The Acadiana Advocate 04-07-2025

BOOKED ON A FEELING

ABOVE: Attendees take part in a second-line around Shadows-on-theTeche during the Jazz It Up opening reception Friday. The Books Along The Teche Literary Festival was held over the weekend at various locations in the historic district of New Iberia celebrating great Southern writers and author Dave Robicheaux’s hometown. Books Along The Teche, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Iberia Preservation Alliance and Main Street New Iberia sponsored the event. RIGHT: Author Mary Kay Andrews, of Atlanta, enjoys a Cajun fais do-do on Friday.

BELOW RIGHT: A reading from James Lee Burke’s novel ‘New Iberia Blues’ is staged. BELOW: Olivia Savoie, from left, Dr Marcel LaHaye and author Jordan LaHaye Fontenot talk during the festival.

PHOTOS By LEE BALL

good to be home’

Walker Howard enjoying football again with Ragin’ Cajuns

BY KEVIN FOOTE | Staff writer

better opportunity He believes he’s found that with the Ragin’ Cajuns. “It’s good to be home,” said Howard,

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer

that

with Ybarra and

The

invited. Before the six council members and Allen filed into the empty council chamber, the mayor of the small town near the Texas border asked everyone to leave behind their cellphones, Ybarra said. Allen quickly got to the point: He and the city manager had just returned from a mediation session in Baton Rouge and needed the council at its next meeting to approve the settlement of a lawsuit filed by what he described as two disgruntled city employees. Allen said a court gag order prevented him from discussing the details with the council or the public Ybarra recounted in a recent interview Several days

was

Landry hunting trip includes trial lawyers

Legislative chairs say talk at lodge focused on auto

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer

Five legislative leaders met with Gov Jeff Landry and two prominent trial attorneys in Texas last week to hunt turkey and talk legislative business — including whether lawmakers will keep trying to make it harder for lawyers to collect big payouts for clients injured in car accidents. Gordon McKernan, one of the two attorneys, flew House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, Senate President Cameron Henry and three committee chairs on his law firm’s jet to the Tributary Sporting Club near Austin. Landry met them there. They all returned Wednesday Landry issued the invitations, and Protect

Allen

Ybarra University of Louisiana at Lafayette transfer quarterback

KEMP

Yemen’s Houthis say U.S. strikes kill 4

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Suspected U.S. airstrikes killed at least four people Sunday in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa, the Houthi-run health ministry said, while a bombing video posted by U.S. President Donald Trump suggested casualties in the overall campaign may be higher than the rebels acknowledge. The strikes in Sanaa hit a home and injured 16 other people, the ministry said. Earlier on Sunday, the Iranianbacked Houthis said suspected U.S. airstrikes killed at least two people overnight in a rebel stronghold Saada and wounded nine others. Footage aired by the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel showed a strike collapsing what appeared to be a two-story building. The rebels aired no footage from inside the building, which they described as a solar power shop

The intense campaign of U.S. airstrikes targeting the rebels over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters — related to the Israel-Hamas war has killed at least 69 people, according to casualty figures released by the Houthis.

The Houthis have not acknowledged any casualties among their security and military leadership — something challenged after an online video posted by Trump.

Early on Saturday, Trump posted what appeared to be black-and-white video from a drone showing over 70 people gathered in a circle An explosion detonates during the 25-second video. A massive crater is left in its wake.

Le Pen supporters hold rally in Paris PARIS Convicted of embezzling public funds and banned from running for office, farright politician Marine Le Pen stood unshaken before a sea of French flags in Paris on Sunday “For 30 years I have fought against injustice,” she told the crowd. “And I will continue to fight.”

Thousands of supporters gathered at Place Vauban, near the golden dome of Les Invalides and the tomb of Napoleon for what was billed as a protest — but observers said it had all the markings of a campaign rally

The National Rally, Le Pen’s party, organized the event in response to what it calls a politically motivated verdict. But with chants of “Marine Présidente!” and “They won’t steal 2027 from us,” the message was clear: this was more than a protest. It was a show of populist defiance aimed squarely at France’s institutions.

At the heart of that charge stood Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 29-year-old protégé and president of the National Rally His speech was fiery, accusing France’s judges of trying to silence the opposition.

Pope makes surprise appearance at Mass

VATICAN CITY Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter’s Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since leaving the hospital two weeks ago after a life-threatening bout with pneumonia.

The pontiff waved at the crowd of faithful that stood and applauded as he was pushed in a wheelchair unannounced to the front of the altar in the square. Some exclaimed, “I see the pope!” as his image first emerged on a big screen showing him passing through the Holy Door before being brought down a ramp to the altar

“Good Sunday to everyone,” Francis said, speaking into a microphone, which he tapped to make sure it was working on a second attempt. “Thank you very much.”

The pontiff’s voice sounded stronger than when he addressed well-wishers outside of Gemelli hospital on the day of his release March 23, after a five-week hospital stay

PRESS PHOTO By

Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 32

Officials: Mostly women and children slain

By The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 32 people including over a dozen women and children, local health officials said Sunday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump about the war

Israel last month ended its ceasefire with Hamas and has seized territory to pressure the militant group to accept a new deal for a truce and release of remaining hostages. It has blocked the import of food, fuel and other supplies for over a month to the coastal territory heavily reliant on outside assistance.

Israel’s military late Sunday ordered Palestinians to evacuate several neighborhoods in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah shortly after about 10 projectiles were fired from Gaza — the largest barrage from the territory since Israel resumed the war

The military said about five were intercepted. Hamas’ military arm claimed responsibility Police said a rocket fell in Ashkelon city and fragments fell in several other areas The Magen David Adom emergency service said one man was lightly injured. The military lat-

er said it struck a rocket launcher in Gaza.

Israeli strikes overnight into Sunday hit a tent and a house in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing five men, five women and five children, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.

The body of a toddler took up one end of an emergency stretcher

A female journalist was among the dead. “My daughter is innocent. She had no involvement, she loved journalism and adored it,” said her mother, Amal Kaskeen.

“Trump wants to end the Gaza issue. He is in a hurry, and that is clear from this morning,” said Mohammad Abdel-Hadi, cousin of a woman killed.

Israeli shelling killed at least four people in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry

The bodies of seven people, including a child and three women, arrived at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, according to an Associated Press journalist there.

And a strike in Gaza City hit people waiting outside a bakery and killed at least six, including three children, according to the civil defense, which operates under the Hamas-run government.

Dozens of Palestinians took to the streets in Jabaliya for new anti-war protests. Footage on social media showed people marching and chanting against Hamas. Such protests,

while rare, have occurred in recent weeks.

There is also anger inside Israel over the war’s resumption and its effects on remaining hostages in Gaza. Families of hostages along with some of those recently freed from Gaza and their supporters have urged Trump to help ensure the fighting ends.

Netanyahu on Monday will meet with Trump for the second time since Trump began his latest term in January The prime minister said they would discuss the war and the new 17% tariff imposed on Israel, part of a sweeping global decision by the U.S.

“There is a very large queue of leaders who want to do this with respect to their economies. I think it reflects the special personal connection and the special connection between the United States and Israel, which is so vital at this time,” Netanyahu said while wrapping up a visit to Hungary

The U.S., a mediator in ceasefire efforts along with Egypt and Qatar, had expressed support for Israel’s resumption of the war last month.

Hundreds of Palestinians since then have been killed, among them 15 medics whose bodies were recovered only a week later Israel’s military this weekend backtracked on its account of what happened in the incident, captured in part on video, that angered Red Cross and Red Crescent and U.N. officials.

Judge again orders feds to return mistakenly deported Md. man

By The Associated Press

GREENBELT, Md. — A federal judge is for the second time ordering the Trump administration to return a Maryland man who was mistakenly sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, blasting the U.S government in a ruling Sunday that noted a now-suspended Justice Department lawyer admitted he didn’t know why the man was being held.

The order from U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis reaffirms a ruling she gave days earlier shooting down arguments that the government can’t facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia because he is no longer in U.S. custody

“As defendants acknowledge, they had no legal authority to arrest him, no justification to detain him, and no grounds to send him to El Salvador — let alone deliver him into one of the most dangerous prisons in the Western Hemisphere,” Xinis wrote. “Having confessed grievous error, the defendants now argue that this Court lacks the power to hear this case, and they

lack the power to order Abrego Garcia’s return.”

The Justice Department has asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to pause Xinis’ ruling.

Abrego Garcia, a 29-yearold Salvadoran national, was arrested in Maryland and deported last month despite an immigration judge’s 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to El Salvador, where he faced likely persecution by local gangs.

Abrego Garcia had a permit from Department of Homeland Security to legally work in the U.S. and that he was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing a journeyman license, his attorney said. His wife is a U.S. citizen.

The White House has described Abrego Garcia’s deportation as an “administrative error” but has also cast him an MS-13 gang member Attorneys for Abrego Garcia said there is no evidence he was in MS-13.

In her order Sunday, Xinis referenced earlier comments from now-suspended Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni in

Rising rivers threaten U.S. South, Midwest

BY JON CHERRY, KIMBERLEE KRUESI and ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky.— Rivers rose and flooding worsened Sunday across the sodden U.S. South and Midwest, threatening communities already badly damaged by days of heavy rain and wind that killed at least 18 people.

From Texas to Ohio, utilities scrambled to shut off power and gas, while cities closed roads and deployed sandbags to protect homes and businesses.

In Frankfort, Kentucky, rescue crews checking up on residents in the state capital traversed inundated streets in inflatable boats.

“As long as I’ve been alive — and I’m 52 — this is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” said Wendy Quire, the general manager at the Brown Barrel restaurant in downtown Frankfort.

As the swollen Kentucky River kept rising on Sunday, officials diverted traffic and turned off utilities to businesses in the city built around it, Quire said. “The rain just won’t stop. It’s been nonstop for days and days,” she said.

As of Sunday, the river’s depth had risen above 47 feet and was expected to crest above 49 feet Monday morning to a recordsetting level, according to Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson. The city’s flood wall system is designed to withstand 51 feet of water Forecasters said Sunday that flooding could persist as torrential rains lingered over many states, including Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. Tornadoes are possible in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, forecasters said For many, as the rain kept

falling, there was a sense of dread that the worst was still to come. The 18 reported deaths since the start of the storms on Wednesday included 10 in Tennessee. A 9-year-old boy in Kentucky was caught up in floodwaters while walking to catch his school bus. A 5-year-old boy in Arkansas died after a tree fell on his family’s home and trapped him, police said. A 16-yearold volunteer in Missouri firefighter died in a crash while seeking to rescue people caught in the storm.

The National Weather Service said on Sunday dozens of locations in multiple states were expected to reach a “major flood stage,” with extensive flooding of structures, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure possible. In north-central Kentucky, emergency officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for Falmouth and Butler, towns near the bend of the rising Licking River Thirty years ago, the river reached a record 50 feet, resulting in five deaths and 1,000 homes destroyed. There were 523 domestic and international flights cancelled within the U.S. and more than 6,900 delayed on Saturday, according to FlightAware.com, which reported 121 cancellations and 3,865 delays of U.S. flights mid- Sunday The storms come after the Trump administration has cut jobs at NWS forecast offices, leaving half of them with vacancy rates of about 20%, or double the level of a decade ago. The NWS said 5.06 inches of rain fell Saturday in Jonesboro, Arkansas making it the wettest day ever recorded in April in the city, dating back to 1893.

which Reuveni said: “We concede he should not have been removed to El Salvador” and that he responded “I don’t know” when asked why Abrego Garcia was being held.

The Justice Department placed Reuveni on leave after he made the comments.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, in an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” likened Reuveni’s comments to “a defense attorney walking in, conceding something in a criminal matter.”

“That would never happen in this country,” she said. “So he’s on administrative leave now and we’ll see what happens.”

Stacey Young, a former Justice Department lawyer and founder of Justice Connection, a network of department alumni that works to support employees, released a statement that defended Reuveni and said he has “zealously represented the United States in some of the most high-stakes and controversial immigration cases under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations.”

E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com

ASSOCIATED

ABDEL KAREEM HANA

A man passes Sunday by the destroyed house of journalist Islam Meqdad, where she was killed along with her son and five other family members in an Israeli army strike in Khan younis, southern Gaza Strip

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JON CHERRy

Le Pen

Trumpadvisers: 50-pluscountries seekingtarifftalks

BY ADRIANA GOMEZLICON Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.

Top administration officialssaid Sunday that more than 50 countries targeted by President Donald Trump’snew tariffs have reached out to beginnegotiationsoverthe sweeping import taxes that havesent financialmarkets reeling, raised fears of a recession and upended the global trading system

The higher rates areset to be collected beginning Wednesday,ushering in a newera of economicuncertainty with no clear end in sight. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said unfair trade practicesare not “the kind of thing you can negotiate away in days orweeks.”

The United States, he said, must see “what the countries offer and whether it’sbelievable.”

Trump, who spent the weekend in Florida playing golf, posted online that “WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won’tbeeasy.”His Cabinet members and economic advisers were out in force Sunday defending the tariffs and downplaying the consequences for the global economy

“There doesn’t havetobe arecession. Who knows how the market is going to react in aday,inaweek?” Bessent said. “What we are looking at is building thelong-term economic fundamentalsfor prosperity.”

Trump’stariff blitz, an-

nounced Wednesday,fulfilled akey campaign promise as he actedwithout Congress to redraw the rules of global trade.Itwas amovedecades in themaking for Trump, who has long denounced foreigntrade dealsasunfair to the U.S. He is gambling that voters will be willing to endurehigher prices for everydayitems to enacthis economic vision. Countriesare scrambling to figureout how to respond to the tariffs, with China and othersretaliating quickly.

TopWhite House economic adviser Kevin Hassettacknowledged thatother countries are “angry and retaliating,” and, he said, “bythe way, coming to the table.”He cited theOfficeofthe U.S. TradeRepresentative as reporting thatmorethan50na-

tionshad reached out to the WhiteHousetobegin talks Adding to theturmoil, the new tariffs are hitting American alliesand adversaries alike, including Israel, which is facing a17% tariff. Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu is settovisit the White House Monday,with his office saying the tariffs wouldbea pointofdiscussion with Trump alongwith thewar in Gazaand other issues.

AnotherAmerican ally, Vietnam,amajor manufacturing center for clothing, has also been in touch with theadministration aboutthe tariffs. Trumpsaid Vietnam’s leader saidinatelephone call that hiscountry “wants to cut theirTariffsdowntoZERO if they are able to make an agreement withthe U.S.”

And akey European partner, ItalianPremier Giorgia Meloni, said she disagreed with Trump’smovebut was “ready to deploy all the tools —negotiating and economic —necessary to support our businessesand oursectors thatmay be penalized.”

Commerce Secretary HowardLutnick madeclear there was no postponing tariffs thatare days away

“The tariffs arecoming. Of course they are,” he said, adding that Trumpneeded to resetglobal trade. But he committedonlytohaving them “definitely” remain “fordays and weeks.”

