The Acadiana Advocate 03-07-2026

SoLAcc contributes$300M to Acadiana’s economy

Richard Nelson, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, speaks during anewsconference to announce the findings of an economic impactstudyatthe South Louisiana Community College in Lafayette on Friday.

Newreportshows system’s impact on regional jobs

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadianabusiness editor

The South Louisiana Community College system contributes just under $300 million andmore than 4,000 jobs to the region’seconomy,according to areport

The college, which has nine campuses in eight Acadianaparishes, accounts for about 1% of the region’s economy,generating $294.9million in added income, according to an independent analysis by anational firm

Datacompiledduring the 2023-24 fiscalyearshowed thecollege’s efforts contributed to 4,054 jobs,which is about 1out of every 97 jobs in the region.

The report servesasa reportcard for the system and its 12,000students at campuses ranging from Ville Platte to Morgan City.Its missionistonot only support students enteringone of the state’sfour-year universities but also provide specific training programs to assist in needs of regional employers,including First Solar in Iberia Parish.

Trump rulesout talks with Iran

BY JON GAMBRELL, DAVID RISING, SAM METZ and SALLYABOUALJOUD Associated Press

DUBAI,United Arab Emirates U.S. President Donald Trumpappeared Friday to rule out talks with Iran absent its “unconditional surrender.” Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut and Tehran as Iran launched more retaliatorystrikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the seventh day of the war

The strikesinLebanon were the heaviest since a2024 ceasefire ended thelast warbetween Israel andthe Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants, who fired rocketsatIsrael in the opening days of the warnow underway More than 95,000 peoplehave fled Beirut’ssuburbs and southernLebanon after sweeping Israeli evacuation warnings.

The U.S. and Israel have battered Iran with strikes, targeting itsmilitarycapabilities, leadership and nuclear program.The statedgoalsand timelinesfor thewar have repeatedly shifted, as theU.S.has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’sgovernment or elevate new leadership from within.

Cassidy challenges

“I’ve seen acoupleeconomicimpact studies in my time, but it’s been an eye-openertolook at the impact that we make on ourlandscape,” SoLAccchancellorVincentJune said. “For every dollar that’sspent on SouthLouisiana Community College, what does thatreturntothe citizens of Louisiana? We are an economic engine for Acadiana.” Thereportdigs into the system’s

Attendees applaud during the news conferencetoannounce the findingsofan economic impact studyonFriday ä See SOLACC, page 5A

Kennedymay have hadroleinNoem’sfiring

Questionsabout advertising spending angered Trump, he says

BY MARK BALLARD Staffwriter

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump’sdecision to remove Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of HomelandSecurity appears to have been partially spurred by her answers to Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy about

previously limited or refusedoffers

$220 million of spending on television commercials. Noem was already under the gun for how her agentswere handling the deportation of immigrants who entered the country illegally,whichwas Trump’skey campaignpromise. But she also was criticizedbyofficials in both partiesfor theslow responses duringhigh-profiledisasters in Texas, North Carolina and otherstatesby

theFederal Emergency Ma nagement Agency, whichisa part of Homeland Security Trumpmentioned Noem’s answers to Kennedy’squestions acouple hours before moving Noem to become specialenvoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” acoalitionofLatin American countries seeking ways to protectthe Western Hemisphere. He nominated U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin,

R-Okla., as the newleader of Homeland Security. Specifically, Kennedyhad asked Noemifthe president wasaware of thespending on aseries of commercials that costalmostaquarter of abillion dollars to produce and air.The spotsfeatured Noem in variouslocales, including in front of adetention center in El Salvador,warning immigrants without the proper documentation that they would be deported when caught.

Shesaidshe made those

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy added an elementofdrama to thecampaign to unseat him by challenging oneofhis Republican opponents on Friday to three televised debates.

Cassidy madethe call with polls showing he faces an uphill battle to win athird six-year term in the Senate. President Donald Trump has endorsed thatopponent, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow In his statement, Cassidy didn’t mention state Treasurer John Fleming,anothermajor opponent. Flemingled Cassidy and Letlow in one recent poll.

UTAH MURDERS

Cuba

says fifth person has died after shootout

HAVANA Cuba said a fifth person has died as a consequence of a fatal shootout last month involving a Florida-flagged speedboat that allegedly opened fire on soldiers in waters off the island nation’s north coast.

The island’s interior ministry said late Thursday in a statement that Roberto Álvarez Ávila died on March 4 as a result of his injuries. It added that the remaining injured detainees “continue to receive specialized medical care according to their health status.”

Authorities in Cuba said that on Feb. 26 Cuban soldiers confronted a speedboat carrying 10 people as the vessel approached the island and opened fire on the troops They said the passengers were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and “unleash terrorism.” Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others.

Earlier this week, Cuba said it had filed terrorism charges against six suspects that were on the speedboat. The government unveiled items said to have been found on the boat, including a dozen high-powered weapons, more than 12,800 pieces of ammunition and 11 pistols.

Fishing vessel sinks off Cape Cod, killing 2

BOSTON — The search has been called off for any survivors after a commercial fishing vessel with two people aboard sank off Cape Cod, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a notification just before noon Thursday that the vessel Yankee Rose was overturned about three nautical miles northeast of Race Point in Provincetown. Coast Guard crews arrived on the scene along with local agencies minutes later

One person was recovered from the boat but on Friday, the town manager of Provincetown, Alex Morse, said that person had died. He did not provide any further information about the person. The search for the second person was suspended Friday afternoon after 21 hours. The sinking comes just over a month after the Lily Jean sank off Gloucester, killing all seven aboard. The 72-foot vessel was returning to port early Jan. 30 to repair fishing gear when it sank in frigid Atlantic waters off the historic fishing port of Gloucester Guthrie neighbors asked about internet glitches

Nancy Guthrie’s neighbors are reportedly being asked about internet glitches around the time the 84-year-old woman went missing. It’s not clear if investigators in Arizona believe there’s a link to possible technological issues in Tucson and Guthrie’s Feb. 1 disappearance. Three of Guthrie’s neighbors were quizzed about their web connections by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI, according to NBC’s “Today,” where the missing woman’s daughter Savannah Guthrie is a host. Investigators reportedly told locals that some neighbors reported internet issues the night before the apparent abduction

Those quizzed Thursday said they would’ve been either asleep or not home at the time such glitches might have occurred.

Washington ‘millionaires tax’ headed for passage

SEATTLE Washington’s proposed new income tax for people earning more than $1 million a year appears headed for passage, with Gov. Bob Ferguson saying he’ll sign the latest version of the measure proposed by legislative Democrats

The new version of the bill also says the Legislature will use some of the roughly $4 billion a year the tax is projected to bring in to pay for free school breakfast and lunch for all children in K-12 schools.

The 9.9% tax on individual earnings would effect roughly 30,000 taxpayers, with collections beginning in 2028. It would not apply to home values or retirement savings.

Suspect had earlier charges in Iowa

BY MARGERY A. BECK, COLLEEN SLEVIN and MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

A man accused of killing three women in Utah in order to steal their cars and credit cards was already known to police in Iowa: He had been arrested in that state on suspicion of breaking into a cabin and of illegally hunting in a game refuge some two months prior, court documents show

Officials released Ivan Miller, 22, without bail back in January on the charges in Iowa, and he vowed to appear for the next court appearance.

But Miller missed the arraignment Friday because he was in jail in southern Colorado after authorities tracked him there in one of the stolen vehicles.

Miller is being represented in Colorado by the state public defender’s office.

Meanwhile, out in southern Utah’s starkly beautiful desert country, friends and relatives of the women killed struggled to comprehend what authorities called a crime of “convenience.”

Miller had stolen their cars and credit cards because he needed to get back to Iowa, he told investigators in interviews outlined in court documents.

Two at a trailhead, third at home

The husbands of two victims found their wives dead near a trailhead after they didn’t return from a desert hike. The body of the third victim — a churchgoing woman who loved yardwork and kept a tidy yard — was found near her home.

There was no sign that Miller had any connection to the three, said Lt. Cameron Roden of the

Utah Department of Public Safety

Miller had been on the move often in recent days if not months. A few days before the killings, Miller hit an elk in the town of Loa.

He sold his pickup truck to the tow company, leaving him without a vehicle. After staying in hotels for a few days, Miller slept in the shed of resident Margaret Oldroyd, 86, in Lyman Utah just up the road from Torrey, outside Capitol Reef National Park in southern Utah, he allegedly told investigators.

Oldroyd’s Buick was found Wednesday at a trailhead about 10 miles from her house in the rural area of farms and ranches. There, authorities said Miller told them he saw two women get out of a Subaru and killed them before taking their car Linda Dewey, 65, and her niece Natalie Graves, 34 were killed and found in a dry creek bed near the

trail mostly used by locals. Their husbands called 911 and waved down a ranger

“Our family is dealing with the shock of the devastating loss of two members of our family who were bonding over the beauty of a hike in one of their favorite places on earth — cherished by them and the community, considered to be a safe sanctuary,” the family of Dewey and Graves said in a statement. “They were murdered. We cannot comprehend why this happened.”

The family described Dewey as a wife, mother grandmother daughter and sister who had many extended family members and friends all over the world. “She was loved deeply and loved her family deeply She was the heart of our family,” their statement said.

The family described Graves, a wife, daughter and sister as “joy sunshine and beauty embodied.”

Hungary temporarily detains 7 Ukrainians and seizes $80M

BY JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary Hungarian authorities temporarily detained seven Ukrainian citizens and seized two armored cars carrying tens of millions of dollars in cash across Hungary on suspicion of money laundering, officials said Friday

The Ukrainians were released Friday, following their detention on Thursday, but Hungarian officials held onto the cash prompting Ukraine to accuse Hungary’s Russia-friendly government of illegally seizing the money

“We will not tolerate this state banditism,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X on Friday

The seven detained Ukrainians were employees of the Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank, who were traveling in the two armored cars that were carrying the money between Austria and Ukraine as part of regular services between state banks, Sybiha said In a post on Facebook, Oschadbank board Chairman Yurii Katsion wrote that Hungary “groundlessly questions the source of the state bank’s funds, transported in accordance with international agreements and supported by all necessary documentation.”

The shipment seized by Hungary included 40 million U.S. dollars as well as 35 million euros and 19.8 pounds of gold — worth around $1.5 million at current prices — according to a separate statement by Oschadbank.

After their detention, Hungary’s government said it would expel the seven Ukrainians, but did not give details on why they would be released if they were suspected of money laundering. Later Friday, Ukraine’s foreign minister an-

nounced on social media that the seven Ukrainians had been returned to Ukraine.

The incident further inflamed rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, which are embroiled in a bitter feud over Hungary’s access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory Oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline have been interrupted since Jan. 27. Ukraine says a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline’s infrastructure, and that repairing it carried risks to technicians. It said that even if restored, it would remain vulnerable to further Russian attacks.

Hungary’s government has accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up supplies of Russian crude, and has vowed to take strong countermeasures against Kyiv until oil flows resume.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has maintained close relations with the Kremlin while escalating an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign ahead of crucial elections next month, has called Ukraine Hungary’s “enemy,” and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of seeking to provoke an energy crisis in order to sway the April 12 vote.

“The best way for the Ukrainians to achieve their demands on Hungary is if they get rid of the national government and the prime minister who is standing in their way,” Orbán said in statements to state radio on Friday

While he did not directly mention the detention of the bank vehicles, Orbán alluded to the incident, saying: “We will stop things that are important to Ukraine passing through Hungary until we get the approval of the Ukrainians for oil shipments.”

“The Ukrainians will run out of money sooner than we will run out of oil,” he added.

Texas representative ends campaign

BY LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said late Thursday he was withdrawing from his reelection race, after having admitted an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide, but he vowed to finish out his term in Congress.

He had faced calls from GOP leadership to end his reelection bid, and from others in Congress to resign.

“After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election,” Gonzales said in a statement posted late Thursday to X.

The move is the latest in a quickly changing situation that stunned Capitol Hill and resulted in a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct. Gonzales’ decision to bow out of

the race appears to clear the field. On Tuesday, he had been forced into a May runoff against Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTube gun-rights influencer who narrowly lost to him in the 2024 primary

House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, and the GOP leadership earlier Thursday had called on Gonzales to withdraw from reelection after Gonzales acknowledged a relationship that has upturned the political world in his home state and in Washington. Their move came after Gonzales, appearing on the “Joe Pags Show,” was asked whether he had a relationship with the aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles. Santos-Aviles, 35, died after setting herself on fire in the backyard of her home in Uvalde, Texas. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her death a suicide.

Suspect free after prior arrest

Miller told investigators he killed the two women after realizing he didn’t like the Buick and took bank cards because he needed money to get back to Iowa, according to court documents.

Miller had an arraignment scheduled Friday in Iowa on charges including felony seconddegree burglary and misdemeanor theft, marijuana possession and gun possession. According to a court order dated Jan. 13, he was released without bail on a promise to appear on the charges.

Miller had been arrested after rangers at a southern Iowa state park entered a cabin on Dec. 31 to get it ready for a reservation later that day

They found the front door unlocked, food on the counter, a pan with bacon grease in it on the stove, a container with several marijuana joints, and loaded guns including a bolt-action rifle with a bayonet and an AR-10 with a scope and bipod, according to the arrest affidavit.

The person staying there had also brought in a television, Xbox game console and Starlink internet device, suggesting “intent to stay for a long period of time” at Lake Wapello State Park, according to the affidavit by the two park rangers.

The affidavit states that Miller showed up while the rangers were there, knocked softly and soon admitted to breaking into the cabin seeking a warm place to stay

The county attorney’s office prosecuting Miller on his Iowa charges declined Friday to answer any questions, including whether Iowa prosecutors would allow Utah officials to first pursue the more serious charges against Miller

Haitian man dies while in U.S. custody

BY JACQUES BILLEAUD Associated Press

PHOENIX A Haitian man confined at an Arizona immigration detention center for months died at a hospital Monday after a tooth infection was left untreated, the man’s brother said Wednesday Emmanuel Damas, 56, told medical personnel at the Florence Correctional Center that he had a toothache in mid-February, but he was not sent to a dentist, said Damas’ brother Presly Nelson. Nelson believes the staff at the facility did not take his brother’s complaints seriously even though it was a treatable condition. Nelson said he would expect such a death in countries with less access to health care, but not the United States. Damas is among at least nine people who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this year Also Wednesday, ICE officials announced the death of Mexican national Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, who had been in a California ICE detention center and died in the hospital Feb. 27 after reporting chest pain and shortness of breath.

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Former presidents honor late Rev. Jesse Jackson

Democratic leaders, public pay final tribute

BY SOPHIA TAREEN and MATT BROWN Associated Press

CHICAGO From former presidents to an NBA Hall of Famer to prominent church pastors, stories of the Rev Jesse Jackson Sr.’s influence on politics, corporate boardrooms and picket lines loomed large Friday at a celebration honoring the late civil rights leader

Thousands of people gathered at a church on Chicago’s South Side to pay a final public tribute to Jackson.

