The Times-Picayune 03-03-2026

Landry: National Guard will stay in N.O.

Deployment will last throughAugust

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

The Louisiana National Guard will remain in New Orleans through August via afederally funded deployment aimed at assisting the city with ahostofupcoming events, state and local leaders said Monday

The NationalGuard was expected on Saturday to withdraw the 350 guardsmen who have been in the citysince just before NewYear’s Eve at Gov.Jeff Landry’srequest and on the government’sdime.

But the governor has since asked and received approval for around 120 soldierstoremaininthe city for six more months, said Landry, who called the deployment asuccess thus far

“The National Guard complements cities with high crime problems,” the governor said in astatement on Monday.“This continued deployment will help us combat violence in New Orleans andother parts of Louisiana.”

In astatement included in anews release from Landry’soffice, Mayor Helena Moreno said that federal law enforcement presence during Mardi Gras “was instrumental in guaranteeing asecure environment through the festivities.”

“Building on the success of these deployments, my Administration seeks to continue and strengthen this partnership to ensureongoing safety and security for residents and guests of the City of New Orleans during major events,” Moreno said.

The mayor,who has said New Orleans’ crime rate is low dueto the work of the New OrleansPolice Department, added later Mondaythat “majorevents in NewOrleans are where we need the Guard most” and that “there are several coming up in the next few weeks.” French QuarterFestival is scheduled for April 16-19, followed by the New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival at theFair Grounds the following twoweekends. The deployment is scheduled

ä See GUARD, page 5A

Trumpsaysattacks on Iran will last weeks

StateDepartmenturges Americanstoleave region

President Donald Trumpspeaks Monday before participating in aMedal of Honor ceremony in theEast Room of the White House.

Warcould impact gasprices andenergyproduction in La.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Thewar in Iran is sending shock waves across global energymarkets that are likely to reach Louisiana, first through rising pricesat the pump and, if the conflict persists, with companies in the state potentially looking to increase production of oil and natural gas.

Gasoline prices aretied directlytothe price of crude oil, whichrose 6% on Mondaytonearly $72abarrel as the U.S. continuedtounleash airstrikesand Iran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel and U.S.targets acrossthe energy-richMiddle East

INSIDE

ä Officials saysome La.

National Guard members could be in region of conflict. Page 3A

ä Iranian students at LSU cheer death of Khamenei. Page 4A

ä Hegseth insists Iran conflict is ‘not endless.’ Page 7A

President Donald Trump saidthe attacks could persist for weeks in thePersian Gulf region. The Strait of Hormuz, which is the transit point for roughly afifth of theworld’s oil supply,was virtually closed to maritime traffic. Tyler Gray,director of innovation at the LSU Energy Institute, said disruptions in

the oil andgas market thousands of miles away can show up in south Louisiana within days. That’snot because production is scarce, but because of how oil and gas is priced on theglobal market.

“The impact of thesedisruptions depends on their duration and severity,” Gray said. “Short-term price swings may be manageable but prolonged issues could significantlyraise costs.”

That means gasoline prices, currently averaging around $2.50 agallon in Louisiana, will likely rise in the coming weeks, though it’stoo soon to say how high.

ä See IMPACT, page 4A

BY JON GAMBRELL, MELANIE LIDMAN and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

DUBAI,United Arab Emirates Israeli and U.S. airstrikes pounded Iran in an escalating campaign thatPresident Donald Trump said Monday would likely take several weeks. Tehran andits allies retaliated across the region, striking Israel and avariety of targets inside Gulf states, including energyfacilitiesinQatar andthe American embassy in Saudi Arabia.

The intensity of the attacks, the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneiand thelack of anyapparent exit plan set the stage for aprolonged conflict with farreaching consequences. Places deemed safe havens in the Mideast like Dubai have seen incoming fire;energy prices shot up; and U.S. allies pledged to help stopIranianmissiles and drones.

Trump said operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he wasprepared “to go farlonger than that.”

As the conflict spiraled, the State Department urged U.S. citizenstoleavemore than a dozen Middle Eastern countries due to safety risks.

“Thehardest hits areyet to come from theU.S.military,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters before briefing members of Congress about the Iran operation.

Trump said the military campaign’sobjectives are to destroy Iran’smissile capabilities, wipe outits navy,prevent it from obtaining anuclear weapon andensurethatitcannot continue to support allied groups like Lebanon’sHezbollah, whichfiredmissilesatIsrael on Monday As several airstrikes hit Iran’scapital, Tehran, the top security official Ali Larijani vowed on X: “Wewill not negotiate with the United States.”

World markets were rattled as the fighting expanded across aregion vital to energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday that the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh cameunder attack

ä See ATTACKS, page 3A

Xavier alums, communitybid farewell to Norman Francis

Public event honors legacy of longtime leader

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Mourners made their way to Xavier University on Monday to pay their respects toNorman C. Francis, the school’slate president and civil rights champion whose body was laid in honor at the university he helped nurture It was achance for New Orleans to bid farewell to

aman whoimpactedthousands of lives in waysbig and small. Held at the university’sConvocationCenter,the memorial eventwas opentothe public anddrew arangeofmourners, from faculty whoserved during Francis’ nearly 50-yeartenure to current andformer Xavier studentsand locals who wanted to pay homage to aman who dedicated his life to theNew Orleans universityand surrounding community

Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members, wearing suits emblazoned with their group’s logo, ushered thememo-

rial service. Old friends exchanged hugs and stories of Francis, who advised U.S. presidentsand servedon dozens of boards and commissions yet always had time forany studentorfaculty member at Xavier, the nation’sonly historically Black Catholic university “Hedid so much for this university, but also theentireUnited States of America,” said Sister Alicia Costa, whotaught at Xavierfor five years under Francis.“He was atrailblazer.”

On Tuesday,amemorial

ä See FRANCIS, page 5A

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

FBI joins search for suspect in Ohio shooting

COLUMBUS Ohio Federal authorities joined local police Monday in the search for a suspect in a weekend nightclub shooting in Cincinnati that wounded nine people.

The nine were hospitalized with injures that were not lifethreatening after shots rang out about 1 a.m. Sunday inside the music venue Riverfront Live.

Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie said all the victims were in stable condition

The FBI was working with the Cincinnati Police Department on the investigation, said spokesperson Todd Lindgren, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered a $5,000 reward for information identifying a suspect.

Though it occurred almost simultaneously to a deadly bar shooting in Austin, Texas, which is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, authorities in Ohio have not provided any details about a motive in the Cincinnati shooting.

Bill Halusek, spokesperson for the Cincinnati ATF, said that at this time, the Cincinnati shooting is not suspected to be an act of terrorism.

‘Today’ host visits her missing mother’s home TUCSON,Ariz. “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie and her sister returned to their mother’s home outside Tucson on Monday in their first sighting at the house since Nancy Guthrie went missing a month ago.

The NBC anchor, her sister Annie Guthrie and brother-inlaw Tommaso Cioni walked arm in arm down the driveway, laid down yellow flowers and embraced each other in a tearful scene. The makeshift tribute at the edge of the property includes flowers, yellow ribbons, crosses, prayers, a sign that read “Let Nancy Come Home” and a statuette of an angel.

Later on Monday, Savannah Guthrie posted a photo of flowers at the tribute.

“we feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country,” Guthrie wrote, ending the sentence with a heart emoji. “please don’t stop praying and hoping with us. bring her home.”

Nancy Guthrie’s children have previously appeared in videos in which they pleaded for their mother’s return, most recently with a social media posting from Savannah Guthrie in which she said the family was offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother

Trump awards Medal of Honor to 3 U.S. soldiers

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three U.S. Army soldiers at the White House on Monday, celebrating heroes of old wars as he defended his launch of a new one.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson was recognized for actions during the Vietnam War that were credited with saving the lives of 85 other service members.

Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013, was recognized for saving a Polish Army officer’s life.

Master Sgt. Roderick W. Edmonds, who died in 1985, was recognized for his leadership and resistance as a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II.

“There’s no ceremony that can be more important than this,” Trump said to begin the East Room ceremony that included the recipients’ family members and the man Ollis shielded from enemy fire.

CORRECTIONS

n An article published Sunday about Clover, a New Orleans nonprofit that provides educational and support services, misspelled the name of co-CEO Arnel Cosey.

n An article Sunday on rising natural gas bills misstated the location of the headquarters of Delta Utilities. It is in New Orleans. The Times-Picayune regrets the error

Video of Clintons’ depositions released

Former president tries to distance himself from Epstein

BY STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON Former President Bill

Clinton distanced himself from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in closed-door depositions with lawmakers, according to videos that were released Monday by a House committee.

The recordings of the depositions, which spanned hours over two days last week, show how Bill Clinton told the committee that he had ended his relationship with Epstein years before the financier entered a 2008 guilty plea to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Hillary Clinton told the committee she never even recalled meeting Epstein.

Both closed-door interviews before the House Oversight Committee were taken under oath Thursday and Friday

The Clintons’ testimony came as lawmakers are trying to meet demands for a reckoning over Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 in New York while facing charges for sex trafficking and abusing underage girls. High-status men around the world have been forced into resignations because of revelations about their relationships with Epstein, but so far there are few signs in the U.S. of serious legal consequences coming.

The former Democratic president said he first remembered meeting Epstein when he flew aboard the financier’s private jet in 2002 for the Clintons’ humanitarian work, and they parted ways the year after “There’s nothing that I saw when I was around him that made me realize he was trafficking women,” he told the committee.

Epstein visited the White House numerous times during Clinton’s presidency and there are photos of them shaking hands. Clinton told lawmakers he did not recall those interactions

Bill Clinton faced searching questions

both from Republicans and Democrats about photos of the former president that have been released as part of the case files on Epstein. In response to a Democratic lawmakers’ questions about a photo that showed him in a pool with a woman whose face was redacted, the former president said he did not know the woman and did not engage in sexual activity with her

He said the photo was from a trip to Brunei for charitable work and a number of people in their travel party were swimming.

Whether the subject was a note Clinton wrote for Epstein’s 50th birthday or their travel together for the Clinton Foundation, he described their relationship as little more than “cordial.”

“We were friendly but I didn’t know him well enough to say we were friends,” he said.

Asked by Republicans whether they had talked about young women or girls together Clinton responded emphatically: “No.”

One line of questioning stirred up curiosity from lawmakers, and that was what Clinton had to say about President Donald Trump. He made clear he believed it was important for anyone, including presidents, to come forward and testify to their knowledge of Epstein.

Clinton also shared how he and Trump had briefly discussed Epstein at a charity golf tournament more than 20 years ago. He said Trump had never “said anything to me to make me think he was involved in anything improper with regard to Epstein,” but also remarked that those two men had a falling-out over a real estate deal.

Republican lawmakers left the deposition pointing to Clinton’s words and arguing that it showed there is no evidence that Trump ever did anything wrong in his own relationship with Epstein.

Democrats, meanwhile, said Clinton’s testimony counters what Trump has said more recently about why he and Epstein had a falling-out. Trump has told reporters they had a disagreement because Epstein had hired people away from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Pakistan deploys troops, imposes curfew after deadly protests

BY MUNIR AHMED Associated Press

ISLAMABAD Pakistani authorities deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew before dawn Monday in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu after several people died and tens were injured in violent protests following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes, officials said.

Thousands of Shiite demonstrators on Sunday attacked the offices of the U.N. Military Observer Group, which monitors the ceasefire along the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, and the U.N. Development Program in Skardu city

Protesters also burned a police station and damaged a school and the offices of a local charity in Gilgit, according to officials. At least 12 people were killed and 80 others injured, said police in the GilgitBaltistan region.

U.N. spokesperson StéphaneDujarric said Monday protesters became violent near the UNMOGIP Field Station, which was vandalized. “The safety and security of U.N. personnel and premises throughout the region remain our top priority, and we continue to closely monitor the situation,” Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, Shabir Mir, a Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson, said Monday the situation was under control and that the curfew would remain in place until Wednesday Police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged residents to stay indoors,

By

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Police officers fire tear gas shells to disperse Shiite Muslims Saturday in Karachi, Pakistan, during a protest to condemn the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

citing “deteriorating law and order conditions.”

Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi stormed the U.S. Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.

One person was also killed in clashes in Islamabad during an attempted march by Pakistan’s minority Shiites toward the U.S. Embassy They were protesting in support of Iran, which is majority Shiite.

On Monday the U.S. diplomatic mission in Pakistan said its consulate in northwestern Peshawar city would close temporarily, while the embassy in Islamabad would continue providing all routine and emergency consular services for U.S. citizens.

Officials: Gunman not on FBI’s radar before shooting

Attack at Austin bar kills two

BY JIM VERTUNO and LEKAN OYEKANAMI Associated Press

AUSTIN,Texas The gunman who opened fire outside a crowded Texas bar and killed two college students in an attack that wounded 14 others had not been on the radar of authorities, federal and local investigators said Monday

The FBI and police in Austin said it’s too soon to identify the motive behind the mass shooting early Sunday that the FBI has said is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, coming after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran.

“Our ultimate goal in everything we do is to determine the motive,” Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, said during a news conference.

Police identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. He was wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and bearing the words “Property of Allah” during the attack, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Investigators are poring over thousands of hours of video and police said there are more than 150 witnesses to interview “We are still in the early hours of this investigation,” said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. The gunman legally bought the weapons used in the attack several years ago in San Antonio, Davis said. More information about the suspect along with body camera footage from the officers could be released later this week, Davis said.

Police identified the victims as 21-year-old Savitha Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington. Harrington joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Texas Tech University in 2024, the fraternity said in an Instagram post.

“Ryder had a rare ability

Sunday’s

to truly enjoy life to make people laugh, to make moments feel bigger and to make ordinary days unforgettable,” the fraternity said. “If anyone embodied what it meant to live fully and love deeply, it was Ryder.”

Texas Tech said in a statement that Harrington had been enrolled as recently as the fall 2025 semester, but was not taking classes this semester “Our thoughts are with Ryder’s family, friends, and all those affected by this devastating situation,” the statement said.

Shan’s LinkedIn profile listed her as a dual-degree student majoring in management information systems and economics at the University of Texas at Austin.

University President Jim Davis said her death was “devastating” and that several other students were injured in the attack.

“Some of these are very serious and we are hoping for the best outcomes, while others are on the path to recovery,” he said in a statement. “I have met with many of these families and will continue to pray for them.”

The gunman in the attack was originally from Senegal, according to multiple people briefed on the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

La.NationalGuard hasmembers deployed abroad

Officialssay some couldbeinregion of Iran confl

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT and ALYSE PFEIL Staff writers

ict

About 1,000 LouisianaNational Guard soldiers are deployed abroad, including some whocould be near the conflict with Iran that began over the weekend, state leaders said.

At the moment, thereare no plans for abroadermobilization of Louisiana Guard members to Iran, officials said.

“I want toacknowledgethe brave soldiers and airmeninthe

Louisiana National Guard who, as we speak, are serving within missile range of Iran,”Maj. Gen. Michael Greer told thestate House Appropriations Committee during abudget hearing Monday.“Our thoughts and prayers are with them andtheir families hereat home.”

Forsecurityreasons, National Guard officials generallydonot give specific information about locations or missions for foreign deployments.

The Louisiana National Guard has about11,000 members. Greer said afterthe hearing that 1,000 Louisiana soldiersand airmen are

currently deployedabroad for missions that began before Operation Epic Fury The bombing campaign, carried outbythe U.S. andIsrael struck targetsthroughout Iran andkilled Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,among other top figures. Iranretaliated with missile strikesonU.S.bases in theregion, nearby Gulf states, and oil infrastructure.

Louisiana National Guardsoldiers andairmen are deployedto several regions, “not necessarily in that part of the world,” Greer said. But, “It’sentirelyplausible that thereare someLouisiana National Guard members supportingEpicFury by doing the

job they were doing prior to Epic Fury.”

Six American service members have been killed in the conflict, federal officials have said.

TheIranian Red Crescent Society said that the bombing has killed at least 555 people. In Israel, where several locations were hit by Iranianmissiles, 11 people were killed. TheIranian-backed Hezbollah militant group also targeted Israel, whichresponded with strikes on Lebanon, killing morethan twodozen people.

Three people were reported killed in theUnited Arab Emirates andone each in Kuwait andBahrain.

President Donald Trump on

Mondaysaidheexpected the U.S. operation would last four or five weeks, but “we have the capability to go farlonger than that.”

About 350 members of the National GuarddeployedinNew Orleans shortly before the year started to assist with law enforcement. That deploymentwas scheduledto end Saturday,but Gov.Jeff Landry announced Monday that about 120 soldiers will remain in the city until August.

Louisiana National Guard troops also participated in Trump’sdeployment in Washington, D.C., and assisted with border security operations, among other missions.

The AssociatedPress contributed to this report.

from two drones, causing

a“limited fire” and minor damage. Aresidentin the neighborhoodofthe embassy who spoke on condition of anonymity becauseof the security situation described light smoke coming from the embassy.OnMonday,the U.S. Embassy compoundin Kuwait wasstruck.

Saudi Arabia’sRas Tanura oil refinery also came under attackfromdrones, butits defenses downed the incoming aircraft, amilitary spokesman told the staterun Saudi Press Agency The refinery has acapacity of over half amillion barrels of crude oil aday

“The attack on SaudiArabia’sRas Tanura refinery marks asignificant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarelyin Iran’ssights,” saidTorbjorn Soltvedt,ananalyst at the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. After two of its facilities werestruck, QatarEnergy said it would stop producing liquefied natural gas indefinitely,taking one of the world’stop suppliers off the market. European natural gas prices surged by 40% in response.

Several ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz,the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which afifth of alloil traded passes and where Iran has threatened attacks.

Iranian state TV said strikescaused twoexplosions early Tuesday at a broadcasting facility in Tehran,but said no onewas injured.

Reza Najafi, Iran’sambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency,told reporters that airstrikes targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment siteonSunday

“Theirjustification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply abig lie,” he said.

Israel and the U.S. have not acknowledged strikes at the site, which the U.S bombed in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. Israel has said it is targeting the “leadership and nuclear infrastructure.

Iran has said it has not enricheduranium since June, though it has maintained its right to do so while saying its nuclear program is peaceful.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said the U.S.-Israeli operationhas killedatleast 555people. In Israel, where several locations were hit by Iranian missiles, 11 people were killed. Israel’sretaliatory strikes against Hezbollah killed dozens of people in Lebanon.

The U.S. militaryannounced that two previously unaccountedfor American service members have been confirmed dead, bringing the total to six.All six were Armysoldiersand partof the same logistics unit in Kuwait, according to aU.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity

Three peoplewere reported killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain

Iran’stop diplomat on Monday sharedanaerial photo showing rows of graves that he saidwere for more than 160girls killed during aU.S.-Israelistrike on an elementary school in Minab. “Theirbodies were torn to shreds,” Abbas Araghchi, thecountry’sforeignminister, said on X.

In Israel, three young siblings killed by an Iranian strike were being laid to rest at theMountofOlives in Jerusalem on Monday night. The chaos of the conflict became apparent when the U.S. militarysaid Kuwait had “mistakenly shot down” three American fighterjets while Iran was attacking it with aircraft, ballistic missiles anddrones. U.S. Central Command saidall six pilots ejected safely Hezbollah said it firedmissilesonIsrael early Monday in response toKhamenei’s killing and“repeated Israeli aggressions.”Itwas thefirst time in more than ayear the militant group has claimed an attack

There were no reportsof

injuries or damage. Israel retaliated with strikes on Lebanon. The country’sHealth Ministry reported at least 52 people were killed and 154 wounded in overnight strikesinthe Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon

An Israeli military spokesman,Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, said Israel is keeping “alloptions on the table,” including apotential groundinvasion of Lebanon.

TheIsraeli militarysaid it had completed awave of strikes targeting branches of al-Qard al-Hasan, acharity operating outside the Lebanesefinancial system that Israel says is usedtofund Hezbollah’smilitary wing.

Israel alsostruckabuilding housing Al-Manar channel studios in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an evacuation warning, the channelsaid. No immediate details on casualties were available.

The U.S. military, which has used B-2 stealth bomberstostrikeIran’sballistic missile facilitieswith 2,000-pound bombs, said Monday thatithad taken out 11 Iranianwarships. Trump hassaidthe Iraniannavy’s headquarters had been “largely destroyed.”

While Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., said theconflict would continue “as long as it takes,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethtold reporters Monday that theU.S.isnot engaged in anation-building effort, saying, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”

Trump sought to more

clearlydefine theadministration’sobjectivesonMonday following an earlier statement— as the attack was unfolding Saturday in which he listed various grievances dating to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and urged Iranians to “take over” their government Therehave been no signs yet of any such uprising.

Trump has alsosignaled an openness to dialogue with Iran’s newleadership, which

could be chosen soon. Tehran’sstreets have been largely deserted withpeople sheltering during airstrikes.

The paramilitary Basij force, which has played a central role in crushing recent nationwide protests, set up checkpoints across the city,witnesses said.

In thenorthernIranian city of Babol,astudent speaking anonymously over concerns of retribution, told theAPthatarmedriot

police wereonthe streets Saturday nightand intothe early hours of Sunday after the death of Khamenei. “Wedon’t knowwhether to be happy about the elimination of the criminals whooppress us or to remain silent in the face of the U.S. and Israel’s war against thecountry andits interests andthe

Iranians at LSU cheer death of Ayatollah Khamenei

BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

When they heard news that Iran’s leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed, they cheered. They cried. They called their relatives still in Iran, cheering and crying with them. Then on Monday, more than 50 Iranian-born students and Baton Rouge residents gathered on LSU’s campus with flags, signs and a boom box.

“USA! USA!” they chanted.

“Thank you, President Trump! From Iran,” one sign read, one of the many praising President Donald Trump’s weekend assault on the country The group danced to the Village People’s “YMCA.”

