The Acadiana Advocate 02-21-2026

Supreme Court rejects Trump tariffs

Ruling sparks fierce pushback, vow of new levies

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court

struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday, handing him a stinging loss that sparked a furious attack on the court he helped shape. Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of some justices who ruled 6-3 against him, calling them “disloyal to our Constitution” and “lapdogs.” At one point he even

raised the specter of foreign influence without citing any evidence.

The decision could have ripple effects on economies around the globe after Trump’s moves to remake post-World War II trading alliances by wielding tariffs as a weapon.

But an unbowed Trump pledged to impose a new global 10% tariff under a law that’s restricted to 150 days and has never been used to apply tariffs before.

“Their decision is incorrect,”

he said. “But it doesn’t matter because we have very powerful alternatives.”

The court’s ruling found tariffs that Trump imposed under an emergency powers law were unconstitutional, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country

Trump appointed three of the justices on the nation’s highest

HIGH BEAMS

The steel framework begins to go up Friday on the new Louisiana National Guard Lafayette Readiness Center being built at

Park. The facility is designed to enhance the Guard’s preparedness for emergency response

St. Martin probe led to Guillory’s indictment

Malfeasance charges

stem from removal of Vermilion River spoil bank

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

The indictment and arrest of former Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory in St. Martin Parish on Thursday began with an investigation ordered by the district attorney for St. Martin Parish. Guillory was indicted Thursday by a St Martin Parish grand jury on four malfeasance charges related to the 2022 removal of a spoil bank on the Vermilion River in St. Martin Parish without permission from St. Martin Parish or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Michael Haik III, the district attorney for the 16th Judicial District that includes St. Martin, Iberia and St Mary parishes, asked the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 14 to investigate the spoil bank removal project, according to a Thursday news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Haik’s request occurred shortly after the release in August of 2025 of findings by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office of an investigation into the Guillory administration’s handling of the spoil bank project.

The legislative auditor’s investigation concluded that Lafayette officials likely violated state and federal laws and Lafayette’s home-rule charter

The District Attorney’s Office for the 15th Judicial District, which includes Lafayette, announced on Feb. 9 letter that it would not pursue criminal charges

ä See PROBE, page 5A

Appeals court allows La.’s Ten Commandments law to take effect

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Louisiana public schools got the go-ahead to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms after a federal appeals court on Friday lifted an order that had stopped the state from enforcing a law requiring the displays. The majority opinion by the 5th

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court that had blocked state officials from enforcing the law, which was passed in 2024 by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled Legislature and championed by Gov Jeff Landry A U.S. District Court judge and a three-judge panel on the 5th Circuit both previously said the law, which requires all public K-12 schools and colleges in Louisiana to post the biblical text, is unconstitutional because it violates students’ right to religious freedom.

Friday’s ruling by the full 5th Circuit, which is considered the country’s most conservative federal court of appeals, did not weigh in on the constitutionality of the law Instead, the majority said it is too soon to block the law on constitutional grounds because there are many “unresolved” questions, such as what the Ten Commandments posters will look like, how prominently they will be displayed and whether teachers will incorporate them into their lessons.

Attorney General Liz Murrill, whose office defended the law in court, celebrated the ruling Friday and said it allows Louisiana public schools to immediately start posting displays of the Ten Commandments.

ä See APPEALS, page 5A

The majority added that nothing in the ruling prevents future challenges to the law “once the statute is implemented and a concrete factual record exists.”

Vehicle rams into power substation in Nevada

LAS VEGAS Las Vegas police say they’re investigating a car that rammed into a power substation as a “terrorism-related event.”

There’s no ongoing threat to the public, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a news conference Friday

The driver of the vehicle was 23-year-old Dawson Maloney from Albany, New York, who was reported missing and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, McMahill said.

The man had communicated with family before the crash, referencing self-harm, and said he was going to commit an act that would place him on the news. He referred to himself as a terrorist in a message sent to his mother, according to police.

Authorities found explosive materials and multiple books “related to extremist ideologies” in Maloney’s hotel room, McMahill said. The books included ones about right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacism and anti-government ideology, he said.

“These findings significantly elevate the seriousness of this incident,” McMahill said Maloney is listed as a student at Albany Law School in the class of 2027. He was also an honors student for multiple semesters at Siena University, located in New York.

Two shotguns, an assault riflestyle pistol, and flame throwers were found in his rental car, McMahill said. Maloney was wearing what police described as “soft-body armor.”

The power substation that was rammed is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said in a statement to The Associated Press that it is aware of the incident, and there were no impacts or disruptions to its operations. Va. judge temporarily blocks redistricting work

RICHMOND Va A Virginia court on Thursday temporarily blocked Democrats from preparing for an April voter referendum to redraw the state’s congressional maps, handing the party another setback in its efforts to pick up four more U.S. House seats in the national redistricting battle.

The Tazewell Circuit Court in Virginia granted a temporary restraining order requested by the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee over the ballot referendum’s timing and phrasing.

The motion, also signed by Republican U.S Reps. Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith, argued that Democrats were ramming redistricting-related bills through the legislature despite legal hurdles that prevent such a rushed process. It’s the second time Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. has ruled against Democrats’ redistricting agenda. In January, Hurley ruled that a resolution for a constitutional amendment was illegally passed in a special legislative session and taken up too close to an intervening election.

That case has been appealed to the state Supreme Court, and justices had said they would allow the referendum to proceed while they review the appeal.

Nurses, N.Y. hospital reach tentative deal

NEW YORK New York-Presbyterian Hospital has reached a tentative deal with its nurses, ending a historic six-week strike, officials said Friday

Striking nurses could return to work as early as next week if members of the New York State Nurses Association ratify the new contract this weekend

The tentative agreement includes improved enforceable safe staffing standards, an increase in the number of nurses, protections against workplace violence and safeguards against artificial intelligence, union officials told NY1.

The deal also protects health benefits and increases salaries by more than 12% over the life of the three-year contract.

Trump considers limited strikes on Iran

Iranian diplomat says proposed deal is imminent

BY FARNOUSH AMIRI and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump warned on Friday that limited strikes against Iran are possible even as the country’s top diplomat said Tehran expects to have a proposed deal ready in the next few days following nuclear talks with the United States

In response to a reporter’s question on whether the U.S. could take limited military action as the countries negotiate, Trump said, “I guess I can say I am considering that.” A few hours later, he told reporters that Iran “better negotiate a fair deal.”

Earlier Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a TV interview that his country was planning to finalize a draft deal in “the next two to three days” to send to Washington.

“I don’t think it takes long, perhaps, in a matter of a week or so, we can start real, serious negotiations on the text and come to a conclusion,” Araghchi said on MSNOW’s “Morning Joe” show

The tensions between the longtime adversaries have ramped up as the Trump administration pushes for concessions from Iran and has built up the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East in decades, with more warships and aircraft on the way

On Friday, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea after being sent by Trump from the Caribbean, according to images of the ship by maritime photographers posted to social media.

Both Iran and the U.S. have signaled that they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fizzle out. “We are prepared for diplomacy, and we are prepared for negotiation as much as we are prepared for war,” Araghchi said Friday

Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group, said Iran

“would treat any kinetic action as an existential threat.” Vaez said he doesn’t think Iran’s leaders are bluffing when they say they would retaliate, while they likely believe they could maintain their hold on power despite any U.S. airstrikes.

Trump said a day earlier that he believes 10 to 15 days is “enough time” for Iran to reach a deal following recent rounds of indirect negotiations, including this week in Geneva, that made little visible progress.

But the talks have been deadlocked for years after Trump’s decision in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Since then, Iran has refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli demands that it scale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups.

Araghchi also said Friday that his American counterparts have not asked for zero enrichment of uranium as part of the latest round of talks, which is not what U.S. officials have said publicly

“What we are now talking about

is how to make sure that Iran’s nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever,” he said. He added that in return, Iran will implement some confidencebuilding measures in exchange for relief on economic sanctions.

In response to Araghchi’s claim, a White House official said Trump has been clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them and that it cannot enrich uranium. The official wasn’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity Tehran has long insisted that any negotiations should only focus on its nuclear program and that it hasn’t been enriching uranium since U.S. and Israeli strikes last June on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump said at the time that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites, but the exact damage is unknown as Tehran has barred international inspectors. Although Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, the U.S and others suspect it is aimed at eventually developing weapons.

Police search former Prince Andrew’s home

BY PAN PYLAS Associated Press

LONDON Police searched the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor again on Friday, a day after he was arrested and held in custody for nearly 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in having shared confidential trade information with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In another blow for the former Prince Andrew, the British government is considering formally removing him from the line of succession to the crown. Despite losing his status as prince and facing a police investigation, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne.

That can only be changed with new legislation.

When the king stripped his brother of his titles in the fall, the government said passing a new law would not be a good use of Parliament’s time.

But that view has changed and the government is now considering legislation once the police investigation is finished. James Murray, the govern-

lived for decades until his eviction earlier this month.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who was pictured slouched in the back of his chauffeurdriven car following his release Thursday evening from a police station near Sandringham, remains under investigation, which means he has neither been charged nor exonerated by Thames Valley Police. His arrest follows years of allegations over his links with Epstein, who died by suicide in New York in 2019.

the U.K. by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew Thursday’s arrest had nothing to do with that. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his association with Epstein but has not commented on the most recent allegations. Experts said that misconduct in a public office is notoriously difficult to prove.

ment’s chief secretary to the treasury, said “the government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out.”

The last time a royal was removed from the line of succession was after the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, when the law was changed to strike him and any descendants from the list.

Removing Andrew would also require agreement from more than a dozen

‘Grey’s Anatomy’

BY MARIA SHERMAN Associated Press

Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday He was 53. His representatives said Dane died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease, less than a year after he announced his diagnosis.

Dane developed a devoted fan base when his big break arrived in the mid-2000s: He was cast as Dr Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy, on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” a role he would play from 2006 until 2012 and reprise in 2021.

Although his character was killed off on the show after a plane crash, Dane’s character left an indelible mark on the still-running show: Seattle Grace Hospital became Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

In 2019, he did a complete 180 from the charming McSteamy and became the troubled Cal Jacobs in HBO’s provocative drama “Euphoria,” a role he continued in up until his death.

In April 2025, Dane announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body ALS gradually destroys the nerve cells and connections needed to walk, talk, speak and breathe. Most patients die within three to five years of a diagnosis.

Dane became an advocate for ALS awareness, speaking a news conference in Washington on health insurance prior authorization “Some of you may know me from TV shows, such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ which I play a doctor But I am here today to speak briefly as a patient battling ALS,” he said in June 2025.

In September of that year, the ALS Net-

other countries that have the British monarch as head of state.

The former prince was back Friday at his new residence on the Sandringham estate, King Charles III’s private retreat, around 115 miles northeast of London. Police have concluded their search there, but are still searching Royal Lodge, his 30-room former home in the parkland near Windsor Castle, just west of the capital, where the king’s younger brother had

star Dane dies

work named Dane the recipient of their advocate of the year award.

Dane was born on Nov 9, 1972, and raised in Northern California. His father a Navy veteran and an architect, died of a gunshot wound when Dane was 7 After high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, landing guest roles on shows like “Saved by the Bell,” “Married With Children,” “Charmed” and “X-Men: The Last Stand.”

A memoir by Dane is scheduled to be published in late 2026. According to the publisher, “Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments” covers key moments in his life, from his first day at work on “Grey’s Anatomy” to the births of his two daughters and learning that he had ALS.

“I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the beautiful days, the hard ones, the ones I never took for granted — so that if nothing else, people who read it will remember what it means to live with heart,” Dane said in a statement about the book. “If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their own days, then my story is worth telling.” Dane is survived by his wife, actor Rebecca Gayheart, and their two teen daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine. Gayheart and Dane wed in 2004 and separated in September 2017. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, but later filed to dismiss the petition In a December essay for New York magazine’s The Cut, Gayheart called their dynamic “a very complicated relationship, one that’s confusing for people.” She said they never got a divorce, but dated other people and lived separately “Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love,” she said. “Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him. That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me. So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that.”

Theaccusationattheheart of his arrest is that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential trade information with the disgraced financier when he was a trade envoy for the U.K.

Emails released last month by the U.S. Department of Justice appeared to show MountbattenWindsor sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore, and sending Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

Thames Valley Police has previously said it was also reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to

“Firstly, it must be determined if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was in a role within government that constitutes the title of public officer,” said Sean Caulfield, a criminal defense lawyer at Hodge Jones & Allen. “There is no standard definition to clearly draw on.” Arguably, only the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, have been as grave for the institution of the British monarchy in modern times. In a statement Thursday, the king said the “law must take its course,” but that as “this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.”

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Negligence to be considered in avalanche investigation

Close-knit group of friends among victims

BY HAVEN DALEY, JULIE WATSON and JANIE HAR Associated Press

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Authorities in-

vestigating the deadly avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada will look at whether criminal negligence played a role in the tragedy, a sheriff’s office leading one of several investigations said Friday Why the tour company that organized the backcountry ski trip didn’t cancel in the face of a powerful storm and what their guides knew as the weather worsened are the questions being considered.

Both the Nevada County Sheriff’s office and a state agency that regulates workplace safety have opened investigations. Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office, declined on Friday to share more information, saying it is an open investigation

Crews have not yet recovered the bodies of the eight people killed or found the body of a ninth person missing and presumed dead in Tuesday’s avalanche, which was roughly the size of a football field

Officials flew over the avalanche site Friday that is near Castle Peak and outside Lake Tahoe to check conditions and the snowpack. Authorities want to see if it is possible to reduce the risks of more slides by setting off controlled explosions and make it safer to retrieve the bodies.

Six of the people who died

were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced backcountry skiers and knew how to navigate the alpine wilderness, their families said. The three others who are dead or presumed dead were guides.

“We are devastated beyond words,” the families said in a statement released Thursday through a spokesperson The women were mothers, wives and friends who “connected through the love of the outdoors,” they said, and were carrying avalanche safety equipment and prepared for backcountry travel.

Victims were loved by neighbors

The six were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, and they lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Idaho and in the Lake Tahoe area. The families asked for privacy while

they grieve.

Just north of San Francisco, where Keatley lived with her family in the city of Larkspur, resident Rob Bramble was shocked to learn that the friendly woman he would say hello to in passing was among the victims.

“She was just a great mom. I’d always see her with the kids, picking them up, just seemed like a great mom and a great family,” said Bramble, whose daughter babysat for the family a few times.

Keatley and her husband owned a wine business and often shared their namesake wines at community events, Larkspur Mayor Stephanie Andre said.

“She was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people

to her,” Andre said in a statement.

Morse also lived with her husband and three children north of San Francisco, and worked in the biotech industry, according to her LinkedIn profile. Vitt previously worked at SiriusXM and Pandora, according to her online profile, and lived north of the city with her two sons and husband.

Atkin was a former corporate executive and a track and field athlete in college who lived in Lake Tahoe with her husband and two children, according to her leadership coaching website.

Sekar and Clabaugh were sisters, their brother McAlister Clabaugh, told The New York Times Sekar was a mother of two who lived in San Francisco.

Liz Clabaugh was a nurse who oversaw a new graduate nursing residency program at St. Luke’s Health System in Boise, Idaho. She was also a mom and ran a Facebook page featuring encouragement and advice for new nurses. Photos showed that her family were frequent adventurers outdoors. Clabaugh also had served as a health volunteer in Zambia with the

Peace Corps, according to a Facebook page for Peace Corps alumni.

The names of the other victims have not been released.

The 15 skiers began their threeday trip Sunday just as warnings about the storm were intensifying. By early Tuesday, officials cautioned that avalanches were expected.

Avalanche safety experts say it is not uncommon for backcountry skiers to go out when there is an avalanche watch or even a warning. Blackbird Mountain Guides, which was leading the expedition, said the guides who were on the trek were trained or certified in backcountry skiing and were instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. While in the field, guides “are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” founder Zeb Blais said in a statement.

“We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do,” the company said. “In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.”

The slide was the deadliest in the U.S. since 1981, when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier in Washington state.

Watson reported from San Diego and Har from Marin County, California. from Lark. Associated Press writers Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed.

Trump directs government agencies to release files on UFOs, more

BY MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of “tremendous interest.” Trump made the announcement in a social media post hours after he accused former President Barack Obama of disclosing “classified information” when Obama recently suggested in a podcast interview that aliens were real.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I don’t know if they’re real or not,” and said of Obama “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying.”

In a post on his social

BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A jury

found a former small-town South Carolina police officer not guilty of voluntary manslaughter Friday in the shooting death of an unarmed man after a five-minute high-speed chase. Cassandra Dollard faced two to 30 years in prison if she had been found guilty of killing Robert Junior Langley with a gunshot to the chest as Langley tried to get out of his car after wreck-

media platform Thursday night, Trump said he was directing government agencies to release files related “to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”

Obama, who made his comments in a podcast appearance over the weekend, later clarified that he had not seen evidence that aliens “have made contact with us,” but said, “statistically the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there.”

Trump told reporters Thursday that when it came to the prospect of extraterrestrial visitors: “I don’t have an opinion on it. I never talk

ing it into a ditch in February 2022.

Dollard was an officer in Hemingway when she tried to pull over Langley early one morning for running a stop sign. Langley didn’t stop and Dollard chased the vehicle for more than five minutes, much of it at speeds over 100 mph, going 8 miles outside her small town and into the next county After Langley’s car wrecked, the dashboard camera in Dollard’s cruiser captured her demanding Langley show her his hands.

about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.”

Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump suggested this week that he was ready to speak about it, however, when she said on a podcast that the president had a speech prepared to deliver on aliens that he would give at the “right time.”

That was news to the White House. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded with a laugh when she was asked about it Wednesday and told reporters, “A speech on aliens would be news to me.”

Public interest in unidentified flying objects and the possibility of the government hiding secrets of extraterrestrial life remerged in the public consciousness after a group of former Pentagon and government officials leaked Navy videos of unknown objects to The

She slipped in the mud as she approached his car and fired a shot as Langley’s head and chest was coming out of the car

Dollard told investigators she felt vulnerable after falling when she looked into Langley’s eyes and felt she lost a tactical advantage to keep her safe.

“I don’t know what he had in his hands. I just know he had something in his hands,” she said.

Investigators say Langley was holding on to $100 in cash when he was killed.

New York Times and Politico in 2017. The renewed scrutiny prompted Congress to hold the first hearings on UFOs in 50 years in May 2022, though officials said that the objects, which appeared to be green triangles floating above a Navy ship, were likely drones.

Since then the Pentagon has promised more transparency on the topic. In July 2022 it created the AllDomain Anomaly Resolu-

tion Office, or AARO, which was intended to be a central place to collect reports of all military UFO encounters, taking over from a department task force. In 2023, Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, the head of AARO at the time, told reporters he didn’t have any evidence “of any program having ever existed as to do with any sort of reverse engineering of any sort of extraterrestrial (unidentified aerial phenomena).”

