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Israel steps up airstrikes in Tehran Iran widens response across Gulf region
BY JON GAMBRELL and ELENA BECATOROS
U.S. embassies and disrupting energy supplies and travel. Four days into a war that PresiAssociated Press dent Donald Trump suggested DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Israel would last several weeks or persaid it launched airstrikes against haps longer, nearly 800 people Iranian missile launchers and a have been killed in Iran, including nuclear research site Tuesday, and some Trump said he had considIran struck back against Israel and ered as possible future leaders of across the Gulf region, targeting 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
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.
ä Trump says someone from within regime could lead Iran. Page 5A ä Anxious travelers scramble as war strands thousands. Page 5A ä Lawmakers question costs, risks of war. Page 9A ä Slain U.S. soldiers remembered as devoted parents. Page 9A ä Straits of Hormuz vital to global ä See ISRAEL, page 6A energy supply. Page 3B
LSU researchers develop breakthrough exoskeleton
Prototype meant to help prevent construction injuries Staff writer
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS
Doctoral candidate M-G Taylor explains how the exoskeleton harness system, designed in LSU’s Textile, Apparel and Merchandising Department, hopes to ä See EXOSKELETON, page 8A help monitor and relieve stress on construction workers.
WEATHER HIGH 80 LOW 65 PAGE 8B
Louisiana awards site development funds
Economic Development office has $150 million to help attract new businesses
BY HALEY MILLER 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 shoul“The initial idea ders, attaching of the project around the curve of was creating the waist with adstraps. The a lower body justable vest connected to exoskeleton hard-plastic braces that could further down the assist workers body that encircled the thighs and in reducing calves. When repeat stress lower donned by a user injuries, doing repetitive because that is motions like squata major reason ting and kneeling, the motorized bracfor leaving will engage to construction.” es offset some of the energy expended M-G TAyLOR, LSU apparel design by the human weardoctorate candidate ing 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,” 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
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Louisiana officials on Tuesday announced 19 industrial and business locations that collectively will receive $140 million of state money to develop land and infrastructure to attract new investments in energy, manufacturing and logistics. The locations are part of the inaugural round of the new FastSites program, a $150 million revolving capital fund run by Louisiana Economic Development. The goal is to help Louisiana build development-ready sites to Landry compete with other states for new business. “FastSites is about making sure Louisiana is competing nationally,” Gov. Jeff Landry said at news conference Tuesday. “When companies look at states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia or Ohio, they don’t have a lot of time,” he said. “If the land isn’t ready — if there’s no water, no electricity, no roads, no rail access or the infrastructure that they need at the speed that they need it — they just scratch it off their list.” Now, instead of waiting for companies to approach Louisiana before preparing a site, the state will have land that is “shovel ready,” Landry said. The sites selected for development in the first round are: n Acadiana Regional Airport, Iberia Parish n ARQ Red River, Red River Parish n Avondale Global Gateway, Jefferson Parish n Beaver Lake Industrial Park, Rapides Parish n England Airpark, Rapides Parish n Esperanza Business Park, St. Charles
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ä See FUNDS, page 8A
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