Barack Obama said Jackson’s presidential runs in the 1980s set the stage for other Black leaders, including his own successful 2009 presidency and re-election.

“The message he sent to a 22-year-old child of a single mother with a funny name, an outsider, was that maybe there wasn’t any place or any room where we didn’t belong,” Obama said. “He paved the road for so many others to follow.” Obama, joined by two other former Democratic presidents, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton at a celebration of life for Jackson, received the loudest round of applause as the three entered the chamber

“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault to our democratic institutions. Another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible.”

“Each day we are told by folks in high office to fear each other,” said Obama, referring to the current Republican leadership in

Washington. Clinton said Jackson made him a better president “He knew change came from the inside out,” Clinton said.

Former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke Friday President Donald Trump, who praised Jackson on social media after he died and also shared photos of the two of them together, was not attending the service, according to his public schedule issued by the White House.

Thousands attend service

The event honors the protege of the Rev Martin Luther King Jr and two-time presidential candidate and follows memorial services that drew large crowds in Chicago and South Carolina, where Jackson was born. Friday’s celebration at an influential Black church with a 10,000-seat arena — is expected to be the largest.

Crowds of attendees waited in long lines outside the church as television screens played excerpts of some of Jackson’s most famous speeches. Inside, vendors sold pins with his 1984 presidential slogan

and hoodies with his “I Am Somebody” mantra.

Along with a slew of Illinois elected leaders, notable attendees included actor and producer Tyler Perry, California Gov Gavin Newsom, and political activist and theologian Cornel West. Detroit Pistons great and Chicago native Isiah Thomas was one of the speakers.

The celebration, with appearances by Grammywinning gospel singers and Jennifer Hudson, felt at times like a church service and others like a political rally

The Rev Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader and founder of the National Action Network, likened Jackson’s death to a call to action, from speaking out against justice to voting in the midterms.

Marketing professional Chelsia Bryan said Friday that she decided to attend the memorial service because it was “a chance to be part of something historic.”

“As a Black woman, knowing that someone pretty much gave their life, dedicated their life to make sure I can do the things that I can do now, he’s worth honoring,” Bryan said.

Judge weighs New York Times’ bid to block Pentagon policy

Organization argues rules applied inconsistently

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON A Pentagon policy limiting journalists’ access to the building is depriving Americans of vital information about U.S. military operations while the country is at war, a New York Times attorney argued Friday in urging a judge to block the new rules

“It’s more important than ever for the public to know as much as they can,” Times attorney Theodore Boutrous told U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman during the first hearing for the newspaper’s lawsuit against the Defense Department.

Friedman didn’t immediately rule on whether to order the Pentagon to reinstate press credentials for reporters who walked out of the building last October rather than agree to the new rules. But the judge’s remarks suggested he was skeptical of key arguments in the government’s defense of the policy Friedman, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, suggested it is “more important than ever” for Americans to hear “a variety of views” about the activities of the federal government and its elected leaders.

“A lot of things need to be held tightly and secure, but openness and transparency allows members of the public to know what their government is doing,” the judge said. Justice Department attorney Michael Bruns said the credentialing policy reflects the government’s “compelling interest” and its “statutory obligation” to protect

national security information.

“This is not a trivial exercise,” Bruns argued Friedman said he intends to issue “as prompt a decision as I can, because I know it’s important for lots of reasons.”

The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

Times spokesperson Charles Stadtlander said the U.S. attacks on Iran — and the resulting deaths of American troops — “illuminate the public’s right to access deep, impartial reporting on the details of the military actions happening as we speak.”

“Today was an important opportunity for The New York Times’s lawyers to make our case for the clear importance and public service of allowing journalists to report fully on the Pentagon,” Stadtlander said in a statement.

The current Pentagon press corps comprises mostly conservative outlets that agreed to the policy Reporters from outlets that refused to consent to the new rules, including those from The Associated Press, have continued reporting on the military from outside the building

The AP, meanwhile, is awaiting a decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Appeals on its separate lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration The AP contends that Trump’s team punished it by reducing its access to presidential events because the outlet hasn’t followed the president’s lead in renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

The Pentagon has argued that the policy imposes

“common sense” rules that protect the military from the disclosure of national security information.

“The goal of that process is to prevent those who pose a security risk from having broad access to American military headquarters,” government attorneys wrote.

Times attorneys claim the policy is designed to silence unfavorable press coverage of Trump’s administration.

“The First Amendment flatly prohibits the government from granting itself the unbridled power to restrict speech because the mere existence of such arbitrary authority can lead to self-censorship,” they wrote.

The Times argues that the Pentagon has applied its own rules inconsistently The newspaper said Trump ally Laura Loomer, a right-wing personality who agreed to the Pentagon policy appeared to violate its prohibition on soliciting unauthorized information by promoting her “tip line.”

The government didn’t object to Loomer’s “general tip line” but concluded that a Washington Post tip line does violate its policy because it purportedly “targets” military personnel and department employees.

“It’s mystifying,” Boutrous said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

The judge asked Bruns, the government attorney, what standards are used to decide if a reporter poses a security risk.

“Don’t there have to be some criteria that are applied in a uniform way?” Friedman asked.

Yes, Bruns answered. But he said the government has “far more leeway” to restrict speech in a secure forum like the Pentagon.

“The reason for the policy is the security of the Pentagon,” he added.

Inspiring everyone

Jackson died last month at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder that affected his mobility and ability to speak. Family members say he continued coming into the office until last year and communicated through hand signals. His final public appearances included the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Sitting in the crowd was 90-year-old Mary Lovett. She said Jackson’s advocacy inspired her many times, from when she moved from Mississippi to Chicago in the 1960s, taught elementary school and became a mom. She twice voted for Jackson during both of his presidential runs and appreciated how he always spoke up for underrepresented people. “He’s gone, but I hope his legacy lives,” she said. “I hope we can remember what he tried to

teach us.”

Jackson’s service for all

Jackson’s pursuits were countless, taking him to all corners of the globe: Advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues including voting rights, health care, job opportunities and education. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders, and through Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society

His son, Yusef Jackson, who runs the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, recalled how his father carried a well-worn Bible but also showed his faith by showing up to picket lines.

“He lived a revolutionary Christian faith rooted in justice, nonviolence and the moral righteousness,”

the goal was always the moral center.”

Jackson’s services in Chicago and South Carolina drew civic leaders, school groups and everyday people who said they were touched by Jackson’s work, from scholarship programs to advocating for inmates. Several states flew flags at half-staff in his honor. Services in Washington, D.C., were tabled after a request to allow Jackson to lie in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said the space is typically reserved for select officials, including former presidents. Details on a future event have not been made public.

Deadly Iranian school blast linked to U.S. airstrikes

United Nations criticizes civilian death toll

BY JULIA FRANKEL and MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press

JERUSALEM Satellite images, expert analysis, a U.S. official and public information released by the U.S. and Israeli militaries suggest an explosion that killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regime’s Revolutionary Guard.

The Feb. 28 strike, which had the highest reported civilian death toll since the war began, has come under staunch criticism from the United Nations and human rights monitors. More than 165 people were killed, most of them of children, in the blast during school hours at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School, according to Iranian state media.

Satellite images taken Wednesday and reviewed by the The Associated Press show most of the school in the city of Minab, some 680 miles southeast of Tehran, reduced to rubble, a crescent shape punched into its roof. Experts say the tight pattern

IRAN

Continued from page 1A

Meanwhile, Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike the U.S. military according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. Russian President Vladimir Putin had a call Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing his condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Kremlin said.

In other developments, evidence emerged suggesting that an explosion that killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regime’s Revolutionary Guard. Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could “bring down the economies of the world,” predicting a widespread shutdown of Gulf energy exports that could send oil to $150 a barrel.

The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose above $90 on Friday for the first time in more than two years.

Russia giving info to Iran

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter

The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is

of damage visible on the satellite photos is consistent with a targeted airstrike.

Iran has blamed Israel and the United States for the blast. Neither country has accepted responsibility Asked about the strike at the school at a Pentagon media briefing Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “All I can say is that we’re investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that.”

Several factors point to a U.S. strike.

One is the launching of an assessment of the incident by the U.S military. According to the Pentagon’s instructions on processes for mitigating civilian harm, an assessment is launched after a group of investigators make an initial determination that the U.S. military may bear culpability. A U.S. official told the AP that the strike was likely U.S. The official spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter

Another is the location of the school next to a Revolutionary Guard base in Hormozgan Province and close to barracks for its naval brigade. The U.S. military has focused on naval targets and acknowledged strikes in the prov-

directing Iran on what to do with the information Still, it’s the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. In a social media post Friday Trump said that after Iran’s surrender, “and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s),” that the U.S. and its allies would help rebuild Iran, making it “economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”

Those comments were likely to raise further questions about the endgame of the war. The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that “some countries” had begun mediation efforts, without elaborating.

On Thursday, Trump urged the Iranian people to “help take back your country,” promising immunity from the U.S. Trump also told media outlets that he should be involved in choosing a replacement for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strikes of the war Trump spoke dismissively of Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei — a front-runner to replace his father calling him “a lightweight.”

Iranian state television reported Friday that a leadership council had started discussing how to convene the country’s Assembly of Experts, which will select the new supreme leader Buildings associated with the 88-member clerical panel have been attacked during the Israeli-American

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN

A Department of Defense map is displayed during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Wednesday.

ince, including one in the vicinity of the school.

Israel, which has denied conducting the strike, has focused on areas of Iran closer to Israel and hasn’t reported any strikes south of Isfahan, 500 miles away The U.S. is operating warships in the Arabian Sea, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, within range of the school.

When asked by the AP about its findings, U.S military Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said, “It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday that she had no updates on the investigation and did not directly answer a question about whether President Donald Trump was satisfied with the pace of the probe.

“My assumption is that probably there were some activities recently there and they detected and tracked them, but they weren’t aware or didn’t have an up-to-date database that a girls’ school was there and they bombed it,” said Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who studies Iran’s military Satellite images show damage The school is adjacent to a walled compound labeled on maps as the Seyyed Al-Shohada Cultural Complex of the Guard. In addition to the school, satellite photos show that blasts struck at least five buildings in the Guard compound, leaving the area pocked with craters, charred holes in roofs and piles of rubble.

Iranian online map applications show a living quarters for the Assef Brigades about 165 yards from the school, inside the Revolutionary Guard compound. The 16th Assef Coastal Missile Group is part of the Guard’s navy, Nadimi said. The 1st Naval District, which the Assef Brigades belong to, is responsible for

air campaign. Israel has said it would target the next supreme leader if he poses a threat.

Retaliatory attacks

Israel’s military said Friday it had launched “a broad-scale wave of strikes” on Tehran, Iran’s capital, and that over the past week it has heavily bombed an extensive underground bunker that Iranian leaders had planned to use during the hostilities.

Witnesses described Israeli airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area and sending columns of smoke rising. Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah, an area home to multiple missile bases. They spoke anonymously for fear of retribution.

Countries across the Gulf said they intercepted Iranian missiles and drones on Friday, including attacks aimed at U.S. bases. Strikes have killed at least 15 civilians, including in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. In Israel, the sound of

explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv throughout Fri-

the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded passes The strait has been a particular point of conflict in the war

In the aftermath of the strike, video from Iran’s state broadcaster verified by the AP using satellite imagery showed dozens of fresh graves dug at a nearby cemetery Nadimi said it is likely the school taught daughters of Guard personnel.

The strike has drawn wide condemnation from the secretarygeneral of the United Nations and international human rights groups. The criticism comes amid reports that airstrikes have also hit other schools in Iran.

Targeting schools would be a clear violation of international laws governing armed conflict, said Elise Baker, a senior staff lawyer at the Atlantic Council, a Washingtonbased nonprofit think tank.

“Strikes can only legally target military objectives and combatants, but the school was a civilian object and the students and teachers were civilians,” Baker said. “The school’s proximity to (Guard) facilities and the attendance of children of (Guard) members at the school does not change that conclusion: It was a civilian object.”

day after warnings about missiles incoming from Iran. Air defense systems worked to intercept the barrage. Five soldiers have been wounded in the fighting with Hezbollah, Israel’s military said.

Israel bombards Lebanon

Israel has carried out waves of airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a large presence but which is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 217 people had been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and 798 wounded.

Roads in the Lebanese capital were choked with evacuating traffic as smoke rose over the city’s south-

ern districts. Two hospitals evacuated patients and staff.

“What can we do? We prayed here under the tree. During the night, we slept in the car because there is no place to stay,” Jihan Shehadeh, one of the tens of thousands of displaced, said. One Israeli strike hit near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency Israel’s military did not immediately respond to questions about the report.

Hezbollah’s military command on Friday urged its fighters not to relent and to “defend the nation,” casting the escalating war in religious terms and calling on them to “kill them wherever you find them.”

impact, including:

n Former students generate $253.3 million in economic activity working in 3,234 jobs, making alumni the largest driver of its economic value.

n Students who relocate or remain in the region add $10.5 million in local economic activity, which supports 211 jobs.

n Its day-to-day operations contribute $31.1 million a year and support 609 jobs through payroll and purchasing with regional vendors.

n Students on average earn $5,000 more a year with a certificate and $11,000 more with an associate degree than those with a high school diploma.

The report comes in the final year of SoLAcc’s fiveyear strategic plan, one that included external stakeholders from the community, said June, who was named to his position in December 2020. The data will also allow

KENNEDY

Continued from page 1A

commercials with Trump’s blessing under a contract she had nothing to do with “Yes, and one thing I think helpful to know is how effective that communication has been,” Noem answered.

“Well, they were effective in your name recognition,” said Kennedy, R-Madisonville. “I personally just, I mean, to me it puts the

DEBATES

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“Louisiana voters deserve a healthy debate on the issues that matter most in their lives,” Cassidy said. “I have a proven record of delivering billions of dollars for our state and putting Louisiana families first. My experience and seniority matters when it comes to getting results, something Congresswoman Letlow simply doesn’t have. But let’s have that conversation with Louisiana voters.” Cassidy said he would appear in a debate scheduled by Leaders for a Better Louisiana and Louisiana Public Broadcasting on April 16 at LPB’s studios in Baton Rouge. He also accepted debate proposals offered by KTBS-TV in Shreveport and Nexstar Media. He said he would participate in a debate as long as Letlow is on the stage.

SoLAcc officials to generate profiles for each of the eight parishes it reaches since each campus operates differently and serves different needs.

“We became addicted to data, just being informed by data to help shape our landscape,” June said. “It helps to serve as a report card against our five-year strategic plan, showcasing to our stakeholders, ‘Did South Louisiana Community College do what it said it was going to do?’”

SoLAcc’s economic impact, and the report that supports that, is also important for the businesses being recruited to Acadiana, said Mandi Mitchell, president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority

“This institution enhances our competitive position, it increases the productivity by major industry centers across the region, and it boosts economic opportunity,” she said. “And, really near and dear to my heart, it enhances economic mobility for our friends and neighbors and their families.” Staff writer Ashley White contributed to this report.

president in a terribly awkward spot. I’m not saying you’re not telling the truth.

