The Acadiana Advocate 04-01-2026

‘THERE IS A REAL MOMENTUM’

Boulet highlights Lafayette’s success in legal, financial areas at State of

the Parish address

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

Mayor-President Monique Boulet re-

flected on Lafayette’s achievements in 2025 and the parish’s progress moving forward at her State of Parish address

Tuesday

The event highlighted the work that local government has done to pave the way for a city and parish that is just at the beginning of a growth phase.

Boulet’s first year in office aimed to stabilize the legal, financial, and regulatory landscape of the Lafayette Consoli-

dated Government, she said. Her second year was marked by streamlining processes and reorganizing departments.

But it’s in her third year in office that those efforts are starting to pay off, she said

“We feel it, and I think you feel it, too.

There is a real momentum in Lafayette and it’s just getting started,” she said to a large crowd at the Cajundome Convention Center

With record job numbers and growing state and federal investment in her most ambitious project, Lafayette and the rest of the parish are facing a moment

Eminent domain bill fails in committee

of progress that will shape the area’s growth for years to come, she said.

“Across Lafayette Parish, entrepreneurs are starting businesses, innovators are creating new ideas and companies are deciding to grow right here at home.

From small local shops to expanding industry the momentum in our economy is real, and it is growing,” Boulet said.

While the city had many newsworthy moments in 2025, Boulet chose to highlight a handful that contribute to this vision of a city gaining momentum.

Sentencing

set for Montoucet in kickback scheme

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

Attorney Zachary Keller, in a news conference following the court hearing, said prosecutors entered a plea deal where four of the five charges were dropped because the sentence they’ll get with the plea will be appropriate.

BY DAVID J MITCHELL

Staff writer

A bill barring companies from taking private property for carbon dioxide pipelines and underground storage areas failed Tuesday in committee as industry and legislators voiced concerns about stymying carbon capture and storage infrastructure planned across the state.

Known as the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, House Bill 7 is first of more than 20 bills addressing carbon capture and sequestration to receive a hearing

The technology would pump carbon dioxide emitted by industrial processes deep underground and store it there permanently to cut emissions of climate change-inducing gases. The prospect, however, has riled up parts of rural Louisiana where pipelines and massive storage sites encompassing tens of thousands acres are planned State and industry leaders

Measure would have barred taking property for CO2 pipelines ä See DOMAIN, page 5A

Legislative efforts to regulate AI stall

Trump administration threatens broadband funding

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

in the Louisiana Legislature this year aims to grapple with the rise of artificial intelligence, but some are being placed on hold amid opposition from President Donald Trump’s administration. One proposal would bar health insurance companies from relying solely on AI to deny coverage. Another would restrict how

employers can use AI when making hiring and firing decisions. Those are two of myriad measures, sponsored by Republicans and Democrats, that have shown signs of bipartisan support. But now those proposals are hitting a roadblock: the White House. Officials have been told Louisiana could lose federal funding for high-speed internet in rural areas if certain bills pass, according to multiple legislators.

In December, Trump issued an executive order saying his administration would attempt to pull federal funding for

ä See STALL, page 5A

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

All systems go for NASA on Wednesday’s launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. After weeks of fuel leaks and other issues, NASA faced a troublefree countdown Tuesday on the eve of astronauts’ first trip to the moon in more than half a century Officials reported the moon rocket was doing well on the pad, and the weather looked promising. Forecasters put the odds of favorable conditions at 80%.

“Everybody’s pretty excited and understands the significance of this launch,” said senior test director Jeff Spaulding.

The four astronauts assigned to the Artemis II mission will become the first lunar visitors since Apollo 17 in 1972. They’ll zip around the moon without landing or even orbiting, and come straight back. It’s the closest NASA has come to launching Artemis II. Hydrogen fuel leaks bumped the flight from February to March, then clogged helium lines pushed it to April. The space agency has only a handful of days every month to send the three Americans and one Canadian to the moon. Confident that all of these problems are fixed, the launch team plans to begin fueling the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on Wednesday morning for an evening send-off.

Hegseth lifts helicopter pilot suspensions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Army pilots who hovered two helicopters near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home during a training run while he clapped and saluted have had their suspension lifted, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday “No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth said in a social media post. The Pentagon didn’t immediately respond for comment.

Earlier, a U.S Army spokesperson said the crews of the two AH-64 Apache helicopters were suspended from flying, pending an investigation into their actions. The suspension was a discretionary but not unusual — step when an investigation is underway, Maj. Montrell Russell said.

“The Army has confirmed that on March 28, two Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell conducted a flight in the Nashville area that has attracted public and media attention,” according to a statement from the Army on Tuesday The Army said it would review whether the flight complied with FAA regulations and aviation safety protocol

Kid Rock, who is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, told WKRN-TV on Monday that it’s not uncommon for helicopters from nearby Fort Campbell to fly near his home. He said he is a big supporter of the military and he’s performed for troops overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.

Speaking at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump suggested maybe the crews shouldn’t have done it before adding, “I like Kid Rock, maybe they were trying to defend him, I don’t know.”

Duggar posts $600K bail in sex abuse case

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Reality TV star Joseph Duggar posted a $600,000 bond Tuesday and is flying home to Arkansas after making a first appearance in Florida on molestation charges involving a child under the age of 12, his attorney said. Duggar was arrested earlier this month in Arkansas and was transferred to the Bay County Jail in Panama City Florida, to face charges of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious contact.

Judge Brantley Clark on Tuesday also barred Duggar, 31, from having unsupervised contact with any person under 18, court documents show Duggar, who starred with his parents and siblings in TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested March 18 in Tontitown, Arkansas, after police officers interviewed a 14-year-old girl who told them Duggar had molested her several times during a family trip to Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was 9.

Sanctioned Russian oil tanker docks in Cuba

Shipment eases a dire fuel shortage

BY MILEXSY DURÁN Associated Press

MATANZAS, Cuba A Russian tanker docked Tuesday at the Cuban port of Matanzas laden with 730,000 barrels of oil, marking the first time in three months that an oil tanker reached the island.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had allowed the Anatoly Kolodkin to proceed despite an ongoing U.S. energy blockade Cubans including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy cheered the ship’s arrival. A shortage of petroleum has exacerbated a deep economic crisis that has left the population mired in long blackouts and facing a severe shortage of food and medicine.

“Our gratitude to the Government and People of Russia for all the support we are receiving. A valuable shipment that arrives amid the complex energy situation we are facing,” de la O Levy wrote on X.

Cuba produces barely 40% of its required fuel and relies on imports to sustain its energy grid. Experts say the anticipated shipment could produce about

180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to feed Cuba’s daily demand for nine or 10 days.

“The arrival of an oil tanker to a country has likely never generated so much news as the Russian one to Cuba,” Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío wrote on X. “It’s a sign of the brutal siege Cubans endure with heroism and stoicism It’s a demonstration of the criminal cruelty of imperialism against a nation that refuses to be dominated.”

Some Cubans, however, wondered who would benefit from the newly arrived shipment

“A ship comes; it gives us aid. But who does it go to? Because we don’t get anything here,” said 54-year-old Matanzas resident Leticia Almeida Barceló. “The ships that come in with oil or anything else don’t give us anything. Because we’re still stuck with blackouts, with water shortages, with shortages and shortages, and we need everything.”

The vessel’s arrival was watched by some fishermen as it docked. “We’ve been waiting for the ship to arrive because it’s been some time since any ship entered,” said 50-year-old Armando Ramirez. “And it is needed here for the people, for Cuba.”

Others celebrating the arrival included Matanzas resident Ca-

milo Galves, who watched the ship dock from his home.

“This is undoubtedly a great relief for the Cuban people and a moment of great joy for us amid so many hardships we are experiencing,” he said. “It’s yet another sign that we are not alone in the world.” Cuba used to receive most of its oil from Venezuela, but those shipments were halted ever since the U.S. attacked the South American country and arrested its leader in January

Since then, Mexico also has halted its oil shipments to Cuba as Trump threatened in late January to impose tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island. The U.S. administration is demanding that Cuba’s government ease political repression and liberalize its economy for a lifting of sanctions.

On Sunday night, Trump had said he had “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba delivering relief to the island. “We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need they have to survive,” Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington.

“Cuba’s finished,” he added. “They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”

Trump administration ordered to halt White House ballroom work

Federal judge grants preservationist group’s request for injunction

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to suspend construction of a $400 million ballroom it demolished the East Wing of the White House to make space for barring work from proceeding without congressional approval.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group’s request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.

Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, concluded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”

sion. Construction of the ballroom would mark the most significant structural change to the White House since President Harry S. Truman added a balcony on the south side of the mansion.

The judge’s decision came two days before the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency that signs off on construction on federal property in the Washington region, is expected to approve the addition.

Stephen Staudigl, a spokesperson for the commission, said the judge’s ruling does not affect the schedule for Thursday

“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families He is not, however the owner!” the judge wrote at the beginning of his opinion

The ruling was the first major rebuke of Trump’s sweeping efforts to overhaul the White House, but it wasn’t immediately clear what it would mean for a sprawling project in which crews have long since torn down the East Wing, radically transforming the look and feel of the historic grounds.

The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal shortly after Leon’s deci-

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit, that prompted Leon’s ruling, said, “We are pleased with Judge Leon’s ruling today to order a halt to any further ballroom construction until the Administration complies with the law and obtains express authorization to go forward.”

“This is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation,” Quillen said in a statement The group had sued in hopes of obtaining an order pausing the ballroom project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and receives congressional approval.

The judge suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that the case “raises novel and weighty issues, that halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.”

He also recognized that the administration is likely to appeal his decision Leon ruled that any construction work that’s necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House is exempt from the scope of the injunction.

Gulf drilling exempt from endangered species rules

Critics pan Trump administration move

BY MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press

The Trump administration on Tuesday exempted oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said environmentalists’ lawsuits threatened to hobble domestic energy supplies as the U.S. wages war against Iran.

Critics said the move by the government’s Endangered Species Committee could doom a rare whale species and harm other marine life. Nicknamed the “God Squad” by groups who say it can decide a species’ fate, it comprises several Trump administration officials and is chaired by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

It met Tuesday for the first time in more than three decades amid global oil shocks and soaring energy prices brought on by the Iran war The U.S. pumps more oil than any other nation, but that hasn’t insulated it from spiking prices: The national average for a gallon of gasoline topped $4 Tuesday

“Disruptions to Gulf oil production doesn’t hurt just us, it benefits our adversaries,” Hegseth told the committee. “We cannot allow our own rules to weaken our standing and strengthen those who wish to harm us. When development in the Gulf is chilled, we are prevented from producing the energy we need as a country and as a department.”

The exemptions were not expected to immediately impact prices for crude or at the pump. Putting new oil wells into production takes years of planning and development. Environmental groups sought unsuccessfully to block Tuesday’s meeting and pledged to challenge the exemption. They say the exemption would speed the extinction of the rare Rice’s whale, which is found exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico. Government biologists say only about 50 of the animals remain.

“If Trump is successful here, he could be the first person in history to knowingly extirpate a species from the face of the earth That’s how precarious the condition of the Rice’s whale is,” said Patrick Parenteau, emeritus professor of law at Vermont Law School. Parenteau dismissed Hegseth’s claims of a security threat, since companies have continued to look for and extract oil in the Gulf despite legal challenges over the critically endangered whale.

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CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Trumplashesout at allies over Iraq

Says securing the Strait of Hormuz is ‘not forus’

BY JON GAMBRELL, MIKE CORDER and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Presi-

dent Donald Trump lashed out Tuesday at allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the U.S. war effort against Iran, telling them to “go get your own oil” and saying it was not America’sjob to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

The president said the military could end its offensive intwo to three weeks and that the U.S. “will not have anything to do with” what happens next in the strait that has been closed by the Islamic Republic. Instead, he told reporters, the responsibility for keeping the vital waterway open will restwith countries that rely on it.

There’s“no reason forustodo this,” Trump said aftersigning an executive order that seeks to restrict mail-in voting. That’s not for us. That’ll be for France. That’ll be for whoever’susingthe strait.”

TheWhite House said Trump would deliver aprime-timeaddress Wednesday eveningto update the public on the war In other developments,the closure of the strait sentaverage U.S. gaspricespast$4a gallon, and U.S. strikes hit the central city of Isfahan, sending amassive fireball into the sky.Tehran attacked afully loaded Kuwaitioil tanker in the Persian Gulf.

The attacks showed the intensity of the war more than amonth after the U.S. and Israel launched it.The conflicthas left more than 3,000 deadand causedmajor disruptions to the world’ssupply of oil and natural gas, roiling global markets and pushing up the cost

of manybasic goods.

Trump, whose commentshave vacillated betweentalk that diplomatic progress is being made with Iran and threats to widen thewar, hadearliershared footage of the attack on Isfahan.

Iran’sstranglehold on thestrait the waterway leading out of the Persian Gulf through which afifth of the world’soil is transported during peacetime, hasdrivenup globaloil prices, as have Tehran’s attacks on regional energy infrastructure.

In asocial media post,Trump directed blame at U.S. allies such as the United Kingdom and France, who have refused to enter awar with noclear endgame that they were not consulted on “You’llhave to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A.won’tbe there to help you anymore, just likeyou weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially,decimated.The hard part is done.Go getyourown oil!” Trump wrote.

He singledout France for not letting planes fly over French territory while takingmilitarysupplies to Israel.

France has allowed the U.S. Air Force to usethe Istres base in southern France because it had guarantees that planeslanding there would notbeinvolvedin carrying out strikes.

Spain, whichhas emerged as Europe’sloudest critic of the war, said Monday that it had closed its airspacefor U.S.planesinvolved in the conflict.

Italy recently refusedtoallow U.S. military assets to use the Sigonella airbase in Sicily for an operation linkedtothe offensive, an official with knowledge of the matter said, confirming alocal press report.The official spoke on conditionofanonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on Xthat Italy is still allowing the U.S. to use its bases,adding that there has been

Pope LeoXIV urgesEasterend to conflict

By The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran could be finished before Easter in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfooutside of Rome on Tuesday

“I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war,” the U.S.-born pope said. “I hope that he’slooking for an off-ramp.”

leaders to return todialogue and look for“waystoreduce the amount of violence,” so that“peace, especially at Easter,might reign in our hearts.”

Leo’sremarks cameduring Holy Week, themost sacred period of the year for Christians.

“Hopefullyhe’s looking for away to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be asignificantcontribution to removing the hatredthat’sbeing created, that’sincreasing constantly in the MiddleEast and elsewhere.”

Leo called on all world

“It shouldbethe holiest timeofthe year.Itisatime of peace, atimeofreflection. But as we allknow, again,in the world, in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children,”Leo said.

“Weconstantly make the call for peace, butunfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence, war.”

On Palm Sunday,the pontiff saidGod doesn’tlisten to theprayers of those who

make war or cite God to justify theirviolence, as he prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have usedreligion to justifytheir actions.U.S. officials, especially Defense SecretaryPete Hegseth, have invoked their Christian faith to castthe war as aChristian nation trying to vanquish its foes with militarymight.

Russia’sOrthodox Church, too, has justified Russia’sinvasion of Ukraine as a“holy war” against aWestern world it considers has fallen into evil.

As Holy Week continues, Leo will carry outthe Holy Thursdayfoot-washing tradition in the basilicaofSt. John Lateran, where popes have performed it for decades.

no coolingofrelationsbetween thetwo countries.

The aircraft carrier USSGeorge H. W. Bush deployed Tuesday from Norfolk, Virginia, and is slated to head to the Middle East, two U.S. officials said. Theyspoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

It would be the third carrier sent outtosupport the Iranwar, along withthe USS Gerald R. Ford, which is nowundergoing repairs, and the USS Abraham Lincoln, which arrived in the region in January Trump warned this week that if aceasefireisnot reached “shortly,” and if the strait is not reopened, theU.S.would broaden its offensive, including by attacking theKharg Island oilexport hub andpossibly desalination plants.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would not say if U.S. ground forces would enter the war.“We don’t want to have to do moremilitarily than we have to,” he said.

Aground invasion could alienate Iranians who despise the ruling theocracy and who rose up in massprotests that were crushed earlier this year.Some could see it as an attack on Iran itselfand rally around theflag.

Sincethe Iran war began, 13 U.S. service members have been killed and 348wounded, six seriously,according to aformal count providedTuesday by Capt.Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.

The Israelimilitary saidearly Wednesday that it had killed asenior Hezbollahcommander and another senior leader in twoseparatestrikes in the Beirut area.

