The Advocate 03-28-2025

FAMILY TRIPS

Mulkey and family always show up for each other, especially when tournament time rolls around

BY JAN RISHER Staff writer

Kim Mulkey never missed a day of school from her time in kindergarten until she graduated from Hammond High. She knows a little something about showing up — and she has passed that trait on to her children.

“That’s a good way to put it. She always showed up,” said her son Kramer Robertson “She was at every big game and every school event. Not just sports but plays in elementary school, too.”

Her daughter Makenzie Fuller, 33, is following in her mother’s footsteps. She gives credit to her husband, Clay Fuller, for helping make their lifestyle possible. Not only has Fuller never missed a single NCAA tournament game that her mom’s teams have played in, these days, the couple goes to Herculean lengths to show up for Mulkey with their family of four.

The Fullers and their two children, Kannon, 5, and Sage, 3, live in Waco, Texas.

ä See FAMILY, page 6A

Senators seek probe into Signal chat leak

BY STEPHEN GROVES and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee requested an investigation Thursday into how national security officials used the Signal app to discuss military strikes, ensuring at least some bipartisan scrutiny on an episode President Donald Trump has dismissed as frivolous.

Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the committee, and Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat, signed onto a letter to the acting inspector general at the Department of Defense for an inquiry into the potential “use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know.”

The senators’ assertion that classified information was potentially shared was notable, especially as Trump’s Republican administration has contended there was no classified information on the Signal chain that had included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine.

Across Washington, the Signal leak presented a major test early in Trump’s second term on the federal government’s system of checks and balances meant to protect national security Yet even as mechanisms for oversight and investigation sputtered to life, it was a halting effort as most Republicans seemed content to allow the controversy to blow over Meanwhile, Democrats slammed the Signal chat as a reckless violation of secrecy that could have put service members in harm’s way

“This put pilots at risk because of sloppiness

See PROBE, page 4A

Hurricane experts using new tools to predict rapid intensification

StreamSondes are tiny weather stations that are dropped into tropical storms and hurricanes to gather data.

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

Shortly after Hurricane Milton formed in the Gulf of Mexico in October, forecasters watched in horror as the storm underwent explosive rapid intensification and made its way toward Florida, strengthening from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in a day Milton’s wind speeds increased by 90 mph in 24 hours, which Jason Dunion, a University of Miami

meteorologist specializing in hurricane research, said is the third highest rate of rapid intensification in recorded history

“If you’re a forecaster, you have to communicate that change really fast,” Dunion said.

That kind of fast-paced strengthening, which in Milton’s case famously brought one Florida meteorologist to tears on air, has long posed a problem for forecasters and hurricane-prone states like Louisiana, where residents are of-

ten left with little time to prepare. While researchers understand the large-scale environmental factors that help fuel the phenomenon — warm sea-surface temperatures, low wind shear, moist air much of the process remains a mystery

“What’s harder to predict,” Dunion said, “is how fast the inner core, that heart of the storm, can change in a short period of time.”

Kramer Robertson, Kim Mulkey and Makenzie Fuller celebrate after one of Mulkey’s Baylor University teams won an NCAA tournament.

PROVIDED PHOTOS Kim Mulkey has her grandchildren Sage Fuller 3, and Kannon Fuller 5, by her side at a basketball practice.

Makenzie Fuller Clay Fuller and their children, Sage and Kannon, drove from Waco, Texas, to see the LSU women play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

ä Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist at the center of the Signal chat controversy, spoke Thursday at the New Orleans Book Festival. PAGE 4A

Amsterdam stabbing attack wounds five

AMSTERDAM A knife-wielding assailant in Amsterdam seriously wounded five people — including two from the United States, one from Belgium and one from Poland — in a stabbing attack Thursday on a busy shopping street, Dutch police said.

The attack lasted several minutes before the assailant was stopped by a passerby near the city’s Dam Square in the late afternoon Police cordoned off the area and several ambulances and a trauma helicopter were called to the scene.

Authorities said in a statement that no motive had been established for the attack, but that police were considering a scenario where the man targeted victims at random.

The victims were identified as a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man from the United States, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium, a 26-year-old man from Poland and a 19-yearold Dutch woman from Amsterdam.

“The police investigation is in full swing and has full priority at the moment. We hope to soon get more clarity about the background of this horrible stabbing,” Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said in a statement Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones,”

The assailant was injured when he was overpowered by a bystander

L.A. Sheriff’s Department retests 4K DNA samples

LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said this week it will retest 4,000 DNA samples and open an internal investigation after learning that it used potentially flawed test kits for eight months.

Sheriff’s officials said Wednesday that a test kit manufacturer sent a letter in August warning the department to stop using certain kits that were prone to giving incomplete results However, the letter was received by a civilian employee who didn’t discard the kits or send them back, according to a department statement.

The department used the flawed kits from July through February, testing thousands of samples from criminal investigations. The problem was discovered Monday when a supervisor at the department’s Scientific Services Bureau found the manufacturer’s letter

The department said it has opened an internal investigation to assess how much the faulty kits have affected criminal cases, and will retest some 4,000 DNA samples.

“We take the integrity of our criminal investigations and the reliability of our forensic testing very seriously,” Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement. “The Sheriff’s Department is working diligently to assess the impact and to prevent such situations from occurring again.” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office had begun working with the sheriff’s department to determine the extent of the problem.

King Charles in hospital after medical side effects

LONDON King Charles III was hospitalized for observation on Thursday after experiencing “temporary side effects,” related to a scheduled cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. His engagements for Thursday afternoon and Friday were canceled.

“His majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary programme will also be rescheduled,” the palace said.

“His majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.” Charles, 76, has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer for more than a year The king has continued fulfilling his state duties, such as reviewing government papers and meeting with the prime minister, even though he took some time off public duties.

France: Not all allies agree on Ukraine proposal

BY JOHN LEICESTER, SAMUEL PETREQUIN and BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press

PARIS France and Britain will continue to forge ahead with plans to deploy troops in Ukraine to defend an eventual peace deal with Russia but only some other nations want to take part, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday after a summit of countries that have been mulling the proposal.

The French leader said “several” nations other than France and Britain want to be part of the armed force but added, “It is not unanimous.” Paris and London say such a force would aim to secure any peace deal by dissuading Russia from attacking Ukraine again.

“We do not need unanimity to achieve it,” Macron said. French and British military officials will work with Ukraine to determine where the contingents should be deployed and how many troops they’d need to be a credible deterrent the French leader added.

“There will be a reassurance force with several European nations that will deploy,” he insisted.

The summit of leaders of nearly 30 countries plus NATO and European Union chiefs came at a crucial juncture in the more than three-year war with intensifying diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires, driven by pressure from U.S President Donald Trump.

But fighting rages on.

Before the leaders met in the luxury of the French presidential palace, Russian drone attacks overnight wounded more than 20 people and heavy shelling Thursday afternoon killed one person and knocked out electricity in parts of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said.

Macron and other summit participants accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement

“They are playing games and they’re playing for time,” said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “We can’t let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting

their illegal invasion.”

U.S.-brokered agreements this week to safeguard shipping in the Black Sea and last week to halt long-range strikes on energy infrastructure were greeted as first steps toward peace. But Ukraine and Russia have disagreed over the details and accused each other of deal violations, foreshadowing a long and contentious process ahead.

One reason why some European countries are balking at a potential deployment in Ukraine is because it’s unclear whether Trump would support such a contingent with air power and other military assistance.

“This will require the engagement and support of the United States,” Starmer said. “That’s a discussion we’ve had with the president on many occasions.”

Macron suggested they may have to do without U.S. backing.

“You have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” he said. “My hope is that the Americans will be on our side and that the Americans will support, even play an active role.”

“But we have to be prepared for a situation where perhaps they won’t join in,” he added.

Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent — U.K. officials have talked about possibly 10,000 to 30,000 troops — would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming

Starmer’s office said military planners from Europe and beyond have been drilling down into details, examining “the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics.”

Greece publicly rejected sending troops. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said those discussions were “somewhat divisive” and distracted from the goal of ending the war as soon as possible.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also reiterated that Rome won’t contribute troops to a possible military force to be deployed to Ukraine.

At least 6 dead after submarine carrying tourists sinks off Egypt

BY SAMY MAGDY and FATMA KHALED Associated Press

CAIRO A recreational submarine taking 45 tourists on an underwater cruise of coral reefs in the Red Sea sank off the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on Thursday, leaving six Russians dead, the provincial governor said. The remaining tourists, more than two dozen of whom were injured, were rescued he said.

The cause of the sinking was not immediately known. The Russian consulate said it took place about 0.6 miles offshore.

The submarine was carrying 45 tourists and five Egyptian crewmembers when it sank, Red Sea governor Maj. Gen. Amr Hanafi said in a statement, adding that rescue teams were quickly sent.

He said all six dead were Russians, and that 29 of the 39 tourists rescued were injured and taken to hospitals. No one was still missing from the vessel, he said.

Hurghada is a major destination for divers, snorkelers and other tourists drawn by the Red Sea’s

extensive coral reefs.

The submarine, named “Sindbad,” runs tours lasting about 40 minutes underwater, cruising at about 65-80 feet underwater with panoramic windows on the bottom to give views of the marine life, according to the website of the company that the Russian consulate identified as running the vessel. The company did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Russia’s Tass news agency earlier said the Russian dead included at least two children, citing the country’s consul in Hurghada

Judge: Extreme heat in Texas prisons is unconstitutional

BY JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas A federal judge on Wednesday found the extreme heat in Texas prisons is “plainly unconstitutional,” but declined to order the state to immediately start installing air conditioning, which could cost billions.

The judge affirmed claims brought by advocates of people incarcerated in the state, where summer heat routinely soars above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But they will have to continue pressing their lawsuit later in a trial.

The lawsuit was initially filed in 2023 by Bernie Tiede, the former mortician serving a life sentence whose murder case inspired the movie “Bernie.” Several prisoners’ rights groups then asked to join his legal fight and expand it.

The lawsuit argues the heat in the state facilities amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, and seeks to force the state to install air conditioning.

Jeff Edwards, lead attorney for prisoners and advocates, called the judge’s order a victory, even if it didn’t require an immediate fix.

“We proved our case,” Edwards said. “The court made it very clear what the state is doing is unconstitutional and endangering the lives of those they are supposed to be protecting. This is step one in changing the Texas prison system.”

Edwards said advocates will push for relief for prisoners as quickly as possible “I’m regretful we can’t protect them with temporary relief this summer, but we will move as fast as we can,” he said.

Texas has more than than 130,000 people serving time in prisons, more than any state in the U.S.

Only about a third of roughly 100 prison units are fully air conditioned and the rest have either partial or no electrical cooling.

“This case concerns the plainly unconstitutional treatment of some of the most vulnerable, marginalized members of our society,” U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman wrote in his ruling on a a temporary injunction request. “The Court is of the view that excessive heat is likely serving as a form of unconstitutional punishment.”

But the judge said that ordering the state to spend “hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars to install permanent air conditioning in every (prison),” could not be accomplished before it expired in 90 days. It would take months to install temporary air conditioning, and could even delay a permanent solution, the judge wrote Pitman said he expects the case will proceed to trial, where advocates for prisoners can continue to argue their case. He also issued a warning to the state that they will likely win at trial, and that the state could face an order to install air conditioning.

The judge also noted that the state Legislature, which is in session through May and writes the two-year state budget, is also considering bills that would require air conditioning to be installed in prisons.

But the Republican-majority Legislature has been hearing complaints about extreme heat in prisons for years and has not addressed the issue. In 2018, the state was ordered to install air conditioning at a unit for older prisoners and those that are medically vulnerable.

Officials at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Texas is not alone in facing lawsuits over dangerously hot prisons. Cases also have been filed in Louisiana and New Mexico. One filed in July in Georgia alleged a man died in July 2023 after he was left in an outdoor cell for hours without water, shade or ice.

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The consulate had said all 45 tourists on board were Russian, but the Egyptian governor said they also included Indian, Norwegian and Swedish citizens.

Footage posted by the governor’s office showed Hanafy meeting survivors at the hospital, including two Egyptian crewmembers One Russian tourist had a small bandage on his head. A family with two young daughters smiled and told him they were OK An Indian man asked Hanafy to see his daughter, who remains in critical condition, doctors can be heard explaining.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By

THIBAULT CAMUS

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer center left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center right, depart a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Boats search for survivors after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, Egypt, on Thursday.

HHS plans to cut $10 million in Louisiana grants

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

The Louisiana Department of Health was among several state agencies that received notice Monday of a sudden loss of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to state officials.

The department received “a series of emails that were slightly difficult to interpret” that they believe will end six grants, said Karen Stubbs, assistant secretary of the Office of Behavioral Health, during a Senate Committee on Finance hearing Tuesday Three were mental health grants, and three were related to substance use.

Dr Pete Croughan, deputy secretary, estimated the funding loss at approximately $10 million. At Tuesday’s meeting, first reported by the Louisiana Illuminator, the agency was still assessing the impact on staffing.

Stubbs noted that two of the six grants had already ended earlier this month, and the remaining four were scheduled to expire at the end of the year

This abrupt loss of funding is part of a broader termination of over $12 billion in federal grants by HHS this week. Originally allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic for testing and vaccination, much of the funding was later used by states for infectious disease tracking, mental health services, childhood vaccinations and emergency preparedness

A smaller portion came from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In Louisiana, SAMHSA funds support a range of behavioral health services,

including mental health crisis response, substance use treatment, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, and peer and community support programs. As of Thursday the Louisiana Department of Health was continuing to assess the impact of the termination.

“The department is still reviewing all grants associated with this funding to determine the unused balance that was canceled,” Communications Director Emma Herrock wrote in an email.

Interim Secretary of Health Drew Maranto said that Medicaid funding remains unchanged, and that a recent executive order from President Donald Trump eliminating funding for diversity equity and inclusion efforts had not impacted staffing or funding at the department.

The $10 million loss came to light during Tuesday’s budget hearing when Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews, D-Monroe, raised concerns about the potential effects of federal cuts on Louisiana. Jackson-Andrews asked the Health Department to keep the Senate informed on the impact to the state. She had not heard news from the department as of Thursday She pointed out that cuts to mental health and substance use programs could have broad consequences, especially given that, earlier in the hearing, state officials identified drug overdose as the leading cause of maternal death in Louisiana.

“When you hear that the federal government is cutting mental health funds to Louisiana, when Louisiana is already doing everything it can to find mental health funds that is extremely concerning,” said JacksonAndrews on Thursday

Tufts student is latest protester arrested

BY MICHAEL CASEY, JAKE OFFENHARTZ and KATHY MCCORMACK Associated Press

BOSTON A Turkish student detained by federal officers as she walked along a street in a Boston suburb is the latest supporter of Palestinian causes to be swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants who have expressed their political views.

Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, a doctoral student at Tufts University, was swiftly moved out of Massachusetts, a demonstration of how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is sending immigrants who are taken into custody to detention centers or deporting them altogether before a federal judge has a chance to weigh in on their case and possibly halt the actions.

Ozturk, who was detained Tuesday shortly after she left her home in Somerville, had been moved to an ICE detention center in Louisiana by the time her lawyer went to court and a judge ordered her to be kept in Massachusetts, U.S. government lawyers said in a court document Thursday They said they made her lawyers aware that she was being moved and facilitated contact with her Wednesday night.

A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said federal authorities detained Ozturk after an investigation found she had “engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” The department did not provide evidence of that support.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration has revoked the visas of at least 300 people, including Ozturk: “We do it every day.”

“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social

close friend who studied with Ozturk at Columbia University’s Teachers College. “There’s a very important distinction between writing a letter supporting the student Senate and taking the kind of action they’re accusing her of, which I’ve seen no evidence of.” Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in an attack that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 50,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and destroyed much of the enclave.

activist, to tear up our university campuses,” Rubio told reporters during a stop in Guyana.

Friends and colleagues of Ozturk said she was not closely involved in pro-Palestinian protests that broke out on campuses last spring. Her only known activism,

they said, was co-authoring an op-ed in a student newspaper that called on Tufts University to engage with student demands to cut ties with Israel.

“The only thing I know of that Rumeysa organized was a Thanksgiving potluck,” said Jennifer Hoyden, a

Ozturk’s arrest appears to be part of President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport students who, he said, engage in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity,” a label the administration has applied broadly to those who criticize Israel and protest its military campaign in Gaza.

Goldberg discusses Signal chat at N.O. Book Festival

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Tulane University grabbed a small spot in the national conversation over the Trump administration’s Signal chat leak on Thursday as journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, discussed his blockbuster article and its implications for U.S. security at the New Orleans Book Festival.

Goldberg, who on Monday published his account of how he was inadvertently added to a group chat that top U.S officials were using to discuss military strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen, said the administration’s reaction to his article led him to release nearly the full transcript two days later

“This was a serious breach of national security,” Goldberg said. “They had an opportunity to accept that they made a mistake, tell us how they’re going to fix the mistake and move on. Instead, they attacked the messenger, which is part of the playbook.” Goldberg said if Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and others hadn’t reacted the way they did, he wouldn’t have published the rest of the material, “but I’m not going to be called a liar, and I’m not going to have my magazine called a liar,” he said.

“They essentially goaded us into publishing the whole transcript, so we did. We didn’t have a choice.”

Interviewed by Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum, Goldberg made his remarks to a capacity crowd of about 1,800 people inside Tulane’s McAlister Auditorium.

Hundreds of people lined up along Freret Street to get through security screenings to attend the talk.

An overflow crowd of about 350 watched a broadcast of the event from Tulane’s business school.

“This has been an opportunity

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and carelessness,” said Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat and former fighter pilot. Kelly and other Democrats have called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to either resign or be fired. “If this was an officer in the military at any level — or enlisted person, they would have been fired already,” Kelly said. Asked by a reporter on Wednesday about the call by Wicker, of Mississippi, and Reed, of Rhode Island, for an inspector general probe at the Pentagon, Trump replied, “It doesn’t bother me.” Wicker, whose support was crucial to Hegseth’s Senate confirmation, is one of the most ardent defense hawks in Congress and has said the committee will request a classified hearing with a top administration official, as well as for the administration to verify the contents of the Signal chat. The contents, which were published by The Atlantic, show that Hegseth listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this month.

to say, ‘What is in the best interest of readers and the people of the United States?’ ” Goldberg said from the stage. “They should see the whole truth and make up their own minds about whether this is a serious breach of national security or not. We’re trying to hold powerful people to account.”

Goldberg’s article said Hegseth shared attack details that included the launch times of jets from aircraft carriers on their way to strike Houthi targets along with details about the types of aircraft and drones involved in the mission.

Since the news broke, Democrats have grilled officials in President Donald Trump’s administration in congressional hearings. Critics say the mistake was a potentially illegal breach of national security

Senate Republicans have criticized the discussion on Signal but have stopped short of calling for the removal of Hegseth or anyone else involved. Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican member of both the Senate Intelligence and Armed Services committees, said that any oversight should be done “in a bipartisan way.”

Still, Democrats are pressing to probe much deeper Sen Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he wants to check the phones of those involved in the Signal chat for malware as well as whether Hegseth had shared military plans on other Signal chats. Warner said he expected support from Republicans in calling for such an investigation, but so far, Warner’s Republican counterpart on the intelligence committee, Sen. Tom Cotton, has given no sign he would join in those calls.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department, which has traditionally handled investigations into the mishandling of classified or sensitive information by both Republican and Democratic administrations, showed that under Trump it would likely stay on the sidelines. When asked at an unrelated news

Three days after breaking the story, Goldberg flew to New Orleans to honor his previously scheduled commitment to appear at the opening night of the New Orleans Book Fest at Tulane. In a projection of normalcy despite the global media attention, he spent the day on campus, speaking to journalist and author Walter Isaacson’s class.

“They went nuts when he walked in,” Isaacson said of the students. “I said he’s here to teach us about group chats. We also discussed why social media has become so divisive and how we can create a digital media that can support democracy rather than undermine it.”

Afterward, Isaacson and Goldberg shared a meal at Tulane’s main dining hall.

During the event Thursday eve-

conference what the Justice Department plans to do, Attorney General Pam Bondi deflected, saying the mission was ultimately a success Echoing the White House, Bondi also insisted that none of the information shared on Signal was classified, even though officials have provided no evidence that that’s the case. Espionage Act statutes require the safe handling of closely held national defense information even if it’s not marked classified.

Bondi, who has pledged not to play politics with the department, quickly pivoted to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Joe Biden, who were investigated for allegations that they mishandled classified information but were not charged. Both Democrats were subject to extensive criminal investigations, and the FBI and the Justice Department have long track records of such inquiries.

In civil court, a lawsuit filed by the group American Oversight against several Trump administration officials and the National Archives and Records Administration alleges they violated federal record-keeping laws.

That only further inflamed Trump’s ire at the judiciary, especially when the case

ning, Goldberg and Applebaum talked about politics, history and media — and found time to make a few jokes.

“One of my kids said the most amazing thing about this whole story is that ‘Dad has learned how to take a screenshot,’” Goldberg said.

All week, the veteran editor has been making the TV rounds, defending himself from an onslaught of ad hominem attacks designed to discredit him and the story

On Wednesday, Trump called Goldberg a “sleazebag.” Separately, Hegseth said the Pulitzer Prizewinning editor is a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes.”

National security adviser Mike Waltz called Goldberg a loser

was randomly assigned Wednesday to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who was already presiding over a case challenging the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under wartime powers In that case, the Trump administration just this week invoked the “state secrets” privilege to refuse to share details with the judge about the timing of deportation flights to El Salvador Trump early Thursday declared it “disgraceful” that Boasberg had been assigned the case in the Washington court.

“There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him,” Trump said. He added that Boasberg, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat, is “Highly Conflicted.” Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg.

The White House National Security Council has also said it would investigate the Signal chat. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that she had no update on the status of that investigation.

“We’ve been incredibly transparent about this entire situation, and we will continue to be,” Leavitt said.

On the McAlister stage, Goldberg gave his retort: “He can call me a loser if he wants, but at least I know how to text,” Goldberg said.

On Wednesday, Goldberg published additional excerpts from the Signal group chat after Trump officials said none of the information was classified.

The day before Goldberg’s appearance, Book Fest organizers were reluctant to talk about the visit for fear he would have to call off the plan at the last minute. Isaacson, who co-chairs the book fest, said in an interview earlier this month that he planned for this year’s event to be less focused on the headlines after hosting a standing-roomonly crowd to hear former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney last year

But the universe conspired to place Book Fest at the center of a global story once again.

“Even when you try to steer clear of current events these days, they still somehow find you,” Isaacson said Wednesday

The fourth annual New Orleans Book Festival continues Friday and Saturday on the university’s Uptown campus.

The event drew about 15,000 attendees last year, thanks to an A-list lineup of authors, media figures and politicians. This year’s crowd is expected to be comparable.

High-profile guests scheduled to participate this year include immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci, journalists Connie Chung and Bob Woodward, statistician Nate Silver, novelist John Grisham and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.

In total, Book Fest 2025 will gather more than 200 authors, thought leaders and creatives for three days of discussion about politics, culture, fiction, productivity, business and more.

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com

Leavitt is one of three Trump administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First and Fifth Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Jeffrey Goldberg, right, and Anne Applebaum greet the crowd at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University on Thursday.

Part of the problem is that it’s not easy to get to the core of the hurricane. But experimental tools that researchers think could help improve rapid intensification forecasting showed promise during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. And it was a good season for testing it saw a boom in episodes of rapid intensification, nearly double the average of the past 10 years.

A few standouts in a vast field of ever-evolving technology are aimed at collecting data from within the hard-to-reach parts of a storm, where Dunion said researchers believe answers to the rapid intensification riddle could be hiding.

“That’s the part that we still need to understand better,” Dunion said.

Three pieces of new technology came up repeatedly in conversations with Dunion and other hurricane specialists: the tail Doppler radar, StreamSondes and drones.

