The Acadiana Advocate 04-14-2026

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Judge halts work on Comeaux closure

Injunction issued until April 29 trial

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

A judge ruled Monday that the Lafayette Parish school system must temporarily stop any work on the closure and repurposing of Comeaux High School.

Judge Valerie Gotch-Garrett, of the 15th Judicial District Court, issued a preliminary injunction against the School Board and school district until an April 29 trial and said the school district was “prohibited from moving on

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE

Hebert stepping down

as provost

Former interim president will return to math department

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Provost Jaimie Hebert is stepping down from his role in the university’s administration and returning to the math department faculty, according to a Monday announcement.

anything related to (Comeaux).”

During that trial, Gotch-Garrett will determine if the board violated its own policy and state open meeting laws If she rules the board violated its policy or state laws, that would likely void the board’s March vote to close the school.

When a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is typically granted, a judge will order a monetary bond to be paid by the person who asked for the order That money could then be used by

the defendant to offset any harm caused by the preliminary injunction if a judge later determines it was issued wrongfully or without merit.

But Gotch-Garrett did not issue a bond, instead claiming that this is a “community issue and the School Board needs to follow its own policy and procedures.”

Suzanne Lajaunie filed the lawsuit seeking an injunction and temporary restraining order to stop the School Board from closing Lafayette’s Comeaux High School. The lawsuit originally appeared before Gotch-Garrett at the end of March but was delayed after

Lajaunie said she hired an attorney who needed time to familiarize herself with the case. A new attorney, Brian Blackwell, represented Lajaunie on Monday

The School Board voted March 12 to close Comeaux High at the end of the school year and reassign students to other high schools in the fall.

Under the plan, the Comeaux High campus will be renovated to house the W.D. and Mary Baker Career Center and E.J. Sam Accelerated School, and its athletic fields will be used by other schools in the district. The move is expected to save $2

million in the general fund that is used for teacher salaries and programming.

A judge will grant a preliminary injunction if a plaintiff must prove that irreparable harm will be caused if one is not ordered, that they are entitled to relief and that they are likely to prevail on the merits of their argument, attorney Bob Hammonds, who represented the school system, said in court. Gotch-Garrett emphasized during the nearly three-hour hearing that she was ruling on the irreparable harm aspect of the case. at

Tammy Pack gives a tour of her home, called Holly Hedges, in Natchez,

Each spring, Natchez gussies itself up as homeowners, many in costume, open their mansions to tourists.

Trump says he won’t apologize to pope

BY WILL WEISSERT, JOSH BOAK and NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

Hebert has been UL’s provost since 2018 and served as interim president last year after the resignation of longtime President Joseph Savoie. The change in Hebert’s roles comes about six weeks after the University of Louisiana system board approved Ramesh Kolluru as president. Kolluru previously held the role of vice president for research, innovation and economic development

“He strengthened the academic mission, championed excellence in teaching and learning, and helped position the University for continued growth and impact,” Kolluru wrote in the Monday announcement about Hebert stepping down. Hebert did not immediately return messages Monday afternoon.

During Hebert’s brief stint as interim president, he announced the university was in dire financial straits, with a budget deficit he inherited from his predecessor Hebert began layoffs and budget cuts to make up for the shortfall.

Hebert initially asked the system board to consider him for the permanent position as president in November, but he did not formally apply for the position during the application period earlier this year He has not publicly discussed his decision not to apply

In Kolluru’s Monday announcement, which he shared by email to

ä See HEBERT, page 5A

Documentary puts Natchez in spotlight

Residents question whether attention on city’s past will help or hurt tourism

BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

NATCHEZ, Miss.

— The tour began as many do in this historic river city: with shined silver, a grand chandelier and a bit about the antebellum house’s original owners.

But the current owner Tammy Pack, skipped the hoop skirt.

Many of the historic homeowners who partake in Natchez’s annual Spring Pilgrimage don traditional hoop skirts, still, despite criticism that they romanticize a time stained by slavery Standing before three dozen people — mostly women, mostly baby boomers in her dining room Pack explained why she instead picked a slim, silky number Construction on Pack’s home, long christened Holly Hedges, began in the 1790s.

“‘Why not consider dressing to the oldest period of our home?’” Pack said, quoting a fellow homeowner “‘Your house is more ‘Bridgerton’ style, really.’

“All I heard was I get a new dress without a hoop skirt,” Pack said with a grin. “OK you sold me on it!” The ladies chuckled.

Signs throughout Natchez, Miss., advertise Spring Pilgrimage, a century-old tradition widely credited with rescuing the city from destitution.

Each spring, Natchez gussies itself up as homeowners, many in costume, open their mansions to tourists hungry for the history — and, critics say, the myth — of the Old South.

This year the old rite has a new backdrop.

A documentary titled “Natchez” interrogates the stories some of those tours tell with their costumes, their Black figurines and their talk of “servants,” rather than enslaved people.

ä See NATCHEZ, page 5A

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump refused to apologize to Pope Leo XIV on Monday after criticizing the pontiff for his opposition to the war in Iran — and he sought to explain away a nowdeleted social media post depicting himself as Jesus by saying he had thought the image was of him as a doctor

ä Trump says U.S. military has begun a blockade of Iranian ports.

PAGE 3A

Tr ump was asked about his comments toward the U.S.born head of the Catholic Church, as well as the post depicting himself as a healer, in a hastily called question-and-answer session with reporters at the White House.

ä Pope starts Africa tour in Algeria and calls for peace. PAGE 3A

“He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result,” Trump said, adding, “I think he’s very weak on crime and other things so I’m not”

President defends his social media post that depicts himself as Jesus ä See

page 6A

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

Miss.

TRUMP,

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

President Donald Trump speaks outside the Oval Office of the White House on Monday. ä See COMEAUX, page 6A

Hebert

Spears enters substance abuse treatment facility

LOS ANGELES Britney Spears has entered a substance abuse treatment facility just over a month after she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

A representative for Spears said in an email to The Associated Press on Sunday that the 44-year-old pop superstar had voluntarily checked herself into the facility On March 5, California Highway Patrol officers received a report that a BMW was driving fast and erratically on U.S. 101 in Ventura County, the CHP said. Spears, who lives in the area, took a series of field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, authorities said. She was taken to a county jail and released several hours later Investigators turned over the case on March 23 to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, which plans to make a decision on charges against Spears before a scheduled May 4 court date.

A representative at the time called Spears’ actions “completely inexcusable” and said it would ideally be “the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”

Spears has mostly set aside her music career She has not toured in nearly eight years and has not put out an album in nearly a decade.

Dozens arrested in N.Y. protest about arms sales

NEW YORK Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during a demonstration Monday calling on New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of thousands of U.S. bombs to Israel.

Led by the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace, the crowd of hundreds initially attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Manhattan offices of the two Democratic lawmakers they accused of abetting Israel’s intensifying attacks in Lebanon and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran

After demonstrators were blocked by security from entering the building, they stopped traffic outside, chanting “fund people, not bombs” as they were arrested and loaded onto three buses.

Among the 90 people taken into custody were whistleblower Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef and New York City Council member Alexa Avilés, according to a JVP spokesperson

The demonstration focused on a set of resolutions introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders that could block the sale of more than $600 million in bombs to Israel.

Similar measures previously introduced by Sanders, I-Vt., have failed. But the most recent effort this past summer drew support from more than half of Senate Democrats amid widespread hunger and suffering in Gaza Schumer and Gillibrand were not among them.

Spanish premier’s wife charged with corruption

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife has been charged with influence peddling and bribery

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado charged Begoña Gómez following a yearslong criminal investigation that has rocked Spanish politics, according to a ruling published Monday She will now stand trial. The government has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by Gómez. The charges against Gómez deepen political pressure on Sánchez. His Socialist-led minority government has been shaken by multiple corruption probes and claims of politically motivated attacks, ahead of a general election next year that opponents are likely to seize on In 2024, Sánchez took five days off to consider whether to resign after Gómez was formally placed under investigation. He ultimately remained in office, saying the allegations were unfounded and politically motivated. The case stems from a complaint filed by an anti-graft group with far-right links, using a Spanish legal mechanism that allows third parties to request criminal investigations.

Swalwell will leave Congress Democrat accused of sexual assault

BY KEVIN FREKING, LISA MASCARO and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California announced Monday he will resign from Congress following multiple sexual assault allegations that prompted loud bipartisan calls for him to step down.

The decision caps a swift political fall for the seventerm lawmaker, who had been seen as a front-runner in California’s gubernatorial race before dropping out as the allegations surfaced, claims he has continued to deny The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by

CNN, first reported allegations that Swalwell had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. CNN also reported that three other women alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by Swalwell — including sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said on social media.

The House Ethics Committee had begun an investigation into whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision, the panel announced Monday The announcement came one day after Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor

Swalwell wrote in a

statement posted to social media that he was “aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote” and that it was “wrong” without due process

“But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress,” Swalwell wrote. Swalwell’s planned departure will trigger a special election in his district outside San Francisco, which he won by over 30 percentage points in 2024. Texas congressman out Republican Rep Tony Gonzales of Texas said Monday he will retire from Congress amid bipartisan calls to expel him. Gonzales had already said he would not seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.

Official says he didn’t see

early warnings

Director says staff had no meetings about the pending danger

BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas The director of the Texas summer camp where 27 campers and counselors were killed by a devastating flood in 2025 said Monday he did not see early federal and state warnings issued the day before the storm hit, and that staff had no meetings about the pending danger

Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland testified in a court hearing about preserving damaged areas of the camp’s grounds as evidence in several lawsuits filed by families of the victims of the July 4 disaster on the banks of the Guadalupe River

A judge last month ordered the camp to preserve those areas, and camp operators have appealed. The groups were back in court Monday for further testimony about the camp and what happened there before and during the flood.

This week’s hearing, which could produce the most extensive public comment from the all-girls Christian camp’s operators, comes amid their application for a state license to reopen Camp Mystic this summer on a part of campus that did not flood

Staff signed up for warning system

Camp director Edward Eastland testified for several hours Monday in a courtroom packed with the families of the girls who were killed.

Eastland said he and other staff were signed up for an emergency warning system on their phones and used other weather apps. But he said he did not see flood watch social media posts by the National Weather Service and the Texas Department of Emergency Management on July 2 and 3.

Eastland said he wasn’t following those agencies on social media and thought the local “CodeRED” mobile phone alert system and phone weather apps staff had at the time “was enough.”

A July 3 National Weather Service alert asked area broadcasters to note that locally heavy rainfall could cause

flash

flooding in rivers, creeks streams and low-lying areas, all features of the Camp Mystic property

Eastland said that his father, camp coowner Richard Eastland, typically monitored weather issues Edward Eastland said he did not believe camp staff held a meeting about the alerts and warnings that day

The storms would hit overnight, killing 25 campers, two teenage counselors and Richard Eastland.

“We did not expect what was going to happen,” Edward Eastland said.

“You were warned,” said Brad Beckworth, an attorney representing families who have sued Camp Mystic.

Loudspeakers didn’t issue a warning Eastland was pressed on the limited information campers and the cabin counselors would have had because cellphones were not allowed in the cabins, and only some staff carried walkie-talkies for communication.

The courtroom heard part of a video of taps played over loudspeakers when the campers went to bed at 10 p.m July 3 Those loudspeakers were not used to issue a weather warning, Eastland said.

Eastland said he went to bed about 11 p.m. Eastland said he never got a National Weather Service flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m. and that he slept through a CodeRED alert text at the same time that was specific for his area. The alert warned of a flood event that could last several hours. His father called him on a walkie-talkie shortly before 2 a.m. to tell him about hard rain falling and the need to move canoes and water equipment off the river front They did not move to evacuate cabins at the point.

“It was not reasonable to do that at that time,” Eastland said. “The water wasn’t out of the Guadalupe River It was pouring down rain and lighting and the cabins were safe at that time.”

Richard Eastland made the call to evacuate cabins about 3 a.m., Edward Eastland said.

Eastland said he never got a National Weather Service flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m and that he slept through a CodeRED alert text at the same time that was specific for his area. The alert warned of a flood event that could last several hours.

Police: AI opponent behind incident at OpenAI CEO’s

Man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail

BY JUAN LOZANO and LEKAN OYEKANMI Associated Press

SPRING, Texas The man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home in San Francisco was opposed to artificial intelligence, writing about AI’s purported risk to humanity and “our impending extinction,” according to court documents.

Authorities allege 20-year-old Daniel MorenoGama threw the incendiary device about 4 a.m. Friday setting an exterior gate at Altman’s home alight before fleeing on foot, police said Less than an hour later, Moreno-Gama allegedly went to OpenAI’s headquarters and reportedly threatened to burn down the building.

On Monday morning, FBI agents went to MorenoGama’s home in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston, where they spent several hours before leaving. He has been charged by federal prosecutors with possession of an unregistered firearm and damage and destruction of property by means of explosives.

The FBI’s office in Houston confirmed agents were at the scene but declined further comment. Neighbors described the homeowners as “very nice people” who were involved with their church.

The criminal complaint does not name Altman or OpenAI but both have confirmed they were the targets of the attack. No injuries were reported.

When Moreno-Gama was arrested Friday, officials found a document on him in which he “identified views opposed to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the executives of various AI companies,” court documents say The document discussed AI’s purported risk to humanity and “our impending extinction,”

home

according to the criminal complaint. Authorities allege Moreno-Gama traveled from his home in Texas to San Francisco and visited Altman’s home early Friday morning.

Surveillance video images included in the criminal complaint show a person dressed in a dark hoodie and pants that the FBI alleges is Moreno-Gama approaching the driveway of Altman’s home. In various images, the person can be seen tossing the Molotov cocktail, which landed at the top of a metal gate and started a small fire.

Surveillance video images from outside OpenAI’s headquarters allegedly show Moreno-Gama grabbing a chair and using it to hit a set of glass doors. Authorities said MorenoGama was approached by the building’s security personnel, who told investigators he “stated in sum and substance” that he came to the headquarters “to burn it down and kill anyone inside,” according to the complaint.

San Francisco police arrested Moreno-Gama and recovered “incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, a blue lighter, and a document.” Moreno-Gama was being held Monday in the San Francisco County Jail on various state charges. The document in which Moreno-Gama discussed his opposition to AI also made threats against Altman, officials said.

“Also if I am going to advocate for others to kill and commit crimes, then I must lead by example and show that I am fully sincere in my message,” Moreno-Gama is alleged by authorities to have written in the document.

Hours after the attack on his house, Altman posted a photo of his husband and their toddler in a blog post addressing the threats against him “I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me,” Altman wrote.

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AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN PHOTO By MIKALA COMPTON

Jennifer and Doug Getten, who lost their 9-year-old daughter Ellen Getten in the July 4 flood, attend a hearing on a suit against Camp Mystic in the 459th State District Court in Austin, Texas, on Monday

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

CAMP MYSTIC FLOOD

TrumpsaysU.S.blockadingIranian ports

BY SAMY MAGDY, JULIA FRANKEL and MIKE CORDER Associated Press

CAIRO— U.S. PresidentDonald Trump said Monday that the American military had begun a blockade of Iranianports as part of his effort to force Tehranto open theStrait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war that has raged for more than six weeks.

Iran responded with threats on all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, taking aim at U.S.-allied countries.

That set the stage for an extraordinary showdown that posed seriousrisksfor the global economy and raised the specter thatthe ceasefire could collapse and the warcould resume. Talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict which began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran —failedto reach an agreementthis past weekend. There has been no word on whether negotiations willresume.

“Wecan’tlet acountry blackmail or extort the world because that’s what they’re doing,” Trump said of Iran.

Speaking outside the Oval Office, the president suggested the U.S. is still willing to engage with Iran.

“I can tell you thatwe’ve been called by the other side,” Trump said. He added: “We’ve been called this morning by the right people, the appropriate people, and they want to work adeal.”

Trump did not say who called or what was discussed.

Anotice to mariners bythe U.K Maritime Trade Operations agency said the blockade restricted “the entirety of the Iranian coast-

line, including ports andenergy infrastructure.”

It saidtransit through the strait “toorfromnon-Iranian destinationsisnot reported to be impeded,” though ships“mayencounter military presence.”

At least two tankers approaching thestraitMonday turned around soon after theU.S. blockadebegan, vessel trackerMarineTraffic said in apost on X.

Iran’seffective closure of the strait, through which 20% of traded oilpassesinpeacetime, hassent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other basicgoodsfar beyond the Middle East.Tehranhas allowedsome shipsperceived as friendly to pass while charging considerable fees, leading to accusations it is holding theglobal economy hostage.