Military officials said they launched strikes targeting what they described as Hezbollah infrastructure in the Lebanese capital.

Defense Minister Israel Katzsaid Israel plans to control the area south of the Litani River —some 20 miles north of the border

BY QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ABBY SEWELL Associated Press

BAGHDAD An American journalist was kidnapped on Tuesday in Baghdad and Iraqi security forces are pursuing her captors, Iraqiofficialssaid. Thejournalist wasidentified as freelancer Shelly Kittleson.

AU.S. official blamed the Iranbacked Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.

The Iraqi interior ministry confirmed aforeign journalisthad been kidnappedbut didn’tgive more details.

TwoIraqi security officials, who spoke on conditionofanonymity because theywerenot authorized to speak publicly about the case, saidthe kidnappedjournalist is a womanand aU.S. citizen. They saidthat twocars wereinvolved in the kidnapping,one of which crashedwhile being pursued near the town of Al-Haswa in Babil province southwest of Baghdad. The journalist wasthen transferred to asecond car that fled the scene. The interior ministry said security forces had launchedanoperation to track down the kidnappers, and intercepted avehiclebelonging to thekidnappersthatoverturnedas they tried to flee. Onesuspect was arrested andone of thevehicles used in the kidnapping was seized, but others remain on the loose, the statement said.

The two Iraqi security officials said the journalist wasabducted in centralBaghdad, andthat an alert was sent to all checkpoints, leading to the pursuit of the kidnappers as they headed toward Babil province.

When it comes to Lafayette Utilities Systems, she mentioned the $400 million power plant project that will replace the existing Louis “Doc” Bonin Electric Generating Station along Walker Road. It is the utility company’s largest project to date and is expected to begin construction in 2027, with full operation in 2029. Also touted was the expansion of sewage capacity in the city downtown and surrounding neighborhoods through a $17.6 million sewage lift station along St. Mary Boulevard. The downtown area has long been beleaguered by inadequate sewage capacity and has been cited as a major reason for the area’s slump in residential and retail development.

“That ends now,” Boulet said The new lift station adds capacity for an additional 2,000 residential units, and Boulet said she hopes removing some of Lafayette’s barriers to housing development can offer residents more options in the future.

On sewage, Boulet lauded Bloomberg’s Mayor Challenge, which Lafayette was recently announced as a finalist in, for enabling public/private partnerships to repair aging, cracked private sewage lines in some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, thereby adding capacity Boulet took time about halfway through her speech to discuss the centerpiece of her administration — the Johnston Street and Louisiana Avenue revitalization efforts.

The Johnston Street project has received around $45 million in state and federal dollars and is expected to break ground in 2028 on a 1.2-mile stretch from the downtown train tracks to Lewis Street, she said. The project is also expected to alleviate flooding in the Lee Street/Freetown/University area by adding drainage, which the roadway currently lacks.

Lafayette has long been in a holding pattern regarding the Interstate 49 connector The project

PLEADS

Continued from page 1A

Federal prosecutors, he added, will advocate for prison time for Montoucet

“The citizens of Louisiana deserve and demand honesty and integrity from those entrusted with public office, including when they contract for services on behalf of our Louisiana communities,” Keller said.

“Officeholders like Mr Montoucet who abuse that trust undermine confidence in government and the public contracting process, and our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these abuses and see that offenders face justice.”

In a news release, IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge Demetrius D. Hardeman said, “Public officials are entrusted with serving the people — not enriching themselves. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that the defendant abused that trust by engaging in a scheme to manipulate the contract process and steer

has been nearly a half-century in the making and has never secured any funding. But Boulet said that under Jeff Landry’s leadership, Lafayette might one day see a Kaliste Saloom interchange. It comes with a $350 million price tag, but discussions are moving closer toward action, she said.

Developments on Lafayette’s north side were applauded, including the Northeast Regional Library, upgrades to public amenities, improvements to roadways, the addition of pedestrian pathways, and the creation of public spaces for an area of the city that has historically seen disinvest-

ment. Boulet used her pulpit to urge residents to vote for Amendment 4 on May 16, which would allow parishes to reduce or exempt property taxes on business inventory, arguing that it would help Lafayette businesses. All of these things have culminated in a business- and familyfriendly environment for the city that shows it supports future and continued growth.

“We are not standing still,” Boulet said. “The best days of Lafayette Parish are not behind us. The best days of Lafayette Parish are just getting started.”

contracts for personal gain.”

Montoucet is a retired Lafayette fire chief and former state representative. Former Gov John Bel Edwards appointed him Wildlife and Fisheries secretary in January 2017, where he oversaw services such as issuing citations for boating and hunting violations.

He was set to retire in January 2024 when Edwards left office.

Instead, Montoucet resigned abruptly in April 2023, a day after The Advocate identified him as the unnamed Wildlife and Fisheries official who signed a contract with Lafayette businessman Leonard Franques for his company, DGL1, to provide online courses for sportsmen to resolve Wildlife and Fisheries citations.

The unnamed Wildlife and Fisheries official was mentioned in a March 2023 indictment against Dusty Guidry a Youngsville resident at the time, who was the alleged mastermind behind the agency kickback scheme and another involving the District Attorney’s Office of the 15th Judicial District in Lafayette.

Guidry and Franques are serving time in federal prison for their roles in the schemes, as is former Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes, of Lafayette.

8,000 per year use the boater education program, according to the contract. The courses would last three to

six hours and cost $29.95, according to the department’s website. The agency issued about 8,000 civil citations per year Contact Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.

In the Wildlife and Fisheries scheme, Montoucet’s and Franques’ company DGL1, signed a contract Oct. 8, 2021, court records show In return for his help getting DGL1 the lucrative contract, Franques agreed to pay Montoucet kickbacks that he would collect after he retired from the agency, court documents indicate.

The Advocate obtained a copy of the Oct. 8, 2021, contract which identified Montoucet as the lone Wildlife and Fisheries signer He resigned the next day

The contract with the agency was for 10 years. The state agency was to receive 20% to 40% of the money that DGL1 received for the education courses. The state also would receive 50% of the money that DGL1 collected to host classes for those ticketed for civil violations.

About 11,000 people per year use the agency’s hunter education program and

DOMAIN

see carbon capture as a key to the future of the state’s oil and gas and petrochemical industries in an increasingly low-carbon world. The industry has already drawn tens of billion dollars in investment to the state, state officials said.

The House Natural Resources Committee shot down the landowner bill on a 12-7 vote after more than four hours of testimony from residents opposed the technology industry lobbyists and lawyers, and state officials.

Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, watched in the committee room for some of the testimony occasionally chatting with members as people spoke. What the bill would have done Eminent domain is often used after property negotiations for infrastructure and other purposes break down. A select handful of businesses and state and local governments can force a resisting landowner to go to court to acquire the needed land In the case of pipelines, the court must determine if the planned infrastructure serves a public purpose and sets the price.

Last year, the Legislature tightened companies’ ability to use

STALL

Continued

broadband projects from states that pass “onerous and excessive” laws regulating AI. The Trump administration, which has been largely reluctant to set restrictions on AI, says it is working on a national framework to regulate the technology, one that would avoid having a patchwork of laws that differs from state to state.

“This approach will protect children, prevent censorship, respect intellectual property, and safeguard communities while ensuring America remains the undisputed leader in AI and technological innovation,” a White House official said in a statement. Trump’s executive order warns that if states pass or enforce AI regulations, they could lose money from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program. Congress established that initiative in a bid to bring high-speed internet to rural and other underserved areas. It is unclear how much direct power the Trump administration has over broadband funds.

State Rep. Daryl Deshotel, R-Marksville, who chairs the House Commerce Committee and has worked on legislation that governs how broadband grants are administered, said Louisiana is set to receive another $800 million in broadband funding this year

The federal government approved $1.3 billion in broadband funding last year he said, and the state has so far spent $700 million of it to deploy broadband. Louisiana administers that money through a program known as Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities.

Rep. Vincent Cox, R-Gretna, said he decided to pull his two AI bills after learning from Gov Jeff Landry’s office about the Trump administration’s opposition to them.

“As much as I like my bills, our rural parishes need broadband, and I’m not going to do anything to hurt that,” he said. He was disappointed the bills wouldn’t move forward but saw the

expropriation power for new CO2 pipeline routes and to create large units of land for underground storage sites.

But state Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, came back this year with HB7 and an outright ban for CCS projects, saying even the current law violates private property protections in the state and federal constitutions. Johnson argued his bill wasn’t “anti-CCS” but was designed to force voluntary negotiations between large oil companies and working-class people without the lingering threat of being taken to court or being forced into a CO2

benefits of having one national regulatory framework, he said Cox’s House Bill 157 attempted to protect Louisiana musicians by making it illegal to use AI-generated content of another person’s likeness or voice for commercial purposes without that person’s permission.

His other proposal, House Bill 421, would have required employers to disclose when they use AI-run automated decision systems to choose whether to hire, fire, discipline or promote employees. It also would have required human beings to review adverse employment decisions.

“I thought they were both good bills, but I knew I wasn’t getting them out of committee,” Cox said Kate Kelly, a spokesperson for Landry, declined to comment.

Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, said he has “parked” Senate Bill 246, which would regulate how insurance companies could use AI, after learning it could put federal funds in jeopardy

That measure, which was approved by the Senate Insurance Committee and needs a vote from the full Senate to move to the House, would prevent health insurance companies from relying solely on AI or any automated decision system to deny coverage. It would require that licensed health care providers independently review cases and come to their own conclusions about whether coverage should be granted

Luneau said he was unsure what type of federal funding was at risk. He hoped insurance companies would police themselves for the time being, he said, adding that he did not feel the bill was so urgent that it needed to pass this year

“We stand to lose a lot of money in the state of Louisiana that would help a lot of people if we go forward with this bill,” he said.

Stat e Rep. Jessic a Domangue, R-Houma, confirmed she would not run her bill restricting how health care providers use AI as she waited for “clarity” from the federal government.

That measure, House Bill 197, would bar health care

storage unit. He dismissed industry concerns that sole holdouts could block projects.

“But let me be clear to you. What they may call a holdout, the Constitution calls a landowner, an American and a Louisiana citizen. No one has a right to profit from someone else’s unwilling sacrifices,” Johnson said. “If a project is truly beneficial, then it should succeed voluntarily with voluntary agreements, not through state-granted powers to force a sale.” Why it faced opposition

Industry lobbyists and some legislators opposed to the bill argued

providers from relying on AI to make diagnoses or treatment decisions Under the bill, providers also could not use AI to communicate directly with patients.

On March 20, the Trump administration released its AI policy agenda, which says Congress should block state AI laws that “impose undue burdens,” all with the goal of ensuring “a minimally burdensome national standard” to promote American dominance in the technology States should not be allowed to pass laws that regulate AI development, penalize AI developers for how third parties use their models or “unduly burden Americans’ use of AI for activity that would be lawful if performed without AI,” the White House’s policy memo says.

It suggests giving states leeway to write AI laws that protect children and consumers, prevent fraud and govern the placement of AI infrastructure.

Some Louisiana bills, including ones that would add criminal penalties for using AI to create child pornography, do not appear to be facing pushback from the Trump administration.

“The White House fully supports child safety and has never told a State that it cannot enact child safety protections,” the White House’s statement said.

Last year, the U.S. Senate rejected a measure that would have required states to pump the brakes on AI regulations in order to receive federal subsidies for broadband and AI infrastructure. The vote was 99-1.

But in Florida earlier this year, state legislators heeded Trump’s resistance to regulating the technology, declining to take up an AI Bill of Rights even though it was supported by Republican Gov Ron DeSantis according to a New York Times report.

Brendan Steinhauser, CEO of The Alliance for Secure AI, said it is “disappointing and frustrating” to see state lawmakers back down from AI bills.

“This is a very powerful technology that is getting better exponentially, and we have not solved the problem of control,” said Steinhauser who worried the country

it would treat CO2 infrastructure differently that oil and gas infrastructure, even though carbon capture is part of the same overall business.

State Rep. Joseph Orgeron, RCut Off, underscored this point.

He said he spent 18 months leading a task force on clean hydrogen and it was clear from that work that carbon storage and hydrocarbon production will be inextricably linked in the future. He questioned how Johnson could propose separating the treatment of natural gas and oil pipelines from CO2 pipelines.

“Because what the task force I ran determined is that the global market is changing and the export of our hydrocarbon products going forward or those products that we produce from the hydrocarbon, the world market will want a lower carbon intensity,” he said.

“The world may change, but our Constitution remains the same until we change it,” Johnson shot back.

If protecting the property rights of that one holdout is so important to him, Orgeron responded, Johnson should amend his bill to include barring expropriation for oil and gas pipelines.

“Would you like to make that amendment?” Johnson asked.

“I am not going to make that amendment,” Orgeron said, drawing laughs in the committee room.

could have major problems if AI is integrated into the economy too quickly

The Alliance for Secure AI

Why firms want carbon capture

Currently, companies trying to build out carbon capture operations can use the power of eminent domain to gain the right to use private land for pipelines and, through a separate process known as unitization, gain access to private land under which they can pump CO2 deep into the ground. Eminent domain is generally a power reserved for governments to buy land to build infrastructure to serve the general public, such as roads, bridges and floodgates, but some industries can also use that power including railroads. In Louisiana, the oil and gas industry has had the power of eminent domain for pipelines that carry natural gas and crude oil. The idea is that moving energy products to market serves a public purpose.

Separately, unitization allows a whole swath of land to be pulled into a CO2 storage site after 85% of the landownership agrees to a deal. That can mean some smaller landowners could pulled in to the unit against their will after that ownership threshold is met. Johnson argued Tuesday that infrastructure to move and store CO2 doesn’t meet a public purpose that would allow eminent domain because the infrastructure is moving CO2 from a private company for private profit.

is a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., that aims to build bipartisan support for AI safeguards. Steinhauser

also has worked as a Republican strategist. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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State’s drilling revenue rises by $47M

Money to be used to restore coast

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON Louisiana expects to receive this week an annual check this week from the federal government for offshore oil production that’ll be about $47 million more than last year, to be used to help restore the coast and protect against hurricanes

The U.S. Department of Interior announced a record $460.9 million distribution of energy revenue from federal waters to be split between Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. That’s up from $375 million last year Louisiana is receiving a total of $203.7 million, which is up from $156 million from last year’s share of dollars the federal government allots under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, according to the department.

The reason is House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, inserted wording that raised the GOMESA annual revenue sharing cap in last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which provided tax cuts and other items on President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda.

“Louisiana dedicates these millions of new dollars from offshore energy exploration and production directly to coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts, helping to protect the lives and livelihoods of those in southeast Louisiana who work each and every day to bring this energy to market for the benefit of families and small businesses all across America,” Scalise said.

ä See DRILLING, page 4B

School Board member accused of shoplifting

BLOTTER Advocate staff reports

A Lafayette Parish School Board member was cited Monday for shoplifting at a self-checkout station. Chad Desormeaux, who represents the School Board’s District 2, was given a misdemeanor summons for shoplifting from Super 1 Foods in Carencro, according to Carencro Police Chief David Anderson. Desormeaux did not respond to a request for comment Police responded to the grocery store after management reported that Desormeaux was caught on camera not scanning several items at a self-checkout station.

Trader Joe’s sets timeline for opening

New store expected to be complete in 3 to 6 months

BY ADAM DAIGLE

The Trader Joe’s store in Louisiana could be open by the end of the sum-

mer A spokesperson for the popular specialty grocer did not reveal a targeted date but indicated it would open the store at 1710 Camellia Blvd. in three to six months. Meanwhile, work continues on the building going up near River Ranch.

The California-based retailer was granted a building permit for the $6.5 million project in December

A typical Trader Joe’s store employs about 80 and offers a starting wage of $17-$22 an hour, reports indicate. It is building next door to the site of a planned beer garden. That stretch of Camellia Boulevard has had a mix of commercial development in recent years. River Bank recently broke ground on its location across Bluebird Drive next to the Rouses.

Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.

‘Striving to fuel and energize our next generation’

For The Acadiana Advocate

‘I am passionate about creating a better future for our youth’

For The Acadiana Advocate

Officers went to Desormeaux’s home, where he admitted to stealing items valued under $500. The officer cited him with a misdemeanor summons to appear in court.