The information that has been made public shows that the vast majority of UFO reports made by the military go unsolved but the ones that are identified are largely benign in nature.

“It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity or technology,” stressed an 18-page unclassified report submitted to Congress in June 2024.

EPAeases limits on coal plants foremittingmercury

BY MICHAEL PHILLIS and DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky.— The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday weakened limits on mercuryand other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants, the Trump administration’s latest effort to boost the fossil fuel industry by paring back clean air and water rules.

Toxic emissions from coal- and oil-fired plants can harm the brain development of young children and contribute to heart attacks and other problems in adults.

The plants are also amajor source of greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. The EPAannounced the repeal of the tightened Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, or MATS, at amassive coal plant next to the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky

“EPA’sactions today rights thewrongsofthe lastadministration’srule and will return the industry to the highly effective original

MATS standards that helped pave theway for American energy dominance,” said EPADeputyAdministrator David Fotouhi. The agency saidthe change should save hundreds of millions of dollars.

Thefinal rule reverts the industry to standards first established in 2012 bythe Obama administrationthat have reduced mercury emissions by nearly 90%.

The Biden administration had sought to tighten those standards even furtherafter the first Trump administrationhad moved tounderminethem.

Operators of the Mill Creek Generating Station gave agency officials atour of thecoal plant before hosting the announcement inside.

Coal-fired power plants are thelargestsingle human source of mercury pollutants. Power plantsrelease the mercury into the atmosphere, which then falls in rain or simply by gravity,enteringthe food chain throughfish and otheritems

Speakerdenies requestfor Jackson to

lieatRotunda

Fewprivate citizens allowed Capitolhonor

BY MATT BROWN and LISA MASCARO Associated Press

WASHINGTON The late Rev Jesse Jackson willnot liein honor in the UnitedStates Capitol Rotunda after arequest for the commemoration was denied by the House Speaker Mike Johnson’soffice due to past precedent. Johnson’soffice said it received arequest from the family to have Jackson’s remains lieinhonoratthe Capitol, but the request was denied, because of the precedent thatthe space is typically reservedfor former presidents, the military and select officials.

The civil rights leader died this week at the age of 84. The family and some House Democrats had filed arequest for Jackson to be honoredatthe U.S. Capitol.

Amid the country’spolitical divisions, there have been flareups over who is memorialized at theCapitol with aservice to lie in state, or honor,inthe Rotunda. During such events, the public is generally allowed to visit the Capitol and pay their respects. Recent requests had similarly been made, and denied, to honor Charlie Kirk, the slain conservativeactivist, and former Vice President Dick Cheney

There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor,adecision that is controlledbyconcurrence from both the House and Senate.

The Jackson familyhas announced scheduled dates for memorial services beginningnext week that will honor the late reverend’s life in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. In a statement, the Jackson family said it had heard from leaders in both South Carolina, Jackson’snative state, and Washington offering for Jackson to be celebrated in both locations. Talks are ongoing with lawmakersabout where those proceedings

that people consume. Environmental groups saidthe tightenedrules have saved lives and made communities that live near coalfired power plantshealthier But industry groupsargued thatthe tougherstandards, along with other rules that limited emissions from coal plants, made operating them too expensive. They accused theBiden administration of piling on so many requirements that it would drive arush of plant retirements

“For too long, theentire coal supply chain has been thetargetofbad and onerousenvironmental regulations,”said Michelle Bloodworth, CEO of America’sPower,a coal industry group. “Repealing the 2024 MATS rule andtoday’s actions are an important step for maintaining areliable and affordable supply of electricityand ensuring that coal-basedgeneration can continue supporting the nation’seconomy and the electric grid.”

The coal industry’s outlook has changed dramatically in thelast year

will takeplace. His final memorial services willbeheld in Chicago on March6and 7. Typically, the Capitol and its Rotunda have been reserved for the “most eminent citizens,” according to theArchitect of the Capitol’s website. It said government andmilitary officials lay in state,while private citizens in honor

In 2020, Rep. JohnLewis another veteran of theCivil Rights movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in stateinthe Capitol Rotunda after aceremony honoring hislegacy washeldoutside on theCapitol stepsdue to pandemicrestrictions at the time.

Laterthatyear, thenHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed services for Supreme CourtJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Capitol’sStatuary Hall after agreement could not be reached for services in the Capitol’sRotunda.

It is rare for privatecitizens to be honored at the Capitol,but thereisprecedent—most notablyCivil Rights iconRosaParks, in 2005, and theRev.Billy Graham, in 2018.

Apassionatecivilrights leader andglobally-minded humanitarian, Jackson’sfiery speeches and dual 1984 and1988presidentialcampaigns transformed American politics for generations. Jackson’s organization,the RainbowPUSH Coalition, became ahub for progressive organizers across the country

Hisunapologetic calls for aprogressive economic agenda andmoreinclusive policies for all racial groups, religions, genders and orientationslaidthe groundwork for the progressivemovement within theDemocratic Party

Jackson also garnered a globalreputation as achampion for human rights. He conductedthe releaseof Americanhostagesonmultiple continents andargued for greater connections betweencivil rights movements around theworld, most notably as afierce critic of the policies of apartheid SouthAfrica.

In March,the EPApromoted the “biggestderegulatoryaction in U.S.history,” announcing their intention to peel back dozens of environmental protections. The Bidenadministration’sfocusonclimatechange was over —EPA Administrator LeeZeldinsaidthe actions marked “the deathofthe ‘green new scam.’

Fossil fuel rules were big targets, including major efforts to reducecarbon emissions from coal plants andmandate greenhouse gas reporting. TheTrump administration hasalsoextended deadlines fordozens of coal-fired power plants to comply withcertainClean

Air Act rules. Beyond fewer environmental protections, the Trump administration has issued emergency orders halting the planned shutdown of several coal plants. Officialssay the plantsproduce consistent power during major stormsoratother times when need is high. Removing coal would reduce thegrid’sreliability, especially at time when arush of new data centers is demanding morethan ever from the grid, they say.Officials have dismissed concerns about higher customer costs from keeping coal plants operating, their plentiful emissions and their significant contribution to climate change. And earlier this month, the EPArevoked afinding that climate change is athreat to public health, which has long been thebasis forU.S.action to regulategreenhouse gas emissions. Recently, President Donald Trump hosteda group of coal miners who honored him as the “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful, Clean Coal.”

CITY COUN‐CIL OF THECITYOF YOUNGSVILLE LOUISIANATAKEN AT THE CITY COUNCILREGULAR MEETINGHELDON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2026 AT 6:00 PM AT YOUNGSVILLE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. OPENING 1.1Invocation was ledbyPastorChris Fuselier, FirstBaptist Church 1.2PledgeofAlle‐giancewas ledbyLindy Bolgiano. MayorRitter expressedhis condo‐lencesfor theThibeaux family. 2. ROLL CALL PRE‐SENT: MayorKen Ritter Shannon D. Bares(Divi‐sionA), MayorPro Tem Lindy Bolgiano (Division B), Matt Romero (Divi‐sionC), Simone B. Cham‐pagne (DivisionE). AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland (Division D).STAFF: NicoleGuidry(City Clerk), Terry Bourque (COO),JeanPaulBrous‐sard(Police Chief),Wade Trahan(City Attorney), Cathryn Greig(CFO),Tim Robichaux (Parks &Rec Director).3.RECOGNI‐TIONS/PERSONS TO AD‐DRESS THEMAYOR & COUNCIL 3.1Charles HebertwithLafayette ParishLSU AgCenter pre‐senteda PowerPoint pre‐sentation with an annual update.3.2 Lance Strotherannounced HopefestMusic Festival and 5K on March21, 2026 atthe Youngsville Am‐phitheaterpowered by Slemco. 4. MINUTES4.1 Approval of January8 2025 meetingminutes MotionmadebyShannon D.Bares,secondedby Lindy Bolgiano,approv‐ing theJanuary 8, 2025 meetingminutes YEAS:Shannon D. Bares, Lindy Bolgiano,Matt Romero, Simone B. Champagne.NAYS: None ABSTAINED:None. AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland MotionApproved.5.FI‐NANCE REPORT 5.1Ap‐provalofDecember2025 financereport. Motion madebyMattRomero, secondedbyLindy Bol‐giano,approvingthe De‐cember2025 financere‐port. YEAS:Shannon D. Bares,Lindy Bolgiano MattRomero, Simone B. Champagne.NAYS: None ABSTAINED:None. AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland MotionApproved. 6. PRE‐LIMINARYPLATS (PUBLIC HEARING ANDADOP‐TION) 6.1Request for Preliminary Plat approval ofTractsD-1 &D-2 of For‐est Viator Division,com‐mercial/residential mixed-uselots, located inSection 7, T11S,R5E was read aloudand openedfor Public Hear‐ing by MayorRitter. Hearing no comments motionmadebyCham‐pagne,secondedbyMatt Romero, granting Prelim‐inary Plat approval of TractsD-1 &D-2 of Forest ViatorDivision, commer‐cial/residentialmixeduse lots,located in Sec‐tion7,T11S,R5E,asrec‐ommended by McBade Engineers &Consultants i l d d

g LLC ina letter dated Jan‐uary29, 2026. YEAS: Shannon D. Bares, Lindy Bolgiano, Matt Romero Simone B. Champagne. NAYS: None.ABSTAINED: None. ABSENT:Nicholas Niland.MotionApproved. 6.2 Requestfor Prelimi‐naryPlatapproval to cre‐ate Lot1 &Lot 2ofCajun Play, LLCSubdivision & Private RightofPassage located in Section1, T11S,R4E,was read aloud andopenedfor Public HearingbyMayor Ritter. To alleviatetraffic conflicts on amajor arte‐rial, Ms.PamelaGonza‐lez-Granger stated she recommendsadding a platcondition that an ad‐ditionalright of waybe set asideortothatthe developer shallconduct a trafficstudy with turn‐ing lane improvements Hearing no furthercom‐ments,motionmadeby MattRomero, seconded bySimoneB.Cham‐pagne,grantingPrelimi‐naryPlatapproval to cre‐ate Lot1 &Lot 2ofCajun Play, LLCSubdivision & Private RightofPassage located in Section1 T11S,R4E,asrecom‐mendedbyMcBadeEngi‐neers& Consultants, LLC ina letter datedJanuary 29, 2026, as amendedto add Plat/Subdivision Condition #15. Additional roadrightsofway or roadway improvements may be required forthis development,tobeeval‐uated during thereview ofthe actual develop‐mentconstructionplans YEAS: ShannonD.Bares Lindy Bolgiano,Matt Romero, Simone B. Champagne.NAYS: None ABSTAINED:None. AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland MotionApproved.7 OTHER BUSINESS 7.1Jen‐nifer Trahan with Years toGrowand herAttorney Jason Wilson requested a variancetoallow thead‐ditionofsix portable buildings at 1306 Fortune Rd. MayorRitteradvised thatthe commercial de‐velopment criteria states thatthe building mater‐ial must be something other than 51% metal and that thearchitecture ofthe buildingsshould beuniform.Hestated thatMs. Trahan hasof‐fered to make updatesto the exterior of thebuild‐ingsand furtherthathe feltitwould be

runa diesel mechanic’s shopfor lightduty trucks. He explainedthat some of hisbusinessis based as beinga mobile mechanic, butthatsome vehiclesrequire ashop visit.Henoted that the propertyownerbegan in‐stallinga fence, butthe neighborencroachedthe propertywithitems that need to be removedto finish thefence.Itwas requested that theCity send theneighbora de‐mandlettertotheir clean property.Motion madebyLindy Bolgiano, secondedbyMatt Romero, granting avari‐ancetoallow areduction inthe east side setback by8'5"for afutureauto‐motiverepairbusinessto belocated at 808 Church St. YEAS:Shannon D. Bares,Lindy Bolgiano MattRomero, Simone B. Champagne.NAYS: None ABSTAINED:None. AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland MotionApproved.7.3 Brady Thibodeaux re‐quested avariancetothe CommercialDevelop‐mentRequirementsand LandUse Regulationsto allow asmall commercial businesstobuild/assem‐ble firearms,tooperate withinhis residenceat 333 Forest Grove. He statedthathereceived approval from theATF and HOAPresident of Sugar Ridge. Motion madebyLindy Bolgiano secondedbyShannon Bares,grantinga vari‐ancetothe Commercial Development Require‐ments andLandUse Reg‐ulationstoallowa com‐mercial business to build/assemble firearms tooperate within hisres‐idenceat333 Forest Grove.YEAS: Shannon Bares,Lindy Bolgiano,Si‐moneChampagne.NAYS: MattRomero. AB‐STAINED:None. ABSENT: NicholasNiland. Motion Approved.7.4 B& BCon‐tractors, Inc. requested a variancetoallow are‐duction in thefront set‐backby5'for 205 Queen‐stown Ave. MayorRitter statedthatthe plans werepreviouslysubmit‐ted andapproved by the City. Later, athird-party inspectiondiscovered thatthe footings were placedoutside of the plans.The builderhas pausedthe projectto comebeforethe council for avariance. Further‐more, thelenderhas re‐quested documentation fromthe city approving the variance.Uponques‐tioning,Mr. Choate ad‐vised that thefront of the home is in compli‐ance, butthatthe garage has inadvertentlyen‐croachedthe setback due to misunderstand‐

b i back by 5' for205 Queen‐stown Ave(Lot68).A substitute motion was madebySimoneB Champagne granting a variancetoallowa re‐duction in thefront set‐back by 5' for205 Queen‐stown Ave, pendingre‐ceipt of approval letters from theother utility companies.The substi‐tutemotionfailedfor the lackofsecond. Public comment wasreceived fromMeredithGuidry. Si‐moneB.Champagne questionedifa hold harmlesscan follow suc‐cessorsofthe home.City Attorney Wade Trahan advised that it could. She requested that thecity obtain aholdharmlessin the eventofdamages.A substitutemotionwas madebySimoneB Champagne,seconded byShannon D. Bares grantinga variance to allow areduction in the front setbackby5'for 205 QueenstownAve & torequire thelandowner tosigna hold harmless inthe eventofdamages Uponfurther discussion, Ms. Bareswithdrewher motiontothe substitu‐tion. Theoriginalmotion havingbeen submitted toa vote,the vote thereon wasasfollows: YEAS: ShannonD.Bares Lindy Bolgiano,Matt Romero, Simone B. Champagne.NAYS: None ABSTAINED:None. AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland MotionApproved. 7.5 MeredithGuidryre‐quested avarianceto Sec.107-5(a) (a)toallow metal siding on theexte‐riorwalls to matchexist‐ing architecture,for As‐cension EpiscopalSchool BaseballField House. MotionmadebyShannon Bares,secondedbyMatt Romero, granting avari‐ancetoSec.107-5(a) to allow metalsidingonthe exteriorwalls to match existingarchitecture, for Ascension Episcopal School Baseball Field House.YEAS: ShannonD Bares,Lindy Bolgiano MattRomero, Simone B. Champagne.NAYS: None ABSTAINED:None. AB‐SENT: Nicholas Niland MotionApproved.7.6On behalfofMr. Cliffton Ad‐kins, Mr.Dylan Magnolia requested arelease of propertybound by A, B, C,and Dfor afuture road, as shownona final platdated 5.9.2006, to be soldasa residentiallot onBeaconDrive within Shadowbrook,Phase II. It was explainedthatthe areawas designated for a future road extension asaninternaldesigna‐tionratherthana munic‐ipaldesignation.Motion madebyLindy Bolgiano secondedbyMatt Romero, granting are‐lease of property bound byA,B,C,and Dfor afu‐tureroad,

2026-03. YEAS: Shannon D. Bares, Lindy Bolgiano, Matt Romero SimoneB.Champagne NAYS: None.ABSTAINED: None. ABSENT:Nicholas Niland.ResolutionAp‐proved. 8.3Resolution

court during his first term, including Louisiana native Amy Coney Barrett in 2020, and has scored a series of short-term wins that have allowed him to move ahead with key policies.

Tariffs, though, were the first major piece of Trump’s broad agenda to come squarely before the Supreme Court for a final ruling, after lower courts had also sided against the president

The majority found that it is unconstitutional for the president to unilaterally set and change tariffs because taxation power clearly belongs to Congress. “The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. Barrett — who grew up in Metairie and graduated from St. Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans — joined Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts, who was nominated by President George W. Bush, in ruling the tariffs unconstitutional The court’s three justices appointed by Democrats, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Kentanji Brown Jackson, agreed.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

“The tariffs at issue here may or may not be wise policy. But as a matter of text, history, and precedent, they are clearly lawful,” Kavanaugh wrote. Trump praised his 63-page dissent as “genius.”

The court majority did not address whether businesses could get refunded for the billions they have collectively paid in tariffs

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“Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial,” she said in a statement, adding that her office has issued guidance for schools on how to comply with the law and provided sample posters.

“Louisiana public schools should follow the law.”

It won’t be hard for most public schools to comply if the state begins enforcing the law A conservative advocacy group has already shipped the posters designed by Murrill’s office to almost every school system in Louisiana, but most school

PROBE

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against Guillory or anyone in his administration for the spoil bank project.

Frederick Welter, first assistant district attorney, said in the letter that the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office under Don Landry “declines to pursue any criminal prosecution of any public officials or public employees of Lafayette Consolidated Government.”

Welter said he reviewed the audit to determine whether it provided any basis for criminal prosecution, even though the District Attorney’s Office has not received any complaint or investigation from law enforcement.

to unilaterally set and change tariffs because taxation power clearly belongs to Congress.

Many companies, including the big-box warehouse chain Costco, have already lined up in lower courts to demand refunds. Kavanaugh noted the process could be complicated “The Court says nothing today about whether and if so how the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers. But that process is likely to be a ‘mess,’ as was acknowledged at oral argument,” he wrote.

The Treasury had collected more than $133 billion from the import taxes the president has imposed under the emergency powers law as of December, federal data shows. The impact over the next decade has been estimated at some $3 trillion

districts have kept them boxed up while they awaited the court’s ruling

The lawsuit challenging the Ten Commandments law was brought by a multifaith group of families with children in Louisiana public schools If the families choose to appeal the court’s ruling, their next and final stop is the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Friday the civil liberties groups representing the families in the case said they are “exploring all legal pathways forward to continue the fight against this unconstitutional law.”

“Today’s ruling is extremely disappointing and would unnecessarily force

Statutes of limitation for some of the alleged criminal violations will expire in the next few weeks, he noted. Welter concluded there is lack of sufficient evidence in the LLA report to prosecute anyone in LCG for malfeasance in office for alleged violation of a St. Martin Parish ordinance because St. Martin Parish is outside his jurisdiction and there is evidence calling into question the validity of the ordinance.