Some analysts are doubtful that the U.S. can restore normalshipping throughforce alone. Andit’s not clear how theblockade will work or what the dangers might be to U.S. forces.

The question is essentially who can endure the mostpain: Could ablockademake Iran’seconomic situation untenable and force it to concede? Orwill it drive global oil and other prices so high that Trumpisforced to back down?

Far-reaching effects

The U.S. military’sCentral Command announced that the blockade

wouldbeenforced “againstvessels of all nations entering or departing Iranianports andcoastal areas”onthe Persian Gulfand Gulf of Oman CENTCOM’sdecision to allow ships travelingbetween non-Iranian portstotransit thestrait was astepdown from Trump’searlier threat toblockade thewaterway

In asocial media message posted shortly after the blockade was due to begin, Trump said Iran’snavy had been “completely obliterated” but still had “fast attack ships.” Trump warned that “if anyofthese ships come anywhere closetoour BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.” Iran issued threatsofits own.

“Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Omaniseitherfor every-

one or for NO ONE,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reportedMonday. “NO PORTinthe regionwill be safe,” read astatement from the Iranian military

The threats halted the limited ship traffic that resumed in the straitsince the ceasefire, according to areport from Lloyd’sList Intelligence. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire last week, downfrom 100 or more vesselpassages per day before the war.

The blockade is intended to pile pressure on Iran, which hasexported millions of barrels of oil since the war began, much of it likely carried by so-called dark transits that evade Western sanctionsand oversight.

But the effects will be felt far beyond Iran. The price of Brent crude oil, theinternationalstandard, hovered Monday just under $100 perbarrel. It costroughly $70 per barrel before the war.

Iran:‘if you fight, we will fight’

Top-ranking Iranian officials threatened retaliation.

Ebrahim Rezaei, aspokesperson forthe Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission dismissed U.S. warnings of apotential blockade as “more bluffing than reality.” He said Tehran was prepared to respond if the situation escalates militarily

“It will make thecurrent situation (Trump) is in morecomplicated and makes the market —which he is angryabout —more turbulent,” he said in apost on X. The Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, addressed Trump in astatement: “If you fight, we will fight.”

Legalexperts arewatching

U.S. military officials have offered fewdetails about how the blockade will actually work.

The U.S. Navy has 16 warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Middle East, adefense official said. Aseconddefense officialsaidnoAmerican warships are in the Persian Gulf, whichforms most of Iran’s coastline. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations. Under international law, the blockademust be impartially enforced. Legal experts will also be watching to seeifthe U.S. allows humanitarian aid to reach Iran.

Pope starts Africa tour in Algeriaand callsfor peace

BY NICOLE WINFIELD, AOMAR OUALI and PAOLO SANTALUCIA Associated Press

ALGIERS,Algeria Pope Leo XIV called for peace and theend of “neocolonial tendencies” in world affairson Monday during the first papal visit to Algeria, all while facinganextraordinary broadside by President Donald Trump over his criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran Leo’sarrival in Algiers marks the start of an 11-day tour of four African nations —Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea —that will bring the first U.S.-born pope deep into the growing heart of the Catholic Church.

Leo is in Algeria to promote Christian-Muslim coexistence in the majority Muslim nation at atimeof global conflict, and to honor the locally born inspiration of his religious spirituality, St. Augustine.

‘Neocolonial tendencies’

In his first remarksin Algiers, Leo tied his current appeal for peace to the country’sstruggle for independence from France, obtained in 1962. Hundreds of thousandsofpeoplediedin the revolution during which French forcestortured detainees, disappeared suspects and devastated vil-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO Pope Leo XIV addresses Algerian authorities, members of thecivil society, and diplomatic corps at theDjamaa el Djazair ConferenceCenter in Algiers, Algeria, on Monday

lages as part ofastrategy to maintain agrip on power.

“God desires peace for every nation, apeace thatisnot merely an absence of conflict but one thatisanexpression of justice anddignity,”Leo told acrowd of several thousand peopleatthe monument to Algeria’s martyrs.

At alater meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and other government authorities, Leo praised Algerians for their solidarity and respect for one another,which he said providedanimportantperspective today “on the global balance of power.

“Today,this is more urgent than ever in the face of continuousviolationsofinternational law and neocolonial tendencies,” he said without elaborating, though he has previouslyspokenabout Russia’swar in Ukraine, the Iran war and Israel’sinvasion of southern Lebanon. GreatMosquevisit

Leo’svisit dominated news headlinesinAlgeria, where atinyCatholic community of around 9,000 people made up mostlyofforeigners exists alongside the Sunni Muslim majority of about 47 million.

El Moudjahid,astate-run dailynewspaper,declared that “the planet is staringat Algeria,” while Arabic-language daily Echorouk wrote that “the land of peace and coexistence speaks to the world.”

Leo visitedthe country’s Great Mosque and stood silently with his hands clasped in frontofhim,as if in prayer. He thankedthe mosque rector for receiving him in this “divine space, space of God” that is also a study center “Through this place of prayer,through thesearch for truth, including through study andthrough the ability to recognize the dignity of everyhuman being, we know —and today’sgathering is proof of this —that we can learn to respectone an-

Fla. teen chargedwithsexually assaulting andkilling stepsister

BY ED WHITE Associated Press

A16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual abusein Florida in the death of his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship,the U.S. Justice Department said Monday. Timothy Hudson was initially charged in February and subsequently indicted on March 10. But the breadth of the casewas not known until asealwas lifted Friday,weeks after U.S. DistrictJudge Beth Bloom in Miami said he would be prosecuted as an adult at the request of the government.

Anna Kepner hadbeen traveling on the Carnival Horizon ship in November with her family.Before the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, her body was found concealed under abed in aroom she was sharing

with two other teens, including the younger stepbrother The causeofKepner’s Nov. 6death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia, which is when an object or physical force stops someone from breathing Email andvoicemailmessages seeking comment from Hudson’sattorneys about the charges were not immediately returned Monday. Hudsonhas remained free in the care of an uncle since his arrest in February Kepner was ahighschool cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, 40 miles east of Orlando. At her memorial service inNovember,familymembers encouraged peopletowear bright colors instead of the traditional black “in honor of Anna’s bright andbeautiful soul.” Teensare rarely prosecuted in federalcourt.Hudson pleadednot guilty when he

was initially charged in February, though theproceedings werenot public because of his age and neither were court documents.

Ajudge on Feb.6said Hudson mustwear an electronic tether whileliving with an uncle.The order was changed to allow him to join his father for afew days last week at alandscaping business, newly unsealed court records show Prosecutors objected to Hudson’srelease, citing dangerousness, andasked a judge Monday to revisit that order nowthathehas been charged as an adult. Defense lawyers will haveaweek to respond.

“He committed these crimes against avictim with whom he had no apparent relational strife, andwhom he wasbeingraised to view as asibling,” AssistantU.S. Attorney Alejandra López said in acourt filing.

other,live in harmony,and build aworld of peace,”Leo said in Italian in arare, offthe-cuff comment. Butothers downplayed the significance of the visit “God’sreligion is Islam, whichhas illuminated this land for 14 centuries,” said Lamia Sellimi, aliterature teacher at ahigh school near theBasilicaofOur

Lady of Africa. “Algerians are deeply attached to their religion, whichisone of the foundations of our identity As such, this visit is merely acircumstantial event.”

Personal andpastoralvisit

Leo’sAugustinianreligious order was inspired by theteachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the fifth-cen-

tury theological andphilosophical titan of the early Christian church who was born in what is today Algeria andspent allbut five years of his lifethere. On Tuesday,Leo will visit Annaba,the modern-day Hippo whereSt. Augustine was bishop for three decades, and will literally walk in the footsteps of the saint.

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“Natchez” tags along as Tracy Collins, aBlack tour guide and Baptist pastor known as “Rev,” tells tourists what others don’t, leadingthem to the siteofwhat was once the second-largest slave market in the country

The film willsoon geta wider audience: After receiving strong reviews at festivals andduring its limited theatrical release, “Natchez” is now available on streaming platforms. Next month, it will air on PBS

Residents of Natchez, population 14,000, have been grappling with the documentary,shot mostly in 2023, and its revelations —including, at the film’sclimax, aWhite homeowner’sracistrant.

Some residentsbelieve the film, which artfully stitches its narrative out of acollage of scenes and interviews, captured their community in all its complexity.“It’swhat the world needs to know and see about Natchez,” said Deborah Cosey,who purchased Concord Quarters, aformer slave quarters, restoring it andturning it into abed-andbreakfast.

“It’sus. It’s Natchez.”

DirectorSuzannah Herbert’s‘Natchez’ is available on-demand and premieres May11on PBS’ ‘Independent Lens.’Residents of Natchez,population 14,000, have been grappling with thedocumentary, shot mostly in 2023 and taggingalong withtours exploring the Mississippi city’sOld Southhistory, and its revelations —including,atthe film’s climax,a White homeowner’sracist rant.

ing night performance:This, shesays,is“a PILGRIMAGE!”

state. There’sone in Jackson tomorrow,soI’m in town for that.

with the decision,” they told the local newspaper

‘Thisisthe South’ Fordecades,two garden clubs helmedthe tours. But now,with an Instagram campaign and Facebook ads, a third organization called Living History Natchez has entered the chat.

“Weare not alegacy garden club,” its website makes clear,promising “stories long left out.” Pack,who dressed for“Bridgerton,”ratherthan “Gonewiththe Wind,” is part of that group.

“The garden clubs, they saved this town,” Pack said, andtheycontinue to do important work. “Whoever tasked them with needing to somehow also be digital marketers —that’sasking alot.”

who fill those seats arebaby boomers, in town formansion tours, and there are fewer of them these days, he said.

Lately,though, he’sbeen adjusting his spiel for the younger adults who are finding him. God gifted him with a “spiritofdiscernment,” so he reads people’sclothing and body language. The questions behind the questions they ask.

Some who have seen the film say it ignores dec ades of efforts to tell the city’scomplex history, ticking off the evidence:Signs noting historical sites of African American and civil rights history. Guidespromoting those sites during tours. Amonument,stillinthe works,thatwill bear the names of more than 8,000 Black men who served with the U.S. Colored Troops at Fort McPherson.

They argue that “Natchez”focused on recent transplants whodon’trepresent the city.“The dominant characters wereNOT native Natchezians,” native NatchezianMildred Lehmann Amer wrote in aletter to the board of the Tribeca FilmFestival, where the documentary premiered last summer.“Ibelieve they were chosen to ‘get arise’ out of theaudience.” Some don’twant to talk about thedocumentaryat all, declining interviews, ducking calls and, in one case, slamming adoor.A few have refused to see it

But mostfolks in town arewatchingtosee how “Natchez” the film affects Natchez the city —especially its tourism, especially during Spring Pilgrimage, a century-old tradition widely credited with rescuing the cityfrom destitution.

Will tourists still come?

‘Buriedwithmyhoops on’

If aspring extravaganza helmed by once-dueling garden clubs sounds silly, some Natchezians would agree with you. They are well acquainted with how it all looks and not immune to self-satire and critiques.

During pilgrimage season, which runs throughmidApril, local actors are once again staging “SouthernExposure,” afarce from 1950 about afading damenamed Penelope who opens up her once-grand mansion, Mayweather Hall, to wide-eyed, sticky-fingeredvisitors,who may be under the impression they’re on aregular guided tour Not so, Penelope declares with swelled pride, to great laughter from the sold-out audience at this year’sopen-

Continued from page1A

university faculty and staff, KollurudescribedHebert’s term as interim presidentas requiring “clarity,discipline and decisive action.”

“He confronted significant

financial challenges directly and helped stabilize theinstitution through afocuson transparency,accountability and shared responsibility,

Later,onthe brink of foreclosure, Penelope takes in arenter who is actually a writer from up North, eager to exploit her andthe cliches of an oldSouthern town. Natchez is used to reporters, filmmakersand authors dropping by,spending time, gathering material. Stories have been written, books published. Years ago, even Borat dropped by The popular mo ckumentary character, an ineptKazakhstan TV journalist createdand portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen, arrived for dinner at Lansdowne, still owned by descendants of thepeople who had the home builtin 1853. “He wanted to have dinnerwith an old-fashioned Southern family,” saidMarsha Colson, past president of the Pilgrimage Garden Club. “It was clearwhatthey thoughttheywere goingto get.”

Mint juleps were served, butColson’sfamily didn’t take the bait —perhaps because they surprised Baron Cohen,she said, by being “open-minded, liberal Democrats.”They didn’tmakeit into the Borat movie

But Colson is featured in “Natchez,” which she’s seen twotimes. “I will probablyalways be uncomfortable with it,” she said.After ascreeninginNatchez, folks asked director Suzannah Herbert whetherthe filmwould be badfor tourism.

“She thought it would help us move forward on racial issues,” Colson said. “Well, we’ve been working hardon that for many,many years.” Colson, who is in her70s, knowsthatfor some, the skirts are aloaded symbol.

Butwhen she tellsthe storyofher house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, she’salso tellingthe story of her family “When Iwear that dress, I’m representingmygreat-aunt or my great-great-grandmother.”

Thegarden club gave up theConfederate uniforms. They retired thepageant. But they’reholding on to the hoopskirts,Colson said. “I’ll be buriedwith my hoops on.”

‘It’sgoing to bringthemin’ Alittleafter 9a.m., outside arestored traindepot perched on the bluff, Collins pulled up in awhite van, letteringonits side: “See the REAL Mississippi.”

Aman wearing ablack cowboy hat climbed inside Collins asked where he’s from “New York,” said Jeremy Dyckman,40, settling into the first row.“I’mtrying to run amarathon in every

Kolluru wrote. Hebert will leave his post July 1. University officialswill search for apermanent successor,accordingto Kolluru’semail. Dianne Olivier, the associate vice president for academic affairs and vice provost, will serveasinterim provost during the search. Monday’sannouncement is the latest in aseriesof leadership changes sincethe university’slongtimevice presidentfor administra-

“And Isaw the movie that you did.”

Collins grinned, eyeing the cowboy hat. “Welcome to Natchez, man.”

Then he introduced himself, followinga similar script Dyckman had heard in thetheater.“I’m Tracy I’m alocal pastor—I’ve been at the samechurch for about20years —and aformer countysupervisor.Igot elected and realized Ididn’t knowanything aboutwhat Irepresented.SoIstarted this little pilgrimage to learn thehistory

“And guys, Ithought it was going to be acoupleof weeksand acouple of books. That was in 2015.”

Though the film follows the paths of severalpeople, afew of them intersecting, Collins is itsstar, its heart, its conscience.

Herbert, the filmmaker, methim the same way many tourists do:He“recruited me into his van,” she said in an interview.The Memphis native had been spending time in Natchez without a camera, attending parties, dinners and tours. “I was blown away by the tour and thehistory he was giving.”

In the end, Herbert and her team structured thefilm the same way Collins structures his tours, she continued, to “bring people into the fantasy and then slowly peel back thelayers.”

The owners of Natchez’s historic homes“are doing what they’ve been doing for three, fourgenerations,” saidthe film’sproducer Darcy McKinnon, of New Orleans. “What they were taught to do and taught to say.They’re very protective of that, right?”

Butbyprotectinganarrative that’s“not rooted in the facts of history,” she continued, those homeownersare shuttingpeople out Cities that have embraced authenticand expansive versions of history,such as Birminghamand Montgomery,Alabama,have thrived, McKinnonsaid. “Talking about hard history does not drivepeople away —and in fact, the youngergenerations, it’sgoing to bring them in.”

On itswebsite, the film offers up its own visitors’ guide to Natchez, highlighting Melrose,preserved by the National Park Service, andthe Museum of African American History andCulture, Rev’stours andCosey’s B&B.

But it leaves off several antebellum mansions shown in the film. It leaves off Choctaw Hall.

‘Threats on ourlives’

Until the rant, “Natchez” offers anuanced portrait of ChoctawHall’sowner,David Garner Garner,who is White, charms tourists, champions LGBTQ causes and takes medication for Parkinson’s

tion and finance, Jerry Luke LeBlanc, resigned in May Savoie stepped down in July before his contract was up. Although there was speculation in November thatthe systemboardwould forgo asearch for anew president andinstall Kolluru, the board decided to forma searchcommittee after public pushback. In February,the search committee recommended Kolluru as the only finalist of the 12 applicants.

disease, which is robbing him of his voice. In 2014, Garner and his husband Lee Glover bought thehome, built circa 1836, andfurnished it withseven generations’ worth of antiques, according to astoryinthe Natchez Democrat newspaper Near the film’send, though, Garner lets loose with several comments against Black people, repeating aslur.The film then shows him making racist jokes with visitors, some of whom laugh along.

