The Times-Picayune 03-07-2026

SPRINGFORWARD: DON’T FORGET TO SETyOUR CLOCKS

Keyprogressrevealedon SixFlags redevelopment

Troy Henryspeaks during aBayou Phoenix presentation at Franklin Avenue Baptist

Developersrevealed $300 million in financing and operators for ayouth sports complex andwater park resort at the former SixFlags site in NewOrleans East,markingsignificant milestones in the revival project.

Operatorsnamed foryouth sports complex, waterparkresort

BY BENMYERS Staffwriter

Developers behind the massive overhaul of the former Six Flags in New OrleansEastsay they willsoon finalize $300 million in financing andhave found operators for a youth sports complex and water park resort —critical milestones in the site’s long-awaited revival. Eastern Sports Management of Virginiaand American Resort ManagementofTexas andPennsylvania will run the complex and resort under preliminary agreements with the Bayou Phoenix group. Officials with thosetwo firms joined Bayou Phoenix principal Troy Henry to announce the plans at a Friday meeting at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Henry said the $300 mil-

lionprivate equity deal —with afirm he declined to name,citing anondisclosure agreement —will take 15 weekstoclose, and thatthe process should

beginwithin thenexttwo months.

Eastern Sports Managementmanages nine indoor andoutdoor sportsfacilities in its home state as

well as in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Oklahoma. American Resort Management operates water parks and hotels across the country,and its hotelbrands include Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt, according to its website.

The announcementrepresents keyprogress for aproject that remains on track despite years of complications over land ownership, strainednegotiationsand challenging conditions on the 227-acre sitethat has been dormant since Hurricane Katrina.

“I know it’sbeen atest of everyone’s patience,” Henry said in an interview “Wenow will be shifting from being at government speed tothe speed of business.”

Andrew Ballard, chief

ä See SIXFLAGS, page 4A

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-

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 4A

Trump rulesout talks with Iran

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

DUBAI,United Arab Emirates U.S. President Donald Trumpappeared Friday to rule out talks with Iran absent its “unconditional surrender.” Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut and Tehran as Iran launched more retaliatory strikesagainst Israel andGulf 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. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’s governmentorelevate new leadership from within.

ä See IRAN, page 3A

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

NewOrleans MayorHelenaMoreno on Friday accusedthe Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement Systemoftrying to strong-arm the city into paying money it doesn’t owe as thetwo sideswork to resolve several outstanding legal disputes.

“I will push back on anyone who Ithink is trying to do any typeofmoney grab on thecity of NewOrleans. It’snot somethingthatI’m goingtostand for,” Moreno said in an interview. “I’m sick of their bullying tactics.”

Director says administration is withholding money owed to system Moreno

Moreno’scomments comeafterthe statewide policepensionsystem’sexecutive director,Ben Huxen, this week publicly accused the Moreno administration of withholding $3.5 millionhe said is owed to the pension system

ä See FUND, page 4A

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 March 4 as a result of his injuries. It added that the remaining injured detainees “continue to receive specialized medical care according to their health status.”

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

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

Fishing vessel sinks off Cape Cod, killing 2

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

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

Nancy Guthrie’s neighbors are reportedly being asked about internet glitches around the time the 84-year-old woman went missing. It’s not clear if investigators in Arizona believe there’s a link to possible technological issues in Tucson and Guthrie’s Feb. 1 disappearance.

Three of Guthrie’s neighbors were quizzed about their web connections by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI, according to NBC’s “Today,” where the missing woman’s daughter Savannah Guthrie is a host.

Investigators reportedly told locals that some neighbors reported internet issues the night before the apparent abduction

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

Washington ‘millionaires tax’ headed for passage

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

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

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

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 ripped 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.

Deadly Iranianschoolblast linked to U.S. airstrikes

United Nations criticizes civilian deathtoll

BY JULIA FRANKEL and MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press

JERUSALEM Satellite images, expertanalysis, aU.S. officialand public information released by the U.S. and Israeli militaries suggest an explosion that killed scoresof Iranian students at aschool was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regime’sRevolutionary Guard

The Feb. 28 strike, which had the highest reported civilian death toll since the war began, has come understaunchcriticism fromthe United Nations and human rights monitors. More than165 people were killed, most of themof children, in the blast during school hours at Shajareh TayyebehElementarySchool, according to Iranian state media.

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

thetight pattern of damage visible on the satellite photos is consistent with atargeted airstrike. Iran has blamed Israel andthe United States for the blast. Neither country has accepted responsibility.Asked about the strike at the school at aPentagon media briefingWednesday,Defense Secretary PeteHegseth said, “All Ican say is that we’re investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets.But we’retaking alook and investigatingthat.”

Several factors point to aU.S. strike.

One isthe launchingofanassessment of theincidentbythe U.S. military.According to thePentagon’sinstructionsonprocesses for mitigating civilian harm, an assessment is launched after agroup of investigators make an initial determination that the U.S. military maybearculpability. AU.S. official told the AP that thestrike was likelyU.S. The official spoke anonymouslybecause theywere not authorizedtocomment publicly on the sensitive matter

Anotheristhe locationofthe school —next to aRevolutionary Guard base in Hormozgan Province and close to barracks for its navalbrigade. The U.S. military hasfocused onnaval targetsand acknowledgedstrikes in theprovince, includingone in the vicinity

PRESS PHOTO

ASSOCIATED

By KONSTANTINTOROPIN

ADepartment of Defense map is displayedduring anews conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Wednesday.

of the school.

Israel, which has denied conducting thestrike, has focused on areas of Iran closer to Israel andhasn’t reported anystrikes south of Isfahan, 500 miles away.The U.S. is operating warships in the Arabian Sea, including the USS Abraham Lincolnaircraftcarrier,within range of the school.

When asked by theAPabout its findings, U.S. military Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkinssaid, “Itwould be inappropriate to comment giventhe incident is under investigation.”

WhiteHouse presssecretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Fri-

day that shehad no updates on the investigation and did not directly answer aquestion about whether PresidentDonald Trump was satisfied withthe pace of the probe

“My assumption is that probably therewere some activities recently there and they detected and tracked them, but …they weren’t aware or didn’thaveanup-to-date databasethat agirls’ school was there and they bombed it,” said Farzin Nadimi, asenior fellow at theWashington Institute forNear EastPolicy who studies Iran’smilitary

Satelliteimagesshowdamage

The schoolisadjacent to awalled compound labeled on maps as the Seyyed Al-ShohadaCultural Complex of theGuard. In addition to theschool, satellite photos show that blasts struck at least five buildings in the Guard compound, leaving the area pocked withcraters, charred holes in roofsand piles of rubble.

Iranian online mapapplications showa livingquarters for theAssef Brigades about 165 yards from the school, inside the Revolutionary Guard compound. The 16thAssef Coastal Missile Group is part of the Guard’snavy,Nadimisaid. The 1st Naval District, which the Assef Brigades belong to,isresponsible for the Strait of Hormuz, the nar-

row mouth of the Persian Gulf through which afifthofall oil and naturalgas traded passes. The strait hasbeen aparticularpoint of conflict in the war.

In the aftermath of the strike, videofrom Iran’sstate broadcaster verifiedbythe AP usingsatellite imagery showed dozens of fresh graves dug at anearbycemetery Nadimi said it is likely the school taught daughters of Guard personnel.

The strike hasdrawn wide condemnation from the secretarygeneral of the UnitedNations 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 governingarmedconflict, saidElise Baker, aseniorstaff lawyer at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based nonprofit think tank.

“Strikescan only legally target military objectives and combatants,but theschoolwas acivilian object and the students and teachers were civilians,” Baker said. “The school’s proximityto(Guard) facilities andthe attendanceof childrenof(Guard) membersat the school does notchange that conclusion: It wasacivilian object.”

Meanwhile, Russia has provided Iran with information thatcould help Tehran strike the U.S. military, according to two officials familiar with U.S.intelligence on the matter.Russian President Vladimir Putin had acall Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing his condolences overthe 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 aschool was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacentcompound associated with the regime’s Revolutionary Guard.

Qatar’senergy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, warned in an interview with the Financial Times that the war could “bring down the economies of the world,” predicting awidespread shutdown of Gulfenergy exports that could send oil to $150 abarrel.

Theprice fora barrelof benchmark U.S. crude rose above $90 on Friday for the first time in more than two years.

Russia giving info to Iran

Russiahas providedIran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft andother assets in theregion,according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter

The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spokeonthe condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has notuncoveredthatRussiais directing Iran on what to do with the information. Still, it’s thefirstindication that Moscow has sought to get involved in thewar that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran aweek ago. In asocial media post Friday,Trump said that after Iran’ssurrender,“and the selection of aGREAT&ACCEPTABLE Leader(s),” that the U.S. and its allies would

help rebuild Iran, making it “economically bigger, better,and strongerthan ever before.”

Those comments were likely toraise furtherquestions about theendgame of the war.The fightinghas killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than200 in Lebanon and around adozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. SixU.S. troops have been killed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkianwrote on social mediathat“some countries” had begun mediation efforts, without elaborating.

On Thursday,Trumpurged theIranian people to “help take back yourcountry,” promising immunity from the U.S. Trump alsotold media outlets that he should be involved in choosing areplacement for Supreme Leader AyatollahAli Khamenei, whowas killed in the opening strikes of the war Trump spoke dismissively of Khamenei’sson,Mojtaba Khamenei —a front-runner to replace his father —calling him “a lightweight.” Iranian statetelevision reported Fridaythata leadershipcouncil had started discussing howtoconvene thecountry’sAssemblyof Experts,whichwillselectthe new supreme leader Buildings associated with

the 88-member clerical panel have beenattacked during the Israeli-American air campaign. Israelhas said it would targetthe next supreme leader if he poses athreat Retaliatoryattacks

Israel’s military said Friday it had launched “a broad-scale waveofstrikes” on Tehran, Iran’scapital, and thatover the past week it has heavily bombed an extensive undergroundbunkerthat Iranian leaders had planned to use during thehostilities Witnessesdescribed Israeli airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area andsending 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 acrossthe Gulf said they intercepted Iranian missilesand drones on Friday,including attacks aimed at U.S. bases. Strikes have killed at least15civilians, including in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and theUnited Arab Emirates.

In Israel, the sound of explosions could be heardin TelAviv throughout Friday after warnings about missiles incoming from Iran Air defense systemsworked to intercept thebarrage. Five

soldiers have been wounded in the fighting with Hezbollah, Israel’smilitary said. IsraelbombardsLebanon Israel has carriedout waves of airstrikesonthe southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah hasalarge

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’ssouthern districts. Twohospitals evacuated patients and staff.

“Whatcan we do?We prayed here under the tree. During the night, we slept in thecar 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’smilitary did not immediately respond to questions about the report. Hezbollah’smilitary command on Fridayurged its fighters nottorelent andto “defend the nation,” casting the escalating war in religious terms and calling on them to “kill them wherever you find them.”

operating officer of Eastern Sports Management, said he expects the youth sports facility to generate 2 million visitors annually, based on foot traffic at the company’s other facilities.

“Those 2 million visitors are going to plug in the lodging, the food and beverage, the entertainment, and it’s all happening in New Orleans East,” Ballard said.

Henry said he hopes the sports complex will break ground in about a year First, however, a site assessment must show that the land each operator gets may indeed be built upon. The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority commissioned the assessment, and a firm completed it this week, though engineers still need to analyze the results.

Bayou Phoenix will then negotiate “pre-development” agreements with the operators related to construction. Those will be followed by operating contracts setting forth terms of the relationship once the park opens.

The news was welcomed by the crowd that showed up at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, a megachurch along Interstate 10 where hundreds of New Orleans East residents worship weekly Henry garnered audible support when closing the presentation with a forceful call for public officials to support the project with $60 million in funding from local, state and federal sources. He said that would represent about 12% of the overall cost.

“We waited patiently and watched every single other part of the city get redeveloped, except for us,” Henry said, referring to New Orleans East. “It’s our time now.”

Past hurdles

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 forced the permanent closure of the Six Flags site, and proposals to revive it have stalled repeatedly in the years since. The site’s revival was a priority for former Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who awarded development rights of the site to Bayou Phoenix in 2021. But developers didn’t get control of the site for another two years. Public officials first had to work out the terms of transferring ownership from the city to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, a state agency, and a lease then had to be worked out with Bayou Phoenix.

Tensions flared among all parties along the way and the project appeared close to unraveling more than once. Bayou Phoenix and NORA have sparred over the developers’ master plan and proceeds of scrap metal from demolished roller coasters. Bayou Phoenix eventually was allowed to keep the proceeds, which it used to help pay for the demolition.

Bayou Phoenix has not met development deadlines within the 2023 lease, which called for construction to begin last October and completion of the project by April 2027 But Henry has said those

FUND

Continued from page 1A

Huxen said the city owes the pension system $3.5 million in required employee and employer contributions, including $800,000 withheld from bonus checks the city paid to help with officer retention. The Moreno administration contends the retention bonuses are not subject to pension contributions. Moreno said Friday the $800,000 is being held apart from other city funds and would be paid back directly to officers if pending litigation resolves in the city’s favor, or if state lawmakers clarify that retention bonuses are not pensionable. Responding to Moreno’s comments, Huxen pointed to a state law requiring the city to remit pension withholdings to the pension system.

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-Madisonville. “I personally just, I mean, to me it puts the presi-

deadlines are unrealistic without a site assessment, commissioned by NORA, showing which portions of the land — a combination of woods, wetlands and slab on pilings can be developed.

The assessment, which has been underway for more than a year was completed this week. Henry said he is confident the review won’t contain anything that could jeopardize the project.

“We want to make sure that there’s not something onerous that changes our economic model, changes our financing, changes the ask that we have to make,” Henry said. “Our level of confidence is very high that there’s no dealbreakers.”

The operators Bayou Phoenix has previously

“If retirement contributions were deducted from officers’ compensation but not remitted to the system, Louisiana law requires MPERS to address the delinquency Fulfilling the Board’s statutory and fiduciary duty to protect officers’ retirement contributions is not bullying,” Huxen said in an email.

Huxen also asked the state Treasury Department to withhold $3.5 million in funding for the city, including from federal grants. Moreno said that is unlikely because of pending litigation. Treasury officials have previously declined Huxen’s requests to withhold funds because of the city’s legal challenges Moreno said she personally stopped the Finance Department from remitting the officer withholding and $2.7 million employer contribution to the pension system. Staff agreed the payments are “bizarre,” Moreno said, but they believed it was necessary because

announced a sublease deal with film composer Elvin Ross, who plans to finance and build a movie studio there. While that announcement showcased outside interest in the site, Friday’s news showed the project’s core — a youth sports complex, two hotels, a water amusement park and arcade, along with restaurants and retail shops — is feasible enough to attract serious operators. Eastern Sports Management will subcontract with Hank Aaron Sports Academy, based in Jackson, Mississippi, to attract collegiate baseball tournaments and training. It will also line up programming for other sports facilities.

The operators will design their facilities and hire their own architects and contractors. Their final agreements with Bayou Phoenix

the city paid pension contributions on previous NOPD bonuses under former Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration.

“Show me where it says that these are pensionable payments,” Moreno said, recalling what she told finance staff. And of course, nobody had any of this information. It’s just that this is what MPERS says.”

An attorney general opinion in 2023 — under then-Attorney General Jeff Landry, who was elected governor the next year — determined retention bonuses are earnable compensation subject to pension contribution.

Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack, who is overseeing city finances under an agreement between city and state officials, is requesting a new opinion from Attorney General Liz Murrill and has advised the Moreno administration not to make any payments in

will grant them a management fee as well as a share of the profits, Henry said. He said the operators will also be held to certain performance standards

“They have every incentive in the world to make sure this is profitable and that the customer experience is outstanding,” Henry said.

The final development cost re-

the meantime.

Waguespack called the pension system’s demand “a money grab” that could wind up costing the system more down the road, since it could increase what the officers are owed in retirement.

“It’s unfair to the city, and I think it’s going to create a pension spike,” Waguespack said

Another major dispute concerns a $38.5 million fine the pension system claims is owed over the loss of around 200 officers in 2021 and 2022. The pension system says this qualifies as “partial dissolution” under state law, triggering the fines to cover unfunded liability Moreno is seeking a new state law to redefine what qualifies as partial dissolution

Moreno said the pension system is unfairly penalizing the city both for losing officers and also trying to keep the force intact with retention bonuses.

mains to be seen. Henry has always pegged it at roughly half a billion dollars, though Bayou Phoenix documents have suggested it could be nearly twice that much.

Beyond that, he said retail tenants and a film studio developer would finance their own build-outs.

Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ theadvocate.com.

“There’s this weird irony, like I’m doing all these retention bonuses and then you’re also accusing me of dissolving the police,” Moreno said. “There does need to be some corrective action around this.”

Yet another pending lawsuit concerns the conversion of unused sick time into pensionable benefits. The pension system says the city owes $870,000 in that case. Moreno said Huxen and city officials have engaged in good-faith settlement negotiations since she took office in January She was surprised to learn Huxen had made new accusations against the city related to the retention bonuses in a newsletter this week to the pension system’s members.

“Usually when you’re trying to come to a resolution with someone, you don’t turn around and go into public bullying tactics,” Moreno said.

Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ theadvocate.com.

dent in a terribly awkward spot.

I’m not saying you’re not telling the truth. Knowing the president as I do, it’s hard for me to believe you said, ‘Mr President, here’s some ads I’ve cut and I’m going to spend $220 million running them,’ that he would have agreed to that.” Kennedy later told reporters that Trump had called him after the hearing and was angered that Noem had said he approved the commercials.

“Put it this way, his recollection and her recollection are different,” Kennedy said. Trump told Reuters on Thursday

that he did not approve the spending or the commercials “I never knew anything about it,” Trump said. A couple of hours later, right before Noem was to give a previously scheduled speech to elected officials, Trump fired her She is the first Cabinet secretary to be ousted in his second administration. Noem under scrutiny

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

Ostensibly, Noem was to talk about the temporary shutdown of her agency Democrats have refused to agree to fund Homeland Security until Republicans agree to some restrictions on the aggressive behavior by agents with Immigration & Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. But the five-hour hearing turned into a review of Noem’s perceived failings by Democrats as well as Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Kennedy Noem appeared Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, where again Democratic and some

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

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

Former presidents honor late Rev. Jesse Jackson

Democratic leaders, public pay final tribute

BY SOPHIA TAREEN and MATT BROWN Associated Press

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

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

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

“The message he sent to a 22-year-old child of a single mother with a funny name, an outsider, was that maybe there wasn’t any place or any room where we didn’t belong,” Obama said. “He paved the road for so many others to follow.”

Obama, joined by two other former Democratic presidents, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton at a celebration of life for Jackson, received the loudest round of applause as the three entered the chamber

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

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

Washington.

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

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

Thousands attend service

The event honors the protégé of the Rev Martin Luther King Jr and two-time presidential candidate and follows memorial services that drew large crowds in Chicago and South Carolina, where Jackson was born. Friday’s celebration at an influential Black church with a 10,000-seat arena — is expected to be the largest. Crowds of attendees waited in long lines outside the church as television screens played excerpts of some of Jackson’s most famous speeches. Inside, vendors sold pins with his 1984 presidential slogan

and hoodies with his “I Am Somebody” mantra.

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

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

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

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

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

Judge weighs New York Times’ bid to block Pentagon policy

national security information.

Inspiring everyone

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

Sitting in the crowd was 90-year-old Mary Lovett. She said Jackson’s advocacy inspired her many times, from when she moved from Mississippi to Chicago in the 1960s, taught elementary school and became a mom. She twice voted for Jackson during both of his presidential runs and appreciated how he always spoke up for underrepresented people.

“He’s gone, but I hope his legacy lives,” she said. “I hope we can remember what he tried to teach us.”

