The Acadiana Advocate 03-04-2026

Israel steps up airstrikes in Tehran

Iran widens response across Gulf region

BY JON GAMBRELL and ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Israel

said it launched airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and a

nuclear research site Tuesday, and Iran struck back against Israel and across the Gulf region, targeting U.S. embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel.

Four days into a war that President 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

in Tehran and in Lebanon, where Israel said it retaliated against Hezbollah militants. The American embassy in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates came under drone attacks. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, though most of the incoming fire has been

ä See ISRAEL, page 4A

ä President Trump says someone from within regime could be best choice to lead Iran. Page 3A

ä Anxious travelers scramble to leave the Middle East as war strands thousands. Page 3A

ä Straits of Hormuz vital to global energy supply Page 10C

LSU develops breakthrough exoskeleton

Prototype meant to help prevent construction injuries

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 further down the body that encircled the thighs and lower calves. When donned by a user doing repetitive motions like squatting and kneeling, the motorized braces will engage to offset some of the energy expended by the human wearing the suit.

“The initial idea of the project was creating a lower body exoskeleton that could assist workers in reducing repeat stress injuries, because that is a major reason for leaving construction. Over time, the wear and tear on the body is just too much.”

M-G TAyLOR, LSU apparel design doctorate candidate

“The initial idea of the project was creating a lower body exoskeleton that could assist workers in reducing repeat stress injuries, because that is a major reason for leaving construction,” LSU apparel design doctorate candidate M-G Taylor said. “Over time the wear and tear on 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

ä See EXOSKELETON, page 6A

Former

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

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 construction workers.

Louisiana awards site development funds

Economic Development office has $150 million to help attract new businesses

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

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 compete with other states for new business.

Landry

“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

DeRidder mayor found guilty in sex case

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-

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.

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

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.

Witnesses testified Roberts provided alcohol to her teenage son, nephew and their friends during a July 2024 birth-

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

The defense portrayed a case built around rumors shared by teenagers in a small town. Adam Johnson, a defense attor-

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

Roberts convicted of two felony charges Roberts ä See MAYOR, page 6A

‘Deadliest Catch’ deckhand dies

JUNEAU, Alaska A deckhand on the reality television show

“Deadliest Catch,” which documents the lives of crab fishermen working in one of the world’s harshest environments, died after he was reported to have fallen overboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday

The Coast Guard received a notification shortly after 5 p.m. Feb. 25 from the Aleutian Lady that crew member Todd Meadows had fallen overboard about 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Chief Petty Officer Travis Magee, a spokesperson with the Coast Guard’s Arctic District, said by email Tuesday

“He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later,” Magee wrote. Meadows, from Montesano Washington, was in his first year as a cast member of the Discovery Channel show He joined the series last May but no episodes for the new season have aired.

Plane makes emergency landing in Hudson River

NEWBURGH, N.Y A small plane attempting an emergency landing crashed into the frigid Hudson River where the pilot and a passenger escaped the wreckage and safely swam to shore, authorities said.

The crash occurred Monday night, shortly after the singleengine Cessna 172 took off from Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane’s two occupants were a flight instructor and his 17-year-old student, New York state police said Tuesday

The pilot, Liam Darcy, 31, had reported engine trouble shortly before the plane went down south of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. The FAA is investigating what caused the crash Death toll in S. African collapse rises to 9

JOHANNESBURG The number of people killed in a building collapse in the South African city of Johannesburg has risen to nine, emergency services and city officials reported Tuesday, while the government readies to demolish the building saying it was erected illegally.

Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said two more bodies had been recovered and one other body has been located in the rubble.

“The teams are busy extracting him from under the concrete rubble,” she said.

Johannesburg public safety official, Mgcini Tshwaku, confirmed that a total of nine bodies had been confirmed from the fallen building at a business park in the south of Johannesburg.

Trinidad and Tobago declares emergency

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago declared a new state of emergency Tuesday, only about a month after the end of the previous one, as authorities in the Caribbean nation continue to grapple with high levels of violent crime.

Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar cited credible reports of attacks planned against law enforcement officers in reimposing the emergency, which grants the government additional powers, including to make arrests and conduct searches without warrants Trinidad and Tobago has spent roughly 10 of the last 14 months under an emergency, with the last one ending Jan. 31.

Russia bans prominent LGBTQ+ rights group

A court in Russia on Tuesday designated a prominent LGBTQ+ rights group as an extremist organization, the latest blow to the country’s beleaguered community that has faced an intensified crackdown in recent years under President Vladimir Putin.

In a hearing that took place behind closed doors, the St. Petersburg City Court banned the Coming Out group as “extremist.” The authorities did not reveal any details of the lawsuit filed last month by Russia’s Justice Ministry and classified as secret.

Man who gave son gun found guilty of murder

Teen accused of killing 4 at Ga. high school

BY JEFF MARTIN Associated Press

—

WINDER, Ga.

A Georgia man who gave his teenage son the gun he’s accused of using to kill two students and two teachers at a high school was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter

Jurors took less than two hours to find Colin Gray guilty of all charges in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, northeast of Atlanta.

Gray now joins a growing number of parents being held responsible in court after their children were accused in shootings.

Colin Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children.

Gray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Another teacher and eight other

students were wounded. Gray was also convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children.

Reactions to the verdict

Gray showed little emotion as the verdict was read and each juror was polled by the judge. Deputies then cuffed his hands behind his back as he stood at the defense table, speaking with his lawyer He will be sentenced at a later date. Second-degree murder is punishable by at least 10 but no more than 30 years in prison, while involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison.

Some relatives of victims wept as the verdicts were read. They declined to comment after court. Gray’s defense lawyers left without speaking to reporters.

“We talk a lot about rights in our country,” Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said after the verdict. “But God gave us a duty to protect our children, and I hope that we remember that, as parents, as community members, to protect our children because that is our God-given duty.”

The teen’s mother, Marcee Gray, wasn’t charged. She testified that she had urged her estranged husband to take any guns and lock them inside his truck so they would not be accessible to their son. She and Colin Gray were separated in the months leading up to the shooting, and Colt Gray lived mostly with his father during that time. She declined to comment when reached by phone after the verdict.

The shooting Prosecutors said Colin Gray gave his son the gun as a Christmas gift and allowed him access to it along with ammunition despite the boy’s deteriorating mental health. They said he had “sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger” other people. Fourteen at the time of the shooting, Colt Gray has pleaded not guilty to a total of 55 counts, including murder A judge has set a status hearing for mid-March. Investigators said Colt Gray carefully planned the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school attended by 1,900 students.

Texas voters head to polls as midterm elections start

GOP Sen. Cornyn trying to hold his seat

BY THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press

DALLAS Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn was trying to hold on for a fifth term in Tuesday’s GOP primary, while Democrats weighed whether to send Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett or state Rep. James Talarico to a November general election where the party once again hopes it has a chance.

Texas is one of three states kicking off this year’s midterm elections with primaries that come as the U.S. and Israel are at war with Iran. At least six U.S. service members have been killed in a growing regional confrontation that sent oil and natural gas prices soaring. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on an “America First” agenda and hasn’t sought congressional authorization, faces mounting questions over its rationale and an exit strategy Races in North Carolina and Arkansas also mark the first primaries of the 2026 midterms as Democrats look to break the GOP’s hold on Washington and derail Trump.

Cornyn faces a challenge from MAGA favorite Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt in a contest that’s expected to advance to a May runoff between the top two votegetters. The three Republicans have campaigned on their ties to Trump, who has not endorsed in the race.

Crockett and Talarico each argue that they are the stronger general election candidate in a state that backed Trump by almost 14 percentage points in 2024 and where a Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in over 30 years.

Sen. John Cornyn,

during a campaign stop Saturday in The

Voters also were choosing House candidates using new congressional district boundaries that GOP lawmakers — urged on by Trump — redrew to help elect more Republicans.

Cornyn hopes to avoid becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history not to be renominated. His cool relationship with Trump is part of what makes Cornyn vulnerable. He and allied groups have spent at least $64 million in television advertising alone since July to try stabilize his support.

Paxton began campaigning in earnest only last month. He’s made national headlines for filing lawsuits against Democratic initiatives. He remained popular in Texas despite a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges, of which he was acquitted, and accusations of marital infidelity by his wife. All three Republicans have run ads boasting of their coziness with Trump. But Senate GOP leaders, who are backing Cornyn, worry that Paxton’s liabilities would make it harder to defend the seat if he is the nominee — and require significant spending that could be better used elsewhere.

Shooting suspects facing federal charges

9 injured in attack at Ohio nightclub

BY PATRICK AFTOORA-ORSAGOS Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two men arrested Monday in a weekend shooting that wounded nine people inside a Cincinnati nightclub now face federal charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the southern district of Ohio said Tuesday Franeek Cobb, 24, and Derrick Long, 29, each face federal charges for illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as an individual convicted of a felony Prosecutors said in a news release that surveillance footage from Riverfront Live, where the shooting took place, shows both men firing weapons early Sunday Cobb observed Long inside the venue, pulled out a firearm and began firing at him, according to an affidavit the statement said. Long fell to the ground, then allegedly began firing at Cobb. The office said ballistic evidence collected from the scene showed only two firearms were discharged during the shooting. “Our top priority is protecting our communities and holding accountable those who threaten them,” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said in the statement. “If you pull a trigger in an illegal act of violence or otherwise illegally possess a firearm or ammunition, rest assured we will do everything we can to send you to federal prison.”

Earlier Tuesday, Cobb was arraigned in Hamilton County Municipal Court on local charges of felonious assault in the shooting. He showed no emotion as he walked into the courtroom.

During the arraignment, Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Connor Wood said Cobb had a “long-standing grudge” against an unidentified victim in the case, and when Cobb saw the victim inside the venue, he “immediately” opened fire, causing injuries to multiple people.

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APPLEWHITE

Kennedy presses Noem on Homeland Security ads

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON U.S. Sen.

John Kennedy on Tuesday challenged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on spending $220 million for television commercials featuring her, then questioned why she blamed a White House aide for calling protestors killed by immigration officers “domestic terrorists.”

Noem denied blaming Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, for her calling the victims “domestic terrorists” and said she acted with President Donald Trump’s blessing to make commercials made under a contract she had nothing to do with.

“I’m not saying you’re not telling the truth,” Kennedy, R-Madisonville, said about the commercials, with hi s hand over his heart.

Kennedy

“Knowing the president as I do, it’s hard for me to believe you said, ‘Mr President, here’s some ads I’ve cut and I’m going to spend $220 million running them,’ that he would have agreed to that.” Kennedy’s interrogation of the head of the Department of Homeland Security was part of a nearly fivehour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Democratic committee members revisited the killings of American citizens at the hands of federal officers enforcing immigration laws. Republican senators, on the other hand, largely praised efforts to rid the country of immigrants who entered the country illegally and blamed Democrats for shutting down Homeland Security’s subsidiary agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency

The only other Republican joining Kennedy with critical questioning of Noem was Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina. He was much

louder and focused more on FEMA’s shortcomings in handling recovery from Hurricane Helene in 2024.

Later during a speech on the Senate floor, Tillis said he was so angry he would stall confirmations of Trump nominees and refuse to approve any legislation, including his own, until Noem adequately answers questions.

Kennedy was more polite and low-key when he drilled down on the TV commercials, in which Noem warned immigrants who entered the country without proper documentation and those in other countries thinking about coming to America without permission that they would be deported.

“How do you square that concern for waste, which I share, with the fact that you have spent $220 million running television advertisements that feature you prominently?” Kennedy asked.

“The president tasked me with getting the message out to the country and to other countries where we were seeing the invasion come from with putting commercials out,” she said.

“That has been extremely effective.”

Kennedy said his records showed The Strategy Group, one of the two agencies contracted to handle the commercials, received the lion’s share of the contracts worth about $220 million.

The firm’s chief executive officer is married to Noem’s spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, and her top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, has worked with the firm.

The other company, Safe America Media, was formed 11 days before being picked, Kennedy said.

“The people that you ended up picking were people who had formerly done your political work back in South Dakota. Is that right?” Kennedy asked.

“No, that’s not correct sir,” Noem said.

“I think it is,” Kennedy said.

Noem said Homeland Security career officials, not political appointees, made

the selections.

Kennedy pivoted to her characterizing as “domestic terrorists,” Alex Pretti and Renée Good, two U.S. citizens who were killed by federal officers while protesting immigration roundups in Minneapolis.

“I think it would be safe to say you got some pushback on that,” Kennedy said. “What got my attention is you blamed those statements on Mr Stephen Miller at the White House, did you not?”

“No sir where you’re seeing that is in a news article of anonymous sources,” Noem said. “I have never said that.”

Kennedy read from a January 26 news article. “Are you denying that you said that?” he asked.

“Sir, I’m not going to speak to that situation that is relayed (by) anonymous sources,” Noem responded.

“You said it. They are quoting you on the record,” Kennedy said before his time for questioning expired.

Kennedy was not the only senator to refer to Noem’s comments in news conferences after the killings. Noem repeatedly declined to retract or apologize for the suggesting Good and Pretti were domestic terrorists. She said she got the information from federal officers.

Senate Judiciary was the first to question Noem as the shutdown of Homeland Security nears the end of its second week. The House Judiciary committee is scheduled to question her Wednesday Democrats refuse to fund Homeland Security until Republicans agree to some safeguards on the aggressive actions of officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Homeland Security also oversees FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration and other agencies. Almost all of the employees under Homeland Security have remained on their jobs without pay

Trump: Someone in regime could lead Iran

‘Most of the people we had in mind are dead,’ president says

BY AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that “someone from within” the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the U.S.Israel military campaign is completed — but said “most of the people we had in mind are dead.”