With the help of the Iranian Students Association, Hamed Ghassemi, 47, pulled together the celebration in a matter of hours. He’s long been critical of Khamenei’s “very, very dangerous regime,” including his security forces opening fire on street protesters in January, killing thousands.

Growing up in Iran, Ghassemi said he was brainwashed, trained to target U.S. civilians. When he returned to Iran to bury his mother in 2015, he was put in prison for his online criticism of the Iranian government he said. Ghassemi worried about the Islamic Republic developing nuclear weapons: “If these people get their hands on a nuclear weap-

IMPACT

Continued from page 1A

Natural gas prices, which heat and cool homes, also are rising, which could mean that ratepayers in Louisiana, still reeling from sticker shock after February’s freeze, will face higher utility bills.

The war comes at a time when the U.S. is less dependent on foreign oil than it ever has been. The U.S. produces more than 70% of what it consumes — some 13 million barrels of crude oil per day

Of that, about 80% is refined in Texas and Louisiana, according to Eric Smith, an associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute

In that respect, the Gulf Coast

ons we’re smoked.”

So he praised Trump for taking action: “We want freedom,” he said.

“We want what we had back in the ’70s. It was taken away from us. That was taken away from us. If you took something away, whose turn is it to take it, to give it back?”

Meanwhile, a dozen counterprotesters with cardboard signs pro-

and, to a lesser extent the rest of the country, is seemingly less vulnerable to the effects of a conflict in and around the Middle East and Arabian peninsula than it was, say, during the 1970s energy crisis.

“We have plenty of oil and plenty of refining capacity,” Smith said.

“That’s not the issue.”

But global supply chains are deeply intertwined, and exporting the oil and natural gas now mined from offshore Gulf waters and the shale formations in Texas and north Louisiana will be more difficult and expensive with key shipping lanes clogged or closed because of the conflict

“Oil and LNG exports can continue, but if you are having trouble sending your ships around the world it makes it more difficult to

tested the U.S. intervention in Iran as yet another immoral Middle East conflict, citing civilian deaths and support for the Iranian people. A protest with a similar message took place in New Orleans over the weekend.

“I support the sovereignty of Iran and Iranians to be able to make these kinds of decisions for them-

sell,” said Jim Richardson, LSU professor emeritus.

Experts say it’s too soon to say how much prices might rise, because there’s no telling how long the conflict will last and how widespread the collateral damage will be across the Middle East.

In the short-term, however, they say the uncertainty and risk will drive gasoline prices up, which could spill over into price increases for other goods and services

“Markets respond swiftly to perceived risks, and the effects are often visible at the pump before any physical supply constraints materialize,” Gray said. “This means increased transportation costs, food prices and industrial input costs.”

When Trump took office in early 2025, he said one of his priorities

selves,” said student Ziad Eissa, of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, “not for the U.S. to come in and impose, you know, this government will by military force.”

As the two sides shouted opposing chants into bullhorns in LSU’s Free Speech Alley, some students gathered, trying to make sense of local reaction to the United States’

was to further increase domestic oil production.

One reason that hasn’t happened is because oil prices have hovered around $60 a barrel, too low, experts say for drillers to justify the cost.

But if the war were to persist, cutting off supplies of oil and natural gas to buyers in Europe and Asia, domestic production along the Gulf Coast could increase, which could lead to more job creation in Louisiana and benefit the companies that do business here.

Such a scenario would be good for producers, experts say, but likely at the expense of consumers, who would feel the effects of higher prices throughout the economy

“Two things can be true at once,” Gray said.

and Israel’s missile strikes in the country

“We think it’s needed,” Aidin Arasteh said of the military action, “because the people don’t have guns. The regime of Iran is willing to murder tens of thousands of its own people.”

Iranians are “not naturally Trump supporters,” Arasteh said, nodding to the group of students that had formed between groups. The pro-Trump signs are “gathering a bit of attention among students here who are sort of surprised to see that.”

Under earlier leaders, the country valued human rights and uplifted women he said. Arasteh, born in the U.S. to Iranian parents, himself didn’t vote for Trump and, in fact, has worked locally for Democratic campaigns. But he believes that given his targeting of protesters and killing of civilians, Khamenei needed to go.

Karame Mohammadiporshokooh left Iran for LSU “for the chance to get better education, to be free,” she said.

The Ph.D. candidate is hopeful that the military strikes open up an opportunity for a revolution, rather than the reign of a leader made in Khamenei’s image. Her relatives in Iran, who were celebrating his death, agree.

“They want to have a democratic regime,” she said. “They want to take their country back.”

Still, building out new production and refining capacity wouldn’t happen overnight. Smith doesn’t think it’s likely because of the financial risk oil companies would be taking.

Another potential long-term impact could be a market-driven response to more renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which have been stymied by the Trump administration.

But those projects also take years to develop and wouldn’t have any impact on the supply chain and available sources of energy For now, consumers in Louisiana need to brace for higher prices, though how much higher and for how long remains to be seen.

“It depends on whether this lasts for a month or a year,” Richardson said.

GUARD

Continued from page 1A

to continue for months beyond New Orleans’ festival season, extending into hot summer months when foot traffic in the French Quarter dwindles.

The Guard’s presence in New Orleans, one of several cities that has come under President Donald Trump’s crosshairs in recent months, has largely been embraced by city leadership, including the city’s police force. Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the partnership highlights New Orleans as “the gold standard” for security.

Yet in the French Quarter, where the deployment has been highly visible, reviews of the Guard’s presence have been mixed Some neighborhood residents, workers and advocates have said the armed officers make the neighborhood appear less safe, while others say their presence is a vital deterrent News of the extended stay triggered much of the same reactions Monday Alex Fein, president of the Bourbon Street business owners group the French

Quarter Business League, praised the extension and said the area has felt safer recently

“They’re a part of that,” said Fein. “We support anything that helps keep everyone safe.”

Mark Vallory, owner of NOLA Poboys on Bourbon Street, said the Guard’s continued presence is important.

“They’re not masked, they’re polite, they don’t throw you on the ground,” said Vallory, contrasting the Guard’s operation with that of federal immigration agencies operating around the country in recent months.

But barista Logan Lindsay, at Perk Coffee on North Rampart Street, said customers have appeared uncomfortable the few times that guardsmen have entered the shop to order a drink there in recent months

“It’s an intimidating thing, like them just walking in here with their rifles brandished almost full, tactical gear,” said Lindsay, who said that he and other baristas have refused to serve the guardsmen because they are armed.

“It boils down to pure poli-

tics,” added Jim Congleton, a regular at Perk. “The only reason that the National Guard is in this city is because Landry is our governor, and Trump is our president, and we’re a Democratic city.”

Trump referred to the deployment in his State of the Union speech last week and in January pointed to it as one reason crime in New Orleans was “down to almost nothing.” Louisiana National Guard officials also took credit in February for New Orleans’ low crime rate, citing 175 human trafficking arrests police made as the Guard served as a “force multiplier” for local law enforcement.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, said the Louisiana National Guard is “proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners” and is “committed to those partnerships as we continue supporting efforts to keep the City of New Orleans safe.”

The Guard will “continue to bolster law enforcement efforts during upcoming festivals and events and ensure a daily presence to safeguard the city from crime,” added Lt. Noel Col-

FRANCIS

Continued from page 1A

Mass will be held at St. Louis Cathedral. City and state officials and various dignitaries are expected to attend. By late afternoon, a line of mourners — including city officials past and present and local university presidents — wrapped around the building.

As the sun set, more than 100 of Francis’ Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers honored Francis with an Omega ceremony Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, whose family was close to the Francis family, recalled how Francis spent much of his life under segregation and fought for equity Alden McDonald, who helped Francis found Liberty Bank and Trust Company, a Blackowned bank, told the crowd that Francis’ vision for the bank helped thousands of people buy homes and transformed lives in marginalized communities.

“Norman Francis’ life stands as a testament to the enduring power of education, equity and service,” McDonald said. “He showed us in word and deed that when you teach a person to fish, they can eat for a lifetime.”

Francis served as president of Xavier for 47 years. He retired in 2015 after having overseen a major expansion of the university’s physical Gert Town campus and its national recognition for medical sciences. Xavier consistently sends more Black students to medical school than any other college and will soon open its own medical school.

“Every time I see the green roofs, I think of him,” said Hilda Clark, 81, clutch-

lins, a spokesperson for the Louisiana National Guard, in a statement. It’s unclear how much the Trump administration has

ing her son’s arm as she left the Convocation Center.

“Every one of those roofs is because of his legacy.”

Clark, who graduated from Xavier Prep in 1963 and took a few classes at Xavier University, added that Francis was instrumental in advocating for the Special Olympics.

Francis was recognized with many awards during his life, including 42 honorary doctorates and, in 2006, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor But Monday, many mourners recalled the way he connected with people from all walks of life.

Faculty members and former students recalled his open-door policy and willingness to meet with anyone.

“I never knew where his office was because he was always walking around campus,” said Charles Merrett, class of 1985.

Many mourners recalled the same pivotal moments in Francis’ legacy, such as when he housed a group of Freedom Riders in campus dorms in 1961 or when he fought to quickly reopen the university after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city

“You never left him without a learning experience,” said Joseph Byrd, who served as vice president and dean under Francis for 33 years. He recalled Francis’ steady leadership after Katrina, when Francis vowed to reopen the campus, which had been badly flooded, in four months.

“We started Jan. 17,” Byrd said, “just like he said.” When Clarence Beckmell Sr returned from serving in the Vietnam War, Xavier University was the only place he could find to accept him as a student through a program Francis instituted

shelled out for the deployment: The National Guard did not respond to a public records request for that information by The Times-

for veterans seeking degrees.

“If it had not been for him, then many of us would not be here,” Beckmell said.

“Nobody else wanted us.” Ruth “Cookie” Jean, class of 1971, stopped by the Convocation Center on her way to work as a pharmacist at LCMC Health. She wanted to pay tribute to the man who meant so much to her family — including her twin daughters, her late husband and his parents, who all attended Xavier When her husband died, Francis called her personally to express his condolences.

“Each person was important to him,” she said.

Tyrone Vincent, 67, said he met Francis after a mutual friend got him a job fixing some things up around Francis’ house. Their relationship blossomed and Francis’ wife, Blanche, ensured Vincent’s children enrolled in swim lessons at the YMCA.

“They’re beautiful people,” Vincent said. “They really cared.”

Pharmacology professor

Yashoda Pramar who has taught at the university for 35 years, much under Francis’ leadership, stopped in before her 10:30 a.m. class. She pulled up a photo of herself with Francis from a white coat ceremony for Xavier students taken just before he retired. He sat in the audience and drew no attention.

Pramar, who grew up in India, had little knowledge of HBCUs and their mission when she began teaching at Xavier in 1991. She quickly was enthralled with Francis and his vision for the university helping “propel students to better futures.”

“What he has done by nurturing and nourishing not just the students,” she said “It changed my life.”

Picayune in February

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

BRIEFS FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

India, Canada to boost economic partnership

NEW DELHI India and Canada on Monday agreed to strengthen their economic partnership, in a move aimed at boosting ties after two years of strained relationship

Speaking after talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the two countries would soon finalize a “comprehensive economic partnership” which is expected to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. India and Canada began advancing negotiations on a long-pending trade agreement last year, as Carney moved to re-engage with New Delhi, restore diplomatic channels and stabilize ties between the two countries.

Carney said the two sides were aiming to conclude the deal by the end of the year

“This is not merely the renewal of a relationship. It is the expansion of a valued partnership with new ambition, focus, and foresight,” Carney said.

Burger King testing

AI-powered headsets

Burger King is testing AI-powered headsets that can recite recipes, alert managers when inventories are low and even track how friendly employees are to customers. Restaurant Brands International the Miami-based company that owns Burger King, Popeyes and other brands — said Thursday it’s testing the OpenAI-powered headsets in 500 U.S. restaurants

The system collects data on restaurant operations and shares it via “Patty,” a voice that talks to employees through their headsets. If the drink machine is low on Diet Coke, Patty will tell the store’s manager If a customer uses a QR code to report a messy bathroom, the manager will be alerted

Employees can ask Patty how to make various menu items or tell Patty to remove items from digital menus if they’ve run out of ingredients.

Burger King said it’s also exploring using Patty as a way to improve customer service. The system can track when employees say key words like “welcome,” “please” and “thank you” and share that with managers.

When asked about that capability Thursday by The Associated Press, Burger King said the intent is to use Patty as a coaching tool, not a tracker of individual employees.

“It’s not about scoring individuals or enforcing scripts It’s about reinforcing great hospitality and giving managers helpful, real-time insights so they can recognize their teams more effectively,” Burger King said in a statement.

Burger King added that the key words are “one of many signals to help managers understand service patterns.”

Walmart to pay $100M to settle FTC allegations

NEW YORK Walmart Inc. has agreed to pay $100 million to settle allegations from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that the retailer caused its delivery drivers to lose tens of millions of dollars’ worth of earnings by deceiving them about their pay and tips they could make, the commission said in a statement on Thursday

Joined by 11 states, the FTC alleges that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer showed drivers inflated base pay and tip amounts in its crowdsourced gig driver delivery program called Spark

The FTC alleges that the retailer deceived customers by falsely claiming that all of its customer tips would actually go to drivers. The commission also alleges that Walmart failed to inform drivers that it would split tips when a customer’s delivery was split across multiple drivers.

“Labor markets cannot function efficiently without truthful and nonmisleading information about earnings and other material terms,” Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement

As part of its settlement with the FTC, Walmart is required to implement an earnings verification program to ensure that drivers are paid the promised earnings and tips, among other orders.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Federal court rejects refund delay

Companies seeking payouts after Trump’s tariffs ruled illegal

BY PAUL WISEMAN and MAE ANDERSON AP business writers

WASHINGTON A federal court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to slow the process of refunding billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs the Supreme Court struck down as illegal last month.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit started the

next phase in the refund process by sending it to a lower court to sort out.

In a court filing Friday, Trump’s Justice Department had urged the Federal Circuit to proceed cautiously and hold off for 90 days. But the judges refused.

The Supreme Court ruled Feb 20 that Trump’s sweeping tariffs on most countries in the world were illegal, clearing the way for the importers who paid them to seek refunds.

The government had collected more than $130 billion from the tariffs by mid-December, and could ultimately be on the hook for refunds worth $175 billion, according to calculations by the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

But the Supreme Court offered no guidance on refunds; its deci-

sion did not even mention them Now the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York will decide how the complicated refund process should proceed.

“I would expect the Court of International Trade to quickly issue an order requesting a status update from the government on their plans with respect to refunds (or expedited briefing),” said trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding and a former U.S. trade official. “I expect the court to take an aggressive posture, asking the government to justify how they intend to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.”

Siddartha Rao, a partner at law firm Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, said he has been getting a lot of calls from clients with questions.

Stocks remain up despite big drop

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK Oil prices

leaped Monday on worries that war with Iran could clog the global flow of crude and make inflation even worse. U.S. stocks, meanwhile, swung from sharp losses to a tiny gain.

Crude prices jumped more than 6%, which will likely mean higher prices soon at gasoline pumps. That would hurt not only U.S. households, whose spending makes up the bulk of the U.S. economy, but also businesses with big fuel bills.

The S&P 500 fell as much as 1.2% at the start of trading, and cruise lines and airlines led the way lower But U.S. stocks quickly erased those losses, in part because past military conflicts haven’t usually created sustained drops for the market, and the index finished the day with a gain of less than 0.1%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 73 points or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%. Both also came back from steep early losses.

Prices for natural gas remained higher, meanwhile, which could raise heating bills for the remainder of the winter, after a major supplier of liquefied natural gas to Europe said it would stop production because of the war Gold climbed 1.2% as investors looked for safer things to own and as U.S. officials tried to persuade the world that this war will not last forever Typically, Treasury yields also fall in the bond market when investors are feeling nervous. But yields instead climbed, in part because higher oil prices will put

upward pressure on inflation, which is already worse than nearly everyone would like. That could tie the Federal Reserve’s hands and keep it from cutting interest rates. Lower interest rates can boost the economy and job market, but they also worsen inflation. Higher rates can do the opposite.

Past military conflicts in the Middle East have not caused long-term drops for markets For this war to knock down U.S. stocks in a significant and sustained way, the price of oil would perhaps need to jump above $100 per barrel, according to strategists at Morgan Stanley led by Michael Wilson. Oil prices are still well below that level, even with Monday’s jump. The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 6.3% to settle at $71.23. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 6.7% to $77.74 per barrel. That helped the U.S. stock market pare some of its steep opening loss. Morgan Stanley also said the S&P 500 has climbed an average of 2%, 6% and 8% in the one, six and 12 months following “geopolitical risk events” historically That’s going back to the Korean War, which began in 1950, and the 1956 Suez crisis. At this moment, though, fear is still running through markets.

Stocks of airlines were some of Monday’s sharpest losers. Not only do higher oil prices threaten their already big fuel bills, the fighting in the Middle East also closed airports and left travelers stranded. American Airlines lost 4.2%, United Airlines fell 2.9% and Delta Air Lines

sank 2.2%.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings dropped even more, 10.6%. It needs customers to have plenty of cash to spend after paying for gasoline and other essentials.

The cruise operator also reported weaker revenue for its latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit was better Its forecast for profit this upcoming fiscal year was also lower than analysts expected.

Stocks in the housing industry struggled as higher Treasury yields could translate into more expensive mortgage rates. Homebuilder D.R. Horton lost 3.7%, and Builder FirstSource sank 4.7%.

Helping the U.S. stock market to bounce back from its early losses were oil companies, which benefited from the rising price of crude. Exxon Mobil climbed 1.1%, and Marathon Petroleum rose 5.9%. Companies that make equipment for the military also strengthened. Northrop Grumman climbed 5.9%, and RTX rallied 4.7%.

Palantir Technologies, whose software helps global defense agencies and other customers, jumped 5.8% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. Big Tech stocks also helped support the market. Nvidia rose 2.9% and was the strongest single force pushing the S&P 500 higher In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.04% from 3.97% late Friday A report showing growth for U.S. manufacturing was better last month than economists expected also helped to lift yields.

“We are somewhat in uncharted territory,” he said.

The Trump administration has been reaching for new tariffs to replace the ones the Supreme Court struck down.

One question, he said, is how the government might actually pay for these refunds.

“Everyone is sort of cognizant of the fact that it’s not like there’s over a hundred billion dollars sitting in, you know, in a room somewhere to just cut checks,” Rao said.

“So, you know, this is a Treasury problem, and it may very well be that the administration is reimposing tariffs for the reasons that it’s cited it’s important for strategic trade agreements and for bargaining power and all of that. But it also might be that they need to raise revenue to pay out refunds.”

Limited flights resume from UAE

BY KELVIN CHAN and ADAM SCHRECK Associated Press

LONDON Several international airlines cautiously resumed a small number of flights from the United Arab Emirates on Monday, providing the first opportunity for travelers stranded by sweeping airspace closures to leave the country after the U.S. and Israel bombarded Iran, and Iran struck back at targets across the Middle East.

The limited flight schedules followed days of near-total shutdowns at some of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. The disruptions have rippled far beyond the conflict zone, stranding tourists, business travelers, migrant workers and religious pilgrims across multiple continents and snarling global travel that relies heavily on Gulf airports.

Long-haul carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with budget carrier FlyDubai, said they would operate select flights from the country where air traffic was suspended Saturday and defense systems have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones. Dubai’s government urged passengers to go to airports only if contacted directly, warning that operations remained limited. More than 90% of the scheduled flights from Dubai and more than half of those set to depart Abu Dhabi were still canceled, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.

At least 16 Etihad flights left Abu Dhabi to evacuate stranded passengers during a three-hour window Monday, according to tracking service Flightradar24, heading to destinations including Islamabad, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Moscow and London. The airline’s website, however, said all its regularly scheduled commercial flights remained suspended until Wednesday afternoon.

Emirates said customers with earlier bookings would get priority for seats aboard the limited flights it planned to operate starting Monday evening. FlyDubai said it would operate four flights departing the city and another five arriving planes on Monday, adding that schedules could quickly change as the situation evolved.

Leela Rao, a 29-year-old law student at Georgetown University in Washington, made it onto one of Monday’s Etihad flights after landing in Abu Dhabi on Saturday She learned of the airstrikes while waiting to make a connection and spent hours at the airport following news updates, hearing explosions and receiving shelter-in-place alerts before the airline arranged a hotel stay in Dubai.

“I am feeling so, so, so grateful,” Rao said via text message after arriving in Delhi in time for a friend’s wedding. “Everyone clapped when we landed.”

With air travel severely limited throughout the Middle East, travelers found themselves unexpectedly marooned in hotels, airports and on cruise ships in multiple countries besides Iran and Israel once the conflict started Saturday

Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, are key hubs for travel between Europe, Africa and Asia. All three were all directly affected by Iranian strikes over the weekend. Along with people planning to head to or from the region, travelers who were passing through on multileg journeys also found themselves stuck. Air Canada announced Monday it was canceling flights between Canada and Israel and Dubai until March 22.

Airlines elsewhere in the region remained grounded. Qatar Airways said its flights were still suspended, with its next update expected Tuesday. Jordan announced a partial closure of its airspace Monday.

At least 11,000 flights into, out of and within the Middle East have been canceled since Saturday, impacting more than 1 million passengers, according to an analysis by aviation analytics firm Cirium. It said the major airlines operating in the region, including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Saudia, along with all of the carriers in the three main airline alliances, fly around 1,500 flights a day to the Middle East, totaling nearly 389,000 seats. Governments urged stranded citizens to shelter in place as they scrambled to

Hegseth insists Iran conflict is ‘not endless’

Defense secretary warns more casualties likely

BY MICHELLE L. PRICE and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Defense Secretary

Pete Hegseth spoke Monday to widening concerns that the U.S.Israeli strikes in Iran could spiral into a protracted regional conflict by declaring: “This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” even as he warned that more American casualties are likely in the weeks ahead.

