The Advocate 02-20-2026

Challenge to La.’s private pre-K rules dismissed

Two Christian schools sought to block law regulating programs

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

A federal judge has dismissed two Christian schools’ challenge of Louisiana’s new rules for private preschools, saying the rules protect children and do not discriminate against religious institutions.

U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty on Wednesday granted the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed in October and which sought to block a state law that requires private prekindergarten programs to get state licenses. Under Act 409, passed unanimously by the state Legislature last year, the schools must meet dozens of child care regulations and pass mandatory inspections to be licensed. The lawsuit alleged that Act 409 unconstitutionally singled out religious schools, and that the expansive regulations would force schools to raise tuition or shut down their pre-K programs due to compliance costs

But Doughty rejected that argument, noting that the law requires pre-K programs at all private schools, secular and religious, to obtain a

ä See CHALLENGE, page 7A

Trump, Iran signal they are ready for war

President warns of ‘bad things’ if deal isn’t reached on nuclear program

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran held annual military drills with Russia on Thursday as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the United States and Iran signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fizzle out.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he

ä See WAR, page 9A

GOLDEN GIRLS

The United States had a big day on the ice Thursday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, as Alysa Liu gave the U.S. its first women’s figure skating Olympic gold medal in 24 years while the women’s hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to claim another gold medal for the U.S

More Olympics coverage in Sports, 4C.

Southern panel members discuss expectations for next president

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

When the Southern University presidential search committee met Thursday to discuss key qualifications for the system’s next leader, some members emphasized the need for flexibility to consider

“nontraditional” candidates.

“Whether the next president is a traditional higher education leader or a nontraditional leader, it is very imperative that they have a strong understanding of HBCUs,” Chair Jason Hughes said. “HBCUs and the mission of HBCUs are very unique, and we have to remember

that the Southern University system is the only HBCU system on earth.”

Members agreed in the presidential profile, a document providing the most up-to-date institutional data and expectations for the next president, to list a terminal degree as a preferred qualification, rather

than mandatory

A terminal degree is the highest degree that can be earned in a particular discipline — a doctorate in most research fields.

“Obviously, we’re not in traditional times in our country or in higher education,” Hughes said “Ideally, speaking for myself, I

would like to see us cast as wide a net as possible as we work to recruit the next president of the Southern University system.” Committee member Anthony Igiede, faculty senate president of the Southern University campus

ä See SOUTHERN, page 7A

U.S. pays about $160M of $4B it owes the U.N. UNITED NATIONS The United States has paid about $160 million of the nearly $4 billion it owes the United Nations, the U.N. said Thursday, and President Donald Trump promised more money to the financially strapped world organization

The Trump administration’s payment last week is earmarked for the U.N.’s regular operating budget, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told The Associated Press.

The U.N. has said the United States owes $2.196 billion to its regular budget, including $767 million for this year, as well as $1.8 billion to a separate budget for the far-flung U.N. peacekeeping operations

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned late last month that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” unless its financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues, a message clearly directed at the United States.

U.N. officials have said 95% of the overdue payments to the U.N.’s regular budget is from the United States.

Banner featuring Trump placed on DOJ building

WASHINGTON A large banner featuring Donald Trump’s face was hung on the exterior of Justice Department headquarters on Thursday in a physical display of the Republican president’s efforts to exert power over the law enforcement agency that once investigated him. While Trump banners have been hung outside other agencies across Washington, the decision to place one on the storied Justice Department building amounted to a striking symbol of the erosion of the department’s tradition of independence from White House control

The banner, hung between two columns on one corner of the building, says, “Make America Safe Again,” a slogan used by the administration to tout its efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration and violent crime.

Trump officials have rejected accusations that they have weaponized the Justice Department for political purposes, saying the Biden administration was the one that politicized law enforcement with two federal criminal cases against Trump that were abandoned after he won the 2024 election. Ky. Supreme Court rules against charter schools

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a measure establishing public funding for charter schools is unconstitutional, affirming that state funds “are for common schools and for nothing else.” The 2022 measure was enacted by the state’s Republican-dominated legislature over Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto. It was struck down the next year by a lower court. The state’s high court ruled the “Constitution as it stands is clear that it does not permit funneling public education funds outside the common public school system,” Justice Michelle M. Keller wrote in a unanimous opinion.

Trump gets pledges for Gaza

Board of Peace has inaugural meeting

BY AAMER MADHANI and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Thursday at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package and five countries have agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force for the war-battered Palestinian territory

While lauding the pledges, Trump faces the unresolved challenge of disarming Hamas, a sticking point that threatens to delay or even derail the Gaza ceasefire plan that his administration notched as a major foreign policy win.

The dollars promised, while significant, represent a small fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed

to rebuild the territory decimated after two years of war between Israel and Hamas. While Trump praised allies for making the commitments of funding and troops, he offered no detail on when the pledges would be implemented.

“Every dollar spent is an investment in stability and the hope of new and harmonious (region),”

Trump said. He added, “The Board of Peace is showing how a better future can be built right here in this room.”

Trump also announced the U.S. was pledging $10 billion for the board but didn’t specify what the money will be used for It also was not clear where the U.S. money would come from a sizable pledge that would need to be authorized by Congress.

The board was initiated as part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza. But since the October ceasefire, Trump’s vision for the board has morphed and he wants it to have an even more am-

bitious remit — one that will not only complete the Herculean task of bringing lasting peace between Israel and Hamas but also help resolve conflicts around the globe.

But the Gaza ceasefire deal remains fragile, and Trump’s expanded vision for the board has triggered fears the U.S. president is looking to create a rival to the United Nations.

Trump, pushing back against the criticism, said the creation of his board would help make the U.N. viable in the future.

“Someday I won’t be here. The United Nations will be,” Trump said. “I think it is going to be much stronger, and the Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly.”

Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania made pledges to send troops for a Gaza stabilization force, while Egypt and Jordan committed to train police.

Troops will initially be deployed

to Rafah, a largely destroyed and mostly depopulated city under full Israeli control, where the U.S. administration hopes to first focus reconstruction efforts.

The countries making pledges to fund reconstruction are Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, Trump said.

Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, leader of the newly created international stabilization force, said plans call for 12,000 police and 20,000 soldiers for Gaza.

“With these first steps, we help bring the security that Gaza needs for a future of prosperity and enduring peace,” Jeffers said.

Nearly 50 countries and the European Union sent officials to Thursday’s meeting. Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are among more than a dozen countries that have not joined the board but took part as observers.

Weather delays recovery after avalanche

Authorities say it will take time to reach bodies of eight people

BY JULIE WATSON AND JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

SODA SPRINGS, Calif. — Six

women killed in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada were among a group of eight close friends and experienced backcountry skiers on a trip together their families said in a statement

Thursday

“They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains,” the statement said. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”

Tuesday’s avalanche, the deadliest in the U.S. in decades, killed eight people.

Six survived the disaster

It will be at least another day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies and continue the search for a ninth person still missing and presumed dead, said Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.

The skiers and professional guides caught avalanche understood the dangers of trekking through the remote wilderness of the Sierra Nevada.

But what the guides and their tour company knew about the warnings and risks from a powerful winter storm that blasted the mountains during the trip and why they pressed on is now part of investigations.

It will be at least an-

other day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies and continue the search for a ninth person still missing and presumed dead, said Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are on the mountain, but they are not going to be able to safely reach them,” she said Thursday “The weather conditions are really dangerous.”

Several more feet of snow could fall around Lake Tahoe on Thursday and continue to destabilize the fragile snowpack, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center It said that wind gusts along the ridgetops could reach 60 mph and warned there’s a high risk of large avalanches through at least Friday morning. Tahoe National Forest lands in the Castle Peak area were also closed to the public until March 15.

Officials have not yet released the names of those who were killed.

‘Connected community’

The 15 skiers most of them women, began their three-day trip on Sunday just as warnings about the storm were intensifying.

They spent the weekend staying along Frog Lake in high country huts accessible only by challenging trails.

Some have ties with the elite Sugar Bowl Academy, which issued a statement late Wednesday mourning the loss of skiers with “strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community.”

Perched on Donner Summit, the academy is a private boarding and day school for competitive skiers and snowboarders. Its former students include multiple Olympians.

“We are an incredibly close and connected community,” Sugar Bowl Academy executive director Stephen McMahon said in the statement. “This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.”

Two sisters were among the dead, their brother, McAlister Clabaugh, told The New York Times.

Caroline Sekar, a mother of two, lived in San Francisco, and Liz Clabaugh lived in Boise, Idaho. Their brother said they were on the trip with close friends from college.

“The idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words,” Clabaugh said.

Mayor Max Perrey of Marin County’s Mill Valley, a city just north of San Francisco, confirmed that some in the group were mothers from his city

One of the victims was married to a member of a backcountry search and rescue team in the area, said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo.

Guides were experienced

The four guides were employed by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which offers mountaineering

NASA boss blasts Boeing for flight that stranded astronauts

Space agency managers also receive blame

BY MARCIA DUNN AP aerospace writer

NASA’s new boss blasted Boeing and the space agency Thursday for Starliner’s botched flight that left two astronauts stuck for months at the International Space Station. Administrator Jared Isaacman said poor leadership and decision-making at Boeing led to Starliner’s troubles. He also blamed NASA managers for failing to intervene and get Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams

back more quickly

The two test pilots, now retired from NASA, spent more than nine months at the station before catching a lift back with SpaceX last March.

Isaacman said Starliner’s problems must be better understood and fixed before any more astronauts strap in.

Isaacman upgraded the seriousness of Starliner’s troubled astronaut debut, declaring it a “Type A mishap,” something that could endanger a crew Both the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters also involved cultural and leadership missteps. It is a mistake that Starliner was not designated a se-

rious mishap right from the start, Isaacman said, citing internal pressure to keep Boeing on board and flights on track.

“This is just about doing the right thing,” he said. “This is about getting the record straight.”

There is no timeline for when Boeing can launch Starliner on a supply run, essentially another test flight to prove its safety before astronaut flights. The grounding leaves SpaceX as the only U.S. taxi service for astronauts.

“Boeing has made substantial progress on corrective actions for technical challenges we encountered,” Boeing said in a statement.

and backcountry ski trips as well as safety courses. One of them was among the six survivors. The company said in a statement that it launched an investigation.

Blackbird’s website says the tour was intended for intermediate to expert skiers.

The guides with the group were trained or certified in backcountry skiing, and were instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. While in the field they “are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and rout-

ing based upon conditions,” founder Zeb Blais said in the statement. “We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do,” the company said, asking people to refrain from speculating while it reviews what happened.

Questions linger about trip

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said authorities will investigate why the guides proceeded with the tour despite the forecast. California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is also investigating to determine if the company violated California law The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch Sunday morning, the first day of the trip, indicating a high risk of large avalanches. It’s not uncommon for backcountry skiers to go out when there is an avalanche watch or even a warning, avalanche safety experts say In avalanche terrain that covers many backcountry areas, slides occur regularly but often go unnoticed. Even if people have signals to keep up with the forecast and changing conditions, there is no single way to react.

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Former Prince Andrew arrested andheldfor hours

BY DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

LONDON— The former Prince Andrew was arrested and held for hours by British police Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to hislinks to Jeffrey Epstein, an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment.

It wasthe first time in nearly four cen turie s that asenior British royal was placed under arrest, and it underscored how deference to the monarchyhas eroded in recent years

King Charles III, whose late mother lived by the motto “never complain, never explain,” took the unusual step of issuingastatement on the arrest of his brother,now knownasAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” the king said. “As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.”

The Thames Valley Police force said Mountbatten-Windsor was released Thursday evening, about 11 hours after he was detained at his home in eastern England. He was photographed in acar leaving the station near the home on the royal Sandringham Estate. Police said he was released under investigation, meaning he has neither been charged nor exonerated.

The police force, which

covers areas westofLondon, including MountbattenWindsor’sformerhome, said Thursday that aman in his 60s from Norfolkhad been arrested andwas in custody

Police did not identify the suspect,inline with standard procedures in Britain.

Mountbatten-Windsor,66, moved to theking’sprivate estate in Norfolkafterhe wasevicted from his longtime home nearWindsor Castle earlier this month

Police previously said they were “assessing”reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent trade informationtoEpstein,a wealthyinvestorand convictedsex offender,in 2010, when the formerprince was Britain’s special envoy for internationaltrade. Correspondence between the two men was releasedbythe U.S.JusticeDepartmentlate last month along with millions of pages of documents from the American investigationinto Epstein.

“Following athorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,”AssistantChief Constable Oliver Wright saidinastatement.

Twohomes searched

Police searched Andrew’s Sandringham home,and his former residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor

Earlier in theday,pictures circulated online that appeared to showunmarked police cars at Wood Farm, Mountbatten-Windsor’s home on the Sandringham Estate,with plainclothes officers gathering outside Mountbatten-Windsor has consistentlydenied any wrongdoing in his association with Epstein.

The allegations beinginvestigated Thursday are separate from those made by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed shewas trafficked to Britain to have sex with theprince in 2001, when she was just 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year

Still, Giuffre’ssister-inlaw Amanda Roberts said thatshe was overjoyed when she got aphone call at 3a.m.telling herthe news of the arrest. Butthose feelings of elationwerequickly complicated by the realization that she couldn’tshare thefeelings of “vindication” with Giuffre.

“Wecan’t tellher how much we love her,and that everything thatshe was doing is not in vain,” Roberts added tearfully

Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother,addedthathethinks his sister wouldbepushing for more accountability in boththe United Kingdom andthe United States based on the files.

“Weneed to unmask the co-conspirators andpotentialperpetrators. And then we need to seeindictments, Amanda Roberts said.

‘Spectacular fall from grace’

“Thisisthe most spectacular fallfrom grace for a member of theroyal family in moderntimes,” said Craig Prescott, aroyal expert at Royal Holloway,University of London,who compared it in severity to the crisis sparked by Edward VIII’s abdication to marryAmerican divorcee Wallis Simpson.

“And it may not be over yet,” Prescott added.

Thursday’s arrest came a day after the National Police Chiefs’Councilsaidit had created acoordination

N.M. reopensinvestigation into Epstein’sformerZorro Ranch

BY SUSAN MONTOYABRYAN Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. New Mexico’sattorney general has reopenedaninvestigation into allegations of illegal activity at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez’soffice made the announcement Thursday,saying the decision was made after reviewing information recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Although New Mexico’s initial case was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, state prosecutors say now that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.”

TheNew Mexico Department of Justicesaidspecial agents and prosecutorsat the agency will be seeking immediate access to the complete,unredacted federal case file and intend to work withother law enforcement partners as well as anew truth commission

establishedbystate lawmakers to lookintoactivities at theranch While Epstein never faced charges in New Mexico, state prosecutors confirmed in 2019 that theyhad interviewed possiblevictims who visited the ranch south of Santa Fe. They never elaborated on how manyaccusers wereinterviewed or what they say took place at the ranch

TheNew Mexico Department of Justice did not immediatelyrespondto emailed questions about why state prosecutors were requested to close theinvestigation in 2019 or whether there were specific allegationsdetailed within the recent filings thatwere released thatpromptedreopeningthe investigation.

On Tuesday,New Mexico’struthcommission had its first meeting. The bipartisan,four-member panel of state House representatives is chargedwith investigating allegations that the ranch may have facilitated sexual abuseand sextraf-

ficking.

New Mexico lawmakers alsosaid theywant to know whyEpstein was notregistered as asex offender after pleading guiltyin2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl and whether there was corruption among public officials.

Epstein purchased the sprawling Zorro Ranch in New Mexico in 1993 from former Democratic Gov Bruce King and built ahilltop mansion. Nearby was a private airstripwitha hangar and helipad. The propertyalso includeda ranch office, afirehouse and aseven-bay heated garage.

The property was soldby Epstein’sestate in 2023 with proceedsgoing toward creditors —tothe family of Don Huffines, aRepublican running for state comptrollerinTexas.Ina social media post on X, Huffines said thepropertyhas been renamedSan Rafael Ranch after asaint associated with healing and thathis family plans to operatea Christian retreat there.

group to assist forces across the U.K. thatare assessing whether Epstein and his associates committed crimes in Britain. In addition to the concerns about Mountbatten-Windsor’scorrespondence, documents released by the U.S.suggest Epstein may have usedhis private jettotraffic women to and from Britain

U.S. President Donald Trump said the arrest was “a shame” and“very sad.”

“I think it’s so badfor the royal family,” he told reporters in Washington.

Last royalarrestin1640s

The last time asenior British royal was arrested was almost 400 years ago during the reign of King Charles I that sawagrowingpower struggle between thecrown and Parliament. After theking attempted

to arrest lawmakers in the HouseofCommonsin1642, hostilities erupted into the English Civil War, which ended with victory for the parliamentary forces of Oliver Cromwell. Charles Iwas arrested, tried, convicted of high treason and beheaded in 1649.

Modern concernsabout Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epsteinhavedogged the royalfamily formore than adecade.

The late Queen Elizabeth II forced hersecondson to give up royal duties and end his charitable work in 2019 after he tried to explain away his friendship withEpsteinduring acatastrophic interview with the BBC.

But as concern mounted aboutwhatthe Epstein filesmight reveal,the king moved aggressively to insulate the royal family from

the fallout. Since October,Charles has stripped his younger brother of the right to be called prince, forced himto moveout of the royal estate he occupiedfor more than 20 years and issued apublic statementsupporting the womenand girls abused by Epstein. Charleswas forced to act after Mountbatten-Windsor’scorrespondencewith Epsteintorpedoed theformer prince’sclaimsthat he severedtieswith the financier after Epstein’s2008 conviction for soliciting a minor forprostitution. Instead,emails between thetwo men showEpstein offering to arrange adate between Mountbatten-Windsor and ayoungRussian woman in 2010, and the then-prince inviting Epsteintodinnerat Buckingham Palace.

Trump rails about 2020 election in Ga.

White House insisted he was there to promote economy

BY JEFF AMY and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press

ROME, Ga.

— The White House insisted that President Donald Trump was visiting Georgia to promote the economy

The White House has long said Trump would focus more on the economy, and he frequently complains that he doesn’t get enough credit for it But recent months have been dominated by other issues, including deadly clashes during deportation efforts in Minneapolis, potential military action in Iran, and his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen

But in the opening minutes of his first stop at a local restaurant before touring a steel company, the president raised debunked claims of voter fraud, talked up his plan to require voters to show identification before casting ballots, and discussed the recent FBI raid of election offices in the state’s most populous county

“They came in, they took all those ballots; all those crooked ballots were taken,” Trump said. “And the Democrats are fighting like hell. They don’t want anyone to see those ballots. Let’s see what happens.”

Later at Coosa Steel Corporation, the president charged that Democrats “cheated like dogs” in the 2020 election.

Trump’s destination in Georgia suggests he has something else on his mind, too. He was appearing in the congressional district previously represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former supporter who resigned in January after feuding with Trump.

There’s a special election to replace her on March 10.

After his early focus on the state’s voting system, Trump refocused his comments on the economy as he toured a steel company whose owner said it had benefited from the president’s tariffs.

The president, who was especially fiery at times during his public remarks also railed against the Supreme Court, which is weighing the legality of his novel use of an emergency powers law to impose worldwide tariffs.

“I’ve been waiting forever, forever, and the language is clear that I have the right to do it as president,” Trump shouted. He added, “The tariff is the greatest thing that has happened to this country.”

Trump also claimed that inflation is no longer a problem in the U.S., blaming Democrats for rising costs: “They caused the affordability problem. And we solved it.”

New research tied to one of America’s leading banks showed on Thursday that tariffs paid by midsize U.S. businesses tripled over the course of the past year

False claims of voter fraud

The Georgia visit comes less than a month after federal agents seized voting records and ballots from Fulton County

Trump has long seen Georgia as central to his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen by Democrats and President Joe Biden, a fabrication that he reiterated repeatedly this week, including during a White House reception on Black History Month.

Trump praised the FBI raid during his speech at the steel company “The FBI came in and raided. They found plenty of your stuff, and now they have the ballots,” Trump said “And the Democrats are fighting like hell. Now they’re trying to stop anybody from look-

ing. You know why? Because they cheated like dogs.”

Audits, state officials, courts and Trump’s own former attorney general have all rejected the idea of widespread problems that could have altered the election.

Some Republicans are now pushing for Georgia’s State Election Board, which has a Trump-aligned majority, to take control of elections in Fulton County — a step enabled by a controversial state law passed in 2021.

Board member and conservative commentator Janelle King said she was aware of calls for a takeover, but said

Wednesday that “it’s just not something that we’re looking to do without having all of the information.”

At the same time White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump was “exploring his options” when it comes to a potential executive order he teased on social media over the weekend designed to address voter fraud.

Trump described Democrats as “horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS” in the post, which is pinned to the top of his social media account. He also said that Republicans should feature such claims “at the top of every speech.” Greene has not gone quiet

In a social media post ahead of Trump’s visit, Greene noted that the White House and Republican leaders met earlier in the week to develop an effective midterm message. She suggested they were “on the struggle bus” and blamed them for health insurance costs that ballooned this year

“Approximately 75,000 households in my former district had their health insurance double or more on January 1st of this year because the ACA tax credits expired and Republicans have absolutely failed to fix our health insurance system that was destroyed by Obamacare,” she said. “And you can call me all the petty names you want, I don’t worship a man. I’m not in

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a panel made up of President Donald Trump’s appointees, on Thursday approved his proposal to build a ballroom larger than the White House itself where the East Wing once stood. The seven-member panel is one of two federal agencies that must approve Trump’s plans for the ballroom. The National Capital Planning Commission, which has jurisdiction over construction and major renovation to government buildings in the region, is also reviewing the project.

Six of the seven commissioners — all appointed by the Republican president in January — voted

Members of the fine arts commission originally had been scheduled to discuss and vote on the design concept after a follow-up presentation by the architect, and had planned to vote on final approval at next month’s meeting. But after the 6-0 vote on the design, the panel’s chairman, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., unexpectedly made another motion to vote on final approval.

once more in favor Commissioner James McCrery did not participate in the discussion or the votes because he was the initial architect on the project before Trump replaced him.

The ballroom will be built on the site of the former East Wing, which Trump had demolished in October with little public notice. That drew an outcry from some lawmakers,

historians and preservationists who argued that the president should not have taken that step until the two federal agencies and Congress had reviewed and approved the project, and the public had a chance to provide comment.

The 90,000-square-foot ballroom would be nearly twice the size of the White House, which is 55,000 square feet.

4wrongly accusedofAustinmurders declared innocent

BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas For more than three decades, the four men and theirfamilies had insisted they were innocent of one of Austin’smostgruesome and notoriouscrimes: the1991 rapeand murderof four teenage girls at ayogurt shop that was set on fire.

No one listened. Not when Robert Springsteen was sent to deathrow.Not when Michael Scott was sentencedto life in prison. Or when Forrest Welborn and Maurice Pierce,though neverconvicted, struggled through life under dark clouds of suspicion that theywere murderers.

Their pleas were finally heard Thursday.Ajudgeformally declared the men innocent after an emotional court hearing where prosecutors apologized and admitted they were wronglyaccused of a crime that haunted the city fordecades. Investigators determined last yearthat the murders were committed by apreviously unknown culprit who died in 1999.

