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Israel steps up airstrikes in Tehran Iran widens response across Gulf region BY JON GAMBRELL and ELENA BECATOROS
nuclear research site Tuesday, and Iran struck back against Israel and across the Gulf region, targeting Associated Press U.S. embassies and disrupting enDUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Israel ergy supplies and travel. Four days into a war that Presisaid it launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a dent Donald Trump suggested
would last several weeks or perhaps longer, nearly 800 people have been killed in Iran, including some Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country. Explosions rang out Tuesday
INSIDE in Tehran and in Lebanon, where Israel said it retaliated against Hezbollah militants. The Ameri- ä President Trump says someone can embassy in Saudi Arabia and from within regime could be best the U.S. consulate in the United choice to lead Iran. Page 3A Arab Emirates came under drone ä Anxious travelers scramble to attacks. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, though leave the Middle East as war strands most of the incoming fire has been thousands. Page 3A ä Straits of Hormuz vital to global ä See ISRAEL, page 4A energy supply. Page 10C
Louisiana awards site development funds
LSU develops breakthrough exoskeleton Prototype meant to help prevent construction injuries
Economic Development office has $150 million to help attract new businesses
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
Tucked away in a lab in the LSU Human Ecology Building, an exoskeleton resembling a minimalist super suit hung from a female mannequin. A lightweight orange harness wrapped around the shoulders, attaching around the curve of the waist with adjustable straps. The vest connected to hard-plastic braces fur“The initial idea ther down the body that of the project was encircled the thighs and creating a lower lower calves. When donned a user doing repetitive body exoskeleton by motions like squatting that could assist and kneeling, the motorworkers in ized braces will engage to reducing repeat offset some of the energy expended by the human stress injuries, the suit. because that is wearing “The initial idea of the a major reason project was creating a for leaving lower body exoskeleton construction. Over that could assist workers time, the wear and in reducing repeat stress because that is a tear on the body is injuries, major reason for leaving just too much.” construction,” LSU apparel design doctorate candidate M-G TAyLOR, M-G Taylor said. “Over LSU apparel design time, the wear and tear on doctorate candidate the body is just too much.” Currently in the prototype phase, the exoskeleton was developed by researchers in engineering, fashion, computer science and other disciplines to address one of the biggest challenges in the construction industry: repetitive strain injuries, or damage to muscles, tendons and nerves caused by repeat use. These injuries can be debilitating over the long term and force workers into early retirement, with
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS
Doctoral candidate M-G Taylor explains how the exoskeleton harness system, designed in LSU’s Textile, Apparel and Merchandising Department, hopes to help monitor and relieve stress on ä See EXOSKELETON, page 6A construction workers.
Louisiana officials on Tuesday announced 19 industrial and business locations that collectively will receive $140 million of state money to develop land and infrastructure to attract new investments in energy, manufacturing and logistics. The locations are part of the inaugural round of the new FastSites program, a $150 million revolving capital fund run by Louisiana Economic Development. The goal is to help Louisiana build development-ready sites to Landry compete with other states for new business. “FastSites is about making sure Louisiana is competing nationally,” Gov. Jeff Landry said at news conference Tuesday. “When companies look at states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia or Ohio, they don’t have a lot of time,” he said. “If the land isn’t ready — if there’s no water, no electricity, no roads, no rail access or the infrastructure that they need at the speed that they need it — they just scratch it off their list.” Now, instead of waiting for companies to approach Louisiana before preparing a site, the state will have land that is “shovel ready,” Landry said. The sites selected for development in the first round are: n Acadiana Regional Airport, Iberia Parish n ARQ Red River, Red River Parish n Avondale Global Gateway, Jefferson Parish n Beaver Lake Industrial Park, Rapides
ä See FUNDS, page 4A
Former DeRidder mayor found guilty in sex case Roberts convicted of two felony charges BY MEGAN WYATT
Staff writer
A jury has found former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile, both felony charges, according to a media report by KPLC. The panel of six jurors deliberated for less than an hour Tuesday after hearing five days of arguments, witness testimony and evi-
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dence presentation in the case. Sentencing is scheduled for April 17. The carnal knowledge conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and indecent behavior with a juvenile carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison. Roberts Witnesses testified Roberts provided alcohol to her teenage son, nephew and their friends during a July 2024 birth-
day party before having sex with one of their friends. They said Roberts got drunk at her teenage son’s birthday party before disappearing to an upstairs game room with a 16-year-old boy. The victim testified Tuesday that he was drunk the night of the party when Roberts told him he looked good, winked at him, danced with him, took a photo with him, grabbed him and kissed him, according to KPLC. The victim said he felt dizzy and strange, and when Roberts said they shouldn’t continue kissing outside, he asked if they could go upstairs. The victim
testified that they had sex upstairs in the game room, and it wasn’t until afterward that he realized what was happening, KPLC reported. Roberts’ son, nephew and a friend testified last week that they went upstairs and saw the mayor and their friend having sex through blinds in a window of the game room. When Roberts and the victim came downstairs, Roberts and her son got into an argument, witnesses said. The defense portrayed a case built around rumors shared by teenagers in a small town. Adam Johnson, a defense attor-
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ney for Roberts, asked his client’s son if he actually saw his mother having sex with his friend. Roberts’ son said he could not confirm it, but it looked like it from what he saw. Text messages between Roberts and her nephew the day after indicate the mayor was “scared to death,” although defense attorney Todd Clemons pointed out that at no point in the exchange did she explicitly refer to having sex with the boy. A DoorDash driver also testified
ä See MAYOR, page 6A
101ST yEAR, NO. 247