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 later told reporters that Trump had called him after the hearing and was angered that Noem had said he approved the commercials.

Fleming said he has agreed to appear at the LPB and KTBS debates but doesn’t have the details on the Nexstar event.

“For the people to decide, they need to see the candidates lined up against each other,” Fleming said. “What better way to do that in debates?”

Strategy behind debates

Cassidy’s call for three debates marks a sharp departure from his past two Senate campaigns. In 2014, when he challenged then-U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, Landrieu sought several TV debates, said Ryan Berni, then her campaign spokesperson. Cassidy agreed only to one debate during the runoff campaign that he went on to win.

The Letlow campaign did not have an immediate response Friday But organizers of the LPB and KTBS debates said her campaign has yet to agree to participate.

During Cassidy’s reelection campaign in 2020, he refused debate calls by his main Democratic opponent, then-Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. Cassidy won that election.

James Carville, the Democratic political strategist who lives in New Orleans, said Cassidy’s action Friday reflects his weaker position

“Put it this way, his recollection and her recollection are different,” Kennedy said.

Trump told Reuters on Thursday that he did not approve the spending or the commercials. “I never knew anything about it,” Trump said.

A couple of hours later, right before Noem was to give a previously scheduled speech to elected officials, Trump fired her She is the first Cabinet secretary to be ousted in his second

in this year’s campaign.

“Generally, the person behind is the one who needs the debate,” Carville said. “Usually, the front-runner is the one who does not want to debate.”

Fleming criticized Cassidy for not including him in Friday’s debate call.

Cassidy, Fleming said, “is desperate to make this a two-person race. He wants to exclude me from notice to the public given my lead in the polls.”

In an email Thursday the Letlow campaign said she cannot attend the LPB debate because the House is scheduled to be in session that day

“Congresswoman Letlow is committed to working for the people of Louisiana’s 5th District, and to do that she has to be present for critical votes,” Katherine Thordahl, the campaign press secretary said in the email. “Advancing the America First agenda requires showing up, and that is what she intends to do.”

Carville said that’s a dodge.

“The Carville rule of political debates is that if someone doesn’t want to do it, they will have for a reason for that,” he said. “They’ll complain about the format

administration.

Noem under scrutiny

Noem had been called to Capitol Hill to testify Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Kennedy is a member

Ostensibly, Noem was to talk about the temporary shutdown of her agency Democrats have refused to agree to fund Homeland Security until Republicans agree to some restrictions on the aggressive behavior by agents with Immigration

or say that they can’t schedule it. Someone who wants to do it will find a way to do it.”

Cassidy Letlow and Fleming are competing in the May 16 Republican primary, along with Mark Spen-

& Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol.

But the five-hour hearing turned into a review of Noem’s perceived failings by Democrats as well as Sen. Thom Tillis R-N.C., and Kennedy

Noem appeared Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, where again Democratic and some Republican members critically questioned her choices as leader of the massive agency

Several committee mem-

cer Three Democrats are competing in the May 16 Democratic primary. They are Nick Albares, Jamie Davis and Gary Crockett.

The top two finishers in each primary will face off

bers in both the Senate and House asked about dubbing as “domestic terrorists” two U.S citizens killed during immigration roundups in Minneapolis. She said she was relaying the best information she had about the incidents at the time from ICE and Border Patrol agents. Noem refused to retract or apologize for her characterizations.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

in a party runoff on June 27, if no candidate in the primary wins over 50% of the vote. Unaffiliated voters can vote in either party primary

Shown is today’sweather.Temperatures aretoday’shighs and tonight’slows.

BYKATHY MCCORMACK andJEFF MARTIN Associated Press

Thunderstorms ripped across Oklahoma prairies Thursday night as severe weather was expected to intensify Friday and bring the threat of powerful tornadoes to multiple states in the nation’s heartland.

Powerful storms wereforming Friday afternoon from NorthTexas all theway to Michigan, where a tornado warning was issued southwest of Kalamazoo. There were no immediate reports of any tornado on the ground.

In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday,afirst responder drove straight at astorm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview,where flashes of lightning illuminated agiant funnel that appeared to reach the ground. That storm, among the first outbreaks of severe weather on the verge of the spring storm season, was filmed by acamera mounted on the deputy’scar Nearby,a47-year-oldwoman andher 13-year-old daughterfrom Fairview were found dead in avehicle near an intersection of ahighway and acounty road at about 10 p.m. Thursday,authorities said. The crash “appears to be tornado related,” Sarah Stewart, aspokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said in astatement. “Severe weatherstruck Major

Storms ripthrough Oklahoma as tornadoseasonstarts

County last night and tragically claimed the livesofamother and daughter,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in astatement Friday.“I am prayingfor thefamily as they grieve this tragic loss, as wellas all those impacted by thestorms.”

The National Weather Service in Norman,Oklahoma, planned to send out adamage survey crew Friday to see whether Thursday night’s storms were confirmed tornadoes, meteorologist RyanBunkersaid. “As of right now,we’re

still investigating that.” Stormscould be even moreintense Friday,asmorethan7million Americans are at thehighest risk of severeweather in an area thatincludes the metropolitan areasofKansasCity,Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Omaha, Nebraska, according to thenational Storm Prediction Center. Nearly 25 millionpeople are at aslightly lesser risk in azone that includes Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Severe, scattered thunderstorms were expected Friday afternoon andevening fromareas of the Plains states to the Ozarks and Midwest, the National Weather Service said.

The general setup forthe strong storms is aclash between warm air streaming north from the Gulf Coastand cooler Canadian air behind cold fronts, according to meteorologists with the private forecastingservice AccuWeather

“This is probably our first real

eventthis season where people are really starting to pay attention gettingintothe springstormseason,” said Melissa Mayes, deputy director of the Washington County Emergency ManagementAgency in Bartlesville,Oklahoma, north of Tulsa. The spring storms in the forecast comenear the start of whatmany calltornadoseason,whichgenerally begins at differenttimes in different parts of the U.S. Experts recommenda fewsimplesafety steps to takebefore tornadoes hit, including having aweather radio anda plan forwhere to takeshelter Meanwhile, parts of the Northeast were underwinterweather advisoriesasrain, snow andslush made for amessy morning commute from Pennsylvania to Maine on Friday.Several vehicle slideoffs were also reported on the Maine Turnpike as drivers contended with sleet and snow Some schoolscanceled or delayed classes in states including New Hampshire and Maine. Theweatherbegan to ease at midmorning in some areas,but Maine,Massachusetts, Rhode Island andConnecticut remained under weather advisories. In Ohio, flood warnings wereissued in the southern part of the state. In parts of the southern U.S., the weather pattern is also expected to usherinextremely warm temperaturesfor this time of year by the weekend.

DOJpublishes Epsteinfiles involvinguncorroboratedclaim aboutTrump

BY ALANNA DURKINRICHER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Justice Department on Thursday releasedadditional Jeffrey Epstein files involving uncorroborated accusations made by awomanagainstPresident Donald Trump that the department said had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review

The department said last week that it was working to determine if any records were improperly withheld after several news organizations reported thatthe massive tranche of records that had been made public didn’tinclude some files documenting aseries of interviews conducted in 2019 with awoman who made an allegation against Trump. The accuserwas interviewed by

the FBI four timesasitsought to assess her accountbut asummary of only one of thoseinterviews hadbeen included in the publicly released files.

On Thursday,the department said those fileshad been “incorrectly coded as duplicative,” and therefore were inadvertentlynot published alongwith other investigative documents related to the disgracedfinancier,who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex traffickingcharges in 2019. Trump has consistently denied anywrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Thedepartment noted in January that some of thedocumentscontain “untrue andsensationalistclaimsagainst President Trumpthat weresubmitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”

TheTrumpadministration has

faced constant political headaches since therollout of thefiles began in December,with critics accusing the department of hiding certain documentsorover-redacting files, or in some cases, notredacting enough. Department officialshavedefended theirhandling of thefiles, saying they took pains to release the filesasquickly as possible underthe law while alsoprotecting victims. Department officials have said errors were inevitable given thevolume of the materials, the numberoflawyers viewing the files and the speed at which the departmenthad to release them. The departmenthas said it’s entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicatesorprotectedbylegal privileges, or related to an ongo-

ing criminal investigation. Some of the new records published Thursday pertained to a woman who contacted theFBI shortly after Epstein’s2019 arrest and claimed that aman named “Jeff” living in Hilton Head, South Carolina, hadraped herthere in the1980s when she wasaround 13 years old. The womantoldthe agents she didn’tknow the man’s identity at the time, but decades laterconcluded he was Jeffrey Epstein whenafriend texted her his photofrom anews story In afollow-up interview amonth later, thewoman added ahost of other claims, including that Epstein had schemed to have her mothersenttoprison, beaten her, arrangedsexual encounters with other men and once flew her to either New Jersey or New York,

where she claimed to have bitten Donald Trump after he tried to sexually assault her Agents spokewiththe woman twomore times, at one point asking her to provide moredetail on her supposed interactions with Trump, but reported that she declined to answeradditionalquestionsand broke offcontact.There’s no indicationthat Epstein ever lived in SouthCarolina anditwas unclear whether Trumpand Epstein knew each otherduring the time period involved. The woman’sreport was one of anumber of uncorroborated, sometimesfantastical, reports that federal agents received from membersofthe public alleging misconduct by Trump andother famous people in the months and years after Epstein’sarrest.

Oilspill offcoast bigger than first

feared

Officialssay approximately750 barrelswereleaked

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

Staff writer

More than 82% of the crude oil leaked from akey offshore oil terminal south of Grand Isle late last week had been recovered by Thursday throughajoint response involving 330 people and40vessels, the governor’soffice andterminal owner said Friday

But the size of the spill from the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP,has more than doubled from initial estimates.

On Thursday,the spill was estimatedat31,500 gallons, or 750 barrels, alittle more than aquarter of the size of the largestspill off the Louisiana coast in the past few years, the Well 59 blowoutin Plaquemines Parish’sGardenIsland Bay last spring, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The LOOP,which sits about 18 milesoffshore, beganspilling crudeoil when acargo transfer hose sprung aleak before the problem could be spotted on Feb. 26 and stopped, the companysaid. LOOP is adeepwater facilitydesigned to take in crude from deepdraft tankers and send it by pipeline to the company’sonshore storage site in Galiano and, ultimately, feed half of the nation’srefineries.

The response to the leak hasincluded the U.S. Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’sOffice,aswell as two Coast Guard contractors, Clean Gulf Associates and American Pollution Control Corporation, theagency said.

The cleanup has relied on fixedwing aircraft, helicopters and drones to track the spill in addition to skimmers and other vessels on

ä See SPILL, page 2B

Acadia woman accusedof killingman, stealing car

An Acadia Parish woman has been arrested and accused of killing aman in his home before stealing his vehicle, authorities said Savannah James, 32, of Maxie, has beencharged with se con d-d eg ree murder andtheft of amotor vehicle.

BACK TO BACH

Dancersget warmed up after eatingonOct. 20, 2023, during the

Lunchisreturning to downtown Lafayette this spring

Downtown Lafayettemusic series adding aSundaybrunchgathering

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Bach Lunch is returning to downtown Lafayette this spring, along witha new addition —Bach Brunch —offering more opportunities for thecommunity to gather for live music.

Bach Lunch is afree outdoor concert series held at ParcSans Souci thatinvites families,students and downtown workerstoenjoylivemusic duringthe lunch hour

This spring, Downtown Lafayette is introducing Bach Brunch, aSunday edition of the series designed to extend the eventinto the weekend.

“Bach Lunch has long been atradition that brings people together on their lunch breaks,” said JessicaHauerwas, executive director of Downtown Lafayette. “Introducing Bach Brunch allows us to createnew opportunitiesfor the community to gather,enjoy local music, and experiencedowntowninanew way.”

Bach Brunch is scheduled for Sunday,April 12, and will feature Certified Blues. Organizersencourage guests to bringblanketsand chairs for the outdoor event at Parc Sans Souci, where brunch options and live music will be available.

The traditionallunchtime format will return Friday,May 29, when Bach Lunch resumes with aperformance by

‘Wecould visibly seethe missiles’

The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office said the victim was shot and killed in his home in northern Acadia Parish on Feb. 26. Authorities have not released the victim’sname. Investigators identified James as asuspect and allege she shot the victimbefore taking his vehicle from the residence.

Deputies later located Jamesat ahome in the Maxie area and arrested her without incident,authorities said.

Deputies:Man found with explosives in camper

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s OfficearrestedaFloridaman

BLOTTER Advocate staff reports ä See BLOTTER, page 2B

Prairieville family trying to gethome from Dubai

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Acellphone suddenlybuzzes with thesound of an emergency alert. Theinterview pauses. It’s anotification of apossible missile attack.

This has become the daily lifefor Christian Walker,his wife, Kate Sinclair-Faulkner andtheir two children,while the Prairieville family is in the UnitedArab Emirates city of Dubai during the war with Iran. “Wewere eating dinner, and it wasthe first time we could vis-

ibly seethe missilesbreaking up,”Walker said about the evening after the war broke out. “It kind of looked like shooting stars, almost. Meteors.”

The conflictstarted Saturday with U.S.-Israeli strikes, including one that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has spread across the Middle East.

Walkersaid hisfamily feels relatively safe where they are, but thewar’spresence is never far removed. “We’ve seen some (missiles), but we really feel and hear them, because I’ll be …kind of sitting inside while the kid naps, andthenyou canjusthearit, feel it,” he said. “And then the

Roblox seeks immunity in AG’s case

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

The first foray of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’scampaign against Roblox, claiming the site is ahotbed of childpredators, began Friday in aLivingston Parish courtroom.

At ahearing before Judge Jeffery Johnson, attorneys forthe massivechildren’s gamingplatformsought immunity from the lawsuitunder afederal law governing media companies’ responsibility for thespeech of their users.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill describes her office’scase against the children’s gaming platformRoblox for failing to protect Louisiana children from predators on Friday outside of the Livingston Parish Courthouse.

Internet crimes againstchildren in Louisiana

Thenumberoftipsthe LouisianaICACtaskforce receives annuallyabout possible crimes againstchildren within the state. Tips aresourced from parish Sheriff’sOffices, national hotlines andother government agencies

Murrill says firm doesn’tprotect usersfromchild predators Staffgraphic

The law,part of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, has been critical in other lawsuits targeting social mediacompaniesoverclaims they failed to protect their users.

Murrill claims Roblox is violating the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, and has saidit“created and perpetuated an onlineenvironment where child sex predators thrive.”

The suit wouldprohibitRoblox from claiming to users that it has adequate safety features and seeks money for the state in damages.

Murrill said that while Roblox gives young playersthe opportunity to build their

FAMILY

Continued from page1B

own onlinespacestoplayin, thesite doesn’tstop “strangers” from joining in those spaces anonymouslyaswell. She compared this to building apublic park, knowingly allowingitto be populatedby predators,thenassuring parents that it is safe. In court, Roblox attorneys argued thecaseshould not be heardatall, based mainly on past rulings under the Decency Act that heldnoliability could be imposed on aplatform for the actionsof its users.

