Friends and family gather to remember Sid Williams
BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer
During his funeral Wednesday in Lafayette the life story of Sidney Joseph Williams was read out loud.
There were the usual details that make up a biography where he was born, who his parents were, who he married There was an extensive list of children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and other relatives, indicating a long life well lived.
But for Sid Williams’ many friends, fans and business associates throughout Acadiana, his profound impact was summed up with one simple line: “Some of his greatest achievements include being a self-taught musician.”
Williams, 73, died in Lafayette on Feb. 2. A native of St. Martinville, he taught himself how to play the accordion at a young age. Thanks to the music, Williams would go on to become a larger-than-life figure in the zydeco community, launching El Sid O’s Zydeco & Blues Club at 1523 N. St. Antoine St., in 1984.
As operator of one of the region’s last remaining original zydeco clubs, Williams provided a stage for such luminaries as Grammy winner Buckwheat Zydeco. His brother, Grammynominated musician Nathan Williams, frequently played at the club with his band, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas.
The Williams family, and other zydeco stars from across the region such as Reggie Dural, Lee Allen Zeno and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr were in attendance at Wednesday’s funeral Mass at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. In a moving moment, Williams’ brother and nephew (Nathan Williams Jr., of Lil’ Nate & the Zydeco Big Timers) played a bittersweet rendition of “I’m Coming Home” with other family
ä See WILLIAMS, page 5A
ABOVE: Mourners line up to pay their respects at funeral services for Sid Williams on Wednesday at St. John’s Cathedral.
LEFT: Susanna Williams, widow of Sid Williams, is offered condolences by visitors on Wednesday.
House releases budget
Johnson and Scalise pitch ‘one beautiful bill’ to advance President Trump’s agenda
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
still could be undone by restless Republicans who want even steeper cuts. And a deadline looms: If no budget or temporary extension passes by March 14, the government could shut down.
The plan would require House committees to reduce the budgets for agencies they oversee by a total of $1.5 trillion. For example, the House Agriculture Committee would need to cut $230 billion, an amount that indicates Republican lawmakers may look to change the requirements for receiv-
Advocates press state for answers on $3 billion coastal project
BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer
Coastal advocates are pressing state officials for answers on the future of the $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, an unprecedented wetlands res-
toration plan years in the works but recently thrown into doubt because of opposition from Gov Jeff Landry
Few of those answers emerged at a public hearing Tuesday on the state’s annual coastal plan. Advocates there urged the state
to move forward with the project, but Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority executive director Glenn Ledet instead focused his comments on other large-scale works on the books for the coming fiscal year The Mid-Barataria project was
long seen as the linchpin of the state’s coastal master plan, intended to both build land and nourish other marsh-building projects in the region by mimicking the geological processes that created south Louisiana. Long a goal of coastal advocates and a range of
scientists, the project took off because of fines and settlement dollars paid out after the 2010 BP oil spill. But it has been controversial from the start, largely because of
ä See COASTAL, page 5A
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J SCOTT APPLEWHITE Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, right, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, speak
reporters on Tuesday.
PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy
Sid Williams
Crew ejects before jet crash off San Diego
LOS ANGELES Two crew members ejected from a U.S. Navy jet before it crashed Wednesday off the San Diego coast and were quickly rescued by a sportfishing boat, authorities said.
The two occupants of the E/A18G Growler were first picked up by the Premiere Sportfishing vessel then transferred to a nearby Customs and Border Protection vessel, said Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Christopher Sappey
On a live webcam of San Diego harbor traffic, someone aboard the Premiere can be heard telling the Coast Guard that the crew members ejected right after takeoff.
“We’re on our way to help assist,” the man called in about 10:14 a.m. “They’re in the water Shortly afterward, someone from the boat added, “We have both pilots on board and safe.”
Photos posted by the fishing company on its website appear to show two people dropping into the water with parachutes.
The two men were taken to an area hospital, where they were in stable condition, authorities said. Earthquakes persist on Greek islands
ATHENS, Greece — Authorities declared a state of emergency on a second Greek island Wednesday as a series of earthquakes continued to rattle the south-eastern Aegean Sea region.
The emergency measure announced on the island of Amorgos follows a similar decision for nearby Santorini on Feb 7 after thousands of unusual tremors were registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi –all popular tourist destinations
Scientists had expressed hope the seismic swarm could be easing up, but a string of earthquakes around magnitude 5 has renewed concern Seismologists have also noted that the epicenter of the earthquakes is steadily drifting northward in the direction of Amorgos.
The emergency declaration will facilitate rapid deployment of resources and emergency services. The region has already seen a significant mobilization of fire departments, police, coast guard, and armed forces mostly on Santorini where thousands of residents and seasonal workers have left the island
Overall, about 12,000 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 1 have been registered since Jan. 26, the University of Athens’ crisis management committee said earlier
Although Greece lies in a highly seismically active part of the world and earthquakes are frequent, it is very rare for any part of the country to experience such an intense barrage of earthquakes for such an extended period.
Israel threatens ‘all hell will break loose’
BY TIA GOLDENBERG and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
JERUSALEM Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday vowed that “all hell will break loose” on Hamas if it fails to free hostages this weekend as planned, stepping up threats against the militant group as mediators worked to salvage their ceasefire.
There were signs that the gaps could be bridged. The dispute was sparked when Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet some commitments under the truce, including the delivery of tents and other aid, and said it would delay the next hostage release on Saturday Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi told The Associated Press there were “positive signals” the three hostages will be released as planned on Saturday but the group had not yet received a commitment from Israel that it would adhere to the deal.
An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the two sides were close to an agreement. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations, said Israel had committed to delivering more tents, shelters and heavy equipment to Gaza.
Israeli officials had no immediate comment. Israel says it is fulfilling its obligations under the deal, which went into effect on Jan 19 and has paused the 16-month war in Gaza, bringing respite to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
In the ceasefire’s current first stage, which is to last 42 days, Israel is to deliver large quantities of aid. Hamas is meant to free 33 hostages taken during its cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. Eight of them are said to be dead. Twenty-one have been re-
leased so far, along with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody Hamas’ threat to delay the hostage release sparked fury from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to resume the fighting if Hamas didn’t follow through and ordered troops to be strengthened around Gaza. They pulled back from the territory’s populated areas during the ceasefire.
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he was echoing U.S. President Donald Trump by threatening that “all hell will break loose” if there is no hostage release on Saturday as planned.
“If Hamas stops releasing the hostages, then there is no deal and there is war,” he said during a visit to a military command center He said the “new Gaza war” wouldn’t end until Hamas was defeated, which would allow for Trump’s “vision” on transferring Gaza’s population to neighboring countries to be realized. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem rejected “the language of U.S. and Israeli threats” and called on Israel to implement the terms of the ceasefire deal. Among other claims, Hamas says Israel is not allowing an agreed-upon number of tents, prefabricated homes and heavy machinery into Gaza.
The ceasefire’s stability has also been rocked by Trump, who has proposed relocating Palestinians out of Gaza to neighboring Arab countries so the U.S. can “own” and rebuild the territory not necessarily for its current inhabitants. Jordan and Egypt, where Trump wants Palestinians moved, have repeatedly and vehemently rejected the proposal. Jordan’s King Abdullah II did so again after his meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday
U.N. estimates 1,400 killed in crackdown on Bangladesh protests
BY JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press
Trump says he and Putin will begin talks on ending Ukraine war
BY MATTHEW LEE, WILL WEISSERT and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine on Wednesday, saying that he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war following a sudden prisoner swap.
Trump said in a social media post that he and Putin held a lengthy phone call and committed to “work together very closely” to bring the conflict to an end and would meet in person, including perhaps in each other’s countries.
Trump subsequently announced that he’d also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only after his talk with Putin. After the calls, White House officials declined to clarify whether Ukraine would be a party to the U.S. negotiations.
That sent a potentially dramatic signal that Washington and Moscow might work to hammer out a deal to end fighting in Ukraine by going around that country’s government. Doing so would break with the Biden administration, which steadfastly insisted Kyiv would be a full participant in any decisions made.
In another blow to Ukraine’s Western-leaning aspirations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at NATO headquarters in Brussels that NATO membership was unrealistic for Ukraine, it should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia and any security guarantees for Kyiv would have to be borne by European countries.
“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration had joined other NATO members in vowing that membership in the Western
military alliance was “inevitable.”
Zelenskyy sought to put a brave face on what many in Ukraine will see as a major disappointment. In a social media post, he said he had “a meaningful conversation” with Trump that included discussion of “opportunities to achieve peace” and Kyiv’s “readiness to work together at the team level.”
“I am grateful to President Trump,” he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the conversation between Trump and Putin covered a good deal of ground, including the Middle East and Iran, but that Ukraine was the main focus.
Peskov said Trump called for a quick cessation of hostilities and a peaceful settlement, and that “President Putin, in his turn, emphasized the need to remove the root causes of the conflict and agreed with Trump that a long-term settlement could be achieved through peace talks.”
“The Russian president supported one of the main theses of the U.S. president that the time has come for our two countries to work together,” Peskov told reporters. “The Russian president invited the U.S. president to visit Moscow and expressed readiness to host U.S. officials in Russia for issues of mutual interest, naturally including Ukraine, the Ukrainian settlement.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said of Trump’s conversations with both Putin and Zelenskyy: “They were very good calls. They were very positive.” But when she was asked specifically about the administration’s views on Ukraine’s NATO membership, she said only that she had not spoken to Trump about it.
“I believe this nation views Putin and Russia as a great competitor in the region. At times, an adversary,” Leavitt said. She also noted of Trump: “At times, he enjoys having good diplomatic relationships with leaders around the world.”
NEWYORK Federal health agencies have restored several webpages and datasets, following a judge’s order to bring back public access to information that had been removed to comply with a presidential executive order.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday night restored nine webpages and datasets, including pages on adolescent health, information on HIV monitoring and testing, contraception guidance, and data on how pollution, poverty and other factors impact certain communities.
The Food and Drug Administration restored recommendations for increasing enrollment of females in clinical trials, analyzing and interpreting sexspecific data and including sexspecific information in regulatory submissions of medical products.
On Jan. 20, his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump signed an order for agencies to use the term “sex” and not “gender” in federal policies and documents. In response, the Office of Personnel Management’s acting director required agency heads to eliminate any programs and take down any websites that promote “gender ideology.” That led to widespread takedowns across government websites.
GENEVA — The U.N. human rights office on Wednesday estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in Bangladesh over three weeks last summer in a crackdown on student-led protests against the now-ousted former prime minister
In a new report, the Geneva-based office says security and intelligence services “systematically engaged” in rights violations that could amount to crimes against humanity and require further investigation
Citing “various credible sources,” the rights office said it estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed in the protests between July 15 and Aug. 5 — the day longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India amid the uprising.
Thousands more were injured in the weeks leading up to and after the protests, and the vast majority of those killed and injured “were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces,” the report said.
Over 11,700 people were detained, the report said, citing information from security services.
It said that about 12 to 13% of people estimated to have be killed or as
many as about 180 people were children.
In some cases, “security forces engaged in summary executions by deliberately shooting unarmed protesters at point blank range,” it said.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk cited signs that “extrajudicial killings, extensive arbitrary arrests and detentions, and torture” were conducted with the knowledge and coordination of the political leadership and top security officials as a way to suppress the protests.
The U.N. fact-finding team was deployed to Bangladesh at the invitation of the country’s interim leader the Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, to
look into the uprising and violent crackdown.
The team of investigators said the interim government has reportedly made 100 arrests in connection with attacks on religious and indigenous groups.
The report said “many perpetrators of acts of revenge, violence and attacks on distinct groups apparently continue to enjoy impunity.”
The human rights situation in Bangladesh continues to raise concerns, the U.N. office said.
While the government has changed, “the system has not necessarily changed,” Rory Mungoven, head of the rights office’s Asia-Pacific region, told reporters.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OHAD ZWIGENBERG
Activists sit on a road with white umbrellas during a protest calling for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, outside the prime minister’s house in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RAJIB DHAR
People carry an injured protester in a cycle rickshaw to a hospital after he was shot at by the police during a protest against
Eastern storm cuts power to tens of thousands
BY BEN FINLEY and JOHN RABY Associated Press
Storms dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on a swath of the eastern U.S. stretching from Kentucky to the nation’s capital, causing hundreds of traffic accidents, knocking out power in places and threatening to flood waterways as temperatures began rising Wednesday California, meanwhile was bracing for an atmospheric river that could flood areas ravaged by the recent wildfires.
The storm system that cut a path from Kentucky to Maryland and points farther north on Tuesday brought more than 14 inches of snow to Iron Gate, a tiny Appalachian town in western Virginia, and 12 inches to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small city about 65 miles to the west, the National Weather Service said.
By Wednesday, more than 190,000 customers in Virginia and nearly 16,000 in North Carolina had lost electricity, according to PowerOutage.
us Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said Tuesday that it had 5,400 workers trying to restore power
The region’s airports received several inches of snow according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center
“After a pretty quiet few seasons here, things have kind of picked back up again,” he said.
