The Advocate 03-09-2026

Iran names son to succeed slain leader

BY JON GAMBRELL, SAM METZ, KAREEM CHEHAYEB and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran’s late supreme leader, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early Mon-

day, as the war that began a little over a week ago with his father’s killing took a dramatic turn.

The younger Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post, even before an Israeli strike killed Ayatollah

Ali Khamenei, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. The announcement came after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as

Does higher education in La. need overhaul?

Prospective students and their families tour the University of New orleans.

Colleges struggling with enrollment stagnation, budget challenges

BY HALEY MILLER and MARIE FAZIO staff writers

ucation

that simply too many colleges, at least in their current form, for a state of approximately 4.6 million people?

“If you look at those metrics per pupil, it’s hard,” LSU system President Wade Rousse said at a news conference in February “It’s hard to understand how it all works and how it’s sustainable.” As the purpose and return on

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Tech giants poised for tax breaks on data centers

state officials say trade-off is worth it

BY SAM KARLIN staff writer

When Meta officials came to Louisi-

ana in 2024 to negotiate a potential data center project, they told state officials that they would need significant tax breaks in order to close the deal.

“It was ‘If you don’t have this, we will not consider your state,’ ” Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said in an interview

Two years later, Meta has broken ground on a $27 billion data center campus in north Louisiana. Amazon is not far

behind with plans for a $12 billion data center near Shreveport. And the state and local governments are poised to give potentially billions in tax breaks to the tech giants, based on projections of Louisiana’s generous tax exemptions and the expected expenditures of the companies The tax breaks are part of a complex puzzle that states are grappling with to land so-called “hyperscale” data centers, which are massive warehouses filled with servers that power artificial intelligence products offered by tech giants including Amazon, Meta and OpenAI.

In some states, backlash to data centers has swelled where residents and elected officials say they are worried about them raising electric costs, draining tax revenue and straining water systems — as well as job losses their AI outputs may cause. Louisiana’s data centers

Bill would allow for removal of judges, DAs

Proposal gives power to Landry, Legislature

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN staff writer

Gov Jeff Landry, who has gone after the judiciary for decisions he says are too liberal, could get the power to recommend that Louisiana district attorneys and judges be suspended or removed.

Senate Bill 123, filed for the legislative session starting Monday, would give him that power pending the passage of a constitutional amendment. That means Louisiana voters would have to approve the change at the polls.

State Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, who authored the legislation, said it was his idea to file the bill, which he hopes will help hold judges and prosecutors accountable for incompetence and misconduct. He has not yet spoken with the governor about SB123, he said, though he hopes to win Landry’s support. Kate Kelly, a spokesperson for Landry, declined to comment. Under the bill, the state Senate would have to affirm the governor’s removal recommendation by a two-thirds vote. Critics of the proposal argue it is unconstitutional because it would make judges beholden to the governor infringing on the independence of the judiciary “I don’t know what purpose it’s serving

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BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Kansas City airport

opens after evacuation

KANSAS CITY Mo. The Kansas City International Airport terminal reopened Sunday afternoon, hours after it was evacuated while authorities looked into a potential threat, the Kansas City Aviation Department said Airport spokesperson Jackson Overstreet said in an email shortly after 2 p.m. that the terminal was reopened. The evacuation began after a threat that surfaced about 11:15 a.m. Flights that landed after the evacuation were held on the taxiway during the shutdown, which Overstreet said lasted about two hours.

In a social media post Sunday afternoon, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the incident was clear and “normal operations are resuming.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media Sunday afternoon that the FBI reviewed the threat and determined it “not to be credible.”

Logan Hawley, 29, said he was waiting to board a flight to Texas when he noticed a swarm of police and K-9 units inside the terminal.

“Suddenly there was an airport worker saying, ‘Immediately evacuate.’ People got up fast and rushed out of there,” Hawley said.

He said the group of roughly 2,000 people were ushered onto the tarmac.

University in Florida probes racist group chat

MIAMI A South Florida university has launched an investigation into a group chat started by an official with the Miami-Dade chapter of the Republican Party that included violently racist slurs, antisemitic comments and misogynistic language.

The chat, which was denounced by the state GOP, involved students and several top conservative leaders at Florida International University, according to the Miami Herald, which viewed and independently verified the conversations.

The university said in a statement on Thursday that the conduct of the students was being investigated by the campus police in coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement.

“FIU does not and will not tolerate violence, hate, discrimination, harassment, racism or antisemitism,” said FIU President Jeanette Nunez, a former Florida lieutenant governor and GOP state lawmaker “This is not who we are. This is not what FIU stands for.”

The Republican Party of Florida said in a statement that it was undertaking “an internal review of this situation” and condemned “the repugnant comments,” saying that they were “completely contrary” to what the organization represents.

NTSB member says he was fired

WASHINGTON A National Transportation Safety Board member who was a public face of the investigation into last year’s deadly collision of an airliner and an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital said Sunday that he had been fired by the Trump administration without explanation.

Todd Inman said in a statement he received notice Friday from the White House personnel office that his position on the board was “terminated effective immediately.” He said he had not yet received a reason for his firing. The White House had no immediate response to a message seeking comment.

The NTSB has a five-person board but its website on Sunday showed just three members

The board’s vice chair, Alvin Brown, was abruptly removed last year

Brown and Robert Primus, who served on the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, were the only Black board members overseeing their respective independent agencies when they were fired last year Both have challenged their firings in court, and the group Democracy Forward has filed discrimination claims on behalf of the men.

Police: Counterprotester threw explosive

Improvised device tossed at anti-Islam rally in New york

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK A device thrown by a counterprotester at an anti-Islam demonstration in New York City on Saturday was confirmed to be an improvised explosive, according to a preliminary police analysis. As the investigation continued on Sunday, police said they were looking into a second suspicious device found in the same area of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Two people were in custody for their alleged role in Saturday’s confrontation, which unfolded dur-

ing a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” event led by the far right activist Jake Lang outside the Manhattan residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The sparsely attended event drew a far larger group of counterdemonstrators, including one person who tossed a smoking object containing nuts, bolts, screws and a “hobby fuse” into the crowd, police said.

In a social media post Sunday, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department’s bomb squad determined the object wasn’t a hoax device or smoke bomb, but an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”

The device extinguished itself steps from police officers, Tisch noted. The same person who threw

it then received a second device from another counterprotester, which was dropped and did not appear to ignite, the commissioner said.

Charges against the two counterprotesters were still pending. Tisch said police were working with federal prosecutors and the FBI on the case.

“Violence at a protest is never acceptable,” Mamdani said in a statement Sunday “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”

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Police in Norway probe blast outside U.S. Embassy

BY STEFANIE DAZIO and MATTHEW LEE

Associated Press

Police in Norway were investigating an explosion early Sunday outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, the capital of the Scandinavian country, officials said.

No injuries were reported. Police received reports of a “loud bang” or explosion about 1 a.m., Oslo police said in a news release.

The explosion was caused by some sort of incendiary device, according to Frode Larsen, leader of the Oslo police joint unit for investigation and intelligence.

Investigators believe the embassy was the target and are searching for the perpetrators and their motive.

Larsen said the embassy’s entrance had damage, but no arrests have been made.

“We are early in the investigation, but we are working based on multiple hypotheses,” Larsen said in a statement.

“Given the current security situation, it is natural to consider whether this was a targeted attack on the American Embassy However, we have not committed to any single hypothesis.”

Local media reported that people nearby said the street was blanketed in thick smoke following the blast. Police are

seeking to talk to witnesses.

A U.S. official said the incendiary device was inside a backpack and detonated outside the entrance to the Consular Affairs office at the embassy The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter

PST the Norwegian police security service, called in additional personnel following the incident, but hasn’t changed the country’s terror threat level, according to communication adviser Martin Bernsen.

“This is an unacceptable incident that is being treated with the utmost seriousness,” said Astri Aas-Hansen, Norway’s minister of justice and public security.

“The police have stated that they are investigating the case with significant resources, and that nothing indicates the situation poses any danger to the public.”

The U.S. Embassy in Oslo referred media inquiries to the U.S. State Department, which said it was aware of the incident and was opening its own investigation.

“We thank the Norwegian authorities for supporting the investigation,” the statement said.

Dazio reported from Berlin and Lee reported from Washington.

3 Palestinians killed in West Bank clash with Israeli settlers

BY IMAD ISSEID and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

ABU FALAH,West Bank Three Palestinians were killed in a violent clash with settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, bringing the number of Palestinians killed in recent days to six. The surge in violence comes as much of Israel and the world’s attention is focused on the regional war with Iran.

The Israeli military said it responded to reports of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians near Khirbet Abu Falah, east of Ramallah. Two Palestinians were killed by gunfire and a third died from suffocation, likely due to tear gas, the military said.

Two of the victims, Fare’ Hamayel and Thaer Hamayel, were cousins. The third man killed was Mohammad Murra. All three were buried in a joint funeral.

Amin Shouman, a resident of Abu Falah who witnessed the attack, told The Associated Press that dozens of Israeli settlers approached the village from the north and opened fire when they were confronted by a community guard committee along the border of the village.

In 2025, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

reported 240 Palestinians were killed in the territory, with the vast majority by Israel’s military and nine attributed to Israeli settlers. Thus far this year, a far larger share of fatalities has been directly attributed to armed settlers.

Sunday’s fatalities followed several deadly incidents last week. One Palestinian was killed in the South Hebron Hills on Saturday by an Israeli reservist, and settlers shot and killed two Palestinian brothers in the northern West Bank on March 2.

In a rare rebuke, the Israeli military strongly condemned the settler violence and said it opened a criminal investigation against the settlers involved.

“This is an unacceptable incident. There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands,” said Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the commander of the military’s Central Command that includes the West Bank. “Especially at a time when the IDF is striking our bitter enemies Iran and Hezbollah, with a firm hand — we cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law and the security of the region.” Palestinians and rights groups say Israeli routinely fails to hold settlers accountable for violence.

A person associated with Lang’s protest was also arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, assault and unlawful possession of a noxious matter after allegedly macing counterprotesters, police said.

Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping act of clemency for Jan 6 defendants last year He recently announced that he is running for U.S. Senate in Florida.

Later Sunday, police said on social media that authorities investigating Saturday’s events had “identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street.” Several streets were closed and “limited evacuations of buildings” were ordered as the bomb squad assessed and worked to remove the device, the post said.

Thousands of people flee opposition-held town in South Sudan

BY FLORENCE MIETTAUX and DENG MACHOL Associated Press

JUBA, South Sudan Thousands of civilians have fled an opposition-held town in eastern South Sudan following an evacuation order issued by the army to pave the way for a military operation, officials said Sunday The exodus from Akobo, near the border with Ethiopia, began on Saturday night.

“The town is now almost empty,” said Nhial Lew, a local official in charge of humanitarian affairs. “Women, children and the elderly have left and crossed into Ethiopia.”

While the government’s deadline to evacuate was supposed to expire on Monday afternoon, fighting has been reported west of Akobo since Saturday

“We are hearing the sound of machine guns approaching,” Lew said on Sunday evening.

The national army called the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, ordered the U.N. Mission in South Sudan, or UNMISS, to close its Akobo base on Friday Nongovernmental organizations and civilians were also asked to evacuate “in

order to avoid unnecessary collateral damage,” as the government prepares a military assault targeting “Akobo and surrounding areas,” according to a statement by military spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang. Akobo is one of the last strongholds of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition, or SPLM-IO, led by Riek Machar, South Sudan’s detained vice president. A 2018 peace deal between Machar and President Salva Kiir has nearly collapsed since fighting resumed between their forces last year Confrontations have dramatically increased in the northern part of Jonglei since December, when opposition forces captured government outposts. They were repelled by a government counteroffensive that displaced more than 280,000 people in a few weeks.

The town of Akobo, located in the far east of South Sudan and under opposition control since the civil war that erupted in 2013, was seen as a relatively safe haven. The presence of a small contingent of U.N. peacekeepers has led more than 82,000 displaced people to seek refuge in and around Akobo.

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BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump promised that 2026 would be a bumper year for economic growth, but instead it has kicked off with job losses, rising gasoline prices and more uncertainty about America’s future.

In his State of the Union address less than two weeks ago, the Republican president confidently told the country: “The roaring economy is roaring like never before.” The latest batch of data on jobs, pump prices and the stock market suggests that Trump’s roar has started to sound far more like a whimper

There is a gap between the boom that Trump has predicted and the volatile results he has produced — one that could set the tone in this year’s midterm elections as he tries to defend his party’s majorities in the House and Senate. With Trump’s tariffs drama ongoing, the war in Iran has suddenly created inflationary concerns regarding oil and natural gas To the White House, it is still early in the year and stronger growth is coming No signs of jobs boom

“WOW! The Golden Age of America is upon us!!!” Trump posted on social media Feb. 11 after the monthly jobs report showed gains of 130,000 jobs in January.

Since then, the job market has evaporated in worrisome ways Friday’s employment report showed job losses of 92,000 in February The January and December figures were revised downward, with December swinging to a loss of 17,000 jobs. Monthly data can be rocky, but a trend has emerged that shows an enduring weakness. Without the health care sector the economy would have shed roughly

Remembrance comes amid worries about future of voting rights

BY KIM CHANDLER Associated Press

SELMA,Ala. Sixty-one years after state troopers attacked civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, thousands gathered in the Alabama city this weekend, amid new concerns about the future of the Voting Rights Act.

The March 7, 1965, violence that became known as Bloody Sunday shocked the nation and helped spur passage of the landmark legislation that dismantled barriers to voting for Black Americans in the Jim Crow South.

The anniversary was celebrated in this southern city, with events through the weekend and ending with a commemorative march across the bridge Sunday But the festivities came as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act that has helped ensure some congressional and local districts are drawn so minority voters have a chance to elect their candidate of choice.

“I’m concerned that all of

202,000 jobs since Trump became president in January 2025. Still, his administration notes that construction job gains outside of the housing sector point to future hiring growth.

Trump often brags that jobs are going to people born in the United States, rather than to immigrants. But the latest report punctured some of that argument

The unemployment rate for people born in the U.S. has climbed over the past 12 months to 4.7% from 4.4%. This means a greater share of the people who Trump said would get jobs because of his immigration crackdown are, in fact, searching for work.

Prices at the pump go up

“Slashing energy costs is among the most important actions we can take to bring down prices for American consumers,” Trump said in a February speech in Texas just before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. “Because when you cut the cost of energy, you really cut you just cut the cost of everything.”

The president has repeatedly told Americans that keeping gas costs low would be key to defeating inflation. He has talked up the decline, citing figures that were far below the national average to assure the public that driving was getting cheaper.

But the strikes against Iran that began Feb. 28 have, for the moment, crushed that narrative. Prices at the pump have jumped 19% over the past month to a national average of $3.45, according to AAA.

The investment bank Goldman Sachs warned in an analyst note that, if higher oil prices persist, inflation could rise from its 2.4% reading in January to 3% by the end of the year

The administration is banking on

University of Michigan’s surveys of consumers, noted that in February a “sizable” increase in sentiment among people owning stocks “was fully offset by a decline among consumers without stock holdings.”

Productivity

Trump can point to a win in that the economy has become more productive generating more value for each hour of work. That is a positive sign for long-term growth in the U.S. and a reflection of its strong tech sector Business sector labor productivity climbed 2.8% in the fourth quarter of last year, the Labor Department reported Thursday But the challenge is that the gains might not be spread to workers in the form of higher pay as labor’s share of income last year fell to the lowest level on record, noted Mike Konczal, senior director of policy and research at the Economic Security Project, a nonprofit aligned with liberal economic issues.

plans to contain any energy price increases, essentially betting that either the conflict will end shortly or the administration can succeed in getting more tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump advisers on Sunday sought to assure anxious Americans that surging fuel prices are a short-term problem

“We never know exactly the time frame of this,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months thing.”

Stocks are off their highs

“You know we set the all-time record in history with the Dow going to 50,000,” Trump said Thursday at the White House.

This frequently repeated talking point has grown stale. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, one of

Trump’s preferred measures of success, has dropped 5% over the past month. Stocks are up during his presidency, just as they were previously when Democrat Joe Biden was president. The recent decline could be reversed if the war with Iran ends and companies see solid profits over the next year and beyond. The recent dip, however, should be a warning sign as the administration has stressed the importance of more people investing in the stock market through vehicles such as “Trump accounts” for children. The stock market has become a barometer of how people feel about the economy, with stock investors tending to have more confidence and those without money in the markets being more pessimistic.

Joanna Hsu, the director of the

Economic growth

“Under the Biden administration, America was plagued by the nightmare of stagflation, meaning low growth and high inflation — a recipe for misery, failure and decline,” Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January

The scoreboard tells a far different story, one that makes Biden’s track record in 2024 look better than Trump’s performance last year The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace during Biden’s last year, compared with 2.2% under Trump in 2025. As for inflation, the primary measure used by the Federal Reserve is the personal consumption expenditures price index. It was 2.6% in both 2024 and 2025.

the advances that we made for the last 61 years are going to be eradicated,” said Charles Mauldin, one of the marchers beaten on Bloody Sunday.

Democratic officeholders, civil rights leaders and tourists descended on the southern city to pay homage to the pivotal moment of the Civil Rights Movement and to issue calls to action. Speakers warned of the looming court decision and criticized the Trump’s administration actions on immigration and efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion.

Standing at the pulpit of the city’s historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, Maryland Gov Wes Moore said that like the marchers on Bloody Sunday, they must press forward.

“Those who marched

across the Edmund Pettus Bridge deserve better than us cowering while the freedoms that we inherited and they fought for, are being ripped away,” Moore said.

Illinois Gov JB Pritzker, speaking at a rally at the foot of the bridge, said racism is on the rise in America and “Trump’s Supreme Court is gutting the Voting Rights Act.”

“Let’s march forward today with the knowledge that we are the inheritors of the faith that brought marchers to the bridge 61 years ago. It is now on us to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice,” Pritzker said.

Justices are expected to rule soon on a Louisiana case regarding the role of race in drawing congressional districts. A ruling prohibiting or

limiting that role could have sweeping consequences, potentially opening the door for Republican-controlled states to redistrict and roll back majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats.

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures won election in 2024 to an Alabama district that was redrawn by a federal court to give Black voters a greater voice. His district will likely be targeted if the state gets the opportunity to redraw lines. He said what happened in Selma and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act “was monumental in shaping what America looks like and how America is represented in Congress.”

investment of higher education faces scrutiny on the federal and state level, Louisiana legislators have debated what to do with the state’s sprawling system of postsecondary options. And that debate could play a role in the upcoming legislative session that starts Monday.

“As someone born and raised in Louisiana, I can tell you we’ve been struggling in these areas for a long time,” Rep. John Wyble, R-Franklinton, said. “I think we’re slowly moving more and more toward a coordinated effort in terms of programs of study, what we offer.”