A “flying laboratory” that allows researchers to fly into hurricanes to create a 3D Xray of a storm, the tail Doppler radar consists of a dish inside a cone on the tail of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft, Dunion said. It continuously measures wind speeds and rainfall as researchers fly through storms.

Hurricane Hunters can safely fly through only the tops of storms, generally at around 10,000 feet, but Dunion said the tail Doppler radar allows researchers to gather data from deep within a hurricane, as low as just above the ocean’s surface.

With a 3D rendering of the entire storm, researchers can better see things like whether its inner core is tilting, which happens when the center of a storm’s circulation in the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere are not vertically aligned Stronger hurricanes tend to have aligned centers, while weaker storms tend to tilt

Researchers think tilting, or the lack thereof, could have some correlation to rapid intensification, Dunion said. The tail Doppler radar could help them find out for sure. Joseph Cione, the lead meteorologist for emerging technologies with NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division, said his team is focused on closing that same data gap with the lower core of storms, which, really, are the parts that impact people and land.

“No one lives at 10,000 feet, right?” Cione said. “We all live down here.”

Tiny weather stations called StreamSondes, which are about the size of a jar of tomato sauce and weigh just 14 grams, are dropped out of Hurricane Hunter airplanes directly into storms. StreamSondes measure temperature, humidity, pressure and wind speeds as they fall, transmitting the data back to researchers on the plane. Cione said StreamSondes,

which were released in high volumes for the first time in 2024, are significantly smaller and lighter than previous generations of similar technology allowing them to hover in the atmosphere for nearly twice as long. And longer hang time means more data.

Researchers also found last season that if they released multiple StreamSondes at once into a storm, a process known as “swarm deployment,” they recorded varying wind speeds and other atmospheric measurements, even from within small sections of the same storm.

“So we learned that, wow, there’s more variability than we thought,” Cione said.

Cione’s specialty, though, is drone technology His niche interest for the past 20 or so years, Cione said drones always seemed like an obvious way for researchers to get to the most dangerous parts of hurricanes.

In 2005, Cione led the first successful unmanned aircraft flight into the core of a mature tropical storm, Ophelia. Two years later, he flew a drone into Hurricane Noel.

Researchers have come a long way since then, Cione said: His team conducted 19 drone deployments into storms last season alone, breaking records for wind speeds, communication distance and durability The air-deployed drones Cione is testing now weigh about 3 pounds, have some steering capabilities and can fly through a storm’s most intense winds for over an hour.

Come June, Cione said he hopes to get that time up to two hours.

“So this hits the data void,” he said. “This is an area we can’t get information.”

Despite strides in technology, the 2024 season proved to be a tough one for forecasters to nail down. Errors in the National Hurricane Center’s storm intensity forecasts were up in 2024 compared to years prior, thanks in part to an explosion in episodes of rapid intensification.

John Cangialosi, a senior

hurricane specialist at the NHC, said there were 34 episodes of rapid intensification — which the NHC defines as an increase in sustained wind speeds of 35 mph in 24 hours — recorded last year That’s compared to an average of 18 episodes per season over the past 10 years.

Still, NHC trends suggest hurricane intensity forecasting has become increasingly accurate since 1990. There’s other evidence of movement in the right direction, too.

When Cangialosi started his career at the NHC 19 years ago, he said forecasters might have guessed a storm would undergo rapid intensification, they might have discussed it with their colleagues, but they never would have said so in an official forecast. Now, they can forecast rapid intensification, and despite the phenomenon’s unpredictable nature, those forecasts are getting better

From 2010 to 2014, Cangialosi said NHC intensity forecasts were generally about 25 to 30 mph too low for storms that rapidly intensified. So if forecasters predicted a storm would peak with winds of 100 mph, it would end up with winds of 125 mph. Cangialosi called that a “big miss.”

“Today that error has been cut in half,” he said.

Cangialosi said that kind of progress in forecasting, which translates to lives and property saved, wouldn’t have been possible without advancements in data gathering and storm hunting technology, which some experts worry could be threatened by the Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA.

“Any decrease in data at all would hurt,” Cangialosi said. “From a perspective of data first, the more data you can get, the better your ability is to analyze the current state and make predictions. And the Hurricane Hunter data set is still the best for hurricane analysis and predictions.”

Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey.bubnash@ theadvocate.com.

Robertson lives in Baton Rouge and works at LSU. They are all are in Spokane, Washington, for the Tigers Friday night game against North Carolina State in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.

A packed schedule

For the Fuller family, not missing LSU’s game las weekend meant attending 9 a.m. opening ceremonies for Kannon’s Little League baseball in Waco, followed by a 10 a.m. game, followed by an 11 a.m. game and then photos at noon for Sage, fol lowed by Sage’s 1 p.m. gam

“But it just so happened that LSU got that 9:15 p.m game,” Makenzie Fulle said. “So, immediately afte Sage’s game, we hopped in the car and drove straight to Baton Rouge. We walked in the PMAC less than a min ute to tipoff in our baseball clothes — which just hap pened to be the other team’ colors.

Mulkey appreciates the ef fort from her daughter, who played basketball for her mother at Baylor University for four years before joinin her coaching staff there. After LSU’s Saturday win against San Diego State, the Fuller family spent low-key weekend in Baton Rouge with Mulkey, waiting for Monday’s game agains Florida State. They swam. They read books They laid low

“I love them being with me. I miss Makenzie being on my staff,” Mulkey said. “Kramer and Makenzie have always tried to be with m during playoffs.” Robertson was playing minor league professional baseball in 2023 when his mother’s team won the national championship for LSU.

“Kramer even flew in to the Elite Eight game from baseball when we won the natty,” Mulkey said. He made it there by halftime.

Perfect attendance

Mulkey’s grandson, Kannon, is in kindergarten now, so school attendance matters.

The whole family gets involved to get Kannon to class on time. That meant a flight out Monday night after Mulkey’s team beat Florida State Monday so the 5-yearold could make it to school on time in Waco Tuesday morning.

Fuller said she remembers being in elementary school and the excitement that accompanied her mom’s teams making it into the NCAA tournament.

“We’d always get to leave school to go to the tournament,” Fuller said. “I remember the emotions back then. It’s like your childhood brain, and it was just do or die. It was so important. I remember the tears in the years when they would lose. I remember the first tournament that they won.”

Through all the years of tournaments, both Fuller and Robertson got to see a lot of the country

Robertson, now 30, remembers following his mom to her first game in the NCAA tournament. Like his nephew Kannon is now, he was in kindergarten.

“It was at Duke. They played Arkansas,” he said.

“I was 6.”

Robertson sid their mom didn’t stop showing up to their events as they grew up.

Mulkey came to his baseball games when he played at LSU and when he was playing professional baseball, including driving from Baton Rouge to Memphis to watch him.

He said she has a soft side that a lot of people don’t get to see.

“She’s definitely intense. She’s emotional. She’s a hard ass,” he said. “But she has another side that is soft.”

This week, he’s been able to have dinner with his mom in Spokane on Tuesday at Churchill’s Steakhouse and Wednesday at Spencer’s, also a steakhouse.

Game time

Robertson said his mom is in a great headspace.

“She’s very positive.

Practice has been going well seems like she’s done this before. She’s the best at motivating people,” he said. “Everything is heading at the right direction.”

He believes in being there for his mother, win or lose.

On the heels of the LSU women winning it all in 2023, Robertson was there for his mom later that fall when the team lost their season opener in Las Vegas. He sat beside her on

the plane on the tough ride home.

“Losing doesn’t get any easier,” he said. “Neither of us is good at being affectionate people — maybe it’s a character flaw You try to be with her in that moment.”

But right now no one in Mulkey’s family is thinking about losing.

On Thursday, as Fuller and her family were making their way to Spokane, Robertson spent much of the day scouting for places to host an LSU pep rally Saturday

“We need a good place that’s big enough to hold a crowd on Saturday after they win Friday night,” Robertson said. “And then, we’ll get ready to win again and head to Tampa for the Final Four.”

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

Kannon Fuller and Sage Fuller sit in the backseat with their grandmother, LSU coach Kim Mulkey, as she reads them a story on a visit to Baton Rouge.

Makenzie Fuller, Kim Mulkey and Kramer Robertson share a moment at an NCAA tournament game when Mulkey coached at Baylor University

Makenzie Fuller and her younger brother Kramer Robertson, stand by

mother

Kim Mulkey after she led a Baylor University team to an NCAA title.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, center, stands next to a map showing flight restrictions as the Senate Transportation Subcommittee holds a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill in Washington to examine the preliminary report by the NTSB on the Jan. 29 midair collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet

FAA says it must do better after deadly D.C. air collision

BY JOSH FUNK Associated Press

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration told Congress during a hearing Thursday about a midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people that the agency must do more to ensure flying remains safe.

The FAA’s artificial intelligence-led review aimed at identifying safety threats at other airports with similar helicopter-airplane congestion should be finished in a couple weeks, said Chris Rocheleau, the agency’s acting administrator.

During the hearing, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board and members of Congress again questioned how the FAA hadn’t noticed an alarming number of close calls near Ronald Reagan National Airport and addressed the problem before the January collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner The collision over the Potomac River was the nation’s deadliest plane crash since November 2001.

“We have to do better,” Rocheleau said. “We have to identify trends, we have to get smarter about how we use data, and when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them.”

The FAA is using AI to dig into the millions of reports it collects to assess other places with busy helicopter traffic including: Boston, New York, BaltimoreWashington, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and along the Gulf Coast Rocheleau promised to take immediate action if risks are found.

Investigators have highlighted 85 close calls around Reagan airport in the three years before the crash that should have signaled a growing safety problem.

Rocheleau told the aviation subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that every close call is investigated and the data was reviewed before, but

this alarming trend was missed.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said there clearly was an issue with identifying trends in the data the FAA collects.

Dailey Crofton, whose brother Casey Crofton died in the collision, attended the hearing.

“I was surprised at the lapses of safety protocols that led to this crash,” he said in a statement afterward.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he learned that the Secret Service and U.S. Navy triggered a rash of collision alarms in planes around Reagan Airport on March 1 while testing antidrone technology that used a similar frequency to the one used by planes’ warning systems Cruz said that happened despite a warning from the FAA against doing it.

“This is deeply disturbing that just a month after 67 people died while on approach to DCA (Reagan Airport), that the Secret Service and Pentagon would inadvertently cause multiple flights to receive urgent cockpit alerts recommending evasive action,” Cruz said.

Helicopter traffic around Reagan National has been restricted since January any time planes use the same runway the American Airlines plane that crashed was approaching when it collided with the helicopter At the NTSB’s urging, the FAA permanently banned that particular helicopter route under most circumstances. If a helicopter does use the route, planes are prohibited from taking off or landing on that runway

The U.S. Army’s head of aviation Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman acknowledged that as of Thursday morning helicopters were still flying over the nation’s capital with a key system broadcasting their locations turned off during most missions because it deemed them sensitive. Cruz called this “shocking and unacceptable.”

Groups aim to defund Planned Parenthood

BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press

WASHINGTON Major antiabortion groups gathered in the nation’s capital on Thursday to begin a lobbying effort with Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration aimed at eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, with some calling on Elon Musk to make the organization one of his costcutting targets.

The anti-abortion groups are taking aim at abortion providers under an initiative called Defund Planned Parenthood, which targets federal Medicaid funding for the reproductive health care provider More than 150 of the groups signed a letter Wednesday urging Congress to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other health care centers that provide abortions through the budget reconciliation process.

“Today is a historic moment where the pro-life movement stands united behind one message: Defund Planned Parenthood,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, as she kicked off the rally in view of the U.S. Capitol.

She called on Trump and other Republicans to “defund your political enemies,” adding that the abortion lobby has long targeted Republicans.

The federal Hyde Amendment already restricts government funding for most abortions, and less than 5% of the services Planned Parenthood provides are abortions, according to the organization’s 2023 annual report.

Vicki Ringer, Planned Parenthood’s South Carolina director of public affairs, said claims that Planned Parenthood uses Medicaid funding for abortion is “an attempt to mislead the public” and emphasized Planned Parenthood’s role in providing broader reproductive health care.

“We should be expanding health care to low-income people rather than trying to kick off these people who rely on us for health care,” Ringer said.

Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of services besides abortion. Its most recent annual report shows that contraceptive services and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections make up the vast majority of its medical care. It also performs more cancer screening and prevention procedures than abortions, according to the report

The national group said eliminating its federal funding could put those services out of reach for millions of people and would hit low-income communities with little access to health care hardest.

Rachel Rebouche, dean of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law said the Defund Planned Parenthood movement has been building for 10 years but has gained momentum as the anti-abortion movement has been emboldened by Trump’s presidential victory and by Republicans winning control

of Congress in November

“We’re seeing more enthusiasm in states like South Carolina and others to close down Planned Parenthood under the banner of stopping abortions, which their laws already do,” she said.

Tina Whittington, executive vice president at Students for Life, said she was confident that Trump would consider cutting Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid funding and that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency could be just the tool for doing it.

“I’m more confident because we’re in an era where DOGE’s actions are targeting waste, fraud and abuse,” she said. “And this is a great way to do that.”

The Supreme Court announced it will hear a case involving South Carolina’s attempt to strip Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. Experts say the law-

suit could prompt similar efforts in conservative states across the country to chip away at the organization’s funding.

During a 2015 push to strip Planned Parenthood funding, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that doing so would cost the government $130 million over 10 years.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in at least three states Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina — have introduced bills this year aiming to create tax breaks for anti-abortion centers.

The strategies come during a time when abortion rights advocates are warning that Trump and his Cabinet hold significant power to restrict access to medication abortion nationwide.

Rather than immediately heeding calls from antiabortion allies to restrict Medicaid funding for clin-

ics that provide abortions, Trump has made quieter moves after waffling on the issue on the campaign trail.

He reinstated a policy that requires foreign nongovernmental agencies to certify that they don’t provide or promote abortion if they receive U.S. aid for family planning. He also pardoned several anti-abortion activists who had been convicted of blockading abortion clinics and used wording related to fetal personhood in an executive order rolling back protections for transgender people.

The Republican president has appointed abortion opponents to some key Cabinet positions that could affect the availability of medication abortion and contraception, Medicaid coverage for family planning services, collection of abortion-related data and abortion access for troops and veterans.

PHOTO By J SCOTT APPLEWHITE

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Wall Street slips after tariff moves

Wall Street edged lower Thursday after getting pulled in opposite directions as President Donald Trump’s latest tariff escalation creates winners and losers among auto stocks.

The S&P 500 slipped after drifting between small gains and losses several times through the day Better-than-expected data on the economy also helped support the market.

One report on Thursday said slightly fewer workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than economists expected. It’s the latest sign the job market may be settling into a “low fire, low hire” state A second report said the U.S economy’s growth during the final three months of last year was slightly stronger than earlier estimated.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped and the Nasdaq composite fell.

General Motors sank 7.4% for one of the market’s sharper losses after Trump announced 25% tariffs on imported cars. Ford Motor Company dropped 3.9%.

GameStop slumps amid plan to sell debt

GameStop shares sank Thursday after its plan to sell debt in an effort to fund purchases of bitcoin raised some questions on Wall Street.

The video game retailer announced a private offering of $1.3 billion in debt The company said earlier this week that it plans to purchase bitcoin as a reserve asset. It will use proceeds from this debt offering to buy the cryptocurrency The stock slumped 22.1%, marking a sharp reversal from Tuesday’s 11.7% gain. Trading in GameStop’s stock, which is often included with other so-called “meme” stocks, can be volatile. The debt offering comes at a big premium to the company’s value. It could also leave out a large portion of GameStop’s investors who wouldn’t qualify for the offering under certain investor requirements, according to a note from Wedbush led by analyst Michael Pachter

“We find it hard to understand why any investor would pay more than two times cash value for the potential for GameStop to convert that cash into Bitcoin, particularly since the same investors can invest in Bitcoin or a Bitcoin ETF themselves,” he said in the note.

Ex-Mars exec charged with stealing $28M

Before his arrest Wednesday, Paul Steed was a respected sugar market expert for a subsidiary of famed candy maker Mars Inc. He served on a U.S. trade advisory committee for sweeteners as well as on industry group boards, while giving presentations at conferences.

Now Steed of Stamford Connecticut, is accused in a federal indictment of stealing more than $28 million from Mars since about 2013 through various schemes, including diverting funds to companies he set up. He is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax evasion.

Steed, 58, a dual U.S. and Argentine citizen, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Bridgeport on Wednesday and was ordered detained pending trial A U.S. magistrate judge said Steed was a flight risk and noted that while the government has seized $18 million of the allegedly pilfered funds, several million dollars remain unaccounted for, and Steed has strong connections to family in Argentina.

Steed and his wife appeared to be living beyond their means, according to the judge’s order authorizing his pretrial detention.

Steed’s annual salary was about $200,000 while his wife was making $40,000 to $50,000 a year as a hairstylist, Magistrate Judge S Dave Vatti said in the order Yet they paid $2.5 million in cash in 2023 for a property in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, and own a mortgage-free home in Stamford worth $1 million, he wrote

CBO: Economic growth to slow

which said publicly held debt would be equal to a record 166% of American economic activity by 2054.

ing and an increase in revenues by taxing imports.

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON Weak population gains and increased government spending will result in slower overall economic growth over the next 30 years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said

Thursday

The CBO’s latest long-term budget and economic outlook report — for a timeframe that spans 2025 to 2055 projects publicly held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2055. That’s down from the agency’s March 2024 long-term budget projection,

However, that’s not necessarily a positive.

The mix of slower population growth and unfettered spending will also result in weaker economic growth over the next three decades than what the CBO projected last year Lower birth rates also mean that the United States is becoming more dependent on immigrants working to sustain growth.

“Without immigration, the U.S. population would begin to shrink in 2033,” the CBO report states.

The report assumes that all the laws set to expire, including certain provisions of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, will go off the books. But the White House and Republican lawmakers have said that the tax cuts will be renewed and potentially expanded, as well as suggesting reductions in government spend-

Still, the report’s warnings and its projections for the future also set the stage for the challenges on the debt, government spending and economic growth that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insists the Trump administration can fix.

Bessent has advocated for a “3-3-3” plan, which involves getting the federal budget deficit down to 3% of GDP, boosting inflation-adjusted annual GDP growth to 3% and producing the equivalent of an additional 3 million barrels of oil per day by 2028.

other side of the wall, I can tell you it’s really crazy And very unlikely that we are going to get any credit in the CBO scoring for tariffs.”

The treasury secretary has sought to discredit CBO scoring, calling it “crazy.”

“I was in the investment business for 35 years, I thought I understood how crazy CBO scoring is,” Bessent told CNBC earlier this month. “And now that I’m on the

However CBO warnings about population growth cut into Trump administration policy priorities related to mass deportations, as officials claim that immigrants are fueling high inflation by worsening the housing shortage and depriving U.S. citizens of job opportunities. A decreasing population could have profound negative effects on the economy as growth depends on adding workers as well as increasing their productivity Falling population levels could cause a stagnation in living standards and create difficulties in paying down debts as well as funding programs such as Social Security, which is dependent on payroll taxes.

Automakers brace for tariffs

Companies say new tax will be painful for them, U.S. consumers

BY DAVID MCHUGH, LORNE COOK, AAMER MADHANI and DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany — Whatever domestic economic gain comes from U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 25% tax on imported cars and some experts are skeptical automakers around the world are bracing for a lot of pain.

In Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada and across Europe, the world’s largest automakers employ millions of people whose livelihoods depend on U.S. car buyers, who spend more than $240 billion annually on imported cars and light trucks.

The Trump tariffs — aimed at boosting U.S. jobs and tax revenues — will also affect imported auto parts, which were valued at $197 billion last year.

“The impact will be really huge and very disruptive,” said Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. Vries and others say American car shoppers will also be worse off as tariffs push prices higher

Policymakers around the world said Thursday they were weighing their next moves namely whether to retaliate or not, and if so, how But they also expressed hope that

Coast Guard ship will cost $950 million

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

negotiations with Washington could avert an escalating trade war, and the economic damage and global supply chain disruptions that would come with it

Trump said the tariffs on autos would start being collected on April 3. The impending hit comes on top of other U.S tariffs planned globally on steel and aluminum and at a time when competition from China, and the transition to electric vehicles, is already pressuring automakers.

The anticipated blow knocked down the stock prices of many major automakers Thursday, including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Kia and BMW

U.S. carmakers are less exposed to possible retaliation because they export only 2% of their production to the EU. Still, shares of Ford and General Motors fell because the U.S. industry relies heavily on cross-border trade in auto parts although Tesla is an exception and its stock price rose on Thursday

Most foreign carmakers have plants in the U.S. — Japanese carmakers have two dozen, for example — but that would not shield them if they use imported parts, unless those parts are exempted under a free-trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.

The auto tariffs will be felt sharply in Europe, for whom the U.S. is the biggest export

market for an industry that supports nearly 14 million jobs.

The EU’s top trade official, Maros Sefcovic, has traveled to Washington at least twice since Trump was reelected to try to engage the administration. But Trump says the tariffs, which his administration estimates would raise $100 billion in revenue annually, are “permanent.” The White House has claimed they will foster domestic manufacturing.

“This will continue to spur growth,” Trump told reporters Wednesday when announcing the tariffs.

The head of the United Auto Workers, Shawn Fain, thanked the White House “for stepping up to end the free trade disaster that has devastated working class communities for decades.”

Some economists say the tariffs will only raise costs that will be passed on to consumers and lead to a cycle of retaliation that will reduce trade between countries.

“There’s a risk of retaliatory tariffs and then a tit-for-tat, and then we end up with significant barriers to trade and we all lose out,” said David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham “That’s the fundamental problem here essentially that governments will start to retaliate against each other.”

Bessent

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARTIN MEISSNER

New German cars are stored Thursday at a logistics center in Duisburg Germany. Automakers around the world are bracing for a lot of pain from President Donald Trump’s new 25% tax on imported vehicles.

Police use force to break up protests in Turkey’s capital

BY ROBERT BADENDIECK and ANDREW WILKS Associated Press

ISTANBUL Police used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannons against protesters in Turkey’s capital early Thursday, the latest clash in the country’s biggest anti-government protests in over a decade.

The demonstrations began last week following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges many see as politically motivated and is also accused of supporting terrorism. The government insists the judiciary is independent, but critics say the evidence in Imamoglu’s case is based on secret witnesses and lacks credibility

Early Thursday, student demonstrators tried to march and gathered to read a statement near the gates at Middle East Technical University, pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV and local media reported.

They were met by security forces who deployed pepper spray, water cannons and plastic pellets. A standoff ensued where the students hid behind a barricade of dumpsters until the police charged to detain them.

Melih Meric, a legislator with Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party or CHP, was seen soaked with water and suffering from pepper spray exposure.

“My student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police

strictly did not allow it, this is the result,” Meric said in social media videos.

Interior Minister Ali Yerkikaya said Thursday that nearly 1,900 people have been arrested over eight days of massive protests across the country. He said that 1,879 suspects were detained, including 260 who were jailed pending trial. A further 468 were released under judicial control while their cases continue. Proceedings are ongoing for 662 other people. The minister said some faced charges for drug offenses and assault adding that 150 police officers had been injured.

He did not specify the nature of other charges but offenses such as resisting police and not complying with a ban on protests and gatherings have been cited previously

Demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of largely peaceful protesters have swept across major

cities, including oppositionorganized rallies outside Istanbul City Hall Other major protests have been held in Istanbul’s districts of Kadikoy and Sisli districts in recent days.

Some demonstrations have been marred by violence as police used water cannons, tear gas, plastic pellets and pepper spray to breakup protests that have been banned in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir

Police continued to carry out house raids targeting protesters Thursday morning. Most of those detained in their homes appear to belong to left-wing parties, trade unions and civil society groups.

Eleven journalists were arrested and sent to jail Wednesday after covering the protests. At least eight were released under judicial control a day later, the Media and Law Studies Association said, but still face charges relating to the protests.