Johnson, who ruled on a similarcase outofLivingstonParishthatinvolvedTikTok, questioned Roblox’sattorneys over whythe site has any safetywarningsifthey believe they already have a

wall and the curtainsslightly shake.” Missilealertsduringinterview

The family arrived Feb. 18 after planning the trip for awhile because they hadaccumulated airlinemiles,Walker said. “Wekind of finally had to comenow because my wife’spregnant and we couldn’tdoitmuch laterinthe pregnancy,and then we figured it wouldalso be much harder with three little ones when we’re outnumbered,”hestated “So those things kindofpromptedit.”

He said that when the conflictbegan, his children were nappingand his wife was enjoying time outside “She came in just withthislook on her face, you know,” he said. “She had received amessage about the conflict beginning.”

Until Thursday,Walkersaid the last alert to come in warningofmissile and drone attacks had been aboutthree days before, in the middle of thenight. He said an alert cameinaround an hour before speaking with The Advocate, and another one buzzed during the interview

Trying to find ways home

Afew days after the strikes began, the U.S. Department of State urged Americans in more than adozen countries in the region to leave using commercial transportation, according to PBS News. The department announced Wednesday that acharter flight bringing home American citizens haddeparted the area. Walker said he and his wifehave “been playing it by ear” and reaching out to the State Department.

“wet blanket” of immunity from any liability Johnson hasnot made aruling, and it is unclear when he will.

One relevantdecency act case mentioned in court was Doe v. Myspace, in which a minor lied about their age on the social networking platform Myspace in order to makeanaccount and was eventually assaulted by an adult man she met on the site.

Judges in the 5th U.S. Circuit CourtofAppeals upheld in that case that Decency Actprotections shielded Myspacefrom beingconsidered negligent in protecting the girl.

Attorney Ed Burbach,part of Roblox’sdefense, said he

was glad Johnson was taking an interest in their decency act claims since much of the case lawcomes from those rulings in other states.

“I think we’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “Roblox spends alot of time making sure it’s asafe platform.”

In court, Roblox’sattorneys contendedthatactual crimes against children are happening off their platform, notbeing facilitated through it

Standing on thecourthouse steps, Murrill said the lawsuitisimportant because morecases involving child predators who first contact their victimsonRoblox are appearing across Louisiana.

“Every week, we are arresting sexpredators who

ChristianWalker, his wifeKate Sinclair-Faulkner and their twochildren in Dubai

ThePrairieville couple was on vacation in the city when the war with Iran broke out.Now they’retrying to gethome.

“They urge you to leavethe Middle East, but youwill call theState Department line, andthenit’slike,‘Press one if you’re in the MiddleEast.’ And you pressit, and it’slike, ‘Well, we’re not activelychartering or evacuating right now. Contact your airline,’”hesaid. Thefamilyhas called theircommercialairline each morning for seats home,but flights home keep being canceled and rebooked. They currently have areservation for aSaturday flight

SPILL

Continued frompage1B

the water LOOP initially reported on Tuesday,five days after the leak was spotted but the first day land impact was detected, that 12,600 gallons of oil had been spilled.

The company said then that alimited amount of oil had reached some isolated barrier islands, without identifyingthem. Gov.Jeff Landry’soffice said on Friday that land impacts were in the “TerrebonneBay area.”

LOOP added on Thursday that “17 birds have been reported to be impacted” and that nearly amile of boom had beendeployed.

Landry defended the response, pointing out that the leak “was stopped in minutes” and that the joint venture and other responders “immediately went” into cleanup mode. Since then,

skimmers have been working “around-the-clock,” he added LOOP postednews of the spill on itswebsite on Tuesday before government agencies that respondtooil spills notifiedthe public LOOP’sstatement was vetted,however,byresponding government agencies, the state’soil industry regulator said Landry’sstatement attempted to put the sizeofthe spill into perspective, noting the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, the worst man-made oil disaster in theGulf’s history,was about 5million barrels by comparison

About116,429 gallons of oily water,orabout 2,772 barrels, were recovered from theWell59spillinGarden IslandBay last year,the agency said Lt. Commander Rachel Ault, chief of external affairs at the Coast Guard’s New Orleans division,said some amount ofadditional oilcouldn’tberecovered

home, “if it happens,”Walker said. “It was definitely veryshocking and jarring in thebeginning, and the idea of not being able tocontrol or know when you go homeisdefinitely not always the most easy feeling,” he said. “Andthen, you know,your mind can really go down arabbit hole with if this prolongs. but Iwould sayultimately,fromthe day-today basis, how we’re takingit, we relatively feel safe where we are.”

from that more recent highwater mark forLouisiana coastal oil spills. LOOP bills itself as the single largestpoint of entry for waterborne crude in the nation and,accordingtothe state, handles 13% of the nation’s foreign oil. With 72 million barrels of oil storage onshore in aboveground tanks andunderground salt dome cavernsnear Galliano,LOOP’s operation feeds refineries along the Gulf Coast, includingseveral on theMississippi River between New Orleansand Baton Rouge. Formed in 1972, LOOP is ajoint venture of Marathon

Pipe Line LLC, ShellOil Company and ValeroTerminalling andDistribution Company

Offshore drilling is akey part of the oil and gas industryinLouisiana, which contributes$1billion annually in state andlocal taxes and 65,000 direct jobs, thestate Department of Economic Development says.

Nationally,offshore drilling contributed $109 bil-

Source:Louisiana Attorney General’sOffice

arefindingchildrenonthat platform and then engaging in conversations with them, grooming them, sexually exploiting them and hurting them,” Murrill said. “It is a huge problem.”

Murrill mentioned that the number of tips being reported to her office from the National Center for Missing andExploited Children has risenevenmoresothanit did in 2025, from around 30,000 to over 100,000. Back in 2010 the number of tips regarding child sexual exploitation in Louisiana wasless than 200.

According to Murrill’sinternet Crimes Against Children investigators, Roblox is one of the top three sites, alongside Discord and Snap-

BLOTTER

Continued from page1B

accusedofbuilding explosive devices in hisCarencro camper Orlando Burleigh, 55, was arrestedTuesdayonoutstanding warrants issued by federal agencies along with five counts of possession of afirearm by afelon, according to aSheriff’sOffice announcement.

Burleigh waswanted by the U.S. MarshalsService andthe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms andExplosivesonseveral active warrants stemming from aFlorida investigation regarding the alleged discharge of afirearm into abuilding andthe building of explosive devices.

Federal investigators locatedBurleighinthe 300 block of HibouRoad in a camper in unincorporated Carencro. Once located, the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was requested and assisted in clearing the camper where materials used in explosive devices were found. Nine firearms were seized from the property

The Louisiana State Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit responded and rendered the explosive material safe.

An investigation is ongoing. In 2023, Burleigh pleaded no contest to felony charges of firing aweapon

lion and 250,000 jobs to the economy in 2024, according to federal offshore regulators. In thatyear,the U.S. government took in nearly $7 billionintax revenue from federal offshore waters.

JosephGordon,campaign director forthe Oceana environmental advocacy group, called for ahalt to theplannedexpansionof offshore drilling because

chat, whereLouisiana children have metadultswho sexually exploited them. Atip fromthe National Center for Missing andExploited Children is not aprecise unit of measurement but represents apossible instance of someone sharing childpornographyorenticing achild to share sexual content of themselves. These tips arereportedto the center from online platformsafter they’ve found possibly questionable interactions while monitoring their users. Murrill said that while she wasthe first state’sattorney general to challenge Roblox, seven other states, most recently Nebraska,have now filed similar lawsuits.

intoadwelling and illegal discharge of aweapon in public in connection with a2021 arrest in Okaloosa County,Florida. In August 2025, he was arrested for improper vehicle registration and driving with asuspended license.

Acadiana High teacher investigated

An Acadiana High teacher is under investigation by the Lafayette Police Department after acomplaint was filed, according to a school system spokesperson. Thepolicedepartment receiveda complaint on Thursdayinvolving ascience teacher but could not provide details about the complaint, spokesperson Cpl. Ashley Wood said. She said the department only investigates crimes within the city limits, and Acadiana High is located in Scott. It is unclear where an alleged crime may have occurred. The teacher has been terminated from the Lafayette Parish school system, according to spokesperson Tracy Wirtz. She said she could notprovide anydetailsabout whyhewas fired because it was apersonnel matter

AFriday social media post claimed an Acadiana High teacher sexually harassed astudent. It is unclear if those incidents are connected.

there“will always be spills andthe riskstoour ocean and people’slivelihoods are simply too high.”

DavidJ.Mitchellcan be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Pentagon: Anthropic is a supply chain risk

The Trump administration is following through with its threat to designate artificialintelligence company Anthropic as a supply chain risk in an unprecedented move that could force other government contractors to stop using the AI chatbot Claude.

The Pentagon said in a statement Thursday that it has “officially informed Anthropic leadership the company and its products are deemed a supply chain risk, effective immediately.”

The decision appeared to shut down the opportunity for further negotiation with Anthropic, nearly a week after President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused the company of endangering national security Trump and Hegseth announced a series of threatened punishments last Friday, on the eve of the Iran war, after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company’s products could be used for mass surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapons.

Amodei said in a statement Thursday that “we do not believe this action is legally sound, and we see no choice but to challenge it in court.”

The Pentagon statement said, “this has been about one fundamental principle: the military being able to use technology for all lawful purposes. The military will not allow a vendor to insert itself into the chain of command by restricting the lawful use of a critical capability and put our warfighters at risk.”

Amodei countered that the narrow exceptions Anthropic sought to limit surveillance and autonomous weapons “relate to high-level usage areas, and not operational decision-making.”

Governor to RFK Jr.: Don’t take on Dunkin’

BOSTON Gov Maura Healey told Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to “come and take” her Dunkin’ coffees from her in response to Kennedy questioning the safety of the sugary drinks offered by Dunkin’ and Starbucks.

“Come And Take It,” read an image with a star above it posted by Healey to her official X account Wednesday. The post had quoted a Boston Globe article reporting that Kennedy said he may potentially pull certain ingredients, including those found in Dunkin’ products, from the market if they can’t be proven safe.

“You know, I wish he would work to end measles in the country That’s where I would focus my attention if I were Health and Human Services Secretary I wouldn’t be taking on Dunkin’,” Healey said when asked by a reporter about her X post, while also holding a Dunkin’ coffee cup in her hand Kennedy responded to Healey’s X post with one of his own on Thursday, assuring Healey and Bay State residents that Dunkin’ is not going anywhere. RFK Jr posted, “No one is taking away your Dunkin’. But isn’t it reasonable to ask whether a drink loaded with 180 grams of sugar is safe?”

Nearly 1,000 at Ga EV battery factory lose jobs

ATLANTA Battery company

SK Battery America Inc. laid off nearly 1,000 workers at a manufacturing plant on Friday amid automakers’ changing electrification plans and uncertain consumer demand for EVs.

The company said Friday marked the last working day for 958 plant employees, about 37% of its workforce Impacted workers will be paid through May 6 The plant will continue to employ about 1,600 workers. SK opened the $2.6 billion battery plant in Commerce, Georgia, in January 2022. The Korean company notably supplied the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Ford announced plans to cancel the fully electric version of the truck in December

BUSINESS

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

American employers cut 92,000 jobs last month Unemployment

BY PAUL WISEMAN and ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP business writers

WASHINGTON American employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs last month, a sign that the labor market remains under strain The unemployment rate blipped up to 4.4%.

Hiring deteriorated from January, when companies, nonprofits and government agencies added a healthy 126,000 jobs the Labor Department reported Friday Economists had expected 60,000 new jobs in February

Revisions also cut 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls.

The surprisingly weak employment picture in February adds to the economic uncertainty over the war with Iran, which has caused oil prices to surge and saddled business and consumers with unforeseen costs.

“The job market is struggling in the face of so many headwinds,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union “Companies are going to be even more reluctant to hire this spring until the war ends and they can see consumers still spending. It’s a tense time for the U.S economy.”

The job market had been expected to rebound this year from a lackluster 2025 when it was buffeted by President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policies, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates. In 2025, employers added just 15,000 jobs a month. Hopes for a 2026 rebound

Surge due to the Iran war, all while a weak job market lowers stocks

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEWYORK Oil shot to its highest price since 2023 after surging again Friday because of the Iran war, and a weak update on the U.S. job market knocked stocks lower to cap Wall Street’s worst week since October

The S&P 500 dropped 1.3% after a report showed U.S. employers cut more jobs last month than they created and after oil prices spiked above $90 per barrel The combination of a weak economy and high inflation is a worst-case scenario for investors because the Federal Reserve has no good tool to fix both problems at the same time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged as many as 945 points before finishing with a loss of 453, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%.

“You can’t sugarcoat this report,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management “A negative payrolls number combined with a big jump in oil prices will have traders worrying about stagflation risks.”

Stagflation is what economists call the miserable mix of a stagnating economy with high inflation, and a separate report released Friday added to the sourness after showing that U.S retailers made less money in January than economists expected. It raised the disconcerting possibility that spending by U.S. households, the main engine of the economy, may be stretched near its maximum.

Usually when the economy is unsteady and the job market is weakening, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to give things a boost. Lower rates can make it easier for households to get mortgages and for companies to raise money to expand, while also lifting prices for stocks and other investments.

The Fed cut its main interest rate several times last year and had indicated more were to come this year

But lower interest rates can also make inflation worse. And the Fed’s hands may be increasingly tied because spiking oil prices are pushing inflation higher due to disruptions for the energy industry

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, leaped another 8.5%

rose after January hiring came in above expectations.

“Just when it looked like the labor market was stabilizing, this report delivers a knock-down blow to that view,” said Olu Sonola, head of U.S. economics at Fitch Ratings. ”It’s bad news whichever way you look at it.”

The job losses were widespread.

Construction companies cut 11,000 jobs last month, which likely reflects frigid weather. And health care firms shed 28,000 jobs after a four-week strike by more than 30,000 nurses and other front-line workers at Kaiser Permanente in California and Hawaii. Health care has been one of the job market’s strong points. Factories cut 12,000 jobs and have now lost jobs for 14 of the last 15 months. Restaurants and bars lost nearly 30,000 jobs. Administrative and support services firms cut nearly 19,000 jobs and courier and

to settle at $92.69. It briefly rose above $94 to touch its highest level since September 2023. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude breached the $90 level for the first time since 2023 and jumped 12.2% to $90.90.

Oil prices have surged, with Brent up from near $70 late last week, as the war has expanded and included areas critical to the production and movement of oil and gas in the Middle East. Much will depend on what happens with the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast, where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails.

The U.S. government gave details Friday about a plan President Donald Trump announced earlier to offer insurance to ships crossing the strait, but it had little effect on the market. If oil prices spike further, like to $100 per barrel, and stay there, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market has a history of bouncing back relatively quickly following conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t jump too high for too long. Uncertainty about just how high oil prices will go this time around and for how long caused frenetic swings across financial markets this past week, sometimes

hour by hour

On Monday, the S&P 500 tumbled to an immediate 1.2% loss at the start of trading but made it all back and ended the day with a tiny gain.