In Congress, where Trump’sRepublican Party haslongchampionedfree trade, the tariff regiment has been met with applause but alsosignificant unease.

Several Republican senatorshavealreadysigned onto anew bipartisan bill that would require presidents to justifynew tariffs to Congress. Lawmakers would then have to approve the tariffs within 60 days, or they would expire. Nebraska GOP Rep. Don Baconsaid Sunday that he would introduce aHouse version of the bill, saying that Congress needs to restores its powers over tariffs.

“Wegave some of that power to theexecutive branch. I think, in hindsight, that was amistake,” said Bacon,adding that getting ameasure passed would be challenging unless the financial markets continue to react negatively andother indicators suchas inflation and unemployment shift.

Wyoming’sJohn Barrasso the No. 2member of the Senate’sGOP leadership, said Trumpis“doing what he hasevery right to do.” But, he acknowledged, “there is concern, and there’sconcern across the country.People are watching the markets.”

“There’ll be adiscussion in the Senate,” Barrasso said of the tariffs.“We’ll see which way the discussion goes.”

Trump’sgovernment costcutting guru, billionaire businessmanElonMusk, had been relatively silent on Trump’stariffs, but said at a weekend event in Italy that he would like to see the U.S. and Europe moveto“azerotariff situation.” The commentfrom the Teslaowner

who leads

Trump’sDepartment of Government Efficiency drew arebuke from WhiteHouse trade adviser Peter Navarro

“Elon, when he is on his DOGE lane, is great. But we understandwhat’sgoing on here. We just have to understand. Elonsells cars,” Navarro said. He added: “He’s simply protecting his own interest as anybusiness person would do.” Lawrence Summers, an economist who was treasury secretary under Democratic President Bill Clinton, said Trump and his economic team are sending contradictory messages if they say they areinterestedinreviving manufacturing while still being open to negotiating with trade partners. If othercountrieseliminate theirtariffs, andthe U.S. does, too, he said, “it’s just making adeal, then we don’traise any revenue nor do we get any businesses to relocate to the United States. If it’s apermanent revenue source and trying to get businesses to relocate to theUnited States,then we’re going to have these tariffs permanently. So the president can’thave it both ways.” Bessent wasonNBC’s “Meet thePress,” Hassett andSummers appeared on ABC’s“This Week,” Lutnick and Barrasso were on CBS’ “Face the Nation” andNavarrowas interviewed on FoxNews Channel’s“Sunday Morning Futures.”

RFKJr. visits Texasafter 2ndchild dies from measles-relatedillness

BY DEVI SHASTRI and AMANDASEITZ Associated Press

U.S. Health SecretaryRob-

ert F. Kennedy,Jr. traveled to West Texas on Sunday after asecond elementary school-aged child who was not vaccinated died from a measles-relatedillness.

Ahead of a“Make America Healthy Again” tour across southwestern U.S., Kennedy said in asocial media post that he was in Gaines County to comfort the families who have buried two young children. Kennedy said he was working with Texas health officials to control the measlesoutbreak.”Seminole is theepicenter of the outbreak,which startedin late January and continues to swell— with nearly 500 cases in Texas alone, plus cases from the outbreak believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico.

The second young child died Thursday from “what thechild’sdoctor described as measles pulmonary failure,” and did not have underlying health conditions, the Texas State Department of State Health Services said Sunday in anews release. Aaron Davis, aspokesperson for UMC HealthSystem in Lubbock, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complicationsof measles while hospitalized.”

This is the thirdknown measles-relateddeathtied to this outbreak.One was another elementary schoolaged child in Texas and the other was an adult in New Mexico; neither were vaccinated

It’s Kennedy’sfirst visit to the area as health secretary,where he said he met with families of boththe 6and 8-year-old childrenwho died. He said he “developed bonds” with the Mennonite

community in West Texas in whichthe virus is mostly spreading.

Kennedy,ananti-vaccine advocate before ascending to the role of nation’stop healthsecretary earlier this year,has resistedurging widespread vaccinations as the measles outbreak has worsened underhis watch.

On Sunday,however,hesaid in alengthy statement posted on Xthat it was “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.”

Themeasles, mumpsand rubella vaccine has been used safely for more than 60 yearsand is 97%effective againstmeasles after two doses.

U.S. Centers forDisease Control and Prevention teams have been “redeployed,”Kennedy added Sunday,although thenation’spublic health agency never relayed it had pulled back.Neither theCDC nor thestate healthdepartment

U.S. revoking visasfromSouth Sudanese passport holders

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Secretaryof

State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the United States was revokingall visas held by South Sudanesepassport holders, accusing the African nation’s government of “taking advantage of the United States.”

“Every country mustaccept the return of its citizens in atimely mannerwhen another country,including theUnited States, seeks to remove them,”Rubiosaid in astatement, adding that “SouthSudan’stransitional government has failed to fully respect this principle.”

Besidesrevoking visas,

Rubiosaid theU.S.would “prevent further issuance to prevent entryintothe United States by South Sudanese passport holders.” South Sudan’spolitical landscape is fragile and recentviolence between government troops and armed oppositiongroupshas escalated tensions.

included the death in their measles reports issuedFriday,but the CDC acknowledged it when asked Sunday

The number of cases in Texas shot up by 81 between March 28 and Friday,and 16 more people were hospitalized.Nationwide, the U.S has more thandouble the numberofmeaslescases it saw in all of 2024.

Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy,ofLouisiana, aliver doctor whose vote helped cinchKennedy’sconfirmation, called Sunday for stronger messaging from health officials in apost on X.

“Everyoneshouldbevaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles,” he wrote. “Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies.” Cassidy has requested Kennedy to appear before his health committee Thursday,although Kennedy has not publicly confirmed whether he will attend.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

President DonaldTrump speaks Wednesdayduring an event to announce newtariffs in the Rose Gardenatthe White House in Washington.

Louisiana Values, one of his political organizations, paid for their stay at the hunting resort, lawmakers said.

The trip came at a time when business-oriented Republican legislators have been expressing concern privately that Landry will again favor trial attorneys on major legislation during the upcoming legislative session. Last year Landry vetoed one major piece of legislation involving a legal doctrine known as “collateral source” that would have limited potential payouts for trial lawyers. He also insisted that legislators limit several other measures opposed by trial lawyers before agreeing to support them. At the time, he said he rejected the collateral source bill to ensure that working people and consumers would receive what they deserve in medical costs following an accident caused by others.

‘We tried something new’

When this year’s session begins later this month, the trial attorneys and lobbyists for business interests will resume their longtime political fight.

With that in mind, Henry said the outing to Texas was an attempt to see if legislators could find common ground with the trial lawyers on ways to protect the rights of people injured in

HOWARD

Continued from page 1A

who transferred to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in December “This feels great. I’m glad to be with my family.”

Before returning home, Howard’s first three years of college football were largely filled with closed doors

“It’s been a tough journey,” he said, “ Not everything I thought it was going to be. But I’ve learned a lot in my life. I feel like I’ve lived so many lives already “It’s good to home and it’s good to be around people I love. I’m going to continue to grow and it’s going to make me stronger every day.”

Through the dark days, Howard admitted there were moments he wondered if football was worth it anymore.

“I felt like, ‘I’ve tried, I’ve tried,’ but you know, you can’t quit,” he said. “It’s going to happen one day I’m going to continue to push and continue to work and it’s going to work out at the end of the day.” On the bad days, Howard thought about his late mother, Kathryn, who died from cancer in September 2018.

“My mom would never let me quit,” Howard said. “I’m going to keep pushing. Life is tough. Life gets hard, it does. You can’t let life take you down. You’ve got to keep swinging. I’m going to wake up every day and I’m going

accidents while eliminating frivolous lawsuits.

“The governor’s thought was why don’t we bring these guys to the table on something that we can pass and bring down rates,” Henry, R-Metairie, said. “We tried something new to see if we could get a bill across the governor’s desk that he’s willing to support that doesn’t restrict the insurance companies in a way that doesn’t make them want to do business in Louisiana and doesn’t unfairly restrict those who are injured in accidents.”

Henry said they decided to have the discussion at a Texas hunting lodge because, “We’ve tried it around the table in my office.” He said that led to compromise legislation on property insurance last year but not auto insurance.

“Year after year, we’ve been trying to solve this — balancing what’s good for the insurance companies, and then we run into the opposition of the trial bar,” Henry said. “They’ve been excluded from every conversation. We have to bring all sides in. We now have a better understanding of what the sticking points are and what we believe the bad actors on both sides are doing.”

Also traveling to Texas for the meetings were Sen. Kirk Talbot, who chairs the Sen-

ate Insurance Committee; Sen. Patrick McMath, who chairs the Senate Health and Welfare Committee; Rep. Jack McFarland, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee; Kyle Ruckert, the governor’s chief of staff; and Digger Earles, a big-name personal injury lawyer in Lafayette who is buddies with Landry from when they attended law school together No business lobbyists went on the trip.

State ethics laws generally prohibit public officials from receiving anything “of economic value” for the performance of their official duties. Whether that would apply to the McKernan flights is not clear Public officials have to disclose flights on donors’ planes if the flights are campaign related.

DeVillier, McKernan and Earles did not return phone calls seeking comment about the trip or the discussions that took place. Through a spokesperson, Landry declined to comment.

Hunting and insurance

Talbot, R-River Ridge, has championed the business point of view during his tenure in the Legislature.

He said the trip didn’t change his view that to lower auto insurance rates — which he called the highest in the country Louisiana must tilt the legal scales away from excessive litigation and excessive payouts.

Asked whether the purpose of the trip was to try to nail down an agreement on car insurance issues, Talbot said, “I wouldn’t characterize it as hammering out a deal. It was more of a lively discussion on the causes of the high rates and how to solve them. Any time I can talk to different people, you hear different perspectives and that’s valuable. I’m willing to meet anyone anywhere to debate and discuss this.”

Lawmakers said they went hunting one morning in Texas but otherwise devoted their time to discussing how to address high auto insurance rates and the path forward on the state budget after voters a week ago rejected overhauling the tax section of the state constitution.

“It was not like we just went out there and had a good time,” said McFarland, R-Jonesboro. “We spent hours in meetings on Monday afternoon, Tuesday

to keep swinging “It’s gotten better. I’m excited where I am and I’m glad I never made that decision I’m glad to be here.”

His father former LSU quarterback Jamie Howard — played a huge role helping Walker Howard reach his current comfort level back home in Cajun Country “I wouldn’t be here without my dad,” he said. “My dad is my best friend. My dad is my everything. He pushes me and he helps me with everything I do. All the decisions that I’ve made

and all the highs and lows I’ve been through, he’s been right there with me. He’s gone through them with me.”

And while Walker Howard transferring to UL might have seemed like an unusual move after playing in the Southeastern Conference, it was kind of going back to where he started in his mind.

As an eighth grader, he attended Ascension Episcopal and almost played for the Blue Gators before starring at his father’s alma mater St

Thomas More.

His eighth grade coach was Bill Desormeaux, father of UL coach Michael Desormeaux, who was Ascension’s head coach before joining UL’s staff and whose brother Matt replaced him at Ascension.

“They’re unbelievable,” Walker Howard said of the Desormeaux family “They’ve been great. I ended up going to STM and it worked out But I loved my eighth grade year with coach Bill. I’ve known them forever and I’m ex-

and again Wednesday.”

McFarland said he, Landry and his legislative colleagues discussed the budget situation without McKernan or Earles present.

“There are significant budget challenges,” McFarland said. “It gave us the chance to discuss them. I’ll be forced to do things that Jeff won’t like. I won’t be in agreement with everything he wants to do.”

Last year, McFarland passed legislation long sought by business interests that prevents injured parties from suing insurance companies directly, a practice known as “direct action.” Proponents of the measure believe judges and juries award bigger claims when they know that deeppocketed insurance companies are on the hook.

But McFarland softened the final version at the behest of Landry and trial lawyers. The governor signed the legislation into law

McMath, R-Covington, said he was invited on the trip to lend his perspective on insurance issues.

“Insurance is the No. 1 issue our constituents face,” McMath said. “We have to find ways to curb costs for homeowners, autos and health. You have to have conversations with the people involved in the process. You have to be educated on the issues.”

Political contributions

McKernan is among the

cited. I love the family I’m very excited about this.”

So he attacked his new direction with a whole new perspective.

“Walker has been an outstanding fit for the quarterback room,” Michael Desormeaux said. “It’s like he’s been there the whole time the way he walks in there and just fits in.”

He was no longer the fivestar recruit, but just one of UL’s three quarterbacks ready to work for playing time.

“These workouts are tough,” he said. “I’d probably say these are the hardest offseason workouts I’ve done. ”

Through it all, he’s trying to rediscover his love for the game.

“I don’t feel under any pressure anymore,” he said. “I definitely have a very high ceiling for myself, but as it comes to playing, coach Desormeaux has helped me a lot and my dad, same thing. They just want me to go enjoy the game again. They want me to play ball, trust myself and just go have fun.

“It’s football. It’s got to be fun. I get to do it every day and I’ve got to enjoy it.”

For the first time in three years, football doesn’t feel like a corporate enterprise It’s back to being a game again for Walker Howard.

“I really trust this coaching staff,” he said. “A lot of places, it’s business. I understand it. These people are running these CEOs and

major trial attorneys who contributed heavily to Landry when he won the 2023 governor’s race, after he supported Gov John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, during his eight years in office. McKernan gave $100,000 to the Louisiana Republican Party in 2023, and his law firm contributed $15,000 to Landry McKernan is based in Baton Rouge but has law offices throughout the state. In January, he began an ad blitz in metro New Orleans to gain clients there In an interview two months ago, McKernan said he began contributing to state lawmakers because of “the repeated calls by the insurance industry to reform things that make their side of the table more profitable. At the same time, that’s a transaction where regular everyday folk, working men and women, are giving up rights that they don’t realize in return for promises that don’t materialize.”

In addition to vetoing the legislation last year over the objections of business interests, Landry has also raised hackles among conservatives by appointing two trial attorneys, John Carmouche and Rico Alvendia, to positions on the LSU Board of Supervisors. Both have contributed generously to Landry and the Louisiana Republican Party Email Tyler Bridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.

all this (name, image and likeness) going around in the world these days, but it feels really good to be here.

“These coaches, they want to be here. This is home for them. They’ve had opportunities to leave and they don’t want to go anywhere. It feels good. I’ve known these guys for a long time and I trust these guys.” Through the first two weeks of spring ball, he is also developing trust in his teammates.

“It’s a big thing in getting to know your teammates — working hard and getting in the trenches,” he said. “Getting to know each guy and what they’re willing to do for you. That’s how you make brothers.”

He’s in a quarterback battle with redshirt freshman Daniel Beale and sophomore Lunch Winfield.

