The Advocate 03-07-2026

East BatonRouge schools starttimes likely to shift

The East BatonRougeParish school system plans to shift starttimes over the next three yearsbased on research on sleep patterns, aiming toimprove student outcomes and engagement.

Students wouldbegin laterinthe daytobetter alignwithwhenchildrenlearn,based on research

BY CHARLESLUSSIER

Staffwriter

Over the next three years, theEast Baton Rouge Parish school system plans to shift to newstarttimes,expanding beyond the six schools that alteredtheir schedulesinAugust to better align with when children learn, based on research on their sleep patterns. That means teenagers in middle and high schools will start theday later,while younger children in elementary schools start earlier.The precise new times are still being refined and subject to change. However,for example, Capitol High, which was one of the schools that changed in August, moved its start time from 7:10 a.m.to8:50 a.m. Its start time is likelytochange again this coming August, though less dramatically Capital and Glen Oakshigh schools and four feeder elementary schools made the shift in August. Another 60-plus schools would also change. The three-year shift is aslower

wide pay raise for school employees, whichhehopes will be approvedin June, will help shore up theranks of drivers.

“Weknow that compensation is a huge part of thechallenge in terms of attracting bus drivers,”Cole said. Cole said he’s planning to change start times at several schools at the start of thenextthreeschool years untilthe entiredistrict haschanges But, Cole said, if he had enough drivers now to eliminatetransfer buses and offer direct routes, he would be pushing to shift times districtwide this fall. The parish School BoardonThursday voted unanimously togrant preliminary approvalfor theproposed three-year timetable. Afinal voteis scheduled for March 19.

rollout than the one-year districtwide shift that Superintendent LaMont Cole envisioned originally Cole blamed an ongoing shortageof bus driversfor the longer timetable. He said he hopes aplanned district-

While describing theoverall results as “mixed” at the six schools that have been piloting newstart times, Cole said he’sencouraged with Capital and Glen Oakshigh schools,which

Kennedymay have hadroleinNoem’sfiring

Questionsabout advertising spending angered Trump, he says

BY MARK BALLARD Staffwriter

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’sdecision to remove Kristi Noemas the head of the Department of HomelandSecurity appears to have beenpartially spurred by her answers to Louisiana Sen. John Ken-

Noem

nedy about $220 million of spending on television commercials. Noem was alreadyunder thegun for howher agents were handling the deportation of immigrants who enteredthe countryillegally, which was Trump’skey cam-

paign promise. But she also was criticized by officials in both parties for theslow responses during high-profile disasters in Texas,North Carolina and other states by the Federal Emergency Management Agency,which is a partofHomeland Security Trump mentionedNoem’s answers to Kennedy’squestions acouplehours before moving Noem to become special envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” acoalition of Latin American countries seeking ways to protect the Western Hemisphere. He nominated U.S. Sen. Mark-

wayne Mullin, R-Okla., as thenew leader of Homeland Security.

Specifically,Kennedy had asked Noem if the president was aware of thespending on aseries of commercials that cost almost aquarter of abillion dollars to produce and air.The spots featured Noem in various locales, includinginfront of adetention center in El Salvador, warningimmigrantswithout the properdocumentation that theywould be deported when caught.

ä See KENNEDY, page 5A

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 Iranlaunchedmoreretaliatory strikesagainst 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 stated goalsand timelines for the war have repeatedly shifted, as the U.S. hasattimes suggested it seeks to topple Iran’sgovernmentorelevate new leadership from within. Meanwhile, Russia hasprovidedIranwith informationthatcould help Tehranstrike the U.S. military,according to two officials familiar

ä See IRAN, page 4A

previously limited or refusedoffers

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.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

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 Wednesday 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 affect roughly 30,000 taxpayers, with collections beginning in 2028. It would not apply to home values or retirement savings.

UTAH MURDERS

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.”

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 misdemean-

or 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

3 dead in Mich. after apparent tornado hits

BY KATHY McCORMACK and JEFF MARTIN Associated Press

Three people have been killed and three were taken to a hospital after an apparent tornado hit a Michigan town on Friday, authorities said Powerful storms have ripped across the state, tearing the roof off a home improvement store, sending parts of a storage building flying and knocking down trees as tornado warnings were issued across the southern part of the state.

The Branch County Sheriff’s Office said there were 12 reported injuries and three deaths after a tornado appeared to have hit the Union Lake area 125 miles west of Detroit.

In St. Joseph County Michigan, next to the Indiana border, the sheriff’s office told residents to “seek shelter immediately” following reports of an unconfirmed tornado, a severe thunderstorm watch and possible winds more than 60 mph

At her home near Union City, Lisa Piper can be heard repeatedly yelling out, “Oh my God,” as she films from her back deck a ferocious rotating column of air that appears to be a tornado tear through an section of buildings across the lake from her

As its size grows, pulling large pieces of debris into the air, she says, It’s lifting houses.”

“Oh my heart is pounding,” she says in the video.

“Oh I hope they’re OK.”

The state activated its Emergency Operations Center as officials responded to serious wind damage and reports of

injuries in multiple southwest Michigan counties.

In Edwardsburg, Michigan, area, near the Indiana border, officials reported downed trees and several homes that had been heavily damaged, and warned residents to avoid the area.

Powerful storms were forming Friday afternoon in Michigan and all the way to north Texas. There were no immediate confirmed reports of a tornado on the ground, but many videos posted online showed violent, rotating columns of air in Michigan.

In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday, a first responder drove straight at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant 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 a camera mounted on the deputy’s car Nearby, a 47-year-old woman and her 13-yearold daughter from Fairview were found dead in

a vehicle near an intersection of a highway and a county road at about 10 p.m Thursday, authorities said. The crash “appears to be tornado related,” Sarah Stewart, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said in a statement.

The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, planned to send out a damage survey crew Friday to see whether Thursday night’s storms were confirmed tornadoes, meteorologist Ryan Bunker said “As of right now we’re still investigating that.”

More than 7 million Americans were at the highest risk of severe weather Friday in an area that includes the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Omaha, Nebraska, according to the national Storm Prediction Center Nearly 25 million people were at a slightly lesser risk in a zone that includes Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Severe, scattered thun-

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.

derstorms are expected Friday evening from areas of the Plains states to the Ozarks and Midwest, the National Weather Service said. The general setup for the strong storms is a clash between warm air streaming north from the Gulf Coast and cooler Canadian air be-

hind cold fronts, according to meteorologists with the private forecasting service AccuWeather

“This is probably our first real event this season where people are really starting to pay attention getting into the spring storm season,” said Melissa Mayes, deputy director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, north of Tulsa. Meanwhile, parts of the Northeast were under winter weather advisories as rain, snow and slush made for a messy morning commute from Pennsylvania to Maine on Friday Several vehicle slide-offs were also reported on the Maine Turnpike as drivers contended with sleet and snow In parts of the southern U.S., the weather pattern is also expected to usher in extremely warm temperatures for this time of year by the weekend.

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Former presidents honorlateRev.Jesse Jackson

BY SOPHIA TAREEN and MATT BROWN Associated Press

CHICAGO From former presidents to an NBA Hall of Famer to prominent church pastors, storiesof the Rev.Jesse Jackson Sr.’s influence on politics, corporate boardrooms and picket linesloomed largeFridayat acelebration honoring the late civil rights leader

Thousands of people gathered at achurch on Chicago’sSouth Side to pay afinal public tribute to Jackson.

Barack Obama said Jackson’spresidential runs in the 1980s setthe stagefor other Black leaders, including his own successful 2009 presidency and reelection.

“The message he sent toa 22-year-old child of asingle mother with afunnyname, an outsider,was that maybe there wasn’tany 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,ata celebration of life for Jackson, received the loudest round of applause as the three entered the chamber

“Weare living in atime when it canbehard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault to ourdemocratic institutions. Another setback to the idea of the rule of law,anoffense to commondecency.Every day you wake up to things you just didn’tthink were possible.”

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

Washington. Clinton saidJackson made hima better president. “He knewchangecame fromthe inside out,” Clintonsaid. Former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke Friday President Donald Trump, who praised Jackson on social mediaafter he died and also shared photos of the two of them together, was not attendingthe service,according to hispublic schedule issued by the WhiteHouse.

Thousandsattendservice

The event honors the protégé of the Rev.Martin LutherKing Jr.and two-time presidentialcandidate and follows memorial services that drew large crowds in Chicago andSouthCarolina, where Jackson was born. Friday’scelebration —at an influential Black church with a10,000-seatarena is expected to be the largest. Crowds of attendees waited in long lines outside thechurch as television screensplayedexcerpts of some of Jackson’smost famous speeches. Inside, vendors sold pins withhis 1984 presidentialslogan

and hoodies with his “I Am Somebody” mantra.

Along witha slew of Illinois elected leaders, notable attendees includedactor andproducer Tyler Perry, California Gov.Gavin Newsom, and political activist and theologian Cornel West DetroitPistons great and Chicago native Isiah Thomas was one of the speakers.

Thecelebration, with appearances by Grammywinning gospelsingers and Jennifer Hudson, feltat timeslike achurchservice and others like apolitical rally.The Rev.AlSharpton, acivilrightsleader and founder of the National ActionNetwork,likened Jackson’sdeath to acallto action, from speaking out against justice to voting in themidterms Marketing professional Chelsia Bryan saidFriday that she decidedtoattend thememorial service because it was “a chance to be partofsomething historic.”

“As aBlack woman,knowing thatsomeone pretty much gave their life,dedicatedtheir life to make sure Ican do thethingsthatI can do now,he’sworth honoring,” Bryan said.

JudgeweighsNew York Times’ bidtoblock Pentagon policy

Organization argues rulesapplied inconsistently

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

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

“It’smore 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 thefirst hearing for the newspaper’s lawsuitagainst theDefense Department. Friedman didn’timmediately rule on whether to orderthe 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’sdefense 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” aboutthe activities of the federalgovernment 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 notatrivial exercise,” Brunsargued.

Friedman saidheintends to issue “as prompt adecision as Ican, because Iknow it’simportant for lotsofreasons.”

TheTimes 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 Timesspokesperson Charles Stadtlander said the U.S. attacks on Iran and the resulting deaths of American troops —“illuminate the public’sright to access deep, impartialreportingonthe detailsof the military actionshappening as we speak.”

“Today was an important opportunity for TheNew York Times’slawyers to make ourcasefor theclear importanceand public serviceofallowingjournalists to reportfullyonthe Pentagon,” Stadtlander said in a statement.

Thecurrent Pentagon press corps comprises mostly conservativeoutlets that agreedtothe policy.Reporters fromoutletsthatrefused to consent to the new rules, including those from TheAssociated Press, have continued reporting on the military from outside the building.

The AP,meanwhile, is awaiting adecisionbya three-judgepanel of the U.S. District Court of Appeals on its separate lawsuit against President DonaldTrump’s administration.The AP contends that Trump’steam punished it by reducing its access to presidential events becausethe outlet hasn’t followed the president’slead in renaming theGulfofMexico. The Pentagon has argued that the policy imposes

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

“The goal of thatprocess is to prevent those who pose asecurityrisk from having broad accesstoAmerican military headquarters,” government attorneys wrote.

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

“The FirstAmendment flatly prohibits thegovernment from granting itself the unbridledpower 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 itsown rules inconsistently.The newspaper said Trump ally LauraLoomer,aright-wing personality who agreed to the Pentagon policy,appeared to violateits prohibitiononsoliciting unauthorized information by promoting her “tip line.”

The government didn’t object to Loomer’s“general tip line” but concluded that aWashington Post tip line does violate its policy because it purportedly “targets” military personneland departmentemployees.

“It’smystifying,” Boutrous said. “It just doesn’t makeany sense.”

The judge asked Bruns, thegovernment attorney, what standards are usedto decide if areporter poses a securityrisk.

“Don’tthere have to be some criteriathatare applied in auniform way?” Friedman asked.

Yes, Bruns answered. But he said the government has “farmore leeway” to restrict speech in asecureforum like thePentagon.

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

Inspiringeveryone

Jackson died last month at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder thataffected his mobility and abilitytospeak. Family members sayhecontinued coming into the officeuntil last year and communicated through hand signals. His final public appearancesincluded the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Sitting in the crowd was 90-year-old Mary Lovett. She said Jackson’sadvocacy inspired her manytimes, from when shemoved from Mississippi to Chicago in the 1960s, taught elementary school and becameamom. She twice voted for Jackson duringbothofhis presidential runs and appreciated howhealwaysspoke up for underrepresentedpeople. “He’sgone, but Ihope his legacylives,”she said. “I hope we can remember what he tried to teach us.”

Jackson’sservice forall

Jackson’spursuits were countless, taking him to allcorners of the globe: Advocating forthe poor andunderrepresented on issues including voting rights, health care, job opportunitiesand education He scored diplomaticvictories with world leaders, and through Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Blackpride and self-determinationinto corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America amore open and equitable society.

His son, YusefJackson, who runs theRainbow PUSH Coalition, recalled howhis father carrieda well-worn Bible butalso showed his faith by showing up to picketlines.