French prosecutors seek 7-year sentence for former president

By The Associated Press

PARIS

— French prosecutors on Thursday requested a seven-year prison sentence and fine of about $325,000 for former President Nicolas Sarkozy in connection with allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign was illegally financed by former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s government.

The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, known by its French acronym PNF, also called for a five-year ban on Sarkozy’s civic, civil and family rights — a measure that would bar him from holding elected office or serving in any public judicial role.

The case, which opened in January and is expected to conclude on April 10, is considered the most serious of the multiple legal scandals that have clouded Sarkozy’s post-presidency

The 70-year-old Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, faces charges of passive corruption, illegal

campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The accusations trace back to 2011, when a Libyan news agency and Gadhafi himself said that the Libyan state had secretly funneled millions of euros into Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. In 2012, the French investigative outlet Mediapart published what it said was a Libyan intelligence memo referencing a 50 millioneuro funding agreement. Sarkozy denounced the document as a forgery and sued for defamation. French magistrates later said that the memo appeared to be authentic, though no conclusive evidence of a completed transaction has been presented.

Investigators also looked into a series of trips by Sarkozy’s associates to Libya between 2005 and 2007.

In 2016, Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine told Mediapart that he

had delivered suitcases filled with cash from Tripoli to the French Interior Ministry under Sarkozy He later retracted his statement. That reversal is now the focus of a separate investigation into possible witness tampering.

Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, have both been placed under preliminary investigation in that case.

Sarkozy’s former ministers Claude Guéant, Brice Hortefeux, and Éric Woerth are also on trial, along with eight other defendants.

But prosecutors have made clear the central figure is the former president himself — accused of knowingly benefiting from a “corruption pact” with a foreign dictatorship while campaigning to lead the French republic.

While Sarkozy has already been convicted in two other criminal cases, the Libya affair is widely seen as the most politically explosive — and the one most likely to shape his legacy

AP renews request for reinstatement to White House press pool after ban

BY DAVID BAUDER AP media writer

WASHINGTON A lawyer for

The Associated Press asked a federal judge Thursday to reinstate the agency’s access to the White House press pool and other official events, saying the Trump administration’s ban is a fundamental attack on freedom of speech and should be overturned. The government insisted there was no evidence that AP had been harmed irreparably

“AP has now spent 44 days in the penalty box,” said Charles Tobin, speaking on behalf of the news agency After a full day’s hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden adjourned the case without a decision.

The AP and the new administration are at odds

over the White House’s removal of AP reporters and photographers from the small group of journalists who follow the president in the pool and other events.

Last month, AP sued White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and two other administration officials, demanding reinstatement.

The White House retaliated against the news outlet last month for not following President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

The notion of banning a news agency for what it says — and for not using the words that a government demands is extraordinarily unusual in a country whose Constitution guarantees free speech without official interference. By punishing AP for what it publishes, the administration has raised

questions about what the White House feels it could punish from news outlets whose words or images it doesn’t like.

The judge questioned whether it’s a court’s place to order the White House which reporters it could or couldn’t exclude from a presidential event. “My instinct is that this has not changed how your client is exercising its free-speech rights,” McFadden told Tobin.

A lawyer for the government, Brian Hudak, said that the AP hadn’t shown irreparable harm to its business. “There is no showing of exclusion,” he said, adding that AP can still access events in the East Room and document who arrives at the White House and leaves it. The AP says that it has had only sporadic access to East Room events.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FRANCISCO SECO

University students shout slogans during a protest after Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday.

Report questions benefits of plant

Clean Energy Complex has faced strong opposition from residents

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

A new report calls into question the environmental benefits and tax credits linked to a Louisiana project that will include storing carbon emissions deep under Lake Maurepas, touted by state officials as a major economic development victory

highlights issues with similar blue hydrogen and blue ammonia projects being developed nationwide with the use of tax credits.

The report may add to the controversy surrounding Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex, which has faced strong opposition from residents over its carbon capture plans. Air Products dismissed the report as inaccurate while state officials highlighted the Geismar project’s economic benefits, which include creating 170 permanent jobs as part of its aim to produce cleaner fuel through hydrogen.

project as well as the federal tax credits available to it.

The analysis was conducted by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a global think tank based in Ohio that advocates for diverse and sustainable energy sources. It looked at the amount of greenhouse gas emissions likely to be avoided across the entire chain of the $7 billion

The report concludes that the project, originally scheduled to be operational in 2026, “will have little if any environmental benefit, while costing taxpayers billions of dollars” through federal tax credits for carbon capture and storage.

One of the report’s authors, Anika Juhn, said the Louisiana plant

“Those kinds of projects are definitely extremely expensive and really not returning any kind of climate benefit, certainly not in the way that they seem to be promising,” said Juhn an energy data analyst with the institute.

The study found that, under

STEP BY STEP

Sebastian Yana, center, dances on the steps of the Capitol during a trip with his family, right, from Papua New Guinea as other visitors exit the building beside them on March 20.

Three arrested for allegedly operating fentanyl lab in BR

Three people were arrested Wednesday in Baton Rouge for allegedly operating a fentanyl lab and possessing thousands of doses of the drug and other narcotics, according to an announcement from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

CRIME BLOTTER staff reports

Jermaine Harris, 43, Lakitra Betts, 46 and Terrance Noel, 48, were booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a slew of drug possession and distribution counts, as well as operation of a clandestine lab, illegal carrying of weapons and obstruction of justice.

On Wednesday, SWAT deputies with the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Harris and Noel in the 3000 block of Victoria Drive. Drone footage from the raid showed Noel flushing narcotics down the toilet. Deputies seized 10 ounces of fentanyl and multiple doses of opiates and other drugs, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Regulators doing wide study of Baton Rouge water supply

Saltwater intrusion into Southern Hills aquifer continues

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

Concerns about salt contaminating Baton Rouge’s underground drinking water supply have prompted regulators to order a sweeping — and some say difficult-to-accomplish look at pumping and saltwater intrusion across southeast Louisiana and possibly parts of Mississippi.

The move came after an LSU researcher recently recommended a three-year effort to build a saltwater-intrusion computer model for the Baton Rouge area amid concerns about slowly rising salt levels in the aquifer, especially near a key pumping station for Baton Rouge Water Co.

Researcher Frank Tsai reported that saltwater intrusion into the Southern Hills aquifer continues as chloride levels rise in some Baton Rouge groundwater wells.

Tsai also told the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission that pumping has caused groundwater

CATHERINE THRELKELD

Baton Rouge Water Company drilled a scavenger well at 31st and North streets. The well is designed to pull out salt water in an attempt to keep the salt water from other freshwater wells. The well also produces fresh water, which is put into the company’s water system.

of

is threatened by salty groundwater moving north across the Baton Rouge Fault. The underground rift roughly follows interstates 10 and 12.

The aquifer is the Baton Rouge region’s prime drinking water source and stretches across the toe of Louisiana’s boot and up into Mississippi.

A recent analysis done for the commission suggested salt concentrations from just south of the fault may be about like brackish water about one-fifth as salty as sea water but still around 15 times the federal maximum for drinking water

Tsai, a professor who leads LSU’s Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute, has already spent years building a computer model for the Baton Rouge area that projects how pumping affects groundwater levels. The new research will help predict how saltwater flows underground and could begin taking into account a larger part of the aquifer

The work will also look at how the land is sinking, called “subsidence,” an issue Tsai says is an important but often overlooked consequence of continued pumping from the aquifer

6 Istrouma students arrested after brawl

Fight escalated when parents were called, police say

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Six Istrouma High School students were arrested Thursday, after a small fight escalated into a brawl involving students and parents, authorities said. Of the arrests, four were female students who were later released to their parents, while two male students were booked into the juvenile detention center after allegedly fighting with police officers, a Baton Rouge Police Department spokesperson said. Several Baton Rouge police officers, as well as East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies, were called to the school on Windborne Avenue at about 10:40 a.m. The school was placed on lockdown and that was lifted at 12:30 p.m. Police officers remained outside the school through the day Authorities are still investigating

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

N.O. council bans city-funded alcohol on trips

Move part of political backlash to mayor’s travel spending

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

The New Orleans City Council has banned city officials from buying alcohol on the city’s dime, part of a broader effort to restrict Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s travel spending amid a bitter conflict between the executive and legislative branches of city government.

The ordinance prohibits employees from buying or collecting reimbursements for alcohol purchased on trips City codes and policies had not previously said whether alcohol can be expensed or not, but Louisiana law bars such reimbursements for state workers The council deliberated for less than a minute Thursday before approving the ordinance carried by council Vice President Helena Moreno on a 6-0 vote. District E council member Oliver Thomas was not present.

“It is highly uncommon that the city of New Orleans allows this,” council President JP Morrell said in brief remarks before the vote. Moreno has said she filed the ordinance to restrict unnecessary spending after the mayor pulled out of a major funding agreement with New Orleans’ school system last month. Cantrell and her chief financial officer Romy Samuel, cited strain on city finances in pulling out of the deal, which was meant to

settle a long-running lawsuit filed by the school system alleging that the city had improperly withheld millions of dollars in tax collections.

In an interview, Morrell, an ally of Moreno’s who frequently works with her on legislation, said the ban on alcohol purchases was not a response to any “specific instances” of the mayor or her staff buying booze.

“The intent of this was to align New Orleans with a host of other cities,” Morrell said.

Moreno did not immediately respond to an interview request Thursday Cantrell’s office also did not immediately return a request for comment on the alcohol ban.

The new ordinance comes as the mayor and council have been at fierce odds as she nears the end of her tenure, and as the seven-mem-

The New Orleans City Council has banned city officials from buying alcohol on the city’s dime, part of a broader effort to restrict Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s travel spending amid a bitter conflict between the executive and legislative branches of city government.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By

BRETT DUKE

ber panel has sought to put its stamp on everything from the administration’s hiring decisions to city litigation, such as the School Board lawsuit.

Two of those members, Moreno and Thomas, are gunning to replace Cantrell next year, though Thomas has not been at the center of many of the efforts to curtail the mayor’s power Cantrell is set to leave office in January due to

N.O. Jazz & Heritage Festival schedule released

BY HANNAH LEVITAN Staff writer

It’s officially Jazz Fest season, and the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s schedule cubes are finally here, detailing performance times and stage assignments.

Typically revealed exactly one month before the event’s opening day, Jazz Fest regulars and first-timers have been eagerly waiting to plan their itineraries based on the cubes, which allow music lovers to decide who they’ll see.

This year, Jazz Fest opens on Thursday, April 24, with the theme “Viva Mexico.”

At a news conference held Thursday afternoon inside the Fair Grounds’ grandstand, festival organizers released the cubes and additional information about this

year’s event. Artists like Luke Combs, Lil Wayne & The Roots, John Fogerty Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Kacey Musgraves, Santana, Lenny Kravitz, Burna Boy, Cage the Elephant, Laufey, Tems, Harry Connick Jr. My Morning Jacket and HAIM will be featured across the two weekends in spring.

Among Louisiana natives, Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Irma Thomas will all return for the city’s most anticipated spring festival.

The first weekend, John Fogerty, Kacey Musgraves, Dave Matthews Band and Lil Wayne & The Roots will perform on the Festival Stage. HAIM, James Bay, Irma Thomas, Harry Connick Jr., Cheap Trick and Goose will take the Shell Gentilly Stage, while Gladys Knight,

STUDENTS

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people were fighting. At least one student was injured after trying to break it up, and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

The incident began as a small fight between female students on school property That sparring was initially broken up by school staff, but resumed after parents became involved, and then it quickly spiraled out of control, said Lt. L’Jean McKneely, a spokesperson for Baton Rouge police.

Babyface, the Soul Rebels and Burna Boy will appear on the Congo Square Stage.

authentic Mexican cuisine, including mezcal cocktails.

PLANT

term limits.

The spats have at times landed in court, including twice in the past month.

The council asked a judge this month to force the mayor to stick to the $90 million school settlement deal crafted by the council, top Cantrell deputies and the Orleans Parish School Board. The court sided mostly with Cantrell last week, ruling that the city must pay only $10 million of that amount.

After the council banned all taxpayer-funded travel by city officials last month — a response by Morrell to Cantrell abandoning the school funding deal — the mayor asked a judge to block that ban, and the court ruled in her favor temporarily A hearing in the case is set for Friday.

The council approved its new ban on purchasing alcohol as Cantrell was set to attend a U.S. Conference of Mayors summit at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Friday, according to that organization’s website It will be her second time in Washington in nearly three weeks after she visited the nation’s capital earlier this month for the Yale Mayors College Conference. Both the travel ban and rules on alcohol purchases follow scrutiny over hundreds of thousands of dollars Cantrell has spent on overseas and out-of-state travel during her second term, according to a Times-Picayune investigation last year

Email James Finn at jfinn@ theadvocate.com.

The project is expected to take three years and cost about $180,000 annually. The commission decided to begin pursuing data for the new, broader analysis during a meeting last week

The move comes amid a tense debate over a more targeted investigation of the rising chloride levels near Baton Rouge Water’s Lula Avenue pumping and well station.

Some commissioners, including Matt Reonas, argued the close-up look is needed to understand why salt levels in a protective “scavenger” well system rose 16% over the past three years. The scavenger system is designed to protect the Lula Avenue station by drawing off salt water Tsai has predicted that in 30 to 50 years, saltwater will overcome the system, which has been in operation since 2014.

Baton Rouge Water Co.

President Patrick Kerr who sits on the commission, ob-

jected to the focused study in favor of the broader, longer-term look. His company has suggested the rise in chlorides near Lula Avenue resulted from temporary changes in pumping opera-

The following weekend will host Santana, Luke Combs, Dumpstaphunk, Pearl Jam, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Lenny Kravitz on the Festival Stage. Cage the Elephant, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Laufey will be on the Shell Gentilly Stage, while Tems, Patti LaBelle and Morris Day & The Time will be on the Congo Square Stage. The festival will host 650 performances throughout its two weekends. For its 54th year, Jazz Fest will honor Mexican music and art with performances from Mexico’s own Banda MS, Lila Downs and 19 bands from Mexico. The Cultural Exchange Pavilion, sponsored by Expedia, will serve

“Kids started calling their parents, parents started arriving on the scene, and then the situation escalated,” he said.

Police are reviewing body camera and school surveillance footage and interviewing school staff, which might lead to more arrests of both students and parents,

This year’s “Locals Thursday” which will be held on both Thursdays of the festival — will cost $50 for Louisiana residents to see artists like John Fogerty, John Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and Little Freddie King Blues Band.

Thursday at-the-gate passes for nonresidents cost $105 plus fees. Residents are also offered discounts on four-day passes for either weekend, which will cost $305 or $290 for early birds. For nonresidents, passes will start at $329. Otherwise, weekend single-day passes are $135 plus fees at the gate. See the complete Jazz Fest cubes at nojazzfest.com/ music-schedule.

McKneely said.

“Istrouma is cooperating fully with authorities, and we will be taking appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the law and the students rights and responsibilities handbook,” Perry Robinson, a spokesperson for East Baton Rouge public schools, said in a statement.

The commission chose to pursue the broader study, sending the proposal for the Lula Avenue inquiry back to one of its committees for further discussion. In a subsequent interview, Gary Beard, director of the commission’s six-parish district, said the broader data collection would necessarily include examining potential problem areas, including near the Lula Avenue station.

Beard said he intends to identify saltwater hot spots in key layers of the Baton Rouge area’s aquifer and propose potential solutions.

The commission directed Beard to collect data for wells both inside and outside the district’s authority Beard said he will comply but noted that gathering information from outside the commission’s jurisdiction, particularly from the smallest water systems, might be difficult.

tions due to extended well maintenance. Calling the narrower examination “myopic,” Kerr argued it also would duplicate the broader data collection effort.

He said he planned to start with the parishes in-

a best-case scenario, the project would lead to a net reduction of 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, or 5% of a standard coal plant’s annual emissions. Under what it labeled a more realistic scenario, there would be a net increase of 7.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year It says the tax credit the plant will use, known as 45Q, could allow it to recoup between $4 billion and $6.3 billion over a 12-year period.

The report’s authors question the company’s claim that it will capture 95% of carbon emissions. They also allege that the figure does not include emissions from upstream methane leaks, the operation of carbon capture equipment or the compression and transport of hydrogen.

Further, it argues that both fiscal conservatives and environmentalists should be concerned over the subsidies for what it labels “blue hydrogen’s carbon capture boondoggle.”

‘Proven technology’

Air Products said it stands by its technology and 95% capture rate, adding that the plant will help reduce carbon emissions further down the chain through its hydrogen and ammonia production. It intends to sell its products both across the Gulf Coast and globally

“We remain confident in the ability to meet the carbon reduction goals of our facility with this technology,” it said in a statement in response to the report. “The products from the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex can help to decarbonize various sectors, providing additional downstream benefits. The facility also will create 170 permanent, good paying, jobs in Louisiana.”

It added that “this report simply repeats old, unsubstantiated arguments while ignoring the benefits of this proven technology.”

and long-term investment,” it said in a statement “The Air Products expansion is a prime example of how LED’s efforts contribute to our state’s economic success.”

Continued from page 1B LOTTERY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 PICK 3: 3-5-0 PICK 4: 2-2-0-8 PICK 5:

Louisiana Economic Development defended the state’s embrace of the project. It noted that state economic incentives “are tied to jobs and capital expenditures,” unlike the federal tax credits related to carbon capture.

It also highlighted the 170 permanent jobs as well as “413 new indirect jobs.”

“LED strategically evaluates and administers incentives to attract and retain businesses that drive economic growth, job creation

‘Industrial investment’

Former Gov John Bel Edwards announced the project in 2021, billing it as a “major industrial investment that will create quality manufacturing jobs while limiting environmental impacts.” The project had been called the largest U.S. investment by the Pennsylvania-based company Edwards had set a goal of slashing emissions from Louisiana’s industrial and petrochemical base, but concerned environmentalists by embracing carbon capture technology as a means of doing so. The state has sought to position itself as a hub for carbon capture technology and the potential new revenue that could come with it. But residents have expressed increasing concern over the process, which would see carbon emissions stored permanently deep underground.

Industry and many scientists vouch for its safety, but residents are concerned over the possibility of dangerous leaks and potential damage to water aquifers. State legislators have been contemplating bills that would give local communities more power over what projects could move forward in their areas.

Carbon emissions drive climate change, which is projected to greatly exacerbate sea level rise along Louisiana’s fading coastline. President Donald Trump, however, has castigated the well-documented science surrounding climate change, making it unclear whether the tax credits will continue in their current form.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com

Court to rehear Louisiana death row inmate’s case

Robinson previously convicted in 1996 slayings of family

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

When it comes to death row inmate Darrell Robinson, the Louisiana Supreme Court can’t seem to make up its mind

The latest whipsaw in his case came last week, when the court agreed to reconsider Robinson’s legal challenge to his conviction and death sentence on four counts of first-degree murder over a 1996 quadruple killing in Rapides Parish. Robinson, now 56, is among 55 prisoners on death row in Louisiana, following the execution last week of Jessie Hoffman Jr., whose death by nitrogen hypoxia was a first for the state, following the lead of Alabama.

Hoffman was the first person executed in Louisiana since 2010, due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs. Last year Gov Jeff Landry signed a bill adding nitrogen gas and electrocution to a new menu of methods that opened the door to

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Paraphernalia including digital scales, plastic bags, a blender with drug residue, a drug-cutting agent, a money counter and $3,467 were also seized at the address, according to officials.

A 9 mm handgun was also found.

Deputies with EBRSO’s Gang Intelligence and Enforcement Unit surveilled Harris and Noel’s residence on Victoria Drive for numerous hours in March.

Search warrants were then executed for the address on Victoria Drive and Harris’ vehicle

In an interview, Noel admitted to trying to get rid of the fentanyl when SWAT executed the search warrant He admitted the fentanyl and the gun found in his room were his.

Noel was booked into parish prison on the following

counts:

n Two counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, for fentanyl and hydrocodone bitartrate pills, each Schedule II drugs

n Operation of a clandestine lab

n Obstruction of justice

n Illegal carrying of weapons with drugs

n Possession of drug paraphernalia

Harris was booked into the parish prison on the following counts:

n Three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, for fentanyl, buprenorphine and naloxone strips, and hydrocodone bitartrate pills, each Schedule II drugs

n Two counts of possession of narcotics, for amphetamine pills and methylphenidate hydrochloride pills, both Schedule II drugs

n Operation of a clandes-

resuming executions in the state.

The decision to rehear Robinson’s case follows a year in which the court waffled on his fate. In January 2024, a majority of justices found enough failures by prosecutors to warrant a new trial, vacating his conviction and death sentence.

The withheld evidence allegedly included a quid pro quo with a jailhouse informant and blood analysis from the crime scene.

Chief Justice John Weimer ticked off several areas in which he found prosecutors had railroaded Robinson by failing to disclose exculpatory evidence. But after a rare rehearing, a 4-3 majority of the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed that decision, reinstating the verdict and sentence in December

“After further review and careful consideration of the record we find no merit to the claims raised and we erred in vacating defendant’s conviction and sentence,” Justice Jay McCallum wrote in the majority opinion.

McCallum disputed that there was evidence of a deal between prosecutors and the informant,

tine lab

n Possession of drug paraphernalia

Betts was booked into the parish prison on the following counts:

n Three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, for fentanyl, buprenorphine and naloxone strips, and hydrocodone bitartrate pills, each Schedule II narcotics

n Two counts of possession of narcotics, for amphetamine pills and methylphenidate hydrochloride pills, both Schedule II drugs

n Operation of a clandestine lab

n Possession of drug paraphernalia

Police: Driver crashed driving erratically

The driver of a red Toyota Corolla had been driving erratically before crossing the centerline of La 16 in Livingston Parish at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday and crashing head-on into a school bus, according to Louisiana State Police.

The bus, No. B888, was transporting 55 students to Live Oak High School and Live Oak Junior High when the crash happened near the Live Oak ballpark in Watson. Students who had minor injuries were later released to their parents or transported to their school.

The Corolla driver was airlifted from the crash site and taken to the hospital, and is in stable condition, said Shelby Mayfield, spokesperson for State Police Troop A, which was investigating the crash

“Both drivers were driving in opposite directions toward each other, when the driver in the vehicle crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into the bus,” Mayfield said. “The witnesses said he was driving so erratically that they were think-

Leroy Goodspeed, who’d shared a cell with Robinson and testified over an alleged confession.

McCallum was joined by Justices Will Crain, Scott Crichton and Jeannette Knoll, a former justice who was serving in place of James Genovese, who left the court last year Genovese had voted with the earlier majority that had granted Robinson a new trial. Weimer and Justices Piper Griffin and Jefferson Hughes dissented from the December reversal Crichton has since left the court, which now has two new justices: John Michael Guidry, who represents the court’s 2nd District; and Cade Cole, Knoll’s former law clerk, who represents the 3rd District. A majority of the seven justices must agree to rehear a case.

A unanimous jury from St Landry Parish convicted Robinson in 2001 and sentenced him to die for the execution-style slayings of Billy Lambert, 50; Lambert’s sister, Carol Hooper, 54; her daughter Maureen Kelley 37; and Kelley’s infant son, Nicholas.

Robinson and Lambert had hooked up at a Veterans Affairs

ing of calling 911 when the crash happened.”

A toxicology sample will be taken from the driver, State Police said.

The two schools’ principals and central office staff were on the scene of the incident shortly after the crash. The bus was damaged and needed to be towed to the school district’s transportation center for inspection and repair.

“Livingston Parish Public Schools would like to thank the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and first responders for their response in caring for our students and bus driver and the other individual involved,” the Livingston Parish public school district said in a news release.

Two BR teens arrested in shooting

Two 15-year-old suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting Sunday that left one man dead and sent another to a hospital in critical condition, Baton Rouge police said.

Homicide detectives working with the Baton Rouge Police Response Team arrested the male teenagers on Thursday They were booked into the Baton Rouge Juvenile Detection Center on counts

treatment center for alcoholism, and Robinson had come to live with Lambert and work on his farm near Poland, southeast of Alexandria. But Robinson started drinking again, and Lambert wanted him out, a witness said.

