Children get a chance to participate in a Cajun tradition at the annual Courir des Enfants, a Mardi Gras chicken run for children, hosted by the Teche Center for the Arts in Breaux Bridge on Monday.
MARDI GRAS 2025 INSIDE, 1B THEADVOCATE.COM Ruby-June Newland, 7, smiles proudly after catching a chicken on Monday.
BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
The diagnoses for Hailey Bowen’s 12-year-old son came one after another.
First, it was severe ADHD. Then autism. Oppositional defiant disorder, marked by persistent defiance and hostility, came next, then evolved into disruptive mood
dysregulation disorder, a condition with severe outbursts. Now, obsessive-compulsive disorder is another possible issue. Despite it all, he recently transitioned from a special-needs school to general education, helped with a Medicaid-funded one-on-one aide. He’s earning good grades and learning to socialize, said Bowen, a landscape architect in New Orleans. She
imagines a day when he won’t need the aide, and can use the coping skills he’s learning at school to get a job as an adult. But with potential federal cuts to Medicaid looming, Bowen and her husband, a teacher, fear their son’s progress could unravel if he’s no longer eligible and can’t
Baton Rouge riders scramble amid delays
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
union members picketed just outside, riders like Daniels waited in the bus terminal on Florida and North 22nd Street, watching the screens for service updates. The scene served as an early indicator of how the CATS strike — the first ever at the agency, according to the union — could disrupt the lives of Baton Rouge’s public transit users.
“Especially if you don’t have a car and nobody will bring you around, you depend on the bus, your sole transportation,” Daniels said. The strike took one route out of service Monday according to CATS, and caused
ä See MEDICAID, page 4A ä See STRIKE, page 4A
Germany: 2 killed after driver rams into crowd
BERLIN A driver rammed a car into a crowd Monday in the southwestern German city of Mannheim, and authorities said two people were killed and 11 others injured, five of them severely
A 40-year-old German from the nearby state of RhinelandPalatinate was detained and in a hospital after being injured, State Interior Minister Thomas Strobl of Baden-Württemberg, where Mannheim is based, told German news agency dpa.
He later told reporters in Mannheim that “as far as the specific motivation of the crime is concerned, we have no indication of an extremist or religious background at the moment. The motivation could rather be based in the person of the perpetrator himself.”
German police and prosecutors said Monday at a joint news conference that the driver intentionally rammed his car into people and is being investigated for murder and attempted murder
They said the driver shot himself in the mouth when he was arrested and had to undergo medical treatment at a hospital. He could not yet be questioned. Investigators are looking into the possibility that the driver may suffer from psychological problems.
Texas official warns against measles parties
DALLAS A Texas health official is warning against “measles parties” as an outbreak grows in West Texas, resulting in the death of at least one unvaccinated school-aged child
In a news briefing Friday, Dr. Ron Cook, chief health officer for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, urged families to avoid such gatherings and instead get vaccinated.
“We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, being hospitalized, potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis, or potentially pass away from this,” he said, according to multiple news reports. “It’s a foolish thing to go have measles parties.”
It is not known if measles parties are actually popping up in West Texas. Asked for more information, Cook said, “It’s mostly been social media talk.”
Measles parties echo chickenpox parties from decades ago, when people would deliberately expose themselves or others to someone with a confirmed case in an attempt to spread the virus in a controlled environment. The chickenpox vaccine was introduced to the public in 1995, largely ending the practice.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world and spreads mostly among unvaccinated people. Symptoms include a cough, fever red eyes and the telltale skin rash. Since late January, 146 cases of measles have been identified in Texas, including 20 hospitalizations and one death.
U.N. food
closes office in Africa
CAPETOWN,SouthAfrica The United Nations’ World Food Program is closing its southern Africa office in the wake of the Trump administration’s aid cuts, a spokesperson said Monday Tomson Phiri said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that the U.N. food agency had launched a multiyear plan to streamline its structure in 2023 but as “the donor funding outlook becomes more constrained, we have been compelled to accelerate these efforts.” Phiri said the WFP would consolidate its southern and East Africa operations into one regional office in Nairobi, Kenya. The southern Africa office in Johannesburg will close.
Phiri said food programs would continue.
“Our commitment to serving vulnerable communities is as strong as ever, and WFP remains committed to ensuring our operations are as effective and efficient as possible in meeting the needs of those facing hunger” he wrote.
The WFP didn’t say how much funding it had lost from USAID, but it received $4.4 billion in assistance from the United States last year
‘Pause’ comes after blowup at Oval Office meeting
BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in peace talks with Russia A White House official said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal to end the more than three-year war sparked by Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The official added that the U.S. was “pausing and reviewing” its aid to “ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.
The moment comes some five years after Trump held up congressionally authorized assistance to Ukraine in 2019 as he sought to pressure Zelenskyy to launch investigations into Joe Biden, then a Democratic presidential candidate. The moment led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Trump in the lead-up to his 2024 election win vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine He’s expressed increasing frustration with Zelenskyy over the war, while simultaneously expressing confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin can be trusted to keep the peace if a truce in the conflict is reached.
Trump earlier on Monday slammed Zelenskyy for suggesting that the end of Russia’s war against Ukraine likely “is still very, very far away.”
The comments come as prominent Trump allies escalate pressure on Zelenskyy to dramatically change his approach to the
U.S. president, who has made quickly ending the war a top priority, or step aside.
The long complicated relationship between the leaders has reached a nadir following the disastrous White House meeting in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance excoriated Zelenskyy for not being sufficiently thankful for U.S. support for Ukraine since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform about
the comments Zelenskyy made late Sunday while speaking to reporters in London.
Trump at an event at the White House later on Monday referred to Zelenskyy’s reported comments, and asserted the Ukrainian leader “better not be right about that.”
“If somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long,” Trump added. “That person will not be listened to very long.”
Trump took issue with Zelenskyy suggesting it would take time to come to an agreement to end the war The Ukrainian leader also tried to offer a positive
take on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship in the aftermath of last week’s White House meeting.
Asked by a reporter about the outlines of a new European initiative to end Russia’s war, Zelenskyy said: “We are talking about the first steps today, and, therefore, until they are on paper I would not like to talk about them in great detail.”
“An agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet,” he added.
But Trump was only further irritated by Zelenskyy’s suggesting it will take time for the conflict to come to a close.
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S — Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” Trump added in his post. “What are they thinking?”
Zelenskyy took to social media soon after Trump’s latest criticism. He did not directly refer to Trump’s comments, but underscored that it “is very important that we try to make our diplomacy really substantive to end this war the soonest possible.”
25% duties will target goods from Mexico, Canada
BY JOSH BOAK, ZEKE MILLER and ROB GILLIES Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Monday that 25% taxes on imports from Mexico and Canada would start Tuesday sparking renewed fears of a North American trade war that already showed signs of pushing up inflation and hindering growth.
“Tomorrow — tariffs 25% on Canada and 25% on Mexico. And that’ll start,”
Trump told reporters in the Roosevelt Room. “They’re going to have to have a tariff.”
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum went into Monday waiting to see what Trump would say
“It’s a decision that depends on the United States government, on the United States president,” Sheinbaum said ahead of Trump’s statement. “So whatever his decision is, we will make our decisions and there is a plan, there is unity in Mexico.”
smuggling of the drug from Canada into the United States appears to be relatively modest. As late as Sunday, it remained unclear what choice Trump would make on tariff rates. Lutnick told Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that the decision was “fluid.”
ä Stocks drop sharply as economy worries build. PAGE 6A
Trump has said the tariffs are to force the two U.S. neighbors to step up their fight against fentanyl trafficking and stop illegal immigration. But Trump has also indicated that he wants to eliminate the Americas’ trade imbalances as well and push more factories to relocate in the United States. His comments quickly rattled the U.S stock market, with the S&P 500
index down 2% in Monday afternoon trading. It’s a sign of the political and economic risks that Trump feels compelled to take, given the possibility of higher inflation and the possible demise of a decadeslong trade partnership with Mexico and Canada as the tariffs would go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday Yet the Trump administration remains confident that tariffs are the best choice to boost U.S. manufacturing and attract foreign investment. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Monday that the computer chipmaker TSMC had expanded its investment in the United States because of the possibility of separate 25% tariffs.
In February, Trump put a 10% tariff on imports from China. He reemphasized Monday that the rate
would be doubling to 20% on Tuesday Trump provided a onemonth delay in February as both Mexico and Canada promised concessions. But Trump said Monday that there was “no room left for Mexico or for Canada” to avoid the steep new tariffs, which were also set to tax Canadian energy products such as oil and electricity at a lower 10% rate.
“If Trump is imposing tariffs, we are ready,” said Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly “We are ready with $155 billion worth of tariffs and we’re ready with the first tranche of tariffs, which is $30 billion.”
Joly said Canada has a very strong border plan and explained that to Trump administration officials last week She said the diplomatic efforts are continuing. She spoke after Trump made his comments Tuesday
Pope suffers new breathing crises, is back on noninvasive ventilation
BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
ROME Pope Francis suffered two new acute respiratory crises Monday and was put back on noninvasive mechanical ventilation in another setback to his battle to fight pneumonia, the Vatican said.
Doctors extracted “copious” amounts of mucus from his lungs during two bronchoscopies, in which a camera-tipped tube was sent down into his airways with a sucker at the tip to suction out fluid. The Vatican said the mucus was
his body’s reaction to the original pneumonia infection and not a new infection, given laboratory tests don’t indicate any new bacteria. Francis remained alert, oriented and cooperated with medical personnel. The prognosis remained guarded. Doctors didn’t say if he remained in stable condition, though they referred to the crises in the past tense, suggesting they were over The crises were a new setback in what has become a more than twoweek battle by the 88-year-
old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed, to overcome a complex respiratory infection.
Dr John Coleman, a pulmonary critical care doctor at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, said the episodes were more concerning than the last one on Friday, in which Francis had a coughing fit, inhaled some vomit that needed to be extracted and then was put on the noninvasive mechanical ventilation for a day and then didn’t need it anymore.
Both countries have tried to show action in response to Trump’s concerns. Mexico sent 10,000 National Guard troops to their shared border to crack down on drug trafficking and illegal immigration Canada named a fentanyl czar, even though
“He’s sort of thinking about right now how exactly he wants to play it with Mexico and Canada,” Lutnick said. “And that is a fluid situation. There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada. Exactly what they are, we’re going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate.”
BY JEFF MARTIN and JACK BROOK Associated Press
Powerful storms with a threat of tornadoes are expected to punch through Louisiana and other parts of the South on Tuesday just as huge parades and costumed revelers are set to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans and other southern cities.
The alarming forecast will be one of the first big tests for the National Weather
Senate confirms Linda McMahon
BY ANNIE MA Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Senate voted Monday to confirm former wrestling executive Linda McMahon as the nation’s education chief, a role that places her atop a department that President Donald Trump has vilified and vowed to dismantle.
McMahon will face the competing tasks of winding down the Education Department while also escalating efforts to achieve Trump’s agenda Already the Republican president has signed sweeping orders to rid America’s schools of diversity programs and accommodations for transgender students while also calling for expanded school choice programs At the same time, Trump has promised to shut down the department and said he wants McMahon “to put herself out of a job.”
The Senate voted to confirm McMahon 51-45.
A billionaire and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, McMahon, 76, is an unconventional pick for the role. She spent a year on Connecticut’s state board of education and is a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University but otherwise has little traditional education leadership.
McMahon’s supporters see her as a skilled executive who will reform a department that Republicans say has failed to improve American education. Opponents say she’s unqualified and fear her budget cuts will be felt by students nationwide.
Service after hundreds of its forecasters were fired last week under President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the size of the federal government. Former employees say the firing of meteorologists who make crucial local forecasts across the U.S could put lives at risk. Multiple weather threats loom this week for the U.S., starting with dust storms that brought near-zero visibility to parts of New Mexico and west Texas, prompt-
ing the National Weather Service to issue Dust Storm Warnings, the agency said. “Widespread blowing dust,” was expected Tuesday, said the weather service office covering Midland and Odessa, Texas.
A strong weather system this week will bring “a threat of blizzard conditions, high winds, flash flooding, severe weather, dust storms, and critical to extreme fire weather conditions to the nation’s heartland,” the weath-
er service said in an update
Monday
On Tuesday, twisters, damaging winds and large hail are all possible as a strong storm system moves across the nation’s midsection into Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, the federal Storm Prediction Center warns.
The bullseye is a zone designated at an enhanced risk of severe weather an area stretching from east Texas to Alabama that’s home to
more than 7 million people
The area under threat includes Baton Rouge: Shreveport; Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama.
Large crowds were expected Tuesday for Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama. Police there said they were continuing to monitor the forecast and would let the public know if plans for the celebration change.
Other cities hosting large Mardi Gras events included Biloxi, Mississippi, where an
annual Mardi Gras parade was scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Tuesday In downtown Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle, organizers are planning a Big Easy-style Mardi Gras festival that includes food trucks, dancing, live entertainment and a low country seafood boil.
Associated Press Writers Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, and Freida Frisaro in Miami contributed to this report.
BY SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press
WAUKEGAN, Ill An Illinois man pleaded guilty Monday to killing seven people and injuring dozens more when he opened fire on a 2022 Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb, a stunning development moments before opening statements in his trial on murder and attempted murder charges.
Appearing in a Lake County circuit courtroom Robert E. Crimo III, 24, withdrew his earlier not-guilty plea in the Highland Park shooting.
Prosecutors initially charged him with 21 counts of first-degree murder — three counts for each person killed — as well as 48 counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors dropped 48 less serious counts of aggravated battery before jury selection last week.
“Americans believe in public education,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said before the confirmation vote. “They don’t want to see the Department of Education abolished. If the Trump administration follows through on cuts to education, schools will lose billions in funding.”
At her confirmation hearing, McMahon distanced herself from Trump’s blistering rhetoric. She said the goal is to make the Education Department “operate more efficiently,” not to defund programs.
She acknowledged that only Congress has the power to close the department, and she pledged to preserve Title I money for low-income schools, Pell grants for low-income college students, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Yet she suggested some operations could move to other departments, saying Health and Human Services might be better suited to enforce disability rights laws.
the courtroom, including survivors and their families.
Ashbey Beasley, who attended the 2022 parade with her son, said it was a huge relief. She said they had to run for their lives and even though they weren’t injured, they have had to heal. Seeing Crimo at hearings has added to their trauma.
“Every single time I see him, it’s stressful. It’s upsetting for everyone in our community,” she told reporters after court. “We all just wanted this to be over.”
On Monday, Judge Victoria Rossetti read the charges to Crimo and asked questions to be sure he understood before accepting the plea. He was sitting next to his lawyers wearing a dark suit.
“Is that what you went over with your attorneys?” Rossetti asked.
“Yes,” Crimo replied.
He gave mostly one-word answers to her follow-up questions. His mother, Denise Pesina, had a brief outburst at the news and the judge gave her a warning.
“We’re going to move forward,” the judge said to her “You are not a party to this proceeding. If you would like to stay in the courtroom please have a seat and be quiet.”
She was allowed to stay
The judge said with the plea change, there would be no trial or further motions. Jurors were never even let into the courtroom. The legal proceedings have
moved slowly, partly due to Crimo’s unpredictable behavior Last year, Crimo was expected to accept a plea deal and give victims and relatives a chance to address him publicly but changed his mind at the last minute, shocking even his attorneys.
He also fired his public defenders and said he would represent himself. Then he abruptly reversed himself As potential jurors were questioned last week, he sporadically appeared in court, at times refusing to leave his jail cell.
“He has knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights and pleaded guilty,” Rossetti said Monday
Prosecutors read the names of all those killed in the shooting and of those injured, with the judge stopping to ask questions to make sure Crimo understood. They went over the substantial evidence, including DNA samples and a videotaped confession to police.
“Our community may never heal from the defendant’s calculated and heinous actions that destroyed so many lives,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart
told reporters after court.
“He received nothing in exchange for his plea. We were 1000% ready to go to trial and prove him guilty to the jury We have been working for years to prepare our evidence.”
Sentencing will come April 23, but Crimo is certain to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Each count of first-degree murder carries a maximum natural life prison sentence. Prosecu-
tors said survivors would get the chance to address Crimo at the sentencing.
Crimo didn’t further address the court before leaving the courtroom.
His public defenders did not address reporters after the hearing.
Security was tight at the courthouse, with bag checks and observers required to lock up their phones.
The change of plea shocked those gathered in
A spokesperson for a law firm representing dozens of survivors in a lawsuit said they were ready to “pursue civil justice.” Survivors and their families have filed multiple lawsuits, including against the maker of the semi-automatic rifle used in the shooting and against authorities they accuse of negligence.