Scott and Welborn sat in thecrowded courtroom packed with family members to hear state District JudgeDayna Blazey formally tell them “you are innocent.” Shecalled her order “an obligation to the rule of law and the obligation to the dignity of the individual.”

The hearing included lengthy statementsfrom the men and their families about the struggles of incarceration, broken relationships, constant harassment by investigators and home-

he lost friends, struggled to keep jobs and was at one time homeless. Scott testified thathis arrest, convictionand prison sentence ultimatelybroke up hisfamily

“I lost my family.Ilostmy youth. My daughter was3 yearsold when Iwas arrested.Wehad just celebrated ourfirst wedding anniversary.I lost thechance to build afamily,” Scottsaid.“Every day Ihavecarried theweight of acrimeIdid not commit.”

Theformaldeclaration of innocence could also be akey step for the menand their families if theyseek financialcompensation for years they spent incarcerated or struggled to live under acloud of suspicion.

After Scott and Springsteen werereleased, the case effectively went cold until 2025, when an HBO documentary seriesattracted new public attention to the unsolved crime.

Theninvestigators made astunning announcement last September:New DNA science and reviewsofold ballisticsevidencepointed to Robert Eugene Brashers as the sole killer

Since2018, authorities had used advanced DNA evidencetolink Brashers to the strangulationdeath of aSouth Carolinawoman in 1990, the 1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Tennessee and the shooting of amother and daughter in Missouri in 1998.

lessness.

Springsteendid not attend.Through tears, Marisa Pierce addressed herfather, who died in 2010 in aconfrontationwithpolice after atrafficstop

“Daddy,you have your name back,” shesaid.“The world knows what you were trying to say all along.”

Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15, were bound, gagged and shot in thehead at the “I Can’tBelieve It’s Yogurt” store where twoof them worked. Thebuilding was set on fire.

Investigators chasedthousands of leads and several false confessionsbefore the four men, who wereteenagers when the girls were killed, were arrested in late 1999.

Springsteenand Scott

were convicted based largely on confessions they insisted were coerced by police. Both convictionswere overturned in the mid-2000s.

Welbornwas charged but never triedafter two grand juries refused toindict him. Pierce spent three yearsin jail before the charges were dismissed and he wasreleased.

Prosecutors wanted to try Springsteen and Scott again, but ajudge ordered the charges dismissed in 2009 when newDNA tests that wereunavailable in 1991 and the previous trials revealed another male suspect.

“Let us not forgot that Robert Springsteen could be dead right now,executed at the hands of the state of Texas,” Springsteen attorney Amber Farrelly said.

In astatement his attorney readincourt, Welbornsaid

Slaveryexhibit panels reinstalledat Philadelphia’sIndependenceMall

BY MARYCLAIRE DALE and TASSANEE VEJPONGSA Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA An exhibit detailing the lives of nine people enslaved by President George Washington in Philadelphia is being reinstalled on Thursday,despite an ongoing legal fight. The stories and images that had been on display for two decadeswereabruptly removed last month following an executive order by President Donald Trump. The city subsequently sued for the exhibit to be rehung and afederal judge set a Friday deadline forits full restoration.

Mayor Cherelle Parker visited IndependenceMall —the site of the former President’sHouse —on Thursday morning.

“I want you to know I’m grateful,” Parker said as she introduced herself to several of the National Park Service workers lifting large panels back onto the display area. Therestoration work was expected to continue through Friday The U.S. Attorney’sOffice, which is appealing Senior U.S.DistrictJudge Cynthia Rufe’sruling, declined to comment on the restoration

work,aspokesperson said. Trump’sorder called for “restoring truth and sanity to American history” at the nation’smuseums, parks and landmarks. The administration argued that it alone can decide what storiesare told at ParkService properties aroundthe country

“Althoughmany people feel strongly about this (slavery exhibit) one way, other people may disagree or feel stronglyanother way,” Assistant U.S. AttorneyGregory in den Berken argued duringaJan. 30 court hearing. “Ultimately,” he said, “thegovernment gets to choose the message it wants to convey.”

Rufe cut him off, calling the comments “dangerous” and“horrifying ” As the fateofthe exhibit playedout in court, educators brought studentstothe site to reflect on themissing historyand supporters of the exhibitposted messages such as “Washington owned slaves here” on the empty walls.

Independence Mall is one of several historical sites where the administration hasquietly removedcontent about the historyofenslaved people, the LGBTQ+community andNative Americans

in what some call an erasure of the nation’shistory

In a40-page opinion, Rufe compared the Trump administration to thetotalitarian regime in the dystopian novel “1984.”

“Ifthe President’sHouse is left dismemberedthroughout this dispute, so too is the history it recounts,”Rufe, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, wrote.

“Worse yet, the potential of having theexhibitsreplaced by an alternative script —a plausible assumption at this time —would be an even more permanent rejection of the site’shistorical integrity,and irreparable,” she wrote.

Rufe granted an injunction ordering the restoration of thematerials whilethe lawsuit proceedsand barring Trump officials from creating new interpretations of thesite’shistory

Aspokesperson said Tuesday thatthe Interior Department had planned an alternative display “providing a fuller account of thehistory of slavery at Independence Hall.” On Wednesday,government lawyers asked that the restoration order be put on hold while their appeal plays out

“My son’sname has finally been cleared after more than 25 years of being called themonster,the murderer and everything else,” said Phil Scott, Michael Scott’s father.“Son, be proud.”

The link to the Austin case came when aDNA sample taken fromunderAyers’ fingernail came back as a match to Brashers fromthe 1990 killing.

Austin investigators also found that Brashershad been arrested at aborder checkpoint near El Paso two days after the yogurt shop killings. In his stolen car was apistol that matched thecaliber used to kill one of the girls in Austin. Police also notedsimilarities in the yogurt shop case to Brashers’ other crimes: The victims weretiedupwith their own clothing, sexually assaulted andsome crime scenes were set on fire. Brashers died in 1999 when he shot himself during an hourslongstandoffwith police at amotel in Kennett, Missouri. “Over 25 years ago, the state prosecuted four innocent men…(for) one of the worst crimes Austin has ever seen,” Travis County First Assistant District Attorney Trudy Strassburger said. “Wecould not have been morewrong.”

Featherweight Scooter

Trumpapprovesdisasteraid forLouisiana

Fundstopay for debris removal, repairsafter winter storm

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON

—President Donald Trump approved on Thursday Louisiana’srequest for amajor disaster declaration, which opens access to federal money to recoverfrom lastmonth’s winter storm. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will now pick up some of the costs that state,local and tribal governments and some nonprofits incurred responding to the storm, which killedninepeople, closed Interstate 20, and cut

power to more than 175,000 homes.

The money will help pay fordebris removal,emergency work and therepair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in Bienville, De Soto, East Carroll,Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensasand West Carroll parishes.

Gov.Jeff Landry requested the declaration on Feb. 5 for theeffects of theice and snowstorm that hit Louisiana from Jan. 23 to 27. In his request, he said state agencies had already spent more than$11 million responding to the disaster

“Our communitiesin North Louisianawere hit hard by the icestorm,and Iwant to thank President Trumpfor beingresponsive to ourneeds and providing much-needed support for

recovery efforts,” said U.S. Rep.Julia Letlow,R-Baton Rouge,whose district includesmanyofthe hardesthit areas, in astatement.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-BatonRouge, also said the declaration was sorely needed.

“This cannotbring back thelives of those whose lives were lost,but it can help with recovery,” Cassidy said in astatement. “This storm hit hard, butthis declaration meansthe federal government can help cover more of the recovery costs so we can rebuild faster ”

The IRS previously announceditwas extending thetax filingdeadline for people affected by the storm

And 51,500 recipientson food stamps from Caldwell, DeSoto,East Carroll, Jackson, Ouachita, Red River,

Richland andWest Carroll parishes received an extra 20% in their January benefits.

Tonia Pence has been named as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

The declaration comes during atime of turmoil for FEMA.

Many of theagency’semployees are operating without pay due to apartial shutdown of its parentagency, the Department of Homeland Security.Democrats have refused to votetofund theagency unlessthe Trump administrationagrees to newlimits on immigration enforcement operations, after federal agentsshot andkilledtwo U.S.citizens during acrackdown in Minneapolis

The standoff means FEMA

has not been able to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund, from which federal aid, like the money for Louisiana, is drawn. While that fund still has money in it, somefear a protracted shutdowncould leave it empty Separately,Trumpadministration officials have calledfor amajor overhaul of FEMA that would require states to pick up agreater share of the tab for disasterrecovery.A committee Trump tasked with recommending changes to the agency met several times last year,but DHShas not publishedits findings. Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate. com.

state “early learning center” license. He also said that Montessorischools must meet “rigorous”certification standards andpublic schools are “dually regulated” by thestate andlocal schoolboards.

As such, “Act 409 does not treat anycomparable secular school more favorably” than religious schools,wrote Doughty,who is chief U.S. district judge for the Western District of Louisiana and was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump. The lawsuit wasbrought by The Dunham School in Baton Rouge and Providence Classical Academy in Bossier City,along with a couple whose child attends Providence’spre-K program.

In court filings, the schools saidtheymight have to increase tuition to pay for staffing, training and background checks associated with the new law,which the couple said would price them out of the school.

The plaintiffshad sought to stop enforcement of the law,which required private school pre-K programstoapply for state licenses by Jan. 1. In December,Doughty declinedtoissue apreliminary injunction, calling schools’ concerns about compliance costs “speculative”and saying that schools could seek waivers from some of the newregulations. His latest ruling dismissed the entire lawsuit.

“Weare disappointedin the decision but remain confident in the strengthof our arguments,” said Sarah Harbison, general counsel at the Louisiana-based Pelican Institute forPublicPolicy, one of two conservative advocacy groups representing the plaintiffs. The other is the Center for American Rights, anational nonprofit basedinChicago.

Harbison said the plaintiffs are considering their next steps. It’spossible that the Legislature will addresssome

SOUTHERN

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in Baton Rouge,expressed some hesitation about openingthe candidate pool to individuals without academic backgrounds.

“At this criticaltime, Mr Chair,Iwould recommend, I would suggest to you that we can also find someone who is capable —abusiness leader —with aPh.D. that can actually navigate this system at this moment,” Igiede said. Hughes said the absence of aterminal degree from the list of required qualifications is intendedtogive the committee more “flexibility,” but adoctorate-level certification is still strongly preferred.

“That individual may have aPh.D., may have aJ.D., mayhaveanLLM,may have all of the above, but there

TwoChristian schools sued to block Louisiana’sAct

of the concerns that private schools have raisedabout Act 409. State lawmakers, including BatonRouge Republican Sen. Rick Edmonds, who chairs the Senate Education Committee have spoken with Catholic and privateschool leaders about possible changes to the law in thelegislative session that beginsin March, according to people familiar with the conversations

“Weare hopeful that the Legislaturewill revisit this lawinthe upcomingsession in order to addressthe many concerns expressed by schoolsand the families they serve,” said Pelican Institute spokesperson Sydney Petite in astatementThursday. Act 409 aimed to close agap in state lawthat allowed pre-Kprograms to be unlicensed if they operated within schools.

Thegap came to light afteraMetairiecouple said during alegislative hearing lastyear that their daughter was assaulted by another student at aprivate preschool that, atthe time, did not need astate license. The school denies the allegations and saysitcomplies withall state laws.

StateSen.Regina Barrow,

maybesome high-level candidates that we may find in C-suites or boardrooms that maynot necessarily possess aJ.D.oraPh.D ”Hughes said.

Southern will begin advertising for the positionin early March after aseries of stakeholder engagement sessions. The committee held its first meetingFeb.5, followingannouncements in late 2025 that President DennisShieldswouldstep down from therole. The committeestressed Thursday the importance of apresident with abigpicture visionand theability to communicateeffectively with government andbusiness leaders.

“In my estimation, the president of asystemisalmost likethe CEOofa company,” committeemember Darrin Dixon said. “A lot of times the CEOdoesn’t know accounting, they don’tknow ev-

D-Baton Rouge, introduced the legislation, which Gov Jeff Landry signedinto law Act 409 established some standards that applytoall preschools, such as minimum staffing levels, and required private pre-K programstobecome licensed. Barrowhas said that public andMontessori schools were exempted from the licensing rule becausethey already are held to higher standards in certain areas, such as staff-to-student ratios

The law caused an uproar amongthe roughly250 private schools withpre-K programs that nowmust comply with dozens of regulations previously reserved for standalone preschools and day cares.

The schools must undergo state Fire Marshal and Health Department inspections, assign employees to monitor all school visitors andkeep pre-K students separate from olderchildren at recess, among other rules.

In court filings, The Dunham School saiditwill cost $600,000 to comply with the law. Schoolsthatfailto obtain licenses can be fined $1,000 per day

“Classrooms will close, children will be forced out

erything, but they hire people thathave those skill sets.”

Hughes said Southern is searching for asystem president rather than apresident-chancellor, meaning the futureleaderwillfocus less on daily happenings on campus and more on overall strategyand direction.

“I don’tthink the next president needs to get deep in theweeds on various campuses when it comes to hiring academicdeans,department chairs, et cetera, Hughes said. “I think it needs to be aclearly defined understanding.

The next full committee meeting is April9toselect semifinalists.Asearch firm will be announced in the coming days,Vice President for External Affairs and University RelationsRobyn Merrick said.

Hughes said thecommittee is on track to have anew president in place by July 1.

of school,and parents will be left stranded without child careduring working hours,” thelawsuit said. State officials say they’re

trying to ease the burden on private preschools, most of which arereligiously affiliated. The state Department of

Education granted some schoolswaivers giving them an extra year to meet the newstaffing requirements, the state Department of Health is waiting to conduct new inspections and schools could apply for pre-K licenses in January even if their programs weren’tyet up to code.

Roger Williams, the Metairie parent whowith his wife testified about their daughter’sallegedassault at aprivate preschool,said Thursday that he is grateful for the judge’sruling. He said the lawismeant to helpprevent the nearly170 instances of child-on-child abuse in school settings that have been reported since August, according to state data.

“Weare cautiously optimistic that the Legislature will recognizethe importance of these protections in the upcoming session,” he said in astatement, “and continue prioritizing the safety of our kids while they are at school.”

believes 10 to 15 days is “enough time” for Iran to reach adeal. But thetalkshave been deadlocked foryears, and Iran has refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli demands thatitscale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups. Indirect talks held in recent weeks made little visible progress, and one or both sides could be buying time for final war preparations.

Iran’stheocracy is more vulnerable than ever following 12daysof Israeli and U.S. strikeson itsnuclear sites and military lastyear, as well as mass protests in January that were violently suppressed.

In aletter to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday,Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian ambassador to the U.N., said thatwhile Iran does not seek “tension orwar and will not initiate awar,” any U.S. aggression willberespondedto“decisively and proportionately.”

“In such circumstances,all bases, facilities, and assetsofthe hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran’sdefensive response,” Iravani said.

Earlier this week, Iran conducted adrill that involved live fire in the StraitofHormuz, the narrow opening of the Persian Gulf through which afifth of the world’s traded oil passes.

Tensions are also rising inside Iran, as mourners hold ceremonies honoring slain protesters 40 days after their killing by security forces.Some gatherings have seen anti-governmentchants despite threats from authorities.

The movements of additional American warships and airplanes, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, don’tguarantee aU.S. strike on Iran —but they bolster Trump’sability to carryout oneshould he choose to do so.

He has so far held off on striking Iran after setting redlines over thekilling of peaceful protesters and mass executions, while reengaging in nuclear talks that were disrupted by the war in June.

Iran has agreed to draw up a writtenproposaltoaddressU.S concerns raised during this week’s indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, according to asenior U.S. official who was not authorized to com-

ment publicly andspoke on the condition of anonymity

The official said top national security officialsgathered Wednesdaytodiscuss Iran, and were briefed that the “full forces” needed to carryout potential military action are expected to be in place by mid-March. The official did not provideatimeline forwhenIran is expected to deliver its written response.

“It’sproventobe, over theyears, noteasytomakeameaningful deal with Iran,and we have to makea meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad thingshappen,” Trump saidThursday.

With theU.S. military presence in the region mounting, one senior regional government official said he has stressed to Iranianofficials in private conversations that Trump hasproven that his rhetoric should be taken at face value and that he’sserious about his threat to carryout astrike if Iran doesn’t offeradequateconcessions

The official, who spoke on the conditionofanonymitytodiscuss delicate diplomaticconversations, said he hasadvised the Iranians to looktohow Trump has dealt with other international issues anddrawlessons on how it should move forward

Theofficial added that he’smade

to case to the Trump administration that it could draw concessions from Iran in thenear term if it focuses on nuclear issues and leaves the push on Tehrantoscaleback its ballistic missile program and support for proxy groups for later

The official also said that Trump ordering alimited strike aimed at pressuring Iran could backfire and lead to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei withdrawing Iran from thetalks.

Polish Prime MinisterDonald Tusk urged his nation’s citizensto immediately leave Iran as “within afew,adozen, or even afew dozen hours, the possibilityofevacuation will be out of the question.”Hedid not elaborate, and the Polish Embassy in Tehran did not appear to be drawing down itsstaff.

The German military said that it had moved “a mid-two digit numberofnon-mission critical personnel” out of abaseinnorthern Iraqbecauseofthe current situationinthe region and in linewith its partners’ actions. It said that some troopsremain to help keep themultinational camp running in Irbil, wheretheytrain Iraqi forces.

“This week, another 50 U.S. combat aircraft —F-35s,F-22s,and F16s —were ordered to the region, supplementing the hundreds de-

ployed to bases in the Arab Gulf states,” the New York-based Soufan Center think tank wrote. “The deployments reinforce Trump’s threat —restated on anearly daily basis —toproceed with amajor airand missile campaign on the regimeiftalks fail.”

Iranian forces and Russian sailorsconducted theannualdrillsin the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean aimed at “upgrading operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” Iran’sstate-run IRNA news agency reported.

Footage released by Iran showed members of theparamilitary Revolutionary Guard’snaval special forces board avessel in the exercise. Thoseforcesare believed to have been usedinthe past to seize vessels in key international waterways. Iran also issued arocket-fire warning to pilots in theregion, suggesting it plannedtolaunch anti-ship missiles in the exercise.

Meanwhile, tracking data showed the Ford offthe coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean midday Wednesday, meaningthe carrier could transit through Gibraltar and potentially station in theeasternMediterranean with its supportingguided-missile destroyers It would likely take more than

aweek for the Ford to be off the coast of Iran.

Israel is making its own preparations forpossible Iranianmissile strikes in response to any U.S. action.

“Weare preparedfor anyscenario,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, adding that if Iran attacks Israel, “they will experience aresponse they cannot even imagine.” Netanyahu, whomet withTrump last week, has long pushed for tougher U.S. action against Iran and says any deal should notonly end its nuclear program but curb itsmissile arsenaland forceitto cut ties with militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iranhas said the current talks should only focus on its nuclear program, andthatithasn’tbeen enriching uranium sincethe U.S. andIsraeli strikes last summer Trump said at the timethat the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’snuclear sites, but the exact damage is unknown as Tehran hasbarred international inspectors.

Iran hasalways insisted its nuclear program is peaceful.The U.S. and others suspect it is aimed at eventually developing weapons. Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons but has neither confirmed nor denied that.

Vinyls plantOK’dfor expansion

Geismarfacility to burn hazardouswaste

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

Staff writer

Westlake Vinyls plans to start constructionby August 2027 on two new furnacesthatwillburn hazardous leftovers from the production of plastics in Geismar but also boostair pollutioninAscension Parish’s Mississippi River corridor

expected to take 18 to 24 months once remaining approvals areobtained.

Woman receives

10 years in photo shoot

Mother allowedman to take lewd images of teen daughter

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

AGonzales woman who arranged for aself-admitted pedophile to take lewd photos of her teenage daughter was ordered to spend more than 10 years in prison Thursday Hannah Kinchen, 41,made atearful apology as she stood before afederal judge and said she’sreflected on the decisions shemade to advance her daughter’smodeling career.She dabbed away tears as she told the judge she’sbeen separated from the teen for thepast 21/2 years. “I know that Ihave hurtmy daughter,”Kinchen said Thursday.“Iknow Ishould’ve protected her instead of trying tobea friend to her.Iwanted to do what Ithought was best by trying to push her career,but Ididn’tdo it the right way.”

U.S. District Judge Brian Jacksonimposed a125-month sentence and orderedKinchen to pay her daughter $32,376 in restitution. He also placed her on fiveyears of supervised release after she gets out of prison. Kinchen was indictedona slate of child porn charges in September 2023. Federal prosecutors said she was present during photo shootswhen Grant McKay Durtschi took hundreds of images of her daughter,then a13-year-oldwith aspirations to build her modeling portfolio. Durtschi snapped pictures of the girl dressed in “scanty attire” such as thong underwear andG-string bikinis. Not only didKinchenhelp facilitate the sessions, she also collaborated with Durtschi to get her daughter to pose in sexually explicit positions, according to indictment papers. Kinchen pleaded guilty to a felony count of receipt of child pornography in April. Prosecutors on Thursday dismissed charges of production of child pornography, conspiracyto distribute child pornography and conspiracy to producechild pornographyaspart of the plea deal.

“Wedon’texpect parentsto abusetheir childreninthisway,” Jackson said just beforehanding down the sentence. “Andto put them in aposition to be exploited the way the victim here has been exploited. It is unspeakably upsetting to me.”

The incineration unitswill recycleenergy and hydrochloric acid as they destroy the hazardous leftovers ofethylene dichloride andvinyl chloride monomer production, known as “heavyends,” with anefficiency Westlake says is better than 99.99% and also offer aredundant route to destroy other plant emissions

The company recently received keystate permits anda conclusion fromLouisianaenvironmental officials that theregion doesn’t have an air pollution “crisis.”

Ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloridemonomer are usedto makepolyvinylchloride, acommon commercial and consumer plasticused in plumbing, siding and many other applications.

Company officials saidthe plannedaddition willbring five new jobs and also keep the plant, which employs about 240 people, competitive.

Chip Swearngan, aWestlake spokesperson, saidconstruction is

“WestlakeCorporation is committed to the responsible and compliant handling of all waste streams and will continue to work with state andfederal agencies to obtainproper permits required under applicable environmental regulations,”hesaid.

Drawing concern from ahandful of environmental groups but littlepublic interest in arequired state hearing last year,the new operation will increase toxic and

otherkinds of airpollutants in an already heavily industrialized zone of easternAscension Parish thatfellinthe 99th percentile nationally fortoxicemissions in 2024, according to the EPA’snowshutteredEJScreendatabase. The immediate site of Westlake on the southeast corner of La. 30 andLa. 73 is partofanareawith additional lifetime cancer risk fromair pollution that is three timesthe minimumacceptable level, according to

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

Facing termination over acomplaint thathetouched agas station employee’sbutt, aBaton Rouge policeofficer resigned Wednesday Formerofficer StefanJones still faces amisdemeanor criminal charge of sexual battery in the incident, which took place at theBenny’sB-Quik location off West Lee Drive in December In addition to the misdemeanor, theBaton Rouge Police Department begananinternal investigation into Jones, putting him on leave on Dec. 11. Theinternal investigation concluded Wednesday According to aBRPD spokesperson, Chief Thomas Morse ruledtoterminate Jones at the hearing, and Jones later submittedhis resignation. Jones would have hadthe opportunity to challenge Morse’sruling with the Civil Service Board had he not resigned. Criminal proceedings for the misdemeanor charge are ongoing.