The District Attorney’s Office also refused to charge anyone at LCG with malfeasance in office, he wrote, over allegations that removal of the spoil bank violated the federal Clean Water Act, again for “lack of sufficient evidence.”

After reviewing the 2025 legislative auditor’s investi-

The tariffs decision doesn’t stop Trump from imposing duties under other laws. Those have more limitations on the speed and severity of Trump’s actions, but the president said they would still allow him to “charge much more” than he had before.

Vice President JD Vance called the high court decision “lawlessness” in a post on X.

Still, the ruling is a “complete and total victory” for the challengers, said Neal Katyal, who argued the case on behalf of a group of small businesses.

“It’s a reaffirmation of our deepest constitutional values and the idea that Congress, not any one man, controls the power to tax the American people,” he said.

It wasn’t immediately clear how

Louisiana’s public school families into a game of constitutional whack-a-mole in every school district,” the groups said in a statement. “But this fight isn’t over We will continue fighting for the religious freedom of Louisiana’s families.”

The groups representing the families are the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as pro bono counsel.

In a dissenting opinion, Judge James Dennis, who was nominated to the court

gative report and conducting further investigation, St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux presented his findings to Haik in January according to the Thursday news release.

Haik convened a grand jury in St. Martin Parish this week, which indicted Guillory on four felony counts of malfeasance in office.

Guillory was booked Thursday into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center and released on a $30,000 bond.

He responded on social media and in a news release Thursday evening, saying he survived the “jail experience” and asked for prayers for his family

He praised workers at the jail, calling them kind and asked people to pray for his family

the decision restricting Trump’s power to unilaterally set and change tariffs might affect trade deals with other countries.

“We remain in close contact with the U.S. Administration as we seek clarity on the steps they intend to take in response to this ruling,” European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said, adding that the body would keep pushing for lower tariffs.

The Supreme Court ruling comes after victories on the court’s emergency docket have allowed Trump to push ahead with extraordinary flexes of executive power on issues ranging from immigration enforcement to major federal funding cuts.

The Republican president had long been vocal about the tariffs case, calling it one of the most important in U.S. history and saying a ruling against him would be an economic body blow to the country But legal opposition crossed the political spectrum, including libertarian and pro-business groups that are typically aligned with the GOP Polling has found tariffs aren’t broadly popular with the public, amid wider voter concern about affordability

While the Constitution gives Congress the power to levy tariffs, the Trump administration argued that a 1977 law allowing the president to regulate importation during emergencies also allows him to set import duties. Other presidents have used the law dozens of times, often to impose sanctions, but Trump was the first president to invoke it for tariffs.

“And the fact that no President has ever found such power in IEEPA is strong evidence that it does not exist,” Roberts wrote, using an acronym for the International

by former President Bill Clinton, wrote that the Ten Commandments law “elevates words meant for devotion into objects of reverence, exposing children to government-endorsed religion in a setting of compulsory attendance.” Four of the court’s 18 active judges signed on to his dissent. Dennis also pointed to a ruling in 1980 by the Supreme Court in the case Stone v. Graham, which struck down a Kentucky law requiring public schools

Emergency Economic Powers Act

Trump set what he called ”reciprocal” tariffs on most countries in April 2025 to address trade deficits that he declared a national emergency. Those came after he imposed duties on Canada, China and Mexico, ostensibly to address a drug trafficking emergency A series of lawsuits followed, including a case from a dozen largely Democratic-leaning states and others from small businesses selling everything from plumbing supplies to women’s cycling apparel.

The challengers argued the emergency powers law doesn’t even mention tariffs and Trump’s use of it fails several legal tests, including one that doomed thenPresident Joe Biden’s $500 billion student loan forgiveness program.

The three conservative justices in the majority pointed to that principle, which is called the major questions doctrine. It holds that Congress must clearly authorize actions of major economic and political significance.

“There is no exception to the major questions doctrine for emergency statutes,” Roberts wrote.

The three liberal justices formed the rest of the majority, but didn’t join that part of the opinion.

The Trump administration had argued that tariffs are different because they’re a major part of Trump’s approach to foreign affairs, an area where the courts should not be second-guessing the president.

But Roberts brushed that aside, writing that the implications for international relations don’t change the legal principle.

Small businesses celebrated the ruling, with the National Retail Federation saying it provides “much needed certainty.”

to post the Ten Commandments. He called the 5th Circuit’s ruling, which said the legal challenge to Louisiana’s law was premature, “a calculated stratagem to evade these precedents.” Judge James Ho, who was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump, concurred with the majority but wrote that he would have declared Louisiana’s law constitutional. Ho argued that the Supreme Court has effectively overturned the Stone ruling,

even if it hasn’t explicitly said so, because it scrapped the legal doctrine that underpinned that ruling. He went further, writing that law reflects the Founding Fathers’ “firm belief that the children of America should be educated about the religious foundations and traditions of our country.”

“In sum, the Louisiana Ten Commandments law is not just constitutional,” he wrote, “it affirms our Nation’s highest and most noble traditions.”

Stateagreesto$45M settlement with CVS

AG LizMurrill announces three lawsuits were resolved

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Louisiana has settled three lawsuits it filed againstCVS for $45 million, Attorney General Liz Murrill announcedFriday

The settlement money will be used for legislation related to pharmacy benefit managers and Medicaid fraud initiatives, Murrill said in a news release. Her office is workingwith the Louisiana Department of Health and the state Inspector General’sOffice.

“Rather than prolonging litigation,which couldhave extended several years, we worked with CVS to reach aresolution that serves the best interests of Louisiana,” Murrill said in astatement.

“The funds will be used to further ensure accountability in pharmaceutical pricing and PBM industry practices.”

When asked for details on how the money would be spent, aspokesperson for Murrillsaidmore information was not immediately available.

The deal resolves all three lawsuits without an admission of wrongdoing or liability by CVS, accordingto Murill’soffice.

“We’re pleased that we’ve reached asettlement agreement with the Louisiana AttorneyGeneral’sOffice,” CVS spokespersonAmy Thibault said in astatement.

“The settlement enables us to maintain our focus on lowering health care costs and providing community

General Liz Murrillsayssettlement moneyfrom CVS will be used for legislation related to pharmacy bene

managers and Medicaid fraud initiatives.

pharmacy access to Louisianaresidents and is not an admission of liabilityor wrongdoing.”

Louisiana sued the health care companyamid ahighprofile political battle that pittedMurrill and Gov.Jeff Landry against CVS Late in last year’slegislativesession, Landry urged lawmakers to support abill that would have banned ownershipofpharmacies by pharmacy benefit managers, atype of business that negotiatesdrugpriceson behalf of health plans and largeinstitutionsthatoffer health insurance. He and hislegislative allies argued this “vertical integration” in the prescriptiondrugsupply chain lets the benefit managers crank up drug costs and squeeze out smaller local pharmacies. CVS,a giant healthcare corporation that owns both apharmacy benefits manager and drug retailers, fought back ferociously. It sent mass text messages to Louisiana customers urging them to contact their law-

makers to opposethe legislation, and it argued the policy would force the company to shut down over 100 of its pharmacies. The bill ended up not passing. Shortly after,Murrill’s office filedthree lawsuits against CVS. The firstaccused it of misusing patients’ datatosendthe text messages. Asecondaccused the companyofusing itssize and influence to push competitionout of the market and drive up prices. And athird accused the company of hurting independent pharmacies by charging unfair fees andproviding low reimbursementstopharmacists for thedrugs they dispense. Landrybacked Murrill’s legal action against thecompany Murrill’ssettlement with the company is another signal that tensions may be ebbing. Earlier thisweek, Gov. Jeff Landry voiced support for

Saloom won’tseekreelectionasjudge

Lafayetteofficial ending 31-yearspanonbench

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Longtime Lafayette City Court

Judge Douglas Saloom announced Friday he willnot seek reelection when his term ends in 2026, bringing more than three decades of service to aclose.

Saloom, who has served as Lafayette City Court judge for Division Bfor 31 years, said he plans to step aside at the end of his term on Dec. 31 and will not be acandidate in the next election. In aprepared statement, he said

the decision was driven by adesire to spend moretime withhis family after years in public service.

“Public service is acommitment andresponsibility that comes with asacrifice to time spent with family,” he said. “It is now time for me to repay my family’spatience so together we can share new adventuresand enjoynew memories outsideofpublic life.”

Saloom saidhehas no immediate plans beyond retirementbut expects to remain connected to the court, thelegal community andthe broader Lafayette community.

He expressedconfidenceinthe court’sleadership moving forward, citing Judge Roya Boustany, City Marshal Reggie Thomas and thecourt’sadministrative staff.

“Our current staff, led by Court Administrator Kelly Mouisset and Deputy Administrator Myke LeBlanc,assurethatthe patrons of our court will be wellserved longafter my departure,” he said.

First elected in 1995, Saloom said he never anticipated serving more than three decades on thebench

SOAKING UP THESUN

Breaux Bridge man arrested in N.O.

CRIME BLOTTER Advocate staff reports

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in coordination with theLouisiana State Police, arrested aman Tuesday on Bourbon Streetfor alleged illegal firearm and drug possession. Ag en ts arrested 23-yearol dTal as ka Demouchet, of Breaux Bridge, and booked him into the Orleans Parish Jail on multiple charges: possession of afirearm by aconvicted felon, possession of amachine gun, possession of marijuana,negligent carrying of afirearm,violating the concealed carrylaw and illegal carryingofweapons while in possession of acontrolleddangerous substance. Around1:50 a.m. Tuesday, agentsonpatrol in the 500 block of Bourbon Street observed De-

mouchet smoking marijuana. When they made contact, agents said they found 22.6 grams of suspected marijuana, a9mm pistoland 339 mm bulletsinhis possession. Further investigation revealed the pistol had an automatic sear device, commonlyknown as a “switch,”which allowsa weapon tofirefully automatically Agents also determined Demouchet wasaconvicted felon. Agents seized the gun, ammunition and suspected narcotics Under Louisiana law,illegal possession of afirearm while in possession ofacontrolled dangerous substance carriesafine of upto$10,000and 5to10years in prison. Possession of afirearm bya convictedfelon carries a$1,000 to $5,000 fine and five to 20 yearsinprison. Illegal possession of amachine gun carries one to 10 years in prison. Negligent

St.Landrybudgettalks stall

Timing of millions tied to solartax deals questioned

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

Adoption of the 2026 operating budget for the St. Landry Parish government stalled during a Wednesday council meeting afterquestions arose about when the parish will receive payments from several solar companies operating underspecialtax agreements

The delay highlights concerns amongcouncil members about relyingonmillionsofdollars in anticipated solar-related payments that have not yet been formally scheduled or received.

The parish is budgeting $4.1 millionitdoes not yet have in writing —and may not receive until lateinthe fiscal year.Ofthe roughly $10 million the parish is set to spend during this fiscal year,slightly over $4 million in

revenue is expected to comein via various “payment in lieuof taxes” agreements between St. Landry EconomicDevelopment and private enterprises that operate within the parish.

ThePILOT agreements allow companiestoavoid property taxes in exchange forscheduled payments to local governments. Two solar companies, NextEra and Lightsource BP,currentlyhave PILOT agreements with SLED that areexpected to generate revenue in FY2026.

According to Parish President JessieBellard,SLPG hasan agreement with SLED that half of therevenues fromthe PILOT agreements will go to the parish, but the agreement stopped short of fully guaranteeing when payments would be received.

“It’s notamatter of if we will receive themoney,but when,” said Bellard, who estimated that thepayments will be received by SLPG in the third quarter of 2026.

“It was initially estimated we would receive $3.3 million, but thepayments were delayed and

now it’sthe $4.1 million figure. Do Ihave it in writing? No, Idonot.” While the parish budget assumes $4.1 millioninrevenue, officials have only been told to expect about $115,000 in initial payments so far.

Council member Ernest Blanchard indicated that during apublic hearing on the budget, NextEra Project Development Director Godbless Gbenebichie informed council members that the first payments from NextEra would be about$65,000. According to Bellard, an additional $50,000 will be received from Lightsource BP Council memberHaroldTaylor questioned whether it wasrisky to rely so heavily on revenue that has not yet been received.

“That’s$115,000 youcan think of,and we’reputting $4.1million in the budget. Where do we get the rest of the money?” asked Taylor “Itsounds like you’re asking us to negative-finance the parish.”

“It’shinging on NextEra to do

AG targets Boosie over festival promotion

Rapper used late student’s name without consent, Murrill says

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office took official legal action against Boosie Badazz on Thursday, after the rapper used Southern University student Caleb Wilson’s name and image to promote a rap festival shortly after Wilson’s death.

In March, Baton Rouge native Boosie, born Torence Hatch Jr announced he was launching the Caleb Wilson Memorial Scholarship dur-

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carrying of a firearm carries a $500 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Possession of marijuana carries a fine of up to $100.

Two Acadiana police officers arrested Kaplan police arrested one of their own this week, along with an Abbeville police officer, on allegations they shared confidential information about an ongoing investigation.

Kaplan Police Chief Joshua Hardy confirmed in a social media post that Kaplan Officer Shane LeBlanc was arrested Wednesday and charged with malfeasance.

LeBlanc has been terminated, Hardy said. An Abbeville police officer, Terrance Hardy, who is not related to the Kaplan chief, was arrested Thursday and also charged with malfeasance, Hardy said.

The status of Terrance Hardy’s employment with the Abbeville Police Department was not immediately clear Hardy said the investigation remains active.

“The integrity of our investigation and the trust placed in us by the public are paramount,” he said.

“When those standards are compromised, we have a duty to act swiftly and transparently Accountability applies to everyone, and no one is above the law.”

Woman accused of setting church on fire

A church in Vinton was allegedly intentionally set on fire while two children were inside.

About 3:53 a.m. on Wednesday, the Vinton Fire Department received a call regarding a structure fire at Christian Life Church, located at 1805 West St., according to the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal.

There were three individuals, two of whom were children, inside the church when the fire happened. They all were able to escape without being injured. Fire marshal investigators determined the fire was set intentionally and identified Vinton 25-year-old Kim Benniefiel as a suspect and arrested her Benniefiel is being charged with aggravated arson, cruelty to juveniles and simple arson of a religious building.

“The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds the public that anyone with information regarding firerelated crimes is encouraged to submit an anonymous tip by visiting lasfm.org and selecting the Arson Fires icon,” the post states.

Christian Life Church has not released any statement on its website or Facebook page regarding the fire. However, it did cancel Wednesday services and asked viewers of the Facebook post to “keep (the) church in your prayers.”

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He was reelected without opposition five times.

ing his sixth annual Boosie Bash, a three-day rap festival held on Southern University’s campus. Wilson, a student and trumpet player for the Human Jukebox, died after an off-campus hazing ritual involving the Omega Psi Phi fraternity sparking national attention and packed vigils on the campus and in New

Orleans. Boosie announced at the time that he was working with the Wilson family and the Human Jukebox to initiate the scholarship, and added that some of the proceeds from the festival would go to a scholarship fund.

But according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, neither Wilson’s parents nor Southern University gave consent for organizers to use their son’s name in connection with the event. In March, Murrill said in a

statement she intended to take legal action, “due to their misappropriation of his name and image to promote their for-profit event. This is not a charitable event.”

On Thursday, Murrill said the Louisiana Department of Justice’s public protection unit issued a civil investigative demand (CID) to Boosie in November, seeking more information about the festival and whether its marketing potentially violated the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Pro-

tection Law A CID is an administrative subpoena often used to obtain information before a lawsuit is filed.

She said Boosie has not responded, leading her office on Thursday to file a motion to compel in 19th Judicial District Court, asking a judge to order him to turn over information. Boosie could face penalties if he still does not cooperate, Murrill said.

In March, Murrill said that Boosie contacted Wilson’s family before the festival about a scholarship fund. Murrill said the family told her they believed Boosie was making an initial donation to

a scholarship associated with Southern University, not using Wilson’s name. The family also said Boosie failed to disclose the donation’s connection to his upcoming festival, according to Murrill. The attorney general said at the time that she was unaware of any firm commitment that proceeds from the event would fund the scholarship, calling the situation a “massive misrepresentation to the public.”

The specific information the Louisiana Department of Justice sought from Boosie is unclear because the motion was filed under seal.

McGlinchey Stafford files for bankruptcy

Law firm had announced shutdown

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Six weeks after announcing it was shutting down after more than 50 years in business, McGlinchey Stafford has filed for bankruptcy, hastening the demise of a firm that was once among the state’s most prominent and high profile

The filing on Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is a Chapter 7 filing, meaning the firm is liquidating its remaining assets to satisfy creditors, not a Chapter 11 filing, which allows a debtor to stay in business while coming up with a plan to pay off debt.

Court documents filed in the case, which has been assigned to U.S Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill, do not yet paint a clear picture of the firm’s finances. A standard bankruptcy petition form says only that McGlinchey has between 200-999 creditors and that the firm’s assets and its liabilities range between $10 million and $50 million.

Experts say a more detailed financial statement will likely be filed in the coming days. The firm’s New Orleans office will shut down on March 31. Other offices closed at the end of January.

Several attorneys familiar with the situation who were not authorized to comment publicly on the case said the firm did not initially plan to file for bankruptcy when it announced it was closing. As it began winding down operations, however, it became evident that there wasn’t enough money to satisfy the firm’s more than 15 long-term lease obligations in office buildings around the country

TALKS

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what they need to do,” Bellard responded. The uncertainty about expected revenues specified in the operating budget led the council to table further discussion on adopting the budget in order to request more information from SLED Executive Director Bill Rapier on when payments will arrive.

While the budget vote was delayed, the council moved forward on several other ordinances, including an amendment that would see changes in how the parish approaches violations to its animal abuse code. The change would allow SLPG to explore

“When running for office, I promised the people of our community that I would maintain an accessible and unbiased court, providing equal justice to all,” he said. “As the people I have served are the ultimate judge of my success or failure, I hope I have upheld that pledge.” He said he looks forward to working with candidates who seek the Division B seat ahead of the next election.

McGlinchey’s attorneys stopped practicing law at the end of January the firm previously announced.

Dane Ciolino, a law professor at Loyola University in New Orleans, said initiating liquidation proceedings through a bankruptcy filing is not surprising, given that McGlinchey is no longer practicing law and has no longer has any income.

“Law firms generally don’t have a lot of assets they can sell off to satisfy debt,” Ciolino said. “They have office furniture, which isn’t worth much, and accounts receivable So, if they have lease obligations, filing bankruptcy makes sense.”

William Steffes and Barbara Parsons, whose Baton Rouge bankruptcy firm is representing McGlinchey, declined to comment.