“He lived arevolutionary Christianfaith rooted in justice, nonviolence and themoral righteousness,” YusefJackson said Friday

“He was deeply involved in the political struggles of his time, but his giftwas that he could rise abovethem. It’s notabout theleftwingor the right wing. It takes two wings to fly.For him, the goal was always the moral center.” Jackson’s servicesinChicago and South Carolina drew civic leaders, school groups andeveryday people who said theyweretouched by Jackson’swork, from scholarship programs to advocating for inmates. Several states flew flags at half-staff in his honor ServicesinWashington, D.C.,weretabledafter a request to allow Jackson to lie in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, who said the space is typically reserved forselect officials, including former presidents. Details on afuture eventhavenot been madepublic.

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

Continued from page 1A

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 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

the tight pattern 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 province, including one in the vicinity

ASSOCIATED

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN

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

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 Fri-

day 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 the Strait of Hormuz, the nar-

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 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 Friday 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,

row 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 Washington-based 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.”

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 southern 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.”

Hungary temporarily detains 7 Ukrainians and seizes $80M

BY JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary Hungarian au-

thorities 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

KENNEDY

Continued from page 1A

She said she made those 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-Madison-

START TIMES

Continued from page 1A

saw reduced tardies, a dip in expulsions and fewer students earning Ds and Fs.

In addition to Cole’s remarks, board members watched a short video with interviews with students and staff at Glen Oaks High where they painted a positive picture of the effect of new start times at the school.

Jyotibala North, a teacher at Glen Oaks, is critical of the new schedule. She said she now drives home during the “nightmare” rush-hour traffic. She can no longer make doctor’s appointments after work so she has to take off work if she needs to do that. She also said she’s seen little positive change among the students.

“I still have students coming late, sleeping in class, so that presents challenges,” North said.

“Ultimately, what most of the adults are saying to me are personal things about their own personal lives in terms of the adjustments they have to make without taking into consideration the impact later start times are going to have on student outcomes,” Cole said. No visual presentation or

DEBATES

Continued from page 1A

“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.

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

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

ville. “I personally just, I mean, to me it puts the 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

written report with underlying data was made public before or during Thursday’s meeting.

At The Advocate’s request, Cole provided a recent report prepared by Prismatic Services, an educational consulting firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prismat is under contract with the school system to help revamp the district’s Transportation Department and support the ongoing shift in school start times The report focuses on the fall semester It included no results from in-house standardized testing. Students don’t take state-mandated standardized tests until the spring.

‘Coffee habit’

Several students spoke in favor of changes to start times.

Christian Nixon, a senior at Capital High, said he used to have to wait for the bus in the dark each day with his siblings. Since the change, he said, fewer students complain of being tired, and they’re more engaged. He said he no longer dreads going to school.

“Now that I get up at 8 a.m., that’s a good time,” he said. Nixon also said that getting out later is better for him and his friends than under the old schedule

dates 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.

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 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.”

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 announced 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

said he approved the commercials.

“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

“It’s very tedious for them to have a lot of free time,” Nixon said. “They don’t know what to do with all the free time.”

Violet Stroup, eighth grade at Westdale Middle School, said she and other students don’t get enough rest

“Over the past year, I’ve been an every day, firstthing-in-the-day coffee drinker just to stay awake,” Stroup said.

Board member Patrick Martin V was moved by Stroup’s comment.

“Eighth-graders should not have to have a coffee habit just to function in school,” Martin said.

‘Blank check

The proposal presented Thursday gives Cole broad authority to adjust school start times at all districtoperated schools as he sees fit, without coming to the board each time he wants to change a school’s schedule. Setting start and end times for schools has historically been a province of the board.

Storm Matthews, a teacher activist, urged the board not to give Cole so much leeway, describing the proposal as a “blank check to change everything over the next three years.”

If the proposal passes as expected, Cole said he still plans to return to the board

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

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.

first Cabinet secretary to be ousted in his second 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

in April to ask it to approve the next batch of school schedule changes, which would take effect with the start of the 2026-27 school year in August.

Those schools are likely to be Belaire High School and the elementary and middle schools that feed into it.

Cole scheduled a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. on March 17 at the high school, 12121 Tams Drive, to discuss his plans.

“I’ve heard from many members of the community that we don’t give them an opportunity to hear what we’re thinking about. We’re going to do that,” Cole said. Shifts in start times would be part of a larger set of

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

agree to some restrictions on the aggressive behavior by agents with Immigration & 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

changes he’s considering for Belaire-area schools, and perhaps a few others.

Cole describes it as the second phase of the “realignment” plan approved by the board in spring 2025. That plan closed nine schools, relocated four, gave seven new grade configurations and redrew attendance zones for 12.

questioned her choices as leader of the massive agency Several committee members 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.

For this fall, affected middle and high schools would start school somewhere between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. and end the day somewhere between 3:40 p.m. and 3:55 p.m That would include Capitol and Glen Oaks high schools. Those are earlier start and end times than those two schools currently have — 8:50 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. But they would be much later than the rest of the school district, where the day at middle and high schools starts at 7:10 a.m. and ends at 2:25 p.m. Affected elementary schools would start somewhere between 7:45 a.m. and 8 a.m. and end the day between 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. The four elementary schools in this year’s pilot start at 8 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. The rest of the district’s elementary schools start the day at 8:25 p.m. and end at 3:25 p.m. District leaders plan to nail down precise school schedules over the next month.

“For the people to decide, they need to see the candi-

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

The top two finishers in each primary will face off 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

Dunn ordered to pay $21K in case

Council member built cabana too close to home, ruling states

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

East Baton Rouge Metro Council

member Cleve Dunn Jr has been ordered to pay nearly $21,000 to his neighbors, who accuse him of building a cabana too close to their home.

On Friday, Judge Beau Higginbotham ordered Dunn to pay Donna and Eugene Michelli $20,725, district court officials confirmed, in a case that began more than 4 years ago. Dunn previously attempted to have Higginbotham removed from the case but was unsuccessful.

The Michellis sued Dunn in 2021, arguing that he built his cabana too close to their home and a fence on their property without any permits. They say the structure changed the drainage pattern and directed rainwater onto their property and into their home, costing them thou-

sands of dollars in damage. Dunn testified in court last month and denied that any construction on his property caused the flooding, arguing that damage to his neighbors’ home was merely caused by a weather event.

Dunn’s attorney, Edmond Jordan, said he will appeal the judge’s

LAKESIDE STROLL

decision which he found puzzling.

“He didn’t really give us any reasoning for his ruling, and I’m not sure how he came up with that number,” Jordan said. “We will be asking for written reasons

A dog watches Canadian geese in the lake while on

‘We could visibly see the missiles’

Prairieville family trying to get home from Dubai

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

A cellphone suddenly buzzes with the sound of an emergency alert. The interview pauses. It’s a notification of a possible missile attack.

This has become the daily life for Christian Walker his wife, Kate Sinclair-Faulkner, and their two children, while the Prairieville family is in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai during the war with Iran.

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

The first foray of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s

“We were eating dinner, and it was the first time we could visibly see the missiles breaking up,” Walker said about the evening after the war broke out.

“It kind of looked like shooting stars, almost. Meteors.”

The conflict started Saturday with U.S.-Israeli strikes, including one that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has spread across the Middle East. Walker said his family feels relatively safe where they are, but the war’s presence is never far removed.

“We’ve seen some (missiles) but we really feel and hear

spreads.

I’ll be

sitting inside while the kid naps, and then you can just hear

feel it,” he said. “And then the

Oil spill off coast bigger than first feared

Officials say approximately 750 barrels were leaked

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

More than 82% of the crude oil leaked from a key offshore oil terminal south of Grand Isle late last week had been recovered by Thursday through a joint response involving 330 people and 40 vessels, the governor’s office and terminal 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 estimated at 31,500 gallons, or 750 barrels, a little more than a quarter of the size of the largest spill off

ROBLOX

Continued from page 1B

Communications Decency Act, has been critical in other lawsuits targeting social media companies over claims they failed to protect their users.

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

The suit would prohibit Roblox 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 players the opportunity to build their own online spaces to play in, the site doesn’t stop “strangers” from joining in those spaces anonymously as well She compared this to building a public park, knowingly allowing it to be populated by predators, then assuring parents that it is safe.

In court, Roblox attorneys argued the case should not be heard at all, based mainly on past rulings under the Decency Act that held no liability could be imposed on a platform for the actions of its users.

Johnson, who ruled on a

FAMILY

Continued from page 1B

the Louisiana coast in the past few years, the Well 59 blowout in Plaquemines Parish’s Garden Island Bay last spring, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The LOOP, which sits about 18 miles offshore, began spilling crude oil when a cargo transfer hose sprung a leak before the problem could be spotted on Feb. 26 and stopped, the company said.

LOOP is a deepwater facility designed to take in crude from deep-draft tankers and send it by pipeline to the company’s onshore storage site in Galiano and, ultimately, feed half of the nation’s refineries.

The response to the leak has included the U.S. Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, as well as two Coast Guard contractors, Clean Gulf Associates and American Pollution Control Corporation, the agency said.

The cleanup has relied on fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones to track the spill in addition to skimmers and other vessels on 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 a limited amount of oil had reached some isolated barrier islands, without identifying them. Gov Jeff Landry’s office said on Friday that land impacts were in the “Terrebonne Bay area.”

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

Landry defended the response, pointing out that the leak “was stopped in minutes” and that the joint venture and other respond-

ers “immediately went” into cleanup mode. Since then, skimmers have been working “around-the-clock,” he added.

LOOP posted news of the spill on its website on Tuesday before government agencies that respond to oil spills notified the public. LOOP’s statement was vetted, however by responding government agencies, the state’s oil industry regulator said.

Landry’s statement attempted to put the size of the spill into perspective, noting the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, the worst man-made oil disaster in the Gulf’s history, was about 5 million barrels by comparison.

About 116,429 gallons of oily water, or about 2,772 barrels, were recovered from the Well 59 spill in Garden Island Bay last year the agency said.

Lt. Commander Rachel

similar case out of Livingston Parish that involved TikTok, questioned Roblox’s attorneys over why the site has any safety warnings if they believe they already have a “wet blanket” of immunity from any liability.

Johnson has not made a ruling and it is unclear when he will.

One relevant decency 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 make an account and was eventually assaulted by an adult man she met on the site

we’re outnumbered,” he stated. “So those things kind of prompted it.”

Judges in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld in that case that Decency Act protections shielded Myspace from being considered negligent in protecting the girl.

Attorney Ed Burbach, part of Roblox’s defense, said he was glad Johnson was taking an interest in their decency act claims since much of the case law comes from those rulings in other states.

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

In court, Roblox’s attorneys contended that actual

crimes against children are happening off their platform, not being facilitated through it.

Standing on the courthouse steps, Murrill said the lawsuit is important because more cases involving child predators who first contact their victims on Roblox are appearing across Louisiana.

“Every week, we are arresting sex predators who are finding children on that platform and then engaging in conversations with them, grooming them, sexually exploiting them and hurting them,” Murrill said. “It is a huge problem.”

Ault, chief of external affairs at the Coast Guard’s New Orleans division, said some amount of additional oil couldn’t be recovered from that more recent highwater mark for Louisiana coastal oil spills.

LOOP bills itself as the single largest point of entry for waterborne crude in the nation and, according to the state, handles 13% of the nation’s foreign oil.

With 72 million barrels of oil storage onshore in aboveground tanks and underground salt dome caverns near Galliano, LOOP’s operation feeds refineries along the Gulf Coast, including several on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge

Formed in 1972, LOOP is a joint venture of Marathon Pipe Line LLC, Shell Oil Company and Valero Terminalling and Distribution Company

Offshore drilling is a key

Murrill mentioned that the number of tips being reported to her office from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has risen even more so than it did in 2025, from around 30,000 to over 100,000.

Back in 2010 the number of tips regarding child sexual exploitation in Louisiana was less than 200.

According to Murrill’s internet Crimes Against Children investigators, Roblox is one of the top three sites, alongside Discord and Snapchat, where Louisiana children have met adults who sexually exploited them.

A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is not a precise unit of measurement but represents a possible instance of someone sharing child pornography or enticing a child to share sexual content of themselves.

These tips are reported to the center from online platforms after they’ve found possibly questionable interactions while monitoring their users.

Murrill said that while she was the first state’s attorney general to challenge Roblox, seven other states, most recently Nebraska, have now filed similar lawsuits.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

part of the oil and gas industry in Louisiana, which contributes $1 billion annually in state and local taxes and 65,000 direct jobs, the state Department of Economic Development says. Nationally, offshore drilling contributed $109 billion and 250,000 jobs to the economy in 2024, according to federal offshore regulators. In that year, the U.S. government took in nearly $7 billion in tax revenue from federal offshore waters. Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the Oceana environmental advocacy group, called for a halt to the planned expansion of offshore drilling because there “will always be spills, and the risks to our ocean and people’s livelihoods are simply too high.”

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

DUNN

Continued from page 1B

to try to ascertain how he came to the conclusion.” Friday’s ruling was part of a retrial after an appeals court previously overturned an earlier ruling that had ordered Dunn to pay about $58,000 and remove the cabana. Dunn was indicted on multiple felony charges in January as part of a corruption probe by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office, who say he took part in a bribery scheme to help steer a transit contract to his friend and, in turn, was kicked back money

Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate. com.

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B Missile alerts

The family arrived Feb. 18 after planning the trip for a while because they had accumulated airline miles, Walker said.