The president, who four days ago had emphatically called on Iranians to “take over your government” once the U.S.-Israel bombardment ends, appeared to drift further away from the idea that the war presents an opportunity to end the theocratic rule that has been in place since the country’s

1979 Islamic revolution.

Trump said that many Iranian officials his administration had viewed as potential new leaders for the country had been killed in the U.S.Israeli campaign that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many other top officials.

Trump has not publicly identified anyone whom he views as a credible future leader for Iran. And it’s unclear what, if any, outreach the White House had with Iranian officials since the war started.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” he said in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office. “Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports. So you have a third wave coming. Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody.”

Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran’s last shah who is trying to position himself for a return should Iran’s Shiite

theocracy fall, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over leadership in Iran.

“It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate,” Trump said, adding that it may make sense for “somebody that’s there, that’s currently popular, if there is such a person” to emerge from the power vacuum.

Trump’s comments came as he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his first in-person engagement with a foreign leader since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran.

Trump said he wanted to avoid a “worst case” scenario where “somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person.”

“That could happen We don’t want that to happen,” Trump added. “You go through this, and then in five years you realize you put somebody in who was no better.”

Anxious travelers scramble as war strands tens of thousands

BY MATT SEDENSKY and STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press

Frustrated and anxious travelers clamored Tuesday for ways out of the Middle East and beyond as the widening Iran war constrained commercial flights through the region for a fourth day, stranding tens of thousands of people.

The conflict that started Saturday when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran grounded airline passengers in major Mideast cit-

ies as well as ones awaiting connecting flights in countries far from the threat of airstrikes. With national airspaces closed or tightly restricted across much of the Gulf, many were unsure what to do and appealed to their governments for information and exit strategies.

“They say ‘Get out,’ but how do you expect us to get out when airspaces are closed?” said Odies Turner a 32-year-old chef from Dallas who was stuck in Doha, Qatar “They just have been

canceling every flight. I want to go home.”

The U.S. State Department told American citizens to leave more than a dozen countries in the region right away using any available commercial transportation. The countries included Iran and Israel, as well as Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. But commercial options remained limited.

Continued from page 1A

intercepted. Eleven people in Israel have been killed since the conflict began.

In other developments, the Pentagon identified four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait. The strike also killed two other service members.

The spiraling nature of the war raised questions about when and how it would end.

The administration has offered various objectives, including destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, wiping out its navy, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring it cannot continue to support allied armed groups.

While the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government, senior administration officials have since said regime change was not the goal.

Trump on Tuesday seemed to downplay chances of the war ending Iran’s theocratic rule, saying that “someone from within” the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the U.S.Israel campaign is finished.

Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s toppled shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over.

As far as possible leaders inside Iran, “the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump said.

“I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen,” Trump said. “We don’t want that to happen.”

Iran’s leaders are scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It’s only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme

FUNDS

Continued from page 1A

Parish

n England Airpark, Rapides Parish

n Esperanza Business Park, St. Charles Parish

n Franklinton Industrial Park, Washington Parish

n Gulf South Commerce Park, St. Tammany Parish

n Lake Charles Regional Airport, Calcasieu Parish

n McLeod Business Park, Lafourche Parish

n Natchitoches Parish Port Warehouse, Natchitoches Parish

n Naval Support Activity Site, Orleans Parish

n Port Dis-Tran, Rapides Parish

n Port of Caddo Bossier, Caddo Parish

n Port of Columbia, Caldwell Parish

n Port Vinton, Calcasieu Parish

n Riverplex MegaPark Port, Ascension Parish

n ScaleBTR, East Baton Rouge Parish

n South Monroe Industrial Park, Ouachita Parish.

LED did not immediately disclose dollar amounts for each project or other details, saying more information will roll out over the coming months as project agreements are finalized.

The minimum award amount is $1 million and the maximum is $25

leader is being chosen. Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.

Information coming out of Iran has been limited because of poor communications, round-the-clock airstrikes and tight restrictions on journalists. But across Iran’s capital, aircraft were heard overhead, and explosions rang out.

The Israeli military said it conducted a wave of airstrikes on sites that produce and store ballistic missiles, in Tehran and Isfahan. It also said it destroyed what it called Iran’s secret, underground nuclear headquarters. Without providing evidence, it said the site was used for scientific research “to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.”

“The regime attempted to rebuild its efforts and conceal them, thinking we wouldn’t notice. They were mistaken,” said Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen Effie

Defrin.

There was no immediate public comment from the U.S. or Iran about the site Israel named.

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, though it has maintained its right to do so and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site had sustained “some recent damage,” though there was “no radiological consequence expected.” The U.S. hit Natanz during the 12-day war in June when Israeli and American strikes greatly weakened Iran’s nuclear program.

New rounds of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes rattled Iran.

“Since midnight, I and my wife are hearing sound of explosions,” said Ali Amoli, an engineer living in north Tehran. Satellite images published Tuesday by Colorado-based company

Vantor showed the domed roof of Iran’s presidential complex in Tehran had been destroyed, supporting Israel’s claim of an overnight strike. Iran did not acknowledge the damage or report any casualties.

A north Tehran resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation described growing fears in the capital as it comes under heavy bombardment

The resident said most stores in the normally bustling area of Tajrish were closed, though bakeries and supermarkets remained open.

An attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a “limited fire,” according to the Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound.

An Iranian drone struck a parking lot outside the U.S. consulate in Dubai, sparking a small fire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Washington. He said all personnel

million.

The sites, which are scattered throughout the state in 16 parishes, were selected through a competitive process. Susan Bourgeois, secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, said Tuesday that projects were chosen based on industry demand, how quickly the money

could be put to use, a clear project scope and delivery timeline, and a measurable return on the state’s investment.

One of the conditions for a project award is a 100% return to the state fund within five years, Bourgeois said. But she also noted that, under some of the agreements, which are tailored for each indi-

vidual project, “the state’s gonna see an upside well beyond the dollar investment we’re making.”

“The floor is dollar-for-dollar repayment, but there isn’t a ceiling,” she said.

Bourgeois said having sites ready is one of the first steps to ensuring that businesses seriously consider Louisiana as a place to

were accounted for.

The United Arab Emirates said it has intercepted the vast majority of more than 1,000 Iranian missile and drone attacks against it.

U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon said they were closed to the public.

The U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. also urged its citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, though with much of the airspace closed, many were stranded.

The State Department said Tuesday it’s preparing military and charter flights for Americans who want to leave the Middle East. Several other countries also arranged evacuation flights for their citizens.

The U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed, including seven children, Lebanon’s health ministry said.

The U.S. military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The four dead American soldiers who were identified Tuesday were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, lowa. Killed were Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday criticized Iran’s attacks against Gulf neighbors that had worked to prevent war as an “incredibly flawed strategy” that threatened to widen the war if those states decide to retaliate.

invest.

“Companies eliminate sites immediately if gaps exist,” she said.

Last year the Louisiana Legislature gave $150 million to Louisiana Economic Development for a new fund specifically dedicated to “site investment and infrastructure improvements for economic development purposes.”

The aim is to create “marketready sites, places where businesses can build and grow quickly,” according to the FastSites program website.

Parishes, cities, towns, redevelopment authorities, nonprofit groups and local or regional economic development groups can apply for project funding. Private landowners can apply for the money too but must agree to certain conditions.

The money can be used for things like creating new access roads and intersections; land and property improvements like drainage, tree-clearing, filling wetlands and building demolition; setting up utilities like water power sewer and internet; and creating rail access, among others.

There were 50 applicants for the initial round of funding, and 19 projects worth $140 million were selected.

Bourgeois said because a portion of the $150 million fund has not yet been awarded, the agency may open another round of applications to fund additional, smaller projects.

Afew showers Coupleof t-storms Aheavy thunderstorm Athunderstorm around Athunderstorm around At-storminspots

NationalSummary

Awidespread

EXOSKELETON

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chronic pain to boot.

Andwomenwho work in the industry face aunique risk: injury causedbypoorly fitting equipment that was designed formen and untested on female bodies.

“There have been acouple of instances with these safety harnesseswhere, female workers specifically,they have fallen,” Taylor said. “They’ve been strapped in the way they should, but their breasts have actually been ripped off.”

The exoskeleton will function for men and women, but the development team wanted to use the “female morphology” as its starting point to challenge the bias toward male forms whencreating products, Taylor said. The prototype fits women sizes 8 through 12, around 5feet, 7 inches tall.

“There is abit of amalefirst default in design —oh, if you can design it for aguy, it will work for everybody,” Taylor said. “Weare still designing for everybody; we’re just starting with the female user.”

The top half of the suit features mesh panels for breathability and contains aslot for abattery pack, which powers the motorized lower half of the suit. Many individual parts of theexoskeleton are produced with a3Dprinter. Engineering researchers are buildingsensors for the leg braces to measure muscle fatigue in real time,

Taylorsaid. As the worker exerts energy, the motor will engage to alleviate some of thestress putonthe body.

“The sensors that engineering is working ondesigning will track and monitor and then compensatefor the fatigue,” Taylorsaid.

Across multiple prototypes, the researchers adjustedissues withweight distribution and fit, Taylor said. The model will move into wear trials this spring to measure comfortlevel, chafing, thermal output and otherfactors.

“You don’twantall the weight on your shoulders; youdon’twant all the weight onyour hips,” Taylor said. “That will cause adifferent kind of repeatstressinjury.”

Thegoalof theproject is to sell the exoskeleton to construction companies for widespread use. The productisdifferent from others on the market because of the attention to thefemale form

as well as itshybrid model of mechanized and analog features, Taylor said.

Theconstruction industry is in theearly stagesof adopting exoskeletons, Taylor said.

“In construction, they are startingto, buttheyare big, bulky,fully automated exoskeletons,” Taylor said.

“They’re arobot suit.”

The wearable suit will also help reducethe “laborgap” on construction sites, Taylor said.

“When construction workers, male and female, have been put against one another,itisthe same muscle, energy output,” Taylor said.

“The female workers and the male workers are doing the same amount of work, but maybe duetoheckling, maybe due to societal pressures, the female workers feel like they can’t. This is hopefully going to alleviate some of that perceiveddifference.”

Willow Charter Academy dean wins award Leader

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

honored for student commitment, supporting staff

Willow Charter Academy Dean of Middle School Andrea Robert was surprised last week and given the Dean of Excellence Award by the national group that over-

Survey seeks input on Lafayette’s future

Officials asking residents to name priorities, concerns

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

The Lafayette Consolidated Government recently launched a survey that aims to help shape growth in the parish’s unincorporated areas.

The fastest-growing areas in Lafayette Parish are outside of Lafayette city limits, with places like Youngsville, Broussard and Carencro, and their outskirts, among the fastest-growing in the state.

The parish is asking residents to help set priorities and share their concerns in a new survey to shape the continued growth of Lafayette’s suburban and rural communities, according to an LCG statement released Tuesday

The Lafayette Parish Growth Plan, in coordination with the Louisiana-based city-planning nonprofit Center for Planning Excellence, aims to understand and coordinate future needs, including roads, drainage, utilities and neighborhood development. The plan’s goal is to allow for predictable and well-managed growth, reduce land-use and development standard conflicts, encourage development where it can best be supported by the parish and coordinate infrastructure and essential services growth, according to the announcement.

“Lafayette Parish is growing and has a bright future ahead. Our responsibility is to be intentional about how that growth happens ” said Mayor-President Monique Boulet. “We’re taking a proactive approach to growth to strengthen our infrastructure, make smarter investments in drainage, protect our neighborhoods, and build a parish that reflects the priorities of the people who live here.”

The survey is live and will remain open until March 27 Results will be collected and presented in a late spring 2026 final report

Questions include the biggest concern residents have about future development outside of their city’s boundaries, whether growth is needed in the parish, and what principles should guide that development.

Carencro is shaping up to be one of the fast-growing areas in the state, according to Census population estimates. In 2020, cities like Youngsville and nearby Maurice held the titles of fast-growing. According to census estimates, Carencro had about 38.9% increase in population since 2020, jumping from 9,278 to 12,883 in 2024. The city’s population has increased 71% since 2010 Youngville has seen a slowdown in its once-blistering growth, but it still shows solid population growth of about 19.5% since 2020, sitting just under 20,000 From 2010 to 2020, the city’s population nearly doubled, reaching just under 16,000 residents.

Other Lafayette Parish cities had large gains, with Scott growing by 15.7%, reaching 9,468 residents. Broussard increased by 13.7%,

sees the school. Robert was honored for commitment to improving student outcomes and dedication to supporting Willow’s staff, according to a news release from the National Heritage Academies, the charter management com-

pany that operates the school and more than 100 others across nine states.

“(Robert’s) leadership reflects a strong balance of operational excellence, instructional focus, and people-centered management,” Principal Jessica Dominique said

in a statement. “Every single decision she makes is intentional and is made to improve outcomes for both students and staff.”

Robert’s expertise in math and focus on student data have helped improve students’ state testing scores, according to the news release from the National Heritage Academies. Willow was one of a handful of south Louisiana schools State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley visited last month to learn more about math classes and student growth.

Contact Ashley White ashley white@theadvocate.com.

