The Advocate 03-10-2026

2026

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Landry callsout

‘incompetent’judges

Governor toutschanges during 54-minutelegislative speech

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Gov.Jeff Landry on Monday lambasted “incompetent” judges and called on lawmakers to hold them accountable as he recounted how atourist inNew Orleans wasmurdered in 2024 by ajuvenile who he said was supposedtobe under court supervision through an electronic ankle monitor becauseofprevious crimes.

Six familymembers of the slain tourist, Jacob Carter,stoodinthe visitor’s gallery overlookingthe House chamber while state lawmakers rose to their feet and applauded in ashowofrespect.

The emotionally charged moment came near the end of a54-minute speech by Landry that kicked off the 2026 regu-

larlegislative session. Until that point, thegovernor mostly extolled the changes that he and Republican legislators have enacted during thepast twoyears that haveswung the state to the right

In abrief interview after thespeech,

Landry said he is supporting one piece of legislation that would reducethe numberofjudges in OrleansParish and another that would allow him to remove judges anddistrictattorneys throughout thestate for up to six months.

“It seems like thepeople of this state are getting tired of not having theproper oversight over out-of-control judges or DAsthatare just not doing their job,”Landry said during the interview outside the House chamber.“As crime falls, it’ll only staydownifwetake the dangerous people and we put them be-

hind bars. If they keep letting those people out, or they treat the juveniles like some sort of afterthought,guess what’sgoing to happen? Crime’s going to come back again. We don’twant to do that.”

Orleans Parish District AttorneyJason Williams pushed back on Landry’s narrative, noting that crime has dropped sharply in recent years in New Orleans.

“New Orleans is now in the midst of ahistoric, multiyeardeclineinhomicides,” Williams’office saidina statement.

That does notsatisfy Landry or Sen. Jay Morris, R-Monroe, whoissponsoring the two pieces of anti-crime

ä See LANDRY, page 4A

Trumpsayswar couldbeoversoon

Oilprices, markets seesaw over uncertainty of conflictasIran names newleader

BY JONGAMBRELL, WILL WEISSERT and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates President Donald Trump said Monday that the war against Iran could be short-lived, but he leftopenthe possibilityofanescalation in fightingifglobaloil supplies

are disrupted by the Islamic Republic, which chose anew hard-line supreme leader Oil prices briefly shot to their highest level since 2022 aday after Iran selected Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as Iran’s supreme leader.Investors sawitasa signal that Iran was digging in 10 days into thewar launched by theUnited States andIsrael. But priceslater fell and U.S. stocks rose on hopes that the warwith Iran maynot last much longer “Wetook alittle excursion”tothe Middle East “to get rid of some evil. And, Ithink you’ll see it’s going tobe

ashort-term excursion,” Trumptold Republican lawmakers at his golf club near Miami. Hours later,Trump posted on social

4arrestedafter fight escalatedintoshootout

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

Eight-year-old DavianNicholaswas

playing basketball with other kids at a neighborhood goal on adead-end street Sunday evening when they heard gunfire.

As they fled for home, Nicholas wholived nearby on San Juan Drive washit by astray bullet, arelative of the boywho asked nottobeidentified said Monday

“It wasamatter of him being in the wrongplace at the wrong time,” the relative said. Nicholas was taken to a hospital but later diedfromhis injuries, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

AuthoritiessaidMonday that four men werearrested in the shootout that ledtothe killing. An overnight investigation revealed an argument involving the four escalated into agunfight, East Baton RougeParishSheriff SidGautreaux said in astatement.

Jeremiah Scott, 21; Jeremiah Walter, known as “Meezy,” 25; Hunter Calligan, 22; andEverett Chambers, 21, were booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Throughout Sunday, therewere arguments between two separate armed groups,investigators said in arrest documents. Witnesses reported armed men were in front of aLaredo Drive house.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

1 held after shots fired near Rihanna’s home

LOS ANGELES Los Angeles police took a woman into custody after she fired gunshots outside Rihanna’s gated home, according to authorities and news reports on Monday

No one was injured, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the singer was at home when the shooting happened Sunday afternoon.

Police received a call about shots fired about 1:15 p.m in the Beverly Hills area, Officer Charles Miller said Monday A 35-year-old woman was later taken into custody and investigators recovered a weapon, according to a police statement

The suspect has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is in jail on $10 million bail. The district attorney had not yet announced charges.

Miller did not say who lived in the home. Multiple local news outlets reported that it belongs to Rihanna. Public records show the property is owned by a trust run by Evan Jehle, who is a member of the advisory board for Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation. Emails seeking comment were left with Rihanna’s publicist and manager It was not known if the woman under arrest had any connection to Rihanna.

ICE releases teen boys in mariachi band

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas A family whose two teen boys are in a nationally recognized mariachi band in South Texas was reunited Monday afternoon after bipartisan criticism that the Trump administration’s campaign for mass deportation overreached by detaining the family.

Brothers Antonio GámezCuéllar, 18, and Joshua, 14, were detained along with their 12-year-old brother and their parents Feb. 25. The teenage boys were prominent members of the McAllen High School Mariachi Oro band, which has visited the White House, performed at Carnegie Hall and won eight state championships.

The two younger boys and their parents were released Monday from a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat who visited them, marking his third visit to the center Antonio was released on Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from a detention center in Raymondville, Texas.

“They were ecstatic. They were crying They were excited to be reunited with their son and brother, Antonio, who was being held separately in Raymondville,” Castro said at a news conference in San Antonio. “But their mom kept asking, ‘What did we do wrong? We followed all the rules. We went to court, we haven’t done anything wrong.’”

Officials: Teacher killed in prank gone wrong

GAINESVILLE, Ga. It was a prank that turned deadly, authorities said: A group of teenagers unspooled rolls of toilet paper outside the home of a beloved high school teacher who tripped in the street and was struck by a pickup truck as the pranksters started to drive away

The 40-year-old teacher, Jason Hughes, died after being taken to a hospital late Friday, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said. The 18-year-old driver of the pickup was arrested on a felony charge of vehicular homicide, and four other teens were charged with misdemeanors.

Hughes’ family said he knew and loved the five students involved and urged authorities to drop all charges against them.

“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Hughes’ family said in a statement on Monday.

Authorities: Men who brought bombs to rally inspired by IS

Two accused of throwing improvised explosives at far-right protest in N.y.

BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ, MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEWYORK Two men who brought explosives to a far-right protest outside New York City’s mayoral mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, a court complaint said.

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were being held without bail after a court appearance Monday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. Their lawyers didn’t argue for bail but could do so later

The homemade devices, which did not explode, were hurled Saturday during raucous counterprotests against an anti-Islam demonstration led by Jake Lang, a far-right activist and critic of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office.

“Balat and Kayumi sought to incite fear and mass suffering through this alleged attempted terror attack in the backyard of an elected city official,” James Barnacle, who runs the FBI’s New York office, said at a news conference after the brief court session.

The defendants said nothing in court, but Kayumi smirked and looked over at Balat as the judge read part of the complaint alleging they acted in support of the Islamic State group. Balat stared ahead at the defense table.

According to the complaint, Kayumi blurted out, as he was being arrested Saturday, that “ISIS” was the reason for his conduct. Balat later told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the extremists, and Kayumi asserted that he was affiliated with the group, the complaint said.

Officers asked Balat whether he was aiming to accomplish something akin to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and wounded hundreds more

“No, even bigger,” Balat replied, according to the complaint.

Emir Balat’s lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said outside court that his client is a Philadelphia-area high

Police detain Emir Balat

school senior with “complicated stuff going on” in his personal life.

“There’s a lot to figure out,” the attorney added. Asked whether he believed Balat was a terrorist, the lawyer said: “I believe he’s 18 and he doesn’t have any idea what he’s doing.”

Kayumi’s lawyer Michael Arthus, pointed in court to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and asked that prosecutors avoid saying anything that could prejudice potential jurors.

No one answered the door at a home listed as belonging to one of Kayumi’s relatives in Newtown, Pennsylvania. At a home where neighbors said Balat lives in nearby Langhorne, a young man declined to comment when a reporter knocked on the door

A spokesperson for Neshaminy High School, located in Langhorne, confirmed that Balat is in his senior year there. He has not attended in-person classes since enrolling in the district’s virtual program this past September, according to a note sent to parents Monday by the district’s superintendent.

Essmidi said he didn’t believe the two young men had known each other for long. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said neither defendant had a criminal history Meanwhile, U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on social media that authorities “will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, antiAmerican ideology to threaten this nation.”

Tisch said there are no indications that the attack was connected to the ongoing war in Iran.

An automated license plate reader captured the defendants entering New York City from New Jersey less than an hour before the noontime attack, according to the complaint. Kayumi’s mother filed a missing person report, saying she last saw him about 10:30 a.m.

Saturday The men’s vehicle — registered to one of Balat’s relatives was discovered Sunday, a few blocks from where they were arrested. A search of the car turned up a fuse, a metal can, and a list of chemical ingredients and components that could be used to build explosives, the complaint said.

Lang’s sparsely attended protest Saturday drew a far larger group of counterdemonstrators. Amid the faceoff, Balat tossed a jar-sized device that contained the explosive TATP into the crowd, the complaint said The object also contained a fuse, plus an exterior layer of duct-taped nuts and bolts, the complaint said.

The device extinguished itself steps from police officers. According to the complaint, Balat then ran down the block and collected a second, similar device — which has yet to be tested for explosives — from Kayumi. Balat dropped it near some police officers and tried to run away the complaint said. Police tackled Balat and soon arrested him and Kayumi.

New footage raises likelihood U.S. struck Iranian school

Feb. 28 blast killed at least 165 people

BY JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

JERUSALEM New footage shows what an expert investigative group says is likely an American Tomahawk missile hitting a compound in southern Iran, meters from the school where a deadly unclaimed blast killed over 165 people at the start of the war raging in the Mideast It comes as mounting evidence points to U.S. culpability for the Feb. 28 strike, which hit a school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base in Minab, Iran, in the country’s southern Hormozgan Province. Experts interviewed by The Associated Press, citing satellite image analysis, say the school was probably struck amid a quick succession of bombs dropped on the compound.

A U.S. official familiar with internal deliberations on the matter has told the AP that the strike was likely American. The official spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter.

The new footage, first analyzed by the investigative group Bellingcat, was taken the day the school was struck but circulated Sunday by Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency. It shows a missile hitting a building, sending a dark plume of smoke into the air

identified the munition as a Tomahawk cruise missile — which only the U.S. is known to possess in this war It’s the first evidence of a munition used in the strike.

U.S Central Command has acknowledged using Tomahawk missiles in this war and even released a photo of the USS Spruance, part of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group located within range of the school, firing a Tomahawk missile on Feb. 28.

Bellingcat said the footage “appears to contradict” President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for the deadly school blast Neither the U.S. military’s Central Command nor the Israeli military immediately replied to requests for comment Monday from the AP

Real estate brokers convicted of sex trafficking

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEWYORK Three brothers, including two of the nation’s most successful luxury real estate brokers, were convicted of sex trafficking charges Monday after a five-week trial over accusations that they used drugs and force to rape scores of women they had dazzled with their wealth and opulent lifestyle. The verdict came after 11 women testified they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers: twins Oren and Alon Alexander 38, and Tal Alexander, 39.

The women described attacks that occurred after they were invited to vacation locales including the Hamptons, a Caribbean cruise and a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado. More than 60 women say they were raped by one or more of the brothers, according to prosecutors.

Defense lawyers suggested the accusers had faulty memories or were hoping to cash in on the brothers’ fortunes. The brothers, their lawyers conceded, were womanizers. But they insisted any sex was consensual.

The jury began deliberating Thursday Oren and Tal Alexander were brokers at real estate powerhouse Douglas Elliman before starting their own firm, Official. Alon Alexander worked at the family’s private security firm.

Besides the criminal case, the trio faced about two dozen lawsuits, including one filed Thursday by Tracy Tutor, a star of “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” on Bravo. She alleges Oren Alexander drugged and assaulted her in a restaurant bathroom while she was in New York City for a real estate event.

When those lawsuits first began being filed, multiple women came forward claiming they had also been sexually harassed or assaulted, and that the brothers’ misconduct with women had been an open secret in the real estate world for years. During the trial, many of the women who testified said they believed they’d been drugged after they were handed alcohol by one of the brothers. Some described feeling like they’d lost control of their bodies after less than one drink.

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Obituaries:

A story published in The Advocate on Sunday March 8, about an upcoming legislative race incorrectly stated that candidate Angela Robers had worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate She was a volunteer The Advocate regrets the error

The AP was able to geolocate the video and determine it was taken from a site adjacent to the school, while smoke was already rising from the school vicinity Satellite imagery of the compound is consistent with visual identifiers found in the video, including a flat-roofed building, power lines and vehicles. Trevor Ball, a Bellingcat researcher,

When asked by a reporter Saturday whether the U.S. was responsible for the blast, which killed mostly children, Trump responded, without providing evidence: “No, in my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.” Trump added that Iran is “very inaccurate” with its munitions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quickly chimed in to say the U.S. was investigating.

Officials shaped by combat after 9/11 grapple with Iran war

BY STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON As Congress responds to President Donald Trump’s attack on Iran, lawmakers who served on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan are making their voices heard in a war debate that has taken on intensely personal meaning. Many admit mixed feelings, taking satisfaction in seeing vengeance taken on the leadership of an Iranian regime that has targeted U.S. service members for decades, yet fearful that another generation of soldiers could soon face the same combat experiences that they did.

“Do I take gratification?

You know there’s the Marine side of me: Yeah, of course,” said Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, whose company suffered some of the heaviest losses on the U.S. side during the Iraq War. “I know they killed a lot of American soldiers, American Marines. But do I also understand that I have a responsibility not to let my lust for revenge drive my country into another war?

Experiences in the post 9/11 wars are also coloring the decisions of the Trump administration, given that top officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were once deployed to Iraq.

Gallego, like others on Capitol Hill, leaned heavily on his firsthand experience of fighting in the wars after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as he assessed the Iran conflict.

Lawmakers wore bracelets etched with the names of friends killed in battle, told stories of coming under attack from Iran-backed militant groups and reflected on their own life-changing injuries suffered during combat

While the initial votes on Iran saw Congress divide mostly along party lines, with Republicans backing Trump’s actions and Democrats warning of an extended conflict, veterans in both parties share deep reservations about entering the conflict.

“As somebody who knows a lot of friends that didn’t come home and a lot of Gold Star families that’s why the week before the attack, I was actually one of the ones that was talking about caution and why we needed to avoid at all costs getting into another long, drawn-out Middle Eastern war,” said Republican Rep. Eli Crane, of Arizona, a former Navy SEAL who left college to enlist the week after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Crane said his concerns were partially assuaged by briefings from the Trump administration that indicated to him the president is not planning a drawn-out war He voted against a war powers resolution that would have halted attacks on Iran unless

House Foreign Affairs Committee, led the debate on the House floor against the war powers resolution.

Mast, who served as an Army bomb disposal expert, now uses prosthetic legs after receiving catastrophic injuries from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. “Me especially, many of my other colleagues, no one wants to see our military go into combat or war,” he said.

Then he added, “But Iran’s terror, which has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans, it has to stop.”

killed during his two Army combat tours in Iraq. Others remembered how frustrated they became with Washington during their service especially as soldiers tried to fight with insufficiently armored vehicles and not enough troops.

Trump got congressional approval.

But Crane said wars are never straightforward. “I’ve been on military operations that did not go to plan many times, and so I understand the nature,” he said, adding that he was calling for the Trump administration to approach the conflict with “humility and caution.”

Gallego and other Democrats worried that it was too late for that approach. They paid tribute to the six U.S. military members who were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait and worried that there could soon be more American casualties. A seventh service member died on Sunday

from wounds suffered during a March 1 attack in Saudi Arabia.

“War is dirty, and mistakes happen,” Gallego said. The longer the conflict drags on, he added, the greater the chance there will be for U.S. military members to be killed. He experienced that firsthand in Iraq when friends would be killed by seemingly random shots from enemy combatants.

Still, many Republicans argued that it was necessary to attack Iran to stop a regime that for decades has helped train and arm militant groups throughout the Middle East. Republican Rep. Brian Mast, who chairs the

Important questions loom for Congress as the conflict with Iran unfolds and spreads to other parts of the Middle East. The price of the operation is already likely running into the billions of dollars, likely forcing the Trump administration to soon seek billions in funding from Congress. The outbreak of war has also scrambled global alliances and the future of U.S. foreign policy

Shadowing it all is the potential of another drawn-out conflict. Lawmakers said they owe it to their fallen comrades to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“To me, it’s to speak out. It’s to say another generation should not go fight in an openended, ill-conceived regime change war in the Middle East,” said Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan, his hand moving to a bracelet etched with the names of friends who were

“I know what it was like to be on the very end of the receiving line of the decisions made in Washington,” said Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, who entered the Army as a private before being promoted to a captain and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Crow said that front-line soldiers often suffered “because people stopped asking tough questions. People stopped being held accountable. Congress stopped voting on it.”

Another veteran, Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, of Illinois, said that was one of the reasons she sought a congressional seat in the first place. As a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the Illinois National Guard, Duckworth lost her legs when her helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq.

“I ran for Congress so that when the drums of war started beating once again, I’d be in a position to make sure that our elected officials fully considered the true cost of the war,” she said. “Not just in dollars and cents but in human lives.”

Alexander Butterfield, who disclosed Watergate tapes, dies at 99

BY DOUGLASS K. DANIEL and MICHAEL TACKETT Associated Press

WASHINGTON Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who inadvertently hastened Richard Nixon’s resignation over the Watergate scandal when he revealed that the president had bugged the Oval Office and Cabinet Room and routinely recorded his conversations, has died. He was 99. His death was confirmed to The Associated Press by his wife, Kim and John Dean, who served as White House counsel to Nixon during

the Watergate scandal and went on to, along with Butterfield, help expose the wrongdoing.

“He had the heavy responsibility of revealing something he was sworn to secrecy on, which is the installation of the Nixon taping system,” Dean said. “He stood up and told the truth.” As a deputy assistant to the president, Butterfield

oversaw the taping system connected to voice-activated listening devices that had been secretly placed in four locations, including Nixon’s office in the Executive Office Building and the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Butterfield later said that, besides himself and the president, he believed that only White House chief of

staff H.R. Haldeman, a Haldeman assistant and a handful of Secret Service agents knew about the taping system.

“Everything was taped as long as the president was in attendance,” Butterfield told Watergate investigators when testifying under oath during a preliminary interview

The tapes would expose Nixon’s role in the coverup that followed the burglary in 1972 at the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate building. To avoid impeachment by the House, Nixon resigned on Aug 9, 1974, less than a month after the Supreme Court had ordered him to surrender the relevant tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor.

Capturingopportunity:CCS canfuel

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Thisstory is brought to you by ExxonMobil

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Building on almost 40 yearsofexpertise capturing, moving, and storing CO2,ExxonMobil is helping Louisiana turn thatexperience into acompetitiveedge—strengthening the state’s role as aleader in the carbon captureand storage(CCS) industry

What is CCS?

CCS is the processof capturing CO2 createdbyindustrial and manufacturing processesand permanently storing it instead of allowing it to be releasedintothe atmosphere.

CCS involves twopossible storagepathways forthe captured CO2: In enhanced oil recovery (EOR), CO2 is stored via injection deep underground 2,000 feet or more—intoexisting oil reservoirstomakethem moreproductive.

In dedicated storage(Class VI wells) CO2 is stored via injection morethan 5,000 feet (overamile) underground into porous rock formations,whereitremains permanently and securely sequestered.

Both EOR and ClassVIwells result in safe storageof CO2 thatwould otherwisebereleased into the atmosphere. CCS via either pathwaycan create significanteconomic benefits likeproducing morecompetitive productsthatsupportoureconomy,increasing income sources forLouisiana landowners, and attracting billions of dollarsinnew projects from companiesseeking to make and export lower-carbon products

Capturing morevalue with safe and permanentstorage

While the goal of producing lower-carbon products to remain competitiveinchanging global markets mightbenew in Louisiana, capturing CO2 during industrial processes and storing it safely isn’t—and thatgives Louisiana an advantage.

In fact,Louisiana’s geology, CO2 pipeline presence, and extensiveinfrastructurein oil and gas, industrialprocesses, and manufacturing create an ideallandscape forboth dedicatedstorage and EOR.

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Already,Louisiana’sleadership in CCShas helped attractnew projects thatcould create an estimated 17,000 newjobs and $76 billion in capital, according to a2025 executive order from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.

Advanced infrastructureand ideal geology

CO2 is used in manydifferentapplications,fromsoft drinksand carbonatedwatertomedical supplies and fogfor special effects.Much of that CO2,whether it’sgoing to oil wells,soda bottlers, or other manufacturers, travels through Louisiana via the nation’smost advanced CO2 pipeline network. Pipelines arethe safest method of CO2 transportation. CO2 pipelines aretypically made of thickersteel thanother pipelines, and theycome with additionalsafetymeasures and constant real-time monitoring In addition to extensiveinjection expe-

rience and pipeline infrastructure, Louisiana alsohas the geological conditions for safe,permanent CO2 storage. Operators typically look fortwo factorswhen identifying potential areas for CO2 storagethousands of feet underground:

•Permeability or pores in the rock formations thatcreate space for CO2 to flow

•Impermeable caprock or ‘seal’ rock layers thatprevent stored CO2 from migrating upward Louisiana has been identified as an ideal place forstorage basedontheseconditions, but beforeany sites arefinally selected, teams of expert geologists conduct extensiveunderground testing to confirm an area’s suitability.

