The Acadiana Advocate 06-24-2025 by The Advocate

‘TOTAL CEASEFIRE’

TRUMP SAyS DEAL REACHED BETWEEN IRAN, ISRAEL

IRAN LAUNCHES RESPONSE ON U.S. BASE IN QATAR

attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

Henry questions program oversight

Lawmaker sees ‘conflict’ in group operating LA GATOR

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

After a bruising ﬁght over funding, Louisiana’s new LA GATOR program is set to start giving families tax dollars to pay for private education. But now a new question has come up: Who should run the program?

The state Department of Education oversees the program, which in the coming days will give about 6,000 families access to state money they can use to pay for private school tuition or homeschool expenses On Friday, a legislative budget committee approved the contract for a private company that the Education Department hired to manage the program’s dayto-day operation.

BY DAVID RISING, JON GAMBRELL and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceaseﬁre” soon after Iran launched a limited missile attack Monday on a U.S. military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the 24-hour phased-in ceasefire will begin at approximately midnight Tuesday, giving the two countries six hours to have “wound down and completed their in progress, final missions.” He said it would bring an “Official END” to the war The Israeli military declined to comment on Trump’s statement and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. There was also no immediate comment from Iran.

Iran’s attack Monday indicated it was prepared to step back from escalating tensions in the volatile region. The U.S was warned by Iran in advance, and there were no casualties, said Trump,

Udeid Air Base as “a ﬂagrant violation” of its sovereignty, airspace and international law Qatar said it intercepted all but one missile, though it was not clear if that missile caused any damage.

Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas. Those comments, made immediately after the attack, suggested Iran wanted to deescalate with the United States, something Trump himself said after the strikes early Sunday on Iran.

Qatar Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri said 19 missiles were ﬁred at the base that is home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of air power across the region, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest such wing in the world Trump said 14 missiles were ﬁred, 13 were knocked down and one was “set free” because it posed no threat.

Trump said Iran might be able to “proceed to Peace and Harmony” and said he would encourage Israel to do the same.

However Israel’s war on Iran contin-

who dismissed the attack as a “very weak response.”

Qatar condemned the attack on Al

ä See CEASEFIRE, page 3A

Northgate business owners eye future

Lafayette mall under new ownership

BY JOANNA BROWN

Staff writer

Buddie Lee Gray has owned a fragrance and gift shop in Lafayette’s Northgate Mall for nearly 40 years now She still loves to work in her store, Home Sweet Home, interacting with longtime customers and fellow business owners in the city’s oldest shopping mall — and at 87 years old, she’s eager to play a role in Northgate’s next phase.

Gray said she’s already seen an uptick in business since the mall was purchased by local developer Jacoby Landry on June 16. That news reminded a lot of people that

the mall is still open, she said although her store is one of the few still operating in the space that was once a commercial hub on the northside.

“The new owners are already doing things. We’re ﬁrst on the list to get these lights taken care of,” said Gray, gesturing to several broken bulbs failing to illuminate the gifts, home goods and scents lining Home Sweet Home’s shelves. With few shoppers filling the mall on a Friday morning, workers were busy at the front entrance — pressure washing, inspecting ﬁre extinguishers and checking off maintenance tasks that Gray said had been neglected for years under previous ownership.

“This is the ﬁrst time we’ve had somebody who’s local,” she said. Landry “grew up here, he used to

shop here with his grandmother So that’s going to be a huge difference. Everything about this has been positive so far.”

Northgate opened in 1969, and the 250,000-square-foot mall has seen few updates since. With a parking lot littered with potholes and empty kiosks and storefronts lining the mall’s hallways, the site is essentially a blank slate for what Landry said will be a mixed-use center housing small retailers, professional services, a med spa and ﬁtness center and other community amenities, according to an announcement from the Lafayette Economic Development Authority

The Northgate redevelopment is supported by LEDA and the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Au-

See NORTHGATE, page 3A

But state Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, asked during the budget hearing whether there is an “inherent conﬂict” in putting the Education Department which is responsible for the state’s public schools — in charge of LA GATOR, which theoretically could help some families abandon the public system in favor of private schools.

Brumley

“You’re doing very well” at improving public education, Henry told state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley during the hearing, noting the state’s dramatic improvement on a national test.

“Do you see a conﬂict,” Henry asked, “in that you’re also navigating a program that takes kids out of the system that you’re working so hard to improve and puts them into private schools?”

One of Louisiana’s most powerful state lawmakers, Henry led a charge this year to scale back the newly launched LA GATOR program, arguing that the state cannot afford to pay for tens of

ä See LA GATOR, page 3A

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP Home Sweet Home owner Buddie Lee Gray stands Friday at her store at Northgate Mall in Lafayette.

PHOTO PROVIDED By IRANIAN ARMy PRESS SERVICE

Iran’s army commander-in-chief Gen. Amir Hatami, center accompanied by high-ranked army commanders, speaks Monday in a video call with top commanders of the army in Zolfaghar central headquarters, Iran, as portraits of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hang on the wall. Iran launched a missile strike Monday against a U.S base in Qatar in response to the U.S.

Henry

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CARLOS BARRIA President Donald Trump speaks Saturday from the East Room of the White House in Washington after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites. Trump announced Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire.

7 dead, 1 missing in Lake Tahoe capsize

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Divers searched a section of Lake Tahoe on Monday for one person still missing after seven others were killed when a boat capsized during a powerful weekend thunderstorm that whipped up high waves, authorities said.

Ten people were onboard the 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel when it flipped Saturday near D.L. Bliss State Park on the lake’s southwest edge, U.S. Coast Guard ofﬁcials said.

Two people were rescued immediately and taken to a hospital in unknown condition Six bodies were recovered later Saturday and a seventh body was found Sunday evening, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce.

The intensity of the thunderstorm surprised even forecasters, who had predicted some rain but nothing like the sudden squall that lashed the southern part of the lake about 3 p.m., said meteorologist Matthew Chyba, of the National Weather Service ofﬁce in Reno, Nevada.

Eight-foot waves on Tahoe is “pretty signiﬁcant,” Chyba said. “They were really rocking the lake.”

Camera releases first shots of universe

NEW YORK The largest digital camera ever built released its ﬁrst shots of the universe Monday — including colorful nebulas, stars and galaxies

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, was built to take a deeper look at the night sky, covering hidden corners. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy, it will survey the southern sky for the next 10 years.

The observatory’s ﬁrst look features the vibrant Trifid and Lagoon nebulas located thousands of light-years from Earth. A gaggle of galaxies known as the Virgo Cluster were also captured, including two bright blue spirals.

The observatory hopes to image 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects.

Man trying to get dog gets stuck in chimney

BRISTOL, Conn Firefighters had to rescue a man who got stuck in the chimney of a Connecticut parks building while trying to retrieve his dog from a bathroom when the doors automatically locked for the night.

Police were called Sunday morning to Rockwell Park in Bristol for a burglary complaint and were told by parks employees that someone was in the chimney Fireﬁghters responded to the scene and got the man out after having to remove parts of the chimney and building, causing $5,000 to $10,000 worth of damage, police said.

The Bristol man, who was not injured, was arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief. He was released on bond and ordered to appear in court on July 7.

Dutch municipalities targeted by hackers

THE HAGUE, Netherlands ProRussian hackers launched a series of denial-of-service attacks Monday on several municipalities and organizations linked to a NATO summit this week in the Netherlands, the Dutch government announced.

The National Cybersecurity Center said in a statement that many of the attacks were claimed by a pro-Russian hackers group known as NoName057(16) “and appear to have a pro-Russian ideological motive.” It did not elaborate.

The cybersecurity center said it was investigating the attacks that ﬂood a site with data in order to overwhelm it and knock it ofﬂine, and was in contact with “national and international partners.”

Mich. pastor thanks God, security team

100 worshippers were in church where shooting was thwarted

BY ED WHITE and HOLLY RAMER Associated Press

WAYNE, Mich. — A pastor said Monday that the “hand of God” prevented a mass shooting at his Detroit-area church when an armed man was struck by a pickup truck and fatally shot by security staff before he could enter and attack more than 100 people.

The day after the thwarted attack, the leader of CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne praised the actions of the security team, which has been in place for more than 10 years. The Rev Bobby Kelly said he had met the gunman three times in the past.

“I can’t say for sure what wasinhisheartorinhismind because he’s never threatened me in any way,” Kelly said. “This young man was deﬁnitely struggling mentally Hethoughthewashearing from God. We had some conversations about that.”

Children from the church’s vacation Bible school were leading Sunday’s worship and were finishing a song when the congregation heard gunﬁre outside Kelly, who was poised to start his sermon, initially thought the noise was coming from a construction crew A member of the security team rushed in and

told everyone to get out

A livestream video shows people carrying children or directing them to get down and move away

Kelly said a church member arriving late had spotted Brian Browning driving recklessly and called out to the gunman as he exited his car wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle and a handgun. The church member struck him with his pickup truck.

Browning, 31, began ﬁring as he approached the church, striking one person in the leg. At least two staff members shot him, Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong said.

“He is a hero,” Kelly said of the pickup driver “I think that was the Lord leading him to do that. He hit this individual with his car, drove right on the grass because he was shooting at the building at the time. And that cer-

tainly helped the team to be able to respond.”

Browning did not have any previous contacts with police but may have been suffering a mental health crisis, police said.

The “heroic actions of the church’s staff members” saved many lives, Strong said Sunday night.

Police found additional riﬂes, handguns and a large amount of ammunition during a search of Browning’s house nearby in Romulus.

Browning’s mother occasionally attended the church services but was not there on Sunday The pastor said he spoke to her after the shooting.

“To console her, to let her know that she shouldn’t feel guilty about his actions and that we still are there for her as well,” Kelly said. “She is a grieving mom right now because of this tragedy.”

Stay cool in this week’s heat, even without air conditioning

BY CALEIGH WELLS and MELINA WALLING Associated Press

NEW YORK An intense and nearly historic weather pattern is cooking much of America under a dangerous heat dome this week with triple-digit temperatures in places that haven’t been so hot in more than a decade.

A key measurement of the strength of the high pressure broke a record Monday and was the third-highest reading for any date, making for a “near historic” heat wave, said private meteorologist Ryan Maue, a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist The worst of the heat was likely to peak for Northeastern cities on Tuesday, forecasters said.

“Like an air fryer, it’s going to be hot,” Maue said. “This is a three-day stretch of dangerous heat that will test the mettle of city dwellers who are most vulnerable to oppressive heat waves.”

A heat dome occurs when a large area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere acts as a reservoir trapping heat and humidity A heat wave is the persistence of heat, usually three days or more, with unusually hot temperatures. So here are some tips to stay safe.

When does heat become dangerous?: The answer depends on more than the temperature.

The most detailed measurement is called the wet bulb globe temperature, which includes temperature, humidity, cloud cover and wind. The heat index, which measures temperature and humidity, is less descriptive but easier to ﬁnd on weather apps. Both explain why a shaded soccer ﬁeld on a 90-degree day in arid Phoenix may be less risky than an exposed park on an 80-degree day in soupy Little Rock.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

A man runs past a fountain Friday in Kansas City Mo., as temperatures approach 100 degrees.

Just based on heat index, NOAA has a chart that calculates how dangerous prolonged exposure can be. For example, a day where temperatures reach 96 degrees and 45% humidity would fall into the “danger” category for prolonged exposure or strenuous activity

The WBGT threshold isn’t exact, but recent research suggests that even some young, healthy people can’t endure hours of exposure to high heat and humidity

How to cool down: Overnight lows can be a particularly dangerous part of a heat wave, said Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University

“Your body needs a reprieve,” she said. “You don’t get that overnight, we start the next day at a deficit.”

Heat can worsen labor productivity and lead to more visits to the emergency room.

“When we have overnight temperatures that don’t drop below 75 degrees,” she said, “you start to see some pretty extraordinary outcomes with respect to heat illness and heat stroke, and even mortality.”

Ward’s answer: Find air conditioning. That might be at home, but she said census data overcounts how many people have access.

Mideast nations condemn bombing

Syrian church death toll rises to 25

BY GHAITH ALSAYED and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press

DAMASCUS,Syria The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on a church in Syria at the weekend has risen to 25, state media said Monday

The attack Sunday on the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox church during a Divine Liturgy in Dweil’a, near Damascus, was the ﬁrst of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under its de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of minorities.

The Interior Ministry and witnesses said a gunman entered the church and opened ﬁre on the congregation before detonating an explosive vest.

State news agency SANA, citing the Health Ministry, said 63 other people were wounded in the attack. The Rev Fadi Ghattas said some 350 people were praying at the church.

The United States, the European Union and governments across the Middle East condemned the attack, decrying it as a terrorist attack.

“These terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving,” Tom Barrack, U.S. special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, said in a post on X. “We continue to support the Syrian government as it ﬁghts against those who are seeking to create instability and fear in their country and the

broader region.” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement afﬁrmed Riyadh’s rejection of “the targeting of places of worship, the intimidation of innocent civilians, and the innocent bloodshed.”

As President Ahmad alSharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the church, but the Interior Minister has blamed the extremist Islamic State group. Syrians decried the attack, many seeing it as a blow to stability in the country after 14 years of war Syrian Christians have appealed that the attack is not just a threat against them but to everyone in the country regardless of their religious afﬁliation.

“It is deﬁnitely an attack on civil peace and coexistence in this country,” said Wassim Boutros, who lives in Damascus.

Wajiha umm Mohammed said that she and her daughter were devastated to learn that one of their friends was killed in the attack.

“All our lives, we’ve been Christians and Muslims together living side by side,” umm Mohammed, a Muslim, said. “We’ve never let anything divide us, and we won’t start now.” She called for more government action to protect minorities.

If you can’t afford to cool the whole house, Ward said, create a “cool corner” and sleep there, so your body is prepared to tackle the next day

Evaporative or “swamp” coolers can help in dry heat, but they increase humidity and can make it more difﬁcult to cool down. In humid places, just use a fan.

If you don’t have air conditioning, ﬁnd public places that do, including movie theaters, malls and libraries. Some communities set up cooling centers.

Depending on where you live, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program can help you buy a window air conditioning unit, according to the National Council on Aging. Some local nonproﬁts and civic organizations can also help you access one if cost is a burden.

Knowing heat illness symptoms: Heat illness symptoms can vary by person, Venkat said. Medications or underlying conditions can also make it harder to regulate body temperature or notice you’re getting too hot.

Early trouble signs include heavy sweating, muscle cramps and headache. That’s when you stop what you’re doing and cool yourself off for example, by splashing yourself with cold water or ﬁnding an air conditioned space.

As heat exhaustion sets in, new symptoms arrive, including faster heart rate and dizziness. Next comes heat stroke, which can include confusion, slurred words and fainting. Ward said that’s when to call 911. “Don’t be embarrassed to call 911 or go to urgent care when you think you might have overdone it in the heat,” he said.

Associated Press writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this story

Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COMor337-234-0800

News Tips /Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM

Obituaries: 225-388-0289• Mon-Fri9-5; Sat10-5;ClosedSun

Advertising Sales: 337-234-0174•Mon-Fri 8-5

Classiﬁed Advertising: 225-383-0111• Mon-Fri8-5

Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ED WHITE

The Rev. Bobby Kelly, of CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Mich., speaks to reporters Monday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OMAR SANADIKI Syrians gather Sunday inside Mar Elias church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself, in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria.

Continued from page 1A

ued, with the Israeli military expanding its campaign Monday to target sites symbolic for the country’s theocracy Iran announced the attack on state television as martial music played A caption on screen called it “a mighty and successful response” to America’s aggression.”

Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”

Earlier reports that a missile was launched at a base housing American forces in Iraq were a false alarm, a senior U.S. military ofﬁcial said. The ofﬁcial, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said debris from a malfunctioning Iranian missile targeting Israel had triggered an alert of an impending attack on the Ain al-Assad base.

On the 11th day of the conﬂict, Israel and Iran traded airstrikes that have become a reality for civilians in both countries since Israel started the war to target Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. Iran struck Israel with a barrage of missiles and drones while Israel said it attacked “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.”

But Israeli ofﬁcials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran’s government, their archenemy since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The latest strikes unfolded only hours after Trump himself mentioned the possibility of regime change a day after inserting America into the war with its stealthbomber strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.

“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he asked on his Truth Social website.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later described Trump as “simply raising a question.”

The U.S. strikes over the weekend prompted fears of a wider regional conﬂict. Iran said the U.S. had crossed “a very big red line” with its risky gambit to strike with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.

Israel aims to wind down the war in the coming days, but that will depend on the Iranians, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity to discuss high-level internal deliberations.

LA GATOR

Continued from page 1A

thousands of students to attend private schools. Despite intense pressure from private education advocates and Gov Jeff Landry, who wanted nearly $94 million for the program, the Legislature ultimately allocated just under $44 million. During the legislative session that ended this month, Brumley was frequently called on to testify about LA GATOR, which was established by a bill that Landry championed and the Legislature passed by a wide margin last year. On Friday, Henry suggested that overseeing the controversial program could be a distraction for the state’s top education ofﬁcial.

“I get the strange feeling you probably spend more time discussing this than you do the numerous other roles that you have,” Henry told Brumley In an interview Monday, Brumley dismissed the idea that there is a conﬂict in having a single agency manage public schools and a privateeducation program. He noted that the state Education Department already offers some guidance to homeschool families and conducts some oversight of private day cares and preschools that receive public funding

His goal is to help parents ﬁnd the best school for their children, regardless of what

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BAZ RATNER

People enter a synagogue’s bomb shelter Monday as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian strikes in Haifa, Israel.

Israel’s preferred outcome is for Iran to agree to a ceasefire and reenter negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program, the official said But Israel is prepared for the possibility of an extended low-intensity war of attrition or period of “quiet for quiet,” in which it would closely monitor Iran’s activities and strike if it identifies new threats.

The Israeli military warned Iranians it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran as its focus shifted to include symbolic targets. The military issued the warning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world due to an internet shutdown.

In Tehran, Israel hit the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protests and blew open a gate at Evin prison, which is notorious for holding political activists. Iranian state television shared black-andwhite surveillance footage of the strike at the facility known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners run by the paramilitary, all-volunteer Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The facility is the target of both U.S and European Union sanctions. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Iran or signiﬁcant damage.

Iranian state television aired footage it said was shot inside Evin, with prisoners under control. However, the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran said many families of detainees “have expressed deep concern about the safety and condition of their loved ones” in the prison.

According to an Israeli ofﬁcial familiar with the government’s strategy, Israel is targeting these sites to put pressure on the Iranian administration but is not actively seeking to topple it.

type of school they prefer, Brumley said.

“I’ve always wanted families in the driver’s seat to pick the school that makes the most sense for their children,” he said. Henry also asked during the hearing if any other agency was equipped to oversee LA GATOR, adding that the state Department of Treasury might be an option.

Last year, people involved in crafting the LA GATOR bill had discussed putting the state treasury in charge of the program, but the final bill gave that responsibility to the Education Department and the state board of education

In an interview Monday, state Treasurer John Fleming said that no one had contacted his ofﬁce about overseeing LA GATOR, but added that his agency “stands ready to help out” if asked. Fleming said he thinks it’s valid to question whether overseeing public schools and LA GATOR creates “potential conﬂicts of interest.”

For example, because the state superintendent of education is ultimately responsible for public schools’ performance, that person might hesitate to send money to private schools if doing so could undermine the public system, Fleming suggested. He said that was less of an issue with Brumley, because he is “somebody who does believe in private sector education.”

“But future directors of

The ofﬁcial spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal government deliberations.

The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site. The underground site was one of those hit in Sunday’s attack by the United States. The Israeli military did not elaborate.

In Vienna, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he expected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility following Sunday’s U.S. airstrike there with sophisticated bunkerbuster bombs.

Several Iranian officials, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, have claimed Iran removed nuclear material from targeted sites ahead of time Iran said its Monday attacks targeted the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state television.

Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem, possibly from air defense systems in action, and Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency rescue service said there had been no reports of injuries.

In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the war Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 950 people and wounded 3,450 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.

The group, which has provided detailed casualty ﬁgures from Iranian unrest such as the protests surrounding the death of Masha Amini in 2022, said of those killed, it identiﬁed 380 civilians and 253 security force personnel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who leads one of Iran’s closest allies, said Monday after meeting in Moscow with the Iranian foreign minister that they had explored “how we can get out of today’s situation.”

Putin called the Israeli and American attacks on Iran an “absolutely unprovoked aggression.”

education, maybe not so much,” Fleming said, “particularly if they are just dead-set against the idea of public money going to private schools.”

What’s next for LA GATOR

While lawmakers this year debated how much money to give LA GATOR, they repeatedly put off approving a contract extension for Odyssey, a New York-based company hired to manage the program. In April, Landry lashed out at lawmakers over the delay, saying it was hurting families.

On Friday, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved the one-year contract extension, which is worth up to $1.9 million. The company will be paid about $144 per participating student, plus some additional money for services such as creating training videos to show families how to navigate a new online portal that will allow them to use their LA GATOR grants to pay tuition or purchase things like laptops or private tutoring.

Brumley said he expects the company only to receive about $1.2 million because fewer students will participate than initially projected. He added that he hopes LA GATOR remains under the purview of his agency which has overseen its development over the past year “Right now,” he said, “this is probably the best place for the program to be for a successful launch.”

NORTHGATE

Continued from page 1A

thority which administers the Northway Economic Development District where the mall is located.

Longtime north Lafayette resident Ravis Martinez is vice president of corporate strategy at Pride Opportunity Developers, which has been involved with projects in the Northway district. He said the community still has a lot of pride in the mall — and this change has potential to kickstart development across the northside.

“It’s such a huge footprint, and it hasn’t been under local control for a long time,” he said. “I mean, 50 years ago, this was the place. The community has changed, we’ve had big-box stores come and leave. Now we have this huge empty box. Can this be a catalyst for everyone to rally around and help drive a new wave of economic development?

Lafayette commercial real estate agent Ryan Pécot hopes so. As a development adviser with Stirling Properties and smallbusiness owner Pécot pointed out that successful commercial projects along Louisiana Avenue and up Interstate 49 heading toward Carencro have shown there’s a need for new retail and services in the area.

“This has got to be exciting not only for the tenants but certainly the northside community,” he said. “I went to elementary school up there, and I remember going to Montgomery Ward after school and running into the mall and getting Icees. It was a big mainstay of Lafayette culture.

“The reality is that Northgate Mall is an attractive geographic location and it’s prime to offer those services and grocery and retail opportunities. Home Depot

brought an injection of redevelopment and capital, and that’s ﬁne, but it can be more. It can be more a part of the community and provide access to a lot of things that people need.”

Northgate proprietors have forged a tight-knit community through years of disinvestment in the mall’s fortunes Andrea Knott manages the Fashion 2000 kiosk near the front entrance, and with an empty informational kiosk located right across from her, she often ﬁnds herself acting as Northgate’s unofﬁcial greeter

Northgate’s regulars — elderly mall walkers — have already noticed changes, she said.

“I’m friends with almost everyone in here, and I love working here,” she said. “They got cleaners in the bathrooms, and one of my walking friends thought they had redone it. They went in with chemicals and pressure washers, and it made that much of a difference.

“A lot of people associate bad things with this side of town and Northgate Mall. Hopefully this will let everyone know this is something new I’ve heard that people are already calling to request spots. New things are happening, for sure.”

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Fashion 2000 manager Andrea Knott leans on the counter Friday at Northgate Mall in Lafayette.

Workers pressure wash Northgate Mall on Friday.

RFK Jr. in BR Friday to witness Landry

signing ‘MAHA’ bill

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Health and Human Ser-

vices Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr will visit Baton Rouge on Friday with Gov Jeff Landry for a bill-signing event, Landr y spokesperson Kate Kelly said Monday Landry will sign Louisiana legislation that is aligned with Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, according to the website for Protect Louisiana Values, a group that backs Landry’s policy agenda, at 11 a.m at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The event dubbed as a “MAHA LA ofﬁcial bill signing” is also meant to celebrate the “start of a healthier Louisiana,” according to the website.

Kelly on Monday declined to provide additional details about Kennedy’s visit.

Sen. Patrick McMath, RCovington, said the ceremony is for Senate Bill 14, which he sponsored during the regular legislative session that concluded earlier this month.

This spring, McMath said he worked with Kennedy and the Trump administration to

craft the measure. He also won vocal, public support from the governor, who for years has been a Kennedy ally SB14 reshapes how schools, food manufacturers and restaurants address nutrition and ingredient transparency. It has four major components:

n Schools in Louisiana will not be allowed to serve certain artiﬁcial colors and additives in breakfasts and lunches beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

n Food manufacturers selling products in Louisiana that contain certain artiﬁcial ingredients will have to include a QR code on packaging beginning in 2028. The code will lead to a webpage with information about the ingredients and a warning that they could be harmful.

n Restaurants and food businesses using seed oils will have to ﬂag that for customers beginning in 2028

n Beginning in January, certain health care providers in the areas of family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology will have to complete at least one hour of training on nutrition and metabolic health every two years.

Staff writer Emily Woodruff contributed to this report.

Marine vet slams Border Patrol agents

BY JULIE WATSON Associated Press

SAN DIEGO A U.S. Marine Corps veteran said he was shocked to see a video on social media of his father, a landscaper in Southern California, being beaten by masked U.S. Border Patrol ofﬁcers as he was pinned to the ground during an immigration arrest

The Saturday arrest of Narciso Barranco, who came to the U.S. from Mexico in the 1990s but does not have legal status, is the latest to capture widespread attention as the crackdown on immigration by President Donald Trump’s administration draws scrutiny and protests.

Witnesses uploaded videos of the arrest in Santa Ana, a city in Orange County between San Diego and Los Angeles. No footage shows the entire incident from start to ﬁnish as agents struggled with Barranco outside an IHOP restaurant

Barranco was taken to a federal immigration detention center in downtown Los Angeles where he is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Marine veteran Alejandro Barranco said his father called him Sunday and told him that he was in a lot of pain.

“He just started crying,” Alejandro Barranco said of his 48-year-old father.

The Department of Homeland Security said Narciso Barranco refused to comply with commands and swung his weed trimmer at an agent. The agents “took appropriate action and followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve the situation in a manner that prioritizes the safety of the public and our

ofﬁcers,” the email statement added. Alejandro Barranco said his father did not attack anyone, had no criminal record and is kind and hardworking. He said the agents’ use of force was unnecessary and differed greatly from his military training for crowds and riot control. He aided the U.S. military’s evacuation of personnel and Afghan allies from Afghanistan in 2021.

“It’s uncalled for, not appropriate or professional in the way they handled that situation,” Barranco said. “It looks like he’s putting up resistance on the ground but that’s a natural human reaction and I think anybody would do that to defend themselves when they are being beaten on the ground by four men.”

Santa Ana City Council member Johnathan Hernandez said he will be asking for an investigation into the ofﬁcers’ actions.

“I found the video to be horrifying,” he said.

DHS posted a video in which Narciso Barranco is seen running with the trimmer in the air as agents try to corral him. At one point, an agent sprays him with pepper spray, and Barranco moves the trimmer between him and the agent but it does not touch him. Be-

hind him, another ofﬁcer has his gun drawn as he crosses a busy intersection. In other video footage, Barranco is seen running through the intersection still holding his long trimmer upright as a truck moves to block his path. He’s then seen darting to another lane and tries to open a car door before agents tackle him As he screams and yells, cars honk and one motorist shouts:

“Leave him alone, bro.”

An agent tells Barranco to give him his hand as he lies prone. Video footage from another angle shows an ofﬁcer hitting Barranco repeatedly on the head and neck as he screams and moans and moves around. Another motorist is heard yelling in Spanish “why are you hitting him?”

The department said in an email that Barranco “swung a weed whacker directly at an agent’s face. He then ﬂed through a busy intersection and raised the weed whacker again at the agent.” It added that Barranco was offered medical care but declined.

All three of Barranco’s sons were born in the United States and eventually joined the U.S. military Alejandro left the Marine Corps in 2023. His two brothers are active-duty Marines.

“We joined the Marine Corps because we love our country and want to give back,” he said. “Our parents taught us to be appreciative, be thankful of our country about being patriots.”

His father was worried about immigration ofﬁcials arresting him and the family had looked into his options but Alejandro Barranco said his dad never found the time to tend to the matter as he focused on his landscaping business. In fact, the ﬁrst thing he said to his son when they spoke after the

Report: Abortions rose in 2024 because of telehealth prescriptions

BY GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press

The number of abortions in the U.S rose again in 2024, with women continuing to ﬁnd ways to get them despite bans and restrictions in many states, according to a report out Monday

The latest report from the WeCount project of the Society of Family Planning, which supports abortion access, was released a day before the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and ended nearly 50 years of legal abortion nationally for most of pregnancy

Currently, 12 states are enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions, and four have bans that kick in at or about six weeks into pregnancy often before women realize they are pregnant.

While the total number of abortions has risen gradually over those three years, the number has dropped to near zero in some states, while abortions using pills obtained through telehealth appointments have become more common in nearly all states.

Pills are used in the majority of abortions and are also prescribed in person.

Below historic highs

The latest survey released

Monday tallied about 1.1 million abortions nationally last year, or about 95,000 a month That is up from about 88,000 monthly in 2023 and 80,000 a month between April and December of 2022. WeCount began after Roe was overturned, and the 2022 numbers don’t include January through March, when abortions are traditionally at their highest.

The number is still well below the historic peak in the U.S. of nearly 1.6 million a year in the late 1990s.

The Society of Family Planning relies primarily on surveys of abortion providers and uses estimates.

Pills account for 1 in 4

WeCount found that in the months before the Dobbs ruling was handed down, about 1 in 20 abortions was accessed by telehealth

But during the last three months of 2024, it was up to 1 in 4

The biggest jump over that time came in the middle of 2023, when laws in some Democratic-controlled states took effect with provisions intended to protect medical professionals who use telehealth to prescribe pills to patients in states where abortion is banned or where there are laws restricting telehealth abortion.

WeCount found that about half of the telehealth abor-

tions last year were facilitated by the shield laws. The number of telehealth abortions also grew for those in states without bans.

WeCount is the only nationwide public source of information about the pills prescribed to women in states with bans. One key caveat is that it is not clear how many of the prescriptions result in abortion. Some women may change their minds, access in-person abortion or be seeking pills to save for future use.

The WeCount data could help explain data from a separate survey from the Guttmacher Institute, which found the number of people crossing state lines for abortion declined last year

Anti-abortion efforts

Anti-abortion efforts are zeroing in on pills, along with barring federal funds for Planned Parenthood and undoing ballot measures that provided for abortion access.

Three states have sued to try to get courts to limit telehealth prescriptions of mifepristone, one of the two drugs usually used in combination for medication abortions. President Donald Trump’s administration last month told a judge it does not believe the states have legal standing to make that case.