ä See BLOTTER, page 4B CRIME

De’Marquis R. Hamilton is the CEO of Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center and a native of Natchitoches. What are one or two of your greatest business and/or community achievements? As far as community, it’s working with at-risk youth. It is increasingly rewarding to work with youth who are labeled with negative connotations and provide them with advice and, most of all, a listening ear to be heard and understood. A lot of these young people come from neighborhoods similar to the one I grew up in and just want to be understood. Having the ability to let them see into my life and upbringing without judging them allows them to see that their current situation does not have to be

ä In partnership with The Acadiana Advocate, the705 is recognizing its annual Top 20 Under 40 Acadiana Leadership Award honorees, presented by Advancial Federal Credit Union. Honorees will be recognized at a banquet April 10 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Student Union Ballroom. For tickets, visit bit. ly/20under40for2026.

their permanent situation and that they are not just bad children. To see changes and be that listening ear to our youth provides me with a sense of purpose, striving to fuel and energize our next generation of community leaders. As far as professionally it’s the expansion of services within our communities within my first two years as CEO Iberia Comprehensive Community Health

Corrie R. Gallien is founder and attorney at Gallien Law She is a native of Opelousas. What are one or two of your greatest business and/or community achievements? My most meaningful achievement is my volunteer legal work. Through pro bono service, I have helped individuals obtain divorces, prepared wills and provided legal advice during vulnerable moments of their lives. As an attorney I understand the importance of access to justice, and as a single mother, I understand that quality legal representation is often financially out of reach. I do not meticulously track this work but measure its value by impact rather than recognition. It is priceless knowing that I have helped even one person in need. That impact reinforces why I do

this work and reminds me that meaningful change often begins with helping a single individual. I am committed to making legal services more accessible within my community My second greatest achievement is my work as a juvenile public defender I help young people see possibilities beyond their current circumstances and empower them to write new chapters of their lives. Young people are our future, and early intervention and mentorship can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. My goal in working within the juvenile justice system is to reduce youth recidivism by addressing the underlying factors that bring youth into the system. Through advocacy, mentorship and resources, I advocate for support, connection and correction for our youth. Accountability and guidance are essential to breaking cycles of criminal behavior and incarceration. I am passionate about

OPINION

Louisiana would welcome visitfrom Pope Leo

It’sbeen nearly four decades since thelast time apontiff set foot in Louisiana,but locals still talk about the time Pope John PaulIIcame to town

Justimagine the memories that would be created should the first American popehonor his family’sancestral home with avisit. Chicago may claim Pope Leo XIV as its own, but the former Robert Prevost’selevation last year unleashed atorrent of emotion in these parts, as details of his family’shistory —first reported by the Historic NewOrleans Collection’sJari Honora and soon amplifiedbygenealogistsworldwide —definitively linkedhim to New Orleans’ Creole community

The researchplaced Leo’sstorysquarely into auniquelyAmerican narrative, as both aproduct of our celebrated meltingpot anda descendant of people who wrestled with thecountry’s complicated legacy of race.

It also created awhole class of people,both here and elsewhere, who feel adeep connection to the pope, including more than afew whoare pretty sure they just might somehow be related. Indeed, Leo’sascent has already inspiredajoyfulfamilyreunion of sorts,asdescendants of relatives who identified as Black andthose who passed for White finallymet

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and Archbishop James Checchio reportedly discussed those family ties duringa 35-minute audience with the pope atthe Vatican lastweek, during which they invited him to include New Orleans on afuture itinerary

We’d like to echo that invitation to aplace that boasts not only one of thelarger percapita Catholic populations in the United States,but one where Catholicculture touches everything from football to Carnival to ourfamous cuisine.

In addition to Leo’sfamilial connection,the group that visited also discussed the state of Catholic education in Louisianaand therestoration of historic St. Louis Cathedral inNew Orleans, where the pope’sgreat-grandmotherwas baptizedin1840, according to research by Katie Beeman, the director of the archdiocese’sarchives. Benson is leadingthe fundraising drive for the restoration.

During the visit, Checchio soughtand received Leo’spermission to name the upcoming renovation of thecathedral rectory thePope LeoXIV Centerfor Evangelization, in honor of both him and his family.

The gesture “moved the Holy Fatherdeeply,” said Greg Bensel,the Saints’ andPelicans’ senior vice president of governmentrelations, who also attended the meeting To sweeten the invitation still more, Benson presented Leowith acustomized Saints jersey, and —incase the team’sAll Saints’ Dayorigins aren’tenoughtoentice him—Checchioshared some localrecipes. Call it asmall taste of thecelebrationNew Orleans would throw if Pope Leo XIV decided to visit.

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

If we hope to rein in Donald

Trump, midterms arevital

Hubris is defined as “overbearing arrogance or presumption, often leading to adownfall.” It originates from ancient Greek mythology,where it referred to defying thegods. Today, hubris describes overconfidence that resultsinfailure or ruin. Narcissistic personalitydisorder is amental health condition characterized by along-term patternofgrandiosity, an excessive need for admiration and alack of empathy for others. People with narcissistic personalitydisorder often feel superior,entitled and exploitative, yet they may possess fragile self-esteem vulnerable to criticism.

Donald Trumpisthe epitomeof these two terms. However,these conditions are not limited to Trump. They infect his entire Cabinet, theU.S. House and Senateand mostred-dominated states have governors and legislators who replicate theattitude and actions of Trump. They believe they have theright to do what they want, regardless of the rightsofall citizens

In aDecember 2025 VanityFair

interview,WhiteHouse Chief of Staff Susie Wiles defended the actions of the second Trumpadministration, specifically regarding theaggressive tactics of officials like RobertF.Kennedy Jr., by stating that “in order to get back to themiddle, you have to push it too far.” Democracy is amessy,difficult way to govern. It involves multiple points of view,often polarizing, yet it is what our country has successfully managed to use to makeAmerica the country that people wanted to come to in order to escape regimes that deny basic rightstotheir citizens. The actions of today’sfederal and stategovernmentswill be judged by theelectorate in themidterm elections. The outcome of these elections will determine if Trumpwill lose his majorities in the House and Senate, thereby bringing his exploitation of thegovernment to ahalt, or continue theswing to the right to the detriment of our democracy

DANIEL NORDURFT Harahan

WarinIranhasn’thad intended effects

The attack on Iran has not had the resultsthat President Donald Trump wanted; just the opposite. Before the attack, the hard-liners running thecountry wereonapath to be replaced by moremoderate leaders, including Ali Larijani, who was thedefacto government leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in theattack.Larijani himself was killed in an Israeli strike.Iranian hard-liners are now more powerful thanbefore, determined to continue their counterattacksand to block the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely

So now we face an angry,even more extremistIraniangovernment with fewer checks on itspower,aswell as galloping inflation with the rapidly rising priceofoil andeverything else that depends on petroleumfor shipping and/

or manufacturing. The Pentagon just asked taxpayers to kick in another $200 billion for this war,with no escape plan and no end in sight Vietnam draft dodger Trump says he is “not afraid” to send ground troops to Iran. He was afraidofthe military draft as ayoung man; nowheiswilling to send today’syoung Americans to their death.

Idetestthe hard-line, anti-democratic Iranian regimeasmuch as anyone, but our attack has only further empowered it. That is why Iamappalled by our attack on Iran, which posed no imminent threat to theU.S. before and now poses amuch greater threat to us after the president’s ill-advised military action.

CHRISDAY NewOrleans

Congressneeds paydockedifitisn’t working

Iwould like to propose aconstitutional amendment that would put into law that when there is agovernment shutdown or apartial government shutdown, Congress and itscongressional stafferswill not be paid. If there was also away to include that their

salaries and possibly their personal finances would be garnished, Iwould like to see that included in the amendment. Why are they getting paid when they are not doing their jobs?

A.J.FRIEDMAN NewOrleans

DDA unaccountable to citizens it’s supposed to serve

Iguess I’ve been watching too manyreruns of “Braveheart,” so Ihave apoor opinion of fiefdoms. While fiefdomsmay have gone out of style centuries ago, Iamalways on the lookout fortheir return. Lafayette Centre Development District, or DowntownDevelopment Authority,isasclose to afiefdom as Ican find. It is controlled by aboard with apowerful CEO that grants or denies permission to property owners and developers about what they can and can’tdointhe downtown district.

It recently filed alawsuit against its own government’sBoard of Zoning Adjustment, using someofits professional services money fora lawyer to fight its claim. It didn’t agree with BOZA’s decision to grant adeveloper’svariance. DDA lost in district court. The court judgment said that DDA had no right of action in the lawsuit, basically concluding that it was not an aggrieved party.DDA owns the old Sans Souci building and receives rent according to its paperwork. It’s exempt from paying taxes unlike other downtownproperty owners. DDA’s personnel salaries total $324,000 along with benefits.

After the loss, DDA vowed to continue the fight if it could get more professional services money from our City Council to appeal —$50,000 to be exact. Aresolution was passed by the City Council 5-0 to give DDA money so it can continue to fight our Lafayette government.

If Iamcorrect from reading all the articles in The Advocate and The Current, DDA never showed up at the scheduled BOZA hearing to decide on the developer’splan, although it was provided notice of hearing and an opportunity to appear and object. Fiefdomsare not elected by the people. But if leftunchecked, they will act as their own government. AL KARRÉ Lafayette

Welcomeback, Columbus

Sometimes Humpty Dumpty canbe put back together again

Back in 2020, during the spasmof violence in the wake of the killing of George Floyd,vandals in Baltimore, Maryland, tore down astatue of Christopher Columbus.

Rich Lowry

They shattered the figureofthe iconic explorer and tossed the piecesintothe Inner Harbor,including the severedhead That seemedtobring to adecisive end astatue that had stood since 1984. This act of iconoclasm, though, has ahappyending.A replica now stands in front of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, courtesy of aWhite House committed to the memory of the great navigator

The assailed statue found afriendin alocal artist and fishermannamed Tilghman Hemsley.Hegot diverstofish out the pieces, and then his son, Will Hemsley,set aboutcreating areplica,a painstaking,expensiveeffort Columbusisworth it. His statueshave been afrequenttarget of protesters and hishonorary day has been downgraded to ashotgun marriage with Indigenous Peoples Day,afaux holiday meant asa rebuke to Columbusand allhis works.

The famous explorer is hardly the monster of the left’simagination. There’snodoubt that he was flawed and aproduct of his time, a15th century that was red in tooth and claw. Columbus was wrong onafundamentalquestion, thinking thathe’d discovered Asia, when he hadn’tcome close. He enslaved natives and could be highhanded, although he wasn’texceptionally cruel by the standards of the day.The devastation of native populations wasa terrible tragedy owing to the spread of disease, not deliberatepolicy. His worst failing was thathe wasan abysmal administrator.Atone point, Columbus was sent back to Spain in chains to answer for his misgovernance

Theother side of the ledgeristruly epic. How many people have played acentral role in knitting together two hemispheres, and doingitatconsiderable personal risk?

What Columbus pulled off wasthe equivalent, in today’sterms, oftravel-

ing to Mars in ajerry-rigged spacecraft, without propernavigation or anysense of whatmight await on the RedPlanet.

Right before Columbus made landfall during his first voyage,the crew of the Santa Maria was ready to mutiny; he came closetohaving to turn around.

After making landfall in theBahamas Columbus barely made it back to Europe. Repeatedly hit by brutalstorms, he tossed abottle overboard with adescriptionofwhathehad found in case he didn’tmakeit. His featsofnavigation andexplorationwereextraordinary; he,and other explorers of his era, catalyzed advances in map-making and geography; andhe made an outsized contribution to forging the Atlantic bridge between Europe andthe Americas that was one of the keys to the creation of themodern world

The maritime historian Lincoln Paine writes, “This erawas unprecedented not only because extraordinary floods of people, ideas and material wealth, as well as flora,fauna andpathogens, were unleashedaround the world, but be-

cause Europeans were for thefirsttime in the vanguard of world change.” It is this epochal development considered adisasterbythe woke left —thatisatthe root of thecampaign to dethrone, andevendecapitate, ChristopherColumbus.

Sincethe inception of cities,there have been statues to honor heroes and to establishthe valuesand history that define aplace. These choices are fraught with meaning —the public displayofahistorical figure in marble isn’t merely adecorative elementina park or trafficcircle, but astatement about whoweare.

This is whythe restoration of the Columbus statue is so gratifying. In this instance, an act of destruction carriedout by revolutionaries seeking to change ourpublic landscapeand the story we tell about ourselves has been resisted andreversed.

For now, Christopher Columbus is together again andhonored on theWhite House grounds.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry

Nation’s leadersare stuckina time warp

Economist John Maynard Keynes once remarked, “Practical men,who believe themselves to be quiteexempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of somedefunct economist.” The wry commentary eventuallycurdled into ironic prophecy, as Keynes became one of those defunct economists. His prescription for countercyclical stimulus mutated into abelief that government spendingwas a kind of perpetual motion machine: Since spending creates jobs and jobs create spending, youcould fuel an increasinglyvirtuous cycle with ever-expanding outlays. This garble led to unnecessary stimulus during post-pandemic recovery and then some unnecessary inflation.

Nutrition Assistance Program, stronger protection for unions, tighter utilityrate regulation paired with expanded subsidiesand,ofcourse, a“root causes” approach to public safety. There are some standard technocratic transportation ideas, such as congestion pricing and some vague gestures toward economic development, but theanimating logic is pure Democratic SocialistsofAmerica: make life harder for landlords, bigbusinesses and affluent taxpayers, and easier for those at the bottom.

Does social media really addict us?

Facebook,Instagram and WhatsApp are running content very harmful to children. So said ajury in NewMexicothat just slappedtheir owner, Meta, with a$375 millionfine.The state accused the company of spreading pornographic imagesand helping adults contact vulnerable children.

Meta faces thousands of suits, but in alandmark case decidedinCalifornia, the company wastoldtopay 20-yearoldplaintiff KaleyG.M. $4.2 million in combinedcompensatory andpunitive damages. Kaley blamed its products on avariety of mental health issues, including depression and dangerous distress over her body shape. All the abovechargesring true, but large remedies for reducing the hazards through legislationand suits seem almost impossible.The webisalot biggerthaneventhe media giants. There will always be operators spreading the nastiest content, and tech-savvy users, including adolescents, will be able to find it.

Meanwhile, a$375 millionfine is arounding errortoMeta, whose revenuesinone recentquartertotaled 160 timesthatamount. The companyhas just unveiled anew stockoptionplanthatcould hand outdollars in the hundreds of millions to topexecutives if theyhit steep growth targets. With that kind of incentive, how picky do youthink Meta execs will be about content drawing viewers?

Whatmakes it so hard to protect young people fromdamaging content is social media’s addictive pull. The platforms observe what keeps youengaged and keep sending youmoreofthe same type of content. That’s why my feeds arefull of videos showing dogs being rescued.

Forteen girls worriedabout their looks, as they’ve always been, the platforms’ barrage of content portraying unusually perfect young bodiesexposes them to hurtful comparisons. Some pictures aren’teven of real females. And some that are have been very muchdoctored

Suchcontent promotesobsessive media use amongteens, according to arecent study by the Journalofthe American Medical Association. The messages fuel humiliationand anxiety andcan triggereating disorders.

McArdle M n

Alas, this is common in public policy fights. Expert debates grounded inthe conditions of aparticulartime getfiled down to sound bites in mediareports. Years later, half-remembered versions inspire policies that are at best inappropriate to the current moment and,at worst, counterproductive.

We’re seeing alot of that now,inpart becausethe Great Recession wasso damaging, its politics so formativefor so many people,that many of them seem stuck in atime warp.

In my beloved home of D.C., democratic socialist JaneeseLewis George is running amayoral campaign that you might call “Mamdani Lite”: half the charisma and one-thirdfewer freebies than the classic version. Awise adjustment, given that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has already retrenched because of legislative opposition and asizable budget gap. Nonetheless, she’sstill got plenty of ambitions. Lewis George, whohas a history of pro-tenant, anti-landlord politics, wantsD.C. to beef up theTenant Opportunity to Purchase Act,expand the first-time home buyer program and investin public housing. She promises auniversal child care benefit,free bus rides for people in the Supplemental

Aworthy goal, one might say, and if it’sa mite optimistic, well, she can trim it back when she getsthe job.But theproblem with her platform is not that it’s too focused on working families who are struggling with affordability. The platform feels designed for adifferentera, when D.C. was booming, and the only question was how to manage that growthand distribute thefruitsofthe boom.