Awin forLouisiana

CCS supports the energy and manufacturing sector –the backbone of Louisiana’s economythatemploys nearly 150,000 residents acrossthe state –asfacilities seek to competeinglobal markets thatincreasingly demand low-carbon products and energy including biofuels,ammonia,natural gas, and steel.

CCS alsohelps to attract new industrial investments,likenatural gasprocessing, steel mills,and more. Already,Louisiana’s leadership in CCS has helped attract new projects thatcould create an estimated 17,000 newjobsand $76billion in capital, according to a2025executiveorder from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry

In addition to protecting existing jobs and attracting newinvestment, CCS projects planned acrossthe state areexpected to generate millions of dollarsinlandowner payments and tax revenue for Louisiana parishes,insome casesexponentially increasing parish tax revenues —including in rural parishes who have not previously had opportunities to directly benefit from Louisiana’sindustrial sector

ExxonMobil and its customershave begun operating twocommercial CCS projects already,directing captured CO2 from Louisiana industrial sites to EOR fields while dedicatedstorage projects aredeveloped.

CCS combines decades of experience, robust infrastructure, and askilled workforce to support today’sindustry and prepare Louisiana to lead the lower-carbon future.

legislation.

Senate Bill 217 would eliminate two of the 14 Orleans Parish civil court judge positions and have the judicial council study whether to reduce the number of Orleans Parish criminal court judges.

Morris contends that Orleans Parish’s court system should downsize now that New Orleans has a smaller post-Hurricane Katrina population.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno questions the benefits of SB217

“As a former legislator, there are some bills that come about because they are really about efficiencies, and some that come about because they are political,” she said in New Orleans. “And I believe that this one is really more about being political.”

Morris’ Senate Bill 123 would allow Landry to remove judges and district attorneys “for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence, as defined by law, while in office.” To take effect, it would require approval by state legislators by a two-third vote and by voters statewide in an election that would take place in April 2027.

Following Landry’s speech, Morris said he filed the two bills on his own and is glad to have the governor’s support.

“Having judges who vigorously enforce the law competently is critical to having a safe Louisiana,” Morris said.

However, Williams’ office noted that, since 2022, armed robberies have dropped by 70% and murders by 55%

“Unfortunately, Sen. Jay Morris and his adviser, Laura Cannizzaro, continue to ignore those results while placing New Orleans in their political crosshairs,” Williams said in his statement. He was referring to Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, the founder of the Bayou Mama Bears, an advocacy group, and the daughter of former Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro.

Carter’s younger brother Jonathan Isaac Carter was one of the family members Landry invited to watch his speech. He came to Louisiana from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he lives. His brother, who owned a bagel shop in Tacoma, Washington, was gunned down on Jan. 5, 2024, in the Marigny neighborhood, a short walk from the French Quarter He was visiting New Orleans with his husband.

Malik Cornelius, who was 16 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to manslaughter in relation to the death of Jacob Carter and was given a 26year sentence. Following Landry’s speech, Jonathan Isaac Carter noted that his family filed complaints against two Orleans Parish juvenile court judges, Candice Bates-Anderson and Ranord Darensburg, saying they had failed to ensure that Cornelius was tracked via the electronic monitor In his speech, Landry said Cornelius missed more than 400 required check-ins and that the monitoring contract with a private company had lapsed.

KILLED

Continued from page 1A

Walter and Chambers were in a car and Calligan and Scott on foot, authorities said.

Scott had allegedly arrived there dressed in all black, wearing a ski mask and armed with an AR-style rifle in anticipation of a shootout between him and Walter, investigators said.

Walter drove a Dodge Charger past the intersection of San Juan Drive and Torica Avenue, where the children’s makeshift basketball court is, the documents say The 8-year-old was standing in a yard in the line of fire, investigators wrote “This is a heartbreaking and senseless tragedy A group of young men chose to settle an argument with gunfire in a neighborhood where families live and children should be safe,” Gautreaux said. “No parent or family should ever have to

“This is a heartbreaking and senseless tragedy

A group of young men chose to settle an argument with gunfire in a neighborhood where families live and children should be safe. No parent or family should ever have to endure the pain of losing a child in such a senseless act of violence.”

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF SID GAUTREAUX

endure the pain of losing a child in such a senseless act of violence.”

Investigators believe Scott fired the shot that killed Nicholas, Gautreaux said. Scott was booked on counts of first-degree murder and illegal carrying of a weapon.

Scott has a prior illegal carrying of a weapon charge from 2023. He failed to appear in court and had a

The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana dismissed the Carter family’s complaint.

“Our family has been screaming into the void over the past two years about what happened in New Orleans and trying to get someone to pay attention,” Carter said Monday. “To have the leader of the state acknowledge what happened was a preventable trag-

bench warrant issued for his arrest in July 2023.

Walter was also booked on a count of first-degree murder for his alleged role in the boy’s killing. He has prior arrests related to drug possession in 2020 and battery of a dating partner in 2024.

Chambers was booked on counts of first-degree murder and illegal carrying of a weapon, and Calligan on principal to first-degree murder

Nicholas and his family moved to the neighborhood in October and had never had any problems with violence or crime there, his relative said.

A woman who lives near the basketball goalpost said Monday that a small group of five to eight kids regularly played outside in the area before and after school, and sometimes at night on weekends.

The neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she has lived there for over 20 years and nothing similar has happened before.

edy was very gratifying.” Bates-Anderson and Darensburg couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday

Before turning a spotlight on Jacob Carter Landry highlighted how he and lawmakers over the past two years have passed legislation to reduce car and property insurance rates, reorganized the Department of Transportation with the aim to more quickly complete road repairs, made moves that have led to jumps in fourth grade reading scores, abolished the corporate franchise taxes and reduced corporate and individual income tax rates.

“Today we are seeing the fruits of our labor, as the upsurge of business interest and investment in our state reaches historic levels,” he said.

Landry did not note that the tax reductions were coupled with a sales tax increase that gives Louisiana the highest average sales tax in the country

In his speech, Landry laid out an agenda that is less ambitious than what he sought to do during his first two years as governor.

With a lighter agenda, Landry will have more time to ensure the passage of four constitutional amendments on May 16. He has already convened a meeting of the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority and major

donors to plot strategy and raise money to pass all four of them.

During his speech on Monday, Landry highlighted Amendment 3, which would give teachers an annual pay increase by restructuring education trust funds. Landry suffered his biggest defeat as governor a year ago when voters smacked down four different amendments to the constitution that he favored.

On Monday, Landry made no mention of a topic that has put him in national and international headlines: his appointment by President Donald Trump as special envoy to Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

The Wall Street Journal reported two weeks ago that Landry during Mardi Gras hosted two Trump supporters from Greenland at the Governor’s Mansion. One of the men, a bricklayer, told Landry that the United States ought to send a hospital ship to Greenland, the newspaper reported. Landry then suggested the idea to Trump, who announced the ship was on the way It never actually left. The hospital ship is undergoing repairs. Besides, Landry said during an interview with a Danish publication, it cannot operate in Arctic waters. Capital bureau reporter Meghan Friedmann and staff writer Matt Bruce contributed to this article.

Have us take alook!

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Uber’s women-only option goes nationwide

NEW YORK Uber launched a feature Monday to allow both women riders and drivers across the U.S. to be matched with other women for trips, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing concerns about the safety of its ride-hailing platform.

The new feature is being rolled out nationwide despite an ongoing class action lawsuit against the policy in California, filed by Uber drivers who argue that it discriminates against men. Rival ride-hailing company Lyft is facing a discrimination lawsuit over a similar offering that it introduced nationwide in 2024.

Uber’s feature, announced in a blog post, allows women to request a female driver through an option on the app called “Women Drivers.” Passengers can opt for another ride if the wait for a woman is too long, and they can also reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance. A third option allows female users to set a preference for a woman driver in their app settings, which would increase the chances of being matched with a female driver but doesn’t guarantee it. Uber also allows teen account users to request women drivers.

Uber’s women drivers can set the app’s preferences to request trips with female riders, and they can turn off that preference at anytime.

Uber, based in San Francisco, says about one-fifth of its drivers in the U.S. are women, though the ratio varies by city Hims & Hers Health, Novo Nordisk end suit

Novo Nordisk is dismissing its patent infringement lawsuit against telehealth company Hims & Hers, as the two companies have reached an agreement that will see Novo Nordisk’s branded weight loss medicines sold through the Hims platform.

Early last month Hims & Hers said that it was going to launch a cheaper, off-brand version of the weight-loss pill Wegovy, just weeks after drugmaker Novo Nordisk launched its highly anticipated reformulation of the blockbuster medication. At the time, Novo Nordisk vowed to sue Hims, calling the new product “an unapproved, inauthentic, and untested knockoff” of semaglutide, the chemical name for Wegovy

But just two days later, Hims dropped its plan to offer the cheaper, off-brand version of Wegovy That move came a day after the Food and Drug Administration threatened to restrict access to the ingredients needed to copy popular weightloss medications.

The FDA permits specialty pharmacies and other companies to make compounded versions of brand-name drugs when they are in short supply Simon & Schuster names new CEO NEW YORK Simon & Schuster has named a former Amazon. com executive, Greg Greeley, as its new CEO. The publisher announced Monday that Greeley’s appointment is effectively immediately

The 62-year-old Greeley succeeds Jonathan Karp, who announced last year that he was stepping down to head his own imprint at the company Simon Six. Simon & Schuster, which celebrated its centennial in 2024, is home to Stephen King, Colleen Hoover and Bob Woodward and many other bestselling and prize-winning authors. While Karp is a longtime editor and publisher Greeley has a background in business and investment. He spent nearly 20 years at Amazon, where his positions included vice president of Amazon Prime. In 2018, he left to serve as president of Airbnb’s Homes division. More recently, he was president and COO of the biotechnology startup Opentrons and CEO of Thrasio, a consumer goods company.

Anthropic sues Trump administration

AI company seeks to undo ‘supply chain risk’ designation

BY MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writer

Artificial intelligence company

Anthropic is suing to stop the Trump administration from enforcing what it calls an “unlawful campaign of retaliation” over its refusal to allow unrestricted military use of its technology

Anthropic asked federal courts on Monday to reverse the Pentagon’s decision last week to designate the artificial intelligence company a “supply chain risk.”

The company also seeks to undo President Donald Trump’s order

directing federal employees to stop using its AI chatbot Claude. The legal challenge intensifies an unusually public dispute over how AI can be used in warfare and mass surveillance one that has also dragged in Anthropic’s tech industry rivals, particularly ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which made its own deal to work with the Pentagon just hours after the government punished Anthropic for its stance.

Anthropic filed two separate lawsuits Monday, one in California federal court and another in the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., each challenging different aspects of the government’s actions against the San Franciscobased company “These actions are unprecedented and unlawful,” Anthropic’s

lawsuit says. “The Constitution does not allow the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech. No federal statute authorizes the actions taken here. Anthropic turns to the judiciary as a last resort to vindicate its rights and halt the Executive’s unlawful campaign of retaliation.”

The Defense Department declined to comment Monday, citing a policy of not commenting on matters in litigation.

Anthropic said it sought to restrict its technology from being used for two high-level usages: mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weapons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials publicly insisted the company must accept “all lawful” uses of Claude and threatened

punishment if Anthropic did not comply

Designating the company a supply chain risk cuts off Anthropic’s defense work using an authority that was designed to prevent foreign adversaries from harming national security systems. It was the first time the federal government is known to have used the designation against a U.S. company Hegseth said in a March 4 letter to Anthropic that it was “necessary to protect national security,” according to Anthropic’s lawsuit. President Donald Trump also said he would order federal agencies to stop using Claude, though he gave the Pentagon six months to phase out a product that’s deeply embedded in classified military systems, including those used in the Iran war

U.S. stocks erase early loss amid worries of Iran conflict

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK The U.S. stock market careened

through a manic Monday, going from a steep early loss to a solid gain as worries turned into hope that the war with Iran may not last that long. Oil prices whipped from nearly $120 per barrel, their highest since 2022, back toward $90.

The S&P 500 dropped as much as 1.5% in the morning before flipping to a gain of 0.8%

The Dow Jones Industrial Average clawed back a plunge of nearly 900 points to rise 239 points, or 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.4%.

They’re the latest hour-to-hour swings to pummel financial markets because of the uncertainty about just how high oil prices will go and how long they will stay there because of disruptions to the energy industry in the Middle East.

Markets made their remarkable reversals during the last hour of Wall Street’s trading after President Donald Trump told CBS News that he thinks “the war is very complete, pretty much.”

That calmed worries that had built earlier in the morning, when the price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, briefly touched $119.50. It hadn’t been that expensive since the summer of 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.

If oil prices stay very high for very long, households’ budgets already stretched by high inflation could break under the pressure.

Companies, meanwhile, would see their own bills jump for fuel and to stock items on their store shelves or in their data warehouses It all raises the possibility of a worst-case scenario for the global economy, “stagflation,” where growth stagnates and inflation remains high.

Concerns have focused in particular on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran’s coast that a fifth of the world’s oil sails through on a typical day Iran had earlier threatened to set fire to ships sailing the strait.

If the Strait remains closed for only a few weeks, the price of oil could push to $150 per barrel of higher, according to oil and gas strategists at Macquarie Research.

But oil prices pared their gains through the day initially on talk that seven of the world’s largest economies could coordinate moves to push back on the spikes. They then slid

Justice Dept., Live

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and LARRY NEUMEISTER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Justice Department said Monday it has tentatively settled its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment, striking a deal to ultimately lower ticket prices for consumers and end an illegal monopoly over live events in America.But some states signaled they won’t join the deal and will continue an ongoing trial. After the Justice Department announced an agreement that ends its participation in the Manhattan federal court trial, Judge Arun Subramanian called it “entirely unacceptable” that nobody told him about it until late Sunday after a

sharply after CBS News said Trump said of Iran that “if you look, they have nothing left. There’s nothing left in a military sense.” Trump also added that when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, he’s “thinking about taking it over,” according to CBS.

A barrel of Brent crude pulled back to settle at $98.96 in the afternoon and then kept falling afterward below $90. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude touched $119.48 during the morning, then pulled back to settle at $94.77 and then sank toward $85.

The U.S. stock market has a history of bouncing back relatively quickly from past military conflicts, as long as oil prices don’t stay too high for too long. Some professional investors continue to suggest that drops in prices for stocks could ultimately offer opportunities to buy them at cheaper levels before they rise again.

“We continue to believe that the current acute shortage of oil will be reversed in the coming months as new supply comes online and oil should drop significantly,” according to Sameer Samana, head of global equities and real assets at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Even with all the recent swings in the market, the S&P 500 index that sits at the heart

of many 401(k) accounts is still within 3% of its record set in January

All told, the S&P 500 rose 55.97 points to 6,795.99. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 239.25 to 47,740.80, and the Nasdaq composite gained 308.27 to 22,695.95.

To be sure, prices could reverse again in the coming days given all the uncertainties about the war That’s what happened through the huge swings that rocked Wall Street last week.

In stock markets abroad, where economies are more dependent on the import of oil and natural gas stocks fell sharply before Trump’s comments were published. South Korea’s Kospi sank 6%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 tumbled 5.2% and France’s CAC 40 dropped 1%.

Trump’s comments came after he said late Sunday that high oil prices at the moment were worth the cost.

“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace,” he said in a posting on his social media network. In the bond market, the yield on the 10year Treasury fell to 4.10% from 4.15% late Friday

Nation settle in illegal monopoly case

term sheet outlining the deal was signed Thursday A senior Justice Department official spoke effusively of the looming settlement on the condition of anonymity Monday during a phone call with journalists under terms set by the department to release some information about the proposed settlement

Live Nation would pay a $280 million fine and divest itself of at least 13 amphitheaters nationwide while opening its ticketing processes so competitors can share in the sale of tickets, the official said, adding that at least 10 states were expected to join the deal.

The official called it a “win-win for everybody,” bringing immediate relief to consumers and protecting venues from retaliation when

they choose Live Nation’s competitors to handle tickets or promote events.

Live Nation Entertainment said it was pleased with a settlement that will let other promoters decide how best to distribute up to 50% of tickets and cap ticketing service fees at 15%.

“We have never relied on exclusivity to drive our ticketing business, it has simply been the result of having the best products, services and people in the industry,” said Michael Rapino, president and CEO.

Live Nation said the settlement will include an eight-year extension of the company’s consent decree with the Justice Department. It described the $280 million that the Justice Department official labeled

a “fine” as a “settlement fund to address the states’ damages claims.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement that the pact “fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case.”

“My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our lawsuit,” James said. A release containing her statements said other states rejecting the settlement included Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Oilpricesswing wildly as Iran warcontinues

Conflictthreatens transportroutesand production across Middle East

BY ALEX VEIGA, ELAINE KURTENBACH and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP business writers

The widening Iran war hasupended oilproduction andshipping across the Middle East, straining energy supplies worldwide.

Those disruptions caused oilto spike Monday, only for it to swiftly fall back after President Donald Trump suggested the war could be near an end.

The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, briefly surged to $119.50 per barrel on Monday —its highest level since the summer after Russia invaded Ukrainein2022. West Texas Intermediate, which is produced in the U.S., also soared to $119.48 per barrel at one point. But those prices fell to under $90 late Monday, as markets made significant reversals after Trump told CBS News he thinks “the war is very complete.”

Still, that’smuch higher than the roughly $70 abarrel crude was selling for beforethe U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28.

The conflict, now in its second week, is ensnaring countries and infrastructure critical to the production and transportationofoil and gas worldwide. And on Monday,Iran named Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader —anew sign of defiance from the country’s leaders as the U.S. and Israel continue heavy bombardment.

Fears of attacks haveall but stopped tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, anarrow waterway off Iran’scoast where afifthofthe world’soil sails throughona typical day.Majoroil producers in the region like Iraq, Kuwait and the

Continued from page1A

media: “If Iran does anythingthat stops the flow of Oilwithin the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”

The war has choked off major supplies of oil and gas toworld markets and sent fuel prices rising across the U.S. The fighting has alsoled foreigners to flee from business hubsand prompted millions to seek shelter as bombs hit military bases,government buildings, oil and water installations, hotelsand atleast one school.

Trump also had acallMonday with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war and other issues. Putin’sforeign affairsadviser,Yuri Ushakov, said Putin “voiced afew ideas regarding a quick political and diplomatic settlement” of the conflict following his conversations with Gulf leadersand Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Khamenei, asecretive 56-yearold cleric, is only the third supreme leader in the history ofthe IslamicRepublic. He hasclose ties to the paramilitaryRevolutionary Guard, which has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states since his father,

UAEhave cut production due to exportconstraints becausethey are running out of storagespace. Iran, Israel and theU.S.have all struckoil andgas facilitiessince the war started, worsening supply concerns.

“In economic terms, this is already the largest oilsupplyshock ever,” said NicholasMulder, an assistantprofessor of history who studiesthe economic impacts of wars at Cornell University. As Gulf producersreduceoutput andshut down production, he explained, “we are seeing roughly three to four times as manybarrels of oil lost as during the 1973 and 1979 oil crises.”

The war’stoll on civilian targets and the energy sector grew over theweekend,notably as oil depots in Tehran smoldered following Sunday strikes by Israel. Meanwhile, across the Persian Gulf, Bahrainaccused Iran of striking adesalinationplant vital to drinking water supplies. Bahrain’snational oilcompany declaredforce

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989, was killed during thewar’sopening salvo.

Dozens of explosions were heard in Tehran in what was considered theheaviest air raid on the capital since the war started Feb. 28. Iranian mediadid notreport on damages andcasualties.

Israel said Monday that it was carrying out “a wide-scale wave of strikes” on theIraniancity of Isfahan, as wellasTehranand in southern Iran. TheIsraeli military said it hit dozens of infrastructure sites, including the drone headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard.

Meanwhile, Israel’smilitary alerted the population throughout the dayabout incomingmissiles from Iran. From Lebanon, Iranbacked Hezbollahalso fired rockets into Israel on Monday Trump said the United States was nearing its goal to eliminate Iran’sballistic missilestockpile andits abilitytoproduce and launch them. The administration has offered shifting rationales and timelines since the start of the conflict.

He also talkedabout “building anew country,”a commentthat seemed to suggest the U.S. might be engaged in the building of anew Iran.

Thousands poured into acentral square in the capital, Tehran, and other locations in ashowof allegiance to the new supreme

majeurefor itsshipments after an Iranian attack setits refinery complex ablaze. The legal declaration releases the company of contractual obligations because of extraordinary circumstances. And the war hasdisruptedcritical supply chains. Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil —about 20% of theworld’soil —typically are shippedevery day through the StraitofHormuz, according to independent research firm Rystad Energy.The threat of Iranian missile anddrone attackshas all but stoppedtankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar,Bahrain, the United ArabEmiratesand Iran from traveling through the strait.

Some energy experts warn of drawn-out ramifications.

Jim Burkhard, vicepresident and global head of crude oil research at S&P Global Energy, pointed particularly to rising productioncuts andstorage constraints —noting that the crisis had evolved past asolely trans-

leader,waving flags andshouting phrases like “DeathtoAmerica” and“Death to Israel.”

The younger Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the war started, was long considered a potential successor —even before the killing of his 86-year-old father Trump told reporters that he was “disappointed” thatMojtaba Khamenei was pickedand that he liked “the idea” of aleader drawn from an “internal” group of candidates, saying that worked well with Venezuela.

The younger Khameneiisseen as even less compromising than his latefather.Assupremeleader, he hasthe finalsay on allmajor policies,includingTehran’sdisputed nuclear program Though Iran’skey nuclear sites are in tattersafter the U.S. bombed them during the12-day Israel-Iran war in June, it still has highly enriched uranium that’sa technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Khamenei could choose to do what his fathernever did build anuclear bomb.