By phone,Gloversaid he couldn’tsay too much about Garner’sremarks, because of “possible legal things that we’re doing.”

He said Garnertakes a medicationthatcan make him “unfiltered.”

“We’ve gottenthreats on our lives,”Glover said “We’ve gotten threats about burning our house.

Choctaw Hall is still part of theNatchez Garden Club’s springtours.More thanthree years ago, after complaints and “well before the documentary,” the Pilgrimage Garden Club, which owns atouragency, stopped representing Choctaw,Colson said.

Garner andGloverput their mansion on the market for $1.9 million in September,and it remains for sale.

The film had “nothing to do

Pack and her husband are the 15th owners of Holly Hedges, so they’ve had to research thehome’shistory, with help fromthe Historic Natchez Foundation, compiling aGoogle document that’s now70pageslong.Packhad somenames of enslaved people who livedthere but no photos. So shehad those names carved in wood, displaying them on an upstairs wall.

Enslaved people, she repeated, not slaves.

“You knowwhere Ilearned thatlittle piece of dignity?” she said. “In Natchez, Mississippi.”

On awhim,she and her husbandflewtoNew York to see the film’spremiere at Tribeca, whereitwentonto win best documentary.“I’m notgoing to lie:I was whiteknucklingit,” she said. “Not about anything we said but becausewe’re allworried: Howisthis sweet town going to look?”

But she found it to be a beautifully filmed ode to an imperfect city and achance to have adeeper conversation.

Collins, meanwhile, doesn’t expect thedocumentary to change this town.

But the 61-year-old hopes it will boost business. His oldvan,dubbed“Precious,” has 260,000 milesonits engine and little cushion left in its seats. Most of the people

Afterthe cemetery and before the bluffs,Collins paused at acluster of shotgun houses, where maids and cooks and butlers once lived. But he didn’thave the group exitthe van until thetour’s end, at Forks of the Road, a patchoflandbetween bustling roads. From the 1830s to the 1860s, this land was the country’s second-largest slave market, akey piece of the domestic slave trade that made millionaires outofmanyNatchez residents. Once forgotten, it’snow aNational Park Service site. Collins’ shadow loomed over asmall square of shacklesand chains as he toldthe story of the1.5 million enslaved people who walked some 800miles to this site “That iron,” he said, “is seasoned with flesh and blood.” Dyckman, the visiting marathon runnerfrom New York, tugged on the brim of his cowboy hat. He hadbeen moved by “Natchez,” the movie, buying abook the theater had recommended: “How the Word is Passed”byNew Orleans native ClintSmith.Later, when he realized the marathon would bring him within aday’sdrive of Natchez, he decided to sign up for Rev’s tour He didn’tstay long in Natchez anddidn’ttourany antebellum houses. But before driving back to Jackson, he returned to Forks of the Road. He read the exhibits. He staredat those shackles. He considered the marathon he was about to run “just for fun.” And the next day,asheran those 26.2miles, he thought about freedom.

PROVIDED PHOTO By OSCILLOSCOPE

The sunnyand warmconditions we had to startout the week will continue today. Expect amostly sunny, warm, humid and breezy Tuesday. Temperatures this afternoon willrisetothe lowtomid-80s We’ll have anicebreeze, but winds are south-southeasterly at 10 to 15 mph, gusting to 20 mph and bringing moisturefrom the Gulf, so expect high humidity. Rain chances are at zero,but with the heat and humidity,a fewisolated showers are possible.The UV Index is “veryhigh,”soprotect your skin.

TRUMP

Continued frompage1A

going to apologize.

“He went public,” the Republican president added. “I’m just responding to Pope Leo.”

That response followed Leo pushing back on Trump’sbroadside againsthim the previous evening, telling reporters that the Vatican’sappeals for peace and reconciliationare rooted in the Gospel and that he doesn’tfear the Trump administration.

“Toput my message on thesame plane as what the presidenthas attempted to do here, Ithink is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told TheAssociated Pressaboard thepapal plane en route to Algeria. “And I’m sorry to hear that, but Iwill continue on what Ibelieve is themission of the church in the world today.”

Theback-and-forth between the world’stwo most influential Americans served to deepen aburgeoning schism as the U.S. warinIran stretched into its seventh week.

History’sfirst U.S.-born pope stressed that he was not making adirect attack against Trump or anyone else with his general appeal for peace and criticismsof the Iran war and other conflicts around the world.

“I’m not afraid of theTrump administrationorofspeakingout loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for,” said Leo, who had a different perspective on foreign policy than elected officials.

“I will continue to speak out strongly against war,seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems,” he said.

Trump’ssocialmedia post

The image posted by thepresi-

times, it appearedasifHammonds and Blackwell were arguing whether the School Board violated policy and procedure rather than focusing on the harm.

Lajaunie testified that her stu-

dent Sunday night showed Trump wearingabiblical-style robe and laying hands on abedridden man as light emanates fromhis fingers —while asoldier,a nurse,a prayingwoman and abearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly Thesky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images.

“I didpost it,and Ithought it was me as adoctor and it had to do with the Red Cross,” Trump said. “It’s supposed to me as adoctor,makingpeople better.And Idomake peoplebetter.Alot better.”

He blamed the “fake news”for any confusion over the image, though it drew criticism from a wide range of people, including some of Trump’sown evangelical supporters, whoobjected to the notion that Trump was likening himself to Christ. Even Iran’s president, MasoudPezeshkian, assailed the “desecration of Jesus”

dent, who is agraduating senior, benefited greatly from attending Comeaux. She said her younger students intended to enroll in the school when they reached high school. She said attending Comeaux was in thebest interestof their academic and social needs.

while also speaking up to defend thepope.

The postwas deleted from Trump’saccount late Monday morning. Trumpdidn’tprovide details on how that happened. TrumpcriticalofLeo

Thepresident criticized the pope in alengthy social media post while flying back to Washington from Florida on Sunday night. He kept up thedenunciation after deplaning, tellingreporters, “I’m not afan of Pope Leo.”

Leo said Saturdayduring an evening prayer serviceatSt. Peter’s Basilica that a“delusion of omnipotence” was fueling the U.S.Israel war in Iran.The comments came the same day that the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire.

The talks were being led on the U.S. side by Vice President JD

Vance, aCatholic whorecently released abook about his faith.

Askedabout Trump’spost depicting himself as JesusonMonday evening, Vance toldFox News Channel that it was “a joke”and said it’s “a good thing” that Trump “likes to mix it up on social media” and is “not filtered.”

“Of course, he took it down becauseherealized alot of people weren’t understanding his humor,” Vance said of thepost.

The pope’sSaturday criticisms meanwhile, followed him earlier naming Trump directlyand expressed optimism that the president would seek “an off-ramp” in Iran. An even stronger condemnationcameafter Trump warned of mass strikes againstIranian power plants and infrastructure, writing on social media that “an entire civilization will die tonight.” Leo described that as a“threat against theentire people of Iran” and said it was “truly unacceptable.”

While it’snot unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it’sexceedingly rare forthe pope to directlycriticize aU.S. leader —and Trump’sstinging response is equally uncommon

“PopeLeo is WEAK on Crime, andterrible forForeign Policy,” the president wrote in his post, adding, “I don’twant aPopewho thinks it’sOKfor Irantohavea Nuclear Weapon.”

Opposition to warirked Trump Leo, whobegan an 11-day trip to Africa on Monday,has previously said that God“does not listen to the prayers of those whowage war, but rejects them.” He’s also referred to an Old Testament passage from Isaiah, saying that “even though youmakemany prayers, Iwill not listen —your hands are full of blood.”

Still, in his comments on Monday, as in hisSundaynight social media post, Trump went far beyond the war in Iran in criticizing Leo.

“I don’twant aPope whocriticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what Iwas elected, IN ALANDSLIDE, to do.” Hispost also claimed thatLeo wasonly elected pontiff“because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best waytodeal with President Donald J. Trump.”

“If Iwasn’tinthe White House, Leo wouldn’tbeinthe Vatican,” Trumpwrote, adding, “Leo should gethis acttogetherasPope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on beingaGreat Pope, notaPolitician. It’s hurting him very badly and, moreimportantly,it’shurting the Catholic Church!” In his comments to reporters after stepping offAir Force Oneon Sunday, Trump said of Leo, “I don’t think he’sdoing avery good job. He likescrime, Iguess,” adding, “He’savery liberal person.”

She alsotestified that someone told herduring theMarch School Board meeting thattheywere not given aproper opportunity to provide public comment on the Comeauxclosure agenda item,which Lajaunie argued harmed thecommunity. She alsosaid that if the district moved forward with closing Comeaux, especially without following proper procedure, it would erode hertrustinthe school system and shewould sendher students to otherschools,which would be disruptive to her personal and professional life. Lafayette schools Assistant SuperintendentofAdministration and Operations Jennifer Gardner testified that, to her knowledge, everyone who wished during the meetingwas able to speak. Shesaidall of thestudentswho will be rezoned from Comeaux will have access to the same curriculum and certified teachers at their new schools. Gardner also told the court that renovating the Comeaux campus would additionally allow about 500 Lafayette school system students whoare on awaitlist to access the career center Contact AshleyWhite at ashley. white@theadvocate.com.

JanRisher

LOUISIANA AT LARGE

‘I’m

here fora reason ’

LunchwithVoodoo priest offers revelations

On my knees in Congo Square, helping aVoodoo high priest gather bananas, apples and hard candy that had just spilled from the basket balanced on hishead was not on my 2026 bingo card Neither was the long lunch that followed at anearby hookah lounge. But both happened in late March.

The question of how any of this came to be is afair one. Igive credit to my older daughter,a devoted “Try Guys” fan whose paid subscription gives herearly access to episodes. Six weeks ago, she showed me one of their New Orleans installments featuring Voodoo high priest Robi Gilmore (which became publiclyavailable Saturday and can be foundhere: https://youtu.be/ZCj3vrkM8wM).

Watching the episode, Iwas struck by how muchIdidn’tknow about Voodoo —and how muchof what Ithought Iknew mayhave come from misunderstanding, caricature or fear So, Iwent looking for the Voodoo high priest. Ifound him just finishing atour at Congo Square. He was worn out. Rather than continuing to walk aroundthe park,hesuggested going to his regular,post-tour hangout, Haifa Cuisine and Hookah Bar As we were deciding whereto go, the basket full of fruittoppled from his head —and we allpicked up the scattered pieces. Gilmore turned out to be ahistorian, tour guide and one of the most unexpectedly gentlepeopleI have ever met.

That day,myniece-in-law Liz Pina was visiting from California She lost herhusband to brain tumors in November.Ihad afeeling that Ishould invite her along—it turned out to be the right decision.

As New Orleans as Gilmore is now,hegrew up in ruralSt. Francisville, raised in what he describes as atribal family culture where cousinsbecome siblings and children belong to everyone

His mother is Haitian, his father is Louisiana Creole. His grandmother taught him Voodoo. When he was 18 andpreparing to leave for the Navy,his grandmother made all his favorite foods for a farewell meal —fried chicken, hot water cornbread andred velvet cake. Somewhere between dinner and departure, he says she slipped something into his Dr Pepper. The next thing he remembers, he was in abamboo hutinthe middle of his Voodoo initiation ceremony

“And that’show Ibecame a priest,” he said.

At 22, he moved to New Orleans andbecame atour guide. He still leads one tour aday —Thursday through Monday,from 10 a.m. to noon, through Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park. Afterthat, he does what he wants. By 6p.m., the headphones are on and he’s playing video games, which he loves.

At 28, he came out to his family,a moment he describes as profoundly shaping his life. He decided to stop living by anyone else’srules. That commitment still shapes the way he moves through the world.

“I don’tlive on acredit score. Idon’tlive on agovernment,” he said. “I live for me.”

Twenty years ago, he survived a

Bill proposes testsfor drivers

Renewalrequirement facesbipartisanpushback

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Louisiana drivers wouldberequired to take a“driver’s knowledge” test every six years under ameasure being proposedatthe State Capitol, but the plan faces bipartisan pushback from lawmakers who saiditwould be too burdensome.

“Think about all the times

you’ve been driving andyou’ve thought to yourself,‘Manthat’s abad driver,’”state Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, said while presenting his driver test proposal during apublic hearing Monday.“That’swhat Ithink about all the time when I’m on the interstates here in Baton Rouge. McMakin said having smarter, betterdrivers will lead to fewer wrecksand lawsuits and could

even help keep carinsurance rates down. But lawmakers on the House transportation committee asked whether the additional test would actually improvedriver skills and some worried it could even

prevent safe drivers who have difficulty with tests from renewing their licenses.

Among those was Rep. Ryan Bourriaque,R-Abbeville,who chairs the committee and questionedwhetheratestwould prevent accidents.

Rep. Annie Spell, R-Lafayette, askedabout forgoing the testing component in favorofdrivereducation that “doesn’tpunish good drivers that don’tnecessarily sit

Mancited forshooting rare whooping crane

Second time this year bird has been killed

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

AChicagoman wascited Monday for shooting and killing a whooping craneinEvangeline Parish, according to theLouisianaDepartmentofWildlifeand Fisheries.

It’sthe second time someone has killed the endangered species —one of therarest birds in the world —this year in the state

Both incidents occurred on crawfish farms down the road from oneanother According to adepartment release, biologists reported alost signal on awhooping crane’s trackingcollar on March 19. The bird’s last known location was on aprivately owned crawfish farm near La. 106 between Bayou Chicot and Pine Prairie, where

agents located thedead crane the next day, according to the department.

The crane had pellet wounds, suggesting it was shot by ashotgun, and agents found spent shotgun shell casings on the property after returning with asearch warrant.

During theinvestigation, officials said Michael Alaniz, 49, of Chicago, contacted themand admitted to shooting the crane while on the farm.

Alaniz was cited for violating theMigratory Bird Treaty Act, which carries fines between $400 and$950 andupto120 days in jail. He also faces civil restitution fees up to $15,000 for the replacement value of theillegally taken whooping crane, according to the department.

Just aweek before Alaniz shot thebird, twoworkers on acrawfishfarm ashort drive away off Miller’sLake Road in Evangeline were also cited forshooting a

SUNDAy SITTING

ABOVE: Visitors situnderthe oaks while attending Bach Brunchfeaturingthe band Certified Blues at Parc Sans Souci on SundayinLafayette.Bach Brunch is arelaxedgathering, with atraditionofinviting friends, familiesand neighborstoenjoy great music, good food andtime together in thepark. LEFT: Martin Moutonwatches hisdaughter,Lily,2,swing.

AuthoritiesinSt. Landry Parish are asking forthe public’shelpin locating astolen vehicle connected to an ongoinghomicide investigation.

atrailer in aSt. Martin Parish crash, police say The crash claimed the life of 19-year-old JamisonPhillips, of Arnaudville.

Ared 2009 Chevrolet Silverado bearingLouisiana license plate Z946646 was reported stolen from aresidence on 838 PileRidge Road located in the Port Barre/Washington area, police say. Investigators say the vehicle is nowconsidered evidence in ahomicide case. Details about the homicide have notyet been publicly released, but lawenforcement emphasizes the urgency of locating the truck. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward.

Teen dies from injuries after St. Martincrash

Ateen has died from his injuries after being ejected from

Louisiana State Police Troop I beganinvestigating asingle-vehicle crash shortly before noon April 6onLa. 686 Frontage Road near La. 347. The preliminary investigation revealed that a2019 Ram 1500 was traveling east on La. 686while pullinga utilitytrailer Phillips was riding in the trailer, whichwas beingusedtotransport amattress. For reasons still under investigation, Phillips was ejected from the trailer into the roadway Phillips suffered serious injuries andwas transported to a nearbyhospital,policesay.The driver of the Ram wasproperly restrained and reported no injuries. Routine toxicologysamples were collected from the driver and submitted foranalysis.

OUR VIEWS

Ajewel of Louisiana’s heritage gets loving attention

Our state has many iconic buildings thatdate back centuries, but none is more beloved than St. Louis Cathedral. At theheart of the French Quarter,the church has long served as amustsee for tourists visiting New Orleans and a landmark for locals.