McGlinchey’s managing member Michael Ferachi, also based in Baton Rouge, declined to comment.

Trouble brewing

In early January McGlinchey Stafford announced that its “equity members,” a group of senior attorneys who owned the firm, had voted to dissolve, sending shock waves across south Louisiana’s legal community and taking some of the firm’s attorneys by surprise.

A variety of factors contributed to the decision, including the recent departure of several high-profile rainmakers with the firm, delinquent collections, internal disagreements and steep overhead costs in farflung offices, according to sources familiar with the situation and the firm’s own statement.

At the time, the firm had around 160 attorneys and hundreds of support staff in 18 offices around the country from Seattle to Boston, though its New Orleans and Baton Rouge offices were the largest by far In a statement at the time,

civil remedies to certain violations when appropriate, in addition to existing criminal charges as allowed under the ordinance. The proposed change was met with minor pushback during public hearing.

“Flipping this more to the civil side than the criminal side concerns me,” one parish resident said. “I want to see some of these people pay dearly I’d like to see some of these people faced with some stiff criminal penalties.”

Bellard defended the agenda item, saying, “Anything that’s a misdemeanor now, would become a civil citation Anything that’s a felony we’re still going to investigate that and prosecute. It’s not going to be a civil fine; it’s going to go to the District Attorney’s Office.”

Ferachi, a commercial litigation specialist who became the firm’s managing member in 2021, said that no single factor had led to the vote to dissolve. Rather, the troubles had been building.

“This is not because of any specific attorney’s departure, or any individual financial decision or leadership action that led us to this point,” he said. “This is the result of a combination of market factors, such as lagging collections, compounded with various internal factors over several years.”

The statement also said the firm’s leaders made the decision after “assessing several strategic alternatives.”

Bankruptcy court documents filed Thursday show that Teneo, a global consulting firm, has been advising McGlinchey on the wind down.

Teneo’s principal on the case, Gary Polkowitz, did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Where they landed

In the weeks since the announcement, individual lawyers and groups of attorneys within McGlinchey

The ordinance passed without debate. Additional ordinances passed include a similar proposal for noise violations to include any and

McGlinchey Stafford has filed for bankruptcy on Thursday in U.S Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The law firm has been housed in the Pan American Life Center on Poydras Street in New Orleans since 2008.

have left for other firms, according to recent announcements.

A prominent group from the Baton Rouge office moved their corporate and real estate practice, including nine attorneys and four staffers, to Adams and Reese.

A 36-person team, including 19 attorneys from several of McGlinchey’s offices outside of Louisiana, announced they were joining Womble, Bond, Dickison a transatlantic firm with 1,300 attorneys and home offices in London and Baltimore, according to an announcement from the firm.

AM Law, an industry trade publication, reported Jan. 16 that talks between the group, headed by a partner in McGlinchey’s Cleveland office, and Womble began on Dec. 8 and concluded Dec. 26, less than 10 days before the vote to dissolve.

McGlinchey previously notified the Louisiana Workforce Commission that any remaining employees in its New Orleans office would be laid off as of March 15. Trustee to take over Now that McGlinchey has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the job of liquidating the remaining assets and dealing with property owners and outstanding leases, as well as other vendors, will fall to a court-appointed trustee in the case Wilbur “Bill” Babin, a New Orleans attorney who has overseen dozens of bankruptcy proceedings.

Babin did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Among the property managers he’ll be negotiating with is Stirling, which manages the Pan American Life Center on Poydras Street in New Orleans, where McGlinchey’s New Orleans office has been located since 2008.

Babin also will have to negotiate with Wampold Companies, which owns the II River Mark Centre building in Baton Rouge, where the firm completed more than $1 million of tenant improvements for 15,000 square feet in May 2025. The property owners did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Experts say it’s too soon to say how long the liquidation might take. Unlike Chapter 11 cases, like the recent Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy, which lasted nearly six years, liquidation cases typically conclude in a matter of months, not years.

Around the same time, McGlinchey lost four attorneys from its corporate litigation group in New Orleans to Jones Walker. Another four attorneys from the firm’s Washington, D.C., and Florida offices that specialize in consumer financial services defense announced their departure for Chicagobased Hinshaw In early February, eight attorneys and five support staff from McGlinchey’s maritime practice, including José Cot, the managing member of McGlinchey’s New Orleans office, joined Simon, Perragine, Smith and Redfearn.

all civil remedies for the parish as well as the sale of 15 adjudicated properties from across the parish.

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Phosphorus, herbicide subject of Trump order

President Donald Trump signed an order aimed at protecting domestic supplies of elemental phosphorus used by the U.S. military and glyphosate-based herbicides common in U.S. agricultural production, according to a White House official.

The executive order, which Trump signed on Wednesday, invokes the Defense Production Act to protect domestic supply chains of both materials. Elemental phosphorus is processed into white phosphorus, which can be used in military munitions or altered further for agricultural uses.

The White House said there is only one domestic producer of both materials and farmers have warned the administration that the president’s tariffs on imported herbicides and fertilizers are driving up the cost of crops.

Tampa-based Mosaic Co. is the U.S.’s top fertilizer producer and it makes nearly half of the phosphate-based crop nutrients used by U.S. farmers.

Germany-based Bayer AG acquired Roundup pesticide producer Monsanto in 2018, but many U.S. agricultural operations remain dependent on imported herbicides.

Glyphosate has long been a target of concerned scientists and consumers, who have flagged potential links to cancer and hormonal disruptions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still considers the crop input safe, and the Trump administration in its “Make America Healthy Again” report last year avoided scrutiny of the input, which farmers say there is no affordable substitute for Miss. hospital system gets ransomware attack

JACKSON, Miss. — A ransomware attack forced the University of Mississippi Medical Center to close all of its roughly three dozen clinics around the state and cancel elective procedures for a second day on Friday, hobbling one of Mississippi’s largest health care providers.

University officials warned that the shutdown could continue for days as they try to evaluate the extent of the attack and restore network systems they took down as a precaution. Hospitals and emergency rooms remained open, and patients there were receiving proper care, Vice Chancellor LouAnn Woodward said at a news conference Thursday She said the attack affected “many systems,” including the electronic health record platform

“Some of us in the room have been here long enough that we remember taking care of patients with pen and paper,” she said.

Largest supplier of wine in U.S. faces layoffs

California wine giant Gallo is laying off more than 90 employees and closing a major Napa Valley wine-making facility

The Modesto company said Thursday the cuts are necessary to adapt to market dynamics and changing customer demands. The “operational adjustments” will not “materially impact” the company’s tasting rooms in Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement.

Many of Gallo’s wines fall into the sub-$12 category, which has performed poorly for the last decade, said Rob McMillan, Silicon Valley Bank’s executive vice president and wine expert.

With younger generations drinking less, and the baby boomer generation the industry’s core base — aging out of the wine market, it’s been a challenging few years for the industry, which has also had to fend off competition from makers of premium beers and spirits, McMillan said.

Wine shops and importers have also been caught in the crossfire of President Trump’s trade war

BUSINESS

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

Markets muted after tariff ruling

Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s changes

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK Wall Street kept calm

Friday after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which had triggered panic in financial markets when announced last year, and stocks ticked higher

The S&P 500 rose 0.7%. It had been flipping between small gains and losses before the court’s ruling, following discouraging reports showing slowing growth for the U.S. economy and faster inflation.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 230 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9%.

Many on Wall Street were likely

expecting such a ruling from the Supreme Court, according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management. That likely led to the relatively muted reactions across financial markets, and trading remained tentative as investors tried to suss out the long-term effects.

Tariffs also aren’t going away, even with the Supreme Court’s ruling. Trump in the afternoon said he would use other avenues to put taxes on imports from other countries after calling the court’s decision terrible. Treasury yields edged a bit higher in the bond market.

If investors thought the tariff ruling would improve inflation significantly, it could have sent yields lower On the other hand, if investors were worried about the U.S. government’s debt rising faster in the future because of the loss of revenue from tariffs, long-term yields could have jumped.

Heading into the day the main event for markets had seemed to be discouraging reports showing slowing U.S. economic growth and accelerating inflation. They found a relatively muted response from investors.

While the reports underscore the tricky situation the Federal Reserve faces as it sets interest rates, they did not change traders’ expectations much for what the Fed will ultimately do. Traders are still betting that the Fed will lower rates at least twice this year, according to data from CME Group.

Lower interest rates would give the economy and investment prices a boost, but they also risk worsening inflation. Fed officials said at their last meeting that they want to see inflation fall further before they would support cutting rates further

On Wall Street, Akamai Technologies dropped 14.1% for one of the

market’s sharpest losses. The cybersecurity and cloud computing company reported stronger results for the end of 2025 than analysts expected, but it gave a profit forecast for the upcoming year that fell short of estimates.

Akamai plans to spend a bigger percentage of its revenue this upcoming year on equipment and other investments. It’s the latest potential indicator of how shortages of computer memory created by the AI boom are affecting customers throughout the economy

On the winning side of the market was Comfort Systems, which rose 6.5% after the provider of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical services reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Brian Lane said his company is seeing “unprecedented demand.”

U.S. economic growth weaker than thought in fourth quarter

Government shutdown, consumer spending pullback part of trend

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and MATT OTT AP economics writers

WASHINGTON U.S. economic growth slowed in the final three months of last year, dragged down by the six-week shutdown of the federal government and a pullback in consumer spending

The nation’s gross domestic product the total output of goods and services — increased at a 1.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department reported Friday, down from 4.4% in the JulySeptember quarter and 3.8% in the quarter before that.

The figures point to what could be a more modest pace of growth in the coming quarters, as consumers have taken on more debt and saved less to maintain their spending, a process that may be difficult to sustain. Business investment, other than data centers and equipment dedicated to artificial intelligence, grew at only a moderate pace.

Still, a measure of underlying growth that focuses on consumer and business spending was mostly healthy at 2.4%, economists said The sharp slowdown in government outlays because of the shutdown shaved a full percentage point from growth.

Consumers and companies spent at a “reasonably solid” pace, said Martha Gimbel, executive director of the Budget Lab at Yale and former economist in the Biden White House. “This is not a disastrous report.”

Consumer spending also rose 2.4% in the fourth quarter, a solid increase but notably below the third quarter’s healthy 3.5% gain. Federal government outlays plunged nearly 17% amid the shutdown. That decline should mostly reverse in the coming quarters, however The outsize growth last summer and fall — when the economy expanded at about a 4% annual pace partly reflected sharply lower imports. Companies ramped up im-

ports in the first quarter of last year to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. After boosting growth in the second and third quarters, trade had little impact at the end of last year

Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, said the report reflected a “one-legged” economy boosted mostly by artificial intelligence, which is fueling business spending and has also lifted wealth for those households that own stocks and have benefited from rising share prices.

Many households, however, have had to take on more debt to fuel their spending.

The saving rate dropped to just 3.6% in the fourth quarter, the second-lowest figure since August 2008, when the economy was mired in the Great Recession.

“The economy looks golden on paper, but beneath the surface is lead,” Swonk said.

Early Friday, before the figures were released, Trump attacked congressional Democrats for shutting down the government last fall. He also reiterated his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates more quickly

“The Democrat Shutdown cost the U.S.A. at least two points in GDP,” Trump posted on his social media site. “That’s why they are doing it, in mini form, again. No Shutdowns! Also, LOWER INTEREST RATES. ‘Two Late’ Powell is the WORST!!!”

A separate report Friday showed that inflation, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, accelerated in December, as the cost of goods such as furniture, clothes, and groceries picked up. That makes it less likely the Fed will reduce its key interest rate in the coming months.

Earlier this month, Trump predicted a blowout gain in GDP of more than 5% even if the government shutdown was factored into the figures.

The economy is unusual right now because growth is solid, inflation has slowed a bit, and unemployment is low but surveys show that Americans are generally gloomy about the economy In January, a measure of consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since 2014, yet consumers have kept spending, propelling growth.

Commercial drivers required to take license test in English

Trump administration campaigns to improve safety in the industry

BY JOSH FUNK AP transportation writer

All truckers and bus drivers will have to take their commercial driver’s license tests in English as the Trump administration expands its aggressive campaign to improve safety in the industry and get unqualified drivers off the road.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the latest effort Friday to ensure that drivers meet the federal requirements to understand English well enough to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement officers.

Currently, many states allow drivers to take their license tests in other languages even though they are required to demonstrate English proficiency California offered tests in 20 other languages. And Duffy said that a number of states have hired other companies to administer commercial driver’s licenses tests and those companies aren’t enforcing the standards that drivers are supposed to meet to demonstrate their driving and English skills. States are expected to ensure drivers can speak English before giving them a commercial license, and then law enforcement is supposed to check driver’s language skills during any traffic stops or inspections. Drivers who can’t communicate effectively are supposed to be pulled off the road. A recent federal effort involving 8,215 in-

spections led to nearly 500 drivers being disqualified because of their English skills.

Duffy said every American wants drivers who get behind the wheel of a big rig to be well-qualified to handle those vehicles. But he said that for too long the problems in the trucking industry were “allowed to rot and no one’s paying attention to it for decades.”

“Once you start to pay attention, you see that all these bad things have been happening. And the consequence of that is that Americans get hurt,” Duffy said. “When we get on the road, we should expect that we should be safe And that those who drive those 80,000-pound big rigs, that they are well-trained, they’re well-qualified, and they’re going to be safe.” The campaign will also now ex-

pand to prevent fraudulent trucking companies from getting into the business while continuing to go after questionable schools and ensure states are complying with all the regulations for handing out commercial licenses.

A truck driver who Duffy says wasn’t authorized to be in the U.S made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people. Other fatal crashes since then, including one in Indiana that killed four members of an Amish community earlier this month, have only heightened concerns. Duffy said that the registration system and requirements for trucking companies will be strengthened while Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspectors conduct more spot checks of trucks and commercial driver’s license schools.

Don’toverlook2026 governor elections

While the nation focuses on which party wins control of Congress this November,another high stakesbattleis unfolding mostly offstage:36races forgovernor. These contests will shape state governments and influencenational politics foryearstocome.

Governors steer state economies, budgets andsocial policies on critical issues. While states continue to be “laboratoriesofdemocracy,” where new ideasare tested, they’re also incubators for future national leaders. Throughout history, 17 presidents, 16 vice presidents and39 cabinet members had previous gubernatorial experience. Currently,26governors are Republicans and 24 are Democrats. This year’selectoral mapistightly contested, with each party holding 18 seats up forelection.

Democrats are defending five governorships in states won by Donald Trump in2024 (Arizona,Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin). Republicans are defending only twogovernorships in states wonbyKamala Harris (NewHampshire andVermont).

Several incumbent governors seekingreelection this Novemberhavenational ticket potential aspresidential or vice presidential nominees in 2028: Pennsylvania’s JoshShapiro, Maryland’sWes Moore,Arkansas’ SarahHuckabeeSanders andIllinois’ JB Pritzker.Their performance in this election will setthe stage fortheir future ambitions. Fivestatesare primetargets forpartisanturnovers and will likely have the hottest gubernatorialraces:

n Michigan:Term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’sseat is up for grabs. DemocraticSecretaryof StateJocelyn Benson and RepublicanU.S.Rep.JohnJames leadtheir party primaries. Popular formerDetroitmayor Mike Duggan is awild card, running asanindependent Handicappers rate the general electiona toss-up.

n Georgia: Republican Gov.Brian Kempisalso termlimited. To replace him, Lt. Gov.Burt Jones, Secretaryof StateBradRaffensperger,AttorneyGeneral Chris Carr and businessman Rick Jacksonare vying forthe Republican nomination. Former Atlanta mayor KeishaLance Bottoms currently leads aDemocratic field that includesformerRepublican Lt.Gov.Geoff Duncan, aTrump criticwho changed parties. Analysts expect aclose raceinNovember, witha slight GOP edge.

n Wisconsin: Democratic Gov.Tony Eversisnot seeking athird term. Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. TomTiffany leads the Republican primary.Democratshaveacrowdedfield: former lieutenant governor and Senate candidate Mandela Barnes;Lt. Gov.SaraRodriguez; MilwaukeeCountyExecutive David Crowley; former administrationsecretaryJoel Brennan; and Missy Hughes, former CEO ofWisconsin’s economic development corporation. Forecasters arereluctant to make early calls for the generalelection

n Nevada: RepublicanGov.Joe Lombardofaces atough reelection.His top challenger is Democratic AttorneyGeneral Aaron Ford. One poll shows the racetied, andhandicappers are giving even odds.

n Arizona: Democratic Gov.Katie Hobbshas herhands full winning asecond term.Her likely Republican opponent, ultra-right U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs ,has Trump’sendorsement. Forecasters putthisone in the toss-upcategory. Twoofthe nation’slargest states won’t have incumbents on theballot, and both are expected to elect governors from the same party now in power California’srace is wide open. Amultitude of Democrats are tryingtoreplace second-term DemocraticGov.Gavin Newsom.Theyinclude U.S.Rep. Eric Swalwell, former U.S. Rep. KatiePorter,businessman TomSteyer,formerHealth and Human Services secretary XavierBecerra, SanJose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angelesmayor Antonio Villaraigosa.Sofar,none has broken awayfromthe pack Republican candidates Chad Bianco, theRiversideCounty sheriff, and political commentator SteveHilton areaiming for anupset.

In Florida, Republican Gov.Ron DeSantis is term-limited U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds —backed byTrumpand keyRepublican officials —isthe leading GOPcontender. Democratic candidatesinclude David Jolly,a formerRepublican member of the U.S. House, and Orange CountyMayor Jerry Demings, husband of former U.S. Rep.Val Demings. In addition,anopen governorship in Iowa nowheldbya Republican and another in Kansas nowheldbya Democrat couldslide into play Congressional races dominate the news, especially because their outcome will shape the remainderofTrump’s presidency. But governors have their ownsway. Theymake day-to-day decisionsthat affect the livesofmostAmericans. They set spending priorities; decide which bills aresigned or vetoed; cut or raise taxes; manage emergenciesand disasters;and in somestates,influencethe drawing of legislative district lines. As Washington remains gridlocked by partisan warfare, somebody must run the store. That’swhy the36governorshipsonNovember’s ballot matter so much RonFaucheux is anonpartisanpoliticalanalyst,pollster andwriter based in Louisiana.

In thearticle from Nov.4,“A new showdown emerges over Louisiana’scontroversial pogy boats. Will restrictions be eased?” Louisiana fishing industry stakeholders sparked controversy over lessened menhaden fishing restrictions. Maintaining aminimum half-mile statewide menhaden buffer is integral to protecting the marine ecosystem and ultimately Louisiana’s position as aleader in the fishing industry Fishermen oppose an extended buffer because immediate profits could dwindle as access to legal zones of fish populations would require additional travel. However, stateofficials and conservation groups like theCoastal Conservation Association cite benefitsto keeping thebuffer in place. As CCA reports: Half-mile buffers worked. Fishkills dropped 74%. Industry revenues went up by $60 million. When thebuffers took effect, fishermen saw an increase in profits because the industry was protected Regardless of where in theworld, fishing inside protected marine areas arises not from an ignorance

of the laws, but economic necessity If fish equal income, those whofish will choose to fish and would rather just find another spot when that one is depleted.