Trump told reporters the war with Iran startedbecause that country was working on anew site for developing material for nuclear weapons to replace one bombed last year by the U.S Israel has already described Khamenei as apotential target. Trump said Monday it “would be inappropriate” to saywhether he would be targeted.

ADIS‐TANCEOF39.24 FEET TO APOINT ANDCORNER; THENCE PROCEED SOUTH 01°45'11" EAST ADIS‐TANCEOF29.00 FEET TO APOINT ANDCORNER; WHICHISTHE POINTOF BEGINNING, SAID POR‐TION OF PROPERTY CON‐TAINS0.026 AC.(1,137.96 SQ.FT.)MOREORLESS. CUP-7-14 St.Aloysius Catholic Church (2025 Stuart Avenue) Proposed Parish Activity Center andexpansion of gymna‐sium within existing reli‐gious/educationalinsti‐tution on property lo‐catedonthe west side of Stuart Avenue,south of PerkinsRoad, on prop‐erty noworformerly knownasSTA Tractof Idle Hour FarmsSubdivi‐sion.Section 94, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP,LA)Council District 12- Racca) CUP-2-26 FaithTaberna‐cleofZachary (22838 PlankRoad) Proposed re‐ligiousinstitution on property locatedonthe east side of PlankRoad, southofPort-Hudson PrideRoad, on property noworformerlyknown as Undesignated Tract andAllen L. Hunt Tractof Leslie,Kennedy,June Hunt Property.Sections 22 and23, T4S,

portation issue, and that restoring outputs will be “a massive technicalexercise thatcould last weeks or more.”

Andeven higher oil prices could arrive in the near future. If the Strait of Hormuz, in particular remainsclosed for only afew weeks, oil andgas strategists at Macquarie Research said the price of crude could push to a$150 per barrel or higher.Thatwould top previous peaksofaround $147 reachedjustahead of the2008financial crisis.

Others,however,expectdisruptionstobemore short-lived. OxfordEconomics researchers predict prices will fall to an average of $80 abarrel forthe quarter,but notedMonday that the “risk of a more prolonged crisis has clearly increased.”

In response to soaring prices, there hasalso been discussions of dipping into emergency oil stockpilesinthe U.S.and elsewhere. But on Monday,the Group of Seven major industrialized powers said

TheU.S. stock market careened through amanic Monday, going from asteep earlyloss to asolid gain as worries turned into hope that the warwith Iran may not last that long. Oil prices whipped from nearly $120 per barrel, thehighest since 2022, back toward $90.

Iran’sattacks in the Strait of Hormuz haveall but stopped tankers from using the shipping lane through which afifth of the world’s oiliscarried, andIraniandrones and missiles have targeted oil and gas infrastructure in major producers. Attacksonmerchantships near thestrait have killed at least seven mariners, according to the International Maritime Organization KamalKharazi,foreign policy adviser to the office of the supreme leader,told CNN on Mondaythat Iran is prepared foralong war. He said he sees no “room for diplomacy anymore” unless economic pressure prompts other countries to intervene and stop the “aggressionofAmericansand Israelis against Iran.”

Turkey, meanwhile, said NATO defenses had intercepted aballistic missile that entered the country’sairspace forthe secondtime since thewar started.

Saudi Arabia lashedout at Iran following the drone attack on its massive Shaybahoil field, saying Tehran would be the“biggest loser” if it continuestoattack Arab

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it haddecided againstusing their strategic reserves, at least for now.

“We’re not there yet,” French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said after chairing ameeting of his G7 counterparts. Still, he told reportersinBrussels that thegroup was “ready to take necessary and coordinated steps in order to stabilize markets, suchasstrategic stockpiling.”

On Saturday,Trump downplayed theideaofturning to America’s Strategic PetroleumReserve, maintaining U.S. supplieswere ample and prices would soon fall.

Yetthe surge in costs foroil and naturalgas is still pushing fuel prices higher, cascading through arange of industries —impacting anything from jet fuel for airplanes and car gas prices, to household energy bills.

Experts like Burkhard note that Asianeconomies areespecially vulnerable,due to the region’s heavy reliance on imports from the Middle East.

Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrelsofoil aday,mostlytoChina,whichhas calledfor an immediate end to the fighting. Beijing may need to look elsewhere for supply if Iran’sexports are disrupted, another factor that could increase energy prices.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also warned of strict penalties forrefiners and gas stations caught hoarding or colluding on prices, saying it would be wise to find alternatives to supplies that must travel through the Strait of Hormuz.

Across Southeast Asia, the spike in prices has led to long lines outside filling stations. But price hikes arespreading worldwide. Higherenergy costs can pushoverallinflation higher, straining household budgets and denting the consumer spending that is the dominant engine behind somebig economies, including the U.S. Those worries have spilled into financial markets, pulling share prices sharply lower since the warbegan.

states.

In the UAE, home to the futuristic city of Dubai, authorities said two people were woundedby shrapnel from theinterceptionof Iranianmissilesoverthe capital, AbuDhabi.The Emirati Defense Ministry said 15 ballistic missiles and 18 drones were fired at the country on Monday Early Tuesday,the United Arab Emirates said adrone attack targeted its consulate in the Kurdish regionofIraq, causing damage but no injuries. Thestatement from the foreign affairs ministry did not blame the attack on anyone but decried it as “a dangerous escalation and athreat to regional security and stability.”

Iran also attacked Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, where the governmentsaid that aperson was killed and others injured in an Iranian attack targeting aresidential building in the capital, Manama. Several U.S. diplomatic missions have ordered all but key staffto leave.

The warhas killedatleast1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials.

Atotal of seven U.S. service members have been killed. TrumpsaidMonday that family members of the soldiers told him during thetransferoftheir remains over the weekend in Dover, Delaware: “Make sure you win, sir.”

JanRisher

LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Findingluck in afour-leaf clover

For more than 20 years, Ihave known that my friend Jennifer May has an unusual ability She can find four-leaf clovers. Not eventually or afterhours of searching. She can simply be walking along apath, glance down and say,“Ah, here’s afourleaf clover.”

I’ve seen it happen. On the other hand, Ihave spent most of my life not finding them.

Iremember sitting on the playground in third grade with friends, scanning patchesof clover and hoping to be the lucky one. None of us found a four-leaf clover,but Iput my clover-patch time to good use

Though Istoppedlookingfor luck, Ibecame an expert in making clover crowns and necklaces. Every day during recess, Iset up shop to make adornments for my friends.Wewalkedback into Mrs. Elliott’smath class like playground royalty

Until Imet May years later,I thoughtfour-leaf cloversonly existed in the technical sense —anomalies like two-headed snakes.

May,however,isproof that four-leaf clovers arereal. We met Feb. 19 at Moncus ParkinLafayette for aguided hunt. Iblocked off three hours on my calendar and showed up prepared for a long afternoon in the sun —blue jeans, tennis shoes and abig hat. In my mind, this excursion was going to involve sitting on the ground for hours,crawling around on all fours, carefully inspecting thousands of tiny leaves. May has adifferent approach. About 35 seconds after we walked to aclover patch, she said, “Here’sone.”

She bent to pick it andheld it for me to see.

“Hold up,” Isaid. “How did you do that?” She began to explain.

“Look at each clover leaf,” she said. “See thoselittle red marks on each leaf —theseare redbecause they are red clover. If you lookover here, these are white clover,and you’ll see those leaves have white marks.”

I’ve looked at clover leaves for the better part of 60 years and never noticed the different colors of flowers and leaf marks. Before she could fully explain how she finds four-leafclovers, she spotted another one

“You’ve got to tell me what you’re doing here,” Isaid.

She pointed again to the leaves. She asked me to pay special attention to the small chevronshaped marks on each leaf.

“Most clovers have three leaves,” she said. “So, noticethe little almost-circle that the combined marks on the three leaves make.”

Isaw what she meant.

Then she held up one of the four-leaf clovers she had found.

“Look at what the little marks make when there are four.It’s not acircle. It’smore like a square,” she said. “So, I’m looking at the patterns the marks make, not at the leaves. Here’s another one.”

Icouldn’tbelieve it.

She pausedand glanced toward me.

“12 o’clock for you.”

Ifroze and staredinthe direction she indicated. At first, Isaw what Ihad always seen —ablur of identical green leaves. But then Istarted scanningfor patterns.Not circles. Squares. And suddenly,there it was. About 10 minutes into our hunt, with my friend’scoaching, I found my first four-leaf clover

ä See RISHER, page 2B

HowellParkburnasuccess

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

As the sun rose on achilly but clear Tuesdaymorning, Sharon King knew the conditionswere right.Itwas averygoodday for aburning.

For much of the daylight hours Feb. 24,Howell Parkwould be intentionally set on fire. These burnsbegan in 2022 at the north Baton Rouge public park and have occurred almost every year since It’s afar cryfromevenadecade ago, when this 100-acre park served largely as agolf course. Ahistoric flood in August

2016 turneditinto alarge, temporary lake.

In the wakeofthatevent,the East Baton RougeParish parks andrecreationsystemremade the park, installing afishing pond and multiuse fields. Instead of putting in greens and fairways,BREC recreation workers plantednative Louisianagrasses andwildflowersinabout adozen “grow zones.”

Thegrowzones are partofa larger,agencywide push to make better use of “greeninfrastructure”toprotect parishresidents from disastrousweather like the 2016 floods. The naturalgrasses in thegrow zones are there to

absorb rainfall in the soil rather thansending it running off into HurricaneCreek, acement-lined drainage canal that crisscrosses the park.

“Theirroot systems go deeper so these areas work better as a sponge, and they helpwithinfiltration,” said King, BREC’s assistant director of natural resource management. “The healthier we can keep them, the more diversity we have, the bettertheyfunction and the more wild species they support.” Howell Park’sgrow zones are Exhibit AinBREC’sgreen approach.Tokeeptheminprime shape, BRECalternates be-

tween mowing and burning them.Thesescheduled,or“prescribed,” burns operate similarly to how some forests are burned periodically “Itreturns allofthe nutrients back to thesoil,” King said. “It alsoeliminates all the plants that areaproblem for us.”

Last burned in early 2024 Howell Parkwas ready for a fiery reset.But burnscan’t occur justany day.The weather was dry in theweek prior to Feb. 24, which gave King hope. She obtained apermit fromBatonRouge Fire Department and alerted other state and local agencies, including theairport But as every Louisianan knows,

Working smarter

Usingahoverboard and aleafblower, Carter Decoteau makes the most of moderntechnologytoshorten the amount of time and effortittakes to rid the parking lot of leavesatSt. John the Evangelist CatholicChurchinPrairieville on Friday

High court defendsSt. James

Ruling findsparish actedsoundly with Koch expansion approval

BYDAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

The LouisianaSupreme Court found St. James Parish acted with “a sound, rational basis” when it approved an $185 million expansion of KochMethanol’s complex in July 2023, overturning astate appellate ruling last year and strengthening the parish’shand in future land-use decisions.

The high court majority ruled that the Louisiana 5th Circuit CourtofAppealoverstepped its bounds and used the “pretense” thatthe parish hadn’tfollowed its own rules to make afresh interpretation of aland use ordinance that shouldhavebeenlefttolocal officials, who were “entitled to judicialdeference.”

“While one may disagree with or debate the Parish’sinterpretation of the plan, it had asound, rational basisand wastherefore alegitimateand reasonable exerciseofthe discretion constitutionally vested in local authorities to make this landuse decision,” the majority opinionfound. With onedissent, theruling from the state’shigh courtcame seven months after Koch resubmittedthe project to theparish to followthe earlier critique

The Louisiana Supreme Courtfound St. James Parish acted with ‘a sound, rational basis’ when it approvedan$185million expansion of Koch Methanol’scomplex in July 2023.

from the5th Circuit. The Mississippi River project was approved againinmid-2025,inline with the appeals court’sreasoning.

Theplaintiffs,comprising local residentsand environmental groups,sought to dismiss the high court appeal,arguing that the parish’sreconsideration of theexpansion lastyear made the issuemoot— no longer ripe for continued judicial review

Butthe SupremeCourt majorityfoundthe casefell within an exception andoffered the high courta chance to clarify how deeply state courts should wade into local land-use decisions, saying existing Louisiana court precedentshad “gone astray.”

“Clarification is necessary Moreover,because we ultimately find thecourtofappeal erred in its analysis, it is necessary to correct thaterrortoprevent

thecourt’sdecision from being used as precedent in other cases,” wrote Chief JusticeJohnL Weimer, who pennedthe majorityopinion issuedMarch 6. He noted that the parish had reapproved Koch’sexpansion under the method favored by the appellate court “out of respect for”the court’sdecision, but, in doing so, also noted in its disagreement withthatanalysis,“as being inconsistent withthe parish’sland use ordinance.”

“Without correction,” Weimer added, “theParish would be deprived of the constitutional authority to interpret its own land use planand would be bound to applythe court of appeal’sinterpretation of the plan.”

Associate Justice John MichaelGuidrydissented,saying

A22-year-old man accused of raping a94-year-old woman Thursday had faced aprior rape charge butwas releasedfrom jail in mid-Januarywhenthe caseagainst him was dropped, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said.

Moore said the charges were dropped in Jeremiah Taylor’s 2024 casebecause prosecutors couldn’tlocate the victim “Without the victim’s testimony,wecould notproceed to trial,” MooresaidMonday in a written statement. “The charges weredismissed in amanner that preserved the State’sability to reinstitute prosecution against this defendant. Ipersonallyhavesince spoken with the victim and her family.She is morethan willing to cooperate and come forward at allfuture court proceedings.”

Woman pursues green card while in La. ICE jail

Attorneys say fingerprinting appointment can take place

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Federal officials have agreed under a court settlement to take a woman in Louisiana immigration detention to a fingerprinting appointment necessary to complete her application for permanent U.S. residency, her attorneys said Monday Department of Homeland Security officials will take Marina Cruz Alanis, who is being held in Louisiana’s Richwood Correctional Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, to an office in Mississippi where she will complete the appointment her attorneys said was the final step of her green card application.

The mother of a naturalized U.S. citizen, the 11-year U.S resident had been barred from attending those appointments at a

BURN

Continued from page 1B

the weather can vary greatly and is a perpetual spoiler

“It’s so weather dependent,” King said. “I really can’t call the burn on until the morning of.”

Like a carefully timed NASA space launch, King decided the weather on that Tuesday would hold. BREC issued public alerts, including a special email to residents who live near Howell Park, that the park was closed that day for a prescribed burn.

King and a team of BREC workers had already undergone training in how to burn things properly. Armed with cans of fuel, they were finally ready about 11 a.m. to light the flames.

“I would say our burns are a little more intense than they used to be,” King said. “These are healthy systems that have been in place for a few years.”

Over the course of the day, King and her team lit five successive grow areas, completely burning one before moving on to the next. They reached the last and largest grow zone about 2:30 p.m. King was eager to get this one done by no later than 5 p.m., thanks to a humidity-induced weather inversion that occurs at night.

“If you burn a fire at 5 p.m., you are going to have smoke in people’s yards all night,” King explained.

The smoke ended up floating safely into the ether Most of it.

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B

Moore said his office is “moving forward aggressively” to prosecute Taylor in the rape of the 94-yearold at her home in the Park Forest/ Sherwood area and of the victim from 2024. Taylor faces charges of aggravated first-degree rape, second-degree battery, cruelty to the elderly and obscenity in the more recent attack,

RISHER

Continued from page 1B

The game was on. She kept finding them right and left, explaining that sometimes the leaves can fake you out. Within about 15 minutes, she had eight.

Then I found one on my own and felt like yelling, “Look, Ma, no hands!” Within 20 minutes, she had found so many that I lost count.

A thought crossed my mind — should we be picking all of these?

Should we leave some for someone else to find?

Then the irony hit. Here we were, carefully and deliberately picking clovers — a plant that most people consider a weed. Yet the moment a clover has four leaves instead of three, we treated it like a treasure

By the time we finished, I had five four-leaf clovers carefully tucked in my hand. May told me that if I put them in water, they would stay green and alive for weeks.

She wasn’t joking. In a jar on my desk, four of the five stayed

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office throughout her eight-month detention, her attorneys say

The settlement marks a concession from President Donald Trump’s administration about the limits of a new policy guiding its sweeping immigration crackdown The administration last December disallowed immigrants in its custody from attending biometrics screenings. The policy said federal officials would not expend resources to help detainees attend those appointments.

The new rule also sought to “deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency” within ICE detention facilities, Homeland Security attorneys said in a December memo.

A Homeland Security spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center filed a lawsuit on Alanis’ behalf in January, asked a federal judge to vacate the policy and to order ICE to once again collect biometrics for people in

its custody Fingerprinting and taking photos were the only requirements that “stood in the way between her and the processing of her application for lawful permanent residence,” Alanis’ attorneys said in a statement Monday

Both parties moved to dismiss the case after Homeland Security agreed to transport Alanis to her appointment, with court records showing a New Orleans federal judge finalized the deal last Friday.

“The administration demands immigrants play by the rules, then quietly eliminates the rules that Congress wrote to protect them from deportation,” Anthony Enriquez, of the Kennedy Human Rights Center, said in a statement

“Cutting off access to required biometric appointments isn’t enforcing immigration law,” he added. “It’s running a crooked game to guarantee the outcome the administration wants.”

A news release from the ACLU said Alanis has no criminal background, has lived in the country since 2015 and has a child that is a U.S. citizen. It did not list the

country she immigrated from.

Amid the Trump’s administration ongoing immigration crackdown, administration officials have ordered employees at USCIS, which processes residency applications and has not historically contributed to enforcement, to communicate with ICE and other enforcement agents.

Multiple people in the New Orleans region, including the wife of an American U.S. Marine veteran and the husband of a U.S. citizen, have reported being detained after arriving to regularly scheduled USCIS appointments.

The Homeland Security spokesperson did not respond to a question about whether the settlement in her case could have broader implications for the December policy or the ways the agency handles other similar cases.

Louisiana has played a central role in ICE detention operations amid the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown, with has the second-most ICE detainees of any state except Texas.

Email James Finn at jfinn@ theadvocate.com.

“We probably sent a bit of smoke through that apartment complex,” King said, “and we apologize for that.”

She pronounced the day a success.

“This was the best year as far

according to East Baton Rouge Parish court records In August 2024, Taylor was arrested on two counts of second-degree rape in two incidents He was also booked on one count each of sexual battery and second-degree battery

“I will be presenting evidence to a grand jury seeking prosecution for both the recent allegations involving the 94-year-old victim and the previous victim,” Moore said. “The seriousness of these crimes and the repeat nature of the conduct expos-

as the most complete burns in all sections,” King said.

The burned areas won’t stay scorched for long. BREC is planning to reseed them this week and then it will wait for Mother Nature to do its work.

es the defendant to the most severe penalties available under Louisiana law including life imprisonment.”

Inmate dies at Elayn Hunt in Iberville Parish

An inmate died at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in Gabriel on Friday, officials said.

Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi said he was notified on Saturday morning by the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections that inmate David Closson

“Give it until May or June, because that’s the bloom period and that’s when it really starts popping off,” King said.

Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate.com.

had died of causes not yet known.

The corrections department confirmed Closson’s death.

“The cause of death is undetermined, and an autopsy has been ordered,” the department said in an email. “The circumstances surrounding Closson’s death remain under investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.”

It’s the fifth inmate to die at the prison this year

The most recent death was of a 32-year-old inmate on Feb. 15.

Continued from page 1B

the case should have been rendered moot, but also added that the parish didn’t follow its own rules. At issue was what level of scrutiny the parish should have applied to Koch’s plans to build a 1,000-foot link to an existing ethane pipeline already in wetlands, where the ordinance normally limits development.

Operating since June 2024, the new pipeline link runs through wetlands to reach the existing ethane pipeline

In a statement Monday, Koch officials said they were pleased that the high court “confirmed that local land-use decisions should be left to those closest to the community and given appropriate deference when under review.”

“This ruling provides permitting certainty for companies seeking future development opportunities in the state, reducing the risk of costly, protracted litigation,” the company added.

A request for comment from the parish government on Monday wasn’t immediately returned, but the parish land-use attorney Victor Franckiewicz Jr., said St. James welcomed the decision.

“We were very happy with result, and we think it correctly interpreted the parish ordinance,” he said.

Pam Spees, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the ruling sets “a dangerous and corrosive precedent.”

“The majority chose to give away power of our courts to interpret and apply the law requiring instead that judges defer to a parish’s interpretation of local land-use rules,” said Spees, a senior staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. She added the ruling means the parish can “reinterpret its land use rules to give wetlands less protection and scrutiny than any other kind of land or zoning designation,” the opposite of what was intended. The plaintiffs are parish resident Beverly Alexander, Mount Triumph Baptist Church and local environmental groups Rise St. James and Inclusive Louisiana.

The ruling comes as a federal judge in New Orleans has agreed to review decades of industrial land use decisions in St. James Parish to see if, as those plaintiffs argue, the sitings resulted from a continuing practice of racially motivated actions by generations of parish officials to steer heavy industry into majority-Black communities.

The Koch plant near the majority-Black, west bank community of St. James produces methanol and has been in operation since 2021 after the relocation of the area’s high school but, in 2023, the company was seeking to boost methanol production by 25% but boosted annual air emissions by 50% or more.

The expansion was expected to retain 114 jobs and add two permanent jobs along with 400 temporary construction jobs, Koch has said, contributing $4 million to parish coffers the first 10 years after the expansion.