The question becomes all the more salient as some of those schools struggle with enrollment stagnation and decline, as well as budget challenges that go back to historic cuts to state higher education funding under former Gov Bobby Jindal.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s enrollment, for example, dipped to approximately 12,200 undergraduate students in the 2022 fall semester, a decrease of over 1,000 students from three years prior. Enrollment has trended modestly upward since then, with 12,600 undergraduates enrolled in the 2024 fall semester In a town hall in December, UL Lafayette President Ramesh Kolluru said the university maintained a $10.5 million deficit, down from previously $25 million.

“There’s no system or school in our state that’s not faced with this,” University of Louisiana system President Rick Gallot said about the system’s funding. “Obviously, some have been in a better position to absorb it and address it than others, but generally we all face the same main challenge, and that is the amount of state resources being allocated to our schools. It’s simply putting us further and further behind our southern peers.”

Those working to solve the state’s small public universities’ budgetary and enrollment woes often point to two paths forward for a school in crisis: absorption into another system, currently underway with the University of New Orleans migrating

from the UL system to the LSU system, or specialization, which involves scaling back programs that fail to align with industry needs and bolstering more workforceoriented majors.

“I do think that specialization will be the order of the day,” Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed said “The institutions will not be able to be all things for all people.”

The route of UNO

It’s been a year since Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Philip Devillier first proposed making the University of New Orleans part of the LSU system, a move supporters thought could breathe new life into the beleaguered New Orleans research institution and save it from a financial crisis that stemmed from more than a decade of low enrollment.

Though the university won’t officially transition to LSU until July 1, plans have been made and some changes are already in progress. A transition committee led by LSU Board of Supervisors member Rico Alvendia, with more than 20 executive members representing a slew of New Orleans industries and both universities, met publicly twice at UNO to discuss aspects of the transition, from facility use to academic

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, who they say is not tough enough on criminals.

focuses.

“I think everything is going as smoothly as it possibly can,” UNO President Kathy Johnson said last week, thanking faculty and staff for their “willingness to focus on adapting to the role that LSU New Orleans must play in the future to best fulfill our mission.”

“It always is challenging to disrupt the status quo,” she added, “and of course we have had to do that with very limited resources.”

This time last year, UNO was completing a major restructuring, consolidating its colleges and laying off a handful of high-ranking administrators. It also slashed the adjunct professor ranks, closed some campus buildings in disrepair and implemented a spending and hiring freeze. Johnson said those measures have allowed the university to operate with a balanced budget this year

The university also took logistical steps like renegotiating contracts, collecting money owed from vendors and identifying overbilling. It is also working to enroll students who were declined from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, but meet UNO’s admissions standards, to boost enrollment.

Rousse has said he plans to request funding from state legislators this session to aid

with the transition. Last year, legislators allocated $23 million to help UNO pay off longstanding debt.

Johnson said she wasn’t sure how much would be requested, but said she hopes the state would cover unbudgeted transition costs for expenses associated with things such as branding and signage. She said the university would use existing funding to pay for an IT overhaul estimated to cost $46 million and $355 million in deferred maintenance.

But much of the transition — and how it will impact UNO students and staff — is still unclear Though Rousse and other officials have hinted at “tough decisions” that may be necessary to align, the university has not publicly discussed which UNO programs could be cut.

Still Johnson said she remains “incredibly hopeful regarding our future.”

“We have turned the corner — our budget is realigned and we are about to be part of one of the strongest public higher education systems in the country,” Johnson said. “We must do whatever we can to capitalize on this moment and charge ahead to meet the needs of our students and our community.”

At the news conference in February, Rousse said UNO could serve as a model for how to shape the future of higher education in Louisiana.

“How we reimagine educating Louisiana is probably going to be led from what we do at the University of New Orleans,” Rousse said.

“I think that’s going to be sort of a strong line, really focused curriculum that can be successful. A big positive public research university in the New Orleans area is probably a good thing, but money does not grow on trees, and enrollment is very, very competitive.”

“You have got to offer value,” he said. “You have to have an ROI on that investment for kids to come.”

Shift toward industry

Some argue UNO should serve as the exception rather than the rule for how to envision the next chapter of Louisiana’s postsecondary landscape.

Reed predicted more schools will go the route of specialization, with a focus on the demands of the job market in each region.

“I do not see an appetite for the Legislature to continue to move institutions from one system to another as the silver bullet,” Reed said.

Wyble, who filed a bill ahead of the 2026 regular session that would prohibit the use of state funds toward low-earning programs of study, said colleges will need to be responsive to the labor demand driven by economic development projects in the state.

“I think it’s going to be incumbent upon them and all of those institutions to really take a hard look at our job market, our economy, where we’re projecting to be, and then how do we produce those graduates that can help fill those jobs that are in demand,” Wyble said.

As the 2026 regular session begins, Gallot said part of UL’s approach will also be apprising legislators of the industry-aligned programs currently offered by the university system, including cybersecurity and pharmaceuticals.

“If you look at what we’re doing, those specializations exist already,” Gallot said. “It’s really our job to make sure that we educate our legislators about the things that we’re already doing.” Louisiana Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell said the state’s public institutions must continue an ongoing process of fiscal belttightening, but the answer to strained finances and enrollment challenges does not necessarily lie in shrinking the number of institutions. Those schools often serve as cornerstones of their regional economies, she said. “On the surface it may look like we have a lot of colleges in the state of Louisiana, but we need to look at how they function in the region,” Cordell said. “They’re regionally relevant.”

other than to say a governor who doesn’t like judicial checks has a vehicle to avoid those checks,” said Ross Foote, a former Alexandria district court judge. Foote, who called the bill a “power grab,” said it risked putting judges in difficult positions when their rulings could adversely affect the governor

“As a retired judge, I would hate to think that every decision I made has to be viewed under a lens of, ‘Is this going to be offensive to the governor?’ such that they can start proceedings against me,” he said. In Louisiana, judges and district attorneys are elected, not appointed. SB123 would apply to district, municipal, family and juvenile court judges, but not to state appeals court or Supreme Court judges.

Tensions on the rise

Morris’ bill is being considered two years after a new state law gave Landry tighter control over public defense by granting more oversight of the system to a gubernatorial appointee. It also comes amid brewing tensions between the judiciary and other branches of government, which are playing out nationally and locally President Donald Trump has attacked judges whose decisions do not adhere to his political agenda. Landry, too, recently slammed two judges as being too liberal after they ordered the release of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees with criminal records. Those judges sit on a federal bench and would therefore not be subject to SB123. And in recent years, Landry and other Louisiana Republicans have gone after

Some have attacked his use of the post-conviction relief process to vacate and reduce sentences, which Williams’ office has described as part of an effort to right past wrongs. At the same time, many on the left say Williams’ policies are too harsh and have failed to live up to his progressive campaign promises.

Senate President Cameron Henry R-Metairie, said he believed SB123 would get traction in the Legislature because “some folks believe there might be some DAs that are a little too lenient.”

He declined to name anyone in particular, while Morris mentioned Williams by name In a statement, Williams’ office said such criticism ignores data showing that New Orleans’ violent crime rates have gone down during his tenure.

Williams’ administration has both collaborated with law enforcement and taken “responsible steps to address past wrongful convictions” to increase confidence and participation in the justice system, the statement said.

“District Attorney Williams has consistently welcomed scrutiny and has appeared before the Legislature whenever asked because this office has nothing to hide,” the statement said.

“Our work has been transparent, and the results are measurable: violent crime in New Orleans is down in every major category, and those reductions have been sustained through strong collaboration with local, state, and federal partners.”

Questions of competence

Besides controversy over prosecutorial decisions, Morris’ concerns about the Louisiana Judiciary Com-

mission, which is responsible for investigating judicial misconduct and recommending discipline for judges, also drove SB123.

Morris does not believe the commission has been doing a good enough job of holding judges accountable, he said.

“A lot of people think that there’s a serious problem with judicial competence in this state,” Morris said.

As an example, the senator raised issue with the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court’s electronic monitoring program. It has come under fire due to two high-profile cases in which teens allegedly committed violent crimes while they were supposed to be monitored.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill recently asked the commission to investigate one of the Orleans court’s four judges over her “action (or inaction)” regarding the juveniles.

And on Thursday Chet Traylor, a former Louisiana Supreme Court judge, resigned from the commission, according to his resignation letter, in which he accuses the panel of failing to act against judicial misconduct.

“We have many great judges in Louisiana who work very hard to uphold the rule of Law Unfortunately, we also have too many who are either incompetent or so arrogant that they think they are above the law,” Traylor wrote. “Adding to the problem is the lack of transparency where judges are concerned as well as the lack of any meaningful action when judges have been doing wrong.”

A spokesperson for the commission did not comment on this story

SB123 allows judges to be suspended or removed for “malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence.”

over all matters of state. He will serve as commander-in-chief of the military and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard He also has authority over a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon, if he chooses to decree it.

The selection of Khamenei faces the likelihood of U.S. criticism. “(Ali) Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” President Donald Trump has said. “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader “is not going to last long” without his approval.

But Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support, and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah shared a portrait of the younger Khamenei on Telegram with the caption, “Leader of the blessed Islamic revolution.”

at $101.19 on Sunday, up 9.2% from Friday’s closing price.

In a sign of rising regional anger, the Arab League chief lashed out at Iran for its “reckless policy” of attacking neighbors, including ones that host U.S. forces. Gulf countries have been struck by hundreds of missiles and drones since the war started on Feb. 28.

Saudi Arabia reported its first deaths, saying a military projectile fell onto a residential area and killed two people of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality Foreign residents and workers have made up most of the war’s deaths in Gulf nations.

ernments but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region.

Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.

Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travelers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.

structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and almost three dozen health facilities.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned it soon could become harder to produce and sell oil. Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Half-million displaced

Regional anger grows

The war’s toll on civilian targets grew as Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant vital to drinking water supplies, and oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight Israeli strikes.

As the war impedes the region’s oil production and shipping, crude prices have surpassed $100 per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, traded

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to state TV, praised the Assembly of Experts for “courageously” convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He added that the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and “can handle this situation.”

TAX BREAKS

Continued from page 1A

have faced some pushback for their electricity plans, though so far most elected officials have welcomed them with open arms.

For the most part, tech companies have only built the centers in states that give them preferential tax treatment, with all but 14 states offering tax incentives for data centers. Virginia, the pioneer for the U.S. data center wave, is currently debating whether to pull back on the tax exemption it has offered tech companies for years, which cost Virginia state and local governments $1.9 billion in 2024 alone.

In Louisiana, state and local officials who negotiated data center deals say the trade-off is worth it. Tech companies have made it clear that they won’t build here without significant tax breaks. So every dollar in taxes and salaries the companies eventually do pay is lagniappe, they argue, even if Louisiana and its local communities have to give them preferential treatment.

“At the end of the day, we’re not giving away a tax benefit; we’re creating a competitive environment for projects that are going to go somewhere,” Bourgeois said. “With them come jobs and derivative benefits. Workers buying stuff at the cafe nearby, hotel taxes, small businesses that are opening and couldn’t open two years ago.” Still, the bargain means tech companies worth trillions of dollars will get significant tax benefits from Louisiana, one of America’s poorest states. The historically oildependent state government has long struggled to pay for services, going through periods of budget cuts and tax hikes to plug holes.

Louisiana’s sales tax exemption alone could abate

$3.3 billion to $3.6 billion for the construction of the data centers by three companies that have signed deals with the state, according to Dimitrios Nikolopoulos, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech University who evaluated Louisiana’s incentive. Nikolopoulos, whose home state is the data center capital of America, studies computing systems and estimated that about 75% of the cost of a data center is spending that falls under Louisiana’s exemption.

The tax break is a 100% exemption on state and local sales taxes for a wide range of spending that covers most data center costs, including servers, chillers, electric infrastructure and construction costs. Louisiana is “middle of the pack” in terms of its job and spending requirements for incentives, he said. Unlike some states, Louisiana exempts construction costs but doesn’t exempt electricity taxes, which some do. But the massive scale of the

Israel reported its first soldier deaths, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon, where its military is fighting Hezbollah The U.S. military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven U.S. soldiers have now been killed.

The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and at least 11 in Israel, according to officials.

Facilities attacked

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia reported additional Iranian missiles launched toward them.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged neighboring states not to take part in U.S. and Israeli attacks. The U.S. strikes have not come from Gulf Arab gov-

The strike came after Iran said a U.S. airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages.

He warned that in doing so “the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran.”

In response, CENTCOM spokesperson U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said that “U.S. forces do not target civilians — period.”

Iranian authorities also said Israel’s overnight strikes on four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal killed four people. Witnesses in Tehran said the smoke was so thick that it looked as if the sun had not risen.

Israel’s military said the oil depots were used by Iran’s military for fuel to launch missiles.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain. It also said about 10,000 civilian

Lebanon said over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The actual number is likely higher Lebanon’s count of 517,000 refers to those who registered on the government’s online portal. Israel over the past week has called on residents in dozens of villages across southern Lebanon and the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate.

Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said 83 children and 82 women have been among those killed. In Beirut, sheltering families crammed into schools, slept in cars or in open areas near the Mediterranean Sea, where some burned firewood to keep warm.

Israel’s renewed offensive began last week after Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel during the Iran war’s opening days. Associated Press journalists Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting.

projects tens of billions in spending — combined with Louisiana’s highest-in-the-nation sales tax of 10%, means the tax breaks could be worth huge amounts

“What makes it notable is the combination of the high combined tax rate which actually makes the exemption more valuable per dollar spent than in lower-tax states and the sheer scale of the projects it’s attracted,” Nikolopoulos said.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue declined to offer any preliminary numbers on how much has been exempted so far The first figures will be reported in the annual tax expenditure budget this spring, though it will be years before the scope of the exemption is fully known.

Nikolopoulos said such tax breaks are “probably a competitive necessity,” considering so many states offer them. But he noted that Virginia auditors have found that its tax break for data centers only created 48 cents in new state revenue for every dollar it gave up which they classified as a “moderate” benefit. And the companies are sourcing much of the server hardware from suppliers in other states he said.

High sales tax a concern

After Meta officials told Bourgeois and other state leaders that the company needed a tax incentive to build its massive Richland Parish data center Gov Jeff Landry’s administration quickly created one.

Bourgeois, the head of LED, asked Richard Nelson, then Louisiana’s Department of Revenue secretary, to work on getting the tax break into law, Nelson said in an interview

Nelson used an existing bill to create the new tax exemption in the 2024 legislative session. The original version, by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, sought to rebate taxes paid on fiber-optic cables. It passed through the Legislature with large bipartisan majorities

Nelson, who said he opposes most tax incentives, still thinks this one is worth it.

“It was pretty straightforward,” Nelson said. “They were sitting at the table telling us they wouldn’t come if we didn’t have this Because Louisiana’s sales tax is the highest in the country, it’s basically a deal breaker if you don’t have that type of exemption.”

The projects here come as concerns over data centers have prompted some elected officials around the country to push back. Lawmakers in at least 11 states have filed bills to issue moratoriums on data centers, according to the advocacy group Good Jobs First, which opposes incentives for data centers.

Entergy last week touted what it calls $5 billion in benefits to ratepayers because of language in electricity deals with data centers across several states, including Louisiana. And President Donald

Trump announced a pledge last week that tech companies are making to shoulder their own electric costs.

Greg LeRoy, head of Good Jobs First, said many data center tax breaks were initially set up when data centers were much smaller and state budgets wouldn’t take that big of a hit. Now, three states — Virginia, Texas and Georgia — have crossed the threshold of giving at least $1 billion annually in tax breaks for data centers.

“Data centers used to be a floor of a building,” he said.

“No one thought that would be that big of a deal Now it’s an enormous liability.”

LeRoy said states should repeal their tax breaks for tech companies, which are racing to build data centers because they need them to power energy-intensive AI products. He also noted that access to cheap energy is a key component of where they build.

Meta spokesperson Stacey Yip said in a statement that tax incentives are a “standard part of competitive site selection efforts.”

“Deciding where to locate our data centers is an incredibly complicated process that involves balancing dozens of different criteria,” she said. “A business-oriented environment is important, but it’s only one part of the kind of broader partnership we need with the local community to make the project successful.”

She declined to answer further questions.

Roger Wehner, vice president of economic development for Amazon Web Services, said in a statement that tax incentives are an “important part” of deciding where to build data centers.

“Incentive agreements that Amazon enters into reflect the community’s desire to attract investment, economic vitality tax revenue, and jobs and recruit world-class business partners,” Wehner said. “These agreements are performance-based partnerships we only receive benefits when we deliver on our commitments for job creation and investment.”

‘Looking to exempt’

Bourgeois, of LED, defended the tax break, saying the projects are still bringing “dramatic” upsides.

She pointed to potential increases in the amount of money Louisiana could collect from its 2% tax on electricity use. Meta and Amazon have both promised several hundred jobs, more than what’s required to take full advantage of the tax breaks. Hut 8, another data center developer, has signed a preliminary agreement to take advantage of the incentive as well, but that deal is still being negotiated, Bourgeois said.

“They’re looking to exempt as much of it as absolutely possible,” said Mike Busada, a Shreveport attorney who helped negotiate the deals with Meta and Amazon “They both wanted numbers

that are a lot more favorable. We looked around and said, ‘What is reasonable across the country?’”

Senate President Cameron Henry, a Metairie Republican who has raised concerns about state spending, said lawmakers will monitor how much the state is giving away through the exemption. He noted that lawmakers spent years refining — and ultimately pulling back on a tax break for movie developers. At its height, Louisiana’s movie tax credit covered between 30% and 35% of instate film production costs, costing the state more than $1 billion over several years.

“I don’t know how many more (data centers) we’re going to get,” he said. “Every year that goes by, we’ll im-

prove, maybe not be as generous and be more strategic in what we’re able to do.”

The sales tax break is not the only tax benefit the companies are getting.

Officials in north Louisiana have struck deals with both Meta and Amazon to give the companies “PILOTs,” or “payments in lieu of taxes.”

Those could exempt 60% of local property taxes if the companies reach hiring goals of 300 jobs for Meta and 150 jobs for Amazon.

Busada said data center developers have drawn a “line in the sand” when negotiating, asking for full abatements on the servers and other hardware. Meta and Amazon will not pay property taxes on them for their Louisiana projects.

The companies must create jobs to get the tax break, and the amount of benefit scales up based on the number of jobs created, Busada said. The jobs will have to pay 150% of the state average salary The deal with Amazon requires it to pay 1% sales tax on construction materials, and the companies would face penalties if they don’t hold up their end of the deals. He also noted that state and local officials negotiated the deals in an attempt to not give away more than needed.

“The reason we’re giving this is not to be nice and welcoming,” he added “We’re only giving this to get them here. We don’t want to give them a dollar more than we have to. That’s an art to try to figure that out.”