While the Trump administration has cited Iran’s nuclear ambitions as the chief concern to be addressed, officials increasingly are pointing to the threat from Iran’s ballistic missiles as a key reason to launch the attacks as well as an opportunity to take out the government’s leadership and the sense that negotiations around the nuclear program have stalled.

Trump said Monday that Iran’s conventional missile program “was growing rapidly and dramatically, and this posed a very clear, colossal threat to America and our forces stationed overseas.”

Hegseth said at a separate news conference with Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the operation had a “decisive mission” to eliminate the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles, destroy the country’s navy and ensure “no nukes.”

Trump, Hegseth and Caine have not suggested any exit plan or offered signs that the conflict would

during a news briefing at the Pentagon in Washington.

end anytime soon as the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast doubt on the future of the Islamic Republic and hurtled the region into broader instability Caine said the biggest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East in decades would only grow because the commander in the region “will receive additional forces even today.”

“This is not a so-called regimechange war, but the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it,” Hegseth said.

Trump, however, in video statements released after the strikes began, urged the Iranian people “to take back your country.”

The conflict has spilled into the

wider region, with Iran and its allied armed groups launching missiles at Israel, Arab states and U.S. military targets in the Middle East

Six American troops have been killed, with Trump, Hegseth and Caine predicting more casualties. All were Army soldiers and part of the same logistics unit in Kuwait, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity

When asked about the six deaths Monday, Hegseth said an Iranian weapon made it past allied air defenses “and, in that particular case, happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified.”

Eighteen American service

members also have been seriously wounded, said Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command.

The latest sign of the escalating upheaval came when, the U.S. military said, ally Kuwait “mistakenly shot down” three American fighter jets during a combat mission as Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones were attacking. U.S. Central Command said all six pilots ejected safely from the American F-15E Strike Eagles and were in stable condition.

Asked if there are boots on the ground now in Iran, Hegseth said, “No, but we’re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.”

He said it was “foolishness” to expect U.S. officials to say publicly “here’s exactly how far we’ll go.”

Trump told the New York Post on Monday that he wasn’t ruling out U.S. forces in Iran if “they were necessary.” He noted, “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.”

At the White House, Trump said the mission was expected to take four to five weeks but “we have the capability to go far longer than that.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the Capitol that the U.S. “will do this as long as it takes to achieve” its objectives and warned that “the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military.”

Hegseth also dismissed questions about the time frame and said Trump had “latitude” to decide how long it would take. “Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks,” he said “It could move up. It could move back.”

In laying out a case for the

strikes, Hegseth did not point to any imminent nuclear threat from Iran and said again that strikes by the U.S. and Israel last June “obliterated their nuclear program to rubble.”

Instead, Hegseth pointed to threats from other weaponry that justified the operation: “Iran was building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions.”

He added, “Our bases, our people, our allies, all in their crosshairs. Iran had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb.”

Hegseth said that during negotiations leading up to the attack, Iranian officials were “stalling” despite having “every chance to make a peaceful and sensible deal.”

He also justified the operation by describing Iran’s government as having started the conflict from its inception, declaring that for 47 years it has “waged a savage, onesided war against America.”

In a private briefing Sunday, Trump administration officials told congressional staffers that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the U.S., three people familiar with the briefings said. Trump, a Republican, had said the objective of the mission was to eliminate “imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” And senior Trump administration officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity told reporters Saturday that there were indicators that the Iranians could launch a preemptive attack.

Justices block law against schools outing trans students to parents

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for California schools to tell parents if their children identify as transgender without getting the student’s approval, granting an emergency appeal from a conservative legal group. The order blocks for now a state law that bans automatic parental notification requirements if students change their pronouns or gender expression at school.

The split decision comes

after religious parents and educators challenged California school policies aimed at preventing schools from outing students to their families. Two sets of Catholic parents represented by the Thomas More Society say it caused schools to mislead them and secretly facilitate the children’s social transition despite their objections. California, on the other hand, argued that students have the right to privacy about their gender expression, especially if they fear rejection from their families. The state said that school pol-

icies and state law are aimed at striking a balance with parents’ rights.

The high court majority though, sided with the parents and reinstated a lowercourt order blocking the law and school policies while the case continues to play out “The parents who assert a free exercise claim have sincere religious beliefs about sex and gender, and they feel a religious obligation to raise their children in accordance with those beliefs. California’s policies violate those beliefs,” and burden the free exercise of religion, the ma-

France to allow temporary deployment of nuclear-armed jets to European allies

BY SYLVIE CORBET and SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press

L’ILE LONGUE, France French

President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that France will increase its nuclear arsenal and, for the first time, allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries, in a new strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s independence.

In speech planned long before the most recent outbreak of war in Iran, Macron discussed how French nuclear weapons fit into the security of Europe as lead-

ers there express concerns over recurring tensions with President Donald Trump and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

France has been the only nuclear power in the European Union since Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2020

“To be free, one needs to be feared,” Macron said at a military base at L’Ile Longue in northwestern France that hosts the country’s ballistic missile submarines.

Macron said the new posture could “provide for the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries,” but said there would be no

sharing of decision-making with any other nation regarding the use of the nuclear weapons.

Talks about such deterrence cooperation have started with Britain, Germany Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark, Macron said.

France also will allow partners to participate in deterrence exercises and allow allies’ non-nuclear forces to participate in France’s nuclear activities, said Macron, who is the commander-inchief of the armed forces under the French constitution. European partners welcomed the strategy

jority wrote in an unsigned order

The court’s three liberal justices publicly dissented, saying the case is still working its way through lower courts and there was no need to step in now “If nothing else, this Court owes it to a sovereign State to avoid throwing over its policies in a slapdash way, if the Court can provide normal procedures. And throwing over a State’s policy is what the Court does today,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote.

Conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, meanwhile, noted they would have gone further and granted teachers’ appeal to lift restrictions for them.

The Thomas More Society called the decision “the most significant parental rights ruling in a generation.” The Supreme Court has ruled for religious plaintiffs in other recent cases, including allowing parents to pull their children from publicschool lessons if they object to storybooks with LGBTQ+ characters.

JanRisher

LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Klanceya helping pawat

DA’s Office

Our daughter’s8-year-old dog still operates at full throttle. His near-constant energy did not prepare me for Klancey,who was the opposite of hyper Klancey is a2-year-old Labradorand golden retrievermix. He was so still on the floor of the East Baton Rouge ParishDistrict Attorney’sOffice’sconference roomthatitfelt almost unnatural. His eyes moved. The rest of him did not.

Trained by CanineCompanions, Klancey is a“facility dog,” which is different from aservicedog. Service dogs are paired withone person. Facility dogs work in one setting and serve many Klancey joined the District Attorney’sOffice in May.He’s taking the place of Diesel, theoffice’sprevious dog, who has gone to work in another court across the street with Judge Louise Hines.

Amy Files was Diesel’ssecondary handler.Files, asenior legal specialist, and Hannah Minnick, an investigator,are now Klancey’s handlers. Both work with the East Baton Rouge ParishDistrict Attorney’sOffice and have waited for Klancey to join their team for 18 months.

The dogs spend nearly two years in professional training before they are matched. The handlers train, as well.

“They had amatchingceremony wherewe’re sitting there waiting to find out which one’sgoing to be picked for us,”

ä See RISHER, page 2B

Mangets 20 years in fatal shooting pleadeal

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

ANew Orleans man who set off afatal shooting outside apopular Treme eatery was sentenced Mondayto20years in prisonunder a plea agreement. Orleans Parish Criminal District JudgeMarcus DeLarge handed the sentence to Wilson Allen, 35, for his role in theMarch 2023 encounter that ended with 30-yearoldCarneal KnapperJr. gunned down outside the old Willie Mae’s Scotch House. Allen didn’tpull the trigger to killKnapper,DeLarge said.But thejudge told him he’d ignited a violentstandoff when he stolea bagthat Knapper had leftatop a trash can outside the restaurantin the 2400 block of St. Ann Street Surveillance footage showed Allen place the bag in anearbyvehicle, according to apolice affidavit When Knapperreturned looking for his bag, Allen andhis best friend, 35-year-old LarryDavis, returned some marijuana and other items that were stashed in the bag

City Park receives $2Mgift

Renovationstoanchorgathering space, educationhub

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

New Orleans City Park’s old stable turned storagefacility had been ashell ofits former selffor years before Hurricane Katrina, though the 2005storm dealt it a death blow But the blighted Old Corral building near the Interstate 610 underpass will soon anchor apublic gathering space andeducational hub, thankstoa $2 million donation from the Samuel Barton Stewart III Memorial Foundation.

Therenovation, whichwhen finishedwillhouse aspace where visitors can learnabout water, stormwatermanagement and shorelinerestoration,ispartofa listofprojects shaping up in the six monthssince park officials adopted aformal improvement plan forNew Orleans’ largestpublic green space. It includesa revitalization of the“Little Lake”areaaroundthe building, whichthe public will have achancetoshape once a draft design is prepared for that and other projects this summer

City Park ConservancyCEO Rebecca Dietz said on Monday

“Wereally want to make sure we getthisright before we finalize any design,” she said.

There will also be opportunities fornew programs andactivities for kids in abid to revive alongunderutilized section of the1,300acre park and improve connectivity between itsnorth andsouth sidesdue to thearea’s location southofthe underpass.

The project adds to alist of improvements officials hope to accomplish in the next year and a

half since wrapping up the park’s two-year master planning process in August.

The City Park 2050 plan, approved by the City Park ImprovementAssociation Board and the CityParkConservancy, aims to improve access, connectivity, healthylandscapes andrecreational opportunities over the next 20 years and is guided by community feedback.

Since it was finalized, officials have completed anumber of

Musicringson

Unlicensedcontractor fined forHarahan projects

Galaforo will haveto pay$17,500 for unlawfulwork

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

An unlicensed contractor will have to pay$17,500forunlawfully doing more than $1 million of work forthe city of Harahan, astate regulatory agency ruled.

GalaforoConstruction pleaded no contest to fivecharges of performing work without acontractor’slicense for projects for the city of Harahan in 2024 duringa hearing with the LouisianaState LicensingBoard for Contractorsin February Among those projectswas constructionofa Harahan veterans’ memorial park called the Park of Heroes for about $690,000; renovations to the Harahan playground for $135,000; renovations to the city’semergency operations centerfor $125,000;and therenovation of the city’sseniorcenterfor $125,000, according to the state li-

censing board.

Harahan didnot engage in aformal bid process for anyofthese projects, accordingtoaninvestigator for the state licensing board. Apublic records request by The Times-Picayune also found the city never entered into any contractswithGalaforo for itswork, either. As first reported by The TimesPicayune,Harahan split each projectinto multiple phases, each costing less than $50,000. For the Park of Heroes project, the city paid Galaforo for 13 phases of work in two months beforeofficials learned the contractor wasunlicensed, at whichpoint they switched to Thoth Construction, whichislicensed According to investigators, Galaforo received another $207,000 in payments from Thoth forthe Park of Heroes as an unlicensed subcontractor,for which the agency hasalso issued aviolationagainst Thoth. State lawrequiresacontractor’s license for anyprojects costing $50,000, or $10,000 for plumbing,

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Jury selection draggedinto Monday evening in federal courtfor theblockbustertrial of two New Orleans personal injuryattorneysand another defendant indicted in amassive schemetostage vehicle crashes into big rig trucks over years. Inside apacked courtroom, U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter waded through about 100prospective jurors, vetting hardship claimsand otherswho flagged personal ties to people involved in the case. Behind closed doors, she questioned some prospective jurors individually who’d indicated they’dheard or read about the high-profile case. But the voir dire process of questioning peopleabout their viewstoarrive at apanel of 12 hadn’tprogressedto seating any jurors as of 5 p.m Mondayfor atrialslated to run three weeks. Even so, opening statements

were due to begin sometime Tuesday in acase that has gripped New Orleans’ legal community Prosecutors accuse Vanessa Motta, aHollywood stuntwoman-turned-lawyer, attorney Jason Gilesand the King Firm of brazen frauds thatinvolvedfilling cars with people,ramming them into 18-wheelers and suing forbig insurance checks. The federal probe has spawned guilty pleas from about 50 defendants across morethan ahalf-dozen indictments since 2019.

Prosecutors are expected to show thejurystatements from Cornelius Garrison, a federal witness whoadmitted to being the driver in dozens of staged wrecks before he was gunned downatthe doorstep of his mother’shouse in Gentilly in 2020, in what authorities call ahit job. The FBIclaimsGarrison implicated Motta, Giles and

Harvey man indicted in rape of babysitter

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

A Jefferson Parish grand jury handed up an indictment charging a Harvey man in the rape of his 13-yearold babysitter at gunpoint.

Jeremy Hoye, 28, was charged Thursday with first-degree rape, according to Jefferson Parish court records. He pleaded not guilty Friday

Hoye was first arrested Nov 3 following an investigation by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The victim was supposed to babysit Hoye’s infant daughter that morning, according to authorities.

He brought the child to the 13-year-old’s home but realized he’d forgotten the baby’s milk at his apartment in the 2200 block of Manhattan Boulevard, the Sheriff’s Office said. Hoye drove the victim and his daughter back to his apartment to get the milk. But once inside, Sheriff’s Office detectives allege Hoye asked the girl if she wanted to

RISHER

Continued from page 1B

make $50.

Authorities said the girl told him no but Hoye responded by trying to drag her into his bedroom. After the girl screamed for help, Hoye pulled out a gun and ordered her into the room, the Sheriff’s Office said. Hoye then raped her, according to authorities.

Hoye took the girl and his baby back to the girl’s residence before leaving for work, according to authorities. The girl immediately told her mother what happened

The girl’s mother notified the Sheriff’s Office and investigators arrested Hoye later that day

After the indictment, the court increased Hoye’s bail to $750,000, according to court records. He was being held Monday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. If convicted, Hoye faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@ theadvocate.com

Minnick said. “We had an idea because we’d worked with this one the most — and then they bring him out, and it’s like, ‘You guys are with Klancey.’ Klancey knows about 40 commands. Files and Minnick had to learn them all. And yes, he has a command for bathroom breaks.

“‘Hurry’ is that command,” Files said. “So we don’t say that word a lot.” Files said they were looking for a dog who had a calm personality, who would let someone love on him and be a calm presence. Minnick handles mostly sex crime cases, many involving juveniles. District Attorney Hillar Moore said Klancey is also used in human trafficking cases. The children with whom Klancey works are often asked to talk about trauma in rooms filled with adults. If a case goes to trial, the child may testify with the defendant — often a relative — seated just feet away “It’s tough for an adult being cross-examined but for a kid, it’s brutal,” Moore said. Before a child ever takes

FINED

Continued from page 1B

Man accused of bilking Kenner

woman seeking citizenship

Officials: Scammer posed as immigration attorney

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

For 11 months, a Kenner resident believed she was sending her hard-earned money to an immigration attorney who would help secure citizenship for herself and her two children.

But investigators say the man was actually a con artist who pocketed the woman’s $6,020 and never filed a single page of paperwork.

“She was getting scammed the entire time,” said Kenner Police Department Deputy Chief Mark McCormick.

The suspect, David Arvey Ardila Garcia, 25, was arrested in Fort Myers, Florida, and extradited Thursday to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.

He was booked on counts of bank fraud, computer fraud, felony theft, false personation and illegal transfer of monetary funds following an investigation by Kenner police and Homeland Security Investigations.

Authorities across the country have seen a rise in similar immigration fraud schemes involving con artists who pose as legitimate attorneys or nonprofit organizations, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Federal Trade Commission.

The victim in the Kenner case found Ardila on social media. He promised to obtain a work permit, Social Security numbers and legal citizenship for the woman and her family, according to McCormick.

To sell the deception when she’d get suspicious, Ardila displayed Department of Homeland Security-style logos on a back wall during FaceTime calls with the victim. He’d also have a person wearing a tactical vest marked “police” stand behind him, according to McCormick.

Ardila had the woman wire payments or send money through Zelle, a bank-to-bank transfer system, according to McCormick.

This went on for about a year until the victim decided to reach out to the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Officials there informed her that no paperwork had ever been filed, McCormick said.

The woman contacted Kenner police to report the theft She turned over her payment records and recordings of the video calls. Kenner police identified Ardila as a suspect, and Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested him in Florida.

The American Bar Association in August issued an alert to the public after seeing an increase in the number of scammers stealing money from noncitizens through fake immigration legal services.

The swindlers often find their victims through social media, including Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. Some assailants even

East Baton Rouge

with, from left, Amy Files, Hanna Minnick and Klancey, the District Attorney’s Office’s new facility dog Files and Minnick are Klancey’s handlers.

the witness stand, there is preparation, often in a space called the Family Room a place where Klancey can shift from stillness to engagement Minnick told me about a

2019 for failure to pay a judgment of more than $3 million against him. His license is still suspended as he pays off that judgment, he told the board

Galaforo received a fine of $2,500 plus a $1,000 administrative fee for each of the violations at the Feb. 19 hearing. An official with the contractor licensing board also previously said the case has been referred to law enforcement agencies for review

recent meeting with two juveniles who were reluctant to talk.

“I would say they were disassociating from what we were talking about,” she said. “And I was just

PLEA

Continued from page 1B

but refused to return the bag.

Knapper began arguing with Davis and Allen, two employees of Willie Mae’s. At one point, he untucked a pair of pistols from his waistband.

like, ‘Do you guys wanna see what Klancey can do?’”

He climbed onto the furniture. He offered his paw on command. He gave kisses on command. He spoke on command.

The energy of the room changed.

“And immediately it was like it switched,” Minnick said. “Now we’re talking about Klancey.”

If a case reaches trial, the choreography becomes more precise. In court, Klancey is only allowed to work with victims 17 and under

The courtroom is cleared, and Klancey is brought in and waits beneath the witness stand, out of sight

“The dog is put underneath the witness box that you can’t see,” Moore said. “And the dog remains silent.”

The jury never sees him. The defendant never sees him. The child does. Klancey is right there at the child’s feet

After testimony ends, the courtroom is cleared again, and Klancey makes his exit

His presence is invisible to the room — but not to the child.

Klancey comes to work Monday through Friday When he’s not working

murder and four other charges. He pleaded guilty last week to a reduced charge of manslaughter, avoiding a mandatory life sentence.

As part of the deal, Allen pleaded guilty as charged to the remaining counts of obstruction of justice, armed robbery with a firearm and two counts of illegal possession of stolen things.

advertise their legal services on the platforms, according to the Immigration Lawyers Association.

In New York, federal prosecutors charged five men with posing as lawyers from a phony immigration firm to bilk more than $100,000 from victims, according to a story from The New York Times. The men even faked online court proceedings, complete with a robed judge.

“They prey on this community of vulnerable people to make money off of them,” McCormick said.

Kenner police, federal authorities and legal associations provided a number of tips to avoid similar scams:

n Verify both the person and the organization providing legal services through independent sources such as the state bar or other state agencies.

n Do not rely on social media as proof of authenticity Reputable legal service organizations will not directly contact clients through social media.

n Meet with an attorney in their office, if possible.

n Try to get a second opinion, especially if things sound too good to be true.

n Don’t pay for immigration forms. The official forms are free and located on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

n Always keep your original documents.

n Review the contract for legal services and keep a copy of any agreements.

with victims, he spends time in the office with Files and Minnick. Sometimes he tags along to meetings. They’ve noticed that when someone is struggling, Klancey seems to know “During the meeting, he will just walk over to that person and sit at their feet,” Files said. Outside of court, both Files and Minnick say he is unmistakably a young dog. They take turns bringing him home at night.

He has his assigned spaces in the District Attorney’s Office, and Minnick has created a new bed for him by a window in her new office — because Klancey likes to bask in the sun. Minnick also manages Klancey’s social media. He has a best friend — Diesel, his predecessor who now works across the street. The dogs often run and play together When the vest comes off, he runs. He plays. He is a 2-year-old dog, his handlers say with a smile. When the vest goes on, he becomes something else entirely — not an advocate, not a witness, not a distraction, but a steady presence in rooms where steadiness can feel scarce.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

bery, obstruction of justice and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Last April, DeLarge handed Davis the mandatory life sentence on the murder conviction, court records show Carneal Knapper Sr., the victim’s father, described a huge void in the family from losing his son, a Dillard University graduate with two sons of his own.

infrastructure improvements, funded by a mix of federal grants, state allocations and the park’s capital reserve fund. At Pan American Stadium on the park’s north side, new lighting has been installed and construction is about to take place on new locker rooms, concessions and bathrooms, Dietz said. Other finished improvements include sidewalk repairs throughout the park, resurfaced tennis courts, and sewer replacements for the system that serves attractions like the Botanical Garden and City Putt. A new turf field has also been installed at Tad Gormley Stadium. By the end of the year, Dietz said the park hopes to break ground on the Little Lake improvements as well as a new multiuse field adjacent to Pan American trail connections along the Wisner Tract and new sidewalks and trails along Zachary Taylor Drive to improve pedestrian access to recreation sites.

The design phase for those projects, including the building renovations, is expected to wrap in the summer and Dietz said they plan to ask the public for feedback on field size, usage needs and lighting. Building renovations are slated for completion by fall 2027, according to a park spokesperson. The Works Progress Administration, a federal employment relief program that funded numerous infrastructure projects throughout the state, constructed the Corral building in the 1930s as a maintenance workshop that also housed horses, mules and equipment, according to the University of New Orleans. It gradually fell into disarray over the years and was abandoned following Hurricane Katrina.