In St. James, the parish landuse ordinance doesn’t specifically allow pipelines in wetlands, advising that wetland areas “should remain unoccupied except for unique situations requiring a location in the water.” But, the sides in the dispute debated what levels of review was required to consider overcoming that limit.

In May, the 5th Circuit agreed with the plaintiffs that the highest level of review was required, while the Supreme Court found it reasonable for the parish to apply a lower level of review because the pipeline was a “unique situation” in which wetland impacts couldn’t be avoided.

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

bright and perky until I pressed them last week. Every time I looked at them, I smiled. I learned the scientific names for white and red clover are Trifolium repens and Trifolium pratense. In Latin, “tri” means three and “folium” means leaves.

Scientists estimate that about one in 10,000 clovers has four leaves. Irish legend says the four leaves represent hope, faith, love and luck. Since that afternoon at Moncus Park, I’ve looked for four-leaf clovers twice on my own and once with another friend.

So far, I haven’t found another one. But now I believe and see clovers differently I’m not just looking for leaves anymore. I’m looking for patterns. Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

theEvangelistChurch in Plaquemineat11a.m

Perry,Stephen St.John theEvangelistChurch in Prairieville at noon.

Pettey, Virginia CharletFuneralHome, 4230 High Street in Zachary, at noon.

Obituaries

Benge, Billy Jack

Gone to meet Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior Billy Jack Benge, Sr., passed awayonMarch 5th, 2026 at the age of 87. He was aresident of Livingston, La. Billy Jack is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Linda Hebert Benge. He is survived by 5loving children, BillyJ Benge, Jr (Pete) and wife Kathy, Rena BTaylor, Gina BAdams, Jason Devall and wife Melissa, Toni DBarrilleaux andhusband Ronnie. He is also survived by one brother, Forrest Benge and wife Linda of Livingston, three sisters, Donny Duffy and husband Marvin of Livingston, Jean Rogers of Santa Barbara, California, and preceded in death by Joanne Collins of Alto, Texas. He is also proceeded in death by his beautiful granddaughter, Jourdan Nicole Sibley. Other grandchildren include Kody Sibley and wife Robyn, Alonna Forrest and husband Alex, Shayla Johnson and husband Whit, Brandon Hoover, Julie Maher and husband Michael, Leigh Adams, Mark Adams, Hadley Shelton and husband Jordan, along with 11 wonderful great-grandchildren: Grant Forrest, Hannah and Natalie Johnson, Gage and Jersey Hoover, Berkley and Brewyn Sibley, Molly Powell, Emma Shah, Maeve and Saoirse Adams, whom he loved dearly. Billy graduated from Doyle High School with the class of 1957. He retired from Kaiser Aluminum with 30 plus years in supervision. Billy was adedicatedmember of Bethel Baptist Church in Livingston for many years. He loved the peace and tranquility that nature provides. Squirrels and birds were his friends! His hobbies and interests also included fishing, gardening, LSU sports, cooking, and spending time with his family. Billy Jack always had asmileonhis face .A simple man living agood life!

Relatives and friends are invited to join the family at Bethel Baptist Church, 20419 Circle Drive, Livingston, Louisiana on Friday, March 13, 2026 for a visitation starting at 9:00 AM until the Funeral Service at 11:00 AM. Graveside service will follow at Carter Cemetery in Springfield, Louisiana.

NolanJules Boudreaux passed away on March3, 2026, at theage of 87.He wasbornonDecember 10, 1938, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; he attended Catholic High School and graduated fromSt. Stanislaus in Bay St.Louis. For 50 years, Nolan owned and operated AutoBrake and Electric on North Leo Street in Baton Rouge. Afterhis retirement, he enjoyed raisingcattle, donkeys,goats,rabbits,and chickens, and tending his fruit trees. He was an avid cowboyand loved therural life he lived. Nolanwas a devoted member of St GabrielCatholic Church, wherehewas famous for hiswhite beans andjambalaya. Aloyal andsupportivevolunteer, he served theparishinmany ways. He wasalsoa foundingboardmember of the restorationprojectatSt. Paul Church in Bayou Goula, where he maintained thechurch grounds. Nolanwas amember of AA for34years and helped many newcomers along theirjourneywith compassion and encouragement Nolanissurvived by

Catherine Broussard; his sons, David, John Paul,and Leslie Boudreaux; and numerous membersofthe extended Boudreaux and Burtonfamilies. He was preceded in deathbyhis parents, Clebert "Shorty" Boudreauxand Mary Olive Louviere; and four sisters, Grace Burton, Odette Burton, KathyProuty, and MarieTrosclair. Relatives andfriends are invitedto attend aVisitationand Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Rev. Charles Landry, on Thursday, March12atSt. Gabriel Catholic Church. Visitation will be heldfrom9:00a.m to 10:45 a.m. followedbya Mass of Christian Burialat 11:00 am.Burialtofollow at thechurch cemetery. In lieuofflowers, donations maybemadeinNolan's memory to Friends of St Paul Church, P.O. Box1481, Plaquemine, LA 70765.

Brogan, Sidney Lee

"If my people who are calledbyname will humble themselves, and pray and seekmyface, and turn from their wicketways, thenI willhearfromheaven,and willforgive their sin and heal theirland."

2Chronicles 7:14

Sidney Lee Brogan, Sr., age90, adevoted husband, father,grandfather,and great-grandfather,passed awayonSaturday, March 7, 2026,athome surrounded by those who loved him deeply. Sidney was born January 8, 1936, in Palmetto, Louisiana,toGladysNezat Brogan and RobertAlbert Brogan. His lifewas shaped by strongfamily roots, enduring faith, anda steady strength thatguided him through everyseason Aproud UnitedStates Marine Corps veteran, Sidneycarried thediscipline, honor, and resilience of his service throughout hislife After returninghome, he becamea respectedcontractor in Ascension Parish formore than 40 yearsand was well known forhis craftsmanship, reliability, and dedicationtohis community.

Untilsuffering astroke several weeks ago, Sidney remained active and engaged. He continueddriving, attending church everySunday, working around his home,and always being present forhis family.His familymeant everythingtohim, and his greatest wish wasthat each and everyone would accept JesusChristas their Lordand Savior. He is survivedbyhis wifeoftwelve years, ElizabethBrogan;his children, Deborah andToddKlingof Geismar, Louisiana,Sidney Jr.and Debbie Broganof Prairieville, Louisiana,Betty Ann and Kenneth Milton of Prairieville, Louisiana, Linda Landrum andher fiancé, Kent Gautreaux of Sorrento, Louisiana,and Neal and Michelle Nettof Baton Rouge,Louisiana Sidney was blessed with grandchildrenwho brought him immense joy: Lynde (Matthew), Rebecca (TJ), Laura (Derek), Brandi (David), Sydni (Chase),Jacob, and Britnee (Jordan). He also leaves behind a beautiful legacyofgreatgrandchildren: Breelyn, Hayden, Zach, Cooper, Reese,Shelbi,Lane, Emma, Logan, Jaxon, Scott, Hunter "Tookie," Ethan, Andy, Chandler, Sawyer, Helen Rose,BryleeRuth, and Alex. He is also survived by his brothers, ThomasBrogan, Sr.,SonnyBrogan,and Bill Brogan; hissister, Joyce Hebert; and numerous niecesand nephews who loved him dearly. He was precededin death by his wife of 56 years, Helen Ruth Brogan; his parents, Gladys and RobertBrogan; hisbrothers, Joel"Tookie" Brogan and Robert"Bobby"Brogan; and his sister, Jean Stephens. PallbearerswillbeKenneth Milton, Todd Kling, Chase Hitchcock, Scott Brogan, LaneLambert, and Hunter "Tookie"Lambert Honorary pallbearers willbeMatthew Sandifer, TJ Lambert,David Simmerman, and Derek Glascock. The family extends a special thankyou to Allison Kennedy of Bridgeway Hospice forher dedication

loving guidance, and compassionatecare during this difficult time.

"Yourprofession is not what brings home your weeklypaycheck, your profession is what you're puthere on earthtodo, withsuch passionand such intensitythatitbecomes spiritual in calling."

-Vincent Van Gogh

He leaves behind aloving family who willforever carry his memory in their hearts.

Visitation willbeheldat Ourso FuneralHome, 13533 Airline Hwy, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737, on March 11, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Asecond visitation willtakeplace thefollowing dayonMarch 12, 2026, from10:00 am to 11:00 am. Funeralservice willbegin at 11:00am, with acommittal service to followatPalmetto Methodist Cemetery.

CarolynA.Gagnon

Gomilapassedaway on Friday, February 27, 2026, in BatonRouge,LA, at the ageof89. BornApril 24, 1936, in NewOrleans, LA,to LeoWilliam GagnonSr. and Isabel Aleman Gagnon. Carolyn loveddogs her wholelife. She graduated fromNicholsHighSchool in NewOrleans and went on to grow and nurture her family as wellaspursue her artistic talents. She was an amazingly talented,accomplished, and prolificpotter. Strong-willed, strong-minded,truly an incredibly unique woman. Unapologetically passionateaboutevery aspect of her life,especiallyher love forher dogs. Most of all, dedicatedtoher family She is preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, Francis X. "Boogie" Gomila; parents, LeoWilliam GagnonSr. and Isabel Aleman Gagnon; and brother, LeoW."Bill" GagnonJr. Carolyn is survivedbyher children: Renee Gomila Croissant (John), Julie Cornell,Gaye Gomila, and Paul Gomila (Maria); grandchildren (Christopher Cornell Kathryn Cornell Smith (TJ), KyleCornell,Madeline "Bee"Gomila, and Paul X. "Bear" Gomila;and greatgrandchild,Grant Smith Privateinterment for immediatefamily willbeheld at alaterdate. The family wouldliketogivea special thankstoher incredible care team: Tatyanna Aldrich,MylettaFarria, Mirna Gordillo, Curletta Harris; and her long-time friend and general contractor-Gerald "Rosie" Flowers

Patricia"Pete"E.Jones, belovedmother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and sister, passed away on March 7, 2026. She was born on August 22, 1955, in Independence, Louisiana. Pete lovedher dogs more than most people;however,she didloveher grandkids and greatgrandkids morethan anything.She lovedtocookfor herfamily and spend quality time with them. She is survived by her son, John A. Jones (Pam);her daughter, Casey JonesSmith (Larry); grandchildren, Jarett Jones and Darien Jacobsen, Jr (Mikela);great grandchildren,JarettJones, Jr. and Jasper Jacobsen; sisters Cindy OlsenStaffordand ShellyCaito Smith;brother,Earl Olsen(Debbie); and numerous nieces and nephews. Pete is preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Charles Richard Jones, Sr.;her parents, Helenand Carl Olsen; her sisters, Vera Dalton and Karen Tullos, and her grandparents, T.J.and RuellaHagan. Serving as

pallbearers willbeJarett Jones, DarienJacobsen, Jr., Walton Hoyt,DudleyHoyt, ChrisHoyt, Dennis Cutrer. Serving as honorary pallbearerswillbeJohnA Jones, LarrySmith,Jarett Jones, Jr., and Jasper Jacobsen. Relativesand friends are invited to join thefamily forthe visitation at SealeFuneral Home, 20335 Texas St Livingston LA,onThursday, March 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM until thefuneral service at 11:00 AM, officiated by Reverend David Hairford. The graveside serviceand burial will follow at GalvezPentecostal Church Cemetery, in Galvez, Louisiana.

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 Mia-

mi andsettledina beautifulMediterranean-style waterfrontcondominium on Williams Island. Soon after celebratingher 80th birthday, she made thedifficultbut necessarydecision to move from South Florida to Louisiana to be closertoher youngersister, Carmenza, andCarmenza's family. Shemoved into St.James Place in 2023 and took great pride in renovating herapartment into abeautifulopenfloor plan that wasshowcased to visitors at St.James Place. Despite thechange, she washappy to be reunited with friends from Baton Rouge andSt. Jean Vianney Catholic Church with whom she hadtraveled with over theyears.

Toto wasa loving and supportive wife, daughter, sister,auntand great aunt to George,her parents, siblings, nephews, nieces and theirchildrenand grandchildren. Hergenerosity knew no bounds, andshe consistently shared her blessingswith familyand numerousCatholic parishes andcauses. Her Catholic faithwas at the center of herlife, andshe wasgrateful to herparents for thegift of herfaithand for proudlylivingGospel valueseachday. She carried theirdevotion to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout herlife. Toto waspredeceasedbyher 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.

Public owed debatesby Senate candidates

The three leading candidates for theRepublican nominationinthisyear’sU.S. Senate race are engaged in theusual, tiresome sniping about who should debate where, if at all

The only right answer is: Yes, there should be at least afew debates, broadly televised, with neutral moderators, involving all candidates who exceed aminimum polling average. Candidates should be expected todebateunderthese terms, not to make debates asubject to political tactics.Their duty is to servethe public,not themselves Alas, thecandidates in the new May 16 GOP primary areplaying games.

Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy has challenged U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow to debate, withoutmentioning the other major candidate, state Treasurer John Fleming, at all. Cassidyindicated he would not debate unlessLetlow is there, too. Goodfor him for raisingthe prospect of debates, but Cassidy sang adifferent tune in previous campaigns. Whenchallenging embattled incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2014, he declined allbut onemajor debateinvitation in the runoff against her.Whenrunning forreelection against Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins and others in an open primary in 2020, Cassidy refused to debate unlessall 14 candidates, including ones noteven actively campaigning, were invited. No respectable outlet would sponsor whatsurely would have been acircus instead of aconstructive public forum, so Cassidy’sstance amounted to a refusal to have areal debate.

Letlow’s response has been to decline participation in analready scheduledApril16debate on Louisiana Public Broadcasting— generally seen as aneutral forum —but instead to suggest adebate on the radio show of outspoken conservative Moon Griffon.AsGriffonhas a longstanding feud with Cassidy,his showcould hardly be considered unbiased.

Fleming, with asignificant base of support but generally seen as running thirdinthe race so far,naturally wants any airtime hecan get. He said he’seagertodebate theothers.

Let’sbeclear: To dodge major debatesisto say public accountability doesn’tmatter.A candidatewho relies entirelyonthe self-controlled environment of campaign advertising andendorsements is failing the test of transparency and ducking the responsibility to answertough questions. Voters deserve to know, in an open setting, what candidates stand forand whether they can take some heat It goes without saying that anycandidate that hasconditions about when or where to debate isn’tserious about presenting hisorher ideasto the public.

The default response to an invitationtodebate should be yes. Anything else is asmokescreen, ill-befittingapublic servant

Iappreciate what letter writer JonathanShermanwas going for with his letter regarding opposing voices on Minnesota. He states that the only way to change laws in the country is through Congress and notbystandinguptolaw enforcement in the streets. In theory,that is niceand quaint. In reality,ifinour collective history we relied solely on Congress to change laws in the best interest of this nation, we might still have slavery,women andpeople of color would nothavethe right to vote, and schools would notbe integrated. It is notastretch to say that withoutsit-insand marches, the Civil Rights Movement would nothavebeen able to achievereal change As we remember the life of the Rev.Jesse Jackson, let’sbesure to rememberthatthe very thing that makes America already greatisthe

right thatweall have as members of this democratic experiment to protest and take to the streetsto make our voices heard andstandup forthose whomay notbeable

To many of us, the brightest ray of hope is theunity andstrengthof protests and those willing to stand up fortheir neighbors. So Iask,whatiswrong withusif we areOKwith amaskedfederal lawenforcementgroup notfollowing the Constitution that is so woven intothe fabric of this great nation? Protests should always be peaceful andnonviolent As of now, two U.S. citizens are dead at thehands of the law enforcementweare taught to respect. What is wrongwithusindeed? Congress is needed to change laws, but so are allofus. Standupand be heard

PATRICK MACFETTERS NewOrleans

Iapplaud the recent comment of Duke Truby.Itcaptures what Ihave felt fora long time, and Iassumewhat manyof your readers have felt. And candidly,I was shocked that you published it. However,I have an issue with your headline, “Letters should cater to the viewsofcustomers,” and Iassumeitis the headline you assigned to the article and not what Truby titled his comment. It wasaclever covert way to discredit the comment.

Idonot think it was the writer’sintent, and it certainly is not my wish, that you “cater to viewsofyour customers.” That verbiage makes it appear that we want you to compromise your journalistic integrity forfinancial reasons. Rather,I think what Truby is asking foristhat you take agood look at your obvious bias and makeaconscious effort to be fair and balanced, not cater It is clear to me that doing that goes against your ideological beliefsand political objectives, but that brings us back to journalistic integrity,which, in my opinion, your paper could use alot moreof.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone 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. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

In my opinion, family courts created to resolve disputes and protect children —have in many cases become systems where court professionals profit by exploiting themost vindictive litigants.

Oneparent who is determined to destroy theother parent can become theenginethat drives an expanding legal process. Accusationsmultiply.Motions are filed. Hearingsare scheduled. As the conflict escalates, the case grows to include evaluators, therapists, parenting coordinators and supervised visitation providers. Each additional professional adds another layer of fees

The longer theconflict continues, themore money flows into the litigation system. Meanwhile, family courtjudges serveasthe finder of fact and exercise broad judicial discretion. Once ajudge acceptsanarrative built through repeated allegations, that narrative becomes the official record of the case. Appellate courts rarelydisturb those factual findings

Contempt laws and abuse determinationscan then be used as pow-

erful leverage. Alleged violations of court orders may carry up to 90 days in jail per count,and abuse findings in civil custodyproceedings can arise without the investigativestandards required in criminal court. Faced with the threat of incarceration, supervision, or permanent restrictions on parental rights, manyparents may feel coerced into stipulations they would never accept under fair conditions. Meanwhile, family assets that should supportchildren are drained into legal fees and courtordered services.This structure enables family court professionals to earn millions of dollars through prolonged litigation thatwould not exist if family court functioned as intended. This is how aloving parent and respected member of the community can be convertedinto an ostracized and marginalized pariah while family court professionals extract untold profits that would never existiffamily courts resolved disputes as they were intended to do.

KATHERINE

DIAMOND Baton Rouge

Idon’tthink your editorial board can be objective, as it is stacked with liberal ideologues, but at least they should try to be quantifiably fair It’s simple: Useaformula, 50% of the political-ish opinions and commentaries you publish should be liberal leaning and 50% should be conservative-leaning. Discerning the difference is not hard to do.

JOE SPITALE Kenner

The government seemstohave unlimited funds: We have money fora ballroom,money to repaint planes, money forunlimited travel forsome White House staffmembers and their girlfriends. We have no money forSNAP, health care, the homeless, etc. How long are we going to let our government continue in this recklessness? We are living in anightmare. Please, will someone wake us up?

JERMAINE DUPLESSISLEWIS NewOrleans

Cop-turned-convict reflects on thesystemheonceserved

MANCHESTER, Ky.— Sitting on ahard chair in the low cinderblock visiting room at afederal prison campnestled in the foothills of Appalachia, Chad Scott has lost little of the frenetic energy that drove his law enforcement career for more than twodecades.

Those signsofstature melted away Colleagues wouldn’treturn his calls. His nickname, “The White Devil,” which had been given in jestbyaBlack colleague, took on an ominous tone.

mates sometimes walk outthe front door to go to their prison jobs. On Sunday,while Ivisited with Scott, a handful of inmates did just that while aguard sat behind adesk. Afew hours later,they returned.

The former DEA special agent, his once blond hair now almost entirely gray,sits forward in his chair.Hesits back. He crosses his arms. He uncrosses them. He runs his palms along the thighs of hisgreen prison uniform. He folds and unfoldshis hands. Scott, 57, has now been in federal custody for nearly five years after two juries found him guilty on nine corruption counts. That’sfive years tothink back on what got him there andwhat he’s learned since. Five years to study up close the system he once helped consign so many suspectsto.

“It’s broken,” he says simply.“The whole thing is broken.” Scott’swords carryasense of irony. He was, after all, one of New Orleans’ most feared and respected drug cops formore than adecade. He racked up arrests, seizures and convictions. He bagged ashelf of awards.

So he is perhaps ascratched lens through which to examine the federal criminal justice system. Butevena scratched lens can sometimes show things clearly In 2016, Scott moved from oneside of the system to the other.Scott became atarget of that system, apariah in the agency he had long served.

With Scott vulnerable, his enemies, both in law enforcement and thecriminalunderworld,came hard.

Afederal investigation lasted nearly two years. He was indicted in 2017. Morecharges wereadded monthslater.Threegruelingtrials interrupted by the pandemic eventually led to guilty verdicts on nine counts, including perjury andobstruction of justice. He got a13-year sentence. Scott was once viewed as abrave soldier in the drug war.Then he becamea convict. He’sseen the system in away that few have. His assessment, delivered this weekendinthat visiting room,isn’taresult of some liberal epiphany.There’sa healthydose of self-interest at work. But that doesn’t mean he’swrong. Defendants, even those who might be innocent, face long odds in winning against thefederal machine. Most estimates put the federal conviction rate northof90% once plea deals are factored in. Scott used that when he was an officer; hefaced it as an accused.

“Tell me that’sfair,” Scott says. And even when defendants lose, incarceration isn’tlikely to makethings any better.There are few opportunities for education or skills-training, even in the low-security camps like where Scott is. Contraband is rampant; anythingcan bebought; everyone has a hustle.

Thecamps, sometimes called “Club Fed,” have such low securitythat in-

Beforehewas transferred to Manchester,Scott was at the prison camp in Ashland, Kentucky.One of his jobs there was town driver,ferrying inmates to medical appointments or bus stations for release. Sometimes those tripstook him several hours away from thecamp, unsupervised.

“If Ican be trusted todothat,why am Iinhere?” Scott has asked.