During these kinds of hearings, the BRPD usesa matrix to decide what disciplinary actions are available for an officer.The matrixfactors in past punishments and their recency In the past, Jones wasplaced on leave by his department for other incidents, once for brandishing a Taser andthreatening patrons outside aTigerlandbar in 2019 and again for falsifying military records to get time off work in 2022. According to BRPD internal affairs, in theTigerlandincident, Jones attempted to disperse a crowd with threats of beating or shooting them, while aiming his Taser at those gathered. The investigation found Jones violated departmentpoliciesbyfailing to control his temper,committing conduct unbecoming of an officer and failing to properly carry out orders. He was suspended for 15 days and signed aconsent agreement thathewould notappeal theruling.

South of Dutchtown and nearGeismar,the plant is also surrounded by areas with additional cancer risks that range from just under the EPAminimum acceptable level to two times the level.

The EPAsays hitting or exceeding the risk threshold is not asign of immediate harm but should warrantfurther scrutiny of air emissions.

Last fall, however,Johns Hopkins University researchers concluded in a peer-reviewed study that cancer risk from air pollution in Ascension and three other parishes in the industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is as much as 11 times higher than the EPAcancer risk data.

Theresearchers took their own measurements with mobile air monitoring during one month in 2023 and compared them with EPArisk estimates, which arerooted in annual pollution data self-reported by industry Industry advocates have criticized the mobileand short-term nature of that analysis.

‘Nopollution crisis’

The region is also a prime location for awave of new ammonia and other chemical production facilities that will rely on carbon capture and sequestration in abid to cut their climatechange impact but also add to the area’s air pollution In adocument explaining why the state granted one of the new Westlake permits and responding to public comments, officials with the state Department of Environmental Quality rejected the idea that Geismarareahas aproblem with air pollution.

The environmental officials said that, based on their analysis, air pollutant concentrationsare within state and federal limits for lifetime background exposure, often known as “ambient” air quality,and would remain that way after the company’sexpansion.

“With respect to existing ambient air quality,there is no ‘pollutioncrisis in the area,’ ”DEQ officials wrote, partially quoting and rejecting the claim of one commenter

DEQ approved thesecond of two Westlake permits last month —for hazardous waste operation. The permitallows the complex to handle as much as 5million gallons per yearofvarious kinds of hazardous wasteand usetwo nearly 520,000-gallon spherical tanks to store it.

Among the wastes are ignitablematerials,the known human carcinogens benzene and vinyl chloride, the probable humancarcinogens hexachlorobenzene and carbon tetrachloride, and chromium.

One variant of theheavy metal chromium that is tied to industrial processes is aprobable human carcinogen that can also cause respiratory tract liver and kidney damage, accordingtofederal assessments.

The material is expected to come primarily from Westlake’scurrent operationsinGeismar and avoid the need to continue shipping it by rail to other Westlake facilities in the state. But those wastes could also be shipped in, at times, from other West-

lake facilities for destruction,the company has said.

Underthe threshold

In addition to boosting several“criteria pollutants” like fine particulates and nitrogen oxides, the new furnaces will sharply increase the toxic air pollutants hydrochloric acid and chlorine, as well as release several heavy metals, permit papers say Westlake had initially soughttoboost its permit limits for hydrochloric acid emissions by more than nine times, to up to 47 tons per year, butended up seeking alimit of more than3times the current level after new calculationswere submittedby the company For the air permit,Westlake wasn’trequired to assess thecumulative impact of theadded toxic and criteriapollutant emissions, but DEQ says itsreview of the hydrochloric acid andchlorine emissionsand other data shows theincreases would notviolate state standards for long-term airquality. With both sets ofpollutants, Westlake estimated that they didn’tcross required thresholds that wouldhaveforcedthe cumulativeassessments. For some criteria pollutants, which contributetorespiratory and cardiovascular problems but don’traise toxic risks, the company’s maximumemissions estimates fell just under those standards, however

Forparticulates andcarbon dioxide, for instance, the estimated increases in maximum emissions fell3%to0.1%underthe thresholdthat would have required thedeeperimpact review,ora half of a tonper year or less.

Nitrogen oxides, which contribute to harmful ground-level ozone, also fell close to the threshold for deeper modeling,but Westlake said it would cap those emissionsthrough additional aircontrols to avoid that added analysis.

The nitrogen oxides increase isn’t expected to be more than 35.4 tons per year.The level that would have triggered abroader emissions review of nitrogen oxide is 40 tons per year

Company estimates say background concentrations of nitrogen oxides would bewell under federal limits, but levels of ozone, which formsinthe upper atmosphere as pollutants like nitrogen oxide mixwithsunlight,would fall at 68 parts per billion, just under thefederal backgroundair standard of 70 ppb.

Apart per billion is roughly equivalent to one drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The project will also addnew heavy metal, dioxin and furans emissions, common toxic byproducts of burning fossilfuels or of hazardous incineration, including arsenic, chromium and mercury

David J. Mitchell can be reachedatdmitchell@ theadvocate.com

Continuedfrom page1B

Moments later,hetold Kinchen’sdefense attorney, Jarret Ambeau, that the woman betrayed her own child’strust for“pecuniary gain,”ormoney

“Your client essentially pimpedher daughterout. I mean there’snoother way to say it,” thejudge said.

Durtschi, a52-year-old North Texasman,was known forhosting photo shootswith teenage models acrossseveral states, according to court records. Prosecutors said he sold sexually explicit photos of the teens online to other pedophiles.

Between July 2020 and October 2020, he induced Kinchen’sdaughter to participateinracy videorecordings and photo shoots In March 2023, he pleaded

SCHOOLS

Continuedfrom page1B

In this statewidereferendum, voters can accept or reject theproposed new district, which would be carved out of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.Ifsuccessful, thenew St. George school district would begin operations in July 2027.

Construction on thenew elementary school, which does not yet have aname, will likely begin before May 16.

Theconstruction of the high school,though, is a ways away.Infact, it may neverbebuilt if it goes to constructionafter summer 2027, as EastBaton Rouge faces legalrestrictions against spending money in another school district.

Board member Mike Gaudetsaidheopposes the St.George breakawaydistrict and is hopeful that the May referendum will fail.

In the meantime, he said the school system needs to continue to showits support for the residents of the south and southeastern portions of East BatonRouge Parish.

“It shows that we have confidence to stay together as a

BLOTTER

Continuedfrom page1B

guilty to afelony count of production of child porn and admittedthat he took images of the girl during aJuly 2020 photo shoot in Breaux Bridge.Afterward, he went back to Texas and uploaded the pictures online and storedphotos on aGoogle Drive wherehesaved images of other teen models.

Afederal judge sentenced Durtschi to 61/2 years in prison in August andordered him to pay a$25,000 fine.

Ambeau pointed to Durtschi’spunishment and asked thejudge to limit Kinchen’s sentence to betweenthree andfive years. He told the judge that Durtschi convinced Kinchen andother teen model moms to participate in thephotoshoots. Ambeau described Kinchen as a“fairly unsophisticated young lady without atremendous education.

“You canbebothvictimized and commit acrime at thesame time. AndIbelieve

district,” Gaudet said.

And, if the referendum fora St.Georgeschooldistrict passes, thenEast Baton Rouge can considerchanging course, he said.

“If St. George wereto break away,wewould be under no obligation to build that high school,”hesaid.

The new schools were among aseries of construction projectsapprovedby East BatonRouge Parish votersin2018 when they renewed a1-cent sales tax earmarked for education. The project list is known as the TaxPlan. Both schools are attempts to build new neighborhood public schools in apart of the parish where thelastsuchschools were built in themid-1970s.

Much of Thursday’smeeting involved boardmembers quizzing district administratorsabout thepotential financial impact of St.George leaving, especially on future TaxPlan projects

While he opposesthe breakaway,Gaudet said East Baton Rouge has sufficient financial reserves to weather the storm.

“The fear of not having enough money to finishthis (construction) programtome is unfounded,”Gaudet said.

Board memberDadrius La-

In 2022, Jones was disciplined again for falsifying aU.S. Army Reserve order saying he had to report for aweekendoftraining in Alabama and would need to miss work.But when Jones’ supervisor called theArmy to verify the letter, they found the traininghad never taken place.

At thetime, Jones reportedly toldhis police supervisors that he was“going through personalstuff”and admitted he felt pressured to offer the fake militaryorders as an excusetotake time off, according to adisciplinary report obtained by The Advocateatthe time. Jones was suspended for fourdays following thereport.

In March,Jones struck abicyclist with hiscruiser nearthe intersection of Louise Street and Thomas H. Delpit Roadwhile responding to acallinthe early hours of the morning. The bicyclist, Dwayne Washington, suffered

that’swhatoccurredhere,” Ambeau argued. He later reflected on the social media environment, callingitacesspool that often preysonyoungwomen forsexually explicit content.

“There’sagray area that exists in social media today,” Ambeau said. “And amother that’sattempting to help her daughter in aworldthatshe doesn’tunderstand can get drawn into some behavior that skirts the line.”

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen CraigsaidKinchen “was not avictim” or a“passive participant.” She noted the woman helped facilitate herdaughter’s photo shoots and allowed Durtschi —an admitted pedophile —to snap the explicit images. All thewhile,she was awarethat he was selling them online to othermen sexually attracted to children.

“While we mightexpect that of pedophiles, she was the victim’s mother.She was

nus took amuch darker view.

“Some will say, yeswewill survive, but Iwouldsay,what is it like to survive if you’re on life support?” Lanus asked.

The newelementary school near St. George would be a K-5 “School in the Park,” a joint endeavorbetween the school system and BREC. The parish recreation agency hastwo smallparks adjacenttothe Perkins property: Meadow and Gentilly Court. BRECwants to create an outdoor classroom/stage area for learning activities, as well as awalking path, boardwalk, playgrounds andplayfields. Plansare to install“highperforming green infrastructure” to manage stormwater runoff.

The board on Thursday was silent as to who would attend the new elementary school if the St. George school district becomes areality.Itcould prove achallenge since most of its likely attendancezoneis within St. George. Louisiana law,ingeneral, calls for students to attend public schools in the district where they reside. To enroll St.George students, thenew district and East Baton Rouge would need to strike acrossdistrict enrollment agreement. Absentsuchanagreement, many of the expected

severe injuries, including brain damage and abroken pelvis, according to afamily member

The BRPD ruled at the time that Jones was responding to acall and had agreen light at the intersection when thecrash happened. No disciplinary action was taken.

Washington’sfamily say they intend to seek damages in acivil suit against theBRPD and Jones.

Police arrest three in drug bustnear school

Three people were arrested near St. Joseph’sAcademy on Feb. 13 on various drug counts, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Police arrested Lewis Rhodes, 57,Julia Bryan,27, andAlyssaHughes, 28. Rhodes was booked with possession with intent to distribute Schedule I, II and III drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and violating adrug-free zone by aschool. Bryanwas booked with possession of Schedule IV drugsand violating a

meanttoprotect her, and she should not be held to the samestandard as the photographer,” Craig said. “She should be held to ahigher standard because her job andher role was to protect her child, and she did not.” Jackson agreed that parents arereliedontoprotect their children from harm and described Kinchen’s role in the victimization of herown daughter as “unspeakablyupsetting.”He told Kinchenhehoped her childcould oneday forgive her forall that she’sdone. “This is avery,very serious crime,” he said. “Part of whatyou have to livewith —part of your own sentence that you have imposed on yourself —isthe possibility that your relationship with your child, who Iknowyou love, will never ever be the same.”

Email Matt Bruceatmatt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

500 students at the new school would live at anotable distance from theschool On Thursday, the board also greenlighted major renovations forMcKinley High School in Baton Rouge, increasing its project budget from $35 million to $42 million, a20% increase. It is also scheduled to open in August 2027. McKinley High students are temporarily located at the former Kenilworth Middle School,which serves as the school’shome campus while 800 E. McKinley St.awaits renovations. In apresentation forthe board, CSRS/Tillage Construction,the partnershipthat oversees TaxPlanprojects forthe school system,said costs for districtconstruction projects have jumped by more than 20% thanks to COVID-prompted inflation and “broader market conditions.” Other cost drivers include “material costs, design and construction expenses, code compliance measures andvendor service fees.” School leaders across Louisianahavebeenfacing higher construction costs in recent years due to inflation and, morerecently, tariffs on building materials imposed by President DonaldTrump

drug-free zone by aschool. Hughes is also accused of violating thedrug-free zoneand possession of Schedule II drugs.

Policeseizedmeth,cocaine,lorazepam,LSD,marijuana,psilocybin (mushrooms) and Vyvanse.

The BRPD Special Investigations Unit andSWATexecutedasearch warrant at ahouse at 1502 KenmoreAve after they were notified of atip from the CrimeStopper’shotline. The house wasinproximity to aschool,whichviolates the drug-free zone law Elayn Hunt employee accused of malfeasance

An Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employeewas booked Thursdaywith felonymalfeasance in office, according to the Iberville Sheriff’sOffice.

D’Shyra Hawkins, 21, of St. Gabriel, waspicked up on awarrant before her shiftand booked into the Iberville Parish Jail. The reason forher arrest was not immediately madeavailable. The investigation is ongoing.

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Walmart has another impressive quarter

NEW YORK Walmart delivered another impressive quarter as the promise of lower prices and speedy deliveries attracted a broader spectrum of Americans from cash-strapped to wealthier households during the critical holiday shopping period

The subdued outlook, offered Thursday, from the Bentonville, Arkansas, company, however, hinted at a volatile economic environment ahead.

“Given that we are as large as we are and so tied to consumer health and the economy, we want to maintain maximum flexibility and not get out ahead of ourselves at this point in the year, ” Walmart’s chief financial officer John David Rainey told investors. He cited subdued consumer sentiment, a fragile job market and student loan delinquencies among other issues it’s monitoring.

For the first time, Walmart recorded annual sales that were lower than Amazon, dethroning the discounter from its status as the nation’s largest company by revenue, according to Fortune. For the full year, Walmart’s sales reached $713.2 billion, while Amazon earlier this month delivered net sales of $716.9 billion, helped by its surging cloud service unit, advertising and massive e-commerce business.

Walmart’s biggest gains in market share came from households with annual income over $100,000. That has happened as lower-income shoppers have become more restrained, reflecting what economists call a Kshaped economy phenomenon

Long-term mortgage rate dips to 6.01%

The average long-term U.S mortgage rate slipped this week to its lowest level in more than three years, but remains around 6% in the same narrow range it has been in this year

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.01% from 6.09% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.85%.

The modest pullback brings the average rate to its lowest level since Sept 8, 2022, when it was 5.89%.

Mortgage rates have been trending lower for months, helping drive a pickup in home sales the last four months of 2025, but not enough to lift the housing market out of its slump dating back to 2022.

A seasonally adjusted index of pending U.S. home sales fell 0.8% in January from the previous month, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday

Pending home sales fell 0.4% from January last year

A sharp run-up in home prices, especially in the early years of this decade, and a chronic shortage of homes nationally worsened by years of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.

World of Warcraft to partner with Zillow

Scrolling through Zillow window shopping homes you can’t afford is a mixed bag. It’s nice to dream, but it can be a tough reminder of your pocketbook Or you could just scroll Zillow on World of Warcraft.

The more than 20-year-old multiplayer online game has teamed up with Zillow to create a new “microsite” where players can browse and display their virtual homes Zillow style.

In “Zillow for Warcraft,” players can click through assorted designs for in-game housing

The homes are presented like virtual tours for real-life listings on Zillow

You can pick a neighborhood in the mythical land Azeroth and take a peek at 3D animated homes like the “Rugged and Rustic” or “Silvermoon Chic” via floor plans, real estate photos and virtual tours.

Player housing is a feature of World of Warcraft’s newest paid expansion, “Midnight,” which goes live March 2.

U.S. trade deficit declined in 2025

But gap for goods hits record despite tariffs

BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The U.S. trade

deficit slipped modestly in 2025, a year in which President Donald Trump upended global commerce by slapping double digit tariffs on imports from most countries. But the gap in the trade of goods such as machinery and aircraft the main focus of Trump’s protectionist policies hit a record last year despite sweeping import taxes.

Overall, the gap the between the goods and services the U.S. sells other countries and what it

buys from them narrowed to just over $901 billion, from $904 billion in 2024, but it was still the thirdhighest on record, the Commerce Department reported Thursday Exports rose 6% last year, and imports rose nearly 5%.

And the U.S. deficit in the trade of goods widened 2% to a record $1.24 trillion last year as American companies boosted imports of computer chips and other tech goods from Taiwan to support massive investments in artificial intelligence.

Amid continuing tensions with Beijing, the deficit in the goods trade with China plunged nearly 32% to $202 billion in 2025 on a sharp drop in both exports to and imports from the world’s second-

biggest economy But trade was diverted away from China. The goods gap with Taiwan doubled to $147 billion and shot up 44%, to $178 billion, with Vietnam.

Economist Chad Bown, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the widening gaps with Taiwan and Vietnam might put a “bull’s-eye” on them this year if Trump focuses more on the lopsided trade numbers and less on the U.S. rivalry with China.

In 2025, U.S. goods imports from Mexico outpaced exports by nearly $197 billion, up from a 2024 gap of $172 billion But the goods deficit with Canada shrank by 26% to $46 billion. The United States this year is negotiating a renewal of a

pact Trump reached with those two countries in his first term.

The U.S. ran a bigger surplus in the trade of services such as banking and tourism last year — $339 billion, up from $312 billion in 2024. The trade gap surged from January-March as U.S. companies tried to import foreign goods ahead of Trump’s taxes, then narrowed most of the rest of the year

Trump’s tariffs are a tax paid by U.S. importers and often passed along to their customers as higher prices. But they haven’t had as much impact on inflation as economists originally expected. Trump argues that the tariffs will protect U.S. industries, bringing manufacturing back to America and raise money for the U.S. Treasury

Tariffs paid by mid-size U.S. firms tripled

JPMorganChase Institute study examines new taxes on imports last year

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Tariffs paid by mid-size U.S. businesses tripled over the course of past year, new research tied to one of America’s leading banks showed on Thursday — more evidence that President Donald Trump‘s push to charge higher taxes on imports is causing economic disruption.

The additional taxes have meant that companies that employ a combined 48 million people in the U.S. — the kinds of businesses that Trump had promised to revive — have had to find ways to absorb the new expense, by passing it along to customers in the form of higher prices, employing fewer workers or accepting lower profits.

“That’s a big change in their cost of doing business,” said Chi Mac, business research director of the JPMorganChase Institute, which published the analysis Thursday “We also see some indications that they may be shifting away from transacting with China and maybe toward some other regions in Asia.”

The research does not say how the additional costs are flowing through the economy, but it indicates that tariffs are being paid by U.S. companies. The study is part of a growing body of economic analyses that counter the administration’s claims that foreigners pay the tariffs

The JPMorganChase Institute report used payments data to look at businesses that might lack the pricing power of large multinational companies to offset tariffs, but may be small enough to quickly change supply chains to minimize exposure to the tax increases. The companies tended to have revenues between $10 million and $1 billion with fewer than 500 employees, a category known as “middle market.”

The analysis suggests that the Trump administration’s goal of becoming less directly reliant on Chinese manufacturers has been occurring Payments to China by these companies were 20% below their October 2024 levels, but it’s unclear whether that means China is simply routing its goods through other countries or if supply chains have moved.

The authors of the analysis emphasized in an interview that companies are still adjusting to the tariffs and said they plan to continue studying the issue.

The White House did not respond to questions about the analysis, which showed that U.S. companies are paying tariffs that the

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MATT

A crane operator loads a container onto a ship on Oct. 15 at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, N.J. Tariffs paid by mid-size U.S businesses tripled over the course of past year, new research showed Thursday.

president had previously claimed would be paid by foreign entities.

But Trump defended his tariffs during a trip to Georgia on Thursday while touring Coosa Steel, a company involved in steel processing and distribution The president said he couldn’t believe the Supreme Court would soon decide on the legality of some of his tariffs, given his belief that the taxes were helping U.S. manufacturers.

“The tariffs are the greatest thing to happen to this country,” Trump said.

The president imposed a series of tariffs last year for the ostensible goal of reducing the U.S. trade imbalance with other countries, so that America was not longer importing more than it exports. But trade data published Thursday by the Census Bureau showed that the trade deficit climbed last year by $25.5 billion to $1.24 trillion. The president on Wednesday posted on social media that he expected there would be a trade surplus “during this year.”

The Trump administration has been adamant that the tariffs are a boon for the economy, businesses, and workers. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, lashed out on Wednesday at research by the New York Federal Reserve showing that nearly 90% of the burden for Trump’s tariffs fell on U.S. companies and consumers.

“The paper is an embarrassment,” Hassett told CNBC. “It’s, I think, the worst paper I’ve ever seen in the history of the Federal Reserve system. The people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined.”

Trump increased the average tariff rate to 13% from 2.6% last year, according to the New York Fed researchers. He declared that tariffs on some items such as steel, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities were in the national security interest of the country He also declared an economic emergency to bypass Congress and impose a baseline tax on goods from much of the world in April 2025 at an event he called “Liberation Day.”

The high rates provoked a financial market panic, prompting Trump to walk back his rates and then engage in talks with multiple countries that led to a set of new trade frameworks. The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether Trump surpassed his legal authority by declaring an economic emergency

Trump was elected in 2024 on his promise to tame inflation, but his tariffs have contributed to voter frustration over affordability While inflation has not spiked during Trump’s term thus far, hiring slowed sharply and a team of academic economists estimate that consumer prices were roughly 0.8 percentage points higher than they would otherwise be.

Civil rights agency sues Coca-Cola distributor

EEOC claims sex discrimination over men being excluded from casino work trip

BY CLAIRE SAVAGE and ALEXANDRA OLSON AP business writers

The U.S. federal agency that enforces workplace civil rights is suing a regional Coca-Cola bottler for sex discrimination, alleging the company discriminated against male employees by only inviting women to a company-sponsored networking event. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit on behalf of a male employee of Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast who complained about a two-day networking trip for about 250 women in September 2024 at

the Mohegan Sun casino resort in Connecticut. The lawsuit alleged that the Bedford, New Hampshirebased company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by excluding male employees from the event.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in New Hampshire district court, challenges the sort of diversity programming the EEOC has aggressively targeted since President Donald Trump overhauled the agency, which was created by Congress under the Civil Rights Act. It comes just two weeks after the EEOC revealed that it is investigating sportswear giant Nike for allegedly discriminating against White employees through its diversity policies.

“Excluding men from an employer-sponsored event is a Title VII violation that the EEOC will act to remedy through litigation when necessary,” acting EEOC general counsel Catherine L. Esch-

bach said in statement Wednesday announcing the lawsuit against Coca-Cola Northeast.

The EEOC said in court documents that it filed the lawsuit after failing to reach a conciliation agreement with Coca-Cola Beverage Northeast, an independent Coca-Cola bottler that serves New England and upstate New York.