Officials with Samuel Barton Stewart III Memorial Foundation, a Metairie-based nonprofit named for the late New Orleans area business owner, will join City Park officials on Tuesday to announce the gift aimed at restoring the building. Officials are also exploring ideas for an outdoor “arts, culture and community” amphitheater next to Tad Gormley using $4 million in city bond funding approved by voters last year The structure would also help generate revenue for the park.

“My hope is that what the community sees in these design areas is a response to what they highlighted as most important in the planning process, which was improved access to nature, more trails and improved recreation facilities,” Dietz said.

JURY

Continued from page 1B mechanical or electrical projects. It also explicitly prohibits the splitting of projects into multiple phases for the sake of avoiding contract bids. It also required at the time that public works projects worth $250,000 or more undergo a formal bid process with advertisements. As of February, that threshold increased to $260,000, or $60,000 for materials and supplies.

Paul Galaforo, owner of the construction company, told the board he thought he was following the law by staying under the $50,000 threshold, and that he did not know at the time how large the scope of the projects would be.

“Without plans and specifications, and then the city finding extra funds to do more, these things just came about that way,” Galaforo told the board. Galaforo held a contractor’s license for 10 years until it was suspended in

Galaforo also faces unrelated criminal charges for residential contractor fraud and filing false public records in the 24th Judicial District Court, for which he has pleaded not guilty. Neither Galaforo, Harahan Mayor Tim Baudier nor Ryan Vidal, Galaforo’s attorney in his criminal case, responded to requests for comment Monday Baudier has repeatedly denied that any misconduct occurred on the Park of Heroes project.

Email Lara Nicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate com.

Davis responded by grabbing a pistol from the trunk of his car and shooting Knapper multiple times in the 800 block of North Tonti Street, around the corner from the iconic restaurant.

Police said Allen brandished a rifle during that incident but never fired it.

Knapper never fired or reached for his weapons after pulling them out initially, investigators said.

The shooting was captured on camera.

“You had an opportunity to give this man his bag back and you just didn’t do it,” DeLarge told Allen. “And then this chain of events happened where now we have three Black families impacted negatively.”

A grand jury indicted Allen, 35, for second-degree

DeLarge gave Allen consecutive 20-year sentences on all of the charges except a misdemeanor count of illegal possession of stolen things, for which he handed Allen six months in jail.

“But for your actions, none of this would’ve happened,” the judge said “You didn’t pull the trigger, but you certainly started this chain of events because you decided to take a bag that wasn’t yours.”

A New Orleans SWAT team and U.S. marshals apprehended Davis following a two-hour standoff in May 2023 after he barricaded himself inside a Lower Garden District house.

After a four-day trial in February 2025, a jury found Davis guilty of second-degree murder, armed rob-

“Allen, you took all of our joyful, happy days from us,” the grieving father said in a written statement read by prosecutors. “No amount of time you get will fill the emptiness that we feel.”

Knapper Sr said he’s now left to raise his grandsons while struggling with the toll of his wife’s early stages of dementia.

“The trauma of losing Carneal Jr has caused her condition to worsen significantly,” he wrote.

“There are days when Carneal’s mom asks when is he coming home. But the devastating reality is he’s never coming home again.”

Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

Sean Alfortish, a disbarred attorney and former Kenner magistrate who shares a young child with Motta, in the fraud. Prosecutors claim it was Alfortish who set up the hit on Garrison with the alleged shooter Leon

“Chunky” Parker The other defendant standing trial this week, Diaminike Stalbert, faces a conspiracy count and another charge for allegedly lying to the FBI. Two other defendants in the case, Timara Lawrence and Carl Morgan, pleaded guilty last week to avoid a trial.

Judgerules St.James schools have failed to desegregate

Districthas not complied with ’17consent order

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Sixty years after residents sued to end racialsegregation inthe St. JamesParishschool district, afederal judge foundinequalities remain —including one school’s studentbodybeing more than95% Black —and denied aSchoolBoard request to dismiss the case.

U.S.District Judge Darrel James Papillion, of New Orleans, found Friday that the school district had failed to comply with aspects of a2017 consent order and that vestiges of segregationpersistatschools acrossthe district.

His order focused on three schools that were onceall-Black and legally segregated before Brown v. Board of Education, including the St. Louis Math and Reading Academy. Papillion found that aspects ofa specialliteracy program designed to attract students from across the parish to St. Louis had beenadopted districtwide, nullifyingthe program’s intended desegregation purpose.

“In sum, this Court recognizes the District’s effortsindesegregating its geographically complex schooldistrict anddesires to return St. James Parish Schools to the local authorities,” he wrote. “But this Court cannot ignore the fact that St. Louis, or former Fifth Ward, ahistoricallyBlack school remainsavirtually all-Black school.”

Hisrulingfollows an initial one-page decision released inSeptember,in which he said he would later publish the full orderwithhis reasons.The School Board has appealed his ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. Papillionwas nominated to the federal bench by formerPresidentJoe Biden. The developmentisjust after ajudgerejected a bid by the neighboring St. John the Baptist Parish School Board to end its longstanding desegregationorder.Italso comes after Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’sstated goal last year of closing all remaining desegregation cases in the state with thehelp of the U.S. Department of Justice.

In awritten statement, St. James Parish school system Superintendent

Chris Kimball said the board and district were unabletocommentbecause thematter concerns pending litigation. The U.S. Department of Justice saidinanemail that it had no comment.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys, including Alexsis Johnson, whoserves as an assistant counsel withthe NAACP Legal Defense &Educational Fund.Speaking Monday, Johnson said the group was “reallyhappy with theruling.”

“Itreflects the reality thatour clientsand Black folksinSt. JamesParish have known all along: that the district is underinvesting in theeducation of Black school children in St. James Parish and that there is much more the districtneeds to do in order to remedy its past race-based discrimination against Black students,” shesaid

2017 consentorder

First filed by several residents on Dec. 15, 1965, the historiccase moved closer to concluding in 2017 when all parties agreed to anew consent order.That order allows court supervision of the district andguides it toward resolvingthe case.

TheSchool Board filed amotion in 2023 asking thecourttofind it had achieved desegregation to all practicable extents. At the time,Papillion found that the school districthad accomplished desegregationinsome areas, but not in student assignment, which concerns theracial demographics of schools across the district. This meant the school district would still be under court supervision Papillion’sdecision on the 2023 motion focuses on three schools that were once all-Black: thewest bank CypressGrove Montessori School, formerly LutcherElementary School, andthe eastbank St. Louis Academy and SixthWardElementary School.

Whilethe elementary student populationinSt. James Parish is about62% Black,in2016 at least 94% of studentsatthe three schoolswere Black

Papillion’sdecision focused on St. Louis Academy and itsliteracy academy program. It was created in the 2017 consent order,which required the district to create aspecial program at theschool to attract students from across thedistrict Accordingtothe 2023 objectiontothe district’s motion submitted by residents, the district rolled back several of the program’sfeaturesintended

to attract Whitestudents, including aspecialized curriculum, atrained interventionist teacher and specialized training for teachers.

“TheDistrict’smere ‘initiation’ of aliteracy program that had the potential to desegregateSLA but failed to do so —does notentitle theDistrict to unitary status,” thedocument stated.

Papillionagreed, finding that the district failed to comply with the consent order because the special aspects of the program wereadopted districtwide.

“Theprogram’sdesegregative function depended on itsdistinctiveness, and the District’simplementation of materially identical features across schools eroded the distinguishing features of the program,” he wrote.

He also found that the school, likeothers in the district, had failedto change its racial demographics

School over 95%Black

St. Louis Academyand SixthWardElementary School failed to significantlychange their racial composition since the 2017 consent order,Papillion ruled.

To determineifa school can be considered desegregated in student assignment, the 2017 consent order adopted avariance measure of 15% above or below districtwide demographics as astarting point. In practice, that roughly correlates to aBlackstudent enrollment rate of between 45% and 75% forevery school.

In the 2023-24 school year,morethan95% of the student body at St. Louis Academywas Black, while Sixth Ward was 80% Black, according to the order

The district alleged the demographicsofboth schools weredue to the westbank’sdemographics andthe St. Louis Academy being in a“geographically isolatedcommunity.”

Residentsrepresented in the lawsuit rejected thatargument because21 Black students hadtransferred to theschoolbetween 2018 and 2023. Basically,ifthe district can get transport students into the school, it cannotargue that it is tooisolatedorremotetoattract asimilar numberofWhite children. Papillion said that St. Louis Academy, which feeds into Sixth Ward, “is at the heart of theissue.”

He didn’ttake action on the decision,instead stating he wantedbothparties to meet in order to finda remedy

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Brans, Carl Cahill, Earline Daigle,Ronnie Seghers,Richard NewOrleans

JacobSchoen

Seghers,Richard Obituaries

Brans, Carl Henry

CarlHenry Brans belovedfather, grandfather,great-grandfather, and aphysicist whose ideashelpeddeepenhumanity's understanding of gravity— passedaway on February 26, 2026, at the ageof90.

BornDecember 13, 1935, in Dallas, Texas,Carl showed an earlygift for mathematicsand alifelong curiosityabout how the universe works. He earned his undergraduatedegree fromLoyola University NewOrleans in 1957 and went on to Princeton University, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1961 underthe guidance of Charles Misner and Robert H. Dicke. His doctoral work ledtothe Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor theoryof gravity, an important extensionofEinstein's general relativitythat continues to influence theoretical physics and cosmology

Carl returned to Loyola University NewOrleans in 1960 and remained there for most of his long and distinguishedcareer, eventuallyservingasthe J.C. CarterProfessor of Theoretical Physics and laterEmeritus Professor. He also held visitingpositions at Princeton University, theInstitute for Advanced Study, and the University of Cologne

While deeply respected in thescientificcommunity, Carl was, to thosewho knew him best, adevoted family man. In 1957 he married Anna Dora Monteiro, beginning a partnership that would span 64 years until Anna's passing in 2021. Together they builta warm and lively home in the New Orleans area, including many years in Metairie, Louisiana.

Carl's life was notconfined to equationsand lecturehalls. He was an enthusiastic andcompetitive tennisplayerfor many years, especiallyatthe Sunrise Community Club near thefamily home in Metairie.Music was another lifelong passion. An accomplishedamateur pianist, he lovedclassical music and couldoftenbe found at thepiano,bringing the same patience and precisiontomusic that he brought to physics.

He was preceded in death by his mother (Delia), his father (Carl), his wife (Anna), and their daughter (Mary Elizabeth). He is survivedbyfour children—Thomas Joseph Brans (Lori); Henry Robert Brans (Beatriz); Patrick DavidBrans; and John "Jack" Edward Brans (Kim)—nine grandchildren, and fifteengreat-grandchildren.

Cahill, Earline Kelly

Earline KellyCahill, passedawaypeacefullyat 94 years youngon December 8, 2025. Shewas born on September 24, 1931, in NewOrleans and spent themajority of her life in Kenner,where she lovingly raisedher family.

Earlinewas the devoted wife of 62 years to Robert J. Cahill, affectionately known as Bob, whoprecededher in death 13 years ago.

Sheissurvivedbyher children: Richard Patrick Cahill (Donna Cahill), Shannon EileenCahill(Dan Holland), TimothyBrian Cahill (Cynthia Cahill), and Sean Thomas Cahill (Laura Cahill). She was aproud grandmother to Richard Cahill Jr.(Maggie Cahill), KellyLeBoeuf(Jared LeBoeuf), KristinHamner (Stephen Hamner), Meagan Carmouche(Josh Carmouche), and Ryan Cahill (Mazlyn Cahill), and aloving great-grandmother to Owen Hamner, Camille Hamner SamanthaHamner,Ian Cahill,Aiden Carmouche, Luke Carmouche and Elizabeth Carmouche.

In heryounger years, Earlinewas deeply involved at St.Lawrence Parish,serving as aden motherfor the Boy Scouts andasheadofthe PTA Herfaithremained central throughout herlife, and shefaithfully attended Mass at OurLady of Divine Providencefor morethan 40 years. Shewas also a member of the St.Jude Society. Earlineenjoyedfriendship and fellowship as a member of the RedHat Societyand was alifelong fan of the NewOrleans Saintsfromthe very beginning of the franchise Aboveall,she cherished herfamilyand themany memoriestheyshared together Visitation andMass will be held at OurLady of DivineProvidencein MetairieonFriday, March 13. Visitation willbeginat 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass at noon In lieu of flowers, the familyasks that donations be made to TheShrine of St Jude

hisbrother Dennis Daigle, Jr Abarber for just over 63 years, Ronniewas ahard workerand only just thinkingofretiringabouta week before passing! Aside fromcuttinghair, he wasalways working on the house, or hiskids'houses, or rental property, or helpingatchurch through the years. As hisfather taught him, Ronniewould do most things himself before hiringanyone, from electric work to plumbing and crownmolding to building aplayhouse! He loved fishingand watchingwesterns. As thequotegoes, "always preach thegospel, usewords if necessary", Ronniealways showed the love of Christ to everyone he encountered. He loved theLord, and that love shonethrough wherever he went.Hewas ever lovingand faithfultohis wife Cynthia, andhewas the model of what adad should be.Frommaking a tree swingtogoingout at anytimetofix abrokendowncar,hewas always helpinghis kids and grandkids.Everpatientand oftenmakingjokes andmakingpeople laugh,Ronnie will be sorely missed by all whohad theblessing of knowing him.

Acelebration of hislife will be held in hishonor on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 9amuntil11am with aservice beginning at 11am. It will be at Life FellowshipCommunity Church at 2671 LA-306, Des Allemands, LA 70030. Acelebrationoflifewill be held from9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 2026-03-07 at Life Fellowship, 2671 LA-306.

BYJAMES FINN Staff writer

Police on Monday arrested aman in Jefferson Parish who they accused of operating as amember of the MS-13 gang in his homecountry of Hondurasbefore illegally entering the U.S. nine years ago. The man, identified in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security news release as Edgar Vixney Hernandez-Velasquez, was detained in Metairie following aHomeland Security Investigations probe that found he was “a known MS-13 gang member,”officials said. Hernandez-Velasquez was found to have entered theU.S.illegallyin 2017and had afinal order of removal, according to federal officials. The DHS news release did not provide additional details of hisimmigrationhistory or alleged ties to the gang

known as Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

“Today’sarrest demonstrates(Homeland Security Investigations’) commitmenttoprotecting our communitiesfromviolent gang members who threaten public safety,” Matt Wright, Homeland Security Investigations’ actingspecial agent in chargeinNew Orleans, saidinastatement. MS-13 originated as a Los Angeles street gang after itsfoundingmembers immigrated from El Salvador in the 1980s. It later expanded into urbanareas of other Central American countries, includingHonduras, according to InSight Crime, athink tankthat researches organized crime. A diffused, noncentralized network with apresence in several U.S. cities, the grouprelies primarilyon extortion and localdrugdealing forrevenue. Federal andstate re-

cords for courts in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish do not showa criminal recordfor HernandezVelasquez in thoseareas since his arrival in the U.S. Amid the deportation pushfromPresident Donald Trump’sadministration, federal officials have sought to highlight arrests and deportations of people with criminal histories, particularly those with allegedtiestogangs,trafficking and violent crime.

Butfew immigrants detained in south Louisiana, Chicago, North Carolina andMinnesota,where Homeland Security staged large-scale immigration sweeps in recentmonths, hadcriminal histories,according to court records anddisclosures by federal officials.

Hernandez-Velasquez is set to be deportedback to Honduras.

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

Those who worked with Carl remember athoughtful scholar and generous mentor.Those who knew him personally remember something just as important: his sense of humor, his love of music and sport, and hisdeepdevotion to family

His scientific legacy will endure in the continuing evolutionofgravitational theory. His personal legacy livesoninthe family he lovedand themany students and colleagues whose liveshetouched.

Amemorial reception willbeheldonMonday, March 9, from11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at theChalstrom HouseinNew Orleans, 1111 S. CarrolltonAve. A reception willbeheldfrom 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on 2026-03-09 at Chalstrom House, 1111 S. Carrollton Ave.

RonnieDaigle was alovingand kind man of God. He wasawelcoming and generousman,who would always lend ahelping hand to anyone in need.He passedaway to be with theLordinfullonMarch1 2026. He wasborntoDennis andLulaDaigle in Marrero, LA on February 3, 1942. He is survivedbyhis two children Gina Daigle andReed Daigle (withhis wife Seiko), fivegrandchildren: Jonathan Dockins (Sara Kampman), Seth Quattlebaum(Tati Cruz), Emma Quattlebaum, Sofie Daigle,and Alexander Daigle,aswell as 1greatgranddaughter: Sophia Cruz-Quattlebaum. He is also survived by 2brothers: CJ Daigle (Jane) and Buddy Daigle,and 3sisters: Jeanie Theriot, Peggy Trosclair(Dutch),and LaurettaSmith (Larry).He is predeceased by his lovingwife Cynthia Daigle, daughterChrista Daigle, hisfather Dennis Daigle hismother Lula Daigle,and

RichardEdward Seghers,90ofKenner passedawayonMonday, February23, 2026 at home inKenner. He waswith familyand passedpeace‐fully.Richard wasbornin Milwaukee, Wisconsinto Charles Ernest andAnnie B.Seghers on May17, 1935 Heattended school in Pel‐ham,New York where he playedfootballatPelham HighSchool.After gradua‐tionfromVirginiaTech, he married Alceda MarieVort onDecember20, 1958 and servedinthe Army forfour years.Heworkedasanin‐surance underwriterfor the marine andaviationin‐dustryinSouthern Louisiana fornearly30 years untilheretired at 55 years old. He andAlceda enjoyed travelling,square dancing andplaying games with friends. He was aproud EagleScout and remained an active alumniand fan of Virginia Tech, go Hokies!Hewas alsoquite aharmonica player. He is preceded in death by hissiblings, Mary Ann (McGunagle),Charles E.Seghers,Jr.,and Roberta (Lanza).Richard is sur‐vived by hiswife, Alceda his sonRichard,his spouse, Bill,son Bob, son Michael,his wife Cheri, son Stephen,his wife Natalie; Grandchildren Sean,Josh, Christina,Nick, Paul,Ali‐son,Bobby Ray; Great‐grandchildren,Amelia, Vi‐vian, Ezra,Beverly and manyextendedfamily members.There will be a celebration of life and Catholic mass on Thurs‐day,March 5atJacob Schoenand SonFuneral Home; 3827 CanalStreet in New Orleans. Visitation from10amtoNoon,fol‐lowed by afuneral mass and refreshments.Inlieu of flowers, thefamilyre‐queststhatyou make do‐nations to theAlzheimer’s Association in Richard’s name. www.alz.org

OUR VIEWS

Speeding up projects welcome, butArmyCorps should handle with care

Climbingcosts and delayedcompletion are phrases all too familiar in south Louisiana, especially when it comes to key projects like those that protect us from storms and flooding. This is especially true when it comes to the U.S. Army CorpsofEngineers, the federal agency that builds and oversees avastnetwork of installationswithavariety of functions: protecting residents from floods, making sure rivers and waterways are safe for commerce andoperating majorinfrastructurelike theMorganzaand Bonnet Carré spillways.

So we are encouraged to seehigh-levelCorps leadershipvisit Louisiana and vow to cut through thered tape that often pushes projectedcompletion dates far into the future.Shortening the length of time between conception and completion lowers the risk that any new project will be obsolete as soon as it is built. Italso brings residents relief in the form of protectionand sometimes lowered insurance premiums.

But we acknowledge the importanceofquestionsabout how this reductionintime willbe accomplished. The Corps is not acompletelyautonomousagency.Projects must secureCongressional funding, and the slowpaceofreview and planning is oftennecessarytoensure that other federal laws andregulationsare being properly followed. In many cases, these are necessary.Major Corps projects alter the landscape in significant ways, and consequently, they have majordownstream effects.

Perhaps the greatest example is the Mississippi River levee system, whichprovides crucial floodprotectiontomuch of southeast Louisiana. But it also funnels land-building sediment out into the deep Gulf of Mexico insteadofintothe marshes,where it canbuild land that then protects populated areas fromstorm surges. This effect has been so pronouncedthatthere are now scores of projects aimed atcountering it through dredging or other means.

Another example is the BonnetCarré Spillway, which provides important river-levelreliefto the city of New Orleans but also causes major algae blooms in Lake Pontchartrain and hasbeen blamed for dolphin and other marine lifedeaths in the Mississippi Sound. Unfortunately,details on howthe Corps intends to shorten project timelines remain thin. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Assistant Secretary Adam Telle, in Louisiana last week to tout their efforts, provided few details.

Driscoll and Telle visited the site of the West Shore Lake Pontchartrainlevee system, aproject that will provide protection to roughly 60,000 peopleand was originally projectedtocost$760 million, butthat has now balloonedto$3.4 billion. It has been delayed too long, theysaid.

“Our goal is to cut paperwork and get back to building for the Americanpublic,” said Telle

That’saworthy goal, and one we support. But doing so properly will require far more than handy slogans and news conferences in LaPlace. It will require meticulous and careful workto devise away to build morequickly,while still accounting forthe potentialeffects uponother areas, residents, commerceand wildlife.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Some people always hesitate to call outracism

On Feb.14, during Mardi Gras, arider in the Krewe of Tucks displayed and distributed aBlack Barbie-like doll posed as if being lynched. This was not ambiguous. The dolls had beads tightened around their necks as nooses. They were positioned hanging. Let’sstop pretending this requires investigation to understand.

ABlack woman hanging in effigy is not satire. It is racial terror imagery. Lynching in this country was used to intimidate, silence and economically suppressBlack communities. It was violence as spectacle.

Now imagine alittle Black girl on St. Charles Avenue. It’sher birthday.She sees adoll that looks like her tossed from afloat. She reaches for it. And then she realizes what it represents.