The average consumer might not consider long-term coastal sustainability in their decision-making, which is why it is imperative that stateofficials enact legislation to maintain healthy fisheries foryears to come.

Conservation groups like CCA rebuke claimsoflost revenues, which fishermen argue to justify reducing abuffer, in fact arguing profitshave grown since mandating thebuffer

While maintaining abuffernow might eat at the fishermen’sbottom lines, as environmental reporter Mike Smithsuggests, the consequences of overfishing are too severe to reckon with, environmentally and economically

The menhaden buffermust remain at thecurrent minimum for thepreservation of Louisiana’secosystem and potential foreconomic growth.

ALEXA KIERNAN

NewOrleans

Iamabsolutely shocked and dismayed that the Republican leadership of thestate of Louisiana has had nothing to say in this publication about President Donald Trump postingthe disgusting video of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, depicted as apes Shame on U.S. Sens.Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy and U.S. Reps.

Cal Thomas’commentary on Feb. 2accuses the media of creating false narratives. He states that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement claims Adrian ConejoArias, an immigrant from Ecuador,isinthe U.S. illegally.Thomas then continues by applauding ICE for arresting people with criminal convictions or orders fordeportation. He omitsthe fact that Arias ar-

Julia Letlow and Mike Johnson, and Gov.Jeff Landry et al., for being so afraid of our so-called president.And shame on the leadership of this publicationfor not having thecourage to call out the administration on your own.

As an ex-Republican, Ithought we were at least betterthan that.

P.J. MEYER Baton Rouge

rived in theU.S. in December 2024 and has apending asylum claim that allows him to stay in the U.S. So, who is creating afalse narrative?

Thanks to alogical decision based on facts by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, Arias wasreleased from an ICE facility in Texas and has returned home to Minnesota.

KAREN GRADY NewOrleans

Ienjoy traveling morebytrain than by plane if Iamnot on a strict schedule.

Most of my train experience has been on the City of NewOrleans between New Orleans and Chicago.

This experience has been both enjoyable and disappointing at the sametime. It is enjoyable in the sense that whether you get a sleeper or ride coach, you spend alot of time in the club or observation car playing cards, having adrink and visiting with other travelers. The sleepers are not bad and include bathroomsand showers. This is much better than trying to get alittle sleep at the airport during along layover There is ahuge opportunity that is being missed by Amtrak, NewOrleans and Chicago. That would be promoting this as a unique trip.

The train departs from New Orleans around 2p.m. every day.Itarrives in Chicago around 9a.m. the next morning. Both cities are knownfor food, music and sightseeing. Both cities and Amtrak are always looking for ways to promote tourism and ridership.

Would not this be the ideal situation foralittle friendly competition between the two cities? It could be promoted as adate weekend. Have New Orleans-style food and entertainment on the way up, get somesleep and get off the train in downtowninChicago. At 9p.m., catch the train back to NewOrleans, so you can have all day in Chicago to sightsee.

The trip back would essentially be the same, except the food and entertainment would be Chicago-style and would be morein the form of abrunch. Youarrive back in New Orleans around 4p.m. and are ready to go back to work Monday morning.

GOINGFOR GOLD

Team USAdominates Slovakia to setupgold medalgame againstCanada, Page 4C

SPORTS

HOTSTREAK

yorkeignites Tigers’uprisingineighthinning to overcome Hoosiers

BY SCOTTRABALAIS

Staff writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Zach Yorkecan honestly crush a baseball, but he is also honest,evenwhen it comes to his signature blow on Friday in the first game of the Live Like Lou Jax CollegeBaseball Classic With LSUtrailingthe Hoosiers 5-4 at the topofthe eighth inning,Yorkeblasteda long ball offthe 22-foot high brick wall in right-center at VyStarBallpark, scoring Derek Curieland John Pearson. Or did he? Umpires had to go to video review,potentially limiting the bigfirst baseman LSUright fielder Jake Brown dubbed the“Creole Bambino”toa groundrule double, and potentially leaving the game still very much in doubt. Though the umpiring crew judged the ball to have hit

BYREED DARCEY Staff writer

OXFORD,Miss.– After she struggled through most of ahigh-profile clash with her former team, MiLaysia Fulwiley told herself that she had more basketball left to play The junior couldn’tdwell on alossto South Carolina, frustrating as it wasfor the LSU women’sbasketball team.Fulwiley knew she’d soon have another chance to help the Tigers winanimportantgame, andwhen she did, she didn’twant to miss seven of her eight shots again —orturn the ball over threetimes

“I mean, it’s alearning lesson,” Fulwiley said. “I wanted to play well, of course,and thatdidn’thappen.”

But it did on Thursday,whenFulwiley co-authored LSU’scome-from-behind, bounce-back road win overNo. 17 Ole Miss The No. 7Tigers trailed by 10 points with 6:39 left to play,and then theyclosed the game on a19-1 run.

Fulwiley over that sc 10 of her c thelast seve matchup, of andher LSU canhappen potential.

“I though transition b starts with quick, and s playquicke

There are prove on, th theball ove ill-advised s lessly put h suffer men whichmade reluctant to at the end o Carolinapla

the yellow line at the topofthe wall, Yorke still wasn’t convinced.

“I thought it hit thebrick,”hesaid.

LSUcoach Jay Johnson was quick to offer his own explanation.

“Itwas hit so hard,” Johnsonsaidwith agrin, “thecamera couldn’tmove that fast.”

The home run stood, and LSU’sfuse was lit. After stranding 10 runners on baseinthe first seven innings, theTigersscored six more runs andsent14men to the plate in the eighth, allowing them to finally pull away from Indiana for a14-7 victory

“It was aspecial inning,”Johnson said. “One toput on videotape of how to do it.Wehave alot of mature hitters.”

ä See LSU, page 5C

at LSU 3 PM SUNDAy SECN

Missouri put her fingerprints all oring blitz She notched areer-high 26 points in n minutes of Thursday’s fering coach Kim Mulkey team a reminder of what when she s playing to her t we were getting a lot of askets,” Mulkey said “It MiLaysia She’s just so he makes everybody else r.” things Fulwiley can imough She tends to turn r.Sometimes, she takes hots She can also neederself in foul trouble or tal lapses on defense coach Dawn Staley put her on the floor f tight games South yed during her fresh-

See LSU, page 6C Tigers junior guardrecords career-high26points

‘We’ve got to do a better job’

UL’s lack of inside scoring proves costly in loss

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The statistics are just alarming and almosttoo hard to believe, but oh so telling. With 3:04 left in UL’s 79-62 home loss to Arkansas State on Thursday at the Cajundome, the visiting Red Wolves had 17 turnovers to only two for the Cajuns. That meant UL was outscoring Arkansas State 15-0 in points off turnovers. And yet the Red Wolveswere leading by 12 points at the time.

Theprimaryreason for that is that Arkansas State led 40-14 in points in the paint.

“I didn’t thinkwedid agoodjob at allthe last twogames,” UL coachQuannas White said. “Westarted out the game really goodat OldDominion, andwestarted outthe game really good tonight. Then we just didn’tplay afull 40 minutes. We’ve got to get back to doing that to give ourselves the chancetowin.” Forthe record,the turnoversendedup 18-3 and points in the paint got to 46-14.

LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley AP PHOTO

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Before Sunday’sfinale of theRagin’ Cajuns Invitational,ULpitcherBethaneyNoble hadn’tpitched yet this season. Since then, all the senior right-hander has done is toss back-to-back complete games. The second one was a4-0 victory over Howard on Friday in the first gameofthe Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge. In Friday’ssecond game, Julianne Tipton andLexie Delbrey combinedonanothersixhitter in a6-1 winover Michigan State. TheCajunsimproved to 8-4 on the season after the twowins. UL will next playHowardagain at 11 a.m. Saturday,before taking on LSU at 4p.m. In Sunday’s23-0win overTexas A&MCorpus Christi, Noble allowed six hits, two walks and struck out three in five innings and89pitches forher first winofthe season. On Friday,Noble didn’thave the luxury of run support. Thegame was scoreless until the fourth inning and wasonly 2-0 until the middle of the sixth inning. Noble gave up six hits, one walk and struck out four in seven innings over 99 pitches to improve to 2-0 on the season.

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Venus Williams accepts Indian Wells wildcard

INDIAN WELLS, Calif Venus Williams is getting a wildcard into the singles and doubles draws for the BNP Paribas Open next month in the Southern California desert.

The 45-year-old will be making her first appearance in the tournament since 2024, when she lost in the first round as a wild card She’s a three-time semifinalist, most recently in 2018. She boycotted the event between 2002 and 2016 after a controversial incident in 2001.

“It’s an honor to award the first wild card of this year’s event to Venus Williams,” tournament director Tommy Haas said Friday ”Venus is a legend of the game, and one of the most accomplished players our sport has ever seen.” It will be Williams’ 10th career appearance in the tournament, which runs March 4-15.

NASCAR owner risked it all

Front Row leader

Bob Jenkins came out on top in antitrust lawsuit

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C

Bob Jenkins

risked his entire race team — a Daytona 500-winning team when he refused to sign NASCAR’s revenue-sharing agreement and Front Row Motorsports joined 23XI in suing over antitrust violations.

Michael Jordan was the face of the suit settled in December, while Jenkins was the quiet team owner in the background presumed to be riding the global icon’s coattails.

“People thought Michael Jordan was bankrolling this — no, no, no. I had to pay my half,” Jenkins told The Associated Press. Jenkins, the sole owner of Front Row, said he split the fees of the case equally with 23XI, which has three owners to divide the costs. Had NASCAR not settled the suit, both teams would have ceased operations.

“And I was OK with that,” Jenkins told The Associated Press “It would have hurt, I risked losing three charters myself, but I would have been OK. I just felt that strongly that we had a winning case that I could risk it.”

The settlement that was reached on the ninth day of the trial made the charters — the equivalent of a franchise in other sports — evergreen and that alone doubled their value overnight to nearly $100 million each.

Who is Front Row Motorsports?

For Jenkins, an entrepreneur from Tennessee who owns Long John Silver’s, 400 Taco Bell franchises and about 30 KFC franchises, the settlement meant a racing organization that had been bleeding money was now secure to be passed down to his four sons. He testified during the trial that Front Row had lost approximately $100 million since

it launched in the early 2000s and didn’t turn a profit a single season — even in 2021 when Michael McDowell won the Daytona 500.

The settlement now allows Jenkins to look to the future with Front Row, which has one of the youngest lineups in NASCAR and opened the 2026 season with a victory when Chandler Smith won the Truck Series race at Daytona.

The Ford team fields Cup Series cars for Noah Gragson who at 27 is the oldest driver in the lineup — Zane Smith (26) and Todd Gilliland (25). Jenkins believes he has a budding star in Smith, who signed a contract extension last October when the fate of the team was uncertain amidst the lawsuit. Smith won a stage in last week’s Daytona 500 and finished sixth, and heads into this Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway ranked fourth in the Cup standings.

Gilliland and Gragson are in contract years and Jenkins said he’s explicitly told both what he expects from them this season.

The two Front Row trucks are driven by Smith and Layne Riggs, who are both 23.

So the team has young drivers to develop, as well as an alliance with Team Penske. Jenkins said that partnership with Penske went soft during the lawsuit Roger Penske signed the charter agreement presented to owners in 2024 that Front Row and 23XI refused to accept — but has amped up since the settlement.

What’s next?

Front Row in the offseason hired engineer Grant Hutchens from Penske to crew chief Gragson, a move that allowed the team to move Drew Blickensderfer to competition director

“Drew wanted more of an organizational, leadership role, and we always had that in the back of our mind, so Grant gave us an opportunity to fast-track that,” explained Front Row general manager Jerry Freeze. “Bringing Grant in makes us a little more aligned with the Penske group and we hope that’s hopefully going to pay off in the long run.”

The settlement gave Front Row stability Freeze said “it seems like a light switch went on with our

relationship with Penske” and relief to team employees who had worried their jobs might cease to exist. It also allows the team to search for new headquarters as Front Row is currently bursting at the seams across two different leased race shops, one owned by the late Greg Biffle and the other owned by Brad Keselowski. Jenkins wants to consolidate his teams into one building and can now confidently make that investment.

A sense of satisfaction

Jenkins and Front Row don’t get the same attention as mega teams Penske, Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing. And he’s a busy team owner with commitments to his fast-food empire that he takes a very hands-on role with It was Jenkins who made the call for Long John Silver’s to switch to waffle fries — a recipe he says the chain is still trying to perfect to prevent fries from getting soggy during third-party delivery — and he’s often in the test kitchen sampling new recipes and vetoing a spicy shrimp idea because he didn’t like the way the fish looked in a red sauce. It made sense that Jordan, winning team owner of last week’s Daytona 500, was willing to take on NASCAR in the revenue sharing dispute because racing is just his retirement hobby But it took bravery and belief for Jenkins to sue something the likes of Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske did not do.

Jenkins doesn’t need to be celebrated, but he’s certainly pleased with the outcome for himself, his race teams and the future of NASCAR. It was a fight he thinks he’s “probably stupid enough to have done myself” without 23XI, but knows having Jordan was necessary “Personally it’s very gratifying because it could have went the other way and this sounds cliche, but when something needs to be said, you’ve got to find a way to say it,” Jenkins said. “We did that and it just makes me feel good that we took a stand.”

MLS opens the season with eyes on the World Cup

BY ANNE M. PETERSON AP soccer writer

Major League Soccer opens its 31st season this weekend kicking off one of the most consequential two-year stretches in the league’s history There’s the impact of the World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, then, in 2027, MLS will switch to a summer to spring schedule to align more closely with its international counterparts

MLS will take a seven-week break for the World Cup from May 25 to July 16. Many of the league’s stars, including Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and LAFC’s Son Heung-min, are expected to play in the tournament.

MLS is hoping after that to see the so-called “World Cup Bump,” or a surge in interest that both men’s and women’s leagues often experience around soccer’s premier tournament.

“The World Cup will accelerate the growth of the sport across North America in ways we’ve never seen before. Major League Soccer is uniquely positioned at the center of that moment, with all 13 host cities in the U.S. and Canada home to MLS clubs,” Commissioner Don Garber said. “We

expect to have a record number of players in the tournament, and our facilities and communities will play a role in delivering the tournament.”

The schedule shift next year aims to put MLS in a more competitive position in the transfer market, while also freeing up players for national team duty for major international tournaments during the summer

Under the new calendar league play will begin in mid- to late July 2027, with the final day of the regular season in April 2028. The playoffs and championship will take place in May

The league would go on an extended break during the winter, with just a few games played in early December and none in January before resuming in early to mid-February

“Our new format makes sense for our players, our fans and our clubs, aligning us with the global transfer market, reducing national team conflicts, and strengthening the timing of our playoffs,” Garber said. “It reflects exactly where we see MLS going, not just aligning with the best leagues in the world but competing with them.”

Garber has described this next phase as MLS 3.0. Other issues

currently being considered by MLS are changes to the playoff format and conference alignment.

The MLS season kicks off this weekend with a marquee match on Saturday night between Son’s LAFC and Messi’s Miami at the Los Angeles Coliseum before an anticipated crowd of some 70,000 fans.

Miami’s might

How did Inter Miami build on last year’s championship season in MLS? They got better, of course.

In addition to two-time league MVP Messi and his 29 goals in conference play and fellow former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, Miami added Mexican international Germán Berterame and Canadian goalkeeper Dayne

St. Clair

The Herons also made the transfer of Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid permanent.

Berterame, who was born in Argentina but is a naturalized Mexican and plays for Mexico’s national team, comes from Liga MX’s Monterrey where he has scored 68 goals in 153 appearances since 2022.

The additions should help make up for the departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who retired after Miami defeated the

Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the MLS Cup title game last season. Incoming notables

In addition to Berterame in Miami, there are a few other notable names joining MLS this season.

Among them is Colombian international James Rodriguez, who is with Minnesota United on a shortterm contract Rodriguez’s deal runs through June with a club option for the remainder of the season following the World Cup.

The signing is as consequential for the midfielder as it is for the Loons Rodriguez needs to get some quality playing time to earn a spot on Colombia’s World Cup squad.

“Yes, it’s true I’ve played for big clubs, good clubs, but I wanted this league. I wanted to play here,” Rodriguez said “That’s why I am here to help and hopefully win things. That’s what I want because I always want to win.”

Other key offseason acquisitions include forward Timo Werner, who joined the San Jose Earthquakes from RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga; Romanian forward Louis Munteanu, acquired by D.C. United; and Brazilian winger Guilherme, who joined the Houston Dynamo from Santos.

Thitikul moves into contention in Thailand

CHONBURI, Thailand World No. 1-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot a 9-under 63 Friday that moved her into second place at her home LPGA Thailand tournament on the Siam Country Club Old Course near Bangkok. Thitikul, who celebrated her 23rd birthday Friday, trails second-rounder leader Somi Lee by three strokes after Lee shot a 61, including an eagle 2 from the fairway on the 15th hole.

The South Korean player had a two-round total of 17-under 127.

“I had the best score of my life today, so I’m a little emotional,” Lee said. “But since the competition is not over and there are still two more days left, I just want to celebrate this a little bit.”

World Cup FanFest near Statue of Liberty canceled

The New York and New Jersey World Cup host committee has canceled its fan festival planned to be held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City The committee scrapped plans for the weeklong festival that would have been held about 15 miles from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, where the final will be played on July 19.

The FanFest was announced in February 2025 by Tammy Murphy, wife of then-New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy and chair of the New York/ New Jersey host committee’s directors, who said it would be open for all 104 matches of the tournament.

Rams promote assistant Scheelhaase to OC

The Los Angeles Rams are promoting assistant Nate Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Friday

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Rams haven’t made an announcement of coach Sean McVay’s new staff. Scheelhaase replaces Mike LaFleur, who became the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach this month.

Although McVay calls Los Angeles’ plays and leads the design of their offense, Scheelhaase will be the Rams’ fifth offensive coordinator during McVay’s 10 seasons in charge. All four assistants who previously held that title have gone on to become head coaches, as did Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor

Leclerc fastest on last day of F1 testing in Bahrain

SAKHIR, Bahrain Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was the fastest on the final day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain on Friday

McLaren’s Lando Norris was 0.879 seconds behind Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen trailed by 1.117 seconds.

Mercedes’ George Russell was fourth and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly fifth.