Trump’s most recent signal on the war was that he wants an “unconditional surrender” of Iran, apparently ruling out negotiations. In the bond market, Treasury yields wavered, with higher oil prices pushing upward on them and the discouraging updates on the U.S. economy pulling downward.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury initially rose toward 4.19% before pulling back to 4.14%. That’s up from 4.13% late Thursday and just 3.97% a week earlier

Smaller companies often feel the bite of high borrowing costs more because many need to borrow to grow Smaller companies can also be more dependent on the strength of the U.S. economy for their profits than big multinational rivals, and the smallest stocks on Wall Street took Friday’s sharpest dives. The Russell 2000 index of small stocks fell a market-leading 2.3%.

Among the big companies in the S&P 500, companies with high fuel bills helped lead the way lower Old Dominion Freight Line sank 7.9%, cruise line Carnival fell 5% and Southwest Airlines lost 5.3%.

Sales fall as consumers pull back on spending

Malaise in retail sales that began late last year extends into 2026

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and MATT OTT AP business writers

American consumers pulled back their spending to start 2026, extending the malaise in retail sales that began late last year Retail sales fell 0.2% in January, following a flat reading in December according to the Commerce Department’s report issued on Friday January’s figure came in below the forecasts of economists, who were expecting another flat reading, The report was delayed because of the 43-day government shutdown.

The January retail figure was weighed down by a sales decline at motor vehicle and auto parts dealerships. Gas stations also saw a drop in business, reflecting lower gas prices in January, though the intensifying war in the Middle East is driving up prices in recent days. The national average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was $3.32 Friday; a week ago, it was $2.98, AAA said Excluding business at gas stations and auto dealers, retail sales rose 0.3% in January, according to the Commerce Department Economists also believe that severe winter weather throughout most of the country also hurt sales as shoppers were unable to go to physical stores. In fact, online retailers enjoyed a 1.9% sales increase in January Health and personal health stores

were among the worst performers, falling 3% from December. And sales at clothing stores fell 1.7% from December Consumer electronics and appliance retailers also struggled with sales declines.

Among the categories that saw gains were home furnishings and building materials, which includes landscape and gardening supplies.

The snapshot offers only a partial look at consumer spending and doesn’t include many services, including travel and hotel lodges. But the lone services category — restaurants registered a dip of 0.2%. The so-called control group — which excludes sales of autos, gas, building materials, and restaurant meals and which is used to calculate economic growth — rose 0.3%, according to economists’ calculations. Tim Quinlan, an economist at

Wells Fargo, noted in a report that spending in January was sturdier than the headlines suggests. He noted February looks a bit weaker, hurt by a continuation of severe winter weather He expects that higher tax refunds will help prop up spending in March, but he’s worried about the rise in gas prices.

“One big caveat will be how gas prices evolve in the wake of the conflict in Iran with households sensitive to the price at the pump,” he wrote Friday. “Consumers are fairly sensitive to gas prices, and the average price of a gallon of gasoline is already up by 25 cents in the first week of March compared to the average registered in February on the national level.

Quinlan noted that higher prices will boost these nominal retail figures, but would translate to “lower real, or inflation-adjusted consumption.”

OPINION

Adivided nation goes to war with Iran

When it comes to war,Americans don’tautomatically “rally around the flag.” Warishell, weknow, butit’s also uncertainty,sacrifice, time and politics.The costs can be astronomical.

More than adisplay of nationalunity,war requires clarity of purpose and valor,while it exposes poor leadership anddomestic disagreements

Early polls show adivided nation over thecurrent militaryactioninIran. ThelatestFox News survey findsthe countrysplit down themiddle,with 50%approvingand 50% disapproving. The partisan divideisstark: 84% ofRepublicans approveofthe action, comparedwith 20% of Democrats and 40% of independents

While 61% of voters now believe Iran is a“real nationalsecurity threat” to the U.S.,that’sdown 12 points since mid2025. Furthermore, only 29% believe President Donald Trump’shandling of the situation has made the U.S. safer CNN’spoll shows 60% of U.S. adults don’tthink Trump has aclear plan. What’smore, it findsRepublicans who are MAGAsupporters —the president’s political base —are 30 points more likely thannonMAGA Republicans to “strongly approve”the decision to go to war.

Anation divided over warisnothing new

The First World Warleft abitter aftertaste,and that led to areluctance to enter World WarII. Apoll in May 1940found 93%ofAmericans opposed declaring war on Germany despite Adolf Hitler’saggression. As late as June 1941, only 21% thought the U.S.should go to war The fall of France, the bombing of London and the attack on Pearl Harbor wipedawayopposition. It was no longer the “foreign war” President Franklin Roosevelt had promised to avoid, but ajust war thenation could rally around —with unmistakable stakes, strong purpose anddistinct enemies.

The Korean Warbegan in June 1950and introduced Americans to adifferent kind of combat:the limited war —with ill-defined stakes, hazy goals and no victory parades. By January 1951,66% of Americans favored pulling troops out “as fast aspossible.” To this day, many still resent that what happened in Korea, with 37,000 U.S. deaths, was officially labeleda“conflict,” not a“war.”

Dwight Eisenhower rode thatfrustrationtothe presidency in 1952,promising he would“go to Korea”and end the war.Bymid-1953,hedid —ending it in stalemate.

Vietnam was another limitedwar” with heavy casualties, more than 58,000 American deaths.InAugust 1965,asthe U.S. escalated its involvement, most Americans supported the effort; 61% said sending troops to Vietnam was “not amistake.” But by May 1971,that number fell to 28%. As the death toll climbed, public doubt turned into fury, questioning both the necessity of the mission and the strategies usedtofight it. The U.S.withdrewits remaining troops in 1975.

Thefirst Gulf War, unlikeVietnam, wasshort,clear and successful. The last poll beforeitbegan in January 1991 showed 55% supporting use of force if Iraqdidn’t leave Kuwait by adeadline.Iraqrefused and the U.S ledcoalition quickly liberated Kuwait. Twoweekslater, 77% of Americans saidthe decisiontouse force had been right.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,Americans were eager to punish the perpetrators,and President George W. Bush chose Afghanistan and Iraq to do it. AGallup poll in October 2001 found 88% supporting military action in Afghanistan. Often called the “good war” because it was directly tied to terrorist groups, it ultimately dragged on fortwo decades andendedinan ignominious U.S. withdrawal

TheIraqWar began with strongpublic backing.In March2003, aPew survey found 72% favored military action. By June 2004, that supporthad eroded to 39% ACBS/New York Times poll in 2006found63% of Americans believed the war was not worth its costs. Barack Obama’sopposition to it was keytohis election as presidentin2008. When it comes to war,Americans rally around purpose —and leaders whocan explain it, execute it and end it. When wars look justified, winnable and finite, public opinion hardensinto resolve. When wars feel murky, mismanaged or endless, unity dissolves Public opinion starts dividedonthe current venture in Iran. It will take aconvincing public explanation —and successful execution— to bring Americans together

Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

Letlow hasrecordof showingupfor La.

Isupported U.S.Sen. Bill Cas-

sidy for many years. Iknew him personally from my time at LSU and believed he would carry Louisiana’svalues with him to Washington. Buthis record has drifted so far from thepeople of this state thathenolonger represents who we are or what we need. Louisiana deserves asenator who listens, shows up and delivers —not one whose visibility is restricted to TV adsduring reelection season

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow has done exactly that. In just afew short years, shehas produced concrete, measurable resultsfor communities across Louisiana. Theseare not symbolic gestures or talking points; they are real investments that strengthen infrastructure, expand healthcare access and improve public safety

Across her tenure, Letlow has secured or helped secure major federal funding, including $4 million for theDelhi Hospitaltherapy and diabetes center,$1.4 million

for police cruiser modernization across multiple parishesand $1.3 million for law enforcement equipment upgrades in the Red River Deltaregion. These are targeted appropriations tied to specific Louisiana projects. That distinction matters. Cassidy’swebsite claims he has “delivered $10 billion to Louisiana,” but thatfigureissimply Louisiana’s 1% share of the $1.2 trillion national Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act —not projects he personally secured. The long listofdollar amounts on his website reflects national funding pools, not Louisiana’s totals, andthe “Myth vs. Fact” sheet on his website reliesoninformation that is nationaland not Louisiana-specific. Cassidy’sprioritieshave shifted away from the people he was elected to serve. Louisiana needs asenator who still represents us.

DR. NICHOLAS J. PERSICH Metairie

Adsnot thecause of high auto rates

Arecent letter published Feb.18 blames lawyer advertising for high insurance rates. I’m no fan of the kind of advertising done by professionals and lawyers in particular Whether they work in health care, with drug companies or lawyers, it’sa no-go for me, but suggesting auto rates are higher because of it is afalse premise. If it weretrue,

every state in the country would experience the increases. The blamerests with poor highways and streets, lackofeducation and regulatory permissiveness. Lawyer ads are everywhere in every state, even in states with low insurance rates.

FRED L. HERMAN NewOrleans

What’s up withthe federal government providingvast funding for foreign projects that offer no benefit to theAmerican people?

What’s up withaccepting that our government officials and their cronies can defraud our government and pilfer our taxpayer

funds? What’s up with releasing murderers, rapists and child molesters back to ourstreets only to commit these crimesagain and again?

What’s up with that?

KERRYP.REDMANN JR. Mandeville

is doing

In aletter on Feb. 18, Jonathan Sherman wrote: “U.S. Immigration and Customsagents should not have to fight U.S. citizens and protesters in order to do their jobs, to enforce the law If we don’tagree with the laws of this country,they need to be changed. The only way to do that is through Congress. It is not to fight law enforcement in the streets. What’swrong with us?”

I’ve watched videos of ICE agents beating individuals lying on the ground, and in one instance, repeatedly shooting a citizen in the back, killing him And in another instance, repeatedly ramming the car of another American citizen. Miramar Martinez. before ICEagent Charles Exum shot her,then proudly texted, “I fired 5rounds and she had 7holes. Put that in your book boys.”

The Constitution is, Ibelieve, still regarded as the supreme law of the land here in America. Iurge everyone to read it, and Ibelieve manywould be astounded at the violations that have becomethe norm today,especially among those whoclaim to love it.

How manyofusare concerned that today,from an unmarked vehicle, armed agents unidentified save forthe word“police” on their vests, dressed in riot gear,helmet and masks over their face can, with no judicial warrant, grab anyone off the street, guilty of nothing more than their skin tone and accent? And if you don’tbelieve this is happening, how is it that despite this administration constantly claiming they’re after the “worst of the worst,” the most recent Department of Homeland Security data show that less than 14% of those arrested by ICEhave convictions forviolent crimes?

What’swrong with us indeed?

JIM

WRIGHT Baton Rouge

SPORTS

Kelly citesstaff upheaval in downfall

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

Former LSU football coach BrianKelly pointed to alack of continuity within his coaching staff as his primary issue duringhis time with the Tigers as he reflected on his tenure during aradio interview Friday morning Kelly,who made his first public comments since he was fired last fall, mentioned his selection of defensive coordinator MattHouseand offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. House was fired after his second season amid adefensive staff overhaul and Sloanwas fired last fall the day after Kelly was dismissed.

“I think when you look at, from ahead coaching perspective, not having enough continuity with the coordinators certainly put us in aposition wherewe couldn’tmake any mistakes,” Kelly said on SiriusXM CollegeSportsRadio.

Kelly,64, was fired in the midst of his fourth season with a34-14 overall recordat LSU. His tenure began with back-to-back 10win seasons and an appearance in theSEC championship game, butLSU went 14-7 over his last 21 games. After hissecond season, Kelly replaced both of his coordinators. House was fired

page 3C

AP FILE PHOTO By CHARLES SyKES Paralympic snowboarderBrennaHuckaby helps unveil the Team USA uniforms for the 2026 Milan Cortina WinterOlympics on Dec. 3inNew york.

AVALANCHE

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

GREENVILLE, S.C. It was arelatively quiet first half for Flau’jae Johnson. The LSUstar wasn’t playing poorly,but she was selective with her shots.

Shesaw drivinglanes in thefirsthalf, andthe Tigers were forcing Oklahoma into the misses she needed to score her signaturebuckets—the ones thatcomefrom electrifying downhill drives in transition.

So Johnson began attacking the lane in thesecond half.

“Then Ijust started feeling it ”she said.

Once she did, theLSU women’sbasketball team rode a second-half tidal wave of scoringtoan112-78 win over

the No. 5-seeded Sooners in the SECTournament quarterfinals —its most lopsided conference tournament victoryofcoach KimMulkey’stenure.

Things weretight halfwaythroughthe third quarter but the No. 4-seeded Tigers (27-4) still had awhopping 56 points leftinthem

TheTigers shot 53% from the field and 13 of 24 from beyond the arc while scoring the second-most points ever in theSEC Tournament.Tennessee scored 118 against Florida in the 1980 quarterfinals.

MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 22 points, while Johnson added 21, becoming thesixthplayertoeclipse 2,000

ä See SEC, page 3C

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

Brenna Huckaby has been through it all. Apromising younggymnast, she lost her right leg at age 14 to osteosarcoma, acancerous bone tumor.Huckaby made thetransition to elite para snowboarding whereshe excelled, becoming aworld champion and three-time Paralympic goldmedalist. She married, moved to Montana and together with husband TristanCleggisraising two daughters, Lilah and Sloan

Beginning her thirdParalympic Winter Games thisweekend in Italy,Games using many of the same sitesasthe recently completed Milan CortinaWinter Olympics, Huckaby will go for history.One more gold medal in eitherofher events—parasnowboarding or bankedslalom —would give her the record for Paralympic gold medals she currently shares with the latesnowboarding legend Bibian Mentel of The Netherlands. Beforeheading to Italy,the 30-year-old mom from Baton Rouge sat down and had a quiet talk with herselfabout what she wanted most out of these Games. The answer wasn’tsimply another shiny golden object

BYKEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The best advice for theULsoftball team is to not look too far into the season statisticsofeither of itsopponents this weekend at the Okana Invitational at Love’sField in Norman, Oklahoma. “Welook at it as agreat opportunity,” UL coach AlysonHabetz saidofplaying at Oklahoma.“We’renot expected to win, but they’re responsibility is to playtoour standard. We feel like if we play ourbest game, we canwin.Itiscertainlygoing to be an interesting challenge.”

Of course,ULended Oklahoma’s71-game winning streak at Love’sField in 2024.