Lambert’s cousin arrived about noon on May 28, 1996, and found her four relatives fatally shot in the head on the living room floor

Robinson had bought a bottle of vodka that morning, and he was seen fleeing the scene in Lambert’s truck. He drove other cars off the road and then crashed through a fence while under chase. He was found with Lambert’s knife in his pocket and the dead baby’s blood on the bottom of a shoe and on a shoelace.

Robinson said he’d arrived at the home to find the dead bodies and fled in fear His appellate attorneys have argued that the blood evidence points to another suspect.

Robinson’s attorney, Matilde Carbia, of the Mwalimu Center for Justice, asked the court to consider two recent federal court decisions related to withheld information about star witnesses. Carbia on Monday described those cases as “on point and instructive.”

of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. BRPD did not release the suspects’ names due to their ages. Police said one of the suspects has a criminal record that includes armed robbery

Officers responding to reports of a shooting about 4:40 p.m. Sunday in the 4300 block of Monroe Avenue found 22-year-old Jalen Lee suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. A 21-yearold man also had been shot. Lee died at the scene, while the second man was taken to a hospital, police said.

BR teen dies from injures in shooting

A Baton Rouge teenager has died from wounds he suffered in a January

Asked if she was surprised by the court’s decision to rehear Robinson’s case, Carbia responded, “This case has had a lot of twists and turns. We can never know what’s next.”

Capital prosecutor Hugo Holland has defended Robinson’s conviction before the Louisiana Supreme Court, arguing there was no evidence of a quid pro quo with Goodspeed, while casting doubt on Weimer’s analysis of the blood evidence.

Holland had praised the court’s earlier decision to rehear the case, but he disagreed this time in an email.

“I have not seen this in 35 years of criminal practice,” Holland wrote of the court’s wavering. “There is a significant risk of institutional damage to the court due to this indecisiveness.”

Holland said he’ll argue once again that Robinson’s rights have not been violated, in hopes that a federal judge can begin to weigh Robinson’s federal habeas claims, a precursor to an execution date. Currently, none of Louisiana’s condemned prisoners have exhausted their appeals, and therefore none is now eligible for a death warrant, attorneys say

2024 shooting that has now claimed the lives of two people, police said Thursday David Hamilton, 17, died from injuries sustained in a shooting on Jan. 25, 2024, the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office reported. Officers responded to a shooting about 12:45 a.m. in the 11600 block of West Sherwood Meadow Avenue and found two male victims, each with gunshot wounds to the head, police said. Ashton Williams, 17, died at a hospital from his injuries on Jan. 31, 2024.

Six students arrested after school fights

Six female students were arrested at Dutchtown High School in connection with two separate fights on campus Thursday, the Ascension

Parish Sheriff’s Office said. Six students were arrested for disturbing the peace before they were later released to parents, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. No serious injuries were reported.

Three separate fights took place during the school day, but arrests were only made related to two incidents, said Jackie Tisdale, a district spokesperson. “Students will face appropriate consequences per district policy and state law,” she said. It was the second report of brawling by female high school students Thursday at Baton Rouge metro area schools. An incident at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, which also involved parents, resulted in the arrest of six students.

Robinson

Watts, Martha Colyell Baptist Church at 11am Weakley, Leska Slaughter United Methodist Church at 11 a.m

Obituaries

Bell, Herbert

Anative of New Orleans &resident of New Roads Herbert departed on march14, 2025 at the age of 67. Visitation& religiuos services Saturday March 29, 2025 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 6820 LA Hwy 419, Lacour, La from 9am untill 11am services. Conducted by Rev. Darell Bridgewater. Interment church Cemetery. Herbert cherish his memories his loving daughters; De Condra Robertson; Ressie Bell George (Joseph) and Cassandra Bell; His sisters Shirley Moore and ahost of grandchildren and a great grandson and host of relatives and friends. Herbert preceded in death by his parents Lorena Forest Bell &Arthur Richard. His sisters LillieSimmons and Partice Richard. Brothers; David Lee Bell &Lunches Richard.

John Henry Brydels, Sr., age 95, died on March 24, 2025, at St. James Place in Baton Rouge,LA. John is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Faye RayeCrump Brydels. He is survived by their threechildren, Deborah Ann Brydels Buco (Dr. StevenBuco), Kathy Christine Brydels Seger(Jon Seger), and John Henry Brydels, Jr., all of Baton Rouge, LA. He is survived by eight grandchildren; Benjamin Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, Daniel(Rebekah) Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, Rev. David Buco of Galveston, TX, Dr. Steven(Dr. Ellen) Buco, Jr. of Germantown, TN, Jennifer (Jason) Seger-Paisley of Wilmington, NC,Allyson Seger (Stephen Cassidy)of Spicewood, TX, Dr. Sarah Seger of Moorhead, MN and Katherine Seger of Brooklyn, NY. He is further survived byeleven great grandchildren;FayeMalyn Buco, Jackson Paul Buco, Savannah Mae Buco, and Brooks Lee Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, John Henry Robert Buco of Galveston, TX, Abigail Louise Buco and Andrew JamesBuco of Germantown, TN, Hailey Renee Seger-Paisley and Gabriel Luke Seger-Paisley of Wilmington, NC, Adeline Seger Cassidy and Beatrix Seger Cassidy of Spicewood, TX. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Gloria "Teasie"Henniganof Natchitoches, LA, abrother -in-law Dr. Daniel "Danny" Crump of Starkville, MS and brother-in-lawRobert "Bob" BenderofFort Wayne,IN.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Faye Raye Crump Brydels. He is also preceded in death by his parents Jules Bernard Brydels and Mary Blondena Verzwyvelt Brydelsof Alexandria, LA. He is furtherpreceded in death by his four sisters, Clementine Michiels (Joseph "Joe" Michiels, also deceased) of Alexandria, LA, Catherine Turner (Ray Turner, also deceased) of Alexandria, LA, Judy Brydels of Alexandria, LA, and Madelane BenderofFort Wayne,IN and brothers, JulesBrydels, Jr. (Mavis Brydels, also deceased) of Lake Charles, LA and Francis Joseph "Jack" Verzwyvelt of Alexandria, LA (Hattie May Verzwyvelt, also deceased). He is further precededindeath by his brother-in-law Waymond "Bud" Crump and sister-inlaw Joyce Crump of Marthaville, LA and brother-in-law Dr. ThomasHennigan of Natchitoches, LA. John was born on March 5, 1930, in Alexandria,LAto parents Jules and Blondena Brydels. He graduated from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, LA in 1951. John is aKorean War veteran. After serving in the Army, John earnedan MBA from LSU in 1958. He was aCertifiedPublic Accountant from 1958 until his retirement in 2010. From 1980 until retirement John and Kathy worked together. He was amember of the LCPA and AICPA. John's hobbies included playing booray with wife Faye and other couples, attending horse racing events and LSU Football games, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, picking his figs and persimmons, coaching his children's baseball and softball teams, and later coaching his granddaughters' softball teams. Faye and he enjoyedtaking tripswith granddaughters to the beach and fishing trips to Lake Fausse Pointe. John enjoyedhis grandchildren playing Rook cards and watching theirathletic events. He enjoyedfishing in Debbie's lake with the great grandchildren. John and Faye were able to enjoy attending the Kentucky Derby for their anniversary and John and John, Jr. attended aWorld Series game in St. Louis. John and Faye also traveled on trips organized through the church and were able to visit his relatives in Belgium. John was raised in the

game in St.Louis. John and Faye also traveled on tripsorganized through the church and were able to visit his relatives in Belgium. John was raised in the Catholic faith. As an adult, he was amember of University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA The family expresses their gratitudefor the loving care giventoJohn by Lillie Anderson and the staff at St. James Place. Visitation will be Monday, March 31 from 9AM to 11AM at UniversityUnited Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA Funeral services will be Monday, March 31 at 11AM at UniversityUnited Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA Reverend Katie Simpson will officiate.

Sophonia Flowers Camel age 81 departed this life on Saturday, March 22, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. Visiting at Roscoe Mortuary on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 5to7 pm. Religious service at Greater Progressive Baptist Church 32580 Leona Ave., White Castle, La. 70788 at 11:00 am by Rev. R. Williams. Arrangements entrusted to Roscoe Mortuary. Sister -Mary F. Depron. Daughters -Dorothy (Penny) Hampton, Ruby M. Flowers, Henrietta Flowers. Son -Dwayne Flowers.

Kathleen O'Brien Carmouche, abeloved wife, mother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on March 25, 2025, in her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Born on October 16, 1949, in Delavan, WI to Edward and Laverne O'Brien. Kathleen is survived by her loving husband of 27 years, DonCarmouche, who was her partner in life and love. Kathleen was adevoted mother to her daughter, Cristina (Michael), and a loving stepmother to her three stepsons, Donnie (Jaime), John (Trisha), and Brian (Shannon)and her wonderful ten step-grandchildren. Her family was her greatest treasure, and she nurtured them with love, wisdom, and awitty sense of humorthat brightened every gathering. She is also survived by her siblings, Patrick (Jenny), Colleen, and Molly (Erik), who will forever hold her memory close to their hearts. Kathleen was predeceased by her parents, Laverne and Edward O'Brien, and her siblings Mike, Rory, and Kerry, who welcomed her with open arms. Kathleen's academic journey was atestament to her dedicationand passion for learning. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madisonwith aBachelor of Artsdegree, followed by amaster's degree in Italian fromUCLA. Her pursuit of knowledge culminated in aJuris Doctor from Tulane Law School. Withher law degree, Kathleen became a passionateprosecutor, tirelessly advocating for victims and earning the respect and admirationof her colleagues and the community. Her unwavering commitment to justice and her compassionate spirit made alasting impact on many lives. An avid animal lover, Kathleen found joy in the company of her beloved pets, including her horse, Romeo,and her twoGordon Setters, Rose and McDougal. Her home was asanctuary of love, laughter, and warmth, where her family and furry friends thrived.A celebration of Kathleen's remarkable life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at St Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, located at 9150 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810. Visitation will begin at12:30 PM, followed by aMass at 1:45 PM. Inhonoring Kathleen's legacy, let us remember her fierce spirit,her unwavering love for her family, and her dedicationtomaking the world abetter place. She will be dearly missed butforever cher-

Reserve Deputy and even-

legacy, let us remember her fierce spirit, her unwavering love for her family, and her dedicationtomaking the world abetter place. She will be dearly missed butforever cherished in thehearts of those who loved her. The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Pinnacle and Decision Critical medical staff for providing compassionatecare and ensuring her comfort during her final days.

Antonio "Tony" Carrillo of Baton Rouge, passed away Monday, March 24 2025 at theage of 88. He is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Maria Elena Carrillo; children, Antonio Carrillo (Suzanne), Elena Jones (Greg), Juan Carrillo (Joanne), and AnaLuck (Brent); grandchildren Christina Jones Young (Andrew), Ian Carrillo (Caroline), Ethan Jones, Adam Carrillo (Oakleigh), Tanner Lewis (Hali), Tony Carrillo, Conner Lewis, Cameron Lewis, Clare Carrillo, Victoria Lewis, Ryan Luck, Alex Luck, and Liz Luck; greatgrandchild, Addison Young; brother, Alberto Carrillo (Patricia), and sister-in-law Vickie Carrillo. Tony is preceded in death by his sister Alina Lapinski (Phil), and his brother Andres Carrillo. Tony was born in Havana, Cuba, graduated fromGeorgia Tech with adegree in Chemical Engineering, and immigrated to theUSA in 1960. After 32 years with Freeport-McMoran, he retired and spent his time with Maria traveling the world, visiting family, and dedicating his time to volunteering at St.Jude, Our Ladyofthe Lake Hospital, and Mission to Mexico. Special thanks to all the caregivers during Tony's last days. In lieuofflowers, please donatetoStVincent de Paul Baton Rouge. Services will be held on March 29 at St.Jude Catholic Church: Visitation 9AM-10AM, Rosary 10AM10:30AM, and Mass at 11AM.

It is with aheavy heart that we announce the passingofWilson R. Chaney, Jr.BorninBaton Rouge, LA 1/3/1937, he entered hiseternal home with our HeavenlyFather on 3/20/2025 Wilsonwas married to theloveofhis life MarilynFremin Chaney for591/2 years.Thoseleft to cherish hismemory are hiswife Marilynand sons WilsonR."Trey" Chaney III and TroyDonovan Chaney (Gertrude) and grandson Troy"Donovan" Chaney Jr sisters Trudy LeBlanc and PatriciaMurphy, nieces, nephews, and adopted daughter Charlotte Fabre. He waspreceded in death by hisfather and stepmother WilsonR.Chaney, Sr. and FayeChaney and Mother and stepfather LurlineMathery Kemp and Arnold Kemp,a daughter Ellen M. Chaney and brother FrankMurphy, in-laws Lawrence andMargaret Freminand daughter-inlaw Candy Chaney.Wilson graduated from Baton RougeHighSchool,Southeastern University with a degree in Business and Management and obtained acertificate from LSU in Paralegal Studies. Priorto Wilson'scareer, he served our country with theU.S Navy and wasactivated duringthe Cuban Missel Crisis, where he waswith theAir Anti-submarine squadron821. Wilson started hiscareer with Enjay Baton RougeChemical Plan in 1966 thantransferred to the Plastics Plant where he retired in 1997 under Exxon Plastics Plant. In between that timeWilsonjoined the Baton Rouge City PoliceReserve, 2nd Class in 1968 and stayed with them untilthe mideighties. Wilsonjoined the EBR Sheriff's Officeasa Reserve Deputy and eventually made lieutenant over hissquad.In1997 afterretirement from Exxon Wilsonhad theopportunity to go to workfull-timewith theSherriff's Officeasa

tually made lieutenant over hissquad. In 1997 afterretirement fromExxon, Wilson hadthe opportunity to go to workfull-timewith theSherriff's Office as a Bailiffand eventually Court Room Security.Wilson had aCRAZY idea of going back thru afull-timeLaw Enforcement Academy (CARTA-EBRSO Capital Area Regional Training Academy) at theage of 73 which he successfully completed. Wilson eventually retiredfromEBRSO in 2018 at theage of 81. Wilson wasanavidmotorcycle rider.Herode hisGold Wing rain or shinetowork. Wilson washeavily involvedwith CMA(Christian Motorcycle Association). He served as Chaplain, Vice President, andArea Representative. Also ministeredwith Bill Glass Prison Ministries and was anationalboardfor MAC (MotorcycleAwareness Campaign). Avisitationfor Wilson will be held on Friday, March 28, at Rabenhorst Funeral HomeEast (11000 FloridaBlvd) from5 to 9pm. It will resumeon March 29 at Bethany Church (south campus)at 10 am until service at noon. Burialwill followat RoselawnCemetery. Pallbearers Wilson R"Trey" Chaney, III, Troy Donovan Chaney, Troy "Donovan" Chaney, Jr., Mike Kimble, Tommy Easley, Micah Chaney, HonoraryPallbearers RonnieKairdolf, GaryFabre, Joey Bambarger.Wilson wasa manof God, aprayer warriorwho loveshis family andhis country.Hewill be deeply missed by all. TheChaney family would liketothank allhis helpers, Jill, Carris, Ms.Susie,Deborah Sharon, Donna,and Glinda, forall theirhardworkand love forWilson. John 11:2526

Brydels Sr., John Henry

Haile, Ruth Rosedown Baptist Church 12907

Francisville

Carrillo, Antonio Miguel

Camel, Sophonia

Faveroth, Darius Montrell 'Baybee'

with

Montrell Faveroth, beloved husband, father

Carmouche, Kathleen O'Brien

Chaney, Wilson R.

Irving, Deborah Ann Brooks

Harper,Mary Roppolo

Mary Harper, abeloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the age of 74. Anative of Baton Rouge and resident of Central,she was known for her warmth, kindness, strength and superb culinary skillsaswell as many other creative talents like oil and china painting, sewing, floral arranging, interior decorating, gardening, etc. She excelled at so many endeavors while making them seem effortless. Mary dedicated her life to her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Mary is survived by her husband, Harold W. Harper; her daughter, StephanieHarper; her son Adam Harper, and her grandsonDylan Gill. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sabbato and Evelyn Roppolo. Pallbearers are Adam Harper, Dylan Gill, Steve Roppolo, Glynn Roppolo, Herbert Bickham and Dwain Bickham. Visitation will be Monday, March 31, 2025 at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway,at12pmuntil funeral service at 2pm. She was amember of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.

Freddie Hebert, native of Gonzales, LA and longtime resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on March 23, 2025, at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife of 38 years,Cindy Lou Hebert; children, Tylane Hebert, Sr. (Christy), Shane Hebert (Patsy), Renee Griffin (Sidney), Cindy Ann Persilver, and Charles Eugene Persilver, Sr. (Taylor); 10 grandchildren; 4greatgrandchildren; and his 4 siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elison and Altia Bercegeay Hebert; and 3grandchildren. Freddie enjoyed boat racing, hunting, watching LSU, dancing with the love of his life, Cindy Lou, and spending time with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Avisitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9amuntil funeral services at 12 pm. Burial will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Please visit www.greenoaksfunerals.c om to leave condolences to the family.

Dedrick O'Neal Jones went to gloryonTuesday, February 18, 2025, at6:42 p.m. at the Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge surroundedbyfamily and friends. Dedrick was born on Friday,September12, 1986. Dedrick accepted Christ at an earlyage at Bethany Church in Baker, LA. Dedrick attended Greenville and Bernard Terrace Elementaries, Capitol and GlenOaks Middle, and Glen Oaks High School, receiving aGED Certificate and wasattending Oral Roberts University Online,Tulsa, OK, at the time of his death. Dedrick was employedwith Alorica as he was acomputerwhiz working for multiple computercompanies throughout his life. Dedrickalso loved cooking Shrimp Gumbo, Etouffee,and other delicious meals, andhe could cook almost anythingwithout arecipe "by taste." Other thanGod, family and friends wereof utmost importance to Dedrick.

Dedrick will be missed by family friend, Michael W. Turner Jones; father, Mack (Shirley) Shepard; brothers, Michael (Diedre) and Terrance Jones; nephew, Dorian Osborne; Godparents, Dana Leron, and Mario (Brenda)Jones, and Ingrid (Bobby) Willis; uncle, Patrick (Gloria) Jones; aunts, Jimmy Ray, Charlotte Brumfield and Johnea West, Isa MaeColeman, Barbara Cook, Betty (Charlie) Grover, and Carol (Craig) Williams; God Siblings, Deborah Kay Briley and Helen De'Shay Jones, Mario Lil Mario" Jones, II and Jonathan Taylor;family friends, KathleenOsborne, Martha,Hillary, Michelle and Litisha Turner, BarbaraWalker, Mary Mitchell, Kendrickand Kenyetta Jones, Tonja Walker, KimberlyWashington, and JaneenWilliams.

Dedrick was preceded in death by his mother, Deborah Kay Jones; grandparents, Henderson O'Neal and Warren Odessa Jones andReverend Joseph and Gustavia Shepard; aunts, Mary and Helen Jones; uncles, Warren Otis (Calena) and Henderson O.Jones, Jr; cousins Charissa, Corbet, and Thalani Jones, and Justice Jackson, great grandparents, anda host of other relatives and friends. Entrustedto Charles MackeyFuneral Home, 1576 Robin St. BR, LA 70807

Lee, Jalen Burrell

JalenBurrell Lee transitioned on the 23rd of March 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the age of 22. He was employed with Hobby Lobby and enjoyed working to support himself as well as his son. He leaves to cherish hismemory:his son, loving family, and ahost of friends. Join us for afinal goodbye viewing at 9:00 am -10:30 am and Services start at 11:00am -1:00pm on Saturday, March 29, 2025 held at New Light Missionary Baptist Church at 650 Blount RD, Baton Rouge, La 70807. Arrangements entrusted to Schaffer Family Funeral Home.

and enjoyed working to support himself as well as his son. He leaves to cherish his memory: his son, loving family, and ahost of friends. Join us for afinal goodbye viewing at 9:00 am -10:30 am and Services start at 11:00am -1:00pm on Saturday, March 29, 2025 held at NewLight Missionary Baptist Church at 650 Blount RD, Baton Rouge, La 70807. Arrangements entrusted to Schaffer Family Funeral Home.

McCauley, Gwendolyn Kent 'Gwen'

Gwendolyn Kent Mc‐Cauley, “Gwen”, 74, a resi‐dent of Jackson, LA, died on Monday, March 24, 2025

She was a State Farm In‐surance Agent for over 36 years There will be a visi‐tation at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc in Zachary LA on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and then on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 10:00 am until funeral services at 11:00 am, conducted by William Free. Burial will be in Jackson Cemetery She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Thomas O’Neal McCauley “Neal”; one daughter, Kristi McCauley Bigner and husband Der‐rick Bigner Jr. of Ethel, LA; one son Bryan McCauley and wife Patsy McCauley of Kentwood LA; five grandchildren: Ariana Bigner Howell, Braelon Bigner, Chelsea McCauley Baird, Ashley McCauley Bourgeois, and Elizabeth Henry; and seven greatgrandchildren: Sofia How‐ell, Sybel Howell, John Aubrey Howell, Emma Baird, Landri Baird, Natalie Bourgeois, and Isaac Henry She was preceded in death by her father Ju‐lian D. Kent, Sr., mother, Lois Ricks Kent, sister Mary Jane Kent and brother Ju‐lian D. Kent Jr Pallbearers will be Bryan McCauley Derrick Bigner Jr., Chip Kent, Al Brown, Larry Pe‐ters, Frank McCauley, III, and Eddie Peters. She was a graduate of Jackson High School and The American College. She was a CLU (Chartered Life Under‐writer) and a State Farm Select Agent She received the Legion of Honor Bronze Tablet, the Silver Scroll, the Golden Triangle and the Crystal Excellence She was a member of the Church of Christ in Jack‐son LA She enjoyed cook‐ing, sewing, spending time with her family, putting puzzles together, and trav‐eling. Share sympathies, memories, and condo‐lences at www CharletFune ralHome.com

Moore-Butler, Sharon Lynn

Sharon L. Moore-Butler peacefully transitioned from thislife on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, at the age of 82. Sharon leaves to cherish her memory; two daughters: Jackie Moore and Chanrika "Missy" Williams (Marlisha); five grandchildren: Adrian "Tootie" Chapman, Jamar Thomas, Harry White, Eddie White (Shandreka), and Jeremy White; six greatgrandchildren; one sisterin-law, Christine Moore; one remaining aunt, Ernestine Mills; one granddog, Louie Moore; and ahost of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Visitation is Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Rock Zion Baptist Church, Baker, LA,from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Services at 10:00 am. Interment at Winnfield Memorial Park. ArrangementsbyCarney & Mackey Funeral Home.

day, March 19, 2025, at Our Lady of theLake Regional Medical Center, at the age of 82. Sharon leaves to cherish her memory; two daughters: Jackie Moore and Chanrika "Missy" Williams (Marlisha); five grandchildren: Adrian "Tootie" Chapman, Jamar Thomas, Harry White, Eddie White (Shandreka), and Jeremy White; six greatgrandchildren; one sisterin-law, Christine Moore; one remaining aunt, Ernestine Mills; one granddog, Louie Moore; and ahost of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Visitation is Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Rock Zion Baptist Church, Baker, LA,from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Services at 10:00 am. Interment at Winnfield Memorial Park. ArrangementsbyCarney & Mackey Funeral Home.

Johnny Morris, Jr. departed this life in Denver, Colorado on Monday March 3, 2025. He was an Army Veteran and a1974 graduate of Capital Senior High School. Memorial Service at Miller and Daughters, Funeral Home in Zachary, Louisiana on Friday March 28, 2025 at 2pm.