Scott’sbeen trying to get that last question in front of one key person: President Donald Trump. Spurred by therash of pardons and commutations since Trumptook office, Scott was at one time optimistic he might get clemency.His petition madearguments he hoped would resonatewithTrump: that Scott too was the victim of aweaponized Justice Department and that he was adecorated law enforcement officer.Heeven named adog he was training in prison as part of an inmate program “Trump.”

Those efforts have yet to bear fruit. He’swatched as drug kingpins, reality stars and scores of others have walked free while he sits —another sign of the system’s caprice.

Andsofor now,hewaits and sees, clearly,the shortcomings in the system and how it grinds down even those, who, like Scott, were once its truest believers.

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Theeffects of JesseJackson’s vision

Having covered the Rev.Jesse Jackson for more than ahalf-century,Ihave an insider’sunderstanding ofwhy thousands of people lined up to waitpatiently in Chicago to pay their final respects to the departed civil rights icon. Jackson knew when and how to defy power,but he also knew howtocajole thepowerful to make room at the table for the excluded.

Of all the memories Ihave gathered in the past 50 years, one stood out on this solemn occasion:BlackExpo,anannual convention put on by Jackson’sOperation Breadbasket for several years in the late 1960s and early 1970sto showcase Blackbusinesses as well as music,arts and other endeavors. Black Exposwereheld in Chicago until 1976, and other cities put them on as well, including New York, Philadelphia, Washingtonand Atlanta. Butthe one that stands out in my mind was in Chicago in 1971.

My fellow young reportersand Iwere amused to see Mayor Richard J. Daley pictured on the front page of theTribunewithhis hand clasped with Jackson’sinaclassic “grip-and-grin” shot. But with adifference.

“Look at their hands,” afriend pointed out. Indeed, this was not atraditional handshake.

As the camera flashed, Jackson had hooked his thumb with Daley’sinto what had been popularized by my generation as a“Black Power” handshake

Whether Daley noticed, it didn’tseem to matter.Asapracticed politician, he was not about to let agoodhandshake opportunity go to waste. Nor was Jackson. For anyone familiar with the racial tensions of that era, this was something of abreakthrough.

For many of us, it was amodestsign, at least, that the cultural gaps in our racially fractious city might be bridged. Maybe we could all get along.

The reverend was trying, anyway Chicago, you’ll recall, was where only five years earlier,the Rev.Martin Luther King Jr.was struck in the head by arock while marching in aSouth Sideneighborhood. After King’sassassination in 1968, the city went through traumatic rioting, with 11 people killed and parts of the West Side laid waste. The so-called Black Power movement wasonthe rise, spurning the nonviolent ethos of King’smovement, and not only the Black Panthers but also the mostly white Weather Underground were active in Chicago. In 1969,Chicago

policekilledtwo Panthers, including the organization’snational deputychair, Fred Hampton, in ahighly controversial predawnraid

It wasinthis context that Jackson was offeringanew modelfor political organizing. Instead of Black power,Jackson promoted“green power” to build Black economic andeducational investment for everyone’s benefit.

To the reliefofmany,the son of South Carolina was not out to be another revolutionary,but rather was offering reassurancethatlocal people, businesses, churches andcommunities could work togetheracrossracial, classand political lines.It might not sound as impressivenow,but when thefiresofthe 1960s were still vividinthe public mind, it wasreassuring to hear Jackson’srefrain,“Keep hope alive!”

And that’swhat Jackson did. Black Expo was abig testand, for many,a breakthrough for thehopes that Black Americanscould takethe advances of the civil rights era and build on them

The event glorified Black entrepreneurs in the way usually associated with athletesand soul music stars. The theme of the five-day September event in the International Amphitheatre was “Save the children,” but,asmany noted, it might as well have been “Invest your dollars.”

Jackson’s vision of Black economic powerwas perhaps an update of Booker T. Washington’s, or perhaps asofter version of Elijah Muhammad’s, and the BlackExpo was acommercial success. The thirdannual exposition in

1972 was ahuge financial and publicity success. Jackson managed to blend politics withartistic attractions,major corporate exhibitorsand entertainment luminaries such as theJackson 5, Isaac Hayes, and Big Bird and Roosevelt Franklin of “Sesame Street”—and lots of deal-making intended to build Black capitalism. Perhaps it succeeded toowell. A1990 article in the Chicago Tribune described arevived expo in Chicago thatyear,casually mentioning thatemployerslooking to recruit at the eventincludedthe Illinois StatePolice, H&R Block andthe FBI! Yearswould passbefore Jackson would make aserious bid for theU.S. presidency.His run in 1984 and his moreserious candidacy in 1988, some have argued, played acrucialrole in setting the table for Barack Obama’s successatclaiming thehighest office in 2008. It’s no wonder Tribune scribe Mike Royko called him theRev.“Jesse Jetstream.” It’shardtoimagine how Jacksonsummoned the energy Now,heisatrest. And it’s fitting to remember how central Jackson was to broadening our understanding of atruly inclusive society, acountry whereBlack achievement and full participation in the prosperityofAmerica were naturaland fitting and worthy of fostering. Jackson has become alegend, and he’s made it possible for so many othersto reach the pinnacle of American success. Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@gmail.com.

The recent guilty verdict in the murder-byproxy trial of afather whose son is accused of killing four people in aschool shooting in Georgia sets adevastating and absurd precedent forimprisoning people foressentially being bad parents. Colin Gray,55, wasfound guilty in acase involving his son Colt Gray’salleged actions before the latter’sguilt has been determined. Does this mean we no longer need to say “allegedly” in discussing the son’scriminal proceeding? Colin Gray’sconviction on two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter followsasimilar case in Michigan. There, the parents of Ethan Crumbley,ateen sentenced to lifeinprison for fatally shooting four students at his high school in 2021, wereconvicted of involuntary manslaughter and each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Colin Gray’sjury deliberated forless than twohours before finding him guilty of the killings and other charges related to his failure to heed warning signs that his son was spiraling toward acatastrophic event. The verdict, and aprosecutor’sassertion that Colin Gray had blood on his hands, can be viewed as awarning to gun-owning parents whofail to notice signs that are all too clear retrospectively.The notion that this precedent would be used only in mass shooting cases involving minors and lousy (or good?) parents isn’tlikely to be observed. For now,the role that parenting plays in criminal behavior is worthy of serious scrutiny Parents are never perfect, and even the worst fathers and mothers often bequeath the world exceptional offspring. Ludwig van Beethoven’s alcoholic father reportedly beat him as achild, forcing him to play the piano during the night.

Colin Gray’sgreatest crime was giving his son an AR-style rifle forChristmas the year before the 14-year-old allegedly opened fire on Sept. 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Winder,Georgia, injuring nine others as well. The convictions could put Gray behind bars forthe rest of his life. His son, now 16, faces dozensofcharges, including felonymurder. He haspleaded notguilty

Let’sbeclear: Colin Gray and his estranged wife,Marcee Gray,were horrible parents. Given what we know about Colt’schildhood, manypeople would conclude that he never had achance. According to family members, neighbors and other sources, his parents were drug and alcohol addicts whowere abusive, neglectful and sometimes absent. The daughter of one neighbor said that Colt, whowas often filthy,was bullied by other children whotossed dry shampoo at him.Despite repeated reports to social services by concerned neighbors and relatives, the child was neglected even by the authorities designated to protect him.AWashington Post investigation found that during the roughly three years before the shooting, Colt and his family interacted with Georgia child welfare workers, four school systems, three county sheriffs departments and two local police agencies.

Yet, the family includes twoother children, who, as farasweknow,haven’tfantasized about hurting themselves or other people, as Colt allegedly did. Absolutely,Colt’sfather idiotically gave the boy alethal weapon without also providing strict oversight. But if we’re going to hold one parent responsible, whynot both? Marcee Gray was hardly amonument to good mothering. At one point, she said she was going to kill Colt, according to his grandmother Colt washaunted formonths and becameparanoid. Though Marcee didn’tbuy the gun used in the shooting, she apparently didn’tstop her husband from giving it to him as agift, either After the couple had split up in 2022, she had urged Colin to secure his guns. She told the Post that Colt had becomeobsessed with school shooters formore than ayear before the shooting. Red flags don’tcome any brighter,yet Colin claims he never saw any.When Colt faces his jury,charged as an adult, his defense will surely include his difficult childhood and his father’sconviction. Colin Gray deserves to be held accountable forsomething, perhaps amisdemeanor or amuch lighter penalty.He wasnot —I repeat, not —the perpetrator of this shooting. Barring asuccessful appeal in his case, parents —good or bad —may someday face punishment forthe crimes of their children. At atimewhen Americans are being urged to have children to counter the declining birth rate, this case isn’thelpful.

Email Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@ washpost.com.

Klimavicz, Gynne Malstrom

Gynne Marie Malstrom

Klimavicz,age 92, aresident of Baton Rouge,LA, passed away on March7 2026. Gynne is survived by her husband, John, daughterKarin Deen, son John Klimavicz II (Hyon-Sun Chong), daughter-in-law, Dana Klimavicz, 8grandchildren, and 7great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Anna (Banik) Malstrom, brother, Robert Malstrom, and son, Jeremy Klimavicz. Visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70817 on March 12, 2026 from 12:30pm until services at 2:30pm with burial to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Family and friends may view afull obituary, sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamily at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

continued from ing with Caroleento Swamp Pop Music.Barry workedfor theGramercy KaiserPlant formany years and then the St. James ParishSherrif's Office whereheretired from ajob that allowed himto do things he loved -drive around town and talk to people in the community. Relativesand friends areinvited to celebrate Barry's life at SacredHeart Church, 616 Main Street, Gramercy, La 70052 on Wednesday,March11, 2026.Visitationwillbe from 9:00 am to 11:00am, followed by aFuneral Mass at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery2130 RectoryStreet, Paulina, La 70763. Arrangements by Rose Lynn Funeral Home. To vieworsignthe online guest book, please visit www.roselynnfuneralhome .com

Taylor, ClaudeLarry

LeBlanc, Barry Robert

Barry Robert LeBlanc, a native of Lutcher anda long-time resident of Gramercy born to Alice and Odom "Toot" LeBlanc on February 13, 1946, passed awayatBaton Rouge General Hospital at the age of 80, on Saturday, March 7, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. Barry was the beloved and devoted husband of Caroleen Bourgeois Michel LeBlanc for 50 years anda loving brothertoTammi Falgoust(Brian). Barry was aproud stepfather to Rhonda (Paul) Laroze and Susan (Tommy) Laroze, a loving Godfather to Brandi (Chris) Bourgeois and uncle to Kaci (Josh) Crowder. Barry was adevoted great uncle to Kole and Kori Bourgeois and Lawson and Kyli Crowder who all called him "Parin". He is also survived by his step grandchildren Tony, Jill (Pic), Mike, Michelle whoall called him "Paw" and their children Kain, Ashton, Alix, Layla, Myla, Colton who called him "Pappy". Hisother grandchildren are Cierra, Ellie, Holden and Beckett. Barry also leaves behind his adorable dog "Prissy" Barry enjoyed goingto New Orlean Saints football games on Sundays, camping with Caroleen in the motor home with their campingfriends, and most importantly spending time with his family. He found the most joy in workingin his yard, washing all his cars, riding around town visiting friends, and danc-

Anative of Baton Rouge and alongtime resident of Saint Amant La. He passed awayonMarch8,2026.He was 99 yearsold. He was a retiree of Copolymer,and Barnard and BurkEngineers and Constructors wherehewas Vice President and General Manager of Engineering. While at Barnardand Burkhe servedasa volunteerstaff memberfor United Way reaching out to other companies to setupdonation campaigns to support United Wayprograms. He graduatedfrom Saint Amant H.S.in1943 and L.S.U. in 1949with adegree in Electrical Engineering. He was aregisteredprofessional engineer and a memberofthe Louisiana Engineering Society. He servedhis country in the Navy during WW-II and the Korean Conflict. After completing the navy's electricianschoolhewas assigned to the USS Bond (a active mine sweeper) in the Aleutians and on two LSM landing ships inthe Pacific: the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Okinawa,the occupation of Japan, and peace keeping missions in Japanand China. He also served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict; participating in the invasion of Inchon, Korea; on the USS Cacapon (a fleet tanker)and the USS Hector (a repair ship) with duties off both coasts of Koreaand Japan. Hisship made avital contribution to the success of the Marine's evacuation of Chosin Reservoir and Hungnan, North Koreain 1950.Upon returning home he began workingatThe LouisianaCreamery where he meetthe love of hislife Wilma Gueringer Taylor and made herhis bride for 71 yearsuntil her deathon March 8, 2025. He was a charter memberofSaint Thomas MoreCatholic ChurchinBaton Rouge wherefor 29 years he was veryactive in several ministries. He was honored to be selected into the first group of men to serve as a ExtraordinaryMinister.Upon his retirement he and Wilma movedtoSt. Amant were they weremembers of St.Anne's Catholic ChurchinSorrento where they wereboth active. Since 2004 he hasbeena memberofSaint Theresa

of AvilaCatholicChurch in Gonzales, where he and Wilma served in several ministies. He is Survived by four children, his oldest Daughter AliceTaylor Blair; her late husband DeaconWilliam"Bill" Blair: their son ByronBlair,his wife Ashleigh and daughterKaytand sons Liam and Luke. His SonPaulTaylor: his wife Roslyn;and their son TimothyTaylor, his wife Lindsey, theirdaughterBlake and sonBrayden, and theirdaughterKristin Gregoire and her husband Donovan, their daughter Adaline and son Wyatt. A second daughter: Nedda Taylor,her sonMichael Taylor and hiswife Lauren. The youngestdaughter, Jeri Taylor; wife Diane and Two special greatgreat grandchildrenRyatt "Bubba"and Liliam "Cissy" Powers. He is preceeded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Wilma Gueringer Taylor. Hisparents: ClaudeLee Taylor and Alvine Gilbert Taylor of Saint Amant; son in law William Blair; granddaughterRebecca Elizabeth Blair of Gonzales ;his in-laws David Edwin Gueringer and Edine GuillotGueringer of Marksville. Visitation at Saint TheresaofAvila CatholicChurch in Gonzales, La from9am to 1045am on Wednesday March 11, 2026 with aeulogy by Jeri Taylor at 1045am and Mass of Christian burial at 11am. Mass celebrated by Fr. Matthew McCaughey. Interment willbeinHoly Rosary Mausoleum, Saint Amant La. Pallbearers Paul Taylor, ByronBlair, TimothyTaylor,MichaelTaylor, Donovan Gregorie, John PeterGagnard, Raymond Dyer, Mike Taylor, Brayden Taylor, RyattPowers.

KayLaraine McClure Turner, 74, passed away and went to be with our Lord on March 4, 2026. She is survivedbyher husband James(JD) D. Turner, Jr, her sonJames(Jay) D. Turner IIIand daughter Heather Michelle Wascom, granddaughter Jennifer Wascom, mother Audrey Mayo Watsonand sisterRitaWilliams. She was preceded in death by her step father James(Tubby) Watson, sisterJudyMcClure and brotherRandal Watson Kaywas known for her kindness and love for her family and her Lord Jesus Christ. Fromher years of making smiles appear as "Sweetpea" theclown, working at Mary's House of Bread or traveling to China to teach Vacation Bible School, she willalways be known as an artist fromall of thepaintings she gaveus. After cremationa celebration of life will be plannedatlater date.

MadelineIletaWatts,83, of Pride,Louisiana, passed away on March 8, 2026, at 6:15 a.m. BornAugust 20, 1942, Iletawillberemembered as aloving, devoted presence in thelives of all who knew her. Iletawas a busdriver in Central, Louisiana for 35 years, servinggenerationswith steady care and adependable spirit. She also enjoyed racing motorcycles in Chipola,Louisiana, areflectionofher adventurous nature. An avid traveler, she and her husband embracedthe joyofseeing new placesand making lasting memories alongthe way many times taking alongtheir grandson. A huge LSUWoman'sbasketball fan, Iletaheldseason ticketsfor nearly 30 years

and followed the team with faithfulenthusiasm. Sheloved to fish in DarlingsCreek and treasured time outdoors.Above all sheloved spending time with hergrandkids,finding hergreatest happiness in familymoments, laughter, andtogetherness. Ileta was alongtime memberof Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, whereher commitmentand fellowship were ameaningfulpartofher life. Thefamilywould like to offer special thanks to Dr.Rebecca Whiddonat theNeuromedical Center of Baton Rouge andto Nurse, Laurenand CNA, Martina of TheHospice of Baton Rouge for thecare given to Mrs. Watts. She waspreceded in death by herhusband, Carroll "Sonny"Watts; herbrother Milam Venable;her father, Floyd Venable;and her mother, Virginia Venable Sheissurvived by her daughter, BeverlyPatin; son-in-law, Alan Patin; son, Doug Watts; daughter-inlaw,Catherine Oster; grandson, Blake Patin; granddaughter, Carolyn Watts; andgreat granddaughter, Claire Patin. Visitation will be held at Central Funeral Home, 9995 Hooper Rd, Central, LA

70818, on March 12, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Visitation will also be held at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, 80 Tennessee Jackson Lane, Greensburg, LA 70441, on March13, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Funeral serviceswill follow at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church on March13, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Burial will take place at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery,80Tennessee Jackson Lane, Greensburg, LA 70441, on March13, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Areception willfollow on March13, 2026, beginning at 2:30 pm. Pallbearerswill be Doug Watts, Blake Patin,Jay Venable, JoeVenable, MichaelArmstrong, andTerry Lumpkin. In lieu of flowers, donationscan be mailed to Wesley Chapel Methodist ChurchorWesleyChapel Cemetery at 14109 Hwy10, Greensburg,LA70441.

Jacksonville Jaguars running backTravisEtienne runs the ball against the DenverBroncos in DenveronDec.21. The Louisiana nativesignedwiththe SaintsonMonday

ANEW ERA

Saints’big dayinfreeagencyoutlinesa clearpath

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BART yOUNG

Buffalo Bills guard DavidEdwards makes ablock against the Denver Broncos in adivisional playoff game Jan. 17 in Denver

BY MATTHEWPARAS Staff writer

For ateam thatnever wanted to rebuild, theNew Orleans Saints seem to have embraced it.

Analysis

Think back to last offseason.The plan to run it back with Derek Carrinstantly shifted when the quarterback first suffered amysterious shoulder injury and thenretired. Everything since then hascaused the Saints to “recalibrate,” general manager Mickey Loomis acknowledged afterthispast season. That recalibration —not to be confused with arebuild, wink wink —unfolded in stages.The rookie quarterback. The push to getyounger. Thegrowing painsunder afirst-year coach, followed by genuine momentumnear the end of the season.

“It just changes your course alittle bit,”LoomissaidinJanuary.“That’sthe best way to describe it.”

But the Saints’ change of course looks to have been thebestthing for them. And it took another significant turn Monday when NFL free agency effectively be-

gan. Simultaneously,the Saints weremajorplayers while further pivotingaway from their previous era.

They spent big to beef up the supporting cast around quarterback Tyler Shough, agreeing to terms with former Jacksonville JaguarsrunningbackTravis Etienne (four years, $52 million), former BuffaloBills guard David Edwards (fouryears, $61 million) and tight end Noah Fant(two yearsonadeal yet to be disclosed).

They made the hard but disciplined choices to say goodbye to linebacker Demario Davis and cornerback Alontae Taylor. Davis strucka two-year,$22 milliondeal with theNew York Jets. Taylor earned awhopping three-year,$60 millioncontract from theTennessee Titans. New Orleans even signed apunter, makingformer Minnesota Vikings andTulaneGreen Wave standoutRyan Wright (four years,$14 million) oneof the highest-paid playersathis position. From the moment that Shough showed enough promise that he was worth building around lastseason, these were the

See SAINTS, page 4C

Davisleaves void beyond on-field production

Or fire him

Soon, we should know what Matt McMahon’sfuture as the LSU men’sbasketball coach will be. If he has one. The Tigers are off to Nashville, Tennessee,for the SEC Tournament, where they’ll play Kentucky on Wednesday in the very first game. No sense in putting off theinevitable.

ä LSU vs. Kentucky, 11:30 A.M.WEDNESDAy,SECN

Barring awater-into-wine-type of run to thetournament title, LSUwill finish afourth straight season under McMahon without an NCAA Tournamentappearance, leavingathletic director VergeAusberry with aweighty decisiontomake: Keep McMahon,inhopes of a significant turnaround in Year Five.

Ausberry already has one major hire under his belt —new football coach Lane Kiffin. That was an easy one, if Kiffin’shiring could be put in those terms. He was LSU’stop target and the most obvious choice for amajor splash. An expensive choice, of course. Kiffin’snew contract is for $91 million over seven years. If former LSUcoach Brian Kelly is to be believed, LSUalso invested

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

Monday marked the end of an era in New Orleans. Demario Davis’ eight-year career with the New Orleans Saints cameto an end when he agreed to termsona two-year,$22 millioncontract to join the New York Jets. In New York, Davis will reunite with Aaron Glenn, the Jets head coach who served as aSaints defensive assistant during Davis’ early tenure here. Davis leaves as one of the most respected, productive and decorated players in Saints history Few noticed when the unheralded linebacker from Brandon, Mississippi, signed with the Saints during free agency in 2018.

Eight years, two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro honor later,newsofDavis’ departure resonated across New Orleans.

When ESPN announced the agreement just past noon Monday, several fans crowded around the TV set at a local gym. One rubbed her eyes in acrying gesture. Their emotional reaction spoke to Davis’ effect on the city Davis led the Saints in tackles in each of his eight seasons, including last year when he recorded acareer-high 143 stops, afigure that ranked 10th in the NFL.