“We kind of finally had to come now because my wife’s pregnant and we couldn’t do it much later in the pregnancy, and then we figured it would also be much harder with three little ones when

He said that when the conflict began, his children were napping and his wife was enjoying time outside “She came in just with this look on her face, you know,” he said. “She had received a message about the conflict beginning.”

Until Thursday, Walker said the last alert to come in warning of missile and drone attacks had been about three days before, in the middle of the night. He said an alert

came in around an hour before speaking with The Advocate, and another one buzzed during the interview

Trying to find ways home

A few days after the strikes began, the U.S. Department of State urged Americans in more than a dozen countries in the region to leave using commercial transportation, according to PBS News The department announced Wednesday that a charter flight bringing home American citizens had departed the area.

Walker said he and his wife have “been playing it by ear” and reaching out to the State Department.

“They urge you to leave the Middle East, but you will call the State Department line, and then it’s like, ‘Press one if you’re in the Middle East.’

And you press it, and it’s like, ‘Well, we’re not actively chartering or evacuating right now Contact your airline,’” he said.

The family has called their commercial airline each morning for seats home, but flights home keep being can-

celed and rebooked. They currently have a reservation for a Saturday flight home, “if it happens,” Walker said. “It was definitely very shocking and jarring in the beginning, and the idea of not being able to control or know when you go home is definitely not always the most easy feeling,” he said “And then, you know, your mind can really go down a rabbit hole with if this prolongs. but I would say ultimately, from the day-to-day basis, how we’re taking it, we relatively feel safe where we are.”

Roth Road, State Police said in a news release. The injured person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. No officers were harmed in the incident. Authorities ask anyone with information and/or photos or video about the shooting to call the State Police hotline at (800) 4348007 or go to Louisiana State Police online to the link, “File a report.”

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Obituaries

Fitzgerald, Hilda B.

Hilda B. Fitzgerald passed awayTuesday, March 3, 2026, at the age of 90. She was aresident and native of Addis, LA. A graveside service will be held at Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine on Monday, March 9, 2026, witha Rite of Christian Burial at 10am, conductedbyFather MartinLawrence. Hilda is survived by her daughters, Paula Comeaux (Perry), Mamie Lafleur (Wayne), and Shirley Gulotta; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sister,HelenBreaux; and brother, Irvin Breaux. Preceded in death by her husband, Warren Fitzgerald. Please share memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.

Lee,Devonta Derell

Devonta DerellLee was born December 28, 1999,in Hammond, Louisiana. He passed away on Thursday, February26, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Raised in Fluker, Louisiana,Devonta graduated from Amite High School in 2019. Agifted athlete known as "Megatron," he played wide receiver at Louisiana State University and later at Louisiana Tech University. Devonta courageously battled osteosarcoma with unwavering faith and strength. Please join his family in honoring his life. Visitation: Saturday, March 7, 2026, 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. Faith Temple Church, 11605 Fontana Ln, Independence LA 70443. Celebration of Life: 1:00 P.M. Faith Temple Church, 11605 Fontana Ln, Independence, LA 70443. Interment: Private: Fluker Chapel AME Cemetery

12710Joynton Road Fluker, La 70436. All professional services areentrusted to B.J. Ginn Funeral &Cremation Services61077 Bennett Road Amite, Louisiana 70422.

Faith Ann McLin departed this world suddenly, leaving avoid in the hearts of allwho lovedher. Faith passed awayonTuesday, February 24, 2026,atthe ageofsixty-one. She was a sweet and lovingwoman, and aproud mothertoher sonHayden. Faith was a writer and especially loved writingpoetry.She also loved sewing,crocheting board games, watching old tv shows and movies, and keeping track of her family tree. As agifted cook, she found genuine joyinboth cooking and baking.Faith was borninBaton Rouge, LA on October 17, 1964, and was raised in Livingston, LA. She was amember of the Livingston Methodist Church.In1991,she joined and served in the Army. Sheretired in 2024 following along, dedicated career at McDonald's and relocatedtoRichardson, Texas. Sheissurvived by her son Hayden Thigpen, her siblings Lester McLin (Dee Ann), Gaylan McLin (Amy), KarenMcLin, Keith McLin,Royce McLin, Laurie McLin Morris (Jim)and Lisa McLin Casas (Orlando). As well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Sheisprecededindeath by herparents Lester A McLin Sr.,and MaxieFairburn McLin, hersister Doris McLin Moore,her brother-in-law Richard (Butch)Moore, her nephews Lester AMcLinIII, and Ryan BMcLin. Pallbearers willbeHayden Thigpen, JohnMcLin, Adam McLin, AlexCasas, Grant Harrell,and Jeff Jones. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Faith'svisitation on Saturday,March 7, 2026, at the Livingston MethodistChurch, 29725S PoplarSt, Livingston, LA. 70754from9:00 AM until servicesbegin at 12:00 PM, witha graveside service to follow at Hiram Stafford Cemetery. Arrangements have beenentrusted to McLin Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sharedatwww.mclinfuner alhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the familyrequests donationsbemade to St. Jude Children's ResearchHospital Or mailedto501 St.Jude Place, Memphis,TN38105.

Mercier Sr., Lawrence Hiern

Lawrence HiernMercier, Sr,known as Larrytohis family and friends, was born on August 24, 1944,in NewOrleans, Louisiana. Hepassed awayonSaturday,February 14, 2026. Larry grew up in Baton Rouge and graduatedfrom

IstroumaHighSchool.He earnedhis degree in Entomology fromLouisiana StateUniversity. Larry ran American Exterminators forover 30 years, then workedfor both East Baton Rougeand Livingston Parish Mosquito Controlbefore retiring.He was an avid car enthusiast, drag racer, gardener, and soccer player. He also coached numerous soccer teams over aspanof30 years.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Mercier and Maris Berault Mercier; and hiswife of 53 years, Margaret Turk Mercier. He is survived by his childrenand grandchildren

Acelebration of life will be held from 12:00 p.m. until2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Resthaven FuneralHome, 11817 JeffersonHighway in BatonRouge Family and friends may signthe online guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamily at www.resthav enbatonrouge.com

Pettey, Virginia

VirginiaSonnier Pettey "Ginger",a residentof Abita Springs, passed away at her home on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She was84years oldand a nativeofNew York, NY Ginger was aretired Registered Nursewith 61 years of service to others. Visitationwillbeat SerenityFuneral Home in CovingtononSunday, March 8, 2026, from 3pm until 5pm. Visitation on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 will be at Charlet Funeral Home in Zachary from 10am until Rite of Christian Burial at 12pm conducted by Fr.Lamar Partin.Burial will be in Arlington NationalCemetery Arlington, VA at alater date. She is survived and eternallyloved by her devotedhusband of 32 years, Lt.Col (R)Chester P. Pettey. Adaughter, Susan Sonnier Charlet and husband, Don, 2sons, JamesC "Butch" Sonnierand wife, Michele and Todd S. Sonnier and wife, Heidi. A stepdaughter, Carol Pettey Miller and husband,Dave. Asister,Barbara Schmidt 11 grandchildrenand 10 greatgrandchildren.Inlieu of flowers,memorial donations may be madeto Wounded Warrior Project Share memories at www.CharletFuneralHome. com.

Pittman,Thomas D.

Thomas D. Pittman, Jr a cherished,father, grandfather, and friend,passed away on March 4, 2026, at theage of 78. BornonJune

25, 1947, in Springhill, Louisiana, Thomas lived a life marked by dedication, serviceand adeep love for hisfamily and community. Thomas had adistinguished career as avice president at Turner Industries,where he wasknown forhis commitment to excellence and leadership. Hisprofessional journey wascomplemented by a solid academic foundation; he graduated with aBachelor's degree from Southeastern Louisiana University,a testament to hishard workand determination Thomaswas aproud veteran andserved his country honorably in theUnited States Army. Hisservice to hiscountry wasfurther reflected in hisactivemembership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where he connected with fellow veterans. He wasanactive member of LiveOak Church, where he contributed to thecommunity and lived out hisfaith in practical,meaningful ways.His dedication to service extended beyond themilitary; it wasevident in every part of hislife. In addition to hisprofessional and community endeavors, Thomashad apassion foractivities that brought himjoy and relaxation. He loved to play golfand enjoyed spending timefishing, cherishing the peace and tranquility that nature provided.His spirit will live on in thehearts of allwho knew him, and he will be dearly missed He leaves behind aloving family,includinghis wife of 56 years,Susan WelbornPittman, his daughter, Karen Pesson (Jasen), hisson, David Pittman (Lori). Hislegacy continues through his grandchildren,Tanner Pittman (Lauren) and CarsonPittman, as well as his great-grandchild, Holland Grace Pittman. Thomas is also survived by hissister, Theresa Zeller (Ernest). Thomaswas preceded in death by hisdevoted parents, Edna Pittmanand Doyle Pitt

Services at SealeF Denham Spr day March tionwill be 1:00 PM vice starting andburial followinE rial Park.

reader andthoughtful conversationalist, Henderson wasgenerouswith his time,a natural storyteller whose rich tales—wry, humorous, and full of life— left listeners smiling and inspired.His keenmind, steady patience,and warm, easygoing presence made hima trustedfriend andmentor to many. Henderson made his home in Southern Californiafor most of his life, surroundedbycolleagues and friends whoadmiredhis work ethic and gentle humor. As hishealthdeclined,hemoved to Baton Rouge,Louisiana, to be caredfor by hisson andto spend hisfinal days close to family. He is lovingly rememberedbyhis son, Jonathan PaulMcClellan Taylor, MD (Yolunda Denise Johnson, MD); his adored granddaughters CarolineFlorinneJohnson Taylor,Camille Ellaina JohnsonTaylor,and Cecile Sophia JohnsonTaylor;his sister Veonie T. McKinnie (Eddie, deceased);and his brothers JamesF.Taylor, Jr LeonardT.Taylor (Johnetta), and Aaron Taylor (Linda). He waspreceded in death by his parents, JamesFox Taylor and RebeccaHess; hisbrother Calvin O. Taylor;and his sistersVerna MaeTaylor, GloryJ.Jubilee, and Dorothy L. Larry Avisitation will be held from10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 2026-03-07 at Rawls FuneralHome, 36 SJackson Avenue. Afuneral service will be held at 12:00 PM on 2026-03-07 at Rawls Funeral Home, 36 SJackson Avenue

Shortlyafter his 88th birthday, Henderson Taylor peacefully went home to be with God on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Affectionately knownas"Short Dog", "Sonny Boy" or "Earl," he lived arich, purpose-filled life and was a steady source of warmth wisdom, and laughter to everyonewho knew him. A devotedChristian,heaccepted Christ early and his gentle faithand kind spirit touchedmany hearts. Henderson wasbornFebruary 19, 1938, in Brownsville Tennessee, the thirdchild of JamesFox Taylor and RebeccaHess. Raised with strongfamilyvalues, he graduatedfromhigh school in Brownsville at Haywood Training School before attendingTennessee State University, in Nashville. He answered the call to serve and joined the U.S. AirForce. Hismilitary service opened his eyesto thewiderworld and sparkeda lifelonglove of travel and discovery—while stationedin Japan he even learned to speak thelanguage, showinghis curiosityand respect for other cultures. After an honorable discharge, he channeledhis talent, discipline, and sharp mindintoa distinguishedcareerasanengineer in theaerospace industry in California, contributinghis skillto companiessuchasHughes andNorthrop untilhis wellearnedretirement.While livinginLos Angeles,Henderson met andmarriedE NorrisMcClellan in 1964. moments. Avoracious

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

Unemployment rate ticks up to 4.4%

American employers cut 92,000 jobs last month

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

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

The outlook for the

and the

The combination of

and increasing inflationary

sures arising from the

creates a nightmare for the Federal Reserve, which must decide whether to cut interest rates to help the job market or hold off to help keep a lid on prices. “This is probably the worst scenario for monetary policy said Eugenio Aleman, chief economist at Raymond James.

Employers were reluctant to hire last year because of uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs and the unpredictable way he rolled them out

Oil sees highest price since 2023

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%

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 limited war”with heavy casualties, more than 58,000 American deaths. In August 1965,asthe U.S. escalated its involvement, most Americans supported the effort; 61% said sending troops to Vietnam was “not amistake.” But by May1971,that number fell to 28%. As the death toll climbed, public doubt turned into fury, questioning boththe necessity of the mission and the strategies usedtofight it. The U.S.withdrewits remaining troops in 1975.

Thefirst Gulf War, unlike Vietnam,was short, clear and successful. The last poll before it began in January 1991 showed 55% supporting useofforce if Iraqdidn’t leave Kuwait by adeadline. Iraq refused and the U.S.ledcoalition quickly liberated Kuwait. Twoweekslater, 77% of Americans saidthe decision to useforce 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 2001found88% supporting military action in Afghanistan. Often called the “good war” because it was directly tiedtoterrorist groups, it ultimately dragged on fortwo decadesand ended in an ignominious U.S. withdrawal

TheIraqWar began with strong public backing.In March2003, aPew surveyfound 72%favored military action. By June 2004, that support haderodedto39% ACBS/New York Times poll in 2006 found 63%of Americans believed the war was notworthits costs. Barack Obama’soppositiontoitwas keytohis election as presidentin2008. When it comes to war,Americans rally around purpose —and leaders whocan explain it, executeitand 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 divided on the 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

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

AVALANCHE

Ex-LSU coachgives first comments since firing Kelly

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, whomade hisfirst publiccomments since he wasfired last fall, mentioned his selection of defensive coordinator Matt House and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. House was fired after his second season amid adefensive staff overhaul,and Sloan was fired last fall the day after Kelly was dismissed.