“We’ve got three guys in the mix that I can tell you period to period they’re competing their tails off,” Desormeaux said. “Lunch brings a different dimension with what he does. He does some really good things day to day

“I think Daniel’s been the most consistent, which is to be expected at this point. But Walker is one of those guys that naturally expect those heavy-install days to be a lot first semester in the system, but as the week goes, he continues to play better.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

DeVillier McFarland McKernan McMath Talbot

Ukrainetosendteamtothe U.S. fornew

BY HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Ukraine will send ateam to Washington next week to begin negotiations on anew draft of adeal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’svaluable mineral resources, Economy MinisterYuliia Svyrydenko told The Associated Press.

DETAILS

Continued frompage1A

relationship with acityemployee who was demoted twice after the relationship ended andrehiredamanager who the city employee saidhad previously sexually harassed her —and then the sexual harassment resumed.

No media outlet reported the contents of the lawsuit or the cost to taxpayers to settle the case. The public knew nothing Life moved on in Leesville, atown of nearly 6,000 residentsinVernon Parish that abutswhat was then named Fort Polk and is now Fort Johnson. La. 171, which connects Shreveport and Lake Charles, intersects the town.

What happened nearly five years ago in Leesville would have remained buried but for an anonymous city resident and Ybarra, who were troubled by the actions of the mayor and the othercouncil members. Because of their efforts, word about the lawsuithas begun filtering out in Leesville in recent weeks.

Still, Allen and his allies have tried to keep alid on the story,refusing to discussit or insisting that acourt has sealed the documents.

That is not true. Areview of the docket shows no sealorders. The lawsuit and settlement are public documents, giventhattheyinvolve taxpayermoney.But while the lawsuit has been seen by aselectfew recently,practically no one has seen the settlement.

It shows that Allen and the councilagreedtopay $299,000 to settle the case.

Three City Council members who voted for the settlement in 2020 declined three weeks ago to discuss the matter, while afourth didnot returnphone calls.

Several political insiders who have seen acopy of the lawsuit said the topic was too hot to discussinasmall town where, they said repeatedly, “everybody knows everyone else.”

Apowerfulmayor

At the center of thestory is Allen,who is servinghis third term as mayor after winning election twice with 68% of the vote. He is this year’spresident of the Louisiana Municipal Association, which represents the interests of cities before the governor and the stateLegislature. Associatessay Allen has told them he wants to run for lieutenant governor one day (Rich Dupree,the second vice president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, resigned from that position

“The new draftagreementfrom theU.S. shows that the intentionto create afund or jointly investremains,” Svyrydenko said Saturday, during atrip to northern Ukraine.

The delegation from Kyiv will include representatives from the ministries of economy,foreign affairs, justiceand finance.

Thelong-runningnegotiations over amineral deal have already

and as mayor of Pineville in central Louisiana last year afterhewas forced to acknowledge publicly that he had had an affair with acityemployee there.)

Allenfrequently refersto God in hispublic pronouncements and gets high marks from residents for aggressivelywinning state and federal contracts for projectsin Leesville.

Allenhas declined to answer questions about the lawsuit and settlement but did brieflysay after arecent City Council meeting, “You have adisgruntled council member who would like to burn the wholetowndown It’s not about me.”

The City Council member is Ybarra, whoisserving her secondterm andhas stood out by not automatically supporting his agenda. A49-year-old retired pharmacy technician, she defeated a20-year incumbent in 2018 after deciding to run because of aneighborhood sewage problem. Like her colleagues, she earns about $500 per monthonthe council.

Ybarra said Allen has frozen her out of councilgroup texts and stopped responding to herrequests —topunish her for being the one council member to questionhis actions, including thoseinvolving the lawsuit and settlement.

“I’m justnot ayes person, Ybarra said.“Ithink he’s used to having yes peopleonthe council.”

Ybarra also said shebelieves that Allen had the LeesvillePoliceDepartment investigateher,trying to establish that she was behind the disseminationof the lawsuit.

City Council member Willie Mae Kennedy said shefound acopy of it placedonher windshield afew monthsago.

Kennedy looked at it briefly before driving to City Hall to give the document to Patti Larney,the city administrator.

“I didn’tthink it was for me,” Kennedy said during a briefinterviewthree weeks agobefore decliningtoanswer more questions.

Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright said police officialscametohim seekinghis advice on the investigation of Ybarra. Lambright wouldnot disclose what he toldthem, but Ybarra said shedoesn’t believe the policeare still investigating her Police Chief Beth Westlake did not return phone calls.

An anonymoustip

Thelawsuit andsettlement seemed destined to be forgotten,but lastyear, an unidentifiedman called

strainedrelations between Kyiv and Washington. The two sides had been preparinginFebruarytosigna framework agreement but the plan wasderailedfollowinga contentious meeting in the OvalOffice between U.S.President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

After someUkrainian lawmakers leaked the new draft, critics

Ybarra and chidedher for voting to approve the settlement,Ybarra said in theinterview

“Whatare youtalking about?” she said she replied.

Theman began providing details of the lawsuit.

“Where areyou getting this from?”Ybarrasaidshe was dumbfounded.

Theman said it came from alawsuit filedinfederal court in Lake Charles. He gave her the docket number Ybarra said she immediatelydrove to Lake Charles andrequesteda copy of the entire file, all 1,200 pages.

The court filing shows that Allenand thecityhad been sued by acityemployee named Amanda Stoots, who said she hadaone-year affair withAllen and was laid off after therelationship ended. Stoots also said aseniorcity employeesexually harassed her, touchingher breastsand rear end and repeatedly propositioning her, both before, during andafterthe alleged relationship with Allen. In thelawsuit, Stootssaidthe mayor didn’t stop the sexual harassment That night, readingit, “I felt sick to my stomach,” Ybarra said.

The lawsuit said Stoots, whoagreed in the settlementnot to discuss thecase, began working for the city in April2018 as agrasscutter at Fort Polk.

The following month, the lawsuitsaid, Stoots’supervisor,James Chris Fox, began making lewd comments to her,inperson and through Snapchat, and repeatedly asked her to have sex with him.She respondedthathis commentswere“gross, thelawsuit said, and she demanded that he stop harassing her

Stootsinformed Allen about what Fox was doing.

“Ms. Stoots felt comfortable reporting this sexual harassment to Mayor Allen because Mayor Allen expresseda romanticand sexual interest in Ms.Stoots, and the two began aconsensualintimate relationship in September 2018,” the lawsuit said. “This relationship continued over the next year.”

Stoots, who had been promoted to project manager,

was demoted twice after theaffair ended, thelawsuit said.

islative Auditor’sOffice.)

Despite the disruptionfollowing the OvalOfficemeeting, Ukrainian officials showed interestinsigning the framework deal at any time, seeing it as an importantstep to win the favor of Trump and shore up U.S. backing in the war against Russia’s full-scaleinvasion

slammed it as littlemore than an attempt to strip Kyiv of control over its own natural resources andinfrastructure. According to the leaked document,the newdraft includes notonly rare-earthmineralsbut gasand oil. Ukraine holdssignificant deposits of more than20minerals deemed strategically critical by the U.S., including titanium,whichisused to make aircraftwings, lithium,key to severalbatterytechnologies, and uranium, used in nuclear power

In December2019, Fox laid off Stoots “as part of a ‘reduction in force due to budgetconstraints,’ ”according to thelawsuit.

Stoots filed suit in March 2020 along with Robyn Bassett, who accused Allen, other city officialsand the cityitself of discriminating against herbecause she is gay and because she complained of discrimination against other city employees.

Thesettlementwas signed in October 2020, according to acopyobtained by The Advocate|The TimesPicayunethrougha public records request It shows that Stoots received $186,875. Of that, $124,582.33 went to her,and hertwo NewOrleansattorneys, Casey Denson and Kerry Murphy,each collected $31,145.83.

Bassettreceived $112,125. Of that, $74,750 went to her, andDenson andMurphy each collectedanadditional $18,687.50.

Denson said neitherStoots nor Bassett could discuss thesettlement.

Of the$299,000 paid to the two women,the cityofLeesville paid $175,000 to Stoots andBassett,withthe additional $124,000 coming from theLouisiana Municipal Risk Management Agency, an insuranceentity that is part of the Louisiana Municipal Association. (Leesville’s budget was $8.1million that year,according to areport filed withthe Louisiana Leg-

Fox and Larney did not return phone calls seeking comment.

No questionsasked

Audio from the day in September 2020 when the council approved the settlement shows that Allen read the resolution, which didnot containany details of thelawsuit or thesettlement.

Council memberChris Robertson,anAllenally,offered themotion forapproval.

Council member Phillip Hunt, another ally,seconded it. Allenasked if therewas any public comment. There was none. Thecouncil approved thesettlementunanimously. It wasover after79seconds.Itappears to have been theonly time theissue has been addressed publicly

Later asked whyhevoted for it, Robertson said, “We were toldnot to discuss it because of thecourts.” He then walked away Hunt did not return phone calls

Council memberAlice Guesswouldnot discussher vote, saying only that Mayor Allenand CityAdministrator Larney could talkabout it Ybarra said she voted for thesettlement onlyafter receiving assurances from thethen-city attorney, Max Antony, that it wasinthe best interests of thecity.

With the rise of the internet, smalltownsacross Louisiana like Leesville have become news deserts. Themayor and CityCouncilthere don’tget much coverageanymore.

Rick Barnickle covers the meetingsaspublisherofthe

Vernon Parish Journal, afree news website that publishes on Wednesdays andFridays.

“All Ihear is rumor and speculation,” Barnickle said of the lawsuit, “that they are trying to discredit the mayor and that the case has been sealed andwas settledin 2020.”

KALB-TVinAlexandria publishedthe only account of the lawsuit about six weeks ago.

“It went to social media and there were lots of sharesand comments.But then it was deleted,” said Jessica Herring, who recently stepped downasnews director at KVVP,alocal radio station. Carli Luca, the station’s news director,said she removed it fromthe website because the story needed additional reporting and involveda2020casethat had been “dismissed.”(It was dismissedonlyafter theparties agreed to asettlement.) Luca said she madeher decision without hearing from Allen or anyone else from Leesville State Rep. Chuck Owen, a Republican who represents Leesville, said he received acopyofthe lawsuit in the mail afew months agobut toldhis aide that he didn’t want to knowthe contents. Whenthe KALB-TV report became public,Owen said, “The mayor said theygot the story wrong, that it wasn’t about him. It was about someoneelse. It hit thenewsand thenwentaway.The very fewpeople whohavecome to me arewondering: Why aren’t more people worried aboutthis?”

La. ICE facility garners national attention

2 international college students housed near Jena

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

An Immigration and Customs

Enforcement detention facility in Louisiana has attracted national attention in recent weeks after a protester detained by federal agents was sent to the privately run, for-profit center in rural LaSalle Parish.

Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a legal

Events boost area’s economic growth

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

Over the past three calendar years, Visit Lake Charles has hosted more than 430 events and generated nearly $100 million in economic impact.

Visit Lake Charles Vice President of Sales Taylor Beard Stanley said meetings not only bring in economic growth but also foster collaboration and business growth, as each event is an opportunity to showcase everything southwest Louisiana can offer On Thursday Visit Lake Charles highlighted the impacts that meetings and events bring to the area while celebrating Global Meetings Industry Day

“(When) we have these visitors, these conference attendees, coming into southwest Louisiana, they are helping pay for roads and infrastructure and those types of things,” Stanley said. “We have a statistic we use on the tourism industry side, that every household saves $1,700 in taxes every year because of tourism.”

Each year, Stanley and her team use Destinations International’s Economic Impact Calculator and input the events they hosted throughout the year to see how they supported the area. From number of attendees to hotel room prices to food and beverage intake, the calculator takes it all into consideration and outputs an estimated economic impact, according to Stanley For 2024, the organization hosted 129 meetings and events, generating an estimated $30 million in economic impact, according to Visit Lake Charles. The group saw greater economic impact and more meetings in the two years prior In 2023, there were 173 events, generating $35 million; in 2022, there were 132 events and an estimated $32 million in economic impact. However, 2021 and 2020 only had a combined 73 events and an estimated $10.5 million impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cancellations.

“When these meetings and conventions are happening in our community they’re experiencing a wide breadth of what we have to offer, from our restaurants to shopping, and just the culture we have here in southwest Louisiana,” Stanley said.

Some events that take advantage of the different venues and hotels in Lake Charles happen annually Stanley said the Louisiana Rural Water Association is one of her favorite examples because it has been hosting an annual conference in Lake Charles since July 2013. It has most of its events at the Lake Charles Event Center but also rents out huge blocks of rooms at L’Auberge and other local hotels. L’Auberge Lake Charles Vice President of Food and Beverage Scott Love said the property also hosts a four-week banquet

permanent resident who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests, made national headlines when he was arrested by ICE agents in early March in New York. Khalil, a native of Syria, is being held at The GEO Group-run Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center near the rural town of Jena.

A University of Alabama student, Alireza Doroudi 32, a native of Iran studying mechanical engineering, was picked up by

ICE agents last week and was also transferred nearly 350 miles to the Jena facility

With a population of about 4,155, Jena is the parish seat of LaSalle. The nearest city is Alexandria, about 38 miles away, which is home to a 400-capacity ICE staging facility owned and operated by The GEO Group as a 72-hour holding facility

Most of the state’s immigration attorneys and immigrant rights

groups are in New Orleans, which is about 221 miles southeast of the facility near Jena.

The center, with a capacity of 1,160, is accessed from the twolane Pinehill Road about 2 miles northwest of downtown Jena. It is surrounded by hurricane fencing topped with barbed wire.

A contract was signed in July 2007 to operate the ICE facility near Jena, according to The Geo Group’s website. The facility previously operated from 1998-2001 as a state juvenile detention facility

ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility gave the Jena facility an overall “superior” rating in its latest annual review However, advocates say such inspections don’t capture the full picture. In the 2024 report, immigration-rights advocates said detainees at the Jena center have alleged sexual and physical abuse and denial of hygiene products and medication.

ACLU Louisiana Legal Director Nora Ahmed told The Wall Street

TOP: The Festival International de Louisiane flag waves in the wind following a flagraising ceremony on Thursday at City Hall in Lafayette. The festival is April 23-27.

RIGHT: Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Boulet, from left; Scott Feehan, executive director of Festival International; Michael Soileau, director of LUS Fiber; and Mauri Robichaux, president of the festival board of directors, raise the flag.