“They have all gone home to process,” said Jennifer McGuffin with Chicagobased Romanucci & Blandin LLC. “They each expressed an individual and a collective sense of relief, but today was a very emotional event and they are asking for some time and space to come to terms with what happened.
The trial was expected to last about a month.
By The Associated Press
Federal prison officials transferred an inmate to Oklahoma custody so that he can be executed for a 1999 killing, following through on President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order to more actively support the death penalty George John Hanson, 60, was moved from a federal prison in Louisiana to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma, over the weekend, Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kay Thompson confirmed Monday. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sought Hanson’s transfer earlier this year, and Trump’s new Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered his transfer last month. Drummond said his office is expected to request an execution date for Hanson later this year
Hanson’s attorneys in the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Oklahoma sought to prevent his transfer from federal custody They also have argued that Hanson should not be executed because he is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the killing occurred on the Cherokee Nation Reservation, and neither tribe supports Hanson’s execution. Hanson was sentenced to death in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, after he was convicted of carjacking, kidnapping and killing Mary Bowles after he and an accomplice kidnapped the woman from a Tulsa shopping mall.
Hanson, whose name in Oklahoma court records is listed as John Fitzgerald Hanson, had been serving a life sentence in federal prison in Louisiana for several federal convictions, including being a career criminal, that predate his state death sentence.
“For the family and friends of Mary Bowles, the wait for justice has been a long and frustrating one,” Drummond said in a statement.
the other 22 to operate with delays. Operators and personnel not participating in the strike drove the buses, not temporary workers, a spokesperson said.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1546 announced the strike Sunday after CATS presented a final offer on a labor contract and stopped negotiating, union leaders said. The union has called for higher wages, stronger benefits and improved working conditions. Representatives from the international union sai d wages in the Baton Rouge bus system are $4 to $5 less than other major transit systems in the state, including Jefferson Parish, Shreveport and New Orleans.
REENA ByRD, striking bus operator
“Now they see that we were not bluffing at all,” said Willie Travis Jr., recording secretary for ATU Local 1546 “We have to stand for something, or fall for anything.”
Bus operator Reena Byrd said the strike was about defending her livelihood and making a statement to CATS.
“We are out here not to try to disrupt the service,” Byrd said. “We are out here mainly to make sure that the company knows we move this city.”
The union said the strike will end
Continued from page 1A
continue to have an aide. She credits the one-on-one attention as the reason he’s able to join mainstream education.
“We didn’t think this was possible,” she said. “And the only reason it is possible is because they are with him 35 hours a week.”
Uncertainty is growing among Louisiana’s many families who rely on Medicaid for health insurance The federal government is considering how to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from the budget after the House passed a resolution ushered through by Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Benton.
While the resolution, aimed at extending tax cuts, does not explicitly mention Medicaid, it instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee — which oversees the program to cut $880 billion in spending over the next decade.
In interviews last week, Johnson said that cutting large programs within Medicaid was not on the table, and that he was looking at “finding efficiencies in every program, not cutting benefits for people who rightly deserve them.”
Health policy experts say it would be difficult to cut that much without dipping into Medicaid significantly. The majority of funding that the committee oversees is related to Medicaid and Medicare. Even if the committee eliminates all nonhealth care spending, it would still fall more than $600 billion short.
“In order to find those savings, they’re going to have to look everywhere,” said Courtney Foster, senior policy adviser at Invest in Louisiana, a policy organization that advocates for low- and moderate-income families.
Medicaid covers 1 in 3
when CATS rescinds its best and final offer letter, which members alleged was an attempt to force a contract on workers without following the arbitration process CATS is still operating off of the previous labor contract that expired in January, according to communications manager Jada Davis.
In an email to The Advocate on Monday, she wrote that the agency
Louisiana residents, the second-highest rate in the U.S. More than half of the state’s children receive health insurance through the program, and nearly two-thirds of births are covered by it It also funds services for people with disabilities and supplements Medicare for low-income seniors.
Families in Louisiana who have come to rely on the coverage said they worry that if Congress makes changes to the program, a lifeline could be cut.
Alessia Filetti, a selfemployed art conservator qualified for Medicaid when the state raised income requirements in 2016. She got treatment for a foot injury recently that was making it hard to care for her daughter, who is nonverbal with autism. With weekly therapy, her 7-year-old is learning how to ask to use the bathroom and hold a fork Without Medicaid, she fears she’d struggle to get treatment for herself and wouldn’t be able to pay for her daughter’s medical care. “If we get dropped, our life is going to become incredibly, incredibly difficult,” she said.
Claire Tibbets, executive director at the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans, and her husband, who works in shipping and receiving at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center, pay over $500 per month for private insurance But their 7-yearold daughter is covered through LaCHIP Louisiana’s Medicaid program for children; adding her to their private plan would be financially impossible, she said. Medicaid also covered their daughter’s monthlong NICU stay when she was born prematurely “I don’t even know how we would have paid for that, honestly,” she said.
Madeleine Brisco, a nonprofit fundraiser spent months securing Medicaid
requested the union come back to arbitration but has not received a response.
“We are committed to keeping the public informed and ensuring safe, reliable transportation during this time,” Davis wrote.
CATS commissioner and East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council member Carolyn Coleman added that the board respects the right of the workers to strike.
coverage for her 9-year-old daughter under TEFRA, a program that helps disabled children whose parents earn too much for Medicaid but face overwhelming medical costs Her daughter has epilepsy and autism, requiring frequent therapy, neurological imaging, and emergency care for seizures.
Before TEFRA, Brisco’s family paid all of their $7,500 deductible within months of the start of each year, leaving little room to save for other expenses. Calling it a “financial gamechanger,” she fears TEFRA could be among the first programs cut.
Christina Martin, an advocacy leader for Louisiana Developmental Disability Council’s Advocacy Network, relies on Medicaid for herself, her daughter, who has a rare chromosome disorder and autism and her father, a 56-year-old liver transplant patient.
“It’s not just a number on a spreadsheet,” Martin said. “It’s our kids’ lifeline.”
In 2016, Louisiana joined what was at the time 36 states in expanding Medicaid coverage to all adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level as part of the Affordable Care Act.
In 2025, that means a single adult earning $21,597 or less per year qualifies for this government-funded health care.
It is not clear yet who would lose coverage under potential cuts. One proposal from House Republicans would reduce the federal match for the Medicaid expansion, which 40 states have enacted. That would leave Louisiana with a $14
billion budget shortfall over the next decade and coverage for 782,000 people at risk, according to an analysis by Kaiser Family Foundation an independent policy research organization.
The Louisiana Department of Health did not respond to questions about the potential cuts.
Capping the amount of money Louisiana receives by transitioning the program to block grants has also been discussed by House Republicans. If that happens, “there could be much wider impacts of coverage changes amongst different group,” said Kevin Callison, an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Tulane University President Donald Trump has said Medicaid won’t be
The strike will negatively affect him and others who need to get to work, he said, and he hopes it doesn’t last long.
“I know they’re striking for more money,” Carter said. “Everybody need more money.”
“We are preparing to go to interest arbitration and look forward to working together for a resolution,” Coleman wrote in a statement. News of the strike had not reached all riders by the time it began Monday morning. Bus rider Gregory Carter said he didn’t know what was happening until he showed up at the terminal to wait for his bus. Like Daniels, he had to switch his route because of the delays.
Email Haley Miller at haley miller@theadvocate.com.
cut, but Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, DBaton Rouge, argue cutting $880 billion without touching the program is nearly impossible.
“Obviously, everybody knows that Medicaid is going to be that target,” said Fields.
At recent town halls across Louisiana, Fields said Medicaid was a top concern, given the state’s high enrollment rate.
A loss of insurance doesn’t change health care needs, said Alice Riener, chief executive officer of CrescentCare, a Federally Qualified Health Center with locations in New Orleans and Houma. Patients will still need care, they will just wait to get it or access emergency rooms more often. An increase in uncompensated care could devastate small hospitals,
she said. “Rural hospitals will close,” Riener said. “Clinics will be deeply impacted.” For families like Bowen’s, it’s enough to consider leaving the state, even though they don’t want to.
“We’re talking about Pennsylvania, because that state has a very good track record,” Bowen said, referring to educational opportunities for children like her son. “Private schools won’t take him, so that’s not even an option.”
She calls her congressperson three times a week but feels ignored.
“I feel like they see my name on the computer, they pull up my name and it just doesn’t matter,” Bowen said. Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.
BY JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press
Israel this week introduced what it said was a new U.S. ceasefire plan — different from the one it agreed to in January — and is trying to force Hamas to accept it by imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to it as the “Witkoff proposal,” saying it came from U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff. But the White House has yet to confirm that, saying only that it supports whatever action Israel takes.
Netanyahu’s remarks came a day after the first phase of the negotiated ceasefire ended, with no clarity on what would come next since the agreement’s second phase has not yet been hammered out.
The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining hostages — the militant group’s main bargaining chip — in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners — a key component of the first phase.
Hamas has accused Israel of trying to sabotage the existing agreement, which called for the two sides to negotiate the return of the remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire. But no substantive negotiations have
been held. On Sunday, Israel halted all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza’s population of some 2 million people and vowed “additional consequences” if Hamas did not embrace the new proposal.
Arab leaders are meanwhile finalizing a separate plan for postwar Gaza to counter Trump’s suggestion that its population be relocated so it can be transformed into a tourist destination.
But all bets are off if the war resumes Agreement in limbo
The ceasefire reached in January, after more than a year of negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar laid out a three-phase plan to return all the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and ending the war triggered by the attack.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people that day, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostage More than 100 were released in an earlier ceasefire. Israeli forces rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies before the current ceasefire took hold.
During the first, six-week phase, Hamas released 25 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces withdrew from most of Gaza and allowed an influx of desperately needed humanitarian aid Each side accused the other of violations, but the deal held.
Phase 2 was always going to be far more difficult because it would force Israel to choose between securing the return the hostages and annihilating Hamas — two of Netanyahu’s main war goals. Hamas, which remains in
control of Gaza, has said it will only release the remaining hostages if Israel ends the war But that would leave the militant group intact and with major influence over the territory, even if it hands over formal power to other Palestinians, as it says it is willing to do.
New plan favors Israel
Hamas still has 59 hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be dead. Under the socalled Witkoff plan, it would release half the hostages on the first day apparently without getting anything new in return.
The sides would then have around six weeks — through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday ending April 20 to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and the return of the remaining hostages.
But with fewer hostages, Hamas’ hand would be weakened, and Israel and the United States are already speaking about new conditions — like the disarmament of Hamas or the exile of its leadership that were not part of the original agreement.
Political lifeline Netanyahu’s narrow coalition is beholden to far-right allies who want to eliminate Hamas, depopulate Gaza through what they refer to as “voluntary emigration” and rebuild Jewish settlements in the territory Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to bring down the government if Netanyahu enters Phase 2 of the exist-
ing agreement and does not resume the war
The new plan would buy Netanyahu six weeks of breathing room and enough time to pass a budget by the end of the month — something he must do to keep his government from automatically falling. If it falls, elections would be held roughly a year and a half ahead of schedule and could see him removed from power
Opposition parties say they would ensure Netanyahu’s government is not brought down over a deal that returns the rest of the hostages. But that would still weaken him politically
American position unclear
Netanyahu says his government has “fully coordinated” its approach with the Trump administration, which has publicly endorsed Israel’s war goals, including the eradication of Hamas. But Witkoff has not said a word in public about the plan that supposedly bears his name, and U.S. officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday
Trump himself has sent mixed signals about Gaza.
As a candidate, he pledged to end wars in the Middle East, and he took credit for pushing the ceasefire agreement past the finish line just before his inauguration.
But he has also expressed revulsion at Hamas’ treatment of the captives and suggested that “all hell” should break loose if they are not immediately returned, while leaving that decision to Israel.
BY LOLITA C. BALDOR and DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press
WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has paused offensive cyberoperations against Russia by U.S. Cyber Command, rolling back some efforts to contend with a key adversary even as national security experts call for the U.S. to expand those capabilities.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, on Monday confirmed the pause.
to be an essential weapon of the modern arsenal.
Hegseth’s decision does not affect cyberoperations conducted by other agencies, including the CIA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency But the Trump administration also has rolled back other efforts at the FBI and other agencies related to countering digital and cyber threats.
The Pentagon decision, which was first reported by The Record, comes as many national security and cybersecurity experts have urged greater investments in cyber defense and offense, particularly as China and Russia have sought to interfere with the nation’s economy, elections and security Republican lawmakers and national security experts have all called for a greater offensive posture. During his Senate confirmation hearing this year, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said America’s rivals have shown that they believe cyberespionage retrieving sensitive information and disrupting American business and infrastructure —
“I want us to have all of the tools necessary to go on offense against our adversaries in the cyber community,” Ratcliffe said. Cyber Command oversees and coordinates the Pentagon’s cybersecurity work and is known as America’s first line of defense in cyberspace. It also plans offensive cyberoperations for potential use against adversaries.
Hegseth’s directive arrived before Friday’s dust-up between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. It wasn’t clear if the pause was tied to any negotiating tactic by the Trump administration to push Moscow into a peace deal with Ukraine.
Trump has vowed to end the war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, and on Monday he slammed Zelenskyy for suggesting the end to the conflict was “far away.”
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about Hegseth’s order Cyber warfare is cheaper than traditional military force, can be carried out covertly and doesn’t carry the same risk of escalation or retaliation, making it an increasingly popular tool for nations that want to contend with the U.S. but lack the traditional economic or military might, according to Snehal Antani, CEO of Horizon3.ai,
Taiwan chipmaker to expand manufacturing
Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plans to invest $100 billion in the United States, President Donald Trump said Monday, on top of $65 billion in investments the company had previously announced.
TSMC, the world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer, produces chips for companies including Apple Intel and Nvidia. The company had already begun constructing three plants in Arizona after the Biden administration offered billions in subsidies. Its first factory in Arizona has started mass production of its 4-nanometer chips.
Trump, who appeared with TSMC’s chief executive officer C.C. Wei at the White House, called it a “tremendous move” and “a matter of economic security.”
“Semiconductors are the backbone of the 21st-century economy And really, without the semiconductors, there is no economy,” the president said. “Powering everything from AI to automobiles to advanced manufacturing, we must be able to build the chips and semiconductors that we need right here in American factories with American skill and American labor.” Wei said the investment will be for three more chip manufacturing plants, along with two packaging facilities, in Arizona Treasury to end small-business rule
The U.S. Treasury Department announced it will not enforce a Biden-era smallbusiness rule intended to curb money laundering and shell company formation.
In a Sunday evening announcement, Treasury said in a news release that it will not impose penalties now or in the future if companies fail to register for the agency’s beneficial ownership information database that was created during the Biden administration.
Despite efforts by small businesses to undo the rule in the courts, it remains in effect.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump on his Truth Social media site praised the suspension of enforcement of the rule and said the database is “outrageous and invasive.” Supporters of the database raised alarm.
Ian Gary, executive director of the FACT Coalition, an advocacy group for transparency in government and business, said “with one tweet the Administration has contradicted 15 years of bipartisan work by Congress to end the scourge of anonymous shell companies – which are a favorite tool of our nation’s global adversaries and criminals including fentanyl traffickers, money launderers, and tax cheats.”
In September 2022, the Treasury Department started rulemaking to create a database that would contain personal information on the owners of at least 32 million U.S. businesses as part of an effort to combat shell company formations and illicit finance.
Kroger CEO resigns following investigation
Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen has resigned after an internal investigation into his personal conduct.
Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery chain, said Monday the investigation into McMullen’s conduct was unrelated to the business, but was found to be inconsistent with its business ethics policy McMullen, 64, began his career with Kroger in 1978 as a part-time stock clerk and bagger at a store in Lexington, Kentucky He worked his way up through the company becoming chief financial officer in 1995 and chief operating officer in 2009. McMullen was named Kroger’s CEO in 2014 and became the company’s chairman the following year
BY ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press
Cryptocurrency prices briefly jumped after President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement he wants the U.S. government to purchase and hold a variety of digital assets in a strategic reserve fund, an announcement that highlights Trump’s growing attempts to use volatile cryptocurrency prices as a barometer of his public support.
Trump said on social media Sunday that his administration is working toward creating a “Crypto Strategic Reserve” that will include lesser-known cryptocurrencies XRP, Solana, and Cardano. He
later followed up with another post saying his planned reserve would also include bitcoin and ether, the two most popular cryptocurrencies.
The announcement helped crypto prices enjoy a brief rebound after recent sell-offs.