Jackson’s service for all

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

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

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

“He was deeply involved in the political struggles of his time, but his gift was that he could rise above them. It’s not about the left wing or the right wing. It takes two wings to fly For him, the goal was always the moral center.” Jackson’s services in Chicago and South Carolina drew civic leaders, school groups and everyday people who said they were touched by Jackson’s work, from scholarship programs to advocating for inmates. Several states flew flags at half-staff in his honor. Services in Washington, D.C., were tabled after a request to allow Jackson to lie in honor in the United States Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson,R-Benton, who said the space is typically reserved for select officials, including former presidents. Details on a future event have not been made public.

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

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

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

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

Organization argues rules applied inconsistently SWITCH TOD AY .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pentagon has argued that the policy imposes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take advantage of 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months when youopenanew Pelican Points, Pelican Prime or Pelican Premier Credit Card.

La.group in Israel fled to bunkers

Pastor recallshis Holy Land pilgrimage cutshort by war

BY BOBWARREN Staff writer

The Rev.Michael Sprague is no stranger to the Holy Land. But a recent trip to visit some ofChristianity’smost cherished sites included adose of fear as heand the group of 44 people he escorted to Israel found themselves heading for bunkers and bomb shelters as sirensblared and missiles and

Attorneys in runoff forstate House seat

N.O. East voters go to pollsonMarch 14

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

New Orleans East votersare headed back to the polls this month to settle arace between twoattorneys hoping to represent thecity’s interests in the Legislature.

Political newcomers Dana Henry,52, and Kenya Rounds, 51,are in arunoff to fill the District 100 seat after neither got more than 50% of the votein the Februaryprimary election. From the five-candidate fiel d, Round s gained 33% of the vote, and Dana Henry gained 30%. The seat became vacant after former stateRep. Jason Hughes joined the City Council. The newly elected member of New Orleans’Democratic delegation will join lawmakersfor the three-monthlegislative session that begins March 9. The election is March 14. Early voting began Feb. 28 andruns through Saturday Henry tossed his hat in the ring to address issues that he says still persist in his district —notably, alack of economic development, cripplinghomeowners’ insurance costs and quality of life concerns.

“It’sputting fearand stress into families that, quite honestly,don’t deserve it,” he said.

Henry said many residentsin his district are using credit cards to pay homeowners’ insurance. And elderly individuals have dipped into their savings to cover premiums that haven’tgone down despite the state-funded fortified roof program that has been aimed at bringing relief. If elected, Henry said he’d support bills such as Senate Bill 355 by Sen. Royce Duplessis, which would require insurers to provide aminimum20% discount to fortified roof program participants.

Henry sits on the boardofthe City Park Conservancy and Second Harvest Food Bank.Former Mayor LaToya Cantrell,in2021, alsoappointed him chair of the New Orleans Public Library Board. The appointment drew controversy from critics who were opposed to his support for aballot measure that would have cut the library’sbudget by 40%, The Lens reported. Hughes recently gave Henry

drones flewoverhead

Finally home in Mandeville on Wednesday,Sprague was able to relax andtalk about aHoly Land pilgrimagecut short when Iran launchedacounterattack against sites across the Gulf region in response to the joint U.S.-Israeli attack that has takenout targets across Iran Sprague,a former pastor of TrinityChurch in Covingtonwho has

beenLouisiana’s state chaplain with the Capitol Commission for 16 years, said he hasled pilgrimages to the Holy Land foryears, typically 12- or 13-daytrips that visit sites such as the SeaofGalilee, Bethany and the Old City of Jerusalem.

The group he led this time around, which left New Orleans on Feb.22, includeda numberof former military members, he said.

“So Iwas with agood group,”

Sprague said as he laughed Thursday morning during an interview

What none of the group knew at the timethey leftNew Orleans wasthat within amatter of days, their tour would be thrust into awar zone. U.S. andIsraeli forcesattacked

Iran aweek ago, resulting in the death of Iran’sSupreme Leader AyatollahAli Khamenei. President Donald Trump has not given atimeline for the end of the joint assaults, andarmedforces have increased thescaleoftheir attacks in recent days. Trumphas said the attacks are aimed at destroying Iran’smissile capabilities, preventing it fromdeveloping nuclear weapons and ensuring it does not fund terrorism outside its borders.

City cancelsdeal

tat-built homes who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments.

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity hasdeclined to return $1 million demandedbyMayor Helena Moreno’sadministration ahead of aSaturday deadlineafter city officialsaccused the local nonprofit of failing to spenditfast enough. And it’snot clear if or when the local Habitat will give the money back.

TheCityCouncil appropriated thefunds to thelocal Habitat organization nearly ayearago to help financially support owners of Habi-

But in aletter dated Feb. 20, Moreno’sChief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrussoissued anotice of defaultand termination for cause to the organization, declaringthatithad “failedtofulfill its obligations” under theagreement.

“Habitat’s failure has resulted in an unacceptable delay for the City to provide financial assistance for loan forgivenesstocitizens of New Orleanswithdelinquentmortgage and escrow payments,” Giarrusso wrote.

Giarrusso directed Habitat to “cease anddesist from performingany further work,incurring anyfurther costs, and the further use of anyequipment provided by thecity.”Hegave the organization 15 days —until March 7—topay themoney back.

On the eveofthatdeadline, however,noneofthe money hasbeen refunded, the city and Habitat both confirm.

Habitatalso acknowledgedithas not spent any of the funds, though it said it has been working on aplan to identify eligible homeowners.

Marguerite Oestreicher,executive director of the local Habitat affiliate, said the program has been aimed at addressing theroots of affected homeowners’ mortgage delinquencies, primarily pandemic-relatedjob losses, damage from Hurricane Ida and —most significantly— skyrocketing insurance premiums, ratherthanproviding “spotrelief.

“Our position is solidly that Habitat has been prudent and extraordinarily careful in stewarding public

Ex-lawyertestifies aboutstagedcar crashes

He says partners at law firm knew about ‘slammer’

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

The only lawyer convicted so far in abrazen scheme to collide cars into 18-wheelersacross New Orleans testified thisweek that attorney Jason Giles and others at TheKing Firm knew they weresuing over wrecks that aprolific “slammer,” Damian Labeaud, staged. Labeaud “sold” those preplannedcollisionstoGiles and then to him,said Danny Patrick Keating Jr., whotestifiedfor severalhours on thewitness stand as Giles and stuntwomanturned-attorney Vanessa Motta

stand trial in federal court. Keating pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy in 2021, admitting he represented 77 plaintiffs from 31 collisions authored by Labeaud. Still awaiting hisfederal sentence, he testified that he first metLabeaud at adinner in 2015 with people from TheKing Firm In spring2017, aclient near Houma reintroduced themata restaurant on the West Bank. There,Keating said, he agreed to afraudscheme, offeringLabeaud the sameamounthesaid he wascharging Giles forstaging crashes: $1,000 for each adult passenger,$500 for kids. They texted in code, in messagesthat appeared on acourtroom video screen. Crashes were chicken or fish,Keating

BUNKERS

Continued from page 1B

Sprague said his group was just arriving at Bethany on Feb. 28, leaving the tour bus “when every phone started going off, telling us to immediately find shelter.”

“Then we heard the sirens.

That’s when Israel was first being attacked,” he said

Those initial missile warnings on Feb. 28 were followed by 21 more in the ensuing days, each telling people to take cover in bunkers and bomb shelters.

“We’d go in (to a shelter), wait about 10 minutes, then you’d be able to go back to your room,” he said.

At one point, Sprague said, he was late reacting

Continued from page 1B

dollars in NOT pushing dollars out until files were fully ready because we’ve seen many other organizations have funds rescinded after the organization had already spent them,” Oestreicher said in a statement A meeting between the organization and the city to discuss the matter has been scheduled for next week, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The move comes less than three months after the organization faced widespread criticism for selling off rent-stabilized properties in the Musicians Village neighborhood in the Upper Ninth Ward, a point of postKatrina civic pride, to a for-profit landlord, who has subsequently raised rents.

to one of the warnings and getting into the shelter “I’m looking out of my window and ‘Boom! Boom!’ I see missiles coming across the sky and being taken out” by the anti-missile interceptors.

Sprague said he and the group spent the next few days in Jerusalem, sticking close to their hotel and the bomb shelter The rest of the tour events were obviously canceled, as the area was under a take-shelter order, he said.

As airports in Tel Aviv and Jordan closed, Sprague said the tour company, over several days, was able to arrange buses to take the group to Egypt, but followed a circuitous route due to terrorism fears The bus trip took 19 hours, but the group made it to Cairo, and mem-

bers were able to get flights to European cities and then back to the U.S.

As he talked about the trip Thursday, Sprague sounded almost surprised at how little fear he felt among the group.

“Trust God; trust each other,” he said. “There was an amazing sense of peace in the midst of all this going on. God made us students. We needed to learn faith.”

One thing that struck Sprague, however, was how fortunate he and other group members were that they were able to safely evacuate the region. The people who live in that part of the world, he said, must face the threat every day

“What really hits you is that people live like this 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said.

DANA HENRY

AGE, BORN: 52, New Orleans.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Benamin Franklin High School; bachelor’s degree in English and political science from Howard University; juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center

JOBS: Attorney. Congressional intern under former state Sen.

RUNOFF

Continued from page 1B

his endorsement in a video posted to social media, where he said Henry would be a strong fighter in Baton Rouge who’d help finish the job in driving down high insurance costs.

Henry also has the endorsement of at-large council member Matthew Willard, a former state representative whose seat was filled by Ed T. Murray in the Feb. 7 primary Other endorsements include Alliance for Good Government, Forum for Equality and the New Orleans Tribune.

The latest campaign finance reports show that Henry loaned his campaign $25,000 and had $50,749 on hand at the close of the reporting period ending Feb 22.

Rounds, 51, is a trial attorney specializing in civil and criminal litigation. He has said his experience

April 2025 agreement, the city would pay Habitat up to $2 million in three batches to identify homeowners who are at least three months delinquent on mortgage and escrow payments and provide assistance to more than 120 of them. Habitat had only received $1 million of the total.

Rising insurance and interest rates in recent years have made it difficult for many homeowners, especially the low-income homeowners that Habitat targets with its programming, to meet their monthly notes.

“And the only way to reduce premiums,” Oestreicher said, “is to improve credit score, shop policies have wind mitigation surveys and retrofit to Fortified roofs.”

CANDIDATES

John Breaux. State Capitol lobbyist.

PARTY: Democrat; New Orleans Public Library Board chair; City Park Conservancy Board member; Second Harvest Food Bank Board member

KENYA ROUNDS

AGE, BORN: 51, New Orleans

EDUCATION: Graduated from

working with people, holding others accountable and fixing client crises makes him the best candidate for the legislative seat. He joined the race to help rebuild and reinvest in a district that’s seen little progress since Hurricane Katrina, he has said.

Rounds did not return recent requests for an interview, but in January, he said his district is ripe with opportunities that can contribute to sustainable growth with adequate investment from the city and state, such as the Bayou Phoenix Six Flags project.

“I think we have to show that New Orleans East is open and that businesses have opportunities to flourish here,” he then said.

Rounds said he would fight for critical services that impact the community as a whole, such as adequate teacher pay, health care and Medicaid coverage and public safety

Addressing the city’s

active mortgages.

In addition to collecting documentation and financial counseling, Habitat has helped homeowners shop for insurance, challenge insurance companies and secure funding from non-city sources to fortify roofs and lower premiums by improving credit scores.

“While developing this program, Habitat advanced escrow on many of these loans to cover homeowners hazard, flood and taxes,” Oestreicher said.

The agreement between the city and the nonprofit was scheduled to expire on April 15, one year after it was executed, without further City Council action, according to its terms It could also have been terminated without cause with 30 days notice.

John F. Kennedy High School; bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern University A&M College; Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center

JOBS: Attorney

PARTY: Democrat; Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee member; NAACP New Orleans member

rampant blight issues that have proliferated in the East, Rounds would focus on returning blighted properties to commerce, rather than tearing them down and leaving an open space.

Rounds’ law firm, the Law Offices of Kenya Rounds, has an open case in Orleans Parish Civil District Court for nearly $6,000 in unpaid property taxes dating back to 2022, court documents show He has not filed a response in court and did not respond to questions about the tax bill.

Endorsements include the Orleans Parish Executive Democratic Committee, of which he is a member the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. The latest campaign finance reports show that Rounds loaned his campaign $17,500 and had $51,417 on hand at the close of the reporting period.

Email Joni Hess at joni. hess@theadvocate.com.

Local affiliate

Email Jonah Meadows at Jonah.Meadows@ theadvocate.com. CITY

It also comes as the new administration has been implementing various budget clawbacks in an effort to avoid an estimated $222 million budget deficit it inherited from Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration.

CRASHES

Continued from page 1B

said. When Labeaud texted about “Big Reds,” it meant adult passengers. Children were “lil trout.”

“With the young people, you’re not going to find anything positive on an MRI, anything that’s going to entail treatment beyond two or three months,” Keating explained “An older person, regardless of how they feel, is probably going to get a positive MRI in their neck or back.”

Surgeries hike the insurance payouts. Along with $1 million policies that trucking companies need to maintain under federal law, crashes into big rigs can be a coveted commodity among personal injury lawyers.

Keating, who gave up his law license after his indictment in 2020, said Labeaud brought his law office crash after crash, at times more than he could manage.

He implicated Giles and others at The King Firm, including unindicted cofounders Anthony Milazzo and Brian King as federal prosecutors pressed a sprawling fraud case against Giles, The King Firm, and Motta. Keating testified that all of the King partners were

The Moreno administration did not connect its decision to end the agreement to the Musicians’ Village controversy A statement from Giarrusso’s office attributed the move solely to the fact that the funds have not been spent

“Prior to executing this agreement Habitat

aware Labeaud was a slammer, and not a runner they were paying for legitimate crash victims, even if they didn’t talk about it.

Giles and Motta are accused of working separately with slammers to fill cars with passengers willing to be flung into 18-wheelers in hopes of a big payday

Keating said he would often pay Labeaud in cash wrapped inside newspapers. But a shaky memory from the witness stand over payments to Labeaud, how many bogus crashes he handled, and aspects of his plea agreement drew attacks Friday from attorneys for Giles and the King Firm.

Giles’ attorney, Lynda Van Davis, took aim at Keating’s claim that Giles knew the passengers Labeaud had brought the firm were staged.

Keating acknowledged he never had “overt discussions” except with Labeaud and another sinceconvicted slammer Mario Solomon. “Loose lips sink ships,” he said He said Labeaud had told him he’d been running the same lucrative scheme with Giles, who’d previously worked at the Womac Law Firm.

“He said, ‘Look, I made the Womac firm big, and I made the King Firm big,

claimed that funding was imminently necessary to prevent evictions. Despite this emergency Habitat has failed to deliver on its obligations to provide assistance under this agreement,” it said.

Terms of the deal

Under the terms of the

and I can help you out if you want,’ ” Keating said. “I agreed to go ahead and get involved with him.”

The Womac firm did not respond to a request for comment on Keating’s testimony

His admissions and allegations spilled out rapidfire as Keating testified over the fraud in hopes of reducing a possible fiveyear federal prison sentence. The court reporter asked Keating to slow down several times as he spilled details about the scheme

While Keating confessed his crimes freely, Davis lingered over his ethics.

“You let Mr Labeaud bring you cases that involved children getting into vehicles going to play bumper-cars with 18-wheelers?” Davis asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Keating responded. “Honestly, I didn’t think much about it.”

Keating testified that Labeaud had brought several cases from Giles and The King Firm to him beginning in 2017.

By early 2019, insurance defense lawyers began to unravel the scheme that some watchdogs say has increased Louisiana’s already bloated auto insurance rates. They flagged some 20 wrecks with big rigs at the same New Orleans truck stop and an unlikely series of big-rig side-

The agreement also calls for Habitat to provide case management services, which leaders of the nonprofit say it has done.

According to Oestreicher, the nonprofit has identified about 75 households that are eligible for funding under the agreement, representing about 18% of its

swipes on the same stretch of highway in New Orleans East.

One insurance defense attorney testified Thursday that their investigation turned up more than 240 dubious wrecks.

In early 2019, a trucking company lawyer filed a brief alleging a fraud in one case. It included call records between Labeaud, Keating and plaintiffs before and after one crash, along with family ties between Labeaud and plaintiffs in several similar crash suits.

Three-week trial

Keating testified that he knew then that he was in trouble He consulted Giles for advice and said they met at a coffee shop on Carrollton Avenue.

“I think we were all trying to get a handle on what the defense bar in Louisiana what was going on as far as with the FBI and those guys,” Keating said. “Then also at some point you gotta start figuring out, can we get out of this? Or what can we do to make it look like we weren’t actually involved in staging accidents?”

He said Giles provided him a document titled “Verification of Facts,” an affidavit of sorts for clients to attest to their accidents.

It was not immediately clear why Giarrusso instead has sought to terminate it for cause and demanded funds be returned within 15 days — by Saturday.

Both Giarrusso and Moreno voted in favor of the agreement last year as members of the City Council.

“The specific conversation is, what are you all doing to distance yourself from Damian Labeaud, you know, for criminal liability purposes,” Keating testified.

Federal prosecutors accuse Giles and attorney Vanessa Motta of schemes to profit from bogus lawsuits based on orchestrated crashes that they allegedly knew about, helped plan and later try to cover up.

Motta argues that she was ignorant of the sprawling fraud, and was played by disbarred lawyer Sean Alfortish, the father of her young child.

Alfortish and another man allegedly involved in staging wrecks, Leon “Chunky” Parker, are accused of plotting to kill another slammer, Cornelius “Poonie” Garrision, in Gentilly in 2020. The FBI claims Garrison implicated Motta, Giles and Alfortish in the fraud before his death. Prosecutors have presented records showing hefty payments to Garrison and other accused slammers from an account Alfortish controlled. Alfortish and Parker are slated to stand trial for the murder in August.

The jury also heard testimony Friday about Garrison’s September 2020 murder but not about the allegations of a hit job over his

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International with an annual budget of about $9 million, according to its financial statements. Since its founding in 1983, it has built more than 800 homes in the New Orleans area, with the goal of providing home ownership, not just housing, to lowincome earners. Late last year, it completed its first home sale in the Rising Oaks subdivision in Terrytown, where more than 150 affordable homes are planned on a 44-acre parcel that was formerly the site of the Plantation Golf and Country Club. In addition to the unspent funds, Giarrusso’s Feb. 20 letter also demanded the nonprofit turn over: “any documents, data, studies, surveys, drawings, maps, models, photographs, and reports prepared by Habitat under the agreement.”

cooperation with the FBI. It’s the first trial from a sprawling FBI probe dubbed “Operation Sideswipe” that has swept up more than 50 defendants since indictments began in 2019.

Motta faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Giles faces the same conspiracy count, along with other charges for mail fraud, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Another defendant standing trial this week, Diaminike Stalbert, faces a conspiracy count and another charge for allegedly lying to the FBI. The trial’s first week wrapped up Friday afternoon. U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter told jurors she expected it to run for three weeks in total.