METRO

Baton Rouge begins to dry out

Heavy rains sparked flash flooding

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT staff writer

Following heavy storms that engulfed Baton Rouge late Saturday and lasted into Sunday, the capital region began to dry out Sunday afternoon with relatively clear skies ahead.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the city Saturday night as storms rolled into the region, leading to cars being stuck in high waters. As skies cleared Sunday, the city’s traffic incident database showed two abandoned or stalled cars as cleanup continued.

Meteorologist Tyler Stanfield, with the National Weather Service in New Orleans, said parts of Baton Rouge saw 6 to 8 inches of rain.

“We estimate that some parts between Brusly through the LSU campus, upward toward the Garden District and (U.S.) 190, saw upward of 6 to 8 inches and in localized spots even higher,” he said.

Livingston Parish received around 4 to 6 inches of rain, with some reports of flooding in Denham Springs, he said.

Power outages

Although the rain has stopped, power outages remain across the region.

According to Entergy’s outage database, East Baton Rouge Parish had a little more than 1,300 customers without power late Sunday afternoon while Livingston Parish had just under 1,500. Those numbers were lower than earlier in the day, when Livingston’s count exceeded 2,100 customers.

Much of the power outages were concentrated in the

town of Livingston. Just before 1 p.m., the town stated in a Facebook post that officials were communicating with Entergy and crews were on the scene although there was no estimated time of repair. Shortly after 4 p.m., a Facebook update stated that the power outages were connected to two different issues.

“On the distribution side, there was wire down south, and a transmission issue as well. While fixing the transmission, they were able to backfeed some of the customers from a different substa-

tion,” it stated. “So some residents should now have power They are almost done with transmission so hoping that they can get everyone back on soon.”

Forecast ahead

Stanfield forecast possible showers Monday with a quarter- to a half-inch of precipitation but said the weather was expected to improve overall.

“Generally speaking, the heavy rainfall threat has diminished across our area,” he said. “… I’m not expecting a large amount of rain.”

ABOVE: Abandoned cars sit half submerged along Burbank Drive near Gourrier Avenue following heavy rains on sunday in Baton Rouge. LEFT: More cars sit waiting for the water to dissipate. Parts of Baton Rouge saw 6 to 8 inches of rain.

Records: Fees approach $60M in N.O. archdiocese case

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL staff writer

Attorneys and other professionals who worked on the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy case racked up roughly $60 million in fees and expenses over nearly six years, court documents show, making the case the second-costliest of more than 40 church bankruptcies filed in the U.S. over the past two decades.

The figures were disclosed in final fee applications filed in late February, two months after the archdiocese and its affiliated parishes and charities reached a $300 million settlement with hundreds of survivors of clergy sex abuse. At some $360 million including the settlement and fees, the total cost of the case is more than 50 times greater than the $7 million that former Archbishop Gregory Aymond told the Vatican it would likely cost when he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2020 amid a rising number of clergy sex abuse lawsuits.

The archdiocese has already paid most of the fees, which were given preliminary approval by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill while the case was going on. But several million dollars remain outstanding, and Grabill still must give final approval to all fees, even those already paid

Should she determine that some fees were excessive, attorneys could be forced to return them to the archdiocese. As the debtor in the case, the archdiocese is required to pay all legal and professional fees — both those billed by its own lawyers and experts and those for the abuse survivors and commercial creditors.

archdiocese said it is “actively working with the professionals who worked on the case to negotiate fee reductions,” including fees charged by its own lawyers, and that once the final fees have been determined, “the archdiocese hopes to provide a report on the bankruptcy for our faithful.”

The statement added that Archbishop James Checchio, Aymond’s successor, “apologizes again to the survivors for the additional pain and anxiety this long delay has caused them and to our faithful.

He is praying for the healing balm of God to come down upon us all. …”

‘Understand the frustration

Jones Walker, the New Orleansbased firm that represented the archdiocese, had the highest fee bill in the case, charging $17.2 million for some 51,000 hours billed.

Lead attorney Mark Mintz said his firm gave the archdiocese a break on its fees, charging a blended rate of $345 an hour for all partners, associates and paralegals that worked on the case. Typically, Mintz said, he bills at $750 an hour

Also, the firm didn’t charge the archdiocese for attorneys who billed less than 50 hours on the case, which reduced the church’s legal bills by some $400,000.

Court documents filed in April 2024 by a group of attorneys who represented dozens of individual abuse survivors accused the firm of “top heavy billing,” with 30 partners and 24 associates billing on the case. It also alleged excessive billing by the firm.

The firm denied the allegations and Grabill never ruled on the motion.

charged the archdiocese more than $4 million.

The attorney who separately represented the archdiocese’s 120 parishes and affiliated charities throughout most of the case, Douglas Draper, was not required to submit fee bills for the countless hours he spent on the case because the church affiliates were not technically in bankruptcy until the final weeks of the case.

Draper declined to disclose what he billed the church affiliates or explain who paid the bill, citing “attorney client privilege.”

The archdiocese did not respond to multiple requests for comment seeking Draper’s fees.

Though the parishes and charities are legally separate from the archdiocese, they share certain assets, share insurance policies and exchange some funds. Also, the archbishop is the sole member of the affiliated charities.

The archdiocese’s refusal to disclose how much its affiliates paid for representation throughout much of the bankruptcy underscores the opacity that shrouds much of the church’s operations, even as it has pledged greater transparency as part of its settlement. Toward the end of the case, the affiliates filed “mini-pre-packaged” bankruptcies to shield them from future liability in sex abuse cases. Draper billed the archdiocese $200,000 for handling those cases, the archdiocese said. Other big billers

$11 million to the tab.

Legal, professional bills mount in church bankruptcy LOTTERY SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026

But Mintz said the firm took the criticism to heart.

“We understand why people feel frustrated by it,” he said “That is why anyone who billed less than 50 hours in the case, we’re not charging, which reduces the number of timekeepers from 54 to 38.”

In 2024, Aymond, who retired last month, said he was “sickened” by the high cost of the case and the exorbitant legal fees. In a statement last week, the

In addition to Jones Walker’s fees, law firms for the church that handled specialized issues related to the bankruptcy, financial consultants and real estate professionals

The two firms that represented the official committee of abuse survivors, together, billed $17.3 million in the case. Pachulski Stang, a California-based plaintiffs’ firm specializing in clergy abuse cases billed nearly $8.7 million, including expenses. Troutman Pepper, the local bankruptcy firm for the survivors, billed more than $8.6 million. Financial experts and consultants hired by the committee, who sought for years to determine the value of archdiocese- and affiliateowned assets in order to reach a settlement, added an additional

Stewart Robbins, which represented dozens of unsecured commercial creditors, or vendors that do business with the archdiocese, billed more than $4.3 million, including expenses.

Mediators brought in to help settle the case, including Baton Rouge attorney John Perry, former U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Sontchi and New York-based M3 Advisory Partners billed more than $820,000, some of which was split between the archdiocese and the survivors committee.

In addition to the bankruptcy fees, the church’s ordinary legal and professional bills for things like workers comp, insurance and employee benefits, among others, cost nearly $6.4 million from the beginning of the bankruptcy through the end of October, according to the most recent monthly financial reports filed in the case.

None of the fees come out of the $300 million settlement trust, which is funded by cash contributions from the archdiocese and the affiliates, and the proceeds of various real estate sales. Rather, they are paid out of various church operating accounts.

“That is not the deal that was cut,” Mintz said “Even if the judge denied the final fee apps, the settlement pot would not go up.”

Costly process

The fee bills and expenses in the case, which will approach $60 million unless reduced by the court or voluntarily by the firms, are among the most expensive in the country, records show.

Professional fees in church bankruptcies in more than three dozen cases dating back to the early 2000s have averaged around $25.5 million, according to Penn State Law professor Marie Reilly, who studies church bankruptcies.

The Archdiocese of Rockville Center in New York, which includes the Long Island area, had the highest legal and professional fees at $124 million. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee,

Wisconsin, at $23 million, was third-costliest.

Several long-running cases in New York and New Jersey have yet to be finalized, which could displace the local archdiocese’s standing as second-most costly in the U.S. Reilly said bankruptcy cases because of their complexity and duration are among the most expensive all types of litigation in the legal system

“Bankruptcy lawyers in big Chapter 11 cases are well paid for good reason,” Reilly said “They are specialists. Catholic organization bankruptcy cases are a subspecialty within that specialty so the lawyers who excel at this specialty are in high demand. They need a big staff.”

The local church bankruptcy was more expensive than most others because of several side legal disputes that dragged out the case for nearly six years. Compared to some corporate bankruptcies, however, it was relatively inexpensive.

Legal bills in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy totaled around $250 million. In the Steward Health Care case, they topped $300 million and in cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s bankruptcy, they exceeded $950 million.

“Chapter 11 bankruptcy is expensive,” Reilly said. “Nobody chooses it unless the alternative is clearly worse.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

WarinIranthreatens PersianGulfoil,water

BY ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG Associated Press

As missiles and drones curtail energy production across the Persian Gulf, analysts warn thatwater, not oil, may be the resource most at risk in the energyrich but arid region.

On Sunday,Bahrain accused Iran of damaging one of its desalination plants. Earlier,Iran said aU.S. airstrikehad damagedanIranian plant.

Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, putting individual systems that supply water to millions within range of Iranian missileordrone strikes. Without them, major cities could not sustain their current populations.

In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination, along with roughly 86% in Oman and about 70% in Saudi Arabia.

The technology removes salt from seawater —most commonly by pushing it through ultrafinemembranes in aprocess known as reverse osmosis —to produce the freshwater that sustains cities, hotels, industry and some agriculture across one of the world’s driest regions.

For peopleliving outside the Middle East, the main concern of the Iran war has been the impact on energy prices. The Gulf produces about athird of the world’s crude exports and energy revenues underpin national economies. Fighting has already halted tanker traffic through keyshipping routes and disrupted port activity forcing some producers to curb exports as storage tanks fill.

But the infrastructure that keepsGulfcitiessupplied with drinking water may be equally vulnerable

“Everyone thinks of Saudi Arabia and their neighbors as petrostates. But Icall them saltwater kingdoms. They’rehuman-madefossilfueled water superpowers,” said MichaelChristopher Low,directorofthe Middle East Center at the University of Utah. “It’sboth amonumental achievement of the 20th century and acertain kind of vulnerability.”

Earlysigns of risk

The war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran has already brought fighting close to key desalinationinfrastructure.

On March 2, Iranianstrikes on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port landed some 12 miles from one of the world’slargest desalination plants, which produces much of the city’s drinking water Damage also was reported at the FujairahF1power and watercomplex in the United Arab Emirates, and at Kuwait’sDoha West desalination plant. The damage at the two facilities appeared to have resulted from nearby port attacks or debris from intercepted drones

On Sunday,Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targetsand damaging oneofits desalinationplants, though it didn’tsay supplies have gone offline. The island nation, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries targetedby Iranian drones and missiles. Earlier,Iran said aU.S. airstrike damaged an Ira-

ByThe Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO— Sunday’s marches in Brazil for International Women’sDay served as arallying cry against gender-basedviolence, fueled by the latest case to outrage the country involving the alleged gang rape of a17-year-old girl in Copacabana. The case in Rio de Janeiro’sfamed,beachside neighborhood took place in January,but gained national traction this week when four suspects handed themselves over to author-

AssoCIATEDPREss PHoTo By ALTAFQADRI

Fire andaplume of smokerise Tuesdayafter authorities saydebris from an Iranian intercepted drone hitthe Fujairahoil facility in Fujairah,United Arab Emirates.

nian desalination plant. AbbasAraghchi, the country’s foreign minister,said the strike on Qeshm Island in theStrait of Hormuz hadcut into thewater supply for 30 villages. He warned thatin doing so “the U.S. set this precedent, notIran.”

Many Gulf desalination plants are physically integrated withpower stations as co-generation facilities, meaning attacks on electrical infrastructure could also hinder water production. Even where plantsare connectedtonational gridswith backup supply routes, disruptions can cascade across interconnected systems, said David Michel,senior fellowfor watersecurity at the Center for Strategicand International Studies.

“It’sanasymmetrical tactic,” he said. “Irandoesn’t have the samecapacity to strike back at the United Statesand Israel. Butit does have this possibility to impose costs on the Gulf countries to push them to interveneorcall for acessationofhostilities.”

Desalination plantshave multiple stages— intake systems, treatment facilities, energy supplies —and damage to anypart of that chain can interrupt production, according to Ed Cullinane, Middle East editor at Global WaterIntelligence, a publisher serving the water industry

“Noneofthese assetsare any more protected than anyofthe municipalareas that are currently being hit by ballistic missilesor drones,” Cullinane said Along-standing concern

Gulf governments and U.S. officials have long recognized the risks thesesystems pose for regional stability: if major desalination plants were knocked offline, some citiescouldlose mostoftheir drinking water within days. A2010 CIA analysiswarned attacks on desalination facilities could triggernational crises in several Gulf states, and prolonged outages could last months if critical equipment were destroyed.

More than 90% of the Gulf’s desalinated water comes from just 56 plants, the reportstated, and “each of these critical plantsisextremelyvulnerable to sabotage or military action.”

Aleaked 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable warnedthe Saudi capital of Riyadh “would have to evacuate within a week” if either the Jubail desalination plant on the Gulf coast or its pipelines or associated power infrastructure were seriously damaged.

Saudi Arabia has since investedinpipeline networks, storage reservoirs and other redundancies designed to cushion short-term disrup-

ities. Described by police as agang rape, it has added fuel to the fireina nation where reports of violenceagainst women have surged in recent months, sparkingnationwideprotests and aflurry of digital activism. At least 15 protestswere plannedacrossthe country,with organizers calling for thedefense of women’s lives and an end tofemicide.

Rio’sCivil Police said the four young men in pretrial detentionwill be charged with rape, while afifthsus-

Funerals Today

Fitzgerald,Hilda

Grace Memorial Park in Plaquemine at 10 a.m.

Hoffpauir, Judy

HouseholdofFaith,10469 Airline Highway,Gonzales,LAat11am. Montelaro,Al St.Frances Xavier CabriniCatholic Church at 11 a.m.

Obituaries

Klein, Victoria Pelaez

tions, as has theUAE. But smallerstates such as Bahrain, Qatarand Kuwait have fewer backup supplies.

Waterplant threats

As warming oceans increase thelikelihoodand intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Seaand raise the chances of landfall on the ArabianPeninsula, storm surgeand extreme rainfall could overwhelm drainage systems and damagecoastal desalination.

The plants themselves contribute to the problem. Desalination is energy-intensive, with plantsworldwideproducing between 500 and850 milliontonsof carbon emissions annually, approaching the roughly 880 million tons emitted by the entire global aviation industry

The byproduct of desalination, highly concentrated brine, is typically dischargedback into the ocean, where it can harm seafloor habitats and coral reefs, while intake systems can trap and kill fishlarvae, planktonand other organisms at the base of the marine food web.

As climatechange intensifies droughts,disrupts rainfall patternsand fuels wildfires,desalination is expected to expand in many parts of the world. Threat is nothypothetical

During Iraq’s1990-1991 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War, Iraqi forces sabotaged power stations and desalination facilities as they retreated, said the University of Utah’s Low.Atthe same time, millions of barrels of crude oil were deliberately released into thePersian Gulf,creating one of the largest oil spills in history.

The massive slick threatenedtocontaminate seawater intakepipes usedby desalination plantsacross the region. Workers rushed to deploy protective booms around theintakevalvesof major facilities.

The destruction left Kuwaitlargely withoutfresh water and dependent on emergency water imports Full recovery took years.

More recently,Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted Saudi desalination facilities amid regionaltensions

The incidentsunderscore abroader erosion of longstanding norms against attackingcivilianinfrastructure,Michel said, noting conflictsinUkraine, Gaza and Iraq.

International humanitarianlaw,includingprovisions of theGenevaConventions, prohibit targeting civilian infrastructure indispensable to the survival of the population, including drinking water facilities.

pect —a minor— turned himself in on Friday toface an equivalent charge under juvenile law Authorities issued an arrest warrant for the minor after his alleged involvement in another case of sexualviolence with asimilardynamic to theCopacabana episode cametolight, Rio state prosecutors’ office said in an email.

Lawyers for two of the suspects have denied any wrongdoing, while legal counsel for the remaining three have yettocomment on the case publicly

Victoria PelaezKlein,affectionately known as "Toto", passed away peacefully on February 22, 2026. She wasborn on June 2, 1941, in Manizales,Colombiato Elvia and Jose' AbelPelaez. Her family realized the American Dream when her father moved them from Colombia to Miami in the early 1950s and beganan agricultural and beef cattle operationthatthrivedfor 75 years. Totowas the middle of seven siblings and served as bridge from theolder threesiblings to theyounger threesiblings. She was agraduateof NotreDame Academy and attended theUniversity of Miami.Whileworking in highereducation in Miami, she met her future husband, George, whileonan international trip. This chance encounter would prove to be aforeshadowing of their life together when they married and began traveling theworld During their years together,theyvisited every continent and relishednew adventures. They enjoyed semi-retirement in Palm City, Floridawhere they built their dreamhouse and entertained family foryears. After George'spassing in 1997, Toto took over his property development company and successfully ran it forseveral years. She laterreturned to Miami and settled in abeautiful Mediterranean-style waterfront condominium on Williams Island. Soon after celebrating her 80th birthday, she made thedifficult butnecessary decisiontomovefrom South FloridatoLouisiana to be closer to her younger sister, Carmenza, and Carmenza's family.She moved intoSt. James Place in 2023 and took greatpridein renovating her apartment intoa beautiful openfloor plan that was showcased to visitorsatSt. James Place.Despite thechange, she was happy to be reunited withfriendsfrom BatonRouge and St.Jean Vianney CatholicChurch with whom she had traveled with over theyears.