Bitcoin shot up to about $95,000 after dipping below $80,000 last week. XRP, Solana and Cardano saw massive spikes in their prices after Trump’s announcement Sunday
But by Monday afternoon, prices had fallen roughly back to where they were before Trump’s announcement. Advocates for the government holding a crypto reserve said it would help diversify government holdings and hedge against financial risks. Critics say the volatility of cryptocurrencies makes them a poor choice as a reserve asset.
On the campaign trail, Trump
pledged support for a “strategic national bitcoin” stockpile, which would include bitcoin the U.S. government has previously seized in law enforcement actions Sunday’s announcement was the first time he advocated for the government to hold other types of cryptocurrencies.
The inclusion of cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin is likely to face sustained pushback among some corners of the heavily divided cryptocurrency industry Bitcoin is the oldest and by far most popular cryptocurrency, and accounts for more than half of the world’s global crypto market cap.
Some of Trump’s major allies in the industry expressed surprise and some skepticism of Trump’s plan.
“Just bitcoin would probably be the best option simplest, and clear story as successor to gold,” said Brian Armstrong, the CEO of
the crypto exchange Coinbase.
The White House did not immediately provide additional details, including how much of each type of cryptocurrency Trump wanted the U.S. to hold, and how the government would acquire them, and whether he favored including other types of cryptocurrencies as well.
The president has cast himself as hero to the crypto industry, which he said in his announcement had been the target of “years of corrupt attacks by the Biden administration.”
The crypto industry felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration and spent heavily to help Trump win the election. The first several weeks of his administration have seen several moves to boost crypto, including ending or pausing high-profile enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
BY STAN CHOE AP business writer
NEW YORK U.S stocks tumbled Monday and wiped out even more of their gains since President Donald Trump‘s election in November, after he said that tariffs announced earlier on Canada and Mexico would take effect within hours.
The S&P 500 dropped after Trump said there was “no room left” for negotiations that could lower the tariffs set to begin Tuesday for imports from Canada and Mexico. Trump had already delayed the tariffs once before to allow more time for talks Trump’s announcement dashed hopes on Wall Street that he would choose a less painful path for global trade, and it followed the latest warning signal on the U.S. economy’s strength. Monday’s loss shaved the S&P 500’s gain since Election Day down to just over 1% from a peak of more than 6%. That rally had been built largely on hopes for policies from Trump that would help strengthen the U.S. economy and businesses
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite both slumped. Monday’s slide punctuated a rocky couple of weeks for Wall Street. After the S&P 500 set a record last month following a parade of fatter-than-expected profit reports from big U.S. companies, the market began diving following weaker-than-expected reports on the U.S. economy, including a couple showing U.S. households are getting much more pessimistic about inflation because of the threat of tariffs.
The latest such report arrived Monday on U.S. manufacturing. Overall activity is still growing, but not by quite as much as economists had forecast. Perhaps more discouragingly, manufacturers are seeing a contraction in new orders. Prices, meanwhile, rose amid discussions about who will pay for Trump’s tariffs.
BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Commerce
Secretary Howard Lutnick said government spending could be separated from gross domestic product reports in response to questions about whether the spending cuts pushed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency could possibly cause an economic downturn.
“You know, that governments historically have messed with GDP,” Lutnick said on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” “They count government spending as part of GDP So I’m going to separate those two and make it transparent.”
Doing so could potentially complicate or distort a fundamental measure of the U.S. economy’s health. Government spending is traditionally included in the GDP because changes in taxes, spending, deficits and regulations by the government can impact the path of overall growth. GDP reports already include extensive details
the economy at large.
The market’s recent slump has hit Nvidia and some other formerly high-flying areas of the market particularly hard. They fell even more Monday, with Nvidia down 8.8% and Elon Musk’s Tesla down 2.8%.
“Demand eased, production stabilized, and destaffing continued as panelists’ companies experience the first operational shock of the new administration’s tariff policy,” said Timothy Fiore, chair of the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing business survey committee. The hope on Wall Street had been that Trump was using the threat of tariffs as a tool for negotiations and that he would ultimately go through with potentially less damaging policies for the global economy and trade. But Trump’s going forward with the Mexican and Canadian tariffs hit a market that wasn’t certain about what would happen next.
The commerce secretary’s remarks echoed Musk’s arguments made Friday on X that government spending doesn’t create value for the economy
“A more accurate measure of GDP would exclude government spending,” Musk wrote on his social media platform. “Otherwise, you can scale GDP artificially high by spending money on things that don’t make people’s lives better.”
The argument as articulated so far by Trump administration officials appears to play down the economic benefits created by Social Security payments, infrastructure spending, scientific research and other forms of government spending that can shape an economy’s trajectory
Bureau of Economic Analysis published its most recent GDP report on Thursday, showing that the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.3% in the final three months of last year
on government spending, offering a level of transparency for economists. Musk’s efforts to downsize federal agencies could result in the layoffs of tens of thousands of federal workers, whose lost income could potentially reduce their spending, affecting businesses and
“If the government buys a tank, that’s GDP,” Lutnick said Sunday “But paying 1,000 people to think about buying a tank is not GDP That is wasted inefficiency, wasted money And cutting that, while it shows in GDP, we’re going to get rid of that.” The Commerce Department’s
The report makes it possible to measure the forces driving the economy, showing that the gains at the end of last year were largely driven by greater consumer spending and an upward revision to federal government spending related to defense. Still, the federal government’s component of the GDP report for all of 2024 increased at 2.6%, slightly lower than overall economic growth last year of 2.8%. In the GDP report, government spending accounts for almost onefifth of people’s personal income, which totaled more than $24.6 trillion last year This includes Social Security payments, benefits for military veterans, Medicare and Medicaid and other programs. But the report also measures the amount of people’s personal incomes that are paid in taxes to the government.
The
was thereupon signed by the President ProTempore and
Council Administrator and declared to be adopted. The
RESOLUTIONNO. 58450
ARESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING ASPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT OF THE CITY OFBATON ROUGE (THE DISTRICT”), ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER11, 2025, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE RENEWALOFTHE LEVYAND COLLECTION OF ATEN (10) MILLS AD VALOREM TAXFOR APERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS, MAKING APPLICATION TO THE LOUISIANA STATEBOND COMMISSION; PROVIDING NOTICE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OFTHIS RESOLUTION BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, ACTING AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OFTHE DISTRICT,SHALL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY12, 2025, AT 4:00 P.M. AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OFTHE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THIRD FLOOR, CITY HALL, ROOM348, 222 ST LOUIS STREET,BATON ROUGE,LOUISIANA; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge (the Metropolitan Council”), acting as the governing authority of the Downtown Development District of the City ofBaton Rouge (the District”), desires to order and call an election to beheld in the District on Saturday,October 11, 2025, to authorize the renewal of the levy and collection of aten (10) mills ad valorem tax on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the District, for a period of five (5) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2027, and annually thereafter to and including the year 2031, to be used entirely andexclusively for the planning, development, management, operation and improvement of the facilities, public improvements and services of the District (the Tax”); and NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Metropolitan Council of theParish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge, acting as the governing authority of the Downtown Development District of the City of Baton Rouge: SECTION 1. That, subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission and under and pursuant to the authority conferred by Article VI, Sections 19, 30, and 32 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974,asamended (the Constitution”), Section 2740.8 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 33:2740.8), the applicable provisions of Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, aspecial election be and the same is hereby called and ordered to be held in the District, on Saturday, OCTOBER 11, 2025, between the hours of seven (7:00) o’clock a.m.and eight (8:00) o’clock p.m., in compliance with the provisions of Section 541 ofTitle 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 18:541),and that at the said election thereshall be submitted to all registered voters qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States of America, the following proposition, to-wit: PROPOSITION
Shall the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge, acting as governing authority of the Downtown Development District of the City of Baton Rouge, be authorized to renew the levy and collection of aten (10) mills ad valorem tax on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the Downtown Development District of the City of Baton Rouge (the “Tax”) (an estimated $741,390 is reasonably expected at this time to be collected fromthe levy of the Taxfor anentireyear), for aperiod of five (5) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2027, and annually thereafter to and including the year 2031, and shall the proceeds of said Tax(after paying the reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax, if any), be used entirely and exclusively for the planning, development, management, operation and improvement of the facilities, public improvements and services of the Downtown Development District of the City of Baton Rouge?
SECTION 2. That conditioned on the passage of the Taxatthe October 11,2025 special election authorized pursuant to this resolution, all avails or proceeds of the Tax, for aperiod of five (5) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2027, and annually thereafter to and including the year 2031 (after paying the reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax, if any), shall be used entirely and exclusively for the planning, development, management, operation and improvement of the facilities, public improvements and services of the District.
SECTION 3. That, in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1285, thereshall be published in The Advocate”, adaily newspaper of general circulation within the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the Parish”) andthe District, published in theCity of Baton Rouge, and being the official journal of the District, once aweek for four (4) consecutive weeks, with the first publication to be made not less than forty-five (45) days nor morethan ninety (90)
same arehereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election in accordance with Section 1286 or Section 1286.1, as the case may be, of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, will be those persons designated according to law in accordance with Section 1286 or Section 1286.1, as the case may be, of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended.
SECTION 6. That the officers designated to serve as Commissionersin-Charge and Commissioners, respectively,pursuant to Section 5hereof and in accordance with Section 1286 or Section 1286.1, as the case may be, of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in compliance with Section 1287 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, shall hold the said special election as hereinprovided, shall make due returns of said election for the meeting of the Metropolitan Council to be held on Wednesday,January 14, 2026, and that the compensation of said officers be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum prescribed by law.All registered voters in the District are entitled to vote at the said special election and voting machines shall be used thereat.
SECTION 7. That the Council Administrator of this Metropolitan Council be and is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to arrange for and to furnish to said election officers in ample time for the holding of said election the necessary equipment, forms and other paraphernalia essential to the proper holding of said election.
SECTION 8. That, in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1285(B)(1), certified copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Parish Custodian of Voting Machines in and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, and the Registrar of Voters in and for the Parish, as notification of the special election herein called in order that each may preparefor said election and perform their respective functions as requiredbylaw
SECTION 9. That application be and the same is hereby formally authorized to be made to the State Bond Commission for consent and authority to hold the aforesaid special election as herein provided, and that acertified copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the State Bond Commission on behalf of this Metropolitan Council,together with aletter requesting the prompt consideration and approval of said application.
SECTION 10. Pursuant to the provisions of La. R.S. 18:1284(C), an estimated $741,390 is reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Taxfor an entireyear
SECTION 11. This Metropolitan Council, acting as the governing authority of the District, made the announcement with respect to this resolution required by La. R.S. 42:19.1, at its public meeting on Wednesday,January 8, 2025 and published said announcement in the official journal of the District on Thursday,January 16, 2025. Such announcement was also transmitted via emailtoeach state senator and representative in whose district all or aportion of the District is located on Thursday,January 9, 2025.
This resolution having been submitted to avote, the vote thereon was asfollows:
YEAS: LaurieAdams, Denise Amoroso, Carolyn Coleman, Cleve Dunn, Jr., Rowdy Gaudet, Twahna Harris, Dwight Hudson, Darryl Hurst, Anthony Kenney,Aaron Moak, Brandon Noel, Jennifer Racca
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN:None
ABSENT: None
Done, approved and adopted on this, the 12th day of February,2025.
By: /s/ Brandon Noel
By: /s/ Ashley Beck
Council Administrator President ProTempore
STATEOFLOUISIANA PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE
I, ASHLEY BECK, certify that Iamthe duly qualified and acting
Council Administrator of the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and CityofBaton Rouge, the governing authority of the Downtown Development District of the City of Baton Rouge.
Ifurther certify that the above and foregoing is atrue and correct copy of an excerpt from the minutes of ameeting of said Metropolitan Council held February 12, 2025, and of aresolution ordering and calling aspecial election to be held in the Downtown Development District of the City of Baton Rouge (the “District”), on Saturday,October 11, 2025, for the purpose of authorizing the renewal of the levy and collection of a ten (10) mills ad valorem tax on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the District, for aperiod of five (5) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2027, and annually thereafter to and including the year 2031, to provide funds for planning, development, management, operation and improvement purposes within the boundaries of the District; making application to the Louisiana State Bond Commission; providing notice that apublic hearing regarding the adoption of this resolution by the Metropolitan Council,acting as the governing authority of the District, shall be held on Wednesday,February 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the regular meeting place of the Metropolitan Council,ThirdFloor,City Hall, Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and providing for other matters in connection therewith. IN FAITH WHEREOF,witness my official signatureand the impress of the official seal of said City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of February,2025. /s/ Ashley Beck Ashley Beck, Council Administrator (SEAL) EXHIBIT A NOTICEOFSPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provisions
reasonable and
expenses of collecting and administering the Tax, if any), be used entirely and exclusively for the planning, development, management, operation and improvement of the facilities, public improvements and services of the DowntownDevelopmentDistrict of the City of Baton Rouge? The said special election will be held at the following polling places situated within the corporate limits of the DowntownDevelopment District of the City of Baton Rouge, whichpolls will open at seven (7:00) o’clock a.m., andclose at eight (8:00) o’clock p.m., in compliance with the provisions of Section 541 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 18:541), to-wit:
WARD/PRECINCT LOCATION
01/001 FireStation #12, 555 Government Street, Baton Rouge
01/003 (PARTOF) South Blvd Flaim, 802 Mayflower Street, Baton Rouge
01/004 (PARTOF) New St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 1455 South Street, Baton Rouge
01/005A (PARTOF) Alaska Street Recreation Center,3014 Alaska Street, Baton Rouge
01/005B (PARTOF) Alaska Street Recreation Center,3014 Alaska Street, Baton Rouge
01/006 (PARTOF) Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, 110 South 19th Street, Baton Rouge
01/013 (PARTOF) City-Parish Office Building, 1755 Florida Street, Baton Rouge
01/017 (PARTOF) Department of Public Works TrafficEngineering Building, 329 Chippewa Street, Baton Rouge 01/067 (PARTOF) St. Francis Xavier School, 1150 South 12th Street, Baton Rouge The polling places set forth above and situated within the corporate limits of the DowntownDevelopmentDistrict of the City of Baton Rouge be and the same arehereby designated as the polling places in which to hold the said special election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively,shall be those persons designated according to law pursuant to Section 1286(A) or Section 1286.1,
of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 11:82). In accordance with La. R.S. 18:1285(A)(1)(a)(v), the estimated cost of holding the election will be $2,600.00. The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with Section 1287 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 18:1287), will make due returns thereof to the Metropolitan Council, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that said Metropolitan Council will meet at its regular meeting place, the Council Chambers, City Hall, ThirdFloor,Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY14, 2026, at FOUR (4:00) O’CLOCK P.M., and will then and thereinopen and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the special election. All registered voters in the Downtown DevelopmentDistrict of the City of Baton Rouge areentitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used thereat. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of February,2025. /s/ Brandon Noel President ProTempore ATTEST: /s/ Ashley Beck Council Administrator
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BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
Accused in a state audit last month of personally enriching herself and her family Chakesha Scott finds herself on leave from the institution she founded, Impact Charter School in Baker Now she’s fighting to regain control of the school she started more than a decade ago.
Stay sought in Jessie Hoffman’s scheduled March 18 death
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN and JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writers
A court battle is gearing up over whether Louisiana’s nitrogen gas execution protocol is a public record as the federal courts weigh a case that could determine whether the state performs its first execution using the method later this month
Lawyers for Jessie Hoffman, who is scheduled to be executed on March 18, have asked U.S District Judge Shelly Dick of Louisiana’s Middle District to unseal the state’s execution protocol so that the public can see it. Hoffman is also seeking a stay of execution.
“This is a public record under the Public Records Act,” said Cecelia Kappel, an attorney for Hoffman. “It is created by a public body, the Department of Corrections. And it relates to the most solemn government action that the government can take, which is to take somebody’s life.”
“That document should be subject to public scrutiny,” she added.
Hoffman’s attorneys have been allowed to review an unredacted version of the execution protocol, Kappel said, adding that she is not allowed to share it or comment on it.
Dick, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, issued an order last week that instructed Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections to file a redacted execution protocol under court seal into the court record. She also said Hoffman’s attorneys could file a motion asking that the protocol be unsealed.
The state recently denied a public records request for the protocol from The Advocate | The Times-Picayune, saying that state statute exempts it from release. And the state argued against Hoffman’s motion to unseal the protocol in court filings late Monday, saying that keeping the protocol secret ensures the safety of all involved in the execution, including Hoffman himself.
