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F r i d ay, J u n e 6, 2025
La. LIGO scientists fear possible cuts
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EBR schools may get new start times Board advances schedule change for six sites
BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
Six public schools that serve much of north Baton Rouge are poised to institute new start times this fall, piloting a potentially districtwide initiative to better match when children learn with research on their sleeping patterns. Capitol and Glen Oaks high schools would start at 8:50 a.m., 100 minutes later than they do now, and end at 4:05 p.m. Both are “F”-rated schools with high rates of student absenteeism. Meanwhile, Capitol, Glen Oaks Park, Melrose and Merrydale elementary schools would start at 8 a.m., 25 minutes earlier than at present, and would end at 3:15 p.m. Instructional days at these four schools would last 15 minutes longer than they do now. Glen Oaks Park has a “C” letter grade, and the other three schools have “D”s. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday advanced the schedule change without opposition. A final vote is planned for June 12. “This is a bold move, and I’m just glad to be a part of it,” said board member Cliff Lewis.
ä See SCHOOLS, page 5A PHOTO PROVIDED By LIGO
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in Livingston Parish is one of two such facilities in the United States.
President’s proposed budget threatens space observatory located in Livingston Parish BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
Staff writer
Scientists believe if the Trump administration’s proposed budget is approved, a Louisiana space observatory could be on the chopping block and see its scientific mission crippled. The Trump administration announced on May 30 a proposed federal budget request for 2026 that would cut $5.2 billion, or 57%, of the National Science Foundation’s $9 billion annual budget. The proposal could lead to the shutdown of the NSF-funded observatory tucked away in the Livingston Parish piney woods, which made international headlines in 2015 when it detected gravitation waves from black holes more than a billion light years away. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is one of two in the United States. Its counterpart is LIGO Hanford in
“Honestly, shutting down either LIGO Livingston or LIGO Hanford would cripple our scientific mission. How can we even make a decision like that?” DAVID REITZE, LIGO executive director Washington state. Under the proposed federal budget, only one LIGO observatory would operate with a reduced level of spending for LIGO technology development in the 2026 fiscal year, according to the budget proposal. LIGO Livingston Observatory Head Joseph Giaime said that if either observatory were to close, “the amount of space we can see into is much diminished.” “We run together. We use data together. We’re able to dig more deeply into space together,” he said. While it is unclear which LIGO observatory would have to shut down if
the proposed budget were approved, scientists believe it would be harmful to both observatories either way. LIGO Executive Director David Reitze, who oversees both observatories and is based at the California Institute of Technology, said in an email that LIGO is preparing for a 39.6% budget reduction for LIGO and are working to understand what can keep operating. Reitze said this type of budget cut would force LIGO to make “very hard choices” about picking programs to terminate. He also said LIGO is talking to NSF to understand the decision process behind potentially closing an observatory. “Honestly, shutting down either LIGO Livingston or LIGO Hanford would cripple our scientific mission,” Reitze said. “How can we even make a decision like that?” LIGO had planned to temporarily shut down some parts of its
2025 LEGISLATURE
Senate panel OKs campaign finance overhaul BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
The Louisiana Legislature could soon overhaul campaign finance laws for public officials, setting up new rules for political committees, raising the limit for which contributions have to be reported, and setting stricter rules for when campaign finance violations can be investigated. Supporters say the changes will “modernize” Louisiana’s Campaign Finance Disclosure Act so that it more closely aligns with federal rules. They also say the changes will more strongly protect the free speech rights of people who spend money to express political views. “Campaign finance law should be clear to prevent the wasting of constitutionally protected free speech dollars,” said Stephen Gelé, an attorney who has been involved in writing the bill.
ä See LIGO, page 5A
ä See CAMPAIGN, page 7A
Trump-Musk alliance blows up ä Cassidy meets with Trump on in them. Split rapidly escalates mentioned The tech entrepreneur even spending bill. PAGE 9A a post on social media callinto a public feud shared ing for Trump’s impeachment and
BY MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s alliance took off like one of SpaceX’s rockets. It was supercharged and soared high. And then it blew up. The spectacular flameout Thursday peaked as Trump threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts and Musk claimed that Trump’s administration hasn’t released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is
WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 76 PAGE 8B
skewered the president’s signature tariffs, predicting a recession this year. The messy blowup between the president of the United States and the world’s richest man played out on their respective social media platforms after Trump was asked during a White House meeting with Germany’s new leader about Musk’s criticism of his spending bill. Trump had largely remained silent as Musk stewed over the past few days on his social me-
dia platform X, condemning the president’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” But Trump clapped back Thursday in the Oval Office, saying he was “very disappointed in Musk.” Musk responded on social media in real time. Trump, who was supposed to be spending Thursday discussing an end to the RussiaUkraine war with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, ratcheted up the stakes when he turned to
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon ä See ALLIANCE, page 9A Musk in the Oval Office on May 30.
Business ......................8A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
100TH yEAR, NO. 341