Leclerc’s pace backed up the belief that Ferrari will be a leading contender this year when the season begins in Australia in two weeks.

Russell believes his team needs to improve reliability

“There definitely have been positives, but for every time there is an issue, it does definitely set you back quite a lot,” he said. “The car is feeling good, the new power units are feeling fast, and we’re making improvements every single day However we need to keep on improving reliability.”

Catholic-New Iberia throttles Sarah Reed

BY NEAL McCLELLAND

Contributing writer

Catholic High of New Iberia girls basketball coach Dariane Breaux emphasizes defense and scoring transition baskets

The No. 14 Panthers used that combination to crush No. 19 Sarah Reed 47-13 in a Division III select bidistrict game on Thursday night in New Iberia.

Lafayette High’s Cadence Johnson makes a move to the basket against a Hammond defender during a Division I select bidistrict playoff game on Thursday night at Lafayette High. Hammond won 52-44.

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

“I was very proud of how the defense played tonight,” Breaux said.

“We were able to get some turnovers and some transition baskets and were able to pull ahead.

“But it all started with defense, and the girls were locked in tonight with how they played.”

The Panthers gave up three points in the first quarter two in the second quarter, none in the third quar-

ter and eight in the fourth quarter

Not a bad effort for a team that knew little about its New Orleans opponent.

“I knew nothing about them going into the game, and I have to admit I was a little scared about playing them,” Breaux said. “I knew they had a good point guard, but outside of that I couldn’t get any information on the rest of the team.”

Breaux said Reed’s coach told her after the game that they were without two starters because of

Hammond sinks Lafayette High

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Lafayette High knew going into Thursday’s Division I select girls bidistrict game against Hammond that turnovers would be a key to getting a win.

The No. 16-seeded Lions also knew they could not allow secondand third-shot opportunities while also making someone other than Hammond star Jamaya Francis beat them. They didn’t do any of them in a

52-44 loss to the No. 17 Tornadoes on Thursday night in Lafayette.

The Lions (15-16) were stout defensively for the most part, especially in their full-court press in which they forced 35 turnovers.

rebounds to go with four steals.

Harris added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Cadence Johnson scored a teamhigh 20 points for Lafayette High and had three steals.

the Mardi Gras break.

Senior Taybriana Delasbour led CHSNI with 14 points.

“It felt good to get this because we worked so hard for this,” Delasbour said.

“It’s been a long time since Catholic High won both the district title and made it out of the first round of the playoffs. So to do both in this year is really special.”

The senior guard admitted she was nervous before the game.

“There was a little case of nerves

coming into the game, but we worked so hard all year for this that we were able to fight past it and get the win,” Delasbour said.

The Panthers will travel to face No 3 Sacred Heart of New Orleans at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the regional round.

“It’s a quick turnaround to go from the first round to the second round, but the kids are so excited about what they’ve been able to accomplish so far that I think they’ll be ready for it,” Breaux said.

PREP REPORT

But Lafayette High committed 20 turnovers of its own and didn’t take full advantage of Hammond’s miscues.

The Lions were outrebounded 47-25 as Francis and 6-foot senior Rene Harris had their way inside. Francis, a senior guard, finished with a game-high 32 points and 18

Madison Johnson added nine points, seven rebounds and three steals.

The Tornados will next face No. 1 John Curtis in the regionals on Monday

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

SCOREBOARD

62 Tulane 77, North Texas 71 Friday’s games No games scheduled Saturday’s games Texas State at UL, noon Arkansas State at UL-Monroe, 2 p.m. Houston Christian at Northwestern St., 3:30 p.m. UTRGV at Southeastern, 3:30 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Kennesaw State, 4 p.m. Alabama at LSU, 5 p.m. Nicholls at Stephen F. Austin, 5 p.m.

Grambling at Southern, 5 p.m.

UNO at Lamar, 6 p.m. Texas A&M-CC at McNeese, 7 p.m. Sunday’s game Rice at Tulane, 1 p.m. Arkansas State 79, UL 62

Late Thursday ARKANSAS STATE (17-11) Tounkara 1-1 1-2 3, Hampton 5-8 2-2 12, Harmon 4-8 0-0 9, Hayman 1-3 1-2 3, Jackson 13-16 4-8 31, Caldwell 0-3 4-4 4, Ellingsworth 3-7 1-2 8, Chammaa 1-1 7-8 9, Smith 0-1 0-0 0 Totals 28-48 20-28 79. UL (9-19) Jones 0-2 0-1 0, Bilal 1-6 0-0 3, Finister 7-15 3-3 18, Lavergne 6-15 1-2 13, Olvera 7-19 2-3 18, Woodson 1-6 2-2 5, Mejia 1-3 0-0 3, Ratliff 0-5 0-0 0, Evans 1-3 0-0 2, Collins 0-0 0-0 0 Totals 24-74 8-11 62. Halftime Arkansas State 36-33. 3-Point Goals — Arkansas State 3-14 (Jackson 1-1, Ellingsworth 1-4, Harmon 1-4, Hayman 0-2, Caldwell 0-3), UL 6-23 (Olvera 2-5, Bilal 1-3, Finister 1-3, Mejia 1-3, Woodson 1-4, Lavergne 0-2, Ratliff 0-3). Rebounds — Arkansas State 41 (Hampton 12), UL 21 (Bilal 6). Assists — Arkansas State 5 (Jackson, Chammaa 2), UL 8 (Lavergne 3). Total Fouls — Arkansas State 14, UL 21. A — 2,552 (11,550). Women’s college basketball State scores,

MI LA N CO RT IN A OL YM PI CS

MEN’S HOCKEY ROUNDUP

U.S. win sets up final vs. Canada

BY STEPHEN WHYNO Associated Press

FERREIRA FINALLY WINS HIS OLYMPIC GOLD: The next time you see a senior citizen barreling down the mountain,maybe doing a double-cork while he’s at it,don’t think twice.That might just be your neighborhood’s friendly new Olympic champion.

Alex Ferreira,the freeskier known to don prosthetics to look 80 and turn into a character named“Hotdog Hans”when he’s not kicking butt in the halfpipe,added a gold medal Friday night to the silver and bronze he’d won at the last two games to“finish the rainbow,”as his mother said.

The 31-year-old, a longtime fixture on the slopes and in the schools and rec centers in Aspen, Colorado, also put America in the win column for the first time in two weeks of halfpipe, slopestyle and big air action at the Livigno Snow Park.

“I’m going to drink copious amounts of beer,” Ferreira said when asked how he would celebrate.

DUTCH DELIVER MORE SPEEDSKATING GOLD: Antoinette Rijpmade Jong of the Netherlands won her first Olympic gold, and sixth career medal overall, by finishing first in speedskating’s 1,500 meters.

Rijpma-de Jong finished in 1 minute, 54.9 seconds, as thousands of Dutch fans roared in the stands. She was 0.06 faster than silver medalist Ragne Wiklund of Norway Canada’s Valerie Maltais took bronze Earlier at these Games, Dutch women also took gold at other distances — Femke Kok in the 500 and Jutta Leerdam in the 1,000. Later the Netherlands added to its impressive short-track speedskating haul by winning its first men’s 5,000-meter relay at the Olympics. Jens van ’t Wout, who skated the anchor leg, earned his third gold and fourth medal overall in Milan, while his nation earned its fifth gold and seventh medal overall in the shorttrack speedskating program.

POLISH SPEEDSKATER TAKES

SKATE BLADE TO FACE: Short-track speedskater Kamila Sellier of Poland was immobilized on a stretcher and wheeled out of the Milano Ice Skating Arena after a competitor’s blade sliced her above her left eye during the women’s 1,500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Sellier went down along with 15-time Olympic medalist Ariana Fontana of Italy and American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold, who was penalized for an illegal lane pass that contributed to the accident.That kept her from advancing through the quarterfinal round.

The race was paused while Sellier received attention, a large white sheet blocking her from the crowd that was packed into the arena to see the final night of short-track speedskating Polish officials said Sellier’s eye was OK. She received stitches at the arena before going to the hospital for more tests. — The

MILAN Zach Werenski and his U.S. teammates tried not to look ahead at a potential gold-medal game against Canada at the Olympics. After each went unbeaten in group play, there was no way the North American rivals could meet before the final but there was work left to do.

After routing Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinals on Friday night, the much-anticipated but never guaranteed U.S.-Canada showdown for gold is on.

“It’s the matchup everyone wanted,” Werenski said after his three-assist performance against Slovakia. “Now that it’s finally here, we can kind of shift our focus to Canada.”

The two top seeds in the tournament, who went in as the favorites, will meet Sunday It comes a year after the U.S. and Canada played two memorable games against each other at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“It’s the final that we wanted and the team that we wanted to play,” winger Matt Boldy said.

“It’s exciting for the fans and for hockey and everything like that.”

That NHL-run event ended a drought of nearly a decade without an international tournament featuring the best hockey players in the world. Three fights in the first nine seconds in the first meeting put the 4 Nations in the spotlight, and their epic final won by Canada in overtime only built the anticipation for the Olympics.

“Now that it’s all set in stone, everything happens for a reason,” said Brady Tkachuk, who along with brother Matthew and J.T Miller were involved in the 4 Nations fisticuffs. “We’ll be looking forward to this one. You guys have been talking about it for a while. Now you get to enjoy it.”

After Canada did its part by rallying to beat Finland earlier in the day, the U.S. had no trouble against the Slovaks, who made an improbable run and were simply overmatched. They’ll face the Finns for bronze on Saturday, looking for just the second hockey medal in the country’s history after getting the first with a third-

place finish in Beijing in 2022.

The U.S. is playing for gold after the semifinals were a much easier go than the quarterfinals against Sweden, when overtime was needed to survive a scare

Dylan Larkin, Tage Thompson, Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel scored the four goals on 23 shots that chased Samuel Hlavaj out of Slovakia’s net past the midway point of the second period.

Thompson exited later in the second after blocking a shot and did not return.

Coach Mike Sullivan said Thompson “was held out for precautionary reasons more than anything.”

“We’ll see how he recovers, but I anticipate him being ready for game time,” Sullivan said.

Hughes got his second goal of the game just after a power play expired, and Brady Tkachuk scored on a breakaway with just over nine minutes left to provide some more breathing room.

“That was definitely one of our strongest games, for sure,” said Quinn Hughes, who along with brother Jack have been the best

U.S. players in Milan. “For the most part, we played really well. A little bit looser there in the third, but it’s a 5-0 game and you want to get out safe and feel good for the next game.”

CANADA 3, FINLAND 2: Falling behind for a second consecutive game at the Olympics, after never trailing throughout group play, Canada dug itself an even deeper hole in the semifinals against Finland. Down two goals against an opponent also full of NHL players, the tournament favorite did not look the slightest bit shaken.

“There wasn’t really any panic,” center Nick Suzuki said. “We were going to get our chances eventually.”

Then, the most talented roster in Milan buried those chances.

Sam Reinhart deflected Cale Makar’s shot in to start the comeback, Shea Theodore tied it on a blast through traffic and Nathan MacKinnon scored the go-ahead goal with 35.2 seconds left to advance to the gold medal game against the U.S.

“You could definitely feel the sense of calm, having been through that before,” Connor McDavid said “We understood we were in a tough spot, and we had to find a way to get out of it. And we did.” Makar thought he and his teammates were more comfortable down 2-0 against Finland than when they fell behind against Czechia twice in the quarterfinals, including with seven minutes left. It showed. After Erik Haula scored shorthanded to make it a two-goal deficit early in the second period, Canada outshot Finland 31-8 the rest of the way Juuse Saros was terrific in net for Finland, and Canada coach Jon Cooper was worried only about getting shut out by a hot goaltender Reinhart’s goal with 4:40 left in the second cut some of the tension, and it was clear the game was turning. Theodore’s goal came with 9:26 left in regulation after Brad Marchand was on top of Saros following a shove from Haula.

Canada ‘heartbroken’ after upset by Sweden in curling

BY ANDREW DAMPF Associated Press

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO Italy The topranked Canadian women couldn’t overcome “straighter” ice and a sharp Sweden squad, and now the country’s controversial men’s team will have the curling power’s last chance at Olympic gold at the Milan Cortina Games. With Canada already shut out of the mixed team event medals, Rachel Homan’s team was upset by Anna Hasselborg’s Sweden in the semifinals Friday

“They’re heartbroken right now,” Canada coach Heather Nedohin said Sweden, ranked No. 12, will face Switzerland for gold on Sunday Sweden, which has won the women’s competition three times since curling returned to the Olympic program in 1998, beat Canada 6-3. Homan had beaten Hasselborg in all three of their previous meetings this season.

“I woke up this morning and just told the girls, ‘I really believe we’re winning today,’ ”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MISPER APAWU

Canada’s Rachel Homan looks down during a women’s curling semifinal match against Sweden on Friday in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Hasselborg said, with one of her children in her arms and another playing at her feet.

Silvana Tirinzoni’s Switzerland beat the United States 7-4 and will be aiming for their first women’s gold at the Olympics.

The Swiss took silver behind

Canada at the past two world championships after four straight golds in the biggest curling competition outside of the Olympics.

Canada will play the U.S. for bronze on Saturday

“Obviously disappointed, but our work is not done here,”

HIGHLIGHTS

Homan said. “We’re going to come out fighting tomorrow.” The Canadians said they struggled with “straighter” ice that “made some shots quite a bit tougher

“But Sweden played a great game, and kudos to them,” Homan said.

U.S. vice skip Cory Thiesse, who already won silver in the team event with Korey Dropkin, said she was a little surprised to be facing Canada for bronze.

“They’re the No. 1 ranked team in the world. But it’s the Olympics and that pressure is hard sometimes and you just never know,” Thiesse said. “Our motto this week has just been to keep games close and you never know what is going to happen out there.” In the men’s competition, Switzerland routed Norway 9-1 for the bronze medal. Canada faces Britain for gold on Saturday

The Canadian men were the subject of a controversy that got attention far beyond the ice when several players were accused of double-touching the rock, a rules violation.

Robotumpstakecenterstage at MLBspringtraininggames

Just over half of ball/strikechallenges successful on firstday

By The Associated Press

Just over half the ball/strike challenges were successfulonthe

first day of spring training games Friday as Major League Baseball prepared for the first regularseason use of the automated ballstrike system —the so-called robot umpires.

Thirteen of 23 calls were overturned during the five games, MLB said, which came to 56.5%.

There were an averageof4.6 challenges per game and2.6 overturned calls per game. Seven challenges were made of plate umpire Alex MacKay’s calls during Arizona’s3-2 win over Colorado, and six were successful. The Diamondbacks had four of five decisions reversed and the Rockies were 2for 2in challenges.

MLB experimented with the ABSsystem during spring training last year and teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges (617 of 1,182).

Each teamhas the ability to challenge two calls per game. Teams that waste their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning. Ateam retains itschallenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 andwidelyexpanded to many calls for the 2014 season.

MLB

MLB’S 1ST FEMALEUMP WORKSSPRING TRAINING BUT DOESN’T GET PERMANENT

Continued from page1C

No. 2-rankedLSU improved to 6-0 with its 13th straightwin dating back to last year’sNCAA Baton Rouge regional. The Hoosiers fell to 1-4, but not after showing some of thesamepesky traits that allowed Indiana to capture the College Football Playoff championship amonth ago in Miami.

The Hoosiers bunched together three runs in the third off LSU starter Casan Evans and two more in the seventh, takingone-run leads over the Tigers bothtimes. Johnson, off to his best start in fiveseasons as LSU’scoach, was proud of the way his Tigers battled back. “It was agreat win for our team,” he said. “Wehandled adversity.It wasanelitegameforus,hitting-wise.

“Wehit alot of balls hard today ” LSUpiled up aseason-high 18 hits in addition to 14 walks, none of the hits bigger than Yorke’s2-0 blast off Hoosiers reliever Jackson Yarberry,and reached on a pair of errors.

“We’re just being who we are,” said shortstop StevenMilam, who also went 3-for-5 witha pair of RBIs. “The ball goes where it goes.” Indiana coach Jeff Mercer said hisHoosiers faced “one of the best, if not the best, offenses in the country” in LSU. “Whateveryou will face will

STAFF OPENING: Jen Pawol will umpire during spring training for the third straight year,but themajor leagues’ first female umpire did not getone ofthe permanentstaff openings.

TomHanahan andBrian Walsh were promotedFriday to replace Mark Carlsonand PhilCuzzi,who are retiring. Carlson will become an umpire supervisor Jordan Baker, who worked the plate in Game 7oflastyear’s World Series, will replace Carlson as acrew chief.

Pawol, 49, became the first female major league umpire Aug. 9and worked atotal of five big league gameslastyear.In2024, she became thefirst woman to umpire big league springtraining games since Ria Cortesio in 2007.

Pawol has been aminorleague umpsince 2016 and has worked at Triple-A since 2023.

Walsh, 41, has worked 339 major league games as acall-up umpire and Hanahan,who is 35, has worked 329. Both made their major league debutsin2023.

Orioles

ALONSO HOMERS IN SPRINGTRAINING

DEBUT WITH BALTIMORE: Pete Alonso homeredinhis spring training debutfor theBaltimore Orioles, providing the only runs in a2-0 exhibition victory over the NewYork Yankees on Friday

In his third plate appearance in abig league uniform other than the New York Mets, Alonso pulled afirst-pitch curveballoverthe fenceinleft-center field against right-hander Bradley Hanner in thesixth inning.

Most of the regulars had exited the spring training opener,but Alonso wantedanothertrip to theplate and some more work at first base. “He wanted it, and he madethe

WHO: LSU(6-0) vs. Notre Dame(2-1 entering Friday’splay)

WHEN: 11 a.m. CST Saturday

WHERE: VyStar Ballpark (11,000), Jacksonville, Florida ONLINE/TV: D1Baseball.com RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1(Baton Rouge); WWL-AM, 870 (NewOrleans); KLWB-FM, 103.7(Lafayette) RANKINGS: LSUisNo. 2byD1Baseball. com; Notre Dameisnot ranked

PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU —RHP

Cooper Moore (1-0,1.50ERA,6.0 IP 11 K, 0BB); Notre Dame —LHP Caden Crowell (0-0, 0.00 ERA,3.0 IP,3 K, 4BB)

PREGAMEUPDATES: theadvocate.com/lsu ON X(FORMERLY TWITTER): @RabalaisAdv WHATTOWATCH FOR: Moorehas had thebestgame of anyLSU starting pitcher by far,going six strong innings this past Saturdayina 5-3 win overMilwaukee. Meanwhile, theTigers’ offense is coming offaseason-high18hitsFriday against Indiana.The Fighting Irish wontheir season-opening series at Florida Atlantic, 1-7,14-1,7-1.This is the first game between LSU andNotre Damesince the Tigers wontwo of threein2018.