Nearly 4,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States on Wednesday, including about 250 into Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C. according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.com School was canceled throughout Virginia for a second straight day, and districts in the Baltimore and
Washington, D.C., areas also told students and teachers to take Wednesday off. Some families took the opportunity to go sledding outside the U.S. Capitol. Flood threat
The snow-and-ice mix was expected to become rain by Wednesday afternoon as temperatures climb. Concerns about flooding emerged as rain and melting snow wash into rivers and streams in regions already saturated from previous storms A flood threat through Thursday morning stretched from eastern Tennessee to southwestern Virginia into other parts of South, the weather service said.
“Our main concern once we get into Thursday will be potential flooding impacts as we see rivers and streams swell with the combined impact of melting snowpack and rain at the same time.” said Vance Joyner, a weather service meteorologist in Blacksburg, Virginia
Hundreds of accidents
In Kentucky, snowy roads caused a head-on fatal crash Tuesday in Nelson County, south of Louisville The driver lost control of their car going into a curve, crossed the center line of the road and hit an oncoming semi truck head on, according to the county’s emergency management
director, Brad Metcalf. The driver died at the scene.
In Virginia, where Gov Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the state police reported about 850 crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday dozens of which involved injuries. An agency spokesperson said it’s unknown if the weather caused the crashes. Maryland State Police reported 235 crashes and 185 inoperable or unattended vehicles.
In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways Tuesday Mess to the west
Points farther west weren’t spared the wintry mess. A separate storm system was expected to dump heavy snow on an area stretching from Oklahoma to the Great Lakes on Wednesday, the weather service said. Government offices were closed in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, and some universities in those states and Iowa canceled classes.
On the West Coast, officials in Oregon’s Multnomah County extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday, and five emergency shelters were open through midday Wednesday Wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees in Portland, the weather service said.
Court upholds singer R. Kelly’s convictions, 30-year prison term
BY LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press
NEW YORK R Kelly’s racketeering and sex trafficking convictions, along with a 30year prison sentence, were upheld Wednesday by a federal appeals court that concluded the singer exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled Wednesday after hearing arguments last March.
The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling R&B songwriter was convicted in 2021 in Brooklyn federal court of multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.
Attorney Jennifer Bonjean, representing R. Kelly, said in a statement that she believed the Supreme Court will agree to hear an appeal She called the 2nd Circuit ruling “unprecedented,” saying it gives prosecutors limitless discretion to apply the racketeering law “to situations absurdly remote” from the statute’s intent.
Last year, the high court declined to hear an appeal of a 20-year sentence Kelly received after he was convicted in 2022 of child sex charges including charges of producing images of child sexual abuse in Chicago.
The 2nd Circuit rejected Kelly’s arguments that the trial evidence was inadequate, the constitutionality of some state laws used against him were questionable, four jurors were biased, the trial judge made some improper rulings and a racketeering charge more commonly used in organized crime cases was improper.
“Enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and other staff for over twenty-five years, Kelly ex-
ploited his fame to lure girls and young women into his grasp,” the appeals court said, noting members of his entourage helped introduce him to underage girls.
“Evidence at trial showed that he would isolate them from friends and family, control nearly every aspect of their lives, and abuse them verbally, physically, and sexually,” the three-judge panel said. The appeals court said it
was “neither arbitrary nor irrational” that several accusers were permitted to testify at trial that Kelly gave them herpes without disclosing he had an STD, and it was not unduly prejudicial or cumulative that seven witnesses who were not yet adults when Kelly began to abuse them were allowed to testify
“None of the testimony was more inflammatory than the charged acts,” the appeals court said.
BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
How’s this for an idea?
New Orleans and Las Vegas ought to host the Super Bowl every three years, with a rotating cast of other cities taking the third year That was the suggestion of U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise R-Jefferson, to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the game on Sunday
“I don’t expect him to go for it, but he didn’t push back on the idea,” said Scalise, the second ranking House member “He had nothing but great things to say about the city.” Under the current setup, New Orleans competes with a
number of other cities with NFL teams to host the Super Bowl. Sunday’s game marked the first time since 2013 that it was held in New Orleans. Scalise, echoing the words of other elected officials, said he constantly heard rave reviews about New Orleans’ preparations for the Super Bowl.
“They got to see a worldclass city with all the things we have to offer great character great culture and great music,” said Scalise, who lives in Jefferson Parish but said he was proud to tell visitors that he was born in New Orleans. “So many people told me how much they loved the pregame music — with performances by Harry Connick Jr. Lauren Daigle, Trombone Shorty and Jon Batiste. Everyone said they would have made a great halftime show It’s a great source of pride to see how New Orleans can show itself to the world.” Scalise noted that fans attending Super Bowls in other cities often have to drive an hour or more to the stadium and noted that people could get around to the prime spots in New Orleans on foot. “With the exception of Las Vegas, I don’t think there’s another Super Bowl city that can offer that convenience,” he said.
South Carolina Supreme Court again takes up abortion issue
BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With a heartbeat abortion ban solidly in place in South Carolina, lawyers for the state and Planned Parenthood return to the state’s highest court Wednesday to argue how restrictive the ban should be.
The law is being enforced in South Carolina as a ban on almost all abortions around six weeks after conception, setting that mark as the time cardiac activity starts.
But Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights groups are arguing the 2023 law includes alternative definitions about the timing of a fetal heart forming and a “heartbeat” starting and the true ban should start around nine or 10 weeks.
Both sides argued for just over an hour Wednesday at the South Carolina Supreme Court in Columbia. The jus-
tices likely will take several months to decide the case.
In the meantime, the abortion ban around six weeks likely will remain in place after a lower court upheld it.
The 2023 law says abortions cannot be performed after an ultrasound can detect “cardiac activity, or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart, within the gestational sac.”
South Carolina and several other states place that at six weeks into development. But what follows the “or” in the sentence could require that a heart has formed, and medical experts say that doesn’t happen until around nine weeks.
The legal fight has been brewing since the state Supreme Court reversed itself after overturning a similar ban in 2021. The Republican-dominated General Assembly then made small
changes and a justice who voted in the majority in the 3-2 decision to overturn the ban reached retirement age and was replaced. In the decision upholding the new ban, the state Supreme Court itself noted the different definitions saying resolving them would be a question “for another day.” That day is Wednesday Since then, more inconsistencies in the law’s language have been brought up. The law refers to a fetal heartbeat, but most experts consider a fertilized egg to be an embryo for about 10 weeks after conception before transitioning into a fetus.
Lawyers for the state said the parsing of the language ignores the intent of the Legislature. Both supporters and opponents of the bill called it nearly exclusively a six-week ban during debate in the House and Senate.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN
Johnny Hong of Washington, and his daughter Eliyah Hong 5, build a snowman by the Capitol on Wednesday after a snowstorm in Washington.
Fired government watchdogs sue administration
BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
WASHINGTON Eight government watchdogs have sued over their mass firing that removed oversight of President Donald Trump’s new administration.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington asks a judge to declare the firings unlawful and restore the inspectors general to their positions at the agencies.
The watchdogs are charged with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse at government agencies, playing a nonpartisan oversight role over trillions of dollars in federal spending and the conduct of millions of federal employees, according to the lawsuit.
Presidents can remove
inspectors general, but the Trump administration did not give Congress a legally required 30-day notice, something that even a top Republican decried.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the lawsuit. Trump has said he would put new good people” in the jobs
The administration dismissed more than a dozen inspectors general in a Fridaynight sweep on the fourth full day of Trump’s second term. Though inspectors general are presidential appointees, some serve presidents of both parties. All are expected to be nonpartisan. Two of the plaintiffs had been nominated to inspector general roles by Trump in his first term.
“The firing of the independent, nonpartisan inspector
general was a clear violation of the law,” said Michael Missal, the former inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “The IGs are bringing this action for reinstatement so that they can go back to work fighting fraud waste and abuse on behalf the American public.”
At the time of the firings, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said there may have been good reasons for the terminations but that Congress needed to know
The lawsuit comes a day after the White House fired the inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development, following a warning from his office that the administration’s dismantling of that agency had made it all but impossible to monitor $8.2 billion in unspent humanitarian funds.
signs outside the USAID headquarters in Washington on Monday.
USAID staffers describe colleagues abandoned as DOGE ends assistance
BY ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press
WASHINGTON A lieutenant of Trump ally Elon Musk and other outsiders are overseeing the immediate termination of hundreds of American aid and foreign assistance programs abroad this week, without required documentation or justification, according to newly filed affidavits from staffers and accounts Wednesday from U.S. officials.
Meanwhile, other affidavits from USAID staffers until recently based in Congo describe the gutting of their agency by President Donald Trump and Musk, which they said left them abandoned and in danger from political violence in the African country’s capital.
As chaos reigned at USAID’s headquarters, with senior leadership removed and funding frozen, USAID workers and their families abroad had no agency help in fleeing after looters overran their homes in Kinshasa, several of the staffers said in sworn accounts to a federal court.
Congo-based USAID staffers who described getting out with nothing but their backpacks wrote of now being stranded in Washington, without a home or agency payments, and facing joblessness.
Those accounts, filed late Tuesday in support of a lawsuit by two associations for government employees, offer some of the most detailed looks of the scenes inside the agency and confusion
abroad, and they describe Musk’s teams at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency overseeing the purge of longstanding U.S. aid and development programs. The groups are suing to roll back that dismantling by the administration and Musk’s government-cutting effort.
A court hearing in the case was postponed Wednesday because of heavy snow in Washington.
USAID contract officers on Monday emailed agency higher-ups asking for the required authorization and justification needed to cancel programs abroad. But the response was from a Musk associate, one of the contract workers said in a sworn account filed with the federal court.
The decisions on killing the programs came from the “most senior levels,” that associate told USAID staffers.
Other affidavits describe similar scenes from agency contract officers and tensions and uncertainty as USAID workers dealt with the shutdown.
More spreadsheets arrived in USAID employees’ inboxes into Wednesday about U.S.-funding programs -– including for agriculture, conflict resolution, democracy and human rights that were to end, immediately and permanently, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the developments. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity The emails said Secretary
of State Marco Rubio had given that order, but they came from individuals not known to staffers. The decisions about which programs to eliminate appeared to be being made using the program names and one-line descriptions of them, pulled from the USAID payment system, the two U.S. officials said. The administration, in its filings in the lawsuit, defends its actions, saying USAID was rife with “insubordination” and must be shut down as Trump’s team figures what parts to salvage. The argument was made in an affidavit by the deputy USAID administrator, Pete Marocco. USAID staffers deny insubordination and call the accusation a pretext to break up the agency, among the world’s biggest donors of humanitarian and development assistance.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated by Trump, dealt the administration a setback last week by temporarily halting plans to pull all but a fraction of USAID staffers off the job worldwide.
Nichols is set to hear arguments later this week on a request from the employee groups to keep blocking the move to put thousands of staffers on leave, and to broaden his order They contend the government has already violated the judge’s order, which also reinstated USAID staffers already placed on leave but declined to suspend the administration’s freeze on foreign assistance.
The role of the modernday inspector general dates to post-Watergate Washington, when Congress installed offices inside agencies as an independent check against mismanagement and abuse of power
Democrats and watchdog groups said the firings raise alarms that Trump is making it easier to take advantage of the government Trump, said at the time the firings were “a very common thing to do.” But the lawsuit says that is not true and that mass firings have been considered improper since the 1980s.
The dismissals came through similarly worded emails from the director or deputy director of the Office of Presidential Personnel. The watchdogs’ computers, phones, and agency access
badges were collected within days. The officials were escorted into their respective agencies to collect their personal belongings under supervision, they said in the lawsuit.
The inspector general of the Agriculture Department, however, returned to work as normal the Monday after being informed of the firing, “recognizing the email as not effective,” the lawsuit said. The watchdog conducted several meetings before agency employees cut off her access to government systems and took her computer and phone.
Trump in the past has challenged their authority In 2020, in his first term, he replaced multiple inspectors general, including those leading the Defense Department and intelligence community,
as well as the one tapped to chair a special oversight board for the $2.2 trillion pandemic economic relief package.
The latest round of dismissals spared Michael Horowitz, the longtime Justice Department inspector general who has issued reports on assorted politically explosive criminal investigations over the past decade. In December 2019, for instance, Horowitz released a report faulting the FBI for surveillance warrant applications in the investigation into ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. But the report also found that the investigation had been opened for a legitimate purpose and did not find evidence that partisan bias had guided investigative decisions.
BY DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press
WASHINGTON Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence on Wednesday shortly after she was confirmed by the Senate, where Republicans who had initially questioned her experience and judgment fell in line behind her nomination.
Gabbard is an unconventional pick to oversee and coordinate the country’s 18 intelligence agencies, given her past comments sympathetic to Russia, a meeting she held with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad and her previous support for government leaker Edward Snowden.
A military veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard was confirmed on Wednesday by a 52-48 vote with the Senate’s slim Republican majority beating back Democratic opposition. The only “no’ vote from a Republican came from Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky She is the latest highranking nominee to win Senate confirmation as the
new administration works to reshape vast portions of the federal government, including the intelligence apparatus.