Today’sD.C. is in adifferent position. Sincethe pandemic, rising crimeand remote work shifted housing and office demand toward thesuburbs. Though crime has fallen, President Donald Trump’sfederal workforce cuts dealt thecity another blow.D.C.’soffice vacancy rate stands at 18.1%, and rents are stagnant; wage and job growth trail the national economy; and the housing market has weakened compared to the Virginia suburbs. Glen Lee, the district’s chief financial officer,recently notified theD.C. Council that revenue growth is down sharply andis“estimated to be at or below the rate of inflation for the foreseeable future.”

If elected, Lewis George will learn the samelesson as Mamdani, only more so: Youcannot govern a2026 city with 2016 ideas. They are not the only ones who need to learnthat lesson.

Take California’sbillionaire wealth tax referendum,which assumes that most of the billionaires will obediently stick around to fork over 5% of their assets. Given the size of the tax, that would have been adubious notion even 10 yearsago, but it’s much more dubious in theZoom era, when it’seasier to relocate or keep an eye on things remotely No one should be surprised that some of the state’slargest taxpayers have already left or made plans to leave, for lessonerous jurisdictions. In case you thinkI’m beating up on theleft too much, let’stake the right’s obsession with wokeness. That’san obsession Ishared —five years ago, when people were shouted down or fired everywhere you looked. It seems quaint today,asinstitutions race to dismantle their diversity,equity and inclusion initiatives, right-wing influencers openly embrace antisemitism and thecancellation artists are reduced to shouting at each other on Bluesky Nor do voters seem to care much. Republican WinsomeEarle-Sears hit transgender issues hard in the2025 Virginia gubernatorial race, which did nothing to revive her campaign.

Perhaps Lewis George will have better luck playing thegolden oldies this time around. Buteven if audiences enjoy her nostalgia tour,governing requires something more contemporary Current problems call for current ideas, not thegreatest hitsofyesteryear Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo.

Taxhikes, you say? Or perhaps cut police spending now that crime is down? Unfortunately,D.C. is an unusually small city,which makes it easy for taxpayers andbusinesses to decampfor thesuburbs when thingsget tough. Any declineinpublic order —orincrease in taxes or commuting costs —could prove catastrophic for the already-struggling urban core. Meanwhile, making life harder for landlords will discourage developers, who are reeling from higher interest rates and lower rents. They’re already pretty discouraged: In 2019, developers pulled permitsfor 5,777 units of multifamily housing. In 2025? It was 1,410.

It’snot easyfor parents to rein in children’ssocial media use in asocietyswimming in technology andthose cool delivery systems, but theycan try.I’m always surprisedtosee family dinners at restaurants where childrenare engaged with tablets, offintheir ownworld. Many otherwise good caregivers encourage use of these devices to keep childrenoccupied and out of their way.

The best schoolsare banning tablets and phonesintheir classrooms.Theyoften store the devices on the way in andgive them back as the students leave. Some parents make this harderbydemanding the ability to contact their childrenatany time in the day. The schoolstellthem that the main officecan be called in the event of an emergencyand the student taken out of class. Bear in mind thatfor centuries, parents didn’thave24/7 access to children at school or outatplay. Earlier generations somehow survived.

The most manipulative content can be hard on adolescents, but howaddictive is it really? Ichangedsome unhealthy habits without going coldturkey.

Fora while, Iwas hooked on rage-bait. That’scontent designed to make me angry Rage-bait is the gateway to doomscrolling, which is the obsessive search for negative posts. Icouldn’tcount the hours I’ll never getback scrolling through aggravating posts, many of which were basically fictiondisguisedasreal news or real news designedtodistort the reality,which can be worse. But YouTube,owned by Google,has wonderful videos on history,goodthings to read andhow to do stuff. Sure, there’smind rot, but yougenerally must click to getit. As for the less noble platforms, Istill followthe dogrescues.

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com

‘Baton Rougeneeds TheVarsity’

Live musicvenue closingdoors but future uncertain

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

The Varsity Theatre, aBaton Rouge institution for live music, hasclosed its doors.

For now The Chimes Restaurant on Highland, which is connectedtothe nearly 90-yearold theater,isexpanding its rooftop terrace seating over what is now The Varsity lobby.The Varsity willbeclosed until further notice because of the renovation. The Chimes Restaurant& TapRoom owns and manages The Varsity The music venue and event space had areunion night for friends andfamily Saturday.Several social media posts referred to it as the “last call”for the theater

DRILLING

Continued frompage1B

GOMESA requires the federal government to share aportion of itsproceeds from energy production in federal waters with the four states that provide the oil companies bases of operations for their offshore activities. That share is calculated by aformula butcan’t exceed legally set amount. The rest of money goesinto the U.S. treasury

“By returning offshore revenues to the Gulf region, we are supporting the infrastructure, restoration work and local economies that make continued production possible,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in astatement.

Most of Louisiana’sportion is headed to the state via the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.But aportion is given to coastal parishes. For instance, Plaquemines Parish will receive $3.9 million;St. Charles, $1.4 million; Or-

HAMILTON

Continued from page 1B

Center has grown and will continue to grow in the upcoming year.Wehave started construction on a new Surrey Street Community Health Center, which will expand health care access in 2026. We will also be expanding our optometry and medical services into south Lafayette Parish in 2026. We have also expanded ourBeauregard Parish footprint, opening a new clinic location last fall. Expansion allows for increased access to avast array of services, including two of our most recently expanded-upon services —mental health counseling to couple with the medication management services, as well as dental services within our communities.

What’syour favorite thing about what you do for aliving? Providing access to underserved communities throughout the parishes we serve. Forcommunities, particularly those

GALLIEN

Continued frompage1B

creating abetter future for our youth. What’syour favorite thing about what you do for aliving?

Helping people is my favorite part of what Ido. The court system is often complicated and intimidating.Asachild, Isaw how access to legal knowledge —orthe lack of it —can significantly influence outcomes. Those early experiences ledtomydecision to pursue acareer in law

My goal has always been to make ameaningful difference in the lives of others. Iamgrateful to serve as

According to J.T. O’Neal, the currentproduction manager at The Varsity,noone has officially saidthe venue is closing for good. “I was told Ihad an April 1 deadline for booking shows,” O’Neal said, “and the theater was closing because of The Chimes’terrace extension.” Attempts to contact managementfor comment were unsuccessful.

O’Neal started working at The Varsity in 2022, and he said booking nationaltalent hasbeen astruggle because thevenue doesn’thave acontract with abooking group. He said local shows that are well-promotedhave had high ticketsales with packed houses.

The Varsityfirst opened its doors in 1937 as amovie theater until it closed in 1988. In 1990, The Varsity reopened as alive music venue.For about 30 years, it wasthe placetosee up-and-coming national bands before they

leans, $2.9 million; Jefferson, $3.3 million; and Lafourche, $1.7 million, according to the Interior Department

The Coastal Protectionand Restoration Authority was expecting more money this year becausethe cap was raisedand the GOMESA revenues due the four states routinely exceeds the legal cap, said Michael Hare, the state agency’sexecutive director

Without acap, the states would receive more money particularly since the Trump administration is pushingfor more energy production.

Hare said the money will be sent to shore up the state’sportion of various coastalprotectionprojects. Forinstance,the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the permittingstageofbuilding afloodgatein LacDes Allemands and strengthening levees to reduce storm surgefloodingfor portions of six parishes. Just whichprojects get money depends on which need the money themost nowasdetermined by cash flow,timing and construc-

stricken with socioeconomic challenges, ICCHC opens the doors tosome of our communities’ most vulnerable populations, providing them access to high-quality care to help improve their overall quality of life. Thereward comes in the ability to help ensure organizations such as ICCHC remain in existence tohelp provide care for our communities. Communityhealthcenters hold aspecial place in my heart as they were the place Ireceived care as ayoung child, as well as the place that continues to take care of my mother My daughter also receives care from acommunity healthcenter,not just because Iwork there but because Iknow the highly skilled, trained, boardcertified professionals there strive to provide the highestquality of care to alltheyare privileged to care for.Words simply cannot describe how rewarding the jobcan be, but Ican say Inever leave work too stressed to the point Idon’twant to return because Irecognize that what we do

aguide for clients during uncertainand stressful times. Being able to help them understand their options, to advocateontheir behalf and to see them leavewith greaterclarityand confidence about the future is themost rewardingaspect of mywork. You’vebuilt apractice rooted in advocacy,shapedbyyourlived experience and resilience.What’s one wayyour personal journeyhas directly changed howyou serve clientsand fight forthem? I’m adomestic abuse survivor,and thetrauma andrebuildingfromthat taught me strength, grace andforgiveness. Ibelieve that translates to my work. I’mresilientand take a

becamepopular and the place to go for ’80s and ’90s theme nights.

From rap iconslike Ice Cube and Public Enemyto country stars like Willie Nelson and Pat Green to bands like Incubus and Korn, The Varsityhosteda wide variety of talent. Multiple generationssaw their favorite artist or movie there

The Varsity briefly closed during theCOVID-19pandemic and has hadfewer promotions and events since it reopened in 2021, O’Neal said.

O’Neal attendedshows at the theater for years before he began working there. As atouring sound engineer, he often works remotely for The Varsity.Hesaid he wantsittocontinue as alive music venue in Baton Rouge. With an occupancy of 800 people,it’sanoptimalsize for many shows and events.

“Baton Rouge needs The Varsity,” O’Neal said.

tion needs.

“It’sthe most optimal way to usethosedollars right here, right now,” he said.

While thefederal government provides most of the money for thepumps, levees andother infrastructure that protects communities from hurricanes and floods, state andlocal governments also must put up aportion —adifficultask forprojects that often cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The GOMESA dollars, which arenot governed by theLegislature,can be used to help cover the state and parish portions andthereby allow the projects to continue.

“GOMESAisreally the investment in ourlong-term future in protecting our coast and maintaining that balance between aworking energy coast and athriving ecosystem and protected communitiesthat cancontinue to live here along the Gulf Coast,” Hare said.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

collectively provides care to over 28,000 patients across Louisiana who may not have accesstosuch care if not for theexistence of us and our other colleagues within the community health center mission.

Yourose from regional office manager to CEO in afew years, leading amultisite operation. What’sone leadership decision you made during that rapid transition that you’re especially proud of?

Iwould say my ability to standupfor what is right Sometimes when you standupfor what is right, you have to standalone. Andwhen you standalone, it can be veryisolating and challenging. Butat theend of the day,aslong as you’re doing what is right,that is themost importantthing that you can do. So that was thebiggest accomplishment, Iwould say that helped me rise to this point —that Istood for what was right and I continue to do so. My staff is one of thebest that’sout there. So as long as Imake them happy,wemake the community happy.All is well.

trauma-informed approach to my clients, understanding that they’re going through things. They need help in their vulnerable moments,and I’mglad that Ican help them.

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Continuedfrom page 1B

“Mr.Desormeauxwas nottreated anydifferent than anyother citizen whoisarrested for misdemeanor shoplifting,“ Andersonsaid. “Wedonot book misdemeanor shoplifters in the parish jail.“

The Lafayette Parish school system said it is aware of the incident.

“This matter does not involvethe individual’s role or responsibilities as an elected board member, and it did not occur in connection with anyschool system business.Asthis is apersonal legal matter,wewill notcomment further,” aspokesperson wrote.

Abbeville woman found dead Monday Abbeville police are investigating adeath reportedMondaymorning at alocal apartment complex.

Officers responded about10:30 a.m. after receiving acall abouta death and found the body of Nicoletta Menard, 44, of Abbeville, according to the Abbeville Police Department.

Detectives processed the scene. Menard was pronounced dead by the VermilionParishCoroner’sOffice and transported for an autopsy

The investigation is ongoing.

1dead, 2injured in NewIberia shooting

Oneperson is dead and two otherswereinjured in ashooting Monday evening in NewIberia, according to the New Iberia Police Department.

Officers responded about 5:30 p.m. to the200 block of French Street, where theylearned three people had been shot

Police said onevictim was taken to ahospital by private vehicle,while another was transported by ambulance in critical condition andlater died. Athird victim declined medical treatment. The nameofthe personwho died has not been released.

Investigators said the persontaken to thehospital by private vehicle was later identified as the suspect Authorities arrested 22-year-old Jasiah Deontae Lewis in connection with the shooting. He was booked into the Iberia Parishjail on onecount of first-degree murder, fourcounts of attempted first-degreemurder, possessionofafirearm by a convicted felonand illegalpossessionofa stolen firearm. His bail is setat $4.15 million.

Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument. The victimwho diedwas shot whilesittinginavehicle with four otherpeople,includinga child and awoman. The investigation remainsongoing.

Fabacher, Caresse Elizabeth

Caresse Elizabeth Fabacher, 48. Visitation will be observedatFountain Memorial FuneralHome in Lafayette on Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 9:00 am untilthe Funeral Service at 1:00 pm. Online obituary andguest book may be viewed at www.fountainm emorialfuneralhome.com.F ountain Memorial Funeral Home andCemetery,1010 Pandora St.337-981-7098 is in charge of arrangements.

Twilley, Louise Mumford

Louise Mumford Twilley, of Lafayette, Louisiana, a dedicated wife,mother andteacher passedaway on Saturday, March28, 2026, at the age of 73. Louise wasbornon November 21, 1952, in Pitt Memorial Hospital,and grew up in the small but charming community of AydeninEastern NC where herDad ran afamilygrocery business for two generationsserving thelocal community. Louise waspreceded in death by herparents, Harry GardnerMumford of Greenville,NCand Lenora HallerMumford,of Hopewell,VA. She is also preceded in death by two sisters, AnneSmith (Allen "Buddy")ofBeaufort, NC andChristineBeaman (Malcolm) of Charlotte, NC. Sheissurvivedbyher husband, Robert R. Twilley; hersons, Ryan Twilley (Andrea), Russell Twilley (Anna) and herdaughter, Leah AnneDenis (Jean). Shewas Mom-Mom to threelovely grandchildren, Caroline, Charlie,and Brannon. Theywerethe angels in Louise's life, as sheprovidedthemthe arts, crafts, andcooking experiencestheywill carry with them the rest of their lives.Louise has threevery special nieces, Shaye Ray (Howard) of Isle of Palms, SC, Tammy Hunsucker (J.P. Gooch) of Beaufort, NC, andKathy Hunsucker of MoreheadCity, NC., who shared so much of their lives together withLouise whichbrought laughter throughout theirjourney Louise wasa graduate of AydenHigh School (AHS)where she was editorofthe highschool annual, TheWheel 1971. She attendedEast Carolina University whereshe was aproud 'Pirate Fan'showingthe purple pride to anyone whowould listen. She marriedher high school sweetheartin1974 and theybegan ajourney lasting51yearsthatfollowed Robert through theacademic worldofhighereducation. They left Pitt County and ECU in 1976 to live in Gainesville, FL, for fivewonderful years. From theretheytraveledbackto Robert's roots on the

quicklyfellin love with the culture and friendships that supported herthe rest of herlife. At eachstop alongthisjourney, Louise taughtelementaryschool, usually in small rural communities whereshe lovedthe honesty andvaluesofthe children she taught. Louise gave herall to make sure that herstudents built skills to carry them through theirearly years of youth.She retiredfrom Green T. Lindon Elementaryin2013 with 24 cumulativeyearsinvariousschool systems (including Guchereau Early Childhood Development) working withfaculty, staff and students. Her daughter, Leah,teachesatGreen T. Lindon today carrying on hermother's love for teachingkids thevaluesof life. Louise wasalso honored to be the inaugural queen, Queen I, of the KreweofSansSous, a small groupoffamily friends. Sheissurvived by Queen II Cindy Barry, Queen III Mimi Anderson, andQueen IV Diane Keogh Thesefamiliesenjoyed twenty years of MardiGras partieswith Louise as one of thekey planners Thefamilyrequeststhat visitation be observedat Martin& Castille's SOUTHSIDElocation on Friday, April 3, 2026 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Afuneralservice willbeheld in La Fleur de LisChapel at thefuneral home on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM followedbya celebration of life in Le Cafe at Martin& Castille Funeral Home. KyleDeroche,Director of Spiritwind Worship Ministry, Asbury United Methodist Church, will lead theservices.

Special thanks to the manyfamilymembers, friends, andcaregivers whooffered theirlove, prayers, andsupport duringthisdifficult time In lieu of flowers, donationscan be made in Louise Twilley's name to theUnited Way of Acadiana.

Martin& Castille Funeral Home -SOUTHSIDE -600 E. FarrelRd, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508, 337-984-2811.

Howto placean Obituary

EMAIL:

Notice Howto placea

Glimmer of lightin tunnel for UL softball

If Cajuns qualify,they will host SBCtourney

It’shard to find encouraging signs withthe UL softball program these days.

