The Times-Picayune 03-09-2026 by The Advocate

N O L A.C O M

M o n d ay, M a r c h 9, 2026

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Iran names son to succeed slain leader

votes and urging the nation to that could be used to build a nuclear Mojtaba Khamenei backed as war toll grows “strong” unite behind him. The station broadcast weapon, if he chooses to decree it. The selection of Khamenei faces scenes of people celebrating in parts of

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

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran’s late supreme leader, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early Monday, 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 the country awaited a decision by the 88seat Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects the supreme leader. State TV read a statement from the assembly saying he was selected based on

Tehran. There has been only one other transfer of power in the ofﬁce of supreme leader since the Islamic Revolution almost a half-century ago. A secretive figure, the 56-year-old Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran’s theocracy and will have ﬁnal say 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

Worker shortage snarls airport security

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.

ä See LEADER, page 4A

Records: Archdiocese case fees approach $60 million Legal, professional bills mount in church’s bid for bankruptcy protection BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By MARCO CARTOLANO

Lines of travelers weave through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint Sunday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Federal employees go unpaid during partial government shutdown BY KASEY BUBNASH and MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writers

The New Orleans airport was plagued Sunday by security lines that stretched through multiple ﬂoors of the building and into the parking garage amid an apparent Transportation Security Administration sickout during a partial gov-

WEATHER HIGH 82 LOW 69 PAGE 6B

ernment shutdown that has left some federal workers without pay. Erin Burns, a spokesperson for the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, said a shortage of TSA workers at security checkpoints caused “longer-than-average lines” and hourslong delays that could persist through the week. She did not say whether TSA employees were on strike.

“Passengers are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening,” Burns said in a statement Sunday evening. “Wait times can be up to 2 hours.” Burns said airport staff were working to keep the lines organized and

ä See AIRPORT, page 5A

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 Aymond 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

Classified .....................8D Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A Comics-Puzzles .....4D-7D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

ä See ARCHDIOCESE, page 5A

13TH yEAR, NO. 209

MARDI GRAS for the MIND

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