How do you explain that?

This is not about being “too sensitive.” It is about refusing intellectual dishonesty. When we excuse some-

thinglike this as ajoke, we are normalizing dehumanization. Period. I don’tcare if there were “30 Black dolls and 30 White dolls.”That is 60 pieces of imagery depicting hanging women That is 60 representations of dehumanization —and Black women carry auniquely violent history tied to that imagery

Black women are tired of excelling professionally while being caricatured publicly.Tired of building institutions while still defending our basic humanity.Tired of being told obvious racism is up for debate. This behavior is abhorrent. It has no place in our celebrations or our city Andthose who excuse it are participating in the harm just as surely as the person who created it. Call it what it is. Racism.

IAMCHRISTIAN TUCKER NewOrleans

If SteveScalise wantstoshedDavid Duke baggage, he should speakout when it matters

OurU.S. representative, Steve Scalise, continues to carry what can fairly be called “David Duke baggage.”The issue resurfaced in 2023 when Scalise sought theHouse speakership after Kevin McCarthy’sremoval. Media outlets revisited his 2002 appearance at aWhitesupremacist conference organized and sponsored by EURO (European-American Unity and Rights Organization),anorganization then led by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Scalise’sappearance, first reported in 2014, raised enduring questionsabout his judgment and views on race. At that conference, Scalise reportedly criticized the state for “give-aways” to a“selective group” based on race, arguing that such graft deprived other communities of needed resources. Oddly,the “selective group” and the supposedly neglected communities were not identified. That vagueness allows listeners to project their own assumptions onto theremarks.For those predisposed to racial grievance, themessage is clear: Minorities benefit unfairly at the expense of Whites, aided by agovern-

mentwhose mission includes advancing racial equity Scalise has repeatedly said he rejects Duke’sideology.But leadership is measured by action,not only by disclaimers. Consider thepresentmoment. After Donald Trumpcirculated an explicitly racist post depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, whydidn’t Scalise publicly and forcefully condemnit? As House majority leader,his silence suggestsagreementwith the sentiment or awillingness to tolerate it.

Public officials do not have the luxury of ambiguity when confronted with open racism fromapresident and partyleader.Silence,inthis case, signals that party cohesion and personal ambition outweigh moral clarity If Scalise wishes to shed the baggage once and for all,hehas aclear path: unequivocally denounce racist rhetoric and demand agenuine apology from Trump. Assertions about intentorstaff mistakes are insufficient. Therefore, thebaggage remains.

LAURENCE DE QUAY Slidell

Sophia Rosenblatt’smoving account of ayoung mother’sfear to go seeher premature newborn in aNICU for fear thatshe might be detainedand arrested by ICE and BorderPatrolofficers moved this octogenariantotears.

It is heartbreaking to imagine howmuchpainand guilt amother might feel as she is forced to make aheart-wrenching decision: to shelterathome or go to hernewborn so she can touch, bond, breastfeed and love herpreciousbaby.

It is even more heartbreaking to imagine the pain of the real victim here,the medically fragile baby who is struggling to breathe and desperately in need of the warmth andlovethatonly its mother can provide

But thenthere arethe heartbreakers. Those are the masked, anonymous andheavily armored immigrationenforcementofficers sent by ourgovernment to swarm the halls of hospitals, schools and businesses, churches and streets of ourcities. To do what? To arrest the “worst of the worst,” we are told. In reality,theymostly sweep up the innocent: infants, children, mothers andfathers, transporting them by the thousands to distant countries or detentioncenters without any regard for their right to due process underthe law.

Lawenforcementpersonnel in a democracy should nothide behind masks andanonymity,asbandits andterrorists do.Theyshould not be allowedtocreate chaos and trauma with unwarranted sweeping raids andarrests. In other words, lawenforcementofficers and the government theyserve should obey the Constitution andthe rule of law Fear,trauma andpunishment should notbethe end game, but rathercompassion, mercy and justicefor alland, in particular,the real victim mentioned above: the medically fragile, innocent infant allalone in thatNICU.

GERALD MURPHY

NewOrleans

COMMENTARY

So youwanttobea plumber

The skilled trades have become hot of late. That has many youngpeople dropping plans to attend college. Meanwhile, some desk-bound professionals aresaid to gaze longinglyatnearby construction sites. They daydream about trading spreadsheetsfor tool belts. They imagine becomingplumbers, electricians or carpenters —welders, riggers or crane operators. The list of hands-on jobs that require real training is long Why the change of hearts?

Three reasons:

1. Artificial intelligencewill soon do the thinking required for many of these office occupations.

heated new construction when temperaturescrateredinto thesingle digits. And some work is quite unpleasant Craig recalls being summoned to a floodedbasement in an 1890s house.

ing money right away.Apprentices cannot do jobsontheir own, not legally, anyway

It can takefour years before an apprentice getslicensed as ajourneyman whocan be sent out but remains under supervision. Becomingamaster plumber easily takes five years.

The“water” was sewage, and it came up to histhighs “I tried and Itried to get this drain unclogged,” he said. “Wasn’thappening. Iused asubmersible pump to pump outthe water.But then Igot down to thedrain. Itried snaking it,then found that the drain not only had to be replaced but connected 30 feet down to themiddle of abusy street.”

2. The realization that electricians and plumbersoftenmakemore money than aclaims processor sometimesalot more.

3. Four-year college can cost mountains of money,whereas askilled trade can be learned in half that time,during which astudent canmakemoney as an apprentice.

But before you replace yourbriefcase with safetyglasses or loafers with waterproof boots, considerwhatthese hands-on jobs entail.Toward thatend, Iinterviewed amaster plumber who also happens to be my husband,Craig The work can be grueling.Attimes Craig says, he’shad to carry 150-pound water heaters on his back upseveral flights. He’sdone plumbing jobs in un-

Plumbing is physical labor often combined with advanced problem-solving. Most customers are nice,but afew are not.

Another thing would-be plumbers needtounderstandisthe considerable trainingrequired before thebig paykicksin. Craig did thetwo-year plumbing course at New England Tech. Plumbers have to be proficient in English andbasic math (you had to figure outangles and lengths of pipe), and so most students had to takeclasses to getuptospeed. Craig learned all that in high school and could skip the classes. Butmost enrollees had to take them, and some couldn’tget past those basics.

The student becomes an apprentice to amaster plumber and so starts mak-

Butthe money is real. Howmuch can amaster plumber make? “Anywhere from $30,000 to amillion,” according to Craig. The higher numbers go to entrepreneurial types who employ others. Women aremoving into these trades, but thebranding still sells akind of muscled manliness. (It worked for me.)

That explains the popularity of rugged Carharttjackets and indestructible Red Wing boots, especially among professionals. High-fashion boutiques now sell them. Craig would stop at a Starbucks every morningat6 a.m. and identify the lawyers in Carhartt by their soft hands.

Want to be aplumber? “The bad part is the burns, the cuts, the colds, the stitches,often theheat. The strain on your body.”

The good part: “You’re not just leaving an office with some program that you screwed around with. It’ssomethingthat Ican look at and admire the outcome. Plus, there’salways work.”

That’sthe deal, and it’s not abad one.

Froma Harrop is on X@FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

Trumptariffs tossed;Constitutionupheld

So much for the notion that theSupreme Court, withits 6-3 majorityof justices appointedbyRepublicanpresidents, was going to be arubberstamp for President Donald Trump. That is a frequently voiced chargebypartisan Democrats, and afear of many ambivalent voters who find manyof Trump’s policies agreeable but worry abouthis overreach on policy and personnel That’sone political meme refuted by the court’sLearning Resources v. Trump decision last Friday, announced after morethan the expected delay for the drafting of concurringopinions.

If you’re in an industry ripe fordisruption by artificial intelligence, thinking about what’s coming inspires strong emotions. Like panic. And outrage. If you’re acollege-educated professional, the economy has worked well foryou over the past fewdecades. As with anything that has lasted foralong time, this seemslike the natural order of things —anentitlement, not chronological luck. And to be fair,you didn’tjust luck out by having the kinds of natural aptitudes that were highly remunerative in apostindustrial society

Youalso worked hard to develop those aptitudes into something the market would reward. Now, amachine might steal what you earned. This doesn’tjust feel bad. It feels like aviolation.

These are what the gentle-parenting folks call “big feelings.” Such feelings are particularly big among journalists, because our industry is already suffering badly from tech-induced disruption. We’re not in the mood forany moretech revolutions, thank you very much, and given our influence over the discourse, our dour moodstend to leach into the national psyche. But we’re hardly the only people worried. Anyone whose job primarily involves data analysis, software coding or writing has to ask themselveswhether their job could eventually be automated away,because their bosses are asking that question.

All that raw emotion leftpeople vulnerable last weekend when alittle-knownfirm,Citrini Research, suggested the economy might be headed foranAI-induced free fall. It went viral, and next thing you know,the stock market washaving convulsions even though the scenario madelittle sense.

The courtstruck down Trump’sbeloved tariffs, with only one Republicanappointed justice taking the president’sside while the majority consisted of three Republican-appointed and three Democraticappointed justices. Such aresult should not have surprised those with some appreciation of Supreme Court history Franklin Roosevelt, after seeingseveral of his New Deal programsruled unconstitutional, and after unsuccessfully urging Congress to pack thecourt with new justices, finally ended up filling eight of the court’snineseats.

That didn’tstop abench of Democratic appointees from disapprovingof Democratic President Harry Truman’s seizure of the nation’ssteel plants during the Korean War, in acase, Youngstown Sheet &Tube v. Sawyer, cited 15 times by the LearningResources justices.

Justices newly appointed in times when Supreme Court decisions are subjects of partisandisputestend to agree on contemporary issues. Butin time, new problems arise, to which they turn out to have differences. And even animosity: Some of theRoosevelt appointees even stopped speaking to each other

One such issue broughtforward by Trump’selection and reelection is the tariff. There’sastrong argumentthat the president’sview that trade deficits impoverish the country andtariffs enrich it is delusional. Alexander Hamilton backed tariffs not so much to foster infant industries but becausethey were the easiest taxtocollect with the 18th-century technology Learning Resources, as anti-Trump conservative David French wrotein The New York Times, “may proveto be the most important Supreme Court case this century,” because it fortifies the “major questions doctrine,” celebrated in Justice Neil Gorsuch’s extraordinary 46-page concurrence The major questions doctrineis drawn from the constitutional architecture: Article Iauthorizes Congress to pass laws, Article II authorizes the president to take care that they be faithfully executed. It follows that a

president can’trummagearound in the statute books, searching for somelanguage —or, as in this case, two words separated by 16 words —that somehow can beinterpreted, though no one has interpreted them that way before, to authorize him to do what he wants to do.Onmajor questions, it must be clear Congress has already done that TheSupreme Court, with majorities made up of Republican appointees, used the major questions doctrine to overturn major Biden administration policies —cancellation of student loans (based on authorization to “waive or modify” them), eviction moratorium (based on preventing“transmission of communicable diseases”) and vaccine mandate (based on “safety and healthy work conditions”).

In a46-page concurring opinion, Gorsuch argues that his three Democraticappointed colleagues are wielding the majorquestions doctrine against the Trumptariffs, though they say they’re not,and they were unwilling to use it against Biden policies. He argues the three dissenting Republican-appointed justices should have agreed that the majorquestions doctrine requires overturningthe tariffs. He argues that Justice Amy Coney Barrett, whovoted to overturn tariffs, should have relied more explicitly on the doctrine. Is this evidence of thekind of discord

that divided theRoosevelt-appointed justices so manyyears ago? Maybe, and the justices don’tseem as collegial now as they did before someone —a liberal justice’slaw clerk? —leaked a draft of Justice Samuel Alito’sopinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

Butthe thrust of Gorsuch’sconcurrence is that thejustices are functionally in agreement with the major questions doctrine, even if they’re uncomfortable saying so. Perhaps it was written to undercut arguments by the liberal law professoriate that themajor questionsdoctrine is defunct.

Meanwhile, theTrumpadministration may search the statute books for verbiageitcan usetojustify somelimited tariff authority,just as the Biden administration searched the statute books to find verbiage to justify some limited student loan forgiveness.

Butthe SupremeCourt, regardless of partisan labels, seems ready to use themajor questions doctrine to limit thebillions of dollars that can be raised or spent without some clear authorization in laws passed by Congress. And someday apresident will figure out how to persuade Congress to pass laws authorizing all or some of what she or he wants.

Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.

Iwon’tbelabor the flawsbehind the Citrini claims because Icovered someofthem in a recent column, and if you want Citrini-specific critiques, you can read excellent ones from Paul Krugman, Tyler Cowen or Josh Barro. But Idoubt this will be the last timethat elites’ anxiety about our personal futures makes people believe the economy is headed foradoom loop. As I, and others, have pointed out, this is unlikely —asituation where AI radically boosts productivity is likely to be one where incomes rise, not fall. But of course that doesn’tmean every individual will be better off. It wasgreat formost people when mass-produced textiles madeclothes much cheaper,but it was bad newsfor artisanal spinners and weavers. Mass production of readable prose, attractive images, software code or data analytics will be similarly good forhumanity but agenuine loss formany current producers.

The only difference is that the people who currently face disruption are influential elites whose private worries shape public discourse —and can movemarkets when they get out of hand. Remember that the next timeanominous prophecy circulates —orreally,whenever you read anything about AI,including this column. Itry not to mistake my problemsfor those of humanity,but no one ever succeeds at fully untangling the two.

For example, you may have read about the growing pushback against data centers, driven by AI fears. The protests are real enough, but are they really about stopping AI,oristhis just ageneral backlash against aesthetically uninspiring local development that might increase electricity or water bills? Writer Matt Yglesias suggests it’sthe latter,and Ifind that convincing. Looking at polls, Americans seem wary about AI but not enraged, and those who have used it seem cautiously optimistic. Yetthe AI backlash narrative predominates, perhaps because it’swhat speaks mostdirectly to the fears of journalists and their highly educated readers.

It’s also simply moreinteresting. “NIMBYs don’tlike development” is adog-bites-man story these days, and so is “people wantlow electricity bills.” “Grassroots rebellion against AI overlords,” on the other hand, seemsnew and fascinating. As do science fiction tales about a machine-induced Great Depression, which are waymore compelling to read than someeconomics monograph on the complex mechanics of technology diffusion.

Youshouldn’tdismiss the alarmists entirely —the details can be useful, even if the overall picture isn’tquite right. Just remember that my problemswon’tnecessarily be your problems. And remember,too, how limited our imaginations are in the face of atrue technological revolution: Neither 18th-century artisans nor their industrial rivals could have deduced the five-day workweek, the interstate highway or the rise of masshigher education from the operations of aprimitive textile mill. Whatever is coming, it will almost certainly be weirder and moresurprising than any doom-filled prophecy or utopian fantasy you’ll read today MeganMcArdle is on X. @asymmetricinfo.

Adjusting the throttle

Pelicans rookie Fears continues to evolve as game

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Even when you’re one of the quickest guards in the NBA, sometimes you need things to slow down.

For Pelicans’ rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears, things have started to slow down. It has helped him put up the type of numbers he’s put up on the Pelicans’ current road trip.

Fears is averaging 19.3 points, 4.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds over the past three games.

He’ll try to continue his upward trend Tuesday night when the Pelicans (19-43)

play the Los Angeles Lakers (36-24) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Fears, selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is coming off arguably the two best games of his rookie year on back-to-back nights. In Saturday’s win over the Utah Jazz, he recorded the second double-double of his career, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The 11 rebounds were a career-high.

The 6-foot-3 Fears followed that up Sunday by scoring a career-high 28 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

“It’s just my pace,” said Fears, a for-

the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

mer Oklahoma star “Two months ago I was just trying to use my speed (So I had to) learn when to use speed and when to attack and get downhill and take angles and attack spots and know where you’re trying to get on the floor

And that includes getting to the 3-point line and knocking down shots. Against the Clippers on Sunday, he shot 10 of 15 from the floor and went 5 for 6 on 3-pointers. The five 3-pointers were the most he’s made as an NBA player.

Fears is the only Pelicans’ player to play in all 62 games. He came off the

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Coach Matt McMahon’s fourth season leading LSU hasn’t gone as well as the program and fans had hoped.

LSU (15-14, 3-13 SEC) is tied for last in the Southeastern Conference ahead of its second-to-last game of the season against Auburn (15-14, 6-10) at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Neville Arena in Alabama.

After returning two players and losing seven to the transfer portal, LSU’s new group is in the same place it was last year Like last season, McMahon’s team has three conference wins and little to no chance of accomplishing its goal: earning an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

A factor in the team’s descent after a 12-1 start in nonconference play was the season-ending injuries to a pair of significant players. Dedan Thomas, the team’s leader in points and assists, reaggravated a left foot injury and had to have surgery after playing three games in SEC play Jalen Reed, LSU’s longest tenured player as a redshirt junior, had a season-ending left Achilles injury in the sixth game of the season. With the Tigers

Hoosiers keep making history

BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter

I don’t think we had anybody come here,” said safety Louis Moore, who started his career with the Hoosiers and returned last fall after spending the 2024 season at Ole Miss. “So, the fact that we’ve got nine here, it’s something special.”

Two years ago, linebacker Aaron Casey was Indiana’s lone representative Last year, it was only quarterback Kurtis Rourke and defensive lineman CJ West And even though the Hoosiers still fell behind Ohio State (15), Texas and Georgia (14), Oregon (12), Ole Miss and South Carolina (11) and national runner-up Miami (10), it’s clear the Hoosiers are a program on the march with yet another strong incoming transfer class and 2025 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year Carter Smith returning to school. In April, they could break another school record — for players selected in a draft. Indiana had seven chosen in 1976 and six chosen in 1944. And receiver Elijah Sarratt said he believes Indiana’s season has prepared them well for what comes next.

“That was my first time playing (16) games in the season, so I kind of played an NFL season,” he said. “But going against those powerhouses that you

ä See HOOSIERS, page 4C

5

6

6

6

6

6

TNT

8:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Minnesota TNT,TRUTV MEN’S SOCCER

11:50 a.m.Cayman Islands vs. Bonaire FS2

1:50 p.m. Dom. Rep. vs.Antigua & BarbudaFS2

9:30 p.m. Eisenhower Cup; Tie Break TensTennis

LSU’s Chio piles up No. 1 rankings

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

Check out the top of the women’s college gymnastics rankings and you’ll probably find Kailin Chio’s name there.

The LSU gymnast is ranked No 1 in three of five major categories: She’s the nation’s top-ranked all-arounder, having taken over that spot this week from UCLA’s Jordan Chiles, and remains No. 1 on vault and balance beam Chio is also tied for seventh on floor and tied for 22nd on uneven bars.

As a team, the Tigers (11-2-1, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) are still ranked No 2 nationally behind SEC rival Oklahoma but closed the gap on the Sooners this week. A week ago, LSU trailed Oklahoma 197.938-197.735, but Monday OU’s lead was 197.943197.836 over the Tigers.

LSU remains No. 1 as a team on floor, No. 2 on vault and bars and is No. 3 on beam.

All the numbers support LSU coach Jay Clark’s argument that the Tigers are more than just their star sophomore.

“We all love the success Chio is having,” Clark said Monday “We love her as a person. We love having her on our team. But she is part of our team, not a one-man band.”

This past weekend was a banner one for Chio and the Tigers. On Friday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU held off No. 3 Alabama 197.975-197.600 in an SEC dual meet. Sunday in the Podium Challenge at the Raising Cane’s River Center LSU widened

are National Qualifying Scores

The average is determined by taking a gymnast’s or team’s season scores, throwing out the high and low marks and averaging the rest. Eventually, this will include a team or athlete’s lowest five home scores if there are six or more and all their road scores.

Before this season, NQS was calculated by taking six scores, including at least three road meets, dropping the highest score and averaging the remaining five.

Clark said he wants all scores counted but favors this new formula because it includes more of the season.

“It’s closer to what I’ve advocated for,” Clark said. “Before we were counting about 50%, so it’s better It puts more emphasis on away scores.”

LSU travels to face No. 4 Florida at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Tigers’ final SEC regular-season road meet. The meet will be televised on the SEC Network.

Tulane hires assistant off of Sumrall’s staff at UF Tulane announced the hiring of Eric McDaniel as its new defensive line coach on Monday McDaniel, a Purdue graduate who was on Jon Sumrall’s staff at Florida as an assistant defensive line coach, replaces Landius Wilkerson, who left last week to coach the defensive linemen at Arkansas. McDaniel was Troy’s defensive line coach in 2022 and 2023 when the Trojans won back-to-back Sun Belt championships under Sumrall and finished among the top 20 FBS teams in fewest yards allowed. He spent 2024 as the defensive line coach at Appalachian State, then took a year off after the entire staff was fired.

Tulane opens spring practice next Monday

Ex-Saints CB Lattimore to be cut by Commanders

Just 16 months after being traded, former New Orleans Saints star cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been told he will be cut by the Washington Commanders, according to a Monday report.

“Commanders have informed former Pro-Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore that they intend to release him before the new league year begins,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, “a move that will save the team $18.5 million in salary cap space, per sources.”

The Saints traded Lattimore and a fifth-round draft pick to Washington before the trade deadline during the 2024 season.

Lattimore finished last season with 16 solo tackles, one interception and seven pass deflections in nine games. He tore his ACL in November against the Seahawks.

the gap with a 198.200-197.650 win over the Crimson Tide, the Tigers’ highest road score of 2026. No. 18 North Carolina was third at 195.950, while No. 30 Arizona was at 195.000. Chio won or shared first place in four events Friday, including the all-around (39.800) and beam, where she posted a perfect 10. Sunday she didn’t compete as a four-event all-arounder for the first time this season, skipping floor but still recorded another

10.0 beam score. It was the fourth perfect 10 in the past three meets for Chio, who now has an NCAA-best six 10s this season. It was also the third straight time she had had a 10 beam, believed to be the first LSU gymnast since Jennifer Wood in 1995 on vault to have a 10 on one event in three straight meets.

