WNBA DRAFT Flau’jae Johnson first-round pick of Golden State 1C THE
ACADIANA
ADVOCATE
T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
T u e s d ay, a p r i l 14, 2026
H
$2.00X
Judge halts work on Comeaux closure Injunction issued until April 29 trial BY ASHLEY WHITE
Staff writer
A judge ruled Monday that the Lafayette Parish school system must temporarily stop any work on the closure and repurposing of Comeaux High School. Judge Valerie Gotch-Garrett, of the 15th Judicial District Court, issued a preliminary injunction against the School Board and school district until an April 29 trial and said the school district was “prohibited from moving on
anything related to (Comeaux).” During that trial, Gotch-Garrett will determine if the board violated its own policy and state open meeting laws. If she rules the board violated its policy or state laws, that would likely void the board’s March vote to close the school. When a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is typically granted, a judge will order a monetary bond to be paid by the person who asked for the order. That money could then be used by
the defendant to offset any harm caused by the preliminary injunction if a judge later determines it was issued wrongfully or without merit. But Gotch-Garrett did not issue a bond, instead claiming that this is a “community issue, and the School Board needs to follow its own policy and procedures.” Suzanne Lajaunie filed the lawsuit seeking an injunction and temporary restraining order to stop the School Board from closing Lafayette’s Comeaux High School. The lawsuit originally appeared before Gotch-Garrett at the end of March but was delayed after
Lajaunie said she hired an attorney who needed time to familiarize herself with the case. A new attorney, Brian Blackwell, represented Lajaunie on Monday. The School Board voted March 12 to close Comeaux High at the end of the school year and reassign students to other high schools in the fall. Under the plan, the Comeaux High campus will be renovated to house the W.D. and Mary Baker Career Center and E.J. Sam Accelerated School, and its athletic fields will be used by other schools in the district. The move is expected to save $2
Hebert stepping down as provost
President defends his social media post that depicts himself as Jesus
Former interim president will return to math department
BY WILL WEISSERT, JOSH BOAK and NICOLE WINFIELD
BY MEGAN WYATT
Staff writer
Associated Press STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER
Tammy Pack gives a tour of her home, called Holly Hedges, in Natchez, Miss. Each spring, Natchez gussies itself up as homeowners, many in costume, open their mansions to tourists.
Documentary puts Natchez in spotlight Residents question whether attention on city’s past will help or hurt tourism BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer
NATCHEZ, Miss. — The tour began as many do in this historic river city: with shined silver, a grand chandelier and a bit about the antebellum house’s original owners. But the current owner, Tammy Pack, skipped the hoop skirt. Many of the historic homeowners who partake in Natchez’s annual Spring Pilgrimage don traditional hoop skirts, still, despite criticism that they romanticize a time stained by slavery. Standing before three dozen people — mostly women, mostly baby boomers — in her dining room, Pack explained why she instead picked a slim, silky number. Construction on Pack’s home, long christened Holly Hedges, began in the 1790s. “‘Why not consider dressing to the oldest period of our home?’ ” Pack said, quoting a fellow homeowner. “‘Your house is more ‘Bridgerton’ style, really.’ … “All I heard was I get a new dress without a hoop skirt,” Pack said with a grin. “OK, you sold me on it!” The ladies chuckled.
Signs throughout Natchez, Miss., advertise Spring Pilgrimage, a century-old tradition widely credited with rescuing the city from destitution. Each spring, Natchez gussies itself up as homeowners, many in costume, open their mansions to tourists hungry for the history — and, critics say, the myth — of the Old South. This year, the old rite has a new backdrop. A documentary titled “Natchez” interrogates the stories some of those tours tell with their costumes, their Black figurines and their talk of “servants,” rather than enslaved people.
ä See NATCHEZ, page 5A
ä See HEBERT, page 5A
WEATHER HIGH 83 LOW 64 PAGE 6A
ä See COMEAUX, page 6A
Trump says he won’t apologize to pope
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Provost Jaimie Hebert is stepping down from his role in the university’s administration and returning to the math department faculty, according to a Monday announcement. Hebert has been UL’s provost since 2018 and served as interim president last year after the resignation of longtime President Joseph Savoie. The change in Hebert’s roles comes about six weeks after the University of Louisiana system board approved Hebert Ramesh Kolluru as president. Kolluru previously held the role of vice president for research, innovation and economic development. “He strengthened the academic mission, championed excellence in teaching and learning, and helped position the University for continued growth and impact,” Kolluru wrote in the Monday announcement about Hebert stepping down. Hebert did not immediately return messages Monday afternoon. During Hebert’s brief stint as interim president, he announced the university was in dire financial straits, with a budget deficit he inherited from his predecessor. Hebert began layoffs and budget cuts to make up for the shortfall. Hebert initially asked the system board to consider him for the permanent position as president in November, but he did not formally apply for the position during the application period earlier this year. He has not publicly discussed his decision not to apply. In Kolluru’s Monday announcement, which he shared by email to
million in the general fund that is used for teacher salaries and programming. A judge will grant a preliminary injunction if a plaintiff must prove that irreparable harm will be caused if one is not ordered, that they are entitled to relief and that they are likely to prevail on the merits of their argument, attorney Bob Hammonds, who represented the school system, said in court. Gotch-Garrett emphasized during the nearly three-hour hearing that she was ruling on the irreparable harm aspect of the case. at
Business ...................10C Commentary ................3B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................4B Living............................5C Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump refused to apologize to Pope Leo XIV on Monday after criticizing the pontiff for his opposition to the war in Iran — and he sought to explain away a nowdeleted social media post depicting ä Trump himself as Jesus says U.S. by saying he had military has thought the imbegun a age was of him as blockade of a doctor. Tr u m p w a s Iranian ports. asked about his PAGE 3A c o m m e n t s t o - ä Pope ward the U.S.starts Africa born head of the Catholic Church, tour in as well as the post Algeria and depicting him- calls for self as a healer, peace. in a hastily called PAGE 3A question-and-answer session with reporters at the White House. “He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result,” Trump said, adding, “I think he’s very weak on crime and other things so I’m not”
ä See TRUMP, page 6A
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
President Donald Trump speaks outside the Oval Office of the White House on Monday.
101ST yEAR, NO. 288