Davis wasn’tjust productive. He was uncommonly durable, arock of reliability in the middle of the defense. He missedjust one game because of an injury in eight years. He was voted ateam captain by his peers and called the defensive signals throughout his tenure.

Davis departure, however,was far from asurprise. The veteran linebacker hinted that his days in New Orleans could be numbered during media appearances after the season. And while Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he wanted Davis back in 2026, it was apparent that it would comeat the team’sasking price, not the other way around.

“New Orleans is home for me,” Davis said at Super Bowl LX last month. “… But the business has to play how the business plays out.”

The Saints prepared for Davis’ eventual departure by selecting Danny Stutsman in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Oklahoma standout showed flashes of potential during his limited playing time last season. He was groomed to become the defensive signal-caller during training

UCLA gets votes, ends UConn run

BY DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press

No. 2 UCLA picked up firstplace votes from top-ranked UConn in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 on Monday and Texas jumped South Carolina to move up to No. 3 after winning their head-to-head showdown in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game. The Bruins picked up three first-place votes after their 51-point win over then-No 9 Iowa in the Big Ten title game Sunday UConn had been a unanimous No 1 from the national media panel for the past eight weeks. The undefeated Huskies received the other 28 first-place votes.

UConn and UCLA are expected to be the top two teams when the women’s NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed Sunday night. While the Bruins are done until then, the Huskies faced Villanova for the Big East tournament title Monday night.

LSU moved up to No. 5, swapping spots with Vanderbilt. Despite its loss to UCLA, Iowa moved up to seventh. Duke jumped five places to eighth after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, beating then-No. 12 Louisville in overtime. Michigan was ninth and Oklahoma was 10th.

In and out

Buoyed by reaching the ACC Tournament semifinals, Notre Dame re-entered the Top 25, coming in at No. 22. Notre Dame replaced Fairfield, which had entered the poll last week and advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game Monday Conference supremacy

The SEC has the most teams in the Top 25 with eight. The Big Ten is next with seven. The Big 12 and ACC each have four. The Ivy League and Big East each have one.

UCLA

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JESSICA HILL

UConn guard Allie Ziebell goes up for a basket between Creighton guards Norah Gessert, left, and Ava Zediker during their semifinal game in the Big East Tournament on Sunday in Uncasville, Conn.

Games of the week Besides UConn, Princeton is the only other Top 25 team playing this week. The Tigers will

face Brown in the Ivy League Tournament semifinals on Friday night. If they win, they will play ei-

ther Harvard or Columbia on Saturday The Lions handed the Tigers two of their three losses this season.

Saints add compensatory fourth-round draft pick

The NFL released official confirmation of which teams would receive compensatory picks in next month’s NFL draft, and the New Orleans Saints are on the list.

As expected, the Saints will add a fourth-round pick, No. 136 overall, as compensation for losing cornerback Paulson Adebo to the New York Giants in free agency a year ago.

Adebo signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Giants. Compensatory picks are awarded at the end of Rounds 3-7 based on a formula that measures the value of free agents lost the previous season compared to those brought in.

The NFL awarded 33 compensatory picks in this year’s draft, led by the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers all with the maximum of four picks.

NBA cancels Hawks’ plans to celebrate famed club

The NBA has called off the Atlanta Hawks’ plans for a night celebrating the city’s famed Magic City adult entertainment club, saying it did so because of “concerns” from many across the league. Atlanta announced the plan last month, saying the team would pay tribute to an “iconic cultural institution” with food — including the club’s famous lemon pepper wings — along with music and exclusive merchandise.

Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs spoke out about the idea and urged the parties involved to reconsider And the league evidently heard the same messaging from others. The tribute game had been scheduled for next Tuesday against Orlando.

MLS bans 2 players for life for gambling on games

Two players were banned for life Monday by Major League Soccer for gambling on soccer, including bets involving their own matches. Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah were both placed on administrative leave in October pending a review of potential violations of league rules.

MLS said the investigation concluded the players “engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.” The league cited one instance where the players bet on Jones to receive a yellow card in a 2024 match, which he did. Both players were with the Columbus Crew at the time.

MLS was alerted to suspicious betting through its integrity partners.

‘Rock star’ Paralympian wins silver for late brother

BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press

Duke was chosen No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a record 150th time on Monday

The Blue Devils received 56 of 61 first-place votes from a national media panel after wins over rivals NC State and North Carolina, leaving them in the top spot for the third consecutive week. Arizona stayed second and received four first-place votes while Michigan received the other No. 1 ballot after its impressive win over No. 8 Michigan State.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position to do something special and make a run,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.

The Blue Devils reached No 1 in the AP poll for the first time on Dec. 13, 1965, and they’ve spent more time there than any other men’s basketball program UCLA is second with 134 weeks on top while Kentucky is third (125). Now Scheyer’s crew heads into the ACC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, but potentially without two of their starters. Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster both were wearing boots in the second half of Duke’s win over the Tar Heels on Saturday “I’d be shocked if both of them are playing (in the conference tournament),” Scheyer said.

“Our plan is how can we get as healthy as possible and ready as possible for two weeks from now wherever we go (into the NCAA

Tournament)?” Reigning national champion Florida climbed to fourth in this week’s AP poll, the highest the Gators have been since they were preseason No. 3. Houston moved up to fifth after finishing second to Arizona in the regularseason Big 12 race. UConn dropped from fourth to sixth after the Huskies were upset by Marquette in their regular-season Big East finale. Conference tournaments Arizona, Houston, No. 14 Kansas and Texas Tech are the top four seeds in the Big 12 and earned double-byes into the quarterfinals on Thursday Duke, No. 10 Virginia, Miami and No. 19 North Carolina are the top four in the ACC and

likewise begin play Thursday, as will the top four seeds in the Big East: St. John’s, UConn, Villanova and Seton Hall. Michigan, No. 11 Nebraska, Michigan State and No. 9 Illinois are the top four seeds in the Big Ten and will play their quarterfinal games on Friday So will Florida, No. 15 Alabama, No. 17 Arkansas and No. 22 Vanderbilt, the top four seeds in the SEC Tournament. No. 12 Gonzaga played Oregon State in the West Coast semifinals on Monday night, while No. 21 Saint Mary’s played Santa Clara in the other semifinal. The winners will meet for the conference championship Tuesday night. No. 20 Miami (Ohio) is the top seed in the MAC tourney The

RedHawks play UMass in the quarterfinals on Thursday NET rankings

The rankings used by the NCAA to help seed its tournament varied slightly from the AP poll. The NET had Michigan instead of Arizona at No. 2 behind the Blue Devils, while BYU and Iowa — unranked in the media poll rounded out its version of the Top 25. Conference watch The

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy Patrick Halgren, the self-proclaimed “rock star” of the Milan Cortina Paralympics, said he could feel the presence of his late twin brother in his silver medal-winning Para alpine ski run on Monday

“He made this happen for real. He is the ski god and he has blessed me with speed today,” Halgren said of his brother Lucas Sven Halgren.

Lucas Sven died in a motorcycle accident in New Zealand in 2016, three years after Patrick nearly died and lost most of his left leg in another motorcycle accident. Patrick has been plastering blue-and-yellow stickers that read “SvendIt” around Cortina d’Ampezzo, a play on “send-it,” which is Patrick’s mantra on life.

FIFA official: World Cup ‘too big’ to be postponed

DALLAS FIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer says the tournament is “too big” to be postponed because of global turmoil caused by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Speaking Monday, Heimo Schirgi said FIFA continues to closely monitor the war and its fallout.

“If had a crystal ball I could tell you now what is going to happen, but obviously the situation is developing, Schirgi said. “It’s changing day by day and we are monitoring closely The World Cup is too big and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.” The tournament, expanded from 32 nations to 48, is scheduled for 11 U.S. venues plus three in Mexico and two in Canada.

Riddlespilingup forLSU baseball

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU baseball’sstruggles against Sacramento State last weekend were somewhat alarming, even in early March.

In athree-game seriesagainst theHornets, the Tigers won 15-4 on Friday,but dropped Saturday’s contest 5-4and lost 6-1 in Sunday’sfinale. LSU (12-5) hasjustone more nonconference game remaining before Southeastern Conferenceplay begins.

Here arefive takeaways from a frustrating weekend at Alex Box Stadium: Starkcontrast

After Wednesday’slosstoUL, junior Jake Brown said LSU watched every pitch from the defeat to evaluate swing decisions andwhat the offense needed to improve.

The film sessionworked. LSU smacked 10 extra-base hits and launched six home runs in Friday’s win. Brown hit three homers inhis first three at-bats.

“Wewatched what we did good, what we did bad,” Brown said.“It’s just knowing we’re areally good team whenever we do these things right, so let’sfocus on those and eliminate everything else.”

But the Tigers reverted to their struggles in the next two games They stopped hitting the ball hard on Saturday and had trouble getting on base Sunday.LSU struck out 11 times in the second game of the series and walked only twice the nextday It’sworth noting that LSUhit the ball with greater authoritySunday and ran into some tough luck, but the Tigers’ attack still wasn’tplaying up totheir standard.

“Weneed to score more runs.I mean, it’snothing differentthanwe talked about goinginto the weekend,” LSUcoach JayJohnson said Sunday Checking on Evans

One of thefew brightspots over the weekend was Casan Evans, the sophomore right-hander whotossed five perfect innings Fridaybefore Sacramento State put afew runs on the board against him in thesixth. He dominated Hornets hitters with awipeout slider and afastball that consistently sat in the mid-90s and touched 98.7mph. The performance was, in part, theresult of a mechanical adjustment Evanshas been trying to make.

On Friday,hefocused on not rushingthrough his windup. Evans has found that pausing for an extra split second at the top of hisdelivery before going downthe mound has helped with his command.

“Wefoundthatworksbetterforme,” hesaid.“I’mabletothrowmorestrikes and hit the spots that Iwant to.” He is still workingonhis slider.It’s apitch he’sbeen trying to find the right shape for lately,despite the success he had with the offering Friday Whowillplay2B?

Second base has become arotating door for LSU.

The Tigers started freshman Jack Ruckert on Friday and Saturday,his first starts at LSU,before turning to High Point transfer Brayden Simpson on Sunday Ruckert didn’trecord ahit in either game, but he walked twice and scored two runs Friday.Simpsonhad LSU’slone run-scoringhit

RABALAIS

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about $40 million in filling outthis year’sfootball roster.And it’s still on the hook for Kelly’sginormous $54 million buyout. This spending spree is evidence of deeper pockets for LSUand its major boosters than anyone could have imagined beforeKelly was ousted in late October.But allthat spending was for football. How much money,and appetite, would be left for asimilar changein men’sbasketball?

On the face of it, McMahon should have as much chance of returning as an LSU fan would have of walking from Bridgestone Arena to the CumberlandRiver downNashville’sBroadway without hearing country music. He is 60-69 in four years with alonely one-and-done NIT appearance. Evenworse, he’s17-55 in SECregular-seasonplay,witha9-9 mark coming during the NIT season of 2023-24.That means McMahon’s other three teams are 8-46com-

LSU second baseman Jack Ruckertscoops up the ball to geta SacramentoState base runner in the fourth inning on SaturdayatAlex Box Stadium. The freshman made his first twostarts of the

over last weekend.

ON DECK

WHO: LSU(12-5)vs. Creighton (5-7) WHEN: 6:30p.m.Tuesday WHERE: Alex BoxStadium ONLINE: SECNetwork+ RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1 (Baton Rouge); WWL-AM,870 (New Orleans); KLWB-FM,103.7 (Lafayette)

RANKINGS: LSUisNo. 13 by D1Baseball;Creighton is not ranked PROBABLESTARTERS: LSU —TBA; Creighton —TBA PREGAME UPDATES: theadvocate. com/lsu ON X: @KokiRiley WHATTOWATCH FOR: LSUcoachJay Johnson declared after Sunday’sloss that Tuesday’sgameissecondary to theimprovementshe’ll tryto implement withhis team at practice before thegame.LSU’s five losses beforethe start of Southeastern Conference playare the most it has suffered since 2020. Creighton won twoofthree gamesagainst Gonzaga last weekend

in the series finale.

Notably,LSU didn’tturntoKansas State transfer Seth Dardar.He wasthe primary starteratthe position until last weekend. He was thedesignated hitter Friday and playedthird base Sunday Johnson said RuckertisLSU’s best defensive option at second.

But Dardar and Simpsonhave more experience and promise at theplate.The offensive struggles would suggest that Simpson or Dardar shouldbeJohnson’stop options, but their problemsondefense can’t be ignored

“I like Jack as aplayer,and Ithink he fits well with this team,”Johnson said, “if everybodyelseisperforming at ahigh level or expectation.”

WhoLSU turns to fornow will come down to thematchup on the particular day.

Bullpen bopped

There weren’tmany positive takeawaysfrom the LSU bullpen.

In 91/3 innings, the group allowed eight earned runs, six hits and walked eight batters, resulting in a 7.72 ERAagainst Sacramento State.

Some ofthe struggles can be attributed to theoffense’sinability to give the relievers anyroom to breathe in the late innings, but that

SEC TOURNAMENT GLANCE

At BridgestoneArena Nashville, Tenn. First Round

Kentucky vs.LSU,11:30 a.m. Auburn vs.Mississippi St., 2p.m. Texasvs. OleMiss, 6p.m. Oklahoma vs.South Carolina, 8:30 p.m. Second Round Thursday, March 12 Missouri vs.Kentucky-LSU-winner, 11:30 a.m. Tennesseevs. Auburn-Mississippi St.winner, 2p.m Georgia vs.Texas-Ole Miss-winner,6 p.m. TexasA&M vs.Oklahoma-South Carolinawinner, 8:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Friday, March13 Florida vs.TBD,noon Vanderbilt vs.TBD,2:30 p.m. Alabama vs.TBD,6p.m. Arkansas vs.TBD,8:30 p.m. Semifinals Saturday, March 14 TBD vs.TBD,noon TBD vs.TBD,2:30 p.m. Championship Sunday, March 15 Semifinal winners, noon

Pels canprove mettle in thenext10games

The metrics saythe NewOrleans Pelicans have improved. The record, 11-9 over their last 20 games, says it, too. Buthave they really improved? We’re abouttofind outoverthese next 10 games.

The Pelicans won their 21st game Sunday night,tying their wintotal from last season. Of those 21 wins, 14 have come against teamsthatwon’t sniffthe playoffs

ä Raptors at Pelicans.

7P.M.WEDNESDAy GCSEN

Pistons.The Cavs, Knicks and Pistons are three of thetop four teams in the Eastern Conference.

doesn’tfully explain why most of thetop relievers ran into issues.

Redshirtsophomoreright-hander DevenSheerin struggled for thefirst time Saturday, loadingthe bases on twowalks and asinglebefore redshirt junior right-hander Jaden Noot surrendered agrand slam thatproved to be the difference in the game

Redshirt juniorright-hander Gavin Guidry struggled Sunday. He walked aseason-high three batters and allowed three inherited runners to score, runs thatallowed Sacramento State to pull away from theTigers in a2-0 game.

Guidry and Sheerin hadn’tgiven up an earned run in relief beforelast weekend. They were due for some regression, but their strugglesfurther exposeda bullpen that lacks reliable options outside of them.

Sophomoreright-handerMavrick Rizyhas a1.93 ERA, but he’s struggled with his command, walking sevenbatters andplunking five others. Sophomore left-hander Cooper Williams threw ascoreless inning Saturday,but the batter he hit on Sunday scored. He’s given up seven hitsin61/3 innings.

The only bright spot was juniorcollege transfer Ethan Plog. In a 1-0 game Saturday,the left-hander tossed 22/3 scoreless innings, lowering his ERAto1.50withlotsof weak contact.

“He’sprobably ourbest reliever,” Johnson said, “along with Gavin, at this point.”

Historywith five

The Tigers haven’tdropped five or more games before SEC play since 2020, and they haven’tlost fourormore games against midmajor opponentsbefore their conference slate began since 2007.

So yeah, it’s been years since LSU hasfound itself in these waters.

The Tigersdidn’tget to SEC play in 2020 as COVID-19 shut down the season, but 2007 was theprogram’s worst year since 1983, the campaign before Skip Bertman’s first season in charge. It was the only time LSU has failed to reach 30 wins outside of the COVID year

Outsideof2020and 2007, the other years in which the Tigers lost morethan four nonconference games before SEC play this century were 2017-19, 2002-03 and 2000. LSU made the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons, reached Omaha three times and won anational championship in 2000, all indications that aslow start doesn’t mean 2026 is awaste.

wiretappingscandal, the roster completely emptied out,forcing McMahon into atotal overhaul. He’salso dealt with key injuries, like this yeartopoint guard Dedan Thomas and forward Jalen Reed. There’snoway to know, but it’satleast plausible that LSU would have at least been an NCAATournament contender if both had been healthy But back to thereal crux of the McMahoncase: money.Asmy late father said, it alwayscomes down to money McMahon’s buyout would run LSU about $8 million, plus the staff. Then to hire anew coach it likely would have to paya multimillionbuyout to gethim out of hiscurrent contract. Then of course these days, like it or not, youneed millions more to build aroster Let’ssay that’sall abouta$20 million to $25 millioninvestment. Does LSU have the means to spend that? Asmallerfortune than the expenditures on football, sure,but afortune nonetheless. And what if McMahon is re-

Rod Walker

Thegood news is the Pelicans have been taking care of business against inferior competition. Theirlast four victories, allagainst non-playoff teams, all have been by double digits. The latestone was Sunday’s 138-118 victory over the Washington Wizards.

“These guys continue to play with great urgency,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said.

“They keep pounding the rock.”

Therock gets tougher in the upcomingstretch, starting Wednesdaynight at home against the TorontoRaptors. Nineofthe Pelicans’ next 10 games are againstteams thatcurrentlyare in the playoffs or at least the play-in tournament.

“It’sa greatmeasuring stickto see where we’re at,” Borrego said. “I think since alittle before the AllStarbreak,we’veplayedgood basketball. We’llget tested againhere coming up, whichisgreat for us. That’swhere you want to be. And we’re goingtotreat it as such.”

The only non-playoffteam over the next 10 games is Monday’smatchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Other than that, they face theRaptors (twice), Houston Rockets (twice), Los Angeles Clippers (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Detroit

“It’salitmus test to see where we are,” Pelicansforward Trey Murphy said. “Tosee whatquality of basketball we are really playing. Ifeel like alot of the teams we’vebeen playingagainst haven’tbeentryingtowin.Now we get to see what our product looks like against teams that are trying to winand competing for the playoffs.” The Pelshaveplayedwell against some playoff teams, too. They pushed theLos Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns to the limits on the recent six-game road trip, but couldn’tclose the deal.

Whilemanynon-playoff teams have mailed it in forthe rest of the season, the Pels aren’ttaking that approach. With no first-round draft pick, there’snoreason to do so. They are trying to win.

“I think it speaks forthe character of our group that we are aboutgetting better and we’re about the right things,” Borrego said.“Meaningwecompete and do ourjob every daynomatter what. There’sa standard. And we’re still trying to raise that standard collectively “Every night, we bring it.Every night, we are in every single game. We’re competinguntilthe lastminute,and we expect to win every game thatwesteponthe floor.”

The competitionstiffens up Wednesday when former Pelicansforward Brandon Ingram andthe Raptorscome to town

The Pelicans are as healthy as they have been all season. While most teams with a21-45 record maynot have muchtoplay for, the Pelicans still believe they do.

LSUassistant Redus chosentoleadRutgers

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Rutgers announced Monday that it’shiring LSUassistant coach Gary Redus as its next head women’s basketball coach. Redus is an ace recruiter who joined coach Kim Mulkey’s staff in 2022 after stops at Division II DeltaState, Vanderbilt and SMU. Across thefour seasonshespent in Baton Rouge, he helped the Tigers sign the nation’stop-ranked freshman classes in both the 2023 and 2025 cycles. He also worked closely with theLSU guards.

ThreeLSU figuresnow have accepted keyjobsatRutgers in the last 12 months.Former LSU president William F. Tate IV is the BigTen school’snew president, and former LSU athletics chief operating officer Keli Zinn is the new athletic director Zinnsaid in anews release that Redus is “one of the toprecruiters in thecountry”and an “outstanding teacher of thegame.”

“Redus knows what it takes to build andsustainachampionship program,” Zinn said, “and I’m confident he will restore the proud tradition of Rutgers women’s basketball and reenergize our passionate fanbase.”

tained? The crowds for men’s gamesinthe Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter for much of this season have been decidedly uncrowded.Therehave been gameswhen I’ve been tempted to start counting the fans in the PMAC, feeling there would be adecentchance to compile a reasonable estimate by the final horn.

Theprogram makes money despite all of the losses because of SECand NCAA TV contracts, but apathy has led fans to turntheirbacks on the Tigers by the thousands. Youhave to believe many of them won’tbe back until acoaching change is made.

McMahon said recently he understands the expectations of theLSU job and that he shares the “disappointment and frustration”ofanother fruitless basketball season. “Withthat said, Iabsolutely love LSU. Ilove our core group that returns next year,” McMahon said, before adding “I’ll respect whatever decisions they (the LSU administration) makemoving

Zinn fired coach Coquese Washington last week after she led the ScarletKnights to a1-17record in conference play.She began her tenure at Rutgersin2022,succeedingC.VivianStringer— the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer who ranks fifth on theall-timeNCAADivisionI wins leaderboard (871). Rutgersreachedthe NCAA Tournament 17 timesinStringer’s27-year tenure. It advanced to the Final Four twice and made one appearance in the national title game, when it lost to Tennessee in 2007.

The Scarlet Knights have made theNCAATournament only three times since2013, and they last advanced past the first round in 2015.