—Scott Rabalais

STMgirls claim opening-roundwin over Southwood

BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributingwriter

District 4-4A hasbeen unkind to theSouthwood Cowboys in the girls high school basketball playoffs.

Lastseason, theShreveport school lost to Teurlings Catholic in the first round. On Thursday, the No. 19 Cowboys were eliminated in aDivision Iselect bidistict game at No. 14 St. Thomas More 40-31.

“I think our defense was the catalyst,” STM coach Jeanne Kenney said. “Wewere able to orchestrate how we needed to win thatgame. We scored downthe stretch when we needed to, and we held the ball to waste time in theend.”

Sophomorepoint guardAli Puhekker,who led STM with nine points, picked up her fourth foul early in thefourth quarterwith the Cougars ahead 32-27.Sophomore Timber Joubert picked up the slack by scoring allfive points in the final period.

mostofit,”first-year manager CraigAlbernazsaid.“It speaks a lot. Pete just wants to play.”

Alonso spent his first sevenmajor league seasonswith the Mets before signing a$155 million, fiveyear contract with the Orioles in December.The 31-year-old wasa fan favorite in New York.

Giants

HOO LEE WORKS TO FIND RHYTHM IN RIGHT FIELD FOR SAN FRANCISCO:

Acoach hollers “get there!” as Jung HooLee sprintstohis left, scoopsupa ball off thewarning track that hasricocheted hard off thewall, then turns and crisply firesitback to awaiting glove

Sure, it’s just aspring training drill at Giantscamp, yet these are thetypesofplays andtricky bounces theKorean starwill be counteduponhandlinginhis new position for 2026.

Lee is embracing being theregular right fielder for San Francisco, shifting from his familiar home in center

He is already working to find hisrhythmand timingearly on this spring in thenew spot after the Giants signed HarrisonBader last month on a$20.5 million, twoyear contract to play center field.

Lee is still set to play center field for Korea in the upcoming WorldBaseballClassic.

New San Francisco manager Tony Vitello andthe Giants are thrilledwithhow Lee is adapting, and always with his cheery spirit intact. He made time to signa few autographs for fans behind the dugout following along day on the diamond Thursday, then chuckled behind the batting cage at ScottsdaleStadium between hittingsessions Friday while chatting withbroadcaster and former player Duane Kuiper

“Timber hada really good fourth quarter,” Kenney said. “Earlier,she struggled with free throws. That got in her head, but I’m glad she finished strong.” Southwood (17-11) took its only lead at 17-16 at the end of a5-0 run to start the third quarter.Aubrey Broussard’s3-pointer put the Cougars back ahead, and a3 from Virginia Blanchard —her first field goal —gave STM a2620 advantage.

“Aubreydid whatshe does,” Kenneysaid of Broussard, one of three sophomores in the starting lineup. “She’sanunconscious shooter. Virginia is abig ball-handler whocreates alot of advantagesfor us.Wecan keep some people in scoring positionoff the ball when she’sinthere, and that’sreally helpful.”

The Cougars, whomade 7of19 free throws, got eight points from Broussard. Post Kate Laragy added seven, Blanchard scored five, andBailey Puhekker had four points. Freshman Amelia Guchereau contributed two points.

“Katewas asteady post pres-

CAJUNS

Continued from page1C

UL was getting outhit formuch of the game, but finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth.

Dayzja Williamsled off with a triple andscored on Lily Knox’s groundout. In the fifth inning, Cecilia Vasquez reached on afielder’s choice and then eventually scored on pinch-hitter Brooke Otto’sRBI single fora2-0 lead. The Cajuns then added two insurance runs in the sixth. Haley Hart reached on an error and stole two bases before scoring on

not be tougher than what we just faced,” hesaid Evans, who came into the game with a10.80 earned runaverage after lastingjust 3-1/3 innings in the season opener withMilwaukee, wentfive innings Friday.He allowed threeruns (two earned), striking out four andwalking two, staying in the gamedespite a wild third inning when the Tigers gave up threeruns on acouple of squibbedhits and athrowing error by catcher Cade Arrambide. “I thought he was great,” Johnsonsaid of Evans. “Helet it (the third inning) gettohim alittle

bit,then he overcame it. He had so much good stuff that shouldn’t takeapitcher of that caliber out of their game.

“Whenhelearns to getoverthe small adversities quicker,you’ll see him go like six innings of onerun ball.” Gavin Guidry gave up the lead in theseventh with runnersheinherited from Cooper Williams, but still got the win to go to 2-0 on the

ence,” Kenney said of the senior “She worked herbutt offdown low.Itwas aphysical game. They hadacouple of good on-ball defenders. No. 30 (McKenzie Silas) wasreally good. She disrupted our guards.”

Zoey Davis wasthe only Southwood playerindouble figures with 13 points. The Cowboys had their ownissues fromthe freethrowline (12 of 25) andtrailed only 16-12athalftimedespite shooting 2for 10 from the field in the second quarter “It’s allabout winning andadvancing in the playoffs,” Kenney said. “You are whoyou are at this point.”

The Cougars (19-9) will travel to Baton Rouge on Monday to face No. 3St. Joseph’sAcademy (21-5), which hadabye in the opening round. In the regionals last season, STM lost at state champion No.4Huntington.

“Anymatchup is abetter matchup than Huntington,” Kenney said, “but St. Joseph’s is agood team witha lotofquality wins. They’re very different from Southwood. We’re goingto be excited tonight,thenwehave to flush it because we have three days to prep.”

Emily Smith’sgroundout. Cecilia Vasquezchasedhome the fourth runwithanRBI double. In the secondgame, UL’s offense didn’ttake nearly as much time to get going whenHart smashed athree-run homer in the first inning. Vasquez then doubled andscored on theback end of arundown for a4-0 lead in the second. UL added twoinsurance runs in the sixth on Smith’stwo-run homer Tipton moved to 3-0 on the season, allowing onerun on sixhits, three walks andstriking outtwo in fiveinnings and 66 pitches. Lexie Delbreywasted no time getting thelastsix outs,giving up no baserunners with onestrikeout in 18 pitches.

youngseason. Indianastarter Tony Neubeck (0-1) took the loss. LSUplays againat11a.m. CST Saturday against Notre Dame,the game streamed on D1Baseball. com. The Irish played UCF, which faces the Tigers on Sunday,inFriday’slate game. Proceeds from the classic, named for legendary New York Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig, raise money forALS research.

The Tigers will again start junior right-hander Cooper Moore, who threwsix strong innings the previous Saturday in a5-3 winover MilwaukeeatAlexBox Stadium. When LSU can start left fielder Chris Stanfield again remains a mystery Stanfield bruised his hand in that game Moorewon aweekago and hasn’tplayedsince, though Johnson said he is improving.

“He was better Friday,” Johnson said. “He took live readsinthe outfield. He’scatching the ball now Onething we have is depth, and thatallows us to be smart about how we bring him along.

“I don’tknowa time frame, but he will be back as soon as he’sable to play.”

BraydenSimpsonstartedinleft in Stanfield’splace and went0-for1. Tanner Reaves replaced Simpson in the fourth and had atwo-run bunt single as part of LSU’seighthinning uprising.

For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

‘Trust the work’

Mackinnon’s journey from Australia to LSU has Alabama ties

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Max Mackinnon’s basketball talents might’ve stayed in Australia had it not been for ties to Alabama

The LSU guard is the son of pros — his father, Sam Mackinnon, a former National Basketball League MVP (2007), and his mother, Rebecca Mackinnon, a former WNBL player and college point guard.

“My mom played at Alabama for two years,” the senior said. “Honestly, I don’t talk to her too much about hoops, but she kind of just spoke about the school side, getting a degree.”

Rebecca Mackinnon, whose maiden name is Baragry, played 28 games during the 1996-97 season when Alabama reached the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals.

Max Mackinnon, 22, followed in her college footsteps and is set to face her alma mater for the first time when LSU (14-12, 2-11 SEC) plays No. 25 Alabama (22-9, 126) at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center The 6-foot-6 product of Brisbane, Australia, is averaging a team-high 17.3 points and 2.8 assists and is shooting 43.4% from the field and 92.5% from the free-throw line in Southeastern Conference play

David Patrick, who is from Melbourne, Australia, grew up knowing Mackinnon’s parents. The LSU associate head coach and former Sacramento State coach (2022-24) played with Mackinnon’s dad on multiple occasions. He remembers meeting the 11-year-old Mackinnon in 2015 when a Ben Simmonsled LSU team toured Australia.

“Just remember little Max, a little chubby kid that was an LSU fan,” Patrick said. “You fast-forward to my time at Sacramento State. Max was in the portal from Elon. We recruited him a little bit, and he ended up going to Portland.” After a strong season, Mackinnon transferred to LSU, joining other Australians to become Tigers: Simmons, Duop Reath, Ed Palubinskas and Ray Borner Katrina Hibbert and Maree Jackson, the mother of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson, played on the women’s team.

Mackinnon knew he wasn’t viewed as LSU’s top addition — the No. 92 shooting guard on 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings.

“I think coming into LSU, I know a lot of people look at me like, ‘Nah, there’s no way he’s going to play,’” Mackinnon said. “I just keep proving people wrong, and I think that’s been my mantra since I’ve come to college.”

The 39.6% 3-point shooter played at the Centre of Excellence, an Australian basketball academy akin to elite athletic high schools like IMG Academy However, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns “ruined my college exposure,” he said.

“I think it’s always in the back of your mind,” Mackinnon said of being overlooked. “I never made state teams and Australia teams. I

Continued from page 1C

The bottom line is the Cajuns just don’t have any inside scoring and depend heavily on three scorers — Dorian Finister, Jaxon Olvera and De’Vion Lavergne to have to hit far too many jump shots to win. That trio gave another valiant effort. Finister had 18 points and three boards, while Olvera had 18 and four rebounds. Lavergne added 13 points and six rebounds, but there’s just nothing resembling balanced scoring No other Cajun player had more than five points.

“It is on our shoulders, so we just have to do a better job at stepping up,” Lavergne said. “If we’re out there all that time, we’ve got to do a better job of just continuing being productive, even when you’re tired.” On the flip side, Arkansas State guard Chandler Jackson consistently drove to the basket seemingly at will — much like Old Dominion did in the second half Monday — to pour in 31 points on 13-of-16 shooting from the field

“We did not do a good job of keeping the ball in front of us,” White

always got cut from that, and I feel that’s always been my motivation.

I want to play for my country.”

Mackinnon was also compared to his dad. The below-the-rim finisher was the son of “Slamming”

Sam Mackinnon, an athletic marvel known for dunks and a successful Australian basketball career. He competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and was a two-time NBL champion (1996 and 2007).

Patrick said Sam Mackinnon probably would’ve played in the NBA if the league were as open to international players as it is today He also could’ve played for schools like Arizona or Kentucky, but chose to go pro at 17.

Max Mackinnon understood the comparisons to his dad back home, but is more focused on “running my race,” which includes doing what he can to lead the Tigers to wins after top player Dedan Thomas, had season-ending foot

surgery

Ben Wilson is Max Mackinnon’s mentor and a former teammate in the NBL1, the NBL’s version of the G League for the NBA. The former Idaho State guard sees the LSU guard as a little brother, and as any older brother would, he offered some advice One tip was to find the hardest workers at Elon and learn from them.

That strategy showed the teenager the work ethic necessary to compete with more athletic American players. His training improved him most as a shooter

“He always had an OK jumper but his go-to is getting two feet in the paint, shooting that little leaner,” Wilson said. “He always had really good touch, but he never shot the ball at a super high level.”

said. “I thought we needed to do a really good job of getting back in transition and stopping the ball and loading to the ball, and we didn’t do that. We did it early in the first half once the game started. That’s how we got out to that lead, but you got to play 40 minutes that way.”

The only other double-figure scorer for Arkansas State was Jalen Hampton with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Cajuns actually led 20-9 with 11:30 left in the first half after a Lavergne jump shot. UL led for 15:50 of the first half.

But after Jackson’s three-point play with 1:40 left gave Arkansas State a 32-30 edge.

UL held one more lead in the game 42-41, after two Olvera free throws with 15:43 left to play, but the Red Wolves never trailed the rest of the game.

“We’ve got to do a better job of listening to the scout, and just listening to the game plan,” Finister said “Our job is when I managed to be the next man over to stop the ball, and the next one behind him should stunt. So I think we just got to do a better job as players locking in on what we’re doing and how we call it.”

When Joey Chammaa complemented Jackson’s prolific scoring with two buckets and Jaxon El-

Williams’ absence in second half vs. Ole Miss was ‘coach’s decision’

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

OXFORD, Miss Mikaylah Williams sat out the whole second half of the LSU women’s basketball team’s comeback win over Ole Miss on Thursday, and coach Kim Mulkey characterized her absence as a “coach’s decision.”

Williams, a star junior guard, was playing more than 30 minutes per game in SEC play before the No. 7 Tigers took on Ole Miss. She logged only 16 minutes against the No. 17 Rebels, though, watching from the bench as MiLaysia Fulwiley and Flau’jae Johnson authored a 13-point comeback victory

“Same reason Grace (Knox) didn’t get back in the game,” Mulkey said. “Just make decisions.”

Knox, a freshman forward, was called for a technical foul halfway through the third quarter after she gave Ole Miss star Cotie McMahon a hard foul and offered her some choice words. Mulkey subbed her out after that play and left her on the bench for the rest of the game, opting instead to go with a larger lineup with forward Amiya Joyner and center Kate Koval. That group which also fea-

tured Fulwiley, Johnson and Jada Richard — outscored the Rebels by 12 points in the six minutes it played. No other lineup was more productive for LSU.

“I think a decision we made as a staff to go big was very effective,” Mulkey said. “I just thought they were taking my young two freshmen off the drive, and that’s why I didn’t go big, thinking that they could move laterally a little bit better

“But what was killing us was second, third shots, and I just thought (Koval) and (Joyner) were just solid together.” Fulwiley started the second half in place of Williams. She finished with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, to pair with seven rebounds and three steals. Ten of her points came in the fourth quarter the quarter in which Ole Miss (21-7, 8-5 SEC) came up empty on all 17 field-goal attempts. Because the Tigers (23-4, 8-4) picked up the improbable win, they moved into sole possession of fourth place in the SEC. If they can hold on to that spot in the standings through the final three games of their regular season, then they’ll earn a double bye in the SEC Tournament for the fifth year in a row

Those days of being a 28.4% 3-point shooter and 71.4% on free throws as a freshman are far behind him after years of honing his form He continues to grow as a player with help from graduate assistant and former sharpshooter Keith Hornsby, who shot 40.1% from deep in two seasons as an LSU player Mackinnon’s first taste of adversity in a power conference arrived in LSU’s 24-point loss to Texas Tech. Mackinnon had two points, shot 0 of 9 and played 16 minutes.

Wilson took the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart conversation with him.

“I was like, ‘Man, what do you want to do here?’ ” Wilson said. “This next week of practice is super important for you. You just need to go in there, and you need to prove that you are willing to do the work when (things) go bad.

“That Texas Tech game was a real turning point of like, ‘All right, are you going to run away with your tail between your legs or you stand up and go all right, we’re doing this.’”

Mackinnon stood tall, living out his favorite catchphrase, “trust the work.” He had 22 points in the following 12-point win over SMU and rattled off 14 consecutive doublefigure performances.

Patrick knew Mackinnon’s skills would translate well to LSU, but he still pinches himself at times to see how far “little Max” has come.

“In SEC play, to see teams really just denying him catches everywhere, trying to take him out, that to me was just, ‘Wow,’ ” Patrick said. “At least for me, you don’t realize, he’s the other team’s star (on the scouting report) for us, which is still weird for me at times.”

lingsworth pitched in a 3-pointer with 8:41 left, it was only a matter of time until the Red Wolves took total control. It also didn’t help that UL missed two front ends of 1-and-1s when the game was still in doubt in the final eight minutes

Arkansas State shot 58% from the field for the game to make it the third time in the last four games that a UL opponent shot 57% or more from the floor

The Red Wolves only made a trio of 3-pointers at a 21% clip, but it didn’t matter Arkansas State outrebounded UL 47-26, despite the Cajuns getting 14 offensive rebounds.

“Arkansas State does a good job of sending four guys to the glass,” White said. “I think what put us out of position is not getting back and loading and being connected in transition. So when those guys did shoot and miss, it would be a layup, out of transition.” UL was limited to 32% shooting overall from the game and 26% from 3-point land.

“Arkansas State is a real good team,” White said. “They’ve got depth, and that’s not something we have right now.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1C

man and sophomore seasons. Not much has changed since then. Fulwiley is still prone to mistakes. But when she’s playing clean basketball, she can almost singlehandedly shift the flow of a game. Before the win over Ole Miss, Fulwiley hadn’t scored more than 20 points in a month. She also shot only 28% from the field across LSU’s three previous matchups. It was time for a breakthrough, and the conditions were ripe for one on Thursday The Rebels came up empty on 25 of the last 27 shots they took, including all 17 fieldgoal attempts in the fourth. According to CBB Analytics, no Division I team has taken more shots without scoring in any fourth quarter played in the past five seasons. Fulwiley thrives in those situations — the ones in which LSU can force a miss, grab a rebound and kickstart a fast break. Ole Miss kept giving the Tigers chances to ignite their transition offense, which now features three of the best transition players in the country Like stars Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, Fulwiley is at her best when she’s flying up and down the court. Few players across the country can match her speed, and even fewer can emulate the crafty ways she can finish shots around the rim — something she showed in the second half of the win over the Rebels. There was the play in which Fulwiley split two defenders, drove the lane and scooped in a right-handed layup as she sailed to her left. There was also the one in which she hesitated, faked to her left, swooped back over to her right and flipped a shot up off the glass and through the rim.

“I wouldn’t want to be on that floor with her because when she takes off, you’d better put it in high gear.”

KIM MULKEy LSU coach, on MiLaysia Fulwiley

“God blessed this child with speed,” Mulkey said. “I wouldn’t want to be on that floor with her because when she takes off, you’d better put it in high gear She’ll find you, and a lot of times, honestly, she looks to pass too much She needs to get to the rim and finish and draw fouls.” The win was an important one for LSU. The Tigers now have sole possession of fourth place in the SEC, which means they’re now on track to earn a double bye in the conference tournament. With a deep run through that bracket, perhaps all the way to the title, LSU can show that it’s worthy of a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament bracket the one that matters more. The victory can also give the Tigers confidence that they can compete in close games. LSU’s offense fell apart in the fourth quarters of its losses to Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Texas and South Carolina But on Thursday the Tigers converted six of their last 10 shots — even though Williams was watching from the bench. Mulkey sat her out for the whole second half in what she called a “coach’s decision.” LSU has now played five tight contests this season. Mulkey left Fulwiley on the floor for the final stretch of three of those games. She struggled in the first two — the Jan. 4 loss to the No. 5 Commodores and the loss to the No. 3 Gamecocks on Saturday — but excelled in the third.

