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Trump vows U.S. will ‘finish the job’ President says war with Iran nearing completion BY WILL WEISSERT, JON GAMBRELL and DAVID RISING Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will “finish the job” in Iran soon as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” offering a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago. Trump got a wide audience and a chance to articulate clear objectives for the war after weeks of changing goals and often contra-
INSIDE
suggesting that the U.S. was close to meeting its major military obä Trump lashes out at NATO over jectives in Iran and his estimated war. Page 6A timeline for concluding operations was within two to three weeks. He ä Kidnapped reporter known for promised U.S. forces would congutsy assignments. Page 6A tinue to hit Iran very hard. “For years, everyone has said dictory messages about whether that Iran cannot have nuclear he’s winding down or ready to es- weapons. But in the end, those are calate military operations — even just words if you’re not willing to as Iran kept up its attacks on Israel take action when the time comes,” and Persian Gulf neighbors and Trump said. The president said, “In these airstrikes pounded Tehran. But he spent much of his time past four weeks our armed forces repeating some of the same things ä See TRUMP, page 5A he said in recent weeks, while also
LIFTOFF
Artemis II, NASA’s first lunar voyage in decades, rockets toward the moon
BY MARCIA DUNN
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts embarked on a highstakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years. Carrying three Americans and one Canadian, the 32-story rocket rose from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where tens of thousands gathered to witness the dawn of this new era. Crowds also jammed the surrounding roads and beaches, reminiscent of the Apollo moonshots in the 1960s and ’70s. It is NASA’s biggest step yet toward establishing a permanent lunar presence. “On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director. “Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let’s go.” Artemis II set sail from the same Florida launch site that sent Apollo’s explorers to the moon so long ago. The handful still alive cheered this next generation’s grand adventure as the Space Launch System rocket thundered into the early evening sky, a nearly full moon beckoning some 248,000 miles away. Five minutes into the flight, Commander Reid Wiseman saw the team’s target: “We have a beautiful moonrise, we’re
BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer
Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four NASA astronauts — three Americans and one Canadian — on a 10-day journey around the moon and back. The mission, Artemis II, marks the
After months of speculation about what the transition of the University of New Orleans to the LSU system would mean for faculty and students, LSU has revealed plans to modify or cut several academic pro“We are grams. The changes aligning our will affect proacademic grams in art, portfolio with international studies and edu- where student demand is cation. The angrowing and nounced chang- where career es i n c l u d e opportunities eliminating or changing five are strongest, while undergraduate programs and continuing four graduate to honor the programs and disciplines are the first inthat define dication of acaus. ” demic shifts as UNO becomes UNO PRESIDENT part of LSU. The transition, KATHy JOHNSON which becomes official July 1, was floated in hopes of stabilizing the university, which has struggled with low enrollment and a glaring budget deficit. LSU officials said the proposed changes were made after a “data-informed review of enrollment trends and program viability.” Some programs will be eliminated, while others will be renamed or revamped as minors. University officials said students enrolled in programs slated to end would be able to finish their degrees, and no faculty would be laid off because of the program shifts. “These changes are not about reducing opportunity, rather, they are about strengthening it,” UNO President Kathy Johnson said in an email to faculty, staff and students. “We are aligning our academic portfolio with where student demand is growing and where career
ä See STUDENTS, page 4A
ä See UNO, page 4A
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRIS O’MEARA
NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B on ä See LIFTOFF, page 4A Wednesday in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Launch holds special meaning for N.O. students the rocket rose on a pillar of fire from the launchpad. Applause erupted as it disappeared into As launch time neared, dozens of spec- the sky at 5:35 p.m. “Humanity’s next tators gathered around the two projector great voyage begins,” the broadcast descreens on classroom walls, watching as clared. the engine ignited in an orange glow and The massive rocket lifted off
Staff writer
WEATHER HIGH 82 LOW 70 PAGE 8B
UNO to see some academic changes Programs being eliminated, revised
AP aerospace writer
BY POET WOLFE
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON
President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday.
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