“I think when you look at from aheadcoachingperspective, not having enough continuity with the coordinatorscertainly putus in aposition where we couldn’tmake any mistakes,” Kelly said on SiriusXM College Sports Radio. 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 hiscoordinators. Housewas fired afterleading adefensethat allowed 28 points

quarterfinal SECTournament game on Friday in Greenville, S.C. LSU won112-78.

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 tidalwaveofscoring to an 112-78 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.

See SEC, page

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 this weekend in Italy,Games using Paralympian from BR goes for record gold,fun

LSUb ll dl pingroles aheadofSEC play S b llpen develop

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

It’sbeen astrange start to the year forthe LSU bullpen, aunit that appeared to be a clear strength for the Tigersheading into theseason but has struggledinthe games leading into this weekend’sthree-game series with SacramentoState. So, where does that leave the group heading into Southeastern Conference play? Here’sabreakdown of where every LSU reliever stands as theTigers’ 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 relieversthrough 14 games. Enteringthisweekend, thetwo hadn’t al-

lowedanearnedrun 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’ssupreme command andmastery of five pitches —fastball, cutter, changeup, sliderand curveball —have consistentlyflummoxedhitters. Sheerin has overwhelmed opponents by throwing afastball that’supto99mph with movement and asharp slider

Guidry struggled in hisstart Wednesday against UL, but the veteran’strack record andthe stuffhe’sshown out of thebullpen shouldn’tshake LSU coachJay Johnson’s

3

3

3:30

4

4:30

5

Valley Tourn.: TBD CBSSN

5 p.m. Texas A&M at LSU SECN

5:30

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

vs.

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.”

Ohtani took about 25 swings, hit about 10 balls out of the park and another few against the outfield wall.

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.

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 al-

ways 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 title in more than eight years. The wind wasn’t as strong as what Lee faced in the opening round, and she managed to keep a clean card while making birdies on three of the four par 5s at Jian Lake Blue Bay Lee was one shot ahead of Yu Liu (66),

THE VARSITY ZONE

Dunham cruises past Geo Next

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS Contributing writer

There’s been a sense of finality that has enveloped this year’s Dunham School basketball team.

Four of five senior starters formed the foundation of a program that advanced to three consecutive Division III select semifinals. That group, coupled with junior Elijah Haven, who will be a midterm graduate and enroll in college next January, faced a ticking clock on their careers.

No. 2 Dunham erupted after halftime, turning a 10-point lead into a 27-point advantage going into the fourth quarter en route to a 77-44 home victory over No. 7 Geo Next Generation in Friday’s Division III state quarterfinal.

“They know it’s their last ride with these guys,” Dunham coach Chad Myers said. “The job’s not done. We’ve got two more to go. We know who we have next, and they’re very good.” Dunham (24-4) meets No. 3 Country Day, a 74-53 winner over St. Louis, in next week’s state tournament at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.

The Tigers were stopped by the Cajuns 54-53 in last year’s semifinal round.

“We’ve lost in the semifinals in some close games,” Dunham senior Gavin Blanton said. “This year, we’re looking to get over the hump. We’ll do whatever to win a state championship.”

Senior A.J. Olivier was one of three double-figure scorers for Dunham with 22 that included four 3-pointers. Seniors Gavin Blanton and Jarvis Washington

Prairieville guard

Marly Gatlin drives past Slidell guard Madyson Parker during their LHSAA Division I nonselect semifinal game on Thursday at University Center in Hammond.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL

JOHNSON

followed with 18 and 15.

Geo Next (21-13), which appeared in its first state quarterfinal and was led by Jakyi Frank’s 15 points, trailed 19-16 at the three-minute mark of the second quarter That’s where Dunham closed with a 11-3 run marked by pair of three-point plays from senior Kris Thomas and Blanton, along with a step-back 3-pointer from Olivier Washington fueled Dunham’s big wave out of the locker room with seven of his 15 points over the first four minutes to make it 41-22. Blanton found Haven trailing on a fastbreak for a layup and Olivier spotted Aldren Thorton for a 3-pointer with 2:22 left in the third quarter for a 43-22 lead.

The Tigers shot 60% in the quarter, connecting on eight consecutive shots during one stretch, to open a 54-27 advantage on Blanton’s third 3-pointer of the game.

“Just trusting our teammates,” said Blanton, who scored 12 points in the second half “We’ve been playing together as a group for a while. Just having the chemistry, moving the ball, trusting each other and playing for each other and it turns into good things.”

Dunham outscored Geo Next Generation 44-24 in the second half, forcing the visitors into 27% (7 of 27) shooting and eight turnovers. Reserve Tedrick Mills gave his team their largest lead at 74-43 with 11 seconds to go.

“They got us last year by one,” Myers said of Country Day “The whole goal was to get us back to Lake Charles to give us a shot. That’s all we could ask for.”

Prairieville girls fall to Slidell in semifinal

BY JACKSON REYES

Staff writer

As the clock ticked to just 15 seconds remaining in overtime on Thursday, Slidell’s Jaelyn Elliott cut to the hoop and threw up a layup over a Prairieville defender

The shot went through the bottom of the net to put her side up two points. Prairieville turned it over late, and Slidell won to make its first state title game.

Late Thursday

Slidell (28-1) won 64-60 over Prairieville in a Division I nonselect

semifinal at the University Center in Hammond. The Tigers will face Zachary in the title game at 8 p.m.

Saturday Despite the loss, the trip to the semifinals marks Prairieville’s deepest run in the playoffs in the program’s brief two-year history

“Year two, making the run that we did,” Prairieville coach Chase Delrie said. “I think anybody would say that was impressive. I can’t say enough about this group.” Senior Rhian Comery scored 26 points and had 20 rebounds in the loss. Freshman Aubrielle Theriot

finished with 17 points.

“This makes me a lot more hungry,” Theriot said of the game

“I’m already thinking about just days after this, what I’m going to do, how I’m going to get better

This definitely isn’t the end.” Prairieville took a 14-6 lead in the first quarter after Comery sparked a 9-1 run. Slidell closed the period with four more points to make it 16-10 after one.

The teams traded runs in the second quarter, and Slidell went into the break up 26-24. The Tigers scored four straight

St. Joseph’s one step closer to putting program ‘on the map’

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Earlier in the year, St. Joseph’s Academy won the in-season Newman tournament for the school’s first trophy in girls basketball.

Redstickers coach Tim Waller recalled the school’s athletic director asking him if he wanted the trophy Waller was happy with the win, but he wasn’t satisfied.

“I said, ‘With all due respect, that’s not the trophy I want,’ ” Waller said.

The trophy case at St. Joseph’s is littered with state titles in other sports, but there are none for girls basketball. Waller’s goal when he joined the program six years ago was to change that.

After the Redstickers’ 51-46 win over Teurlings Catholic, just one game separates the program from its first state title in girls basketball. The program has already achieved a bit of history with the school’s first state title game appearance in the sport.

“This is an opportunity that I believe is going to lead this program to new heights,” Waller said. “I want us to be a true basketball program.”

His program scratched the surface with a semifinal appearance in 2022 and a run to the quarterfinals in 2021.

thankful to my teammates for their hard work.”

The team includes nine sophomores and four freshmen. The team’s top two leading scorers are sophomore Ella Gisclair and freshman Evelyn Osborne. The pair both average 11 points per game.

after making appearances last season.

Waller and his Redstickers join that group of dominant Baton Rouge-area programs, which has been his desire for years.

to take a six-point lead. Comery ended the run with a layup, then hit two from the charity stripe.

Later, Prairieville sophomore Breanna Sanders made an immediate impact off the bench, knocking down a 3-pointer and drawing a foul to get her side within one with a four-point play

Comery hit one layup to put her side back in front. Slidell scored again, but Comery scored a putback layup and drew a foul to cap off a three-point play She scored her sixth straight point with another putback layup on a fast break.

Theriot hit a 3-pointer late to put the Hurricanes up 44-39 after three. Comery scored 11 of her 26 points in the third.

“It means a lot,” Theriot said about helping her team make its first semifinal. “I look forward to looking at my teammates and seeing how far they make it in the future and cheering them on.”

Prairieville went up by 10 points after a 6-0 run at the beginning of the fourth. With about three minutes left in the fourth, Hurricanes senior Marly Gatlin fouled out on a technical.

Slidell’s Cianni Williams banked in a floater through contact after the free throw She took over and scored the team’s final 14 points as the Tigers roared back to tie the game 55-55 and send it to overtime.

The Hurricanes failed to score a field goal in the final four minutes.

In overtime, the two sides traded buckets until Elliot’s layup late put Slidell back in front for good. Despite falling short, Delrie was optimistic about the future of the program. “There’s more to come,” he said. “I believe that. We’ll be back.”

Now St. Joseph’s will face John Curtis in the Division I select state championship in the biggest game in the program’s long history

The win over Teurlings Catholic involved a seven-point comeback in the fourth quarter The contest involved seven ties and 11 lead changes.

The Redstickers are one of the youngest teams in the state tournament, with just one senior and one junior, but the team refused to back down from the moment.

For Kendall Dailey, the team’s lone senior, this achievement is everything.

“I’m very blessed,” she said. “I have no words for it. I’m just very

Gisclair said they’re motivated by Dailey and want to send her high school career off with a state title.

“This is an opportunity that I believe is going to lead this program to new heights. I want us to be a true basketball program.”

— TIM WALLER, St. Joseph’s Academy girls basketball coach

“She’s been such a great leader to us,” Gisclair said. “We want to give Kendall the best senior year We just want to keep building the program.”

Six Baton Rouge-area schools are playing in state championship games in girls basketball. Southern Lab, Madison Prep and Zachary all returned to the title round

“I want to put St. Joseph’s basketball on the map,” he said. He was proud of his team to be associated with those other schools. He credited the hard work of his players, who want to be mentioned in the same groups as other elite schools in the area.

“When people talk about St. Joseph’s Academy, they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a good school,’” Gisclair said. “We want to be known as like, ‘Wow, they have a really great basketball program.’ It would be unbelievable if we could bring a (state title) home.”

Allison, French Settlement girls reign

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

French Settlement girls basketball waited 62 years for a state title, and senior Stella Allison wasn’t ready to let her team down She started the game just 1-of-7 shooting, but she took over in the second quarter Allison closed the quarter with 13 straight points, including a three-fourths-court heave at the buzzer to put her side in front at the half.

Allison finished with 22 points to help French Settlement (29-3) defeat the Westlake Rams 44-36 in the Division III nonselect state title game at the University Center in Hammond on Friday night

The win marks the program’s first championship since 1964 and third state title overall.

“There’s probably nothing better that could ever happen than winning a state championship,” Allison said.

French Settlement started slow, shooting just

Continued from page 1C

MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 22 points, while Johnson added 21, becoming the sixth player to eclipse 2,000 career points in an LSU uniform. They paced five LSU players with double-digit points and nine with at least five points. Fulwiley and Johnson did most of their damage across the third and fourth quarters – the stretch of the game in which LSU bludgeoned the Sooners (24-7) with 3-pointers and transition layups. The 13 shots the Tigers made beyond the arc were a season-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 almost tripled the number of 3s that Oklahoma made, I would have said you lost your mind. We don’t shoot that many. But we shot the ball well today.”

When LSU and Oklahoma last met in January, the Tigers coasted to a decisive 19-point road win. Star senior forward Raegan Beers battled foul trouble throughout the game, while star freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez missed 11 of the 14 shots she took in the regular season.

Beers ran into foul trouble again early in the second quarter of Friday’s matchup, and the Sooners struggled to score when she was watching from the bench. Overall, they shot only 36% from the field, and they missed 16 of the 21 3-pointers they took. The LSU offense simply ran more smoothly, giving the Tigers open looks both inside and outside the 3-point arc for most of the game.

Fulwiley also tallied eight assists, four rebounds and three blocks. Mikaylah Williams 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.

Beers tallied a season-low six points in 23 minutes and fouled out at the 4:18 mark of the fourth quarter Chavez chipped in 20 points after shooting 6 of 15 from the field.

“I thought we defended good,” Mulkey said “We couldn’t stop fouling. We were just fouling that whole first half, and they

PARALYMPIAN

Continued from page 1C

many of the same sites as the recently completed Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Huckaby will go for history One more gold medal in either of her events — para snowboarding or banked slalom would give her the record for Paralympic gold medals she currently shares with the late snowboarding legend Bibian Mentel of The Netherlands. Before heading to Italy, the 30-year-old mom from Baton Rouge sat down and had a quiet talk with herself about what she wanted most out of these Games The answer wasn’t simply another shiny golden object draped around her neck.

“I realized I do not have fun chasing those medals,” Huckaby said. “What do I really want? Just be in the process 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 the opening ceremony Friday in

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRIS CARLSON

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson celebrates after scoring against Oklahoma during the first half of a quarterfinal SEC Tournament game on Friday in Greenville, S.C.

got a lot of free throws, and then I think we cleaned it up starting in the third quarter.”