FLyING HIGH

New laws sought to rein in drivers

‘This crisis is 100% preventable,’ activist says

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

In 2008, Jennifer Smith lost her mother, Linda Doyle, when a 20-year-old driver talking on a cellphone crashed into Doyle’s car “He didn’t see the red light in front of him. He never touched his brakes. He T-boned her car at about 45 miles per hour, killing her instantly,” Smith said Thursday But distracted drivers are not only irresponsible teenag-

ers, she stressed. “He was simply doing what most of us do every day, having a simple conversation,” Smith said “He had never been in trouble. Never had a speeding ticket, never had a parking ticket. He was talking to a neighbor about something he had found at a Goodwill store. He was doing good.” Smith, of Chicago, is now CEO of StopDistractions.org, a nonprofit organization with a goal of educating the public on the dangers of distracted driving. She spoke during a presentation in Baton Rouge promoting April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Trump’s tariffs may raise prices on Carnival throws China one of main importers

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

The new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday could affect the prices and availability of everything from automobiles to whiskey, including imports particularly close to the hearts of New Orleanians. The masked riders in future Carnival parades may have to pay significantly more for the beads and baubles they toss, according to krewe captains. That means the crowds along the curbs may catch significantly less. China, the source of most parade throws, was the target of some of the highest import duties. On

Wednesday, Trump added a 34% tariff to the 20% already in place, a move that may cause the cost of Krewe d’Etat blinking beads, Iris sunglasses and King Arthur holy grails to soar The new import tax “is definitely going to affect prices, no question,” said Krewe of Freret parade captain Bobby Hjortsberg. Carnival 2026 may be nine months away, but the process of procuring millions of dollars of custom throws from China has begun. “We’re already in the thick of it,” Hjortsberg said. The krewe customarily selects and designs next year’s throws soon after Mardi Gras ends The krewe then enters into contracts with an importer to buy them by “summer at the latest,” he said.

LAKE CHARLES

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Cassidyshould haveknown RFKJr.’s promises were worthless

What backstory could U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy possibly need to understand Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’slatest attacks on vaccine research? Here’sthe backstory for Cassidy —though if he had been paying attention to his Democratic colleagues or had any integrity left as amedical professional, he wouldn’tneed areminder thathe confirmed aserial anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist. According to Cassidy,“promises were made” that convinced himKennedy would uphold the safety and efficacy of vaccines. But anyone remotely familiar with Kennedy’slong history of misinformation knows those promises are as hollow as the tunnel left by his brain worm. Need proof? In aconversation with Sean Hannity at aFlorida Steak &Shake, Kennedy falsely claimed that the measles vaccine “causesdeath” —only to contradict himself momentslater, insisting that “we should have transparency” and “informed choice” before admitting that “the vaccine does stop the spread of the disease.” So which is it? If the measles vaccine both “causes death” and “stops the spread of disease,” how exactly is the public supposed to make an informed choice? The reality is that Kennedy’srhetoric isn’tabout transparency —it’sabout manufacturing fear,peddling misinformation and eroding public trust in vaccines. And thanks to enablers like Cassidy,vaccine skepticism is at an all-time high in parts of the country Cassidy is no less deceptive than Kennedy. He can either stand up for science, public health and his medical oath—or he can continue appeasing his fellow Republicans while letting Kennedy “go wild.”

Constituents should be deeply concerned that their representatives are not voting their conscience but instead endorsing unqualified, dangerous figures who deliberately mislead the public. Cassidy,while representing a state that no longer prioritizes mass vaccinations, only adds to the public’sskepticism on vaccine safety by backing Kennedy. MEGAN HERRINGTON Arabi

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

AREWELCOME.HEREARE

YOUR VIEWS

Resubmit amendments to voters with greaterclarity

The front page headline on the failed amendments prompts this response. In the recent national elections, theDemocrats underestimated voter concern over the issues and lost. Louisiana’sRepublicans underestimated voters’ respect for our constitution and lost. There is value in those amendmentsthat deserves arewritefor the betterment of our state. Let’s offer Louisiana’svoters amendments with clarity of information and intent.Here are some suggestions Amendment 2was actually several scrambled amendments Amendments with onetopic, clearly defined, give the voters understanding theycan trust.

For example, tax cuts are needed to make Louisianainvestment competitive with other states. Millions of Americansare leaving high tax states and moving tolow tax states where they can keep thefruits of theirlabor New businesses would bring good jobs and stop the outflow of our kids. This amendmentneeds to be reoffered to voters and the sooner the better Amendment 3was too broadly written. Violent 15-year-old criminals with long records and convicted of first-degree murder should be treated as adults to protect the public. An improved rewrite by Gov.Jeff Landry and our Legislature would probably deliver better results.

SIDNEYPULITZER NewOrleans

Attackson Teslaonly hurt American workers

Once again, the hypocrisy and ignorance of the Democrats and the liberal progressive leftison full display.While complaining and whining that DOGE and Elon Musk are putting Americans out of work, they are doing the samething. Firebombing Tesla dealerships, committing terrorist attacks and calling forboycotting Tesla purchases. Tesla employs approximately 22,000 workers at the Tesla plant in Texas and manyadditional American workers at Tesla dealerships throughout the country.Ofcourse, the Democrats and the left-wing extremists are unable to makethe connection that their activities are harmfultoAmerican workers and their families. Elon Musk owns 13% of Tesla. The remaining 87% is owned by individual investors and various financial institutions, which fund manyretirement and pension funds. NewYork City pension funds own 1.2 billion dollars of Tesla stock. Who is really going to sufferbydestroying one of America’s mostsuccessful manufacturing companies? It’s the thousands of Americans whowork forTesla and retirees whose pension funds hold Tesla stock, not Elon Musk. Of course, the Democratic leadership will not point out how harmful these activities are because they care moreabout demonizing Musk and the Trumpadministration than protecting their constituents. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer refuse to answer any questions regarding these insane activities nor call foranimmediate cessation of such actions. So much fortheir concern forthe welfare of American workers and their families.

PATRICK BOWEN River Ridge

Gov.Jeff Landry blames thedefeat of his proposed constitutional Amendment 2onHolocaust survivor and wealthy liberal George Soros, conservatism’s favorite scapegoat and demon.

Landry stated after votes were counted: “Unfortunately,Soros and far left liberals poured millionsintoLouisiana withpropaganda and outright lies about Amendment2.”

Evidence? Maybe thetruthisthat Louisiana’scitizens educated themselves on the attributes of Amendment 2and theothers

and decided they were flawed or not in our best interests. According to thesecretary of state’soffice, all amendments were soundly defeated, withapproximately 65% voting no. Changes to our constitution and tax codes are necessary but shouldn’tbeatthe expense of citizens who can least afford it, by thestate movingtoaflat incometax that reduces tax on higher personal incomes and businesses and seeks torecapture the over $1 billion in revenue through aregressive sales tax increase. Note that someofLouisiana’smost conservative voices were against Amendment 2.

RICHARD HIRSCH Livonia

Landry should learnfromelectoral defeat

Domestic violence an issuethat deserves more attention

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com. TO SEND US ALETTER SCAN HERE

Iagreewith Will Sutton’srecent column:

“Landry needs to slow down.” It properly portrayed therejection of all of hisheavily backed Amendmentsasa “beat down” andawake-up call to the governor

Theplain truth is that Landry is only an 18% governor He just got547,827 votes of a36.3% total turnout of 1,062,498 votes. This gave him a mere 51.5% of the36.3% turnout.

His non-mandateof18% of the then-total voter registration of the stateof2,970,684 makes him one of the least, if not the least, elected person in our state’shistory.He needs to learnfrom therecent sound defeat of all four of his amendments and pay more attention to all Louisiana voters and not just his far-right supporters.

THOMAS

E. GUILBEAU Lafayette

Voters turned thetablesonstate’s Republican rulers

Miracles do happen. Icompletely agree with acomment made by Gov. JeffLandrywith regards to the failure of theproposed constitutional amendments. With our current Republican gover-

nor and our current Republican-controlled Legislature, Louisianaisconditioned for failure.

DOTTY SUTHON NewOrleans

While there is agreat deal of public and political debate surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports, Ifind myself wondering whythis issue seems to receive moreattention than the pressing crisis of domestic violence and mental illness in this country Every year,countless lives are lost due to domestic violence, and manymore are affected by the devastating impact of untreated mental illness. These tragedies often go unnoticed or unaddressed at the level they deserve. I’mnot here to take a stance fororagainst any particular side of the sports debate, but Ido question whyweare not seeing the samelevel of urgency and discussion about the names and numbers of those lost to these preventable causes.

KATHY ADERMAN Baton Rouge

STAFF PHOTO By JILL PICKETT

Gov. Jeff Landryspeaks last month during aRotaryClub of Shreveport meeting.

EGG DECORATING

Easter egg painting is funfor the whole family,but this little guy seemstohave launched this group into someserious creativechaos!

So,what’sgoing on in this cartoon? youtell me.Bewitty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeep it clean.There’s no limit on the number of entries

Thewinningpunchline will be lettered into the word balloon and runonMonday, April 14 in our print editions and online. In addition, the winner will receivea signed print of the cartoonalong with acool winner’sT-shirt! Some honorable mentions will also be listed.

To enter,email entries to cartooncontest@theadvocate.com.

DON’T FORGET!All entries must includeyourname,homeaddressand phone number.Cell numbers are best.

Thedeadline for all entries is midnightonThursday,April 10

Have fun, folks!—Walt

Thestate of thenationiscomplicated

Louisianans have alot of energy —we produce it, we refine it and we export it across the country and the world. As a native Louisianan, it is exciting to have a president and administration in Washington committed to unleashing our state’senergy potential by prioritizing reliable, affordable and secure American energy U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary DougBurgum recently addressed the nation’slargest annual gathering of energy industry leadership, and it’sclear that we are heading into one of the mostsignificant eras ever in American energy

Notably,the transformative capabilities of artificial intelligence wasone of the mostdiscussed topics. As Secretary Wright noted in his keynote address, it is “simply critical that America leads the AI race.” For the rapid expansion of AI to be possible, however,its massive energy demands must be met AI runs on “hyperscale” data centers that consume enormous amounts of power According to consulting firm McKinsey & Company,the power needs of AI data centers are expected to surge roughly threefold by the end of the decade, going from between 3% and 4% of total U.S. power demand today to between 11% and 12% in 2030. Similarly,according to Barclays, AI demands are expected to morethan double data center electricity needs by 2030. Louisiana will be crucial in helping our nation lead the AI race and achieve our energy dominance goals. In December,it wasannounced that Meta is building a$10 billion artificial intelligence data center in Richland Parish.

As noted by Gov. Jeff Landry,Meta’s investment is establishing northeast Louisiana as an anchor in the state’sexpanding tech sector and is creating opportunities forLouisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs.

If you listen to the media and political campaign ads, you would think that ablack cloud had descended on the United States —and Louisiana. We seem to be living in an ageofpolarization, misinformation, distrust and pessimism. Is that true? What is the real state of the nation? To answer these questions, it would help to have aprogress report, like aschool report card, that measures our nation’ssuccesses and failures. Irecently led an effort to do just that, partneringwithawideranging group of experts, including appointees and advisers of thepast fiveU.S. presidents, both Democrats andRepublicans, including President Donald Trump. We alsoasked for the opinions of arepresentative group of athousand American citizens from across thepolitical spectrum. Our first report focuses on what these groups believe to be the most important measures of our progress. We drew four main conclusions about the state of the nation, focusing on data from 1990-2023. First, the good news. Our economyispoised for future success. We are the only country near thetop globally in both the total size of the economy and income per person. We also have alarge, growing and welleducated labor force.

We continue to be among the world’s leaders in the number of years of education and in the top-half of countries on the percentage of young adultswho are in school or working. While it is concerningthat our test scores have been decliningsince 2014, other countries have struggled more, especially with COVID, so that our international standing has actually improved. For now,wealso maintain many of the advantages that generated that economic strength —our culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, universities leading on cutting-edge research and policies that generally promote competitive markets and free trade. Many of these economic strengths are nowunder threat from newfederal strategies, but the game is ours to win if we wish.

‘Our risingincomes are no longer translating to greater happiness. Moneyused to buy happiness to somedegree, but that might not be as true anymore.

Several other themes of the report areworrisome, however We are anation of extremes. The economy is really the only area where we are in the top 20% of similar countries. Unfortunately,weare in thebottomthird in alarge number of areas, including citizenship and democracy, inequality, mental health, trust and violence. We are also among the very worsthigher-income countries when it comestoyouth depression, proportion of children with asingle parent and greenhouse gas emissions. In many of these areas, such as violence and the environment, our failures go back well before 1990. It’snot just that we’re doing poorly on mostmeasures, but that ourinternationalstanding is declining further Of the 37 measures we considered, we arefalling behind other countries on 18 of them and only improving on eight. Again, the economy is the main longterm bright spot, along with education. Ourrising incomes are no longer translating togreater happiness. Money used to buyhappiness to some

degree, but that might not be as true anymore. Even as our incomes have risen, every measure of our perceived wellbeing is moving in thewrongdirection. Life satisfaction, youthdepression, adult depression/ anxiety,overdoses and suicide areall worsening. We also see aconsistent rise in social isolation and adecline in howmuch Americans trust other people —ortrust institutionssuch as government,higher education and criminal justice. We cannot measure everything, of course, but these resultsshould give us pause. We are heartened by thefact that our wide-ranging group agreed so much on how to gauge our successes and failures. The fact that large majorities of our board and thepublic agree on how to measure ourprogress provides some hope that we can also find agreement on solutions as well.

Douglas N. Harris is professor and chairofEconomics at Tulane University and chair of State of the Nation Project.

In addition to supporting America’sdigital revolution, Louisiana leads among the states forliquefied natural gas exports, boasts four of the nation’sLNG export terminals and holds 6% of the nation’snatural gas reserves. Thanks to recent actions taken by President Donald Trumpand the National Energy Dominance Council ending the LNGexport pause and restoring regular order to federal LNGproject reviews, we are positioned to grow our state’srole as a leading exporter of liquefied natural gas in the coming years.

Just last month, Secretary Wright approved aliquefied natural gas export authorization forthe Venture Global CP2 LNGexport project under development forCameron Parish, which will boost the local economy and is projected to export up to 3.96 billion cubic feet per day of LNG upon completion.

Additionally,Secretaries Wright and Burgum recently joined Gov. Landry and Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel in Plaquemines Parish to announce an additional $18 billion expansion to the Plaquemines LNGExport facility —making the facility the largest of its kind in the United States.

As Louisiana’shighly skilled energy workforce ramps up production to meet the needs of our nation, our industry continues to keep environmental and health impacts top of mind. We remain committed to deploying carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies, which capture emissions and geologically store them safely and securely deep underground. We know that we can support arobust LNG industry,meet the power demands of AI and play acritical role in helping to ensure our national security,all the while reducing our environmental impact.

Louisianans should be proud that we are answering the call of America’senergy production and energy security needs. The natural gas and oil produced in our state, as wellasour neighboring Gulf of America states, touches every sector of the economy and reaches every facet of our lives, from heating our homes and fueling transportation to supporting the manufacture of products we useevery singleday We have got alot of energy in Louisiana —and our country needs us now more than ever

Gifford Briggs is the Gulf Coast region director forthe American Petroleum Institute.

Douglas N. Harris GUEST COLUMNIST

Gifford Briggs GUEST COLUMNIST

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

Journal the conditions at Louisiana immigration facilities are designed to persuade migrants to give up their efforts to stayinthe country

“The fact that you are here without access to counsel, without access to your family,without access or the ability to call everyone that you need to back home because you don’thave the commissary funds to do that,” she said

Neither the Central Louisiana Center,Geo Group norICE respondedtorequests for comment

The Jena center is oneofnine ICE facilities in Louisiana holding as many as 7,000 immigrants,The Associated Press reported.

