m
WILL WESLEY BAND: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9p.m.
ANNA CLAIRE &BRADY GEORGE: Jack’s Place, Port Allen, 9p.m.
BADASSETS: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St.Amant, 9p.m.
BLUE CRAB REDEMPTION: Southern Rhythm,Deham Springs, 9p.m.
COZY LEN: Churchill’s, 9p.m.
JOEL COOPER &SCOTT JOR-
FRIDAY FRIDAY NIGHT LECTURE:
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory,13800 HighlandRoad. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events are covered. Forages 14 and older. Free. https://hrpo. lsu.edu/. Also, evening sky viewing 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
SATURDAY RED STICK FARMERS
MARKET: 8a.m. to noon, Fifth andMain streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada. org. FAMILYHOUR STARGAZING: 10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky,followedbyan all-ages show. lasm.org.
TUESDAY
RED STICK FARMERS
MARKET: 3p.m.-6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demon-
DAN: The Vineyard, 9p.m.
TITANIUM RAIN: Big Mike’s Sports Bar &Grill, Denham Springs, 9p.m. WHISKEY BENT: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville,9p.m.
SATURDAY
SETH LECOQ: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m
OPEN JAMSESSION: The Smokey Pit, 4p.m. RUSTY YATES: The Colonels Club,5p.m. BRITTON MAJOR: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30p.m. PAPO YSON MANDAO: Pedros-Juban, Denham Springs, 6p.m. SOUTH OF CENTRAL: Pedro’s-
strations. breada.org. “GARDEN ALLIES”: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m Beverly BrownCoates Auditorium at LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road. Frank Rinkevich will talkabout insects as the mostcritical components of ahealthy ecosystem.$10, students and members of Hilltop and/or Louisiana Master Gardeners of Baton Rouge;$15, nonmembers; andfree, Hilltop members at the magnolia level($250) and above.www.lsu.edu/ hilltop FLEXAND FLOW YOGA: 6:30 p.m JoliePearlOyster Bar,315 NorthBlvd. Rotating instructors and avariety of techniques. Free.
TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 18303 Perkins Road. Collect your team and jockeyfor first place. loom.ly/y-CKtQ4
WEDNESDAY
TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 27350 Crossing Circle,Suite 150, Denham Springs.Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom.ly/yCKtQ4.
SALVATION ARMY “SHIELD OF HOPE”FUND-
Siegen,6 p.m.
JOEL COOPER: PizzaArt Wine, 6:30 p.m.
TAYLOR HARRIS: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.
THE LONGNECK SOCIETY: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.
UNITED WE JAMDUO: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.
GRANDCOUNTRYJUNCTION: SumaCrossing Theatre, Satsuma, 7p.m
DENTON HATCHER: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7p.m
CHRIS ALLEN &DAKOTACIVELLO: Bin 77, 7p.m
RHODES,MAURER &FRIENDS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville,
RAISER: 7p.m., reception; paddle raiseand performance follow, Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St Performances by David St. Romain, light hors d’oeuvres, open barand silent auction. $125-$225. manshiptheatre.org.
WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY COUNTRYHITS: A TRIBUTE TO COUNTRYMUSIC LEGENDS: 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.,Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at Louisiana Art &Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Part of the Concerts in the Cosmos series with the Baton RougeSymphony Orchestra. $40-$60. brso. org.
THURSDAY RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8a.m.tonoon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/ redstickfarmersmarket.
“SINGING FROM THE SOUL”VOCAL MASTER CLASS: 6:30 p.m.,225 TheatreCollective, 7338 HighlandRoad. With singer SaraCage. All
JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 11 a.m.
ROBERTCALMES: Cocha, 11 a.m.
EVAN ANTHONY: RedStick
Social, noon
2DOMESTIC 1IMPORT: Chow Yum, 4p.m.
OPEN MIC JAM: FatCat Saloon, Prairieville, 7p.m.
MONDAY VICTOR, SKIP &CARRIE: Phil Brady’s, 6p.m.
MIKE ESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant,6 p.m
NICK PERKINS: El Paso,Denham Springs,6p.m.
RHETT GUILLOT: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m.
TUESDAY
BO BURKES: Bin77, 5:30 p.m
RUSTY YATES: The Colonels Club,6p.m.
BRANDON NICHOLSON: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m.
RALPH DAIGLE: Rio Verde Mexican, Gonzales, 6p.m.
EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville,6:30 p.m
WEDNESDAY
BRYCEBROUSSARD: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 5:30 p.m
RHETT ANTHONY: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m
RUSTY YATES: The Colonels Club,6p.m.
CHRIS LEBLANC: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m.
KIRK HOLDER: Bin77, 6:30 p.m
OPEN MIC W/AMANDAJO
HESS: Istrouma Brewing, St. Gabriel, 6p.m.
THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 6p.m.
2DOMESTIC 1IMPORT: Thai Kitchen, 6p.m.
BRANDON RINGO: T’Quilas, Denham Springs,6 p.m
DAVID ST.ROMAIN: Perkins Rowe,6 p.m
DON POURCIAU&KONSPIRACY: El Paso,Denham Springs, 6p.m.
ERICSCHMITT: La Divina Italian Café,6p.m.
RACHAEL HALLACK: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m.
CHRIS OCMAND: Bin77, 6:30 p.m
ERICLEGER: On The HalfShell, Prairieville,6:30 p.m
PRESS 1FOR ENGLISH: Pizza Art Wine, 6:30 p.m THE BISHOP ELLIS TRIO: HayrideScandal, 7p.m.
BACKSTREET: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris,St. Amant, 7p.m. BAND OF HEATHENS/STEVE
JUDICE: The Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m
HENRYTURNER JR. &ALLSTARS: Henry TurnerJr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m. CHRIS LEBLANC: The Vineyard,8 p.m
BLUESJAM: Phil Brady’s, 9p.m.
BRITTON MAJOR: Churchill’s, 9p.m.
REDFERRIN/EMILYZECK:
7p.m
BRYCEBROUSSARD: Tiger Tavern,Gonzales,7:30p.m
ACOUSTIC NIGHT W/HENRY
TURNER JR.: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m
BRYANSOUTHWICK: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8p.m
JOVIN WEBB: The Vineyard, 9p.m
N’TUNE: Churchill’s,9 p.m.
PHATHAT: The Queen Baton Rouge, 9p.m
TAYLOR RAE: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 9p.m
SUNDAY
CONNOR UNDERWOOD: Crowne Plaza, 10 a.m.
ages welcome. $20. 225theatrecollective com.
TRIVIA NIGHT: 7p.m Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Test your trivia skills with your friends and family.Free.
ONGOING
ARTGUILD OF LOUISI-
ANA: Independence Park Theatre,7800 Independence Blvd. Deadline for the“River Road Show” is May12. Upcoming workshops at Studio in thePark, 2490 Silverest Ave, areasfollows:Larry Downs, Acrylics3–“More of Painting Your Way, Thursdays,May 1-22, 3p.m.-6 p.m.; Roberta Loflin, WatercolorBasics –“Focus on theColors of Spring,” Saturdays, May3-24, 9:30 a.m.-noon; Introduction to SolventFree Painting, taught by Madhuri Yadlapati, May3 1p.m,.-5:30 p.m.; Limiting Your Palette forColor Confidence,taught by Nanci Charpentier, May 17, 1p.m.-5:30 p.m.; Alla Prima Still Life,taught by Nanci Charpentier and David Gary,May 24, 1p.m.-5:30 p.m. Email cherie.gravois@gmail. comorcall (225) 413-6941. artguildlouisiana.org.
ASHTON GILL: On The Half Shell, Prairieville,6:30 p.m
SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/ HEATHRANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7p.m.
ANDYPIZZOTRIO: Hayride Scandal,7:30 p.m
DIXIE ROSE’SACOUSTIC
CIRCLE: Teddy’s Juke Joint, Zachary,8 p.m
EDDIE SMITH BAND: La Daiquiris,8p.m.
OPEN MIC JAM: Brickyard South,8 p.m
THURSDAY
RUSTY YATES: The Colonels Club,5p.m.
KYBALION: El Paso-Sherwood, 6p.m.
BATONROUGE GALLERY CENTER FORCONTEMPORARYART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. “RealLife Experience: Juried High School Exhibition,” through May1,features approximately70 original worksofart by public and private high school students in East Baton RougeParish. Free. batonrougegallery.org. CAPITOLPARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St.“Billy Cannon: They CalledHim Legend,”through Jan. 10. (225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org. CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SHELL GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. “Exonerated: Portraits of the wrongfully Convicted,” through May14. Hours arefrom9a.m.to4p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2p.m.Saturday.artsbr org.
ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Groupshow. Call(225) 924-6437 or followthe gallery’s Facebook page IN DEMAND ARTSTUDIOS: 5800 One Perkins Place, Suite5D. “This is Our Garden,” featuring the work of eight Baton Rouge-area women artists
LOUISIANAART &SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road. “Discoveries on theNile:Exploring King Tut’s Tomb and the Amin Egyptian Collection,” through Oct. 31. (225) 344-5272 or lasm. org. LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for theArts, 100 Lafayette St. “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books,” through May25. (225) 389-7200 or lsumoa. org. LSU TEXTILE &COSTUME MUSEUM: Human Ecology Building, TowerDrive, LSU campus. “Color Me Fashion,”morethan 45 looks withrelated accessories spanning approximately100 years of fashion history from c. 1890 to 1990. Exhibit runs through Aug. 15. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu.edu
MAGNOLIA MOUNDMUSEUM +HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive Guided and self-guided tours.Hours arefrom 10 a.m. to 4p.m. MondaySaturday and from 1p.m. to 4p.m. Sunday.brec. org/facility/MagnoliaMound
OLD GOVERNOR’SMANSION: 502 NorthBlvd.