But in a statement sent to The Associated Press, Cola-Cola Northeast said it “finds it disappointing that the EEOC did not conduct a full investigation and we look forward to having our day in open court when we can tell the full story and expect to be vindicated.”

The company declined to comment on the details of the lawsuit.

In a LinkedIn post, Coca-Cola Northeast celebrated what it called its “first in-person Women’s Forum” attended by 250 female associates, describing it as a “networking reception and event.”

Speakers talked about navigating a male-dominated industry, balancing work and personal life, and other topics, according to the post.

The EEOC’s lawsuit said the company paid for lodging, meals and other benefits for attendees and paid them their salaries while excusing them from regular work duties The agency is seeking monetary compensation for a class of men who were excluded, saying they suffered not only financial losses but “emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish.”

In its news release, the EEOC directed the public to its fact sheet on DEI-related discrimination, a document that takes aim at practices such as training employee resource groups and fellowship programs. It stops short of declaring any one practice illegal, but warns they could veer into discrimination depending on how they are constructed.

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Obituaries

Babin, Dorothy

Dorothy Ann (Masci) Babin wasborn on January 28th, 1945, in Gulfport, MS Known to her family and friends as Dotty. She passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones on February 18, 2026. She enjoyed watching LSU football, spending time with her family and friends, and her beloved dog Max whilehe was with us. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School, she was employed at Audubon Insurance and CVT Surgical.Dotty is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jean O. Babin, Jr.; Sons, Randal Babin and wife Anne; Keith Babin; and Richard Babin and wife Heidi;Grandkids: Hannah, Cade, Jonathan, Joshua,and Beau Babin, and Kayleigh Crockett and Cheyanne Sutton. Siblings: Michael (Mary) Masci, Barbara (Ronnie)Thibodeaux, and Amy Dileo. Preceded in death by her father, Alfred J. Masci, and mother, Theresa Marchiafava Masci. In lieu of flowers,please donate to St. Patrick Catholic Church Renovation Fund. Visitation will take place at Greenoaks Funeral Home &Memorial Park, located at 9595 Florida Blvd,Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70815,onFebruary22, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Asecond visitation will occur at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located at 12424 Brogdon Ln, Baton Rouge,Louisiana, 70816, on February 23,2026, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am The Mass of Christian Burial will follow, at 11:00 am. Burial will take place at Greenoaks Memorial Park following the Mass.

Betty DavisBolton,age 81, aresidentofWatson, Louisiana,passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 15, 2026,surroundedbyher loved ones Shewas born on March 7, 1944,inPort Allen, Louisiana

Betty graduated from Port AllenHigh School and later marriedthe love of her life,AlphisBolton, Jr., with whom she shared 56 wonderful yearsofmarriage.She workedasa bookkeeper and secretary forseveralreal estate companies before dedicating many yearstothe Classifieds Department of The Advocate.

Betty was adevoted wife, mother,grandmother,and friend whose gentle spirit and generous heart brightened everyroom. Sheloved spending time with family and friends sharing stories, andcherishing everymoment with those she loved.

Sheissurvived by her son,Shane Boltonand his wife, Chrystal; her daughter,Shay White and her husband, Steve; her sisters, Carol Yarbrough and Linda Thibodeaux; and her five belovedgrandchildren, Nathan,Kierstyn, Megan, Madison, and Morgan. She is also survivedbycountless nieces and nephews. Shewas precededin death by her husband, Alphis Bolton, Jr.; her sisters, MaryAlice Wager and Shirley Bozeman; and her parents, James Calvin "Blue" Davisand Alice Nichols Davis.

Relatives and friends areinvited to attend the Funeral Service at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026,at ResthavenFuneral Home, 11817Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge. A Visitationwillbeheldat the funeral home beginningat2:00 p.m. The family willattend aprivate burial serviceat11:00 a.m. on Monday,February23, 2026, at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

In lieu of flowers and for those so desiring,memorialsinhonor of Betty Davis Bolton may be made to Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge (https://fotabr. org/donate)

Familyand friends may signthe online guestbook or leave apersonal note to the family at www.resthav enbatonrouge.com

10, 2026. Our beloved Caleb was baptized at theyoung age of five by Apostle CurtisShepherd of Philadelphia ChristianMinistries He was agraduate of McKinley SeniorHigh School and received his certificationinHVAC and Millwright throughBRCC. He enjoyed playing chess, gaming, listening to music, debatingconspiracytheories,boxing and spending quality time withfamily and friends. He leavesto cherish his memories his loving parents and sister Jaedyn. He is survivedby his siblings Toniequa, Miracleand Dominick, along with ahost of nephews, nieces, cousins, auntsand uncles. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, LeRoy Thomas Sr and aunt Vanessa Thomas. Serviceswillbeheldon 2/21/26 at 11:00am at PhiladelphiaChristianMinistrieslocated at 7317 Hanks Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70812.

Grady Robert Hazel, age 78, passed away on Saturday, February 14. He was born on November 26, 1947, in Jennings, Louisiana, to Robert G. and Betty Campbell Hazel. He spent partof his childhoodinPort Arthur and Beaumont Texas,before his family settled in Baton Rouge, where he attended BroadmoorHighSchool and served as senior class president.Helater attended Louisiana StateUniversity, earning abachelor's degree in accounting and an MBA.Gradymarriedthe love of his life,Cindy, on August 8, 1970, and together they builta life centered on faith,family,and service. He beganhis career with theEast Baton Rouge Parish School Board as an assistant auditor and advanced to AssociateSuperintendent of Business Affairs. After 23 years of dedicated service, he became Executive Director of the Louisiana SocietyofCPAs. In 2015, he joinedThe Dunham School, where he faithfully served as Chief Financial Officer. Aman of deep Christianfaith, Grady was adevoted member of Family of Faith, SBC,where he served his church communityfor many years. He was known forhis steady presence, stability, and leadership.Gradyenjoyed traveling with his family annualtripstoGatlinburg, good food,reading, and cheering on LSUatevery sporting event. Aboveall, he treasured time spent with his family and took greatjoy in his favorite role as "Papa"tohis grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert G. and Betty CampbellHazel.He is survivedbyhis wife of 55 years, Cindy Hazel; his daughters, Kelly(Lynn) and Ashley (Chad); his grandchildren, Parker, Olivia, Camille, and Jack; and hisbrother,Jim (Katya). Visitation willbe held on Saturday, February 21 at Family of Faith, SBC at 9:30am followedbya celebration of life at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers,the family requests that memorial donations be madetoFamily of Faith,

SBC (10748 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge,LA70810), or to The Dunham School (11111 RoyEmerson Drive, Baton Rouge,LA70810) in honorofGrady's life and legacy of faith, service and education.

Glenda Hurst

GlendaHurst Jackson of BatonRouge passed away on February 11, 2026. She wasborn on December 23, 1949 in Peoria, Illinoisto Luvilla and Norbert Hurst and was a1972 graduateof University of Southwest Louisiana. Arrangements entrusted to WinnfieldFuneral Home,7221 Plank Road,Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70811. Visitation to be held on Saturday, February 21 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM with aserviceat 2:00 PM.Interment at Southern Memorial Gardens.

is withprofound sadness that we announce the passing of SharonKinleySchwing on December 27, 2025. Following alongand courageous battle with cancer, Sharonpassed away surrounded by the love of her family,leaving behind alegacy of resilience, compassion, and adventure. Sharonwas adevoted wife, alovingmother, and aloyal friend.She

hercherished daughter, Kylie;her siblings; anda vast networkofcousins, nieces, nephews,and friends. Acelebration of Sharon's extraordinary life will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Visitation at 9:00 a.m. at the Church of theHoly CommunionParish Hall located at 58040 Court St Plaquemine, La. with aService at 10:00 a.m. Sharon willbe interned at the Grace Memorial Cemetery in Plaquemine,Louisiana

LaCarna,Ronald

Dr.Ronald JerryLaCarna,81, passed away on February 3, 2026, in Houston,TX. An LSUalumnus (PhD,1977), Ronald had a distinguishedcareer in Electrical Engineeringand contributed to NASA's Space Shuttle program. He wasa devotedmember andgreeter at Bay Area UnitarianUniversalist Church. Preceded in death by partner Raymond Brewin andbrother Bill, he is survivedbyhis husband,

PhilipAgler;brother John; andnieceTara. Services: Visitation Feb. 19, 4-8 p.m.; Funeral Feb. 20, 10 a.m. at Forest ParkEast, Webster In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be made to BAUUC or thePride Chorus of Houston.

Manuel, Wayne

WayneManuel passed away peacefullyathis home on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the age of 78. He wasa retiredwelder, residentofBrusly and native of Chataignier, LA. A memorial service willbe held on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Wilbert Funeral Home, Port Allenfrom 12:30pm until Rite of Christian Burial at 1:30pm, conductedbyDeacon Bob McDonner.Wayne is survived by hiswife of 59 years, Glenda Manuel; sons, Brent Manuel andwife Vicky, Scott Manuel and wife Dina;grandchildren Myaand Carly Manuel, Ryleigh Manuel, and Brendan Jacob andwife Maeghan; great grandchildren,Eliot andMyerJacob;

brother, DouglasManuel and wife Marla; numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Florence Olivier Manuel; and brother, Calvin Manuel. Wayne was an avid golfer. Please share memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.

Mayweather, Bobby Joe

Bobby Joe Mayweather went home to the Lord on February 13, 2026, surrounded by family and leaving behind alegacyof leadership, faith, and service. He was born on February 24, 1952 in Baton Rouge. Known for his warm smile, quick wit, and gift for storytelling, Bobby brought joy and wisdom to every room he entered. He studied Chemistryat Northwestern State University and earned aMaster of ScienceinEnvironmentalEngineering from Southern University. He later served as achemistry instructor at Baton Rouge Community College and Southern University. A trailblazer in public service, Bobbymade history as the first Black Regional Director of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Adevoted Deacon at Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, his life was rooted in service to God, his community, and his family. He shared over 43 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Delores Jackson Mayweather. To this union was born adaughter, Dr. CandisMayweather Hunter, who, along with her hus-

band ChristopherHunter, blessed him with histreasuredgranddaughters, Christine and Cadence. Heleaves to cherishhis memory, his wife, daughter,son-in-law, granddaughters, two brothers, Shedrick L. Mayweather, Jr (Cynthia)and Lenard I. Mayweather Sr. (Madelyn), in-laws,nephews,and a host of relatives and friends. He waspreceded in deathbyhis parents, Shedrick L. and Doreatha HardyMayweather. Acelebration of this life willbeheldonSaturday, February 21, 2026atIsraelite Missionary Baptist Church, 1841 Thomas H. Delpit Drive, Baton Rouge Louisiana.Viewing willbe at 9AM followed by funeral service at 11AM with Rev. Donald Sterling, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to his belovedchurch, Israelite MissionaryBaptist Church.

James ClemonMilling, a devotedfamily man and an avid outdoorsman, passed awaypeacefully on February14, 2026, in Denham Springs.Hewas bornon March 2, 1934,inPhiladelphia,Mississippi, andtook immense pride in everyaspectofhis life, especially the love he shared with his family.

James enjoyed afulfilling career, having retired from B&D Heatingand Air, wherehis work ethic and dedicationweregreatly respected. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he proudlyserved his country in the United States Army,demonstrating his commitment to his nation and community. Throughouthis life, Jameshad apassion for

thegreat outdoors. He was amember of theNickens Lake Hunting Club forover fifty years, spending countless hourshunting and fishing, which brought himjoy and peace. Family tripstoGrand Islewere particularlyspecial to him, where cherished memories were created with his loving family

He is survivedbyhis belovedwife of 67 years, OlaMay Milling,who was thecornerstone of his life Hislegacy continues with hischildren: Wanda Marchiafava(Randy), James C. Milling,Jr. (Tracey), CollierMilling (Cindy), and Berry Milling (Diane); his grandchildren, Candi, Matthew, Alison, Adam, Aaron, Jessica,and Natalie;his sisters,Shirlene Jones and CarolMurray, and his Aunt Carolyn Collins of Jackson, MS. He is also survivedbymany great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of bonus nieces and nephews who were always welcomed with open arms intohis home.

James is preceded in death by his parents, Clemon and Bessie Milling and hisgrandson, Joseph Milling.His memory willbe held dear by allwho knew him, and his spirit willcontinue to inspire those who were fortunateenoughto be part of his life Visitationwilltakeplace at Seale Funeral Home in DenhamSpringsonSaturday, February 21, 2026 from 2:00 PM-3:30 PM with service starting at 3:30 PM and burial to follow in Evergreen Memorial Park.

The family wouldlike give aspecial thank youto Dorothy Gilbert as wellas Dr. Daniel Fontenot and all of thestaff at The Baton Rouge Cardiology Center fortheir exceptional care. Pallbearers willbe Matthew Reeves, Adam Milling,AaronMilling,Tim Mack, Brian Mack, Britt Jones, and Marty Sibley. Honorary pallbearers will be JoeRickard,J.J.Brent and Randy Marchiafava

ber26, 1953, in Gonzales, Louisiana, John liveda life marked by service,dedication, and love forhis communityand family.Johnretired fromExxonMobil aftera long and respected career in theGIS Department.Inaddition,John served on theFireSquad at theBaton Rouge Complex, exemplifying his commitment to safety and service.Beyond his career at ExxonMobil, John was involvedinpublicservice. He was an activelifetimemember of the Prairieville VolunteerFire Department where he played avitalroleonboth theBoardofDirectorsand in day-to-day operations. He mentored youngpeople throughthe JuniorFirefighterprogram, many of whom are actively still working in public service today. John also servedas aReserve Sheriff's Deputy, protecting and supporting his community.Anavid outdoorsman, John cher-

ished time spentathis camp in Grand Lake during huntingseason.A devoted LSUBaseball fan,herarely missed agame andproudly supported histeam through everyseason John'svibrantpersonality made himwell known among those whocrossed hispath. Outgoing andsocial with asharp sense of humor, he hada gift for makingothersfeelwelcome and valued. He is survived by his children: TashaTaylor;Ryan and AleiaBurnsTaylor;Layne andTiffany TaylorBrignac; as well as hisgrandchildren:Kelsieand Brennan Burnthorne; Ethan Brignac; Logan Brignac;Ryan Joseph Taylor;RaeLynn Taylor;and Cameron Burns. He also leaves behind hissiblings: Cheryl Ehlers;RobertTaylor Jr.; Vanand Debbie Taylor; Barryand AngelaTaylor John was preceded in death by hisparents, Robert Sr.And BerthaLee

Taylor;his brotherDon Taylor;and hisbeloved wife of 33 years, Nedra NorrisTaylor.A Celebration of Life will be held on February 20, 2026, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at St John theEvangelist Church Hall, 15208 Highway73, with aprivateburialfollowing at Serenity Oaks Memorial

La., Brazil have long ties worthstrengthening

In 1962, Walt Disney’sWonderful World of Color introduced children acrossthe United States to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the episode, Donald Duck and the Brazilian parrot José Carioca workasnews correspondents to highlight the parallels between the two celebrations.

Ratzlaff

The linkages between Brazil and New Orleans run much deeper than simply both celebrating the preLenten festivities. In 2022, New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro renewedtheir over 30-year-old sister city partnership. From trade to immigration, Louisiana and Brazil are tied together.Leaning into the linkages between Louisiana and Brazil would benefit the state. Brazil’sand Louisiana’seconomiesshare many parallels and

are deeply connected. Both Braziland Louisiana are important oiland sugarproducers. However,rather than this sparking fierce competition, trade between Louisiana and Brazilremains important. According to the World Trade Center, Brazilis Louisiana’sthirdlargest import partner and ninth-largest export partner.This compares to Brazilas the 16th-largest trading partner for the United States as awhole. These economicties have been strengthened by educational ties between the state andBrazil. Tulane University launched its Portuguese language program in 1947 —amove that offered the necessary language skills to engage withthe South American nation —and continues to offer multiple courses on Brazilian politics and culture.

Louisiana’sconnections to Brazilgobeyond just trade. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, alarge number of Brazilians flowed intoNew Orleans to supportthe city’sreconstruction efforts.

Buoyed by thesuspension of work visa requirements, Brazilian construction workers made theirway to New Orleans, with many staying to form partofthe city’scultural fabric. According to theMigration Policy Institute, approximately 5,404 Brazilians resided in Louisiana in 2023.

Traditionally,ties between the United States and Brazil have been close. While the two countries have had theirdifferences in thepast, Brazilhas often been an ally to the United States. In fact, Brazil even senttroopsto fight in theEuropean Theatre during WorldWar II and was named aMajor non-NATO Ally in 2019 —bythe first Trump admin-

istration Despite these ties, tensions between the two countries have flared at various times. Last year,President Donald Trump levied high tariffs on Brazil over thetrial of former Brazilian President JairBolsonaro —who earned the nickname the “Trump of the Tropics” —for his role in supporting an insurrection in 2023.

Additionally,concerns over Brazil’sinvolvement in BRICS and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva’smuted response regarding the situation in Venezuela have been thorns in thebilateral relationship. The impactsofthese tensions have impacted Louisiana directly.

High tariffs on the South American nation challengedthe local economy,particularly coffee importers, an important and historicimport forNew Orleans.

Residents, Congress must remain vigilant when it comestoEPA cuts

Americans were rightly alarmed aboutthe effects of last year’sfederal governmentshutdown. Homeowners couldn’taccess thefederal FloodInsurance Program, federal disaster assistance wasslowedand some families went without SNAP payments Butfailing to pass abudget isn’t theonlyway to shut down afederal agency.There are still people in Washingtonwho want toshut down parts of thegovernmentthat protect us— this time permanently The threat is especiallysevere at the Environmental Protection Agency,where political appointees areworkingtoerase the protections that keep our families safe fromtoxic chemicals likelead, arsenic and mercury.They are systematicallydismantlingEPA fromthe inside out, program by program, week after week.

EPA’sOffice of Research and Development,which is critical to understanding and addressing threatstohuman health.

Given the political, diasporic andeconomictiesbetween Louisiana andBrazil, there are important opportunitiestoexpand trade,educational exchanges and people-to-people connections. These tiescould strengthen the state andpositionLouisiana to excel at atime of growing interestinnearshoring.

However,asTrump’stariffs highlighted this past year,navigating the complex relationship between these two American giants hasalways been challenging andwill require local leaders from civil society, companies and government —tounderstand the importanceofthis relationship andits geopolitical role in order to crafta path together

AdamRatzlaff is the founder and CEO of Pan-American StrategicAdvisors and a member of DiplomaticCourier’s Worldin2050 Brain Trust

Olderfolks show us thekeysto long,happy life

Longevity is ahot topic. “60 Minutes” recently aired an episode outlining amedical shiftfrom reactive care for geriatric patients to aproactive approach focused on preventing decline and strengthening those whoare poised to live longer than ever before. As abiographer whotraverses the state interviewing folks 75 or older,I’ve spent hours listening to their lifetime of memories. Through getting to know morethan 20 advanced aging individuals (those ranging from age 90 to 105), I’ve learned athing or twoabout longevity.Some of their tips and tricks could help all of us.

Aline’sclaim to longevity wasdancing. When Imet this spunky 103-year-old, she looked like she was ready foranight on the town—complete with red-lip-sticked lips and abrightly colored blouse —yet she was staying in her assisted living facility in abayou-side community.Aline said that dancing “kept her young.” Studies agree, showing that the activity can contribute to better health and thus longevity

With David, a95-year-old World WarIIveteran, professor and father of seven, the secret wasapositive attitude. David always had asmile on his face and atwinkle in his blue eyes. He madelongevity look desirable.

Thankfully,these plans have met resistance. But Administrator Lee Zeldin and his political appointees at EPAshow no signs of slowing down, even after Congress has rejected manyoftheir proposalsona resounding and bipartisan basis. ForushereinLouisiana, where cleanwaterand air are urgentpriorities, it’stime to be vigilant, because ourhealth andsafety are at stake.

How is the current EPAleadership workingtounravelprotections for human health? To cite just one example of the stakes: ThousandsofLouisianans in the last few months have received lettersnotifying them they may receive their drinking waterthrough lead pipes, which create risks of lead exposure, causing learning disabilities and other health harms.

There is no way to replace these pipes,inLouisiana or across the nation, withoutfederalfunding.But last year,the EPAproposed abudget that eliminated allfunding from aprogram to help communities and families replacelead pipes.

This was part of an overall budget planthatslashed EPAfunding by more than half, including huge reductions forfunding that helps Louisiana andotherstates provide safedrinking water and theeliminationof

The good news is that Congress didn’tgoalong. The EPAbudget Congress approved in January includes somedifficult cuts, but it rejected the massive, damaging reductions EPA’sleaders tried to impose. Normally,you would expect an administration to learnfrom such overreaching and start protectingAmericans’ health. But this administration may need arefresher Already, EPA’spolitical leaders are rushing to roll back limits on so-called “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to reproductive problemsand cancer,and which are of particular concern in Louisiana. EPAisalsoplanning to roll back rules that require industrial facilities to plan for theprevention and response of accidentslike the August explosion of aplant in Roseland. So, Congress’ rejection of massive EPAbudget cuts is only part of the story. Congress and the American people need to keep sending themessage toEPA’s political leadership that we want to keep our clean air and clean water watchdog on guardtoprevent toxic pollution and to hold polluters accountable.

This isn’tabout partisan politics —Republicans and Democrats alike need clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. There can be reasonable disagreement about how strict environmental regulations should be, but surely we can agree that when laws are on the books, there should be acop on the beat to enforce them It is important that Congress puts our healthand safetyfirst, continues to reject massive cuts to the EPAbudget and rejects EPA’sother attempts to roll back protections for our health and safety. If theydon’t step up, then the EPAwill step back, and Americans will be on their own when facing toxic pollution.

RobVerchick holds the Gauthier-St.Martin Chair in Environmental Law at Loyola UniversityNew Orleans

He said his longevity may be due to his perspective: He always sees the glass as halffull. Science backs his supposition, as studies show that optimists tend to live longer than pessimists.

For 105-year-old Myrle, it wasfocusing on the future. In acharming Southern accent, she declared, “I live forthe future and don’tdwell on the past. The past is in the past.” Even when her health madegetting out of her house difficult, she still looked forward to tomorrow’svisit with her son or her next vanilla ice cream cone. Apositive outlook boosts longevity

So does an attitude of thankfulness, like Ifound with 93-year-old Sallie. She always had something to be grateful for: apicked wildflower,the ability to take long walks, a library book, anew great-grandbaby

“I’m so blessed,” she said, over and over.Even after suffering astroke, she proclaimed, “I’m thankful foranother day!”

Father Floyd, a97-year-old priest, said his key to longevity waslove.

“Love, that’sall there is to being apriest,” he said. “That’s all there is to being aperson, too.”

Father Floyd rarely had to harbor negative emotions. Numerous studies have suggested that embracing positive emotions and having Floyd’sinner peace may contribute to living longer

While none of us are guaranteed tomorrow,much less 90 years like Sallie or David or Father Floyd, or 100 years like Dick VanDyke or Aline or Myrle. Regardless, we can still learn from these wise, older folks.