Texas holds the most immigrants for ICE. Louisiana holds the second-most in the United States.

The facility in Jena is theeighth largest in the United States in

DRIVING

Continued from page1B

Distracted driving is much broader than just texting whiledriving.Drivers can have their attention pulled away by otherminor activities, such as eating or drinking, reading amap, grooming, looking out at surroundings, and myriad distractions found on aphone, from taking photos, to watching videos, to changing the playlist.

AccordingtoSmith, many of these activities are so common that people might do one or more of them during their daily commute. But none of them are necessary in getting to where drivers need to go, she said.

“Many don’tsee distractions as athreat,” Smith said.

“What’sespecially painful is that this crisis is 100% preventable.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving contributed to 8% of all traffic fatalities in 2021. Numbers in 2021 and2022 show more than3,000 deaths annually tied to distracted driving.

In Louisiana, preliminary numbers for 2024 show 180 roadway deaths and 1,295 injuries caused by distracted driving.

“That’s180 empty seats and dinner tables,1,295 families whose lives were turned upside down and countless friends andloved ones left grieving or caring for someone who may never fully recover,”said Joe Donahue, secretary for Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

According to the safety administration, sending or reading atext takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, avehicle travels the length ofa football field in that time.

THROWS

Continued from page1B

But considering the implications of thenew importtaxes, “vendors don’t want to give us prices,” Hjortsberg said.Part of the problem, Hjortsberg said, is the possibility that tariffs could change over the coming months. Vendors, Hjortsberg said, may need to quote the highest price now,but may be able to lower prices later, which could prompt krewe leaders to ask themselves, “Should we wait?” It may not be the end of the world, Hjortsberg said, but it’sadded anotherchallenge. Fr er et cu st om ar ily spends about $1 million on throws, includinga percentage of locallymade products, which it sells to members in assortments that cost $250, $500,$750 and $1,000. Those 2026 throw packages, as they’re known, were on advance sale to riders on the krewe website last week, but Freret has discontinued salesuntil the new cost of beads can be determined.

The Krewe of Freret banned plastic beads from this year’sparade for ecological reasons and to help prevent clogged storm

terms of population, at 1,176 in January,according to Immigration andDetention Statistics published in February and posted on Transactional RecordsAccess Clearinghouse.

Thelargest by population, accordingto thereport, areAdams County Detention Center in Mississippi,2,135; South Texas ICE Processing Center in Texas, 1,686; and Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, 1,514. Louisiana ICE facilitiesinthe top 20 based on population, according to the report, include:

n 4th —Winn Correctional Center in Winn Parish, 1,474.

n 8th —Central LouisianaICE Processing Center in Jena, 1,176.

n 12th —Jackson Parish Correctional Center in Jonesboro, 984.

n 19th —South LouisianaICE Processing Center in Basile, 801.

n 20th —Richwood Correctional Center in Richwood, 763.

EmailClaireTaylor at ctaylor@ theadvocate.com

HOSTING

Continuedfrom page 1B

consisting of meetings andtraining every late April intoMay for Oxy. Stanleysaid2025isexpectedto be “a big year” forevents. In fact, the Louisiana Municipal Association is hosting itsevent in Lake Charles this year,which happens every six years, and will use around 15 properties across thecity However,while someorganizationsbook theirmeetingsand events in southwest Louisiana every year,others might rotate between different areas in the state, like the Louisiana Municipal Association.

“It’snot requiredthatsomeof thesegroupshaveto… come to Louisianaevery single year; sometimes they’ll rotate out of state,” Love said. “Wehave seen thatsome years thecalendar looksgreat, somewerescrapping abit to get to fill those blocks where we were

having this consistent group that we’re not seeing (that year).”

Lovesaid when that happens, the hotel willhave to workand backfill to bring in moreevents.

Stanley said to help theregion remain acompetitive area for large events, Visit Lake Charles launched aMeeting Incentive Programin2019. The program gives organizations an amount back for each hotel room that they use.

Whilethe MeetingIncentive Program and marketing are techniquestobring in moreevents, Loveand Stanley believe thatif thelocal airports had moreoptions from the East, there could be more traffic from that side of the country.

“We’re very limited right now to kind of thedrive market forthe sales approaches that we have,” Stanley said. “We’ve been trying to push into amore regional, national market whereitmakessense, but certainly adding some additional flights and airlift would makeour competitiveness even better.”

State lawenforcement and transportation officials stand as Jennifer

PoliceTrainingAcademyonThursday.From leftare Col. RobertP.Hodges, state Insurance Commissioner

Department of Transportationand Development SecretaryJoe Donahue and Lisa Freeman,

Safety Commission.

Progress hasbeenmade, however. According to Donahue,since 2020,Louisiana has seena 17% decrease in distracted driving.

Newstate legislation

OneofStopDistractions. org’smaingoalsistoseek changes in state lawsthat make being onacellphone while drivinga ticketable offense.

Currently,32states have laws to this effect,but not Louisiana. State lawonly prohibits drivers in their first year and bus drivers from usinghandheld cellular devices while driving.

TimTemple, Louisiana commissioner of insurance,

drains,but it imports other Chinese throws.

Gwendolyn Rainey,captain of the Krewe of Femme Fatale, said she’s concerned thatthe increased cost of Chinese throws will haveanadverse affect on the krewe in general Sometimesoon, shesaid, the parading groupwill have to commit to buying customthrows in advance. Butifpricesare higher,the riders might buy less or drop out altogether,which could “leave us in ahole, a deficit,”she said Considering theincreased costofthrows,rising homeowner insurance rates andthe possibility of an economic recession, Rainey saidshe won’t be surprisedif Femme Fatale is smaller next year.

“Wehad 34 floats this year,” she said. “Wemay not have that again.”

Clark Brennan, captain of the Krewe of Bacchus —known forits generosity with throws —said that he has already begun negotiating with suppliers to accommodatethe increased cost of Chinese beads, foam footballs,flying disks and such.The krewes and suppliers,Brennan believes, shouldsplit the increased expense caused by thenew tariffs.

“Wehavetold themthey needtoshare in the price

wants to change that.

“During this year’s legislative session, we want to introduce abilllikethe one we hadlast year to address andreduce distracted driving by banning handheld wireless devices whiledriving,” he said during Thursday’spresentation.

Last year,SenateBill 98, sponsored by Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, would have done just that, butwas voteddownduring athird read in theHouse.

What youcan do

Donahue suggests simply setting up everything you need before leavingyour driveway:Put your destinationinyour GPS, setupa

increase 50/50,” Brennan said in atext message.

“Bacchus is not going to eat all the increasecosts.”

Dan Kelly is the owner of Beads by the Dozen, oneofthe largest Carnival throw import companies, and he’s alsothe captain of the Krewe of Endymion,a parading organization with the slogan “Throw untilit hurts.” No one knows more about the Chinese bead and bauble business than he

Kellysaid it’s impossible to determine precisely how much Carnival merchandise is importedfrom China to New Orleans each year,but he estimates the value of the merchandise to be in the $35 million range.

“Absolutely,” Kelly said “the price of everything goes up”with the imposition of the new tariffs.

Kelly pointed out that until recently,beads,plush animals and afew other items wereduty free since theywere considered children’stoys and therefore exemptfrom usualimport duties.So, the cost of those items could rise by more than half.

Other throws, such as the popular Mardi Gras bead bags —which were already taxed —will now be charged tariffsashigh as 102%, he estimated.

playlist and send any necessary texts.

“Safety isn’tjust about enforcement; it’sabout personal accountability,” Donahue said. “Every driver has the power to prevent acrash Everyturn is achanceto make theright choice.”

Temple also wants parents to model good behavior for their children.

“Theyemulate. If they see youusing aphone whiledriving or texting while driving, it’sjust anatural progression. They’re gonna think thatthat’sOK,” he said.

Smithalso urgeddrivers to enable telematics in their vehicles.Thisisdrivingdata that your car reports back to your manufactureron

Kellysaidhebelieves that some amount of import duties on Carnival throws will remain in place for good, but he expects the extraordinarily high tariffs to eventually drop

“After aperiod of time,” he said, “everybody in all countries will figureitout.”

In the meantime, Kelly said, “It’sa waiting game.” He said he’sasked hissuppliersinChinato produce the throws for the 2026 Carnivaland be ready to deliver,but to wait until the tariffs drop before shipping the merchandise.

He can’twait forever though. For Chinesethrows to arrive beforethe parade

things like phone use, hard braking anddistractionbehind the wheel.

“This data, it’s not just identifying those problems, it’shelping drivers fix them,” she said. “In states and pilot programs that use these telematics programs, we seemeasurable reductions in risky behaviors.Drivers becomemore aware, parents can see how theirteens aredriving,fleets are improving their safety records.”

She said, best of all, crashes are going down andlives are being saved.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

season, merchandise must be shipped by early September

Email Doug MacCashat dmaccash@theadvocate. com.

LOTTERY SATURDAY,APRIL5, 2025

PICK 3: 7-3-3

PICK 4: 8-4-7-6

PICK 5: 5-4-5-5-4

EASY 5: 4-7-15-16-29

LOTTO: 5-8-18-20-30-42

POWERBALL: 4-23-3046-62 (2) Unofficial notification, keep your tickets

STAFFPHOTO By QUINN COFFMAN

Smithspeaks before acrowd at the Louisiana State

TimTemple,

of the Louisiana Highway

ANALYSIS

Huskies back on top

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

TAMPA, Fla. During thefinalsweet mo-

mentsofUConn’s 12th national title, Geno Auriemma andPaige Bueckersembraced after the star guard departed herfinal game with the Huskies. It wasthe momentthey wanted all along.

“They’ve all been gratifying, don’tget me wrong,” Auriemma said. “But this one here, because of the way it came about and what’s been involved, it’sbeen along time since I’ve been that emotional whenaplayer has walked off the court.”

Bueckers, Azzi Fuddand Sarah Strong led the way as UConn returned to the top of women’scollege basketball by rolling to an 82-59 victory over reigning champion South Carolina on Sunday Fudd, who was named the Most OutstandingPlayer of the Final Four,scored 24 points. Strong had 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Bueckers scored 17 points for UConn (37-3).

“Well, it’s amazing to have threeplayers, three people like that on the same team,” Auriemma said. “And Sarah, you would

LSU

pitchers shineon theroad, dominate Oklahoma series

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

NORMAN, Okla This weekend was another successful onefor LSU baseball.

TheTigers earnedtheir third sweep through four weeks of Southeastern Conference play.This time they swept No. 10 Oklahoma on the road, winning 2-0 on Thursday, 10-2 on Friday and 3-2onSaturday With a30-3 record, LSU is off to its best 33-game start since 2013.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’sbig week over the Sooners:

Eye-poppingweekend forpitchers

This weekendwas basically aperfect one forLSU’spitching staff.

TheTigers onlyused five pitchers didn’tallow anearnedrunin27innings.They struck out35 and held Oklahoma to two extra base hits. For just thethird time since1992, LSU had gone three straight games without al-

lowing an earned run. Sophomore left-handerKadeAnderson set thetonefor the Tigers by tossing acomplete game on Thursday,allowingJohnson to save his toprelievers —junior righthanderZac Cowanand freshmanrighthander Casan Evans—for later in the week. Anderson’sabilitytomix pitches and speed set astrongtemplate forFriday starter —juniorright-handerAnthony Eyanson— andEvans. Thetwo combined to strike out 13 Soonersand dominated the bottom half of the strike zone before Saturday starter —redshirt sophomore right-hander Chase Shores —and Cowan took advantage of the series finale’swintry conditions. Shoresand Cowan only hadeightcombined strikeouts, but they didn’tallow much hardcontact. Shores kept theball on theground, andCowandidn’tallow an extra base hit

UL dropsrubbergame, series to TexasState

BY KEVIN FOOTE

Staff writer

Yes, there were other areas to focus on after Sunday’s4-3 loss to TexasStateat Russo Park. But UL coach Matt Deggs wasn’tinthe mood to discuss those details. He was too focused on his offense only puttingupthree runs on aday when the wind wasn’thowling in thehitters’ facesfor achange.

“We’ve got to come through, though,” Deggs said. “We’ve got to swing itbetter Three runs with aday like today,that’snot how we’re built. We’ve gottobeabletoproduce.” The Cajuns dropped to 16-18 overalland 7-5 in league play,while Texas Stateimprovedto15-16and 6-6. While UL’s lineup only producedtwo runs after thefirstpitch theysaw in thegame, the Bobcats gottwo clutchtwo-out hits over the final four innings to claim the tightroad win.

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Unlikelast year’sNFL draft, when “TACKLE”might have well been displayed in all caps and flashing neon lights, there’snoobvious position for the NewOrleans Saints to take in the first round —given their needs across the roster But pass rusher comes pretty close to that. The Saints re-signed Chase Young to a three-year,$51 million deal this offseason but couldstill useextra juice at theposition. Bryan Bresee, adefensive tackle, led New Orleans last season with 71/2 sacks. And the Saints haven’thad aplayer reach doubledigit sacks since 2021 —making themone of only six teamstonot hit that marker over the past three seasons. Fortunately forthe Saints, this is agood draft if they do want to bolster their pass rush in Round 1.

“Some positions maybe don’thave that superstar thatwehavehad in yearspast, but we do have aboatload of starters, particularly the defensive line,” said Daniel Jeremiah, adraftanalyst forNFL Network. “A bunch of really,really good players.”

The Saints’ drafthit rate on pass rushers, of course, hasn’t been particularlystrong over the last several years. First-rounders

LSU pitcher Kade Anderson delivers apitch against Mississippi State on March 27 at Alex BoxStadium. STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

AP PHOTO By JOHN RAOUX UConn coachGeno Auriemma holds up the championshiptrophyafter UConn defeated South Carolina in the national championship game on Sunday in Tampa, Fla

Florida, Houstonfaceoff in titlegame

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS

AP sportswriter

SAN ANTONIO Florida has gone from being pickedtofinishsixth in the rugged Southeastern Conference to pushing allthe way to the final Monday night of theseason. Now theGators face aHouston team that just pushes teams around with itssuffocating defense.

Big 12 champion Houston and Florida will meetinthe national championship game in the Alamodome to wrap up only the second NCAA Tournament when all the No. 1seeds made it to the Final Four

Still, this title game matchup is quite asurprise, and features two teams that haven’tbeen this far in along time. BetMGMSportsbook had Florida listed as a1 1/2-point favorite.

The Cougars (35-4) won their semifinal game Saturday night by overcominga 14-point deficit in the final eight minutes for a70-67 stunner over Duke

ä FloridavsHouston. 7:30 P.M. MONDAy,CBS

and freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, the AP nationalplayer of theyear

That was afterFlorida (35-4), with AP All-America guard WalterClayton Jr.scoring 34 points, only had to come back from eight points down after halftime in its 79-73 win over SEC rival Auburn.