On theone hand, there’sNo. 4Oklahoma, whichhas offensive numbersthatwould intimidate just about any pitching staff. On the other hand, there’sthe pitching statistics for Abilene Christian, which jump off the computer screen for the wrong reasons. TheactionforUL(14-8)beginsat11:30 a.m Saturdayagainst AbileneChristian(2-17) be-

fore meeting Oklahoma (20-2) at 5p.m. The Oklahomalineup is hitting .469 with 91 home runs, 42 doubles, 310 runs and29 stolen bases in 22 games. The Sooners have scored in

ures 15 times alreadythisseason, including three times of morethan

runs and twice over

By comparison, UL hasscored143 runs with 23 homers, 32 doublesand 26 steals in 22 games. In the circle, the Sooners don’tappear as strong as in the past. With ateam ERAof 3.33, theOklahoma staff hasallowed112 hits in 122 innings with 42 walks and 104 strikeouts. Abilene Christian’steam ERAis9.15, surrendering 204 hits and 104 walks with only 70 strikeouts in 111

3

3

3:30

4

4:30

5

Valley Tourn.: TBD CBSSN

5 p.m Texas A&M at LSU SECN

5:30 p.m. North Carolina at Duke ESPN

7 p.m. SummitTourn.:TBD vs.NDSU CBSSN

7 p.m. UC Davis at UC Irvine ESPNU

7 p.m. Providence at Georgetown TRUTV

7:30 p.m. Auburn at Alabama ESPN

7:30 p.m. Oklahoma at Texas SECN

8 p.m. Northwestern at Minnesota BTN

8 p.m. OVC Tourn.: TBD ESPN2

8 p.m. UCLA at Southern Cal FS1

9:30 p.m. Summit Tourn.: TBD vs. STM CBSSN

9:30 p.m. Texas Tech at ByU ESPN

10 p.m. Arizona at Colorado ESPN2

10 p.m. Washington at Oregon FS1 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

10 a.m A-10: Davidson vs. Rh.Island CBSSN

11 a.m. ACC: Notre Dame vs. Duke ESPN2

11 a.m. Big East: G’town vs. UConn NBCSN

12:30 p.m. A-10: TBD vs. George Mason CBSSN

1 p.m. Big Ten: Ohio St. vs. UCLA BTN

1:30 p.m. ACC: TBD vs Louisville ESPN2

1:30p.m B.East: Creighton vs.MarquetteNBCSN

3:30 p.m. Big Ten: TBD BTN

3:30 p.m. SEC: LSU vs. S Carolina ESPN2

5 p.m. Miami (Ohio) at Ohio ESPNU

6 p.m. SEC: TBD ESPN2

6 p.m B.East:Providencevs.Villanova NBCSN

8:30 p.m. B.East:St.John’svs.SetonHall NBCSN MEN’S COLLEGE WRESTLING

9 a.m. Big Ten Tournament: Session 1 BTN

6 p.m. Big Ten Tournament: Semifinals BTN

a.m.

Ohtani hits grand slam at WBC

BY STEPHEN WADE Associated Press

TOKYO This is the Shohei Ohtani effect

Ohtani put on a giant show in batting practice hours before he hit a grand slam in the second inning — in the first he doubled on the first pitch of the game but didn’t score — as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic.

It was Japan’s first game of four in pool play

Ohtani drew major Western star power to Japan for the game, with actor Timothée Chalamet and pop singer Bad Bunny in the stands.

Ohtani spoke to the crowd after the game.

“I knew it was going to leave the park right away after I hit it,” Ohtani said of his grand slam. “It’s important to score first.”

Bowing and tipping his cap, Ohtani thanked the fans.

“It was a good game and we got off to a good start, so I think it was all because of your support,” he said to rising applause as he spoke in Japanese. “I think the battles will continue, but if the fans and the team can come together and cheer, it will encourage us. So please support us.”

Starting and winning pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto also, of course, credited Ohtani in a postgame press conference away from the field.

“This was our first game of the tournament, and to score the first run is always difficult,” he said. “But Shohei hit a huge home run to give us the momentum So I tip my cap to him.”

An early show in BP

Ohtani’s batting practice thrilled many who had traveled from afar to see him.

Lia Chan and her husband,

How, and other family members flew in from Singapore — about a seven-hour flight to Tokyo — just to watch Ohtani play in the WBC.

“And baseball is not even popular in Singapore,” said Lia, who was seated a few rows behind home plate “We know about baseball, we watch it, but when Ohtani came along, it’s just gone out of proportions.”

LSU softball shut out by top-ranked Tennessee

LSU got a bit of a break when Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens was ruled out of Friday’s SEC softball opener Pickens, the two-time SEC pitcher of the year, is dealing with an arm/shoulder issue and is listed as day to day It didn’t seem to matter as Sage Mardjetko threw a shutout in the No. 1 Volunteers’ 5-0 win over LSU in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mardjetko (5-0) allowed four hits while striking out five for the Vols (21-0, 1-0).

Jayden Heavener (6-3) allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits and one walk for No. 17 LSU (17-5, 0-1).

Tennessee took a 2-0 lead on Makenzie Butt’s two-run homer in the third and added a Taelyn Holley homer in the fourth before getting one more in the fifth.

The two teams meet again at 2 p.m. Saturday with a third game slated for 1 p.m. Sunday

Berger builds on lead, up by five shots at Bay Hill

ORLANDO, Fla. — Daniel Berger was on his game again in the most demanding conditions, making five birdies in a round of 4-under 68 that gave him a five-shot lead Friday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Berger was at 13-under 131.

Akshay Bhatia posted the low round with a 66 to get within five of the lead. Ludvig Aberg (71), Collin Morikawa (71) and Sahith Theegala (67) were another shot back.

Scottie Scheffler was stunned when his bunker shot on the 15th rolled out by the hole and never stopped rolling until it went off the green 30 feet away He chipped that in for par But on the 18th, his 30-foot birdie putt that he barely touched raced some 10 feet by for a bogey and a 71, leaving him 10 shots behind.

Fired Mich. coach reaches plea deal to resolve case

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors Friday in a deal to resolve a felony criminal case that arose immediately after he was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with his executive assistant.

The deal was struck on the same day a judge planned to hear a challenge to Moore’s arrest in December on three charges, including felony home invasion. Those charges were dropped in exchange for Moore pleading no contest to trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device in a relationship.

Vikings C Kelly retiring after multiple concussions

signs in Japanese and English that read: “Please watch from your seats.”

Finally, Ohtani emerged from the dugout and waited his turn around the batting cage, hugged a few players, made small talk and greeted some fans in an area for sponsors.

Fans in the stands stood to get a better look. But they were asked to sit down by attendants holding

Lia, her husband and other Singaporeans in their group were among some 40,000 in the stadium oohing-and-aahing on Friday, and this was only for batting practice hours before the second Pool C game. Ohtani knows about drama. He kept the crowd waiting for perhaps 30 minutes as other Japanese players practiced and hundreds of reporters with cameras, phones and tripods milled around in a penned-off area on the field.

Ohtani took about 25 swings, hit about 10 balls out of the park and another few against the outfield wall. When batting practice ended, he jogged out to thank the batting practice pitcher, bowed slightly, and gathered a few loose balls and tossed them into the hopper Then with a bat in each hand, he trotted off the field to prepare for the game against Taiwan.

“Who does things like that?” Lia said. “He’s in another league.”

In Miami, fans of Venezuela find reason to celebrate

BY TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press

MIAMI Ronald Acuña scored easily from third base for Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic, and about a half-dozen of his teammates hopped over the dugout railing to start a celebration. It was a 1-0 game. In the first inning. Didn’t matter

“For our people, baseball is joy,” Jessalyn Suarez, an office manager from Miami, said as she walked into the ballpark about an hour earlier “Today is joy Today is not about anything else.” She was like many other Venezuelan fans Friday — wearing her team’s jersey her country’s flag knotted loosely around her neck, the country’s yellow-bluered color scheme painted on her face and the faces of some of her friends.

Unusual political times didn’t

seem to matter. Thousands of Venezuelans the stadium was maybe one-third filled for Venezuela vs. Netherlands on Friday, with the overwhelming majority of fans cheering for “La Vinotinto” showed up to watch their national team play on U.S. soil, two months after American forces executed a military operation in Venezuela to capture deposed leader Nicolás Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

“Nobody is thinking about him today,” Jesus Otero, a retired heavy machine operator from nearby Hialeah, said as he watched batting practice. “He’s not here.”

There were a few Netherlands caps and shirts in the crowd — but for the most part, the party was very Latin.

At 10:30 a.m. outside the ballpark, more than 90 minutes be-

fore

first pitch, fans arrived as music from Elsen Pro, Bacilos and Carlos Vives blared over giant speakers. At a gas station across the street from one of the parking garages, someone was selling Venezuela jerseys, caps and flags, all packed up into a couple of duffle bags that were serving as display cases.

Inside, fans cheered from the very first pitch. The upper deck was almost entirely empty, but the lower deck — especially on the third-base side, the one where Venezuela’s dugout was — was bustling.

“Venezuelan baseball fans are very motivated and involved with everything that happens with the team,” said Nelson Zurita, a Venezuelan who calls Chile home but flew to Miami for the tournament. “They are aware of every transaction in the anticipation to the Classic. The country will

always be focused on sports but especially baseball. The players do not want to mix politics with baseball, but the country is completely behind them.”

There were no signs of protests outside the ballpark Friday afternoon; there was a presence of police officers and sheriff’s deputies, but that seemed largely for standard security and trafficcontrol reasons. Fans were going through the usual sorts of ticketchecks and bag searches that are in place for Miami Marlins games and other events at the ballpark.

WBC officials said the night game Friday — Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic — was trending toward becoming sold-out.

“The presence of this team provides some relief from the everyday political stress,” Zurita said. “The emphasis instead is on the Classic. Baseball breathes new life.”

EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly has retired after a concussion-marred final season in his 10-year NFL career, the team announced on Friday Kelly played in only eight games in his lone season with the Vikings after he was part of the team’s push to invest heavily in an offensive line upgrade, giving him an $18 million contract with $9.25 million guaranteed a year ago to leave the Indianapolis Colts in free agency

The offense was noticeably more productive when Kelly was on the field in 2025, but Kelly was placed in the concussion protocol three times and has had six documented concussions in his NFL career

The 32-year-old was a first-round pick by the Colts in 2016 out of Alabama, making four Pro Bowls.

Lee has a bogey-free 66 to lead LPGA in China

HAINAN ISLAND, China Mi Hyang Lee played bogey-free in windy conditions on Friday and posted a 6-under 66, giving her a one-shot lead in the Blue Bay LPGA going into the weekend as the South Korean chases her first LPGA

LSUbullpen developing rolesahead of SECplay

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

It’sbeen astrange start to the year for the LSU bullpen, a unit that appeared to be aclear strength for the Tigers heading into theseasonbut hasstruggled in the games leading into thisweekend’sthree-game series with Sacramento State. So, where doesthat leavethe group heading into Southeastern Conference play?

Here’sabreakdown of where every LSU reliever stands as the Tigers’ nonconference schedule comes to aclose.

Closers

Options: Gavin Guidry,RHP,R-Jr.; Deven Sheerin, RHP,R-So.

Breakdown: Guidry and Sheerin have easily been LSU’sbest relievers through14games. Entering thisweekend, the two hadn’tallowed an earnedrun in 151/3 innings of relief, combining to record 29 strikeouts and allowing just one extra-base hit and two walks.

They’ve dominated hitters in entirely different ways. Guidry’s supremecommand andmastery of five pitches —fastball, cutter, changeup, slider and curveball —have consistently flummoxed hitters. Sheerin has overwhelmed opponents by throwing afastball that’supto99mph with movement andasharp slider

Guidry struggledinhis start Wednesday against UL, but the

KELLY

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after leading adefense that allowed 28 points per game, oneof the worst marks in school history, and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock left for the same job at Notre Dame. Kellypromoted Sloan, who called plays for the first time at amajor program.

“When you bring in coordinators and youchange them that quickly,one of the mistakes that Imade is that you need to stay,as the head coach, closer to thenext situation,” Kelly said. “In other words, you can’tlet football get away from you. And Iwas an offensive coordinator.I called playsfor 25 years. Ifeltlike, with the changes that we had, Iwas much more about letting them go do their job, and Ineeded to stay more involved in thatjob

“Because at the end of the day, the Xs and Os still matter.Iknow it’sthe Jimmys and the Joes and we know about recruiting,but Xs and Os matter,and you better stay close to that as well.My point being, from acontinuitystandpoint, when you have change andturnover,you better get closer to it. Youbetter get closer to who the players are that you’re bringing in and turning over,and you better get closer to your coachesso you know exactly what’sgoingon on aday-to-daybasis.”

Kelly said he felt “disappointed” when he gotfiredinOctober. He added “there were bigger things going on” around the LSU administration, saying former school president William F. Tate IV was “forced out” when he left forthe same job at Rutgers. FormerLSU senior associate athletic director Keli Zinn also left last summer to become the athletic director at Rutgers, and athletic director Scott Woodward was ousted shortly after Kelly’sfiring amid public criticism from Gov.Jeff Landry

“The situation at LSU got very complex,” Kelly said. “There were alot of people that were involved.”

Continued from page1C

Offensively, theWildcats are hitting .248 with 71 runs, 12 homers and22stolen bases.

For the coaching staff, those two extremes may make analyzing the weekend’sresultsvery difficult. With that said, there are several UL players worth keeping aclose eye on. Twoofthem are pitcher Lexie Delbrey (3-1, 3.50ERA,18BB, 34 IP) and Julianne Tipton (3-1, 3.08 ERA, 13 BB,25IP).Bothhave had good and bad command at times this season.

“I’m excited about both of them because there’s still alot left in both of their tanks,” Habetz said. “That’sthe exciting part as acoach, because Lexie, that wasprobably one of her best performances (last weekend). She attacked the strike zone and didn’tgive up freebies, which is abig deal for Lexie. “The rise ball is abig pitch for

ä LATE NIGHT TIGERS

LSU-Sacramento State ended after this edition went to press. For complete coveragevisit, theadvocate.com

veteran’strackrecord and the stuff he’sshown outofthe bullpen shouldn’tshake LSUcoach Jay Johnson’s confidence in him

Middle relief

Options: Mavrick Rizy,RHP,So.; Ethan Plog, LHP, So.

Breakdown: One couldargueRizy belongs with thetop group of closers, but his command has been shaky.He’swalked seven batters in just 81/3 innings before Friday, despiteimproving hisdelivery from last season andholding a2.16 ERA heading into this weekend.

Johnson’stop choice among the lefties out of the bullpen hasbeen Plog, even though he tossedonly 31/3 innings before theSacramento State series. He has walked two batters but alsohas six strikeouts, beating hitters with afunky arm slot, afastball with good movement that sits around 93-94 mph andaslider

Potentialrisers

Options: ZacCowan, RHP, Sr.; Cooper Williams, LHP,So.; Jaden Noot, RHP, R-Jr ;Reagan Ricken, RHP, Fr.; DaxDathe, RHP,Sr.;Santiago Garcia, LHP,Jr.;GrantFontenot, RHP,Sr.

Breakdown: Cowan and Williams’

Afterhewas fired, Kelly was owed nearly $54 million. LSU and hisrepresentatives reached an impasseinbuyoutnegotiationsa couple of weekslater,and Kelly’s attorneys said in alawsuit that unspecified LSU officials took the position he could be fired for cause. Their court filing did notsay what grounds LSUhad for firing Kelly for cause, which would have taken the school off the hook for his buyout. Kelly suggested Friday that LSU believed he played an excessiveamount of golf and drankinhis office. An LSU athletics spokesperson declined to comment.