Open for tours.Hours are 9a.m. to 4p.m. MondayFriday.Freeadmission. oldgovernorsmansion. com. OLD STATECAPITOL: 100 NorthBlvd. “America’s Sacred Freedoms in theFirstAmendment,” yearlong exhibit.Free admission. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org. USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displaysofavariety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and navalmilitaryhistory.Note: Vessel is in Houma for drydock repairs.usskidd.com. WEST BATONROUGE MUSEUM: 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen. “West Baton Rouge’s Educator Edward Searcy,” through May18. (225) 336-2422 or westbatonrougemuseum.org.
CompiledbyJudy Bergeron. Have an open-to-thepublic eventyou’d liketopromote? Email details to red@theadvocate. com. Deadline is 5p.m.Friday forthe following Friday’s paper
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Position yourself for advancement. Participate in eventsthat encourage networking, build your brand and influenceothers to follow your example.Followyour instincts and excel
TAURUS (April 20-May20) Learning something thatoffers insight into what'spossible and how you can diversify your skills to accommodate today's market will pay off. Home improvements or lifestyle changes will enhanceyour outlook
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Emotional spending, poor investments andscams are on therise. Listen, learnand walk away from suspiciousoffers. Set boundariesand know your limitations.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Advancement or an investment looks promising. Putmore credence into work-related matters. Take careofresponsibilities diligently and punctually to avoid criticism.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Question information, offers and people with whom you engage in serious conversations. Verify whateveryou hear,and when in doubt, sit tight. Prioritize peace andlove.
VIRGO(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Slowdown.Say no to anyone making ultimatums or trying to talk you intosomething you don't need or want. Steer clear of excessive people and indulgent behavior.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Stayintouch with peoplewho lift youup. Taking short tripsorclasses andapplying your energy and input to matters that can
help yousucceed look promising. Misunderstandings are apparent.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Pay attention to where your money goes. Refrain from overspending on entertainment or donations. Avoidimpulsive actions, indecisiveness andtrying to please too manypeople
SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec. 21) Keep tabs on your money,possessionsand conversations with people close to you. Don'tmake promises that youcan't keep or giveintoanyoneusingemotional blackmail.
CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan. 19) Pay attention. Refuse to believe everything you hear. It'satake-chargemomentand a time to enforce your rights. Head in a direction that givesyou the choice and freedom to live lifeyourway
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep your fingeronthe pulse andyoureye on whereyourmoney goes. Hitthe reset buttonand put abudgetinplace that helpsyou save for something you want to pursue PISCES (Feb. 20-March20) Put your emotions andego on the sidelines. Clear your head,focusonwhatmatters and where you can positively impact the outcome, andavoid dicey situations that can lead to personalordomestic setbacks.
The horoscope, an entertainmentfeature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist.ByAndrews McMeel Syndication
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
BY PHILLIP ALDER Bridge
WilliamShakespearewrote, “All the world’s astage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exitsand their entrances.”
In abridge contract, having no entry often results in an exit with aminus score. And sometimes youneed to usea defender for an entrance. Howdoes that applyinthisdeal?Southisinfourspades, and Westleads the diamond 10.
When East opened one diamond, South just closed his eyes andblasted into four spades, hoping that if his partner had a weak hand, the penalty conceded would be less than his opponents could have obtained in their best contract If West had been psychic, he would have ledeither the club 10 (immediately giving thedefenders threeclubs and one heart) or the heartnine (East wins with hisace and returns the suit to kill the dummy). But sinceEast hadopened one diamond,selecting that suit was normal.
The original South won trick one with dummy’s ace anddiscarded aheart from his hand. Then he calledfor alow heart East went in withthe ace andled thediamond king. Now declarer had to go down two. (Yes, East might have returned a heart, which would have been right if Westhad begun with asingleton heart But East thought thathis partner would have led asingleton initially.)
Southshouldhave leftthe diamond ace on the boardand ruffedthe first trick in his hand. Then he drawstrumps and playsonhearts. East may duckthe first round and take the second, but thenhe must put declarer into thedummy. The contractmakeswithanovertrickinstead of going down two.
©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By
Andrews McMeel Syndication
Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormoreletters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by
of “s,” suchas“bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional
by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper
or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
toDAY’s WoRD RAtcHEt: RACH-it: To causetomove by steps or degrees, usually up or down. Average
Time