Houston, which has an 18-game winning streak, is in its first national championship gamesince back-to-backappearances in 1983 and 1984 during the PhiSlama Jamaera.

This is Florida’sfirst since winning its back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan. The Gators, with third-year coach Todd Golden, have an 11game winning streak sincea loss at Georgia at theend of February

“It’spretty incredible,” Golden said.“In threeyears,beenfortunatetobuild agreat staffthat is aligned, that worksreally hard for each other.Then we’vejust accu-

mulated agreat group of guys on our roster.Ittook alittle bit to get all these pieces together.But to a man,they all pull thesame direction.”

TheCougars have won 30 of their last 31 games sincetwo overtime losses over three days in atournamentinLas Vegas at the end of November.Their only loss sincewas 82-81 in OT on Feb. 1toTexas Tech, an Elite Eight team. Their other loss this season:74-69 to Auburninthe secondgame.

Coach Kelvin Sampson and Houston also made the Final Four four years ago, losing to eventual champion Baylorinthe national semifinal in theNCAAtourney in abubble in Indianapolis because of the COVID-19 pandemic. L.J. Cryer, nowHouston’sleading scorer,was afreshman for the Bearsonthat title team.

Now the Cougars will play for a championship after being the first Texas team to make aFinal Four held in theLone Star State —after so much talkabout the other

teams thatmade it to SanAntonio.

“This whole year,I’ve been trying to stayoff social media and stufflikethat. Ireally don’tsee those type of things,” Cryer said.

“I try just to listen to coach Sampson, and he believed we werethe best team in the tournament, so that’sthe onlyperson Ilistened to.

Florida entered Saturday’s semifinals ranked No. 2inKenPom’sadjusted offensive efficiency by scoring 129.1 points per 100 possessions, andClayton hadhis second 30-point game in arow.He is theleading scorer in this NCAA tourney with 123 points (24.6 per game) and has made 18 of 32 shots (.563) with 8of163-pointersthe past two games.

Houston was rankedfirst in adjusted defensive efficiency at 87.4 pointsper 100possessions, andwas one of onlyfour schools —all the teams that made the FinalFour —torank amongthe KenPom.com top 10 for both offenseand defense. The Cougars were at 123.9 points to rank 10th offensively

Verstappen wins fourth straight Japanese GP SUZUKA,Japan Max Verstappenwon Sunday’sJapanese Grand Prix for his first victory of the young season and just thethird in 17 races but needed a drivethathis RedBullteam engineer called “perfection”toget it done It wasVerstappen’sfourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan andbreaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’sfirst two races in Australia and China.

The four-time reigning Formula 1champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called “insane.” Norris placed second and Piastri third.

Ferrari’sCharles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammateKimiAntonelli in sixth.

Clemente Jr.upset Pirates removedfather’stribute PITTSBURGH The Pittsburgh Pirates have angered the family of the late RobertoClemente by removing asign honoring the franchise icon on the right-field wallatPNC Park.

Thesign featured Clemente’s nameand his No. 21. Replacing it is an advertisement for Surfside, an alcoholic drink.

The Pirates said thesign, which had been on the wall since 2022, was meant to be atemporary adornment However,Roberto Clemente Jr.expressed his unhappiness on Sunday

“This change was madewithout any communication or consultation with our family.While we appreciate that the Pirates acknowledged theirfailuretoinform us,itreveals abroader issue: alack of meaningful collaborationbetween the organization and on matters that are deeply personal andhistorically significant to us and the fans.”

Charleston Open setto pay women, men equally CHARLESTON, S.C. The Charleston Open is keeping Credit OneBank as itstitle partnerthrough 2031 along with the tennis tournament paying equal prize money to women and men starting in 2026. Credit One Bank announced the rights extension Sunday on the final day of this year’sevent. Prize money for the WTA-500 level event will be the same as the men’sATP500 level event. That will make the Charleston Open thefirst standalone WTA500 tournament to hike prize money before the 2033 goal for all weeklong WTA1000 and 500 events to pay the sameprize money to womenasfor men.

The 2025 Charleston Open prize money will be $1.06 million and had been set to rise to approximately $1.15 million for2026.

Journalismwriteswinning storyinSanta Anita Derby

Journalism won the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby by three-quarters of alength late Saturday to confirm his status as the Kentucky Derby favorite, withtrainerBob Baffert’s duo finishing fourth and fifth in the West Coast’smajor prep.

The Associated Press

SANANTONIO Brian Harman handled the wind and the chill Sunday with apair of key birdiesonthe backnine Sunday in the Valero Texas Open, closing with a3-over 75 for athree-shot victory, hisfirst title since the 2023 British Open. Harman began the final round with athree-shot lead and it soon became atight battle with Andrew Novak, who was going for his first PGA Tour victory and aspot in the Masters.

Harman never lost the lead, though it dropped to one shot with abogey on No. 6and adouble bogey on the ninth hole when he had to take apenalty drop after a pulled tee shot and still could only advance it to the fairway. But he holed a15-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole to give him some breathing room, andhe got up-and-down from abunker on the par-5 14th andhis lead wasbackto three shots. He followed that with apairof bogeys, butleftthe mistakes at the end to Novak.

“Just so proud of how Ihandled these conditions,” Harman said. “This golf course gave me all I wanted todayand happy to come out on top.”

Novak, two shots behind with two to play,bogeyed the 17thwith abad chip and the par-5 18thwith abad drive. He shot 76 andfell intoatie forthird with Maverick McNealy (72).

Ryan Gerardmadehis only bogeyonthe finalholefor a69tofinish runner-up. It was oneofonly seven rounds under par at the TPC San Antonio.

Harman was still under pressurewith two holes to play,especially coming off back-to-back bogeys. His tee shotsbounced throughthe bunkerand into the rough, and he pitched to about12 feet for astress-free par Novak drove over thegreen, but his pitch up the shelf hit the slope and rolledback to his feet. His birdie chip ran 6feet by and he missed the putt to fall three behind.

On the 18th, Novak pulled his teeshot in the barren area of trees and scrubbrush.Hepitched back to the fairway,triedtoreach the green and narrowlywent into the creek. He had to stand on aboulder to play onto the green and he missed the 10-foot parputt.

Patrick Fishburnhad an eaglebirdiefinish for a68and was part of alargegroupthattied for fifth. The eagle cameonthe 17th hole, whereFishburnholed a105-foot putt. It was the longest puttanyonemade on the PGA Tour since 2008.

Harman had been struggling sincehis major breakthroughat Hoylake and was onthe verge of falling out of the top 50. Nowhe heads to theMasters with amuchneeded win. Adding to the difficultofthe conditions was his mind being

on aclose family friend, Cathy Dowdy.She spent time in acoma after helping to rescue Harman’s 6-year-old sonfromarip current in PonteVedra Beach,Florida, last Octoberwhile hisfamily wason vacation. “Just playing with aheavy heart today.Ms. Cathy,she’s notdoing so good,” Harman said. “Just thinking about her all day.” Theconditions were so difficult that four players, including Tommy Fleetwood, failed to break 80 and the course played to an average score of 74.8

Baffert fared better on the East Coast,with Rodriguez leading all the waytowin the$750,000WoodMemorial by 3 1/2 lengths, earning enough points to move into the 20-horse field for the KentuckyDerby.

Ridden by UmbertoRispoli,Journalism ran 11/8-miles in 1:49.56. Sent off as the even-money favorite, he paid $4 to win.

“You justsaw what aserious, serious racehorse he really is,” winning co-owner Aron Wellman said. “The battles are over.Now we’re going to war.”

Nebraska coachRhule dismisses WR Gilmore

LINCOLN, Neb.— Nebraska receiver HardleyGilmore IV,who transferred from Kentucky in January, hasbeen dismissedfromthe team, coach Matt Rhule announced Saturday

The second-year player from Belle Glade, Florida,had come to Nebraska along with former Kentucky teammateDane Key and receivers coach Daikiel Shorts Jr.and had received praise from teammates and coaches for his performance in spring practice. Rhule did notdisclose areason forremoving Gilmore.

“Nothing outsidethe program, nothing criminal or anything like that,” Rhule said. “Just won’t be with us anymore.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHTO By ERIC GAy

Houston’sL.J.Cryer,left and Ja’Vier Francis celebratewith teammates after Houston beat Duke in aFinal Four semifinal on Saturday in San Antonio.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RODOLFO GONZALEZ

Brian Harmantees off on the 10th hole during the first round of the TexasOpen golf tournament on ThursdayinSan Antonio, Texas

UL football commitment savors exciting times

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

It’sgot to be difficult for Zachary junior Kristion Brooks to not smile all day long right now

One, he just played apivotalrole in the Broncos winning astate championship in basketball.

That big accomplishment came shortly after Brooks the football player committed to the UL Ragin’ Cajuns.

That’s twogood reasonsfor Brooks to be flying high.

“Winning state this year,itwas kind of mind-blowing, but at the same time, it kind of felt like it was destined to be, because of the amount of work that we put in,” Brooks said.

“Next year,Iplan on winning basketball and football and finishing offstrong in my high school career.”

The6-foot-4, 185-pounder led Zachary to a44-37 winoverrival Central to bring home the program’sthird state title in the past five seasons.

Brooks has been playing both sports since he was 4years old and he’sconvinced hoopshelps him with football as well.

“Of course, the hand-eyecoordi-

Continued from page1C

“Wejust have to have some guys clutch up and come through especially coming offyesterday,” Deggs said.

The last one was atwo-out RBI triple to deep right-centerfieldby freshman Zachary Gingrich —who was hitting eighth in the order and batting .214entering Sunday

That clutch hit spoiled two more good pitching performances by UL pitching. Starter JR Tollett produced his third consecutive quality start, allowing three runs(two earned) on seven hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

“He’sgot to get someat-em balls and acouple of them found holes early,” Deggs said. “A couple walks came around too, but everything is magnified if you’re not going to put some numbers up offensively.”

Matthew Holzhammergave up one run on one hit, one walk and two strikeouts in three innings.

“Holzhammer was great, but

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

Marcus Davenport (2018)and Payton Turner (2021)ultimatelydisappointed in injury-filled tenures before leaving in free agency.Isaiah Foskey,a2023second-rounder, hasn’tbeen able to consistently crack the pass-rushing rotation and has done little when he has seen the field. Do the results require achange in thinking? The Saints have historically big, freakishathletesup front, but anew coaching staff in place could leave the front office opentodrafting smaller, bendier edge rushers that have become en vogue around the NFL.

Let’stake alook at some options who could break theSaints’ mold —aswell as those whowould fit that (previous?) archetypetoatee Whowould representanew path?

If he’sstill available at No. 9, Georgia’sJalon Walker would be the litmus test of whether the Saints have truly changed their ways. In the past, Walker’s6-foot1, 243-pound would have been too small for the Saints. But

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Curiel’sadjustment

Derek Curiel made history this weekend, setting the longest recorded on-base streakfor afreshman in program history after his double on Saturday

The hit drove in the game-deciding run and extended Curiel’s on-base streak to 33 games. He’s reached base in every game this season.

However,even thoughheset a record, Curieldidn’tbelievethat this weekend was his best at the plate.

“Kind of all weekend, I’ve been tying myself up,” Curiel said. “I’ve been getting in between pitches and kind of reaching.” Curiel said his front shoulder was “flying open” as he swung, resultinginhim rolling the ball over

nation and definitely with fatigue and endurance,”hesaid. “Basketball is constant running. Football, you have alot of breaks, but you still have alot of wind.”

Brooks is also thrilled he doesn’t have to go far to play college football in Lafayette. His visitstoUL’s facility felt likehome.

“The family atmosphere, just howeveryonethere just madesure Iwas straightonmyvisit,” Brooks said. “The football side and Iwas able to tell themsome things that otherpeopledon’t know,sojust being comfortable with them and that home feeling. Theyshowed me alot of love.”

Also helping Brooks in his decision was some formerZachary players on UL’s roster,including wide receiver Charles Robertson and outside linebacker Ashley Williams, not to mention such Baton Rouge area alumni in quarterback Daniel Beale andwide receiver Shelton Sampson

“There’sjust agood homevibe there,” he said. As for his football skills,Zachary wide receiver coach Dru Nettles said UL is getting an emerging talent with plentyofupside.

“Tremendous length and his upside …his growthisstill ahead of

we start that (ninth) inning witha walk,and that’sthe bottom line,” Deggs said Making theloss even morefrustrating for UL was threeofTexas State’s four runs got on base via a hit batsman, awalk and an error on adropped linedrive.

Friday night’shero Carson Hepworthgot the scoring underway with aleadoff home runtoleft in thefirst.

“Weget offthe startwegot off to andonly tackontwo moreafter that,” Deggs said. “It’sashame, because JR and Hammer pitched their butts off and we played pretty gooddefense.”

TheBobcatstook the lead with tworuns in the second off Tollett. Ahit by pitchstarted it,but aline drive to secondwentoff Griffin Hebert’sglovetoset up trouble. AustinMungulasingled in arun and asecond one scored on the secondofthree double plays grounded into by TexasState. It stayed 2-1 until thesixth. First Alan Shibley’stwo-out RBI single gave the Bobcats a3-1 lead and thenthe Cajuns finally got to Texas State starter Shane Connell again.

“If he’sthere, Iwould run up the card to get him,” Jeremiah said. Jeremiah praisedWalker, who had61/2 sacks and 101/2 tackles forloss last season, as adynamic player who can also help first-year coach Kellen Moore establish his culture in thelockerroom.Walker regarded as thedraft’stop rusher after Penn State’sAdbul Carter,can also be used an off-ball linebacker while gettingafter the passer Elsewhere, Marshall’sMike Green would also represent from thetype of rusherthe Saints typically go after.At6-foot-3 and 251 pounds, Green maybeslightly undersized, but he led the FBS with 17 sacks.

Arethere any“classicSaints?”

TexasA&M’s Shemar Stewart stands at 6-5, weighs267 pounds andhas aRelativeAthletic Score of 10 (outof10). Under former coach Dennis Allen,thatwould practically make him aSaint already Stewart is long, explosive and has “untapped upside,” according to the NFL Network’sLance Zierlein. But he might be defined more by his potential. He only had 41/2 sacks over the last threeyears, despite racking up alot of pressures. (Again, he might as well have been with the Saints.)

to second base.

“I had opportunities to do damage on some pitches, and my swing didn’tallowmetojust because Iwas pulling offthe ball alittle bit,”Curiel said. “ButI’m going to make suretosee theball alittle deeper and give myself moretime to make sure Isee the ball.

“Every timeyou’regrounding out tosecond that’s not good sign for alefty hitter at least.”

He made the proper mechanical adjustmentonhis double on Saturday.Insteadofrollingover,Curiel hit the ball harddown the third base line to drive in junior Chris Stanfield.