Staffers at the CIA and other intelligence agencies have received buyout offers, while lawmakers and security experts have raised concerns about Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency accessing databases containing information about intelligence operations.
Speaking after she was sworn in at the White House, Gabbard promised to work to “refocus” the intelligence community in line with Trump’s vision.
“Unfortunately, the American people have very little trust in the intelligence community, largely because they’ve seen the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring our national security,” Gabbard said.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created to address intelligence failures exposed by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Republicans have increasingly criticized the office, saying it has grown
too large and politicized Trump himself has long viewed the nation’s intelligence services with suspicion.
GOP senators who had expressed concerns about Gabbard’s stance on Snowden, Syria and Russia said they were won over by her promise to refocus on the office’s core missions: coordinating federal intelligence work and serving as the president’s chief intelligence adviser
“While I continue to have concerns about certain positions she has previously taken, I appreciate her commitment to rein in the outsized scope of the agency,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, adding that Gabbard will bring “independent thinking” to the job. McConnell, the former GOP leader, said in a statement after the vote that in his assessment, Gabbard brings “unnecessary risk” to the position.
“The nation should not have to worry that the intelligence assessments the President receives are tainted by a Director of National Intelligence with a history of alarming lapses in judgment,” McConnell said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MANUEL BALCE CENETA
Priya Kathpal, right, and Taylor Williamson, left who work for a company doing contract work for the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID carry
Continued from page 1A
members.
Even as Williams is celebrated for his lifetime impact on Louisiana’s zydeco culture, his legacy encompassed so much more. Williams’ ventures included Sid’s One Stop a grocery store and gathering spot for Lafayette’s Northside community that closed in 2023 after 47 years in business. Through El Sid O’s and Sid’s One Stop, Williams hosted a communitywide Thanksgiving benefit concert and food drive for 28 years. In 2024, he represented Lafayette Parish in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
Visitors to Lafayette knew a meeting with Williams was essential for understanding the area’s musical history and Creole roots In 2018, when Anthony Bourdain came to town to film an Acadiana episode for his “Parts Unknown” travel show he sat down for a meal with Williams, local journalist Herman Fuselier, and Laura’s II chef Madonna Broussard, who was recently recognized as a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist. In a social media post following Williams’ death, Broussard said, “a pivotal moment in my culinary journey occurred when Mr Sid arrived at my restaurant with Anthony Bourdain and a CNN film crew on a Sunday I have consistently conveyed my appreciation, whenever I had the opportunity to see him. Rest in Zydeco Paradise.”
Following the prayers, scripture readings, songs and memories from Williams’ loved ones, his funeral procession journeyed to Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette, where he will be interred. The long line of cars snaked its way past sites that will forever be associated with Williams — El Sid O’s and Sid’s One Stop chief among them. It was a bittersweet reminder that even in death, Williams’ influence in southwest Louisiana and beyond will be celebrated for a long time to come.
Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.
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the effects it would have on shrimp and oyster fishing in Plaquemines Parish and, more recently, the escalating costs. The parish has sued to stop it, and Landry reversed the state’s course after taking office last year leaving the project in limbo even after it broke ground in 2023.
Negotiations have been ongoing with Plaquemines officials on the project’s future. Any change would likely require further review from federal and state trustees overseeing the BP oil spill money, which could set back work for years.
A range of speakers implored Ledet to find a way to move the project forward as planned and studied, noting Louisiana’s worsening land loss crisis.
Anne Milling, whose Women of the Storm organization played a key role in draw-
BUDGET
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ing federal assistance like food stamps.
On Tuesday night, Scalise told Fox Business: “We’re also identifying similar waste, improper payments to people here illegally who are getting things like Social Security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, programs that good hardworking Americans paid into, illegals are coming and helping bankrupt. Why don’t we protect those programs by putting those integrity measures in place?”
One possible measure frequently discussed by Republicans is requiring lowincome recipients of food stamps to have a job in order to get them. The Economic Policy Institute, a pro-union, nonprofit think tank in Washington, reported that the “work requirement” would limit the number of enrollees. But it argued the change would not increase employment because a lot of people on food stamps can’t find jobs, are disabled, elderly or are caregivers for ill family members who can’t afford outside help.
“The consequences of losing access to SNAP and Medicaid for low-income adults are severe, often resulting in food and health insecurity,” according to the institute’s analysis.
Johnson, Scalise and Arrington have been the target of blistering abuse from some fellow Republicans who all profess a desire to pass Trump’s priorities but intensely disagree on how
ing federal attention to the region after Hurricane Katrina, said the state’s coastal program has always prioritized scientific planning, and she questioned whether that was changing. Her husband King Milling, the former Whitney National Bank chief who became a leading figure in the state’s coastal restoration efforts, was also in the audience.
“I worry if the political process has gotten involved in this, because suddenly there’s been a pause on this most important project,” she said. “So I’m terribly concerned about this. I want to figure out a way to unblock this project, get it back on track. We cannot afford to put our heads in the marsh and not have a project of this scale and scope.”
Other speakers included state Rep Joseph Orgeron, who has pushed in the Legislature to move the project forward. He acknowledged that Grand Isle, which is part of his district, is opposed to the diversion, but
best to do that.
Johnson argues that “one, big beautiful bill,” using the reconciliation process, would be the surest way to turn Trump’s legislative agenda into law
The reconciliation process instructs the appropriate committees to “develop legislation achieving the desired budgetary outcomes.” It’s a way to sidestep Democratic resistance to Trump’s goals.
Over in the GOP-majority upper chamber, the Senate Budget Committee forwarded two resolutions that split the various Trump objectives. Senators argue that strategy would give Trump a quicker victory
Given the narrow majorities Republicans hold, GOP representatives and senators will need to agree on whatever is passed by either chamber
Johnson and Scalise still face possible opposition from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which has indicated its members would seek “modifications” during the budget committee hearing. The Freedom Caucus wants to cut spending by $2.5 trillion, which would require deeper reductions in social safety net spending like SNAP and Medicaid
The Freedom Caucus keeps its rolls secret. But one member is Lafayette Republican Rep. Clay Higgins, who has repeatedly declined to speak to reporters from The Advocate | The Times-Picayune and most traditional media.
He posted a video Tuesday night saying: “Bottom line is that it appears that many of my colleagues have backed up on the promises we made
said he would “fight tooth and nail” for additional money to help if there are negative economic effects on the island. Some $378 million is already set aside in assistance money, including for commercial fishers.
The Republican said that while the 1,000 people of Grand Isle oppose the project, 43,000 constituents in lower Lafourche mostly support it.
“Knowing that the entire wetlands of the Barataria Basin was built by the Mississippi River’s fresh water and sediment, and it being in the master plan since (former governor) Kathleen Blanco, it’s extremely important that we resolve this issue and, once again, get it back on track, in construction as properly permitted, as fully funded and as designed,” he said.
Ralph Herrmann, who lives in Plaquemines Parish, argued the diversion would take too long to produce results and cost too much money He urged the state
to restore fiscal responsibility to our country, and some of us are not going to back up from that promise.”
Johnson told reporters that the House Budget Committee would consider the bill Thursday morning, which starts the process that would have the full House vote on the measure by the end of the month.
“I’ve been talking with the committee members, and this will unlock the process and get us moving, so we’re excited about it,” Johnson said.
Scalise said 11 House committees will hold hearings on the portions involving their areas of jurisdictions, which is the traditional way of doing things.
Leadership hopes the bill clears all legislative hurdles in March.
The government will shut down on March 14 unless Congress approves a spending plan or passes a bill to again postpone Lawmakers are still working on the budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30.
“Now is the time for House Republicans to come together and start the budget reconciliation process, first in the Budget Committee and then on the House floor, to unite behind President Trump, and make good on our promises to the American people,” Scalise said after the legislation was released “Let’s pass this resolution and start delivering for those hardworking families who have been struggling for too long.”
Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.
to use the money for more marsh-building projects using dredged sediment instead.
“We do not need this project. We can have our land now We can have our protection now,” the 71-year-old retiree said. “This is not in the best interest of the state.”
Despite the uncertainty, continued spending on the Mid-Barataria project is included in the coastal authority’s $1.8 billion annual plan for the fiscal year beginning in July That, however, does not mean the project won’t be changed or eventually eliminated, with the money shifted to other plans.
Ledet did not address MidBarataria in his presentation of the plan, instead focusing on projects like the major effort to restore the disappearing Chandeleur Islands off southeast Louisiana and the state’s biggest marshcreation project to date in Lake Borgne. He called the annual plan among the largest in state history and stressed that the vast majority of the money will go toward actual work.
“We’ve got our largest share that goes to construction in the state’s history,” Ledet said. “That’s 80% of those dollars will go to actually putting projects on the ground.”
Asked after the hearing about the status of MidBarataria, Ledet said he could not provide details for now, citing ongoing discussions. He said Landry and CPRA board chair Gordon Dove would provide further information “at the appropriate time.” The public comment period for the annual plan ends March 22. An interactive map, further details and the opportunity to comment can be found at ap26.coastal. la.gov Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com.
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
The family members of Sid Williams are offered condolences by visitors attending funeral services on Wednesday at St. John’s Cathedral.
U.S. suggests Ukraine should give up hope of winning all territory back
BY LORNE COOK and TARA COPP Associated Press
BRUSSELS U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia and instead prepare for a negotiated peace settlement to be backed up by international troops.
Hours later, President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the Ukraine war In a social media post that upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, the Republican disclosed a call between the two leaders and said they would “work together, very closely.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office said Zelenskyy and Trump also had a phone conversation.
Taken together, the statements by Trump and Hegseth offered the clearest look yet at how the new administration might try to end Europe’s largest land war in generations.
Hegseth’s warning to Ukraine that it should abandon its NATO bid and its push to reclaim all Russianoccupied territory signaled starkly to Kyiv that the administration’s view of a potential settlement is remarkably close to Moscow’s vision. Putin has declared that any peace deal must ensure that Ukraine gives up its NATO ambitions and withdraws its troops from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured In sweeping remarks to allies eager to hear how much continued support Washington intends to provide to the Ukrainian government Hegseth indicated that Trump is determined to
get Europe to assume most of the financial and military responsibilities for the defense of Ukraine, including a possible peacekeeping force that would not include U.S. troops.
Making the first trip to NATO by a member of the new Trump administration, the defense secretary also said the force should not have Article 5 protections, which could require the U.S. or the 31 other nations of the NATO alliance to come to the aid of those forces if they are attacked by Russian forces.
The secretary’s comments were sure to dim Ukraine’s hopes of making itself whole again and to complicate talks later this week between Zelenskyy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other senior American officials at a major security conference in Munich.
“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said, as Kyiv’s backers gathered at NATO headquarters for a meeting to drum up more arms and ammunition for the war, which will soon enter its fourth year All 32 allies must agree
for a country to join NATO, meaning that every member has a veto.
“Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” Hegseth said. “To be clear as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine.”
Other Western allies said the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO needs to stay on the table.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said NATO “is still the main guarantee of security for European countries.”
Asked about Trump’s phone call with Putin, Barrot said that abandoning Ukraine would “entrench the law of the strongest It would be an invitation to all the world’s tyrants and despots to invade their neighbors with complete impunity.”
Hegseth insisted that NATO should play no role in any future military mission to police the peace in Ukraine and that any peacekeeping troops should not be covered by the part of NATO’s founding treaty that obliges all allies to come to the aid of any member under attack.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OMAR HAVANA
From left, Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu listen to opening statements during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact group at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday.
First execution in 15 years off
Legal remedies not exhausted, lawyers say
BY JOHN SIMERMAN and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writers
The first death warrant secured by a district attorney in Louisiana in years was recalled within a day by the Rapides Parish judge who signed it, after the condemned
man’s lawyers argued that he hasn’t yet exhausted his legal remedies. The warrant for the execution of Larry Roy was one of at least three sought on Monday by Louisiana district attorneys as Gov. Jeff Landry announced that the state was ready to perform executions
by nitrogen gas and vowed to see such executions through. Collin Sims, the district attorney in St. Tammany and Washington parishes, and Charles Adams, the district attorney for DeSoto Parish, also sought death warrants on Monday Roy’s warrant was signed by 9th
District Judge Lowell Hazel. It called for Roy to be put to death on March 19 for the 1993 stabbing deaths of Freddie Richard Jr and Rosetta Silas at a home in Cheneyville. But Hazel dismissed the warrant as “null and void,” staying the execution.
“As of now there is no order to execute Larry Roy,” said District Attorney Phillip Terrell in an interview, adding that he planned to try again.