Phyllis C. Page passed away peacefully on December 7, 2024 at theage of 100 in Malvern, Pennsylvania. She was born on October 13, 1924, in Homewood,Illinois. Phyllis led a life marked by devotion to her family, her church, and her community. Phyllis was predeceased by her beloved husband,Raymond Page, and her daughter, Diane Kirby. She is survived by her daughter, Jan Justin (David)and her sons Douglas (Kristen) and Stephen Page (Donna). Phyllis's legacy continues through her grandchildren, Paige Landry, Chris Kirby, Lindsay Morningstar, Stephen Justin, Ashley Deese, Brittany Page, Taylor Madon, Jessica Garcia, Josh Beliveau and her 16 great-grandchildren. They will carry forward the values their grandmother, Goggy instilled in them. Phyllis and Raymond lived in Joliet, Illinois before moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They planted roots and raised theirfour children. Phyllis's home was always filled with warmthand laughter, atestament to her loving and kind nature. Her doorswere always open to anyone who needed asafe place to land!Her faith was acornerstone of her existence, and she was very involved in the Church of the Way Presbyterian, where she touched many lives with her grace and compassion. Beyond her family and church, Phyllis dedicated her time to volunteering at Our Lady of the LakeHospital in Baton Rouge. Her gentle presence brought comfort to countless individuals during theirtimes

Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. Her gentle presence brought comfort to countless individuals during their times of need. In 2009, Phyllis moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to her daughter's family, where she continued to be asource of joy and inspiration to all who were blessed to be in her presence. Phyllis's life was areflection of herlove of God and family. Her unwavering faith was evidentin her daily actionsand the way she gracefully handled life's challenges. As we bid farewell to Phyllis, we celebrate alife beautifully lived. Hermemory will be cherished and her example will continue to guide us. She leaves behind memories that will be treasured by all whoknew her. Phyllis's journey on earth may have concluded, but her influence will resonate for generations to come.

Coralie Dolese Savoie passed away peacefully in her sleep on March21, 2025, at the age of 89 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She wasa devoted wife for 69 years to Judge Felix H. Savoie, Jr. She was the beloved mother of seven children:Dr. Felix H. "Buddy" Savoie, III, MD (Amy), Dr. Robert A. "Bobby" Savoie (Lori), Dr. Michael J. Savoie (Rena), Mr. Thomas J. "Tommy" Savoie (Paula), Mr. Matthew C. Savoie (Jennifer), Dr. Luke B. Savoie, and Ms. Melissa M.M. Savoie, Esq. She had 23 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Sheispreceded in death by her parents, Dr. Robert and Mrs. Edrye Simmons Dolese, in-laws Mr. Felix H. Savoie, Sr. andMrs. Winnie Hebert Savoie; her siblings, Robert Dolese and his wife Martha, sister Audrey Dolese Calecas and her husband Dr. Raymond Calecas, brother-in-law Ridley Gros, children Luke Savoie and Melissa Savoie, and grandson Matthew F. Savoie. She is survived by her sister, Kathleen Dolese Gros, and her husband, Judge Felix H. Savoie, Jr. She wasborn andraised in Thibodaux, Louisiana, graduated from Thibodaux High School and attended LSU before marrying Felix Savoie. Coralie was sweet, caring, humble, and always happy. She could always find the good in any situation. Sheloved LSU sports, going to the beach, gardening, music, traveling, and playing tennis in her younger years. But most of all, sheloved spending time with her family. She was adevout Catholic andlived as a child of God in every aspect of her life. Visitation will be held at OurLady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Ave, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on March 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM, followed by afuneral mass at 11:00 AM

LSU before marrying Felix Savoie. Coralie was sweet, caring, humble, and always happy. She could always find the good in any situation. Sheloved LSU sports, going to the beach, gardening, music, traveling, and playing tennis in her younger years. But most of all, sheloved spending time with her family. She was adevout Catholic

Alifelongresidentof Maringouin, LA passed away at his residence at the age of 86. Visitation on Saturday, March29, 2025, 9am until ReligiousService at 11am, Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2518 Maringouin Rd West, Maringouin, LA ,Rev. Dr.A J. Haynes, Pastor. Interment in Sunlight Baptist Church cemetery, 6947 LA81, Blanks, LA. Survived by his loving wife of 62 years; GeraldineSouthall, daughter; Janet Dotson, grandchildren;Anthony Hill, Jr and Michelle Brewer, great granddaughter; Koa Hill, other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents; Agnes Belone and Ferdinand Southall, Sr, daughter; Mary Agnes, son; Anthony Southall, brother; Kelvin Southall, Sr, sisters; Felicia Ell and Rhonda Ell Anderson.

Jones, Dedrick O'Neal

Morris Jr., Johnny

Southall Jr., Ferdinand

Savoie, Coralie Dolese

Page, Phyllis Clark

Hebert, Freddie

OPINION

Unwinding Biden-era energy rules crucial for state

President Joe Biden spent four years trying to drag the United States into the dark ages with his anti-energy policies. Thanks to the wisdom of the American people, though, those days are over. American energy independence is back on the horizon under President Donald Trump’s leadership. He signed my resolution to repeal the first of many Biden-era rules that were crushing Louisiana’s energy producers. This is only the beginning of our shared effort to clean up the massive mess that the Biden administration left behind.

terminal permits.

Even after voters rejected Vice President Kamala Harris in November, the Biden administration continued to ignore the will of the American people by banning offshore drilling on millions of acres of coastline just days before Trump returned to the Oval Office.

In total, Biden and his team saddled American energy producers with more than 200 new regulations. Some of these policies were bone-deep, down-to-the-marrow stupid. They killed thousands of jobs by canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, halted new oil and gas permits on millions of acres of America’s public lands, encouraged radical climate activists to file lawsuits against energy producers over “environmental justice” violations and tried to derail several liquefied natural gas development projects in Louisiana by pausing all new export

These breathtakingly bad policies drove up energy costs for the American people. During Biden’s time in office, the average American’s energy bill increased by 29%. In Louisiana, the average household paid $5,202 more for energy and $10,703 more for transportation because of Biden’s inflation.

Trump’s team began unwinding some of these terrible energy policies on day one. Importantly, Trump scrapped Biden’s terrible executive order that paused all permits for new LNG export terminals. He also announced that Cameron Parish will be home to America’s newest LNG export terminal a huge win for Louisianians.

These export terminals will be essential in helping the United States power its allies. Under Biden’s watch, Russia exported a record-breaking amount of LNG

to the European Union. Once we unwind all these harmful Bidenera LNG export regulations, our allies will be able to purchase LNG from Louisiana instead of buying it from countries that hate us. While Trump’s team has made some tremendous progress in scaling back these anti-energy policies, they cannot do it all on their own.

If the Biden administration implemented these changes as formal rules, the Trump administration must introduce its own

Welcoming refugees shows compassion, brings benefits

Jesuits came to the United States in 1700, which, of course, means we were not yet the United States. They set up in the Louisiana Territory and were some of the first explorers of the mighty Mississippi.

This also means the Jesuit order and its missions and staff have been part of the U.S.’s immigrant history which includes taking in tens of millions of refugees. We have experienced the moments all Americans should be proud of lifting the lamp beside the golden door for generations seeking a better life.

There are also moments we deeply regret, like the Roosevelt administration’s 1939 rejection of the MS St. Louis and the 937 Jewish Europeans onboard seeking refuge.

In 1980, the U.S. created its modern refugee program Some refugees are admitted after being interviewed overseas; others seek asylum at a U.S. port of entry or while in the U.S. Either way, applicants must prove they meet the criteria for refugee status, which includes a well-founded fear of persecution. They must also pass a rigorous security and background screening. Asylum is a central part of our law, not a loophole.

Our refugee resettlement system evolved into a strong network built on public-private partnerships. Communities recognized both the moral imperative as well as the economic and social benefits of resettling refugees, who went on to create businesses, join the military enliven our cuisine and otherwise enrich our communities.

Today, our immigration system needs work. Asylum

applications are backlogged by years. Some attempt to gain asylum without meeting the criteria because they lack other options. Neither of these facts means we should end asylum — a critical part of the larger refugee and immigration picture that unites families, helps us fill vacant jobs and allows trafficking victims to live in safety We must make sure we have an orderly border, staffed by professionally trained officials assisted by smart and ethical technologies.

We need to streamline processes, deal with the backlog and make well-reasoned decisions on applications.

Louisiana has benefited from refugee resettlement. Daulat Sthanki arrived in New Orleans with a single bag. Starting as a jukebox repairman, he became a multimillion-dollar businessman, investor and developer in Baton Rouge.

This kind of story has played out time and again in the U.S.

Refugees are vital to the labor market not only because they fill jobs but also because they often go on to pursue more lucrative, entrepreneurial careers. In 2015, more than 181,000 refugee entrepreneurs generated $4.6 billion in business income, according to the National Immigration Forum. These businesses provide jobs, goods and services for thousands of Americans.

The U.S. welcomed more than 2.1 million refugees and 800,000 asylees between 1990 and 2022. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Human Services Policy those welcomed had a massive positive fiscal impact: $123.8 billion total, including $31.5 billion to the federal government and a $92.3 billion to

A rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

state and local governments. These benefits are real and important, but that’s not why my organization, Jesuit Refugee Service, does this work. For us, it is an expression of our Catholic identity and an exercise of the freedom of religion enshrined in the Constitution. No government administration should interfere with this right. We are called to welcome the stranger and assist the afflicted and needy That is who we are. And it’s what Louisianans do.

Assisting persecuted people — many of whom are Christians targeted for their faith — is lifesaving work. In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. took in 29,493 Christian refugees from the 50 countries where Christians suffer the most persecution, including Afghanistan and Myanmar or Burma. Instances of religious and political persecution are getting worse closer to our borders, too.

In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega has been targeting the Catholic Church, which has placed itself between the people and the authoritarian government. As of this writing, 11 Catholic priests remain detained after being arrested last summer, an example of what a dangerous environment the country has become for anyone who dissents from the authoritarian government. After the St. Louis was turned away in 1939, nearly 30% of its passengers were murdered in the Holocaust. We must learn from the mistakes of history We can and should continue to help people in need.

Refugees and asylees are thoroughly vetted, subjected to rigorous background checks — and their contributions enrich us all.

Kelly Ryan is the president of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA.

formal rules to reverse the initial policies. This can take months.

Congress, however, has a tool to help the Trump administration expedite rule changes.

It’s called the Congressional Review Act (CRA), and it allows lawmakers to wipe bad rules off the books.

I’ve already started putting this tool to work for the American people.

I introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA to eliminate a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management rule that

required oil and gas producers in the Gulf of America to submit archaeological reports to the federal government before drilling or laying pipelines.

Essentially the Biden administration wanted to drive up costs for small energy producers — including many mom-and-pop operations in Louisiana — by forcing them to recreate maps of the ocean floor to identify shipwrecks that we’ve already found. If that sounds wasteful, that’s because it is.

Small and independent operations make up roughly one-third of all oil production in the Gulf, and this rule would have cost them millions of dollars. Fortunately, my colleagues in Congress agreed that this rule was bogus. Last week, Trump signed my CRA into law and rendered that rule void.

Biden made a disgusting mess of America’s energy sector by sticking bad regulations on producers like gum to a park bench. Louisianans can count on us to keep scraping away at these terrible regulations until each one is repealed and America has returned to a position of energy dominance.

John Kennedy represents Louisiana in the U.S. Senate.

Congress needs to act now to keep business booming in Louisiana

Louisiana’s innovation ecosystem continues to grow annually, with over 95,000 new jobs created since 2016.

As our state’s business environment flourishes, Louisiana needs policies in place that will spur annual growth and success.

However key provisions of a 2017 law are set to expire at the end of this year, placing Louisiana’s manufacturing sector — and the livelihoods it supports — at risk. Congress must extend these policies to preserve the economic momentum that has revitalized our local industries and strengthened our community The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) sparked an unprecedented boom in manufacturing job creation, wage growth and capital investment across the country

national powerhouse in innovative industries such as advanced manufacturing, energy, life sciences and technology Now that progress is in jeopardy

If Congress allows the TCJA tax cuts to lapse, Louisiana stands to lose 76,000 jobs and nearly $15 billion in GDP, according to a study by the National Association of Manufacturers. In Congressional District 4 alone Speaker Mike Johnson’s district — the impact could mean 10,000 lost jobs and a $2 billion hit to economic output. These aren’t just economic statistics — they represent paychecks, mortgages and college tuition payments for Louisiana families.

The numbers tell a compelling story: The TCJA reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, strengthened incentives for domestic investment and provided relief for many businesses — decisions that reshaped America’s economic landscape and have given U.S.-based companies a competitive edge globally

In 2018, manufacturing experienced its strongest year for job growth creation in more than two decades and its best wage growth in 15 years.

Real wages increased by 5%, and unemployment for workers without a high school diploma fell to historic lows.

In Louisiana, this translated into factory expansions in Shreveport, new hires in Lake Charles and pay raises in Monroe.

Businesses reinvested in research, technology and workforce development, making our state more competitive in a global economy Louisiana has emerged as a

Louisiana policymakers must continue standing with the workers, small businesses and manufacturers who are driving Louisiana’s resurgence. Allowing the TCJA to expire would send us back to an era of uncertainty, stagnation and missed opportunities at a time when our state is finally turning the page on decades of economic decline.

We don’t have time to waste, and the stakes couldn’t be higher For Louisiana’s economic comeback to continue, policymakers must act now to prioritize this critical issue and extend the TCJA.

LABI commends the leadership of Louisiana’s congressional delegation in championing pro-growth policies, including their ongoing efforts to maintain the benefits of the TCJA. We look forward to working alongside them to secure this extension and keep Louisiana’s economy thriving for years to come.

Will Green is president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI).

COMMENTARY

Each year, syndicated columnist George Will challenges readers to test their baseball knowledge with his Opening Day Quiz. How much do you know about the sport’s history and statistics? Test your knowledge below.

Ned Garver, who pitched for the St. Louis Browns when they drew few fans, said, “The crowd didn’t dare boo us. The players had them outnumbered.”

Don’t get booed, get busy identifying:

1.The American League pitcher who won 20 games while his team was losing 102. A Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston

B. Roger Clemens

C. Nolan Ryan

D. Ned Garver

2.The Browns’ only MVP

A Heinie Manush, 1928

B. George Sisler, 1922

C. Rube Waddell, 1908

D. Urban Shocker, 1918

3. The pitcher with the highest ERA (5.08) in a 20-win season.

A. Bobo Newsom, 1938

B. Warren Spahn, 1956

C. Bob Forsch, 1977

D. Grover Alexander, 1914

4. The Hall of Fame pitcher who surrendered a record 46 home runs in a season.

A. Luis Tiant, 1966

B. Tim Wakefield, 2004

C. Denny McLain, 1971

D. Robin Roberts, 1956

5. The pitcher who induced the most double plays.

A. Jim Kaat

B. Ferguson Jenkins

C. Tommy John

D. Phil Niekro

6. The second baseman who turned a single-season record 161 double plays.

A. Joe Morgan

B. Bill Mazeroski

C. Nap Lajoie

D. Jackie Robinson

7. The pitcher who averaged 354 strikeouts through four seasons, 1999-2002.

A. Curt Schilling

B. Randy Johnson

C. Pedro Martinez

D. Greg Maddux

8. He holds the AL season record for assists.

A. Cal Ripken Jr

B. Derek Jeter

C. Sandy Alomar

D. Zoilo Versalles

9 The Cleveland Indian who led the AL in homers and RBI when they won a record 111 games in a 154-game season.

A. Vic Wertz

B. Al Smith

C. Larry Doby

D. Wally Westlake

10. The two Hall of Famers since World War II with 600 doubles, 100 triples, 100 homers and 100 stolen bases.

A. Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente

B. Paul Molitor, George Brett

C. Ted Williams, Rickey Henderson

D. Stan Musial, Willie Mays

11. The pitcher who led the majors in strikeouts in 1968,the“year of the pitcher.”

A Sam McDowell

B. Juan Marichal

C. Bob Gibson

D. Don Drysdale

12.The most recent Hall of Fame pitcher with more than 3,000 innings and an ERA under 3.00.

A. Orel Hershiser

B. Steve Carlton

C. Catfish Hunter

D. Tom Seaver

13.The most recent 300-win pitcher

A Tom Glavine, 2007

B. Randy Johnson, 2009

C Roger Clemens, 2003

D. Don Sutton, 1986

14 The two players who hit 30 or more homers with five different teams.

A Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff

B. Alfonso Soriano, Jose Canseco

C. Jim Thome, Alex Rodriguez

D Goose Goslin, Jimmie Foxx

15. The NL and AL pitchers with the lowest career World Series ERAs.

A. Sandy Koufax, Whitey Ford

B. Chris Carpenter, Jack Morris

C. David Cone, Cy Young

D Madison Bumgarner Babe Ruth

16. The two shortstops with 16 doubledigit home run seasons.

A. Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks

B Luke Appling, Alan Tram-

mell

C Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter

D. Barry Larkin, Robin Yount

17. He wore No. 44 and hit 44 homers

B: Paul Molitor and George

11. A: Sam McDowell.

D: Tom Seaver 13. B: Randy Johnson

A: Gary Sheffield, Fred Mc-

15. D: Madison Bumgarner (0.25) and Babe Ruth (0.87)

four times.

A. Reggie Jackson

B. Sammy Sosa

C. Henry Aaron

D. Harmon Killebrew

18. The youngest pitcher to have a 20win season.

A. Dwight Gooden

B. Kerry Wood

C. Walter Johnson

D. Bob Feller

19.The two who hit over .400 in 1922 but did not have MLB’s highest average.

A. Joe Wood, Wally Pipp

B. Tris Speaker, Casey Stengel

C. Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby

D. Lew Fonseca, Frankie Frisch

20 The most recent player to have a 200hit season in each league.

A. Bill Buckner, 1982 Chicago Cubs, 1985 Boston Red Sox

B. Vladimir Guerrero, 2002 Montreal Expos, 2006 Los Angeles Angels

C. Ichiro Suzuki, 2010 Seattle Mariners, 2015 Miami Marlins

D. Frank Robinson, 1962 Cincinnati Reds, 1968 Baltimore Orioles

21. He pitched a record 16 shutouts in 1916.

A. Walter Johnson

B. Babe Ruth

C. Dutch Leonard

D. Grover Alexander

22. He pitched no-hitters 18 seasons apart.

A. Gaylord Perry

B. Nolan Ryan

C. Tommy John

D. Jim Kaat

23.The youngest Cy Young Award winner

A. Clayton Kershaw

B. Vida Blue

C. Dean Chance

D. Dwight Gooden

24. The four first basemen to win backto-back MVP awards.

A. Jimmie Foxx, Frank Thomas, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera

B. Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols

C. Lou Gehrig, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey, Albert Pujols

D. Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, Miguel Cabrera, Albert

Pujols

25.The largest player (height, weight) to win a batting title.

A. Boog Powell

B. Frank Thomas

C. Barry Bonds

D. Willie McCovey

26.The only player to hit .300, score 100 runs, have 100 RBI and walk 100 times in seven consecutive seasons.

A. Lou Gehrig

B. Ted Williams

C. Frank Thomas

D. Henry Aaron

27. The only player who batted .300 and had 100 RBI across each of his first 10 seasons.

A. Stan Musial

B. Albert Pujols

C. Enos Slaughter

D. Rogers Hornsby

28. The team with the worst season winning percentage since 1900.

A. 2024 Chicago White Sox

B. 1916 Philadelphia Athletics

C. 1964 Houston Colt .45s

D. 1962 New York Mets

29. Had the most consecutive 40-home run seasons (four) in the 1960s.

A. Harmon Killebrew

B. Carl Yastrzemski

C. Frank Robinson

D. Willie Mays

30. The shortstop who holds the record for consecutive errorless games and errorless chances.

A. Omar Vizquel

B. Cal Ripken Jr

C. Ozzie Smith

D. Mike Bordick

31. Holds the record for most homers in a season in his home park.

A. Sammy Sosa

B. Hank Greenberg

C. Babe Ruth

D. Mark McGwire

32. The batter with the nearest-miss to a 400 season.

A. Lefty O’Doul

B. George Brett

C. Rod Carew

D. Tony Gwynn

33. He was batting .400 in August 1993.

A. Andrés Galarraga

B. Gregg Jefferies

C. Paul Molitor

D John Olerud

34. The player who hit .370 or better more than once since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. A. Rod Carew B. George Brett

C. Tony Gwynn

D. Ichiro Suzuki

35 The only player with 200 or more singles in three seasons.

A. Tony Oliva

B. Al Simmons

C. Steve Garvey

D. Ichiro Suzuki

36. The hitter with only 135 home runs but who received more intentional walks than Ernie Banks or Mike Schmidt. A. Tony Gwynn

B. Jeff Bagwell

C. Harold Baines

D. Chili Davis

37. The catcher whose 57% of stolenbase attempts foiled is the MLB record.

A. Tony Peña

B. Roy Campanella

C. Yadier Molina D. Johnny Bench

38. The youngest to hit 50 homers in a season.

A. Henry Aaron B. Aaron Judge C. Andruw Jones

D. Prince Fielder

39.The most recent AL teammates each with 150 or more RBIs in a season. A. Rafael Palmeiro and Cal Ripken Jr., 1996 Baltimore Orioles B. Vern Stephens and Ted Williams, 1949 Boston Red Sox

25. B: Frank Thomas 26. C Frank Thomas

35. C: Steve Garvey

36. A: Tony Gwynn

37. B: Roy Campanella

27. B: Albert Pujols

19. C: Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby 20. B 21. D: Grover Alexander

22. B: Nolan Ryan

23. D: Dwight Gooden

16. C: Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter 17. C: Henry Aaron 18. A: Dwight Gooden

24. A: Jimmie Foxx (1932-1933), Frank Thomas (1993-1994), Albert Pujols (2008-2009), Miguel Cabrera (2012-2013)

28. B: The 1916 Philadelphia A’s

29. A: 1961-64

30. D: Mike Bordick

31. B: Hank Greenberg

32. A: Lefty O’Doul

33. D: John Olerud

34. C: Tony Gwynn hit .394 in 1994, .372 in 1997, .370 in 1987

38. D: Prince Fielder hit 50 in 2007 for the Brewers

39. BL Vern Stephens and Ted Williams

40. A: 1929-1931 Philadelphia

Athletics

Bonus: B: Connie Mack, the major leagues’ winningest manager

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Seats are open at Boston’s Fenway Park before

baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles

Baton Rouge Weather

Skenes, Alcántara show early dominant flashes

Pitchers’ opening day duel lives up to hype

MIAMI — Hyped as the most appealing starting pitchers’ matchup of opening day, Paul Skenes outlasted Sandy Alcántara but neither was involved in the decision of the Miami Marlins’ 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday Pittsburgh’s Skenes is the reigning NL Rookie of the Year Alcántara, the veteran Marlins right-hander who won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Former LSU standout Skenes struck out seven over 52/3 innings of two-run ball. The 22-year-old right-hander had a 4-1 lead but was lifted after issuing consecutive walks to Xavier Edwards and Kyle Stowers in the sixth.

“I got a little sloppy there at the end,” Skenes said. “I had to execute a little quicker in that sixth inning. Not getting into those 3-2 counts and that’s probably a different story at the end.”

Alcántara’s outing ended after he allowed a two-run single to Bryan Reynolds in the fifth that put the Pirates ahead 2-1. Alcántara gave up two runs, two hits, struck out seven and walked four

He kept Pittsburgh hitless until Ke’Bryan Hayes’ two-out single in the fifth. Alcántara then walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Tommy Pham

“We know I didn’t do my best job out there,” Alcántara said. “I was trying to give it my best but if you take away the walks from the fifth, the results would have been better.”

Even after his sluggish end, Skenes was in line for the victory in the first opening day start of his career But Pirates relievers Colin Holderman and David Bednar allowed three runs over the final two innings that gave Miami the walkoff win.

“It’s early and there are always adjustments to be made,” Skenes said. “We’ll do that. It was a cool environment A lot of

See OPENING DAY, page 4C

SPOKANE,Wash. — One of the things that helped the LSU women’s basketball team get here, to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, has appeared this season. But only in glimpses.