Toto was aloving and supportivewife,daughter, sister, aunt and great aunt to George, her parents, siblings, nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren. Her generosity knew no bounds, and she consistently shared her blessings with family and numerous Catholicparishes and causes. Her Catholicfaith was at the center of herlife,and she was grateful to her parents for thegiftofher faith and for proudly living Gospel valueseach day. She carried their devotion to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout her life.Toto

waspredeceased by her husband George,her parents Elviaand Jose'Abelas well as herolderbrother Fernando. She is survived by hersiblings Christina Hooker,Myriam Pelaez, Carmenza Funes(Ronaldo), Ralph Pelaez(Bonnie) andMauricioPelaez; sister -in-law Mary Pelaez, nephewsand nieces Andy Pardo (Christine), Mauricio Pardo (Benita), Diego Jose' Pardo (Alexandra), Henry Hooker,DeborahHooker (David), David Funes (Kristina),JohnPaulFunes (Ann), ChristopherFunes (Kelsey), Veronica Orrego (Carlos), Stephanie Moesching(Cory) andEmilieDarling (Dan)aswell as numerousgreat nephews andnieces, whom she loveddearly

Afuneral Mass willbe held at OurLady of Mercy Catholic Church at 445 Marquette DriveinBaton Rouge on Thursday, March 12, 2026, withvisitation beginningat9 am followed by aMass of Christian Burial at 10 am concluding with interment in OurLady of Mercy's Garden of Peace andMemorial Columbarium. Honorary pallbearers are Ralph Pelaez, MauricioPelaez, Dr.RonaldoFunes,Andy Pardo, MauricioPardo, DiegoJose' Pardo, Henry Hooker,David Funes, John PaulFunes,Christopher Funes, DanielPardo, PatrickFunes,LukeFunes, DiegoPardo, Samuel Pardo, Jacob Orrego, McKinley Fowler, Leighton Moeschingand Tobias Moesching. Hernieces and great nieces will serve as gift bearers andhonorary gift bearers at theMass: Deborah Hooker,Veronica Orrego, Stephanie Moesching, Emilie Darling MoniquePardo, Victoria Funes, Alexandra Funes, Olivia Funes,Kathleen Elvia"Kate"Funes,Camille Funes, Juliette Orrego and Mila Orrego. Thespouses of hernephews &nieces were aspecial partofher life, andtheywill be represented by ChristinePardo, BenitaPardo andKristina Funes as readersatthe Mass. The familywould like to thank Toto'sloving andsupportive team including herpriestsinresidenceatSt. JamesPlace, Fr. Donald Blanchard and Fr. Tony Russo; herloyal friendand guideCarolynn Gaines, herdevoted companion Javetta Queen,her design consultant Joli Bryan; WendyStanford Cori O'Brien andthe team at Stanford Senior Services; Mother Joan Weber, thestaff at St.James Place, St.James Place HighlandCourt Nursing Unit,the St.James Place Caring Companions, Baton Rouge Hospice,Triton Therapy andthe wonderful residents and familiesof St.James Place for their love andsupport.Inlieuof flowers, please considera donation to St.Joseph's Academy -3015 Broussard Street,Baton Rouge,LA 70808; Louisiana Parole Project- PO Box 2029, Baton Rouge,LA70821 or the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge's Office of Life, Peace and Justice -1800 SouthAcadian Thruway, Baton Rouge,LA70808.

Webre,Elizabeth Betty Ann

Elizabeth Betty Ann Benoit Webre, 81, anative of Thibodauxand aresident of Chackbay, passed away on Friday, March6, 2026. Sheissurvivedbyher children, John M. Webre, Sr.(Annette), Kynan P. Webre(Carol), Scott J. Webre (Kim), Patricia W. Waguespack(Deacon Randall), andChad M. Webre (Amanda); grandchildren Ashley, John Jr.(Shelby), Aimee' (Tyler), Joshua (Masyn), Kayla, Austin, Simon (Christina), Nicholas, Evan, and Graham; greatgrandchildren, Tessa, Tatum, Jett,and Sawyer; sister,Judy Robinson;and many extendedfamily members anddear friends. Shewas preceded in death by herhusband, Edward C. Webre, Jr.; parents, Rivers andJulia Lirette Benoit; andsiblings, LawrenceBenoit, Rives Benoit Jr., Ethel Allemand, Marie Leonard, andVirgie Gros. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at OurLady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Chackbay from9:00 am untilthe Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Thefamilywould like to thank thenursesand staff at St.Joseph Hospice.The familywould also like to thank hercaregivers,AshleyHeims, Cathy Landry, Olivia Dempster,Cindy Chiasson, andMelissa LeBoeuffor their excellent care andcompassion. Online condolences can be given at www.thibodau xfuneralhome.com. Thibodaux Funeral Home hasbeen entrusted with herarrangements.

YOUR VIEWS

Company behind immigration detention centers needstobe exposed

Iwould like to suggest more coverage of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementdetention facilities in Louisiana, which areowned and managed byGEO, Inc. The facilities in Alexandria, Jena and Pine Prairiehavea capacity of 2,654. Contracts awarded to GEO, Inc. are substantial andpaid with taxpayers’dollars.

GEOGroup was asubstantial donor to President Donald Trump’s 2024 election efforts and inauguralfund.

Please help the publicunderstand how private companies are benefiting from detention centersinLouisiana, while thestate struggles withother prison costs. We need to know more about Louisiana detention facilities in general and why they are located in this state BARBARAMOLLERE Neworleans

sAVE Actis nothingbut a wasteoftime

The SAVE Act is asolution in search of aproblem. Noncitizen voting is anonissue. For instance, only 80 noncitizens have been found to have voted in Louisiana elections since the 1980s, as per the Louisiana Secretary of State. Instead of trying to address real issues for real people, such as high drug prices and high healthcare costs, the Republican Partyhas decided to try to stay in power by gerrymandering and disenfranchisement. Nothing to see here.

HERB WILSON Mandeville

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

AREWELCOME.HEREARE

ParadegoersinN.O. arespoiled forthrows

Y’all indulge me while Ifuss at New Orleans paradegoers.Iread the article aboutthe “lack of throws” during this year’sCarnival season. Andbless your hearts, but y’all need to check yourentitlement. Yougotoparades expectingtobeshowered withthrows, and not just regular throws but thereally good throws, andyou get offended when you don’tget what youthink you’reowed. Didn’tget ashoe from Muses? Muses sucks! Only got four Cleo cups and 18 pairs of Bacchus socks? Samewhiny refrain. Ialso see how much stuff is left on the ground. The vast majority of that are throws that y’allare frankly too snobby to keep. This breaks my heart, because it’sliterally like leaving money on the ground. As arider,I’ve seen people get abranded throw from me, glance at it, and throw it on theground. To me, that’slike me giving you a$10 bill and you

wadding it up and throwing it away because someother rider mightgive you a$20. I’ve also watched paradegoers reach up and unscrew lightbulbs from floats that supposedly didn’tthrow enough, or spectators throwing beads back at riders. This is not only stupid and disrespectful, but it’salso dangerous. Look,wecan’tplease everybody.Wewould love to have enough good throwsfor everybody,but there’sonly so much we can afford to buy or make. Riders individually spend thousands of dollars on throws that we think you’ll keep, and we throw to you forfree. I think alot of you takethat forgranted, but we don’t. As riders, we do what we do because we love bringing joy to New Orleans. Maybe quit complaining and instead show us somelove and appreciation.

NATHAN TIPTON Baton Rouge

To talk aboutfertility, firsttalkabout economic risk

Everyone is suddenly talking about America’sfallingbirthrate. Politicians propose tax credits or cultural renewal. Butifwewant to talk about fertility honestly,weneed to talk abouteconomic risk.

In Louisiana, young families are making rational decisions in avolatile economy.Many young women still want children. What they fear is long-term financial vulnerability.

Motherhood still carries awell-documented earningspenalty —lower lifetime wages, slower advancement and reduced retirement savings. In astate that struggles with workforce participation, poverty and out-migration of youngprofessionals, that risk feels even heavier. So womenhedge. They delay children until they feel financially secure. They pursue degrees first.They build work experience. They try to protect themselves against uncertainty That is not selfishness. It is prudence.

Imade asimilar choice decades ago. Ipostponed having children until age26soI could complete college. At thetime, that felt cautious. Today,26would be considered early by manystandards. The difference is not that women value family less. It is that the economic consequences of stepping away from theworkforce feel more permanent.

If Louisiana wants to retainyoung families, we should reduce thepenalty of caregiving. Education credits, structured workforce reentryprogramsand limited retirement protectionsfor primary caregivers would protect long-term earning power

Fertility is not just avalues debate. It is an economic one. If we want stronger families and astronger workforce, we must reduce the risks young families are rationallytrying to manage.

CURCHEL SMOOT Harvey

AUkrainian voicefrom southeast Louisiana

On Feb. 24, it was four years since Russia launched its fullscale invasion of Ukraine and 12 years since Ukrainians first stood up during the Revolution of Dignity Imoved to the NewOrleans area at the end of 2013 while my friends stood in freezing streets in Kyiv demanding the right to live in anormal country.Soon after came war. It still has not ended.

Living in southeast Louisiana helped me explain Ukraine to Americans. People here understand resilience —rebuilding after disasters, neighbors helping neighbors, traditions protected because they are identity,not decoration. Ukrainians are defending the samething: the right to exist freely in their own home. When Americans hear “aid to Ukraine,” it sounds geopolitical. For Ukrainians, it is survival. It meansair defense that stops missiles over cities, equipment that protects soldiers and support that keeps society functioning while under attack. Youwouldn’t abandon acommunity while the disaster is still happening. Ukrainians chose dignity over submission. They are still paying forthat choice with their lives. Continued support forUkraine is not charity; it is standing with people whobelieve that home and freedom are worth defending.

TETIANA SPINDEL Covington

Somepeople, mainly those whocall themselves conservative Christians, are celebrating because afederal appeals court will allow the TenCommandments to be posted in Louisiana classrooms. Others, mainly those calling themselves supporters of constitutional religious freedom, are lamenting this ruling.

To sEND Us ALETTER sCAN HERE

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.o. Box588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

Friends, Ithink arecent dispute on these pages goes to theheart of what is polarizing us as acountry.I’m thinking about Ellen Holliday’sguest column“Making acase for pluralism” andPeter Gambel’sFeb. 14 responsetoit. If we could find amiddle ground between the positions of these two fine contributors, Ithink we’d have also found some fertile ground to plowasacountry and aculture.

My initialsympathies are withHolliday

To be sure, we as aspecies (andinfact the whole planet) need each other,inall our gloriousvariety.But Ialso think Gambel’sissue about personal motivation is important —is it enoughtohope people will want to help one another,without also helping themselves?

To me, there is an obvious middle ground, and one we as acountry have embraced ever since the Great Depression, and maybe even

since we had tocope with the robber barons of thelate 19th century.That is to have the free economy Gambel wants, but to makesure it is aregulated free economy.Weneed to avoid designing our freedom so as to allow us to trample on one another,and Ithought we had learned to keep thebasic advantages of capitalism, while limiting monopolies, giving labor aseat at the table, providing robust public education and so on.

Ihave my own opinions as to where we are today and what specific policy proposals could re-invigoratethe “golden mean”between these poles. Butitisenough forone letter to simply point out that the middle ground is there for reclaiming, if we are wise enough to avoid extremes.

MICHAELCAVANAUGH

Baton Rouge

Ifeel strongly both ways. Perhaps this will encourage the reasonable discussion of moral values. For example, “Thou shall not kill” —does this apply to capital punishment? How about “Thou shalt not bear false witness?” Most everyone agrees that President Donald Trumpregularly spouts outrageous lies, but his supporters, including those calling themselves devout Christians, excuse this and look the other way. How about “Thou shalt not covet?” Is it moral to covet taking possession of asovereign country like Greenland?

Ipersonally look forward to increased discussion of moral values, and Isuggest that all Louisianans discuss all of this with apastor or moral adviser QUIN BATES Marrero

TwothingsTrump thewheedler misunderstands aboutRussia

Donald Trump continues trying to wheedle Vladimir Putin toend his war to extinguish Ukraine’snationhood short of that outcome. Trump’spersistence calls to mind the man Gulliver encountered during his travels: He hadspent “eight years upon aproject for extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers.”

The president misunderstands two things. First,the more blood and treasure Putin expends in Ukraine, the more he wantsto win in order to redeem his blunder.This war was supposed to prove Russia’smight,and that Ukraine is an ersatz nation. Instead, it has revealed the yawning gap between Russia’spretensions and its capabilities, and has created an incandescent Ukrainian nationalism.

Second, the way for the West to economize violence and military expenditures in the long run is not to prepare for futureconflictswith a Russia emboldened by success, but to deepen its diminishmentbyenabling Ukraine to continue bleeding Russia’s army and economy Trump, having cast his trained eyes on video of aMoscow military parade, reportedly (according to theFinancial Times) told aides that the Russian army looked “invincible.” Well.

IanBremmer,president and founder of Eurasia Group, apolitical risk consulting firm, writes that in each of the past two months, Russia has suffered 30,000 to 35,000 casualties. In the past two years, Russia has taken 1% of Ukrainian territory at acost of “157 dead per square kilometer.” The fouryear Russian death toll is probably at least nine times higher than the 36,000 Americans killed in three years in the Korean War.

The Economist says that in less than four years (June 22, 1941, toMay 8, 1945), Russia advanced 1,600 kilometers from Moscow to Berlin. In more than four years, Russian forces in Donetsk, the war’sprincipal cauldron, “have advanced just 60km —the distance from WashingtontoBaltimore.”

By the end of 2025, Russia was losing more men than it could recruit,relyingonmoney,not patriotism. Signing bonuses —someequal to thelifetime wages of some Russian workers —equal 90% of Russia’sbudgetdeficit. Prison terms and personal debts are canceled for recruits. Replacing battlefield casualties required up to90% of 2025 recruitsasreplacements.

Kenya’sintelligence agency says more than 1,000 Kenyans, most of

themtricked into signing militarycontractstofight in Ukraine, have been needed to supplement the“invincible” Russianarmy Britain’sdefense secretary says recruits from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Cuba,Nigeriaand Senegal have been “recruited under false pretenses and press-ganged under pressure without necessarily realizing that they’re destinedfor the Russian meat machine on the front line of Ukraine.”

At the opening in Pyongyang of what are called “luxury apartment complexes” —think about that —North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un saidthe grieving families of North Koreans killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine (anestimated one-third of 12,000 sent in 2024) would be given priorityaccesstothe apartments. If you believe that Presumably,Trump will tell Americans,when he thinks they deserve to know,his war or other plans for improving Iran.

Meanwhile, he is supporting the reelection campaign of Europe’s most pro-Putin and aggressively antiUkraine leader.Inmid-February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was dispatched to Hungarytointervene in thatnation’selection, on behalf of its authoritarian premier,Viktor Orban. His partyatthat moment was, according totrusted polls,behind by 10 points. This was so despiteOrban’s wielding of government-controlled

media. Rubio toldOrban that Trump “isdeeply committed to your success” in theApril 12 election.

Orban’sgovernment has reported a spate of bomb threats (but no bombs) against Hungarian schools and other institutions. The government says thethreatsare written in Ukrainian, so Ukraine is to blame. If you believe that Rubio’sgrovel was perhaps supposed to bribe Orban to stop blocking European Union financial assistance to Ukraine. The blocking has, however, continued.

Aconstant of modern Russian history is thesystemicstupidityand toadyismthat tyranny breeds.Inthe 1930s, some of Josef Stalin’scensors, who were more zealous than educated, reportedly (writes Stalin’sbiographer Stephen Kotkin) forbade radio broadcasts of music by Franz Schubert, who died in 1828, for fear he might be asupporter of Stalin’snemesis, Leon Trotsky,who was bornin1879.

Do not expect those who have risen profitably into Putin’sorbit to steer theirobsessed benefactor toward what Trump’sNational Security Strategy,published in December,calls “an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.”

Onewonders: Expediting what, exactly?

Email George Will at georgewill@ washingtonpost.com.

This is the momentwhen total warmeets the fogofwar

Not in tiny steps but in one great leap, the United States has triggered, and itself soon will experience, afrightful period of total warthat extends farbeyond the Middle East. And it is occurring in the usual impenetrable fogofwar

How much faith shouldone put in the veracityofBill Clinton when he testified recently in adeposition that hedid “nothingwrong” in his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein? Iguess it depends on the meaning of “nothing” and “wrong.” How much faith should one place in Hillary Clinton’sveracity when shetestified she “never met” Epstein, when he visited the White House 17 times?

and admitted to abreach of professional conduct. He didn’tearn themoniker

In her deposition, Hillary Clinton said: “As Istated in my sworn declaration on Jan. 13,Ihad no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encounteringMr. Epstein. Ineverflew on his planeor visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that.”

Notice the familiar “I do not recall.” Perhaps she should look at pictures released last December by House Democrats that includesa photograph taken in 2002 of her,husbandBill and Epstein at what appears to be asocial event. They appear jovial andwellacquainted.

In January 2001, on his final day in office, President Clinton reached an agreement to avoid indictmentfor perjury and obstruction of justice regarding the Monica Lewinskyinvestigation He accepted afive-year suspension of hisArkansas law license, paid afine

“Slick Willie” for nothing. Look at those hot tuband other pictures that show Bill in thecompany of women and girls, not his wife. One is on his lap in aprivate plane, the other shows him in apool with Ghislaine Maxwell andayoung woman whose face hasbeenblacked out. This is not what used to be called “normal behavior” for amarried man.

Just as banks look at one’s credit rating before deciding whether aborrower is agood risk, the Clintons’ credibility rating should also be examined.Google “list of lies told by Bill andHillary Clinton.” These don’tinclude thedissembling and “I don’trecall.” Listing them all might require afullnewspaper page. Check out Benghazi, thebleached computer files, andsomuch more. Here are just afew to jog memories: Hillary didn’tland under sniper firein Iraq as she said, nor was she named after Sir Edmund Hillary,asshe has claimed. (Sir Hillary climbed Mt Everest after she was born.)New York Timescolumnist William Safire wrote in 1996: “Drip by drip, like Whitewater torture, thecaseisbeing made that she is compelled to mislead, and to ensnare her subordinates and friends in aweb of deceit.”

Safire continued: “Remember the story she told about studying The Wall Street Journal toexplain her 10,000 percent profit in 1979 commoditytrading? We now know that was alie told to turn aside accusations that as the Governor’swife she profited corruptly, her account being run by alawyer for statepoultry intereststhrough adisreputable broker She lied for good reason: To admit otherwise would be to confess taking, and paying taxes on, what some think amounted to a$100,000 bribe.

As for Bill Clinton, where to start (there is no end)? Sexual assault charges date back to at least when he was governor of Arkansas. He denied them all, as did his manyenablers who were madetolook foolish when the truth came out about some of them. Up until then we were toldwemust believe women when it came to such accusations, but for Democrats that apparently applied only when Republicans were accused of inappropriate misconduct.

As an English Literature major in college, Ifirst encountered this line from Sir Walter Scott: “Oh, what atangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!” That could serve as an epitaph for bothClintons.

Email Cal Thomasattcaeditors@ tribpub.com

Though Americans experienced “total war” during the 1861-1865 Civil War, the concept generally has been aEuropean staple, with origins in the FrancoPrussian Warinthe late 19th century and with horrifying applicability during the twoworld wars of the 20th.

The “fog of war”—animagesometimes attributed to the Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz —has its own peril.

The term “total war”has manymeanings, but the relevant one now is the elimination of the distinction between civilians and combatants and the waythe effects of warfare aren’tconfined to the battlefront but instead creep into manifold areas of lifeinthe countries where combat is being conducted and in countries far from the spheres of operation.

The warisbut aweek old, but already it has spread wreckage across the Middle East, spread to countries that weren’tparties of the operation plan, altered the power calculus throughout the region, caused stresses and strains in America’smajor alliances, split the country at home—even as its tentacles are creating the beginnings of ahomefront in North America. There won’t be ration cards or blackout curtains, but effects will be felt here.