Court records show that in 2004, Roy’s application for post-conviction relief was tabled, with no hearing having been held. Meanwhile, Sims on Monday asked 22nd District Judge Alan Zaunbrecher to set an execution date for Jessie Hoffman, who was sent to death row for the 1996 kill-
100 DAYS AND COUNTING
ABOVE: Cupid performs during a celebration of the 100th day of school at Truman Early Childhood Education Center in Lafayette on Wednesday LEFT: Teachers dance to the music of Cupid during a celebration RIGHT: Northside High cheerleaders greet pre-K students, many of whom dressed as senior citizens during the 100th day of school on Wednesday STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE
An arrest has been made in connection with a Monday shooting at an Abbeville home. Shawndell Perron was arrested around 4 p.m. Tuesday by Breaux Bridge police in connection with the incident, Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy said in a news release. Abbeville police received a call around 6:48 p.m. Monday, Hardy said, about shots
ä See BLOTTER, page 4B
BY JA’KORI MADISON and STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writers
The woman killed in a murder-suicide Sunday in Lafayette is being mourned by employees at the 16th Judicial District, where she was an assistant district attorney
The District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday confirmed the death of Shentell Brown, who worked for District Attorney Bo Duhé in the juvenile and nonsupport division, according
BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer
PROVIDED PHOTO By THE 16TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEy’S FACEBOOK PAGE Shentell Brown, killed in a murder-suicide
mourned
OUR VIEWS
La. rice farmers are collateral damage in fight over USAID
The hastily developed and executed pause in aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, has thrown some of Louisiana’s farmers into limbo as they wait to find out if programs that bought a significant portion of their crops will continue.
Within weeks of taking office, President Donald Trump and his point person on governmental spending, Elon Musk, abruptly shuttered many operations at USAID and ordered freezes on many aid programs, alleging wasteful spending. Among the programs affected were those that bought crops — including Louisiana rice — for foreign food aid.
Trump’s announcement left rice industry leaders scrambling, with USA Rice Federation Michael Klein saying that they weren’t sure the “full extent of what’s happening.”
State Rep. Troy Romero, a Republican from Jennings in southwest Louisiana, expressed disbelief that the food aid programs would be ended.
“I cannot imagine that program — as good as it is would be one of the ones that they would cut out,” Romero said
Good will programs, like those run by USAID, have helped supply Louisiana rice to places all over the globe. They are one of the best examples of the use of American “soft power.” They also provide important markets for American farmers.
In Louisiana and Arkansas, about 50% of the rice produced is exported and as much of 10% of that is part of food aid programs to other countries, estimated Michael Fruge, a rice farmer in Eunice.
It’s not just Louisiana farmers affected. Agriculture producers around the country have raised alarms about cutting USAID programs, which could affect some $340 million in food aid, including rice, soybeans and wheat, according to a report in The Washington Post.
White House officials have insisted that they will only cut programs that do not help Americans. A White House spokeswoman has said that includes “protecting America’s farmers.”
It seems natural that the Trump administration would want to protect Louisiana rice farmers, many of whom are likely among his most ardent supporters A hit to rice lands hard: Louisiana is the third-largest producer of rice in the country, behind only Arkansas and California More than 425,000 acres of rice are grown in the state.
In the near term, we urge Louisiana’s congressional leaders, especially Reps. Clay Higgins and Julia Letlow, whose districts include many of these producers, to work to get these programs up and running again as soon as possible And going forward, we beg our leaders to think of the knock-on effects that hurried, poorly thought-out policies create. Cutting wasteful spending is a worthy objective, but can’t be done with the same haste as a triumphalist social media post.
Plenty of federal programs such as those run by USAID require thoughtful, nuanced approaches When leaders follow a “cut it all, figure it out later” method, it creates chaos downstream. In this case, Louisiana farmers are collateral damage.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone 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.
OPINION
YOUR VIEWS
Protect federal workers from political attacks
Louisiana’s federal employees — and millions like them nationwide are the backbone of our government. They process Social Security benefits, protect our environment, care for our veterans and keep our communities safe. Yet, once again, they face attacks from President Donald Trump, who seeks to dismantle the civil service and replace skilled professionals with political loyalists. His latest scheme — a so-called “deferred resignation” offer — is a trap. There is no legal basis for it, and those who accept could find themselves unemployed with no recourse. Even more dangerous is Schedule F, a reckless policy designed to strip civil servants of job protections, allowing mass firings based on political loyalty rather than expertise. The goal? To replace competence with compliance. Union-busting, contract violations and political purges don’t just harm federal workers — they harm every
American who depends on government services Gutting agencies means delayed Social Security payments, fewer resources for veterans and weaker law enforcement. We cannot allow this blatant power grab to weaken the institutions that serve us all.
To every federal worker in Louisiana and beyond: You are valued, you are needed and you are not alone. As a proud member of Congress, I will fight to protect your rights, your jobs and the integrity of your service. The government should be staffed by professionals based on merit — not loyalty to any politician.
Americans deserve a government that works for them, not one manipulated for political gain. I urge my colleagues and citizens to stand against these dangerous proposals and defend our civil service.
U.S. REP TROY A CARTER SR. Louisiana’s Second Congressional District
Congress can help in fight against Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are a rapidly growing public health issue in Louisiana and throughout the nation. Alzheimer’s is one of the most expensive diseases in America, costing $360 billion in 2024. One in every 5 Medicare dollars is spent on someone with Alzheimer’s. As the granddaughter of someone living with dementia, I understand the firsthand impact this disease has on families across America. My grandma has been one of the biggest influences on my life. It’s difficult to see one of the strongest women I know battling such a heartbreaking disease. Without my nonna, I wouldn’t be the person I am today That is why I am proud to be a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, which have been working to ad-
dress the Alzheimer’s crisis. I’m grateful for the efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association and the progress that is being made toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia, with the hope that others may not have to experience the effects of this disease in the future.
Working with bipartisan congressional champions, we’ve made monumental progress in advancing critical research and ensuring all affected families have access to care and support. But more work remains. As a new member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields can play an important role in building on this progress. Please join me in encouraging Fields to support the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
HOLLY VALDIVIESO Baton Rouge
Trump supporters should be ashamed of Jan. 6 pardons
We have reelected a president who continues to condone political violence. Everyone who has supported Donald Trump is now complicit in his approval of acts of violence on police officers. We have set free from restraint a detestable tempest. Our lawmakers have helped this repugnant morality persist.
Maybe now we should learn from the Old Testament quote: “For they have sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind.”
Police officers put their lives on the line constantly for us and should have more support than this president has shown. He can wrap himself in a flag, but that doesn’t make him any less reprehensible for his support and pardoning of the Jan. 6, 2021, convicted and accusable traitors and criminals.
People cannot stay neutral or silent during times of injustice.
JOHN RIEDIE Belle Chasse
LSU law professor Ken Levy forgot basic requirement of the job
Ken Levy an instructor at LSU Law School, is not fit to be teaching students.
You cannot intimidate students because they don’t agree with your political views.
His comments about the governor and the president are not the issue.
The issue is allowing dissenting views to be talked about in an academic setting without vulgarity or disrespect.
Ken Levy forgot that.
RICHARD LEVY New Orleans
TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN
HIGH STEPPING!
Carnival parade prep is in full swing and it looks like this krewe is gonna take its fun to new heights! you never know what you’ll see around here this time of year! So, what’s the little girl telling her friend in this cartoon? you tell me. Be witty funny, crazy absurd or snarky — just try to keep it clean.The winning punchline will be lettered into the word balloon and run on Monday. In addition, the winner will receive a signed print of the cartoon along with a cool winner’s T-shirt! Honorable mentions will also be listed.To enter, email cartooncontest@theadvocate.com. DON’T FORGET! All entries must include your name, home address and phone number Cell numbers are best.The deadline is midnight on Thursday. Have fun, folks! — Walt
BEHIND THE HEADLINES TRUMP CABINET NOMINEES
Bill Cassidy’s big bet
GOP senator staked his future on support for RFK
Louisiana
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy faced the hardest and most closely watched decision of his political life over whether to support Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s highly controversial nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services. Columnists Quin Hillyer and Stephanie Grace discuss the fallout from the Republican physician’s “yes” vote, despite deep concerns he made plain in hearings before the Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity
Grace: Quin, were you surprised that Cassidy voted the way he did?
Hillyer: Let me start by saying that I have generally been an admirer of Bill Cassidy I think he has been a good senator and seems like a good man. But yes, I was definitely surprised.
I thought that on this nomination, of all nominations, Cassidy would believe that he could fall back on his background as a doctor and if there were any one nomination where he could have gotten a pass, as it were, this was the one. And if there were any one nomination where he should have felt absolutely — professionally and ethically — bound to stop it, this was the one, because he knows darn well what an absolute frightening quack Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is.
Grace: Right, and he really did a good job of showing that during the hearings. He talked a lot about vaccines. I didn’t know the extent to which Cassidy had worked specifically on vaccine research and immunization programs as a physician. So he really was speaking from a place of expertise, and having had patients become sick and die who could have been saved It was very personal.
And the other thing he did very effectively in the Finance Committee hearing was to really show that Kennedy doesn’t understand in any depth how Medicare and Medicaid work. It was factual questioning aimed at soliciting his ideas, not gotcha questioning, but I think that made it even more damaging.
Hillyer: I agree with you. He was getting praise from all sources, right, middle and left, for his very sober, thoughtful, effective questioning of RFK. Philip Klein, in National Review Online, had a piece called “Bill Cassidy’s finest hour.” So again, if he needed political cover, that questioning gave him political cover and then he backed out
The question is: Do you, as somebody who has been covering Louisiana politics for so long, think that this vote on RFK is going to do anything to help him in the 2026 primary? And on the other hand, is there any way that it could hurt him?
Grace: You know, I don’t think it moves the ball very much, because I really feel like the conditions are baked in right now and have been baked in since 2021, when he was one of only a few Republicans who voted to convict Donald Trump in the Jan. 6-related impeachment of inciting the insurrection. That’s when the Republican Party of Louisiana censured him. That’s when the kind of MAGA true believers really started to talk about him as a turncoat — and that dynamic has only grown since then. So that’s the original sin, and I don’t think he gets forgiven by those people for it And the very important thing that’s happened since then is that the state went to party primaries, in part because of him; state Treasurer John Fleming who used to work for Trump and is now planning to challenge Cassidy, basically said in a letter to the editor that it’s because of people like Bill Cassidy that we need these Republican primaries, that we don’t want to elect people who won’t be true to what we Republicans think they should be.
So, I don’t know Certainly they would have attacked him if he had voted against Kennedy, but they’re coming for him anyway And at the same time, I think he did lose some good will [by voting for Kennedy]. I don’t know how many votes it would have translated into, but he certainly disappointed people who were hoping he would
Jr.
stand up and do exactly what you were describing earlier Some of them might be “no party” voters who’ll be allowed to vote in the GOP primary next year
Hillyer: I think so too. As you said, he doesn’t gain anything from the MAGA crowd. They’re still going to be against him, but now he loses a ton of credibility with people who are conservative, but who do not think that that means that you have to kowtow to everything Donald Trump does.
And there are also big money people who feel the latter way, and now they’re going to look at Cassidy and say, well, if he’s just going to be Tweedledum to somebody else’s Tweedledee, why support him?
But again, those are political calculations. There also should be just ethical imperatives to not confirm somebody who is manifestly unqualified for this position.
And if you’re a conservative, I could go down a very long list of policy positions that are absolute anathema to conservatives. And then, finally, he has absolutely no background running an organization this size, or even anything close to it And as you said, no knowledge about how Medicare or Medicaid or any of these other health systems work.
Grace: I’m wondering if one of those things that you think is really kind of anticonservative is his background as a trial lawyer
Hillyer: Well, that’s one of them, but it’s more than that. Just last year, he was saying that he supports abortion all the way up until the moment of birth. He has supported price controls on medicine and a single-payer national socialized health care system. He has praised the basically communist former dictator of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. He said that the National Rifle Association is a terrorist organization. He has said that oil and gas executives are traitors. He has said that climate change deniers should be jailed “for all eternity.” I mean, I can go on and on.
Grace: An incredible list, isn’t it?
Hillyer: Kennedy is a radical leftist, yeah, and he’s a nutcase. He has said COVID was race-engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews. He has said that the AIDS vaccine is phony, that Lyme disease is a deliberate bioweapon, and he has said that putting fluoride in the water creates more gay children.
Grace: I should say Cassidy has supported legislation promoting fluoridation. So it’s interesting you bring up abortion, because that’s something else Bill Cassidy talked about in a call with journalists right before the hearings. Kennedy is not in line with
Cassidy’s point of view and the Republican Party’s point of view on that issue so again, Cassidy was setting up multiple avenues to justify saying no. So what I wonder is, what do you think happened that secured his yes vote?
Hillyer: Who knows? We do know that the Trump apparatus has been playing hardball with every Republican senator in every way they can. You saw Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who literally told the Senate majority leader that he was a no vote on Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, and then turned around and voted yes — which, by the way, was another bad vote that Cassidy made..
Grace: Cassidy said that JD Vance, the vice president, had a conversation with him. We don’t know the substance of that conversation. He said he got some concessions from RFK to not undermine efforts to promote vaccine acceptance, and also to regularly consult with Cassidy, who chairs the committee that oversees health and other things. Cassidy described it as almost a partnership. Do we buy that?
Hillyer: OK, let me say: “Good luck, Senator, in enforcing that one.”
It is absolutely absurd to believe that somebody who has pushed for decades this nonsense on vaccines is going to actually be sincere in his conversion against something he had fought for for decades.