Things went from bad to worse with last weekend’s0-3 weekend at UL-Monroe that dropped the Cajuns into atie for 10th place in the Sun Belt.

“The weekend, definitely adisappointmenttoall of us, and we just have to bebetter,” said coach Alyson Habetz, whose Cajuns open a home series againstTroy at 4p.m Thursday.“There’sastandard that we need to meet, and hopefully exceed as time moves forward, but we haven’tdone that yet.

“That’sonme. Ineed to make them better.Ineed to figureout a way to challenge them.”

Good luck pinpointing theproblem because there isn’tanarea of the team without blame.

The Cajuns aren’tpitchingit well. If there was one big game at theend of the season where awin was necessary,there isn’tanobvious choice about who takes the ball among UL’s four most-used pitchers.

UL isn’thitting, either.It’smuch better than ayear ago when the team scored only 229 runswith a.389 slugging percentage. This year,ULhas 201 runs with a.497 slugging percentage.

But the outs have been tooeasy and runs too sparse as UL has scored two or fewer runs in five of nine Sun Belt games. Defense has been an issueas well, with UL surrendering 30 unearned runs. But there is aglimmer of hope. TheSun Belt Conference Tournament is being held at Lamson Park in Lafayette from May 6-9. “I’m so glad we’re hosting,” Habetz said. “When you look at what’shappened, it’salittle scary but Ithink that is ahuge motivator for our team.”

There’sacatch to this lineof thinking. TheCajuns must finish at least in the top 10 to qualify for the conference tournament.

“I think that’smotivation for them, for asense of urgency,” Habetzsaid.

Hosting is significant, because UL has been much better at home this season. It starts with the record —10-4 at home and10-12 in games awayfrom home. Even that 10-12 mark is deceiving. The Cajuns are 2-10 in trueroad

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

PHOENIX When Kellen Moore says there’saprocess that has to unfold with AlvinKamara, the coach hasn’tdirectly stated the next steps. So what does he mean?

Based on buzz from the NFL owners’ meetings this week, aclearer picture is emerging.The Saintsstill would like to address Kamara’scontract, even after deploying aquietly used salary-cap tactic to lower hiscap hit from north of $18 million to roughly$10.5million.

Addressingthat could mean asking Ka-

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

maratotake apay cut. Or it could mean parting ways entirely,whether through a trade or cutting him. The Saints have yet to decide which paththey want to take, preferring to let thedraft unfold first.

New Orleanshad informed Kamara that theteam planned to add another running back regardless, and the Saintsdid exactly that when they signed Travis Etienne to afour-year,$52 million contract.

Etienne’sarrival does not preclude the Saintsfrom adding even moreatthe position in the draft. With thedraft another three weeks away,that putsthe Saints and Kamara in await-and-see mode.

Here’swhat else theTimes-Picayune heard at the three-day event.

Demario clarity

One of the morecurious developments of free agency forthe Saints was Demario Davis signing atwo-year,$22 million deal ($15 million guaranteed) with the New York Jets —only forNew Orleans to then sign Kaden Elliss forthe sameaverage annual salary ($11 million per year), abigger guarantee ($23 million) and a longer term (three years).

Didthe Saints prioritize Elliss because they wanted to get younger —Elliss is 30, Davis 37 —and he is viewed as more versatile at this stage of their careers?

College football rosters aren’t as deep as they were four or five years ago. Coach Lane Kiffin offeredthatobservation on March 24 when he said his first LSU roster could have some“depth issues.” Most programsdonowadays. The transferportal,Kiffin said, spreads talent across the country Which meansthatit’snow more difficult than it used to be fortop teamstoovercome injuries like the one that LSU edge rusher GabeReliford suffered last week in spring practice when he tore hisACL “Thiswas asignificant lossfor us,” Kiffinsaid Reliford, aformer four-star recruitfromShreveport, is areturner who missed all but four games lastseason with atornro-

LSU edgerusher Gabriel Reliford, center,runs on the fieldbefore kickoff against South Carolina on Oct. 11 at TigerStadium. Reliford,who missed mostoflast seasonwith atornrotator cuff, suffered atornACL during spring practice last week.

tator cuff, and he wasexpected to play aroleonthe LSUdefensive

line in 2026.

Now the Tigers mayhave to rely even more heavilyonthe toptwo edge rusherstheysignedfromthe transfer portal: Princewill Umanmielen from Ole Miss and Jordan Ross from Tennessee.

Other players could emerge, especially because Kiffin said Tuesday that he’d like to rotate defensive linemen so the Tigers can keep up with the up-tempo offenses he expects them to face next season. But Reliford was one of LSU’s mostexperienced edge rushers. Now he’ll have to rehab another major injury

“That’sadifficult injury,” Kiffin said. “Really challenging for him after missing time last year.He wasdoing agreat job.”

Here’swhat else stood out on Tuesdayfromaglimpseinto

Tiger Woodsistakingupall of the attention in golf withthe Masters approaching.That’s not always agood thing.

Woods has been the center of golf’s universe his entire professional career,ifnot longer, as one of thefew athletes who not only lived up to his potential butalso surpassed it.That hasn’tchanged, even withhim having not competed in aserious tournament in 20 months. And it doesn’tmatter whether he playsinthe Masters. Woods was planningtobeat Augusta National, anyway.He was scheduled to appear with Masters chairman Fred Ridley

on Sunday evening to celebrate theopening of “The Patch,” the refurbished municipal course where Woods’ design firm was asked to build ashort course. Then there’s theMasters Club dinner Tuesday night, heldexclusively for Masters champions since 1952. No one wants to miss that Does he go? Should he go? These are uncomfortable questions consuming theMasters, the tournamentgolf fans

look forward to morethan any other because of the familiarity of AugustaNational and because it will have been 263 days since thelast major.In golf, Georgia is always on the mind. At stake for Woods is no longer aMasters green jacket or any other trophy.Now it’s about his legacy That probably won’tchange as agolfer.Even after returning following his sudden and shocking downfall in 2009 sordid details of serial adultery that were exposed when his

Schaefer chasing an elusive title

Texas coach in his fourth women’s

BY JIM VERTUNO AP sportswriter

Four

AUSTIN, Texas Texas coach Vic Schaefer has come agonizingly close to winning a national championship. Close as in three previous trips to the Final Four And two title game appearances, including one lost on a last-second 3-pointer

The 65-year-old Schaefer is close again. Only he’s over being close in March Madness. He wants to win one. And the Longhorns just may have the team to do it this year Texas returns to the Final Four for the second consecutive year behind dominant three-time All-American forward Madison Booker and dynamic fifth-year point guard Rori Harmon. The Longhorns are chasing the program’s first national championship since 1986, when Texas and Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt barnstormed through a 34-0 season to become the first undefeated title winners.

And for Schaefer, it’s a chance to exorcise some “close” ghosts from the past. The Longhorns (35-3) play UCLA (35-1) on Friday night. Texas handed the Bruins their only loss, 76-65, back on Nov 26. Win again and they’ll play either South Carolina (35-3) or UConn (38-0) in the final.

“With this team, how special they are, they’re good enough” to win the championship, Schaefer said. “I keep telling ’em, they’re good enough.”

Games that got away

Schaefer is leading his fourth team at two different schools to the Final Four He won a national title as an assistant at Texas A&M in 2011, but the trophy has been elusive for Schaefer in 21 seasons as a head coach.

His Mississippi State Bulldogs played in the championship game in 2017 and 2018. The 2018 nail-biter against Notre Dame still leaves a bitter taste after the last-second defeat.

And before Texas advanced to the Sweet 16 this year, Schaefer

said the best team he ever had was his 2019 Mississippi State team that lost to Oregon in the Elite Eight, a matchup in Portland that effectively was a home game for the Ducks.

“That team was better than the two previous teams that played in the national championship game,” Schaefer said. “If we’d have beat (Oregon), we’d have won the national championship, no question.”

After Texas dismantled Michigan 77-41 on Monday night, Schaefer came around to saying his current team might be that good.

“Right now,” Schaefer said, “they’re playing as good as any team I’ve ever had.”

Schaefer left the power program he’d built at Mississippi State for Texas in 2020. A Texas native, he loves to note how he was born in an Austin hospital right next to campus. The hos-

pital has since been torn down, but the Longhorns’ arena is just a short walk from the vacant lot.

Schaefer’s impact in rebuilding Texas was immediate.

In his first season, the Longhorns made a surprising run to the Elite Eight They have made it to at least the Sweet 16 in five of his six seasons. Last season’s run to the Final Four was the program’s first since 2003, when Conradt was still at the helm.

Along the way, he has recruited players like Harmon, the only player in Division I history with more than 1,500 points, 900 assists, 600 rebounds and 350 steals, and Booker, whose allaround skills and playmaking lead Schaefer to call her “a generational talent.”

After Texas beat Michigan, he and Harmon shared a long hug.

“We’ve been together for five years,” Harmon said. “There’s so much hard work, tears, blood,

sweat, adversity that we go through together.”

Schaefer believes he must win a national championship at Texas, not just compete for one. If he can get to Sunday’s final, he’ll face either UConn’s Geno Auriemma, who has won 12 championships, or South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, who has won three.

Schaefer recently recalled a meeting of Longhorns coaches across all sports a few years ago. He noted the success that was in the room.

“(Texas) is a place of elite. It’s a place of greatness,” Schaefer said. “There’s 10 head coaches at the table. As I’m sitting at the table, I look around, and there’s ten head coaches that played for the national championship. Ten. Four of them won it. Six of them finished second. I finished fifth in the country and went to the Elite Eight, and I’m not even in the top half in the room.”

Tough love Schaefer is not easy on his teams. Even this one. At times, he can be downright harsh. Schaefer benched Harmon for most of the fourth quarter in regular-season losses at LSU and Vanderbilt. After an 18-point loss in Nashville on Feb. 12, he went on a postgame rant that questioned his team’s heart and called the Longhorns “probably the softest team I’ve had in years.”

Booker said the team responded to the scolding. Texas hasn’t lost since, and the Longhorns have been in another gear in the postseason. They have won four NCAA Tournament games by an average of 36 points. Booker scored a career-high 40 in a second-round win over Oregon.

“For me and my teammates, we never want to hear our coach say that about us, especially because he does so much for us,” Booker said. “We say we have heart, and I think after that game we kind of turned it around. You know, I hope he sees we have heart now Yeah, like, that will never happen again.”

Mulkey hires former Tennessee assistant Lazo

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Coach Kim Mulkey announced

Tuesday that she has hired former Tennessee assistant coach Gabe Lazo to her LSU women’s basketball staff.

Lazo is an ace recruiter who’s spent the last four seasons in the Southeastern Conference two with Mississippi State and two with the Lady Vols. In 2025, he helped Tennessee land its most highly rated freshman class since 2017. That group, which ESPN said was the second-best haul in the country, featured three McDonald’s All-Americans: guards Mia Pauldo, Deniya Prawl and Jaida Civil Lazo, a Miami native, also helped the Lady Vols sign 6-foot3 forward Oliviyah Edwards the second-best recruit in the 2026 class, according to ESPN

“Gabe will be an outstanding addition to our staff,” Mulkey said in a statement. “He has been an invaluable member of two SEC staffs with an unbelievable ability to teach the game and recruit the best players in the country.” Mulkey had two openings to fill on her staff this offseason because one of her former assistants, Gary Redus, accepted the Rutgers head coaching job on March 8. Daphne Mitchell, a former Baylor assistant who followed Mulkey to LSU in 2021, joined Redus’ staff.

During his two-year stint at Mississippi State, Lazo helped coach Sam Purcell land nationally ranked freshman and transfer classes In 2025, Purcell said he expects Lazo to become a head coach someday Lazo, he said, was “a major part” of why Tennessee signed one of the nation’s best freshman classes that year

“He’s a big, strong dude, but he’s a teddy bear inside,” Purcell said. “And his life and where he’s been man, he can relate to a lot of kids. And he has a passion and energy for life that sets him apart from other people.

“He’s just an absolute workhorse. He gets after it, and when you got those ingredients, it makes for a special person, and that’s why he’s doing a special job.”

Lazo played college basketball at Florida International and Barry University from 2004-08. He started his coaching career in the high school ranks, then made stops as an assistant at FIU, Stony Brook and George Washington.

“Gabe will impact our program at the highest level,” Mulkey said, “and his unmatched work ethic will lead to great results on the court and on the recruiting trail. It doesn’t matter if Gabe is out recruiting or coaching on the floor because the contributions he will make toward our program will be significant.”

Lazo resigned from his job at Tennessee on Friday. Under sec-

LSU coach Kim Mulkey walks onto the court for the first-round NCAA Tournament game against Jacksonville on March 20 at the PMAC.

ond-year coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols finished the 202526 season with only 16 wins — the fewest in the program’s NCAAera history They drew a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost to No. 7 seed NC State in the first round. Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Pelicans center Jordan finalist for best teammate

New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan is one of 12 finalists for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

The award recognizes the NBA player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and offcourt leadership as a mentor and role model to other players, and commitment to the team.

Jordan is in his first season with the Pelicans.

“He’s an extension of our staff,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said earlier this season. “Maybe I should put him on staff. He’s got a great voice. Wisdom. The guys respect him. So it’s like having another coach out there on the floor.”

The award, which began in the 2012-13 season, is named after former Rochester/Cincinnati Royals’ Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes.

Bulls waive guard Ivey after anti-LGBTQ+ comments

SAN ANTONIO The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey on Monday in the wake of anti-LGBTQ+ comments and remarks about religion he made in videos on his Instagram account.

“They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA,” he said “They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say come join us for Pride, for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness. So how is it that one can’t speak righteousness? How are they to say that this man is crazy?”

Coach Billy Donovan said the Bulls have employees from “all different walks of life” and Ivey’s comments don’t reflect the values of the organization.

Florida 7-9 center Rioux to enter transfer portal

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The world’s tallest college basketball player is on the move.

Florida’s Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 center from Canada and the most popular athlete on campus, announced Tuesday he is entering the transfer portal. The portal officially opens April 7.

Rioux played sparingly in two years with the Gators, redshirting as a true freshman during the team’s national championship season and then getting on the court in mop-up duty this past season. He played 15 total minutes, finishing with seven points, six rebounds and an assist.

“After taking time to reflect on my journey and what’s best for my future, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal,” Rioux wrote in an Instagram post.

NFL taps Seahawks to be featured on ‘Hard Knocks’ SEATTLE The Seattle Seahawks will appear on the HBO show “Hard Knocks” ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the Seahawks nor the NFL had formally announced the agreement to have the team on the league’s training camp documentary The NFL’s behind-the-scenes show is in its 26th year

The Seahawks didn’t have to participate in “Hard Knocks” for many years because of a rule giving a team the option if they made the playoffs each of the previous two seasons. That rule was changed a year ago.

Seattle has a handful of intriguing storylines ahead of the 2026 season.

Jaguars to play home games in Orlando during 2027

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to Disney World.

The Jaguars will play most of their 2027 home games in Orlando after NFL owners rubber-stamped a proposal Tuesday that has been years in the making and essentially a done deal for months.

Owners voted unanimously at the league’s annual meetings in Arizona to allow the team to temporary relocate next year’s home slate during the final stages of a $1.4 billion stadium renovation. Jacksonville started searching for a home

Tigertoseektreatment,pleadsnot guilty

BY MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press

ORLANDO,Fla. Tiger Woods said Tuesday he’ll step away and seek treatment, days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he wasarrested on suspicionof driving under the influence.

“This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” he said in apost on the social-media platform X.

Woods pleaded not guilty in his driving under the influence case in Florida on Tuesday,hoursafter asheriff’s report said he had pain pills in his pocket and showed signs of impairment at acrash last week.

The online court docketfor Martin County,Florida, showed Woods entered awritten plea of not guilty and planned to waive his appear-

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games and 8-2 at neutral sites.

Even more importantly,ULis 1-5 on theroad in Sun Belt play In home games, the Cajuns are batting .330, averaging7.0 runs agame with 24 homers, a .409 on-base percentage,.604 slugging percentage and 14 steals.

In the circle at home, theUL pitchers have combined fora 2.80 ERA, surrendering 87 hits, 51 walksand striking out 71 in 95 innings. Opponents are batting .245. In road games, UL is batting .292, averaging4.6 runs agame with 12 homers, a.362 OBP 427 slugging and 19 stolen bases.