Redus is an Alabama native who played college basketball at Centenary and South Alabama from 2008-11. He also played professional hoops overseas for four seasons.

“I am honored andgrateful for the opportunity to be the next women’s basketball coach at Rutgers University,” Redussaid. “I am no stranger to the rich history of basketball here at Rutgers, and Ilook forward to building on that legacy as we move the program forward.”

forward.”

Adecision in avacuum, or without the recent football spending spree being part of the equation, probably would spell McMahon’s doom.But the decision is acomplicated one.

Still, it’sadecision that’scoming. Ausberry told The Advocate in mid-January that he would evaluate the men’s basketball program at season’send. That end is rapidly approaching.

“We’re all grown-ups here,” Ausberry said back then. “Matt’s agrown-up. He understands how the business works. He understands that LSU basketball has to be successful.”

LSU basketball has been the anthesis of successful under McMahon. He deserves someblame. He’salso somewhat avictim of circumstances.

Youcan makethe argument for Ausberry to cut McMahon loose. It’s also easy to imagine LSU kicking the basketball downthe road foratleast another season. One wayoranother,wewill know soon.

No Darnold apparent in thin quarterback market

BY DAVE CAMPBELL

AP pro football writer

The Atlanta Falcons have declared Kirk Cousins will be a salary-cap cut. Kyler Murray has been informed of his impending release by the Arizona Cardinals. Geno Smith is widely expected to join them this week once the Las Vegas Raiders let him go Beyond them, the landscape of available quarterbacks looks quite barren for NFL teams seeking the next Sam Darnold success story in free agency Trade candidates among proven starters appear to be even more scarce. For the handful of clubs at a crossroad or committed to starting over this offseason, the timing is hardly ideal.

The rookie class thins quickly after Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the consensus projection to be taken first overall in the April draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, so going the Drake Maye route to a Super Bowl probably won’t happen anytime soon.

After eating more than $99 million in dead money on their salary cap by deciding to cut Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins snatched up the most sought-after free agent. They gave former Tennessee Titans and Green Bay

Packers backup Malik Willis a reported $45 million guaranteed over three years in a deal that will quickly allow the 26-year-old with just 155 career passing attempts to cash in even bigger if he can establish himself as a productive and reliable starter

Here’s a closer look at the most viable options that remain:

Kirk Cousins

The Falcons announced last month they will cut him and fully pivot toward 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix, whose knee injury last year gave Cousins the job back Then Atlanta signed Tua Tagovailoa. Cousins, who turns 38 before the season, would be a realistic bridge starter to give 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy more time to develop in Minnesota.

Kyler Murray

Limited to five games by a foot injury last season as the Cardinals slumped to 3-14, Murray will cost them more than $54 million in dead money He’ll also make more than $36 million in real money from the Cardinals, no matter where he winds up, because his 2026 salary is fully guaranteed.

Offset language in his contract allows his new team to sign him for the veteran minimum.

has been a rotating door recently.

Geno Smith

With the expected addition of Mendoza, the busy Raiders have little reason to keep the 35-yearold Smith on the roster after a woeful 2025 season. Releasing him would only stick the Raiders with $18.5 million in dead money Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and could make a serviceable bridge starter for a team wishing to draft a quarterback in the middle rounds this year Long shots

Aaron Rodgers at age 42 appears unlikely to switch teams again, as a reunion with coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh presents an attractive way to put off retirement and stay with the Steelers. Perhaps he’ll get another call from the Vikings if their other options dry up. Though Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have hit some bumps in the road together, the two-time NFL MVP is on track for a new deal. He wouldn’t have had a voice in the coaching search if the Ravens were considering a trade. “I have spoken to Lamar about a lot of different things over the last month,” general manager Eric DeCosta said at the combine in Indianapolis last month “He’s been very engaged.”

Walker, Willis, Evans among big names on move

BY SCHUYLER DIXON AP pro football writer

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker is the new running back for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City; Miami settled on Malik Willis for a reset at quarterback; and receiver

Mike Evans is headed to San Francisco after 12 years in Tampa Bay

People with knowledge of the agreements told The Associated Press on Monday, the opening day of NFL free agency, that Walker was leaving Seattle after winning a championship, and the Dolphins reached a deal with Willis after announcing earlier in the day that they were releasing Tua Tagovailoa.

The negotiating window opened with a flurry of significant deals, including the Indianapolis Colts keeping their top free agent in receiver Alex Pierce.

Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and the Carolina Panthers agreed on a four-year $120 million contract with $80 million guaranteed. Philadelphia was hoping to retain Phillips after sending a third-round pick to Miami for him at the trade deadline last season. Phillips had five sacks combined for the Dolphins and Eagles.

The Dallas Cowboys added edge rusher Rashan Gary in a trade with Green Bay for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The Packers acquired star Micah Parsons from the Cowboys a week before the season started last year Gary was the 12th overall pick in the draft in 2019, two years before Dallas drafted Parsons in the same spot.

Walker and the Chiefs agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million, with $28.7 million guaranteed. The 25-year-old fills perhaps the biggest need as the Chiefs try to bounce back from a 6-11 season. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, their top two running backs, are both free agents.

The Dolphins reached an agreement with Willis a few hours after dumping Tagovailoa, who later agreed to a one-year deal with Atlanta and incurring a record $99 million hit on their salary cap.

Miami made another move by agreeing to trade safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick.

The 49ers added a proven pass catcher in Evans, 32, for quarterback Brock Purdy, agreeing to a three-year contract with a player who had 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first 11 seasons before injuries limited Evans to eight

games in 2025.

The Colts keeping Pierce on a $116 million, four-year deal coincided with them sending Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh for a lateround draft pick. Pittman spent his first six seasons with Indianapolis.

Former Giants and LSU player cornerback Cor’Dale Flott, is headed to the Titans.

Cleveland added guard Zion Johnson, a 2022 first-round pick who spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Browns are looking at an overhaul in the offense, with several starters in free agency Looking to bounce back from a 5-12 season, Washington spent big money in free agency to sign edge rusher Odafe Oweh, while also bringing back starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Oweh’s contract is worth $100 million over four years, with $68 million guaranteed.

Later Monday, former Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed returned to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on a $51 million, three-year contract. Shaheed had 59 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns last season for Seattle and New Orleans. He was acquired before the trade deadline and helped the Seahawks down the stretch and in the postseason.

logical next steps for the Saints. They took them Monday — full steam ahead.

“Any offense is going to be steered by the quarterback position,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said last month at the NFL scouting combine. “Once that narrows its focus, it allows me to be a lot more specific as to what you want to do. That’ll be a full offseason journey.” Moore now can focus on revamping the running game to help Shough, something that’s badly needed after New Orleans ranked last in yards per carry and explosive run rate last season. The coach acknowledged that improving it would be a priority in Year 2, and the Saints’ two big additions should help. In Etienne, who returns to his native Louisiana, the Saints landed a productive rusher who has run for more than 1,000 yards in three of his four seasons. In Edwards, the Saints get an accomplished veteran who provides stability at a spot that

The Saints’ other additions also figure to guide Shough Fant is coming off of a quiet season with the Cincinnati Bengals, but the seven-year veteran gives the Saints a notable red-zone target and the option to deploy two pass-catching tight ends alongside Juwan Johnson Wright should give the defense better field position. Heck, even re-signing defensive tackle John Ridgeway (two years, $6.2 million) doesn’t hurt. Notably, the Saints were willing to spend to address their biggest needs.

Etienne’s reported annual average value of $13 million would make him the league’s seventhhighest paid runner and it was the second-largest deal for a running back to start free agency — behind only the Chiefs’ three-year, $45 million deal with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker Edwards, at $15.25 million per year, also didn’t come cheap.

The signings also don’t appear to be an overpay, let alone be crippling toward the team’s future. That disciplined financial approach was even more evident in whom the Saints let walk. Start

with Taylor The Titans paid him as an outside cornerback, because they view him as an outside cornerback. The Saints didn’t. New Orleans wasn’t going to pay $20 million per year for Taylor to be its slot cornerback, even though his departure creates a notable hole.

Likewise, $11 million per year for a 37-year-old linebacker likely was too great a cost for the Saints.

From an on- and off-field perspective, losing Davis hurts. He became a franchise staple during his eight years in New Orleans, emerging as one of the league’s best linebackers

in that span. He was an instrumental leader for New Orleans, both as a player and as a person.

But changing your franchise’s course, as the Saints have, requires tough decisions. And they’ve gotten noticeably younger, as Davis’ departure creates an opportunity for 22-year-old Danny Stutsman to seize. Or if the Saints don’t feel the 2025 fourth-rounder is ready for that role, perhaps they bring in a veteran or draft a rookie to compete.

Taylor’s agreement with the Titans allows him to play in the state where he grew up. Davis returning to the Jets for a third stint gives him the chance to end his career where it began. They appeared to get what they wanted.

For the Saints, the question is how many more goodbyes are left? Cam Jordan and Taysom Hill were among the 17 Saints to hit the market when the league’s negotiating window opened at 11 a.m. Monday Running back Alvin Kamara’s future also is up in the air after a recent contract restructure and Etienne’s signing.

The Saints are transitioning from one era to the next. Monday showed the latest cost.

United States starting pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during aWorld Baseball Classic game against Britain on SaturdayinHouston.

Skubal to sitout forrestofWBC, citing spring plan,contractstakes

BY KRISTIE RIEKEN Associated Press

HOUSTON Tarik Skubal didn’t getalot of sleep the past two nights as he mulled whether to pitch again for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. In the end, the Detroit Tigers ace and reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner decided against it.

“My springtrainingstart days were scripted out in January with the original plan being starting and then being done,” Skubal said. “And obviously when Igot here my emotions kind of changed alittle bit, my thought process changeda little bitand tried to make it work but just couldn’t. And Ihate it, but it’sall right.” He said he made the decision after consulting with the Tigers and manager A.J. Hinch, his agent Scott Boras and his teammates in Houston and at spring training in Florida.

“The resounding messagewas to kind of be donebut still be around the team as much as I can,” Skubalsaid.

Skubal is eligible to become a

free agentafter this season and is expected to secure anine-figure contract. He said his decision wouldhave“probably”beendifferent if not for the contract implications.

Skubal gaveupa home run to Nate Eaton on his first pitch Saturdaynight but allowed just one singleafter thatwhilestriking out five in three innings of a9-1 victory over Britain

Manager Mark DeRosa fully understands why he chose not to start again andsupportshis decision.

“I know what’satstakefor him,” DeRosa said. “I’m over the moon he decided to show in the first placefor us —I really am and take the ball for us. Ithink it meant alot to alot of guys in that room.Weknow wherehis heartis. If he was in adifferent situation, he wouldn’tbeleaving.”

Last month, Skubal said he intended to make only oneWBC start regardlessofhow far the U.S. advanced because he wanted to remain on aregularspring trainingregimen and ramp up for openingday with Detroit.

He said he was surprised with

how emotionalpitching for his

country made himand it caused him to rethink his decision.

“I totally misread how Iwould feel,” he said. “And Ifeel like I’m genuinely aguy that kind of understandsemotions, Ipitchwith alot of them, but, yeah, Imissed it there, and that’swhat madethis decision tough.”

He addedthathewill make the trip from Tigers camp in Lakeland, Florida, to Miami to be with the team if the U.S. advances there for thesemifinals and the finals.

He was asked if he was at peace with his decision.

“No, no, I’mstill not,” he said. “I thinkthe only way I’ll be at peace with it is in Miami celebrating after we winthe whole (expletive) thing.”

Skubal added thathewould love to pitchinthe 2028 LosAngeles Olympics if MLB playersare allowed to participateand that he’ll be thefirst to sign up for thenext WBC.

“I love America,” he said. “I love our country.I love everythingthatthistournamentis about.”

WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC ROUNDUP

Tatis, DominicanRepublicroutIsrael

The Associated Press

Fernando Tatis hit agrand slam anddrove in six runs, and the Dominican Republic clincheda spot in the World BaseballClassic quarterfinals with a10-1 win over Israel on Monday in Miami. Tatis homeredinthe second inning on a78.5 mph changeup off losing pitcher Ryan Prager,standing at home plate and admiring his no-doubtdrive over the leftfield wall, then added atwo-run single in the seventh. Geraldo Perdomo had put the Dominicans ahead with abases-loaded walk Tatis’ six RBIs tied Adrian González in 2009 for second-most in aWBC game, onebehind Ken Griffey Jr.’srecordin2006.

TheDominicans (3-0) topGroup Dalong with Venezuela (3-0), which also clinched aquarterfinal berth due to the Dominicans’ win. Venezuela laterbeatNicaragua 4-0.

The winner of Wednesday’s Venezuela-Dominican Republic game will play South Korea in a quarterfinal in MiamionFriday, The loser will face Shohei Ohtani and Japan at Miami on Saturday COLOMBIA 4, PANAMA 3: Reynaldo Rodriguez hit atwo-runsingle in a four-run sixth inning for alreadyeliminatedColombia (1-3), which won the Group Agame at San Juan, Puerto Rico,and ensured Panama (1-3) cannot advance from the group. Panama’sJonathan Araúzexchangedshouts andpushes with manager José Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugoutafter grounding out leading off the ninth. Araúz had not run hard out of the batter’sbox Jordan Diaz hit ago-ahead sacrifice fly against Miguel Gomez in the sixth and Daniel Vellojin added an RBI single.

Winner Austin Bergner pitched ascoreless fifth inning. Jorge Garcia was the loser

SOUTH KOREA 7, AUSTRALIA 2: South Korea advanced to the quarterfinals, moving past the first round for the first time since 2009 by beating Australia at the Tokyo

ASSOCIATED

Dominican

Dome behind four RBIs fromBo Gyeong Moon,who leads the tournament with 11. The South Koreans (2-2) finished secondinGroup Cbehind Japan and Shohei Ohtani, and they will nextplay on Friday Hyun Min Ahn hitadecisive sacrifice fly in the ninth that scored Hae-MinPark standing up. Do Yeong Kim walked against Jack O’Loughlinleading off and Park, apinchrunner,reached thirdwhen Jung Hoo Lee’s grounder offO’Loughlin’sglove went to shortstop JarrydDale, whosethrow to second bounced into short right fieldfor an error With Australia needing one run to advance, Chris Burke walked with one outinthe bottom half and Leerobbed Rixon Wingrove of an extra-base hit with asliding, backhand catchinthe right-center gap. LoganWade followed witha game-ending popout to Moon, and the first baseman threw his glove high in celebration.

BRITAIN 8,BRAZIL 1: Ian Lewis homered with twoRBIsand Jazz Chisholm addedtwo hits withthree RBIs to lead Britain (1-3) in aonehitteratHouston’sDaikin Park that ended the tournament fora pair of teamsthatwereeliminated from advancingfrom Group B on Sunday Brazil (0-4) was outscored 47-6

Southern Labdefense stymiesSt. Martin’s

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

LAKE CHARLES– Southern Lab clung to afour-point lead with one minuteleft against St. Martin’s. In crunch time,the Kittens turned to what they’veworked on all week: defense. As seconds ticked away,the Saints were forced into tough shot after tough shot. Offensive rebounds proved moot after Southern Lab stymied three shot attempts on onesequence late.

No. 6-seeded Southern Lab finally got the ball back and closed it out at the free-throw line to take down No. 2St. Martin’sEpiscopal 55-50 in the Division IV select semifinals on Monday in the Burton Coliseum.

“Defense wasatthe topofour list when we did our film session,” SouthernLab coachHaroldBourdreaux said. “Everything that they ran, we ran it all week.”

St. Martin’sshot just 35% from thefield and had nine turnovers.

“Theyblitzed someballscreens earlyand puta lotofpressure,” Saintscoach Mike Odom said. “We hadtomatch their physicality with ourphysicality.”

The Kittens led 16-11 after the first quarter,inpart from three 3-pointers in the opening period.

Southern Lab (14-12) opened the second quarter with apair of triples from juniorsEvanWilliams and Warren Gougisha to push the lead to 11 points.

Saintsjunior Beckett Smuck got going to trim the deficit.Hescored five straightpoints off twolayups. Oneturnedintoa three-pointplay after he drew afoul. He got to the rim three more times to get his side within two.

Aftera Kittens score, Saintsjunior Kade Vinju burieda corner

three to cut Southern Lab’slead to just one point, down 26-25 at halftime.

St. Martin’s(20-7) took its first lead of the gamethree minutes into the third with apairoffree throwsfrom Vinju.

Kittens sophomore Randolph Harrellrestoredhis team’slead witha triple.Gougisha then pushed the lead to four after he stolethe ball andraceddown thecourt for aone-handedslam dunk.

“It’snothing newtome,” Gougisha said on his dunk, “but Friday,I promise you, it’sgoing to be something different.”

Southern Lab senior Kendell Johnson pushed the run to 7-0 after afast-break layup off asteal. Vinju hit apair of 3-pointers late to tie it, but three Southern Lab points to end the third gave the Kittens a38-35 lead.

The Saints tied it with three free throws to begin thefinalperiod

Harrell put the Kittens back in front with a3-pointer.The Saints got one back with aput-back layup, but Williamsfound Johnson foran open corner three to push the lead to four points.

Later in the fourth, Vinju knocked down afadeaway corner 3-pointer to cutthe deficittoone point with three minutes left.

Johnson pushed theleadback to twowith afree throw.Hethen stole the ball and found senior James King on afast break for an easy layup to push the advantage to four points with 1:43 left.

Southern Lab’sdefense and free throws then fended offa late St. Martin’scomeback. Williams finished with 14 points. Four Kittens scored in double figures.

“They’re hurting right now,” Odom said, “but there’saton to be proud of.”

PREP REPORT

Boys basketball Quarterfinals DivisionIselect No. 12 Catholic High54, No. 4St. Thomas More51 DivisionIIselect No. 1Madison Prep62, No. 8Hannan51 No. 12 Northside 66, No. 13 St.Michael55 No. 2Peabody 71, No. 7University 31 DivisionIII select No. 4DeLaSalle 47, No.5Lafayette Renaissance 46 No.2Dunham74, No. 7GEO Next 44 DivisionIVselect No. 6Southern Lab57, No. 19 Ascension Catholic 52 DivisionInonselect No. 1Zachary 61, No. 9Northshore58 No. 4Denham Springs 70, No. 12 Neville 60 No. 6Central 56, No. 3Natchitoches Central 48 DivisionIInonselect No. 1Wossman 65, No. 8West Feliciana52 No. 3Brusly68, No. 11 Sterlington 44 No. 7PlaquemineatNo. 2Northwest DivisionIII nonselect No. 1Marksville 62, No. 8FrenchSettlement 37, Thursday No. 5Mamou 65, No. 4Doyle 54 No. 2Madison 56, No. 7St. Helena 54 DivisionIVnonselect

Hogs GAcuff landstop honors from SECcoaches

By The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM,Ala. Arkansas guard

and outhit 46-14. Gabriel Carmo hit ago-ahead double in the fifthfor Brazil, which losttoMexico 16-0 aday earlier Lewis homered off Tiago Da Silva on the first pitch of the bottom half, Harry Ford hit an RBI single and Chisholm addedarun-scoring groundout

Lewis homered off Tiago Da Silva on the first pitch of the bottom half, Harry Ford hit an RBI single and Chisholm addedarun-scoring groundout

VENEZUELA 4, NICARAGUA0: Ronald Acuña homered and drove in two runs as Venezuela remained unbeaten in GroupD with a4-0 victoryover Nicaragua at Miami.

Starter Yoendrys Gómez struck out three in two innings for the win and was followed by six relievers. Venezuela (3-0) and the Dominican Republic (3-0) will play to determine thepool winner Wednesdaynight. Both teams have advanced to thequarterfinals. Nicaragua finished 0-4 and remains winless in eight tournamentgames.

Acuña led off withawalk, stole secondand advanced to third on athrowing error by Nicaragua catcher Ronald Rivera.Jackson Chourio drove Acuña home with asacrifice

Darius Acuffand Florida’s Todd Goldenwere named theSoutheasternConference’s playerand coach of the year Monday Acuff averaged 22.2 points and 6.4 assists agameasa freshman, joining Hall of Famer Pete Maravich as the second in league history to lead the league in those twocategories in asingle season. Widely projectedtobea lottery pick in the NBAdraft, Acuff helped the17th-ranked Razorbacks (23-8, 13-5) earnthe No.3 seed in this week’sSEC TournamentinNashville, Tennessee.

Golden, meanwhile, led reigning national champion Florida to the league’sregular-season titleafter replacing three starting guards and two of his top assistants. The fourth-ranked Gators (25-6, 16-2) have won 11 in arow and 20 of 22 entering the tournament as the top seed.

Coaches of the powerhouse league also voted Acuff as freshman of the year,Texas’ Dailyn Swain as newcomer of the year, Florida’sUrban Klavzar as sixth man of the year and Florida’sRueben Chinyelu as defensive player of theyear.Chinyelu also was named the SEC scholar-athlete of the year

Save those shrubs

Boxwood

diseases prevalentinLa. must be handled differently

Boxwoods are among the most common evergreen shrubs you’ll find in Louisiana landscapes, and that’s because these plants were once considered foolproof Sadly,inrecent years,many boxwoods have fallen victim to disease problems

GARDEN NEWS

Youmay have heard of boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata).While this disease is certainly troublesome for boxwoods, it has yet to be detectedin Louisiana. Sometimes when people here refer to boxwood blight, they actually aretalking about a couple of other diseases that are more prevalent in the state: boxwood dieback (Colletotrichum theobromicola) and Phytophthora crown and root rot (Phytophthora spp.)