Bruce, Nolan

Coulon, Natalie

DeGrushe,Averiland

Dixie

Everage, Clarence

Frandano, Jessie

Grace, Robert KnieperJr.,Philip

Lambert, Deanna

Leslie,Victoria

Pettey, Virginia

Smith Bartholomew, Lynn

Truch, Melvin

Walton, Shirley

Washington, Lucille

EJefferson

Garden of Memories

DeGrushe,Averiland

Dixie

Lambert, Deanna

NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Walton, Shirley

Charbonnet

Leslie,Victoria

Greenwood

KnieperJr.,Philip

Truch, Melvin

Littlejohn FH

Washington, Lucille

St Tammany Honaker

Frandano, Jessie

West Bank Mothe

Coulon, Natalie

Grace, Robert

West Leitz-Eagan

Bruce, Nolan

Obituaries

Bruce, Nolan Joseph

Nolan J. Bruce passed away on March 5, 2026at the age of 86. He was born in Cut Off,Louisiana to the late Victor and Ada Bruce. Loving wife of Valerie Bruce of 66 years. Loving father of Cynthia Dupre (Jeff). Proud grandfatherof Ricky Porrovecchio, Jr (Ashley), Nolan Cantrelle, Valerie Cantrelle. Greatgrandfather of Tyler (Allorah), Ricky III, Lily, Daymon, Dylan, Layla and Tripp. Great-greatgrandfather of 3. BrotherofRobert Bruce (Debbie), Debra Blanchardand the late Nora Cronley Catherine Nolan was many nieces, dear friends. Family invited to tion for March 8, until 6:00 Leitz-Eagan 5101 Expressway well at on 9, 2026 from 11:00 am. begin at terment follow Cemetery To express to the memories, www.westsideleitzeag com

Born in Lake Charles, LA toPierreNelsonand Na‐talie Reon NelsononAu‐gust7,1924, Natalie was the youngestof sevenchil‐dren. Sheattended La‐GrangeHighSchool and McNeese StateUniversity beforemovingtoNew Or‐leans to attend Charity HospitalSchool of Nursing. There sheearnedher R.N. inthe post WWII era. She remainedinthe NewOr‐leans area where shemar‐riedand livedthe rest of her life.Natalie wasthe lastofher generation.She was preceded in deathby her husband Stanley Coulon, Sr.; herparents Pierreand Natalie Nelson; her sistersVictoriaNelson Ogea, Marjorie Nelson In‐galls,and Louise Nelson; and brothers Lastie Nel‐son,LawrenceNelson, and CliffordNelson. Sheissur‐vived by sixchildren: Mari‐lyn Coulon Payton, Jeanette Coulon Petticrew, Stanley Coulon,Jr. and wifeVickie, John Coulon and wife Betty,Mark Coulonand wifeTina, and NelsonCoulon. Sheisalso survivedby18grandchil‐dren, 28 greatgrandchil‐dren andmanybeloved nieces, nephewsand friends.Natalie lovedthe Lord. Shewas along-time memberofOur Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Belle Chasse where shesanginthe choir andplayedthe gui‐tar.She lovedbeing out‐side, gardeningand cro‐cheting.Inher retirement years shelearned to play the pianoand became quite accomplished at paintingbeautiful scenes Natalie livedlifetothe fullest.She wasa prolific letterwriter. Sheremem‐bered everyone’s birthday and anniversary, andal‐wayssentcards.Asa Saintsfan,she wore the black andgoldand cheered them on.She was anenthusiasticScrabble playerand,naturally,she was agreat cook.Natalie loved herfamily. Shewel‐comed everyone.She read stories to thechildrenat their slumberparties at MaMa’shouse.She told her ownstories aboutpeo‐ple from herfamilyand times goneby. Shewas kind, generous andforgiv‐ing.She wasa great lis‐tener and, if asked, would provide common sensead‐vice. Sheexemplified the saying“Do untoothersas you wouldhavethemdo untoyou”. Nataliewillcon‐tinue to be remembered and lovedbyall who knew her as such abeautiful human being. It is our prayerthatthe Lord Jesus welcomedher into heaven saying, “Welldone, my good andfaithfulservant.” The family wishes to ex‐press itssincere gratitude tothe staff of Woldenberg Village and thestaff of Compassus forthe care given to Natalie over the lastyearofher life.Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to Natalie’sVisitation onMonday, March9,2026 at Mothe– Harvey,2100 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA,70058 from 9:30 am to 12:30pm, followed bya FuneralMassatOur LadyofPerpetual Help Catholic Church,8968 LA23, BelleChasse,LA70037 at1 pm,withInterment thereafteratOur Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery

DeGrushe,Averiland Dixie

Averil Francis"Guy" De‐Grushe, Jr., age92, passed awaypeacefully at his homeonJanuary 18, 2026 Hewas preceded in death byhis belovedwifeof70 years,Dixie LeeLandryDe‐Grushe, who passedaway atthe ageof89onMay 7, 2024, in thehomethey sharedinRiver Ridge, Louisiana.Guy andDixie are survived by their five daughters:DawnDeGrushe (Michael),DanielleDe‐Grushe, Dana Rosales (Gus),DaraLedet (Joey), and Deanna Pagart (Sid). Theywereblessedwith11 grandchildren anda host ofnieces, nephews, cousins,and great-grand‐children. Guywas born on April 14, 1933 to thelate AverilDeGrushe, Sr.and the late BerniceRichard‐son.Hewas thebrother of the late DavidDeGrushe and thelateDorothy D. Reynolds. He wasa lifelong residentofNew Orleans, where he metDixie in the Mid-Cityneighborhood where they both grew up The twomarried in 1954 Guy joined theSeafarers' InternationalUnion of North Americaasa mer‐chant marine,and after his years at sea, he became a memberofthe Interna‐tionalUnion of Operating Engineers, Local406. He workedasa craneopera‐tor formorethan40years and waspartofthe con‐struction team that built the Superdome. An avid outdoorsman,Guy enjoyed huntingand fishing, com‐petitivepigeonracing, and beagleclubs.His greatest joy,however,was tending tohis yard filledwithma‐jesticoak trees andcolor‐ful azaleas, which he nur‐tured with care andpride Dixie wasborninNew Or‐leans on January9,1935 to the late LolesP.Landryand Linda DugasLandry. She was thesisterofthe late Loles P. Landry,Jr. (Greta). She graduatedfromMcDo‐nough 31, andher firstjob was with thetelephone company in thedrafting departmentbeforebegin‐ninga 10-year career at Hi‐berniaNationalBank. Al‐thoughraising theirchil‐drenwas afull-time job, she always found time for her hobbies, including growing plants in her greenhouseand journaling In theirlater years, Guy and Dixiefound comfort and happinesssimply being together andvisiting withfamilyand friends. The familyextends a heartfelt gratitudetoour parents'wonderful care‐giversfor theircompassion and supportoverthe last few years. Guyand Dixie wereinterredtogether in the Chapel of PeaceMau‐soleuminGardenofMem‐ories Cemetery in aprivate ceremonyheldontheir wedding anniversary, Janu‐ary 30, 2026 -a fittingtrib‐ute to alifetimeofdevo‐tion, partnership, andlove. Familyand friendsare in‐vited to visitwww.gardeno fmemoriesmetairie.com to leave amessage of condo‐lence or sharea fond mem‐ory

Charles Everage,known for his kindness, patience, and unforgettablesense of humor. He had aspecial gift formaking others smile andfeelwelcome often brightening theroom with awell-timedjokeor warm laugh. He willberemembered forhis loving heart,gentle and kind spirit Though he will be deeply missed,the laughter, love,and memories he shared willliveoninthe heartsofall who knew him. He is survivedbyhis wife, Gwendolyn Everage. Children-April,Clarence, Duane.Siblings- Larry,Lisa, Pamela,Michael and seven grandchildren. Afuneral servicewillbeheldfrom 5:00PMto6:00PMon202603-20 at Schmidt Funeral Home,1344 W. Grand Parkway South.

Frandano,JessieMae MilesWilliams

JessieMae (Miles) Williams Frandano passed awaypeacefullyathomein Slidell, LA on February 27, 2026, at theage of 83. Lov‐ing wife of Albert J. Fran‐dano, Jessiewas preceded indeath by herprevious husband,FredWilliams, her parentsand herstep‐son.Jessiegrewupatthe Poydras Home forGirls in New Orleans, an experi‐encethathelpedshape her strength, independence, and compassionatespirit. She went on to enjoya ca‐reer as a flight attendant withSouthernAirways where sheembracedher loveoftraveland adven‐ture. AfterFred’spassing, Jessiereconnected with the love of herlife, Al, whomshe originally metin New Orleansin1960. Jessie and Al were marriedin 2010 andspent 16 blissful years together as partners intravel, adventureand love. Jessiewas an avid bowler, served as presi‐dentofthe SlidellWomen’s Bowling Associationand was aHallofFameMem‐ber of theNorthshore Bowling Association. In ad‐dition to bowling, Jessie

found joyinreading,gar‐deningand traveling. More thananything, familyand friends wouldlikeJessieto berememberedfor her generousheart,kindness and compassion toward everyone, even strangers. Jessie’saltruisticnature knewnoboundsasshe was apassionateadvocate for animal rights as well Throughouther life,Jessie rescued eighteen dogs and gavethemall safe andlov‐ing homes. Herwarmth, compassion, andgiving heart left alasting impres‐siononeveryonewho knewher.She is survived byher devotedhusband, Al; five stepchildren;nu‐merousstep-grandchil‐dren; many belovednieces and nephews; four broth‐ers;and twosisters.A graveside servicewillbe heldonMarch 11, 2026, at the SoutheastLouisiana VeteransCemeterylocated at34888 Grantham College Dr.,Slidell, LA 70460. In lieu of flowers, memorial dona‐tions maybemadetothe Pearl RiverCountySPCA (1700 PalestineRoad, Picayune,MS39466 https://www.prcspca.org ), honoringJessie’slifelong loveand advocacy forani‐mals. Arrangements by Honaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell, LA

Robert “Bob”Walter Grace passedawaypeace‐fully on March3,2026 at the ageof78. Bobissur‐vived by hisbeloved wife of36years,AidaJocson Grace.Bob wasbornon March 7, 1947 in CliftonNJ, the only sonofthe late LawrenceGrace andAna Stabinsky Grace. He is sur‐vived by Estrella Abella (thelateDennise), Flora Batucan (Rochelle), ManuelJocsonSr. (the late Lordes).His nephews: Den‐sterAbella(Weng), Deinz Abella (Heather), Scott, Schultz Jocson,Dwayne Abella,NathanAbella,

Rustin Batucan, Lynch MarkCutara, Anastacio Cutara, Jerson Jocson, ManuelJocsonJr.,Manuel JocsonIII, AntonioAgra‐vante,TroyAgravante,and BienAgravante.Nieces: ShellaMae Jocson,Jean Agravante,YumiAbella, Malou Jocson,Lyrie,Lyca Cutara, IvyJocson, Donna Abella (Galen). Preceded in death by Florence Stabin‐sky andEileen Fengya; RudyJocson(thelateLig‐aya), andLarry Jocson (Nida). Bobgraduated from St. Benedict’s Academyin Newark, NewJersey, and earneda Bachelor of Arts degreeinMathematics fromMontclair StateUni‐versity in NewJersey. He later obtained hisMaster ofBusinessAdministration fromthe University of New Orleans.Hewas alife memberofAlpha Phi Omega Fraternity.Bob began hisprofessionalca‐reer as acomputeranalyst withM&M/MarsChocolate and Prudential Insurance inNew Jersey.Helater servedasa SystemsInfor‐mationAnalyst forthe UnitedNations in New York. Hiscareer subse‐quently broughthim to Houston,Texas,where he workedfor Superior Oil Company,which later mergedwithMobil OilEx‐ploration andProduction USA.In1985, Bobrelocated toNew OrleanstojoinFi‐delityInformation Ser‐vices,Inc.atthe Hibernia DataCenter, nowknown as Capital OneBank. Follow‐ing hisretirementfroma longand successful career ininformation systems analysis, Bobearnedhis PublicNotarylicense and continued workingasa no‐taryfor UPS. Bobwas deeply committedtocivic engagementand commu‐nityservice.For thepast ten years, he served as President of theWoodland OaksCivic Associationand was highly respectedby the boardofthe Westbank Civic CoalitionOrganiza‐tion(WCCO). He also par‐ticipated in theJefferson ParishPresident’s Advisory Committee forPermitting and Planning Projects.In addition,Bob served as a formerboard member of WRBH 88.9FM, Radiofor the Blind; former Secre‐tary/TreasurerofLions ClubDistrict8-S;and for‐mer BoardDirectorofthe Asian American LionsClub. Hewas also formerly ac‐tiveinthe AsianPacific AmericanSociety.Inhis leisure time,Bob enjoyed reading,studyinghistory, appreciating thearts, watchingmovies, andtak‐ingrelaxingdrives. He will

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coveragefor their entire working life,through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement,payingdental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock,leading peopletoput offoreven go without care.

Simplyput —without dental insurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcarecoverage

Whenyou’recomparing plans ...

 Look forcoveragethat helps pay formajor services. Some plans maylimit thenumber of procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.

 Look forcoveragewithnodeductibles. Some plans mayrequire you to pay hundredsout of pocket before benefits are paid.

 Shop forcoveragewithnoannual maximumoncash benefits.Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’tpay for dental care.1

That’s right. As good as Medicare is,itwas never meanttocover everything. That means if youwant protection, youneed to purchase individual insurance.

Previous dental work canwearout

Even if you’ve hadqualitydentalworkinthe past, youshouldn’t take your dentalhealth forgranted. In fact, your odds of havinga dentalproblemonly go up as youage.2

With loving remembrance,wehonorthe life of

Early detectioncan prevent small problemsfrom becomingexpensive ones

The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventive care. TheAmerican Dental Association recommends checkupstwiceayear.

Treatment is expensive especially theservicespeople over 50 often need

Consider these national average costsof treatment. $274for acheckup $299 for afilling $1,471 foracrown.3 Unexpected bills likethiscan be areal burden, especially if you’reonafixed income

4B ✦ Saturday,March 7,2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ TheTimes-Picayune be rememberedfor his generosityand serviceto the people in hiscommu‐nity, andabove allelseto God.Hewas adevoted Catholic andparishioner of St. Martha Catholic Church inHarvey, LA.Inlieuof flowers, please make do‐nations to theAmerican Heart Association, WRBH –88.9FM, Radiofor the Blind,Reading Radio, and the LionsClubInterna‐tionalFoundation(LCIF). Friends andfamilyare in‐vited to attend theFuneral MassonSaturday, March7 2026 at 1:30PM in the ChapelofMothe Funeral Home, 7040LAPALCO BLVD.,inMarrero,LA. Visi‐tationwillbegin at 10AM. Pleasevisit MOTHEFUNER‐ALS.COM to view andsign the online guestbook

KnieperJr.,PhilipJacob

Philip JacobKnieper,Jr. (1941- 2026).Philip“Butch” Knieper,a devout Christian and proudfatherand grandfather,ofHarahan, LA, graduatedtoheavenly glory on February 28,2026 surrounded by hisfamily. Hewas born in NewOr‐leans on August 28,1941 to PhilipJ.Knieper,Sr. andAl‐berta DKnieper andgrew uponMusic Street.Philip was educated at Nicholls HighSchool,studied ChemicalEngineering at Tulaneobtaininghis BSChE in1963, andhethenearned in1965 at Kansas State Universityhis Mastersin ChemicalEngineering. WhilestudyingatKSU and attending thelocal church hemet theloveofhis life, RegenaCollins.Philipwas a dedicatedand loving husband to Regena C Knieper.Hewas adevoted and loving father to his2 childrenPhilipJ Knieper, III and PaulaK Walters, who dearlymisshim andthe Godly wisdom he provided Philipwas also acaring and loving grandfatherto5 grandchildren:Cameron J Walters,Alena LKnieper, PhilipJ.Knieper,IV, Hailey J.Knieper,and Nathan A. Walters.Philiptookgreat pride in beinga parent and grandparent.Through trav‐elling in NorthAmerica withhis immediate and later extended families,he sharedhis knowledgeof history anda love of God’s creation. Impartinghis love oflearningthrough men‐toringand tutoring of manyindividuals,he was overjoyed to watchhis own childrengraduatefrom Louisiana StateUniversity and LouisianaTechUniver‐sity. In time,hesaw 2ofhis grandchildren graduate, and 3moreexpectedto graduatefromthe same universities. Philip “Butch” was adevoted Christian who earnestlysoughtand demonstratedthe Lord’s loveona dailybasis.He cherished theteachings of Jesus Christ.Heworshiped atFirst Church of Godof New Orleansfrombirth until 2006, then laterthe re‐named PowerHouse ChurchofGod of Metairie until hispassing.Inthe spiritofdiscipleship, he servedinmultipleroles overthe years: including actinginterim pastor youth minister (along with Regena) for38years,and SundaySchool teacherfor 57years.Asa youthminis‐ter,heguidedsouls to Christ, tutored, andmen‐tored dozens of youthat First Church of GodofNew Orleans.Healsoservedon the boardofthe Louisiana ChurchofGod State ChurchPlantingand Revi‐talizationcommittee Philip’sfavoriteBible verseswere2 Peter1:1-15 and Psalm29:9-11. Christ was thecenterofhis life and livedaccording to Christ’steachings.His love and faith wasevident to all who methim,and it im‐pactedthe livesofevery‐one around him. HisChristcenteredencouragement tofollowthe Lord was pouredintohis children and grandchildrenand madehim thebeloved man hewas.Philip“Phil”spent 55years of hiscareer working at theFortier Fa‐cilityinWestwegounder the company’snames AmericanCyanamid, Cytec,and Cornerstone Chemical. As aProfes‐sionalEngineer (1972),his variedroles were Process Engineer, TechnicalSuper‐intendent,Process Engi‐neeringand Laboratory Manager,and Lead Process Engineer.After 43 years as an employee, he retired andreturnedasa consultantfor 12 addi‐tionalyears helpingto troubleshootand optimize theplant while also acting

as aleadfor evaluating safety systemsand OSHA compliance. Philip wasa memberofthe American InstituteofChemicalEngi‐neersfor over 30 years, ac‐tivelyinvolvedinthe Tu‐laneAIChE chapter, and was electedasa Fellow in 2021. He also publishednu‐meroustechnical papers between 1965 and1973, startingwhile attaininghis MSChE.Heservedonthe NCEES Chemical PE Com‐mitteefor almost 20 years helping with thedevelop‐mentofthe Chemical Pro‐fessional Engineering Exam. Philip is survived by his wife of 57 years, Re‐genaC.Knieper,his 2chil‐drenPhilipJ.Knieper III (Audra),Paula K. Walters (Jimmie);grandchildren Cameron J. Walters(Emily), Alena L. Knieper, Philip J. Knieper,IV, Hailey J. Knieper,and Nathan A. Walters;his brotherLouis H.Knieper (Shirley); his brothers-in-law RogerD Collins (Mary),and Rodney D.Collins (precededin death Julia);manybeloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grand-nephews, and greatgrand-nieces. He was preceded in deathby PhilipJ.Knieper,Sr. andAl‐berta D. Knieper. Theser‐vices celebratingthe life of PhilipwillbeatGreenwood FuneralHomeat5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA. Thewakewillbeheld onMarch 13, 2026 from 5:00 pmto8:00pm, avisitation onMarch 14, 2026 from 9:00 amto11:00 am andfol‐lowed immediatelybya service at 11:00am. Hisin‐terment will follow at St Vincent DePaul #3 Ceme‐teryat1322 Louisa St.in New Orleans.

Deanna LucasLambert passedawaypeacefully on February16, 2026, at the age of 88 in Metairie, Louisiana.BornonNovem‐ber 3, 1937, in New Orleans, Louisiana,Deanna'slife was atapestryoflove, dedication, andservice to her community.Deanna's journey throughlifewas sharedwithher beloved husband,the late Donald Irvin Lambert, to whom she wasmarried for62glo‐rious years. Together,they raiseda familythatin‐cludedtheir children Becky Curry Je RobertJ.C Don S. whomb joy to De familyt under De care, ex grandchil son Thor Jemison Lambert,L and Rees took grea achieveme ualities. three grea Violet, Re Thornhill depth of years,and every mo withthem. membero Communi local Tenn ative pa dentinh and cros treasures ished ke familyand asa test ent andp legacyi laughter, simplicityo lived.Her comfortin lives of th Asweb Deanna Lu celebrate richine abundanti willforev the fabric touched,a willconti who knew friends ar tendthe 11:00 a.m. Gardeno neral Ho Dr.,Metai Monday,

Leslie,VictoriaStewart Rainey 'Wiggie'

Victoria “Wiggie” Stew‐artRaineyLeslie, age90, transitioned on Wednes‐day, February 18, 2026 at herhome. Daughter of the late Benjamin,Sr. andVic‐toriaTorregano Stewart. Belovedwifeofthe late Felix Rainey,Sr. andthe late Austin Leslie.Beloved mother of Felix,Jr. (Ella), Shannonand TanyaRainey. Stepmother of Tracey Quinn. Sister of thelate EthelJohnson,Doris Tun‐ney, BenjaminStewart,Jr. andRoseAllen.Grand‐mother of Felix Rainey,III, Elodia andMartinBlanco, Jr Ariana andDaizhan Rainey andthe late Darielle Rainey.Alsosur‐vivedbya host of great grandchildren, onegreatgreatgrandchild, nieces nephews, cousins, other relativesand friends. A Mass of Christianburial honoring thelifeand legacy of thelateVictoria “Wiggie” StewartRainey Leslie will be held at St PeterClaverCatholic Church,1923 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA 70116 on Saturday,March 7, 2026 at 10 am.Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery 4000 Norman MayerAv‐enue,New Orleans, LA 70122. Visitation 9amin thechurch.Pleasesignon‐line guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors(504)581 4411.