The U.S. Supreme Court

last year found that antiabortion doctors and their organizations didn’t have standing, either Meanwhile, officials in Louisiana are using criminal laws, and there is an effort in Texas to use civil penalties against a New York doc-

tor accused of prescribing abortion pills to women in their states Louisiana lawmakers have also sent the governor a bill to further restrict access to the pills.

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said on a call with

reporters Monday that it’s a priority for her group to keep pushing U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and other ofﬁcials to investigate the safety of abortion pills — and to require that they be dispensed only in person.

Kennedy

U.S. stocks rally, oil price tumbles

U.S. stocks rallied, and the price of oil tumbled Monday on hopes that Iran will not disrupt the global ﬂow of crude, something that would hurt economies worldwide but also its own, following the United States’ bunker-busting entry into its war with Israel.

The S&P 500 climbed 1%, coming off a week where stock prices had jumped up and down on worries about the conflict potentially escalating. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 374 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.9% The price of oil initially jumped 6% after trading began Sunday night, a signal of rising worries as investors got their first chance to react to the U.S bombings. But it quickly erased all those gains and swung to a sharp loss as the focus shifted from what the U.S military did to how Iran would react. By late Monday, the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. oil had dropped 7.2% to settle at $68.51 after briefly topping $78 That brought it nearly all the way back to where it was before the fighting began over a week ago, when it was sitting just above $68.

The losses accelerated sharply after Iran announced a missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which the U.S. military uses. Iran’s retaliation did not seem to target the ﬂow of oil. The fear throughout the Israel-Iran war has been that it could squeeze the world’s supply of oil, which would pump up prices for it, gasoline and other products reﬁned from crude N.Y. seeks to build new nuclear power plant

New York’s governor on Monday proposed the construction of the state’s ﬁrst new nuclear power plant in decades

Gov Kathy Hochul directed the state’s power authority to develop an advanced, “zeroemission” facility in upstate New York that she hopes will help create a clean, reliable and affordable electric grid for the state.

She said the state power authority will seek to develop “at least” one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity That would increase the state’s total nuclear capacity to about 4.3 gigawatts. The Democrat, speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston, said the state needs to secure its “energy independence” if it wants to continue to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs as it deactivates aging fossil fuel power plants.

Acknowledging critics of nuclear power, she pledged that the new facility or facilities would be safer than their predecessors.

“This is not your grandparents’ nuclear reactor,” Hochul said “The new plan will be a model of 21st-century nuclear design with safety at the forefront, automatic safety systems to enhance the containment, and rigorous environmental standards.”

U.S. home sales in May barely move Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes edged higher in May, as stubbornly high mortgage rates and rising prices made homebuying less affordable even as the inventory of properties on the market continued to increase.

Existing home sales rose 0.8% last month from April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.03 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Monday Sales fell 0.7% compared with May last year The latest home sales fell topped the 3.95 million pace economists were expecting, according to Fact-

Set The national median sales price rose 1.3% in May from a year earlier to $422,800, an alltime high for May

$400M project planned for Ascension

Linde unit will support proposed ammonia facility

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Industrial gases and engineering company Linde announced plans Monday to build a $400 million air separation unit on Ascension Parish’s west bank.

The unit will be the largest in the Mississippi River corridor and will supply oxygen and nitrogen to the proposed CF Industries “Blue Point” ammonia production facility, according to an announcement from Louisiana Economic Development. LED said the Linde unit will create 15 direct new jobs.

Sean Durbin, Linde’s executive vice president for North America, said the project will enable the

company to strengthen its industrial gas infrastructure, increase manufacturing capacity and contribute to efforts to lower the carbon output of ammonia production.

The news follows similar announcements for the area, including a separate ammonia plant and a Hyundai steel mill touted by President Donald Trump and Gov Jeff Landry Welcomed by local leaders, including Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan and council member Oliver Joseph, residents living near the selected sites have pushed back against the plans. Many fear ammonia leaks similar to the one at the Donaldsonville CF Industries plant in 2022, which forced a local primary school’s temporary evacuation.

The Linde unit is expected to begin construction in 2026 and start up in 2029.

A $4 billion CF Industries ammonia facility that the Linde unit will supply is planned for a large tract

of land near the unincorporated community of Modeste. The plant, which is expected to use carboncapture and sequestration technology, will create 103 direct new permanent jobs with an average salary of $110,000. In LED’s announcement, Parish President Clint Cointment said the plan signaled a “powerful afﬁrmation” of the west bank’s “industrial future.”

“With three major announcements in just four months, we’re witnessing a commitment to revitalize a rural area that’s long been overlooked. The west bank is rising — this is just the beginning,” Cointment said.

The company is expected to seek an industrial tax exemption from the state, which waives 80% of property taxes for up to 10 years.

Along with the Linde and CF Industries projects, Hyundai and Texas-based Clean Hydrogen

Works have announced multibillion-dollar investments in the area.

Recent public hearings have shown mixed reactions by locals. Elected officials, including Sullivan and Joseph, have supported the plans because of the jobs they’ll bring.

Residents living near the sites have raised concerns about pollution, safety and whether jobs will go to area residents.

To assist the development, the Ascension Parish Council passed a resolution last month allowing the parish government to look into creating a property buyout plan for residents near the facilities. Some of those residents, who have owned their land for generations, say they have no plans to leave.

Linde has facilities in Geismar, St. Charles Parish, Vidalia, Lake Charles and Sulphur, along with a pipeline network across the southern portion of the state In 2024, it reported sales of $33 billion.

BY BERNARD CONDON AP business writer

NEWYORK Elon Musk promised in 2019 that driverless Tesla “robotaxis” would be on the road “next year,” but it didn’t happen. A year later, he promised to deliver them the next year, but that didn’t happen either Despite the empty pledges, the promises kept coming. Last year in January, Musk said, “Next year for sure, we’ll have over a million robotaxis.”

Would you settle for 10 or 12?

Musk appears to be on the verge of making his robotaxi vision a reality with a test run of a small squad of self-driving cabs in Austin, Texas, that began Sunday Reaching a million may take a year or more, however, although the billionaire should be able to expand the service this year if the Austin demo is a success.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, nor the challenges.

While Musk was making those “next year” promises, rival Waymo was busy deploying driverless taxis in Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin and other cities by using a different technology that allowed it to get to market faster It just completed its 10 millionth paid ride.

Boycotts related to Musk’s politics have tanked Tesla’s sales. Rival electric vehicle makers with newly competitive models have stolen market share. And investors are on edge after a $150 billion stock wipeout when Musk picked a social media ﬁght with a U.S. president overseeing federal car regulators who could make the robotaxi rollout much more difficult. The stock has recovered somewhat after Musk said he regretted some of his remarks.

Tesla shareholders have stood by Musk over the years because he’s deﬁed the odds by building a successful standalone electric vehicle company — self-driving car promises aside — and making them a lot of money in the process. A decade ago, Tesla shares

BY DAVID MCHUGH AP business reporter

The war between Israel and Iran has raised concerns that Iran could retaliate by trying to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil chokepoint, due to the large volumes of crude that pass through it every day

The U.S. military’s strike on three sites in Iran over the weekend has raised questions about how its military might respond.

The Strait of Hormuz is between Oman and Iran, which boasts a ﬂeet of fast-attack boats and thousands of naval mines as well as missiles that it could use to make the strait impassable, at least for

traded for around $18. The shares closed Monday at $348. Musk seemed jubilant Sunday morning, posting on X, “The @Tesla_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a $4.20 ﬂat fee!” The test is beginning modestly enough. Tesla is remotely monitoring the vehicles and putting a person in the passenger seat in case of trouble. The number of Teslas deployed will also be small — just 10 or 12 vehicles — and will pick up passengers only in a limited, geofenced area.

Musk has vowed that the service will quickly spread to other cities, eventually reaching hundreds of thousands if not a million vehicles next year

Some Musk watchers on Wall Street are skeptical.

“How quickly can he expand the ﬂeet?” asks Garrett Nelson, an analyst at CFRA.

“We’re talking maybe a dozen vehicles initially It’s very small.”

Morningstar’s Seth Goldstein says Musk is being classic Musk: Promising too much, too quickly

a time. Iran’s main naval base at Bandar Abbas is on the north coast of the strait. It could also fire missiles from its long Persian Gulf shore, as its allies, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, have done in the Red Sea.

About 20 million barrels of oil per day, or around 20% of the world’s oil consumption, passed through the strait in 2024. Most of that oil goes to Asia. The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It’s 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, but deep enough and wide enough to handle the world’s largest crude oil tankers. Oil that passes through the strait comes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain, while major supplies of liqueﬁed natural gas

“When anyone in Austin can download the app and use a robotaxi, that will be a success, but I don’t think that will happen until 2028,” he says. “Testing is going to take a while.” Musk’s tendency to push up the stock high with a bit of hyperbole is well known among investors.

In 2018, he told Tesla stockholders he had “funding secured” to buy all their shares at a massive premium and take the company private. But he not only lacked a written commitment from ﬁnanciers, according to federal stock regulators who ﬁned him, he hadn’t discussed the loan amount or other details with them.

More recently, Musk told CNBC that Tesla was experiencing a “major rebound” in demand. A week later an auto trade group in Europe announced sales had plunged by half Musk has come under ﬁre for allegedly exaggerating the ability of the system used for its cars to drive themselves, starting with the name Full Self-Driving is a misnomer The system still requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road because they may need to intervene and take control at any moment.

come from Qatar At its narrowest point, the sea lanes for tankers lie in Omani waters, and before and after that cross into Iranian territory

While some global oil chokepoints can be circumvented by taking longer routes that simply add costs, that’s not an option for most of the oil moving through the strait.

That’s because the pipelines that could be used to carry the oil on land, such as Saudi Arabia’s EastWest pipeline, don’t have nearly enough capacity “Most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region,” according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. If Iran blocked the strait, oil prices could shoot as high as $120$130 per barrel, at least temporarily, said Homayoun Falakshahi,

head of crude oil analyst at Kpler, in an online webinar Sunday That would deal an inﬂationary shock to the global economy — if it lasted. Analysts think it wouldn’t. Asia would be directly impacted because 84% of the oil moving through the strait is headed for Asia; top destinations are China, India, Japan and South Korea. China gets 47% of its seaborne oil from the Gulf. China, however, has an oil inventory of 1.1 billion barrels, or 21/2 months of supply U.S. oil customers would feel the impact of the higher prices but would

EU finds‘indications’ Israel breachingGazaagreement

BY SAM MCNEIL and ELLA JOYNER Associated Press

BRUSSELS The European Union said there are“indications” that Israel’sactions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in the agreement governing its ties with the EU butthe block wasdivided Monday over what to do in response

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented areview of Israel’scompliance with to foreignminsters of the 27-member bloc in Brussels on Monday,leading at least one country to openly propose suspending the agreement.

“There are indications that Israelwould be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of theEU-Israel Association Agreement,” according to the review by the EU’sdiplomatic corps, the European External Action Service,a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press.

The review detailed allegations by the International Court of Justice and agencies of the United Nations that Israel had likely broken international humanitarian law in Gaza on multiple levels by cutting off life-saving food and supplies, targeting journalists, and attacking densely populated areas with “weapons with wide area effects.”

Suspending ties would require aunanimous decision, which is likelyimpossible to obtain from countries like Austria, Germany and Hungary that tend to back Israel.

German Foreign Minister

BY ANDREW DALTON AP entertainment writer

Mick Ralphs, singer, songwriter guitarist and founding member of the classic Britishrock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died.

Astatement posted to theband’sofficial website Monday announced Ralphs’ death at age 81. Ralphs had astroke days after what would be his final performance with Bad Company at London’sO2Arena in 2016, and had been bedridden ever since, the statement said. No further details on the circumstances of his death were provided. Ralphs is set to becomea member of the Rock &Roll Hall of Fame as amember of Bad Company in November “Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground,” Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers said in astatement.

Supporters of Palestinians protest outsidea meetingofEUforeignministers

European Council building in Brussels.

JohannWadephul said MondayinBrussels that Berlin is againstsuspension of the agreement

Other actions—such as ending visa-free travel to Europe for Israelis, sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bankorhalting academic partnerships could bepushed if a“qualiﬁed majority” —15ofthe 27 nations representingat least65% of the population of the EU —agree.

Kallas said that trade fromthe partsofthe occupied West Bank with “violent settlers” doesnot “benefitofthe traderelationship thebeneﬁcial trade relationship that we have between Israel and European Union.”

Countries like the Netherlands, Irelandand Spain have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians

in Gaza as Israel battles Hamas.

“When allthe focusison Iran and the escalation regarding Iran, we should not forget about Gaza,” said Dutch foreign minister CasparVeldkamp, who ledthe charge for the review

TheEUreview“clearly showed that Israel has violated Article 2ofthis agreement, which concerns respect for humanrights,” said FrenchForeign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “Consequences will have to be drawnatthe next foreign affairs ministers meeting in July,” he said.

Israel launched itsmilitary campaign in Gaza after Hamas’Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which militantskilled around 1,200 people,mostlycivilians,and took another 251 hostages. About 56,000 Pal-

estinians have since been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry,and little

relatively aid has entered since Israel ended the latest ceaseﬁre in March.

OutrageoverIsrael’sactions in Gazahas grownin Europe as images of suffering Palestinians have driven protests in London, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid andAmsterdam.

Spain has canceled arms dealswith Israel and called for an arms embargo.

Spanish Foreign Minister JoséManuelAlbaresBueno on Monday called for suspending theEU-Israel agreement.

“The timefor words and declarations is behind. We hadenoughtime,”hetold the meeting. “And at the same time,Palestinians in Gazahave no moretime to lose.Every day, babies, women, men arebeing killed. This is the time for action.”

Manuel Albares also calledfor an embargo on

EU countries selling weaponstoIsrael andfor the wideningofindividual sanctions on anyone underminingthe proposed two-state solution.

“Europe must show courage,”hetoldjournalists.

Like Spain, Ireland is of theviewthatthe Association Agreementshouldbe suspended, SimonHarris, theIrish minister forforeign affairs, said.

Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in The Hague contributed to this report.

“He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner,anamazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour.” Ralphs wrote 1970’s

it found commercial success with theDavid Bowiepenned-and-produced “All theYoung Dudes.” He wouldformBad Company with singer Rodgers, who had left his own band, Free. They would be joined by Free drummerSimon Kirke and former King Crimson bassist and vocalist Boz Burrell. Kirke said in astatement MondaythatRalphs was “a dear friend,a wonderful songwriter,and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply.” Mick Ralphs,foundingmemberofBad Companyand Mott theHoople,

“Ready for Love” for Mott theHoople, later revamped forBad Company’s1974 debut album, whichalso included the Ralphs-penned hit “Can’t Get Enough.” He co-wroteBad Company’s 1975 “Feel Like Makin’ Love” with Rodgers Born in Stoke Lacy,Herefordshire, England,Ralphs beganplaying blues guitar as ateenager,and in hisearly 20s in 1966, he co-founded theDoc Thomas Group. The band wouldbecomeMott theHooplein1969. He left the group in 1973, soon after

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO OBy VIRGINIA MAyO

Mondayatthe

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

PHOTO By JIM COOPER

Paul Rodgers, left, and Mick Ralphs, members of the band Bad Company,sit together April 5, 1999, in Newyork

TIGERS! RIGE Congrats

CHAMPIONS IN BASEBALL.

CHAMPIONS IN HEALTHCARE.

Elementary students grow STEAMskills

Camp Inventionactivitiesfocus on problem-solving

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

Launching penguins, creating atransmitter and claw machine, andlearning about illusions were all on the schedulefor students at Camp Invention last week.