LSU’s Konnor McClain is tied for ninth on bars, while Kaliya Lincoln is also tied for 10th on floor What is NQS?

The season averages being used in the second half of the season

Celebrations

The Tigers have been getting more and more elaborate in their post-event celebrations lately Senior Ashley Cowan was a prime example Sunday, pretending to dole out imaginary dollar bills after scoring a 9.925 on bars.

“The last couple of meets we talked about having more fun out there,” Chio said. “They’re enjoying themselves. Seeing Ashley after bars, she’s so not like that To see her do that is amazing.” Clark half-threatened to clamp down on the celebrations, but was smiling when he did so.

No. 3 Michigan needing guards to fill gap

Big Ten champ loses point guard

BY LARRY LAGE Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 3 Michigan

lost the best backup point guard in college basketball, according to coach Dusty May when L.J. Cason tore a knee ligament as the team clinched an outright Big Ten title with a win at No. 10 Illinois.

The Wolverines will certainly miss the smooth-shooting sophomore, who averaged 8.4 points and more than one 3-pointer per game, but May said the injury will give guards an opportunity to play larger roles.

Starting point guard Elliot Cadeau plays about 25 minutes a game a number that may increase if he can avoid foul trouble.

“This will force Elliot to be much more solid with his defense and decision-making,” May said.

“He doesn’t have that insurance anymore.

on Friday

in the absence of injured point

“L.J. came in and carried the load several games.”

Cason was injured on Friday in a 14-point win over the Fighting

Illini, and the team announced the next day he needed season-ending surgery He scored in double digits five times in February, includ-

ing a career-high 18 points against Northwestern, and had at least seven points in every game last month.

Freshman Trey McKenney, sixth-year player Nimari Burnett and senior Roddy Gayle each average about 20 minutes a game — and all of them will have a chance to be on the court more without Cason.

“We look at this as another challenge that’s also an opportunity for guys to play a little bit more, to play longer periods, play through a mistake, play a little bit different role,” May said. “We do feel like these guys are a lot better than they were earlier in this year and so we’re prepared to handle whatever.”

The Wolverines will close the regular season at Iowa on Thursday night and at home against rival Michigan State on Sunday They will play in the Big Ten tournament next week in Chicago, hoping to win it and perhaps secure a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 1 Duke nabs ACC title with win at NC State

Star freshman Boozer scores 26 points as Blue Devils shoot 55.2%

BY AARON BEARD Associated Press

The Blue Devils (28-2, 16-1) clinched the No. 1 seed for next week’s ACC Tournament with a weekend rout of No. 13 Virginia. Duke followed that by overwhelming the Wolfpack, both by hitting from outside against N.C. State’s zone and then getting into the paint area that has become a trademark strength. Boozer finished 8 for 10 from the field and 9 for 11 from the foul line while grabbing nine rebounds — along with accumulating multiple long, thick scratches wrapping around his right shoulder amid physical second-half play

Dame Sarr added 14 of his 16 points before halftime for Duke, which made 11 of 28 3-pointers.

The Blue Devils ran off a 9-0 burst to push to a double-digit lead late in the first half, followed by getting opposite corner 3s — Sarr from the right side, then Nik Khamenia from the left — for a 47-30 halftime lead. Duke made its last five shots before halftime, then hit its first five out of the break to eliminate any lingering doubt, including a 3-pointer from Isaiah Evans that made it 56-32 at the 17:32 mark. Darrion Williams had 17 points for the Wolfpack (19-11, 10-7),

who continued a late-season slide in coach Will Wade’s debut season. N.C. State shot 35.4% and made 7 of 29 3s en route to a fifth loss in six games, a run that includes a 41-point defeat at thenNo. 24 Louisville and last week’s 29-point loss at Virginia Up next

Duke: The Blue Devils can avenge their lone league loss when they host 17th-ranked North Carolina in Saturday’s regular-season finale between the longtime rivals. N.C. State: Stanford visits the Wolfpack on Saturday to close the regular season.

Lions trade RB to Texans for lineman, draft picks

The Detroit Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs along with fourth- and seventh-round picks, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Detroit dealt a veteran running back who wanted more carries for much-needed depth on the offensive line and extra selections in next month’s NFL draft. Montgomery, 28, finished with career lows in rushing attempts (158) and yards rushing (716). He still scored eight touchdowns and his 4.5 yards per carry trailed only his career-best 4.6 yards per attempt in 2023 when he had 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground during his debut season in Detroit.

U.S. captain reveals she played with a torn MCL NEW YORK U.S. women’s hockey gold medal-winning captain Hilary Knight revealed Monday in a television appearance that she played in Milan with a torn medial collateral ligament in one of her knees. Knight, playing at what she said was her final Olympics at 36, tied the final against Canada with just over two minutes left in regulation.

Knight and U.S. men’s gold medal-winning players Jack and Quinn Hughes were set to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday night That is coming 48 hours since their memorable cameo alongside women’s golden goal scorer Megan Keller on “Saturday Night Live.”

Duke extends poll record; UConn unanimous No. 1

Duke is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the second straight week, extending its all-time record with the program’s 149th appearance in the top spot. The Blue Devils (28-2) received 55 of 59 first-place votes in Monday’s poll. No 2 Arizona received four firstplace votes after clinching a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. Michigan, UConn and Florida rounded out the top five. In the AP women’s Top 25 poll. UConn is still the unanimous No. 1 choice and heads into the postseason undefeated. The Huskies (31-0) received all 31 first-place votes in Monday’s poll from a national media panel. The top nine were unchanged with UCLA, South Carolina and Texas following the Huskies. Vanderbilt and LSU were next followed by Oklahoma, Michigan and Iowa.

Giants ace Webb will start in WBC opener against Brazil

BY DAVID BRANDT AP baseball writer

PHOENIX — San Francisco Giants

ace Logan Webb will start on the mound for Team USA in its first World Baseball Classic game Friday night against Brazil, manager Mark DeRosa said Monday DeRosa added that two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes versus Mexico on

Monday New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy even though he’s dealing with an illness and wasn’t with the U.S. team for Monday’s practice.

“It’s set up,” DeRosa said.

“There are obviously guardrails for the tournament to begin with, pitch-count wise, but there’s also guardrails for guys having to throw on certain days to get ready for their team’s

opening day.”

The U.S. will play two exhibtion games in Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday before traveling to Houston for the WBC opener against Brazil. Skenes will start Tuesday’s game against the Giants. DeRosa said Matthew Boyd, Gabe Speier, David Bednar, Griffin Jax and Mason Miller will also take the mound. Skubal is expected to make just one start for the U.S. before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of spring training.

A’s, Giants have the best robot-ump challenge rates in the first 10 days

The Associated Press NEW YORK The Athletics had the highest success rate using the robot-umpire system to overturn ball/strike calls during the first 10 days of spring training, winning 69.2% of challenges as teams prepared for its regular-season debut March 25. San Francisco was second at 66.7%, followed by Cincinnati, Miami and San Diego at 61.9% each, Major League Baseball said Monday The World Series champion Dodgers had the lowest rate, winning 21.4% of appeals to the Automated Ball-Strike System. Baltimore was at 25%, the New York Mets at 35.3% and Texas at 38.1%.

MLB’s overall success rate was 51.3%, with an average of 2.3 challenges per game.

It’s an OPS world in MLB with batting average in

background

BY JAY COHEN AP baseball writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Batting average

was a priority for Andrew Benintendi when he first broke into the major leagues in 2016. He batted .312 in the minors on the way to his debut.

Going into his fourth season with the Chicago White Sox and 11th overall, he is more focused on his OPS and power numbers.

“The game kind of changes where the money is, I guess,” Benintendi said. “So players obviously will chase that.”

The significance of batting average has been in decline for years, replaced by on-base percentage and slugging percentage, along with the OPS metric that combines the two. Batting average treats all hits as the same, while OPS accounts for power and other methods of reaching base.

But the diminished importance of what was once one of the majors’ marquee statistics was thrown into sharp relief by the free agency of Luis Arraez over the winter Arraez, a three-time batting champion who turns 29 in April, hit a career-low .292 with eight homers and 61 RBIs in 154 games for San Diego last season. The infielder also led the NL in hits for the second straight year But he doesn’t hit for power or walk very much, and he has defensive limitations.

So, even with his .317 career batting average tops among active qualified players — Arraez was on the market until right before spring training, when he agreed to a $12 million, one-year deal with San Francisco. Arraez said he had some multiyear offers, but the Giants gave him an opportunity to play second base.

“I don’t care who (is throwing). I don’t care if he’s a Cy Young (Award winner),” he said. “I have a bat, and I want to go up there and compete.”

The MLB-wide batting average has remained fairly steady since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. It was .248 in 2023 marking a successful debut for a package of rule changes that included a pitch clock, bigger bases and limits on infield shifts .243 in 2024 and .245 last year, according to Sportradar

While New York Yankees star Aaron Judge won the 2025 AL batting title with a .331 average, just seven qualified big leaguers hit .300 or better, matching the previous year for the fewest since a record-low six in 1968. Philadelphia’s Trea Turner won the NL batting title with a recordlow .304 average.

“We look at more of the advanced metrics and the expected outcomes based on the quality of the at-bat, the process metrics, but you can start with batting average and say this guy’s do-

ing something well,” said Chris Young, the president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers.

“It’s a preliminary indicator, but we dig pretty deep in terms of understanding the profile of a player and what we can expect and predict.”

Batting average is “not something that we look at at the beginning of an evaluation,” said Jed Hoyer, the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs.

“I think there’s a lot of things that are much more important,” Hoyer said, “but I do think that a guy like a Nico Hoerner or Luis Arraez, I do think in a world that values a strikeout, in a world that has so much incredible stuff, I think that the players that can truly put the ball in play at an elite level, I do think there’s something to that.”

Hoerner hit .297 for the Cubs last year helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He batted a team-high .371 with runners in scoring position.

The 28-year-old Hoerner, who is going into the last year of his contract, said he thinks players still take some pride in their batting average.

“I think it’s telling that if you ask the player what he hit last year, he still understands that that’s batting average right?” Hoerner said. “They don’t say like, oh, I hit .840 OPS. I hit .270 or whatever it is.

“Players are aware of what’s valued and what gets them on the field and yeah, I don’t think batting average is particularly high on that list. But I do think it is a reflection of quality of contact that guys make.”

It has changed the way players like Benintendi approach their game. From 2016-23, he hit 276 and averaged 14.1 homers per 162 games. In two years since, he is batting .234 and averaging 25.8 homers per 162 games.

“I think it’s more slug, OPS is what outweighs batting average now,” Benintendi said, “because say you hit .250 but you have 50 homers, would you rather have that or a guy who hits .315 with 10 homers? So I mean it’s kind of give and take depending on the player.”

The future of batting average also belongs to the game’s youngest players, and it still holds some allure to them as well.

Cincinnati infielder Sal Stewart, one of the preseason favorites for NL Rookie of the Year, hit .309 over two minor league stops last year before making his Reds debut in September Stewart said batting average didn’t come up very often during his development process, but it means something to him.

“I mean I’m not like, ‘Oh average is the king,’ you know, but I look into it,” he said. “But I really like on-base the most.”

The New York Yankees averaged the most challenges at 3.8 per game, winning 52.6% Minnesota was second at 3.6 (winning 58.3%), followed by Boston at 3.2 (55.2%) and Colorado (55.6%) and San Francisco at 3.0. Baltimore averaged the fewest challenges at 1.2. The Dodgers were at 1.4 and Detroit was at 1.5 (46.7%).

LSU MEN

Continued from page 1C

conference standings.

Corey Chest, Ole Miss: Chest, a New Orleans native, is averaging 2.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 14 minutes. The Rebels, who are 12-17 and 4-12 in the SEC, gave the redshirt sophomore his fourth start of the season in the Tigers’ 106-99 double overtime win on Feb. 25. The 6-8 forward played 26 games for LSU last year and averaged 6.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 20.1 minutes per

MLB experimented with ABS during spring training last year and teams won 52.2% of their ball/ strike challenges (617 of 1,182) MLB began testing in the minor leagues in 2019. Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. A team re-

game. Daimion Collins, South Florida: The 6-9 forward was LSU’s starting center for 22 games last year after Reed’s season-ending knee injury Collins averaged 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. This year, he’s made one start for USF (21-8, 13-3 American) and has appeared in 28 games. The redshirt senior is putting up 4.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 14.8 minutes for the top team in the conference. The Bulls are 48th in the NET Rankings, the NCAA’s measurement tool to evaluate teams. Curtis Givens, Memphis: The sophomore point guard has started 14

tains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season. A team out of challenges for a game tied after nine innings would get one additional challenge in each extra inning.

of 22 games and is playing 25.1 minutes for his hometown team. Givens leads Memphis (12-7, 7-9 American) in 3-point shooting at 37.7% while scoring 9.4 points in 25.1 minutes. He is also shooting 43.6% from the field and dishing 2.2 assists. With LSU last season, he averaged 4.8 points on 26.9% shooting overall and 1.6 assists in 18.2 minutes.

Vyctorius Miller, Oklahoma State: Miller was LSU’s top freshman scorer last year with 8.9 points on 44.7% field-goal shooting and 31.8% from the 3-point line in 19 minutes. The 6-5 sophomore guard for Oklahoma State is the team’s third-lead-

ing scorer with 11.9 points, starting 24 of 27 games. Miller is shooting 43.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc and getting 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He’s also the only transfer from LSU to have a 30-point game this season.

Tyrell Ward,VCU: Ward stepped away from LSU last season for mental health reasons and never played. The 6-6 junior wing is now a contributor on the second-best team in the Atlantic 10. Ward, in 24 games all off the bench, is averaging 6.3 points, shooting 49% shooting overall and 32% from the 3-point line, and grabbing 2.1 rebounds in 13.3 minutes. He has scored 15 points in three games for VCU (227, 13-3 A-10), which is 47th in the NET Mike Williams, Seton Hall: Williams played 24 games and made no starts for LSU last year, averaging 4.0 points on 31.3% shooting overall and 1.4 rebounds in 11.2 minutes. The 6-3 junior guard has started 27 of 29 games for the Pirates and is scoring 7.0 points on 37.3%

and 56th in the NET

FalconsquarterbackKirkCousins

Combinebuzzcenteredon players whocould be on move

BY ROBMAADDI AP pro football writer

While college players take center stage at the NFL scouting combine, teams are busy preparing their next moves along withevaluating potential draft picks.

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is the consensus choice for the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1overall and it’suncertain whether another quarterback will be selected in the first round. But there wasplenty of speculation about QBs changing teams during ajam-packed weekinIndianapolis.

Kirk Cousins already wasinformed by the Atlanta Falcons that he’ll be released when the new league year opens on March 11. The Miami Dolphins may part with TuaTagovailoa and could have to absorb a$99.2 million cap hit in dead money that couldbe spread across two seasons witha post-June 1release.

Kyler Murray could be looking for anew teamafter seven seasons in Arizona. The Cardinalsowe him $36.8 million in fully guaranteed salary this year.Another $19.5 million would be guaranteed in 2027 if he’sonthe rosteronthe third day of the league year

Three-time Pro Bowlwideout

A.J. Brown is acandidatefor a

LSU WOMEN

Continued from page1C

Sunday in awin at Mississippi State.

“I used severallineups,” Mulkey said. “I went small, and that’s alot of the reason why Mikaylahnever came out.”

Yes, you heard her right. Williams played all 40 minutes of the No. 6Tigers’ regular-season finale,finishing with 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting, acareer-high 15 rebounds, four assists and asteal. LSU fell into acouple scoring ruts in the win,and the Bossier City native pulled them outofboth.

Williams posted only one double-double across her first 71 careergames. Nowshe hasthree double-doubles in eachofthe threecontests she’splayed since Mulkey left her on the bench for the last 20 minutes of the Tigers’ win over the Rebels on Feb. 19.

HOOSIERS

Continued from page1C

go against in the playoffs, startingwith Ohio State in the Big Tenchampionship and then going from Alabama, Oregon, toMiami. Every weekendinthe NFL, you’re playing agreatteam, ateam that wants to win.”

Making astatement

There’slittle doubt KC Concepcion of Texas A&M is one of the draft’smost skilled receivers.

But he also wants to serve as an example for others with speech impediments.OnMonday, Concepcion used his social mediaaccounttoaddress his interviews thisweekinIndianapolis, explaining he’shad astutter since he can remember talking.

trade, even though thePhiladelphia Eagleswon aSuperBowl withhim andwould prefer to keep him.

The Raiders are willingtolisten to offers for five-time ProBowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby,though general manager John Spytek said they wanthim back.

MikeEvans,asix-time ProBowl wideout with theTampa BayBuccaneers, plans to test free agency and there’sapossibilityhemay get an offer hecan’t refuse.

QB class

Mendoza, who ledIndiana to its first national championship, didn’t work out at the combine. He spoke to reporters and made the interviewrounds.

The next quarterback selected after Mendoza may have to waita while. Alabama’sTySimpson had an impressiveday at thecombine. He’s aone-year starter whoneeds more experience buthis potential makes himapotential first-round pick.

LSU’s GarrettNussmeierand Miami’sCarson Beck raisedtheir stock at the combine. Arkansas’ Taylen Green showed off hisathleticism andran a4.36 40-yard dash.

Clemson’sCade Klubnik and PennState’sDrew Allar had strong throwing performances.

March is here, and Williams has beguntoplaythe best basketball of her season —and possibly her career

“I justthink she’splaying harder in practice,” Mulkey said. “I thinkshe’s playingharderinthe games.Sometimeswhenyou get older,you becomea junior anda senior,it’snot that you coast, you try to pace yourself, and Idon’t want her to pace herself. Ithink if you go hard every possession, it becomes apart of who you are.”

Whysit Williams for half of the OleMissgame? Mulkeydeclined to offer insight into the move afterLSU throttledMissouri on Feb 22, saying instead that “it doesn’t matter why Idid it.”

But it sure does look like it worked.

In the 16 minutesshe played against theRebels,Williams missed fiveshots,turned theball over four times and failed to grab asingle rebound. She was holding onto theball andsettlingfor contested looks. LSU’shalfcourt of-

“Thisisa part of me.Thisis who Iam. Icannot control this,” he wroteinpart. “I want to be a role model for those who may be scared to speak up who may be afraid and not confident in yourself. Istandwithyou. This weekendhas taught me alot about myself and people out hereinthe world. Iappreciateeveryone who supports me and has reachedout to me afterthese interviews.”

Rising

n EliStowers. The quarterbackturned-tight end put hisathleticism on full display in Indy with a 451/2-inch vertical jump that wasn’t just thebest of the weekend but thebest on the NFL’s official alltime chart. He also matched wide receiver TedHurst with thebest broad jumpofthe week,11feet, 3 inches.

n TheStyles brothers.Sonny,

23XI team delivering perfectstart to season

BY JIM VERTUNO AP sportswriter

AUSTIN, Texas Michael Jordan calls Denny Hamlin the “mastermind” behind their 23XINASCAR racing team. Hamlincalls their co-ownership a“perfect partnership.” The team has been nothing shy of perfect behind driver Tyler Reddick so farearly in 2026. Reddick became thefirstdriver in Cup Series history to win thefirst three races of the season Sunday.Hestartedthe first road course race of the year from pole position, then held off hardcharging Shane vanGisbergen for the victory at theCircuitof theAmericas

When Reddick’sToyotazoomed across the finish line, Jordan was celebrating with the pit crew as the basketballHallofFamer and six-timeNBA champion exchanged high-fives and hugs. Reddick has been seeing alot of postrace smiles from Jordan —after he won theDaytona500 and thenagain in Atlanta.Reddick said Jordan reminded him last week that he “doesthings in threes,” referring to Jordan’s NBAchampionships clusters with the Chicago Bulls.

“I was really glad to live up to that standard,” Reddick said.

through NASCAR history

Jordan and Hamlin took on NASCAR with afederal antitrust lawsuit. The settlement in December was considered amajor legal victory that secured a permanent franchise-style model andensuredthe team would remain in business forthe longterm

Jordan gives Hamlin the credit forbuildingthe race-winning team on the track, specifically noting Hamlin’spursuit of Reddick as adriver

“He’sthe mastermind,” Jordan said. “I just putupthe money Denny’sdone an incredible job building this team.”

Hamlin gave thecompliment right back.

“It’saperfect partnership,” Hamlin said. “This doesn’twork out if he doesn’tgive me alot of autonomy.”

Hamlin, who also drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, said he wantedto be as hands-onaspossible when building the team

“I wanted to make sure if it failed it wasbecause of something Idid,” Hamlin said. “This team had three employees working at. We hadzero. We didn’tbuy ateam, we just built it.”

BringinginReddickhas proven almost priceless.

Edge rushers

It’s adeep group with several first-round candidates.This is a premiumposition for NFL teams, who place high value on guys who can pressure quarterbacks. The past two SuperBowlssaw dominant defensive performances, only increasingthe need for elitetalent along the front four TexasTech’sDavid Bailey,Ohio State’sArvell Reeseand Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.shouldbetop-10 picks. Auburn’sKeldric Faulk, Texas A&M’sCashius Howell and Miami’sAkheem Mesidorare among theguys who can be picked in the first round.

Wide receivers

There’salot of depthataposition where teams are alwayslooking for playmakers.