Grace: I agree, and there’s one more reason I want to throw in there. Look at the way the Trump administration is approaching executive power The idea that they would say “Oh, yes, Congress, come in and be an equal partner” — that is not their approach at all, to the extreme
Hillyer: It is absolutely not. And if anybody had a chance to moderate Trump on executive power, this was the vote and Cassidy was the man, because right now the Senate is playing like a big collective lap dog and completely forfeiting its own authority And at some point you give up enough of your own power that you can never get it back. We are in a bad way in terms of separation of powers.
Grace: And in addition to forfeiting their ability to be guardrails, they forfeit their claim to moral authority, right? Cassidy on medicine, some of these other senators —
I’m thinking of Joni Ernst [of Iowa], who has been a champion of women in the military and survivors of sexual assault.
She’s both, and yet, under exactly the kind of pressure tactics you described, she supported Hegseth.
So it just weakens her voice on those issues that she’s really made central to
her career The same way, I think this can weaken Cassidy’s voice on issues that are very important to him and where he has a lot of credibility with the public and with his colleagues.
Hillyer: You forfeit credibility if you do not stand up for what you know ethically and professionally is right when you have the chance to do so.
So do you think that Bill Cassidy has any real chance, now, even with this vote, of winning the 2026 Republican primary?
Grace: I think he can win a general election, but can he get there?
The way the primary is set up, there is a primary within the Republican Party, and then there is a runoff within the Republican Party if someone doesn’t get 50% plus one. I guess I would have said yes if he only had to win a plurality of Republicans and several MAGA candidates got in, which it seems like might be the case, and there is the wild card of “no party” voters that can vote in the Republican primary But he has to get a majority of Republican primary voters.
Now, one thing I’m wondering about is the behind-closed-doors conversations. Did Cassidy extract a promise from Trump, either for his endorsement or to not endorse an opponent? Did he exact some sort of promise from Gov Jeff Landry? Maybe that could help, although I still think a big segment of voters are really just dug in on this.
Hillyer: I think there are voters that are dug in on this as long as Trump remains popular within the party And nothing Cassidy can do is going to win enough MAGA voters back over to his side to win the primary unless Trump himself tanks in popularity
But if Trump tanks in popularity, Cassidy is no longer in a position to be the one who showed the sense and the courage to stand up against him. So the only distinction that he has is gone. Grace: I guess he could make other arguments, like that the infrastructure bill he championed, while all the other Republicans in the state voted against it, has been beneficial to Louisiana.
Of course, now they’re trying to cut off money for that. And it’s a complicated argument to make.
Hillyer: Yeah, I don’t see it personally And his votes for all of Trump’s nominees, even manifestly unqualified — in fact, not just unqualified, but horrific, just sick-joke types of nominees — does not recommend Cassidy as somebody who is who is keeping his head in the storm.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROD LAMKEy, JR.
Robert F Kennedy Jr., right, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, talks with Committee Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, following his testimony during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing for his pending confirmation on Capitol Hill last month in Washington.
Stephanie Grace Quin Hillyer
ENTICING TRAITS
The more I learn about Kellen Moore, the more I like him.
The New Orleans Saints have landed a rising star as their next head coach Moore arrives with a strong résumé and stellar reputation. NFL folks rave about his intelligence, composure and makeup. All things considered, he is as qualified of a candidate as the Saints could have hoped to land as the 12th head coach in franchise history What I like best about Moore is his makeup. His background reveals a track record of success. He’s a classic achiever and has succeeded at every step of his life and career He was a state champion and record-setter at Prosser (Washington) High School. At Boise State, he set national records and left as the winningest quarterback in college football history (51-3) As an NFL assistant he has guided top-ranked
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
When looking forward to this
weekend’s Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational at Lamson Park, there’s good news and bad news for the UL softball team. Potential ace right-hander Tyra Clary suffered an injury in the sixth inning of her win Saturday and was seen on crutches Sunday “God is good She’ll be back,” UL coach Alyson Habetz said of Clary “She’ll just have to get some rehab and let it rest a little bit and get some treatment on it. As of now, all looks well. The structure
offenses and won a Lombardi Trophy
Those things don’t happen by accident.
The son of a coach, Moore grew up around football. At a young age, he learned the intangible traits necessary to succeed in life. He drank water instead of sodas and didn’t eat candy or cake (his diet might need to change come Carnival season). He started working out with the players on his father’s high school team at the age of 5. And as he got older, he became a film junkie. For Christmas and birthdays,
is good and nothing is torn. We’re very grateful for that.”
The bad news is that won’t take place this weekend, which is scheduled to begin with a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader Friday against Northern Illinois and then Ole Miss in the 7 p.m. nightcap.
For now Clary joins fellow pitchers Sage Hoover and Lexie Delbrey on the injured list.
“We’re just trying to get them all ready,” Habetz said. “Hopefully, they’ll all be ready at the right time.”
For now, that means more innings for true freshman Mallory Wheeler, senior Sam Ryan and junior transfer Bethaney Noble. Noble struggled in her only appearance last weekend, which was against No. 1 Texas. Habetz is eager to see Noble’s
next game.
he’d ask for money so he could buy college and NFL game tapes.
Moore has been programmed to be a coach, leader and teacher
In that way, he’s got some Drew Brees in him. Never blessed with prototypical physical skills, Moore succeeded as a player because of the intangibles — intelligence, work ethic and discipline. He compensated for what he lacked in terms of height, weight and speed by outworking and out-studying his competition.
Like Brees, Moore spent so much time in film study that he would catch details the typical player wouldn’t see, particularly pre-snap hints by defensive personnel that would expose the coverage.
He’s carried this “PHD” mindset — poor, hungry and determined — into his
“I think she’s going to be great, I really do,” Habetz said. “She wasn’t afraid. If one call goes her way or one pop up that we don’t drop — that’s the game of softball, a game of inches. But mentally, though, she wants it.
“She’s a pitcher who hasn’t had this kind of experience, but I think she relishes it She loves her teammates. She’s excited for every game, and she wants to be out there. She’s good, and I’m real excited to put her out there again this weekend.” For other players,
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
Nobody knows anything yet about what kind of head coach Kellen Moore will be for the New Orleans Saints, because he never has been a head coach before.
But Moore as an offensive play-caller, a role he presumably will take on with the Saints, has six seasons worth of data and interviews to help provide some insight on what he may bring to the sidelines.
His offenses have enjoyed a lot of success during his time as an NFL coach Here are a few reasons why Lean into strengths
This is the thing that is most evident when looking through Moore’s body of work as an offensive play-caller: His offense pivots depending on the players at his disposal.
During his lone year in Philadelphia, Moore realized he had one of the league’s best running backs in Saquon Barkley, one of the league’s best offensive lines and a quarterback who was a threat to run. The Eagles proceeded to run the ball on an NFL-high 55.7% of their offensive snaps. The commitment to the run was a success: The Eagles not only ranked second in the NFL in rushing but also third in expected points added (EPA) per rush and second in rushing yards over expectation.
But the 2024 season stands out in stark contrast compared to some of Moore’s previous seasons. His 2023 Chargers and 2019, 2020 and 2021 Cowboys teams each passed the ball roughly 60% of the time offenses that were built around the quarterback and the receiving options at his disposal. How this plays out with the Saints likely will depend on how the roster shakes out in the coming months, but at the moment the best players Moore has are receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and running back Alvin Kamara.
Motion
If you’re looking for a consistent thread in his offenses through the years, it is his use of pre-snap motion. Moore’s teams have used pre-snap motion on at least 51% of their plays in each of his six seasons as offensive coordinator, topping out at a 69.8% motion rate in 2023 with the Chargers.
Here is a look at how much pre-snap motion his teams have used during his time as an offensive coordinator, according to NFL Pro. For context, the ranking is based on the number of overall snaps using motion, not the rate.
n 2019: 5th (660 plays/ 61.7%)
n 2020: 9th (621/ 55.8%)
n 2021: 14th (590/ 51.2%)
n 2022: 14th (607/ 54.5%)
n 2023: 4th (772/ 69.8%)
n 2024: 17th (671/ 60.2%)
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, right, speaks with quarterback Jalen Hurts during Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday
STAFF
PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
baserunner Gabbie Stutes steals second during the Cajuns’ win over Longwood on Sunday at Lamson Field.
Mulkey, CBS journalist to hold event
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
Coach Kim Mulkey will host a public Q&A session on the LSU campus with CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford According to an Eventbrite posting, Mulkey will guide the discussion, centering it around Crawford’s “law and journalism insights.” The forum will begin at 5 p.m. March 11 inside the Cox Auditorium.
“We’re gonna open it up to questions,” Mulkey said Tuesday on her weekly radio show “It’s gonna be like a fireside chat, and I’m gonna be like the moderator You can ask anything. We’ll open it up. Mulkey said she and Crawford are friends. The LSU women’s basketball coach recently floated the idea of inviting Crawford to the university, she said, so she could speak with students, faculty and anyone else who wished to attend.
“I did it one day without her knowing it,” Mulkey said, “and they took me up on it.” Crawford, according to her CBS News bio, is a “recognized authority” on the U.S. Supreme Court
She’s also a New York Times bestselling author who’s sat down for interviews with five current Supreme Court justices, including the first network TV interview with Chief Justice John Roberts ever granted. She joined CBS News
Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks fields questions on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
LSU
in 2009. Crawford’s Q&A session with Mulkey is organized through a partnership between the LSU school of mass communication, law center and honors college.
Tough stretch ahead
LSU has begun one of the most difficult stretches of games it has encountered so far under Mulkey
As many as five of the No. 5 Tigers’ final six regular-season contests could turn into matchups against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. LSU already has beaten No. 19 Ten-
Plum joins LA Sparks for a
‘full-circle moment’
BY BETH HARRIS AP sportswriter
LOSANGELES Kelsey Plum used to attend Los Angeles Sparks games as a kid, with her mother driving them from the San Diego area. Now she’s joined the franchise in a reunion with her former Las Vegas Aces teammate Dearica Hamby.
“I would say I’m still that kid. It’s a full-circle moment. I feel so grateful,” Plum said at Cypto.com Arena. The 30-year-old point guard was introduced Wednesday, shortly after the Sparks announced the signing of center Mercedes Russell, who like Plum is a two-time WNBA champion.
Plum was part of a three-team trade last month that sent Jewell Loyd to the Aces, while the Sparks gave the Seattle Storm the No 2 pick in the draft and Li Yueru Los Angeles also received the No. 9 pick while the Aces got the 13th pick in the draft
“We needed to improve our backcourt. That was a clear offseason goal of ours,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said. “We kept feeling all roads led to Kelsey.” Plum felt a similar pull.
“My boyfriend gave me for Christmas a bunch of candles from different cities. I kind of put them in different rooms of the house,” she said.
“I looked over one day and LA was sitting right next to my bed, like Los Angeles candle I was like, ‘That’s not a coincidence.’ It’s just funny to me because it was on my spirit for a while. I look back now and it makes perfect sense.”
The Sparks won league titles in 2001, 2002 and 2016 but have missed the playoffs four straight years. Another of their offseason moves was hiring coach Lynne Roberts from the college ranks at Utah.
Roberts has her own painful memory of coaching against Plum, who starred at Washington.
“We’re driving in the bus over for the game and someone on our staff said, ‘Oh man, Plum needs 53 to break the all-time scoring record in college basketball,’” Roberts said “I was like, ‘She’s not getting 53 on us.’ And she didn’t She got 57.”
That was on Feb 25, 2017, when Plum set the Pac-12 single-game scoring record and became the NCAA Division I women’s career scoring leader She was passed by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark last year
“We knew we needed a lead guard that can absolutely play and score. She’s a competitor at heart and that’s what we need,” Roberts said. “I want our team to get back to where it belongs.”
Hamby was on hand to welcome Plum. They helped the Aces win back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023.
“We’ve always had a great connection,” Plum said. “Me and her playing together, it’s just a different level of pace so I’m super excited to get back to that.”
In 2022 Plum earned All-WNBA first team honors for the first time and was MVP of the All-Star Game. She also won gold medals in 3x3 basketball at the Tokyo Olympics and in 5x5 at last year’s Paris Olympics.
at Texas.
nessee, and it will soon face No. 3 Texas, No. 8 Kentucky and No. 21 Alabama.
Ole Miss, the Tigers’ final opponent of the regular season, could break into the Top 25 soon, thanks to a 66-57 win it picked up over the Wildcats on Monday Across Mulkey’s first three seasons at LSU, the Tigers faced only nine ranked Southeastern Conference opponents They’ve already played four so far this year
LSU is 5-1 this season in Quad 1 games, with four such contests still left on the schedule.
Only six Division I teams have picked up at least five of those wins this year In the previous two seasons, the Tigers went 14-7 in Quad 1 games. The first of those matchups — a 2 p.m. Sunday road clash against the Longhorns — will be a new challenge for LSU. Under Mulkey, the Tigers never have faced a top-five opponent not named South Carolina. Texas, which just ended the No. 4 Gamecocks’ 57-game SEC regular-season winning streak, presents the latest challenge in a season full of them for LSU.