In the circle,the UL staff has a4.02 ERA away from home, giving up 163 hits,51walks and striking out 71 in 1372/3 innings Opponents are batting .285. The level of competitionaffects some of thosenumbers, but there’sstill abig difference betweenthe two.

“The good news is it’sstill somewhat early,sowecan do something about it,” Habetz said. “It’snot the lastseries or the last game, so we can do something about it.

“You’re writing the best part of your story right now.There’s no story that has ever inspired anyoneinthe history of stories where apart of their story wasn’t bad. That’swhat makes it inspiring. So there has to be the adversity first.”

Over these next five SunBelt series, it’samatter of UL finding answers to as many holes as possible to be in position to fully maximize the advantage of playing home gameswith the automatic NCAA berth on the line.

“It’sjust asheer refusal to lose,” Habetz said. “That’s allit is. It’sasheer fight that’sjust in your belly,acompetitiveness in them that Iknow is there.

Through nine conference games last season, UL was17-17 overalland 4-5 in league play

This season, UL is 20-16 and3-6 —only one game ahead of lastplaceGeorgia State (20-17,2-7).

Last year’steam finished third in the Sun belt with a1410 record.

How did that turnaround take place? Mostly because of strong leaders such as Maddie Hayden, Kayla Falterman and Sam Roe. The Cajuns need to find similar leadership this season.

“I think that Iwant some more leaders to emerge,”Habetz said. “I need to figure out away to help them emerge, because it’sinthem. Iknow it’s in them. Ijust have to figure out a way to get it out of them.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

FERGUSON

Continued from page1C

Woods SUV crashed into afire hydrant —fans flocked to watch him becausehe’sTiger Woods. The other three car incidents all in the last nine years —raised adifferent set of questions. Toxicology reports indicated five medications in his system when he was found asleep behind the wheel of hisrunning car in

TigerWoods stands by his overturned vehicle in Jupiter Island, Fla., on Friday.OnTuesday, Woodsentered anot guilty plea in his DUIcase

ance duringanarraignment hearingnext month.

Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy,his pupils dilated,and he had opioidpills on him when interviewed at the scene of thecrash,

according to the arrest report re-

leased by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Woods’ movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies and told

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

Not exactly

TheSaints initially explored the idea of an Elliss reunion in addition to Davis coming back. But the Saintswere left withthe impression that Davis simply preferred New York,with New Orleans’ offer not thatdifferent from theJets.

TheSaints then pivoted to focus fully on Elliss, raisingtheiroffer to meet what Elliss wanted.

Publicly and privately, theSaintsand Davishave harborednoill will after the split.

Thesides released lengthy statements about gratefulnessfor their eight years together, while Davis told reporters in New York that he felt his“mission personally was alittle incomplete” with theJets.

“This wasn’tahappenstance situation,” said Davis, who is on his thirdstint with the Jets,the team that drafted him. “This was achoice,knowing who Iamand what Iam called to be. Iknowwhat I’m stepping into this time around. Iknow what I’m bringing into alocker room. Iknow Iplay the game at an elite level.”

Camstickingpoint

Likewith Kamara, the Saints are content waitingout the situation with Cam Jordan. NewOrleans would be open toareturn, even if theteam drafts ayoung pass rusher.There will be atime when the Saints need to know Jordan’s choice sothey can moveforward, but that’sfar from aharddeadline.

On apodcast with Terron Armstead,Jordan said he has a“set value” related to money and hisrole. TheSaints don’tbelieve that money, in this case, is what is holding up the deal. Instead, the issue could be related tothe role.

If the Saints,for example, draft Rueben Bain with theeighth pick, that seemingly wouldmove Jordan from the team’sthird edgerusher to its fourth. Jordan has said he wants to continue chasing history with an opportunity to rack up “10, 12, 13” sacks.

The Saints are letting Jordan decide whether New Orleansisstill thebest fit for him, or if there is abetteropportunity elsewhere. They feel he’searned the right to explore his options, somethingthat Moore publicly said whenhespokewithreporters Monday

LSU

Continued from page1C

LSU’sfourth spring practice and a newsconference with Kiffin. The on-field session was open to reporters for roughly half an hour

Handlingtempo

Oneofthe pass rusherswho could carveout arole next season is LamarBrown, the former University High starand top-five national recruit who signedwith the Tigers in December Brown has not enrolledatLSU, so he isn’tpracticing. But on Tuesday,hewas spottedonthe sideline, watching as the rest of the defensive linemen begin to condition themselvesagainst Kiffin’s uptempo offense. Kiffin saidafter the first day ofpractice that the group had fatigued quickly.

“I thought it was better (today),”

2017. Woodsdidn’t know where he wasorhow he got there. At onepoint, apolice officer told Woodshis shoe was untied. Woods fumbled with the laces when the officer said: “It’syour other shoe that’s untied. Now that one is, too.” Four years later,Woods was going nearly twice the45mph speed limit on acoastal road outside LosAngeles when hisSUV struck amedian and tumbled down a hill. More than 20 surgeries were required on his right leg. Remarkably,hewas never cited and

them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the report. Woods told deputies he hadbeen looking at his phone andfiddling with the radio before he clipped atruck in front of him, the report said.

Deputies found two white pills, which were identified as the opioid hydrocodoneused to treat pain, in his pocket, the report said.

Whenasked by adeputy whether he took anyprescriptionmedications, Woods said, “I take afew.”

Woods’ defenseattorney,Douglas Duncan, didn’trespond to an email and phone call after the plea was entered on Tuesday

The golfer wastraveling at high speeds on abeachside,residential road on Jupiter Island when his LandRover clippedthe truckand rolled onto its side, according to thesheriff’s office.

The truck had $5,000 in damage, according to the report.

The truck driver and another personhelpedWoodsout of his vehicle, with the golfer needing to climb out from the passenger side.

No one was injured. During afield sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had acompressionsock over his right knee. The golfer explainedhehad undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 leg operations andthathis ankle seizes up while walking. Woods, whowas hiccupping during the questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests and deputies had to instruct him several times to keep his head straight, the report said.

“Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training,knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” thedeputy wroteafter the tests.

Woods, 50, agreed to aBreathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused aurine test, authoritiessaid. He wasarrested and released on bail eight hours later

Olaveextension

No surprise here, but thereason the Saints and Chris Olavehave yet to lock up an extension appearstobethat the sides don’t agree on the price tag Only three receivers averagemore than$35 millionper year,but nine make at least $30 million. TheSaints haven’tbalked at the latter range but don’tappear to have gotten there yet. Andthe guarantees are especially relevant to these talks. Despite Olaveplaying 16 games last year without suffering abrain injury, the widereceiver’sconcussionhistory complicates the negotiation. TheSaints are willing to take on somerisk to pay Olave, but not allofit. Regardless, theSaints want to add another body at his position. There are three notable prospects—Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon —who have been linked to New OrleansatNo. 8, but theSaints like the wideout depth in this year’sdraft enough that even if they take another position in the first round, they feel they can land acontributor afterward.

Rapid fire

n Beyond wide receiver and defensive end, other potential adds over the next fewmonths include acornerback, an interior offensive lineman and arun-stuffing defensive lineman.

n Don’tbesurprised if theSaints add an-

Kiffin said Tuesday.“Ithought their mindset was better.”

Sometimes fatigue can lead to fights. The Tigers had“like six” of them in one of their first three sessions, Kiffin said, but none on Tuesday, andthat’sasign that things are slowly improving in the trenches.

“Up front has along ways to go,” Kiffin said, “andthat was apparenttoday.But Ilike that because we’re giving them the hardest tempothey’re going to see all year already.”

KiffinonWillWade

KiffinsaidTuesdaythathe’s talked to newLSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade. Wade is beginning his second tenure with the Tigers. He was fired in 2022 amid an investigation into NCAA recruiting violations and rehired on Thursday —after atwo-year stint at McNeese and a one-year run at NC State.

authorities never sought awarrant for ablood test. The vehicle’s black box indicated Woods never hit thebrakes. Why? “All those answers have been answered in the investigation, so you can read about all that there in the police report,” he curtly replied in his first public appearance nine monthslater.Woods was the master of “no comment” even when he commented. More details emerged from his latest crash Friday in Florida,

Saints coach Kellen Moore slaps hands with running back Alvin Kamara after aplayagainst the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 14 at the Caesars Superdome.

other kicker to compete with Charlie Smyth in training camp. New Orleans waspleased with Smyth’semergence, but the team will explore adding someone to push the incumbent.

n The Saints signedZach Wilson but might not be done at quarterback.The plan is to re-sign Hunter Dekkers, thefourth-stringer who spent last year as adevelopmental quarterback,once theUnited Football League wrapsup.

n Bryan Bresee had only two sacks in 2025 after recording 71/2 in 2024, but the feeling is that last year was astep forward forhim in termsofthe rest of his game. That could inform what the team does in termsofthe defensive lineman’sfifth-year option, which must be decided by May

n Whom the Saints use to replace Alontae Taylor remains to be seen. Internally,there’s abelief that safety Julian Blackmon, cornerback Quincy Riley,safety Jordan Howden or even cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry could kick inside to cover the slot. But the latter depends on the Saints drafting another outside cornerback.

n With the quarterback market mostly settled, aside from Aaron Rodgers deciding on his future, the Saints still haven’treceived any calls inquiring about retired quarterback Derek Carr

Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@ theadvocate.com

They break up,” Kiffin said, “and then he makes the decision to come back.Tome, it says alot about LSU.”

Both Kiffin and Wade took controversial jumps from one job to another.Kiffin left his Ole Miss team shortlybefore it began its College FootballPlayoffrun last season, andWadeleftafteronly one year with the Wolfpack. Both coaches were booed and jeered at airports before they boarded flightstoBaton Rouge.

Kiffin saidheknows that Wade faced “judgment” for his decision to return to LSU,soheoffered him someencouragement.

“Everything is everybody’s story,” Kiffin said. “They got one life to live. And whatthey want to choose to do and what they believe their story is after they get the best informationtheycan fromthe people that areclosest to them,and they make their decisions.

“And then, in my opinion, it’sthat

where Woods was going at a“high speed” when he clipped atrailer being pulled by atruck and his SUV flipped on its side. He was arrested fordriving under the influence when officers determined he was impaired In theincident report released Tuesday,Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with theradio. According to thereport, Woods said he had taken his prescription medication that morning —the accident time was listed as 1:15 p.m.—and

person’sjob to go prove that decision right.”

No spring game

During his tenure at Ole Miss, Kiffinditched the program’s annual spring gamebecause opposing teamscould use it to scout players whomay enter the transfer portal.

Now,for the first timeinthe last fewyears, the portal won’treopen in thespring, butLSU still won’t play atraditional spring game. Kiffinconfirmed that fact Tuesday and said he isn’teven sure how he’ll structure his team’s remaining 11 practices.

“I kind of look at that as it goes,” Kiffin said, “and instead of being completely set —likehow many plays, how many scrimmages, how much tackling —just kind of continue to get afeel forthe team and how they’re developing.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

deputies found twohydrocodone pills in his pocket during asearch. So much remains unknown except that he spent eight hours in jail Friday forrefusing aurine test and he faces an April 23 court date in Martin County.Save fora not guilty plea he entered Tuesday,there has not been aword from his camp, or from anyone else whohas astake in him The Masters starts in eight days. Even if Woods is not there, he will be atopic no one can avoid.

Deep pitching key to OC’s win over Erath

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

Most small schools in Louisiana rely on one or two baseball pitchers That’s one reason the LHSAA hasn’t had best-of-three Class 1A playoff series in the past.

Opelousas Catholic is the exception, however The Division IV select No. 1 Vikings have four arms that all have an argument for being the ace on coach Justin Boyd’s staff. On Monday night in Erath, Opelousas Catholic called on relief pitcher Lane Dugas after the Bobcats scored six runs in the first inning, and the junior right-hander responded with six shutout innings in a come-from-behind 9-6 win

“Lane came in and gave us all we could ask for,” Boyd said. He had good stuff. He didn’t pitch well his last time out, but he stepped up and got back in the strike zone with several pitches.”

Kross Gillen, Maurice Marcel, Carter Stelly and Dugas would all be under consideration to get the start on the mound if the playoffs

began today, said Boyd, who called on Hunter Doucet to record the final three outs of the first inning after the Bobcats got to Gillen early

“Erath has really good hitters at the top of their order,” Boyd said of the 16-9 Bobcats, who finished as Division III nonselect runnerup last year “Kross doesn’t get hit hard like that very often.”

Doucet’s ability to get out of the first inning allowed ample time for Dugas to get ready in the bullpen.

The junior gave up a double to the first batter he faced in the second — Landen DeRouen — and then didn’t allow another hit until the seventh.

“My stuff was on. When you have a defense like that, you can do anything,” said Dugas, who struck out seven and made a brilliant defensive play himself, chasing down a line drive that caromed off his glove and just throwing out the runner at first.

OC (21-6) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo homer by junior catcher Myles Collins, a Troy University commitment. Collins had three hits, while Gillen, Stelly and Evan Duplechain

Lafayette Christian at Notre Dame, Hanson at Loreauville, Houma Christian at Ascension Episcopal, Westminster at St. Edmund, Pine Prairie at Episcopal of Acadiana. Softball Monday’s scores Lafayette 17, Lake Charles Prep 0 Westminster-LAF 10, Comeaux 0 North Vermilion 1, Pine Prairie 0 Rayne 7, Lafayette Christian 4 Westgate 24, St. Martinville 14 Acadiana Renaissance 15, Crowley 0 Church Point 10, Vermilion Catholic 0 Notre Dame 16, Erath 0 Lafayette Renaissance 20, Jeanerette 5 Loreauville 18, Franklin 0 Loreauville 17, West St. Mary 0 St. Edmund 16, Lake Arthur 2 Northside Christian 7, Beau Chene 0 Wednesday’s games

Carencro at Jeanerette, David Thibodaux at Southside, Lacassine at Breaux Bridge, Cecilia at Brusly, North Vermilion at North DeSoto, Rayne at Port Barre, Catholic-NI at St. Thomas More, Loreauville at Teurlings, Hanson at Westgate, Midland at Abbeville, Kaplan at Ouachita Parish, Northwest at St. Martinville, Centerville at Lafayette Christian, Elton at North Central, LaGrange at WCA-Lafayette.

(three RBIs) had two apiece.

“We try to play physical,” Boyd said. “We don’t run that well, but hopefully we hit some doubles where we don’t have to steal second.”

Leadoff John Parker Trahan had a hit and scored a run. Doucet and Ethan Little, a transfer from Church Point, each collected a hit and an RBI. Carter Savant also scored a run.

“Everybody is playing their part,” said Boyd, whose club has won 11 straight games and is looking to win a second state title in three years. “You can’t play that well with only a couple of guys playing good.”

The Vikings, the only Class 1A program in Prep Baseball Louisiana’s top 25 rankings, are No. 7 overall in the state on MaxPreps. Early in the season, OC played the No. 5 and No. 8 teams in the nation in Barbe and The Bennett School, the No. 1 team in Texas.

“They’re one of the better teams I’ve ever seen,” Boyd said of the Houston-based program “This team (Erath) is pretty good. We’ve never played them before that I

Here are this week’s high school track and field meets and a compilation of this season’s top performances from around the area.

This week’s schedule

Wednesday

Doug Stewart Relays At Teurlings Catholic Starting times: 3 p.m. field; 5:30 p.m. running.

Teams: ESA, Catholic-NI, Notre Dame, St. Thomas More, Teurlings Catholic, Vandebilt Catholic, Westminster. Patriot Relays At Kaplan High Starting times: 3:30 p.m. field; 5:30 p.m. running.

Teams: Abbeville, Bunkie, Delhi, Crowley, Erath, Menard, Kaplan, Lafayette Christian, Midland, North Vermilion, Vermilion Catholic. Thursday

Tom Nolan Relays At Acadiana High Starting times: 3:30 p.m. field; 5 p.m. running.

Teams: Abbeville, Acadiana Renaissance, Ascension Episcopal, Carencro, Church Point, Comeaux, David Thibodaux, JS Clark, Jeanerette, Lafayette High, Patterson, Southside, Westminster. Tabasco Relays At New Iberia Senior High

Starting times: 3:30 p.m. field; 5 p.m. running.

Teams: Acadiana, Barbe, Breaux Bridge, Cecilia, Highland Baptist, Houma Christian, Jeanerette, Lafayette Renaissance, Lake Charles College Prep, Liberty, Northside, Northwest, Pineville, Ponchatoula, Scotlandville.