QUICK WITTED

Beth

from

and Ross Rushing practice the game ‘yes, Let’s’ during the Silverbacks Improv Theatre rehearsal for the upcoming performance of ‘Improv Rumble 2026!’ on Saturday at Wonderland Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m.

LEFT: A group of participants rehearse the game ‘10 Second Object.’

Appeals court says parish held illegal closed-door talks

Ruling finds St. James officials tried to bypass transparency law

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

A Louisiana appellate court has ruled that St. James Parish officials violated state law when they held closed-door meetings about a proposed chemical plant, finding they deliberately structured the sessions to keep the public in the dark.

The three-judge panel of the Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeal in Gretna unanimously affirmed a lower court’s ruling on Feb. 25 that the parish intentionally circumvented the open meetings law by splitting members of the Planning Commission and Parish Council into two back-to-back sessions on May 14,

2019, each carefully arranged so that neither body had a quorum present. The meetings were not publicly noticed, were held at a location not typically used for parish business, and were closed to anyone who had not been invited.

Parish officials testified that they wanted council members to be able to ask questions of the company “without being bombarded by any other opinion,” and that the meetings were closed to the public to “alleviate the potential for bickering.” The sessions were convened so that members of both bodies could privately receive information from Wanhua Chemical, a Chinese company that had applied for a land-use permit to build a $1.25 billion polyurethane manufacturing facility in Convent.

During oral arguments in the case last month, an attorney for the parish, Tara Clement told the court that the meetings were

attended. Judge John J. Molaison

La.’sankle monitoring programneeds to be mended or ended

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill remains on amission to crack down on weak enforcementofankle monitoring systems for criminal defendants. She is quiteright to pursue that mission. Indeed, the failures of the systems are so great that Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams makes sense in suggesting that the whole program should be paused until the repeated kinks can be worked out.Such amoratorium should at least be considered. Even if over-incarceration is aproblem, it’s better not to let potentially dangerous criminals on the streets if they can’tbetracked and kept from violence.

The latest notable example of crimes committed by people who were supposed to be monitored happened Jan. 22 in the Village de l’Est neighborhood in New Orleans, when a juvenile wearing an ankle monitor,issued by the Office of Juvenile Justice, repeatedly shot avictim in the back. Themonitor’sbattery had died four days earlier,but no officials had done anything to ensure it was recharged or working.

Murrill for years has been trying to force responsible parties to make sure the ankle devices actually work and are monitored. Her latest targets, via aFeb. 4complaint tothe Louisiana Judiciary Commission, are all four Juvenile Court judges in New Orleans.

Most specifically,Murrill asked thecommission to investigate Judge Candice BatesAnderson for allegedly improper oversight of two juveniles connected withhigh-profile killings when their ankle devices weren’tbeing tracked.

Similar problems have occurred in multiple areas of the state. A2022 investigation by this newspaper found widely varying performance among the companies that provide the equipment, along with poor or even nonexistent record-keeping in some communities.

And awhole, horrible string of violent incidents across Louisiana have occurred when monitoring failed. Perhaps the most notorious one occurred in St. Francisville in 2021, when aman named Marshall Rayburn, who already had been charged several times with raping his wife and ordered to stay away from her house, nonetheless continued to terrorize and finally kill her and then himself. The monitoring company had never notified law enforcement of Rayburn’smultiple violations of theprotective order.

We do not know how far the problem extends statewide, but this much is certain: Somehow, some way,the state andits judicialsystem and all local jurisdictions must ensure that the monitors work and are tracked and that transgressors will quickly be imprisoned. Order must be imposed on the chaos, with clear lines of authorityand no buck-passing. If nobody monitors the monitors, more innocent people could die. Let’shope Murrill’s spotlight causes officials tostopbeing so dangerously negligent.

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

Political leaders relying on spiritual belief systemstosupport their power is nothing new

The authority of theRoman emperor was reinforced by ahierarchy of pagan gods at the time Jesus Christ was born. Paganismlegitimized that political system until thefourth century,when Emperor Constantine consolidated his personal political control by proclaiming Christianity theofficial religion of theempire. The monarchsofWestern civilization continued to use Christianityinthe form of Catholicism to validatetheir “divine right”torule until the16th century.When theProtestantReformation provoked areligious fragmentation throughout Europe, however,those controversies became conflated with political ones. With each European monarch declaring his authority to impose his own spiritual preference over those he ruled, continentwide protestserupted. In order to ultimately determine which form of Christianity would be practiced, aseries of viciously bloody wars were fought over the following years, resulting in thedeaths of over 8million

It seems there are manyU.S. citizens who believe if aperson enters our country illegally,has ajob and hasn’t committed aserious crime, they have a right to remain here. Well, they don’t.

That’sthe mindset that encouraged thecaravans in which people gave their life savings to cartels to bring their children to America, only to have manyofthem raped, beaten and sold into slavery.Millions of young adult males (unvetted)entered illegally from countries all over the globe. Arethey all good people?

The job they had was taken from a legal citizen (at areduced wage). They have put an enormous strain on our welfare, education and health systems, as well as our judicial system.

Youdon’thave to like President

Traffic signs are meaningless. Stop signs, traffic signals, no left turn, no right turn, no parking, handicapped parking, school zones, speed limit and yield signs mean nothing anymore. When you have no enforcement,why comply? Amessage to the lady who

people. America’sFounding Fathers had learned from the previous century’s gory history how disastrous it could be when politics and religion became intermingled. In their courageous attempttoestablish anew independent country with an experimental form of government, theyrecognized that if they wanted to avoid apath to selfdestruction, they needed to allow space for freedom of conscience when writing the Constitution. Thanks to their foresight, adiversity of religious thought has becomean enduring part of the American mindset over the past 250 years. While the TenCommandments may have historical and cultural significance, they are undoubtedly primarily religious laws. If our current political leaders wish to keep our country strong, they could likewise learn from history why posting acopy of these lawsinpublic classrooms is ablatant disregard for thereligious freedom our Founders so wisely provided.

SUE GISCLAIR Baton Rouge

Donald Trump’sbraggadocio (I don’t either), but look at theresults. He has sent themessage that illegal entry won’tbetolerated, stopping the caravans, thereby saving lives and preventing atrocities.

I, too, have aheart and feel sympathy for people who live in fear and poverty so terrible that they think their only hope is to flee.

Ibelieve we need to help these desperatepeople, but we need to help them in their own countries so they don’t have to flee.

That’sa big part of what President Trumphopes to accomplish in Venezuela, and it sends the message to the other Latin American countries.

BV BUTCH POLITO Hammond

complained about getting an electronic ticket for running ared light: There’sa simple solution. Don’t run ared light. It’sa total breakdown of society.No accountability

KEN NAQUIN Baton Rouge

Naming sports arenas notina hospital’s job description

Iagree with and applaud James L. Smith forhis letter that was printed on Feb. 25. Ican’timagine that the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady consider sports venue naming rights to be part of their mission to provide forthe health care needs of the people they serve. In my opinion, these funds would be better spent on medical services and health care personnel.

Iama fanofOLOL, but Idon’t choose to access their services because their nameisonafootball field. Iagree that the OLOL board of trustees should reconsider its decision to compete forthe naming rights to sports venues. RICHARD FRUGE Lafayette

People should question their representatives aboutwar in Iran

Iamwriting to my congressman,Clay Higgins, from Louisiana’sThird District. Ifeel that he, along with the rest of our Congressional delegation, owes us all aresponse.

As his constituent, Iwant to know acouple of things about the latest warthis Republican administration has launched in our name.

WasHiggins, as amember of Congress, consulted, and did he give consent to this recent action beginning Feb. 28? Iwould normally refer to congressional votes to determine his actions, but, to my knowledge, this was not discussed in the halls of our government. This seemsunilateral, by an out-of-control administration with no bounds.

Iwill emphatically state that he owes it to us in Lafayette, to us in Louisiana and to the rest of his fellow citizens across America to be 100% transparent and tell us what he knew and when.

RICHARD SMITH Lafayette

Dr.Norman Francis meant the world to so many.But it was different for some. “When we were growing up, he was daddy,” Kathleen Francis told me during aWBOK Good Morning Show Monday before aseries of events honoring Dr.Francis at Xavier University’sconvocation center.“Growing up, we didn’trealize he was alegacy.We thought ourjob was to keep him humble. He would come home and ask us whether we were watching the news. We’d say no, we’re watching ‘The Mod Squad.’” Kathleen is founder andpresident of Oasis Management and chair and president of Women in Sports +Events (WISE).She’sone of six successful Francis adult children. Dr.Francis died the first day of Lent, as if he wanted afull Carnival season before leaving. His funeral Mass was held at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square in the New Orleans French Quarter.Kathleen and some of her siblings shared some of what they experienced as children.

Norman Francis, wife Blanche and their children lived on the second floor of atwo-story house, ahome with two parents, six children and one bathroom.

Things really got fancy when the house was renovated, giving them the first floor as an addition, adding asecond bathroom —but only one shower

On any given day,the Francis kids didn’tknow who or whattoexpect. It was normal to bounce downstairs andsee their mom havingcoffee with 62-year Xavier employeeJoe Spencer, acustodian, mailman and keymaster,the one man on campus who had keys to every door on campus. It was normal to head downstairs and see a prominent elected official,business or university leader visiting. Kathleen Francis said they’d run upstairs to grab apair of shoes or shorts, or whateverwas needed at the moment.

Dr.Francis talked and walked with those of great note and those who few people knew.But his wife and family were most important.

With six children playing sportsand having other youth activities with the Carrollton Boosters, there were different activities, different sports, dif-

Christina Francis, center,isjoined by her siblingsatSt. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans as theyremember their father,Dr. Norman C. Francis, during his funeral on Tuesday.

ferent teams on different days. Yet, he made time for his family

“He and my mother never missed one baseball game or one football game or whatever we were doing if he was home,” TimFrancis told me. Theirfatherwasn’tanavid kids’ sportsfan or adiehardparent telling coaches what they should do. No, he wasfocused on one player at atime.

“Timmy,don’tplay around. Don’t throw junk. Play it straight,” Tim recalled his father saying from the bleachers. “You could always hear his voice. He was always engaged.”

Dr.Michael Franciswanted to be ajournalist,but “Norman mademe go into medicine.” Norman?Iasked. “Well, Inever called him that to his face.” Michael likes saying Norman whentalking about his father,though his brothers and sisters do not.He followed his father’sadvice, went to medical school and became asuccessful pediatric anesthesiologistand medical school professor.Thesedays, he’sdirector of investigations for the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners— and he loves it. “It’skind of like journalism,” he said. “Tell me your story.What did youdo? What happened? Why did it happen?”

Michael noted that none of his brothers and sisters live public lives

as their father did. “Noneofuswere running for office,” he said. “Wedon’t have high profiles.…But we all have been apart of giving of some kind.”

Thereare other children of Blanche and Norman Francis. Christina Francis runs FranchiseEnterprises LLC, asports managementfirm. Patrick Francis is aformer associate vice chancellor at the University of Texas System. David Francis is co-founder of Verite News.

Since theloss of Dr.Francis, many have expressed appreciation and gratitude for his life and the ways he touched others. Many arethanking the Francis family for sharing their father and their grandfather with us.

Norman Francis loved God, Blanche, his children, his grandchildren and the larger Francis family clan.

Now that two daysofcelebrating his life have passed,the rest of us who want to honor his legacy can do a couple of things: “Live like Norman,” as former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu saidatthe program. And prove that Norman Francis isn’tgone by living our lives as he would. That’swhat his children aredoing. So should we.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate.com.

Joe McCarthy wasfamously undone by the rhetorical questions at a1954 congressional hearing: “Have you no sense of decency,sir,at long last? Have you leftnosense of decency?” If the samequeries weredirected to Candace Owens at such aforum, she’d sail on unperturbed —since she has no idea what “decency” means.

The conspiratorial podcaster has embarked on an investigative series on Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk. In this context, “investigative series” meansa loosely stitched together collection of sewerish falsehoods and innuendo smearing Erika Kirk. Perhaps Owens can follow up with afranchise devoted to sullying the reputations of the widows of assassinated husbands throughout U.S. history.Are we sure that Mary Todd Lincoln wasasinnocent as she seemed? Didn’tJackie Kennedy act kind of weird in Dallas? What did IdaSaxton McKinley know and when did she know it?

The narrative and commercial logic always suggested that this is where Owens was headed. It didn’tmake any sense to libel TPUSA as being connected to the murder of its leader and founder —asOwens has formonths now without implicating its new leader,Erika Kirk. And, as the shock value of her anti-TPUSA campaign woreoff, Owens had to stoke outrage and interest anew with something even more perverse. And what is moredemented than portraying the wife of the victim of ashocking assassination as ablack widow?

Whereas mostofhave seen in Erika Kirk a Christian womanbearing up under an intolerable burden and stunningly forgiving the alleged murderer of her husband, Owens purports to see Clytemnestra, the mythical Greek figure whobetrayed her husband Agamemnon upon his return from the Trojan War.

The title of her series is “Bride of Charlie.” Getit? Like the “Bride of Frankenstein.”