More than 80 elementary students attended the science, technology,engineer, arts andmathematics camp at Broadmoor El-

Group seeking school supply donations

Staff report

The start of school maybefar away in students’ minds, but the United WayofAcadiana is keeping it front and center with its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive.

The event is away for community members tosupport educators in Lafayette, Acadia, Iberia, St.Martin and Vermilionparishes throughdonations andvolunteering. Lastyear,Stuff the Bus supported more than 500teachers, impacting more than 30,000 students.

“Wewant to do even more this year,” said United WayofAcadiana Presidentand CEOHeather Blanchard.

The organization noted its top 10 most-needed supplies:

n Paper towels

n Disinfectantwipes,suchas Clorox wipes

n Disinfectant spray,suchas Lysol spray

n Facial tissues, such as Kleenex

n Plastic storage bags, such as

ä See SCHOOL, page 4B

Man accusedof fatally beating mother

Opelousas police said aman admitted to killing his mother after herbody was found in agarbage can. Aaron Lloyd, 33, of Opelousas, faces charges of first-degree murder and distribution of Schedule II drugs, police said.

CRIME BLOTTER Advocate staff reports

Police said he confessedtokilling his mother, 65-year-old Lisa Lloyd, by injecting her with methamphetamine and beating her to death.

Lisa Lloyd’sbody was found Sunday in atrash can under the carport of their home in the 900 blockofPark Circle, according to investigators. Law enforcement, including theOpelousas Police Department and St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce, worked together to locate Aaron Lloyd in KrotzSprings. He wasbooked intothe St.

ä See BLOTTER, page 4B

Jan Risher is on vacation. Her column will returnnext week

ementary focused on innovation, problem-solving and creativity

Jennifer Rodriguez’sdaughters were back at the camp after enjoying their time last year.Her 12-year-old wants to be an engineeratNASA and wasa leader in trainingthis year. Her9-year-old wasanenrollee in the camp.

“It’sbeen alot of fun to seethe thingsthatthey’ve invented,”she said. “And seeing them realize that they don’t havetogoout and

buy materials to be creativeand invent things.”

Some students,like Rodriguez’s daughters, were able to attend thecampthrough scholarships funded by nonproﬁts Love Our Schools,the Stuller Family Foundation andthe Pinhook Foundation. Chuck LaGrange, executive director of the Stuller Family Foundation,said programs like Camp Invention “spark curiosity,

creativityand critical thinking.”

“They also expose young peopletoreal-world applications of STEM,which can inspirefuture career paths and help close opportunitygaps for underrepresented groups,” he said in astatement. “More than just academic enrichment, these camps build conﬁdence, foster teamwork and cultivatea lifelong passion for learning.”

Watchingstudentsshowoff their inventions to their families during ashowcase at theend of the week is one of campdirector

Laynie LeBlanc’sfavorite parts.

CampInventionisa way to keep the academic ﬂow going for teachers wholeadthe camp and students,said LeBlanc, aspecialeducation teacher at Broadmoor Elementary

Butit’salsoaway to introduce students to potential careersand afun waytolearn about science and math.

“They’re away fromtechnologyand socialmedia,” shesaid, “and they’re able to just open

LafayetteIdolreturns

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Alive audience withmorethan 300 guests were in attendance Saturday at theAcadiana for the Arts to support a group of talented individuals as they competed for the coveted title of the next Lafayette Idol.

The night filled with singing performances resulted in three ﬁnalists and one taking home agrand prize of $2,500.

According to Dillan Demone Anthony, founder of Lafayette Idol, although therewas athree-way tiefor first place, Lafayette native Austin Reaux snagged the top spot by just a fewpoints.

“Thisguy never ceasetoamaze me, I am beyond proud of him and the competition was so strong. He owned that stage,” Reaux’smom, Shawn Reaux, wrote on Facebook.

Thecompetition started witha group of 500 contestants from allaround Louisianawho submittedonline auditiontapes. Thecontestants werethen narroweddownbya groupofjudges to advance to an in-person audition Within aweek of the in-person auditions,online voters had the chance to selectthe top 25 finalistsfor Saturday’sshowdown.

Amongthe top ﬁnalists, Arthur Gordan,a Palmetto native, and Trevon Washington, an Abbeville native, said theywere excited for not only the ﬁnale but what their lives could look like after

“I’ve already gained somanyfollowers and friends through this experience. Even if Ididn’twin,who knows what could come outofthis,”Washington said.

As alocal R&B/gospel singer,Washingtonamazedthe judges fromthe start. He said his experience with Lafayette Idol has already been so rewarding andhopes to be apart of the competition long-term and maybe sit on thepanel next year

Gordan, according to the judges,is apowerhouse performer andwill be amust-watch. Although he loves singing, an audience was something he had to adjust to. Having the opportunityon Lafayette Idol, he said, forced him to come out of his shell.

“I was ready to get on stage and show out. Whether Iwon or lost, this

competitionhas ultimatelyboosted my conﬁdence and will help me build my music career,”Gordan said. Lafayette Idol is loosely basedon showssuchas“American Idol”and “The Voice,”where aspiring singers compete for aprize and gain exposure and the chance to build their career

Growing up in St. Martinville, Anthony began singing at ayoung age.

By the age of 16, he auditioned for “American Idol,” and although he didn’tmake it to Hollywood, theexperience inspired him to create alocal competition.The ﬁrst season, in 2016, had asmall presence in thecommunity but sparked conversation. Anthony took time before launching Season 2to learn moreabout thepractical details and procedures of the business.

“I knewwhatadifference my experiencecould have been just having that confidence of knowingwhatto expect,” said Anthony.“I wanted to bring amusical program to our community, not theatrical but strictlyfor singers.”

Finalist Avery Carlton,aseventh graderand Youngsville native,said she was grateful to be able to set the tonefor those whoare her age because manynational shows have age limits.

“I have so much support and if I am the youngestperson participating in the showitcould inspire younger

STAFFPHOTOSByBRAD BOWIE

Contestants prepare behindthe scenes before competinglivefor achance to be crowned the 2025 Lafayette Idol and win $2,500 on Saturdayatthe Acadiana Center for the Arts in downtown Lafayette.

Contestant Shaun young poses on the red carpet before competing live

Alexandra Gramby, top, helps her fellowcontestant Keely Brennan with her wardrobe.

ä See CAMP, page 4B

LSU’s eighth title is worth celebrating

After the LSU Tigers baseball team won its eighth national championship Sunday in Omaha, we were glad to see 87-year-old Skip Bertman —inevery sense the creator of what is now college baseball’ssupreme powerhouse —onthe ﬁeld after the game, celebrating the longevity of what he built

The 5-3 win over Coastal Carolina further cements LSU as the greatest program in college baseball over the last 40 years. It’snot even close. After all, the Tigers were largely moribund until Bertman arrived in the mid-1980s. He took LSU to its first Men’sCollege World Series in 1986. But it wasn’tuntil Bertman’steam won its first title in 1991 that the program took off. Histeams followed that first championship with wins in 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000. The Tigers won again in 2009 under Paul Manieri and in 2023and this year underJay Johnson. It’s fair to say that LSU’ssuccess has been one of the key drivers in the growthofcollege baseball as asport.

To be sure, Sunday’steam played afar different style than Bertman’sdid. Those great teams of the 1990s were known for their “gorillaball” approach with lineups full of mashers looking to hit one deep. This title was won with dominant pitching by Kade Anderson and AnthonyEyanson, as wellas timelyhitting, especially from Steven Milam.

The sustained success is atribute not justto Bertman, Manieri and Johnson, but to dozens of coaches, hundreds of players and, yes, thousands of fans.

We’d speciﬁcally like tooffer congratulations to that last group. In addition toproviding avocal boost throughout the ten days of the tournament —and, of course, easily outpacing the other fan bases in the consumption of JellOshots —they also took it upon themselves to rally behind Michael Braswell III, asenior third baseman who was struggling at theplate. During Braswell’sat-bats in the ﬁnals, the LSU faithful gave him multiple standing ovations and chanted his name, offering awelcome counterpoint to the cynicism and meanness that sometimes creeps intocollege sporting events. It was simply Tigerfans lifting up one of their own.

To his credit, Braswell did not let his struggles at the plate affect his play in the ﬁeld, where he was akey cog in adefense that smothered opponents.

The big win gave LSU and the stateofLouisiana abit of achance to show off, both on the ﬁeldand in thestands. Some may scoff that it’s just sports, but we believe sportsare an important expression of our cultural identity, our sense of community and our pride in our state. In that vein, we tip ourcaps tothe Tigers, to Johnson,toBertman and toall those who cheered the team on to victory.Enjoy No. 8.

LETTERSTOTHE

HERE

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

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

OPINION

As aresident of Assumption Parish, tucked along rural Bayou Lafourche, Iaminperil —just like theland Icall home. Hurricane season is here, and forecasters predict it will be brutal. Butlong before thewinds whip and waters rise,manyofusare already underwater

Ilive on heirs’ property —not arenter,not adocumented owner —making me ineligible for insurance and excluded from programs like RESTORE Even if Idid qualify,premiums are skyrocketing and out of reach. This isn’tjust my story —it’smyneighbors’, my community’sand countless

others across Louisiana. Many live in mobile homes and must evacuate during even moderate storms. In this state where climate crisis collides with poverty and political neglect,our qualityoflifecontinues to erode. Despite the high-ranking visibility of our congressional delegation —Speaker Mike Johnson andMajority Leader Steve Scalise —Louisiana consistently ranks as one of the worst places to liveinthe country As asocial entrepreneur working to create opportunity through community-rooted innovation, I’ve met barriers at every turn: red tape, closed

doors and deaf —and too often, racist —ears. If Louisiana is to rise, it will require bold investment in our people, our resilience and anew kind of leadership rooted in equity,not empty promises.

To our elected ofﬁcials in Baton Rouge and Washington: What are you doing forregular folks like me, still living under blue tarps from hurricanes past?

The stormsare coming. And so is 2026, when every single member of Congress will face reelection.

DOROTHY NAIRNE Napoleonville

In 1787-1788, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay wrote aseries of newspaper articles, The Federalist Papers, under thepen name Publius, in which they argued for theratiﬁcation of our new Constitution. Hamilton,in No. 6, on Nov.14, 1787, warned of thedangers facing our new nation, not from foreign nations, but from dissensions between the states and amongstourselves.

“Such are the rivalships and competitions of commerce between commercial nations. And there are others, not less numerous than either of the former,which taketheir origin entirely in private passions;inthe attachments, enmities,interests, hopes and fears of leading individuals in the communities of which they are members. Men of this class, whether the favorites of aking or of apeople, have in too manyinstances abused theconﬁdence they possessed; and assuming thepretextofsome

public motive, have not scrupled to sacriﬁce the national tranquility to personal advantage or personal gratiﬁcation.”

Hamilton cites Pericles, who“destroyed thecity of Samnians. The sameman,stimulated by private pique against theMegarensians, another nation of Greece, or to avoid aprosecution with which he was threatened or to get rid of the accusations prepared be brought against him for dissipating the funds of the state in the purchase of popularity. was the primitive author of that famous and fatal war the Peloponnesian War,”which brought about the end of theGolden AgeofGreece. Hamilton’swarning morethan 250 years ago seems as relevant today,considering the chaos that exists in the current Washington administration, as it was in Hamilton’s day

JOE BISHOP Abita Springs

WatchingPresident Donald Trump’sresponse during theJan. 6, 2021 attempted insurrection as well as his decisions on how to handle theimmigration crisis reminds me of ascene in the movie “Casablanca.” After Louie’sFrench police-

men searched for the missing documentsinhis ofﬁce, Rick complained that they really had madea mess. Louie responded, “I told my men to be extra destructive. Iknow how that impresses theGermans.”

ALEX CHAPMAN Ville Platte

This year,The Advocate reported on the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, looking back at how Louisiana’shealth care system made adjustments to meet the moment and how it has adapted since. One primary change has been in the increased use of remote health care practices and telehealth, enabled by innovation and new technologies. As reported, “Patients still have access to these telehealth methods, giving way for a ‘new normal’ for many practitioners.” When it comes to dental care specifically teledentistry has been an extremely useful tool even before the pandemic, as Ican attest firsthand. As aLake Charles resident, Iknow how hard it can be to access affordable, convenient dental care. This is especially true in states like Louisiana, where all but six parishes are considered dentalhealth professional shortage areas.

That’swhy Iwas grateful to ﬁnd atelehealth option that allowed me to straighten my teeth from home, without the needfor expensive ofﬁce visits.

The process was simple. Ireceived aset of clear aligners in the mail and followed a schedule to switch them every two weeks. After six months, Imoved to nighttime retainers, which Istill use. Ididn’thave to take off work or travel long distances to seea specialist. Using aligners from ateledentistry platform ﬁt into my life and made areal difference, while staying affordable. Teledentistry gave me an affordable,accessible option to address my dental issue that Iwouldn’thave had otherwise —and it worked. Innovative telehealth should continue to be available for others, just like it was for me. Ihope more people across Louisiana get to beneﬁt from this kind of care,asIdid. SHEENA CLOUATRE LakeCharles

COMMENTARY

“You don’tknow that I’mgoing to even do it. Imay do it. Imay not do it. Imean, nobody knows whatI’m going to do.”

So said the president earlier this month in one of those streamsofsemiconsciousness with whichheinforms us of his ﬂuid intentions. He was musing about intervening in Israel’swar against Iran.Asusual, the reiterated ﬁrstperson-singular pronoun was hismessage. When he knows what he wants to do, everyone, including Congress, for which governance has become aspectatorsport,will know because he will already have done it.

As this was written Thursday before the weekend U.S. airstrikes, one questionwas whether he would order bombers to deliver,asonlytheycan, the only conventional (i.e., non-nuclear) munition that can destroythe most hardened targetinIran’snuclear weapons program. There was astrongargument for doing this. It would, however, have been not only polite but prudent forthe president to make thecase to the public. And although at this stagein our institutional decayitseems quaint to say so, it would be constitutionally proper for Congressto be somehow involved.

Acouple of weekends ago, many Americans —mostly progressives, surely —staged “No Kings” protests against what progressivism has done much to produce: today’srampant presidency Their chief concerns were domestic —unilateral spending cuts, deportations, etc. Aweek is,however,forever in today’spolitics. Today,progressives, those occasional constitutionalists, are fretting about uninhibited presidential warmaking.

Last week, Barack Obama descended from Olympus in his usual lecture mode, solemnly sharing his worries about Washington tendencies“consistent with autocracies.” Obama is and was asituational Madisonian. He rewrote immigration law after repeatedly and correctly insistinghehad no legitimate power to do so. And he intervened in Libya’scivil war by wagingwar there for almost eight months without seeking congressional authorizationorcomplying withthe law (the WarPowers Resolution). Obama argued,through his lawyers, that the thousands of airstrikes that killed thousands didnot constitute“hostilities.” Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith

termed Obama “a matchless war-powersunilateralist.” Presidents,who, unlike Congress, are alwaysondutyand can respond to crises with dispatch, are preeminent in foreign affairs. But not autonomous: Pertinent powers are shared with Congress. It is vested with the power (which it has largely sloughed off) to “regulate commerce with foreignnations.”The president is commanderinchief of thearmed forces, butCongress raises them.Presidents wagewars;Congress declares them.

The Senatemust consent to treaties the president negotiates. In his 2015 book on theframers’ creation of the presidency (“Imperial From the Beginning”),UniversityofVirginia law professor Saikrishna Prakash notes that, in the Embargo Authorization Act of 1794, Congress authorized thepresident to impose an embargo —but only for15daysand only when Congress wasnot in session.