“It is no secret that the State’s use of nitrogen hypoxia is the subject of considerable and passionate debate within Louisiana and across the country,” the state’s filing states. “To avoid the ‘promotion of public scandal’ and ensure the State and its officials can carry out its duties safely and efficiently under the law, the protocol should thus remain sealed.” Hoffman’s lawyers argue the protocol is a public record, de-
ä See EXECUTION, page 2B
Scott’s exile began Feb. 24 when a new, state-appointed school board of directors moved quickly to freeze out Scott and her husband, Eric, the school’s principal, placing both on paid leave.
Scott has run the 400-plus student school since it opened north of Baton Rouge. Her management of the school, however, was called into question by a damning state investigative audit of the school’s operations. Torrence Williams, president of the new board, whose day job is as an administrator with a state organization of educators, has authority to sign new contracts for Impact Charter and rescind old ones as he sees fit. It’s broad authority he has put to quick use. On Thursday, the Scotts issued a statement complaining Williams changed door locks, created new
digital account passwords, disabled security cameras, fired and replaced school vendors, threatened staff with retaliation if they speak to the Scotts, and “attempted to seize the school’s bank accounts” thereby delaying employees getting paid. Williams said last week the payroll issues arose after the school’s bank flagged “potentially fraudulent interactions,” and that the
two parties have been working to resolve the matter Williams and six other new board members were appointed to take control of the embattled charter school on Feb. 21. After a unanimous decision by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or BESE, the agency removed Impact’s previous board of directors. Scott has filed suit in federal court to reverse the state board
See FIGHTS, page 2B MARDI GRAS 2025 FOR MORE, THEADVOCATE. COM
LEFT: A group of children scream for members of Dimples and his Darlings during the Krewe of Shenandoah Mardi Gras Parade on Monday in Baton Rouge
BELOW: A rider hands a cup to a young girl.
Owner of Navarre’s was famous for king cakes
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Residents across the southeast Louisiana coast traveled far and wide to a Springfield bakery to try its famous Mardi Gras delicacies What people remember most about the king cakes is the man who made them.
Ernie Navarre, owner of Navarre’s Famous King Cakes and other shops in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, died at 70 on Feb 23, his birthday Community residents dubbed the Springfield native “The Donut King,” for his prominent legacy as a business owner and friend.
Navarre started his first pastry venture in Amite in 1972, when he opened Ernie’s Donut King. It ran for 25 years, until he moved on to his next business, The Riverstop in Springfield The Riverstop lasted seven years, before Navarre moved next door to open his final shop.
Navarre’s Famous King Cakes sells a variety of pastries, including doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and king cakes, which have multiple flavors like praline pecan raspberry and strawberry
“If you ask someone in Tangipahoa Parish their favorite king cake, Navarre’s will inevitably get mentioned,” according to a northshore king cake guide.
Ebony Alvarado Whittington, of Ponchatoula, moved from Illinois to Louisiana in 2018. She saw a help wanted sign in Navarre’s shop, stopped in and asked for a
job application Navarre interviewed her
“Next thing I knew, I was hired on the spot and making king cakes,” she said. “They quickly became like family to me, and I worked for Mr Ernie for three years.”
Whittington always admired the number of regulars and children who would come in just to eat with Navarre, she said.
“He was definitely a big part of many kids’ childhoods,” Whittington said.
LeAnn Threeton Gonzalez, of Springfield, grew up going to Navarre’s doughnut shop and said he became like family to her
“You can ask anyone that has been to Navarre’s, he was always there with a smile on his face greeting everyone that came
See DONUT, page 2B
CRIME BLOTTER staff reports
The Southern University Police Department released surveillance photos of a suspect wanted for questioning about a Sunday evening shooting on campus of a university student. The shooting occurred in Jones Hall at 7 p.m., said Janene Southern University seeks shooting suspect
See BLOTTER, page 2B
Continued from page 1B
of education’s decision, and that suit is awaiting action
Four parents of students with children at Impact have filed a similar suit in state court, saying the state education board did not follow the state’s open meetings law and failed to provide adequate due process to the ousted Impact board members. That suit is scheduled for a hearing Thursday at 9 a.m. before State District Judge Don Johnson. Charter schools are public schools run privately via charters, or contracts.
The latest events represent a dramatic reversal of fortune for Impact. Just two months ago, the state education board had agreed to renew Impact Charter School’s charter for six more years through 2031, largely on the
Continued from page 1B
through the doors,” Gonzalez said. She described Navarre as a humble business owner who loved his community
“Springfield will definitely feel smaller without him around,” Gonzalez said.
Following Navarre’s death, the bakery closed for a week. It reopened Monday, the day before Fat Tuesday, to sell doughnuts and king cakes, said Navarre’s son, Jules Navarre. “We are thankful for the thoughts and prayers offered during this challenging time as we grieve the loss of my father,” Jules Navarre said. “We appreciate the sympathy expressed and kindly ask for your understanding as we navigate this period and find a new normal.”
Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.
Continued from page 1B
Tate, a university spokesperson. The suspect, a male wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants, was caught on camera in the aftermath of the shooting, which triggered a campus lockdown The university confirmed the student who was shot is a male and in stable condition. The university declined to say if the shooting suspect is a student University police asked anyone with information about the shooting or the person in the surveillance photos to call (225) 771-2770.
Police: Argument led to fatal shooting
Baton Rouge homicide
detectives arrested a Baton Rouge man they say is connected to a Sunday night shooting that left a man dead.
Jermaine Jones, 52, was arrested in connection with allegedly shooting and killing Kedreon Robinson, 23, shortly after 7 p.m at 5521 McClelland Drive, Baton Rouge police said in a statement. Robinson died at the scene Jones allegedly shot Robinson, after an apparent ar-
strength of the school’s “B” academic letter grade.
The 173-page state audit, released Feb. 10, accused Scott of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and a related private foundation to pay for personal travel, a car lease, an in-ground swimming pool at her house and more.
The report, prepared by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor also found evidence of a potential kickback scheme with a school contractor and questioned Scott’s decision to divert more than $1.5 million to Friends of Impact Charter School. That’s the name of a private philanthropic foundation that Scott also leads. It is supposed to support the 4815 Lavey Lane school financially, but auditors claim it never has.
An attorney for Impact issued a 17-page written rebuttal, claiming the state audit is “defamatory” and
full of inaccuracies. State legislative auditors stand by their work and have made no changes to their report Knowing the state’s audit was forthcoming, Scott had sued the state Feb 7 trying to block state officials from releasing it publicly but ultimately lost on procedural grounds
The dissolution, or “reconstitution,” of the board of a charter school like the ouster of Impact’s board, is a new remedy the Louisiana Legislature added to state law last year
It stops short of outright canceling a charter, what’s known as “revocation.” The state education board has rarely revoked a school’s charter over the nearly three decades charter schools have operated in Louisiana.
Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate. com.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Ernie Navarre, center, owner of Navarre’s Famous King Cakes in Springfield, stands with LeAnn Threeton Gonzalez, left, and Hayley Smith. Navarre died at 70 on Feb 23, his birthday
Continued from page 1B
spite a new law passed last year that added more secrecy to state executions. That law provided for the “absolute confidentiality of the identifying information of any person, business, organization, or other entity directly or indirectly involved in the execution of a death sentence within this state.”
It forbids, for example, the identification of manufacturers providing supplies for an execution. It also gives any person identified as a participant in an execution the right to sue whomever disclosed the information.
Still, Hoffman’s team says the law does not exempt the entire protocol from public record. They wrote in court filings that it’s appropriate for the state to redact identities of people and entities listed in the new nitrogen gas protocol if they are exempted from the state Public Records Act.
“Otherwise, Mr Hoffman requests that all other redactions be removed and that version of the protocol be unsealed so as to allow the public access to this public record,” the court filing states.
Like Louisiana, many states have laws protecting the identities of members of the execution team, according to the Death Penalty Information Center A number, such as Arizona, Oklahoma and Mississippi, also protect the names of drug suppliers.
Alabama sets the stage
The only state to have successfully carried out an execution by gas in the modern era is Alabama, which has moved forward with those executions without courts standing in the way
Many expect Louisiana’s game plan to hew closely to that of Alabama, which has publicly released a redacted version of its protocol.
Failed legal challenges over whether Alabama could use nitrogen hypoxia to put inmates to death could also provide a hint as to whether Hoffman’s lawsuit will succeed.
Hoffman’s bid to avert a March 18 execution date includes a claim that his execution by nitrogen gas would violate the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment Dick will consider Hoffman’s request for a preliminary injunction at a hearing Friday
Federal judges in Alabama have rejected similar arguments in allowing four executions to go forward by lethal gas since 2024. Witness accounts of those executions described prolonged anguish from what has been dubbed “conscious suffocation.”
In the most recent case, U.S. District Judge Emily Marks of Alabama’s Middle District chastised death row inmate Demetrius Frazier for delaying his legal challenge, and she rejected his plea to receive a sedative before his gassing.
“A state’s administration of capital punishment, which remains constitutional subject to the Eighth Amendment’s protections, presumes the prospect of some pain,” wrote Marks, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Donald Trump.
Other pending actions
Hoffman sits on death row for the 1996 rape and execution-style killing of 28-year-old Mary “Molly” Elliott. He kidnapped her the night before Thanksgiving as she walked to her car in New Orleans after work, then took her to the Middle Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish. Hoffman raped and killed her then left her body He was 18 at the time of the crime.
If his execution goes forward, Hoffman would be the first person put to death in Louisiana since 2010, when Gerald Bordelon vol-
unteered. Hoffman’s attorneys say he had a “transformation” during his time in prison and is respected by prison staff and fellow inmates alike. He is a devout Buddhist, according to his lawsuit. His attorneys last week applied for clemency Hoffman has come up against the state before in another federal case that remains open. He and other death row inmates sued the state 12 years ago over its execution protocols. Dick also handled that case.
In 2022, then-Attorney General Jeff Landry asked Dick to dismiss the case as moot because of the state’s difficulty obtaining lethal injection drugs. Dick dismissed the case but allowed the plaintiffs to ask to reopen it if it again became relevant. Hoffman’s team moved to reopen the case last month after Landry, now governor, announced the state had a protocol in place for execution by nitrogen hypoxia. A St. Tammany judge signed Hoffman’s death warrant shortly afterward. Dick then agreed to reopen Hoffman’s long-running case. But at the behest of state Attorney General Liz Murrill, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed Dick’s decision to reopen the case. Murrill’s team also argued that Hoffman should not be allowed to proceed with reopening his old case while also litigating his new one.
Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan. friedmann@theadvocate. com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2025 PICK 3: 7-3-5 PICK 4: 2-8-0-7 PICK 5: 7-1-1-0-5 Unof
gument quickly escalated in the parking lot of Hollywood Food Mart in north Baton Rouge. Jones was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a manslaughter count.
Three booked on suspicion of DWI
Three people were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison between noon Sunday and noon Monday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Those booked and the counts against them:
n Brian Patin 50, of Baton Rouge, was booked on a count each of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, first offense, and reckless operation of a vehicle.
n William Sandoval Flores, 29, of Baton Rouge, was booked on a count each of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, driving without a license, and driving on the left side of the road.
n Corley Smith, 38, of Baton Rouge, was booked on a count each of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, first offense; possession of alcohol in the vehicle, and blocking the highway
Harrell Jr., Jerry Anthony
Jerry Anthony Harrell Jr., age 53, passed away on February 28, 2025, surrounded by his wife, family, and friends. He leaves behind his beloved wife Brandi Melancon Harrell. They were married for 14 years,together 22. His mother Judy Harrell, in laws Melissa Marchand, and Rickey and Lisa Melancon. He was the owner of Car Carriers, LLC Towing Services. He was ahard worker andwas passionate about his work. He was agreat mechanic and was always fixing things. He enjoyed vacationing, especially going to the beach. He also loved his fur baby, Zulu. He was kind anda friend to everyone and never met astranger. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. He loved fast cars. He loved his Impala SS and his white Camaro. The services willbeheld in Donaldsonville, LA on Friday March 7, 2025, at Ascension Catholic Church. Visitation from 9- 11 am with aCatholic Mass to follow. Aprivate burial to be held later. Pall bearers include Kevin Pitre, Kevin Nat" LeBlanc, Tyson Hebert, Jason Watson, Justin Gautreau, and James LeBoeuf. Honorary pall bearers, Chase Melancon and Garrett Melancon. He was preceded in death by his father Jerry "Fuzzy" Harrell Sr., grandparents Margie and Teddy LeBoeuf Sr. and HisAunt Patsy Harrell.
Jones, Duane Thomas 'Turkey'
Duane Thomas "Turkey" Jones, 78, of Lynnville,Tennessee passed away at his home on February 27th, 2025. Duane,a retired East BatonRouge Parish Sheriff's Office detective captain, began serving his newcommunity the moment he arrived from Louisiana nearlytwenty years ago with his wife Mitzi. From volunteering to deliver meals to the elderly, always helping with a few household chores during the visits, to serving as Lynnville Chief of Police and Giles county commissioner, Duane epitomized selfless service.Noone saw this selfless service more than the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 94, as acharter member he was involved in everything the FOP was part of. He had astrong commitment to helping others, never failing to be there for anyone in need. That strong commitment also appliedtohis family. It was through summer visits to Lynnville for "Camp Nanny &Pops" that joyous, lifelong memorieswere created for his children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed, as he was deeply loved, and his legacy of kindness, perseverance,and devotion to friends and familywill live on in those who were blessed to have known him.
Acelebration of Duane's life will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. St Peter's is located at 311 W 7th St, Columbia, TN. Interment will take place in Shreveport, Louisiana at alater date.
Inlieuofflowers, memorial contributions may be made to Giles FOP Lodge 94 200 Thomas Gatlin Rd. Pulaski,TN 38478.
St. Pierre Sr., Allen Joseph
Allen Joseph St. Pierre, Sr February 6 1930 - Febru‐ary 28, 2025. A beloved hus‐band, father, father-in-law, grandfather greatgrandfa‐ther, great-great-grandfa‐ther brother, uncle and friend, Allen Joseph St. Pierre Sr. passed on to our heavenly father on Friday, February 28, 2025 at the age of 95. He was born in Paulina, LA and was a longtime resident of Garyville, LA, where he spent his life caring for his family and friends and the community he called home He gradu‐ated from Leon Godchaux High School in 1948 where he excelled on the basket‐ball court Early in life he was a skilled carpenter by trade while working with his father After being drafted in 1951 at the age of 21, he served his country with honor in the United States Army during the Ko‐rean War from May, 1951 through April, 1953. He started as a construction supervisor and left ranked Corporal Upon completing his military service, he met and later married Audrey Millet in 1954. Allen worked at Shell Oil Refinery in Norco as a welder and re‐tired in 1987 after 33 and a half years while also serv‐ing during some of that time as the Union Presi‐dent He was a very active volunteer in Garyville and other areas of St. John the Baptist Parish. He was elected to the St. John the Baptist Parish Council in 1984 and served many years. He was widely well respected for his integrity, knowledge, expertise, ded‐ication and warm interac‐tions. He served on the Board of Commissioners of the Pontchartrain Levee District from December, 2008 through December, 2024 representing the resi‐dents of St John the Baptist Parish and surrounding parishes Allen was a dedi‐cated and longtime active parishioner and volunteer of St. Hubert Catholic Church where he received the Order of St. Louis Medallion on May 6, 2018 in recognition of his leader‐ship and dedicated service to the church the parish and throughout the Arch‐diocese of New Orleans He is a member of the Ameri‐can Legion Louisiana Post 0383 serving 37 continuous years, an Honorary mem‐ber of the Knights of Columbus, a Life Member of the Korean War Veterans Association, a Past Com‐manders Club Supporter of
parishioner and volunteer of St. Hubert Catholic Church where he received the Order of St. Louis Medallion on May 6, 2018 in recognition of his leader‐ship and dedicated service to the church, the parish and throughout the Arch‐diocese of New Orleans He is a member of the Ameri‐can Legion Louisiana Post 0383 serving 37 continuous years, an Honorary mem‐ber of the Knights of Columbus, a Life Member of the Korean War Veterans Association, a Past Com‐manders Club Supporter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars since January, 1962, having represented Garyville Post 8167, Lutcher Post 5852 and a Member-at-Large for Louisiana. Allen was stead‐fastly and fiercely support‐ive of his fellow citizens during all of his many du‐ties and responsibilities in his various roles, and he was a beloved figure in the community. His greatest passions in life were his family, friends, cooking, dancing and gardening He loved mowing his lawn and working in his yard so much that he had the most manicured yard in town. He never met a stranger and had more friends than you can imagine Allen was the last surviving child of the late Clement Joseph St Pierre and Maria St. Cyr St. Pierre He was also pre‐ceded in death by his lov‐ing wife of 61 beautiful years, Audrey Millet St. Pierre; son, Darren St. Pierre; great-granddaugh‐ter, Macilynn Clement; brothers, Earl, Lois, Elzey Wallace and Leroy St. Pierre; sister, Dolores St Pierre James and numer‐ous nieces and nephews He is survived by his daughters Darlene Vest Kathleen (Randy) Clement and Suzanne (Joseph) Quinlan son, Allen “A.J. (Coy) St Pierre, Jr., his grandchildren, step-grand‐children, greatgrandchil‐dren and step-great-grand‐children who affection‐ately call him “PawPaw Allen” and many nieces and nephews. Of all of Allen’s many wonderful personal qualities, one of his greatest attributes was his love and meticulous care for his family His chil‐dren and grandchildren were of extreme impor‐tance to him, and he never wavered at the opportunity to help each of them He was a man of integrity, strong faith in God and he had a huge heart. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends, and his legacy of compassion, leadership and love will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him Family and friends are warmly invited to gather on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at St. Hubert Catholic Church, 176 An‐thony Monica St Garyville, LA, to honor and celebrate a life well lived. Visitation will be held at the church from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 p.m Interment will follow at St Peter's Cemetery in Re‐LA. Pallbearers are St Pierre, Jr., Joseph an Jr Randy ent, Jr., Jamie Cl ent, Dustin Clement, Clement, Parysh Vest Paetyn Roddy Hon‐pallbearers are Clement, Sr., L. J St Jr Devon Clement Wayne Mollere. The would like to ex‐their heartfelt appre‐to the staff at The at Jamestown and Hospice of Baton for their loving care assistance Arrange‐are being made by Guidry Funeral To share memories ondolences, please www milletguidry.