Shortly after Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty last week to charges that he murdered his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner,Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said he was still considering thedeath penalty “Wewill be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances,” he said, “and we have invited defense counsel to present to us both in writing and orally in ameeting any arguments that they would like to make.” Nick Reiner’stwo siblings have saidthey do not want their brother put to death if he’sconvicted.Prosecutors in such cases, of course,work for the government, not for victims’ families, for whom the perpetrator’sdeath sentence can be yet another traumaon top of the loss of aloved one. Consider adecades-old murder case from Columbia, South Carolina, that has recently resurfaced thanksto avictim’ssister who, after years of silent suffering, has become an antideath penalty activist

whowas 19 when her sister was killed, to remember and tell what happened to her family during that time.

“My family disintegrated after Carlotta’smurder,” she told me. She has been coping through thedecades ever since, with the anguish and physical toll of both her little sister’smurder and her family’scloistered silence. Hartness’sfather ordered thefamily never to mention Carlotta’s name.

That command and decades of isolated suffering led Hartness, now 68, toasurprising conclusion and advice for prosecutors: Don’tmakeitworse for thealleged perpetrator’sfamily by seeking the death penalty. It almost always leads to appeals and forces the victim’sfamily —who are called murder co-victims —toendure the agony of the killing again

church, or work. This realization led Hartness to oppose the death penalty “I cannot be apart of something that brings suffering to families like my family suffered,” she said.

Hartness’sempathyhas offended somepeople, she told me, but she doesn’tcare anymore. “Let them be offended.” While many friends celebrated the executions, she said, “no one was celebrating in my house. We had to relive every detail of my sister’srape, torture and murder.”

As aso-called investigator,Candace Owens is like Perry Mason if the fictional attorney had been aschizophrenic high on crack. Her method is to pile will-o’-the-wisp connections one on top of another,often buttressed by flagrant factual mistakes, and insist that if she’s debunked, it just showshow she must be on the right track.

Her mantra is that “wedon’tknow-know,but we know”—inother words, her malicious, irrational intuitions are superior to actual knowledge backed by facts.

She now says that “Erika Kirk should be dragged into apolice precinct forquestioning,” and anyone whodisagrees is “a full-blown fraud.” According to Owens, “the amount of evidence that is now piling up, Iwould say, against Erika Kirk, is almost akin to an NBC Dateline episode.”

On Oct. 29, 1977, 14-year-old Carlotta Hartness and 17-year-old Tommy Taylor were in the wrong place at the wrong time —parked in acar when three males were on adrug-andalcohol-fueled mission to “find agirl to rape,” as one of the suspects testified in court. Spotting the teenagers, they drove up and shot Tommy dead. Carlotta was kidnapped and taken to anearby dirt road, where the trio repeatedly raped and tortured the teen before killing her.One of them returned later to mutilate her body.Two were sentenced to death and executed in 1985 and1986. The third, who testified against theothers, was sentenced to lifeand died in prison. Carlotta’sparents and their son have died, leaving only Sherrerd Hartness,

Thedeath penalty “is thelast thing that victim family membersneed,” shewrote in an article for the State newspaper in Columbia. “The months priortothe executionsofmysister’s murdererswere filled with relentless news coverage.”

Hartness said she still suffers extreme physical pain, diagnosed as fibromyalgia, related to Carlotta’s murder.Thiscondition is not uncommonamong victims of psychological or emotional trauma. Each time one of Carlotta’skillers was executed, aches andmuscle cramps gripped Hartness’s body,aphysical terror connected not only to thedeaths but to thesuffering of theperpetrators’ families.

Forthem, she thinks, it may be worse than for some victims’ families.Not only dofamilies of death rowinmates have to countdown theminutes and seconds until their son, brother,uncle or father is executed but they have to walk into school the next day,or

Hartness said no one called to check on her for weeks before or after the executions. (Oneneighbor brought a loaf of bread.) Lonelinessand lack of support were constants in her life, giving her time to think and contemplate vexing questions —how cycles of crime pass through generations, how childhoods of neglect and abuse create people filled with rage and bereft of coping mechanisms. She yearned to help, to stop the cycles, to interrupt the rage, but how? After decades of silence, she found her voice and began talking —oncollege campuses, on panels and even to garden clubs. The more she talked, theless her body ached. Though sometimes lonely,Hartness is far from alone. The Justice Department’sOffice for Victims of Crime reported in 2018 that 1in10Americans will lose aloved one to homicide in their lifetime, covictimswhose suffering doesn’tend when amurderer’sheart stops. Killing, whether by arenegade trio of rapistsorbythe government,isn’tthe answer,itseems. Not even, Hartness would argue, for an alleged murderer such as Nick Reiner.Alife sentence spent suffering for his slain parents surely would be apunishment worse than death.

Email KathleenParker at kathleenparker@washpost.com.

Usually,conspiracy theories spring up around assassinations that are hard to fathom,orhave someambiguity about them. It is clear that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing JFK, but it’sunderstandable that there have been questions about the event. It is the depraved achievement of Candace Owens to makeabonkers true crime drama, with all sorts of mysteries and twists, out of an open-and-shut murder case.

Kirk’saccused killer,Tyler Robinson, had a motive, leftatrail of damning evidence and confessed to multiple people. To dismiss all this and call forErika Kirk to be frogmarched into apolice station is so mad it makes Owens’ conviction that both the moon landing and dinosaurs are fake look well-grounded by comparison.

It is asymptom of our time that such malevolent buffoonery is rewarded with ahuge audience. It is impossible to discredit Owens because she is not in the credibility business to begin with. In the attention economy,denunciations are just as useful as praise, especially if amedia figure is posing as abrave truth-teller —sobrave that, in this case, she’swilling to drag through amud amother of twowho saw her beloved husband murdered less than six months ago.

It’s not just that decency is not necessary in the Candace Owens business model; it would be an obstacle.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

N.O. celebrates life of Norman C. Franciswithfuneral Mass

BY JOHN POPE Contributing writer

The stained-mahogany casket of Norman C. Francis rested in its place of honor in the center aisle of St. Louis Cathedral. Around it satmayors, judges, acongressman, civic leaders,artists, singers and an extended family that took up the first rows of thehistoric church’spews.

Then the voice of Taylor White broke through, and “Ave Maria” soared throughthe cathedral,its somber notes opening afuneral Mass to honor one of New Orleans’ most influential leadersofthe past half-century

Hundreds of mournersattended the formal ceremonies on Tuesday morning, where family members andpoliticalleaders praisedthe man who had helped shape Xavier University and the city more broadly over his nine decades of life.

“We’re here not to mourn you but to celebrate your life,” former New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial said of Francis, the longtime president of Xavier,who died on Feb. 18 at 94.

“He saw the future beforeanyone else did,” said Morial, one of three speakers who pointed to the generosity and strength thatFrancisimpartedtogenerationsofstudents and civic leaders.“Hisimpact wasincredible. …His legacy goes far and wide. God created a perfect servant in Norman Francis.” Francis, Morial said, influenced important organizations in public and behind closed doors, in meetings with presidents andcaptains of industry

“When he spoke in these meetings, all eyeswereonNorman.”

The funeral Mass at the cathedral, presided over by Archbishop

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would have hadtohave wanderedinbyaccident?” Clement acknowledged that was true. The court found that avoidingbickeringwas not avalid reason for failing to provide notice of the meetings to the public, and that the parish’sactions clearly showed an intentto circumvent the open meetingslaw.The ruling noted that the sessions were held just six days before akey Planning Commission vote on Wanhua’sapplication, and that no publicmeeting was held afterward to share the information that membershad received privately.

“If Wanhua had come in, that would’ve meant morepollution,” said Sharon Lavigne,a St. James resident and the founder of community activist group RISESt. James. “So for them to do this behind our back,they need to be held accountable.” Neither Clement nor a spokesperson for St. James Parish responded to requests for comment. Wanhua ultimatelywithdrew its application in September 2019. The project had faced mounting community opposition,costly tariffs imposed during the U.S.-China trade dispute in the first Trump administration, and anear doubling of the plant’sconstruction costs, which the parish president at the time said had risen to more than $2 billion. Had the facility been built, it would have emitted more than 300,000 pounds per year of toxic pollution, including cancer-causing substancesand phosgene,

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growing its population to 15,312. The parish as awhole has seen agrowth rateof 5.2% and is estimated to have reached aquarter-million people in 2024. All outpaced the city of Lafayette, which increased by 0.7%, from 121,391 to 122,280, according to estimates. Since 2010, Lafayette’spopulation has risen by 1.37%. While migrationdataisn’t available, growth in Lafay-

James E. Checchioand otherconcelebrants, came on the second day of ceremonies to honor thelife of Francis and his contributionsto New Orleans.

On Mondayevening, Xavier University hosted acelebration of his life after his body laid in aplace of honor atthe university’sconvocation center so that membersofthe public could paytheir respects.

Theformalfuneral ceremonies took placeTuesday, beginning with avisitation, then the Mass and ending with Francis’ burial in St.Louis Cemetery No. 3onEsplanade Avenue.

Pallbearers accompaniedFran-

achemical warfare agent, according tothe plaintiffs’ attorneys.

St. James Parish sits in a stretch of the Mississippi Rivercorridorbetween New Orleans and Baton Rouge that many refer to as “Cancer Alley” because of the high concentration of pollutingindustrial plants in the area. In a separate federal lawsuit, RISE St.James andtwo other groups allege that the parish hasfor decades steered industrial facilitiesinto predominantly Black neighborhoods while shieldingWhite areas from development. Afederal judge ruled last month that the case can proceedonall counts.

The plaintiffs inthe open meetings case —longtime residents Genevieve Butler and Pastor HarryJoseph Sr., along with RISE St. James and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade environmental group —were represented byMatthew Turner,a student attorney with the Environmental LawClinicatTulaneUniversity.Turnerargued that the illegal meetings were discovered largely by accident, througha publicrecords request thatturned up emails organizing the sessions.

The courtdeclared the meetings illegal but declined to issuea permanent injunction barring theparish fromholding similar meetings in the future.The trial court had found that the meetings werenot held with “ill intent,”and the appellate court agreed that the plaintiffs’ fear that secret meetings couldhappen again was not sufficient to support an injunction. The court noted that the parish is now “well aware” of what constitutesa violation.

ette Parish has come at the expense of the Acadiana region, with mostofits cities and parishes showing population decreases.

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POWERBALL: 2-17-1838-62 (20)

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

cis’ casketinto thecathedral before 10 a.m., andnearlyall of the pews were filledfor the90-minute ceremony In his homily,CardinalWilton Gregory,the former archbishop of Washington,D.C., notedthat while Francis’ life hadbeen filled with honors, “healwaysmanaged to maintain the proper perspective andviewpoint. As apublic figure he commandedrespect, he exercised authority,but he neverlost perspective.”

Morial, the president and CEO of the National Urban League, stressed Francis’commitment to science, which hasled Xavier to

It is sort of a‘slap on the wrist,’”saidDevin Lowell, an attorney withthe Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane. “But it does make clear thatwhatthe parish did is illegal. So they should know nottodoitagain.” Louisiana’sopen meetings lawrequiresthat

send more minority students to medical schools than any other college in the country

He called for the medical school being developed at Xavier to bear Francis’name, arecommendation thatwas metwitharound of applause.

Everyspeaker mentioned Francis’ devotion to his family,and on Tuesday,all six of Normanand Blanche Francis’ children gathered aroundthe casketfor onelastlook before thelid wasclosed. Blanche Francis diedin2015.

Christina Francis, theyoungest of the Francises’ children,talked about howher fatherloved to tin-

most government meetings be advertised publicly at least 24 hours in advance when aquorum will be present. Thelaw also prohibits public bodies from using “anyother means to circumvent”its intent —the provision the court foundthe parish had violated.

kerinthe garage,and howhecalled homeevery night when he was on the road.

“I hit the jackpot to have Normanand Blanche Francis as my parents,” she saidasher siblings stood around her.“He loved us unconditionally,and it’s hard to lethim go.Wewantedtokeep him forever.”

“Welove you, Daddy.Rest well.”

Among those in the cathedral who gave hera standing ovation wereNew OrleansMayor Helena Moreno; U.S. Rep. Troy Carter,DNew Orleans; Orleans Parish DistrictAttorneyJason Williams; singer John Boutté; U.S. DistrictJudge Jay Zainey; and Liberty Bank founder Alden McDonald. Norman Francis was aformer chair of the bank’sboard.

But not everyone in attendance was aboldface name. Sadie Wiese said she wasthere because she has been afriend of one of the Francises’ 11 grandchildren since childhood.

“Thisfamily has made such a commitment to service,” she said. In addition to speakers, there wasmusic. GrammyAward-winning composer Terence Blanchard played asoulful, keening version of “Amazing Grace” on his trumpet. Twosingers wonapplause: Danielle E. Wilsonfor hersoaring solo of “Precious Lord” and Davell Crawford forhis rendition of “IfI Can Help Somebody.”

And Dr.Michael White,a clarinetist andXavierfaculty member, played theworshippers out the door with this recessional: “This Little Light of Mine.”

Thefinal words came from the archbishop.

“Weare moved by his life,” Checchio said. “The best we can do is emulate it. Oneday we shall meet him again.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill has recently sued local governmentsfor failing to abide by parts of the open meetings law Shesuedthe Caddo Parish Commission for failing to voteonaresolution welcoming Sen. BernieSand-

PUBLIC NOTICE Advertisementfor Bids Notice is hereby given that sealed bids (one original)willbereceived by theLafayette Parish School System Purchas‐ingDepartment, located at 202 RueIberville, Lafayette,Louisiana 70508 andelectronicbids will be received at www centerlinebidconnect com. Delivery to any otherdepartmentother than thePurchasingDe‐partment is unaccept‐able andmay result in non-considerationofthe bid. Bids will be received until 10:00 a.m.,CST on Thursday,March 26, 2026 forconstructionofthe followingproject as de‐scribedinthe Bidding Documentsand listed on theBid Form:

ers, I-Vt., to Shreveport, and theLivingston Parish LibraryBoard for violating agenda requirementswhen it voted to oust itslibrary director

Email AlexLubbenat alex.lubben@theadvocate. com.