But implementing these tips and tricks forlongevity Aline’sdancing, David’spositive outlook, Myrle’sfuture focus, Sallie’sgratitude and Father Floyd’slove —can only makeour days, and this often-dark world, alittle brighter Olivia Savoieisafamily heirloom biographer who residesinLafayette.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK JESSE JACKSON

Tributes poured in this week for civilrights leader Jesse Jackson, whodied at age84. His long career spanned some of the movement’sbiggest milestones. He worked alongside MartinLutherKingJr. and wasatwo-time Democratic presidential candidate.His work to uplift Blackpeople and promote policies that improve economic opportunitiesfor thepoor through organizations likehis RainbowPUSH Coalition is among the things he will most be remembered for.A skilled orator,Jackson also wasalso known forhis words, and manyrecalled what he taught them personally.Hereare twoperspectives.

Speeches helped keep hope alivefor so many

Iamwho Iamtoday in part because of a speech Iheard in fifth grade at MatthewA Henson Elementary School in Baltimore It was 1970, and the auditoriumwas full of little Black boys and girls, fidgeting, waiting for the speaker to begin.

“I am somebody,” avoice boomed from the stage, shaking us to attention Ihavenever forgotten that day when the Rev.Jesse Jackson spoke life into me, eventuallyinspiring me to go to college. His words pushed me to overcome the feeling of beingunwanted.At4,Ihad to go live withmy grandmother,Big Mama. My four siblings and I—one older,three younger —arrivedatmygrandmother’sWest Baltimore home, disheveled, hungry and sick.Weonly had the clothes on our backs. Had it not been for my grandmother,wewould have been placed in foster care.

“I may be on welfare, but Iamsomebody,” Iyelled along with my classmates.

Ididn’tneed to be ashamed of my situation, because Iwas somebody Jackson had us repeatedly chant, “I am somebody.”

Igoback to that day and that speech when Iget discouraged, when someone questionsmycredentials,insinuating that Igot into college or ajob simply because of the color of my skin. It’shappened throughout my career,even when I arrived at The Washington Post Ireplace their voices with Jackson’swords, “I am somebody.”

Civilrightsiconwas an agentfor chaosand change

The Rev.Jesse Jackson’sdeath surprised me with sadness.Though we didn’treally know each other,heand I intersected enough through decades of American history that Ifelt like I’dlost yet another friend in atime of shortening days.

arecipe. Ijust throw in ahandful of this and ahandful of that.”

My grandmother provided asecure home, but didn’twant me to dreamtoo big andbedisappointed. She wantedthe best for me, but the granddaughter of enslaved individuals knew all too well theobstacles Iwould face.

But then came the “I Am Somebody” speechfrom Jackson, who died Tuesday at 84. My aspirations to be awriter were motivated by Jackson’scall-and-response keynote.

“Say it after me,” Jackson coaxed us.

“I am somebody!” The hundreds of little voices shouting those words still stick with me.Iyelled it at the top of my voice.

“I may be poor,but Iam somebody,” Jacksonsaid.“Imust be respected, protected, never rejected.” That hit home. Iwas aweepy child, cravingthe love of parents who abandoned me. Igrewup watching my grandmother drive fromone bar to another on Fridays, searchingfor my grandfather before he drank awayhis paycheck. My mother drifted in andout of my life, breaking one promise after another.The first time Irecall seeingmyfather wasinaprison visiting room.

“I may be on welfare, butIamsomebody,” Jackson said during the assembly Ireceived free lunch, andmygrandmother would get boxes of powderedmilk and large blocks of government-issued cheese. Iwas embarrassed that we needed the assistance.

Jackson’sdeath makes me even sadder,given the current attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programsbythe Trumpadministration. President Donald Trumpposted on his TruthSocial profile avideo clip depicting former President Barack Obama andformer first lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump deleted the video, but refused to apologize for sharing it.

TheNational Urban League’sState of Black America 2025 report highlightsthe dismantling of civil and voting rights and theelimination of diversity initiatives: “We are watching an attempt to turn back the clock to an era when the full humanityof all Americans was not recognized —when the idea of true equalitywas treated as a threat to the social order.”

Jackson’sdeath comes as we are enteringa difficult winter for Black America, one marked by economic regression and theerasure of hard-won protections. But he wouldn’twant us to have aspirit of surrender

In a1988 speech at the Democratic National Convention, Jackson, as he always did, offeredhopefor the poor who work every day but still can’tafford healthcare or ahome.

“Hold on,” he told thecrowd. “And hold out.” Ican still hear Jackson’scall to tune out those whowould tell me I’m less than. I foundmyvoice because of Jackson, and I have used it to help people understand personal finance and build legacy wealth for their family Iamsomebody because Jackson told me Iwas. AndI believed him

Michelle Singletary is on X, @SingletaryM.

Ibecame aware of Jackson, ason of my homestate of South Carolina, in 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr.was assassinated in Memphis.Jackson, then 26, was at his side and has been acultural and political constant ever since.

Throughout the1970s, adecade I spent largely in university libraries, Jackson earned headlines pushing for social justice in poor, Black neighborhoods and organized boycotts to pressure corporations tohire African Americans. He flourished in amelee of youthfuldiscontent. The women’sliberation movement and protests against theVietnam Warcoalesced with civil rights into ajuggernaut of radical change. No one was immune to the chaos that Jackson helped create.

In 1984, Isat up straight when Jackson delivered his historic Rainbow Coalition speech at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.Watching from home, where Iwas confined to bed rest for thefinal three monthsofmypregnancy,Iwas mesmerized when Jackson declared, “Our flag is red, white and blue, butour nation is arainbow —red, yellow, Brown, Black and White —and we’re all precious in God’ssight.”

Amen,brother Beforethe 1984 convention, disappointed that Iwouldn’tbeable to attend and further sidelined by my beat as food and wine writer for the Mercury Newsin San Jose, Iwas determined to produce a timely byline. Buthow could Isqueeze a political story out of afood beat? Ilanded on asilly but salable idea: If we are what we eat, shouldn’tweknow what aspiring presidents consume?

My first call was to Jackson’shome in Chicago. Inearly fell off the sofawhen Jackson’swife, Jacqueline Jackson, picked up. When Iexplained my idea, she wasall in. Jackson’sfavorite food was fried chicken, she told me. His favorite snack was raisins. Andhis favorite dessert was chocolatecake. When Iasked for her cake recipe, she said, “I don’tuse

Isaw Jackson afew moretimes through the years, attending his speeches the way others attended rock concerts. In June 1999, Iwas in France when I learned that Jackson would be speaking at the American University of Paris. By then, he had becomeaglobal figure, chatting up dictators, securing hostage releases and leapfrogging from crisis to crisis. Just the month before, he had secured the release of three American soldiers from captivity by Yugoslav forces. At the top of his game, surrounded by media and protesters, Jackson arrived 30 minutes late to the university venue where 150 people were futilely fanning themselves in the stifling heat of abuilding without AC. He swept into the room like adeity searching forapedestal. Ishouldn’thave been surprised that the once-humble civil rights organizer would embrace his own myth. Most politicians do. Moreover, Jackson had telegraphed his elevated self-image in a1983 Associated Press profile in which Sharon Cohen wrote that he saw himself walking “the lonely,dusty road of the prophets” sent forth like Jesus, Gandhi and King “to show others the wayout of the wilderness.”

Our last intersection wasadecade later in New York, where we were guests at a dinner hosted by United Nations ambassador Susan Rice. Jackson stood apart, watching the swarm of younger notables. Sensing our mutual invisibility,I wandered over,introduced myselfand shared memories of ouraccidental encounters. He was gracious, humble and seemed grateful. He asked if Iwould pose fora picture with him.I said it would be an honor My sadness isn’tonly forJackson but also forthe end of an era that, forall its fraught moments, aimed foramore just society and an elevated purpose that called upon our better angels. I’mafraid those angels may have been Jackson’s advance team and have taken flight with him.Rest in peace, Rev.Jackson. You’re in the best company now

Email Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@washpost.com.

LSU ralliesto getpast OleMiss

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

OXFORD,Miss. – Things looked dire forthe LSU women’sbasketball team. OleMiss was forcing too many turnovers. Hitting too many 3s. Fighting for too manysecondchance opportunities. Then the No. 7Tigers settled in andstarted turningdefense into offense, which allowedthemtogoonthe road andpullout amiraculous 78-70come-from-behind win The No. 17 Rebelsled 58-45 near thehalfway mark of the third quarter.They just needed to hit afew more shots in the fourth to preserve the win, which would’ve come with important NCAA Tournament seeding implications.

But Ole Miss simply collapsed on offense, missing all 17 of its fourth-quarter field-goal tries. Flau’jae Johnson andMiLaysia Fulwiley took advantage of those errant shots and led the Tigers into fast-break chances that inspired the improbable win.Fulwiley scored acareer-high 26 points, whileJohnson added 18. Before they met Thursday,LSU andOle

ä See LSU, page

SPO

GOLD STANDARD

Team USAcomes from behind to winwomen’s hockey gold in overtime, Page 4C

‘Henever wavered’

Inside RHPGuidry’sdifficult road back from injury —and hisnew mindset

Gavin Guidry now sees thegame differently The last year haschangedhim. How coulditnot? Aback injury tookaway thesport he dedicated hislife to for 12 months.

Guidry has returned to thefield as thesame fiery right-handedreliever who closed outLSU baseball’sseventh national championship as afreshman. But theredshirt junior nowseeshis career in anew light since the injury He’scontentwith whatever happens on thefield.

“If Ithrow good, cool,” Guidry said. “IfIdon’tthrow good, it is what it is, because Idid everything that Ipossibly could have done over thelast 12 months to put myself in a situation tosucceed.”

Guidry’srefreshed perspective on the game has produced sterling results. He tossedtwo scorelessinnings and recorded five strikeouts

against Milwaukee on opening day his first appearance in agamesince the Chapel Hill Regional in 2024. His secondouting was even better, throwing 21/3 innings with five strikeouts andnohits allowed againsta frisky Kent State offense. It washis first save since May 11, 2024. Despite undergoing surgery and missing all of last season, Guidry is once againa critical arminLSU’s bullpen. TheTigerswillneedhim at his best again this weekend when they travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to participate in the Jax College Baseball Classic beginning on Friday against Indiana(1p.m., D1Baseball). “He neverwavered,” LSUcoach ä See LSU, page 3C

LSU right-handed pitcher Gavin Guidrywalks to the dugout before agame against North Alabama on March9atAlex Box Stadium.Guidry is back in LSU’slineup followingaseason of recovery from aherniated disc. STAFFFILE PHOTOBy

MICHAEL JOHNSON

The finish line for the New OrleansPelicans is just 26 games away And truth be told, there isn’tawhole lot waitingfor them when they get there There’sreallynochance for the playoffs, consideringthe Pelicansare 12 games behindthe 10thplace Los Angeles Clippers in the loss column forthe final play-in spot. And of course, no draft picks are awaiting them, so there’snoreason to tank either.

So just what is interim coach James Borrego’smessage to his team as theyexit the All-Star breakand into no man’sland?

“Wewanttoplay our best basketball right now,” Borrego said Thursday.“Thegoal is forthis to be our best two months of basketball. Wherever that lands us, that lands us.Focus on finishing strong andgetting better. The Pelicans went 5-5 in their 10 games beforethe break. That easily could have been 7-3 except the Pelicans let winnable

No. 1versus No. 2. No other pair of numbers stir the imagination quite so much. Knowing that what’sabout to happen whatever the sport —isgoing to be the best against thebest

“You don’tget to see 1versus 2on thefloor very often,” LSU gymnast Kylie Coen said. Typically,that’s true. Butwhen it comes to women’scollege gymnastics,LSU and Oklahoma have made No.1versus No. 2matchups almost commonplace. When they square off Friday in Norman, Oklahoma, for their Southeastern Conference dual meet (8 p.m., ESPN2), it will be theseventh straight time dating back to 2024 that the Tigers and Sooners will compete in the samemeet as thenation’stop two teams. They’ve won thepast two NCAA championships, though not exactly against each other (more on that later). They shared the SEC regular-season title last year.They

tied forthe best score in the seasonopening Sprouts Collegiate Quad, with OU getting the first-place trophy based on the rarely used sixthplace tiebreaker There is no trophy forthis meet; this will be twohours of tumbling and soaring and gymnasts trying to stick two-footed landings like they’re doing somersaults in the backyard. LSU coach Jay Clark likes to think of it as simply another step along the waytothe really big meets—the SEC Championships in March in Sooner country in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the NCAA Championships in April in Fort Worth, Texas. In the sometimes up-is-down, black-iswhite world of gymnastics, whowins a meet like this doesn’tmatter all that much.

“It’sone of the nuances of our sport,” Clark said. “You could theoretically lose every competition all year long, still ä See RABALAIS, page 6C

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS

Dodgers executive chosen as new Lakers president

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers executive Lon Rosen is moving into the Los Angeles Lakers ‘ front office in the latest significant change for the 17-time NBA champion organization following its sale last year Rosen will be the Lakers’ president of business operations, the team announced Thursday He replaces Tim Harris, who is planning to step down after 35 years with the Lakers.

Can Busch find success again?

Slumping star was once the most dominant driver in NASCAR

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Kyle

Busch’s feisty spirit surfaced late at the end of another empty Daytona 500 for the perennial race loser The Daytona pole sitter, Busch was running outside the top 20 in the final laps when he let off the gas and faded to the back of the pack as wrecks up front started to muddle the running order His crew chief radioed Busch and asked if he slowed because the Toyota was out of fuel.

Busch’s retort was blunter

“What the (heck) am I going to rush into the wreck for,” Busch said. “We’re running (expletive) 30th.”

Busch finished 15th, another middling result as he ran the longest active Daytona 500 losing streak to 21 straight races Whatever spark winning the pole may have provided never materialized with only 19 laps led. The optimism of racing for the first time in a points race with a new crew chief faded early, and Busch was left to chew on the fact that a Daytona 500 win remained the lone void in a career that will eventually see him join big brother Kurt in the Hall of Fame.

“If I don’t ever win it, I’m going to have to be happy with not ever winning it,” Busch said “I’ve pretty much fulfilled my career If it were to end yesterday, I would be happy with everything.”

Just not much of late.

At 40, Busch is reeling on a once-inconceivable 94-race Cup Series losing streak, and he has turned in a contract year to a new crew chief at Richard Childress Racing to resuscitate his career all while embroiled in an $8.5 million lawsuit against an insurance company — to remind everyone that he can still hang on as a championship contender.

“It’s something I never would have thought would happen,” Busch said.

How did Kyle Busch fall off?

Through the first two decades of his career, one detail showed no signs of changing: Busch was a winner Take 2008, Busch’s first season with Joe Gibbs Racing He won eight races in the Cup Series, 10 more in NASCAR’s second-tier series and, for good measure, three in the Truck Series.

“Literally, these words came out of my mouth: ‘See, it can be

easy,’” Busch said with a laugh.

Busch made it look easy He won Cup titles with Gibbs in 2015 and 2019 and romped through NASCAR’s lower two series with so much ease that rules were put in place to choke off his number of races each season.

“We were just laughing,”

Busch said. “It can be easy It’s just a matter of how wellprepared you are and how good your stuff is.”

Busch’s stuff was good enough to win 232 times — a NASCAR record — across the three national series. Busch moved to Richard Childress Racing in 2023, and he showed flashes he was the same elite racer as he was at JGR with three wins in the first 15 races of the season.

The checkered flags dried up.

Busch’s career tapered off, both inexplicably because of his Hall of Fame talent yet understandably because RCR had long receded from its spot as a championship contender in the Cup Series.

He had the best of everything in the No. 18 Toyota, fueled in large part by the financial support of longtime sponsor Mars. Even as recently as 2020, Busch believed there was a shot he could finish his career with the same seven career titles as record-holders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty

Once Mars pulled out of the sport after 2022, Busch and JGR failed to land the timely sponsor-

ship deal that infuses teams with the big payday largely needed to operate.

Busch was unceremoniously out as JGR made room for Joe Gibbs’ grandson, Ty Childress, who tussled with Busch in 2011 after a Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway, offered the professional lifeline needed in the No. 8 Chevrolet.

The pairing initially seemed perfect Busch won the second race of the 2023 season at Fontana, eight races later at Talladega and five races after that at Gateway. He followed that with four straight top-10 finishes and seemingly had brought that taste of the good life with him from JGR to RCR.

Busch said in retrospect he realized wins came in large part because RCR had been ahead of the curve when NASCAR launched its Next Gen car in 2022.

“RCR was actually involved in a lot of the car’s development in the early stages with NASCAR,” Busch said. “They were one of the first teams to work on things and get ahead of it. (At JGR), we didn’t do anything. We were like, ‘Nah, we’re not going to do anything. We’ll deal with it when we get there.’”

Gibbs and Hendrick and Team Penske soon caught up and surpassed — Busch and RCR. Even 23XI Racing sped ahead after winning the Daytona 500 with Tyler Reddick.

Busch posted just 10 top 10s

each of the last two seasons. He is not even a playoff driver, much less racing for a third championship. Can Bush recover in 2026?

Busch hasn’t set a timetable on his career and said he won’t continue to race for purely financial reasons, even as he claimed he is out $10.4 million and filed suit in October alleging Pacific Life Insurance Company failed to reveal the true risks of the policies, along with providing false and negligent representations of what was supposed to be taxfree income for retirement.

“It’s only driven by my passion for it,” Busch said. “The monetary value of my career is irrelevant right now.” Busch’s son, Brexton, turns 11 this year and has followed his father’s path into racing. He’ll race Legends cars and in the junior late model series this year, and dad still has hopes father and son can race against each other in Trucks once Brexton turns 17.

Busch can’t stomach limping to the NASCAR career finish line without celebrating more wins, more championships. Careers rarely end on high notes for NASCAR’s greats: Petty won his 200th career race in 1984 and never again when he retired in 1992. Johnson was still in championship form when he won his third race of 2017 in June — and never again over the final 3 ½ years of his full-time career

McIlroy handles weather to share lead at Riviera

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

LOS ANGELES Rory McIlroy would have preferred playing in the rain compared with the wind that followed Thursday at Riviera. He handled both well enough for a 5-under 66 to share the clubhouse lead with Jacob Bridgeman in the Genesis Invitational.

Scottie Scheffler couldn’t get off the course fast enough. He was tied for last in the 72-man field, without a birdie through 10 holes when play was suspended by darkness. The rain that formed puddles on the already soft greens led to a three-hour stoppage. Players returned to far more difficult conditions with a wind that was strong and cold, and putting surfaces with a rare combination of

being super soft and super quick. McIlroy opened with three birdies in four holes He saved par on the par-3 sixth by chipping over the bunker in the middle of the green. He dropped only one shot to join Bridgeman, who contended last week at Pebble Beach and played his best in the strongest conditions.

“I’ve started to just really enjoy this style of golf,” said McIlroy, who grew up in Northern Ireland but spoke early in his career of his fondness for warmth and sunshine.

“If you had asked me 10 years ago, I didn’t enjoy these conditions, but it’s been a shift in a mindset and maybe just a continuation of trying to build upon the skill set that I have,” he said.

“Then when it does get to conditions like this I’m a lot more prepared. I wouldn’t say I enjoy

them, but I can certainly handle them better.”

Aaron Rai was at 6 under with two holes remaining when it was too dark to continue The round was to resume Friday morning, and the forecast was dry for the rest of the week.

Ryan Fox had a 67, and Pebble Beach winner Collin Morikawa was in the group at 68.

But it was an odd combination of conditions, particularly the greens. Most amazing was Adam Scott’s tee shot on the par-3 sixth that landed inches from the cup and plugged into the turf.

McIlroy was poised to make one last birdie when he ripped a 9-iron downwind from 181 yards near the pin, only to see it spin back off the front of the green. Another shot rarely seen came on the short 10th when he was well left of the green in the rough, 60

yards away to a pin all the way to the right. He flew it all the way to pin and it stopped inches from where it landed.

“I honestly don’t know how they got it to this. Like, I’ve never seen greens like this,” said Morikawa, who grew up 30 miles away. “You could stop any club from anyplace — from the rough, flyer lies I think I had two or three shots today, flyers out of the first cut and rough and I’m not worried about missing the green at all.”

The biggest surprise was Scheffler, who was headed toward a third straight tournament where he failed to break par in the opening round. He hasn’t done that since his rookie season in 2020, and this was more frustrating based on how hard he slammed a bathroom door on No. 9.

Rosen has been the Dodgers’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer since 2012, the same year Mark Walter purchased the baseball team. The Dodgers have become a powerhouse under Walter’s ownership on and off the field, amassing star-studded rosters that have won three of the last six World Series.

Former manager Melvin returning as A’s assistant MESA, Ariz. — Former big league manager Bob Melvin is returning to the Athletics as a special assistant in baseball operations

The Athletics said Thursday that Melvin will advise the front office. The 64-year-old managed the A’s to three AL West titles from 2011-21, then left for San Diego and later San Francisco. The 64-year-old previously managed Seattle and Arizona.

Melvin was voted American League Manager of the Year in 2012 and 2018 with the A’s and led them to the playoffs six times while compiling an 853-764 record. The only manager in franchise history with more wins was Connie Mack with 3,582 for the Philadelphia Athletics from 190150.

Lakers’ Doncic to return; Reaves off restriction

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers expect to be fully healthy for the first time in recent memory when they return from the All-Star break.

NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic said Thursday that he will “probably” return to the court after missing the Lakers’ final four games before the break with a mild hamstring strain.

Austin Reaves also will no longer be on his minutes restriction stemming from a five-week absence with a calf injury, coach JJ Redick said after practice at the Lakers’ training complex.

LeBron James, who went into the break by becoming the oldest play to record a triple-double, is also expected to be uniform when the Lakers host the Clippers.

Hataoka, Wannasaen tied after first round of LPGA CHONBURI,Thailand Nasa Hataoka shot a 7-under 65 Thursday on the Siam Country Club Old Course and was tied for the lead after the opening round at the LPGA Thailand, the first of three tournaments in Asia in consecutive weeks.

Hataoka, who was runner-up at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, has won five individual LPGA tournaments and two in the International Crown team event.

She was tied Thursday with Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen. Gemma Dryburgh, who opened her round with an eagle and three birdies, was a stroke behind with a 66 and level with Somi Lee and Hye-Jin Choi.

Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and Lydia Ko shot 67s and were in a group of 10 tied for sixth.

Cardinals break ground on performance center

PHOENIX The Arizona Cardinals broke ground on a new performance center and team headquarters Thursday moving forward in an attempt to improve practice facilities that NFL players deemed among the league’s worst in 2025. The north Phoenix development which is expected to be ready in time for preseason training camp in 2028 — is located on a 217-acre property that was purchased at auction for $136 million.

The

The Cardinals finished

among

Jay Johnson said. “He was standing right next to me forthe entire season last year. He should take alot of pride in last year’s championship,but he’sacompetitor.I don’twant him in the dugout. Iwant himonthe pitcher’s mound.”

Theinjury

Guidry’spath back to the field was many things, but it certainly wasn’tstraightforward. There weresetbacks. There were sleepless nights and days whenhis appetite was affected. There were even timeswhen he wondered if he’d ever return to the field.

