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Israel launches attack on Iran
Officials say nuclear and military sites targeted BY JON GAMBRELL and JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press
JERUSALEM — Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and raised the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It
appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq, with multiple sites around the country hit. The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was feared dead, Iranian state television reported, a development that would be a major body blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an im-
mediate escalation of the nations’ long-simmering conflict. The report offered few details about what happened to Gen. Hossein Salami but said that another top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also feared dead. Israeli leaders said the attack was necessary to head off what
they described as an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, and they warned of a reprisal that could target civilians in Israel. In Washington, the Trump administration, which earlier cautioned Israel against an attack amid continuing negotiations, said that it had not been involved in the attack and warned Iran against retaliations against U.S. interests or personnel.
2025 LEGISLATURE
Pharmacy bill killed on last day of session
Governor says he will call legislators back over issue
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, waves as Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, thanks Miller for his work on House Bill 264 during the final minutes of the 2025 legislative session on Thursday. BY ALYSE PFEIL and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writers
With just an hour left in the regular session, the Louisiana Senate on Thursday killed a controversial bill that would have barred companies from owning both pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacies. That decision defied Gov. Jeff Landry, who said he would call the Legislature back in for a special session to address the issue. “Yes we will have a special to lower
WEATHER HIGH 89 LOW 75 PAGE 8B
INSIDE prescription drugs for our citizens. It’s that important!” Landry said in a statement through a spokesperson. ä Attorney general investigating CVS It was not clear when Landry over mass text messages lobbying might issue that call. against pharmacy legislation. Page 6A Senate President Cameron Henry, ä Legislature approves $51 billion R-Metairie, said senators had concerns about the rapid pace at which budget on final day of session. Page House Bill 358 was being considered 7A — it only emerged from a confer- ä Landry names new head of ence committee with the language Department of Transportation and addressing PBMs on Wednesday Development. Page 7A afternoon. ä See PHARMACY, page 5A
ä Compromise reached on measure for cleaning up drilling sites. Page 2B
ä See ISRAEL, page 9A
DA: Massage parlor owners remain elusive Wednesday crackdown was highest profile raid since 2022
BY AIDAN MCCAHILL Staff writer
After a sweeping raid on nine massage parlors across East Baton Rouge Parish this week, District Attorney Hillar Moore said it remains unclear whether the owners will ultimately be held accountable for facilitating prostitution. What is clear, Moore said, is that the nine businesses were only the worst offenders among dozens of massage parlors that Baton Rouge business owners and residents have long complained about. Shortly after undercover sheriff’s deputies entered the locations Wednesday morning, local firefighters arrived and began citing fire “There are so many code violations, finding impediments to beds where many of the making a decent masseuses slept. Meanwhile, officials from the case against them, Louisiana Board of Masand they know sage Therapy began dethat. (Meanwhile) manding licenses. those who are “None of them had a lealready suffering gitimate license,” Moore said. the most — they are About 10 a.m., law not as protected as enforcement started the owner who is executing warrants for making the money.” prostitution and pandering, both misdemeanors. HILLAR MOORE, It was the result of a East Baton Rouge Parish monthslong investigadistrict attorney tion led by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, assisted by a laundry list of federal and state agencies, from the St. George Fire Department to the state Attorney General’s Office, FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. It was the highest-profile crackdown on the industry in the city since 2022, when the Sheriff’s Office arrested three people for running a prostitution ring out of five local massage parlors — though the network allegedly spanned into Lake Charles, Lafayette and Broussard. At the time, 43-year-old ringleader Johnny Wang was found traveling from Houston to Baton Rouge weekly to collect money, while his wife laundered the
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Multiple sites in the capital were hit in the attack, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said targeted both nuclear and military sites. Also targeted were officials leading Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal. The assault came amid warnings from Israel that it would not permit Tehran to build a nuclear
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ä See MASSAGE, page 8A
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