LSU played sharp offense in the first quarter but ran into some turnover issues in the second. The Tigers gave away nine possessions in that quarter, giving Oklahoma a chance to cut into a nine-point deficit it faced by the end of the first quarter

But the Sooners struggled to score from anywhere besides the free-throw line. They shot just 4 of 17 from the field in the second, missing all three shots they took from beyond the arc as LSU led 45-33 at the half.

Oklahoma started to heat up in the third, but LSU found an answer for most of the shots it hit.

Richard drained four of the five field goals she took in that quarter while also playing disruptive defense against Chavez at the other end.

The Tigers ended the third on a 17-3 run to take a 23-point lead into the fourth. In the second half, they shot 52% from the field and 8 of 15 from beyond the arc. From

Verona and runs through March 15.

“One, I want to be authentically myself,” she said, “which means I’m going to have fun and enjoy every moment that I can I want it to be memorable and I want to be competitive. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to show up as my best self as an athlete and control what I can control.

“If I can keep it fun and memorable, I don’t care where I land. I just want to enjoy the moment.”

Huckaby has a mantra that helps her deal with the ups and downs, challenges and championships:

“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 punches and just takes life as it is and inspires others to do the same,” Huckaby said. “We don’t have control over anything in life Roadblocks are going to happen. Just so much is outside of your control. What we can control is how we’re showing up for ourselves in the present moment and more importantly how we’re showing up for others. I hope I can

5) scored two layups early in the second quarter to make it 15-8.

With 5:43 left in the second quarter, junior Braidy Trabeau ended the Lions’ cold spell with a free throw Allison broke her cold streak with a 3-pointer, then caught fire. She hit three 3-pointers and scored the team’s last 13 points of the second quarter

With just seconds left before the half, she raced up the court and heaved a shot from well behind the half-court line. It fell through at the buzzer to give her side a 22-18 lead at the break. She had 16 points at halftime. “In that moment, I knew this is our game,” she said. Allison picked up where she left off in the third. She stole the ball and scored a layup. Rilan Delaneuville continued the run with a putback layup. She totaled 11 points.

Westlake chipped away with a pair of baskets to get back within three points.

Then Lions junior Ava Acosta caught an assist from Allison and hit a corner three to make it a sixpoint game. Allison pulled up from the top of the arc and made another 3-pointer Delanaeuville got going late in the third. She scored three layups, two coming on fast-break dishes from Allison. She scored the third just before the buzzer to give her side a 41-27 lead after three.

“We get flying around, and we get some easy buckets,” Lions coach Jake Bourgeois said. “That run was probably the difference in the game.”

Alicia Cuppens hit a 3-pointer for the Rams to open the fourth. Allison found Trabeau for a layup to put her side back up 13 points. Trabeau fouled out on the ensuing possession, leaving French Settlement without two starters late. Westlake scored five points late, but the comeback effort would fall short as the Lions fended them off to win.

the 6:54 mark of the third until the 2:39 mark of the fourth, LSU converted 22 of 33 field-goal tries. Williams and Johnson have been teammates for three years, but before Friday, they had played only one SEC Tournament game together A pair of minor injuries had gotten in the way before, but they didn’t this year The two stars played 27 and 32 minutes against Oklahoma, respectively

LSU now has won four straight SEC Tournament quarterfinal matchups. It’s also scored at least 100 points 14 times this season — one shy of the NCAA Division I record, which Long Beach State set in 1987.

The Tigers next will face South Carolina in the semifinals at 3:30 p.m. Saturday The No. 1-seeded Gamecocks, who have won eight of the last 10 SEC Tournaments, have beaten LSU 18 straight times. They routed No. 9-seeded Kentucky 87-64 in the quarterfinals on Friday

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

inspire people to do the same.”

After moving to Utah to pursue her sport, then to Wyoming and Maine, Huckaby and her family decided to make a home near Kalispell, a small city in northwestern Montana about the same distance from the Canadian border as Baton Rouge is from New Orleans.

Despite being enormously different in terms of geography and climate, Huckaby said it somehow reminds her more of Baton Rouge than any place she’s lived.

“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 most important part.”

Huckaby won gold medals in both events in her first Paralympic Winter Games in 2018 in South Korea. She followed that up with a gold in banked slalom and a bronze in snowboard cross in the 2022 Beijing Games. How did a girl from Baton Rouge figure out she would be great at snowboarding?

“Going from gymnastics to snowboarding wasn’t as hard as many people would think,” Huck-

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Barring a miraculous Southeastern Conference Tournament run, LSU’s season is quickly approaching the end. The Matt McMahon-led team has a single victory out of 13 opportunities against teams in the top quadrant of NET rankings. LSU (15-15, 3-14 SEC) is tied for last in the SEC, on track to miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

For a second straight season, the Tigers won’t be close to competing for an at-large bid entering their regular-season finale against Texas A&M (20-10, 10-7) at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Senior day ceremonies begin 20 minutes before tipoff. Being a part of March Madness was LSU’s “North Star,” McMahon said ahead of the season. That standard was reaffirmed in January when The Advocate spoke to new athletic director Verge Ausberry about the basketball team’s fourthyear coach.

“We’ve already had some discussions about what the expectations are,” Ausberry said then.

“One thing we want to do is make sure we’re in the NCAA Tournament. We made that very clear to Matt at the beginning of the year That’s where we need to be.”

LSU’s collapse after a 12-1 nonconference record is partly due to the injuries of redshirt junior Jalen Reed and junior Dedan Thomas. Reed, a 6-foot-10 forward, had a season-ending left Achilles injury in the sixth game. He entered the season coming off of the bench after healing from last season’s right ACL tear, and he was averaging 11 points on 60.6% shooting and 6.0 rebounds before going down.

Thomas injured his left foot on Jan 2, the day before the SEC opener, and reaggravated it on Jan. 28. Before having seasonending surgery, the 6-1 point guard played only three conference games. He was averaging

aby said. “They are very different sports. But I think one thing that gymnastics gave me, because I was at a high level, was the body awareness, the balance, the air awareness and the strength. Because I had all those skills that are pretty hard to teach people, I picked up snowboarding pretty quickly I fell in love with the challenge of it and the adrenaline.”

Huckaby begins competing with snowboard cross qualifying at 4 a.m. Central on Saturday, with the medal round of the event set for 5 a.m. Sunday at the Cortina Para Snowboard Park in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Her second event, banked slalom, begins at 4 a.m. March 14.

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

“If you’re a fan of sports,” Huckaby said, “you’ll be a fan of para sports.” Huckaby’s husband and daughters are with her at the Paralympics, though Huckaby is locked down by tight security at the athletes’ Olympic Village. “It feels like I am ‘glamping’ with my teammates,” Huckaby

a team-high 16.2 points on 49.3% shooting, an SEC-high 7.1 assists and only 1.8 turnovers per game before conference play

After a three-point loss to Texas A&M in the SEC opener the Tigers had a winnable home game against South Carolina, now the second-worst team analytically in the SEC. LSU performed poorly, trailing 24-5 before losing 78-68. LSU felt déjà vu three weeks later at home when it trailed 27-9 with 11:35 remaining in the first half against Mississippi State, a game Thomas played 28 minutes. LSU lost 80-66 against the current worst SEC team analytically LSU has dropped three games by 10 or more points on the road and five such games at home.

“I think it’s a very fair question,” McMahon said when asked about why his team plays better on the road. “When you look at it, I think some of our better performances, our higher-energy performances, have certainly been on the road. You look at the win at Ole Miss Look at how we played at South Carolina, at Tennessee, at Texas, at Arkansas. I don’t have the answer as to why that is, but I certainly understand the question, and I see the same thing you’re seeing there.”

The season is the latest underwhelming chapter of McMahon’s tenure. His second year was the team’s most promising at 9-9 in the SEC, but that squad missed the NCAA Tournament because of bad losses in the nonconference slate, such as to Nicholls State at home.

In McMahon’s three other seasons, his teams have won eight total SEC games. That’s why LSU could pay McMahon’s $8 million buyout and find a new coach for the 2026-27 season.

“We’re all grownups here,” Ausberry said earlier this year “Matt’s a grownup. He understands how the business works. He understands that LSU basketball has to be successful.

“We’re going to assess the program and evaluate it.”

said. “Such an interesting feeling. They call it the village for a reason. There’s a game room, a meditation room, a doctor’s office. A dentist. A 24/7 cafeteria. There’s a free cappuccino barista; I get a cappuccino every morning. It’s fun.

“It’s super secure. We don’t have any more people who can come in. My family can’t come in. It’s like airport security.”

After the Games, Huckaby and her family plan to travel through Italy to “check out the food, the wine and the views.” Whether or not she leaves with more medals or the record for most Paralympic snowboarding golds, Huckaby has made peace 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 I really sit with myself and ask myself what I truly want, that isn’t actually in there What I truly want is to make these Games fun and make it memorable and be the best competitor I can be. If I can do that, that’s going to feel better than checking a box.”

Tigers hammer SacState

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Ping! Ping! Ping! The fireworks began immediately

The LSU baseball lineup hadwaited long enough. It was time for the bats, which had fallen into asix-game cold spell, to heat up again. All LSU needed was for its stars to set the tone on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium.

First, junior Derek Curiel ripped aball that deflected off the bag at firstbase. He then stood at second base with adouble as junior Jake Brown cranked an oppositefield home run to left field that handed LSU a2-0 lead

That was just the tip of the iceberg. Curiel homered and Brown launched another ball over the fence in the second, stretching LSU’s advantage to 7-0 by the end of the inning. The Tigers scored eight more runs, as their offensive explosion allowed them to run awaywith the 15-4 win in seven innings over Sacramento State. The game ended early due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“Weneeded alittle bit of areset and to get back to

training andpractice,”LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “Just made acoupleofsmall adjustments collectively.A lot of times it’sindividual. But collectively,we needed (anadjusted) mindsetapproach, someswing mentality adjustments, and the guys didagreat job tonight.”

Hitting the ball with authority was LSU’sbiggest issue during its six-game slump, but that was dispelled emphatically on Friday. LSU (12-3) had twice as many extra-base hits in thefirst two innings on Friday (six) as it had in its last twogames combined. The Tigers hadjust 10 extrabase hits over their last six contests. They matched that markbythe fourth inning on Friday,and six of those hits were homers. Brown homered in each of hisfirst three at-bats.Curiel went 3for 4with two doubles. Sophomore Cade Arrambide blasted his fourth homer of the year,and juniorSteven Milamsmacked his first. By the end of the

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fourth inning, LSU led 15-0 and startedtotake out its starters.

“Tonight thereweren’t a whole lot of at-bats that we gave away,” Brown said. “Everyone was up there takingconvicted swings at the right pitches.”

It was never aquestion of talentfor LSU as it struggledtosmack theball across theyard. Swing decisions and impatience at the platewere the main reasons for thepower outage. There were too many hacks at pitches thatweren’tgoing to be easytodrive and not enough walks.

Butthe opposite was true on Friday: LSU stucktoits approach and capitalized on mistakes

The Tigers only generated three walks,but it felt as if everyswing resulted in a baseball getting smashed somewhere.

“We’re looking to impact thebaseball, and we’re looking to walk,” Brown said. “And that’sgoing to lead to us swinging at the right pitches,not getting ourselves out, which is alot of what we’vedonethe last few games that we played.”

As LSU dominated the Hornets at the plate, sophomore right-handed starter Casan Evans was flawless on the bump early for the Tigers.

Evanshad nine strikeouts andwas tossinga perfect gamethrough five innings, pounding the strike zone and fooling Sacramento State (310) hitters with his slider

“I thinkthe big difference between this outing and the other ones,” Evanssaid, “is just pitch execution early in thegame.”

He eventually ran into trouble in the sixth, when he allowed three hits,including atriple, that put two runs on theboard and prompted LSU coach Jay Johnson to turn to his bullpen. Afterhethrew 88 pitches in hislast start, Evans believes his struggles in the sixth hadnothing to do with fatigue.

“Just needed to get my pitchesdowninthe zone,” Evans said. “That’sit.”

LSU facesSacramento Stateinthe second game of theseries on Saturday First pitch was moved from 6p.m. to a2 p.m. start, and thegame will be available to stream on SEC Network+.

Continued from page1C

confidence in him

Middle relief

Options: Mavrick Rizy,RHP, So.; EthanPlog, LHP,So.

Breakdown: One could argueRizybelongs with the topgroup of closers, but his command has been shaky He’swalked seven batters in just 81/3 innings before Friday,despite improving his delivery from last season and holding a2.16 ERA heading into this weekend. Johnson’stop choice among the lefties out of the bullpen hasbeenPlog, even though he tossed only 31/3 innings before the SacramentoState series. He has walkedtwo batters but also hassix strikeouts, beating hitters with afunky arm slot,a fastball with good movement that sits around 93-94 mphand aslider

Potentialrisers

Options: ZacCowan, RHP, Sr.; Cooper Williams, LHP So.; Jaden Noot, RHP,R-Jr.; Reagan Ricken, RHP,Fr.; Dax Dathe, RHP,Sr.;Santiago Garcia, LHP,Jr.;Grant Fontenot, RHP,Sr.