Each bidmustbeaccom‐panied by acertified check, cashier’scheck or BidBond usingthe Owner’sformpayable to theLafayette Parish School System,the amount of whichshall be five percent(5%)ofthe amount of theproposed Base Bidplusall Alter‐nates. MoneyOrderswill notbeaccepted. Electronic bids maybe submittedonlineat www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.Inaccor‐dancewithLARS38: 2212.E(6),bidsfor this projectmay be submit‐tedelectronicallyvia up‐load to Centerline Bid Connect (www.centerl inebidconnect.com ). All biddocuments shallbe uploaded by thedue date andtimestatedabove Questionsabout this pro‐cedure should be di‐rected to Centerline (phone 504-291-5738, email: bidconnect@centerline. co ). ABid bond will be required,per thecon‐tractdocuments,and should be uploaded with therestofthe required BidDocuments. If a scannedcopyofthe Bid Bond is uploaded,the original notarizedbid bond must be produced “on-demand” perthe Owner’srequest Thesuccessful Bidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and PaymentBondinan amount equalto100% of theContractonthe formsprovidedbythe School Boardand written in accordance with Louisianalaw Bids shallbeaccepted only from contractors whoare licensed by the LouisianaState Licensing Boardfor Contractorsfor theclassification of Building Construction.No bidmay be withdrawn fora period of forty-five (45) days afterreceipt of bids,exceptunder the provisions of La.R.S 38:2214. Amandatory

Purchasing andProcure‐ment Coordinator Advertisingdates:Febru‐ary18, 2026 February 25, 2026 March04, 2026 177761-feb18-25-mar4-3t $133

g madetoobtainthem throughmostrepro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction costs. Questionsabout this procedureshouldbe directed to:Centerline –Phone: 504- 291-5738, emailbidconnect@ centerline.co. Each bidmustbeaccom‐panied by acertified check, cashier’scheck or BidBondusing the Owner’sformpayable to theLafayette Parish School System,the amount of whichshall be five percent(5%)ofthe amount of theproposed Base Bidplusall Alter‐nates. MoneyOrderswill notbeaccepted. Electronic bids maybe submittedonlineat www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.Inaccor‐dancewithLARS38: 2212.E(6),bidsfor this projectmay be submit‐tedelectronicallyvia up‐load to Centerline Bid Connect(www.centerl inebidconnect.com). All biddocuments shallbe uploaded by thedue date andtimestatedabove Questionsabout this pro‐cedure should be di‐rected to Centerline (phone 504-291-5738, email: bidconnect@centerline. co ). ABid bond will be required,per thecon‐tractdocuments,and should be uploaded with therestofthe required BidDocuments.If a scannedcopyofthe Bid Bond is uploaded, the original notarizedbid bond must be produced “on-demand”per the Owner’srequest ThesuccessfulBidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and PaymentBondinan amount equalto100% of theContractonthe formsprovidedbythe School Boardand written in accordance with Louisianalaw Bids shallbeaccepted only from contractors whoare licensed by the LouisianaState Licensing Boardfor Contractorsfor theclassification of Building Construction or Highway, Street and Bridge Construction No bidmay be withdrawn fora period of forty-five (45) days afterreceipt of bids,exceptunder the provisions of La.R.S 38:2214. ANON-MANDATORY PREBIDCONFERENCEWILLBE HELD at 1:30 PM on March3,2026 at 2901 SouthFieldspan Rd,Duson,LA70529. All Biddersinterestedin submitting abid areen‐couraged to attend Emailquestions

h

Cajuns to host No. 2 LSU to start big week

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

UL coach Matt Deggs knows how big this week could be for his Ragin’ Cajuns.

First, there’s Wednesday’s 6 p.m. showdown against No. 2 LSU at Russo Park

Then there’s a scheduled three-game road trip to perennial power Dallas Baptist.

“We’ve got a really important week full of opportunities this week,” Deggs said. “We’re going to be facing probably the top two coaches in the country this week with (Dallas Baptist’s) Dan Heefner and (LSU’s) Jay Johnson. Their ball clubs are always complete.”

This will only be LSU’s third trip to Lafay-

ette over the past 13 seasons the Tigers won 11-2 in 2021 and the Cajuns won 4-3 in 10 innings in 2018.

LSU leads the series 34-20, including a 6-4 mark in Lafayette.

“So we’re going to play some good Cajun baseball, and that’s going to start on (the pitcher’s mound),” Deggs said. “We’ve got to throw strikes, make routine plays, reach base. We got to do a better job of reaching base, more consistent. Moving runners, getting big two-out knocks.”

Perhaps bigger than the obvious motivation of wanting to knock off LSU is the

Cajuns needing to show improvement at the plate. Both teams have been struggling on offense of late.

LSU is batting .310 with 19 home runs, a .522 slugging percentage and a .442 on-base with 10 stolen bases.

Outfielder Jake Brown (.393, five HRs, 20 RBIs) leads the way for the Tigers (11-2).

The other two .300 hitters are third baseman Trent Caraway (.316, HR, 13 RBIs) and catcher Cade Arrambide (.300, three HRs, nine RBIs).

LSU lost to McNeese 7-6 last week and then had wins of 5-2 and 3-0 over Dartmouth and 3-1 to Northeastern, before losing 1310 to the Huskies on Monday in a game the Tigers trailed 10-0.

MISSING PIECE?

UL women avenge loss to Ga. State

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

When UL’s women lost at Georgia State on Friday in the regularseason finale, the Ragin’ Cajuns were done in by turning it over 15 more times and making seven fewer 3-pointers.

When the same two teams played again in the opening round of the Sun Belt women’s tournament at the Pensacola Bay Center on Tuesday, things were different. This time, the Cajuns only had five more turnovers and two fewer 3-pointers, and that was enough to lift UL to a 71-66 victory and keep its season alive.

The No. 14-seeded Cajuns (525) will advance to face No 10 UL-Monroe at 2 p.m. Wednesday Georgia State’s season ends at 10-21.

“We didn’t have as many turnovers, which was big for us,” coach Garry Brodhead said. “Could we not get as many live ball turnovers? We had a few today, because they do a good job pressing, but the game plan was to take care of the ball and be aggressive on offense.”

Mikaylah Manley made a lot of things work for the Cajuns with a career-high 32 points on 9-of-23 shooting from the field and 11 of 12 at the free-throw line.

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

INDIANAPOLIS Jeremiyah Love can envision what it would be like to be drafted by the New Orleans Saints

“They’ll find a way to use me,” the Notre Dame running back said, “like they did Alvin Kamara.”

If it happens, Love’s selection would again see the Saints usher in a transition from one era to the next. When Kamara was taken in 2017, the electric rookie was paired with veteran Mark Ingram before eventually becoming the main back And that passing of the torch was reminiscent of the one that happened between Reggie

Bush and Deuce McAllister the previous decade.

On the surface, picking Love could mark the Saints’ most tantalizing draft choice since Bush in 2006. No player in this year’s draft arguably has more talent. At Notre Dame, Love was a down-to-down home run hitter who became the focal point of game plans — the sort of player missing from New Orleans’ offense.

But as enticing as Love is, do the Saints have the resources in place to justify taking a running back in the top 10?

The NFL has changed in the 20 years

since the Saints took Bush Teams have become more selective about when to take the position in the first round because of durability concerns and the value often found in later rounds. That’s not to say first-round running backs are a waste, but picking one requires a more thorough examination of the fit rather than the plug-and-play nature that Love’s skill set suggests.

“There is something to, OK, when the team is ready to really take off, then you drop in the running back,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said “You utilize all of his carries. They all matter and they’re helping you get in the playoffs

See LOVE, page 2C

Colts place transition tag on veteran QB Jones

BY JOSH DUBOW

pro football writer

“I think it came down to being tough,” Manley said. “Rebounding was big. We were tough with getting rebounds rebounding, taking care of the ball and just focusing on the free-throw line.”

Manley also had nine rebounds and three assists.

UL outrebounded Georgia State 50-33 in the first game and 45-37 in this game. Amijah Price led the Cajuns with 10 rebounds.

Manley also made three of UL’s eight 3-pointers out of 20 tries. In the loss to the Panthers, the Cajuns were 4 of 10 beyond the arc.

“I struggled the first two quarters,” Manley said. “In the second half for real, I just had to calm myself down and then take what the game gave me, and just trusted my work.”

Georgia State made 11 3s in the first game on 35 attempts, but was limited to 10 of 37 in the rematch.

“I don’t think we had a conscious

ä See UL, page 4C

5

LSU’s Chio named SEC gymnast of the week

The Southeastern Conference gymnast of the week award, which could be called the Kailin Chio trophy, is back in the LSU sophomore’s hands.

Chio on Tuesday was named SEC gymnast of the week for the fifth time this season. Florida’s Skye Blakely was SEC specialist of the week while Oklahoma’s Mackenzie Estep won freshman of the week, an award Chio captured a record nine times in 2025

Scherzer’s daughter gets her wish

Blue Jays re-sign the three-time Cy young Award winner

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Max Scherzer says the note his daughter composed asking the Toronto Blue Jays to re-sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner arose as his kids were writing letters to Santa Claus in December After Scherzer agreed last week to a $3 million, one-year contract to return to the Blue Jays, his wife posted on Instagram the handwritten note from their 8-year-old daughter Brooke.

“It’s the cutest thing you can possibly imagine when you read that, how much it meant to her to be in Toronto,” Scherzer told reporters Tuesday after his deal

was finalized.

Scherzer said his kids were writing letters expressing what they wanted from Santa when Brooke approached him and his wife, Erica May-Scherzer The 8-year-old asked for a stamp and then put it on a sealed envelope that she handed to her parents.

After Brooke went to bed, her parents opened the letter to see what she had written.

“Dear Blue Jays,” the note began, “I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter.”

Scherzer noted he and his wife didn’t send the letter to the Blue

Jays.

“That’s a bad negotiating tactic,” Scherzer said with a laugh.

Scherzer, 41, wanted to return to Toronto after the Blue Jays came so close to winning the World Series last season. The Blue Jays led in the ninth inning of Game 7 before falling 5-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th.

“Obviously we came as close as you possibly can to winning the whole thing something you can never get over, forget or anything of that nature,” said Scherzer, who won World Series rings with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. “That was a huge reason why I wanted to come back. This team can win. I wanted to be a part of it.”

Scherzer said he’s right on schedule for the start of the season after dealing with a thumb injury for much of last year “I feel healthy,” Scherzer said.

Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 regular-season starts last year. He also was the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series with Seattle and made two starts in the World Series. He wanted to return to Toronto but understood the uncertainty that comes with being a free agent. His deal with the Jays includes $10 million in available performance bonuses for innings, “Free agency is a weird animal,” Scherzer said. “I’ve been through it many times. You think it’s going to go one way and it goes another way I kind of knew not to get my hopes up, but like I said, I was going to be picky about where I went. I wasn’t just going to sign with anybody There was only a couple of teams I’d sign with at this point in time, and obviously Toronto was one of them.”

Source: Braves’ Profar faces suspension

Outfielder to miss entire season after 2nd positive drug test

BY RONALD BLUM

AP baseball writer

NEW YORK Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension by Major League Baseball for a possible second failed test for a performance-enhancing drug, a person familiar with the issue told The Associated Press on Tuesday

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the process, first reported by ESPN, was ongoing.

Profar intends to ask the players’ association to file a grievance to appeal any discipline to baseball’s independent arbitrator, Martin F. Scheinman, a second person familiar with the process said, also on condition of anonymity, because no announcement had been made.

Because this would be Profar’s second infraction, an appeal would take place after a suspension was announced.

An All-Star in 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games last March 31 following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps production of testosterone. He issued a statement then saying: “I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibil-

ity and accept MLB’s decision.”

His agent, Dan Lozano, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Profar homered in his return from suspension on July 2 and finished with a .245 average, 14 homers, 43 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 80 games. He batted .280 in 2024, when he set career highs with 24 homers, 85 RBIs and an .839 OPS.

Profar said at the start of spring training that he had sports hernia surgery in November, requiring a six-week recovery time. He has appeared in four spring training games this year, going 3 for 10 with three RBIs.

A native of Curaçao, Profar had been set to play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Under the suspension, he would be ineligible for the postseason.

Profar would lose his $15 million salary for this year as part of a $42 million, three-year contract through 2027. He lost half his $12 million salary in 2025 due to the initial suspension.

He would be the seventh player suspended 162 games for a second PED infraction after New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia (July 2015), Cleveland outfielder Marlon Byrd (June 2016), free agent catcher Cody Stanley (July 2016), Houston pitcher Francis Martes (February 2020) Mets second baseman Robinson Canó (November 2020) and Milwaukee pitcher J.C. Mejia (September 2023).

North Port, Fla.

Mejia received a lifetime ban in February 2016 after a third positive test, the only player to be given a permanent ban since drug testing with penalties started in 2004.

Four players have been suspended previously this year for positive tests, including free agent outfielder Max Kepler for 80 games under the major league program following a positive test for Epitrenbolone.

