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F r i d ay, J u n e 13, 2025

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Israel launches attack on Iran

Officials say nuclear and military sites targeted BY JON GAMBRELL and JOSEF FEDERMAN

have reached new heights over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nucleAssociated Press ar program. The Board of Governors at the International Atomic JERUSALEM — Israel attacked Iran’s Energy Agency for the ﬁrst time capital early Friday, with explo- in 20 years on Thursday censured sions booming across Tehran as Iran over it not working with its Israel said it targeted nuclear and inspectors. Iran immediately anmilitary sites. nounced it would establish a third The attack comes as tensions enrichment site in the country and

swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones. Israel for years has warned it will not allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon, something Tehran insists it doesn’t want — though officials there have repeatedly warned it could build them. The U.S. has been preparing for something to happen, already pulling

some diplomats from Iraq’s capital and offering voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on YouTube that the attacks will continue “for as many days at it takes to remove this threat.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action against Iran” and that Israel advised the U.S. that it believed

Locals step up support for Pride events in N.O.

the strikes were necessary for its self-defense. “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement released by the White House. Rubio also issued a warning to Iran that it should not target U.S. interests or personnel. People in Tehran awoke to the

ä See ISRAEL, page 4A

2025 LEGISLATURE

Pharmacy bill killed on last day of session INSIDE Landry says he ä Legislature approves $51 will call legislators billion budget on final day of back over issue session. Page 8A

BY ALYSE PFEIL and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writers

Rainbow flags adorn the outside of Bourbon Street buildings on Thursday.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Large corporations have pulled back from sponsorships BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

The streets of the French Quarter are awash in rainbow ﬂags, banners and signs, as residents and local businesses prepare for the city’s annual Pride celebration this weekend. But enthusiasm for the LGBTQ+ festivities has been more muted this year among one important group: the large corporations that have increasingly sponsored Pride events in recent years, said Nikki Tumblin, director of Black Pride NOLA. “Some … we’ve had over the years totally ignored us — not

WEATHER HIGH 92 LOW 77 PAGE 6C

returning phone calls, not returning emails,” Tumblin said. “It was shocking, to say the least.” The pullback is being felt nationally and comes as the Trump administration has launched a massive effort to limit transgender rights, rescind anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ+ people, and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in both public and private institutions. In New Orleans, locals have stepped in to ﬁll the gap, helping this year’s celebration continue largely as planned, organizers said. “The bright platinum silver

lining out of all of this is that the community has really come through,” said Jack Browning, spokesperson for Pridefest, the annual festival held outside the Phoenix Bar in the Marigny. Browning said this year’s event is entirely funded by local organizations and businesses, ranging from New Orleans & Co. to a biodegradable glitter company. Montrell Carmouche said when she saw the headlines about corporate sponsors pulling out of Pride events elsewhere in the country, she knew her organization needed to get involved.

ä See PRIDE, page 4A

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 prescription drugs for our citizens. It’s that important!” Landry said in a statement through a spokesperson. It was not clear when Landry might issue that call. Senate President Cameron

ä Attorney general probing CVS over mass text messages lobbying against pharmacy legislation. Page 10A ä Landry names new head of Department of Transportation and Development. Page 13A ä Compromise reached on measure for cleaning up old drilling sites. Page 14A

Henry, R-Metairie, said senators had concerns about the rapid pace at which House Bill 358 was being considered — it only emerged from a conference committee with the language addressing PBMs on Wednesday afternoon. “There’s a legislative process for a reason,” Henry

ä See PHARMACY, page 6A

Flood agency bill heads to Landry BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

A watered-down version of a bill that initially sought to allow Gov. Jeff Landry to reshape New Orleans’ ﬂood protection authority is headed to the governor’s desk for his signature, ending a power struggle over control of the agency. The bill, House Bill 688, tweaks the procedure by

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which levee board members are nominated but otherwise leaves the current process largely intact. A previous version of the legislation would have given Landry the ability to handpick members of the South Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East’s board, who are currently put forward by an independent nominating committee.

ä See FLOOD, page 13A

12TH yEAR, NO. 305