The No. 3 seeded Tigers are capable of keeping the ball moving through halfcourt sets and making extra passes to set up open shots.

“But we haven’t done it consistently,” coach Kim Mulkey said. Now they are.

Before the NCAA Tournament began, LSU was assisting its shots at one of the three lowest rates in the Southeastern Conference. It’s not that the Tigers couldn’t share the ball. Most of the time they just didn’t need to. Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams and Aneesah Morrow could create shots on their own — and convert enough of those looks to give LSU a top-five scoring offense.

LSU forward Aneesah Morrow makes a pass against Florida State in the first quarter of their NCAA Tournament second-round game on Monday at the PMAC. STAFF

LSU already feasted on two NCAA foes, but NC State will be tougher

PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Recently several LSU women’s basketball players did an NIL video mentioning some of their favorite places to eat around Baton Rouge. They didn’t tap out at any fast food drive-thrus. This is the NIL era, as we said, so we’re talking top-shelf steak restaurants here. Timely, perhaps, because of the way the Tigers have made a meal of their first two entrees, um, opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

Against San Diego State on Saturday LSU sprinted out of the blocks

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO By LyNNE SLADKy Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes throws during the first inning Thursday against the Miami Marlins in Miami The Marlins won 5-4.

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LSU track and field hosts Battle on the Bayou

The LSU track and field teams will have 70 athletes (29 men, 41 women) competing this weekend at the Battle on the Bayou. LSU will begin its action at 12:30 p.m Friday at with the men’s hammer throw Running events will begin later in the day at 5:30 p.m On Saturday, the Tigers will begin the day at 10:30 a.m. with the women’s discus and start the running events with the 4x100-meter relay at 11:35 a.m.

Teams competing at the Battle on the Bayou include Alabama, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, UL, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Penn State, Southern California and Texas A&M.

Reeves showing why Pels drafted him

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Antonio Reeves didn’t realize at the time what kind of hot streak he was on. After all, he was just doing what he has known how to do since taking all those jumpers he took as a kid growing up in Chicago. And for Reeves, the New Orleans Pelicans’ rookie guard, those jumpers just kept going in. It was a memorable 21/2 game stretch for Reeves, starting with last Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and ending with Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Reeves went a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor in Minneapolis, including knocking down his lone 3-point attempt. He then drained his only shot attempt Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, also a 3-pointer And he followed that up by making his first six shots against the 76ers, including five 3-pointers. He finally missed a shot with 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter But not before making 12 consecutive shots while he was in a zone that he didn’t even know he was in “I was just out there competing,” Reeves said. “I wasn’t worried about the misses or the makes Every shot I threw up, it went in.” For a while, there was no misses to worry about. A dozen straight shots went in Making 12 straight shots is what you expect from a player like Zion Williamson who is constantly attacking the rim. But you don’t typically see it from a guard who makes his living mostly from the perimeter But shooting is what attracted the Pelicans to Reeves in the first place. It’s why they selected him out of Kentucky in the second round of last year’s draft “He’s doing fantastic,” said

ä Warriors at Pelicans. 7 P.M. FRIDAy GULF COAST SPORTS NETWORK

Pelicans’ coach Willie Green “The thing he’s doing is building on what he already has He really comes in and works on his shots. We see that carry over when he does play And he’s becoming a really good defender.”

Reeves says he’s always been able to shoot the ball well, thanks to his dad and the other coaches he had growing up in Chicago. He spent plenty of time in the gym then and still does today Putting up 500 to 1,000 shots per day is a

part of his normal routine as he strives for the same type of success that his childhood heroes had. He grew up watching shooters like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Richard Hamilton. Reeves could be on the court with Curry Friday when the Pelicans host the Golden State Warriors. It would be Reeves’ second time on the court with the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history He still remembers the first time when the Pels and Warriors met in November “A dream come true,” Reeves said. “Stepping on the floor with him

NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

is crazy to me. I stepped on the floor and guarded him and it was unreal. Definitely joyful to be out there.”

Reeves also grew up admiring fellow Chicago native Derrick Rose, the NBA’s MVP in the 2010-’11 season. Reeves would watch Rose’s games on the television in his grandmother’s kitchen. Reeves, like Rose, attended Simeon High School in Chicago, a basketball powerhouse that has produced NBA players like Nick Anderson, Jabari Parker, the late Ben Wilson and former LSU women’s basketball star Aneesah Morrow Now Reeves is doing his part to become a household name, too. His teammates like what they’ve seen so far When Elfird Payton goes to the gym to get some extra shots up, Reeves is usually there. “He’s super confident,” Payton said. “And he’s still learning, which is kinda scary He’s a listener and takes coaching well. He has a chance to be a really good player.”

Reeves has bounced back and forth this season with the Pelicans and their G league affiliate Birmingham Squadron. He’s played in 35 games for the Pelicans. His best performance came in November when he scored 34 points in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 34 points are the fifth most points scored by a Pelicans’ rookie in franchise history He played 40 minutes in that game. The 24 minutes he played Monday were his third most of the season. His 3-point percentage has risen to 40.8% after his recent shooting success.

With just nine games remaining, Reeves would like to see that percentage go up even higher “Just keep hunting them,”

Reeves said ”Keep continuing to try to get open and teammates are going to find me. So continue to read what the defense gives me and continue to make open shots.”

Alabama hits record 25 3-pointers in win

BY DAN GELSTON Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J Alabama broke the 35-year-old March Madness record for 3-pointers with 25 and Mark Sears scored 30 of his 34 points on 3s, a relentless longrange spree that ushered the second-seeded Crimson Tide past BYU 113-88 on Thursday night in an NCAA Tournament East Region semifinal. Alabama reached the Elite Eight in consecutive years for the first time in program history

The Crimson Tide made 25 of 51 3-point attempts to break the record of 21 set by Loyola Marymount in 1990. Sears, a first-team

All-America guard, hit the recordbreaking 22nd 3 late in the game to make it 97-66 He received a standing ovation from the Alabama fans when he checked out with 10 3s and more than four

minutes left to play

Sears and the Crimson Tide (288) showed they are no March fluke under coach Nate Oats. Riding a wave of 3s, Alabama set itself up for a date against either Duke or Arizona for a shot at the Final Four.

Richie Saunders scored 25 points to lead BYU (26-10), which hasn’t played in a regional final since 1981.

Sears’ 10 3s were one short of the record set by Loyola Marymount’s Jeff Fryer in a memorable 149-115 second-round win over Michigan

The Crimson Tide made their first Final Four appearance in school history last season, when they lost to eventual national champion UConn. Alabama loved the 3 this season, averaging 28 attempts a game. Against sixth-seeded BYU (24-9), Sears and the Crimson Tide feast-

ed on the long ball.

Sears hit five in the first half, camping out behind the arc without much of a hand in his face.

Sears and Chris Youngblood hit back-to-back 3s for a 38-30 lead and repeated the feat minutes later for a 44-34 advantage. BYU’s Egor Demin followed with an airball and Alabama could smell crimson in the water Alabama attempted 15 2-pointers and made 10 of them.

Sears raised his teammates out of their seats and into a frenzy when another 3 early in the second half for a 63-47 lead that sent the shaken Cougars into a timeout. The deep, up-tempo Crimson Tide let Sears bury 3 after 3 after 3 with the Elite Eight in sight.

FLORIDA 87, MARYLAND 71: In San Fransisco, Will Richard scored 15 points, Alijah Martin added 14 points and seven rebounds,

and top-seeded Florida played a steady second half to run away from No. 4 seed Maryland and into the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final with an 87-71 win Thursday night.

Walter Clayton Jr contributed 13 points and four assists as Florida’s Big Three seniors and their deep supporting cast took down the Maryland “Crab Five” starters — one of Terrapins coach Kevin Willard’s concerns coming into this matchup.

Freshman sensation Derik Queen scored 27 points to lead Maryland (27-9) in what might have been Willard’s final game guiding the program. He has been linked to the opening at Villanova.

Florida (33-4) advances to play Saturday against the winner of Thursday’s late game at Chase Center between third-seeded Texas Tech and No. 10 seed Arkansas.

LSU center Reed to return for another season

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

LSU men’s basketball’s Jalen Reed will stay in Baton Rouge to be coached by Matt McMahon next season, according to reporting by On3. The 6-foot-10, junior only played eight games after tearing his ACL during the team’s eighth game of the 2024-25 season against Florida State on Dec. 3. The right knee injury oc-

curred within the first two minutes of an 85-75 win over the Seminoles.

“Just one of my favorite players

I’ve had the opportunity to coach over the years,” McMahon said a few days after the injury “Was really the first guy when I got here, and there wasn’t a whole lot to sell.

First top-100 player to really jump on board and take a chance on us.

“He’s understood the process.

He’s worked extremely hard. You’ve seen him get better each

year So many players today think it’s an overnight success deal He’s been bought into understanding the work that goes into it.” Reed, as the Tigers’ starting center, finished the season averaging 11.1 points on 60.4% shooting and 6.5 rebounds per game. He averaged 8.1 points on 52.2% shooting and 4.1 rebounds as a sophomore.

Reed’s most impressive game during his shortened junior year was in a 109-102 triple overtime

win over Central Florida on Nov 24. He had 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. He also was 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.

Regardless of whoever else is retained, Reed will be the only player that has been with with McMahon for four seasons.

LSU currently has three players in the transfer portal in redshirt freshman forward Corey Chest, sophomore guard Mike Williams and junior wing Tyrell Ward.

NBA, FIBA looking to add new European league

NEW YORK The NBA may soon be significantly expanding its presence in European basketball, in the form of partnering with FIBA on a new league that the sides have been talking about for many years.

Specifics are few, with the initial target — for now — being that it would be a 16-team league. But the announcement made Thursday by NBA commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis is a major step forward after a long process of the sides going back and forth with ideas about what might work.

It’s a notion that has made sense for some time, particularly with the growth of the game in Europe and development of stars hailing from that part of the world. About one in every six current NBA players hail from Europe.

Sparks to retire star Parker’s No. 3 jersey

LOS ANGELES The Sparks are retiring franchise star Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey at Crypto.com Arena during halftime of a game against the Chicago Sky on June 29, the team announced Thursday The forward won three WNBA championships, including the Sparks’ third title in 2016. During her 13-year Sparks tenure, Parker was named WNBA MVP (2008, 2013), WNBA Finals MVP (2016) and WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020). She earned All-Star honors five times.

“To see my jersey hanging in the rafters amongst other legends is truly an honor This moment is not just about me — it’s about my family, my teammates, and the incredible support from the L.A. Sparks organization and fans,” Parker said in a news release.

Orioles’ O’Neill extends opening-day HR streak

TORONTO Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run home run off Toronto’s José Berríos in the third inning of Thursday’s game at Toronto, extending his major league record by homering for a sixth straight Opening Day Playing a season-opening game in his home country of Canada for the first time, O’Neill connected on a two-out, 2-1 sinker, driving in Colton Cowser and Adley Rutschman and putting Baltimore up 4-0.

O’Neill’s Opening Day home run streak began with St Louis in 2020 and continued for four seasons, matching a mark held by Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58).

Red Bull F1 replaces Lawson with Tsunoda Red Bull dropped Liam Lawson as the teammate of Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen after just two rounds of the season and replaced him with Yuki Tsunoda on Thursday Lawson was given the Red Bull seat despite not having previously driven a full F1 season and struggled immediately The New Zealander did not score any points, crashed out of the seasonopening Australian Grand Prix and qualified in last place for the Chinese Grand Prix and its sprint race. Tsunoda moves up from Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, in time for his home Japanese GP next week. Lawson will take Tsunoda’s place at Racing Bulls alongside rookie Isack Hadjar

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Orleans Pelicans guard Antonio Reeves reacts to hitting a three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of a gameon Monday at the Smoothie King Center

Motivated Sheppard returns to home state

LSU guard ‘excited’ to play Sweet 16 game in Washington

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

SPOKANE,Wash. — Before the NCAA Tournament bracket was set, Mjracle Sheppard quietly rooted for the LSU women’s basketball team to draw a seed in the region farther away from Baton Rouge, all the way up in the Pacific Northwest.

“I was crossing my fingers when we were at the watch party,” Sheppard said on Thursday Sheppard, a key reserve guard, has never played college basketball in front of some family members and loved ones. But now she will, all because the No. 3 seeded Tigers will play a Sweet 16 matchup on Friday (6:30 p.m., ESPN) against No. 2 seed North Carolina State in Spokane, Washington a city that sits only about four hours east of where she grew up. Sheppard is a native of Kent, Washington.

The 5-foot-10 sophomore spent her freshman season at Mississippi State, then transferred to LSU. Before the season began, Sheppard suffered a stress reaction injury in her right foot an injury that not only shelved her for LSU’s first six games, but also delayed her push to earn a consistent role inside a crowded rotation of guards.

Coach Kim Mulkey said at the time that Sheppard was the Tigers’ best defender, yet she couldn’t find enough minutes for her early on in the season.

“We’re moving on,” Mulkey said, “so she got behind, and she tried to play catch-up. But when you try to play catch-up, you try to do things quickly, and it just snowballs, and you have a turnover She has just worked her way methodically back to this point.”

Sheppard is now, however, receiving significant run on a Tigers team with national title aspirations. Over LSU’s last six games, she played 24 minutes per contest She scored in double figures three times over that stretch, while also using her length to disrupt opposing guards on the perimeter In LSU’s first-round win over No. 14 seed San Diego State, Sheppard made all four of her field-goal attempts and scored 10 points. Then, in a second-round victory over No. 6 seeded Florida State, she helped the Tigers preserve their lead in crucial second-quarter minutes without Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, who were battling foul trouble Those two victories earned LSU

Continued from page 1C

Against SEC foes, the Tigers assisted 46% of their shots. Now, through two games in the tournament, that rate is much higher LSU assisted 64% of its field-goal makes in its blowout wins over No. 14 seed San Diego State and No. 16 seed Florida State. In the Round of 32 against the Seminoles, the Tigers assisted 29 shots, setting a program NCAA Tournament record and dwarfing their previous season high of 22. Only two other teams (No. 1 seed Southern Cal and No. 2 seed UConn) have tallied that many assists in a game this tournament. That unselfishness fueled two offensive eruptions. Until Monday, the Tigers hadn’t tallied 100 points in consecutive games this year

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a trip to Spokane.

And they gave Sheppard a chance to help the Tigers punch a ticket to the Final Four in front of her family and friends.

“I think it just motivates me more,” Sheppard said, “and makes me more excited.”

Mulkey talks Will Wade Mulkey thinks former LSU coach Will Wade will succeed in his new job of running the North Carolina State men’s basketball program.

On Thursday, Mulkey said in an NCAA Tournament news conference that Wade treated her with “the utmost respect” during her first season coaching the Tigers — the lone year in which their respective LSU tenures overlapped.

“When I got off that airplane and took the LSU job,” Mulkey said, “and before the press conference, (Wade) and Paul Mainieri were the first two people to hug me, and to me, that showed respect.”

In 2022, LSU fired Wade amid an investigation into NCAA recruiting violations. He then took a year off from coaching before he accepted the job at McNeese, a program that reached the NCAA Tournament in both years of his tenure. The Cowboys went 58-11 under Wade, picking up more wins in his two years than they did in the five years prior to his arrival combined.

On March 20, No. 12 McNeese upset No. 6 seed Clemson 69-67 in the

Now, they’ll take on No. 2 seed North Carolina State at 6:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN) in the Sweet 16 on the heels of two of their best offensive outings of the season, made possible through the brand of basketball they discovered in the two-week layoff between the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s so much fun when you share the ball with each other,” Williams said, “and everybody’s scoring.

So many people have double-digit scoring or 20-point scoring, triple double watch, all those types of things.

“It was really, really fun.”

Williams scored a team-high 28 points against Florida State.

But she needed to take only 12 shots to hit that mark. The sophomore kept the ball moving.

On one possession only three minutes into the first quarter, two Seminole defenders crowded

first round of the NCAA Tournament Before that game tipped off, Wade confirmed that he was in discussions with NC State about its men’s basketball head coach vacancy

The job was officially his three days later, which marked a return to power-conference coaching for Wade only three years after he was fired from LSU.

“He is gonna be totally different personality than (NC State women’s basketball coach Wes Moore),” Mulkey said, “but he’s a winner If you just look at it, he won at LSU, he won at McNeese, and I would imagine he’s getting ready to wake the Wolfpack up and win at NC State.”

Wade said Tuesday at his introductory news conference that he hopes to bring the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament in the first season of his tenure.

Williams on hot streak

Williams hasn’t missed a 3-pointer in the NCAA Tournament. The LSU star is 6-of-6 on those looks through two games.

On Monday against Florida State, Williams scored 28 points on 10-of12 shooting. It was the first time in her career that she hit the 20-point mark in an NCAA Tournament game. Last year, the sophomore from Bossier City averaged 15 points on 46% shooting across the Tigers’ four tournament contests.

Williams is now averaging 20.5 ppg in the tournament after she converted 14 of her 19 field-goal attempts in the first two rounds.

around Williams, trapping her near the right corner She could’ve panicked. But instead, she kept her eyes up, set her feet, jumped and lofted a pass to the opposite end of the floor, to Flau’jae Johnson.

Johnson then drove the rim, drew an extra defender and fed a pass to Morrow, who converted an open layup.

Morrow said on Monday that she didn’t expect Florida State to send as many double teams as they did.

But once she and her teammates figured out that the Seminoles were applying extra pressure to whichever LSU player had the ball, she said, they could adjust.

Both Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith set career highs in assists as a result, mostly through quick passes in the paint.

Three Tigers notched at least five assists.

Among them was point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson, the senior

UCLA players send well wishes to rival Watkins

BY ANNE M. PETERSON AP sportswriter

SPOKANE, Wash. — As top overall seed UCLA and star center Lauren Betts prepared for a Sweet 16 meeting with Mississippi, the Bruins’ thoughts were also on a familiar foe.

UCLA won’t get a rematch against JuJu Watkins further down the line in the NCAA Tournament because the Southern California star suffered a seasonending knee injury in the second round.

“I watched it live. It was just so hard to watch and I feel so sorry for her,” the 6-foot-7 Betts said. “And I feel so bad for that team and that program, to be honest. I know she’s such a crucial part of that program. I feel for her as a person and that’s not something that’s easy to come back from, but I know she’s going to be OK.”

UCLA (32-2) plays fifth-seeded Ole Miss (22-10) on Friday night for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight, facing the winner of Friday’s earlier game between third-seeded LSU and No. 2 seed N.C. State.

The Bruins earned the trip north with a second-round 84-67 victory over Richmond in Los Angeles. Betts had 30 points and 14 rebounds.

Mississippi defeated Baylor in Waco, Texas, to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in the past three years. In 2023, the Rebels upset Stanford in the second round before falling to Louisville. This time, the Rebels aren’t just happy to be here.

“The difference is, I think, we’re hungry I mean, to be honest, back then we were just happy to do something that hadn’t been done in a very long time,” guard Madison Scott said. “But now we’ve done it again So we’re not complacent, we’re not satisfied. We want to keep going. We want to keep dancing.”

UCLA’s only two losses this season came against Watkins and the Trojans before the Bruins got their revenge in the Big Ten Tournament, beating USC 72-67. The Trojans will also play in Spokane, facing Kansas State on Saturday It will be their first full game without Watkins, who tore the ACL in her right knee during the first quarter of a 96-59 victory over Mississippi State. Watkins planted her right leg awkwardly as she drove to the basket between two defenders and crumpled to the floor, wincing and as she was carried off. USC later said she had seasonending surgery as the Trojans look to win their first national title in 41 years. Should USC get past the Wildcats, it will face either Paige Bueckers and UConn or Oklaho-

who tallied at least five dimes without committing a single turnover for just the second time this season.

“You see a difference,” Day-Wilson said. “And it feels good when everyone’s scoring. That enjoyment’s there.”

NC State has played LSU before.

On Nov 27, the Tigers beat the Wolfpack 82-65 in The Bahamas, handing it a third loss in its first seven games of the season. NC State had already dropped matchups with South Carolina and TCU, two opponents that eventually won enough contests to earn top-two regional seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Still, the Wolfpack was hoping for a better start, especially because it was trying to build on its run to the 2024 Final Four Coach

Wes Moore said after the game that his team had a “long ways to go” before it could play at LSU’s level.

ma in the Elite Eight.

There’s still a chance for a rematch between the two Los Angeles rivals in the Final Four, but if it happens, it will be without Watkins.

“To see, even a competitor, but someone who is a face of the sport, too, to just have her season end just like that? It sucks,” UCLA guard Kiki Rice said. “I mean, obviously we play against each other and it’s a rivalry, but you hate to see anyone go down with an injury like that. And she’s a great player, a great person.”

We meet again

LSU and N.C. State met earlier this season in a very different setting: the Bahamas. Then-No. 7 LSU won, 82-65.

But anyone looking to that game as an indication of how Friday’s Sweet 16 meeting might play out would be mistaken, according to players on both sides.

“I think we’re a much different team. I think at the beginning of the season, we were still trying to get a feel of each other,” Wolfpack senior guard Saniya Rivers said. “Obviously we have a lot of returners, but I feel like with the freshmen coming in, and obviously people playing out of position, we just weren’t very comfortable and confident So as the season went along, we started putting pieces together.”

N.C. State reached the Final Four last year before falling to eventual champion South Carolina. The Wolfpack (28-6) advanced this year with a second-round victory over Michigan State.

The Tigers (30-5) routed Florida State 101-71 in the second round. LSU coach Kim Mulkey also said the Nov 27 meeting with N.C. State was irrelevant.

“To look at the previous, game, we just think that we’re both trying to advance to an Elite Eight and we don’t really even think about that game,” Mulkey said. “We talked about it once or twice, we’ve looked at some film, but they’re better We’re better They’re ACC champs. We finished third in the SEC. They’re supposed to win, they’re the two seed, we’re the three seed.”

Mulkey’s players agreed that Friday’s opponent was a different team While LSU (30-5) thrives on post play, N.C. State plays four guards at times and has a strong perimeter game.

“I’m sure their their posts have developed and are better, but they have four outstanding guards and they’re not going to change their philosophy and all of a sudden become a post-dominant team,” Mulkey said. “So we know what their strengths are. We know what their improvements are. And we’re going to try to win one more game.”

But has NC State seen the best version of the Tigers?

“They have definitely gotten better in a lot of areas,” Moore said Thursday

Chief among them, ball movement.

LSU assisted at least 20 shots in only two of the games it played between the start of January and the end of the regular season. But the Tigers have since hit that mark in three of their four postseason contests, using an added emphasis on sharing the ball to unlock the most dangerous version of their offense.

“I think when they see that happening,” Mulkey said, “they realize this is fun. Scoring is fun. Winning and having everybody score the ball and contribute is just a lot more fun, and it takes you a long way.”

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

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU guard Mjracle Sheppard turns up the court against San Diego State during their NCAA Tournament first-round game on Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

LSU vs

State. 6:30 P.M.FRIDAy, ESPN

Recovery is key for LSU baseball stars

BY KOKI RILEY

Staff writer

Jay Johnson knows that he asks a lot from his players.

Freshman Derek Curiel, junior Jared Jones, junior Daniel Dickinson and sophomore Steven Milam have started all 27 games for the LSU coach. Senior Luis Hernandez has started behind the plate in 18 of those matchups

The baseball season is a grind, especially in the Southeastern Conference.

“We have some players that we are asking a lot out of from a physical demand standpoint,” Johnson said, “whether that’s Luis to catch, Steven to play shortstop (or) Danny to play in the middle of the field.”

That’s why recovering properly after games is a priority for the Tigers. And thanks to the football program, physically recuperating has gotten a lot easier for Johnson’s team this season.

This spring, the LSU baseball team has been utilizing the new state of the art football recovery center, and it has already started

paying off.

“It’s always nice to have a wonderful place like that,” junior lefthander Conner Ware said. “to kind of go and and recover and get your body right.”

The new facility, which cost no more than $20 million to construct, opened this past fall for the football team The center houses hightech sleep pods, a cryotherapy chamber, a red light therapy table and hydrotherapy pools to help all LSU athletes — not just the football players.