The Tigers will almost certainly need Fulwiley to deliver a similar performance in a future game of consequence. The dynamic transfer guard knows now that she can handle it her showing vs. South Carolina be damned.

“I just gotta keep going,” Fulwiley said, “keep staying ready for my team and just keep being able to give my team whatever they need from me.”

Keep the faith

At PMAC,a differentkindof rally: Hope, healingand hard conversations

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

On Feb. 24, the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter will trade buzzer-beaters for conversationsabout mental health and suicide prevention.

The lineup includes former LSU player and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, NFL running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, “American Idol” runner-up John Foster and retired Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh.

In the third annual Planting Seeds of Hope, guest speakers will share about facing trials in theirlives.Fosterwill sing the national anthemand perform a few acoustic songs.

In previous years, coaches have brought whole teams to the event. Families also attend.

Lisa Tabor.The Tabor family started the Rain Will Bring Flowers foundation after Owen’sdeath in 2023.

For Owen

The nonprofit organization

RainWillBring Flowers hosts the event in honor of Owen Tabor, who died by suicide in 2023. His parents, Jordanand Lisa Tabor, founded the nonprofit shortly after his death to work toward preventing youthsuicide through awareness,educationand support.

The Tabors have partnered with LSU Athletics,The Joe Burrow Foundation, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System,Our Lady of the Lake and National LClub for the event. Owen was a15-year-old athlete at St. Michael the Archangel HighSchool, described by his family as healthy,active and well-loved.

While the event aims to bring hope, Jordan Tabor said grief still comes in waves.

Lisa Tabor says that there’sso much she has learned since her son’s death about ways to approachchildren.She wants to share that knowledgewith other families —mainly that it’sOK to not be OK.

“You don’tneed to fix kids,” she said. “You can just sit with them in their anxiety andtheir problems. Idon’t want people to have to walk through this journeyand this grief. If we can talk about it more and normalize mental healthconversations —and we save one life, we’ve done our job.”

Openingthe door

Jordan Tabor said the family has received feedback from ä See HOPE, page 8C

Staff report

Core studies LIVING

PROVIDED PHOTOS

on their frontporchinDecember 2024

Bringing classroomdissectiontothe kitchen tablewithhomeschooling in Louisiana

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

When homeschooling,

parents have to be resourceful to teach the notorious section of biology that callsfor dissection. Dissecting afrogoranother animal is apivotal highschool lab memoryfor many, but when learning at home or in a homeschoolingco-op, dissection can takeonadifferent form.

Homeschool students can study online,learn at home from aparent or participate in acooperative in whichparents worktogether to provide socialization and education for their homeschooled children. HomeschoolinginLouisiana hasgrown since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gathering materialsand supplies is ahugepartofeducation,and when aschoolorschool district is in charge,materialsfor something like dissection are ordered in bulkor stored in labs. For homeschool families, procuring animal specimens andtools have to be done by online order or in othercreative ways

Dissection kits

ForHeather Durham, homeschooling in small groups withher two daughters andco-opsisthe best option. She has hostedsmall groups at herhome to teach sci-

The“Shades of Success” calendarisbackwithits fourthpublication spotlighting professional women with Louisiana roots.

The project is spearheaded by agroup of Black journalists with Louisiana roots who wanted to give backtotheir community through storytelling and photog-

One of Sonya Brouillette’s students used apaper pig priortodoing an actual dissection. Brouillette is aSt. Francisville veterinarian and involved in 4-H, which gives herexpanded access to animal specimens.

ence classes, where they have dissected owl pellets and crayfish. She says owl pellets aresimple and less disgusting to handle.

Herdaughter’s10th grade co-op classwill dissect frogs, flatworms and perch in her next unit.

Durham says it’s easy to order what’s needed online for dissections,and there are inexpensive kitswith various options. Her small group uses thekitchen or moves outdoors for dissections. Her co-

raphy,and donate their timeand talenttothe calendar,according to anews release. This year’shonorees work in variousfields, including medicine, real estate and journalism. They are recognized for their accomplishmentsinboth their careers and community endeavors. The calendar,which in thepast has focused on African-Ameri-

op meetsatthe Baton Rouge First Church of theNazarene,which has classroomsand akitchen. There are four kids and two adults, so each child gets close attention. After an unfortunate incident with an owl pelletinwhichone of the discoveries was arat skull that induced apanicked nausea, Durham now passes this part off to her husband, Scott, who is aretired

ä See HOMESCHOOL, page 8C

canwomen’s achievements, has expanded to also include IndianAmerican and Hispanic-American honorees. Photos of each woman along with their biographies fill the calendar This year’shonorees include: n Shenaee’ A. Graves, wellness brand founder and public service professional n Dr.Terri Thompson, assistant

vice-president of inpatient nursing at Ochsner Health n Valeria Duque, loan officer n Destiny Beasley,journalist n Shriya Hamilton, model and aspiring aesthetician n Danielle Deggs, Realtor,mortgage lending company owner and construction company leader

ä See CALENDAR, page 8C

When planning ascavenger hunt with youngchildren

Dear Heloise: My 4-year-old grandson and Ienjoy playing scavenger hunts together, but sometimes we can’t remember exactly what he has hidden outside. To make things easier,we now line up sevenoreight items that we’ve chosen to hide —usually his toys and Itake aquick photo of them on my phone before we start. As one of us finds an item, we linethem up againand compare them to the photo to see which ones we’ve found and which are still missing. It keeps the game

fun, avoidsfrustration, and helps ensure that nothingisleft behind. Having aphoto helps every time! —Barb White,in Clark, New Jersey Voice-activatedhelp

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: When Ican’t find my iPhone or iPad, Isimplysay,“Hey,Siri, where are you?” If the device can hear me, Siri responds, which makes it much easier to locate —especially in adark car or room. This feature hasbeen surprisingly helpful. After surgery,when Iwas often homealone, Ialso discovered how

useful voice activation can be in an emergency.IfIneeded urgent help, Icould say aloud, “Hey,Siri, call 911,” without having to reach for my phone. Now that Iamsometimes homebound, I’ve found even more comfort in using voice-activated AI. I can ask questions, have asimple conversation, be read to, or listen to interesting articles. It has becomeahelpful companion and apractical tool. Warm regards! Janet, via email Brownsugar storage

Dear Heloise: I’ve tried just about everything to keep brown sugar

PROVIDED PHOTO

Children in ahomeschoolsmallgrouplook through adissection microscope withScott Durham, aretired wildlife biologist.

HOMESCHOOL

Continued from page7C

wildlife biologist.

“He could do that kind of thing in his sleep at this point,” Heather Durham said. “Hehas adissection microscope, so Ilet him handle alot of that. Now they can collect allthe gross stuff they want.” In fact, Scott Durham now teaches his 10th grade daughter’sscience class weekly for their co-op. Heather Durham says that, with homeschooling, she has to find expertise where she can. She was a high school English teacher, so she and her husband have that and science covered.

“There are some courses which we have to kind of outsource. I’m happyto recognize what isn’tmy field of expertise, but Iwant themtoget the best that they can,” she said.“If I can’thelp them get it, then someoneelse will. There’s abig community here that homeschools, and so it’sreally easy to find people who have the resourcesand the knowledge or know someone who does.”

Sara Hopkins and April Blackburn also have ordered supplies online for their homeschooled children. Both found the experience relatively simple. Blackburn’schildren, 14 and 12, dissected owl pellets which requires fine motor skills and careful observation. So far, theyare opposed to dissecting frogs. Blackburn says she will push for that when they are juniors in

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high school

Hopkins bestowed the frog dissectionclass upon herhusband as well.Her two daughters, 17 and 14, dissected thefrog on their front porch in Clinton. Her oldest daughter wasfascinated. The youngest, however,was grossed out.

Freshisbetter

SonyaBrouillette, aSt. Francisville mixed animal practiceveterinarianfor 30 years, homeschooled her three children,who have all graduated and gone on to college. She was her co-op’s high school scienceteacher, and her method for dissection lessonswere alittle different than theonline orders.

Because sheisa veterinarian and involved in 4-H, she hasaccess to animal specimens.

“I’ve ordered through the dissection catalogs, but my preferenceisfresh because it’sjust so much more real,” shesaid.“We raised show pigs in 4-H, so alot of times I’dhaveaccesstoanimals Anytime anything died, we would just dissect it.I mean, whywaste it? We’ve dissected baby pigs becausesometimes they’reborndead, or they die when they’re itty bitty,and so Iwould just put theminthe freezer if we weren’tdoingitright then.”

Brouillette says thatfresh is better because there’s morethe students can do and learn. With the piglets, thestudentsused straws to blowuptheirlungstosimulate breathing

She has also used thelocal slaughterhouseand butchers to get cow hearts or

n Sayra Velazco, Realtor n Mukti Patel, CPAand partner at Hannis T. Bourgeois n Dr.Chatisy Thomas, family nurse practitioner andowner of The Clinic n Dr.Thirumalini Dasari, physicianand Mrs. Telugu USA2025

lungs. Chickenfeet andgizzards found at local stores can also be used for anatomy lessons. Brouillette’s career as aveterinarian affords her access to farm animals. Her clients save things for her to use in her science classes, so she has animal skeletons andhorse bones to use for teachable moments.

“I had alittleboy at a house theother day where I wasworking on ahorse. He was asking me something, and so Ipulled out ahorse skull andshowed him the first couple cervical vertebra so he could know what’s inside his horse,” Brouillette said.

She says studentsrememberwhat they learn when “they can stick their hands in it,” whether that’sorgans or modeling clay for building DNA models

Even though thisisher first year off of homeschoolingin25years, Brouillette still tutors and helps children who mayneed alittle more hands-on practice, especially if they are using online programs for learning. Brouillette is also aresource for otherhomeschoolingparents. Shekept ablog with her lessonsand activities, so others can use it when they are teaching science.

Whether afresh specimen or adissection kit from the internet, homeschooled studentscan learnabout anatomyinmany different ways —onafront porch, in achurch kitchen or outside on asunny day

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

n Marilu’ Suarez, Realtor and construction company owner Additionally,the calendarspotlights two Shades of Success staffmembers —editor-in-chief Valentina Wilson, who co-founded The Shades of Success withVirnado Woods; andmarketing director Cecily Holland. Calendarsare available now.Call Holland at (337) 8529684. The cost is $20 plus a$5 shipping and handling fee.

from drying out and turning rockhard, but nothing seemstowork for very long. Then, one day,I decided to store it inside freezer bags and put it in the freezer.It turned out to be the perfect solution When Ineed it, the brownsugar defrostsquickly and is softand moistevery time. Inolonger worry about wasted sugar or struggle to break it apart. —Mrs. Sonja Hobbs, via email Itchytags

Dear Heloise: Do you hate the attached tags on the necks or sides of shirts, blouses and other cloth-

Parenting classes at the library

Parents areinvited toattend afreeparenting class series designed to build confidence, reduce stress, improve communication, strengthen relationships and promote positive discipline strategiesthat support children’semotional well-being. Classes will be held from 5p.m.to7 p.m. Thursdays,

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday, Feb.21, the 52nd day of 2026. There are 313 days left in the year

ing? If they irritate your skin and drive you crazy,you’re not alone. Many of my garments have been damaged from my trying to cut the tags out completely Asimpler and usually very successful solution is to carefully snip off the tag’sfour corners using sharp scissors. This softens the edges without harming the garment and often eliminates the irritation. Best of all, the size, fabric information and washing instructions remain intact forfuture reference. —Therese, in Indiana Send ahinttoheloise@heloise com.

RELIGION BRIEFS FROM STAFFREPORTS

March 3, 10 and 17,atthe Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge. All parents and caregiversare welcometoparticipate.

Women’sDay celebration

at LSU

Baton Rouge International Christian Church will host aWomen’sDay

TODAYINHISTORY

Todayinhistory: On Feb. 21, 1965, civil rights activistMalcolm X, 39, was shottodeath inside Harlem’sAudubon Ballroom in New York. Three men identified as membersofthe Nation of Islam were convicted of murderand imprisoned; all wereeventually paroled. (The convictions of twoof the men weredismissed in November 2021, when prosecutorssaid new evidence had undermined the case against them.)

HOPE

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those who attended in the previous two yearsabout how meaningful and impactful theevent was.

“Howjust being present thereopened up thedoor for tough conversations,” he said.

ShellyMullenix, LSU’s assistant athletic director for health and wellness, is a supporter of Planting Seeds of Hope and heads theLSU Athletics involvement with the event.She said players often begin conversations on the bus ride home that might not have happened otherwise.

This year’sPlanting SeedsofHopewill focus on the student athlete as before,but with wounded soldier Yarosh as the keynotespeaker,the event will also include emphasis on militarypersonnel and first

Also on this date: In 1916, the Battle of Verdun, the longest battle of World WarI,began in northeastern France.

In 1975, former Attorney General John N. Mitchell, former White House Chief of StaffH.R. Haldeman, and former White House Domestic Affairs Adviser John D. Ehrlichman were sentenced to 2½ to 8years in prison fortheir roles in the Watergate cover-up. (Each ended up serving less than twoyears.)

celebration from11a.m.to 1:30 p.m.Saturday,March 28, at the LSU Faculty Club, Baton Rouge. This faith-filledafternoon is designed to celebrate, uplift andunitewomen in every season of life.The eventwill feature worship, ashared meal, testimonies, aperformance and akeynote message centered on truth, hope andpurpose. The public is invited.

In 1992, Kristi Yamaguchi of the United States wonthe gold medal in women’sfigure skating at the Albertville Winter Olympics;

responders.

“The way Isee it is that everyone in the PMAC that night is awarriorintheir own kind of way,”Mullenix said. “The messageisthat we are in this together and there’shope. Whether the story is coming from aveteran or an athlete, if they’ve got trauma or something that makes them depressed or anxious, knowing that they can share that unloads alittle bit from them.”

The eventstarts at 6p.m and doors open at 5p.m., when more than 50 local mental health nonprofits will offer information and resources in the concourse.

Mullenix says thereis real value in connecting attendees with local mental health support, which can be difficult to find forthose who don’tknowwhere to look.

“Havingthoseresources there will also help to close the loop on what happens next,”she said.“We want

to make sure that there’s awide range of services there —soour hope is that everyone’sneeds can be met in somekind of way.” The event is free. The first 2,000 attendees will receive T-shirts, andthe first 2,500 will get ato-go meal from Jason’sDeli or Raising Cane’s.

Jordan Tabor encourages parents, volunteers and coaches to make the evening apriority.Hesays he believeshewouldhave been in abetterpositionas aparent to help his son had he been exposed to some of theresources the event makes available.

“Before Ilost my son,” Jordan Tabor said, “there’s no way Iwould have gone to something like this because Ijust felt like suicide and mental health were not going to impact my family.I neverinmywildest dreams would have thought that this was even on the table forOwen.”

PIscEs(Feb. 20-March 20) Do what you sayand say what you do. It's time to live life yourway and let others do as they please. Opportunity is apparent, butyou must take advantage of what's within reach

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Give ashoutouttopeople who deserve recognition. Apositive change to how you manage your money, time and lifestyle will promote balance and long-term security.

tAuRus (April20-May 20) Communication, travel and making the most of each moment will be exhilarating. Honesty, integrity, kindness, generosity and laughter will set the stage for positivity and gratitude.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) –Seek out innovativeresolutions and shareideas with people as passionate as you are about positive change. Be blunt with your words; unfiltered truth will keep you and those around you on target.

cANcER(June 21-July 22) Get the lowdown, discover what's possible and work to make your life better. Don't worry about what you can't do; embrace what you can wholeheartedly.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You are overdue for acleanup session that frees you from thedeadweight you're dragging. Make discipline apriority and ingenuity your ticket to new beginnings.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Your wisdom in gettingwhat you wantlies in howyou treat others. Reach out and offer affir-

mationsthat encourage others to look, feel and do their best.

LIBRA(sept. 23-oct. 23) Take aminimalistapproach and save yourselfthe grief that excessive or indulgent behavior can bring. Choose apaththat energizes you, not one that decreases your chances of advancement.

scoRPIo (oct.24-Nov. 22) Live and learn. Do your research, speak the truth and march forward withthe confidence that you've done your best. Refuse to let anger slow you downordefeat your purpose.

sAGIttARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) What you do counts. Reach out and lend ahelping hand, but don't go into debt to pay for someoneelse'sshortcomings. Saynoto temptation and manipulative people. cAPRIcoRN (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Look for the good in everyone andeverything but refuse to let anyone mislead you. Take the time to verify facts and choose to maintain common sense amid emotional turmoil.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Think before sharing your thoughts. Alifestyle change or achange to your surroundings will help you put your life back in perspective. Think about your interests and ensure your emotional and financial security.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Celebrity Ciphercryptograms are created from quotationsbyfamous people, past and present.Each letter in thecipher stands for another.

cLuE: BEQuALs u

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe 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’sPuzzle Answer

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

JimRohn, an entrepreneur and amotivational speaker who died in 2009, said, “Ifyouarenotwillingtorisktheunusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. It is true thatatthe bridge table, producing an unusual bid might notbea good idea if it is going to flummox partner into making an error. But if you have discussed the situationbefore, youcan safely produce the unusual. Look at today’s Northhand. Youdeal and open three hearts. Withthe opponents retaining arespectful silence, your partnerresponds four diamonds. Assumingthisisnatural and forcing, what wouldyou rebid? What does four diamonds promise? Many teachersuse the expression “six and 16” —atleasta six-card suit and 16 high-cardpoints. Also, typically, responder is very short in opener’s suit, especially when that is amajor. Howshouldopenerreact?Withnosupport for responder’s suit, he may rebid his own suit or threeno-trump(if legal, of course).

With moderatesupport, like alow doubleton (or perhaps honor-doubleton with an unappealing hand), he raises responder’s suit. But with good support (any three cards, or honor-doubleton and an appealing hand), he shows aside-suit singleton (or void).

In this deal, Northshould rebidfour spades.AndthatisjustwhatSouthwants to hear.Hecan now leap majestically to six diamonds. Note that even after aclub lead and trump shift, the contract is laydown. South takes one spade, one heart, eight diamonds andtwo spade ruffs on the board.

©2026 by NEA,Inc., dist. By AndrewsMcMeel Syndication

EachWuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers: wuzzles

word game

INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,”

toDAy’sWoRD GRuDGINGLy: GRUH-jing-lee: Unwillingly; reluctantly.

today’s thought

“And let us consider one anothertoprovoketolove and to good works: Not forsakingthe assembling of ourselves together, as themannerofsome is; butexhorting one another: and so much themore, as yousee the day approaching.” Hebrews10:24-25