Allen’s many wonderful personal qualities, one of his greatest attributes was his love and meticulous care for his family His chil‐dren and grandchildren were of extreme impor‐tance to him, and he never wavered at the opportunity to help each of them He was a man of integrity, strong faith in God and he had a huge heart. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends, and his legacy of compassion, leadership and love will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him Family and friends are warmly invited to gather on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at St. Hubert Catholic Church 176 An‐thony Monica St., Garyville, LA, to honor and celebrate a life well lived. Visitation will be held at the church from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 p.m Interment will follow at St Peter's Cemetery in Re‐serve, LA. Pallbearers are Allen St Pierre, Jr., Joseph Quinlan Jr Randy Clement, Jr., Jamie Clement, Dustin Clement, Dylan Clement, Parysh Vest and Paetyn Roddy Hon‐orary pallbearers are Randy Clement, Sr. L. J St Pierre, Jr., Devon Clement and Wayne Mollere. The family would like to ex‐press their heartfelt appre‐ciation to the staff at The Pearl at Jamestown and The Hospice of Baton Rouge for their loving care and assistance Arrange‐ments are being made by Millet-Guidry Funeral Home To share memories or condolences, please visit www milletguidry. com.
ry 1962, having repre Garyville Post 8 Lutcher Post 5852 Member-at-Large Louisiana. Allen was fastly and fiercely s ive of his fellow c during all of his man ties and responsibi his various roles, a was a beloved figur community. His g passions in life we family, friends, c dancing and garden loved mowing his la working in his ya much that he had the manicured yard in He never met a s and had more friends you can imagine Alle the last surviving c the late Clement Jos ous nieces and nephews on o ut et Hi c i po tance to him and he never wavered at the opportunity to help each of them He was a man
no other way
Editor’s note: This editorial, slightly modified, has appeared during previous Carnival seasons in this newspaper
If Mardi Gras is so great, one might ask as another Fat Tuesday arrives today then why hasn’t it been copied across the land?
Maybe it’s because any effort to duplicate Mardi Gras beyond Louisiana would surely lead to efforts to improve it, making it into something no one would recognize.
The charm of Mardi Gras — and its maddening complication — is its monstrous inefficiency. The parades are longer than any prudent planner would make them. The distribution of beads and other trinkets is random, excessive, profligate — in short, a reveler’s rebuke to any student of logistics. As for the Mardi Gras diet king cakes, cocktails, gumbo and goodnessknows-what-else — suffice it to say that it’s a running revolt against restraint.
One can only imagine how a prudent reformer might refine Mardi Gras if it were attempted in some saner city like Portland, Oregon, say, or Peoria, Illinois. The parades would be shorter, no doubt, more punctual, with an eye toward keeping everyone on schedule. Transplanted to tamer places, a Mardi Gras menu might replace king cake with bran muffins, bourbon with herbal tea, gumbo with tofu.
But the magic of Mardi Gras — the one we know and love is that it transcends the mean arithmetic of means and ends, the arid geometry of the straight line, the grim insistence that hard fact is somehow invariably better than heady fantasy
Yes, Mardi Gras is too much too much noise, too much food, too much togetherness. But like all holidays, it makes a meaning from its heedless plenitude.
Whether it’s the over-the-top feast of Thanksgiving or the overdone celebration of Christmas, most of our holidays indulge excess as a civic creed. It’s our way of affirming abundance our simple faith that life’s fortune, even spent generously, bears the seeds of its own renewal.
Mardi Gras arrives at just the right time each year — after the merriment of yuletide has passed, and a weary world needs a bridge between the cheer of Christmas and the promise of Easter
Though we hesitate to count more than the number of beads we collect each year, we know that the economic impact of Mardi Gras has been put at hundreds of millions for the city of New Orleans alone. We know that celebrations statewide attract millions more to cities and towns around the state.
But Mardi Gras isn’t solely about money Part of the joy for Louisianans is sharing the good times, and they are always good times, with our friends from around the world
So let the good times roll, and Happy Mardi Gras to all
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.
YOUR VIEWS
Officials are complicit in allowing government chaos
I don’t even know where to begin to describe my distress over how President Donald Trump and his high-ranking appointees have unleashed their nonsense, cruelty and chaos upon the federal government, the American public and the world over the past few weeks. At the outset, I was absolutely horrified at Trump’s pardons of the Jan. 6 criminals.
My parents both served in World War II, and I know what the U.S. and its allies were faced with and what they accomplished in defeating Hitler and the Axis powers. Even before Trump won the 2024 presidential election, I knew he was capable of repeating Hitler’s reign of terror here in the United States. I see those pardons as igniting this objective. Republican elected officials
who supported these pardons have forgotten whom they serve. The actions of the Trump administration thus far have been one lit match after another, continuing to push the United States toward that hell.
I have watched our Louisiana (and many other) Republican elected officials condone and enable this trajectory, through their actions and inaction, for years. My hope lies with elected officials, both Democrat and Republican, who are willing to work from within government to stand up to this frightening onslaught of irresponsible and dangerous governance, and with American voters to elect individuals of good character and integrity who will defend the Constitution and govern seriously and responsibly LIA THOMPSON Prairieville
Cuts to federal workforce a long time coming
The task of cutting government spending is painful and disruptive but necessary In 2024, the U.S. government spent $6.75 trillion, but revenues were only $4.9 trillion, resulting in a deficit of around $1.8 trillion. Present U.S. taxpayers refuse to pay enough taxes for all of the junk programs, but the government has been unable to say no to the programs’ recipients choosing to borrow and have later, even unborn, generations pay for the trash for which their ancestors
refused to pay If the programs are good enough, shouldn’t we pay as we go?
After President Donald Trump’s purging has been completed, the citizens can decide whether or not they want to go further and trim the untouchable entitlements in a further attempt to balance the budget or whether they want to impose further taxes on themselves.
SIDNEY MARCHAND Donaldsonville
Why is state fighting overdetention lawsuit?
It was with bewilderment that I read an article in the Feb. 7 edition, where it was reported that our attorney general is arguing that our state should continue to retain prisoners beyond the end of their sentence. I often find myself in disagreement with the leaders of our state, but I can at least follow their logic. In this instance, however, I am at a loss. Not only is it unconstitutional and morally wrong to continue such a practice, but practically it incurs an unnecessary cost to the taxpayers. I assume the attorney general has some reason for her opposition, and I call on her to explain why she would spend state time and money in supporting rather than correcting the problem of keeping people locked up after they have served their time
Carnival should be about more than consumption
My daughter and I recently had the extraordinary privilege of visiting the city of Pontevedra in Spain. We were struck by many similarities with New Orleans, including the oldstyle Spanish architecture, the Catholic influence, the emphasis on seafood in the local cuisine, the magnolias and oaks and a vibrant Carnival tradition. We met many wonderful people on this trip, including one man who became a sort of spiritual guide to the region. He told us that many ancient practices are preserved in the Carnival celebrations of Galicia and the Basque country He regards Carnival as a celebration of nature, citing Carnival characters who dance and make noise to wake Mother Earth from her winter sleep. Similar characters are still alive in other parts of northern Spain, and also in Sardinia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, to name a few I confessed these roots can be hard to see in New Orleans. Much of our attention is diverted to gaudy displays of conspicuous consumption. Sustainable throws are great but not nearly enough. My friend in Spain says that given our current ecological crisis, perhaps it’s time to reverse Carnival’s wake-up call. Maybe it’s time to listen to the cries of Earth and wake up humanity BART EVERSON New Orleans
If Ten Commandments are important, why reinstitute death penalty?
Our political leaders have made a big issue of the importance of putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom, presumably to influence our children to have Christian values.
I read recently that they now want to reinstitute the death penalty Does anyone else see the hypocrisy of this? Do our leaders believe Christian values are only appropriate for children, or was posting the Ten Commandments just a political ploy all along just to appear to support Christian values?
RON PERRITT Baton Rouge
Kim Mulkey is playing the long game.
It isn’t as though she has much choice right now
With one of the LSU women’s basketball team’s brightest stars, Flau’jae Johnson, suffering from shin inflammation Mulkey shut her down for Sunday’s regular-season finale against Ole Miss. She also plans to keep Johnson tethered to the LSU bench for the duration of this week’s Southeastern Conference Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mulkey’s decision may have cost her Tigers an 85-77 upset loss to the Rebels. It definitely reduces LSU’s chances of cutting down the nets in Greenville.
BY JIM KLEINPETER
Contributing writer
And, if the Tigers go one-and-done with a quarterfinal loss — likely to an Alabama team that just beat LSU in overtime on Thursday it could cost the Tigers a spot on the No. 2 seed line in the NCAA Tournament. The selection committee will not look favorably on an LSU team on a three-game losing streak.
Still, it looks like this is what Mulkey must do. A healthy Johnson makes for a healthy chance of LSU going on another
deep NCAA Tournament run. Without Johnson at or near her best? Well, it could be 2022 all over again for the Tigers.
LSU was the surprise of women’s basketball that season as Mulkey’s first team motored toward the end of the season ranked in the top 10 and stood second in the SEC to eventual NCAA champion South Carolina. But point guard Alexis Morris, LSU’s second-leading scorer, suffered an MCL sprain in the Tigers’ second-to-last regular-season game against Alabama. Morris sat out the season finale at Tennessee, which LSU managed to win 57-54, and then the SEC Tournament, where the Tigers were bounced 78-63 in the quarterfinals
BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer
It happened again. A hunched over Daimion Collins gripped his right arm and gingerly walked to the LSU men’s basketball bench as the Tigers trailed by six with 10 minutes left at Oklahoma on Feb. 15 A block attempt led to a shoulder dislocation, the same one that forced him to miss 27 games last season. He hurt that same shoulder on Nov 22 against Pittsburgh and missed two games. He reaggravated it before the team’s Jan. 4 game against Vanderbilt, which he played 19 minutes. The latest dislocation was again an anxiety-inducing sight. Collins literally laughed at his pain. He got it fixed, returned to the court two minutes later and scored instantly on a screen-androll action.
“It’s become comical at this point to him,” LSU assistant coach Jalen Courtney-Williams said. “He just laughs at it like ‘I’m all right.’ ” Collins remained in good spirits, finishing with a career-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help LSU win 82-79 over Oklahoma. His best scoring output was secondary to how that performance epitomized part of what makes him special outside of his athletic gifts.
“You talk about toughness, I couldn’t imagine the kind of pain that he could be experiencing in the moment or in the ensuing days,” Courtney-Williams said. “He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve coached.” Collins, who spent his first two seasons at Kentucky, will return to Rupp Arena for the first time since transferring as LSU (14-13, 3-13 SEC) faces No. 19 Kentucky (19-10, 8-8) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Lexington, Kentucky Courtney-Williams, who primarily
It wasn’t perfect, but the No. 5 LSU softball team put in another strong weekend while taking four of five games at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California, including a takedown of No. 4 UCLA on the first day The Tigers (18-1) are back in action at 6 p.m. Wednesday at home against UL-Monroe and have their final nonconference weekend series with the LSU Round Robin, two games each against South Alabama and Minnesota.
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
FRISCO, Texas — LSU baseball made the most of its four-game trip to Texas, defeating Dallas Baptist 7-3 on Wednesday before winning all three of its matchups at the Frisco College Baseball Classic. LSU took down Kansas State 8-5 in 10 innings on Friday came back
from a 5-0 deficit to beat Nebraska 11-6 on Saturday and defeated Sam Houston State 12-8 on Sunday
Here are five takeaways from the Tigers’ long road trip.
Leadoff hitter found
LSU tried a few different combinations at the top of the order through its first eight games.
Auburn transfer Chris Stanfield
Sydney Berzon won twice last week to improve to 7-0, including a 2-1 win against UCLA when she scattered five hits, struck out four and walked one. She also tossed her third shutout with a
10-0, five-inning win vs. Notre Dame. LSU’s only loss was 6-5 to Cal State Fullerton. Freshman left-handed Jayden Heavener struggled with four walks before exiting in the second inning. She bounced back to fire a two-hit
got the first crack at it. Juniorcollege transfer Tanner Reaves slid into the role twice. Utah Valley State transfer Daniel Dickinson hit there once. After last weekend, it looks like
coach Jay Johnson won’t have to search for an answer anymore.
Freshman Derek Curiel made his first appearance in the leadoff spot Wednesday and started playing his best baseball yet. He reached base in five of his six plate appearances against the Patriots, and he finished the weekend by getting on base during 16 of his 24 trips to the plate.
“Hitting in the leadoff spot, my job is to get on base,” Curiel said.
“I got Jared Jones behind me, so
shutout against Utah the next day
“Overall, we played well and saw a lot of good things” LSU coach Beth Torina said “We had a lot of players step up, Syd Berzon especially She was very prepared in the UCLA game. We had a lot of girls that swung well. Sierra Daniel and Jadyn
coach Johnson and I talked about not going up there and getting out on one pitch or out in two pitches.
“It’s better for me to work the count, and I have confidence in myself to be able to swing the bat in any count, whether it’s two strikes or one strike.”
Hitting the ball to the opposite field has been a key component of Curiel’s success. His double and single on Wednesday, triple on Friday first single on Saturday and double on Sunday were hit the other way “At LSU, we teach a 10-inch plate, and that’s the middle (of the plate) to the other half, and we want the pitcher to try to beat us in,” Curiel said. “If he can do that three times, then good for him, but we’re looking for the ball away and trying to
Angeles. USC won the Big Ten regular-season title with the win.
center, celebrates
BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer
Southern California has its best ranking in 39 years after moving up to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll on Monday
The Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title Saturday, beating then-No. 2 UCLA for the second time this year That victory vaulted USC up two spots for its highest appearance in the poll since the team was second on Jan. 5, 1986. USC garnered six firstplace votes from a 31-member national media panel.
“A goal was to come here and bring USC back to what it was at one point,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said in a phone interview “Recognition of our history and admiration of the history and it’s a neat feeling in the present moment.” Texas remained the top choice after receiving the other 25 firstplace ballots. The Longhorns beat
Georgia, Mississippi State and Florida last week to wrap up a share of the Southeastern Conference title with South Carolina. The Bruins fell to fourth with UConn right in front of them. South Carolina, which won a coin flip to get the top seed in the SEC Tournament, was fifth. Notre Dame dropped three places to six after losing to Florida State last week
North Carolina State and TCU were seventh and eighth. The Wolfpack shared the ACC regular season crown with Notre Dame while the Horned Frogs won their first Big 12 title after beating Baylor on Sunday LSU fell to ninth after the Tigers dropped both of their games, losing to then-No. 20 Alabama in overtime and to Ole Miss. The Tigers also will be without star Flau’jae Johnson for the SEC Tournament as she recovers from shin inflammation. Oklahoma rounded out the top 10.
Ranked Rabbits
South Dakota State entered the poll for the first time this season, coming in at No. 25. It’s the first time the Jackrabbits are ranked since the preseason poll in 2022. The team went 16-0 in conference play and has gone undefeated in the Summit League three straight years. The Jackrabbits have won 63 straight regular-season conference games and are 81-1 dating to the beginning of the 2020-21 season. The team’s three losses this season are to Duke, Georgia Tech and Texas.
