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U.S AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE IN IRAN
Service member killed in Iraq during controlled detonation Renewed exchanges risk wider conflict in the Middle East
Schools search for savings to offset funding cut Scrapping raises, pausing construction, leaving jobs unfilled all on table
BY PATRICK WALL
Staff writer
As Louisiana school systems plan for the coming school year, some are expecting to cancel raises and hold off on hiring to make up for a state funding cut. School districts are slated to receive state payments by July 25 that will be smaller than what they previously budgeted for. The reduction is due to a decision by Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers to pay for teacher stipends by sending less money to schools rather than pulling from the state budget, as they had in the past. Some school district leaders had held out hope for a reprieve. But those hopes fizzled last month after lawmakers voted in favor of the $168 million funding reduction, and education advocates dropped a lawsuit challenging the cut. Now that school systems know their state funding will be trimmed by an average of 5% this school year, some are starting to share how they intend to plug the budget hole.
ä See SCHOOLS, page 7A MEHR NEWS AGENCy PHOTO By MAHDI NEGAHBAN
An overturned car sits on a section of a destroyed bridge after a strike in Hormozgan province, southern Iran, on Saturday. The U.S. has launched more airstrikes at Iran in response to the killing of service members. BY JON GAMBRELL, SAM METZ and BEN FINLEY
Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States began a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles toward Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. Step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. The U.S. military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone. Earlier, the military said its strikes targeted Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for Friday’s
killing of troops in Jordan. One ser- which has been a route the U.S. milivice member was missing after that tary has encouraged ships to travel to attack, and the military’s new state- avoid Iran’s control. Tehran has retaliated by hitting ment said “unidentified remains” were found Sunday and were being U.S.-allied countries throughout the examined. Since the war began, 17 Middle East. Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait U.S. service members have been killed. CO ONFLICT again activated air defenses for incoming Iranian drones The renewed exchanges IN THE T and missiles. Israel warned of fire, now in their second MIIDDLE that missiles launched toweek, have seen the U.S. tarAST get bridges and electrical fa- EAST ward neighboring Jordan could cause fire to spill over cilities in Iran. The U.S. military’s Central Com- into Israeli territory for the first time mand announced a new round of in weeks. Footage released Sunday by the U.S. strikes early Monday, now into their military appeared to show strikes carninth straight night. “The strikes will continue degrad- ried out by fighter jets and by Tomaing Iranian military capabilities used hawk cruise missiles launched from to attack commercial vessels and ci- the sea. One target site appeared to be vilian mariners transiting the Strait in a valley of a mountainous region. of Hormuz,” Central Command said The Guard often has missile bases and other military equipment tucked in a statement. As the strikes began, a ship caught into mountain ranges. Iran’s atomic energy agency said fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz near the coastline of Oman, the U.S. strikes targeted the construction British military said. It was unclear ä See IRAN, page 5A what sparked the blaze off Oman,
State lawmakers again eye AI regulation Bills that didn’t pass this session could return
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
During Louisiana’s recent legislative session, a slew of bills restricting the use of artificial intelligence stalled after President Donald Trump’s administration said it wanted to create a national regulatory framework around the technology — and threatened states’ federal broadband funding if they acted on their own. Noncontroversial bills, including ones that toughened penalties related to AI-generated child pornography, did pass. But proposals that entailed more dramatic changes — such as restrictions to how insurance companies and employers can use AI — died on the vine despite bipartisan support.
ä See REGULATION, page 7A
Once a ‘ghost town,’ Pascagoula sees transformation Amtrak line, financial investment bringing in business
BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer
SUN HERALD FILE PHOTO By HANNAH RUHOFF
A new Amtrak sign is placed at the old Pascagoula, Miss., train station in 2025. Amtrak trains began running between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, in August.
WEATHER HIGH 97 LOW 80 PAGE 6B
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The changes transforming this coastal Mississippi city are easy to spot. Where a lot sat vacant, a boutique hotel is now welcoming visitors. In a building that once housed an old bank, young professionals are moving into modern apartments with a rooftop bar. Where a train depot long languished in disrepair, an elegant new brew pub just opened.
“There’s a lot of neat things going on,” from Louisiana — whose numbers are said Joe Cloyd, who developed the brew growing across the Gulf Coast region. Chandeleur Depot opened in pub project, called Chandeleur June and is brewing beer and Depot. “The vibes in Pascagou“The vibes in serving meals, including steak la are good.” Pascagoula frites and Korean fried wings It is a striking contrast to are good.” to Pascagoula residents and the downtown Pascagoula of the 15 or so passengers who 10 years ago, which residents JOE CLOyD, wander in off the city’s new and developers called a “ghost developer of Amtrak stop each day. The town.” Most storefronts were Chandeleur brew pub’s acclaimed chef, vacant. The streets emptied by evening as thousands of em- Depot, a brew pub Austin Sumrall, has earned in Pascagoula nods from the James Beard ployees at Ingalls Shipbuilding Foundation and the Michelin and a nearby refinery drove Guide. The setting includes home to Alabama or elsewhere chandeliers and signature cocktails in Mississippi. But years of targeted efforts are now with names like “Train Station Smash” turning downtown Pascagoula into a hub and “Box Car Paloma.” of trendy businesses designed to lure ä See PASCAGOULA, page 7A newcomers and visitors — including
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13TH yEAR, NO. 342