The red light therapy table is popular with the baseball team.

Among others, Jones, freshman left-hander Cooper Williams and sophomore left-hander Kade Anderson utilize the technology

Pitching coach Nate Yeskie had encouraged Anderson to take advantage of the new mechanism.

“It’s a testosterone booster, so obviously natural,” Anderson said.

“It’s been a big help. And I’m not sure it’s not one of those things that you can just notice right away but obviously I guess it’s working.”

Housed in the same room as the red light table, Hernandez and Ware use the cryotherapy cham-

ber The extremely cold conditions within the freezer helps regenerate their whole bodies.

Hernandez, along with Dickinson and Jones, also like using the cold tubs in the facility Dickinson, in particular, only uses the tubs and hasn’t dipped his toe into any of the advanced physical therapy tech.

“I have never really had the resources that a lot of people have, so I could be interested in it,” Dickinson said. “But I’m also really big on my routine.”

With the exception of junior right-hander Gavin Guidry and sophomore right-hander Deven Sheerin, LSU has been extremely healthy this season despite playing 18 games in 24 days to open the season.

Perhaps the new football facility has played a part in its good fortune.

“It’s a long season, long grilling season,” Ware said. “So I know it’ll catch up on you quick if you don’t stay on top of it. So (I’m) just making sure you have your body healthy and doing everything you can to recover And they’ve given us the best chance to do that.”

LSU starting pitcher Jayden Heavener throws in the fourth

Tiger Park.

their

Minnesota Saturday

LSU LHP Heavener off to

‘a pretty good start’

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributing writer

Expectations were already high for LSU softball’s left-handed pitcher Jayden Heavener

In her college debut, she raised them even higher Heavener tossed a perfect game in a six-inning win against Chalotte, retiring all 18 batters she faced. Since then, she’s built a 9-1 record with some imperfect moments along the way while constructing a strong freshman season

“I feel I had a pretty good start,” Heavener “I had some learning experiences. Every day I work in the bullpen learning something new I feel like I’ve grown a lot since the fall and since I’ve been here. I’m going to learn a lot more.”

She will be back in the circle for the No. 3 Tigers against No. 10 South Carolina in the three-game series beginning Friday at 5 p.m. Saturday’s game at 6 p.m. will be the Southeastern Conference’s annual Teal Game — thirteen SEC schools join together to wear teal or teal accents as the league recognizes Mississippi State’s Alex Wilcox, her impact on the softball community and in the fight against ovarian cancer There will be a Teal Walk Saturday at 9:30 a.m starting at Tiger Park to raise

ä South Carolina at LSU 5 P.M. FRIDAy,SECN

money for the cause. The preseason anticipation was palpable for Heavener the No 1 recruit in the nation from Pace High School in the Florida panhandle.

Paired with two-time All-American Sydney Berzon, LSU potentially would have its best 1-2 pitching punch since 2018 with Carley Hoover and Allie Walljasper

Indeed, Heavener has been a big part of LSU’s 30-2 start. She’s 10th in the SEC with a 1.71 earned run average; fifth in strikeouts (95); and third in opponents’ batting average (.140).

Her 35 walks is higher than coach Beth Torina would like and her 12 hit batters is second most in the league.

Heavener battled through seven walks to win her first SEC decision at No. 13 Georgia and came in to pitch 4 1/3 innings to beat UL Tuesday, walking two and striking out six.

She throws a variety of pitches, including a rising curve that LSU players call “nasty.” Getting better command of them has been a season-long journey

“Her location is continuing to get better,” Torina said. “She didn’t have her best outing at Georgia, I don’t think any of us did on the

OPENING DAY

Continued from page 1C

energy in the building.” Skenes acknowledged the matchup against Alcántara.

“He’s a really good pitcher but at the end of the day I have to go out there and pitch my game,” Skenes said. Alcántara had not pitched since Sept. 3, 2023. He immediately proved he was ready in the atbat against Pham to start the game. The seven-year veteran threw only fastballs that ranged between 98.1 and 99.6 mph to strike Pham out.

Grateful to God that I returned to my mound here in Miami to compete.”

“He’s a really good pitcher but at the end of the day I have to go out there and pitch my game.”

PAUL SKENES Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher on Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcántara

“I had a lot of emotion out there. I was close to crying but I’m hard to cry,” Alcántara said. “Finally, I’m back in a big league mound.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

in 1988 — to post back-to-back 100-point games in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers’ combined 85-point margin of victory is also LSU’s most ever in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, eclipsing a plus-67 spread the Tigers hung on Stetson (70-36) and Arizona (76-43) in the first two rounds in 2005. That year, the Tigers went all the way to the Final Four before losing to Kim Mulkey’s Baylor team in the national semifinals. Perhaps you’re sensing a pattern here.

Past performance is of course no guarantee of future results, though Long Beach State did make it to the 1988 Final Four which was won by Louisiana Tech.

mound. She’s getting better with her location all the time, making changes. It’s huge that you can see from the stands but from her coach I see things going better all the time.”

Teammates like her demeanor in the circle which is unnaturally calm and confident for a freshman.

“I’ve slowly progressed I don’t feel like I’m way better (than two months ago),” she said. “I have a lot more potential because I’m a freshman. If I keep growing the way I am I have a lot to learn until my senior year, a lot to learn mentally and physically

“My confidence has grown a little bit, learning that failure is going to happen. A lot of mental things. It’s been up and down and that’s how softball is.”

Berzon took a similar path, looking dominating at times as a freshman and finishing the season as the staff ace with a 14-8 record. She improved to 20-9 as a sophomore.

“Jayden is going to keep improving every time she takes the mound,” Torina said “She’s been plagued with balls and strikes her entire life; it’s not a new thing for her. She’s getting better at it. She’s been able to attack the zone when she needs to. It’s pretty tough to be a freshman in the SEC at any position, let along pitcher She’s doing a really good job.”

Hmmm. Kim Mulkey was an assistant coach on that Tech team. This is starting to get a little spooky

Though ESPN rated LSU (305) as one of the hottest teams, men or women, heading into the Sweet 16, none of that is going to help the Tigers win the two games in Spokane, Washington, they require to win to return to the Final Four LSU couldn’t bank any of those points against SDSU or FSU to use against another State team, North Carolina State, in Friday’s 6:30 p.m. regional semifinal, though Mulkey probably would probably pay to make that happen. It’s an 81/2-hour flight and four months from Spokane to Nassau in The Bahamas, where the Tigers basted the Wolfpack the day before Thanksgiving (Nov 27) by an 82-65 score. That result won’t score any points for LSU in this one, either though it at least has to be on the minds of the players and coaches on both sides. The Wolfpack, which went all the way to the Final Four last year while LSU finished in the Elite Eight, no doubt would appreciate a little payback. The Tigers no doubt have to be germinating the seed of selfconfidence, knowing they won so convincingly last time. The romp, keyed by an enormous 4424 LSU rebounding advantage, was the Tigers’ signature non-

Despite his absence, Alcántara wants to quickly regain the form that made one of the sport’s workhorses. Alcántara, who reached 200 innings in 2021 and 2022 and had thrown 184 before the injury that ended his 2024 season, understands it will require a gradual progression of workload. He finished Thursday with 91 pitches. When he was called up from the minors May 11, Skenes immediately lived up to the lofty expectations pinned on the first selection in the 2023 major league draft. Skenes won his first six decisions and finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts. He struck out a club rookie record 170 in 133 innings.

conference victory A victory that has only looked better with age as NC State (28-6) shared the ACC regular-season championship with Notre Dame and made it to the ACC Tournament final before losing to Duke.

It’s that finish that no doubt propelled the Wolfpack to its No. 2 seed in the Spokane 1 Regional despite the fact that NC State’s NET ranking was only 16 compared to 10 for LSU, which got the 3 seed. The Tigers, conversely, lost three of their last four and four of their last seven entering the tournament, with superstars Flau’jae Johnson (shin splints) and Aneesah Morrow (sprained foot) in walking boots.

Both have dispelled any questions about their health to this point, two of the biggest names still dancing in March in the women’s tournament along with fellow “Big Three” club member Mikaylah Williams. As was the case in LSU’s first two NCAA wins, of course, the Tigers’ supporting cast will have to make big contributions. Shayeann Day-Wilson (11 points), Sa’Myah Smith and Mjracle Sheppard (10 each) were all in double figures against San Diego State, while Smith had the game of her career against FSU with 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting and a game-high 12 rebounds. LSU will need something like that from Smith or Sheppard or Day-Wilson or Kailyn Gilbert or Last-Tear Poa in this one, as recent history has shown. Sweet 16 games have been grinding affairs for the Tigers the past two seasons. LSU beat Utah 66-63 in 2003, thanks in large part to LaDazhia Williams’ season high 24 points. The Tigers pulled away a bit late in last year’s Sweet 16 to beat UCLA 78-69, the same Bruins team that takes on upstart Ole Miss in the other Spokane 1 semifinal.

Worry about the Bruins or Rebels when and if the time comes. LSU, and NC State, have plenty on their plate in this one. It should be a delicious game, something much closer than their encounter in November Bon appetit.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

inning of

game vs

in LSU’s

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson, center, takes the ball from first baseman Jared Jones, right, as third baseman Michael Braswell looks on before pitching against Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb 14 at Alex Box Stadium.

Virtual reality technology spreads to defense

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

When LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker walks through the indoor practice facility this spring, he often sees freshman cornerback DJ Pickett wearing a virtual reality headset to get extra reps. LSU began using the virtual reality technology with quarterback Jayden Daniels during the 2023 season, and it turned into a key part of his routine on the way to becoming the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick. At the time, LSU director of performance innovation Jack Marucci said the team would keep developing the software in the hopes that it could be used by every position, and now it has made its way over to the defense.

Baker said LSU’s defense “started incorporating” the virtual reality headset last year Linebackers Whit Weeks and Davhon Keys “used it a bunch,” and it has become part of linebacker Harold Perkins’ routine during his recovery from an ACL injury

“They’re playing the game without physically playing the game,” Baker said. “And then eventually, Whit last year started speeding it up a lot like Jayden. You’re seeing the game a little bit faster on the

VR. Now, the game slows down on the field for you.”

The software in the headset was created by a German company, Cognilize, which partnered with LSU in spring 2023.

When players pull the headset over their eyes, they see detailed reconstructions of stadiums and digital players. The movements were recorded using motion capture technology, so people who have seen the inside said it looks more like real life than a video game.

“That allows your brain to really be immersed into this activity, so it becomes real to you,” Marucci once said “It’s not like if it was Madden or something where it’s more robotic.”

After trying the headset for the first time before a Week 3 win at Mississippi State, Daniels used it multiple times per week throughout the 2023 season. He credited it with helping improve his processing speed. As the season went on, Daniels worked his way up to simulating plays at 1.7 seconds faster than real games. And now, it has become a defensive tool.

Baker wants to keep working on ways for the headset to help his players He met Wednesday with the owners of Cognilize, and they

will start capturing certain movements Friday in order for linebackers to work on inside run fits. He also wants to incorporate blitz adjustments.

“They do a really, really good job of getting input from us as coaches,” Baker said. Perkins is “using it a ton right now” to work on pass coverage

drops, Baker said. He can’t practice yet after suffering a torn ACL last September, so Perkins has been getting mental reps as he prepares to play the STAR position. He is expected to be fully cleared for summer workouts.

“In some ways, being hurt might have been the best thing that ever happened to him,” Baker said Wednesday on WNXX, 104.5-FM. “Just sit back, let the game unfold from a mental standpoint in front of him.”

As the technology continues to develop, it has begun to spread past LSU. Baker said the father of former LSU star cornerback Derek Stingley bought one of the headsets for his son. Stingley, an All-Pro selection for the first time last year, recently signed a market-setting $90 million contract with the Houston Texans.

“I think there’s a lot of value in it,” Baker said. “This is something that they can do on their own, but we can actually pinpoint where their eyes are looking, so you can get a better feel as a coach if their keys are wrong and what they’re doing wrong from an electronic standpoint.”

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PROVIDED PHOTO

Lutcher’s Zahrya Hayes performs the deadlift during a recent meet. Hayes enters Friday’s LHSAA powerlifting meet with a three-lift total of 1,160 pounds.

Lutcher powerlifters put streak on the line

Bulldogs seek 19th straight state title at LHSAA powerlifting meet

BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH

Staff writer

The word dynasty gets thrown around a lot during debates about championship programs.

Lutcher High School’s girls powerlifting can throw down plenty of weight on the discussi on. The Bulldogs enter Friday’s LHSAA state powerlifting session with the distinction of seeking a 19th straight state title. Their title streak began before powerlifting became a sanctioned LHSAA sport, but challenges loom.

“Pretty soon, we’ll be coaching the daughters of lifters who started this,” coach Jon Magendie said.

“We tell them the history every year because we’re proud of it.

“But we don’t harp on it.

Winning something 10 or 15 years ago doesn’t make you better now But the thought is this don’t let this be the year we don’t do it.”

With a roster of more than 30 lifters, Lutcher turns the cliche’ tradition never graduates into a reality However, the Bulldogs figure to face a stiff challenge to retain their Division II title.

Competition for girls competitors in Divisions I II and III begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner It is the third day of a four-day meet that concludes Saturday with Division I, II and III boys competition.

“This is a year where we need to have (our) best lifts in this meet,” Magendie said “We have a lot of new faces in the lineup. They’ve been on the team and they’ve been to state meets, but this may be their first time competing at either regional and state.

“We believe in them and are confident they are ready We only have one lifter who is over 100 pounds (of the total weight of her lifts) ahead of the other competitors in her weight class. A lot of these finishes will be close.”

St. Scholastica, a newcomer on the state powerlifting scene, tops the list of teams looking to claim a podium finish. Grant and Rayne could also be in the mix.

Lutcher is led by super heavyweight Zahyra Hayes, who enters the meet with a three-lift total of 1,160 pounds. Hayes has a 175-pound (combined lifting total) advantage over the next closest competitor

Other weight classes illustrate how close the competition could be. For example,

St. Scholastica’s Grace Hartdegen leads the 123-pound weight class with a 730 total, followed closely by Lutcher’s Tanae Martin at 715 and Jade Madere at 695. At 132, the Bulldogs’ Avery St. Pierre has a 795 total, followed by Payton Seward and Lutcher teammate Briley Holley, both at 770.

Lutcher’s Addison St. Pierre is the top 165-pound entrant at 885, while Rayne’s Zoe Sonnier is next at 865. Zaeli Florian (198) and Colbie Mitchell (220) are other Lutcher competitors with top entry marks.

Email Robin Fambrough at rfambrough@ theadvocate.com

Five Holden lifters claim titles

Staff report

Five Holden High School

lifters won individual titles on the second day of the LHSAA state powerlifting meet meet.

Brylee White, Haley Galyean, Raivah Craddock, Hannah Kennedy and Mollie Bailey won their respective Division V (Class 1A, B, C) weight classes The meet for Divisions IV and V girls was held Thursday at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner White had a three-lift total of 515 pounds to win the 97-pound weight class for the Class B Rockets. A 630 total lift put Galyean at the top of the 114 division.

Craddock won at 148 pounds with a total lift of 850 that included a 355-pound squat and 345-pound deadlift. Kennedy won with a 860-pound three-lift total in the 198 weight class. Bailey, competing in the super heavyweight class, finished with a 1,000-pound three-lift total that included a 425-pound squat.

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

Central High School had chances early in its District 4-5A baseball game against Catholic on Thursday night, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize.

Bears starting pitcher Mills Richardson made sure the Wildcats didn’t get extra chances later in the game. Richardson allowed only one hit in five innings, and Catholic scored all of its runs in its final three atbats en route to a 12-0 win at Central.

Bears center fielder Noah Lewis was the offensive spark with four RBIs. He had a two-RBI double in a five-run fifth inning, and he added a two-run triple in the sixth.

Catholic (21-4, 3-0) also got a three-run home run from shortstop Jack Ruckert. “Mills Richardson does a great job setting the tone on the mound,” Catholic coach Brad Bass said. “We know what we’re going to get out of our defense, and this lineup is potent throughout. Even guys on the bench can come in and get big hits for us. We love our team.”

Central (17-7, 2-1) used two walks and a throwing error to load the bases in the first inning. Richardson (6-0) worked around the runners and got out of

the inning when Central’s Reece Tillman hit a soft liner to first base for the third out.

Cole Guidroz’ fifth-inning single, the Wildcats only hit of the game, helped Central load the bases with two outs. Richardson got pinch hitter Jaise Marshall to fly out to left and got out of the inning unscathed.

Besides the lone hit, Richardson walked four batters, had two strikeouts and hit one batter Bears’ reliever Jack Tompkins came in for the final two innings and retired all six batters he faced.

“I was struggling throwing to lefties, but once I found the zone I got into rhythm,” Richardson said. “I started throwing it at them, letting my two-seam run in. Everything started clicking and it felt a lot better.”

Cade Starns started for Central, and held Catholic scoreless for four innings. In the fifth, after Edward Henriquez drew a leadoff walk, Catholic loaded the bases on consecutive bunt singles. Lewis drove in two runs with a double to right and Ruckert followed with a three-run blast over the right field wall.

“They executed a twostrike bunt, then they laid down a perfect drag bunt, and then they got back to the top of their order,” Central coach Sham Gabehart said of the fifth inning.

“Those guys are good.

“We’re struggling to find the guy that wants to step up. The only way to succeed is when you get tired of failing.” The teams will finish off their district set at 3 p.m.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker looks on from the sideline before kickoff against Baylor in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

THINGS

THE BOUNCIEST

The Big Bounce America, featuring “the World’s Largest Bounce House,” jumps into Port Allen Friday-Sunday. Located at 3001 La. 1 South, the tour includes a 24,000-squarefoot bounce house, an under-the-sea bouncer and more Tickets are $22 and up. thebigbounceamerica.com/event/baton-rouge.

FELINE FUN

The Greater Baton Rouge Cat Club will host its 51st annual Cat Show in conjunction with the Ragamuffin Cat Society on Saturday and Sunday at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S St. Landry Ave., in Gonzales. Watch 200 cats compete, a costume contest, kids’ coloring contest and other events. Tickets start at $10. batonrougecatclub.wixsite.com/gbrcc.

SOUNDS OF SPRING

The Greater Baton Rouge Children’s Choir will perform in its Sounds of Spring Library Concert at 1:30 p.m Saturday at the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd The free concert will offer songs that embody the vibrant energy of spring, filled with uplifting melodies and themes of renewal and growth. gbrccmusic@gmail.com or (225) 412-3021.

La. singer brings boudin to ‘American Idol’ judges

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Louisiana teen John Foster went prepared for his “American Idol” auditions in Nashville Tennessee.

Acoustic guitar Check. Cowboy hat Check again Cajun food for the judges. Sure

“Is there some boudin in here?” Luke Bryan asked

“There sure is,” Foster 18, replied.

“Heck yeah,” judge Bryan continued. “ Oh my gosh, oh that jerky!”

In the “Idol” episode airing Sunday night, viewers watched host Ryan Seacrest assist the singer from Addis by carrying in three small plastic coolers filled with south Louisiana delicacies marked “Lionel,” “Carrie” and “Luke” for Bryan and fellow judges Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood.

Foster went on to tell the judges he is studying biology now hopefully on a pre-med track to go to medical school

“I have a passion for cancer treatment so the dream is to be a singing oncologist,” he said Foster first performed “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” by Alan Jackson, prompting Underwood to ask for another song that would showcase his vocals a bit more

PROVIDED PHOTO By

ERIC McCANDLESS/DISNEy Louisiana singer John Foster listens to the judges’ critiques on Sunday night’s episode of ‘American Idol.

“Goodbye Time” by Conway Twitty proved the perfect choice, with Bryan singing along and the other judges pleased with what they heard

“There’s such a sweet spot in your voice, and that really brought that out,” Underwood said. “If you do move on to Hollywood, think about how you’re going to navigate different genres (besides country).”

“You’ve got a lot of great tools That last song really showed us that,” added Bryan. As “Louisiana Saturday Night” played in the background, Foster did indeed receive his golden ticket to Hollywood. His large contingent of family was invited into the audition room to help him celebrate.

“I never expected to be doing a duet with Luke Bryan today

Springing into action

South Louisiana to celebrate season’s arrival at over 20 area festivals

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

The weather is warming, the flowers are starting to bloom — it must be spring festival season in south Louisiana. Pick and choose from these 27 celebrations in the Baton Rouge area and Acadiana. Don’t see your festival listed here? Let us know by emailing red@theadvocate.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

COOKING IN CENTRAL: Amazing Place, 10305 Blackwater Road. Cook-off, food, vendors and carnival fun. The music lineup features

Kelton Harper, of Oh My Goodness Take

and Catering, chats with a potential customer while working the grill during the 2024 Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival.

Thomas Cain, Parish County Line, Chris LeBlanc and Lauren Lee Band. cookingincentral.com.

SATURDAY

CAJUN EATS & BEAUSOLEIL FESTIVAL: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Arceneaux Park, 835 E. Main St., Broussard. Three cooking contest divisions, live music, taste-testing, concessions, kids’ activities. $10, adults; $5, kids 10 and younger; free, kids 5 and younger.

HOLI FESTIVAL: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Girard Park, 500 Girard Park Drive, Lafayette. Colorful celebration featuring music with a live DJ, dance, performances, drummer (Dholi), exchange of colors and Indian cuisine. lafayetteholi.org.

HOLIFEST: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Repentance Park, 275 S. River Road, Baton Rouge. An afternoon filled with vibrant colors, live music, food and fun. Holi is considered one of the most revered festivals in India and is celebrated in almost every part of the country. Free. www.holifestivalbr.com.

SUNDAY

TASTE OF MID CITY: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., The Executive Center, 250 S. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge. The food festival brings together the area restaurants and chefs in a family-focused event to benefit Kids’ Orchestra. Samples from restaurants, games, activities for kids and live music. $6-$35. eventbrite.com.

APRIL 4-5

ROCK THE COUNTRY: Fairgrounds, 19869 Fairgrounds Road, Livingston. Two-day music event with headliners Kid Rock, Nickelback, Hank Williams Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd. $99.99, single day pass; $159.99, weekend. rockthecountry.com.

APRIL 4-6

BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL: downtown Baton Rouge. A weekendlong annual celebration of the swamp blues. Headliners include Grammy-winning Chris Thomas King, Grammy-nominated Kenny

ä See FESTIVALS, page 2D

Amanda Frayle of Metairie heads for home with a flat of strawberries during the

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. | STAFF FILE

PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD

FRIDAY DEWEY BALFA CAJUN & CREOLE

HERITAGE WEEK: Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veterans Memorial Highway, Eunice, 9 a.m.

BORN TO BOOGIE: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 11 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5 p.m.

JAMBALAYA TRIO: Randol’s Cajun Restaurant, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m.

ALYSSA MCMURRAY: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

KALEB OLIVIER: Naq’s, Duson, 6 p m.

MYLES & BRENNAN OF THE GOOD

DUDES: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

SHARONA: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m

STREET SIDE JAZZ BAND: Whiskey & Vine Lafayette, 6 p.m.

DYNAMIC DUO: Agave Downtown, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

DAREL GROS: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6 p.m.

RASCAL FLATTS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LAUREN ALAINA & CHRIS

LANE: Cajundome, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

ABI CLAIR & KJ: The Alley Downtown, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

WAYNE SINGLETON & SAME OL 2 STEP: Lakeview Park & Beach, Eunice, 7:30 p.m.

MATT RICHARD: The Alley Downtown, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

MIKE LARSON AND THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

ANN SAVOY & CLUB: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THREE AM: Rock’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

LEON CHAVIS: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY

CAJUN/ZYDECO BREAKFAST —

GENO DELAFOSE AND FRENCH

ROCKIN BOOGIE: Naq’s, Duson

8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY MORNING JAM SES-

SIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9 a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9 a.m.