Boxwood dieback and Phytophthora can cause nearly identical symptoms: browning and death of foliage and, eventually,entire plants

“In order to distinguish between the two diseases, it’s alwaysgoodtoget this tested because the management for these two diseases is totally different,” said Raj Singh, aplant doctorwho oversees the LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center Sending asample to the center is the best way to find out whether your plants have boxwood dieback, Phytophthora crown and root rot or another disease. But you can try asimple at-home test, too: Scrape the bark off an affected boxwood stem using aknife or pruners, and if you see black discoloration, odds are that boxwood dieback is present.

Boxwood dieback is afungal disease; Phytophthorais not. Fortunately,Phytophthora can be treated with fungicides, meaning boxwoods surrounding those infected with this disease stand adecent chance of not becoming infected.

“Fungicides do not cure the infection, but they inhibit the pathogen growth and stop it from spreading if done properly,” Singh said. The outlook is much less rosy if you find yourself dealing with boxwood dieback. There is no cure for boxwood dieback, which spreads easily withpruning. Some home gardeners and

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO

By OLIVIA MCCLURE

Trimming out deadsections of plants affected by boxwood dieback isn’t a viable management strategy The disease will continueto progress,ultimately killing the entire plant.

&KILTS KISSES

St.Patrick’s paraders enjoymakingspecial connections

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

ComeSaturday morning, 50-80 men, some Irish, some not, will dontheirtartans,tuxedos andties and head for the Catholic Life Center in Baton Rouge.

THEWEARIN’ OF THE GREEN

Baton Rouge’s annual St.Patrick’s Dayparaderolls at 11 a.m.Saturday. Map, 2D

The center’sparking lot is thegathering spot for the Wearin’ of the Green paraders, and members of Kilts& Kisses have counted themselves amongthat numbersince2009. The idea for the“almostIrish” marchers, however, was almost 30 years in the making.

Nearlythree decades ago,a clusterof LSUengineering students followed their professor,Marty Tittlebaum, down to

Lance LaPlace, center,leads his fellowmembers of Kilts &Kisses along TerraceAvenue during the startofthe 2025 Wearin’ of the Green.

New Orleansfor the Irish Channel Parade.

“Wejusthad ablast,” recalled Lance LaPlace, the then-future president of Kilts &Kisses. “You got 1,500 guys and you’re going around and actually walking up to

people and handing them beads.” Tittlebaum’sstudents hadsuch agood time they joined the Irish St. Patrick’s DayClub.

ä See KILTS, page 2D

Middendorf’s pop-up is coming to BR this month

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Middendorf’s SeafoodRestaurantis bringing its signature thin-friedcatfish to downtown Baton Rouge.

Middendorf’s owner and chef Horst Pfeifer will bring atwo-week pop-up insidePassé,a French restaurant located inside the Origin Hotel at 101 St. Ferdinand St., according to anews release. Pop-up daysare 11 a.m. to 7p.m. March 17-20 and March 24-27. The pop-up’slimitedmenu will serve lunch, dinner andcertain dishes, including its signature thin-fried catfish. It’ll be afull kitchen takeover,soPassé will be serving breakfast only 7a.m. to 10:30 a.m.onpop-up days

Middendorf’s was foundedin1934 by atraveling salesman and hiswife, Louis and JosieMiddendorf. After the market crash in 1929, the couple and

their son moved to asmall fishing village in Manchac. There, they opened acafe and received a$500 loan co-signed by former New Orleans Mayor T. Semmes Walmsley.AsJosie Middendorf cooked and crafted all of the recipes, her husband manned the frontand tended the bar The duo ran thespot until adifferent owner took the reins in 1967.

The ownership would change acouple moretimes and found itsway back into the Middendorf family for 40 years, whenJosieand Louis Middendorf’s son, Richard, took over in 1967, eventually handing it to his daughter Susie.

The business was bought in 2007 by thecurrent owners,another husband and wife duo, Horst and Karen Pfeifer, who owned the French Quarter’sBella Luna until Hurricane Katrina.

Middendorf’s currently hastwo locations, one in Manchac and anotherin Slidell.

Underappreciated resident assistantwants to quit

DEAR HARRIETTE: Iamaresident assistant in my lastyear of college. During my time in myuniversity’sresidentiallife department, Ihaveseen many changes that have negatively impacted their residential staff and made it harder for us to form genuine connectionswith our residents. Our opinionsare often overlooked as inexperienced eventhough we arethe closest to the resident students.Overthe course of ayear,I’ve hadseveral run-ins with my supervisors that have ended in heated exchanges. Since this is my last year in college, Iwould prefer to step away from this position and enjoy the time Ihave left; however,many peopleare advising me against that. Thebenefits that come with beinganR.A.are financially helpful, butIdonot think Ideserve to endure workplace mistreatment for any dollar amount. Should Iresigntoprotect my peace of mindorpush through for the monetary benefit?

KILTS

They were members for 10 years, LaPlace said,but then decided they wanted to do something different. Back in Baton Rouge, LaPlacereached out to Wearin’ of the Green founder Pat Shingleton with his “crazy idea.” Shingleton loved it

He connected with cofounder Maury Chatellier, who had the idea to name the group “The Baton Rouge Almost Irish.”

“And Isaid, ‘You know, Maury,that’satypical engineering idea,’”LaPlace said. “’You got along deal that nobody’sgonna remember.’ He says, ‘OK, smartaleck, what do you wannacall it?’ And it just popped out, Kilts &Kisses.”

With just eight original members,their marching days began

Although the majorityof Kilts &Kisses’ ancestors didn’thail from The Emerald Isle, they do want to look the part and respect that heritage.

“There’satartan (specific plaid pattern) that you can wear if you’re not Irish, and it’scalled the All Irish. It’sa pretty green, and most of us have it. And then you have to wear tails, and you have to wear atux(edo) shirt. And we provide agreen cummerbund and agreenbow tie when you join,” he said. “We try to make it look proper.”

LaPlace pointed out that around 20 of the members are full Irish and dress in kilts designedwiththe tartan representing their ancestors’ county in Ireland. Still other members opt for afull tuxedo rather thanthe wrap-around knee-length kilt which resembles askirt Once they’ve paid their $200 dues, members also receive amedallion, with anew design each year,to wear on their chests on parade day.Smaller doubloons designed similar to the medallions are given out along the route. Both the medallions and doubloons are madelocally by Crown Trophy.The kilts are typicallyordered from Sport Kilt in California.

Kilts &Kisses march at the head of the Wearin’ of

—Help the R.A. DEAR HELP THE R.A.: Irecommend that you stay, primarily so that youcan practicedealing with difficultpeople. In the working world,this happens more than youwill wanttobetrue. The best thingyou can doislearn how to stand up for yourself, how to remain silent, how to do thebest youcan inahostile situation and so forth. Do your best to keep acool head. Think about the students for whom you are responsible. How can you stand up for them and be heard? Perhaps writing up weekly reportsthat point out concerns and include recommendations for improvement?When dealing withsupervisors, stay calm —even when they aren’t. Stick to your points, and if there is asenior supervisor,report to that person when you are at an impasse.

are abit too short or tops that are moresheer than expected. Ijust thought that, as we got older and moreofour friend group found ourselves in serious relationships, theattirewould mature on its own.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Afriend of mine dresses inappropriately in front of my husband. Honestly,Iam not bothered by her clothing; it’s moreofatime-and-place sort of thing.Inthe past,mygirlfriends and Ihave all worn skirts that

Idon’twant to dictate what anyone wears, but there is a particular friend whostill wears revealing clothing in intimate settings with my husband and other friends’ long-term partners. Imean, she comes over to my house to catch up fordinner and a movie, and she’sinalow-cut, tight top with no bra and aminiskirt. If we were headed to the club, I’d have no grievances, but you don’t show up to aman’shouse that way unless you’re dating him.I realize how old-school Isound, but it’sbeen bothering me. How can Italk to my girlfriend about this without trying to limit her completely? —What To Wear

DEAR WHATTOWEAR: Just be direct. Youcan lace it with humor.“Girl, please stop wearing club clothes to my house!” In private, just ask her to dress moremodestly when she comes to your house. Youcan admit that you are old-school, but you find her provocative attire unsettling in an intimate homesetting. Get ready forbacklash, but it is OK foryou to makerequests in your home.

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

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday,March 10, the 69th day of 2026. There are 296 days leftin the year

Todayinhistory:

On March 10, 1959, thousands of Tibetans rebelled against occupying Chinese forces, surrounding the Dalai Lama’spalace to protect him from potential harm.Fierce fighting between Tibetans and Chinese forces ensued, causing the Dalai Lama to flee Tibet forIndia, where he remains in exile today

Also on this date:

In 1496, Christopher Columbus concluded his second visit to the Western Hemisphere as he leftHispaniola forSpain.

phis, Tennessee, to assassinating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr (Ray later repudiated that plea, maintaining his innocence until his death.) In 1993, Dr.David Gunn waskilled outside the Pensacola Women’s Medical Services clinic by antiabortion activist Michael Griffin; it was the first killing attributed to adoctor’s role in providing abortion care. In 2019, aBoeing 737 Max 8operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board.

Dear Heloise: I’ve learned that patience really matters at the doctor’soffice. Sometimes I’m taken in right away,and other times, Iwait. I’ve found that it helps to come prepared. I bring abook or make sure my phone is charged so that the time doesn’tfeel wasted. Ialso try to keep things in perspective. When my doctor comes in, he never rushes. He listens and answersevery question. This extra care is worth afew extra minutes in the waiting room. Appointmentsrun on tight schedules, and emergencies happen. When I’m the one who needs extra time, I’m grateful that no one is watching the clock. Alittle patience makes the

theGreen Parade,leading the procession through the Hundred Oaks neighborhood, South Eugene Street, Terrace Avenue and on to Perkins Road. Along the route, the sharpdressed men pausetohand ladies thetraditional carnations, roses, beadsordoubloons, along with akiss on the cheek. And yes, at some point, theclubdoes do ajig. “I like what we do differently from everybodyelse. We actually getone-on-one with thefolks,” LaPlace said. “So when you walk up to anice lady,you givethem acarnation.That means alot. Youthrow abead to somebody,don’tget me wrong, there’salot of funin that,but youdon’t getthat connection as well.”

That same connection happens whenbendingdown to hand astuffed animal or other toy to asmall child, he

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Maj. Gen.Ulysses S. Grant to lieutenant general and the command of the Union army in the Civil War.

added.

“Andthat’swhatI think Ienjoy mostabout it are those moments, thosetouchingmoments,”LaPlace said. “And we have agreat photographer that, alot of times, he will capture those moments for us.

As farastheir dance, the men recruited aformer Saintsations (now Saints Cheer Krewe) member to help choreograph aroutinethatLaPlace described like this: “It starts off with kind of alittle Irish jig. And it’s kind of fun. Andthen it gets into Hammer time (a catchphrase originated by rapper MC Hammer) and Michael Jackson music. Yougot guys in your 60s, 70s, 20s and 30s all dancing and having a good time.The people love that. I’m getting fired up thinking aboutit. It’sa really fun time.”

The other 364 days of the

Pack patience fordoctor’soffice

visiteasier for everyone. Helene, via email Messysalad-packet fix

Dear Heloise: I’ve had enoughofthe messy saladkitpackets. Youknow, the tiny pouches of dressing or toppingsthat leave your fingers stickyand thecounter splattered? They rarely tear neatly,and squeezing outthe last drop can make lunchtime frustrating. I’mnot sure if there’sa perfect fix, but afew things help:Iuse kitchen scissors to snip asmall corner rather than tearing it. Iopenpackets over the sink or right above my bowl and keep anapkin nearby.Sometimes Ipour the dressing into asmall cupand drizzleitwith aspoon. If I’m packing lunch,I transfer toppings into small reusable containers before Ileave home. It saves time with cleanup later. Maybe other readers have even

better ideas! —NeaterEater,in Omaha,Nebraska

Asmart travel trick

Dear Heloise: Iswear by spring-type clothespins when Itravel. Somepeople use binder clips toclose gaps in hotel curtains, but Ifind clothespins easier to squeeze, especially with arthritis. They’re also lightweight and inexpensive.

Hotel curtains often let in a strip of early-morning light. Aclip or twokeeps the panels closed and the room dark. At home,Iuse them to seal chip bags and bread. They’re sturdier than twist tiesand don’tdisappear as easily

It’sproof that simple tools can be surprisingly useful. Toss afew clothespins in your suitcase —you’ll likely find moreuses than you expected. —Cathy, in Texas Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

year,Kilts &Kisses pursues itscharitable side, hosting golf tournaments and other fundraisingevents to support causes like St. Jude Children’sResearch Hospital. Members also try to fit in social gatherings like bourbon tastings, cigar outings and crawfish boils. Always up for more fun, Kilts &Kisses traditionally has afinal run-through of its parade-daydanceaweekbefore showtime, theevening opening withapub crawl from Parrain’sSeafood Restaurant to Ivar’sSports Bar &Grill on Perkins Road. The businesses each make aspecial drink for theclub.

TheFridayMassatOur Lady of Mercy Catholic Church is said for Kilts & Kisses, with afew members assisting the celebrant during the service.

Onceatthe Life Center, music and alibation or two getthe meninthe spirit for marching.There’s bow tie adjusting, organizing the throws andloading it all on trailers before parade time. Apriest drops by to offer ablessing. There also will be aspecial toastthis year for another priest, the late FatherNutanSylvesterMinj, who served several Diocese of Baton Rouge parishes and was part of Kilts&Kisses. The toastwill also honor the late Terry Cormier,another member.Both diedduring 2025. Then it’stime to roll.

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell’sassistant, Thomas Watson, heard Bell say over his experimental telephone: “Mr Watson —come here —I want to see you” from the next room of Bell’sBoston laboratory; those werethe first words ever conveyed by telephone.

In 1913, abolitionist and Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia in Auburn, New York.

In 1969, James Earl Ray pleaded guilty in Mem-

SHRUBS

Continued from page1D

landscapers trim out dead sections of boxwoods in hopes of ridding plants of the disease.

But this simply doesn’t work—and can in fact makematters worse.

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Chuck Norris is 86. Singer Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean) is 86. TV personality/business executive Barbara Corcoran (TV: “Shark Tank”) is 77. Actor Sharon Stone is 68. Actor Jasmine Guyis64. Music producer Rick Rubin is 63. Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson is 61. Singersongwriter Edie Brickell is 60. Actor Paget Brewster is 57. Actor Jon Hamm is 55. Rapper-producer Timbaland is 54. Singer Robin Thicke is 49. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Shannon Miller is 49. Actor Thomas Middleditch is 44. Country singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood is 43. Actor Olivia Wilde is 42. Actor Emily Osment is 34. Rapper-singer Bad Bunny is 32.

“Cutting outthe dead section is not going to solve the problem because the pathogen is systemic,” Singh said. “So, when you remove that, it’s going to go to the next healthy section, and you will end up having that section dead.Werecommendthat if you find this disease in early stages, remove thewhole plant and discard it.” In addition to spreading by pruning, recent greenhouse research has revealed that root-to-root transmission is possible. This finding makes it all the more imperative to remove plants that are confirmed to be infected,Singh said. Visit www.LSUAgCenter com/PlantDiagnosticCenter for more information on boxwood diseases and howtosubmit samples to the lab fortesting.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Don't start something you cannot finish. Choose your words wisely. Anger will lead to setbacks that can stifle your progress. Choose kindness and love over chaos and aversion.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Refuse to let your emotions interfere with what you need to do. Act with unfiltered truth and compassion. Dedicate your time and effort to educating others and making a difference in your community.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Forward thinking will be necessary, and you will need to make the most out of what you have to ensure the best outcome. A career choice will offer financial benefits and emotional costs.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Stop procrastinating. Communicate, research and implement a plan. The more you do to make a difference, the greater the benefits. A solid plan will give you the confidence needed to make a move.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Protect your reputation. Ask questions, consider your options and avoid letting your emotions lead to arguments you cannot win. Keep your thoughts to yourself and avoid risky situations.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Actions will take precedence. Put your plans in motion, and don't stop until you are satisfied with the results. Personal gratification for your achievements will be worthwhile.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Domestic issues will throw you off course. Don't lose sight of your goal or neglect a situation that can influence how someone feels about you. Keep what's meaningful to you in the forefront.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Keep your personal life to yourself. Mixing business with pleasure will be counterproductive. Romance and personal growth are heading your way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Listen, and you'll gain insight into how best to maintain the status quo. An energetic approach to physical activity will set you apart from any competition you encounter.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Pay more attention to what's happening at home than what's going on out in the streets. Don't involve yourself in a fight that doesn't concern you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Fly under the radar if you want to maintain a steady pace. Refuse to let anyone coax you into putting their needs before your own. Emotions and money will not mix well today.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb 19) There is power in energy. Design a plan that lets you give your all to whatever delivers the highest returns. A little love and understanding go a long way.

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 numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Kevin Barry, an Irish author, said “When you wake up,instead of checking emails on your phone,orcounting your retweets,pickupapenandscratchafew sentences into anotebook.” Orsitatacomputerkeyboardandtype afew articles into aword processor. Over the lastseven columns, Ihave beenstressingcounting,primarilybythe defenders.Hereisonemoreexample,by way of revision because someone once told me that repetition is good in ateaching environment.(Ihope he is right.)

South zooms intofour hearts. West leadsthe spade queen. Howshould the declarer-play and defense go?

Note thatthreeno-trump has no chance. That is usually atough contract tomakewhenyouhavetwoorthreeaces to dislodge. Thedefendershave alot of time to establishand runtheirlong suit. In four hearts, South starts with four losers: one in each suit. He has 10 possibletricks: twospades, four hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. However, he will get those two club tricks onlyif East errs, since declarerhas no dummy entry outside clubs.

South’s best chance is to win trick one with the spade ace and play aclub, hopingtheopponentwiththeacewinsimmediately. West, though, should play his eight, starting ahigh-low with an even number.East shouldthen work out that declarer started withtwo clubs. (With four, South wouldnot be attacking clubs this quickly; he would surely be drawingtrumps.)SoEastshouldduckthefirst club,takethesecond,andreturnaspade to kill the contract. ©2026 by NEA,Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3

Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAY’s WoRD scALLoPs: SKA-lups: Edible mollusks that swimbyopening andclosing valves.

Average mark18words

Timelimit 25 minutes

Can you find 22 or morewords in SCALLOPS?

YEstERDAY’s WoRD —tuMuLtuous

tout tumult tutu utmost molt most must mutt lost lotus lust oust slot slum smut soul stout sumo

Council.

1t $14.88 y BatonRouge,Parish of East BatonRouge andto allother interested per‐sons,ofthe introduction at theregular meetingof theMetropolitanCouncil of theCityofBaton Rougeand Parish of East BatonRouge,heldon February 25, 2026, of the proposed ordinances,the titles of which areset forthhereinafter,and that public hearingwill be held thereonbythe Metropolitan Councilat 4:00 P.M.,Wednesday March18, 2026, in the CouncilChambers(Room 348) on thethird floor of theCity-Parish Govern‐mental Building in this City,these proposed or‐dinances beingentitled as follows: ORDINANCE Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton

Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 11830 Greenwell SpringsRoadToamend theComprehensive Land UsePlanfromCommer‐cial to ResidentialNeigh‐borhood,located on the south side of Greenwell SpringsRoad, west of Monticello Boulevard, on property noworformerly knownasa portionof TractX-B-1 of Monticello Plaza. Section53, T6S, R2E, GLD, EBRP,LA(Coun‐cilDistrict5 -Hurst) PA1-26

ORDINANCE

Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development d d d

p Code“,asamended so as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 11830 Greenwell SpringsRoadTorezone from LightCommercial (C1) andHeavy Commer‐cial (C2) to Single Family Residential(A1)and Sin‐gleFamilyResidential (A2.7) on property lo‐catedonthe southside of Greenwell Springs Road,westofMonticello Boulevard, on property noworformerlyknown as aportion of TractX-B1ofMonticelloPlaza Section53, T6S, R2E, GLD, EBRP,LA(CouncilDistrict 5- Hurst) CASE 10-26 ORDINANCE Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso

as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 536 West IreneRoadTo rezone from Ruralto HeavyIndustrial(M2)on property locatedonthe northsideofWestIrene Road,westofSamuels Road,ona portionof property noworformerly knownasJ.Glynn. Sec‐tion 80, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP,LA(CouncilDistrict 1- Noel) CASE 8-26

ORDINANCE

g (C1) to LightCommercial Two(LC2) on propertylo‐catedonnorth side of Hyacinth Avenue,westof BluebonnetBoulevard on propertynow or for‐merlyknown as Tract A of theA.N.White Prop‐erty.Section 59, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP,LA(Council District 12 -Racca) CASE 9-26

ORDINANCE Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton

Ascheduled BoardofDirector’smeeting

Present: Rowdy Gaudet

Absent: Karen Soniat

Present but not participating in formal actions: Jill Kidder,Staff Lisa Clary,Staff Danielle Prejean, Staff Geraldine Bordelon, Staff

Rowdy Gaudet called the meeting to order and opened the meeting for public comment.

On amotion by Stephen Hightower,seconded by Gary Jupiter the January

Jill Kidder presented the President’sReport followed by Emily Mastrantonio and Stacy Simon’spresentation of the Louisiana Marathon Recap and an update on the Partnerships with LSU and SouthernUniversities.

Discussion was held concerning the addition of legal counsel. On amotion by Gary Jupiter,seconded by Rowdy Gaudet the following resolution was approved after arollcall boardvote was held.

REQUISITION 11297729

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DECLARE ADJUDICATED

Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 9933 Hyacinth Avenue To rezone from Single Family Residential(A1), OffStreet Parking(B) andLight Commercial ( )