The battles of the American Revolution had only marginal effects in Great Britain, confined primarily to costlier consumer goods. But the combat in the world wars created enormous disruption farfrom the battlefields, in extreme cases taking the form in widespread hunger

The combination of the attacks and counterattacks has implications forthe world’soil supply,eventually affecting homeheating bills and prices at the gasoline pump.

About afifthofthe world’soil supply,accounting forabout 20 million barrels aday, comes through the Straits of Hormuz, now the mostdangerous waterway in the world.

Oil sloshes through the world, with supply disruptions in one part of the globe causing disruptions thousands of miles away.With much of Iran’soil ordinarily sent to China, the reduction of oil supplies heading there means Beijing must find supplies elsewhere, resulting in stresses on oil trade patterns, shortages and price hikes. The cessation of liquefied natural gas production in Qatar meansthe samething: higher prices.

Almost forgotten in the fogofthis war: About athird of the world’sfertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

An example of how disruptions growing out of actual combat has effects elsewhere is in air travel, which has been curtailed across the Middle East. Attacks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi affect Emirates and Etihad airlines, with ripples across the globe. Dubai is the site of the world’sbiggest airport, surpassing Atlanta in passenger travel.

Then there are the security threats posed by Iran, considered the world’sgreatest exporter of terrorism.

Ali Larijani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps veteran whoruns the SupremeNational Security Council, has indicated that retaliating forthe killing of SupremeLeader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be broad. Iran already has hit civilian sites such as hotels in Dubai. As noncombatants in Iran are killed or injured, the threat to noncombatants elsewhere almost certainly will grow

Among the great unknowns in this episode: the number of Iranian sleeper cells in North America, and the number of loyalists to the Iranian theocracy living here and motivated to strike the country that, since 1979, it considered the “Great Satan.”

At the sametime, Donald Trump, preoccupied with war command, eventually will have to attend to growing dissension in the MAGA ranks among those infuriated that amovement that once spoke of “no forever wars, “America First,” and an end to nation-building is grappling with aleader whoischallenging all three precepts. Wars create upheaval, sow confusion and inevitability involve unintended events. The world that eventually emerges from that fogalways is profoundly changed, with the international balance of power altered, sometimes with old alliances frayed and new ones created, and with new uncertainties replacing the old ones. This war will be no different.

Email DavidShribman at dshribman@postgazette.com.

Have us take alook!

LSU gym’s best not enough in swamp

BY SCOTT RABALAIS

staff writer

When does a loss not feel like a loss to LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark?

When his Tigers go on the road and perform like they did Sunday at Florida.

Yes, the No. 4-ranked Gators outpointed No. 2 LSU, 198.450-198.325, posting the nation’s best meet score this season. But the Tigers tied their best score of this season, a 198.325 on Feb. 13 against Auburn, and posted their best-ever road score in a Southeastern Conference meet, bettering a 198.200 on March 14 of the 2025 season at Auburn.

“I’ve always said when you go on the road and in an environment like this against one of the other very best teams in the country and compete inside two-10ths (of a point), it doesn’t go in the record book” as a win, Clark said. “But as far as I’m concerned, we didn’t lose anything.”

In fact, the Tigers (10-3-1, 4-3 SEC) actually gained on No. 1 Oklahoma based on the teams’ season-long NQS (National Qualifying Scores) Oklahoma is now at 197.972 while LSU is at 197.896, just 0.076 back of the Sooners compared to 0.107 back of OU a week ago

Based on NQS rules, LSU was able to count the road score as

part of its average. Florida (112, 5-2) was not able to count its score toward the Gators’ NQS average, which climbed only slightly based on earlier scores from 197.517 to 197.593.

LSU also had a narrow 198.125197.925 loss at Oklahoma on Feb. 20, meets which Clark believed could both have gone the Tigers’ way on a neutral floor or at home.

“As far as I’m concerned, we have the best team in the country,” Clark said. “The average fan wants to look at the won-lost record, but I think we’re the best.

“The question is, will we be at ä see LSU GYM, page 3B

SLOW MARCH

BY KOKI RILEY

There’s a lot of baseball left in 2026. After Sunday, the LSU Tigers have 39 games left before the Southeastern Conference Tournament A lot can happen between now and May, and potentially

June. But to assume that LSU’s poor play through the back half of its nonconference schedule is anything less than a major concern is a fool’s errand. LSU fell 6-1 to Sacramento State on Sunday at Alex Box Stadium, losing for

BY REED DARCEY staff writer

GREENVILLE, S.C.

– The horn sounded, and the LSU women’s basketball team took some time to stew on the loss.

Coach Kim Mulkey kept the Tigers in their locker room for almost an hour Saturday, and she said she did it so she could “teach” the Tigers.

About their late-game execution. About their poise and focus. About what it takes to win these kinds of matchups – the ones in hostile environments against the top teams in the country

South Carolina certainly qualifies. LSU has lost 19 straight matchups against the Gamecocks, and seven of those losses have come on Mulkey’s watch. Most of them have followed a frustratingly familiar script.

“There’s just a small margin of error that you can have to beat elite teams,” Mulkey said. “We think we’re an elite team, but we’re not there to win those close games against the South Carolinas, the UConns.” What’s missing? In the SEC Tournament semifinals, it was defense and rebounding. In the second half of Saturday’s matchup, South Carolina shot 48% from the field and grabbed nine offensive boards, then turned those opportunities into 14 second-chance points.

The Tigers didn’t give themselves enough chances to attack in transition. And when they tried to score in the half court, they usually came up empty The Gamecocks made sure their offense never fell into a rut. They hit five of their last six shots – either through carefully executed half-court sets or on second-chance looks.

LSU almost retook the lead late in the second half. MiLaysia Fulwiley hit a 3 that tied the game at the 7:06 mark of the fourth, and then Jada Richard drained one two minutes later to cut South Carolina’s lead to three. But then the Tigers had to play slower

Pels dominate Wizards to equal win total from

BY LES EAST Contributing writer

The New Orleans Pelicans started off like a team that was tired after a season-long six-game road trip. But they revived quickly enough and went on to easily defeat the Washington Wizards 138-118 on Sunday night in the Smoothie King Center Trey Murphy scored 24 points to lead six Pelicans in double figures. Saddiq Bey had 23 points and 10 rebounds; Zion Williamson scored 20; Dejounte Murray scored 19, his most in the six games he has played since returning from a one-year absence due to Achilles surgery; and rookie rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik

Queen scored 18 and 13, respectively The Pelicans (21-45), who went 3-3 on the road trip, matched their win total from last season while playing their first home game in 12 days. They’ll play the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Smoothie King Center Tre Johnson scored 20 points; Will Riley had 19; Trae Young chipped in 17; Anthony Gill added 12; and Leaky Black and Jaden Hardy had 10 each to lead the Wizards (16-47), who lost their eighth straight. Washington was swept in the season series after New Orleans won 128-107 on Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C. The Pelicans expanded their two-point halftime lead to 89-77 midway through the third quar-

ter The Wizards closed within seven points, but Fears had a three-point play a layup and assisted on a 3-pointer by Queen and a layup by Bryce McGowens as New Orleans increased the lead to 102-93 at the end of the period. Fears’ 3-pointer pushed the lead to 12 points early in the fourth quarter and moments later Murphy made consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 115-99. The score was tied three times, and the fifth lead change of the first

5

5 p.m. CAA: Campbell vs. Monmouth CBssN

6 p.m. soCon: ETsU vs. Furman EsPN

6 p.m. sun Belt: Troy vs.TBD EsPN2

6

7:30 p.m. CAA: Towson vs. Hofstra CBssN

8 p.m WCC: oregon st. vs. Gonzaga EsPN

8:30 p.m. Horizon: Det.Mercy vs.R Morris EsPN2

10:30 p.m.WCC:TBD vs.st.Mary’s (Calif.) EsPN2

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

1 p.m. sun Belt: J. Madison vs.Troy EsPNU

4 p.m. A-sun: Austin Peay vs. J’ville EsPNU

6 p.m. Big East: UConn vs.TBD Peacock

MEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE

1 p.m. Towson at Virginia ACCN COLLEGE SOFTBALL

6 p.m Missouri at Florida sECN MLB SPRING TRAINING

Noon Baltimore vs. st. Louis MLBN

3 p.m. L.A. Dodgers vs. Milwaukee MLBN

WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP

5 p.m. Miami vs. N.y Mets MLBN NBA

6:30 p.m. Denver at oklahoma City NBCsN

9 p.m. New york at L.A. Clippers NBCsN PARALYMPICS

6:30 a.m. Wh. Curling: sweden vs. U.s UsA

7:35 a.m. Hockey: Czech Rep. vs. slovakia UsA

9:30 a.m. Wh. Curling: U.s. vs. China UsA

11:05 a.m.Hockey: Germany vs. U.s UsA 10:15 a.m.M&W super-G UsA

3 a.m. (Tue.) Women’s Combined: super-G UsA

4:10 a.m.

Texas races to win over S. Carolina

Longhorns win their first sEC women’s tournament title

By The Associated Press

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Vic Schaefer

shared a group hug with his Texas players and asked excitedly, “Where’s the confetti?”

A moment later, the veteran coach looked up and the celebratory confetti began falling from the rafters at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena as the last of thousands of disappointed South Carolina fans disappeared through the exits.

Madison Booker scored 18 points as the fourth-ranked Longhorns sprinted to a 14-0 lead and beat three-time reigning champion and No. 3 South Carolina 78-61 on Sunday to win their first Southeastern Conference Tournament title.

Justice Carlton added 15 points and Jordan Lee had 12 for the Longhorns (31-3), who joined the SEC in 2024.

“We belong in the SEC,” Booker said. “We’re here to play, and we’re here to win.”

And they did it on what many view as South Carolina’s “other” home floor

The Gamecocks were 20-1 under coach Dawn Staley in SEC Tournament games in Greenville — just 90 minutes from campus — and had won six of the past seven tournaments here.

But Texas shot a blistering 57% from the field to avenge last year’s 19-point loss to the Gamecocks in the title game. Booker who was named MVP of the tournament, finished 8 of 15 from the field and had four rebounds and two assists. She scored 14 points in the second half on 6-of-11 shooting.

“When her shot is going in like that, they are very difficult to beat,” Staley said.

Joyce Edwards had 13 points for the Gamecocks (31-3), whose 12game win streak was snapped.

Texas made its first seven shots and built a 14-0 lead after five early South Carolina turnovers before Tessa Johnson’s 3 stopped the bleeding. Staley never called timeout during the run, instead opting to let her team play through it. “It was bad,” Edwards said. “All of the starters, we were supposed to set the tone out there, and we

Texas forward Justice Carlton steals the ball away from south Carolina guard Raven

of the southeastern Conference Tournament on sunday in Greenville, s.C.

didn’t do that.”

Staley said if there is a silver lining to the loss, it’s that the last time the Gamecocks fell in the SEC title game, in 2022, they went on to win the national championship.

“It might be the very thing this team needs,” Staley said. “It’s not what I would have thought coming in today but now that we’re here and it’s a reality, you search for things that have a connection that can give your team what it needs to make this run for a national championship.”

NO 1 UCONN 100, CREIGHTON 51: In

Uncasville, Connecticut, Sarah Strong had 23 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead topranked UConn over Creighton in the Big East semifinals as the Huskies advanced to a conference championship game for the 22nd season in a row UConn (33-0) shot 71% from 3-point range in the first three quarters on the way to its 49th consecutive win. It was also the 38th conference tournament win in a row as the Huskies scored 100 points in the Big East tournament for the first time. Kayleigh Heckel added nine points eight rebounds and seven assists for the Huskies. Kennedy Townsend had 13 points for Creighton (16-15) NO 2 UCLA 96, NO. 9 IOWA 45: In In-

dianapolis, Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and eight assists as No. 2 UCLA rolled past Iowa to win its second straight Big Ten Tournament crown. It’s the first time the Bruins (311) have won back-to-back postseason conference titles, and it’s also the first time they have won regular-season and league tournament titles in the same season.

Ava Heiden scored 15 points for the Hawkeyes (26-6).

NO 10TCU 62,NO.15WESTVIRGINIA 53: In Kansas City Missouri, Jordan Harrison scored 20 points, Sydney Shaw added 17 and No. 15 West Virginia avenged two regularseason losses to No. 10 TCU by beating the reigning Big 12 Tournament champion in the conference title game.

Harrison also had six rebounds and four assists while wreaking havoc on defense, and Kierra Wheeler contributed 10 points, helping the second-seeded Mountaineers (27-6) win their second Big 12 tourney title and first since the 2016-17 season.

Olivia Miles, the league player of the year, scored 17 points for No. 1 seed TCU (29-5) despite playing most of the way in foul trouble.

Marta Suarez added 16 points but was just 6 of 19 from the field

By The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half and Morez Johnson finished with 18 points, leading No. 3 Michigan in a 90-80 win over No 8 Michigan State on Sunday to give the Big Ten champions a 15th straight conference win.

The Wolverines (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten) head to the conference tournament, hoping to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before shooting for the school’s second national championship and first since 1989.

The Spartans (25-6, 15-5) were swept by their rivals in the regular season but might get a third shot against them in a week at the Big Ten Tournament final.

Lendeborg, a preseason AllAmerica selection, was the best player on the court for the second time in the series.

The UAB transfer was 8 of 12 from the field, matched a career high with five 3-pointers, had three assists and also made winning plays at the other end of the court. After Jeremy Fears made a jumper to pull Michigan State

within three points with 3:47 left, Lendeborg made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to start a 10-2 run that sealed the victory Fears had 22 points and nine assists, Jaxon Kohler matched a career high with 23 points and Carson Cooper added 19 points. NO 9 NEBRASKA 84, IOWA 75, OT: In Lincoln, Nebraska, Cale Jacobsen came off the bench to score 13 of his 15 points after halftime and hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer in overtime, and ninth-ranked Nebraska matched its program record for wins in a season with a victory over Iowa. Sam Hoiberg, who scored 15 points and had five steals on his senior day, hugged teammate Pryce Sandfort near halfcourt as time ran out and then heaved the ball high into the stands. He and his father, coach Fred Hoiberg,

No. 1 Tennessee beats LSU on walk-off home run

Top-ranked Tennessee defeated No. 17 LSU 8-5 in their softball series finale on Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee.

LSU (17-7, 0-3 SEC) took a 4-0 lead, but Tennessee (23-0, 3-0 SEC) held on and rallied with five unanswered runs.

LSU tied the game in the sixth inning, but a three-run walk-off home run by Gabby Leach gave the Lady Vols the series sweep. Tigers starter Jayden Heavener (6-4) pitched her eighth complete game this season. She struck out four and allowed eight hits, seven earned runs and five walks. Freshman Rylie Johnson hit her first collegiate home run, and Jalia Lassiter knocked her third homer of the season.

LSU’s next game is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Nicholls.

Lee birdies final hole to clinch Blue Bay LPGA HAINAN ISLAND, China Mi Hyang Lee threw away her lead with two double bogeys on the front nine, and then delivered a winner on the final hole Sunday with a lob wedge that hit the pin and set up a tap-in birdie to win the Blue Bay LPGA.

Lee closed with a 1-over 73 for a one-shot victory over Zhang Weiwei, who shot 69 at Jian Lake Blue Bay but lost the lead with a bogey on the 17th. It was Lee’s third LPGA title, and her first in more than eight years. The South Korean finished at 11-under 277 for her first win since the 2017 Women’s Scottish Open. American Auston Kim (71) stayed in contention for an LPGA title for the second consecutive week and tied for third with Aditi Ashok (72) of India.

the fi

and fouled out in the final minute.

NO 13 DUKE 70, NO 12 LOUISVILLE 65, OT: In Duluth, Georgia, Taina Mair had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Delaney Thomas also scored 19 and No. 13 Duke rallied to win its second straight Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title.

Thomas’ layup with 4 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 60-all and sent it to overtime after Louisville held the lead for 35 of 40 minutes. In overtime, another layup by Thomas moved the Blue Devils (24-8) ahead to stay and Riley Nelson put the game away when she buried a 3-pointer with six seconds left. Nelson finished with 12 points.

Imari Berry scored 18 points and Mackenly Randolph had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville (27-7). Randolph played all 45 minutes.

NO 25 FAIRFIELD 65, MERRIMACK 48: In Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jillian Huerter scored 19 points and Meghan Andersen added 18 points and nine rebounds as No. 25 Fairfield advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference final.

The second-seeded Stags (27-4) will take on top-seeded Quinnipiac in Monday’s championship game Quinnipiac was a 63-62 overtime winner over fourth-seeded Iona on Sunday

MEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP

embraced and a short time later the rest of the Huskers came out of the tunnel to salute the sellout crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska (26-5, 15-5 Big Ten) led by 10 points with five minutes left in regulation but missed five of its next seven shots and a couple of late free throws to let the Hawkeyes back in it. Kael Combs scored Iowa’s last eight points of regulation, including a secondchance 3-pointer that tied it 70-all with 2.7 seconds left.

NO 11

ILLINOIS 78, MARYLAND 72: In College Park, Maryland, David Mirkovic had 22 points and 11 rebounds as No. 11 Illinois held off Maryland. The Terrapins (11-20, 4-16 Big Ten), under first-year coach Buzz Williams, lost 20 games for the first time since 1988-89, but they gave the Illini (24-7, 15-5) a battle. Illinois led 63-62 before Ben Humrichous made a 3-pointer that started a 7-0 run for the Illini. Illinois won despite shooting 5 of 24 from 3-point range Kylan Boswell and Keaton Wagler scored 11 points apiece.

Johnson wins Champions debut in four-shot victory

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Two-time major champion Zach Johnson turned 50 on Feb. 24 and quickly cashed in Sunday in his PGA Tour Champions debut, closing with a 3-under 69 for a four-shot victory in the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational. Johnson made an early bogey and that was his only blemish on the scorecard, adding four birdies to pull away on the Old Course at Broken Sound. He became the 22nd player to win his debut on the 50-and-older circuit. Stewart Cink (70) and George McNeill (72) finished second. Johnson finished at 11-under 205 and earned $330,000 to move to No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup. Cink remains atop the standings.

Boston College fires men’s basketball coach Grant

BOSTON Boston College fired basketball coach Earl Grant after five seasons in which the Eagles never made the NCAA Tournament and finished above .500 just once. Grant was 72-92 overall and 3067 in the Atlantic Coast Conference after replacing Jim Christian in 2021 BC has not reached the tournament since Al Skinner’s teams earned seven bids in nine years from 2001-09 a period that spans four coaches, five athletic directors and two conferences. It is the longest NCAA slump in program history Grant, 49, had five straight winning seasons at the College of Charleston, winning the regular season and conference championships in 2018 for his only NCAA Tournament berth and the Colonial Athletic Association’s coach of the year award.