Following the offseason signing of left fielder Mike Yastrzemski to a $23 million, two-year deal, Profar had been targeted to be the Braves’ primary designated hitter

combine.

and chase the championship.

“I think there’s some other pieces to fill before you say that rocket’s ready to take off there in New Orleans.” Jeremiah initially had the Saints selecting Love in his first mock draft of the year But when updating his latest version, the former Baltimore Ravens scout flipped his prediction to the Saints selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Jeremiah, in a conference call with reporters last month, said he thought coach Kellen Moore would “know exactly” how to use Lemon, who he said would help find easy completions for young quarterback Tyler Shough and be a perfect complement to Saints wide receiver Chris Olave.

Wide receiver is a piece the Saints they need to fill, too. Based on conversations with people at the NFL scouting combine, New

Orleans recognizes it could use another burner across from Olave and take the top off defenses. The first round, in particular, could unfold nicely for the Saints in that regard between Lemon, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate the latter of whom still plays fast, despite an underwhelming 4.53-second 40-yard dash. Any of those three could prop up Shough.

The other question about Love and the Saints is whether New Orleans has the offensive line to make him effective. The Saints had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league last year, and the line didn’t do its backs any favors. According to Pro Football Focus, the Saints had the league’s second-lowest run blocking grade.

ESPN found the Saints had a runblock win rate of 70%, good for 23rd

Either way, the Saints’ running backs averaged only 3.7 yards per carry

“Certainly we’ve got to run the football better,” Moore said at the

Maybe Love would be so good right away that he’d be able to overcome less-than-ideal circumstances. He’s seen as that type of prospect. And as poorly as the Saints’ run blocking appeared to be, there were yards that might have been left on the table. According to Next Gen Stats, Kamara had 95 fewer rushing yards than expected, third behind San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey and Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving. Kamara’s yards rushing expected per attempt of -0.7 were also tied for the league’s worst among qualified rushers Love has that sort of burst To match the game-changing speed he put on film, the 20-year-old ran a 4.36 40-yard dash. He performed well enough that he might not even be on the board when the Saints pick at No. 8, with the Arizona Cardinals (picking third) and Tennessee Titans (fourth) recently mentioned as possible suitors.

“Running backs are very valuable,” Love said. “I feel like that’s

When catcher Sean Murphy returns from a hip injury perhaps in May, 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin could fill in at DH when not behind the plate.

With Yastrzemski, Michael Harris and Ronald Acuña Jr in the outfield, Eli White could be a DH option. The Braves also are without projected starting shortstop Ha-seong Kim due to a finger injury Mauricio Dubon, expected to serve a utility role, is scheduled to open the season as the starting shortstop.

The loss of Profar could create an opportunity for Dominic Smith, who signed a minor league deal on Feb. 17

being more and more recognized as of today I mean we had (Seattle’s) Kenneth Walker (win) Super Bowl MVP Running backs like him continue to pave the way for guys that are just coming into the league.”

One of the worst-case scenarios for the Saints and Love would be if the situation mirrors what happened with the Las Vegas Raiders and Ashton Jeanty a year ago. After Jeanty went to Las Vegas sixth overall in 2025, the former Boise State star couldn’t overcome a porous Raiders offensive line and averaged only 3.7 yards per carry on a whopping 266 attempts. And even if Jeanty feasts under new coach Klint Kubiak next season, the Raiders have plenty of holes elsewhere. Even the Falcons have yet to make the playoffs since drafting Bijan Robinson, one of the league’s best backs, three years ago. The New York Giants also famously drafted Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018 but failed to maximize the roster around him.

Chio had another stellar week, winning or sharing four titles Friday against Alabama That included a perfect 10 on balance beam and a 39.800 to win the all-around crown. Sunday in the four-team Podium Challenge at the Raising Cane’s River Center, Chio had another 10.0 score on beam, her third straight perfect 10 in that event.

Kentucky’s Barnhart to retire as athletic director

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mitch Barnhart, the longest-serving athletic director in the Southeastern Conference, will retire in June and take on a new role with Kentucky university President Eli Capilouto announced on Tuesday “Mitch Barnhart has led University of Kentucky athletics for nearly a quarter-century,” Capilouto said in a statement released by the university Capilouto said he had “a profound mix of emotions” to announce Barnhart’s retirement. Barnhart, 66, was named Kentucky’s 10th athletic director in 2002, succeeding Larry Ivy Kentucky won six NCAA championships under Barnhart, including men’s basketball in 2012. Barnhart previously served as athletic director at Oregon State.

Iowa State discontinues gymnastics program

AMES, Iowa Iowa State is ending its women’s gymnastics program. The decision, announced by athletic director Jamie Pollard on Tuesday, comes not long after the school canceled the remainder of its 2026 season because of what Pollard described as “unresolvable” issues between players, coaches and parents.

Pollard said the school will replace gymnastics with another women’s sport that “provides equal or additional participation opportunities” for female athletes.

The school will honor the scholarships of any current or incoming gymnasts who opt to remain at the university, including making sure they will continue to have access to all departmental services available to Iowa State student-athletes.

Pitt fires women’s coach Verdi amid legal issues

PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh fired women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi on Tuesday, ending a threeyear tenure in which the Panthers struggled to find success on the court and Verdi potentially ran into trouble off it.

Athletic director Allen Greene announced the decision shortly after the Panthers missed the ACC women’s tournament after going 8-23, including a 1-17 mark in conference play

The decision comes just weeks after former Pitt players filed a lawsuit against Verdi and the university, alleging they were subject to Verdi’s abusive coaching methods and their pleas for the university to intervene went unheard. The school has denied the allegations.

Tennessee Tech fires coach Pelphrey after losing season

COOKEVILLE,Tenn. Tennessee Tech has fired John Pelphrey after his seventh straight losing season ended with the Golden Eagles failing to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Pelphrey, 55, posted a 79-138 record that included a 13-18 mark this season. Tennessee Tech’s season ended Saturday with an 89-73 loss to Southeast Missouri State. Tennessee Tech tied for eighth place in the Ohio Valley Conference but lost a tiebreaker with Eastern Illinois for the league’s final tournament spot. Tennessee Tech was the

SCOREBOARD

Midland girls cruise to 1st state title game in 51 years

BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

A 50-year drought ended for the Midland Rebels at the LHSAA girls basketball state tournament.

The top-seeded Rebels took charge after a back-and-forth first quarter Monday against No. 5 East Feliciana to advance to their first title-game appearance since 1975 with a commanding 73-43 win in the Division IV nonselect semifinals.

“I’m just really proud,” Midland coach Christy Daigle said, “because we set a goal and never took our eyes off it. They’re still hungry They’re ready for the finals.”

Midland (28-7) dominated the Tigers (19-11) in every aspect after leading only 18-15 after the first quarter. East Feliciana shot 62.5% from the field in the opening period then dropped under 20% in each of the next two.

L (0-1)

— Car. Walsh (1), Rogovic (1); Cowan (1), Ricken (1), Paz (2). HBP — by

at UL, 6 p.m. Nicholls at Southern Miss, 6 p.m. College softball

State scores, schedule Monday’s games No games scheduled Tuesday’s games Southern 2, Dillard 0 Nicholls at South Alabama, n Wednesday’s games No games scheduled Thursday’s game

Southeastern at UT Arlington, 5 p.m.

Pro hockey

NHL

Monday’s games Detroit 4, Nashville 2 Columbus 5, N.Y. Rangers 4, OT Philadelphia 3, Toronto 2, SO Seattle 2, Carolina 1 Dallas 6, Vancouver 1 Colorado 4, Los Angeles 2

Tuesday’s games

Florida at New Jersey, n Nashville at Columbus, n Pittsburgh at Boston, n Utah at Washington, Vegas at Buffalo, n Chicago at Winnipeg, n Dallas at Calgary, n Ottawa at Edmonton, Tampa Bay at Minnesota, n Colorado at Anaheim, n Montreal at San Jose, n Wednesday’s games Toronto at New Jersey, 6 p.m. Vegas at Detroit, 6 p.m. Carolina at Vancouver, 9 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Anaheim, 9 p.m. St. Louis at Seattle, 9 p.m. Transactions

MLB

American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Optioned RHP Chayce McDermott to Norfolk (IL). Reassigned RHPs Jeisson Cabrera, Keagan Gillies and Richard Guasch and INF Payton Eeles to Norfolk.

National League

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Agreed to terms with LHP Kyle Backhus, RHPs Jonathan Bowlan, Jean Cabrera, Moisés Chace, Yoniel Curet, Nolan Hoffman Seth Johnson, Orion Kerkering, Max Lazar, Zach McCambley, Alex McFarlane, Andrew Painter, Alan Rangel and Chase Shugart, INF Otto Kemp and OFs Pedro León, Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Johan Rojas on one-year contracts NBA PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS — Signed G Chris Youngblood and F Jayson Kent to two-way contracts.

NFL

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Hired Todd Monken as head coach, John Carr as chief of staff, Travis Switzer as offensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator and Byron Storer as special teams coordinator. Terminated the contract of T Cornelius Lucas. Waived C Justin Osborne. NEW YORK JETS — Tendered RB Breece Hall. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Tendered S Ty Okada and RB George Holani WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed OL Andrew Wylie to a contract. NHL CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Recalled Ethan Del Mastro from Rockford (AHL)

“We’ve been here before and fell short by a few points,” Daigle said. “We prepared ourselves. The guards showed they’re serious about this year They learned how to win games. We came from behind in the Simpson game. We’ve been in tough situations.”

Camri Primeaux and Molli Thibodeaux each scored 21 points to lead Midland, which forced 20 turnovers (that led to 30 points) and enjoyed advantages in the paint (46 points to 18), secondchance buckets (20-8), fast breaks (23-6) and rebounding (49-26). The Rebels grabbed 24 offensive rebounds.

“Camri sets the pace,” Daigle

said. “We always talk about it. If I’m frustrated, she’s frustrated, and it affects the whole team. We have that same personality and passion.”

Ahmiree Smith scored six of her 13 points in the first quarter She made 5 of 7 shots and grabbed nine rebounds, while Tora Savoy was in double figures with 10 points to accompany three rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Thibodeaux grabbed 17 boards with three steals.

Midland, which finished as runner-up to Pitkin in Class B in 1975, won its lone crown in 1973 against Pitkin. The Rebels will face No. 2 Merryville (26-8) in the finals at noon on Friday

“I’ve had a lot of good teams,” Daigle said. “This is the best team I’ve ever coached, just the bestbalanced talent with great attitudes and grades. It’s the perfect team to make history.”

“We’ve been battling this for so long,” said Primeaux, who scored 18 points in the second half. “We put in endless amounts of work with early mornings and latenight practices. I’m so proud of my team. I’m ready to bring home the trophy.”

LCA girls’ dominance ends with tough semifinals loss to Menard

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Not long after Lafayette Christian’s girls basketball team won its fifth consecutive state championship last year, coach Errol Rogers told reporters his Knights would keep riding the streak because one day it’s going to end.

And while all great things come to an end, Rogers likely didn’t foresee being prophetic just one year later But he was.

The Knights’ state championship streak came to an end Tuesday when Holy Savior Menard overcame an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat LCA 45-43 in the Division III select semifinals at the University Center on Southeastern’s campus in Hammond.

“We just didn’t play in the second half like we played in the first half,” Rogers said. “That’s the bottom line. I mean, they outplayed us in every aspect of the game.”

Rogers, whose Knights’ season ends with a record of 22-9, said not following the game plan is what led to the loss.

“Sometimes, you have to learn to trust what people tell you to do instead of going off on your own and just doing your own thing,” Rogers said. “That’s what happened (Tuesday). We got caught up in the game and we didn’t stick to the game plan.”

The part of the game plan the Knights didn’t stick to was how they wanted to defend Eagles post player Carley Meynard.

“We were supposed to jump hard to her right and make her go back to the left where we steal the ball from her,” Rogers said. “But we

didn’t do that.” Meynard was the difference in the game as she scored the Eagles’ first 21 points en route to a gamehigh 29 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Even with Meynard scoring all 13 first-half points for the Eagles, the Knights still had a 29-13 lead at the half. But the third quarter was a pivotal point in the game After the Knights extended their lead to 3113 with 7:26 remaining in the third, the Eagles went on a 13-0 run that cut the deficit to 31-26 with 2:10 remaining in the quarter

That run was propelled by eight straight points from Meynard and the first two baskets from teammate Kaylee Methvin, who scored five points.

The Eagles (23-4) ended up outscoring the Knights 18-6 in the quarter to cut LCA’s lead to 35-31

going into the fourth quarter

The Knights, who were looking to reach the state finals for the 10th consecutive year across three divisions, were led by junior guard Shanna Simien Simien finished with a double-double, scoring a team-high 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

The Knights’ Paityn Dean added 11 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Despite the loss, Rogers was adamant the Knights will be back.

“Even though we didn’t win it, I think it’s going to light a fire under our kids who are coming back,” Rogers said. “I think you’ll see the old LCA back. The way we used to be. Sometimes when you keep getting something done, you tend to just kind of expect it to happen. Well, we can’t expect it to happen anymore. We have to go work for it to happen.”

injury and then going down with atorn right Achilles tendon in aWeek 14 loss to Jacksonville.