VirginiaSonnier Pettey "Ginger",a residentof Abita Springs, passed away at her home on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She was84years oldand a nativeofNew York, NY

Pharaoh "Isaiah" DeMyers, JahleahGarrison, Genesis DeMyers,and Journee Hudson. She was preceded in death by her parents Joan McCormick and Glitz Smith, and her dog,Buddy.

Truch, Melvin

Melvin Truch, age93, passedawaypeacefullyat homeonMarch 3, 2026

Bornand raised in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana,Melvin spent hisliferooted in the cityheloved,surrounded byfamily, friends, anda community that meantso muchtohim.Melvinwas the belovedhusband of RoseMarie DeSalvoTruch withwhomheshareda lifetimeofloveand devo‐tion. Together,theyraised two children,PaulTruch (Patricia)and Melrose Truch Dugas(Ray).Melvin was aproud andloving grandfather to Britney, Chad(Olivia), Danielle,and Blake,and wasoverjoyed tobecomea great-grand‐fathertoCamila Rose.He isalsosurvivedbyhis sis‐ter,Janie TruchWright (Clifford -deceased),as wellasmanycousins, niecesand nephews, ex‐tendedfamilymembers, and dear friendswho will cherish hismemory. We takecomfort in knowinghe isreunitedinHeavenwith his parents, Joseph and EnizRoche Truch, his brother,Joseph“Joe” Truch,and thegreatgrandchildren who went beforehim,Lyric andCyril Melvinbuilt alongand re‐spected career in telecom‐munications. He wasan activememberofSt. Catherine’s of Sienamen’s clubaswellasSt. Angela Merici’smen’s club.One of the rolesheheldmost proudly washis serviceto his country. Adevoted Ko‐reanWar veteran, he re‐mainedactivefor many years in theKoreanveter‐ans’association of Greater New Orleansand looked forward to participatingin their yearly gatherings and celebrations. Hispatrio‐tismand prideinserving his countryremainedwith him throughout hislife. To those who knew him, Melvinwas simply “good asgold.”Hehad anatural giftfor conversation and never meta stranger Friends andfamilyaffec‐tionately referred to himas the “Mouth of theSouth because he lovedtotalk, laugh,and sharestories withanyonewho wouldlis‐ten.His kindness, patience and genuineinterestin peoplemadeothersfeel in‐stantly comfortableinhis presence. Melvin also had a speciallovefor hisdogs,

wasbornand raised in the vibrant city of NewOr‐leans,where sheattended Booker T. Washington High School.She begana career withthe NewOrleans Pub‐lic School System,where she served as an adminis‐trative assistant. Shewas often the firstwelcoming facepeopleencountered whenenteringthe office Shirley became knownasa fierce advocate forem‐ployees seekinghelpwith administrativematters She retiredin1988. In 2005, Hurricane Katrinadramati‐cally changedher path, leading hertorelocateto Memphis,Tennessee. In 2009, shemoved once more this time to Columbia, Maryland—whereshe lived withher beloveddaughter and son-in-law until the timeofher passing. Shirley was preceded in deathby her parents, Robert Bur‐rows, Sr.and Evelyn Bur‐rows; herfourbrothers, RobertBurrows,Jr.,Ray‐mondBurrows,Joe Bur‐rows, andLeroy Burrows; and hertwo sisters, Marion Chineworthand Elaine Cole. Sheleavestocherish her precious memory her six loving children:Jory Walton, MichaelWalton, Donna Christopher, Kerry Walton, Avanel Handy (David),and WendyBlack‐ston(Garmond).She is alsosurvivedbysixteen grandchildren,twenty-four great-grandchildren,and ninegreat-great-grandchil‐dren, alongwithahostof devoted relativesand dear friends who will forever treasureher presence in their lives. Relatives, family and friendsare invitedtoa MassofChristian Burial honoringthe life of Shirley B.WaltonatOur Lady of Guadalupe Church,411 N. Rampart St on Saturday March 7, 2026. Visitation for 8:30 am.Massfor 10:00 am. Interment: St.Louis II Cemetery. Please sign the Guestbook Online:www anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

Lounge, St.MargaretNurs‐ing Facility andTLC Linen Factory in NewOrleans Louisiana.She waswell known in the9th,7th &5th wards.Often an outspoken person, shealwaystoldit likeitwas.Itwas normal for hertocussyou out witha smile andfeed you all in thesameday.She al‐wayswas willingtohelp others. If shepromisedto dosomething foryou,she would move mountainsto get it done,ifshe couldn't doitherself,she would find someonewho could. She trulyenjoyed her neighbors andher neigh‐borhood. Sittingonher porch andshootingthe breezeasshe wouldsay, was oneofher favorite pastimes. Many would passbywalking,riding bikes or drivingand yell out "Hey Ms.Lou"and she would respond"Hey baby!" On Wednesday, Feb‐ruary 18, 2026, Lucille MitchellWashington(Ms Lou)entered into eternal rest. Louleavestocherish her memories,her loving daughters,Anita Washing‐ton Jones(RaymondJones) ofCabot Arkansas and SheilaMarshall(Willie Franklin).Her sister Paulette Young.Beloved grandchildren:Terrence Bertrand(CassandraMor‐gan)ofFortSmith Arkansas, TrellisBertrand (ShabastinCaradine) of Jacksonville, Arkansas;Ta‐raunBertrand(EricaBoyd) ofCabot,Arkansas, Sincyr MitchellofBaumholder, Germany andDominique Correll of NewOrleans, Louisiana.Cherished great grandchildren:Rayleigh Bertrandand Tinsley Bertrand. Treasuredsis‐ters-in-law:Karen Wash‐ington, Brigitte Washington and DinahWashington. Prizedbrothers-in-law: Wayne Washington and WalterWashington. Adored godchildren: Kelvin Wash‐ington, Tawanna Washing‐ton,Jovanna Williams, AlexisDersone,Johnathan Williams andChanel Stokes. Valued cousins: Dorothy Williams,Sabrina Mitchell, Rita Robert and Rebecca Brown. Also,a hostofnieces, nephews, cousins andmany, many friends both near andfar Lucille wasprecededin death by hermother, Mamie Mitchell andfather, TommieLee Hawk.Hus‐bandKevin Washington ChildrenLatoyaMitchell and Lynette Mitchell.Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend herHome‐going CelebrationonSat‐urday,March 7, 2026, at Reaping TheHarvest Full GospelChurch,5123 DauphineStreet,beginning 10am. Pastor Troy Lawrence, officiating. Church visitation 8:30 am –10am. Entombment ResthavenMemorialPark.

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

American employers cut 92,000 jobs last month Unemployment

BY PAUL WISEMAN and ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP business writers

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

Hiring deteriorated from January, when companies, nonprofits and government agencies added a healthy 126,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday Economists had expected 60,000 new jobs in February Revisions also cut 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls.

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

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

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

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 job market — and the entire

— is

ed by the war with Iran. The combination of weak hiring and increasing inflationary pressures arising from the war 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.”

ANOTHERVIEW

Adivided nation goes to war with Iran

When it comes to war,Americans don’tautomatically “rally around the flag.” Warishell, weknow, butit’s also uncertainty,sacrifice, time and politics.The costs can be astronomical. More than adisplay of nationalunity,war requires clarity of purpose and valor,while it exposes poor leadership anddomestic disagreements

Early polls show adivided nation over thecurrent militaryactioninIran. ThelatestFox News survey findsthe countrysplit down themiddle,with 50%approvingand 50% disapproving. The partisan divideisstark: 84% ofRepublicans approveofthe action, comparedwith 20% of Democrats and 40% of independents While 61% of voters now believe Iran is a“real nationalsecurity threat” to the U.S.,that’sdown 12 points since mid2025. Furthermore, only 29% believe President Donald Trump’shandling of the situation has made the U.S. safer CNN’spoll shows 60% of U.S. adults don’tthink Trump has aclear plan. What’smore, it findsRepublicans who are MAGAsupporters —the president’s political base —are 30 points more likely thannonMAGA Republicans to “strongly approve”the decision to go to war.

Anation divided over warisnothing new

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

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

Dwight Eisenhower rode thatfrustrationtothe presidency in 1952,promising he would“go to Korea”and end the war.Bymid-1953,hedid —ending it in stalemate. Vietnam was another limitedwar” with heavy casualties, more than 58,000 American deaths.InAugust 1965,asthe U.S. escalated its involvement, most Americans supported the effort; 61% said sending troops to Vietnam was “not amistake.” But by May 1971,that number fell to 28%. As the death toll climbed, public doubt turned into fury, questioning both the necessity of the mission and the strategies usedtofight it. The U.S.withdrewits remaining troops in 1975.

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

Kelly citesstaff upheaval in downfall

Ex-LSU coachgives first comments since firing

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

AVALANCHE

Former LSU football coach BrianKelly pointed to alack of continuity within his coaching staff as his primary issue duringhis time with the Tigers as he reflected on his tenure during aradio interview Friday morning Kelly, 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 pergame, one of the worst marksinschool history,and offensive coordinator Mike

ä See KELLY, page 3C

SyKES

Paralympic snowboarderBrennaHuckaby helps unveil the Team USA uniforms for the 2026 Milan Cortina WinterOlympics on Dec. 3inNew york.

Paralympian from BR goes forrecord gold,fun

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

Brenna Huckaby has been Apromising younggymna right leg at age 14 to osteos cerous bone tumor.Huckaby sition to elite para snowboar excelled, becoming aworld three-time Paralympic gold married, moved to Montan with husband TristanClegg daughters, Lilah and Sloan Beginning her thirdPara Games thisweekend in Ita ing many of the same sites completed Milan CortinaWi Huckaby will go for history medal in eitherofher event boarding or bankedslalom the record for Paralympic g currently shares with the late legend Bibian Mentel of The Beforeheading to Italy, t mom from Baton Rouge sat d quiet talk with herselfabout ed most out of these Game

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

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

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

So Johnson began attacking the lane in thesecond half.

“Then Ijust started feeling it,”she said.

Once she did, theLSU women’sbasketball team rode a second-half tidal wave of scoringtoan112-78 win over the No. 5-seeded Soonersinthe SEC Tournament quar-

terfinals —its most lopsided conference tournament victoryofcoach KimMulkey’stenure.

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

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

MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 22 points, while Johnson added 21, becoming thesixthplayertoeclipse 2,000 career points in an LSU uniform. Theypaced five LSU players with double-digit points and nine with at least

LSUb ll

BY KOKI RILE Staff writer

It’sbeen as LSU bullpen clear strengt the season b leadinginto t ries with Sac So, where d ing intoSout

Here’s abr reliever sta ence schedul Closers

trange start to the year forthe , aunit that appeared to be a hfor theTigers heading into uthas struggledinthe games his weekend’sthree-game seramento State. oes that leave the group headheastern Conference play? eakdown of where every LSU nds as theTigers’ nonconfere comes to aclose.

Options: Gav Sheerin, RH Breakdown: G been LSU’s b Entering thi lowed an ear combining to ing just onee They’ve do ferent ways. and mastery o

in Guidry,RHP,R-Jr.; Deven P,R-So. uidryand Sheerin have easily est relieversthrough 14 games. s weekend, thetwo hadn’t alned run in 151/3 innings of relief, record29strikeouts and allowxtra-base hit and two walks. minated hitters in entirely difGuidry’ssupreme command yoffive pitches —fastball, cut-

ter, 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 confidence in him

Middle relief

Options: Mavrick Rizy,RHP,So.; Ethan Plog, LHP,So. Breakdown: One could argue Rizy belongs with the top group of closers, but his command has been shaky.He’swalked seven batters in just 81/3 innings before Friday, despiteimproving his delivery from last season and holding a2.16 ERA heading into this weekend. Johnson’stop choice among the lefties out of thebullpenhas been Plog,eventhough he tossed only 31/3 innings before the Sacramento State series. He haswalked two batters

3

5 p.m.

5

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.Marquette NBCSN

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: Providence vs.Villanova NBCSN

8:30 p.m. B.East: St.John’s vs.Seton Hall NBCSN MEN’S COLLEGE WRESTLING

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

6

p.m.

Blue Bay LPGA Golf HORSE RACING 1 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS2 MIXED MARTIAL ARTS 7 p.m. UFC 326 Prelims: Undercard CBS 8 p.m. Main Card:

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

6:30 a.m. England vs. Iceland CBSSN 11:30 a.m. Canada vs.Argentina TRUTV

2:30 p.m. U.S vs. Colombia TBS,TRUTV SWIMMING Noon TyR: Pro Swim Series NBC TENNIS

p.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.”

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. 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

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.

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.”

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

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

Slidell survives Prairieville in overtime with big rally

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

The

Late Thursday

Holy Savior Menard rallied from an 18-point deficit to knock off topseeded Lafayette Christian on that same court two days ago. No lead is safe at LHSAA Marsh Madness.

Junior Cianni Williams took those words to heart as she scored 19 of the Tigers’ final 24 points to lead Slidell to a 64-60 Division I nonselect semifinal overtime victory against third-seeded Prairieville on Thursday at Southeastern’s University Center

“We knew our big was going out, so from that point forward, we knew we had to rebound and everything else,” Williams said. “My team trusts in me, and I trust in them. If I didn’t step up, somebody was going to step up. We have each other’s backs in these types of situations. We all trust in each other to do something.” What Williams did was score all 14 points during a pivotal 14-4 run that ended regulation and extended the Tigers’ season.

“She’s the type of player who doesn’t want to lose, so when she puts her mind to something, she goes and does it,” Twillie said.

Slidell (30-1) had a chance to win in regulation as senior Payton Rowbatham made a leaping steal and fed the ball to Williams, who dished to Ja’Niyah Ducre, whose layup attempt rolled off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Senior Jaelynn Elliott stepped up in overtime, but not before Williams drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at 58 with 2:18 left. Elliott tied the game again with a jumper with 53 seconds left Then, Elliott made the biggest bucket in Slidell girls’ basketball history Elliott took the inbound pass with

21 seconds remaining, dribbled up court and cut to her right against Prairieville’s Rhian Comery as Elliott knifed into the lane for the game-winning layup.

“I knew to just go to the rack because she wasn’t going to foul me because she had four fouls,” Elliott said. “I heard my teammates said that she couldn’t guard me All I had to do was drive to the paint and make my layup.” On the ensuing inbounds play,

Rowbatham picked off a long pass, and Williams hit two free throws to cap a chaotic game.

“It was a battle, and we’re glad that it went our way,” Twillie said.

“We made some buckets and got some steals when we needed to.

Prairieville killed us on the boards, but it just fell our way today.”

Williams finished with a teamhigh 23 points and seven rebounds, while Madyson Parker had a double-double (12 rebounds and 11 points). Elliott added 12 points.

Comery finished with 26 points

PREP REPORT

and 20 rebounds for Prairieville (26-5). Aubrielle Theriot and Kailey Miles had 17 and 10 points.

The stat sheet leaned heavily in favor of the Hurricanes. Prairieville outrebounded Slidell, 5341, while the Hurricanes went 19 for 38 at the free-throw line.

The Tigers were a dismal 10 of 28 (35.7%) from the charity stripe. Slidell scored 20 points off turnovers, while the Hurricanes had 26 second-chance points.

Now, the Tigers will play for their first state title in school history against defending state champion Zachary at 8 p.m Saturday

“Zachary is a very well-coached team,” Twillie said “They have height, and they have a lot of speed, so it will be a good matchup for us. I think we can play with anyone, but we’re going to have to bring our A-game, for sure.”

Contact Joseph Halm at jhalm@ sttammanyfarmer.net.

NASCAR, IndyCar sharing spotlight in desert doubleheader

Drivers say combo is boosting both racing series

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing writer

AVONDALE, Ariz. Pato O’Ward

wasn’t sold on the motorsports doubleheader this weekend at Phoenix Raceway because the IndyCar driver doesn’t like being “the support series” to NASCAR.

Then he saw the TV rating —

3.9 million viewers on Fox Sports for last week’s NASCAR race and changed his mind.

“I stand corrected I’m so happy to be here with NASCAR this weekend,” the Mexican driver wrote on social media.

These are heady times for the top two racing series in the United States, as both are riding a wave of momentum at the start of the season. The NASCAR team owned by Michael Jordan has set a record in winning the first three races with Tyler Reddick to draw enough attention that even Magic Johnson is paying attention.

“I want to congratulate my friend Michael Jordan once again!” he wrote. “His 23XI Racing team won its (third) straight NASCAR race to start the 2026 season making NASCAR history!” And IndyCar is coming off a strong season-opening weekend with a full month of racing for the first time in years. IndyCar is partnered with NASCAR this weekend and races Saturday, one day before the Cup Series runs on the 1-mile oval. For IndyCar, it’s a first trip back to Phoenix since 2018. The atmosphere is light and festive at this track nestled in the desert landscape, and Fox Sports is thrilled with the doubleheader The network is in its broadcast portion of the NASCAR schedule and last season bought an ownership stake in IndyCar

“Good things come in pairs! This weekend’s ‘Desert Double’ is a great opportunity to showcase and cross-promote the biggest stars in racing to motorsports fans all weekend,” said Bill Wanger, head of programming and scheduling at the network.

“We at Fox Sports are thrilled to help bring these two worlds together.”

The pairing is partly the vision of Eric Shanks, CEO of Fox Sports, which airs the entire IndyCar season on its main network channel. When Fox took over

as broadcast partner last year, Shanks often stacked the races back-to-back with NASCAR to pull in as many eyeballs as possible.

It’s a logical sentiment and apparently working.

“This is so great for racing fans, I have never understood people who are like ‘I only watch NASCAR and not IndyCar’ or vice versa,” said NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney “This just brings everybody together I think the crowd for both days is going to be fantastic and I wish there would be more doubleheader weekends because I like hanging out with those guys and watching them and it’s easier for me to watch with them here. It’s an awesome series.”

IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden said he was staying after his race to watch the Cup Series live on Sunday and would be cheering on his Team Penske teammates Blaney, Austin Cindric and Joey Logano.

“I wish we had more weekends together I just don’t see how us being together is ever a bad thing,” Newgarden said.

IndyCar had the track to itself for Friday afternoon qualifying at the same time the Cup Series garage opened for inspection. David Malukas won the first pole of his career in his new Team Penske ride, and Newgarden was second for a Penske 1-2 sweep. The biggest surprise, though was Mick Schumacher, who qualified fourth for his oval debut.

“This guy is like a complete, literal foreigner to oval racing,” Newgarden said of the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher “For Mick, what a tremendous job. The race is a different story But you’ve got to be open-minded in this series — he could just come in and be a natural.”

The field will be chasing fourtime IndyCar champion Alex Palou on Saturday after Palou won last weekend’s opener in St. Pete. Then on Sunday it will be 39 drivers trying to snap Reddick’s run and prevent him from winning a fourth consecutive week. Jordan has been to all three of Reddick’s victories this year and will be in Phoenix, and when the Basketball Hall of Famer is involved, everyone’s excitement rises.

“When you have an owner that was the greatest to ever do it in his sport, and he has so much interest in the sport that I’m in, that’s just a positive for racing,” Blaney said. “I think it creates a lot of eyes from people who were maybe a fan of Michael’s when he was playing, or their parents were a fan of Michael’s Well, now they are watching this because MJ is here.”