Best area performances

Boys

Running events 100 – 1. Brayden Allen, Lafayette Christian, 10.93; 2. Jaivyon Rideaux, Acadiana, 10.97; 3. David Capdeville, Southside, 10.97. 200 – 1. Cameron Allen, Southside, 22.04; 2. Ty Thomas Acadiana, 22.23; 3. Emanuel Collins, Southside, 22.34. 400 – 1. Braeden Prejean, Northside, 48.65; 2. Jay’lan Babineaux, Carencro, 48.91; 3. Jai Joseph, Northside,

know of. It was a great atmosphere with a loud crowd and a nice field.” Gillen and Stelly, last year’s district MVP, are both headed to LSU-Eunice next year Marcel is a 6-foot-4 senior who caught a lot of passes on the football field from Gillen.

“Maurice really enjoys basketball,” Boyd said. “He dedicated more time to pitching and it paid off. He was ready earlier in the year Usually it takes him a while. This year, he was ready to go Day 1. He’s thrown some big innings. His upside is really high.”

TRACK AND FIELD UPDATE

49.19. 800 – 1. John Henry Fitzgerald, St. Thomas More, 1:58.82; 2. Jaylan Babineaux, Carencro, 1:59.42; 3. Talan Sievers, Lafayette Christian, 2:00.56. 1600 – 1. Maddox Tolbert, Lafayette, 4:28.92; 2. Edwin Spangler, Lafayette, 4:35.94; 3. Grayson Gilley, Southside, 4:37.53

3200- 1. John Henry Fitzgerald, St. Thomas More, 9:28.98; 2. Maddox Tolbert, Lafayette High, 9:29.07; 3. Emerson Cullen, David Thibodaux, 9:34.10. 110H – 1. Conner Stewart, New Iberia, 14.18; 2. Sean Herrington, Erath, 14.60; 3. Ali Carrier, Beau Chene, 14.94. 300H – 1. Conner Stewart, New Iberia, 39.04; 2. Sean Herrington, Erath, 39.50; 3. Ali Carrier, Beau Chene, 40.03. Relays

4x100 – 1. Acadiana 41.91; 2. Lafayette Christian 42.08; 3. Carencro 42.51. 4x200 – 1. Acadiana 1:27.53; 2. Lafayette Christian 1:28.21; 3. Northwest 1:28.29. 4x400 – 1. Teurlings 3:25.50; 2. Lafayette High 3:26.06; Carencro 3:26.13. 4x800 – 1. Lafayette High 8:13.80; 2. Lafayette Christian 8:18.33; 3. St. Thomas More 8:21.14. Field events Shot put – 1. Corey Sassau, Cecilia, 55-7; 2. Justin Suire, Highland Baptist, 51-7; 3. Kaleb Campbell, Lafayette Christian, 50-6. Discus – 1. Frederick Nimer, Northwest, 152-0; 2. Justin Suire, Highland Baptist, 149-9; 3. Jaleel Jackson, Northwest, 148-7. Javelin – 1. Branon Mitchell, Ascension Episcopal, 205-11; 2. Slade Boudreaux, St. Thomas More, 195-10; 3. Luke McLain, Acadiana Renaissance, 172-6. Pole vault – 1. Elijah Parich, Catholic-NI, 17-2; 2. Landon Burns, Lafayette, 14-0 High jump – 1. Kyle Guillot, St. Thomas More, 6-8; 2. Dylan Nelson, Catholic-NI, 6-6; 3. Sherman James, Northwest, 6-6. Long Jump – 1. Jermaine Davis, Cecilia, 21-6.75; 2. Harley Foreman, North Vermilion, 21-3; 3. Branon Mitchell, Ascension Episcopal, 21-1.5 Triple jump – 1. Jai Joseph, Northside, 45-7; 2. Tyler Cook, Lafayette Christian, 44-10.5; 3. Jermaine Davis, Cecilia, 43-8. Girls

Running events

100 — 1. Corinne Knatt, Acadiana, Renaissance, 12.41; 2. Rylii Goodie, Lafayette Renaissance, 12.46; 3. J’La Simon, Acadiana Renaissance, 12.52. 200 – 1. Tay’lee Crump, Lafayette, 24.65; 2. Ja’Nia Zenon, Carencro, 25.03; 3. Rylii Goodie, Lafayette Renaissance,

SCOREBOARD

at Southern Miss, n Nicholls at Tulane, n Southern at LSU, n Wednesday’s games None scheduled. Thursday’s games Southeastern at Incarnate Word, 2:05 p.m. UL at James Madison, 6 p.m. Tulane at Wichita State, 6:05 p.m. McNeese at UNO, 6:30 p.m. Nicholls at Houston Christian, 6:30 p.m. Friday’s games Southeastern at Incarnate Word, 2:05 p.m.

25.16. 400 – 1. Tay’lee Crump, Lafayette, 55.14; 2. Riley Siner, Lafayette, 55.69; 3. Ja’Nia Zenon, Carencro, 57.55. 800 – 1. Riley Siner, Lafayette, 2:14.65; 2. Abigail Leger, Teurlings, 2:15.02; 3. Aaryam Saleh, Teurlings, 2:15.88. 1600 – 1. Bella Biggerstaff, Ascension Episcopal, 5:11.24; 2. Abigail Leger, Teurlings, 5:15.26; 3. Abby Kate Mendoza, St. Thomas More, 5:20.55. 3200 – 1. Bella Biggerstaff, Ascension Episcopal, 11:15.43; 2. Abigail Leger, Teurlings, 11:31.75; 3. Madalynn Salsman, Highland Baptist, 11:35.09. 100H – 1. Kelsey Bomersbach, Vermilion Catholic, 15.06; 2. Mary Ellen Trahan, Notre Dame, 15.12;

Go with the flow

‘Microshifting’ puts a new spin on typical 9-to-5 schedules

BY CATHY BUSSEWITZ

NEW YORK Before the house is humming and her teenagers ask her to whip up breakfast or chauffeur them to school, Jen Meegan reads her company emails and revisits ideas she drafted the night before. She works for an hour or so, then after the school run, shops for groceries or gets gas before returning to focus deeply on her job as head writer and cofounder of Sheer Havoc, a creative services agency And so goes the rhythm of her day: working in targeted chunks for a few hours, breaking for an hour or two to tend to family and personal needs, and repeating the pattern until she finishes her work late at night.

Meegan is among the wage earners engaging in “microshifting,” a flexible scheduling approach that involves tackling job duties in short, productive bursts instead of a single nineto-five stretch. The paid labor fits around and between nonwork responsibilities and priorities Performance is judged primarily by output, with less emphasis on the number of hours logged behind a screen

“Sometimes the break’s when most of the work will get done in your head, because you’re not sitting in front of a laptop just staring at a screen going, ‘I can’t come up with anything,’” Meegan said.

The practice is growing in popularity among workers and gaining acceptance in some organizations as a way to improve work-life balance. The remote and hybrid arrangements that came out of the coronavirus pandemic left some people aching for time to care for others or themselves once return-tooffice mandates were issued.

“As more managers and more organizations get better adept at giving a little bit of autonomy, this is becoming not only a little more popular but it also gives employees the motivation and almost the license to ask for this,” Kevin Rockmann, a professor of management at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business.

Here’s what some workers, managers and experts have to say about the pros and cons of microshifting.

Boosting creativity, productivity

While some independent contractors say they’ve been microshifting for years, the term is catching on among people holding down jobs that traditionally require set, contiguous hours. Some companies offer such flexibility or acknowledge they have employees working this way even if the method isn’t explicitly condoned.

Proponents argue that working in increments boosts productivity by giving the brain breaks. Taking walks or attending a child’s school function can be reinvigorating for people who get drained from sitting at a desk or looking at a computer screen, supporters say “From a creativity standpoint, it’s good to take breaks,” Rockmann said. “When you

ä See SCHEDULES, page 6C

DINING GOES ‘FULL CIRCLE’

Find traditional Brazilian grilled meats and friendly faces inside latest Lafayette restaurant

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Gustavo Rosenstengel has been busy since opening his dream restaurant a few weeks ago. He’s everywhere at once when you enter the little blue building on Garfield Street in downtown Lafayette — manning the grill, melting provolone cheese over sandwiches, and greeting customers as they come in to try a staple of Rosenstengel’s childhood in southern Brazil: real gaucho barbecue. The name “Santa Picanha” glows in red letters on the awning, which roughly translates to “Saint Beef” in Portuguese. Picanha is the most popular cut of beef in a nation that prizes barbecue, and Rosenstengel spends much of his time turning skewers of juicy beef, sausages, chicken thighs and pork over the restaurant’s multi-tiered grill, which is open to the dining room. Everything gets its turn over fire here — hunks of garlic bread, marinated cauliflower chicken hearts. Rosenstengel, who is from Porto Alegre, wanted to provide an experience that’s closer to what he knows back home, instead of the all-you-can-eat service that’s typi-

cal at American Brazilian steakhouse chains.

Santa Picanha’s menu is a la carte and casual, with a friendly vibe that welcomes groups of all ages.

One of my favorite features of the restaurant is the large bar in the center, which is the perfect place to park for lunch and experience the hubbub of great food flying out to eager diners.

When people walk through the door they experience that smell first, then they see the meats cooking, and when they finally sit down and order and taste the food, it

ä See PICANHA, page 6C

“Our Brazilian-style rotisserie grill is featured in the center of the kitchen, where we prepare all of our meats in a traditional way, cooked over charcoal flame,” said Rosenstengel. “All of the different varieties of meats roasting next to each other smells really good

Look outfor this phonecallscam

Dear Heloise: Iknow you warn people never to give out their personal information, but since this past Christmas, Ihave been blasted with phone calls from callers who claim to be from some fake government agency and are checking to see if I’m gullible enough to give out information about my Medicare card. Iusually hang up on them, but not everyone knowsthat they are scammers. Who should Ireport these callers to in order to stop them?

—Naomi L., in Oklahoma Naomi, try the Federal Trade Commissionat ReportFraud.FTC.gov

You’re correct —weshould never hand out personal information to anyone, but most especially to strangers over the phone.

—Heloise

Thank-younotesound off

Dear Heloise: Iagree with Sandy from Tucson, Arizona, about acknowledging the receipt of agift. It would be nice to receive a thank-you note for agift (especially amonetary

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, April 1, the 91st day of 2026. There are 274 days left in the year.This is April Fools’ Day

Todayinhistory: On April 1, 1945, American forces launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa during World War II. (U.S. forces succeeded in capturingthe Japanese island on June 22 after a battle in which more than 240,000 died, includingas many as 150,000 Okinawan civilians.)

Also on this date: In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. (Hitler would serve just nine months of the sentence, during which time he completed the first volume of “Mein Kampf.”)

In 1946, amagnitude 8.6

one). Butalas, today,this is not theusual response. After having had several cardsand letterslost in the mail(which was especially disheartening when they were lost by FedEx andUPS), Inow appreciate anote/ email/text/phone call statingthat the gift wasreceived Of course, if this is sent, then aquick “thank you” could be added.(Just ahint!)

Lately, I’vestopped sendinggifts,and sure asheck, I’vereceived messages asking,“Did you forget my anniversary/birthday/ graduation/wedding,etc.?” Omissions get noticed very quickly. —Valerie G., in Tucson, Arizona

Allgrown up

Dear Heloise: Ihad tolaugh when Iread aletter describing millennials as if theywere still teenagers learning basiclifeskills. Many people still use the word “millennial” as shorthand for young adults, but this description is no longer accurate. Most sources define millennials as people born between 1981 and

TODAYINHISTORY

earthquakecentered near Alaska’sAleutian Islands triggered atsunami that pounded the Hawaiian Islands with waves up to 55 feet tall, killing 159. In 1970, PresidentRichard M. Nixon signed a measurebanning cigarette advertisingonradio and television beginning in January 1971. In 1976, Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak andRonald Wayne. In 1984, singer Marvin Gayewas shot andkilled by hisfather after Gaye intervened in an argument between hisparentsattheir home.

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize samesex marriage.

In 2003,American troops raided ahospitalinNasiriyah, Iraq, and rescued Army Pfc. JessicaLynch, who had

1996. This means that the youngestmillennials are approaching their 30s, while the oldest are now in theirmid-40s Manymillennials today have establishedcareers, families, and homesof their own. Theyoungest adults who are nowenteringthe workforce actually belongtoGeneration Z, which follows themillennial generation. It’sinteresting howgenerational labels can lingerlongafter circumstances change. Thegroup once described as “kids” hasquietly become today’sparents, professionalsand community leaders. —C., in Wisconsin

Easy-to-read medication

Dear Heloise: Tubes of various over-the-counter or prescription salves have expiration dates that are, many times,hard to read without amagnifying glass. So, I started using ablack finepoint permanent marker to write themonth/year on theoutside of the tube in an easy-to-read location. Problem solved! —LEO G., via email

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

PICANHA

Continuedfrom page5C

comes full circle.”

With abackgroundin catering and hospitality, Rosenstengel knows when somethingjust works. He said that he hasn’thad to do much marketing for the restaurant, whichwas busy withseveral large groups of diners during arecentFridaylunchservice. Word of mouth is spreading, Rosenstengel said —and if youare searchingfor Brazilian food in the area, therejust aren’t many choices between BatonRouge and Houston.

been held prisoner since her unit was ambushed by Iraqi forces on March 23.

In 2025, Democratic Sen. CoryBooker of New Jersey,inasymbolic protest against President Donald Trump’ssecond-term agenda, wrapped up the longest individual speech on the Senatefloor.Hebegan his marathon address to the chamber on the evening of March 31 and concluded 25 hoursand 5minutes later on the night of April1

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Ali MacGraw is 87. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is 76. Actor Annette O’Toole is 74. Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld is 73. Singer Susan Boyle is 65. Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Stevens is 62. Political commentator Rachel Maddow is 53. Actor David Oyelowo is 50. Comedian-actor Taran Killam is 44. Actor AsaButterfield is 29.

from page5C

Enchiladas Suizas n Superior Grill, 2320 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette

Enchiladas are probably my favorite thing to order at aMexican restaurant, alongside agood margarita and abasket of chips, of course. This trifecta was particularly delicious out on the patio at Superior Grill, with perfect weather and an atmosphere of people enjoying themselves. Itried Superior’sEnchiladas Suizas this time, and Ithink Ifound my new top order.The chicken inside the tortillas was perfectly diced, cookedand seasoned, and amild tomatillo sauce and blanket of cheesefinished off the dish —with the requisite side of rice and refried beans. It was the perfect lunch forlinger-

ing, followed by anap. —JoannaBrown, staff writer

Yakamein n Street Food Munchies, 6401 Bluebonnet Blvd Baton Rouge

Yakamein is aNew Orleans street food classic abeef soupwith spaghetti noodles, ahard-boiled egg and green onions. (It’sfair to compare it to ramen, but theanalogy maycause you

to run afoul of the folks who police these sortsof things). Yakamein is nicknamed “Old Sober” for its effectiveness as ahangover cure. The Creole-Asian fusion dish is traditionally found in neighborhood marketsand food trucks around the Crescent City. In Baton Rouge,it can be found at Street Food Munchies —located, in of all places,the Mall of Louisiana food court. The local version is salty and blisteringly spicy, thanks to aliberal dash of dried chilis. There are lots of tender bites of beef in thesoup. If you’re in the mall, it’sanauthentic alternative to Sbarro. Street Food Munchies also sells yakamein out of itsfood truck, which makes stops across East Baton Rouge Parishfrom Perkins Rowe to Zachary —Timothy Boone, staff writer

“We’vehad people from Floridaand Texas just finding us on Google.Brazilian people stop by because they’re hungry because they look it up, seethere’s one nearby,and end up comingin,”accordingto Rosenstengel.

“The response couldn’tbe morepositive. We’recreating some regulars, which is the best compliment Icould get. Ithink being able to watch thekitchen preparing mealscreatesa littlemore of an experienceversusjust sitting down for dinner. Everyone has been loving it.”

One of my favorite elements of eatingatSanta Picanha is the farofa side dish that comes with many of thegrilled plates, withrice, beansand asimple salad called “vinagrete.” Farofa

SCHEDULES

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stop thinking about ataskis when your best ideascome to you.”

When Shellie Garrettled an eight-personteam as director of investigations and appeals at Oklahoma CommunityCares Partners, an entitycreated to check the veracity of rental assistance claimsduring the pandemic,she allowed the people she managed to set their own schedules, aside from weekly team meetings.