The official diagnosis for Guidry’sinjury was aherniated disk in his L4-L5 vertebrae. But Guidry has no clue what caused the injury or whenithappened He only suspects that it may have been around since high school, when he dealt with back issues as asenior

“Bending over,rotating,lifting, throwing,” Guidrysaid, “really everything gave me ahard time beforeIhad surgery (last year).”

Guidry’sinjury sounds severe on the surface, but his spinespecialist and LSU athletictrainer Isaac Trujillo downplayed the ailment at first. He was told that afew injections and somemedicine would make him better,a tactic that would reduce inflammation and worked “85%ofthe time.” But that’snot what happened. Guidry attempted to return from his injury on multiple occasions throughout the first half of last season. But after eachthrowing session, his pain would return Recovering from those workouts was the biggest issue.

“There’d be some dayswhere Iwould wake up, and Iwas like, ‘Okay,we’re starting to kind of get some things going. We’re starting to figure it out. I’m going to pitch this year,’ ”Guidry said. “And then three days later, it would be just like, ‘I can’t sleep because I’m in so much pain.’”

Johnson eventually announced on April 16 that Guidrywould undergo back surgery and be out for the remainder of the2025 season. It meant that Guidry had to watchfrom the dugout as histeammates delivered LSU’s eighth national championshipin June. But his decision to have the procedure was ultimately about more than just baseball.

“Wejust had to get my body back right to kind of just make sure that Ididn’tmess something up for,not even just baseball, just my life,” Guidry said. “Back pain isn’treally something that you want to deal with and mess with. So Ijust kind of got to the point where Ihad to make adecision for myself to make sure Igot to live anormal life, even if the baseball thing didn’twork out.”

Post surgery

Guidry began to feel better after surgery,but it didn’t takelong for the stiffness and pain to return.

Guidry’ssurgeon had warned him and Johnson that it would take time after the procedurefor the Louisiana native to feel like himself again, adding that one day everything would click into place for him and he’d quickly start to feel better However,asthose setbacks began to take shape, doubtcrept in. It tooka tollonthe pitcher’smental health.

“That reallymessed me up mentally too, because Istarted feeling better and then Istarted feeling bad again,” Guidry said. “I thought something went wrong with the surgery or something happened.”

But LSU strength and conditioning coach Chris Martin wasn’t surprised. During his timeinthe Houston Astros organization, he saw players return from similar procedures.

Backs, he said, are finicky

“It’snot this linear,you start at one spot,and youjusttrend

ON DECK

WHO: Indiana (1-3) vs. LSU(5-0)

WHEN: 1p.m. Friday

WHERE: VyStar Ballpark, Jacksonville,Fla

ONLINE/TV: D1Baseball.com

RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1 (Baton Rouge); WWL-AM,870 (New Orleans); KLWB-FM,103.7 (Lafayette)

RANKINGS: LSUisNo. 2by

D1Baseball; Indiana is not ranked

PROBABLESTARTERS: LSU —RHP

CasanEvans (0-0,10.80 ERA, 3.1 IP,2 BB,7 SO)

Indiana— LHP Tony Neubeck (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4.0 IP,3 BB,2 SO)

PREGAME UPDATES: theadvocate. com/lsu

WHATTOWATCH FOR: LSU turned to sophomoreright-hander Casan Evans as its opening daystarterlast Friday and willlikely turntohim again in Jacksonville.Evans allowedfour earned runs in31/3 innings against Milwaukee. Indianagot swept by No. 10 NorthCarolina on the road to open theyear,but demolished Bradley at home on Tuesday. —Koki Riley

up indefinitely,” Martin said. “There are days where it feels great,dayswhereitdoesn’tfeel so good. But once we turned that corner,things really smoothed out, and at that point, it was just kind of afullgo.”

Therampup

Toward theend of the summer, Guidry had finally turned that corner.Hefelt well enough to return to theweight room and start building up his armstrength.

Fortunately forMartin, he could take his time with Guidry’s ramp-up. Fall practice hadn’t even started yet, so therewas no point in rushing Guidry into pitching shape.

“When you take that much time off from throwing,that’s abreak that most of these guyshavenot hadintheircareers ever,” Martin said. “And so we just had to make sure we wereresponsibleand had appropriately thought out throwing buildup. (We) probably went alittle bitslower than we had to.”

Guidry returned to the mound by theend offallpractice, coming back as astrongerand more agile pitcher.Not havingtoworry about playing in agame until February allowed him to spend more time improving his body

That extra work is already starting to pay off. His fastball velocityhas been up to 93 mph this year,and he’sgainedback the weighthelost while he was sidelined. He now checks in at about188 pounds.

“He’sstronger.He’smoving more athletically,”Martin said. “He’smoving faster down the mound. Hiscenter of mass is moving faster down themound.

“All of that has lent itselftothe increaseinvelocity.And with a guylike that, who really knows howtopitch, can throw 4or5 pitches for strikes wheneverhe wants, that uptick in velocity makes everything else just play up in the arsenala little bit better.”

Butarguably the mostimportantaspect of Guidry’searly success has been his new perspective on thegame. The work he’s done overthe past12months didn’tjust change hisbody It also freed his mind.

“If somebody gets me and I don’tthrowwell,Ican live with it just because Idid everything that Ipossibly could,” Guidry said. “I can look myselfinthe mirrorand know that therewasn’tanything else that Icould do.

“And Ithink for any young kids outthere that want to know what competing is, like that’swhatultimate freedom is on the mound or in thebox or inany sport. If you feel like youare fully prepared andthere’s nothing else that you couldhave done to prepare yourself, then youcan justgoout there and compete.That’sthe fun part.”

Franklin’s speed, power ahighlight forTigers

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributingwriter

LSU’sAlix Franklin played third baseher entire career until moving to right field this season, but opponentsare having trouble keeping her off the hot corner

Franklin has been oneofthe highlightsfor the No. 19 Tigers offensively witha.333 average and four triples, aresult of her combination of speed and power. With a homer and adouble, hersix extra base hitslead the team.

Franklin, asophomore from St Amant, is one of the team leaders going into this weekend’sPurple and Gold Challenge. LSU plays Michigan State at 6:30 p.m. Friday followed by adoubleheader Saturday against UL (4 p.m.) and Michigan State(6:30 p.m.)and aSunday game against Howard (1:30 p.m.)

“It’simpressive; I’d like to say I’m surprised,but I’mnot,” LSUcoach Beth Torina said. “She’sa gamer I’ve knownthat about her from recruiting and watching her play travel ball.She gets hits in big situations and thrives under pressure.”

Franklin came up big in Tuesday’s game,lininga bases-loaded triple to the right field corner against South Alabama to key a7-run inning. Her eight runs batted in are fourth on the team andher production has persuaded Torinatomove herfrom No. 8inthe batting order to No. 5to start the season.

“I’msogratefuland blessed to be out here, so thankful,” Franklin said.

She played in two games with one start andbatted three times in 2025. Her first triptothe plate this season was auspicious as she slammed atriple into therightcenterfield gap. It’searly,but she’s on pace to break theschool record forthree-baggersina season(14) set by Treen Peel in 2002.

After herfirst one, she looked into the stands to find her father and youthcoach, DerrickFranklin, whoplayed basketball at

ä Michigan State at LSU 6:30 P.M.

Southeastern Louisiana. As the season has gone on, she’sestablisheda growing cheering section of around 15 from the St. Amant community.Franklin is one of two Louisianaplayers on the team.

“Theyare thereason Iplayhere,” Franklin said. “Last year was one of the hardest seasons of my life. Knowing I’m going to look up and see my old high school, coaches, my family,that’swhat kept me going through last year.That’swhat drives me to workhard, seeing my dad happy,it’severything to me.

“I go back every off day to help themand hang outwiththe team Ihave given someofthem softball lessons. I’malways giving back. That meant everything to me.” Franklin hasn’tbeen hampered by learning anew position. With more depth at third base and wanting to get herbat intothe lineup, Torina decided in fall practice that

her throwing arm was aplus.

“I thought Alix had ashot to make this lineup offensively,soI needed to find aspace forher,” Torina said. “She wasthe mostsuited to go out there. (Her arm is) one of the best, a75miles-per-hour arm.” It wasdifferent, Franklin said.

“Knowing Ihave time in the outfield, Ihavetobecalculated with my first step and where I’mthrowing the ball. At third, everything is right at you. Ithrewsidearm a lotand nowI’m having to learnto throw over the top. That was difficult at first, but I’mgetting better every single day.Iwould love to (gobacktoplaying third). This is what the team needs, but I’m happy to be playing softball in my homestate.”

MichiganState is 6-3witha victory over No.13Clemson. Fourthyear Spartanscoach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley was astar player at Texas A&M and coached at LSU as avolunteer assistant among multiple coaching stops.

MLBunion head Meyerdismisses salary cap, defendsfreeagency

BY DAVID BRANDT AP baseball writer

PHOENIX— Bruce Meyerstaunchly defendedfree agency and salary arbitration on his first full day as head of the baseball players’ association,dismissing anypossibility of agreementonasalary cap in another sign of alikely labor confrontation next winter

The 64-year-old was promoted to executive director on Wednesday, aday after theforced resignation of Tony Clark, who had led the union since 2013. The sport’s five-year labor contract expires on Dec. 1and Major League Baseball is expected to proposeasalary cap.

“Webelieveinameritocracy,” Meyersaid Thursdayafter meeting with Milwaukee Brewers players “Webelieve in asystem, andplayers believeina system,that rewards players for performance.”

MLB players struck for 71/2 monthsin1994-95 to fight off acap proposal, astructure used by the NFL, NBA and NHL.

“Wedon’tbelieveina system that’sbasically azero-sum game thatsays ‘If we pay you, we’ve got to take that outofthe pocket of another player,’”Meyer said. “That’s how the other systemswork.”

Meyerspent 30 years at thelaw firm Weil, Gotshal &Manges beforejoining theNHL Players Association in 2016 as senior director of collective bargaining, policy and legal. He’sbeen the MLBPA’schief

negotiator since2018, thoughhis tenure hasn’t always been smooth. Someplayers tried to oust him two years ago, when with Clark’sbacking he fought off the challenge.

“You’re nevergoing to have, withthat many people,everybody agreeing with everything,” Meyer said. “It just doesn’thappen. Other unions I’ve been involved with and other labor situations, you’re never going to geteveryone on thesame page. Butyou try and do the most youcan. Disagreements are not just expected, they’re actually great.”

Meyerdefendedbaseball’ssystem of salary arbitration andfree agency that has existed since the mid-1970s and has pushed the average salary to the $5 million range.

“Salary arbitration is acrucial right.It’ssomething that players fought fordecadesago,” he said “It’simportant because it’sthe first ability aplayer has to really access something like theirfree market. It is not aperfect system, but it’sbetter than the alternative, certainly, thatthe league has proposed.” Under the current system, Juan Soto was able to commandarecord $765 million, 15-year contract fromthe New York Mets.

Thehigh-spending LosAngeles Dodgers won their second straight World Series last season after signing Shohei Ohtani to a$700 million, 10-year deal.

MLBCommissioner Rob Manfred says theteamsand fans are con-

cerned aboutpayroll disparity

“Salarycap doesn’thelpplayers at any level. It doesn’thelp the middle-class players,” Meyer said. “It’snot just amath gamebecause salary cap comes with an erosion or complete elimination essentially of guaranteed contracts. It eliminates freedom and flexibility And, of course,overtime,once you’re in thatsystem, the history is it always becomesworse and worse forplayers.”

Clark was asked to resign by the eight-mansubcommittee after an investigation by the union’soutside counsel discovered evidence he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law,aunion employee since2023, aperson familiar with theunion’sdeliberationstoldThe Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced.

Meyer said the MLBPAwill work with the same outside counsel to determine if anychangesneeded to be made to the organization in the aftermath of Clark’sresignation, including the future of the union’s office in Scottsdale.

“There’salot of things that are going to be under review,” Meyer said. “Wewanttomakesure we’re engagedinbest practices at all times. We’ll take recommendations from the people who are advising us,who aredoing investigations and audits, everything is up for review.”

MI LA

U.S. women strike gold

American hockey team tops Canada on Keller’s OT goal

BY JOHN WAWROW AP hockey writer

STOLZ STUNNED IN 1,500

METERS: U.S speedskater Jordan Stolz’s late push wasn’t enough.

The American star settled for silver in the 1,500 meters, missing a chance to secure a third gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games.

China’s Ning Zhongyan won Thursday’s race in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds.

The 21-year-old Stolz, who won gold medals in the 500 and 1,000 at these Games, crossed 0.77 seconds later

As Stolz glided by, hands on his knees, Ning raised his country’s flag aloft with both hands and started a victory lap.

Stolz, a Wisconsin native, will participate in the mass start on Saturday.

Dutch skater Kjeld Nuis, who won the 1,500 at the past two Olympics, took bronze.

U.S., CANADA MEN ADVANCE TO HOCKEY SEMIFINALS: In Milan, when the U.S. gave up a tying goal to Sweden with 91 seconds left in the quarterfinals at the Olympics, even the most seasoned players were on edge.

“That’s as nervous as I’ve been ever in a hockey game,” Dylan Larkin said. When Canada was trailing Czechia with under four minutes left, guys with gold medals and Stanley Cup rings started to feel butterflies.

After plenty of nerves, the U.S and Canada are moving on to the semifinals, though it took a roller coaster of emotions to get there Quinn Hughes scored in overtime to put the U.S. past Sweden 2-1 after Mika Zibanejad scored to tie it late “Just relief,” Hughes said.

Earlier Wednesday, Nick Suzuki tied it for Canada late in regulation against Czechia, and Mitch Marner won it 4-3 in overtime to avoid what would have been a stunning early exit.

GU ADVANCES TO HALFPIPE FINAL DESPITE FALL: Reigning Olympic champion Eileen Gu shook off a fall during her opening run to advance to Saturday’s final in freeski halfpipe The 22-year-old Gu was born in the United States and competes for China. She clipped the lip of the halfpipe on the third trick of her first run, knocking her left ski off and sending her skittering to the bottom of the course.

That set up a pressure-packed second attempt that run earned 86.50 points, good enough to place fifth among the 12 skiers who advanced to the final.

U.S., CANADA REACH WOMEN’S

CURLING SEMIFINALS: The United States and Canada advanced to the women’s curling semifinals

The U.S., skipped by Tabitha Peterson, beat Switzerland 7-6 in a match that went to an extra end.The teams will play again in Friday’s semifinals. Peterson threw the decisive rock and her teammates swept it into position, just a hair closer to the button than the Swiss’ nearest stone. Canada

10-7 and

MILAN Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime and the United States won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports’ most heated rivalries.

American captain Hilary Knight, in her fifth and final Olympics, forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The goal was the 15th of her Olympic career and 33rd point to break the U.S record in both categories.

With the sides playing 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Claire Thompson. Driving to the net, the U.S. assistant captain got off a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens over her right pad.

“I’m lost for words,” Keller said. “This is an incredible feeling I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special.”

The U.S. previously won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature women’s hockey and in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Canada, which won the other five gold medals, settled for its third silver Aerin Frankel stopped 30 shots for the U.S. Kristen O’Neill scored a shorthanded goal for Canada and Desbiens finished with 31 saves. This was the seventh of 12 Olympic meetings between the rivals to be decided by one goal and the third to go past regulation. Canada overcame a late 2-1 deficit to beat the U.S. 3-2 on Marie-Philip Poulin’s overtime goal

at the 2014 Sochi Games. The U.S. won 3-2 in 2018 when Jocelyne Lamoureux scored in a shootout.

Although the final couldn’t have been closer, the Americans were dominant in Milan, going 7-0 and outscoring their opponents by a combined 33-2.

Canada pushed the U.S. to the brink just nine days after it was beaten 5-0 by the Americans in the preliminary round.

O’Neill’s goal 54 seconds into the second period ended the Americans’ shutout streak of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 17 seconds, dating to the second period of a 5-1 opening win over Czechia. The U.S. had not trailed in the tournament.

As fans alternated chants of “USA! and “Ca-na-da,” Canada was within grasp of its sixth gold medal. The U.S. pulled Frankel

Liu gives U.S. 1st gold in women’s figure skating since ’02 Games

BY DAVE SKRETTA AP sportswriter

MILAN Alysa Liu delivered the U.S. its first women’s figure skating Olympic gold medal in 24 years, performing a near-flawless free skate Thursday night in a glittering golden dress to upstage Japanese rivals Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai at the Milan Cortina Games.

The 20-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area, who had walked away from the sport after the Beijing Games four years ago only to launch a remarkable comeback, finished with a career-best 226.79 points Nakai and Sakamoto, skating right behind her, each made a mistake on a combination sequence, and that made the difference in the medals. Sakamoto had 224.90 points to earn a silver to go with her bronze from Beijing. Nakai finished third with 219.16 points.

The moment Nakai’s score was read after the final program of the night, teammate Amber Glenn jumped onto the kiss-and-cry stand and raised Liu’s hand in triumph. Liu sheepishly turned and applauded the 17-year-old Nakai, who raced over and hugged her It’s the first gold medal for an American woman since 2002, when Sarah Hughes stood atop the podium in Salt Lake City Glenn finished in fifth behind Mone Chiba of Japan, a stunning rebound from a disastrous short program Tuesday night. Her season-best free skate gave a score of 214.91 points, and just about landed her on the podium as well.

Glenn pumped her first and fought back tears when her score was read, then she took a seat in the new “leader’s chair.” She wound up sitting there for quite a while.

for an extra attacker with 2:23 left, and Knight converted 19 seconds later Edwards slapped a low shot at the net that Knight tipped in through her legs and past Desbiens.

This was the first Olympics for Edwards, the first Black woman to represent the U.S in hockey

“We knew we had it in us, and Hil came up big with that tying goal,” Keller said. “I think just a lot of belief in our group. We wanted to play to win.”

For defending Olympic champion Canadians, this was considered a last hurrah for their aging core led by Marie-Philip Poulin.

“Captain Clutch” and her teammates showed resolve by pushing the Americans to the brink.

Canada hardly looked overmatched in the first period, and O’Neill opened the scoring by

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FRANCISCO SECO

Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the figure skating free program on Thursday in Milan.

Through an ice resurfacing. And through eight programs by other skaters, including American teammate Isabeau Levito, whose fall on her opening triple flip in an otherwise elegant performance kept her from taking over the top spot herself.

Adeliia Petrosian, the 18-year-old Russian competing as a neutral athlete at the Milan Cortina Games, tried the only quadruple jump during the women’s competition but fell on the quad toe loop. She was clean the rest of the way, but the points Petrosian lost on that fall ended up leaving her less than a half-point behind the leader

It was Chiba the ninth skater to follow Glenn that finally took over first place. That didn’t last long with Liu next on the ice.

capping a 2-on-1 short-handed break early in the second. Canada kept pressing its attack and had several chances in overtime.

A minute before Keller’s goal, Sarah Fillier moved up the right wing only to have her shot stopped by Frankel, with the puck landing in the crease.

The Americans extended their winning streak against Canada to eight. It began with two wins at the world championships in April, including the gold medal game.

The U.S. then swept a four-game exhibition series by a combined margin of 26-7.

The U.S., under coach John Wroblewski, revamped much of its roster from the team that lost 3-2 to Canada at the 2022 Beijing Games. This team featured just 11 returning players and seven who are still in college.

Crosby’s status unclear for semifinals

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AP hockey writer

MILAN Canada is not closing the door on the possibility of Sidney Crosby playing Friday against Finland in the semifinals at the Olympics after leaving the team’s quarterfinal game with an apparent right-leg injury that is still being evaluated. Crosby, Canada’s 38-yearold captain, did not take part in an optional practice Thursday

“Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament,” coach Jon Cooper said. “We’re taking this day by day. And we’re not going to put anyone in harm’s way But if he can play, he’s definitely going to.

“We’ll know more in 24 hours.’’ Crosby’s right knee buckled bracing for a hit from Czechia’s Radko Gudas five minutes into the second period Wednesday night, he left the game and did not return.

“He had six points in three preliminary round games, and his absence would create a void in even a lineup as deep and talented as Canada’s.

“It’s almost impossible to fill the player void, but we’ll do our best,” defenseman Drew Doughty said. “Guys got to step up.”

St.Michael builds lead, coasts past Collegiate BR

Warriors advance to Division II select regionals

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS

Contributing writer

St. Michael the Archangel’s Minni Gersch is atraditional post player that makesher living closetothe basket.

But when the Warriorsare out in transition, Gersch showed she can also let it fly

With St. Michael expanding a 31-point lead in the first three minutes of the third quarter, Gersch found herself in the trail position on afastbreak andstanding behind the 3-point line. The junior didn’thesitate, knocking down her shot in rhythm and the No.9LadyWarriorswenttoa 6022 home victory Thursdayover No. 23 Baton Rouge-Collegiate in the first round of the Division II select playoffs.

“It doesn’tgoinevery time like the last few games,”Gersch said. “I didn’treally expect it to go in. Itold them before the game that

my shot was off. When Itook it, they were all excitedbecause I made it.”

St. Michael (18-8) wasona 13-0 runtoopen thesecond half and kept the clock continuously running with a49-11 advantage. Gersch’s3-pointer was the third straight in therun for the Warriors where she scored seven of her team-high 14 points.

The Warriors traveltoNo. 8 Northside of Lafayette at 6p.m. Monday in regional action.

“I tell thegirls that if we focus on the little things,and do what we practice, we’re going to be successful,” said first-year coach Kegan Keller,anassistant at the school since 2019. “Everything will fallwhere it’ssupposed to.”

St. Michael, which shot 45% (25 of 56), had four players in double figures. Layken Ledet had 13, MykelAnn Dykes, who started in place of injured starter Riley Delmore,scoredall 12 of her pointson3-pointers, and Saniya Fultz added 10.

It was hard for Collegiate’s third-yearcoach JaylenHawkins to find fault with his Dolphins (11-12), who made their first trip to the playoffs.

“Wewanted to build this season,” said Hawkins, who was led by the 16 points of Ky Robillard.

“Although we didn’tfinish the way we wanted to, these girls played phenomenal. Some of the girls just started basketball this year.For the most part, it wasa great season.”

Collegiate took its only lead on Robillard’s runnertobegin the game.

St.Michael reeled off26unanswered points for a26-2 lead at the6:35mark of thesecond quarter.Gersch and Fultz combined for 14 of those points until Robillard’sfree throw ended Collegiate’sscoring drought of 13-plus minutes. The Warriors outscored theDolphins 21-6 in the quarter for a39-8halftime lead on Hayden Scallan’s15-foot,secondchance basket.

Back-to-back 3s from Ledet and Dykes provided St. Michael with thefirstofits two45-point leads, the second of which came on Dykes’ fourth 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter

“If we all play together,wecan beat the teams that are really good,” Gersch said.

Pels GuardMurrayexpected to return as soon as next week

BY RODWALKER Staff writer

The wait for DejounteMurray’s return is almost over

The New Orleans Pelicanspoint guard,who tore his Achilles tendon on Jan. 31, 2025, was afull participant in theteam’sfirsttwo practices (Wednesday andThursday) after the All-Star break.

“He’sclose,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said after Thursday’spractice. “I’dsay in the next week, he’sback on the floor playing NBA games,which is amazing.”