Sheppard’s minutes surge
Until LSU beat Missouri on Thursday, Mjracle Sheppard was playing an average of eight minutes per game against SEC opponents. Now she’s playing closer to 30. The transfer guard from Mississippi State logged 28 minutes in the Tigers’ win over Missouri, then saw 27 minutes of action in their victory over Tennessee. LSU outscored those two opponents by a combined 30 points in the time Sheppard spent on the floor “(Sheppard) just brings that energy, that defensive intensity,” Mulkey said. “You better know where she is because she’s gonna go in there and get an offensive board. She’s gonna go in there and block a big shot. She’s just active, and she makes everybody else play just a little bit faster.”
Johnson names LSU rotation for weekend
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson announced on Wednesday that sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson, junior right-hander Anthony Eyanson and redshirt sophomore right-hander Chase Shores will begin the season in the weekend rotation.
Anderson will be the Friday starter, Eyanson starts Saturday and Shores makes his way to the mound Sunday LSU begins its 2025 campaign on Friday against Purdue Fort Wayne.
“I’ve tried to be as thorough as possible,” Johnson said. “A little different process (this year with) so many new players. I really didn’t scratch out a whole lot of scenarios, to be honest with you, until seeing kind of a full body of work.”
After posting a 3.99 ERA last year as a freshman, Anderson dominated hitters in the fall and preseason. His velocity has increased since last year and he’s greatly improved his slider
He also revealed Wednesday that he’s gone from 167 to 190 pounds since arriving on campus as a freshman.
“Whoever we kind of open with and who pitches at the end of the game, like you have to really trust the makeup of that pitcher,” Johnson said. “And I trust him with my life, like he’s one of the leaders on the team.”
Eyanson earned the second rotation spot after transferring in from UC San Diego this past offseason. He posted a 3.07 ERA in 82 innings last year, striking out 85 batters and holding opponents to a .190 batting average.
He also pitched on the U.S. Collegiate National Team this summer
“It’s a lot to like,” Johnson said. “Strikes, high-level pitchability (and) composure. You can feel him smelling the season, so to speak. Like he’s operated like a veteran.”
Shores returns after missing the past season and a half after Tommy John surgery He was
Durant becomes eighth to score 30,000 points
PHOENIX Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, hitting the mark against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night with a free throw late in the third quarter
The 36-year-old Phoenix Suns forward, who recently was voted to his 15th All-Star team, joins LeBron James, Kareem AbdulJabbar Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain in the 30,000-point club.
Julius Erving also hit the mark when combining his points scored in the NBA and ABA.
Durant is a four-time NBA scoring champion and remains one of the league’s elite shot makers in his 17th NBA season. He’s averaging about 27 points per game while shooting 52% from the field.
Hip surgery sidelines Angels third baseman Rendon
TEMPE,Ariz.— Angels third baseman
Anthony Rendon needs hip surgery and will be out for an extended period, his latest major injury setback since joining Los Angeles.
General manager Perry Minasian told reporters at the Angels’ spring training complex Wednesday that Rendon will miss a significant amount of playing time for the fifth consecutive season.
Rendon is beginning the sixth season of a $245 million, seven-year contract that has been disastrous for the Angels, who haven’t had a winning season since 2015 or made the playoffs since 2014.
Rendon, who will turn 35 in June, played in just 205 games over the past four seasons, and he has been on the injured list 12 times since 2021.
“His quickness moving left and right has been good, and he’s got a good (and) accurate arm. And because he does a good job ... he’s got kind of a really good internal baseball clock.”
JAy JOHNSON, LSU baseball coach
ä LSU vs. Purdue Fort Wayne. 2 P.M. FRIDAy SECN+
in the starting rotation to begin his freshman campaign before becoming a key component of the LSU bullpen by the start of Southeastern Conference play
His fastball was back up to 99 mph during LSU’s preseason scrimmage Saturday and his slider has looked sharp since returning from injury Regaining his consistency from a command standpoint is the biggest hurdle he’s still trying to clear
On Tuesday, Johnson revealed on the “Batter Up” show that sophomore Steven Milam will begin the season as the LSU shortstop.
Milam was the second baseman last season and stood out defensively because of his arm strength and quickness. He spent some time at shortstop last season and primarily played there in high school.
Johnson repeatedly has said this preseason that Milam is the Tigers’ best defensive infielder
“My comfort is Steven has shown a really good ability to come get the ball. His quickness moving left and right has been good, and he’s got a good (and) accurate arm,” Johnson said. “And because he does a good job of coming and getting the ball, he’s got kind of a really good internal baseball clock.”
Milam replaces senior Michael Braswell at the position. Braswell played 64 games at short last season but now moves to third base, a spot he played seven games at during his sophomore year with South Carolina.
Ohio State hires former Lions coach Patricia as DC Ohio State is hiring former Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator according to a person familiar with the situation, under the condition of anonymity Ohio State coach Ryan Day, who led the Buckeyes to the national championship, agreed in principle last week to a seven-year contract valued at $12.5 million per year Day is hiring Patricia to fill the void left by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles leaving for the same job at Penn State. The 50-year-old Patricia, a Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator in New England under Bill Belichick, is getting another chance to coach after the Philadelphia Eagles let him go a year ago, after their openinground playoff loss to Tampa Bay
UNLV senior O-lineman Christman dies at 21
LAS VEGAS UNLV senior offensive lineman Ben Christman, who transferred after last season from Kentucky, has died, the university announced.
Christman, who was 21, was found dead in an off-campus apartment on Tuesday morning. The university said it didn’t have other details and a cause of death would later be determined by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
Christman began his college career at Ohio State as a highly ranked prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. He redshirted that season and played in one game in 2022 before transferring to Kentucky Christman did not play in 2023 because of a knee injury, but appeared in all 12 games last season on special teams.
NFL WR Toney charged with assaulting a woman
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. Former Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney has been charged with assaulting a woman in Georgia and preventing her from calling for help.
Toney, 26, was arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail on Feb. 6 on charges of aggravated assault and obstructing or hindering an emergency call. He was released the same day on $50,000 bail.
An investigator wrote that red marks were visible on the woman’s neck, as well as hemorrhaging in her eyes.
Toney put his hand around a woman’s throat “with enough force to cause her to be unable to breathe” on Jan. 14 at his
Notebook
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
head coach Kim Mulkey walks to the bench before the game against Mississippi State on Feb 2 at the PMAC.
AP PHOTO By DAMIAN DOVARGANES
St. Thomas More girls blank Prairieville
No. 1 Cougars one step closer to eighth straight state title
BY MIKE COPPAGE
Contributing writer
The chase for eight straight state titles continues for the St Thomas More girls soccer team.
The No. 1-seeded Cougars overcame an unorthodox strategy by No. 9 Prairieville on Tuesday with a flurry of goals in the final 11 minutes to win the Division II quarterfinal playoff game 5-0 in Lafayette.
The Hurricanes of Ascension Parish (13-6-2) packed their defense tightly against the Cougars (18-2-5), who had scored nearly 20 goals in their first two playoff games.
“We have never gone up against a defense like that before,” STM sophomore Ella Crochet said “They were packing everyone back with only one striker It was working, and then you find a way around it.”
In the 69th minute, Crochet tapped in a corner kick from UL volleyball signee Rhyan Miciotto for the first goal. Before that, the Cougars attempted 30 shots against Hurricanes sophomore goalkeeper Hadley Walker
“I thought they came in with a good plan,” STM coach Katie Breaux said of Prairieville, a firstyear program with only one senior “Stick everyone in the box and make it difficult for us to score.
“I think the girls were a bit frustrated. I gave them a few words at halftime: ‘Let’s keep shooting it will come.’
Isabella Lacour scored the next goal off an Aubrey Cassidy assist Kate Guillory had the next two goals, taking a pass from Miciotto and juking three defenders before
Continued from
four at-bats, including a triple and three RBIs.
“She does not get shortchanged, and she’s confident up there, and she’s confident because she works so hard,” Habetz said of Stutes. “She’s prepared. She knows what pitchers are going to throw, and she knows what her swing is about.”
The problem for Stutes is that with shortstop Cecilia Vasquez and second baseman Mia Liscano off to a great start defensively — UL leads the nation with seven double plays already — it’s hard to find playing time for a third middle infielder
skirting the ball past Walker Guillory, who added a corner kick goal in stoppage time, kept the team even keeled.
“The girls were getting a little nervous,” Breaux said. “I remember Kate, a team captain, telling them at some moments that we got this. We kept our positive attitude.”
Another Guillory shot in stoppage time was deflected by Walker and punched in off the rebound by sophomore Lyza Peterman to send STM into the semifinals against No. 5 Central Lafourche (19-5-4), which upset No 4 Lakeshore.
“It feels great to advance because it’s coming down to the wire,” Breaux said. “We prepare for these moments. We work hard every day, train hard, keep our mindset that we got this and don’t worry about the outside world.”
Breaux praised defensive standouts Sydney Babineaux, Katherine Bell, Miciotto and UL softball signee Kennedy Stutes.
“Even though it didn’t look like our defense had to do much, (Prairieville) had a few counters and we took care of business,” she said. “I don’t think we allowed a shot on goal.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Rowan Dehart hasn’t conceded a goal in the postseason. The Cougars have posted six consecutive shutouts with 12 on the season and another 11 games where the opposition was held to a single goal. Senior Madeline Decuir has also been playing at a high level.
The Hurricanes reached the quarterfinals by defeating No 8 Neville in Monroe.
The STM/Central Lafourche winner will meet either No. 2 St. Scholastica (14-4-6) or No 3 Teurlings Catholic (16-3-2) in the championship in Hammond.
In January, the Cougars tied St. Scholastica 0-0 and defeated Teurlings 2-0 at the Rebels’ tournament.
RAGIN’ CAJUNS INVITATIONAL
“Gabbie, she’s the hardest worker on the team,” Habetz said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an athlete work so hard. She’s the kind of athlete that you just want good things to happen to her She’s out there every day. She’s a park rat and works her tail off.”
MOORE
Another factor to monitor this weekend is maximizing Emily Smith’s at-bats. The freshman slugger is off to a .400 start with two homers and five RBIs.
“She’s the epitome of a two-hole hitter,” Habetz said of Falterman.
“I felt like every time Emily came up, there was a runner at first who could steal, but I didn’t want to steal because I didn’t want them to walk Emily,” Habetz said. The hitters at the top of the lineup are off to a hot start Maddie Hayden (.429), Kayla Falterman (.700) and Vasquez (.417). Now it’s up to the bottom of the order to catch up.
“A two-hole hitter has to be someone who can hit with two strikes, because the first pitch we might be taking to steal or just to see a pitcher Then the second pitch, you might have to bunt and you might foul it off.
“Kayla Falterman hits with two strikes pretty much all the time, and she’s perfectly comfortable in that situation.”
Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.
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the intent of breaking those tendencies later Moore expanded on this idea last summer, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Once you get to game-plan football and you get into the regular
season, you have to be really conscious of who is on the field and what those tendencies dictate,” Moore said in August. “Sometimes you want to create tendencies for your own ability to trump them at later points.
“We’ll continue to evolve and utilize all those different points, whether it be who is on the field from tight ends, running backs; it’s every single unit. We have to really be conscious of that to protect our tendencies. Sometimes you want to have tendencies to break them in critical moments.”
Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.
coaching career It has driven him on an accelerated path to the top of his profession. And it will serve him well in New Orleans. The Saints head coaching job will be the biggest challenge of his football career The roster is aging. The salary cap is a mess. And the quarterback situation is unsettled. Moore and his staff will start their first season in New Orleans behind the eight ball.
Moore, though, seems to know what he’s getting into. In his social media post Tuesday, he said, “I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and am eager to get started.”
The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one, and Moore is embracing the challenge rather than running from it, which is exactly the mindset he’ll need to be successful.
Sean Payton attacked the job with a similar attitude in 2006 and was successful. Moore, like Payton, is enthusiastic, ambitious and driven. Personalitywise, though, he’s the polar opposite of the cocky, impulsive, carousing Payton. Moore is Taysom Hill in a headset. Regardless, Moore will need energy and enthusiasm to tackle the challenge ahead. In that regard, his youth could be a blessing rather than a curse. This is not a job for a retread. In these ways, Moore looks like an ideal fit for the Saints,
but the bottom line is he’ll need to win to keep the job.
The NFL is the ultimate production business, and at some point, Moore will need to produce on the field, or the Who Dat Nation will turn on him just as quickly as it did Dennis Allen. And the fact remains as promising as Moore’s résumé and pedigree are, he is unproven as a head coach. The list of great NFL coordinators who failed as head coaches is extensive. The man rumored to be Moore’s defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is just one example. Super Bowl LIX defensive coordinators Vic Fangio and Steve Spagnuolo are two others. There’s a world of difference between being a head coach and a coordinator The jobs require different skill sets. In addition to being great game planners and managers, NFL head coaches must be leaders, communicators, marketers, recruiters, psychologists and disciplinarians. There’s so much more to it than simply calling a good play or scheming up X’s and O’s.
But Moore has the ingredients needed to make a successful transition. If he fails, his track record suggests it won’t be because of a lack of preparation or work ethic.