Conference breakdown
The Southeastern Conference has seven ranked teams The ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 each have five. The Big East has two and the Summit League one.
Games of the week
All four of the major conferences begin their tournaments this week with the championship games on Sunday
Johnson retires from Fox Sports’ NFL coverage
Jimmy Johnson has announced his retirement from Fox Sports after being a part of its NFL coverage for 31 years. The 81-year-old Johnson made the announcement during an appearance on “The Herd With Colin Cowherd.”
He said he had been thinking about retiring for four or five years. He said he would miss the people he’s worked with and called it a great 31-year run.
Johnson worked alongside hosts Curt Menefee and Terry Bradshaw and analysts Howie Long and Michael Strahan.
As a coach, he won consecutive Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and the college football national championship with Miami in 1987.
Bengals place franchise tag on receiver Higgins
CINCINNATI The Cincinnati Bengals have placed the franchise tag on Tee Higgins for a second time, as the team hopes to work out a long-term deal with the star wide receiver
If the Bengals can’t reach a contract with the 26-year-old Higgins before July 15, his salary for the 2025 season would be $26.2 million.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin reiterated last week at the NFL scouting combine that one of his top priorities is to get a deal done with Higgins. Higgins is the second player to receive a franchise tag, joining Kansas City guard Trey Smith. Teams have until 3 p.m. Tuesday to tag players. Higgins was tied for sixth in the league this past season with 10 touchdown catches. He also had 73 receptions for 911 yards.
Astros manager says Altuve to play in outfield WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Houston Astros are planning to play erstwhile second baseman Jose Altuve mostly in left field this season. Manager Joe Espada told the Houston Chronicle that’s the plan. The 2017 AL MVP has played all but two of his 1,767 major league games at second base.
The idea of moving Altuve to left was first broached when the team was looking to keep third baseman Alex Bregman, a former LSU standout.
Altuve said at the team’s FanFest in January he would do whatever it takes to keep his longtime teammate Even after Bregman signed with Boston, moving Altuve to the outfield still made sense to the team.
Yankees pitcher Gil starting season on injured list
Yankees right-hander Luis Gil will start the season on the injured list because of a high-grade lat strain in his pitching shoulder that will prevent him from throwing for at least six weeks. Manager Aaron Boone says “it’s at least a six-week no throw We know that for sure.” Boone said the Yankees hope Gil will return this season. The 26-year-old Gil cut short a bullpen session Friday He was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts last year striking out 171 and walking 77 in 1512⁄3 innings.
He was projected to be part of a starting rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.
BY JOHN MARSHALL Associated Press
Auburn and Duke remain atop the AP Top 25. The rest of the poll was a big jumble.
Auburn was the unanimous pick at No. 1 for the second straight week, receiving all 61 votes from a media panel in the poll released on Monday
The Tigers held the top spot for the eighth straight week following lopsided wins over Ole Miss and then-No. 17 Kentucky Duke was No. 2 for the second straight week after blowing out Miami and Florida State despite playing without guard Tyrese Proctor who has a bone bruise in his left knee. No. 3 Houston moved up a spot after beating Texas Tech and Cincinnati, while Tennessee climbed to No. 4 following Jahmai Mashack’s last-second 3-pointer from well beyond halfcourt to beat Alabama 79-76. Florida rounded out the top five,
dropping two places after losing to Georgia and beating Texas A&M.
No 8 Michigan State joined Auburn and Duke as the only teams to have the same ranking as last week.
Rising Red Storm
St. John’s has pulled off quite a turnaround in its second season under coach Rick Pitino.
The Red Storm (26-4, 17-2 Big East) has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, but are pretty much a lock to end the drought after clinching their first Big East regular-season title in 40 years with Saturday’s 71-61 win over Seton Hall.
“We’re just getting started,” Pitino told the Madison Square Garden crowd after the win.
St. John’s also beat Butler last week and moved up a spot in this week’s poll to No 6, its highest ranking reaching No. 5 in 1990-91.
In and out
No teams moved in or out of this
week’s poll.
Rising and falling No 14 Louisville made the biggest move of the week, climbing five places after wins over Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. No. 13 Maryland moved up three places after losing to Michigan State by three on Tre Holloman’s last-second heave from beyond midcourt and beating Penn State. No. 22 Texas A&M had by far the biggest drop, losing 10 places after losing to Vanderbilt and Florida, stretching its losing streak to four straight. No other team dropped more than two places. Conference watch The SEC continued its dominance with three of the top five and eight total in the Top 25 this week. The
Source says ACC, Fla. St., Clemson reach settlement
A person familiar with the situation says the Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson and Florida State have reached a proposed settlement that would end their legal fight and change the league’s revenue-distribution model.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because neither the league nor the schools have publicly addressed their settlement. The proposed agreement requires approval from the league and the schools. Trustees at the two schools have scheduled meetings for Tuesday
The ACC’s Board of Directors made up of university presidents and chancellors will also have a call Tuesday on the settlement. The upside could be $15 million or more for top-earning schools, could also result in a decline of about $7 million for others, the person told the AP
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
LSU gymnast Sierra Ballard probably spoke for her fellow seniors when she talked about the final home meet of her career Friday against Georgia.
“I’m trying to hold it together,” Ballard said Monday, “but the mindset is the same: Approach it as every other week. When it’s done, I’ll let the tears fall.”
There could be plenty of tears inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Friday as 10 seniors say their goodbyes.
Taking their final bows will be fourth-year seniors Aleah Finnegan, Alexis Jeffrey, KJ Johnson, Tori Tatum and Kathryn Weilbacher; fifth-year seniors Ballard, Haleigh Bryant Olivia Dunne and Chase Brock (injured); and sixth-year senior Alyona Shchennikova
LSU coach Jay Clark doesn’t want sentimentality to overshadow an important meet
“You don’t want it to take over the narrative,” he said “Seniors do that to themselves enough. In reality, we have six more weeks of this.
“Nothing is ending at all. It’s the last time for them in front of these fans, but I remind them no one is dying and we don’t need to eulo-
gize our seniors. Let’s make it a party and celebrate all of their accomplishments already and push forward to accomplish even more.”
First vault is set for 7:30 p.m The meet will be shown on a streaming basis on SECNetwork+.
Tigers improve NQS
LSU stayed at No. 2 in this week’s national rankings but closed the gap on No. 1 Oklahoma.
The Tigers improved their NQS (National Qualifying Score) from 197.540 to 197.710 thanks to their 198.125-195.475 win Friday over George Washington at the Raising Cane’s River Center Oklahoma, which won 197.925196.900 at Auburn, is now at 197.915. UCLA (197.525) is third, followed by Florida (197.480) and Utah (197.465).
Georgia is 10th at 197.065.
LSU’s score Friday tied two 198.125s by Florida for the best score by any team in 2025. It doesn’t currently count for LSU in the NQS formula teams take their top six scores, including three road marks, discard the top score and average the remaining five. But it does allow the Tigers to count the score from their
198.050-197.675 win Feb. 14 against Oklahoma.
NQS will determine LSU’s seeding in the SEC and NCAA championships As for the SEC regular-season championship, Oklahoma is 6-1 with one SEC meet remaining March 14 at Georgia. After hosting Georgia on Friday, 5-1 LSU goes to Auburn on March 14.
Going for 100
Bryant won the all-around and vault titles in the Podium Challenge, giving her 99 individual titles for her career
One more win would allow her to join Ashleigh Clare-Kearney Thigpen (114 wins) and April Burkholder (108) as the only gymnasts in program history with 100 titles.
Bryant, whose season started slowly because of an elbow injury, has five wins in 2025. Freshman Kailin Chio leads the Tigers with 16. Fast company
After trying to hire Clark away from LSU last year, Georgia is led by two firstyear coaches: Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts Canqueteau-Landi coached Team USA to gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics and is Simone Biles’ former personal coach.
Continued from page 1C ON
smash up another way.” Offensive explosion
For an 11-inning stretch the previous weekend, LSU couldn’t score a run off of Omaha.
But in Texas, the Tigers had at least 11 hits in every game, including 17 against Nebraska. And they did it against better competition.
“Any park is a good park for us to hit in,” sophomore Steven Milam said.
So why has LSU suddenly started smacking the ball around like it’s 2023?
For one, the conditions it was playing in were ideal for offense. The weather was warmer than it was in Baton Rouge, and the wind in Frisco allowed a few balls to travel farther than they would have otherwise.
Additionally, the batter’s eye in center field at Globe Life Park and Rider’s Field may have made a difference. Curiel noted on Wednesday how the black wall in center field at Globe Life helped LSU see the ball better out of Dallas Baptist pitchers’ hands. The green wall in center at Rider’s Field is also a solid backdrop and isn’t the mesh see-through material that makes up the batter’s eye at Alex Box Stadium.
Bullpen thoughts
After a nearly perfect first two weeks, the LSU bullpen started showing cracks in Texas.
LSU relievers allowed nine earned runs in 162/3 innings after surrendering just six earned runs through the first eight games. They walked 15 batters and only struck out 14.
But so far in 2025, Johnson has yet to have his best bullpen at his disposal
Junior right-hander Gavin Guidry hasn’t pitched yet, in part due to a midbody injury that kept him out the last two weekends. Juniorcollege transfer and lefthander Conner Ware has
WHO: North Dakota State (1-9) at LSU (11-1)
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.Tuesday
WHERE: Alex Box Stadium
ONLINE: SEC Network+
RADIO: WDGL-FM, 98.1 (Baton Rouge); WWL-AM, 870 (New Orleans); KLWB-FM, 103.7 (Lafayette)
RANKINGS: LSU is No. 1 by D1Baseball; NDSU is not ranked
PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU — TBA; NDSU — TBA
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: LSU is preparing to play its second consecutive five-game week.The Tigers nearly ran out of bullets on the mound last week, surrendering eight runs to Sam Houston State on Sunday. North Dakota State’s lone win came two Sundays ago against Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Bison were swept by Alabama last weekend. Koki Riley
been tasked with starting midweek games. Once conference play begins, he’ll almost certainly be a big part of the Tigers’ pitching plans.
Johnson also has been limited in his ability to use talented freshman righthander William Schmidt in relief. He only threw one inning over the weekend in part because he threw 60 pitches in a start Monday
Johnson said after Sunday’s game that the Tigers were running out of arms.
Seven of their 15 walks and four of the nine runs the relievers allowed came against Sam Houston State.
“We kind of tapped out with a good amount of guys,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of guys that were just scratched off, not available today.”
Flashing leather
Once again, LSU was fabulous in the field. The Tigers had more highlight-worthy plays than errors, committing only two. Dickinson had an errant throw Sunday and Jones had an uncharacteristic drop at first base
Wednesday
The Tigers’ most memorable play was Dickinson’s flip to Milam in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game. It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated how Milam’s move to shortstop has transformed the infield defense.
“Nobody’s playing short-
stop better on the planet right now than this guy,” Johnson said Saturday of Milam.
“There’s the fancy play with the flip and the throw, but his ability to pick the right hop, go get it (and) catch a short hop right on time with the clock has been spectacular.”
Third time’s not a charm
Kade Anderson has been a strikeout machine through three starts. The sophomore left-hander leads the Tigers with 26 punch-outs in 152/3 innings. He struck out 10 batters on Friday against Kansas State, including nine through five innings. Clearly, the stuff and command are there for him to be an excellent top of the rotation arm but Anderson has had some problems going through opposing orders a third time. After surrendering two runs on two walks and two singles to Omaha in the sixth inning the previous week, Anderson allowed a pair of solo home runs to Kansas State in the sixth Friday He still finished Friday’s start allowing just three hits in 51/3 innings He only has a 2.30 ERA. But for Anderson to take the next step in his development, getting through six or seven innings and pitching better as the game goes along will be key
Laneaux had big weekends. A lot of people did exactly what we’ve been asking them to do.” Daniel had six hits in 11 at-bats with six RBIs. She drove in the decisive run with a two-out single in the sixth inning against UCLA after Tori Edwards had broken a scoreless tie with a base hit. Daniel also had two hits and two RBIs against Cal State Fullerton. In a rare display of power, the Tigers hit three home runs in the finale, a 9-1 victory against Weber State. Daniel hit the first home run of her career, a two-run shot. Danieca Coffey had a grand slam and five total RBIs, and Maci Bergeron hit her fourth homer Overall, LSU had a productive weekend in its first experience this season away from Tiger Park.
“It was interesting. There were moments when I thought, ‘This feels weird,’ ” Torina said. “It’s always good to go on the road in a different environment, a little more uncomfortable than in Tiger Park.
“(Daniel) has worked really hard to add the swing piece to her game She’s doing a good job of using all of her tools and making the most of her opportunity.” With UL-Monroe, LSU faces a similar opponent to
Passing game coordinator Scott Linehan, center, works with receivers during an LSU spring practice
March 7, 2020. The Saints are hiring Linehan for a role during the 2025 season.
BY MATTHEW PARAS
Staff writer
Kellen Moore is adding one of his mentors to his coaching staff.
The New Orleans Saints are in the process of hiring Scott Linehan, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
Linehan, an offensive analyst for the University of Montana, was Moore’s offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions when the former Boise State quarterback began his career in the NFL. He then played a role in bringing Moore to Dallas as a player and then as a coach when Moore eventually hung up his cleats at 28 years old.
Linehan could serve as a senior
Continued from page 1C
helps the LSU post players, said Collins typically stays in the moment. The redshirt junior, who last appeared in Rupp Arena on March 1, 2023, doesn’t get too swept up in emotion.
But this matchup is different. It’s on familiar turf and in front of a fanbase that knew him as a freshman and sophomore.
“He hadn’t talked much about going back in Rupp, but I’m sure there’s some emotion that comes with him,” Courtney-Williams said. Kentucky fans once rooted for the former McDonald’s All-American who struggled to emerge in a rotation loaded with other fivestar prospects. They will now witness a 22-year-old who is playing his best basketball.
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound Collins is averaging 8.6 points 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and is shooting 59% from the field in 21 minutes per game. He is fifth in block percentage (7.4%) and fourth in twopoint percentage (67.9%) in the Southeastern Conference.
He is still a human pogo-stick for blocks and dunk. People remain in awe of his ability in practice, and LSU coach Matt McMahon has more than once described him as a “once-in-ageneration athlete.”
But most remarkable is the joy Collins displays because he’s finally on the court.
In his 27 games this season, he has played 107 more minutes than he has in his previous three seasons combined in 58 games. Collins appreciates every second.
“You see that smile of his more and more,” Courtney-Williams said “I think that just speaks to how much fun he’s having in the position he’s found himself in. As a competitor, it’s frustrating to
Continued from page 1C
by Kentucky LSU still got to host NCAA firstand second-round games as a regional No. 3 seed, but with Morris limited the Tigers were ripe for a fall. They had to rally from 10 points down in the first round to beat Jackson State 83-77 but trailed most of the second-round game against Ohio State and were eliminated 79-64. Morris scored a total of 11 points in the two games. Johnson last played Thursday at
offensive analyst with a speciality of in-game management, a source said, but his title and role are still being determined.
Linehan, 61, hasn’t been in the NFL since 2018 when he was the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator That year Moore broke into the coaching profession when he became the team’s quarterbacks coach Moore then replaced Linehan a year later as offensive coordinator
“Scott meant a lot to me,” Moore said last month in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
When Moore suffered a seasonending ankle injury in 2016, Linehan and coach Jason Garrett allowed Moore to assist then-rookie Dak Prescott and sit in on meet-
ings to help with the game plan That allowed Moore to see “the game from the other side of it,” he said.
Since exiting the NFL, Linehan had been in the college ranks. He served as LSU’s pass game coordinator in 2020, spent the next three years with Missouri and joined Montana in 2024.
Linehan also gives Moore another former head coach to lean on during his first year Linehan coached the St. Louis Rams from 2006-08. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley also has previous head coaching experience with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Email Matthew Paras at matt paras@theadvocate.com
LSU forward
Mississippi
not be in a position to compete and help your team the way you feel like you can. And experiencing injuries on top of that, it could put you in a different mental space.”
Collins’ mind hasn’t been this free in a basketball sense since the days he averaged averaged 35 points and six blocks as a high school senior in Atlanta, Texas.
He is now competing in arguably the greatest college basketball conference ever and has the freedom to use both his natural gifts and skills that he’s worked on.
When Courtney-Williams joined the LSU staff and met Collins in April, he noticed his quiet nature and impressive wingspan even with his right arm still in a sling after shoulder surgery Most notable to the eight-year college assistant coach was Collins’ desire to learn and help the team. Collins was eager for workouts and film room breakdowns. These were the steps to not only unlock his game but also rediscover it.