Ga. Tech fires Stoudamire to end his third season ATLANTA Georgia Tech fired coach Damon Stoudamire on Sunday one day after the Yellow Jackets’ season ended with a 12-game losing streak.

Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert announced the move after the Yellow Jackets finished 11-20 overall and 2-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference following Saturday’s 79-76 loss at Clemson. The Yellow Jackets finished last in the conference, failing to qualify for the ACC Tournament as Stoudamire was unable to solve the late-season losing streak. Stoudamire was fired after posting a 42-55 record in three seasons, including a 19-39 ACC mark. Assistant coach Greg Gary, a former coach at Mercer will serve as interim head coach.

McMahon discusses future after latest loss

BY TOYLOY BROWN III staff writer

LSU’s last game in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center during a trying season did not end in the desired result.

Despite a valiant effort on senior night, the Tigers suffered a 94-91 triple-overtime loss to Texas A&M on Saturday LSU (15-16, 3-15 SEC) finished last in the Southeastern Conference for the second time in coach Matt McMahon’s four seasons with the program.

Before McMahon answered a question on why he should remain the leader of the program, the opposing coach entered the news conference room. Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillian delivered an opening statement that focused primarily on LSU.

“I couldn’t live if we went to the fourth overtime,” he said tonguein-cheek after LSU missed a gametying 3-pointer at the end of the third extra session.

The Aggies, who are the No. 6 seed in the SEC Tournament, came out victorious after LSU had a season-high 22 turnovers compared to 10 for A&M.

McMillan said that the discrepancy in turnovers, along with his team’s 18 offensive rebounds, were the reasons it overcame poor field goal shooting (37%). He said LSU could have had a much different record had it not been for a key injury

“I told coach McMahon I’ve watched them play all year long,” McMillan said. “They have been in these spots, in the close game, where their record could be totally different. I really felt if their point guard (Dedan Thoams) did not get hurt they were a top-25 team. I

SEC TOURNAMENT

think they could be right there with anybody in the league. I feel really bad for LSU because of that. All these close games, three or four points. I knew they (were) a good team. We have lost one of our main guys, too. Losing a point guard like that is such a detrimental loss.”

LSU’s reality now is a singleelimination conference tournament in which it needs to win five games in five days. A loss ends the season and potentially McMahon’s tenure after missing the NCAA Tournament in all four years. McMahon addressed his future after the game Saturday

“I’m 47, this is my 30th season in college basketball,” McMahon

said. “I’ve just been incredibly blessed. Have absolutely nothing but gratitude, appreciation for this opportunity With the 30 years of experience, I also understand what comes with the job from an expectation standpoint. And I share in the disappointment and frustration that we haven’t gotten the results we wanted these last two months. That’s my responsibility.

Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears

half of a game at the smoothie

end of the period. Washington increased the lead to eight points early in the second quarter before New Orleans scored eight straight to tie The Wizards scored the next five points, but Murray scored five points during a 12-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 5447 lead. The lead was reduced to one point before New Orleans held a 67-65 halftime edge. The Pelicans set an NBA high for free throws attempted and free throws made in any half this season by making 27 of 36 in the first half. They finished 37 of 47 at the line.

the bonus. But LSU didn’t get a steal, and then it let the game clock tick down below 30 seconds without fouling.

offense. Down the stretch, senior forward Amiya Joyner had her shot blocked on one stalled possession and lost her dribble on another Freshman forward Grace Knox also missed a contested look on a drive to the rim. The Tigers still could’ve made a final push. When they were down five with 45 seconds left Mulkey told them in a timeout to try to trap a South Carolina ballhandler and force a turnover, but if they couldn’t, then commit a foul. They had two to give before the Gamecocks were in

Mulkey pointed to that play as an example of the things that have separated LSU and South Carolina these past few seasons. One team executes its offensive and defensive assignments late in games, and the other doesn’t.

“I don’t really know,” Mulkey said, “because you’ve got seniors in that timeout. You’ve got juniors in that timeout. You’ve got sophomores, and you’ve got new players, freshmen.

“They all just have those lapses like that I don’t know.” When the two teams met in the

Pete Maravich Assembly Center in February Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams scored the bulk of LSU’s points, while Fulwiley and Richard battled rough shooting nights. Those roles were reversed Saturday Fulwiley scored 24 points, and Richard chipped in 17. Johnson and Williams combined to score only 20 points on 6-of-20 shooting. Johnson finished with just six after she missed seven of the eight shots she took. Williams said LSU needs to “play harder” and “be more disciplined.” Johnson said she wished she would’ve contributed more hustle plays once she realized her shot wasn’t falling. Mulkey, she

“With that said, I absolutely love LSU I love our core group that returns next year. I think we have a great administration and leadership team here at LSU. And so clearly I’ll respect whatever decisions they make moving forward. But, you know, I love the opportunity, and for me, I think it’s just critical that we keep our focus on preparing our players and our team for the opportunity next week in Nashville at the SEC Tournament.” LSU’s first-round matchup in the conference tournament is against No. 9 seed Kentucky at 11:30 a.m. on

LSU GYM

our best when we need to be?”

The Tigers only have one more home meet — Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Arkansas — before they can test that theory The SEC championships are March 21 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, followed by an NCAA regional at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on April 2-5.

If the Tigers advance from that as expected, they’ll go for their second NCAA title April 16-18 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Both LSU and Florida traded huge routines and big scores all night, combining for 18 marks of 9.95 or better

The difference was the hole LSU dug for itself to start on uneven bars. Lexi Zeiss led off with a 9.70 that LSU was hoping to erase, but then Ashley Cowan, the 2024 SEC bars champion, fell as she missed the low bar and got only a 9.30.

Despite that, Clark said Zeiss’ score kept LSU in the meet.

“She went over on her handstand and had to pirouette out of it, do another one and then do her first release,” he said. “A lot of gymnasts would have quit on their routine, but she made it work.”

With the pressure on to hit their last four routines, the remaining Tigers all came through.

Madison Ulrich, Kailin Chio and Courtney Blackson followed with identical 9.90s before Konnor McClain anchored the Tigers with a superb 9.975, a season high-tying score that would tie her for first in the event with Florida’s Skye Blakely

After one rotation, LSU and Florida, which opened on vault, were tied at 49.375.

The Tigers moved to vault for the second rotation and posted the best vault road score in program history LSU’s final three gymnasts — Kaliya Lincoln, Amari Drayton and Chio all finished with 9.975s that shared first place in the event. For Lincoln and Drayton, they were career-

said, told her some things in the hour after the game that she “really took to heart.”

“I think that’s what I needed more of,” Johnson said. “Intensity Just to affect the game more, be disruptive. I feel like it wasn’t enough of that for me, and it showed throughout the whole team, you know what I’m saying?” LSU could’ve played Texas for an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament title game on Sunday had it beaten South Carolina. That distinction would’ve ensured the Tigers that they wouldn’t have to face either unbeaten UConn or oneloss UCLA until the Final Four Now LSU will most likely re-

high scores, as LSU went 49.700, a score eclipsed only by a 49.825 in a 2015 home meet against Minnesota.

For Chio, it was her 51st career individual event win.

The teams continued to throw big routines as LSU went to floor and Florida went to beam for rotation three The Tigers got a career-high-tying 9.975 from Lincoln, 9.925s from Chio and Kylie Coen and a 9.90 from Drayton for a 49.600. But the Gators were just a fraction better going 49.700 on beam led by a perfect 10 from Selena HarrisMiranda.

Going to the final rotation, Florida led LSU 148.700-148.675 Lincoln would end up sharing first place on floor with the Gators’ Blakely and eMjae Frazier

The Gators widened their lead gradually as they went to floor, outpointing the Tigers routine after routine despite career-high 9.95s from Drayton and Lincoln. Chio finished with a 9.975 in the anchor spot, getting a 10 from one of the two beam judges but just missing a chance to match Harris-Miranda with the LSU sophomore’s fourth straight 10 in that event. Harris-Miranda edged out Chio for the all-around title as well, 39.850-39.775.

ceive a No. 2 seed, which would be the highest seed it’s earned since 2008. The Tigers were a No 3 seed in each of the last four seasons.

The path back to the Final Four is there for LSU. It just runs through the kind of teams that keep beating the Tigers – the ones that force them to sit down for extended postgame discussions.

“I’ve been at LSU five years,” Mulkey said. “We’ve won a national championship, right? We’ve been in numerous Elite Eights. It takes time. And man, we are just clawing and trying our best. I think we’re doing pretty good.

“We’re so close. We’re so close.”

ZacharywinsthrilleroverSlidell forstate title

BY JACKSON REYES staff writer

Zachary trailed by one point against Slidell with just 16.5 seconds left. Broncos coach Tami McClure called atimeout andlooked at her star senior,Ava Raymond.

“This woman was the only one who was going to get that ball at the end,” McClure said. “I said, ‘Go get it.’” Raymond caught the ball and raced down the court. Shedribbled past one defender at the arc, then slid into the paint and threw in a floater

The shot fell through todeliver Zachary its second straight DivisionInonselect state title after the Broncos defeated Slidell 53-52 at University Center in Hammond on Saturday night.

“We’regoing to win,”McClure said whenshe saw Raymond get theball at the end. “Shewas not going to leave this gymwithouta win.” Raymond finished the game with 27 points, nine rebounds andfive steals.

“It’smysenior year,soofcourse I’mgoing to go outwitha bang,” Raymond said. “I just had(alot)of confidence.”

Zachary (29-3) has lived on the theme “unflappable” this year McClure credited her team’sresiliencethroughoutthe game after the Broncos trailed for 23 of the32 minutes in the game.

Zachary held aslim 10-8 lead af-

terthe first but fell behind after a pair of Slidellscoresstarted an 8-0 Tigers run. Madyson Parker stole theballonconsecutive possessions andfinished with layups both times to push thelead to 10 points.

After the twosides tradedbaskets, Broncos sophomore Kennedi Whitfield cut thedeficit in half with fivestraightpointsinthe finalminute. She scored onelayup, then,ona fast break, scoreda la-

yup throughcontact and hit afree throw for athree-point play Slidell led 25-20 at the break. The Tigers roared out to a7-2 run during the third to restoretheir 10-point lead.

By The Associated Press

McClure called atimeout and switchedher side’sdefensive strategy to ahalf-court trap. Zachary forced 19 turnovers in the second half after the switch.

“Wehad to go to somethingelse, McClure said. “Our team’svery athletic and quick, and we needed to take advantage of that.” Raymondalsobegan to getwhatever she wanted at the rim with 10 pointsinthe quarter.Zachary closed the third on an 8-1run to trail just 39-37 heading into the fourth.

“It’snot over with” was the message Raymond hadfor herteam duringtheir comeback.“Ikept telling them, ‘let’sfinish, we got this,’ and they picked it up.”

Slidell (28-2) continued to make shots, but Zachary kept it close throughout the fourth. With two minutes left, Whitfield bankedina putback layup to get the deficit back down to three. Raymond then stole the ball at midcourt and raced to the cup fora layuptomakeita one-point game

Zachary’sAva Bell stole the ball anddrew afoulwith27.8 seconds left. She madeher second to tie it.

Slidell’sCianni Williamsthen drew afoul and hit one free throw to put the Tigers up one.

The Broncos took the lead for good in the final seconds after Raymond’slayup.

“These girls just never give up,” McClure said. “They fought to the bitter end.”

PREP REPORT

Schwarber, HendersonhelppropelU.S.pastBritain at WBC

Kyle Schwarberhit atwo-run homerand Gunnar Henderson had four hits and two RBIs asthe United States rolled to a9-1 victory over BritainonSaturdaynight at the World BaseballClassic.

Team USA improved to 2-0 in Pool BatHouston. Nate Eaton homered on Tarik Skubal’sfirst pitch to give Britain aquick lead it held until the fifth inning. But his teammatescouldn’t muster anything elseatthe plate. U.S. hitters had managed just one single whenErnieClement reached on an error by thirdbaseman Ivan Johnson to startthe fifth. Pete Crow-Armstrongdoubled before Clement scored on awild pitch by Andre Scrubb to tie it at 1. Schwarber followed with a427foot drive that landed near the back of the second deck inright field to put the U.S. on top3-1. Thereweretwo outs in theinning when Henderson’s two-run single made it 5-1. Aaron Judge, who homered in Friday night’swin overBrazil, knocked out apanel in themetal scoreboardwith a109.6 mph RBI single in athree-run sixth that pushed it to 8-1.

Skubal allowed two hits with five strikeouts in three innings. It’s

LSU BASEBALL

Continued from page1B 4B

schedule since 2007. That season was also the last time the program failed to reach 30 wins outside of the COVID year

“PracticeonTuesday at one o’clock before thegame,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said, referring to his team’sfinal nonconference matchup before SEC playagainst Creighton. “Tuesday’sgameissecondary to just improving the team, and we need time to do that.”

On paper,there’s not much stopping LSU from turning it around.

This is ateam that hasnumerous key contributors returning from a squad that won the national championship last year

But theschedule is about to get

scheduled tobethe only start of the tournament for the two-timereigning AL Cy Young Award winner, whowill return tospringtraining with theDetroitTigers on Sunday TheAmericans are off until reigning NL Cy Young Award winner andformerLSU star Paul Skenes pitchesMonday night against Mexico.

JAPAN4,AUSTRALIA3: Reigning champion Japan became the first nation to clinch aquarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic, then ralliedonMasatakaYoshida’stwo-run homer in the seventhinning to beat Australia on Sunday night in Tokyo and assure first place in its first-round group. Japan clinched advancement earlier Sunday when South Korea lost to Taiwan 5-4 in 10 innings, also at the Tokyo Dome. Japan’s win clinched first place in Group C for Shohei Ohtaniand theSamurai Warriors (3-0).

DOMINICANREPUBLIC 12,NETHERLANDS

1: In Miami, JuanSoto, Vladimir Guerrero, Junior Caminero and Austin Wells homered as the Dominican Republic routed the Netherlandsinseven innings to remain unbeaten in GroupD Thegame ended under the mercy rule when Soto’stwo-run blast in the bottom of the seventhgave the Dominican Republic adouble-

muchmore difficult. Next weekend,LSU travels to Nashville, Tennessee,totake on Vanderbilt. The Commodores have seven losses, but fivehavecome against powerconference teams, andthey still have amuch more talented rosterthan any LSU has seen to this point.

LSU hosts Oklahoma and Kentucky afterthat, two clubs that have gotten off to strongstarts. TheSooners have beaten four power-conference teamsand DallasBaptist.The Wildcatshave won nine straight despite not having their best player available, shortstop Tyler Bell, for eight of those contests.

Time is notaproblem for LSU as it triestostraighten itself out.

But Sunday’sdefeat to the Hornetsmade life moredifficult for theTigersasthey approach SEC

digit advantage.

MEXICO16, BRAZIL0: Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran, Alek Thomas and Julian Ornelas all homered as Mexico romped past Brazil in six innings.

The Pool Bgame in Houston was halted early because of aWBC mercy rule that ends gamesifa team is up by 15 or moreruns after thefifth.

Mexico also beat Britain 8-2 in its opener Friday and will meet theUnited States (2-0) on Monday CUBA 7,COLOMBIA 4: Ariel Martinez andErisbel Arruebarrena homered in afour-run first inning, helping Cuba improve to 2-0 in Pool A. Yiddi Cappe added abig two-run triple in thesixth. Yoelkis Guibert had two of Cuba’seight hits, and Denny Larrondo pitchedtwo innings for the win at Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

Cuba beat Panama 3-1inits WBC opener Friday.Next up is ashowdown withPuerto RicoonMonday

ITALY7,BRITAIN 4: Andrew Fischer homered and drove in two runs, and J.J. D’Orazio also went deep to lead ItalyoverBritain7-4 in Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston. Italy improved to 2-0after winning its opener against Brazil on Saturday,while Britain (0-3) was eliminated. The Brits also lost to Mexico and theUnited States.

play,otherwise known as the 30 most important games on their schedule.

“You work, it’sthe only way through it,” Johnson said.

LSU’sbiggest issue on Sunday is the same onethat has plagued the Tigers through muchofnonconference play: theoffense. LSU mustered threehitsthrough the first fiveinnings andfailed to record an extra-base hit.

“I don’tknow,” senior Brayden Simpson said when asked whyLSU has been inconsistenttostart the year.“…There’sa standardhere, and Ifeel like we haven’tquite been meetingthat offensively and in similarparts of thegame as well.”

Itsstrugglesatthe plateplaced too much pressure on apitching staffthat, as of late,has been far from perfect. After holding the

AssoCIATEDPREss

Designated hitter Kyle schwarber hits ahome runfor the U.s. during a WorldBaseballClassicgame against Britainonsaturday in Houston.

ISRAEL5,NICARAGUA0: Noah Mendlinger had three hits and an RBI as Israel beat Nicaragua in Miami.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer threw 4 1⁄3 innings in his start forIsrael,whichimproved to 1-1 in Pool D. Kremer allowed two hits and struckout four Zach Levenson’stwo-run single andRBI singlesfrom Cole Carrigg and Harrison Bader in the fifth madeit5-0.

Sacramento State (5-10) lead to just two through fiveinnings, the Tigers allowed three runs with two outs in the sixth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Johnsondecided to pull sophomoreright-handed starter William Schmidtfor sophomore left-hander Cooper Williams, but Williams hit the only batter he faced to load thebases. Redshirt junior right-hander Gavin Guidry replaced Williamsbut also struggled. He walked in arun and gave up atwo-run single that gave Sacramento State a5-0 lead.

“I trust Gavin with my life,” Johnson said, “so I’m not going to sit here and say I’m ever disappointed in Gavin Guidry.” Schmidt hada strong fourth start of the season. He didn’twalk abatter for athird consecutive outing and struck out eight hitters

TAIWAN5,SOUTH KOREA 4: Kun-Yu Chiang bunted home Chieh-Hsien Chenwiththe go-ahead run in the top of the 10th for Taiwan, which completed group play at 2-2. South Korea’sJuWon Kim was thrownout at the plate in the bottom half on Hyeseong Kim’s grounder,with first baseman NienTing Wu throwingtocatcher ShaoHung Chiang. Jyun-Yue Tseng retired Do Yeong Kimonaflyout for the save.

in 52/3 innings. He allowed four runs —three earned —but most of the damage was hardly his doing, especially before the sixth inning. First, freshmanleft fielderMason Braun misjudgedahard-hit fly ball with twooutsinthe third inning that allowed the first run to score. Three pitches later,right fielder ErickDessensreached first base on adropped third strike that allowed asecond run to come across. Instead of hitting Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke’sglove at first base, sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide picked up the loose ball andthrewitoff the runner’shelmet,allowing center fielder Sam Harry to scorefromsecondfor the unearned run. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be available to stream on SEC Network+

NFLseeinggigantic swings in trademarket

BY ROBMAADDI AP pro football writer

Defense wins championships. That’swhy NFL teamsare becoming more willing to partwith valuable draft picks forelite defenders.