This football-crazy town now has a football-crazy head coach to lead its beloved team. Time will tell whether the marriage endures, but it certainly looks like a promising match.
Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@ theadvocate.com.
STAFF
PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
The UL softball team gathers before the start of a game against Longwood during the 39th annual Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park on Sunday.
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
Thomas More’s
Crochet scored the first goal against Prairieville on Tuesday and the Cougars went on to
nal game in Lafayette.
PLAYOFF SOCCER GLANCE
Francis’ hot start lifts Northside to win
Sophomore guard leads Vikings past David Thibodaux
BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer
It’s no secret that Northside’s Jaydon Francis has been instrumental to the Vikings’ success this season.
While there’s been times he’s struggled to get going offensively, the Vikings have proven to be at their best when the sophomore guard gets off to a fast start shooting the ball.
Francis couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start Tuesday in a 58-52 victory over David Thibodaux
“Jaydon played really well,” coach Ross Rix said. “He did a good job of getting us going early.”
Francis, who scored eight of the Vikings’ 16 first-quarter points, finished with a team-high 16 points to go with four rebounds, two steals, two assists and one blocked shot.
“We have to keep him consistent scoring the basketball through all four quarters,” Rix said. “It is on us as coaches to find a way to put him in position to score consis-
Boys
Tuesday’s scores Lafayette 45,Acadiana 41
Sam Houston 44, Carencro 43 Barbe 42, New Iberia 36 Sulphur 72, Southside 47 Cecilia 59, Beau Chene 56 Breaux Bridge 60, Port Allen 54 Comeaux 60, Rayne 46 Northside 58, David Thibodaux 52 Eunice 51, DeRidder 49
tently But he did a great job for us (Tuesday).”
Lavar Duncan added 13 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Treylon Angelle chipped in with nine points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds for Northside (215, 3-1 District 4-4A).
“We thought coming in that we had to do a good job defensively to win the game,” Rix said. “I feel like we gave up too many points. I would have liked to have kept them in the 40s and they scored 52. But we played hard and our defense definitely gave us a boost.”
Jonathan Dalcour Sean Hicks and Kortlan Willaims led the Bulldogs (23-5, 3-1). Dalcour finished with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds, while Hicks scored 14 points and Williams added 11.
Hicks also grabbed seven rebounds and had two blocked shots, while Williams contributed eight rebounds and three steals.
“You have to give David Thibodaux credit,” Rix said.
“They continued to ball the entire game. They were prepared to play It was a high-level ball game. In the end, we made enough plays to come out on top.”
Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.
St.Thomas More 53, North Vermilion 39 Opelousas 69, Livonia 29 Westgate 50,Teurlings 44 Abbeville 64, Kaplan 27 St. Martinville 77,Acadiana Renaissance 49 Catholic-NI 72, Delcambre 18 Lafayette Christian 54, Midland 45
AREA BASKETBALL REPORT
Loreauville 66, Houma Christian 29
Vermilion Catholic 55,Asension Episcopal 29
Catholic-PC 44, Opelousas Catholic 40
Westminster-LAF 63, Highland Baptist 58
JS Clark 48, North Central 39
Reeves 66, Northside Christian 29
Episcopal of Acadiana49, Hathaway 34
Northwest 57, Church Point 53
Crowley 64, Pine Prairie 20
Westminster-LAF 57, Erath 39 East Beauregard 71, Gueydan 49
Kinder 73, Jeanerette 54
Pitkin 85, St. Edmund 38
Westminster 69, Sacred Heart 36
Notre Dame 50, Northside Christian 28
St.Thomas More 77, St. Martinville 58
ST MARTINVILLE (58) Elydrick Murrey 6, Devin Lavalais 25, Bryan Bazille 8, Devaughn Hayes 4,
Dayne Small 15.Totals: 16 (6) 8-12.
ST THOMAS MORE (77) Trenton Potier 7, Bo
Couvillon 10, Matthew Cook 7, Grayson Roy 23, John Luke Bourque 14, Xarian Babineaux 5, Chase Jones 2, Elijah Guidry 9.Totals: 22 (5) 18-28.
Reeves 73, Northside Christian 8 Northwest 45, Church Point 31
Wild, Brazil, def. Sebastian Baez (6), Argentina, 6-3, 6-4. Francisco Cerundolo (5), Argentina, def. Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Argentina, 6-2, 6-3. Men’s Doubles Round of 16 Jean-Julien Rojer, Netherlands, and Francisco Cabral, Portugal, def. Federico Zeballos and Boris Arias, Bolivia, 6-0, 6-2. Alexander Erler, Austria, and Constantin Frantzen (4), Germany, def. Mariano Kestel-
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
Northside’s Jaydon Francis drives past David Thibodaux’s Bryston Sledge on Tuesday.
Two hearts, one kitchen
BY KEVIN BELTON Contributing writer
Imet Monica in 2000 while I was teaching cooking classes. She had moved to a nearby area to pursue a graduate degree. She had come to New Orleans to pick up her grandmother from the airport and get to know the city As part of their weekend, they decided to take my class.
I remember that day so clearly I did not want to look directly at her, but I didn’t want to take my eyes off her either Luckily, she and her grandma stayed to talk after class. We exchanged contact info. Monica said she was in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and much like living in New Jersey and getting on the train for an hour to go to NYC regularly, she came to New Orleans every other weekend. And that was our new routine. We would meet up, and as weeks turned into months and then years, our connection deepened I would show her my city and all
my favorite spots, or I would cook for her
Three years later almost to the day, she was graduating. In my heart, I felt that I had to let her go. Life is always complicated; I was a single working father raising two boys, and she had just finished a doctoral degree. I felt it was the right thing to do, and I kept telling myself, when you love someone,
you let them go. She got a job and moved away It was hard but we kept in touch. We would check in from time to time. She knew where I was during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and when I was on national television. She wrote me to tell me she had gotten married and had a child. That news was hard, but I was happy for her I guessed it wasn’t meant to be.
We continued to talk all those years. I dated someone; Monica’s marriage had not turned out as she hoped. And then about a decade later I called her but got her voicemail.
I was nervous, and I wasn’t sure what I was trying to say I felt like I stumbled through my words. And when she listened to the voicemail, she said I sounded different and that it was more what I didn’t actually say than what I said.
Fast-forward another 12-plus years and Monica is my wife. This year for Valentine’s Day, especially after the busy Super Bowl weeks and with Valentine’s Day on a Friday, our plan is to stay home.
Gretchen Love in Metairie has been baking for years, but when asked for a king cake recipe, she offered her son’s version. In Gift-of-the-Magi fashion, Steven Love says his mom is the real king cake expert. Even so, he has gained quite a reputation among friends for his delectable desserts — especially his galette des rois, the traditional French-style king cake made with puff pastry Both shared the same recipe with me, which is an old recipe from The Times-Picayune. The traditional galette des rois, which the Loves make, has an almond filling, similar to frangipane. I’ve made frangipane so often lately that I just didn’t have it in me to make it again for the king cake. I wondered if a cream cheese filling would work instead. I did a little research and decided to take my chances. The cream cheese filling worked like a charm. Certainly, it is not a traditional galette des rois, but it was still tasty
All in all, the dessert turns into a solid return-on-investment. Using store-bought puff pastry makes it a relatively quick dessert to prepare. The custom design on top makes it look fancy (One thing I did learn in the process of making this dessert is that Trader Joe’s only carries puff pastry during the Christmas holiday season.) Along the way, I learned that in France, the person who gets the piece with the baby (or the bean) is considered to be the lucky one — and wears a crown for the day In France, according to my research, the galette des rois is generally eaten on Jan. 6, the Epiphany (or King’s Day), and through the month of January, as opposed to the entire season of Carnival. One error I made when preparing my galette des rois was ä See THE DISH, page 6C
GRETCHEN McKAY
North American
known cultivation in fifth-century China. How it ended up on American dinner tables depends on who you’re talking to. Some say Spanish and Portuguese sailors brought the nightshade veggie which is botanically a fruit — to
Kevin and Monica Belton
PHOTO By MONICA BELTON
Valentine’s Day Raspberry Lemon Loaf Cake
STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER
Jan Risher prepared a traditional round galette des rois, which mimics
Recipe, Gallette de Rois 6C
By The Associated Press
Today is Thursday, Feb. 13, the 44th day of
2025. There are 321 days left in the year
Today in history
On Feb. 13, 1945, Allied forces in World War II began a three-day bombing raid on Dresden, Germany, killing as many as 25,000 people and triggering a firestorm that swept through the city center
On this date
In 1935, a jury in Flemington, New Jersey, found Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder in the kidnap-slaying of Charles A. Lindbergh
servings.
Makes
each sliced
breast until it is
Jr., the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Hauptmann was executed by electric chair the following year.)
In 2002, John Walker Lindh pleaded not guilty in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, to conspiring to kill Americans and supporting the Taliban and terrorist organizations. (Lindh later pleaded guilty to lesser offenses and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.)
In 2016, Justice Antonin Scalia, the influential conservative member of the U.S. Supreme Court, was found dead at a private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas; he was 79.
Chicken Saltimbocca
to ¾-inch thick. Season both sides with Creole seasoning and then evenly sprinkle on the 1 tablespoon of fresh sage.
2. Press a piece of prosciutto ham onto each pounded chicken breast, covering it. Place a fresh sage leaf into the center of the prosciutto ham on the chicken and press it in to stick. Set aside.
3. In a bowl or pan mix together the flour, salt and pepper, then lightly dredge each chicken saltimbocca in the flour and pat off any excess and set aside.
4. Add the olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium heat and cook the
In 2018, President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen, said he had paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels), a porn actor who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump. Today’s birthdays: Actor Kim Novak is 92. Actor Stockard Channing is 81. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut is 79. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski is 78. Musician Peter Gabriel is 75. Musician Peter Hook is 69. Singer-writer Henry Rollins is 64. Hockey Hall of Famer Mats Sundin is 54. Singer Robbie Williams is 51.
saltimbocca in batches, prosciutto side down first, for 2½ to 3 minutes per side or until browned and cooked through. Set the cooked chicken saltimbocca aside and add the shallot and garlic to the pan and saute for 1 to 2 minutes
5. Deglaze with white wine and cook until it’s almost gone. Pour in the chicken stock and cook over high heat for 3-4 minutes or until it reduces to a thin gravy Remove from heat.
6. Finish with butter 1 teaspoon sage, parsley, salt and pepper
7. Serve the pan sauce over top of the cooked chicken saltimbocca.
Valentine’s Day Raspberry Lemon Loaf Cake
duce air bubbles.
2
¼
½
1
2
1. Preheat oven to
VALENTINE’S
Continued from page 5C
I
These recipes are on our list of favorites, which we rotate and enjoy while spending the evening together
Serves
and spray a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray Line the loaf pan with parchment paper 2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Reserve 1 tablespoon flour mixture to toss with raspberries.
3. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl at medium speed until light and fluffy Beat in lemon zest. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts. Reduce speed to low and add eggs one at a time. Combine milk and yogurt in a small bowl. Beginning with flour mixture add in the flour in three additions, alternating with milk mixture just until incorporated.
4. Toss raspberries with reserved flour mixture and gently fold into the batter. Pour batter into prepared pan and tap sharply to re-
While I enjoy sweet and savory and everything in between, Monica’s palette leans firmly to savory The prosciutto adds a crisp saltiness that elevates the chicken. And this raspberry lemon loaf is as sweet as Monica will go. I will add ice cream, but she won’t! It also doubles as an on-the-go breakfast. Friday, we will be enjoying both these dishes while spending the evening at home with our girls, rescue
5. Bake cake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached.
6. In the last 5 minutes of baking, combine lemon juice and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and syrup thickens, about 4 minutes. Remove cake from the oven and immediately brush the top with lemon syrup. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; carefully remove cake from pan and cool completely 7. Whisk together melted butter, salt, lemon zest, powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cake and let set before serving. Top with fresh raspberries.
pups Cookie and Momo. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Kevin Belton is resident chef of WWL-TV and has taught classes in Louisiana cooking for 30 years. The most recent of his four cookbooks, “Kevin Belton’s Cookin’ Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of the Pelican State,” was published in 2021. Email Chef at chefkevinbelton@gmail com.
Roasted Eggplant with Chimichurri
“You Got This! Recipes Anyone Can Make and Everyone Will
1 Make the chimichurri: In blender or food processor, combine parsley, cilantro, oil, vinegar, shallots, garlic, onion, oregano, pepper, pepper flakes and salt. Process until the ingredients are minced and combined.
2. Transfer to a small bowl (Sauce should be more like a salad dressing than pesto.)
3. Roast the eggplant: Preheat oven to 425 F with the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper
4. Arrange eggplant on the prepared sheets, brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper
5, Roast until beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and flip. Return to oven, switching the positions of the pans from top to bottom for even browning
6. Continue roasting until they are tender and lightly browned, another 10 minutes.
7. Transfer eggplant to a platter Spoon about ½ cup of chimichurri on top and serve. Pass the remaining chimichurri at the table.