Breakdown: Cowanand Williams’ struggles have come as asurprise, as both pitchers entered the year as contenders to crack the starting rotation. Cowan has a13.50 ERA with12hitsallowedinfour appearances entering the weekend. Williams has eight strikeouts in 51/3 innings, but he has given up seven hits. Both pitchers may still earn biggerroles if theycan recapturetheir pinpointcommand, but hitters have punished them when they’ve left theballoverthe plate.

Noot’srolehas diminishedsincehestarted LSU’s fourth game of the year against Kent State, but the veteran didn’t allow abaserunner in the three appearances since then. Ricken is only afreshman, but he’s pitched wellintwo of his three outingsand can throw formultiple innings.He’san

athletic armwith plenty of upside,especiallywhenhe throwsstrikes. Garcia had arough first appearance, allowing a three-run homer,and has struggled with consistency ever since. Dathe was among Johnson’stop middle-reliefoptions before he ranintoproblems against McNeese State last week. If he can hone in his control, hiscutterand slider provide LSU astrong arm in relief. Johnson was confident in Fontenotearningalarger role, as his fastballisnow up to 98 mph. But the senior has struggled with his command andfindinga consistent 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

Breakdown: Lachenmayer hadanopportunity to prove himself against UL on Wednesday,but he walked abatter that ledtoarun and threwmore balls than strikes. Theophilus showed better command in his second outing Monday,even if he’s on thelower endof Johnson’specking order Johnson has shownconfidenceinPrimeauxoverthe last two years and heading into this one, but the Baton Rouge native has struggled to command his pitches on the inner-half of the plate against left-handed batters —frequently hitting them —and he’s neverbeen relied upon to face righties. Benge hasn’t thrownafull inning after beginning last season as aprominentmiddle-reliefoption. He allowed two earnedruns andfailed to record an outWednesday Paz has struggled with his control andthrowing aconsistent breaking ball since returning from Tommy John surgery

Email Koki Rileyat koki.riley@theadvocate. com. For more LSU sports updates,sign up forour newsletter at theadvocate.com/

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-providedbenefits. Whenthosebenefits end with retirement, paying dental billsout-of-pocket cancome as a shock,leading people to put off or even go without care. Simplyput —without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparingplans ...

 Look forcoverage that helps pay formajor services. Some plans may limitthe number of procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.

 Look forcoverage with no deductibles. Some plans mayrequire you to payhundreds out of pocketbefore benefits are paid.

 Shop forcoverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocover everything. That means if youwant protection,you needto purchase individual insurance.

Early detection canprevent small problems from becoming expensiveones.

The best way to preventlargedental bills is preventive care.The American Dental Association recommends checkupstwiceayear.

Previous dental work canwear out.

Even if you’vehad qualitydentalwork in the past,you shouldn’t take your dentalhealth forgranted. In fact, your odds of havinga dental problem only go up as youage.2

Treatment is expensive— especiallythe servicespeople over 50 often need.

Consider these national averagecostsof treatment. $274for acheckup $299 for afilling $1,471 foracrown.3 Unexpected bills likethis canbeareal burden, especially if you’re on afixedincome.

“Medicare&You,” Centersfor Medicare& Medicaid Services,2025. 2 “Aging changesinteeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov,4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees.Datacurrent as of July 2025;subject to change

“Absolutely love” “I absolutelylove my dental insurance. My dentaloffice files the claims,leaving me with very littlebalancetopay.” DorothyP TN

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

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE 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-generationrestaurateur,grew up watching his

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

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.”

Judith

TryK-Cup hack to save money

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

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?

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.

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 food world 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. “Every battlewillbehead-to-head; every spin of the randomizer will keep competitorson their toes and viewers on the edge of their seats, and every dish is make-or-break.”

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 kind of like summer camp, but Ialso want to win money Since there’snoway to prepare for the randomizer,how do you getready for “Tournament of Champions”?

I’m doing. 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?

Dear Heloise: Reusing KCups can help save money, but there’sabetter way that doesn’t sacrifice flavor.Reusableorrefillable K-Cups are widely available and designedspecifically for single-serve machines. They have asmall pop-top lid andcan be filled with your favorite ground coffee. 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 Dear Heloise: When keys, jewelryorgadgetsget stuck in tight spots, Igrab awire coat hanger to use as aquick retrieval tool. Istartbycompletely straightening the hanger Then Ibend one end into a small circle and twist it so that the circle is perpendicular to thelong wire. This forms atiny scoop. With this slim tool, I

can 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 more than once! —Patricia HartMcMillan, in San Antonio

results may vary,but it’s worth trying on sentimental glassware. —Bruce Denhard, via email Greenguacamole

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

Continued from page1D

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 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 right now. It’sveryscarybecause theeconomy doesn’tseem like agreat place. But with thatbeing said, I’m still looking, and I’m putting more pen to paper this year.Ihope to have something by the end of theyear or at least aspace.

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

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

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 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

Cloudyvase fix

Dear Heloise: Iwanted to share acleaning tip that worked surprisingly well formeonanold cut-glass vase that had become cloudy and milky inside after years of holding flowers. Ifilled the vase as full as possible with warm water,then added asmall amount of powdered meat tenderizer and let it soak forseveral hours. (Though overnight also works.)

Many meat tenderizers contain enzymes that break down proteins, and over time, vases can develop afilm from plant residue, bacteria and other organic buildup. After soaking the vase, Irinsed it thoroughly and gently washedit, and the cloudiness wasnoticeably reduced. While this may not work formineral deposits that are caused by hard water, it can help remove organic film that regular washing doesn’tremove. As with any cleaning method,

RELIGION BRIEFS FROM STAFFREPORTS

NewYorkbishop to visit St.Margaret’s

TheRev.AllenK.Shin, Bishop Suffragan of the EpiscopalDiocese of New York,will visit St.Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 12663 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge,onSunday,March 15, for amorning of worship andapublicpresentation on faith and public life. Shin will preach at the 8a.m. and 10 a.m. Eucharists. At 11:30 a.m.inLyle Hall, he will present “A Dangerous Liaison: White Supremacy and Christian Nationalism—A Christian Heresy andAmerican Identity.” The presentation will

explore the historical roots and theological implications of Christian nationalismand whyitmatters for churches today

The event is free and open to the public. For moreinformation, visit www.saintmargarets. com.

Women’sNight to Worship event

GreaterPhiladelphia Baptist Church, 24497 Cook Road, Zachary,invites women to Daughters Arise: Women’s Night of Worship from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday,March 27. Hosted by She’s In You:

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 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 work betterthan store-bought ones, likely because they’re fresher and more acidic. Now Ialways reach for limes when making guacamole. Asmall change in citrus makes a big difference in keeping this dip looking as good as it tastes! —M.A.,inUtopia,Texas

Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Blossoming Into …, the evening is designed for worship, praise, connection andsisterhood. Women are encouraged to gather,reflect and celebrate together as daughters of faith. Visit eventbrite.com for moreinformation. Church to host TheDixie Echoes Little Prairie Baptist Church, 40497 La. 42, Prairieville, will host The Dixie Echoes, an old-school Southern gospelgroup, in concert at 11 a.m. Sunday There is no admission charge, and the public is invited.

Bride-to-bedebates inviting BFFtowedding

Dear Harriette: My best friend got married last year in Peru. She and her husband invited family only, wanting to keep the wedding small due to budget. When she told me Iwasn’tinvited, Itried to be supportive. Isent agift, congratulated her and told myself not to take it personally.My fiancé and Iare getting married this year,and we have been saving like crazy so we can have a large wedding. Part of me doesn’twant to invite my best friend becauseIwasn’tinvited to her wedding. We have been friends for more than 30 years —since we were little girls —so Icouldn’tbelieve an exception wasn’tmade for me. Ikeep think-

ing: IfI wasn’timportant enough to make thecut for her wedding, why should she automatically have aseat at mine? Iknow weddings aren’t tit-for-tat, butIcan’tshake the feelingofbeing excluded during one of the biggestmoments of her life. Am Ijustified in feelinglike if Iwasn’tpart of her special day,she doesn’t needtobepartofmine?

Harriette Cole SENSE AND SENSITIVITy

Uninvited

Dear Uninvited: It sounds like you already know you are beingpetty,but you can still talk to her.Tell her how hurt youremainabout her decision to exclude you and what you are grappling with for your own wedding.Allow this to be an opportu-

nitytoclear the air.Her decision probably involved other people. Whether it was right or wrong, it happened. What do you want for your friendship moving forward? Work towardmeeting that goal.

Dear Harriette: I’masingle mother of one, ason who is going to college this year.Over the years, my son and Ihave built astrong and open relationship that fosters healthy communication. As every parent understands, there will come aday where Iamnot privy to every aspect of his life, and he must make his own decisions. Itrust his decision-making skills since he hasn’t done anything to makemequestion his judgment; however,itishard to let go of my child at any age. As he goes to college, Iwant to give him enough space togrow

and evolve into his young-adult self, but Iwant to maintain an open line, too. How would you advise Iavoid becoming ahelicopter parentwhile still providing relevant support and wisdom?

—Growing Up

Dear Growing Up: Let your son know that you will always be there for him as asounding board andasupport. Remind him that he is moving into anew phase in his life where he will begin to makedecisions forhimself Suggest that he remember the values you have instilled in him Encourage him to evaluate the optionsbefore him at every major crossroads and consider what choice is in alignment with his beliefs. Remind him that when he’s in doubt, he can always contact

URDIALES

Continued from page1D

dad operate his restaurant, Carlos’ Cajun Mexican Restaurant, in Baton Rouge With aMexican father and aCajun French mother— blue-eyed, blonde and thickly accented —Urdiales says Mestizo’scombines his two cultures. In Spanish, the word “mestizo” describes a person of mixed race. When Urdiales was achild, his dad was in the military, so his family moved around alot. From kindergarten through 12th grade,heremembersbeing the only Hispanic child in class. His grandparents on his dad’s side died beforehewas born, so he primarily grew up around and learningfrom his French grandparents Today, his trips to Mexico are both professional pilgrimages for inspiration and ongoing history lessons.

with amonochromatic and earthy color scheme.

“This is our safe space. I always tell people, ‘Whatdo you do when you get home? Youcharge your phone.’ We have to chargeourselves,” he said. “For me, being calm is what charges me up.”

movement in the kitchen. She noted thatthe natural oak cabinets drove thecolor palette with theorange-red tone thatbrought warmth and depth to thespace.

By The Associated Press

you to run an idea by you. Don’t baby him.Point out that you have instilled fundamental values and beliefsinhim that should guide his steps. Nowisthe timefor him to use those tools. Of course he will makemistakes —weall do. If he continues to listen to the voice inside that is reminding him of what appropriate behavior is, he should be OK

If you can coach him like this rather than constantly telling him exactly what to do, you will learn to let go and not be ahelicopter parent.

Sendquestions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o AndrewsMcMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Today is Saturday March 7, the 66th day of 2026. There are 299 days leftinthe year

Todayinhistory: On March 7, 1965, a march by over 500 civil rights demonstrators was violently broken up at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama; state troopers and asheriff’s posse fired tear gas and beat marchers with batons in what becameknownas “Bloody Sunday.”

Also on this date: In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received aU.S. patent forhis telephone.

In 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered his troops to march into the demilitarized Rhineland, thereby breaking the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties.

In 1975, the U.S. Senate revised its filibuster rule, allowing 60 senators to limit debate in mostcases, instead of the previously required two-thirds of senators present.

Pretty Woman”bythe rap group 2Live Crew.) In 2010, filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow became the first womantowin the AcademyAwardfor Best Director,taking the prize for“The Hurt Locker.” In 2024, movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of acinematographer by Alec Baldwinduring arehearsal on the set of the Western film “Rust.” (Gutierrez-Reed served an 18-month prison sentence and wasreleased in 2025.)

Today’sbirthdays: Hall of Fame auto racer Janet Guthrie is 88. Actor Daniel J. Travanti is 86. Entertainment executive Michael Eisner is 84. Football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann is 74. R&B musician Ernie

“Mexico —it’ssuch a beautiful story —between thecuisine and the culture and the people and the fusion. They’remore diverse than people think,” he said. “When Igo, it’sabout rediscovering what it is to be Hispanic. The older Iget, the more I’mintouch with my Hispanicroots.” Every time he makes a trip, he brings something back —anew recipe, story or piece of art. ButUrdiales wantsthe art to stand out on the shelves in his kitchen, whichiswhy he opted to go

Thespace is bathed in naturallight from thewindows and layered in naturalmaterials likeoak wood cabinets, granite,leather banquette seating, ceramic tile floorsand potted plants. The kitchenisland, covered in a“leathered stone” granite, anchors the center of the room. Twodecorativepillars greet guestsatthe door

One pillarisfromthe nowclosed Poncho’s Mexican Buffet in BatonRouge, which was purchasedfor $25. The other pillar,found at Mosaic Garden,isalmostidentical to the one from Poncho’s.

Sonnier,who moved to Baton Rouge from Las Vegas in 2016, wanted function to follow form, allowing for

“The outside cameinside, andeverything startedto connect,” she said. “I was looking for thatearthy terracotta redclay,that whole Mexico vibe withterracottasand pops of turquoise, which pick up theblue from thewater out by thepool.”

She says lighting is akey factor in each of herdesigns. Instead of one source of light,she implements low medium and high lighting so that theentire space feels intentional.

Her goal withUrdialesand Williamson’srenovation was to curatearoom that was appropriate for their needs, lifestyles and personalities.