OhioState’s Carnell Tate leads the pack andshouldgointhe top 10. USC’sMakai Lemon,Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Indiana’sOmarCooper Jr., Washington’sDenzel Boston and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion are among the first-round talent. Notre Dame’sMalachi Fields, Tennessee, Chris Brazzell II and Georgia’sZachariah Branchwill draw plentyofattention. This receiver class is so deep there could be undrafted players who make an impact.

fense, as aresult, started to stall. Now things are running abit more smoothly for the Tigers. They hung 108 pointsonMissouri, then followed that outburst with an 89-pointshowing in awin over Tennessee. LSU may have turned theballover20times against Mississippi State, butitalsoshot 46%from thefieldand drained fiveofthe 14 shots it took from beyond the arc. In those three games, Williams averaged 19.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and2.3 steals while shooting 50% from the field. Mississippi State coach SamPurcellcalledWilliams a “smooth operator” last season when she dropped 22 points on his Bulldogs in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.OnSunday, he offered thatsame description notlongafter he called hera “special player.”

“Whatseparates her,” Purcell said, “is herhigh release and her elite handles.”

the linebacker,wasn’t farbehind Stowerswitha431/2-inchvertical, an 11-2 broad jump anda time of 4.46 seconds in the40-yarddash after measuring in at 6-5, 244 pounds. Lorenzo, the safety,had a 4.27-second 40, the best at his position and the second best all week.

n Mike Washington. Though formerNotre Dame stars Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price did nothing to hurt the likelihoodthey’ll be the first two running backs selected in April, Washington made his case for being thethird with thetop 40 time amongthe backs, 4.33 seconds.

n D’Angelo Ponds.The top cover cornerback for national champion Indiana has grown accustomed to hearing doubters questioning his size, 5-9, 182 pounds.But his speed andexplosivenesshaveallowed him to win battles against someofthe nation’stop receiv-

Jordan’shaving so much fun, he now wants to go forfour

“I’m going to Phoenix,” Jordan said, noting the nextrace on the calendar And why not?The team is having alot of fun on its march

The 30-year-old driver raced to his first win with 23XIatCOTAin 2023. He was second at Daytona in 2025, but aseason that started with such promise ended winless. Nowheseems unbeatable.

“Whata dream start for those guys,” Hamlin said.

Williams has always been able to score. What’sdifferent now about hergameisher defense and her rebounding. She’scorralled 32 rebounds in just herpast three games. That’salmost half as many as she pulled down in the 16 SEC matchups LSU played last season (65).

Williams hasnow also tallied more steals in 30 games this year (40) than she did in 37 last year Mulkey won’thesitate to slide the 6-foot Williams down into the post, in part because she’sproven she can be an effective glass cleaner.OnSunday, she spent 13 minutes at the 4, and the Tigers outscored Mississippi State 27-18 across thosestretches.

“She’sgot the strength to battle in there for rebounds against biggerplayers,” Mulkey said, “so I’m not surprised.I mean,asI said earlier in the year,Mikaylahhas takenher game to awhole another level.” Now it’stime to see if Williams can keep playing as well as she is

ers. He showed scouts whyhe’sso good with a431/2-inch vertical jump at the combine. He’ll run the 40 at his pro day on April 1. Falling

n Nick Singleton. It’s unusual foracombine invitee to arrive with akneescooter and awalking boot,but that was the case for the former PennState running back after breaking abone in his right foot during Senior Bowlweek. It’s unclearifhe’ll be healthyenough to participate at Penn State’spro day,though Singleton still hopes to schedule afull workout before thedraft n Carnell Tate.The formerOhio Statestar is expectedtobeone of the first receivers taken April 23. But scouts certainly didn’texpect him to produce an official timeof 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash. While there were reports some

nowonceLSU begins its postseasonrun.

When the Tigers play their first SEC Tournament matchup on Friday, they’ll still have an outside shot at landing aNo. 1seed in the NCAA Tournament.Theywill, though, likely have to win the whole thing to moveback into contention forone of thosecoveted spotsinthe bracket, which means they’ll have to knock offSouth Carolina, Texas and Vanderbilt

It’s difficult.But notimpossible,especially because Williams bounced backfromher abbreviatedoutingagainst Ole Miss and figured out how to playsome of thebestbasketball of hercareer in LSU’sthreesubsequent games.

“I think it was just me realizing that Ihad to come on,” Williams said, “because Mississippi State was playing really good basketball, andIhad to getstartedand be that spark so the rest of the team could come on.”

teams clocked Tate in the4.45 to 4.47-secondrange,atleastTate will have asecond chance to make afirst impression. n LeeHunter. The massive defensive tackle from Texas Tech entered combine week projected to be one of the top choices at his position. His workout left some doubt.After running thesecondworst 40 among all defensive linemen (5.18 seconds), he posted the shortest vertical jump (211/2 inches)and tied for theworst broad jump (8-4) amongdefensive linemen n Diego Pavia. Nobody can question the productivity or toughness of theHeismanTrophy runnerup. The bigger concern for the 24-year-old former Vanderbilt quarterbackissize.Hemeasured in at 5-10, 207 pounds, aframethat could make teams think twice before selecting him.

THE VARSITY ZONE

Jesuit defeats Brother Martin to win state title

against Baton Rouge High.

“He just emulates what he does at practice and brings it to the big stage,” Collins said. “When we needed him to step up and do it tonight, he was able to do it ”

FULLY IN FOCUS

From shooting pictures to jaw-dropping dunks, St. Augustine senior continues his rise

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

The ball rattled off the rim, and Ja’Vardes Brazile was there. Not for a rebound, but with a camera in hand.

Two years ago, that was as close as Brazile could get to varsity basketball at St. Augustine. Ruled ineligible following his transfer from Chalmette, he spent the season on the sideline, snapping photos and selling them to teammates.

“I just cried,” he said of the day he learned he couldn’t play Now he’s the one everyone is watching.

A 6-foot-6 senior in his second season of varsity eligibility, Brazile is averaging 10.7 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots per game, earning all-district honors from Catholic League coaches.

With a trip to the Division I select quarterfinals on the line in No. 3 St. Augustine’s home game against No. 14 Captain Shreve on Tuesday Brazile looks ready to continue his ascent.

His growth crystallized in this season’s rematch with Jesuit. Brazile delivered 11 points and 10 rebounds in a 12-point win, steady in the lane where he once struggled.

“If I was at Tulane, he’s a guy that I would redshirt, for sure,” Mason said “His upside is unbelievable.”

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

As the ball sailed forward, Casey Parker-Karst slipped by the final marker and drilled a shot that drew his team even with Brother Martin in the Division I state soccer championship.

Brother Martin’s last-ditch effort at an equalizer included Nathan Wellman’s breakaway that ended with goalie Vance Andry’s sliding save. With the ball wedged under Andry’s right leg as he fell to the turf, Wellman tried to knock it free as Andry rolled to his side and corralled it.

Late Saturday

Less than five minutes later, with a defender still between him and the goal, the striker dribbled right and curved another shot inside the far post, giving his team its first lead. The lead held, and Parker-Karst’s two goals made the difference in top-seeded Jesuit’s 2-1 victory that secured the school’s 14th state championship before a raucous crowd Saturday at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond.

“I knew we needed something,” Parker-Karst said moments after receiving the LHSAA outstanding player award. “I just had to take a risk and go for the ball It worked out, thankfully.”

Both goals came within the first 10 minutes after halftime following what Jesuit coach Hubie Collins felt was a lackluster first half.

“We just felt we were getting second to the ball and we were getting moved off the ball a little too easy and too softly,” Collins said. “We said we had to match their fire with fire, and that’s what we did.” Parker-Karst has been Jesuit’s big-game scorer in recent weeks, notching two goals each in a district-clinching win against Brother Martin and in last week’s semifinal

“Once I see him break through, I’m like, ‘I know I have to make something happen,’” Andry said.

“I haven’t had much action except that first goal and a few corners, so now I’m like, this is my time to shine My time to save the season.”

Earlier chances for Brother Martin included a header over the crossbar and a free kick that hit off the football goalposts behind the goal frame.

Brother Martin, in the state finals for the first time since 2002, opened the scoring 15 minutes into the contest when Everett Walker pounded in a rebound off Andry’s diving save of a shot by Wyatt Hutchins.

“I thought we matched their intensity, but we gave them a couple gifts,” Brother Martin coach Matt Millet said “Against a good team, they’re going to make you pay and that’s how it was.”

After the final whistle, all Jesuit players on the field and bench immediately sprinted across the field to celebrate with the large student section crowd.

Jesuit (21-0-1) ran its unbeaten streak against Brother Martin (224-1) to nine matches (eight wins, one tie).

Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

FEARS

Continued from page 1C

bench in the first two games of the season, then started 44 straight games before interim coach James Borrego decided to bring him off the bench again. He’s played that bench role for the past 16 games

“Just being able to adjust on the

fly,” Fears said about the key to coming off the bench. “Getting out there and getting a feel for the game early Seeing my first shot go in and seeing my teammates continue to uplift me.” It took some adjusting, but he’s been playing some of his ball ever since.

The rise didn’t happen overnight. When Brazile finally stepped onto the varsity floor, the speed of the game overwhelmed him.

“At first when I started playing, I couldn’t even think,” Brazile said. “The game was moving too fast. I couldn’t adjust.”

The challenge became clear last season against Jesuit’s motion offense when St. Augustine coach Wade Mason brought Brazile off the bench. Two minutes in, he pulled him.

“Nothing against him,” Mason said. “He hadn’t seen that level of basketball.”

Gradually, he adapted. In the state final against St. Thomas More, Brazile scored six of the first eight points and finished with eight for the game in that 45-35 victory

After his first summer of AAU basketball, Brazile returned to school stronger and more confident.

In the fourth quarter, Brazile rose for a one-handed dunk and had five players staring up at him. Mason keeps a photo of that moment Brazile’s right hand wrapped around the rim as the ball rips through the net — stored on his phone.

“You go from last year versus Jesuit to this year, it’s unbelievable,” Mason said. “That’s my point when I talk about the jump he made. It’s unreal.”

Almost daily in practice, Mason said, Brazile unveils something new — most recently a left-handed dunk in a scrimmage against Country Day

He attacks practice drills with game-like intensity, first in line and ready to challenge anyone, including all-state point guard Aaron Miles.

“The thing that bothers me is I’m not going to have another year with him,” said Mason, a former college assistant who thinks Brazile could bloom with another year of development.

Brazile’s first taste of organized basketball came in eighth grade, and he played sparingly on the freshman team at Chalmette. Still untested as a sophomore, the ineligibility due to transfer rules dissuaded him from playing basketball When Mason, a former college assistant, became the head coach the next spring, Brazile returned.

“I looked him up and then I was like, ‘Wow, he could get me somewhere with this basketball stuff,’” Brazile said. “The day I found out, I was like, new coach, new team, everything is fresh.”

From the stands, Brazile’s mom, Jessica Brown, has seen her oncequiet son show his lighter side — sometimes shuffling his feet to the beat of pregame music during warmups.

“He has blossomed into this energetic being,” she said.

The tears from that day he learned he couldn’t play are long gone. Now, the camera finds him, fully in focus.

“I think he’s been really good recently,” Borrego said. “The two Utah games and then (Sunday against the Clippers.) Big shots, big plays. I love to see his growth. He’s headed in the right direction.” What has led to the improvement? “It’s the decision making,” Borrego said. “As the point guard, you’re going to make multiple decisions throughout a game. It’s the No. 1 thing you have to do. Taking care of the ball. Understanding time, score, situation and management of the game, but still utiliz-

ing your aggression and still making plays off that aggression.” Fears said he has learned from veterans Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole. They have given him pointers on life in the NBA both on and off the court. He admits there is room for improvement He committed five turnovers Sunday It was the fifth time this season he’s had that many turnovers in a game. He had six in a game against the Washington Wizards. “The last couple games, I’ve been turning it over too much,” Fears said. “I’ll

Iran’s World Cup status in U.S. in doubt

BY GRAHAM DUNBAR AP sports writer

GENEVA Iran’s place at the men’s World Cup in three months was put in doubt Monday amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament’s co-host the United States.

Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the U.S. two in Inglewood, California, then in Seattle — from June 15-26 Cities in Canada and Mexico also will host some of the 104 games.

The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran in coordinated attacks since Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials.

It provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at U.S. allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition.

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” said Iran’s top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation.

It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to send its team to the 48-nation tournament that starts June 11, or the U.S. government could effectively block the team.

FIFA has declined comment since Saturday, when secretary general Mattias Grafström said it would “monitor developments around all issues around the world.”

The White House’s top official overseeing World Cup preparations, Andrew Guiliani, seemed unconcerned Saturday in a social media post.

“We’ll deal with soccer games tomorrow,” Guiliani wrote about Iran, “tonight, we celebrate their

opportunity for freedom.”

Here is a look at the issues in play:

Asian soccer power

Iran has one of the best national teams in Asia and has qualified for six of the past eight World Cups It is No. 20 in the FIFA world rankings of 211 teams, and has not been lower than No. 24 since the last World Cup in Qatar

Iran was among the secondseeded teams in the World Cup draw held in Washington, D.C. in December, minutes after U.S. President Donald Trump was presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.

Though Taj and other Iranian soccer officials were denied visas

to enter the U.S., the draw outcome was favorable for Iran, especially in the expanded format where most third-place teams advance to the knockout rounds.

Iran starts against low-ranked New Zealand, then plays one of the weaker top-seeded nations, Belgium, and finishes against Egypt. Iran is likely to be supported in stadiums by its diaspora in the U.S., though residents of the Middle East nation are subject to a ban on entering the country

Trump’s government has promised exemptions from its travels bans for athletes and coaches arriving for major sports events like the World Cup.

Politics around Iran inside World Cup stadiums is nothing new. Protests over domestic issues were

aired by Iran fans at the last World Cup.

The FIFA rules

FIFA’s World Cup regulations envisage a team withdrawing, or being excluded, from the tournament though the legal language is vague.

In that scenario, according to Article 6.7, “FIFA shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary.”

“FIFA may decide to replace the Participating Member Association in question with another association,” the rules say That legal framing seems to give FIFA president Gianni Infantino wide powers to shape any decision relating to Iran.

Just 18 months ago, the decision announced by Infantino to add Lionel Messi’s team Inter Miami to the 2025 Club World Cup lineup appeared to have no basis in formal tournament rules.

Consequences of withdrawing

Should Iran pull out of the World Cup — still hugely speculative — its soccer federation would forfeit at least $10.5 million.

FIFA pays $9 million in prize money to each of the 16 federations whose teams fail to advance from the group stage, and all 48 qualified teams get $1.5 million “to cover preparation costs.”

The Iranian federation also would face disciplinary fines from FIFA — at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($321,000) for withdrawing up to 30 days before the tournament, and at least 500,000 Swiss francs ($642,000) if the decision is in the last month before kickoff.

Iran would risk being excluded by FIFA from qualifying for the next World Cup in 2030 as well.

SCOREBOARD

Sunday’s games Tulane 11, Eastern Kentucky 3 UNO 12, Stephen F. Austin 6 Northwestern State 5, Southeastern 4 UL 4, California-San Diego 3 Morehead State 8, Southern 7 LSU 3, Dartmouth 0 Nicholls 3, McNeese 2

Monday’s games Northeastern at LSU, n Tuesday’s games McNeese at Southern, 6 p.m.

Southeastern at ULM, 6 p.m. Tulane at Nicholls, 6 p.m. Jackson State at UNO, 6:30 p.m. College

28 Missi 20:24 3-7 3-6 4-8 0 2 9 Matkovic 14:14 0-2 4-4 2-5 3 2 4 Hawkins 4:16 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Peavy 4:16 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 24040-8925-3014-41 22 21 117 Percentages: FG .449, FT .833. 3-Point Goals: 12-33, .364 (Fears 5-6, Murphy III 4-10, Bey 2-5, Murray 1-3 Hawkins 0-1, McGowens 0-1, Peavy 0-1, Queen 0-1, Matkovic 0-2, Jones 0-3). Team Rebounds: 13. Team Turnovers: 1.

Blocked Shots: 4 (Fears 2, Missi, Queen)

Turnovers: 16 (Fears 5, Murphy III 3, Queen 3 Murray 2, Jordan, McGowens, Missi) Steals: 6 (Murphy III 2, Queen 2, Missi, Murray). Technical Fouls: None. FG FT Reb LAC Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Collins 24:35 5-14 4-4 4-7 1 3 15 Leonard 29:21 8-18 6-7 0-3 5 1 23 Lopez 25:40 6-9 0-0 0-7 3 4 16 Dunn 21:55 4-5 0-0 1-3 4 0 9 Jones Jr. 28:13 6-9 2-2 1-2 0 2 17 Miller 32:13 5-6 8-11 1-2 8 2 19 Mathurin 25:00 4-13 1-2 3-5 1 1 9 Batum 20:21 3-5 0-0 0-3 4 1 9 Niederhsr 19:54 2-3 3-3 0-6 0 5 7 Christie 4:16 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 2 Jackson 4:16 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 2 Sanders 4:16 3-4 0-0 0-0 1 1 9 Totals 240:0048-8924-2910-38 29 22 137 Percentages: FG .539, FT .828. 3-Point Goals: 17-36, .472 (Lopez 4-6, Jones Jr. 3-4, Sanders 3-4, Batum 3-5, Miller 1-1, Dunn 1-2, Collins 1-4, Leonard 1-7, Mathurin 0-3). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 3 (Jackson, Mathurin, Niederhauser). Turnovers: 8 (Collins 2, Leonard 2, Christie, Dunn, Lopez, Mathurin).

Steals: 11 (Dunn 3, Miller 3, Collins 2, Christie, Leonard, Lopez). Technical Fouls: None. New Orleans 32 38 24 23 — 117 L.A. Clippers 43 33 31 30 137 A_17,003 (18,000). T_2:20. College softball

State scores, schedule Sunday’s games Sam Houston 3, Southeastern 2 Nicholls 8, Memphis 7 Oklahoma 9, Southeastern 1 Texas A&M 5, UL 1

Monday’s games None scheduled. Tuesday’s games Southern at Dillard (DH), 1 p.m. Nicholls at South Alabama, 5 p.m.

College baseball

State scores, schedule

Next in line

Iran was a fast World Cup qualifier last March, earning one of eight guaranteed places allocated to the Asian Football Confederation.

Should Iran pull out, the likely replacement from Asia should be Iraq or the United Arab Emirates. Iraq and the UAE were effectively the ninth and 10th-ranked Asian teams through the various qualifying groups and advanced to a two-leg playoff last November.

Iraq won 3-2 on aggregate — eliminating the UAE to advance to the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico and, on March 31, it is scheduled to play an elimination game against Bolivia or Suriname with a World Cup place at stake.

One possible element of uncertainty is the language of the World Cup tournament rules.

FIFA wrote that it can decide to replace a withdrawn team “with another association,” though without specifying the replacement must come from the same continental confederation.

Precedent of a late replacement

Denmark famously won the 1992 European Championship after getting a late invitation from UEFA, European soccer’s ruling body

Yugoslavia won a qualifying group ahead of the Danes but was removed by UEFA less than two weeks before the tournament because of a United Nations sanctions resolution during the widening Balkans conflict.

Teams have previously refused to travel to a World Cup, though not in the modern era.

Just 13 teams instead of 16 took part in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, with India and Scotland among teams declining a place.

Matsuyama, 69.471. 8, Shane Lowry, 69.570. 9, Chris Gotterup, 69.651. 10, Si Woo Kim, 69.715. Driving Distance 1, Michael Brennan, 329.4. 2, Gary Woodland, 327.7. 3, Aldrich Potgieter, 325.8. 4, Rasmus Hojgaard, 322.9. 5, Chris Gotterup, 322. 6, Jesper Svensson, 321.8. 7, Min Woo Lee, 319.9. 8, Jake Knapp, 319.4. 9, Isaiah Salinda, 319.2. 10, Nicolai Hojgaard, 318.8. Driving Accuracy Percentage 1, Lucas Glover, 77.38%. 2, Joel Dahmen, 77.04%. 3, Chan Kim, 74.49%. 4, Andrew Putnam, 72.32%. 5, Si Woo Kim, 72.02%. 6, Corey Conners, 70.92%. 7, Matt Fitzpatrick, 70.54%. 8, Kensei Hirata, 70.17%. 9, David Lipsky, 70.00%. 10, Collin Morikawa, 68.37%. Greens in Regulation Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%. Total Driving 1, Min Woo Lee, 25. 2, Blades Brown, 29. 3, David Ford, 50. 4, Adam Scott, 58. 5, Jimmy Stanger, 65. 6, Michael Thorbjornsen, 70. 7, William Mouw, 74. 8, Jordan Smith, 77. 9, Collin Morikawa, 80. 10, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, 83. SG-Putting 1, Jacob Bridgeman, 1.276. 2, Zach Johnson, 1.232. 3, Kris Ventura, 1.181. 4, Jake Knapp, 1.095. 5, Davis Riley, 1.021. 6, Matthieu Pavon, 1.005. 7, Sam Ryder, .992. 8, Vince Whaley, .977. 9, Seamus Power, .972. 10, Robert MacIntyre, .934. Birdie Average 1, Scottie Scheffler, 5.88. 2, Jacob Bridgeman, 5.5. 3, David Lipsky, 5.4. 4, Rory McIlroy 5.38. 5, Tommy Fleetwood, 5.25. 6, Ricky Castillo, 5.19. 7 (tie), Pierceson Coody and Will Zalatoris, 5.17. 9, 2 tied with 5.08. Eagles (Holes

Talk shop

Unspoken group chat rules you’re probably ignoring, but shouldn’t

By The Associated Press

Communicating on group chats has quickly become a way of life, but what are the rules?

We used to use email, the phone or talk in person. Now we use platforms like iMessage, WhatsApp or Slack to coordinate a night out with friends, a kid’s birthday party, a work project or even to discuss sensitive military information — as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did by sharing details of airstrikes in a Signal chat But while group chats have exploded in popularity because of their informality, that also creates its own challenges: Discussions can veer off topic, repetitive or basic questions can irritate group members, and that viral meme you think is funny could also offend.