“Well, if youask LSU, Iwas playing 350rounds of golf all year and drinking in my office,”

Kelly said.“The thing they didn’t know is Ihave atornleft rotator cuff that Isuffered in theFlorida game onthe sideline. Igot hit by an offensive and defensive lineman, and it tore my rotator cuff. So, Ihaven’tplayed much golf. I’ve been rehabbing, mostly.”

LSU eventually sentKelly writtenconfirmation that he was fired without cause and agreed to pay his full buyout, ending the legal battle.IfKelly finds another job in football,LSU would have to pay only thedifference between hisnew salary and the$9million he’sowedannually through 2031 because of amitigation clausein hiscontract.

“I don’tknow that I’vemade the decision that Iwant to get back in,” Kelly said. “But Ithink while youwait, youneedtowork, and so Ineed to stay in thegame.”

Kelly saidhewill spend the next few weeks visiting other programs duringspringpractice to see how things are done elsewhere, whichheplans to do in the fall, too.

“I wanttoget around and see their program, see how they’re doing, get asense of where Ican grow and Ican be better,” Kelly said. “Andso that’sreally my focus right now.And then if the right situation comes aboutand I’m ready,I’m certainly gonna entertain that.”

her, and sometimesyou’re not controllingthe rise ball.”

Another Cajun to focus on is middle infielder MiaLiscano, who is leadingthe team in hitting at .471 inthe nine-hole.

So should she move up in the lineup?

“Everytime Imakethe lineup, Istart with Liscano with aninehole,” Habetz said. “I always write her name first. It’sgetting kind of hard to do that, because sheisperforming,but man Ilike having someone in the nine-hole to turn thelineup over “That’sa bigpart of thelineup, andItell her that.Ihope she gets that.”

Another player coming on as of late is Madyson Manning (.290, 1 HR, 9RBIs). “She’sagreat hitter,just in general with her swing and her mechanics,” Habetz said. “Hopefully,she can continue to get more confidentand that’ll show.”

Email Kevin Footeat kfoote@theadvocate.com.

LSU relief pitcher DevenSheerin is fired up after astrikeout to end the fourth inning of LSU’s21-7 win overMilwaukee earlier this season at Alex Box Stadium

struggles have comeasa surprise as both pitchersentered the year as contenders to crack the starting rotation Cowan has a13.50 ERAwith 12 hits allowed in four appearances entering the weekend. Williams haseight strikeouts in 51/3 innings, but he hasgivenupseven hits. Both pitchers may still earnbigger roles if they can recapture their pinpoint command, but hitters have punished them when they’ve left the ball over the plate.

Noot’srole has diminished since he started LSU’sfourth game of

SEC

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career points in an LSUuniform. They paced fiveLSU players with double-digit points and nine with at least fivepoints.

Fulwiley and Johnson did mostof theirdamage across thethird and fourth quarters –the stretch of the game in which LSU bludgeoned the Sooners (24-7) with 3-pointers andtransition layups. The 13 shots the Tigers made beyond the arcwereaseason-high and an SEC Tournament program record.

“I was just looking at the stat sheet,”Mulkey said. “If you’d have told me we would have almosttripled thenumber of 3s that Oklahoma made,Iwould have said you lost your mind. We don’tshoot that many.But we shotthe ball well today.”

When LSUand Oklahoma last met in January,the Tigers coasted to adecisive19-point road win. Star senior forward Raegan Beers battled foul trouble throughout the game,while star freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez missed11ofthe 14 shots she took in the regular season.

Beersran into foul trouble again early in the second quarter of Friday’smatchup, and the Sooners struggledtoscore when she was watching from the bench. Overall, they shot only 36%fromthe

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draped around her neck.

“I realized Idonot have fun chasing thosemedals,” Huckaby said. “What do Ireally want? Just be in theprocess, just enjoy it ” Huckaby,who begins competing early Saturday morning Baton Rouge time, said she had three pillars to her approach for these Paralympic Games, which began with theopening ceremony Friday in Verona and runs through March 15.

“One,Iwant to be authentically myself,” she said, “which means I’m goingtohavefun andenjoy every moment that Ican. Iwant it to be memorable and Iwant to be competitive. Thatdoesn’tmean I don’twant to show up as my best self as an athlete and control what Ican control.

“If Ican keep it fun and memorable, Idon’tcare where Iland. I just want toenjoy the moment.” Huckaby has amantra that helps herdeal with theups anddowns, challenges andchampionships: “It’s not good, nor bad, it just is.”

Cancer taught her that much of what happens in life is beyond our grasp.

“I hope people remember me as someone who rolled with the punchesand just takes life as it is andinspiresotherstodothe same,” Huckaby said. “Wedon’t have control over anything in life.Roadblocks aregoing to happen. Just so much is outside of your control. What we can controlishow we’re showing up for ourselves in the present moment and more importantly,how we’re showing up for others. Ihope Ican

hone in hiscontrol,his cutter and slider provide LSU astrong arm in relief. Johnson wasconfident in Fontenot earning alarger role, as his fastball is now up to 98 mph. But the senior has struggledwith his command and finding aconsistent off-speed pitch.

Notinmix now

Options: Danny Lachenmayer, LHP,So.; Zion Theophilus, RHP, Fr.; Marcos Paz, RHP,Fr.;Connor Benge, RHP,Sr.;DJPrimeaux, LHP,R-Jr

the year against Kent State, but theveteran didn’tallow abaserunner in thethree appearances since then.Ricken is only afreshman, but he’spitched well in twoofhis three outings and can throw for multiple innings. He’sanathletic armwith plenty of upside, especially when he throwsstrikes. Garcia had arough first appearance, allowing athree-run homer and has struggled with consistency ever since. Dathe was amongJohnson’stop middle-reliefoptions before he ran into problems against McNeese Statelastweek.Ifhecan

field, andtheymissed16ofthe 21 3-pointersthey took. The LSU offensesimplyran more smoothly, giving the Tigers open looks both inside and outside the 3-point arc for most of the game.

Fulwileyalso tallied eight assists, four rebounds andthree blocks. MikaylahWilliams scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Sophomore point guard Jada Richard chipped in 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while senior forward Amiya Joyner tallied seven points, five rebounds and two steals.

Beerstallied aseason-lowsix points in 23 minutes and fouled out at the 4:18 markofthe fourth quarter. Chavez chipped in 20 points after shooting 6of15from the field.

“I thought we defendedgood,” Mulkey said. “Wecouldn’tstop fouling. We were just fouling that whole first half, and they got alot of free throws, and then Ithink we cleaned it up starting in the third quarter.”

LSU played sharpoffense in the first quarter but ran into some turnover issues in the second. The Tigers gave away nine possessions in that quarter,giving Oklahomaa chance to cut into anine-point deficititfaced by theend of thefirst quarter

But the Sooners struggled to score from anywhere besides the free-throw line. They shotjust 4 of 17 from the field in the second, missing all three shots they took from beyond the arc as LSU led

inspire people to do the same.”

After moving to Utah to pursue her sport, then to Wyoming and Maine, Huckabyand herfamily decided to makeahome near Kalispell, asmall city in northwestern Montanaabout thesame distance from the Canadian border as BatonRougeisfrom New Orleans.

Despitebeing enormouslydifferent in termsofgeography and climate, Huckaby said it somehow reminds her moreofBaton Rouge than any place she’slived.

“People were so talkative and open,” Huckaby said. “Plus, it’s stunning. The access to the outdoors is pretty unmatched. My kids love it, which honestly is the mostimportant part.”

Huckaby wongoldmedalsin both events in her first Paralympic Winter Games in 2018 in South Korea. Shefollowed that up with a gold in bankedslalomand abronze in snowboard cross in the 2022 BeijingGames. Howdid agirl from Baton Rouge figure out she would be great at snowboarding?

“Going from gymnastics to snowboarding wasn’tashard as many peoplewould think,” Huckaby said. “They are very different sports. But Ithink onething that gymnastics gave me, because I wasata highlevel,was thebody awareness, the balance, the air awareness andthe strength. BecauseI hadall those skills that are pretty hard to teach people, Ipickedupsnowboarding pretty quickly.Ifell in love with the challenge of it and the adrenaline.”

Huckabybegins competing with snowboard cross qualifying at 4a.m.Central on Saturday,with the medal round of the event set for5 a.m. Sunday at theCortina Para Snowboard Park in Cortina

Breakdown: Lachenmayer had an opportunitytoprove himself against UL on Wednesday,but he walked abatterthatled to arun and threw moreballs than strikes. Theophilus showed better command in his second outing Monday,even if he’sonthe lower end of Johnson’specking order Johnson hasshownconfidencein Primeaux over the last two years and heading into this one, but the BatonRouge native hasstruggled to command his pitches on the inner-half of the plate against lefthanded batters —frequently hitting them —and he’snever been relied upon to face righties.

Bengehasn’tthrowna full inning after beginning last season as aprominent middle-relief option He allowed twoearned runs and failed to record an out Wednesday Pazhas struggledwithhis control and throwing aconsistent breaking ball since returning from Tommy John surgery

45-33 at the half Oklahoma started to heat up in the third, but LSUfound an answer for mostofthe shots it hit.Richard drained four of the fivefield goals she took in that quarter while also playing disruptive defenseagainst Chavez at the other end.

The Tigers ended the third on a 17-3 run to take a23-point lead into the fourth. In the second half,they shot 52% from the field and 8of 15 frombeyond the arc. From the 6:54 markofthe third until the2:39 mark of the fourth, LSU converted 22 of 33 field-goal tries. Williamsand Johnson have been teammates for threeyears, but before Friday,they had played only one SEC Tournament game together.Apair of minorinjuries hadgotteninthe way before,but they didn’tthis year.The twostars played27and 32 minutes against Oklahoma, respectively LSU now has wonfour straight SECTournamentquarterfinal matchups. It’salso scored at least 100 points 14 times this season one shy of the NCAA Division Irecord, which Long Beach State set in 1987. The Tigers next will face SouthCarolina in thesemifinals at 3:30 p.m.Saturday.The No. 1-seeded Gamecocks, who have woneight of the last 10 SEC Tournaments, have beaten LSU18 straight times. They routedNo. 9-seeded Kentucky 87-64 in the quarterfinals on Friday

d’Ampezzo,Italy.Her second event, banked slalom,begins at 4a.m. March 14.

All of the events will be streamed on Peacock, withfinals in both events being televised on CNBC.

“Ifyou’re afan of sports,” Huckaby said, “you’ll be afan of para sports.”

Huckaby’s husbandand daughters are with her at the Paralympics,though Huckaby is locked down by tight security at the athletes’ Olympic Village.

“It feels like Iam‘glamping’ with my teammates,” Huckaby said. “Suchaninteresting feeling. They call it the villagefor areason. There’sa gameroom, ameditation room, adoctor’soffice. Adentist. A 24/7 cafeteria. There’safree cappuccino barista; Iget acappuccino every morning. It’s fun.

“It’ssuper secure. We don’thave any morepeople whocan come in. My family can’tcome in. It’slike airport security.”

After the Games, Huckaby and herfamily plantotravel through Italyto“check outthe food,the wine andthe views.” Whether or notshe leaves withmore medals or the record formost Paralympic snowboarding golds, Huckaby has madepeace with what will be in her mind.

“On one hand,” Huckaby said, “I think it would be really cool to have more medals, more gold. To break the tie for most golds won in snowboarding, that would be really cool to check that box.

“But when Ireally sit withmyself andask myself what Itruly want,thatisn’tactuallyinthere What Itruly wantistomake these Gamesfun and make it memorable and be the best competitor Ican be. If Ican do that, that’sgoing to feel better than checking abox.”

Teen dating in 2026:Nobody’s together, buteveryone’s heartbroken

If you want to feel instantly old, ask ateenager asimple question: “So …are you two dating?”

Youwill not receive asimple answer Instead, you’ll hear something like, “We’re talking,” or “It’scomplicated,” or my personalfavorite,“We’re basically together but not officially.” This is called a“situationship.”

Translation: there’s no official label, strong emotions are involved, expectations exist, and someone will probably cry by Thursday —but no one wants to define anything yet.

Adults often think teens today don’tcare about relationships. Actually,teenagers care alot. What’schanged is how relationships happen. Previous generations learned dating through awkward in-person conversations. Today’steens learn romance through Wi-Fi, group chats and an audience. Imagine trying to figure out attraction and rejection while hundredsofpeople can see when you liked someone’spost, viewed their story,orsuddenly stopped appearing in their comments. When Iwas young, embarrassment lasteduntil the end of lunch. Now it lives online forever like adocumentary nobody requested. One of the biggest differences adults miss is communication style. Teens often don’t say how they feel directly.Instead, they repost videos or quotes online that say things like, “Some people don’tappreciate loyalty until it’sgone.”

Adults see this and think, “Whyare they posting drama?” Teens see it as emotional Morse code. Reposting has become the modern version of passing notes in class —except now the entire school reads the note while one specific person is supposed to realize it’s about them. Unsurprisingly, misunderstandings happen. Alot.

The result is what adults call drama but therapistscall “communicationwithout closure.” Feelings get expressed publicly,but conversations never actually happen. Conflicts stretchout for days because nobody wants to risk direct rejection or awkwardness. And honestly,can you blame them?Today’steens are growing up in aworld wheremistakes are screenshotable and embarrassment is shareable. Avoiding vulnerabilityfeels safer than risking humiliation. Another change is the sheer intensity of relationships. Teens are connected constantly —texting,snapping and messaging throughout the day There’snoemotional halftime. Evenbreakupsdon’tfully end becauseupdates keep appearing on feeds like emotional reruns. Parents often respond by minimizing teen relationships: “You’re too young for this to matter.”

But to the teen experiencing it, it matters greatly.These relationships are practice runs for communication, boundaries and self-confidence. They’re learning skills that adults still struggle with —just faster and more publicly What helps most isn’tlecturing teens about how dating worked in 1994. (Trustme,

in his home’skitchen.

BY LAURENCHERAMIE Staff writer

AT11 a.m. on aMonday in February,Jim Urdiales openedthe door of his Mid City home with a glass of rosé in hand anda wide grin.

He led the way through the house —his dog Pablo at his heels —and out to abackyard oasis where he andhis partner,Y’zellWilliamson, transformed agarage into a kitchen Technically,Urdiales operates three kitchens:the one inside his home, theone in his backyard and theone at his restaurant,Mestizo Louisiana-Mexican Cuisine.His Baton Rouge home was built in 1936. The backyardkitchen renovation wascompleted two years ago by Garic Jenkins of B&G Construction anddesigner Michele Sonnier.