That’swhy we’re thrilled thatthis grand structure is about to get some badly needed TLC. Built in 1851, the church isshowing its age. Termite damage threatens itsroof, and crumbling stucco and water stains mar itsbeauty But that’ssoon to change witha $45 million restoration set to begin this summer

The makeover will include bothinterior and exterior renovations. Areas of thefacade where stucco has deteriorated will be replaced and the masonry beneathrepaired. The roof will get new slate, and termite damage will be removed. Inside, anew sprinkler system will be installed. Walls and floors will be refinished. And, in perhaps the most delicatepart of the operation, stained glass windows depicting the life of cathedral namesakeLouis IX and murals by artistErasme Humbrecht from the 1870s will be restored to their former glory

It’sanambitious undertaking, but one that must be done if we want the cathedral to grace the French Quarterfor generations tocome. The long history it encapsulates became even clearer with the recent revelation that Pope Leo XIV’sfourth great-grandmother,Marie Catherine Guesnon Ramos Morales, was buried there in 1756. The Archdiocese of New Orleans says the church will remain open for as long as possible as the renovations progress. Scaffolding will go up and afabric with alarge picture of the cathedral will be putoverthe facade.

Kevin Morris, president of Holly &Smith Architects, is leading the project,which could span four years or more. An LSU grad raised in New Orleans, Morris has ahealthy respect for the scale of the work.“This is ahuge job,” he said.

We wish him and his team well. We are glad to see they are working closely withthe state Division of Historic Preservation and the Vieux Carre Commission tomake sure the process moves smoothly But all this could not have been possible without leadership by philanthropist Gayle Benson. The Saints and Pelicans owner is aparishioner of the church and spearheaded the campaign to raise $45 million for the restoration, which is being funded entirely by privatedonations. The goal is to raise $75 million to offset some of the cost of long-term maintenance.

We are grateful to have people in our state with the talents and resources tomake sure we don’tlose the places we treasure. We are happy that St. Louis Cathedral is getting arestoration worthy of the place it holds in our hearts.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A

YOUR VIEWS

Fund earlyeducation, even in difficulttimes

President Donald Trump’srecent assertion, “We’re fighting wars. We can’ttake care of day care,” is athreat to our nation’sfuture. By framing early childhood education, which is essential to our economy,asincompatible with wartime, our president sets us on adangerous trajectory.History suggestsweshould takethe opposite approach. Someofthe mostprofound investments in young children are connected to war

During the London Blitz,Anna Freud’swork with displaced children underscored thepsychological securityofchildren as asafeguard to our collective future. The Reggio Emilia approach was born in post-WWII Italy as that community began to rebuild amore peaceful democratic society by centering children. In post-WWII Hungary,Emmi Pikler’swork demonstrated that respectful caregiving for infants could improve society These examples show that human ef-

fort can improve society and that education can be atool to build amore just and resilient world. We cannot wait for peace to invest in the next generation or use war as an excuse not to. We must invest in children now to ensure that peace and the future success of our nation are possible.

Acountry that sacrifices the infrastructure of itsfuture in the nameof current conflict does not preserve its strength; it hollows it. Lawmakers must reject thenotionthat children are acost to be deferred. Instead, we must recognize children as thefoundation upon which lasting security is built.Our future deserves ourinvestmentnow,not after wars are fought. If we must “let astate take care of day care andpay for it too,” Ilook to Louisiana’slawmakers to capitalize upon therecent progress our state has madebyexpanding investment in our youngest citizens.

DERRICK TOUPS NewOrleans

Thedifferencebetween strength, powermatters,asU.S.islearning

We often conflate “strength” with “power,”yet in statecraft, they are fundamentally different. Power is influence through consent; strength is coercion through force. Power is granted by believers; strengthisimposed on those who do not believe.

The Reformation illustrates this. Catholics give thepope moral power as Christ’senvoy.When Protestants withdrew that belief, thepope lost power over them. The ensuing wars used militarystrength to defend or destroy Vatican influence, but strength failed to restore power over nonbelievers. Youcan seize territory with strength, but you cannot shoot someone into believing in your mandate.

The U.S. has dangerously ignored this.Strength is an expensive, depleting resource; every bomb exhausts it Power accumulates when used correctly.Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq are somber examples of misapplying militarystrength where American power —our influence and legitimacy —was nonexistent. The Trumpadministration has been

particularly shortsighted, dismantling the“machinery of power” forcombat strength. By mid-2025, it shuttered USAID, which earnedglobal gratitude by saving millionsoflives. Simultaneously,executive orders targeted Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, while the spaceprogram faced cuts that undermined our reputation forinnovation. These programs are inexpensive compared to military budgets, yet they build therespect that constitutes true power Even NATO is misunderstood; it is aframeworkthat converts collective strengthintothe power of deterrence. Its success is measured by its weapons remaining silent. We must stop treating every global challenge as a testofmuscle. Military strength is a necessary “big stick,” but it should be alast resort. To truly lead, we must prioritize theinstitutions that allow us to “speak softly” and enhance American power

BRIAN HANLEY Baton Rouge

‘Can judges be impeached?’ is wrongquestion

In reference to “Can judges be impeached under current Louisiana law? Nobody knows for sure.”

As aformer judge for nearly 31 years of the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit and the Orleans Parish Civil District Court, and a delegate to Louisiana’s1973 Constitution and the Committee on the Judiciary thereof and astudent of the law for nearly 60 years, Ihave no doubt that any public official in Louisiana, including ajudge, is subject to being impeached and removed by the Legislature. Impeachment is more apolitical question rather than alegal one, and the Legislature, as a sovereign body,has full authority and power to remove an individual from apublic position whena majority of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Senate agree to the removal.

Your article would be betteraddressed to whether the Legislature should be wasting its time arguing about apower that the Legislature already has. Ajudge is just not subject to being recalled like other elected officials.

The Legislature, in my view, should defer to the power of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana and the SupremeCourt of Louisiana to remove ajudge, but by no stretch of the imagination is the Legislature required to do so. And the electors can always remove ajudge with whom they are dissatisfied forwhatever reason or the legislators whofail or refuse to act appropriately MAX TOBIAS NewOrleans

Whythe silenceonthe Trumps’business conflicts?

Ihad to read the article twice to makesure Iunderstood what was going on. Our president, Donald Trump, started awar where one of the primary weapons is drone technology.Now his twosons have a business selling anti-drone technology to other countries and to the U.S. government. How is that not nepotism,orworse, completely illegal?

ANTONIO TIRANTE St. George

ForchildrenofApollo, success of Artemiswas extraspecial

Thesame Constitution

Faimon Roberts

The splashdown of the Artemis II mission Friday evening, withthe crew capsule gently floating down into the Pacific Ocean under its striped parachutes, capped forNASA —and for many space fans around the world —a dramatic and exultant return to human deep space exploration after adecades-long hiatus. But for atrio of current and former Louisiana residentswhose parents worked on America’sfirst crewedventures toward the moon in the 1960s and 1970s, the emotions took on an added dimension.

“My heart was palpitating,” Gary Worthington, 69, said. Worthington lives in Colorado Springs, but he spent many of his formative years in New Orleans and Slidell whilehis father, Kenneth, worked to make the specialized tools used to assemble the Saturn Vrocket that lifted the Apollo missions outofEarth’satmosphere.

Seeingthe Space Launch System, or SLS rocket —the modern successor to the Saturn V—launchthe Artemis astronauts back toward the Moon “almost brought me to tears,” he said. Kenneth Worthington, who worked for Boeing, would gatherthe family around to watch launches on television.

“Wewere very excited and he was excited, too,” he recalled. “He was very proud of what he did.”

Retired physician Sherry Rowland, who lives in Slidell, felt something similar.Her father,Pete, was atest engineer on the Gemini,Mercury and Apollo missions. He worked on the rocket’ssecond stage, andRowland could watch launches from her childhood home in Florida.

“He made us watch the launches all the way until the second stage engines fired,” she remembered. “It was fun. I was excited.” Rowland still keeps mementos of those days, includingaNASAjacket, apass to Mission Control for the illfated Apollo 13 and abracelet her father gave her that has charms for each Apollo mission

When Artemis went up, it was aspecial moment for her “I got goose bumps,” she said. She’salready planning to travel to Florida to watch future launches in person, as she did when she was akid. Jessica Stubbs’ late father,James Hart, was another of those who worked on Apollo. Jimmy,as he was known, graduated from what is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and went right to work at Mi-

PROVIDED PHOTO By SHERRy ROWLAND

Acollection of space and NASA-related memorabilia Sherry Rowland’s father, Pete, lefther,including alab coat anda pass to wear for theApollo 13 mission and apatch.

choud Assembly Facility,engineering fasteners for theSaturn V. Stubbs watched the splashdown Friday night,nervouslysweating out the six minutes of radio silence while the capsule descended.

“It was emotional,” Stubbs,who now livesinPearl River,told me. “I’m getting choked up right now,actually.”

Like the others, Stubbs remembers her father calling the family around to watch launches —healsoworked on the shuttle program —even if they were at “crazy hours.”

He brought home things he was working on for the kids to look at,and he loved his work.

“I thought abouthim theentire time,” she said. “Mydad was such a futurist, such an optimist about what

people arecapable of doing. He had such faith in what people could do.”

The successful return to Earth for astronauts ReidWiseman, Victor Glover,Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen completed amassive win for NASA and American space travel. The mission took the four farther away from Earth than anyhuman had ever been. They saw parts of themoon that had never been seen by human eyes. Artemisincluded thefirst person of color,the first woman and the first Canadian to makeatriparound the moon.

Thoseaccomplishments have done much to dispel, or at least temporarily suspend, much of the cynicism around thespace program and NASA, largely due to Artemisbeing years behind schedule and billions over budget. For now at least, we can focus on the awe and wonder,asearlier generationsdid morethan half acentury ago, when Worthington’sand Rowland’s fathers were helping pioneer travel to thenext frontier

In President John F. Kennedy’sfamous “Wechoose to go to theMoon” speech, he saidthe United States would do great things “not because they are easy,but becausethey are hard.” Kennedy held aloft abanner around which Americans, like Rowland, Worthington and Hart,could rally Artemishas once again raised that banner.Will we rally around it?

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Democratsagain attack religion

Democrats are again trying to pry some of the religious votefrom Republicans, but their actions expose the insincerity of their approach. The latest example involves an order of Catholic nuns in Hawthorne, New York, who care for the terminally ill. The WashingtonTimes reports the nuns are suingNew York State over atransgender rights law that requires nursing homes “to use pronouns,assign rooms and allow restrooms access based on apatient’sgender identity,orrisk jail time.” The New York Departmentof Health also requires facilities to“create communities” that affirm patients’ sexual preferences and “accommodate patients’ desire for extramarital relations.” Fines of up to $2,000 would be assessed forthe firstviolation andup to $5,000 for repeat violations. “Willful violations” can result in fines up to $10,000, or one year in prison. The nuns argue all such requirements violate their religious beliefs. The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne has been around for 125 years and runs the Rosary Hill Home. Mother Marie Edward, the general manager of the Hawthorne Dominicans, issued astatement: “Wesistershave taken care of patients from all walks of life, ideologies and faiths. We treat each patient with dignity and Christian charity.We

have neverhad complaints.”

Apparently not having complaints is of no concerntosecular and liberal Democrats who seem tobedoing all they can to undermine what has been considered normative behavior for millennia.

cal standards come from, but what about other standards, or are there any standards when it comes tobehavior?

President Donald Trumphas been pressuring Senate Republicans to trash the filibuster and pass abill disenfranchising millions of voters and boosting their party’schances of controlling Congress after next fall’selections. But Sen. John Thune, the Republican leader,keeps telling Trumpthat the votes are simply not there.

“My job, obviously,istodefine reality,and the reality is that it’snot even aclose call,” he told PunchbowlNews. “A large number of Senate Republicans. feel very strongly about the filibuster,its role in our democracy, and the role it plays in giving a voice to the minority.”

Trump’stantrums are often far removed from reality,and the president is such apersistent and powerful prevaricator that Republicans generally play along, fearing his wrath and fervently fostering his fantasies. So, it’s particularly important that leaders like Thune take on the totally thankless task of telling Trumpthe truth.

Another courageous voice in Republican ranks is Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky,atrue conservative whoactually believes apresident should keep the promises he madetovoters. And Trump, he keeps insisting, vowed to end wars, not start them

“America is at war,” Paul has posted on social media. “But Americans don’twant this war. They didn’tvote for it. In fact, they voted for just the opposite.”

Moreover,heinsists, the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to make war. “Noothers in our history have been this cavalier with our military men and women and tax dollars as they are at this moment,” writes the senator.“Iurge my colleagues to join me in opposing both this war and the unilateral actions taken without congressional authorization, as the Constitution commands.”

The Constitution serves as acritical bulwark against Trump’sraid on reality.This tension was on full display at the SupremeCourt recently,when Trump’ solicitor general, D. John Sauer,argued that “birthright citizenship” should be revised in light of easy international travel that makes “birth tourism”possible.

“It’sanew world,” Sauer argued.

“It’sanew world,” retorted Chief Justice John Roberts. “It’sthe sameConstitution.” That “sameConstitution” also thwarted Attorney General Pam Bondi, whowas repeatedly pressured to bring criminal cases against Trump’senemies, such as former FBI director James Comey and NewYork Attorney General Letitia James. “They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,” the president fulminated last fall.

As abesotted courtier,Bondi tried to please the monarch, but the cases she brought wereso flimsy they kept falling apart. And Bondi finally fell, too —fired by an irate Trumpbecause she couldn’tbend the rule of law to his liking.

All federal judges are appointed forlife, and that gives them avital immunity from presidential efforts to pervert the legal system Trumpcould not contain his anger when six justices —including twohehad appointed, NeilGorsuch and AmyConey Barrett —voted against his schemetobypass Congress and impose tariffs by executive order

He called the justices “unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution” when, in fact, they were exactly the opposite: loyal patriots whoresisted the president’sassault on enduring constitutional principles.

Cal Thomas

Have Democrats forgotten the Little Sisters of thePoor?

In 2011, theObamaadministration’sDepartment of Health andHuman Services issued a federal mandate as part of the Affordable Care Act. It required employers to provide contraceptives in their health insurance plans. Certain secular companies were exempted,including Exxon, Pepsi Bottling and Visa. HHS included anarrow religious exemption, but not for nonprofitslike theLittle Sisters. The order was threatened with fines of tens of millionsofdollars if they failed to comply The Little Sisterssued and lost in one court after another.Eventually they won at theSupreme Court. In 2017, PresidentDonald Trumpissued an executiveorder directing HHS and other federal agencies to protect the Little Sisters andother religious nonprofits from the mandate, demonstrating how important it is to have apresident who protectsreligious freedom.

Those whobelieve God made us “male andfemale” know where bibli-

Arewesupposed to believe that government is God and all are required to worship at the government “altar,” whether in Albany or Washington? If standards are constantly shifting, they cannot be standards.

The late Catholic theologian Bishop Fulton J. Sheen believed that moral standards are absoluteand rooted in divine law rather than subjective social trends. Sheen warned against a “false compassion” that erodes such standards when we sympathize with wrongdoing. “If you don’tbehave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave,”hesaid. Sheen believed that without objective, external standards of right and wrong, societycollapses into moral confusion. This is the condition of modern America. If there remains no standard for distinguishing right from wrong —other than opinion polls and legal jujitsu what can be considered as always right and always wrong?

Based on the outcome of the Little Sisters case, the New York nuns should have no problem winning their lawsuit. Be warned, though, because secular Democrats never give up.

Email Cal Thomasattcaeditors@ tribpub.com

The economy is another crucial area where Trumpremains defiantly detached from immutable evidence. In his recent televised speech, he asserted, “Wewere adead and crippled country after the last administration and made it the hottest country anywhere in the world by far, with no inflation.”

That is simply false. Inflation is running at 3.3% annually.Plus, the Iran warhas already driven gas prices to anational average well past $4 agallon, and despite the two-week ceasefire, the wider impact of that increase will continue to filter through the rest of the economy.Amazon, forinstance, has announced asurcharge on all deliveries because of rising fuel costs, and as the Washington Post put it, “Even if the conflict resolves in the next few weeks, someeconomicpainwill linger formonths.”

Jamie Dimon, the longtimeCEO of JP Morgan Chase, whoisknownfor his clear-eyed devotion to economic reality,rebutted Trump’s rosy vision in his annual letter to his shareholders: “Now,because of the warinIran, we additionally face the potential forsignificant ongoing oil and commodity price shocks, along with the reshaping of global supply chains, which may lead to stickier inflation and ultimately higher interest rates than markets currently expect,” Dimonwrote.