Alabama. The earliest LSU would open the NCAA Tournament is March 21. That would give her three weeks to get right for “the playoffs,” as Mulkey refers to the tournament. Given the opponent and game flow, the Tigers might even be able to get by that first-round game using Johnson sparingly Eventually, LSU will need her Forward Aneesah Morrow has been a double-double machine, mitigating the loss of Angel Reese’s scoring and rebounding. Sophomore Mikaylah Williams has morphed into a Magic Johnson-like do-everything player going from shooting guard to bring-
BY ZACH EWING Staff writer
The New Orleans Saints continued to fill out their coaching staff Monday, as they are expected to hire veteran defensive assistant Grady Brown, a source confirmed.
The Saints also are expected to hire Jay Rodgers and Robert Blanton.
Brown spent the past four seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach and interviewed this offseason to be the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. Under Brown, the Steelers were third in the NFL with 17 interceptions this past season and tied for the league lead with 20 picks in 2022.
The Steelers announced earlier this month that they weren’t renewing Brown’s contract.
Most of Brown’s coaching career has been spent in the college ranks, with the final year coming in Louisiana as the McNeese State defensive coordinator in 2020. Before that, he was defensive backs
coach at South Carolina from 2012-15 under head coach Steve Spurrier
Rodgers most recently served as the Falcons defensive line coach. He also coached the D-line and was the run game coordinator from 2021-23 under Brandon Staley the Saints new defensive coordinator, with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Like both Staley and Saints head coach Kellen Moore, Rodgers is a former quarterback. He played quarterback for Indiana from 1996-98.
Blanton comes to New Orleans from Miami (Ohio), where he was the defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach He played safety at Notre Dame and with the Minnesota Vikings.
Blanton is the latest defensive assistant the Saints have hired from the college ranks, joining Bo Davis from LSU, Terry Joseph from Texas and Peter Sirmon from Cal.
All of the assistants’ exact roles with New Orleans are to be determined.
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
Kim Mulkey’s attitude toward conference tournaments informed her decision to hold Flau’jae Johnson out of the one the LSU women’s basketball team will travel to this week. That choice, of course, diminished the No. 9 Tigers’ chances of winning the 2025 Southeastern Conference Tournament. But Mulkey’s playing it safe. Johnson’s shin inflammation, Mulkey said Sunday after an 85-77 loss to Ole Miss, needs time to subside before LSU finds itself in NCAA Tournament games.
“I’ve always had a hard time with conference tournaments,” Mulkey said. “I really don’t understand, if you’re a top seed, how they benefit you. I’ve never understood that, and that’s even way back before I got to LSU.”
Mulkey’s top priority? Win enough games to play the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center To earn that advantage, LSU just needs to prove to the selection committee that it’s one of the best 16 teams in the country — the group of squads that are given top-four regional seeds.
The Tigers were a No. 3 seed in each of Mulkey’s first three seasons in charge, and they’ve likely already done enough this season to merit a similar position in the bracket — with or without a win in the SEC Tournament.
Before this season, he had played more than 20 minutes in a game three times during his career He’s quintupled that to 15 games during this campaign.
“He a baller,” said Cam Carter LSU’s leading scorer “Tough mentally, physically, a dog. I’m so glad to have him on our team for real.”
Collins’ return to Rupp will be a game he’ll want to win for LSU, but an underlying significance does exist.
It’s that a young man who stayed determined through adversity gets to reintroduce himself to his first college home.
“He’s been through a ton, within the sport, the way he’s decided to navigate those things is really admirable and impressive,” Courtney-Williams said. “He’s figured out some things that people don’t figure out until they’re well into their 30s or 40s.”
Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com
ing the ball up court to playing small forward in spots. But Johnson is the Tigers’ “huge spark,” as Morrow put it during Sunday’s postgame news conference. She embodies LSU’s fast-break culture and can turn a game with a long-armed steal, a Eurostep drive to the basket and her pure emotion.
If Johnson can return at her best — a fairly large “if” at this moment LSU has a nucleus in her, Morrow and Williams that every other team in the nation would envy Still, Johnson doesn’t cover all of the Tigers’ blemishes. Their point guard situation is barely adequate split between
The challenge now becomes something harder to quantify LSU never has lost more than two games in a row since Mulkey took over but if it drops its first SEC Tournament game — set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. Friday — then it’ll begin the NCAA Tournament on the heels of a three-game losing skid and four losses in its previous six contests. That possibility is new territory for the Tigers, who struggled to close out their game against Ole Miss on Sunday and suffered a rare loss at home. The Rebels outscored them 54-33 in the second half. LSU coughed up a season-high 23 possessions, including 14 across the third and fourth quarters, and lost the offensive rebounding battle by six boards.
As a result, Ole Miss earned 17 more field-goal attempts.
Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams combined to score 53 points on 55% shooting.
Kailyn Gilbert was the only
Shayeann Day-Wilson and LastTear Poa. Contributions from forwards Sa’Myah Smith, Jersey Wolfenbarger and Aalyah Del Rosario are erratic as well. And yet, Flau’jae performing as Flau’jae — the basketball star, not the rap artist — gives LSU a shot at another national title. The Tigers picked a good year for some uncertainty in the women’s game, a year without a lead-pipe national championship favorite. UConn is the current betting choice; Texas looks like the No. 1 overall seed; and South Carolina is South Carolina. But USC, UCLA, Notre Dame and LSU are also in that mix. Any of
other contributor who scored in double figures, and she saw only two minutes of run in the fourth quarter In the second half, Tigers not named Morrow or Williams chipped in only nine points on 4-of-10 shooting — not enough to hang with an Ole Miss team that converted 51% of its field goals and 42% of its 3-point tries across the third and fourth quarters. “I think we just need to defend,” Williams said. “Flau’jae brought a defensive mentality or defensive presence to the floor — defending, rebounding, all that. So, we just need to bow our necks to be able to guard the people in front of us.” Mulkey took a similar precaution at the same time last season with Williams. Then a freshman, Williams sat out LSU’s regular-season finale against Kentucky and missed the start of the SEC Tournament. Mulkey said she was nursing plantar fasciitis in her foot and that the team decided to shelve her as a precaution to ensure she wouldn’t aggravate the injury before the NCAA Tournament. Without Williams, the Tigers picked up a 21-point win over the Wildcats, a 30-point victory over Auburn and an eight-point win over Ole Miss. She returned for the SEC Tournament title game against South Carolina but came off the bench and scored only two points in 23 minutes of action. LSU lost 79-72 before reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. At the time, however the Tigers had won eight straight games, and Williams was averaging 12.1 points per game while shooting 43% from the field and 29% from 3-point range. The SEC was also weaker It put only two teams (South Carolina and LSU) into the Associated Press Top 25 poll by the time the regular season wrapped up.
This season, seven SEC teams are ranked, Johnson is scoring 17.1 ppg, and LSU has lost three of its last five games. It could find itself in a rematch with one of the four teams it lost to as soon as Friday But Johnson will not play in that game, and that’s a reality Mulkey can live with.
“I think conference tournaments maybe make money for people, I don’t know,” Mulkey said. “I think conference tournaments are good for Cinderellas, but how many Cinderellas do you really have in the women’s game?
“So we’ll go, and we’ll compete and do the best we can.”
those seven could be the last team standing in Tampa, Florida, on April 6 and no one would be a bit surprised. That’s the tack Mulkey is taking. She risked defeat against Ole Miss and is in effect punting on the SEC Tournament to keep her eyes on the biggest prize. One that requires Johnson be as healthy as she can be to get through the six-game gauntlet that is the NCAA Tournament. It’s the only sound course of action for Mulkey and LSU to take. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
Castle’s Cambrieion Link,
tries to
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH
Staff writer
Sometimes, there is no substitute for experience even when two young teams meet.
Reigning champion Arcadia, the No. 2 seed, held off a fourthquarter challenge to claim a 55-47 victory over third-seeded White Castle in the second Division IV nonselect semifinal that helped tip off the LHSAA girls basketball tournament.
“Lord knows I did not want us to go out this way,” White Castle coach Matthew Martin said. “When you’re playing a team like that They knew what they were trying to do and their best player had a sensational game.”
The game played Monday at Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center was a tale of two halves and the contrasts between two teams that rely on young players.
Arcadia plays top-seeded Lakeview (29-4), a 48-44 winner over Midland in the other semifinal, in the title game set for 4 p.m.
Friday Arcadia sophomore DeAsia Alexander had 28 points and 16 rebounds, playing practically every position on the court in a game.
Alexander was Arcadia’s only double-figures scorer White Castle (25-10) was led by seniors Cambrieion Link (15 points) and Kelsey Robinson (13 points, 12 rebounds), along with eighth grader Jahzarah Brown (11 points).
The Hornets scored the final nine points of the first quarter and led 13-4. By halftime, the lead ballooned to 28-12 The Bulldogs made just 1 of 15 shots from the field in the first quarter
Back came the Bulldogs A layup by Link at the 4:40 mark of the third quarter shave the Bulldogs deficit 32-22. But after the 10-4 run, Arcadia bounced back and led 44-25 going into the fourth quarter
What happened next White Castle’s 22-11 surge — did not surprise Arcadia coach Lakinya Currie.
“When you come in with players averaging 24 (Link) and 20 (Kelsey Robinson) points you know they can score,” Currie said. “That plus we got away from the things we did early in the game. We let up.”
With Link in foul trouble, Robinson teamed with Brown to help spearhead a comeback.
“It was a lot of pressure being in the game without Cam,” Robinson said. “They (younger players) were really not ready for this pressure. So I had put it in my mind that I had to be the one to take over
“We had to play smart, and we had to play defense. We had to keep their best two players away from the ball.”
The Bulldogs did just that. Arcadia made just 3 of 11 fourth-quarter shots from the field and turned the ball over six times.
A layup by Brown got White Castle within six, at 51-45, with 38.5 seconds left and forced an Arcadia timeout. Soon, the clock ran out.
BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer
Although Southern coach Kevin Johnson has stressed the importance of Jordan Johnson’s defense this season, it was his offense that made the difference in Monday night’s game at Florida A&M. With the game tied 63-63, Johnson made back-to-back 3-pointers to give Southern the edge it needed to hold on for a 73-70 win over the Rattlers in Tallahassee, Florida.
The win earned Southern (19-13, 14-2 SWAC) a split of its two-game trip to the Sunshine State. The Jaguars finish up their regular season with home games against Alabama State on Thursday and Alabama A&M on Saturday
Johnson led the Jaguars with five 3-pointers and 17 points. Michael Jacobs scored 12 points while Brentay Noel had nine points and a team-high six rebounds. Southern led by 10 points at halftime, but the Rattlers’ shooting got hot while Southern went cold. The Jaguars missed their first six shots of the second half while FAMU outscored them 18-6.
Sterling Young, who led all scorers with 20 points, scored on a layup to give the Rattlers a 44-42 lead with 11:46 left. After that, there were six lead changes until Jacobs made a pair of free throws to tie the score 63-63 with 3:02 left to play
After a Southern defensive stop, Johnson drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key Another Southern stop led to another Johnson 3-pointer, this one from the right wing to give the Jaguars a 69-63 lead.
Florida A&M (13-15, 10-7) got as close as 72-70 on Milton Matthews’ 3-pointer with 10 seconds left. After a FAMU foul, Cam Amboree made 1 of 2 free throws and Young’s 3-pointer at the buzzer came up short.
Florida A&M outrebounded Southern 35-26 and had five blocked shots. Ja’Derryus Eatmon
Southern
on Feb 15, scored 17 points, including five 3-pointers, in the Jaguars’ 73-70 win over Florida A&M on Monday.
was the biggest inside presence with 11 points, four rebounds and three blocks.
Matthews opened the game with a 3-pointer helping the Rattlers take a 5-4 lead three minutes in Johnson’s 3-pointer, the first of three in the first half, was the highlight of a 9-0 run that gave Southern a cushion it held on to the rest of the half.
The Rattlers got as close as 1610 before Southern surged out to a double-digit lead. The Jaguars led by 13 points three times, the last coming with 1:35 to go in the half after Johnson’s 3-pointer from the right wing gave Southern a 36-23 advantage.
Shaqir O’Neal scored three points in the final minute as FAMU trailed 36-26 at halftime.
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH
Staff writer
Family was one reason why GEO Next Generation coach Ryan Price welcomed the chance to move into high school coaching. Validation of that decision manifested itself in a painful way earlier this year for the longtime Southern University assistant Price’s 6-year-old daughter Bella suffered severe burns in an accident that took place in the family home. That event also helps frame the Tigers’ Division III select season GEO (22-11), a No. 18 seed, travels to second-seeded Dunham (19-5) for a regional-round game at 6 p.m. Tuesday
“It is every parent’s nightmare,” Price said. “Bella was in the hospital for 10 days in New Orleans, and we’ve been back every week since. There’s a skin graft scheduled Wednesday (at the Manning Family Children’s Hospital)
“My wife, Kali, is the MVP during every basketball season, but especially this one. She handles everything at home. My support staff at school, assistant coaches and administration has been, are amazing. When I have missed practice, I know everything is covered.” Price, the son of well-known college coach Tic Price, spent nine years as an assistant at Southern. Sandwiched into that stint was a season at now defunct The Church Academy/Christian Life.
“Moving over six inches on the bench to that head coaching chair is a big difference,” Price said. “I do like it, but I can honestly say I’ve learned something in every job I’ve had that has made me a better coach now.”
This is Price’s second season marks the first season that GEO has played for LHSAA championship honors. Last Friday’s 73-68 overtime win over Farmerville’s D’Arbonne Woods Charter was the school’s first playoff victory
It also was a huge night for the Price family because his wife and daughter were able to make the trip.
“Bella loves basketball,” Price said. “We’ve have been able to get her to few games. Right now she is being homeschooled and it’s tough because you know she misses her friends.
2 Oak Grove (24-5) vs. Westlake (19-6), 2:45 p.m.
B: No. 2 Bell City (24-3) vs. No. 3 Oak Hill (30-10), 4:30 p.m.
B: No. 1 Fairview (35-5) vs. No. 5 Anacoco (24-11), 6:15 p.m.
Division II nonselect: No. 1 Wossman (26-3) vs. No. 4 Iowa (22-7), 8 p.m.
Wednesday Semifinals
Division IV select: No. 2 Cedar Creek (28-3) vs. No. 3 Clark (24-5), 1 p.m.
Division IV select: No. 1 Southern Lab (19-5) vs. No. 5 Ouachita Christian (28-3), 2:45 p.m.
Division II select: No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic (17-7) vs. Parkview Baptist (21-6), 4:30 p.m.
Division III nonselect: No. 1 Oakdale (24-5) vs. No. 4 Doyle (24-6), 6:15 p.m. Division II nonselect: No. 3 Sterlington (23-7) vs. Albany (23-11), 8 p.m.
Thursday Semifinals
Division II select: No. 1 University (22-3) vs. No. 5 Madison Prep (19-12) , 1 p.m.
Division I select: No. 1 John Curtis (18-4) vs. No. 4 Huntington (18-6), 2:45 p.m.
Division I select: No. 2 Karr (28-4) vs. No. 3 Woodlawn-BR (25-6), 4:30 p.m. Division I nonselect: No. 1 Parkway (26-2) vs. No. 4 Haughton (28-4), 6:15 p.m. Division I nonselect:
Classic Carnival albums on vinyl offer deeper appreciation of Mardi Gras music
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
Everyone in New Orleans knows the essential Mardi Gras songs. The likes of “Carnival Time,” “Mardi Gras Mambo,” “Go To the Mardi Gras,” “Big Chief” and “Second-Line, Pt. 1” are as baked into the Carnival season as king cake.
But what if your Fat Tuesday-adjacent frolicking requires a turntable and a full-length vinyl album?
Here are some classic Carnival albums to get you in the spirit
Donald Harrison Jr.
“Indian Blues”
Donald Harrison Jr does double duty as an internationally renowned modern jazz saxophonist and a big chief in the Black Masking Indian tradition. For the May 1991 “Indian Blues” recording sessions in New York, he was joined by his jazz band, Mac “Dr John” Rebennack and members of the Guardians of the Flame, the Mardi Gras Indian tribe led by his father, Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr The percussion-heavy opening “Hu-Na-Nay” is an Indian song, but the piano break and alto sax wouldn’t be out of place in a jazz club In “Shallow Water,” the ensemble wades once again into Indian territory Rebennack fully inhabits “JaKi-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay.”