“Itneeded to feel gritty andearthyliketheir food,” shesaid of thespace. “It’s a little desert oasis in the middle of Baton Rouge.”

In 1994, the U.S. SupremeCourt unanimously ruled that aparody that pokes funatanoriginal work can be considered “fair use.” (The ruling concerned aparody of the Roy Orbison song “Oh,

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Dabble in the possibilities and elaborate on ideas that excite you. Precision and attention to detail, combinedwith discipline and action,will help youreach your destination in good shape.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Be resourceful, use your imagination and put alittle muscle and disciplinebehind your ideas. Aproactive approach will make adifference andinvite support from unexpected sources.

tAuRus (April20-May 20) Don't be afraid to act if it will bring about positivechange.Adiplomatic approach will encourageothers to supportyour efforts. Choose kindness, compassion and honesty for good results.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Actions speak louder than words. Don't wasteyour breath when an adjustment is necessary. Study thefacts,organizeyour thoughts and pursuewhatmatters most to you.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Think twice beforeyou agree to do something that might jeopardize your reputation. There will be afineline between what's right andwhat's wrong. Keep your thoughtsand plans to yourself.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You'll finditnecessary to keep aclose watchonshared expenses, accommodations and joint ventures. Stay on top of payments, negotiations andany changes that require attention

VIRGo(Aug.23-sept. 22) If it's change you want, it's up to you to make it hap-

pen. Stop waiting forthings to come to you. Speak up and initiate opportunities. Take the path thatsoothes your soul.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep your life simple, affordable and peaceful. Refuse to let anyone cajole you into overspendingorbeing emotionallyexcessiveor 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 host an event that brings old friends, associates or allies back into your life.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) You'll receive mixed messages fromthose you encounter.Distance yourself from anyone asking fortoo much or trying to pushyou in adirection thatmakes you feel uncomfortable

CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Having aplan in place will help you make changes thatimprove efficiency and deliver greater benefits. Don't take risksthat can causeinjuryordamage your health.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Channel your energy into somethingconstructive Working on aproject that can help you createextraincome or help your savings grow will put your mind at ease. Thehoroscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by NEA,Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Celebrity Ciphercryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Eachletter in thecipher stands for another.

toDAy's CLuE: LEQuALs V

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with severalgiven numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

By PHILLIPALDER Bridge

GottfriedLeibniz,aGermanmathematician andphilosopher who died in 1716, said,“Music is the pleasure the human mindexperiencesfromcountingwithout being aware 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 andeverything: the steps you take, the white vehicles on theroad, thepedestrians, the cars of arailroad train, whatever.

This week we have beenlooking at counting. The most common defensive count signal is an echo, ahigh-low, to show adoubleton. Often the signaler is hoping to gain aruff. But occasionally, high-lowwill indicate “remaining count” —the number of cards still heldbythat defender. This deal is atextbook example. How shouldthedefenderscardtodefeatthree no-trump after West leadshis fourthhighest club?

North’stwo-heartresponsewasatransfer bid, showing five or more spades and at least zero points. Then his three-notrump rebid offered South achoice of games. West leads the club six. East wins with hisace and returnsthe nine, high from a remaining doubleton. WhenSouthplays hisqueen(orjack),Westshouldbeaware that if East had startedwith the A-J-9-2 (orA-Q-9-2)ofclubs,hewould have led back the two,not thenine. So, to keep communication with his partner, West drops theclubfiveattrick two Now South is sunk. He wouldprobablyrun hisdiamonds before taking the spade finesse, but East would win with hiskingand lead hislastclubtokill the contract

©2026 by NEA,

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which 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 that acquire

today’s thought “JesusChrist thesame yesterday, and to day,and forever.” Hebrews13:8

Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 AM on April7,2026, upon the applicationof PELICAN MIDSTREAMCORP. At such hearingthe Sec‐retary will consider evi‐dencerelativetothe is‐suance of an orderupon theapplicationof PELI‐CANMIDSTREAM CORP to acquireand operate intrastate naturalgas pipelinefacilitiesinSt. Bernard, St.Charles Lafourche, Jefferson, and PlaqueminesParishes, StateofLouisiana,pur‐suanttoLa. R.S. 30:555(C) andLAC 43:XI.505. Acopyofthe application is on file with theDepart‐ment of Conservation andEnergyand maybe examined during normal business hoursand is posted online at https:// www.dce.louisiana.gov/ page/hearing-commentcalendar Commentsand viewsre‐gardingthe application should be directed in writtenformtothe ad‐dressbelow or electroni‐callyto info@LA.govand aretobereceivednot laterthan5:00o'clock p.m.,April 6, 2026. Oral commentswillbere‐ceived at thehearing but should be briefand not coverthe entire matters containedinthe written comments. If accommo‐dationsare required under theAmericans with DisabilitiesAct please contactour office at (225) 342-5505

should be briefand not coverthe entire matters containedinthe written comments.Ifaccommo‐dationsare required under theAmericans with DisabilitiesAct please contactour office at (225) 342-5505 within tenworking days of the hearingdate. Direct com‐mentsto: Dustin H. Davidson Secretary Post Office Box94275 BatonRouge,Louisiana 70804-9275 RE:DocketNo. PL 26-004 Allparties having inter‐estinthe aforesaidshall take notice thereof. BY ORDEROF: Steven M. Giambrone, Director 179542 March7,1t $28.92

p at (225) 342-5505 within tenworking days of the hearingdate. Direct com‐mentsto: Dustin H. Davidson Secretary Post Office Box94275 BatonRouge,Louisiana 70804-9275 RE:DocketNo. PL 26-005 Allparties having inter‐estinthe aforesaidshall take notice thereof. BY ORDEROF: Steven M. Giambrone, Director 179543 March7,1t $29.20

a.m. on April7,2026, upon theapplicationof LOUISIANARIVER MAR‐KET, LLC. At such hearingthe Sec‐retary will consider evi‐dencerelativetothe is‐suance of an orderupon theapplicationof LOUISIANARIVER MAR‐KET, LLC to constructand operateintrastatenat‐ural gaspipelinefacili‐ties in St.James Parish StateofLouisiana,and interconnect with EnLink LIG, LLCinthe Parish of St.James,State of Louisiana, pursuant to La.R.S.30:555(C) & 30:555(H) andLAC 43:XI.505 &LAC 43:XI.509. Acopyofthe application is on file with theDepart‐ment of Conservation andEnergyand maybe examined during normal business hoursand is posted online at https:// www.dce.louisiana.gov/ page/hearing-commentcalendar Comments andviews re‐gardingthe application should be directed in writtenformtothe ad‐dressbelow or electroni‐callyto info@LA.govand aretobereceivednot laterthan5:00o'clock p.m.,April 6, 2026. Oral commentswillbere‐ceived at thehearing but should be briefand not coverthe entire matters containedinthe written comments. If accommo‐dationsare required under theAmericans with DisabilitiesAct please contactour office at (225) 342-5505 within tenworking days of the h i d i

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Intent to Submit Permit Application ExxonMobilCorporation BatonRouge Plastics Plant AI #285 /P-0150-R2 Notice is hereby given that ExxonMobil Corpo‐ration –Baton Rouge Plastics Plantdoesin‐tend to submit to the LouisianaDepartmentof EnvironmentalQuality Office of Environmental Services,Waste Permits Division,a renewalappli‐cation fora permit for the continuedoperation of theirTypeI Industrial SurfaceImpoundments, locatedinEastBaton

Rd Commentsconcerning thefacilitymay be filed with the Secretaryofthe LouisianaDepartmentof Environmental Qualityat thefollowing address: LouisianaDepartmentof EnvironmentalQuality Office of Environmental Services WastePermits Division Post Office Box4313 BatonRouge,LA

twenty dollars($220.00) perparcelfor each resi‐dentialstructure within theDistrictfor ten(10) years, beginningonJan‐uary 1, 2026 andending on December 31, 2035, as provided in La.R.S 33:9097.25; thegoverning authorityofthe district mayincreasethe amount of theparcelfee without election,bya duly adoptedresolutionofthe boardand nottoexceed twohundred fiftydollars ($250) perparcelper year;with theproceeds of said parcel fee(after deductingadministrative costs) to be used to aid in crimeprevention, en‐hancingthe security,im‐provements,beautifica‐tion andfor theoverall betterment of theDis‐trict; an estimated $40,260.00 is reasonably expected to be collected from theinitial levy,and allrelated matters as set forthinLa. R.S. 33:9097.25 andthenbeing contin‐uedinthe same manner as itsimposition, if the BoardofCommissioners determines that said continuation is neces‐sary to meet theneeds of theDistrict?

Precincts: 02/027 A& BPartial

PollingPlace: Sharon Hill Elementary School Location: 6450 GuynellDrive BatonRouge,LA70811 178039-feb21-may28-6t $1,175.92

andatsaidelection

et seq.,and the rulesofthe CoastalMan‐

agementProgram.Appli‐cationsfor coastaluse permitsmay be in‐spectedat617 North3rd Street,Room 1078, Baton Rouge, LA or on theOPC webpageat: https:// denr.louisiana.gov/page/ public-notices.Copies areavailable,costs apply. Writtencomments aresolicited from the public andmustbere‐ceived within 25 days of thedateofthisnotice. Comments must be up‐loaded directly to our electronic record throughthe OPCweb‐page or mailed to:OPC Administrator, Kyle Balkum,P.O.Box 44487, BatonRouge,LA708044487. Allcommentsmust containthe appropriate CUPnumber andthe commenter's full name andcontact information. Beloware thereferenced application(s):* CUPNUMBER: P20260128

Name:Hilcorp Energy Companyc/o CoastalRe‐source Consulting,Llc P. O. BOX52370 LAFAYETTE, LA 70505 Attn:Jeremy Griffith Location:Plaque‐minesParish, LA;Lat.2856-58.57 N, Long.89-2317.95 W; Section2 &3 T25S-R30E;Burrwood Field. Description: Main‐tenancedredgeanexist‐ingchannel to provide access to severalwells Spoilwillbeplacedadja‐cent to thechannel for shoreline stabilization andmarsh protection Approx.8,227 cy will be dredgedand 148 cy of concrete slabs(each ap‐prox.8'x 20')willbe placed alonganeroded portionofthe shoreline. ************ CUPNUM‐BER: P20260121 Name: CollinsPipelineCompany c/oMatrixNew WorldEn‐gineering6717 COMPLEX DRIVEBATON ROUGE, LA 70809 Attn:Lee Womack Location:Saint Bernard Parish,LA; Lat29-5734.22N,Long89-5539.54W andLat 29-5734.87N,Long89-5538.85W;Section 41, T12SR13E;Description:Pro‐posaltoconduct two anomalydigs(8& 9) and associated repairsofthe 16-inch-diameter pipeline. Approx.1257 cy of excavationisrequired forthe digs. Approx. 1776 ill b h d

g pp cy will bepropwashed foraccess. Approx.149 cy of wetlands will be ex‐cavated. 179697-mar7-1t $27.49

PUBLIC NOTICE Requestfor Scenic River Permit on Bayou Lacombe TheSecretary of the LouisianaDepartmentof Wildlife andFisheries (LDWF) as Administrator of theLouisiana Natural andScenicRiversSystem is currentlyconsidering theapplication of Joseph Mesa to construct a bulkhead.Copiesofthe applicationcan be re‐viewed at theLDWFmain office,2000 QuailDrive BatonRouge,LA. The public is invitedtocom‐ment on this permit re‐questfor aperiodof forty-five (45) days.Re‐sponsesshouldbe mailed to LDWF Scenic Rivers Program, P.O. Box 98000, BatonRouge,LA 70898-9000. 179620-mar7-1t $107.10

berDellucci,Council Member Murrell, Council Member Talbot Absent: CouncilMember Monachello

4. Approval of Minutes: Motion by CouncilMem‐berCook,secondedby CouncilMemberHimmel to approvethe minutes of theFebruary10, 2026 councilmeeting.

AYES: Cook,Himmel, Ed‐monds, Dellucci,Talbot, Murrell

NAYS: None ABSENT: Monachello

5. Presentation by Bran‐donBoylanonFinancial Activity Report

6. Public WorksPresenta‐tion by Thomas Heap,As‐sistantPublicWorks Di‐rector

7. Presentation by Chief Tarleton with St.George Fire Department

8. Presentation by Chief Todd Morris andCaptain Jeff Rogillio

II. Introduction of Ordinances forPublic HearingonMarch 10, 2026

(1)Ordinance Regulating Donation Activities;Pro‐hibiting Unauthorized Donation Drop-offs;Es‐tablishing Operational Requirements forDona‐tion Center;Declaring CertainConditionsa Pub‐licNuisance; Providing forEnforcement,Liability andPenalties;and other‐wise providingwithre‐spectthereto (Murrell)

(2)Ordinance to amend Title9,Chapter 1ofthe St George Code of Ordi‐nances to ProvideRela‐tive to Occupational Li‐censes forVeteranownedBusinessesand to providefor relatedmat‐ters (Himmel)

III. Itemsfor Public Hear‐ingand Action

(1)Motiontoapprove Talbot,secondedby Cook to approveOrdi‐nancetoAmend Title12, Chapters 5, 8, and11rel‐ativetothe Elimination of Blight andtoprovide forrelated matters (Murrell) Public commentwas opened with no speak‐ers.