Back on the court

S. Carolina blasts Kentucky to set up rematch against LSU

By The Associated Press

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Joyce Edwards

scored 21 points, Madina Okot added 12 points and 13 rebounds and No. 3 South Carolina routed 17 Kentucky 87-64 in the first of four Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinal games Friday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Tessa Johnson added 15 points and Ta’Niya Latson 12 for the topseeded Gamecocks, who raced to a 17-point halftime lead and never let up.

South Carolina (30-2) looked laser focused as it began its quest for a fourth straight SEC Tournament title and 10th in the past 12 seasons under coach Dawn Staley, shooting 53% from the field, forcing 19 turnovers and outscoring Kentucky 46-24 in the paint Amelia Hassett had 15 points and Clara Strack scored 13 to lead Kentucky (23-10).

The Gamecocks will play Saturday against No. 4-seeded LSU, which routed Oklahoma 112-78. Kentucky, the ninth seed, was playing its third game in three days following a 94-64 win over Arkansas and a 76-61 victory over Georgia with Strack combining for 53 points and 21 rebounds.

Whether or not fatigue played a factor, the Wildcats simply looked a step behind the fresh Gamecocks all game.

South Carolina raced out to a 44-27 lead at the half, using a big height advantage to dominate the paint 20-12 and a stifling defense to force 10 turnovers. Johnson provided the early spark with 12 points in the first half and Okot had a double-double before the break

South Carolina kept its foot on the gas in the second half, using a 13-6 run to build a 24-point lead and was never threatened again.

The big lead allowed Staley to rest her starters for the majority of the second half to keep them fresh for Saturday

SEC

Continued from page 1C

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 of-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards shoots over a Kentucky player in their SEC Tournament quarterfinal game Friday in Greenville, S.C.

No. 24 OLE MISS 89, No. 5 VANDERBILT

78: Latasha Lattimore scored 28 points and Cotie McMahon had 27 as No. 24 Ole Miss built a 32-point third-quarter lead and held on late to beat fifth-ranked Vanderbilt.

Tianna Thompson added 16 points for the Rebels (23-10), who jumped to a 23-2 lead in the first quarter and rode the wave of momentum to their second win this season over Commodores (27-4).

Ole Miss will face either No. 4 Texas or Alabama in Saturday’s semifinals.

Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, who averaged more than 30 points per game in conference play this season, missed her first 12 shots including five 3s and didn’t make a first field goal until 2:31 remained in the third quarter after battling early foul trouble.

Blakes then helped fuel a frantic fourth-quarter rally in which Vanderbilt trimmed the lead to

fense 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 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.

nine with three minutes to go. She finished with 24 points.

Aubrey Galvan added 18 points for Vanderbilt.

Ole Miss, which beat Auburn 7357 on Thursday took its huge early lead by holding the Volunteers to 1-of-15 shooting and using quick hands to deflect passes and create steals that led to easy layups.

Things got worse for Vanderbilt in the second quarter when Blakes picked up her third foul.

Frustrations began to boil over in the fourth quarter Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph was ejected with 9:25 left after arguing a foul call that went against Blakes, who dived on the floor to retrieve a loose ball.

That seemed to awaken the Commodores, who rallied to cut the lead to nine on a steal and threepoint play by Galvan.

Vanderbilt outscored Ole Miss 37-24 in the fourth quarter

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 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 SECTournamentquarterfinalmatchups.It’salsoscoredatleast100points 14 times this season — one shy of the NCAADivisionIrecord,whichLong 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

LSU men sputtering to a familiar finish

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

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.”

Continued from page 1C

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 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 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 dif-

ferent 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,” Huckaby 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 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.”

with meteorologist DamonSingleton

Today, we’reunder amarginal risk for severe weather. Thegreatest threat will be from strong gusty windsupto60mph.The timing of the greatestthreat seems to be late Saturdayinto Sunday morning So, expect apartlytomostlycloudy, very warm, humid and breezy day. Overall, there is a30to40% chance of rainand storms. Temperatures will rise to the lowtomid-80s and with southerly winds blowing at 10 to 15 mph,humidity will remainveryhigh. Don’t forget to spring forward.Expect more storms Sunday

Tigers hammer SacState

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Ping! Ping! Ping! The fireworks started 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 Friday night at Alex Box Stadium.

First, junior Derek Curiel ripped aball that deflected off the bag at firstbase.Then junior Jake Brown cranked an opposite-field home run to left field that handed LSU a 2-0 lead. That was just the tip of the iceberg. Curiel homered and Brown launched another ball over the fence in the second, stretching LSU’sadvantage to 7-0 by the end of the second inning. The offensive explosion was enough for the Tigers to run away with

LSU

Continued from page1C

but also has six strikeouts, beating hitters with afunky arm slot, afastball with good movementthat sits around 93-94 mph and 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: Cowan andWilliams’ struggles have come as asurprise, as both pitchers entered the year as contenders to crack the starting rotation. Cowan hasa13.50 ERA with 12 hits allowed in four

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

It was nevera questionof talentfor LSU as it struggled to smack the ball across the yard.Swing decisions and impatience at the plate were thedrivingissues behind the power outage. There were toomany swings on pitches thatweren’tgoing to be easytodrive and not enough walks.

Butthe opposite was true Friday: LSU stucktoits approach andcapitalizedon mistakes.The Tigers only generatedthree walks, but it felt as if every swing resulted in abaseballgetting smashed somewhere.

a15-4 win in seven innings over Sacramento State. The game ended early because of the10-runmercy rule.

Hitting the ballwithauthority was LSU’sbiggest issue during its six-game slump, but that was dispelled emphatically on Friday. LSU (12-3) had twice as many extra-basehits in thefirst two innings on Friday (six) as it had in its last twogames combined. The

appearances entering the weekend.Williams has eight strikeouts in 51/3 innings,but he has givenupseven hits.

Bothpitchers maystill earn bigger roles if they can recapturetheir pinpoint command, but hitters have punishedthem when they veleft the ball over theplate.

Noot’srole has diminished since he started LSU’sfourth game of the year against Kent State, but the veteran didn’t allowa baserunnerin thethree appearances since then.Rickenisonlya freshman, but he’spitched wellin twoofhis threeoutings and canthrowfor multiple innings.He’sanathleticarm with plenty of upside, especially when he throws strikes. Garcia had arough first appearance, allowingathreerunhomer,and has struggled with consistency ever since.

Tigers hadjust 10 extrabasehitsover theirlast six contests. They matched that mark Friday by thefourth inning, and six of thosehits were homers.

Brown homered in each of his first three at-bats. Curiel went 3for 4withtwo doubles. Sophomore CadeArrambide blasted his fourth homer of the year,and junior Steven Milam smacked hisfirst. By the endofthe

Dathe was among Johnson’s top middle-relief options before he ran into problems againstMcNeeseState last week. If he can hone in his control, his cutter and slider provide LSU astrongarm in relief. Johnsonwas confident in Fontenot earning alarger role,ashis fastball is now up to 98 mph. But thesenior has struggledwithhis command andfindinga consistent offspeed pitch.

Notinmix now

Options: Danny Lachenmayer,LHP,So.;Zion Theophilus, RHP,Fr.;Marcos Paz, RHP, Fr.; Connor Benge,RHP,Sr.; DJ Primeaux, LHP,R-Jr Breakdown: Lachenmayer hadanopportunity to prove himself against UL on Wednesday, but he walked abatter that led to arun and threw more balls than

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 without allowing abase runnerthrough the first five innings, pounding the strike zone and fooling Sacramento State(3-10) hitters with his slider

strikes. Theophilusshowed bettercommand in hissecond outing Monday,even if he’s on thelower endof Johnson’specking order Johnson has shown confidenceinPrimeaux over the last twoyears and heading into this one, but the Baton Rouge native has struggled to commandhis pitcheson the inner-half of the plate against left-handed batters —frequently hitting them —and he’s neverbeen relied upon to face righties.

Benge hasn’tthrown afull inning after beginning last season as aprominent middle-relief option. He allowed twoearned runs and failed to record an out Wednesday Paz hasstruggled with his controland throwing aconsistent breaking ballsince returning from Tommy John surgery

BY RODWALKER Staffwriter

TheNew OrleansPelicans showed off their depth Thursday night.

Seven players scored in double figures in the Pelicans’ 133-123 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1Center in Sacramento, California.

“You need team wins like this to get it done on the road,” interim coach James Borrego said. “It’s been alongroadtripand we’ve got one more (Friday).

:We’re going to need all hands on deck Friday night as well.”

The Pelicans (20-44) wrapped up their six-game road trip Friday against the Phoenix Suns (35-27).

The Pelicans are 3-2 so far on the trip, getting their third win with a great all-around effort.

Zion Williamson scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out fiveassists. Trey Murphy scored 21 points and had seven rebounds and four assists. Saddiq Bey added 20 points.

But some of the most valuable minutes came from the bench. The quartet of Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen, Karlo Matkovic and BryceMcGowens jumpstarted things. “The bench came in and gave us big minutes,” Williamson said.“Jeremiah Fears is really figuring the game out.” Fears had13points, six rebounds andsix assists. Queenfinishedwith12 points, ninereboundsand five assists. Matkovic had nine pointsand nine re-

bounds.And McGowens had 14 points and six rebounds.

“I thought our starters were alittle slow there to get going,” Borrego said. “That second unit got us going and brought great energy.All four of them came out and played with great energy and focus and got us back into the game andbuilt alead.I thought we closed the second quarter well and the starters responded in the second half.”

The Pelicans are 2-0 this season against the Kings (14-50),who have the NBA’s worst record. In the previous meeting at Smoothie King Center,the Pelicans beat the Kings 120-94. That winwas the Pelicans’ most lopsided of theseason andwas also the fewest points the Pels have allowed this season. Thingswere closer this time around, especially through thefirst21/2 quarters.

But the Pelicans, trailing 81-80, went on a15-0 late in the third quarter to get some separation. The run wassparked by back-toback 3-pointers by Bey followedbyanother3-pointer from Murphy “A full team effort,” Borrego said. “All 10 guys that played did well.”

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Dabble in the possibilitiesand elaborate on ideas that excite you. Precision and attention to detail, combined with disciplineand action, will help you reach your destination in good shape.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Be resourceful, use your imagination and put alittlemuscle anddisciplinebehind your ideas. Aproactive approach will make adifference and invite support from unexpected sources.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Don't be afraid to act if it will bring about positive change. Adiplomatic approach will encourage otherstosupportyour efforts. Choosekindness, compassion and honesty for good results.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Actions speak louder than words.Don't waste your breath when an adjustment is necessary. Study the facts, organizeyour thoughts andpursuewhatmatters most to you.

CAnCER(June 21-July 22) Think twice before you agree to do something that might jeopardize your reputation. There willbeafineline between what's right andwhat's wrong. Keep your thoughts and plans to yourself.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You'll find it necessary to keep aclose watch on shared expenses,accommodations and joint ventures. Stay on top of payments, negotiations and any changes that require attention.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) If it'schange you want, it'suptoyou to make it hap-

pen. Stop waiting for things to come to you. Speak up and initiate opportunities. Take thepath that soothes your soul

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep your life simple, affordableand peaceful. Refuse to let anyone cajoleyou into overspendingorbeing emotionally excessiveor physically indulgent

sCoRPIo (oct.24-nov. 22) Be open to suggestions, explore possibilities and engage in travel, educationalpursuits and networking functions.Attend a reunion or host an event that brings old friends, associates or allies back intoyour life.

sAGIttARIus (nov.23-Dec. 21) You'll receive mixed messages from those you encounter. Distance yourself from anyone asking for too much or trying to push you in adirection that makes you feel uncomfortable.

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

AQuARIus(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Channel your energy into somethingconstructive Working on aproject that can help you create extra income or helpyour savings grow will put your mind at ease. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrewsmcmeel syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudokuis anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

GottfriedLeibniz,aGermanmathematician and philosopher who diedin1716, said, “Music is the pleasure thehuman mindexperiencesfromcountingwithout being awarethat it is counting.”

If you would like to count more at the bridge table, first constantly countaway from it. During the day, count anything andeverything: thestepsyou take, the whitevehicles on the road, the pedestrians,the carsofa railroad train, whatever.

This week we have beenlooking at counting. The mostcommon defensive count signalisanecho, 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 held by that defender.

This deal is atextbook example. How shouldthedefenderscardtodefeatthree no-trump after West leadshis fourthhighestclub?

North’stwo-heartresponsewasatransfer bid, showing five or morespadesand at leastzeropoints. Thenhis three-notrumprebid offered South achoice of games West leads the club six. East wins with his ace and returnsthe nine,high froma remaining doubleton. When South plays hisqueen(orjack),Westshouldbeaware that if East hadstarted with theA-J-9-2 (orA-Q-9-2) of clubs,hewould have led back the two, not the nine. So, to keep communication withhis partner, West drops the club five at tricktwo. Now Southissunk. He would probably run his diamonds before taking the spade finesse, but East would win with his king and lead his last club to kill the contract ©2026 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrewsmcmeel syndication

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

thought “Jesus Christ the sameyesterday, and to day, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

ScrabbleGramS

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from the lettersineach row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus “Blanks”used as any letter have no point value. all the wordsare in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numberswithin theheavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (in any order)to produce the target numbers in thetop-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner

HErE is aplEasanT liTTlEgamEthat

numericalpuzzle designed

the number of lettersis6ormore,

Puzzle Answer

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of Curtecia LewisDixon,please contactattorney Ryan Coxat504782-9889. 179880-3/7-8-9-3t $85.00

METAIRIE HUGE MULTIFAMILY YARD SALE!! Munholland Church.Elmeer St parkinglot.1201 Metairie Rd.Sat March7,8a-12p.NoEarlybirds!

NEWORLEANS ScoutTroop 150GarageSale. 5914 CanalBlvd. Sat, Mar7,8a-2p Clothing,toys, doors, windows& more!

KENNER 2850 IDAHOAVENUE 1Block to Vets &Williams AllAmenities *Pool *Parking Studio/1 BedApt *Starting$650/Mo 504-236-1971 *504-454-1333

MARIGNY-BYWATER 3Br/1BaElegant Historic Prop,Offst Prk, Bkyd.Pet Dep$1250/$1250. 504274-2806 jraepropertiesllc@gmail.com

UNDERLOUISIANA REVISEDSTATUTE 12:1336 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that,pursuanttothe pro‐visionsofLaR.S.12:1336, Colonial Oaks Living Cen‐ter, LLC, aLouisiana lim‐ited liabilitycompany whose registered office is locatedat3501 Severn Avenue,Suite 3B/C Metairie,La70002 is to be dissolvedand liqui‐datedout of court, pur‐suanttoauthority of its Members, duly given. Theliquidatorofthe companyisRobertW Mouton,601 Poydras Street,Suite 2660, New Orleans, Louisiana70130. 179714-MAR7-1T $104.54

909 PoydrasStreet

to present such person’s claimin writingand in detail to theLiquidator, such writ‐l i b

LIGHT TOUCH

INSIDE

GREEN THUMB: Look for cluesof spring Page 4

INSIDE SOURCES: Business alocal source of organic blooms Page 8

GREENTHUMB

Don’t let spring pass youby. PAGE 4

GARDEN ADVICE

If your daffodils aren’t blooming, try another kind. PAGE 5

INSIDE INFO

Home and garden happenings. PAGE 7

INSIDE SOURCES

Fleur d’Eden’s organic beds supply local homes and resturants. PAGE 8

COVERSTORY

DIY lighting is as easy as aflickofa switch. PAGE 10

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS

Recent transactions in the metroarea. PAGE 14

InsideOut’smission is to give readers peeks inside themanydifferentways that people in theNew Orleansarea live.Weprofile spaces that are opulent, or just offbeat; sophisticated or simple; functional or lighthearted;historicor brand-spanking new. And anythinginbetween. Please help us by sending information andJPEG photos of your home, or specific spaces inside it, to insideout@theadvocate. com. We love gardens andoutdoor spaces, too. Andwe’re waitingtohear from you.

homeand garden section is published everySaturdayby

Questionsabout

INSIDEOUT EDITOR: Karen TaylorGist, kataylor@theadvocate.com CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS: Victor Andrews, LouisJ.Aubert, Jyl Benson, Dan Gill

should be directed to the editor

COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel

COVER PHOTO: Jeff Strout TO BE FEATURED: Sendinformation and photos to insideout@theadvocate. com

5421 MilneBoulevard •Lakeview$615,000

Custom 2017 ReynoldsDevelopments home on oversized50x150lot

Thoughtful design-buildwithpremium finishes,reclaimed beams, wide-plank floors,and custom ceilings.Openlayoutwith first-floorprimary suiteand mudroom. Smarthome wiring,security, andsurround sound. Outdoorliving room withcedar ceiling and fireplace, pool,four-carparking,X flood zone

The Nugent Freeland Family Team 504-813-3865 KellerWilliams Realty455-0100504-621-7319

4229 Annunciation Street •Uptown$799,000

Don’tmissthe stunningfullrenovation of this 3bed/2.5 bath home in Uptown neighborhood,offeringold N.O. charmw/modernamenities!Pine flooring thru out&marblebathrooms. Beautifulsidehalldesign/floorplanw/hall flowing into alarge living,dining &showcasekitchen w/ ss appls, quartz counters & largepantry. Lovely French doorsopenontobackporch,great forentertaining!

KevinClarkson Sanders504-236-3847 JacquelynClarkson Realtors

Rare OldMetairiegem on a70x150lot w/ alush, resort-style backyard, oversizedpool& expansivedeck/patio fortrueindoor-outdoor living &great for entertaining.Inside: high ceilings,plantationshutters, open layout,oversized 2bedrooms +ofc/flex room &abundantstorage.Add’l features:metal roof, Bermudashutters, irrigation, Cat-5wiring, &ample prkg w/ dble garage Michelle Soliman 504-327-0888 MirambellRealty504-889-9850

6925 CanalBoulevard •Lakeview$1,349,000

Near City Park &Yacht Club!Indoor-OutdoorAppeal in 16-yrold home

Custom built home has2large porches, heated-saltwater pool!OpenFloor Plan w/ 6Beds, 3.5Baths,3964SqFtofLiving area,FormalRooms,Huge Chef’s Kitchen &Den w/ great architectural detailing. 2-cargarage& 3-car parking pad. Wholehouse generator,gas burning frplc&manyother features! LindaBabineaux •504-957-8014J.Babineaux •504-813-8460 COMPASS•Uptown/MapleSt. 504-861-7575

1356 HomesteadAvenue•Metairie$1,300,000

Built in 2023,this4-bedroom home on alarge corner lotfeaturesa first-floor primarysuite,3full&2halfbaths,whole-house generator,saltwater pool & spa, plus oversizeddetachedgarage. Open-concept design includes chef’s kitchen, soaringliving room,office,loft, huge coveredoutdoor entertaining area,&luxury finishesthroughoutresidence.The PerfectHome, Don’tMissOut! Dawnne Keeney 504-650-3912 Crescent Sotheby’sInternational Realty 504-944-3605

GREENTHUMB

magnolias herald pring with their blossoms.

OByBILL FEIG

Is it spring yet? The short answer is yes. Butsome people don’tfeel spring has fully arrived until lateMarch, or even April.

Youmay consider the average last frost date as the beginning of spring. Average last frost dates range from early to mid-February in milder areas like New Orleansto mid-March across south Louisiana. Butaverage last frost dates are simply theaverage of when the last freezes occur over the years. From year to year,freezing temperatures can end well before or occur well after the average last frost date.

We generally use mid-March as our “frost free date” on the southshore and the end of March as the“frost free date” across south Louisiana. That meansthat damaging freezes after those dates are unlikely Although spring begins well before mid-March, this date is still significant.After thefrost free date, we can begin to reliably plant tender vegetables and warm season bedding plants.

The calendar is no helpwhen trying to determine the startofspring in south Louisiana, butsome spring gardening activities should begin in March.

