LSU GYMNASTICS READY FOR THEIR CHANCE AT CHAMPIONSHIP 1C
ADVOCATE THE
H
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
|
S at u r d ay, a p r i l 18, 2026
$2.00X
Ruling undermines Chevron verdict Justices’ decision affects many cases against oil companies BY MARK BALLARD
The 8-0 decision, written by Justice Clarence Thomas in Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, is WASHINGTON — A unanimous U.S. a narrow ruling on a technical leSupreme Court on Friday under- gal issue. It says an appeals court mined a huge jury verdict from erred when it denied Chevron’s rePlaquemines Parish that found quest to move its case into federal oil giant Chevron responsible courts, rather than decide the case for tearing up the state’s coastal in state district courts. marshes in search of fossil fuels. The ruling has implications for Staff writer
many other Louisiana lawsuits that seek to make oil companies pay for alleged pollution and hastened erosion along the coastline. Justice Samuel Alito, the ninth member of the high court, didn’t participate because he owned stock in one of the energy companies. Thomas and the justices found
that lower courts and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals incorrectly interpreted the federal removal law. The case was returned to the 5th Circuit. The justices didn’t look directly at a $745 million state district court jury verdict in Plaquemines Parish against Chevron USA. But the high court’s new definitions
DANCING TO THE MUSIC
for the federal removal law likely would require the case to be retried in federal district court. More broadly, the court’s interpretation affects litigation across the nation arising against private companies that contracted with the federal government. The law says those companies should be shielded from local bias for damage caused in local communities.
ä See RULING, page 4A
LSU debuts $148M science building State-of-the-art facility will draw researchers, school says BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS
ABOVE: Marinea and Dewayne McGehee light up the dance floor Friday as Doussan Garrett Benoit LeBlanc plays behind them during the first day of the Baton Rouge Blues Festival at Galvez Plaza. LEFT: Doussan Garrett Benoit LeBlanc performs for the crowd. ä More on Page 1B
LSU science students will have a new building to call their academic home this fall, as the $148 million Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building opens its doors. “These new research spaces are state of the art,” said Morgan Kelly, associate dean for research and administration at the LSU College of Science. “It’s going to allow us to recruit new scientists and researchers to the state of Louisiana.” The science building, a 148,000-square-foot facility at the corner of South Stadium Drive and Tower Drive, began welcoming researchers last month. It will fully open to students for classes at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. LSU leaders said the new space deepens the university’s footprint in STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, and will help address the state’s workforce needs in health care and other industries. They also said it will bring the university closer to its goal of
ä See BUILDING, page 4A
Strait of Hormuz opens; U.S. blockade of Iran remains Trump says Tehran must reach a deal
until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted BY KAREEM CHEHAYEB, CO ONFLICT on X that the cruAAMER MADHANI and ELENA BECATOROS cial waterway, IN THE T Associated Press MIIDDLE through which about 20% of EAST AST the world’s oil is BEIRUT — Iran said Friday it fully shipped, was now reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but President fully open to commercial vessels, Donald Trump said the American as a 10-day truce between Israel blockade on Iranian ships and and the Iranian-backed Hezbolports “will remain in full force” lah militant group in Lebanon ap-
WEATHER HIGH 87 LOW 53 PAGE 6C
peared to hold. Araghchi said ships will use routes designated by the Islamic Republic in coordination with Iranian authorities, suggesting Iran planned to retain some level of control over the channel. It was not clear if vessels would have to pay tolls. A data firm, Kpler, said movement through the strait remained confined to corridors requiring Iran’s approval.
ä See IRAN, page 5A
Business ......................5B Deaths .........................4B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Living............................1D Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
Residents inspect damage Friday at the site of buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Jibchit, southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HASSAN AMMAR
101ST yEAR, NO. 292