ä See ALBUMS, page 2D
Donald
is both an internationally renowned modern jazz saxophonist and a Big Chief in the Black Masking Indian tradition. He brought those worlds together on his landmark ‘Indian Blues’ album
Happy Fat Tuesday, Baton Rouge! The good times have rolled and will continue to roll in some places. Each year, Mardi Gras allows us to bask in the revelry, spend time with friends and appreciate the traditions of Louisiana. In the words of Franklin Alvarado, “It’s a great party, and anyone who doesn’t enjoy Mardi Gras is not of this world.”
There’s
By The Associated Press
Today is Tuesday, March 4, the 63rd day of 2025. There are 302 days left in the year
Today in history
On March 4, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for a second term of office.
With the end of the Civil War in sight, and just six weeks before his assassination, Lincoln declared:
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the fight as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
On this date:
In 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for his first term as president; he was the last U.S. president to be inaugurated on this date. In his inaugural speech, Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
In 1966, John Lennon of The Beatles was quoted in the London Evening Standard as saying, “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” a comment that caused
Continued from page 1D
periodic maintenance. Wind, rain, wildlife and mowing would carry dirt particles and weed seeds into rocks and around pavement. We simply can’t escape the reality of prolific weed growth here in Louisiana. So what is a busy person without much time for lawn and garden maintenance to do? While it’s not feasible to eliminate all landscape chores, you can lighten the burden by following the three steps outlined below
If you choose the right plants and place them carefully, you can create a landscape that looks nice and reduce the amount of upkeep you have to fit into your hectic schedule
Step 1: Tree placement
Take note of where you have trees or decide where you would like to plant some. Trees have a profound effect on the look and feel of landscapes, as they take up quite a bit of space and can live for many years They need regular watering during establishment and in times of drought, but otherwise, trees aren’t incredibly demanding plants. They also provide benefits such as wildlife habitat, shade and improved property values
Whether you have a spacious yard or a small lot, there are trees of all shapes and sizes to choose from. You may want to select species with innate storm resistance such as bald cypress, pond cypress, Southern magnolia and live oak. Some trees have ornamental qualities — for example, Japanese maple leaves turn brilliant hues of red and orange in the fall, and Taiwan cherries sport magenta flowers in late winter and early spring.
If you don’t want to rake a bunch of leaves, opt for evergreen selections over deciduous ones. Place smaller trees closer to structures that can shield them from strong winds. Make sure to leave plenty of space around larger trees to avoid branches encroaching on your home or other structures.
Step 2: Foundation plantings
After you’ve figured out tree placement, the next point to consider is shrubs. We refer to shrubs as foundation plantings for a few reasons. They often are near the foundation of homes, structures and other built items like driveways and fences. They soften the transition between nature and the built environment. And, like trees, shrubs are long-lived plants that form the backbone and influence the flow of gardens. They’re a constant in the landscape.
When deciding what shrubs to plant, think about what your garden looks like in the middle of winter, when deciduous shrubs and trees lose their leaves but evergreens remain vibrant. If the balance seems off and your winter landscape is a collection of leafless sticks and stems, you
an angry backlash in the United States.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging that his overtures to Iran had “deteriorated” into an arms-forhostages deal.
In 1998, the U.S Supreme Court ruled that workplace sexual harassment laws are applicable when the offender and victim are of the same sex.
In 2015, the Justice Department cleared Darren Wilson, a White former Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a Black 18-year-old, but also issued a scathing report calling for sweeping changes in city law enforcement practices, which it called discriminatory and unconstitutional.
In 2017, President Donald Trump wrote a series of Twitter posts accusing former President Barack Obama of tapping his telephones during the 2016 election; an Obama spokesman declared that the assertion was “simply false.”
Today’s birthdays: Film director Adrian Lyne is 84. Author James Ellroy is 77. Musician-producer Emilio Estefan is 72. Actor Catherine O’Hara is 71. Actor Mykelti Williamson is 68. Actor Patricia Heaton is 67. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., is 67. Actor Steven Weber is 64. Rock musician Jason Newsted is 62. Author Khaled Hosseini is 60. Author Dav Pilkey is 59. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., is 57. NBA forward Draymond Green is 35.
may want to plant a few more evergreen shrubs. A good mix to aim for is 75% evergreen and 25% deciduous.
Focus on tough plants that thrive in sun or shade whatever conditions you have in your yard and that don’t require frequent pruning Try to select shrubs with different bloom times to keep the landscape lively year-round
Camellias are a great foundation planting for Louisiana landscapes, particularly the sasanqua and hiemalis species. They tolerate full sun or part shade, and their fall and early winter flowers provide forage for honeybees and other overwintering pollinators.
Other foundation planting options to consider include Japanese yew which can be used to form a living privacy screen; Florida sunshine anise, which brightens shady areas with chartreuse foliage; and dwarf hollies, which work great for short hedges.
Step 3: Mulch, groundcovers For effective but passive weed control, you can rely on mulch and groundcovers.
Construct wide mulch beds around your trees and foundation plantings. Don’t feel pressured to fill your mulch beds with annual color plants or trim them with border grass. The mulch itself offers enough of a color and texture contrast from the lawn and other features of the landscape. It also is an effective strategy for suppressing weed growth, retaining moisture and adding organic matter to the soil — all of which benefits the health of your plants.
If you would rather plant groundcovers instead of applying mulch, keep in mind that common shorter species such as dwarf mondo grass will still allow a few weeds, vines and tree saplings to sprout through them — meaning they will require occasional maintenance. For an easier-care groundcover, you can try a taller, more vigorous plant like aspidistra, also known as cast iron plant.
You also can incorporate elements like gravel, pavers, concrete and decorative rocks into the landscape to limit the amount of grass you must maintain Just keep in mind that weeds will inevitably sprout in and around these items Be prepared to hand pull them or treat with herbicides to maintain an orderly appearance.
Staff report
Robert Mann, professor emeritus of mass communication at LSU and the author of 10 books, has released his latest book about Louisiana, titled “You Are My Sunshine.” The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will host Mann at 2:30 p.m. March 5 at the Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., for a lecture. The discussion is free and open to the public. In “You Are My Sunshine,” Mann weaves together the birth of country music, Louisiana political history World War II and the American civil rights movement to produce
a biography of this widely known musical composition. This is the story of a song that, despite its simple, sweet melody and lyrics, holds the weight of history within its chords.
The book centers on Jimmie Davis, who capitalized on his country music stardom to win two terms as Louisiana’s governor In 1940, Davis became the third artist to record “Sunshine,” after he bought it and claimed it as his composition. The song became his anthem and a staple of his political rallies. As “You Are My Sunshine” grew in popularity, so did its link to Louisiana’s “singing governor.” In 1977, the Louisiana
Legislature made it a state song. Throughout the book, readers discover that the song shaped the early rise of country music and became tangled in Davis’s pro-segregation policies. The simple song has became iconic — enduring and ubiquitous as sunshine itself. Mann is the author of several books, including those that focus on the U.S. civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, Ronald Reagan and the 1964 presidential election. His previous book was “Kingfish U: Huey Long and LSU,” published by LSU Press. Mann spent over 20 years in politics as a senior aide to U.S. senators Russell Long and John Breaux and Gov Kathleen Blanco.
Continued from page 1D
“Indian Red” is ostensibly a traditional Indian song, but Harrison reimagines it as a lovely, at times majestic, seven-minute jazz exercise “Two-Way-Pocky-Way,” by contrast, is barely two minutes of voice and percussion. The instrumental “Hiko Hiko” contains the soul of “Iko Iko,” but the bass and piano breakdown showcase the inherent swing of Harrison’s jazz band. The eight-minute “Uptown Ruler,” another modern jazz instrumental, scoots along as Harrison’s sax soars over a bed of piano, bass and Howard “Smiley” Ricks’ congas.
Rebennack’s voice jumps right into “Big Chief” and stays on track as Cyrus Chestnut handles the piano. Rebennack’s undulating New Orleans piano duets with Harrison’s alto on the instrumental “Walkin’ Home.”
Rebennack is front and center again for the concluding “Shave ‘em Dry,” a final distillation of pure New Orleans. Originally released by Candid Records in 1992, the landmark “Indian Blues” was reissued by the Tipitina’s Record Club in 2023 as a sumptuous double album on smokecolored vinyl. The whole album still sounds fresh and innovative during Carnival or any other time of year
The Wild Magnolias
“The Wild Magnolias”
As a Tulane University undergraduate in the late 1960s, future New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival producer Quint Davis booked concerts at the student union. One show featured jazz/ funk keyboardist Wilson “Willie Tee” Turbinton and his band, the Souls, as the headliner, plus gravelly voiced Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias tribe.
Turbinton’s gear was already set up on the stage when the Magnolias kicked off their opening set As the Indians performed their rhythms and chants, Turbinton got onstage and improvised with them. That was arguably the genesis moment for modern Mardi Gras Indian funk. In 1970, Davis produced the Wild Magnolias’ first single, “Handa Wanda.”
Four years later the Wild Magnolias released their seminal selftitled debut album. Dollis and Monk Boudreaux, Big Chief of the Golden Eagles, fronted a combination of Indian percussionists and Tee’s New Orleans Project, featuring Earl Turbinton Jr on sax and clarinet, Snooks Eaglin on guitar, Larry Panna on drums, Alfred “Uganda” Roberts on congos and Julius Farmer on bass.
Together, they synthesized “Handa Wanda,” the churning “(Somebody Got) Soul, Soul, Soul” and Willie Tee’s “Smoke My Peace Pipe.”
A second Wild Magnolias album, 1975’s “They Call Us Wild,” boasted such Mardi Gras Indian funk classics as “New Suit” and “We’re Gonna Party.”
A later CD reissue combined both albums and included previously unreleased songs. Regardless of the format, these recordings are bedrock New Orleans Mardi Gras music.
The Meters
“Fire On the Bayou”
The cover of the 1975 album “Fire On the Bayou” depicts the five Meters by this point, Cyril Neville had joined big brother Art, George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli and Zigaboo Modeliste in the lineup — posing in the Atchafalaya Basin. The color of the photo is intentionally washed out.
But there is nothing washed out about the music. It is straight-up latter-day New Orleans funk and soul, a 13th Ward house party committed to vinyl.
The title track, with its distinctive opening guitar line and complex percussion, would later become a standard of Art and Cyril’s subsequent band, the Neville Brothers. “Talkin’ ‘Bout New Orleans” is one of the great underappreciated songs about the city
Side 1 of the original vinyl album concludes with “They All Ask’d for You” (mistitled on the album’s back cover as the awkwardly formal “They All Ask’d About You”). Though it technically has nothing to do with Mardi Gras, the irresistible ditty about various critters at the Audubon Zoo is a standard of the season. The Meters cut “They All Ask’d for You” at the very end of the recording session; the clapping at the song’s conclusion is the musicians celebrating being done with the record.
They based their version on a traditional, naughtier song they’d heard at parties. In that original version, the lyric wasn’t “the monkey asked, the tigers asked” it was “the monkey’s ass, the tiger’s ass.” The Meters cleaned it up at Sea-Saint Studio and ended up with one of their most popular songs. Bringing the Carnival connection full circle, the last track on “Fire On the Bayou” is the Meters’ version of “Mardi Gras Mambo,” which Art Neville had first sung 21 years earlier with the Hawketts. Rebirth Brass Band “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up” The Rebirth Brass Band’s 1989 release “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up” is one of the greatest New Orleans brass band recordings of all time. Given brass bands’ close kinship with parades, that also makes it
one of the great Mardi Gras albums of all time.
Rebirth released its debut album, “Here to Stay,” in 1984, barely a year after the band formed. By the time the young musicians tracked “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up” five years later, they’d gelled into an airtight unit, one that was equally at home with traditional New Orleans standards and brassy arrangements of pop songs. They channeled their youthful energy and exuberant sense of fun — personified by a baby-faced Kermit Ruffins on trumpet into “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up.” The opening “Do Whatcha Wanna (Part 2)” and the title track were both destined to become modern Mardi Gras favorites. The band also puts a brassy spin on “Big Chief” and Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin,” then fast-forwards to Michael Jackson’s “Shake Your Body Down to the Ground.” In 2024, the Tipitina’s Record Club reissued “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up,” making it available again on vinyl for the first time since its original 1989 pressing. It still sounds and feels as fresh, vital and fun as it did 35 years ago. Neville Brothers “Neville-ization”
The Neville Brothers’ legendary late-night gigs at Tipitina’s and Jimmy’s Music Club are the stuff of Carnival legend. More than one Brother has described the 1984 Black Top Records release “Nevilleization” as the best representation of the band ever captured on vinyl That’s because it wasn’t recorded in a studio. Instead, tapes rolled during a show at Tipitina’s on Sept. 24, 1982. In addition to the four brothers — Art, Aaron, Charles and Cyril — the band boasted Aaron’s son Ivan Neville on keyboards and vocals plus bassist Darryl Johnson, drummer “Mean” Willie Green and guitarist Brian Stoltz.
The Brothers’ music has many textures, and “Neville-ization” isn’t just about the funk. The Brothers open the album with the harmonies of “Fever” and slow down for Aaron to showcase his 1966 classic ballad “Tell It Like It Is.” But when they dig into “Mojo Hannah,” “Fear, Hate, Envy, Jealousy” and the final “Africa,” the grooves are thick. And their take on “Big Chief” ranks among the definitive live versions of the Carnival classic.
To emphasize the Nevilles’ Carnival connection, the late Bunny Matthews made sure purple, green and gold were prominent in the cover artwork of the original Black Top album. But the Nevilles’ music was what really made that connection clear
Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Simplify your life. If someone asks for too much, say no; if offered too little, ask for more. Upfront communication is your best path forward.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Make today about caring and sharing. Lift others up, and they will reciprocate. Choose peace and love over anger and discord. Look for alternatives that satisfy your soul and accommodate loved ones' wishes.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Envision what you want, develop a plan and execute your intentions. Turn your thoughts into something concrete and put a dent in your to-do list. Stop thinking about what you want, and begin your journey.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Tone down your plans to fit your budget and abilities. Gauge your time and effort carefully. Your success depends on accuracy, attention to detail and your ability to deliver.
cANcER (June 21-July 22) Haste makes waste. Slow down, nurture what's important to you and change only what's necessary. Channel your energy and passion into something meaningful.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Resolve issues in a civil fashion. If you want to be an honorable leader, act like one. Treat everyone, even your rivals, with dignity. Tact will be necessary.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) A change of scenery will help you put your life in
perspective. Distance yourself from uncertainty, aggravation and temptation; you'll recognize the best path forward.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Live, learn, love and explore what life has to offer Socializing, sharing information and meeting new people will lead to personal growth, positive change and opportunities.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-Nov. 22) Put your best foot forward. Change is within reach if you follow your passion. Get the ball rolling by sharing your innovative ideas and plans.
sAGIttARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Think before you act. Take everyone and everything into account before you make a move. Don't spend money on things you don't need or can't afford. Salt away some cash if you can.
cAPRIcoRN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Make changes to your living space that can help you save money. Updating your home, downsizing to make your life easier and exploring other possibilities will pay off.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Spend more time learning about something you want to pursue. Choose a healthy lifestyle that will protect you from injury or illness. Be ready to do something interesting.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc dist
By Andrews McMeel Syndication
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
By PHILLIP ALDER
Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
At the bridge table, we try to use the knowledge gleaned from the bidding and the play (as it progresses) to make informed decisions. How should the play go in this three-no-trump contract after West leads the spade queen? What is the key piece of knowledge declarer wants and East must keep hidden?
South starts with seven top tricks: two spades, one heart, three diamonds and one club. He could attack either hearts or clubs, but the minor suit offers much better chances for three tricks.
Declarer ducks the first trick, takes the second spade with his king, plays a diamond to dummy’s queen, and leads a club to his nine West wins this with say, the queen (he should vary his play in this situation) and continues with another spade to dummy’s ace.
Now comes dummy’s last club. What happens next?
If Eastcarelessly plays his eight,South should put up his ace, dropping West’s king and collecting11 tricks Whyshould he drop the king?
Given that East is known to have the club 10 from the first round of the suit, when East plays the club eight second, he started with 10-8-5 or K-10-8-5. In the second case, the contract is unmakable. However,onthesecondroundofclubs, Eastshouldfollowtheexcellentprinciple of playing the card he is known to hold. If he puts up the 10, declarer will place him with K-10-5, finesse his club jack, and go down three. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication
Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
toDAy’s WoRD — WIDGEoN: WIJ-in: Any of several freshwater ducks.
Average mark 18 words Time limit 25 minutes
Can you find 23 or more words in WIDGEON?
yEstERDAy’s WoRD — APHEsIs
aphis apish apse apsis ashes pass passe phase hasp heap hiss sash sepia shape shea shies ship spies
today’s thought
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