Tulipsare someofthe earliestbulbs to bloom in spring

BY DAN GILL

Contributing writer

My daffodils have not bloomed in three years.The first year I planted them, they did bloom. Every year, they come up looking healthy and increasing in volume but no buds or blooms.What could be the problem? — Janice

Make sure the daffodils are getting plenty of direct sun during their winter growing season. Full sun produces the best flowering; not enough sun in winter will reduce flowering If they are not getting enough sun in their current dig them up when the foliage turns yellow and replant them in a sunnier spot. Also, some types of daffodils do not rebloom well in the Deep South. King Alfred is a popular yellow daffodil that will not repeat bloom down here. There is nothing you can do if you planted a cultivar that will not reliably bloom. Fortune,

GREENTHUMB

ber where the bulbs are to avoid damaging them by digging into the spot later There have been tons of leaves falling from the live oak in the yard of the house I just moved into.What gives? I thought live oaks were evergreen. — Elizabeth

GARDEN TIPS

Carlton, Unsurpassable and Ice Follies are four daffodil cultivars that generally rebloom well.

I planted some paperwhite narcissuses in my garden that have finished blooming.The foliage is green now, but I’d like to go ahead and cut it back as soon as possible. How long do I have to wait? — Melissa Ideally, leave the foliage

alone until it begins to turn yellow, or at least for six weeks after flowering. If you cut the foliage back too soon, it will reduce or prevent bloom next year This applies to all spring flowering bulbs that would be expected to rebloom every year in our climate. Once you cut them back, remem-

Although live oaks (Quercus virginiana) are considered evergreen because they hold onto their leaves through the winter, many live oaks drop most or all of their foliage in early spring. They send out their new leaves so quickly that they are only leafless for a brief time. It can be confusing because not all live oaks are on the same cycle. Some live oaks drop a lot of leaves and some drop very few in a given year. If your live oak is dropping leaves now it is normal and no cause for concern. Don’t rake up and throw away the oak leaves. The leaves make a great mulch or addition to your compost pile.

TIME TO PLANT: In early March,plant seeds of beets,carrots,collards,greens (mustard and turnip),lettuce, potatoes (seed pieces) and radish. Plant transplants of broccoli,cabbage and kohlrabi.

Beginning in mid- to late March plant seeds or transplants of the following vegetables: cantaloupe,corn,cucumbers, cucuzza,lima beans,mustard,pumpkin, snap beans,summer squash,Swiss chard,watermelons,winter squash.Plant transplants of eggplant,peppers and tomatoes.Mirlitons are planted using the entire fruit with the sprouted end buried in the soil about 3 inches deep. ROSES ARE READY: Continue to plant roses purchased in containers.Bare root roses available at various places,like hardware stores,garden departments of chain stores and supermarkets,should have been planted last month.They should be planted immediately at this point.

GREENTHUMB

SPRING

Continued from page 4

The calendar is no help. The calendar tells us that winter ends and spring begins on March 20 this year (the spring equinox). But although the date of the spring equinox is the same in New Orleans and Chicago, obviously spring does not arrive in those two cities at the same time. So, you can’t just look at a calendar to determine when the seasons change.

A big part of the problem is the preconceived notions we have about what “winter” means. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone comment on how extraordinary it is to have 70-degree weather in December, January and February Even someone who has lived in New Orleans all their life may find it remarkable.

But days reaching the 70s during what we call winter are not exceptional here, and we should not find them remarkable.

Spring is supposed to be a dramatic reawakening of nature after the cold weather and bleak dormancy of winter. But, other than the periods of occasional pronounced cold, most of our winter weather is decidedly springlike.

First to flower in landscapes, Taiwan flowering cherry is a fast growing, prolific bloomer that attracts birds when the fruit begin to color in March and April.

TAKE NOTE

Make notes on your spring flowering bulbs over the next few weeks while they are blooming Record when they bloom, how well they performed and other relevant information. This will help you plan for what you want to plant this coming fall.

Our evergreen trees, shrubs and ground covers and the planting of colorful cool season bedding plants keep our landscapes looking anything

but bleak over the winter months. As a result, there is no obvious shift in weather or striking difference between late winter and early spring.

The fastest season?

Because of this, spring has a way of sneaking up on the unobservant gardener For them, spring can seem to arrive and leave quickly.

These gardeners wait to acknowledge spring’s arrival until the weather is warm and settled, frosts are over, and the trees have all leafed out. They flock to the nurseries by the thousands in April, heavily infected with that rampant disease gardeners call “spring fever.”

When summer temperatures in the 90s begin to show up in May, it seems that spring ends just as it is beginning. This has led to a common perception that springs are short-lived in our area.

But let’s look at the reality that nature presents us. The most reliable plants to watch for signs of spring are deciduous trees and shrubs that go completely dormant for winter.

Some of the earliest native trees to wake up are maples and willows. Our native Drummond red maple (Acer rubrum var. drummondii) begins to bloom in late January in south Louisiana and a few weeks later is showing off the beautiful burgundy-red fruit that you can see now.

In early February, the willows (Salix nigra) begin to send out new leaves in vivid shades of green gold. It’s easy to miss the beginning of spring if you are not observant enough to catch dormant plants waking up in late January and early February.

In the landscape, the Taiwan flowering cherry (Prunus campanulata, one of the best flowering cherries for southeast Louisiana) begins to bloom by late January or early February, quickly followed by other spring flowering trees such as

GREENTHUMB

SPRING

Continued from page6

Japanese magnolias (Magnolia xsoulangeana), star magnolias (Magnolia stellata) and redbuds (Cercis canadensis).

By the time March arrives, signs of the advancing spring season are harder to overlook, particularly as spring bulbs and cool-season beddingplants provide bright splashes of color,many types of shrubs begin to bloom and deciduous trees leaf out.

Spring hassprung

So much of what we do in the garden, from planting, to fertilizing, to pruning and even pest control depends on us un-

ADVICE

Continued from page5

Should Icut my banana trees back to the ground now? They look terrible.

—Joe

If you want your trees to flower and produce fruit,only trim off the damaged leaves and do not cut back the trunk. It didn’tget cold enough this winter to kill the trunks. The flower stalk must travel up the inside of the trunk from the ground and come out the top to bloom. If you cut the trunks, you destroy the flower stalks. Do feel free to cut down any banana treethat produced abunch of bananas last summer because they will not produce any more bananas.

My St. Augustine lawn is starting to green up, but the ground is verydry with only 1inch of rain in the last two to three weeks. Is it too early to start weekly watering of the lawn?Thanks as alwaysfor your advice. —Jimmy There is no “too early” or “too late” when it comes to watering alawn. It is done when needed. If you have determined that the soil is dry and irrigation is needed, feel free to irrigate your lawn now.

derstanding when ourseasons come andgo.

In southeast Louisiana, spring begins to arrive in early to mid-February and acceleratesinto highgear in March. By April, when many people thinkspring has finally arrived, the season is actually in its latter stage.

April is the climax of spring, notits beginning. As we reach mid-May, summer is definitely here —Ican’t consider it anythingelse when daytime highs begintoreach the90s.

When you thinkofspring lasting from mid-February until early May,it doesn’tseem so short. And, if you begin some spring gardening activities in March instead of waitinguntil April, youwon’t feel so rushed.

Spring here is often rainy, so Idon’tthink you need to automatically water weekly starting now.But monitor the weather.Whenever it getsdry enough, feel free towater.

Dan Gill is aretired consumer horticulture specialist with theLSU AgCenter.Hehosts the “Garden Show” on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9a.m. Email gardening questionsto gnogardening@agcenter.lsu. edu.

Madisonville Garden Clubtoholdmarket

The Spring Garden Market by the Madisonville Garden Club will be from 9a.m. to 3p.m.Saturday

The theme is “Shop, Dine and Playalong the Tchefuncte River,”and offerings include succulents and air plants, fruit trees, vegetables, shrubs, flowers and seasonal home decor

Also,there will be live music, food trucks, books, jewelry and baked goods. Forinformation, visit the Facebook page for the club.

City Park greenhouse hosts 2-day plant sale

Awide selection of plants will be available to purchase from 8a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday at the Pelican Greenhouse, 2Celebration Drive, in CityPark.

Annuals, perennials, tropicals, antique garden roses and houseplants are just someof the typesoffoliage available. Forinformation, visit neworleanscitypark.org.

BromeliadSociety show, sale set for mall

The Greater New Orleans Bromeliad Show and Sale will be held over threedays later this month at Lakeside Shopping Center

INSIDEINFO

The city is doling out free wood chips everySaturdaythrough the end of May.

Head to the skylight area near the parking garagefrom 10 a.m. to 8p.m. March 27-28 and noon to 6p.m. March 29.

Forinformation, visit the group’spage on Facebook.

Orleans residents can get freewood chips

The citywill be distributing free wood chips to Orleans Parish residents from 8a.m. to noon every Saturday through May 30 at 1Green Parade Lane.

The Department of Parks& Parkways, which generates the chips from routine tree-trimming operations, is continuing its efforts to divert green wastefrom local landfills and promote sustainable practices.

This initiative supports the city’sbroader sustainability goals while providing apractical benefit to residents.

n Chips are availableona first-come, first-served basis.

n Residents mustbring their own loading supplies, including shovels, gloves, bags,containers andany other necessary equipment

n Staff will notbeable to assist withloading.

For information,followthe departmentonInstagram or Facebook

Gardenersseminar planned in Mandeville

The St. Tammany Master Gardener Association will host aspring seminar titled “Seeing is Believing” from 8a.m. to 1p.m. March 27 at theCastine Center at Pelican Park in Mandeville

Speaker presentationswill include “SeedsofSustainable Landscaping —Tips to Keep Your Garden Growing,” “Management of SoilSeedbank for Landscapes” and“Seeding forSuccess —Information on Starting Plants from Seeds.”

Other topicsfocusontropical houseplants, coldweather seed starting, growinggarden roses, usingnative plants in the home landscape andmaking food andmedicine withspring weeds.Registration is required by March 20.

Tickets are $25. Visitstmastergardener.org.

Have ahome and garden event coming up? Send it to events@theadvocate.com.

INSIDESOURCES

FLOWER POWER

BY JYL BENSON

Contributing writer

Jeanette Bell is on amission involving flowering plants, especially those native to Africa.

In 2003, Bell bought avacant 9,000-square-footlot in Central City that was filled

with trash, old mattresses and hypodermic needles. With abackbreaking amount of work, she transformed the lot into Fleur d’Eden, an organic raised-bed flower garden that is the cornerstone of her business.

After HurricaneKatrina, ashortage of fresh foods led

•O:504-866-2785 letty.rosenfeld@compass.com lettyrosenfeld.latter-blum.com

Charming Uptowncottage 1block from Carrollton Ave. Beautiful oak floors throughout,9foot ceilings, 3bedrooms,2baths, spacious,light-filled rooms, large back yard,driveway and sturdygarage forstorage Fantastic location-the utmost in convenienceand quiet,attractive area

8220APRICOT $575,000

Charming renovated stucco cottage 1block from Carrollton Ave, built in 1916!Gleaming pine floors,10foot ceilings,crown molding, fabulous naturallight. Gracious living anddining rooms, spacious kitchenwithbreakfast area,stainless appliances,and granitecountertops.4bedrooms 3baths,Driveway with electric gate,garage,reardeck, and large back yard.2882 squarefeet living area. Here’s an easy-living home withlots of characterina peaceful, convenientlocation.

her to diversify herofferings to include organically grown herbs and vegetables, which shesold at farmers markets.

In 2010, Bell met chef Ian Schnoebelen, whoran restaurants Iris and Mariza, and began selling him garden-fresh ingredients, which led to a new revenue stream for her business.

She alsosells petals from herCramoisi Superiorroses, which date back to the1800s, to Smoke Perfumes for the making of rose glycerite. The perfumerbuys other varieties of rose petals to create fragrances as well.

Thegarden is open for florists and consumers to cut their own flowers. Bell, 81, also providesfloral arrangements to consumers and restaurants, such as Dakar NOLA.

“If Iput aGerbera daisy from my gardenina restaurant on aTuesday, it will still look freshonSaturday,”she said. “This is oneofthe many

benefits of locally grown flowers.

“People, bothindividuals and restaurants, who buy from me don’tknow what they will be getting in their arrangements. Imake them with whatever is fresh and flowering in thegarden. If

someone is ordering an arrangement for agardener,the gardener won’twantcommercial flowers.

“At onetime,all flower markets sold local flowers. Then, local flowermarkets everywhere were replacedbythe World Flower MarketinHolland. Iwanttochange that.

“People should also keep in mind thatwhenthey entertain guests fromanother part of the world or anotherpart of the country,the flowers they seeinyourhome are notthose thatshould be available to themathome. People who come here want to seeour regionalflowers. Iwantpeople to have an emotional connectiontoflowers, for them to say, ‘My grandmotherused to growthat.’”

Bell beganusing raised beds afterflooding following HurricaneKatrina ledtosoil contamination. Organic soil with compostinraisedbeds circumvents this issue

The flowers run the gamut.

INSIDESOURCES

FLEUR D’EDEN/BELL FLORTICULTURAL SERVICES

2111 Baronne St. ● (504)669-3814

To create her arrangements, Jeanette Bell uses the flowers from her Fleur d’Eden garden, likeexotic Gloriosolilies, left,which arenative to Africa,and bayleavesand Echinacea blossoms, right.

“I particularly like flowers that are native to Africa but are rarely acknowledged as such,” Bell said. “Things like agapanthus, gloriosa lily, amaryllis, calla lily,birdof paradise, African iris, Gerbera daisies,Dutch iris for spring, zinnias, shrimp plant and gladiola.

“I also grow old garden roses, echinacea and snapdragons. We willhave camellias into March this year because the drought delayed their bloom. Iamalso focusing on food-grade flowers. The pastry chef at Dakar uses them for desserts.”

The gardens are full of life. Avisit to Fleur d’Eden is likely to include an encounter with abeloved rooster named

Houston.

While roosters are not allowed inresidentialareas of Orleans Parish, the commercially zoned Central City property is alegal home for the colorful fowl

“I am collaborating with

other chicken enthusiasts and aTulane student doing her capstone project who wants to change thelocal backyard chicken laws,” Bellsaid, to allow families to perpetuate flocks of chickensand their healthful, locally raised eggs.

GLOW UP

New low-cost, DIy technology can brighten your home with custom lighting

ABOVE: Designer Janice Hall uses a sputnik-style floor lamp on one side of her sofa and a rope floor lamp on the other side. RIGHT: Hall chose a vertically oriented LED ‘fireplace’ as a dramatic light source for the entry area inside the front door to her 1,300-squarefoot home. She just leaves the heat source turned off.

‘I am a big proponent of modern electric fireplaces as a light source,’ she said.

PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT

BY JYL BENSON

Contributing writer

COVER STORy

Do-it-yourself, multidimensional, layered lighting is having a moment. What once cost thousands of dollars and the services of a lighting expert can now be purchased as a kit online for around $250. Should you wish to extend the warm, sexy vibe to your car, DIY kits for that are available online, too.

Gone are the days when a Cyclops-style single, overhead ceiling fixture or dome light will cut it.

Single-fixture Dick Van Dyke-era overhead lights make everyone look worse, primarily by casting harsh, downward shadows that exaggerate under-eye circles and bags, wrinkles and the structure of one’s nose, while creating a sunken or tired appearance.

Fit that overhead light with a cool-toned fluorescent or LED bulb that distorts natural color and say hello to an emphasis on skin imperfections and a reduction in radiance, resulting in a sickly, pale or dirty appearance. There’s a reason this type of task lighting is used in hospitals and morgues.

ä See LIGHTING, page 12

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: In the kitchen, one overhead task light with a warm white glow illuminates the sink for washing dishes. Otherwise, all the lighting in Hall’s kitchen is indirect and atmospheric. Wall sconces directed toward the ceiling and the floor create multidimensional lighting in a sitting area. By harnessing the power of effective battery-operated lighting and appliances, Hall recently converted her 12-by-12-foot backyard shed into a chic, sexy space to entertain that doubles as a place to hang out or get work done in the event of a power outage.

TIPS ON LIGHTING

Lighting do’s

n LAYER YOUR LIGHTING:

Combine ambient (general), task (functional) and accent (decorative) lighting to create depth.

n USE DIMMERS: Install dimmers on all main lights to adjust brightness and mood.

n CHOOSE WARM LIGHT: Stick to 2,700-3,000K for living spaces to ensure a cozy, inviting feel.

n MAXIMIZE NATURAL LIGHT: Use sheer curtains and mirrors to amplify daylight.

n SCALE FIXTURES

CORRECTLY: Choose lamps and pendants that are proportional to the furniture and room size

n PLACE TASK LIGHTING

STRATEGICALLY: Position lights directly over work areas, such as kitchen counters or reading nooks.

Lighting don’ts

DON’T RELY ON ONE OVERHEAD

SOURCE: A single ceiling light creates harsh shadows and a flat, uninspired room.

DON’T MIX COLOR

TEMPERATURES: Keep Kelvin temperatures consistent (e.g., don’t mix 2,700 K and 5,000 K) in the same room to avoid jarring color shifts.

DON’T IGNORE TASK LIGHTING IN KITCHEN: Relying on ceiling lights leaves countertops in shadow.

DON’T HANG FIXTURES TOO HIGH OR LOW: Pendants should hang 30-36 inches above dining tables.

DON’T USE TOO-BRIGHT LIGHT IN BEDROOMS: Keep bedroom lighting soft to promote relaxation.

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK WATTAGE: Use energy-efficient LEDs but ensure they don’t exceed the fixture’s maximum wattage rating to avoid fire hazards.

When making design choices,

home was built.

LIGHTING

Continued from page 10

Get smart, the easy way

Chances are, if you have shown even a passing interest in selfcare or home interiors, you have seen a reel on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook for a DIY lighting kit.

Such kits offer an affordable, high-impact way to personalize our spaces while embracing the “smart” trend without requiring professional installation.

These kits, which include LED strips, smart bulbs and light panels, allow homeowners to easily create customizable, layered lighting, such as eye-level sconces in bathrooms or floor lamps in living areas, which soften features and reduce harsh shadows. The lighting kits include variations in ambient, task and accent lighting for a more flexible, cozy atmosphere. Combinations of RGB (red-green-blue) and RGBW (red-green-blue-white) lights allow for millions of colors

and shades, enabling users to instantly change the mood of a room for movie nights, parties or relaxation. Kits are designed to be flexible, often with adhesive backing or DIY-friendly mounting, making them suitable for under cabinets, behind televisions or along baseboards.

“Dreamcolor” kits are a popular choice. Advanced dreamcolor technology can display multiple colors at the same time and cast lights that enhance the mood or move to music.

Most of these kits are idiotproof and designed for quick installation without hardwiring, making them ideal for renters or homeowners looking for instant gratification. On top of this, many kits easily integrate with Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit, allowing hands-free control via voice commands.

Just say “Set the mood for a bubble bath,” and your game is on.

Real life application

Janice Hall, an interior designer, photographer and enthusiast

of midcentury modern architecture (she is the founder of the wildly popular social media group “Midcentury in New Orleans”) approached the lighting plan in her Lakeview home thusly:

“My rule is to view a home as a completely different space after the sun goes down,” Hall said. “The home really should take on a completely different vibe once natural light ceases to be a factor.”

To create her vibe, Hall turned primarily to floor lamps, art lights and a wallmounted LED fireplace.

“Everything should be on dimmers,” she said. “You want soft, warm white, balanced light.”

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin. For ruddy, warm light, look for 2,7003,000 K light. Bluish, cold light is 4,000-6,000 K.

Hall puts floor lamps in select corners throughout her home to define her spaces.

“I avoid table lamps, because my home is small and I want to keep the surfaces for other things,” she said. “I also avoid canned ceiling lights because I just don’t like them.

“I select floor lamps for their design,” she said. “I want them to be interesting. I don’t want them to match, but I do want them to have a relationship with one another. I have a sputnik-style floor lamp on one side of my sofa and a rope floor lamp on the other side. I go for the unexpected,” Hall said.

The midcentury sputnik style and rope fixtures were popular during the same era A relationship is there, so they work together.

“Also,” Hall said, “mix up and down lighting. Look for lamps with multiple shades that can be directed up or down.”