The principles of digital etiquette remain the same as other kinds of etiquette, but they are also “context specific and many of the rules are implicit rather than explicit,” said Rupert Wesson, a director at Debrett’s, the British etiquette guide, who outlined key tips for The Associated Press.

Think before messaging

Etiquette is always based on the idea of care and consideration for others, Wesson said. So it helps to think about how the recipients might be affected by your message That means, for example, not wasting other members’ time by asking questions that could be easily answered by doing a Google search, or scrolling up or searching through the previous posts. The Trent Windsurfing Club near Nottingham, England, which communicates with members using both WhatsApp and email, spells out other considerations in a 15-point list on its website.

“Don’t get angry if someone doesn’t respond to your messages in a group. No one is obliged to do so. Better send him/her a direct message,” the club says. Also, “Before sending a video, picture, meme or any content, analyze if such material will be in the interest of the majority of the members of the group.”

And avoid sending videos or files that are very large, because “nobody likes to saturate the memory of their smartphone or waste their data/internet plan on nonsense,” its guidance says The club did not respond to a request for comment.

Remember the aim of the chat

Always consider the chat group’s purpose. For those created with a specific and practical function in mind, just stick to the task and don’t post any more than you need to, Wesson said. On the other hand, “some groups are there for frivolity and here, more is more,” he added

It should be obvious, but don’t post personal stuff in a company or business-related chat, and refrain from posting workrelated material in a group with friends or family It doesn’t hurt to lurk first before weighing in, partly because on some chat platforms new members can’t see what was posted before they joined.

“It is always best to err on the side of caution until you are

GROWING MINDS

How

TBY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

he mini hydroponics farm in Southern University’s cafeteria is small but mighty About 10 paces away, it feeds the salad bar that’s frequented by students, staff and visitors.

Hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, is what the Southern University Ag Center uses to grow fresh produce in tiny spaces while teaching new generations about nutrition, plant cycles and space utilization.

Stephanie Elwood, a horticulture specialist at Southern University, oversees the mini farm along with graduate student Gerrick Breaux to grow microgreens parsley basil, kale and lettuce.

“They harvest the microgreens or the lettuce, and they put it 10 feet away right here into the salad bar,” Elwood said. “You can’t get any fresher than that.” Farm to plate

As Breaux pursues his doctorate in toxicology at the university, he visits the cafeteria as many as three to four times a week to har-

vest and feed the plants. He’s been at it for two years. He cuts the herbs and hands them directly to the chef, who uses them wherever needed. He gives the lettuce and kale to an employee in the kitchen who washes it and places it on the salad bar

Pope Leo XIV arrives in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican for his open-air weekly general audience Feb 18.

“It tells you when to clean, when to plant, when to harvest,” Elwood said. “It tells you when the pH is off. It tells you when the nutrients are off. It’s very user-friendly.”

For Breaux, caring for the mini

Each tray contains about 100 plants, meaning the machine has been home to about 2,000 plants across 20 seasons since being in the cafeteria, Elwood said. The machine uses an app that connects to Elwood and Breaux’s phones, making the process easy to track.

much space does a salad farm need? Inside Southern University’s cafeteria, about five feet. ä See FARM, page 2D

Pope’s tour of Italy brings him closer to migrants

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday, March 3, the 62nd day of 2026. There are 303 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On March 3, 1991, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by LosAngeles police officers aftera high-speed chase in ascene captured on amateur video that sparked public outrage. (The subsequent acquittal of four officers of felonyassault and other charges in April 1992 triggered daysof rioting and dozens of deaths in Los Angeles.)

Also on this date: In 1845, Florida became a U.S. state. In 1849, Congress established the U.S. Department of the Interior In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the act creating the National Academy of Sciences.

FARM

farm is areset from his studies. He strolls to the cafeteria from his department building, sometimes taking the longer route when it feels right.

“It’sagrounding kind of thing for me, like areset from my busy lifestyle,” he said. “You know those people who trim bonsai trees and stuff like that to calm them? It’slike my calming thing of the day.”

Learning with littles

At the on-campus day care, children from ages 2 to 4gaze up at the 4-foot-tall hydroponic towergrowing lettuce and dinosaur kale.

“Beingable to expose them to this and let them be able to watch it grow right before their eyes,” said garden specialist Cornelius Jackson at the Southern University Ag Center.“Being able to come in there, see the lights on, see the plants growing every day,hear the water splashing.”

After aharvest, theday care chef will prepare tortilla wraps packed with lettuce, cheese and ham, allowing the toddlers to eat the plant they watchedgrow for the past three to four weeks.

The tower has been around for about two years, part of an initiative from Southern’s Ag Center that places community gardens (including hydroponics and traditional,

CHAT

Continued from page1D

very clear on the purpose and culture of the group,” Wesson said.

Consider size of thegroup

Do you needtorespondto every message? There’soften someone who feels the need to type out areplyto every post, even if it’sjust to say“thanks.” Butdoing so in abig group might be somewhat akin to an email reply-all storm.

Wesson advises considering how many people arein the chat.

“If there are three of you in the group, aresponse, if only an emoji, is almost expected,” Wesson said. “In group of 50 or more it is practically acriminal offense.”

Keep things decent

This is an especially important point when it comes to workcommunications, with many white collar workers now usingchat platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams rather than email to communicate.

These platforms feelless formal than emailbut don’t forget to follow the same guidelines as you do with other company communications.

“Assume anything messaged can be forwarded and be especially cautious of work chats (however informal they appear),” Wesson said. “As countless people have discovered at employment tribunals, any diversion into anything indeco-

In 1931, PresidentHerbert Hoover signed abill making “The Star-Spangled Banner” thenational anthem of the United States. In 1943, in London’sEast End,173 peopledied in acrush of bodies at the Bethnal Green Tube station, which was being used as a wartime air raid shelter In 1945, Allied troops fully secured the Philippine capital of Manila from Japanese forces duringWorld WarIIafter amonthlong battle that destroyedmuch of thecity In 1969, Apollo 9blasted off from CapeKennedyon amission to test NASA’s lunar module In 2005, millionaire adventurerSteveFossett becamethe first person to fly aplane around theworld solo withoutstopping or refueling, landinginSalina, Kansas, where he took off 67 hours earlier

In 2022, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reached a nationwide settlementover its role in the opioid crisis, with the Sackler family memberswho own the company boosting their cash contribution to as much as $6 billion in adeal intended to stanch aflood of lawsuits. Today’sbirthdays: Filmmaker GeorgeMilleris81. Singer Jennifer Warnes is 79. Author Ron Chernow is 77. FootballHallofFamer Randy Gradisharis74. Musician Robyn Hitchcock is 73. Actor Miranda Richardson is 68. Radio personalityIra Glass is 67. Olympictrack andfieldgoldmedalist

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 64. Rapper-actor Tone Loc is 60.

Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch is 58. Actor Julie Bowen is 56. Actor David Faustino is 52. Actor Jessica Biel is 44. SingerCamila Cabello is 29. NBA forward Jayson Tatum is 28.

used by the kitchen after harvests.

soil-based gardens) in Baton Rougeschools and child development centers. So far Jackson has broughthydroponic gardens to about 10 places.

Many people don’thave the space to grow aregular garden, Jacksonsaid, sothe hydroponic towers are useful.

“These hydroponic towers allowpeopletomaximize the minimum space and get maximum output by beingableto just growinanupright tower that only requires water, nutrient solution anda rockwool, which is amakeshift soil,”Jackson said. Someonecan growbroccoli in their closet or produce 5 pounds of greens in acorner of their house.

“For the nutritional aspect of it,” Jackson said, “allowing them to actually

rous can be career limiting.”

Less canbemoreinchats

Chat messages should be short and sweet.

One reason is that your wordscould comeacross differently depending on theperson readingthe message, so stick to using short sentences to avoidbeing misinterpreted. If it’sabout work, and you wanttodiscuss something in more lengthand detail, consider an in-personmeeting, aphone call, oremail instead.

“No one wants toread a 7-inch-long unformatted message when an organized attachment would have worked better,” the American etiquette expertsatThe Emily Post Institute, advised in ablogpost on business communications Clarityand stylematter

It’snot acollege essay,so the rules around grammar, punctuation or even emoji don’tneed to betoo strict.

“You should not feeltoo constricted and nor should youjudge others for playing fast and loose with the King’sEnglish,”Wesson said.“Just let brevityand clarity beyourguide.”

Speaking ofemoji,they’re funand can convey your meaning as well as themost thoughtful turn of phrase, Wesson said. But don’tabuse them because they can be a “minefield.”

There’saworld of difference between,for example, thecrying emoji and the crying with laughteremoji, he said. It’sbest to play it safe andavoid emojiwhen, for example, sendingcondo-

Make thebed simply,quickly

Dear Heloise: Regarding thewidower who doesn’t like walking around the bed to center the top sheet, here’sa simple solution that saves time and steps: Get apermanent marker in a color that is similar to your bedding. Make two small guide marks —one at the top edge (which is covered when the sheet folds) and another halfway down theside. Use these marks to quickly line up thesheet,avoiding trips around the bed. If you live alone, acouple of small inch-long marks on the mattress edge shouldn’tbother anyone. They’ll be hidden once the bed is made, anditmakes theprocess much smoother.Hope this hint helps! I have found so manyuseful ideas in your column and am happy to share one in return. —Karen S.,inDeshler, Ohio

taste these vegetables and do theirown little activities;Ithink that’ssomething they’re going to remember for alifetime.”

Focusofnutrition

When Breaux performs hisminifarmrituals,sometimes curious cafeteriagoersask what he’s doing, allowinghim theopportunity to teach themabout hydroponics. It’ssomething he’spassionate about, and providing fresh food and sustainable practices to the community is his goal.

“That’smymain focus nutrition,” Breaux said.“At the end of the day, when I’m finished with school, my whole thing is to find away to provide the best nutrition possible. Alot of that is teaching people to be selfsustainable.

lences, Wesson said.

Howtoproperlyleave achat

If you’re gettingannoyed by thenumber of message notifications from abig chat group, or you feel uncomfortable because of some of thecomments, just put it on mute. Anddon’tbeafraid to leave the group if you don’t need to be in it

Before leaving, consider lettingthe chat administrator know

“The group administrator has aresponsibility to ensure thechat serves its purposeand that things don’t get too out of hand,”Wesson says. What should adminsdoif certain people are causing problems?

“Ifthings are going awry, deleting amemberisanoptionbut perhaps alittledrastic. AquietDMora brief mutingshould always be consideredfirst,” Wessonsays If you do leave the chat, should you say farewell?

Again,itdepends on the context. If it’s fora one-off eventwitha lotofpeople youdon’t know, there’sprobably no need.

But if, say,you’re part of aremote work project, it would be agood ideatonotify everyone.

“When leaving make it clear that you are removing yourself immediately so the chat does notfill up with peoplewishing youfarewell,” Wesson said.

Is there atech topic that you think needs explaining? Writetousat onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.

holds adifferent category making every item visible and easy to grab. Each tier also holds separate parts: beaters and dough hooks in one, pressure-cooker accessories in another,and processor blades and discs in the third. With everything visible and easy to grab, there’snomore rummaging forthe right attachment!

This simple change keeps my countertops clutter-free and makes cooking and baking much more convenient. It’s agreat example of how repurposing an item that you already own can save both space and frustration. —Carole Rowland, in California

Lemonboard refresh

Kitchenstorage solution

Dear Heloise: Yourecently asked for ideas on repurposing everyday household items, and I’dlike to share one that has made my kitchen much more organized: Irepurposed a three-tiered, hanging vegetable strainer to organize attachments for my Instant Pot,standmixer and food processor.Each tier

POPE

Continuedfrom page1D

2026. There are plans under study for afour-nation trip to Africa after Easter that would take Leo to Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Cameroon. Leo himself has said he hopes to visithis beloved Peru, as well as Argentinaand Uruguay,trips thatcould happen toward theend of the year

TheVatican previously confirmed that one foreign trip not on the agenda this year is to Leo’snative United States, which this year is celebrating its250thanniversary.Instead on U.S. Independence Day,Leo will travel to Lampedusa, an Italian island that is closer to Africathan the Italian mainland.

Pope Francishad made Lampedusa his first trip outside Rome after his 2013 election to show solidarity with migrantswho landed there after being smuggled from north Africa.

Francis famously celebrated Mass on the island on an altar made of shipwrecked migrant boats and denounced the“globalization of indifference” thatgreets migrants whorisk their lives tryingtoreach Europe —a mantra thatwould come to define his papacy and increase tensions withthe first Trump administration. Leotoo hasclashed with thesecond Trumpadministrationover its crackdown on migrants, strongly backing U.S.bishops who have denounced the mass

Dear Heloise: After chopping onions or mincing garlic, astubborn smell can cling to your wooden cutting board long after you’ve washed it. Try cleaning the cutting board with warm,soapy water Then sprinkle coarse salt on it and rub it with half afresh lemon, squeezing gently.The salt lifts residue and light stains, while the lemon neutralizes odors. For tougher smells, let the mixture sit for5minutes before rinsing and drying. This deodorizes

and refreshes the wood without harsh chemicals. Once the board is completely dry,use aclean cloth to rub asmallamount of food-grade mineral oil onto the wood. This step helps prevent cracking and keeps the board looking its best. Sometimes the simplest solutions workbeautifully —just lemon and salt! Anne Lawson, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Watering orchids

DearHeloise: Don’t water orchids with icecubes orchids aretropical, and coldshockstheir roots. Watercollecting at the bottomcan cause rot. Orchids need dry roots between waterings. To water an orchid, do this: Onceaweek,remove it from its cachepot, place it in the sink, andsoak it thoroughly in roomtemperature water.Let it drain fully,thenreturn it to its container. Orchids prefer agood soak, followed by proper drainage —not constant moisture. Trust me, I’ve successfully grownbeautifulorchids foryears using this method! Iloved your mother’scolumn, Heloise, and read yours faithfully, too! —Margi, in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

the region later that month, on May 23, to meet with the faithful of Acerra. The area is known as the “Land of Fires,” for the years of toxic-waste dumping by the local mafiathathas led to increased rates of cancer andother ailments forits residents.

deportations. History’sfirst U.S.-born pope was limited in his ability to leaveRome during his firstyear as pontiff because of the busy 2025 Holy Year agenda, which saw millions of pilgrimscoming to the Vatican forspecial Masses and papal audiences.

With the Jubilee behind him,Leo can now get out of town more easily: He has begun aseries of parish visits within his Roman diocese each Sundaythroughout Lent, the period leading up to Easter

And the Italy itinerary announced Thursdaywill take Leo near and far as he gets to know the Italian church and faithful better

The travels begin on May 8witha visit to Naplesand the nearby ancient cityof Pompeii. He’llreturn to

Leo will go north to Pavia, near Milan, on June 20. The tomb of St. Augustine is locatedina Paviabasilica, suggesting the visit will be of great personalimportance to apope whohas describedhimselfasa sonof the 5th-century saint. On Aug. 6Leo will visit the Umbrian hilltop town of Assisi, which this year is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the deathof its mostfamous resident, St. Francis. And later that month, Aug. 22, Leowill take part in an annual Italianpolitical andreligious conferenceinthe Adriatic seaside resort of Rimini. Leo, who wasborn in Chicago and spent two decades as amissionary in Peru, has said he loves to travel. He spentmanyyears on theroad when he served two, six-year terms as thesuperiorofhis Augustinian religious order whichrequired him to visit Augustinian communities around theworld.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’scollaboration with The ConversationUS, withfundingfrom Lilly EndowmentInc.The AP is solely responsiblefor this content.

PIscEs (Feb 20-March 20) The more you interact with others, the better. Participating in community events will help you expand your plans and initiate new ones.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Keep your plans to yourself. Preparation will promote a better lifestyle. Consider where to funnel your time and energy to ensure that you get the most out of it.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Focus on how you can use your time to help others or support a cause that concerns you. The people you meet and the opportunities that arise will change how you live and do things.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Empty promises will backfire and add to your stress. Focus on researching, honing skills and looking for ways to show off what you have to offer.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) An open and direct attitude will help you get ahead personally and professionally. Home and self-improvements will make a difference to how you think, live and feel about the future.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Dig in, and don't stop until you are satisfied with your progress. Discipline, open-mindedness and finding meaning in what you do will be rewarding and offer insight.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Take the initiative, follow your heart and put your plans in motion. Communication will bring you closer to your dreams and

to those who want to help you reach them.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Say what's on your mind and follow through on your words. Having the drive to finish what you start will attract attention and the support you need to exploit your talents.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) The coast is clear for you to promote what you can do. Social events will offer you an opportunity to practice your spiel on those you trust to critique you with kindness and positive suggestions.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Discussions will spin out of control if you aren't careful about what you say or do. Take time to rethink your plans before you proceed. Be resourceful.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Financial growth is evident through wise investments and budgeting. Verify information before you participate in an offer that comes your way. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) A high energy level will help you make personal changes. A job opportunity or partnership looks rewarding. Your unique concepts will attract attention and positive changes.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: n EQuALs B

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of thesudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

This week, we are looking at counting —arguablythe mostimportant factor forsuccessatthe game. And when you areondefense,you will sometimes need partner to give you acount signal so that youcanworkouthowmanycardsdeclarer has in the suit— as in thisdeal

In threeno-trump, declarer starts with onlyfivetop tricks:three spades and twodiamonds. He needs to get the rounded suits going. So, after taking the firsttrick with hisspade king, he leads the club king.

East wantstotakehis club ace when South is playing his last club. So West mustgive acount signal.Since West has an even number of clubs, he should go high-low, playing first the five (or eight, but Ilike second-highest fromfour), then thetwo. This will tellEasttotake the second clubtrick. (If West has only two clubs, Southhas four and holding up twicewould not help.)

East leads back his second spade to declarer’s ace. South, needing to get into the dummy, leadsthe heartking. West plays hisnine, starting ahigh-low with adoubleton. East,aware of what is happening, holds up his ace.

South will probably tryalow heartto dummy’s queen, but East wins with his ace and shifts to the diamond jack (or

leadsbacktheheart10),andthecontract is dead.

Finally, note that at trick one, East shouldplayhis spade three, adiscouraging signal denying helpinspades.But adefender does not signal attitude when declarer leads asuit (except perhaps to play the top of touching honors). ©2026 by nEa,inc., dist.

By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD MARoons: muh-ROONS: Leaves in isolation.

Average mark15words

Timelimit 25 minutes

Can you find 21 or morewords in MAROONS?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —sPAcIous

puss apsis aspic capo ciao coup cusp cuss oasis opus

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a

WiShinG Well

FORTHE PARISH OF ORLEANS STATEOFLOUISIANA NO.2026-00109 DIVISION “A DOCKET NO SU CCE SSI ON OF RODNEY LAVALAIS,SR. NOTICE OF SMALL SUCCESSION NOTICE IS GIVENthat

PUBLIC NOTICE 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURTFOR THEPARISH OF JEFFERSON CASE:856-659 DIVISION:C SUCCESSION OF STEVEN HENDERSON NOTICE NOTICE IS GIVEN that DAVIDR.POTTER, theAD‐MINISTRATOROFTHE SUCCESSION OF STEVEN E. HENDERSON, is apply‐ingfor authoritytosellat privatesalethe property describedasfollows,to wit: ACERTAIN LOTOF GROUND,together with allthe buildingsand im‐provements thereon, and allofthe rights,ways, privileges,servitudes, appurtenancesand ad‐vantages thereuntobe‐longingorinanywise ap‐pertaining,situatedin theParishofJefferson StateofLouisiana,inthat part knownasWHITE‐HOUSESUBDIVISION,ac‐cordingtoa plan of S.J. Ashes, Jr datedNovem‐ber19, 1916, acopyof said plan is attached to actbyA.M Buchman, No‐tary Public,dated De‐cember 17, 1917, andac‐cordingtoa plan of sur‐veymadebyHenry L. Zander,C.E datedJune 6, 1920, andapprovedby Mayor andBoard of Al‐derman of theTownof Westwego, undersame date;and accordingto said plan,saidlot,isdes‐ignatedas LOTNUMBER NINE (9), SQUARE C, which said Square is bounded by Avenue “A”, Sala Avenue,Secondand

ThirdStreets; andac‐cordingtoplans,saidLot No.9 measures 32’ front on Avenue “A”, same widthinthe rear,by a depthbetween equaland parallel linesof130’ AND ACERTAIN LOTOF GROUND,togetherwith allthe buildingsand im‐provements thereon, and allofthe rights,ways, privileges, servitudes appurtenances andad‐vantages thereuntobe‐longingorinanywise ap‐pertaining,situatedin theParishofJefferson StateofLouisiana,form‐inga part of theWHITE‐HOUSEPLANTATION, now locatedinthe City of Westwego, Parish of Jef‐ferson,State of Louisiana, andisdesig‐natedas LOTNUMBER TEN(10) of SQUARE “C”, accordingtoplanofH.L Zander,ParishSurveyor, datedApril 20, 1908, and accordingtothe official mapofthe Town of West‐wego, said square is bounded by Sala Avenue Avenue “A”, Second and ThirdStreets; said lot measures Thirty-two (32’)feet frontonAvenue “A”, formerly FirstAv‐enue,bya depthofOne hundred thirty (130’)feet between equaland paral‐lellines ImprovementsbearMu‐nicipalNumber: 334 Av‐enue “A”, Westwego, LA UPON THEFOLLOWING TERMSAND CONDITIONS TO-WIT: SixtyThousandDollars andno/100 ($60,000.00) upon thefollowing condi‐tions, to-wit:CashatAct of Sale,lessthe related