The Justice Department’sexecutivefriendly Ofﬁce of Legal Counsel has repeatedly said that theconstitutional propriety of president-initiated military actionsmust be judged by their “nature, scope, and duration.”In“The President WhoWould Not Be King: ExecutivePower Under the Constitution” (2020),Stanford law professor Michael W. McConnell says the OLC’scriteria have legitimated unilateral presidential uses of force involving many billions of dollars and thousands of deaths

in Libya, Bosnia and Somalia: “Even if theconstitutional text does leave some room for the President to initiate hostilities short of full-bore war on his own authority,itishard to believe that executive power can properly be stretched as far as it has in recent times. The militaryengagement in Libya …was in no sense defensive, nor was there anything sudden about it. The president consulted for months with the United Nations and European allies, but did not go to theUnited States Congress.”

Prakashnotes that “‘monarch’ comes from ‘mono,” meaning ‘one’ or ‘single,’ and ‘arch,’ derived from ‘archon,’ meaning ruler.”

Today’sfirst-personsingular-pronoun president said last week, “I have ideas as to what to do” and “I can go from one extreme to the other” and “I like to makeafinal decision one second before it’s due.” Congress last declared war many wars ago, on June 5, 1942, when, to clarify legal ambiguities during a world conflagration, it declared war on Hungary,Romania and Bulgaria. Today’sissue is not whether war on Iran should be formally declared but whether constitutional good manners, prudent sharing of responsibility, and adecent respect for the public and its elected representatives require acting other than monarchically Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

in the Democratic primary polls.

WhereisBarack Obama? Democrats had been frustrated that their charismatic former presidenthad gonesilent on MAGA’s march of mayhem. Where is that smooth, persuasive voice?

It has risen. Obama has spoken, and Democrats would do well to take in the message.

“You could be as progressive and sociallyconscious as you wanted,” Obama sternly toldan audience in Connecticut, “and you did not have to pay aprice. Youcould still make alot of money. Youcould still hang out in Aspen and Milan and traveland have ahouse in the Hamptons and still think ofyourself as aprogressive.”

In other words, many rich liberals paid no personal price for backing candidates destinedtolose ageneral election.

Politics for them served as afashion accessory That’sthe best explanation for Obama’sabsenceinDemocratic politics —that he’d given up.There was little point in going public after Democrats lost both houses of Congress and the presidency because theirradical messages freaked out voters. Recall how,aspresident, the activist left pilloried him for,among other responsible actions, deporting undocumented criminals.

Democratic strategist James Carville hitthe nail. “The progressives never beataRepublican,” he recentlytold

aDaily Beast podcast. “Tell me when onebodyfrom that wing has ever run against aRepublican.” When interviewer Joanna Coles broughtupBernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,Carville went into orbit. “Bernie has runfor president twice. He lost twice but when Igooncable TV or podcasts like this, the entire Democratic Party is AOC andBernie (Nevada Sen.) JackyRosen doesn’texist.OK, (Arizona Sen.) Ruben Gallego doesn’texist.(Michigan Sen.)Elissa Slotkin doesn’t exist. Inever get asked aboutthem.” Coles interjects that at least Bernieand AOC are doing something “They’re clearly puttingthemselves outthere.”

So what, Carville says. “AOC represents aplus-25 Democratic district.” Sure, shehas name recognition. “Do you knowhow manytimes on Fox News AOC is mentioned in aday?”

He goes on:“Every time that you see aDemocrat that is out there screaming andpoundingthe podium,ask yourself, have you everbeat aRepublican?”

Someliberals who had grown sloppy about supporting out-there politicians seem to be getting the message. The New York Times found itsfooting in an editorial warning Democrats against nominatingZohran Mamdani, ademocratic socialist, for New York City mayor.Heisnow running second to former New York Gov.Andrew Cuomo

The Times notes that Mamdani would “bring less relevant experience than perhaps any mayor in New York history.”A statelegislator from Queens, Mamdani has never run any organization,public or private, of signiﬁcant size. He thinks government should run grocery stores!

Mamdani is not much into policing —and in acity consumed with public safety. Addressing aperceived decline in quality of life is also not his thing. Buthe’syoung and charismatic and radical. Naturally,AOC and Sanders are endorsing him.

The Times happily adopted Carville’s insistence in praising the approach of pragmatic Democrats. It names former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Houston mayors Annise Parker and Sylvester Turner.Italso gave a thumbs up to ﬁrst-term mayors Mike Johnston in Denver and Daniel Lurie in San Francisco.

In thelast presidential election, New York Citywent easily for theDemocrat but less easily than in the past.The party could strengthen its foundations by ﬁnding astrong progressive to replace AOC in theupcoming midterms

Something tells us that the 44th president would quietly approve. Obama has ﬁnally spoken, and he’sspeaking the truth.

Froma Harrop is on X, @ FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@ gmail.com.

President Donald Trumpisﬁnally building his wall. And Americans will pay forit. Trumphas been walling off the United States from foreign-made goods, foreign-generated ideas, and mostsigniﬁcantly,foreign-born humans. This month, Trumpimposed anear-total ban on entry to the United States of citizens from 12 countries, plus apartial ban on nationals from nine additional countries. Recently,aleaked State Department memo said the administration might add 36 morecountries to the list.

The ostensible rationale for these bans is agrab-bag of excuses and grievances, based largely on garbage data and inconsistent metrics about purported immigration sins. One of the stated justiﬁcations forthe bans, for example, is to prevent visa overstays. But some of the countries that are mostguilty of this transgression —such as Canada, which can claim a huge share of all immigrants whooverstay their visas in the U.S. —are somehow not on the list. Countries on the naughty list do have some things in common, however: They tend to be lower-ormiddle-income, and majority non-White. For instance, Trump’sexpanded entry ban would cover mostsub-Saharan African countries. (South Africa is anotable exception.)

There is away forthese nations to be excused forhaving too much melanin or too little money

The State Department memo says Trumpmight overlook their purported failings if they are willing to accept third-country nationals kicked out of the United States. El Salvador has already blazed the trail forthis by ﬁlling awing of anotorious prison with Venezuelans sent by Trump. None of this should be surprising. Trumpand his allies have madeclear they don’twant immigrants, particularly those from what the president once referred to as “s---hole countries,” in adog whistle heard round the world. Notlong ago, alt-right inﬂuencers such as Charlie Kirk tweeted out nearly identical talking points, calling on Trumpto“ban third world immigration, legal or illegal.”

Odious as this sentiment is, it is at least more honest than other claims that Trumpand his supporters have madeabout his immigration agenda. It wasnever about “law and order” or hunting downcriminal gangbangers or making sure people came in “the right way” through the “big beautiful door” in Trump’swall. It is and always was about humiliating and discarding immigrants —regardless of their legal status or contributions to their communities, and especially if they are Black or Brown.

That’swhy,inrecent months, the administration has stripped hundreds of thousands of lawfulimmigrants of their permission to live and workhere, thereby converting “legals” into “illegals” by executive ﬁat. It’s also whyTrump paused or shut downmany orderly,legal pathways to enter the U.S. through visa programs(as students, au pairs, summer workers or refugees, forexample).

These decisions hurt not only immigrants (or would-be immigrants) themselves. They also harm America’sglobal inﬂuence, national security and the broader economy.Perhaps irreparably

Once the world’sshining city on ahill, America is now ejecting and rejecting refugees, asylum seekers and allies of our military,even though welcoming the “tempest-tost” has generated signiﬁcant softpower over the decades. Today we’re sending undesirables to foreign gulags or ﬁlthy container ships, often without due process. We have told countries whose help we will probably need in future geopolitical challenges —including manyAfrican countries already caught in the escalating U.S.-Chinese rivalry —that their citizens are barred from our soil.

Mass deportations and the chilling effect they have on immigrants’ willingness to show up to work already appear to be reflected in official economic data. Given that the administration has also recently revoked work permits formore than half amillion previously legal immigrants, these figures could get much worse soon, with dire results forsupply chains and local communities.

Higher-than-anticipated levels of immigration had contributed to the U.S. economy’sremarkable recovery coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon, we might see the reverse. More people might leave the United States than arrive this year forthe ﬁrst timeinhalf acentury,and huge numbers of workers working here legally might soon be forced onto the sidelines.

Afew big companies have mentioned these risks publicly,atleast in their ﬁnancial ﬁlings. But mostcorporate titans and other privatesector leaders have stayed curiously mumabout federal immigration actions, among other damaging Trumpeconomic policies.

That’sthe thing about walls: They keep the supposed barbarians out. But they also keep the real barbarism in.

Email Catherine Rampell at crampell@washpost.com.She is on X, @crampell.

Froma Harrop

Catherine Rampell

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CARLOSBARRIA

President Donald Trumparrives withVice President JD Vance, SecretaryofState MarcoRubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to speak from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Saturday, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, directly joining Israel’sefforttodecapitate the country’s nuclearprogram.

George Will

Swampdiversion plan gets fundingboost

BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

The dying Maurepas Swamp between Baton Rouge and New Orleansis another stepcloser to being revitalized thankstoa $60 million grant,the lastmajor funding needed to construct the nearly $500 million project within one of the largest forested wetlands in the country

The project, led by the state’sCoastal Protection and Restoration Authority aims to reunite the swamp with theMississippi River after more than 80 years of separation. The diversion project, which brokeground in December,isalso one of the biggest investments the RESTORE council that allocates settlement dollars from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster has funded. In the decadessincethe levee system disconnected the swamp from the river, the Maurepas ecosystem of cypress trees and migratory birds along Interstate 10 has seriously dwindled. The project is expected to replenish

around 45,000 acres of wetlands overthe next 50 years, protecting residents in four nearby parishes from storm surgewhile reviving aformerly popular fishing and wildlife spot

“Thisisa game changer for thepeople and economy of the region,” said CPRA ChairGordon “Gordy” Dove. “Bringing the river back into the MaurepasSwampmeans healthier wetlands, stronger protection forlocal communities and aboost for thelocal economy.It’sabout making sure future generations can live, work and thrive here.”

‘Verysmalldiversion’

Beyond the swamp restoration, the project also has an additional cost-sharing beneﬁt. The U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers will use some of the restored area —around 9,000acres —tooffset environmental damage caused by the construction of the nearby West Shore Lake Pontchartrain levee project. This is theﬁrst time that the Army Corps hasagreed to usea statecoastal project for its required mitigation. The totalcostof the West Shore projectisestimatedat$3.7 billion.

Theroughly $500 million for Maurepas is the best es-

timate of what will be needed for thediversion itself and thefirst few miles of thelevee that overlapswiththe channel, CPRAproject manager BradMiller said. This will come from amix of state and settlement funds. The estimated costofthe swamp restoration itself is estimated at around $300 million. Slated forcompletion in 2028, the finished5.5-mile channel will bring water from the riverinto the swamp, with the infrastructure tying intothe levee. The diversionwill releaserelatively lowamounts of river water during the springtime at up to 2,000 cubic feet per second, levels mimicking the annual flooding that occurred before the levees were built Dovestressed that the Maurepas project is “a very smalldiversion,” in contrast to the Bonnet Carre Spillway or theMid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, whose constructionhas now been suspended. Dove opposes the Mid-Barataria coastal restorationproject in its current form largely because of the harmful effects it would have on commercialfishing, though advocates argue it is necessary to address Louisiana’sland losscrisis.

Openings of the Bonnet Carre spillway have also

CAMP

Continued from page1B

their mindstothe creativityand think of the things they want to do in the future.” During the camp, students in kindergarten through sixth grade learn aboutand work on four separate projects. This year’sprojects were penguin launch, which focused on the animals and their Antarctic habitats;in control, where students focused on navigation skills including Morse code and GPS; claw arcade, where students built their own

SCHOOL

Continued from page1B

Ziploc bags n Binders n Sheet protectors n Dry erasemarkers n Paper,including lined and construction n Pens. Don atio ns can be dropped offthrough July 17 at UnitedWay of Acadiana in Lafayette, 215 E. Pinhook Road, or at one of the various businesses, which are listed on the UnitedWay of Acadiana website. United WayofAcadi-

BLOTTER

Landry Parish jail.

“This is adeeply tragic and heartbreaking case thathas impacted our entire community,” OpelousasPolice Chief Graig LeBlanc said.

Crash kills 2atU.S. 90 and Ambassador

anaalso hasanAmazon wish listwithitems that can be purchased and will be shipped directly to theorganization. Donations also can be made to the Stuffthe Bus project. Volunteerswill be needed to help with community outreach and logistics. They alsowill be needed for individual shopping days in each parishand on the day of action, when supplies are sortedand prepared for educators. To learn more about Stuff the Bus, how to donate or volunteer,visit unitedwayofacdiana.org/ stuffthebus.

to the next of kin. The driver of the18-wheeler was not injured. The investigation is ongoing andtoxicology results arepending.

been controversial since they have led to algae blooms and other environmental harms in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin andalong the Mississippi coastdue to the inﬂux of fresh waterand nutrient pollution. Butthe powerful diversion is an important ﬂood control measure for the region, redirecting water at arate up to 125 times that of the Maurepas project if necessary

“The RiverReintroduction into Maurepas Swampproject exemplifies the largescale, science-based restorationthat thecouncil was created to deliver,” saidMary Walker,executive director of the RESTORE Council. “It reﬂectsstrongstate andfederal collaboration, and we’re excited to seeitmoving towardcompletion.”

As the project broke ground lastyear,the state’s oldest coastal advocacy nonprofit alsobegan planting scores of bald cypress and water tupelo trees in the swamp.Overthe next three years,the CoalitiontoRestore Coastal Louisiana will plant 4,500 trees on top of the 8,000 it has planted since 2015.

Email Josie Abugovat josie.abugov@theadvocate. com.

surroundings ErnestGallet Elementary is hosting aCamp Invention this week and Broussard Middle is hosting a segment from July 7-11. Forinformation about enrolling astudent in one of those camps, visit invent. org/camp

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

Twopeople aredead afteraBroussard crash on Saturday,according to police.

Ofﬁcerswith the Broussard Police Department responded about 10:19 p.m. Saturday to U.S. 90 at Ambassador Caffery Parkway for amajor crash involving two vehicles,according to anews release from the department.

Continued from page1B LOTTERY SUNDAY,JUNE 22, 2025

The driver of aMazda 3 washeaded south on Ambassador CafferyParkway whenthey disregarded the redlight and collided with an 18-wheeler traveling eastonU.S. 90, police said. The driver and passenger of theMazda were killed. The victims’ names arenot beingreleaseduntilnotiﬁcationcan be made

1persondead after being hit by train

Oneperson is dead aftergetting hit by atrain in New Iberia, police said. The NewIberia Police Department reported the incident occurredonWashington Street near Armand Street just before 2a.m. Sunday Inves ti gators said theIberia Parish Coroner’sOfficepronounced the victim dead at the scene. The identity of the victim has not been released.

STAFF PHOTOSByASHLEy WHITE

Students at CampInvention, aSTEAM camp held at Broadmoor Elementary, work on their navigation skills by building their owntransmitter andreceiver panels on Saturday.