Hall eschews overhead and ceiling can lights in her Lakeview Home. Instead, she relies on sconces, as seen here, floor lamps and other sources of light to create a moody atmosphere.

Hall also uses art lights as sources of ambient light.

“You can pick them up on Amazon,” she said. “They come in battery-operated and rechargeable varieties, and they are available in black, chrome or brass finishes. Pick one metal finish and stick with it. Depending on the room’s size, light only one or two pieces of wall art you want to highlight. Too many and the room will look cluttered.”

Hall installed a battery-powered art light above a vertical row of three works at the end of a central hall in her home.

“It serves as ambient lighting,” she said. “It also serves as a night light.”

Fashion by firelight

Hall chose a vertically oriented — rather than a more common horizontal model — LED “fireplace” as a dramatic light source for the entry area inside the front door to her 1,300-square-foot home. “I just leave the heat off,” she said. “I am a big proponent of modern electric fireplaces as a light source.”

By harnessing the power

WHAT’S IN?

Embrace dramatic, oversized and sculptural fixtures that function as artistic, organic centerpieces, moving away from harsh, minimalist or overly ornate designs. Key trends include warm, diffused lighting (frosted glass, linen), personalized, smart technology, and nature-inspired, flowing shapes, such as curved lines and textured metallic finishes.

of effective battery-operated lighting and appliances, Hall recently converted her 12-foot by 12-foot backyard shed into a chic, sexy space to entertain that doubles as a place to hang out or get work done in the event of a power outage.

“The shed was ugly and full of junk,” Hall said. “I cleaned it out and kept only the essentials. Then I had a small lean-to shed tacked onto the back of the larger shed where you can’t see it from the house. I stashed the essentials in there.”

She then had the face of the larger shed changed to match the doors on the back of her house.

“I wanted a sense of cohesiveness,” Hall said.

She spent $300 on Amazon for a rechargeable power box with three outlets so she will have a place to plug in a fan or space heater and charge her phone and her computer.

“I also bought a battery-operated turntable with a built-in speaker so I can always spin vinyl,” she said. “I can go offgrid in my backyard if I have to.”

WHAT’S OUT?

HARSH LIGHT: Cold white spotlighting and harsh, exposed bulbs.

FUSSY FIXTURES: Overly ornamental or excessively detailed fixtures. CLUNKY LOOKS: Rigid, straight-lined or boxy designs are out.

Hall installed a battery-powered art light above a vertical row of three works at the end of a central hall in her home to serve as both ambient lighting and a night light.

Hall created a workspace in a former shed and lit it in a moody way. Everything in the space is batterypowered and/or rechargeable, so she can keep going in the event of a power outage.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

NEW ORLEANS

n TRANSFERS FOR FEB. 18-22

16YRS

QueenAnne style in Lakeview, Upgrades, 6bds, Heat-salt waterpool

19yrsold/Cul-da-sac Redone-Personality extraordinaire4bdrms, Indoor-outdoorliving 6925 CANAL BLVD,70124

Home-pool-pool house/ 4bdrms-Formal RmsDen-DoubleGarage

1419 MILAN STREET,UNIT206 $1,600/MO •NEWRENTAL

2Bds/1.5Ba/1DesignatedParking 1BlocktoSt. Charles/Onsitemanager

Babineaux &Babineaux,Home Sale Partners Linda Babineaux 504-957-8014 (c) J. Babineaux504-813-8460 (c) At Compass Historic Maple Street Office 7934 MapleSt. N.O.,LA70118|504-861-7575 (O)

DISTRICT 1

COLISEUM ST. 1749: $100,000, Marilee Moore Meyers Tucker to Romualdo Gonzalez III.

ERATO ST. 1525, 1527, 1533, ST. CHARLES AVE. 1220-24-28: $135,000, John R. Forbes Jr. and Penny Weber Forbes to Frederick R. Godwin Jr. and Rhonda Shelton Godwin.

AVON PARK BLVD. 7636, FORSHEY ST. 9020-902: donation, no value stated, Lloyd Ranell Profit to Treanell Profit.

S. DUPRE ST. 1117-19: $355,000, R6 Investments LLC to Blake Morgan Woods.

DISTRICT 2

BIENVILLE ST. 2533, 2535:

$135,000, Arthur F. Petivan Jr. to Leo A. Watermeier.

CONTI ST. 2520-22: $450,000, Dusty Dickerson to Calvin Michael Morin Martin.

GENERAL HAIG ST. 5652: $377,000, MKD Lakeview LLC to Clay J. Legros and Elizabeth Sartor Legros.

LOUISVILLE ST. 6970: $435,000, Sarah Finley Otto and Travis Otto to Caroline Catherine Faith Stanek and Joseph Henry Stanek.

MEMPHIS ST. 6613: $650,000, Lisa Gilliland Krieger to Alison M. Mikes Silva and Nicholas S. Silva.

N. ROMAN ST. 2512-14: donation, no value stated, Christian Goodman to John E. Morgan Jr.

ONYX ST. 7440: $389,500, Sheila Adams Hunter to JRW Living Trust.

ROYAL ST. 1217: $1,125,000, David B. Spencer and Deborah Mary Athmann Spencer to William Thomas Mann.

ROYAL ST. 1217: $375,000, Spencer Investments Corp. to William Thomas Mann.

ST. ANN ST. 2751: $160,000, Julia Denise Siren to Hot Sauce Holdings LLC.

SWAN ST. 31: $670,000, Benjamin Harrell, Beverly Lane Fountain, Darah Fountain Harrell, Jeffery P. Fountain and Kevin C. Fountain to Mary Caitlin Johnson Lazzara.

DISTRICT 3

ANDRY ST. 2113-15; ANDRY ST. 2115: $282,000, Lenox Morris Davis Jr. and Steven Mark Davis to S&B Investments LLC.

AVIATORS ST. 1410: $180,000, Donna L. Caplinger, Jane A. Dipol, Judy A. Dipol, Lisa R. Dipol and Lynne Dipol Kalmbach to Nola Dream Homes LLC.

CLOUET ST. 812; DAUPHINE ST. 3053: $670,000, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Roman Catholic Church to Bryan Wall and Jennifer Wall.

CONGRESS ST. 1621: $190,000, MBMT Property Management and Development LLC to James Earl Gale Jr.

FIELDSTON ROAD 7331: $151,500, Bryon J. Leonard and Mary Leonard to Dionne Dilosa.

LAHARPE ST. 2115: $249,000, Molly Fenton to John Richard Cockrell.

LOUISA ST. 623-625 DONATION, NO VALUE STATED, JACOB BRONSTEIN TO JONATHAN C. LISS.

LOUISA ST. 623-625: $799,000, Jonathan C. Liss to Eric Stutzman.

LURLINE ST. 4801: donation, no value stated, Audralle Darensburg Joseph Mazant to Percy Mazant Jr.

PRENTISS AVE. 1361: $789,000, Nola Dream Homes LLC to Amanda Fawcett Swanlund and Matthew Frederic Swanlund.

ROSIERE ST. 1841: $285,000, Allyce E. Andrew Sears and Kelton R. Sears to Henry Robert Gilbert.

SAGE ST. 2519: $115,000, Eric L. Lathan to Amos Morris and Tishann Morris.

TARPON ST. 7909: $182,000, A Way of Life LLC to Alfred Daniel Puig and Parlene Puig.

TRICOU ST. 2148: donation, no value stated, Carl Joseph Harding to Barbara Ann Singleton, Janie Harding Spears, Paula Ann Harding, Paulette Harding and Samuel Harding III.

U.S. 90 26146: $250,000, Kirby A. O’Connor Jr. to MacK David Stewart.

VENUS ST. 4751: $500,000, Christopher Glenn Strickland and Tess Robin Strickland to Benjamin Alexander Paige Pickard and

Jamila Pickard.

VERBENA ST.2483-2485: $237,000, David Curley to Angel Marie Omoike.

WAKEFIELDPLACE 1482: $293,814, Katherine Faye Jones Koch to Christopher A. Hernandezand Eric M. Pierce.

WRIGHT ROAD 4624: $165,000, Dwanna FobbsSowells,Janet JohnsonFobbsand Shquitha Fobbs Gioustovia to Angela Maria Nixon Davis and Eural Jonathan Davis.

DISTRICT 4

CARONDELET ST.2222: $265,400, William L. Aspinall to Christopher E. Schramm and Samantha McLeod Schramm.

PHILIP ST.1900: $745,000, SMS Development LLCtoJarin Rolan Jackson and JeremyRocmon Jackson.

DISTRICT 5

BELLEVILLE ST.801-803: $460,000, Belleville Properties LLCand Trevor L. Young to Gretchen Gottfried Reid.

MACARTHUR BLVD.5400:

$240,000, Maryan Haydee Solorzano to ScottAustin Cooper.

PATTERSON DRIVE 3301: $365,000, Great Heights Properties LLCto Brittney Walker.

SUGARBERRYPLACE 10: donation, no valuestated, Cecilia Grace Tyson, MargueriteMarie Tyson and Sarah Elizabeth Tyson Lutz to KarenLebouefTyson.

DISTRICT 6

ANNUNCIATION ST.4309-11: $385,000, Elizabeth RoyMoore and Guy I. MooretoColin King and Madeline Imler King.

BROADWAYST. 392-94: $770,000, Tykhe Investments LLCtoRed House Ranch LLC.

CALHOUN ST.3224-3226: $360,000, Gretchen SteinbaughDrennan and Jonathan W. Drennan to Julie Pieri and Kurt Schmiederer.

CHESTNUT ST.5936: $1,100,000, Christina Robin Morganand John Leslie Boze to Eric Inman Royster.

DOVE ST.6;LOYOLA AVE. 4431: donation, no value stated, Sara A. Johnson to Sara A. Johnson Living Trust.

GENERAL PERSHING ST.2609: $362,000, Lisa M. Kingsolver to Natalie Kobetz Gibbs andParker Webb Gibbs.

GENERAL PERSHING ST.2631: $130,000, Dixie Capital Corp.to William T. ClarkIII.

LYONS ST.1114: donation, no

REALESTATETRANSFERS

value stated, Judith W. Page and William H. Page toWilliam H. Page revocable trust.

PENISTON ST.1719-21: $825,000, KB Properties New Orleans LLC to Hugo P. Capdevielle and JenniferElizabeth Powell.

PENISTON ST.2301: $490,000, Kaizen Holdings1 LLCtoLauren C. Payne

PRYTANIA ST.3525: $361,000, Prytania InvestmentProperties LLCtoKhristina Harrell Serena and Thomas E.Serena.

PRYTANIA ST.5349: $1,040,000, Sophya Valentina LLCtoRebecca M. Burnett andRobertL.Burnett.

VALLETTE ST.904-06: $165,000, Nino Paternostro to Rashad Williams.

VENDOME PLACE 4008: $775,000, John Carradine andRayne Carradine to MeaghanDoherty Fielkow.

DISTRICT 7

FORSHEY ST.9024, HAMILTONST. 3227, 3229: donation,novalue stated, Lloyd Ranell Profitto TreanellProfit.

HILLARYST. 1810: $380,000, Michael Slater to Amanda Taylor and Matthew Taylor.

PALM ST.9523: $252,000, Donovan J. Benton and EstherRose BentontoDillian Theriot.

EAST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FORFEB. 20-25

HARAHAN

COLONIAL CLUB DRIVE 828: Veronica A. Wille to Lina P. Belo,$235,000.

HALSEY DRIVE 292: Emily Faschan to KarenE.Curtis, $259,000.

KENMORE DRIVE 7700: Three Thousand SevenHundred Constance LLCtoSandi M. F. Mccann, $416,000.

MAGNOLIABLVD. 147: Courtney D. Gresse to Bruce Gresse, donation, no value stated.

JEFFERSON

CROSS ST.4716: Investment Holdings LLCtoJomaelin F. Ching,$437,000.

JEFFERSON PARK AVE. 605: Aimee A.E. Garafola to Adnan H. Alrashed, $210,000.

TERRACE ST.624-26: Maximum Investment LLCtoDawson Scardino, $320,000.

KENNER

42ND ST.1645: Marshall D. Williams to Shreedsd LLC, $108,000.

ARKANSAS AVE. 3620: HpaIII Acquisitions 1. LLCtoHongtao Li, $119,900.

BRADLEY PLACE2: Kimberly M. HayestoCody Kellum, $275,900.

CONNECTICUT AVE. 3916: Wj Houses LLCtoRyanF.Barback, $258,000.

E. LOUISIANA STATEDRIVE 3503: BeverlyF.PerniciarotoGladys Mcgowan, $208,500.

FILMORE ST.420: Aundray W. LagruetoDwanWilliams,donation, no value stated.

IDAHOAVE. U2437 2437: Pamela A. Corbett to Erica M. Ehlers, $115,000.

KENTUCKYAVE. 1926: IrisR.Rumick to Ross Thedy,$171,000.

LIBRA LANE 912: Ronnie M. Rodriguez to Karla R. Salinas, donation, no value stated.

MINNESOTA AVE. 2012: Hiep

C. DangtoMccoyV Nguyen, $145,000.

PLANTATION DRIVE 341: Rhondas A. Smith to Sarah A. Smith,donation, no value stated.

RICHLAND ST.2321: Alexander Co. LLCtoSiv Grace Properties LLC, $535,000.

WEBSTER ST.326: Jerome Joseph to Brandon Lamotte, $4,000. W. ESPLANADE AVE. 1500: JenniferK.Mathes to Melissa L. Groover, $155,000.

METAIRIE

AVRON BLVD.4905: Joseph J. ColluraJr. to Karina L. Cruz, $480,000.

CARIBOUCOURT 26: Loan K. Nguyen to Mary N. Tran, $210,000.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

EAST

Continued frompage15

CARROLLTONAVE. 249: MK Homes LLCtoC.K. Hubert, $735,000.

CLEARYAVE. U1033456: Donald S. DurrtoLee P.Y. Grace, $165,000.

CLEVELAND PLACE 4116: Mathilde K. Cornette to RJohns, $482,000.

COLONY ROAD 1209: M.P.Mistry to Brook F.A. Tadele, $267,000.

E. WILLIAM DAVID PARKWAY 401: Lisa H. Mayeux to Kahnhart Properties LLC, $125,000.

EDENBORN AVE. 2125-27: Two ThousandOne Hundred Twenty FiveTwenty Seven Edenborn LLC to One Thousand ThreeHundred Nursery LLC, $315,000.

GARDEN ST.4600: Paul B. Reggio to Margaret J. Reggio, donation, no value stated.

GIUFFRIAS AVE. 1816: Michael Doherty to KrishmaKumar, $355,000.

HARING ROAD 1301: Francis A. III Jurovich to Camie S.J. Ruiz, $143,000.

HELIOS AVE. 315: Marcomb LLC Ryan C. to Claus LLCDavid, $434,000.

HOUMA BLVD.2201: David E. Anderson to Wang Worlwide Rentals LLC, $50,000.

LAWN DRIVE 420: Michael J. April to April Linda Living Trust, donation, no value stated.

MANSONAVE. 1608: Mary A.T. Mandella to SalvadoreV RandazzoJr., $265,000.

MASONSMITHAVE.1109: Kevin J. KieferJr. to Theresa K. Tucker, $190,000.

NEWTOMARKET!

THEPENTHOUSESAT 888 BARONNE

Available forPurchaseNow!2under contract within2 weeks. Aselect number of penthouses that offer aunique&exclusive living experience with potentialfor rental income viaanoptionalprofessionally managedrental program. 2and 3bedroom floorplans areavailable rangingfrom1271SF to 1906SF,all withgenerouslysized roof terraces that offer extraordinary NewOrleans skylineviews.Eachpenthouseis sold fullyfurnished andis designer decoratedwithall housewares-a true turnkey purchase.Building amenities includea spectacularroofsun deck w/ pool/spa &comfortable seating&grilling areas, stateofthe artgym andgameroom/lounge Garage parkingavailability.Locatedsteps from theSouth Market District, Superdome,FrenchQuarter,and CBD. Don’tmissthisOpportunity! AvailableUnits startat $920,900

SHAUNTALBOT (504)975-9763

METAIRIE HEIGHTS AVE. 2705: Meredith H. Noto to Dennis J. Campbell, $335,000.

METAIRIE HEIGHTS AVE. 2805: Kimberley S. Todtschinder to Stephen D. Sigle,$321,500.

MONTGOMERYAVE. 404: JJM Properties LLCtoSusan T. LLC, $100,000.

MONTGOMERYAVE. 404: Steven Clark to Susan T. LLC, $90,000.

N. ARNOULTROAD3320: Lisette SchrothtoCandy VSaravia, $137,000.

N. BENGAL ROAD 352: Calvin III MiltotoBertucci Investment Group LLC, $65,000.

OLD METAIRIE PLACE 712: Annie W.B. Mcaloon to EmmaA.Mcfadden, $372,500.

PARK DRIVE S. 4704-06: Celso E. Hernandez to Steven J. Foret, $395,000.

RIVERSIDE DRIVE 6200: Sultan Khader to Ma RS LLC, $32,000.

SEVERN AVE. 604: Dorothy C. Bassett to Therese C. Gebbie, $240,000.

SHERIDAN AVE. 4720: Walter J. Evans to Jordan T. Lacoste, $333,145.

RIVERRIDGE

HERMITAGEPLACE 8913: Dianne F. Muhs to Quinlivan Homes LLC, $316,500.

MARYRIDGECOURT3: Jason O. Schell to Alysse B. Lebon, $370,000.

MOSS LANE 413: VPKG LLCto ConnorRoberts, $283,000.

TIFFANY DRIVE 10109: Simeon P. Stringer to Dustin Dalton, $372,000.

504-913-8665 toni@reverealtors.com

WEST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FORFEB.20-25

AVONDALE

AVONDALE GARDEN ROAD 412: Alan Wooden to Calvin Houston, $5,000.

CAPITOLDRIVE 295: Ayan Martinez to ShadowHomes LLC, $28,000.

BRIDGE CITY

HOOTER ROAD 1036: CamtuN. Ho to Giang T.N. Do, donation, no value stated.

GRANDISLE

FIGLANE 159: Erin S. Gilpin to KarenW.Owens,$20,000.

GRETNA

GOODSON DRIVE 769: Evelyn C. Catan to DHarris, $160,000.

HOLMES BLVD.631: Angela Vo to Renee Y.N. Nguyen,$400,000.

LAKELOUISE DRIVE 1137: Merry L. D. Lopez to Abdalrahim Shalabi, $342,000.

HARVEY

HAMPTON DRIVE 2241: Brian J. Ward to Flip Inn Housing LLC, $150,000.

REDWOOD DRIVE 1521: RAC Development LLCtoDarshiara B. Barnes, $240,000.

THIRD AVE. 808: Valence Roudolfich Sr.toValence Roudolfich Jr., $77,500.

WEDGWOOD DRIVE 1739: Thanh T. Nguyen to Kelsey D.

Shaffer, $574,000.

LAFITTE

MAIN ROAD 5118: Michael T. Prestenbach to Michael T. Prestenbach, donation, no value stated.

MARRERO

BEVERLYDRIVE 2601: Maegan M. F. Guccione to JohnnyV.Lam, $339,900.

BEVERLYDRIVE 2608: Marissa DanieltoKatena M. Brown, $313,000.

ISABELLE DRIVE 2785: Restoration Nola LLCtoJamal Anderson, $178,000.

JUNG AVE. 1240: Kenneth BoudreauxtoAlvin Uzee Jr., donation, no value stated.

RED OAKDRIVE 4732: Murphy L. Cortez Sr.toColton Schnabel, $234,900.

SILVERADO DRIVE 7437: Cassidy B.B. Savoie to Ashley A. Ellis, $372,000.

WARWICKDRIVE 5104: Lisa H. SackstoBhb 7. EnterpriseLLC, $122,082.

TERRYTOWN

GOODSON DRIVE 765: Joshua Lumpkin to Kathleen R. C. Magbee, $181,000.

HARVARD LANE2101: Craig A. Lucia to Ryan Haughton, $289,000. WRIGHTAVE.U225F 225: Freedom Mortgage Corp.toMohammad Hindi, $67,000.