Murray played in 31 gamesfor the Pelicans last season, his first withthe team after beingacquired in atrade withthe Atlanta Hawks. He fracturedhis left hand in the season opener and missed

thenext17games. He played in 30 more games before the seasonending injuryagainst the Boston Celtics in theSmoothie King Center

BorregolikeswhatMurray can bring to ateam that is 15-41 at the All-Star break “Leadership, poise, just his voice, hismentality,” Borrego said. “The competitive spirit.He’s atwo-way player.A guy that can defend ata high level. We’ve seen that in the past. He knows howto run the club as apoint guard and can generate offense.”

Murray averaged 17.5 points and 7.4 assists inhis 31 games last season. Hisbestgame came against theUtah Jazz whenhe scored 26 points to go with 11 assists and nine rebounds.

ThePelicans return to action

with back-to-back home games. They host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday andthe Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday Trey Murphy,who is dealing with ashoulderinjuryfromthe game beforethe All-Star break, will be listedas“doubtful” for Friday’sgame, Borrego said. They return to play Tuesdayat homeagainst theGolden State Warriors. It’sunclear exactly which game Murraywill be back for, but Borrego welcomes his return.

“I’m expectinga lotfromhim,” Borrego said. “He’scoming off a massive injury,but what I’ve seen has been encouraging. Ilook forward to watching him.”

Email RodWalker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

TheMarch Madnessexpansion discussion hasbeenput on hold

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

The NCAA won’tdiscuss expanding the men’sand women’s basketball tournaments until after this year’sversion of March Madness finishes, senior vicepresident of basketball Dan Gavitt said Thursday Gavitt told that to agroupof reporters who were attending an NCAA event in Indianapolis There has been talk for the past fewmonthsthatthe NCAA could expand the tournamentfield to 72 or 76 starting in 2027.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said last year that adding teams could add value to the tournament, and he said the NCAA already has had“good conversations” with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros., whose deal runs through 2032at thecost of around $1.1 billiona

LSU

Continued from page1C

Miss had spent the previous two weeks jockeying for fourth place in the SEC. The winner of Thursday’smatchupwouldtakesole possession of that spot in the standings, putting itself on track to land adouble bye in the conference tournament. The Tigers have earned that right in eachof the last four seasons Now they’re on track to make it five. LSU won the fourth quarter 24-7. Fulwiley scored 10 points in that frame, mostly through dazzling transition finishes. She also added seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Star senior Cotie McMahon scored39pointsonTuesday in awin over Tennessee,and on

year. The NCAATournament expanded from 64 to 68 teams in 2011.The change introducedthe First Four round, aset of pre-tournament games in which the four lowestseeded at-largeteamsand four lowest-seeded conference champions compete forspots in the traditional64-team bracket.

Bakersaid in Novemberthat he supportedexpandingthe tournament, but that the decision was up to the basketball committees.

Bakeradmittedthatexpansion to potentially 76 teams would cause some logistical headaches such as movingteams playing in that opening round around the country on short notice. That doesn’toutweigh the positives if they can get more money from their television partners to payfor the expandedtournament.

“One of the things comes with

Thursday,she finished with 25 points on8-of-25 shooting. She was one of threeOle Miss players in doublefigures. Senior forwards Latasha Lattimore andChristeen Iwuala scored12and 13 points, respectively LSUplayed crisp offense in the first quarter,finding enough open looks to build a22-12 lead by the 3:45 mark of the frame. Things began to unravel, though, when Johnson rolled her left ankle, Fulwiley picked up her secondfoul, and Ole Miss started forcing turnovers. Theball started to stick for theTigers. In the second, LSU missed nine of its 14 shots and turned the ball over seven times. The Rebels blockedfour of those looks, then banked in asecond-chance layup to beat the halftime buzzerand take a43-37 lead into the break. Coach Kim Mulkeyput Fulwiley on the floor to start the second

Boys golf at Webb Park Team results: 1. Prairieville, 190. 2. Dutchtown, 194. 3. Ascension Christian, 220. Medalists: 1. Jordan Williams, Ascension Christian,43. 2. Champ Edmonds, Dutchtown, 44. 2. EdwardSanchezThompson, Prairieville, 44. at LSU

Par37 Team results: 1. East Ascension, 215. 1. Baton Rouge High, 215. 3. Livonia, 234.

Medalists: 1. Grant Smith, Episcopal, 39. 2. William Mullins, Episcopal, 41. 3. Austin Vela-Vick, Baton Rouge,44. Girls golf

at City Park

Par32 Team results: 1. Episcopal, 78. 2. St. Joseph’s,81. 3. LiveOak,82. Medalists: 1. Marcella Rabalais, Episcopal, 36. 2. Bayleigh Waldrep,Ascension Christian, 37. 3. Ainsley Callegan, Plaquemine, 40. 3. Brennley Robertson, LiveOak,40. 3. Berkley Reitzell, St. Joseph’s, 40. Girls basketball Nonselectplayoffs

DivisionI No. 1Zachary (bye) No. 17 Walker 53, No. 16 H.L Bourgeois39 No. 3Prairieville (bye) No. 7Denham Springs 52, No. 26 Covington 17

DivisionII No. 16 Lutcher 43, No. 17 Livonia41 No. 14 Plaquemine 51, No. 19 Grant25 No. 7Albany57, No. 26 Broadmoor 14 No. 10 Brusly 42, No. 23 Minden 24 DivisionIII No. 1FrenchSettlement(bye) No. 8Richwood 56, No.

WALKER

Continuedfrom page1C

the benefit of having (units) on both sidesisthat yougive schools and conferences reasons to invest in the sport,”hesaid.“Ithink this will make it more likely that schools will put additional resources into thegame which is good.”

Last season for the first time, women’sbasketball teams earned financial incentives, knownas units, for playinginthe NCAA Tournament. Theformula can be complicated, butthe bottom line is conferences received $113,000 for each game awomen’s team played in the NCAA Tournament up until the Final Four

The NCAA decided at its convention in January to award additional units to women’steams that made thechampionship game and the overall winner. The money for the additional units will be added to the total pool and not cause the value of each unit to drop at all.

half in place of Williams,and she gave theTigers aquick burstof offense.But OleMiss countered by building an 11-0run that gave it a58-45 lead by thehalfway point of the third. Sophomore guard Tianna Thompson bookended that scoring flurry with apair of 3-pointers –two of thethreeshe hit on Thursday The Rebels didn’tknowitatthe time, but thatbucket was the last one theyhit before they wentcold. Theymisseda staggering 25 of the next 27 shots they took LSUnextwillreturntothe Pete Maravich Assembly Center to play its final two home games of the regular season. The first oneisa matchup with Missouri (16-12, 4-9) that’sset to tipoff at 3p.m. Sunday. The second is acontest against No. 21 Tennessee, whichsuffered an upset loss to Texas A&M at home on Thursday

games against the Milwaukee Bucksand the Charlotte Hornets slip away ThePelicans are just 15-41 headinginto Friday night’sgame in theSmoothie King Center against the Bucks. That’sjust slightly better than the 13-43 record they had after 56 games lastseason. That team ayear ago won just eight more games the rest of the way to finish with the second-fewest wins (21) in an 82-game season in franchise history.This team should be able to eclipse 21 wins. Trey Murphy made it clear the team isn’tquitting on the season, despite the circumstances. The team’sgoals?

“Tocontinue to get better,continue to make strides in the right direction,” Murphy said. “That’s really all you can control, is how well youcan play.Idon’tbelieve in wasting timeorwasting days. So,goingout there trying to win gamesand get better is my goal either way.Ithink that’sjust the goal for everybody and the organization as awhole.”

Despite how rough things have been this season, there’splenty to payattention to. Questions about the franchise’sfuture could be answered based on what happensdown the stretch. And yes, there are plenty of questions.

n In what could be his final audition, can Borrego do enough to getthe interim tag removed from hisjob title? Borrego, who replaced Willie Green after Green was fired 12 games into the season, is 13-29 since tak-

ing over.Borrego is 5-5 with the lineup of Murphy,Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen. Borrego is 10-11 in games Jones has played.

n What type of impact will Dejounte Murray have after spending the past year rehabbing his torn Achilles suffered last season? Murray is expected to return within aweek.

n Can rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen continue to grow and develop?

n Will Jordan Poole, the second-highest-paid player on the roster,continue to stack DNPs beside his name? He hasn’t played in the past nine games.

n Will Zion Williamson, who has played in acareer-high 30 straight games, continue to be as available as he has been? These next 26 games will tell us. What’sarealistic goal?

“I’m adelusional guy when it comes to stuff like that,” Bey said. “I would never sit here and say we’ve got to go 13-13. We play Milwaukee (Friday). Let’s try to beat Milwaukee. We play Philly the next day.Let’stry to beat Philly.And just see what happens.”

After the team’sloss to the Miami Heat before the All-Star break, Borrego encouraged his players to enjoy the time off and come back ready to work.

“This group has been through a lot this season to this point,” Borrego said. “I love the battle they are showing; the growth they are showing. We have to comeback and be ready to go.” Yes, even in aseason that’sgoing nowhere.

Email RodWalkeratrwalker@ theadvocate.com.

ACOMIC CELEBRATION

Mid City Micro-Con willreturntothe Main LibraryatGoodwood from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday. In the spotlight are diverse and inclusivecomics, creators and fans. Also look for the artist’s alley, workshops with content creators and cosplayshowand tell. ebrpl.co/MicroCon.

BE CURIOUS AND LEARN

Aspecial Discovery DayatCapitol Park Museum from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Saturday will focusonBlack HistoryMonth. The program will highlight Black historyand culture through hands-on educational activities and museum exploration. Discounted admission ($5). https://louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/ capitol-park-museum.

PROVIDED PHOTO

David Louviere, left, is the barber SweeneyTodd andGabbyCario is meat pie shopowner Mrs.Lovett in the Sullivan Theater’sproduction of ‘SweeneyTodd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.’

Double debut

‘Sweeney Todd’ wreaks havoc at Sullivan; UpStage celebrates Coretta ScottKing

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

TheSullivan Theaterand UpStageTheatre are opening plays this weekend, eachwithwholly diverse themes.

Check them out here:

‘Sweeney Todd’

Heath McNeese smiles when asked about the secret chair

It’sthe chair the barber will use to disposeofhis victimsafter he slits their throats with astraight razor under the guise of giving them ashave.

His name is SweeneyTodd, and McNeese is directing the Sullivan Theater’sproduction of Stephen Sondheim’smusical named forthe barber

The show’sfull title is “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” and it opens Friday at the theater,8849Sullivan Road, Central. And even those who haven’tseen astage or movie version of this story are probably familiar with the barber’ssecret chair. Once Sweeney’sdone “shaving” aclient, he pulls alever,which tips the client out of achair and down achute. It’sachute that leads to Mrs. Lovett’spie shop, where hermeat piesseem to have increased in volume. And, well, you canguess the rest.

“Sweeney Todd”premiered at Broadway’sUris Theatrein1979.

AREA STAGES

Sullivan Theater’s ‘SweeneyTodd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ Friday-Sunday; and ThursdaysSundays, Feb.26-March 1and March 5-8. Sundaymatinees start at 2p.m. All other shows startat7:30 p.m. ● Sullivan Theater,8849 Sullivan Road, Central ● $28-$39 ● sullivantheater.com

UpStageTheatre’s‘ASong for Coretta’

3p.m. and 7p.m. Saturday, 3p.m. Sundayand 3p.m. Sunday, March 1 ● UpStageTheatre, 1713 Wooddale Blvd. ● $25 ● upstagetheatre.biz

‘Saturday

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

His name might not ring abell, but hisface is unforgettable.

That beakish nose, eyes that seem perpetually glazed, and facial muscles so pliable its contortions look effortless.

Comedian Jim Breuer ran the“Saturday Night Live” gauntlet from 1995 to 1998, gaining fame on theweekly live sketch comedyseries for his “Goatboy” character and dead-on impersonationsofJoe Pesci, Jack Nicholson and rock music icon AC/DC’s Brian Johnson. Breuer,anative New Yorker, dabbledinmovies for awhile, most notably in the1998 Dave Chappellestarring “Half Baked.” Breuer swears that hisface got him cast in the “ston-

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

Expect to see four-legged Hermiones, Dumbledoresand Voldemorts strutting around on Sunday as the Mystic Krewe of Mutts parades in downtown Baton Rouge. “Hairy Pawter,” anod to the fantasy epic book andfilm series, is the themefor theCapital Area Animal Welfare Society event, which offers activities catered to canines throughout the day.It’sthe largest annual fundraiser for CAAWS. Owners cansignuptheir dogs for

er comedy” because, as Chappelle pointed out,“Youalways look stoned.” He also voiced Crow in the2011 starpacked, Kevin James-led comedy “Zookeeper.”

At 58, the husband and father of three grown daughters has settled in Naples, Florida, and into hosting podcasts, YouTube series and theoccasional standup shows around thecountry. His “Find theComedy” tour hits Baton Rouge on Saturday for an 8p.m. set at L’Auberge Casino &Hotel’s Event Center.Tickets startat$32.30 at ticketmaster.com

Here, he talksabout what the local audience can expect and what lifeis like now Theinterview has been edited for clarity and length. Will youbeincorporating anyBaton Rougejokes into your show?

Yes, before theshow,Iusuallyhit a

the parade up and down North Boulevard and/or the dog costumecontest. Registration, which includes fees,ismandatory andaccessible at caaws.org.Somemay prefer to just bring their four-legged friends downtowntodog-and peoplewatch. Here’sthe schedule for the day: n 10 a.m.to 4p.m.: Bark in the Park, Galvez Plaza (featuring local vendorsincludingbusinesses,food vendors, food trucks and nonprofit organizations) n 11 a.m.to11:45 a.m.: Baton Rouge Police Department K-9 demonstra-

LIFE

downtownarea, and Iwalk around. I like hitting coffee shops, Ilike having lunch in town. Ieither listen to conversations or Ijust try to get the feel of the area. And that’susually my opening couple minutesoftrying to get the local feel before Ilaunch into what Ihave loosely planned for the evening.

Forpeople considering whether or not to bring children, what wouldbethe show’sparental rating? Inever suggest small kids, and only because they can’tunderstand half the material. But Icall it PG-13. And the only reason Isay PG-13 is morethe awareness. Idon’tcurse. Idon’tswear I’mnot going to go into subjects that makeyou cringe. Ihaven’tbeen doing that for15years or so, maybe more. …Sonoworries forbringing younger people.

ä See COMEDIAN, page 3D

tion, Galvez Plaza n Noonto1 p.m.: Dog CostumeContest, Galvez Plaza stage n 1p.m. to 2p.m.: Parade

organization marking its 45th

is “committed to the well-being of animals in the Baton Rougecommunity,facilitat-

FRIDAY

MIKE ESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant, 6p.m.

ERIC CANTRELLE: Sullivan’s Steakhouse,6p.m.

HISTORICAL HAPPYHOUR FEA-

TURING LAZARRO NETTLES & DEE DAVIS: West BatonRouge Museum, Port Allen,6 p.m.

DRAMA KINGS: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6p.m.

STYK: T’Quilas, Zachary,6p.m.

SAMJAM: El Paso,Gonzales, 6p.m.

CLAYTON SHILLING: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6p.m.

CAMPYLE DUO: Crowne Plaza, 6p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE: Agave Blue, Gonzales, 6p.m.

KARIN MUIZNIEKS: Drago’s Seafood, 6p.m.

DUSTIN LEE GUEDRY: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: PizzaArt Wine, 6:30 p.m.

STONE SOBER: Papi’s Fajita Factory,Watson, 6:30p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m

CHRIS ROBERTS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville,7p.m.

LEA &LU: Bin 77, 7p.m.

AC CAMPBELL: Court To Table, 7p.m

DEBUT

Continued from page1D

The story is acombination of dark comedy,thriller and gothic horror paired with challenging music.

“First of all,everyone loves Sondheim, and Ithink over the last couple of years, Sullivan has taken on shows that are challenging,” McNeese said. “Last year we did ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame,’ which typically you see on bigger stages, and we were prettysuccessful in pulling it off. So, Ithink the next big step is to see if we cantake on ashow that is technically challenging fromaset standpoint, as well as from amusic standpoint and an acting standpoint.”

The character of Sweeney Todd first appeared in the 19th-century serialized story, “The String of Pearls.” He reappeared in Christopher Bond’s1970 play,“Sweeney Todd,” which was adapted into the stage musical.

The story is setonthe dirty streets beneath the eternally gray sky of London. Sweeney is rescued at sea and brought to aLondondock, wherehe tells his rescuer his story of having been anaive barber who once had abeautifullife.

But apowerful, corrupt judge lusted after Sweeney’s wife and promptly removed him from the picture. Sweeney then wanders onto Fleet Street, where he walks into the meat pie shop owned by the widow Mrs. Lovett.

Mrs. Lovett laments the scarcity of meat for her pies. Sweeney swears to get revenge on the judge. So, the duo forms areciprocal business, where Sweeney serves his customers upstairs, then sends them downstairs for Mrs. Lovett’sspecial treatment.

“As aperson, Iwould say Sweeney is you or me,” said David Louviere, who plays the title character.“Ithink

DENTON HATCHER: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7p.m. RED DRAGON PRESENTS: PAUL THORN BAND IN CONCERT: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m

TABBENOIT: Chelsea’s Live, 8p.m.

LA SOUTHBOUND: Coop’son 621, Gonzales, 8p.m.

BUBBAPLAUCHÉ: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8p.m.

HENRYTURNER JR. &ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m.

CHRISLEBLANC BAND: IcehouseTap Room, 9p.m.

MONSTER CRAWFISH: Double DDaiquiris, Denham Springs, 9p.m.

LAUREN LEEBAND: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9p.m.

KITTY STEADMAN: FatCat Saloon, Prairieville, 9p.m.

PARTYATJOE’S: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9p.m.

CORNER POCKET: Churchill’s, 9p.m.

JOEL COOPER&SCOTT JOR-

DAN: The Vineyard, 9p.m.

SATURDAY BRITTON MAJOR: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30p.m.

DON POURCIAU&KONSPIRACY: Pedros-Siegen,6 p.m

ROCKIN’ ROUGE: T’Quilas,

oneofthe intriguing points of thischaracter for me is that at first glance, he kind of seems like this terrible villain —he’ssomething kindof far out of reach, almost likea caricature. And whenpeople initially hearthe story on the surface, it evokes acaricatureofthis evil manwielding ablade, just killing people on awhim.”

But Louviere learned in his high school days, when he first watcheda stage production of“Sweeney,” that the barberismore than just avillain.

“If you followthe story, you’ll see he’salot deeper than that,”hesaid.“He really is. Yousee fromthe start that he’sareally good family guy.He’sthe guy thateverybody wantstobearound.He hadawonderful wife, and he wanted to work hard and provide forhis family. He loved deeply,and Ithink that that puts theaccentonhis loss. That strikes achord with how any one of us couldbe one disaster away from becomingsomething we never thought we could become.”

Meanwhile, Gabby Cario plays Mrs. Lovett, arole she’sdreamed of playing since her college daysat NewYork University

“I was assigned this part for aclass in college,” she said. “I love that Mrs. Lovett is notyour average female lead. She’sabit of avillain, anti-hero,and shekindof hasthis Lady Mfeel to her, where she is truly evil,but forher,it’swhatshe needs to do to getby. Ijustlove the challenge of finding thehumanity in herand like how I can bringthat to thestage. Wouldit be aspoilertoreveal that Mrs. Lovett carries atorch for Sweeney? Probably not.But asfor what happens in their partnership,you’llhave to make a trip to the SullivanTheater to find out ‘A Song forCoretta’ The last time UpStage

Denham Springs, 6p.m

SCHOOL OF ROCK: Le Chien

Brewing Co Denham Springs, 6p.m

UNITED WE JAM: T’Quilas, Zachary,6 p.m.

STONE SOBER: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

ONE NIGHT STAND: Papi’sFajita Factory,Watson, 6:30 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: El Mejor, St Francisville, 6:30 p.m.

WAVERUNNER: CourtTo Table, 7p.m

THE REMNANTS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7p.m

ISSY DUO: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7p.m

DIZZY: Bin 77, 7p.m

GRANDCOUNTRYJUNCTION: SumaCrossing Theatre, 7p.m

CHRIS OCMAND: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8p.m

ACOUSTIC SATURDAYSW/ HENRY TURNER: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m

DAMON KING &BOJAMISON: The Vineyard, 9p.m

PRISCILLA BLOCK/LOGAN

CROSBY: The TexasClub, 9p.m

LAUREN LEE BAND: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris,St. Amant, 9p.m

SPANK THE MONKEY: FatCat Saloon,Prairieville, 9p.m

Theatre performed Pearl Cleage’splay, “A Song for Coretta,” was in 2009.

Theproduction, which was inspiredbyfootageof Coretta Scott King’s funeral, not only was apremiere for the companybut also thestate.

UpStage will open the playagain on Saturday on its stage at 1713 Wooddale Blvd.Audiences willlearn howKing aspiredtobea professional classical concert singer beforemarrying civil rightsleader Martin Luther King Jr.She gave up that dream to work at her reverendhusband’s side when his ministry ventured outside church walls and intothe streets.

King continued to spread her husband’smessage of racial equalityafter his death by an assassin’sbullet on April4,1968,and didn’t stop untilher own death in 2006. This is the point in the play where audiences join thefive women in mourning outside of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

The play premiered Feb 15, 2007, in Spelman College’sBaldwin Burroughs Theatre in Atlanta,and focuses on interaction among the five women,each from differentbackgrounds and experiences.

One is apregnant teen, another aU.S. Army medic on furlough from atour in Iraq and yetanother is avictim of Hurricane Katrina.The cast is rounded out by an older woman who knew Coretta Scott King and a student reporter from Spelman College working on a storyfor National Public Radio.

Thelineislong, andthe five mourners stand at the end. Rain begins falling as the clock edgesintomidnight,but thefive mourners are determined to pay their respects. Will their perseverance see them through?Find out at UpStage Theatre.

CHASE TYLER BAND: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9p.m

TNT: Churchill’s, 9p.m

SUNDAY

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill-MidCity,11a.m.

RACHAEL HALLACK &ERIC

CANTRELLE: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m

EVAN ANTHONY: RedStick Social, noon

CAJUN JAM: West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, 3p.m.

JOSIE MENARD: Icehouse Tap Room, 4p.m.

SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Cafe, 5p.m.

JEFFBAJON PROJECT: Pizza Byronz, 5:30 p.m.

THEGLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA: Manship Theatre, 7p.m

OPENMIC JAM: FatCat Saloon,Prairieville, 7p.m

MONDAY

EDDIE SMITH BAND: Sammy’s Grill, Prairieville, 6p.m

ERIC STELLY: Superior GrillMidCity, 6p.m

MIKEESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant, 6p.m

TUESDAY

STEVE GUSTAFSON: Stab’s Restaurant, 6p.m

TREY MORGAN: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville,6:30 p.m

SONGWRITERS NIGHT: Phil Brady’s, 7p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DENTON HATCHER: Tallulah at theRenaissance, 6p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANCDUO: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6p.m.

LSU JAZZ JAM: ClassicVinyls 6p.m.