The Colts lost the final seven games of the season and missed the playoffs for afifth straight year,becoming the first team since the 1995 Oakland Raiders to miss the postseason after starting the season 8-2 or better Jones set career highs in passer rating (100.2) and completion rate (68%)as Indianapolis ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring at 28.9 points per game before he wentdownwith the seasonending injury Jones threw 19 TD passes with only eight interceptions, while also rushing for 164 yards and fiveTDs.

The Colts are uncertain whenJones will be ready to play again after getting hurt on Dec. 7. Theteam has 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard on the roster as well as 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson, who has been given permission to seek atrade.

Hall, who turns 25 in May, was asecond-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa State, but didn’treceive acontract extensionlast offseason as first-rounders Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson did. That caused some uncertainty about Hall’sfuture with the franchise, and he was mentioned in trade rumors leading up to last year’s deadline.

But coach AaronGlenn insisted the Jets wanted

UL

Continued from page1C

effort to do that,” Brodhead said of doubling the 3-point attempts.

ASSOCIATED

Newyork Jets running backBreece Hall, whohad the franchise tag placed on him Tuesday, rushed foracareerhigh 1,065 yardsin2025 despite missing the final game withaknee injury.

to keep Hallas the engine of their offense. NewYork planned to use athree-running backapproachwith Hall, Braelon Allen andIsaiah Davis sharing carries, but Alleninjured aknee and landed on injuredreserve andDavis remained aclear No. 2.

The Jets, with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich,willbelooking fora new quarterback this offseason but the franchise tag on Hall givesNew York the chance to keepthe playmaking running back in its backfield while alsotrying to negotiate acontract extension Hall rushed fora careerhigh 1,065 yards in 2025 despite missing the final game with akneeailment, becoming the first Jets player to top1,000 yards rushingin aseasonsinceChris Ivory in 2015. Hallhas 1,000 yards fromscrimmage in three straight seasons,just the sixth player —and fifth running back —infranchise history to accomplish that feat.

“I think we just wantedto play together “Wewanted to actuallybe aggressiveand locked down thelanelines. We want to be aggressive on the opposite side, anditjust so happened that we were able to do that and it created shots from theoutside that we knocked down.”

The only threerunning backs in theNFL who have contractswith an average annual value of more than the $14.3 million Hall are formerAPNFL Offensive Players of the Year Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry Pickens’ tag is worth about $27.3 million for next season as the Cowboys look to retain him Pickens,who turns 25 on Wednesday,had career highs in catches (93),yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns(nine)for oneofthe best offenses in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defenses in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing theplayoffs for the second year in arow Pitts’tag is worth about $15 million for next season. Thefourth pick in the 2021 draft earned second-team All-Prohonors after he had acareer-high 88 receptions andfive touchdowns lastseason.His 928 receiving yards were thesecondmost among NFL tightends, behind only Arizona’sTrey McBride.

Kahlen Norris also made a trio of 3-pointers to give her 13 points to gowith three rebounds and two assists.

“I really appreciate my teammates finding me,” Norris said.

ON DECK:LSU AT UL

Mondaywas arough one forLSU baseball.

The Tigers dropped their second game of the year to Northeastern on Monday,falling 13-10 after an unimpressiveweekendofmatchups against Dartmouth and the Huskies.

LSU trailed by as manyas11runs on Monday before mounting alate comeback effort with its backups in the game

On Wednesday, the Tigers traveltoplaya hotULteamthat has wonnineofits past 10 games.The game is soldout. Here’swhat youneed to know about theTigers’ matchup on WednesdayatUL.

HOWTOWATCH

WHO: LSU (11-2) at UL (9-3)

WHEN: 6p.m.Wednesday

WHERE: RussoPark,Lafayette

ONLINE: ESPN+

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

RANKINGS: LSU is No. 2byD1Baseball; UL is not ranked

PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU —TBA;UL— TBA PREGAME UPDATES: theadvocate.com/lsu ON X: @KokiRiley

CAJUNS

Continuedfrom page 1C

Meanwhile, theCajuns (9-3) are batting.254withseven homers, a.368 slugging and .343 on-base percentage.

“I’mnot concerned yet, because I’ve seen it withmy owneyes,” Deggs said of the offense. “I watched this team slug all fall against the same pitchers you’re seeing that have held opponents to a .212 batting average. That

“Wewere really able to move the ball. The first half we were pretty stagnant, but the second half we were able to really get intoour offense andmovethe ball. I’mthankfulthatmyteammates.They found me.”

The Cajuns,who had 17 turnovers to 12 for the Panthers, only scored four more points in the paint Tuesday after outscoring by 24 points in the paint in the first game.

UL’s big category in this game was a20-6bulge in second-chance points.

WHATTOWATCH FOR: LSU will likely start junior right-hander Jaden Noot on Wednesday. Noot only threwsix pitches in his most recent outing Sunday and didn’t throwonMonday.Heholdsa 6.32 ERAonthe season.The Ragin’Cajuns took down UC SanDiegotwiceina three-game series over the weekend.They’ve also swept Maryland and beaten Kansas State twice this year

KokiRiley

lineup is definitely going to hit. It’sjust amatteroftime.”

The most encouraging sign from the weekend’s serieswin over UC-San Diego was the hot hitting from right fielder Donovan LaSalle (.259, HR, four RBIs), whohad three doubles and a homer

“He’sagame-changer for sure,” Deggs said of LaSalle. “When you see him square up withthe ball, it’s alittle bit breathtaking forthe opponent.It’llknock youback alittle bit.”

Just like thefirstgamewas for UL, it was an especially frustrating loss forGeorgia State afterleading for 29:37 of the game.

Both pitching staffs enter the gamewith 3.89 team ERAs. Other than strikeouts, most of the other numbers are similar as well. LSU’s staffhas allowed 88 hits, walked 48 and struck out 173 in 111 innings, compared to 89 hits, 51 walks and133 strikeouts in 118 innings forUL. “We’re going to have to pitchitextremely well and play good defense and then get sometimely hits because that’sareally good ball club over there,” Deggs said.

UL’s first lead didn’tcome until Lily Ba’s3-pointer with 8:41 left to play madeit5451. Manley then scored 14 of the Cajuns’ last 17 points the rest of the way to secure the victory GuardImani Daniel was UL’s third double-figure scorer with 10 points, while Georgia State was led by Crystal Henderson with 22 points.

“Survive and advance,” Brodhead said. “You just have to survive and we did that today.”

ONE TECH TIP

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

Eat, question and answer

Dinner

with trivia builds community at this restaurant in

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Hideaway on Lee is one of those Lafayette restaurants where the entertainment is held in as high regard as the food — in the spirit of Acadiana spots like Randol’s and Prejean’s, where dinner is a party and lively gatherings are assured almost every night of the week.

Open since 2020, Hideaway on Lee is a casual burgers, salads and drinks spot created with music in mind, with the main dining area situated around an outdoor dance floor and stage that projects out to the surrounding neighborhood. Located at 407 Lee Ave. in an old home Cajun and zydeco bands like Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express, Amis du Teche and Alphonse Ardoin and the Zydeco Kingz are mainstays on the bandstand, making Hideaway one of the most popular places in Lafayette to dance on the weekends.

However, if you’re more into dining than dancing, I suggest grab-

downtown Lafayette

Team members consult each other before jotting down their answers during Trivia Night at Hideaway on Lee.

bing a table during Wednesday trivia night.

Hosted by Vermilionville food historian Jay Steiner trivia at Hideaway has the reputation of being one of the hardest trivia games in Lafayette, and Steiner ranges through topics related to

history, music, botany, pharmacology or anything else he’s dug into that week while cocktails and onion ring baskets pile up on tables and teams either hang their heads or claim victory for the evening.

ä See CHAT, page 6C ä See

Machu Kroeung from Sambath’s

page 6C

Make themostoffoodyou buy

Dear Heloise: WhenIbuy a rotisserie chicken, Ieat one leg and thigh while it is nice, warm and tasty.Then Iput the bag of chickeninthe fridge. Ilater take the breast meat off for chicken salad to eat alone or as asandwich, and I always put ahalf teaspoon of curry powder in the chicken salad. Iuse the remaining leg and thigh meat to make achicken noodle casserole and boil up everything else into adelicious soup. —Fran, via email

By The Associated Press

Fran, duringthe depression, our grandmothers often made themost of everythingthey had. As they said then, “waste not, want not.”Ilike the way you make everybit of thechicken useful. —Heloise Podproblem?

Dear Heloise: Forthe past few months, I’vebeen getting white marks on some of my dark clothes when I wash them. I’ve changed the detergent, reduced the amountofdetergent, and

cleaned the machine by hand withcommercial tub cleaner.What else could be causing this? —Candace W., via email Candace, are you using pods? The only timeIhave heard of this is when someone uses pods. Youmight want to consider liquid soap. Also, there is apossibilitythat thesection where you add bleach is leaking. Do any of my readers know of or have had this problem,and if so, what did you do to stop it? —Heloise Email heloise@heloise.com.

BEST

Continued from page5C

menu items. —Maddie Scott, features reporter

The salad

n Salt Pepper Oak, 6721Exchequer Drive,Baton Rouge

“The salad” seems like an appropriate title for this dish at Salt Pepper Oak because, well, it’sthe only salad on the menu. Trust me when Isay that in ordering this, Iwasn’ttrying to be healthy at abarbecue restaurant. My pro tip at Salt Pepper Oak is to add pork bellyto the salad. It’stender.It’s savory. It’sdelectable.

The heaping dish comes with romaine, iceberg, arugula, cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked grapes, pickled onions, spiced pecans,smoked cheddar,croutons, pickled mustard seeds,Tabasco onion strings, quesofresco and barbecue vinaigrette. When it comes out, it’sa

Continued from page5C

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 employ-

had my first tray of boiled crawfish for the season. Iselected Crawfish Time for theoccasion, and the bustling restaurant was full of diners peeling trays of boiled crawfish, shrimpand crab legs inside, with an even longer line waiting in thedrive-thru.

Iput away a3-pound tray at the market price of $26.99, and what Igot was well worth the wait.

real mountain. Thepork belly adds an extra smokiness to adish that would probably fillme up without it, but it’s nice to have aprotein included. Icould eat this salad every day if Ineeded to.

—Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator

Boiled crawfish

n Crawfish Time, 320 Ridge Road, Lafayette It’sFebruary,and Ijust

ment tribunals,any diversion into anything indecorous 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

Today is Wednesday, March 4, the63rd day of 2026. There are 302 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On March 4, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for asecond term. With theend of the Civil Warinsight, and just six weeks before his assassination, Lincoln declared: “With malice toward none, withcharity for all, with firmness in the fight as God gives us to seethe right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in tobind up the nation’swounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan —to do all which may achieve and cherish ajust and lasting peace among ourselves and withall nations.”

Also on this date: In 1789, the Constitution of the United States took effect as the first Federal Congress met in NewYork.

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt wasinaugurated for his first term as president; he wasthe last U.S. president to be inaugurated on this date (subsequent inaugurations have been held on Jan. 20). In his inaugural speech, Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

In 1998, the U.S. SupremeCourt ruled that workplace sexual harassmentlaws are applicable when the offender and victim are of the samesex.

In 2015, the JusticeDepartment cleared Darren Wilson, aWhite former Ferguson, Missouri, police officer,inthe fatalshooting of Michael Brown, aBlack

18-year-old, but also issued ascathing report calling for sweeping changesincity lawenforcementpractices, which it calleddiscriminatory andunconstitutional. In 2020, daredevil Nik Wallenda successfully walked across a1,800-foot tightrope spanning the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, completing the trip across the steel cable in just over 31 minutes. Today’sbirthdays: Film director Adrian Lyne is 85. Author James Ellroy is 78. Musician-producer Emilio Estefan is 73. Actor MykeltiWilliamson is 69. Actor PatriciaHeaton is 68. DemocraticSen.Tina Smith of Minnesota is 68. Actor Steven Weber is 65. Rock musicianJason Newsted is 63. Author DavPilkey is 60. Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma is 58.

My tray was piled with aselection of crustaceans, mostly medium-sized, with several crawfishImight label “giant” throughout At this point in theseason, we can look forward to moreand morelarge, sweet crawfish hitting our tables, as producers begin to harvest their ponds in earnest now that south Louisiana’s winter weeks are getting milder

Igot the basic spice level, and the mild, citrusy flavor with just ahint of heat and sweetness was just right for acelebratory Mardi Gras meal.

—Joanna Brown, staff

writer

crying with laughteremoji, he said. It’sbest to play it safe andavoid emojiwhen, for example, sending condolences, 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.

Is there atech topic that you think needs explaining? Writetousat onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.

“I’ve been hosting my own trivia night around town since 2014, andIhavepeople still coming whowere at those earliest days at the Greenroom,” said Steiner “I like having it somewhere wherefolks can make afull night of it, and don’tfeel excluded if they don’tdrink.” He said, “I know my trivia is referred to as the toughest in town, but Ilike stumping a crowd. Keeps themontheir toes,and it makes winning that much better.Newer teams have alittle grudge against the folksthathave been here sincethe beginning, and we’re all just having fun,but it means something. Humorisabig factor, too. Imake my silly jokes and bad puns, and Idefinitely have somejokersin the crowd. Makes it feel like more thansomebig test.”