Reality always rules. The Constitution remains. That’swhy the voices devoted to facts, not fantasies, are so valuable.

Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@gmail. com.

Steve Roberts

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRISO’MEARA

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the KennedySpace Center on April 1in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

A$7million federally funded state initiative

willreimburse employers forskilled trades training in hopes of bridging the state’sworkforce shortage. LouisianaWorks,in partnership with Louisiana Construction Education Foundation, launched Workforce Outcomes and Reimbursement for Key SectorsTraining Fundto helpbusinesses fund training for new and current employees as the state looks to power about $98.1 billion in industrial projects

LICENSE

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well for atest.”

Others didn’twant to create even longer wait times at the Office of Motor Vehicles.

“I have aproblem with it because the lines are already long enough at the OMV,” said Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn, R-Hornbeck People shouldn’thave to

under construction.The fund will focus on training workers in construction andindustrial trades, artificial intelligence to support datacenters and advanced manufacturing, for jobs such as welders, electricians, industrial machinery mechanicsand advanced HVAC technicians Businessestraining employees in skills needed forthe selected industries will be reimbursed up to $150,000 or $1,500 per employee based on workers’ completion of training and six-month employee retention. Applications open Wednesday “This is abouthelping employers solvereal workforce challenges, right now,” LouisianaWorks Secretary SusanaSchowen said in arelease. “We’re

watch a“dadgum film” and then “havetotake atest to prove that they’re competentenough to drive,’cause they’ve alreadyproven that earlier inlife,” Schamerhorn said

StateRep. Ed Murray,DNew Orleans, also said he wasconcerned aboutthe test component

“Could we notachieve what you’retryingto achieve by giving out some literature when people come

aligning training directly with business demand and making sure it leads to jobs,retention and longterm success for workers.”

Thefund is part of the U.S. DepartmentofLabor’s Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund program, which granted atotal of $86 million across 14 states to fill gaps in employment for high-demand industries, like shipbuilding, advanced manufacturingand artificial intelligence Thestateaimstotrain more than 6,000 workers across 59 businesses with theWORKSTraining Fund, according to agrant summary fromthe U.S. DepartmentofLabor.Workers will receive training through community college partnerships, apprenticeships, in-house instruction

in to renew?” he asked. Replied McMakin: “I just don’tknowifanyone’sgonna actually read it or go over it.”

In theface of opposition, McMakin on Monday agreed to setthe bill aside and eventually return to thecommittee with adifferent plan.

McMakin’sproposal

Under House Bill 777, people renewing astandard, noncommercial driver’slicense

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JANRISHER

Columnist Jan Risher,from left,Liz Pina, Robi Gilmore and Michael Pel-Papiyoe gettogether at HaifaCuisine and HookahLoungeinNew Orleans on March 20.

RISHER

Continued from page1B

flesh-eating bacterial infection that cost him part of his index finger.Gilmore said the experience only deepened his convictions.

“I’m here for areason,” he said, holding up his hand. Every Sunday at 3p.m., Gilmore andhis family gather at atree in Armstrong Park to perform an ancient ritual. Theceremony is open to the public.

In principle, he does not charge for the tours he of-

fers. He does accepttips.

“IfI’m supposed to be here to serve humanity,” he said, “why am Icharging my brothers and sisters?” That sense of service shapes how he meetspeople. During lunch, Pina mentioned losing her husband. Gilmore did not offercondolences in theusualway Instead, he talked abouthow our nephew loved his wife and about energy —how it cannot be destroyed,only redirected, alwaysreturning to its source.

“That man ain’tgone, baby,” he told her. “Hejust ain’tgot abody to hold you.”

andthird-party providers. Companies have struggled with recruiting employeeswith the necessary skills,like operating industrial machinery,due in part to Louisiana’swaning population and difficulty obtaining supportfrom the state, leading to agap of about 24,000 more job openings thanjob seekers.

Filling workforce gaps hasbeen atop-of-mind priority for state leaders, who arelooking to advance legislationtoboost fundingto Louisiana Worksfor better oversight and efficiency forthe commission’sworkforcedevelopmentefforts. The commission started a pilot program earlier this year thatappointed the state’seight economic development organizations as points of contact for

for everyday personal use would have to take atest on statetraffic laws, road signs and safe driving practices.

Currently,proofofidentity and residency,auto insurance, avision screening and afee are needed to renew a “Class E” licensefor personal use.

Those applying for their first licensealready have to take adrivereducation class and then take knowledge and skills

CRANE

Continuedfrom page1B

whooping crane.

By the mid-20th century, overhunting and habitat losshad pushed the population of wild whooping cranes —the tallest North American bird —down to around 15, according to the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service. In 1950, the last known whooping crane in Louisiana wascaptured and brought to awildlife refuge in Texas, where the remaining wild population lived.

Today, conservation effortshave brought its population back to around 800, and the bird has become asymbolofthe environmental movement. Partnershipsbetween the AudubonNature Institute andthe Louisiana Department of Wildlifeand Fisheries have released over 50 cranes back into Louisiana since 2017.

companies looking to tap intothe state’sresources for employee recruitment, training and retention.

“LCEF’smissioniscentered on strengthening the pipeline of skilled craft talent that Louisiana’semployersdepend on, and we areenthusiastic about whatthis partnership with Louisiana Worksmakes possible,” ConnieFabré, president and CEO of the Louisiana Construction Education Foundation, said in the release. “The WORKS Grant gives opportunities to more Louisianans and gives employers aresource to help offsetthe cost of developing thattalent,and we believe this program will have alasting impact on the competitiveness of ourstate’s industrial base.”

tests. Under HB777, theOMV would have the option of administering the additional test onlineorinperson

McMakin said he planned to work with the OMV to produce avideo to show the latestupdates to traffic laws, which would be rolled out in 2028.

“We’re not trying to trick anybody or trap them; we’re really goingfor reeducation of drivers,” McMakin said.

2026 represent 2.5% of the nonmigratory whooping cranepopulation in Louisiana, whichnow stands at around 80. Both were young males whohad been hatched and reared in the wild.

On Saturday, State Police were notified that Phillips succumbed to his injuries. This crash remainsunder investigation.

17-year-old killed in nighttime crash

Louisiana State Police areinvestigating afatal two-vehicle crash on La 95 that leftone teen dead. Thecrash claimedthe life of 17-year-old Hayden Castille, of Branch.

Thecrash occurred shortly after 8p.m. Saturdaynear Wikoff Cove Drive in Acadia Parish. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 HondaTRX90 ATV was traveling north on La. 95. At the same time, a2008 Audi Q7 was also traveling northonLa. 95 and approaching the ATV from the rear Forreasonsstill under investigation,the Audi struck the rear of the ATV, causing it to overturn and eject Castille. Police say at the time of the crash, the ATVdid not have lights illuminated. Castille suffered fatal injuriesand was pronounced dead at the scene. Thedriverofthe Audi was notproperly restrained and reported no injuries. Routine toxicology samples werecollected from the driver and submitted foranalysis. Troopers wish to remind the public that the use of ATVs and UTVs on roadwaysisillegal unless directlyrelated to farming or other duties outlined by Louisiana Revised Statute 32:299.

“Operation is limited to daylight hours. Additionally,properly utilizing safety equipment, such as (Department of Transportationand Development)approved helmetswhile on motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVsand seatbelts when riding in UTVscan decrease the risk of seriousinjury or death,” State Police said in astatement.

Icame to Congo Square carrying the same vague unease many peopledowhen they hear the wordVoodoo —anuneaserootedless in knowledge than in generations of myth. What Ifound insteadwas aman from ruralLouisiana who hasbuilt hislife around service,history and radical openness to strangers.

As Iknelt in Congo Square gatheringfallenfruit, I didn’trealize that Iwould leave with more than I pickedup.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com

According to the department, thetwo birds shot in

“Wild hatched individualsare theultimate goal of the whooping crane program and represent almostayear’sworth of effort foreach of the whooping cranepairs that raised these birds,” the release stated. “Losing these two whooping cranes are aserious setback to reaching a self-sustainable population in the state.”

LOTTERY SUNDAY,APRIL12, 2026

PICK 3: 4-9-6

PICK 4: 7-2-2-0

PICK 5: 7-1-4-9-2

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets

PROVIDED PHOTO

The nonmigratorywhooping crane population numbers around 80 in Louisiana.

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs makes acatchduring the school’spro dayin Columbus, Ohio, on March 25

AP PHOTO By PAUL VERNON

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

ä Northwestern State at LSU, 6:30 P.M.TUESDAy,SEC NETWORK+

OXFORD,Miss. LSU is sliding again. The Tigers lost their fourth consecutive game Sunday at Ole Miss. The defeatcapped a sweep for the Rebelsand dropped LSU’srecordin Southeastern Conference play to 6-9. LSU lost 6-3on Friday,got dominated 12-2 in a seven-inning loss Saturday and dropped atight game Sunday 8-7. Here are five takeaways from the weekend at Swayze Field.

Braun’sjob to lose

After seniorZach Yorke’sstruggles nearly cost LSU the series against Tennessee the previous weekend, LSU coach Jay Johnson turned to Braun, a

FIRST DOWNSFIRSTDOW

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

The mostusefulaspect of the annual mock draftexperienceis that it allows the user to game out scenariosfor the NFL draft, which begins April23. In this one, the New Orleans Saints comeout of thefirst round with oneofthisdraft’smost versatile defensive players

For all teamswith the exceptions of the Las VegasRaiders andNew York Jets the former are a virtuallock to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, andthe latterwill know they have the pick of the rest —their eventualDay 1draft pickwill in part be a byproduct of who wentoff the boardbefore them.

TheSaints have seventeamsinfront of them; six likely will use their selection on a non-quarterback,meaning ahigh degree of variance exists when considering whowill be availableatNo. 8. It willbefascinating to see how thosepicks play out.

For this exercise, Iused ProFootball Focus’ mock draft simulatortogive me apool of available playersfor each of the Saints’ picks. Here is how itshook out.

Topseven

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QBFernando Mendoza

2. New York Jets: Ohio State edge Arvell Reese

3. Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles

4. Tennessee Titans vid Bailey

5. New York Giants: benBain

6. Cleveland Brown WR Carnell Tate

7. WashingtonComm Notre Dame RB Jere Love

Saints select Ohio State SCaleb Downs

Once theGiants selected Bain at No. 5 it made this afairly simple calculation: One of Downs, Love or Tate was goingtobe available at No. 8. When Tate andLov were the next two pi Downs was the easy at No. 8.

TexasTech edge DaMiami edge Rues: Ohio State anders: miyah , e cks, choice

Because Downs’pri tion is safety,his sele top 10 would come w the usual hand-wring tionalvalue.But for th ically,thatbecomes l because Downsalmo notbedrafted to play role. Rather,hewoul Starposition vacated That is acrucial p coordinator Brando and it frequentlyhas

mary posiction in the ith some of ng aboutposieSaints,specifessofa concern, tcertainly would atraditionalsafety fill the void at the by Alontae Taylor. sition in defensive nStaley’s scheme, been where his best

LSUstarJohnson picked 8thinWNBAdraft

Shewillstart career with Valkyries

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

LSU women’sbasketball star

Flau’jae Johnson is officially a first-round WNBA draft choice. Johnson, a5-foot-10 guard from Savannah, Georgia,will begin her professional basketball career with the Golden State Valkyries, who selected her with the eighth overall pick of Monday’sdraft. The Tigers have produced first-round WNBA draft picks in three consecutive years forthe first time in school history.Forwards Angel Reese (2024) and Aneesah Morrow (2025) both

were selected with the seventh overallpicks of theirrespectivedrafts. They both spent two years atLSU. Johnson played all four seasons of her collegiate career with the Tigers, which means that she’snow thefirst four-year LSUplayerchoseninthe first round of thedraftsince 2012, when the WashingtonMystics selected forward LaSondra Barrett with the 10th overall pick. On Monday,five guards were chosen ahead of Johnson. UConn’sAzzi Fudd came off theboardwhenthe Dallas Wings scooped her up with the first overall pick, and TCU’sOlivia Milesheard hernamecalled when theMinnesota Lynx took here second. The Chicago Sky

ä See JOHNSON, page 3C

BYKEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

At first glance, it’snot the best time forthe struggling UL softball team to playLSU. Afterall, the Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off ahumbling three-game road sweep at the hands of JamesMadison to fall to 22-21 overall and 5-10 in Sun Belt play. But on second thought,ifcoach Alyson Habetz’s club is downand in need of some energy,whatbetter way to getthe Cajuns’ attention than to host the nationally ranked Tigers at Lamson Park?The game is setfor 6p.m.Tuesday. “I believe so,” Habetz said. “I think it kind of does. Especially in amidweek like that, it kind of snaps you out saying, ‘Hey,we’vegot to getreadytogo.’ We don’thave timetokind of sulk or anything like that. You’ve got to kind of shift gearsand get ready,especially because they’re

ANALYSIS

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSUdesignated hitter Mason Braun hits ahome runagainst Kentucky in the fourth inning on March28atAlex Box Stadium.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson wavestothe crowd during warmups before an NCAATournament game against Texas Tech on March22 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.Johnson waspicked eighth in the WNBA draft Monday.

On TV

COLLEGE BASEBALL

6p.m. Creighton at Nebraska BTN COLLEGE GOLF

6p.m. WesternIntercollegiateGolf COLLEGE SOFTBALL

5p.m. South Carolina at Clemson ACCN MEN’S LACROSSE

6p.m. Premier Lacrosse League DraftESPNU MLB

5:40p.m.Cubs at Philadelphia TBS,TRUTV

8:40 p.m. TexasatAthletics MLBN NBA

6:30 p.m. Miami at Charlotte Prime

9p.m. Portland at PhoenixPrime NHL

6p.m. Washington at Columbus ESPN

8:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at St. LouisESPN MEN’S SOCCER

12:45 p.m.Al Shabab at Al Qadsiah FS2

6p.m. AustinFCatLouisville City FC CBSSN

8p.m. LAFCatCruzAzul FS1

8:30 p.m. Omaha at Colorado CBSSN

LSUGYMNASTICSNOTEBOOK

10:30 p.m.Nashville SC at CF América FS1

WOMEN’S SOCCER

1p.m.England vs.Spain CBSSN

3:50 p.m.Peruvs. Paraguay FS2

5:55 p.m.Venezuela vs.Argentina FS1

7:50 p.m.Colombiavs. Chile FS2

9p.m.U.S.vs. Japan TNT,TRUTV TENNIS

5a.m.ATP &WTA Tennis

4a.m.(Wed.) ATP& WTATennis

5a.m.(Wed.) ATP& WTATennis

McClain‘daytoday’ahead of nationals

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Coach JayClark said Monday that LSU gymnast Konnor McClain is “day to day” ahead of nationals this week.

McClain, astar junior,aggravated an arm injury in the uneven bars routineshe triedinthe Tigers’ regional final meet on April 4. Clark said she’s“made some progress” since she slipped off the apparatus and that LSU is “managing”her workload before it tries to win another national title in Fort Worth, Texas, starting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the first semifinal session (ESPN2)

“I would stop shortofguaranteeing anything at this point,” Clark said, “becausearound here, things change like the windsometimes with stuff like that,but she was in agood spot Saturday and did anice job in our intrasquad.”

McClain is one of LSU’stop gymnasts. In the regular season, she ranked in the top 12nationally on bars and beam.When she’s healthy,she competes in those two events, plus vault.

Theproblem forMcClainisthat injuries have often surfaced at inopportune times in her career

In 2022,abackinjury prevented her from defending her U.S. Championships title, and in 2024, an Achilles tendon tear took away her hopes of landing aspot on the U.S. Olympicteam.

McClain first suffered herarm injury on Feb. 20, when she was warming up on bars forLSU’s road meet with Oklahoma. She hurt her forearm, wristand ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) that night but returned to the lineup the following week against Alabama and posted a9.975 on beam and 9.90s on vaultand bars.

Now LSU’swaiting to figure out if McClain will push through the pain again, only this timeatnationals. Clark said he’d like to see her compete in all three of her events “It’sreally just gonna come down to where she is physically and mentally,” Clark said. “Right now, Ifeelgood. I’m cautiously optimisticthat she’ll be in agood place. We’ve got her on agood rhythm.”