AYES:Cook,Dellucci,Ed‐monds, Himmel, Murrell, Talbot NAYS: None ABSENT: Monachello (2)Motiontoapproveby Himmel, seconded by MurrelltoapproveOrdi‐nancetoAmend Title6 Chapter1,and to Enact Title6,Chapters4 and5 Relative to Fire Preven‐tion andProtection, to Providefor Inspections, Fire AlarmSystems,Per‐mits,and Regulationsfor Flammable, Explosive, andHazardous Materi‐als. (Murrell) Public comment was opened with thefollow‐ingspeakers: ChiefTar‐leton AYES: Cook,Dellucci,Ed‐monds, Himmel, Murrell, Talbot

NAYS: None ABSENT: Monachello (3)Motiontodefer by Ed‐monds, seconded by Himmeltodefer amend‐ment to Title7,Unified DevelopmentCode, to establishnew base zon‐ingdistricts,updateal‐lowedusesand dimen‐sional standardsand re‐organize some sections; Rezone allpropertyin thecitytothe newbase zoning districtsand to providefor relatedmat‐ters until April2026. Zoning Commission vote: Motion to recommend approval with the amendments provided by staffina handoutat themeetingbyTravis Thornton;secondedby Laurie Marien.YEAS –Travis Thornton,Laurie Marien,Jason McAllister BobbyMcKey,Billy Aguil‐lard.NAYS- 0. Motion passedand T-26-0001 & Z-26-0001wererecom‐mended forapproval with amendments

Public comment was opened with thefollow‐ingspeakers: Bryant Dixon

pp y Edmonds, seconded by Cook to approveresolu‐tion authorizingMayor Yatestoenter into Emer‐gencyMedical Call-Tak‐ingServicesagreement with AcadianAmbulance andtoprovide forre‐latedmatters (Cook)

Public comment was opened with thefollow‐ingspeakers: ChiefTar‐leton, KeithF

AYES: Cook,Dellucci,Ed‐monds, Himmel, Murrell, Talbot

NAYS: None ABSENT: Monachello

(4)Motiontoapprove by Talbot,secondedbyHim‐meltoapproveresolu‐tion authorizingMayor Yatestoenter into aCo‐operativeEndeavor AgreementwithCityParish andPurpose Church to Fund Opioid AbatementInitiatives (Talbot)

Public commentwas opened with no speak‐ers. AYES: Cook,Dellucci,Ed‐monds, Himmel, Murrell,

MEMBER MURRELL:

ORDINANCE NO. 2026-005

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TITLE 6, CHAPTER 1, AND TO ENACT TITLE 6, CHAPTERS 4AND 5, RELATIVE TO FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION, TO PROVIDE FOR INSPECTIONS, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS, PERMITS, AND REGULATIONS FOR FLAMMABLE, EXPLOSIVE, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

WHEREAS,the Council for the City of St. George, findsthat it is imperative to protect the public health and safetyofits citizens through adoption of comprehensive fire preventionand protectionmeasures;

WHEREAS,the Council for the City of St. George, desires to achieve the highest rating in fire safety through adoption of robust fire safety provisions; and

WHEREAS,the Council for the City of St. George, desirestoamend its ordinances to adopt morecomprehensive and updatedprovisions regarding threats to public safety withinthe purviewofthe St. George Fire Prevention Bureau or St. George FireDepartment, NOW,THEREFORE, BE ITORDAINED by theSt. GeorgeCity Council, State of Louisiana, that Title6 of theOrdinances of theCity of St. George, “FirePrevention andProtection,” and more particularly Chapter 1, “FirePrevention,” be, and it is hereby, amended as follows:

Section 1. Amendments

The following ordinances of the City of St. George areamended as indicated. Words in struck through type aredeletions from existinglaw and words underscored in bold areadditions to existinglaw

Title 6. FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION Chapter1.FIRE PREVENTION

Section 6:104. Enforcement officers.

(a) The FireChief of the St. GeorgeFireProtection District No. 2 or aperson or persons designated by the Fire Chief of the St. George FireProtection District No. 2shallbe responsiblefor theenforcement of the City’s fire code. The FireChief shalldetailsuch membersofthe fire department as officers as shall from time to time be necessary

(b) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to authorize the FireChief or any employee of St. George FireProtection District No. 2orthe St. George FirePreventionBureau who is notaduly commissioned and POST-certified peace officer toissue criminal citations, summonses, or make arrests. Criminal enforcement of this Chapter shall be undertaken solely by law enforcementorpeace officers as defined in state law

(b) (c) The officers of the St. George FirePrevention Bureau shall enforce all laws and ordinances of the City covering the following:

(1) The prevention of fires;

(2) The storage and use of explosives and flammables;

(3) The installation and maintenance of automatic and other fire alarm systems, and fire extinguishing equipment;

(4) The maintenanceand regulationof fire escapes; (5) The means and adequacy of exit in case of fire,fromfactories, schools, hotels, lodging, houses, asylums, hospitals, churches, halls, theaters, amphitheaters and allother places in which numbers of persons work, live or congregate from time to time for any purpose;

(6) The investigation of the cause, originand circumstances of fires;

(7) The maintenanceof fire cause and loss records;and

(8) The provisions of Title 8necessaryfor safeguardinglife and property against fire.;

(9) The storage, control and useofexplosives and flammables; and (10) The maintenance and protection and the elimination of hazards in buildings and structures, includingthose under construction.

(c)(d) St. George FirePrevention Bureau shall have such other powers and perform such other duties set forth in this Title and as may be conferred and imposed from time to time by law. The Fire Chief for St. George Fire Protection District No. 2may delegate any powersordutiesunder thisTitle to the St.George FirePrevention Bureau.

(e) The provisions of this Chaptershall be enforced through inspections, written notices of violation, orderstoabate hazardous conditions, and referrals to the law enforcementfor criminal enforcement, whereauthorized by law.Fireprevention personnelare authorized to:

(i) Inspect buildings, structures, and premises as provided in this Chapter; (ii) Identify hazardous conditions relatingto fire safety,lifesafety flammable or combustible materials, means of egress, and occupancy conditions; (iii) Issue written orders requiringcorrection of conditions that present an imminent fire or life-safety hazard;and (iv) Requestassistance from law enforcementwhere aviolation constitutes acriminal offense under federal or state law or municipal ordinance.

Sec. 6:108. Periodic inspections.

(a) The St. George FirePrevention Bureau

or occupant, pursuant to an inspection warrant, or under exigent circumstances that present an immediate threat to life or property

(d) Where access is denied by the owner or occupant and no exigent circumstances exist, the FireChief or their designee mayseek awarrant to inspect the premises in accordance with law

Sec. 6:109. Ordersfor upon inspection

Section 6:110. Violations.

(a) It shall be unlawfulfor any person to violate any provision of this Title, to permit or maintain aviolation,torefuse to obey any provision of this Title after notice, except as variation may be allowed by the action of the Fire Chief or St. George FirePrevention Bureau, in writing. Proof of such unlawful act or failureshallbedeemed prima facie evidence that such act is an act of the owner or other person in control of the premises. Prosecution or lack thereof of the owner,occupant or person in charge shall notbedeemedtorelieve anyother person from compliance with this Title.

(b) Thefollowing violations of federal or state law,codes, or regulations shall constitute criminal misdemeanor offenses against the City of St. George andshall be subject to penalty as set forth in this Section: (i) Locking, blocking, or otherwise obstructing means of egress; (ii) Permitting or enabling gatherings that exceed maximum capacity; (iii) Parkinginadesignated fire lane; and (iv)Non-compliance with restricted or disabled parking spaces.

(c)Any person who knowingly violates this Section shall be subject to apenalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), imprisonment up to thirty (30) days, or both.

Section 6:111. Penalties for FireCode violation.

Anyperson who violates the provisions of the City’sFireCode; or violates or fails to comply with any order made underthe City’sFireCode, or builds in violation of anydetails, statements, specifications or plans submitted or approved under such code; or operates not in accordancewith the provisions of any certificate, permit or approval issued undersuch code, and from which no appeal has been taken; or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the fire official or by acourt of competent jurisdiction within the time fixed in this Title, may have the Certificate of Occupancy revoked and services utilities disconnected.

(a) Aviolation of any provision of the City’s FireCode shall constitute acivil or administrative violation unless the specific conduct is separately designated as acriminal offense by ordinance or federal or state law

(b) Anyperson who engages in the following acts shall be subject to revocation of Certificate(s) or Occupancy and disconnection of utility services: (i) violation of the provisions of the City’sFireCode; (ii) violation of, or noncompliance with, any lawful order issued pursuant to the City’s FireCode; (iii) construction that does not conform to details, statements, specifications or plans submitted or approved under

City’sFireCode; (iv)failure to comply with the

certificate, permit or approval issued under

or conditions of

Code; (v)failuretocomply with an enforceable order issued by aCity fire official or court of competent jurisdiction

Section 6:112. FireLanes on Private Property

(a) TheFireChief shall proscribe appropriate fire lanes for all buildings in the City,which shall be maintained free of obstruction at all times. Building that arenot readily accessible from public roads mustbeaccessible to fire apparatusthrough gates, access roads, and/or fire lanes

(b) No person shall park or place avehicle or object in a designated fire lane.

(c) Vehicles obstructing a fire lane mayberemoved by law enforcement or authorized towing services in accordance with state law

Sec. 6:113. FireAlarm Systemsand False Alarms

(a) Firealarm systemsshall comply with applicable NFPA standards as adopted by the State FireMarshal and in this Title.

(b) Repeated false fire alarmsattributable to negligent maintenance mayconstitute aviolation subject to graduated civil penalties as provided herein.

(c) Criminal penalties for false alarmsshall be enforced only whereauthorized by state law and prosecuted by law enforcement. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana, that Title6 of the Ordinances of the City of St. George, “FirePrevention and Protection,” and moreparticularly Chapter 4, “Hazardous Materials,” andChapter 5, “Flammable Substances,”be, and they arehereby,enacted as follows:

Section 2. Enactments

The following ordinancesofthe City of St. George arehereby enacted. Title 6. FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION

AYES: Cook,Dellucci,Ed‐monds, Himmel, Murrell, Talbot NAYS: None ABSENT: Monachello (3)Motiontoapprove by d d d d b

Safety and Corrections, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development,United StatesDepartment of Transportation, and all other stateand federal agencies.

(b)The FireDepartment maycoordinatewithlaw enforcement regarding suspected violations but shall not conduct searches or seizures except as permittedbylaw

Sec. 6:402. Hazardous Materials Incidents– Cost Recovery.

Any person or entityresponsible forthe release of hazardous materials requiring emergency response shall be liable forthe reasonable and necessary costsincurred by theCityinresponding to such incident as permittedbylaw

Title 6. FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION Chapter 5. FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

Section 6:501. Applicability

This section applies only to thecommercial storage, handling, use, transfer,loading, or unloading of flammable or combustible substances at a fixed location within theCityand shall not apply to the mere possession of such substances by individuals or to thelawful transportation of such substances regulated by stateorfederal law

Section 6:502. PermitRequired.

No person or entityshall store, stage, transfer,load, unload, or use flammable or combustible substances in quantities exceeding those permittedfor ordinary consumer use at a fixed sitewithout first obtaining a fire safetypermitfromthe Bureau of FirePrevention.

Section 6:503. Exemptions.

This section shall not apply to:

(a)Lawful transportation regulated by theLouisiana Department of Public Safety or federal law;

(b)Retail consumer sales in original, unopened containers; (c)Emergency response operations; (d)Residential storage in quantities customary forhousehold use; or (e)Activities conducted under thesupervision of theState Fire Marshal.

Section 6:504. PermitStandards.

Apermitissued under this Chapter shall be based solely on fire and life-safetyconsiderations, including:

(a)Proper storage containers and labeling;

(b)Adequate fire extinguishing equipment;

(c)Separation from ignition sources;

(d)Ventilation and spill containment;and

(e)Compliance with applicable NFPAstandards as adopted by theState FireMarshal.

Section 6:505. Inspections.

Permitted premises maybeinspected by theFireDepartment at reasonable times, with consent,pursuant to an administrative warrant,orunder exigent circumstances, forthe limited purpose of verifying compliance with fire safetyrequirements.

Section 6:506. Violations.

Failuretoobtain or comply with apermitissued under this section shall constituteaviolation enforceable through writtennotice and order to correct,orbyreferraltolaw enforcement whereacriminal offense is established under statelaw or municipal ordinance.

Section 6:507. No Transportation Regulation.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to regulatethe operation, inspection, or search of vehicles transporting flammable or hazardous materials, which shall remain governed exclusively by stateand federal law

Section 3. EffectiveDate

This Ordinance shallbeeffectiveupon publication.

This Ordinance having been submittedtoa vote, thevotethereon wasas follows:

For:Cook, Dellucci, Edmonds, Himmel, Murrell, Talbot

Against: Absent:Monachello

Adopted this 24thday of February 2026.

Signed this day of _______________, 2026.

Delivered to theMayor on the_ day of 2026:

Lorraine Beaman, CityClerk

Approved:

Dustin Yates, Mayor Received from Mayor on the_ day of 2026:

Lorraine Beaman, CityClerk

Adopted Ordinance published in The

of 2026.