“Everybody needed to maintainavailabilityfor emergencyquestionsorissues. ButIlet people determine what worked best for them productivity-wise,” Garrett said. “If productivity was lapsing, we had to figure outdifferentsolutions. Butoverall, Ifeel like giving that autonomy led to better production and happier employees.”

While on theclock, her team membersupdated spreadsheets, cross-referenced documents or did investigative work. In their off-hours, oneemployee was nursing an infant and homeschooling apreschooler,and another worked a second job as areal estate agent.

Impact on relationships

Amanda Elyse, who works as afull-time professor of legalwriting at SeattleUniversity School of Law andapart-time policy and programslead at the Northwest Animal Rights Network,saidmicroshifting allows her to have meals with her partner,who works nights, and to play with herdogsduring theday “There’s just so many littlethings in the daythat when you’reincontrol of your schedule, you can take that time to do,”Elyse said. While microshifting is often good for personal relationships, it can damage

Rosenstengel layers melted provolone cheese onto a picanha sirloinsandwich at Santa Picanha.

is toasted yuccaflour that lets youbuild alayer of crunchy,seasoned texture on yourmeatand beans, like agaucho sitting around acampfire would.

“All of our itemsare very representative of southern Brazilianfood andthe southern Braziliangaucho experience.”

Santa Picanha is located at 406 Garfield St., Lafayette. They are open Tuesdayand Wednesdayfrom 11 a.m. to 4p.m.,and Thursdaythrough Sundayfrom 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

Rosenstengel said, “most people like to roll their juicy steak around in it.Historically it’salways present, just to make the meals a little more substantial. If you think about it, these gauchos were semi-nomads driving their cattle around, and they would have plenty of protein to throw over the grill, but not necessarily a lot of starches, so adding the yuccacrumbsadded a little bit more substance to the food.

professional ones, Rockmannsaid.

Effective teams are committed to working together collaboratively,but “the whole idea of microshifting is taking care of yourself,” he said. “It’snot that taking careofyourself is bad. It places the emphasis on the individual, notthe relationships.”

Pranav Dalal, the founder andCEO of Californiabased remote staffingfirm Office Beacon, manages employees in India, the Philippines, Mexicoand South Africa. They work forAmerican companies in areas such as customer service, financeand logistics. Dalal knows some employees are microshifting to takecare of personal needs.

“It’shappening withouta policy andwithout me saying it,and those are in positionswhere they’remore managerial positions,” he said. “I don’treally questionitbecause Iknowthat people are getting their work done at those levels.”

As asingle father,Dalal says he understands. But there are times when people takeittoofar.Whenoneteam member routinely showed up late to in-personwork events because they were tending to personal business, it created problems,soDalal letthatemployee go

“If someone really abuses that, it becomes destructive to the team because then resentment builds,” Dalal added. “As an employer, it definitelyisabig shift for companies. And the shiftis, essentially,can you deliver the same quality service, reliably,when there’smicroshifting happening?”

Helpingmanagehealth

Isabelle “Izzy” Young’s job as apolitical organizer in Texasisall-consuming but she can choose her own hours, forthe most part, as long as she’sgetting the job done.

The ability to self-schedule helps Young manage herautism anda chronic illness called postural or-

Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

thostatictachycardiasyndrome, which can cause a rapid heart rate or dizziness when standing up. If she needs moresleep, she may set meetings for later in the day. If sheneeds to resether nervoussystem, she can take an hour or two midday to calla friend or read abook before working into the evening.

“I am very lucky to have aprincipal that is acompassionate person,” Young said. “He’sacutely aware that life happens, andyou can be incredibly productive and chronically ill.” One downside is she feels like she’salmost always working. “The jobnever ends, so you’re never really off the clock.” Garrett, the team leader in Oklahoma, worked in two-hour blocks, which helped her manage the ups anddownsofchronic conditions including an autoimmune disease and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, she said. She could have a burst of creativity and then take anap or go to the gym “Microshifting was honestlyagodsend,” Garrett said. “I don’tknowifI could have done this job without being able to do that.”

Making theask

When asking an employer forthe flexibility to set your own hours, tell them how they’re going to benefit, Garrett suggested.

“You have to go into the interview and sell it,” she said. “You have go in and say,‘I’mwilling to do whatever schedule and put my best foot forward, but if you want me to be mostproductiveormostcreative, this is how Iwork best, if this is something you’re willing to work with.’”

Share yourstories and questions about workplace wellness at cbussewitz@ap.org. Follow AP’sBeWell coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mentalhealthathttps:// apnews.com/hub/be-well.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Think creatively, and you'll dazzle everyone with your insight. An emotional situation is best handled swiftly before matters escalate. Protect your assets and yourself.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Get busy, make your move and be the one to make things happen. Make some calls and set up meetings, and you'll gain access to information that can help you further your agenda.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Learn something new. Sign up for a course that encourages you to increase your mental, physical or emotional strength. Take a chance and make a positive change.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Avoid taking life too seriously. Step back from the drama, and you'll find alternative options that encourage you to let go of what's no longer working for you.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Walk away from negative people. Refuse to let anyone stifle your plans; actions will help you carry your thoughts forward. Live in the present and let go of the past.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Taking care of business will make it easier to release stress and enjoy life's little pleasures. Shoot for greater balance between work and play, and set a routine that puts your mind at ease.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) You know what's coming, but are you ready to adjust? Think about recent events, and you'll

find a way to navigate the changes that are heading your way.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Making impossible promises or demands will take its toll. Put emotions aside and be reasonable, and you'll devise an alternative that works wonders for others and puts you in a good position.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Do your best to protect yourself against misrepresentation, gossip and false information. "Waste not, want not" is the mantra for today. Set your space up to reflect your lifestyle.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take notes, keep tabs on what you hear and see, and separate truth from fiction. Protect and appreciate yourself and awaken to truth and possibilities.

AQuARIus (Jan 20-Feb. 19) Lay down a foundation and begin your journey. The possibilities are endless if you restrict excess and use your time and ingenuity to reach your goals.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Interact with people who spark your imagination and motivate you to use your intelligence and talents to get ahead. Take advantage of networking opportunities and use any public venue to promote yourself.

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. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

David Cone, who pitched aperfect gamefor the Yankees in 1999, said,“I’m afinesse pitcher without the finesse.”

That gives agood hint for today’sdeal Southisinsixspades.Westleadsthediamond ace: three, queen, two. West continueswith alow diamond, whichSouth ruffs.Howshoulddeclarercontinue?As asecondaryissue,whatwasWest’smore successful defense?

North’ssequence, atwo-over-one response followed by ajump in spades, showedexactly three-card spade supportandgame-forcingvalues.Souththen used RomanKey Card Blackwood to learn that his partner had twokey cards (two aces, or one ace and the spade king) and the spade queen. After ruffing the second diamond, declarer initially thought he would have to rely on the club finesse. But then,because North’strumpswereso strong, he realized that if spades were 3-2(mathematicallymorelikelythanthe clubfinesseworking),hecouldgethome with adummy reversal.

South played aheart to dummy’s 10, ruffed another diamond, returned to dummy with atrump, ruffed the last diamond, drew trumps and claimed Declarertookthreespadesontheboard, five hearts, one club and three ruffs in his hand.

wuzzles

West couldhave defeated the contract if he had shifted to aspade or heart at tricktwo,whichwouldhave killed the timing for the dummy reversal and forced South to take the club finesse Afterward,Northcommented,“Inever guessedthat my heart10wouldbesuch avital card.

©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 IncIsIVEnEss: in-SY-siv-ness: Directness; decisiveness.

Average mark17words

Timelimit 40 minutes

Can you find 29 or morewords in INCISIVENESS?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —coMBusTs

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Job openings slide to 6.9 million in February

WASHINGTON U.S job openings fell last month to 6.9 million and hiring was weak, more signs of sluggishness in the American labor market.

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that job vacancies slid from 7.2 million in January

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, showed that layoffs rose. Just 2.97 million people quit their jobs in February Typically, people giving up their jobs is a sign of confidence in their prospects for finding better pay or working conditions elsewhere. The number of people leaving jobs last month was the fewest since August 2020.

A measure of hiring also deteriorated: The jobs report showed 4.85 million gross hires in February, the fewest since April 2020. The hiring rate the number of hires as a percentage of employment — dropped to 3.1%, also the lowest since April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down economic activity.

Employers added fewer than 10,000 net jobs a month in 2025, the weakest hiring outside a recession since 2002 This year started out with a decent 126,000 new jobs in January But in February, the United States lost 92,000 jobs. When the Labor Department releases March jobs numbers Friday, they’re expected to show that hiring rebounded and that companies, nonprofits and government agencies added 60,000 jobs this month.

McCormick latest to combine with Unilever NEW YORK Spice and flavorings company McCormick announced on Tuesday that it’s combining with Unilever’s foods division, which includes brands like Hellmann’s and Knorr

The merger is the latest in a string of actions in the packaged food sector as companies contend with inflation and changing consumer tastes. Last year, both Keurig Dr Pepper and Kraft Heinz announced plans to unwind huge mergers, although Kraft later put that plan on hold. Mars recently bought Cheez-It maker Kellanova while Nutella maker Ferrero bought WK Kellogg. The combined company will maintain McCormick’s name and leadership. But upon closing, Unilever and its shareholders are expected to own 65% of the food company’s outstanding equity, amounting $29.1 billion Unilever would also get $15.7 billion in cash. Meanwhile, McCormick shareholders will own 35.0%.

McCormick and its redcapped array of spices is a $15 billion company and the stable of brands it’s adding from Unilever are worth billions more. The companies said on Tuesday that McCormick and Unilever would have a combined revenue of $20 billion for the 2025 fiscal year McCormick said the deal will give it better access to high-growth regions like Latin America and Asia, where Unilever has an extensive presence. It will also expand Unilever’s footprint in North America, where McCormick has a stronger profile.

JetBlue raises checked bag fees as costs grow

U.S. carrier JetBlue has raised its checked bag fees by as much as $9 as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies and increases fuel prices.

The new fees took effect Monday For most domestic economy passengers, the first checked bag now costs $39, up from $35. During peak travel times such as April spring breaks, major holidays and the summer, passengers will have to pay $49 instead of $40, the airline said.

JetBlue increased the charge to check a second bag from $50 to $59 for off-peak periods, and from $60 to $69 for periods of peak demand.

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK U.S. stocks surged to their best day since last spring, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,125 points on Tuesday as doubt swung back to hope on Wall Street about a possible end to the war with Iran.

The S&P 500 leaped 2.9% for its largest gain since May Just a day before, worries about the war had sent the main measure of Wall Street’s health more than 9% below its all-time high set early this year

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 2.5%, while the Nasdaq

High fuel costs will trickle to other industries Stocks surge more than 1,100 points

BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Associated Press

composite jumped 3.8%.

The rebound came as financial markets seized on a couple of tenuous signals for hope about a possible end to the war It’s the latest manic swing following weeks of frenetic back and forth amid uncertainty about the war The moves also came as Wall Street marked the end of the year’s first quarter, a milestone that can cause a flurry of trading as fund managers close their books.

Analysts said optimism entered markets overnight following a report from The Wall Street Journal saying President Donald Trump told aides he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.

Oil prices then took a sudden and sharp turn lower in midday trading

following a news report from the Middle East quoting Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian as saying it has “the necessary will to end the war” as long as certain requirements are met, including “guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression.”

The worry on Wall Street has been that the war may last a long time and keep oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf out of global markets, which could create a brutal blast of inflation.

Following Tuesday’s possible signals of hope, the price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, eased 3.2% to settle at $103.97. Benchmark U.S. crude erased a gain from the morning and fell 1.5% to settle at $101.38. Tech stocks were the strongest forces lifting the market in a wide-

NEW YORK U.S gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday, as the Iran war continues to push fuel prices higher worldwide.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 over a dollar more expensive than it was before the war began on Feb 28. That’s the largest monthly jump the motor club has seen on record. And the last time U.S drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now Prices vary between states due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.

Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran a month ago, the cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline

— has spiked and swung rapidly That’s because the conflict has caused deep supply chain disruptions and cuts from major oil producers across the Middle East. Both Brent crude, the international standard, and benchmark U.S. crude are now going for more than $100 per barrel, up from roughly $70 before the war

Motorists around the world are coping with higher gas prices. In Paris, for example, gas is at $2.68, which is about $10.27 a gallon.

Higher gas prices arrive as many households continue to face wider cost-of-living strains. And as drivers pay more to cover necessities like gas, or even utility bills impacted by soaring fuel costs, many may be forced to cut their budgets in other places That threatens broader consequences for the economy overall.

Before launching the war, President Donald Trump bragged about keeping gas prices low Consumer prices and the cost of living already have become flashpoints in this midterm election year A recent AP-NORC poll found that 45% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% shortly after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

Beyond visits to the pump, analysts say high fuel costs will trickle into groceries,

which have to be restocked frequently and could also see price hikes as businesses’ transportation and packaging costs pile up. Other cargo has also been impacted. The U.S. Postal Service is seeking a temporary 8% added charge on some of its popular products including Priority Mail.

U.S. diesel, used for many freight and delivery trucks, is now going for an average of $5.45 a gallon, up from about $3.76 a gallon before the war began per AAA.

“It’s going to mean more expensive bills for truckers, tractors and trains that move the U.S. economy with diesel fuel. It’s going to mean consumers are likely greeted by rising grocery prices and broadly speaking, a rise in U.S. inflation,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at fuel-tracking service GasBuddy

It’s possible those prices could jump even higher To Trump’s frustration, most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz — where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil once sailed through remains at a halt.

That’s led to cuts from producers in the region who have no way of getting their crude to market. Meanwhile, Iran, Israel and the U.S. have all struck oil and gas facilities, worsening supply concerns.

Alisa

Howell, of Charlotte, North Carolina,

normally fills up her tank entirely when she goes to the gas station. But now, she says just gets enough fuel to do what she needs to do each day

Howell hopes gas prices will go down as Trump once promised, but stressed that the “foolishness with the government” continues to impact peoples’ livelihoods. She blamed the administration for making the decision to attack Iran, adding that she doesn’t believe it was worth going to war

“It’s just unfair to all of us. It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat or Republican. It’s everybody,” Howell said.

Many drivers are on the hunt for cheaper prices where they can find them. Danielle Ervin, of Novi, Michigan, stopped at a local Speedway station Tuesday morning because it offers an 11-cent per gallon discount.

Still, overall, Ervin said what she pays now is “terrible.” She noted she’s had to cut other parts of her budget.

“I had to cut back on some of my streaming services at home, so the kids are a little upset about that. I had to change which grocery stores I buy my fruits and veggies at,” Ervin said. “And then, I’m not buying stuff for myself — sneakers and clothes and all that other stuff because I have to maintain for the household.”

BY MATT OTT AP business writer

WASHINGTON U.S consumer confidence inched higher in March despite soaring energy prices brought on by the war in Iran.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose modestly to 91.8 in March from 91 in February

The board said that while rising costs due to tariffs and spiking oil prices induced by the conflict in the Middle East did not affect the topline confidence reading, there was increasing pessimism in other measures of the survey, including expectations of higher inflation.

Respondents’ comments about oil, gas and the war spiked and consumers’ 12-month inflation expectations surged to levels last seen in August when anxiety over

tariffs peaked.

U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday as the war caused fuel prices to soar worldwide.

According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 — up more than a dollar before the war began The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This is the key concern as the war in Iran enters the second month will the oil price shock turn into a demand destruction shock?,” wrote Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. Long said that Navy Federal’s credit card data from March

showed that consumers were still making purchases across categories even as gas prices rose. But she said that could change in the second quarter “as the worst of the inflation shock hits consumers.”

A measure of Americans’ shortterm expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell 1.7 points to 70.9, remaining well below 80, a marker that can signal a recession ahead. It’s the 14th consecutive month that reading has come in under 80. The index for consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation rose by 4.6 points to 123.3. Government data from earlier in March showed that an inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve moved 2.8% higher in January in the latest sign that prices were persistently elevated even before the Iran war caused

spikes in oil and gas costs.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories — which the Fed pays closer attention to — core prices rose 3.1%, up from 3% in the prior month and the highest in nearly two years. Consumer prices and prices at the wholesale level also remain elevated.

Those higher prices and the prospect of even higher inflation due to the Iran war make it unlikely that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates any time soon. The Fed cut its benchmark interest rate three times to close 2025 in an attempt to support a flagging labor market. However, because lower rates can exacerbate inflation, which remains above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed has left its overnight lending rate alone at its past two meetings.