WAGGAMAN

DANDELION DRIVE 914: Coast BuildersLLC to LakeshaM.F. Spencer, $359,900.

WESTWEGO

AVE. G737: Ralph SackstoBFAM 20 EnterpriseLLC,$81,722.

AVE. H753: Ralph E. SackstoBHB 6. EnterpriseLLC,$65,010.

CENTRAL AVE. 1409: DanielGuillot to Angel P. Chauncey, $35,000. KELLER AVE. 825: Ralph E. SackstoBHB 10 EnterpriseLLC, $175,000.

KELLER AVE. 831: Lisa S. Hughes to BHB 9. EnterpriseLLC, $158,178.

WEST DRIVE 809: Lisa S. Hughes to BHB 8. Enterprises LLC, $98,534.

(504)525-9763 www.talbot-realty.com

REALESTATETRANSFERS

ST. TAMMANy

n TRANSFERS FOR FEB. 9-13

ABITA SPRINGS

ARAPAHO COURT 108: Russell A. Dalton and Elizabeth R. Dalton to Jeremiah Thom, $389,000.

BIRDIE STREET, LOT 10: Nicholas G. Bigler and Robert T. Bigler to Colin Hosli, $11,000.

BRYAN ST. 71100: Steven D Garcia and Jolene M. Garcia to Caroline D. Bauder, $365,000.

HIGH ST. 233: Sheryl A. Julian Goodland and succession of Barbara H. Willette to William G. Webster Jr., $665,000

HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB

SUBDIVISION, LOT 17, SQUARE 2: Jerome T. Dupont III and Melissa C. Dupont to Cody R. Silvan and Kayla N. Booker, $349,500.

HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB

SUBDIVISION, LOT 20, SQUARE 40: Donna S Golman to Chloe L. Chaisson-Duryea and Jenna M. Chaisson-Duryea, $164,000.

HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB SUBDIVISION, LOT 3, SQUARE 15: Benjamin C. Eddingfield to Sharon L. Howed Eddingfield, donation, no value stated.

COVINGTON

ALAMOSA PARK SUBDIVISION, PHASE 3A, LOT 44A: Alamosa Park LLC to Shred Haven Properties LLC, $176,000

BAYBERRY DRIVE 100: Jessie S. Monsted to George S. Monsted, donation, no value stated BELLE VU LOOP 30: Ian S. Jones to Jessica D Rodrigue, $130,418. CALDEN COURT 19634: DSLD Homes LLC to Kevin Cousins, $275,976.

CHRETIEN POINT 809: MJN Advisors LLC to Falkenstein Living Trust, $1,050,000.

CHRISTINE LANE 2004: Scott C. Fontana and Gayle F. Fontana to Scott H. Sharp, $237,000.

CRAWFORD ROAD 19432: Trace Property Venture LLC to Sabra Health Care Holdings III LLC, $8,500,000.

CRESTVIEW HILLS LOOP 75048: Theodore T. Falk and Lisa M. Falk to George W. Whitehead IV and Jenny Robinson, $323,500.

DIVISION OF ST. JOHN SUBDIVISION, LOT 5R, SQUARE 1: Rebeca Ruth D. Hale and Rebecca Hale Marital Trust to Bryant J. Badeaux, $1,250,000.

EAST TATE STREET, LOT 10, SQUARE 57: Mary B. Barkerding,

Elizabeth B. Barkerding and Sara B. Davies to Rav J. Poche and Michele Poche, $15,000.

EMERALD FOREST BLVD. 350: Shannon R. Nash to Stanislaw Popiolek and Robin R. Popiolek, $139,900

EMERALD FOREST BLVD. 350, UNIT 5105, PARKING SPACE 14: David J. Chelette Sr. and Norma H. Chelette to Shannon R. Nash, $139,900.

ESTELLE COURT 3023: DSLD Homes LLC to Richard J. Laborde and Judith B. Laborde, $295,815.

FAVROTVILLE SUBDIVISION, PORTION OF GROUND: City of Covington to Favrotville LLC, $174,000.

LA. 1083 75181: Deborah M. McMath to Ronald E. Robinson and Patricia M. Robinson, $380,000.

LA BRANCHE PLACE 481: Highland Homes Inc. to Linda D. Slayter, $592,180.

MANTON PROPERTIES SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, LOT 3: KT Property Investments LLC to Kort’s Construction Services Inc., $1,500,000.

N. VERONA DRIVE 408: James D. Burnett and Kimberly Burnett re-

Gameel Gabriel to Jared M. Simoneaux, $150,000.

S. CORNICHE DU LAC 757: 757 S. Corniche Du Lac LLC to Sharon B Finklea, $600,000.

S. RIVER DRIVE, LOT 73: Renee J. Nesbitt and Barbara N. Nesbitt to Michael Haynes and Carolyn A. Haynes, $42,000.

SAM COURT 2505: Austin M. Smith and Ashley E. Smith to Anita H. Fincher, $325,000.

SECOND CONNOLLY SUBDIVISION, LOT 5, SQUARE 43: Edmond Ray Himel testamentary trust to Satsuma Group LLC, $55,000.

SOUTHDOWN LOOP 404: Sharon B. Finklea to Bruce J. Balius and Lizette C. Balius, $559,000.

SYDNEY DRIVE 75381: Luther W. Holloway IV to Elizabeth A. Manuel, donation, no value stated.

TERRA BELLA SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1A13, LOT 301: Terra Bella Group LLC to Michael Stanton and Christine Stanton, $205,000. W. 23RD AVE. 1017: Michele M. Thomas Tusa and Marie Spizale Tusa Estate to Peter Nix, $255,000.

WOODSPRINGS COURT 911: April tion.

NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: Stephen C. Boyette and Heather N. Delasalle Boyette to William R. Greer and Mona F. Greer, $263,000.

NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: Helen M. Dunaway irevocable trust to Duncan McLindon, $100,000.

NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: Zachary E. Barry to Meagan B. Barry, donation, no value stated.

LACOMBE

MARKHAM DRIVE 66357: Marianna Y. Porche, Alexander G. Yazigi and Mark A. Yazigi to Michael P Yazigi, donation, no value stated.

TAGALONG ROAD 27399: Clay D Nichols Sr. to Alton C. Dureau III and Daphne J. Dureau, $175,000.

MADISONVILLE

AUDUBON PARKWAY 1249: Matthew Snitzer and Marleybree A. Snitzer to Aaron J. Labourdette and Frances Labourdette, $595,000.

CEDAR CREEK DRIVE 325: Laurie E. Melancon, Jamie E. Kratzer and Karen A. Roach to Jose E. Santiago, $387,331.

ENGLISH OAK DRIVE 609: Derrel Hotard and Leilani Hotard to Clifton M. McGovern and Marsha Guthrie, $398,000.

FAIRFIELD OAKS DRIVE 256: Katherine S. Walsh to James M. Fiorenza and Sharon G. Fiorenza, $360,000.

NEAR MADISONVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: Allen S. Koepp to ä See TAMMANY, page 18

REALESTATETRANSFERS

TAMMANY

RichardS.Koepp, donation, no value stated.

POE ST.112: Cheng-Hua Leeto Athena Cai, donation, novalue stated.

MANDEVILLE

AARON COURT204: Paul J. Primeaux Jr. to Michael Coogan and Ashley Coogan,$585,000.

CASEY DRIVE547: Hutchinson Properties Inc. to Gary D. Beilman Jr. and Jennifer H. Beilman, $433,000.

CEDARWOOD DRIVE 537: Succession of Dale S. Martin to GT General Contractors LLC, $85,000.

CHAPEL LOOP 321: Nancy A. Linzy and Fran M.EarlytoNancy A. Linzy and Fran M. Earlyrevocable trust, donation, no value stated.

CHATEAULOIRE CIRCLE 6009: Hassan A. Al-JebouritoYazan N. Jad Qamar, $450,000.

COPPER CANYON DRIVE2113: Copper Ridge Development LLC to Nicholas W. Lagalanteand Sydney V. Lagalante, $127,500.

MADISON ST.1808: Ryan Murphy to Marianne Murphy,donation, no value stated.

N. LOTUS DRIVE 590, UNIT 1: Colleen R. HastingstoTaylor M. Hastings, donation, no value stated.

NANCYST. 816: RichardJ.Corne, Julie C. Willheit andSheriFernandez to Clint Mayeux and Gina L. Brancewicz, $159,000.

NEAR MANDEVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: Gregory Harvin to Chad N. Cielencki and BrittanyR. Cielencki, $175,000.

OSCAR ST.23396: ElliotC.Lanaux to Hunter L. Alexander and Jannah E. Alexander,$338,000.

RAPATEL ST.929: Wendy A. Pratt to LaurenLoeffelholz, $317,500.

TEMPLAR LOOP 4469: KPM Construction LL to NAFCash LLC, $570,750.

WOODMERE DRIVE 1303: LaVanway Living Trust to Benjamin Herricks and Jennifer Herricks, $558,000

PEARLRIVER

ALAMOSALANE 37329: Stephen A. Malleyand DarrellW.Malley Jr. to LauraH.Malley,donation, no value stated.

ELDERBERRYLOOP 1501: Deborah T. Starring and Warren M. Starring to Andrew S. O’Neal and Robin O’Neal, $460,000.

FOREST BROOK BLVD.313: Mukund R. Chander to Mukund Ram Chander Living Trust, no value stated.

GULF SOUTH COMMERCE PARK SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1A, PORTION OF GROUND: CrosbyDevelopment Co.LLC to BSD II Steel12 TIC 1LLC,$3,415,921.

Continued frompage17 Peopletrustmewith

CHRISKENNEDY ROAD 66387: Patrick Eversull to Jared M. Wood and Madelyn E.Wilson, $245,250.

FARMING LANE 39747: John T. Harden andKaren Y. Harden to John Tilton andKaren Y. Harden irrevocabletrust, donation, no value stated.

HAYESST. 65040: Allen M. Fernandez to Jessica W. Smithand Wesley Smith, $250,000.

LA. 41 SPUR 39475: RayMcDonald Jr. to 1754 Marsha DriveLLC, donation, no valuestated.

OAKST. 39208: Deep Roots Property Solutions LLCtoGaspar Saldibar and Erine M. Clark Saldibar, $10 and other valuable consideration.

SIXTHWARD

TOWNOFTALISHEEK, PORTION OF GROUND: Judy Neal O’Brien to MichaelS.Neal Sr., $40,320.

SLIDELL

BRIARGROVE DRIVE 412: Brian H. Calamariand Aaron W. Calamari to Amber R. Stock,$245,000.

CARDINAL DRIVE 267: Arianne S. Marshall to Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, $54,000.

CAREY ST.3176: Michelle A. Waites to MichaelR.Finn, $135,000.

CEDAR RIDGECOURT100: John P. Guelfo III and Christina M. Guelfo to James Gornor Jr. and AlexandraE.Reynolds, $199,999.

CROYDON ST.3744: Veronica E. Ferman and Alexis Fink to Hong Dao,$250,000.

DAUPHINE ST.4126: E. J. Milligan ConstructionLLC to Jennifer C. Guarino, $239,000.

DEVON DRIVE 35609: Billie A. Dunn to Gabrielle M. Englade Scamardo, donation, no value stated.

E. PINEWOOD DRIVE 75: Kurt M. Bozant and Colette D. Duffour Bozant to Louis P. EiermannIII and Susan K. Eiermann, $365,000.

EFFIE ST.3095: Daryl W. MillerJr. to Jessica L. Saybe, $25,000.

FOREST PINES SUBDIVISION, LOT 89, SQUARE E: Willie Frowner to Rachael K. Frowner,donation, no value stated.

GAUSE BLVD.1336: Christina Shaheen, Mahfouz M. Issa Shaheen

and Michael Shaheen to 1336 Gause LLC, $135,000.

GRANDSPRINGSROAD5536: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Gregory Davis, $10 and other good and valuable consideration.

HAASWOOD LANE609: Evan T. Savoie and Lauren M. VaillancourtSavoietoJoshua P. Gaudreau Matranga and Kristin Gaudreau Matranga, $313,000.

JOHNNY F. SMITH AVE. 520: Kastner Enterprises LLCto4228 Main Street Properties LLC, $3,500,000. LA. 433 54195: Joe F. Nations and KarenP.Nations revocable living trust to Tyler C. Nations, donation, no value stated.

LA CHENIER SUBDIVISION,PHASE 1, LOTS 29A, 30B, 31A, 31B, 33A, 33B: Cross Gates LLCtoPebble LLC, $200,000.

LAURENT ROAD 34222: Joseph Allmaras-Constante Onorati to Barry Hutcherson, $276,500.

MAGNOLIAHEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, LOT11, SQUARE 2: Jon F. Leonardand Mary L. Leonardto Sharon Johnson, $137,000.

MAPLE CREEK DRIVE 995: Daniel P. Arcement and Julie D. ArcementtoRyanD.Heiland Yuvia E. Gonzalez-Heil, $280,000.

MARAIS RIVER DRIVE 4386: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLCto Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, $130,000.

MARAIS RIVER DRIVE 4429: MovementMortgage LLCtoRhodes Properties and Development LLC, $176,660.

MARINA VILLA BLVD.3054: RichardT.Hite Jr. andPriscilla F. Hite to William H. Richards and Antoinette D. Richards, $875,000.

MCARTHUR DRIVE 1727: Property TBC LLCtoWilliamM.Sims and

Janice W. Sims,$65,000.

MOONRAKER DRIVE 223: Adam M. Hoogland to Shane A. Moore, $475,000.

NEAR SLIDELL, PORTION OF GROUND: Alvin H. Davis to Paul Jacobsen and Ann Jacobsen, donation, no value stated.

NEAR SLIDELL, PORTION OF GROUND: CharlesE.Parker to Brian E. Parker,donation, no value stated.

NEAR SLIDELL, PORTION OF GROUND: Sam MillertoErlanda M. Williams,$35,327, donation.

OAKAVE.57294: Olga M. Quintanilla to Nathan Nhan T. Luong, $80,000.

PARADISE POINTSUBDIVISION, LOT12: NorthlakeHolding LLC to Paradise inter-vivos trust, donation, no value stated. PINE SHADOWS SUBDIVISION,PORTION OF GROUND: RayMcDonald Jr. and Chelsey McDonaldto1754 MarshaDriveLLC,donation, no value stated.

PINEST. 1124: RobertEzell to BC Real InvestmentLLC,$78,000. PONTCHARTRAIN DRIVE 4783: Gail F. Joffrion to Jeffery P. Joffrion III, donation, no value stated.

PONTCHARTRAIN DRIVE 4939: Carol U. DarbytoBrian T. Fornea and Alison Davis ForneaJoint revocable trust, $5,000.

RUE CHARTRES 1501: Susan K. Bihm Eiermann to Dawn Droddy, $290,000.

SECOND ST.2651: WendyL. Griffith to Steven A. Barlow and NedraM.Barlow, $175,000.

SLIDELL AVE. 3046: PennyMac Loan Services LLCtoBingham Halliburton LLC, $85,000.

SPARTANDRIVE 507, UNIT 4203: Michelle Norwood Forman to Kelsey B. Heydand Melissa A. Brown, $115,000.

STANLEY ST.727: Bruce E. Gordon, Holden E. Gordonand others to Gilberto Valencia and Christian D. Valencia, $45,000.

SUNSETROAD57493: Ashley Bachar to Patrick Peyton, $176,700.

W. DOUCETTE ROAD 32276: Adrian J. Doucette to Sheryl A. Doucette Cousin, donation, no value stated.

SUN/BUSH

LA. 16 29119: James P. Kanz to Patricia M. Young, donation, no value stated.

Actor Bryan Cranston teases the crowd with adoubloon during the 2020 Orpheus parade in NewOrleans. Cranston turns 70 years oldon Saturday.

STAFF FILE

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

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

Todayinhistory:

On March 7, 1965, amarch by over 500 civil rightsdemonstrators was violentlybrokenupatthe Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama; state troopers and asheriff’s possefired tear gas and beat marchers with batonsinwhat became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Also on this date:

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bellreceived aU.S. patentfor his telephone.

In 1936, Adolf Hitler orderedhis 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 most cases, instead of the previously required two-thirds of senators present.

In 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that aparody that pokes funatan original workcan be considered “fair use.” (The ruling concerned aparody of the RoyOrbison song “Oh,Pretty Woman” by the rap group2 Live Crew.)

In 2010, filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the AcademyAward for Best Director,takingthe prize for “The Hurt Locker.”

In 2024, movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with

Afraid to tradesecurityfor soil

the2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographerbyAlec Baldwin during arehearsal on theset of theWestern film“Rust.” (Gutierrez-Reed served an 18-month prison sentence and was released 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 Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 74. Actor Bryan Cranston is 70. Tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl is 66. Singer Taylor Dayneis64. Author Bret Easton Ellis is 62. Comedian Wanda Sykes is 62. Actor Rachel Weisz is 56. Actor Peter Sarsgaard is 55. Actor Jenna Fischer is 52. Actor TobiasMenzies is 52. Actor Laura Prepon is 46. Poet AmandaGorman is 28.

Dear Annie: I’ve been married nearly 40 years. My wife’sfatherhas passed, and her 81-yearold mother still lives on the family farm. My wife is on aloan her mother took out to buy part of thatfarm, and she handles everything for my mother-inlaw.

One of her brothers lives in the farmhouse and is aslob. He won’ttake off worktotake their mother to appointments, so my wife does that, too. Now my wife wants to build ahouseonthe farm next to her brother.InOctober 2024, she surviveda“widowmaker” heart attack and had astent placed. Her brother had a valve replaced in his heart in 2018 but is healthy now.I’m almost62, disabled due to heart issues and astroke, and Ihave COPD.

If we move to the farm,I worry I’ll be responsible for maintaining 3acres of land (mowing, burning thefields, etc.) and cleaning up after her brother.I’d alsohave no legal right to stayifshe dies first, and we would have to sell our current home, which is in both our names

Idon’twant her family’s property or money.Iadmit Iwasn’ta good husband for

the first 29 years of ourmarriage,but I’ve changedfor the better.Still, it feelslike I can’tdoenough. Every day, Ithink moreand moreabout divorce, and letting herhave everything exceptmydog and clothes.Ihave no desire to date or marry again; Ijust want peace and quietinthe years Ihave left. Our children aregrown, almost 36 and39, and we have no grandchildren.

Ihave zero clue what to do, and I’m tiredoftrying any more. —Plowing Toward Divorce

Dear Plowing Toward Divorce: You don’tsound like aman who truly wantsa divorce. You sound like someonewho wants securityand peace of mind before uprootinghis life fora move thatleaves him vulnerable in more waysthanone. Your wife isn’twrongfor wanting to be closer to heraging mother.But anyplanthat reshapesyour lifetogether musttake both partners into equal consideration.

Before you talkabout divorce, talk about logistics. Meet with an attorney together and understand exactly what your rights would be. Discussmaintenance, finances,your healthsituationsand what happens if oneofyou dies first. Youmightbesurprised how clarity can quieta lot of your fears.

Dear Annie: I’m in my 80s and the patriarch of thefamily.I

have manyrelatives within a 40-mile radius. Over Thanksgiving, Ididn’treceive one invite or inquiry from anyone. I’mawidower andlive alone. This is an ongoing problem. I couldbeaskeleton before any family member found me I’ve been very generous to my family,although I’ve stopped being “thebank” because my family owes me over $10,000. I’ve stopped asking forit. I’ve givenaway cars as wellasmoney.I recentlybought presents forall my great-great-relativesand never received athank you. Is there something wrong withme, or is this nowthe norm? —Generousand Gutted

Dear Generous and Gutted: There’snothing wrongwith you. What you’re describing is neglect, plain and simple, and it hurts.

You’ve given generously, but generosity doesn’tobligate others to show up. Sometimes peoplegrow so used to receivingthat they forget howto give.

Trywidening yourcircle. A senior center,church group or volunteer workcan offer real companionship. Family matters, but it isn’tthe only place belonging is found. You deserve to be valuedfor your presence, not yourpresents.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com