Galette des Rois (Kings’ cake of northern France)
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 packages frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
1 bean or plastic baby
1 egg, well-beaten for the egg wash
1. Using an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, mix the butter and sugar at high speed until light and flaky
2. Add the egg and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the almond meal and flour and add to the egg mixture. Add the rum and vanilla and mix well.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to 1⁄8 inch thickness. Cut out two 9-inch circles (or keep square both shapes work well as long as they are the same size).
4. Place the puff pastry on a flat tray and let rest in refrigerator for one hour
THE DISH
Continued from page 5C
that I added additional egg wash after I did the decorative cutting. When I compared notes with Steven Love afterward, he reminded me that using all of the egg wash before the decorative cutting works best and makes the cut lines more distinct, which makes a lot of sense.
“It helps to do the egg wash before the cuts so that they don’t brown as much,” he said. Nonetheless, my error didn’t affect the taste, but I’ll be sure to follow the proper instructions on the next go-round to make the most of the decoration.
Love, a 34-year-old electrical engineer, says his friends seem to appreciate his baking hobby From the sounds of things, he’s invited to his share of dinner parties, usually with the
5. Take one of the pieces of pastry and brush egg wash around the edge, making a 1-inch wide border Spread the almond cream from the center out, leaving the 1-inch border free of cream.
6. Place the charm or bean in the paste and cover with the second layer of puff pastry Press softly around the edges to seal the cream inside.
9. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving.
*To make almond meal, grind one half cup sliced almonds with one tablespoon confectioners’ sugar in the food processor until fine.
7. Brush the remaining egg wash on top. Then, cut decorative shapes into the top of the pastry with the tip of a knife, careful not to puncture through the surface. Let the cake rest for one hour prior to baking. 8. Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. If the cake starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
Jan’s optional cream cheese filling for Galette de Rois
1 block of cream cheese softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chopped pecans
1. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract together until creamy
2. Spread on the first layer of puff pastry, from the center, exactly as instructions for almond paste.
3. Sprinkle the cream cheese with the chopped pecans. (Originally, I mixed the pecans in with the cream cheese spread. That method works too, but I prefer them sprinkled on top.)
offer of bringing dessert. He was excited about my trying a different filling on the cake and may give it a try himself.
I appreciated his detailed instructions and tips. When I was getting ready to cut the design in my king cake, I texted him to see if he recommends a special knife.
“I just use a small cheese knife,” he replied. “I only cut with the very tip of the knife, holding it like a pencil. (So smaller is easier.)” Since it’s the week of Valentine’s Day and given his surname, I couldn’t help but ask if he was seeing someone.
“Yes, I’m single,” the engineer with a love for baking said with a laugh.
The Dish is a Thursday column by Jan Risher. Each week, she tries her hand at making someone else’s signature dish — and compares notes. If you or someone you know has a signature dish that you would like Jan to try, email her at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
Jan Risher cuts designs in her galette des rois.
STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take the time to assess your relationships. Decluttering your living space will help you gain clarity regarding the people you associate with and their influence on you.
PIsCEs (Feb 20-March 20) Say what's on your mind, but be ready to face controversy. The best route forward is honesty, integrity and fair play. Put your energy into personal improvements, better health and expanding your interests.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Refrain from counting on anyone but yourself, and you will spare yourself grief and disappointment. You have what it takes to succeed if you believe in yourself and your capabilities.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Think twice before you spend money unnecessarily. Take a walk, invite someone to coffee or consider what you can part with that will save you money. Indecisiveness and excessive behavior will be your downfall.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Question everyone and everything before you agree to participate in something. Use your intelligence, connections and high energy to get things done. Refuse to turn an emotional matter into something gigantic.
CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Use your imagination, and you'll develop ideas that make your job or responsibilities more manageable. Stay on track and distance yourself from manipulative people.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Check off the boxes as you head in a healthy direction.
Getting into a routine and consciously maintaining a healthy diet and regular fitness will lead to a positive attitude and common-sense choices.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Avoid drama and situations you cannot control. Refuse to get caught in someone else's battle or pay the price for a mistake you didn't make. Choose your circle wisely and play to win.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Abide by rules and regulations, and keep your information private. Concentrate on gathering information and socializing with upbeat individuals. Be wary of pushy people.
sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Choose the path that allows you to do things your way and test what intrigues you. Networking, conferences and connecting with someone from your past will be in your best interest.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Use your skills and time to further your interests, not to benefit someone who isn't likely to do the same for you. Look for opportunities and take the initiative to strengthen your position.
CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Use common sense and know when to decline an offer that isn't right for you. Positive results come from implementing changes that suit your needs. Be honest with yourself and others.
InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
nea CroSSwordS
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS CurTiS
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge
Francis Ford Coppola said, “When newspapers started to publish the box office scores of movies, I was horrified. Those results are totally fake because they never include the promotion budget.” I never thought of that. And not many Eastswouldthinkofthewinningdefense in today’s deal. How can East defeat four spades after West leads the heart nine?
The auction was straightforward and quantitative, North’s rebid in principle showing a balanced hand (no singleton or void) with (typically) seven losers and 13 to 15 support points.
Although it goes against the usual recommendation of experts, West might have led the club ace, since it was the unbidsuit.Ifhehad,Eastwouldhavehad to discourage with his six, not encourage a club continuation with the 10.
When West instead led high from his heart doubleton, East won with his queen, cashed the ace, and played a third round of the suit.
Momentarily, this looked good. If declarer had ruffed high, West would have gained a trump trick to go with his club ace. However, instead, South calmly discarded his singleton club West trumped and tried to cash the club ace, but declarer ruffed, drew trumps, and claimed.
There is a golden rule of trump promotion: Cash all of your side-suit winners first. After taking his two heart winners, East had
By Andrews McMeel Syndication
today’s thought “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
B.C.
PiCKles
BRIEFS
Globalstar officials ring Nasdaq opening bell
Globalstar officials rang the opening bell on the Nasdaq on Wednesday morning, at a ceremony tied to the Covington satellite company recently joining the tech-heavy exchange
Paul E. Jacobs, Globalstar CEO, rang the bell and was joined by other officials with the company Globalstar was added to the Nasdaq Global Select market on Tuesday
“Globalstar’s listing on Nasdaq marks a significant milestone in our 30-year history. Not only does this reinforce the strong financials and momentum of our company, but it also reflects our mission and commitment to innovation, growth, and long-term value creation,” Jacobs said in a statement.
Shares of Globalstar fell by $3.27 or 13.4% Wednesday to close at $21.06. On Monday, the company completed a reverse stock split, where 15 shares of Globalstar stock were converted to one share. The reverse split was done as part of an effort to make the business more appealing to a broader range of investors, including institutional shareholders.
N.O. Entrepreneur Week announces ’25 schedule
The producers of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week have announced the 2025 schedule.
The six-day celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship will take place March 24-29 at multiple greater New Orleans locations, including Loyola University New Orleans, the Nieux, NOLA Brewing and the Metairie Sheraton. Several other colleges and universities will host events as well.
Created by the Idea Village, a nonprofit business accelerator, in 2009, the event has gone through multiple transformations over the past decade and a half. This year, Loyola has signed on to coproduce NOEW and host many of its events. The event will feature speeches, panels, networking sessions and pitch competitions aimed at entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and “creative minds.” Topics of focus include biotech, software and energy innovation.
The invite-only 3rd Coast Venture Summit, designed to connect regional founders with investors, will happen March 2628 at Common House.
The list of speakers will be announced soon.
Most of Wall Street sinks on inflation news
Most U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after a report showed inflation is unexpectedly worsening for Americans.
The S&P 500 dropped, though it had been on track for a much worse loss of 1.1% at the start of trading The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down, while the Nasdaq composite edged slightly higher Stocks pared their losses through the day as the price of oil eased. A barrel of benchmark U.S crude fell 2.7% below $72 after President Donald Trump said he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin “negotiations” on ending the war in Ukraine. Such a move could free up the global movement of crude.
Inflation got worse in January
Increase fueled by rising cost of groceries, gas
BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer
WASHINGTON U.S. inflation accelerated last month as the cost of groceries, gasoline and rents rose, a disappointment for families and businesses struggling with higher costs and likely underscoring the Federal Reserve’s resolve to delay further interest rate cuts.
The consumer price index increased 3% in January from a year ago, Wednesday’s report from the Labor Department showed, up from 2.9% the previous month. It has increased from a 31/2-year low
of 2.4% in September
The new data shows that inflation has remained stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target for roughly the past six months after it fell steadily for about a year and a half. Elevated prices turned into a major political hurdle for former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris. President Donald Trump pledged to reduce prices on “Day 1” if elected though most economists worry that his many proposed tariffs could at least temporarily increase costs.
The unexpected boost in inflation could dampen some of the busi-
ness enthusiasm that arose after Trump’s election on promises to reduce regulation and cut taxes. Most of Wall Street sank Wednesday Bond yields rose, a sign traders expect inflation and interest rates to remain high.
“We’re really not making progress on inflation right now,” Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo. “This just extends the Fed’s hold.”
Inflation often jumps in January as many companies raise their prices at the beginning of the year, though the government’s seasonal adjustment process is supposed to
filter out those effects.
Yet House said inflation’s stubbornness wasn’t just a one-month blip. Consumers — particularly wealthier ones — are still spending at a robust pace, giving many companies less reason to hold down prices. And much of the decline in inflation in 2023 and early last year stemmed from supply-chain improvements, but that trend has mostly played out.
Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core consumer prices rose 3.3% in January compared with a year ago, up from 3.2% in December. Economists closely watch core prices because they can provide a better read of inflation’s future path.
Joann to close 500 stores across U.S.
5 La. locations on list; BR, Lafayette to remain open
BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Associated Press
NEW YORK Struggling fabric and crafts
seller Joann plans to close about 500 of its stores across the U.S. — or more than half of its current nationwide footprint
Five Louisiana stores are marked for closure: locations in Metairie, Slidell, Gretna, Shreveport and Alexandria. The Baton Rouge and Lafayette stores will remain open
The move, announced Wednesday arrives amid a tumultuous time for Joann. Last month, the Hudson, Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time within a year, with the company pointing to issues like sluggish consumer demand and inventory shortages.
Joann filed for Chapter 11 in March and emerged as a private company But after operational challenges continued to pile up, Joann filed for bankruptcy again in January It’s now looking to sell the business and maintained in a filing Wednesday that closing “underperforming” locations is necessary to complete that process “This was a very difficult decision to make, given the major impact we know it will have on our team members, our customers and all of the communities we serve,” the company said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “(But) rightsizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward.” Joann currently operates around 800
Joann plans to close
stores across 49 states. The initial list of the roughly 500 locations it’s looking to close can be found on the company’s restructuring website — spanning states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. When exactly those closures will take place and how many employees will be impacted has yet to be seen. Joann’s Wednesday motion seeks court permission to begin the process Joann’s roots date back to 1943, with a single storefront in Cleveland. The retailer later grew into a national chain. Formerly
known as Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the company rebranded itself with the shortened “Joann” name for its 75th anniversary
Both of Joann’s bankruptcy filings seen over the last year arrived amid some slowdowns in discretionary spending — notably with consumers taking a step back from at-home crafts, at least relative to the early COVID-19 pandemic boom. Joann has also faced rising competition in the crafts space from rivals like Hobby Lobby, as well as from larger retailers like Target, who now offer ample art supplies and kits.
Trump picks Bureau of Land Management leader
Longtime oil, gas representative set to oversee public land
BY MATTHEW BROWN and MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. — President Donald Trump has nominated a longtime oil and gas industry representative to oversee an agency that manages a quarter-billion acres of public land concentrated in western states.
Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Colorado-based oil industry trade group Western Energy Alliance, was picked to serve as Bu-
reau of Land Management director a position with wide influence over lands used for energy production, grazing, recreation and other purposes. An MIT graduate, Sgamma has been a leading voice for the fossil fuel industry, calling for fewer drilling restrictions on public lands that produce about 10% of U.S. oil and gas.
If confirmed by the Senate, she would be a key architect of Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” agenda alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who leads the newly formed National Energy Council that Trump says will establish American “energy dominance” around the world. Trump has vowed to boost U.S. oil and gas drilling and move away from
President Joe Biden’s focus on climate change.
Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt relocated the land bureau’s headquarters to Colorado during Trump’s first term, leading to a spike in employee resignations The bureau went four years under Trump without a confirmed director
The headquarters for the 10,000-person agency was moved back to Washington, D.C., under Biden, who installed Montana conservationist Traci Stone-Manning at the bureau to lead his administration’s efforts to curb oil and gas production in the name of fighting climate change.
Sgamma will be charged with reversing those policies, by put-
ting into effect a series of orders issued last week by Burgum as part of Trump’s plan to sharply expand fossil fuel production. Burgum ordered reviews of many of Stone-Manning’s signature efforts, including fewer oil and gas lease sales, an end to coal leasing in the nation’s biggest coal fields, a greater emphasis on conservation and drilling and renewable energy restrictions meant to protect a wide-ranging Western bird, the greater sage grouse Burgum also ordered federal officials to review and consider redrawing the boundaries of national monuments that were created under Biden and other presidents to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NAM y. HUH
about 500 of its stores across the U.S., including five in Louisiana.