The enclosed outdoor space is a journeythroughUrdiales’ travels, most prominently to Mexicobut also to Barcelona and Greece. Almost every item has astory and a sentiment behind it. Hanging on the walls or displayed on shelves are black clay pottery fromOaxa-

Chefs Nini Nguyen, left, and Gabriele Bertaccini work against time and fatigue on ‘24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.’

ca, Urdiales’ tequila collection, angel figurines and decorative plates salvaged fromhis aunt’sflooddamaged home in Lafayette, and lead pottery from amuch-loved customer

“In the last27years Mestizo’shas been open, I’ve probably done over 20 trips to Mexico,”Urdiales said

“I travel, andIgointo adistinct area to get afeel for the cuisine, the culture, the history.And it’sreally made me fall in love with Mexico and my heritage on that side.”

Urdiales, athird-generation restaurateur,grew up watching his dad

ä See URDIALES, page 6C

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff

Caregiverirked by excessivepraise

Dear Miss Manners: Iamthe legal guardian of arelative who was born with a severedisability Now middle-aged, she still has the mentality of atoddler For reasons that are not relevant here, I promised her (and myself) when we were children that Iwould take care of her The problem?

up my life to do something like this.”

TryK-Cup hack to save money

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

People, who probably think they’re well-meaning, keep telling me how great Iam for taking care of her how wonderful aperson I am, how selfless Imust be Miss Manners, Iamnone of these things. Itake care of her because she needs someone to take care of her Period. When peoplepraise me like this, what Ihear is, “I’m so gladI’m not in your shoes. Iwould never give

NewYorkbishopto visit St. Margaret’s

The Rev.Allen K. Shin, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, will visitSt. Margaret’sEpiscopal Church, 12663 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, on Sunday,March 15, for amorning of worship and apublic presentation on faith and public life. Shin will preach at the 8a.m. and 10 a.m. Eucharists. At 11:30 a.m. in Lyle Hall, he will present “A Dangerous Liaison: White Supremacy and Christian Nationalism —A Christian Heresy and American Identity.” The presentation will

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tournament, with placement based on previous competition series appearances and wins. Thirty-two of the nation’stop chefs are vying for $150,000 and acoveted “Tournament of Champions” belt. Bracket placementaside, every chef has achance of being stumped as there’s another layerofchallenge in this contest. It’scalled the randomizer.Fierispins five wheelstodetermine what protein, produce, equipment, style and wildcard ingredient must be used by the chefs in cooking their dishes. The combinations can end up being helpful or horrendous.

Season 7brings an added surprise.

“Top-seeded chefs in every division will be foodworld icons, four of the most powerful opponents to ever compete on the series, but their identities will remain asecret until the moment they enter the arena,” aseries synopsis states.“Everybattle will be head-to-head; every spinof the randomizer willkeep competitors on their toes and viewers on the edgeof their seats, and everydishis make-or-break.”

Recently,she had amajor health problem, and sheis now much worse off than she was before. Theadulations heaped upon me at this point are gettingnauseating. Family members, friends and health care workers have all said somethingat this point. What do they expect me to respondwith? “Yes, I know. Thank you”? That sounds self-congratulatory Imean,seriously,why are they heapingpraise uponmyhead for doing something that needstobe done? What would be the alternative, in their eyes? Have they no loved ones? Arethey so self-centered that they can’t fathom lovingothers?

RELIGION BRIEFS

FROM STAFFREPORTS

explore thehistorical roots and theological implications of Christian nationalism and whyitmatters for churches today

Theevent is free andopen to thepublic. Formore information, visit www.saintmargarets. com.

Women’sNight to Worship event

Greater Philadelphia Baptist Church, 24497 Cook Road, Zachary,invites women to Daughters Arise: Women’s Night of Worshipfrom 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.Friday, March 27. Hosted by She’sInYou:

What do Itell people who keep saying thingslike this?(Even worse, they speak this way in front of my relative, who is NOT hard of hearing.)

Gentlereader: “Why? Wouldn’tyou do thesame for someone you loved?”

Andwhile their mouths are agape, frantically thinking of aresponse that does not makethem look like monsters, Miss Manners suggestsyou and your family member make a quick getaway —oratleast change the subject.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick,1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Blossoming Into the evening is designed for worship, praise, connection and sisterhood. Women are encouragedtogather, reflect andcelebrate together as daughters of faith. Visit eventbrite.com for moreinformation.

Church to host

The Dixie Echoes LittlePrairie Baptist Church, 40497 La. 42, Prairieville,will host The Dixie Echoes, an old-school Southern gospel group, in concert at 11 a.m. Sunday There is no admission charge, andthe publicisinvited.

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM FOODNETWORK

Celebrity host Guy Fieri is bringing four food worldicons to vie in ‘Tournament of Champions: Season 7.

the most skilled —it’sthe quickest thinker Ithink that’swhy alot of women have won,because we’re really resourceful. It’s funtobeable to cook against all of my friends. It’s kindof likesummer camp, but Ialso want to win money Since there’snoway to prepare for the randomizer,how do you getready for “Tournament of Champions”?

Here, cookbookauthor Nguyen (“Dac Biet: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook”) discusses her previous time on the show and looks ahead to Season7 The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. You’ve gotten agood bit of experiencewiththisshow.Has it changed since the first time you were on it? It hasn’treallychanged The randomizer,it’s stumped me before, but it’s fun in regards to where it levels off the playing field. No matter who you’re going against, it’snot necessarily

TEENS

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they are not bringing back wall phones.) What helps is curiosity,asking questions and staying calm when emotions run high.

Iwatch oldepisodes. Isee what people do, what goes right, what goes wrong, andyou study it. Youcan’treally predict whoyou’regoingtogo against. That’swhat makes the bracket reveal so exciting. Imake sure Ibrush up on weird ingredients that Imight have seen before, like protein.That’sthe only way you could really study because you can’treally prepare forweirdcombos As far as competitive cooking do you prefer to compete against a knownoranunknown? Idon’t know.I think, for me, an unknown because sometimes Ipsych myself out thinking, “What is the other person going to do?” I’drather just focuson myselfand try to put agood dish through. So Iguess I’d rather an unknown, but really Iwouldjust rather be better at focusing on what I’m doing

Because despite all the confusion,today’s teensstill wantthe same thingsevery generation has wanted: to be noticed,tobevalued and to feel chosen. They aren’t avoidingrelationships. They’re just tryingto figure them out …while an

Dear Heloise: Reusing KCups can help save money, but there’s abetterway that doesn’tsacrifice flavor.Reusable or refillable K-Cups are widely available and designed specifically for single-serve machines. They have a small pop-top lid and can be filled with your favorite ground coffee.

At theend of theday,it goes to the judges. We don’t knowwho the judges are, so youcan’t cook for taste. You just have to cook something thatyou really love, or like at least, and hope for thebest.

This is one of the larger Food Network prizes. What would youdowith the prize money?

I’m about to be 40.I’ve always wanted to be amom If Iwin, Iwould love to take thatmoney to start my own family.I’m not currently married or dating anyone, so Imight want to be asingle mom by choice andfigure thingsout from there.

Youhad mentioned last time that you would liketoopen aVietnamese restaurant. How is that plan going?

Iamlooking at spaces rightnow.It’svery scary because theeconomy doesn’t seem likea great place. But withthat being said, I’m still looking, and I’m putting morepen to paper this year Ihope to have something by theend of the year or at least aspace.

Fans can join the conversation on social platforms using #TournamentOfChampions. Get to know thecompetitors, keep up with the latest news, read winner interviews and more on FoodNetwork.com

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

algorithm watches.

Roy Petitfils is alicensed professional counselor in Youngsville. He has written eight books, numerous articlesand is an international speaker He can be reached at roypetitfils@gmail.com

Buying coffee in bulk is far less expensive than purchasing prefilled disposable pods,even if you tryto reuse them. Plus,you can controlthe strengthofyour brew while reducing waste. It’s awin for your wallet and awin for theenvironment.Make theswitch to refillable K-Cups and start seeing the benefits for yourself! We love your hints; keep them coming!

Todd Phillips, in San Antonio Wire coat hanger hack

jewelry or gadgets get stuck in tight spots, Igrab awire coat hanger to use as aquick retrieval tool. Istart by completely straightening the hanger Then Ibend one end into asmallcircle and twist it so that the circle is perpendicular to the long wire. This formsa tiny scoop. With this slim tool, Ican slide into tight spots behind appliances, inside drains (before the trap), or between car seats. It’s simple and inexpensive, and it has saved me morethan once!

—Patricia HartMcMillan, in San Antonio

Greenguacamole

Dear Heloise: For years, Ifollowed my husband’s grandfather’sguacamole recipe, which called for fresh lemon juice. It tasted wonderful, but the leftovers always developed an

Dear Heloise: When keys,

unappetizing brownlayer on top once it got exposed to air

One day,I ran out of lemons and substituted it with fresh limejuice instead. Notonly did the flavor taste bright and delicious, the leftover guacamole stayed beautifully green formuch longer.I’ve since learned that the higher acidity in limes can help slow oxidation —the process that causes browning. Interestingly,I’ve also found that lemons that are picked fresh off atree seem to workbetter than store-bought ones, likely because they’re fresher and moreacidic. NowI always reach forlimes when making guacamole. Asmallchange in citrus makes abig difference in keeping this dip looking as good as it tastes! —M.A., in Utopia,Texas

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

URDIALES

Continuedfrom page5C

operate his restaurant, Carlos’Cajun MexicanRestaurant, in Baton Rouge.With a Mexican father and aCajun French mother —blue-eyed, blonde and thickly accented —Urdiales says Mestizo’s combineshis twocultures. In Spanish, theword “mestizo” describesa personof mixed race.

WhenUrdiales wasa child, his dad was in the military,sohis family moved around alot. From kindergarten through 12th grade, he remembers beingthe only Hispanic child in class. His grandparents on his dad’sside died before he was born, so he primarily grew up around and learning from hisFrench grandparents.

Today, his trips to Mexico are both professional pilgrimages for inspiration and ongoing history lessons. “Mexico —it’ssuch a beautiful story —between the cuisine and theculture and the people and the fusion. They’re more diverse than people think,” he said. “When Igo, it’sabout re-

discovering what it is to be Hispanic.The olderI get, the more I’m in touchwith my Hispanic roots.”

Every time he makesa trip, he brings something back —anew recipe, story or piece of art. But Urdiales wants the art to stand out on the shelvesinhis kitchen, which is why he opted to go witha monochromatic and earthy color scheme.

“This is our safe space. I always tell people, ‘What do youdowhen you get home?

Youcharge your phone.’ We have to charge ourselves,” he said.“Forme, beingcalm is what charges me up.”

The space is bathed in natural light from the windows andlayered in natural materials like oak wood cabinets, granite,leather banquette seating, ceramic tile floors and potted plants.

The kitchen island, covered in a“leatheredstone”granite, anchors the center of the room.Two decorative pillars greet guests at the door

One pillar is from the now-closed Poncho’sMexican BuffetinBaton Rouge, which was purchasedfor $25. The other pillar, found at Mosaic Garden, is almost identical to theone from Poncho’s.

Sonnier, whomoved to Baton Rouge from Las Vegas in 2016,wantedfunctionto followform, allowing for movement in the kitchen. She noted that the natural oak cabinets drove the color palette with the orange-red tone thatbrought warmth and depth to the space. “The outside came inside, and everything started to connect,” she said. “I was looking forthat earthyterracotta red clay,that whole Mexico vibe with terracottasand pops of turquoise, which pick up the blue from the water out by the pool.” She says lighting is akey factor in each of her designs. Instead of one source of light, she implements low,medium and high lighting so thatthe entire space feels intentional.

Hergoal withUrdialesand Williamson’s renovation was to curate aroom that was appropriatefor theirneeds, lifestyles and personalities.

“It needed to feel gritty and earthy like their food,” shesaidofthe space. “It’s alittledesertoasis in the middle of Baton Rouge.” Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Dabbleinthe possibilities andelaborate on ideas that excite you. Precision and attention to detail, combined with discipline and action, will help you reach your destinationingood shape

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Be resourceful, use your imagination andput alittle muscle and disciplinebehindyour ideas. Aproactiveapproach will make adifference and invite supportfrom unexpected sources.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Don't be afraid to act if it will bring aboutpositive change.A diplomatic approach will encourage others to support your efforts. Choose kindness, compassion andhonesty for good results.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Actions speak louder than words. Don't waste your breathwhenanadjustment is necessary. Study the facts, organizeyour thoughts and pursuewhatmatters most to you.

CAnCER (June 21-July22) Think twice before youagreetodosomething that might jeopardize your reputation. There will be afine line between what's right andwhat's wrong. Keep your thoughts andplans to yourself.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You'll find it necessary to keep aclose watchonshared expenses, accommodations and joint ventures. Stayontop of payments, negotiations andany changesthat require attention.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) If it's change youwant, it's up to youtomakeithap-

pen. Stopwaitingfor things to come to you. Speak up andinitiateopportunities. Take the path that soothes your soul.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep your life simple, affordable and peaceful. Refuse to let anyone cajole you into overspendingorbeing emotionallyexcessive or physically indulgent.

sCoRPIo (oct.24-nov. 22) Be open to suggestions, explore possibilities and engage in travel, educational pursuits and networking functions. Attend a reunion or hostanevent that brings oldfriends, associates or alliesback into your life.

sAGIttARIus (nov.23-Dec. 21) You'll receive mixed messages from those you encounter. Distance yourself from anyone asking fortoo much or trying to push youina direction thatmakes you feel uncomfortable.

CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Having aplan in place will help you make changes that improve efficiency and deliver greater benefits. Don't take risksthat can cause injury or damage your health.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Channel your energy into somethingconstructive Workingona project thatcan help you create extraincome or help your savings growwill put your mindatease.

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

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

GottfriedLeibniz,aGermanmathematician andphilosopher who died in 1716, said, “Music is the pleasure the human mindexperiencesfromcountingwithout beingaware that it is counting.” If you would like to count more at the bridge table, first constantly count away from it. During the day, count anything and everything: the steps youtake, the whitevehiclesonthe road,the pedestrians, thecars of arailroad train, whatever This week we have beenlooking at counting. The most common defensive count signalisanecho, ahigh-low, to show adoubleton. Often the signaler is hoping to gain aruff. But occasionally, high-low will indicate“remainingcount” —the numberofcards still held by that defender. Thisdeal is atextbook example. How shouldthedefenderscardtodefeatthree no-trump after West leads his fourthhighest club?

North’stwo-heartresponsewasatransferbid, showing five or more spades and at least zero points. Then his three-notrumprebid offeredSoutha choice of games. West leadsthe club six. East wins with hisace andreturnsthe nine,highfroma remaining doubleton. When South plays hisqueen(orjack),Westshouldbeaware that if East had started with the A-J-9-2 (orA-Q-9-2) of clubs,hewould have led back the two, not the nine. So, to keep communication with his partner, West drops the clubfiveattrick two. NowSouth is sunk. He wouldprobably run hisdiamonds before taking the spade finesse,but East would win with his king and lead his lastclub to kill the contract.

©2026 by NEA,Inc.,dist. By

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuCtIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words

Averagemark

Timelimit

thought “Jesus Christthe same yesterday, and to day, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8