4atthe

Assembly Center

ä NCAA national semifinals. 3:30P.M.THURSDAy,ESPN2

Freshman transferring

For the first timesince Clark’s tenure beganin2020, an LSU gymnastisenteringthe transfer portal

Freshman Molly Brinkman announced her intentions to find anew program on Wednesday, when she said in asocial media post that shewas “ready to take on anew role”and that shebelieved that she can only doit“someplace else.”She also said that she hasno “ill feelings” toward the Tigers asentiment that Clark echoedon Monday.

“Molly’sagreat kid,” Clark said. “Certainly,there’snoill will whatsoever when somebody wants to go somewhere else. Ithink she is

just looking for an opportunityto contribute more than she felt she contributed this year,soshe’sexploring those options.”

Brinkman, an Arizona native, didnot compete this season.For NCAAwomen’sgymnastics, the portal opened on March 30, and it won’tclose until May 13.

Earlystart

LSUwill competeinSession Iofthe semifinalsonThursday against Stanford,Floridaand Georgia. Thetop twoscoring teams fromthatmeet will then face the twothat emerge from the other session —either Oklahoma, Arkansas, UCLA or Minnesota on Saturday in thenational championship.

The Tigers were assigned to the 3:30 p.m.session on Thursday That’sa bit of an unusual start time for them, but Clarksaid he

doesn’tmindthe factthat his team will be alittle off schedule. “Everyyear that I’m in that afternoon session,” Clark said, “assuming it goesthe wayyou want, youalways feel good about getting alittle extra rest, being able to getoff your feet,eat dinner at anormal time andkind of stay in some sort of rhythm and cadence.”

The semifinals will air on ESPN2, but viewers can also tune into team-specific broadcasts on ESPN+. The nationalchampionship meet will begin at 3p.m. Saturday on ABC.

LSU is hoping to reach thenationalchampionship for thethird time in the past four years. Last season,the Tigers finished third in their semifinal meet

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

ForMcIlroy,chase formoremajorsresumes

BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

AUGUSTA,Ga. Rory McIlroy went from becoming the sixthplayer with the career Grand Slam to only the fourthplayer to win the Masters two years in arow.Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only other players to occupy both clubs. Elite company, indeed.

If joining the first group wasn’t difficult enough for McIlroy —11 years of tryingtoget thefinal leg of the Grand Slam —then winning his second Masters green jacket was aclear reminder of how hard it was to get there.

“I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to winthe Masters andthe Grand Slam,” McIlroy said. “And then this year Irealized it’sjust really difficult to win the Masters.” So where does he go from here?

McIlroywentintoa funklast year after fulfilling alifelong dream. He became irritated by endless questions about what would motivate him, which mountain was next to scale, when all he wanted to do was soak it all in. He finally got back on track at the Irish Open.

That doesn’tsound like it will be aproblem this time around.

“I felt like the Grand Slamwas the destination, and Irealizedit wasn’t,”McIlroy saidafter ending another wild Sunday afternoon at Augusta Nationalwith a one-shot win over Scottie Scheffler

“I just won my sixth major,and Ifeel like I’m in areally good spot

with my gameand my body,” he said. “I don’t wanttoput anumberonit, but Ifeel like this win is just .Idon’twant to say astop on the journey,it’sjust part of the journey.”

Trying to put anumber on how many majors he will winbegan long before he wonhis first Masters, much less the second one. McIlroy won his firstmajor in the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional by shattering the 72-hole scoring record at 268. That prompted PadraigHarrington to say,“If you’re going to talk aboutsomeone challenging Jack’srecord, there’syourman.”

Nicklaus has the gold standard of 18 majors. Woods is next at 15. McIlroy is at six,tiedwith Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino and Phil Mickelson.

Fred Couplespiledonthis week when he said on Thursday, “By the way,Rory may neverlose this thing again after last year.” And the following dayCouplesadded, “I mean, he really could win five more of these.”

Easy,right?

“Yeah, Idon’tmake it easy,” McIlroy said. “I used to makeit easy backinmyearly20s when I was winning these things by eight shots.” It wasn’t easy ayear agowhen he lost aSundaylead once on the frontnine andtwice on theback nine before beating Justin Rose in aplayoff. And it didn’tlook that way this time when he lost asixshot lead on Saturday, and then twice found himself two shots behind different players, Cameron Young on the front nine andJus-

Riverssteps downas

Bucks’ playoff streak ends MILWAUKEE Doc Rivers is stepping down as MilwaukeeBucks coach,capping atumultuous year in which he wasselected for the Hall of Fame while his injury-riddled team fell short of expectations. The announcement comes aday after the Bucks ended a32-50 season that snapped their run of nine straight playoffappearances. The news release announcing Rivers’ departure as coach didn’tindicate whether he might have any role with the team moving forward. Rivers went 97-103 in 21/2 seasons with the Bucks. He owns a1,194866 overall record and overtook George Karl for sixth place on the career wins list among NBA coaches this season. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame announced this month that Rivers would be part of its newest induction class.

Astros put Peña, Imai on IL as injurywoes continue SEATTLE As a1-8 road tripfor the Houston Astros nears itsconclusion, manager Joe Espada thrice saidhewas “doing well” despite havingevery reason not to be feeling so optimistic.

The Astros placed All-Star shortstop JeremyPeña on the 10-day injured listwith ahamstring strain androokie right-hander Tatsuya Imai on the15-day IL with right armfatigueMonday.The moves werethe latest blowstolast-place Houston’sroster, which hasendured an abundance of injuries.

Espada said he hopes it’snot a long IL stint forPeñaand thatImai will undergo more testing after returning to Houston.

TheAstrosrecalledright-hander J.P.France, left-hander Colton Gordon and infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land.

Alabama transfer WR out for at least startofseason TUSCALOOSA,Ala. Alabama wide receiver Noah Rogers will miss the early part of the regular seasonbecause of an injury suffered in the team’sannualspring game, coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday Rogers, a6-foot-2, 201-pound transferfromN.C.State,wascarted off the field Saturday after attempting to catch apass in the end zone.

“Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that’sgoing to take alittle while to recover,” DeBoer said during an interview with WTUGFM in Tuscaloosa. “It will bleed into the season here alittle bit. I’m not going to give atimeline exactly.Hewon’tbeready to go right when the season starts.” Rogers, afourth-year junior caught 68 passes for 919 yards and threetouchdownsoverhis last two seasons at N.C. State.

BroadcasterVitaleset for another cancer battle

Famed ESPNbroadcaster Dick Vitaleisfacing another battlewith cancer

tin Rose on theback Scheffler wasinrange and had to settle for making11straight pars. Younghad birdie putts on eight straight holes on the back nine andconverted none of them. And then McIlroy was awhiskeraway from trouble over the finalhour—the wedge that barely cleared the false front on the 15th,asporty up-and-down from off the17th green that gave him atwo-shot cushion going to the last hole, and adrivesofar right McIlroywasn’tsure where it was when he walkedoff thetee.

It endedwithmorejoy than relief, abig difference fromayear ago. Theonlytears came when he spoke to his parents, who were notatAugusta ayear agoand had to be persuaded to come this year because theydidn’twanttojinx him. With abogeyonthe last hole he could afford,itendedwitha oneshotadvantageoverScheffler, the No.1player in the world. This was the first time since the 2002 U.S. Openthe top twoplayers in theworld —Woodsand Mickelson at Bethpage Black —were the top two at amajor McIlroyand Schefflerhave combined to win four of the past five majors. Schefflerisa U.S. Open short of joining the career Grand Slamclub, andhis position at No. 1inthe worldisnot threatened even after McIlroy’slatest Masters title.

“I’ve competed against him for alongtime, andyou don’twin the amount of tournaments that he’s won out here without being pretty resilient,” Scheffler said.

Vitale said Monday that biopsy results had confirmed adiagnosis of melanoma in his lung and liver cavity,which will have him starting immunotherapy.Itmarks hisfifth battle with cancer,which sidelined himfromthe airwaves fortwo years before his return shortly before March Madness in 2025.

“I’ve beaten melanoma,” the 86-year-old Vitale said in astatement released by ESPN. “I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal-cord cancer.I’ve beaten lymph-node cancer.I’m 4for 4 and I’m fully confident I’m going to makeit5for 5.”

NFL draft prospectBain partof’24 deadlycrash

MIAMI Former Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain, atop prospect in the NFLdraft, was involved in atraffic collision in 2024 that resulted in the death of apassenger,according to areport published Sunday

Bain was driving a2021 Land RoverSUV thatwas involvedin the crash around 4a.m.onMarch 17, 2024, in Miami, according to documents obtained by TheRead Optional.

The outlet reported the vehicle, carrying three other passengers, rear-ended another car and veered into aconcrete wall. The collision resulted in afemale passenger being severely injured. She was in acomafor nearly three months before dying fromher injuries on June 13, 2024, according to The Read Optional.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSUgymnast Konnor McClain soars overthe vault table during the first rotation in the regional finals on April

Pete Maravich

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASHLEyLANDIS

Augusta NationalGolf ClubchairmanFred Ridley puts the green jacket on RoryMcIlroy after the Masters on Sunday in Augusta, Ga

Habetz and her staff continuetolook foranswers for their strugglingball club

SOFTBALL

Continued from page1C

162/3 innings at James Madison.

“We’ve preached about, it’snot what’shappening to us —we’re not the victims of anything,” Habetz said. “Wehave to take control and continue to create our own destiny. Youdoneed alittle luck along the way, and the scoreboard didn’t show that.

“The margin for error sometimes is so small. You know, it might be one play that cost us five runs. It’s the way the game goes, and we just have to keep fighting through that.”

With no UL pitchers in any type of rhythm, the Cajuns

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

second-level defender has played. That wastrue with the Los Angeles Rams (Jalen Ramsey,previously an AllPro corner) and with the Los Angeles Chargers (Derwin James, previously an All-Pro safety).

Downs is one of the premierplayers in this draft, and he would fillanimmediateneedfor theSaints, giving them both aphysical presence in the run game and an instinctive athlete in the passing game. Others considered: LSU CB Mansoor Delane, USC WR Makai Lemon Rest of 1stround

9. Kansas City Chiefs: MiamiOTFrancis Mauigoa

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia OT Monroe Freeling

11. Miami Dolphins: LSU CB MansoorDelane

12. Dallas Cowboys: Utah OT SpencerFano

13.Los AngelesRams:Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

14. Baltimore Ravens: Oregon SDillon Thieneman

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane

16. New York Jets: Auburn DE Keldric Faulk

JOHNSON

Continued from page1C

then took UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez with the fifth pick, the Toronto Tempo chose UCLA’s KikiRice with the sixth selection, and the Portland Fire added Spain’sIyana Martín Carrión with the seventhchoice.

Once those guards were chosen, Johnson didn’thave to wait much longer to find her home. She was widely expected to be atop-10 pick, in large part because she proved shecould be bothan efficient outside shooter and active perimeter defender during her time in Baton Rouge. In 2022, Johnson enrolled

likely will throw multiple armsagainst LSU —and perhaps as ageneral rule for the rest of theseason.

“We’vetalked about that andthat was somewhat of theplan for Sunday,” Habetz said. “We’ve talked about, OK,maybeone time through the lineup everybodygets one time through thelineup.”

Another big issue is subpardefense, with the Cajunsgivingup46 unearned runsonthe season

Cecilia Vasquez’savailability atshortstop has been spotty because of managing aseason-long injury.Oflate, she’s played at third base with Brooke Otto shifting to first base.

“It’stough,sowe’re kind of working around that,”

17. Detroit Lions: Miami edge Akheem Mesidor

18. MinnesotaVikings: USC WR Makai Lemon

19. Carolina Panthers: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson

20. Dallas Cowboys:Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Georgia LB CJ Allen

22. Los AngelesChargers: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Texas A&M edge Cashius Howell

24. Cleveland Browns: Indiana WR OmarCooper

25. Chicago Bears: Toledo SEmmanuel McNeil-Warren

26. Buffalo Bills: Florida DT Caleb Banks

27. San Francisco 49ers: Alabama OT KadynProctor

28. Houston Texans:Clemson DT Peter Woods

29. Kansas CityChiefs: Washington WR DenzelBoston

30. Miami Dolphins: Clemson OT Blake Miller

31. NewEngland Patriots: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald

32. Seattle Seahawks: Clemson edge T.J. Parker Saints’Day 2picks No. 42: Oklahoma edgeR.Mason

Thomas Having had no shot at taking oneofthe draft’stop three pass rushers in the first round, let’sgive the pass rush some juicehere.

at LSU as the 26th-best recruit in her freshman class, according to ESPN.She was the first McDonald’s All-American to sign with the Tigers after coach Kim Mulkey took overthe program in 2021, and she wound up starting139 gamesinher career —a span that doubled as one of the most successfulstretches in program history LSU went 125-20 (.862) from2022-26 with Johnson onboard.Itwon its first national championship at the end of Johnson’sfreshman year,then reached the second weekend ofthe NCAA Tournament when shewas asophomore, junior and senior.

Johnson’s collegiatecareer ended March 27 when

freshman, at first base this week to see whether he could give the Tigers alift.

Against Ole Miss, Braun went5for 11 with adouble, and his defense wasan upgrade in comparison to Yorke,who committed two errors against Tennessee.

Braun’srecent production hasmadeJohnsoncomfortable withstarting him against bothleft- and righthandedpitching.

“He’sagood hitter,”Johnsonsaid Saturday.“Iwas very optimistic in bringing him here.”

Braun’sabilitytoconsistently make contact made him an intriguing bat heading into theseason. If he continuestohit the ball hard over thesecondhalf of SEC play,therewon’t be anyreason for Johnsontotakehim out of the lineup, whether he’s at first base,designated hitterorinthe outfield.

Paz’suse

There was one decision Johnson made Sunday that raised alot of eyebrows amongLSU fans.

Habetz said. “We’re going to have to figureitout. We have to makeplays.”

Mia Liscanohas struggledmore defensivelythis season,but sheremains the team’sleading hitter at .402 with 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases

The other constant question mark hasbeenatdesignated player, where last year’stop hitter Emily Smithcontinues to struggle at .186 with sixhomersand 23 RBIs with 13 walksand 18 strikeouts.

“She’sworkingthrough it,” Habetzsaid of Smith. “She watches video. She wantsto. you know, she’s doing all the right things.It just hasn’thappened.”

EmailKevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

Thomas wouldhavetoclear somebars forthe Saints because of his frame— he’s 6-foot-2, 241pounds with 313/4-inch arms —but if the Saintswant to get into the bendy edge rusher market, Thomas could provide good value in the second round as asituational rusher behind starters ChaseYoung and Carl Granderson.

Others considered: Louisville WR Chris Bell, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez No.73: Arkansas RB MikeWashington

Iwent into this saying receiver was amust with oneofthe Saints’ first three picks, andI came away from it withzeroreceivers. ButI couldn’tignore the explosive potential of Washington, whom Idid not expect to be thereatNo. 73. He topped 1,000 yards only once in college, but it was in his lone season at Arkansas, where he racked up an impressive 13 runs of 20 or more yards. Aconsistently explosiverun game behind an improved offensive line arguably would benefitTyler Shough’s development more than a late Day 2receiver.

Others considered: Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt,Iowa State DT Domonique Orange Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate. com.

Duke hitalast-secondshot to bounce theTigersout of thetournament in the Sweet 16. She finishedwith 2,063 career points —the sixthmostinLSU history Johnson, who’salso built a successful career as arapper, was eligible to declare for last year’sdraft, but because she decided to return to LSUfor herseniorseason,she’snow part of the first rookie classthat plays under theleague’snew collective bargaining agreement(CBA). The league and its players hammeredout the terms of that deal just in time for their 30th season, which will tip off on May8.Johnson’sValkyries are slated to playtheir opener that night against the Seattle Storm.

In the seventh inning, afterLSU scored seven runs in the tophalf to tie the game, Johnson stuck with Paz—afreshman righthander —tobegin the bottom of theinning, despite top reliever Deven Sheerin being available in the bullpen. Paz faced one batter center fielder HaydenFederico —inthe seventh,inducing abouncing ball to the right side thatgot past Eddie Yamin andsecond baseman Brayden Simpson.The play was not ruled an error,but Simpsonsaid it was achopper that he should’ve handled.

“(Paz) didwhathe needed to do, and he hit a groundball,” Johnson said. “And we didn’tmakethe play.”

Even if Paz did his job, Federico became the game-winning runfor the Rebels. Sheerinentered after the hit and gave up a one-out single thatallowed OleMisstoretakethe lead.

Despite theresult, Johnson had no regrets about keeping Pazinthe game.He liked the matchup against Federico, even if Paz enteredSunday withan8.84 ERA.