CLIFTON BROWN AND RUSTY

BUCKET: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 11 a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

O.S.T. RAMBLERS: Bayou Teche Brewing, Arnaudville, 4 p.m.

CAMERON FONTENOT & FRIENDS: Randol’s Cajun Restaurant, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m.

CLIFF BERNARD: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m.

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m

JEFF DUGAN: Naq’s, Duson, 6 p.m.

LATE BLOOMIN: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

ANDREW WAIN QUARTET: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

GRITZ N GRAVY: Agave Downtown, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

JACOB HEBERT: Tap Room, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

RORY SUIRE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

GRACE NOVOSAD: The Alley Downtown, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

DYLAN AUCOIN AND THE JUDICE

RAMBLERS: La Poussiere Cajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8 p.m.

HORACE TRAHAN & OSSUN EXPRESS: Lakeview Park & Beach, Eunice, 8 p.m.

Continued from page 1D

I definitely have Carrie to thank for my audition being a success. That second song really drove it home,” Foster said.

“He’s a cutie-patootie, too,” Un-

MICHAEL SCOTT BOUDREAUX: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

DUSTIN SONNIER AND KEITH BLAIR: Old Coulee Lounge, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

JAMIE BERGERON: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

GLENN ZERINGUE: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

LE BAL DU DIMANCHE — KEVIN

HUVAL’S CAJUN/CREOLE DANCE BAND: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Bayou Teche Brewing, Arnaudville, 2 p.m.

JUNIOR LACROSSE: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club, Henderson, 4:30 p.m.

GENO DELAFOSE: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 5 p.m.

JAKE SPINELLA: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY FUNDAY — KUTUPKING100 AND DJ SUPAJOCK: El Sido’s Zydeco & Blues, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

MAGENTA SUNSHINE: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

BRANDON LEDET: O’Darby’s Pub & Grill, Carencro, 8:30 p.m.

MONDAY PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

SAM SPHAR: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

TERRY HUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

GROOVE ROOM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St. Landry Visitors Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m.

CRAWDADDY’S CRAWFISH AND LIVE MUSIC BY JAXON MECHE: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 5:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6 p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

ROCK N ROSE: The Tap Room, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

RHYTHMS ON THE RIVER — SOULED OUT: River Ranch Town Square, Lafayette, 5:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

NOUVEAU STRING BAND: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

BRIAN CHAMPAGNE: The Alley Downtown, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

JADA AND KEVIN: The Tap Room, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

URBAN HEAT, MANGATA, THE LINKS: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

INTENSITY IN TEN CITIES — MUSCLE: The Loose Caboose, Lafayette, 9 p.m

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/photos to showstowatch@theadvocate. com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

derwood added.

ABC’s “American Idol” Season 23 continues at 7 p.m. Sunday with the last of the audition episodes. Look for Foster on the first of the Hollywood Week episodes at 7 p.m. Monday

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

FESTIVALS

Continued from page 1D

Neal, Grammy-winning Cedric Burnside, gothic blues singer-songwriter

Adia Victoria, Louisiana bluesman DK Harrell and Grammy-winning Lost Bayou Ramblers. Free, but VIP experiences available. www.brblues.org.

BOOKS ALONG THE TECHE LITERARY FESTIVAL: various locations, New Iberia. Author talks, children’s book fair, trivia, live oak bike tour, Dave Robicheaux’s walking tour, Great Southern Chef seafood demo and more. booksalongthetecheliteraryfestival.com.

BOUDIN FESTIVAL: 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, 125 Lions Club Road, Scott. Games, bungee jumping on Sunday, beer and daiquiri booths, pageants in several age ranges, Mass on the grounds on Sunday, a huge bandstand and dance floor, 50 vendors selling all kinds of items, and live music. $10; children 12 and younger, free. scottboudinfestival.com.

APRIL 5

FESTIVAL DES FLEURS

DE LOUISIANE: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Blackham Coliseum, 2330 Johnston St. Lafayette. Premier garden show and sale which serves as a fundraiser for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ira Nelson Horticulture Center. More than 100 gardenrelated vendors, displays informational kiosks and food trucks. https://www festivaldesfleurs.org/.

APRIL 6

EDIBLE BOOK FESTIVAL:

3 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. An international celebration of books, food and bad puns held on or around April Fools’ Day. Participants choose a book and create an edible representation of its title or a wordplay on its title. Voting will take place and prizes will be awarded to winners at 5:30 p.m. ebrpl. com.

APRIL 10-12

LOUISIANA RAILROAD DAYS: 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Thursday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Railroad Museum Park, 400 Lake Charles Ave., DeQuincy Free, family-oriented, no-alcohol celebration featuring gospel night, railroad “Idol,” children’s events, old-timers reunion, pageant and parade. larailroaddaysfestival.com.

APRIL 11-13

PONCHATOULA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m

SOUL FOOD

Continued from page 1D

to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Memorial Park, 301 N. Sixth St. Parade, food, strawberry treats in many forms, live music, contests including strawberry eating and egg toss, arts and crafts. Free. www.lastrawberryfestival.com.

NEW IBERIA SPANISH FESTIVAL: 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 102 W Main St. Arts and crafts, carnival rides, live music, parade, jambalaya cookoffs, Easter egg hunt, car show. Free. www.newiberiaspanishfestival.com.

APRIL 12 SNEAKER FEST: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Rhorer Plaza 200 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge. Family-friendly free event for buying, selling or trading authentic sneakers, streetwear and collectibles. Also includes live performances, food, drinks and fashion show. More details TBA.

APRIL 23-27

FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE: downtown Lafayette. Music from around the world, gourmet food, handcrafted artworks, authentic Asian, Cajun or Greek food, Belgium stilt walkers and more. www.festivalinternational.org.

APRIL 25-26

CRACKLIN COOK-OFF FESTIVAL: Cecile Rousseau Poche Memorial Park, 1019 Periou St., Parks. Cracklin cooking, judging, poker run, live music and raffle. www.parkscracklincookoff.com.

presentation, taste and the story or history behind each dish.

Ten entrants in each category will be preselected by the screening committee. Upon acceptance, the entry fee is $20, $30 for walk-ups, if slots are available. Contestants need to bring enough food for six people on the day of their judging. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each category Downloadable forms and addi-

APRIL 25-27

THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL:

5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, U.S. 51 (next to City Hall), Tickfaw. Italian food, live music and carnival rides. www.theitalianfestivalorg.com.

ÉTOUFFÉE FESTIVAL: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Little Flower Auditorium, 370 Main St., Arnaudville. Cook-off, carnival rides, live music, bingo, auto show, and shopping at St. Therese’s Boutique.

APRIL 26

DENHAM SPRINGS ANTIQUE VILLAGE SPRING FESTIVAL: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., downtown. Vendors, games, kiddie rides, food booths, antique store shopping, art exhibits, Old City Hall exhibits and music at the Old Train Station. Free. denhamspringsantiquedistrict.net.

APRIL 27

BATON ROUGE EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Repentance Park, 275 S River Road; Rhorer Plaza, 200 St. Louis St.; Town Square, 222 North Blvd. Fun-filled day of community and environmental awareness as the planet is celebrated. Free.

MAY 2-4

CRAWFISH FESTIVAL: 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Parc Hardy Breaux Bridge. Heritage tent, music, food, crawfish races, Cajun and zydeco

tional instructions are available on the website. For more information call (225) 802-9681 or visit brsoulfoodfest.com. The pioneer award for contributions to the soul food industry will be announced closer to the date.

Past winners include Joe Delpit, owner of the Chicken Shack; Cynthia Green, Owen’s Grocery and Market; Ricky and Kawanda Griffin, Lizzie’s Restaurant; Miss Dee, D’s Southern Soul Café; Sean “I.B. Hood” Huey, Café Express; and Paulette Thomas, the New Ethel’s Shake Shack. The stage lineup is expected to

dance contests, crawfish étouffée cook-off, carnival rides, arts and crafts, crawfish eating contest and parade. $10, Friday; $15, Saturday; $5, Sunday; and advance three-day pass, $25. bbcrawfest.com.

MAY 8-10

FROG FESTIVAL: Frog Festival Pavilion, Rayne. Frog racing and jumping, frog cook-off, frog-eating contest, history, music, family-friendly entertainment, pageants, diaper derby, parade, and arts and crafts.

MAY 17-18

8TH ANNUAL BATON ROUGE SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Family-friendly, free event with blues, soul, R&B, gospel and Christian music, vendor’s village, judged soul food cooking contest and pioneer award for contributions to the soul food industry www.brsoulfoodfest.com.

MAY 22-25

JAMBALAYA FESTIVAL: 5 p.m.

rides, vendors, car show and more. Thursday, free; Saturday, $10; Friday and Sunday, $5; weekend pass, $15; children 12 and younger, free. www.jambalayafestival.net.

MAY 23-25

CAJUN COUNTRY JAM MEMORIAL

MAY 23-JUNE 1

CAJUN HEARTLAND FESTIVAL: Cajundome, 444 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette. Carnival midway food, free attractions and family-oriented games. $5, Monday-Thursday and before 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday; $10, after 7 p.m. FridaySunday. cajundome.com.

MAY 26

ZYDECO EXTRAVAGANZA MUSIC FESTIVAL: 1 p.m., Parc International, 200 Garfield St., Lafayette. Featuring Keith Frank, Alphonse Ardoin, The Williams Family, Rusty Metoyer, David Sylvester and Step Rideau. Cajun food, vendors, arts and crafts, and more. www zydecoextra.com.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

feature Henry Turner Jr & Flavor and the Listening Room All-Stars including Ervin “Maestro” Foster, Kelton ‘Nspire Harper, Pastor Leon Hitchens, Kevin White and comedian Eddie “Cool” Deemer Touring acts include the Outlaw David James. Additional local acts will include LA Groove, with more acts to be announced closer to the date.

A pre-party will be held from 7 p.m.to midnight Thursday, May 15, at Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 2733 North St. Admission is $30 and includes a soul food buffet and no-host bar

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Dean and Nancy Whitsett dance to the music of Chubby Carrier during last year’s Scott Boudin Festival.

FRIDAY

MATT HOLT: City Café, 5:30 p.m.

WILLIE STONEMORE BAND: Agile Brewing, 5:30 p.m.

ORIGINAL MUSIC GATHER-

ING: La Divina Italian Café, 6 p.m.

3:05 EXPRESS: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m.

CAITLYN RENEE: Tallulah at the Renaissance, 6 p.m.

CAM PYLE: Crowne Plaza, 6 p.m.

ERIC STELLY: La Carreta Bluebonnet, 6 p.m.

KYBALION: Pedro’s Siegen, 6 p.m.

MIKE ESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant, 6 p.m.

MOM AND DAD: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.

THOMAS CAIN: Cooking in Central, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Pizza Art Wine, 6:30 p.m.

THE LEE SERIO BAND: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

CHRIS OCMAND: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

CHRIS ALLEN & DAKOTA

CIVELLO: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

PERIQUE: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

MODEL CITIZEN/NV BAND: Mid City Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-

STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

PHIL CHANDLER: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

ISAAC MOORE: Spanky’s, Dutchtown, 8 p.m.

JOSH GARRETT: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8 p.m.

PARISH COUNTY LINE: Cooking in Central, 8 p.m.

SHINYRIBS/BARRY HEBERT: Red Dragon Listening Room, 8 p.m.

TREY GALLMAN: The Cottage Inn, Prairieville, 8 p.m.

WILL WESLEY: L’Auberge Casino, 9 p.m.

AFTER 8: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC BAND: Icehouse Tap Room, 9 p.m.

CORNERPOCKET: Churchill’s 9 p.m.

HONKY TONK PLAYBOYS: Southern Rhythm, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.

JOVIN WEBB: Moonlight Inn, French Settlement, 9 p.m.

LETTERS IN RED: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

PETTY BETTY: Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.

THE DUPONT BROTHERS: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

JOEY HOLAWAY: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

FLORIDA STREET BLOW-

HARDS: Front yard concert, 355 W. Ardenwood, 3 p.m.

OPEN JAM SESSION: The Smokey Pit, 4 p.m.

IAN WEBSTER DUO: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m.

BRENT ARMSTRONG: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC BAND & ZYDECO MIKE: Cooking in Central, 6 p.m.

CORDON BLUEZ BAND: El Paso-Sherwood, 6 p.m.

FLOYD BROWN BAND

FEATURING JODY MAYEUX: Pedro’s Siegen, 6 p.m.

TONI & LAMAR: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

CAM PYLE: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7 p.m.

CHRIS ROBERTS: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

RHODES, MAURER & FRIENDS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY

PROVIDED PHOTO

Parish County Line plays Cooking in Central, Amazing Place, 10305 Blackwater Road, at 8 p.m Friday.

ORCHESTRA: A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: THE SOUNDS OF CINEMA: Raising Cane’s River Center Performing Arts Theater, 7:30 p.m.

ACOUSTIC NIGHT W/HENRY

TURNER JR.: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

BRYAN SOUTHWICK: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8 p.m.

DAMON KING & BO JAMISON: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8 p.m.

HEATH RANSONNET: Spanky’s, Dutchtown, 8 p.m.

LAUREN LEE BAND: Cooking in Central, 8 p.m.

CHASE TYLER BAND: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

CREED FISHER/BRYAN MAN-

NINO: Moonlight Inn, French Settlement, 9 p.m.

JOEL COOPER ROCK SHOW: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

JOHN RUIZ JR.: The Vineyard 9 p.m

N’TUNE: Churchill’s 9 p m.

SOUTH OF CENTRAL: Crazy Dave’s, Livingston, 9 p.m.

TREY GALLMAN: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

THE AWEN TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 10 p.m.

SUBFLUENCE: O’Haras Irish Pub, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 11 a.m.

ROBERT CALMES: Cocha, 11 a.m.

JOVIN WEBB: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

FLORIDA STREET BLOWHARDS: Jubans, 11 a.m.

LAUREN LEE DUO: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m.

ERIC GAUTREAUX: Red Stick Social, noon

JOEL COOPER: Locals Central, noon

LA WESTWIND: Throw Dat Dirt, Scotlandville, 1 p.m.

MOM AND DAD: Icehouse Tap Room, 3 p.m.

WILDLIFE: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 3 p.m.

DENTON HATCHER: Chow Yum, 4 p.m.

BATON ROUGE CONCERT

BAND: Main Library at Goodwood, 5 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

WHEATUS: Chelsea’s Live, 8 p.m.

MONDAY

VICTOR, SKIP & CARRIE: Phil Brady’s, 6 p.m.

TREY MORGAN: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

HOUNDMOUTH: Chelsea’s Live, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

AMANDA JO HESS: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m.

BO BURKES: Mason’s Grill,

5:30 p.m.

LAUREN LEE: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 5:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

RHETT ANTHONY: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

JOEY HOLAWAY: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/

HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m.

SONGWRITERS NIGHT: Louisiana Legends Lounge, Deham Springs, 7 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

DIXIE ROSE’S ACOUSTIC

CIRCLE: Teddy’s Juke Joint, Zachary, 8 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH BAND: La Daiquiris, 8 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Brickyard South, 8 p.m.

LACHY DOLEY: Chelsea’s Live, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

KYBALION: El Paso-Sherwood, 6 p.m.

OPEN MIC W/AMANDA JO

HESS: Istrouma Brewing, St. Gabriel, 6 p.m.

THE STARDUST BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 6 p.m.

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: The Tunnel, 6 p.m.

AMBER RAE DUO: Superior Grill MidCity, 6 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: Mike Anderson’s, Gonzales, 6 p.m.

NA NA SHA: Perkins Rowe

6 p.m.

THE BISHOP ELLIS TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7 p.m.

THE SOUL SUPPORTERS: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s

Listening Room, 8 p.m.

BRITTON MAJOR: O’Haras Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

THE DROPTINES: Chelsea’s Live, 8 p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

OUTLYING

FRIDAY

CLAYTON SHILLING: Big J’s Side Porch, Clinton, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY

TROY-D’S BIRTHDAY BASH

DJ

WITH CALVIN RICHARDSON AND DAVID SYLVESTER: Mári

Showroom at Paragon Casino, Marksville, 7:30 p.m.

PARAGON AFTER PARTY

HOSTED BY DJ TROY-D: Paragon Casino, Marksville, 11 p.m.

SUNDAY

WILL WESLEY: Full Moon

Saloon, Hammond, 6 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

FRIDAY

BUTTERR & FRIENDS IMPROV

COLLIDER SHOW: 7:30 p.m., Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre, Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. An improv teams showcase. Rated R-ish. $14. manshiptheatre.org.

FRIDAY NIGHT LECTURE: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road. Skygazing tips, physics phenomena, space programs and famous events are covered. For ages 14 and older. Free. https://hrpo.lsu.edu/. Also, evening sky viewing 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

SATURDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MAR-

KET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

SPRING GARDEN FEST FEATURING EAST BATON ROUGE MASTER GARDENERS PLANT

SALE: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane. A day of plants, learning and shopping. Browse plant sales from the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and EBR Master Gardeners, explore the marketplace, and attend gardening lectures by the Master Gardeners in the Ione Burden Conference Center. https:// pathways.lsu.edu/botanicgardens/events/index.php.

YMCA CORPORATE CUP 5K: 9 a.m.-noon, near downtown Baton Rouge across from the Cane’s River Center, 275 S. River Road. Run/walk advocating wellness in the workplace and camaraderie among colleagues. runsignup. com.

FAMILY HOUR STARGAZING:

10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org.

BODYTRAFFIC MASTER CLASS:

10:30 a.m.-noon, The Dancers’ Workshop, 10745 Linkwood Court. For advanced dancers. Register in advance at (225) 767-5814; space is limited. $15.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

BODYTRAFFIC: 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. A Manship Theatre and Theatre Baton Rouge dance production presented by Pennington Family Foundation. $46-$66. manshiptheatre. org.

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday, March 28, the 87th day of 2025. There are 278 days left in the year

Today in history:

On March 28, 1979, America’s worst commercial nuclear accident occurred with a partial meltdown inside the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania.

On this date:

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, ruled 6-2 that Wong, who was born in the United States to Chinese immigrants, was an American citizen. It was the first Supreme Court decision to rule on the citizen-

TUESDAY

FLEX AND FLOW YOGA: 6:30 p.m., Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Rotating instructors and a variety of techniques. Free.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 18303 Perkins Road. Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom. ly/y-CKtQ4. “PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL”: 7:30 p.m., Raising Cane’s River Center Performing Arts Theatre, 240 St. Louis St. Traveling production. Tickets start at $49. ticketmaster.com.

WEDNESDAY

TRIVIA NIGHT: 6:30 p.m., Burgersmith, 27350 Crossing Circle, Suite 150, Denham Springs. Collect your team and jockey for first place. loom.ly/y-CKtQ4.

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE WINE

PAIRING CLASS 2: 6 p.m.7 p.m., Blend, 304 Laurel St. $45. eventbrite.com.

TRIVIA NIGHT: 7 p.m., Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar, 315 North Blvd. Test your trivia skills with your friends and family. Free.

ONGOING

BATON ROUGE GALLERY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. Scott Andresen, Paul Dean, Paulo Dufour and Frankie Gould, through March. Free. batonrougegallery.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend,” through Jan. 10. (225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SHELL GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. “Exonerated: Portraits of the wrongfully Convicted,” through May 14. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. artsbr.org.

ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Group show. Call (225) 924-6437 or follow the gallery’s Facebook page.

IN DEMAND ART STUDIOS: 5800 One Perkins Place, Suite 5D. “This is Our Garden,” featuring the work of eight Baton Rouge-area women artists.

LOUISIANA ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road. “Discoveries on the Nile: Exploring King Tut’s Tomb

TODAY IN HISTORY

ship status of a child born in the United States to noncitizen parents.

In 1941, author Virginia Woolf, 59, drowned herself near her home in Lewes, East Sussex, England.

In 1969, the 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, died in Washington, D.C., at age 78.

In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act (commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law), which includes the prohibition of classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in some grade levels in Florida schools.

and the Amin Egyptian Collection,” through Oct. 31. (225) 344-5272 or lasm.org.

LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books,” through May 25. (225) 389-7200 or lsumoa. org.

LSU TEXTILE & COSTUME

MUSEUM: Human Ecology Building, Tower Drive, LSU campus. “Color Me Fashion,” more than 45 looks with related accessories spanning approximately 100 years of fashion history from c. 1890 to 1990. Exhibit runs through Aug. 15. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu.edu.

MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and selfguided tours. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondaySaturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec.org/facility/MagnoliaMound.

OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours.

In 2024, FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges related to the collapse of the exchange. Today’s birthdays: Author Mario Vargas Llosa is 89. Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry is 81. Actor Dianne Wiest is 79. Singer-actor Reba McEntire is 70. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Bart Conner is 67. Rapper Salt (Salt-N-Pepa) is 59. Country musician Rodney Atkins is 56. Actor Vince Vaughn is 55. Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican from Florida, is 50. Actor Julia Stiles is 44. Singer-actor Lady Gaga is 39. Stylist-TV personality Jonathan Van Ness is 38.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Network, socialize and embrace activities or events conducive to spending time with people who have information to share. A financial investment looks promising.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Lift barriers and make a move. A change at home will help you save time and money. Set boundaries, goals and a convenient path; victory will be yours. Unleashing your ego will lead to a treadmill mentality.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Keep close tabs on who says and does what to avoid being taken advantage of, misinterpreted or misrepresented. Avoid crowds or taking risks with your health or emotional well-being.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Take a closer look at what makes you happy, your skills and how you can use them to do something you enjoy. A professional change will generate opportunity, abundance and respect.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Enjoy expanding your mind, interests, circle of friends and plans. A steady approach to realizing your goals will help you avoid getting caught in someone else's dream. Learn from experience.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Question everything and everyone. That's the quickest way to find your place and to know your strengths and limitations. A partnership will change how or where you do business.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Refrain from letting anger set in; action, learning and

progress will be what gets you ahead. Invest more time and energy in yourself and into your personal life and surroundings.

sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Start the ball rolling. If you believe in something, pursue it. Taking a trip, getting together with old friends or revisiting goals you have yet to achieve will encourage you to make your dreams come true.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Finding common ground with whoever you deal with is essential. Don't let what's happening around you get to you. Consider your situation, and you'll gain perspective on how to keep the ebb and flow in harmony.

CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Let your actions speak for you. A kind gesture will make a difference to others and to yourself. A lifestyle change will save you money. Be an inspiration.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb 19) Establish what you want to achieve, and don't stop until you feel good about what you accomplish. Use your physical attributes and skills to finish what you start, and reap the rewards.

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Socialize, network and try something new. Get your energy and thoughts out there and vividly describe what you want to achieve to people who can help you.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc dist By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

ToDAy's CLuE: P EQuALs G

CeLebrItY CIpher For better or For WorSe

FrAnK And erneSt

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

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

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Louis Nizer, a noted trial lawyer who died in 1994, said, “When a man points a fingeratsomeoneelse,heshouldremember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.”

Inbridge,points—thoseforhighcards — are very important. If it helps, count points on your fingers under the table, where no one else can see. Or use your fingers and toes!

Often, tracking high-card points will be invaluable for finding the right play. In this deal, how should East plan the defense against four spades after West leads the diamond jack?

South’s advance of one spade showed zero to 8 points. (With 9 to 11, he would have jumped to two spades, and with 12 or more, he would have cue-bid two diamonds.) When North raised to two spades, he was saying that game was still possible. So he was promising 18 or 19 points. Now South, with six points and a fifth trump, was happy to jump to game. East could see three tricks: the spade king and two diamonds. But the bidding suggested that South would have the heart king and at least one of the major-suit queens. If South had the spade queen, East had to hope his side would get a third-round heart trick. But if South had the heart queen, a second trump trick could be promoted.

East won the first trick with the diamond queen (in case West’s jack was a singleton), cashed the diamond king, and carefully continued with the diamond six. West saw what was required, ruffing with his spade queen. Now the contract had to fail. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By

Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc.

InsTRuCTIons:

Average

or more words in

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.