Students talk about the clawmachines theymadeatcamp.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

SPORTS

FIRE STILLRAGES

OMAHA, Neb Jay Johnson’sbio from his ﬁrst season as atransfer inﬁelder at Point Loma Nazarene University lists hisgreatest sportsthrill in college up to that point: “Beating Lassen College withabasesclearing double.” Times have changed for Johnson. The thrills have grown. And multiplied. Monday morningatthe LSU baseball team hotel, the elevator doors parted and out walked Johnson and his wife Maureen. Tucked under his arm was

the prized heirloom they picked up during theirtwo-week stay here—the NCAA championship trophy Johnson left asuccessfultenureat

Arizonatocome to LSU because of its tradition and itsrabid fan support. He’s built on bothwithtwo College World Series titles in his ﬁrst four seasons, capped by Sunday’s5-3 victory over Coastal Carolina after Saturday’s1-0 win to start theCWS ﬁnal.

On Johnson’sslightly weary but clearly content face he wore agrin that you couldn’tscrub off with 24-grit sandpaper as he paused for autographs

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

Rigoberto Hernandez is back for his secondstintwith the Acadiana Cane Cutters, and this time he’ssticking around. Hernandez, who helped the Cane Cutters to aTexas Collegiate Leaguechampionship in 2022, signed with UL after spending four years at NAIA school William Carey in Mississippi.

“Thatwas my ﬁrst year in the United States,” said Hernandez, anative of Panama. “I was training all summer.They called meto come here for the second half of theseason. It was fun.”

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

OMAHA, Neb. It didn’ttake muchfor Jay Johnson to fall asleep Sunday night.

The newly minted two-time national champion had just ledLSU to its eighth national title and second championship in threeyears. As the architect of the teamthattook down Coastal Carolina 5-3inGame 2ofthe College World Series ﬁnal on Sunday at CharlesSchwab Field, Johnsondeservedsome rest

He had spent countless hours constructing aroster that included 12 transfers, three junior-college recruits and 10 freshmen. Before he finally went to bed, he wantedtomeetwith his team onemoretime.

“Wespent 15 minutestalking about what this means. And forme, it’sspecial,” Johnson toldThe Advocate on Monday morning before the team departedfor BatonRouge. “I think these guys are aworthy champion. And the wayour societyis, you have to winthat last game to be remembered forever AndI felt like theseguysare deserving of that.”

Afterleaving theballparkSunday, thecelebration forJohnson continued back at the team hotel. That’swhere the team held its briefmeeting before Johnsoncongregatedwith his coaching staff and afew players. He also got to spend more timewith his family before hitting the sack around 1a.m

“Just went over to theballpark this morning,and (itwas a) great moment,” Johnsonsaid. “And excited to getback home nowand celebrate with our fans.”

Resting is rarely an option for Johnson. There’salways anext season and another team to build to get back to Omaha. Even Sunday night, Johnson was texting with players in the transfer portal andcommitted high school recruits.

“It was more me responding to the guys that reached out to me than anything else,” he said.

Presumably, LSU winning asecond

The New Orleans Pelicans have two picks in the first roundof the NBA draftWednesday night. The Pelicans own picks No. 7and 23. They don’thaveany second-round picks in what will be the first draft of the Joe Dumars’ era. Dumars was hired in April as executive vice president of basketball operations, replacing David Griffin who was fired after six seasons. Dumars and his new right-hand

man, senior vice president of basketball operations Troy Weaver will try toﬁnd the pieces in this year’sdraftclass to complement what is already on the roster Before Dumars and Weaver make their selections Wednesday let’stake our turn in thedecisionmaking chair and pick for thePelicans in amock draft. Forthis exercise, we used a

Acadiana (10-7) is in the midst of afour-game winning streak. Hernandez,who is 10thinthe TCL in batting average(.283), leads the team in at-bats (60), doubles (ﬁve) andgames played(16) while ranking third in hits and runs scored.

“He swings it from bothsides of theplate,” Cane Cutters coach Darien Dukes said of the switchhitter,who currently prefers hitting from the left side. “Every night, he’s at least1for 3witha walk.”

Hernandez was the player of the gameinawin over Brazos Valley, going 4for 6with two RBIsand adouble. On arare day off last week,hewas calledontopinchhit anddrove in thetying run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“He’sbeeninthere every night at second base or shortstop,” Dukessaid. “We’re nowatfull strength. You’ll seehim some at thirdbase. He’svery good defensively.He’sone of our best ﬁelders and could play outﬁeld.” Hernandez batted.363 last season at William Carey,which went 38-14 and landed the No. 10 seed in the NAIA Tournament. He led theteam in hits andruns scored while ranking third in homeruns (13) and RBIs(57).

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU coach JayJohnson pumps his fistsincelebration on Sunday after Game 2ofthe CollegeWorld Series final in Omaha, Neb. LSU defeated Coastal Carolina 5-3 towin itseighth national title.

Rod Walker

STAFF FILE PHOTOByROBIN MAy Acadiana Cane Cutters infielder Rigoberto Hernandez will jointhe UL Ragin’Cajuns in the fall

LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

The game will be televised by NBATV.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By AJ MAST

Consummate team player

Unselfish Johnson made a name for herself at Louisiana Tech, in WNBA

BY TEDDY ALLEN Contributing writer

This is an entry in a proﬁle series of inductees for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The induction ceremony is set for Saturday in Natchitoches.

Vickie Johnson picked up a basketball as a challenge when she was 9 years old and used it to prove a point, ﬁrst in the backyard against her brother and two cousins in Coushatta, then on her way to becoming a two-time AllAmerican at Louisiana Tech, then through 13 seasons in the WNBA and a concurrent 15 overseas, and now through another 15 seasons as a WNBA coach.. Summer ball

AAU teammate Sarah Harrison Zeagler described Johnson as “polite, well-mannered, very bashful and shy and insanely talented.”

It’s that mix that vaulted Johnson, a 5-foot-9 guard with a pure all-around game and sweet baseline jumper, toward a spot in the 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class.

A year later, 1982, she saw Louisiana Tech and USC, titans of the women’s college game at the time, playing on television.

“I watched with my mom and it

I was thrilled, you know?” Johnson said. “I told her, ‘One day, I’m playing college basketball. I’m gonna play for the team in the blue, the team with the stars going down their jerseys.’ ”

The “team in blue” was the Lady Techsters, located about 70 miles from her home.

“Well,” said the woman everyone in Coushatta called “Mrs. Susie,” the single mom with three jobs, “if you’re gonna play for them, you’d better get back outside.”

By the time Johnson was a sophomore at Coushatta High, she committed to play for Tech

But it wasn’t the same program watched on TV in 1982. Tech fell

By LISA BLUMENFELD

She did it with a silky grace and salty presence.

“She was as smooth a basketball player as I can remember coaching,” Barmore said. “She would roam the baseline and make that little jump shot all night. It was a beautiful thing to watch.”

Thomas Assembly Center proved to be only a launching pad.

In the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft

Johnson was the 12th player chosen. She played nine seasons with the New York Liberty and four with the San Antonio Silver Stars. She was twice an All-Star and won the league’s Sportsmanship Award in 2008, her last as a player, and has been a coach in the league since. She also was the ﬁrst WNBA player to collect 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in a career

A turning point of sorts goes back to a phone call she made to home after her ﬁrst three days of practice at Tech. She told her mom of Barmore, “This man is crazy. I can’t satisfy this guy.”

She was thinking of transferring to LSU.

But on that call, her mom asked her three questions:

“You wanted to go to Tech, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“You’re at Louisiana Tech right now, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“You signed a scholarship, a contract, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Then stay your ass right there.”

Rebuilding Pac-12

reaches deal with CBS

The Pac-12 struck a mediarights deal with CBS on Monday that sets up the network to broadcast a minimum of four football and men’s basketball games per season on its main network and provide a cable and streaming presence for the reconfigured league from 2026-31.

Financial details of the new deal were not disclosed Conference Commissioner Teresa Gould called it a “transformational partnership” that allows the Pac-12 to grow when it starts as a remodeled league in 2026-27.

An inability to secure a media deal is what nearly cratered the league in 2023, with all but Oregon State and Washington State departing for the Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Big Ten conferences.

Orioles place catcher Handley on concussion IL

BALTIMORE The Baltimore Orioles placed catcher Maverick Handley on the seven-day concussion injured list a day after he was knocked over in a collision at the plate.

The Orioles announced the move Monday Baltimore also selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Norfolk. Handley was hurt in the second inning Sunday against the New York Yankees when Jazz Chisholm tried to score on DJ LeMahieu’s single to left. Outfielder Colton Cowser’s throw was up the thirdbase line and Handley moved over to ﬁeld the ball. He reached for the ball just as Chisholm ran past him. Chisholm attempted to veer inside, but couldn’t avoid the collision and Handley was spun by the contact.

Rangers call up Dunning, send Boushley to minors

BALTIMORE The Texas Rangers brought back right-hander Dane Dunning from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday after reliever Caleb Boushley was optioned to the minors.

Texas made the move before the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore, a day after Boushley threw 72 pitches.

draft simulator to make the picks leading up to the Pelicans’ picks. The simulator drafted picks 1-6, with me making the seventh pick for the Pelicans. Then the simulator drafted picks 8-22 with me making the 23rd pick. To keep it simple, we didn’t allow for any trades in this mock draft. Here it goes: 1. Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (Duke)

2. Spurs: Dylan Harper (Rutgers)

3. 76ers: Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

4. Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)

5. Jazz: Tre Johnson (Texas)

6. Wizards: Kon Knueppel (Duke)

7. The New Orleans Pelicans are now on the clock. The Pelicans were one pick away from a chance to grab Knueppel, who would have been a perfect ﬁt for the roster He’s one of the better shooters in the draft and would be a good complement to put around Zion Williamson. If Knueppel is still here at 7, he’d be the ﬁrst choice. The simulator has Ace Bailey going third, which is where he was originally projected to go But his unwillingness to work

out of the Top 25 in 1990-91 for the ﬁrst time in 13 years, then lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The next season was equally mediocre.

“No question that Vickie coming to Louisiana Tech really helped put the program back on the national map,” Tech coach Leon Barmore said. “If we hadn’t signed that class — Vickie, Racquel Spurlock, Amy Brown — we would have disappeared from the national spotlight.”

As a freshman in 1992-93, Johnson helped take Tech to the NCAA regional ﬁnals. During her four

seasons, the Lady Techsters were 116-17 and finished as national runner-up in 1994.

“Vickie was the ultimate teammate,” Barmore said “She did whatever it took to win, whether that meant playing defense or scoring or just being a leader.”

Whether it was a trait developed in the backyard or through emulating her mother, Johnson’s selflessness came early

“Vickie could have played all ﬁve positions by herself,” Zeagler said. “She could see the ﬂoor everything, everywhere, like she had eyes in the back of her head.”

out for several teams could lead to him sliding. How far he slides remains to be seen. If the Pelicans have a high grade on him and feel they can get past the reports that say he wants to be a star right away, perhaps they take a chance on Bailey. Since he’s also not available in this mock, I’ll use the seventh pick on Duke center Khaman Maluach. His size (7-foot-2), athleticism and ability to protect the rim is too good to pass up, even on a roster that already has the promising Yves Missi. Maluach is only 18, so there’s plenty of upside

Speaking of upside, there was strong consideration here for 18-year-old Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears. Don’t be surprised if he’s the pick, but I’m leaning toward Maluach. Back to the simulator for picks 8-22. 8. Nets: Derik Queen (Maryland) 9. Raptors: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)

10. Suns: Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)

11. Trail Blazers: Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)

12. Bulls: Egor Demin (BYU)

13. Hawks: Collin Murray-

That’s the conversation Johnson recalls. “At the time I was devastated,” Johnson said.

The next day, Barmore told Johnson before practice that he had received a phone call overnight. It was from Johnson’s mother

“She told coach Barmore, ‘Don’t mistreat her, but stay on her Don’t cut her any slack. Let her know that this is about more than basketball; this is about life,’” Johnson said. “And that’s what he did.

“I can truly tell you that the discipline and consistency coach Barmore instilled in me during my years at Tech is what I carried with me as a player and is what I carry with me as a coach.”

Boyles (South Carolina)

14. Spurs: Carter Bryant (Arizona)

15. Thunder: Jase Richardson (Michigan State)

16. Grizzlies: Noa Essengue (France)

17. Timberwolves: Cedric Coward (Washington State)

18. Wizards: Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)

19. Nets: Asa Newell (Georgia)

20. Heat: Danny Wolf (Michigan)

21. Jazz: Nolan Traore (France)

22: Hawks: Nique Clifford (Colorado State)

23. If the Pelicans can get Florida guard Walter Clayton here, you’d have to call this draft a success. A key part of the Gators winning the national title, Clayton is a great shooter at all three levels and came up big in the clutch time and time again. The other player I was hoping would fall to the Pelicans here was Nique Clifford, taken one pick earlier by the simulator. Most draft boards have Clayton still around at 23. If he’s there, this could be a steal even bigger than the Pelicans getting Missi with the

Boushley faced 22 batters, allowing five runs and 10 hits while pitching the final four innings of an 8-3 loss Sunday at Pittsburgh. That was five days after the righthander also finished a 6-1 home loss against Kansas City, when he retired all 10 batters over the final 31⁄3 innings.

He has a 5.04 ERA in 15 appearances over two stints with the Rangers this season.

Prosecutors in Franco trial seek five-year sentence

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic Dominican prosecutors have requested that suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco be sentenced to ﬁve years in prison for his alleged crimes.

Franco faces charges of sexual abuse involving a girl who was 14 years old at the time.

The prosecutors said in court there is sufficient evidence to prove Franco had a relationship with the minor for four months and that he transferred large sums of money to the minor’s mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

The prosecutors also requested the minor’s mother be sentenced to 10 years in prison, arguing she sexually trafﬁcked her daughter

Arizona baseball coach gets contract extension

TUCSON, Ariz. Arizona has extended baseball coach Chip Hale’s contract four years through 2030 after he led the Wildcats back to the College World Series. Terms of the deal announced Monday were not released and must still be approved by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Hale has led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament four straight times since returning to Tucson to coach his alma mater in 2021. The Wildcats returned to the College World Series this year for the ﬁrst time since 2021. Hale, a former manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has led Arizona to consecutive conference tournament championships, coached six All-Americans and two first-round Major League Baseball picks.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

PHOTO

Vickie Johnson starred in the WNBA for the New york Liberty and San Antonio Silver Stars.

Johnson

Adoring fans give ‘electric’ welcome to champs

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Foam fingers rose. Pens were uncapped ready for autographs. In the 95-degree heat of a Baton Rouge afternoon, a sea of purple and gold uncorked a season’s worth of joy

The nation’s best college baseball team returned home from Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, and the hundreds of LSU fans were more than ready to cheer for the team members.

“Electric,” LSU senior third baseman Michael Braswell said of the reception. “The best of the best. Not too many words to describe it. There’s no better place to play in college baseball, and the fans are definitely the main reason for that.”

LSU returned to Alex Box Stadium with the love of its fans on Monday, a day after capturing its eighth College World Series title

The team formally will celebrate at 7 p.m. Wednesday when the team has a national championship celebration at the same location.

Plenty of admirers didn’t want to wait, ﬂocking to the stadium’s entrance an hour before the team’s expected 3 p.m. arrival Monday The first person to exit one of the three policeescorted buses transporting the team was coach Jay Johnson, who pumped both of his ﬁsts in the air as the adulation of the fans surrounded him.

UL

Continued from page 1C

going to happen. Keep doing your thing, Rigo.’ “ At UL, Hernandez will reunite with catcher Jose Torres. The duo played together in Panama for seven years, beginning when they were 8 years old.

“I’m so excited that we’ll be playing together for our fifth year (of college),” he said. “It’s awesome. I’m really happy for the opportunity at UL. I’m one step from my dream, which is pro ball. It’s going to be a big stage. I want to help my team make the College World Series.”