MASON SHOWS: Papi’s Fajita Factory,Watson, 6:30 p.m

GARRETT REMSON: On The HalfShell, Prairieville 6:30 p.m

KIRK HOLDER: Bin77, 6:30 p.m

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/

HEATHRANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7p.m.

ANDYPIZZOTRIO: Hayride Scandal,7:30 p.m

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8p.m.

THURSDAY BRANDON NICHOLSON: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6p.m.

BRENT ARMSTRONG: T’Quilas, Denham Springs,6 p.m

CHRIS LEBLANC: Tallulah at theRenaissance, 6p.m.

CAITLYN RENEE: Thai Kitchen, 6p.m.

PAPO YSON MANDAO: El Paso,Gonzales, 6p.m.

BRIAN RITTENHOUSE: T’Quilas, Zachary,6 p.m

DRAMA KINGS: Pedro’s,Denham Springs,6p.m.

KYBALION: El Paso-Sherwood, 6p.m.

CHRIS OCMAND: Lagniappe, 6p.m.

UNITED WE JAM: El Paso,DenhamSprings, 6:30 p.m

ELIZABETH SHAR: On TheHalf Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m

SHANE MADERE: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m

TETDUR: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7p.m.

HEATH RANSONNET: Icehouse TapRoom, 8p.m.

HENRYTURNER JR. &ALL-

STARS: HenryTurner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9p.m. THE DRUNKUNCLES: TheVineyard,9 p.m N’TUNE: Churchill’s, 9p.m

CompiledbyMarchaund

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

Hisarrivalintownnotoriouslyequates to asevere weather event being close behind —ahurricane along the Gulf Coast,a snowstorm in the northeast,a twister in Oklahoma. Due for awarmer welcomewhen he arrives in BatonRouge nextmonth,The Weather Channel’sJim Cantore will be in the capital city for an entirely different reason —tolead theWearin’of theGreen St. Patrick’sDay Parade as grand marshal. One of the nation’smost recognized meteorologists,

parade organizers said they expect Cantore’sreign to bring national attention to this long-standing Baton Rouge celebration Cantorealsogarneredattention on social media in 2024 whenhis relationship withmeteorologist Jobie Lagrange, an Acadiana native, became public Rolling an hour later this year,at11a.m. on March 14, the parade will take its traditional route, leaving from theCatholic Life Center on Hundred Oaks, turningright onto South Eugene Street, left onto Terrace Boulevard left at PerkinsRoad andending at Stanford Avenue and

Perkins Spectators can expect festive floats, marching bands, throws and plentyofgreen, organizers say,adding that afew specialguests will be announced soon.

“We’reexcited to welcome Jim Cantore as our grandmarshal andtoonce again bring the community together for this special celebration,” said Michael Shingleton, who leadsthis year’s paradeteam. “The Wearin of theGreen Paradeis about tradition, family and the pride we share in Baton Rouge.” For more, visit wearinofthegreen.com

When did you realize that you were funny?

Iwas akid, but also was raised in afunny family. Now,the more dysfunctional it is to me, usually the funnier it gets. So at avery young age,Iknew Ihad the ability, Imean, it went all the way to grammar school is when it really started. And your comedic styleisobservational?

Completely.Iwould say a clean Richard Pryor,ifthat makes sense. BecauseRichard Pryor would make, he would observe life and retell it. That’sall. I’m astoryteller.Ilive life and then I turn around and tell it. And whatever’sgoing on in life that everyone relates to Being in the cast of “Saturday Night Live,”others talk about how there’sjust nothing as grinding as that, week to week.What did you takeawayfrom your time on “SNL?” Iknow it sounds crazy, but what Itook away from it mostly was Iwanted to control my own destiny in my career and be at home more after that show,and set my own pace in life and in this business.

Do you still pursue film roles?

Inever really got to do

films Itruly wanted to do, OK. I’m literally at the stage now where Istarted

writing more. And honestly,I’m more into dramedy thananything I’ve ever done. Back then, Iwas chasing harder to be in movies and be in the spotlight, where that’sthe lastofmy desires these days. To me, I’m more about inspiring, inspiring healing, helping people through withlaughter.

So you’re writingfor film now?

I’ve written some. I’m writing one now,Idon’t think I’d even be in it,tobe honest with you. Ithink I’m tooold to playthe part

It’salot that Iput out a series called “Funny How God Works.” It’sonYouTube. Some of those are easily films or TV series and whatever,but that’s a lotof where my passion is, too. They’re very powerful stories, healing and stuff like that. And all true stories.

In your podcast, you tacklesome pretty serious topics as opposed to, of course, what everybody knows about your comedy.Walk us through that.

EveryTuesday,I livestream onevery single social media platform, 8:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. Central),completelylive. When Ifirst started it, Ihit more what Icall the noise, and to me, thenoise is news and the politics in your face and all that. Andthen after awhile, it’s

AROUND BATONROUGE

in thelocal nighttime sky, followedbyanall-ages show lasm.org.

SING &SWING: 7p.m., Crowne PlazaExecutiveCenter, 4728 Constitution Ave. OperaLouisiane’s annual gala fundraiser.$125. operalouisiane.com.

extremely exhausting, and it never feels good. It’s all just energytodistract us from our everyday importance of talking to someone you love, helping someone, helping aneighbor

At theend of the day,if I’m here to help you, Idon’t care who you voted for Ifeel that is way more importantinthesetimes for us to get as united as quickly as possible and to turn off that noiseand realizethey’reall bad. All of them are bad. There is no left,right.Thereisno Republican, Democrat. There’sjustpeople taking our money and controlling our lives.

Your facial expressions are just wonderful. Plus, with all the physicality of your show,are you pretty wornout after that?

Alwaysworn out. I’m so tired after ashow because Ijustput everything out there and, you know,twice it’s cost me some serious physical things,whereI blew my calf out on stage. Ipulled hamstrings out on stage, Ipulled my back out, but Istill, Isprained my ankle on stage. Ijustgo all out. Ican’thelp it. Once I’m in it, I’m in it. Ican’t stop.Soifthe costistearingacalf, pulling amuscle, so be it

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday,Feb. 20, the51st day of 2026. There are 314 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Feb.20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became thefirst American to orbit theEarth, circling the globe three times aboard Project Mercury’sFriendship 7spacecraft in aflight lasting 4hours and 55 minutes before splashing down safely in theAtlantic Ocean

Also on this date: In 1792, President George Washington signed an act creating the United States Post Office Department, thepredecessor of theU.S. Postal Service.

In 1905, theU.S. SupremeCourt, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts,upheld, 7-2, compulsoryvaccination laws intended to protect thepublic’shealth.

In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an immigration act which excluded “idiots, imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, epileptics, insane persons,” among others, from being admitted to the United States.

In 1998, American Tara Lipinski, age 15, became the youngest-ever Olympic figure skating gold medalist when she wonthe ladies’ title at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games; American teammate Michelle Kwantook silver

In 2003, afire sparked by pyrotechnics broke out during aconcert by the rock group Great White at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killing 100 people and injuring over 200 others.

In 2016, aMichigan man shot and killed six strangers and wounded two others over several hours in the Kalamazoo area in

8:30 p.m.-10 p.m., BRECHighland Road Park Observatory 13800 Highland Road. See the majesty of thenight sky in these publicviewings for those 6and up. hrpo.lsu.edu/ events.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

“A SONG FORCORETTA”:

3p.m.and 7p.m.Saturday, and 3p.m. Sunday, UpStage Theatre, 1713 Wooddale Blvd. $27. https://upstagetheatre biz/.

FRIDAY-SUNDAYAND

THURSDAY “SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET”:

7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturdayand Thursday; 2p.m.Sunday, Sullivan Theater, 8849 Sullivan Road, Central. $35, adults;$25 for students. www.sullivantheater.com/tickets.

“ROMEO&JULIET”: 7p.m Friday, Saturdayand Thursday; 2p.m. Sunday, Ascension Community Theatre, 823 N. Felicity Ave., Gonzales An ACTproduction. $19-$34 https://www.actgonzales. org/

SATURDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET:

8a.m.-noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farmfresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada. org. FAMILY-HOUR STARGAZING:

10 a.m., IreneW.Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art &Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations

SUNDAY GET MEDIEVAL WITH IT: “MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLYGRAIL”: 4p.m., Main Library at Goodwood,7711 Goodwood Blvd. Screening of the 1975film. Bring movie snack andbeverage. Rated PG.Free. ebrpl.com.

MONDAY RECIPE SWAP: 10:30 a.m., Delmont GardensBranchLibrary, 3351LorraineSt. Share stories, recipes andcooking tips withother adults.ebrpl. com.

TUESDAY BATONROUGE CHESS CLUB: 6p.m.-8 p.m., La DivinaItalian Cafe,3535PerkinsRoad, Unit 360. Achance to play and learn; all levels welcome. Free.

“BLUEBIRDS OF HAPPINESS”: 6:30 p.m., LSU Hilltop ArboretumBeverly BrownCoates Auditorium, 11855 Highland Road. ADiscoverNature presentation on theEastern BluebirdbyJane Patterson president andeducation chair of the Baton Rouge Audubon Society.$10, students andmembers of Hilltop or LMNGBR; $15, nonmembers; free, Hilltop Magnolia members andabove.https:// lsu.edu/hilltop/

THURSDAY

RED STICKFARMERS MARKET: 8a.m.-noon,Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road.Farm-fresh produce, goods andmore. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket. LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY SHOWMELLOW BARN DAY:

9a.m.-noon, Maurice A. EdmondLivestock Arena, Southern University.This dayallows sensory sensitive students to experience agricultural exhibits, demonstrations and animals. https:// www.suagcenter.com/. THE BEAUTY OF ROSES: 6p.m Southeastern Livingston Center,9261 Florida Blvd. A Life Long Learning Program presented by Livingston Parish Master Gardeners. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/484681616809613/.

LIVE, LOUD &SWINGIN’:

6:30 p.m.,EBTed Robert Auditorium at University Lab School,45Dalrymple Drive. An cappella showcase featuring performances by the University Singers, the Baton RougeChorusofSweet Adelines and RedStick Sound $15. All proceeds support the University Singers and local Barbershop nonprofitorganizations (501(c)(3).

ALOVELETTER TO BLACK

FOOD: 6:30 p.m.,Desiderata Kitchen,431 N. ThirdSt. A seven-course tasting dinner honoring the rich roots, history and evolution of Black cuisine. $15 (optional wine and cocktail pairingswith select dishes).https://desideratakitchen.com.

WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKERIDE: 7p.m GeauxRide, 521 N. ThirdSt.,Suite A. Free. fareharbor.com.

ONGOING

ARTGUILD OF LOUISIANA: Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd. Classes forFebruary include Claudine Diamond— Intro to Gel Plate and Collage, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;Sarah Sedwick —Dynamic Still Life in Oil or Acrylic, Feb. 27-March 1, 9a.m.-4 p.m.;and Dana Mosby: Interpreting the Landscape in Pastel: Infusing Your Work with Passion, March 14, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. All classes at Studio in the Park,2490 Silverest Ave. (225) 773-8020 or artguildlouisiana.org.

PIscEs (Feb.20-March 20) Choose the path that captures your attention and warmsyour heart.Participate in events thatdotheir best to help those less fortunate or acause that concerns you.

ARIEs(March 21-April 19) Put everything in context before you choose to speak or make amove. Overreacting will cost youifyou aren't careful.Instead, put your skills to work for you and concentrateoncleaningupunfinished business.

tAuRus (April20-May 20) Hiddenmatters will rise to the surface, andinformation revealed will require attention. Use yourcharisma to reach out to the powers that be, and an opportunity will present itself

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Live,learn andadjust. Your ability to shift from one thingtoanother is your strength. Refuse to let anyoneweakenyou with their rhetoric or manipulativecharm.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Set high standards and goals, anddodge those pushingnegativity and fakeinformation. What youportrayand offer others is what you will attractinreturn.Protect your space andyour well-being.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Listen to suggestions, live, learn, and love whoyou are andwhat you can do. Lifechoices will make adifference. Educateyourselfto be the person you wanttobe.

VIRGo (Aug.23-sept. 22) Choose what pulls at your heartstrings, and discover

something newabout whoyou are and what you can do. Trust your instincts, share your intentions andmakethings happen.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Simplicity is the key to taking care of personal business andmapping outaplan that helps you meet your responsibilities.Learn from experience, andinitiate change

scoRPIo(oct. 24-nov. 22) Angerisa waste of time.Ifyou want to make a difference, do so with grace, charm and truth.Nurture relationships, make promises and follow through with your plans

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Focus on what you can change instead of wasting time on people, situations and things youhavenocontrol over. Walk away from dramaand manipulative people. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Pay attention to what'shappening in the workforce. Prepare to make ashift, if necessary, to secure and pursue alucrative future. Disregard questionable information.

AQuARIus (Jan.20-Feb.19) Putyour energy where it counts, and pay attention to your money, health and emotional wellbeing. Buying andselling look promisingand can promotenew opportunities to simplifyand enjoy your life. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by NEA, Inc.,dist. By Andrews

Syndication

FAMILYCIrCUS

McMeel

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9 in the 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’s Puzzle Answer

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

Australian Bridge is publishedsix times ayear in alarge-page format. As with allofthese magazines,itaimsprimarilyatduplicateplayersbuthasmaterial for less-capable players. This opening-lead quizcomes from Ron Klinger. Look at only the Westhand. South opens one heart,you pass, and North responds four diamonds, showing four-plus hearts, at leastgame-going values, andatmost onediamond. East surprises youbyintervening with five diamonds, but South rebids five hearts, andeveryonepasses.What would you lead?

Klingerisaleadingplayer,teacherand writerwhohasagreateyeforaninstructive deal.This one occurredduring an Australian trial. At thetable, Barbara Travis found the best lead: the diamond king. Her side was getting at most one diamond trick.And it might have been important forher to shiftthrough the dummy at tricktwo. Also,ifpartner knew no switchwould be helpful, she could have overtaken withthe diamond aceand tried aleadfrom her side of the table.

Here,East played thediamond three at trick one, asuit-preference signal for clubs. West ledthat suit at trick two, and declarer had to lose three tricks: one heart, one diamond and one club.

wuzzles

If West’s opening lead had been alow diamond and East had shifted to alow club, Southprobably would have put up herqueen,based on East’s five-diamond bid. And declarer might well have guessed spades also. It was muchbetter not to give South achance.

Details are at australianbridge.com ©2026 by NEA, Inc., dist.ByAndrews

McMeel Syndication

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

Previousanswers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,”suchas“bats” or “dies,”are notallowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are notallowed.

toDAy’s WoRD oBEDIEnt: oh-BEE-dee-ent:Submissive; willingtoobey.

Average mark 32 words

Time limit 45 minutes

Can you find40ormore words in OBEDIENT?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —coRPoRAL

today’s thought “And they shall recompense your lewdness on you, and you shall bear the sins of your idols: and you shall knowthat Iam theLord God.” Ezekiel 23:49

SHERIFF'SSALE

SHERIFF'SSALE

Suit No:(17) 770141

CITIGROUPMORTGAGE LOAN TRUSTINC.ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES,SERIES 2007-AMC4 U.S. BANK NA‐TION ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEVSLINDA STEW‐ARTBERENTE BatonRouge,LA 19thJudicialDistrict Parish of East Baton RougeState of Louisiana Acting under andby virtue of Writ of Seizure andSaleissuedout of thehonorable court aforesaid,inthe above entitled and numbered cause, dated, November 14, 2025 andtomedi‐rected,I didseize and will,beginning at 10:00 o'clocka.m.onMarch 25, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tion site at www bid4assets.com/EBRS0sh eriffsales, offerfor sale at publicauction thefol‐lowing describedmort‐gagedpropertybelong‐ingto: LINDA STEWART BERENTE That certainlot or parcel of ground,together with allthe buildingsand im‐provements thereon, and with allofthe rights ways,privileges, servi‐tudes, appurtenance and advantages thereunto belongingorinanywise appertaining situated in East BatonRouge Parish Louisianainthatsubdivi‐sion knownasWOOD‐LAWN ESTATESSUBDIVI‐SION,FIRST FILING and beingdesignatedonthe official mapofsaidsub‐division as LOTNUMBER NINETY-TWO (92),said subdivision, said lothav‐ingsuchmeasurements anddimensionsand

SHERIFF'SSALE Suit No:(17) 770309 GITSIT SOLUTIONSLLC NOTINITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUTSOLELYIN ITSCAPACITYASSEPA‐RATE TRUSTEEOFGV TRUST2025-1vsJOHNNIE WJONES JR BatonRouge,LA 19thJudicialDistrict Parish of East Baton RougeState of Louisiana Acting under andby virtue of Writ of Seizure andSaleissuedout of thehonorable court aforesaid,inthe above entitled andnumbered cause, dated, November 26, 2025 andtomedi‐rected,I didseize and will,beginning at 10:00 o'clocka.m.onMarch 25, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tion site at www bid4assets.com/EBRS0sh eriffsales,offer forsale at public auctionthe fol‐lowing describedmort‐gagedpropertybelong‐ingto: JOHNNIEW JONES JR One(1) certainlot or par‐celofground,together with allthe buildingsand improvementsthereon situated in theParishof East BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, in that sub‐division knownasAzalea Lakes, andbeing desig‐natedonthe official plan of said subdivision, on file andofrecordinthe Office of theClerk and Recorder of said Parish andState as Lot5,said subdivision, said lothav‐ingsuchsize, shapeand dimensions andbeing subjecttosuchservi‐tudesasare shown on said map. Said property is con‐veyedand acceptedsub‐ject to anyand allvalid restrictions,servitudes, andmineral conveyances and/or reservations of record;subject to restric‐tions, servitudes,rightsof-way andoutstanding mineralrightsofrecord ff i h

Suit No:(17) 770552 WELLSFARGO BANK,NA‐TIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2005-OPT4,ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES,SERIES 2005-OPT4 VS KETHA THOMPSON ANDJIMMIE

MYLESTHOMPSON, JR A/K/AJIMMIEM.THOMP‐SON, JR.A/K/A JIMMIE

THOMPSON,JR. A/K/A JIMMIE MYLESTHOMP‐SONA/K/A JIMMIE M. THOMPSON A/K/AJIM‐MIETHOMPSON

BatonRouge,LA 19thJudicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtue of Writ of Seizure andSaleissuedout of thehonorable court aforesaid,inthe above entitled andnumbered cause, dated, December 04, 2025 andtomedi‐rected,I didseize and will,beginning at 10:00 o'clocka.m.onMarch 25, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tion site at www bid4assets.com/EBRS0sh eriffsales,offerfor sale at public auctionthe fol‐lowing describedmort‐gagedpropertybelong‐ingto: KETHATHOMP‐SONAND JIMMIE MYLES THOMPSON,JR. A/K/A JIMMIE M. THOMPSON JR.A/K/A JIMMIE THOMP‐SON, JR.A/K/A JIMMIE MYLESTHOMPSONA/K/A JIMMIE M. THOMPSON A/K/AJIMMIETHOMP‐SON One(1) certainlot or par‐celofground,together with allthe buildingsand improvements thereon, situated in theParishof East BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, in that sub‐division knownasSouth Harrell'sFerry Landing, anddesignatedonthe official plan thereof, on file andofrecordinthe office of theClerk and Recorder of theParishof East BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, as LotNum‐berSix (6), said subdivi‐sion,saidlot having such measurements anddi‐mensions andbeing sub‐ject to such servitudes andrestrictionsasare

SHERIFF'SSALE Suit No:(17) 770599 US BANK NATIONALASSO‐CIATIONvsJOSHUAJ GRAHAM AKAJOSHUA JAMARGRAHAMAKA JOSHUA GRAHAM BatonRouge,LA 19thJudicialDistrict Parish of East Baton RougeState of Louisiana Acting under andby virtue of Writ of Seizure andSaleissuedout of thehonorable court aforesaid,inthe above entitled andnumbered cause, dated, December 09, 2025 andtomedi‐rected,I didseize and will,beginning at 10:00 o'clocka.m.onMarch 25, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tion site at www bid4assets.com/EBRS0sh eriffsales,offerfor sale at public auctionthe fol‐lowing describedmort‐gagedpropertybelong‐ingto: JOSHUA J. GRA‐HAMAKA JOSHUA JAMAR GRAHAM AKAJOSHUA GRAHAM One(1) certainlot or par‐celofground,together with allthe buildingsand improvementsthereon andall of therights, ways,privileges, servi‐tudes, appurtenances andadvantagesthere‐untobelonging or in any‐wise appertaining,situ‐ated in theParishofEast BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, in that subdi‐vision knownasWisteria Lakes, anddesignatedon theofficial plan thereof, on file

FANNIEB RUSSELL A/K/AFANNIE RUSSELL BatonRouge,LA 19thJudicialDistrict Parish of East Baton RougeState of Louisiana Acting under andby virtue of Writ of Seizure andSaleissuedout of thehonorable court aforesaid,inthe above entitled andnumbered cause, dated, December 08, 2025 andtomedi‐rected,I didseize and will,beginning at 10:00 o'clocka.m.onMarch 25, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tion site at www bid4assets.com/EBRS0sh eriffsales,offerfor sale at public auctionthe fol‐lowing described mort‐gagedpropertybelong‐ingto: THESUCCESSION OF HERMAN DICKERSON A/K/AHERMANDICKER‐SONA/KIA HERMAN E. DICKERSONAND THEUN‐OPENED SUCCESSION OF ANDUNKNOWN HEIRSOF FANNIEB.DICKERSON A/K/AFANNIEB.DICKER‐SONA/K/A FANNIEDICK‐ERSONA/K/A FANNIE B. RUSSELL A/K/AFANNIE RUSSELL Twocertain lots or parcelsofground to‐gether with allbuildings andimprovements thereon, andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes,appurte‐nances andadvantages thereuntobelonging or in anywiseappertaining beingsituatedinthe Parish of East Baton Rouge, Stateof Louisiana, in that subdi‐vision knownasADDI‐TION TO NORTHHIGH‐LANDS, anddesignated on theofficial plan thereof, on file andof record in theoffice of the Clerkand Recorder of the Parish of East Baton Rouge,State .of Louisiana, as LOTNUM‐BERS TWENTY-NINE(29) ANDTHIRTY(30),SQUARE FIVE (5), said subdivision, said lots having such measurements anddi‐mensions andbeing sub‐j h i d

aforesaid,inthe

andnumbered cause,

09, 2025 andtomedi‐rected,I didseize and will,beginning at 10:00 o'clocka.m.onMarch 25, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tion site at www bid4assets.com/EBRS0sh eriffsales,offer forsale at public auctionthe fol‐lowing describedmort‐gagedpropertybelong‐ingto: ANDERSON JOHN‐SON, Ill One(1) certainlot or par‐celofground,together with allthe buildingsand improvements thereon, situated in theParishof East BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, in that sub‐division knownasTHE GATESATWINDSONG, anddesignatedonthe official plan thereof, on file andofrecordinthe office of theClerk and Recorder of theParishof East BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, as LOT NUMBER TW (24),saids said loth measuremen mensions an ject to such andrestricti more particul on said map, andmadea by referencet (the "Propert TERMSOFSAL Cash to theh der, at Publ WITHOUTApp andaccording SidJ.Gautrea East BatonRou ADVERTISED February 20, 2026 March23, 2026 $216.82