Trading two first-rounders fora player has been rare withfewer than 20 such deals over the past 40 years. However,threeofthose have occurred in the past 61/2 months, and each was for asuperstar defensive player

Five-time Pro Bowledgerusher Maxx Crosby became thelatest premier talent traded for two No. 1s when the Baltimore Ravens acquired the 28-year-old star from the Las Vegas Raiders on Fridaynight.

The lasttwo Super Bowls were decided by superior defenses.Seattle’s“Dark Side” defense sacked Drake Maye six times in a29-13 victory over NewEnglandlast month. Last year,the Eagles sacked Patrick Mahomes six times in Philadelphia’s40-22 victory over the Chiefs in the Caesars Superdome Adding Crosby is asignificant boost for the Ravens, who’ve fallen short in the playoffs several times despite successful regular seasons

ledbytwo-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Crosbyupgrades adefensethat had just 30 sacks in 2025, tied for 28th in theNFL. He could thrive undernew coach JesseMinter, a former defensivecoordinator

Here’salook at some other trades involving two first-round picksover thepast five years:

SauceGardner

TheColts senttwo first-rounders andwide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets forthe two-time All-Pro cornerback last November.Indianapolis was 7-2 at the time but injuries to quarterbackDaniel Jones and Gardner helped derail their season

MicahParsons

The Packers traded two firstrounders andthree-time ProBowl defensive tackle Kenny Clarkto Dallas forthe three-timeAll-Pro edgerushera week before the start of last season Parsons had 121/2 sacks in 14 games, helping Green Bay start 9-3-1. They didn’twin agame without him after he tore an ACL

RussellWilson

The Denver Broncos made ablock-

buster deal to acquire the10-time Pro Bowl quarterback in March 2022, sending twofirst-round picks, two second-round picks, afifth-round pick, QB Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris to Seattle. Wilsonwent 11-19 in onlytwo seasons in Denver before he was released.

DeshaunWatson

In March2022,the Cleveland Browns made what turnedout to be one of the worst trades in NFLhistory whenthey acquired Watson and a2024 sixth-round pickfrom the Houston Texans in exchange for three first-round picks, athird-round pickand two fourths.

The Browns then signed Watson to a$230 millioncontractfully guaranteed. He’splayed just 19 games in four years, going 9-10.

MatthewStafford

The Los Angeles Rams traded quarterback Jared Goff, twofirstrounders and athird to the Detroit Lions for Stafford in January 2021. The three-time Pro Bowl QB led the RamstoaSuper Bowl title that season and was NFL MVPin 2025.

Bhatia chargeslatetowin Arnold Palmer

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

ORLANDO,Fla. Arnold Palmer was famous forsaying, “You must play boldly to win,” and AkshayBhatia followed that script Sunday to astunning comeback and playoff victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Bhatia started his back-nine charge with four straight birdies He nearly holed his 6-iron that went right at the flag on the par-5 16th to set up eagle. And he outlasted Daniel Berger with apar on the first extra hole to winatBay Hill.

“You just never know what can happen in this game,” Bhatia said after he closed with a3-under 69 and won his third PGA Tour title, all of them in playoffs. This wasthe biggest, a$20 million signature event that moves the24-year-old into thetop 20 in the world at the start of abig stretch in golf that concludeswith the Masters next month.

Berger looked like he had this won, walking confidently after shots in buildingafour-shot lead at the turn. He lost the leadbymissinga7-foot par putt on the 17th hole and showed plenty of moxie just to get into the playoff withan up-and-downfrom 70 yards forpar on the final hole for a70. They finished at 15-under273, the first playoff at Bay Hill since 1999.

Berger,who hit his tee shot into theright rough on the 18th in regulation, pulled his drive in the playoff and did well to hammer a6-iron to the front edge of the green,106 feet away.Herolled thatto7feet below the hole, and his par putt to extend the playoff was weak and missed belowthe cup.

Bhatia, who took on thetraditional Sunday flag on the 18thover the rock-framed waterinregula-

Termstoknowas NFLfreeagency gets underway

BY ROBMAADDI AP pro football writer

Ready,set, negotiate multimillion contracts. The NFL’sfree agency period opensMondaywith a52-hour legal tampering period ahead of theofficial start of the new league year Wednesday Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walkerhead the list of high-profile players who will be free to sign acontract with anew team. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins andKylerMurrayalsowill be seeking new teams because they’re going to be released by their teams. Here’sanexplanation of the rules and terms:

Legaltampering

At 11 a.m.Monday,teams can start negotiating withcertified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire at the startofthe newleague year on 3p.m. Wednesday.Teamsaren’t permitted to speak directly to theplayers, whocan’tsign anew contract until the league year officially begins. The two-day negotiating period applies only to players who will be unrestricted free agents.

Unrestricted free agents

Any player with four or more accrued seasons —six or more regular-season games on aclub’s active/inactive, reserve/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists —whose contract hasexpired becomes an unrestricted free agent andmay negotiateand sign with any team.

Restricted free agents

Restricted free agents areplayers with threeaccruedseasons who have received aqualifying offer when their current deals expire on Wednesday Franchisetag

Each team can designate one potential free agent afranchise player. Cowboys receiverGeorge

BayHill on sunday in orlando,

tion and nearly pulled it off, played to the center of thegreen. He took two putts from just inside 30 feet for the win and the $4 million prize.

“Everyone knowswhenyou show up to Bay Hill, it’sgoing to be atest,” Bhatia said. It was every bit of that. He was five shots behind at the turn when he ran off fourstraight birdies, one of them from just inside 60 feetonthe 11th hole. There was atwo-shot swing at the13th when Bhatiaholed a10-foot birdie putt and Berger had aplugged lie in a bunker,facinga shot to thecrispy green with water on the other side. He smartlyplayed back toward thefairway and salvaged abogey, hislead down to one shot.

The final hour turned electric on thepar-5 16th,with apin tucked to the leftnearthe water. Bhatiahit 6-iron high and true, and it nearly went into thecup on the second bounce to set up a3-foot eagle. Berger made birdietostay one ahead Bhatia saidcaddie Joe Greiner told him, “Just try to hit the best

6-iron of your life.”

“It was one of those professional pushes,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to aim at the flag.”

Berger,who haslost big chunks of time in recent years with aback injury and thenabroken finger sufferedlast August, was trying to becomethe first wire-to-wire winner at Bay Hill in 10 years.

“It’stough to win. It’s tough to battle,” he said. “A shot here or there was the difference.”

That goes for Bhatia, too. He and Berger returned Sunday morning to finishthe third round. Berger had athree-shot lead until the18th hole,whenhemadebogey from the right rough and Bhatia made birdie when his 10-foot putthung on the lip for just under 10 seconds and then dropped.

Berger’sconsolation prize, aside from the $2.2 million for finishing second, was earning aspot in theBritish Open andmoving well into thetop 40 in the world, which should make him safe to return to theMasters next month

Pickens, Falconstight endKyle Pitts and Jets running back Breece Hall received the tag before the March 3deadline. An exclusive franchise player is notfreetosignwithanother club and is offered the greater of theaverageofthe top five salaries at the player’sposition for the current year as of the end of the restricted freeagent signing period on April 17, or the amount of the required tender fora nonexclusive franchise player

Anonexclusive franchise player can sign withanother team but that club will owehis previous team two first-round draft picks. All the players tagged this year are nonexclusive.

Transition tag

The transition tag is aone-year offer for the average of top 10 salaries at the position. It guarantees the original club the right of first refusal to match any offer the player might receive from another team.

The tagging team is awardedno compensation if it choosesnot to match adeal.Colts quarterback Daniel Jones received the transition tag this year

The signingperiodfor transition players begins at 3p.m Wednesday and ends on July 22 After July 22, the prior club has exclusive negotiating rights. Teams can decide to withdraw franchiseand transitiontags, and the player automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent. 2026 salary cap

The salary cap is $301.2 million perclub, up from$279.2 million last year.Teams must be under the salary cap by 3p.m.Wednesday

Salary-cap rollover

Ateam maycarry over salarycap space from one league year to the following league year by submitting notice to the NFL priorto3 p.m. on theday following the team’sfinalregularseason game. Ateam cancarry over 100% of its remaining 2025 room to its adjustedsalarycap for 2026.

Blaney endsReddick’s streak to give Penske a Phoenixweekend sweep

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racingwriter

AVONDALE, Ariz. Ryan Blaney completed aTeam Penske sweep at Phoenix Raceway by winning the Cup Series race Sunday —a victory that denied TylerReddick afourth consecutivewin to start the NASCAR season.

Blaney was therace favorite after winning last November in theseason-finale on the mile oval but he had to overcome at least three tire problems that costhim track position. He chased down Ty Gibbs —the 49th car he passed Sunday— to takethe lead with 10 laps remaining and seal his 18th career victory

“Just perseverance,”Blaney said. “Wehad acouple mistakes that we learned from, gotbetter,had to come from the back acouple times. It’s cool to win, especially after a day like that.Can’t sayenough about the (team) for keeping theirhead down and doing what they do.”

As he celebrated on the frontstretch, hisparked Ford began to roll away andBlaney had to chase after it to ensure it was in park.

The victory came during a weekend celebration of Team Penske’s 60th season of competition andduring a“desert doubleheader” that bundled IndyCar and NASCAR together at Phoenix.

David Malukas won the IndyCar pole for Roger Penske and then Josef Newgarden wonSaturday’s race; Joey Logano won the pole for theCup race and then Blaney completed the sweep.

“Really proud of everybody at Team Penske,” Blaney said. “We swept the weekend,Newgarden

winningyesterday,uswinning today.Can’twait to see Roger.” The win wasthe first this season for Ford after Reddick —in aMichael Jordan-ownedToyota for 23XIRacing —set aNASCAR record by winning the first three races of the season. ChristopherBellfinished secondina Toyotafor Joe Gibbs Racing, reigning Cup champion KyleLarson was third in aChevrolet forHendrick Motorsports and Gibbs dropped to fourth.

Denny Hamlin, who lost the championship last November at this track, wasfifthasJGR drivers took three of the top five positions. Bell dominated the race thesameway Hamlin did in November and, just like Hamlin, lost because of the wrong pit strategy Hamlin in November took fourtires on thefinal stopand was beat forthe championship by Larson, who took two tires. On Sunday,Blaneytook two tireswhile Bell andHamlin each took four

“You winsome, you lose some,” said Bell, who led 176ofthe 312 laps. “This one stings,but on the positive side,I’m really proudof our entire team.It’ssomething to build on. It was aday that we needed.”

Bubba Wallace was sixthfor 23XI, William Byron was seventh forHendrick, andReddickwas eighth. Toyota drivers took six of the top 10 spots.

“It would have been nice to makeitfour,” Reddick said. “Scored the fourth-most amount of points on the day solid day.If we’re notgoingtowin, these are the kind of days we need to have.” The race was slowed by a record-tying 12 cautions, most caused by arash of tire failures.

LIVING

Dior’s garden of earthly delights

Jonathan Anderson’s collection at ParisFashion Week invokesan

Impressionistpainting

BY THOMAS ADAMSON

AP fashion writer

PARIS The sun was outoverthe glasswalled runway at the famed Tuileries Garden in the French capital March3, flooding Jonathan Anderson’s fall-winter 2026 collection for Dior with agolden light that invoked Impressionist paintings.

Among the celebrities at Paris Fashion Week packed into the glass walkways around the park’soctagonal basin —dotted with artificial water lilies in anod to Monet —were Anya Taylor-Joy,Charlize Theron, Jisoo, Priyanka Chopra, Willow Smith, Emily Ratajkowskiand Macaulay Culkin.

It was afitting mood foracollection steeped in flowers, water and the art of being seen. The greenhouse settingturned the surrounding Parisian strollers into an unwitting audience —anidea Andersonleaned into.

He said he had been thinkingaboutthe promenade, about people who dress up to go somewhere, and abouthis own status as atourist in his adopted city What emerged on the runway was Anderson’smost coherent women’scollection for Dior to date.

Deconstructed frock coats, peplum jackets and bustle skirts arrived in candied almond shades, Chantilly lace and metallic jacquards. Shrunkenblazers sat above lampshade skirts in baby-soft shearling. Sculptural knits heldtheir shape like origami.

AssoCIATED PREss PHoTo By EMMA DA sILVA

Amodel wears acreation from the Christian Dior Fall/Winter 2026-2027 Women’scollection presented in Parison Tuesday.

ABOVE: Adish named ‘Tongue Kiss’ is servedatrestaurant AlchemistinCopenhagen, Denmark.

BELOW: Acured squid, white cabbage, hazelnuts andwalnuts dish is servedatrestaurant Kadeau in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Is it art?

Denmark’smosttheatrical restaurantssit at thecenter of thedebateonwhether top-levelcooking counts as art

BY JAMES BROOKS Associated Press

COPENHAGEN, Denmark Imagine dining on “edible plastic” madefromalgae andcollagen from fish skins. While you ingest the dish, ocean-borne plastic pollution seemingly floats above you, projected across the restaurant’shuge domed ceiling. It’s an experience— anddish —inspiredbylarge garbage patches found in our seas.

In Denmark, chef Rasmus Munk doesn’toffer dishesatthe Alchemist restaurant. Instead,he whisks guests on an “immersive dining experience” combining performance, music,projections in its planetarium-like domed dining room,and, of course, food.

Opened in 2019 at the site of aformer industrial harborareainthe Danish capital,Copenhagen, Alchemist was namedthe world’sfifth-best restaurant in 2025. It has twoMichelin stars, signifying excellence in cuisine, out of amaximum three possible forone establishment.

Guests at this restaurant can experience 50 “impressions,” most of them edible.Diningthere meanstrying various foods —alarge eyeball dish featuring caviarand codfisheye gel, nettle butterflies served atop cheese and artichoke leaves —over manyhours, in aslow process that invites reflection on thefood andsurrounding projections

“Weconveymessagesthrough ourfood,our food

‘Brady Bunch’ housegetsLos Angeleslandmarkstatus

By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES Here’s thestory of how amodestmid-century home became aLos Angeles landmark.

The LA city council voted unanimously on Wednesday to designate the the so-called “Brady Bunch” house in the San Fernando Valley as ahistoric-cultural monument.

The vote grants landmark protections to the house on Dilling Avenue that was used for exterior shots of the TV sitcom that ran from 1969 to 1974. Interior scenes were shot on a soundstage,withsets thatbore no resemblance to the property that become aphoto-op magnetfor “Brady Bunch” fans The show,which lived on for decades in syndication, featured the comic travails of afamily of

six blended-family siblings “the youngest one in curls,” as the themesong explained. The shingle-and-stone home with apeaked roof also appeared in the 1995 big screen film “The Brady Bunch Movie” and itssequel. Thelandmark status protectsthe home, built in 1959,from demolitionormajor renovations—but doesn’tprohibit them. If owners ever decide to make big changes, they would be subject to adesign review and theCulturalHeritage Commission can delay theprocess to find preservation solutions. The nonprofit LA Conservancy pushed forthe landmark status and CEO Adrian ScottFine said he wasthrilled it was approved. He said fans of the show have a personal connection to the property

“Ifyou watched the‘Brady Bunch,’ youknew this house.People make apilgrimage to seeit,” Fine said Wednesday. “Tohaveit designated like this, it makes it all thesweeter.”

When the house went on the market in 2018, the cable network HGTV won abidding war that drove the price up to $3.5 million —or$1.6 million over thelisting price for thethen-2,400-squarefoot residence. The housewas expanded, remodeled and redecorated to give it trademark elements of theset version,including thewood-paneled living room withafloating staircaseand an orange-and-green kitchen. The process was documented in afour-partHGTVminiseries called “A Very Brady Renovation.”

Thereasonfor yawningstill beingresearched

Dear Doctors: Ihave alwaysliked how yawning feels and wondered what it’sfor.Ijust read there is newinformation about how yawning affects your brain. Do you know anything about that?Also, do we know yet why yawning is so contagious? I’ve even been able to get my dog to yawn.

Dear Reader: Your questionsabout yawning echo across millennia. A physical reflex still shrouded in mystery,the search for an answer to why we yawn dates back at least to the ancient Greeks. Aristotle and Hippocrates favored a theory of ventilation. Less scientific notions have leaned intothe mystical. Some have guessed soul slippage, aleaching of life force or spirits entering or leaving the body.What we do know for sure is that virtually all primates

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday,March 9, the 68th day of 2026. There are 297 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On March 9, 1945, during World WarII, over 300 U.S. B-29 bombers began Operation Meetinghouse, a massive firebombingraid on Tokyo. The raid killedan estimated 100,000 civilians, left 1million homeless and destroyed 16 square miles of the city

Also on this date:

In 1796, the future emperor of the French,Napoleon Bonaparte,married Josephine de Beauharnais.

In 1841,the U.S. Supreme Court,inUnited States v. The Amistad, ruled 7-1 in favor of agroup of illegally enslaved Africans who were captured off the U.S. coast after seizing control of aSpanish schooner,LaAmistad. The

Dr.Elizabeth Ko Dr.Eve Glazier AsK THE DoCToRs

yawn. Thebehavior has also been observed in birdsand even some fish. Andyou’re right that it’s contagious. It would be surprisingifaportion of readers hadn’t alreadystifled,orgiven in to, a yawn while reading this column. Now,the results of asmall studysuggest theancient Greeks weren’t that far off themark. Researchers in Australia have

TODAYINHISTORY

justicesruled that the Africansshould be setfree.

In 1862, duringthe American Civil War, theironclad warshipsUSS Monitorand CSSVirginia (formerly USS Merrimac) clashed forfive hourstoadraw at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Thefirst engagement of ironclad warshipsopeneda newera in naval warfare In 1916, more than 400 Mexicanraidersled by PanchoVilla attackedColumbus, New Mexico, killing 18 Americans. In 1959, the Barbie doll was introduced at theAmerican International ToyFair in New York.

In 1964, theU.S. Supreme Court, in NewYork Times Co. v. Sullivan,raised the standard for public officials to prove they’d been libeled in their official capacity by news organizations. In 1997, rapper The No-

found that yawning can affect the movementofcerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF,isa clear liquid produced in the brain. It helps to cushion and protect this critical organ. CSF also carries nutrients and removes waste. In their study,scientists performed MRI scans of the brains of 22 healthy volunteers as they breathed normally,took deep breaths, yawned and stifled a yawn. Because deep breathing and yawning share similar physical actions, theresearchers expected tosee similar MRI results. However,the scans showed that during ayawn, cerebrospinal fluid was often transported away from thebrain. This was theoppositeofwhat happened during a deep breath.

torious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was killed in astillunsolveddrive-by shooting in Los Angeles at age 24. In 2022, aRussian airstrike devastated amaternityhospital in the besieged Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, killing four people and wounding at least 17.