When UL fans watch Hernandez in action this summer, he wants to show that he is “a fighter who plays hard.” When he’s in the dugout, the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder likes to joke around while soaking it all in.

“I’m like a kid with candy,” he said.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

and selﬁes with fans and hugs with LSU players’ parents.

You could tell these are the moments that make all the work worthwhile. The hours of practice The endless recruiting phone calls. Skipping the team dinner at a swanky Omaha steakhouse to prepare for the next day’s opponent.

“It’s why coaching at LSU is special,” Johnson said before boarding one of the team buses bound for Omaha’s Eppley Airﬁeld.

“You know, very rarely in life do you get to do something that so many people care about. I’m lucky to have a position these last four years that a lot of people care about and take pride in.

“Kind of the best moment of the whole thing (Sunday) was just hearing our song blasting on the (stadium) speakers and looking up in the stands and seeing all the joy on the LSU faces. They’re always behind LSU, but they were really behind this team, and I felt like our players really deserved that.”

It’s obvious what this year’s CWS title means for LSU as a baseball program. It’s the Tigers’ eighth championship still second-most all-time

“Everything you dream about,” Johnson, a two-time championship coach, said. “Just because we did it two years ago we certainty don’t take it for granted.”

Junior ﬁrst baseman Jared Jones looked like a captain as he donned what appeared to be a sailor hat as he carried the national trophy into the stadium. Fans called out to each player on a ﬁrst-name basis. This happened to both the potential No. 1 pick in the MLB draft, sophomore Kade Anderson, and players who didn’t get an at-bat in the postseason.

When freshman left ﬁelder Derek Curiel was the first to sign autographs, children spoke to him like they were

JOHNSON

Continued from page 1C

national title in three years should make building the next championship team easier but Johnson revealed Monday that LSU already has lost players because of its success this week in Omaha. One player in the portal texted him after LSU’s Game 1 win over Coastal Carolina to inform Johnson that he wasn’t going to visit LSU on Thursday and would be going to another school instead Such a story is partially why Johnson isn’t sure how this week’s success will translate on the recruiting trail.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know if you just watched what happened,’ Johnson said, ‘that the number one pick in the draft for the second (time in three years) is going to be a pitcher from

behind USC, but the fourth since the Trojans won the last of their 12 titles in 1998. Since LSU’s ﬁrst CWS triumph in 1991, no other program has won more than three. If the Tigers aren’t the gold standard or purple-andgold standard — of college baseball in its modern, transfer portal, lots-ofschools-throwing-moneyat-the-sport era, then such standards don’t exist. What may be a little less obvious is where this championship puts Johnson in the hierarchy of great coaches in the history of college baseball and LSU athletics. You can debate whether he is an all-time great in the same pantheon as Skip Bertman, Nick Saban or Kim Mulkey, but it’s hard to argue with the accomplishments, even though he’s coached the Tigers for only four seasons. When it comes to championship coaches, Johnson occupies some exceptionally rare air:

• He is the ﬁrst college baseball coach to win two CWS titles in his ﬁrst four seasons at a school.

• He’s one of three coaches to lead two different teams to Omaha (Johnson coached Arizona here twice) and win the CWS with at least one of those schools. Augie Garrido won titles at Cal State Fullerton and Texas, and Mike Gillespie won at USC and coached UC Irvine there.

family members asking about his dog.

“I’m just so happy we get to enjoy it with the fans now that we’re back in Baton Rouge,” Curiel said. “The people who made it happen are here, so we’re super excited. This was our goal from Day One, and we accomplished that.”

One of the fans to receive autographs from a number of players was Amanda Boulton’s young sons and nieces, who held a sign that said “We flew from Saudi Arabia to celebrate #8.”

Boulton’s family is from Baton Rouge but has lived internationally the last few years because of her husband’s job They’re back in Louisiana for summer break

LSU, and he’s not coming back next year.’

Johnson is confident in what the Tigers have coming back next season.

Sophomores Steven Milam and Jake Brown and freshman Derek Curiel head a position player group that could also bring back juniors Ethan Frey and Chris Stanfield. Pitching depth is expected to be a strength with freshmen such as right-hander Casan Evans and lefthander Cooper Williams returning.

Johnson and his staff will have plenty of time to ﬁll in the pieces around those players this summer. In the meantime, it’s time to celebrate.

“I’m excited to get back home now and celebrate with our fans,” Johnson said Monday before returning home later in the day to do just that.

Email Koki Riley at Koki Riley@theadvocate.com.

• He is just the sixth coach at LSU in all sports to win multiple national championships at the school joining track and ﬁeld coach Pat Henry (27), Bertman (ﬁve), track coaches Dennis Shaver and Sam Seemes, and men’s golf coach J. Perry Cole (all with two).

What makes Johnson exceptional? It’s that fire that burns hotter in some coaches and athletes, that makes them want to outwork everyone else. I asked him by the bus whether that fire burns just as hot after two championships as it did before the first one. The smile returned to his face.

“I told (the players), and they probably thought I was a little weird, but I got a little sad that we’re not having practice today,” Johnson said. He is a true believer in the power of what Bertman built at LSU with ﬁve national titles in 10 years, what Paul Mainieri kept burning with another CWS title in 2009 and a trip to the ﬁnals in 2017. What he is now responsible for not just maintaining but expanding Johnson told a story of a recruit, who he revealed on Sunday to be current Tennessee reliever Nate Snead, who canceled a visit to LSU in 2023 because the Tigers were still playing in the CWS. He told the same story of an unnamed recruit who did a similar thing this year

and needed to see the team they’re accustomed to watching at 2 a.m. in the ﬂesh. The appreciation comes from more than the winning.

“You can’t help but want to be a part of it,” Boulton said.

“This is one of my favorite baseball teams, and we followed baseball for several years. But these guys have just kind of won over my heart. I love their attitudes,

their sportsmanship

“Those are the kind of guys that I want my boys to look up to as mentors.”

As players signed an assortment of baseballs, bats, shirts, cards and more, they engaged with toddlers who sometimes dropped the ball they so eagerly waited to be signed, and adults who joke about wishing a senior like Braswell had another year of eligibility

“Seeing the love and support from everybody throughout the state, throughout the city, it means the world to me,” junior pitcher Conner Ware said. “This is what you come to LSU for.”

Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@ theadvocate.com

“I mean, some dude texted me immediately after Game 1 was over that he wasn’t going to take his visit on Thursday,” Johnson said. “He’s going to another school. I was like, ‘I don’t know if you just watched what happened, but the number one pick in the draft for the second time (in three years) is going to be a pitcher from LSU. He’s not coming back next year.’ ” Johnson refers to staff ace and CWS MVP Kade Anderson, who just pitched two brilliant games here allowing one run in 16 combined innings. Whether or not Anderson is the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft like Paul Skenes remains to be seen, but the point was well made.

“If you can’t watch that as a testimonial that this is the place to be if you want to be a major-league player and have the best baseball experience of your life, this place is not for you,” Johnson said. “We won’t lower the standard on that.”

Oh, yes. The ﬁre still burns for Johnson, all right.

He’s still after much more than that bases-clearing double against Lassen College.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU coach Jay Johnson shares a moment with left fielder Derek Curiel, left, and shortstop Steven Milam on the field Sunday after the final game of the the College World Series finals in Omaha, Neb. LSU defeated Coastal Carolina 5-3 to win its eighth national title.

LSU first baseman Jared Jones carries the championship trophy Monday at Alex Box Stadium after the Tigers returned from Omaha, Neb

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU third baseman Michael Braswell waves as fans cheer after the Tigers returned Monday to Alex Box Stadium with a national title won Sunday.

From butterﬂies to wasps, time to give thanks to pollinators

If you’ve paid any attention to the news in recent years, you probably know there’salot of concern about the declinein pollinator populations.Loss of habitat, overuse of pesticides and other factors have all presented threats to pollinators. June is National Pollinator Month, and it’sagreat time to explore ways we can support pollinators in the garden. First, let’s define what a pollinator is. Pollinators eat nectar and pollen from flowers. As they search for food, they move pollen betweenmale and female flower parts, allowing plants to produce seeds and fruit. This is why these creatures are so valuable: They pollinate our food sources and help ensure genetic diversity in ecosystems. Pollinators include bees and butterflies, of course, but also a variety of other insects thatwe often consider to be lessthan desirable —including moths, wasps, fliesand beetles.

“It’simportant to recognize that just because there’san insect on your plant doesn’t necessarily mean it is apest or causing damage,” said LSU AgCenter entomologistAaron Ashbrook. “It’salsoimportant to not apply broad-spectrum insecticides when our pollinators are active.”

If you need help determining whether an insect is afriend or afoe, contact the AgCenter Department of Entomologyor your parish AgCenter ofﬁce.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA McCLURE Abee collects pollen from rudbeckia flowers.

Another thing you can do to beneﬁt pollinatorsisplant pollen- and nectar-producing ﬂowers.Try to include plants that bloom at different times of yeartoensure asteady supply of food.

“Planting evensmall pockets of pollinator-friendlyplantsis important,” said AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg. Some of Stagg’sfavorite pollinator plants are in bloom right now,including:

RUDBECKIA: The Rudbeckia genus of plants includes species that we commonly know as black-eyed Susans.These perennial ﬂowers offer asplash of cheery yellow to summer landscapes. They attract pollinators and thrive in Louisiana’s hot, humid climate.

STOKES’ASTER: Also called stokesia, this is alow,mounding perennial native to the U.S. South. You’ll ﬁnd it in white, purple, lavender and blue.

SALVIA: With tall ﬂowers spikes in awiderange of colors, plants in the Salvia genusare a go-to pollinatorplant for many gardeners. Stagg recommends the Salvia guaranitica species for Louisiana, as it tends to perennialize better than others.

GAURA: This 2025 Louisiana Super Plant is apollinatormagnet featuring delicate, nectarrich ﬂowers on tall stems.

Color choices include white and various shades of pink

LANTANA: Another popular choice for attracting pollinators, species and hybridsinthe

ä See POLLINATOR, page 6C

PROVIDED PHOTO By LEMIEUXGALLERIES John Sherraden’sand Jim Langford’s‘Storm Coming’ is featured in theLSU Museum of Art’sexhibit, ‘Carved &Crafted: The Artof Letterpress.’

PROVIDED PHOTO By HATCH SHOWPRINT Hatch ShowPrint’slogo

Aheron wades through resurrection ferngrowingon an oak tree on WillowStreet in NewOrleans on Wednesday.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Though Hatch ShowPrint had been operating since 1879, ElvisPresley made the business popular in 1956 when the print shop designed hisconcert posters. This poster is copyrighted by HatchShow Print. | PROVIDED PHOTO BY HATCH SHOWPRINT

Hatch Show Print’s letterpress posters take the spotlight in LSU Museum show

ELVIS

APPROVED

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

If Elvis hadn’tcome knocking in 1956, would HatchShow Printstill be turning the handle of its press today? Maybe, but Elvis put them on theroadmap of music history.That’safact, and the musicians that followed knew it They still know it.

Ask Ringo Starr,who contracted theNashville-based printshoptodesign posters for his 2023 tour. In 2022, Elton Johnused the business forhis tour. And even the pop queen herself, TaylorSwift,ordered Hatch Show Print postersfor her2010 FearlessTour.Thatwas long beforethe Eras Tour sealed her place among music royalty, which makes the 2010 poster hanging at the LSU Museum of Art all the morevaluable. Swift’s poster joins agallery wall of Hatch prints in the museum’snewest exhibit,“Carved &Crafted: TheArt of Letter-

press,”running throughSept. 21. Newtech, timeless process

The show explores the centuries-old printing process through the work of renowned letterpress atelier Hatch Show Print, alongside artwork by former Hatch artist Jim Sherraden andhis collaborations with artist and musician Jon Langford. Though thepieces by Sherraden andLangfordare

ä See POSTERS, page 6C

MATTHEW HAINES Contributing writer

At ﬁrst glance, the stretch of Willow Street doesn’tappear much different thanothersectionsofUptown. Neighbors chat in

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN MILLER

HatchShowPrint’s poster designs for Elton John, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. The posters are copyrighted by HatchShowPrint and are featured in the LSU Museum of Art’sexhibit, ‘Carved &Crafted: The ArtofLetterpress.’

gers pointing toward the treetops. What’sgoing on?

“You can see them up in that tree,” said Marianne Jouet, a 39-year-old French-immersion teacher wholivesone block away Jouet is gesturing up toward a family of yellow-crowned night herons.

Aquilt is areminder of cherishedmemories

Dear Heloise: Ilive in Maui, and after my husband died in May,agirlfriend came and took abunch of his beautiful aloha shirts to make aquilt for me. Each square is athousand memories. —Pat Longshore, via email Twophones

Dear Heloise: Ihave amobile phone but do not give out the number except to friends, medical providers and similar people. I still have ahome phone with an answering machine, and this is the number that is given to anyone else. My outgoing message says that I’m either out or screening my calls.

Krista, it’sone of the many changes we’re all facing these days.Atpresent, larger companiesfeel that thisstreamlines the interview processand cuts down the expense ofhiring new people.Itwon’tbelong before this is standard practice in most places of business. —Heloise Easy labelremoval

POSTERS

eye-catching,the HatchShowPrint posters steal theshowbecause of their familiarity.Most visitors will remember seeing some formofa Hatchposter at one time or another

If Isee anumber Idon’trecognize, Iwait.Ifsomeone starts to leaveamessage, Ianswer If they hang up, then Ihit the “block call” button. It worksreally well. —Lilith, in Ventura, California Automatedjob interview

Dear Heloise: Irecently had ajob interview by phone with an automated voice. Ihad to answer a seriesofquestions for the company to review.Ihated the whole experience. Ihad questions about the company and itsproducts that Iwas unable to ask This is such an impersonal way to qualify an applicant for aposition. —Krista, in Memphis,Tennessee

Dear Heloise: If you want to remove thecommercial label from an empty plastic container,don’t fuss with soaking thecontainer in soapy water andtrying to scrape it off. Athincoat of peanut butter leftonthe label overnightwill loosen it so that you canpeel it off easily.No frustration required! —Joyce L., in Lerna, Illinois

Hot/cold pads

Dear Heloise: This is my hint: Forsore areas of thebody where you mightneed ahot or cold pad,just take abag of uncooked riceand heat it up in themicrowave for about 35-40 seconds. For acold pad, takethe same bagofriceand put it in the freezer.Not only does it work well, it’svery inexpensive. —Opal, in California

Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA McCLURE

Gaura provides nectar-rich flowers on tall stems.

POLLINATOR

Continued from page5C

Lantana genus are heat tolerant and reliably bloom allsummer Newer lantanas come in many colors and have asmaller,more mounded shape than older selections. Youalso can incorporateplants thatcater to moths and butterﬂies, which begin life as caterpillars. Some speciesare picky eaters, feeding only on speciﬁc host

plants. Monarch butterﬂy caterpillars, for example,exclusively eat milkweed (native speciesare ideal), which is also where adults lay their eggs And, while we usually think of pollinators as insects, remember that hummingbirds play a role in moving pollen around, too. Tryaddingplants that they like —look for brightly colored, tube-shaped ﬂowers that accommodate their long beaks and tongues. Agreat option is Vermillionaire cuphea, anewly named Louisiana Super Plant.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday,June 24,the 175th day of 2025. There are 190 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On June 24, 1983, the space shuttle Challenger —carrying America’sﬁrst woman in space, Sally Ride —coasted to asafe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

On this date:

In 1509, Henry VIII was crowned king of England;his wife, Catherine of Aragon,was crowned queen consort.