“I let that ball travela littledeeper and saw it deeper in the zone,” Curiel said. “I think that helped me out.”

LSUcapitalizes on park,conditions

L. Dale Mitchell Park is abig and windy stadium, and LSU took advantage of it better than the hosts did.

Hittingthe ball wasgoing to be

Zacharywide receiver Kristion Brooks, shownhere making acatch against Catholic HighofBaton Rouge, has committed to the Ragin’ Cajuns.

him,”Nettles said.“He’s always been long and tall and his strength is coming to together to help provide alittle bit moretohis game.” Brooks played with four senior

Lee Amedee walked andOwen Galt singled. JoseTorres doubled homeonerunandawildpitchtiedthe game,butaseriesofBobcatrelievers stranded Torres at third with oneout. “Winning runatthird base right there and we can’tput the ball in play,” Deggs said. In an unusual scenario, SamArdoin came in to pinchhit with a 1-2 count after apitching change withTorres at thirdand one out. Asqueezebunt was in the back of Deggs’ mind, buthedidn’tget to do that when Ardoin struck out on thefirst pitch.

“I just neededone more pitch and we were going to squeeze,”Deggs said. “I squeezed withtwo strikes on them ayear ago, so Iwasn’t going to do it in a1-2 count —they got the pitch-outavailabletothemright there. That’swhy he was in there. Ijust needed him to get past one pitch, but we go up over our head.”

Connell allowed all three runs on seven hits, two walks andtwo strikeouts.

Carson Laws got thewin for Texas State with 3.1 shutout innings, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out six.

MykelWilliams, theother Georgia edge rusher, is also close to the Saints’prototype. Though he’scoming off an ankle injury,hecertainly fits thesizethreshold at 6-5and 265pounds.He’sconsideredtobe arelativelyraw prospect, butthat hasn’tstopped theSaints before. What aboutpastRound 1?

If theSaints choose to select another position in Round 1, at least this draft is deep enough along the defensive line for New Orleansto findaqualityedge rusher in the ensuing rounds. Arkansas defensiveend Landon Jackson, who spent his first year at LSU, clocked astandout-worthy 9.76 RAS.The Athletic’sDane Brugler ranked himashis 45th-rated prospect, putting him in the Day 2range He has great size (6-6, 264) and long arms(331/4 inches), Somedraft analysts have taken issue with his bend, buthe’sfoundwaystobeproductive Ohio State’sJack Sawyer and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen alsohave similar measurements andshould slot in theDay 2range. Sawyer can produce big plays, like his strip sack that resultedinan 83-yardtouchdown in the College Football Playoff againstTexas Umanmieleniscoming offa10sack season.

difficult all weekend. Thewind howled in from center field for allthree gamesand temperatures were consistently in the 40s. Factorinthe wind chill on Saturday anditwas closer to 20 degrees than 40.

Johnson said theseries finale was one of the toughest offensive conditions his team has played in since he’sbeen at LSU.

“This definitely is probably the top,”Curiel said, “like the coldest gameI’ve ever played in.

It wasn’taperfect weekend for LSUoffensively,but the Tigers handled theelements better than Oklahoma. They hit more line drives and did abetter job of driving in runs withrunners in scoring position, keys to overcoming theweather and the park’sgrand dimensions— 410 feet to center field and 330 feet from homeplate to each foul pole. TheSooners, meanwhile,were 2for 26 with runners in scoring

“Obviously he’savertical guy right now,”Nettles said. “He’s running post routes and throwing the ball up. He’sgotten better getting in and out of his breaks as his strength has come along.

“I think he’sgot achanceto carry 195 pounds. He can be aguy who cancatch the ball insideand have somemismatches there.” Nettles has also been impressed with Brooks’ leadership skills.

“That showed last spring when he first started getting some of the offers —how he went about things at practice, communicating with others and lifting them up,” Nettles said.

Former Zacharyteammate and LSUtargetTrey’DezGreeninfluenced Brooks.

“He(Green) wasprobably the mostunselfish guy as asenior that I’ve been around,” Nettles said. “Kristion was asophomore that year and kind of took to Trey’Dez and followedhim around andlearned alot from him that year

receivers last year and caught 26 passes for 365 yards and three scores in the regularseason last season. He’sexpecting abigger role in thefall.

HUSKIES

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think Sarah was graduating the way she plays, right? All three of them complement each other so well. They all have such unique skill sets.”

Bueckers capped her stellar career withthe Huskies’ first championship since 2016, ending anine-year drought forthe team That was thelongest period for Auriemma and his program without atitle since Rebecca Lobo and Jen Rizzotti led the Huskies to their first championship in 1995. Since then theHuskies have haddominant championship runs, including in the early 2000s led by Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, 2009-10with Maya Moore and finally the four straight from 2013-16 with Breanna Stewart. All were in attendance in Florida on Sunday to see the Huskies’ latest title.

“You just never know if you’ll ever be back in this situation again,” Auriemma said. “And there were so many timeswhen Ithink we all questioned, ‘Have we been here too long? Has it been time?’ And we kept hanging in there and hanging in there and that’sbecause these players makemewant to hang in there every day.”

Bueckers, the expected No. 1 pickinthe WNBA draft on April 14, delivered for the Huskies throughouttheir championship season. It was the only thing missing from an incredible UConn career that wasslowedbyinjuries.She was the first freshman to winAP

“You can see that translate as Trey’Dez wasgone. Kristion kind of pickedupthe slack. He understands for him to have success at wide receiver,ittakes theother guys around him.”

Player of the Year before missing alot of her sophomore season with atibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear.She then tore an ACL before the next season. UConn closed the first half up 10 points andthenput the game away in thethirdquarter,with Fudd, Strong and Bueckers combining for23ofthe team’s 26 points in the period. UConn was up 50-39 with 3:21 left before closing with a12-3 run. Fudd andStrong gotitstarted with back-to-back 3s, and the rout was on. Auriemma subbed Bueckers, Fudd andStrong out with 1:32 leftinthe game. Bueckersand Auriemma hadalonghug on the sideline, having finally gottenthatchampionshipthatheso wanted forher Dawn Staley’steam was tryingfor athird titleinfouryears and fourth overall. It would have tied her with Kim Mulkey for third most behind Auriemma andformer Tennessee Hallof Fame coach Pat Summitt, who had eight. “Our kids gave it alltheyhad When you can understand why you lost and when you’ve been on the other side of that three times, you understand it,” Staley said. “You can swallow it. We lost to a very good basketball team.” UConn had reached thetitle game only once during its drought since 2016. The Huskies had been eliminated by heartbreaking lastsecondlossesinthe FinalFour on buzzer-beaters. The Huskies’ last titlegame appearance came in 2022 whenStaley’steam beat UConntostartthe Gamecocks’ current run of success, agame that ended Auriemma’sperfect record in title games.

guard Azzi Fudd

positionduring the three-game seriesand rarely hit baseballs on thescrews.

Lineup tweaks

LSU added afew wrinkles to its lineups this weekend. None of theadjustments were dramatic, butredshirt junior Tanner Reaves started against aleft-hander on Friday,junior EthanFrey earned astart against Oklahoma ace andright-hander KysonWitherspoon on Thursday and sophomoreStevenMilam hit fourth on Thursday Frey hasmostly started against left-handers and Reaves has almost exclusively been in thelineup against righties. Milam has hit fifth in almostevery gamesince LSU’strip to theDallas-Forth Wortharea.

The small changes didn’tmake a massive difference this weekend, but they were proof that Johnson isn’tafraid to tweak hislineup if

forexample —Frey gets on aroll against right-handedpitching or Reaves holds acertain advantage against aleft-hander

“It’snot just as black and white as like, ‘Oh, it’saleft handed pitcher.We’re gonna startFrey,’“ Jamie Tutko, LSU’sdirector of pitching development, told The Advocate. “Westarted Frey against arighthander on Saturday (againstMississippi State), he had twohits and it worked out really wellfor us.” Hernandezhitting SECpitching SeniorLuis Hernandez had an excellentweekend at theplate, going 6for 12 with three doubles while catching every inning. After aslow start offensively, the Indiana State transfer now has a.310 batting average and a.563 slugging percentage. Four of his fivehome runs have come against SEC competition and he holds a .340 batting average in conference play

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

SOUTHERN STYLINGS

What do “Black Box” warningsmean on certain medications?

BY NEAL JUSTIN

Louisianateenadvanceson‘Idol’; BatonRouge native wants‘Extracted’ win

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Not only can Addis teen John Fostersing,but Carrie Underwood thinks he’scute.

TV Notes

Add that to Fostergifting Underwood and her fellow “American Idol” judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan each aLouisiana care packagewhen he auditionedfor the show in Nashville,Tennessee, and he had arecipe for success. Now Foster,18, and asecond-semester freshmanat LSU pursuing premed, is competing in the ABCsinging contest series’ second phase, Hollywood Week

The first of those episodes aired Monday, when Fostersung his way throughtothe second round. All of the episodes aired thus farwere prerecorded,sowhen we caughtup with the Louisiana contestant, he was backhomeinBrusly

The following interview has been edited for clarity andbrevity. How didthe whole care packagedeal for the judges come about? When you’re in acompetition and you want the approval of thebiggest names in music, youwantto make sure that all of their senses are pleased.SoIwantedto make sure that Isounded good, butI also

Louisiana singer John Foster,holding guitar,and familymembers celebrate with ‘American Idol’judges,attable, from left, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwoodand LukeBryan after Foster receiveshis golden ticket to Hollywood for thecompetition’s nextround. PROVIDED

7p.m.MondayonFox

wanted to make sure that they had something good to taste, too. Ican give them ataste of me musically but alsowanted to give them ataste of where Icame from.

My familyownsBenoit’sCountry Meat Block in Addis. It’s been apillar of my life. Bringing them food from my family storeand from my homewas just great. LukeBryan seemed to really likeyou bringing him food. Ithought that was pretty fun. He

didn’tknow what it was at first, and he thought that the beef jerky was foot, and Isaid Iwould neverbring him ’gator foot. He ended up really liking the beef jerky.(Also in the judges’ small coolerswereboudin and some pork sausage). I’m thinking Carrie’sbox also had aCajun corn dish called corn maque choux. AndaBenoit Cajunseasoning for them.

ä See TV NOTES, page 6C

Black box warnings, also known as boxed warnings, are the most stringent warnings the FDA can mandate for prescription drugs, alerting health care providers and patients to serious or life-threatening risks associated with amedication. The 2005 FDA boxed warning was associated with areduced prevalence of atypical antipsychotic use in elderly patients with dementia and with longterm unintended outcomes that exposed patients to new health risks.

The purpose of black box warnings is to draw immediate attention to the mostserious potential adverse effects of a drug, such as the risk of death, serious injury or permanent disability.The warning box contains asummaryofthe adverse effects and risks associated with the drug, including specific precautions or restrictions to ensure safeuse.

Some examples of drugs or drug classes that carry black boxwarnings include: opioids (oxycodone/OxyContin),hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine,codeine, and fentanyl),benzodiazepines(Alprazolam or Xanax), Clonazepam (Klonopin),Diazepam (Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), and Midazolam), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDsaspirin,ibuprofen,naproxen, celecoxib, diclofenacand indomethacin) andfluoroquinolone antimicrobials (ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin(Levaquin), andmoxifloxacin(Avelox). Black box warnings are crucial forhealth care professionals to makeinformed decisions about prescribing and administering medications, as well as forpatients to understand the potential risks and benefits of their treatment. This boxed warning meansthat there is reasonable evidence of an association of aserious hazard with the drug. Placing the warning in abox meansthat the adverse reaction may lead to death or serious injury

The decision to use an antipsychotic drug needs to be considered with extremecaution. Research has shown that these drugs are associated with an increased risk of stroke and death in older adults with dementia

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

MINNEAPOLIS During arecent episode of “CNN Saturday Morning Table for Five,“ broadcast journalist and sports reporter Cari Champion compared Elon Musk to a“Mean Girls”character who crashesa school assembly Thewomen at the tableinstantly got the reference; the men did not. “You guysare like, ‘Excuse me? What movie isthis?‘” saidChampion, teasingpanelists GOP commentator Melik Abdul and former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger —who both might have been more in the loop if she had cited ascene from “TheGodfather.” The49-year-oldChampion

ä See 'MEAN GIRLS', page 6C

Fromleft, Lindsay Lohan as Cady, AmandaSeyfried as Karen, LaceyChabert as Gretchen and Rachel McAdams as Regina star in the 2004 movie‘Mean Girls.

PROVIDED PHOTOBy MICHAEL GIBSON/ PARAMOUNT PICTURES

The FDA has ordered manufacturers to label such drugs with a“black box” warning about their risks and areminder that they are not approved to treat dementia symptoms. Nondrug approaches are preferred instead of using antipsychotic drugs in managing behavioral symptoms. Many of these strategies aim to identify and address needs that the person with Alzheimer’smay have difficulty expressing as the disease progresses. Nondrug approaches should always be tried first. They include: recognizing that the person is not just “acting mean or ornery,” but is having further symptomsofthe disease; identifying

PROVIDED PHOTO By ERICMcCANDLESS/DISNEy

Treatmentofburns dependsonseverity, takestime

Dear Doctors: Iburned myself on the stove, but it didn’tlook badso Iwasn’tworried. The nextmorning, the skin had turned red and the burn was all swollen.What’s the right way to take care of a burn? When do you need tosee a doctor?

Dear reader: Bear with us as we begin with anerdy science definition. Aburn is atraumatic injury in which atransfer of energy causes damage to the tissues at and near thesite of contact.The most common source is thermal energy,which is heat, as happened to you. Othersources are chemical, electric and electromagnetic energy.Ineachinstance, an excessofenergyheats the affected cells to the pointthat they are injured or destroyed.

‘MEAN GIRLS’

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belongs to ademographic that will make up the bulk of theaudiencewhenthe musical version of “Mean Girls” arrives at the Ordway in Minneapolisthis week, giving them an opportunity to revisit memoriesofthe Tina Feypenned film that debuted a little more than 20 yearsago. But they won’tbealone. The film, as well as the 2018 Broadway musical, resonates with fans who could be their children, making it one of the most enduring popculture milestones of this century

The film earned amodest $130 million at the box office and zeroOscar nominations, but its legacy has lasted alot longer than bigger 2004 hits like “Shrek 2” and “The Passion of the Christ.

It’sgotten nods in pop hits (Mariah Carey’s“Obsessed”), music videos (Ariana Grande’s“Thank U, Next”), Super Bowl ads (Discover Card), TV shows (“How to Get Away With Murder”), toys (Bratz dolls) andnovels (Karen McManus’ “Two Can Keep aSecret”).