Today’sbirthdays: Singer Jeffrey Osborne is 78. Actor Juliette Binoche is 62. Actor Emmanuel Lewis is 55. ActorOscar Isaac is 47. Comedian Jordan Klepper (TV: “The DailyShow”) is 47 Rapper Chingy is 46. Actor Matthew Gray Gubler is 46. Retired soccer player Clint Dempsey is 43. Olympic skiinggoldmedalistJulia Mancuso is 42. Actor BrittanySnowis40. Rapper Bow Wowis39. Rapper YG is 36. Social media personality KhabyLameis26. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa Lee is 23.

Continued frompage1C

is our medium of expressing ourselves,” saidMunk, whose dishes also explore issues such as state surveillance and animal welfare.

Once known for bacon, herring, andrye bread,the Scandinavian country’scuisine has been in ascendancy since 2003 when René Redzepi’sworld-beating Noma first burst onto the scene, preaching a“New Nordic” philosophy that celebrated foraging, fermenting and Scandinavia’sseasonal larder Emboldened by the success of the NewNordic movement, Denmark’sMichelin-starred restaurants are now asking anew question: Can gastronomy be art?

Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt saidinJanuary that Denmark would explore whether gastronomy couldbeformallyrecognized as an art form. If realized, it could become the first nation to legally place cooking—oratleast the highest versions of it —ona similar pedestal to painting.

It’snot clear how the culture ministry’splans will be impactedbythe country’s March 24 generalelection.

Munk, 34,who says he spentalmosta decade honing his “artistic practices ” has been adriving force behind the move and described it as a“big milestone.”

“I don’tthink all food is art

…Ithink the craftsmanship needs to be on the highest

level,” he said, noting that ultimately it’sapolitical decision what gets called art and what not and that, for now, “this is aclosed society for chefs.”

The change, still in its exploratoryphase, would eventually require avote in Denmark’s179-seat parliament to reclassify gastronomy from craft to art

It could also make the country’s chefs eligible for state subsidiesand funding from private foundations like writers and musicians —toget theirprojects off the ground

Other nations with famed food cultures, including France and Japan, haven’t made similar moves.Last year,UNESCO grantedItalian cooking cultural heritagestatus.

Denmark has previously expanded what constitutes art andculture, forexample by awarding alifetime national arts honor to heavy metal act KingDiamond. Last year,the Sonning Prize, Denmark’s largestcultural award, was awarded to French gastronomic artist and chemistHervéThis.

The Nordic nation of 6 million peoplehas become adining destination, home to 37 Michelin-starredrestaurants, including Copenhagen’stwo-star Kadeau, which was opened in 2011 by head chef andcreativedirector Nicolai Nørregaard.

“I approach it like Iwould approach making apiece of art, like an artwork or apiece ofwriting,” Nørregaard said. “It’sabout gettingsort of an experience.”

The 46-year-old head chef, whose recipes reference the seasonal flavorsofDanish islandBornholm, said that such recognition would be a “big step.”

“Toacknowledge that this can alsobelooked upon as art… that’s what’s importantfor me,” he said.

But not everyone,even some within the industry, are toasting the idea.

Nick Curtin, the American executive chef and owner of Copenhagen’s Michelinstarred Alouette restaurant, argues that art and gastronomyare fundamentally different.

“Art’ssolepurpose is expression. It’stoevoke emotion.Food must be consumed,” he said. “(Art) can evoke disgustordisappointmentorpain or sorroworjoy or longing. Food actually can’t express allof those things. It can, but it shouldn’t.”

SomeinDenmark’sart scene alsohaveexpressed concern that suchachange might see greater competition forfunding between chefs and more traditional artists like painters.

Holger Dahl, the architecture andart critic at Denmark’s277-year-old Berlingskenewspaper,ismore blunt:“Ithink it’s quitesilly, there’snouse, it doesn’t makeany sense. “It’sa little bit like abicycle and acar —they have round wheels, they’lltake youfrom onepoint to another point, but it’s not like avery good bicycle all of a sudden turns into acar,” he said. “It doesn’thappen.”

This led the researchers to conclude that, rather than avariant of deep breathing, yawning is a distinct maneuver that reorients theflow of CSF.Asfor whythat is metabolically advantageous, the answer is not yet clear.Theories include the idea that the movementofCSF plays arole in cooling the brain, aids in the removal of metabolic waste or amps up the alertnessthat is critical to scanning for danger While the findings in this study took asurprising turn, it is importanttonote the small sample size. In addition, the movement of CSF during ayawn was not observed 100% of the time. Also, the effect was observed moreoften in women than in men.Inaninteresting side note, each person yawned thesame wayand in the same

pattern. Also, each study participant’syawn sequence was unique. Sadly,nolight wasshed on why yawns are so contagious. As with all preliminary research, larger and repeated studies are needed to affirm the results. However,even without aconclusive outcome, the study bolsters the existing idea that yawning likely serves aspecific purpose. It’s something to consider next timeyou give in to a yawn, or to the urge to get your dog to yawnalong with you. Send yourquestions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla. edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

DIOR

Continuedfrom page1C

The floral theme was everywhere —but it was developed through silhouette and fabric rather than slapped on literally Crinkled cardigans recalled the corolla of a bloom. Asymmetrically fastened skirts and dresses evoked petals. Even the crystal detailing on embroidered jeans carried a botanical echo. Anderson reprised his Donegal tweed take on the house’slegendary Bar jacket,but made it longer and looser

The spiral cage dresses thatwowed at his recent couture show returned as clouds of soft pleated fabric. With theirhoundstooth dark and light checks,handpleated jacketsand coats showed signs of trompel’oeil, atechnique to make the object appear three-dimensional.

Dotted Swiss ruffle skirts with longtrains offered a youthful riff on Christian Dior’siconic Junon gown. There were ivory hammeredsilktrack pants withcoveredbridal buttons, jeans withribbon embroidery and plain robe coatsworn as dresses garments rarely given the spotlight on arunway

The celebrityturnout was intense —and so werethe regal echoes

Dior has held its showsat the Tuileries since 2020 as part of apartnershipwith the adjoining Louvre Museum to help restore one of the oldest public gardens in Paris —originally commissioned by Queen Catherine de’Mediciand laterredesignedfor Louis XIV as a place to see and be seen. On Tuesday,Anderson’s designs testified that he is steadily finding his version of that centuries-old tradition. Five collections in, the picture is getting clearer even if the designer insists it will always remain amoving target.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March20) You are overdue for ashiftthatwill rewriteyour destination. It's up to you to let go of what's standing in your way andto make the changes necessary to reach your goal.

ARIES(March 21-April 19) Put your energy into something you care about.Check intocourses,governmentgrants or volunteer work that address your concerns. Make fitness and ahealthy diet part of your daily routine.

TAURUS (April 20-May20) Initiate change. Your words and actions will carry weight and resonate with those who offer support. Fine-tune your skills and apply for positions that excite you.

GEMINI(May21-June 20) Say lessand do more.How you reach out to others will determine what you get in return. Ahelping hand will fetch betterresults than criticism. Puta cap on your spending.

CANCER(June 21-July 22) Listen, be reasonable and stick to the truth. Funnel your energy into keepingup, recognizing your value andusing your intelligence,knowledge and expertise to uphold your reputation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Participate in eventsthat offer insight into subjects, professions or hobbies that interest you. What you discover will motivate you to takeonsomething new and exciting.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Keep your emotions to yourself. Someone will use the informationyou share withoutcon-

cern for your safetyoryour reputation. Don'treveal financial, personal or health matters.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Stick close to home. Nurture relationships and rearrangeyourspace to encourage greater creativity and initiative. Make healthy choices that encourage you to look, feel and do your best.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Learn as you go. Avoid shared expenses and joint ventures that add stress to your life Don'thesitate to say no or to change your mind if you have doubts. Trust your instincts.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec.21) Invest moretime in yourself. Pay attention to your needs and what you can do to maintain the happiness and lifestyle you desire. Make peace and love apriority.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be willing to help others, but don't pay forsomeone else's mistakes. Your foresight and spontaneity will change the dynamics of your professional relationships for the better.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Discipline will pay off. Apassionatedisplay of what you can do will have an impact on others. Personal growthand financial gain are within reach. Takeachance and find your bliss.

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

Sudoku

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

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

BY PHILLIPALDER

Bertrand Piccard fromSwitzerland andBrian Jones from England were the first to travel nonstop around the world in aballoon.Piccard said, “Very often, human beings are living like on autopilot, reactingautomatically with what happens.”

Some bridge players count at the table almost without being aware they are doingit. Theseexperts areonautopilot. That is good. There are many more players whoare on adifferent autopilot, following the typical “rules” of thegame, which is occasionally not good.

In this deal, for example, how should the defenders play to defeat three notrump after West leads hisfourth-highest heart four?

In theauction,Idisagree with North’s usingStayman,becausehis doubleton is so strong. He should just raise to three no-trump

We have all heard of “thirdhand high.”

And many Easts would not be able to resist usingitattrickone, covering dummy’s heart five with theseven —but it is thewrongplay. When third hand cannot contribute anine or higher, he should give count.Here, withanodd number of hearts, he should play the two.

Declarer will winwithhis jack, cross to dummy with aspadetothe queen,and run the diamond 10. West, on winning with hisking, should cashthe heart ace, knowing that declarer will have to drop his king. West will then run his suit for down one.

If Eastplays the heart seven at trick one, West should assume East started with adoubleton and shift to aclub, trying to getEast on lead foraheart lead through declarer’s king. ©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 of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such

thought

yourselves therefore to God. Resist thedevil, and he will fleefrom you.” James 4:7

Bundle 12075 of theClerk and Recorder Office of EastBaton RougeParish, Louisiana

Includingthat2010 Palm HarborMobile Home,Se‐rial# PH2215009, 72 x16, Model#TLG372F5, as im‐mobilized by that Actof Immobilization on file and of record at Original 838 andBundle12465 in the office of theClerk and Recorder forEast Baton RougeParish, Louisiana

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisement and accordingtolaw Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish

ADVERTISED DATE February 06, 2026 March09, 2026 $242.34 Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED

L.

numbered cause,dated,October 13 2025and to me directed I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onMarch 11, 2026 via an online auctionsite atwww.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales,offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:MELISSA R. SUMMERSA/K/A MELISSA RAGONSUM‐MERSA/K/A MELISSA SUMMERS One(1) certainlot or par‐cel of land,together with all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all of therights, ways privileges, servitudes appurtenancesand ad‐vantagesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, beingmore particularlydescribed as lot onehundred ninety two (192),Pecan Creek, PartTwo,saidlot being situatedinthe Parish of EastBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,and desig‐nated in theofficial plan thereof,saidlot having suchmeasurementsand dimensionsand being subject to such servi‐tudes of record as shown onsaidsubdivision map.

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisement and accordingtolaw

above entitledand numbered cause,dated,October 23 2025 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onMarch 11, 2026 via an online auctionsite atwww.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales,offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:DEBRA FISHER ODKINSAND DABLVIN EILEEN FISHER ONE(1) CERTAINLOT OR PARCELOFGROUND, to‐getherwithall thebuild‐ingsand improvements thereon,situatedinthe ParishofEastBaton Rouge,State of Louisiana,inthatsubdi‐visionknown as RIVER OAKS, SECOND FILING and designated on the official plan thereof, on file andofrecordinthe office of theClerk and Recorderofthe Parish of EastBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,asLOT NUMBER ONEHUNDRED FORTY-TWO (142),said subdivision,saidlot hav‐ing such measurements and dimensions and being subjecttosuch servitudesand restric‐tions as aremorepartic‐ularlyshown on said map;subject to restric‐tions,servitudes, rightsof-wayand outstanding mineral rights of record affecting theproperty. TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE February 06, 2026 March09, 2026 $244.89

SHERIFF'SSALE

SuitNo: (17) 768984 DEUTSCHE BANK NA‐TIONALTUSTCOMPANY ASTRUSTEE FORHSI ASSETSECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST 2006-HE2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGHCERTIFI‐

DERRICK BATISTE That certainpiece or por‐tionofground,together withall thebuildings component parts, and improvementsthereon situatedinthe Parish of EastBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,inthatsub‐divisionthereof known asWOODLAWNSUBDIVI‐SION, andbeing desig‐nated accordingtothe official mapofsaidsub‐division, acopyofwhich ison file andofrecordin the office of theClerk and Recorder forsaid Parishand StateasLOT NUMBER FOUR (4), said subdivision,saidlot hav‐ing such measurements and dimensions as indi‐cated andonsaidmap and beingsubject to suchservitudesand re‐strictionsasare of recordinthe office of the Clerk andRecorderfor the Parish of East Baton Rouge,Louisiana (the "Property") TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish

ADVERTISED DATE February 06, 2026 March09, 2026 $255.11

SHERIFF'SSALE

SuitNo: (17) 769250 FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION vs KATHY VALLE RAMIREZ BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,December 01, 2025 andtomedi‐rected, Idid seizeand will, beginningat10:00 o'clock a.m. on March11, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tionsiteatwww bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales,offerfor saleatpublicauction the following described mortgaged property be‐longing to:KATHY VALLE RAMIREZ

g Louisiana for Rabalais Homes,LLC", prepared byBrian M. Aguillard & Associates,LLC,and on file andofrecordinthe official recordsofthe Clerk andRecorderfor EastBaton RougeParish, Louisiana,atOriginal 469, Bundle 12856 (the of‐ficial finalplat) Said Lothavingsuch measurementsand di‐mensionsasindicated onsaidmap,being sub‐jecttosuchservitudes and restrictions as are shown on said mapand filedofrecord, including but notlimited to,the Declaration of Protective Covenants,Conditions and Restrictions of The QuartersatMagnolia SquareTownhomes on file andofrecordinthe office of theClerk and Recorderfor theParish ofEastBaton Rouge, State of Louisiana. This propertyalsosubject to the restrictions,as amended,on file andof recordinthe office of the Clerk andRecorderfor the Parish of East Baton Rouge,State of Louisiana,for THEVIL‐LAGEATMAGNOLIA SQUARE, PHASE1,PART 1;subject to restrictions servitudes, rights-of-way and outstandingmineral rightsofrecordaffecting the property TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE February 06, 2026 March09, 2026 $349.54

SHERIFF'SSALE

SuitNo: (17) 769440 CARRINGTONMORTGAGE SERVICESLLC vs CLARISSAL JONES BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,November 07, 2025 andtomedi‐rected, Idid seizeand will, beginningat10:00 o'clock a.m. on March11, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tionsiteatwww bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales,offerfor saleatpublicauction the following described mortgaged property be‐longing to:CLARISSAL JONES ONE(1) CERTAINLOT OR PARCELOFGROUND, to‐getherwithall thebuild‐ingsand improvements thereon;situatedinthat subdivision of theParish ofEastBaton Rouge, State of Louisiana, known as Mc Hugh Place Subdivision,and being designatedonthe offi‐cialsubdivision map, on file andofrecordinthe Office of theClerk and Recorderfor said Parish and State, as LotNumber Thirty-Eight(38),said subdivision,saidlot hav‐ing such measurements and dimensions as shown on said map.

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE February 06, 2026 March09, 2026 $198.97

That certainlot or parcel ofground,together with all buildingsand im‐provementsthereon,and all of thecomponent parts thereof, andall the rights, ways,privileges, servitudes, appurte‐nancesand advantages thereuntobelonging or in anywise appertaining,in‐cluding butnot limited to, an undividedinterest inall commonproper‐ties, situated in that townhouse development known as THEQUARTERS ATMAGNOLIASQUARE TOWNHOMES in East Baton RougeParish, Louisiana,being shown asLOT NUMBER TH-FIVE (TH-5), on amap entitled RevisedPlatShowing LotsTH-1thruTH-13, The QuartersatMagnolia SquareTownhomes being aSubdivision of TractsC-2-A-2-A andC-2A-2-B,The Villageat MagnoliaSquare, Phase 1,Part1,Located in Sec‐tion42, T6S, R2E, Greens‐burgLandDistrict, East BatonRougeParish, i i f b l i

acertain parcelofground in Foun‐tainViewEstates,to‐getherwithall thebuild‐ingsand improvements thereon,and allofthe rights, ways,privileges, servitudes, appurte‐nancesand advantages thereuntobelonging to orinanywise appertain‐ing situated in theParish ofEastBaton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as shown on theplat recordedatOrig: 905 Bndl:

SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) 769768 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC vs THEUNOPENED SUCCESSIONOFAND UN‐KNOWN HEIRSOF HAROLDJAMES BROWN, SR. AKAHAROLDJAMES BROWN,SR. AKAHAROLD J.BROWN,SR. AKA HAROLDJAMES BROWN AKA HAROLD J. BROWN AKA HAROLD BROWN AND THEUNOPENEDSUC‐CESSION OF ANDUNKN‐WON HEIRSOFVERNA TYLER BROWNAKA VERNA TYLERBROWN AKA VERNAT.BROWN AKA VERNABROWN BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,November 10, 2025 andtomedi‐rected, Idid seizeand will, beginningat10:00 o'clock a.m. on March11, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tionsiteatwww bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales,offerfor saleatpublicauction the following described mortgaged property be‐longing to:THE UN‐OPENEDSUCCESSIONOF AND UNKNOWNHEIRS OF HAROLDJAMES BROWN, SR. AKAHAROLDJAMES BROWN,SR. AKAHAROLD J.BROWN,SR. AKA HAROLDJAMES BROWN AKA HAROLD J. BROWN AKA HAROLD BROWN AND THEUNOPENEDSUC‐CESSION OF ANDUNKN‐WON HEIRSOFVERNA TYLER BROWNAKA VERNA TYLERBROWN AKA VERNAT.BROWN AKA VERNABROWN Onecertain pieceorpor‐tionofground,together withall thebuildings and improvementsthereon and allofthe rights ways, privileges, servi‐tudes,appurtenances and advantages there‐untobelonging or in any‐wiseappertaining,situ‐atedinthe Parish of East Baton Rouge, Stateof Louisiana,inthatsubdi‐visionknown as Baker Hills,Third Filing,and designatedonthe offi‐cialplanthereof,on file and of record in theof‐fice of theclerk and recorderofthe Parish of EastBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,aslot num‐ber twohundred thirty (230),saidsubdivision saidlot having such measurementsand di‐mensionsand beingsub‐jecttosuchservitudes asare more particularly described on said subdi‐visionmap TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE February 06, 2026 March09, 2026 $301.03 Baton Rouge, LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,November 17, 2025 andtomedi‐rected, Idid seizeand will, beginningat10:00 o'clock a.m. on March11, 2026, viaanonlineauc‐tionsiteatwww bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales,offerfor saleatpublicauction the following described mortgaged property be‐longing to:THE UN‐OPENEDSUCCESSIONOF AND UNKNOWNHEIRS OF