In 1939, the SoutheastAsian country of Siam changed its name to Thailand. (It reverted to Siam in 1945, then became Thailand once againin1949.)

In 1948, Communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the Western allies to organize the Berlin Airlift.

In 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Roth v. UnitedStates, ruled in a6-3 decision that obscene materials were not protected by the First Amendment.

In 1973, President Richard Nixon concluded asummit with the visiting leaderofthe Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev,who hailed the talks in an address on American television.

In 1992, the Supreme Court, in a5-4 decision, strengthened its 30-year ban on ofﬁciallysponsored worship in publicschools, prohibiting prayerasapart of graduation ceremonies.

In 2010, in the ﬁrst round of the Wimbledon Championships, American John Isner won the

The messages are clear in bold simplicity,proving thatold-fashioned doesn’tnecessarily mean outdated. The fact thatthe LSU Museum Store sold out of itsstock of HatchShowPrint Johnny Cash posters before theshow’sopening is proof of that.

“We’ve had to order moreJohnny Cash,” said store managerLeAnn Russo. “And we’ll also have Elvis in this next order.”

Ah yes, Elvis. He strikeshis classic pose —legs apart, guitarinhands —inthe poster that launched Hatch into musichistory. His poster advertising a1956 concert at theFlorida Theatre in Jacksonville hangs at thetop of the gallery wall in this exhibit.

“Andthe amazingpart is that HatchShow Printstill hasall of theoriginal plates fortheseposters,” museum curator Michelle Schulte said. “They still mix the colorsoftheir inks by hand, and theystill make the posters on a hand-cranked press.”

Butthe business doesn’truleout all technology.Hatchalso produces posters on an automatic press when necessary.The keyword here is “press.” Hatch has been athriving business since1879, andits poster prints are considered prime examples of letterpress artwork. Hand-carvedand set

The shop’sworkershand-carve block print images, set letters by hand and use half-tone photos composedoftinydots. Thedensity of thedotsdetermine thelightness anddarkness that create the image. All are combinedonto aprinting plate and thenattached to the press. The hand-mixed ink is applied, and the posters are run one by one through the press.

The result is what thecompany describes in its written history as the “Hatch Style”: “Eye-catching posters rooted in late19th century typography,crafted fromwood andmetal type, arranged by hand, letter by letter.”

It’sthe samestyle in the collection of posters ﬁlling the museum wall, touting everything from LSU’s2014 Music City Bowl game againstNotre Dame, to aMcDonald’sadvertisement for 42-cent milkshakes, to ashow hawking “The Fabulous Johnny Cash” at the Minneapolis Auditorium

HERONS

Continuedfrom page5C

wingspanis3½ feet,and itseyes arebrightred.The bird’s grayblue body supports ablack head withwhite markings and the long, yellow plumethatgives thespecies its name.

Asecondadult lands on the branch, presumably withfood hunted nearby.Oncue, anest full of brown- and white-striped hatchlings jump with excitement.

By ROBIN MILLER Hatch Show Print also designed posters for JohnnyCash. The posters are copyrighted by Hatch Show Print and are featured in the LSU Museum of Art’sexhibit, ‘Carved&Crafted: The Artof Letterpress.

Cash’sconcert bill also included June Carter,The Tennessee Three, MotherMaybelle &the Carter Family,The StatlerBrothersand Carl Perkins. Not bad for $3, right? That was theprice of the highest ticket. The cheap seats were $1.50.

Beganwitha handbill

Butmusicwasn’tpart of Hatch’s repertoire when brothers Charles and Herbert Hatch opened it in 1879. Their first print job wasa handbill announcing the appearance of the Rev.Henry Ward Beecher, brother of author Harriet Beecher Stowe of “Uncle Tom’sCabin” fame. Charles Hatch’sson, Will Hatch, took over the business in the 1920s, operating it directly behind the RymanAuditoriuminNashville from 1925 to 1992. Itsproximity, alone, to theGrand Ole Opry’soriginal home made Hatcha known entity for promotional material.

“Nashville iconsRymanAuditorium andHatch Show Print have become so ingrainedinthe city’s culture, thatthey help deﬁne it,” theRyman states on its website.

“After nearly 150 years of creatingMusicCity’smostrecognizable showposters, part of the Hatch Show Print legacy is on display in theRyman’s Hatch Show Print Gallery:afull hallway lined with autographed posters fromRyman shows and events over theyears.

Elvischanged everything

Buteverythingchanged when an order was placed forposters ad-

“They mate and they set up nests, and they do it in dense urban areas far from the predators presentinLouisiana swamps and marshlands. We’veseen these loosecolonies of yellow-crowned night herons here since the early 1990s.”

Those“loose colonies,” also knownassemi-colonial, are adefining feature in New Orleans’ population of both theyellow-and black-crowned night heron.

vertising aconcertfor the young musician fresh offthe Louisiana Hayride.

The young rocker may have been at the beginning of his career,but even then, there was something different abouthim —a force that hadthe power to change the course of events. If Elvis was advertising with Hatch Show Print, it wasnaturally the cool thing to do. And it has been since.

“Today,Hatch does everything from wedding invitations to advertising posters,” Schulte said. “They’re heavily into the concert posters right now,but they always assign one of their designers to work with aclient from beginning to end. They go all the way through theprocess, andthey’re even in charge of the billing.”

Hatch’scomprehensive approach to business is how the LSU Museum of Art’soriginalHatch design came about. Thesmall poster features a tigerleaping toward the words “Geaux See Art.” The museum’s name stretches along the bottom. Everything is setagainst the backdropofa rising sun. And, of course, everything is in purple and gold. This piece also is available in the giftshop.

“The carving of the tiger and the letter fonts were pieces they already had,” Schulte continued. “They listenedtowhat we wanted and put it together forus.”

CountryMusic Hall of Fame

These days, Hatch operates out of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at 222Rep.JohnLewis Way. But it was still behind the Ryman when Sherredan joined the business as an intern in 1984. During that time, he began using the paper scraps —called ﬁshbones —thatfelltothe ﬂoor whilerestriking posterstocreate quilt-like collages. In its own way,Sherredan’s workcarries on the Hatch tradition by reimagining thebusiness’ archive through experimentation. Sherredan’scollaboration with Langford beganin2015. Their work is interspersedthroughout thegallery,almostasifpaying homage to the stars.

Stars whose namesare Dolly, Loretta, Aretha and Tina. Then there’sHarry ConnickJr.’s name highlighted by the starry sky of the New Orleans Water Meter logo. Andthat’snot forgetting Willie and B.B. and ashowing of Edward HopperatNew York’sWhitney Museum. Yes, NewYork calls on Hatch Show Print, too.

At the very top is Elvis, whose spotlight on Hatch is still shining today

For moreinformation, visit lsumoa.org.

moment for some of those little herons.”

longest professional tennis matchinhistory,defeating Nicolas Mahut, of France, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68; the match was played over thecourse of three days and lasted atotal of 11 hours, 5minutes.

In 2015, afederal judge formally sentenced Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaevtodeathfor the2013 terror attacks. (A federal appeals court later threw outthe sentence; the SupremeCourt reinstated it.)

In 2018, women in Saudi Arabiawere allowed behindthe wheel for theﬁrst time as the world’slast remaining ban on female drivers was formally lifted.

In 2021, a12-story condominium building collapsed in Surfside, Florida, killing 98 people.

In 2022,in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’sHealth Organization, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to remove constitutional protections for abortion that had been in placesince 1973’sRoe v. Wade. Today’sbirthdays: Author Anita Desai is 88. Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro is 85. Actor Michele Lee is 83. Actor-director Georg Stanford Brown is 82. MusicianMick Fleetwood is 78. Actor Peter Weller is 78. Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster is 65. Actor Iain Glen is 64. Musician Curt Smith (Tears for Fears) is 64. Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaumis63. Singer Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) is 59. Actor Sherry Stringﬁeld (“ER”) is 58. Actor-producer Mindy Kaling is 46. Actor Minka Kelly is 45. Singer SolangeKnowles is 39. Soccer player Lionel Messi is 38. Actor Beanie Feldstein is 32. Actor Harris Dickinson is 29.

Passersby quietly observe from several dozenfeetbelow.Smiles adorn their faces.

“It’s such anice thing —Ifeel so lucky,” Jouet said, alongside her distracted dog, Elka. “Everyevening we go on this walk and, even though we are in the middle of the city,wecan watch these huge, majestic birds.”

“Someone always comes up and asks what we’re looking at,” she continued, “and so it’salso areally nice way tomeet your neighbors.”

Harbingers of springtime

Willow Street isn’tthe only place one can ﬁnd theyellow-crowned night heron in New Orleans (or its closely related black-crowned night heron).Infact, they have several communitiesinthe metro area.

“I ﬁrst noticed them lastspring whileeating lunchoutside my school on Carrollton Avenue,” Jouet said. “I grew up in France very interested in birds, andthen to be here in New Orleans where herons are in the middle of the city is so cool.”

This past April,Jouet hada friend visiting and they noticed thesame species of birdarriving on Willow Street.

Theyellow-crowned night heron, according to local bird experts, is one of the ﬁrst species to arrive each spring. Malesmigrate ﬁrst, returningtonesting areas they have known from past years.

“Westart to seethem in late Marchand earlyApril,”saidDavid Muth, whospent 30 years employed by the National Park Service at Jean Lafitte National Historical Parkand Preserve,as well as adecade with the National Wildlife Federation

Whereas other species of herons and egrets willnestinlarge colonies with many thousands of birds frommanyspecies,the night heron is more likely to be found in smaller clusters.

“You’ll ﬁndone or two nests next to each other in atree or in neighboring trees,” Muth said, “and then you go afew houses downand ﬁnd acouple of other nests. Theyare spread outover several blocks.”

Hatchlings arrive

Neighbors report anywhere between ﬁve andeight nests on this particular stretchofWillowStreet Similarcolonies of night herons have been reported around the city,including on Esplanade Avenue near South Broad Street.

Some New Orleanians arecompletely unaware of the herons’ existence. Observant locals —or especially unlucky ones —begin to spot clues, however

“I was observing the Esplanade Avenue colony,and this guy with a beautiful, black BMW found out I was interested in birds and yelled to me,like, ‘Why do these birds keep (pooping) on my car?” Muth recalled. “I said, ‘Look up, man. Youparked right underneath one of their nests!’”

The expansive,whitesplotches of excrement are one waytoﬁnd ayellow-crowned night heron nest

But come late Mayand early June, when the young begin to hatch, activity really begins to ramp up.

“You see the adults coming back withcrawﬁsh and sometimes crabs to feed the hatchlings,” Muth said. “You can hear thelittleones and see them jumping up and down, stretching, eventually ﬂapping and balancing andlearning how to use their wings.”

“It’scool to see,” he added, “but this is also apotentially dangerous

Leavingthe nest …and N.O. Asign on acorner of Willow Street reads, “Baby bird season now.Please drive carefully.Keep cats inside.” Christina Albers,68, an adjunct professor at Delgado University, lives on the block.She begancreating signs —this oneincluded— approximately threeyears agoto alert neighbors and drivers to be awareofbabyheronsthatmay have fallen from the nest.

“They just seem so cute and vulnerable, and we’re so lucky to have them here,” she said. “They look at youlike,‘Pleaseprotect me,’and I thinkthe neighborhood just wants to take care of them as best we can.” Albers said she keeps an eye out forthe birds while walking. If she sees ababy heron in the street, she will try to guide it out of the road. She hopes her sign will clue drivers to stay alert forthe young birds, as well.

Some ornithologists believeit wasthe relatively safetyofNew Orleans’ oak-linedstreets that brought birds from nearby swamps and marshlands —with predators such as alligators —tothe city

“Thatwould make some sense,” conﬁrmed Peter Yaukey,the chair of theDepartment of Biological and Physical Sciences at Holy Cross University,“but unfortunately there are some new predators here.”

On Willow Street,the bodies of twofallen birds are areminder of how dangerous this momentinlife can be.

“They haven’tonly found threats in thecity,though,”Yaukeysaid. “Communitieslike theone on Willow Street seem to really take pride in protecting these birds.”

Soon they will be ready In late June and earlyJuly,groups of yellow-crownednight heronswill begin to leave their New Orleans nests. First they will head to nearby marshlands where food is more accessible, and then they will head south to warmer areas like Central America and theYucatan.

“We’ll missthem,but we know they’ll be back,” Albers said. “And when they return, Willow Street will be readytowelcomethem home.”

Hints from Heloise

STAFFPHOTO

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Think each move through before you act. It's OK to think big, but common sense will be necessary to complete your mission. A financial gain is apparent if you follow the rules and oversee expenditures.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) It's best to step back and take a pass when in doubt. Making a premature move will put you in a vulnerable position Trust your instincts, not what someone else claims is true.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Refuse to let what others do or say interfere with your progress. Choose the path that allows you to show off your talents and value instead of letting someone light your fuse.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Nurture partnerships; listen, respond and offer positive reinforcement, and you'll get the desired results and shift how others treat you. Domestic changes will improve your personal life.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Speak your mind, get your point across and move on to what's important to you. Changing how you handle others will help you gain respect and the support you need to reach your goal.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Improve your surroundings, but don't go over budget. Haste makes waste, and snap decisions will cost you. Listen to reason before you sign contracts that lock you into something you cannot afford.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to your relationships with others. Kindness will help ameliorate any uncer-

tainty or disagreements you have with someone you value. Fix up your personal space to suit your needs.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Get active, and you'll be ready to conquer the world. Refuse to let the changes others make interfere with your plans. Overspending to appease someone will not help you gain respect.

PIscEs (Feb 20-March 20) Put your feelings aside and concentrate on being and doing your best. Home improvements, networking, marketing and promoting what you offer will bring stellar results.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Keep an open mind and heart and live in the moment. Use your discipline and ingenuity to stand up and make a difference. Invest time and money in what's most important to you.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Sign up for activities that encourage better health and lifestyle choices. Be open to learning and expanding your mind and interests. A physical change will boost your confidence.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Your thirst for knowledge will lead to research and discovery. The possibilities are endless if you put a plan in place. Don't sit on the sidelines; master the art of staying ahead of the competition.

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

ToDAy's cLuE: y EQuALs s

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

We are looking at transfer bids intothe majors. Why use them?

Thereare two main reasons.First,you get the stronger handtobethe declarer when the final contract is in responder’s major. Andifthe opening bidisone notrump,therespondercandescribeatwosuiterbelow three no-trump.

Look at theSouthhand. Playing natural methods, Southwouldrespond three hearts, showingfiveheartsand at least game-going values. But when North rebids three no-trump, announcing only twohearts, shouldSouth pass or rebid four clubs? He does not know Here, passing would workbadly, because thedefenders take five spade tricks. But when South bids two diamonds, transfer, and rebidsthree clubs natural and game-forcing, what does Northdo?

If he had three hearts, he would indicatethe fit with athree-heartbid. With twohearts and stoppers in spadesand diamonds, he would bidthree no-trump. Here, though, he continueswiththree diamonds, strongly suggesting that he is worried about spades.And if Northis worried, Southisvery worried! He bids four clubs,North control-bids (cue-bids)

four diamonds, South control-bids four spades (yes,aggressive, but the hands are fitting well),North uses Blackwood, and they reach six clubs. This contract makes easily,South taking four hearts, two diamonds, five clubs and one heart ruff in the dummy.

McMeel Syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

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

ToDAy’s WoRD VAGRAnTs: VAY-grents:Those who have no established residence and wander from place to place.

Average mark15words

Timelimit 25 minutes

Can you find 22 or morewords in VAGRANTS?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —sLuMLoRD