“I thought the mix (Paz had) was better for Federico,” Johnson said. “Like, we walked himwith Sheerin the next time around.”

Paz hadtossed ascoreless inning in the sixth, and he haspitchedmuchbetter after arocky start to theseason. He hasn’twalked abatter in his last three outings, andbeforelastweekend, he hadn’tallowed arun in four of his last six appearances. Brown’sSEC campaign

By no meansisJake Brown having abad junior season.The right fielder has ateam-high 15 home runs, a 1.102 on-base plus slugging percentageand acareerbest .676 slugging percentage. He’slifting theball more often to his pull side,

ON DECK

WHO: LSU(22-15) vs Northwestern State (23-13)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.,Tuesday

WHERE: Alex Box Stadium

ONLINE: SECNetwork+

RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1 (Baton Rouge); WWL-AM, 870 (NewOrleans);KLWBFM, 103.7 (Lafayette)

RANKINGS: LSUand Northwestern State are not in D1Baseball’stop-25

rankings

PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU

—TBA;Northwestern State —TBA

PREGAME UPDATES: theadvocate.com/lsu

andit’stranslatedinto alot more production.

But Brown hasn’tplayed up to the level LSU needs him to be at in SECplay

He’shitting .228 with 16 strikeouts in 15 conference games.Hehas fivehome runs —two came against Ole Miss —but only oneof his seven doubles has come against SEC competition.

Brownwas hitting over .400 through mostofthe nonconference schedule.Sustaining that level of production against the SEC wasn’trealistic, but the Tigers need Brown to be closer to the hitter he was last year in conference play —hitting over .300 and posting a1.048 OPS —than what they’vegotten so far in 2026.

Freshman headaches

In the first four years of Johnson’stenure, LSU didn’theavily relyonits freshmen to contribute right away.The Tigers have had ahandful of freshmen who were long-term pieces on thebench, even if they also hadatleast afew firstyear players holdingimportant rolesinthe bullpen or starting in the lineup. Thathasn’t been thecase this season. Braun, Paz, catcher Omar Serna and right-hander Zion Theophilushavebeenthrust into regular roles on the weekend. Right-handerReagan Ricken has been astaple on the mound in midweek games, and infielders Jack Ruckert andEthan Clauss have entered SEC contests as defensive replacements.

The onlyfreshman who hasn’tseen the field is lefthander Jonah Aase,who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery.Infielder/outfielderWilliam Patrickalsohasn’tplayed much, but that could change if the Tigers continue to struggle. Patrick was moved to the infield at the endoflastmonth to get hisathleticism on the field more often.

Serna and Braun have been bright spots, and Theophilus andPaz have shownflashes of promising play,but LSU’sreliance on its freshmen hasn’talways workedout, especially in the middle infield.

Ruckert and Clauss have struggled whenthey’ve gotten their opportunities in SEC play. Ruckert has three errors and has ap-

ON X: @KokiRiley WHATTOWATCH FOR: LSU has struggledagainst midmajor opponents this season withsix losses, including last week’sdefeat vs.BethuneCookman.The Tigers also have dropped games to Sacramento State (twice), UL, McNeese State and Northeastern.Northwestern State lost its latest series to Houston Christian last weekendathome, falling 5-2 on Fridayand 11-5 on Sunday.

Koki Riley

peared in just onegame since bobbling aball in the eighth inning of the series finale against Oklahoma, amistakethat likelycost LSU aseries winover the Sooners. Clauss made a crucialerror in theeighth inning Fridaybyfailing to touchsecondbaseona potentialdouble playthat resulted in no outs.

“They spend moretime outside of practice time thananybody.Sotheir competitive character (and) their work ethic are going to getthempastthat,” Johnson said. “There’san element of playing time that is necessary for your development. It’s necessary.”

In years past, LSU wouldn’thave turned to Clauss or Ruckert to make aplay on the infield in a must-win game. But given thedefensive strugglesof the veteran options on the infield, Johnson has had little choice but to play the kids.

“Maybe it’sunfair of me to put (Clauss) in that situationtonight, or maybe Jack earlier,” Johnson said. “I believe both of them are capable of getting the job done.Theyhaven’t,but they’re not the only ones. “We’ve had to make switches in who we’re making defensive replacements with because the other guys, outside of Steven (Milam), haven’tplayed very good, either.Sothis is not aJack and Ethan thing at all.”

TexasA&M series

LSU’s upcoming series with Texas A&M in Baton Rouge places alot of pressure on the Tigers. After Sunday’sloss, LSU is the No. 75 team in the RPI, and it has the toughest part of itsconferenceschedule coming up withthe Aggies, Florida,Georgia andMississippi State still left to play.Texas A&M also heads into AlexBox Stadium on ahot streak,beating Texas twicelastweekendbefore Sunday’sgamewas cancelled because of inclement weather Aseries loss would put the Tigers in serious danger of missing the NCAA Tournament.But twowinswould getLSU to amore respectable 8-10 record in the SEC andgive it amuch-needed RPI boost. The Aggies are the No. 12 team in the metric.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

UL coach Alyson

Home grown

Landscaping with native plants can offerstormwater solutions, plus it’s attractive andtough

At the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge, senior landscape manager JasonStagg and his colleagues have been busy lately with an expansive, exciting project: planning, and planting,the landscape for the soon-to-beopened welcome center The facility will serve as acentral information hub for visitors to the entire Burden Museum &Gardens complex, which also includes LSU’sRural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens. It will be available for event rentals,too.

All of that is to say the landscapesurrounding this building will have plenty of eyes on it, creating afirst impression for guests —so, of course, it needs to look attractive and inviting. But Stagg and the Burden team are taking it astep further,using the project as an opportunity to spotlight interesting, functional plants

LSU AGCENTERPHOTO

By OLIVIA McCLURE Dwarf palmetto is an evergreen plant with adeep root system and unique, fanlikeaesthetics.

“This landscape is ateaching landscape,” Stagg said. “We’re using 100% native plant material for the entire landscape. Becausealot of this site is actually in abottomland hardwood area, we’ve chosen wetland plants and used them in rain garden and bioswale installations to manage water.” Manyplantsthat are native to Louisiana thrive in soggyconditions,making them outstanding choices for low-lying settings like the one where the new welcome center sits. They excel at soaking up rainwater and reducing runoff and flooding.

ä See PLANTS, page 6C

Eddy, 2, smiles at hisdad, Ace St. Romain, as he runs his hand over thetopsofdisplayedbooksduring last year’s the Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaar at John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum.

TO BE CONTINUED

Friendsofthe LSULibraries work throughout theyearpreparing forthe Book Bazaar

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

Book loverscan plan for afew hours of book wonderland this weekend. From April16through 18, readers and collectorscan peruse the 60 tables of over 70,000 books at John M. Parker Coliseum on LSU’scampus.

This year’s Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaar is celebrating its 50th anniversary.The organization beganin1962and held thefirst bazaar as afundraiser in 1976.

To markthe golden occasion, openingday will beginwitha ribbon-cutting ceremonyat8:45 a.m., led by Stanley Wilder,dean of LSU Libraries.

TheBookBarn

Lined along the back wall of the Book Barn on River Road are stacks of cardboard boxes full of books, labeled by categories like gardening, military history andthe South. Throughout theyear,volunteers prep and pack thousandsof books. Anita Adams, the vice-president of Friends of theLSU Libraries, has volunteered at the LSU Book Barn since 2010. As aformer Eng-

Pinned up along one of the shelves is acolorful collageofreceipts, pictures, prayercards, foreign money, leavesand postcards that had been used as bookmarks in the donated books.

lish teacher andelementaryprincipal, books have always been important toher

Afterretiring, Adams moved into theRiverbend neighborhood and was looking for ausedbook-

storeonher newsideoftown. She found the Book Barn and metAnne West, the head of the volunteers at the time, and they fell into abibliophile conversation. When she left that day,Adams was acommitted volunteer.She’sbeen faithful since then.

“I was used to doing things Ilike to keep my brain active, and Ilove books,”Adams said. “Whatbetter job than to be surrounded by something you love? Iwas aword person from the get-go, so Ikind of stumbled into it.”

Paul Sandau, the president of Friends of theLSU Librariesand retired graphics editor for The Advocate, hada similarexperience nine yearsago.Hedroppedbyto donate books, and when West saw the quantity and qualityofhis donation, she asked Sandau to join the volunteers. An avid book collector, he felt right at home.

“She hit me at areal good time becauseI hadbeen retiredabout six months,” Sandau said. “I was ready to find avolunteer job. I found the perfect volunteer job for me, so I’ve been doing it ever since.”

ä See BAZAAR, page 6C

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

Thehonors continue to stack up for oneLouisiana artist documentary while another nowhas a national

ing regional documentary.Inaddition, ”Michalopoulos: The

PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS

STAFF PHOTO By JOyHOLDEN

End-of-performance theateretiquette

Dear Miss Manners: We need major publicity to get acrossamatter of etiquette for concertand theater attendees: WAIT UNTIL THE CURTAIN CALL IS OVER AND EVERYONE HAS HAD ACHANCE TO TAKE THEIR BOWS BEFORE STANDING. ONLY STAND AT THE VERY END —AFTER THE PRINCIPAL ACTORS

Those taking theirbows later,for theprincipal parts, are seen only by thefirst rows and the very tall!

TAKE THEIR BOW Directors could put such anotice in the printed program, or make an announcement, but that would be suggestingthat they expect astanding ovation When parents stand for their kids during the firstofthe curtain calls, the short people in theaudience can’tsee —even if they are able to stand, which some are not.

BAZAAR

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Gentle reader: Pleasedonot shout, even though you are understandably excited because your child got a leading role. It is nowcommon to precede all performances with abrief etiquette lesson —to silence devices, to refrain from taking pictures, to avoid rustlingcandy wrappers and so on. Schools should certainly issue these and anyother instructionsthatmight head off offensive behavior

But althoughMiss Manners agrees with you that theubiquitousstanding ovation is annoying, let us make adistinction here between an amateur event,such as

egories.

aschool play,and aprofessional performance. In either case, it is acommon mistaketobelieve that the audience must thank the performers. Rather,curtain calls are thetime for theaudience to express its reaction to the performance. In thecase of nonprofessionals, especially children, generosity should prevail over frankness. The idea is to offer encouragement— or at least the reassurance that they did not makefools of themselves. Butatthe conclusion of professional performances, thepaying audience is entitled to express its opinion. If it is wildly favorable, they might stand. Unfortunately, this has become routine, and has thereforelost that meaning.

Dear Miss Manners: We did not re-

ceive an invitation to our niece’s wedding. Iamnot aware of her new address, as she has moved out of her parents’ home. Iamwondering if it would be appropriate forustosend acard or agift in this situation. Gentlereader: This is the mirror image of the crass notion that a present is the price of admission to awedding: that you shouldn’t acknowledge the marriage because you have not been invited to thewedding. Allow Miss Manners to explain thecorrect reasoning: Someonewho cares about the people involved in awedding enough to attend will also wantto give something symbolic of good wishes. Anyone whodoesn’tcare all that much need only decline and offer written good wishes.

Cynics will say this amounts to the samething, but the subtle difference is significant. It also illuminates your situation. Evidently you have good feelings (yes?), so you should express them. One word of caution, however: Your relatives maysubscribe to the mistaken pay-to-attend notion, and think they must now invite you because you have bought a ticket. If the ceremony has not yet taken place, therefore, it would be tactful to wait until it has.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

Adams and Sandau have about 20 other consistent volunteers who help sort, price and pack books

TheBook Barn accept books on Mondays and Wednesdays, butAdams and Sandau often work throughout the week. Through the donations, Adams says they meet people with fascinating stories.

“So many of them are very emotionally attached to their books, and you almost have to take it outoftheir hands with the promise that you’ll treat it nicely,” Adams said.

The Friends of the LSU Libraries is a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that could,in theory,put on asmallersale every month to raise money for the LSU Libraries. Adams says that would dilute the big bazaar,sothey go all out for the event.

“Without the bazaar,The Friends of LSU Libraries does not exist and vice versa,” Sandau said. The volunteers in the Book Barn spend ayear collecting and sortingthrough books for thosethree days in the Coliseum. The Book Barn also takes otherforms of physical medialikeCDs, vinyl records and DVDs.

Thebig sale

SponsorsFrost-Barber and Kean’sCleaners not only help financially put on the sale,but they also bring in helperstophysically move itemsfromthe barn to the coliseum.

From Monday,April 13, to Wednesday,April 15, the volunteers work “until they drop” in Sandau’swords, organizing all of the books on tables numbered for cat-

ARTISTS

Continued from page5C

Continued from page5C landscapes and outdoor family gatherings are also wellknown. He died in 2013.

“This is ahuge honor for us,” said Jacques Rodrigue, son of George Rodrigue “Only five regional documentaries from across the entire country are nominated each year, and it’sespecially meaningful that afilm made right here in Louisiana

—byalocal New Orleans station about my dad —has earned this national recognition.”

The Rodrigue documentary previously wonthe Suncoast Regional Emmy

“I couldn’tbeprouder of the filmmakers,” Rodrigue said.

The national News &Documentary Emmy winners will be announced on May 28 at New York’sJazzatLincoln Center

Other honors for the documentary include aSilver TellyAwardinthe generaldocumentary: long form category.The Tellys, established in 1979, honor the television and video industry.“Blue” has also been recognized at the New Orleans Film Festival, Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival and World Film Festival in Cannes.

“Blue,” distributed by American Public Television, premiered on PBS stations in May2025. It is still available for viewing on the PBS

“That’swhat Iwish people could understand,” Adams said, “because when you walkinto it, it’slike the magic fairies have put it all together.”

Adams says her favorite part of the entiresale is right before thedooropens 9a.m. on Thursday.She says there’soften aline stretched aroundthe building witheager shoppers ready for the bazaar.From bookdealers to homeschooling parents to casual readers, thecustomers at thebazaar share acamaraderie

“I enjoy peoplewho Iidentify with personally and the excitement they have fora find. It may not be my find, but I understand. Iunderstand the concept and the feeling, and I know what it feels like to feel that way aboutsomething,” Sandau said.

Sandau is thehead of the rare collectibles category, and hespends much ofhis year investigating and researching the authenticity of rare books.

Therare finds

The biggest treasure Sandauisbringing this year to Rare/collectibles is a151-volume setofthe official records of the Civil War— the official records of theUnion and Confederate armies.

“Most people think that because abook is in collectors that it must be very expensive,” Sandau said, “but that’snot true. Anybody who walks away from the collector’stablewith something, they’re getting adeal, no matterwhatthe price.”

For rareand collectibles, Sandausayshepriceswellbelow market value, and that’s after extensive research.

Sandausays one of the biggest truthshe’slearned over

Passportapp Meanwhile,“Michalopoulos” focuses on New Orleans-based self-taught artist and preservation advocateJames Michalopoulos and his impact on the city’s artist community The documentary will premiere on public television stations (check local listings),onPBS.organd on the PBS Passport app. It also is being distributedbyAPT “James is apainter for the people. I’m sure there’sa lot of New Orleanians that can’tname anotherpainter except for Michalopoulos. There’snoartistmore closely aligned withthe city of New Orleans than James Michalopoulos,” Bradley Sumrall, curator at the city’s OgdenMuseum,saidina news release Michalopoulos’vivid, kinetic paintings have shaped the city’scultural and architectural identity over the last 40 years.

“Knownfor re-imagining New Orleans architecture as fluid, expressive forms, Michalopoulos holdsthe record for the most NewOrleans Jazz &Heritage Festival posters of anyartist— seven times,” the releasealso said.“ Though originally from Pittsburgh,hebuilt an internationalcareer while remaining deeplyrooted in NewOrleans,where he began in 1979 sketching portraits on paper bags and developed his signature style of bold, impastodepictions of thecity’s homesand streets.”

the yearsisnot to judgethe customers. Therare and collectibles sceneattracts a wide variety of people.

“I have learnednot to be too quickabout sizing up people, because you just neverknowuntil yousay hello and start talking to them. I’ve been surprisedwithwho walks away with arather large purchase,soitmakes me conscious of the fact that when I’m helping somebody, I’ve got to remind myself I don’tknowwho thisis. It’s kind of aleveling mechanism,” Sandau said.

One rare find took on another formin2017. Adams remembersa young man clutching abook with tears in his eyes. He had lost that book in theflood, and he was so happy to have it back because it was aconnection to his grandmother After thesale, LSU cleans outthe barn, andthe Friends of theLSU Libraries geta clean slate to begin collecting for the 2027 sale. They’ll take afew weekstoregroup, and thenvolunteers will begin accepting donations again on May 18.