Overthree years of trivia at Hideaway,I’ve been on awinning team once, and generally land somewhere

around themiddle of the rankings through four rounds of trivia (and aftera couple of happyhour drinks). Given my mediocre performance in trivia, I’munabashedly there for the burgers and onion rings, sinceHideawaymakes some of my favorites of both. The onion rings are perfectly battered and fried, where you get some onion andcrunchineach bite— no falling apart after the first bite. And the smash burgers are classic, with just theright amount of char and loaded down with fresh toppings. My favorite is the “mexicali love” burger,whichcomes dressed with avocado, pico de gallo, cheese and secret sauce. Whether you’re there for dinner, drinks, trivia or all of the above, it’sthe community thatplayers say keeps them coming back week after week. One frequent player,Camille Harrington, says that herteam treatsthe occasion like an organic French table, where the region’sculture gets to shine even if it’s

not an event explicitly for speaking French.

Harrington is ayoung French speaker from the Abbeville area, currently working on hermaster’s degree in French at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“Trivianight gives us a space to speak French together in afun setting,” she said. “Usuallyafter we go to the Blue Moon formore dancing and music and conversations in French and English —alot of Frenchspeaking tourists go there on Wednesday nights for theCajunJam. It’s away of experiencing the culture that’smore spontaneous.” FromFrench to onion rings, with aside of trivia meanttoconfound —Hideaway on Lee offers alittle something foreveryone. Trivia night is hosted each Wednesday from 7p.m. to 9p.m. at Hideaway’s outside patio at 407 Lee Ave., in downtownLafayette.

Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Let kind gestures be your calling card. How you treat others will set the stage for what you receive in return. A positive lifestyle change will promote unique encounters and unexpected offers.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Give yourself time to rejuvenate. Delve into something you find relaxing and enjoyable. Use your creative imagination and put your talents to work for you.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Take care of small but essential details. Your patience and willingness to go the extra mile will win you well-deserved praise. Be honest with yourself about your happiness.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Take charge, initiate change and focus on friendships, helping others and walking away from toxic situations. Take the plunge and do something that restores your faith.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Express yourself openly and make suggestions that help you gain recognition. A chance to expand your skills, interests and possibilities is heading your way.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Put your energy where it brings the highest return. Learn something new, travel, communicate and make special plans with those who inspire you to try new things and challenge you to grow intellectually.

VIRGo (Aug 23-sept. 22) How you deal with people and respond to requests will influence your position and reputa-

tion among your peers. Step up and lead the way, and rewards will follow.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Consider some of the suggestions you receive and offer your input to those you feel comfortable working with. If you mix business with pleasure, positive options and an acceptable offer will unfold.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Attend functions that allow you to further your interests. Communication and learning are on the rise and will help you fine-tune your skills to fill fast-growing needs.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be careful what you share with whom. Someone will be eager to twist your words and put you in a precarious position. Strive for better health, less worry and a simpler lifestyle.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You've got more going for you than you realize. Speak up, share your intentions and make plans that point you toward greater security. Self-improvements will give your life a positive spin.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Size up your situation, budget and the changes necessary to relinquish any doubt you have about your lifestyle and prospects. Invest in yourself, your health and your wealth.

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

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

Vinoba Bhave, an Indian advocate for human rights who died in 1982, said, “Innumerable actions aregoing on through us allthe time. If we started counting them, we shouldnever come to an end.”

Luckily, it is not that tough at the bridge table. But the more counting you do, the betteryou will play —our theme this week.

In today’s deal, look at the auction and theWest and North hands.South is in fourspades.Westleadsthediamondace. Howshould he continuethe defense?

North,holdingalowdoubleton,reasonably chose to use Stayman. (If he had responded three no-trump, that contract could alsohave been defeated.) South correctly rebid two hearts when holding four cards in each major. North jumped to three no-trump. And South, knowing hispartner had four spades, corrected back to gameinthat strain. When the dummy comes down, agood defender first checks out the high-card points.Southindicated15-17,dummyhas 13,andWestholdsseven.Thatleaves3-5 forEast.SoEast could have one winner to go with West’s diamond ace-king. But whereisthe fourthdefensive trick?

Now count the suitlengths. Dummy hasthreehearts,Southshowedfour,and Westhas five.Eastmust have asingleton. This is West’s bestchance. At trick two— not after cashing the diamond king, acard needed as an entry —West shifts to aheart. Then, East can take the first or second round of spades, returnadiamond to his partner’s king, and receive aheart ruff to defeat the contract.

©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 FREtFuLLy: FRET-fuh-lee: Restlessly.

Average mark 22 words

Timelimit 40 minutes

Can you find 32 or morewords in FRETFULLY?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —MARoons

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Gas prices spike as drivers fill their tanks

NEW YORK The average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 11 cents in the U.S. as war engulfed the Middle East and shipments of oil and gas were stranded in the Persian Gulf. A gallon of regular was selling for $3.11 on average in the U.S., according to motor club AAA, surprising some drivers at the pump.

Gasoline prices were already rising before the U.S. launched strikes on Iran as refiners switch over to summer blends of fuel. But crude prices rose sharply in recent days because of the war Anne Dulske paid $15 more than usual to fill up her tank at a Jackson, Mississippi, gas station on Tuesday

“It’s going to affect everything in our lives,” she said “It’s very scary, and it does hit closer to home than people think.”

“We are knee-deep into the gas price increases,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a technology company that helps people find cheap gasoline. DeHaan estimates gasoline price could rise further but he doubts the price would reach $4 a gallon.

“Many Americans seem very panicked that prices could hit multiple dollars higher than that, which at this point, I wouldn’t say anything’s impossible, but certainly it’s quite improbable based on the current developments.”

Dow drops as oil prices climb even higher

NEWYORK A sell-off for stocks wrapped around the world and hit Wall Street Tuesday, while oil prices climbed even higher on worries about the widening war with Iran. But the big moves that rocked markets in the morning eased substantially as the day progressed By the end of trading, the S&P 500 had sunk 0.9% That would be a solid loss on a typical day but the index had been down as much as 2.5% in the morning because of worries that the war may do more sustained damage to the economy than feared.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 403 points, or 0.8%, after plunging more than 1,200 points earlier in the morning The Nasdaq composite pared its loss to 1%. It was just a day earlier that U.S. stocks opened the morning with a sharp loss, only to recover all of it and end the day with a tiny gain.

Helping to drive that rebound was a record showing that past wars and conflicts in the Middle East have not usually meant long-term pain for U.S. stocks.

Target to invest another $2B to boost its sales

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is investing another $2 billion in its business this year to spruce up its store experience, remodel stores and invest in its workers as it tries to turn around a persistent sales malaise and reclaim its authority on style.

The investment, announced Tuesday at its annual investor meeting at its headquarters in Minneapolis, comes as the discounter reported another quarter of declining sales and profits amid its struggles to regain its footing with customers who are going elsewhere for fashion, home and other needs. Tuesday’s report offered some hope for the business. The company delivered a solid annual profit outlook that was better than Wall Street had been projecting. It also said it believes net sales will grow every quarter this year

Target said comparable-store sales rose to start the current quarter

“This is a new chapter, and it’s all about growth,” said CEO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran who succeeded longtime CEO Brian Cornell last month “We’ll do so by playing our own game and making big changes to delight our guests.”

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Consumers siding with Anthropic in dispute

Company’s chatbot outpaces ChatGPT in downloads now

BY MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writer

Anthropic’s moral stand on U.S. military use of artificial intelligence is reshaping the competition between leading AI companies but also exposing a growing awareness that maybe chatbots just aren’t capable enough for acts of war

Anthropic’s chatbot Claude, for the first time, outpaced rival ChatGPT in phone app downloads in the United States this week, a signal of growing interest from

consumers siding with Anthropic in its standoff with the Pentagon, according to market research firm Sensor Tower

The Trump administration on Friday ordered government agencies to stop using Claude and designated it a supply chain risk after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to bend his company’s ethical safeguards preventing the technology from being applied to autonomous weapons and domestic mass surveillance.

Anthropic has said it will challenge the Pentagon in court once it receives formal notice of the penalties.

And while many military and human rights experts have applauded Amodei for standing up for ethical principles, some are

also frustrated by years of AI industry marketing that persuaded the government to apply the technology to high-stakes tasks.

“He caused this mess,” said Missy Cummings, a former Navy fighter pilot who now directs the robotics and automation center at George Mason University “They were the No. 1 company to push ridiculous hype over the capabilities of these technologies. And now, all of a sudden, they want to be for real. They want to tell people, ‘Oh, wait a minute. We really shouldn’t be using these technologies in weapons.’”

Anthropic didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“You’re going to kill noncombatants,” Cummings said. “You’re going to kill your own troops. I’m not clear whether the military truly understands the limitations.”

The Defense Department declined to comment on whether it is still using Claude, including in the Iran war, citing operational security Cummings published a paper at a top AI conference in December arguing that government agencies should prohibit the use of generative AI “to control, direct, guide or govern any weapon.” Not because AI is so smart that it could go rogue, but because the large language models behind chatbots like Claude make too many mistakes — called hallucinations or confabulations — and are “inherently unreliable and not appropriate in environments that could result in the loss of life.”

Strait of Hormuz a key passageway essential for global energy supply

Closure could mean tanker disruption, rising prices

BY JON GAMBRELL and MAE ANDERSON Associated Press

DUBAI,UnitedArab Emirates The widening war in Iran has ground tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a halt and oil prices have soared, highlighting the important role the narrow passageway plays in global energy supply

The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Tankers traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran. Most of that oil goes to Asia.

Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is highly disruptive to the oil trade.

“The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated,” said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman He said a partial slowdown lasting a week or two could be absorbed by oil companies. But a full or near full closure lasting a month or more would push crude oil prices, trading above $75 on Tuesday, “well into triple digits” and European natural gas prices “toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a bending waterway, about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world. While Iran and Oman have their territorial waters in the strait, it’s viewed as an international waterway all ships can ply The United Arab Emirates, home to the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, also sits near the waterway

Important for trade

The Strait of Hormuz through history has been important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles moving from China through the region. In the modern era, it is the route for supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran. The vast majority of it goes to markets in Asia, including Iran’s only remaining oil customer, China.

While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can avoid the passage, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”

Threats to the route have spiked global en-

ergy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June.

Strait declared closed Iran has attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened any ships that try to pass through, effectively closing it. But a move by Trump on Tuesday to protect tankers in the strait could get things moving again.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed,” declared Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, vowing that any ships that passed through it would be set on fire.

Previously, Iran temporarily shut down parts of the strait in mid-February for what it said was a military drill. Oil prices jumped about 6% in the following days.

In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s’ Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points. But Iran had not carried out repeated threats to close the waterway altogether since the 1980s, even during last year’s 12-day war when Israel and the U.S. bombarded Iran’s key nuclear and military sites.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump pitched a plan aimed at getting oil and trade moving again through the Strait.

Trump said on social media he ordered the U.S. development finance arm to provide po-

litical risk insurance for tankers carrying oil and other goods through the Persian Gulf “at a very reasonable price.”

Political risk insurance is a type of coverage intended to protect firms against financial losses caused by unstable political conditions, government actions, or violence. Marine insurers had been canceling or raising rates for insurance in the region.

Trump said that, if necessary, the U.S. Navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy has at least eight destroyers and three, smaller, littoral combat ships in the region. These ships have previously been used to escort merchant shipping in the region and in the Red Sea.

Global shippers suspend operations

Global shippers have issued service alerts saying they have suspended operations in the area. Danish shipping company Maersk, the world’s biggest shipping company, said Sunday it is suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. Other ocean carriers including HapagLloyd, CMA-CGM and MSC made similar announcements.

“Those ships that got stuck in the Gulf are not going anywhere,” said Tom Goldsby, logistics chairman in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee. “There’s also a whole host of ships that were heading into the Gulf to replace them, and of course they’re anchored or going elsewhere now.”

Drone strikes on data centers highlight industry’s vulnerability

Amazon facility attacks create damage but little disruption

BY KELVIN CHAN Associated Press

LONDON — Damage to three Amazon Web Services facilities in the Middle East from Iranian drone strikes highlights the rapid growth of data centers in the region, as well as the industry’s vulnerability to conflict. The company’s cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, said late Monday that two data centers in the United Arab Emirates were “directly struck” and another facility in Bahrain was also damaged after a drone landed

nearby

“These strikes have caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery to our infrastructure, and in some cases required fire suppression activities that resulted in additional water damage,” AWS said in an update. It said by late Tuesday that recovery efforts at the UAE data centers were making progress. Unlike previous AWS disruptions involving software that resulted in widespread global outages, these attacks involving physical damage appear to have resulted only in localized and limited disruption. Amazon Web Services hosts many of the world’s most-used online services, providing behindthe-scenes cloud computing infrastructure to many government

departments, universities and businesses.

The company advised customers using servers in the Middle East to migrate to other regions, and direct online traffic away from the UAE and Bahrain.

“Amazon has generally configured its services so that the loss of a single data center would be relatively unimportant to its operations,” said Mike Chapple, an IT professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Other data centers in the same zone can take over and most of the time this happens seamlessly every day to balance workloads, he said.

“That said, the loss of multiple data centers within an availability zone could cause serious is-

sues, as things could reach a point where there simply isn’t enough remaining capacity to handle all the work.” Amazon doesn’t typically disclose the exact number of data centers it operates around the world.

It says only that its data centers are clustered in 39 geographic regions, with three such regions in the Middle East, covering the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel. Each AWS region is split up into at least three data center availability zones, with each zone isolated and physically separated “by a meaningful distance,” although they are all within 60 miles of each other and connected by “ultra-lowlatency networks” that reduce the time lag for data transmission.