Tell us alittle bit about how and whenyou begansinging Inever really was aserious singer until Iwas about 15 years old. It was then that my family encouraged me to start karaoke, and Inever took it seriously.Inever thought it would go anywhere, but they just keptencouraging me to keep working on it and building on it. Eventually,Istarted singing with my uncle, Galen Martin (of Brusly) just kind of casually.He’sbeen amusician for all of his life. Andhe also was abig voice saying, “You reallyneed to try and do something with this.” Isat in here and there with different bands, singing alittle bit, and it was just one big procession of people encouraging me. Iowe so much to all of my friends and family who encouraged me. Idid my first gig in July of 2022 andit’sjustkindof been uphill since there. Where wasthat first gig?

That was at Floyd’s Morley Marina in Brusly How manypeople would you say were at that first show? Not very many.Myaudience has certainly grown very much, very far since then.

Whereelsehaveyou played lately?

Iplay at Side Porch Daiquiris in Addis alot, Jack Miller’s(Landing) in Plaquemine andRio Cantina in Brusly FrequentlyatCharlie’s Lounge in Addis, also. Do you strictly sing country? Iamacountry artistdown to the bone. Ilove country music, but music is music. I’m aperson who truly loves music, and so Ienjoy all genres Idoa little bit of aswamp pop every now and then, some Cajun, alittle bit of blues. Really, Ilove everything. Who are some of the musical artistswho inspire you?

Willie Nelson is my very favorite artistofall time. I love Willie. Ilove his music. I also love his attitude and his spirit. Ilove that he doesn’t care what people think, and he’sgoing to be his true self

Dr.Elizabeth Ko

Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

This results in awound we commonlyrefer to as aburn. Burnsare categorized by their depthand severity.Superficial burns,known asfirst-degree burns,affect only theepidermis, which is the outer layer of skin. Theburn site will often be red, butblisters do not develop. Second-degree burns, also known as partial-thicknessburns,involve

Today’s teens, the ones who think Britney Spearsis“old school,” treat “Mean Girls” like it was freshly baked.

“That’sfor some great reasons andsome not so great reasons,” said Nell Benjamin, who wrote the lyrics for the musical.“The great reason is that Tina is acomic genius. She has atalent for finding comedyinabsurd and painful moments. The sad reason is thatthe story remains timely.Young women still havethese enormous, weird pressures.

Theoriginal film, which Feywrote while she wasstill at “Saturday NightLive, tells the storyofCadyHeron (Lindsay Lohan), a16-yearold tryingtonavigate high school after spendingmuch of her childhood in Africa. In avoice-over,she compares the suburbanmallto a wateringhole in the savanna, where only thestrongand savage survive.

LikeSandyin“Grease,” shedecides that thebest way to fit in is by burying her natural sweet nature andbecoming oneofthe Plastics, agirl group much moreheartless thanthe Pink Ladies.

But thedecision doesn’t end with an upbeat roundof

injury to the epidermis and the dermis, which are theunderlying layers of skin. The burn site will become redand swollen, may appear dry and cracked and will develop watery,thin-skinned blisters.

The mostsevere are thirddegree burns. Alsoknown as full-thickness burns, these occur when both theepidermis and dermis have been destroyed. Tissue damageoften extends to the underlying muscle, fat and connective tissues, and bone may be affected, as well. Severe burns, as well as chemical or electrical burns, need immediate professional medical care. Because even asmall or seemingly minor burn can quickly becomeinfected, it is important

“WeGoTogether.” Instead, it triggers the distribution of uglyrumors andhurt feelings. In many ways, it asks thesame questions that run through “Wicked,” which arrived on Broadway ayear before ”Mean Girls” hit theaters.

“How do you handle yourself when you have power?” said Benjamin in aphone interview from New York, where she’sputting the finishing touches on “Huzzah!” —amusical she created with husband Laurence O’Keefe about sisters trying to save their family’sRenaissance Fair.“How do you usepower so that it doesn’t break theworld?”

Someelements of the2004 film will make you cringe and notthe way original director Mark Waters and Fey intended. There’sastartling lack of diversity and lotsof body shaming and gay bashing.

Themusical, which was adapted for the screen last year,gave Fey and her team achance to make updates Thereare morecharacters of color,lesshomophobia anda range of different body types(although main villain Regina George is still determined to lose threepounds).

PHOTO FROM FOX Louisiana ‘Extracted’ competitorMeagan Delatte’sbest friend,AbbyHayes, and father,Gerrad Delatte, monitor Meagan Delatte’ssurvival in the wilderness on ‘Extracted.’

in every way.That’sthe biggest inspiration Ihave,just to be exactly who Iamand without care of what anyone elsethinks.

Have you gotten to see Williein concert?

Ihave three times, and it was someofthe best times I’ve ever had. Seeinghim in person wasjust amazing.

Do youwriteany of your own songs?

Ido. Songwritingismyfavorite waytoexpress whatever I’m feeling Walk us throughhow yougoabout writing asong. Usually somethingisgoingoninmylife that pushes me,and Iget alittle idea for something.SoIsit down with aguitar, and Ijuststart to hum. And then the hums turn intowords, the words turninto melodies, the melodies get fit with chords, and soon Ihaveasong Are youbeing recognized in public since you’ve been back home?

Yeah,it’skind of hard to go in Walmart without talking to at least one person,but Ilove it.Ilove talking to people. I love making new friends. So Ienjoyeverysecond Lastly,wehavetoask youhow you likedCarrieUnderwoodsayingyou were cute (a cutie patootie to be exact)?

So that actually is pretty interestingbecause she said that when Ileft, so Ihad no idea until Iwatched theepisode.I hearditand Ilooked around and Iwas like, “Oh my gosh, did she say that?” Carrie Underwood, look, Imean, abeautifulsuperstar called

me acutie patootie. That’san instant confidence boost.

“American Idol” airs at 7p.m. Sunday and Monday on ABC and streams afterward on Hulu.

‘Extracted’top 5

While sevencompetitors have been eliminatedonFox survivaladventure competitionseries “Extracted,” Louisiana’sMeagan Delatte continues to make it in the Canadian wilderness.

On last week’sepisode, BatonRouge native Delatte officially made the top five after fellow competitor Jakoben Thomas’ uncle and cousin back at headquarters elected to pull him from the contest.

In the show,a dozencompetitors fight to survive frigid temperatures, treacherous terrainand thethreat of fourlegged predators in aremote forest near Whistler,British Columbia. At headquarters, two family members watch their contestants navigate their surroundings via a24/7 live feed. Each family has the power to decide their loved ones’ fate, with theoption to “extract”their competitor, usually if they’re concerned abouttheir physical and/or mental state

On Monday,Delatte was upbeat after winning a swimming challenge and receiving two supply boxes.

“I will prove that Idohave the physical strength, the mental drive,and I’m notgoing to stop until I’m there,” Delatte said.

to takecareofitright away.The first step in caring foraminor thermal burn is to cool the affected area. This helps to dissipatethe excess energy that is causing injury to the tissues. Run cool water over the site for20to 30 minutes. Do not use cold water or ice; these will constrict blood flow to thewound, which can actually compound the damage and delay healing. If the burn is on theface, use asuccession of cool compresses. Once the burn area is cooled, very gentlyclean it with soap and water.Athin layer of ointment, such as aloe vera gel or petroleum jelly,will help keep the burn area hydrated. Useasterile, nonstick bandagetoloosely cover andprotect the area. Youdon’t

The newer versionalso reflects the impact of social media; three-way phone calls are replaced by viral videos.

SJ Olson, who did the choreography for aDuluth Playhouse production last year,points to thenumber “Stop,” whichincludesthe lyrics:“When you’re feelingattacked/that’safeeling nota fact/don’tjumponline and react/you really need to stop.”

“Theyentered facetsof socialmedia intothe musical we didn’treally have in 2004,” said Olson, who will return to Duluth this summertodirect ayouthproduction of “Cats.”

Olsonadmittedthata few castmembersrolled their eyes at some of themillennialjokes.But thebiggest challenge was coaxing them intocommitting to the story’s“meanest” moments

“Some of thegirls, especially thosewho were playing thePlastics,might have felt alittle afraid of bullying peers becausethey didn’t wantpeople to think they are likethatinreallife,” Olsonsaid. “Theirgeneration hasalens of empathy I didn’tnecessarily seewhen Iwas in high school.”

McComb, Mississippi, native Thomaswas defeated in thesame swimming challenge. Thomas,who revealed in theepisode that he had recently moved to New Orleans, was also acontestant on Netflix’s“Squid Game.”

The show returns at 7p.m. Monday on Fox “Withonly five survivalists left, alliances are tested, and newstrategies emerge in HQ as family membersmust choose whichsurvivalist will forfeit acritical supply of their choosing,”the show synopsis states. “Then, acrucial supply box is stranded in the middleofafreezing 48-degree lake, but only one survivalist can claim it in time.Inthe finalchallenge, the families must guide their survivalists to crates filled with suppliesusing only a compassinthe all-new ‘Mystery Box’ episode.”

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

want the bandage to stick to the wound or to shed fibers that may becomeembedded in the area. If blisters form,donot pierce them, as this can lead to infection. Overthe-counter pain medscan help manage discomfort. Even minor burns can take a fewweeks to heal. As they do, take care to protect the area from further trauma. If signs of infection appear,such as inflammation, pus or fever,itisimportant to seek medical care.

Sendyour questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla edu, or write: Ask theDoctors c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday April 7, the 97th day of 2025. There are 268 days leftinthe year

Todayinhistory On April 7, 1994, aday after the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi died in amissile attack on their aircraft, the moderate Hutu primeminister of Rwanda, Agathe Uwilingiyimana, and her husband were killed by Rwandan soldiers; in the 100 days that followed, Hutu extremists slaughtered hundreds of thousands of minority Tutsi and Hutu moderates.

On this date: In 1862, Union forces led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. DonCarlos Buell defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee.

In 1922, Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall signed asecret deal to lease U.S. Navy petroleum reserves in Wyoming and California to his friends, oilmen Har-

WARNINGS

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the cause and how the symptom may relate to the experience of the person with Alzheimer’s; and changing the environment to resolve challenges and obstacles to comfort, security and ease of mind. If nondrug approaches fail after being applied consistently,introducing medications may be appropriate forindividuals with severe symptomsor whohave the potential to harm themselves or others. While prescription medications can be effective in somesituations, they must be used carefully and are mosteffective when combined with non-drug approaches.

The FDAisconstantly striving to improve safety processes and methods to serve the public better Thus, the FDAistaking additional steps to identify drugs that may have unac-

ry F. Sinclair and Edward L. Doheny,inexchange forcash gifts; Fall would eventually be sentenced to prison on bribery and conspiracy charges in what becameknownasthe Teapot Dome Scandal. In 1966, the U.S. Navy recovered ahydrogen bombthat the U.S. Air Force had lost in the Mediterranean Sea off Spain following aB-52 crash. In 2022, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, securing her place as the court’sfirst Black female justice.

Today’sBirthdays: Country musician Bobby Bare is 90. Former California Gov Jerry Brownis87. Film director Francis Ford Coppola is 86. Musician John Oates is 77. Singersongwriter Janis Ianis 74. Actor Jackie Chan is 71. Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett is 71. Former boxer James “Buster” Douglas is 65. Actor Russell Croweis61. Actor-comedian Bill Bellamyis60.

ceptable risk profiles. The FDAalso has new communication channels to share drug safety information sooner,more broadly, and moreconveniently These new and direct communication channels will enhance knowledge and understanding of safety issues, and include adrug safety website (https:// www.fda.gov/drugs/ information-health-careprofessionals-drugs/drugsafety-information) where consumers can find new information on specific drug products, including information sheets forpatients and health care professionals, the product’s regulatory history and its labeling.

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’sadvocate and authorof“What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’sDisease.” She hosts “TheMemory Whisperer.” Email her at thememorywhisperer@ gmail.com.

PROVIDED

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Travel,learn from what you experience and mix business with pleasure, and something positive will transpire. An innovative approach will capture attention and profits.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Concentrate on what makes you feel happy, accomplished or confident. Planyour actions andsticktoaset budget. Anetworking event will offer insight into how to market your skills.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Ablunt conversation with those you liveorwork with will helpresolve unfinished business. It's best to address sensitive information openlytoavoid misunderstandings.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Useyour energy strategically. Focus on progressively applying your skills, and you'll find new ways to bring in extra cash. Putyour timeand energy into growing your assets.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) It's awaste of time and money to make unnecessary changes. Whenindoubt, askquestions. Knowledge is powerful; guessing won'tsuffice when situations change quickly.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Pay attention to financial documents, contracts and investment opportunities. There is plentytogain if you quicklysize up situations and act. You are overdue for achange.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct.23) Broaden your vision and connect with knowledgeable peoplewho can give you an in-depth

look into new possibilities. Someone you meet will take an interest in youand what you are trying to accomplish.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Achange will help yousee situations differently Communication andcompromise will help you close agap between someone valuabletoyou andwhat you want to achieve.

sAGIttARIus (nov.23-Dec. 21) Refuse to let anyone bait you into an emotionally draining conversation regarding shared expenses or responsibilities. Say no to temptation and indulgent behavior.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don't be fooled by an exaggerated profile or opinion. Research, fact-finding and trusting your intuition will save you time and money. Sending aclear-cut message will alleviate misunderstanding.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb.19) Designate how and where you want to apply your cashtoensureyou don't fall short. Let saving for something special take precedence over emotional spending for instant gratification.

PIscEs (Feb.20-March 20) Stick to what's affordable and doesn't threaten your lifestyle and personal well-being. Refuse to let temptation, excess or trying to impress someone take over, leaving you in aprecarious position.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotationsbyfamous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands foranother.

For better or For WorSe

beetLe bAILeY Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Saturday’sPuzzleAnswer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the Hungarian discoverer of vitamin Cwho won the Nobel Prize in physiology/medicine in 1937, said, “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen,and thinking what nobody hasthought.”

At thebridge table, doingwellconsists of seeing what everybody hasseen,and thinking of the right play at the right moment. Thehard part, of course, is having the winning idea pass into your consciousness.

In this deal, how should East plan the defense against four spades after West leadsthe heart nine?

When Southrebid twono-trumpto showaminimum balanced hand, North jumped to what he thought would be the best gamecontract. Note that three no-trump can be defeated after aclub lead.Whenthreeaces are missing, the defenders have several entries, so they canusuallygettheirlongsuitestablished andcashed Souththought he had only three losers, the missing aces. And that wasall he lost whenEasttookthefirsttrickwithhisace andplayedbackaheart.Declarerwonon theboardanddroveoutthespadeace.As thecardslay,hecould notgodown East hoped West had ledasingleton, but that was impossible, becausethen South would have had four hearts and would have rebid two hearts, not two no-trump. East should have encouraged with hisheart10attrick one. Then, when West gotinwith his spade ace, he would have ledhis second heart, received a heart ruff, and cashed his club ace for down one. Whendrawing aconclusion, ask yourself if it is consistent with whathas happened.

©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzleisaword riddle which creates adisguised word,phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,”

toDAy’s WoRD ADJuVAnts: AD-joo-vents:Serves to aidorcontribute.

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C. PiCKles

Shown is today’sweather.Temperatures aretoday’shighs and tonight’slows.