“Our goal is to put money in thehands of the libraries,” Adams said. “Wewant to hand the dean avery hefty check that will help whatever their needs are at the moment or even down theroad.”

TheLSU Book Bazaar will be open from 9a.m. to 7p.m. April 16-17 and 9a.m. to 5p.m. April 18 at John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum on AgCenter Drive. Free parking is available in thelot off East Parker Boulevard. For more information,visit lib.lsu.edu/ friends#bookbazaar of the Friends of the LSU Libraries Facebook page.

Michalopoulos has also madehis markonpreservation andcommunity-building in the city. In 1995, he turned a150-year-old cotton gin intoCelebration Distillation, creating the first rum distilleryinthe continental United States since Prohibition. Following Hurricane Katrina, Michalopoulos convertedanold brewery intoOrleana Artist Studios which now provides affordable workspace formore than100 local artists,” according to the release.

“Wehave been gifted atremendousculture and we have neglected it at great peril,” says Michalopoulos about his adoptedcityinthefilm.“Most of ourdistinction comesfrom the built environment, andit’s stunning. …Ifyou don’thave theartist culture here, if you don’thavethe bohemianculture, you have lostanenormous gift. Youare becoming anywhere.”

The film offersarchival footage and interviews with Kermit Ruffins, Nina Compton,Quint Davis and others. It also takes viewerstoMichalopoulos’ studioinBurgundy,France, part of his second homeand chateau.

The documentary had its world premiere at the opening night of New Orleans Film FestivalinOctober 2025 and had aspecial sneak preview on Louisiana Public Broadcasting stations in December 2025.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday, April 14, the 104th day of 2026. There are 261 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth during aperformance of theplay “Our American Cousin” at Ford’sTheatre in Washington; Lincoln was taken to aboarding house across the street and died thefollowing morning at 7:22 a.m.

Also on this date:

In 1828, thefirst edition of Noah Webster’s“American Dictionaryofthe English Language” was published.

In 1912, theBritish liner RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North

PLANTS

Continuedfrom page5C

As abonus, native plants are tough, handling Louisiana’schallenging climate with ease. Andthey have striking aesthetics.

“When you take these out of nature, you get some really cool architectural features that you see when you massthem in front of amodern building,” Stagg said.

Oneofthe core componentsofthe welcome center landscape is dwarf palmetto(Sabal minor).

You’ve likely seen this plant —which resembles ashort,fanlike palm growing as an understory in wetland and bottomland areas along roadsides. Because it’severgreen, dwarf palmettostands out in the winter when deciduous trees are bare.

“This plant is super, super tough,” Stagg said. “The stalk, or trunk, actually grows underground, meaning that this plant never getstall, but you still get thewonderful palm fronds. It also can tolerate alot of wetness.”

Dwarf palmetto’sdeep root system also makes

Atlantic at 11:40 p.m.ship’s timeand began sinking. (The ship wentunder two and ahalf hours later,killing over 1,500 people.)

In 1935, the devastating “Black Sunday” dust storm descended upon the central Plains as hundreds of thousands of tons of airborne topsoil turned asunny afternoon into total darkness.

In 1981, thefirst test flight of America’sfirst operational space shuttle, theColumbia,ended successfully with alandingatEdwardsAir Force Base in California

In 2021, aWhite former suburban Minneapolis police officer,Kim Potter, wascharged with seconddegree manslaughter for killing 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright in ashooting that ignited days of unrest. (Potter

it achampatfighting soil erosion.

The landscapealsofeatures twokinds of rush,a grasslikeplant that’ssometimes referred to as juncus. Stagglikesthe vibrant green of common rush (Juncuseffusus)intermingled withthe blue tinge of Blue Dart rush (Juncus tenuis).

Both species have fine stemsreminiscent of grass blades and are evergreen during typical Louisiana winters. Their spikey appearance lends aunique look to the landscape.

These plants are being combined with native trees and shrubs —including pond cypress, Southern magnolia, black gum,yaupon holly,dwarfwax myrtle, American beautyberry and buttonbush.

“All of these wonderful native plants are going to come together in alandscape that will show people how to use plant material to help absorb and survive someofthese big rainfall inundation events,” Stagg said.

“Another great quality about these juncus or rush plants is that they’re clump forming, so they’re not going to spread wildly or becomemessy or grow out of bounds,” Stagg said. “They’ll always maintain a neat shape, just like ornamental grasses we use in the landscape.”

LSU AGCENTER PHOTOByOLIVIA McCLURE As itsname suggests, Blue Dartrush has abluetinge.

YE ARS

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Take control, keep life simple and dismiss excessive situations. Pay attention to detail and do things your way. Your objective is to lower debt and ease stress.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) You can make things happen if you concentrate on what you want to achieve. Having a clear vision will encourage you to make decisions quickly, saving you both time and money.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Less talk will help alleviate emotional drama. Assist others by using your imagination to devise good solutions. You're overdue for a change, but you must first implement a proper setup.

cANcER (June 21-July 22) A positive change to your health or finances is within reach; all you have to do is make it happen. Attend meetings and appointments and get what you want in writing.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Spice up your life. Engage in events and activities that bring out your competitive nature. Refuse to let the activities of the people close to you deter you from following your heart and dreams.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Communication followed by action is the best route forward. Live up to your expectations and be the one to initiate positive change. A partnership or romantic encounter looks promising.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Gravitate to what and who draws you in most. Socialize, participate, get active and pursue what

makes you happy. Life is too short to waste time; engage in whatever feeds your soul.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-Nov. 22) A partnership will give you the momentum to move full steam ahead. Mix and mingle with friends and associates, and the information you receive will lead to opportunities.

sAGIttARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Emotional flare-ups require more thought and discipline. Try to see all sides of a situation and to act out of kindness and understanding. Dedicate your time to nurturing relationships.

cAPRIcoRN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Think twice before you make a commitment or share personal information. You'll gain the most if you concentrate on how you look, feel and respond to others and spend more time participating in pastimes.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Protect yourself from situations that can lead to illness or injury. Concentrate on money management and budgeting for things that can make your life easier.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Honor your commitments and move along. The more time you allow yourself to explore what's available, the greater your vision. Let your imagination, emotions and creativity flow freely.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

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

toDAy's cLuE: I EQuALs L

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

peAnUtS zItS FrAnK And erneSt

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudokuis anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’sPuzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Ambrose Bierce defined adentist as a prestidigitator who, while putting metal in one’s mouth, pulls coins out of one’s pockets.

Abridge player also wantsitboth ways: Heads Imakemycontract, tails you fail in yours. In this deal, South is in four spades. West cashes histwo top diamonds,then shiftstotheclub10.Howshoulddeclarer continue?Thisisoneauctionthatalways mystifieslessexperienced players. By anunpassedhand,afterpartner’stakeout doubleandresponder’spass,ifadvancer (the doubler’spartner)makes asimple suit-bid,itshowssome0-8points;ajump in asuit is approximately 9-11; and a cue-bid of theopener’s suit indicates 12 pointsormore.AfterSouth’scue-bid,the auction turns to natural.

Declarer’sonlyproblemisinthetrump suit. He must avoidtwo losers. In this case, the bidding should help him,but the rightplay is thesame, even if during theauctiontheopponentsgaveexcellent impersonations of Trappist monks.

If Southstartswithafinesse of his queen, West winswith his king, and declarer hasa nastyguessonthe second round. Should he finesse Eastfor the jack or play forWest to have started with king-jack-doubleton?

Instead, South should first cash his spade ace. When thekingdrops,hecan bring home an overtrick. But even if the ace collects onlythe five and six,declarer can cross to dummy and lead aspade toward his queen. He has no guessto make. ©2026 by NEA,Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

Previous answers:

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 QuARRIEs: KWAR-ees: Open excavation sites forobtaining stone or slate.

Average mark14words Timelimit 25 minutes Can you find 22 or morewords in QUARRIES?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —KNEEcAP

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

White House has plan to fix housing shortage

WASHINGTON White House economists estimate the United States has a shortage of 10 million houses, according to a new report out Monday — and say regulatory cuts could lead to more construction to stabilize prices, increase home ownership and fuel faster economic growth.

The analysis, part of the Economic Report of the President, outlines both a political risk and a messaging opportunity for President Donald Trump, whose public approval has slumped because of concerns about his tariffs, the Iran war and his unfulfilled promises to slash inflation and unleash stronger growth.

Trump signed two executive orders in March directing federal agencies to reduce housing regulatory burdens and make it easier for smaller banks to provide mortgages but he’s been slow to take other steps that would show that high housing costs are a top priority for his administration.

The White House has been trying to focus on housing and other affordability issues for months to get ready for what’s expected to be a challenging midterm season for Republicans, but it has been thrown off course by a series of global issues In January, a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that had been billed as focusing on housing turned into a showdown for Trump over control of Greenland

Texas AG launches probe into Lululemon

NEW YORK — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a probe into Lululemon over the potential use of harmful chemicals in its clothing. But the activewear company says it stopped using the so-called “forever chemicals” more than two years ago.

The investigation, announced on the attorney general’s website Monday, concerns whether Lululemon’s athletic apparel contains PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These so-called “forever chemicals” don’t break down easily, and the Attorney General’s Office said Lululemon’s customers wouldn’t expect their presence based on the brand’s marketing, which highlights wellness and sustainability.

The attorney general’s office also announced that it will review the company’s “restricted substances” list, testing protocols, and supply network practices to determine whether Lululemon’s products comply with its stated safety standards. “Americans should not have to worry if they are being deceived when trying to make healthy choices for themselves and their families,” Paxton said in a statement.

In a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Monday, Lululemon said that it hadn’t used PFAS in its products since it phased out the substances in early 2024.

Meatpacking plant workers win increases

Workers at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants who staged a multiweek strike have reached an agreement with plant owner JBS USA, the company and labor union representatives announced Sunday. The Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, will immediately return to normal operations after weeks of uncertainty, JBS USA said in a statement. The agreement comes after thousands of workers at the meat processing plant led a three-week strike with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 Union in a bid for higher wages and better health care. The strike ended April 4 after JBS USA agreed to resume negotiations Workers and JBS USA agreed to wage increases over the next two years and a $750 one-time bonus.

Stocks rally, recover from losses

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK U.S. stocks rallied Monday and recovered the last of their losses caused so far by the U.S.-Iran war, as Wall Street remains hopeful that the global economy can still avoid a worstcase scenario. The S&P 500 rose 1% and is back to where it was before the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February just 1.3% below its all-time high set early this year The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 301 points, or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2%.

Even in the oil market where prices jumped above $100 per barrel after ceasefire talks over the weekend failed to end the war, prices pared their leaps as Monday progressed. The moves for financial markets overall were much more modest than the extreme swings that have hit since the war began.

Markets have been pinballing between worries that the war will last a long time and hopes for a resolution because all the parties would benefit from a freer flow of crude oil. After the weekend’s talks failed, President Donald Trump an-

nounced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which raises the pressure on Iran by trying to prevent it from making money by selling oil. A blockade would keep even more oil off the global market, after prices already jumped for everyone worldwide because of Iran’s restrictions on traffic in the important strait. The narrow waterway is how much of the oil produced in the Persian Gulf area reaches customers worldwide. Iran responded by threatening all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman Afterward, the price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, rose

4.4% to settle at $99.36 and is well above its roughly $70 level from before the war

But it remains below the $119 peak it’s touched at times, when worries about the U.S.-Iran war have been at their heights. It also pulled back from its nearly $104 price reached earlier Monday morning.

“Markets are taking some encouragement from the fact that the two sides are talking and that the broader ceasefire seems to be holding, for now,” according to Sameer Samana, head of global equities and real assets at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

ROBOTS IN THE RING

through conversations and serve as a teacher to older adults and children. Different robots can be programmed with different personalities, too.

“It would be like a friend,” Chiu said.

BY KANIS LEUNG Associated Press

HONG KONG A humanoid robot about the size of a primary school student had something to share in Hong Kong it sang songs and spoke to people in Mandarin and English, answering whatever questions they posed and delighting the audience around it

More than 100 robots were showcased at two exhibitions starting Monday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center The X2 Ultra robot from China’s prominent humanoid robot manufacturer AGIBOT Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co. was among them. When asked about its hobbies, the robot’s list went from doing sports and dancing to studying technology and listening to music.

Describing the people in front of it is no challenge either: “a woman holding a phone, a woman holding a bag and a phone, a man holding a camera,” it said at one point Calvin Chiu, the chief operating officer of Novautek Autonomous Driving, AGIBOT’s agent in Hong Kong, said that the robot can provide emotional satisfaction to humans

In China, technology has evolved into an area of competition with the U.S., with national security implications. Beijing’s latest five-year plan vows to “target the frontiers of science and technology.” Speeding up the development of products like humanoid robots and their applications is part of the 2026-2030 plan for the world’s second-largest economy

Official data showed China had more than 140 humanoid-robot manufacturers and more than 330 models in 2025.

London-based technology research and advisory group Omdia recently ranked three of them — AGIBOT, Unitree Robotics and UBTech Robotics Corp. as the only first-tier vendors in its global assessment in terms of shipment numbers. They all shipped more than 1,000 units of general-purpose embodied intelligent robots last year, with the first two companies shipping more than 5,000 units, the report said.

In February, humanoid robots were among the highlights of the CCTV Spring Festival gala in China, a television show celebrating the Lunar New Year A martial arts performance by children and robots stole the spot-

light.

Some Chinese exhibitors flexed their advances at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on Monday, showing robotic capabilities that ranged from talking to humans, punching and sand painting to doing backflips and catching suspects with nets during security patrol demonstrations. Robert Chan, global strategy officer at EngineAI, based in Shenzhen, brought its PM01 robot to showcase its mobility, including doing a front flip. His company plans to launch two factories in China for mass production this year

He said that China enjoys advantages in certain areas, such as low-cost engineering. He also pointed to the pattern of sharing know-how between companies, unlike in the United States and Europe, where companies typically shield their own technology

Chan foresaw that the next stage of robotics would move toward robots featuring bodies looking like people, with more emotional exchanges and facial expressions, or even looking like they can breathe. That is about plugging the gap in robots’ interactions with humans, he said.

“The warmth and emotion exchange with the human being. Besides, helping humans to make the decision and helping humans to complete their task,” he said.

BY MATT O’BRIEN and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press

More American workers are experimenting with artificial intelligence in their jobs, but skepticism is still widespread New Gallup polling finds that while more employees are using AI frequently in their work there’s been an uptick in alarm that new technologies will replace their jobs. Many workers who are not using AI say they prefer to work without it, have ethical oppositions to the technology or worry about data privacy

The poll, conducted in February, points to a divergence in how AI is reshaping American workplaces. Some find it to be a gamechanger

for productivity and efficiency, while others are concerned about its potentially negative impacts.

Social worker Scott Segal said he regularly uses AI to find information that will help connect his elderly and vulnerable patients to health care resources in northern Virginia. While he knows that the human connection and care he brings to that work is important, he also believes that AI could soon replace him.

“I’m planning ahead,” said Segal, 53. “I think everyone who works in a replaceable field or trade should be planning ahead.”

Roughly 3 in 10 employees are frequent users of AI in their jobs, meaning they use it daily or a few times a week. About 2 in 10 are infrequent users, using AI tools at

work a few times a month or a few times a year

The Gallup poll found that about 4 in 10 workers say their organization has adopted AI tools or technology to improve organizational practices. About two-thirds of those workers say AI has had an “extremely” or “somewhat” positive impact on their individual productivity and efficiency at work.

Workers using AI in management roles are more likely to say the technology has been at least “somewhat” positive for their productivity compared with individual contributors. About 7 in 10 leaders using AI at least a few times a year say AI has made them more efficient at work, compared with just over half of individual contributors.

Labor and employment attorney Elizabeth Bloch of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said she uses ChatGPT to help “draft letters or emails in a diplomatic way because it’s a very adversarial profession and sometimes you get heated.”

AI tools appear to have a greater benefit for workers in managerial, health care and technology roles than in service jobs. About 6 in 10 employees in those fields who are using AI say it’s boosted their productivity at least “somewhat,” compared with 45% of those using it in service jobs.

Even when companies make AI tools available, there’s no guarantee employees will adopt them. About half of U.S. employees use AI only once a year or not at all, according to the Gallup study

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHAN LONG HEI

exhibition in Hong Kong on Monday